IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GRAPE-SUGAR OR GLUCOSE AND FOOD FOR ANIMALS, AND IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS THEREFOR
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake
and Co. Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for an Invention of
• IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GRAPE-SUGAR OR GLUCOSE AND
FOOD
FOR ANIMALS, AND IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS THEREFOR
"
Communicated to him from abroad by William Thomas Jebb, of Buffalo,
New York, United States of America
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th September 1882.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake and Co., Patent Agents
Southampton Buildings, London, "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
GRAPE-SUGAR OR GLUCOSE AND FOOD FOR. ANIMALS, AND IN MACHINERY
APPARATUS THEREFOR"-[A communication to him from abroad by William
Thomas Jebb, of Buffalo, New York, United States of America]
OR
This Invention relates to improvements in the methods or processes whereby
starch obtained from grain or other suitable substances is converted into glucose or
grape sugar as may be desired, and whereby grape-sugar or glucose is prepared for
the market, and whereby the wet offal produced in the manufacture of starch is
prepared for use as food for animals. And the said Invention also relates to
apparatus hereinafter described.
One of the said processes consists in converting starch into glucose by two
successive conversions, the first taking place in an open converter in which the
starch is partially converted at a moderate degree of heat whereby the starch is
uniformly heated and converted and prevented from becoming pasty by overheating,
and the second conversion taking place in a closed converter in which the
conversion is completed under steam-pressure at a higher temperature. By this
process the starch is converted into glucose in much less time than heretofore and a
better quality of glucose is produced.j

page_text: Another process consists in mixing brine with glucose in a suitable proportion to
prevent or retard the fermentation of the glucose while in storage, or during
transportation. The admixture of one gallon of strong clear brine to every forty
gallons of glucose will substantially prevent such fermentation and at the same
time improve the flavor of the glucose. The brine may be mixed with the glucose
in the apparatus in which the glucose is cooled previous to drawing it into barrels,
or in other, suitable apparatus.
Another process consists in adding a suitable quantity of a solution of aniline
blue, or some other equivalent blue coloring material, to the syrup in the vacuum,
pan for the purpose of whitening the same or improving its color by neutralizing
the yellow tint of the syrup.
Another part of the said Invention consists in a drying apparatus whereby the
wet offal is deprived of its moisture.
The cylindrical shell of the drier is supported on rollers and rotated thereon by
means of a toothed rim secured to the shell and a gear wheel engaging with the
said rim, or by other suitable mechanisın. Strips or buckets are secured to the
inner surface of the shell from 'end to end and arranged so as to elevate the
material to be dried until the buckets, by their rotation, assume an inclination at
which the material slides from the buckets and falls back into the lower portion of
the shell. The shell, or the buckets, or both, are slightly inclined from the inlet to
the discharge end of the shell to cause the material to be dried to pass slowly
through the shell from end to end. I also provide a feed-spout through which the
material to be dried is introduced into the highest end of the shell. A series of
longitudinal steam heating pipes is arranged in the shell and the latter has two
hollow heads to which the ends of the said pipes are connected. One of the said
heads, which is located near the feed end of the cylinder, is provided with a steam
supply pipe and the head near the discharge end of the cylinder is provided with a
pipe through which the water of condensation is discharged. The said heads are
preferably so located in the said cylinder as to leave a free space at the feed end of
the cylinder between the head and the front end of the cylinder, and a similar
space between the other head and the rear end of the cylinder.
A casing of brick work or other suitable material encloses the shell and a
chimney or flue communicates with the interior of the said casing near the feed
end of the cylinder. An opening is formed in the casing near the discharge end of
the cylinder and is provided with a register or damper for regulating the passage
of the external air into the casing. A transverse partition is arranged in the
casing around the cylinder so as to prevent the air from passing through the casing
outside of the cylinder, and compel the air to pass through the cylinder. Instead
of a chimney, any suitable device, for instance a suction-fan, may be used for
drawing the air through the cylinder.
! I provide a screw-conveyer which receives the material as it is discharged from
the cylinder and conveys the same to a mill in which it is re-ground, or to some
suitable receptacle.
In treating the wet offal, the moisture is first pressed out of it as completely as
possible, and the offal which has been compacted by the operation of pressing is then
broken up in a suitable disintegrating machine and then fed to the drier from which
it is discharged in a condition in which it can be used as food for animals, either
alone, or mixed with ground grain.
Another part of the said Invention consists in a machine for cutting or scraping
the solid grape-sugar. In this machine a series of rotating knives or cutters is
secured to two revolving wheels or discs mounted on a shaft to which power is
applied in any suitable manner. Parallel guides or ways are arranged in front of
the revolving cutters, and a crosshead or follower moves on the said ways and feeds
the blocks of sugar to the cutters. The said ways are cast upon a plate which
forms a support for the block of sugar while being cut. A horizontal feed-screw is
arranged on one side of the frame and supported in suitable bearings attached
thereto. The said screw is rotated by bevel wheels one of which is mounted on a

page_text: counter-shaft to which motion is imparted by an endless belt and pulleys, or other
suitable mechanism. The said screw works in a nut which is attached to the said
cross-head, the latter being provided on one side with a depending portion in which
the said nut is arranged. The said nut is divided lengthwise into two halves
which are provided with mechanism whereby both halves are held in engagement
with the feed screw while the follower moves toward the cutters and until the feed
movement is completed, when the two halves of the nut are automatically separated,
thereby disconnecting the nut from the feed screw and arresting the movement of
the follower. The latter is now moved back by hand to the starting point, and the
two parts of the nut are again engaged with the feed screw when the operation is
repeated. The mechanism, whereby the two parts of the nut are separated and
closed at the proper time consists essentially of a disc attached to the side of
the follower by a central pivot on which it turns and which is provided with
excentric slots which engage with pins projecting from the two parts of the nut in
such manner that by turning the said disc in one or the other direction the two
parts of the nut are separated from each other and disengaged from the feed-screw
or closed upon each other and engaged with the feed-screw. The two parts of the
nut slide in ways formed in the depending portion of the crosshead in moving
toward and from the feed-screw. A stop is secured to the stationary frame of the
machine near the cutter-head and a projection is formed on the said disc so as to
come in contact with the said stop when the feed movement is nearly completed
and turn the said disc on its pivot in the direction in which it causes the parts of
the nut to separate and disengage themselves from the feed screw. By these means
the forward movement of the follower is automatically arrested when the block of
sugar is nearly cut up. The cutters are enclosed in a casing or hood which is
provided with an opening at the front through which the blocks of sugar are
fed against the cutters and a discharge spout through which the comminuted sugar
escapes. To prevent the rotating cutters from throwing a portion of the
comminuted sugar back upon the feed-table, an air current is delivered against the
cutters above the point where the sugar is operated upon by the cutters in a
direction tending to draw the particles of sugar, into the hood and toward the
discharge spout thereof. For this purpose a blast-fan is employed, but any suitable
air-propelling device may be substituted therefore.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
19th March 1883.
OR
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co Patent Agents
Southampton Buildings, London "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
GRAPE-SUGAR OR GLUCOSE AND FOOD FOR ANIMALS AND IN MACHINERY
APPARATUS THEREFOR A communication to me from abroad by William Thomas
Jebb, of Buffalo, New York, United States of America
"
This Invention relates to improvements in the methods or processes of, and
apparatus for, converting starch obtained from grain or other suitable substances,
into glucose or grape-sugar as may be desired, preparing the grape-sugar or glucose
for the market, and the wet offal produced in the manufacture for use as food for
animals.
One of said processes consists in converting starch into glucose by two
successive operations, the first operation taking place in an open converter in which
the starch is partially converted at a moderate degree of heat, whereby the starch
is uniformly heated and converted and prevented from becoming pasty by over-
heating, and the second taking place in a closed converter in which the conversion
is completed under steam pressure at a high temperature. By this process the
starch is converted into glucose in much less time than heretofore and a better
quality of glucose produced.
Another process consists in mixing brine with glucose in a suitable proportion in
order to prevent or retard the fermentation of the glucose during storage, or
transportation. The admixture of one gallon of strong clear brine to every forty
gallons of glucose will substantially prevent such fermentation and at the same
time improve the flavor and clearness of the glucose. The brine may be mixed
with the glucose in the apparatus in which the glucose is cooled, previous to
drawing it into barrels, or in other suitable apparatus.
Another process consists in adding a suitable quantity of a solution of aniline
blue or some other equivalent blue coloring material to the syrup in the vacuum
pan, for the purpose of whitening the same or improving its color by neutralizing
the yellow tint of the syrup.
Another part of the said Invention consists of a drying apparatus whereby the
wet offal consisting of the husky matter of the grain from which the starch has
been separated in the usual manner, is deprived of its moisture
Another part of the said Invention consists of a machine for cutting or scraping
the solid grape-sugar.
In the accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of drying apparatus constructed according to
this Invention, and,
Figure 2 is a transverse section of the same on the line x. x Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a partly sectional side elevation of the sugar cutting machine.
Figure 4 is an end elevation, and
Figure 5 is a top view or plan of the same the hood and fan being removed.
Figure 6 is a side elevation of the follower drawn to an enlarged scale and.
Figure 7 is a transverse section of the same.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2 A indicates the cylindrical shell of the drier which
is supported on rollers a and rotated thereon by means of a toothed rim a¹ secured
to the shell A, and a gear wheel a² engaging with the said rim or by any other
suitable mechanism. bb indicate strips or buckets secured to the inner surface of
the shell A in a longitudinal direction, in such a manner as to elevate the material
contained in the shell A until the buckets by their rotation assume an inclination
at which the material slides from them and falls back into the lower portion of the

page_text: shell. The shell or the buckets, or both, are slightly inclined from the inlet to the
discharge end of the shell, to cause the material to pass slowly through the said
shell from end to end. c indicates the feed spout through which the material to be
dried is introduced into the highest end of the shell. d indicates a series of steam
heating pipes arranged in the shell A, and D D' are two hollow heads to which the
ends of the pipes d are connected. The head D which is located near the feed end
of the cylinder is provided with a steam supply pipe e. and the head D near the
discharge end.of the cylinder is provided with a pipe f through which the water of
condensation is discharged. The heads D and D¹ are preferably so located in the
cylinder A, as to leave a free space G at the feed end of the cylinder between
the head D and the front end of the cylinder, and a similar space H between
the head D and the rear end of the cylinder.
I indicates a casing of brick work or other suitable material which encloses the
shell A, and J is a chimney or flue communicating with the interior of the casing I
near the feed end of the cylinder. i is an opening formed in the casing I near the
discharge end of the cylinder and provided with a register or damper for regulating
the passage of the external air into the casing I. j is a transverse partition arranged
in the casing I around the cylinder A so as to prevent the air from passing through
the said casing and compelling it to pass through the cylinder. Instead of a
chimney any other suitable device, for instance a suction fan may be used for
drawing the air through the cylinder. K indicates a screw conveyer which
receives the material which is discharged from the cylinder and conveys the same
to a mill in which it is re-ground, or to some suitable receptacle.
In treating the wet offal, the moisture is first pressed out of it as completely as
possible by squeezing machines or hydraulic or other suitable presses. The offal
which has been compacted by the operation of pressing, is then broken up in a
suitable disintegrating machine and fed to the drier, from which it is discharged in
a condition in which it can be used as food for animals either alone or mixed with
ground grain.
Referring to Figures 3 to 7 A indicates the stationary frame of the machine,
and ba series of rotating knives or cutters secured to two revolving wheels or
discs B, which are mounted on a horizontal shaft b' to which power is applied by
an endless belt or pulley or in any suitable manner. c c indicate parallel guides or
ways arranged in front of the revolving cutters b, and C is a cross head or:follower
which moves on the ways cc, and feeds the blocks of sugar to the cutters. d is a
plate upon which the ways c are cast and which forms a support for the block of
sugar while being cut. e indicates a horizontal feed screw arranged on one side of
the frame A and turning in suitable bearings fattached thereto. The screw e is
rotated by bevel wheels g g', the wheel g being mounted on a counter-shaft g³ to
which motion is imparted by an endless belt and pulleys, or other suitable
mechanism. The screw e works in a threaded nut H which is attached to the
cross head C, the latter being provided on one side with a depending portion I, in
which the nut H is arranged.
The nut H is divided longitudinally into two halves h h which are provided
with mechanism, whereby both halves are held in engagement with the feed screw e
while the follower C moves toward the cutters, and whereby the two halves of the
nut H are automatically separated when the feed movement is completed thereby
disconnecting the nut from the feed screw and arresting the movement. of the
follower C. The latter is now moved back by hand to the starting point, and the
two parts of the nut H are again engaged with the feed screw when the operation
is repeated. The mechanism whereby the two parts of the nut H are separated
and closed at the proper time, consists of a disc K attached to the side of the
follower by a central pivot l on which it turns, and which is provided with excentric
slots m which engage with pins m¹ projecting from the two parts of the nut H in
such manner that, by turning the disc K.in one or the other direction, the two
parts of the nut H are separated from each other and disengaged from the feed
screw e, or closed upon each other and engaged with the said feed screw. The two

page_text: parts of the nut H slide in ways or guides formed in the depending portion of the
cross-head C in moving toward and from the feed screw. n indicates a stop secured
to the stationary frame A of the machine near the cutter-head and n¹ is a projection
formed on the disc K, so as to come in contact with the stop n when the feed
movement is nearly completed, thereby turning the disc K on its pivot in the
direction in which it causes the parts of the nut H to separate and disengage them-
selves from the feed screw. By this means the forward movement of the follower C
is automatically arrested when the block of sugar is nearly cut up. The cutters
are enclosed in a casing or hood O, which is provided with an opening at the front,
through which the blocks of sugar are fed against the cutters, and a discharge
spout O¹ through which the comminuted sugar escapes. To prevent the rotating
cutters from throwing a portion of the comminuted sugar back upon the feed table,
an air current is delivered against the cutters, or at the point where the sugar is
operated upon by the cutters, so as to direct the particles of sugar into the hood
and toward the discharge spout thereof. For this purpose a blast fan P may be
employed as represented in Figure 3, but any other suitable air propelling device
may be substituted therefor.
Having thus fully described the said invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim :-
First The herein described process of converting starch into glucose or grape-
sugar, which process consists in first partially converting the starch in an open con-
verter at a moderate degree of heat, and then finishing the conversion in a closed
converter under pressure, substantially as set forth.
Second-The herein described improvement in the manufacture of glucose,
which improvement consists in mixing brine with the glucose for preserving the
same and increasing its clearness, substantially as set forth.
Third-The herein described improvement in the manufacture of glucose or
grape-sugar, which improvement consists in mixing a suitable quantity of aniline
blue or equivalent blue coloring matter with the syrup in the vacuum pan, for
improving the color of the syrup, substantially as set forth.
Fourth-The drying apparatus constructed and arranged to operate substantially
as set forth.
Fifth The apparatus for comminuting the blocks of sugar and consisting of a
rotating cutter-head, a moveable follower whereby the blocks are fed to the cutter-
head, and mechanism whereby the motion of the follower is automatically arrested
when the block is nearly cut up, substantially as described.
Sixth-The combination with the revolving cutter-head B, b, of the sliding
follower C, the feed screw e the divided screw nut H, and mechanism whereby the
parts of the said nut are automatically separated and disengaged from the said
screw when the follower has reached the limit of its movement, substantially as
set forth.
Seventh-The combination with the revolving cutter-head B, b, of an enclosing
hood or casing O provided with a suitable feed opening, mechanism whereby the
blocks to be cut are fed to the cutters, and a fan whereby an air current is directed
against the cutters near the point where the sugar is operated upon by the said
cutters, in such a manner as to prevent the cutters from throwing the comminuted
material out of the enclosing casing, substantially as set forth.
In Witness whereof I the said William Robert Lake have hereunto set my
hand and seal the Nineteenth day of March in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty three.