IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND IN APPARATUS FOR BEATING COFFEE AND OTHER SEED CASKS
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Augustus Manning (of the East & West India
Docks), Engineer, and Brice Tydeman (of the East & West India
Docks), Inspector of Works, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE METHOD OF AND IN APPARATUS FOR BEATING COFFEE AND OTHER SEED
CASKS."
Sealed the 29th December 1874, and dated the 7th November 1874.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Augustus Manning and
Brice Tydeman at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with their Petition, on the 7th November 1874.
We, AUGUSTUS MANNING (of the East & West India Docks),
Engineer, and BRICE TYDEMAN (of the East & West India Docks),
Inspector of Works, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND IN APPARATUS FOR BEATING COFFRE
AND OTHER SEED CASKS," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to an improved method of beating casks in
order to reduce the bulk of the coffee or other seed contained therein, by
a novel and peculiar arrangement of apparatus.

page_text: According to the ordinary mode of effecting this operation men are
stationed round the cask, and strike it simultaneously, or as nearly so as
possible, with wooden mallets or beaters.
Now this Invention consists in a circular ring or disc, on the inner
periphery of which are hinged or carried in suitable bearings and at
equal radial distances apart double levers or beaters arranged vertically.
To this ring or disc are secured springs, each of which presses against
the lower arm or hammer of each of the double levers or beaters, and
normally tends to force it inwards towards the centre of the ring or
disc. On the top of the upper arm of each double lever or beater is a
roller which is caused to mount and revolve against a ratchet or cam-
like projection hinged to the internal periphery of a second circular ring
or disc placed above parallel to and at a short distance from the first ring
or disc. On the recessed inner edge or portion of the upper face of this
second ring or disc is fitted an adjustable ring formed on its internal
periphery with projecting lugs at the ends of which are bolts or pins which
pass through grooves or slots in the ratchet or cam-like projections before
named, in such a manner that by a partial revolution of the adjustable ring
the said projections will be forced further outwards or inwards, thereby
increasing or diminishing their extent. Mounted at a convenient point
between the two rings or discs is a spur pinion provided with a ratchet
and handle and gearing into a corresponding rack on the under face of
the second ring or disc; and attached to the first or lower ring or disc
at equal radial distances apart are brackets carrying rollers, on the
peripheries of which the upper or second ring or disc bears when
revolving, and which with the brackets serve to keep the said ring or
disc in one uniform horizontal plane at all times. On the sides of the
bracket carrying the double levers or beaters are hooks for catching the
upper circular edge or chine of the cask as hereafter described.
The whole apparatus is hinged or carried at diametrically opposite
points of its external circumference to a forked lever and handle pivoted
or mounted at the upper end of a standard or frame bolted or otherwise
fixed on a truck or trolly running on wheels and carrying a counter-
balance weight. The truck or trolly being run up to the cask to be
beaten the two circular rings or discs with their appendages are dropped
over and round the mouth of the cask until held up by the hooks which
catch on the open edge or chine of the cask as before mentioned. The
spur pinion between the rings or discs is then turned by an attendant

page_text: which causes the upper second ring or disc to revolve, and in so doing
the ratchet or cam-like projections on its internal periphery run past
and in contact with the rollers on the upper arms of the levers or
beaters, thereby forcing the said upper arms inwards towards, and the
lower arms or hammers outwards or away from the cask until the rollers
reach and are leaving the extreme ends of the said projections when they
are forced back suddenly on to the plain portion of the upper second ring
or disc, and by means of the springs before mentioned in connection
therewith, the lower arms or hammers are forced inwards and strike
simultaneous blows on and around the cask. This operation is continued
until the coffee or other seed contained in the cask is sufficiently reduced
in bulk. By means of the handle on the forked lever the apparatus is
then raised from the cask and the truck or trolly moved to a fresh
position.
According to a modification of this Invention the levers or beaters are
arranged and caused to strike the cask horizontally, in which case the
ratchet or cam-like projections are formed on or connected with the
external periphery of the upper second ring or disc.
This Invention is not confined to the precise methods of operating the
beaters simultaneously as here described, for it is evident that the same
result may be effected by means of eccentrics, shafting, and bevilled
gear, or by any other suitable mechanical arrangement.
If desired either of these arrangements of gear may be driven by
steam or any other available power in lieu of by hand as here described.
By this Invention one man can do the work of six in less time and
more efficiently than by the ordinary method.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, AUGUSTUS
MANNING, of the East and West India Docks, Engineer, and BRICE
TYDEMAN, of the East and West India Docks, Inspector of Works, send
greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of November, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four,
in the 38th year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto us, the said Augustus Manning and Brice
Tydeman, Her special license that we, the said Augustus Manning
and Brice Tydeman, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as we, the said Augustus Manning and Brice Tydeman, our
executors, administrators, or assigns, should at any time agree with
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during
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 "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND IN APPARATUS FOR BEATING COFFEE AND
OTHER SEED CASKS," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the
said Augustus Manning and Brice Tydeman, our executors or admini-
strators, by an instrument in writing under our hands and seals, or
under the hand and seal of one of us, 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 imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Augustus Manning and Brice
Tydeman, do hereby declare the nature of our 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 accompanying Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked
thereon, that is to say :—
Our said Invention relates to the beating of casks or receptacles
containing coffee or other berries or seeds for the purpose of reducing
the compass or space occupied by a given quantity of such berries or
seeds so as to condense a larger quantity of the same into a cask or
receptacle of given dimensions, and it consists essentially in substituting
for the ordinary method of beating the casks or receptacles by hand a
peculiar arrangement of machinery or apparatus, whereby that operation
may be efficiently and rapidly performed either wholly or partially by
automatic means.
And in order that our said Invention may be fully understood we

page_text: | Manning & Tyaeman & Apparatus for Beating Coffee & other Deea Casks.
shall now proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that
purpose shall refer to the several Figures on the annexed two Sheets of
Drawings, the same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts
in all the Figures.
Figure 1 (Sheet 1) of our Drawings represents a side elevation, and
Figure 2 is a corresponding plan of a machine constructed and arranged
according to one mode of carrying out our Invention.
Figures 3 and 4 are respectively a detail sectional elevation and plan
of a modification of the arrangement Figures 1 and 2.
Figure 5 is a side elevation, and Figure 6 is a corresponding plan of
another modification.
And Figure 7 (Sheet 2) is a sectional elevation, and Figure 8 is a
corresponding plan of a further modification of apparatus constructed
according to our Invention.
b
A (Figures 1 and 2) is a ring provided with lugs or projections a, a,
which are arranged in pairs at equal distances around the same and
form bearings for hinge pins 6 carrying beaters B which are fitted one
between the two lugs or projections a, a, of each pair around the ring A.
The beaters B consist of double armed lovers arranged vertically, the
lower arm of each of which forms a hammer and is acted upon by a
respective spring d under the impulsion of which spring the whole of
the lower arms or hammers c, c, are normally forced towards the centre
of the ring A whilst each of the upper arms e, e, is provided with a pin
for the reception of a roller g which is mounted loosely so as to be
capable of turning freely thereon when the upper arms are forced
inwards in the manner herein-after explained. The ring A has also
formed on or attached to it brackets C, C, for supporting the axes h, h³,
of loosely mounted rollers D, D, on which bears the under surface of a
ring E, which brackets are also provided with projections i, i, over-
lapping the ring E, so that the ring is retained in a horizontal position
between the projections i and the rollers D at the same time that it is
free to rotate upon its own axis. The ring E has formed on its inner
periphery a series of cam or ratchet projections F, F, which work against
and in contact with the rollers 9, 9, of the beaters B, B, when such ring
is rotated in the direction of the arrow, Figure 2, in such a manner as to
first force the upper arms e, e, of the beaters B towards the centre, whilst
the curved portion of the cams F, F, are in contact with the rollers g, I,

page_text: thereby withdrawing the hammers c, c, from the centre and then allow
the arms e, e, suddenly to recede by reason of the end or step k of the cam
passing the corresponding roller g, by which means the hammers c, c,
are impelled under the action of the spring d, d, in the direction of the
centre of the ring. On the under side of the ring E there is formed an
annular rack G with which gears a pinion H mounted on a centre/
which is supported in brackets m formed on the ring A, and may be
provided with a handle, by the act of turning which the rotary motion
of the ring E and the striking action of the beaters are obtained, a
ratchet wheel and detent being employed in order to prevent a back
motion, and maintain the ring in any required position.
The combined apparatus arranged in the manner herein-before described
is hinged to or carried by the arms o, o, of a forked lever I, the lower
ends of which arms are fitted to the axes h¹ before mentioned, whilst
their upper ends are mounted on pins p, p, supported in bearings in a
frame or carriage K to the opposite extremity of the lever I to that on
which the bifurcations o, o, are carried is attached a chain q, which is
connected with a crab or windlass L fixed on the carriage K in order to
facilitate the raising and lowering of the apparatus as required. The
carriage K is mounted on wheels M for the convenience of locomotion,
and it may be suitably weighted so as to further counterbalance the pre-
ponderance of the overhanging apparatus if the crab or windlass is found
insufficient for that purpose.
In operating with this apparatus the carriage K is run up to the cask
to be beaten, one of which is shewn at N in the act of being operated
upon, and the rings A and E with the beaters B, B, and other appendages
being brought directly over the mouth of the cask N, the apparatus is
lowered by unwinding the chain q by means of the crab or windlass L
until the ends of hooked levers r, r, which are mounted on the pins b
engage with the chime of the cask, whereby the apparatus is supported 8
in position. The axis is then turned by means of a handle so as to
actuate the pinion H, the motion of which is transmitted to the ring E,
whereby the latter is rotated. The cams F, F, then act upon the
rollers g, g, of the arms e, e, and alternately force the entire series of
hammers c, c, outwards and allow them to recede suddenly under the
impulsion of the springs d, d, in the manner herein-before described.
The whole of the hammers simultaneously are thus caused to strike a
succession of blows upon the cask, by which means the coffee or other.

page_text: berries or seeds contained in such cask are shaken down into a small
compass, after which the apparatus is elevated by means of the lever I,
chain q, and crab or windlass L until the ends c of the beaters B are
clear of the upper edge of the cask N, when the carriage K with the
apparatus may be moved to another place for the purpose of operating
upon a fresh cask, and so on in succession.
In the arrangement Figures 1 and 2 the cams F, F, are represented as
formed in one piece with the ring E, but in lieu thereof they may be
hinged or otherwise attached to the ring in such a manner as to admit of
their being adjusted towards or from the centre for the purpose of varying
or regulating the stroke or throw of the beaters B, B.
Figures 3 and 4 are respectively. a detail sectional elevation and plan
of a portion of a ring illustrating this modification. The ring E is pro-
vided with lugs or projections a', a', to which the cams F, F, are attached
by hinge pins, and the inner edge of its upper face is recessed for the
reception of an adjustable ring E. On the internal periphery of the
latter ring there are formed projecting lugs F, F', provided with bolts or.
pins f,f', which pass through grooves or slots f³, fs, in the cams F, F,
in such a manner as to be capable of traversing such grooves or slots.
when the ring E' is partially rotated. This action has the effect of forcing
the cams F nearer to the centre, as shewn by the red lines in Figure 4,
or further from the same, according to the direction in which the ring E¹
is moved, by which means the throw or stroke of the beaters B is.
increased or diminished as required.
Figure 5 represents a side elevation and Figure 6 is a corresponding"
plan of apparatus constructed according to another modification, in which
the beaters aro arranged to strike the cask horizontally in lieu of vertically.
In this case the cams F, F, are formed on or attached to the external
periphery of the ring E instead of on or to its internal periphery, as in
the arrangement Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, such cams acting however upon
the rollers g, g, of the beaters B, B, so as to force the beaters outwards
and then allow them to fall upon the cask under the impulsion of the
springs d, d, in a manner similar to that herein-before described.
In the preceding arrangements the apparatus has been described or.
assumed as employed in combination with a portable carriage for the
purpose of enabling it to be moved from place to place, wherever the
casks are situate; but the converse of this method may be adopted, the
..

page_text: beating apparatus being made stationary by means of a suitable truck
or otherwise to the place at which the apparatus is erected.
Figure 7, Sheet 2, is a sectional elevation, and Figure 8 is a plan
shewing this modification. In this arrangement the whole of the
actuating gear is arranged below the surface of a flooring or platform,
the top of which is represented as removed in Figure 8 for the purpose
of more clearly shewing the working parts. The beaters B, B, consist
of bell-crank levers, the arms c, c, of which extending up vertically
through and above the flooring or platform M, which is suitably slotted
form the hammers for beating the cask, which is placed between them,
whereas the arms e, e, which are acted upon by the cams F, F, in the
manner herein-before described, are situate beneath the surface of such
flooring or platform. The levers or beaters B, B, have their fulcra at
b, b, in brackets a, a, attached to a frame A, forming a foundation or
support for the entire structure, which brackets also carry by means of
pins ff, the rollers D, D, over which the ring E rotates. The cams F, F,
are situate on the top of the ring E in lieu of on the side, as in the
arrangements herein-before described, so that the rollers g, g, of the beater
arms e, e, rest upon the cams as the latter are moved beneath them,
such rollers being maintained normally in contact with the cams F, F,
by means of a weight d' depending from and connected to the ends of
the whole series of arms e, e. The pinion H, which engages with the
rack G on the ring E, is actuated from any suitable prime mover by
means of a shaft 7, which has its bearings at m in the frame A, and may
be provided on its end with a pulley for the reception of a strap for
driving the same. In operating with this apparatus the hammers c, c,
are first placed in a sufficiently divergent position, in which they are
maintained by a ratchet wheel and detent, and a truck carrying a cask
is run in between the hammers c, c, as shewn at N, until the cask is
situate concentric with a circle touching the face of the whole series of
hammers. The shaft 2 is then put in motion, whereby the hammers c, c,
are caused to simultaneously strike the cask in the manner herein-before
described until the contents are sufficiently shaken down or condensed,
after which it is removed upon the truck, and a fresh one is run in to be
operated upon, and so on in succession.

page_text: Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 (Sheet 1) steam or other than manual motive
power may be employed for driving the apparatus, pullies, gearing, or
other means being in that case provided for transmitting and receiving
power.
We do not limit ourselves moreover to the precise methods herein-
before described and illustrated in our Drawings for operating the beaters
simultaneously, as a similar result may be obtained by means of eccen-
trics, shafting, and bevel gearing, and by various modifications in the
mechanical arrangements. For example, in lieu of the frame carrying
the beaters being made stationary, and the frame carrying the actuating
mechanism rotating, the former may be caused to rotate, and the latter
to remain stationary; but the arrangements herein-before described
and illustrated are by preference employed. The details may be
also otherwise modified without departing from the principle of our
Invention.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of our
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or
carried into effect, we would observe in conclusion that what we consider
to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured
to us by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
First. The application and use to and in the beating of casks or
receptacles of a series of hammers or beaters operated automatically for
the purpose of condensing the contents of such casks or receptacles as
herein-before described.
Secondly. The combination with a series of hammers or beaters of a
series of cams, ratchet projections, or eccentrics, both being arranged in
such a manner as to cause such hammers or beaters to move away or
rise from and fall upon or strike the cask or receptacle to be beaten,
substantially as herein-before described, and illustrated by our
Drawings.
Thirdly. Hinging or attaching the cams or ratchet projections, or
their equivalents, to a frame or holder, and combining therewith an
adjustable frame in such a manner as to admit of the varying or regu-
lating of the stroke or throw of the hammers or beaters, substantially as
herein-before described, and illustrated by our Drawings.
Fourthly. The combination with an apparatus for beating casks or
receptacles constructed and operating as before mentioned of a carriage

page_text: arranged in such a manner as to admit of the entire apparatus being
raised and lowered, and moved from place to place as required, sub-
stantially as herein-before described, and illustrated by our Drawings.
"
In witness whereof, I, the said Augustus Manning, on behalf of
myself and the said Brice Tydeman, have to this our Specifi-
cation set my hand and seal, the Sixth day of May One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-five.
AUGUSTUS MANNING. (L.S.)