Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 7th June, 1888
Complete Specification Left, 18th Sept, 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 26th Oct. 1888
1, HENRY THOMPSON, of Trinity Street, Gainsborough, in the County of Lincoln'
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows
-
My invention consists in further improvements in what is known as the endless
band or web system of manipulating the tea whilst being dried, and by my arrange-
ment instead of only utilizing the top side of the endless band of trays, I utilize both
the top and bottom of the endless bands of trays, and so obtain a double action with
each band as follows -Within a suitable drying chamber, I place a series of wheels
or pulleys over which are placed a corresponding series of endless bands or chains
carrying a number of perforated trays arranged upon pivots so as to just clear each
other, above the top set of chains and trays is the feed or tea supply, the required
The trays
motion is imparted to the wheels or pulleys to revolve the bands or webs
are so guided and operated that on the forward movement they remain horizontal or
in a carrying position only until coming towards the end of their forward traveise,
when each tray in its turn drops downwards and so empties its tea onto the top side
of the underpart of the endless band of trays, the trays as they pass over the wheels or
pulleys, resume their horizontal position and are retained in this position until nearing
the end of their traverse (on the underside) when each tray in turn again drops and
its tea again drops onto the next endless band of trays and so on.
The trays on coming to the wheels or pulleys again resume their horizontal position
and those on the top endless band receive a fresh supply of tea from the feed, whilst
the ones below receive it from bottom trays of the one above, the number of sets of
endless bands of trays are regulated according to the size or requirements of the
dryer, and by this double action I obtain double the amount of work in half the room
as compared with the existing system of endless band drying
Dated this 6th day of June 1888
JOHN E. WALSH,
Royal Exchange Chambers,
Boar Lane, Leeds,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for Drying Tea
Leaf
I, HENRY THOMPSON, of Trinity Street, Gainsborough, in the county of Lincoln,
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 further improvements in what is known as the endless web
or band system of carrying and precipitating the leaf whilst being dried, and by my
improved arrangement of such system, instead of only utilizing the top side of the
said endless bands of trays as heretofore, I utilize both the top and bottom, (inside
surface of the bottom) of such endless bands of trays, and so obtain a "double action"
with each band as hereinafter setforth
With a suitable drying chamber I place or mount a series of wheels or pulleys,
over which are placed a corresponding series of endless bands or chains canying a
number of perforated or reticulated trays arranged upon pivots, so as to just clear
each other when tilted or turned on such pivots.
The trays are so guided and operated by grooves or other means that on the forward
movement or traverse they remain horizontal, or in a carrying position, but when
coming towards the end of such forward movement or traverse, each tray in its turn,
drops or tilts downwards and thus empties or precipitates the leaf thereon onto the
trays immediately beneath, or onto the top side of the under part of the said endless
band of trays.
The said trays after passing over the wheels or pulleys aforesaid resume their
horizontal position, and are retained in this position until nearing the end of their
traverse (on the underside) when each tray in its turn again drops or tilts
downwards and diops the leaf onto the next endless band of trays, and so on
Above the top endless band of trays is the hopper, feed or tea supply, immediately
beneath which is a kicking bai or plate for feeding the leaf to a corrugated roller or
distributer which spreads the loaf upon the top band of trays
The required motion to revolve the said endless bands of trays is imparted to the
wheels or pulleys aforesaid
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of drying chamber, showing my improved arrange-
ment, of the endless web or bands of trays system, employed for carrying and precipi-
tating the leaf during the process of drying.
Fig. 2. is a plan of such trays and parts or gearing connected therewith.
Fig 3. is an end elevation of Fig. 2.
Within a suitable drying chamber A I place or mount a series of wheels or pulleys B,
travelling
OPOR
hol
Ր
chana n
Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of drying chamber, showing my improved arrange-
ment, of the endless web or bands of trays system, employed for carrying and precipi-
tating the leaf during the process of drying.
Fig. 2. is a plan of such trays and parts or gearing connected therewith.
Fig 3. is an end elevation of Fig. 2.
Within a suitable drying chamber A I place or mount a series of wheels or pulleys B,
travelling over which
series of endless bands or chains E, carrying per
forated or reticulated trays F upon pivots G, so as to just clear each other when
tilted or turned on such pivots Above the top endless band of trays is the

page_text: hopper, feed or tea supply H, immediately beneath which is a kicking bar or
plate J for feeding the leaf to a corrugated roller or distributer J¹ which spreads
the leaf upon the top band of trays The leaf after having been spread on the
trays in the manner indicated is carried along by the said endless band and
supported in their horizontal position by a guide plate B₁ upon which their ends
rest until the trays near or reach the wheel or pulley B, when each tray, in its
turn, drops or tilts downwards (by reason of the support of the guide plate B¹
being at this point taken away, the guide plate also return the trays to their
horizontal position,) and thus empties or precipitates the leaf onto the trays imme-
diately beneath, as indicated at K. The trays after passing round the pulley B
resume their horizontal or carrying position.
This
A delivery apron L is provided below the bottom endless band of trays, to deliver
the leaf outside the dryer into the box or receptacle M provided therefor
apron also gathers the small tea or leaf which may drop from the trays above
By my improved arrangement the trays have a double or compound action,"
whereby I am able to obtain double the amount of work in the same room, as com-
pared with the present system of endless band drying.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this Invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I would have it understood that
I lay no claim to endless bands of trays having what is known as a
" single action,
but I declare that what I claim is -
1 In apparatus for drying tea, the employment of endless bands of trays, for
carrying and precipitating the leaf whilst being dried, in combination with the
apron for delivering the leaf outside the machine, substantially as shown and
described.
2 The employment of endless bands of trays having a "double or compound
action" substantially as shown and described.
The combination of the kicking bar, plate or board and the corrugated roller
or distributer for feeding the leaf to the trays substantially as shown and
described.
Dated this 14th day of September 1888
JOHN E WALSH,
Royal Exchange Chambers,
Boar Lane, Leeds,
Agent for the Applicant.