US670037A

US670037A - Stalk-depithing machine.

Info

Publication number: US670037A
Application number: US150900A
Authority: US
Inventors: George R Sherwood
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1900-01-15
Filing date: 1900-01-15
Publication date: 1901-03-19
Anticipated expiration: 1918-03-19

Description

No. 670,037. I Patented Mar. l9, l90l.

v a. R. smznwoon.

STALK DEPITHING MACHINE. (Application filed Jan. 15. '1900.)

(lo Nodal.) 4 Shaeta-5haot I.

Wow 1% 5 M i law 40% A TTOHNEY THE uonms Pzfeks 06 Pubruprnal, wlsiunc'rou. m c.

No. 670,037. Patented Mar. l9, 19m.

6. a. snenwoon.

ST ALK DEPITHING MACHINE. (Appljcation filed Jan. 15, 1900.1 LNo Model.) I i 4 Sheets-Shani.

' WITNESSES: INVENTOH 6 2% wM/JL/aww";

A TTORNE) m: "cams inn-ans cor. Moran-ma" wisumm-on, u. c.

Patented Mar. 19, l90l.

6. B. SHERWOOD. STALK DEPITHINGMAOHINE.

(Apph t mam 15 1900 (No Model.) 4 Sheeta-Shaot 3.

I GEORGE R. SHERWOOD, OF KEARNEY, NEBRASKA.

STALK-DEPITHING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 670,037, dated March 19, 1901 Application filed January 15, 1900. Serial No. 1.509. (No model.)

To (tZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE R. SHERWOOD, a resident of Kearney, in the county of Buffalo and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stalk-Depithing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

Myinvention relates toimprovementsin machines for separating the pith or soft spongy inner substance from the shell or outer covering of pith-bearing stalksthat is, machines for depithiug stalks in which the stalk is denuded of its pith and rendered separate therefrom, so that either pith or stalk, or both, may be used for any purpose for which it may be adapted without being afiected by the other portion of the stalk.

In my former machine, patented June 27, 1899, and numbered 627,882, I remove the shell from one side of the stalk, flattened by the feed-rolls, and then remove the shell from the opposite side of the stalk, so that the intermediate pith portion may be discharged after the shell or casing is removed. In such operation I remove the shell from opposite sides of the stalk successively, so that the pith as it passes from the first to the second cutter will be supported by the shell on one side of the stalk.

The object of my present construction is to remove the two sides of the compressed shell simultaneously from the central portion, which contains the pith, by the mechanism hereinafter described, and shown in the annexed drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side view of the machine. Fig. 2 is a view of the opposite side of the machine. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section of the same. Fig. 4 is a plan and section of a portion of the machine between the upper controlling-plates. Fig. 5 is a detail in perspective of the eccentric and shaft used in adjusting the controlling-plates. Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing a section of the side of the machine containing an end of the bedknife and means of support thereof. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the knife and knifecarrier. Fig. Sis a perspective of one of the controlling-plates.

In the drawings, A and A represent the main castings, forming the side of the framings of the machine; B and B,"the upper and lower feed-rolls, respectively, and O C the upper and lower knives; D and D, the upper and lower knife'carriers; E, E, E and E the knife-controlling plates; F, the drawing-rolls, of which there are four; G, the revolving pitlncutter head, and H the revolving shell-cutter head.

Power is transmitted to the machine by means of the pulley 10 on the shaft 11, which reaches through the machine. Between the pulley 10 and the framing on the shaft 11 is a spurgear-wheel l2, meshing with the smaller spur-gear 14, which is fastened on the shaft 15. Between the frames A and A on the shaft 15 is mounted the pith-cutter head G, while on that part of the said shaft that extends outwardly beyond the gear lis a bevelgear 16, connecting with a bevel-gear 17 on the shaft 18. At the rear end of the shaft 18 is another bevel-gear 19, meshing with the bevel-gear 20 on the shaft 21, which also carries the shell-cutter head H between the frame members. Near the other end of the shaft 18 is a worm 23, engaging with the worm gearwheel 24 on the shaft Z)". Between this worm gear-wheel and the frame member A on the shaft A is the spur-gear 25, meshing with another spur-gear 26 on the shaft (9'. This shaft also respectively carries the feed-rolls B and B.

Upon the end of the shaft 11 which extends through the frame A is a sprocket-wheel 28, running a train of sprockets by a chain connecting with and conveying motion to all the drawing and conveyer rolls.

Adjustment of the lower feed-roll B is provided by the screw 30. The bearings of the upper feed-roll are slidable in the guideways of the framing, resting normally on the top of the studs 31, which are adjustably screwed into the upperpart of the lower feed-roll bearings. Sufficient pressure is given to the upper feed-roll by the screw 32, acting through the medium of the coiled spring 33 to flatten the stalks; but should any foreignsubstance of an unyielding nature, as a stone, be inadvertently fed into the rolls the upper roll will rise against the tension of the springs 33, so

as to disconnect the gearing and stop the revolution of the upper roll, consequently causing acessation of feed and effectually pro- *viding a means of safety to the knives and other mechanism. 7

The knives C and G are firmly fastened to the knife-carriers D and D, which are not rigidly secured to the controlling-plates E, E, E and E but are attached to them by IO means of rods slidable in said controllingplates. A slight amount of end movement is given the knives and knife-carriers on these rods by any convenient mechanical meansas, for instance, those shown in my former r5 patent, previously noted. The controllingplates E, E, E and E are also provided with bearings for the ends of the drawing-rolls F, so that any movement or adjustment of the knives is accompanied by a corresponding adjustment of the drawing-rolls. The said controlling-plates are furthermore provided with a series of slots or elongated apertures, in which eccentrics I are fitted. Said eccentrics are mounted in pairs on the shafts J, which have a bearing near each end in the main frames A and A and projecting outwardly beyond the controlling-plates are squared, so as to be readily turned, thus affording a positive adjustment for each pair of controllingplates and the attached knives and rolls from either side of the machine in any direction. The projecting ends of the shafts J are also threaded and fitted with clamping or looking nuts J, which when tightened press the controlling-plates tightly against the outer walls of the framing, thus readily and securely maintaining the desired adjustment.

In operation the stalks are fed between the feed-rolls, which flatten the stalk and urge it onward by reason of their corrugations. Now the action of flattening the stalks causes them to split and open longitudinally, so that the shell or outer casing is disposed into two fiat layers, with the intermediate pith portion between. In this condition the stalk is advanced to the knives, which are each adjusted in relationto their respective rolls so as to leave the proper amount of opening through which the shell may pass until caught and further drawn by the drawing-rolls and de livered by them into the conveyer-belt-s, preferably of canvas, and from thence afterward over the rear bed-knife to the action of the revolving shell-cutter, the two pairs of belts convergingfor that purpose. While the shell is thus being disposed of the central portion of the stalkthat containing the pith-has entered the opening between the two knives, and meeting with obstruction therein is -suitable relation thereto, and the carriers to which the knives are secured, combined with the drawing-rolls, means for adjusting the drawing-rolls, the knives, and the knife-can riers simultaneously, and suitable driving mechanisms for the different parts, substantially as Shown.

2. In a machine for depithing stalks, the feed-rolls, two knives arranged in suitable relation thereto, and the adjustable carriers to which the knives are secured, and which carriers are provided with recesses at their inner ends, combined with the drawing-rolls, one of which fits in the recess in each carrierblock, means whereby the rolls, the carrierblocks, and the knives are adjusted simultaneously, and suitable driving mechanisms for the different parts, substantially as described.

3. In a depithing-machine, the feed-rolls, two knives arranged in suitable relation thereto, and the carriers to which the knives are secured,combined with the drawing-rolls, the shafts upon which the rolls are placed, and which have their ends to project through the sides of the frame and are provided with cams, controlling-plates provided with slots in which thecams catch, and suitable driving mechanisms for the different parts, substantially as set forth.

4. In a machine for depithing stalks, the feed-rolls, the knives arranged in suitable relation thereto, the carriers to which the knives are secured, and the drawing-rolls, combined with means for simultaneously adjusting the drawing-rolls, the carriers and knives, two pairs of belts, suitable guidingpulleys therefor, the cutter-heads G, H, and suitable driving mechanisms for the different parts, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my sig nature in presence of two Witnesses.

GEORGE E. SHERWOOD.

Witnesses:

HARRY E. CRAMER, WM. P. ROWLAND.