Year: 1889

page_text: 1, HEINRICH SEOK, of Dresden, in the Kingdom of Saxony and German Empire,
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:-
My invention relates to sifting machines, and is designed to provide improved
moans for cleaning or preventing the clogging of the meshes of rocking and rotary
sieves.
It consists, partly, in the combination with such sieves of an actuating device of a
novel construction for imparting a differential motion to a frame arranged underneath
the sifting surface and carrying the brushes, scrapers, beaters or other suitable devices
intended to be constantly or intermittingly in contact with the said surface and to free
from obstructing matter the interstices of its meshes, and my invention consists partly
in the novel mode of arranging such cleaning devices and partly in the arrangement
of the beaters striking the cloth upon an elastic belt or band vibrated by pendulating
or other suitably arranged knockers.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section showing part of a rocking sieve provided
with my improvements.
Figure 2 is a vertical transverse section thereof.
Figure 3 is a side view of part of a rocking sieve illustrating a modification of
my said novel actuating device for producing the differential motion of the said
cleaning frame.
Figure 4 is a side view, partly in section of another modification of such actuating
device, and
Figure 5 is a top view of Figure 4.
Like letters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the drawings.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2 A' designates the rigid frame of the machine (broken
away) and A the rocking frame arranged and reciprocating within the same frame as
usual and in a well known manner. B designates another frame carrying the cleaning
devices and arranged in the longitudinal guiding slots in the frame A so as to move
both with and, at the same time, independently of the latter.

page_text: a are flapping doors suspended loosely by the rocking frame A and serving the
purpose of propelling the flour or other material to be sifted on the sifting surface or
cloth, or sieve proper C, as described in a former patent of mine and forming no part
of my present invention.
62 are bars carrying on their lower surface broad springs 6¹, and in their upper
surface either brushes 6, or scrapers c of stiff leather, wood or the like, said brushes
being kept in close and elastic contact with the lower surface of the sifting cloth C
by the said springs b' resting upon the bottom of the frame B. This arrangement
allows of readily removing the bars 62 from the frame B in the case of repairs
being necessary, and inserting other bars with new brushes in lieu of those
worn out.
e are beaters loosely suspended by axes e between the side boards of frame B and
resting with their free ends, on an elastic belt or band D, of leather or other suitable
material fastened to the rocking frame A below the sifting cloth C.
d are knockers likewise swinging loosely on axes between the side boards of the
frame A and arranged underneath the said belt or belts D.
As heretofore stated the frame B receives a lengthwise movement independent of
the movement in which it partakes with the frame A and the means for imparting to
the said frame B such additional or "differential" motion will be described presently.
Referring to Figure 1 it will be seen that the frame A has swung out to the left which
motion has caused the suspended knockers d to strike against the belt so as to
vibrate and thuse cause the latter to throw the beaters e against the sifting cloth in
order to prevent as much as possible flour particles from settling within the meshes.
But on the return movement of the frame A the frame B carrying besides the said
beaters, the bars 62 with the brushes 6 or scrapers c will be moved forward for a short
distance, that is to say, it will not partake of the entire return movement of the
frame A and thus cause the said brushes or scrapers in close and elastic contact with
the lower surface of the sifting cloth (), to travel a short distance along and clean the
latter from those coarser particles that may not have been prevented by the action of
the beaters e from settling in and obstructing the meshes of the cloth.
Now, the means for imparting to this end such differential movement to the frame B
are constructed and arranged to operate as follows :—
In Figures 1 and 2 o is a L-shaped bridge suspended by and fastened to the cleaning
frame B by means of a number of trunnions p passing through longitudinal slots p¹
in the frame A in which they can travel freely so that on pushing forward the bridge o
the trunnions P will be compelled to follow such movement in the slots p' and as they
carry their connected frame B along with them the latter will change its position in
the frame A and thus receive a double or "differential" motion, that is to say, the one
motion in which it partakes with the rocking frame A and another which causes it to
move independently of the latter.
In order to produce this latter motion, there is journalled in suitable brackets
fastened to the lower side of the frame A, the shaft k carrying on its one end the fixed
ratchet-wheel i and on its other end a worm in gear with a worm-wheel m on a
vertical pivot likewise fixed in the lower side of the frame A so that the whole gearing
as now described will be reciprocated or swung with the latter. The worm-wheel m
has applied to its lower face a fixed crank m³ the free end of which connects with
the end of, the connecting rod n, fastened to the bridge o by means of a bolt o¹ or
otherwise.
It will be seen that by rotating the ratchet wheel i the worm wheel m in
gear with
the worm will be turned on a horizontal plane and, by means of its crank m³, impart
a reciprocating motion to the connecting rod n and, through it, to the bridge o and its
connected frame B which will thus be moved to and fro within the frame A while the
latter is.rocking or swinging.
The required intermittent rotary motion is imparted to the ratchet-wheel i by means
of a pawl pivoted to a bifurcated leverf which is loosely mounted on the shaft k
whilst its forked end is catching with sufficient vertical play around a fixed pin g in
the stationary frame A¹ of the machine so that under the action of the pawl ha

page_text: partial rotation of the ratchet wheel i and its connected mechanism will set in on every
return movement of the rocking frame A.
Modifications of my improved means just described for causing the differential
movement of the frame B are illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 and 5 of the drawings
whose construction and operation will be readily understood from the foregoing
explanation.
In these views I have broken away the machine and represented only part of the
same inasmuch as this was necessary to allow of understanding the construction and
function of my said improved differential actuating devices forming subject matter of
this application. In Figure 3, the rocking frame A is suspended by pendulating rods f
pivoted at f¹ to the rigid or stationary frame 1A, and at 9 to the frame A, and
carrying the pawl h in gear with the ratchet wheel i. The latter is mounted on a
shaft & journalled in the rocking frame A and carrying the star-wheel in gear with
the star-wheel m turning on a horizontal pivot which projects laterally from the
frame A. As will be seen, the pinions and m are equivalent to the worm-gear
and m of Figure 1 and may be substituted by such gear, if desired. The face of the
pinion m carries the crank-pin m¹ attached to the connecting-rod n which is pivoted
to a bar o travelling in the slot p' of the frame A and fixed in the cleaning frame B.
The rod fin this modification does the office of the lever f described with reference
to Figure 1, and on the swinging or rotary return movement of the frame A, and by
means of the pawl h, imparts intermittent rotary motion to the ratchet wheel and
its connected mechanism acting upon the cleaning frame B, as will be readily
understood.
.
The modified arrangement of my improved means for effecting the differential
movement of the cleaning frame B as shown in Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings,
differs from those before described in that the required power is transmitted to the
said actuating means direct from the cranked main shaft A of the machine which
imparts the required rocking motion to the frame A in the usual and well-known
manner.
The bridge o is suspended by the cleaning frame B the same as described with
reference to Figure 1, and connects in a similar manner with the connecting rod n,
crank m, worm-wheel m and worm 1 on shaft k. The latter is journalled in a bracket
on the lower side on the frame A and rotated constantly by a worm h¹ on the main
shaft A in gear with a worm-wheel on the shaft which rotary movement is
transmitted by the worm to the wheel m with the same result as hereinbefore
explained.
In order to allow the shaft k to follow the movements of the rocking frame A, the
other end of the former is journalled in a bracket at the end of the machine so as to
slide in the said bracket and travel therein to and fro. The worm wheel i, to allow
of such travelling of the shaft k, is provided with a tongue entering a longitudinal
groove in the shaft so that it will partake in the rotation of the latter without
preventing the end wise movement of the same and without coming out of gear with
the worm h¹.
It is evident that "bevel-gears may be substituted for the worm-gears, and that the
shaft & may be arranged so that it will slide end wise in the bracket on the frame A,
instead of in the pinion.
Universal joints may be inserted in the shaft k in order to enable it to follow all
movements of the frame A in such cases where the latter is not swung on a horizontal
plane or in a straight line.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
First. In a sifting apparatus the combination, with the reciprocating or rotating
sieve-carrying frame, of a cleaning frame arranged underneath the sifting cloth and
having pivotally connected beaters resting with their free ends on a belt or other

page_text: Second. In a sifting apparatus the combination, with the reciprocating or rotating
sieve-carrying frame, of a sliding cleaning frame arranged underneath the sifting
cloth and carrying a bridge or an equivalent device travelling in slots in the sieve-
carrying frame and receiving a double motion, one of said motions being independent
of the motion of the sieve-frame, substantially as, and for the purposes, specified.
Third. In a sifting apparatus, the combination, with the sieve-carrying frame, of a
cleaning frame underneath the sifting cloth, and a removable bar or holder carrying
a brush or scraper and supported by a spring on the cleaning frame, substantially as,
and for the purposes, specified.
Fourth. In a sifting apparatus the combination of the sieve-carrying frame A, the
cleaning frame B arranged to slide in the latter underneath the sifting cloth, the
beaters e in the frame B, the flexible belt or band D supporting the boaters, and
the pendulating knockers d for vibrating the said belt, substantially as, and for the
purposes, specified.
Fifth. In a sifting apparatus the combination, with the cleaning frame arranged
to move with and slide in the reciprocating or rotating sieve-carrying frame, of a
pendulating lever fulcrumed on the stationary frame of the machine and having
a pawl in gear with a ratchet-wheel on a shaft carried by the sieve-frame, and
intermediate gear and connections between the said shaft and the said cleaning frame,
substantially as, and for the purposes, specified.
Sixth. In a sifting apparatus the combination, with the cleaning frame arranged to
move with and slide in the reciprocating or rotating sieve-carrying frame, of a
rotating sliding shaft actuated by the main shaft of the machine, intermediate gear
driven by the said shaft and carried by the sieve-frame, and connecting means
between the said gear and the cleaning frame, substantially as, and for the purposes,
specified.
Seventh. In combination a rocking sieve-frame A, a pin g in the stationary frame A¹,
a pendulating lever pivotally mounted on the shaft and having a pawl / in gear
with a ratchet wheel i on the shaft k carried by the siove-frame, a worm in gear with.
a worm-wheel m on a pivot suspended by the frame A, a crank m², connecting rod n,
bridge o, slots p¹ in the frame A, trunnions p, and a sliding cleaning frame B carrying
brushes, scrapers or other suitable devices for cleaning the sifting cloth Ċ, substantially
as, and for the purposes, specified.
Eighth. In combination a swinging sieve frame A, a pendulating rod f by which
the frame A is suspended, a pawl on the rod f, a ratchet wheel i on a shaft k
journalled in the frame A and carrying a pinion in gear with a pinion m on a lateral
pivot in the frame A, a crank-pin m² in the face of the pinion m and attached to the
connecting rod n, a longitudinal slot p' in the frame A, and a bar o between the sliding
frame B and rod n, substantially as, and for the purposes, specified.
Ninth. In combination a swinging sieve frame A, a sliding shaft k journalled in a
bracket suspended by the frame A and in a bracket on the stationary frame A¹ of the
machine, a pinion on the shaft in gear with a pinion or worm h¹ on the main
shaft A, a pinion or worm ? on the opposite end of the shaft k in gear with a
pininion m, a crank m², connecting rod n, bridge o, slots p¹ in the frame A trunnions p
and a frame B arranged to slide in the frame A, substantially as, and for the purposes,
specified.
Dated this 31st day of January 1889