US972812A - Fruit-coring machine. - Google Patents

Description

A. J. BURNS.

FRUIT GORING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 1320.28, 1905.

Patented Oct. 18,1910

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ALBERT J. BURNS, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO FREDERICK D. H. COBB AND ONE-HALF T0 COBB PRESERVING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK, BOTH OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

FRUIT-CORING MACHINE.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERTYJ. BURNS, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fruit-Coring Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to fruit coring machines, and consists in the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, as they are defined in the succeeding claims. The object of the invention is to produce means for coring angular fruit sections with great rapidity.

In the drawings :Figure 1 is a plan view of a machine embodying the invention having parts removed in order to exhibit the construction; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the machine; Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 1; Fig. 41 is a partial enlarged section on the line 1"1 of Fig. 2; Fig; 5 is an edge view of one of the coring knives; and Fig. 6 is a side View of the same coring knife.

A pair of pedestals or supports 1 have arms 2 for supporting a table 3, which terminate in bearings 4 for a pair of guide wheels 5, 5, carrying a carrier or belt 6. The pedestals 1 also carry a shaft 7 supporting a drum 8, around which said carrier or belt 6 passes. The pedestal 1 has arms 9 for a presser wheel 10 which will be described below.

The edges of the carrier or belt 6 run on the guide wheels 5 and upon the upper surface of the table 3. The belt has a series of open-sided angular holders or pockets 11, which may each consist in a piece of bent sheet metal whose flared edges are fastened to the belt by rivets 12, so that the apex of each holder or pocket is toward the interior of the belt or carrier. In the center of the apeX of each pocket is a core opening 13. The side edges of the sheet metal incline toward each other to the apex, as shown most clearly in Figs. 1, 3, and 1. The table has converging faces shown in Fig. 3 that close the ends of the pocket 11. A series of the pockets 11 are carried by the belt 6, and in the course of the operation of the machine pass between the two guide Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 28, 1905.

Patented Oct. 18, 1910.

Serial No. 293,562.

pulleys 5 and through a slot in the center of the table 3, as shown in Fig. 3. The drum 8 has a series of apertures in its periphery, each adapted to receive and fit a pocket 11, and extending inwardly from the side edges of each aperture are pairs of plates 14 slightly inclined toward each other, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, into which the pockets 11 fit with reasonable snugness so that the ends of the pockets 11 are closed by said plates 14. The shaft 7 carries a driving pulley 15 by which the drum 8 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2.

Means are provided for pressing the fruit sections into the pockets 11 while the coring knives are acting upon them. In the present embodiment of this invention the said pressure means is a presser wheel 10 having upon its periphery a series of presser plates 16 adapted to register with the successive pockets 11 as the same pass under the said wheel, and each curved to fit the outer surface of a fruit section and to tend to center any misplaced fruit section in its pocket 11. The wheel 10 rotates upon a shaft 17, and means are provided for maintaining an elastic pressure toward the drum 8. Suitable means for this purpose are the bearing block 18 in ways in the arm 9 and carrying the shaft 17, and the spring 19 pressing upon the block 18 and against a portion of the arm 9. This arrangement is used on each end of the shaft- 17. The presser wheel 10 is rotated by running on the belt 6 between the pockets 11.

Inside the drum 8, and parallel to the shaft 7, is a shaft 20 ournaled in the arm 9 and carrying a pinion 21 meshing with a gear 22 on the shaft 7. The gear and the pinion constitute means for rotating the shaft 20 at high speed from the driving pulley 15 and in the opposite direction from the drum 8. The shaft 20 carries a rotary coring knife of suitable form, which registers with the core openings 13 in the pockets 11 as they pass the knife. The coring knife has a body 23 fixed upon the shaft 20, and having a series of arms 24 (four as shown) extending radially from the hub part 23. On each arm 24 is a U-shaped knife 25, having the curved. bottom of the outside the ends of the arms 24, and the parallel portions of the U are fastened to the sides of said arms 2e.

It is obvious that the drum 8 is only a rotary support for the series of pockets or fruit holders. The rotating series of holders, therefore, cooperates with the operating knife to core the fruit sections, because the core portion of each fruit section is exposed to the action of thecoring knife.

It will be noted that the shaft 20 of the coring knife is so placed that the coring action begins before the presser 16 has its maximum action and that when the knife begins to act the presser presses the apple quarter on its forward edge and into the bottom of the pocket, wherefore the quarter cannot tilt unde the action of the knife and is held firmly.

The present device is particularly adapted to coring quartered apples. The apples are preferably first peeled and quartered. Then the quarters are placed singly by hand in the pockets 11 as the same rise to the surface of the table 3, and as they move along between the converging faces of the table the quarters tend to seat themselves in the pockets by the friction of said faces, so that the core portion registers with the core openings 13. The quarters or fruit sections are thus carried along until they reach a position in which a presser plate 16 meets the fruit section in the pocket that is approaching the cutting position, whereupon the presser wheel 10 revolving with the drum 8 presses the fruit section or apple quarter firmly into the pocket, while the coring knife, revolving at high speed, cuts out the core section while the fruit section is passing the knife. As the motion of the fruit section continues, it falls from its pocket 11 into a receptacle placed in convenient position. In order to remove the cuttings produced by the coring knife, a suitable chute 2T adjacent to said knife is led from the interior of the drum 8 to the exterior thereof.

The ends of a fruit section, when set in a pocket 11, rub on the converging open sides as they are carried along, and therefore, if they have been inaccurately placed in the pocket, are gently pushed toward the center thereof. The concave presser plates or cups 16 complete and perfect the centering operation, although they will perform it by themselves.

The continuous belt 6 having only the openings formed by the pockets 11 prevents fruit sections from falling through or into the machine, and thus saves much fruit as compared with a machine in which the pockets are connected by chains, wire ropes, or the like, and large spaces exist between the pockets.

hat I claim is 1. In a machine for coring fruit sections,

a support, a table on said support having converging surfaces, a series of connected holders for fruit sections movable between said converging surfaces, each holder having open converging sides running against the converging surfaces of the table and a core section opening at its bottom, a cutter adapted to cut the core sections from the fruit sections as the holders successively pass the cutter, means moving substantially in the same direction and at the same speed as the holders for pressing the fruit sections into the holders during the cutting action, and means for moving said holders in succession.

2. In a machine for coring fruit sections, a support, a table on said support having converging surfaces, a belt, a series of holders for fruit sect-ions attached to said belt and running between said converging surfaces, each holder having open converging sides running against the converging surfaces of the table and a core section opening at its bottom, a cutter adapted to cut the core sections from the fruit sections as the holders successively pass the cutter, means moving substantially in the same direction and at the same speed as the holders for pressing the fruit sections into 'the holders during the cutting action, and means for moving said holders in succession.

3. In a machine for coring fruit sections, a drum having openings in its periphery, a belt having pockets adapted to hold fruit sections therein with their edges and core sections toward the interior of the belt and adapted to project through the openings in the drum, means'for pressing a fruit section into each pocket during the cutting action by pressure upon its outersurface, a cutter adapted to out the core section from each fruit section as the holders successively pass the cutter, and means for actuating the drum and belt.

4. In a machine for coring fruit sections, a drum having openings in its periphery and an inwardly converging pair of plates adjacent to each opening, a belt provided with pockets for fruit sections having converging open sides adapted to register with said plates and having core section openings adapted to project through said openings in the drum, means for pressing a fruit section into each holder during the cutting action, a cutter adapted to cut the core section from each fruit section as the pocket passes the cutter, and means for actuating the drum and belt.

5. In a machine for coring fruit sections, a drum having openings in its periphery, a belt having pockets adapted to hold fruit sections therein with their edges and core sections toward the interior of the belt and adapted to project through the openings in the drum, a series of pressers for pressing a fruit section into each pocket during the cutting action by pressure upon its outer surface, a cutter adapted to cut the core section from each fruit section as the holders successively pass the'cutter and means for acwith pockets for fruit sections having converging open sides adapted to register with said plates and having core section openings adapted to project through said openings in the drum, a series of pressers for pressing a fruit section into each holder during the cutting action, a cutter adapted to cut the core section from each fruit section as the pocket passes the cutter, and means for actuating the drum and belt.

7. In a machine for coring fruit sections, a drum having openings in its periphery, a belt having pockets adapted to hold fruit sections therein with their edges and core sections toward the interior of the belt and adapted to project through the openings in the drum, a series of concave pressers for pressing'a fruit section into each pocket during the cutting action by pressure upon its outer surface and for centering it therein, a cutter adapted to cut the core section from each fruit section as the holders successively pass the cutter, and means for actuating the drum and belt.

8. In a machine for coring fruit sections, a drum having openings in its periphery and an inwardly converging pair of plates adj acent to each opening, a belt having pockets for fruit sections having convergingopen sides adapted to register with said plates and having core section openings adapted to project through said openings in the drum, a series of concave pressers for pressing a fruit section into each holder during the cutting action and for centering it therein, a cutter adapted to cut the core section from each fruit section as the pocket passes the cutter, and means for actuating said drum and belt.

9. In a machine for coring fruit sections, a drum having openings in its periphery and inwardly projecting plates, a moving belt having open-sided pockets adapted to register with said plates and to hold fruit sections therein with their edges. and core sections toward the interior of the belt and adapted to project through the openings in the drum, a rotating coring knife within the belt adapted to cut the core sections from said fruit sections as the pockets successively pass the coring knife, and means for actuating said drum, belt and knife.

10. In a machine for coring fruit sections, a movable carrier having a series of pockets for fruit sections, each pocket adapted to hold a fruit section and to expose the core section thereof, a cutter adapted to cut the exposed core sections from the fruit sections as the holders successively pass the cutter, and a series of pressers movable first toward and then in substantially the same direction and at the same speed as the carrier and each adapted to center a fuit section in a pocket and to hold it therein during the cutting action.

11. In a machine for coring fruit sections, a movable carrier having a series of pockets for fruit sections, each pocket adapted to hold a fruit section and toexpose the core section thereof, a cutter adapted to cut the exposed core sections from the fruit sections.

as the holders successively pass the cutter, and a series of pressers rotatable on an axis to move toward and from the carrier and with the carrier and each adapted to center a fruit section in its pocket and to hold it therein during the cutting action.

12. In a machine for coring fruit sections, the combination of a belt having open-sided pockets adapted to hold fruit sections therein with their edges and core sections inward,

a drum having openings in its periphery and inwardly project-ingconverglng plates adjacent to said openings and adapted to receive said open-sided pockets and to fit against the open sides thereof, a cutter adapted to cut out the core sections as the holders successively pass the cutter, a presser wheel movable toward and from the belt and provided with a series of presser plates thereon adapted to press each fruit section into its pocket while the coring knife is operating upon it, and means for actuating said belt and drum.

13. In a machine for coring fruit sections, a belt having a series of open-sided pockets for fruit sections, each adapted to hold a fruit section with its edge and core section inward, a table having converging surfaces between which thepockets run, guide pulleys at one end of said table for said belt, a drum at the other end of said table for said belt, the said'drum having openings in its periphery for said pockets and inwardlv projecting plates adapted to close the open sides of said pockets when the latter arein said openings, means for holding the fruit sections in the pockets during the cutting action, a cutter adapted to cut out the core sections as the pockets successively pass the knife, and means for actuating said belt and .drum.

14. In a machine for coring fruit sections, the combination of a belt having open-sided pockets adapted to hold fruit sections therein with their edges and core sections inward, a drum having openings in its periphery and a pair of inwardly converging plates adjacent to each opening and adapted to receive said open-sided pockets, a cutter adapted to cut out the core sections as the holders successively pass the knife, a presser wheel running with said belt and having a series of presser plates thereon each adapted to centerand to press a fruit section into its pocket while the cutter is operating upon it, and means for actuating said belt and drum.

15. In a machine for coring fruitsections, the combination of a belt having pockets with open, converging sides, adapted to hold fruit sections therein with their edges and core sections inward, a drum having openings in its periphery and a pair of inwardly converging plates adjacent to each opening and adapted to receive and to fit against the sides of said open-sided pockets, a cutter adapted to cut out the core sections as the holders successively pass the knife, and a resser wheel running with said belt and aving a series of concave presser plates thereon each adapted to center and to press a fruit section into its pocket while the cutter is operating upon it, and means for actuating said belt and drum.

16. In a machine for coring fruit sections, a movable series of holders for fruit sections, each constructed to hold a fruit section transversely to the path of movement and to expose its core, means for holding a fruit section in each holder during the cutting action, and a core cutter moving in the oppositedirect-ion from the holders for removing the core sections from the fruit sections as the holders pass the cutter.

17. In a machine for coring fruit sections, a movable series of holders for fruit sections, each provided with two angularly-arranged transverse surfaces adapted to engage the cleft surfaces of a fruit section and to hold the fruit section transversely to the path of movement of the holders and to expose its core, means frictionally engaging the ends of the fruit sections, said means and the holders having relative movement so as to move and seat the section in each holder, and a core cutter for removing the core from the fruit sections.

1.8 In a machine for coring fruit sections, a holder for a fruitsec-tion provided with two angularly-arranged surfaces adapted to engage the cleft surfaces of a fruit section and to hold the fruit section, means arranged to engage the ends of the fruit section therein, said means and the holder having relative movement so as to move the section f-rictionally andca-use it to seat in the holder, and a core cutter movable relatively with respect to the fruit holder for removing the core from the fruit section.

19. In a machine for coring fruit sections, a belt having a series of openings therein, each containing a holder for fruit sections constructed to hold a fruit section transversely to the path of movement and to expose its core, said belt forming a continuous surface between the holders, means for holding a fruit section in each holder during the cutting action, and a core cutter for removing the core sections from the fruit sections as the holders pass the cutter.

20. In a machine for coring fruit sections, a belt having a series of openings therein, each containing a holder for fruit sections constructed to hold a fruit section transconstructed to hold a fruit section transversely to the path of movement and to expose its core, said belt forming a continuous surface between the holders, a wheel revoluble with the belt and having a series of pressers for holding the fruit sections in the holders during the cutting action, and a core cutter for removing the core sect-ions from the fruit sections as the holders pass the cutter.

22. In a machine for coring fruit sections, a belt having a series of openings therein, each containing a holder for fruit sections constructed to hold a fruit section transversely to the path of movement and to expose its core, said belt forming a continuous surface between the holders, a wheel revoluble with the belt and having a series of concave pressers for centering the fruit sections in the holders and for holding them therein during the cutting action, and a core cutter for removing the core sections from the fruit sections as the holders pass the cutter.

ALBERT J. BURNS.

Witnesses D. GURNEE, L. THON.

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