IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR 'DRESSING' AND WASHING FRUIT
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Wood, of Hyde, in the County of Chester, Grocer,
for the Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR 'DRESSING' AND
WASHING FRUIT."
Sealed the 25th July 1876, and dated the 27th January 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Wood at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th January 1876.
THOMAS WOOD, of Hyde, in the County of Chester, Grocer.
APPARATUS FOR DRESSING' AND WASIDING FRUIT."
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
This Invention has for its object the construction and application of an improved
apparatus or "rubber" to machines employed for washing small fruits, such as
currants and raisins, whereby such apparatus is rendered available for either the
operation of "dressing" or for washing fruit.
I employ a cylindrical wire receiver, which is caused to revolve freely around its
axis or shaft, the stay rods being applied outside the cylinder. From the axis or
shaft of the said wire cylinder is suspended a weight, and to the weight are secured
two or more arms; these support corrugated rubbing boards, plates, or brushes,
which latter by means of bolts and screws may readily be adjusted nearer to or
further from the wire cylinder. As the cylinder revolves the fruit passes under the
rubbing board, plate, or brush, and is between the wires of the cylinder and the
rubbing surface subjected to an operation similar to "hand dressing." The continued
rotation turns the fruit over, and so the whole is operated upon.
When the apparatus is to be employed for washing (usually after the dressing
operation) the weight and rubber are turned backwards over the axis of the
cylinder, in which position the rubber does not operate on the fruit.
In some cases I employ for dressing smaller quantities of fruit two wire cylinders,
one being within or concentric to the other, the intervening space between the two
being occupied by the fruit to be operated upon, and the cylinders rotate in opposite
or contrary direction.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas Wood in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 27th July 1876.
THOMAS WOOD, of Hyde, in the County of Chester, Grocer.. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR DRESSING AND WASHING FRUIT."
This Invention has for its object the construction and application of an improved
[Price +d.]

page_text: apparatus or "rubber" to machines employed for dressing and washing small fruit,
such as currants and raisins, whereby such apparatus is rendered available for
either the operation of dressing or for washing fruit.
I employ a cylindrical wire receiver, which is caused to revolve freely around its
axis or shaft, the stay rods being applied outside the cylinder. From the axis or
shaft of the said wire cylinder is suspended a weight, and to the weight are secured
two or more arms. These support corrugated rubbing boards, plates, or brushes,
which latter, by means of bolts and screws may readily be adjusted nearer to or
further from the wire cylinder. As the cylinder revolves the fruit passes under the
rubbing board, plate, or brush, and is between the wires of the cylinder and the
rubbing surface subjected to an operation similar to "hand dressing."
The con-
tinued rotation turns the fruit over, and so the whole is operated upon.
Such being the nature and object of this my said Invention I will now proceed
to describe the same in detail, and in order that the Invention may be fully under-
stood I have hereunto annexed a Sheet of Drawings, and have marked the same
with figures and letters of reference, the same letters referring to the same part in
the several views or Figures.
Fig. 1 is a section of a wire cylinder for purpose aforesaid, having my improved
rubber applied; Fig. 2 is a plan view; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the cylinder,
rubber, and driving apparatus; Fig. 4 is a plan view of Fig. 3.
A is a cylindrical wire receiver, within which the fruit to be "dressed" or
operated upon is placed; B, door of cylinder; C, C, C, are the arms or stay rods;
D is the axis or shaft of the cylinder, and from which is hung or suspended the
weight E. The arms F, F, are attached to the weight E, and carry at their outer
ends the corrugated rubbing board G (plates or brushes may be used in lieu of a
corrugated board, but I prefer the latter). H, H, are screws or bolts, by means of
which and the slots in the arms F, F, the rubber G may be adjusted nearer to or
further from the cylinder A. The rubber is held in position by means of the
weight, as shewn at Fig. 3. The rotation of the cylinder brings the fruit under
the rubber.
When the apparatus is to be employed for washing the trough is brought into
position under the wire cylinder and suspended by means of the chain J and pin K;
the trough is then filled with water, and the cylinder is caused to rotate at a
high speed as the speed increases the fruit is distributed over the interior of the
cylinder and passes freely under the rubber.
At L, M, N, O, P, is shewn handle, shaft, driving pulley, strap, and pulley on
the axis of the cylinder A, through which the latter receives its rotation during the
dressing and washing the fruit.
Having thus fully described the nature and particulars of this my said Invention,
together with the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried
into practical effect, I would have it understood that I lay no claim to the rotary
cylinder A, nor to the means of driving the same, nor do I claim the use of the
trough H employed for washing the fruit; but what I do claim as my Invention is
the combination of a corrugated adjustable rubber (plate or brush G) with the
cylinder A, for the purpose and acting in the manners herein described and
illustrated.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Wood, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Nineteenth day of July, in the year of our Lord One thousand
Witness,
GEORGE HOPWOOD,
Draper,
Hyde.
THOMAS WOOD. (L.S.)