IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR MAKING CHEESE
Year: 1858

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Harrison, of Brailsford, in the County of
Derby, Farmer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
MAKING CHEESE."
Sealed the 23rd July 1858, and dated the 4th February 1858.⚫
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Harrison at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
4th February 1858.
I, JOSEPH HARRISON, of Brailsford, in the County of Derby, Farmer, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
FOR MAKING CHEESE," to be as follows:-
In carrying out this Invention I place a toothed rack above the cheese
vessel, so arranged as to be capable of sliding between two vertical parallel
bars carried by suitable framing. To the lower end of this rack is attached a
wrought or cast iron plate, which is pierced with several holes and fits the
inside of the vessel. These holes are covered with finely perforated metal.
plate. The rack with the metal plate are moved in and out of the cheese
vessel by means of a toothed pinion keyed upon a shaft which is mounted in
suitable bearings; upon the end of this shaft is also keyed a grooved wheel,
round which a chain passes to a grooved guide wheel or pulley below; to
this chain a weight is attached which gives motion to the pinion, and thus
lowers the rack and perforated plate to sink or separate the curd from the
whey in the cheese vessel. There are also two strong springs, one end of each.

page_text: of which is made fast to one of the parallel bars, and the other end free to move
with a casting which carries a catch or ratchet, and which is made to move up
and down the rack by means of a lever. This catch takes into the teeth of the
rack, and by raising the casting and catch by means of the lever, the springs
are compressed and sufficient pressure is obtained to free the curd from any
whey which may be left after the sinking process. The whey is let off from
the vessel by means of two valves provided with pistons and placed at different
heights, the openings into the cheese vessel being covered with perforated metal
to prevent the passage of the curd.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Joseph Harrison in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
4th August 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME; I; JOSEPH
HARRISON, of Brailsford, in the County of Derby, Farmer, send greeting.
WHEREAS 'Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight, in the twenty-first year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs, and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said. Joseph Harrison, Her special licence that I, the
said Joseph Harrison, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said Joseph Harrison, my 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 "IMPROVEMENTS. IN. APPARATUS FOR MAKING CHEESE,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Joseph Harrison,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument, in writing under my,
or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
was to be performed, and cause 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 Joseph Harrison, do hereby declare
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

page_text: following statement in writing, and on reference to the accompanying Sheet
of Drawings, that is to say :-
In carrying out this Invention, I place a toothed rack above. the cheese
vessel, so arranged as to be capable of sliding between two vertical parallel
bars or rods carried by suitable framing. To the lower end of this rack
is attached a wrought or cast-iron plate which is pierced with several
holes and fits the inside of the vessel. These holes are covered with finely
perforated metal plate; this plate is wound up or drawn out of the vessel
and pushed out of the way when required, so as to leave the vessel clear for
the operation of cutting up the curd. The rack with the metal plate are
moved in and out of the cheese vessel by means of a toothed pinion keyed
upon a shaft which is mounted in suitable bearings; upon the end of this
shaft is also keyed a grooved wheel or pulley, round which a chain passess
to a grooved guide wheel or pulley below. To this chain a weight is
attached which gives motion to the pinion, and thus lowers the rack and
perforated plate to sink or separate the curd from the whey in the cheese
vessel. There are also two strong springs, one end of each of which is
made fast to the framing, and the other end is free to move with a casting
which carries a catch or ratchet, and which is made to move up and down
the rack. This catch takes into the teeth of the rack, and by raising the
casting and catch the springs are compressed, and sufficient pressure is
obtained to free the curd from any whey which may be left after the sinking
process. The whey is let off from the vessel by means of two or more valves
provided with pistons and placed at different heights, the opening into the
cheese vessel being covered with perforated metal to prevent the passage of
the curd.
Such being the nature and object of my said Invention of "Improvements
in Apparatus for Making Cheese," I will proceed to describe, more in detail
the manner of carrying the same into practical effect; and in order that the
Invention may be clearly understood I have annexed hereunto a Sheet of-
illustrative Drawings, and have marked the same with figures and letters
of reference corresponding with those in the following explanation thereof,
that is to say:-
Figure 1 represents a front elevation of my improved apparatus, and
Figure 2 a vertical section of the same. A, A, is the framing of the apparatus,
and B, B, the cheese vessel; C, C, is the perforated metal plate connected by.
the bar D, D, to the toothed rack E, E; F, F, is the pinion which works in
the rack, and which is turned by the handle G, G; H, H, is the grooved.
pulley; and I, I, the weighted chain for assisting to sink the perforated plate

page_text: with the curd; K, K, is a casting, capable of sliding up and down on the
rack, and moved by a lever L, L, and links M, M. This casting carries a'
ratchet N, N, and is constantly pressed downwards by the springs 0, 0,
attached to the framing, the said springs being constructed either of steel or
india-rubber. The operation of this apparatus is as follows:-The curds and
whey being placed in the cheese vessel B, B, the perforated plate C, C; is
lowered on to the surface thereof by means of the handle G, G. The plate C
then commences to sink, carrying the curd with it and leaving the clear whey
above. When the plate C has sunk as far as its own weight (assisted by the
weight on the chain I, I,) will carry it, the lever L, L, is to be depressed,
which will raise the casting K, K, compressing the springs O, O, and allowing
the ratchet N, N, to take hold upon the teeth of the rack E, E. Upon the
lever L, L, being released, the reaction of the springs O, O, will carry the rack
downwards, compressing the curd still further, and thus forcing out all the
whey which is drawn off through the valves P, P.
Having thus described the nature and object of my said Invention of
"Improvements in Apparatus for Making Cheese," together with the manner
of carrying the same into practical effect, I would remark in conclusion that
I claim as my Invention the general construction and arrangement of the
apparatus as shown in the Drawings and above described, or any mere
variation or modification whereby the same end is or may be attained.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Harrison, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, the Second day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight.
Witness,
SAMUEL BARTON, Patent Agent,
Derby.
JOSEPH HARRISON. (L.S.)