AN IMPROVED PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR ROASTING Coffee, CHICORY, COCOA, AND OTHER LIKE SUBSTANCES
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for an Invention of
"AN IMPROVED PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR ROASTING Coffee,
CHICORY, COCOA, AND OTHER LIKE SUBSTANCES." A communication from
abroad by David Strang, of Invercargill, New Zealand, Coffee and Spice
Mahant
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 26th September 1881.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "AN IMPROVED PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS
FOR ROASTING COFFEE, CHICORY, COCOA, AND OTHER LIKE SUBSTANCES."
[A communication from abroad by David Strang, of Invercargill, New Zealand,
Coffee and Spice Merchant.]
This Invention has been designed for the purpose of roasting coffee, chicory,
cocoa, and other like substances, but is more especially applicable to the roasting of
coffee, inasmuch as by it the roasting is equally performed over the whole of the
berries submitted to its operation, and the natural quality and flavour of the coffee
is retained instead of being injuriously affected (as it is in other processes) by the
action of the fumes arising from a charcoal fire.
The improvement in the process of roasting coffee, chicory, cocoa, and other like
substances, which forms the first part of this Invention, consists in the substitution
of heated air for the hot fumes and gases arising from the combustion of charcoal
or other fuel, and by which the coffee or other substance is commonly roasted.
The improvement in apparatus for roasting coffee, chicory, cocoa, and other like
substances, which forms the second part this Invention, consists in an apparatus of
novel construction by which the aforesaid improved process can be carried into
operation. This apparatus is constructed as follows, that is to say :-I provide a
wire cloth cylinder closed at each end, and having a slide door on the periphery
sufficiently large to admit of its being rapidly filled and discharged. The ends of

page_text: this cylinder are keyed to a wrought iron spindle by which it is made to revolve
either by hand or other power. Inside the cylinder are fixed four diagonal
agitators placed at opposite angles alternately, by which means the material treated
is continually turned over while the cylinder is in motion, thereby ensuring the
equal roasting thereof. This cylinder revolves in a frame, at four points of which
are fixed studs, each bearing a loose roller running on rails which extend outside
the hot air or roasting chamber, so as to enable the cylinder to be easily drawn out
of such chamber either to examine or discharge its contents. On the outer end of
the frame is a door which is drawn in with the cylinder, and fits that end of the
hot air chamber so as to prevent the ingress of cold air. There is a throttle-valve
in a pipe which leads from the roasting chamber to a chimney. This pipe is for
the purpose of drawing off the moisture from the coffee or other substance while it
is being roasted, and the throttle-valve is for the purpose of closing such pipe and
so preventing the loss of heat when the coffee or the like becomes dry. The
furnace has hollow fire-bars, and there is a hollow centre bearer; vertical wrought
iron tubes are rivetted in two wrought iron tube-plates, one being the bottom of
the hot air or roasting chamber, and the other the top of a cold air chamber. The
air in passing through the vertical tubes is heated to the required temperature by
the action of the flame round the external surface of the tubes. The air in passing
-to-the-cold-air-chamber is--partially.heated while passing through the hollow fire
bars resting on the hollow centre bearer, and having one end open into the lower
air-chamber.
The quantity of air is regulated by a slide placed on the open end of centre
bearer.
"
It will be seen that by this Invention any kind of fuel can be used for providing
the necessary heat without in anywise affecting. the material operated on, as there
is no direct communication between the fire and the roasting, cylinder.

page_text: the hollow fire-bars E' resting on the hollow centre bearer E³, and having one end
open into the lower air-chamber. The quantity of air is regulated by a slide placed
on the open end of the centre bearer.
It will be seen that by this Invention any kind of fuel can be used for providing
the necessary heat without in anywise affecting the material operated on, as there
is no direct communication between the fire and the roasting cylinder.
Having thus fully described the said Invention, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim,-
First. The process of roasting coffee, chicory, cocoa, and other like substances, by
hot air instead of by the hot fumes and gases arising from the combustion of
charcoal or other fuel, substantially as herein described.
Second. The combination and arrangement of parts forming the complete apparatus
for carrying out such process, substantially as herein described and illustrated in
the accompanying Drawings.
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In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty fourth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty two.