Improvements in Mixing Machines for Grain.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 16th May, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 16th Feb., 1893-Accepted, 18th Mar., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Mixing Machines for Grain.
We CHARLES WILLIAM HORSLEY, Miller, and RICHARD CROFTS, Millwright,
both of Fakenham, Norfolk, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The object of the present invention is to provide a mixing machine for grain,
which can, whilst in motion, be readily adjusted to mix two different kinds, or
qualities in any desired proportion, so that the mixture, when ground into flour, can
be relied upon to possess a predetermined character.
In constructing a machine according to our invention, we mount on a shaft
situated beneath a divided hopper containing the two kinds of grain to be mixed, a
cylindrical measuring vessel, to which is given rotary movement by any convenient
means. This cylindrical vessel is divided into two compartments by a transverse
partition at the middle of its length, which compartments are closed by discs
rotating with the cylindrical vessel, and movable on the shaft in the direction of its
length, so as to be capable of sliding into the open ends of the cylindrical vessel,
and of contracting the capacity thereof on each side of the partition.
The grain is delivered from the divided hoppers alternately into one or other of
the compartments of the cylindrical vessel, as the latter rotates through slots in the
circumference. These slots are arranged to correspond, as to size, with the capacity
of the compartments, and are capable of being closed or opened to the desired
extent, by means of plates carried on the discs, whereby the capacity of the com-
partments, is controlled as previously mentioned.
Means are provided for changing the position of the movable discs which form
the ends of the cylindrical measuring vessel while the latter is in course of rotation,
so that there will be no necessity to stop the machinery in order to vary the pro-
portions of the grain under treatment to produce a different blend.
The grain only enters the compartments of the measuring cylinder during the
moment one or other of the circumferential openings is opposite the hopper bottom;
during the rest of the cylinder's rotation the solid portion of the latter's circumference
When the
is opposed to the aperture in the hopper, which is thereby closed.
openings in the compartments are downwards, the grain is poured therefrom.
The openings in the compartments are preferably arranged so that one compart-
ment is filling whilst the other is emptying, for in this manner an alternate
discharge of the two varieties of grain is obtained, and an efficient mixing
ensured.
It will be seen from the foregoing description, that by the use of our invention
it is rendered easy to regulate to a nicety the blend of grain it is desired to
produce, by proportioning the capacity of the measuring compartments. By
preference, a pointer or indicator is arranged in connection with each compartment
of the measuring cylinder, so that a glance will show whether the compartments are
set at the required capacity.
Dated this 16th day of Mov 1802
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicants.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Mixing Machines for Grain.
We CHARLES WILLIAM HORSLEY, Miller, and RICHARD CROFTS, Millwright,
both of Fakenham, Norfolk, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement :-
The object of the present invention is to provide a machine by means of which
different kinds or qualities of grain may be blended in any desired proportions,
such proportions being capable of regulation without the stoppage of the machine
being necessary.
In the accompanying drawings, we have illustrated a machine embodying the
improvements which enable us to secure the advantage in regulating and controlling
the blending or mixing of grain alluded to.
Fig. 1 is a sectional longitudinal elevation ;
Fig. 2 a cross section on line 1. 2 of Fig. 1; and
Fig.
A is a metal casing wherein is a hopper A', divided into two parts by a partition a.
Close beneath the hopper A', is a rotating vessel or cylinder B, which is also
divided by a partition 6 midway of its length. The cylinder B is supported by the
partition bon a hollow shaft C, which rotates in bearings provided for it in the
plummer blocks c, c, at either end of the machine.
3 is an end view, seen from the right hand of Fig. 1.
The position of the cylinder B on the shaft C is such, that the partition 6 is in
line with partition a of the hopper. The partition 6 which supports the cylinder,
is fast on the shaft C, so that the rotation of the latter is communicated to the
cylinder, and both rotate together.
The ends of the cylindrical vessel B are closed by discs 6 6, which slide
longitudinally upon the shaft C, so as to be capable of approaching or receding
from the partition within the cylinder.
