IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR SIFTING AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE "
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Benjamin Page of Tolleshunt d'Arcy in the County of
Essex, Farmer for an Invention of
" IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR SIFTING
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE "
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Benjamin Page at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th April 1883.
BENJAMIN PAGE of Tolleshunt d'Arcy in the County of Essex, Farmer
"IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR SIFTING AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE."
The object of the present invention is to provide a simple and compact sifting
apparatus by which agricultural produce of many different kinds, such as "clover
cob" and seeds, chaff of all kinds, peas, beans or potatoes, may be more rapidly,
economically and efficiently sifted than heretofore.
This apparatus is specially adapted for use for sifting seeds and other produce
previously to the "dressing" operations which such produce ordinarily undergoes,
and its use will tend to greatly accelerate such subsequent "dressing" operations.
One object of the invention is to ensure that all the produce under treatment
shall be kept in contact with the sifting surfaces a sufficiently long time to effect a
thorough uniform sifting of the stuff, whereas in sifting by hand a few shakes
only are given to the sieve and its contents are ejected only half separated.
To achievo the results above indicated it is essential to have a long sifting
surface or surfaces, and to provide for the exact adjustment of the said sifting
surfaces to an inclination suited to the size and nature of the produce to be treated.
It is also essential to provide for the rapid removal of the sifting surfaces and their
replacement by others of a different gauge when necessary.
To this end the apparatus consists of a rectangular frame of wood within which
is slung an adjustable frame some 6 or 8 feet long adapted to receive one or more
detachable sieves of different gauges, and connected by a rod with a crank axle
whereby a steady endway motion may be imparted to the hanging sieve frame by
band or power.
The swinging sieve frame is supported within the fixed frame of the apparatus
by stout straps of leather of double thickness stitched together, which gives great
durability and a certain amount of stiffness and spring.
The straps attached to one end of the frame are connected with rollers and
may be lengthened or shortened by turning the said rollers in one direction or
he other.

page_text: A pawl and ratchet serves to retain the roller in the required position and by
these means the inclination of the swinging frame and its sieve or sieves may be
adjusted to suit exactly the nature of the produce to be sifted.
The detachable sieves are covered with fine wire or cloth for the finest sifting
operations, and with iron, brass or copper wire net, having meshes of from 1 to 2
inches in diameter, or more or less, for sifting potatoes. For other produce sieves
of perforated zinc of different gauges are employed and the upper part of the frame
of the apparatus above the swinging sieve frame is adapted to form a sieve rack
for the purpose of receiving those sieves which are not in use.
This arrangement is of great value and occupies but little space.
Below the swinging sieve frame is arranged a shaft fitted with tappets for the
purpose of giving when required a smart blow and lift to the underside of the
swinging sieve frame during the sifting operation and in addition to its to and fro
motion. The tappet shaft is furnished with a pulley, and means are provided for
readily connecting this pulley with the crank axle when the compound motion
above referred to is to be given to the produce to be sifted.
The space below the swinging sieve frame is fitted with inclined surfaces
preferably made of 2 or 3 separate parts. These inclined surfaces are so constructed
that they can be adapted to deliver the product of the sifting operation to either
side of the apparatus, that is to say the inclined delivery surfaces are detachable
and reversible at pleasure and are made of separate parts to facilitate insertion and
fixing.
The space below the swinging sieve frame may be enclosed by hinged doors
or flaps.
This combined apparatus is well adapted for thoroughly and rapidly sifting out
the coarser particles and dirt from chaff for horses and cattle, inasmuch as by it
all the chaff must undergo a uniform sifting, and may be retained by the length
and inclination of the sieve frame a sufficient time to bring all parts of it in contact
with the sifting surface.
:
In using the apparatus to sift or assort potatoes 2 sieve bottoms of suitable
gauge, say from 1 to 2 inches, are inserted in the swinging frame and the potatoes
are delivered onto the uppermost of the 2 sieves or that which has the coarser
gauge. The crank is turned by a winch handle, or fly wheel with handle, and tho
tappet shaft is also set in motion, giving to the swinging frame a to and fro motion
and also a succession of smart knocks or lifts from below which causes the potatoes
to pass through the wire meshes, or to move along the sieves towards the
delivery end.
