US1338276A

US1338276A - Fruit grader and sizer

Info

Publication number: US1338276A
Application number: US357744A
Authority: US
Inventors: John F Barghausen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1920-02-10
Filing date: 1920-02-10
Publication date: 1920-04-27
Anticipated expiration: 1937-04-27

Description

J. F. BARGHAUSEN.

FRUIT GRADER AND SIZER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 10. 1920.

1,338,276. Patented Apr. 27,1920.

8 SHEETS-SHEET l- YINVENTOR XWWQ J. F. BARGHAUSEN.

FRUIT GRADER AND SIZER. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 10. 1920.

Patented Apr. 27, 1920,

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J. F. BARGHAUSEN. FRUIT GBADER AND SIZER. APPLICATION FILED-FEB. no. 1920.

Patex ltedApr. 27,1920.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

INVENTOR J. F. BARGHAUSE N.

FRUIT GRADER AND SIZER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.10, 1920.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 4- .1 ,338,276, Patented Apr. 27, 1920.

J. F. BARGHAUSEN.

FRUIT GRADER AND SIZER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB- 10. I920.

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FRUIT GRADER AND SIZER- 7 APPLICATION FILED FEB- 10, 1920.

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J. F. BARGHAUSE N.

FRUIT GRADER AND SIZER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 10, 1920.

Patented Apr. 27,1920.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 7.

J. F. BARGHAUSEN.

FRUIT GRADER AND SIZER.

APPLICATION man FEB. 10. 1920.

Patented Apr. 27, 1920.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

INVENTOR JOHN F. BARGI-IAUSEN, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

FRUIT GRADER AND SIZER.

Application filed February 10, 1820.

Specification of LettersPatent.

Patented Apr. 27, 1920.

Serial No. 357,744.

(FILED UNDER ACT OF MARC-H 3, 1883, 22 STAT. L., 625.)

To (all whom it may concern:

lie it liIlOWD that 1, JOHN F. BARGHAUSEN, a citizen of the United States of America, and an employee of the Department of Agriculture of the United States of America, residing in l i ashington, D. (l, and whose post-office address is Department of Agriculture, i i zisliing'ton, D. C., have invented a certain new and useful Fruit Grader and biizer, of which the following is a specifi a more efficient and economical means for.

sizing and grading fruits, "and an additional object is to handle fruit in such a way in the sizing and grading operation as to minimize the bruising or other injury to the fruit.

The apparatus used by me consists of two separate parts, one part known as the conveyer and the other known as the sizer and grader.

f clearly illustrate my invention in the accompanying drawings which form a part of th present specification. In said drawings T have shown one specific form of the apparatus of my invention, but it is to be understood that the invention as expressed in the claims may be embodied in a plurality of forms.

Referring to said drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a cross section of'the apparatus taken on a line 2-2, Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an end view of the apparatus taken on the line 3-3, Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a side view of the conveyer.

Fig. 5 shows graduated adjustment for tracks, the supports for tracks and ratchetconstruction for canvas apron.

Fig. 6 is a detail plan view of the laterally adjustable sheaves and their cooperating adjustable discharge chutes.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the mechanism for adjustment by lever movement of tracks.

Fig. 8 is a side view of the same.

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 7 and illustrates the screw regulated form of track adjuster.

J} 1g. 10 is a side view of the same.

Fig. 11 is an end view of the same.

Fi 12 is a side view of the belt or rope couplbr.

Fig. 13 is a top view in cross section of the same.

Fig. 14 is a front view of the lock plate for the lever track adjusters.

Fig. 15 is a side view of the same.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the grader and sizer A. comprises a suitable frame 1, upon which is mounted a packers bench. 2, canvas drops 3, padded canvas chute 3*, and bin 4. Also journaled on the frame 1 are shafts 5 and -6, to which are attached.

grooved pulleys

7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14. At one side of shaft is a sprocket wheel 15, over which travels a chain 16, connecting with another sprocket wheel 17 on shaft 18 to which power .is imparted by any suitable means. The shaft 18 also imparts power to the conveyer 19 by means of a miter gear 20 which meshes with a miter gear 21 attached to a shaft 22 whichshaft 22 is equipped with a small sprocket wheel, 23, over which runs a chain 24, which in turn connects with a sprocket wheel 25 attached to shaft 26 over which travels the roller conveyer 19. Between the

pulley wheels

7, 8,

v

9, 10 and 11, 12, 13, 14 are the

tracks

28, 29, 30, 31. The

tracks

28 and 31 are supported by iron supports 32 which are in turn supported by frame 1. Tracks 29 and are supported at one end by a mechanical adjusting device 33 shown in Fig. 9, which is attached to the frame 1. These tracks 29 and 30 are also supported at the other end and at intermediate points by mechanical devices, 34 and 34*, which are attached to the frame 1. Endless ropes or round leather belts 35 travel over the aforesaid grooved pulleys and the groove 36 in the tracks 28-31, and these ropes or belts 35 are held taut by means of a pulley wheel 37 on a shaft 38 in an arm 39, to one end of which is fastened a-bar 40 capable of receiving weights 41 at one end thereof and secured at the other end thereof to frame 1 by means of a pivot 42. The ropes or round leather belts 35 are made endless bymeans of a coupler 43 which comprises four parts, two sheaves or thimbles 44 with 49 and into the rope, causing the ends of frame 1 by means of iron bars the rope to spread against threads The screws 46 and 47 are then coupled together by a pin 48, thereby forming a pivot oint.

The adjusting device and support 33 for tracks 29 and 30 is secured to the frame 1 by means of screws 50 which pass through a bar 51 the ends 52 of which are turned up at right angles. The ends 52 have openings or bearings 53 to receive the shaft 54 which has right hand threads at one end 54 and left hand threads at the other end 54 This shaft 54 is placed in position through the slot 55 into the bearing 53 and is held in position by means of the pin 57 which is inserted through the end. 52 crosswise of andabove shaft 54. On the shaft 54 are two lugs 58 which are threaded to correspond with the

threads

54 and 54 on the shaft and attached to these lugs 58 by means of screws 59 are four members 60 which are in turn affixed to plates 61 by means of the screws 62, which plates 61 are attached to the tracks 29 and 30 by means of the screws 63. Two of the four members60 are supported by and slide over iron supports 6O which are fastened in any suitable manner to bar 51. Attached to one end of the shaft 54 by means of a bolt and nut attachment 65 is the pipe 64 which extends the full length of the apparatus and which is equipped with a wheel 66. The pipe 64 passes through frame v1 which is especially constructed as follows: The frame 1 at the point where the pipe 64 passes through consists of two pieces of timber 1" and 1", the upper piece 1 being provided with a groove 03 to accommodate the pipe 64. The pieces of

timber

1 and 1 are fastened. together and also to the main part of The turning of the wheel 66 causes the shaft 54 to turn, thereby causing the tracks 29 and 30 to either open or close to any desired extent depending upon the direction in which the wheel 66 is turned. The extent of the opening or the closing of the tracks 29 and 30 whenthis wheel 66 is revolved is indicated by indicators 67, attached to tracks 29 and 30, which indicators point to graduated scales 68, a l'hxed by any suitable means to the brace 32 at the end. of the track. When the tracks 29 and 30 are closed or opened a corresponding movement of the pulley wheels12 and 13 is caused by means of angle iron shifters 69, one of the'e'nds of which is attached to the tracks 29 and 30, the other ends O1 which are attached to grooves 70, in the hub 71 of the

pulley wheels

12 and 18. 11-12 and 1314 are loose wooden pulley wheels 72 somewhat smaller in diameter than the grooved pulleys 11 to 1.4, which said pulley wheels 72 revolve around shaft 6 and are held apart from each other and Between pulley wheels against the grooved pulley wheels 11 to 14 by means of a spiral spring 73. This an rangement permits the pulley wheels 72 to,

revolve at will and also follow theadjust ment of the grooved pulleys 12 and'13.

At the cull or near end 7470f the grader A there are two lever track adjusters 34, which are adapted to adjust by a simulta-' neous parallel movement the width of the opening between tracks 29 and 30 for it'CllS- tance extending from the conveyer near end v'75 to the end 76 of the cull section 74.

