Improvements in Grain-sorting Apparatus.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 19th May, 1899-Accepted, 24th June, 1899
Improvements in Grain-sorting Apparatus.
I, WILHELM ROBRAHN, of Beverstedt, Hanover, German Empire, Manufacturing
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement:-
This invention relates to apparatus for sorting grain applicable to machines for
cleansing and treating grain and has for its object to facilitate the sorting of the
grain according to size and weight.
In the accompanying drawings I illustrate how the invention may be carried
into effect.
A grain conduit a has orifices at the bottom and discharge tubes c. Shelves e
are arranged in the grain conduit a and are adapted to oscillate around fixed
pivots el to produce a jigging when operated by lever mechanism from the driving
mechanism of the machine.
Grates are arranged before the openings of the discharge tubes c and can be
adjusted by a device f, so as to regulate the exit area. The discharge tubes c
are perforated at their upper ends at g. Through the apparatus passes a current
of air in the direction of the arrow, such current being conveniently produced by
a fan. In order that this admission of air may be regulated according to require-
ment slides g¹ are provided at the perforated parts g.
The working of the apparatus is as follows:
The grain which enters the conduit a at h has naturally a tendency to slide
down the conduit but it is thrown up backwards and agitated by the oscillating
or jigging shelves e. The grain is thus effectually exposed to the current of air
entering through the apertures to meet the grain the comparatively
light grain is carried down the conduit and discharged through the tubes c
according to the weight of the grain. The heavy grain escapes through the
upper tubes c.
The wider the grates are adjusted to the conduit a the less intense
will be the action of the current of air on the grain and the grain will thus more
easily escape than when the grates deviate less from the horizontal and thus allow
full entrance to the air and action on the grain.
It will be obvious that this apparatus will effect a very careful and automatic
sorting of the grain and will be of great advantage in machines for treating grain.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is:--
1st. A sorting device in machines for treaing grain having in a grain conduit a
provided with a series of vertical depending exits or discharge tubes through which
passes a continuous current of air a series of oscillating or jigging shelves e before
ach vertical exit for the purpose of throwing back and agitating the grain to
horoughly expose the same to the air.
2nd. In apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 the arrangement of adjustable grates

page_text: in the orifices of the dependable exit tubes c in order to control the effect of the
separating air current passing through said grates substantially as described.
3rd. In apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 the combination with the dependable
exit tubes c of air admission orifices adjustable by slides substantially as described.
Dated this 19th day of May 1899.
FELL & JAMES,
Agents for the Applicant.