US1622386A - Grain-sorting device - Google Patents

Description

' l 1 622,386 March 29, 1927. L. AL" LADO l GRAIN SORTING DEVICE Filed Aug. 2. 1925 A4 Sheets-Sheb 41 March 29, 1927.

. L. L. LADD GRAIN SORTING DEVICE umed Aug. 2. 192s 4 Sheets-Shadi. 2

Mah 29 1927 L. L. LADD Gan-N soRTING DEvIcE Filed Aug. 2. 1923l 4 sheets-Sheet s f f5? [esfergl ddd. @f @MW V@ March 29,- 1927.

L. L. LADD GRAIN soRTiNG DEvIcE Filed Aug. 2. 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 LESTER L. LADD, F LOCKORT, ILLINOIS.

GRAIN-SORTING DE'VCE.

`Application filed August 2, 1923.

lighter' grains from eachother.

In connection with milling, it is often desirable to separate lighter grains or particles from heavier grains or particles. rllhis is particularly desirable in connection ,with the milling of grains that are hulled in the process of milling, in order to insure the separation of any grains still having hulls thereon from the hulled grain, as the presence of hulls even in small quantities will interfere seriously with the quality of the produc-t produced. This is particularly true in the making of rolled oats in which the hulls, if any are present, cause unpalatablev particles to be present in the' linished product.

Apparatus hasbeen in use for accomplishing this separation which is very bulky, this apparatus operating on the principle of a shaker having a reciprocating movement which, due to the construction of the passages for the grain on the shaker table, causes the grains with the hulls thereon to travel in one direct-ion and the hulled grains in the opposite direction. This apparatus, while fairly successful, is very bulky and causes a very great amount of vibration in the building in which it is located. rEhe capacity is small and the separation is not absolutely perfect at all times.

It is the purpose of my invention to provide a grain grading apparatus which will separate the grain into agroup of lighter particles and a group of heavier particles which is compact and highly el'licient and which causes a complete separation of the particles or grains into the groups.

lt is the further purpose of the invention to provide a device of the above mentioned character which is of large capacity for the size thereof and which is so constructed that the separating elements can be arranged in stark formation or in tiers. l

lt is still a further purpose of the invention to provide a device of the above mentioned character in which only a small amount of movement ofthe separating elements is necessary to separate the Orain into the groups mentioned above and in which the vibration, caused to the building by the operation of the device, is greatly reduced. The separating elements preferably have a rapid rotary motion of-small radius and Serial No. 655,255.

these are inclined preferably in vtwo diiferi ent directions although it may be only necessary to incline the same in one direction. 'I he grain is preferably fed on the elements at one end thereof and travels, due to the construction of the elements and ldue to the motion thereof, in streams which gradually separate into two well defined streams at the opposite end of said device from which the grain is fed on the same, one of the streams being made up of the heavier particles or grains and the other of the lighter particles or grains.

llt is still a further purpose-of the invention to provide la grain grading apparatus that is made up of separating elements having a; rapid rotary motion of small radius, which elements are provided with zig zag shoulders thereon so arranged as to tend to move the grain engaging said shoulders toward one corner of the device, due to the rotation thereof, said element being inclined so that the particles or grains that do not engage the shoulders will move toward the other corner of said device at the end thereof, opposite the end from which the grain is fed on the separating device.

lt is anothery purpose of the invention to provide means for adjusting the separation on the separating elements and means for receiving the separated particles or grains, which is pro vided with means for adjusting the port-ions of the separating elements from which particles are discharged into said receiving devices. v

Slug-v Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear as the description of the accompanying drawings proceeds. ever, li desire to have it distinctly understood that l do not intend to limit myself to the exact details shown or described, but that l intend to include as part of my invention all such obvious changes and modifications of parts as would occur to a person skilled in this art and as would fall within the scope of the claims.

ln the drawings: y Fig. l is a side elevation of my improved grain sorting machine, a portion thereof be* ing broken away to more clearly show the discharge end of the machine;

How

F ig. 2 is a top plan view thereof, partly i broken away, as viewed from the plane 2 2 of Fig. l, portions thereof being in section;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the machine `ing position by means of the bolts 22.

partly in section, als viewed from the grain receiving end thereof;

Fig. a is a fragmentary end elevation of the opposite end of the machine; p

Fig. is a fragmentary perspective view of one of the separating elements; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary top plan view thereof.

Referring in det-ail to the drawings, the machine comprises a base 10 upon which are mounted the vertically extending members 11 of the machine framework. The members 11 are connected together at the upper ends thereof by means of the longitudinally extending frame members 12 and the transversely extending,` end members 13 of the framework. Extending between the lengt tudinally extending members 12, are the cross members 1a `upon which mounted the 'motor 15 which .is provided with a pulley 16 over which the belt 17 operates. Mounted on said longitudinally extending; members 12, are the castings 18 which are made in the form of brackets,- said brackets 18 being secured in any suitable manner to the member 12 and each having.T an upwardly ertendingflange 19 and a clamping' member 20 which clamps the roc s 21 thereto, saidclamping member 20 being,l held in clamp# The rods 21, as will be seen from Figs. 2, 8 and Ll, are arranged in pairs and depend from the brackets 18, there being four ot' said brackets. Clamped to the lower endsof said rods 21 are the longitudinally extending` members 23 of the framework which will be described in detail below. Said members 23 are provided with wings 2li extendinglaterally therefrom', said wings being; provided with socket portions 25 for receiving thc rods 21. Cofoperating; with said wings 24 are the clamping members 26 which are provided with similar socket portions 27. The clamping members 2G are clamped to the wings 24 by means of Vthe bolts 28. The wings 2-l are reinforced by means of the reinforcing members 29. The framework, of which the members 23 are a part, further comprises a cross member El() which is provided with a pair of vertically extending end `portions 31 that are bolted by means of the bolts 32 to said members 23 substantially midway thereof. It will be noted that the framework, comprising the members 23 and 31, is hung` from the rods 21 which are resilient, thus permitting oit a certain amount of movement of said frailiiework, comprising` members 23 and 31, relative to the main framework of the machine.

The transverse member BO is provided with a reinforcing1 web 33 which is formed into a bracket member 34 having a bearing,-` 35 serving as a bearing for the shafts 36 carrythe ends thereof, providing an upper transverse member 38 and a lower transverse member S9. The member 38 is provided with a bearing' 40 and the member 39 with a bearing 41 througgh which the ends of the shaft 4t2, carrying the flanged pulley 43, eX tend. Operating' over the pulley 16 of the motor 15 and over the pulleys 87 and L13, is the belt 17 which accordingly drives the pulley i3 from said motor 15, and as the motor operates at a very high speed, the

pulley 43 will rotate rapidly. `Mounted on the shaft 42, to rotate therewith, is themember lll which is provided with a counterweight or overbalancing weight 45 madein the form of a segment, `as clearly shown in Fig. 2. lt will be seen that as the pulley 43 rotates the shaft 42 rapidly and the weight 45 revolves with said shaft, the framework suspended from the rods 21 will be given a rotary movement which is substantially that of a circular pendulum motion of very small radius, this being' `due to the action ot the centrifugal force produced by the rotation of the weight Al5 about the airis of the shaft ft2, the rods 21, being resilient, `permit a certain amount of swinging of the framework out of its normal position, due to the action of said rotating weighted member.

Mounted between the side members 23 are the vertically extending,r partitioiisor side walls ili6 and mounted between said side walls 46 are the shelves il?, said shelves a7, as'will be clear from Fig. 3, being` inclined from one of the side walls 4,6 to the `other side wall 4:6. Said shelves l-T may be also inclined somewhat lengthwise thereof, the inclination lengthwise of the machine, if any. thereof being); dependentupon the speed with which the grain should travel toward the discharge ond of the apparatus to ,act the desired results. rl`he shelfslilre n'ieinoers 457 are shown more iii detail in Figi'. 5, said members beine' provided with a surface having nig-Zap; shoulders `thereon coiiiprising` the short wall portions lS-B, exteiulingi` at an oblique anale to the transverse of said meinber 4T, and the long wall portions 49, extending` at` an oblique angrle to the length of the member e7. The all` portions 4.18 and 49 alternate lengthwise of the member 47 to provide a. Zipgezap; shoulder thereon, comprising* short obliqucly extending; porn tions and lone; obliouely extending; portions vliicli alternate with eachother. From the shoulders alli and 4:9, `the surface 50 of the member l? is inclined downwardly to the next Zig-Zag `.shoulder formation which is the same as the one just described. The entire surface of the lplateis made up `of the inclined upper faces 50 and the .obliquely extending' shoulders 4:8 and 4-9, thus forming a plurality of :iig-Zag oblupiely extendme` shoulders arranged in substantially parallel relationship to each other.

Mounted between the longitudinally ex# tending members 12, is a feeding device 5l which is of any well known type and which is driven from the pulley 52 mounted on the shaftA 53 through the gears 54 and Said feeding device 5l feeds grain, upon rotation of the pulley 52, into the tapering spouts 56 which open into the downwardly inclined spouts 57 opening into the feed boxes 58, 59 and 60 respectively, the feed box 58 being provided on the upper shelf 47, the feed box 59 on the intermediate shelf 47 and the feed box 60 on the lower shelf 47. it is understood that any number of feed spouts 57 and shelves 47 that may be desired can be provided by merely duplicating the parts shown. The member 58 is provided with side walls 6l, and rear walls 62 and is open on the other sidethereof and on the top thereof, thus providing an open ended, open topped receptacle opening toward the upper shelf-li te member 47. The box 59 is similarly constructed as will be clearly seeen from Figs. il and 4 and feeds i onto the intermediate shelf 47 from the` open end thereof, whie the boX 60 feeds onto the bottom shelf 47 in a similar manner and is similarly constructed. lt is, of course, understood that the boxes 58, 59 and 60 move with the shelves 47 and the frame mounted on the rods 21, while the feed spouts 57 are stationary. However, the rotary movement of the movable frame and the parts carried thereby is of such small radius that by providing an open top in the receptacle, sutlicient play is allowed for movement of the box-like members relative to the spouts without the spouts interfering in any way with the operation of the device. The direction of rotation and the radius of the path o'f rotation is indicated by the curved arrow 63 in Fig. 6, and the radius of curvature of the arrow 63 is substantially the radius of the rotary pendulum motion of said plates 47. While the plates 47 nave such a pendulum motion, yet this motion is substantialyin a plane, due to the fact that the radius of thel movementfis very small and that the large shelf-like members are mounted on rods of substantially fixed length. It will be noted, upon reference to Figs. 2, and 6. that if a particle of grain 64 moves onto any one of the members 47 and engages with the shoulders 48 and 49` the rotary oscillating movement of the shelf-like member 47 wil` cause the shoulders 48 and 49 to engage with the .Qrain 64 to move the same toward the left in Fig. l and toward the left and top in Fig. 2. toward the right in Fig. 3 and toward the left in Fig. 4. That is. the movement will be toward the higher sides of the plates or Vshelves 47 and toward the discharge end of said plates or shelves 47, the resultant movement being substantially on a diagonal, as

Only three shelves are shown butk indicatedby the arrow 65 in Fig. 5. In other words, the grain 64, engaged bythe shoulders 48 and 49 of the plates, due to the rotative movement of said plates or shelves, will cause a movement of the grains 64 in a general direction toward the corner 66 of the shelves 47, as indicated clearly in Fig. 2. lf the feeding boxesS, 59 and 60 are lilled with a mixture of grain comprising heavier and lighter grains or particles, the heavier grains or particles will settle to the bottom of the mass oni the oscilfating plates or shelves 47 and only the heavier particles will engage with ,-the shoulders 48 and 49 toward the higher side of the shelves, while the lighter particles or grains will float on top of the mixture, and due to the inclination of the shelves or plates47 down, wardly toward the side member 46, shown toward the left in Fig. 3, toward the right in Fig. 4 and toward the bottom in Fig. 2, they will be gradually carried toward the corner at the, discharge end of the shelves 47 opposite the corner 66, the shoulders 4S aiding in the movement of the lighter particles toward the discharge end of the shelf and the inclination of the members 47V also aiding in suchmovement if this is necessary; Said lighter grains or particles are indicated by the numeral 67 in Fig. 2 and it will be seen that the resultant action of the inclination and oscillation of the shelves 47 is that the heavier particles or grains 64 will flow in a stream toward the corner 66 andthe lighter partic`es or grains 67 will iiow in a similar stream toward the opposite corner, at the discharge end of the device, from thev corner G6, thus entirely separating the particles or grains 64 from the grains or particles 67, there being a space 68 devoid of any grains or particles between the streams of particles (34 and 67, the space gradually widening towardthe discharge end of the machine as shown in Fig. 2. It is well known that hul ed grains are heavier than unhulled grains and, accordingly, the ma chine can be used for thoroughly separating` hulled from unhulled oats, for example, the `grains G4 representing the hulled oats and the grains 67 representing the unhu`led or lighter oats. Also, the 'machine can lie used at the same time for separatingl any chalf or other particles that may be present in the grain as these particles will flow along with the particles 67 having the hulls thereon.

' A transverse member G9 is provided between the side walls 23 at the discharge end of the device and on said'member G9 vis mounted a pair of brackets 7() and 7l, The bracket 70 supports the hopper 72 and the bracket 7l supports the hopper 78. Said hoppers 72 and 7 3 are arranged side by side and have inclined side walls, as clearly shown in Fig. 4. Below said hoppers 72 and 7 3 are provided hoppers 74 and 75 which are lill ico

mounted in any suitable manner on thebase ot the machine and which form the receiving end ot ducts or spouts leading to any suitable container orreceptacle for the separated grain or to any suitable machines for operating on the separated grain. 'Ihe member' 69 also has a bracket 7G thereon which is provided with a boss 77 for receiving the shaft 78 upon which is Vmounted the tubular member1 79 having a vane 80 extending outwardly therefrom, the member 79 being tree to rotate on the shatt 78. Mounted on the out-cr end of the shaft 7S and clamped in position thereon, by means of the nut 81, is an arm 82 having a segment 83 on the outer end thereon, said segment 83 being Vprovided with a segmental slot 84 through which the pin 85 on the vane 8O cX- tends, `said pin being threaded and being provided with a wing nut 86 on the end thereof. The vane 80 is located below and extends beyond the ends ol Vthe shelf-like members 47 so that the grain falling off of said shelves at the discharge end thereo't will fall either on one side or the other side of said vane. As the relative proportion of grain of the tivo different characters will vary in accordance with the kind ot grain acted upon, and the adjustment ot the machine, it is necessary to sometimes vary thc angle of the member 80 to vary the proportions of Vthe shelves 47 that lie to the right and left thereon, viewed from Fig. il. Thus, of the hulled grain spreads over a larger area, it is necessary to move the vane 80 further toward the right than the position shown infFig. Il, whereas, it the proportion of hulled grain at the discharge end ofthe device is such that it spreads over a lesser area than that shown, the vane 8O can be raised to a. position such that a small portion ot the width ot the shelves l? will discharge grain to the le'tt of said vane. The vane thus serves to guide the grain into the proper hopper 72 or 73 as the case may be.

The operation of the device, it is believed, will be understood from the description given above. However, the same will be briefly reviewed here. Grain is .ted from the 'feeding device 5l through the spouts 57 into the boxes 58, 59 and 60. It is then shaken with a rotary oscillating motion upon the shelves 4T and, due to the arrangement of the zig-Zag shoulders on the shelflike members 1l?, the heavier grains will travel diagonally toward the corner (3G ol' each of the shelves 4T and the lighter' particles, or those having a lesser density, willl travel diagonally toward the corners opposite the corners 66 at the discharge end of the device, the grains traveling toward the corners 66 emptyingv into the hopper' 73 and` from said hopper 73 into the hopper or spout 75 and those traveling toward the lower corners at the discharge end ot `the device will enter the hopper or spout 'T2 and from said spout or hopperTQ will drop into the hopper or spout 74 thus separating the extending portions 89 being secured at the op osite ends `thereoil to the uprights 11.

T provided for the bearings 42, the lubrication devices 91 shown in Fig. 3 being one form of lubricating means `that may be used:

Havingthus described my invention, what I desire to claim andsecure by U. S. Letters Patent is: i

l. In a device of the character described, a shelf-like member means for feeding par ticles to be sorted thereon at one end thereot`,'means t'or oscillating said member, and formations on said shelf-like member facing only toward one side and the opposite end thereot` for moving the particles engaging said formations toward one sideand the opposite end of said shelf-like member.

9.. In a device of the character described, a shelf-like member adapted to receiveliarticles to be sorted. thereon, means for moving said member with a rotary shaking motion, and projections on said member facing only toward one sideand the opposite end thereof engaged by certain of said particles the particles engaging with any of said projections all moving in substantially the sam direction.

8. In a device of the character described, a shelf-like member adapted to receive particles of dill'erent densities thereon, means for shalrine` said member, and formations on said shelf-like member with which the heavier ot' said particles engage to move said particles in one direction, said sheltlike member being inclined so that the lighter of said particles move over said formations in a direction at an acute angle to that of said heavier particles upon shaking said member.

4. In a device of the character described, a shelf-like member adapted to receive particles of different densities thereon, means for shaking said member with a rotary shaking motion of small radius of rotation, and

nto tivo well may be provided for suitable lubricatinglmeans may be formations on said shelf-like member with which the heavier of said particles engage to move said particles in one direction, said shelf-like member being inclined so that 'the lighter of said particles move in a different direction than said heavier particles npon shaking said member'.

5. In a separating device, an imperforate inclined shelf-like member, zig-zag shoulders on said member facing only toward one side and one end thereof and means for shaking said member with a rotary shaking movement of small radius.

6. In a separating` device, an imperforate inclined shelf-like member, zig-zag shoulders on said member, and means for shaking said member with a rotary shaking` movement of small radius, said shoulders all facing the higher side of said shelf-like member.

7. In a separating device, an inclined shelf-like member having a plurality of inclined faces extending lengthwise thereof, and shoulders separating said faces, said shoulders having` alternating walls extending at oblique angles to the longitudinal axis of said member and all facing the higher side of said shelf-like member, and means for shaking said member with a rotary shaking movement.

8. In a grain separator, a plurality of imperforate superposed shelves, means for feeding grain on said shelves at one end thereof, zig-zag shoulders on said shelves, means for imparting a rotary shaking movement to said shelves and means at-the other end of said shelves for receiving said grain.

9. In a grain separator, a plurality of imperforate superposed shelves, means for feeding grain on said shelves at one end thereof, zig-zag shoulders on said shelves, means for imparting a rotary shaking movement to said shelves and means at the other end of said shelves for receiving` said grain, said means comprising` a pair of grain receiving members arranged side by side transversely of said shelves.

10. In a grain separator, a plurality of imperforate superposed transversely inclined shelves, means for feeding grain on said shelves at one end thereof, zig-zag shoulders on said shelves, means for imparting a rotary shaking movement to said shelves and means at the. otherend of said shelves for receiving said grain.

ll. In a grain separator, a plurality of imperforate superposed shelves, means for feeding grain on said shelves at one end thereof, longitudinally extending, substantially parallel zig-zag shoulders on said shelves, means for imparting a rotary shaking movement to said shelves and means at the other end of said shelves for receiving said grain.

12. In a grain separator, a plurality of shelves at the discharge end thereof andthe heavier grains move toward the other corner of said shelves at said discharge end.

13. In a grain separator, a plurality-of imperforate super-posed transversely and longitudinally inclined shelves, means for feeding grainV on said shelves at one end thereof, zig-zag shoulders on said shelves, means for imparting a rotary shaking movement to said shelves and means at the other end of said shelves for receiving said grain.

141s. In a grain separating device, aframework, a plurality of imperforate substantially parallel inclined superposed shelves, means for suspending said shelves from said framework and means for imparting a rotary shaking motion to said shelves.

l5. In a grain separating device, a framework, a plurality of substantially parallel inclined superposed shelves, means for suspending said shelves from said framework and means for imparting a rotary shaking motion to said shelves, said means comprising amember mounted for rotation on said suspending means, said member being overbalanced always on the same side of its axis the axis of said member being fixed with respect to said shelves.

16. In a grain separating device, a framework, al plurality of substantially parallel inclined superposedy shelves, means for suspending said shelves from said framework and means for imparting a rotaryl shakingv motion to said shelves, said means comprising a member mounted for rotation about a, vertical axis on said suspending means, the center of gravity of said member being always eccentric tosaid axis the axis of said member being fixed withv respect to said shelves.

17. In a grain separator, a plurality of superposed shelves, means for feeding grain on said shelves at one end thereof, zig-zag shoulders on said shelves,` means for imparting a rotary shaking movement to said shelves, means at the other end yof said shelves for receiving said grain, said means comprising a pair of grain receiving members arranged side by side transversely of said shelves, and means for directing the grain discharged from said shelves into said members. l

18. In a grain separator, a plurality 0f superposed shelves, means for feeding grain on said shelves at one end thereof, zig-zag end thereof.

19. In a grain separator, a plurality of superposed shelves, means for feeding grain on said shelves at one end thereof, zig-zag shoulders on said shelves, means for imparting a rotary shaking movement to said Shelves, means at the other -end of said shelves for receiving said grain, said means comprising a pair of grain receiving members arranged side by side transversely of saidshelves, and means for directing the grain discharged from said shelves into said members. comprising an adjustable vane between said grain receiving members.

20. In a grain separating device, a fixed framework, a suspended framework hung from said fixed framework and movable substantially in a horizontal plane, a plurality of super-posed parallel inclined shelves having shoulders thereon on said last mentioned framework and means for imparting a rotary shaking motion to said suspended framework and said shelves, said means comprising a member rotatably mounted on said suspended framework and means on said fixed framework connected to said member for rotating it.

21. In a grain separating device, a fixed framework` a suspended framework hung from said fixed framework and movable substantially in a horizontal. plane. a plurality of superposed shelves on said last men-` tioned framework and means for imparting a rotary shaking motion to said suspended framework and said shelves said shelves being transversely inclined and having formations on the upper faces thereof, wherebv lighter and heavier grain is moved on different diagonale toward opposite corners of said shelves.

Q2. ln a device of the character described, a shelf-like member adapted to receive particles to be sorted thereon near one end thereof, means for moving said member With a rotary shaking motion, and projecneeasse tions on said member facing only toward one side and the opposite end thereof engaged by certain of said particles by the action of gravity, the particles engaging with any of said projections all moving in substantially the same direction.v

23. In a device of the character described, a shelf-like member, means for feeding particles to be sorted on one end thereof, said member being inclined toward the other end and one side thereof, means for shaking said member with a rotary movement and formations on said member engaging the denser of said particles to move the same toward the other side and the last mentioned end of said shelf.

24. In a device of the character di-rscribed, a shelfslike member, means for feeding particles to be sorted on one end thereof, said member being inclined toward the other end and one side thereof, means for shaking said member with a rotary movement and formations on said member engaging the denser of said particles to move the same toward the other side and the lower end of said shelf.

Q15. In a device of the character described, a shelf-like member, means for 'feeding particles to be sorted on one end thereof, said member being inclined toward the other end and one side thereof, means for shaking` said member with a rotary movement and formations on said member' engaging the denser of said particles to move the same toward the other side and lower end of said shelf, the transverse movementof said particles due to said formations being toward the higher side of said shelf-like member.

Q16. In a device of the character' described, a shelf-like member, means for feeding' particles to be sorted on one end thereof, means for` rotatively shaking said member, said rshelf-like member being inclined to direct particles thereon toward one corner at the other end thereof by gravity upon oscillation thereof, and formations on said shelflike member facing only toward one side and the opposite end thereof for directing particles thereon toward the other corner thereof at said last mentioned end upon oscillation thereof.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 5 day of July A. D., 1923.

LESTER L. LADD.

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