GB989099A - Improvements in oscillating or vibrating grading machines - Google Patents

Abstract

989,099. Screening apparatus. W. CUTLER. March 5, 1962 [Dec. 4, 1960], No. 37910/60. Heading B2H. In a size grading machine e.g. for potatoes or onions, of the type in which spaced parallel bars 36, Fig. 3, are vibrated to cause articles to travel along the bars, and in which articles below a certain size fall between the bars, those articles which do not fall between the bars being caused to travel to another grading section or to a discharge outlet, deflector members, in the form of discs 39, are provided, and are arranged to move relatively to the bars 36 in the spaces between the bars to dislodge any articles which have become wedged between the bars. A base frame 10 carries a lower frame assembly 16, on resilient wooden slots 19, secured to transverse members 21 on the base frame and pivotally connected at 20 to the assembly 16. An electric motor 22 drives an eccentric 23 which imparts a small amplitude vibratory motion to the assembly 16 by means of a connecting rod 24. An upper conveyer 26 contains the parallel bars 36 arranged in sections with increasing bar spacings from the end of the machine supporting a feed hopper 38. The conveyer 26 is mounted on the lower frome assembly 16 by resilient wooden slats 28 bolted to transverse beams 31 on the assembly 16 and pivotally connected at 29 to the conveyer 26. The beams 31 have upright brackets 32 at their ends, which are bolted to depending mounting plates 33 on the assembly 16, the securing bolts passing through arcuate slots 34 in the brackets 32 to enable the angle of inclination of the slats 28 and thus the amplitude of vibration of the upper conveyer to be varied. The conveyer 26 is vibrated by virtue of its resilient connections with the vibrated assembly 16. The discs 39, preferably of rubber, are mounted on transverse shafts 40, Fig. 3, supported on upright rods 41 secured to the lower assembly 16. The discs 39 project into the spaces between the bars 36 and move relatively to the bars when the machine is in operation. Articles to be sorted pass under the lower edge 48 of an adjustable door 49 in the hopper 38, and pass along the bars from one section to another, articles of the appropriate sizes falling between the bars. Each section of the parallel bars has disposed beneath it a trough 44 with a rubber lining 45 secured to the upper conveyer 26 with holes for the rods 41, and is provided with a discharge outlet 47. The machine in Fig. 1 has five sections, the last (left hand) section having no parallel bars and serving to discharge all articles which are too large to pass between the bars in the previous sections. Specification 910,964 is referred to..