US2068146A

US2068146A - Seed sorting machine

Info

Publication number: US2068146A
Application number: US20931A
Authority: US
Inventors: Lee A Medcalf
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1935-05-11
Filing date: 1935-05-11
Publication date: 1937-01-19
Anticipated expiration: 1954-01-19

Description

1937- L.. A. MEDCALF SEED SORTING MACHINE Filed May 11, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 19, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,068,146 SEED SORTING MACHINE Lee A. Medcalf, Fairgrove, Mich.

Application May 11, 1935, Serial No. 20,931

5 Claims. (Cl. 209-112) This invention relates to seed sorting machines, and more particularly to a machine for separating good beans, peas, or similar products from the culls, splits, and otherwise imperfect product.

One of the prime objects of the invention is to design a sorting machine of simple and substantial construction, which can be built in units so that any number of units may be added to provide the desired capacity.

Another object is to provide a flat, tablelike, revolving machine and provide scrapers on the face thereof forseparating and directing the product into individual receptacles.

A further object is to provide a sectional roller so mounted and arranged that it rolls on the face of the disc for agitating the product coming in contact therewith so that the smooth, properly shaped good product will roll and be separated from the imperfect product.

A further object still is to provide new and novel sectional scraper means, which will closely hug the surface of the disc, and which will automatically accommodate itself to any unevenness of surface.

The above and other objects will appear as the specification progresses, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which I have shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, and in which like reference numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views thereof.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of my improved sorting machine, showing but one disc, the outer frame being omitted.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the machine and frame, the arrows showing the direction of travel of the product.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side view of one of the sectional scrapers.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view thereof.

' Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a side View of one of the sectional rollers. I

Fig. '7 is an end view, the broken lines showing one of the roller sections raised to accommodate a split.

Fig. 8 is a side view of the adjustable scraper.

Fig. 9 is a top plan view, the broken lines showing one position of adjustment.

While the machine can be utilized for various products, I shall show and describe it as set for sorting beans.

Beans when perfectly formed, developed, and ripe are of a round, slightly oblong shape, and will readily roll on a flat table or surface if it is gently agitated or if the table is slightly tilted, while the cracked, broken, or irregular product and foreign matter lies stationary.

The perfect product, of course, commands the top price, while the broken and cracked product brings a much reduced figure, and it is the obj ect of the present invention to design a machine which will closely pick and sort the beans into different grades, thereby eliminating screening and effecting an accurate separation of the product.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings in which I have shown the preferred embodiment of my invention in the form of a single disc machine, this comprises a preferably cast frame l provided with bearings II and I2 as usual, and in which a vertically disposed shaft I3 is adapted to be journaled, a cone-shaped member l4 being fitted on the upper end of the hollow shaft, the upper end being flanged as at l 5, and a flat disc or table It is securely mounted thereon.

I wish to direct particular attention to the fact that this disc is set at an angle of approximately twenty degrees, so that the product rolls as the machine is operated. A frame I! surrounds the disc l6, and the end of the scraper members l8 and I9 respectively are secured thereto, inclined wings 20 being provided on the scraper I9 to direct the product inwardly and away from the face of the scraper blade. These scrapers are formed as clearly shown in Figs. 3, 4, and of the drawings, and comprise a channel-shaped member 2| in which a plurality of relatively short block members 22 are mounted, these blocks being loosely mounted therein to permit them to rise and fall to compensate for any slight waves, bulges, or unevenness in the face of the disc [6.

The numeral 23 indicates the feed spout through which the product is fed onto the disc, a rim 24 being provided on the disc and extends inwardly over the face of the disc as shown at 25, so that the product is deflected inwardly toward the center of the discand prevents spillage over the edge. a

A stay or brace 26 is secured to the scraper l8 and to the frame, and brackets ,21 are secured to the lower face thereof, a shaft 28 being mounted thereon, and a plurality of washers 29' are loosely mounted on said shaft, the openings in said washers being larger than the shaft, so that a limited vertical movement is possible.

An adjustable scraper member 30 is mounted on the disc substantially at right angles to the scrapers l8 and I9, and is formed in substantially the same manner, a curved lip 3i projecting from the side of the scraper, the outer end beyond the lip being relatively narrow and is spaced above the face of the disc so that it does not contact or interfere with the product carried on the said disc, said narrow end terminating in a handle 32 to facilitate adjustment, the opposite end being bent at an angle as shown, this scraper being mounted on the scrapers I8 and I9 and is capable of endwise adjustment to suit the product being sorted.

The ends of the scrapers l8 and [9 which project beyond the scraper 30 are also spaced above the face of the disc, the blocks being eliminated so that there is no interference with the product carried on the disc. Q

A centrally disposed opening 33 is provided in the disc and opens to the cone-shaped member 14, a rim 34 partially surrounding said opening so that the product is directed outwardly and against the scraper l 9.

