Improvements in and relating to Machines for Treatment of Liberia Coffee Beans and the like.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Nov., 1897-Accepted, 18th Dec.,
1897.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Machines for Treatment of Liberia
Coffee Beans and the like.
I, HEINRICH LUDWIG VERWOHLT, Director of the Maahschappe ter exploitatie van
de constructie-winkel de Bromo, of Java, a Dutch Colony. 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 machines for the treatment of coffee beans, and its object is
to provide a machine which prepares in a suitable manner Liberia coffee beans which
have outer shells or husks so that the shelling of these beans may be easily carried
out in a second machine.
The invention consists broadly speaking of a long cylinder rotating in one direction
and beaters or arms rotating in another direction which strike and squeeze the beans
between the cylinder surface, specially arranged ribs, and the arms.
The method of carrying the invention into effect is illustrated in the accompanying
sheet of drawings as follows,-
Figure 1 is a vertical view partly in section and partly in elevation.
Figure 2 is an end elevation of the machine.
Figure 3 is an end elevation of the machine from the opposite side to Figure 2.
As may be seen from the drawings, the machine consists of a long cylinder c,
divided into a number of compartments by partitions f, f. On the cylinder and
arranged longitudinally upon the inner surface thereof, are a number of ribs i, i,
these ribs being placed as shown on Figure 1 with advance edges and therefore not
parallel with the cylinders axis., while the ribs themselves stand in a radial direction
to the cylinders centre. At one end of the machine a feed hopper or funnel a is
placed which is attached to the stationary disc e forming one end of the machine and
a closing cover.
The horizontal shaft w has running loose upon it the internal gear wheel m and the
partition plates f, and extends longitudinally throughout the axis of the cylinder c.
It rests in suitable bearings as shown and carries the usual fast and loose pulley
gear r so that it may be operated by a belt drive or the like. The cylinder c is
rotated in a reverse direction to that of the shaft by the interposition of two gear
wheels n and p, (see Figure 3.) p being keyed upon the shaft w, while n is a carrier
wheel placed as shown.
The most essential feature of the invention consists of beaters or arms b b fixed
tangentially to the shaft w (see Figure 2). These beaters 6 6 are arranged behind
each other at an equal angle, and of such dimensions that their ends stand just clear
of the ribs i hereinbefore described. These beaters stand clear a distance sufficient to
allow them to squeeze the coffee beans between the cylinder wall and the ends of the
beaters and thus the beans are beaten and squeezed against the cylinder c and ribs i.
The reverse rotation breaks up and renders loose the husk or cover of the beans in the
manner described.
The beans travel through the machine by means of openings v in the partition f
and the cylinder may be opened and examined through a door d fixed by suitable
hinges g, the door being placed longitudinally on the cylinder as shown.

page_text: The opposite end of the cylinder to the hopper a is closed by a partition or cover k
fixed in any suitable manner.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is,-
1. An improved machine for the treatment of Liberian coffee beans and the like,
consisting of a long cylinder with projecting radial ribs on the surface thereof,
rotated in one direction by suitable gearing, and a shaft co-axial with the cylinder
carrying arms or beaters upon it, so placed that they squeeze and strike the beans being
treated between their ends and the surface of the cylinder and ribs, while rotated in
an opposite direction thereto.
2. The improvements in machines for treating Liberia coffee beans and the
like substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
1007
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C. Agents.
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C. Agents.