Improvements in Chaff Cutters and the like Food Preparing Machines.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 9th June, 1899
Complete Specification Left, 9th Mar., 1900-Accepted, 9th June, 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Chaff Cutters and the like Food Preparing
Machines.
I, GEORGE COWLEY BINGHAM, of 64, New Broad Street, in the City of London,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The first part of my invention refers to that part of chaff cutters commonly
known as the rising cover. In order to make this unchokable to prevent
breakage I construct it with grooves for the teeth of the feeding rollers or star
blocks to work in. The grooves are extended completely over the surface of the
rising cover which is in proximity to the star block.
These grooves may be made open, the rising cover at the front would then
have the appearance of a grate, and any material drawn round would be dis-
charged.
To ensure greater security against breakage I make the rising cover to hinge
to the mouth piece instead of rising and falling in a slot, and produce the
necessary pressure on the material by means of springs attached at one end to
the rising cover and at the other end to a bell crank lever. The bell crank
lever at the other end engages with a stop on the rising cover so that should
the rising cover rise beyond a certain point the bell crank lever is released and
the tension on the springs reduced. As an additional precaution against over
feeding I make use of a plate or guard which descends before the star block as
the rising cover rises. Instead of springs, a lever and weight, such as is used
generally on these machines, may be substituted with similar effect.
Another part of my invention refers to a striking gear for use on chaff cutters
and the like food preparing machines. It consists of a serrated plate fixed to
the arch plate or side of the machine, upon which a corresponding serrated plate
engages having a slot for the insertion of an L shaped rod. The serrated por-
tions of the plates are fixed in an approximately vertical plane and are made
to engage one in the other at almost any angle in that plane. On the upper
part of the L shaped rod the striking fork is constructed to slide. This fork
has a spring bolt in the handle portion which bolt engages in notches in the
rod. When the notches are made deep the bolt may be released by pressing
a U shaped spring in the handle, the legs of which spring engages a collar on
the bolt and the bend against a shoulder in the handle.
Another part of my invention refers to a method of changing the lengths of
cut, and consists in the interception of a sun and planet system of gear to drive
the pegwheel worm at two speeds.
011
1800

page_text: 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 follow-
ing statement:.
My invention relates to improvements in chaff cutter and similar machines.
The first part of my invention refers more particularly to that part known as
the rising cover. In order to make the rising cover unchokable and to prevent
breakages I construct it with ribs which extend completely over the surface
of rising cover where the cover is in proximity to the star block.
In Figures 1, 2 & 3 and 14 I show the above part of my invention; (A)
represents the feed roller or star block in position in the rising cover (B). The
parts of the rising cover marked (B) in proximity to the star block are so
formed that whichever way the star block is turned a clearing surface is pre-
sented to the teeth of star block and a free open space for any material to pass
away that may be carried round by the star block. The star block is con-
structed in a manner in common practice and is shown with seven serrated rings
and with blank flanged ends. The upper and lower portions of the cover are
connected at the ends by parts which cover the flanges and fill the space between
the flange and first serrated ring at each end of feed roll from the point B to B.
Thus any material carried round by the serrated rings is cleared off at these two
points and at these points there is clear space for the material to be forced
away by any succeeding material cleared off the serrated parts. The lower
portion of the cover is also constructed in a similar manner, that is to say where
the cover is in proximity to the feed roll it fills up the space between two of
the serrated rings from one point to another at which points there is clear
egress for the material cleared off the serrated parts to pass away.
In order to strengthen the rising cover I may connect the upper and lower
portions by one or more bars similar to (C) shown in Fig. 2 & a section of
which on the lines X Y is shown in Fig. 14. It will be noticed that the bar (C)
is of such shape as to fill the groove or space between the serrated rings or teeth
of the star block from the point C to the point C" at which points any material
cleared off the teeth of the star block can be forced away by succeeding portions
of material cleared off in like manner.
The second part of my invention refers to a means by which greater security
against the breakage of the rising cover is obtained. The rising cover may be
hinged to the mouthpiece or made to rise and fall in a slot in any known manner.
In my invention the pressure upon the rising cover is released by a bell crank
lever which when the cover reaches a certain point reverses the feed.
In Figs. 4, 5, & 6 I illustrate this part of my invention. Fig. 4 represents
the side elevation of a chaff cutter mouthpiece (1) in which the rising cover and
its side links R rise and fall according to the quantity of material passed through
machine. By the side of the mouthpiece (1) is placed the starting and reversing
lever F which is pivoted at F1 and the upper part F extends across the mouth-
piece. The lever F is shown in the position in which the material is fed to
the cutters, the dotted lines show the position of lever when feed is reversed
and in the position between these two the feed would be stopped. G is a bell
cranked lever pivoted to the starting lever F at The bell cranked lever (G)|
has a cam surface (G¹) constructed upon its inner surface and it is held in the
position shown by a spring (H). The starting lever (F) is held in the forward
feed or the knock off position by a lever (I) and spring (). The method of
working is as follows. When the rising cover has nearly risen to its limit the
bell cranked lever is so far tilted that the point of application of the spring (H)
passes its centre line and the bell cranked lever (G) is consequently forced
further up, causing the cam surface (G) to engage with the projection (K) and
pull the starting lever over to its mid or knock off position. By pushing the
starting lever into its reversing position the material will be released and the
bell cranked lever (G) returned to its normal position, until this is accomplished

page_text: the forward feed cannot be restarted unless the bell cranked lever (G) is held
in its normal position. The bell cranked lever is preferably constructed similarly
on each side of the mouthpiece, and a connecting plate or grid reaching from
one end to the other across mouthpiece. The operator is thus only able to
put his hand down before the reversing lever when the feed is off. In Figs. 5
& GI show a modified form of locking the reversing lever. The catch plate (L)
is hinged to the machine frame so that it has a movement in a direction at right
angles to that of the starting lever, a spring (M) holds it against a catch on
the lever and at the same time pulls the lever back to mid position from the
reversed position when released. The lever I can be reversed and the spring J
substituted for one in compression.
Another part of my invention refers to a striking gear for use on chaff cutters
and similar machines. Figs. 7 & 8 show the device fitted on a chaff cutter front,
and Figs. 9, 10, 11, 12 & 13 show details. The device consists of a serrated
plate N which is fastened to the front part of machine, preferably the arch plate
as shown, engaging with the plate N is another clamping plate O, having the part
which engages with the plate N correspondingly serrated.
On the
Between these two plates the bracket P is clamped, and held fast.
upper limb of the bracket P the striking fork Q is supported and slides to the
on or off position. A spring bolt R tends to hold the fork in its different
positions by entering a slight recess in 1.
With this device the striking gear
can without skilled labour be fixed to take the belt in whatever position it is
driven. The plate N need not be serrated, any known method can be adopted to
prevent it rotating. Fig. 13 shows a modified form of holding the bracket P.
The centre bolt can be made to hold the plate N, without the side bolts, to the
machine.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what
I claim is:
Claim 1. In chaff cutters the construction of a rising cover substantially as
and for the purposes herein before described with reference to Figs. 1, 23 & 14.
Claim 2. In chaff cutters the combination of parts for controlling the feeding
mechanism and the rising cover substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore
described with reference to Figs. 1, 2, 3 & 4.
Claim 3. In chaff cutters the combination of the knock off lever locking device
illustrated in Fig. 4, consisting of the parts I & spring J with the knock off
lever and cover 13 Figs. 1, 2 & 3 substantially as and for the purpose described.
Claim 4. In chaff cutters the combination of the knock off lever locking device
as illustrated in Figs. 5 & 6 and cover B Figs. 1, 2 & 3 substantially as and for
the purpose herein before described.
Claim 5. In chaff cutters and similar food preparing machines, the construc-
tion of a belt shifting or striking gear, substantially as and for the purpose
herein before described with reference to Figs. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 & 13.
Claim 6. In chaff cutters and similar food preparing machines, the construc-
tion of a belt shifting or striking gear, having a bracket to support the striking
fork adjustable in the plane of rotation of the driving pulley.
Dotal thie 8th day of M 1900
GEO. C. BINGHAM.