US1309565A - Covee-opeeating mechanism - Google Patents

Description

C. CRETORS.

COVER OPERAHNG MECHANISM.

APPLICAHON FILED SEPT-20. I9IB.

1 ,309,565. Patented July 8, 1919. i 4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

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C. CRETORS.

coven OPERATING MECHANISM.

Patented July 8, 1919.

APPLICAHON FILED SEPT-20 l9l8.

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WLQSS/ C. CRETORS.

COVER OPERATING MECHANISM.

APPLICAHON FILED SEPT-20.1918.

Patented July 8, 1919.

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C. CRETORS.

COVER OPERATING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION man SEPT-20.1918.

1,309,565. Patented July 8, 1919.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES CRETORS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

COVER-OPERATING- MECHANISM.

Application filed September 20. 1918.

To all 1072 0121 it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES Can'rons, a citizen of the United States of America. and a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook, State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cover-Operating Mechanisms, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to means for opening and closing the cover or lid of the popping pan of an auton'iatically operating corn popping apparatus such as disclosed in my prior Patents No. 1,201,807, of October 17, 1916, and No. 1,279,663 of Sept. 21, 1918, and has for its object To provide a structural formation and as sociation of parts in a cover operating mechanism by which the periodic opening and closing movements are attained at the proper time and in an effective and certain manner by an inter-controllable connection of the different units and so that when one mechanism ends an active operation it will release or start a succeedingmechanism from a normally inactive condition in which it had been positively maintained, all as will hereinafter more fully appear.

In the accompanying d 'awings Figure 1, is a rear elevation of a corn popping apparatus, similar to that of my aforesaid patents, and having the present improvements applied.

Fig. 2, is an enlarged vertical section of the operating mechanism of the apparatus and the inter-controllable connections thereof.

Fig. 3, is a detail perspective view of the clutch operating head of the present mechanism.

Fig. 41, is a detail top plan of the mechanism shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. is a sectional elevation on line rc"a Fig, 2 showing the clutch operating mechanism and accessories in locked condition.

Fig. 6, is a similar view of the same in a released condition.

Fig. 7, is a detail horizontal section on line w m Fig. 5,

Figs. 8 and 9, are companion detail side elevations of the cover raising mechanism illustrating the same connected for an active popping Operation and for an inactive or exhibition operation, respectively.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 8, 1919.

Serial No. 254.948.

Like reference numerals indicate like parts in the several views.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the tubular upright supporting post of the apparatus, carrying a horizontal tubular bracket sleeve 2 upon which is revolnbly mounted the fixedly connected fuel burner 3 and popping pan 4 of the apparatus and to which intermittent semi-revolutimis are imparted by the automatically controlled mechanisms hereinafter described in detail.

-'l designates the fixed top member or hood of the popping pan, of a truncated cone form and having a central top opening for the discharge of the popped corn. such opening having an associated lid or cover 5 adapted for operation by means hereinafter de scribed.

G designates a laterally disposed neck on the hood 1 for the introduction of a supply of raw corn into the popping pan 4- from a supply hopper 7. as described in detail in my prior Patent No. 1,279,663, aforesaid.

8 designates a mutilated bevel gear wheel fixedly secured to the carrying hub of the fuel burner 3 and associated popping pan 4 aforesaid, and adapted to receive intermittent semi-rotation from a bevel pinion 9 on a. constantly rotating countershaft 10 of the appa 'atus, as set forth in detail in my companion application for Letters Patent, Serial No. 254,947. In the present improvement the upper end of the countershaft 10 has operative engagement with the cover raising and lowering mechanism hereinafter described in detail,

11 and 12 designate primary and secondary cam wings fixed on the gear wheel 8 in diametrically opposed relation, the primary wing 11 having a greater lift than the secondary wing 12 set forth.

13 designates the primary driving shaft. of the apparatus receiving motion from a suitable power source. and opcratively connected to the aforesaid counter-shaft 10 by a pair of gear wheels 14 and 15, the gear wheel 15 having a cam formation 16 on its upper side for operative engagement with the timing mechanisn'i of the apparatus.

17 designates a vertically movable head. preferably arranged to slide upon the aforesaid countershaft 10. with a constant downward tendency under the influence of a for the purpose hereinafter spring 17. The upper end of said head is operatively associated with the carrying arm of the popping pan cover, as hereinafter described, while the lower end of said head 17 is adapted for serial perative engagements with the primary and secondary cam Wings 11 and 12 aforesaid, and adapted in a fully raised condition to render the timing mechanism -inoperativeand-at other times leave said timing mechanism; freetfor active operation as set forth in detail in my companionapplication Ser. No. 254,947.

18 designates a bracket piece-fixed on the and having operative .connectionbya rod or pitman 22 with-an intermittently operating.

crank disk 31 hereinafter described.

23 designates .a movable arm-nor frame journaled on the pivot, pintle of the, cover carrying arn'1119-with. its rear. end operatively connected to a cornmeasuring mechanism inclosed in the-lower portion. of the supply hopper? aforesaid, by a connecting rod 24:. At its forward end" the movable arm 23 is formed for engagement with a latch piece 25 on the cover carrying; arm 19 to lock the; parts. together for ..mo.vement .in unison, and s0 iilhttillVllBll. said latch piece25 is released the arm or frame. 23 will remain inactive with a correspondinginactivity of the measuring mechanism: aforesaid.

26 designates aspring bar orhfinger/ the upper and free end oflwhichis adapted'for operative engagement with the; hereinafter described clutch operating head, while its lower end is. pivotally connected to a crank arm'27 on the hubportion of the. cover carrying arm 19; aforesaid. ,In .the present construction the spring finger 26., is. maintained in proper. positionby a bearing stud and a confining loop 29 on the arm or frame. 23 aforesaid.

30 designates atworm hub. supportedv on the upper end of :the bracketpiece 18 and encircling the upper end of the countershaft 10, with its worm formation inoperative engagement with the gearteethoffthe crank disk 3l= heretofore referred to, andiadapted The worm hub to impart rotation thereto. 30 has .intermittent operative connection with the countershaft 10 bya T shapedkey or clutch number 32 sliding vertically in a keyway in said countershaftrand having a lateral lug 33 adapted to engage in a holding notchin the top of said worm' hub 30 to lock the same to said counter-shaft for rotation therewith. The lateral lug 33 extends outwardly 3 for operative engagement with the hereinafter described automatically actuated clutch operating head, the action of Which is to lift the clutch member 32 out of engagement with the worm hub 30,'and to ,permita.reengagement of said parts at dif- -36.designates an operating stem guided in a a vertical guideway inthe bracket piece 18 and. fixedly attachedatits lower end to the vertically :movinghead 17 .heretofore described. :Intermediate,itsheight the stem 36 is formed witha lateralshoulder .38 for in termittent operative engagement with the crank pin.20. of. the cover-carrying arm 19 aforesaid,and the mpper. end of said stem 36is. adaptedto engage andiimpart vertical movement to a cam block or rod formed and arranged asfollows 37. de signatesla cam block or rod arranged in vertical alinement witln the operating stem 36 for intermittent. operative engagementtherewith. The upper end of the block or. rod 37 is formed with a beveled or cam surface for operative engagement with a correspondingly formed lateral arm or formationof the clutchoperating head now to be described 39 designates the hub portion of the clutch operating head above referred to, provided with a journal stem 40 turning in the bracket piece 18 in adjacent relation to the worm hub 30 and clutch member 32 aforesaid.

41, designates a curved clutch operating arm fixed transversely on the hub portion 39 anduformed With a beveled or cam surface 42 adapted to be swung into the path of the lateral lug33, of the clutch member 32, so that in its circular travel with the countershaft 10, the said lug 33 may ride upon said cam surface 4-2 and thus lift said-lung out of its operative engagement in the notch of'the Worm hub and the countershaft 10 aforesaid.

43 designates an operating pin or lug arranged on onev end of the clutch operating arml and adapted for operative engagement with the before mentioned spring finger 26, when the apparatus. is run empty for exhibition purposes as set forth in the operation of the apparatus.

1 1 designates an operating pin or studarranged near the opposite end of the'eluteh operating arm 41 and adaptedfor serial operative engagement with a pair of diametri-- cally opposed cam lugs 45 on the periphery of the crank disk 31, and said cam lugs d5 are so positioned that-as .the pan cover 5 nears the end of itsvtravel to its lowered position one canilug 15 will engage andoperate the pin alto swing the'eurved cam arm 41 into operative engagementavith the clutch member 32 to release the worm'hub 30 from its driving engagement with the countershaft' 1O aforesaid. lVhen the pan cover 5 nears the end of itstravel to its raised position the other camlug 45 will effeet a similar clutch releasingoperation.

l6 designates a peripheral flange on the crank disk 31 against which the aforesaid pin ll bears, andiits movementin the manner above described is prevented, during the greater part of the semi-rotation of i the crank disk 31, and until a cam lug 45 comes into operation when said movement is permited by a gap for-med in said flange adjacent to an individual cam lug :5.

17 designates a reciprocating rod guided by the pan cover and earrying arm 19 and receiving motion from the popped anduexpanded contents of the popping pan -l. as set forth in my aforesaid Patent No. 1,27 9,663. And as in said patented construction the outer end of the rod 47 is arranged adjacent to one end'of the clutch operating arm ll and is adapted to move the cam surface 12 of'the arme'll out of the path of the lateral lug 32 of the clutch member, so that the same may drop into clutching engagement with the worm' hub 30 and cause positive rotation of the same and the crank disk 31 aforesaid.

48 designates a laterally arranged arm or projection on the hub portion of the clutch operating head above described, with its under surface beveled or inclined for operative engagement with the correspondingly beveled upper end of the cam block or rod 37 before described, and the arrangement is such that a complete upward movement of the cam rod 37 will swing the clutchoperating arm 41, associated with said arm 48, out of the path of thecluteh member 32 and permit operative engagement of the worm hub 30 with the driving counter-shaft 10 aforesaid.

19 designates a fixed collar on the "journal stem 4-0 of the clutch operating arm 41 aforesaid, formed with a side ledge or flange 50 at its lower end, which ledge or flange is in turn formed with a central holding slot or passage 51, see Figs. 3, 5. and 6, adapted to receive a lateral pin 52 of the cam rod 37 to lock the collar l-9 and clutch operating arm 41 from a turning movement. At other periods in the operation of the apparatus, thepin 52 is moved vertically out of the slot 51 and is adapted to rest upon the ledge 50'avhen the clutch operating arm 11 and said collar--49 are turned to bring said legs 50 beneath the pin 52, as set forth in detail in the operation of the mechanism.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows Assume the popping pan 4 to be in a normal poppingposition with the pan cover 5 moving from 'an open position shown in dotted lines, to a elosedposition shown in fulllines in Fig. 1, under the influence of the worm hub 30 and crank disk 31. In such down ard movement of the cover 5, the corn measuring: means is operated by the connecting rod 24-, operatively assoeiated'with the cover earryingmrm 19,- to supply a charge of raw or unpopped corn to the popping pan 1. Coineidentwith the movements just described,-the crank arm 20 of the cover carrying'arin 19 acts against the shoulder 38 of the ope 'ating stem 36 to impart an upward movement to the same, and which in turn imparts a like n'iovement to the cam rod 37 to lift its lateral pin 52 out of the slot 51 and thereby release the clutch operating arm 11 from the locked condition in which it was held by thecngagement of said pin and slot.

()wing to the connection of the operating stem 36 with the vertically moving head17, a like upward movement will be imparted to the 'head 17 to render the timing mechanisnrof the'apparatus inoperative, as set forth in detail in my companion application Serial No; 254,917.

lVith the pan cover 5 nearing the closed position as above set forth. an adjacent cam lug 4:") of the crank disk 31 comes into operative engagement with the pin 44 of the clutch operating arm 41 to swing the cam -surface -12 thereof into the path of the clutch member 32 to lift the same out of driving engagement with the worm hub 30, so that further rotation of the cover operating crank disk 31 will be stopped, and at the same time the ledge or flange 50 will move beneath the lateral pin to hold the same ioutof its locking engagement with the slot 51. above set forth.

The described partsnow remain in an inactive condition until the corn in the popping pan -i1 has reached the properly popped stage to operate the rod -17 as set forth in my prior Patent No. 1,279,663. lVith a movement of said rod 47 the same acts against the clutch operating arm 11 to swing the cam surface 42 thereof out of the path of the clutch member 32 and permit the same to elfecta driving engagement with the worm hub 30, to in turn attain a semirevolution of the crank disk 31 and a lifting moven'ient of the pan cover 5 to an open position. Near the end of such cover liftingniovement another cam lug'45 on the crank disk 31 has engagement with the pin 44 of the clutch operating arm 41 to swing the cam surface 42 thereof into the path of the clutch member 32 and lift the same out of driving engagement with the worm hub 30 so that further rotation of the crank disk 31 will be stopped and the pan cover 5 will be left in its raised position. At the same time the ledge or flange 50 will be turned from beneath the lateral pin 52, permitting the same to descend into the slot 51 to lock the clutch operating arm 41 against accidental movement. a

In the described lifting movement of the pan cover 5, the crank arm 20 of the cover carrying arm 19 moves away from the operating stem 36 and permits the same and the connected head 17 to move downward so as to release the timing mechanism of the apparatus and restore the same to an active condition. In its downward movement the movable head 17 moves down onto the primary cam wing 11, on which it rests until released from such supporting engagement by a timing mechanism operating in unison with the present automatic cover moving mechanism, and preferably of thedetail construction set forth. in my companion application Serial No. 254,947 aforesaid.

WVith such release of the primary cam from the head 17 operative connection is reestablished between the bevel pinion 9 and the gear wheel 8 to effect asemi-revolution of thesaid gear wheel and a corresponding semi-revolution of popping pan 4 into inverted or dumping position.

During such semi-revolution of the parts,

the secondary cam wing 12 carried by said gear wheel 8 operates to move the head 17 into a raised position and retains such head in such raised position until the timing mechanism heretofore referred to, effects a releasing movement between said secondary cam wing 12 and the head 17 and reestablishes operative connection between the driv-o ing bevel pinion 9 and the mutilated bevel gear wheel 8 to cause 'a succeeding semirevolution of the gear wheel 8 and a return of the popping pan 4 to an upright or popping position. During such last-mentioned semi-revolutionof the bevel gear wheel 8 the primary cam wing 11 comes into action to effect a maximum upward movement of the head 17 associated operating stem 36 and cam rod 37 and thereby attain a vertical movement of the lateral. pin 52 out of the slot 51, leaving the clutch operating arm 41 free to receive a turning movement, and then in the final upward movement of said parts an operative engagement between the beveled upper end of the cam rod 37 and the beveled under surface of the arm 48 to move the clutch operating arm 41 out of engagement with the clutch member 32, so that the same may move down and operatively engage the worm hub 30, and through the crank disk 31 effect the closing movement of the pan cover 5 with which the present description of the operation of the apparatus began;

In the present structure the frame 23 is connected to and moves in unison with the cover carrying arm 19 in the normal operation of the apparatuslVhen it is desired to have the apparatus run empty for the purpose of exhibiting a continuous automatic operation of the mechanism without any feeding or popping of the corn, the frame 23 is disconnected from the cover carrying arm 19 so that said frame may move by gravity into an inactive position shown in Fig. 9, and in so doing the frame 23 brings the spring finger 26 into operative relation to the clutch operating arm 41. The spring finger 26 now lies in the path of the pin 43 of said clutchoperating arm 41 and is adapted to disengage said clutch operating arm from its engagement with the clutch member 32 immediately following the heretofore described engagement of said clutch operating arm 41 with the clutch member 32 and'which had been attained by a. cam lug 45 of the crank disk 31 in the cover closing movement of said crank disk. In such operation the spring finger 26 performs the function of the push rod 47, which in an exhibition operation remains wholly inactive owing to the absence of corn in thepopping pan. In the construction shown and described the spring finger 26 is in operative relation to the pin 43 only, when the cover carrying arm 19 is in its lowered position.

Having thus fully described my said invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A cover operating mechanism for corn popping apparatus, comprising a supporting frame, a swinging cover carrying arm pivoted on said frame, a crank disk journaled on said frame and having operative connection with said. carrying arm, said crank disk having a pair of diametrically opposed cam formations near its periphery, a driving countershaft, means for imparting constant rotation to said countershaft, a worm hub journaled loosely on said countersha-f-t and having operative engagement with said crank disk, a clutch connection between said hub and countershaft, intermittently operated means for moving the movable mem ber of said clutch connection into operative tions of the crank disk for moving said movable clutch member out of engagement with said Worm hub, substantially as set forth.

2. A cover operating mechanism for corn popping apparatus, comprising a supporting frame, a swinging cover carrying arm pivoted on said frame, a crank disk journaled on said frame and having operative connection with said carrying arm, said crank disk having a pair of diametrically opposed cam formations near its periphery and a gapped holding flange associated with said cam formation, a driving countershaft, means for imparting constant rotation to said countershaft, a worm hub journaled loosely on said countershaft and having operative engagement with said crank disk, a clutch connection between said hub and countershaft, intermittently operated means for moving the movable member of said clutch connection into operative engagement with said worm hub, and means operatively associated with the cam formations of the crank disk for moving said movable clutch member out of engagement with said worm hub, substantially as set forth.

3. A cover operating mechanism for corn popping apparatus, comprising a supporting frame, a swinging cover carrying arm pivoted on said frame, a crank disk join-naled on said frame and having operative connection with said carrying arm, said crank disk having a pair of diametrically opposed cam formations near its periphery, a driving counter-shaft, a worm hub journaled loosely on said countershaft and having operative engagement with said crank disk, a clutch connection between said hub and countershaft, an operating head carrying a transverse arm provided with a clutch operating cam surface and with an operating pin at one end adapted for engagement with the ca m formation of the crank disk to release the clutch connection of the worm hub and countershaft, and a rod receiving intermittent motion from the corn popping mechanism and having engagement with the clutch operating head to effect an engagement of the worm hub and countershaft, substantially as set forth.

4. A cover operating mechanism for corn popping apparatus, comprising a supporting frame, a swinging cover carrying arm pivoted on said frame, a crank disk journaled on said frame and having operative connection with said carrying arm, said crank disk having a pair of diametrically opposed cam formations near its periphery, a driving countershaft, a worm hub journaled loosely onsaid countershaft and having operative engagement with said crank disk, a clutch connection between said hub and countershaft, an operating head carrying a transverse arm provided with a clutch operating cam surface and with an operating pin at each end, a rod receiving intelmittent motion from the corn popping mechanism and having engagement with the clutch operating head to effect an engagement of the -worm hub and counter-shaft, and a fran'ic separate from and capable of fixed connection to the coier carrying arm and carrying a spring finger adapted when said frame is attached to the cover -arrying arm to have operative engagement with one of the pins of the clutch operating head to effect a clutch engagement of the worm hub and countcrshaft, the other pin of said operating head being adapted for engagement with the cam formation of the crank disk to effect a release of the clutching engagement of said worm hub and countershaft, substantially as set forth.

5. A cover operating mechanism for corn popping apparatus, comprising a supporting frame, a swinging cover carrying arm pivoted on said frame, a crank disk journaled on said frame and having operative connections with said carrying arm, said crank disk having a pair of diametrically opposed cam formations near its periphery, a driving counter-shaft, a worm hub journaled loosely on said counter-shaft and having operative engagement with said crank disk, a clutch connection between said hub and counter-shaft, an operating head carrying a transverse arm provided with an op erating pin at one end and with a clutch operating cam surface and a beveled operating face, a rod receiving intermittent motion from the corn popping mechanism and having engagement with the clutch operating head to effect an engagement of the worm hub and countershaft, the said operating pin being adapted for engagement with the cam formations of the crank disk to effect a release of the clutching engagement of the worm hub and countershaft, and an intermittently moving cam rod the upper end of which is adapted to engage the beveled operating face of the clutch operating head to effect a clutching engagement of the worm hub and counter-shaft, substantially as set forth.

(3. A cover ope 'ating mechanism for corn popping apparatus, comprising a supporting frame, a swinging cover carrying arm pivoted on said frame, a driving countershaft, a worm hub journalcd loosely on said countershaft and having operative connection with the cover carrying arm adapted to effect a rising and lowering motion of said arm, a clutch connection between said worm hub and countershaft, a clutch operating head controlling said clutch connection and receiving periodic actuation from the mechamsm of the apparatus, and means for lock.

ing said-v operating head .andassociated clutchconnection against aeeidental move ment during, an unolutchedcondition of the Worm hub and, countershaft, substantially as set forth. a

7 A cover ope rating mechanism forjcorn I popping, apparatus, compr sing a. supportlng frame, a swinging cover carrying arm I pivoted on said frame, adriving countershaft,.a ormhub. journaled loosely on said 'countershaft and having operative connection with themcover carrying arm; to attain .a rising and lowering, motion otthe same, a

clutclr'connection between saidorm hub and countersha-ft, a lc-lutch operating head controlling, ,saidclutch connectiomand re- ;ceiving periodic actuation from the mechaon saidiledge or loclg ing engagement infsaid vertical slot, and a crankxarln-lon the-cover carry ng .arm having, operative connection vv tlrsa d cam ro,d,,s 'ubstant1ally as; set ,forth.

8. A cover operating mechanism for corn aonin amaratus com risin iaqsuo orta: :3

111g frame, a swinging coverucarrying arm pivoted on said frame, a driving counter-- shaft, a orm hub 1ournaled loosely on sa1d v-countershaft and having operative connection With the cover carrying-arm to attain a rlslng and lowerlng motion of thesarne, a

welu tch connection between said Worm hub and lcountershait, a clutch'operating head controlling sa1d clutch connection and rece vmg- PGI'LOCllO actuat on from the -mechanism of the apparatus, a ledge or shelf associated with said operating head and formed with a vertical sl.ot,a cam rod adapted to mpart a turning movement to said operatinghead; and provided with a,lateral pinl adapted to have supportingengagement on said ledge and locking: engagement 1n said vertical slot, acrank arm on, the cover carrylngj arm; having operatlve. connection w th sa1d cam rod, and'a vertlcally. movable head 1 having operative an engagement with t sa1d cam rod, substantlally as set forth.

:Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this 16th day of September, 1918.

CREEO'RS.

c gpies qfi t h is patel lt mayx he obtaiueg, for five'eentsqeach, bmaddregsinguthe fipo m missi pner ofi, Batents,

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