Improvements in and relating to Apparatus for Drying Coffee, Cocoa, Pepper, and the like.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Dec., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 13th Aug., 1891-Accepted, 19th Sept., 1891
PROVISIONAL DIMITTAT
Improvements in and relating to Apparatus for Drying Coffee,
Cocoa, Pepper, and the like.
I, SAMUEL LEENDERT HUIZER, of 180 Riouwstraat, The Hague, in the
Kingdom of Holland, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
My invention relates to apparatus for drying coffee, cocoa, pepper, and the
like.
The apparatus such as those hitherto employed on plantations, for drying large
quantities of coffee, cocoa, pepper and the like present more or less serious
inconveniences, especially when they are entrusted to unskilful and inexperienced
people as is generally the case on plantations.
The cause of this is that the drying is effected by an open fire by which it is
extremely difficult to dry properly without the temperature becoming higher than
that which the produce is able to bear.
Moreover in most of the drying apparatus manual labour is continuously
required for stirring the produce in order to effect a uniform heating of the entire
material. This work when done without exercising sufficient care may occasion
the deterioration and even the loss of the produce.
I have found that great advantages may be obtained by the employment of a
current of hot air passing slowly through a layer of the produce; of a perforated
circular bottom upon which the produce is spread; of devices for automatically
turning over the produce during the drying.
According to this invention 1 provide a building preferably constructed of
metal and having a roof with means for ventilation. In the sides of the building
are openings for the doors and for the necessary ventilation.
In the interior of the building is a small circular wall upon which rollers are
mounted in stirrups fixed to the wall. A perforated metal bottom turning upon a
pivot is adapted to move on the said rollers. For this purpose the bottom is
provided above with a rail cast in one piece with the circular frame of the said
perforated bottom and bearing constantly upon the rollers.
Upon a vertical part of the above-mentioned small wall are fixed two or more
girders held at the centre upon the head of the pivot.
From each girder is suspended, by means of equilibrated levers a so-called rake
formed by a bar of wood or iron to which are fixed wooden teeth at uniform
distances from each other. These teeth have at their lower parts the form of
double plough-shares and are prolonged to the perforated bottom.
In order to prevent the teeth rubbing too much against the said bottom the
rakes are kept balanced by means of counter weights mounted upon the levers
hereinbefore referred to.
The rotation of the perforated bottom takes place through the medium of a
transmitting gear set in motion by a small steam engine or other suitable motor.
In some instances I effect the transmission of the movement through the
medium of a worm which engages with a worm wheel acting in its turn upon a
rack cast in one piece with the circular frame of the perforated bottom.
When the latter rotates, the material, by reason of the rakes, is several times
turned over; and the teeth are arranged in such a manner that the same furrows
are never followed by the teeth of the two consecutive rakes.
At the exterior of the building and bearing directly against one of the walls of
the latter, is provided a chamber communicating through openings with the space
below the perforated bottom.

page_text: I place in this chamber a heating device whilst in an opening provided in the
front wall of the said chamber is mounted a fan set in motion by the motor which
actuates the perforated bottom.
When the motor is a steam engine and when the heating is effected by steam
the boiler feeds this motor and the heating device at the same time.
The proportion between the heating surface of the heating device and the
effectiveness of the fan is such that the temperature of the heated air in the normal
state shall be lower than that which might deteriorate the produce to be
dried.
Moreover in cases where the heating is effected by steam the heating apparatus
is provided with devices for automatically regulating the admission of the steam in
accordance with the temperature which is to be maintained.
Should the heating take place by the products of combustion the device is
furnished with means for enabling the draught to be suitably regulated.
By this arrangement I entirely obviate any liability to injury of the produce by
too high a temperature.
My improved apparatus is set in operation in the following manner that is to
sayThe fresh produce is spread in the form of a uniform layer upon the
perforated bottom after steam has been generated in the boiler.
In order to facilitate this operation the bottom is set in motion while the work-
men spread the material.
After the bottom has been covered with material the doors are closed, the stirring
of the produce being effected entirely by the rake.
By this means the stealing of any produce is obviated during the drying, and the
stirring takes place so as to preclude any deterioration.
Then the fan is set in motion and steam admitted into the heating device, or in
case the heating takes place by the products of combustion the fire is lighted in the
apparatus.
The cold air which is forced into the heating chamber by the action of the fan
impinges against the surfaces of the heating device and is heated to a high
temperature.
By reason of the operation of the fan this hot and dry air is sent through the
above-mentioned opening into the space below the perforated bottom, then through
the latter and the produce spread upon this bottom.
Owing moreover to the great quantity of air which this fan supplies the air is
uniformly distributed over the entire surface of the bottom and passes through the
produce at every point.
As the bottom revolves at the same time in a continuous manner the produce
constantly shifts its place and is turned over under the action of the fixed rakes in
such a manner that a complete and uniform, drying of the whole material takes
place without any necessity for giving the least attention to it.
Owing to the continuous passage of hot air the latter after it has passed
through the layer of the produce, escapes to the exterior through openings provided
for this purpose in the roof and in the walls or partitions of the building even
when by the humidity of the produce the temperature of this air has been lowered
to that of the exterior air.
Accordingly the temperature imparted to the air by the surfaces of the heating
device does not require to be higher than that which is necessary for the proper
drying, so that the quality of the produce shall not be injured nor any loss of hot
air shall take place.
No part of the apparatus is subjected to much wear, and the cost of keeping it
in order is very small.
This drying apparatus therefore acts without liability to deterioration of the
material by too high a temperature or by too abrupt action as has heretofore been
the case; and this result is obtained by a minimum of manual labour, attendance,
consumption of fuel, wear and maintenance, independently of the little experience
required by the workmen.

page_text: The arrangement of the drying apparatus hereinbefore described may be
variously modified to adapt the same to the nature of the produce to be dried,
especially as regards the employment of the devices for heating by steam or air,
and the number and arrangement of the fans.
Dated this 12th day of December 1890.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Apparatus for Drying Coffee,
Cocoa, Pepper, and the like.
I, SAMUEL LEENDERT HUIZER, of 180, Riouwstraat, The Hague, in the
Kingdom of Holland, Engineer, 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 apparatus for drying coffee, cocoa, pepper, and the like.
The apparatus such as those hitherto employed on plantations, for drying large
quantities of coffee, cocoa, pepper and the like present more or less serious incon-
veniences, especially when they are entrusted to unskilled and inexperienced
people as is generally the case on plantations.
The cause of this is that the drying is effected by an open fire by which it is
extremely difficult to dry properly without the temperature becoming higher than
that which the produce is able to bear without injury to its quality.
Moreover in most of the drying apparatus manual labour is continuously required
for stirring the produce in order to effect a uniform heating of the entire material.
This work, when done without exercising sufficient care, may occasion the
deterioration and even the loss of the produce.
I have found that great advantages may be obtained by the employment of a
current of hot air passing slowly through a layer of the produce; or by the
employment of a perforated circular bottom upon which the produce is spread;
or of devices for automatically turning over the produce during the drying.
In the accompanying drawing I have shown how my said invention may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice.
Figure 1 is an elevation of the improved apparatus.
Figure 2 is a transverse section of the latter.
Figure 3 is a longitudinal section of the same.
Figure 4 is a plan thereof the roof being removed.
Figures 5 and 6 are an elevation and plan of the mixing device of the apparatus.
In these several figures similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts
of the apparatus.
According to this invention I provide a building A preferably constructed of
metal and having a roof with means for ventilation. In the sides of the building
are openings for the doors and for the necessary ventilation.
In the interior of the building is a small circular wall B upon which rollers E
are mounted in stirrups fixed to the wall. A perforated metallic bottom D turning
upon a pivot C is adapted to move on the said rollers. For this purpose the
bottom is provided above with a rail cast in one piece with the circular franie of
the said perforated bottom and bearing constantly upon the rollers E.
Upon a vertical part of the above-mentioned small wall B are fixed two or
more girders G held at the centre upon the head of the pivot C.
From each girder is suspended, by means of equilibrated levers a so-called rake I,
formed by a bar J of wood or iron to which are fixed wooden teeth K at uniform
distances from each other. These teeth have at their lower parts the form of
double plough-shares and are prolonged to the perforated bottom.
In order to prevent the teeth rubbing too much against the said bottom the

page_text: rakes are kept balanced by means of counter weights L mounted upon the
levers H.
The rotation of the perforated bottom takes place through the medium of a
transmitting gear set in motion by a small steam engine or other suitable motor.
In some instances I effect the transmission of the movement through the medium
of a worm which engages with a worm wheel acting in its turn upon a rack cast
in one piece with the circular frame of the perforated bottom.
When the latter rotates the material, by reason of the rakes, is several times
turned over; and the teeth are arranged in such a manner that the same furrows
are never followed by the teeth of the two consecutive rakes.
At the exterior of the building and bearing directly against one of the walls of
the latter, is provided a chamber N communicating through openings with the space
below the perforated bottom.
I place in this chamber a heating device P whilst in an opening provided in
the front wall of the said chamber is mounted a fan Q set in motion by the motor
which actuates the perforated bottom.
When the motor is a steam engine and when the heating is effected by steam
the boiler R feeds this motor and the heating device at the same time.
The proportion between the heating surface of the heating device and the
effectiveness of the fan is such that the temperature of the heated air in the
normal state shall be lower than that which might deteriorate the produce to be
dried.
Morcover in cases where the heating is effected by steam the heating apparatus
is provided with devices for automatically regulating the admission of the steam
in accordance with the temperature which is to be maintained.
Should the heating take place by the products of combustion the device is
furnished with means for enabling the draught to be suitably regulated.
By this arrangement I entirely obviate any liability to injury of the produce
by too high a temperature.
My improved apparatus is set in operation in the following manner, that is to
sayThe fresh produce is spread in the form of a uniform layer upon the
perforated bottom after steam has been generated in the boiler.
In order to facilitate this operation the bottom is set in motion while the
workmen spread the material.
After the bottom has been covered with material the doors are closed, the
stirring of the produce being effected entirely by the rake.
By this means the stealing of any produce is obviated during the drying, and
the stirring takes place so as to preclude any deterioration.
Then the fan is set in motion and steam, admitted into the heating device or in
case the heating takes place by the products of combustion the fire is lighted in
the apparatus.
The cold air which is forced into the heating chamber V by the action of the
fan impinges against the surfaces of the heating device and is heated to a high
temperature.
By reason of the operation of the fan this hot and dry air is sent through the
above-mentioned opening O into the space below the perforated bottom, then
through the latter and the produce spread upon this bottom.
Owing moreover to the great quantity of air which this fan supplies the air is
uniformly distributed over the entire surface of the bottom and passes through the
produce at every point.
As the bottom revolves at the same time in a continuous manner the produce
constantly shifts its place and is turned over under the action of the fixed rakes
in such a manner that a complete and uniform drying of the whole material takes
place without any necessity for giving the least attention to it.
Owing to the continuous passage of hot air the latter after it has passed through
the layer of the produce, escapes to the exterior through openings provided for
this purpose in the roof and in the walls or partitions of the building even when

page_text: by the humidity of the produce the temperature of this air has been lowered to
that of the exterior air.
Accordingly the temperature imparted to the air by the surface of the heating
device does not require to be higher than that which is necessary for the proper
drying, so that the quality of the produce shall not be injured nor any loss of hot
air shall take place.
No part of the apparatus is subjected to much wear, and the cost of keeping it
in order is very small.
This drying apparatus therefore acts without liability to deterioration of the
material by too high a temperature or by too abrupt action as has heretofore been
the case; and this result is obtained by a minimum of manual labour, attendance,
consumption of fuel, wear and maintenance, independently of the little experience
required by the workmen.
The arrangement of the drying apparatus hereinbefore described may be
variously modified to adapt the same to the nature of the produce to be dried,
especially as regards the employment of the devices for heating by steam or air,
and the number and arrangement of the fans.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
An apparatus for drying coffee, cocoa, pepper and the like having a perforated
bottom D movable upon a central pivot C, rakes I with teeth in the form of
plough shares for agitating the produce the said rakes being carried by levers H
having counter weights L, and pivoted to beams G, a device for heating the air
for the drying and a fan Q for the introduction of the air to be heated, all
substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.
Dis 19th day of Anost 1201
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.