IMPROVEMENTS IN BOLTING OR SEPARATING APPARATUS OR MACHINES FOR USE IN FLOUR MILLS
Year: 1884

page_text: I WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, and Co., Patent
Agents, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare
the nature of my Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BOLTING OR SEPARATING
APPARATUS OR MACHINES FOR USE IN FLOUR MILLS" 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 bolting or separating machines of that class which
comprises an inclined sieve and an elevating mechanism, whereby the material
which has passed over the sieve and escapes from the lower end thereof is again
elevated and delivered upon the upper end of the sieve, and in which the material
is at the same time caused to move gradually across the sieve so that the said
material is repeatedly elevated and caused to flow over the inclined screen in
passing through the machine.
The objects of the present Invention are to improve the construction and
increase the efficiency of the machine, and to this end it comprises the improve-
ments hereinafter fully set forth.
In the accompanying Drawing:
Figure 1 represents a vertical cross section of a flour bolting machine provided
with the present improvements.
Figure 2 is a cross section, drawn to an enlarged scale, of the inclined screen
and wipers.
Figure 3 is a cross section, of the drum at the head of the elevator, and
Figure 4 is a longitudinal section of a portion of the saine.
Figure 5 is a horizontal section on the line x x Figure 1.
Figure 6 is a perspective view of the inclined screen.
Figure 7 is a vertical longitudinal section on the line y y Figure 1.
Figure 8 is a view of a portion of the under-side of the wiper frame.
Figures 9 and 10 are end elevations of the improved machine.
Figure 11 is a plan view of the spring at the end of the screen frame.
Like letters of reference denote like parts in the several Figures.
A represents the stationary case of the machine secured to a case A¹ and
constructed in any suitable and well known manner.
-

page_text: B represents the separating or bolting screen arranged in an inclined position
within the case A and composed of a suitable number of sections bbl be arranged
side by side. The several sections are clothed with bolting cloth of the proper
mesh in accordance with the particular kind of work for which the machine is
designed. Ordinarily the sections are clothed with cloth of increasing coarseness
from the head toward the tail of the machine, the section b being covered with the
finest and the section with the coarsest cloth. The screen is preferably so
inclined that the material will flow over the same by gravity.
Each of the sections b b 62 is composed of several sections of bolting cloth of
different mesh, the finest cloth being arranged at the upper end of the screen, and
the coarsest cloth at the lower end of the screen, in order to compensate for the
increased velocity with which the material moves over the lower portion of each
section of the screen. As the material flows over each section it gathers speed,
and when the screen section is clothed with cloth of the same fineness from its
upper to its lower end, the bolting capacity of the screen becomes less toward the
lower end of the section in the same measure as the speed of the material
increases. By enlarging the meshes of the lower portion of the screen, the
material is enabled to pass more readily through the screen, and the bolting
capacity of the screen, is rendered more uniform throughout the length of each
section.
C represents the meal chamber above the screen B in which the elevating
mechanism is arranged and which receives the material to be separated or bolted.
E represents the flour chamber underneath the screen which receives the fine
material which has been bolted through the inclined screen and which is provided
with suitable conveyors E¹ and slide e for drawing off the various grades of the
bolted material.
The elevating mechanism consists of pulleys or drums D D' and buckets f¹
secured to endless belts or chains F F F running around the pulleys D D'. The
upper drum D is composed of end discs or heads d and connecting staves d' which
are secured to annular flanges d² formed on the inner sides of the discs d.
Intermediate discs d³ are secured to the drum D between the elevator belts F F¹ Fº,
to prevent these belts from crowding each other or running one upon the other.
The rings d³ are preferably secured to the drum by inwardly projecting lugs or
lips & formed on the rings and projecting between the staves of the drum. The
staves which are located between the projections d' of the rings extend from end
to end of the drum. The rings d are held against longitudinal displacement by
short staves d which abut against the projections d' on both sides thereof, as
represented in Figure 4.
The lower drum 1' is provided on its surface with rings d arranged centrally
with reference to each of the elevator belts and forming enlargements on the drum
whereby the elevator belts are centred and prevented from shifting their position
laterally.
g represents scraper blades which bear upon the upper side of the lower drum D¹
and which are secured to a board or bar g extending through the machine
between the two branches of the elevator belts. The scrapers g are inclined from
the centre of each elevator belt toward both edges thereof and serve to remove the
material which may tend to adhere to the drum D' from the drum and to work
the material toward the edges of each elevator belt where it is discharged through
the spaces between the several elevator belts and the end walls of the casing A,
and falls to the bottom of the casing.
h represents the feed opening or spout through which the material to be bolted
or separated is fed into the casing of the machine.
The ends of the screen frame project through openings m m³ formed in the end
walls of the casing A. One end of the screen frame rests against a spring n which
is secured with its ends to the stationary frame of the machine and provided at its
centre with a set screw n¹ which bears against the end of the screen frame and by
which the tension of the spring can be regulated. N represents a knocker which

page_text: is actuated by a cam n³ or any other suitable device and which strikes the opposite
end of the screen frame. The spring n receives the blow of the knocker and by its
elasticity vibrates the screen, and the intensity or extent of the vibration is
regulated by adjusting the set screw n².
o represents adjustable deflecting boards pivotted to a stationary board o' which
extends through the machine above the screen and underneath the head of the
elevating mechanism. The deflecting boards o are connected by a shifting bar o³,
the end of which extends through an opening in the casing and by means of which
the position of the deflecting boards can be adjusted. These deflecting boards
serve to deflect the material as it is discharged from the elevator and they can be
so adjusted as to turn or deflect the material either toward or from the head of the
machine, thereby accelerating or retarding the tendency of the material to work
toward the tail end of the machine, which tendency is imparted to the material by
a slight inclination or pitch of the machine from its head toward its tail. By
inclining the deflecting boards more or less toward the head of the machine the
progress of the material toward the tail end of the machine is more
or less
retarded. The deflecting boards are arranged more closely together as they
approach the tail end of the machine, as represented in Figure 5, thereby retarding
the material more and more in the same measure as its quantity grows less by the
removal of the fine material which is bolted out.
P represents a wiper or cleaner which is arranged underneath the inclined
screen B, so as to bear against the lower surface of the screen. This wiper or
cleaner is composed of a series of adjustable wipers or cleaners p attached to a
frame P in such manner that the individual wipers p can readily adjust themselves
to the lower surface of the screen. Each of the individual wipers or cleaners P
consists of a stock or bar provided on its upper side with a cleaning wire or brush,
or a strip of indiarubber or felt, or other flexible material. Each of the stocks is
provided with a pin or pivot p¹ which extends through an opening in the frame P¹.
g represents springs which are secured to the under side of the frame P¹ and which
bear upon the lower ends of the pivots p², so as to hold the wipers p against the
lower surface of the screen.
The pivots p¹ are fitted loosely in the frame P¹ so as to permit of a limited
rocking movement of the wiper on its pivot, thereby enabling the wipers to adjust
themselves to the position of the cloth, when the latter bags or sags between the
side bars of the screen frame. The wipers are prevented from turning on their
pivots p', by projections or stops p² formed on the upper side of the frame P¹ on
both sides of the stocks.
Each series of individual wipers p is arranged in the direction in which the
screen is inclined, and when the screen frame is divided on the under side of the
screen into a number of panels, a series of wipers p is arranged in each panel, and
the horizontal movement of the wiper frame P' is limited to the length of one
panel.
The wiper frame P' is supported in ways q¹ q² secured to the stationary frame or
casing of the machine and receives a horizontal reciprocating movement by a chain
or cord r which connects the wiper frame P' with an endless belt or chain R
arranged at the front side of the casing of the machine.
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:-
First. In a flour bolting or separating machine, the combination of a sieve or
screen having the proper pitch or inclination to cause the material to flow over it
by gravity and having its mesh increasing in coarseness from its upper end to its
lower end to increase the separating capacity of the screen as the velocity of the
material increases, and an elevator whereby the material escaping from the lower
end of the screen is returned to its upper end, substantially as set forth.
Second. In a flour bolting or separating machine the combination of a sieve or
screen having the proper pitch or inclination to cause the material to flow over it

page_text: by gravity and composed of sections of different degrees of fineness arranged side
by side, each section having its mesh increasing in coarseness from its upper to its
lower end, and an elevator whereby the material escaping from the lower end of
the screen is returned to the upper end, substantially as set forth.
Third. The combination with an inclined screen, of a series of belt 'clevators,
arranged side by side and a belt-supporting drum having annular enlargements or
projecting rings arranged in the centre line of each belt, whereby each elevator is
centred and retained in its proper position, substantially as set forth.
Fourth. The combination with an endless elevator belt or apron and the drum
or pulley around which it runs, of inclined scrapers adapted to move the material
toward the side or end of the drum or pulley, substantially as set forth.
Fifth. The combination with an endless elevator belt or apron and the drum or
pulley around which it runs, of scrapers bearing against the said drum or pulley
and inclined from the middle toward both ends thereof, substantially as set forth.
Sixth. The combination with a separating screen, of a cleaner composed of a
movable carrier, brushes or wipers loosely attached to the said carrier, and a spring
whereby each brush or wiper is held in contact with the screen, substantially as set
forth.
Seventh. The combination with a separating screen, of a cleaner composed of a
movable frame P¹, brushes or wipers p provided with pins p', and springs q secured
to the frame P¹ and bearing against the pins p¹, substantially as set forth.
Eighth. The combination with an inclined screen and an elevator whereby the
material escaping from the lower end of the screen is returned to its upper end, of
deflecting boards arranged more closely together toward the tail end of the
'machine, whereby the movement of the material toward the tail of the machine
becomes more retarded in the same measure as the material becomes less in quantity,
substantially as set forth.
Ninth. The combination with the stationary frame A and inclined screen B, of a
knocker N, a spring n secured at its ends to the stationary frame, and a set-
(screw n adjustably secured in said spring and bearing against the frame of the
screen, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 1st day of September 1884