Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for the Manufacture of Starch and the Treatment of the Residues obtained therein for Various Purposes.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Mar.. 1890
Complete Specification Left, 11th Apr., 1890-Accepted, 17th May. 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for the Manufacture
of Starch and the Treatment of the Residues obtained therein
for Various Purposes.
I, SIGMUND SPITZER of the City, County, and State of New York, United States of
America, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to a mothod of, and apparatus for, the manufacture of starch,
whereby the starch is separated from the gummy and pasty substances, evolved during
such manufacture, without the employment of chemicals; and the primary object of
my invention is the economical production of starch of greatly increased purity, fine-
ness, and whiteness, by the use of pure water only without the aid of chemicals or
other deleterious substances. A further object thereof is the saving of the pasty and
gummy substances and other refuse, produced during such manufacture, in a sub-
stantially pure condition so that they may be utilised for bread-stuffs, food for cattle,
and for the manufacture of glue, paste, sizing, etc. To these ends, my invention
consists in the novel method herein described, and it consists further in the improved
apparatus arranged, constructed, combined, and adapted to be used, substantially as
hereinafter described.
In carrying the process into effect, the grain is first steeped, and, when sufficiently
softened by moisture, it is conveyed, by means of a screw or other conveyor, to a pair
of crushing rollers before being delivered to which it may be somewhat cleansed by
being sprinkled with a rose jet. The crushing rollers are geared together so that one
will be fed by the revolution of the other and are preferably made of unequal diameters,
so that their velocities will be different, and one of them is journaled in sliding
bearings adjustable by screw or other gear, in order to enable the distance between the
rollers to be varied as desired.
After passing between the said crushing rollers, the grain is conveyed into a separating
apparatus which is divided by a perforated lining or partition into an inner and an outer
compartment. In the inner or main compartment revolve radially-projecting beaters
set by preference spirally on a shaft, by which the crushed grain introduced into the
compartment with sufficient water to form a paste is thoroughly agitated, the action of
the revolving boaters forcing the starchy matters through the perforated lining or parti-
tion into the outer compartiment leaving behind a large proportion of the hulls, bran,
and other refuse matter. From the outer compartment the starch in a partially-purified
and liquid condition passes into a vat or tank whence it is pumped or otherwise trans-
ferred to the first of a series of superposed sieves which are inclined and receive a
shaking or reciprocating motion. The sieves are of successively finer mesh and by their
action the separation of such of the bran, smut, and gumuy substances and other refuse
as had not heen removed in the separating apparatus is effected. The liquid starch
passes through the meshes of the top sieve and is conducted by inclined troughs to the
upper end of the next siove and so on throughout the series whence it is conveyed to
settling tanks. The liquid starch in its now highly-purified condition is then conveyed
from the settling tanks to a vat or receptacle whence it flows through into a trough
and finally reaches, in a thoroughly purified and white condition, a receiving tank
from which it is removed to be dried and is then ready for the market.
The gummy or glutinous substances and refuse which have been separated from the
starch receive further treatment in a perforated drum provided with inwardly
projecting arms or cutters and mounted to revolve in an outer vessel partially filled
with water. By the revolution of the drum the fine bran, smut, and other deleterious
substances, are washed out and separated from the gummy substances through the
perforations of the drum and are carried away in the surrounding water. The gummy

page_text: substances, etc., are meanwhile retained in the drum, and, by the action of the arms or
cutters, are cut or formed into balls or lumps which are at intervals removed and may
be utilized as hereinafter set forth.
It is to be understood that many modifications may be made in the construction and
arrangement of the apparatus which I have described, and although I have found the
one described to be convenient and well adapted to the purpose I do not limit myself
thereto.
It will be seen that a perfectly pure and unadultered starch, much whiter and much
superior in quality to that obtained by methods heretofore employed, can be produced
by means of iny invention. The cost of production is reduced to a minimum, and, as
only pure water and no chemicals are employed, no deleterious substances can possibly
enter into its composition. For this reason a new and highly valuable breadstuff can
be produced from the gluten which may also be utilised in manufacturing a new food
for animals. From the gummy substances, which are preserved in a pure and whole-
some state, a glue or paste of the highest excellence can be made, and the bran, which,
when treated by chemicals, is entirely wasted, can be fed to cattle.
Dated 17th March 1800
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for the Manufacture
of Starch and the Treatment of the Residues obtained therein
for Various Purposes.
I, SIGMUND SPITZER of the City County and State of New York, United States of
America, 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
My Invention relates to a method of, and apparatus for, the manufacture of starch
whereby the starch is separated from the gummy and pasty substances, ovolved
during such manufacture, without the employment of chemicals; and the primary
object of my invention the economical production of starch of greatly increased
purity, fineness, and whiteness, by the use of pure water only without the aid of
chemicals or other deleterious substances. A further object thereof is the saving of
the pasty and gummy substances and other refuse produced during such manufacture,
in a substantially pure condition so that they may be utilized for bread stuffs, food for
cattle, and for the manufacture of glue, paste, sizing, etc. To those ends, my inven-
tion consists in the novel method herein described and claimed, and it consists further
in the improved apparatus arranged, constructed, combined, and adapted to be used,
substantially as hereinafter shewn, described, and claimed.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specifica-
tion, wherein
Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view shewing the general arrangement of my improved
apparatus.
Figure 2 is an end elevation of the crushing rollers.
Figure 3 is an end elevation, in section, of the apparatus in which the first separa-
tion of the refuse from the starchy matters takes place; and
Figure 4 is a side elevation, in section, of that portion of the apparatus in which
the gummy and pasty substances are treated after being separated from the starchy
matters.
In the drawings A represents a suitable receptacle in which the grain from which
the starch is to be made is moistened. When sufficiently softened by moisture, the
grain is permitted to pass through the spout B to the trough C containing a screw or
other suitable conveyor D operated by gear or other connections d from a driving
shaft. The softened grain is delivered by means of said conveyor D to the crushing

