US3037668A - Vine feeder - Google Patents

Description

June 5, 1962 3,03 7,668

V. N. JARRELL VINE FEEDER 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 5, 1960 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS June 5, 1962 v. N. JARRELL 3,037,668

VINE FEEDER Filed 0G13. 5, 1960 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 iQ Q //5 //J y j /25 /24 @l KN INVENTOR V. N. JARRELL VINE FEEDER June 5, 1962 U IN VENTR yzl//ffel/ MM ATTORNEYS Filed Oct. 5. 1960 June 5, 1962 v. N. JARRELL 3,037,668

VINE FEEDER Filed Oct. 5, 1960 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 QBI l\ N INVENTOR V. N. JARRELL June 5, 1962 VINE FEEDER 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 5, 1960 l INVENTOR Q /lyz//Q/ff'el/ ATTORNEYS u ga June 5, 1962 Filed Oot. 5, 1960 v. N. JARRx-:LL 3,037,668

VINE FEEDER 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 I N VEN TOR @faire/l BY l 77/ Wdww@ ATTORNEYS V. N. JARRELL June 5, 1962 VINE FEEDER 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed 001i. 5, 1960 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Vigil IIIe/drywall@ June 5, 1962 v. N. .JARRELL 3,037,668

VINE FEEDER Filed oct. 5, 1960 s sheets-sheet a rif-Es FME ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,037,668 VINE FEEDER Virgil N. Jarrell, Viola, Del. Filed Oct. 5, 1960, Ser. No. 60,719 18 Claims. (Cl. 222-56) This invention relates to loading machines, and particularly to machines of the general type disclosed in my prior Patent No. 2,842,255, issued .Iuly 8, 1958, for feeding vines to apparatus for processing where it is desirable to feed the vines at a uniform rate.

The :machine disclosed in Patent No. 2,842,255 includes a delivery, or input, conveyor to bring vines into the feeder, a discharge, or output, conveyor to carry vines to the apparatus to be fed, and a transfer mechanism to receive vines from the delivery conveyor, weigh them and feed them at a uniform rate to the discharge conveyor. The weight of the vines passing over the transfer mechanisrn was utilized to regulate the speed of the input conveyor to obtain a uniform feed rate. Above the transfer means there are distributors which act upon vines on the transfer mechanism to level the vine load and push back surplus quantities onto the delivery conveyor.

The general object of the present invention is to provide an improved machine of this general character.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide such a feeder wherein the transfer means will be responsive to both the weight and pressure of the vines being fed to it, to be more readily affected by fluctuations in the rate of feed of the vines being carried to the transfer means and a more uniform feed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a feeder wherein the input rate will be controlled both by pressure and weight upon the transfer means and `by the height of the vine pile being fed to the transfer means so that a more even distribution of vines is possible.

A further object is to provide a machine of this type Where material being advanced over a relatively wide area is concentrated into a predetermined area just prior to discharge from the feeder so that the material in the control area will be spread over a greater area for more effective control.

Yet another object is the provision of a feeder of this general type wherein the material being fed is delivered to a transfer means of considerable width and the output from the transfer means may be divided for feeding two processing machines simultaneously, or directed to one or the other of the processing machines at the will of the operator.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description of practical embodiments thereof, when taken in conjunction with the drawings which accompany, and form part of, this specification.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of a feeding machine embodying the principles of the present invention:

FIGURE 2 is a top plan View of the feeder;

FIGURE 3 is a rear elevation of the machine;

FIGURE 4 is a front elevation of the apparatus;

FIGURE 5 is a vertical, partial longitudinal section on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 5-5 of FIG- URE 2;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary perspective View of a portion of the conveyor chain and one of the vine-engaging members of the transfer means;

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of the mechanism at the `discharge end of the machine for concentrating the vines being fed into a central area and for discharging them from that area;

FIGURE 8 is a side elevation of the drive means for the input conveyor, parts being broken away to more clearly show the operating parts;

3,@3763 Fatcnted June 5, 1962 FIGURE 9 is a perspective View of a portion of the input conveyor and its drive means;

FIGURE "10 is a side elevation of a somewhat modified version of the feeder;

FIGURE 11 is a top plan view of the feeder shown in FIGURE 10;

FIGURE 12 is a section taken on the line 12-12 of FIGURE 10 illustrating the drive for the discharge conveyors;

FIGURE 13 is a horizontal section through the discharge conveyor drive, taken on the line 13---13y of FIG- URE 10, and showing the drive set to discharge vines to opposite sides of the feeder; and,

FIGURE 14 is a view similar to FIGURE 13 but illustrating the drive set to discharge the vines to one side only of the feeder.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and first turning to that form of the invention shown in FIGURES 1 through 9, it will be seen that the entire feeder is mounted upon a frame 1` which includes sills 2, vertical posts 3, intermediate horizontal members 4 and top rails 5. These elements form side frames which are joined and held in spaced relation by transverse members 6.

Mounted upon the frame at the forward end is a bin 7 into which vines to be fed are dumped, and which serves as `a hopper, or storage chamber, for the feeder. The bin has suitable ysides 8, a front Wall 9, and a floor 10. The back of the bin is open to allow free exit of vines. The upper portions of the side walls flare outwardly for ease of loading, andthe front Wall is relatively low for the same purpose. The front wall consists of a plurality of vertically extending, transversely spaced slats 1.1, fastened to stringers 12 secured to the side walls. The slats are yare made of angle irons which are mounted so as to provide Walls sloping toward the spaces between the slats to allow trash to fall out freely when vines are dumped into the bin.

A conveyor 13 is mounted adjacent lthe bin bottom to move vines from the bin. The conveyor consists of a pair of chains 14, each mounted on sprockets 15 and 16 carried by shafts 17 and 18 journalled on the sills 2. Shaft 18 is a driven shaft, and carries a drive mechanism 19 which will be described later in detail, The upper flights of the chains ride over the floor 10, and the chains are connected by cross-members 20. The cross-members between the upper flights of the chains will slide over the floor carrying vines out of the open end of the bin.

A transfer mechanism 21 is mounted in the frame adjacent the delivery end of the input conveyor 13. This consists of a pair of longitudinally extending, transversely spaced feed chains 22 passing around a drum 23 and a pair of sprockets 2,4. Drum 23 is mounted on a shaft 25, and sprockets 24 are carried by shaft 26. These shafts are supported upon the feeder frame in any suitable manner, with appropriate means for maintaining the chains in -tight condition. The support may include -a pair of struts 27, mounted between end posts 3 and the horizontal frame member 4, and the chain tightener may be a conventional screw type tightener 2S. A plurality of tooth bars 29 are carried by the chains 22 at equally spaced points along the chains. The bars each carry -a number of gently curving, pointed pickup teeth 30. The teeth are spaced equi-distant along the bars and transversely of the transfer means, Each bar has a socket 31 at its leading edge adjacent each end to t over pivot pins 32 carried by the chains 22. Thus, unls the tooth bars are supported, they will fall backwardly, swinging about their pivots 32.

The tooth bars are brought to operative position, wherein the teeth are rigidly held projecting outwardly from the path of movement of the chains, by contact with the underside of the drum 23. As the chains begin their upward travel around the drum, the weight of the tooth bars will cause them to fall back tiat against the drum surface. As the teeth begin to pick up vines from the input conveyor at this point, the weight of the vines will tend to hold the bars even more tightly pressed against the drum. There is a plate 33 extending the length of the upper flight `of chains 22 from the drum to the sprockets 24 which is tangent to the surface of the drum and forms a continuation of that surface to provide a support for the tooth bars to hold the teeth in operative position while traveling from the drum to the sprockets. The end of plate 33 at the sprockets 24 is curved about shaft 26 with a curvature of gradually diminishing radius, as at 34. This permits the tooth bars to gradually fall back as they move about the sprockets, so that `the teeth will move inwardly from the chain path and recede from the vines being carried by the teeth in a direction which is generally lengthwise of the teeth to permit the teeth to slip out of the vines being moved along the chain path without disturbing the vine.

The vine feeding means of the transfer mechanism is partially enclosed by a cover- 35, which extends over the top flight of the chains 22, overlies guide plate 33 and curves about the front part of the drum 23; This cover serves a two-fold purpose, and acts'as a' floor over which the vines will be moved through the feeder and as a control mechanism to determine the rate of feed of the input conveyor 13.

The cover consists of a plurality of stripsv36 which extend longitudinally of the feeder and lie in parallel spaced relation transversely of the feeder. The spaced strips define a plurality of parallel slots 37 through which the vine feeding fingers 30 travel as they move around the forward arc of drum 23 and along the top flight of the feed chain. The strips are joined at their rearward, or upper, ends to the front edge of a rearwardly declining shelf 38. Each strip has a depending pedestal 39 at its forward, or lower, end, with all of the pedestals being joined to a transverse support bar 40. Bar 40 is pivoted at its ends to the lower ends of hanger straps 41, which straps are pivotally connected at their upper ends, as at 42 to the intermediate horizontal frame members 4. Due to the connection of the cover to the pivoted hanger straps, the entire cover is free to move in a fore and aft direction relative to the feeder. Shelf 38 lies upon `a transversely extending angle member 43 so that it may slide freely relative to its support as the cover moves longitudinally of the frame.

It will be obvious, that as the teeth 30 move across the bottom arc of the drum and swing into operative position, -they will enter slots 37 with their major portions projecting beyond the cover to engage vines being fed by the input conveyor and lift them to the -top of the drum and along the upper surface of the cover strips. The forward edge of the inclined shelf 38 is so positioned relative to the curving portion 34 of the plate 33 that it will act in conjunction with the curving portion of the plate to hold the teeth against further advancing movement, so that they will slip freely and quickly out of the mass of vines being moved along the cover strips. The vine mass will slide, or be pushed by following vines, down shelf 38 into a trough 44.

It will be understood that the entire surface of the transfer mechanism cover will be utilized -as a floor for the advancing vine mass and, therefore, the vines will fall into trough 44 along the full width of the machine and at a uniform rate. In order to increase the feeding capacity of the machine and yet maintain the vine blanket moving over the transfer mechanism cover at a relatively low depth, the machine is made considerably wider than the input end of the apparatus to be fed, and means are provided for condensing vines entering the trough 44 to a mass which will not exceed in width the entrance end of the apparatus being fed. The condensed mass of vines is moved from the trough by means of an ejector mechanism 45 out through an exit duct 46.

The duct is formed by a pair of spaced side plates 47, and a bottom which is composed of hinged plates 48 and 49. Plate 48 is hinged to the angle iron support 43, as at 50, and plate 48 is hingedly connected, as at 51, to the side plates 47. Referring to FIGURE 5 particularly, it will be seen that the two plates overlap, and that the rear end of plate 49 lies upon the forward end of plate 48. In view of the fact that the ltwo plates are mounted at their opposed ends, downward swinging movement of the plates will result in separation of the two to provide an emergency outlet for -vines in the event of jamming in the exit passageway. The two plates are held in their normal, generally horizontal positions with plate 49 overlapping and resting upon plate 48, by means of a pair of coiled springs 52 connected to the outer downturned ends 53 of plate 48 and to brackets 54 mounted on the outside of the side plates 47. An adjusting means 55 is provided, so that the tensions of the springs can be varied to change the pressure necessary to force the plates to open position.

In order to concentrate the vines within the trough 44 and bring them to the exit, a pair of screw type conveyors 56 are provided mounted upon a shaft 57, and extending transversely of the machine within the trough on opposite sides of the center line of the machine. Each of the conveyors is composed of a cylindrical center portion 58 which carries a vane 59 arranged about it in a spiral path. The vanes of the two conveyors will be oppositely positioned so that rotation of the shaft 57 will cause the two conveyors to feed vines toward the center of the machine.

Shaft 57 is discontinuous intermediate the conveyor elements to provide space for a two-throw crank 60. The crank is formed by means of a disk 61, concentric to the axes of the cylindrical portions of the conveyors and spaced centrally between them, and a pair of stub shafts 62 having their ends connected to the cylinders and disk 61 and offset from the common axis of the cylinders and disk at diametrically opposed locations to position the throws of the crank spaced from one another.

The crank is used to impart a tramping action to a 'pair of vine ejectors 63. The ejectors consist of horizontally positioned shoes 64, which are channel shaped in transverse cross section and have a plurality of downwardly extending fingers 65, and forwardly inclined mounting arms 66. Arms 66 are connected by bearings 67 to the throws of cranks 60. This provides a pivotal mount on the crank for the ejectors. The forward ends of the mounting arms are connected by means of bearings 68 to the throws 69 of a crank 70. Crank 70 is journalled at 71 on the top rail 5 of the feeder frame. The throws of the crankshafts 70l and 60 have identical movement, and are identically oriented. Due to this arrangement the shoes of the two ejectors will move in vertically circular paths of identical radius and in the same direction but their cycles of operation ,will be 180 out of phase. In order to provide for identical rotation of the two cranks, shaft 57 is provided with a crank arm 72 and crankshaft 70 `is provided with an identical crank arm 73. The two crank arms are joined by a connecting rod 74. Thus, the two shafts will be compelled to operate in unison.

It is necessary that some means be provided for removing any excess in the vine mass which is picked up by the teeth 30 and carried up to the top of drum 23 to ensure the feeding of a blanket of uniform depth. In order to accomplish this, a distributor mechanism 75 is mounted upon the frame over the transfer mechanism, having movable distributor arms 76 located above the drum 23. There are a plurality of distributor arms occupying, and movable in, parallel vertical planes, and connected in pairs to a plurality of distributor bars 77 which are pivotally connected at their rearmost ends to a pivot shaft 78. The shaft is suitably mounted in supports 79 on top of the feeder frame. The distributor arms are pivotally connected to the forward ends of the distributor bars by means of pivots 80 which pass through the forward ends of the bars and the upper portions of the distributor arms. At points intermediate their lengths, Ithe distributor arms are connected to cranks 81 of a crankshaft 82. The crankshaft is journalled in bearings 83 supported upon the top of the frame. Crankshaft 82 may take any appropriate form, but it has been found convenient to fabricate it from a plurality of triangular plates 84 interconnected by pins which form the crank elements 81 of the shaft. The distributor arms are connected to the crank elements by means of bearing blocks 85.

By referring to FIGURE 5 of the drawing, it will be seen that when crankshaft 82 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction the crank pins are rotated in circular paths causing the distributor arms to rise, to move rearwardly, to lower, and to move forwardly in amore or less circular orbital path. In view of the fact that 'the crank pins are uniformly spaced around the axis of the crankshaft, the several distributor arms will be out of phase with one another, so that there will be a more or less continuous movement of the distributor arms in moving into excess material on the blanket on the transfer mechanism cover and pushing the excess back toward the bin. This action will not only remove excess material, but will distribute the vines so that an even blanket is obtained for movement along the path overlying the transfer mechanism.

It was mentioned above that the input conveyor is caused to operate by means of a drive unit 19. This unit consists of a ratchet 86 mounted on the end of shaft 18, and a pawl `S17 mounted on a pivot shaft 38 fixed to a lever arm 39 pivotally mounted on shaft 18. The upper end of lever arm 89 is connected by means of a link 9i) to a crank arm 91 carried on the end of shaft 26. Thus, when shaft 26 is rotated the pawl will be caused to oscillate over the periphery of the ratchet to rotate the ratchet intermittently during one phase of its oscillatory movements. As long as the pawl is free to engage the ratchet teeth, the advance of the input conveyor will be in uniform increments. ln order to vary the rate of input conveyor feed, an arcuate shroud 92 is mounted so as Ito overlie a portion of the ratchet. The shroud is mounted between a disk 93 and a lever 9d which are positioned on opposite sides of the ratchet and pinned together by pins 95. The disk and lever are mounted for rotation about shaft 18. This will permit movement of the shroud circumferentially of the ratchet to occlude selected arcuate sections of ratchet teeth. Thus, by movement of the shroud in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIGURE 9, the leading end of the shroud can be brought into the oscillatory path of the pawl so that the pawl will be lifted from the ratchet teeth and moved over the shroud for a predetermined portion of its oscillatory movement. By reason of this arrangement, the engagement of the pawl with the ratchet can be varied so as to change the arcuate movement of shaft 18 each oscillation of the pawl. In fact, the shroud can be moved far enough so that the pawl will be held out of engagement with the ratchet over its full arcuate movement, and there will be no advance of shaft 1S, and consequently no movement of the input conveyor.

ln order to control the rate of input conveyor feed in accordance with requirements to maintain a uniform output from the machine, the position of the shroud 92 is controlled -by movement of the cover 35 of the transfer mechansirn. This is accomplished by -means of a link 96 connected between disk 93 and one arm of a bell crank lever 97. The bell crank is pivotally attached, as at 98, to the machine frame, and its other arm is coupled by a link 99 to one of the suspension str-aps 41 which support the lower end of the cover 35. It will be clear, that.

if an excess of vines is fed by the rinput conveyor against the down-curving end of the cover 35, the pressure against the cover will be increased and the cover will move rearwardly swinging upon its suspension straps 4l. The apron 38 will slide over the support 43 as the cover moves rearwardly. This motion will cause the bell crank 97 to rock and the shroud to be moved toward the pawl, so that a portion of the ratchet surface normally traversed by .the pawl will be covered by the shroud and the active par-t of the pawl oscillation will be reduced and the conveyor feed will be slowed down. The degree of conveyor deceleration fwill depend upon the pressure against the transfer mechanism cover. It will be obvious that the weight of accumulated vines acting upon the upper quadrant of the arcuate portion of the cover will also tend to move the cover rearwardly and slow down the input Ifeed.

During the period of reduced feed the distributor arms will be active in moving excess quantities of vines forwardly into the bin to hold the quantity moving along the upper surface of the transfer mechanism to a prede- Iterrnined amount. As soon as the excess quantities have `been used up by the continued uniform movement of the .transfer teeth, the pressure against the cover will be released and the cover will drop back to its nor-mal position which will retract the shroud and per-mit the input conveyor to resume its normal feed.

There are times when vanes in the bin may be piled to an undesirable height and therefore unwanted quantities of vines would move toward the distributor if some means were not employed to prevent it. Undue height of vines in the -bin adjacent the transfer mechanism will cause excess feeding if some means is not used to stop the forward movement of the vines until the height can be reduced. To this end, a floating apron 160 is provided.

Apron 10d is pivoted at its rear end to the frame by means of a pivot shaft i161, land is hung adjacent its forward end from counterbalance lbeams 102 which are pivoted intermediate their lengths at #103 to standards 104, fixed to the frame. Pins lttS are mounted at the rear `of beams 102 to receive lweights 106 in desired number to supply the necessary counterbalance force to hold the apron in inoperative position. The apron may take `any desired form, but is shown las constructed from a plate vl107 which curves upwardly and forwardly from the pivot shaft 101 and has a plurality of longitudinally extending slots 108 through which the lower ends of the distributor arms 76 pass and along which they move. A plurality of parallel, transversely spaced curved buffer strips 109 are connected to the underside of the plate and project forwardly to provide a cam surface against, and under, which the vine pile may move. The apron is connected by means of a link 1:16 to lever 94 of the input conveyor drive control, so that whenever the vine pile is of sufficient height to lift the `apron the shroud 92 will be moved toward the pawl path to slow down the input conveyor feed.

It will be seen from the above that control of the input conveyor will be governed by the pressure and weight of vines against the transfer mechanism cover 35 and the height of the vine pile moving toward the transfer mechanism, or either of these factors singly. Link `96 has a slot 1.11 in which its connection `112 with the disk 93y may ride, and link has a similar slot 113 for its connecting pin 114 to provide the necessary lost motion to permit either link to exercise its control movement without affecting the other.

It is contemplated that the feeding machine will be powered from the vine processing machine with which it is associated. To this end, a chain 115 is provided to extend from a suitable power source on the processing machine over a sprocket 116 on a drive shaft 117 mounted at thetop of the frame and extending completely across the frame. At the far side of the machine from sprocket 116, shaft 117 carries another sprocket 113 over which a chain 119 passes to drive crankshaft 57 by means of a sprocket 120 on the crankshaft. Shaft 117 also carries a gear 121 which meshes with a gear 122 on a second driveshaft 123 also mounted on top of the frame and extending completely across the machine. Shaft 123 carries a sprocket 124 for chain 125 which drives sprocket 126 on the transfer mechanism shaft 26. This furnishes power to lboth the transfer mechanism, and to the input conveyor through the drive mechanism 19. Driveshaft 123 also has a sprocket 127 for chain 128 which passes over sprocket 129 on crankshaft 82. This drives the distributor.

