My 1 , 1924.

1,499,950
H. J. SMITH
POTATO CUTTING MACHINE

Filed 00

28

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Patented duty 1, 192-4.

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\VVHENRY J. SMITH, O1? IJIIN'NEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

POTATO-CUTTING llIAGI-IINE.

Application ?led. Gctober 28, 19255.

T 0 all whom it may concern.

Serial No. 597,691.

Within the lower part of the frame, piv

Be it known that I, HENRY J. SMITH, a oted on shafts 10 and 11 are yokes 13 and
citizen of the United States, residing at Min 14. In the upper ends of yokes 13 and 14
neapolis, in the county of Hennepin and are hearings in which revolve shafts 21 and
State of Minnesota, have invented new and 22. Securely attached to that portion of
useful Potato-Cutting Machines, of which shaft 21 which is between the bearings of
the following is a speci?cation.
yoke 14 are feeding rolls 23, 24, 25, 26, and
This invention relates particularly to hand 27, hereafter known as a set. Also attached
or power driven machines of the continuous to shaft 22 between the upper ends of yoke
operation type, or machines not dependent 13 are feeding rolls 28, 29, 30, 31, and 32,

upon plungers to force the potatoes through

the cutting knives.

15

hereafter known as a- set.

65

These two sets

of feeding rolls are so spaced upon shafts

The primary object of this invention is to 21 and 22 that there is room between them
provide a potato cutting machine in which for the stretching from one end piece 4 to
potatoes of varying size can be cut into the other end piece 5 of cutting knives 33,
pieces of a more suitable size for planting, 34, and 35. In the central portion of the
or feeding purposes and to provide a ma

frame, above and at right angles to knives

chine in which the cutting operations are 33, 34, and 35 is cutting knife 36. Knives
constant, thus providing great cutting ca 33, 34, 35, and 36 are held securely within
20

[0 Ci

acity.

the frame by their ends being provided with

\Vith the foregoing and other objects in bolts and nuts by means of which they are

View which will appear as the description

proceeds, the invention resides in the combi
nation and arrangements of parts and in the
details of construction hereinafter described

drawn taut. The two sets of feeding-rolls

are prevented from coming in contact with
each other or with knife 36 by means of stop

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pins 37 and 38 inside of frame member 3,

and claimed, it being understood that against which the arms of yoke-s 13 and 14
changes in the precise embodiment of the in come in contact.
vention herein disclosed may be made within
The outer rims, of the individual members
the scope of what is claimed without depart of the two sets of feeding rolls are provided

ing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawing the pre

with depressions, or corrugations of varying

depths are so held in alignment in the roll
assemblies as to provide cups or pockets
which seize the potatoes to be cut and pre

ferred form of the invention is shown.

In said drawings :-

Figure 1 is a plan view of the belt or vent their slipping out of place while being
gear side of the machine with the belt pulley forced through the cutting knives. The two
removed.
sets of feeding rolls in addition to a revolv

90

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the machine ing motion also have a reciprocating motion
with the feeding rolls and cutting knife ad to or from each other by being carried in
justment in section.
yokes 13 and 14 which are pivoted at their
40

Figure 3 is a sectional end view of the

machine on the lines A,B, Figure 1.
Figure 4 is an assembly view inside of
frame member 3 of yokes 13 and 14 and
equalizing levers 15, 16 and 17 , and

lower ends, on shafts 10 and 11 inside of

frame members 2 and 3. As these two sets
of feed rolls swing to or from each other
they are kept at approximately the same

distance from knife 36 by means of equaliz

ing levers 15, 16 and 17 acting on the swing
Figure 5 is a. top view of the parts shown ing ends of yokes 13 and 14. Equalizing
in Figure 4, and shows in greater detail lever 15 being pivoted at its central portion
method of attaching the ends of connecting to frame member 3 its outer ends are by
spring 2Q.

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levers 16 and 17 to yokes 13 and 14.

50

100

means of a rivet 49 hinged to one end of con

Referring to the ?gure by character of necting levers 16 and 17, the other ends

105

reference, 1 designates the frame which is of levers 16 and 17 being connected by means
composed of side members 2 and 3, and end of a screw to one side of yokes 13 and 14.
pieces 4 and 5. The lower side of frame The two sets of feeding rolls are caused
members 2 and 3 terminates in brackets to to revolve, at a uniform speed in opposite 110
which are bolted the supporting legs 6, 'Z, directions by there being mounted on the
8 and 9,

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Outer ends at shafts 21 sad-22, gears: 33

1,499,950

2
and 40.

shafts, means for rigidly holding these

In consta t mesh with gears 39

and a0 are gears Lil and i2,

Gears ill and shafts within the lower ends of the swing

42 are in turn connected together by gears mg yokes, said yokes having shaft bear

Gears 4?) and 44 turn on axles ings in the upper ends, shafts free to revolve '
attached to the lower portion of frame mem within said. bearings, spaced and positively
ber 3, while gears 1l1 and 42 revolve upon driven feeding rolls securely attached to
the outer ends of shafts l0 and 11. Se said shafts and means for causing the two
curely attached to gear 44 is belt pulley sets of feeding rolls to retain a proper feed
'19. Gears 39 and 40 are enabled to have ing relationship to each other and to the
43 and 44:.

a swinging as wel as a revolving motion

cutting knives, centrally located cutting

by being connected through shafts 21 and knives operating among and between the

TO

22 to the swinging ends of yokes 13 and 14. two sets of feeding rolls.

15

20

to Oz

Potato cutting machine consisting of

The two sets of feeding rolls are caused
to revolve by being connected through shaft a frame, supported by supporting legs.
22 with crank 4L6 or through shafts 2-1 and knives within the frame, feeding rolls op
22 and gears 39, ~10, 41, l2, 43, and 4a with erated among said cutting knives, means for

belt pulley 19. The two sets of feeding driving the feeding rolls by means of a
rolls are ordinarily held in close proxim crank or a belt pull y, which drives said
ity to each other by means of an adjust rolls by means of gearing connecting said
able spring 20 being, connected to the upper rolls through their axles to each other and
ends of yokes 13 and 14 so that the necessary to the belt pulley.
4:. A. potato cutting machine, consisting
gripping pressure to enable the feeding rolls
to grasp and securely hold potatoes while of a frame, supported by supporting legs,
knives within the frame, positive driven
forcing them through the cutting knives.
In operation when the two sets of feed feedii'ig rolls operating among the knives,
ing rolls are caused to revolve toward each means for, controlling the swinging action
other by power applied either at the belt of said rolls in reference to each other and
pulley or crank if potatoes are dropped to the central cutting knife and means for

80

retaining, timing and driving gears upon

between the feeding rolls they will immedi

ately be seized by cups in the outer surface the side of said frame in proper relation to

of the feeding rolls and as they are carried each other and to the driving pulley and

10

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downward they are prevented from being feeding rolls. ,

5. A potato cutting machine, consisting
crushed by their forcing apart the two sets
of feeding rolls and the extension of spring of a frame supported upon supporting legs,
20. its the potatoes pass through the cut- knives within the frame, swinging yokes
ting knives they drop into spout 4-7. Spring pivoted in the lower portion of said frame,
20 at all times maintaining a uniform grip- feeding rolls mounted within said yokes,

ill]

95

ping action on the potatoes being cut or means for holding the feeding rolls in a

returns the feeding rolls working position. close but elastic proximity to each other,
The size of the pieces into which a potato equalizing levers for controlling the swing
can be cut are dependent upon the will of ing action of said rolls in relation to the
the operator and the number of knives left central cutting knife, means for preventing

the feeding rolls from coming in contact

_
Having thus described my invention with each otheror with the central cutting
knife, means for preventing the feeding
what I claim is :
I
l. A potato cutting machine, consisting rolls from twisting within the frame, means

100

in the machine.

105

of a frame supported by supporting legs, for preventing potatoes from slipping from
between the feeding rolls or out. of posi

cutting knives stretched through the cen

tral or inner portion of said frame, means tion while passing between said rolls, and
for drawing these knives to the desired ten means for holding potatoes within a con

sion, means for holding revolving and venient distance of the operator.
In testimony that I claim the foregoing
swinging feeding rolls among the cutting
knives and means for imparting a positive as my own, l have hereto atlixed my signa
revolving motion to said feeding rolls.
27! iii

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2. A potato cutting machine consisting

of frame supported upon supporting legs,
hearings in the lower portion of said frame,
shafts supported within said bearings, gears
free to revolve upon one outer end of said

ture in the presence of two witnesses;

HENRY J. SMITH.
\Vitnesses :

GEORGE E. SMITH,
' PAUL J. THOMPSON.

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