US2535261A

US2535261A - Potato seed cutting machine

Info

Publication number: US2535261A
Application number: US76981A
Authority: US
Inventors: Kenneth G Brown
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1949-02-17
Filing date: 1949-02-17
Publication date: 1950-12-26
Anticipated expiration: 1967-12-26

Description

Dec. 26, 1950 K. 6. BROWN 2,535,261

POTATO SEED CUTTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 17, 1949 i 'l 1' [.111 1 1: I I I .1111: 1111111 11 I I 1111' 11.1: 11111111111 1 if 57 Z; {a

0 Z40 INVENTORJ Ka /v.57 6 bieaw/v T E- W Wish Patented Dec. 26, 1950 PATENT ormca zissazer Porno 's'EEnoUTTiNG MAGHINE" Kenneth GS. Brown, Mattitucli; NI Y. e ucatiomrebruaw 17, 1949, seriamonaosi.

z ciiaiine (o1. r4s-resi Broadly; my invention. involves; an. improved machine for cutting'certain vegetables, fruits; or the: like, although in the. resent disclosure itis illustrated and described as being; adaptable for potato: seedlcutting; I v

. He'retofore",. in; machines of this specifictype; no provision has been made for'cuttiii'ga" quanit'i'ty -f graded potatbes simultaneously; thus? re siiltingjin tedious and time. consuming 'eration', aswelliasweai 'andtearontlre mach y:

My' invention overcomes this inherent-drawback by prcvidingameans foi cutting a plurality of potatoes of differentsiz'es'and shapes at one time.

It consists, generally,,.of a=frame-upon which are mounted a suitable number ofrel'atively long carriers'in which are nested several graded potatoes, together with a bank of knives-against'wliicli the carriers areadvancediin such mannerzas to slice the potatoes into the desired numberof parts..

In a. more specific sense, my machineihvolves a rectan ular frame supporting a-pair ofendless chains with; gang carriers spanning thecliai'n's in spaced: relationship, in combination with a. bank ofsta'g'gered knivesdis posed" in the path of'r'novementor tli'e' carriers: Each; carrier has. several pockets" or" recesses shaped to? conform with the contour of small, medium, and" large sized potatoes, and in. turn, each pocketis provided with appropriate slots, depending upon the number of sections into which it is desired to cut the potatoes. The knives are disposed in alignment with the slots, and are fashioned to correspond with the contour thereof. It is deemed important in this connection, that the edges of the knives are slanted in echelon rearwardly from a longitudinal median line of the frame and that the knives I which are subjected. to the greatest frontal pressure, due to advance of the largest potatoes, are located forwardly of the bank, thus equalizing the pressure and making. for a vertible slicing action of all potatoes in the carrier. Furthermore the slots of the pockets and knives are mated so that a plurality of potatoes of each grade are simultaneously sliced into their components .To the accomplishment of the recited objects and others subordinate thereto, the preferred embodiment of'my invention. resides-I. in the construction and arrangement. of parts shown in the accompanying drawings, described inthe following specification, and embraced within the scope of the appended claims.

In' said drawings;

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the machine embodying my invention, and

2. Fig. 2"is a side elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a transverse section along lines. 3-3 of Fig. 1 illustrating one of. the carriers, and

Figs; 4and5, area side. elevation andend view,

respectively, of one of. the knives.

Referringmore particularly to Figs. 1. and 2') 5" designates a rectangular frame having. depend; ing legs. 6 braced" by the intermediate longie tudinally'extencling. strut 8.. At. oppositeiextremi ties of the frame are pairs of sprockets. 9l0,', the former being carried at opposite ends of'the shaft. H and the. latter being mounted; on. stub shafts I21. Shaft H is also provided with a gear- Wheel l3" which is' connected with a motor M orany other" suitable source of power by a chain I5. Trained" overthe' two sets of sprockets 9l.0.' are endless chains !Bl1 which, for the sake of pro te'ctioh', operate in their top reach directly beneath the longitudinal side members 18' of; the frame, and arranged transversely at spacedfine tervals between" the chains are a plurality'ofcarriers'" I9. As best shown in Fig. 3', each carrier consists of a relatively long bar 20 with sets of multiple companion pockets 2!, 2'2 and 23" for holding graded potatoes. For example, pockets 2f'l' are? designed for small potatoes, as 24; pockets 22 for medium size po'tato'e's'25; and pockets 2'3 for large size potatoes 26. And each setofpockets are slotted so that potatoes of different grades will be sliced to produce the best results for seeds. Set 2| has a single vertical slot 21 whereby small potatoes may be cut in half; set 22 has a vertical slot 28 and an intersecting slot 29 extending horizontally in one direction, for cutting medium size potatoes'in three pieces; and set 23 has a vertical slot 30 and an intersecting horizontal slot 3| extending in two directions which is desirable for cutting large size potatoes into four parts.

.Adjacent one extremity of the frame is suitably mounted an angular support 32. This. support straddles the frame and has depending therefrom a plurality of pairs of knives, as 33, 34 and 35. Common to each knife is a horizontal head-plate 36 and a rearwardly slanted, vertically disposed blade 3! with a retreating cutting edge 38. vAnd some knives, as 34 have, in addition, a single lateral blade 39, while other knives have lateral blades 40 extending in opposite directions, it being borne in mind that the disposition of the blade must conform to the shape of the slots in the ockets of the carriers as it is through these slots that the blades must pass a the carriers, loaded with potatoes, advance in their endless travel.

It will be further noted that the tandems of knives are fixed in staggered relation and that the cutting edge of each blade is rearwardly inclined. It follows that as the potatoes of each grade are presented to the knives, the larger ones come first, the medium ones next, and the smaller ones lastall successively-and that each grade is sliced easily, smoothly and positively into the required number of sections.

In its broader aspects, my invention comprehends the employment, not only of various means described, but of equivalent means for performing the recited functions. By way of example, while not disclosed in the drawings, the frame and its accessories, instead of lying in a hori zontal plane, may be placed in a vertical plane and operated with equal satisfaction. Also the number of pocket and knives may be increased or diminished at will. It is desired to reserve the right to effect such modifications and changes as may come fairly within the scope of the appended claims;

I claim: 1. A machine of the class described, comprising a rectangular frame, a pair of sprockets spaced apart for substantially the width of the frame and disposed near each end thereof, endless chains trained over each set of sprockets and operating adjacent opposite sides of the frame, a source of power for driving the sprockets, gang carriers arranged transversely and connected to 1 the chains, each carrier consisting of a rigid, integral member including a plurality of contiguous pockets, the pockets being of graduated sizes, the smallest pocket having a single slot projectin outwardly of the carrier and the largest pocket having a pair of intersecting slots, a bank of knives at onelend of the frame, the knife in the path of the smallest pocket comprising a single blade projecting inwardly toward the carrier, the knife in the path of thelargest pocket having a blade projecting inwardly toward the carrier and .a pair of laterally projecting blades, the pockets adapted to support small and large potatoes, and the carrier designed to be advanced against the knives, whereby, in a single operation, the potatoes are out, according to their size, into two or four pieces.

2. A machine of the clas described, comprising a rectangular frame, a pair of sprockets spaced apart for substantially the width of the frame and disposed near each end thereof, endless chains trained over each set of sprockets and operating adjacent opposite sides of the frame, a source of power for driving the sprockets, gang carriers arranged transversley and connected to the chains, each carrier consisting of a rigid, integral member including a plurality of contiguous pockets, the pockets being of graduated sizes, the smallest pocket having a single slot projecting outw-ardlyof the carrier, the intermediate pocket having a single slot projecting outwardly of the carrier and asing le laterally projecting slot and the largest pocket having a pair of intersecting slots, a bank of knives at one end of the frame,

theknife in the path of the smallest pocket comprising a single blade projecting inwardly toward thecarrier, the knife in the path of the intermediate pocket having ablade projecting inwardly of the carrier and a single laterally projecting blade, the knife in the path of the largest pocket having a blade projecting inwardly toward the carrier and a pair of laterallyprojecting blades, the pockets adapted .to support small, medium and large potatoes, and the carrier designed to be' advanced against the knives, whereby, in a single operation, the potatoes are out, according to their size, into two, three or four pieces.

KENNETH G. BRowNJf REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS