Improvements in or connected with Apparatus for Cutting Roots.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Aug., 1891-Accepted. 21st Nov., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Apparatus for Cutting Roots.
I, FRANZ STEPHAN, of Werchniatschka, in the Empire of Russia, Manager of
Sugar Works, 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 :-
The present invention relates to an apparatus for cutting roots, such as beetroots,
turnips and the like, comprising one or more automatic root pressers or feeders,
which are set in motion by any suitable power, for example, by a column of liquid
or by air pressure.
The invention is illustrated in the annexed drawings and described in the following
explanation, similar letters indicating like or equivalent parts:-
Figure I is a sectional elevation of an apparatus provided with the improvements,
according to this invention, and in which the root presser is set in operation by
means of a column of liquid, acting on weighted levers, which serve to forward
the supply of roots to the cutting cylinder.
Figure II is a sectional plan of the apparatus taken at the line
press
Figure I.
Figure III is a sectional side elevation to a larger scale of the apparatus, taken
at the line y. y., Figure I, and
Figure IV is a section taken at C. D., Figure I.
Figure V is a sectional elevation of a modification of the apparatus, taken
through the root cutting devices and shewing the modes of action of the column of
liquid.
Figure VI is a sectional plan of the apparatus, taken at the line z z Figure V.
With reference to the drawings it will be seen that the cutting-drum is fixed and
held on the axis or spindle a by a collar a', the periphery of the drum being provided
with incisions. The knife cases b with their knives are placed in these incisions from
above. The cutting-drum runs in the casing u. The adjustable counter knives are
marked z;
these prevent the uncut portions of the roots from getting between the
drum and the casing. Above the drum there is placed the framework d of the
case u and the bearing of the drum spindle a.
On the spindle a below the drum there is fixed a bevel wheel e, and the lower
end of the spindle a runs in the bearing on the base plate fi, on which the bearing
blocks,, for the driving shaft fare placed. The driving shaft f₁ is provided
with the bevel pinion e', which gears with and works the bevel wheel e, and with
the fast and loose driving belt pulleys f* and f*.
On the base plate f' are provided the columns g which support the upper part of
the apparatus.
The root feeding devices are all placed at the same height as the cutting-drum
and each consists of a holder h into which the roots drop from a hopper /. In the
holder h there works the presser h³.
In the arrangement shewn in Figure I the presser h³ is connected by the rod h
with the bell crank lever h*, the rod h, and the piston ' of the cylinder h*, the
shaft m of the lever his continued out on both sides and is provided with arms h³
serving as weights.
The actuating fluid enters the cylinder through the piper and exhausts through
the pipes; the cock i being placed on the cylinder h between the pipes and s
and is opened and closed by the lever ¹, which is turned by the lever and the
rod. The piston ' is provided with a provision, and the cylinder he carries on
the bracket, a rocking lever ³, (acted on by a spring k,) having a step ³, against

page_text: which the lever 3 with its projection lays; a projection extends upwards
from the lever k³, and engages with the inclined surface k of the presser h³,
(Fig. III).
The lever is acted upon by a spiral spring fixed to the bracket. The
lever is provided with a pin which engages with the step 3 of the lever k².
The bottom o of the root holder is arranged as a trap-door which can be made
fast by means of the bolt o¹.
ቀ
The mode of action of the root cutting machine is as follows:-When not at
work the root pressers 2 le against the cutting-drum and thereby close the inlets
for the roots from the hoppers h¹. After the root hopper has been filled with
roots the fluid supply pipe is opened, whereupon the fluid passes through the cock i
into the cylinder and raises the piston and thereby through the lever * draws
out the root presser ³, and the weighted arms hº are raised. The presser ' being
thus drawn out from the cutting-drum the roots are allowed to fall from the hopper h¹
into the holder h, between the cutting-drum and the presser . The return stroke
of the presser h³ is caused by the weighted arms, the cock i being reversed by
the piston through the provision raising the lever so that its pin engages
with the step of the lever k². The raising of the lever causes, by means of the
connecting rod, the reversing of the cock i, so that the supply is shut off from
the piper, and the exhaust pipe s is opened. Now the weighted arms 1³ cause the
lever to have a return stroke and thereby the presser h³ presses upon the roots in
the holder h and forces them against the knives on the cutting-drum. The cutting-
drum which receives motion from the bevel gear e e' cuts the roots which are
pressed against it to pieces, which leaves the drum in the direction shewn by the
arrow.
When the roots lying between the presser h³ and the cutting-drum are cut to
pieces, and the root presser / almost touches the drum, the projection k* of the lever k³
engages with the inclined surface k on the under side of the presser h (Fig. III),
and the step k³ is moved from under the pin 7 of the lever 3 which, acted upon by
the spring k, is brought down, thus opening the fluid supply cock i, so that the
fluid under pressure again enters the cylinder h', and the process just described is
repeated.
Should by chance any object detrimental to the knives get between the cutting-
drum and the root presser 2, it can be got rid of by raising the lever, thus
reversing the cock and drawing back the root presser. To prevent the root
presser remaining in an open position, the fluid inlet is closed, the door o is opened,
and the contents of the holder / emptied out.
the
A modification of the apparatus is shewn in Figures V and VI: in this case the
forward movement of the presser h³ is done by means of a column of liquid from
the pipes l. The driving cylinder he is arranged in line with the presser h²,
piston rod h³ being directly connected to the presser ³. The pressure can be
regulated by increasing or reducing the quantity of liquid in the pipes l, the supply
from which to the cylinders he is regulated either by a cock as shewn at the right
hand side of Figures V and VI or by a slide valve as shewn at the left hand side
of Figures V and VI and in Figure III.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A root cutting apparatus comprising a rotating cutting-drum, root hoppers h¹,
root holders / surrounding said cutting-drum, and pressers h' adapted to press and
feed the roots. against the knives of the cutting-drum; as set forth.
2. A root cutting apparatus comprising a rotating cutting-drum, root hoppers,
root holders, and root pressers or feeders, as set forth; and an operating cylinder
to work the root presser, the piston of which operates said root presser by means of
a rocking bell crank lever in such a manner that after the feeding stroke the root

page_text: presser is drawn away from the cutting-drum, to permit of a fresh supply of roots,
the forward or feeding stroke of the root presser being produced by weighted levers
or their equivalent.
3. The apparatus for automatically regulating the motive fluid supply, con-
structed and operating substantially as described, consisting of the cock or its
equivalent i, lever i¹, rod i, lever, lever k² and spring ko, as set forth.
4. The combination of parts substantially as set forth, with reference to the
drawings consisting of the cutting-drum, root hoppers, root holders, root pushers
or feeders, and fluid motor apparatus for working such pushers or feeders all
constructed and operating as described.
Dated this 24th dor of A vast 1801
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON,
15, Water Street, Liverpool, Applicant's Patent Agents.