GB1599309A - Grading apparatus - Google Patents

Description

(54) GRADING APPARATUS (71) We, WYSALL TRACTOR COM PANY LIMITED, a British Company of Wysall, Nottinghamshire, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a Patent may be granted to us and the method by which it is to be performed to be particularly described in and by the follow ing statement: The present invention relates to grading apparatus.According to the present invention there is provided a grading apparatus including a plurality of side by side rotatable shafts mounted for lateral displacement so that the spacing between adjacent shafts may be adjusted, each shaft being in driving connection with its neighbouring shaft or shafts, the shafts being mounted at each end in a scissor arrangement each of which includes a plurality of pairs of scissor elements. each end of the scissor elements of some of the one pairs being pivotally connected to a respective adjacent end of a scissor element of a neighbouring pair.

Advantageously, the pivotal connection for each pair of scissor elements of each scissor arrangement is formed by an end portion of the rotatable shaft associated therewith.

The apparatus preferably includes a casing, one wall of which rotatably mounts one of the shafts located at one side of the plurality of shafts, the shaft at the other side being rotatably supported by a support member which is movable relative to the casing so as to extend or contract the scissor arrangements to thereby adjust the spacing between adjacent shafts. Advantageously, the support member is a lever pivotally connected to the casing.

Preferablv. one of the pivotal connections between each of the neighbouring pairs of scissor elements is by means of a stub shaft carrying a pair of chain sprocket wheels.

Thus one stub shaft is located between neighbouring shafts. One end of each rotatable shaft is also preferably provided with a pair of sprocket wheels and for each pair of rotatable shafts with a stub shaft therebetween two chains are provided, one chain extending from one of the sprocket wheels on a first of the pair of rotatable shafts to a sprocket wheel on the stub shaft, the other chain extending from the other sprocket wheel on the stub shaft to one of the sprocket wheels on the second of the pair of shafts.

Consequently, the two shafts of the pair are drivingly connected to rotate in the same direction and also the driving connection is unaffected by expansion or contraction of the scissor arrangements.

Reference is now made to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side view showing, in part, an apparatus according to the present invention, Figure 2 is a plan view showing, in part, the apparatus shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is an end view showing part of the apparatus according to the present invention.

The apparatus is generally shown at 10 and includes a plurality of side by side rotatable shafts 12 which form a grading bed upon which articles to be graded are received.

The shafts 12 are rotatably supported at each end in a scissor arrangement 14 (only one of which is shown). The scissor arrangement 14 illustrated includes two rows 14a, 14b, of pairs of scissor elements 16. If desired only one row need be provided. In a given row, the element 16a of one pair is pivotally connected at each end to the element 16b of an adjacent pair. The upper pivotal connections 16c may be formed by an conventional means, e.g., rivets, and the lower pivotal connections 16d are formed by stub shafts 18. Each stub shaft 18 extends between the two rows 14a. 14b and is rotatably supported thereby and carries a pair of sprocket wheels 18a, 18b.

Each pair of scissor elements is pivotally connected by an end portion 12a of the rotatable shaft 12 which is rotatably supported thereby.

The shaft end portions 12a are provided with a pair of sprocket wheels 12b, 12c which are aligned with the sprocket wheels carried by the stub shafts 18.

An individual chain 20 is wrapped about the sprocket wheels 12b of one shaft 12 and sprocket wheel 18a of the adjacent stub shaft 18 on one side and an individual chain 21 is wrapped about the sprocket wheel 12c and the sprocket wheel 18b of the adjacent stub shaft on the opposite side.

A drive chain 23 is wrapped about the sprocket wheel 12b of the shaft end portion 12a adjacent wall 26 and a drive wheel (not shown).

Shaft end portion 12a adjacent wall 26 is rotatably supported by brackets 24 (only one being shown) secured to a casing wall 26. Shaft end portion 12a adjacent wall 30 is rotatably supported by a lever 28 which is pivotally connected to a bracket 29 secured to casing wall 30. Thus the spacing between neighbouring shafts may be adjusted by deflection of the lever 28.

The shafts 12 are provided with collars 32 which define a roller having an undulating outer periphery the depressions of which define spaces 34 with neighbouring rollers.

The shape of the collars 32 is chosen bearing in mind the grading purposes which the apparatus is to perform. If desired the collars may be replaced by a series of discs and spacers.

The apparatus may be used for grading various articles, in particular vegetables, e.g. potatoes, onions, etc. and may also be used for removing earth therefrom.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A grading apparatus including a plurality of side by side rotatable shafts mounted for lateral displacement so that the spacing between adjacent shafts may be adjusted, each shaft being in driving connection with its neighbouring shaft or shafts, the rotatable shafts being mounted at each end in a scissor arrangement each of which includes a plurality of pairs of scissor elements, each end of the scissor elements of some of the pairs being pivotally connected to a respective adjacent end of a scissor element of a neighbouring pair.

