An Improved Apparatus for Testing the Quality of Grain, .Corn, or Seeds.
Year: 1890

page_text: !Date of Application, 17th Dec.. 1890-Accepted, 18th Apr., 1891
An Improved Apparatus for Testing the Quality of Grain,
.Corn, or Seeds.
Communicated from abroad by PAUL HEINSDORF, Hannover, Germany,
Brewery Manager.
I, CHRISTEN REES BONNE, of 41. Eastcheap, E.C., in the County of London
Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to an improved apparatus for testing the quality of corn,
grain, or seeds and the construction thereof will be clearly understood by reference
to the accompanying sheet of drawings in which Fig. 1 is a top plan of the upper
plate and Fig. 2 a bottom plan of the lower plate of which the apparatus is
composed, these two plates having between them a knife or cutter (M). Figs. 3 & 4
are sectional views of the apparatus. Fig. 6 section of knife or cutter.
In the centre part of the upper plate (0) are a series of any convenient number
of small round holes, (L) into which are inserted the grains of corn or seeds to be
tested. The bottom plate consists of two parts riz.-the central part which has
indents or holes c. c. (of conical or other section vertically) in its upper surface, to
coincide with the holes L in the upper plate and admit of the grains of corn or seeds
resting therein when the two plates are closed or brought together. This central
part of the lower plate is surrounded by the frame or part R, which corresponds in
dimensions with the rim or outer part of the upper plate O. The two parts R and O
being fastened securely together by the bolts or screws . s. or by other suitable
means. The top plate O is provided with a cover D, which is capable of being
opened or closed as desired by means of hinge or similar fastening D', between the
end parts P P of projecting rim P. P-(Figs. 1, 3, and 4).
When the cover D is closed, it is fastened firmly in place by turning the hasp or
fastening Q. Q, the part Q of which then presses tightly upon the end of the said
cover D. The central part of the bottom plate (U) is kept in place by a similar
fastening T, pivotted to the outer part or surrounding frame R of the said bottom
plate. When this fastening T is turned inwards, it holds the part U securely in
its place in the frame R. The said plate U is of dovetail form in cross section as
represented in Figs. 3 and 4, to admit of its easy withdrawal directly the fastening T
turned outwards in the position shown in Fig. 2. It is also further kept in its
position by means of the small clip or fastener r. r. upon the under surface of the
frame R. The knife M, having sharp or cutting edges Mº (Fig. 6) is held between
two jaws or plates U Uº and fixed therein by screws or rivets. The upper plate O
and the outer part of lower plate (R) are kept a sufficient distance apart by the
insertion of strips N N (Fig. 3) to allow of the free movement to and fro of the
knife or cutter M between them.
Fig. 5 is a plan view of a modified arrangement of the apparatus, in which the
knife is composed of a series of several blades (M' M³) instead of one blade (M)
only as in the previous figures described. Fig. 7 is a cross section of this multiple
knife or cutter from which it will be seen that the several distinct blades therein
are obtained by removing or cutting out certain portions of the blade (M) at
required intervals the remaining parts M' and M' thus each constituting a separate
blade or cutter. The edges of these several blades or cutters may be at such
intervals as to enable the grains of corn or seeds placed in one row of holes (L)
to be cut through by one blade without the cutting simultaneously of those in the
next or any other row or rows of holes. Thus, it will be seen, upon reference to
Fig. 5 that the distance intervening between the edges of some of the blades M¹ M²

page_text: and the adjacent rows of holes is greater than that of others. A complete
. withdrawal or forward movement of the knife will of course cut through all the
grains in the holes, but a certain movement in either direction will only bring some
of the cutters in contact therewith, the others requiring a longer movement to
bring them in contact with the grains. To enable the edges of M' M' to cut
through the corn or seeds which ever way the knife is moved, it will be convenient
that each part M M should be on each side provided with a sharp or cutting edge.
In this modified form of my apparatus, either the withdrawal or insertion of the
knife will thus have the same effect, and the rows of holes L or slots L' being
between the blades M¹ M³ when the knife or cutter is fully inserted as in Fig. 5,
the grains of corn or seeds may be inserted into the holes or slots while the knife or
cutter is in place between the top and bottom plates.
In using my improved apparatus, the grains of corn, or seeds to be tested are
placed in the holes L (Figs. 1, 3, and 5) in the top plate, or grooves or slots L' L'
(Fig. 5) in the said plate, and fall thence into the corresponding holes or indents v. v. in
the bottom plate, in which they rest end wise. The knife or cutter M is then drawn
or pushed across between the plates by the part U°, and cuts through the grain or
seeds, which may then be removed by opening the hinged cover D of the top plate,
or withdrawing the central part U of the bottom plate, in which the lower halves
of the divided grains then lie open for inspection in the indents or holes c. v. The
grooves or slots L L (as shown in Fig. 5) may in either form of my apparatus
herein before described, be substituted for the round holes L. L.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is
(1.) In the improved apparatus for testing the quality of corn, grain, or seeds,
the knife or cutter M, acting between upper plate 0, containing holes L or grooves
or slots and lower plate-U-provided-with.conical holes v. v. or slots, corresponding
with holes or slots-in-the upper-plate, substantially as hereinbefore described.
(2) In the improved apparatus for testing the quality of corn grain or seeds; the
bottom plate U surrounded by rim or part R, to enable it to be easily withdrawn as
required, to facilitate the examination of the corn, grain or seeds to be tested, sub-
stantially as hereinbefore described.
(3) The improved apparatus for testing the quality of corn, grain or seeds,
substantially as herein before described and shown by Figs. 1 to 7 of the accompanying
drawings..
LBAA
BALL C
Toon ta]
ecember 1890.
C. R. BONNE & Co.,
Authorised Patent and Trade Mark Agents,
57 58, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.