US3592200A - Corn husking machine - Google Patents

Abstract

A corn husking machine having one or more sets of oppositely rotating husking rolls. The ears are caused to move along the rolls while the husks are being removed. One roll is made longer than the other at the discharge end of the machine whereby plugging or jamming is eliminated or greatly minimized.

Description

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,329,768 9/1943 Kerr l30/5 6 3,324,859 6/1967 Bossard........................ 130/5 Primary ExaminerAntonio F. Guida Attorney-Flehr, Hohbach, Test, Albritton & Herbert ABSTRACT: A com husking machine having one or more sets of oppositely rotating husking rolls. The cars are caused to Inventor Floyd 0. Fedderly Toppenish, Wash.

Appl. No 810,756

Mar. 26, 1969 [45] Patented July 13, 1971 Assignee Del Monte Corporation San Francisco, Calif.

3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

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[52] U.S.Cl. [5!] Int. CL....... [50] Field of PATENTEDJULI 31971 3,592,200

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ATTORNEYS CORN HUSKING MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION One type of corn husking machine which has been used commercially employs one or more sets of husking rolls disposed side by side and rotated in opposite directions. The cars of corn are delivered into the V between the upper sides of the rolls and are subjected to removal of husks by the action of the rolls while the ears progress along the rolls from the feed to the discharge end of the machine. At the discharge end of the machine the ears drop over the ends of the rolls and the adjacent roll bearing housings. Progression of the ears along the rolls can be ensured by such expedients as sloping the rolls toward their discharge ends, by providing helicoidal ribs on the rolls which tend to urge lthe ears toward the discharge ends, or by providing positive: means for propelling the ears. It has been found that such machines are subject to plugging or jamming at the discharge ends of the rolls. According to our observations this is due to accumulations of husk and stock between the housings of the roll bearings. Such accumulations interfere with proper progression of the ears along the rolls and with proper husking action. When a machine is plugged or jammed in this fashion the accumulations must be removed by hand, and ears which have been prevented from properly progressing along the rolls must be rehusked.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION AND OBJECTS This invention relates generally to corn husking machines and particularly to machines making use of one or more sets of husking rolls along which the ears of corn are caused to progress. I

In general it is an object of the invention to provide an improved corn husker which will solve the plugging or jamming problem referred to above.

Another object of the invention is to provide a corn husker having a novel arrangement at the discharge ends of the rolls, the arrangement making it impossible for husks and stock to become jammed between the bearing hdusings. The invention is characterized by the fact that at the discharge ends one of the rolls is longer than the other, whereby plugging between the bearing housings is avoided. I

Additional objects and features of the invention will appear from the following description in which the preferred embodiment has been set forth in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. I is a schematic side elevational view ofa corn husking machine.

FIG. 2 is a detail view taken as indicated by line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a detail looking toward the discharge end of the machine and showing the means for supporting the bearing housings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 illustrates a corn husking machine which is conven' tional except for the incorporation of my improvement. Such a machine can consist ofa base frame and housing 11. The ears after husking are discharged from the right-hand end 12 of the machine, and they are fed into the housing 11 at the left'hand end of the machine. Mounted within the base frame there are at least one and usually two pairs or sets of husking rolls. These husking rolls extend from the reed end of the machine to the discharge end, and at their feed ends their shafts are connected with suitable drive means whereby the rolls of each pair are driven in opposite directions. Ears to be husked are delivered upon the upper orfeed ends of the rolls and are caused to move longitudinally of the rolls within the upper until they reach the lower or discharge ends.

While being progressed along the rolls, the husks are engaged and stripped from the ears. Preliminary to feeding the ears to the machine, the butt ends are removed by a suitable cutting machine.

In accordance with the present invention the disposition of the husking rolls and the action of the husking rolls upon the ears of corn is the same as in prior machines. However, at the discharge ends of the rolls, one roll of each set. is made longer than the other, and the housings of the bearing assemblies are preferably disposed in such a manner that plugging or amming cannot occur.

The improvement described above is shown particularly in FIGS. 2 and 3. FIG. 2 illustrates two sets of husking rolls, each set comprising the rolls l6 and 17. As shown in FIG. 3, the axis of each roll 16 is preferably somewhat higher than the axis of roll 17 whereby with the peripheries of the two rolls in contact they appear to be slightly overlapping as viewed in plan. Contrary to conventional practice, the roll 16 of each set is made longer than the roll I7. In FIG. 2 the extended portion of each roll 16 is designated 16a. In many instances it has been found desirable to extend both the rolls l6 and 17 at the discharge end of the machine, thus providing additional husking time upon the rolls while the ears are progressing to the discharge ends. When it is desired to extend both rolls, a roll section 17a can be attached to the roll 17, but this section 17b is considerably shorter than the extension 16a.

In addition to providing an extension whereby one roll is longer than the other, I provide improved means for supporting the adjacent bearing housings for the rolls. Thus a support means 18 is provided which is carried to the side frame members 19 of the machine. This bearing support means consists of an upper transverse member 21 which is attached at its ends to the depending side members 22. A lower and shorter transverse member 23 is secured to the lower end of a web 24 which in turn is secured to member 21. The lower end portions of the side members 22 are provided with shoulders 26 which serve to seat the bearing housings 27. These housings are held in proper working position by the overlying tabs 28. The housings 27 provide bearings for the stud shafts 29 that extend from the ends of the rolls 16. The blocks 27 are permitted some movement relative to the side members 22, and they are spring urged toward the rolls 17. For this purpose I have indicated suitable spring assemblies, each including a spring retention pin 31 and a compression spring 32.

Bearing housings 33 are likewise provided for the stud shafts 34 that extend from the ends of the rolls 17. These housings seat upon the shoulder surfaces 36 that are provided on the ends of member 23, and they are retained by the overlying tabs 37. A discharge chute 39 in the form of an inclined plate is shown extending between the lower ends of the side members 22 and is arranged to receive ears which are discharged from the rolls. Aprons 38 and 39 can be provided to retain the ears in proper husking relationship with the rolls.

As previously explained, the upper ends of the rolls are connected to suitable drive means whereby the rolls of each pair are driven in opposite directions. The driving is such that the upper side of each roll of a pair turns inwardly with respect to the other roll. Ears of corn delivered into the feed end of the machine are deposited upon the rolls near their upper ends and are caused to be oriented with their axes extending parallel to the axes of the rolls. Each ear is disposed within the upwardly faced V" between the rolls and is acted upon by the husking rolls to remove the husks. By the time the ears reach the lower ends of the rolls, all of the husks should be removed. It will be apparent from FIG. 2 that at the discharge ends of the rolls each ear is caused to discharge over the inner side of the roll extension 16a and over the adjacent bearing housing 33 of the adjacent roll 17. There is no tendency for husk to become plugged between the bearing housings 27 and 33, particularly because these blocks are spaced a substantial distance apart, and the support means for the bearing housings does not block discharging ears and other material. In this connection it will be noted that the members 22 for supporting the bearing housings 27 extend upwardly, while the member 23 extends inwardly of the bearing housings 33.

In general my machine is capable of operating over long periods of time without becoming jammed or plugged, thus eliminating the manual labor required with conventional machines for unplugging, and avoiding or minimizing rehusking operations.

I claim:

1. In a corn husking machine of the type having a set of husking rolls disposed side by side and adapted to be rotated in opposite directions whereby an ear of corn disposed on the rolls is subjected to removal of husks while progressing longitudinally of the rolls to the discharge ends thereof, the improvement comprising providing one roll of the set with an end portion which extends beyond the corresponding end of the other roll whereby discharging ears are delivered off that side of the end portion which faces the shorter roll, together with hearing housings for the discharge ends of each of the rolls, said bearing housings being spaced apart in a direction longitudinally of the rolls, and means for supporting said housmgs.

2. A com husking machine as in claim 1 in which the axis of rotation of one roll is elevated with respect to the axis of rotation of the other roll, whereby the peripheries of the rolls are overlapping as viewed in plan, the end portion being on the more elevated roll.

3. A corn husking machine as in claim 1 in which the supporting means for the bearing housings provides unobstructed space above the bearing housing for the shorter roll whereby ears may discharge over the same.

Claims (3)

1. In a corn husking machine of the type having a set of husking rolls disposed side by side and adapted to be rotated in opposite directions whereby an ear of corn disposed on the rolls is subjected to removal of husks while progressing longitudinally of the rolls to the discharge ends thereof, the improvement comprising providing one roll of the set with an end portion which extends beyond the corresponding end of the other roll whereby discharging ears are delivered off that side of the end portion which faces the shorter roll, together with bearing housings for the discharge ends of each of the rolls, said bearing housings being spaced apart in a direction longitudinally of the rolls, and means for supporting said housings.

2. A corn husking machine as in claim 1 in which the axis of rotation of one roll is elevated with respect to the axis of rotation of the other roll, whereby the peripheries of the rolls are overlapping as viewed in plan, the end portion being on the more elevated roll.

3. A corn husking machine as in claim 1 in which the supporting means for the bearing housings provides unobstructed space above the bearing housing for the shorter roll whereby ears may discharge over the same.

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