MACHINERY FOR CUTTING OR CHOPPING ROOTS, PLANTS, OR OTHER SIMILAR SUBSTANCES
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Collins Banfield, of No. 18, Queen's
Square, Westminster, in the County of Middlesex, Esquire, for
an Invention for "MACHINERY FOR CUTTING OR CHOPPING ROOTS,
PLANTS, OR OTHER SIMILAR SUBSTANCES."-A communication:
Sealed the 27th October 1853, and dated the 29th April 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas- Collins
Banfield at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 29th April 1853..
I, THOMAS COLLINS BANFIELD, of .No.
'
Queen's Square, West-
minster, in the County of Middlesex, Esquire, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "MACHINERY FOR CUTTING OR CHOPPING
ROOTS, PLANTS, OR OTHER SIMILAR SUBSTANCES," to be as follows:-
The principle of this machine is that of a horizontal wheel, armed with
blades adapted for cutting roots or vegetable substances, turning in a cast
iron circular box, in a plane parallel to the bottom of the box, which is
formed by a bed of cast iron. The revolving wheel stands about an
inch from the bed; and for the space of some, inches, according to its
size, is of solid iron, four flat iron spokes joining this solid portion to

page_text: the tyre or circumference. Into these flat spokes, plates of sheet iron
shaped like a segment of a circle are fitted, the angle of each of which
projects between the spokes. Small chisels or blades fit again in to
these plates, which, in following the sides of the segment, project one
over the other, so as to form a kind of saw with their angles. The
cutting blades thus work inside the wheel, and not, as is usual, at the
circumference.
The roots, being delivered from a hopper on to the open side of the
machine, fall on the lower bed between the open spokes of the wheel,
and are compressed towards the blades, which a shaft driven by
steam or any other motive power turns rapidly round. These blades
coming into contact with the roots, cut or saw them into strips or
blocks of the desired size. In order to prevent waste, and to aid
the pressure of the bottom and sides of the box, a cover is fitted to
the upper or receiving side into which the feeding hopper is usually
fitted.
The discharge of the cuttings from the box is effected by an opening
in the bottom or the side, by the size of which the size of the cuttings
is determined.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Thomas Collins Banfield in the Great Seal Patent
Office, on the 28th October 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
THOMAS COLLINS BANFIELD, of No. 18, Queen's Square, Westminster,
in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-ninth day of April, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the six-
teenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Thomas Collins Banfield, Her special
licence that I, the said Thomas Collins Banfield, my executors, admi-

page_text: "
nistrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Thomas Collins
Banfield, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
daring the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for.
MACHINERY FOR CUTTING OR CHOPPING ROOTS, PLANTS, OR OTHER SIMILAR
SUBSTANCES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Thomas Collins Banfield, by an instrument in writing under my
hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature
of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be
performed, and cause the same 'to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent..
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Thomas Collins Banfield, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement, reference being had to the Drawing accom-
panying this Specification, which I desire to be considered as part of
this Specification.
The immediate object of my Invention is to cut or chop roots, plants,
or other similar substances, to prepare them for drying and preserving
by an apparatus for which I have secured Her Majesty's Letters Patent;
but the apparatus can be used for cutting, slicing, or chopping roots
or plants preparatory to the process of extracting the juice from the
same, or for using the same for cattle feeding, or other purposes.
The principle of this machine is that of an horizontal wheel, armed
with blades adapted for cutting roots or vegetable substances, turning
in an iron circular box, in a plane parallel to the bottom of the box,
which is formed of a bed of iron. The revolving wheel stands about
an inch from the bed; and for the space of some inches, according to its
size, is of solid iron. Four or more flat iron spokes join this solid
portion to the tyre or circumference. Into these flat spokes, plates of
sheet iron shaped like a segment of a circle are fitted, the angle of each

page_text: of which projects between the spokes. Small chisels or blades fit again.
into these plates, which in following the sides of the segment, project
one over the other, so as to form a kind of saw with their angles. The
cutting blades thus work inside the wheel, and not, as is usual, at the
circumference: I have mentioned iron for the construction of the parts,
but any other suitable material can be used.
The roots or plants, being delivered from a hopper on to the open
side of the machine, fall on the lower bed between the open spokes of-
the wheel, and are compressed towards the blades, which a shaft,
driven by steam or any other motive power, turns rapidly round.
These blades coming into contact with the roots, cut or saw them into
strips or blocks of the desired size. In order to prevent waste, and to
aid the pressure of the bottom and sides of the box, a cover is fitted to
the upper or receiving side, into which the feeding hopper is usually
fitted.
The discharge of the cuttings from the box is effected by an opening
in the bottom or the side, by the size of which the size of the cuttings is-
determined. This process will be more readily understood by reference
to the following description, and to the Drawings, and the different parts
numbered 1, to 28, shewing the cutting machine in detail in all its
parts. Figure 1, represents a vertical section of the cutting machine
with the supply funnel or pipe to feed the cutter, with a-shaft a, moving
on the pivot b, and set in motion as shewn in Figure 4, by 'cog-wheels
or other convenient method. Figure 2, represents the cutting machine
viewed from above, or surface plan, without either the funnel or cover,
and with the blades mounted. Figure 3, is the plan of the cutting
machine, viewed from below, or the under side of Figure 2, shewing at
the same time the position of the cutters. Figure 4, shews the eleva-
tion of the machine. Figure 5, is a plan viewed from above the supply
pipe or hopper. Figure 6, is a plan of a segment or compartment of
the cast iron or other suitable bed on which the hopper rests when.
fixed on the frame of the cutting machine. Figure 7, is a vertical
section of the plan, Figure 6, cut through, as shewn by the red-line A, B;
and Figure 8, is the vertical section of the same; taken in the direction

page_text: Figure 12, is
Figure 13,
Figure 14,
of the line C, D. Figure 9, is a plan of a segment with the blade-
holder. Figure 10, is a segment without the blade-holder. Figure 11,
is a section of Figure 9, as shewn by the red line G, R.
also a section of Figure 9, as shewn by the red line E, F.
is a section of Figure 10, as shewn by the red line I, K.
is a plan of a segment of the frame of the blade-holder without the
blade. Figure 15, is a vertical section of one of the arms of the disc.
Figure 16, is a plan view of a portion of the cover. Figure 17, is a
section of the cover from N to O. Figure 18, is a section of the cover
from L to M. Figures 19, and 20, are views of the plan and eleva-
tion of the cast iron blade-holder. Figures 21, and 22, are plan and
vertical section of two pieces of sheet iron, for holding the blade-holder
or segments (corresponding to the frames, as shewn in 9, and 10).
Figure 23, is an elevation of a cutting blade or chisel, which fits into
the blade-holder No. 20.
The two scales given in the Drawing determine the proportions
recommended, and will also determine the size of the cuttings most
suitable when the cuttings are required for desiccation, but the cutters
may be adapted to any size required for other purposes.
Having thus described the various parts of my Invention, I now
proceed to shew how the process of cutting is to be put in operation.
The vegetable or substance to be operated upon is placed in the feeder
or hopper, as shewn in Figures 1, and 4, through which it falls upon
the disc or cutting plain shewn in Figure 2, where it is caught by the
blades shewn in Figures 19, and 20, when armed with cutters of the
form shewn in Figure 23, and cut into pieces. The size of the cuttings
will be determined by the proportions given in the Drawing for the
distance to be preserved between the bed, Figure 6, the cast iron
plates, Figures 21, and 22, and the cover to be fixed on the frame
shewn in Figure 16. These proportions will produce the size of
cuttings recommended as most conductive to the preservation of
saccharine matter in the process of drying.

page_text: First, I claim the apparatus herein-before described for effecting
the purposes specified; and,
Second, I claim the arrangement and the proportions herein-before
described for the purpose of cutting or chopping vegetables or
saccharine plants.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Collins Banfield, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-sixth day of Oc-
tober, One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three.
THOMAS COLLINS BANFIELD. (L.S)