US632253A

US632253A - Grain measuring and bagging machine.

Info

Publication number: US632253A
Application number: US66330497A
Authority: US
Inventors: Frank Dentler
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1897-12-24
Filing date: 1897-12-24
Publication date: 1899-09-05
Anticipated expiration: 1916-09-05

Description

F. DENTLER;

"'0. 632,253. Paientd Sept. 5, I899.

GRAIN MEASURING AND BAGGING MACHINE. (Ap 1i 9 atlon fllefl Dec. 24, 1B 7) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet I.

Wiigcsszs 44 1 .7 @Aifomyzys T ITNO WRSNINOT No. 632,253. Patented Sept. 5-,. 1899.1

F; DENTLER.

GRAIN MEASURING AND BAGGING MACHINE (Application flied Dec. 24, 1897.)

3 Sheets-Sheet. 2

(No Model.)

mllllllilillllllillllllIllIIIUHi glam IE1 llllllllflll llllllllllllllli! I in I 3 b u nlllmlllmuu k Ilillllllllllillllllllll. \z /6' E Mum :Wllllllll M i v e. 632,253. Patented Sept. 5,1899. F. DENTLER.

GRAIN MEASURING AND BAGGlNG MAC HINE.

(Application filed Dec. 24, 1897.) v (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3,

NITED STATES PAT NT Prion.

FRANK DEN TLER, OF PARKVILLE, MICHIGAN.

GRAIN MEASURING AND BAGGING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 632,253, dated September 5, 1899.

Application filed December 24, 1897. Serial No. 663,304. (No model.)

elevating mechanism for a threshing-machine forming the subject-matter of another appli- .cation for Letters Patent filed by me of even date herewith, Serial No. 663,305, and since issued as a patent dated September 20, 1898,

No. 611,197, although such improved mechanism may be used in connection with threshing-machines or separators generally.

The object that I have in view is to pro-:

vide an improved mechanism in which the operation of the grain-feeder to deliver to the bags or sacks is controlled automatically according to the quantity of grain contained in the casing of the attachment.

A further object is to provide a simple and.

or charged with grain, but which is designed to be set in motion automatically. when the.

casing is charged with the proper quantity of grain to be delivered to the bags or sacks which it is desired to fill. a

A further object that I have in View isto provide an automatic driving mechanism for:

the grain distributer and feeder, which driving mechanism is thrown out of action while the casing is being charged and allows the gearing to rotate idly; but when sufficient grain accumulates in the casing to ofier resistance to the rotation of a part of the baggingmechanism a trip is thrown out of the path of the clutch mechanism and permits, the latter to make the master-gear fast with the shaft and rotate the feeder or distributer.

With these ends in view the invention consists in the combination, witha casing and a rotary feeder or distributer therein, of a drivingmechanism embodying a master gear mounted loosely on its shaft and a clutch mechanism adapted to make said master-gear fast with its shaft, an actuator-shaft adapted to be rotated by said master-gear and to partake of a sliding movement or play under resistance of the grain asit accumulates within the casing, and a spring-controlled trip normally lying in the path of the clutch, forming a part of the driving mechanism and operatively connected with the actuator-worm to be retracted thereby on its endwise movenlent out of the path of said clutch; and the invention further consists in the novel combination of elements and in the construction and arrangement of parts,which will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

To enable others to understand my invention, I have illustrated the same in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which-- Figure 1 is a side view of part of a threshing-machine with my measuring and bagging attachment applied thereto to receive the grain directly from said machine. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional elevation through the measuring and bagging mechanism on the plane indicated by the dotted line a a of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the measuring and -bagging mechanism. Fig. 4. is a horizontal sectional view through the measuring and baggingmechanism on the plane indicated by the dotted line b b of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detailvertical sectional View of the clutch-and trip mechanism for controlling the rotary feeder or distributer, the plane of section being indicated by the dotted line 0 c of Fig. 6, looking in the direction indicated by the arrow. Fig. 6 is a planview of the devices shown by Fig. 5, but illustrating the trip thrown out of the path of the clutch mechanism to permit the latter to make the master-gear fast with the counter-shaft.

