US3685519A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Corn cutting machine and method
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1971-08-26
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Granted: 1972-08-22
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Expires: 1991-08-26
Abstract
Abstract This disclosure relates to a novel corn cutting machine which includes means for forcing corn ears longitudinally to and through cutting means with the improvement being the use of yieldable fluidic means for moving the corn through the cutting means thus achieving automatic self-regulation of the applied forces in response to resistance of movement of the corn through the corn cutting means, the yieldable fluidic means being a fluid operated piston and associated piston rod with the latter being retracted more rapidly than during the movement of each ear of corn through the cutting means, and fluidically operated means for holding each corn ear centered relative to the cutting means whereby the inherent yieldable nature of the fluid medium employed permits floating of the holding means and thus equal gripping pressure across the corn ear periphery which precludes choking, jamming, etc.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul F Cover
- 👤 John W Rife
- 👤 Clyde F Kemper
- 👤 Donald E Reed
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 01:40
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01F; A01F11/00; A01F11/06; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T83/00; Y10T83/04; Y10T83/0505; Y10T83/051
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
57 words
In a machine for cutting corn wherein is provided corn cutting means and means for forcing corn ears longitudinally to and through the cutting means, the improvement comprising yieldable fluidic means for moving said forcing means and automatically self regulating the force applied in response to resistance to movement of corn ears through said corn cutting means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
57 words
In a machine for cutting corn wherein is provided corn cutting means and means for forcing corn ears longitudinally to and through the cutting means, the improvement comprising yieldable fluidic means for moving said forcing means and automatically self regulating the force applied in response to resistance to movement of corn ears through said corn cutting means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The improvement in a machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said yieldable fluidic means is in part defined by a fluid chamber, and said forcing means is a piston rod telescopically movable relative to said cylinder.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
73 words
The improvement in a machine as defined in claim 1 wherein forcing means is reciprocally moved by said fluidic means in a first direction toward said cutting means and a second direction away from said cutting means, and means for setting the operation of said fluidic means such that the speed of movement of said forcing means is appreciably greater in said second direction as compared with its speed in said first direction.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The improvement in a machine as defined in claim 1 including means for selectively adjusting the force of said fluidic means to varying the speed of movement of said forcing means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
66 words
The improvement in a machine as defined in claim 1 including means for holding corn ears centered with relation to the cutting means, means mounting said holding means for movement between an open corn ear receiving position and a closed corn ear gripping position, and yieldable fluidic means for applying a force to said holding means to yieldably grip a corn ear in said closed position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
The improvement in a machine as defined in cLaim 1 including means for separating kernels cut from large and small corn ears by said cutting means, said separating means being a pivotally mounted deflecting vane beneath said cutting means, and fluidic means for pivoting said vane.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
61 words
The improvement in a machine as defined in claim 1 including means for holding corn ears centered with relation to the cutting means, means for supporting a corn ear above said holding means, and means responsive to the movement of said forcing means away from said cutting means for transferring a corn ear from said supporting means to said holding means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
73 words
The improvement in a machine as defined in claim 2 wherein forcing means is reciprocally moved by said fluidic means in a first direction toward said cutting means and a second direction away from said cutting means, and means for setting the operation of said fluidic means such that the speed of movement of said forcing means is appreciably greater in said second direction as compared with its speed in said first direction.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
The improvement in a machine as defined in claim 2 including means for selectively adjusting the force of said fluidic means to varying the speed of movement of said forcing means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
66 words
The improvement in a machine as defined in claim 2 including means for holding corn ears centered with relation to the cutting means, means mounting said holding means for movement between an open corn ear receiving position and a closed corn ear gripping position, and yieldable fluidic means for applying a force to said holding means to yieldably grip a corn ear in said closed position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
46 words
The improvement in a machine as defined in claim 2 including means for separating kernels cut from large and small corn ears by said cutting means, said separating means being a pivotally mounted deflecting vane beneath said cutting means, and fluidic means for pivoting said vane.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
61 words
The improvement in a machine as defined in claim 2 including means for holding corn ears centered with relation to the cutting means, means for supporting a corn ear above said holding means, and means responsive to the movement of said forcing means away from said cutting means for transferring a corn ear from said supporting means to said holding means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
The improvement in a machine as defined in claim 3 including means for selectively adjusting the force of said fluidic means to varying the speed of movement of said forcing means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
66 words
The improvement in a machine as defined in claim 3 including means for holding corn ears centered with relation to the cutting means, means mounting said holding means for movement between an open corn ear receiving position and a closed corn ear gripping position, and yieldable fluidic means for applying a force to said holding means to yieldably grip a corn ear in said closed position.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
61 words
The improvement in a machine as defined in claim 3 including means for holding corn ears centered with relation to the cutting means, means for supporting a corn ear above said holding means, and means responsive to the movement of said forcing means away from said cutting means for transferring a corn ear from said supporting means to said holding means.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
40 words
A method of cutting corn comprising the steps of yieldably fluidically gripping a corn ear in longitudinal alignment with corn cutting means, and yieldably fluidically moving the corn ear out of its grip toward and through the corn cutting means.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
40 words
A method of cutting corn comprising the steps of yieldably fluidically gripping a corn ear in longitudinal alignment with corn cutting means, and yieldably fluidically moving the corn ear out of its grip toward and through the corn cutting means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method of cutting corn as defined in claim 16 including the step of initially supporting each corn ear above and out of alignment with the cutting means, and feeding the last-mentioned corn ear to a position to be gripped and held in longitudinal alignment with the corn cutting means in response to opposite fluidic movement.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
38 words
The improvement in a machine as defined in claim 2 wherein said piston rod has a piston end and a rod end, and said rod end has means for aligning a misaligned corn ear with said cutting means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
33 words
The improvement in a machine As defined in claim 18 wherein said aligning means includes a plurality of projecting fingers of which one is axially located and is longer than the remaining fingers.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
45 words
The improvement in a machine as defined in claim 5 wherein both said yieldable fluidic means are in part defined by a fluid chamber, and said forcing and force applying means are defined each by a piston rod telescopically movable relative to its associated cylinder.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
68 words
In a machine for cutting corn wherein is provided corn cutting means, means for adjusting said corn cutting means, means for grippingly supporting each corn ear, means for forcing corn ears from said supporting means to and through said cutting means, the improvements comprising yieldable fluidic means for operating said adjusting, gripping and forcing means, and fluidic logic circuit means for sequentially operating gripping, adjusting and forcing means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
68 words
In a machine for cutting corn wherein is provided corn cutting means, means for adjusting said corn cutting means, means for grippingly supporting each corn ear, means for forcing corn ears from said supporting means to and through said cutting means, the improvements comprising yieldable fluidic means for operating said adjusting, gripping and forcing means, and fluidic logic circuit means for sequentially operating gripping, adjusting and forcing means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
34 words
The improvement in a machine as defined in claim 21 wherein said yieldable fluidic means is in part defined by a fluid chamber and piston rod associated with each adjusting, gripping and forcing means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-08-22 | 1976-02-21 | 1976-08-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-08-22 | 1980-02-21 | 1980-08-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-08-22 | 1984-02-21 | 1984-08-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |