IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR HULLING, CLEANING, POLISHING, AND SEPARATING COFFEE AND OTHER GRAIN OR SEED
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine,
1
Lake, & Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR HULLING, CLEANING,
POLISHING, AND SEPARATING COFFEE AND OTHER GRAIN OR SEED."-A com-
munication from abroad by George Lafayette Squier, of Buffalo,
New York, United States of America.
Sealed the 4th January 1876, and dated the 11th November 1875.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Robert Lake at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and
Declaration, on the 11th November 1875, pursuant to the 9th
Section of the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, send greeting.
an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS

page_text: OTHER GRAIN OR SEED," and have petitioned Her Majesty to grant unto
me, my executors, administrators, and assigns, Her Royal Letters
Patent for the same, and have made solemn Declaration that it has been
communicated to me from abroad by George Lafayette Squier, of
Buffalo, New York, United States of America.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Robert Lake, do hereby
declare that the following Complete Specification, under my hand and
seal, fully describes and ascertains the nature of the said Invention, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawing forming a
part of this Specification:-
Coffee grows in the form of a berry, consisting of an outer.skin and
pulp containing usually two kernels, each of which is covered by a thin
skin called the silver skin, and enveloped by a husk or shell.
In order to fit the coffee for the market the outer skin and pulp must 1
be broken up so as to detach the kernels therefrom, and the husk and
silver skin removed from the latter when the dirt, dust, and broken'
kernels must be separated from the plump or sound kernels.
s
When the berry is dried with the pulp on, the latter becomes more or
less tough, forming a coating around the kernels, which is removed with 2
great difficulty. Coffee in this condition is called double husk coffee.
Generally the outer skin and pulp are removed while green and soft,
thereby freeing the kernels and forming what is called single husk
coffee, when only the husk and silver skin remain to be removed from
the kernels in a dry state:
J
2
This improved machinery is designed to hull, clean, and separate
double as well as single husk coffee, the operations being the same in
both cases, and differing only in duration. The said Invention relates
to two principal modes of operating upon the coffee, namely, by.
subjecting a batch or charge of coffee repeatedly to the action of one 3
hulling and polishing mechanism until finished, or passing the coffee.
through two or more hulling and polishing mechanisms when the
finished coffee is discharged from the last one in a continuous stream.
The nature of this Invention will be fully understood from the
following

page_text: ;
to the bottom of the cylinder to prevent any kernels from lodging there.
D, D, are two feeding chambers, the lower ends of which communicate
with the ends of the cylinder C, and E is an intermediate pressure
chamber of hopper form connected with the cylinder C by an opening
d formed at the centre of the cylinder or over the point where the right
and left screws B, B', meet. The size of the opening d may be made
adjustable to let more or less of the coffee through at once. Between the
centre compartment E and the two end compartments D, D, is placed a
sliding partition or gate e that may be raised or lowered at will to
increase or diminish the height of the partitions.
In order to prevent any portion of the coffee from lodging and
remaining in any part of the compartments, D, D, and to ensure a
perfect circulation so that every kernel shall pass on in its order and
none escape uncleaned, the compartments D, D, E, are constructed in a
peculiar form with all parts of each compartment tapering at an acute
angle towards the opening in the cylinder that belongs to that com-
partment. This matter of perfect circulation is of great importance, as
if a portion of the coffee lodges in any part of the machine it escapes
the cleaning process and injures the appearance of the whole batch.
In working the said machine all three compartments D, D, E, are
filled with the raw or unhulled coffee. The screws are then rotated and
the propellers B², B2, draw in the coffee from the two end compartments
D, D, of the hopper and hold it from sliding back under pressure while
the screws take it and force it along towards the centre of the cylinder,
the corrugations of the cylinder and the alternating threads of the
screws causing a continuous agitation and change of place of the
kernels among themselves. The two screws bring the coffee from each
end to the middle where the grains work against each other, producing
a great pressure upon all the coffee in the cylinder, whereby each kernel
and every part of each kernel is subjected to a friction or grinding
process against the others and against the metallic surfaces, breaking
and grinding up the husks and rubbing off the silver skin, and giving
each kernel the desired polish, until it is finally forced up through the
opening d into the central compartment E. The unhulled coffee
originally placed in this compartment is lifted by the hulled kernels and
gradually lifted or forced over the partitions into the end compartments
D, and is thus fed to the propellers to be followed by the coffee that has
passed through the cylinder, and thus the circulation is kept up