In operating the lfeeder, it is put into position adjacent the machine it is to feed with the outlet chute 46 in position to supply vines to the processing machine. Chain 115 is trained over the proper sprocket on the processing machine (not shown) and around sprocket 116 on shaft 117 and the feeder is ready for use. Vines will be dumped into bin 7 and, of course, a supply of vines must be maintained in the bin. The vines will be fed through the bin lto the transfer mechanism where they will be picked up by the fingers 30, carried over the drum 23, along cover 35 and dumped into trough 44. As the vines pass over the drum and begin their passage along the cover, the distributor arms 76 will function to level off the mass and return any excess to the bin. When the vines fall into trough 44, the screw conveyors 56 will move them toward the center of the machine into the path of the moving ejectors 63. The ejectors will move in alternation to push the vines out of the feeder through the chute 46. In the event vines accumulate in the chute, or become jammed therein, the pressure created by movement of the ejectors will cause the vines to press downwardly upon plates 48 and 49, which form the chute floor, forcing them to swing about their pivots against the bias of springs 52 to open the chute bottom and allow the vines to drop out. When the condition is relieved, it is necessary to restore the floor sections manually to their overlapping position before normal operation can continue.

The above operation will continue as long as the vines are fed normally from the bin to the transfer mechanism, but if the feed Ibecomes too rapid, or too great a quantity of vines are put into the bin, or the distributors in pushing back the excess build up a pile which tends to work under the apron and would interfere with proper feeding, the input conveyor will be slowed down, or stopped, as required to correct the situation, by allowing the transfer means to continue to pick up vines from the excess and feed them at a uniform rate until the excess is gone. Then the control will move back, to return the input conveyor to its normal speed.

FIGURES 10 through 14 illustrate a feeder which is somewhat modified `from the one described, and is dei signed to handle vines in larger quantities and to feed more than one processing machine if desired. The machine is essentially the same as the one described insofar as the bin, input conveyor, transfer mechanism, distributors, and input conveyor control are concerned and differs from these basic units as previously described in only four respects: First, the machine is much wider requiring several input conveyors operating as a unit; second, the crank for operating the input conveyor drive pawl is no longer on the same shaft as the transfer mechanism sprockets but a separate one; third, the chain drive arrangement for the several mechanisms is altered; and, fourth, the base `frame of the feeder inclines rearwardly so that the sills are at an angle. As these differences in no way affect the basic construction and operation of the respective units, the units will not be redescribed, but the same parts will be given the same reference numeral as before, but distinguished by being primed.

In the modified feeder, the vines are handled differently after they leave the transfer mechanism. In this form, the vines fall from the transfer mechanism into a trough 130, which lies transversely of the machine beneath the end of the transfer mechanism and projects beyond each side of the machine. In the bottom of the trough there is a plurality of conveyor chains which are divided into two groups 131 and 132. The chains 133 of group 131 pass over sprockets 134 on a shaft 135, near the center of the machine, and sprockets 136 on shaft 137 at one side of the machine. Chains 138 of group 132 pass over similar sprockets 139 on shaft 140 at the machine midsection, and sprockets 141 on shaft 142 at the opposite side of the machine. Shafts and 140 are located sufficiently close together and the chains of the respective groups are staggered so that the chains lie in overlapping relation at the center of the machine. The chains of group 131 carry vine-engaging fingers 143 and chains 138 carry similar fingers 144.

If the chain groups, as above described, are driven so that their top ights move in opposite directions to feed vines from `the center of the machine to the sides, two processing machines can be fed by having their delivery conveyors, indicated in dotted lines at 145 and 146, located beneath the outer ends of the respective chain groups. If both chain groups are driven in the same direction, all vines in the trough will be moved to one side of the machine to feed one processing machine.

