US2172419A

US2172419A - Automatic eggshell perforating machine

Info

Publication number: US2172419A
Application number: US169504A
Authority: US
Inventors: George T Thomas
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1937-10-16
Filing date: 1937-10-16
Publication date: 1939-09-12
Anticipated expiration: 1956-09-12

Description

Sept. 12, 1939. G. T. THOMAS AUTOMATIC EGGSHELL PERFORATING MACHINE Filed Oct. 16. 1937 Fig.1

INVENTOR W :Z

Patented Sept. 12, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AUTOMATIC EGGSHELL PERFORATING MACHINE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to a machine for the treatment of eggs in the eggshells, for preservation and pickling, by perforating the eggshells of raw, or boiled eggs as a preparatory operation and as stated in application for Letters Patent of the United States filed July 20, 1937, Serial Number 154,673.

In this machine a rotary conveyor rotates inside of a frame and oval-shaped or circular race or egg track, and is composed of a guide cage, cushion lined, and is secured to a shaft comprised of separable parts and supporting a crosshead which carries one or more self aligning cushion lined conveyor cups, automatically adjustable for the size of the eggs as to diameter. The said cups convey the eggs from a loading chute by rolling them along the inner perimeter of the cushion lined oval-shaped cir ular race, which is secured to the frame. The split or divided shaft carries a notched index cam on each side of the eggshell perforating machine which guide and operate index cam rollers of the one or more perforating punches. Each of said punches is equipped with one or more perforating points, locked securely in the perforating punch by clamp screw or screw thread and lock nut or by pins in the grooves of the stem or provided with bearing sleeves in the perforating punch for rotating by means of flexible shaft drive as in drilling.

Each notch of both index cams at intervals springs the perforating points through the holes in the oval-shaped race, and cushion lining of the same, and perforates the eggshell while the egg is directly in line with the perforating points. Slow speed rotary motion of the shaft conveys the eggs from first to the last perforating punch, and the distance between the above points is one or more times the perimeter of the diameter of the egg. The purpose of this is to spread the perforating action as far apart as possible to avoid undue strain and possible fracture of the eggshell, if too many perforations were produced at one point.

One form of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a top or plan view in section on the line l-l in Figure 3.

Figure 2 is a plan or end view of a perforating punch with perforating points and end cam rollers.

Figure 3 is a vertical section of the upper part and elevation view of the lower part of the eggshell perforating machine. The section being taken along line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Throughout the drawing and description the same number is used to refer to the same part.

The frame or base 2 is provided with two or more mounting screwholes, and is hinged at the top on both sides, with a screw and secured at 5 the bottom to the oval-shaped circular race 3, the inner face of which is lined with soft cushion pad 4, and the lower end of the race is tapered and extended for unloading the perforated eggs. in

The egg loading chute 5 is secured to the frame 2, and is lined with soft cushion pad. The oval-shaped circular race 3 is provided with lugs 6 on each side of the eggshell perforating machine with guide bushings or grooves and spring seats for one or more perforating punches 1, six punches being shown in the present instance. Each of said punches carries an index cam roller 8 on each side of the eggshell perforating machine and it is supported and positioned in the frame by compression springs 9 on both sides of the eggshell perforating machine.

Each of said punches carries one or more perforating points Ill, three or five as in the present instance. The above constitutes the frame or stationary part of the eggshell perforating machine, and provides bearings II on each side of the frame for the rotary conveyor in which one or more self-adjusting and self-aligning conveyor cups I2 are comprised. Four such cups are shown in the present instance, and each is lined with soft cushion pad l3 on the inside. The cups are mounted by a swivel pin l4 locked with pin l5 through the slotted hole of the conveyor cups and the holes in the yoke of the cross-head 5, which is secured by pins on the split shaft I1 between the hubs of the guide cage I8, the hubs of which are secured to the shafting by pins, with cross-head I 6 placed between the hubs of the guide l8. Holes in the hubs of the guide cage I8 provide seats for compression springs IQ, for aligning conveyor cups I 2, and the face of the guide cage is lined with soft cushion pad.

To the outer end of each divisional portion of the split shaft I! notched index cams 2| and 22 are secured with pins. The said split shaft [1 with cams 2| and 22 and the complete rotary conveyor may be driven by a belt passing around the pulley 23, or it may be driven by hand by a crank furnished at one end with a handle 24. 50 Four notches 20 are shown in Fig. 1.

To increase output or production the eggshell perforating machine can be ganged into a battery of two or more units with a single drive by removing the handle 24 of one unit or machine and 55 coupling the pulley sleeve of another eggshell perforating machine.

Having now described this invention I claim:

1. In a machine for perforating eggshells, in combination with a frame, a chute adapted to serve eggs to the machine, a transverse shaft, means for revolving the shaft, a rotary egg conveyor comprising egg holding devices carried by the said shaft and arranged to receive eggs from said chute, a stationary circular egg race arranged around said rotary conveyor and adapted to make contact with eggs in said holding devices,

said race having spaced openings, reciprocating said cups wherebythe eggs are revolved, reciprocating members provided'with punch points, said members having springs arranged for holding the members yieldingly in inward positions and mechanism operated by said shaft and constructed to normally hold said members in outward positions and to release them to the inward action of said springs at intervals.

3. In a machine for perforating eggshells, in combination with a frame, a chute for serving eggs to the machine in series, a shaft, a rotary egg conveyor comprising spaced egg cups pivotally attached to the shaft, said cups having springs arranged to hold. the cups yieldingly in positions to receive eggs from said chute as said conveyor .rotates, a circular egg race arranged around said rotary conveyor and adapted to make contact with the eggs in said cups whereby the eggs are revolved, reciprocating members provided with punch points, said members having compression springs arranged to draw said members into their inward positions, and mechanism operated by said shaft and constructed to meet and hold said members normally in outward positions and to release said members to the inward force of said springs at intervals to perforate the eggshells and to restore the members in outward positions.

4. In a machine for perforating eggshells, in combination with a frame, a chute for serving eggs to the frame in series, a shaft, means for revolving the shaft, a rotary egg conveyor comprising spaced egg cups pivotally attached to said shaft and provided with positioning springs whereby the cups are held in positions to receive eggs from said chute as the conveyor rotates, reciprocating curved members provided with punch points, said members having springs arranged to press the members into their inward positions, said members being provided with. rollers at their ends, said shaft having .cam disks arranged in contact with said rollers to normally hold'said members outwardly, said cam disks being constructed with notches arranged toadmit said rollers and allow said springs to force the members inwardly and perforate the eggshells, and a circular egg race arranged around said conveyor in contactwith the eggs to'revolve' the eggs and provided with holes for the passage of said piu'ichpoints, the lower port-ions of said race having a discharge chute.

GEORGE T. THOMAS.