USRE12459E - anderson - Google Patents

Description

-REISSUBD FEB. 27, 1906.

W. G. 'ANDERSON.

FRUIT GRADBR. Arrmonron FILED .funn 1a, 1904.

mums-SHEET 1.

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.REISSUED PEB. 27, 1906.

Ne'. 12,459. y

W. G. ANDERSQN.

vFRUIT GRADBR.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 16. 1904.

2 SHEETSSHBET 2.

t.: 1;: s lo 'n /V QE LQ\ XJP g o E :a Lr: c o o p UNITED; STATES PATIENT. clarion.

WILLIAM C. ANDERSON, OF S'AN- OSE, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR, BY

ASSIGNMENTS, TO 'ANDERSION-BARNGROVER,MFG. CO., OF SAN JOSE. 'CALIFC'RNA,` A CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA.

FRUIT-GRADER..

specification; of Reissues Letters Pa/aant. Reissued Feb. 27; 190e.

Original No. 703,8"1,date July 1, 1902. Application for reissue filed June 16, .19@4( Serial No. 212,902.

To @U whom, it .may concern;

Be it known thatJ I, WILLIAM C. ANDERSON,

a citizen of the United States, residing at San Jose, county of Santa Clara, State of California, have invented an Improvementin Fruit- Graders 5 and i hereby declaret'he following to be a full, clear7 and exact description ofV the same.

My invention relates to an apparatus for' so the grading of fruit, andl is particularly designed for the separation oi prunes into the various grades which are recognized as stand ard upon the market. Its object is to provide a machine of the greatest possible capacity and e'liciency.

The invention consists of the parts and the constructions and combinations of parts `hereinafter described and claimed.

Figure lis a part-longitudinal section and 2o part-longitudinal` elevation of my apparatus. Fig. 2 is a plan of the upper part, certain portions being omitted and cut away. Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line a: Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 4 is an enlarged transverse sec- 2 5 `tion through the rst series of screens.

In preparing prunes for the market it is customary to separate them into gradesaccording to the number per pound. Thusv the" smaller grades may be one hundred or more 3o to the pound, and the intermediate grades run down to thirty orless per pound. They are universally designated as 3G-40s,

Moses, uneasy afi-Ja. e., a durer-Y ence 'of teniorming one unit of variation.

That they may be made-marketable boxes must contain prunes of approximately the same s ze.

The mere actionoi screening. alone has not been found sufficient to effect perfect 4o grading, and blending in one manner or another is always necessary.

When it comes to grading 011 a the diHiculty increases.

large scale,

One may perhaps better conceive the pur-4 pose of a machine as herein described when it is understood that a single one of these machines is capableof handling as much as one. hundred andv twenty-five tons of fruit in a v-single day.

I now proceed'to ydescribe what I consider the best Inode of' carrying out my invention.

i Having reference to the drawings, A represents a suitable framework or structure in i which the screenaanebins are locate.d.\'With Asin this structure are mounted the supports or4 frames 2 and 2', as upon elastic armsjfIQ.

These frames are suitably ada ted to carry-A i i the grading-screens, whereby a l the screens are given a shaking, but ngt the same movement, as will be explained later. These grading-screens are arranged in two` series one above the other. .In the upperlseries are 'a limited number of screens, generally-two or three, as 3 3 32, all in thesame' lane.

The fruit is primarily receive into the machine u `en the dirt-Screener 4, consisting of longitud; inally-disposed bars, whose interstices allow onl leaves, dirt, &c., to drop through. The ruit is delivered upon this' `Screener by any suitablemeans. In' theselarge machines an endless traveling inclined'. f elevator is employed. Beneath, Aparallell with, and extending beyond-rthc'first series of' screens 3 3, &c., is disposed a 'second series of.

screens 5 5 52, &e. In this series there are as many `screens as there are grades of fruit to v,

be determined, generally eightor nine,v I The actual grading is done b this series, for the first set only breaks up t e mass of'iruit and tends to distribute it gradually over thelower screens. This is effected by reason of the construction of the screens.l Presuppose` the fruit to run from twenty to one`hundred..

That would mean that there are eight units of variance or eight grades into which the` ed. The fruit is received fruit is to be. divi in a heterogeneous mass upon screen 3. The perforationsin this screen allow the "two next succeeding smallest sizes are'p-assed-1. 1

upon the corresponding lower screen 5',l

which is an extension of or in line with screen 5. Fromthislatter screen there is 'also received the -90s? so screen 5 has three grades now to handle. only the 8090s are passed through into the bins, and so from this screen there'is passed to itssiiccessork2 still two gradesof Its mesh is such that IOS fruit. Upon screen A'52 is also received two om its upper screen 32. The screen 52 drops the .70--80s and delivers three grades to. its successor 53, which latter receives the resi-- due of 2-40s from screen 3. Thus the most that any one ofthe series has to handle at any one time areiive grades. The result is that more perfect gradi-ng. is possible by this means than where a single screen must receive a heterogeneousmass and pick out thel smallest of eight or nine sizes of fruit and deliver it unassisted into vthe proper. bin. it might be said that the upper set of screens .serve as a f hopper, discreetly delivering the 'fruit upon a plurality of lower screens, so as to'avoid congestion on the latter. The result is that iby such` a su erposition 'of screens the fruit is so divide and thework distributed that the capacity of the machine is practically doubled. This screening repre sents the first step in myprocess of grading.

lt frequently happens in a certain run of fruit some particular grade is almost entirely missing-as, for example, it may be that the 50-60s are so few in number that it is desired to vcut out that grade alto ether-or. if

it is lfound that the number. o Aprunes per pound in any one 'compartment orbin is running too'high or too loW'its standard has to be lowered or raised by the .diversionof a portion ofthe fruit from one or the other adjacent screens. This is known as blending-' and is as mucha part of the gradin as the shaking ofthe fruit on thescreens, ecause such blending is invariably necessary at some stage of the rocess and before the fruit is finally packe .v In working with small quantities the blending .can be done by hand; but the futility of such means is apparent in machines o f this. class where fruit 1s handled by sential.-

This bringsme to the secondfpart-of my invention. Beneath, central o I, and transthe'car-load. Continuity is here a prime4 esverse to each lower screen5 5", &c., is a roofshaped structure. 6, which diverts to one side or the other any. fruit fallingthereon; Be'V neath these roof-shaped structures. are the z bins into which thefruit is deliveredv accord-` ing to the segregation before mentioned. The adjacent bins are separated from each other by the hinged dividing-walls. 7, which normally are adapted to stand in a vertical position with their upper edges in close proximity to 'the dividing-line between two adj a'- cent screens, as 5 5, &c. These dividers 7 are adapted to swing in an arc of ninety degrecs, moreor less, being limited in their' movement by the lower edges of the roof-4 shaped sf'ructure 6. These dividersI are for the purpose of blending. the products from any of the adjacent screens 5 5', 85e., either to permit onlya portion of, say, the 60-70s to mix with the 7G-SWS or to divert enlink over a fixed pin on the frame.

tirely the product of one screen, as the 50,-- Os,` entirely into an adjacent bin.

Any'suitable means may bee employed to retain the dividersat the proper angle.y `I generally use a flexible connection, as a chain, secured to the end of the divider, hooking a nectionm'ay be similar to that shown for the This con-- dividers Qin Fig. 3. Thus any degree' of blend or combination may be' effected, and the fruit is'received'into the binsexactly according to the vdesired number of prunes per pound. These bins are Vconstructed in two parts, feo-that delivery may beA ma'defromf either-side of the machinethat is, the Inachine isdivided longitudinally -by a central vertical partition 8, wherebythe bins upon one side maybe emptied whilethe othersare filling. It is. obvious that some such means must be provided in these large'machines to dispose of they fruit as it comes througlr the screens the operation. is. tonbemade continuous. It. .takes several hours to discharge ,the bins, as theyeach contain many tons.

The stopping 'o fl a machine with a one-hundred-and-twenty-five-ton daily capacity for` 'Y several 'hours eacliday would pa duce thatcapacityand 4the loss wou ably re- Fd be proportionatejf- .i

,Upon the to of thevertical wallsHSA are hin ed a secon set of'dividers 9, longitudina y disposed of the machine. `Each of thesadivlders controls a bin to whose transverse vertical-,walls the dividers, 6- are hinged.' The tops of the dividers 9 `when in vertical IOC osition are slightly below the plane of the ower edgesfof the dividers 7.

surfaces or stops 10,. against one or the other of which a .dividerQ ordinarily rests. The turning of'these longitudinal dividers may be eHectedby meansof a cord 11, as shown. The bottoms of the bins are inclined, as 12 ,so as more readily to be dischar ed, while `each bin is provided withl a sui-tab eclos'ure 13.

Asthese machines are often forty or fifty feet in length and the screens may carry continuously aten Weight or more. of fruit,-th e vibrations ofthe loaded'frames causedlby i y.

some three hundred .reciprocationsa .minute must be minimized as much as possible; l-To Upon eitherI of the walls of the machine are the inclined IIO this end I have devised the `followingmeans`:

In the .first place, instead of d isposing1 the power to reciprocate the screensat the-head of the machine, as is usual, I have placed lit.

centrally thereof. The framesZl and 2f ,are se arated except for the apron or flap 18, w lch connectsthe adjacent-lower screens on the two frames, whereby thefruit may travel uninterru tedl oveiw'said lower screens.

- This division o the frames takes place prefer-` ably at the end of the upper set of screens. So, properly, the forward frame will carry lthree I upper and three. lower screens, and the rear frame will carry the remaining or live lower.

, screens. The lower screens will always-lie in practically a continuous line, Above 'this oint of juncture of and at right angles to the ames extends thesliaft 14. The shaft has `two cranks 15, to which are secured the pitinen 16; These latter attach-. to 'cross-bars 17, one of which bars is securedto the forward screen-frame Vandthe other to the rear frame. l Asa result the two frames are given a simultaneous but opposite and balancing'.

movement.v

By reason 'of disposition of asV shown, only about half/,the

this type is necessary, for in the alternate reciprocation .of theframes toward and from each other the sprin -arms of one `frame are tending to equalize t e action of the arms of the other frame. Thus a rapid and smooth movement is obtained almost ree of vibra-v tion and entirely devoid of the pounding action so oftenpres'ent, which if occurring'in these large machines wouldn'soon cause a I claim as new, and desire to secure by Le' .3o. xscreens, a shorter upper series, and a longerperforations increasin wreck oi the whole mechanism.

' Having thus described myinvention, what ters Patenthisl. In an apparatus for grading' prunes, th combination of `two series 'o perforated lower one, the screens in each series having l in size from the receiving end of the mac the upper series adapted to deliver the fruit simultaneously upon an equal 'number of the lower "screens, hose 'periorations also increase from the head end of the machine, `said last inamed screen vhav-ing its perforations smaller than the perforations in the screen immediately above it, and means whereby thescreens are given a longitudinal shaking movement.-

.2. In an apparatus for grading prunes', the combination of two series of screens, an upper series and a longer lower and parallel series, said screens in each series having perfor'ations of smallest diameter in the screen nearest the feed end of the apparatus, the perforations in the succeeding screen .of successive large diametersythe periorations in"y the upper screens relatively larger' than` the perforations in the' screens immediately beneath, and means whereby the fruit is made totravel over these screens.

3. In an apparatus Jfor grading prunes, the

combination of two series, of screens, one

' above the other the uppermost `having perforationsv of smallest diameterin the screen at the head' of hemachine and 'gradually` increasing.' in size through4 the 'remaining screens, said `screens adapted toA asssuccessively tyelf'or more grades of it there: through', 4'a second series of screens beneath thei' i'ipper series, having perforations of' l the mounting 'of the frames. on the spring-arms and by the 'the power,

power ordinarily usedto operate machines of surfaces beneath t e screens, and

'ne and the screens in Y smallest diameter in'ithe screen at the head oi the machine, and gradually increasing in size through the remaining screens said screens adapted to pass successively but a singlev grade 'of fruit therethrough, and means by which these screens are given a longitudinally-shaking movement.

4. The combination 'in a fruit grading and classifying apparatus of grading-screens and blending means centrally below the same consisting of diver ent transversel -disposed nged coacting Ydividers interposed between adjacent blending means by which varying proportionsv of the productv of vadjacent screens may be mingled or diverted.

lSo

5. Ina prune-grading a paratus, the com-1, Y

bination of a vplurality lo lhorizontal perferated screensin line and forming an upper series, a secondv longer series of perforated screens below and parallel with and extending beyond the first series', said lower screens arranged in line with y'each other, the perforations in the screens in each series increasing in diameter from the receiving to the opposite end, the perforations inthe up er series relatively'larg'er and varying in w1 er proportionV i than the perforations in.the,lower screens,

frames within which these/two series are sey cured, a shaft centrally disposedlo'r these frames and connections with' the frame-upon either side of the shaft whereby the frames' are reciprocated.

ing prunes, consistingA of two series of horizontally-disposed conti nous shaking-screens having periorations o gradually-increasingdiameter Jrom th'ecommencement to 'the discharge end, said series consisting of a shorter' upper one and a longler lower one, the screens in the upper seriesy aving perforations relatively larger than the perforatio'ns in.V the lower screens, roof-like sections transverse to', beneath and central of eachr of the lower screens, and dividersby which the product of any screen or any pro ortion of said pred?- uct may be mingled Wit the discharge from adjacent screens.

6. An apparatus for and classiiyl'OO ric

`7. The combinatio'nin an apparatu'sjfnn grading and classifying prunes of ashorter'np. per and alonger lower series of 'approximate y orizontal shaking-screens, with perforations of different ,sizes and increasing in diameter from theI receiving to the opposite end,"the screens'in the upper series-adapted to deliver the Jfruit simultaneously upon an equal numcentralportions of the lower screens', trans ,verse sections hinged inline beneath-'the y disposed said grading-sections,

lber of' thelower series,-double inclined roof like sections located transversely `beneath the .meeting edges of the screens, and turnablet`6"\ divert a portionof 'the discharge of conti 4 i 4ous screens to either side, a longitudinaily-vartition centrallyflocated beneath a and'sections hinged to its upper edge and turnable to divert the rui't to discharge upon either side of the apparatus.

The combination ina fruit grading and vlying apparatus, of grading-screens, o, divergent, transversely-disposed -surraces located beneath thescreens intermediate of their ends, and boardsI hinged in line' beneath thev junction of contiguous' screens and -tnrnable 'to formcontinuations of the divergent surfaces beneath either of said screens.

The combination in a fruit grading and lassifying apparatus of grading-screens, transversey downwardly divergent surfaces 'fixed beneath th'escree'ns intermediate of their ends, transverse boards having their lower edges turnably supported approximately in planes below the junction of contiguous screens ,-whereby the upper edges.

may approach andformcontinuations with the divergent surfaces upon'either side.`

i0. The combination 1n a fruit grading and classifying apparatus of grading screens, ixed, downwardlydivergent, .transverselydisposed I surfaces, centrally beneath the screens, transversely-hinged dividers coacting withsaid surfaces to mingle or divertV the `products of "contiguous" screens, longitudinally-divided binsfjand longitudinally-hinged tilting boards,v turnable to receive theblendv ed product and divert it to the bins on either side.

1li, In an apparatus for rading fruit two sets of'horizontal perforate set parallel with the upper set and hav-lng perforations. increasing 1n diameter fromthe receiving to the discharging 'end,` saidv lower set comprising two vse arate'sec'ti'ons 'in line with each other vbut avingan intervening spacebetween adjacent ends,` a flap-or apron connectiiigthe ladjacent ends ofsaid two sec'- Zwith each other but screens, consisting' of an upper shorter set, and a lower longer tions whereby a continuous travel of fruit is effected,l a rigid connection between the first section' of they` lower set' andthe upper set of screens andmeans for reciprocating both sets I f 12'; In an apparatus .for grading fruits; two l sets of perforated screens consistingt'of an upper, shorter set; .a longer lower'set substan'` tially parallel with. thel upper set an'dhaving perforations increasingin diameter fro'rnthe receiving tothe dischargingend, said lower set -comprising two se arate lsections in line with each other butv aving'an intervening space between adj acen'tends, -a ap or apron connecting the adjacent *ends of sald two sections7 whereby azcontinuoustravel of fruit is efl`ected`,ac'onnection vbetween the first secltion' ofl 'theflower set and the upperset of screens i 'adapted Ytoimpart`v movement from one to theother, and means for reciprocating both'sets of screens.

13. In an apparatus for grading fruits, two setsof vperforated screens consisting of an upper, shorter set,y a longer lower set substanperforations increasingein diameter from the receiving to the discharging end, said ,lower set comprising two yse'liliarate sections inline 'space between adjacente'nds, a' iiap or apron ytially parallel with the upper set and having .7o aving an interveningV connecting the adj acent" ends of said two sec ,K

tions, whereby a "continuous travel of fruit *isi eHected, and means' for reciprocating both sets lof screens and simultaneously reciprosaid'upper set of's'creens. y

.eating saidiirst section 'of the lower set and" y In'witness vwhereof I have hereunto 'set l hand. i: WILLIAM C. ANDERSQNQ s Witnesses:

WM, K. WHITE, J. H.'MILLER.

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