Two-slat design for a small piece remover

1. A slat for use with an apparatus that removes undesirable pieces from a plurality of pieces based upon size, the slat comprising an elongated body and a plurality of semi-pockets defined within the body and arranged in a staggered side-by-side relationship, wherein each semi-pocket faces outwardly, wherein the plurality of semi-pockets are angularly oriented with respect to a major axis defined by the body, and wherein half of the plurality of semi-pockets are angularly oriented in a first direction and half of the plurality of semi-pockets are angularly oriented in a second direction.

2. The slat in accordance with claim 1 wherein the semi-pockets are substantially semi-elliptical in shape.

3. The slat in accordance with claim 2 wherein the semi-pockets are approximately one inch long.

4. An apparatus for removing undesirable pieces from a plurality of pieces based upon size, the apparatus comprising:

a base comprising a first side and a second side and defining a direction of product travel therebetween, the first side having a greater height than the second height;

a first end drive chain located at the first side;

a second end drive chain located at the second side;

drive means for driving at least one drive chain in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of product travel; and

a plurality of elongated slats each having a first end and a second end, the first ends being coupled to the first end drive chain and the second ends being coupled to the second end drive chain, each slat comprising an elongated body and a plurality of semi-pockets defined within the body and arranged in a side-by-side relationship, wherein each semi-pocket faces outwardly such that adjacent slats define a plurality of pockets, wherein the plurality of pockets are angularly oriented with respect to a major axis defined by the slats, and wherein half of the plurality of pockets are angularly oriented in a first direction and half of the plurality of pockets are angularly oriented in a second direction.

5. The apparatus in accordance with claim 4 wherein the pockets are substantially elliptical in shape.

6. The apparatus in accordance with claim 5 wherein the pockets are approximately two inches long.

7. A method of removing undesirable pieces from a plurality of pieces based upon size, the method comprising:

providing an apparatus comprising:

a base comprising a first side and a second side and defining a direction of product travel therebetween, the first side having a greater height than the second height;

a first end drive chain defining a first loop located at the first side;

a second end drive chain defining a second loop located at the second side;

drive means for driving the drive chains in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of product travel; and

a plurality of elongated slats each having a first end and a second end, the first ends being coupled to the first end drive chain and the second ends being coupled to the second end drive chain, each slat comprising an elongated body and a plurality of semi-pockets defined within the body and arranged in a side-by-side relationship, wherein each semi-pocket faces outwardly wherein semi-pockets of adjacent slats combine to form a plurality of pockets wherein the plurality of pockets are angularly oriented with respect to a major axis defined by the slats, and wherein half of the plurality of pockets are angularly oriented in a first direction and half of the plurality of pockets are angularly oriented in a second direction;

providing a plurality of pieces to the apparatus such that the pieces engage the plurality of slats; and

driving the drive chains in a direction of travel substantially perpendicular to the direction of product travel;

wherein undesirable pieces enter the pockets due to their size and are

thereby moved in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of product travel until they fall from the pockets as the chains move the slats around the loops; and

wherein desirable pieces move along the direction of product travel.