IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR DECORTICATING, CLEANING, AND POLISHING RICE, GRAINS, and SEEDS
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Richard Smith, jun"., of Grand Surrey Mills,
Rotherhithe, London, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINES FOR DECORTICATING, CLEANING, AND POLISHING RICE, GRAINS, and
SEEDS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard Smith at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, c
the 19th September 1873.
on
I, RICHARD SMITH, jun', of Grand Surrey Mills, Rotherhithe,
London, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "Im-
PROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR DECORTICATING, CLEANING, AND POLISHING RICE,
GRAINS, AND SEEDS," to be as follows:-
The general structure of the machine to which my improvements are
applicable is composed of an upper revolving and lower stationary discs
or bed, or a series of revolving and stationary discs, and when placed for-
working the face of the discs are in a horizontal position.

page_text: The object of my improvement is to construct a machine or a series of
machines in such a manner that a given quantity of rice, grain, or seed
as the case may be is collected and retained between the discs of the
machine before the decorticating, cleaning, or polishing action of the
machine commences, and during the process of decorticating, cleaning,
or polishing. The quantity of grain thus retained in the machine is to
form a bed or cushion, to prevent the rice or grain from being broken or
injured by the cleaning action of the revolving discs.
The means for retaining the grain between the discs herein-after
described is made adjustable to increase or diminish the severity of the
cleaning action of the discs on the grain before it is discharged from the
machine by the centrifugal face of the revolving discs, but not sufficient
at any time to break or injure the grain.
The following is a description of the structure of my improvement :--
The under or working surface of the revolving disc or discs made to act
on the grain may be composed of iron and provided with roughened
surfaces by casting, cutting, or otherwise, or they may be made of stone
ar composed of wood with their working surfaces provided with a
coating of composition of glue, emery, and Roman cement, or any other
known composition or substance may be used capable of giving the
required cleaning surface.
The surfaces of the revolving and stationary discs or beds when at
work are set or adjusted about two inches more or less apart, and the
grain is fed in between them through an eye or opening around the shaft
in the centre of the revolving disc; and in order to retain the required
quantity of rice, grain, or seed between the discs to be acted on I
provide the periphery or circumference of the stationary disc, which
is made about four inches more or less larger in diameter than the
revolving disc, with a vertical, adjustable, or stationary casing or band,
made of metal or other suitable material, and the upper edge of this band
or casing is usually made to extend about two inches more or less above
the under surface of the revolving disc. By this casing or band the
grain fed to the machine is retained until the space of two inches more
or less between the surfaces of the revolving and stationary disc or bed
is filled with grain, when the cleaning action of the revolving disc com-
mences on it and carries the grain by its centrifugal face to the cir-.
cumference of the disc, and discharges it uniformly over the upper edge

page_text: of the adjustable casing fit around the circumference of the stationary
disc, when it is conveyed into a hopper, and if desired conducted to
another pair of discs situated under the first, and so on through a series
of pairs of discs constructed to compose one or the same machine of two,
three, or more pairs of discs. The revolving discs in such cases are
mounted on the same shaft and furnished with means for adjusting the
revolving and stationary discs apart, or instead of using a machine com-
posed of a series of pairs of discs any number of independent machines
may be employed for running the grain through one of the machines,
then elevating it and running it through a second machine, and so on
through as many machines as may be found necessary for decorticating,
cleaning, or polishing the rice, grain, or seeds, as the case may be.
The stationary discs or bed as before stated is made larger in diameter
than the upper or revolving discs, this is done to form an annular or
concentric space between the inside of the casing and circumference of
the revolving discs through which the grain is uniformly discharged up
from between the discs by the centrifugal action of the revolving discs,
and uniformly over the entire top edge of the 'casing.
Instead of discharging the grain uniformly over the top edge of the
adjustable casing or band fit around the stationary discs as before
described, the casing may be firmly united to the circumference of the
stationary discs or bed and extend up to an indefinite heighth, and
provided with one or a series of openings for discharging the grain from
the discs or casing through tubes, or from one set of discs to another
when a series of discs are used in the same machine.
The opening or series of openings made through the sides of the
casing may be provided with adjustable valves or slides for regulating
the pressure of the grain against the cleaning surface of the discs by
discharging the grain at a greater or less distance above the under side
or cleaning surface of the revolving discs.
Each pair of discs is properly enclosed by an outer casing to confine
the grain within its proper limits as it escapes from or over the edge of
the band fit around the stationary discs, and for conducting it off into a
hopper, or through a spout, as the structure and use of the machine or
machines may require.
For some kind of work the stationary discs or bed is composed of a
skeleton frame and covered with wire gauze or pierced metal plates to

page_text: allow the dust and dirt to escape from the machine as much as possible
in the process of cleaning the grain; in such cases the under part of the
discs would be enclosed and provided with a spout for conducting off the
dirt and dust by an exhaust fan or similar means.
The discs of the machine may be made four or five feet in diameter,
more or less, to suit the work required to be done, and driven by means
of gear wheels or pullies and belts.
The frame for carrying the discs and other parts of the machine may
be constructed similar to the ordinary disc machine in common use, and
if desired provided with the usual appliances for conducting the grain to
and from the machine.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Richard Smith in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 17th March 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, RICHARD
SMITH, jun., of Grand Surrey Mills, Rotherhithe, London, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Nineteenth day of September, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the
thirty-seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Richard Smith, jun*., Her
special licence that I, the said Richard Smith, jun'., my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Richard
Smith, jun., my executors, administrators, and 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR DECORTICATING, CLEANING, AND
POLISHING RICE, GRAINS, AND SEEDS," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Richard Smith, jun., my executors or administrators,
by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands
and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the

page_text: 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 immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Richard Smith, jun., do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement:—–
The general structure of the machine to which my improvements are
applicable is composed of an upper revolving and lower stationary disc
or bed, or a series of revolving and stationary discs, and when placed
for working the face of the discs are in a horizontal position.
The object of my improvement is to construct a machine or a series
of machines in such a manner that a given quantity of rice, grain, or
seed, as the case may be, is collected and retained between the discs of
the machine before the decorticating, cleaning, or polishing action of
the machine commences, and during the process of decorticating,
cleaning, or polishing. The quantity of grain thus retained in the
machine is to form a bed or cushion to prevent the rice or grain from
being broken or injured by the cleaning action of the revolving
discs.
The means for retaining the grain between the discs, hereinafter
described, is made adjustable to increase or diminish the severity of
the cleaning action of the discs on the grain before it is discharged
from the machine by the centrifugal force of the revolving discs, but
not sufficient at any time to break or injure the grain.
-
The following is a description of the structure of my improvement :-
The under or working surface of the revolving disc or discs made to
act on the grain may be composed of iron and provided with roughened
surfaces by casting, cutting, or otherwise, or they may be made of
stone, or composed of wood, with their working surfaces provided with
a coating of composition of glue, emery, and Roman cement, or any
other known composition or substance may be used capable of giving
the required cleaning surface.
The surfaces of the revolving and stationary discs or beds when at
work are set or adjusted about two inches, more or less, apart, and the

page_text: grain is fed in between them through an eye or opening around the
shaft in the centre of the revolving disc; and in order to retain the
required quantity of rice, grain, or seed, between the discs to be acted
on I provide the periphery or circumference of the stationary disc,
which is made about four inches, more or less, larger in diameter than
the revolving disc, with a vertical, adjustable, or stationary casing or
band, made of metal or other suitable material; and the upper edge
of this band or casing is usualy made to extend about two inches, more
or less, above the under surface of the revolving disc. By this casing
or band the grain fed to the machine is retained until the space of two
inches, more or less, between the surfaces of the revolving and
stationary disc or bed is filled with grain, when the cleaning action of
the revolving disc commences on it and carries the grain by its
centrifugal force to the circumference of the disc, and discharges it
uniformly over the upper edge of the adjustable casing fit around the
circumference of the stationary disc, when it is conveyed into a hopper,
and if desired conducted to another pair of discs sittuated under the
first, and so on through a series of pairs of discs constructed to compose
one or the same machine of two, three, or more pairs of discs. The
revolving discs in such case are mounted on the same shaft and
furnished with means for adjusting the revolving and stationary disc
apart; or instead of using a machine composed of a series of pairs of
discs any number of independent machines may be employed for
running the grain through one of the machines, then elevating it, and
running it through a second machine, and so on through as many
machines as may be found necessary for decorticating, cleaning, or
polishing the rice, grain, or seeds, as the case may be.
The stationary discs or bed, as before stated, is made larger in
diameter than the upper or revolving discs. This is done to form an
annular or concentric space between the inside of the casing and
circumference of the revolving discs, through which the grain is
uniformly discharged up from between the discs by the centrifugal
action of the revolving disc, and uniformly over the entire top edge
of the casing.
Instead of discharging the grain uniformly over the top edge of the
adjustable casing or band fit around the stationary discs, as before
described, the casing may be firmly united to the circumference of the
stationary discs or bed and extend up to an indefinite height, and

page_text: provided with one or a series of openings for discharging, the grain
from the discs or casing through tubes or spouts, or from one set of
discs to another when a series of discs are used in the same machine.
The opening or series of openings made through the sides of the
casing may be provided with adjustable valves or slides for regulating
the pressure of the grain against the cleaning surface of the discs by
discharging the grain at a greater or less distance above the under side
or cleaning surface of the revolving discs.
Each pair of discs is properly enclosed by an outer casing to confine
the grain within its proper limits as it escapes from or over the edge
of the band fit around the stationary discs, and for conducting it off
into a hopper or through a spout, as the structure and use of the
machine or machines may require.
For some kind of work the stationary discs or bed is composed of a
skeleton frame and covered with wire gauze or pierced metal plates to
allow the dust and dirt to escape from the machine as much as possible
in the process of cleaning the grain; in such cases the under part of
the discs would be enclosed, and provided with a spout for conducting
off the dirt and dust by an exhaust fan or similar means.
The discs of the machine may be made four or five feet in diameter,
more or less, to suit the work required to be done, and driven by means
of gear wheels, or pullies and belts.
The frame for carrying the discs and other parts of the machine may
be constructed similar to the ordinary disc machine in common use,
and, if desired, provided with the usual appliances for conducting the
grain to and from the machine.
In order to give a fuller understanding of the said Invention, reference
will be made to the accompanying Drawings by the letters of reference
marked thereon, herewith annexed, and made to form part of this
Specification.
The various Figures or Drawings are made to represent different forms
or modifications of the same machine; each drawing or machine will be
separately described in the foregoing Specification and its advantages
specified.
Fig 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of a double disc machine

page_text: used more particularly for cleaning rice or other grain or seeds requiring
a delicate or light cleaning action.
A, A, is the framework of the machine, which may be composed of
two, three, or more columns, and suitable connecting pieces to receive
the running and stationary portions of the machine. B, B, are the
revolving discs furnished with iron cleaning surfaces as before mentioned,
and mounted on the shaft C, which are driven by a strap over the pulleys
D.
E, E, are the stationary discs supported by the brackets d, d,
attached to the framing of the machine, as represented. The extent of
the spaces g, g, between the revolving and stationary discs into which the
grain or seed passes for cleaning are adjusted by elevating or lowering
the shaft C by means of the screen fin the supporting frame piece h; as
a rule, when the machine is set for work, the line F, F, will be the floor
of the building or the under side of the lower stationary disc either when
a double or single disc machine is used. The following is a description
of the action of the machine when it is put in motion by means of a
belt over the pulley D:-The rice or grain is admitted to the upper pair
of discs by the spout O, provided with an adjustable slide, the grain
passes through the eye in the revolving disc B, and fills the space 9, 9,
between the revolving and stationary disc E, and when the space g is
filled the revolving discs commences the cleaning action on it, and by its
centrifugal force carries the grain to the circumference of the revolving
disc and up the annular space formed by the circumference of the
revolving disc and retaining band or casing k, k, attached to the circum-
ference of the stationary disc as represented. The grain then passes
down the annular space e, e, formed by the outside of the retaining
band k, k, and inside of the casing of the disc into the hopper J, from
whence it is conducted to the lower pair of discs, which are similar in
construction to the first, and undergoes another cleaning operation, and
after discharged into the hopper J¹, from whence it passes from the
machine through a suitable constructed spout, as represented. The
severity of the cleaning action on the rice or grain is governed by the
height of the upper edge of the retaining band k, k, for instance.
When but a slight cleaning action of the machine is required, the
retaining band k, k, is lowered, and when a severe cleaning action is a
required, the retaining band is elevated for the purpose of increasing the
distance from the lower surfaces of the revolving disc to the upper edge
of the band k, k, which requires the revolving disc to act with greater

page_text: severity on the grain in order to discharge it from the machine or from
one to another pair of discs, as the case may be.
The other modified forms of the machine represented by the Drawings
are constructed with a view of causing a severe cleaning action on the
grain, which will be fully described herein-after.
The retaining bands k, k, attached to the stationary disc E, Fig. 1,
may be constructed so as to vertically adjust them to retain the rice or
grain between the revolving and stationary discs a suitable time for
increasing or diminishing the severety of the cleaning action of the
machine, as may be required. This may be done by screw bolts or pins
passing through slots in the retaining bands and screwed into the discs,
which in the present case are made of wood, and faced with an iron
cleaning surface, or, if desired, the retaining bands k, k, may be con-
structed for permanently attaching them to the discs by screws as
represented or by any other analogeous means.
If desired, the dust and dirt liberated from the rice or grain in the
process of cleaning may be exhausted from the casing of the disc by a
fan attached to the pipe R.
In some cases the decorticating, cleaning, and polishing of rice or
grain may be accomplished by passing it through one pair of discs
constructed as represented in Fig. 1, and for such cases a single disc
machine is employed for doing the work, or if desired, any two or all
of the various formed discs represented in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, may
be employed in the same machine or made to form a series of
machines.
Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of a modified form of a
single disc machine specially constructed for producing a severe cleaning
action on the grain by constructing and arranging the upper edge of the
retaining band or casing k, k, a foot or two more or less above the
cleaning or under surface of the revolving disc B for the purpose of
retaining the grain in the machine to prolong and complete the cleaning
and polishing process on it before it is discharged therefrom. The disc B
is made of wood, and its cleaning surface faced with iron; the disc is
made deep or long, a foot or two more or less, and has more the form of
a cylinder than a disc. The retaining casing k, k, in this machine can
be attached either to the top or edge of the stationary disc, as may be

page_text: .
found most convenient in construction, and the inner surface of the
casing is made rough to act on the grain as it passes through the
machine for cleaning and polishing purposes. This machine is provided
with a space g, g, between the revolving and stationary disc for the
reception of the grain, the same as that represented in Fig. 1, and before
described, and acts on the grain the same, excepting that it is a single
disc machine, and is constructed to produce a more severe cleaning
action on the grain, as before stated. The grain is made to enter the
machine by the spout O provided with an adjustable slide, and passes
through the eye or opening in the centre of the disc to the space 9, 9,
and when the space is filled the revolving disc acts on and cleans it, and
by the centrifugal force of the disc it is carried up the annular space a, a,
between the circumference of the disc B and inside of the casing k, k,
and from thence down the annular space e, e, formed by the outside of
the retaining case k, k, and inside of the outer case of the disc, as
denoted by the arrows marked thereon, and into the hopper J, from
whence it is discharged by a suitable constructed spout. The disc B
which is attached to the shaft C is constructed for adjusting up and
down by the screw ƒ for regulating the depth of the grain space 9, 9,
between the revolving and stationary disc similar to the plan shown in
Fig. 1 and before described.
Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are vertical sectional elevations of modified forms of
the machine constructed for the purpose of prolonging the decorticating,
cleaning, and polishing action on the grain before it is discharged from
the machine, and instead of discharging the grain through hoppers
placed at the lower part of the machine as represented by Figs. 1 and 2,
before described, it is discharged through the outer casing of the machine
by spouts J, as represented in Figs. 3, 4, and 5, at or near the top of the
casing or at any point through the casing between the lower and upper
ends of the disc or cylinders B. In practise the grain will be discharged
from the machine as soon as the cleaning process is completed, and
consequently the discharging spouts J to suit this requirement are placed
at any point of the casing in Fig. 3. The spout O is provided with two
openings S, S', and adjusting slides communicating with the spout J so
that the grain may be discharged through one or both of them as may be
required, or instead of having one opening through the case for dis-
charging the grain two, three, or more may be used provided with spouts
at various points around the circumference of the case at the same or
different distantes from the top or bottom of the case.
.

page_text: '
The disc B in Fig. 3 is made in the form of a frustrum of a cone,
with its larger diameter working at the base as represented. The grain
is passed into the machine by the spout O, and fills the space 9, 9,
between the cone and stationary disc E; then the cleaning action of
the revolving disc or cone commences on the grain, and by its centri-
fugal force causes the grain to pass up the annular space a, a, formed by
the circumference of the cone and inside of the casing k, and is dis-
charged out into the spout J through the opening S, St. This form of
disc is used to prevent the centrifugal force of the disc or cone from too
rapidly discharging the grain from the machine, and thereby subject it
to a severe cleaning process, which is found necessary for some kinds of
grain.
The disc B in Fig. 4 is also the form of a frustrum of a cone, but
with its small diameter working at the base; in other respects it works
the same as the machine represented by Fig. 3, before described,
excepting the grain is more readily discharged from the machine, and
therefore is not subject to so severe a cleaning action.
The disc B, Fig. 5, is cylindrical, with its circumference provided with
grooves or angular channels, made to work in corresponding shaped and
sized grooves made or formed in the casing k, k. The grain is admitted
to this machine by the spout O, and when the space g, g, is filled
between the revolving and stationary disc the cleaning action commences,
and the centrifugal force of the disc carries the grain up the annular
space a, a, formed by the circumference of the disc B and inside of the
case k, and discharges it out of the spout J.
The object of providing the circumference of this disc with channels
or grooves as represented is to retard the motion of the grain by
obstructing its passage out of the machine in order to increase or
diminish the severity of the cleaning action on it as may be required.
The annular space a in this machine may be contracted by lowering or
elevating the disc, which further assists to retard the passage of the
grain from the machine if desired, and consequently increases or
diminishes the severity of the cleaning action on it.
The Drawings fully show the structure and action of the machines
represented by Figs. 3, 4, and 5 without further specifying them. All
decorticating, cleaning, or polishing surfaces of the machines herein-

page_text: before described may be made of iron or any of the various substances
before mentioned and commonly used for such purposes.
In some cases the stationary disc E are constructed in a skeleton form
or frame, and covered with wire gauze or pierced metal plate to permit
the dust and dirt to escape from the rice, grain, or seed in the process of
cleaning.
Having now described the nature of my Invention and manner of
working it, in various modified forms however, I do not confine myself
to the precise form, detail, and arrangement of construction as repre-
sented by the accompanying Drawings herein-before described, as such
may be varied to suit the purpose or purposes to which the improvements
are applicable.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard Smith, jun., have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of March, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four.