Improvements in or relating to Sifting, Sorting, or Dressing Grain, Flour, and the like.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 17th July, 1888
Complete Specification Left, 13th Apr.,
1889
Complete Specification Accepted, 25th May, 1889
TRUVIDIONAL
Improvements in or relating to Sifting, Sorting, or Dressing Grain,
Flour, and the like.
A communication from abroad by JOSEPH SOHWEITZER, of 43, Rue de Turbigo,
Paris, in the Republic of France, Millwright.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON F.C.S. M.I.M.E. of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors 6, Lord Street, Liverpool & 6, Bank Street, Manchester both in
the County of Lancaster & 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex, Civil
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The arrangements used hitherto for bolting, sifting, or dressing flour and the like
by means of sieves, accomplish their work, either by means of jerks projecting the
material forward, and by the successive stoppages caused by the return of the sieve in
the reverse direction, or by the help of a horizontal motion imparted to them, either
mechanically or by hand, so as to cause the material under treatment to travel in a
circular or an elliptical path.
The first process has the following disadvantages; 1st. of suspending the sifting
action whilst the material is being projected, and whilst it is stopped during the
return motion of the sieve. 2nd. of conveying rapidly the material to the end of the
sieve, which must therefore be of considerable length in order to obtain sufficient
sifting action.
The second process has the following disadvantages; 1st. of imparting to the
granules to be sifted an unequal impulse, those in the centre remaining practically
stationary and rendering the operation more lengthy, defective, and irregular.
2nd. of impeding the normal and -regular progress of the material which has a
tendency to follow an oblique direction relatively to that of the motion. 3rd. of
rendering uncertain the classification of products, owing to the fact that in
consequence of the curvilinear motion imparted to the sieve, any one point passes
above two distinct compartments of separation. 4th. Of rendering impossible the
use of a fan or of a ventilating current below the sieve for the purpose of actuating
the sifting action, as is done in the case of ordinary sieves.

page_text: The invention has for its object a new system of sifting, avoiding the various
disadvantages which have been just enumerated. In carrying out the invention an
apparatus is employed in which the longitudinal or curvilinear motion imparted to the
sieve is replaced by a transverse one. An inclined sieve is used instead of a
reciprocating motion by which the material was thrown forward or backward on the
bolting surface.
The sieve being slightly inclined, the material advances slowly
following on the sieve a zigzag path of considerable length, and thus passes or slides
successively over the largest possible number of openings.
The transverse reciprocating motion has for its object to bring to the surface all the
lighter and larger grains, so that the finest and heaviest are in direct contact with the
surface of the sifting frame, ensuring thereby in both the bolting and sifting operations
a maximum of production and purity in the products obtained.
The apparatus consists essentially of a sieve made of fabric or perforated cloth,
divided into transverse compartments by ribs, the purpose of which is to keep the
material distributed uniformly over the sieve and to limit its motion in a transverse
direction. This sieve is suspended by suitable means which may consist of flexible or
rigid supports or of spring or hinged rods, or it may rest on rollers. Impulse is
imparted to the sieve by means of an eccentric or by a crank and a connecting rod
arrangement.
The apparatus is provided with a special system of brushes, arranged below the
siove, the distance between each two brushes being equal to the double stroke of the
sieve. The brushes may, however, be made moveable, and receive a reciprocating
motion or a circular one, so as to bring the brushes below all the meshes of the sievo.
This circular motion may be obtained for instance by an endless belt on which the
brushes are mounted, said belt deriving its motion from the shafting of the apparatus.
The brushes may be replaced by a system of laths or any other equivalent devices
producing a sudden movement on the sieve, so as to effect the clearing of the sieve
meshes. The products are collected on a bottom plate or inclined surface situated
below the sieve, to which may be imparted or not, the same motion as the latter. This
surface is divided according to the numbers of grades of the sieve, and can also be
used to classify the products discharged through proper discharge spouts. The
transverse motion imparted to the sieve, can, on the other hand, he combined with a
longitudinal or circular motion, instead of inclining the sieve.
Instead of one sieve, two sieves may be used, placed one above the other, and set in
motion by a connecting rod and crank arrangement actuating also the inclined
surfaces placed below the sieves. In this arrangement, the frames carrying the
brushes receive, by means of a special crank and connecting rod, a transverse motion
in a direction opposite to that of the sieve. A system of discharge spouts, suitably
arranged, admit of separating either the flour or the bran after one single operation,
or of separating alone the flour or the bran, by submitting the bran or the flour to a
second operation.

