Mixing other Substances.
Year: 1885

page_text: Mixing other Substances.
We, ALEXANDER EDWARD JARVIS Engineer HERBERT SMITH Tea Dealer, and
EDWIN HARRY FRANCIS, Engineer all of Peterborough in the County of Northampton
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
This invention relates to the construction and arrangement of tea mixers which
work in a novel manner and are suitable also for the mixing of other granular or
powdered substance such as coffee, flour, spices, pepper, seeds, artificial manures,
chemicals, emery etc. etc.
We propose to name the machine "The Automatic Tea Mixer;" it consists of a
vertical case in which are arranged a series of inclined planes and hoppers, which
are so contrived that when tea or other substance is placed in the top hopper of
the machine, it falls from one plane to another until it arrives in the chest at the
bottom thoroughly mixed, for the tea in passing through the machine is alternately
thrown together and separated, thereby causing a perfect and thorough' mixing
during transit through the machine by the force of gravity.
The invention although particularly applicable to the mixing of tea is also
applicable to the mixing of any kind of granular or powdered matter.

page_text: Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation.
Figure 2 is a sectional front elevation.
Figure 3 is a plan with the upper part and also the frame removed.
The tea mixer consists of a vertical case A in which are arranged inclined
planes B; B, and funnels or hoppers C. C. these are so contrived that when the tea
or other substance is placed in the top hopper D. D. it falls from one plane to
another and is alternately thrown together and separated in passing through the
machine. Thereby a thorough and perfect mixing is brought about by the force
of gravity. E. E. is the supporting frame. The apparatus may be fixed upon its
frame but we prefer to mount it as the drawing shows, that is to say, we provide
axes or trunnions F. F. on the sides of the vertical case A and these are received
into bearings on the frame E. in which they are able to turn freely. The parts B
and C also we prefer to mount within the vertical case A in such manner that they
are able to turn about pivots G. G. The pivots are fixed into discs to which the
parts B and C, are fixed, and these discs, or the parts in connection with them are
BO weighted as to cause then to retain at all times the positions indicated in the
drawings. H. H. are the lids or covers of the hopper D they are fitted so as to
close accurately and means are provided for fastening them when closed. I is a
slide at the bottom of the hopper by means of which it can be closed when desired.
K is a chest or receiver at the lower part of the vertical case A, its form may be
varied but preferably it is of a hopper like form and at its smaller or open end a
slide L is provided similar to the slide I and by means of it the chest or receiver
may be opened and closed.
In the use of this apparatus the tea or other matters to be mixed are placed
in the hopper D and the cover H is closed and secured. The slide I at the bottom
of the hopper is now withdrawn and the material descending from the hopper
is divided by the inclined planes B, which at first incets into two streams and
these are then brought together again by the small funnel or hopper C immediately

page_text: below. These operations are repeated as the tea meets the lower inclined planes
and funnel or hopper and the tea falls into the chest or receiver K; the slide Lat
at this time being out. When the tea is all down the slide L may be thrust in and
the apparatus may be turned over about its trunnions F; the chest or receiver K is
thus brought to the top but the parts B and C, will still occupy the positions in
which the drawing represents them; for whilst the apparatus is turned over these
parts will, also turn within the vertical case A about their pivots G. G. On with-
drawing the slide L the material will again pass down and it will now be received
into the hopper D. These operations may be repeated as often as may be thought
necessary and then the chest or receiver K or it may be the hopper D can be
removed and the tea or material discharged into any convenient receptacle.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare what
we claim is:-
1. Our improved mixing apparatus with its inclined planes and hoppers operating
successively to separate the material and throw it together again substantially as
described.
2. The improved mixing apparatus substantially as described and represented by
the annexed drawing