An Improved Machine for Cleaning Roots.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd June, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Mar., 1893-Accepted, 29th Apr., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Machine for Cleaning Roots.
I, WILLIAM SHORES, of Heckdyke, in the County of Lincoln, Farmer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to apparatus for cleaning roots, such as mangel-wurzels,
turnips, carrots, etcetera. The machine may be either self-contained and independent,
or attached to, and worked in combination with, a root pulper or slicer of any
pattern.
The cleaning apparatus consists of a shallow box of any convenient and suitable
size, open at one end and having a bottom constructed of angle-iron bars arranged
longitudinally at equal distances apart, and placed corner upwards thus Ʌ, so as to
present an edge and two sloping sides against the roots.
Or, instead of angle-iron bars, chains may be used, the links of which act upon
the roots in a manner similar to that of the aforesaid angle-iron bars.
The shallow box has a reciprocating transverse motion imparted to it by means
of a double-cranked shaft and two connecting rods, or by any other suitable
means.
This box is supported by four wooden springs secured in a vertical position to a
strong frame beneath, and connected at their upper ends to the sides of the
aforesaid box. The springs are arranged, preferably, two on each side of the
machine.
When the machine is used in combination with a pulper or slicer, it is placed so
as to deliver the roots into the pulper or slicer either at its end or side as may be
most convenient, or as best suited to the pattern of the pulper or slicer.
When thus used in combination with a pulper or slicer, the cleaner may be driven
by a belt or chain directly from the pulper or slicer shaft.
The cleaner is reciprocated more or less rapidly, and the roots are brought at
each reciprocation into contact with the sloping sides of the bars of the cleaner
and across the edges thereof. This motion causes the roots to move quickly from
side to side of the cleaner, while, at the same time, they revolve rapidly, rise
slightly from, and fall again, upon the bars.
In order to cause the cleaned roots to pass out of the cleaner, the shallow box
is placed in an inclined position.
When the machine is used for cleaning carrots, or other similar kinds of roots,
a light frame-work of small round, or square, bars is added, and is so arranged
that the round or square bars fall midway in the spaces between the angle bars.
This arrangement is to prevent the carrots falling between the angle-bars.
Dated this 2nd day of June 1892.
1147 SHORTS
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Machine for Cleaning Roots.
I, WILLIAM SHORES, of Heckdyke, in the County of Lincoln, Farmer, 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, reference being had to the accompanying sheet of drawings and to the
letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
My invention relates to apparatus for cleaning roots such as mangel-wurzel,
ID 1

page_text: turnips, carrots, potatoes, etcetera. The machine may be either self-contained and
independent, or attached to and worked in combination with a root pulper or slicer
of any pattern.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 represents a side elevation and Figure 2 a transverse section of my root
cleaner.
The cleaning apparatus consists of a shallow box or tray A of any convenient
and suitable size open at one end A' and having a bottom constructed of angle-iron,
or angle-steel, bars a arranged longitudinally at equal distances apart and placed
corner upwards as shown, so as to present an edge and two sloping sides against
the roots. The box A is shown in plan and transverse section, respectively, to a
larger scale in Figures 3 and 4.
Instead of the angle-iron or angle steel bars, solid bars of square, triangular or
other section, having an angle and two sides or faces presented to the roots, may be
employed, and such bars may be of any suitable material such as iron, steel, wood,
etcetera, and such square, triangular or other bars may be arranged so that they
can be placed and secured in position with any one of their angles uppermost.
The shallow box A has a reciprocating transverse motion imparted to it by means
of a double-cranked shaft C and two connecting rods D the ends of which are
connected to the box A by means of the bars b as shown, or by any other suitable
means.
The box A is supported by four wooden springs B secured in a vertical position
to a strong framework G beneath and connected at their upper ends to the sides
of the aforesaid box as at B' in Figure 1. The springs B are arranged preferably
two on each side of the machine as shown; but if desired the box A may be
suspended by springs from above instead of from below as shown.
When the machine is used in combination with a pulper or slicer, it is placed so
as to deliver the roots into the pulper or slicer either from its end A', or at its
side, as may be most convenient, or as best suited to the pattern of the pulper or
slicer.
The shaft C may be driven direct (from an overhead shaft for example) by a belt
driving the pulley E, a flywheel F being provided to secure steady running. Or
when the cleaner is used in combination with a pulper or slicer, the cleaner may
be driven by a belt or chain directly from the pulper or slicer shaft. Or in some
cases the machine may be operated by hand power.
The cleaner is reciprocated more or less rapidly by means of the crank shaft C,
connecting rods D and bar b, and the roots are thereby brought at each recipro-
cation into contact with the sloping sides of the bars a of the cleaner and across
the edges thereof. This motion causes the roots to move quickly from side to side
of the cleaner while, at the same time, they revolve rapidly, rise slightly from and
fall again upon the bars.
In order to cause the cleaned roots to pass out of the cleaner, the shallow box A
is placed in an inclined position as shown in Figure 1.
When the machine is used for cleaning carrots or other similar kinds of roots, a
light framework of small round or square bars (not shown in the drawings) is
added and is so arranged, that the said round or square bars fall midway in the
spaces between the angle iron or angle steel bars a. This arrangement is to
prevent the carrots falling between the said bars a.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is.
First. In a machine for cleaning roots, the employment of a reciprocating box
or tray the bottom of which is constructed of angle-iron, angle-steel, or other bars
placed with their corners upwards, as hereinbefore described, and illustrated in the
drawings.
Second. In a machine for cleaning roots, having a reciprocating box or tray the

page_text: bottom of which is constructed of angle-iron, angle-steel, or other bars placed
with their corners upwards, the employment in combination with such angle-iron,
angle-steel, or other bars, of a framework of round or square bars, the said bars
being arranged to fall midway in the spaces between the said angle or other bars
as hereinbefore described, and for the purpose specified.
Third. The improved machine for cleaning roots, constructed and operating as
hereinbefore described.
n
1000.
W. SHORES,
Per W. H. Beck,
115, Cannon Street, London, E.C., Agent.

page_text: 100