Walter A Davis

US Patent:

45207020, Jun 4, 1985

Filed:

May 27, 1983

Appl. No.:

6/496992

Inventors:

Walter L. Davis - Milton-Freewater OR
Dale Messenger - Montgomery AL
Malcolm W. Randall - Milton-Freewater OR

Assignee:

Key Technology, Inc. - Milton-Freewater OR

International Classification:

B26D 534

US Classification:

83 71

Abstract:

An article inspection and cutting apparatus (10) is described for high production processing of elongated articles (12) such as raw potato strips (french fries). The apparatus includes a conveyor (20) for moving the articles (12) in line in a large number of transversely spaced lanes past an inspection (28) station and a cutting station (30). Scanning cameras (38, 40) at the inspection station (28) rapidly scan across the lanes to detect color or shade variation in the articles (12) and generate electrical signals characteristic of the defect. Rotating sets of knife wheels (54) are positioned at the cutting station for selectively projecting two or more knives (68) from the periphery of the wheel to cut sections of the article (12) containing the defect to separate the defective portion from the remainder of the article. The apparatus 10 has the capability of detecting the size of different shade defects and removing smaller dark defects and larger lighter defects.

US Patent:

40730417, Feb 14, 1978

Filed:

Aug 30, 1976

Appl. No.:

5/719075

Inventors:

Walter L. Davis - Milton-Freewater OR
Henry V. Svehaug - Milton-Freewater OR

Assignee:

Applied Magnetics, Inc. - Goleta CA

International Classification:

A22C 2904
A22C 2508

US Classification:

17 71

Abstract:

An apparatus is described for automatically butchering crabs. The machine includes a conveyor for transporting successive crabs in an inverted condition past a series of spaced work stations. At a first work station the carapace is removed as the conveyor moves the crab past a carapace removing means. Side brushes at a second and third station rotate to remove the gills while jets of water are sprayed against the exposed bottom side to remove the viscera. The conveyor moves the crabs continuously along the prescribed path during this operation. Finally, a guillotine apparatus is positioned along the prescribed path at a fourth work station to successively sever the legs from the crab bodies. The eviscerated, legless bodies then drop into a receiving bin. The conveyor is controlled so as to move at a relatively slow rate while the crab carcasses move through each successive work station.

US Patent:

40830845, Apr 11, 1978

Filed:

Nov 8, 1976

Appl. No.:

5/739981

Inventors:

Walter L. Davis - Milton-Freewater OR

Assignee:

Applied Magnetics, Inc. - Goleta CA

International Classification:

A22C 2900

US Classification:

17 73

Abstract:

A crab meat removing machine is described to facilitate separation of crab meat from its exoskeleton or shell. The machine includes a number of specifically located rollers at a discharge end of an elongated belt type conveyor. Crab bodies and crab legs are placed on the belt conveyor which operates to move the bodies and legs in a prescribed direction toward the rollers. A first roller is situated above the discharge for the elongated conveyor while a second roller tangentially engages the first roller and is located downstream of the conveyor discharge. A space is thus provided between the second roller and conveyor discharge through which meat may fall. The crab parts moving on the conveyor are first engaged between the conveyor and first roller. These two members act as a gripping mechanism by which the crab parts are firmly held while being directed on downstream to engagement with the peripheral surface of the second roll. The second roll is rotated in a direction complementary to the direction of the parts moving on conveyor and will thus guide the parts into engagement between the two moving rollers.

US Patent:

44859120, Dec 4, 1984

Filed:

Jun 1, 1982

Appl. No.:

6/383752

Inventors:

D. Murphy Carmichael - Milton-Freewater OR
Walter L. Davis - Milton-Freewater OR
Vernon L. Perry - Walla Walla WA

Assignee:

Key Electrosonic Corporation - Milton-Freewater OR

International Classification:

B65G 4724

US Classification:

198382

Abstract:

An article alignment and conveying apparatus 10 is described for aligning elongated articles 12 in single file in a plurality of transversely spaced lanes and moving the articles while in the lanes past a work station 13. The apparatus 10 includes an article feed bed in the form of a series of stepped conveyor beds 20 for receiving the articles and subdividing the articles into a number of channels 32 corresponding with the lanes. The articles fall from the channels 32 onto a belt conveyor 40 having a plurality of parallel narrow belts extending from the channels 32 past the work station. The belt conveyor 40 has a grooved bed section for corrugating the surface formed by the belts to transversely space and longitudinally align the articles. The belt conveyor 40 has a second bed section that is flat to flatten the supporting surface of the belt as the aligned articles moved past the work station 13.

US Patent:

45816328, Apr 8, 1986

Filed:

Feb 8, 1985

Appl. No.:

6/699938

Inventors:

Walter L. Davis - Milton-Freewater OR
Dale Messenger - Montgomery AL
Malcolm W. Randall - Milton-Freewater OR

Assignee:

Key Technology, Inc. - Milton-Freewater OR

International Classification:

H04N 718

US Classification:

358106

Abstract:

An optical inspection system for articles moved by a conveyor, in which photo-electric transducers of one or more cameras are directed onto a transverse viewing area to detect light variations in individual articles. A threshold system permits correction for light signals in relation to the angular distance between the article being observed and the camera optical axis. A two-step inspection involves first detecting anomalous light levels, and subsequently detecting the size of each defect.