IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR WASHING AND CLEANING CURRANTS AND RAISINS OB OTHER SIMILAR FRUIT
Year: 1867

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Henry Faulder at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 7th October
1867.
I, HENRY FAULDER, of Stockport, in the County of Lancaster, Grocer, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR WASHING AND CLEANING CURRANTS AND RAISINS OB
OTHER SIMILAR FRUIT," to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to the machinory employed to separate from foreign
fruit, principally of the descriptions known as "currants" and "raisins," the
sand, dirt, grit, or other impurities which are usually found intermixed with
or adhering to the said fruit as it arrives from abroad, and consists of a novel
combination of apparatus for washing, rinsing, and drying the said fruit. The
washing of the fruit is effected in a vessel, the whole or a sufficient portion of
the surface of which is perforated with holes of a suitable size to retain the
fruit, and at the same time to allow of the passage of the extraneous matters.
The said vessel is by preference so shaped as that the fruit can be readily
thrown into the same from a scoop or shovel, and when sufficiently washed
can be discharged therefrom by tilting or inverting the said vessel, for which
purpose it may be hinged to the framing of the apparatus. During the pro-
cess of washing the said vessel is partially immersed in a cistern containing
water, in which the currants are agitated by means of stirrers or beaters
attached to a shaft which revolves in the vessel, the cleansing of the fruit being
assisted by admitting a stream of clean water to the interior of the washing

page_text: vessel, an overflow passage being provided to maintain the surface of the
water in the cistern at a constant and suitable level. The heavier particles
of dirt settle in the lower portion of the cistern, the lighter particles passing
with the overflow of water. When the fruit has been sufficiently washed the
vessel is tilted over, and the "fruit" falls into the "cage" of a "hydro-extractor,"
which is conveniently situated alongside the washing cistern or contained
with the same in one framing, and is of an ordinary and suitable construction,
arrangements being provided for "stopping" and "starting" the revolutions
of the said cage. The rinsing of the fruit is effected by directing a stream of
water upon the fruit in the revolving cage, the drying being effected by con-
tinuing the revolutions of the cage without the application of water to the
fruit, this effect of drying being ordinary and well understood. The fruit
may now be removed from the cage in a finished state, a scoop or shovel
adapted to the shape of the cage being employed for the purpose if preferred.
The "bydro-extractor" and the agitator shaft may be driven by straps,
gearing, or other suitable means from a shaft fitted with arrangements for
turning by hand, or suitable arrangements may be made for actuating the
same by power if desirable. A hinged door or cover is fitted to the washing
cistern to prevent the fruit and water from being ejected from the washing
vessel by the action of the agitators, the said cover being sometimes so
arranged as that the operation of closing or lowering the said cover puts the
agitator shaft into gear with the driving motion, a contrary effect being
produced when the cover is raised.