Dried Fruit Cleaning Machine, equally Serviceable with Wet or Dry Fruit.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 25th June, 1896-
Complete Specification Left, 25th Mar. 1897-Accepted, 12th June, 1897-
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Dried Fruit Cleaning Machine, equally Serviceable with Wet or
Dry Fruit.
JOHN BLABER 23 Chester Terrace Preston Park Brighton Sussex, Grocer's.
Warehouseman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
An ordinary round sieve having in the centre a vertical spindle on which is fixed
the apparatus which forms the subject of this claim, viz., a vertical boss and sleeve
with three or more arms.attached, capable of being driven by the said spindle from
the underneath in a rotary motion. The object of this motion is, that the fruit to be
dressed is agitated in such a manner that the small refuse passes through the sieve,
and the.operation taking place slowly, and openly the larger class of refuse can be seen
and removed by hand.
Dated this 23rd day of June 1896
JOHN BLABER,
23 Chester Terrace, Brighton..
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Dried Fruit Cleaning Machine, equally Serviceable with Wet or
Dry Fruit.
I, JOHN BLABER, of 23.Chester Terrace, Preston Park, Brighton, Sussex, Engineer,
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:
This invention has for.object, the construction of a machine within which by fingers
or stirrers operable by an outside handle, the dried fruit such as raisins, plums,
currants, and the like placed upon a sieve can be rolled over, separated, cleaned, and
prepared ready for sale, all the short stalks and other refuse being.collected in a lower
chamber which will enable the cleaned fruit to be removed by hand such as by
scooping, or if the upper part of the machine be removed from the lower part, the
contents of the sieve can be shot out into a receptacle without being actually touched
by the hand.
For the purpose of my said invention, I prepare-a-round sieve with a deep band, the
sieve having (preferably) two sizes of niesh. The sieve sits upon a bottom vessel into
which the refuse separated from the fruit falls for after collection. This vessel
supports bevel gear operable by an outside handle to give rotation to a series of
skeleton or looped arms or stirrers which travel horizontally just above the sieve
proper, these being in connection by.a. collar or socket fixed on a reversible sleeve.
with the gear shaft in order that the motion can be transmitted.
The shaft has a couple of studs and these engage in nicks in either end of the sleeve,

page_text: said sleeve being reversible with its fingers or stirrers as to whether it be desired that.
the fruit be slowly gathered towards the centre of the sieve, or be slowly spread
outwardly against the wall or band of the sieve.
I screw thread both ends of the sleeve to enable a tightening nut and cone to be
placed over the upper end but the cone can be dispensed with if an extra collar with
duplicate fingers or stirrers be fitted over the sleeve, the nut only being then required
to set the collar temporarily to the sleeve.
My invention will be clearly understood by reference to the annexed drawings..
Figure 1 plan of machine. Figure 2 transverse section of same.
Figure 3 plan of underside of the two meshed sieve.
Figure 4 side elevation of sleeve, collar, cone, and nut.
Figure 5 plan of one of the arms of wavy form in lieu of being simply curved, as
represented at Figures 1 and 2.
A is the sieve of two sizes of mesh from the cross centre line. B the deep band
thereof for sitting upon and surrounding the top edge of the lower vessel C, the
bottom D of which forms the base for being secured upon a stool, a bench, or the like.
E a bracket fixed on the base for supporting the gear and shaft F capable of rotation.
from the outside by the winch handle G, or otherwise.
The bracket E has a forward foot. H into which is stepped a spindle I this carrying
the bevel gear J for the transmission of motion from the shaft F to said spindle.
The spindle has, at a certain part, a couple of projecting studs on which the
sleeve K can be lodged, said sleeve K having nicks at each end, so that it can be
reversed when desired to alter the position of the arms L, L, without reversing the
direction of the spindle's travel, which arms project radially from a central boss M
fixed on the sleeve K. The arms L, L, are practically looped wires, the two legs of
one or more of them being set at an angle in the boss and they are curved in their
length to enable them to enter, lift up, and pass through the fruit to be dressed or
cleaned whereby the stalks and other refuse become separated and allowed or is forced
to pass through the sieve into the receptacle N this being a kind of tray simply
dropped into the lower vessel for easy removal.
The wall P of the sieve is carried up to the desired height to suit the quantity of
fruit to be dressed or cleaned, and a cone.Q shown at Figure 4 can be slipped over the
sleeve and the nut R be screwed down upon the ring R to keep the cone in touch
with the boss M and to direct the fruit towards the arms; this is only necessary when
single boss M with arms L is used. The nut serves to govern the travel of the top
set of arms, or is to allow the arms to rise up and down the sleeve when the matted
fruit is put into the machine, and to be screwed down gradually as the fruit is broken
up, this can be done by the operator by holding the nut R occasionally when the
machine is in motion, this causes the nut to tighten.
a
When all the lumps are broken or separated and the set of arms are not required
to check the fruit from running too freely round the sieve, they can be set at liberty
by adjusting the stud S up out of the way.
:
In some cases, an extra boss M' with similar arms L may be fitted over the
sleeve K, as represented at Figure 2, the pinch of the nut R being sufficient to connect
it with the boss M to revolve therewith.
:
In some cases, the upper or second set of arms can be left loose and the distance of
travel can be limited by an adjustable stud or check piece S and at the desired height
by a slot in the wall P.
By placing a washer or disc between the two bosses M, M', the height of the upper
one can be determined on.
I fit a sliding plate T controlled by a spring U to cover up the hole in the middle
of the sieve when said sieve has to be removed to empty the fruit.
I have shown the arms with a space between the two legs but a piece of india
rubber tube may be stretched over one or more of them, particularly when the fruit is
of a damp character.
The operation of the machine can be reversed or run backwards for the arm L to

page_text: put a heavy action on the fruit by pressing it down on the sieve, as the top leg of the
arms runs foremost thus causing the fruit to pass through the arms.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The apparatus or machine shown on the. annexed drawings and the several.
operable parts so fitted and arranged that dried fruit can be cleaned and the refuse
collected as and in the manner described.
2. In a machine for cleaning dried fruit, the arms for entering, lifting, separating,.
and agitating the fruit in their travel over and above a sieve through which the
refuse can fall as set forth and substantially as shown in the annexed drawings.
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166 Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said John Blaber.