Improvements in Apparatus for Drying Coffee, Cocoa, Spice, and the like.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Jan., 1894-Accepted, 10th Feb., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Drying Coffee, Cocoa, Spice,
and the like.
1, JAMES YATE JOHNSON, of 115 St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, in the County of
Lanark, North Britain, Chartered Patent Agent (a communication from abroad
by Charles Risk of Grenada, West Indies, Engineer) 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 :-
This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for drying coffee, cocoa,
spice, and the like and has for its object to provide an apparatus which will work
in a more efficient manner than thitherto.
In carrying out the said invention a forced draught or current of air generated
by a revolving fan is employed; said current of air after passing through a steam
or other heater is caused to play upon and around the product or article being
dried, which is placed or spread upon a series of revolving trays mounted within a
sheath or casing, which is provided with means for enabling the product to be
placed on, and withdrawn from the said trays, and if desired suitable inspection
windows may also be provided. The product being kept in agitation during the
drying process by means of suitable stationary rakes.
But in order that the said invention may be more readily understood, and easily
carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the same with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
Figures 1 and 2 are elevation and plan and Figures 3 and 4 detail views of my
said apparatus.
Referring to the said drawings, a revolving fan A is employed which may be
driven by manual, steam or other power, but preferably by an arrangement of
steam power B as shown. The said fan A after being set in motion forces a
current of air through the pipe a into and through a heater C which is preferably
heated by the exhaust steam through the medium of the pipe c, though if desired
it may be otherwise heated. The air after being heated in the heater C passes
through the pipe or passage c', which is formed with a chamber chaving one, two
or more suitably shaped outlet pipes or nozzles c³, the ends of which pass through
the wall of a circular sheath or casing D. Inside the said casing D, is mounted
one, two or more circular revolving trays E which are mounted upon an upright
spindle F, the top end of which passes through the roof of the casing D, and is
provided with a bevel wheel G which gears with a bevel pinion G¹; said bevel
pinion G' being driven by the steam power arrangement B, through the medium
of belts and pulleys. Each of the said trays E have mounted above them a
stationary rake H (Figures 3 and 4) having a series of depending teeth h so as
to stir up the product being dried; said product being spread on the trays E, which
are formed as an open coil of wire carried by a light framework, in such a manner, as
to perinit of the heated air permeating throughout the product being dried.
In order that the product may be inspected during the drying, one, two or
more glass windows J are provided in the casing D, which is also formed or
provided with one, two or more doors K for enabling the product to be placed on
or taken off the trays E.
In order to permit of the temperature within the casing D being regulated, a
cold air passage L is provided, between the fan A and the chamber c²; said
passage L being provided with a suitable regulating valve or shutter arrangement I,
and if desired each of the nozzles c³ may be provided with any suitable valve or
shutter arrangement.

page_text: The whole arrangement thus forms an efficient drying apparatus, in which the
product, after being spread on the trays and the motor set in motion, is subjected
to a continuous stream of heated air by means of the fan and heater; said product
also being kept in agitation by means of the rakes.
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:-
--
1st. The general arrangement, construction, and combination of the various
parts constituting the improvements in apparatus for drying coffee, cocoa, spice
and the like substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described and shown
in the accompanying drawings.
2nd. In apparatus for drying coffee, cocoa, spice and the like, the arrangement
of a fan, heater. and drying chamber, said drying chamber having one, two or
more revolving trays and stationary rakes whereby a forced current of heated air
is caused to act upon the product whilst it is being kept in a state of agitation,
substantially as hereinbefore described and shown in the accompanying drawings.
3rd. In apparatus for drying coffee, cocoa, spice and the like, the arrangement
and construction of the revolving trays E working in conjunction with the stationary
rakes H, whereby the product being dried is kept in a state of agitation, substantially
as hereinbefore described and shown in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 8th day of January 1894.
JOHNSONS,
115, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Applicant's Agents.