US360946A - Asparagus-bunching machine - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

E. BEEKMKN.

ASPARAGUS BUNGHING MACHINE. No. 360,946. Patented Apr. 1 1887.

q vih wooeo amvemtot llNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWVIN BEEKMAN, OF MIDDLETOWN, NEW JERSEY.

ASPARAGUS-BUNCHING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 360,946, dated April 12, 1887.

Application filed January 28, 1887. Serial No. 2-?5,'757. (No model.)

machine becomes adaptable to the bunching of different sizes and qualities of asparagus without injury to the heads by using adj ustable cams to actuate sliding jaws, so as to give an unequal motion and an unequal pressure on the jaws which shape the heads and butts of the asparagus-stalks, according to the requirements of different sizes and qualities of asparagus, and also to an automatic tying or binding device for asparagus-machines, and an improved device for cutting'off the butts of the asparagus-stalks.

Referring to the drawings which illustrate my invention, Figure 1 shows the machine in perspective with the jaws open, ready for the reception of the asparagus-stalks. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the jaws, cam, and arm or lever. showing the jaws closed and the tieband fastened. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of Fig. 1 divided lengthwise between the jaws. Fig. 4: is a View of'the tie-band.

' Similarletters referto similar parts throughout the several views.

A is a frame, arranged for the attachment thereto of the jaws a a and b b, the knife-guide E, and the sizing-plate F and the shaft 0. d d, being supports for the shaft 0, are parts of the frame A. The jaws a a are firmly attached to the frame A. The jaws b b are movable, and are kept in place by the upright sides of the frame A and the plates 1. The jaws b b are slotted, (see Fig. 2, 0,) and slide on a projection, 10, of the plate Z. the supports (1 d, and upon this shaft are fixed the adjustable cams B B, the arm or lever G, by which it is moved, and the cutting-knife D. The cams B Bare connected with the jawsb b by the links 6 e, and maybe so adjusted by the use of the set-screws k that one of the jaws may move sooner orfasterthan the other, and also to allow a greater pressure to be put on one of the jaws than on the other. The

The sh aft 0 runs through advantage of this arrangement will be plain to one accustomed to putting up asparagus i. 6., Where the grass is young or brittle it is necessary, in order to save the heads from being broken, that very little pressure should be put upon them, while the butts will stand a much greater pressure. I also propose, in making these machines, to have the butt-jaws interchangeable, so that when packing asparagus grown on young bedswhich is unproportionably large at the butts as compared with grass grown on old bedsalarger pair of butt-jaws may be attached to the plate A, to be the same as above described, except in SlZe.

The lever or arm 0 is securely attached to the shaft '0, and the pushing of this up or down opens or closes the jaws b b by means of the cams.

The circular knife D is so constructed that in the operation of cutting the pressure on the knife is equivalent to a drawing movement of a knife-edge through the butts, thereby giving a clean out. It is hinged on the shaft 0, but Works independently of it. The knife-guide E is provided with a slot, and is set to the frame A by the screw-bolt s, by means of which the length of the butts are regulated for cutting. The purpose of this guide is to regulate the length of the butts and to insure an even -cutting of the same.

In order that the asparagus may be packed and cut to auniform length throughout, the plate F is attached to the rod f, projecting from the frame A, by means of a set-screw, and against this plate the heads of the asparagus are placed while filling the-jaws.

The binding device is as follows: On the inside of the jaws a a and b b are cut shallow grooves i, and at the lower termination of each of the jaws b b a pin, h, is inserted. The band N, Fig. 4, fits into these grooves, and is held in place in the jaws by the pin h passing through the hole It in the band N. One end of the band N is turned up and ahole out into the same to allow the other end of the band, which is tapered, to pass through it. The upper ends of the jaws are beveled corre-- sponding to the width of the groove, so that when the bands are in place and the jaws are pressed together the tapered ends of the bands run through the holes a, and as the jaws close the ends are brought to such an angle as to secure them. They may be further secured by pressing the ends flat against the bands. The bands are stamped out by a machine specially constructed for that purpose.

The operation of the machine is as follows: Referring to Fig. 1, the cams B B, the knifeguide E, and the plate F are first adjusted to the size and quality of the grass to be bunched. The bands N are slipped in the grooves of the jaws and over the pin h. The asparagus-stalks are then laid in the jaws with the heads against the plate F until the jaws are quite filled. The lever G is then forced back until thejaws come together. At the same time the bands are automatically fastened. ThcknifeD is brought forward through the guide E, thereby cutting off the butts evenly. The lever O is then lifted up, opening the jaws and allowing the completed bunch to be taken out readily.

Having thus fully described the nature of myinvention, what I claim herein as new, and

desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. 111 an asparagusbunching machine, the combination of the supporting-frame A, the fixed jaws a a, the slidingjaws b b, the rod f, projecting from the frame, gage-plate F, adjustable on said rod and knife-guide E, with the shaft 0, cams B, and knife D, carried by said shaft, substantially as set forth.

2. In an asparagus-bunching machine, the combination,with the frame A, fixed jaws a a, mounted thereon, and movablejaws I) b,of the shaft 0, mounted in bearings on the frame, the slotted cams B B, adjustable on such shaft, means for connecting said cams with the movable jaws, and means for cutting the bunch, substantially as set forth.

3. In an asparagus-bunching machine, the combination of the frame, bunching device mounted thereon, the adjustable gage-plate,

theadjustableslottedknife-guide,and theknife cooperating with such guide to sever the ends of the bunch, substantially as set forth.

4. In an asparagus-bunching machine, the combination of the frame, grooved jaws fixed thereon, the grooved sliding jaws provided with pins h, the tie-bands co-operating with the jaws, and means for operatingthe movable jaws, substantially as set forth.

5. In an asparagus-bunching machine, the combination of frame A, having end uprights, fixed jaws a a, and theplates Z Z, of the movable jaws working between the plates and end uprights, the shaft 0, and adjustable cams B B, carried by the shaft and connected to the movable jaws, substantially as set forth.

6. In an asparagus-bunching machine, the combination of the frame and fixed jaws mounted thereon, the movable jaws, the shaft mounted in bearings on the frame, the adjustable cams carried by the shaft and connected with the movable jaws, the lever O, the curved knife D, and adjustable slotted knife-guideE, substantially as set forth.

7. In an asparagus-bunching machine, the fixed grooved jaws, in combination with the movable grooved jaws provided with means for holding-the tie-bands in place, and mechanism for operating the movable jaws to compress the buneh, as set forth.

8. In an asparagus-bunching machine, the combination of the fixed grooved jaws and the movable grooved jaws provided with pins h, the spring-bands N, constructed as described, and means, as described, for operating the movablejaws to compress the bunch and close the bands around the same, substantially as set forth.

EDWIN 'BEEKMAN.

Vitnesses:

CHARLES H. IVINS, HARRY CROSSLEY.

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