Improvements in Potato-planting Machinery.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Feb., 1887
Complete Left, 2nd Nov., 1887
Complete Accepted, 13th Dec., 1887
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Potato-planting Machinery.
EDMUND BUCKLE 15 Hodge Lane Prestwich near Manchester Cominercial Traveller
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:
That it consists of two wide deep-grooved pulleys or rollers arranged on axes on
opposite sides of each of the oscillating tubes or holes mentioned in English Complete
patent Specifications No. 10,421 and No. 16,638 of A.D. 1886, in the line of the
oscillation, about the upper ends of said tubes or holes, facilatating the entrance of
potatoes into the said tubes or holes from the oscillating trays, also said pulleys or
rollers being capable of a certain amount of adjustment in varying the distance
between them for different sizes of potatoes, and the aforesaid tubes being by means
of vertical slits in the capable of a certain amount of contractability and expansibility
corresponding to the adjustment of the distance between the said pulleys or rollers.
Dated this 2nd day of February 1887.
EDMUND BUCKLE.

page_text: EDMUND BUCKLE 15 Hodge Lane Prestwich near Manchester Commercial Traveller
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:
It consists of certain improvements for potato-planting applied to my inventions
specified in British complete patent Specifications No. 10421 and No. 16638
A.D. 1886.
This invention consists of two wide deep-grooved pulleys or rollers on axes on
opposite sides of each of the oscillating tubes or holes mentioned in British complete
patent Specifications No. 10421 and No. 16638 A.D. 1886, mounted in the trays in
the line of the oscillation of the trays, about the upper ends of said tubes or holes,
facilatating the entrance of potatoes into the said tubes or holes from the oscillating
trays, also said pulleys or rollers being capable of a certain amount of adjustment in
varying the distance between them for different sizes of potatoes, and the aforesaid
tubes being by means of a vertical slit in each of them capable of a certain amount of
contractability and expansibility corresponding to the adjustment of the distance
between the said pulleys or rollers.
I use the words "pulleys" and "rollers" as designating words both for the same
things. My reference for definition of word "slit," noun and verb, is Chambers
Etymological English Dictionary. Hereafter when I say said specifications" I
refer to these said specifications No. 10421 and No. 16638 A.D. 1886. The parts
represented in the drawings hereto annexed lettered T, O, U, N, H, P, D, & Q,
correspond to the parts so marked in said specification No. 10421. Referring to
drawings hereto annexed Fig's. I and II. show the grooved rollers A A¹ in a tray of
drawings of said Specification No. 10421, about the upper ends of oscillating tube P
of said drawings.
Fig. III. shows the grooved rollers A A' as mounted in a straight tray for one,
two, or more drills. Fig's. IV. and V. show the position and shape of the grooved
rollers A A¹ in a tray looking down upon the tray. In Fig. VI. the grooved roller
is shown in position and shape in cross-section in a tray. Fig. Vl. shows one grooved
roller and Fig. VII. shows the grooved rollers A A' in relation to a short tube here
marked P (not telescopic) of said specification No. 16638, such tube being here some-
what lengthened, and in Fig. VII. with a vertical slit L as aforesaid. 1 represent
each of the grooved rollers by an inner and outer circle the inner representing the
diameter at the bottom of the groove and the outer the diameter at the edges. I make
the rollers of any suitable material preferably of wood.
In all the figures of drawings hereto annexed the parts lettered K denote sliding
blocks moving in slots in which blocks are inserted the axes of the rollers, these
blocks by being adjusted at various positions in the slots place the grooved rollers at
different distances apart for the entrance of potatoes of different sizes between the
rollers.
It is evident that the rollers may be equatorially slit or divided to adjust their
working width on their axes to correspond with the adjustment of distance between

page_text: rollers of each couple of rollers.
Where the grooved rollers are applied to the
oscillating holes of said specification No. 16638 A.D. 1886, the relative position is
the same as in the case of the short tubes, the upper portions of the sides of the
round holes being cut away where the rollers require the necessary space for their
location mounting and freedom, a thicker beam and deeper holes being used than just
as shown in drawings of said Specification No. 16638 A.D. 1886.
In Figs. I. III a and VII. I show the said vertical slits L to admit of contraction
and expansion of the said tubes, to contract and enlarge the interior space of the tubes,
to correspond with the adjustment of the rollers to each other in a couple, to accom-
modate different sizes of potatoes.
With this invention applied to my inventions of said specifications No. 10421 and
No. 16638 A.D. 1886, I vary certain parts immediately concerned as follows,-the
level section of trays of said specifications is made part circular section to correspond
with the grooves of the rollers,the upper valves of said specifications are cach made
into two marked VV in these drawings both narrow to enter action between the lower
edges of the rollers transverse to the line of oscillation of trays on horizontal elastic
supports R R in these drawings fixed on trays, and the slit tubes are divided in
halves by making vertical slits in them on sides opposite to slits, mounting one half of
each short tube and one half of each upper portion of long tube as in Fig's. I. and II.
on swing supports C pivoted in blocks K, and mounting the lower valves (V₁ in these
drawings) of said specifications on such swung halves B in these drawings. By thus
vertically slitting the tubes in halves I can get an accurate correspondence in the distance
of the counterpart halves from each other and resultant interior space between them
to the adjustable distance of the rollers from each other in a couple, the halves
perform their function as holders in position of the potatoes on the lower valves (until
the potatoes are required to be released) as in the undivided tubes of said specifica-
tions, and one half of each short tube or half of each upper portion of long tube,
with its swing support can answer as support of a lower valve taking place of a sup-
port shown in drawings of said specifications. The swung halves B' in these drawings
have elastic pulls to close them, i.e. to bring them to or near their counterparts and
adjustable stops to regulate the closure. The fulcrum end of the classic pull is
fastened to a portion of the tray past the half B in these drawings to have a continual
tendency to draw B¹ to B. Flexible links, such as leathern thongs are fastened to
the portion of tube B₁ and the links' other ends fastened to a portion of the machine
not partaking of the oscillatory motion of the tray on the opposite side of B₁ to the
direction of the pull of the elastic pull about on a level with or a little above
the fastening of the links on B', so that at every oscillation one way the portion of
tube B' and lower valve V are pulled open or away from B or vice versa B from
B and V the duplication of the vertical slits allowing portions B and B¹ to be so
separated. The potato on lower valve V₁ when B₁ and V₁ are in position as shown
Figs. II. and IIIb then naturally by inertia and gravity or momentum and gravity
falls over and past the lower valve V₁ through the guiding channels to the bottom of
the drills. The elastic pulls, adjustable stops, and thongs (all very simple) are ommitted
from the drawings giving greater clearness. The lower valve V is capable of clamp
adjustment up and down the portion of tube carrying it to accommodate different
lengths of potatoes. Instead of elastic pulls, springs may be applied in various posi-
tions and shapes as spiral at pivots of swing supports C, helical or plain springs
bearing on convex side of B₁, and push studs instead of thongs.
For claims regarding analogous section of tray and tray in modifications of section
see claims 5 and 6 said specification No. 10421 and claim said specification No. 16638,--
for claims regarding valves on any suitable support see claim 9 said Specification
No. 10421, and for claims regarding oscillating tubes and their equivalents and action
see claims 1 and 8 said Specifications No. 10421 and claim said Specification
No. 16638.
Figs. VIII., IX. and X. of this Specification illustrate the application of this inven-
tion to the inventions of said Specifications in threo types of potato planting machines
working on the principles of my inventions of this and said specifications.

page_text: Fig. VIII. shows the duplicate tray of said specification No. 10421 with rollers A A¹
applied to wheel-barrow-type of machine.
Fig. IX. shows a long tray with this invention of rollers and slits and mentioned
applied variations to a four drill machine for animal power. In this machine T is the
tray, A A' the grooved rollers, V V the upper valves, V the lower valves mounted on
vertically divided halves B¹ of tubes, R R supports of upper valves, X X inclined
planes with dead levels working upper valves, H hopper, G guiding spouts trailing on
ground with suspending bar M. and distending bar N regulating to drills, D driving
wheel, Qpinion driving crank with connecting rod oscillating tray T.
Fig. X. shows the invention applied to tray worked on a plough.
Same letters denote same parts in all figures in these drawings.
It is evident that these various parts immediately concerned could be worked con-
versely i.e. the tray, rollers, and those parts partaking of the direct oscillation could
be left stationary on the carriage, and their converse acting parts such as immediate
parts of sides of hoppers as F Figs. IV. and IX., and interior divisions of hoppers
over trays as E. Fig. III., and the parts of tubes carrying lower valves and working
planes of upper valves could have the oscillatory gear attached to them.
The parts marked S in drawings Fig's. VI. and IX. are slides of different thicknesses
to vary the upper transverse width of the space between the rollers of each couple
according to the adjustment of the rollers by the blocks K, and also to countersink
the edges of the rollers to avoid the potatoes catching on their edges.
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 grooved rollers herein described and shown in drawings hereto annexed
applied to and in combination with my inventions and their modifications specified in
British complete patent specifications No. 10421 and No. 16638 A.D. 1886.
2. The grooved rollers herein described and shown in drawings in the converse
working of parts herein referred to.
3. In potato-planting machines the employment of rollers between orifices and
surfaces to facilatate the entrance of potatoes into orifices from surfaces, on a principa!
of this invention.
4. In potato-planting machines the combination of grooved rollers and trays, and
grooved rollers and platforms, to facilatate the transit of potatoes from surfaces into
orifices of holes and tubes.
5. The use and making of the vertical slits of this invention in the oscillating tubes
of British Patents No. 10421 and No. 16638 A.D. 1886 to contract and expand the
interior spaces of tubes.
6. In potato-planting machines the expanding and contracting of tubes and their
interior space by means of vertical slits, to correspond with adjustment of rollers in
distance from each other when in couples, in the same or similar sphere of action to
that shown in this specification.
7. The application of the herein described grooved rollers and vertical slits of this
invention in such machines as here portrayed in Fig's. VIII., IX. and X., in
direct and converse workings, and in any convenient type of potato planting machine
and appliances.
8. The right to modifications in detail of the aforesaid claimed grooved rollers.and
vertical slits.
Tad this 1st do of No 1007