GB814542A - Improvements in grading machines - Google Patents

Abstract

814,542. Separating solid materials. GUNSON (SEEDS) Ltd., R. W. May 10, 1957 [May 11, 1956], No. 14798/56. Class 117 A grading machine includes a table having an entry portion and a main portion, means for feeding articles on to the entry portion and to vibrate the table longitudinally to advance articles over both portions to a grading gap, the entry portion being inclined upwardly relative the main. portion in the direction of article advance- Articles of elongated form are graded according; to their lengths by being fed from a hopper 12, Fig. 1, control gates 14, tray 12a to a platform 13 in a frame 1. The latter is mounted on springs 2, 3, or pivoted arms, supported on a sub-frame 4 carried on a base 9 by springs within housings 10. Armatures 7, 8 on the springs cooperate with electromagnets 5, 6 energized from the opposite phases of an A.C. supply so that the frame is vibrated longitudinally. The articles move over grooves 15 in the front of the platform on to an article aligning plate formed in two parts 16, 17 supported by longitudinal ribs 18 on the frame base. The plate 16 is inclined slightly relative the plate 17, and each has longitudinal grooves forming a continuation of one another, and the articles are moved in lengthwise alignment along the grooves towards a gap 23 provided between the plate 17 and a further grooved plate 22 at a slightly lower level. Articles shorter than the prescribed length fall through the gap whereas the longer ones pass on to the plate 22 and are carried along its grooves to a further gap 23a where further separation is effected. An adjustable transverse control bar 24, 24a may be disposed in each gap, each bar having a waved upper edge with which the articles come into contact during their travel. Articles falling through the gap 23 may fall through openings 30a to a shoot 31a, whilst shoots 31, 32 may collect articles falling through the gap 23a and passing over it, respectively. Alternatively the openings 30a are closed by plates 31b, and articles falling through the gap 23 pass along passages 30 between the ribs 18 and are collected in a shoot 31 together with those passing through the gap 23a. Air nozzles 52 are provided for removing light matter from the stream of articles. The elongated articles are graded according to their diameters by a machine including a frame 1, Figs. 6, 7 and 10, supported by springs 2, 3 from a sub-frame 4 carried by springs on a base 9. The frame is vibrated longitudinally by an electromagnetic vibrator 33 acting on an armature 34 on the spring 3 The articles pass from a hopper 12 on to an inclined platform 13 on the frame, which platform has article aligning plates 35, Fig. 7. From the platform the articles pass into longitudinally extending troughs having gaps at their bottoms extending longitudinally and progressively increasing in width. The troughs are provided by plates 36, 37, Fig. 10, adjustably mounted on ribs 18 of the frame, and the gaps 40 are arranged between the plate faces 38 and the plate edges 39. As the articles reach that part of the gap which will receive their diameters they fall through, and pass through openings 42 in the frame base to a shoot 49, Fig. 6. Partition plates 43 are spaced along the gaps and extend into the shoot, and each shoot section corresponds to a certain diameter of article. Rods 48 adjustably carry the plates 43, and air nozzles 52 are arranged to remove light matter.