Another sectional roller 35 is mounted on the disc [6 between the scrapers l8 and [9 and is mounted and formed of washer members in exactly the same manner as is the roller previously described, a hopper 38 being provided adjacent the outer end of the scraper l9, and a larger hopper 31 is provided on the opposite edge to receive the cracked, broken product which is deflected by the scraper 30.

The disc is driven by means of a drive shaft 38 which is connected to a suitable source of power; this is journaledin a bearing 39 provided on the frame In, and a bevel gear) is mounted thereon, said gear meshing with and driving a bevel gear 4| which is mounted on the hollow shaft l3, and while in the present instance I have shown but a single disc, it will beobvious that any reasonable number may be added to secure the desired capacity. 7 i

As the product 'is fed onto the disc which revolves in the direction indicated by the arrows, the perfect product rolls downwardly towards the scraper l8, and is carried across and against the scraper 30. The roller members serve as agitating members, and roll the good product which may be carried up so that it also rolls down and against the scraper I8, gradually working towards the center of the disc and against the scraper 30. The cracked, broken product and other foreign matter travels beneath the roller and is carried around and outside of the curved lip 3|, thence passing beneath the raised ends of the members l8 and I9, and then being scraped off by the outer edge of the scraper 30 and into the hopper 31.

The perfect product which readily rolls on a slightly inclined flat surface is carried against .the side of the scraper 30, and thence around the lip 31 and against the scraper 19, the lips 20 deflecting the product inwardly so that it is properly spread. The perfect product travels along and is deflected into the hopper 36; any shriveled, irregular shaped beans pass beneath the roller 35 and against the side of the scraper l8, thence working inwardly toward the center and finally discharging intothe cone-shaped shell l4 and dropping into a suitable receptacle 42.

The fact that the disc is tilted causes the perfect product to roll as the disc revolves, and by adjusting the scraper 30 it will be obvious that the closeness of the picking or sorting can be readily controlled.

From the foregoing description it will be obvious that I have perfected a Very simple, practical, and efficient sorting device for sorting beans, peas, and similar products.

What I claim is:

l. A sorting device of the class described and including a frame, a flat disc, a feed spout for feeding the product to be sorted onto the disc, a sectional roller mounted on said frame and riding on the face of the disc in the path of the product discharged from the feed spout, spaced apart substantially parallel scrapers mounted on the frame, with certain sections engaging the face of the disc, another scraper positioned at right angles to the first mentioned scrapers and adjustable with relation thereto, a handle on one end of said scraper, the opposite end extending to the edge of the disc to force the product carried on the'outer section of the disc from the'face thereof, deflecting wings on one of said parallel scrapers, and means-for driving said disc. 7, a V

2. A sorting device of the character described 'and including a frame, a fiat disc having a centrally disposed opening therein, spaced apart substantially parallel scraper members mounted on said frame and located on opposite sides of said opening, said scrapers engaging the face of the disc for a portion of their length only, a similar scraper mounted on said disc and positioned at substantially right angles to the first mentioned scrapers andfadjustable' with relation thereto, a handle on one end of said scraper, the opposite end extending 'to the extreme edge of the disc to force the imperfect product from the face thereof, a sectional roller interposed between said parallel scrapers and disposed in parallel relation thereto, and means for driving said disc.

3'. A sorting device for beans and including a tilted flat disc formed with a centrally disposed opening thereon, substantially parallel scrapers located on opposite sides of said opening, a deflector on one of said scrapers and. forming a rim partially surrounding said opening, a similar scraper set at substantially right angles to the first mentioned scrapers and adjustable with relation thereto, rollers mounted on said disc in I, angles to the first mentioned scrapers and' adjustable with relation thereto, said' scraper being I formed with a curved lip on one end thereof which extends into the path of the traveling product, with the opposite end extending tothe edge of the disc, loosely mounted, sectional rollers mounted in the path of the product to be sorted, and

means for driving said disc.

5. A sorting machine of the class described and including'a frame, a revolving, tilted, fiat disc mounted thereon and provided with a centrally disposed opening therein, substantially parallel scraper members on opposite sides of said opening and including a plurality of vertically movable blocks, a similar scraper located substantially at right angles to the first mentioned scrapers and adjustable with relation thereto, said scraper being formed with a curved lip extending into the path of the traveling product to cause a heavier or lighter pick, the opposite end extending to the edge of the disc to force the product on the outer section of the disc from the face thereof as the disc revolves, sectional rollers mounted on the disc in the path of the product to be sorted and comprising a plurality of relatively thin members loosely mounted on a shaft, said scrapers separating the product into indi vidual hoppers as the machine is operated.

LEE A. MEDCALF.