US2656666A

US2656666A - Cornpicker roll

Info

Publication number: US2656666A
Application number: US195403A
Authority: US
Inventors: Edgar V Collins
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1950-11-13
Filing date: 1950-11-13
Publication date: 1953-10-27
Anticipated expiration: 1970-10-27

Description

E. V. COLLINS CORNPICKER ROLL Oct. 27, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 15, 1950 1 N v/v roe ar 1/ Collins E. V. COLLINS CORNPICKER ROLL Oct. 27, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 15, 1950 IN vnv 702 at yCol/ins Patented Oct. 27, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CORNPICKER ROLL Edgar V. Collins, Ames, Iowa Application November 13, 1950, Serial No. 195,403

9 Claims.

- This invention relates generally to corn harvesting machines and in particular to rolls in a cornpicking machine adapted to continuously gather the stalks, and to huskand pick cars from the stalks, as the stalks travel axially in succession between the rolls.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved corn harvestingmachine.

Another object of this invention is to provide a pair of cornpicker rolls having sections of different diameters and with the sections being operated at different speeds and relatively arranged in the rolls so that standing stalks passing between the rolls are continuously husked and picked with the husks remaining on the standing stalks.

A further object of this invention is to provide cornpicker rolls of a relatively small diameter and rotated at relatively high speeds which are capable of picking corn cars from their associated husks and stalks without any substantial grabbing, shelling or mutilation of the butt ends of the ears.

Still another object of this invention is to provide cornpicker rolls capable of efiiciently picking small ears or nubbins.

Yet a further object of this invention is to provide cornpicker rolls capable of advancing standing stalks therebetween in succession, and during such advance to pick ears from the stalks, free of any husks, so as to leave the stalks with the husks thereon remaining in the field.

A further object of this invention is to provide a two-section cornpicker roll, in which the sections are of different diameters independently supported for rotation at their adjacent ends, such that one side portion of the roll is in linear continuity over the full lengthof the roll.

Further objects, features and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the cornpicker rolls of this invention illustrated in assembly relation with a fragmentary showing of a cornpicker machine;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional detail view. of a cornpicker roll of this invention taken substantially along the line 22 in Fig. 6;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken alongthe line -33 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional detail view as seen on the line 4-4 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of the roll assembly shown in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line '6-6 in Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawings, the rolls ll] of this invention are illustrated in Fig. 1 in assembly relation with a cornpicker machine, designated generally at H, and including a frame structure I2 which movably carries usual stalk gathering chains l3 in operative association with gathering snouts M. An elevator for conveying picked corn to a wagon is indicated at Hi. The rolls l6 are arranged longitudinally of the machine II in upwardly and rearwardly inclined positions, as bestappears in Fig. 5. Since the rolls I0 are of a like construction only one thereof will be referred to in detail in the following description.

A roll l0 (Fig. 1) is comprised of two sections [1 and I8, with the front or gathering section I! being of a greater diameter than the rear or picking and husking section It. The roll H! is rotatably supported in the machine II by the provision of a front bearing l9 secured to a member 2| of the frame structure I12 and assembled in a well-known manner with. the front section I! at a position spaced rearwardly from its front end 22.. A bearing member 23 on a frame member 24 of the frame structure [2 supports the roll ID at the rear end 26 of a rear section I8.

The front section I! of a roll in (Figs. 2 and 3) is of a hollow cylindrical construction open at its rear end 21 and with its front end '22 being closed and of a tapered construction. The sections l1 and 18 of a roll l6 are rotatably supported at their junction by a combination bearing and gear reduction unit, designated generally as 28, and which includes abearing block 29 received within the rear end 2'! of the front section ll so as to be within the longitudinal or axial confines of the section IT. The bearing block is formed at its front end 3| with a bearing support 32, coaxial with the front section l1. Mounted on the bearing support 32 is a roller bearing assembly 33 about which the rear end 21 of the front section I! is rotatably supported.

