IM- PROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF, AND APPARATUS FOR EXTRACTING AND TREATING JUICE FROM SUGAR CANES AND OTHER VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to François Alcide Bonnefin, of the Mauritius, at present
residing at the Royal Hotel, Blackfriars Bridge, for the Invention of "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF, AND APPARATUS FOR EXTRACTING AND
TREATING JUICE FROM SUGAR CANES AND OTHER VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES."
L A 1077 and dated the 28th March 1877
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Françoise Alcide Bonnefin
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 26th March 1877.
FRANÇOIS ALCIDE BONNEFIN, of the Mauritius, at present residing at the Royal
Hotel, Blackfriars Bridge: "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF, AND APPARATUS
FOR EXTRACTING AND TREATING JUICE FROM SUGAR CANES AND OTHER VEGETABLE
SUBSTANCES."
This Invention has for its object improvements in extracting juice from sugar
canes and other vegetable substances. For this purpose I divide the sugar cane or
other such like vegetable substance into thin slices and granules by means of saw-
like cutters arranged and operated in a peculiar manner.
I employ a series of saw blades set parallel the one to the other in a frame, to.
which by a steam engine or other motive power a reciprocating motion is communi-
cated. The width of the series of saws should exceed the length of the bundles of
canes or other produce which it is intended to cut, say two feet, more or less. The
saws are set in the frame at distances apart equal to the thickness of the slices it is
wished to cut, each saw blade is made thicker on the edge on which the teeth are
formed than at the back, so that the slices may be able to pass freely between the
blades. The teeth are formed alternately on one side and the other of the saw blade,
and they do not require to be set. The bundles of material to be cut are presented
to the saws by a rack or cradle in which they are laid, and the bars of the rack or
cradle pass between the saws. They are sufficiently thin to be able to do so, and
they need be but few in number. During the ascending motion of the saw frame,,
the saws are not in contact with the material to be cut, but in the descending motion
the saws advance towards the bundles of canes or other produce which has been

page_text: placed ready in the rack or cradle, and cut completely through it, reducing the entire
bundle into slices and granules.
The motion which it is preferred to impart to the saw frame is similar to that of
the connecting rod of an engine, circular at one extremity and rectilinear at the
other. This motion causes the saw frame in its descending stroke to approach the
bundle and cut through it with a chopper-like action, or the rack or cradle carrying
the bundle to be cut may be caused to advance towards the saw frame during its
downward stroke.
When the sugar cane or other material has in this way been reduced to slices
and granules, the whole may be reduced to a pulp by disintegrating or grinding
apparatus, and then the juice may be separated from the woody matter by pressure
with rollers or otherwise..
The juice resulting from the pulp should be delivered directly into a receiver
lined with a woven fabric covering the interior of a metallic vessel suitable for the
defecation, and provided either with a double bottom or with a coiled heating pipe.
The juices are heated as they arrive and are limed. The receiver being full, the liquid
is boiled; the lime disengages the foreign matters. The lining of the vessel is then
quietly raised, and it takes with it all the foreign matters; the mucilaginous, gummy,
albuminous, and fatty parts adhere directly to the sides. The lining and its contents
are taken at once to the apparatus or special receiver for the washing of the scums,
the linings, and all the detritus of the sugar house. The juice after this defecation
is free from the greater part of the foreign matter. It is again limed, and again
At the end of two or three hours it is drawn
boiled, and then left quietly to settle.
off. The lighter matters are removed from the surface, and the hoavier are left at
the bottom. The liquid is drawn off by a cock at the side at some distance
above the bottom through a thick and close fabric, or it is at once sucked by the
vacuum into a special receiver or into the boiling apparatus.
.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Françoise Alcide Bonnefin in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
**26th September 1877.
FRANÇOIS ALCIDE BONNEFIN, of the Mauritius, at present residing at the Royal
Hotel, Blackfriars Bridge. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF; AND APPARATUS
FOR EXTRACTING AND TREATING JUICE FROM SUGAR CANES AND OTHER VEGETABLE
SUBSTANCES."
This Invention has for its object improvements in the method of, and appara-
tus for extracting and treating juice from sugar canes and other vegetable substances..
For this purpose I divide the sugar cane or other such like vegetable substance
into thin slices and granules by means of saw-like cutters, arranged and operated.
in a peculiar manner.
"I employ a series of saw blades set parallel the one to the other in a frame, to
which by a steam engine or other motive power, a reciprocating motion is commu-
nicated. The width of the series of saws should exceed the length of the bundles of
canes or other produce which it is intended to cut, say two feet, more or less. The
saws are set in the frame at distances apart, equal to the thickness of the slices it is
wished to cut. Each saw blade is made thicker on the edge on which the teeth are
formed than at the back, so that the slices may be able to pass freely between the
blades. The teeth are formed alternately on one side and the other of the saw blade,
and they do not require to be set. The bundles of material to be cut are presented
to the saws by a rack or cradle, in which they are laid,.and the bars of the rack or
cradle pass between the saws. They are sufficiently thin to be able to do so, and
they need be but few in number. During the ascending motion of the saw
frame, the saws are not, in contact with the material to be cut, but in the

page_text: descending motion the saws advance towards the bundle of canes or other
produce which has been placed ready in the rack or. cradle, and cut completely.
through it, reducing the entire bundle into slices and granules.
The motion which it is preferred to impart to the saw frame is similar to that of
the connecting rod of an engine, circular at one extremity and rectilinear at.the
other. This motion causes the saw frame in its descending stroke to approach tho
bundle and cut through it with a chopper-like action, or the rack or cradle carrying
the bundle to be cut may be caused to advance towards the saw frame during its
downward stroke, and the same effect be obtained.
The Drawing hereunto annexed shows un apparatus arranged as herein-before
described. Figure 1 is a side view of the apparatus, and Figure 2 a back view of
the frame of saws.
A is the rack or cradle into which the bundle of canes to be cut is placed. B, a
frame-carrying a number of parallel saws C. The lower end of each saw has a rod
B passed through it, and the saws are kept at the proper distance apart by
distance pieces slipped on to the rod and interposed between the, saws. The upper
ends of the saws hook over a rod B³, and are similarly kept at the proper
distance apart by distance pieces; they are clamped and held by the screw
nut B screwing on to the end of the rod. The lower end of the saw frame is jointed
to rods which are free to move to and fro in guides in the direction of the arrow.
The upper end is jointed to a crank D, to which a revolving motion is given by a
steam engine or otherwise. The saws will by this means be alternately moved
through the cradle, and caused to cut through any canes placed within it, and moved
back into the position shown by the dotted line X, Y, so as to be ready to act upon
a fresh bundle of canes.
Another arrangement is shown at Figure 3. In this arrangement the upper part
of the saw frame is jointed to links B, whilst its lower end is connected to a crank
driven by a steam engine. The canes are fed into the hopper C, and passing on to
the grating A are acted on by the saws in a similar manner to that just described.
Also as before stated, the saws might in the same way be caused to cut entirely through
a bundle of canes at one stroke, by making the cradle to advance as the saws descend.
In this case the saws might work to and fro in a straight line. I however consider
the arrangement shown in the Drawing to be the best adapted for the purpose.
When the sugar cane or other material has in this way been reduced to slices and
granules, the whole may be reduced to a pulp by disintegrating or grinding apparatus,
and then the juice may be separated from the woody matter by pressure with rollers
or otherwise.
The juice resulting from the pulp should be delivered directly into a receiver lined
with a woven fabric covering the interior of a metallic vessel suitable for the defeca-
tion, and provided either with a double bottom or with a coiled heating pipe. The
juices are heated as they arrive, and are limed. The receiver being full, the liquid
is boiled; the lime disengages the foreign matters. The lining of the vessel is then
quietly raised, and it takes with it all the foreign matters; the mucilaginous, gummy,
albuminous, and fatty parts adhere directly to the sides. The lining and its contents
are taken at once to the apparatus or special receiver for the washing of the scums,
the linings, and all the detritus of the sugar house. The juice after this defecation
is free from the greater part of the foreign matter. It is again limed, and again
boiled, and then left quietly to settle. At the end of two or three hours it is drawn
off. The lighter matters are removed from the surface, and the heavier are left at the
bottom. The liquid is drawn off by a cock at the side at some distance above the
bottom through a thick and close fabric, or it is at once sucked by the vacuum into
a special receiver or into the boiling apparatus.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner of per-
forming the same, I would have it understood that I do not confine myself to the
exact details described, as these may be varied without departing from my
Invention, but what I claim is,—
First. The construction of machinery for disintegrating sugar cane and other such

page_text: vegetable substances with a sories of saws set in a frame parallel the one to the
other at short distances apart, and to the width of the bundle of cane or other
material to be operated upon, and with a cradle or rack which holds the bundle
and presents it to the saw cutters, such apparatus being so actuated that the cutter
frame, having been raised whilst out of contact with the material to be cut, then
doscends, and in the descent is brought into contact with the bundle, and caused to
cut through it, substantially as described.
Second. The method of extracting and treating juice from sugar canes and other
such like vegetable substances, substantially as described.
In witness whercof, I, the said François Alcide Bonnefin, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.