Improvements in Machines for Cutting Chaff and other similar Substances.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Sept., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 8th June, 1900-Accepted, 4th Aug., 1900
PROVIDIUA AL DINITIVATION.
Improvements in Machines for Cutting Chaff and other similar
Substances.
I, SAMUEL EdwaRDS, of Ladywell, Eccles, in the County of Lancaster, Agri-
cultural Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates more particularly to the feed rollers and to the safety
feeding appliance of chaff cutting machines, having for its object to facilitate
the feeding of the material, to protect the attendant from injury, and to lessen
friction so that the machine may be driven with a minimum of power.
To accomplish this I construct the machine with three toothed or fluted feed
rollers, one below and two above; the two upper rollers revolve in bearings
formed in the side links situated on each side of the mouth of the machine, and
which transmit the pressure (imparted by the usual spring or weight) to the
top pressure plate and the material as it passes forward to the cutters.
The third roller which is behind the top roller may be fluted or ribbed, but
I prefer to have it toothed and gearing into the top roller, thus acting as a comb
and keeping the top roller teeth clear of material.
The axle of the third or rear roller is placed higher than the front one, thus
giving more space for the entrance of the material, but at the same time to com-
press it before it enters the front rollers; it is situated over the front web roll
as in this position its downward pressure produces the smallest amount of fric-
tion upon the web which carries the material forward to the rollers.
The safety feeding apparatus consists of a set of rollers held in a frame com-
mon to all, but they are otherwise unconnected, being caused to revolve by the
material passing under them as described in the Specification of my former
Patent No. 898 of 1898.
The roller frame is connected pivotally or otherwise with the pressure plate
or rising cover directly, or indirectly, but in such a manner that the upper feed
rollers and the frame of safety rollers shall all rise and fall together according
to the thickness of the feed, or material.
It is necessary that the angle of the row of safety rollers shall be capable of
adjustment to suit the strength of the material being cut, and according to one
method which I prefer. I construct lugs or equivalents upon a cross bar which
connects the sides of the roller frame, provided with elongated holes, through
which I pass a screwthreaded rod the upper end of which is jointed to the pres-
sure plate above the joint of the roller frame.
Upon the screwed part of the rod beforementioned and between the lugs on
the cross bar I place an adjusting wheel or nut, by turning which the frame of
rollers may be raised or lowered upon its axis segmentally. thus altering its
angle with the web, such angle being retained until altered by readjustment of
111

page_text: The object of this adjusting arrangement is to enable the rear end of the
safety roller frame to be regulated in its distance from the travelling web below,
upon which the material to be cut is placed, so as to avoid all unnecessary fric-
tion by pressure upon the working parts of the machine, while at the same
time providing for the safety of the attendant.
The third or rear feed roller may be driven by means of toothed wheels from
the axle of the front feed roller in which case I use an intermediate wheel so
as to cause the rear feed roller to revolve in the same direction as the front one,
or it may be driven by a chain and chain wheels direct.
ROBT. F. DRURY, C.P.A.,
Agent for Applicant, Bank Buildings, George Street, Sheffield.
Improvements in Machines for Cutting Chaff and other similar
Substances.
I, SAMUEL EDWARDS, of Ladywell, Eccles, in the County of Lancaster, Agri-
cultural 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:-
My invention relates more particularly to the feed rollers, and to the safety
feeding appliances of chaff cutting machines, and has for its object to facilitate:
the feeding of the material to the cutters; to protect the hands of the attendant
from injury, to reduce friction in order that such machines may be worked with
a minimum of power.
The annexed drawings illustrate the manner in which both parts of my in-
vention are carried into practice; like letters of reference indicate like parts in
all the several figures.
Fig. 1, is a side elevation of the pressure plate the frame of safety rolls, and
the two upper feed rollers.
Fig. 2, side elevation of a portion of machine.
Fig. 3, back elevation of machine mouth and rollers.
In carrying out the first part of my invention I construct a machine with the
usual upper and lower feed rollers marked R1 and R2 in Figs. 2 and 3, and also
with an additional or auxiliary feed roller R³, situated behind the upper rol-
ler R, and below the frame of safety rolls.
The two upper feed rollers R and R3, revolve in bearings formed in or car-
ried by the side links L, the bearings for the auxiliary roller R³, being prefer-
ably adjustable in. their distance from those of R¹.
The side links L on each side of the mouth transmit the pressure. of the usual
spring or weight to the top pressure plate P.
The auxiliary feed roller R³, may be fluted or ribbed, but I prefer to provide
it with teeth corresponding with and meshing between those of the upper feed
roller R, thus it also acts as a comb to keep the upper roller teeth clear of any
accumulation of the material being cut.
Its axle A is placed a little higher than that of the upper roller, but much
below the axis of the frame of safety. rolls F, enabling the roller to seize the
material as it leaves the safety rolls S, and straw box B, and to compress it to
some extent before feeding it to the front rollers R' and R2,

page_text: It rises and falls vertically with the movement of the upper feed roller and
is not in direct connection with either the safety rolls or their frame F. It
is situated as near as possible directly over the front web roll W, as in this
position its downward pressure upon the feed web W, which carries the material
forward, produces the smallest amount of friction.
It is caused to revolve when the machine is at work, in the same direction as
the feed roller R₁, by any suitable means, but preferably by a driving chain
engaging with a toothed wheel fixed upon each of the axles of R' and R³.
The second part of my invention, relates to the safety feeding apparatus con-
sisting of a number of plain cylindrical rolls S, held in a frame F, common to
all, but they are otherwise all free to revolve independently, each roll being
caused to revolve by frictional contact with the material as it passes under
them, as described in my former Patent No. 898 of 1898.
In the present arrangement the safety roller frame F, is pivotally connected
with the pressure plate P, but in such a manner that it must always rise and
fall with the feed rollers R and R3, as they are acted upon by the thickness
or bulk of the material passing under them.
As it is necessary that the angle of the line of safety rolls to the face of the
feed web W, shall be capable of adjustment when required to suit the thick or
thin supply of material, I provide the crossbar C, which passes over and is secured
to each side of the frame F, with two lugs D) or the like, these have elongated
holes through which I pass the free end of a screwthreaded rod T, having its
upper end connected with the pressure plate by the joint piece J, above the
axis A, of the safety roller frame F.
Upon the screwed portion of the said rod and placed between the lugs upon
the cross bar C, is a regulating hand wheel or nut N, by turning which in one
direction or the other, the frame of rolls is raised or lowered radially upon its
axis thus altering its angle in relation to the web W, such angle being retained
until re-adjustment is made.
This arrangement reduces friction, and at the same time provides for the safety
of the attendant.
It will therefore be clearly understood that when the safety roller frame is
adjusted by the wheel to any desired angle, it will rise and fall only with the
vertical movement of the feed rollers but will not alter its angle with relation
to the feed web until re-adjusted.
Also that I do not bind myself to employ the second part of my invention
only in combination with the first part, as it may be used in machines having
only the usual two feed rollers.
The parts not lettered form no part of my present invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1-In a chaff cutting machine, having the usual upper and lower feed rol-
lers R and R2 and a frame F of safety rolls S: a third or auxiliary mechani-
cally driven feed roller R³, situated in the rear of the upper roller and below
the frame of the safety rolls, and carried by the same side links which carry the
upper roller, its teeth meshing between those of the said upper roller substan-
tially as herein before described and shown.
2-In a chaff cutting machine having an upper and a lower feed roller; the
combination with the upper feed roller and carried by the side links of a third
mechanically rotated feed roller carried by the same side links and situated in
the rear of the upper roller, below the frame of the safety rolls, as herein before
described and set forth.
3 In a chaff cutting machine having two or more feed rollers; a frame of
safety rolls S, pivotally connected with or fulcrumed upon a vertically mov-

page_text: ing top pressure plate, such as P, with means for adjusting and retaining it at
any required angle in relation to the feed web W, as hereinbefore described
and shown.
T
7th dox of Tune 1000
ROBT. E DRURY, C.P.A.,
Agent for Applicant.