Machine for Separating Bodies of the same kind according to their size.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Aug., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Apr., 1898-Accepted, 4th June, 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Machine for Separating Bodies of the same kind according to
their size.
I, ALFONS CASTENHOLZ, of Karlsruhe, in the Grand Duchy of Baden, Germany,
Retired Colonel, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The machine described herein is designed to separate bodies of the same kind
according to their size that is to say according to their length and thickness, so that
those which are too short, too long, too thin and too thick are separated from those
which are normal; in other words to separate those bodies which are of prescribed
dimensions in such a way that those which are abnormal may be further separated
from each other according to their different qualities.
In general, the machine consists of a fixed sorting table above which are two rotatory
plates connected with each other. The upper plate carries the device by which the
bodies to be measured are tested as to their length, while the lower plate carries the
device by which the testing as to thickness is effected.
In both cases fixed cheeks and moveable cheeks are provided so that each object is
passed between a fixed cheek and a moveable cheek.
The moveable cheeks which are pushed towards the fixed cheeks by the pressure of
springs or weights, can be moved back from the objects (for example shot) held
between them and the fixed cheeks by fixed stops before which they pass; the degree
of this movement however, is always dependent on the length of the bodies to be
measured.
Both for measuring the length and thickness three fixed stops coming into action
after each other are provided, of which, considering the measuring of the length,
the first stop acts to separate those bodies which are not of the minimum length. The
second stop acts to separate the bodies of normal length, while the third brings the
bodies which have been carried past the measuring place, and are therefore too long,
to that part of the machine designed for the reception of these bodies for their
elimination. In each case the measured bodies coming from the upper plate pass to
the lower plate, through which however those which are too short and too long fall
through without more ado, whilst those which are of normal length are first tested as
to their thickness. Here also the first stop acts to separate those bodies which are
not of the minimum thickness, while the second stopacts to eliminate the normal bodies
(shot and the like). The bodies still retained are those whose thickness exceeds the
minimum and which are now also brought to the place proper for their elimination.
A construction of a machine working in this manner is shewn in the accompanying
drawings, in which :-
:―
Figure 1 is a side view of the machine, partly in vertical section.
Figure 2 is a plan of the machine on a smaller scale than that of Figure 1, in which
the parts above line 10-10 of Figure 1 are omitted.
Figure 3 is one of the devices by which the moveable cheeks of the upper plate A
are worked.
Figure 3 is a part of this device.
Figure 4 is a section on the line 11-11 of Figure 1.

page_text: Figure 6 is a section on line 12-12 of Figure 1.
Figure 7 is a view of one of the measuring devices of the lower plate C.
Figure 7 is a vertical section of this part.
Figure 8 is a section on the line 13-13 of Figure 1.
Figure 9 is a section of a part of the sorting table Z together with the stops by
which the moveable plugs of the lower table are worked.
Before going into the details of the machine it may be remarked that the machine
is in a manner, a double one in that it can be simultaneously charged in two places
with the bodies to be measured, so that two of these bodies can be subjected at the
same time to the same measurement. Since each of the two rotary plates (A and C)
has in the form shewn a large number of the measuring devices, as many bodies can
be measured at the same time as there are devices.
In the preserft case the machine is provided with 20 measuring devices, so that
since the charging of the bodies to be measured, is effected in two places, 40 bodies,
can be measured in one rotation of the machine. It can already be seen herefrom
what an enormous output the machine has, and in the course of the description
it will be apparent that the measuring is effected with extraordinary precision.
The bodies to be measured are introduced into the machine through the
channels D' D2 (Figures 1 and 2). These channels are fixed to a low shaped frame X
carried by the sorting table Z. This table and the frame X together hold a vertical
shaft B to which both the plates A and B are fixed. The plate A carries as already
stated, the parts by which the measurement of length of the bodies is effected, the
said bodies being received in the radial slots a (Figures 2, 4 and 5) in which are
the moveable measuring cheeks, consisting of the slides F (Figures 5 and 5^).
These cheeks are under the influence of the spiral springs G which continually tend
to push them towards the fixed cheeks E. These fixed cheeks consist in the arrange-
ment shewn, of screws which pass through the periphery of the plate A into the
slots a. Each cheek has on its upper side a projection I against which the stops
designed to push the cheek strike. The first of these stops consists of a ledge H¹
(Figures 1, 2 and 4) which is attached to a plate X' fixed to the horizontal part of
the frame X. This ledge is somewhat curved at both ends so that when the
projections I of the slides F come against it (the plate A turns in the direction of
the arrow shown in Figure 2), the slides are moved back against the spring G so far
that the space between the slides or cheeks F and the fixed cheek E can take even
the longest bodies to be measured.
At the necessary position, that is under the end of the channel D1 (on the other
half of the machine exactly the same arrangement obtains) a bracket K¹ is fixed to
the frame X and carries a plate K of such a length that the body which occupies the
corresponding slot of the plate A is prevented from falling through so long as the
corresponding moveable cheek F is still under the action of the ledge H¹.
The plate K projects, in the direction of rotation of the plate A, somewhat beyond
the ledge H' as is shown in dotted lines in Figure 4. When therefore the slide Fis
free from the action of the ledge H¹ it presses the body to be measured between itself
and the fixed cheek and then this body first passes beyond the plate K, so that it is
now only held between the two corresponding cheeks. From this moment the
measuring proper has to begin and first those bodies are separated which have not the
minimum length. For this purpose an adjustable stop M (Figures 2, 3, 3 and 4) is
attached to the plate X. In the form shown this stop is constructed of a part of a
slide M', which is disposed so as to be moveable radially in the plate X' and by means
of a screw spindle I may be moved backwards or forwards as may be necessary. The
plate X consists of a lower larger part, and an upper smaller part and the thread of
the screw L passes into the upper part, whilst the guides of the slide M¹ are in the
lower part, as is particularly shewn on the left half of Figure 1.
As now the position of the slide F with its projection I depends on the length of
the body to be measured which it holds, it is clear that the slide M¹ with its projection
M can be so adjusted, that it will only strike against the projection I of the slide F

page_text: when this is so far pushed by the spring G that it corresponds with those of the bodies
to be measured which are not of the minimum length. If then the projection N is
so arranged and strikes the projection I face to face, the slide F will obviously be
pushed back and the body held thereby, will be let fall so that it will drop on to
What is then done
the other plate and into the, hopper O which this plate carries.
with this body will be described below.
If the body held by the cheeks has the minimum or a greater length the position
of the projection I is such that it will not engage with the projection M but will pass
by it. The first already described measuring occurs when the body to be measured is
When the
in the line 2-2 (Figure 2). In the line 1-1 it falls into the machine.
body which is either of the normal length or is too long, comes in alignment with the
line 3-3, a stop N comes into action which is constructed quite similarly to stop M
and acts in the same way.
This stop N is, however so placed that it actuates the slide F, that is to say, presses
it back, when the body held by the said slide has the normal length. Should it have
a greater length the slide F will lie so far inwards that its projection will pass by the
stop N, and will therefore not be actuated by this.
If the body is of normal length it will therefore be now eliminated and will fall into
one of the hoppers O. The bodies which are too long will be carried further forward
until they reach the position 7-7 (Figure 2). At this point the ledge H2 of the
other half of the machine begins, and this pushes back each slide F so far that
even the longest body can pass between this slide representing the moveable cheek
and the fixed cheek E.
When therefore the two cheeks still holding between them a body of such a large
size reach the ledge H2, the slide F is withdrawn to such an extent that the long body
is set free, and also falls into one of the hoppers O.
By the above means therefore the bodies measured are separated into those which
are too short, those which are too long and those which are of normal length and it
remains to be shown how they are similarly separated in respect of their thickness.
Under each of the hoppers O of the plates C is a fixed cheek P (Figures 1 and 1^)
and a moveable cheek Q. The latter is made rotatable around the pins a and has an
For this actuation,
adjusting screw S, by means of which the cheeks are actuated.
u
It
that is to say, for the raising of the moveable cheeks to different heights, and there-
fore the widening of the space between the lower parts of the cheeks P and Q,
according to requirements fixed ledge-like stops V, and adjustable stops T and U are
fixed on to the sorting table. The position of these stops is shewn in Figure 8.
is here seen that besides these stops, openings Y are provided which permit access to
the separate receptacles arranged under the sorting table; since the abnormal bodies
are to be separated into too short, too long, too thin and too thick, and since the
machine as already stated constitutes a double machine eight of such receptacles are
provided and are designated in Figure 8 by I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII.
The ledge-like stops V are higher than the stops T and U, from which it follows
that by means of these stops the greatest raising of the moveable stop Q and the
This width is however
greatest width between this stop and the stop P are effected.
such that every body, including those which are too thick fall through. As will be
seen from Figure 8, the ledges V are situated over the holders VII, VIII, I, III, IV
and V.
The measuring cheeks P and Q which are already over the receptacles, that is to
say over those which are to receive the too thick, too long and too short, are so wide
apart, that the individuals falling from the plate A into the respective hoppers drop
at once between the cheeks P and Q and through the openings Y, of the table Z into
the respective holders underneath it.
As will be remembered from the foregoing part of the description, the cheeks F
and E of the plate A take only those bodies over the line 2-2 (Figures 2 and 6)
which are of normal or a greater length. Of these, those of normal length are first
eliminated and this occurs in the line 3-3 (Figures 2 and 6). Now when the move-
able cheek of the corresponding pair of measuring cheeks are in the alignment with

page_text: the line 3-3, the moveable cheek Q is no longer actuated by the stop ledge V, and
the cheek has by its own weight assumed such a position that all of the bodies falling
from above and therefore also those which are too thin, are retained; however, the
body still enters between the cheeks, so that the height of the cheek Q or of its
screw S, depends on the thickness of the body. The thinner this is the lower will be
the position of the screw S. The latter will now by the further rotation of the
plate C, reach the stop T which is so adjusted that when the position of the screw S
is too low, that is when the body caught between the cheeks P and Q is too thin, the
screw is raised and the body liberated. It then falls into the receptacle H.
If however the body is of normal thickness, the screw S remains unaffected by
the stop T, but not however by the following stop U, for this is so adjusted
that it will raise the screw S a little more when this is already at a height
corresponding with the thickness of a normal body, and therefore also rotates the
plug Q a little, thus setting free the body, which now falls into a tube W
(Figures 8 and 9) between the receptacles II and III, and by this is led to a
collecting place outside the machine.
The bodies carried still further are too thick, and are finally liberated by the first
part of the second stop-ledge V, over the receptacle III into which they fall through
the corresponding gap Y. This occurs in the line 6-6 (Figures 6 and 8) while the
separation of the normal bodies is effected in the line 5-5, and that of the bodies
which are too thin in line 4-4. It has already been explained that the elimination
of the bodies which are too long, and have been carried thus far by the plate A
occurs in the line 7-7. When the cheeks reach the line 8-8, they receive from
bodies to be measured, which then during their passage
over the other half of the machine are measured and sorted in the same manner as has
been described above.
the channel D2 the fresh
°
Dated this 14th day of August 1897.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.
Machine for Separating Bodies of the same kind according to
their size.
I, ALFONS CASTENHOLZ, of 76, Westendstrasse, Karlsruhe, in the Grand Duchy of
Baden, Germany, Retired Colonel, 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 :-
The machine described herein is designed to separate bodies of the same kind
according to their size that is to say according to their length and thickness so that
those which are too short, too long, too thin and too thick are separated from those
which are normal; in other words to separate those bodies which are of prescribed
dimensions in such a way that those which are abnormal may be further separated
from each other according to their different qualities.
In general, the machine consists of a fixed sorting table above which are two
rotatory plates connected with each other. The upper plate carries the device by
which the bodies to be measured are tested as to their length, while the lower plate
carries the device by which the testing as to thickness is effected.
In both cases fixed cheeks and moveable cheeks are provided so that each object is
passed between a fixed cheek and a moveable cheek.
The moveable cheeks which are pushed towards the fixed cheeks by the pressure
of springs or weights, can be moved back from the objects (for example shot) held

page_text: between then and the fixed cheeks by fixed stops before which they pass; the degree
of this movement however, is always dependent on the length of the bodies to be
neasured.
Both for measuring the length and thickness three fixed stops coming into action
after each other are provided, of which, considering the measuring of the length,
the first stop acts to separate those bodies which are not of the minimum length. The
second stop acts to separate the bodies of normal length, while the third brings the
bodies which have been carried past the measuring place, and are therefore too long,
to that part of the machine designed for the reception of these bodies for their
elimination. In each case the measured bodies coming from the upper plate pass to
the lower plate, through which however those which are too short and too long fall
through without more ado, whilst those which are of normal length are first tested as
to their thickness. Here also the first stop acts to separate those bodies which are
not of the minimum thickness, while the second stop acts to eliminate the normal
bodies (shot and the like). The bodies still retained are those whose thickness
exceeds the minimum and which are now also brought to the place proper for their
elimination.
A construction of a machine working in this manner is shewn in the drawings
accompanying my Provisional Specification in which :--
Figure 1 is a side view of the machine, partly in vertical section.
Figure 2 is a plan of the machine on a smaller scale than that of Figure 1, in which
the parts above line 10-10 of Figure 1 are omitted.
Figure 3 is one of the devices by which the moveable cheeks of the upper plate A
are worked.
Figure 3A is a part of this device.
Figure 4 is a section on the line 11-11 of Figure 1.
Figure 5 is a part of the upper plate with both cheeks.
Figure 5 is a side view of the moveable cheek of Figure 5.
Figure 6 is a section on line 12-12 of Figure 1.
Figure 7 is a view of one of the measuring devices of the lower plate C.
Figure 7 is a vertical section of this part.
Figure 8 is a section on line 13-13 of of Figure 1.
Figure 9 is a section of a part of the sorting table Z together with the stops by
which the moveable plugs of the lower table are worked.
Before going into the details of the machine it may be remarked that the machine
is in a manner, a double one in that it can be simultaneously charged in two places
with the bodies to be measured, so that two of these bodies can be subjected at the
same time to the same measurement. Since each of the two rotary plates (A and C)
has in the form shewn a large number of the measuring devices, as many bodies can
be measured at the same time as there are devices.
In the present case the machine is provided with 20 measuring devices, so that
since the charging of the bodies to be measured, is effected in two places, 40 bodies,
can be measured in one rotation of the machine. It can already be seen herefrom
what an enormous output the machine has, and in the course of the description it will
be apparent that the measuring is effected with extraordinary precision.
The bodies to be measured are introduced into the machine through the
channels D1 D2 (Figures 1 and 2). These channels are fixed to a bow shaped frame X
carried by the sorting table Z. This table and the frame X together hold a vertical
shaft B to which both the plates A and B are fixed. The plate A carries as already
stated, the parts by which the measurement of length of the bodies is effected, the
said bodies being received in the radial slots a (Figures 2, 4 and 5) in which are the
moveable measuring cheeks, consisting of the slides F (Figures 5 and 5). These
cheeks are under the influence of the spiral springs G which continually tend to push
them towards the fixed cheeks E. These fixed cheeks consist in the arrangement
shewn, of screws which pass through the periphery of the plate A into the slots a.
Each cheek F has on its upper side a projection I against which the stops designed to
push the cheek strike. The first of these stops consists of a ledge H¹ (Figures 1,8

page_text: and 4) which is attached to a plate X¹ fixed to the horizontal part of the frame X.
