Potato-seed Cutting Machines

Abstract

The present invention provides an improved potato-seed cutting machine wherein the conveyor rollers, pressure rollers facilitating seed cutting, and "third roll" are so constructed and arranged such that the conveyor thrusts a potato to be cut into engagement with said third roll and one of said pressure roller means, whereas the latter pair serve to introduce said potato between said pressure roller means for cutting. Other improvements include positive-feed pressure rollers and third roll of improved, non-circular design.

Description

The present invention relates to improvements in potato-seed cutting machines and, more particularly, to a new and improved cutting machine of the type described wherein positive movement from the conveyor used in the machine is employed to thrust potatoes into the space between a pressure roller, driven friction roller combination, there to be transported through the pressure rollers and cutting blade of the machine. Other improvements include positive-feed pressure rollers having appropriately designed ridges and scalloped surfaces, as well as a driven, non-circular "third roll" for performing in a manner hereinafter described.

The structural features set forth in this disclosure represent improvements over the prior art in that, a third roll is incorporated in the structure and is disposed in proximately with the pressure rollers of the machine which feed potatoes into the cutting means thereof; structural provision is made wherein the conveyor is so placed that the rearmost "traveling roll," which forms the potato-receiving pocket in which a particular potato is being carried, traverses downwardly so as to thrust potatoes, especially large ones, into the space provided between the third roll and one of the pressure rollers, for subsequent routing by the latter through the pressure rollers proper and into the cutting means of the machine. In certain other improvements of the invention, scalloped areas and/or ridges are provided along the surfaces of the pressure rollers so that positive potato placement and correspondingly positive drive of the potatoes, via pressure-roller ribs and scalloped areas, for urging the potatoes in a positive manner through the cutting means disposed between the pressure rollers.

Accordingly, a principal object of the invention is to provide a new and improved, potato-seed cutting machine.

A further object is to provide in a potato-seed cutting machine a third roll or driven friction roller, the latter being disposed in proximity with pressure rollers of the machine to aid in advancing potatoes through the pressure rollers and the cutting means provided.

A further object is to provide in a potato-seed cutting machine improved structure wherein the traveling roll conveyor, "third roll," and oppositely revolving pressure rollers are so constructed and arranged that potatoes, especially large ones, are thrust into the space between one of the pressure rollers and the third roll by the conveyor itself, with the third roll being operative to co-act with that one pressure roller in future transporting the potatoes through the pressure rollers proper and into the cutting means.

A further object is to provide positive feed means in potato rollers of potato-seed cutting machines.

An additional object is to provide a third roll of non-circular cross section in a potato seed cutting machine, this so that at least one of the major axes of the third roll is effective to urge positively a potato being received between the third roll and a pressure roller along its route through the pressure rollers to the cutting means.

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is the side elevation, partially shown in fragmentary view and cut away for convenience of illustration, of a potato-seed cutting machine incorporating the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged detail of the forward portion of the machine in FIG. 1, and is cut away to reveal the interior part of the machine.

FIG. 3 is the sectional view taken along line 3--3 in FIG. 4.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an end of a representative one of the traveling rolls and shafts, illustrating the manner in which shaft is connected to the endless means provided to accomplish the travel of these rolls.

FIG. 5 is a top view of a portion of the machine and is taken along the line of 5--5 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged elevation, partially broken away for convenience of illustration, of a machine of the type described incorporating modified pressure rollers and third roll.

FIG. 7 is an elevation of the forward end of the structure of FIG. 6 and is taken along the line 7--7 in FIG. 6.

Potato-seed cutting machine 10 is shown to include sides 11 and 12 and plural leg means 13 and 14. A pair of track rails 15 and 16 are fixedly disposed with respect to sides 11 and 12 by conventional attachment means 17 and 18. Mutually spaced ones of the usual links thereof is replaced by a T-configured link 23, having boss 24 provided with aperture 25.

Aperture 25 receives the end of representative shaft 26 upon which revolvable roller means 27 is pressed. Revolvable roller means 27 preferably takes the form of a series of double-tapered rolls 28 and single-tapered end rolls 29. These rolls are preferably made of rubber or other elastomeric substance, and are pressed together in contiguous relationship as shown. It will be seen, referencing FIG. 5, that potato-receiving pockets 30, as shown in the dashed line, will be formed between corresponding rolls of adjacent revolvable roller means.

The structure seen in FIG. 4 is typical for all of the shafts used in the construction of the conveyor 20. Rails 17 and 18 are constructed so as to permit desired 32, to of the rolls in the several revolvable roller means 27 to ride frictionally thereupon, aiding in the rotation of the same and in a direction, upwardly, toward the pressure rollers 31 and 32. Shafts 33 and 34 are journaled to sides 11 and 12 of the machine and serve as shafts for the pressure rollers 31 and 32, to which the latter are respectively keyed or otherwise rigidly secured.

Driving means, comprising motor 35, is secured by mounting means 36 to the machines sides 11 and 12 and is provided with an output drive pulley 37 driving pulley 52 which is conventionally keyed to sprocket 38. Sprocket 38 is mounted upon a shaft 39 which is journaled to the sides 11 and 12 by conventional means. A corresponding sprocket 40 is keyed to its shaft 41, and the latter is journaled by means 42 to and between the sides 11 and 12 of the machine. The sprocket and chain construction are the same on both sides of the machine. Driven friction roller 42 is keyed to its shaft 44, and the latter is journaled by suitable means to the sides 11 and 12 and include double pulleys 45 and 46; idler pulley 47 is keyed to shaft 48, and the latter is journaled to side 11 in the conventional manner. Endless drive belts 49, 50, 51, 52 inter-engage the pulleys above described in the manner shown in FIG. 1, this so that the pressure rollers 31 and 32 and driven friction roller 43 are driven in the direction of the arrows as shown in FIG. 2. Pulley 51 seats the drive belt 49, whereas pulley 52 seats the belt 50.

The structure as thus far described operates as follows. Potatoes are deposited on the receiving end R of the machine and proceed in the manner illustrated in FIG. 2 to the forward end F of the machine. The revolvable roller means 27 revolve in a counter-clockwise direction as the rollers frictionally roll along rails 16 and 17. Accordingly, potatoes align themselves in the respective, potato-receiving pockets 30. Potatoes being thus carried gradually advance forwardly, then slightly downwardly, to achieve a position as shown at X in FIG. 2. Then the revolvable roller means which theretofor form the rearmost boundary of the pocket in which the potato at X was carried, travels farther downwardly to position Y wherein the same urges the potato at X down into the space between pressure roller 31 and driven friction roller means 43. The rotation of the latter urge the potato still farther along its path to position X' in FIG. 2, this so that the potato is thrust through the cutting means at 54 in FIG. 2. The potato thereupon divides and the pieces fall down onto conveyor 55 to be routed or subsequently processing and/or bagging. The knife preferably takes the form of a nominally horizontally disposed blade 56 having upstanding blade segments 57. These latter will be disposed in some predetermined arrangement relative to the potato pockets formed by the revolving roll means.

What is essential in understanding the construction and operation of the equipment, as thus far described, is the construction and arrangement as among conveyor 20, drive friction roller means 43, and the pressure rollers 31 and 32. To recapitulate, potatoes are carried by the conveyor over its forward end, in predetermined alignment with upstanding blade segments 57, so that a respective potato is frictionally engaged by one, here the upper, pressure roller 31. As the potato gradually proceeds downwardly the revolvable roller means 27, which theretofor formed the rearmost boundary of potato-receiving and carrying pocket 30, will thrustingly engage the potato at X forwardly so that the latter is urged between the oppositely revolving rollers 43 and 31. This is especially important for potatoes of substantially different sizes. In any event, subsequent to the thrusting by the related roller means 27 of the potato through the space between the driven friction roller 43 and the pressure roller 31, the latter two co-act together to convey the potato still farther along its course, until the potato achieves a position at X in FIG. 2. At this point the pressure rollers, preferably made of a low durometer sponge rubber, will be amply sufficient in their design to thrust the potato through the cutting means at 54.