These lever track adjusters 34 are secured to the frame 1 by screws 77 which pass through a bar 78, the ends 7 9 of which are turned up at right angles. The ends 79 have bearings 80 to receive the pipe 64. The pipe 64 also passes through and acts as a guide for loose fitting lugs 81 and 81 Attached to the

lugs

81 and 81 by means of

screws

82 and 82* are four members 83 which are in turn afiixed to plates 84 by means of the screws 85, which plates 84 are attached to tracks 29 and 30 by means of the screws 86. Two of the four members 83 are supported by and slide over iron bars 87 which are fastened by any suitable means to bar 7 8. The movement of these adjusting devices is obtained by the operation-of bar 89 by'a riveted pivot 91, the third bar 90 belng attached at one of its ends to lug 81 by screw 82 the other end being at 'tached to approximately the center of bar 89 by a riveted pivot 92. Bar 89 is attached by means of a screw 93' to bar 7 8 evenly spaced between the riveted pivots 91 and 92, and said bar 89 has its opposite end 7 bolted to a rod 94 which extends through an opening 95 in look plate 96 which is attached by suitable means to frame 1. 7 The end of rod 94 near the lock plate 96 is bent down so as to form a handle 97,, which when moved inwardly or outwardly "opens on closes the tracks 29 and 80 at the Bull. end 75 of the grader A. The involuntary movement of the rod 94 is prevented by a simple locking device consisting of a small metal plate 98 fastened at the top to plate 96 by;

a screw pivot 99.

a o1 semi-clrcular movement, and'drops by the action of gravlty to top of bar 94 when This plate98 is capable released at or near height of movement. The bottom of bar 94 is ratcheted and it rests upon and fits into the lower part of opening 95. It is thus apparent that the bar 94 cannot by reason of said ratchets be moved forward or backward when held against the lower part of opening 95 by the plate 98.

Near the center of the grader A is a lever track adjuster 34 of similar construction and operation to the aforesaid track adjusters 34 with the exception that it is operated by a rod 100 on the opposite side of the adjuster 34 to the rod 94 on adjusters 34. This adjuster 34 controls the openings of tracks 29 and 30 to. any size within its range between the screw adjuster 33 and the end 76 of the cull section 74. A locking device 101 of similar construction and operation to the locking device for rod 94 is provided for rod 100. Beneath the cull section 74 is suspended from the stationary tracks 28 and 31 a canvas chute 102. The fruit that passes through the cull section 74 of the grader A falls upon this chute 102 and is conveyed by gravity to any suitable receptacle (not shown) The canvas drops 3 extend from the end 76 of the cull section 74 the full length of the grader A and are positioned, at a slight angle toward bin 4 directly under the tracks 28 -31. Fruit that passes between the tracks in the area covered by the canvas drops 3 falls upon said drops and then by force of gravity rolls over canvas pad 3 into the bin 4. These canvas drops 3 are fastened by any suitable means to the frame 1 near the far end 103 of the tracks 2831. These drops 3 are fastened at the end 76 of the cull section 7 4 to wooden rolls 104 which are provided with grooves 105 to receive the ends of the canvas drops 3. Each of the rolls 104 is equipped with an iron shaft 106 which passes through the center of the rolls 104. A bar of iron 107 suitably bent and attached by screws 108 at one end 109 to the frame 1 and at the other end 110 to

tracks

28 and 31, is provided to receive the shaft 106 of each roll 104. The ends of the shaft 100 are adapted to revolve in bearings 111 in iron bar 107. The iron bar 107 is braced by an iron brace 112, one end 113 of which is attached to bar 107, the other end 114 to frame 1, by any suitable means. The shaft .105 extends beyond the outer side 115 of bar 107 a sufficient distance to permit of the attachment thereto by any suitable means of a ratchet wheel 116 and a hand wheel 117 The ratchet wheel is equipped with a ratchet lock 118 which is pivoted on bar 107 at point 119 by means of a screw 120 which permits a leverage movement. One end of the lock 118 fits into the ratchet wheel 116 and the other end has attached thereto by any suitable means a spiral spring 121 which is in turn secured at its other end to bar 107, thereby obtaining a tension on ratchet wheel 116 and preventing the involuntary movement of the roll 104. By the above described mechanism the tension of the canvas drops 3 may be controlled.

