Improvements in Machinery or Apparatus for Drying Leaves of the Tea Plant, the same being applicable for Drying other analogous Substances.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Jan., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 17th Oct., 1893-Accepted, 25th Nov., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery or Apparatus for Drying Leaves of the
Tea Plant, the same being applicable for Drying other analogous
Substances.
ALFRED HORATIO BELL SHARPE 32 Charlesworth Terrace, Foss Bank,
Lincoln, in the County of Lincoln, Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
Special objects of the invention are to render the apparatus less complicated, and
of a less costly construction than as ordinarily made, aud to render the method of
operation capable of being more expeditiously, and advantageously effected than in
apparatus of ordinary construction, and to economise and use to the best advantage
the drying agent, and to lessen manual labour necessary in carrying out the said
operation.
Fig. 1 shows elevation in section of improved dryer (operated by power).
The two shafts A and B on which are fixed the chain wheels C carrying the
endless bands or chains D to which the perforated and tilting trays E are attached,
and the revolving cleaning or sweeping brushes F are placed inside the drying
chamber G.
At the feed end G1 forms the hopper or feed inlet H, and the bottom discharge
outlet J.
To radiate the hot air through the tea leaf being dried upon the perforated and
tilting trays E in a more regular and uniform manner, one or more fans K are
employed above the drying chamber G, so as to give an equal distribution of the
air, which is drawn from any suitable air heating apparatus.
Fig. 2 is a sectional plan of chain wheels C, which carry the endless bands or
chains D, fixed on the horizontal revolving shafts A and B, which carry the whole
of the perforated or tilting trays E.
Dated this 10th day of January 1893
A. H. B. SHARPE.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery or Apparatus for Drying Leaves of the
Tea Plant, the same being applicable for Drying other analogous
Substances.
I, ALFRED HORATIO BELL SHARPE of 32, Charlesworth Terrace, Foss Bank,
Lincoln, in the County of Lincoln, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the
said 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 certain improvements in machinery or apparatus used
for drying leaves of the tea-plant and applicable for use for drying other analogous
substances.
Special objects of the invention are to render the apparatus less complicated
aud of a less costly construction than as ordinarily made; to render the method of
operation capable of being more expeditiously and advantageously effected than in
existing apparatus; to economize and use to the best advantage the drying
medium and to lessen the manual labour necessary in carrying out the said
operation.
The invention is illustrated on the accompanying drawings in which ;-
Fig. 1, represents, in longitudinal sectional elevation, sufficient of a tea-drying
machine to illustrate the application of the present improvements.

page_text: Fig. 2, represents the same in transverse sectional elevation.
Fig. 3, represents detail views, partly in section, of the sectional, reversible,
perforated trays used for carrying the tea leaves through the machine, and;
Fig. 4, represents, in sectional detail view, the means of supporting and operating
Buch trays in the manner peculiar to the invention.
In carrying out the present improvements, I mount a series of endless tea
carrying trays a, each constructed in reversible perforated sections a', pivotally
connected at their ends a² to carrying chains a³, as hereinafter further referred to,
on series of actuating chain wheels b, bx, the latter being mounted on two carrying
and actuating shafts c, c*, arranged at the opposite ends of the machine, in such a
manner that the whole series of such chain wheels and endless trays are carried by
such two shafts, and are actuated therefrom, as hereinafter further referred to, in
alternately reverse directions, so that the adjacent courses of the series of trays are
caused to traverse the length of the drying chamber in such alternately reverse
directions, and at the end of each traverse each course of each tray is caused to
deposit its contents onto the relatively next lower course by which said contents are
carried back at a lower level to the other end of the drying chamber and so on,
whereby the operation is rendered continuous until the dried leaves are finally
discharged from the apparatus by the lowest course of the trays.
Each of the endless trays a, is constructed (vide Figs. 3,) of a series of perforated
sections a', each of which is pivotally connected at the same edge of its opposite
ends as at a², to links of opposite chains a³, the sections of the tray being made of
such a width as to enable them to swing about their respective pivots a³ just clear
of each other, as represented in Fig. 1, and as hereinafter further referred to. Each
section a', of the tray is also formed or provided at the other edge and on both sides
of its opposite ends with a projection a', the series of which are adapted to rest on
so as to be supported by carrying rails d, while traversing the length of the drying
chamber, so as to support the tray sections in the desired horizontal positions (vide
Fig. 1.) to carry the tea leaves while traversing the length of such chamber, but as
the tray sections cease to be supported, at or towards the end of each traverse of
the chamber, they swing about their pivotal connections a³, to the carrying chains,
and so drop the partially dried leaves onto the next and reversely traversing course
of tray sections, whereby they are returned through the machine and so on as
aforesaid to the final discharge.
"The supporting rails d, are carried by conveniently shaped and placed brackets d',
bolted or otherwise secured to the sides of the chamber or to other carrying plates
as may be most convenient; and they may terminate short of the chain-wheels so
that the teeth of the latter will rotate clear of their ends, or they may be cut or so
shaped at their ends as to be alongside but clear of engagement with said chain-
wheels, in which event the adjacent courses of tray-sections can be supported at
their alternate ends up or almost up to the end of the straight course of the trays,
vide Fig. 1.
The end carrying chain wheels b, bx, are, as aforesaid, mounted on but two
shafts c, cwhich are common to the whole series of chain wheels and endless trays,
(in lieu of each endless tray being mounted on and actuated by a separate pair of
shafts as hitherto usual,) and one of such shafts c, is carried by bearings (not
shown) occupying relatively fixed positions, the other shaft cx, being carried by
adjustable bearings c¹, (vide Fig. 1) which permit of the series of endless trays
being readily shipped and unshipped and adjusted as to their tension as may be
required.
On the shaft c, the chain wheels b, are so arranged as to give motion to the
alternate chains and endless trays, say, for example, the first and third of a series
of three, in the same direction, (ride the arrow-heads Fig. 1.) the other chain
wheels or wheel b, on the shaft cx, being arranged to give motion to the remaining
chains and endless trays of the series.
In the example represented on the drawings, there are but three of such
endless trays a, with their corresponding pairs of supporting and actuating chaiu

page_text: wheels b, bx, but it must be understood that a series of a greater number may be
used in like manner.
In the example represented, the first and third b, (vide Fig. 4,) of the series of
chain-wheels on the shaft c, are keyed on or otherwise made fast to such shaft, só
as to impart motion to the first and third endless trays a, which latter, at their
other end, that is at the shaft ex, are merely carried by corresponding chain
wheels b*, which are loosely mounted on lateral hubs of an intermediate chain
wheel b, which is keyed on the shaft cx, and serves to impart motion to the other
or intermediate endless tray a, the shaft ex, itself receiving motion from a spindle é,
which serves also to impart motion to the wheels b, on the shaft c.
Я
The spindle e, is preferably actuated from the fan-sbaft f, by a strap f¹, con-
necting coned or stepped pulleys f, g, respectively on the shaft f, and on
spindle g, on which latter is a toothed pinion g', engaging with a toothed wheel h¹,
on one end of a spindle h, on the other end of which is a toothed pinion ², engaging
with a toothed wheel i, on a spindle i, (in line with but separate from the spindle g)
the wheel engaging with a. toothed pinion el, on the spindle e.
The pinion e, engages with a toothed wheel c³, on the shaft c, and so imparts
motion to the chain-wheels b, on such shaft and to the first and third endless trays,
and a chain wheel e³, on the other end of the spindle e, by means of a connecting
chain e, engages with a chain wheel c, on the shaft cx, and so imparts motion to
the chain wheel b, on such shaft and to the second endless tray.
Suitably supported inclined plates (not shown but such as are usually used) are
arranged longitudinally of the machine on each side of the drying chamber to
deflect any tea leaves which may fall from any of the trays onto the next lower
course thereof..
No provision exists in existing tea-drying machines for clearing the trays of
such leaves as may stick in the perforations of the carrying trays, which leaves,
therefore, are liable to be repeatedly carried through the machine and to become
charred and burnt until they at length fall into the good tea imparting a bitter
taste thereto and deteriorating the value thereof.
To remedy this defect, I apply to the machine a series of stationary or sweeping
brushes j, wherever found most convenient. As represented on the drawings, such
brushes are applied under the lower courses of the trays and are driven from an
outside pulley, on the shaft c, by a belt cs, engaging with a pulley on one of
the brush spindles 2, the motion being communicated to the other brush spindles ³,
by toothed gearing ³, so that all the brushes are caused to rotate in directions
contrary to the traverse of the courses of the trays on which they respectively
operate, vide Fig. 1. Or such brushes may be otherwise conveniently operated.
Each tray section is preferably further fitted with a ridge a, (vide Fig. 2)
midway of its length, the series of such ridges serving to divide the endless trays
lengthwise into two side portions.
k, represents the hopper where the tea leaves are fed to the machine, which I
likewise divide by a partition k', in alignment with the ridges a³, of the endless
trays and I, represents the outlet from the machine which I likewise divide or
incline in opposite directions (vide Fig. 2,) so as to cause the tea leaves to be
delivered at opposite sides of the machine or through different outlets.
By the provision of such ridges and divided hopper and outlet, I provide, in the
same machine, for a preliminary and for a final drying of the tea leaves, and so
obviate the necessity of planters having to partially dry their tea in one machine
and then to take the partially dried tea to another machine (perhaps in a distant
part of the factory) to complete the drying.
For preliminarily drying the fermented roll of leaf, I cause the same to be fed
on the side of the divided hopper furthest from the air heating apparatus, whence
it falls onto the corresponding side of the endless trays and so is carried through
the machine as aforesaid until it is discharged at its corresponding outlet, when it
is about "twelve annas or three quarters dried.
"
Such partially dried tea leaf is then put a second time through the machine in

page_text: like manner but on the other side thereof that nearest the air heating apparatus,
when it becomes thoroughly dried and is delivered in such condition at the
corresponding outlet.
I do not confine myself to the arrangement or disposition of the fan f*, as
represented on the drawings, or to any particular arrangement of the air heating
apparatus or baffle plates n, but I prefer that the heated air should be delivered
across the machine by pipes m, delivering between every two adjacent courses of
the endless trays, the air being also drawn by the fan over the top course
thereof.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
:-
1. Supporting and operating series of endless sectional reversible perforated
trays and carrying chains by and from two shafts common to the series, sub-
stantially in the manner hereinbefore described.
2. The combination with tea-drying apparatus of stationary or revolving brushes
for cleaning the tea-carrying trays from adherent particles.
Dated this 17th day of October 1893.
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
321, High Holborn, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.