It is to be noted that the friction roller 43 is disposed immediately beneath the extreme forward end of the conveyor (including the revolvable traveling rolls, so that potatoes released by the former will automatically come into engagement with roller 43. It is the thrusting of that revolvable roller means, which forms the rearmost dimension of the potato pocket, against the potato coming into position proximate the space between roller 43 and pressure roller 31, that insures the potatoes, including the larger sized ones, in going along their predetermined path; thus, friction roller 43 may be spaced sufficiently close to pressure roller 31 such that the smaller potatoes will automatically be accommodated thereby.

As shown in FIG. 6, driven friction roller 60, corresponding to roller 43 in FIG. 2, may have an non-circular transverse cross-section having one or more major axes, correspondingly, there may be provided in the configuration of pressure rollers 61 and 62, corresponding to pressure rollers 31 and 32, a plurality of respective peripheral ridges 63 and 64 which back scalloped potato-seating areas 65 and 66. The ridges at 63 and 64 will aid in positively advancing the potatoes at X through the cutting means in a very positive and very firm manner. Correspondingly, the scalloped areas 65 and 66 serve to cradle or seat the potato so that larger potatoes may be accommodated, the ridges be most effective, and so there is a positive thrusting of the potatoes through cutting means 54. The peripheral ridges may be slotted at representative slots 67 and 68 to provide for the free relative movement therewithin of upstanding knife blades 57. In this way the rollers can revolve in accordance with the direction of the arrows in FIG. 6 and yet be free from obstruction with the knife means. In such a way the grooves or slots for the vertical knives need not penetrate into the circular surface portion of the traveling pressure roller proper.

It should be mentioned at this juncture that the structure as shown in FIG. 6 and 7 will be so constructed and arranged, that a potato will drop from the conveyor and at a conveyor position such that the major axis A of the driven friction roller and the ridges at 63 and 64 will all be in a position to co-act in urging potatoes from coming from the conveyor into the space between the driven friction roller 60 and a respective one (62) of the pressure rollers, from there to be transported subsequently by the driven friction roller and that previously engaged pressure roller through the pressure roller combination.

It will be evident that the ridges and scallop figurations relative to the surface character of the pressure rollers may be employed either with or without the non-circular character of the cross section of the driven friction roller 60. However, it is much preferred that the entire combination be used.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from this invention in its broader aspects, and, therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

Claims

I claim:

1. A potato-seed cutting machine including, in combination, a conveyor having an operable upper course of travel and a forward end and including a pair of parallel, vertically oriented, horizontally spaced endless means having upper lengths moving in accordance with said upper course of travel; plural, parallel shafts disposed between and secured to said endless means in mutually spaced relationship; plural, revolvable roller means respectively disposed on each of said plural shafts and dimensioned to form individual potato-receiving pockets between adjacent ones of said shafts; means for revolvably constraining said endless means to mutually corresponding, operable, looped configurations; means for frictionally revolving said sets of roller means as they proceed forwardly along the conveyor's upper course of travel; means constructed and arranged for driving said endless means such that said upper course of travel advances toward said conveyor forward end; cutting means disposed proximate said conveyor forward end and beneath the positioning of said shafts as the latter advance along said upper course of travel; oppositely revolving, resilient, output pressure roller means constructed and arranged for receiving potatoes from said conveyor forward end and feeding them through said cutting means; drive means for so oppositely revolving said pressure roller means coupled thereto; driven friction roller means disposed parallel to and proximate said conveyor forward end and constructed for forwardly frictionally engaging and thereby aiding the advance of potatoes discharged from said conveyor forward end into receiving engagement with said pressure roller means, said forward end of said conveyor means, friction roller means, and said pressure roller means being constructed and arranged such that one of said revolvable roller means as forms the rearmost dimension of one of said pockets containing a potato therein thrusts said potato into operative engagement with and between said friction roller means and one of said pressure roller means such that these can further advance said potato between said pressure roller means for cutting by said cutting means.