2. A grading apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the pivotal connection for each pair of scissor elements of each scissor arrangement is formed by an end portion of the rotatable shaft associated therewith.

3. A grading apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2 further including a casing, one wall of which rotatably mounts one of the shafts located at one side of the plurality of shafts, the shaft at the other side being rotatably supported by a support member which is movable relative to the casing so as to extend or contract the scissor arrangements to thereby adjust the spacing between adjacent shafts.

4. A grading apparatus according to Claim 3, wherein the support member is a lever pivotally connected to the casing.

5. A grading apparatus according to any of Claims 1 to 4 wherein one of the pivotal connections between each of the neighbouring pairs of scissor elements is by means of a stub shaft carrying a pair of chain sprocket wheels.

6. A grading apparatus according to Claim 5, wherein one end of each rotatable shaft is also provided with a pair of sprocket wheels and for each pair of rotatable shafts with a stub shaft situated therebetween two chains are provided, one chain extending from one of the sprocket wheels on a first of the pair of rotatable shafts to a sprocket wheel on the stub shaft, the other chain extending from the other sprocket wheel on the stub shaft to one of the sprocket wheels on the second of the pair of rotatable shafts.

7. A grading apparatus according to anv preceding claim wherein each shaft is pr vided with a plurality of collars to define a roller having an undulating periphery.

8. A grading apparatus substantially as described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (8)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. pair of sprocket wheels 18a, 18b. Each pair of scissor elements is pivotally connected by an end portion 12a of the rotatable shaft 12 which is rotatably supported thereby. The shaft end portions 12a are provided with a pair of sprocket wheels 12b, 12c which are aligned with the sprocket wheels carried by the stub shafts 18. An individual chain 20 is wrapped about the sprocket wheels 12b of one shaft 12 and sprocket wheel 18a of the adjacent stub shaft 18 on one side and an individual chain 21 is wrapped about the sprocket wheel 12c and the sprocket wheel 18b of the adjacent stub shaft on the opposite side. A drive chain 23 is wrapped about the sprocket wheel 12b of the shaft end portion 12a adjacent wall 26 and a drive wheel (not shown). Shaft end portion 12a adjacent wall 26 is rotatably supported by brackets 24 (only one being shown) secured to a casing wall 26. Shaft end portion 12a adjacent wall 30 is rotatably supported by a lever 28 which is pivotally connected to a bracket 29 secured to casing wall 30. Thus the spacing between neighbouring shafts may be adjusted by deflection of the lever 28. The shafts 12 are provided with collars 32 which define a roller having an undulating outer periphery the depressions of which define spaces 34 with neighbouring rollers. The shape of the collars 32 is chosen bearing in mind the grading purposes which the apparatus is to perform. If desired the collars may be replaced by a series of discs and spacers. The apparatus may be used for grading various articles, in particular vegetables, e.g. potatoes, onions, etc. and may also be used for removing earth therefrom. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A grading apparatus including a plurality of side by side rotatable shafts mounted for lateral displacement so that the spacing between adjacent shafts may be adjusted, each shaft being in driving connection with its neighbouring shaft or shafts, the rotatable shafts being mounted at each end in a scissor arrangement each of which includes a plurality of pairs of scissor elements, each end of the scissor elements of some of the pairs being pivotally connected to a respective adjacent end of a scissor element of a neighbouring pair.

2. A grading apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the pivotal connection for each pair of scissor elements of each scissor arrangement is formed by an end portion of the rotatable shaft associated therewith.

3. A grading apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2 further including a casing, one wall of which rotatably mounts one of the shafts located at one side of the plurality of shafts, the shaft at the other side being rotatably supported by a support member which is movable relative to the casing so as to extend or contract the scissor arrangements to thereby adjust the spacing between adjacent shafts.

4. A grading apparatus according to Claim 3, wherein the support member is a lever pivotally connected to the casing.

5. A grading apparatus according to any of Claims 1 to 4 wherein one of the pivotal connections between each of the neighbouring pairs of scissor elements is by means of a stub shaft carrying a pair of chain sprocket wheels.

6. A grading apparatus according to Claim 5, wherein one end of each rotatable shaft is also provided with a pair of sprocket wheels and for each pair of rotatable shafts with a stub shaft situated therebetween two chains are provided, one chain extending from one of the sprocket wheels on a first of the pair of rotatable shafts to a sprocket wheel on the stub shaft, the other chain extending from the other sprocket wheel on the stub shaft to one of the sprocket wheels on the second of the pair of rotatable shafts.

7. A grading apparatus according to anv preceding claim wherein each shaft is pr vided with a plurality of collars to define a roller having an undulating periphery.

8. A grading apparatus substantially as described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.