USRE9434E - mccollum - Google Patents

Description

J- PARR, 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

Assignor, by mesne assignments, to H. HOCOLLUI, administrator of J. McGonwu, dec'd.

Cracker Machine. NO. 9,434. Reissued Oct. 26, I880.

. longitudinal vertical section.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH PARR, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO HENRY MOCOLLUM, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ADMINISTRATOR OF JOHN MGOOLLUM, DECEASED.

CRACKER-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Reissued Letters Patent No. 9,434, dated October 26, 1880,

Original No. 169,834, dated November 9, 1875; Reissue No. 7,403, dated November 28, 1876. Application for reissue filed March 1, 1880.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOSEPH PARR, of New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented certain Improvements in Cracker-Machines; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

My invention consists, first, in a novel combination and arrangement of devices whereby the bed-plate may be readily raised and lowered to accommodate it to cutters of different lengths, to compensate for wear of the cutters, or to regulate the pressure thereof; also, in a novel construction and arrangement of the crimping-roller, whereby its proper operation is insured; also, in a scrap-roller arranged above the scrap-apron to bear upon the scrap upon the said apron, and having each end free to rise and fall independently of the other end, to adapt itself to variations in the thickness of the scrap for the purpose of holding the scrap upon the apron against the pull of the fingers which expel the crackers; also, in such an arrangement of scrap-roller for this purpose that it is rotated or driven by the friction of the dough.

It furthermore consists in a scrap-roll attached to the finger-shaft by independent links or rods, which allow its ends to rise independently of each other.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of a machine constructed according to my invention. Fig. 2 is a top view of the same. Fig. 3 is a View of the side opposite to that shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4. is a Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the bed-plate and cutters on a larger scale than shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a section of the same transversely of the machine. Fig. 6 is a sectional view parallel with Fig. 5, taken in the line a: a: of Fig. 6, showing the means of adjusting the bed-plate. Fig. 7 is a detail "iew of the cutter-frame.

The working parts of the machine are arranged in a frame-work, A, which is of any suitable construction, and is provided with endless aprons A A A A, arranged in the usual manner, for conveying the dough, the crackers, and the scrap through the machine. These aprons are of the kind commonly employed, having smooth or even faces. About midway of the length of the machine the bedplate is located, and immediately over it the cutter-frame is arranged in vertical ways and provided with mechanism for imparting to it avertical reciprocating motion. The bed-plate B is arranged transversely of the machine, with each of its ends between two vertical ways or guides consisting of lugs or ribs extending inward from the side pieces of the frame. Immediately under the bed-plate B is another plate,

B of the same size and shape, and arranged between the guides above mentioned. Between these two plates, near their ends, are two strips of rubber, a, which may lie in grooves formed in the plates, to prevent their displacement. The thickness of the rubber strips is such as to separate the two plates very slightly and only sutficiently to impart a certain degree of elasticity to the bed-plate and to allow it to yield slightly under the pressure of the cutters.

The two plates may be connected together by bolts, which may workfreely in one of the plates, so as to allow it to rise and fall independently'of the other.

Immediately under the plate B is a bar, 0, at each end of which is a cross-head, 0*. The upper surfaces of the cross-heads are horizontal and parallel with the lower side of the plate 13. The lower surfaces of the crossheads are inclined from a horizontal line and rest upon the upper surfaces of two projecting ribs or bars, D, extending inward from the side pieces of the frame A, one on each side. The lower surfaces of the ribs or bars D may be horizontal and parallel with the surfaces of the plates B B but their upper surfaces form inclined planes running in a contrary direction to the inclined lower surfaces of the cross-heads, so that when said cross-heads are in place on said inclined planes the upper surface of the bedplate is in a horizontal position.