Transversely offset from the bearing support 32, and formed in the rear end 34 of the bearing block 29 is a cylindrical cavity 3t, open to one side of the bearing block 29, for receiving a selfaligning bearing assembly 3'1, which is in coaxial alignment with the roll rear section IS. The rear section l8 has its front end 38 of a reduced diameter so as to constitute a shaft portion for insertion Within the self-aligning bearing 37 to a position such that the shoulder 39 formed at the rear end of the shaft portion 38 is closely adjacent to the rear end faces 4! and 42 of the front section I! and bearing block 29, respectively.

It is seen, therefore, that the front section H is rotatably supported at the bearings l9 and 33 for rotation independently of the rear section l8 which is rotatably supported at the bearings 23 and 31. The bearing block 29 is retained stationary by a bracket member 43 secured to the frame member 2! and to the rear end 34 of the bearing block by bolts 44. As best appears in Fig. 1, the bracket 43 is projected laterally from a front section ll in a direction away from the support of the rear section IE on the bearing block 29.

The rear end 27 of a front section I! terminates in an internal gear "46 which isin meshed engagement with a pinion gear 47 mounted on the shaft portion 38 so as to be within the front section I1. is cut away at 48 so as to be in a clearance-relation with the rear section l8. It is seen, therefore, that the gear assembly, comprisingtheinternal gear 46 and the pinion gear- 4 1,:is enclosed within the front section I! by thebracket43 and shoulder 39 of the rear section l8.

With reference to Fig. 2 it is seen that the selfaligning bearing 37 is offset transversely :from the'bearing support 3'2 such that the

side portions

49 and 5|, of the sections IS and I1, respectively, located opposite the side 58 f thesectionl'l, from which the niounting'bracket 43 ,projects,-are in substantial linear alignment axially of -th'e roll it. Further, by virtue ofthe-location of-the' combination unit 28 Within the front section H and. the close adjacenceof the rear end' face 4 l of the front section ii to the shoulder 3-9, it i'sseen that-the side pcrtions49 andl ares ubstantially continuous over the full'length'of-the roll I0.

In use, the rollslfi are arrangedlongitudinaily of thepicker machine H in a transversely spaced relation (Fig. '1) such that=the continuous side portion of a roll; comprisedof theeportions fl and 5! of the sections lt and iigrespectively, are-opposite each-other so-asto constitutethe side or defining walls of the -space52 between the rolls Hi. As a result, the space 52 is of: a substantially constant width over the full length of' th'e rolls It. The rear ends =25'of thesections lB carry meshed gear-s53; and witha rear shaftcxtension 54' on one of the rolls !il being-suitablyconnected with a source'of power (not shown) such as the power takeofi of a tractor. ThHShafteXfiGHEiOh 54 is rotated'in 'a direction such that the'rolls are reverselyrotatedinwardly -toward each other as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 6.

In operation, and referring to Fig. has the machine is advanced along a 'corn row thecorn stalks, indicated at'et; enter the rolls b'etweennthe tapered sections 22' and are thenzadvanced' rearwardly of thefrontsections H by reversed :spiral flights 5'! fo'rrned'onthe sectio'ns t'l. Theiperipheral surface of each rear section i8 I(Figs. :2 and 4) is formed with what might be termed hobs 58 arranged in circumferential rows spaced axially of a rear sectionan'd with therows being inparallel plan'es inclined relative to the axis of a'rea'r section. Each hob '58is ofasubstantially pyramid shape, so that as a stalk passes within the space 152 between the rear sections t8 itis pierced rather than crushed by the action-'ofthe hobs. It is contemplated that the hobs-stand about one-eighth of'an inchvhighand that the hobs be about quarter of aninch apart1at-the space 52.

In one embodiment of 'thei'nvention therea'r sections it are about oneand'three quarters inches in diameter and rotatedat aspeed of about 1030 M. In 'this embodiment the front sections I! are about three inches indiameter and rotated at a speed of about "350 R. P. M. thestalks 5B pas 'betweenthe rear sections it any grabbing actio'non thebutt 'e'n'ds ofthe ears of corn is substantially eliminated by the hob formation of the peripheralsurfaces of the sections [8. Further, due to the'relativ'ely small diameter of the rear sections lBand their rotation at a relatively high rate of speed, the ears are repelled orrejected from enteringthe sections l8 instead of being drawn therebetween.

The bracket 43, as shown in Fig. 6,

As a result of this action of the roll sections l8 the-machine is capable ofe'fliciently. picking small ears of'corn, without crushing them, and of picking large ears of corn without mutilating or destroying the butt ends of such large ears.

:In-this picking action, the ears are picked from the stalks free of any husks. Stated otherwise,

the -hus'lis'*are removed from the ears, and the cars from thestalksso that the rear sections l8 function as combination picking and husking rolls. The picked ears are then directed to the wagon elevator it, while the husks pass downwardly between the rear sections I8 secured on thestandingstalks.

In thetravel of the stalks between the rear sections [:8 it has been foundthatthe upper ends of the stalks tend to accumulate 'or become bunched together at the front orclower 'endsof the rearsections 18, By virtue'of this collecting tendency the pickingaction of the sections 18 is confined somewhat to their lower ends. Since theipicked ears would also fall'alongthe lower ends'of'theroll sections 18, they relatively interfere withtheir freepassage into the wagon-elevator i6.

To =overcome this accumulation of 'the stalks and cars at the lower ends .of the sections ii! there is provided a feeding auger-Bl Figs. 1, 5 and fi) :located in a parallel-spaced relation with and abovethe rolls labia-position betweenthe rolls and the wagon e1eva'tor l6. In theembodiment sof 'the invention :above referred to the auger 6| has a diameter of "about ten inches. The=auger-6 l is rotatably: supported inthe:

frame members

24 and 62 of the frame structure 12 and: has a: shaft extension 63 at: its: rear endi for carrying: a'sprocket gear 54. The.=gear-:64 is connected through a sprocket chain :56 with :a sprocket gearfil mounted on-the'shaft extension 54'on one oftheroll-silfl. -As the'stalks 56 (Fig. 5) ,pass 'betweenithe rearvsections (8 :their upper ends 8! are-en aged by the spiral 'fiightstanoi' the auger =6] and advanced in a spaced relation upwardly orrea rwardly ofth-e roll-sections [-8,

For directing the picked-'earsitowardthe-wagon conveyer l6, "and the upper stalk ends 2:81 .into the auger 6| it is contemplatedthat the rolls H! be arranged in-arplane which isinclinedupwardly toward the auger :shaft 69 as best appearsl-in Fig.6. 'In'the -embodiment-of the invention referred to abovethis angle of=inclination is=a1ooutttfifteen degrees relativetto' a vertical planezp'assing betweenthe moi-ls H1. The angle of inclination is adjustable'by.thet'prov-ision-of arcuate slots "H formedsin the brackets 43 -for receiving-the bolts 44.

:From 1 the above description 1 it is seen that :the invention provides a pair of corn picker :rol'ls each of which isxcomprise'dof'a'front:'gathering section an'd a :rear 1 husking and. pickingvsection, and with the sections in a roll beingofdifferent diameters and "operated "at 'di'fierent espeeds iof rotation. The rolls are capable 'of .gathering stalks i in a' corn! row,=and-' oni-travel of the cornpicking machine advance thezstalksin-succes sion therebetween to continuously pick and'husk the ears, leaving the husks remaining-on the standing stalks. By-virtue of the -'construction of the roll sections l8, -.'and ltheir rotation at relatively high speeds both small and iarge earS are eniciently picked with a minimum shelling Of COIn.

-"Although the invention has been described with respect to a preferred embodiment thereof it is to be understood:that it is'not -to beso limited since changes can be made therein which are Within the full intended scope of this invention as defined by the appended claims.

Iclaim:

1. In a corn harvesting machine, a two-section roll having a front stalk gathering section, and a rear picking and husking section, with said rear section being of a reduced diameter relative to said front section, bearing means at the junction of said two sections for rotatably supporting the rear end of said front section, other bearing means at said junction for rotatably supporting the front end of said rear section at a position such that one of the corresponding side portions of said sections is in substantial linear alignment axially of said roll, and means at said junction connecting said sections for concurrent rotation at different rotational speeds.

2. In a corn harvesting machine, a two-seetion roll having a front stalk gathering section and a rear picking and husking section, with said rear section being of a reduced diameter relative to said front section, and means rotatably supporting said sections at the adjacent ends thereof for independent rotation, with said adjacent ends being offset transversely of the roll at said supporting means such that one side portion of said roll is substantially continuous over the full length of the roll.

3. In a corn harvesting machine, a two-section roll having a first section of a reduced diameter relative to a second section, means for rotatably supporting the adjacent ends of said two sections including a bearing member positioned within the adjacent end of said second section and having a pair of bearing portions, with the adjacent end of said second section being mounted about one of said bearing portions, and the adjacent end of the first section being received within the other of said bearing portions, with said bearing portions being offset transversely of said bearing member such that a side portion of said roll is in linear alignment over the full length of the roll.

4. In a corn harvesting machine, a two-section roll having a first section of a reduced diameter relative to the second section thereof, with the adjacent end of said second section at the junction of said two sections being hollow, a

combination bearing and gear reduction unit I positioned within the hollow end of said second section having a, mounting member located outwardly from said hollow adjacent end and projected laterally to one side of said roll, a first bearing portion on said bearing unit for rotatably v,

supporting the hollow adjacent end of said second section, a, second bearing portion on said unit, with the adjacent end of said first section being inserted within said second bearing portion so that the adjacent ends of said two sections are in a longitudinally overlapped relation, a pinion gear on the adjacent end of said first section located within the hollow adjacent end of said second section, an internal gear on said hollow adjacent end in meshed engagement with said pinion gear, with said bearing portions being relatively arranged such that the side of said roll, substantially opposite from said one side thereof, in is linear continuity over the full length of the roll.

5. A two-section roll for a corn harvesting machine including a front stalk gathering section and a rear picking and husking section, with said rear section being of a reduced diameter relative to said front section, and a combination bearing 75 and speed reduction unit at the junction of said two sections located within the dimensional confines of said front section for independently rotatably supporting the adjacent ends of said two sections for rotation at varying speeds, with said adjacent ends being transversely spaced within said combination unit such that peripheral portions of said two sections at one side of the roll are in linear alignment axially of the roll.

6. A corn harvesting machine having a pair of transversely spaced upwardly and rearwardly inclined sectional rolls, with each of said rolls having a front stalk gathering section and a rear husking and picking section, and with said rear sections being of a reduced diameter relative to said front sections, means rotatably supporting said sections for relative rotation such that side portions of a corresponding front and rear section at said space are in linear ali nment axially of a corresponding roll, means for rotating said rear sections at a greater rotational speed than said front sections, and a stalk feeding mechanism mounted above said rear sections including a spiral member engageable With the upper ends of stalks passing between said rear sections to rearwardly advance said stalk upper ends.

7. In a corn harvesting machine, a two section roll having a front stalk-gathering section and a rear picking and husking section, with said front section being of an enlarged diameter relative to said rear section, bearing means at the adjacent ends of said front and rear sections for supporting said sections for relative rotation, and means on said roll providing for a concurrent rotation of said sections at different rotational speeds.

8. In a corn harvesting machine, :a section alized roll having a front stalk-gathering section and a rear picking and husking section, with said front section being of an enlarged diameter relative to said rear section, means on said roll for supporting said front and rear sections for relative rotation, and means on said roll providing for a concurrent rotation of said sections at different rotational speeds.

9. In a corn harvesting machine, a pair of transversely spaced substantially parallel rolls, with each roll having a front section and a rear section, with a rear section being of a reduced diameter relative to a corresponding front section, and means supporting corresponding front and rear sections in a roll for relative rotation, with a rear section having the axis thereof transversely offset relative to the axis of a corresponding front section such that a side portion of a roll is in linear alignment over the full length of the roll whereby when said side portions of said rolls are disposed opposite each other the space between said rolls is of a substantially constant width over the complete length of the rolls.

EDGAR V. COLLINS.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,116,278 Hollis Nov. 3, 1914 1,253,611 Locer Jan. 15, 1918 1,424,060 Zeier July 25, 1922 1,610,611 Knutson Dec. 14, 1926 1,882,033 Pirinoli Oct. 11, 1932 2,334,945 Mitchell et al. Nov. 23, 1943 2,366,408 Jenson Jan. 2, 1945 2,414,134 Bartlett Jan. 14, 1947