In order to drive the chains of the two groups to achieve the above results, shafts 135 and 140 carry, respectively, sprockets 147 and 14S for chains 149 and 150 which are on sprockets 151 and 152 on shafts 153 and 154. Shafts 153 and 154 are stub shafts journalled in a transmission casing 155 mounted on the frame beneath the sills 2. These shafts carry bevel gears 156 and 157. A countershaft 158 is journalled in the casing at right angles to shafts 153 and 154 and has a keyway 159 extending substantially its full length. Three bevel gears 160, 161 and 162 are slidably mounted on shaft 158 and keyed to it for rotation with the shaft. Gear 162 is a double gear, and is mounted intermediate gears 156 and 157 so that it may be moved into mesh with either of them. Gear 162 will drive shafts 153 and 154 in opposite directions due to the fact that it engages gears 156 and 157 on opposite sides. Gears and 161 can be moved into and out of mesh, respectively, with gears 156 and 157 and, as the engagement is on opposite sides of gears 156 and 157, shafts 153 and 154 will be driven in opposite directions when gears 156 and 157 are moved to meshing positions. Gears 160, 161 and 162 carry annularly groovcd hubs 163, 164 and 165 to which control handles 166, 167 and 16S are connected. These handles pass through slots 169, and 171 in the casing, the slots being elongated in the direction of the shaft 158 so that when the handles are moved longitudinally of the slots the gears on shaft 158 will be moved along the shaft.

From a study of FIGURES 13 and 14 of the drawings it will be clear that when gears 160 and 161 are in mesh with gears 156 and 157 the chains of groups 131 and 132 will be moved in opposite directions to carry vines to the two sides of the machine. When either gear 160 or 161 is moved out of engagement with its companion gear 156 or 157 and gear 162 moved into engagement with that gear, vboth sets of chains will move in the same direction to move vines to one side only of the feeder. The vines can be moved to either side by proper meshing of the gears.

Shaft 158 carries a sprocket 172 on one end which is driven by chain 173 from a sprocket on shaft 175 which carries the pawl actuating crank 91' in this form of the invention. Shaft 175 is driven by chain 176 from the distributor crankshaft 82. Crankshaft 82 in turn is driven from the transfer mechanism sprocket shaft 26', which in this construction is the drive shaft, and is driven by chain 115.

It is believed that the operation of the modified form of the invention will be clear from the foregoing description, and no further review will be necessary.

While in the above practical embodiments of the invention have been disclosed, it will be understood that the details of construction shown and described are merely by way of illustration, and the invention may take other forms within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A vine feeding machine comprising, a frame, an input conveyor mounted on the frame, conveyor means to discharge vines from the machine, a transfer mechanism including laterally spaced feed chains having operative ights extending from the input conveyor to the discharge conveyor means, the chains being interconnected by tooth bars each carrying a plurality of vine-engaging teeth spaced transversely of the machine, a cover overlying the operative flight of the transfer chains and having slots through which the vine-engaging teeth project and move along the operative flight of the chains and forming a platform along which vines may be drawn by movement of the chains, the co-ver being mounted on the frame for limited movement longitudinally of the frame, means to drive the input conveyor, and means interconnecting the cover and input conveyor means so that movement of the cover affects the speed of operation of the input conveyor, whereby pressure against the cover of excess vine quantity fed by the input conveyor may be utilized to slow the input conveyor speed until the excess is fed 2. A vine feeder as claimed in claim 1 wherein the cover mounting on the frame includes pivotal connection of the cover at the end adjacent the input conveyor to the lower ends of hanger straps pivotally connected to the frame and sliding support of the end of the cover :adjacent the discharge conveyor means upon a support member carried .by the frame.

3. A vine feeder as claimed in claim 1 wherein the tooth bars are pivotally connected to the chains, and a cam plate underlies the chains throughout the operative Hight for contact with the tooth bars to hold the vineengaging teeth in erected positions projecting through the slots in the cover.

4. A vine feeder as claimed in claim 1 wherein there is a floating apron overlying the adjacent ends of the input conveyor and transfer mechanism and mounted on the frame for vertical floating movement, and means interconnecting the apron and the drive means for the input conveyor so that lifting of the apron by an excess quantity of vines moving toward the transfer mechanism will reduce the speed of operation of the input conveyor.

