US2596768A - Automatic measuring and bagging machine for produce - Google Patents

Description

May 13, 1952 E. A. ERNST 2,596,768

AUTOMATIC MEASURING AND BAGGING MACHINE FOR PRODUCE Filed Oct. 20, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 II IIH MN MW 3nnentor EARL A. ERNST attorney y 1952 E. A.,ERNST 2,596,768

AUTOMATIC MEASURING AND BAGGING MACHINE FOR PRODUCE Filed Oct. 20, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG 2.

Jnvento: EARL A. ERNST (lttorneg y 1952 E. A. ERNST 2,596,768

AUTOMATIC MEASURING AND BAGGING MACHINE FOR PRODUCE Filed Oct. 20, 1947 4 SheetsSheet 5 FIG. 3. 4

May 13, 1952 E. A. ERNST AUTOMATIC MEASURING AND BAGGING MACHINE FOR PRODUCE Filed Oct. 20, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 3nnento1: EARL A. ERNST Gttomeg Patented May 13, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AUTOMATIC MEASURING AND BAGGING MACHINE FOR PRODUCE Earl A. Ernst, Bakersfield, Calif.

Application October 20, 1947, Serial No. 780,792

Claims.

This invention relates to means and ways for loading articles, particularly fruits and vegeta bles, into bags from a source of supply which normally would be a large vat, bin, or hopper and the like. Such a device has long been in demand in the potato districts, as well as, in the orange and lemon districts of California. The device is so designed and arranged that the articles to be bagged are first discharged from a large bin onto a running endless conveyor means or directly discharged into spaced apart measuring chambers or buckets with no bottom, but wherein the bottoms of the sides thereof ride over a smooth floor to an open space therein where the articles are dumped onto a cross running endless belt. This structure provides the cross running belt with a plurality of spaced apart groups or piles of the articles ready to be shifted from the belt and into bag holding means where the articles are suitably bagged. A few seconds later, the bagged articles are shifted to an endless belt type of conveyor in trough-like form where the tops of the bags are sewed as they are run toward their final place of discharge which may be a railroad car, truck, or other means of transport bound for thevarious markets.

One of the principal objects of this invention is to present a new and novel means for gathering and bagging articles in accordance to measured charges, then sealing the bags and finally delivering them to means for transport to market.

Another object is to provide a pair of cooperating machines for grouping and bagging fruits and vegetables which is automatic in operation, constructed to give long and lasting service, and so designed that it is economical to make and manufacture.

Other objects, advantages and features of this invention will appear from the accompanying drawings, the subjoined detailed description, the preamble to these specifications and the appended claims.

Applicant is now about to describe one form of his invention in order to teach one how to make and use the same, but it is to be understood that the drawings and description thereof are not to limit the invention in any sense whatsoever except as specifically limited by the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the entire device of this invention, the principal sides or views thereof being .legended A to D,

Figure 2 is an elevational view of side C of the device as shownin Fig. 1,

Figure 3 is an elevational view of side A, but omitting the unit in the back ground,

Figure 4 is an elevational view of side D,

Figure 5 is an elevational view of side B, only one of the units being shown however,

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 6-6 of Fig. 1,

Figure 7 is an enlarged elevational view of one of the pairs of the bag holders,

Figure 8 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of an important part of the invention.

The entire device is composed of two principal units which have been designated l and 2 in the drawings, note Figure 1. The united two units are joined together to operate as a single device under a common source of power and control.

The unit I includes the plurality of bag holding element 3 and its working mechanism, the bag supporting platform 4, the under feeding belt means 5, and the bag carrier trough 6 that carries the loaded bags from the bag loading unit I to a place of final disposition.

The unit 2 includes the hopper I, the load proportional chamber means 8, and the variously arranged mechanism for its complete operation.

The bagging unit I has the rectangular structural frame members 9 and II] which may be combined with any other suitable structural means to provide a protective channel H (see Fig. '7) for their respective chains l2, as shown in Fig. 1. Each bag holding element 3, as shown in Fig. 7, comprises a square bar I3 having at its ends the offset knuckles M which are secured to the chain links on its particular side of the unit. Near each outer end of the bar is fixed a curved short plate l5, each of which is provided with a bag gripping bead l6 and the embossed portions I! which aid in holding bags thereto. The means for holding the plates may be just a sleeve IS with a square bore therein, the plate being welded or otherwise fixed to the sleeve and. positioned as shown. A set screw I9 is employed in each sleeve so that it can be anchored wher desired along the bar 13'. This adjustable feature of the plate l5 makes it possible to accommodate different sized bags. The complementary curved long plate for each short plate is indicated at 20. Each one of these long plates are also embossed, but the outer ends thereof are curved, as shown at 2|, to provide a reduced end which reaches far into the bag and which makes it easier to place the bag onto the pair of plates when they are pressed together by mechanism to be explained later.

Each long plate has an elongated sleeve "22.

with a squared bore that is shiftable along the bar I3, the sleeve and plate being welded or otherwise secured together. A coiled tension spring 23 (see Fig. has its ends secured to the two adjacent long plates so as to constantly urge them together and thus cause each short and long pair of plates to take an expanded position when released. Jo-urnalled beneath each long plate there is a roller 24 and between these rollers is shown the abutting upstanding flanges of the angle irons 25 and 26, these angle irons forming a track 2'! which is supported by the cross angle iron members 28 and which have their ends supported by the frame members 9 and It, as shown. The track 2! may beaclosed loop and be substantially in alinement between the two side frames 9 and III except for. the bends which are rounded, but it is preferred to provide the track only where needed, that is, where the bag holders must be compressed in order to receive an empty bag or release a full bag. In order to compress the pair of bag holders on each bar, the long plates are spread apart by spreading the double railed track members 25 and 2B apart. Note, as shown in Fig. 1, that the rail 25 is offset so as to compress the left bag holders in front of the bag supporting platform 4, and that the rail ZE-is onset in front'of the bag supporting platform 4 so that the bags therefrom can be easilyplaced over the plates at this point.

The two spaced apart chains 12 which carry the bag carriers are passed around their respective and well positioned sprocket Wheels 29, 35, SI and 32, and that these wheels are properly journalled to their adjacent-vertical frame members Stand 34 at each endof the unit, the members 34, however, extending-downward to provide legs. Extensions 9' and I0 are also provided on each sideof the unit to act as legs for the unit. At one side of the-unit, the sprocket wheel 32 (see Fig. 3) has fixed thereto a small sprocket wheel '35, and this wheel is linked to 'a'sprocket wheel 35 by the chain 31 which passes partly around thepositioned sprocket wheels 38 and 39 in the manner shown so that the chain can be easily kept taut and the proper directional motion given to the wheel 32.

The sprocket wheel 36 is fixed to the same shaft as the ratchet wheel 46 which is a part of an escapement-like device. This wheel has four evenly spaced teeth 4| about its perimeter which are engaged by the pawl 42, this pawl being pivoted for riding upward on the curved surface of each tooth and then dropping to engage the flat side of the tooth. The'pawl is pivoted to the top of a lever 43, and this lever is reciprocated by the rod 44, the ends of the rod having a pivot connection with the lever and a small fly wheel 45, as shown. Fixed to the same shaft with the flywheel there is a sprocket wheel 45 which is linked to a small'sprocket wheel on the shaft of the electric slow speed motor '4'! by the endless chain '48.

The above'related construction and arrange ment, causes the continuous running motor 4'! to intermittently operate the pawl 42 and this pawl periodically operates the ratchet wheel 40 which in turn through the chain 31 and "chains I2, cause the bag holders to stop at short intervals for receiving their load of whatever article or thing is being "bagged atthe time. However, the timing of the stop period is suchas to register each pair of bag holders 'in sequence with their respective load -guide elements '49 and 50.

4 These elements are hollow cylinders and receive their portion of the things being bagged via the curved bafile plates 5| and 52 (see Fig. 1). These baflle plates are supported above the endless conveyor belt 5, the top of which carries predetermined staggered groups or charges of the thing to be bagged from unit 2.

A trough-like conveyor 6 is employed to carry the loaded bags to a shipping point after first being released from their respective bag holders. The rails 25 and 26 are again separated at the unloading point just above the rear end of the conveyor 5 so as to spread the long curved plates 2| apart :and thus release their bags and allow them to fall onto the carrier means 6.

The carrier means 6 comprises two endless belts 5'3 and 54 set at the angle best shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, the bottom of the bag engages the top of belt 54 and since this belt is inclined, one side of the bag rests against the other inclined belt 53, and in this manner, the'loaded'bags are carried away in a suitable position for easy sewing or pasting of the open tops thereof. The belts are supported by any suitable means, such as end rollers, which are journalled to end frames (not Figs. 2 and 3) which comprise a long leg 55 and a short leg 56 held apart by the roller shaft 51 and the frame member '58. Extending upwardly from member 58 there is a frame-member 5d, the ends of which havethe journal boxes for supporting a .roller shaft 60 which acts as part of the framing. Any suitable frame is provided for spacing the roller units apart, or each unit is anchored to the floor. One of the roller units may be driven by a suitable'power means such as an electric motor.

Necessary upright framing members 'Ifl-76 Withthe cross membersand braces 11--82'support parts of the unit 2 and the bin or hopper 1. The hopper 1 has the end baliles 83 and 84 and central bafile 85 for directingthe things to be measured and bagged intothe low levelegress openings 86 and B'Lasshown. These openings are valve controlled and drop the things to-be bagged into the open tops- 01" the measuring chambers 83, the cross walls 89 between them each comprising a triangular s'haped'hollow member (see Fig. 2) the narrow opposed ends of which are rigidly fixed to the pair of spaced apart chains 90 and M. These chains are supported by their respective end sprocket wheels 92 and 93 Whichin turn are supported for'ro'tation upon their respective shafts 94 and 95, as shown. A

shaft '96 (see Fig. 1) provides power from the wheel 38 and this shaft rotates thesprocket wheel 9'! that drives the sprocket wheels 92 that are keyed to opposite ends of the shaft 94., the connectionbetween wheels 91 and SZbeingmade by the chain '98. r r

The walls 89 of the measuringchambers' I88 slide over a smooth metal floor I00 (see Fig. 8) until they reach their respective staggered openings IOI in this floor whereth entire' measured charge in thechamber falls onto the :under running belt 5; A bafile=lll2 :is provided to guide the produce and avoid "spillage. Sidewalls 103, I94, I05 and I06 are fixed in position, as :shown, to complete the measuring chambers 88. Each pair of moving cross Walls 89 is fixed to a bar member I01 which has the end extension I08 to receive its respective socket in the chain which runs through the channel 109 on each side of the measuring part of thedevi'ce. A'slow-speed motor H0, which may have reduction gears, is

provided for operating the belt 5 at a suitable speed. I

It should now be apparent that the escapement device 40 shifts the measuring chambers over floor H and also the bag holders intermittently so as to allow sufficient time for the measuring chambers 88 to receive a complete charge of the produce when under the bin openings and to be emptied completely when registered with their respective floor openings l9! and that this intermittent operation also allows for time in which to fill the bags upon the bag holders and to release the bags from their holders at the proper position at the carry-away belt system 6. The under running belt 5 is in continuous operation as there is no need for this belt to run intermittently. In Fig. 2, the arrows indicate the directions of the chains in both units.

For subjacently supporting the loaded bags on the machine, an under running endless belt III is provided which is supported by the end rollers H2 and H3 and these rollers are supported by the pair of spaced apart horizontal frame members H4 which are fixed to their adjacent upright frame members. The belts 5 and I II are very taut in order to maintain. a substantially level and flat surface.

It is, of course, understood that various changes and modifications may be made in the details of form, style, design, and construction of the whole or any part of the specifically described embodiment of this invention without departing from the spirit thereof; such changes and modifications being within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a bagging machine, a pair of side-by-side endless conveyors in the form of elongated loops, one of the loops having a plurality of open top and open bottom measuring chambers fixed thereto and the other loop having a plurality of open top and open bottom bag holders thereon, a floor under the top portion of the loop having the measuring chambers, a discharge opening in the center portion of the floor, a feed channel over the bottom portion of the loop having the bag holders, and cross transfer means extending from under the floor opening to the top of the feed channel for directing measured amounts of farm and orchard produce from one loop to the other and into bags for their shipment.

2. The machine recited in claim 1 wherein the bag holders are compressible, rail means at one top portion of the bag holder loop for allowing compression of the bag holders forthe purpose of receiving bags and rail means near the bottom portion for again allowing compression of the bag holders for dropping them.

3. In a bagging machine and the like, a pair of side-by-side endless conveyors in the form of elongated loops, one of the loops having a plurality of open top and open bottom measuring chambers fixed thereto and the other loop having a plurality of open top and open bottom bag holders thereon, a floor under the top portion of the loop having the measuring chambers, an opening in the floor, a feed channel over the bottom portion of the loop having the bag holders, and transfer means extending from under the floor opening to the top of the feed channel for directing measured amounts of farm and orchard produce from one loop to the other and into bags for their shipment, said bag holders being arranged in groups of two upon a common support, each bag holder comprising a pair of curved plates, means on the plates for holding their bags secured thereto, and spring means on the support for constantly urging the two inner curved plates of each pair toward one another.

4. In a device for measuring produce and the like, a pair of side-by-side units, a first unit having a frame supporting a pair of endless spaced apart chain loops, a plurality of pairs of cross walls spaced along and between the chains to form spaced apart abreasted measuring chambers and the cross walls of which have means which cause them to travel with the chains, a plurality of spaced elongated fixed walls providing channels for the cross walls to ride between, a fixed floor along portions of the chains providing bottoms for the chambers between the cross walls and an opening in the fioor intermediate its ends through which loaded chambers can drop their charges; a second unit adjacent and parallel to the first unit having a pair of spaced apart parallel chain loops provided with adjustable bag holders attached thereto and positioned between them, track and spring means for changing the size of the bag holders, a discharge means under which the bag holders pass, and a cross conveyor means extendingfrom beneath the side opening in the floor to the discharge means for transferring groups of the produce to the bag holders.

5. The device recited in claim 4 wherein means are provided for intermittently operating the pairs of chain loops in unison, said means including a toothed wheel with a pawl riding the teeth thereof and an eccentric wheel with a lever and crank for turning the toothed wheel, said pawl being pivoted to the crank so as to move the toothed wheel at short intervals.

EARL A. ERNST.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,058,747 I-Ioepner Apr. 15, 1913 1,079,628 Armbruster Nov. 25, 1913 1,376,249 Buehler Apr. 26, 1921 1,385,498 Schafier July 26, 1921 1,667,930 Edmunds May 1, 1928 1,927,318 McEntee et al Sept. 19, 1933 2,007,874 Redler July 9, 1935 2,209,476 Redler July 30, 1940 2,343,439 Allen et a1, .Mar. 7. 1944 2,352,863 Robinson July 4, 1944

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