US797260A

US797260A - Nut-cracking machine.

Info

Publication number: US797260A
Application number: US22141204A
Authority: US
Inventors: Silas M Brown
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1904-08-19
Filing date: 1904-08-19
Publication date: 1905-08-15
Anticipated expiration: 1922-08-15

Description

RAT-"ENTED AUG. 15, 1905. s. M. BROWN. NUT CRACKING MACHINE. ABPLIOATION FILED AUG. 19. 1 904.

O I O 0 mm. a 0mm: 00. mow-Lnmnwums. wnsmmou. v. c.

. Jaye/757 Q PATENTED AUG.15; 1905.

, s. M. BROWN.

NUT CRACKING MACHINE. APPLICATION IILfID AUG. 19 1904.

mow-v. a. GMNAII co. mow-mumm wins. w-suwqvol I PATENTED'AUG. 15, 1905. s. M. BROWN. NUT CRACKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 19,1904.

H, llil Q ay l L will H 'ialrrmm nnonsw. a. mumu 00.. Pncwmmmmna, w snmcnm u a PATENTED AUG. 15, 1905.

S. M. BROWN.

NUT CRACKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 19. 1904.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

Min /3152a? 4 I rar g I mimgr No. 797,260. I PATENTED AUG. 15, 1905.

S. M. vBROWN.

NUT CRACKING MACHINE.

APPLIGATION FILED AUG.19.1904.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

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/ZIZ/ I L K II i ll I I V I 3 k /l/ 0 f3 F N .L J 3 j++ix k I j/l (I) Y dew /2 WM m No. 797,260. PATENTED AUG. 15, 1905. .s. M.- BROWN. NUT CRACKING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 19.1904.

. 'ISHEETS-BHEET 7.

PATENT OFFICE.

SILAS M. BROWN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

NUT-CRACKING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 15, 1905.

Application filed August 19, 1904. Serial No. 221,412.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SILAS M. BROWN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Nut-Cracking Machines; andI do hereby declare that the following is a full. clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in nut-cracking machines; and the invention consists in the matters hereinafter set forth, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Among the objects of the invention is to improve the construction and operation of nutcracking machines, whereby the capacity of the machine is increased, both by reason of the ability to operate the machine rapidly and by reason of the reduction to a minimum of miscracked nuts and abortive operations of the parts of the machine by reason of entire failure to direct the nuts to the cracking mechanism or improperly presenting the same to said mechanism.

A further object of the invention is to provide a compact machine, requiring but little room for its occupancy.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved cracking mechanism constructed to automatically adjust itself to nuts of different lengths, whereby the cracking pressure or strain on the nuts of several lengths may be equalized, and in this connection the cracking mechanism is so constructed that nuts of different lengths are transversely centered on the carrying-chain.

A still further object of the invention is to provide improved means for feeding the nuts from a central feeding-hopper to the carrier, by which the nuts are presented to the cracking mechanism.

Yet a further object of the invention is to provide improvements in the raceway or guide for the carrier, whereby the chain may be dropped below the level of the cracking-plungers when the cracking operation takes place, thereby preventing contact of the plungers with the carrier in a manner tending to break or crush the contacting metal parts.

A still further object of the invention is to provide means for giving the carrier an intermittent motion combined with niechanlsm for automatically and positively locking the chain from movement during the cracking operation.

Other objects of the invention will be made clear from the following description of the machine and to which are specifically directed claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a frontelevation of a nut-cracking machine made in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation thereof. Fig. 2 is a detail of one of the levers of the mechanism for delivering the nuts to the carrier. Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section of the machine, taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an end view of the machine. Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional and plan view taken on the indirect line 5 5 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional and partially plan view taken on the indirect line 6 6 of Fig. 2 with parts omitted. Fig. 7 is a detail vertical sectional view taken on line 7 7 of Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is a partial elevation and partial section of the mechanism for operating the cracking-plungers, the view being taken on line 8 8 of Fig. 5, omitting some of the parts not directly connected with this feature of the machine. Fig. 9 is a fragmentary vertical section illustrating, on a larger scale, the plungers and parts cooperating therewith and the means for depressing the nut-carrying belt during the cracking operation. Fig. 9 is a transverse section taken on line 9 9 of Fig. 9. Fig. 10 is a transverse section taken on line 10 10 of Fig. 9. Fig. 11 is a section taken through the cracking-plungers and the guides therefor and the means for operating the plungers, taken on line 11 11 of Fig. 9. Fig. 12 is a transverse section taken on line 12 12 of Fig. 11. Fig. 13 is a perspective view of one of the plungers detached from its associated and operative parts. Fig. 14 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 14 14 of Fig. 3. Fig. 15 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 15 15 of Fig. 3. Fig. 16 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 16 16 of Fig. 5.

As shown in the drawings, A designates as a whole what may be termed the bed-frame of the machine, which is supported on standards A. Said bed-frame is shown as detachably connected with the standards by means of screw-bolts a. Fig. 3.

B designates a hopper located over the bedframe of the machine and which receives the nuts in a mass and from which they are delivered severally by means of a suitable feeding mechanism to the cracking mechanism. Said hopper is supported on standards B B, rising from and attached to the bed-frame of the machine, Figs. 1, 3, and 4, and suitably shaped at their upper ends to receive the hopper.

The means herein shown for feeding the nuts from the hopper to the cracking mechanism embrace an intermittently-advancing carrier that travels between the oppositely-located cooperative parts of the cracking mechanism, chutes for delivering the nuts to said carrier, and a feeding belt moving through the hopper and delivering or feeding into the upper end of said chutes. Said parts are made as follows: C designates as a whole the endless feeding-belt referred to, which travels for a part of its length through the bottom and up one of the sloping sides of the hopper. Said belt U consists of a plurality of transverse parallel loosely-connected bars 0, arranged edge to edge and connected at their ends to the links of sprocket-belts 0 Figs. 2 and 14, said bars and the belts constituting as a whole apractically continuous web-belt, having-pockets c to receive the nuts and to carry them out of the hopper. Said pockets have the form of. recesses in the bars 0. sprocket-chains 0 are trained about sprocketwheels C C, one pair at the front and one pair at the rear end of the machine, and the shaft 0 of said sprocket-wheels are rotatively mounted in suitable bearings, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 4, and 5 of the drawings. The hopper is provided in its bottom and one of its sloping side walls with an opening, through which the upper lap of the belt extends.

The feed-belt C is supported in the part of its upper lap which passes through said elongated opening or slot in the hopper by a plate 6 attached to the hopper by angle-bars 1), Figs. 8 and 14. The manner of imparting an intermittent movement to the feed-belt .and for directing the nuts delivered from the will be hereinafter described. Y

The cracking mechanism embraces two groups of opposing coacting plungers, a like number of plungers in each group, and arranged one group on each side of the path of the nut-carrier which delivers the nuts between the groups of plungers. As herein. shown, D D designate the plungers of the opposing group, which have sliding engagement with apertured guides D D, Figs. 9, 11, and 12, located opposite each other, one on each side of the path of the nuts through the machine, and in the instance shown the several plungers of each group are separately movable toward and from the alined or op'posingplungers of the other group, and said plungers cooperate with means which act severally on the plungers to advance them to their cracking position in such manner as hopper thereby to the cracking mechanism The- to advance each plunger only to an extent corresponding to the lengths of the nut, so that when cracking nuts of unequal length the plungers will be projected toward their cracking positions to an extent determined by the lengths of the nuts.

