US1557505A

US1557505A - Sorting machine

Info

Publication number: US1557505A
Application number: US698809A
Authority: US
Inventors: Dwight W Wadsworth
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1924-03-12
Filing date: 1924-03-12
Publication date: 1925-10-13
Anticipated expiration: 1942-10-13

Description

D. W. WADSWORTH SORTING MACHINE Filed Mqrch 12. 1924 'A TTORNE YS' 'TT-till Patented Oct. 13, 1925.

UNITED STATES DWIGHT W. wADs-WORTH, or FENNVILLE, MICHIGAN.

somme MACHINE.

Application led March 12, 1924. Serial No. 698,809.

To all whom. it may con-Gern.'

Be it known that I, DWIGHT W. VVADswoRTI-I, a citizen of the United States, residing at Farmville, county of Allegan, State 6 of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sorting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in sorting machines.

The main object of this invention is to provide an improved sorting machine for sorting or grading fruit which minimizes the laboi` of the sorters, enabling the performance of a relatively large amount of work 15 and also accurate work.

Objects pertaining to details and economies of construction and operation of my invention will definitely appear from the detailed description to follow.

I accomplish the objects of my invention by the devices and means described in the following specification. The invention is clearly defined and pointed out in the claims.

A structure which is a preferred embodiment of my invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application, in which:

F I is a plan view of` my improved sorting or grading machine partially broken away.

Fig. II is a side elevation partially broken away. j

In the drawing similar reference characters refer to similar parts in all of the views.

The structure of my improvements illustrated comprises a main frame consisting o side pieces 1, cross bars 2 and suitable uprights or legs 3. The side pieces 1 constitute side members for the outer ways. j

I have illustrated this frame in detail as it will be understood that itis to be made of the desired length and rigidity to properly support the parts. 5

I provide a pair of outer ways designated generallv by the numerals 4 and 5 and an intermediate way 6. r1`hese ways are separated Aby the way side pieces 7 disposed at the sides of the intermediate way, and corresponding side pieces 7 are disposed at the sides of the outer way.

The ways comprise belts 8, 9 and 10 vsupported at their outer ends on the

pulleys

11, 11 and 11 having a common shaft 12. The

pulleys

11, 11 are fastened securely to the common shaft 12, but the pulleyll for the belt 10 is loose or rotatable onthe shaft 12.

The bearings 13 of this shaft` 12 arey adjustably supported in the slides 14, screws 15 being provided for adjusting the bearings. j

The pulleys 16 and 17 for the return end of the belts 4 and 5 arefixed to theshaft 18 which is extended-to one side of the machine and provided with the sprocket 19. The pulley 2O for the return end of the intermediate belt 10 is .fixed to the intermediate shaft 21 which is extended to the side of the machine and provided with a sprocket 22 connected to the sprocket- 19 by the sprocket chain 23.`

The sprocket 19 is larger than thesprocket 22 so that the speed of the intermediate belt exceeds that of the outer belts, thereby adding t0 the capacity of the intermediate belt.

The intermediate belt 10 is a combined driving belt and cull carrying belt and is provided with a driving pulley 24mounte`d on the shaft 25 carried by the forward legs of the main frame, the shaft having a driving pulley 26. An adjustable pulley 34C acts as a supporting idler and belt tightener for the belt 10. t

The upper reaches of the` belts are 'supported by conveyor ways 27 i disposed between the pulleys so that; the belts slide thereon and are supported horizontally. j

The lower return reaches of the belts v8 and 9 are supported by rollers 35 so that they do not sag down in the way of the. sort.-

ers as they sit at the sides of the machine.

At the ends of the ways I provide

bins

28, and 31. The bins 28 and 30 have canvas bottoms and at their vouter ends I attach canvas discharge tubes 29. A part of the inner wall of these tubes is ycut away and the edge attached at- 36 to thecanvas bottom of the bin, providing in effect a bottomless discharge tube extending upwardly at the front end of the bin and securely attached to the rods 37. This forms a means for discharging the fruit from the bins in to a basket or receptacle with a minimum bruising effect. To prevent the discharge, the

lower end of the tube may be gathered up and folded over the rods 37, allowing the fruit to accumulate into the bin until the discharge tube is swung doivn into a basket or receptacle.

The Way 6 is provided with a laterally disposed bin 31 having a discharge door 32 held normally in closed position by the latch 33.

Vith the parts thus arranged the fruit or vegetables to be sorted are delivered upon the conveyor belts, preferably from a sizing machine, Which delivers fruit, .for example, of a minimum size of 21/2 inches in diameter on to the belt 4 and fruit of a minimum size of 21/4 inches indiameter to the belt 5, the first being the grade Yl. and thesecond, grade 2, in the case of apples. Tlie.sorters standing or sittinghat the sides vof the machine reniovebleinished or unsuitable. fruit from the main conveyor and place it on the cull conveyor.

By carrying the fruit or vegetables along before the operator 'for a considerable period of time it is possible to handle a large amount ofmaterial with comparatively feiv sorters and with a minimum amount of effort on the part of thesorters, and very accurate Work may be done.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire'to secureby Letters Patent is:

l. In a structure ofthe class described, the combination of a supporting frame, outer and intermediate conveyors disposed side by side and comprising conveyor belts, the intermediate conveyor being shorter than the outer, front, iear. and intermediate shafts disposed transversely `of said belts, said rear and intermediate shaftsfbeing extended to one side and being provided with sprockets, the front shaft ,being adjustably supported, pulleys for said outer belts fixed to said frontv and rear shafts, pulleys for the intermediate belt, thefi'ear pulley being fixed to said intermediate shaftand the front pulley being` rotatable on said front shaft,'a connecting chain for said sprockets, said sprockets being of such relativesize that the intermediate belt travels faster than the outer belts, and a driving pulley for said intermediate belt. i

2. In a structure of the cla-ss described, the combination of a supporting frame, outer and intermediate conveyors disposed side by side and comprising conveyor belts, the intermediate conveyorbeing shorter than the outer, front,v rear and intermediate shafts disposed transversely of said belts, said rear and intermediate shafts being extended to one side and being provided With sprockets, pulleys for said outer belts fixed to said front. and rear shafts, pulleys for the intermediate belt, the rear pulley being fixed tol said intermediate shaft and the front sprockets, the front shaft being adjustably supported, pulleys for said outer belts .fixed to said yfront andy rear shafts, pulleys for the intermediate belt, the rear pulley being fixed to said intermediate shaft and the front pulley being' rotatable onV said front shaft, a connectingchain for said. sprockets, and a driving pulley for said intermediate belt.f`f"

4t. In' a' structure of the class described, the combination of a supporting frame, outer and intermediate conveyors disposed side by side and comprising conveyor belts, the intermediate conveyor being shorter than the outer, front, rear and intermediate shafts disposed transversely of said belts, said rear and intermediate shafts being extended to .one side and being provided with sprockets, pulleys for ysaid outer belts fixed to said front and re-ar shafts, pulleys for the intermediate belt, the i'ear pulley being fixed to said intermediate shaft and the front pulley being `rotatable on said front shaft, a connecting chain for said spro-ckets, and a driving'pulley for said intermediate belt.

5. In a structure of the class described, the combinationl of a supporting frame, outer and intermediate conveyors disposed side by side and 'comprising coiiveyorbelts, the intermediate conveyor being` shorter than the outer, front, rear v,and intermediate shafts disposed transversely of said belts, pull'eyspfor said outer belts yfixed to said front and rear shafts, pulleys for thein termediate belt, the rear pulley being fixed to said intermediate shaft and the front pulley being rotatable on said front shaft, a driving pulley for said intermediate belt, and driving 4connections for said rear and intermediate shafts 'whereby the belts are drivenkat different speeds.y y

6. In a kstructure of tlievclass described, the combination of a supporting frame, outer `and Aintermediate conveyors disposed side by side and comprising conveyor belts, the intermediate conveyor being shorter than the outer. supporting and driving pulleys for said belts, the pulleys at the front ends of said v'ayshaving a common shaft, pulleys for the rear ends of the outer belts, a pulley for the rear end of the in termediute belt, driving` connections therelor to said rem' pulleys ot' said outer belts, u driving pulley for the intern'iediate belt which constitutes a driving belt, conveyor side members disposed at the sides of said belts, and conveyor Way members disposed between said pulleys for supporting the upper reaches of said belts.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.