US2683477A

US2683477A - Pimiento coring machine

Info

Publication number: US2683477A
Application number: US169872A
Authority: US
Inventors: Altman Eston
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1950-06-23
Filing date: 1950-06-23
Publication date: 1954-07-13
Anticipated expiration: 1971-07-13

Description

July 13, 1954 Filed June 23, 1950 E. ALTMAN PIMIENTO CORING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet l July 13, 1954 E, ALTMAN 2,683,477

PIMIENTO CORING MACHINE Filed June 23, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR f BY l l ATTORNEYS July 13, 1954 E. ALTMAN 2,683,477

PIMIENTO coRING MACHINE y Filed June 23, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet July 13, 1954 E. ALTMAN 2,683,477

PIMIENTO CORING MACHINE Filed June 2s, 195o 4 sheets-sheet 4 Patented July 13, 1954 UNITED STATES FFICE PIMIENTO CORING MACHINE Eston Altman, Gray, Ga.

Application June 23, 1950, Serial No. 169,872

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a machine designed for preparing pimiento peppers for canning, which necessitates removing the seed pods and stems commonly known as cores, and which have, prior to the present invention, been removed by hand, which is an exceptionally tedious and expensive operation.

An important object of the invention is to provide a machine for removing the cores of pimiento peppers, wherein the mechanism of the machine is used in conveying the pimiento peppers step by step and positioning them directly under the knives, and which forms a part of my machine for coring pears, on which the Patent No. 2,588,790, was granted to me under date of March 11, 1952.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pimiento coring machine including tubular coring knives having fingers which grip the core after the cutting operation, removing-the core f' from the pimiento.

Still another object of the invention is to provide core knock-out members which are movable within the tubular blades of the machine and actuated by cams which are so constructed and timed that after the coring operation and the tubular blades are elevated for the following operation, the core knock-out members will move into action forcing the cores from the tubular knives freeing the knives of the cores, prior to the succeeding cutting operation to cut the cores from the pimientos.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of constructionand combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts Without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawings Figure `1 is a front elevational view of a pimiento pepper coring machine, constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmental side elevational view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a sectional View taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged elevational view partly in section, illustrating the construction of yone of the knives, together with the core-extracting arms and knock-out member.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one of the coreremoving arms.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged elevational View of a modied form of knife, portions thereof being broken away illustrating the knock-out member operating therein.

Fig. 9 is an elevational view of one of the tubular knives as shown by Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a vertical sectional View through a modied form of cup in which pimiento peppers are deposited for coring.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the machine comprises a stationary frame including a lower section over which chains 5 operate, the chains 5 being in parallel spaced relation with respect to each other and connected by means of the bars s which provide supports for the cups l in which the pimientos are manually positioned, the pimientos being carried step by step under the tubular cutting knives of the machine.

The operating mechanism for moving the cups i between.

At the rear of the machine are vertical bars i D which are braced by means of the bars il that extend from the bars 8, to the upper ends of the vertical bars lll, as clearly shown by Fig. 2 of the drawings.

The upper ends of the bars 8 and IU, are connected by means of the side bars I2 which are of lengths to extend beyond'the bars 8 and I, providing supports for an upper frame.

TheV pairs of bars 8 are held in spaced relation with respect to each other, by means of the trans- Y verse bars I3 Which are disposed in vertical spaced relation with respect to each other, the ends of the bars I3 being disposed within the guideways 9, where they are secured against movement, by

' means of bolts I4.

. are rectangular frame members l5 each of Which Cil Rising from the bars i2, and secured thereto,

bers i providing supports for the bearings ill in which the cam shaft i9 operates, the ends of the cam shaft le' being extended beyond the bearings IS wherein one end of the cam shaft I9 supports the sprocket 2). Collars 2l are secured to the shaft i9 and hold the shaft i9 against lateral thrust.

Mounted on the cam shaft i9 are the cams 22 that contact with the rollers 23' mounted in the bearing members 25! that are secured to the upper movable bar 25, which bar has its ends disposed within the guideways i3, maintaining the bar 25 in true horizontal position at all times.

As clearly shown by Fig. 2 of the drawings, the

cams 22 which are identical in construction, arel of a shape to provide an elongated structure with a gradually curved edge 25 providing a substantially pointed end 2l to the end that as the cams rotate, at one point during the cycles of rotation, the cams will operate to move the bar 25 gradually downwardly, until the pointed ends-of the cams pass over the rollers 23, whereupon the bar 25 will snap upwardly, for a predetermined distance, until the rounded end of the cam contacts with the rollers 23.

Spaced an appreciable distance below the movable bar25, is the vertically movable bar 28 which has its ends moving in the guideways S. This bar 28 is connected with the bar 2i, through the rods 29 which operate the knock-out member. While I have shown but one of these rods in Fig. 1 of the drawings, it is to be understood that there will be a coring blade and knock-out member for each line of cups 'H to the end that the

bars

25 and 28 will be securely held against tilting, by the rods 29, which are secured to the bars 25 and E8, by the collars 3B that are secured to the rod 29 and frictionally engage the bars or bearings mounted thereon.

Since all of the coring blades and knock-out members used in the machine are identical, only one of these coring blades and knock-out members will be described and illustrated in this' application.

The transverse bars i3, which are secured to the bars 8, provide supports for the bearings 3|, through which the tubular bearing 32 operates, the tubular bearing 32' extending through the bearing 33, where it supports the pulley 34, whichV is secured to the tubularbearing 32. At the lower` end ofthe tubular bearing 32, is mounted the tubular coring blade 35 to rotate therewith, the coring blade having a sharp lower edge 3E to cut the pimiento pepper,A as the blade rotates and is moved thereinto.

Disposed longitudinally of the tubular coring blade 35 and extending inwardly from the cutting edge thereof, are slots 3l, which slots have wide end portions 33 in which the wide ends. 3Q of the core gripping arms dii operate, they lowerV ends of the wide ends of the core gripping arms 4H being alsobeveled to provide a circular cutting edge. As clearly shown by Fig. 5 of the drawings, the core gripping arms are formed with offset bearings 4l that are mounted between the ears 42 arranged in pairs, at opposite sides of the cutting blade, pivot pins it being provided andk extended through the bearings lli and ears t2, pivotally connecting the core gripping arms to the tubular coring blade. These cere gripping arms are also provided with notches fifi that nt over the portions 45 which are formed substantially intermediate the ends of the tubular blades at points adjacent to the bearing ears 42. The upper ends of the core gripping arms are substantially wide as at 4'3 and are so constructed that they extend inwardly appreciable distances within the wall of the tubular cutting blade, when the gripping arms are in their normal positions as shown by Fig. 5. These wide ends have inclined inner edges l providing cam surfaces, for purposes to be hereinafter more fully described.

Stop pins 48 extend laterally from the core gripping arms and are designed to engage the outer surface of the tubular cutting blade to restrict inward movement of the upperends of the core gripping arms. The lower ends of the core gripping arms rest against the band 4S which encircles the lower end of the tubular cutting blade, the band 49 being welded to the tubular cutting blade.

The reference character 50 indicates a coiled spring which is positioned around the tubular cutting blade and rests in the recesses 5I formed in the outer edges of the wide ends 4E, as clearly shown by Fig. 5. Thus it willbe seen that due to this construction, the coiledv spring 5E normally acts to urge the upper ends of the core gripping arms'inwardly, but permitsof outward: movement of the upper ends of said core gripping arms under conditions to be hereinafter more fully described.

The rod 29 extends through the tubular vbearing 32 and carries the-knock-out head 52 on the lower end thereof, `the upper endofthe rod 29 being extended through the bar 25. where it is provided with a stop 53y against whichy the coiled spring 54 engages, the springl liracting to normally urge the rod- 29-upwardlyagainst the movable bar 25, which as previously stated, is'moved downwardly by the actionv of the cams22, the cams being so timed that this downward movement takes place at predetermined intervals.V

The knock-out head 52 is of a diameter so that when the rod 29V moves upwardly to a point adjacent to the upper end of thevtubular cutting blade, the head 52 will engage the inclinedv inner edges 4? of the core gripping' arms,v moving `the upper ends thereof outwardly with thev result that the lower ends thereof -move inwardly into gripping relationv with the core of the.v pimientov pepper,

which has been cut by the tubular blade, thereby holding. the core so that upon reverse movement of the'tubular cutting blade'and rodn 29;. theknock.- out head 52 will engage'the core held between l the arms and force it from itsrposition'. between the arms, clearing the tubularblade for thet next cutting operation.

It will of course be understood that this reverse movement of the knock-out" head takesplace as the cams 22 move to positions whereinV the substantially pointed ends 2l thereof: move over the rollers 23 forcing the bar 25 and rods 29 connectedl therewith, downwardly;

As clearly shownv by Fig.v lrof the` drawings, thev tubular cutting blade is supported within the' guide ring 53', the opening 54" ofthe' guide' ring having its wall beveled' so` that it" will' be guided over the upper end of the pimiento pepper being cored, to hold the pimiento pepper against tilting during the coring operation.

Extending from the opposite sides of the guide ring 53', are arms 55, which arms are providedwith openings through which the rods 55 extend, the rods also extending through the tubular bear-- ings that are secured to thel movableba-r 53' at the bottom of the frame, the movable bar. 58lhaving its ends disposed within: the guid'eways 9. ,rodsl55 are disposed' at-oppositesides ofthe" tubular cutters and' move" downwardly' with the downward movement of the rods'29.

The reference character 59 indicates coiled springs that encircle the rods 58 bearing against the arms 55 at their lower ends, while the upper ends thereof eng-age the lower ends of the tubular bearings 51, the springs 59 acting to normally urge the guide ring downwardly. At the ends f the rods 56, are nuts 68 which secure the rods 56 to the arms 55 and the upper ends of the rods to the plates 6| that in turn are secured to the bar 58.

Coiled springs 62 are arranged in pairs at opposite sides of the spaced angle bars 8 and have their upper ends secured to the transverse fixed bar I3 directly below the movable bar 28, by means of the plates 63 that are secured to the bars I3 and 58 respectively. These springs have hooked ends hooked into eyes of the securing means, in such a Way that the springs 62 will normally act to draw the movable bar together with the elements supported thereby upwardly.

In the form of the invention as shown by Figs. 8 and 9 of the drawings, the tubular coring blades 64 are provided with slots extending inwardly from one end thereof, in which the blades 65 are pivotally mounted, the lblades 65 acting in the same capacity as the core gripping arms shown by Figs. 5 and '1 of the drawings. In this form of the tubular coring blades, the blades 65 extend below the beveled cutting ends of the tubular coring blades as shown by Figs. 8 and 9, the cutting ends 66 thereof being curved so that they contact the pimiento pepper being cored, prior to the engagement of 4the beveled cutting edge of the tubular coring blade, to cut the pepper prior to the entrance of the tubular cutting blade, into the pepper.

In Fig. l0 of the drawings, I have illustrated a modified form of cup, in which the upper edge of the cup is provided with an annular flange 61 which forms a support for the pimiento pepper after it has been cored and retains the pepper against fallingfrom the cup prematurely.

The frame of the machine also includes space bars 68 that provide a support for the motor 69 which is provided with the motor shaft 18 on which the pulley 1| is secured, the pulley 1| transmitting movement to the pulley 12 through the medium of the belt 13 that moves thereover. The pulley 12 is mounted on one end of the shaft 14 on which the pulley 15 is secured, the pulley 15 rotating the pulley 16 through the medium of the belt 11 which is shown as moving over the

pulleys

15 and 16. The pulley 16 is secured to the shaft 18 to which the sprocket 19 is secured, the sprocket 19 driving the substantially large sprocket 88 through the medium of the chain 8|. The sprocket 8 is secured on one end of the shaft 8| and rotates said shaft 8| on which the sprocket 82 is secured. The sprocket 82 transmits rotary movement to the sprocket 83 through the medium of the chain 84 the sprocket 83 being secured to the shaft 85 to which the sprocket 86 is also connected. The sprocket 86 transmits rotary motion to the shaft I9 on which cams 22 are secured, through the medium of the sprocket 28 and chain 81 which moves over the sprockets and 86, the chain also movingover the idle sprocket 88. The shaft 85 provides the support for the cams 88', to which the cams are secured, the cams 88 operating over the rollers 89 thatV are mounted in brackets98 adjustablysecured to the movable bar 28, so that with each complete rotation of thecains 88', the movable bar 28 will be moved downwardly against the action of the springs 62, which springs act to immediately return the movable section of the machine to its uppermost position allowing another row of pimientos to be moved under the coring blades.

The coring blad-es which are mounted at the lower ends of the tubular bearings 32 of the machine, are rotated by means of the pulleys 34 which are secured to the upper ends of the tubular bearings 32, the pulleys 38 being rotated by means of the pulleys 88 which are secured to the shaft 14 and which transmit movement to the pulleys 34, through the belts 89.

In the operation `of the pimiento coring machine, the machine is set in operation, and the pimientos are placed by hand, into the cups 1. The cups now move forwardly from the rear of the machine, towards the front end of the machine, and because of the shape of the cams 88', the coring blades 35 which are rapidly rotating, are gradually moved into Contact with the pimiento to be cored. As the cams 88' and 22 continue to rotate, the rods 29 of the knock-out heads 52 are moved upwardly, the heads 52 contacting with the inclined inner edges 41 of the wide ends 46 of the core gripping arms 40, swinging the lower ends 39 of the core gripping arms 40 inwardly, gripping the core which has been cut by the rapidly rotating tubular coring blade. The tubular coring blade is now elevated to a position above the cored pimiento pepper retain-ed in the cup directly therebelow, and the tubular coring blade begins its downward movement for the next operation. When the knockout head 52 moves away from lthe enlargements 46 of the core gripping arms, the arms return to their normal operative position as shown by Fig. 5, releasing the core which drops through the machine. It might be further stated that the shape of the cams 22 is such that an intermittent movement is transmitted to the rods 29 which results in a movement of the knock-out heads to actuate the gripping arms to grip and release the core at su-ch time as to free the tubular coring blades of the c-ores cut, so that they will be in a position to continue or repeat the operation, as the pimiento peppers are fed or deposited in the cups.

As the endless chains of coring cups pass over the front end of the machine, it is obvious that the cored pimiento peppers will be dropped therefrom into containers which may be placed at the delivery end of the machine.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In a machine for coring pimiento peppers, a frame, an endless carrier mounted on the frame, rows of cups mounted on the endless carrier, vertically movable rotary tubular members mounted within the frame and disposed above said cups, the lower edges of said tubular members being beveled providing cutting blades, said tubular members having slots extending upwardly from the cutting edges thereof, vertical blades pivotally mount-ed within said slots, each of said blades having a lower cutting end with an edge curved about a horizontal axis disposed beyond the cutting ends of said tubular members adapted to cut a pimiento prior to the engagement of the pimiento with the cutting ends of said tubular members, means for rotating said tubular members and simultaneously advancing said tubular members into said pimientos, and means for ejecting the cores from said tubular members.

2. In a machine for coring pimiento peppers, a frame, an endless conveyor mounted on the frame,

aessfiw r rows ofcups mounted on the endless conveyor into which peppers to be cored are placed, vertically movable rotary tubular members having their lower edges beveled providing cutting ends, said tubular members havingfslots extending longitudinally from the cuttingv edges thereof, cutting bladespivotally mounted on said tubular inembers and disposed Within said slots, each of said cutting blades havinga lower cutting end with an edge curved about a horizontal axis, disposed beyond the cuttingV ends of said tubular members adapted to cut a. pimiento prior to the engagement of, the pimiento with the cutting ends of said tubular members extending into the interior of said: tubular members providing cams, knockout n'ienibers7 slidably mounted through said tubular members, said knockout members including heads adapted to Contact with said wide ends moving the cutting ends of said blades inwardly gripping S the-core removed by said tubular members, means for restricting outward movement of said cutting ends of the blades, and means for biasing the opposite endsof said blades towards each other.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,016,039 Sawyer et al Jan. 30, 1912 1,448,532 Harding Mar. 13, 1923 1,542,470 Nordquist June 16, 1925 2,475,142 Kane, Sr. July 5, 1949 2,482,837 Buckner Sept. 27, 1949 2,495,422 Rigney Jan. 24, 195o FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 7,877 Australia June 21, 1927V