Improvements in Machines for Trimming Oil Cakes.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Trimming Oil Cakes.
I, ALFRED WILLARD FRENCH, of 194, Joralemon Street, in the Borough of
Brooklyn, in the City and State of New York, United States of America, Civil
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a machine for trimming the edges of oil cakes by
removing the soft, marginal portion of the same. The bulk of each oil cake as it
comes from the press is hard and compact and has been practically freed from
oil in the press, but the marginal portion has not been acted upon by the press
to the same extent, and is, therefore, comparatively soft, and still contains con-
siderable oil. It is desirable to remove this soft, marginal portion of each oil
cake so that it can be again pressed for recovering the oil contained therein,
without, however, removing any part of the hard portion of the cake which is
practically free from oil.
One of the objects of this invention is to so organize the machine that the
transverse or end edges and the longitudinal or side edges of each cake may be
trimmed expeditiously. For this purpose the oil cake to be trimmed is first
moved by a primary feed device transversely over the feed table between the
primary cutters which trim off the transverse or end edges of the cake, and then
the cake is moved lengthwise over the table at right angles to the direction of
its first movement by a secondary feed device which carries the cake between
two secondary cutters whereby the longitudinal or side edges of the cake are
trimmed.
Another object of this invention is to so mount the cutters of the machine
that they will follow the outline of the hard part of the cake, which outline is
usually curved, and only trim off the soft parts of the cake which still contain
a considerable amount of oil, or the cutters may be controlled so as to cut the
edges of the cake along definite lines. For the purpose of trimming off only the
soft edge portions of the cake the cutters are mounted on movable supports
which are yieldingly pressed inwardly so that the cutters can adjust themselves
to the varying outline of the hard edge part of the cake. When it is desired to
trim off the edges of the cake so as to give the same a particular shape or outline
the inward and outward movement of the cutters is effected by a shifting device
which is controlled by the feed device whereby the cake is fed past the cutters.
This shifting device may be constructed so as to permit of cutting the edges of
the cakes in various shapes. If it is desired to trim the edges of the cake per-
fectly straight the cutters are fastened against inward and outward movement,
whereby the edges of the cake are trimmed straight regardless of whether they
are soft or hard.
Another object of this invention is to provide simple means whereby the table
or platform which receives the trimmed cake is automatically lowered as the
cakes are successively delivered upon the same, so as to keep the top of the pile
of oil cakes always in the same relation to the discharge end of the trimming

page_text: machine. This mechanism consists essentially of a vertically movable table
which receives the material from the feed table, a restraining mechanism which
resists the descent of the receiving table, and an automativ releasing mechanism
which is actuated by the movement of the material from the feed table to the
receiving table and which releases the restraining mechanism to allow of a
downward movement of the receiving table corresponding to the thickness of the
material delivered upon the same.
Another object of this invention is to provide a simple and convenient device
whereby the pile of cakes may be removed from the pile table to a truck or other
receiver, this device consisting essentially of a horizontal movable pusher which
is adapted to move over the pile table when the latter is lowered.
1.11
1041 LfTaha 1900
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
improvешению
I, ALFRED WILLARD FRENCH, of 194, Joralemon Street, in the Borough of
Brooklyn, in the City and State of New York, United States of America, Civil
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement:―
This invention relates mainly to a machine for trimming the edges of oil
cakes by removing the soft, marginal portion of the same.
The bulk of each oil cake as it comes from the oil press is hard and compact
and has been practically freed from oil in the press but the marginal portion of
the cakes has not been acted upon by the press to the same extent, and is, there-
It is desirable to
fore, comparatively soft and still contains considerable oil.
remove this soft, marginal portion of each oil cake so that it can be again pressed
for recovering the oil contained therein, without, however, removing any of the
hard portion of the cake which is practically free from oil and which is not
required to be pressed a second time.
The main object of the present invention is to so mount the cutters, particularly
those which trim the side edges of the cakes, that they will follow automatically
the outline of the hard part of the cake, which outline is usually curved and more
or less irregular, so that the cutters trim off only the soft parts of the cake which
still contain a considerable amount of oil. The side edges of the cakes are com-
paratively long and the quantity of soft material along the side edges is usually
considerable. It is therefore of great importance to remove this soft material
and extract the oil therefrom, without however, removing any part of the hard
material, the working over of which would serve no useful purpose. The trans-
verse or end edges of the cakes are comparatively short and the line of demar-
cation between the soft and hard portions is there less pronounced. These edges
can be trimmed off in many cases to a predetermined line or shape without
material loss.
Another object of my invention is to provide simple means whereby the table
or platform which receives the trimmed cakes is automatically lowered as the
cakes are successively delivered upon the same, so as to keep the top of the pile
of oil cakes always at a constant level in order that the cakes coming from the
machine may pile themselves without requiring any attention.

page_text: My invention has the further object to provide convenient mechanism whereby
the pile of trimmed cakes may be removed from the pile table upon a truck for
transportation.
In the accompanying drawings consisting of two sheets: Figure 1 is a side
elevation of a cake trimming machine embodying my improvement. Figure 2
is a top plan view of the same. Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal section taken
centrally through the machine. Figure 4 is a horizontal section in line A-A,
Figure 3. Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal section in line B-B,
Figure 4. Figure 6 is a fragmentary vertical transverse section in line C-C,
Figure 2.
Like numerals of references refer to like parts in the several figures.
The frame of the machine may be constructed in any suitable manner and
consists, as shown, of two upright side pieces 1, 1, and a horizontal top or table 2..
The oil cake to be trimmed is first moved transversely over the table between
two primary rotary cutters 3, 3, which trim off the transverse or end edges of
the cake, and which are in this case so mounted as to trim off the end edges to
a predetermined line or shape. The cake is then moved lengthwise over the
table at right angles to the direction of its first movement and carried between
two secondary rotary cutters 4, 4, which trim off the longitudinal or side edges
of the cake, and which are so mounted as to follow the outline of the hard por-
tion of the cake and remove only the soft marginal portions thereof.
The primary cutters 3, 3, are arranged horizontally on opposite sides of the
transverse path of the cakes and project above the surface of the table. Each
primary cutter is secured to the upper end of a vertical spindle 5 which is jour-
nalled below the cutter in bearings 6. The latter are formed in the front end
of a laterally movable rock arm or support 7 which is arranged transversely
below the table and is pivoted at its inner end to the side pieces of the frame by
vertical pivots 8, so that the cutter support rocks in a horizontal plane. Each
of the cutters is rotated by a twisted belt 9 passing around a pulley 10 on a
longitudinal shaft 11 and a pulley 12 secured to the cutter spindle. The longi-
tudinal shaft 11 is journalled in bearings 13 on the side of the frame opposite
to that on which the primary cutters are arranged and the twisted belts 9 pass
transversely underneath the feed table. 14 is the main driving shaft which is
journalled transversely in bearings on the front end of the main frame. Motion
is transmitted from the main driving shaft to the longitudinal shaft 11 by a
short upright shaft 15 journalled in bearings on the frame and connected at
its lower end by intermeshing bevel gear wheels 16 with the main shaft and
connected at its upper end by intermeshing miter gear wheels 17 with the
front end of the longitudinal shaft 11. The primary cutters are pressed in-
wardly or toward each other by two springs 18, each of which is interposed
between one of the rocking arms and the adjacent part of the main frame, as
represented in Figures 3, 4 and 5. The lateral movement of cach cutter is
limited by an adjustable stop device which consists, preferably, of a
threaded rod 19 which is arranged transversely in an opening in the side piece
of the frame and connected at its inner end with one of the rock arms, and which
carries inner and outer screw nuts 20, 21, adapted to bear against the inner
and outer sides of the frame, respectively, as represented in Figure 4. When
no oil cakes are passing between the primary cutters, the latter are held by the
spring action in their innermost position, the movement of the cutters in this
direction being limited by the outer screw nuts 21 engaging with the outer
sides of the frame, as represented in Figure 4.
screw-
The cakes are fed to the primary cutters by a primary feed device which
preferably consists of a reciprocating carriage or board 22. This carriage is
guided in ways 23 arranged on the table between the primary cutters and is
provided in its outer end with a raised flange or rib 24 which abuts against the
outer end of the cake.
For the purpose of trimming off the edges of the cake to a convex or other

page_text: shape which the trade demands, the inward and outward movement of the
cutters is controlled by a shifting device which is operated by the carriage as
the latter feeds the cake past the cutters. This shifting device, as shown in
Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6, consists of a pair of transverse toggle bars 25 which are
pivoted at their lower outer ends to the rock arms of the primary cutters a
bearing shoe 26 pivotally connected with the elevated inner ends of the toggle
bars, and a depending cam 27 detachably secured by bolts 28 to a flange 29 on
the under side of the carriage and adapted to bear against the bearing shoe of
the toggle bars. As the operator places the cake on the carriage and then pushes
the same forwardly between the primary cutters, the cam 27 engages with the
bearing shoe and depresses the same, thereby straightening the toggle bars and
causing the cutters to be shifted and produce a correspondingly shaped cut on
the end edges of the cake. As shown in Figure 6, the cam is provided with a
convex bearing face which causes the cutters to be gradually separated from
the beginning of the cutting action on the cake until the middle of the end edges
have been reached, and to gradually approach each other during the second half
of their cutting action on the cake, by which means the end edges of the cake
are trimmed in a curve or on a rounded convex line, as shown in Figure 2.
By varying the shape of the face of the cam the movement of the cutters may
be varied so as to cut the edges of the cakes in any desired shape.
After the end edges of the cake have been trimmed by the primary cutters
the operator moves the cake into engagement with a secondary feed device
which is arranged in rear of the primary feed device and at right angles thereto
and which carries the cake between the secondary cutters for trimming off the
side or longitudinal edges of the cake. The operator then moves the carriage
back preparatory to feeding the next cake between the primary cutters.
The secondary feed device, as shown in the drawings, consists preferably of
a feed belt or chain 30 having propelling wings 31 which engage the rear edges
of the cakes. This chain is arranged with its upper feeding portion in a longi-
tudinal slot or groove 32 in the table and runs around sprocket wheels 33, 34,
arranged at the ends of the table. The feed chain is driven by a belt running
around a pulley 35 mounted on a transverse shaft 36 which carries the delivery
sprocket wheel 34. The receiving sprocket wheel 33 is mounted on a transverse
shaft 37 arranged in the front part of the frame.
The secondary cutters which trim the side edges of the oil cakes are arranged
horizontally on opposite sides of the rear part of the table and project above
the surface of the table into the path of the cakes. The cakes are guided so as
to pass centrally between the secondary cutters by two spring arms or guides 80.
These guides are arranged on opposite sides of the path of the cakes in front
of the secondary cutters and are secured to the adjacent part of the feed table,
as represented in Figure 2. Each cutter is secured to the upper end of a ver-
tical spindle 38 journalled at its lower end and near its upper end in bearings 39,
40, which are formed in the front end of a laterally movable, bifurcated rock
arm or supporting frame 41. The latter is arranged lengthwise below the feed
table and is pivoted at its rear end to the side pieces of the frame by a vertical
pivot 42, so that the arm rocks in a horizontal plane. Each of the secondary
cutters is rotated by a twisted belt 43 passing around a pulley 44 on the main
driving shaft 14 and a pulley 45 secured to the cutter spindle between its bearings.
The cutters are pressed inwardly or toward each other by one or more springs
which hold the cutters yieldingly to their work and allow the cutters to recede
or move outwardly as the outline of the hard portion of the cake renders this
necessary. As shown in Figure 4, a single spring 46 is employed which connects
both cutters." This spring may be connected directly with one of the rock
arms 41, while its other end is connected with the other rock arm by a turn
buckle 47, whereby the tension of the spring may be adjusted.
The lateral movement of each secondary cutter may be limited by an adjust-
able stop device which prevents the cutters from assuming an abnormal posi-

page_text: tion and which is constructed like that of the primary cutters.
This stop
device, as shown, consists of a screw-threaded rod 48 which is arranged trans-
versely in an opening in the side piece of the frame and connected at its inner
end with one of the rock arms, and which carries inner and outer screw nuts 49,
50, adapted to bear against the inner and outer sides of the frame, respectively,
as represented in Figures 3 and 4. When no oil cakes are passing between
the secondary cutters, the latter are held by the spring action in their innermost
position, the movement of the cutters in this direction being limited by the
outer screw nuts 50 engaging with the outer sides of the frame. As a cake
passes between the cutters the latter engages with the side edges of the cake
and remove the soft edge portions therefrom, but do not cut into the hard part
of the cake to any appreciable extent. The cutters follow the variation in the
outline of the hard part of the cake, thereby removing and saving all parts of
the cake bearing an excess of oil, but do not remove any of the hard part from
which the oil has been pressed. The material which is removed by the cutters
is discharged through openings 51 formed in the table adjacent to the cutters,
as shown in Figure 2.
If desired, the primary cutters may be mounted like the secondary cutters
to follow the outline of the hard portion of the cake.
The receiving table and the mechanism by which it is automatically lowered
is constructed as follows:
52 represents a horizontal table or platform which is arranged adjacent to the
discharge end of the feed table and which receives the cakes, one upon the other,
as they are successively discharged therefrom. This receiving table is mounted
on the upper end of a vertically movable plunger 53 which is arranged with its
lower end in an upright hydraulic cylinder 54. 55 represents the pressure pipe
which is provided with a hand valve 56 and connected by a branch pipe 57 with
the lower end of the hydraulic cylinder. 58 represents a vent or escape pipe
provided with a valve 59 and connected with the branch pipe 57. The valve 59
is normally held closed by a weighted arm 60 connected with the rocking stem
of this valve. 61 represents a short rock shaft journalled in a bearing 62 on the
rear end of the feed table and provided at its inner end with an actuating or trip
rock arm 63, and at its outer end with a transmitting rock arm 64, both of which
project rearwardly. The inner rock arm 63 projects over the receiving table
or the pile of cakes resting thereon, and the outer rock arm 64 is connected by
a rod 65 ith the rock arm of the escape valve 59.
In order to make the table ready to receive a pile of cakes, the table is raised
nearly to the top of the feed table. This is effected by opening the hand valve
in the pressure pipe, which admits the pressure fluid onto the hydraulic cylin-
der, the escape valve being shut so that the pressure liquid cannot escape, and
the force of the latter is exerted in raising the table. When the top of the
receiving table has been raised nearly to the level of the feed table, the hand valve
in the pressure pipe is closed. In this position of the receiving table, the latter
just reaches the underside of the rock arm 63, but does not raise the same,
thereby holding the escape valve shut and causing the receiving table to be
held in an elevated position by the liquid confined below the piston. If desired,
the pressure pipe valve may be left open until the receiving table has been
raised sufficiently to raise the rock arm 63 which immediately opens the escape
valve, thereby allowing the pressure liquid to escape, thus indicating to the
operator that the receiving table has been raised to its highest position. As
soon as the liquid escapes from the escape pipe the operator closes the valve in
the pressure pipe. The receiving table now descends owing to the escape of
the liquid through the open escape valve, and when the receiving table descends
to its normal position, below the top of the feed table, the rock lever 63, which
descends with the table, closes the escape valve and thereby stops the descent
of the receiving table. As the trimmed oil cakes are delivered successively
from the feed table upon the receiving table, each cake passes along the under-

page_text: side of the rock arm 63, whereby the latter is lifted and the escape valve is
opened, thereby permitting the liquid to escape from the cylinder and causing
the receiving table to descend. When the receiving table and pile of cakes
resting thereon have been lowered to the extent of the thickness of a cake, the
actuating rock arm 63 has been lowered sufficiently to close the escape valve,
thereby stopping the descent of the receiving table. This operation is repeated
for each cake which is delivered upon the receiving table, whereby the latter
is lowered intermittently by gravity and in the same measure as the cakes are
fed upon the pile, thereby keeping the top of the pile always at the same relative
height with the top of the feed table.
The feed table is preferably guided in its vertical movement by a guide lug 66
projecting laterally therefrom and sliding on an upright rod 67 which is secured
In order
at its upper and lower ends to the frame of the machine and the floor.
to deliver the cakes properly from the feed table to the receiving table and cause
the rear end of the cake to be disengaged from the wings of the feed chain, a
guide 68 is provided. This guide, consists, preferably, of a plate which is
notched to permit the same to straddle the upper part of the delivery sprocket
wheel and which extends from opposite sides of this wheel in line with the top
of the table rearwardly and downwardly in an eccentric curve away from the
feed chain to the front side of the receiving table. The cakes are carried by
the wings of the feed chain from the feed table along the curved or inclined
guide plates. As the cakes move along the guide plate the eccentric curve of
the latter causes the cakes to be gradually stripped from the wings, and when
the cakes have been disengaged from the wings their forward movement upon
the table or the pile is completed by sliding down the curved plate aided by the
weight, if necessary, of the succeeding cakes which are delivered upon the pile.
The machine is preferably provided with a mechanism for removing the pile
of cakes from the receiving table, from time to time, upon a wheeled truck or
other receiver. This mechanism is constructed as follows:-
-
69 represents a pusher head which is normally arranged in front of the pile
receiving table and secured to the rear end of a horizontal pusher rod 70. This
rod is arranged lengthwise in the lower part of the machine and guided in cross
bars 71, 72, connecting the side pieces of the frame. 73 represents a cord, steel
wire or chain which passes with its intermediate portion underneath a guide
roller 74 on the cross bar 71 and which is secured with its front end to the front
end of the pusher rod, while its rear end is wound upon a drum 75. This drum
is mounted loosely on the shaft 36 of the delivery sprocket wheel and is pro-
vided on one side with a friction clutch jaw or disk 76 which is adapted to be
engaged by a corresponding friction clutch jaw or disk 77 which slides length-
wise on the shaft 36, but is compelled to turn therewith by a spline or key.
The clutch disk 77 may be moved into and out of engagement with the clutch
disk 76 by any suitable means, for instance, by means of a hand lever 78, as
shown in Figure 4.
When the pile receiving table has passed below the pusher arm and it is
desired to push the pile from the receiving table, the clutch disk 77 is engaged
with the clutch disk 76 of the drum, thereby causing the drum to turn with
the shaft 36 in the direction of the arrow. This causes the cord or wire 73 to
be wound upon the drum and the pusher rod to be moved rearwardly, so that
its pusher head engages the front side of the pile of cakes and pushes the pile
from the receiving table upon a truck or other receiver. The clutch disk 77
is then disengaged from the clutch disk 76 and the pusher rod is moved for-
wardly into its normal position by the operator, during which movement the
cord or wire is unwound from the drum and the latter is turned backwardly.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. The combination with a feed table over which the cakes are moved in being

page_text: trimmed, of a rotary cutter arranged parallel with said table and mounted to
be capable of free movement inwardly, and a yielding tension device which
resists the outward movement of the cutter and holds the latter yieldingly
against the edge of the hard portion of the cake, whereby the cutter is caused
to follow the irregular outline of the hard portion, thus removing only the soft
portion outside of the hard portion of the cake.
2. The combination with the feed table, of a feed board movably mounted
thereon and provided on its underside with a longitudinal pattern cam, rotary
cutters arranged on opposite sides of the feed table, transversely movable sup-
ports carrying said cutters, a shoe in which said cam engages, toggle bars extend-
ing from said shoe in opposite directions to said cutter supports and moving
the latter outwardly, and means whereby the cutter supports-are moved inwardly.
3. The combination with a vertically movable receiving table which receives
the cakes successively, of a restraining mechanism which resists the descent of
the table, and an automatic releasing device which is actuated by each cake as
it moves to the receiving table and which releases the restraining mechanism
for every cake fed upon the receiving table and allows of a corresponding down-
ward movement of the table.
4. The combination with a vertically movable receiving table which receives
the cakes successively, of a hydraulic device whereby said table is raised and
which resists its descent, and a trip device which is actuated by the movement
of the cakes to the table and which controls the hydraulic device and through
it the descent of the table.
5. The combination with a vertically movable receiving table which receives
the cakes successively of a plunger carrying said table and arranged in a
hydraulic cylinder, a pressure pipe connected with said cylinder and having a
valve, an escape pipe connected with said cylinder and having an escape valve,
and a trip device which is connected with the escape valve and which is adapted
to be shifted by the movement of the cakes to the table, thereby opening the
escape valve.
G. The combination with a vertically movable receiving table which receives
the cakes successively, of a plunger carrying said table and arranged in a
hydraulic cylinder, a pressure pipe connected with said cylinder and having a
valve, an escape pipe connected with said cylinder and having an escape valve,
a rock shaft provided with a transmitting arm which is connected with said
escape valve and with a trip arm which is adapted to rest on said table, or on
the pile of cakes and which is actuated by the movement of the cakes to said
table.
7. The combination with the feed table, the horizontal rotary cutters arranged
above said table and the vertically movable receiving table arranged at one end
of the feed table and below the level thereof, of a horizontal pusher rod arranged
in guides below said feed table to move toward and from the receiving table,
a rotary drum for actuating said pusher rod, and a flexible connection extend-
ing from said drum to said rod.
D
1 T..1.. 1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.