5. A vine feeder as claimed in claim 4 wherein the apron is pivotally connected at one end to the frame and has its other end projecting toward the input conveyor, :and means to counterbalance the apron to cause it to rest in a predetermined position.

6. A vine feeder as claimed in claim 5 wherein there is `a plurality of distributor units above the end of the transfer mechanism adjacent the input conveyor, each unit comprising a distributor bar mounted on the frame for vertical swinging movement longitudinally of the machine and a plurality of distributor arms connected to the `distributor bar for swinging in a vertical plane, and

a crankshaft mounted on the frame and having a plurality of throws, one pivotally connected to each of the respective `distributor arms whereby upon rotation of the crankshaft the distributor arms will be caused to move in a circular orbital path.

7. A vine feeder as claimed in claim 1 wherein there is a distributor overlying the end of the transfer mechanism adjacent the input conveyor operable to push excess vines from the transfer mechanism back to the input conveyor.

8. A vine lfeeder as claimed in claim 1 wherein there is a plurality of distributor units above the end of the transfer mechanism adjacent the input conveyor, each unit comprising a distributor bar mounted on the frame for vertical swinging movement longitudinally of the frame and a plurality of distributor arms connected to the distributor bar for swinging in a vertical plane, and a crankshaft mounted on the frame and having a plurality of throws, one pivotally connected to each of the respective distributor arms whereby upon rotation of the crankshaft the distributor arms will be caused to move in a circular orbital path.

9. A vine feeder as claimed in claim 1 wherein thc means to move the vines for discharge includes a pair of conveyors arranged transversely of the machine.

10. A vine feeding machine comprising, a frame, an input conveyor mounted on the frame, transfer mechanism to receive vines from the input conveyor and carry them through the machine, the transfer means having at least `a member mounted for floating movement, means to drive the input conveyor, means interconnecting the floating member of the transfer mechanism and the drive means for the input conveyor so that pressure of vines against the floating member will control the speed of the input conveyor, a `discharge outlet intermediate the sides of the machine adjacent the transfer mechanism, a pair of vine-condensing conveyors to receive vines from the transfer mechanism, the conveyors being located transversely of the machine on opposite sides of the discharge outlet and movable to transport vines to the outlet, and means at the outlet -to eject vines from the machine.

11. A vine feeder as claimed in claim 10 wherein the pair of vine-condensing conveyors include troughs to receive vines `and screw conveyors in the troughs.

12. A vine feeder as claimed in claim 10 wherein there is an emergency door adjacent the outlet operable upon excess pressure to permit accumulated vines to fall from the machine.

13. A vine feeder as claimed in claim 10 wherein the means to eject vines from the machine comprises an ejector shoe operable in vertical circular orbit to press down upon vines and push them through the discharge outlet.

14. A vine feeder as claimed in claim 13 wherein there is a second ejector shoe beside the first and operable in a similar orbit out of phase with the first.

15. A vine feeder as claimed in claim 14 wherein the pair of vine-condensing conveyors includes troughs to receive vines and screw conveyors in the trou'ghs.

16. A vine feeding machine comprising, a frame, an input conveyor mountedA on the frame, transfer mechanism to receive vines from the input conveyor and carry them through the machine, the transfer means having at least a member mounted for floating movement, means to drive the input conveyor, means interconnecting the floating member of the transfer mechanism and the drive means for the input conveyor so that pressure of vines against the iloating -member will control the speed of the input conveyor, and a pair of conveyors extending transversely of the machine to receive vines from the transfer mechanism, the pair of conveyors having their ends in close adjacency to provide an uninterrupted conveying system and their opposite ends projecting beyond the sides of the machine for feeding separate machines.

17. A vine feeder as claimed in claim 16 wherein there is means to drive the said pair of conveyors and to change the direction of operative movement of the said pair of conveyors.

18. A vine feeder as claimed in claim 16 wherein there is means to drive the said pair of conveyors, and means manually operable to cause the pair of conveyor drive means to move the said pair of conveyors to carry vines to both sides of the machine and to one selected side of the machine.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 952,520 Hamachek Mar. 22, 1910 2,606,559 Maus Aug. 12, 1952 2,797,795 West c- July 2, 1957 2,842,255 Jarrell July 8, 1958

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