US583981A

US583981A - Fruit-grading machine

Info

Publication number: US583981A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1897-06-08
Anticipated expiration: 1914-06-08

Description

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

L. CUNNINGHAM 86 R. G. SMITIL FRUIT GRADING MAGHINE.

No. 583 381. Patented June 8, 1897.

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2 Sheets--She'et 2.

{Nd Model.)

L. CUNN'INGHAM 85 R. Gr. SMITH. FRUIT GRADING MAGHINEL Patented June 8, 1897.

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7 III] -wc is' &w %wa UNITED STATES PATENT- Orrice LUTHER CUNNINGIIAM, OF SAN J OS, AND ROBERT GUY SMITH, OF SARA- TOGA, OALIFORNIA, ASSIGNORS TO EDW'ARD LE QUESNE, OF SARATOGA, OALIFORNIA. i

FRUT-G RADING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 5835981, clated June 8, 1897. Application filed November 20, 1896. Serial No. 612340. (No model.)

To (all whom ?it may cowcrn: to the lower end of the screen-frames, as seen Be it known thatAve, LUTHER CUNNING- in Fig. II. At the highest end is provided a HAM, of San Jos, and ROBERT GUY SMITH, grated screen 26, through which pass leaves, of Saratoga, in the county of Santa Clara, stems, dust, or other waste matter of the kind State of California, citizens of the United that may be among the fruit. The screen- States, have invented certain new and useful frames 2 and 3 are supported on the trun- Improvements in Fruit-Grading Machines, of nions 4 and the links or levers 5, as shown in which the following is a specification. Figs. I, IV, and V. These links 5 are prefer- Our invention relates to an organized ma ably made in sigmoidal form, as shown in IO chine and apparatns for automatically grad- Figs. I and V, to permit some fiexure in the ing or selecting green or dried fruit, accordpiane of movement, and are loosely supported ing to its size or dimensions. on the shafts 6, that 'extend across the ma- Our improvements consist in double or chine and are held in the bearings '7, attached compound screen-:frames set one above the to the top rail S of the machine-frame 1. The I 5 other, having a coincident but opposite re links 5 fit loosely on the shaft 6 so as to turn ciprocating movement; a lateral and a vertiand slide freely thereon, being made with an cal or jarring motion, all imparted by cams; oblong bore, as seen in Fig. V, to permit some also, in various accessory devices that will vertical movement of these links and of the hereinafter be particularly explained in conscreen-'frames 2 and 3, Suspended thereon. 20 ncction with the drawings accompanying and To the bottom of the lower screen-france 3 we forming a part of this specification. attach can-yokes ll, (shown enlargedin Fig.

The objects of our invention are to provide VL) provided with downward-projecting exwithin a given len gth and within one

machine tensions

12 and 13, that em brace at each side double the usual length of screen-surface, so the cams 14, one of these extensions 13 being 2 5 as to repeat the selecting or grading of the bent, as shown in Fig. IV, to insure engagefruit, to attain the various motions of screenment of the cams 14 on their upward stroke. frames by simple and inexpensive devices, These cams 14 are fixed on a shaft 15 and are and to secure a rapid and efficient performset obliquely thereto, as seen in Fig. IV, so ance in grading or selecting the fruit. that when in rotation the yokes 11 are' moved 30 Referring to the clrawings, Figure I is a longitudinally with respect to the screenside elevation of afruit-grding machine conframes 2 and 3, as indicated by dotted lines structed according to our invention. Fig. II in Fig. VI, also` from side to side at each revois a plan view of the same machine. Fig. III lution of the shaft 15 because of the oblique is a transverse section on the line xx in Fig. position of the cams 14, causing a correspond- I. Fig. IV is another transverse section on ing lateral motion of the screen-frame 3 and the line y y in Fig. I. Fig. V is a side View also of the screen-france 2, communicated to of one of the links on which the screen-frames the latter by means of the links 5, which slide are supported. Fig. VI is an enlarged side freely on the shafts 6 when at the same time view of one of the cam-yokes that actuate the turning thereon. 0 screen-frames. In the center of the cam-yokes 11 we pro- 1 is the main frame of the machine, prefervide downward-projecting lugs 16, that are ably made of Wood, in the form seen inFigs. engaged at the top by the cams 14 at each revo- I and II, having an inclined rail 8 at the top, lution of the latter, giving an abrupt blow to which is attached the main Operating part-s and short upward movementof the screen- 45 of the machine. frames 2' and 3, which fall with a shock and 2 and 3 are cradles or screen-frames prothus loosen any fruit that may be lodged in vided with bottoms formed of perforated the screens 25, also dislodge any waste matplates or screens 25. The holes therein, ter in or on the gratin g 26. through'which the fruit passes, are of varied At the forward or fecding end of the ma- 50 diameter, increasin g in size from the higher chine we provide a chain or endless elevator zoo 17, passing around the axes 21 22, driven by a pulley 22 and a band 23, connecting to a pulley 20 on the shaft 15.

To drive the machine, power is applied to the end 19 of the shaft 15 by m eans of a handcrank or otherwise, all movements being communicated from this shaft.

In Operating the machine the fruit is placed in the bin 27 and is carried up by the conveyer or elevator 17 and falls on the grated screen 26, Where the meshes are small enough to permit the passage of leaves, stems, or dirt contained in the fruit, but not of the fruit itself, which by reason of the inclination and agitation of the screen-iframe 2 passes on slowly over the perforated plates 25, most that is small enough falling through the first plate and the remainder going on to the next, and so on, down to the last screen, which has perforations large enough to pass the largest fruit.

The fruit passing through the top screenframe 2 falls on the lower screen-frame 3, where a second selection or grading takes place. The opposite screens 25 in the lower screen-frame 3 being one degree or grade less than those above, the selection or grading is repeated. So the operation being double is more rapid, complete, and a greater amount of fruit can be treated in a given time than if but one screen-frame Was employed. Beneath the screen-frame 3 are placed bins or receptacles 28, into which the graded fruit falls, also a bin 29 to catch the Waste material passing through the grating 26.

Any of the fruit which by reason of abnormal size, or is flattened by crushing, fails to pass through the screens goes 011 over them and into a receptacle provided for that purpose.

The screens 25 are preferably made of sheet metal having circular perforations, as shown in Fig. II, but may be made of woven wire or in any other manner that Will permit the fruit to pass through in proportion to its size.

The screen-frames 2 and &having coincident and opposite reciprocatiug movement longitudinally and being nearly balanced, do not produce vbration common to the reciprocating elements of such machines and can be operated Without producingvibration of the main frame or of a building in which the machine is operated.

Having thus described our invention and its objects, We claim- 1. In a fruit-grading machine, the combination of the parallel inclined screen-frames With graduated meshes or openings, the vibratin g links connecting the said frames, pivoted loosely at the center on cross-shafts, and means for imparting coincident lon gitudinal, vertical and lateral m otions to the said frames, substantially as specified.

2. In a fruit-grading machine, the combination of the parallel inclined screen-frames, the vibratinglinks connecting the said frames, pivoted at the Centers on oblon g bearings permitting of coincident longitudinal, vertical and lateral motion, and means for imparting to the said frames the said motions, substantially as specified. r

3. In a fruit-grading machine, the combination of the parallel inclined screen-frames With graduated openings, the vibratory links connecting the said frames, pivoted at the centers on oblong bearings permitting of vertical and lateral motion, cam-yokes on the lower screen-frame, cams 14, and means for rotating said cams, Whereby rapid longitudinal and lateral reciprocating motions are imparted to the said screen-frames, substantially as specified.

4. In a fruit-grading machine, the combination of the parallel inclined screen-frames with graduated openings, the vibrating links connecting the said frames, pivoted at the centers on oblong bearings permitting of vertical and lateral motion, cam-yokes ll, cams 14:, set eccentric on cross-shaft '1.5 and also inclined to the aXis of said cross-shaft, with means for rotatin g said cams, Whereby rapid longitudinal and lateral reciprocatin g motions are imparted to the said screen-frames, substantially as specified.

5. In a fruit-grading machine, the com bination of the parallel inclined screen-frames With graduated openings, Vibrating links 5 pivoted to the said framesand having vertically-oblong central bearingson shaft G permitting of vertical and lateral motion, cam- IOO yokes 11, and cams 14 set eccentric 011 crossshaft 15, and also inclined to the axis of the said shaft, driving-shaft 21, gear connections with cam-shaft 15, and endless-chain elevator 17, substantially as specified.

In a fruit-grading machine, the combination of the parallel inclined screen-frames with graduated openings, vibrating links 5 pivoted to the said frames and having vertically-oblong central bearings on shaft G pernitting of vertical and lateral motion, camyokes 11, lugs 16, cams 14; set eccentric on cross-shaft 15, and also inclined to the axis of the said shaft, driving-shaft 21, gear connections With cam shaft 15, endless-chain elevator l7, a series of graduated receptacles 28, and bin 29, all substantially as specified.

In testimony Whereof We have hereunto affixed our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

L. CUNNINGHAM. ROBT. GUY SMITII.

lVitnesses:

W. S. CLAYTON, TESLEY PIEPER.

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