US2825375A - Cluster breaker for cherries - Google Patents

Description

Mh 4', 1958 A. J. GoTELLl ETAL 2$825,375

CLUSTER BREAKER FOR CHERRIES Filed Dec. lO, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 BY Lkw-@dew- A. J. GoTELLl ETAL 2,825,375

CLUSTER BREAKEIR FOR CHERRIES March 4, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. l0, 1956 United States Patent f CLUSTER BREAKER Fon cnnnnrns Alvin J. Gotelli and Melvin W. Oueto, Stockton, Calif.,

assiguors to Cueto-Gotelli Co., Stockton, Calif., a copartnership Application December 10,1956, Serial No. 627,270

17 Claims. (Cl.

This invention relates in general to apparatus for use in the fresh cherry packing industry.

Fresh cherries, as picked, are frequently in compound or cluster form; i. e., two or more individual fruits whose stems are connected together at the opposite end. Before such cherries are packed in a box for shipment to the market it is necessary that they be singularly separated, but with the stems remaining attached to the fruit. This is accomplished by splitting or cutting the stems apart at or neat` the point of connection.

Apparatus for this purpose is known as a cluster breaker; the present invention being particularly directed to, and a major object being to provide, an improved power driven apparatus of such type.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a cluster breaker which includes-in each of a multiplicity of units embodied in the apparatusa driven rotary saw and novel mechanism operative to pick up the stems of cherry clusters moving on, and advancing with, a conveyor and to orient and guide such stems so that the saw cuts them lapart at or near the point of connection.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a cluster breaker, as in the preceding paragraph, wherein each such unit comprises-in novel combination with the rotary saw-a pick-up finger adapted to receive and so orient and guide the cherry clusters as they move toward the saw; the fruit remaining on the adjacent conveyor, the stems straddling said nger, and the point of connection remaining above the finger for severance by the saw.

Still another object. of the invention is to provide a cluster breaker wherein each such unit includes additionally a novel deector disposed ahead of the4 saw and above the pick-up finger; such deilector functioning not only to assure of straddling of each picked-up cluster over the linger, but also prevents the fruit from riding into-and being undesirably cut by-said saw.

A further object of the invention is to provide a cluster breaker which is constructed so that it may be used in conjunction with a conventional or existing type of endless belt sorting conveyor.

Itis also an object of the invention to provide a cluster breaker which is designed for ready and economical manufacture and long service with a minimum of maintenance or repair being required.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a practical, reliable, and durable cluster breaker, and one which will be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects are accomplished by means of such struc-n Fig. 2 is a top-plan of the same, foreshortenedlboth longitudinallyand transversely.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal elevation, partly in section, showing one of the cluster breakV ing units, of which the apparatus includes a multiplicity.`

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation, mainly in section, showing the manner of mounting of one of the'` saws on the related cross shaft, and the extent of dependency of the lower portion of the saw into the adjacent slotted pick-up finger. Y

vFig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing, in front elevation, one of the pick-up linger supporting clamps; the finger being in section. j

Referring now more particularly to the drawings and; to the characters of reference marked thereon, the cluster' breaker as here shown is especially adapted for user inV connection with an endless belt sorting conveyor, indi-Y cated generally at 1, and which includes transversely. spaced side beams 2 between Whichthere extends the upper run 3 of a driven endless sorting belt. Said'upper run 3 of the endless sorting belt travels in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1, and in operation sup ports and advances picked fresh cherries, many of which are in clusters.

The present invention provides a cluster breaker, forv cooperation with the conveyor 1, which comprises open rectangular frame 4 having longitudinal side beams 5 and transverse end beams 6 secured together in rigid. relation. The frame 4 is disposed lengthwise and in overlying relation to the conveyor 1, with the longitudinal l side beams S--which are of angle iron-Seating on the side beams of said conveyor 1. With this arrangement the frame 4-which supports all of the mechanism of the cluster breaker-is elfectively yet simply mounted in' connection with the conveyor 1, and for cooperation `of` the cluster breaker therewith. v

VAt longitudinally spaced points the cluster breaker frame 4 carries full-width cross shafts 7 whose end por- 'tions are provided with journals 8 vertically adjustably mounted on corresponding posts 9 upstanding from the longitudinal side beams 5; vertical adjustment of each journal 8 being accomplished by means including opposed screws 10.

Adjacent but ahead (relative to the direction of travel of Vthe upper run 3) of each cross shaft 7 and parallell thereto, there is a cross rod 11 tted at the ends with' slide blocks 12 vertically adjustably'mounted in'xed; guides 13 which upstand from the longitudinal side beams 5; the blocks 12 being vertically adjustable by opposed screws 14. n A cross bar 1S is disposed slightly to the rear, and some'f distance above, each cross shaft'l; such cross bar bein'gn iitted at each end with a slotted bracket 16 vertically adjustably bolted, as at 17, to the face of :the adjacent post 9. Y AEach cross shaft 7 carries a row of transversely spaced rotary or circular saws 18 whose equi-distant spacing is maintained by spacer sleeves 19; the assembly of saidrotary saws 18 and spacer sleeves 19 being axiallyf` clamped, on the related cross shaft 7, between a iixeli collar 20 at one end and a locking nut 21 at the other' end; such nut being threaded on said cross shaft. The rotary saws 18 on each cross shaft 7 are in .transl versely staggered relation to the corresponding saws on the adjacent cross shafts, whereby to run in different vertie. cal longitudinal planes.

All of the cross shafts 7, and the rotary saws..18 thereon, are simultaneously driven in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 3; this being accomplished by an endless belt and pulley assembly, indicated gen@ erally at 22, which extends `between said cross shafts 7 at one end thereof and an electric motor 23 mounted on a platform 24 secured to one corner of the frarnepfl,"V

The individual rotary Vsaivsrls comprise""oneofftl1`e 1 Y eltiftltsfgf.klstr brakig unitveah .iadicatedsen Y erally at 25, of whichV the apparatus includes a multithefdriven endless srting'belt. YThe rearward orfree ywitha longitudinalslot 28"in'which` the lower'portion of and theirV reflatiyeV 'transversely staggered relation, each plicity; the'nurnber of saidvcluster breaking units 25- carried byeehtransversef assembly of@ .cross shaft-7,V

'rsftw@ ranspfawawad; incline' and terminates t iisl free orhrearward. end :substantially at or in light'f-touchf ingengagementl-:withthe surface of" the upperrun`3 of Y eidlprtioof thempickup iingerfkleis tapered, as shown,

.Intermediate its` ends the pick-up linger 26 is formedy the related rotary sawr18 runs; this relationshipofthe parts f beingV Yaccomplished by appropriate adju's'tr'nen'tY .of

the' cross ,shaft 7; 'cross' rod 11,V and theclamp V27.,

QThe cross bar 15has aiiixed thereto, andY directly to Ward'ly t'oralower end termination closely adjacent butl spaced V.fr oin'the corresponding pick-upv linger 26.{ The Ysaiav'g'iiardand fruit' delico-tor 29. is 'alined with thecorre- Y *i sponding pick-up iinger 26 in a longitudinal vertical plane,v

ad nl Vthebackside-i. e.; facing contraV to the direc-` j tion of Vtravel ofjth-e'pper 'ruil 3 of the endless 'sorting belt-.said deliector is VV-shaped inrpla'n, whereby to pro-VV yifdffrwardly diverging dfiecting surfaces.VVV K Additionall'y. the vdetiector 29fisrounded rearwardly and'upwardlyat thelower'end, as at 30.

`I1 Asj'offthe" abovedes'cribed cluster breaker each Vof the rnu'ltiplicityl.of Y cluster breaking iinits'25'fu'nctions` Y iri thefollowir'ig'manner', vand as shown in VFig. 43;

The upper run 3 VVof the KAdriven endless sorting belt is fed thepicke'd'fr'esh cherries, 'which are spread out rather j looselyon the belt so that 'no' pile-up exists; many kof Y ple-generally at 3 1 thecherriesbeing in .clusters,was` indicated-for exam-V jextending from` Ytheicorresponding v fruit 33 to a point ofi vconnection`3 4.; As 't he Yupper run 3 moves forwardly,

thejricherry. clustersl are correspondingly advancd.

sfef the multiplicity fof cluster breaking units -275 VYdie nager; the Vvrruit `33L remaining Aon thenp'pen run 3 t.

and'cntinui to advance'therewith. As the fruit 33m' Y, advances?thel finger 'straddling' cluster 31Y is'Y likewise" f erware umn thepein'f'ef connection V34 reachesto assurethat the Y cutting operationis wholly effective, Y

With such .operation thefruit3`3---With-Y the now cutapart?.stems@,.32a'frernaining thereon--continues` v to adY Y Vance saidzpperrn- 3,-be`ing subsequentlyremoved nection with the support'.

" runningfin' said-slot.v Y Y v. v i i, Y, :Y

9. A cherry cluster breaking unit comprlsing, inV Vasso-. Y

pikedupwcherrycluster 3 1gwill be deected laterally"- away from the plane of the adjacent YsawV 18 and onto the upper run 3 in order that the cluster may be proprerly advanced and severed by said saw at the pointof connection 34. s Y

i From the foregoing description itrwill be'r'eadilyY seen that'there has been produced such an apparatus srwill substantiallyfullillV the 'objectsj of the invention, as set Vforth herein. g While Vthis specification setstorth in detail the presenti' and preferred construction of the apparatus,"still"i i1jV prac i tiCesuch Vdeviationstherefromrnay be resorted't as Vdo not form a departure from the spirit of the iriventit ^nV as deiined bythe appended claims. A

Having thus describedl the inventiomthe following isV claimed as new and usefuhfand'upon which Letters Patent are desired: l v 1. A- cherry cluster 'breakingvunitcomprising; inaass ciation'with a driven conveyor beltadaptedito receive andadvance said clusters, a support adjacent/fthe .beltgla longitudinal cluster pick-up nger disposedv aboyeisjthe belg-.means mountingtheynger in connectionV withrithe'f support, the finger eirtendi'ng free rearwardlyfror'n the-V mountingnrneans, and a cluster separating; cutter cooper:v Y

ating'withnthe finger intermediate its ends. L

`2'. A cherrycluster breaking'unifas'in ALyin". *i

which vtheinger inclines downwardlyv to its rear end, and such end being closely adjacent the-belt;

whichV an Vadjacent portion of the'iingeristapered toward said rearend. Y Y 4. cherry Vcluster breakingunit comprisingin jassociation with a drivenV conveyor 'belt adaptedtoreceive and advance. saidJclusters, a supportijadjacentithe'belt;

a .longitudinal cluster pi'ckup linger disposedV above the belt; means-mounting th'ehiinger in *conn'eetion withtlie support, the finger Vextendingfree rearwardlyfromthe IriountingV means, a cluster' vseparating cutterY cooperating with the finger intermediate' its ends, a Vfruit det-'lector disposed rearwardly ofthe cutter but ahead of the rejardend of th finger, and means. v A

V5. VAf cherry cluster .b eakiiigV unit, Yas Vinr'claim2tlg:in.kk

Y which Asaid in`gei',cutter, andV deflector are alined longitudinally ofthe direction .of travel ofthe belti the'diector 1 terminating' at its VVlower end. adjacent v'but clear ofY ithe'Y 6. AA cherry clustrfbijeaking unit,Y Vas inclairn/4 4,in

which the' deector terminates ati its' lowerY endadjacent"y and in vertical'alinenient with thveiing'er but clear thereof;

vide forwardly diyerg'ingi'workingrfaces, Y Y 7. A cherryV cluster `breaking unit comprising;A -in/ assof ciation with `a driven conveyor belt adapted to receive and advance said clusters, a support adjacent the belt, alon- Vgitudinal cluster pick-up iinger .disposed-above the belt',Y

means mounting the linger in connection with thersupport,

the finger extending freeV rearwardly: from the mounting i means; anda driven rotary cutter'cooperating withth'ef, Ylinger intermediate itsfendsaiid from'above'. Y Y 1 8.l A cherry cluster breaking unit,. asin clajin. 7, iii-Y 1 Y whichthe rotary cutter has its axis disposedjtransversely of-theiinger'; the latterhaving aV longitudinalslot thereinf from' the top, andthe lower portion of the rotary cutter ciation with a drivenconveyor belt adapted; to receive and 'advanceV said clusters,v a support adjacentAV thefbelt,V a longitudinal cluster pick-up inger disposed Vabove the; belt, means mounting the Ylinger in connection Withthe support, the finger extending free rearwardlyifroni' the mounting means, a driven .transverse @shaft ab'oveqtl'ie linger, means journaling the shaft onth'e'support, 'and a rotary saw onthe shaft inY vertical alinementf anclfc'c-Y operating with the tinger intermediateitsends. f l;

