IMPROVE- MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OR PRODUCTION OF FOOD FOR CATTLE AND ALL OTHER DOMESTIC ANIMALS, POULTRY, AND GAME, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Cruickshank, of Glen Park, in the County
of Lanark, North Britain, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OR PRODUCTION OF FOOD FOR CATTLE AND ALL
OTHER DOMESTIC ANIMALS, POULTRY, AND GAME, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR
APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN."
Sealed the 29th December 1863, and dated the 18th August 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Cruickshank
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on tho
18th August 1868.
I, ALEXANDER CRUICKSHANK, of Glen Park, in the County of Lanark, North
Britain, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OR PRODUCTION OF FOOD FOR CATTLE AND
ALL OTHER DOMESTIC ANIMALS, POULTRY, AND GAME, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR
APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN," to be as follows, that is to say:
This Invention relates to the manufacture or production of food for horses,
cattle, sheep, pigs, poultry, and all other domestic animals. The essential
feature of this Invention is the production of an entirely new kind of food
suitable for feeding animals and capable of affording a much larger amount of
nutrition than is obtained from food given in the ordinary way.
Under one system or mode of procedure any of the various kinds of grain or
vegetable matters suitable for the purposes are ground into meal or otherwise
divided, and are then mixed in suitable proportions for affording the largest

page_text: amount of nutriment according to the chemical constituents of the materials
employed; these proportions being regulated according to the particular end
in view, that is to say, the food is compounded so that it shall best aid in
producing either fat, flesh, or muscle in the animal. The meal so prepared is
then converted into dough, either by the addition of water or by allowing steam
to act upon it. The dough so prepared is placed in a suitable chamber or
receiving vessel, one end of which is open and the other closed by a plate per-
forated all over. The dough is pressed through these perforations by means
of a plunger which traverses in the open part of the cylinder; this plunger
is fitted to a screw shaft which is driven by means of a fast and loose pulley
or other equivalent mechanical detail. As the dough is pressed through the
end plate of the cylinder it is cut into particles of a suitable size by means of a
thin plate or blade to which an intermittent action is imparted by a cam and
lover arrangement or other convenient means. The particles of prepared food
fall from the cutter on to an endless band which is arranged so as to carry the
food through an oven, in its passage through which it becomes properly baked,
and it is delivered in a state ready for use at the other end of the oven. In
some cases the food may be sufficiently dried and hardened by means of solar
heat without having recourse to artificial heat. Animal matters may also be
added to the vegetable mixture or compound for poultry and game, as well as
for feeding such animals as are accustomed to partake of animal food. In
this way the food prepared for animals is much more digestible and affords a
larger amount of nutriment than when given either in the form of grain or in
an uncooked state, and consequently animals fed with this kind of food fatten
more quickly, are more easily kept in condition and with less expenditure, than
by the system of feeding in ordinary use.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Alexander Cruickshank in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 17th February 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEX-
ANDER CRUICKSHANK, of Glen Park, in the County of Lanark, North Britain,
Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighteenth day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-seventh year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,

page_text: the said Alexander Cruickshank, Her special license that I, the said
Alexander Cruickshank, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said Alexander Cruickshank, my 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OR PRODUCTION
OF FOOD FOR CATTLE AND ALL OTHER DOMESTIC ANIMALS, POULTRY AND GAME, AND IN
THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Alexander Cruickshank, my executors or administrators,
by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, or under the hand and seal
of one of them, 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 immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alexander Cruickshank, 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, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings and
to the letters and figures inarked thereon, that is to say :—
My said Invention relates to the manufacture or production of food for
horses, cattle, sheep, pigs, poultry, and all other domestic animals. The
essential feature of this Invention is the production of an entirely new kind of
food suitable for feeding animals, and capable of affording a much larger
amount of nutrition than is obtained from food given in the ordinary way.
Under one system or mode of proceedure any of the various kinds of grain or
vegetable matters suitable for the purposes are ground into meal or otherwise
divided, and are then mixed in suitable proportions for affording the largest
amount of nutriment according to the chemical constituents of the materials
employed, these proportions being regulated according to the particular end
in view, that is to say, the food is compounded so that it shall best aid in
producing either fat, flesh, or muscle in the animal. The meal so prepared is
then converted into dough either by the addition of water or by allowing steam
to act upon it. The dough so prepared is placed in a suitable chamber or
receiving vessel, one end of which is open and the other closed by a plate
perforated all over. The dough is pressed through these perforations by
means of a plunger which traverses in the open part of the cylinder; this
plunger is fitted to a screw shaft which is driven by means of a fast and loose.

page_text: pulley, or other equivalent mechanical detail. As the dough is pressed through
the end plate of the cylinder it is cut into particles of a suitable size by means
of a thin plate or blade, to which an intermittent action is imparted by a cam
and lever arrangement, or other convenient means. The particles of prepared
food fall from the cutter on to an endless band, which is arranged so as to
carry the food through an oven, in its passage through which it becomes
properly baked, and it is delivered in a state ready for use at the other end of
the oven. In some cases the food may be sufficiently dried and hardened by
means of solar heat without having recourse to artificial heat. Animal matters
may also be added to the vegetable mixture or compound for poultry and
game, as well as for feeding such animals as are accustomed to partake of
animal food. In this way the food prepared for animals is much more
digestible and affords a larger amount of nutriment than when given either in
the form of grain or in an uncooked state; and consequently animals fed with
this kind of food fatten more quickly, are more easily kept in condition and
with less expenditure than by the system of feeding in ordinary use.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood, I shall
now proceed to describe one of the best systems or modes with which I am
acquainted for practically carrying the same into effect, and which is illustrated
by the several Figures on the two explanatory Sheets of Drawings hereunto
annexed, the same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts
throughout all the Figures, that is to say :-.
Figure 1, on Sheet 1, is an end elevation of a food-mixing machine for
producing a constant and regular supply; Figure 2 is a side clevation, and
Figure 3 a plan of the same corresponding to Figure 2, Figure 4 being a
plan of the feeding arrangement.
On referring to Figures 1, 2, and 8, A is the sole plate on which the whole
of the mixing machinery rests; B, the mixing cylinder; C, the main driving
shaft, on to which is keyed the main driving bevel pinion D, to which motion
is communicated from any convenient source of prime motive power by the
intermediate shaft and bevil pinion E, Figure 1. On the main shaft C there
is also keyed the spur pinion F, by which motion is communicated to the spur
wheel G on the shaft El, and on the same shaft H there is also fixed the bevil
pinion I, which gears into and actuates a similar bevil pinion K on the vertical.
shaft L, this shaft being supported in end bearings at M and N. At the
upper end of the vertical shaft L is fixed the spur pinion O, by which motion
is transferred to a corresponding spur pinion or wheel P on the vertical
shaft Q, supported in bearings R and S, in which it is free to revolve when
motion is communicated to it. To the lower end of the shaft Q is attached

page_text: the feeding spiral or screw bladed shaft T, which revolves along with
the shaft Q in the interior of the feeding cylinder or barrel U. The upper
portion of this barrel is made in the form of an inverted conc, as seen at V, V,
for the purpose of enabling the material operated upon to be mixed or similarly
treated to be fed in with facility. At the lower end of the feeding cylinder or
barrel is formed a square or polygonal box W, on one side of which is made
a door X, which can be opened for the purpose of enabling the workmen or
attendants to ascertain the state of the mixing and moistening of the materials
being treated, whilst to the side, at right angles to that on which the door is
placed, is fixed the watercock Y, the other end of which communicates directly
with the water chamber or duct Z. At the upper end of this water chamber
is secured a box a, by preference made square or oblong, and in the top and
bottom sides of this box are placed lifting valves (these valves are not shown
in the Drawings), whilst on the side b is fitted a stuffing box b', through the
centre of which there passes the shaft c, more particularly seen at Figure 3.
The other end of this shaft is supported by an end bearing in the interior of
the box, and to the outer end of it is keyed the spur wheel d, which is driven
by the spur pinion d', on the contiguous shaft H. To that portion of the
shaft c in the interior of the box or chamber a is fixed an eccentric or cam,
which revolving with the shaft alternately actuates the herein-before mentioned
valves at the top and bottom sides of the box or chamber a. To the top end
of this valve chamber is bolted or otherwise secured the upright elongated or
rectangular receiver e, into which water is fed by the, conducting pipe f, from
a reservoir, tank or any other convenient source. On referring to Figure 1
and 3, at g, it will be seen that the valve chamber is made oblong in a
horizontal direction, and at that portion of it marked h, in Figures 1, 2, and 3,
is fitted with a stufling box i, by preference of square section, and in the
cavity or hole in the gland of the stuffing box is fitted the square plunger k.
This plunger is capable of moving in and out of the chamber through the
gland, the necessary motion being imparted to it by the screw and hand
wheel, . The use of this square plunger is to enlarge or diminish the
capacity of the chamber a, so that in case too much water is found to bo
admitted to the material or substance being mixed, the quantity may be
diminished by turning the band wheel l, and thus causing the plunger k to
enter further into the box or chamber a; or if otherwise it is found that there
is not a sufficient quantity of water admitted, the capacity of the chamber a
may be increased by turning the hand wheel and screw band in the
contrary direction, thus causing the herein-before mentioned square plunger
to recede and consequently enlarge the chamber's capacity, and so enabling it

page_text: to supply a greater amount of water to the material or substance being treated.
In order to insure the flow of measured liquid from the box a when the
upper valve is shut, a petcock m is placed in the side to admit its being acted
by the atmosphere, and any portion of water which may perhaps thus come
out through the cock m is carried off by the conducting pipe n. As it is
sometimes found necessary to alter the velocity of rotation of the feeding
spiral T, and proportion its feed or revolution to the nature of the substanco
to be mixed or similarly treated, the pinions O and P, Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4
(but more particularly seen in plan at Figure 4) are capable of being removed,
and others, bearing various diametrical proportions to each other, may be
replaced, thus enabling a faster or slower velocity of rotation to be imparted to
the feeding spiral as the nature of the material at the time being treated shall
require. Or instead of altering the speed of the spiral or screw blade shaft by
a series of change spur gear, it may also be done by a pair of conical pulleys
on the two shafts L and Q, and an endless strap or band, capable of being
moved from end to end of them. by any convenient shifting gear; or the
variation of velocity may be produced by any other system or mode which
may be found to answer in practice. In the several Figures on the annexed
Drawings (Sheet 1), the spur gear O, P, is delineated so as to show that tho
feeding spiral shall revolve in concert with the shaft L, and this arrangement
will be found convenient and necessary for the mixing or similarly treating
other materials, the main driving shaft C, which extends through that end
of the mixing cylinder B nearest to the spur wheel P, in which end it is
capable of revolving, being accordingly fitted to a bearing in the centre of the
end or cover of the cylinder B, while the further, or that end which reaches
near the conical mouth. J of the mixing cylinder, is supported by a girder
piece extending diagonally across the cylinder, and having a bearing in its centre
in which the end of the shaft C is fitted so as to revolve. This girder pieco
is made feather-edged on that side which is turned towards the interior of the
mixing cylinder for the purpose of enabling the stream or mass of mixed
material as it exudes from the herein-before mentioned mixing cylinder to be
passed at this point more easily than it could be done if the edge of the bar
or girder were made flat. On that portion of the main driving shaft which
works within the mixing cylinder Bare arranged a series of knives, cutters, or
dividers similar to those used in ordinary dough mixing machines used in the
manufacture of bread, which revolve along with the shaft; these knives,
cutters, and dividers are arranged spirally, and are capable of being adjusted
to the pitch of spiral requisite for employment on the material at the time
being treated. At the end of the cylinder where the material is fed in the

page_text: knives, cutters, and mixers are arranged on the shaft C, so as to thoroughly
mix the material or substance being treated, but towards the end which
delivers it through the conical mouth J, the knives, cutters, or dividers are
set so as to approximate a helical curve by which the mixed substance is
screwed out of the mouth.
Having now described the various parts of the machinery I consider adapted
for the purposes of mixing material to be used as food for cattle and other
domestic animals, as well as poultry and game, I shall now more fully explain
the manner in which the whole apparatus operates upon the substances to be
mixed or similarly treated.
On referring to Figures 1, 2, and 3, on Sheet 1 of the Drawings which I
have hereunto annexed, it will be observed that motion is communicated from
any convenient prime mover to the shaft and bevil pinion E on the main driving
shaft C, thence through the medium of the spur pinion F to the spur wheel C on
the shaft Fl; this spur wheel is capable of being thrown in or out of gear with
the pinion F by means of the shifting clutch o, and thus the action of the spiral
feeder can be entirely stopped; motion is then communicated by means of the
bevil pinions I and K to the vertical shaft L, which through the spur gear at
its further extremity actuates the feeding spiral T, the small shaft c being at
the same time caused to rotate with the eccentric or cam on its portion on the
interior of the box a by means of the spur gear d and d'.
When the whole of the machinery is in motion, the substances to be mixed
or similarly treated (consisting of any of the various kinds of grain or vege-
table matters suitable for the purposes lerein-before mentioned after having
been each and severally ground) is introduced in any convenient manner to the
feeder or hopper V, thence by its own gravity it reaches the upper end of the
spiral feeder or screw-bladed shaft T, by the revolution of which it is gradually
and continually fed to the box W, where it comes in contact with the water let
in from any source by the herein-before mentioned valve arrangement in the
box or chamber a. The material having become impregnated or commingled
with water in the chamber W, it decends by its own gravity to the cylinder B
where it becomes thoroughly mixed, and finally, by the action of the spiral
knives or cutters on the main shaft, it finds its way to the further extremity
of the cylinder, whence it exudes in a stream from the conical mouth in a state
to be finally treated, as to be herein-after described.
I shall now proceed to describe some modifications or arrangements of
machinery employed for reducing and finishing the mixed material in a
state fit to be given as food to the several animals herein-before men-

page_text: On referring to Sheet 2 of my Drawings, Figure 1 represents a longitudinal
section of a machine which I prefer to use for forming the various mixed
materials or substances into pieces suitable for food, as herein-before described;
Figure 2 is a plan of the same on the line 1, 1, Figure 1. Figures 3 to 9
represent portions of some other modifications for carrying my Invention into
practical effect.
In Figures 1 and 2, the framing A is by preference mado
of cast iron, on which the whole of the machinery rests, and at B is represented
a species of hopper in which the mixed material is received from the mixing
machine, the bottom plate C of which is by preference made of polished iron,
and sprinkled with flour to prevent the pasty substances from adhering to it.
To the top of the framing A are bolted or otherwise fixed frames D, for the
purpose of holding or carrying the bearings E, in which the several sets of
rollers E' revolve, motion being imparted to them from any convenient prime
mover by means of endless bands passing over the driving or actuating pulleys
F and F on the shafts F and F. On the shafts F and F are fixed pinions,
which gear into spur wheels G and G' on the intermediate shafts G and G³;
these spur pinions also actuate similar spur wheels H and H' on the fixed
studs Hand H³, the spur wheels II and H' again gearing into and actuating
spur wheels or pinions on the ends of the shafts of the rollers E. Similar spur
wheels actuate the wheels on the shafts of the lower rollers E. This
spur gear for actuating the machinery or mechanism is shown in red lining at
Figure 1, and in plan at Figure 2. On again referring to Figure 1, it will be
seen there are four pairs of rollers E', and that one set of the herein-before
described spur gear is attached to only two sets of rollers, two of the main
actuating wheels of which are placed between two sets of rollers, each pair of
which are by this arrangement caused to revolve in isochronous concert, and
in the same direction. On the bearings in the top roller shafts E are formed
deep nuts, into which the lower ends of the screw spindles I work, to the upper
ends of which are keyed the bevil pinions I', which are actuated by similar
pinions I on the cross shafts I³, to one end of which the hand wheels I* are
attached. By imparting motion to the hand wheels I, the bevil pinions on
the cross shafts actuate the similar pinions I', and so cause the screws I to be
raised or lowered, and along with them the top rollers E' as required, this
last arrangement being for the purpose of enabling the web of mixed material
being made of various thicknesses as may be found necessary. The barrel K
is driven by spur gear at its inner end from the end roller shaft E³, and over
a small pulley K' on the outer end of the shaf passes an endless belt L
which also passes over the pulley K on the shaft K³. On the shaft K³
is also fixed the spur wheel M, which actuates a similar spur wheel on the

page_text: shaft M', causing the revolving barrel of annular cutters M, which cuts the
paste in the direction of its length. The journals of the revolving barrel of
cutters are carried in end bearings Ms fixed to the framing of the machine,
and screws and actuating gear, similar to that described in reference to the
rollers, is attached for the purpose of raising or lowering the cutter barrel as
may be required. On the end of the lower end roller shaft Es is fixed a bevil
pinion N, which actuates the bevil pinion O, more particularly seen in plan at
Figure 2, and seen in red lining in Figure 1. The pinion N is fastened to
the end of a short vertical shaft N', to the lower end of which is also fixed a
similar bevil pinion N, which gears into and actuates a similar pinion on the
end of the horizontal shaft N³, and is by preference laid beneath the floor of
the building, and carried in suitable bearings, in which it revolves, and to its
further end is secured the bevil pinion N, which actuates the pinion N* on
the shaft No; to the upper end of which is also fixed another bevil pinion,
gearing into and actuating a bevil wheel N on the shaft P of the polygonal
chain pulleys P', passing over which is the travelling chain platform R of the
oven R, this travelling or endless platform passing over similar chain
pulleys R at the further end of the oven. On the shaft P, which carries the
bevil wheel N, and next to this wheel is fixed the pulley S, over which passes
an endless belt S¹ on to the pulley S3 on the shaft S. On the shaft S³ there
is also fixed a spur wheel S, which actuates a similar spur wheel S³ on the
shaft Se, which carries the barrel of knives S' arranged for cutting the web of
mixed material for food in the transverse direction, the journals of this barrel
work in bearings, and are raised and lowered by screws in a manner similar
to that-herein-before described in reference to the rollers, and the barrel which
cuts the web of mixed material in the direction of its length. Passing under-
neath the two barrels of revolving cutters M' and S' is a continuously endless
travelling sheet or band T, which passes over the barrel K driven from the
spur gear on the shaft E of the end roller E', whilst at the further end, or
that end near the mouth of the oven, it runs on a small roller T". In the
opening between the two surfaces of the band T, and underneath the cutting
rollers M and S', and on the shafts K³ and Ss are fixed rollers covered with
india-rubber or other elastic substance, for the purpose of yielding to the action
of the cutters. U, U, are polished plates of metal, over which the paste of
mixed material for food passes; these are occasionally sprinkled by a little
flour, which is thrown over them by the revolving brushes V, rotating in
transverse troughs of flour, of wheat, or other grain when the machine is at
work.
On again referring to Figures 1 and 2, it will be seen that the whole of tho

page_text: spur and bevil gearing is arranged so that the squeezing rollers, cutters, and
traversing band move in isochronous concert so as to cause the web of pasto
or mixed material to move continuously in the same direction, so that when
the mixed material is delivered from the mouth of the herein-before described
mixing machine into the hopper or receiver B, it falls by gravity against
the first set of rollers E and E, which, by their revolving motion con-
tinually draw a portion of it through them, whence it passes on to the
first polished metal plate U, thence through the second pair of rollers E'
and E, which are arranged with their peripheries closer together than in
the first pair of rollers, for the purpose of reducing tho web or sheet of
paste in thickness, and so on until it arrives at the last pair of rollers E¹
and E, whence it passes, being reduced to the requisito thickness by the
action of the successive sets of rollers, on to the travelling band or web T,
which carries the web of paste, now formed under the two revolving barrels
of cutters M² and S', which divide it into portions of. the size sufficient for
In the
food to be given to the several animals herein-before mentioned.
plan, Figure 2, at W, the web of paste is seen in the divided state after
having been submitted to the action of the revolving cutters or dividers
M* and S7. After the web is thus divided it passes on to the travelling
chain platform R of the oven R³, as seen in the section, Figure 1, at W¹,
the platform R being caused to traverse by the action of the bevil gearing
N, N, N, etc.; actuated from the rolling machine as herein-before de-
scribed. The oven R¹ is of any of the ordinary constructions used for baking
bread and biscuits, in which X and X are the furnaces from which the
heat is conducted by suitablo flues along the bottom, sides, and top, and
When
regulated by dampers until the required temperature is attained.
the paste, after having been reduced into pieces of the size suitable for
food by the herein-before described rolling machine, has passed through the
oven in a baked state, the pieces fall off the further end of the chain plat-
form R on to the inclined plane R³, over which a door or cover Y is placed
to confine the heat by closing the longitudinal opening after the pieces
have fallen through or are taken out. The small roller T is carried in a
hinged frame Z, for the purpose of removing that end of the travelling web
which delivers the divided paste or mixed material on to the chain platform R
out of the furnace when not in use, the web being tightened by pinching
screws Z', acting on a bar which carries the smaller roller T'. Figures 3, 4
and 5 represent respectively an enlarged side view and section of portion of
the barrels of cutters M³, Figures 1 and 2, and an enlarged transverse section
of the barrel of cutters S, Figures 1 and 2.

page_text: It may sometimes be found convenient to roll the paste of mixed mate-
rial into strips of various sections, as in the ordinary biscuit-making machine;
when this is required, rollers having grooves made in their peripheries of
various forms, as seen at Figures 6 and 7 in side view and transverse sec-
tion may be used in lieu of the herein-before described smooth parallel
rollers E and E; the strips or cords of paste thus formed are acted upon by
the cutting barrels S' (which in this case would be the only one necessary) as
the strips or cords would come from the variously formed rollers E' and
E divided longitudinally, and therefore the action of the roller M' would
be unnecessary; or, in lieu of cutting or dividing the web of paste into
squares or forms similar to those produced by the action of the cutters
M² and S, rollers of the form shown at Figures 8 and 9 may be used
which would cut the web diagonally in transverse directions, and so
divide it into pieces of a rhomboidal or lozenge form, as seen at W³,
Figure 9.
Instead of using the herein-before described machinery, Figures 1 to 9, for
the purpose of compressing or squeezing and reducing the mixed material into
pieces of the size convenient to be given as food to the several animals herein-
before mentioned, the several modifications shown at Figures 10 to 20 are
found advantageous for the preparing of some kinds of food after leaving the
mixing machine.
Figure 10 represents a view of a plunger squeezing machine, partly in
transverse section, and partly in end elevation; Figure 11 represents a longi-
tudinal section of the same machine; and Figure 12 a view partly in plan and
horizontal section. In each of these views a represents the cylinders; b, the
plungers or pistons; c, screwed piston rod; d and d', worm wheel and screw,
through the centre of which worm wheel the screwed piston rod c passes, tho
worm wheel being carried in a bearing d2, Figure 11; c, the hopper or
receiver for receiving the mixed material as it is produced from the mixing
machine. At the end of the cylinders a is placed a box, having a triangular
section, as shown at a', Figure 11; the front part of this box a' is fitted with
a moveable die perforated with a row of small round holes, as at a², Figures
10, 11, and 12, in front of which the knife or cutter f' is caused to move
when the apparatus is at work, reciprocating motion being communicated to
it from cams not shown in the Drawings. The mode of actuating with
machinery of this description consists in drawing the pistons or plungers b
back to the end or side of the hopper or receiver e, which contains a quantity
of the mixed material. When the hoppers are thus full, and the pistons
drawn back by causing the worm wheels d to move in one direction, they by

page_text: their action cause the screw piston rods c and plungers 6 to move forwards,
and carry in front of them a portion of the mixed material into the cylinders a,
and after the cylinders a are filled by successively forcing in quantities of the
mixed material, the worm wheels d are caused to rotate by means of the
worms d' actuated from any convenient prime motive power. The rotation
of the worm wheels d causes the screwed piston rods e, and along with them
the pistons b, to move gradually into the cylinders a, which action causes the
mixed material to be forced in cords through the perforations in the die a³,
where as the cords exude they are cut off into convenient lengths by the
knife or cutter f¹. In Figure 12, 9 represents sliding doors, by which the
ends of the cylinders a may be opened or closed, and when the pistons 6 have
alternately an intermittent motion, these doors 9 are arranged so that while
those of the pistons which are forcing out the mixed material through the
perforated die a² are opened to the triangular mouthpiece, those cylinders in
which the pistons are receding are closed. By this arrangement a continuous
stream of cords of mixed material is caused to exude through the perforated
die a². In this arrangement the reversing action of the shutter 9 takes place
simultaneously with that of the pistons at the end of their stroke, through
any convenient system of levers automatically actuated from a cross head on
the outer end of the piston rode c. In the arrangement shown at Figures 10,
11 and 12, four cylinders a are shown working together, but a greater or
lesser number of them may also be used.
Figures 13, 14, 15, and 16 exhibit another arrangement of machinery for
the purpose of forming the mixed material into pieces for food, as herein-
before mentioned, of which Figure 13 is a longitudinal section and Figure 14
an end view, Figure 15 a horizontal section, and Figure 16 a transverse
section of the squeezing boxes, which in this arrangement are made oblong.
In this arrangement the rectangular boxes or chambers h and their plungers h
are arranged in two rows one above the other, to which an intermittent
motion is imparted, and in the conical or triangular-shaped portion at the end
midfeathers or diaphragms i, working on hinges, on the outer and central
flanches, and actuated by levers i, are fitted extending in front of the cylinders
on the interior portion of the triangular box. The use of these diaphragms
being that when the top row of squeezing pistons h' are in operation, the
diaphragms are arranged so that their outer edges shall bear against the lower
side of the triangular box or cavity, as shown at Figure 13, or when the
lower row of squeezing pistons are in operation, the diaphragms i are reversed
so as to bear against the top or upper side of the triangular box, in this
manner giving the squeezing boxes that are in operation direct access to the

page_text: perforations, at the same time closing the boxes which are not in operation;
or instead of using a moving diaphragm, a fixed one I may be substituted, as
shown at Figure 17, when there are two rows of perforations, one to each
set of squeezing boxes, seen more particularly in the end view, Figure 18.
Figures 19 and 20 represent another modification, Figure 19, being a
transverse section, and Figure 20 partly a horizontal section and plan.
In this arrangement the squeezing cylinders are placed opposite to each other,
having the triangular box / between them, their openings or connections with
the triangular box being either opened or closed by the valves m, actuated
by the levers n from the cross heads of the piston rods o; these valves are
opened and closed alternately as one or other of the cylinders p is at work;
the material, being forced by the plungers or pistons into the triangular
box 1, is forced in continuous streams of cords or strips as in the afore-
mentioned modification, when it is cut into convenient lengths by knives, as
herein-before mentioned.
In all the arrangements described from 13 to 20 the automatic reversing
action of the valves takes place isochronously with the arrival of either set of
pistons at the inner end of their strokes, each set of pistons being caused to
recede at a greater velocity than that at which they advance, so as to give
time at the outer end of their stroke for the filling of the cylinders or
chambers, each set being furnished with hoppers e, as at Figure 11.
In any of the arrangements of pressing cylinders or boxes, the pistons may.
be actuated by hydrostatic as well as screw mechanism, and in place of knives
being used for the purpose of cutting the strips or cords of mixed material as
they exude from the several perforations, wires may also be used. Instead of
using the mixing and finishing machines, herein-before described, ordinary
bread or biscuit dough mixing and finishing machines may also be used. The
dies a at the mouth of the triangular boxes may have their perforations
variously formed, such as round, elliptical, oblong, or any other polygonal
section; or instead of using any of the foregoing plunger arrangements for
the purpose of forcing the mixed material through the perforations, cylinders
having endless screws working in and fitting them may be substituted in some
instances. Or these screws may be formed on the end of the mixing shaft C,
so as to fit and force the mixed material through a perforated mouth-piece in
lieu of the conical one shown at J, Sheet 1, which would thus produce the
material in strips or cords directly from the machine, after which they may be
cut into pieces by any of the foregoing arrangements for that purpose.
instead of using either or any of the foregoing arrangements for forcing the
mixing material into strips or bands through perforations, arrangements of
Or

page_text: grooved rollors having annular grooves of any of the various forms shown at
Figures 6 and 7, the bands or strips thus produced being cut into small
pieces by any of the arrangements for this purpose herein-before mentioned.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used and carried
into effect, I would observe in conclusion that I do not confine myself to the
precise details I have had occasion to describe, as many modifications may be
made thereof without deviating from the principles and main features of my
Invention; but what I consider novel and original, and therefore claim as
the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters
Patent, is,
First, the general arrangement and construction of machinery applied to
the purposes of preparing and finishing food, as herein-before described.
Socond, the mode of preparing and finishing all kinds of grain, grain in the
state of malt, pulse, bulbous roots, hay, straw, chaff, and all other kinds of
suitable vegetable substances, medicinal mixtures as well as animal matter, all
severally, in combination or various combinations, or separately in a ground or
finely divided state, as herein-before described.
Third, the application and use of machinery for the purpose of finishing at
once any or all of the foregoing mixtures in pieces of the size of grain or
pulse, or thereabouts, to be used as food in a baked stato by animals, as
herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Cruickshank, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of February, One thousand
eight hundred and sixty-four.
ALEXANDER CRUICKSHANK. (L.S.)