IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR ROASTING COFFEE BY MEANS OF GAS
Year: 1885

page_text: I, THOMAS FLETCHER of Thynne Street Warrington in the County of Lancaster
Manufacturer of Gas apparatus, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR ROASTING COFFEE BY MEANS OF GAS, to be as
follows:-
This Invention relates to apparatus for roasting Coffee by means of gas and has
for its object to effect the roasting by a gas flame within the cylinder in which the
coffee is roasted the gas burner being external to the cylinder.
The cylinder is constructed of perforated sheet metal or wire work within which
are dash plates, beaters or their equivalent and it has an opening or orifice at one
end for the admission of the flame from an atmospheric or suitable gas burner.
The cylinder is mounted within an inner frame through one end of which passes a
spindle secured to the centre of the closed end of the cylinder. The orifice at the
opposite extremity of the cylinder projects and bears upon two bowls or rollers
mounted upon the inner frame. A crank handle is fixed upon the outer end of the
spindle so that the inner frame being duly supported the cylinder may be revolved
thereby in the spindle bearing and upon the rollers. The inner frame is provided
with two trunnions which work in bearings upon an external frame so that the
inner frame and with it the cylinder may have one end depressed or elevated at
will, an arrangement is also provided for locking or securing the cylinder in its
normal horizontal position.
The gas burner is mounted upon a swivel or similar joint, upon some portion of
the outer frame or upon a fixing attached thereto in such a manner that its outlet
may be brought into proximity to the orifice in the end of the cylinder or be
removed therefrom. In the former position the axis of the burner should be in
line with the axis of the cylinder.
To use the apparatus the orifice or mouth of the cylinder is elevated and the
coffee berries are poured therein; the cylinder is then returned to its horizontal
position the gas is lighted and the flame directed through the orifice into the
cylinder which is then rotated. A sample may be taken by turning the burner to
one side and inserting a spoon, the cylinder being still rotated when some of the
berries are caught and may be examined. At the end of the operation the gas is
extinguished, the burner turned out of the way and the mouth of the cylinder
being depressed a few turns of the handle will discharge the coffee.
Dated this tenth dex of Tonu100
WILLIAM E. HEYS,
Agent.

page_text: of Gas.
I, THOMAS FLETCHER of Thynne Street Warrington in the County of Lancaster
Manufacturer of Gas Apparatus 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 apparatus for roasting Coffee by means of gas and has
for its object to effect the roasting by a gas flame within the cylinder within which
the Coffee is roasted, the gas burner being external to the cylinder.
And in order that this my Invention may be more readily understood and carried
into practical effect I have hereunto appended a sheet of Drawing having the
various Figures thereon marked with similar letters to denote similar parts and
reference being hereinafter had thereto.
Fig. 1 represents the apparatus in side elevation and Fig. 2 in plan. Fig. 3
shows the position of the apparatus while it is being filled and Fig. 4, the position
for emptying.
The Cylinder A is constructed of perforated sheet metal, wire work or similar
material and is provided with dash plates, beaters or their equivalent. At one
end B, is an opening or orifice for the admission of the flame of an atmospheric or
suitable gas burner F. The orifice is by preference strengthened by a ring C
bearing upon bowls or rollers. The cylinder is mounted within a frame O through
which passes a spindle secured to the closed end B₁ of the cylinder. At the open
end of the cylinder the frame O carries a spout D below the orifice and the herein-
before mentioned bowls or rollers. A crank handle E is fixed upon the outer end
of the spindle attached to the closed end B¹ of the cylinder so that the frame O
being supported, the cylinder may be revolved by rotation of the handle. The
frame has formed upon or secured to each of its sides a trunnion L which fits
into corresponding bearings formed upon the external supporting frame K so that
the frame and with it the cylinder may have one end depressed or elevated at
will. The upper part of the frame K has formed upon it two projections M M and
the frame O has attached to it a swing catch N. When the apparatus is in use or
in its normal position as shown in Fig. 1 the swing catch is placed between the two
notches, when the end B of the cylinder is elevated for filling the catch is placed
outside the projection M further from B¹ and when B1 is depressed for emptying,
the catch is placed outside the projection nearer to B¹, in each of which positions
the apparatus is locked by the catches engaging with the projections. The catches
and projections may be employed on both sides of the apparatus as shown in Fig. 2
or on one side only.
The gas burner F is mounted upon a swivel or similar joint G carried upon or
affixed to some portion of the outer frame or upon a fixing I attached thereto or upon
its equivalent in such a manner that its outlet may be brought into proximity to the
orifice in the end B of the cylinder as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, or be removed
therefrom as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. When in use the axis of the burner should
be in line with the axis of the cylinder or in a position parallel with a line in con-
tinuation of the axis. The inlet for the gas is indicated at H and may be connected

page_text: to any convenient source of gas supply by a metallic or indiarubber tube. The
whole apparatus may be carried upon legs or supports P. P.
To use the apparatus the end B of the cylinder is first elevated as shown in
Fig. 3 and the Coffee berries are poured through the orifice; the cylinder is then
returned to the horizontal position as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and secured by the
swing catch. The gas being lighted the flame is directed through the orifice into
the cylinder which is rotated. A sample may at any time be taken by turning the
burner to one side and inserting a spoon, the cylinder being still rotated. The
berries are carried round by the dash plate or beaters to near the upper part of the
cylinder whence they fall, some of them being caught by the spoon and may be
examined. When the burner is in position and the cylinder is rotated the berries
fall repeatedly through the gas flame and are thus roasted. At the end of the
operation the gas is extinguished, the burner turned out of the way, and the
mouth of the cylinder being depressed a few turns of the handle will discharge
the Coffee.
I wish it to be understood that I do not claim as my invention apparatus for
roasting Coffee in a revolving cylinder by means of a gas flame or by the heat
therefrom as such apparatus is already in use.
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.) In apparatus for roasting Coffee by means of gas, an external gas burner
capable of delivering a flame into the interior of a cylinder containing the coffee
berries, substantially as herein before set forth and described.
(2.) The combination and arrangement of an external gas burner with a
rotatory cylinder having an opening in one end, the cylinder being carried upon
suitable bearings and capable of having either of its ends elevated or depressed at
will, substantially as and for the purpose herein before set forth and described.
(3.) In combination with the external gas burner and rotatory cylinder, the
inner frame and trunnions L carried in bearings upon an external frame or
support substantially as herein before described and set forth.
(4.) The combination or arrangement of the movable and external gas burner F,
with the cylinder A, and its bearings, the crank handle E, for rotating the cylinder
the inner frame O, the trunnions L, with their bearings and the external framing
and supports KIP P, all substantially as herein before described and set forth and
as illustrated on the accompanying sheet of drawings.