Improvements in Machines for Preparing Potatoes and other Vegetable Products for Cooking.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Aug., 1896-Accepted, 26th Sept., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Preparing Potatoes and other
Vegetable Products for Cooking.
I, JAMES GOODFELLOW, of Dairy Flat, Auckland, in the Colony of New
Zealand, Farmer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and the manner
in which the same is to be used to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
The object of this invention is to provide a simple machine for cleaning the
peel from and for coring and taking out eyes or objectionable parts of potatoes
and the like.
In the accompanying drawings I show my machine, Figure 1 being an elevation
of the paring or planing disc used, and Figure 2 a perspective view of the entire
machine, clamped down upon a table K as it usually would be in practice.
Referring to the drawings, A is a convex disc (which may he of sheet metal)
having a coring blade D projecting from its centre and having slits B at intervals,
all round within its rim. The disc also has a number of small sharp projections
or abrading edges C all round within its rim arranged alternately with the slits,
and these projections are preferably and most conveniently made by punching holes
into the disc from the concave side, after the fashion of the holes in an ordinary
grater. One side of each slit is raised up slightly higher than the other side, so
that they are not in the same plane; and to each higher side is fitted a blade or
knife L'as shown in Figure 1.
When now the disc is rotated in the direction shown by the arrows in Figures 1
and 2 the knives L will pare, and the projections C will scrape, the exterior of a
potato as G when held against the disc. In practice I place the machine with the
lower part of the disc in water, contained for example in a vessel as E, and
revolve the disc by having it mounted on a spindle I which is actuated by
gearing operated by the handle J. F shows a rest attached to the vessel E on
which the potato is usually supported during the operation.
Owing to the curved shape of the knives, which fit against the curved sides
of the slits, these knives do not make any long cuts in the potatoes, but simply
chip off small portions, some of which are indicated at H as floating upon the
water. The abrading edges C take away the smooth surface produced by the
knives and leave the potatoes granulated outwardly, whereby when cooked they
will present a floury appearance, and possess greater general attractiveness than
ordinarily prepared potatoes do. The water in the dish keeps the knives and
potatoes clean. A cover M for preventing splashing is also fitted over the disc
but may be removed when desired. Owing to the speed with which the disc
can be turned, vegetables (as potatoes, carrots, and parsnips) can be more rapidly
and neatly prepared for cooking by means of this invention than in any other
manner known to me.
Obviously some of the features herein described have utility when used without
also using other features; for example the platform F might be dispensed with
and the vegetables held in place by the aid of a fork.
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. In a machine for preparing potatoes and other vegetable products, a disc
provided with knives and abrading surfaces substantially as set forth.

page_text: 2. In a machine for preparing potatoes and other vegetable products, the general
combinations and arrangements of parts as described and as illustrated in the
drawings.
Dated this 11th day of August 1896.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.