Suitably fastened to shaft 6 and frame 1 are

metal bars

122 and 123 so positioned that a wooden shelf 125 superimposed upon a connecting bar 124 is adapted to hold at a slight angle, concave galvanized iron chutes 126 which are pivoted directly in front of the pulley wheels 111-1 by means of bolts 127. The chutes 126 are equipped with leather pads 128 to prevent bruising of fruit that may fall thereupon and slide thereover. These chutes 126 are intended to receive and dispose of any fruit that is carried over the end 103 of the tracks 28-31 and over the loose pulley wheels 72. By the adjustment in a circular movement of the chutes 126 such fruit is guided in the desired direction to the padded canvas chute 3*, from whence it is conveyed by gravity to bin 4.

In the practice of my invention the fruit to be graded and sized is placed upon an inclined padded hopper 129, of the conveycr 19 from whence the fruit is conveyed by gravity on to rollers attached to a detachable chain, said rollers conveying the fruit to declined chutes 130. As the fruit travels upon the rollers it is caused to revolve by the rotatable movement of the rollers, thus enabling the grader who stands beside the conveyer to observe the full circun'rference of the fruit, and to remove any defective fruit. The fruit that is conveyed to the chutes 1.30 is conveyed by gravity to endless ropes or bolts 35, which said ropes convey the fruit, and through which ropes and the tracks the fruit drops to the cull section or other parts of the grading device, depending upon the size of the opening between the ropes and the tracks and the size of the fruit being conveyed upon the ropes. The cull fruit automatically drops on to the canvas chute 102 for culls; the size of the opening between the ropes and tracks through which the cull fruit drops, such opening being parallel, is controlled by the lever adjusters 34, which are operated by handle 97. Fruit remaining on the ropes after the cull section 74 has been passed is graded by falling through the ropes and tracks depending on the size of the opening between the ropes and tracks and the size of the fruit, the ropes and tracks diverging from the end of the cull section 76 to the end of said tracks 103 and said ropes or belts whereerated by wheel 66. Thesize of the opening between the ropes and tracks midway between the end of the cull section 76 and the screw adjuster 33 is controlled by the lever adjuster 343, which is operated by handle 100. 7

It is thus apparent that the width of the opening between the tracks, and consequently between the ropes at, any point thereof may be controlled at will from the near end of the grader A. The width of the opening between the tracks at the far end 103 thereof is shown by the graduated scale indicator 68 and dial 67. The expan sion or contraction of the endless ropes or belts is compensated by the weighted idler- 40. A rotatable movement is imparted to the fruit as it is being conveyed by the ropes by reason of the fact that one of the two ropes that conveys each line of fruit travels slightly more rapidly than the other. This is accomplishedby the two

pulleys

7 and 10 being slightly smallerin diameter than pulleys 8 and 9.

As the pieces of fruit fall through the space between the ropes or belts and the tracks, they drop upon the canvas drops 3, from whence they roll to and across the padded canvas chute 3 into the bin 4. The pieces of fruit that are too large to pass through the opening between the ropes and the track are conveyed to the end 103 of the tracks, where they drop to the loose wooden pulley wheels 72 and are thence conveyed to the canvas iron chutes 126, from which points they slide or roll by force of gravity to a padded canvas chute 3 to bin 4. r

I claim:

1. In a fruit grading and sizing apparaable pulleys both'in the parallel and the diverging portions of said guides, means for keeping in a taut condition the said ropes, and means for disposing of large fruit that passes beyond the far end of said guides.

2. In a fruit grading and sizing apparatus, comprising a pair of associated normally stationary grooved guides parallel for V a portion of their length and diverging longitudinally for the remainder of their length, ropes movable longitudinally on said guldes, means to operate said ropes, receptacles to receive different grades of fruitlocated beneath the ropes, one of said guides being shiftable relativeto the other, shift tropes in a taut position. 7

4;. In a fruit grading and sizing apparatus, a pair of associated normally stationary grooved guides parallel fora portion of thelr length and diverging longitudinally for the remainder of their length, ropes movable longitudinally on said guides, means to operate said ropes, receptacles to receive different grades of fruit located be neath the ropes, means for tightening said receptacles, and one of said guides being shiftable', relative to the other, shiftable pulleys for said shiftable guide, means for shifting said shiftable guide and said shiftable pulleys both in the parallel and'the diverging portions of said guides, means for making said ropes endless, means for keeping in a taut condition the said ropes and means for disposing oflarge fruit that passes beyond the far end of said guides.

In testimony-whereof, I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

, [JOHN F. BARGHAUSEN.

'lVitnesses:

A. J. Dnonnn, L. S. HULBERT.