IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING AND SORTING GRAIN, SEEDS, OR OTHER SUBSTANCES.
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Samuel Handscombe and Charles Dellar, both of
Melbourne, in the County of Cambridge, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING AND SORTING GRAIN, SEEDS, OR OTHER
SUBSTANCES.'
37
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Samuel Handscombe and
Charles Dellar at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 30th April
1881.
SAMUEL HANDSCOMBE and CHARLES DELLAR, both of Melbourne, in the County
of Cambridge. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING AND SORTING
GRAIN, SEEDS, OR OTHER SUBSTANCES."
Our Invention relates to rotary apparatus for separating extraneous matters from
grain, seeds, or other substances, and for sorting the substances according to the
sizes of their particles."
In carrying out our Invention we mount the separator (which may be of the
form of a hollow cylinder) upon rollers, which are made of less diameter than the
separator, and are fast upon a spindle or axis supported in suitable bearings so as
to be capable of receiving rotary motion, the internal periphery of the separator
resting upon the said rollers, so that when they are in operation rotary motion
shall also be transmitted to the separator by frictional contact. Or if desired the
separator may be driven by means of frictional rollers operating upon its external
periphery.
•
The separator itself may be constructed in various ways. According to one
modification, which is particularly adapted for separating seeds from grain, the
internal periphery of the separator is formed with small cavities or depressions,
and in the interior of the separator is provided a longitudinal inclined shelf, over
which passes a travelling chain or band, the arrangement being such that as the
grain introduced at one end is carried up by the revolution of the separator, the
seeds first become deposited in the cavities or depressions, and then as the motion
of the separator continues the seeds are discharged from the cavities or depressions
on to the shelf, whence they are conveyed away by the travelling chain or band,

page_text: whilst the clean grain is delivered at the opposite end of the separator to that at
which it is introduced.
According to another modification the separator (arranged and operated as first
herein before described) may have its periphery composed of perforated or
reticulated material, in which case the internal shelf may be dispensed with,
the finer portions of the substance under operation being discharged through the
meshes of the separator or screen, whilst the larger or coarser particles are delivered
at the end thereof. Two or more perforated or reticulated separators or screens of
different diameters and with meshes of varying gauge may be employed in
combination, the same being arranged one within the other, and being driven by a
single set of rollers. By this means the substances under operation may be sorted
or separated into any required gradatory series of sizes or guages, the first screen
intercepting the coarsest particles whilst allowing the rest to pass through, and the
next screen intercepting the coarsest particles of the remainder whilst admitting of
the passage through its meshes of the portions then remaining, and so on in
succession to the last or outer screen, the periphery of which is made of such a
mesh as only to admit of the finest particles passing there through.
The separators or screens carried and driven as herein before described may be
guided or steadied by means of rollers acting upon the outer periphery of the
separator or screen, or of the outer one when more than one are employed, or by
means of a belt passing round the separator or screen, or the outer one and around
a roller, or by any other convenient devices.
The apparatus may be so arranged as to admit of its being swung round bodily
to and secured in different positions in its supporting frame according to the
requirements of the operation.
The separator may be provided with radial arms carrying adjustable pallets, so
as to confine the substance under operation to an annular space at the periphery of
any required depth. It may also be fitted with spiral springs for agitating the
substance under treatment.
In lieu of mounting the separator in the manner bercin before described, it may
be supported on small rollers carried on discs to which the axis is fast, the said
discs and rollers being mounted in stationary bearings, so that as the separator
rotates a succession of jumps or vibrations are produced by the passage from the
contact point of one roller to that of another, whereby the operation of separating
the substances is greatly expedited and facilitated.
A similar result may be obtained by forming projections on the said discs or
spindle, or by making the friction rollers of a varying profile so as to impart the
requisite jerking motion simultaneously with the rotation.
The screens may be arranged double one within the other, of different guaged
meshes, the substance being introduced into the intervening space, and separated
by rotation of the compound screen into three sorts or guages of material, which
pass through the inner screen, the outer screen, and through the intervening space
respectively.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Samuel Handscombe and Charles Dellar, in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 28th October 1881.
SAMUEL HANDSCOMBE and CHARLES DELLAR, both of Melbourne, in the County
of Cambridge. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING AND SORTING
GRAIN, SEEDS, OR OTHER SUBSTANCES."
Our Invention relates to rotary apparatus for separating extraneous matters from
grain, seeds, or other similar materials, and for sorting such matters according to
their magnitudes.
In order that our said Invention may be more fully understood and be more
readily performed, we will explain the same with the aid of the accompanying
Drawing, which forms part of this Specification, reference being made thereto by
the numerals and letters marked thereon. The same reference letters indicate
similar parts in each Figure of the said Drawing.
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal vertical part section of our improved apparatus, and
Fig. 2 is an end view of the same.
Fig. 3 is an end view of a modification of the same and showing the jumping
apparatus.
Fig. 4 is a side view of the said jumping apparatus.
Fig. 5 is an end view showing our improved apparatus with three cylindrical
screens or sorters.
These Figs. are partly in section.
Fig. 6 is a part plan of the framing of the said apparatus fitted with knives for
breaking refuse and barley cutting.
In carrying out our Invention we mount the separator a upon two rollers b,
which are securely fixed on the shaft or axle c, which turns in suitable bearings d.
The internal periphery of the separator a rests upon the said rollers b, so that
when the latter are turned rotary motion is thereby given to the separator by
frictional contact. If desired, or more convenient, the separator may be operated
by means of frictional rollers rotating upon or in contact with its external
periphery.
The separator itself may vary in construction and form. According to one
modification, which is particularly adapted for separating seeds from grain, the
internal periphery is indented with small cavities or depressions, similar to those
described in the Specification of a Patent granted to Thomas Perkins and the said
Samuel Handscombe, No. 2735, A.D. 1880; and in the interior of the separator &
is fixed a longitudinal inclined shoot or trough e as now used. The grain to be
cleansed is introduced or falls into the separator a from the hopper f, and is carried
forward by the rotation of the separator; at the same time the small seeds become
lodged in the cavities, and as the said motion of the separator continues are
discharged therefrom and fall into the shoot e, whence they are removed by the
travelling chain, rope, or strap g, whilst the cleaned grain remaining in the
cylinder in its progress is delivered at the opposite end of the separator to that at
which it enters.
According to another modification the separator or sorter a (see Figs. 3 and 4),
arranged and operated as first herein before described, may be made of a perforated
or reticulated material, in which arrangement the shoot e is dispensed with, the
smaller portions of the article under operation passing through the interstices in
the sorter or screen, whilst the larger or coarser portions are delivered at the end
thereof as usual.
We however prefer to use two or more perforated or reticulated sorters or screens

page_text: of different diameters, having their perforations or reticulations varying in size, and
mount them one within the other, so that they are rotated by the said pair of
rollers b, see Fig. 5. By this arrangement the materials under operation may be
separated into any required gradatory series of sizes; the first or smallest screen
intercepting the coarsest portions, whilst allowing the remainder to pass through'
its openings; the next or second screen intercepting the coarsest portions of such
remainder, whilst allowing the then remainder to pass through its openings, and so
on in succession to the last or outer screen, the openings in which are so small as
only to allow the finest portions of the remaining mass to pass through them. In
order to detain the corn or prevent its passing too freely forward, we elevate one
side of the frame by the chain p, so as to raise such frame from the joint q.
The separators or screens mounted, and rotated as hereinbefore described may
be guided or steadied by means of rollers & acting upon the outer periphery of the
separators or screens, or of the outer one only when more than one are employed,
or by means of a belt o passing around the outer separator. or screen and around a
roller, or by any other convenient device.
The apparatus may be so arranged as to admit of its being swung round bodily
to and secured in different positions in or upon its supporting frame, according to
the requirements of the operation.
The sorter or screen may be provided with radial arms at each end thereof,
carrying adjustable pullies or rollers so as to keep the materials under operation
against the internal periphery of such sorter or screen, see Fig. 3. It may be also
fitted with spiral springs for regulating the materials under operation.
In lieu of mounting the sorter or screen in the manner hereinbefore described, it
may be supported on small rollers carried on discs m secured upon the main
shaft c; the said discs and rollers being mounted in stationary bearings n, so that
as the sorter or screen a rotates, a series of jumps, jolts, or sharp vibrations is given
to it as, the discs pass from the contact point with one roller to that of the next
one, whereby the operation of separating the different materials is greatly
expedited, see Figs. 3 and 4.
'
A similar result may be obtained by forming projections on the said discs, or on
the shaft, or by making the friction rollers of a varying section so as to impart the
requisite jolting motion as the sorter or screen rotates.
Two cylindrical screens may be arranged one within the other of different sized
holes or openings, the materials to be operated on being introduced into the
intervening space between them, and separated by the rotation of the said two
screens into three sorts or gauges of materials, by passing through the inner screen
and the outer screen, and the portion remaining in the intervening space
respectively.
Having thus fully described and ascertained the nature of our said Invention
and the method of performing the same, we wish it to be understood that we do
not claim as new the indented separator, per se, the shoots or troughs, nor the
general framing of the apparatus; but what we do claim as our Invention, and
desire to secure by the before-mentioned in part recited Letters Patent is,-
Firstly. The method of rotating the indented separator and perforated screens by
frictional contact with rollers at each end thereof.
Secondly. The use of a travelling chain, rope, or strap for removing or aiding in
removing the small seeds and refuse from the discharging shoot e.
Thirdly. The arrangement of two or more perforated or reticulated cylindrical
screens of different diameters, and the method of operating the same.
Fourthly. The method of guiding or steadying the separators or screens when
rotating, by means of outside rollers, or a band.
Fifthly. The method of maintaining the materials under operation against the
internal periphery of the screen or sorter, by means of radial arms carrying
adjustible pullies or rollers.
Sixthly. The method of giving to the sorter, or screen or screens, whilst in
motion, a series of jumps, or jolts, or sharp vibations.

page_text: Sevently. The arrangement for screening by means of two cylinders, one
mounted within the other.
All substantially as herein described and shown.
In witness whereof, we, the said Samuel Handscombe and Charles Dellar,
have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Twenty sixth day of October, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty-one.
SAMUEL HANDSCOMBE, (L.S.)
CHARLES DELLAR.
(L.S.)