. nA cherry cluster breakingvunit,A asY i'11Y,clairn-2` in". Y

mounting the deflector incon# 10. A cherry cluster breaking unit comprising, in asso ciation with a driven conveyor belt adapted to receive and advance said clusters, a support adjacent the belt, a longitudinal cluster pick-up finger disposed above the belt, means mounting the finger in connection with the support, the finger extending free rearwardly from the mounting means, a driven transverse shaft above the finger, means journaling the shaft on the support, a rotary saw on the shaft in vertical alinement and cooperating with the finger intermediate its ends, a saw guard and fruit deector disposed in longitudinal alinement and rearwardly of the saw but ahead of the rear end of the finger, and means mounting the saw guard and fruit deector in connection with the support.

l1. A cherry cluster breaking unit, as in claim 10, in which said guard and defiector is vertically elongated and rearwardly Vd; the lower end thereof terminating adjacent but clear of the finger, and said end being rearwardly and upwardly rounded.

12. A cherry cluster breaking unit comprising, in association with a driven conveyor belt adapted to receive and advance said clusters, a frame adjacent the belt, a driven transverse shaft extending above the belt and journaled on the frame, a cross rod extending above the belt and secured to the frame, the cross rod being adjacent but ahead of the transverse shaft, a longitudinal cluster pickup finger disposed above the belt, means attaching the finger at its forward end to the cross rod, the finger thence extending at a rearward and downward incline below the cross shaft and to a free end termination rearwardly thereof and close to the belt, and a rotary saw on the shaft cooperating with the finger.

13. A cherry cluster breaking unit, as in claim l2, in which the nger is longitudinally slotted from the top, and the lower portion of the saw running in the slot.

14. A cherry cluster breaking unit comprising, in association with a driven conveyor belt adapted to receive and advance said clusters, a frame adjacent the belt, a driven transverse shaft extending above the belt and journaled on the frame, a cross rod extending above the belt and secured to the frame, the cross rod being adjacent but ahead of the transverse shaft, a longitudinal cluster pick-up ringer disposed above the belt, means attaching the finger at its forward end to the cross rod, the finger thence extending at a rearward and downward incline below the cross shaft and to a free end termination rearwardly thereof and close to the belt, a rotary saw on the shaft cooperating with the finger, a cross bar extending above the belt and secured to the frame, said cross bar being disposed rearwardly of the transverse shaft and above the linger, and a saw guard and fruit deiector fixed on the cross bar and depending in alinement rearward of the saw and to a lower end termination adjacent but clear of said finger.

l5. A cherry cluster breaker comprising, in association with a driven conveyor belt adapted to receive and advance said clusters, a plurality of longitudinally spaced transverse rows of cluster breaking units supported above and cooperating with the belt, the corresponding units of adjacent rows being in staggered relation; each such unit including a longitudinal cluster pick-up linger inclined downwardly and rearwardly to a free end termination close to the belt, and a cluster separating cutter cooperating with the finger ahead of said free end.

16. In a machine to break cherry clusters each of which comprises at least two cherries and stems projecting therefrom and connected together at their outer end, a cluster breaking unit comprising, in association with a driven conveyor belt adapted to receive and advance said clusters, an elongated cluster pick-up nger disposed above and extending lengthwise of the belt with a downward slope rearwardly relative to the direction of movement of the belt to a termination adjacent the belt whereby to straddle a cluster advancing with the belt and thus raise the point of connection of the stems above the finger, and a transverse-axis rotary cutter transversely alined with and above the linger intermediate its ends, said nger having a slot into which the cutter projects without depending below the finger.

17. A cluster breaking unit, as in claim 16, in which the vertical distance from the rear edge of the cutter adjacent the linger to the belt is less than the length of any stem.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,608,973 Coons Sept. 2, 1952 2,621,690 Urschel Dec. 16, 1952 2,763,114 Carruthers Sept. 18, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 242,040 Germany Dec. 27, 1911

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