Improvements in Machines for Separating and Grading Bullets and like Articles.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Oct., 1897-Accepted, 13th Nov., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Separating and Grading Bullets and
like Articles.
We, CARL ROBERT KAPPLER, Architect, of Gochsheim Near Schweinfurt, and
FRIEDRICH SCHUNK, Engineer of 9 Schanzen, Schweinfurt, both in the Empire
of Germany, 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 to that class of machines in which cylindrical or spherical
shaped articles are automatically graded, that is to say are mechanically separated
into different grades or sizes.
This invention consists generally; in constructing a machine with a fixed
inclined table having separate successive apertures increasing in dimension arranged
thereon, and a series of guide fingers arranged upon a mechanically actuated slide
which reciprocate into and out of the separate successive apertures; so that when
the articles to be graded are fed into the first set of apertures those which do not
pass it are carried up by the guides and roll down the table into the next set
and so on.
One method of carrying this invention into effect as applied to the automatic
grading of bullets is illustrated in the accompanying sheet of drawings as
follows:-
Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section of the bullet grading machine.
Figure 2 is an end elevation of the same.
It is evident that in the manufacture of bullets such differences as the wear of
the cutting tools or slack or play in any of the mechanism used will often cause
a difference in the diameter of the bullet sufficient to render its performance in
use uncertain and undeterminate; and that the more accurate and absolute the
dimensions of the bullet the better can its trajectory and velocity for any given
size be determined.
The improved machine illustrated on Figures 1 and 2 and now to be described
is so arranged that bullets can be selected and graded to a difference of 16m.m.
this difference being so small that the desired result of certainty in trajectory
and velocity for any given size of bullet is thus obtained.
Upon a frame work or bed a brackets a¹ are arranged to carry in suitable
bearing a² a transverse shaft b; the said shaft having two cranks n and o formed
either side near the bearings a² and also has placed upon one of its
upon it on
extremities fast and loose pulleys l, m, as a means for actuating the machine.
On either side of the frame a two bell crank levers f f are pivotted at cc, and
the longer arms of these levers are attached at a to connecting rods h h which
couple them to the cranks n o; while again the shorter ends of the levers take
in underneath a slide d moving in suitable grooves in the framing a.
Attached to the top of the frame work or bed a is a table E which is set at a
0 slight angle to the horizontal, about 4° being the usual angle employed, and this
table which can be formed in one piece or built in sections is carefully planed

page_text: .
on its upper surface fitted with retaining sides p and has a series of longitudinal
apertures t, t, t2, 3 and so on passing across its entire width. These apertures
are arranged in such a manner that the highest one t at the top of the table is
the narrowest and each succeeding aperture iso m.in. wider than its predecessor
and the rail or ribs e are tapered as shown in Figure 1 to make the apertures
widen out at their lower side so that when a bullet has once passed it easily
falls clear.
The slide d hereinbefore described has fastened to it by suitable connections a
series of guide fingers 9 which are of the same width and equal in number to the
apertures and their distance from the table E is so adjusted that the motion of
the bell cranks f when the machine is actuated causes these fingers g to be
alternately passed up through the apertures and then withdrawn.
The bullets are in the first instance fed into a hopper or box q at the top end
of the table E and a series of small sorting boxes k are arranged underneath the
apertures in such a manner that. they catch the bullets falling through while also
allowing room for the guide fingers g to pass them on their upward movement.
The operation of the hereinbefore described mechanism is as follows;-The
hopper feeds a row of bullets and the first aperture when the guide fingers
are at the bottom of their stroke, and bullets corresponding to the size of that
aperture fall through into a sorting box. The further rotation of the shaft b
causes the guide fingers 9 to rise up into the apertures and project a slight way
through thus displacing the bullets remaining on t which then owing to the
slope of the table roll down into the next aperture t¹ where those corresponding
in size fall through into a grading box while the larger ones remain, and simul-
taneously with this rolling a second lot of bullets passes into or on the first
aperture t.
It is evident that after a few revolutions all the apertures will be in use grading
the bullets, and as each successive aperture increases by 100m.m. the bullets found
in the grading boxes k will correspond in dimension to their respective apertures,
and all bullets larger than the last division will pass at the end of the table Es
into a box r.
It is to be clearly understood that similar machines may be arranged in series,
the bullets passing from one machine to the other so that as wide a range of
grading as may be required can be secured; that the mechanism for elevating
the guide fingers may be varied in many ways that any spherical or cylindrical a
articles other than bullets may be accurately graded and all without departing
from the subject of the present.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. In machines for separating and grading bullets and like articles; the pro-
vision of an inclined table with successive apertures or slits therein of gradually
increasing dimensions 'from the upper to lower portion of the table and rising
and falling finger guides entering these apertures or slits; as a means for auto-
matically grading and separating substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. The machine for separating and grading bullets and like articles herein-
before described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 2nd day of October 1897
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MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., and
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13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents.