GB468838A - Improved machine for grading fruit and other articles according to weight - Google Patents

Abstract

468,838. Grading fruit &c. by weighing. OXLEY, J. Jan. 13, 1936, No. 1064. [Class 143] In a machine for grading fruit and other articles, the articles are carried singly in cups pivoted on an endless belt or chain by means of hinge pins disposed longitudinally of the belt and each cup is provided with an upwardlyprojecting arm adapted to slide along a stationary rail containing counterpoised bridge sections which yield under predetermined loads and permit the cups to tilt and discharge the articles according to their various weights. The articles 8 are brought to the grading cups 7 by an endless travelling belt 21 passing over a small roller 22, and are deposited singly in the cups with the assistance of a rubber buffer 27 and a loose trailing lever 23. The cups are attached to the endless running belt 2 by means of transverse members 15 and hinged pins 6 disposed longitudinally of the belt. Upright arms 9 rigid with the cups slide along stationary gapped rails 10, the gaps being closed by bridges 11 forming part of counterweighted levers 14. If the article in the cup is sufficiently heavy to overcome the resistance of the counterweighted lever the arm 9 rocks into the position shown by broken lines in Fig. 3 and the article is tipped down its grade shoot 19. If the article produces only a partial movement of the counterweighted lever, the continued movement of the belt 2 brings the upright arm 9 into contact with a pivoted section 17, Fig. 1, which is displaced as shown by broken lines to allow the upright arm to rock and discharge the article. In order to re-engage the upright arms with the rails, the belt pulley 3 is provided with a pair of flanges 20 adapted to maintain the cups in their raised positions as they pass round the upper portion of the pulley.