IMPROVEMENTS IN PRESSES FOR PACKING FLOUR AND OTHER SUBSTANCES INTO CASES OR BARRELS
Year: 1884

page_text: I ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK of the firm of A. M. and W. Clark of
53 Chancery Lane in the County of Middlesex, Fellow of the Institute of Patent
Agents do hereby declare the nature of the said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
PRESSES FOR PACKING FLOUR AND OTHER SUBSTANCES INTO CASES OR BARRELS,"
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 presses for packing flour bran, etc. into cases or barrels
and the invention consists of the novel construction hereinafter described and
claimed.
In the drawings figure 1 is an elevation of the packer, partly in section and
figures 2, 3 and 4 are detail views.
The framework A of the packer consists of a series of platforms A' A' A' A'
arranged in horizontal planes and bolted together by threaded rods B and nuts C.
The platform A is supported above the platform A¹ by upright corner posts D
each of which is provided with a hinged gate, or cross-bar E having a latch F
engaging with the next post in regular order, an open chamber is thus formed for
holding the box or case G into which the flour or bran is to be packed This
case is made with four sides having the bottom H see figure 4 set in from the
extreme edges of the sides, and is provided with perforations I near the bottom to
allow the escape of air from under the bran, and perforations J near its upper
open end, through which nails are to be driven into a head piece which is to be
forced down upon the bran. For convenience in inserting and withdrawing the
cases in the operation of filling them with bran or other material, a slide K is
provided having a longitudinal rib L, on its under side which fits into a groove M
in the upper surface of platform A¹, and on the upper surface of this slide is
secured a bevel edged block N over which the edges of the lower end of the case
fit when the bottom of the case is placed on the block N.
The case is thus securely held on the slide K and the proper adjustment of the
slide for placing the case in position for receiving the bran and the head O, will be
determined by the walls of the chamber formed by the gates E which serve as a

page_text: stop for the case. The platform A2 has an opening formed through its centre
equal in diameter to the chamber of the case and over this opening and secured
between the platforms A3 and A³ is an upright box P having a chute and a
slide R fer closing the chute. In the side of the box opposite to the chute is an
opening S, and on the outside of the box in line with said opening are a pair of
ways or guides T in which slides an apron U, carrying the head O.
When the apron is drawn out a head O is placed thereon, and the, apron is then
moved in through the opening S to prevent the bran, which is allowed to flow
down through the chute Q from a bin (not shown) from rising above the plane of
the head O. The proper filling of the box P with bran-may-be observed through
a small glass-door V in one of the walls of the box.
When the box P is thus seen to be full the slide R is to be shut down to close
the chute Q and a second head O is to be placed on the guides T to hold the head
which is in the box, while the apron is being withdrawn. The head is thus placed
on top of the bran in the box P and the bran is ready to be packed down into the
case G. For this purpose a follower B¹ is arranged in the box P and connected to an
upright flat bar G' which extends up through suitable openings in the platforms A³
and A. In the opening in the platform A' is arranged a friction roller D' mounted.
upon a stationary shaft E figure 2. carrying a pulley F by which power may be
applied for driving said roller. One side of bar C is arranged in contact with this
roller and on the opposite side of said bar is arranged a second friction roller G,
which is mounted in a sliding frame H. The frame H¹ is adapted to slide towards
and from the bar C¹ and is intended to press said bar in close contact with the
roller D' to cause the bar and its follower to be forced down to compress the bran
in the box. 1 is a lever for holding the sliding frame H' in position for holding
bar C to roller D₁, but I may use any other means suitable for this purpose. It is
designed that the roller D shall be adapted to receive a comparatively slow motion
for operating the follower.
The bar is provided with notches J at two opposite points in its edges, with
which two spring catches K' figure 3 are adapted to engage automatically to hold
the bar while the head O is being nailed in the case G. The catches K' are
arranged opposite to each other on the platforms A³ and are provided with
levers L' for withdrawing them from engagement with the bar C. The catches
also serve as a gauge for the degree of pressure exerted, since the bar moves the
same distance, and the follower compresses the same quantity of bran in every
separate movement,
I am aware that a box having a chute and slide for measuring off a given
quantity of bran and provided with a follower for compressing the bran into a sack
has been used and I do not claim such a construction.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare, that what
I claim is:
1. The combination with the presser box and packing case, of the follower
having the flat, bar attached thereto, and the friction rollers for operating the same,
substantially as shown and described.
24. The combination with the follower and its flat bar of the stationary friction
Foller, the sliding frame carrying a second friction roller and means for holding said
frame in position for clamping the bar between the rollera substantially as shown
and described.
3 The combination with the follower and its bar and the friction rollers, of the
spring catches arranged on opposite sides of said bar and adapted to engage, with
notches in the bar to hold the same at a given position, substantially as shown and
described.
4th. The press box having a chute and slide in one side and in another side, an
opening provided with a sliding apron for placing a head between the compressing
follower, and the bran or material to be compressed substantially as shown and
described.

page_text: 5th. The frame having the grooved platform and hinged sides, combined with the
ribbed slide having means for holding a packing case, substantially as shown and
described.
6th. The packing case having perforations to allow air to escape from the
5 material being packed therein, and through which a head may be nailed in the
case substantially as shown and described.
40th +
1004