Like numerals of reference denote like and corresponding parts in each of the several figures of the drawings. v V

In. the practical embodiment of my improved measuring and bagging attachment for grain-threshing machines or separators I provide'a vertical casing or frame 1, which carries or sustains all of the operating parts of the measuring and bagging mechanisnn the conveyer-casing thereof substantially in the manner disclosed by my prior application, to which reference has been made, and the casing is in the preferred embodiment of the invention removably or detachably applied to said threshing-machine or the conveyer-casing thereof for the purpose of applying the measuring and bagging attachment to either side of said threshing-machine or its conveyer-casing. i

As the combination of the measuring and bagging mechanism with an elevator and conveyer of a threshing-machine forms, broadly speaking, the subject-matter of my prior application, no claim for such combination of elements is made in this application, which is for the construction and combination of parts forming per se the improved measuring and bagging mechanism.

The vertical casing or frame 1 is provided at its upper end with a feed-mouth 2, and the front wall of the casing has its upper part inclined or sloped downwardly and inwardly, as at 3, to a horizontal partition 4, which extends transversely within the casin g, part way across the same, substantially as indicated by Fig. 2 of the drawings. The floor 5 is provided within the casing, below the horizontal partition 42 therein, and the described construction of the casing, with its horizontal partition 4: therein and the floor 5, provides a receiving-chamber 6, which is formed by and between the walls of the casing and the floor 5 thereof and which extends to the feed-mouth 2 of said casing. The side walls of the casing on the plane of the compartment in which operates the rotary feeder or distributer I have preferably bulged or curved in an outward direction, as at '7, to enlarge the diameter of the chamber 6 for the purpose of accommodating the rotary feeder or distributer, to be hereinafter described.

Within the casing 1 isarranged the inclined deflector 8, which is situatedin an angle or corner formed between one of the sides and the inclined front wall 3 of said casing, and said deflector Sis situated above and inclined toward the edge of the horizontal partition 4 to direct the grain upon the rotary feeder or distributer and prevent it from lodging in the chamber 6 and upon the horizontal partition t therein.

On the same horizontal plane as the inclined deflector 8 is arranged an inclined plate 9, situated in the opposite angle or corner formed between the opposite side wall and the inclined part 3 of the front wall of the casing, and this inclined plate 9 serves the same f unction as the inclined deflector S. The inclined plate 9 also subserves another function in that it constitutes a guideway or inclosure for a regulating-slide 10, which is arranged between said plate and the inclined wall 3 of the casing. This regulating-slide is adapted to be housed wholly between the inclined plate 9 and the wall 3 of the casing, or it may be proj ected downwardly beyond the horizontal partition 4, so as to overhang the rotary feeder or distributer and vary the transverse area of the space or throat connecting the upper and lower parts of the vertical receiving chamber 6, thus serving in a measure to regulate the quantity of grain which may pass from the feed-mouth 2 into the lower compartment of the chamber 6, which contains the rotary feeder or distributer. For the purpose of regulating the adjustment of the slide 10 I provide it with a bolt 11, which is rigidly fastened to the rear side of said slide 10 and projects horizontally through the slot 12, formed in the inclined part 3 of the front casing-wall, and the outer projecting end of this adjusting-bolt 11 is adapted to receive a nut 13, which may be rotated on the bolt to bind against the wall 3 of the casing and hold the slide 10 rigidly in its adjusted position.

The floor 5 of the casing is recessed, as at 15, on one side or edge thereof adjacent to the back wall of the casing 1, thus providing a throat or passage-way from the upper to the lower parts of the receiving-chamber 6, and on this floor 5 is secured a stepbearing 14.

Extending vertically through the casing 1 is a shaft 17, the lower extremity of which is stepped in the bearing 14 on the floor 5, while its upper end is journaled in the shaft-bearing 18, which is secured to the head of the casing 1, at one side of the feed-mouth 2 thereof. This vertical shaft 17 carries the rotary feeder or distributer 20, which consists of a suitable hub and a series of blades. This rotary distributer is arranged in the lower compartment 16 of the vertical receiving-chamber 6 of the casing, and it lies adjacent to the floor 5 within said casing, certain of the blades of said feeder or distributer projecting over the throat or passage which leads to the bottom end of the casing 1. The blades of the rotary feeder or distributor are designed to sweep close to the walls and the curved or bulged parts 7 of the casing, and to render said feeder or distributor more efficient in service and to entirely sweep the grain from the lower compartment of the chamber 6 I provide the blades of said distributer or certain of said blades with the flexible flaps 21. These flaps or wings 21 may consist of lengths of leather or other suitable material rigidly fastened to the outer edges of the feeder-blades, but the detailed construction of the wings or flaps is not material and may be changed at pleasure.

In the upper part of the vertical casing 1 is arranged a horizontal counter-shaft 22, journaled in fixed bearings 23, supported on the side walls of the casing, and this counter-shaft is provided with a beveled gear 2 1, which meshes with a suitable bevel-pinion 25, fixed to the upper extremity of the vertical shaft 17. One end of the counter-shaft 22 is extended some distance beyond its bearing on the casing 1, and to said extended end of the counter-shaft is loosely fitteda master-gear 26, which under certain conditions of service of the machine is designed to rotate idly on IIO said counter-shaft to permit the latter and the vertical shaft 17 to remain at rest; but under other conditions of service this master-gear is designed to be made fast to the countershaft for the purpose of rotating the latter and the vertical shaft 17 and the feeder or distributer 20, carried thereby. To attain these ends, I provide the master-gear on one side thereof with a gripping-flange 27 which is of annular or ring-like form and projects beyond the toothed part of such master-gear to enable aclutch mechanism to be associated with said annular gripping-flange.

The power necessary to rotate the feeder or distributer in a positive manner is taken from one of the shafts of the threshing-machine or separator with which the measuring and bagging mechanism is combined, and I provide the casing 1 of said attachment with suitable journal-bearings 28 to receive the horizontal driving shaft 28,which i's arranged,preferably, in a plane parallel with the counter-shaft 22 and below the horizontal plane thereof. The ends of this driving-shaft are extended beyond the hearings on the casingl, and to one end of said driving-shaft is rigidly fastened a pulley 29, around which may be passed a belt to be driven by one of the shafts of the threshing-machine. The other end of the driving-shaft 28 is provided with a spur gearpinion 30, arranged to mesh directly with the master-gear 26 and to rotate the latter under all conditions of service of the machine.

\Vithin the feed-mouth 2 of the casing 1 I arrange a horizontal screw-shaft 31, which is mounted in bearings 32, provided on the sides of the casing 1, and this shaft is adapted to rotate freely in its bearings and to have a limited sliding or endwise movement therein when the grain accumulates in sufficient quantity in the casing 1 to fill the feed-mouth 2 and offer resistance to the rotation of the screw-shaft 31. The screw may be of any suitable or preferred construction and attached to the shaft in any suitable or desirable way, and the endwise movement of this screwshaft in one direction is limited by means of a stop-collar 31, suitably attached to said shaft. To the other end of the screw-shaft, which projects beyond the opposite side of the casing 1, is rigidly fastened a spur gearpinion 33, arranged to mesh with the teeth of the master-gear 26, thus rotating the screwshaft 31 positively through the gearing 26 3O from the driving-shaft 2S.

NVith the counter-shaft, on which is loosely mounted the master-gear 26, is combined a driver 34, which carries a clutch 36, adapted to engage with the gripping-flange 27 of the master-gear and to maintain said master-gear fast with the shaft when it is desired to rotate the feeder or distributer 20; but this clutch 3b is designed to be thrown out of service by a trip 41, which is operatively combined with the slidable screw-shaft 31. The driver is arranged compactly between one side of the casing and the master-gear, and said driver is secured rigidly to the projecting end of the counter-shaft 22, so as to rotate therewith. The driver projects radially from the countershaft, and in its free end is formed a slot or bifurcation, forming a seat 35 for the clutch 36. This clutch is in the form of an arm having its heel fitted loosely in the seat 35 of the driver, and said heel of the clutch is pivoted to the driver eccentric to the axis of rotation of said driver, as clearly indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 5, so as to have a limited oscillating movement or play with relation to the driver and the gripping-flange of the master-gear. The clutch is provided with a notch in one side thereof to form the gripping-faces 38, beyond the pivoted heel of said clutch-arm, and the free extremity of said clutch is further provided with the extended lip 39, adapted to abut against the trip 41 under certain conditions of service and to force the clutch rearwardly and into its seat in the driver a sufficient distance to cause the gripping-faces 38 to free themselves from the gripping-flange 27 of said mastergear, thereby disconnecting the clutch from rigid engagement with said master -gear. lrVhen the trip 41 is thrown or moved by the actuating screw-shaft out of the path of the extended lip 39 of the clutch-arm, the clutch is moved by a spring 40 into such relation to the master-gear that its gripping-faces 38 will bind tightly on the gripping-flange 27, and thereby make the master-gear fast with the driver 34 and the counter.- shaft 22. This spring 40 for actuating the clutch-arm is arranged in compact relation to the driver and said clutch-arm, and in the preferred construction I arrange this spring in the seat 35 of the driver, one end of the spring being fitted against said driver and the other end against the clutch-arm to have a tendency normally to press or force the gripping-faces 3 8 of said clutch into intimate facial contact with the gripping-flange 27 of said master-gear.

The trip 41 is in the form of an irregularlyformed arm or bar arranged in a substantial vertical position alongside one of. the walls of the casing 1. This trip-bar is provided at a point intermediate of its length with an elongated opening or slot 14 to .enable said trip bar or arm to be fitted loosely on the projecting end of the actuating screw-shaft 31, and the lower end of said trip-bar is pivotally mounted, as at 43, in a bracket 42, which is fixed in a suitable way to a side of the cats ing, thus mounting the trip-bar to have a limited rocking movement when the screwshaft 31 is forced in an endwise direction. The upper free end of the trip-bar is bent to form a loop 15, which serves to guide and sustain a cushioned stem 40, the latter being loosely fitted in vertically-alined openings in the loop-shaped end 45 of said trip-bar. This stem 40' is provided with a head 16, adapted to be struck by the extended lip 39 of the clutch-arm, and said stem is further provided at a point intermediate of its length with a stop collar or nut 46 against which is seated one end of a coiled cushion-spring 47, that encircles the stem 46, and has its other end seated against the lower part of the loop 45 of said trip-bar, whereby the stem 46 is sustained by the cushioned spring normally in the elevated position to afford a yielding-buffer to the impact of the clutch-arm 36 and reduce the shock and strain on the working parts, when the clutch is impelled forcibly I into contact with the trip for the purpose of be understood that the form of the spring is not material and that the same may be modified, as may be desired.

The lower extremity or foot of the casingl is provided with the independent deliveryspouts 49 50, and within said casing at the points where the delivery spouts diverge therefrom I provide a pivoted gate 51, arranged to direct the grain into one or the other of the spouts 49 or 50, according as it is desired to deliver the grain to one bag or the other of the two bags which may be suspended from the casing 1. For convenience in operating this adjustable gate 51 I provide a handle 52, which may be grasped by hand to throw the gate into either of its adjusted positions. The delivery-spouts are provided on one side thereof with the notched or serrated plates 53, while on the other side of the spouts the pins 54 are attached for the purpose of holding the mouths of the bags or sacks in opened or spread positions to receive the grain from said spouts.

The entire measuring or bagging attachment is designed to be fastened to a threshing-machine or a conveyer-casing thereof by means of the fasteners 55, which are shown as consisting of plates and hooks adapted to interlock with each other and fasten to the casing 1 and the threshing-machine; but it is evident that the means for removably mountin g the measuring and bagging attachment on the threshing-machine or its conveyer-casing may be modified within the skill of the mechanic.

In operation the measuring and bagging attachment is first applied to the threshing-machine or the conveyer and elevator casing therein in position to receive the grain into the feed-mouth 2 of the casing 1. Normally the driving-shaft 28 is driven by suitable power connections with a shaft of the threshing-machine, and it rotates the gear 30, the master-gear 26, and the pinion 33 to drive the screw-shaft 31, which extends across the feedmouth 2 of the casing 1. The trip 41 lies in the path of the clutch-arm 36 to hold said clutch-arm free from rigid engagement with the master-gear, and'the latter is thus allowed to rotate loosely on the counter-shaft for the purpose of driving the screw-shaft 31 in a positive manner, but without actuating the vertical shaft 17 or the feeder and distributer 20 carried thereby. Assuming that the capacity of the receiver 6 is the basis of measurement, the grain accumulates in the receiving-chamber 6 of the casing until it fills the same, and when the grain has accumulated in sufficient quantity to fill the feed-mouth 2 of said casin g and'oifer resistance to the rotation of the screw on the shaft 31 the resistance of the grain causes the screw-shaft to move endwise in its bearings and cause its pinion 33 to press against the pivoted trip 41, thereby overcoming the tension of the spring 48 and forcing the stem 46 out of the path of the lip 39 of the clutch-arm 36. The spring 40 is then free to force the pivoted clutch-arm to a position where its gripping-faces 38 impinge forcibly against the gripping-flange 27 of the master-gear, and thus the clutch and driver operate to make the master-gear fast with the shaft 22 and, the master-gear being positively driven by the driving-shaft 28, causes the Ver tical shaft 17 to rotate and carry with it the rotary feeder or distributer. This feeder 20 forces the grain from the receiving-chamber into one of the delivery-spouts 49 or 50 in a positive manner, and as the feeder is rotated all the grain contained within the casing 1 is swept from the chamber 6 and forced into the bag or sack. The rotation of the feeder continues as long as there is any grain in the mouth of the receiver (3 to offer resistance to the rotation of the screw-shaft, and in the service of the apparatus the rate of discharge of the grain is such that the feeder will rotate a number of times in order to effect the thorough discharge of the grain. As soon as the grain is removed or delivered from the casing 1 and ceases to offer resistance to the rotation of the screw-shaft 31 the spring 40 forces the trip-arm and the screw-shaft to their normal positions, and the spring-cushioned stem 46 is carried by the trip into the path of the lip 39 of the clutch-arm, so that as the clutch approaches the trip the lip engages with the head of the cushioned stem 46, the effect of which is to throw the clutch on its pivot sufficient to release its gripping faces 38 from rigid engagement with the master-gear. The impact of the clutch on the trip is cushioned by the spring 47 of the stem 46, and thus the strain and jar on the parts is reduced to a minimum to obviate injury or breakage of the working elements of the mechanism. The master-gear is thus caused to rotate idly on its countershaft while the trip is in the path of the clutch, and the op erator adjusts the gate 51 to direct the grain into the other bag or sack suspended from one of the delivery-mouths of the casing. The operation of filling the chamber Owith grain is now repeated until the grain has accumulated in the chamber in sufficient quantity to offer resistance to the free rotation of the screw-shaft, whereupon the screw-shaft is impelled endwise, and the operation heretofore described is repeated. It is evident that when the sack has been filled it can be detached from the spout of the casing, the gate adjusted to deliver the grain to the other spout, and the filled bag replaced by an empty bag. The operation of sacking the grain may thus be carried on continuously, and the feeder or distributer is only rotated when sufficient grain has accumulated to set into action the parts which control the rotation of the feeder. The action of the parts is wholly automatic, except as to the adjustment of the gate 51, and this gate may be adjusted bythe operator when the filled sack is detached and replaced by an empty sack.

I have provided my improved measuring and bagging attachment with a grain-meter 56, which is mounted on the head of the easing 1 above the counter-shaft 22 thereof, and this meter has one of its elements geared with a worm 57 on said counter-shaft 22; but the employment of the meter is not material, and it may be dispensed with, if desired.

It is evident that changes in the form and proportion of parts may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing the advantages of the invention, and I therefore reserve the right to make such changes as properly fall within the spirit and scope of the intion.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a grain measuring and bagging machine, the combination with a chamber, a feeder therein, and a counter-shaft geared to said feeder to remain normally at rest, of a continuously-revoluble masterear mounted directly and idly on said countershaft, a

screw-shaft, a trip actuated by endwise movement of the screw-shaft, and a clutch which is fast with the counter-shaft and arranged in the path of the trip to be thrown thereby into engagement with the master-gear, substantially as described.

2. In a grain measuring and bagging machine, the combination with a chamber and a revoluble feeder therein, of a screw-shaft, a counter-shaft, a driving-shaft, a master-gear mounted idly on the counter-shaft and servin g to transmit the motion of the driving-shaft to the screw-shaft, a clutch mechanism fast with the counter-shaft and in operative relation to the master-gear, and a trip device controlled by the screw-shaft for the actuation of the clutch mechanism, substantially as described.

3. In a grain measuring and bagging machine, the combination with a chamber and a revoluble feeder therein, of a counter-shaft geared to said feeder, a master-gear mounted idly on said counter-shaft and provided with an annular gripping-fiange, a clutch-driver fast with said counter-sha ft, a yieldable clutch carried by said driver for engagement with the gripping-flange of said gear, a screw-shaft, and a trip arranged to engage with the clutch and lying in the path of the screw-shaft, substantially as described. 7

4. In a grain measuring and bagging machine, the combination with a chamber and a revol uble feeder therein, of a counter-shaft, a crew-shaft, a master-gear mounted idly on the counter-shaft and geared to the screwshaft, a driver fast with the counter-shaft, a trip movable with the screw-shaft, and a yieldable clutch carried by the driver in the path of the trip and arranged to be made fast with the master-gear for making said mastergcar fast with the counter-shaft, substantially as described.

5. In a grain measuring and bagging ma-' chine, the combination with a chamber and a revoluble feeder therein, of a counter-shaft, a screw-shaft, a flanged master-gear mounted idly. on the counter-shaft and driving the screw-shaft, a driver fast with the countershaft, a trip controlled by the screw-shaft and carrying a yieldable cushion device, and a' clutch -arm mounted on the driver for engagement with the flanged master-gear and arranged to impinge against the cushion device of the trip, substantially as described.

6. In a grain measuring and bagging machine, the combination with a chamber and a revoluble feeder therein, of acounter-shaft, a screw-shaft, a flanged master-gear mounted idly on the counter-shaft and geared to the screw-shaft, a driver fast with the countershaft, a spring-controlled clutch pivoted to the driver eccentric to the counter-shaft and having gripper-faces for engagement with the flange of said master-gear, and a trip controllable by the screw-shaft and lying in the path of the clutch to normally hold the latter from fast engagement with the master-gear, substantially as described.

.7. In a grain measuring and bagging machine, the combination with a casing, and a feeder or distributer mounted therein, of an endwise-movable screw-shaft,a driving-shaft, a counter-shaft between said screw-shaft and driving-shaft and geared to the feeder or distributer, a master-gear loose on said countershaft and operatively connected with said driving-shaft and the screw-shaft, a trip controlled by the endwise movement of the screwshaft, and a driver and clutch mechanism to make the master-gear fast with the shaft, substantially as and for the purposes described.

8. In a grain measuring and bagging machine, the combination with a casing and a feeder therein, of a counter-shaft geared to said feeder, a master-gear mounted loosely on said counter-shaft, a driver fast with the counter-shaft to remain idle therewith, a spring-controlled clutch carried by the driver to be free normally from the revoluble master-gear and arranged to engage rigidly with said master-gear, and a trip mechanism lying in the path of the clutch and controlling the engagement of said clutch with the mastergear, substantially as described.

9. In a grain measuring and bagging machine, the combination with a casing, and a feeder or distributer therein, of a screw-shaft mounted in the casing for rotary and endwise movement therein a pivoted spring-controlled trip operatively connected with the screwshaft, a cushion carried by said trip, a counter-shaft, a master-gear, and a clutch mechanism adapted to impinge against the cushion of the trip, substantially as and for the purposes described.

10. In a grain measuring and bagging machine, the combination With a casing, and a feeder or distributer therein, of a screw-shaft mounted in the casing for rotary and endwise adjustment therein, a pivoted trip engaging with said screw-shaft, a spring-controlled stem carried by the free end of said trip, a counter-shaft, a master-gear loosely mounted on said counter-shaft, a driver rigid with the vcounter-shaft, a pivoted clutch-arm carried my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

FRANK DENTLER. Vitnesses:

JOHN FIsK, C. I). OHILDs.