IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR PRODUCING OATMEAL, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO CUTTING RICE AND OTHER SIMILAR PURPOSES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John McCann, of Middle Abbey Street, Dublin, and
Beamont Mills, Drogheda, Ireland, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY FOR PRODUCING OATMEAL, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO
APPLICABLE TO CUTTING RICE AND OTHER SIMILAR PURPOSES."
Sealed the 1st July 1879, and dated the 9th January 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John MoCann at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th January 1879.
JOHN MCCANN, of Middle Abbey Street, Dublin, and Beamont Mills, Drogheda,
Ireland. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR PRODUCING OATMEAL, WHICH IM-
PROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO CUTTING RICE AND OTHER SIMILAR
PURPOSES."
The object of my said Invention is to produce oatmeal by more economical and
expeditious means than have hitherto been employed, so far as I am aware.
According to the ordinary method of producing this article the corn is shelled by
means of a pair of shelling stones, after which the shelling is passed through a
second pair of stones, by which it is reduced to about the size of a largo pin's
head. After leaving this second pair of stones, the larger grains are separated from
the medium and smaller grains by being passed over a sifter provided with
suitable sieves.
The difference in value between the pin head portion of the meal and the
siftings is considerable, and is well known to practical millers; besides it is usually
difficult to get rid of the siftings.
My Improvements relate to means designed to effect the cutting across of each
grain of shelling and its subsequent rounding, thereby producing more pin-head
meal and less siftings.
To this end I mount a pair of steel rollers in suitable frame-work. One of these
rollers is grooved longitudinally (parallel to its axis) with sharp V shaped grooves,
the space between each two grooves or teeth being as near as possible to half the
size of a grain of shelling. The second roller over which the machine is fed is
grooved at right angles to its axis (the grooves being round or U shaped by
preference).
Thus the shelling upon falling from the hopper or feeding slide on to the last
described roller will be caught and maintained in an upright position, while the

page_text: longitudinal teeth or grooves of the first described roller will cause each grain to be
nicked while passing between both rollers.
The shelling is then passed through the second pair of stones, when the cut
particles are rounded, and subsequently passed over the sifter in the ordinary
course.
By this process a considerable saving is effected in the yield of pin-head oatmeal.
The siftings are also more valuable, being free from dead fine oatmeal.
It will be evident that the above described apparatus may be applied to the
cutting of rice and other such substances in a similar manner.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John McCann in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 8th July 1879.
JOHN MCCANN, of Middle Abbey Street, Dublin, and Beamont Mills, Drogheda,
Ireland. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR PRODUCING OATMEAL, WHICH IM-
PROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO CUTTING RICE AND OTHER SIMILAR
PURPOSES."
The object of my said Invention is to produce oatmeal by more economical
means and expeditious manner than have hitherto been employed, so far as I am
aware.
According to the ordinary method of producing this article the corn is shelled
by means of a pair of shelling stones, after which the shelling is passed through a
second pair of stones, by which it is reduced to about the size of a large pin's head.
After leaving this second pair of stones the larger grains are separated from the
medium and smaller grains by being passed over a sifter provided with suitable
sieves.
The difference in value between the pin-head portion of the meal and the siftings
is considerable, and is well known to practical millers; besides it is usually difficult
to get rid of the siftings.
My improvements relate to means designed to effect the cutting across of each
grain of shelling and its subsequent rounding, thereby producing more pin-head
meal and less siftings.
To this end I mount a pair of steel rollers in suitable frame work. One of these
rollers is grooved longitudinally (parallel to its axis) with sharp V shaped grooves,
the space between each two grooves or teeth being as near as possible to half the
size of a grain of shelling. The second roller over which the machine is fed is
grooved at right angles to its axis (the grooves being round or U shaped by
preference).
Thus the shelling upon falling from the hopper or other feeding slide on to the
last described roller will be caught and maintained in an upright position, while
the longitudinal teeth or grooves of the first described roller will cause each grain
to be nicked while passing between both rollers. The shelling is then passed
through the second pair of stones, when the cut particles aro rounded, and sub-
sequently passed over the sifter in the ordinary course.
By this process a considerable saving is effected in the yield of pin-head oatmeal.
The siftings are also more valuable, being free from dead fine oatmeal.
It will be evident that the above described apparatus may be applied to tho
cutting of rice and other such substances in a similar manner.
In order that my said Invention may be more readily understood, I will describe
the accompanying Drawings.
Fig. 1 represents a side elevation, Fig. 2 a plan, and Fig. 3 a vertical transverse
section on line x, x, Fig. 1, of my improved machinery.
Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views. A
represents the casting or platform of the apparatus, which is secured to proper
foundation by bolts passed through the apertures p. p. B, B, are standards in
which the steel rollers D, D, operate in suitably formed bearings. C, C, are pinions
gearing with each other, and by means of which the rollers are caused to rotate in
opposite directions as indicated by the arrows. F is a bolt pully keyed to the
roller axle by which motion is imparted to the apparatus; f, f, are brushes for the
purpose of keeping the rollers clean. b, in Fig 3, indicates a broken portion of an
arm, to which is secured the hopper or other contrivance for feeding the machine
in the manner above described.
Having thus described the nature of any said "Improvements in Machinery for
Producing Oatmeal, which Improvements are also Applicable to Cutting Rice and
other similar Purposes," and explained the manner of carrying the same into effect,

page_text: I wish it to be understood that under the above in part recited Letters-Patent,
I claim the use and application of machinery in the manner and for the purpose
above set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said John McCann, have bereunto this my Speci-
fication set my hand and seal, this Fourth day of July, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.