This ledge is somewhat curved at both ends so that when the projections I of the
slides F come against it (the plate A turns in the direction of the arrow shewn in
Figure 2), the slides are moved back against the spring G so far that the space
between the slides or cheeks Fand the fixed cheek E can take even the longest bodies
to be measured.
At the necessary position, that is under the end of the channel D' (on the other
half of the machine exactly the same arrangement obtains) a bracket K¹ is fixed to
the frame X and carries a plate K of such a length that the body which occupies the
corresponding slot of the plate A is prevented from falling through so long
the corresponding moveable cheek F is still under the action of the
ledge H¹.
as
The plate K projects, in the direction of rotation of the plate A, somewhat beyond
the ledge H¹ as is shewn in dotted lines in Figure 4. When therefore the slide Fis
free from the action of the ledge H¹ it presses the body to be measured between
itself and the fixed cheek and then this body first passes beyond the plate K, so that
it is now only held between the two corresponding cheeks. From this moment the
measuring proper has to begin and first those bodies are separated which have not
the minimum length. For this purpose an adjustable stop M. (Figures 2, 3, 3
and 4) is attached to the plate X. In the form shewn this stop is constructed of a
part of a slide M³, which is disposed so as to be moveable radially in the plate X¹
and by means of a screw spindle L may be moved backwards or forwards as may be
necessary. The plate X consists of a lower larger part and an upper smaller part
and the thread of the screw L passes into the upper part, whilst the guides of the
slide M¹ are in the lower part, as is particularly shewn on the left half of
Figure 1.
As now the position of the slide F with its projection I depends on the length of the
body to be measured which it holds, it is clear that the slide M¹ with its projec-
tion M can be so adjusted, that it will only strike against the projection I of the
slide F when this is so far pushed by the spring G that it corresponds with those of
the bodies to be measured which are not of the minimum length. If then the
projection N is so arranged and strikes the projection I face to face, the slide F will
obviously be pushed back and the body held thereby, will be let fall so that it will
drop on to the other plate and into the hopper O which this plate carries. What is
then done with this body will be described below.
If the body held by the cheeks has the minimum or a greater length the position
of the projection 1 is such that it will not engage with the projection M but will
pass by it. The first already described measuring occurs when the body to be
measured is in the line 2-2 (Figure 2). In the line 1-1 it falls into the machine.
When the body which is either of the normal length or is too long, comes in align-
ment with the line 3-3, a stop N comes into action which is constructed quite
similarly to stop M and acts in the same way.
This stop N is, however so placed that it actuates the slide F, that is to say, presses
it back, when the body held by the said slide has the normal length. Should it have
a greater length the slide F will lie so far inwards that its projection will pass by the
stop N, and will therefore not be actuated by this.
If the body is of normal length it will therefore be now eliminated and will fall
into one of the hoppers O. The bodies which are too long will be carried further
forward until they reach the position 7-7 (Figure 2). At this point the ledge H² of
the other half of the machine begins, and this pushes back each slide F so far that
even the longest body can pass between this slide representing the moveable cheek
and the fixed cheek E.
When therefore the two cheeks still holding between them a body of such a large
size reach the ledge H2, the slide is withdrawn to such an extent that the long
body is set free, and also falls into one of the hoppers O.
By the above means therefore the bodies measured are separated into those which
are too short, those which are too long and those which are of normal length

page_text: and it remains to be shown how they are similarly separated in respect of their
thickness.
Under each of the hoppers O of the plates C is a fixed cheek P (Figures 1 and 1^)
and a moveable cheek Q. The latter is made rotatable around the pins a and has an
For this actuation,
adjusting screw S, by means of which the cheeks are actuated.
that is to say, for the raising of the moveable cheeks to different heights, and
therefore the widening of the space between the lower parts of the cheeks P and Q,
according to requirements fixed ledge-like stops V, and adjustable stops T and U are
fixed on to the sorting table. The position of these stops is shewn in Figure 8. It
is here seen that besides these stops, openings Y are provided which permit access
to the separate receptacles arranged under the sorting table; since the abnormal
bodies are to be separated into too short, too long, too thin and too thick, and since
the machine as already stated constitutes a double machine eight of such receptacles
are provided and are designated in Figure 8 by I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII.
The ledge-like stops V are higher than the stops T and U, from which it follows that
by means of these stops the greatest raising of the moveable stop Q and the greatest
width between this stop and the stop P are effected. This width is however such
As will be seen
that every body, including those which are too thick fall through.
from Figure 8, the ledges V are situated over the holders VII, VIII, I, III, IV
and V.
The measuring cheeks P and Q which are already over the receptacles, that is to
say over those which are to receive the too thick, too long and too short, are so wide
apart, that the individuals falling from the plate into the respective hoppers drop
at once between the cheeks P and Q and through the openings Y, of the table Z into
the respective holders underneath it.
As will be remembered from the foregoing part of the description, the cheeks F
and E of the plate A take only those bodies over the line 2-2 (Figures 2 and 6)
which are of normal or a greater length. Of these, those of normal length are first
eliminated and this occurs in the line 3-3 (Figures 2 and 6). Now when the
moveable cheek of the corresponding pair of measuring cheeks are in the alignment
with the line 3-3, the moveable cheek Q is no longer actuated by the stop ledge V,
and the cheek has by its own weight assumed such a position that all of the bodies
falling from above and therefore also those which are too thin, are retained; however,
the body still enters between the cheeks, so that the height of the cheek Qor of its
screw S, depends on the thickness of the body. The thinner this is the lower will be
the position of the screw S. The latter will now by the further rotation of the
plate C, reach the stop T which is so adjusted that when the position of the screw S
is too low, that is when the body caught between the cheeks P and Q is too thin, the
screw is raised and the body liberated. It then falls into the receptacle H.
If however the body is of normal thickness, the screw S remains unaffected by the
stop T, but not however by the following stop U, for this is so adjusted that it will
raise the screw S a little more when this is already at a height corresponding with
the thickness of a normal body, and therefore also rotates the plug Q a little, thus
setting free the body, which now falls into a tube W (Figures 8 and 9) between
the receptacles II and III, and by this is led to a collecting place outside the
machine.
The bodies carried still further are too thick, and are finally liberated by the first
part of the second stop-ledge V, over the receptacle III into which they fall through
the corresponding gap Y. This occurs in the line 6-6 (Figures 6 and 8) while the
separation of the normal bodies is effected in the line 5-5, and that of the bodies
which are too thin in line 4-4. It has already been explained that the elimination
of the bodies which are too long, and have been carried thus far by the plate A occurs
in the line 7-7. When the cheeks reach the line 8-8, they receive from the
channel D² the fresh bodies to he measured, which then during their passage over
the other half of the machine are measured and sorted in the same manner as has
been described above.

page_text: .
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. A machine for separating bodies of the same kind according to their size wherein
the measurement of the said bodies in different directions is effected by means of
two sets of measuring cheeks E, F, and P, Q, moving over a sorting table Z, of which
cheeks the parts F, Q, are moveable and hold the body to be sorted but allow it to fall
at the measuring place through an opening Y in the sorting table if the dimensions
of the body are less than the limit up to which the space between the said cheeks
can be widened at the measuring place such widening being effected by means of the
devices such as H¹ M N T U V acting on the moveable parts F, Q, substantially as
described.
2. A separating or sorting machine such as is referred to in the first claim,
wherein the cheeks P Q serving to measure the thickness of the body are mounted
upon a rotatable plate C above the sorting table, while the cheeks F, E, for measuring
the length of the body are mounted upon a second rotatable plate A above the first one
the bodies to be measured by the said cheeks being supplied from above to the
plate A where they slide in radial slots a thereof which contain the cheeks F, and
whence after being measured they fall through the said slots into openings in the
other plate between the cheeks P Q whence after measurement they pass into one or
other of the several compartments of the sorting table substantially as described.
3. A machine for separating bodies of the same kind according to their size,
combined and operating as herein described with reference to the drawings.
Dated this 2nd day of April 1898.