[1]'r'@-a'iented Dec. 23, 1941 2;267@174 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,267,174 GREEN CORN CUTTING APPARATUS John Schmidt, Philadelphia, Pa. Application September 9,1940, Serial No. 355,931 2 Claims. (Cl. 130-9) The present invention relates generally to ap- present apparatus is characterized by the fact paratus for cutting the kernels from the cobs of green corn. More partiewarly the invention relates to that type of green corn cutting apparatus which is used in connection with com- 5 mercial corn packing or canning and as its main or principal parts comprises: (1) a supporting structure in the form of a horizontally elongated housing having at the front end thereof an inlet for the corn to be cut and embodying 10 in the bottom portion a discharge duct for the cut kernels and at the rear end an outlet for the cobs, (2) a rotary power driven cutting head which is mounted in the housing and has in the central portion thereof and in axial aligr.Lment 15 with the corn inlet an opening for the passage therethrou gh of the ears of corn to be cut and in addition has within the opening an annular series or set of substantiaey radially movable knives for cutting the kernels from the cobs as 20 the corn is successively fed through the central opening, and (3) power driven means for feeding the ears of corn successively and longitudinally through the central opening in the rotary cutting head for cutting of the kernels by 25 the knives. In a corn cutting ap@aratus of this type it has heretofore been customary to employ as the means or medium for feeding the ears successively through the central opening in the rotary 3( cuttin-. head, an endless horizontally extending conveyor in front of the housing and with the upper reach thereof in alignment with the bottom portion of the corn inlet and in addition a pair of opposed oppositely disposed and driven 35 separable feed rolls between the discharge end of the conveyor and the rotary cutting head. In practice it has been found that a corn cutting apparatus having feed means of this charactidr is objectionable or defective for the reason that 40 certain kinds or types of ears do not pass directly from the discharge end of the endless conveyor to and between the feed rolls and so jam between the conveyor and the rolls that it is necessary to discontinue operation of the ap- 45 paratus until removal of the jammed ear or ears. .One object of the present invention is to provide a corn cutting apparatus which is an improvement upon previously designed apparatus of the same general character and for the same 50 purpose by reason of the fact that it includes a novel form or arrangement of feed means which effectively and efficiently eliminates the possibility of jamming of the ears during feed thereof to and through the rotary cutting head. The 55 that the means for feeding the ears of corn successively and longitudinally through the central opening in the dutting head comprises instead of an endless conveyor and two main oppositely disposed feed r(>lls between the discharge end of the conveyor and the cutting head, an endless conveyor and a single feed roll directly over and coacting with the discharge end of the conveyor. By having but a single main feed roll and the latter disp6sed over the dischar@e end of the conveyor a positive feeding of the ears of corn takes place and it is substantially impossible for any of the ears of corn to become jammed while iii transit to the central opening in the cutting head. Furthermore, the feed means as a whole is simplified and involves bl@t a small or minimum number of parts. Another object of the invention is to provide a corn cutting apparatus of the last mentioned character in which the endless conveyor part of the feed means is of the chain and sprocket variety and the single main feed roll and the sprbcket at the discharge end of the conveyor are connected together so@ as to move conjointly and equidistantly to and from one another in connection with passage of ears of different sizes therebetween. A further object of the invention is to provide a gteen coin cutting apparatus of the type and character under consideration in which the links of the chain of the endless conveyor have outwardly divergent side wings which when in the upper reach of the conveyor form a substantially V-shaped trough whereby the ears of corn travelling thereon are caused to be brought into proper longitudinal alignment with the axis of the rotary cutting head. A still further object of the invention is to provide a green corn cutting apparatus which is generally of new and improved construction and has certain advantages over that which is shown in, and forms the subject matter of, United States Letters Patent No. 2,214,285, granted to me September 10, 1940. Other objects of the invention and the v@rious advantages and characteristics of the present corn cutting apparatus will be apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description. The invention consists in the severai novel features which are hereinafter set forth and ai-e more particularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof.
[2]2 2)267,174 In the drawings which accompany and form nection with rotation or drive of the head and a part of this specification or disclosure and feed of an ear of corn through the opening, to in which like numerals of reference denote cor- cut the kernels of corn from the cob. A pair of responding parts throughout the several views: sn-iall diameter power driven oppositely disposed Mgure I is a plan view of a green corn cut- 5 feed rolls 20 is disposed directly in front of the ting apparatus embodying the invention; head and serve as a medium for openiiig the Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical transverse kni,,es to a cutting position in connection with section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure I and feed of an -ear of corn into the central opening illustrating the design and construction of the 17. The knives 19 are mounted and controlled single main feed roll and the sprocket at the 10 as set forth in said Patent No. 2,214,285. The discharge end of the endless conveyor; kernels which are cut by the knives are disMgure 2a is a perspective view of a portion char . ged fr6m the housing via the discharge duct of the chain of the conveyor; 1.5 in the bottom wall 12. Tlle cutting Ilead 6 Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical transverse is driven by means of a power shaft 2 1, a counsection taken on the line 3-3 of Figure .1 atid 15 ter@haft 22 ard gearing (not shown) in the casshowing in detail the construction and desigii ing 9,and, the housing 5. The casing 9 is located of the means for conjointly driving @he -single at one side of and is fixed to the housing 5 as main feed roll and tne sprock-et at the dis- shown in flgur@, 1, and the casing 10 is located charge end of the endless conveyor and also outwardly of the casing 9. The power shaft 21 showing the design and arrangement bf the i'U extends through and is journalled in the casing means whereby the feed roll and sp:rocket are 1-0@ apd is in 13ara;llel relatign witl-i t4e Itnq of connected together for conjoint, and equidistant travel of t-he ears co It. is ep@4 e K'P , 4ect _d, to movement to and from one another; and and op@T4ps to Oi@lve @4p co rq4af-@, 2 2 b unte y way Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical oi-a sprq(:@kc@t ;ipq- Qn -Ole-s s chain connection -23. long,itudinal section taken on the line 4-4 of 25 The counter s @ li gf t - e e n d th r o u g h a n d is jp :q rF @ g u r e 1 a n d di s cl o si n g th e m a n n e r in w hi c h n ai le d in s ui ta bl e h e a ri n g s in th e c a si n g 4, a n d th e si n gl e fe e d r ol l a n d th e di s cl @ a r g e e n d of is p A r al @ iZ I to th el .- po W e r @ 4 a @ ft. Z - 1. ' W 4 e 4 tt k e th e e n dl e ss c o n v e y o r c o a ct to fe e d th e e a rs of p q @ v e r s h af -t 2 1. is in o p e r at ig n t] @ p c ut ti n) g. h e a d c o r n to b e c ut s u c c e ss iv el y a n d lo n gi tu di n al ly is d ri v e n, at a c o m a r at iv el y hi g h s p e e cl q P, P4, through the central opening in the rotary cutas hereinafter descri-becl, the feed means 7 operting head. ates to feed the ears of c r to I>e cut succes- I 1. - 11 - II @ - P. Xi, The apparatus which is shown in the draw- sively tbroligh the@ central opening, 17 in the ings constitutes the preferred embodiment of the l@ead 6. As t4q pars -oi eq@4 p'.@ss successively inventioll. It is primarily designed and adapted ti@@:o-ug--4 @i@c'h,oipe@4@pg, the knives 19 cut the, kerto cut the kernels from the cobs of green corn in @nel . from thi@. c and the cut kernels are dis. s comiection with packing or canning on a comcharged from the h ing by way of the disqqs mercial scale and as its main or principal parts charge duct 15. Afte, cutti gof the kernels the - y 14- comprises an elongated hoiising 5, a rotary cutco@s pa -s,from the hous@4g via the outlet I 6 in ting head 6, and means 7 for feeding the ears the r-ear end wall 13 of the housiiig. of corn to be cut successively and longitudinally T d be improve means for f eed t-h. ears ol to and through the cutting head. The appacorn successively t-lirough the centr-al opening 1,7 in tile rul'tti ratus, with the e,%ception of the feed means 7, pg l@@qd. P,_pm ...prises an endless conis like that of my aforesaid Patent No. 2,214,285 veyo,r 24 and-,a single main'feed roll The and reference may be had to the latter for a endless co ve or 24 is pq itioned directly in front . . 1. @ - . @n y _ - . more detailed disclosure of the various operating :415 of the front e4d I I of- @he housing 5 and parts of the apparatus. consists of a pair of sprockets 26 and 2-7 ancl a chaila 28, It fits bietween an elongated horizont4@ly extenoixig ftame @q and is so copstructed 4nd arl@a ged that it embodies an upper reach which is Ion itud nally f4@gg@ed With the inlet 14 _g in the front end wEiR I I of the housing and the central opening @1,7 in the rotary cutting head 6. The fraw-e 2 9 consists of a pair, of laterally spacecl ir@m'e -m'ell'bers '30 and th se are posilio ed in p4rallel relation and are fix-edly or r idly at. 1 1 9 tached to a brack-ot. 3.1. The @procket 26 is at the receiviiig end of the conveyor 24 and is mounted on a horizontally extendina stub slii@f@ (nQt shown) w-hich is carried by ar@d journalled in 60 bearing blogks 32 at the froxitends of the frame memb--rs 30. The sprocket, 27,is at @the di$pharge eiid of the endless,.conv eyqr 24 and is f@xed to an elongated shaft 33. It @is d.isposed directly in front of the front wall .1 I of the housing .5 ond in the housing 5 directly behind the front -end @65 is positioned th@e rearends -of the frame wall I 1, as shown in Figure 4. It embodies a member-s 30 of the f-rame 29,. The shaft 3.3 excentral cireular opening 17 and is suppqrted for ten-ds substantially horizontary and proj@- .cts in rotation about a horizontal axis by way of a set the ciirertion' of''the c@@4ng 1-0, as shown in Figof rollers 18. The latter carry the head so that ure 1. It is drive4 as herein.after described, by the latter extends transversely of the'housing 70 tile pow'er shaft 21 AAd extends through a ver@ and the circular opening 17 is coaxial with the tically elongated slo-t 34 in one of the framp corn inlet 14. An annular set or series of bevel members 30. The chain 28 -of the co;aveyor .;4 edged knives 19 is carried by the head 6 within is endl@ess. It is d'sposed between the frame the central opening 17,and the knives of this set members 30 of the frame 29 -and is trainpd IT5 are radially movable and are @adapted, in conaround the spwckets 2S and 27, The,4pper rela@li The housing 5. serves as a supporting strueti,ire for the rotary cutting head 6 and is carried in an elevated and horizontal position by way of a frame 8. It is associated with a pair of casings 9 and 10 and embodies a f-ront end wall I 1, a bottom wall 12 and a rear end wall 1.3 together with top and side walls. The front. end wall I I extends vertically and has a circular inlet 14 for the ears of corn to be cut. The bottom wall 12 of the housing extends betiveen and serves to space apart the front and rear end walls and is shaned to form directly behind and beneath the inlet 14 a downwardly extending duct 15 for the r-ut kernels. The rear end wall 13 is parauel to the front end wall I I and has an outlet 16 for the cobs. Said outlet is axially aligned with the corn inlet 14 in tl-ie front end wall I 1. The rotary cutting head 6 is dtsposed
[3]of the chain is supported by an elongated strip 35 and has a pair of elongated laterally spaced trough forming members 36 at its sides. The strip 35 extends between the two sprockets 26 and 27 and consists of a fixed forward section 37 and a pivoted rear section 38. The front section extends between and is carried by the frame members 30 of the frame 29, The rear section 38 of the strip 35 is pivotally slipported at its front end by way of a horizontal pivot pin 39 which extends between and is carried by the 'members 30. The rear or distal end of the rear section 33 is provided 'with a pair of laterally spaced apertured lugs 40 and these lap the sprbeket 27 and fit around the adjacent end of the shaft 33 so that the rear section 38 is vertically movable with the sprocket 27. The trough forming members 36 are secured to the upper portions of the frame members 30 and are disposed at the sides of the upper reach of the endless conveyor. They extend from the front ends of the members 30 to the front wall I I of the housing 5 and prevent lateral displacement of any ears of corn on the upper reach of the conveyor 24. The chain 28 of the conveyor consists of single links and alternately arranged double links. The single links are pivotally connected to the ends of the double links and both types of links have upwardly and outwardly extending side wings 4 1. Such wings are arranged in what may be terined a V formation and are so positioned or disposed that they operate when travelling in the upper reach of the conveyor to maintain the ears of corn in true longitudinal alignment with the central opening 17 in the cutting head 6. Because of the arrangement and action of the wings it is impossible for any ear of corn on the conveyor to travel other than in truly parallel relation with the path of travel. In other words the wings prevent the ears of corn on the conveyor from assuming an angled or tilted position with respect to the line or course of travel. The sprocket 27 is adapted to be driven so that the ears of corn which are placed on the upper reach of the conveyor after husking are caused to be fed one at a time towards the cutting head 6. The means for drivir-.g the sprocket wheel 27 comprises a pair of bevel gears 42 and 43, an idler gear 44, a gear 45 and a stub shaft 46. The bevel gear 42 is moun'ued on and keyed or otherwise fixedly secured to the power shaft 21 (see Figure 3). It is disposed in the casing IC and is in mesh with and serves to drive the bevel gear 43. The latter is mounted on a stub shaft (not shown) and this is journalled in a bearing in the casing 10 and carries the idler gear 44. The gear 45 is in mesh with and is driven by the idler gear and is fixed to one end of the stub shaft 46. Said stub shaft extends transversely through and is journalled in a bearing in tlfe casing I 0. It is connected by a universal joint 47 to the end of the shaft 33 that is reinote from, or opposite to, the sprocket 27. The joint 47 permits the shaft 33 together with the sprocket 27 and the discharge end of the endless conveyor 24 to swing or move relatively to the stub shaft 46.. The slot 34 re.stricts the shaft 33 and the parts associated therewith to vertical swinging movement. The feed roll 25 is located directly above tho sprocket 27 at the discharge end of the endless conveyor 24. It coacts with said discharge end of the conveyor to feed the ears of corn successively to and through the cutting head 6. As sh6,v@n in Vi-gur'e 2', the roll 25 is mounted on one 2,267,174 3 end ol a substantially horizontal shaft 48. It has a tubular outer tread part 49. The latter is preferably formed of vulcanized rubbor and- has a concave outer periphery. Hemispherical knoblike protuberances 50 are formed oh thb outer PL-.riphery of the tread part 49 and serve t6 grip the ears bf corn without puncturing or otherwise mutilating the kernels. Preferably the protuberances 50 are formed as integral parts of 10 the tread part 49. The shaft 48 overlies and is substantially the same in length as the shaft 33 f6r the sprocket 27. It is disposed exteriorly of the housing 5 and is connected for drive from the gear 45 by way of a gear 51 and a stub shaft 15 5 2. The gear 51 is disposed in the casing IC and is in mesh 'with the gear 45. 7ae stub shaft 52 ov6rlies the stub shaft 46 and is journalled in a bearing in said casing f O. The gear 51 is keyed or otherwise fixedly secured to tlfe inner end of 20 the stub shaft 52. A universal joint 53 extends between and serves to connect the outer end of the stub shaft 52 and the end of the shaft 48 that is renote from or opposite to the feed roll 25. Saidjointpermitstheshaft48togetherwith 25 the feed roll to swing vertically. VThen the power shaft 2 i is in operation the gears 45 and 51 are driven ar-d operate through the medium of the stub shafts 46 and 52 and the shafts 33 and 48, to drive the sprocket 27 and the feed roll 25. @@'O Because the gear 51 is driven from the gear 45 the sprocket 27 and the feed roll 25 are reversely driven (see arrows in Figure 4). The sproeltet wheel and the feed roll are of such size that the chain 28 of the conveyor 24 is driven at the .35 saire spoed as the peripheral speed of the feed roll. When the apparatus is in operation and an ear of corn is placed on the upper reach of the conveyor 24 such ear is fed in the di.rection of the housing 5. When the car approaches the 40 discharge end of the conveyor it passes between such discharge end and the feed roll 25 and the two coact to feed the ear into and through the central opening 17 in the rotary cutting head 6. The shaft 48 together with the feed roll 25 is -1@ 5 restricted to vertical swinging movement by way of a shoe 54. The latt@er is mounted on the central portion of the shaft 48 and is vertically slidable in a vertical guideway 55 between the housing 5 and the casing 9. The shaft 33 is provided 50 with a shoe 56 on its central portion and this shoe is disposed beneath the shoe 54, as shown in Figure 3, and is confined to vertical sliding movernent in the guideway 55. The feed roll 25 and the sprocket 27 are con55 nected together for conjoint and equidistant vertical movement to and from one another by means of a pair of bell cranks 57 @and 58. These cranks are associated with the shafts 48 and 33 respectively and are positioned in front of the 60 casing 9. The bell crank 57 is disposed directly above the bell crank 58. It comprises a horizontally extending arm 59 anda depending vertically extending arm 60 and it is mounted for vertical pivotal movement on a stud 61 which is 65 carried by a bracket 62 on the casing IO. The arms 59 and 60 of the bell crank 57'extend at right angles to one another and are conjointly movable. The distal end of the arm 59 erabodies a depending finger 63 and this fits 70 within a recess in the shoe 54. The lower distal end of the arm 60 embodies a single depending tooth 64. The bell crank 58 is in the form of a -one-piece casting and comprises a horizontary .extending' arm 65 and an upstanding vertically 75 '6iien-di'ng 'arnx 66. It i's mounted for vertical
[4]4 91267,174 pivotal movenient on a stud 67 which is carried by the bracket -62 on the -casing 10. The distal end of the arm 65 of @the bell crank 58 embodies an upstandng finger 68 which fits witl-lin a recess in the lower end of tlle shoe 56. @l The upper or distal end of the arm 66, embodies a pair of teeth 69 and these straddle the tooth 94 and so contlect the two crank arms that they -move in unison and thus cause the feed roll and the sprocket to move to and from one another 10 simultaneously and equidistantly. The feed roll 25 and the sprocket 27 are urged together into a closed position by way,of a,pair of leaf springs 70 and 71. These springs are positioned one over the other, as shown in Figure 3, and pro- 15 ject from the casing 10 in the direction of the housing B. The spring 70 overhes the shaft 48 and bears against the horizontally exten g arm 59 of the bell crank 57. The spring 71 underlies the shaft 33 and bears, against the horizontally 20 extending arm 65 of the beR crank@ 58. A block 72 in the guideway 55 and between the shoes 54 and 56 prevents flill closing of the feed roll a-,id sprocket. The feed roll 25 and the sprocket 27 Yare so positioned and are aldapted so to coact 25 with one another that they maintain the egrs of corn passing between them in truly centered rela,tion with the opening 17 in the rotary eutting head 6. When it is desired to operate the apparatus 30 the power shaft 21 is first set into motion. As soon as the shaft 21 starts to rotate the endless conveyor 24 and the feed roll 25 commence to rr,tate and the cutting head 6 is set in mgtion. As soon as the apparatus reaches its full or 35 normal speed the ears of corn to be cut, after husking, are placed on the upper reach of the endless conveyor 24. Preferably the ears are so arranged that the small ends face in, the direction of tne cutting head 6. As soon as an ear 40 is placed on the upper reach of the conveyor 2 4 it moves towards the front end wall I I of the housing 5. When the ear reaches the discharge end of the conveyor -it domes in contact with the feed, roll 25 and is fed by the, latter and the discharge end of the conveyor to and through the cu@ting head 6. If the, ear is a large one the feed roll 25 and the sprocket 27 move apart, as shbwn in dotted lines in Flgure 4. Due to the action of the coacting bell cranks 5,7 and 58 the feed roll and sprocket move simultaneously and equidistantly away from one another. As the ear is fed through the hole 1,7 in the cutting head 6 the knives' 1'9 cut the kernels from the cbb, as hereitb6fore pointed out. By reason veyor -24 er.,ibody the side I wings 41 the ears of corri tb bQ cut are automatically longitudinally aligned with the ceiitral I opening 1,7 in the cutting head during travel on the uppet reach of the conveyor 24. 60 TI-le herein described corn cutting apparatus is exceptionally efficient in operation by reason of the fact that the feed means 7 thereof is so designed that jamming of the ears of corn durirg travel to and through the head 6 is effec- 65 tively elimirated. Because the feed means 7 embodies but a'single main feedroil it effectively and efficiently fulfills its intended purpose and is essentially of simplified- design or construction. 70 Whereas the apparatus bas been -described as comprising a rotary cutting head, the knives (yf vlatch are moved outwards into a cutting position in response to outward movement of the auxiliary feed rolls 20 due to the passage of -an ear of com therebetween, it is to be understood that an apparatus embodying the improved feed means 7 in combination Nvith a different form or type of cutting head is- within the purview of the invention. It is also to be understood that the inve-@ition is not to berestricted to the details set forth since these may be modified within the scope of the appended claiins without departiiig from the spirit and, scope of the invention. Having thus described the invention what I claim a@s new -ar@d desire to secure by