page_text: continually until all the coffee is thoroughly cleaned and polished. By
raising or lowering the partitions e between the centre and end com-
partments the pressure in the cylinder may be increased or diminished
by increasing or diminishing the height of the column of coffee in the
central compartment. The machine is thus easily adjusted to the kind
continually until all the coffee is thoroughly cleaned and polished. By
raising or lowering the partitions e between the centre and end com-
partments the pressure in the cylinder may be increased or diminished
by increasing or diminishing the height of the column of coffee in the
central compartment. The machine is thus easily adjusted to the kind
and condition of coffee to be cleaned and to the power used.
When a greater pressure is desired than can be given by raising the
gates e to their highest position it can be attained by placing metallic
balls or weights e¹ on the coffee in the central compartment. Balls of
various sizes and number can be used so as to get every degree of
pressure désired.
As the coffee rises in the central compartment its tendency is to
accumulate in a heap in the centre of the compartment and remain
comparatively stationary, while that which rises near the partitions or
gates flows over into the end compartments, thus preventing an even
and equal circulation of the kernels. To obviate this difficulty a V
shaped deflector F is placed across the central compartment extending
for a considerable distance down into this compartment. This deflector
effectually prevents the piling of the grain upon the centre, divides it
equally, and guides it to each end compartment, and thus insures a
uniform and equal circulation of the kernels. Sometimes, especially if
the coffee is a little green or has not been thoroughly dried before
cleaning, it is liable to pack and clog at the outlet of the cylinder at the
bottom of the central compartment. To obviate this inconvenience an
adjustable finger or agitator f is provided which can be extended down
into the opening d to break up any clogging that may occur there.
This agitator being adjustable by a thumb screw f¹ can be adjusted to
any kind or condition of coffee to be cleaned, and effectually prevents all
clogging at that point.
After the coffee has been in the machine sufficiently long to be
thoroughly cleaned of the husk and silver skin and polished to the
desired degree, it is removed or discharged from the huller through an
opening or throat g formed in the centre of the lower half of the cylinder

page_text: When it is desired to disharge the coffee from the huller the gate g¹ is
opened, and by a few turns of the screw the coffee is all brought to the
discharge opening and passed through.
!!
In large machines designed to be driven by steam or other power the
screws B, B', may be made of such length as to thoroughly hull and
clean the coffee by passing it once through the cylinder when the
pressure-chamber E and opening d are dispensed with, and the discharge
opening g is provided with an adjustable gate so as to regulate the
discharge in order to produce the required pressure upon the material in
the cylinder. Any kernels which may escape unhulled from the
machine are separated from the hulled kernels and returned to the feed
hoppers.
Ⓒ The coffee comes from the huller mixed with the husks and silver
skins which have mostly been ground to a fine meal or powder, and it is
necessary to separate the coffee into various grades to fit it for market.
This is accomplished by means of a shaking separator arranged underneath
the huller, and constructed in the following manner :-H is the rectangular
frame or case of the separator suspended from the legs of the huller by
hangers h and provided with horizontal ways, in which are arranged a
series of removable screens H², H², H³, H². The ground husks and
silver skins fall through the meshes of the whole series of screens to the
The
ground, leaving the coffee of various grades in the various screens.
top screen H' is intended to take out or retain any unhulled grains that
may have passed through the huller through the carelessness of the
operator or from any other cause.
In nearly all lots of coffee the grains are of two distinct shapes; the
majority of the grains being oblong with one side flat, while a small
portion of the grains are nearly spherical and are called "pea grains."
It is obvious that a square mesh large enough to let the pea grains pass
through would permit but a small portion of the oblong grains to pass
through, and if the mesh was made large enough to let all the oblong
grains through it would also let through many of the unhulled grains. If
an oblong mesh is used it will pass the oblong grains, but will not pass
the pea grains unless the mesh is made wide enough to also let through
many of the unhulled grains. The first or top screen H¹ is therefore
made with an oblong mesh that is of the right size to let through the
oblong grains without letting the unhulled grains through, and with a

page_text: square mesh of the right size to let the pea grains through without
letting the unhulled grains through. These meshes may be made in
alternate rows, or one section of the screen may be made of one kind
of mesh and the rest of the other kind, as shown in Figure 4. With a
| screen thus constructed all the hulled coffee will pass through, while
the unhulled will be retained in the riddle to be again emptied into the
huller. The next screen H³ is made with a long narrow mesh large
enough to let through the small inferior and dead grains, but retaining
all the plump and perfect grains, while the screen H³ has a still
narrower long mesh which lets through all the broken grains and the most
inferior portion of that which falls into this riddle. The last screen H*
has a still narrower long mesh which retains all the coffee that reaches it
and only lets through the dirt and ground hulls. Other screens may be
added to separate the coffee into more grades if desired. In separating
coffee the oblong mesh is essential by reason of the peculiar shape of the
grains, and so far as I am aware it has never before been applied in a
'coffee separator in this manner.
7
The shaking of the screen frame H may be done by hand, but I prefer
to do it by means of cams h¹ placed upon the shaft 6 of the huller and
engaging with levers h² attached to the screen frame. By a few revo-
lutions of the shaft 6 the screens are sufficiently shaken to thoroughly
separate the coffee and take out all the dirt, the riddles are then taken
out and the contents emptied into proper receptacles.
When it is desired to operate the huller without operating the
separator, the levers h² are moved out of reach of the cams and held
there by means of stop pins or any other suitable device.
In Figures 5 to 8, which represent the said improved machine for
hulling and polishing coffee in one continuous operation, A is the
rectangular frame or bed of the machine; B, B¹, are the hulling screws
arranged in two hollow cylinders C, C', secured to the bed A. The
bulling screws are mounted on the shaft 6 revolving in bearings 6'. The
cylinders C, C³, are each constructed in two parts, and provided on their
inner side with corrugations, as herein-before described. The screws
B, B', are both constructed alike, or with their threads running in the
same direction, but otherwise they are composed of sections and provided
with propellers B² arranged at their feed ends, as herein-before described;
I is the hopper into which the unhulled grain is fed, and which com-
---

page_text: .
municates at the bottom with the throat or feed of the first cylinder B;
J is the discharge hopper of the latter, connecting at its bottom with the
discharge end of the cylinder, and having its rear side inclined at an
angle more or less acute to facilitate the forcing up of the grain; j is
an adjustable mouth-piece or tongue arranged in the hopper J for
regulating the pressure on the grain in the cylinder as the condition of
the grain may require. The tongue ; consists of a plate or board of the
same width as the hopper, and is pivoted to the front wall of the
hopper above the discharge opening of the cylinder. The tongue j is
held in any desired position by a screw bolt j¹ and spring j³, or any
other suitable means. By swinging the tongue on its pivot the discharge
opening of the hopper is reduced or enlarged and the pressure on the
grain increased or diminished as may be required; is the lip or dis-
charge spout of the hopper J, and M a vibrating separator arranged
below the lip / and above the feed hopper N of the second cylinder C'.
This separator consists of an upper screen L, whose meshes are of such
size as to retain all the grain while permitting the fine particles of dust
and chaff to pass through and fall on an inclined plate L', from which
they are discharged by a spout F. The grain will pass over the tail end
of the screen L and fall on a second screen m,, which is provided with
oblong and round or square holes in alternate rows, through which the
oblong and round hulled grains are passed into the feed hopper N, while
the unhulled grains pass over the tail end of the screen m, and are con-
ducted by a spout m¹ to an elevator O, which returns the unhulled grains
to the feed hopper I of the first cylinder. The screens L and m and
plate L' are all secured to one frame, which is supported on flexible
arms P fastened with their lower ends to the bed A.
A vibrating motion is imparted to the separator by means of a cam P
mounted on the shaft 6 between the cylinders C, C³, and engaging with
a rock lever p¹ or equivalent means. The elevator is driven by a belt r
from the pulley or fly wheel R on the shaft b, or in any other suitable
manner; Q is the discharge hopper of the second cylinder C₁¹; it is
provided with an adjustable mouth-piece q similar to that of the
hopper J.
In working this improved machine the coffee or other grain is fed
into the main hopper I, when the propeller of the screw B takes it and
forces it forward into the cylinder C, the screw gradually working it
along until it reaches the hopper-J, the upward inclination of which,

page_text: combined with its adjustable mouth-piece j, having a tendency to hold
the grain back, while the propeller at the feed end of the screw forces
it forward, and thus a compact mass accumulates in the cylinder, which
mass is continually agitated under pressure by the screw.
The hulls are
in this manner broken and the inner skin rubbed off. The grain is
gradually forced in a continuous stream through the mouth of the
hopper J, and falls upon the vibrating riddle L, where the fine chaff,
dirt, and dust resulting from the grinding of the husks is taken out and
'separated from the grain and discharged through the spout . The
unhulled grain passing over the riddle L is discharged through the
spout m³ into the elevator O, by which it is carried back to the hopper I.
The hulled grain passes through the riddle m into the hopper N, and
thence through the second cylinder C', where it is operated upon in the
same manner as in the first cylinder, by which means the silver or inner
skin is rubbed off and the grain thoroughly polished.. The degree of
the polish can be varied by varying the pressure by means of the
adjustable mouth-piece of the discharge hopper. As the grain is
finished it passes out in a continuous stream through the mouth of the
hopper Q, and is ready to go to the final separator.
It is obvious that by adding another cylinder and screw in the same
way the grain would receive a still higher polish, and by decreasing the
pressure in the mouths of the delivery hoppers, so that less work would
be done in each cylinder, the grain might be forced through faster. The
three or more cylinders work faster under low pressure and do the work
as well as two cylinders under high pressure.
'
It is also obvious that the cylinders, instead of being placed in a line
with the screws, all mounted on the same shaft, might be placed side 'by
side or below each other, with the shafts of the different screws geared
together, the same results would then be produced, though the machine
would be more complicated than that above described.
Having thus fully described the nature of 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 combination with a cylinder and feed chambers D, D, and
central discharge opening 7 of the right and left hand screws B, B¹,
mounted on the same shaft as above described and for the purpose set
forth

page_text: screws B', and one or more intermediate separators M, as above described
and for the purpose set forth.
Thirteenth. The combination with the hulling screw B and cylinder C
of the discharge hopper J, separator M, elevator O; and feed hopper I,
as above described and for the purpose set forth.
Fourteenth. The combination with the hulling screw B and cylinder C
of the discharge hopper J and adjustable mouth-piece j, arranged in the
latter for regulating the pressure on the grain in the cylinder, as above
described and for the purpose set forth.
Fifteenth., The combination with the hulling screw B and cylinder C
and finishing screw B¹ and cylinder C₁ of the separator M, composed of
screen L, plate L', screen m, and spouts l, m, as above described and
for the purpose set forth.
. In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Eleventh day of November, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
five.
Witness,
HY. JA'. NOONE.
W. ROBT. LAKE. (L.S.)