Improvements relating to Root-cutting Machines for Slicing, Stripping, and Pulping Turnips or other Roots.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Feb., 1893-Accepted, 2nd Sept., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Root-cutting Machines for Slicing,
Stripping, and Pulping Turnips or other Roots.
I, FRANCIS THOMAS STATHAM 40, Drury Lane, Derby 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 :-
This invention relates to machines employed for cutting or slicing potatoes,
turnips, carrots, mangel-wurtzels, and other roots, cabbages or the like, for feeding
live stock and for other purposes. It bas reference more particularly to firstly,
those machines in which a number of small cutters are mounted on a cylindrical
barrel at right angles to its axis, and secondly to what are known as disc cutting
machines, that is to say machines wherein the knives or cutters are arranged upon
the face of a revolving disc.
In the accompanying 6 sheets of drawings illustrative of my said invention
Figures 1 to 8 represent my improvements employed in connection with a machine
of the type first above named
Figure 1 being a side elevation of the machine when the side. plate has. been
removed.
Figure 2 represents the plan view of the barrel of a machine so constructed.
Figure 3 represents a plan view of the angle cutter bracket,
Figure 4 represents aside elevation of the cutter: bracket, c b, and part of the
barrel, b, showing the manner of attaching the cutter bracket to the barrel.
Figure 5, represents a plan of part of the barrel of the machine when the angle
knife, ffcutter bracket, and cutters, are attached.
Figure 6 shows the plan of the barrel, b, when a Vishaped slicing knife faf is
used.
Figure 7 represents a plan of the V shaped cutter bracket c₁ b₁.
Figure 8 represents the plan view of the barrel of the machine, showing. V shaped
slicing knife, fafcutter bracket c₁₁, and cutters, c; attached.
The knives hitherto or usually employed for the purpose stated in the title, are
each formed with one part of its blade at right angles to the other part. When
applied: tot a machine one part of the blade is set, in relation to a revolving
frame by which it is carried and operated, so as to cut off slices of the turnips, or
other roots to a thickness depending approximately on the distance which such
part of the blade is set above or out from a part of the frame, aforesaid, upon or
against which the turnips or other roots to be cut rest previously to the operation
of the blade thereon. The cutting edge of this part of the knife has usually been
made straight, that is, at right angles or approximately so, to the direction in
which it moves, so'that the whole or a considerable length thereof commences to
The
cut or bear against a turnip or other root at one and the same moment.
resistance thus occasioned not only throws considerable work upon the machine,
but the turnips or other roots are frequently caused to roll upon the blade instead
of standing up to thercut, and thus the efficiency of: the machine is considerably
impaired, and an unnecessary degree of pulping results from the imperfect action
of the knives with the consequent loss of juice in the cut roots.
Now the object of this invention is to do away with the inconveniences.above
stated, as resulting from the employment of knives of the ordinary construction,
and for this purpose an angle knife ffi Figure 5 is used, that is, a knife with
preferably a straight edge, but it may be serrated, fixed across the cylinder at an
angle of 70° or approximately so, preferably; on 2 malleable iron brackets d,
and e Figure one, or the like, which greatly add to the strength of the cylinder.

page_text: The cutters are arranged at right angles to the axis of the barrel and at equal
distances apart and are fixed into a malleable iron bracket, or they may be fixed
into a cast or wrought iron bracket, brass or the like, by means of iron or wood
wedges, bolts, rivets, and the like. They may be fixed in by means of wood wedges
as shown in Figures 9, 10, 11, or by means of rivets as shown in Figures 15, 16, 17,
or they may be held in by means of the metal as shown in Figures 12 and 14.
The cutter bracket c b, or c₁ b, if the V shaped knife is being used, can be fixed
onto the barrel in front of the slicing knife, or behind, preferably a little behind
as shown in Figures 5 and 8. The cutter bracket is movable so that at any time
when the machine is wanted for slicing alone it may be removed, as may be seen from
Figure 4. If necessary to cut a broader slice some of the cutters may be taken out.
It will be readily seen that these cutters are very small thus allowing me to use a
better quality of steel, aluminium, or the like than has hitherto been used, which
is of great advantage to the purchaser. They may be made with their cutting
edges, hollowed out to form a leading point, to strike the root as shown in Figure 9,
or straight as shown in Figure 13, or convex as in Figure 12, or serrated or the
like. By using a better quality of steel the friction caused during the operation
of the knives upon the roots is reduced to a minimum.
Previously the hoppers of these machines have been formed of straight plates
slightly inclined to the centre, this did not allow the turnip to get near enough to
the centre so that it may be readily understood that as soon as the machine was
operated the knives instead of penetrating the roots, played on the under side of
them, causing them to revolve, this of course peeled the roots and a large amount
of pulping action and loss of juice from the roots, and consequently loss of time
before cutting the roots was the result.
To overcome this difficulty I propose to use a curved front, or cutting plate,
hinged as in Figure 18, or otherwise as in Figure 1. It will be seen from Figures 1
and 18 that the upper part of this plate is curved. outwards to form a pocket,
9 inches or approximately so above the centre of the cylinder. This allows the
roots to get nearer the centre of the barrel and the front or cutting plate having
vertical ribs cast on, or the like, forming teeth, prevents any tendency of the
roots to revolve when the cylinder is operated, as will be readily seen from
Figures 1 and 18; it will also be noticed from these figures that the bottom part
of the plate is thrown in again towards the centre of the cylinder, thus, as the
roots become diminished this causes them to fall towards the cylinder and the
knives effectually cut the last pieces. The cutting plate as shown in Figure 18 is
preferably hinged about 5 inches from the top, or approximately so. Instead of
having the teeth cast on to the cutting plate as shown in Figures 1 and 18 a steel
knife may be inserted as shown in Figure 20. If this knife is used slots are cast
in the front or cutting plate of the hopper for the teeth to project through. This
knife, see Figure 21, can be adjusted any suitable distance by means of bolts,
which bolt it to lugs cast on to the plate 6 Figure 20. Figure 22 shows a sectional
elevation of the front or cutting plate 6 of the hopper, when instead of having the
teeth cast on, or using a large steel knife, small steel knives as shown in Figure 24
are inserted. These are fixed in either vertical or horizontal rows by means of
wood wedges or the like. In the place of the above methods small steel set
pins, Figure 26, may be used, which can be screwed in, in either vertical or
horizontal rows preferably with their points inclined downwards.
Thus when the cylinder is rotated in the direction of arrow 1 Figure 1 and the
turnips or other roots tend to move in the direction of the arrows 2, 3 and 4
Figure 1 the teeth projecting downwards preferably prevent them moving upwards
and the cutting or slicing is then completed gradually on account of the inclination
of the knife.
Instead of using the barrel as shown in Figure 2, a barrel the end elevation and
plan of which are given in Figures 18 and 19 respectively may be used.
Hitherto the knives used for this class of machine have been made of corrugated

page_text: sbeet steel and rivetted on one side of the knife only, namely the back edge. Thus
it can be readily seen that this knife, being of very light section, when meeting the
roots will spring up from the barrel and afterwards cut the roots in a very irregular
manner and cause a great deal of trouble and delay. I overcome this difficulty by
casting recesses in the cylinder the depth of the knife, or approximately so, that is
to say a recess is cast in the cylinder to receive a sheet steel knife of an inch in
thickness, or approximately so, similar to the one shown in Figure 29. This knife is
stamped out of a piece of sheet steel, aluminium, brass, or the like, leaving raised
gouge shaped, round nose, diamond, or square pointed teeth, or the like, projecting
16 of an inch or approximately so, above the face of the cylinder. Now as stated
above, a knife of this light section would spring when operating upon the roots, and
to surmount this difficulty the bottom of the recess above named is made to exactly
correspond to the under side of the knife, that is to say the whole body of the
knife rests upon this.bed.
These knives may be connected to the cylinder by means of bolts, rivets, or the
like, as shown in Figure 19, and it will be readily understood that all the pressure
is taken off the rivets, or bolts by the knife bearing against the back edge of the
recess; thus by this means the springing tendency of the knife is checked.
I form clearance holes in the said bed, underneath the knife in such a position,
and sufficiently large to allow the root to get clear away, as may be seen by
reference to Figure 19.
The improvement in disc cutting machines Figure 27, is devised for the more
effectual cutting of the roots. The chief object of this improvement is to effect
an economy in the manufacture of the discs and knives of root cutters, strippers, and
pulpers.
Hitherto it has been the practice to use what is well known as a perforated disc
of sheet steel of an inch or thereabouts in thickness, ranging from 20 inches
upwards in diameter and mounted on a cast iron skeleton frame, that is, a cast iron
ring with 4 or more arms. Now it is well known that the disc while in operation
springs on account of the weight of the roots pressing against it, and with the
roots constantly rolling on the disc it becomes furrowed and seeing that the disc is
only of an inch in thickness or approximately so the life of the disc is very short
and, consequently very expensive to the purchaser.
I now propose to overcome this difficulty by constructing a disc the side elevation
of which is shown in Figure 27. It will be seen from Figure 28, that I cast a
recess in the disc sufficiently large to receive the knife ff. Figure 29. The
knife for this disc is constructed exactly the same as the one used on Figure 19 and
previously described. The knife is stamped out of a piece of sheet steel, aluminium,
brass or the like leaving raised gouge shaped, ‹liamond, round nose, chisel pointed
teeth or the like, projecting of a inch or approximately so above the surface of
the disc. The knives fitting perfectly into the recesses and being rivetted there
as shown in Figure 27, bolted or the like, are prevented from springing while in
operation.
I form clearance holes in the said disc underneath the knife in such a position
This disc may be made
and sufficiently large to allow the roots to get clear away.
Instead of
with 4, 6, 8 or any number of rows of knives as desired preferably 4.
4 or more of the rows of knives shown in Figure 29, 2, 4, or more of the rows of
knives shown in Figure 30 may be used, or I may use a knife with 8 rows of teeth
in one section or a knife with any number of teeth in a section and any number of
sections may be used on a disc. or cylinder.
The invention will now be readily understood by reference to the accompanying
drawings of which
Figure 1 shows the side elevation of the machine, when the side plate has
been removed thus showing the teeth on the cutting plate "a" of the hopper;
Figure 2 is a plan of the barrel showing an angle knife f₁ constructed
according to this invention and placed thereon;
1

page_text: Figure 3 is a plan view of the angle cutter bracket c 6 used.to, carry t
as shown in Figures 9 to 17.
the cutters
Figure 4 represents the end view of the barrel "6" and cutter_bracket c b
showing manner of attaching cb to the cylinder b.
Figure 5 represents plan view of part of the cylinder b with a row. of cutters c
fixed in cutter bracket cand an angle slicing, knife ff, constructed according to
this invention and placed thereon...
1
Figure 6 represents a plan of ither cylinder when instead of using the..angle
slicing knife fi as shown in Figures 2 and 5 a.V, shaped. slicing knife.f,,
is used.
Figure 7 represents a plan of the cutter bracket.c₁ b₁ necessary, to be used when
V shaped slicing knife is used.
Figure 8 represents a plan view of part of the barrel with cutters.c fixed in the
cutter bracket c₁ b₁ and a V shaped slicing knife fafs constructed, according to
this invention and placed thereon:
Figures 9 to 17 represent cutters that may be inserted in the cutter brackets.c.b
and b, and also the manner of inserting them.
Figure 18 represents the side elevation of. the machine when the barrel shown in
plan in Figure 19 is used. It also shows a hinged cutting plate "b," hinged
preferably 5 inches from the top or approximately so.
Figures 20 to 24 represent steel knives, or the like, and manner of, fixing them,
that may be inserted in either of the cutting plates a.and to prevent the rolling
of the roots when the machine is operated.
Figure 25 shows the cutting plate of the hopper with steel set pins, or the
like, such as the one shown in Figure 26 inserted instead of the knives. above,
named.
Figure 27 represents a side elevation of the cast iron disc with the steel knives,
or the like, f, shown in Figure 29 inserted.
Figure 28 represents a section taken on line A B Figure. 27.
Figure 30 represents 2 knives that may be used instead of. 4.of.the.knives.shown.
in Figure 29.
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 :-
Firstly. The improvements, in root cutting machines. of. the cylindrical.or.barrel
class, substantially as herein described and shown.
Secondly. The construction of the cylinder and cutting plate. "a" Figure. 1
.substantially as described.
Thirdly. The attachment of the knives to the cylinder substantially. as.
described and shown in Figures 5, 8, 19,.27.
Fourthly. The angle cutter: bracket, and slicing knifes herein.described.and.set
forth in Figure 5.
Fifthly. The V shaped cutter bracket, substantially as described, and.. set forth
in Figures 6 and 8.
66
Sixthly. In root cutting machines of the cylindrical, cutting class the employment
of a front or cutting plate hinged as "" Figure 18.or otherwise, as a. Figure.1,
substantially as described.
'
Seventhly. The small steel, aluminium,. brass, or any other suitable.. metal,
knives and set pins, herein set forth.in Figures. 5,.8, .21,. 24, 26, substantially as
described.
Eighthly. That by using the improved knives Figures 5 and 18; and cutting, plate
Figures 1 and 18 as previously described the rolling of, the turnips or other roots
is checked and the cutting of the roots is commenced. as soon as the machine.is
operated.
Ninthly. The construction of the cylinder, with recesses, formed, therein,. and

page_text: the attachment of the knives, substantially as described and set forth in
Figure 19.
Tenthly. The construction of the disc with recesses or metal beds formed
therein for the attachment of the knives substantially as described and set forth in
Figures 27, 28, and 29.
Eleventhly. A sectional knife stamped out of sheet steel, aluminium, brass, or
the like, substantially as described.
Twelfthly. The attachment of the cutters to the cutter bracket, substantially as
herein described and shown in Figures 9 to 17.
Lastly. The attachment of the cutter brackets c bor i b₁ to the cylinder b,
substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth and shewn in Figures 4, 5, 8.
Dated this 18th day of February 1893.
FRANCIS THOMAS STATHAM.