US245556A - Attoenets - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 7 '2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

W. S. PLU-MMER.

VEGETABLE PRESS.

No. 245,556. Patented Aug. 9,1881.

IIHIHIIIII l I ATTORNEYS.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets'$heet 2.,

W. S. PLUMMER. VEGETABLE PRESS. No. 245,556. I Patented Aug. 9,1881.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR:

N. PEI'ERS. Phowuho n lm. Wrhinlhn. 0. c.

ATTORNEYS.

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM S; PLUMMER, OF SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA.

VEGETABLE-PRESS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 245,556, dated August 9, 1881.

Application filed February 5, 1881.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM S. PLUMMER, of San Jose, in the countyof Santa Clara and State of California, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Vegetable-Presses, of which the following is aspecification.

My improvements relate to apparatus for pressing potatoes and other vegetables, and at the same time laying the pressed material upon trays in a convenient form for drying.

My invention consists in a press-box and follower of novel construction, and in combination therewith a tray fitted to move on a track beneath the press-box, as hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure l is a front elevation of the machine with the tracks in transverse section. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. Sis avertical section on line or wof Fig. 1. Fig. at is an end elevation; and Fig. 5 is a partial plan View of a tray.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

A is the press-box, supported by side standards, a a, from the string-pieces I) I) of the tramway, which will extend to the dryinghouse. The box A is made of wood or metal of suitable shape and size, and is formed at its top with a hopper-shaped extension, 0, for convenience in filling the box. The bottom cl of the box inclines downward to a concave plate, 6, that is secured between the bottom d and the lower front edge of the box, and in the plate 6 is a row of openings, 0, separated by partitions d, secured to bottom (I.

' f is a concave slide-plate supported in slideways at its ends, and connected with arms f, that project from a rock-shaft, g, which is sustained at the front of the press-box. On the end of shaftg is fixed a lever, g, for use in moving the slide f to open or close the apertures c.

. B is the platen or follower, sustained by rackbars It It, that rise vertically from its ends, and engaging with pinions i i, that are on a shaft, i, which is sustained in the standards a of the press-box.

k k are friction-rollers carried by a shaft, 70, and bearing on the back of racks h, so that the racks are retained in contact with pinions t.

Z is the driving-shaft, having a crank-handle,

(No model.)

I, at one end, for its operation, and carrying a small pinion, m, and a larger pinion, m.

n is an intermediate shaft, having at one end a small pinion, a, engaging with a gear-wheel, F, on shaft 'i, and having at the other end a gear-wheel, n for engagement with the smaller pinion m on driving-shaft Z. The shaftsln are sustained in suitable bearings above the pressbox in the standards a. Shaft lis fitted for end movement in its hearing, so that its pinion on may be engaged with thegear-wheel n on the intermediate shaft, and thus, through the gearing described, a slow and powerful movement downward be given to the follower; or the larger pinion 'm of shaft 5 may be engaged directly with the gear-wheel i of shaft 45 and a rapid upward movement be given to the follower.

The string-pieces b of the tramway are fitted with plates 1), set on edge, to serve as rails for trucks that carry the trays; or rails of any suitable charaeter may be used.

U is a truck or carriage, consisting of a rectangular frame of suitable size, mounted on four flanged wheels, 0, and provided with angle-ironsp at the corners for retaining the trays in place.

The trays E are of usual character, being frames covered with wire-gauze, and fitted with cross-wires that sustain the gauze.

The trucks 0 are of awidth to pass freely between the standards a of the press-box and of a height to sustain the gauze covering of the trays close to the discharge-apertures c of the box.

In operation the potatoes or other vegetables will be first cooked by steaming or boiling, and the follower B being raised boxA will be filled. The openings 6 will be closed by slide f, and the driving-shaft I will then be turned to force the follower down and compress the mass in the box. When the desired pressure is obtained slidef will be opened and the follower, continuing to move down, will force the vegetables out upon the tray in streams. The force of the ejected streams will carry the tray and truck gradually forward until it is filled, when the slide f is to be closed until another tray and truck are brought up. The filled tray is ready for removal to the drying-house. These operations can be rapidly and conveniently performed, with a great saving of time and labor.

I do not limit myself to the details of construction exactly as described, as they may be varied within the scope of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The press for preparing vegetables for drying, consisting of box A, having discharge-apertures e, the follower B, fitted for reciprocation in the box, and the truck or carriage O, carrying a tray and fitted for being passed beneath the press-box, combined substantially as shown and described.

2. The combination, with a vegetable-press having discharge-openings at the bottom, of truck or carriage O and tray D, fitted for movement on a track beneath the box, substantially as shown and described.

3. In vegetable-presses, the box A, having a bottom formed by inclined portion (1 and apertured concave plate 0, substantially as shown and described.

4. The slide f, in combination with pressbox A, having the bottom aperture, 0, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

5. The follower B, racks h, operating-pinions 2, and friction-rollers is, combined together and with box A, substantially as shown and described, for operation as set forth.

WILLIAM SYLVESTER ILUMMER.

Witnesses:

WM. B. Coven, WM. L. PLUMMER, GEORGE L. BAILEY.

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