2. A potato-seed cutting machine including, in combination, a conveyor having an operable upper course of travel and a forward end and including a pair of parallel, vertically oriented, horizontally spaced endless means having upper lengths moving in accordance with said upper course of travel; plural, parallel shafts disposed between and secured to said endless means in mutually-spaced relationship; plural, revolvable roller means respectively disposed on each of said plural shafts and dimensioned to form individual potato-receiving pockets between adjacent ones of said shafts; means for revolvably constraining said endless means to mutually corresponding, operable, looped configurations; means for frictionally revolving said sets of roller means as they proceed forwardly along the conveyor's upper couse of travel; means constructed and arranged for driving said endless means such that said upper course of travel advances toward said conveyor forward end; cutting means disposed proximate said conveyor forward end and beneath the positioning of said shafts as the latter advance along said upper course of travel; oppositely revolving, resilient, output pressure roller means constructed and arranged for receiving potatoes from said conveyor forward end and feeding them through said cutting means; drive means for so oppositely revolving said pressure roller means coupled thereto; driven friction roller means disposed parallel to and proximate said conveyor forward end and constructed for forwardly frictionally engaging and thereby aiding the advance of potatoes discharged from said conveyor forward end into receiving engagement with said pressure roller means, said forward end of said conveyor means, friction roller means, and said pressure roller means being constructed and arranged such that one of said revolvable roller means as forms the rearmost dimension of one of said pockets containing a potato therein thrusts said potato into operative engagement with and between said friction roller means and one of said pressure roller means such that these can further advance said potato between said pressure roller means for cutting by said cutting means, and wherein the transverse cross-section of said driven friction roller is non-circular, said conveyor, driven friction roller pressure roller means, and friction roller driving means being constructed and arranged such that a major axis of said cross-section of said driven friction roller means is upstanding as said one revolvable roller means thrustingly introduces said potato between said driven friction roller and said one of said pressure roller means, whereby said driven friction roller thrusts at said major axis thereof said potato into engagement with said pressure roller means.

3. Structure according to claim 2 wherein said pressure roller means are provided with pocket-scallop indentations positioned and dimensioned for receiving potatoes introduced between said pressure roller means.

4. Structure according to claim 2 wherein said pressure roller means are each provided with longitudinal peripheral ridges positioned to thrust potatoes introduced between said pressure roller means therethrough.

5. Structure according to claim 4 wherein said ridges include transverse-ridge separations, said cutting means including an elongate knife blade and plural, upstanding, forwardly wedged shaped blades, said knife means being disposed such that said upstanding blades are aligned with said separations, permitting said pressure roller means to revolve in a manner free of engagement with said knife means.

6. Structure according to claim 3 wherein said pressure roller means are each provided with longitudinal peripheral ridges positioned to thrust potatoes introduced between said pressure roller means therethrough, and wherein said ridges include transverse-ridge separations, said cutting means including an elongate knife blade and plural, upstanding, forwardly wedged shaped blades, said knife means being disposed such that said upstanding blades are aligned with said separations, permitting said pressure roller means to revolve in a manner free of engagement with said knife means.

7. In a potato-seed cutting machine having cutting means, pressure roller means for thrusting potatoes received thereby through said cutting means, a driven friction roller proximately disposed in front of said pressure roller means, and conveyor means for feeding potatoes between one of said pressure roller means and said driven friction roller, an improvement wherein the transverse cross-section of said driven friction roller is non-circular, said conveyor, driven friction roller, pressure roller means, and friction roller driving means being constructed and arranged such that a major axis of said cross-section of said driven friction roller means is upstanding as said one revolvable roller means thrustingly introduces said potato between said driven friction roller and said one of said pressure roller means, whereby said driven friction roller thrusts at said major axis thereof said potato into engagement with said pressure roller means.

8. In a potato-seed cutting machine having cutting means, pressure roller means for thrusting potatoes received thereby through said cutting means, a driven friction roller proximately disposed in front of said pressure roller means, and conveyor means for feeding potatoes between one of said pressure roller means and said driven friction roller, an improvement wherein said pressure roller means each include longitudinal peripheral ridges positioned to thrust potatoes introduced between said pressure roller means therethrough, said ridges including transverse-ridge separations, said cutting means including an elongate knife blade and plural, upstanding blades, said knife means being disposed such that said upstanding blades are aligned with said separations, permitting said pressure roller means to revolve in a manner free of engagement with said knife means.