On two opposite edges of the plate B, midway between its ends, are two perforated lugs,

1) 11*, extending downward, and on the bar 0, midway of its length and in line with the lugs b, is a screw-threaded lug or nut, 0*. A screwthreaded rod, E, passes through the lugs I) and nut 0*, and is arranged to revolve freely in said lugs, but is secured against longitudinal motion by means of a milled head or knob, f, at one end, outside of one of the lugs, and a pin or collar and set-screw or other suitable device at the other end, outside of the other lug, while the screw-threaded portion engages with the nut 0*.

By turning the screwE in one direction the bar 0 is drawn toward one end of the machine, causing the cross-heads 0* to travel upward on the inclined planes D and raise the bedplate B to the desired height. By turning the screw in the opposite direction the bar (3 is moved toward the other end of the machine, causing the cross-heads to travel downward on the incline planes and lower the bed-plate to the desired level. Both theupward and downward motions are perfectly uniform throughout, and the bed-plate maintains its horizontal position. By this means the bed-plate may be readily raised and lowered to accommodate it to cutters of different lengths, or to compensate for wear of the cutters, or to regulate the amount of pressure.

The bed-plate is usually so adjusted with relation to the cutter-frame that the contact of the cutters with the bedplate takes place just before they have reached the termination of their downward stroke, so that after the crackers are cut the edges of the cutters remain a short time in contact with the bed before commencing their upward stroke, in which case the elasticity imparted to the bed-plate by the rubber strips a allows it to yield sufficiently to prevent injury to the cutters.

In a patent gran ted to John McOollum, dated March 23, 1852, No. 8,828, and reissued May 31,1859, No. 730, the bed-plate is described as being rendered elastic, so as to enable it to yield under the pressure of the cutters, by means of spiral springs under the bed-plate attached to lugs on the frame of the machine. In my invention the same result is. accomplished with equal efficiency and in a more simple manner by means of the rubber. If an unyielding bed-plate is desired, however, the rubber may be replaced by wood, iron, or other hard substance.

The cutter-frame is constructed of three plates, G G G, arranged in parallel planes one above another. The lower plate, G, is provided at its ends on the lower side with projections 9 about equal to the thickness of the dough from which the crackers are to be cut.

The middle plate, G is connected to the lower plate by means of spiral springs g placed between said plates near their edges or corners. The upper plate, G is connected with the lower and middle plates by means of posts or bolts 9 which pass freely through holes in the middle plate, and have their ends rigidly attached to the lower and upper plates by riveting or by screw-threads and nuts, so that the middle plate is free to rise and fall between the upper and lower ones.

The cutters consist of hollow tubes h, of cylindrical or other form, according to the shape to be given to the crackers. These cutters are open at both ends, and their upper ends are provided with lugs or flanges, by means of which they are attached to the middle plate, G, by screws, rivets, or bolts, so that they may be removed and replaced when desired. Their lower ends or cutting-edges work freely in holes in the lower plate, G, and when at rest they are about flush with the lower surface of said plate. The cutters are provided with clearers, consistingof pistons or plungers i, which work freely in the cutters and in holes in the middle plate, and are secured to the upper plate by nuts engaging with screwthreads formed on them. Each clearer is provided with two nuts, one of which is placed above the upper plate and the other below it, by which-means the clearers are adjusted to the proper positions with relation to the lower plate and the cutters.

The cutter-frame thus constructed is arranged and operated in the machine as follows: On the upper side of the middle plate, G at or near its ends, are two sockets, I I, corresponding in form with heads on the lower ends of two bolts, J J, which pass through a crosshead, H, and are provided with nuts j at their upper ends. The sockets are open toward one edge of the plate, and the cutter-frame is placed in position on the cross-beam by moving it laterally, so as to cause the heads of the bolts to slip into the sockets, and is then secured by tightening the nuts j. By this arrangement the cutter-frame is readily removed and replaced when desired. The cross-head H is arranged to work in vertical ways or guides in two standards, K K, and has a vertical reciprocating motion imparted to it by means of eccentric-rods 7c 70, driven by eccentrics lon the main shaft L. As said main shaft revolves the cutter-frame descends upon the dough and cuts the crackers, and as the revolution of the shaft continues the cutter-frame rises and allows the dough to be fed forward above the bed-plate to receive another cut. As the cutter-frame descends the projections g on the lower plate, G, strike the bed-plate B on either side of the apron A and arrest the downward motion of said plate. The middle plate, G continues its downward motion,

depressing the cutters it until the eccentricdough with an intermittent motion, as usual in other cracker-machines.

