IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR SEPARATING DIPPERENT SIZES OF ROOTS
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Spencer, of Doncaster, in the County of
York, Implement Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY FOR SEPARATING DIPPERENT SIZES OF ROOTS."
Sealed the 15th March 1864, and dated the 8th October 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Spencer at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 8th
October 1863.
I, JOHN SPENCER, of Doncaster, in the County of York, Inplement
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR SEPARATING DIFFERENT SIZES OF ROOTS," to
be as follows:
My Invention of improvements in machinery for separating different sizes
of roots is intended more particularly for sorting or separating potatoes of
different sizes.
The machine is portable, being mounted on wheels so that it may be easily
transported from place to place. The separation of the different sizes of
potatoes is effected by means of sieves or riddles to which a shaking or vibrating
motion is imparted by means of cranks or other well known mechanical
contrivances or equivalents.
In order to separate the roots into three samples, two upper riddles are
employed. The first riddle will only allow the smallest roots to pass through,
the second will allow a larger size to pass, such as would be suitable for
seed. All above that size would be fit for the market for ordinary consump-

page_text: tion. Below these riddles are mounted frames which are provided with
transverse bars which are vandyked or cut out or beaded, the beads or pro-
jecting parts being so arranged that they shall work between the bars of
the riddles above them, so that should any potatoes stick between the
bárs of the riddles they shall be pushed out. To this end a vibrating motion
is communicated to these frames as well as to the riddles. Below these are
other riddles, which I will call dirt riddles, as all the dirt, roots, and stones
that may become detached from the potatoes may fall through and be separated
from the potatoes. A shaking motion is also communicated to these dirt riddles,
otherwise they would quickly become choked. These dirt riddles are capable of
being easily taken out of the machine so that they may be cleaned when required.
The potatoes fall from the riddles on to inclined boards which conduct them
through spouts to any suitable receptacles. These inclined boards are arranged
so as to deliver the potatoes at both sides and at the end of the machine. These
boards may be mounted on centre pins so that they may be inclined.in either
direction and shoot the potatoes on either side of the machine into. suitable
receptacles. It will be evident that as all the working parts of the machine
have a vibratory or shaking motion communicated to them there is less risk of
the riddles becoming choked than in the machines heretofore constructed.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Spencer in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 8th
April 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
SPENCER, of Doncaster, in the County of York, Implement Manufacturer;
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-seventh
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said John Spencer, Her special license that I, the said John
Spencer, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said John Spencer, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within, the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for

page_text: "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR SEPARATING DIFFERENT SIZES OF ROOTS,'
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said John Spencer, by an
instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the. same
was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent.
'
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Spencer, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the Drawing hereunto annexed, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say) :-
My Invention of "Improvements in Machinery for Separating Different
Sizes of Roots," is intended to be employed more particularly for sorting or
separating potatoes of, different sizes.
1
The machine is shewn in the accompanying Drawing in which Fig. 1 is a
longitudinal vertical section; and Fig. 2 an end elevation thereof.
The machine is portable, being composed of a framing a, a, mounted on
wheels a',.a', so that it may be easily transported from place to place. The
separation of the different sizes of potatoes is effected by means of sieves or
riddles b, b, composed of wooden or iron bars placed at suitable distances
apart, the bars of the lower riddles being placed wider apart than those of the
upper ones. The sieves or riddles b, b', are placed in a framing 62, 62, to which
a shaking or vibrating motion is imparted by means of cranks on the main
driving shaft c* and connecting rods c or other well known mechanical con-
trivances or equivalents for the purpose of shaking or agitating the roots
.thereon. The frame 6, 63, is provided on each side with antifriction
wheels 63, 63, which run on guides & secured on the fixed framing a, a. It
will be seen that these guides are placed nearly horizontal while the frames b²
are in an inclined position; by this means a slight rising and falling motion
relatively to the beaded bars d', d', as well as an endway motion is communi-
cated to the riddle frames 6º.
In order to separate the roots into three samples two sets of sieves or
riddles b, b, are employed. The first riddle b will only allow the smallest
5 roots to pass through, while the second one, b¹, will allow a larger size to pass.
such as would be suitable for seed. All potatoes above that size would be fit
for the market for ordinary consumption. Below these riddles b, b', are
mounted frames d, d, which are provided with transverse bars d¹, d¹, which
are vandyked or cut out, or beaded as seen best in the end view, Fig. 2, and

page_text: in the detached plan view, Fig. 3, and sectional view, Fig. 4, of these bars, the
beads or projecting parts of the bars being so arranged that they shall project
up and work between the longitudinal bars of the riddles above them as seen.
in Fig. 2, so that should any potatoes stick between the bars of the riddles they.
shall be pushed out by the beads or projecting parts of the transverse bars
d', d. To this end a vibrating or reciprocating motion may if desired
be communicated to these frames d, d, as well as to the riddles; but the
desired object will be effected by holding the frames d, d, quiescent while
the riddles have a reciprocating motion communicated to them as already
explained.
In the Drawing the frames d, d, are secured by a strap to the fixed
framing a, a, so that they have no longitudinal or endway motion, but are
simply provided with antifriction rollers d³ which rest upon guides or rails d'
fixed on the frame 63, 6, so that while the latter reciprocates the frames d
remain steady. Below these frames d is another riddle f, which I call the dirt
riddle, as all the dirt, roots, and stones, that may become detached from the
potatoes may fall through and be separated from the potatoes. A shaking
motion is also communicated to the dirt riddle f as it is mounted in the recipro-
cating frame 63, otherwise the riddle f would quickly become choked.
It will be evident that if desired a dirt riddle f may be placed under each of s
the potatoe riddles 6 and 6, but I have not shewn two in the Drawing as I do
not consider them necessary. These dirt riddles f are simply removeable frames
mounted in the reciprocating frame 6, and are capable of being easily taken
out of the machine so that they may be cleaned when required.
:
In operating with this improved machine the potatoes are thrown by the
attendants into a hopper h from whence they descend on to the first or upper
riddle b. The very small potatoes and dirt will fall through the riddle on to
the dirt riddle f below, the dirt will pass through the riddle f on to the
ground, and the small potatoes will roll down the riddlef on to an inclined
board 9, which will conduct them through spouts to any suitable receptacle
placed at either side of the machine. The larger potatoes will roll down the
upper riddle b on to the lower riddle 6' through which the next smallest size
will pass and fall down on to an inclined board g³, Fig. 1, and be conducted
through a spout to a distinct receptacle. The large potatoes will pass over
the end of the riddle 6 on to the inclined board g², and be delivered out of the
machine into sacks or otherwise. These inclined boards g, g', g³, on to which
the potatoes fall from the riddles are arranged so as to deliver the potatoes at
either side and at the end of the machine. The boards 9, 9'; may be
.mounted on centre pins so that they may be inclined in either direction

page_text: and thereby shoot the potatoes on, either side of the machine into suitable
receptacles.
It will be evident that as all the working parts of the machine have a
vibratory or shaking motion communicated to them there is less risk of the
riddles becoming choked than in the machines heretofore constructed.
Having now described my Invention of Improvements in Machinery for
Separating Different Sizes of Roots," and having explained the manner of
carrying the same into effect, I claim as the Invention secured to me by Letters
Patent as aforesaid, the use in combination with the riddles b, 61, of the frames
d, d, with their beaded transverse bars, and the moveable dirt riddle f, as and
for the purposes herein set forth.
I also claim mounting the inclined boards and spouts as herein set forth so
that the potatoes may be delivered at either side at pleasure.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Spencer, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this 6th day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
Witness,
WILLIAM BASFORD,
Doncaster.
JOHN SPENCER. (L.S.)