Improvements in the Process and Apparatus for Winnowing, Cleaning, and Sorting Coffee Berries and the like.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Feb., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 14th Nov., 1898-Accepted, 31st Dec., 1898
Improvements in the Process and Apparatus for Winnowing,
Cleaning, and Sorting Coffee Berries and the like.
I, JAKOB TOBELL, of 2, Via Ghega, Triest, in the Empire of Austria, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved process and apparatus for winnowing
cleaning and sorting of coffee berries and the like, and has for its object to pro-
vide a means whereby the foreign matter, as well as any berries faulty in colour
or the like may be removed from mixture upon the sorting table, in a quick and
convenient manner unattainable solely by hand.
Hitherto the removal of such berries not possessing the right colour, and fur-
ther of impurities and refuse matter such as dust, stones and the like in the
mixture was usually effected upon tables or endless bands, the coffee being spread
out by hand or by means of a small distributing device, for this purpose.
These processes, however, which were sometimes assisted by the distributing
device actuated by the foot have been found to be very slow, tiring, and also to
occupy considerable time, furthermore the handling of the coffee berries by the
operator has also been an objection and lastly various small impurities were
often overlooked in a process which necessitated the constant employment of the
eye, hand and foot.
To obviate these disadvantages is the object of my invention, said invention
resting upon the basis of the employment of an air-current by means of which
the impurities in the mixture are drawn by strong suction out of the same.
In the accompanying drawing similar letters represent similar parts.
Figure 1 shows my improved devices where an air current is employed,
Figure 2 shows the device which is employed when compressed air is used.
Figures 3 & 4 show one form of the carrying table or endless band, though
any other suitable means of this character could be used for the purpose of sort-
ing the said berries.
Proceeding to describe my invention as illustrated in Figure 1, I remark
firstly:
The coffee is spread out in known manner upon the sorting table or upon a
transporting endless band S [Figure 1]. The said endless band moves upon
rollers or the like "L" in the manner shown in the accompanying drawing, the
said endless band, as shown, being perforated in the form of a sieve. Above the
endless bands are tubes R1 R2 R3 provided with air-regulating valves hand
with a receptacle E for the purpose of receiving the impurities and the like
extracted from the coffee mixture.
The before mentioned tubes R1-3 can be movably or immovably arranged with
regard to the sorting table.
When the tubes are movable, the same are provided at their lower end with
an aperture only large enough to suck up the largest coffee bean or stone in the

page_text: mixture. In connection with the regulating valves are tubes in connection
with a blower fan or the like of any approved construction so that a constant air
suction can always be exerted within the said tubes.
When my improved suction tube is movably arranged as described in the pre-
ceding paragraph and after the coffee berries have been spread out upon the
endless band, the person engaged in sorting the same can hold the tube R2 in
such manner, that the same brought over and placed above any faulty berry
or impurity, such as stones or the like, in the mixture whereupon such impurity
is immediately sucked up by the air current. The said impurity will in couse-
quence of the reduction of pressure in the tube R2 then fall into the container E,
from which the same can be subsequently removed.
The removal of the faulty beans and refuse matter from the mixture upon the
endless band S by means of the hereinbefore mentioned air current is so regu-
lated, that the quick movement of the open end tube R admits or allows of a
sufficiently strong air-current or suction to act upon or suck up the bean or the
like from the mixture so that the said bean is drawn into the tube in a similar
manner as a piece of iron is attracted to a magnet.
In this manner at least two hundred berries and the like per minute may be
separated from the mixture providing, that the coffee has been spread out upon
the endless band $ by means of the distributing device hereinbefore mentioned,
or similar machinery for this purpose.
In a modified form of my invention I arrange the tubes R2 immovable, as re-
gards the sorting table or band. In such cases the said tubes R have larger,
preferably rectangular openings or apertures which cover the whole width of the
endless band or sorting table S.
In this modified construction the coffee is also evenly distributed upon the
sorting table or endless band S, not shown in the drawing.
Further, in this said modified form, the air current in the tube R² is capable
of a twofold regulation or action, as follows:
Firstly, the said air current may be regulated simply to suck up berries of a
certain specific gravity out of the mixture, or, secondly, the said air current can
be so adjusted that all the coffee berries can be drawn by suction out of the
mixture, in which case of course only the stones and the like possessing the
heavier specific gravity would remain.
This suction device R² as described in the preceding paragraph and also illus-
trated in Figure 1, can as is apparent, be used without the aid of an operator to
direct the same.
Figure 2 shows another modification of my invention wherein I employ com-
pressed air to clean and separate the coffee berries.
The compressed air current enters at F, acts directly upon the coffee berries
fed or introduced into the current through the hopper or funnel K. The berries,
as they fall, meet the current of air which carry the lighter particles upwards.
The stones and other heavy particles of the mixture fall, in consequence of their
heavy specific gravity, to the lower portion of the tube from which they are dis-
charged at the hopper C, whilst, as above indicated, the lighter coffee berries
either fall into the hopper W, whilst the still lighter berries are carried higher
in the sorting apparatus and fall into the hopper Wi
In the modified construction shown in the drawing [Figure 2] the herein-
before mentioned regulating valves are laterally arranged at suitable distances
in the sorting apparatus.
The before mentioned hoppers W and Ware also provided with flaps or
doors D from which the berries, which have been sorted, can afterwards be
removed.
I have illustrated in Figures 3 & 4 the form, or one form of the sorting table
or endless bands employed for the construction shown in Figure 1.
These bands S may consist of several bands joined together and may be so wide,
that several persons can be engaged at the same sorting table, the said persons

page_text: or sorters occupying positions somewhat as indicated by the position of the
letters P1 P2 P3, each sorter, according to his said position, sorting one of the
divisions I II III etc.
The sorting bands may, of course, also be arranged for a less number of persons
by correspondingly decreasing the width of the band S.
.
The sorted coffee must now be removed from the bands or sorting table;
For this purpose the separate bands are provided with a removing device A,
which, by coming in contact with the coffee berries, [as shown in Figures 3 & 4]
causes the sorted berries of each serting band to be conducted to different points
at the extreme edge of the sorting table [each sorting band being discharged at
a different point at the edge of the table.] The berries are conducted away f
.from
the table in any suitable manner.
It is of course preferable, that the sorted berries upon each sorting band should
be conducted to the edge of the sorting table at the point [or close to the same],
where the sorter of that particular band has his position.
It will thus be clear, that several persons can work at one and the same sort-
ing table or band, each person being occupied with simply one division or endless
band, without in any way disturbing the other sorters engaged in sorting berries
upon other divisions or other bands of the same sorting table.
If necessary, the separate divisions of the sorting table, or in other words,
each sorting band, can be provided with casings D in such manner, that the
coffee berries pass under and are covered by the casings D until they reach the
point opposite to the person sorting that especial band.
By the employment of these covers of casings D it will be clear, that the
berries cannot be seen, sorted, or touched by the other sorters during the passage
along the divisions of the sorting table, or along each separate endless band, for
the reason that the berries do not emerge from the casing until the position' is
reached opposite to the sorter of the said band.
As soon as the contents of the band have been removed, or conducted away in
the manner above described, a fresh supply of coffee berries can be placed upon
the sorting table or upon the endless bands, and the sorting recommenced.
Total this 15th day of Wehrnary 1898
J. P. BAYLY,
18, Fulham Place, London, W., Agent for the Applicant.
Improvements in the Process and Apparatus for Winnowing,
Cleaning, and Sorting Coffee Berries and the like.
I, JAKOB TOBELL, of 2, Via Ghega, Triest, in the Empire of Austria, 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:-
This invention relates to an improved process and apparatus for winnowing,
cleaning and sorting of coffee berries and the like, and has for its object to pro-
vide a means whereby the foreign matter, as well as any berries faulty in colour
or the like may be removed from the mixture upon the sorting table, in a quick and
convenient manner, un-attainable solely by hand.
T
Hitherto the removal of such berries, not possessing the right colour, and fur-
ther of impurities and refuse matter such as dust, stones and the like in the
mixture was usually effected upon tables or endless bands, the coffee being spread
out by hand or by means of a small distributing device, for this purpose."

page_text: These processes, however, which were sometimes assisted by the distributing
device actuated by the foot, have been found to be very slow, tiring, and also to
occupy considerable time, furthermore the handling of the coffee berries by the
operator has also been an objection, and lastly, various small impurities were
often overlooked in a process which necessitated the constant employment of the
eye, hand and foot.
To obviate these disadvantages is the object of my invention, said invention
resting upon the basis of the employment of an air-current by means of which
the impurities in the mixture are drawn by strong suction out of the same.
In the accompanying drawing similar letters represent similar parts.
Fig. 1 shews my improved device where an air current is employed.
Figs. 2 and 3 shew one form of the carrying table or endless band though any
other suitable means of this character could be used for the purpose of sorting
the said berries.
Proceeding to describe my invention as illustrated in Fig. 1, I remark firstly:
The coffee is spread out in known manner upon the sorting table or upon a
transporting endless band S (Fig. 1). The said endless band moves upon
rollers or the like L in the manner shewn in the accompanying drawing, the said
endless band, as shewn, being perforated in the form of a sieve. Above the end-
less bands are tubes R¹ R² R³ provided with air-regulating valves h h and with
a receptacle E for the purpose of receiving the impurities and the like extracted
from the coffee mixture.
The before mentioned tubes R1 R2 R³ can be movably or immovably arranged
with regard to the sorting table.
When the tubes are movable, the same are provided at their lower end with
an aperture only large enough to suck up the largest coffee bean or stone in the
mixture. In connection with the regulating valves are tubes, connecting with
a blower, fan, or the like, of any approved construction so that a constant air
suction can always be exerted within the said tubes.
When my improved suction tube is movably arranged as described in the
proceeding paragraph, and after the coffee berries have been spread out upon the
endless band, the person engaged in sorting the same can hold the tube R2 in
such manner, that the same is brought over and placed above any faulty berry
(or impurity, such as stones or the like), in the mixture, whereupon such im-
purity is immediately sucked up by the air current. The said impurity will in
consequence of the reduction of pressure in the tube R³ then fall into the con-
tainer E, from which the same can be subsequently removed.
The removal of the faulty beans and refuse matter from the mixture upon the
endless band S, by means of the hereinbefore mentioned air current, is so regu-
lated that the quick movement of the open end tube R³ admits or allows of a
sufficiently strong air-current or suction to act upon or suck up the bean or the
like from the mixture so that the said bean is drawn into the tube in a similar
manner as a piece of iron is attracted to a magnet.
In this manner at least two hundred berries and the like per minute may be
separated from the mixture providing that the coffee has been spread out upon
the endless band S by means of the distributing device hereinbefore mentioned,
or similar machinery for this purpose.
In a modified form of my invention I arrange the tubes R R2 immovable; as
regards the sorting table or band. In such cases the said tubes have larger, pre-
ferably rectangular openings or apertures which cover the whole width of the
endless band or sorting table S.
In this modified construction the coffee is also evenly distributed upon the
sorting table or endless band S, not shewn in the drawing.
Further, in this said modified form, the air current in the tube R¹ R2 is capable
of a twofold regulation or action, as follows:
Firstly, the said air current may be regulated simply to suck up berries of a
certain specific gravity out of the mixture, or secondly, the said air current can

page_text: be so adjusted that all the coffee berries can be drawn by suction out of the
mixture, in which case of course only the stones and the like possessing the
heavier specific gravity would remain.
This suction device R R2 as described in the preceding paragraph and also
illustrated in Fig. 1, can, as is apparent, be used without the aid of an operator
to direct the same.
I have illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 the form, or one form of the sorting table
or endless bands employed for the construction shewn in Fig. 1.
These bands S may consist of several bands joined together and may be so wide
that several persons can be engaged at the same sorting table, the said persons
or sorters occupying positions somewhat as indicated by the position of the
letters P1 P2 P3, each sorter, according to his said position, sorting one of the
divisions I, II, III, etc.
The sorting bands may be, of course, also arranged for a less number of
persons by correspondingly decreasing the width of the band S.
The sorted coffee must now be removed from the bands or sorting table.
For this purpose the separate bands are provided with a removing device B
which, by coming in contact with the coffee herries (as shewn in Figs 2 and 3),
causes the sorted berries of each sorting band to be conducted to different points
at the extreme edge of the sorting table (each sorting band being discharged at
a different point at the edge of the table). The berries are conducted away from
the table in any suitable manner.
It is of course preferable, that the sorted berries upon each sorting band should
be conducted to the edge of the sorting table at the point (or close to the same),
where the sorter of that particular band has his position.
It will thus be clear that several persons can work at one and the same sort-
ing table or band, each person being occupied with simply one division or endless
band, without in any way disturbing the other sorters engaged in sorting berries
upon other divisions or other bands of the same sorting table.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. Improvements in the process and apparatus for winnowing, cleaning and
sorting coffee berries and the like by the employment of an air current by means
of which the refuse and faulty beans or such like are drawn through tubes R held
over a surface S upon which the berries or such like are distributed, the current
of air being so regulated as to take up refuse matter and faulty beans and the
like.
2. The application of movable tubes R to be held by the operators and brought
over and placed, above any faulty beans or impurities in order to suck them up
and deposit them in a container E.
3. The application of endless bands placed longitudinally, each one to be
worked by an independent operator.
Dahi th
L Nawamation 1000
BREWER & SON,
London & Leeds, Agents for the Applicant.