US1111856A - Corn-husker. - Google Patents

Description

J. H. PIERCE.

CORN HUSKER.

. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 21, 1913.

3 SHEBTSSHEET 1.

1 ML NORRIS PEYERS ca. PH01D-LITHO., WASHINGTON. LL C,

J. H. PIERCE.

CORN HUSKER.

APPLIGATION FILED MAR.31,1913.

1 1 1 1 ,856. Patented Sept. 29, 1914.

3 SHEBTSSHEET 2.

THE NORRIS PEYERS CO., PHOTO-LITHO.. WASHINGTON. D. c.

J. H. PIERCE.

CORN HUSKER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 31, 1913 l, 1 1 1,856, Patented Sept. 29, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Q7 Jwe/zZZ?" UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CORN-HUSKER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 29, 1914.

Original application filed September 18, 1905, Serial 110.278.5369. Divided and this application filed March To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Josnrn I-I. PInRon, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Corn Huskers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to corn huskers in general, but is especially directed to machines of that character which are used to operate upon ears of green corn.

My novel and improved form of machine feeds ears of corn successively to a conveyer in which they are clamped in place and operated upon as follows: Each car after being fed to the conveyer is thrust longitudinally against a stationary knife to split the protruding piece of stock up to the butt of the car, this operation positioning the car which is subsequently cut off at its base by a circular saw revolving adjacent to the conveyer thus removing the split pieces of stock and cutting through the husks. Another knife is provided for each car which sevcrs the top or silk thereof, the knife being caused to cut by the operation of its rotating support engaging a fixed cam. The earis then forced longitudinally between a plurality of converging spring knives so that its husks are shredded or split their full length, and the ear is freed from the knives and falls from the machine. In order to remove any portion of the husks which have a tendency to cling to the knives or to become bunched about them, I provide a cleaner consisting of two rapidly revolving arms which rotate close to the knives and knock any remnants of husks therefrom.

The particular features of the machine which form the subject matter of the pres ent application, which is a division of my application Ser. No. 278,969, September 18, 1905, are the means by which the butts of the ears of corn are automatically severed while undergoing the husking operation.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification and upon which is based the following detailed description, is shown by way of illustration, one form of my improved feeding means, it being understood that various modifications in form and arrangement may be made without departure from the invention as claimed.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a front ele- Serial No. 757,814.

{ vation of the machine; Fig. 2 is a partial s de elevation showing the ear held in position to be operated on by the cutter; Fig. 3 1s a transverse section on the line 33 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a similar section on the line 4% of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail of one of the slitting or shredding knives; Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail View showing a fragment of the conveyer, the saw, and the stock splitting knife; Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail perspective view of the guides and shredding knives; Fig. 8 is a side elevation for supporting and severing the silk end of the ear; Fig. 9 is a plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 8; and Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the butt-cutting knife and saw and their operating mechanism.

The description of those parts of the ma chine which sustain a cooperative relation only to the present invention will be in general terms, reference being had for an understanding of the details of construction to said parent application, the patent upon which, it is intended, shall issue concurrently herewith.

The machine frame consists of upright members and horizontal connecting mem bers withsuitable braces. Across the top of the frame is mounted a shaft 11 rotating in bearings 12, the right hand end of the shaft as shown in Fig. 1 being supplied with a sprocket wheel 13 connected by a sprocket chain to a similar wheel fastened to the shaft 14 lying to the rear of the shaft 11 and suitably journaled in the frame. Also keyed to the shaft 1 is a driving pulley 15 which operates the entire mechanism of the machine. On this same end of the shaft 11 is a smaller sprocket wheel 16 connected by the chain 17 with a comparatively large sprocket wheel 18 keyed to the outer end of a lower shaft 19 on which is mounted a rotary conveyer 20.

Upon the left hand end of the shaft 11 I provide a pulley 21 arranged to drive the pulley 22 by means of a belt 23. The pulley 22 is fixed upon one end of the jack shaft 24 while upon the opposite end thereof is mounted a circular saw 25 revolvingin proximity to the rotary conveyer 20. Connecting the shaft 24 with the lower. shaft 26 is a cross belt 27 passing over pulleys 28 and 29 on the shafts 2 1 and 26 respectively, the latter being supplied at its inner end with cleaner arms to discharge husks which may accumulate about the husking knives. In order to render the rotation of the cleaner arms more uniform I mount upon the outer end of the shaft 26 a comparatively heavy balance wheel 31. It will thus be observed that the motion of the drive pulley 15 is transmitted by means of the various wheels, pulleys, chains, and belts so that the conveyer, saw and the cleaner are rotated.

The conveyer, which resembles a squirrel cage, is mounted on the shaft 19 and comprlses, generally speaking, end spiders having radial arms with terminal annular members 32 at the left hand end and terminal U- shaped members 33 at the right hand end, the members 32 and 33 being arranged peripherally about the conveyer and the pairs longitudinally thereof, the members of each pair connected by a series of spaced longitudinally extending wires 34 forming a trough-like channel for the ears which are pushed forward in said channels by members 35 acted upon by compression springs 36, and contractile springs 37 and by rolls 38 traveling on cam rails 39, 39, toward the left hand end of each channel where the annulus 32 is equipped with slitting knives for the removal of the husk, the movement of the ears in the channelsand the action of the husking devices being described in detail in my said application.

The ears of corn are supplied one at a time to the channels in front of the member 35 by a feeding mechanism described in detail in my application referred to above, such feeding. mechanism being indicated generally in the present case at 10.

In order to guide the stock end of the ear, 1 supply each one of annular members 32 with a series of circularly arranged converging spring arms 11 and 42, the four arms 41 being united by strips 43, which are secured by means of screws or bolts to the upper outer side of ring 32, the three guide arms 42 being held together and in place by the integral strip 44 whose ends are wrapped around two of the wires or rods 34. These guide arms project inwardly with respect to the conveyer from the ring 32 as shown in Figs. 3 and 7 and are then bent outwardly and converging, their outer ends passing into ring 32 (Fig. 7). Spaced between these guides is a plurality of spring knives 45 which are fitted in perforations in ring 32 and held therein by set-screws 46. These knives are of the shape illustrated in Fig. 5, their free ends being flattened and sharp ened, and the knives. are circularly arranged with their sharpened ends converging.

Slidably mounted in each of the pockets or receptacles of the carrier 20 is a perforated supporting member 35 which reciprocates on three of the rods 34, the member 35 having outward-1y and downwardly extended arms 47 for that purpose, each of which has a hole through which one of the rods 34 passes. Fastened to the lower portion of each member are two arms 48, whose outer ends are connected to their corresponding ring 32 by tension spring 37. Each member 35 has a longitudinal perforation 4:9 with a tapered mouth 50 in which is rod 51, the inner end of each rod being supplied with a tapered head fitting within the tapered mouth of perforation 49. Each supporting member 35 on the side adjacent to its ring 32 is supplied with a fuimel-shaped guiding and supporting member 53, which is intended to support the silk end of the ear of corn in the receptacle, a portion of the end protruding into the perforation 49. Each support 35 is also provided with two upstanding rods 54 on which reciprocates cutter member 55, the same being supplied with two perforations which slide on the rods To hold the cutter to the upper limit of its movement when not otherwise depressed is spring 56, inserted between. said cutter member and the top portion of support 3.4. as shown in Fig. 4. To limit the upward movement of cutter 55 any form of stopping means may be employed. The upper end of member 55 is supplied with rod 57 which has two loose rollers 58, one at each side of the member 55 and held in place by cotter pin 59. To one face of member 55 is screwed. knife blade 60, which when forced downwardly intersects the perforation 19. By a stationary cam member 58 supported from the frame by arms 58 (Fig. 1), the rollers 58 are engaged, whereby as the carrier rotates the cutter blade is forced downwardly and the silk end of the ear is severed.

Mounted adjacent to the rapidly revolving circular saw 25 is a stationary knife blade 61 and near its sharpened edge is an adjustable arm 62, supported on the iron bar 63 by means of slotted lugs 64, the same being held to bar 63 by bolts 65. Pivoted to the outwardly extended projection 66 of a rm 62 is a lever 67, in the plane of arm 62 and spring pressed toward it by spring 68, pin 69 on the lever limiting the movement of the lever by reason of its engagement with lug 70 on the projection 66. i

The operation of this machine is as follows: The driving of pulley 15, by means of an external source of power rotates shaft 14, and by means of the sprocket wheels together with the connecting chain shaft 11 receives its rotary motion. Shaft 19 which bears the conveyer receives its motion from shaft 1]., by means of the sprocket wheels 16 and 18 and the connecting chain 17.

Shaft 11 transmits power to shaft 24: by means of pulleys 21 and 22 and belt 23, these connections furnishing rapid motion for the circular saw 25, and in order to lo tate shaft 26 with its cleaning arms 30, the

the receptacle or trough roller 38 passes off of the end of cam rail 39, and due to the release of the springs 36 the members 35 quickly slide to the left, the silk end of the corn passing into the funnel shaped member" 35 and protruding through the member '32. The sliding movement of member 35 under the action of springs 36 and 37 causes the stock end of the ear to project from the end of the conveyer the same being forced against knife blade 61, the butt end of the ear striking on arms 62 and 67. Bythis operation the stock end is split up to the cob by blade 61, thus positioning the ear so that the rapidly rotating circular saw 25 will sever the-stock and husks at the cob as the conveyer revolves, the stock end easily passing out from between the arms 62 and 67 due to the fact that arm 67 is pivoted and spring pressed. As the conveyer or drum travels around, the rollers 58 on the cutting member are pressed radially inward knife blade thereby severing the silk end of the ear. Continued rotation of the conveyer causes the rollers 58 to pass from under the actuating cam the cutting blade 60 being raised by means of spring 56 which was compressed in the downward movement of cutter The rotation of the conveyer causes each roller 38 to engage the inner surfaces of stationary cam 39 the point at which this engagement takes place depending upon the position of said roller which is determined by the length of the ear in the receptacle. As the roller travels on the cam 39 rod 51 and traveling member 35 are moved inwardly, causing the compression of spring 36, and also forcing the ear outwardly by means of the end 52 of rod 51 engaging the inner end of the ear, the ear being guided by the members 41 and 42 and pressed between knives 45, so that as the ear passes through the ring 32 its husks are shredded or slit their entire length, and the ear is discharged from the machine. The continued rotation of the conveyer bringsthe husks which have accumulated about the knives and guides into contact with their rapidly revolving cleaner arms 30, thereby removing the husks from the machine. When the roller reaches the space 39 it is pressed to the right by the expansion of spring 37 so as to engage and travel on the outside of cam 39 as the conveyer continues its rotation. Each ear in each receptacle is treated in the manner described above, and since the feeding mechanism is constantly supplying ears to the empty receptacles, the operation of husking the corn is continuous.

Instead of mechanism for severing thesilk end of the ear described above, I may use the form shown in Figs. 8 and 9. The knife blade 71 is mounted on the outer end of spring 7 2 which is fastened at its inner end of member 35 by means of screws 73. The portion 74-. may be integral with the knife blade or it may be a separate member attached to theknife blade, spring 72 taking the place of the rollers 58 described above. As the members 74 pass under the operating cam, the blades 71 are caused to shear off the ends of the ears as will be apparent.

While I have herein shown and described what- I deem preferred embodiments of the invention, I am aware that modifications can be made therein without departing from the substance of my invention and I do not, therefore, limit the invention to the details shown and described except in so far as such details are made the subject matter of specific claims.

I claim: i i

1. In a machine of the character described. the combination of a conveyer for an ear of corn, a saw adjacent to said conveyer to sever the stock end of said ear, and means traveling with said conveyor to project the stock end of said ear into the plane of operation of said saw, substantially as described.

2. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a rotatable conveyer for an ear of corn, a saw adjacent to said conveyer, and a spring actuated means traveling with said conveyer to project the stock end of said ear into the plane of operation of said saw, substantially'as described.

3. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a conveyer having a plurality of receptacles, each adapted to receive an ear of corn, a saw adjacent to said conveyer to sever the stock ends of said ears, and means in each receptacle to project the stock endsof said ears into the plane of operation of said saw, substantially as described.

4. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a conveyer having a plurality of receptacles each adapted to receive an ear of corn, a saw adjacent to said conveyer to sever the stock ends of said ears, and a spring actuated means in each receptacle to project the stock ends of said ears into the plane of operation of said saw, substantially as described.

5. In amachine of the character described, the combination of a conveyer having a plurality of receptacles each adapted to receive an ear of corn, means adjacent to said conveyer to sever the stock ends of said ears of corn, and a sliding spring-actuated pusher in each receptacle to project its ear of corn into the plane of operation of said severing means whereby its stock end may be out off as said conveyer moves, substantially as decorn, a knife blade adjacent to said conveyer, a saw adjacent to said conveyer,

means to thrust the stock end of said ear against said knife for splitting and positionlng the same, and means to move said conveyer so that said saw Will sever the split 1 stock end of said ear, substantially as described.

7. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a receptacle for an ear of corn, a perforated support for the silk end of said ear, said end lying in the perforation of said support, a spring supported knife to sever said end of the ear, and means to operate said knife substantially as described.

the combination of a movable receptacle for an ear of corn, a perforated support for the silk end of said ear, said end lying in said perforation, a knife to sever said end of the ear, and a cam to operate said knife, substantially as described,

9. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a movable receptacle for an ear of corn, a perforated support for the silk end of said ear, said end lying in said perforation, a knife to sever said end of the ear, and a stationary cam to operate said knife, substantially as described.

10. In a machine of the character de scribed, the combination of a rotary receptacle for an ear of corn, a perforated support in said receptacle for the silk end of said ear, said silk end lying in the perforation, a knife mounted on said support, a spring to raise said knife also mounted on said support, and a stationary cam adapted to operate said knife to sever the silk end of said ear, substantially as described.

11. In a machine of the character deeribed, the combination of a conveyer having a plurality of receptacles each adapted to receive an ear of corn, a support for the silk end of each ear, and a means for each corn, substantially as described.

12. In a' machine of the character described, the combination of a rotary conve'yer provided with a plurality of receptacles, each adapted to receive an ear of corn, a perforated support in each receptacle for the silk end of its ear, said silk end lying in said perforation, a spring mounted on each support, a knife attached to each spring adapted to sever the silk end of each ear, and a stationary cam adapted to operate said knives as the conveyer rotates, substantially as described.

13. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a conveyer proj vided with a plurality of receptacles, each 1 adapted to receive an ear of corn, a feeding 1 mechanism to supply ears to said receptacles,

means to split the stock end of each said ,ears to position the same, and means to sever said stock ends, substantially as described.

let. In a machine of the character de- Q scribed, the combination of a conveyer pro- 8. In a machine of the character described,

vided with a plurality of receptacles, each 1 adapted to receive an ear of corn, a feeding:

mechanism to supply ears to said receptacles,

fineans to split the stock end of each ear to 1 position the same, means to sever the stock end of each ear, and means to cut off the silk end of each ear, substantially as descrlbed.

15. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a. conveyer pro- ;vided With a plurality of receptacles, each adapted to receive an ear of corn, a feeding mechanism to supply ears to said receptacles,

16. In a machine of the character de- 1 scribed, the combination of a conveyer having' a plurality of receptacles, each adapted 1 to receive an ear of corn, means adjacent to said conveyer to sever the stalk ends of said ears of corn, and aspring-actuated pusher in each receptacle to project its ear of corn into the plane of operation of said severing 1 means whereby its stalk end may be cut off 1 as said co veycr moves, substantially as dee scribed.

receptacle to sever the silk end of its ear of JOSEPH H. PIERCE. lVitnesses T. D. BUTLER, MARION G. ELWELL,

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five eentseaeh, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C.

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