An Improved Fruit-cleaning Machine.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Mar., 1899-Accepted, 15th Apr., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Fruit-cleaning Machine.
I, GEORGE SAMUEL BAKER, Engineer, of 58, City Road, in the County of
Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement:—
This invention relates to an improved machine for cleaning currants or other
fruit, in which they are first passed through a sieve, then carried by a streau.
of water into a receptacle, from which they are washed by a second stream of
water into one end of a stationary perforated or meshed cylinder, provided with
rapidly revolving paddles or stirrers, which also act as a conveyor. The cur-
rants being given a rapid revolving movement within the cylinder. the water is
separated, is thrown out of the cylinder by centrifugal action carrying with it.
the particles washed from the surfaces of the fruit and is led from the machine
by an outflow pipe; the currants gradually pass to the other end of the cylinder
whence they issue through an opening in the front frame into any convenient
receptacle. The water outflow pipe opens into a tank connected with the suction
pipe of a pump, of which the delivery pipe supplies the water to the apparatus.
The tank is provided with a bottom valve for drawing off dirt ac.
The currants may be fed on to the sieve by hand, or from a hopper placed
over it.
In the accompanying drawings in which like letters indicate like parts.
Figure 1 is a plan, and
Figure 2 an end view of a machine constructed according to this invention, and
Figure is a section on the line 3-3 of Figures 1 and 2.
The ends of the machine are formed by two frames A A'. which are connected
together, preferably by metal sheeting A3 forming with the upper portions of
the end frames, a casing for the operative portion of the machine. This casing
may be secured to the frames in any convenient manner, say by rivetting to the
side webs A and to flanges A' of the frames. The bottom of this casing A* is
inclined in one direction, say from back to front as shown in Figure 3, and its
lowest portion has an outflow pipe A for the waste water.
The front end frame A (Figure 2) has a centrally placed circular opening. the
frame being strengthened around the circumference of that opening so as to
form a supporting surface A for the end of a cylinder B hereinafter described.
This opening is closed by a flanged disc C, which fits within it and is secured
to the frame at the top by a pin A8 passing through lugs A9 C on the frames
and disc respectively, and at the bottom by a tongue engaging in a slotted
lug A on the frame.
The disc C is provided with a central loop Ca bored to form a bearing for one
end of a shaft D, and beneath the boss is an opening C. Below this opening
and preferably formed integral with the frame is a shoot A", having a loose
cover A¹.
The back end frame A' has a centrally placed hollow boss A13, which forms
a second bearing for the shaft D.

page_text: Resting on the top of the frames A A' is a tray E. The front portion of the
tray bottom is horizontal, but the major portion slopes downwards from the front
and sides, forming gradually-narrowing inclined planes E, ending in a recep-
tacle of which a portion E of the Hoor is formed on a rising incline, ending
in a hopper E. Below the front inclined plane E' is formed a water tank Es
communicating with the receptacle E by a hole or holes E. Above the inclined
portions of the tray is placed a cover comprising a plate E3 and wire sieve E both
of which are readily removable for cleaning purposes. The mesh of the sieve E+
is of a size to allow currants to pass through but which will keep back foreign
bodies of a larger size. The plate is provided with a baffle board E5 to
ensure the currants falling into the receptacle Es before reaching the hopper. A
water supply pipe F runs along the front of the tray and is perforated with
holes F2 so as to direct a spray of water on to the floor of the tray and also with
a branch F3 for the supply of the tank Es. Preferably the pipe F is covered
by a hinged guard F.
The supply pipe F may he connected with the delivery, pipe G of a rotary
pump G, the operating spindle of which forms part of the shaft D. The suction
pine G of the pump G is connected to the upper part of a tank H. placed
beneath the casing A2 so as to receive the outflow of the waste pipe A, and sup-
ported on flanges A of the frames A A The tank H is preferably formed
as shown in Figures 2 and 3 with its bottom sloping towards the centre, and is
provided at its lowest point with a cock H¹.
Placed centrally in the apparatus is a perforated or meshed cylinder or drum B
preferably constructed as shown in Figure 3 of horizontal wires BI held together
by encircling bands or wires B³. One end of the cylinder is supported within
the opening in the front frame A, as before described, the other end rests on a
lug or flange A on the inner side of the back frame A¹
An opening 133 is
provided in the upper part of the cylinder to receive the hopper E with which
it makes a good fit.
The shaft D, supported in bearings in the bosses C3 A13 as before described,
runs centrally through the cylinder, and is provided with collars D' formed with
sockets I to carry the paddles or stirrers. Preferably the collars are three in
number and each carry two straight paddles I³, whilst the outer collars are also
provided with other paddles D4, curved so as to give, when the shaft is rotated,
a movement to any material within the cylinder from the back to the front end
of the cylinder.
The shaft extends beyond the back frame of the machine to act as the
operative shaft or spindle of the pump G. A fast and a loose pulley are also
provided, the end of the shaft working in a bearing A in a bracket A bolted
to the end frame A¹. This bracket conveniently carries a belt shifter.
The currants may be delivered on to the sieve E by a hopper placed over it
or by hand.
The machine is operated as follows:
The currants deposited on the sieve are spread manually by the attendant
and rubbed through the sieve meshes falling on to the inclined planes E, where
they meet the stream of water flowing evenly over them from the pipe F. The
currants and water together fall into the receptacle E6, through which passes a
current of water from the tank E. washing the currants up its inclined end
into the hopper, whilst stones and heavy foreign matters are left behind.
the hopper the currants pass into the cylinder B wherein they are rapidly revolved
From
by the paddles on the shaft D set in motion by a helt on the fast pulley. A
proportion of the water will fall at once into the casing A, the remainder will
be thrown off by centrifugal force into the same casing and escape by the out-
flow pipe A5. The currants will be carried by the curved paddle D to the front
end of the cylinder and pass in a comparatively dried state through the opening C
falling from the shoot A" into any convenient receptacle.
From the waste pipe A the water falls into the tank H, where the dirt falls

page_text: to the bottom and may be removed at convenient intervals by the valve H', the
water being used again by means of the pump G.
All parts of the machine are readily removable for cleaning purposes. The
tray E with its hopper E lifts bodily off the frame; by removing the pin AB
and slightly rotating the disc C so that the tongue C is disengaged from the
lug A the disc C.can be drawn off the shaft D. leaving the interior of the
cylinder B readily accessible. When the disc is absent, the cylinder B can be
readily drawn out of the machine.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed. I declare that what
I claim is―
1. In a
fruit-cleaning machine of the kind described a washing stone-separator
interposed between the hopper and the cylinder.
2. In a fruit-cleaning machine of the kind described a tank and circulating
pump arranged and operating substantially as and for the purpose described.
3. The improved fruit-cleaning machine described and illustrated in the accom-
panying drawings.