Improvements in or connected with Machinery for Cleaning Cotton Seed and like Kernels.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Apr., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Jan., 1891-Accepted, 28th Feb., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Machinery for Cleaning Cotton
Seed and like Kernels.
1, GEORGE HENRY CROKER, of 18, Bellevue Road, Seacombe, in the County
of Chester, Carver, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention to be as
follows:-
:-
This invention has reference mainly to that class or kind of machinery which is
designed to remove the fibre adhering to cotton seed, with the object, chiefly, of
rendering cattle feeding-cake or food-stuff made therefrom harmless, and thereby
relatively more valuable; and the object of the present invention is, mainly, to
provide machines for this purpose, which shall be more efficient, durable, and
simple, and of less expensive construction than those at present in use.
A. machine having improvements according to this invention applied thereto,
comprises the following parts:-A suitable frame forming a support for the moving
and fixed parts; a drum preferably cylindrical and adapted to be rotated, and
mounted in bearings on the frame, and provided or clothed with a peripheral jacket
or coating of cards of the kind commonly employed in textile machinery, and
applied in practically the same manner; a spiral bar disposed outside the said drum,
and adapted to serve as a means of leading or forwarding the seed through the
machine from one end to the other; a material of the nature hereinafter described,
disposed within the spiral spaces formed by and enclosed between said spiral bars;
and suitable feeding and discharging means or devices.
The material which I employ between the forwarding or leader bars, serves to
hold one side of the seed while it is being operated upon by the cards of the drum,
and consists of a number of wires arranged as those in card cloth above specified,
and by preference it is of this type of material, but having the teeth practically
flush with (or standing only slightly above) the inside or working surface of the
backing cloth or felt thereof. The material is according to one arrangement
provided round the drum at intervals, that is, it is not continuous; and the spaces
between the strips of the material are enclosed by plates having narrow slits or
openings therein; thus the whole outer jacket in this example consists of alternate
lengths of holding material and gridded plates.
The holding material is held in suitable grooved or channel plates, and both these
plates and the gridded ones, are secured to skeleton frame bars, by bolts, or screws,
or other means, and are adjustable in relation to the axis of the drum and the card
surface thereon; by which means the distance between the surface of the rotary
drum cards, and the outer surface of the seed holding material, and the gridded
plates, is capable of exact adjustment. Another arrangement of the seed holding
material of the outer case, consists in making the material continuous, and providing
at points, or where and how convenient, suitable openings for the purpose of
affording means of escape for the cotton fibre and fluft removed from the seed; or
the material and gridded plates, or portions provided with slots or apertures, may
be combined and disposed in any analogous suitable arrangement.
It is preferred to make the spirally arranged leader or forwarding bars adjustable,
as well as the material and other parts on the outer case.
This outer case is according to one construction made up of concave segmental
frames, to which the leader or forwarding bars, and material and plates aforesaid,
are fixed, and on which they are adjustable, the plurality of frames making up the
whole outer case being cramped, or otherwise suitably fastened together..
In action, the fibre covered seed is fed to the machine in regulated quantities,
nd enters the spiral space enclosed by and between the inner cylinder cords, and

page_text: the outer casing material, on the one hand, and two adjacent spiral leader or
forwarding bars on the other. In this space, by the rotation of the inner drum, the
seed is operated upon by the cards thereof, it being held onto the surface thereof,
by the holding material or plates, or both, of the outer case, with the result that
the adhering cotton fibre is gradually removed, and the seeds turned about and fed
forward, such forward feeding, however, always being controlled by the edges of
the wire points of the holding material, or inner surface of the outside case. By
this means, and the action and reaction upon the seed by the drum cards, and the
outer case material, the fibre is gradually removed, and the seeds are gradually
forwarded along the spiral way or passage above referred to, being ultimately
discharged from the machine outlet shoot, in a cleaned and smooth state.
To remove the iron or steel dust due to the wear of the machine's rubbing
surfaces, I provide a magnet or magnets and dispose it round or about the mouth of
the outlet orifice or shoot, in such a manner, that such dust is extracted from the
seed, and arrested, it being removed from such magnet poles by suitably operated
mechanical brushes, or removing devices, or by hand.
Regarding the action of the apparatus upon the removed fibre and fluff, such
fibre is, after removal, from the seed, caused, by the blast and centrifugal action of
the machine to escape through the openings in the plates or material of the outside
case, and is collected within the frame of the machine, or a chamber connected
therewith, whilst the dust and useless fluff is carried off upon a current of air, and
so separated from the useful fibre.
I wish to point out that although I have specified certain particular forms and
combinations of parts involving my invention, my invention is not confined strictly
thereto, as such parts or combinations may be varied and modified in many ways
without departing from the nature of the improvements involved thereunder.
Dated this 22nd day of April 1890.
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON,
15, Water Street, Liverpool, Applicant's Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Machinery for Cleaning Cotton
Seed and like Kernels.
1, GEORGE HENRY CROKER, of 18, Bellevue Road, Seacombe, in the County
of Chester, Carver, 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 has reference mainly to that class or kind of machinery which is
designed to remove the fibre adhering to cotton seed, with the object, chiefly, of
rendering cattle feeding-cake or food-stuff made therefrom harmless, and thereby
relatively more valuable and the object of the present invention is, mainly, to
provide machines for this purpose, which shall be more efficient, than those at
present in use, and at the same time durable and simple.
A machine having improvements according to this invention applied thereto,
comprises the following parts:-A. suitable frame forming a support for the moving
and fixed parts; a drum, preferably cylindrical, and adapted to be rotated, and
mounted in bearings on the frame, and provided or clothed with a peripheral jacket
or coating of cards of the kind commonly employed in textile machinery, and
applied in practically the same manner; an outer case or frame having inclined or
spiral bars or strips, or their equivalent, disposed outside the said drum, said bars or
strips serving as a means of leading or forwarding the seed through the machine
from one end to the other, and a material or surface of the nature hereinafter
described, disposed in the spaces between said bars or strips; and suitable feeding
and discharging means or devices.
The means which I employ to hold one side of the seed while it is being operated.

page_text: upon by the cards of the drum, consists of closely arranged points, and preferably
of wires arranged as those in card cloth above specified, and it may consist of this
type of material, but having the teeth practically flush with (or standing only
slightly above) the inside or working surface of the backing cloth or felt thereof.
The pointed surface or material is, according to one arrangement, provided round
the drum at intervals, that is, it is not continuous; and the space between the
strips are enclosed by plates having narrow slits or openings therein; thus the
whole outer jacket in this example consists of alternate lengths of holding surface
or material and gridded plates.
This holding material is held in suitable plates, and both these plates and the
gridded ones, are secured to bars, by bolts, or screws, or other means, and are
adjustable in relation to the axis of the drun and the card surface thereon, by
which means the distance between the surface of the rotating drum cards, and the
outer surface of the seed holding material, and the gridded plates, is capable of
exact adjustment. Another arrangement of the seed holding material of the outer
case consists in making the material continuous, and providing at points, or where
and how convenient, suitable openings for the purpose of affording means of escape
for the cotton fibre and fluff removed from the seed; or the material and gridded
plates, or portions provided with slots or apertures, may be combined and disposed
in any analogous suitable arrangement.
The spiral or inclined leader or forwarding bars or strips may be adjustable, as
well as the material and other parts of the outer case.
This outer case is, according to one construction, made up of concave segmental
frames, and longitudinal adjustable bars to which the leader or forwarding bars, or
strips and material and plates aforesaid, are fixed, and by which they are adjustable,
the plurality of frames making up the whole outer case being suitably fastened
together.
In action, the fibre covered seed is fed to the machine in regulated quantities,
and enters the spiral space inclosed by and between the inner cylinder cards and
the outer casing material on the one hand, and the spiral or inclined leader or
forwarding bars or strips on the other. In this space, by the rotation of the inner
drum, the seed is operated upon by the cards thereof, it being held onto the surface
thereof, by the holding pointed surface or material, or plates, or both, of the outer
case, with the result that the adhering cotton fibre is gradually removed, and the
seeds turned about and fed forward, such forward feeding however, always being
controlled by the edges of the points of the holding material, or inner pointed
surface of the outside case. By this means, and the action and reaction upon the
seed by the drum cards, and the outer case material, the fibre is gradually removed,
and the seeds are gradually forwarded spirally, being ultimately discharged from
the machine outlet shoot, in a cleaned and smooth state.
To remove the pieces of iron or steel and metallic dust due to the breakage or
wear of the machine's rubbing, surfaces, I may provide a magnet or magnets and
dispose it round or about the mouth of the outlet orifice or shoot, in such a manner,
that such metallic pieces and dust are extracted from the seed, and arrested, it being
removed from such magnet poles by suitably operated mechanical brushes, or
removing devices, or by hand.
Regarding the action of the apparatus upon the removed fibre or fluff, such fibre
is, after removal from the seed, caused, by the blast and centrifugal action of the
machine, to escape through the openings in the plates or material of the outside
case, and is collected within the frame of the machine, or a chamber connected
therewith, whilst the dust and useless fluff is carried off upon a current of air, and
so separated from the useful fibre.
As a modification, the outer case or frame may be adapted to revolve, and the
inner drum be stationary, or both may be rotated in different directions, or in the
same direction at different speeds. Or again, the converse arrangement of the fibre
removing parts specified may be employed, that is, the removing cards may be

page_text: arranged outside and constitute the outer frame or case, and the means of holding
the seeds and directing their course through the machine made to constitute the
inner part thereof.
The following is a description of the accompanying drawings wherein is illustrated
a machine embodying all the several features of my present invention in combina-
tion. My invention is not confined, however, to the specific devices and combinations
of devices illustrated and described herein. The points of novelty which I desire
to secure by this Letters Patent will be specifically pointed out in the claiming
clauses concluding this Specification. This machine is applicable to the cleaning or
treating of seeds or kernels other than cotton seeds.
Referring to the said drawings,
Figure 1 is a side elevation illustrating my improved cotton seed cleaning
machine partly in outside view, partly with the casing removed shewing the
interior, and partly as a section with the outer cylindrical case removed.
Figure 2 is an end view illustrating the machine in cross section at the line X. X.
Figure 1.
Figure 3 is an outside end view.
Figure 4 shows a segmental portion of the outer case in side elevation and inside
front view.
Figure 5 shows a gridded segmental portion of the outer case in side elevation
and inside front view.
Figure 6 shows in section the relative positions of the parts of the outer case, &
the card material of the inner drum.
Figure 7 shows in elevation the feeding device. And
Figure 8 is a detail in section showing the means of adjusting the outer case
longitudinal bars.
In the drawings, A designates generally the inner drum having fixed upon its
surface the card material a; a' is the shaft of said drum; B denotes generally the
outer case, consisting of parts and constructed as hereinafter set forth; C are the
end frames enclosing the ends of the machine and supporting the bearings cin
which the shaft a¹ of the drum A. works; D is the casing of the machine enclosing
the sides and top, the upper part, d, of which casing is in the form of doors and
made to lift up and move about hinges for the purposes of examining and gaining
access to the interior; E is an ordinary exhaust fan disposed on the top of the
machine and employed for drawing off dust, short and fine cotton fibre, and stive ;
F denotes the cotton seed feeding device; and G is the cleaned cotton seed
outlet.
Regarding the construction of the outer casing B, which surrounds the drum A,
it consists of a plurality of bars blying between the end frames C and supported
adjustably thereon as hereinafter specified; a plurality of segmental frames
supporting the material for holding the seed; a plurality of gridded segmental
frames i alternating with the frames has shewn; and a plurality of forwarding or
leader bars k. The segmental frames and i are secured at each end to two of
the bars by studs screwing into said bars and passing through a projecting end
piece on the segments as shewn, the head of the stud being on one side of such
projecting pieces, and a set nut on the underside thereof. Thus by these means
the different segments can be adjusted up to or in relation to the drum A as
desired. It will be seen the bars bare triangular in section and that the sides are
parallel with the ends of the segments. These are so formed, that at all points of
adjustment, the segments fill the space between the two adjacent sides of the bars
between which they lie. The bars are also adjustable as previously stated, and
their adjustment is effected by the device shewn in Figures 3 and 8. It consists
of the sliding bearing m, one end of which grips the studs & supported by the bars b,
and the other end is provided with and supports an adjusting stud m² passing
through a nut m² fixed to the frame C, said nut having upon it a shank m³ which
passes through m and is provided with a nut on its end by which the bearing m is

page_text: held in place. The studs 62 of the bars & pass through slots b³ in the frames C,
and the adjustment of the bars takes place in the direction in which said
slots lie.
The leader bars are set between the segments h and i, as shewn in Figure 6,
and their inner edge projects inwardly above the surface of said segments as shewn
in this figure, whilst they and the segments are disposed in the machine in an
inclined or spiral direction or arrangement, in such a manner, as to cause the seed
introduced into the space intervening between the edge of the cards a of the
barrel A and the surface of the segments h, to be carried in a spiral course several
times round the barrel in their passage through the machine.
The leader or forwarding bars k, (and the segments and i also) are not con-
tinuous, as will be seen by the drawings; that is to say, there exists a space, at the
points where the bars come, and between such bars, over which the seeds are not
led or guided; and thus in this example of machine shewn, the spiral course or way
formed by the leader or forwarding bars is an interrupted one; and, if desired, the
spaces of interruption may be extended; as for instance, the leader or forwarding
bars may be provided, say, only between two, of the segments out of the four
which make up the circle or one revolution, or in any equivalent way. The leader
or forwarding bars are secured to the bars by screws as shewn in Figure 5; and
the spaces between the bars are bridged over by the overlapping plates * which
are attached to them.
In
A detail view of the card a of the barrel A, and the holding material o provided
on the inner surface of the segments, are shewn in Figures 4, 4 and 6.
the first case, it will be seen, the card is an ordinary heavy backed card, such as
are used in machines employed in the textile industries, whilst in the second case,
the teeth o' of the material are set closely together and only project a very little
above the surface of the felt, whereby they are rendered strong, and able to with-
stand the severe work put upon them; whilst the closeness of the teeth together
prevents seeds lodging between them. This material o is secured onto the
metallic supporting segmental plates, or backs, by metal plates p screwed down
onto the segments by screws; and they may be further held thereon by screws
pitched at different points between the ends of the segments.
If, in lieu of the particular material o, the interior surface or parts thereof, be,
according to this. invention, provided with other equivalent kinds of pointed sur-
faces, or material, the points thereof should be set closely together, as are the wire
points of the material o, and they should be of steel or other hard metal.
At the point at which the seed is fed by the feeder F into the machine, a
special segment is provided, as shewn in Figure 7, to receive the end of the
feeding tube. The feeder is shewn in Figures 1 and 7. In the figures, f is the
feeding tube which passes through the casing of the machine, and is connected
thereto by the studs f. f2 is the mouth of the tube f¹, which receives 'the
hopper, is a feeding worm working in said tube and having upon the end of its
shaft a worm wheel driven by a worm f6; said worm being driven from the
shaft a', off the machine by a band f' as shewn.
The outlet tube G is shewn in Figure 2, as will be seen, and consists of a
plain tube fitted to a special segment such as above described with reference to
the feeder F.
The fan E is driven off the shaft a' by a belt e and pulleys e¹, e².
In action the barrel A is rotated to, say, about four to eight hundred revolutions
per minute, and by the action of the feeding worm, seed is introduced at one end
of the machine into the space between the drum A and the outer case B. This
seed is then subjected to the action of the card material a of the barrel A, it
being held up to the brushing action thereof, by the holding material o of the
segments, and is gradually moved in a spiral course round and round the machine
from one end-namely that at which it is admitted to the other, at which it is
discharged. In and by this action the cotton removed from the seed escapes from
the case by the apertures in the gridded segments i, and its escape therethrough

page_text: is facilitated by the blast created by the rotation of the drum A. and the exhaust
fan E. To render the action upon the seed uniform and the work light, the
segments and i are set further from the surface of the card material of the
barrel A at the entrance end than at the outlet end.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I wish to state, that my
improved machine is obviously capable of various modifications without departing
from the general features and scope thereof; and also, my various improvements
may be employed separately instead of in combination as illustrated and described;
and I declare that what I claim in respect of the herein described invention is :-
1. In a rotary cotton seed or other kernel cleaning machine wherein an outer
case or frame surrounds an inner drum or barrel, the employment therein as a
means of holding the seed in its passage through the machine, of a surface
composed, partly, or wholly, of small and closely set points such as herein specified;
for the purposes set forth.
2. In a rotary cotton seed or other kernel cleaning machine, the employment
therein, as a means of holding the seed in its passage through the machine, of
material substantially of the kind described; for the purposes specified.
3. In a rotary cotton seed or other kernel cleaning machine, the combination of
an inner barrel having a surface or coat of card material, and an outer case or
frame having an inner surface, wholly, or partly, of material of the kind herein
specified for the purposes set forth.
4. A. rotary cotton seed or other kernel cleaning machine having an inner drum
or barrel, of the kind specified, in connection with an outer case or frame con-
sisting of or comprising a plurality of alternate portions of or having points
for holding the seeds, and grids or parts having openings; for the purposes set
forth.
5. In a rotary cotton seed or other kernel cleaning machine, a case or frame
surrounding an inner drum or barrel, and comprising a plurality of parts consisting
of a material having a surface of points for holding the seed; a plurality of
gridded parts, or parts having suitable openings; and leader. or forwarding bars,
strips, or projections, adapted to effect the passage of the seed through the machine;
for the purposes set forth.
6. A. rotary cotton seed or other kernel cleaning machine, comprising an inner
rotating brush drum and an outer case or frame consisting of horizontal bars b,
and segmental plates or frames secured thereto; arranged and adapted to be
adjusted substantially as described.
7. In a rotary cotton seed or other kernel cleaning machine, an outer casing.or
frame having a plurality of leader or forwarding bars, strips, or projections, carried
partially round said frame but so disposed as to direct the motion of the seed
passing through the machine and to cause it to pass substantially in a spiral
course round same from one end to the other; for the purposes set forth.
8. In a cotton seed cleaning machine, the segmental frame or parts and i
constructed and fitted substantially as and for the purposes described.
9. In a cotton seed cleaning machine, the feeding device E, outer frame or
case B, outlet G, and casing D, constructed, combined, and adapted to operate,
as set forth with reference to the drawings.
10. A cotton seed cleaning machine of the rotary kind or type having an outer
case within which a rotating drum is disposed, comprised of segments arranged and
adapted to be adjusted substantially as set forth.
Dated this 22nd day of January 1891.
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON,
15, Water Street, Liverpool, Applicant's Patent Agents.