page_text: A communication from abroad by JOSEPH SCHWEITZER, of 43, Rue de Turbigo,
Paris, in the Republic of France, Millwright.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street, Manchester, both in
the County of Lancaster, and 323, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Civil
Engineer, 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 :-
The arrangements for bolting, sifting and dressing flour hitherto employed in
milling, accomplish their purpose either by means of jerks which throw the materials
forward and by successive stoppages caused by the return of the sieve in the reverse
direction, or by the help of a horizontal motion imparted to them mechanically or by
hand so as to cause the material under treatment to travel in a curved or more
particularly a circular or elliptical path.
The first process has the following disadvantages:
:-
1. Of suspending the sifting action whilst the material is being projected and whilst
it is stopped during the return motion of the sieve.
2. Of conveying rapidly the material to the end of the sieve which must therefore
be of great length in order to obtain sufficient sifting action.
The second process has the following disadvantages:
1. Of imparting to the granules to be sifted an unequal impulse, those in the
centre remaining practically stationary and rendering the operation more .lengthy,
defective and irregular.
2. Of impeding the normal and regular progress on the sieve of the material which
has a tendency to follow an oblique direction relatively to that of the motion.
3. Of rendering uncertain the classification of the products owing to the fact that,
in consequence of the curvilinear motion imparted to the sieve, any one point passes
above two distinct compartments of separation.
4. Of rendering impossible the use of a fan or of a ventilating current below the
sieve for the purpose of expediting the sifting action as is done in the case of
ordinary sieves.
The invention has for its object a new system of sifting, avoiding the various
disadvantages which have just been enumerated. This is done by means of an
apparatus in which the longitudinal or curvilinear motion imparted to the sieve is
replaced by a transverse one. An inclined sieve is used instead of a réciprocating
motion by which the material was thrown backward or forward continually on the
bolting surface. The sieve being slightly inclined, the material advances slowly,

page_text: following on the sieve a zig zag path of considerable length, and thus passes or slides
successively over the largest possible number of openings. The transverse recipro-
cating motion has for its object to bring to the surface all the lighter and larger
grains so that the finest and heaviest are in direct contact with the surface of the
sifting frame, ensuring thereby in both the bolting and sifting operations a maximum
of production and purity in the products obtained.
Referring to the annexed drawings in which,
Figures 1, 2 and 3 are longitudinal section cross section and plan of the apparatus
constructed according to this invention and fitted with single sieves.
Figures 4, 5 and 6 show similar views of the apparatus with double sieves.
Figures 7 and 8 represent, in longitudinal and cross section, another arrangement
of the apparatus fitted on the same principle.
The same letters of reference represent the same parts in the various designs.
The apparatus (Figures 1, 2 and 3) consists of a fabric or perforated cloth a, divided
into transverse compartments by a series of laths b, the purpose of which is to keep
the material distributed as uniformly as possible over the sieve and to limit its
transverse motion. This sieve is suspended by the hangers c which may be replaced
by fixed or flexible supports with pivots, or by rollers. An impulse is imparted to the
sieve by means of an eccentric or by an arrangement of a crank hand connecting
rod d.
The apparatus is provided with a special system of brushes e arranged below the
sieve, the distance between two adjoining brushes being equal to the double stroke
of the sieve, or they may be made movable by giving them a reciprocating motion or
a circular one, which causes the brushes to pass successively under all the meshes of
the sieve a.
This circular motion may be obtained, for instance, by an endless belt
on which the brushes are mounted, this belt deriving its motion from the shafting
of the apparatus. The cleaning by brushes may be replaced by a system of beaters
or any other devices giving a shock to the sieve so as to effect the clearing of the
sieve meshes.
The products are collected on a bottom plate or inclined surface f, situated below
the sieve, to which may be imparted or not the same motion as the latter. This
surface is divided according to the number of grades of the sieve, and can also be
used to classify the products discharged through a spout gl. The transverse motion
imparted to the sieve can, on the other hand, be combined with a longitudinal or
circular motion instead of inclining the sieve.
Figures 4, 5 and 6 show an arrangement of sieves a a¹ one above another set in
motion by a crank d, which also agitates the bottom plates ff. The frames of the
brushes e e¹ move at the same time transversely in the opposite direction to the sieve
by means of the crank d¹. A system of suitably arranged spouts g and g¹ etcetera,
admit of the separation of the flour and the bran after a single passage, or the flour
alone or the bran alone, submitting either the one or the other to a second sieving if
required.
Figures 7 and 8 show an apparatus containing a series of sieves a a¹ a³ one above
another in which the meshes decrease in size from the higher to the lower so that
each sieve produces a suitable classification of the products. These sieves, which may
thus be more or less in number, are enclosed in a case B and supported by cross
pieces E E' E'. These sieves can be moved transversely, and by means of an
alternative motion of the case B strike against the sides of this case
moving in the
spaces provided C C C and D D¹ D³. The effect of the sieve striking against the
side of the case is to clear the meshes and augment the sifting power.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The improved method of sifting which consists in substituting for the
longitudinal or curvilinear movement of the sieves, a transverse one, thus replacing
the forward motion of the material to be sifted by a backward and forward motion

page_text: causing it to follow a zig-zag course, which increases considerably its contact with the
bolting surface by constantly throwing onto the sieve the finer and heavier particles of
the material to be sifted, substantially as described.
2. The improved arrangement of sieves consisting essentially of the combination of
a series of fixed or movable brushes with one or more inclined sieves having their
surface divided transversely by laths, and receiving a transverse shaking motion
whereby the passage of the material through the meshes of the sieve and the clearing
of the same are facilitated substantially as described.
3. In the above described system of sifting, the improved arrangement of oscillating
sieves, consisting essentially of either a single sieve, or several placed one above the
other, divided transversely by laths and encased in a box or boxes, which receive also
a transverse motion alternating with that of the said sieves and having sufficient
play to produce, at each movement, a shock which clears the meshes of the frames
and augments the production, substantially as described and represented in the
drawings annexed.
4. In combination with the improved arrangement of single, double or treble sieves
having a transverse displacing movement, the application of one or more movable
bottom pieces for the reception of the sifted products for their classification and their
distribution by means of suitable spouts, substantially as described above and shewn in
the annexed drawings.
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