Machine for cutting stems from legume pods

Claim 1

A machine for continuously cutting the generally Y-shaped stems from legume pods comprising means forming a frame, a cylindrical drum having a predetermined diameter and length and open input and output ends with the axis thereof tilted a predetermined angle with reference to a horizontal plane with the raised end thereof forming an input end and the lower end thereof forming an output end, said drum having a coaxial channel means secured aroUnd the outer periphery of each end portion thereof, driven roller means journaled in said frame parallel to said axis and spaced a predetermined distance beneath said axis engaged with said channel means for supporting and rotating said drum in predetermined direction when driven, a source of rotating power, a transmission connecting said roller drive means and a source of rotating power for rotating said drum at a predetermined velocity, a plurality of spaced hooks projecting normal to and along a major portion of the inner peripheral surface of said drum with each of said hooks having a bent portion positioned in the said direction of rotation of said drum, a conveyor within said drum having an elongated cylindrical drive pulley of predetermined length journaled for rotation in said frame about a horizontal axis normal to the axis of said drum and positioned in said frame substantially central of and in proximity with said outlet end of said drum and said drive pulley including a predetermined number of coaxial grooves equispaced a predetermined distance along the length thereof, a number of grooved pulleys corresponding to the number of grooves in said drive pulley journaled for rotation in independent clevis means with each of said clevis means adjustably secured to said frame centrally positioned in the input end of said drum with each of said pulleys spaced for rotation corresponding with and opposite to each of said grooves in said drive pulley, an endless belt of high-tensile filament material of uniform circular cross section stretched in an elongated open loop around each groove in said drive pulley and each corresponding said pulley in said clevis forming a said like number of parallel spaced belts in horizontal spaced planar position in said drum generally central along a major portion of the length thereof with upper and lower portions of each of said belts positioned in a vertical plane, an upper alignment shaft journaled for rotation in said frame parallel with and spaced from the axis of said driven roller and positioned a predetermined distance above the said upper portion of each said belt, a drive means coupling said driven roller with said alignment shaft for rotating the latter when said driven roller is rotated, a lower alignment shaft journaled in said frame and positioned parallel with and spaced from the axis of said driven pulley, a plurality of upper sprockets secured in spaced relation on said upper shaft with each of said sprockets positioned midway between the said parallel spaced belts, a lower alignment shaft journaled for rotation in said frame in parallel spaced relation to the said axis of said driven roller, a like plurality of lower sprockets secured to said lower shaft positioned to correspond in lateral position with the said sprockets on said upper shaft, an endless chain around each said upper sprocket and each corresponding said lower sprocket with the inner side of the front facing side of each said chain positioned in close proximity to a cutter bar means, a pair of flexible fingers in spaced relation secured to and projecting normal to the outer periphery of each said chain with each finger of each said pair thereof positioned in close proximity with each of said adjacent belts for engaging and vertically aligning said pods carried forward by each of said belts for the uniform cutting of said stems therefrom when said portion of the chain facing said input is moved in a downward direction by the rotation of said upper shaft, a second source of rotating power, a transmission means connecting said drive pulley and said second source of rotating power for rotating said drive pulley and moving the said belts at a predetermined velocity with the upper sides thereof in the direction of said output portions of said drums, said cutter bar means having a lower cutting member secured in said frame a predetermined distance from and parallel the axis of said driven roller and an adjustable predetermined distance under the plane of the upper portions of said belts and having a plurality of coplanar V-shaped blades extending toward the direction of movement of said upper portions of said belts, an upper cutting member journaled for reciprocation on said lower cutting member and having a like plurality of V-blades superposed along the cutting plane of said lower blades and in the same direction, a third transmission means connecting said upper blades and said driven roller means for reciprocating said upper cutting member with respect to said lower cutting member when said driven roller is rotated whereby field-cut pods deposited in said input end of said drum will be engaged by said hooks and raised to the inner upper portion of said drum and be released for gravitation downward with each of the inverted Y-shaped stems of each pair of pods straddled along the said upper side of each of said belts with each pair of pods depending downward and carried thereby into the plane of operation of said cutter means which will cut the said stems from the pods and permit the latter to gravitate from said outlet end of said drum in a first path and permit the cut stems to continue their movement along the said belts for gravitation from the outer side of said driven roller in a second path when said sources of rotating power are operated.