Before describing in detail the manner of operating the cracking-plungers the location of the nut carrier or conveyer will be referred to and the manner of delivering the nuts from the hopper to the carrier described.

E designates the nut-carrying belt or conveyer, the upper lap of which travels between the guides D of the cracking-plungers. Said carrier or conveyor is made up of a plurality of loosely-connected links shaped to form a plurality of transverse pockets, which laterally receive the nuts delivered thereto, and said pockets are so disposed that when the carrier is arrested the plungers are in line with a numberof pockets equal to the number of pairs of opposing plungers of the two groups. Said carrier E is trained over front and rear sprocket-wheels E E the shafts e e of which are rotatively mounted in any suitable manner in the machine-frame. The bearings for the shaft 6 consist of forwardly-directed arms a' rt, attached to or formed on the bed-frame of the machine, as shown in Figs. 5 and 7, and the bearings for the shaft 0 consist of rearwardly-directed arms a C62. (Shown in Figs. 2 and 7 The said bearingarms (6 have slotted connection with the bedframe of the machine, being attached thereto by bolts a Fig. 7, whereby the tension of the conveyer may be established and maintained.

(/hutes F F are provided for directing the nuts which are caught in the pockets of the feed-belt C as it passes through the hopper to the upper lap of the carrier E at the rear end of the machine and for arranging said nuts one in advance of the other in said pockets, so that whatever the number of nuts thus simultaneously delivered to the belt they are cracked at the same time. Said chutes are inclined downwardly and forwardly and are arranged at their upper ends to severallyreceive the nuts from the delivery-belt C and are connected at their lower ends with devices for delivering the nuts which are discharged therethrough to the pockets of the intermittently-advancing conveyer E one in front of the other. As herein shown, four of such inclined chutes are employed and are adapted to receive the nuts from four pockets 0' in each bar 0 of the delivery-belt C, the nuts from the four pockets. being simultaneously discharged into the upper end of the four chutes. The nuts are discharged from the delivery-belt G into the upper ends of the chutes F as the belt turns over the upper pulley C, Fig. 3, and are directed through said chutes into boxes F F at the sides of the carrier E. Four chutes and four boxes are herein shown, two boxes arranged on each side of the carrier E, one arranged in front of the other, and each of the boxes being laterally opposite one of four contiguous pockets of the carrier E, Fig. 5. Means are provided, hereinafter described, which simultaneously discharge the four nuts from the boxes into four pockets of the carrier E. A greater or less number of nuts may be thus delivered to the carrier E, as desired. Said chutes F are supported at their upper ends, with their receiving ends in line with the pockets of the delivery-belt C in the manner stated, by means of a crossbar F, which, as herein shown, has the form of a bail and is attached to and extends rearwardly from the bearings of the shaft 0 of the upper sprocket-wheel C. The nuts thus delivered through the chutes F into the boxes F and in line with the transverse pockets of the conveyer E when the conveyer is at rest are delivered through openings in the inner walls of the boxes, as shown in Fig. 3, by means of plungers G G, which slide transversely through the pockets, and thereby force the nuts delivered into the boxes through said openings into the pockets of the conveyer. The inner walls of the boxes in which said openings are formed consist partially of swinging spring-pressed members or doors f Said doors are located above the openings in the wall of the boxes. When the nuts are delivered properly into the boxes, they pass through the openings therein into the pockets of the carrier E without swinging the doors outwardly, unless, perhaps, the nut be extraordinarily large. Should a nut be delivered crosswise. in the box, however, the yielding wall of the box permits the nut to adjust itself when forced outwardly from the box into one of the carrier-pockets, and thereby avoids liability of crushing the nut, which might occur if the inner wall of the box be stationary.

As herein shown, there is one plunger for each box F each two adjacent plungers or ejectors being arranged in pairs and connected together by means of a connecting bar or plate 9, which has sliding engagement with parallel guide-rods G G, that are attached at their outer ends to arms a a, projecting laterally from the bed-frame A, as shown in Fig. 5, and are fastened at their inner ends to the machine-frame by being provided with hooked inner ends 9', Figs. 2 and 15, which fit between the bearing-brackets a of the rear shaft 6 of the conveyer sprocket-wheel before mentioned and the part of the machine to which said bearings are fastened. The said bearing-brackets are fastened to the machine-frame by means of bolts a Said connecting-plates g, by which the ejectors G are moved inwardly to eject the nuts from the boxes F to the transverse pockets of the carrier E, are operatively connected with certain mechanism of the machine (hereinafter to be described) in such manner that when the carrier E is at rest the nuts delivered to said boxes are forced therefrom by the plungers or ejectors into the pockets of the carrier.

The endless carrier E, which receives the nuts from the boxes F and which delivers the same to the crushing-plungers, has imparted thereto, as before stated, an intermittent forward or advance movement. In the present case the length of such intermittent movement is equal to that of four of the transverse pockets of the conveyer; but in casemore or less than four nuts are delivered to the carrier at one time the length of each advance intermittent movement of the conveyer will be correspondingly modified. The mechanism herein shown for giving such intermittent advance movement to the conveyer E are made as follows, reference being had more especially to Figs 1, 4, 5, and 7: H designates a disk which is non-rotatively affixed to the shaft 6 of the forward sprocket-wheel of the carrier E and is provided on one of its flat faces with a plurality of radial guide-grooves it, each formed between parallel ridges or flanges h on the face of the disk. Said disk is provided, as herein shown, with seven of such radial grooves and is provided in its periphery between the grooves with concave depressions b Located adjacent to the periphery of said disk and non-rotatively fixed to a shaft 1, that has rotative bearing in brackets 60 on the machine-frame, is adisk I, the principal part of which is located in line with the web of the disk H and the concentric part of which disk 1 is adapted for engagement with the concave recesses h in the periphery of said disk H. Said disk I is provided with an eccentric extension 1 which carries on its outer end a laterally-directed pin 2', preferably having an antifriction-roller, Fig. 7. The eccentric part of said disk I is offset so as to permit said eccentric part in its rotation to pass the ribs, between which are formed the radial grooves h of the disk H, while permitting the concentric portion of said disk to engage with the concave locking-recesses k of the disk H. The pin 71, extending laterally from the eccentric portion of the disk I, is adapted in each revolution of said disk to enter one of the radial grooves it of said disk H and turn said disk, said pin travelinginto said groove. and reaching the bottom thereof at about the middle of the movement of said shaft H and thereafter receding from the groove, thus giving to the disk H an angular movement corresponding to the arc of the circle through which the pin z' passes while engaged with said groove, and after said pin c' passes out of said groove the concentric part of the disk I engages with the next succeeding or advance depression k in the web of the disk and acts as a stop to prevent further rotation of the disk H until the disk I is revolved sufficiently to bring its pin i into engagement with the next succeeding grooveiz.

of the disk H.

E are both fixed to the shaft 0 such intermittent movement imparted to the disk is also imparted to the wheel E and thence to the carrier. Furthermore, by reason of the locking engagement-of the disk 1 with the disk H, while the concentric portion of said disk 1 is in engagement with the locking concave notches I)? of the disk H the conveyor-belt is positively locked from movement until it is again desired to turn the same, except at such times when the pin t' of the extension I. engages one of the grooves of the disk H. It will be understood that the machine is so timed that the locking operation of the parts described occurs during the cracking operation of the cracking mechanism and that as soon as a group of nuts delivered to the belt is cracked the carrier E is advanced by the means described, thereby moving the group or series of cracked nuts out of the sphere of action of the crack-- ing mechanism and moving another group of uncracked nuts into such sphere of action. The cracked nuts are discharged from the carrier E at the time said carrier is turning over the forward pulley E, and in practice asuitable receptacle or a chute leading to a receptacle is placed beneath the belt at this point to receive the cracked nuts. The shaft I is continuously rotatable, and for this purpose such shaft is provided with a sprocket-wheel 1 Figs. 1, 5, and-7, which receives motion through the medium of asprocket-belt J, Fig. 7, from a sprocket-wheel J that is aifixed to a rotative counter-shaft K, which is rotatively mounted in the lower part of the machineframe and extends longitudinally thereof, as clearly shown in Figs. 1, 3, 4, 6, and 7. Said counter-shaft is driven from the main shaft L of the machine rotatively mounted in the frame at the ends thereof. The driving connection between said main shaft and counter-shaft consists of a gear-pinion Z, Fig. 3, on the main shaft and a gear-wheel 7) on the countershaft. The main shaft L is provided with the usual tight and loose pulleys Z Z adapted to receive a belt through which power is communicated to the machine.

The delivery-belt C is givenan intermittent advance movement through the opening provided therefor in the hopper through the medium of mechanism so timed with respect to the other parts of the machine that a transverse series of pockets of said belt filled with nuts are brought into position to deliver the nuts into the tops of the chutes F as said belt turns over the upper pulley O and just after the carrier E has been advanced to carry a charge of nuts delivered thereto from said chutes, whereby the charging-boxes F are clear before another charge of nutsis delivered thereto. The mechanism herein shown for imparting to said delivery-belt such intermittent step-by-step movement is as fol- By reason of the fact that said disk H andthe sprocket-wheel E of the carrier lows: M, Figs. 1, 2, and 4:, designates a vertically-reciprocatory rod which is provided at its lower end with a head or enlargement M, having a downwardly-facing groove or shoulder m, that is adapted to be engaged by an antifriction-roller d", mounted on apin that extends laterally inwardly from a crank-arm i aflixed to the shaft 1, whereby during each rotation of said shaft -1 the rod M is forced upwardly and again falls to its lowermost position. The upper end of said rod is pivoted or hinged to'a rock-arm M that has rocking connection with the shaft 0 of the forward sprocket-wheel of the delivery-belt C. Pivoted to said rock-arm is a gravity-acting pawl m, that engages at its free end the teeth of a ratchet-wheel M, which is non-rotativel y fixed to said shaft 0 in any manner, whereby upon rotation of said ratchet-wheel, which is effected by the reciprocation of the rod M acting through said rock-arm andpawl to turn the ratchet-w heel, the shaft 0 rotates and through the medium of the lower or forward sprocketwheel C imparts a step-by-step motion to the delivery belt. The extent of motion imparted to the belt equals the space (considered longitudinally of the belt) covered by one of the bars of the belts, so that the contents of the pockets of said bars are successively discharged into the chutes F as such step-by-step movement of the belt 0 takes place.

Referring now to the mechanism for advancing the crushing-plungers D toward each other and against a group of nutslocated between said plungers and contained in the pockets in the carrier for first centering said nuts on the carrier and thereafter cracking the nuts and to the mechanism for thereafter retracting said plungers, said parts are made as follows: Each of the plungers D. as shown in Fig. 13, is provided at itsouter end with a head D and at its inner end with a concave recess d, Figs. 9 and 11, the latter adapted to receive the convex ends of the nuts to be cracked. The opposite lateral faces (Z of said head D are vertical and parallel with each other, as herein shown, and the top and bottom faces thereof are shown as horizontal. The rear face d3 of said head is oblique or inclined inwardly and upwardly from its lower to its upper side. Said rear face of the head is provided at one side thereof with a hooked shaped flange (Z which is separated from said rear face (Z thereby forming between the flange and the rear face of the head a groove 6Z5, the front and rear walls of which, consisting, respectively, of the rear face of the head and the front face of said flange, are inclined, so that said groove is inclined upwardly and inwardly from its lower end. The rear face (Z' of said flange is also inclined parallel with therear face 613 of the head. Said plungers are assembled in the guide D with the flat lateral faces of their heads in contact with each other, as shown more clearly in Fig. 11. N N designate a plurality of vertically-sliding wedges, one for each plungerof each group, and said wedges are interposed and slide vertically between the heads of said plungers and cross-heads O, which move or slide in the direction of movement of the cracking-plungers. Said cross-heads O fit at their side margins and have sliding engagernent in suitable horizontal guide-grooves in the bed-frame of the machine, as more clearly shown in Fig. 7. Pressure is applied to said cross-heads O in a horizontal direction and acts through the wedges and plungers to produce the final cracking pressure on the nuts, as will be more fully hereinafter described. Said wedges N have interlocking guiding engagement with the cross-heads O to. guide them in their vertical movement. As herein shown, the cross-heads are provided on their inner faces with vertical T-shaped flanges 0, made integral therewith or attached thereto, as desired, and adapted to engage vertical grooves N in the adjoining faces of two adjacent wedges that is to say, the oppositely-directed parts of each flange 0 enter two oppositely-disposed grooves n in two adjacent wedges. Preferably the faces of adjacent wedges out of line with the T-shaped flanges 0 are cut away to minimize the friction between said parts. The said wedges are provided near their front faces at their lateral sides with inclined grooves 12/, which are inclined to correspond with the inclination of the rear faces d of the heads of the cracking-plungers and which are adapted to receive the hook-shaped flanges (Z,pro jecting from the rear faces of said heads. Preferably, and as herein shown, the plungers, arranged in pairs as described, are disposed with the hooked flanges d of two plungers constituting a pair directed oppositely from each other, as indicated in Fig. 11, thereby giving the two adjacent hook-shaped flanges d the appearance of a T-shaped guide, the parts of which enter the oblique grooves 41/ in the adjoining faces of the adjacent wedges.

From the construction above described it will be noted that, the smaller ends of the Wedges being directed downwardly, when said wedges descend they act to advance the cracking-plungers toward each other or into their cracking positions, and if at this time there be interposed between the plungers a group of nuts the two groups of the advancing plungers act to center the nuts centrally of the carrier E prior to their cracking operation. It will furthermore be noted that by reason of the vertical movements of the wedges and interlocking connection between the wedges and heads of said plungers, consisting of the flanges cl on said heads and the grooves 92 of the wedges, when said wedges are raised they act to retract the cracking-plungers into their inoperative positions.

Means are provided whereby the plungers of the opposing groups are advanced into cracking action simultaneously with each other and are in like manner withdrawn from their cracking positions, said means operating through the medium of said wedges N. When the plungers are retracted and the wedges are therefore in their upper position, the wedges are positively held in their upper positions by the means which raised them. After a' group of nuts are advanced by the carrier E between the plungers the wedges are allowed to drop by gravity and act to thrust the plungers inwardly toward their cracking positions until arrested by contact of the inner ends of the plungers with the nuts. The wedges are free to descend independently each of the other, and in case the nuts of a group to be cracked be of different lengths the plungers of an opposing pair which engage the largest nut will be first arrested, the associated wedges being at the same time arrested. The opposing plungers engaging the successively shorter nuts (if all the nuts be of difl erent lengths) are arrested in the same manner at different places in their movements to accommodate difierent-length nuts. The two plungers acting against a given nut move, however, equally toward each other,and therefore center the nut on the carrier E. In practice means are provided which act during the time the carrier E is being shifted from one position to an advance position to raise all the wedges, and thereby withdraw all the plungers to their inactive positions." After the wedges have been raised to their highest positions and a new group of nuts delivered between the same they are then permitted to independently descend and independently move inwardly the opposing pairs of plungers until arrested by the interposed nuts and centering the nuts. When the nuts are so centered, the cross-heads O are moved inwardly to force the entire set of'wedges and crushers inwardly together to crush the nuts. The means herein shown for raising the wedges and acting therethrough to withdraw the plungers in their inoperative positions are made as follows: P P designate two similarly constructed vertically-swinging levers, one of which acts to raise one set of wedges and the other the other set. a main shank p, provided at its outer end with fork-armsp p, Figs. 6 and 8, having rocking bearing at separated points on horizontal transverse shafts P, suitably mounted in the machine-frame. Said levers P are provided each at their inner ends with plates P located one vertically beneath each set or group of wedges and each plate adapted to engage the lower ends of rods N extending downwardly from the wedges N, whereby when said plates are raised the wedges are raised through the medium of said rods N Each lever is herein shown as pivoted to its shaft P at one end of the machine and extends at its other Each lever comprises, as herein shown,

end in overlapping relation to the other lever, with its plate P beneath the set of wedges located near the end of the machine distant from the end at which .the lever is pivoted. Said levers are adapted to be raised by means of peripherally-eccentric cams Q Q on the counter-shaft K, Figs. 1, 2, 7, and 8, and yokes P P, hinged at their upper ends to the levers P at laterally-separated points by means of bolts or pivot-pins p Figs. 6 and 8, and provided with laterally-directed roller-bearing pins 19, that rest and roll on the peripheries of said cams Q. Said yokes are provided with guide-arms f, (shown in dotted linesin Figs. 3 and 7 and in full lines in Fig. 8,) that have guiding engagement with the h ubs of the cams Q. The plate P of each lever occupies the space between the points of pivot of the other lever on the bolts 9 Fig. 6. The cams are so disposed with respect to each other that they act to lift the outer ends of the leversPsimultaneously, and thereby simultaneously raise the wedges N and withdraw the plungersD,and this movement takes place at the time the carrier E is advancing just after a group of nuts have been cracked. hen the antifrictionrollers 9 of the yokes I pass off the higher parts of the cams Q, the wedges N are allowed to drop, and the extent of their drop depends upon the lengths of thenuts caught between the opposing plungers, as before explained. In Fig. 8 are indicated the plungers in their downward positions with at least three different lengths of nuts between the plungers, whereby is seen that the tops of the wedges that appear in this view occupy three different vertical planes. After the nuts have'been brought to register between the several plungers and centered with respect to the carrier in the manner described the plungers are forced inwardly through pressure applied to the wedges a sufficient distance to crack or disrupt the shells of the nuts. This may be accomplished by various mechanism, but, as herein shown, is effected by the following construction: The said cross-heads O, as before stated and as'rnore clearly illustrated in Figs. 5 and 7, slide toward and from each other in horizontal ways provided in the bedframe of the machine and during such sliding movement transmit to the plungers the cracking pressure to crack the nuts. Both crossheads are thus pressed inwardly simultaneously. In the construction shown the crossheads are thus moved inwardly by means of Vertioally-reciprocatory levers R R, which are pivoted near their upper ends to the bedframe of the machine by means of pivot-pins l' 9", located beneath the cross-head, Figs. 2 and 8. Said levers are provided at their upper ends with inwardly-directed faces which bear against the outer faces of the cross-heads O. The said crushing-levers extend at their lower ends in the vicinity of the countershaft K and are provided at their lower ends tions Q on the lateral faces of the cams Q, whereby in each rotation of the cams the the upper ends of the levers being forced inwardly and exerting a crushing pressure of an extent to force the plungers inwardly to insure the cracking of the nuts caught between the plungers. I In order to restore the plungers and the cross-heads to their retracted positions after the rollers T have passed off the cam projections Q, springs O are interposed between the inner faces of the said cross-heads and the rear outer faces of the stationary guides D, said springs being more clearly shown in Fig. 11. Said springs O force the cross-head outwardly against stops conthrough and having screw-threaded engageframe. By turning said stop-screws inwardly and outwardly the movement of the crosshead is varied. The construction is such that the cross-head is always in engagement with the upper ends of the lever R, so that if the stop-screw 0 be set to permit a longer retractive movement of the cross-head, the forward travel of the cross-head, the wedges and plungers will be longer than if the cross-head be arrested earlier by said screw 0 in their retractive movement. In this manner, therefore, the length of cracking movements of the plungers may be regulated, with a result of action on the shells of the nuts.

One of the features of my improvements .consists in dropping or depressing the part of the upper lap of the carrier which delivers the nuts to the cracking mechanism just after the nuts have been centered by the plungers D D, thereby preventing the ends of the plungers engaging the carrier, with the result of distorting the links of the carrier and sometimes locking or placing a strain on the machine. The mechanism by which this result is effected is constructed as follows: The upper lap of the chain is partially supported and guided in its part between the sprocketwheels E E by a longitudinal plate S, as shown more clearly in Figs. 3, 9, and 11. Said plate is attached to the upper end of a vertically reciprocating cross head T, the cross-head being provided at its top with a flange a, through which the grooved guidebar is attached by means of screws 8, Fig. 11. The means for effecting a guiding engagement of the cross-head T with the bed-frame A of the machine, as herein shown, consists in providing said bed-frame with detachablyconnected vertical bars a Figs. 9 and 10, between which are formed grooves to receive the edge margins of the cross-head. The said cross-head is provided at its upper lateral margins with flanges T, Figs. 9 and 11, that lower ends of the levers are forced outwardly,

sisting, as herein shown, of screws extending.

ment with brackets 0,attached to the machine.

regulating the extent of cracking or crushing have overlapping engagement with the side margins of the links of the carrier and are curved upwardly at their ends to properly admit the links thereunder while passing this part of the machine. With this construction, therefore, it will be noted that when the crosshead T is depressed it not only permits the carrier E to fall by gravity, (which in some cases may be suflicient to effect the result desired,) but the interlocking flanges T positively draw this part of the carrier downwardly, so that there is no possibility for engagement of the crushing-plungers with the carrier. It will be noted in this connection that the carrier advancing and locking mechanism is so positive in its movement that there is no likelihood of the partitions between the pockets of the carrier E getting into line with the plungers; but if this should occur the drop in the chain is sufficient to shift the carrier below the line of the plungers, and thereby in this emergency avoid any serious consequences due to the cause mentioned. Said cross-head is raised and lowered to effect the dropping of the carrier by the following means: T Figs. 9 and 10, designates an offset vertical stem, which is connected at its upper end with the cross-head T and is connected at its lower end with a yoke T the arms of which pass at the sides of and have guiding engagement with the hub of a camdisk T on the counter-shaft K. Said yoke is provided with a laterally-extending pin provided with an antifriction-roller t which engages a peripheral surface of the cam T. The periphery of the cam is made concentric, except for a depression t Fig. 3, therein, and the parts are so disposed that the roller 6 drops into said depression t after the plungers have centered the nuts and just before the cracking movement of the plungers begin. During the remaining part of the cycle of the machine the roller 6 rides on the concentric portion of the cam, and thus holds the upper lap of the carrier in its uppermost position.

The mechanism will now be described for operating the ejectors Gr, hereinbefore referred to, by which the nuts are ejected from the boxes F at the lower ends of-the chutes F into the severel alined pockets of the carrier- E. Such construction is shown more clearly in Figs. 2, 4, and 6 and is made as follows: U U designate two vertically-reciprocating levers which are pivoted to the lower ends of arms (0 extending downwardly from the bedframe of the machine, and said levers extend at their upper ends into openings in the crossheads g, Fig. 5, to which said ejectors G are attached. The normal position of said levers is shown in Fig. 2that is, their upper ends swing outwardly, so as to hold the cross-heads g and ejectors Gr outwardly away from the boxes F For this purpose the lower ends of the levers are connected beneath their pivots by means of a contractile spring U. Means are provided whichact during each cycle or operation of the machine to throw the upper endsof the leversinwardly against the action of said spring U to force the ejectors through the boxes F and so timed with respect to the other working parts of the machine that such inward movement of the ejectors occurs at a.

time when the intermittently-advancing carrier E is stationary. Such reciprocation of the levers U is effected by means of rearwardly-directed vertically-movable pinsVV,

extending rearwardly from the yokes P be' fore referred to, Figs. 6 and 7. The lowerends of said levers U are provided on their inner faces with spring-pressed pawls U Fig. 2, each consisting of a long arm a and a shorter arm a. The longer arm a of the pawl is generally parallel with the lever U, its free end extending at an angle beyond the margin of said lever, as shown in Fig. 2. The shorter arm of the pawl is held normally against the stop a at the lower end of the lever by means of a spring a, that is fixed to a pin a on the lever. The pins V have a rising-and-falling movement corresponding to the rising and, falling of the yokes P to which they are attached. The said pins V are when the rollers p of the yokes P are riding on the higher portions of the cams Q in position to engage the inner margins of the parts of the longer arms of the pawls which project beyond the levers U, as shown in Figs. 2 and 2. When said pins V begin to move downwardly, by reason of the falling of the yokes.

they engage the inner margins of the longer arms of the pawl, and inasmuch as said pawl cannot swing farther outwardly by reason of the action of the stop-pins a on the longer arms of the pawls the pins V act on said longer arms of the pawls as cams to swing the lower ends of the levers outwardly and the inner ends inwardly to effect the ejection of the nuts from the boxes F to the pockets of the carrier E. Such movement of the pins V continues until the pins V pass from the longer arms of the pawls to the lower margins of the shorter arms thereof. This occurs just as the full swing of the levers U is completed. The pins V now start to move upwardly and force the shorter arm of the pawl upwardly against the action of the spring a and in the continned rising of the pins they engage the inner margin of the longer arms of the pawls, said longer arms yielding inwardly until the pins V have passed the same, after which said longer arms of the pawls swing outwardly outside of the upper ends of the pawls. As soon as the pins pass upon the shorter arms of the pawls the spring U acts to swing the upper ends of the lovers U outwardly and withdraw the ejectors G from the boxes F.

In order to prevent the nuts from sticking in the pockets 0 of the delivery carrier or belt G, and thereby preventing them from falling properly into the chutes F, an ejecting device is provided for forcing the nuts from said pockets when the pockets are in line with the chutes. Said ejecting device consists of a plurality of ejecting-pins W, adapted to enter and be thrust through openings in the bottoms of said pockets 0 and attached to a frame or plate W, which fits over and has slotted connection with the shaft 0 of the upper sprocket-wheel E, whereby said frame and pins may-slide toward and from the row of pockets at the time they are in line with the chutes F. Said frame W is reciprocated horizontally by means of a bellcrank lever VV rotatively mounted in brackets w on the standards B of the frame. Said bell-crank lever is provided with two generally horizontal arms VV which are adapted for engagement with the upper ends of the wedges N when the latter are raised and is connected centrally with the frame W of the ejecting device by means of a resilient rod or strip WV". With this construction, therefore, it will be seen that when the wedges N rise to retract the cracking-plungers they act on the arms W of the bell-crank lever V and through the connecting rod or strip W to thrust the ejectors l/V outwardly into the pockets of the carrier G, and thereby eject any nuts from the pockets tending to stick therein. The said ejecting device is adapted to be retained normally in its retracted posi tion by means of a restoring-spring WV, attached at one end to the central rod or-shaft of the bell-crank lever and at its other end to the shaft 0 on the lower driving-wheel C of the carrier or belt.

' Preferably I provide a brush or brushes X within the hopper, adapted to engage the upper face of the part of the belt or carrier 0 that travels along the inclined side of the hopper, and thereby properly forcing the nuts in the pockets of the belts and preventing more than one nut being carried upwardly in each pocket. Said brush or brushes are attached to somewhat resilient arms X, affixed to the rim of the hopper, Fig. 3, and to the said brush, thereby causing the brush to be depressed against the'upper face of the carrier with a yielding pressure. It will be understood that the brush is sufliciently yielding by reason of the construction described and is made of such material as not to tend to brush the nuts out of the pockets after they have found their places therein.

Desirably the cracking-plungers are made hollow and contain ejecting devices, which when the plungers are retracted act to force or eject the cracked nuts tending to cling or adhere to the concaved ends of the plungers. Said ejectors consist, as herein shown, of rods Z, which extend through suitable axial openings in the plungers and are provided at their rear end with downturned portions Z, which occupy suitable recesses in the plungers, as

"shown in Figs. 9 and 11. They are attached that it may be removed and another supplied without renewing the entire plunger when nuts varying-in shape are cracked.

While I have shown and herein described an operative structure embodying my invention and one which is considered as an approved form, yet it is to be understood that the details of the construction may be widely varied without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I do not wish to be limited to such details, except as hereinafter made the subject of specific claims.

I claim as my invention 1. In a nut-cracking machine, the combination with a carrier, of two groups of crackingplungers, one at each side of the carrier, the plungers of at least one group being independen tly movable toward and from the plungers of the other group, independentlymovable wedges individual to and acting on said plungers to force the same inwardly, and means whereby the plungers are retracted as the wedges are retracted.

2. In a nut-cracking machine, the combination with a carrier, of two groups of crackingplungers, one at each side of the carrier, the plungers of at least one group being horizontally and independently movable toward and from the other plungers, independently-movable wedges individual to and having vertically-sliding, interlocking engagement with theindependently-movable plungers,whereby the plungers are forced toward andretracted from the carrier during the endwise movements of the wedges in both directions.

3. In a nut-cracking machine, the combination with a carrier, of two groups of crackingplungers, one at each side of the carrier, the plungers of at least one group being horizontally and independently movable toward and from the other plungers, independently-movable wedges individual to and acting on said plungers to force the same inwardly, means whereby the plungers are retracted as the wedges are retracted, and means for transmitting a crushing pressure to said plungers through said wedges.

4:. In a nut-cracking machine, the combination with a carrier, of two groups of crackingplungers, one at each side of the carrier, the plungers of at least one group being horizontally and independently movable toward and from the plungers of the other group, independently, gravity acting wedges for forcing the independently movable plungers inwardly, and means whereby the plungers are retracted as the wedges are retracted.

5. In a nut-cracking machine, the combination with a carrier, of two groups of'crackingplungers, one group at each side of the carrier, the plungers of at least one group being horizontally movable toward and from the plungers of the other group, independentlymovable, gravity-acting wedges individual to said independently-movable plungers and acting by gravity to force their associated plungers toward the carrier, means for raising said wedges and coacting means on the plungers acting to retract the plungers during the rising movement of the wedges.

6. In a nut-cracking machine, the combination with a-horizontally-movable plunger and its guide, of a vertically-movable wedge having an inclined face which engages an inclined face on the plunger and interlocking,

vertically-sliding connection between the wedge and plunger,

7. In a nut-cracking machine, the combination with a horizontally-movable plunger and its guide, of a vertically-movable wedge and a guide therefor, said wedge and guide having a limited horizontal movement with the plunger, said wedge acting in one direction of its movement to move the plunger endwise relatively to the guide for the wedge, and means acting through'the wedge for further forcing the plunger end wise.

8. In a nut-cracking machine, the combination with a horizontally-movable plunger and its guide, of a vertically-movable wedge and a guide therefor, said wedge and guide having a limited horizontal movement with the plunger, the wedge having interlocking engagement with the plunger in a manner to move the'plunger horizontally, relatively to the wedge-guide, in both directions of movement of the wedge, and means acting through said wedge and its guide for transmitting endwise movement to the plunger.

9. In a nut-cracking machine, the combination with a horizontally-movable plunger and its guide, of a vertically-movable wedge, one side facc of which tapers upwardly and inwardly and the plunger being provided with a corresponding taper and having a flange that has longitudinal sliding connection with the wedge, a horizontally-movable, sliding cross-head engaging the wedge on the side thereof opposite to said plunger and means for applying power to said cross-head to force said wedge and plunger inwardly.

10. In a nut-cracking machine, the combination with a carrier for the nuts, of two opposed groups of cracking-plungers, one group on each side of the carrier, the individual plungers of each group being independently slidable relatively to each other, means acting to preliminarily move the opposing plungers of the two groups toward each other a like distance from their starting-points to center the nuts on the carrier, and means acting thereafter to force the plungers into their cracking position.

11. In a nut-cracking machine, the combination with a carrier for the nuts, of two opposed groups of cracking-plungers, one group on each side of the carrier, the individual plungers of each group being independently slidable relatively to each other, means acting to preliminarily move the opposing plun gers of the two groups toward each other a like distance from their starting-points to center the nuts on the carrier, and pressure devices, one for each group of plungers, operating to simultaneously force the plungers into their cracking position.

12. In anut-cracking machine, the combination with a carrier for the nuts, of two opposed groups of cracking-plungers, one group on each side of the carrier, the individual plungers of each group being independently slidable relatively to each other, means acting to preliminarily move the opposing plungers of the two groups toward each other a like distance from their starting-points to center the nuts on the carrier, pressure devices, one for each group of plungers, operating to simultaneously force the plungers into their cracking position, and means for varying the cracking throw of the plungers.

13. In aunt-cracking machine, the combination with an intermittently-movable carrier,of two groups of opposed horizontally-reciprocating cracking-plungers, guides, one on each side of the carrier, in which said plungers are independently slidable, means acting on the outer ends of said plungers for forcing them inwardly to center the nuts on the carrier, and means acting through the medium of said centering means to transmit pressure to the plungers to force them toward each other in their cracking positions.

1a. In a nut-cracking machine, the combi nation with an intermittently-movable carrier, of two groups of opposed, horizontally-reciprocating cracking-plungers, guides, one on each side of the carrier, in which said plungers are independently slidable, vertically-slidable wedges acting on said plungers to force them inwardly to center the nuts on the carrier, and means for applying pressure to said wedges, said pressure acting therethrough on the plungers to force the latter into their cracking positions.

15 In anut-cracking machine, the combination with an intermittently-movable carrier,of two groups of opposed, horizontally-reciprocating cracking-plungers, guides, one on each side of the carrier, in which said plungers are independently slidable, vertically-slidable wedges, the inclined faces of which bear against complementally-inclined parts of the plungers, and have interlocking, longitudinally-sliding engagement therewith, whereby, when the wedges are raised, the plungers slide outwardly and when they are depressed the plungers slide inwardly, means for positively raising the wedges, and permitting them to drop independently one of the other, and

means for applying pressure,.acting through the wedges on the plungers to force the latter into their cracking positions.

16. In a nut-cracking machine, the combination with an intermittently-movable carrier,of two groups of opposed, horizontally-reciproeating plungers, guides, one on each side of the carrier in which said plungers are independently slidable, vertically-slidable wedges acting on said plungers when moved downwardly to force the plungers inwardlyv to center the nuts and interlocked with the plungers so that as the wedges move upwardly theplungers are moved outwardly, means for simultaneously raising both sets of wedges and adapted to release them at the same time to permit the wedges to independently drop and the plungers to move inwardly to an extent permitted by the length of nuts caught between opposing plungers, and means acting horizontally against said wedges to force the plungers into their cracking positions.

17. In a nut-cracking machine, the combination with a machine-frame, an intermittentlymovable carrier, of two groups of opposed, horizontally-reciprocating plungers, guides, one on each side of the carrier, in which said plungers slide, vertically-slidable wedges having longitudinally interlocking connection with said plungers, whereby, when the wedges are raised the plungers move outwardly and when depressed the plungers move inwardly to center the nuts on the carrier, means for raising said wedges together and permitting them to fall independently of each other,means acting through said wedges to force the plungers into their cracking positions embracing swinging levers acting at one end on said pl unger's and cams moving in unison and acting against the other ends of said levers.

18. In aunt-cracking machine, the combination with a machine-frame, an intermittentlymovable carrier, of two groups o opposed, longitudinally-reciprocating plungers, guides, one on each side of the carrier, in which said plungers slide, vertically-slidable wedges having longitudinallyinterlocking connection with said plungers, whereby, when the wedges are raised the plungers move outwardly and when depressed the plungers move inwardly to center the nuts on the carrier, means for raising said wedges together and permitting them to fall independently of each other, means acting through said wedges to force the plungers into their cracking positions embracing swinging levers acting at one end on said plungers, cams moving in unison and acting against the other ends of said levers,

and means for varying the effective throw of the levers to vary the cracking force of the plungers.

19. In a nut-cracking machine, the combination with the machine-frame, and an intermittently-movable carrier, of two groups of opposed, horizontally-reciprocating plungers,

frame in the direction of movement of the plungers and engaging the faces of the wedges on the sides opposite the plungers, and means for applying pressure to said cross-heads, to move the wedges and plungers toward each other to force the plungers into their cracking positions.

20. In anut-cracking machine, the combination with the machine-frame, and an intermittently-movable carrier, of two groups of opposed, horizontally-reciprocating plungers, guides, one on each side of the carrier, in which said plungers slide, vertically-slidable wedges, the inclined parts of which engage the plungers and having longitudinally-slidable, interlocking engagement with the plungers, whereby vertical movement of the wedges imparts horizontal movement to the plungers, means for raising said wedges and permitting them to drop independently one of the other,crossheads sliding in the machineframe in the direction of movement of the plungers and engaging the faces of the wedges on the sides opposite the plungers, and means for applying inward pressure to said crossheads, comprising levers each bearing at one end against the outer face of its associated cross-head and means for swinging said levers to move said engaged ends toward said crossheads. I

21. Inanut-cracking machine, thecombination with the machine-frame, and an intermittently-movable carrier, of two groups of opposed, horizontallyreciprocating plungers, guides, one on each side of the carrier, in which said plungers slide, vertically-slidable wedges, the inclined parts of which engage the plungers and having longitudinally-slidable, interlocking engagement with the plungers, whereby vertical movement of the wedges imparts horizontal movement to the plungers, means for raising said wedges and permitting them to drop independently one of the other, cross-heads sliding in the machineframe in the direction of movement of the plungers and engaging the faces of the wedges on the sides opposite the plungers, means for applying pressure to said cross-heads, to move the wedges and plungers toward each other to force the plungers into their cracking positions, and restoring-springs for restoring said cross-heads to their normal outer position.

22. Inanut-crackingmachine, the combination with the machine-frame, and an intermittently-movable carrier, of two groups of opposed, horizontally reciprocating plungers, guides, one on each side of the carrier, in which said plungers slide, vertically-slidable wedges, the inclined parts of which engage the plungers and having longitudinally-slidable interlocking engagement with the plungers,whereby vertical movement of the wedges imparts horizontal movement to the plungers, means for raising said wedges and permitting them to drop independently one of the other, cross-heads sliding in the machine-frame in the direction of movement of the plungers and engaging the faces of the wedges on the sides opposite the plungers, means for applying pressure to said cross heads, to move the wedges and plungers toward each other to force the plungers into their cracking positions, restoringsprings for restoring said cross-heads to their normal outer positions, and adjustable stops for arresting the outward movements of said cross-heads, whereby the length of horizontal movement of the heads may be varied to vary the throw of the plungers.

23. In a nut-cracking machine, the combination with a horizontally-movable plunger and its guide, of a vertically-movable, gravity-acting wedge, a horizontally-movable part with which said wedge has vertically-sliding, interlocking connections, whereby the wedge moves horizontally with said part, and moves also vertically relatively thereto, said wedge having similar sliding, interlocking engagement with the plunger.

24. In a nut-cracking machine, the combination with the machine-frame, and an intermittently-movable carrier, of two groups of opposed, horizontallyreciprocating plungers, guides, one on each side of the carrier, in which said plungers slide, vertically-slidable wedges, the inclined parts of which engage the plungers and having longitudinally-slidable, interlocking engagement with the plungers, whereby vertical movement of the wedges imparts horizontal movement to the plungers, means for raising said wedges and permitting them to drop independently one of the other, cross-heads sliding in the machine-frame in the direction of movement of the plungers and engaging the faces of the wedges on the sides thereof opposite the plungers, means for applying pressure to said cross-heads to move the wedges and plungers toward each other to force the plungers into their cracking positions, restoring-springs for restoring said cross-heads to their normal outer position, and interlocking connection between the crossheads and wedges, permitting vertical movement of the wedges relatively to the cross-' heads, whereby the wedges and plungers are retracted with the cross-heads.

25. In anut-cracking machine, the combination with an intermittently-movable carrier provided with pockets, and two opposed groups of cracking-plungers one at each side of the carrier and a hopper, of means for delivering the nuts from the hopper to the carrier comprising an intermittently-movable delivery-belt one lap of which travels through a slot or opening in said hopper and provided. with a series of transversely-arranged pockets and aplurality of chutes adapted to register at their upper ends with and receive nuts from the pockets of the delivery-belt and means at the lower ends of said chutes for directing the nuts from said chutes to contiguous pockets in the carrier.

26. In a nu t-cracking machine, the combination with an intermittently-movable carrier provided with pockets, and two opposed groups of craeking-plungers one at each side of the carrier and a hopper, of means for delivering the nuts from the hopper to the carrier comprising an intermittently-movable delivery-belt, one lap of which travels through a slot or opening in said hopper and provided with a series of transversely-arranged pockets a plurality of chutes adapted to register at their upper ends with and receive nuts from the pockets of the delivery-belt, means at the lower ends of said chutes for directing the nuts from said chutes to contiguous pockets in the carrier, comprising a box at the lower end of each chute, the boxes of the chutes being arranged out of line with each other and severally in line with the pockets of the carrier and provided in their sides adjacent to the carrier with openings, and ejecting plungers adapted to be forced transversely through the boxes to force the nuts through said-openings into the pockets of the carrier.

27. In a nut-cracking machine, the combination with an intermittently-movable carrier provided with pockets, two opposed groups of cracking-plungers one at each side of the carrier and a hopper, of means for delivering the nuts from the hopper to the carrier comprising an intermittently-movable deliverybelt, one lap of which travels through a slot or opening in said hopper and provided with a series of transversely-arranged pockets a plurality of chutes adapted to register at their upper ends with and receive nuts from the pockets of the delivery-belt, means at the lower ends of said chutes for directing the nuts from said chutes to contiguous pockets in the carrier, comprising a box at the lower end of each chute, the boxes of the chutes being arranged out of line with each other and severally in line with the pockets of the carrier and provided in their sides adjacent to the carrier with openings, and ejecting-plungers adapted to be forced transversely through the boxes to force the latter through said openings into the pockets of the carrier the Walls of said boxes adjacent to said carrier being made yielding.

28. In a nut-cracking machine, the combina tion with the intermittently-movable carrier thereof provided with a longitudinal series of transverse pockets, the cracking-plungers and a hopper, of means for feeding the nuts from the hopper to the carrier, comprising a plurality of chutes, means for delivering nuts from said hopper to said chutes, said chutes terminating at their lower ends in boxes, one for each chute, and located at the side of the carrier, said boxes being provided at their lateral side walls with openings which register with the pockets of the carrier, and ejec tor-plungers which slide through the boxes to direct the nuts from the boxes to said pockets of the carrier.

29. Inanut-crackingmachine, thecombination with the intermittently-movable carrier thereof provided with a longitudinal series of transverse pockets, the cracking-plungers and a hopper, of means for feeding the nuts from the hopper to the carrier, comprising a plurality of chutes, means for delivering nuts from the hopper to said chutes, said chutes termlnating at their lower ends 1n boxes, one

for each chute, and located at the side of the carrier, said boxes being provided at their lateral side walls with openings which register with the pockets of the carrier, the inner side walls of the boxes adjacent to the carrier being yielding and means for directing the nuts laterally from said boxes to the pockets of the carrier.

30. .In a nu t-cracking machine,the combination with the intermittently-movable carrier thereof provided with a longitudinal series of transverse pockets, the cracking-plungers and a hopper, of means for feeding the nuts from the hopper to the carrier, comprising a plurality of chutes, means for delivering nuts from. the hopper to said chutes, said chutes terminating at their lower ends in boxes, one

for each chute, said boxes being arranged in sets, one set at each side of the carrier, and the boxes of each set being arranged severally out of line with the boxes of the other set, and each box in lateral alinement with one of the pockets of the carrier, when the latter is at rest, the side walls of said boxes being provided with openings and plungers adapted to be forced through said boxes to direct the nuts through the openings in the inner side walls of the boxes into the pockets of the carrier.

31. In a nut-cracking machine,the combination with an intermittently-movable carrier provided with pockets, two opposing groups of cracking-plungers, one at each side of the carrier, and a hopper, of means for delivering the nuts from the hopper to the carrier com prising a plurality of inclined chutes, means for delivering nuts from the hopper to said chutes, said chutes terminating in boxes at their lower ends,one set at each side of the carrier, and provided in their side walls with openings in lateral alinement with the pockets of the carrier, when the carrier is at rest, two setsof connected plungers each adapted to be forced laterally through openings in the side walls of the boxes to direct the nuts from the boxes to the pockets of the carrier, and means for operating each set of plungers, comprising levers pivoted between their ends to the machine-frame and connected at their upper ends with said connected plungers, a spring connecting the lower ends of the levers for holding the upper ends of the levers and plungers outwardly, and pins connected to rising and falling parts of the machine for swinging said lower ends of the levers outwardly against the action of said spring.

32. In a nut-cracking machine, the combination with an intermittently-movable carrier provided with pockets, two opposing groups of cracking-plungers, one at each side of the carrier, and a hopper, of means for deliver ing the nuts from the hopper to the carrier comprising a plurality of inclined chutes, means for delivering nuts from the hopper to said chutes, said chutes terminating in boxes at their lower ends, one set at each side of the carrier, and providedin their side walls with openings in lateral alinement with the pockets of the carrier, when the carrier is at rest, two sets of connected plungers each adapted to be forced laterally through openings in the side walls of the boxes to direct the nuts from the boxes to the pockets of the carrier, and means for operating each set of plungers, comprising levers pivoted between their ends to the machine-frame and connected at their upper ends with said connected plungers, aspring connecting the lower ends of the levers for holding the upper ends of the levers and plungers outwardly, spring-pressed pawls on the lower ends of said levers, a stationary stoppin on each lever against which one arm of its pawl is held by its spring, said rising and falling pins when in their upper positions engaging one margin of said pawl, and, when moving downwardly, acting through the pawls and stationary stop-pins to swing the lower ends of the levers outwardly, and the pawls yielding, when the said vertically-movable pins reach the lower ends thereof, to permit said movable pins to move past the lower ends of the pawls, ride upwardly against one margin thereof and to pass the upper ends of the pawls to again engage the margins of the pawls with which they were first engaged.

33. In a nut-cracking machine, the combination with an intermittently-movable endless carrier and two groups of opposing horizontally-movable cracking-plungers, one group on each side of the carrier, of means for depressing the part of the carrier between said plungers before the cracking-plungers are moved into their cracking positions.

34. In anut-cracking machine, the combination with an intermittently-movable carrier, two groups of opposing plungers and means for moving the plungers in their cracking positions, of means for depressing that part of the carrier beneath the plungers during the effective cracking movement of the plungers.

35. Inanut-cracking machine, the combination with an intermittently-movable.endless carrier, two groups of opposing horizontallymovable cracking-plungers, one group on each side of the carrier. and means acting severally on the plungers to center the nuts between the same of means acting after the nuts are centered and before the plungers are moved into their cracking positions for depressing the part of the carrier between said plungers.

36. In anut-crackingmachine, the combination with an intermittently-movable endless carrier and two groups of opposing horizontally-movable cracking-plungers, one group on each side of the carrier, of means for depressing the part of the carrier between said plungers before the crackingplungers are moved into their cracking positions, embracing a vertically-movable guide for said carrier located between said plungers, and means acting to draw said guide downwardly to depress the carrier just before the plungers are moved into their cracking position.

37. In anut-cracking machine, the combination with an intermittently-movable endless carrier and two groups of opposing horizontally-movable cracking-plungers, one group on each side of the carrier, of means for depressing the part of the carrier between said plungers before the cracking-plungers are.

moved into their cracking positions, embracing a vertically-movable guide for said carrier located between said plungers, a verticallymovable cross-head attached to said guide and having guiding engagement with the machineframe, a rotative cam and a stem attached to the cross-head, and having a pin which engages the cam-surface of said cam.

38. In a nut-cracking machine, the combination with an intermittently-movable carrier, of two groups of cracking-plungers one at each side of the carrier, stationary guides, one at each side of the carriers in which said plungers slide toward and from the carrier, means acting on the plungers to move them inwardly to engage the nuts for the purpose of centering them on the carrier, and means exerting pressure against the outer ends of said plungers to move them into their cracking positions.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I aflix my signature, in presence of two witnesses, this 13th day of August, A. D. 1904.

SILAS M. BROWN.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM L. HALL, GEORGE RAYMOND WILKINS.