AN IMPROVED MINCING MACHINE
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Jean Marie Drouyer, of No. 13, Arundel Street, in the
County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED MINCING
MACHINE."
d the 21st December 1876, and dated the 24th June 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Jean Marie Drouyer at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th June 1876.
•
JEAN MARIE DROUYER, of No. 13, Arundel Street, in the County of Middlesex.
"AN IMPROVED MINCING MACHINE."
The Invention for which I make an application to Her most Gracious Majesty
for the grant of Letters Patent for the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland consists in an improved mechanical arrangement by means of a combina-
tion of combs and a double series of revolving cutters which are superposed and act
simultaneously in a reverse way, passing alternately through the combs during
their action.
The following is a description of my machine:-Two metal shafts are super-
posed & each fitted with a number of metal cutters arranged in such manner and
shape as to form in appearance a round knotched screw thread, each of these cutters
being isolated by washers placed between them on the shaft. These washers
determine the thickness of the cutters and combs and the distance between them.
The lower shaft is fitted with similar cutters and washers to the upper one, but they
are less in thickness. These two shafts revolve in ordinary bearings, each is fitted
with a small toothed wheels of equal diameter; on each side of the shafts in the
metal frame of the machine and parallel to them are fixed four metal combs in an
oblique position so as to bring the work of the cutters as near as possible to the
centre of the shafts, and so obtain the greatest possible leverage on the cutters,
lessen the expenditure of power. The cutters and combs above mentioned are
smooth and flat in their surfaces, with sharp angles. A handle, pulley, or gear is
fitted on the upper shaft, according to the propulsion used to drive the machine, with.
or without a fly wheel. The mechanism described is fitted into a casing suited for
the arrangement of shafts, cutters, and combs, as described. The material to be
minced is put in a trough over the top shaft and is taken out from the lower part
of the casing.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Jean Marie Drouyer in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 22nd
December 1876.
JEAN MARIE DROUYER, of No. 13, Arundel Street, in the County of Middlesex.
"AN IMPROVED MINCING MACHINE."
This Invention consists of an improved mincing machine, and in order that my
said Invention may be properly understood I will proceed to describe the same with
reference to the annexed Drawings.
Figure 1 is a transverse sectional elevation of the improved mincing machine
through the case, and shows the arrangement of cutters and combs.
Figure 2 is a side sectional elevation of the machine through the case.
Figures 3 and 4 and enlarged edge and side views of the upper set of rotating
cutters.
Figures 5 and 6 an enlarged plan and section views of the upper set of combs,
and also shews a cutter in its relative position with respect to the comb.
a is the case of the machine, inside which are arranged two sets of rotating
cutters and two sets of combs for the same, b, b¹, and c, c¹, respectively. These
cutters are at consecutive distances from each other in their respective sets, those in
the lower being placed more distant from each other than those in the upper set; so
that the portions of the substance to be minced after passing the first or upper set of
rotating cutters are further reduced in size in passing the second or lower set from
whence it drops from the lower part d of the case a into the box e which stands on
the footplate f of the machine. The upper part g of the case a is made of suitable
height to form a feed box or hopper to machine.
By means of the crank handle h rotary motion is given to the upper set of
rotating cutters b, the spindle i of the same being prolonged on the other side of
case a to that where the crank handle is placed, and carries a spur toothed pinion j
and fly wheel k, the former gearing into a similar pinion on the spindle m of the
lower set of rotating cutters 6', and by this means rotation is communicated from
the upper to the lower set of cutters.
By this arrangement of connection between the upper and lower sets of rotating
cutters they are made to revolve in contrary directions, as indicated by the arrows,
and more effectually disintegrate the substance operated upon.
It will be seen by reference to the enlarged views of the set of cutters shewn in
Figures 3 and 4 that the cutters b, b, are arranged in a spiral manner on the
spindle i, carrying them so that the cutting edges follow each other in close succes-
sion. The cutting edges n and n are rectangular, as are also the upper edges o, o,
of the comb, and are made to cut at both the advancing edges in the cutters and
both the upper edges of the rectangular bars of the comb. Each cutter is two-
armed and hooked, the object being to enable the cutters to firmly grasp and
secure the substance to be minced so that it cannot escape from being operated
upon, and it also brings the work to be done at a short leverage from the cutter
spindle m, thereby giving the cutter great power over its work. The lower set of
cutters and combs b¹ and c² are similarly arranged and constructed to the upper set
of cutters and combs b and c, except as to distance apart and width between cutters
and comb bars. The same parts are similarly lettered in the different Figures.
Having thus described the nature and object of my said Invention, I would
observe that I do not claim the the several parts separate and apart, but that what
I do claim and desire to be secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters
Patent is
First. The shafts i, i, and m, m, connected together by suitable gearing so as to
revolve in opposite directions in passing through two sets of combs placed under-
neath so as to cut the substance through the meeting of the angles of the cutters
and combs, substantially as herein-before described and shewn on Drawings.

page_text: Second. The general arrangement and combination of parts together forming the
improved mincing machine, substantially as herein-before. described and shewn on
Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Jean Marie Drouyer, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-second day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
JEAN MARIE DROUYER. (LS.)