Adjustable guide boards are provided which can be fitted to each of the sieve
surfaces so as to deliver the potatoes from the upper sieve at one corner, and those
from the lower sieve at the other corner where they are collected; or a side
delivery on either side may be arranged.
When only one sieve is used for sifting such produce as beans, peas or potatoes
I preferably catch the produce falling over the end of the sieve in a box to which
an inclination is given, and which is fitted with a trap to allow of its contents
being discharged at intervals.
By the use of this combined, general purpose sifting apparatus a great saving of
time and labour is effected, and all kinds of agricultural produce can be thoroughly
and rapidly sifted.
The swinging sieve frame is so arranged as to be low down, and the stuff to be
sifted can thus be placed on the sieves with a minimum of labour. By the use of
this apparatus one man and two boys will be able to separate, or clean, as much
produce as it now requires eight or ten men to treat in the same amount of time,
using the ordinary hand sieves.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Benjamin Page in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 6th October
1883.
BENJAMIN PAGE of Tolleshunt d'Arcy in the County of Essex Farmer
"IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR SIFTING AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE
"
The object of the present Invention is to provide a simple and compact sifting
apparatus by which agricultural produce of many different kinds, such as
"clover
cob" and seeds, chaff of all kinds, peas, beans or potatoes may be more rapidly,
economically and efficiently sifted than heretofore.
This apparatus is especially adapted for use for sifting seeds and other produce
previously to the "dressing" operations which such produce ordinarily undergoes,
and its use will tend to greatly accelerate such subsequent "dressing” operations.
One object of the Invention is to ensure that the produce under treatment,
whatever its nature may be, shall be kept in contact with the sifting surfaces, and
submitted to a suitable sifting action during a sufficiently long time to effect a
thorough uniform cleaning and separation of the stuff. In sifting by hand a few
shakes only are given to the sieve and its contents are ejected only half separated,
and no machine sifter. has hitherto been constructed which is capable of dealing
efficiently with a great variety of agricultural products.
To achieve the results above indicated it is essential, among other things, to have
a long sifting surface or surfaces, and to provide for the speedy and exact adjust-
ment of the said sifting surfaces to an inclination suited to the size and nature of
the produce to be treated. It is also essential to provide means for imparting to
the sifting surfaces such a motion as is best adapted for sifting the stuff placed
upon them, and for the rapid removal of the sifting surfaces and their shifting or
replacement by others of a different gauge when necessary
In the accompanying drawing Fig: 1 is a side elevation of my improved sifting
or assorting apparatus, Fig: 2 is an elevation of the apparatus showing the
delivery end; and Fig: 3 is an elevation showing the feed end thereof.
:
Fig 4 is a vertical section on the line xx Figures 2 and 3, and Fig: 5 is a
sectional plan view taken on the line y. y. Fig: 1
Fig: 6. is a detail view of a removable hopper, and will be referred to hereafter
In these Figures the same letters of reference indicate like parts.
A is a rectangular frame of wood within which is slung an adjustable frame B
some six or eight feet long adapted to receive one or more detachable sieves O of
different gauges, and connected by a rod d. with a crank axle D, whereby a steady
endway motion may be imparted to the hanging sieve frame B by hand or power.
The swinging sieve frame is supported within the fixed frame of the apparatus
by stout straps E of leather of double thickness stitched together which gives
great durability and a considerable amount of stiffness and spring. By suspending
the sieve frame in this manner a smooth and steady lengthwise motion of the
frame results when the crank axle is turned.
The straps at one end of the apparatus, and preferably the delivery end are
connected with a roller or rollers F, and may be rapidly lengthened or shortened by
turning the said roller or rollers in one direction or the other.
The leather straps E may be connected to the roller F by passing a single thick-
ness of the strap through a parallel sided hole or slipping it within a slot or slots
in the roller, doubling it over upon itself and stitching the two halves together.
The lower end of each of the double-thickness leather straps is then secured by
screws or otherwise to the end of the swinging frame.

page_text: A pawl and ratchet f serves to retain the roller in the required position and
by these means the inclination of the swinging frame B and its sieve or sieves C
may be so adjusted as to suit exactly the nature of the produce to be sifted. The
straps at the other end of the apparatus are also adjustable as to length for a
purpose to be presently explained.
This adjustment may be effected by means of headed or other screws terminating
in loops to which the straps are secured by swivel couplings or by a roller and
pawl and ratchet gear similar to that above described.
The detachable sieves C are covered with fine wire or cloth for the finest sifting
operations and with iron, brass or copper wire net, or cane, having meshes of from
one to two inches in diameter, more or less, for sifting potatoes and similar largo
grained produce. For other produce sieves of perforated zinc of different gauges
are employed, and the upper part of the frame A of the apparatus above the
swinging sieve frame B is adapted to form a sieve rack G for the purpose of
receiving and securely holding those sieves which are not in use.
This arrangement is of great value in preventing warping and breakage of the
sieves and occupies but little space.
Below the swinging sieve frame B is arranged a shaft H fitted with tappets h
for the purpose of giving when required a succession of smart blows, and if
.requisite slight lifts, to the swinging sieve frame during the sifting operation, and
in addition to its steady to-and-fro motion. The leather straps E allow of a con-
siderable lift being imparted to the sieve frame and sieves, without straining the
frame and by this arrangement and the adjustable swinging frame a variety of
simple or compound motions can be obtained similar to those obtained in hand
sifting and suitable for any kind of produce.-The tappet shaft H is furnished
with a pulley I and means are provided for readily connecting this pulley with the
crank axle D when the compound motion above referred to is required to be given
to the produce in order to properly sift it and prevent clogging of the sieves.-A.
convenient way of effecting this connection is by a driving pulley d, mounted
loosely on the axle D and a clutch d. sliding on a feather on the said axle and
movable by a hand lever d. as will be readily understood from the drawing.
In order to allow of the proper adjustment of the swinging sieve frame B in
relation to the tappet shaft H, whatever inclination may be given to the sieve
frame, so as to prevent the stoppage of the machine on the one hand by undue
contact of the frame with the tappets, or the failure to strike or touch the sieve
frame by the tappets when they are rotated, on the other hand, I provide
means for adjusting either the said tappet shaft H or the swinging sieve frame
itself in a vertical or nearly vertical direction. I preferably however raise or
lower the sieve frame bodily by means of the screws and swivel connections above
referred to in conjunction with the roller F, or by means of a pair of rollers such
as F, one at each end of the frame.-By these means the tappets may be caused to
touch the reciprocating sieve frame lightly or heavily, as may be required, what-
ever may be the angle at which the sieve frame is inclined and the products under
treatment can be retained any desired time upon the sifting surfaces.
The space below the swinging sieve frame B is fitted with inclined surfaces K
preferably made of two or three separate parts. These inclined surfaces are so
constructed that they can be adapted to deliver the product of the sifting operation
to either side of the apparatus, that is to say these inclined delivery surfaces K are
detachable and reversible at pleasure and are made of separate parts to facilitate
insertion and fixing. These inclined delivery surfaces may also in some cases be
attached to the underside of the sieve frame.
To catch any stray particles which may pass through the sieves C towards either
end of the apparatus, flaps L are hinged to the top edges of boards M which close
in the lower part of the ends of the apparatus. These hinged flaps L are held in
position by stay rods l. or chains l'., as shewn in the drawing.
The entire space below the swinging sieve frame may be enclosed by hinged
doors or flaps, but one side is preferably left open.

page_text: This combined apparatus is well adapted for thoroughly and rapidly sifting out
the coarser particles and dirt from chaff for horses and cattle in-as-much as, by it,
all the chaff perforce undergoes a uniform sifting.
This desirable result is ensured by the length of sieve and by the moans provided
for giving to the said sieve such a gentle inclination as will suffice to bring all parts
of the chaff in contact with the sifting surface.
In using the apparatus to sift or assort potatoes two sieve bottoms with meshes
of suitable gauge (say from one to two inches diameter) are inserted in the
swinging frame B and the inclination of the sieve C is carefully adjusted. The
potatoes are then delivered onto the uppermost of the two sieves or that which has
the coarser gauge.
To facilitate the regular supply of the potatoes or other produce to the upper-
most sieve I provide a hopper P which can be rapidly hooked on or secured to the
fixed frame of the apparatus, as shewn in Fig: 6. This hopper P has a slide or
shutter p. by which the delivery can be regulated to the speed at which the sifting
takes place. The crank D is turned by a winch handle or fly wheel with handle D³,
and the tappet shaft H is also set in motion by connecting the pulley d. with the
fixed pulley on the shaft H, thereby giving to the swinging frame a steady to-and-fro
motion and also a succession of smart blows or taps from below, which cause the
potatoes to pass through the wire meshes or to move along the sieves towards the
delivery end of the apparatus.
Adjustable guide boards c. c are provided which can be fitted as shewn in the
drawing to each of the sieve surfaces so as to deliver the potatoes from the upper
sieve at one corner, and those from the lower sieve at the other corner where they
are collected; or a sido delivery on either side may be arranged.
When only one sieve is used for sifting such produce as beans, peas or potatoes
I preferably catch the produce falling over the end of the sieve in a box to which
an inclination is given, and which is fitted with a trap to allow of its contents
being discharged at intervals. This arrangement it has not been thought necessary
to illustrate.
By the use of this combined general purpose sifting apparatus a great saving of
time and labour is effected and all kinds of agricultural produce can be thoroughly
and rapidly sifted.
It will be seen that the swinging sieve frame B is arranged so as to be low down
and the stuff to be sifted can thus be placed on the sieves with a minimum of
labour.
I would remark that in treating some materials such for example as clover cob,
in my sifting apparatus I am enabled at one operation to remove the coarser fibrous
part consisting of rough stalks which are a hindrance to the subsequent "drawing,"
(as it is technically termed) of the clover seed from the "cob," and to separate the
plantain from the cob, and to deliver the clover cob freed from these impurities
separately by itself.-This enables much valuable time to be saved in the
"drawing" operations, as time and steam need no longer be wasted upon the
removal of the coarse fibrous parts of the clover cob, and the great difficulty
hitherto experienced in separating the plantain from the clover seed after it is
"drawn," is overcome.
By the use of this apparatus one man and two boys can soparate or clean as much
produce as it now requires eight or ten men to treat in the same amount of time,
using the ordinary hand sieves.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention of "Improved apparatus
for sifting Agricultural produce" and explained in what manner the same may be
carried into practical effect 1 wish it to be understood that I claim :—
First: The general purpose sifting apparatus described with reference to the
accompanying Drawing whereby in one machine a variety of agricultural products
possessing widely different characteristics, such as "clover cob" and seeds, chaff,
peas, beans and potatoes may be more rapidly, thoroughly and economically
sifted than heretofore.

page_text: Secondly: The combination with a sieve frame adapted to receive detachable
sieves of various gauges and means for reciprocating the same, of the suspension
straps E E and rollers or their equivalent for accurately raising and lowering and
adjusting the inclination of the sieve frame both with respect to the gauge of sieve
in use, and to the nature of the produce under treatment.
Thirdly: The combination with the hanging sieve frame B adapted to receive
sieves of various gauges and provided with means for reciprocating the same, of a
tappet shaft H, means for driving and disconnecting the said tappet shaft at
pleasure, the suspension straps E and means for rapidly adjusting their length,
whereby the sieve frame B may be bodily raised or lowered to obtain the desired
strength of blow from the tappets and the inclination of the sieve or sieves in the
frame may be accurately adjusted to suit the nature of the produce under treatment
substantially as set forth.
In witness whereof I the said Benjamin Page have hereunto set. my hand and
seal the tenth day of September in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and eighty three.