A portion of the circumference of the cylinder B, on either side of the partition b,
is cut away to make an aperture through which a supply of grain from each
compartment of the hopper A' is admitted to the two compartments of the cylinder
at each rotation thereof, and through which the discharge of the grain takes place.
It is preferred that both compartments of the cylinder should not be filled
simultaneously, as a better mixing results if the different qualities of grain are
alternately delivered; the apertures in the cylinder are therefore arranged, by
placing them on opposite sides, to fill and discharge alternately.
The capacity of the compartments which receive the grain from the hopper,
is regulated by means of the discs b¹³, which not only contract or enlarge the
space on either side of the partition b, according as they are moved in and out of
the cylinder on the shaft C, but also serve to close or open the bottom of the
hopper A by means of the curved plates d' d³, which are carried by the discs 1*,
and are of a form to correspond with the apertures in the cylinder B, wherein they
slide.
The curved plates d' d', which may be made in one with the discs 61, 63, serve to
connect the latter with the mechanism for moving them longitudinally on the
shaft C. DD' are a pair of discs mounted on the shaft C, and bolted or otherwise
secured to the plates d¹ d³.. d are bolts which may or may not be necessary to aid
the plates d¹ din maintaining rigid attachment between the discs b¹ b³ and D D¹
respectively.
Within the hollow shaft C, are inserted, at either end, screws E E¹, which are
respectively secured at their ends by means of cottars e e¹ to the bosses of the
discs D D¹, the cottars passing through slots in the tubular shaft C extending
longitudinally thereof. The screws E E¹ are provided with nuts ff¹ with hand
wheels F F fast therewith. The nuts are capable of rotary movement

page_text: independent of the shaft C, but are secured against longitudinal movement therein
by means of set screws, which engage with circumferential grooves in the said nuts,
so that the rotation of the nuts, by means of the hand wheels, has the effect of
forcing the screws E E¹ to and fro longitudinally, and with them, the discs D D¹
and discs b².
The rotation of the cylindrical vessel is effected by the constant rotation of the
spur wheel G, keyed on the shaft C, and driven by any suitably arranged gear.
In operating the machine, the delivery of the two divisions of the hopper, and
the capacity of the compartments of the cylinder, are adjusted by means of the
hand wheels F F and screws E E¹, acting on the plates d' d' & discs b'b', so that as
the cylinder rotates, each compartment is alternately filled with the predetermined
quantity of grain.
As the cylinder turns, the grain is discharged through the apertures, and the
supply is cut off by the solid portion of the cylinder coming beneath and closing the
hopper. In this way the different sorts of grain in the proportions desired to form
the blend, are poured into a heap beneath the machine, and being delivered
alternately, a thorough mixing is ensured.
To change the proportions of the different sorts of grain while the machine is
running, one or other of the hand wheels is rotated in advance of the rotation of the
shaft C, or held back so as to allow the said shaft to overrun the nut, and in this
way the operation of the screws E E' while the machine is in motion, is secured.
While the hand wheels remain untouched, the nuts follow the rotation of the
screws E E', and of the shaft C, and no change in the position of the former with
respect to the latter therefore takes place.
It is desirable, in order that the regulation of the machine may be the more
readily accomplished to provide scales fixed to the framing of the machine with
pointers which follow the position of the discs which determine the capacity of the
measuring compartments.
In the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 shows one such scale, the other scale not
being shown. This scale, fixed to the frame of the machine, carries in a longitudinal
slot a pointer, the tail of which engages with the circumferential groove of the disc D¹,
so that when the said disc is moved in or out with the disc 6', with the object
of regulating the size of the compartment which the latter controls, the position
for the time being, is duly indicated on the scale.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that we
claim is :-
An apparatus for measuring and mixing grain, comprising a divided hopper for
holding different sorts of grain, a rotating vessel for receiving into compartments
therein, of adjustable dimensions, the different sorts of grain from the hopper, and
means for regulating or varying the dimensions of the compartments while the
apparatus is either stationary or in motion, all substantially as described with
reference to the drawing, for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 16th day of February 1893.
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicants.