Patent Publication Number: US-4322288-A

Title: Apparatus for sizing particulate material

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an apparatus for classifying or sizing particulate material, particularly grain, seeds and the like. 
     In the known sizing or sorting devices of this general type, which also serve as seed dressers, the various sizing screens must be removed and replaced with screens having different size openings whenever the type of material to be sized or sorted is changed, in order to adjust the screen openings to the given material or to the specific purpose of sizing or sorting. During the harvesting period, the ripening of different grains which are to be sized or sorted by a single machine often coincides, for example, wheat and barley are often ripe and are harvested during the same general time period. In order to size or sort such different types of grains in the same prior art sorting devices, valuable time and manpower must be expended to continually change the removable sizing screens, thereby increasing costs and reducing the potential daily output of the sizing devices. 
     The present invention provides a particulate material sizing or sorting apparatus which can be quickly and conveniently adjusted for sizing a given particulate material without the costly and time-consuming removal and replacement of the sizing screens. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Briefly stated, the present invention provides an apparatus for sizing different types of particulate material such as grains, seeds and the like, without the need to replace the sizing screens. The apparatus comprises a first downwardly inclined sizing screen and a first discharge pan beneath and parallel to the first sizing screen. A second sizing screen with a second discharge pan disposed beneath and parallel to the second sizing screen, are located below the first discharge pan. The second sizing screen and second discharge pan are inclined downwardly in a direction opposite to the incline of the first sizing screen and discharge pan. A third discharge pan is disposed above and parallel to the second sizing screen. A movable diverter is disposed between the first sizing screen and discharge pan and the second sizing screen and discharge pan. When the diverter is in a first position, material from the lower end of the first sizing screen is directed to the top end of the third discharge pan and material from the lower end of the first discharge pan is directed to the top end of the second sizing screen. When the diverter is in a second position, material from the lower end of the first sizing screen is directed into a discharge opening, and material from the lower end of the first discharge pan is directed to the upper end of the second sizing screen. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawing, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a sectional schematic view of a preferred embodiment of a sizing apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention; and 
     FIG. 2 is a view of a portion of FIG. 1 with the diverter in a different position. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a sizing or sorting apparatus in accordance with the present invention. The sorting apparatus has three first perforated floors or sizing screens 2a, 2b, and 2c inclined downwardly, under each of which is a parallel first discharge floor or pan 4a, 4b and 4c, respectively. Particulate material such as grain, seeds and the like to be sorted is fed to the upper or inlet ends of the sizing screens 2a, 2b and 2c, for example across a feeder screen 6 having discharge openings 8a, 8b and 8c leading to the inlet ends of the respective screens. The particulate material which does not pass through the perforations of sizing screens 2a, 2b and 2c runs off of the lower end of the sizing screens 2a, 2b and 2c and falls into a first vertical collecting conduit 10. The material which passes through the sizing screens 2a, 2b and 2c is received in the discharge pans 4a, 4b and 4c, is advanced by gravity across the pans and subsequently runs off or is discharged from the lower or outlet ends of the discharge pans 4a, 4b and 4c where it falls into a second vertical collecting conduit 12. 
     Below the first sizing screens 2a, 2b and 2c and the first discharge pans 4a, 4b and 4c, are two second sizing screens 14a and 14b having perforations with a diameter different from that of sizing screens 2a, 2b and 2c, and which are inclined downwardly in a direction opposite to that of the first sizing screens 2a, 2b  and 2c. Beneath each of the second sizing screens 14a and 14b are two parallel second discharge pans 16a and 16b. Above and parallel to the sizing screen 14a there is a third discharge pan 18. 
     At the lower end of the collecting conduits 10 and 12 there is a generally curved collecting pan 20 in the shape of a trough, with two openings 22 and 24. Between the openings 22 and 24, the collecting pan 20 has a double partition 26 which, in this embodiment, is wedge-shaped. The partition 26 is hinged at 30 at the lower end of a common wall 28 between the two collecting conduits 10 and 12. The collecting pan 20, with its two openings 22 and 24 and with the partition 26, forms a first movable diverter. 
     With the diverter in a first position as shown in FIG. 1, particulate material falling from the collecting conduit 10 passes through opening 22 and onto the third discharge pan 18. Similarly, particulate material falling from the collecting conduit 12 passes through opening 24 and onto sizing screens 14a and 14b via conduits 32 and 34, respectively. 
     Particulate material which does not pass through the sizing screens 14a and 14b runs off and is discharged from the lower or outlet ends of the sizing screens 14a and 14b and enters a third collecting conduit 36. Particulate material which passes through the sizing screens 14a and 14b falls into the discharge pans 16a and 16b, is discharged into a fourth collecting conduit 38 from the lower or outlet ends of the discharge pans 16a and 16b, and moves downwardly toward a first discharge opening 40. 
     The third collecting conduit 36 includes an opening 42 to a fifth collecting conduit 44 which receives the particulate material from the third discharge pan 18. The opening 42 may be closed by a movable flap 46, which can shut off the third collecting conduit 36 (as shown) so that the material running off from the sizing screens 14a and 14b can be fed, along with the material discharged from discharge pan 18, into the collecting conduit 44. Conduit 44 is connected to a second discharge opening 48. Alternatively, the flap 46 may be moved to close off opening 42, thereby allowing particulate material running off of the sizing screens 14a and 14b to be fed through a conduit 50 into a third discharge opening 52. 
     When the first diverter is in a second position, as shown in FIG. 2, the material coming from the collecting conduit 12 passes through opening 24 and into a conduit 54 where it proceeds into the discharge opening 40. The material falling from the collecting conduit 10 passes through opening 22 and onto the sizing screens 14a and 14b. 
     As an example, the first sizing screens 2a, 2b and 2c may have a hole opening of 2.5 mm (for barley), and the second sizing screens 14a and 14b may have a hole opening of 2 to 2.2 mm (for wheat). Consequently, it is possible to size either barley or wheat, as desired without changing screens merely by changing the position of the first diverter. 
     The two diverters may be adjusted manually or by means of a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder. 
     In the position of the first diverter 20, as is shown in FIG. 2, the first sizing screens 2a, 2b and 2c and the second sizing screens 14a and 14b are connected in series, which implies a considerable increase in the overall screen surface. The coarse material first passes over the screens 2a, 2b or 2c, separating the fine material therefrom, and then passes over the screens 14a or 14b to separate any residual fine material. All of the coarse material is discharged through the outlet 48 if the second diverter or flap 46 is in the illustrated position, or through the outlet 52 if the second diverter is in the other position. 
     When the first diverter is in the position of FIG. 1, on the other hand, the coarse material passing over the upper screens 2a, 2b and 2c is discharged through the outlet 48 without being subjected to further screening by screens 14a and 14b. The fine material which passes through the screens 2a, 2b and 2c is subjected to further classification by the screens 14a and 14b. The coarse material is discharged through outlet 48 or outlet 52 depending on the position of the flap diverter 46. 
     From the foregoing description, it can be seen that the present invention comprises an apparatus for classifying or sizing particulate material which can be quickly and conveniently adjusted for sizing or sorting a given particulate material without the costly and time-consuming removal and replacement of sizing screens. It will recognized by those skilled in the art that changes or modifications may be made to the above-described embodiment without departing from the broad inventive concepts of the invention. It is understood therefore that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiment disclosed, but it is intended to cover all modifications which are within the scope and spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims.