US1514680A - Tool for cutting bananas from bunches thereof - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 11 1924. 1,514,680

J. STRAUB TOOL FOR CUTTING BANANAS FROM BUNCHES THEREOF Filed Fe 20. 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

ATTORNEY.

Nov.

J. STRAUB TOOL FOR CUTTING BANANAS FROM BUNCHES THEREOF Filed Feb. 20, 1923 INVEN TOR.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 11, 1924.

UITE STATES FATE JOHN STRAUB, 0]? ASHLEY, NORTH DAKOTA.

TOOL FOR CUTTING BANANAS FROM BUNCHES THEREOF.

Application filed February 20, 1923.

cutting bananas from the bunch thereof,

and its object is to provide a device by means by which bananas may be severed, one at a time, from the bunch thereof and deposited in. a sack; to be subsequently wrapped and delivered to a customer without the handling of the bananas on the part of the salesman, so thatno contamina tion of the bananas can take place during the interim between hanging up the bunch of bananas and the delivering of the chosen number to the customer.

In accordance with the invention, the bunch of bananas is hung up from an elerated point and is then subjected to a severing blade capable of operating upon-a single banana at a time to drop the severed banana in. a bag or sack, collecting the severed bananas until the desired quantity thereof is obtained, after which the bananas enclosed in a sack are removed from the device and delivered to the customer without the necessity of handling the bananas by the person selling them.

The instrument comprises a box or en closure having a readily opened side door and a constricted chute into which the individual bananas are directed to be treated by a severing knife or blade and allowed to gravitate into a sack or container.

There is provided in conjunction with the box or receptacle into which the individual bananas as severed are directed, a handling or directing hook which the operator may grasp so as to position the bunch of bananas with the chosen one to be severed in position to drop into the box or receptaole after being severed and to choose the individual bananas to be so treated.

The box or receptacle to contain the severed bananas is also arranged to contain a sack, say a paper sack, into which the severed bananas gravitate, and the box or receptacle is provided with a door which may be opened when it is desired to remove the chosen number of severed bananas. for delivery to the customer.

Serial No. 620,242.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, with the understanding that the invention. is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawings, but may be changed and modified so long as such changes and modifications mark no material departure from the salient features'of'the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is an elevation. of the box or container together with the manipulating hook forming the complete apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a vertical central section of the receiving and containing box.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section througl'i the box with the manipulating handle omitted.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the box complete.

Referring to the drawings and particularly to Figs. 1 to ainclusive, there is shown a box 1, which may be of cubical or similar shape and made of metal or other material, say of sheet metal, to conserve weight.

The box may be elfectively closed on all sides, except that in the front upper portion, there is formed a partially conical chute 2 to guide the bananas to be gathered into the box and one side 3 of the box is utilized as a door, being provided with hinges 4 on one side and a latch 5 on the other side to hold the door closed and facilitate the opening of the door when desired.

The box 1 is supported on the upper end by a pole 6 to elevate the box to the desired height.

Attached to and projecting from the pole 6" is a bracket 7, comprising a pair of arms 7 secured at their inner ends to the pole 6 and merging at their outer ends and formed to provide the curved extremity 8 droppin to a point just above and in advance of the chute 2.

At the extremity of the curved end 8 of the bracket 7 there is secured a knife blade 9 of substantial length and extending trans- 1 h banana, indicated at 10 in Fig. 1, and by a quick movement of the box cause the severance of the stem of the banana from the stem provided at one end with a handle 12 by means of which the cler'k selling the ba nanas may engage the stem 13 of the bunch of bananas and so ",ITIOVG it in one direction or the other to present the bananas to the chute"? for directing them into 'sald chute and'causing the severance of'the individual bananas from thebunch thereof at the will of the clerk selling the'bananas'.

In preparing the bunch of bananas for separating the individual bananas therefrom, the bunch is' hung up at a suitable 3 height by means of'astring 14 and themanipulati-ng hook 11 'is forced into the stem of the bunch of bananas near the lower end thereof, so that the bunch of bananas is: readily manipulated in one-direction or the other, as indicated in Fig. 1. V

The invention is advantageous in eliminating all danger to the person handling the bananas, in that the fruit,on being severed from the stem or stalk, falls into-a bag or sack which thereby avoids direct handling of said fruit and thereby also avoids contact with scorpions or tarantulas sometimes found hiding inthebunch of bananas. The

bites of such insects are painful, andsonie times dangerous to those handling the bananas and such danger is therefore pre-' vented.

l/Vhat is claimed is 1. In a fruitgathering device of the character set forth, a fruit receiving receptacle, supporting means therefor, a chute integral with said. receptacle and adapted to selec- I tively engage fruit to be severed and def livered into said receptacle, a bracket carried by and extending from said supporting means above said receptacle, and adepending cutting blade integral with said bracket and supported above and :coacting with said I chute for severing fruit selected thereby,

said cutting blade extending transversely of :said bracket and directed downwardly toward-and adjacent ."the forward edge of said chute.

2. A ffruit "gathering device of the character described comprising, a fruit receiv ing receptacle, a supporttherefor, achute integral with said receptacle and adapted to selectively engage fruit to be severed and delivered into saidreceptacle, 'a 'bracket having twoarms secured to said support above the receptacle, said two .arms merging at their ends remote from said support and formed to provide an arched extremity, and

a downwardly directed cutting blade extendingtransversely of said arched extremity adjacent-the forward edge of said chute and coacting therewith to sever selected fruit.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature JOHN STRAUB.

hereto.

Images