IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR DRYING COFFEE-BEANS AND THE LIKE
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederic Des Voeux, of the Office for Patents, 32,
Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, for an
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR DRYING COFFEE-BEANS
AND THE LIKE." A communication from abroad by William Anton Dieseldorff,
of Coban, Guatemala, South America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederic Des Voeux at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th December 1881.
FREDERIC DES Vœux, of the Office for Patents, 32, Southampton Buildings,
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex.
FOR DRYING COFFEE-BEANS AND THE LIKE." A communication from abroad by
William Anton Dieseldorff, of Coban, Guatemala, South America.
In drying coffee-beans it is of the greatest importance to expose them to a
uniform continuous heat throughout the drying process, and completing the same
within a reasonable time, so as to handle considerable quantities of coffee at the
least possible expense.
Various constructions of drying apparatus have been designed for this purpose
without however meeting all the requirements and giving perfect satisfaction.
The object of this Invention is to furnish a coffee-drying apparatus in which the
operation of drying is performed continuously in a very effective and uniform
manner, and the Invention consists of a cylindrical casing heated by a steam coil
or otherwise, and provided with horizontal interior shelves which are arranged
alternately with circumferential and central channels for the passage of the beans
and the heated air in combination with a central revolving shaft carrying a radial
stirrer-arm with inclined and spring-cushioned stirrer-blades, and a hook-shaped
rake for the final delivery of the coffee-beans to the discharge pipe.
The stirrer-shaft has fixed central stop-discs which are bevelled at the top to

page_text: close the central opening of the shelves which have a circumferentially-arranged
channel.
The outermost stirrer-blade of the lowest arm is provided with a hook-shaped
rake for delivering the beans to the discharge-channel.
The inclined stirrer-blades aro applied to an auxiliary arm which is connected
by fixed bolts and cushioning springs with the radial main arm of the stirrer-
Bhaft.
The outer cylindrical casing of the apparatus is made of sheet metal of suitable
strength, and is provided with a conical top or hood, at the apex of which is
arranged a steam or other suitable exhausting apparatus that serves to draw off the
evaporation of the beans.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Frederic Des Voeux in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
2nd June 1882.
FREDERIC DES Vœux, of the Office for Patents, 32, Southampton Buildings,
Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
FOR DRYING COFFEE-BEANS AND THE LIKE." (A communication from abroad by
William Anton Dieseldorff, of Coban, Guatemala, South America.)
In drying coffee-beans it is of the greatest importance to expose them to a
uniform continuous beat throughout the drying process, and completing the same
within a reasonable time, so as to handle considerable quantities of coffee at the
least possible expense.
Various constructions of drying apparatus have been proposed for this purpose,
without however inceting all the requiremonts and giving perfect satisfaction.
The object of this Invention is to furnish a coffee drying apparatus in which the
operation of drying is performed continuously in a very effective and uniform
manner, and the Invention consists of a cylindrical casing heated by a steam-coil
or otherwise, and provided with horizontal interior shelves which are arranged
alternately with circumferential and central channels for the passage of the beans
and the heated air, in combination with a central revolving shaft carrying a radial
stirrer-arm with inclined and spring-cushioned stirrer-blades and a hook-shaped
rake for the final delivery of the coffee-beans to the discharge pipe.
The stirrer-shaft has fixed central stop-discs, which are bevelled at the top to
close the central opening of the shelves, which have a circumferentially-arranged
channel.
The outermost stirrer-blade of the lowest arm is provided with a hook shaped
rake for delivering the beans to the discharge channel. The inclined stirrer-blades
are applied to an auxiliary arm which is connected by fixed bolts and cushioning
springs with the radial main-arm of the stirrer-shaft.
In the accompanying Drawings, Fig. 1 represents a vertical central section of
the improved apparatus for drying coffee beans, and Fig. 2 is a detail perspective
view of one of the revolving stirrers; similar letters of reference indicato
corresponding parts.
Referring to the Drawings, A represents the outer cylindrical casing of the
improved apparatus, which casing is made of sheet metal of suitable strength, and
is provided with a conical top or hood, at the apex of which is arranged a steam or
other suitable exhausting apparatus that serves to draw off the evaporation of the
beans. At the interior of the casing A are arranged a sorics of shelves B which
are firmly connected to the casing in such manner that they form with the same
alternately circumferential or central passages or openings a for the passage of the
beans from one shelf to the other. The beans are fed to the apparatus at the top
through a hopper and a conducting channel, and dropped on to the central part of
the upper-most shelf, which is provided with a circumferential channel. A revolving
stirrer-shaft C is arranged at the centre of the apparatus and supported on a
suitable step-bearing outside of and below the bottom of the casing, and by a top-
bearing above the uppermost shelf, the shaft C passing through the centre-openings
of one set of shelves B and through the central channels a of the other alternating
set. The shaft C carries above each shelf a radial stirrer-arm D which is rigidly
secured thereto. To each stirrer-arm is hung by fixed screw-bolts b an auxiliary
arm D' parallel thereto, between which and the main-arm are interposed spiral
cushioning springs b₁, as shown in Fig. 2. To the auxiliary arm D are applied
inclined blades D³ which serve to rake up the beans, the blades being preferably
arranged at an angle of 60 degrees to the stirrer arms, so that the beans aro
gradually pushed from the centre of the shelf to the outer edge thereof, there
dropped through the channel a to the next shelf B, and then moved towards the
centre by the next stirrer, the blades of which are set at an inward angle of

page_text: inclination. The beans are then dropped through the centre-passage of the second
shelf on to the third shelf, and so on.
The cushioning springs of the stirrer blades serve for the purpose of permitting
the blades to pass over obstructions, such as stones, nails, or other bodies which
may be fed with the beans to the apparatus without producing the stoppage of the
entire apparatus.
The stirrer shaft C is provided above the central-openings arranged in every
alternate shelf for the passage of the shaft, with stop-discs C which are conically
bevelled at their upper surfaces, so as to shed the beans as they are dropped from
one shelf on the shelf next below. The discs C' have flat bottoms, so as to bear
tightly upon the shelves and close the openings for the shaft, so as to prevent the
passage of the heated air and of the beans through these openings.
Revolving motion is imparted to the stirrer-shaft by a transmitting gear and
motive power outside of the apparatus. When the beans have been gradually fed
over all the shelves of the apparatus, and are thoroughly dried by the contact with
the heated air, which passes in a counter-current over the same, they are finally
taken up at the outer circumference of the lowermost shelf by means of a hook
shaped rake d of the outermost stirrer-blade, and finally delivered thereby to the
discharge channel e, and thence to the outside into suitable receptacles for being
packed. The heat is preferably obtained by a coil of steam-pipes near the bottom
of the apparatus or from a separate furnace, as desired. The construction of the
apparatus admits of the continuity of the drying process during which the beans
are exposed to the hot air passing over them, so that they give off their moisture
and are dried in a uniform and effective manner.
The apparatus is also adapted for drying grain which has become moist in
transit, and other like substances requiring similar treatment.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention as communicated to
me from abroad, I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent on
behalf of the said William Anton Dieseldorff,-
Firstly. Constructing apparatus for drying coffee beans and the like with a
closed cylindrical casing provided with interior shelves having alternate circum-
ferential and central passages or channels in combination with a central revolving
stirrer-shaft having radial arms and inclined stirrer blades, substantially as and
for the purposes set forth.
Secondly. The combination in a coffee or like drying apparatus of a cylindrical
casing having interior shelves formed with alternately circumferential and central
passages or channels with a central revolving stirrer-shaft having radial arms, with
inclined stirrer-blades and stop discs above alternating shelves for closing shaft
openings of the same, substantially as set forth.
Thirdly. In a coffee or like drying apparatus the combination with the lowermost
shelf B and discharge channel e of a revolving stirrer D, the outermost blade of
which is provided with a hook shaped rake & for the final delivery of the coffee
beans or other material to the discharge channel, substantially as set forth.
Fourthly. In a coffee or like drying apparatus, a stirrer or rake formed of a main
arm, an auxiliary and spring cushioned arm below the same, and inclined stirrer
blades, substantially as specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederic Des Voeux, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this First day of June, in the year of our Lord One thousand
T