For operating the endless aprons with the usual intermittent motion I employ mechanism arranged as follows: On the main shaft L, or the fly-wheel L attached thereto, is an adjustable crank or wrist pin, Z which is connected by a rod, 1 with an arm, m, on one end of a rock-shaft, M, arranged transversely of the machine. At the other end of this rockshaft are two arms, at m which may be arranged at any desired angle with relation to each other and to the arm m. The arm m is connected by a rod, m", with an arm, n, which works loosely on a shaft, N, and carries a pawl,

- n, engaging with a ratchet, a which is rigidly attached to the end of said shaft N. The arm n is connected by a rod, n", with an arm, 0, which works loosely on a shaft, 0, and carries a pawl, 0 engaging with a ratchet, 0 which is rigidly attached to the end of the shaft 0. The arm at of the rock-shaft M is connected by a rod, m, with one end of a double arm, p, which works loosely on a shaft, P, and carries a pawl, 12, engaging with a ratchet, p, which is rigidly attached to the end of the shaft P. The other end of the arm 1) is connected by a rod, p, with an arm, 1 which works loosely on a shaft, Q, and carries a pawl, q engaging with a ratchet, g, which is rigidly attached to the end of the shaft Q.

By this arrangement and combination of mechanism the rock-shaft M receives motion through its arm m from the main shaft, and transmits it through its arm m to the shafts N and and through its arm m to the shafts P and Q, so that as the main shaft revolves an intermittent rotary motion is imparted simultaneously to the four shafts N O P Q.

By arranging and combining the parts in the manner described I obviate the necessity for the use of long crankpins, such as have heretofore been used in machines of a similar character, and I accomplish the same result in a more simple manner. The apron A passes around a roller, N, on the shaft N and a smaller roller, N, arranged near the opposite end of the machine. The apron A passes around a roller, 0 on the shaft 0 and another roller, 0*, arranged above the apron A, nearly over the roller N. The apron A passes around a roller, P on the shaft P and another roller, P, near the delivery end of the machine. The scrap -apron A passes around a roller, Q", on the shaft Q and another roller, Q, arranged over the apron A As the four shafts N 0 P Q are rotated, as before described, the four aprons AKA A A receive the desired intermittent motion and feed the dough to the cutters, and then convey the crackers and the scrap to their respective receptacles.

For operating the pressure-rolls at the feed and of the machine I employ mechanism arranged as follows: On the main shaft L is a gear-wheel, R, meshing into a stud-gear, R,

which, in turn, drives a gear. R in the same direction as the main shaft. The gear R is attached to one end of ashaft, S, on the other end of which, at the opposite side of the machine, is a bevel-gear, s, meshinginto another bevel-gear, 8 at the lower end of a shaft, S, which carries at its upper end a bevel-gear, s. The bevel-gear s meshes into a bevel-gear, t, on one end of the shaft of the lower pressureroll, T, which roll drives the upper roll, T, by means of gearing at the opposite ends. The dough is fed into the machine over the feedboard U and passes between the rollers T and T in .the usual manner. It is then turned downward and passed under the crimping-roll W, which is located between the roller 0 and the lower dough-roller, T, and is arranged in adjustable beari n gs, so that its pressure against the dough-roller may be regulated. The dough passes between the dough-rollers and under the crimping-roll, as indicated by the arrow -U* in Fig. 4.

Ifdesired, an ordinary crimpi ng-rol1,W may be used near the bed-plate in the usual manner. The brush V for removing the superfluous flour from the dough may be driven by a band, o, from a pulley on one of the dough-rollers.

The fingers Y? are arranged in the usual manner near the delivery end of the machine. The fingers Y for separating the crackers from the scrap are arranged loosely upon a shaft, y, the ends of which are provided with bearings in boxes y, which rest upon a plate, y", over which the apron A passes with the crackers and scrap.

Z is the scrap-roller, arranged to bear upon the scrap-apron A, which carries off the scrap. The weight or pressure of this roller is sufficient to insure the adherence of the scrap to the apron and prevent it from being pulled or held back by the action of the fingers Said roller is arranged immediately over a stationary bar, 2 This bar a which has its ends in adjustable bearings z in the frame A, is arranged within the scrap-apron A, to support the part of the said apron upon which the scraproller bears, and by it the proper operation of the scrap-roller and scrap-apron is facilitated.

To insure the proper action of the fingers Y, the scrap-roller Z, and the stationary bar z, said roller and bar and the shaft 3 of said fingers are all made adjustable together and yielding, to meet various irregularities, both as regards thickness of dough and in other respects. This may be accomplished as follows: The boxes y of the fin ger-shaft y are connected by pivoted links z with the lower scrap-apron roller, Q, which is connected by links 2 with the bar z having its ends arranged in adjustable bearings in the frame A, the said roller Q* being journaled into the said links 2 and 2 The finger-shaft 3 has the scrap-roller Z connectedwith it by two independent links or rods, 2*, which are pivoted to the said shaft and contain the bearings for the journals of the said roller. Thus a flexible arrangement and connection are established of the fingershaft boxes y, the finger-shaft y, and the scraproller Z, which enables each part to yield independently of the others to any obstruction which may be presented by the accidental introduction of lumps or byincreased thickness of dough, and to automatically resume their proper position after being relieved of such obstruction. The scrap-roller Z, having its journals in the links or rods 2, which are disconnected from each other, is not only free to rise and fall bodily, but either end of it is free to rise and fall independently of the other end, so that it may accommodate itself to all variations in the thickness of the scrap in different parts of the latter, and so bear upon all parts of it with uniform or nearly uniform pressure. The said roller, resting upon the scrap while the latter passes under it, may be caused to rotate by the friction of the dough.

As regards the general operation, the scrap and crackers are carried along by the apron A. After leaving the bed-plate and cutters the fingers Y separate the crackers from the scrap. The crackers are carried by the apron A under the apron A and deposited on the apron A and the scrap is passed under the roller Z, and is carried by the apron A to any suitable receptacle.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a cracker-machine, the combination, with the cutters and the apron A of the bedplate B and bed-supporting plate B provided with the interposed strips a a, the inclined planes 0* D, bar 0, and screw E, for raising and lowering the bed plate and the apron relatively to the cutters, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the dough-roller T and apron-roller 0 of the crimping-roll W, arranged in adjustable bearings between the said rollers T and 0 substantially as and for the purpose herein specified.

3. In a cracker-machine, the combination, with the apron which carries ofl' the scrap, of a scrap-roller arranged to bear upon the dough on said apron and free to be turned by the friction of the dough, substantially as herein described.

4. The combination, in a cracker-machine, with a smooth or even surfaced scrap-apron, of a scrap-roller adapted to bear upon the scrap upon said apron and having each end free to rise and fall independently of the other end, substantially as and for the purpose herein specified.

5. The combination of the apron on which the crackers are cut, the smooth or even faced scrap-apron for taking the scrap from the cut crackers, and a scrap-roller adapted to bear upon the latter apron and having each end free to rise and fall independently of the other end, substantially as and for the purpose herein specified.

6. The scrap-roller Z, attached to the fingershaft y byindependent links or rods z",which allow its ends to rise independently of each other, substantially as described.

JOSEPH PARR. Witnesses:

HENRY T. BROWN, JOHN C. JOHNSTON.

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