CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR ROASTING OR DESICCATING COFFEE, CocoA, AND CHICORY
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Robinson, of the firm of Binyons,
Robinson, and Co., of Manchester, in the County of Lancas-
ter, Tea and Coffee Merchant, for the Invention of "CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR ROASTING OR DESICCATING COFFEE,
CocoA, AND CHICORY."
Scaled the 28th November 1853, and dated the 18th June 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Robinson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 18th June 1853.
I, GEORGE ROBINSON, of the firm of Binyons, Robinson, and Company,
of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Tea and Coffee Merchant,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR ROASTING OR DESICCATING COFFEE,
COCOA, AND CHICORY" to be as follows:-
My improvements relate to the construction of the " cylinders"
in which such articles are ordinarily roasted or desiccated. Such
cylinders have been hitherto usually constructed of plate or sheet
metal, cither perforated or otherwise. My Invention consists in con-
structing the said cylinders of wire, either in the form of a cage, or

page_text: of wire cloth, or gauze, supported by a suitable frame work. The
wires must be placed sufficiently close together not to allow the flame
to pass through the interstices or spaces. This form or construction of
cylinder presents a much greater amount of radiating or heating surface
than the ordinary construction, and by its use, in consequence of the
rapid evaporation thereby produced, I am enabled to retain the fiue
aroma and color of the coffee, &c. when roasting or dessiccating it in
the bulk, which has hitherto only been accomplished by roasting or
dessiccating the coffee, &c. in small quantities at a time, besides which
a great saving in the ultimate weight of the coffee, &c. is effected.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said George Robinson in the Great Seal Patent
Office, on the 17th December 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
GEORGE ROBINSON, of the firm of Binyons, Robinson, and Company,
of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Tea and Coffee Mer-
chants, send greeting.
WHEREAS Iler most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eighteenth day of June, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the six-
teenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said George Robinson, Her especial license
that T, the said George Robinson, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said George Robinson, ny executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR ROASTING AND DESSICCATING COFFEE, COCOA,
AND CHICORY," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
George Robinson, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause

page_text: the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Robinson, do hereby de-
clare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement and accompanying Drawings (that is to
say):
4:
My Improvements relate to the construction of the "cylinders" or
chambers in which coffee, cocoa, and chicory are ordinarily roasted or
dessiccated. The cylinders" or chambers hitherto in use have been
usually constructed of plate or sheet metal, having the surface which is
exposed to the heat perforated or otherwise. This mode of construction
causes the moisture and grosser particles to be retained in the cylinder
to the great injury of the aroma and purity of flavour, and to sonie
extent the coffee, cocoa, and chicory undergoes a process of stewing
when roasted or dessiccated in bulk in consequence of the slowness of
the evaporation. My improvements consist in constructing the said
cylinders or chambers of wire in the form of a cage, or of wire cloth,
or wire gauze, supported by a suitable 'frame work or other means.
The wires must be placed sufficiently close together, or the wire cloth
or wire gauze be of a suflicient fineness or closeness of texture, in
order that the flame may not pass through the interstices or spaces
existing in the said wire, wire cloth, or gauze cylinder, or chamber.
The above construction of cylinder or chamber possesses a much
greater capability of rapid evaporation than those made upon the
ordinary principle, and I am thereby enabled to develope and preserve
the fine aroma, as also the colour of the coffee, cocoa, or chicory when
roasting or dessiccating it in the bulk or large quantities at one and the
same time, which desideratum has only hitherto been accomplished by
roasting or dessiccating the coffee, cocoa, or chicory in small quantities
as hand samples" at one and the same time, and besides which
advantages a large gain is effected in the ultimate weight of the coffee.
cocoa, or chicory.
In order more fully to describe the particular nature of my
improvements, and the apparatus for performing the same, I have
attached to these presents a sheet of Drawings exhibiting my improved

page_text: apparatus drawn upon a scale of about one and a half inch to the
foot, and have marked thercon letters of reference corresponding
with those in the following description, reference being made thereto;
similar letters of reference will be found upon corresponding part of
the apparatus.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
cylinder and furnace, and
Figs. 3, and 4, arc sections
Fig. 1, is a longitudinal section of the
Fig. 2, a transverse section of the same;
of the cylinder shewn upon a larger scale. In Fig. 1, a, is the cylinder,
fixed upon the shaft b, revolving in the bearings c, and d; c, is a pully
which gives rotary motion to the cylinders; f, the fire-place or other
heating apparatus; g, the cavity or furnace surrounding the cylinder; h',
the fire doors; i, is a band placed diagonally inside the cylinder, studded
with teeth or projecting pieces of iron or other material shewn at j, in
Fig. 3, the object of which is to accelerate the turning over of the
coffee, cocoa, or chicory; k, is a slide through which it is put into the
cylinders previously to roasting, and withdrawn after the operation;
7, are portions of the cylinder covered with wire cloth or gauze. This
cylinder may be fixed upon the shaft slightly excentric to its centre, to
assist the agitating and turning over the contents of the cylinder.
Iaving thus described the nature and objects of my said improve-
ments, together with the manner of carrying the same into practical
ellect, I would remark, in conclusion, that I claim as my Invention the
application, employment, or use of cylinders or chambers constructed
of wire, wire cloth, or wire gauze, for roasting or dessiccating coffee,
cocoa, or chicory.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Robinson, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of December, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three.
GEORGE ROBINSON. (L.S.)