AN IMPROVED AUTOMATIC APPARATUS FOR ROASTING COFFEE AND OTHER SUBSTANCES
Year: 1866

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Augustus Bryant Childs at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
20th February 1866.-A communication from abroad by Abner Baker,
of the City, County, and State of New York, United States of
America.
I, AUGUSTUS BRYANT CHILDS, of No. 481, New Oxford Street, in the County
of Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "AN IMPROVED AUTOMATIC APPARATUS FOR ROASTING COFFEE AND OTHER
SUBSTANCES," a communication, to be as follows:-
The nature of the said Invention consists chiefly in the mode of constructing
the cylinder in which the coffee or other substance is placed to be roasted, in
the construction and arrangement of the mechanism for rotating the said
cylinder, and in the means for preventing the escape of the aroma arising
from the coffee during the process of roasting. The rotating cylinder is pro-
vided with a central axis, which is supported so as to turn freely in suitable
bearings attached to the stand or frame of the apparatus. The sides of the
said cylinder are by preference formed of wire gauze, but may also be
advantageously constructed of wire rods, perforated metal plates, or metal
openwork of any description that will retain the coffee berries in the cylinder
during the process of roasting in such a manner as to expose them to the full
action of the heat. This open method of constructing the sides of the cylinder
also allows the detached husks or shells of the coffee berries to fall out there-
from while the said cylinder is in motion. The cylinder ends or heads are

page_text: 'formed of tin or other suitable metal, and one of these ends is removeable to
allow the coffee or other substance to be introduced into the cylinder. The
axis or spindle upon which the said cylinder turns is by preference made to
extend from end to end thereof. The ends or heads are fitted upon this
spindle and secured in their proper positions thereon by pins or other suitable
means. The cylinder is provided_with a cover or case of tin or other suitable
reflecting material, which completely covers all but the under portion of the
:said cylinder when placed thereon, but which can be easily removed at
pleasure. This cover answers the double purpose of a reflector to reflect the
heat down upon the substance being roasted and a condenser to prevent the
escape of the aroma thereof. The roasting cylinder is caused to rotate at
the required velocity in its bearings by an arrangement of clock work to which
the spindle of the said cylinder is connected. The wheels and other parts of
the said clock work are enclosed in a case or frame of cast iron, brass, or other
suitable material, and the bearings for the spindles are formed in or attached
to the sides of the said frame. The wheels are set in motion by strong spiral
springs coiled around barrels, upon which they are wound by suitable keys.
By preference two of these springs are employed, which enables the apparatus
to work without ceasing for a longer time than otherwise, as each of the said
springs can be wound up while the other is keeping the apparatus in motion.
A toothed wheel is fixed upon each of the spring barrels gearing into a small
pinion fixed on an intermediate shaft or spindle provided with a coupling to
connect it with the spindle of the roasting cylinder. This intermediate shaft
also carries another toothed wheel, whose diameter is many times greater than
that of the pinion. This wheel communicates motion to another pinion,
whose spindle also carries a wheel of much greater diameter than its pinion,
and this last-named wheel gears into another pinion carried by a toothed
wheel gearing into a pinion fixed on the spindle of a fan. By the relative
diameters of the pinions and wheels above described a very rapid motion is
communicated to this fan, which causes a continuous supply of fresh air to the
working parts of the apparatus, and prevents their being injuriously affected by
the heat arising from the stove upon which the apparatus is placed to work.
Slits or apertures are formed in the case or frame in which the wheels and
springs are enclosed, and these apertures allow a free current of air through
the said case. The said working parts are still further protected from the
heat by a guard or shield of tin or other metal fixed at the lower part of the
case or frame enclosing the works. The apparatus is stopped when the springs
are wound up by a stop acting upon the arms of the fan. The apparatus is
mounted upon a stand or frame of cast iron open under the roasting cylinder

page_text: to admit the beat thereto. When at work the said stand is placed upon the
heated part of the stove till the coffee or other substance is sufficiently roasted,
and then placed upon the hearth (still in motion) to get cool and condense the
aroma. The open construction of the cylinder sides allows the heat to act
freely upon the coffee or other substance contained therein, the roasting being
still further accelerated by the reflecting cover, which also retains the aroma
produced from the coffee till the said aroma has been properly condensed.
The husks or shells of the coffee berries are detached by the motion of the
cylinder, and are separated without any further trouble from the said berries
by falling through the apertures or perforations in the cylinder sides.