Improved Apparatus for Drying Butter, serving also to Mould it into Pats or Prints.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Nov., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Aug., 1895-Accepted, 28th Sept., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus for Drying Butter, serving also to Mould it
into Pats or Prints.
I, THOMAS BRADFORD, of 140, High Holborn, in the County of London,
Dairy Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said invention, to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to means of drying or freeing butter from butter-milk or
other moisture after churning, or from brine water or water after brining or
washing the butter, when in its granular state, and while simultaneously compacting
or making it up into pats or packages of any desired quantity and shape ready
without any further treatment for immediate sale and use at table.
To this end, the invention consists in the application and use for the purpose
aforesaid of a centrifugal apparatus adapted to carry and rotate about its axis at a
sufficient speed a series of any required number of independent perforated drying
moulds of any suitable shapes and of any required capacity, and in each of which
a quantity of the butter granules sufficient to produce the required quantity of
dried and compacted butter is firstly placed by scoops directly from the churning
vessel and is covered with a compacting block adapted, when the apparatus is in
operation, by the centrifugal tendency it acquires, to consolidate the butter
granules in the moulds as the moisture is dispersed therefrom by the centrifugal
action of the apparatus.
In its simplest form, the improved apparatus consists of a disc provided with a
flanged periphery through which are inserted from the inside and so as to project
on the outside a series of the said moulds at a suitable distance apart, the disc
being keyed on a horizontal (vertical, or oblique) shaft supported in bearings
carried by a suitable frame and driven by a winch handle.
The flanged periphery of the disc may either be cylindrical or polygonal of any
convenient number of sides according to its size and to that of the perforated
drying moulds to be used therewith, and is formed with a series of through holes
or other mould-holding parts of a size and shape adapted to receive and secure in
a readily removable manner the series of independent perforated drying moulds to
be used therewith.
These moulds may be made of any suitable material but are preferably made of
metal of the desired capacity say to contain an ounce, or a quarter- or half-pound
or pound, or but a mere "pat" or any other desired quantity of butter. They are
preferably slightly tapered or otherwise equivalently narrowed from the mouth to
the bottom ends thereof to permit of the butter pat or package being readily
removed therefrom, and are perforated all around and at their bottom ends (which
may be removable) to permit of the free escape of the moisture desired to be
expelled. Whether intended to fit into holes in or to be supported by other
supporting parts of the periphery of the disc, the mouth ends of the moulds may
be flanged or otherwise formed or adapted in any convenient manner
supported thereby while being rotated or at rest.
to be
The mouth end of the mould is adapted to be fitted with a compacting block or
plug in any convenient manner which will prevent the same from falling out until
required to be removed, and the inner side of such block may be shaped like and
adapted to serve as a butter print.

page_text: In the use of the apparatus, each of the perforated moulds, is or may be lined
with wire gauze, or may be lined with muslin or other suitable material to prevent
the smaller butter granules from escaping and to enclose the dried and compacted
butter, after which the proper quantity of granular butter is filled into the mould
and the muslin folded thereover and covered by the compacting block. When
the periphery of the disc is charged with a series of moulds, the requisite hand or
other motive power is applied to rotate the disc at the required speed to discharge
the moisture from the butter. particles contained in each receptacle, and just in
proportion to the speed and to the centrifugal force, so is each block pressed upon
the. soft. granular. butter, in its-mould, and so is the moisture expelled from the
butter by both the centrifugal force. and. the pressure of the block, through the
perforations of the mould.
When the butter is sufficiently dried and solidified, the disc is stopped, and each
mould is removed, and by inverting the same the. consolidated and moulded butter
falls therefrom dry, solid and ready for sale or use.
The improved apparatus may advantageously be used in constructive combination
with a churn, in which case the granular butter can the more conveniently be
removed by scoops direct from, the churn into the said 'moulds.
I prefer to deal with the butter in manner aforesaid before the granules thereof
have become aggregated 'into a mass, as the moisture can then the more readily be
separated therefrom.
I prefer that the sizes of the scoops used for removing the granular butter from
the churn should have a proportionate relation to that of the perforated moulds, to
facilitate the insertion into each mould of the desired quantity of the granular
butter.
Dated this 16th day of November 1891
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
321, High Holborn, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
Improved Apparatus for Drying Butter, serving also to Mould it'
into Pats or Prints.
1; THOMAS BRADFORD, of 140 High Holborn, in the County of London, Dairy
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 means for drying or freeing butter from butter milk.or
other moisture after churning,, or from brine water or water after brining; or
washing the butter, when in its granular state, and for simultaneously compacting.
or making it up into pats or packages of any desired quantity, and shape, ready,
without any further treatment, for immediate sale and use at table.
This invention consists in the combination in an operative apparatus adapted to
attain the purpose aforesaid, of ;-A series of any required number of independent
removable perforated drying moulds of any suitable shape and required capacity,
each adapted to contain a quantity of the butter granules sufficient to produce the
required quantity of dried and compacted. butter, and fitted with a .compacting
block adapted, when the apparatus is in operation, by the centrifugal tendency it
acquires, to consolidate the butter granules in. the mould as the moisture is dispersed
therefrom by the centrifugal action of the apparatus ;-a carrier adapted to carry.
and rotate such moulds about its axis at a sufficient speed to effect the purpose
aforesaid and means of supporting the carrier and: rotating, it at the required
speed by hand or power.

page_text: The accompanying drawings illustrate an embodiment of my invention. Fig. 1,
represents the same in front elevation partly in section; and Fig. 2, represents the
same partly in end elévation and partly in sectional 'elevation.
A, represents a convenient framing adapted to support the mould-carrier, a
shield surrounding the same, means for rotating the carrier and a table top, all as
hereinafter more particularly described.
B, represents the mould-carrier, which, in its simplest form, consists of a disc b¹,
provided with a flanged periphery 62, through which are inserted from the insidé
or are otherwise applied thereto so as to project on the outside thereof, a series of
the said moulds C, at a suitable distance apart.
The periphery 62, may either be cylindrical, or polygonal of any convenient
number of sides according to its size and to that of the, moulds C, to be used
therewith, and is formed with a series of through holes or other mould-holding
parts 3, of a size and shape adapted to receive and secure in a readily removable
manner the series of moulds to be used therewith.
In the modification represented, the mould holding parts consist of parallel
ledges projecting from the. disc b¹, and undercut at 6, so as to be adapted to
receive and retain the flanged edges c', of the moulds C, which are slid endwise
between the ledges and are similarly removed therefrom, the ledges being
connected by a flat peripheral part 62, which serves, when the apparatus is charged
with the butter-filled moulds and is stationary, to prevent the contents of the
moulds from falling out thereof.
The moulds C, may be. made of any suitable material, preferably metal, and
may be made to contain an ounce, or a quarter or half-pound or pound, or but a
mere "pat" or any other desired quantity. Each mould is preferably slightly
tapered or otherwise equivalently narrowed from the mouth to the bottom end
thereof to permit of the butter-pat or package being readily removed therefrom,
and is or may be perforated all around and at the bottom (which is preferably
formed as a removable plate) to permit of the free escape of the moisture when the
apparatus is in operation.
The mouth end of each mould is flanged, as at c', or may be otherwise equivalently
formed or adapted in any convenient manner to be supported by the carrier both
while being rotated and when at rest. It is also fitted with a compacting block c²,
(made of wood, metal or other suitable material) adapted, when the apparatus is in
operation, by the centrifugal tendency it acquires, to consolidate the butter
granules in the moulds as the moisture is dispersed therefrom by the centrifugal
action of the apparatus, and serving also, when the apparatus is at rest, to retain
the butter in the inould until it is required to be removed. The block is preferably
perforated with air holes c³, and its underside may be shaped like and adapted to
act as a butter print.
The inner end of the mould is preferably open and formed with an inner flange c¹,
adapted to support a removable perforated plate 5, which facilitates the removal
from the mouth of the mould of the compacted butter (which occupies the space
between the block c', and the plate ) and the cleansing of the mould.
The carrier is preferably surrounded by a shield D, adapted to catch the
particles of moisture which fly off from the carrier when in operation, and to lead
them to an outlet d', whence they can escape into any convenient receptacle. The
When in
shield is supported by projections d², which rest on the frame A.
operation, the front of the apparatus can be enclosed by a removable cover a'.
The mould carrier is keyed on or otherwise secured to a shaft E, supported by
bearings e, supported by the frame A.
The carrier may be driven by a winch handle, in apparatus of small size, and by
such an arrangement of driving apparatus e, as is represented on the accom-
panying drawings; or in any other convenient manner; or it may be driven by
power in any convenient manner, in apparatus of large size.
The table top may be fitted with any convenient accessories for dealing, as
required, with the butter granules or dried and compacted butter packages.

page_text: In the use of the apparatus, each of the perforated moulds is or may be lined with wire
gauze or may be lined with muslin or other suitable material to prevent the smaller
butter granules from escaping and to enclose the dried and compacted butter, after which
a quantity of the butter granules sufficient to produce the required quantity of dried
and compacted butter is filled into the mould and the muslin folded thereover and
covered by the compacting block c². When the carrier is charged with the series of
moulds, the requisite hand or other motive power is applied to rotate the carrier at
the required speed to discharge the moisture from the butter granules contained in
the mould, and just in proportion to the speed and to the centrifugal force, so
is each block c², pressed upon the soft granular butter in its mould, and so is the
moisture expelled from the butter by both the centrifugal force and the pressure
of the block, through the perforations of the mould or its end plate. When the
butter is sufficiently dried and compacted, the rotation of the carrier is stopped,
and each mould is removed, and by inverting the same, the compacted and moulded
butter falls therefrom dry and ready for sale or use.
The improved apparatus may advantageously be used in constructive combination
with a churn, in which case the granular butter can the more conveniently be
removed by scoops direct from the churn into the said moulds.
1 prefer to deal with the butter in manner aforesaid before the granules thereof
have become aggregated into a mass, as the moisture cau then the more readily be
separated therefrom.
I also prefer that the sizes of the scoops used for removing the granular butter
from the churn or other container should have a proportionate relation to that of
the moulds, to facilitate the insertion into each mould of the desired quantity of
the granular butter.
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 :-
The hereinbefore described apparatus for drying butter and simultaneously
compacting it into pats or packages ready for sale or use at table, the same consisting
in the combination of a series of independent removable perforated drying moulds
fitted with a compacting block; a carrier adapted to carry and rotate such
moulds about its axis; and means of supporting the carrier and rotating it at the
required speed by hand or power.
Dated this 29th day of June 1895.
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
321, High Holborn, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.