Improved Process and Means for Treating Feathers and the like.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Process and Means for Treating Feathers and the like.
I, ALFRED JAMES PUDNEY, of Westbourne Road, Port Elizabeth, South Africa,
Ostrich Feather Dealer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
:-
This invention relates to improved apparatus for drying feathers and other
light articles, whereby the same will be treated more evenly and the drying will
be effected more speedily than by the means hitherto employed for such purpose;
and also to an improved process for cleansing feathers, whereby, conjunctively
with the employment of the improved drying apparatus, a more thorough treat-
ment and a better obtainment of the desired result will be obtained than by any
existing process and means of so doing.
The improved process is particularly applicable to the cleansing of ostrich
or fowls' feathers or the like, and consists in the consecutive steps of soaking the
same for a time in cold water, passing the wet feathers through a wringing
apparatus, passing the feathers partially dried through starch water, drying the
feathers in the herein described drying apparatus, and airing the dried feathers
by exposure to the atmosphere in trays having hessian bottoms.
The improved machine is adapted to continually toss the feathers or other light
articles, without liability of injuring the same, in a continually changing atmo-
sphere, the change of which is automatically induced by the operation of the
machine.
To this end, the machine is made as a closed container the sides of which are
parallel and formed of perforated zinc or the like serving to enclose the articles
under treatment while also permitting of a through current of air, and the
bottom of which (the container) is formed of tin or the like and may be semi-
circular in shape so as to cause a convergence and return of the feathers towards
the lowest point of the container and to accommodate and conform to the motion
of the means by which the feathers are tossed, and the ends and top of which
(the container) are formed of wood or the like the lid being hinged at one side
to permit of its being opened to allow of the articles to be treated being readily
inserted into the container, and one of the sides with part of each of the ends
and of the bottom being rigidly connected and hinged at the upper part of the
side to permit of the same being opened and of the treated articles being readily
removed from the container at the bottom thereof upon the lower fastening
securing such parts being upturned, the front of the machine thus lifting up for
such purpose.
A spindle runs longitudinally through the machine, being supported in
bearings carried by the container ends, and, internally of the chamber, the spindle
is squared and adapted with a series of flingers consisting of metal bent arms
radially secured to the spindle in angular relation to each other, and, externally
of the container, the spindle is fitted with a hand wheel or with pulleys by which
it can be driven by power.

page_text: The machine may be suspended from a ceiling or roof by suitable hangers, or
may be supported on a floor by a suitable frame.
The method of its use and operation will be fully understood from the foregoing
description of its construction.
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
Chartered Patent Agents, 321, High Holborn, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
Improved Process and Means for Treating Feathers and the like.
I, ALFRED JAMES PUDNEY, of Westbourne Road, Port Elizabeth, South Africa,
Ostrich Feather Dealer, 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 improved apparatus for drying feathers and other
light articles, whereby the same will be treated more evenly and the drying will
be effected more speedily than by the means hitherto employed for such purpose;
and also to an improved process for cleansing feathers, whereby, conjunctively
with the employment of the improved drying apparatus, a more thorough treat-
ment and a better obtainment of the desired result will be obtained than by any
existing process and means of so doing.
The improved process is particularly applicable to the cleansing of ostrich
or fowl's feathers or the like, and consists in the consecutive steps of soaking the
same for a time in cold water, passing the wet feathers through a wringing
apparatus, passing the partially dried feathers through starch water, drying the
feathers in the herein described drying apparatus, and airing the dried feathers
by exposure to the atmosphere in trays having wooden sides with hessian bottoms.
The improved machine is represented in perspective view on the accompanying
drawing and is adapted to continually and evenly toss and turn the feathers or
other light articles in a continually changing atmosphere, the change of which
is automatically induced by the operation of the machine.
To this end, the machine is made as a closed container;-the sides, a, of which
are parallel and formed of perforated zinc or the like serving to enclose the articles
under treatment while also permitting of a through current of air;-the bottom, b,
of which is formed of tin or the like, and may be semi-circular in shape so as to
cause a convergence and return of the feathers towards the lowest point of the
container and to accommodate and conform to the motion of the means by
which the feathers are tossed;-and the ends, c, and top or lid, d, of which are
formed of wood or the like, the lid being hinged at one side to the top, as at e,
to permit of its being opened to allow of the articles to be treated being readily
inserted into the container, and one of the sides with part of each of the ends
and part of the bottom being rigidly connected together and hinged, as at, f, at
the upper part of the side to a part of the top to permit of its being opened
and of the treated articles being readily removed from the container at the bottom
thereof upon lower fastenings, g, securing such parts being released, the front of
the machine being thus adapted to be lifted up for such purpose.
A spindle, h, runs longitudinally through the machine, being supported in
suitable bearings, i, carried by the container ends, and, internally of the
chamber, the spindle is squared and fitted with a series of flingers, j, consisting

page_text: of bent metal arms which constitute the means for tossing the feathers and
ensuring their being evenly and quickly dried, the flingers being radially secured
to the spindle in angular relation to each other, and, externally of the container,
the spindle is fitted with a hand wheel or with pulleys, k, by which it can be driven
by power.
The machine may be suspended from a ceiling or roof by suitable hangers, or
may be supported on a floor by a suitable frame.
The method of its use and operation will be fully understood from the foregoing
description of its construction.
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. The hereinbefore described improved process of cleansing ostrich or fowls'
feathers or the like, consisting in the consecutive steps of soaking the same for
a time in cold water, passing the wet feathers through a wringing apparatus,
passing the partially dried feathers through starch water, drying the feathers in
the herein described drying apparatus, and airing the dried feathers by exposure
to the atmosphere in hessian bottomed trays, as set forth.
2. The hereinbefore described improved apparatus for tossing and drying
feathers and other light articles, consisting in a container characterized by having
parallel sides formed of perforated zinc or the like, a semi-circular bottom formed
of tin or the like, and ends and a lid formed of wood, the lid being hinged at one
side to the top, and one of the sides with part of each of the ends and part of the
bottom being connected and hinged to a part of the top, and having a through
spindle fitted with a series of bent metal flingers, and means of rotating the same,
as set forth.
01 May
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
Chartered Patent Agents, 321, High Holborn, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.