Improvements in Machinery for Removing Black Currants from " their Stalks.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 16th July, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 18th Sept., 1890-Accepted, 18th Oct., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery for Removing Black Currants from
"
their Stalks.
I, THOMAS WOOD, of the Kentish Farm House Jam Factory, Swanley, in the
County of Kent, Jam Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in machinery for removing black currants
from their stalks:
In carrying it into effect, I provide an endless band of suitable width and proper
driving mechanism for travelling it around two or more rollers, or pairs of drums,
supported in a suitable frame.
This endless band may be made of pieces of wood or of canvas, leather, rubber
gutta-percha, or other similar material.
Suitable tightening devices are provided, preferably, by making the bearings of
the end roller adjustable in slides.
A roller brush is hung in suitable bearings above the endless band and is rotated
thereupon in the opposite direction to strig the currants.
The feeding is effected either by hand or by an automatic feeding device.
Dated this 16th day of Inle 1800
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery for Removing, Black Currants from
their Stalks.
1, THOMAS WOOD, of the Kentish Farm House Jam Factory, Swanley, in the
County of Kent, Jam Manufacturer, 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:-
My invention relates to improvements in machinery for removing black currants
from their stalks.
In carrying it into effect, I provide an endless band, of suitable width, and proper
driving mechanism for travelling it around two or more rollers, or pairs of drums,
supported in a suitable frame.
This endless band may be made of pieces of wood, or of canvas, leather, rubber,
gutta percha, or other similar material.
Suitable tightening devices are provided, preferably by making the bearings of the
end roller adjustable in slides.
A roller brush is hung in suitable bearings above the endless band, and is rotated
thereupon, in the opposite direction, to strig the currants.
The feeding is effected either by hand, or by an automatic feeding device.
In order that my invention, and the means by which it is to be carried into
practical effect, may be thoroughly understood, I will now describe them in detail,
referring in so doing to the accompanying drawings which are to be taken as part
of this Specification and read therewith.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation.
Fio 2 is a front elevation.

page_text: D is the endless band carried by the rollers E, E. The bearings of the first
mentioned roller, i.e., the top one, are fixed to the frame of the machine; but the
bearings of the bottom roller, viz.-E, are adjustable in respect of their distance
from those of the top roller by being adapted to slide in slotted brackets e, e. Set
screws, engaging in lugs g, g, depending from the bearings, are provided for
the purpose of adjusting the position of the said bearings so as to impart the proper
degree of tension to the band. D.
Although the drawings shew the bottom roller as the adjustable one, my invention
does not confine me in this respect. Either roller may be fitted with the adjusting
device above described, i.e., with the sliding bearings, slotted brackets and set
screws. And any modification of the particular type of device illustrated may be
introduced, or any substitute device adapted to discharge the same functions may
be made use of.
G is the roller-brush or strigger proper. It is rotated in fixed bearings g¹ fixed
to the sides of the machine-frame.
H is the driving pulley fast upon the shaft of the top roller. H¹ is a second
pulley upon the same shaft, the motion of which is communicated to a pulley I on
the shaft of the roller-brush by a belt i. Consequently, the band and brush nove
in opposite directions, as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 3. This opposition in
respect of the direction of motion on the part of band and brush is an important
feature of my invention, and provided that proper provision he made for it, the
particular mechanism illustrated, viz.-the two pulleys H, I, and belt may be
replaced by any equivalent substitute.
Jis a hood; and a stopping wob depending therefrom to the roller-brush.
My invention is used as follows:-
The attendant stands by the side of the machine facing the concave edge of the
hood, and spreads the fruit upon the band D which carries it up to the roller-
brush, by which the currants are strigged from the stalks; the latter being carried
forward by the belt and dropped out of the machine, while the currants roll down
the inclined surface of the endless band.
The fruit to be strigged may be fed to the machine by hand, or any suitable
automatic feeding device may be used in combination with the machine.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The combination of endless band and roller-brush moving in opposite directions,
as and for the purpose set forth.
2. The combination of inclined endless band, roller-brush, stopping web, and hood,
as set forth.
3. The combination of endless band, roller brush and mechanism for driving
them in opposite directions, as set forth.
4. The combination of adjustable endless band, roller-brush, mechanism for driving
them in opposite directions, hood and stopping web, as and for the respective purposes
set forth.
Dated this 18th day of Santember 1800.
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
22, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.