The invention concerns machines, systems and devices for crushing oil seeds. Presently known machines for extracting oil from seeds substantially consist of presses in which the seeds are loaded into watertight chambers to allow for the pre¬ sence of liquids. The seeds are poured into the chambers through a valve which closes when the chamber is full.

Crushing pressure is supplied by a hydraulic piston. When this is finished the mass consisting of the solid part of the exhausted seeds is discharged. All stages of loading, crushing and discharging take place in succession.

Large-scale production presses are generally horizontal and to increase output have several chambers of which there may as many as fourteen or more. These chambers form a cylinder at the two ends of which are filtering plates from which the oil runs out.

To reach these plates the oil extracted from the layers farthest away will clearly have to pass through those layers nearest to the plates, layers which become increas¬ ingly compressed. As the oil extracted from the middle layers is hindered from passing through, it follows that pressure and there¬ fore bulk, weight and cost of the machine and of running it, will be much greater due to high consumption of energy. In any case crushing will not be uniform and there will be layers of seeds that are insufficiently crushed.

The above invention greatly increases the efficiency of these machines offering important advantages as regards cost of plant and of production as will be explained below. Subject of the invention is a machine for crushing oil seeds in which there are three radially placed stations at an equal angular distance, respectively for loading, crushing and discharging, and a horizontal revolving dis¬ coid conveyor that supports one or more sets of three ho¬ rizontal cylindrical tubs placed round a circumference at an equal angular distance one from another.

The conveyor carries the tubs to the three stations, one after another, for simultaneous execution of the three stages of loading, crushing and discharging respectively of the three tubs of each set that stop at the stations. Completion of these simultaneously executed stages is fol¬ lowed by simultaneous transfer, in each set, of the tub at the loading station to the adjacent crushing station and of the tub at the crushing station to the adjacent discharging station, and of the tub at the discharging station to the adjacent loading station, and so on. The machine is computer operated. Each tub is freely lodged in a large hole made for it in

the conveyor, held in place by its upper projecting rim which rests on the edge round said hole.

The base of each tub is formed of a discoid filter that can freely move from the bottom of the tub to its top. The loading station comprises a hopper with a batching valve below, operated by a hydropneuma ic cylinder, a distribution container below the hopper, in the bottom of which are large oblong holes for the seeds to fall through. These holes are fitted with baffle plates opened and closed by a second hydropneuma ic cylinder,

In the container is a pusher means fitted with blades. On arrival of an empty tub the computer works the second cylinder to move the baffle plates and open the holes to allow the seeds to fall from the distribution container into the tub which is then ready to move to the crushing station. The computer then closes the holes and works the first cy¬ linder to allow another batch of seeds to fall from the hopper into the distribution container for a fresh sequence and so on . On the crushing station, at a short distance from the lower end of the tubs,is a plate supported by the top of a piston of a large vertical cylinder, the diameter of the plate being substantially equal to the external diameter of the tubs and connected, by brackets, to the pistons of the pair of lateral vertical cylinders.

A short distance from the top of the tubs, said station exhibits a cylindrical container, whose external diameter corresponds to the internal diameter of the tubs and whose bottom consists of a filtering disc. Means are provided for discharging the extracted oil from said container . When a tub loaded with seed arrives, the computer works the

the lower piston thus raising the tub and causing the cylindrical container with filter bottom to enter it, the load of seeds being then crushed between said filter and the bottom of the tub. The oil so produced is transferred into the container. Crushing having been completed the computer works the lateral cylinders causing the plate that supports the tub to be lowered, therefore lowering the tub itself till it reaches its starting position on the discoid conveyor at which point it is ready to pass on to the discharging station.

Low down on the discharging station, at a short distance from the lower end of the tub, is a plate , supported by the top of the piston of a vertical cylinder, the diame- ϋer of which is less than the internal diameter of the tub. Higher up on said station, at a short distance from the top of the tub, is a pair of opposing vertical raising blocks aligned with the edges of the tub, which internally have two opposing runners along which a slide, shaped like a horizontal half ring, whose radius corresponds to the internal radius of the tub, makes free horizontal movements. By means of a vertical arm said half ring is connected to a mechanism operated by the piston of a horizontal hydro- pneumatic cylinder. On arrival of a tub containing a mass of crushed seeds, the computer raises the lower vertical piston, and therefore the discoid filter forming the base of the tub, together with said mass until it is aligned with the inside of the half ring . At this point the horizontal cylinder moves the half ring against the mass of crushed seed, pushing it out from the discoid filter towards a discharge chute.

Having done so the half ring returns to its idle position outside the tub and the filter plate returns to the lower end of the tub which is now ready to move to the loading station. The machine exhibits a bird's beak-shaped frame with a central column around which the horizontal discoid conveyor turns on roller bearings.

The crushing station is placed inside the structure form¬ ing the bird's beak while the loading and discharging sta- tions are placed on supports outside said beak, one on each side of the crushing station.

The discoid conveyor is moved by an electric ratiomotor operated by the computer and is fitted with a locking device that functions during each of its operative phases.

Said locking device comprises a vertical hydropneumatic cy¬ linder held to the frame of the machine, with a piston whose head, worked by the computer, penetrates during the operative stages inside a seat made for it on the discoid conveyor. In this way its exact position is assured during the opera- tive stages which are carried out regularly at each 1/3 of a turn made during its rotation. The invention offers evident advantages.

Being vertical, the machine can be loaded and the seeds crushed in the open air. All stages are executed simultaneously so that, there being three tubs, or multiples of three, at each turn the revolv¬ ing conveyor completes three cycles, one cycle following on another in a practically continuous manner. As the tubs extend horizontally, thickness of the mass of seeds is kept low thus reducing the obstacle created by the layer that is crushed first.

Output being equal, all this considerably reduces work¬ ing pressure, weight and bulk of the machine, greatly increasing efficiency and offering substantial advantages in plant and running costs. Characteristics and purposes of the invention will become still clearer from the following example of its execution illustrated by diagrammatically drawn figures. Fig. 1 The machine with its revolving conveyor, perspective. Fig. 2 Profile view of the machine showing the device for pulling the revolving conveyor.

Fig. 3 Cut through lateral view of the machine at the load¬ ing station. Fig. 4 The same as Fig. 3 at the end of loading. Fig. 5 Cut through lateral view of the machine at the crushing station.

Fig. 6 The same as above at the start of crushing, front view cut through. Fig. 7 The same as above during crushing. Fig. 8 The same as above at completion of crushing. Fig. 9 Cut through lateral view of the machine at the dis¬ charging station. Fig.10 The same as above when the stage of raising the mass of crushed seeds has been completed. Fig.11 The same as above seen from the front. Fig.12 Cut through lateral view of the machine at comple¬ tion of the discharging stage. The machine 10 comprises a bird's beak-shaped frame 11 on uprights 15 with a central column 12 fixed by a pair of large cylindrical nuts, a lower one 13 and upper one 14, and a base 16, and comprises three computer-operated sta¬ tions at equal radial distances , for loading 50, crushing 70 and discharging 80.

The discoid conveyor 25 and hub 26 can freely revolve on said column by means of the thrust bearing 22 and axial bearing 23 supported by the pair of half rings 17, 18 fixed by screws 19. Said conveyor 25 is moved round by a ratiomotor 27 with continuous chain 24 comprising a pinion 28 on the ratio- motor and crown gear 29 mounted on the hub 26. The conveyor 25 rotates in stages each of one third of the full turn. The stages are controlled by a locking device comprising a cylinder 33 fixed to the frame, ith piston 34 and head 35. On completion of each stage said head 35 penetrates inside the seat 36 made for it on the conveyor 25. The conveyor 25 carries three equal cylindrical tubs 40, 41, 42 set at an equal angular distance and lodged in the circular holes 30.

Each tub comprises a cylindrical body 45 with projecting rim 46 and a filter-base 47 with perforations 48. The loading station 50 (Fig.3) comprises a hopper 51 for the seeds 38 joined to the batching valve 52 worked by the piston 53 of the hydropneumat ic cylinder 54 in turn operated by the computer.

Below the hopper 51 is cylindrical container 55 in the bottom 56 of which are oblong holes 57 for passage of the seeds 38 and below which is a closing disc 58 with radial baffle plates 59 to fit over said holes, said disc being connected by a support 60 to the piston 61 of a hydropneu- matic cylinder 62 operated by the computer. Therefore, according to the radial position assumed by the disc 58 the holes 57 for passage of the seeds 38 will be open or closed. Inside the container 55 is a mixer 65 worked by a motor

67 to which the blades 68, 69 are fixed and below the disc 63 with its oblong holes 64.

The disc 63 and blades serve to mix and spread the seeds 38, even during transfer of the tubs. On completion of a loading stage the valve 52 opens while the cylinder 62 holds the disc 58 and baffle plates 59 in the closed position over the oblong holes 57 in the bottom 56 of the container 55. The container becomes filled with seeds and, once full, the valve 52 closes.

As soon as an empty tub, like 40 in Fig.4, stops at the station, the computer rotates the disc 58 and the holes 57 open allowing seeds to fall from the container 55 to the tub 40 through the holes 64 in the disc 63 as well. The conveyor 25 then makes a 1/3 turn so moving the tub 40 to the crushing station 70 (Fig.5).

Underneath that station is the large vertical cylinder 71 with piston 72 that supports the plate 73 close up to the end of the tub 40 carried along by the revolving con- veyo _f 25.

The diameter of said plate 73 is substan ially equal to the external diameter of the tub; it exhibits two diame¬ tral brackets 75 supported by he pistons 76 of the la¬ teral vertical cylinders 77, computer operated like the cylinder 71.

Uppermost at that station and at a short distance from the the upper end of the tub, is a cylindrical container 80 the bottom 81 of which consists of a perforated filter 82. The external diameter of said container is slightly less than the internal diameter of the tub. The large piston 72 and c ntainer 80 are aligned with the

stopping position of the tub at the station. When a tub 40, loaded with seeds 38 at the previous sta¬ tion, reaches the station in Fig. 6, the computer raises the piston 72 and so also the tub 40 (Fig.7) partially lifting it out of its hole 30 in the con eyor 25,causing the container 80 to penetrate inside it so that the seeds 38 comprised between the bottom 47 of the tub and the filter-base 81 (Fig.7) become crushed. The oil produced, passing along the grooves 85 made in the inner walls of the container 80, collects in an upper horizontal channel 86 and passes outside through hole 88. This stage having been completed the lateral cylinders 77 move the plate 73 down again and, here fore, the tub 40, with its mass 39 of crushed seeds 38 returns to its start* ing position with its projecting rim 46 resting on the conveyor 25 (Fig.8).

At this point the computer makes the tub 40 pass on to th next station 90 for discharge, thus causing the con¬ veyor to execute another one third of its circle. Low down on the discharging station 90 (Fig.9) is the hydraulic cylinder 91 with piston 92 at the top of which the plate 94 is fixed a short distance fcom thε lower end of the tub 40. Uppermost on that station is the horizontal half ring 100 that slides horizontally in relation to the runners 121 on raising blocks 102 and 103 fixed to the frame of the machine 10 a short distance from the top of tub 40. To this half ring a vertical arm 106 is fixed which, by means of the bracket 107, supports at its top a pin 108 on which acts the lever mechanism 110 articulated in the pin 111 of support 114 and worked by the piston 115 of the horizontal hydraulic cylinder 116.

In the end of the lever 110 is a slot 117 within which the above pin 108 slides.

The centre of the half ring 100 and the above pin 92 are aligned on the same vertical geometrical axis as that of the station.

The tub 40 too is therefore aligned on said geometrical axis .

The diameter of plate 94 is slightly less tha the. inter¬ nal diameter of the tub 40. The distance between raising blocks 102, 103 (Fig.11) is greater than the internal diameter of tub 40 but less than the external diameter of its projecting rim 46. On arrival of the tub 40 at the station, the piston 92 lifts up, by means of plate 94, the filter base 72 of the tub and therefore the mass 39 of crushed seeds, as high as the level occupied by the half ring 100. The raising blocks 102, 103 impede the rise of tub 40 in spite of the friction caused by the circumferential pack¬ ing between the filter base and the walls of the tub. At this point the piston causes the half ring 100 to move onto its runners so that said half ring pushes the mass 39 outside the filter base 72 towards the external chute 120 where, in position 39' , it will be seen to fall down for ultimate disposal. When the tub 40 has left the loading station for the crush¬ ing station, the second tub 41 has moved from the discharg¬ ing station to the loading station while tub 42 has moved from the crushing station to the discharging station and so on It is thus clear that three stages of loading, crushing and discharging are carried out simultaneously and therefore three cycles of one stage, respectively in the three tubs 40-42 _j and that when one tub has completed a stage at one

station it moves on to the next, each tub completing a cycle and immediately starting another.

At each third of a turn made by the revolving conveyor three cycles are carried out. With the method described other machines can naturally be built operating substantially in the same way but having more sets of tubs, and creating multiple stations for handling more tubs simultaneously.