page_text: rollers E E¹ which are preferably provided with intermeshing geared ends and are
operatively connected with a driving shaft by belt or otherwise. The crushing
rollers E E are geared together, so that one will be fed by the revolution of the other
and are preferably made of unequal diameters, so that their respective rates of speed
will be different. The roller E is journaled in sliding bearings which are mounted
upon the screw-threaded stud e so as to be readily adjustable by mitre wheels e* **
which may be operated by a suitable hand wheel or crank. In this manner the distance
between the rollers may be varied as desired.
After passing between the said crushing rollers the grain is conveyed through the
spout or hopper e into the separating apparatus F which is divided by the perforated
partition into the two compartments F. In the compartment F is journaled a
shaft G which is provided with a series of radially-projecting beaters G₁ preferably
arranged spirally on said shuft. Said shaft is operatively connected, by pulley G³,
with a driving shaft in any suitable manner. The crushed grain is introduced into
the compartment F', with sufficient water to form a paste, and is thoroughly agitated
by the revolution of the blades G', the action of which forces the starchy matters
through the perforations in partition f into the compartment Fª leaving a large pro-
portion of the bulls, bran, and other refuse matter, in the compartment F whence
they are removed as desired in any suitable manner. From the compartment F the
starch, in a partially purified and liquid condition, passes through a faucet or
cock into a vat or tank F whence it is conveyed, as by pump G³ for instance,
through the hopper i to the sieve I which forms the first of a series of sieves I l¹³.
Said sieves are supported in a suitable framework by pivoted links so as to be
readily reciprocated and are inclined as shown. The reciprocation of said sieves is
obtained by any suitable mechanism, such as occentrics pulleys, and belts,
said eccentrics being arranged to engage with a slotted arm attached to said sieves.
The meshes of the sieves decrease in size as they approach the bottom and such of the
bran, smut, and gummy substances, and other refuse, as were not removed in the
separating apparatus F, passes along the sieves and falls into a receptacle it from
which it is removed, as desired, for further treatment as horeinafter described. The
liquid starch passes through the meshes of the top sieve and is conducted by inclined
troughs to the next sieve, and so on, until it reaches tank whence it is conveyed
through pipe J to the settling tanks K. The liquid starch in its now highly purified
condition is then conveyed from the tanks K by a suitable pump L through pipes ll' to
the vat or receptacle M whence it flows through the faucet m into the trough N and
finally reaches, in a thoroughly purified and white condition, the tank from which
it is removed in any suitable manner and is then dried and is ready for the market.
The gummy or glutinous substances and refuse, which have been separated from the
starch, receive further treatment in the apparatus P within which is journaled by
stud shafts p, so as to revolve therein, the perforated drum P. The drum P' is pro-
vided with a suitable hand hole and cover pl and with the inwardly projecting arms
or cutters p². The vessel P is partially filled with water and the cap p and stuffing
box p prevent leakage around shafts p. A pulley p secured to shaft p is connected
by belt or otherwise with a driving shaft. By the revolution of the drum P' the fine
bran, smut, and other deleterious substances, are washed out and separated from the
gummy substances through the perforations in the drum and are carried away in the
surrounding water, through the faucet p'. The gummy substances, etc., are meanwhile
retained in the drum P' and by the action of the arms or cutters p³ are cut or formed
into balls or lumps which are at intervals removed and may be utilised as hereinafter
set forth.
If desired a rose jet or other suitable sprinkler b may be arranged above trough B
to thoroughly cleanse the grain before it is delivered to the crushing rollers.
It is to be understood that many modifications may be made in the construction and
arrangement of the apparatus which I have shewn and described; and, although I
have found the one shewn to be convenient and well adapted to the purpose, I do not
limit myself thereto.
It will be seen by those skilled in the art that a perfectly pure and unadulterated

page_text: starch, much whiter and much superior in quality to that obtained by methods
heretofore employed, can be produced by means of my invention. The cost of
production is reduced to a minimum and, as only pure water and no chemicals are
employed, no deleterious substances can possibly enter into its composition. For this
reason a new and highly-valuable breadstuff can be produced from the gluten which
may also be utilised in manufacturing a new food for animals. From the gummy
substances, which are preserved in a pure and wholesome state, a glue or paste of
the highest excellence can be made, and the bran, which, when treated by chemicals,
is entirely wasted, can be fed to cuttle.
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. The process of manufacturing starch herein shewn and described.
2. The herein described method of removing and treating the gummy substances
resulting from the manufacture of starch so as to render the same available for the
purposes set forth.
3. In a plant for the manufacture of starch, the moistening vat A, crushing
rollers EE, separating apparatus F, and one or more sieves, arranged substantially
as described, all to be used in succession for the purposes set forth.
4. The separating apparatus consisting of two compartiments separated by a porfo-
rated partition and provided with the radially-arranged beaters &³, substantially as
herein shewn and described.
5. The perforated drum P' provided with inwardly-projecting arms or cutters p³
and arranged to revolve within the vessel P, substantially as and for the purposes set
forth.
Dated this 11th day of An
1900
Dated this 11th
11th day of Apr
SA 1900
JABAT
S. SPITZER.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Patent Agents.