Improvements in Machines for Cleaning and Separating Coffee.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 1'th Dec., 1894-Accepted, 26th Jan., 1895
CUB DIE DIE MULTICATIONN
[Communicated from abroad by DAVID BUNTING FRASER, of No. 234, Central
Park West, in the City of New York, in the County and State of New
York, United States of America, Manufacturer.]
Improvements in Machines for Cleaning and Separating Coffee.
I, HENRY HARris Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent
Agents, 45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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 :-
The invention relates to improvements in machines for cleaning and separating
coffee, and the said machine comprises a reciprocating frame carrying a series of
screens and troughs, and a stationary frame containing a suction fan and a series
of independent trunks and bins corresponding with the said screens.
The screens are inclined toward each other at opposite sides of the reciprocating
frame so that the coffee passing through one screen may reach the next following
screen and so on through the series. The upper screen permits all the coffee to
pass through it and directs the sticks, strings and larger foreign matter into a
discharge trough, but the remaining screens retain one grade of coffee each and
permit all the remaining coffee to pass through to the next lower screen for further
separation.
The coffee retained by and passing over the screens constitute the different
grades, and each grade is delivered to its own independent trunk where it is
subjected to air suction which elevates into a bin all the hulls, sticks, strings, light
black beans and quaker beans or other foreign matter, leaving the coffee to descend
to the point of delivery in good condition. Each grade of coffee passes to an
independent suction trunk and each trunk connects with an independent bin, and
hence each grade is kept independent and its screenings independently collected.
The suction through the trunks is regulated for each trunk independently, by
means of dampers.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a machine constructed in accordance with and
embodying the invention;
Figure 2 is a central vertical longitudinal section of same;
Figure 2 is a detached side view on an enlarged scale of the means for locking
the dampers in any desired position ;
Figure 3 is a vertical transverse section of same on the dotted line 3-3 of
Figure 2;
Figure 4 is a horizontal section of said machine on the dotted line 4-4 of
Figure 2 and partly broken away;
Figure 5 is a rear end view, partly broken away and in section, of same;
Figure 6 is a detached sectional view through a part of one of the screens of
the machine and showing the knocker therefor in its elevated position, and
Figure 7 is a like view of same showing the knocker in its depressed position
against the screen.
A designates the main frame of the machine, between the front portion of the
sides of which is supported upon flexible spring legs B the rectangular screen
frame C containing the interchangeable screens a b, c, d, e, and adapted to have a
reciprocating or shaking motion under the action of the eccentrics È secured upon

page_text: the driving shaft F. The screens a, b, c, d, e are of different mesh. and incline
toward the opposite sides of the frame C, as shown in Figures 1 and 2 ; and said
frame is provided with the series of guide frames G to receive the screens and
permit their being locked in position by means of the buttons H. The receiving
portions of the guide frames Ġ correspond in dimensions with each other and with
the screens, and hence the screens are rendered interchangeable and will be
arranged in series in accordance with the particular coffee separation desired. The
upper screen a is intended to permit the coffee to pass through it, while the sticks,
strings and like foreign matter ride over it to the discharge trough I, thus cleaning the
coffee; but the remaining screens b, c, d, e, effect the separation of the coffee by
being of a mesh to permit one grade of coffee to pass through them while the more
perfect beans pass over them into troughs specially provided for the purpose, as
hereinafter explained.
Below the screens a, b, c, d, e, are secured to the frames G the inclines f, g, h, i, j
shown more clearly in Figure 3, which receive the coffee passing through each
screen and direct it to the upper end of the next lower screen, by which it is
further separated, one grade passing over and the other through the same.
Within the frame C and at opposite sides thereof are provided the series of
inclined troughs I, J, K, L, M, the trough I being to receive the refuse escaping
over the screen a the trough J to receive the grade of coffee passing over the
screen b, the trough K to receive that riding over the screen c, the trough L
receiving that moving over the screen d, and the trough M receiving the final
grade flowing over the screen e.
•
The coffee is fed to the upper screen a through a hopper D of suitable
construction supported by a rigid standard.
In rear of the reciprocating screen frame C is a rigid part of the machine
composed of the upper compartment N enclosing the fan O, and the lower
compartments or bins b¹, c¹, à¹, e¹, corresponding in number with the respective
screens b, c, d, e, and each provided with an independent door P at its lower end in
line with its inclined bottom Q. Between the fan compartment N and the series
of bins b, c, d, e, is the partition R having at the top of each bin a draft
opening S and independent regulating damper T. The dampers T are secured on
rods V, W, X, Y, which extend outward, as shown in Figure 5, and carry handles Z
having set screws adapted to be utilized, in connection with the slotted segments m
(see Figure 2A) for the purpose of retaining the dampers in' any desired position
with respect to the openings S. The rod V carries the damper T for the bin d',
the rod W the damper, for the bin 6, the rod X that for the bin e', and the rod Y
that for the bin e', and hence the draft through the bins may be independently
regulated for each bin according to its necessities.
At the front of the bins b, c, d, e', and communicating respectively therewith,
are the trunks, c, d, e", which receive the coffee from the troughs I, K, L, M,
respectively, as indicated in Figures 2 and 3. The trough leads into a chute ",
shown by dotted lines in Figure 3, extending to the trunk "; the trough K
communicates with the chute o leading into the trunk c; the trough L extends
into a chute p connected with the trunk d", and the trough M passes to the chute
leading into the trunk el. The trunks b, c, d, e, open at their upper ends
respectively into the bins &', c', d', e', and these bins each connect with the fan
compartment N, and hence each of the trunks is subjected to the air suction but
the degree of the upward current of air may be regulated for each trunk
independently by means of the dampers T.
The coffee passing over the screen into the trough J passes downward through
the chute n into the trunk 6", where it is subjected to the air suction on its passage
downward from the lower end of said trunk, the effect of the air suction being to
elevate the hulls, sticks, strings light black beans and quaker beans upward through
the trunk, and cause the same to fall into the bin 6, while the fine dust passes
upward through the opening S and is blown out through the fan O. The coffee
passing over the screen c is directed by the chute o into the trunk c" where it is

page_text: subjected to the air suction and its screenings carried upward through the said
trunk and into the bin c. The coffee moving over the screen and passing into
the trough L and chute p enters the trunk di¹ and has its screenings elevated by
the air suction upward through said trunk .and collected in the bin d, while the
coffee passing over the screen e and entering the trough M and chute q enters the
trunk el where it is subjected to the air suction which elevates its screenings into
the bin. The different grades of coffee separated by the screens b, c, d, e are
thus independently subjected to the air suction in different trunks, and the screenings
from the different grades of coffee are independently collected in the different bins
connected with said trunks. The various grades of coffee separated by the screens
and directed into the trunks 6", c, d, e, pass downward through the lower ends
of said trunks into separate receptacles and the screenings for the different grades
of coffee may be removed from the independent bins at pleasure through the
doors P. Within the reciprocating frame C, and directly above each screen is
provided the knockers A' each of which consists of the hinged rod B' having upon
its outer end the ball C¹, which will preferably be of rubber and of appropriate
weight to strike against the screen and jar it sufficiently to prevent the coffee beans
from clogging up the meshes therein. The arm or rod B₁ is provided with an
upward extension D' carrying the adjustable rod E extending through the rear
walls of the frame C, as indicated in Figures 2, 6 and 7, and below the rod E' is
provided the spring F which exerts an outward tension against the end of the
rod B for the purpose of keeping the ball C¹ normally upward free of the screen.
Opposite to the inner ends of the rods E' are provided upon the front wall of the
rear rigid portion of the machine the shoulders or lugs G against which the said
rods E' strike during the reciprocation of the frame C. When the frame C is in
its normal position at rest the rods E' will, as indicated in Figure 2, be free of the
shoulders or lugs G¹, but when the said frame C is reciprocated by means of the
eccentrics E the said rods during the rearward thrust of the frame C will strike
the shoulders or lugs G', and thus effect the depression of the arms B' and balls C',
the latter rapping or knocking against the face of the screens and serving to jar the
same sufficiently to prevent the coffee clogging the meshes thereof. As soon as
the reciprocating frame C has started forward so as to relieve the contact of the
ruds E' with the shoulders or lugs G' the springs F will restore the arms or rods B'
and the balls C to their upward position free of the screens. In Figures 6 and 7
the two positions of the rods E and balls C₁ are shown, the former figure
illustrating the ball C¹ in its upward position, and the Figure 7 showing it in its
depressed position in contact with the screen.
During the use of the machine made the subject hereof, the fan O will be set
in motion and the shaft F will be revolved, the effect of the fan being to create an
upward suction through the trunks hereinbefore referred to, while the eccentrics E
on the shaft F will cause a reciprocation of the frame C with its various screens,
the movement of the frame C being permitted by the spring legs B. The coffee
to be cleaned and separated is placed within the hopper D through which it passes
to the upper screen a, the purpose of which is to remove the larger strings, sticks
and other foreign matters contained within the coffee, thus in part at least cleaning
the same.
The size of the mesh of the screen a is such as to permit the coffee
beans to pass through the screen while the foreign matter rides over the edge
thereof and falls into the trough I, by which it is conducted away. After the
coffee has left the screen a the purpose of the machine is to separate the same into
its various grades, and in pursuance of this object the coffee passing through the
screen a is caught by the incline and by it directed to the upper end of the
screen b, whose mesh is such that the larger coffee beans or one grade of
the coffee will pass over the said screen and fall into the trough J while the
remaining portions of the coffee will pass through said screen 6 and fall upon the
incline g which will conduct the same to the upper end of the screen c.
The grade
of coffee entering the trough J passes into the trunk 6" as hereinbefore 'described;
the coffee falling upon the screen c from the incline is further separated by

page_text: reason of the size of the mesh of said screen.c which prevents one grade of the
coffee from passing through the same, and compels it to travel over said screen and
fall into the trough K by which, as above described, it is conducted through the
chute o to the trunk c" where it is subjected to the air suction and its screenings
carried upward to the bin c¹. While one grade of coffee is travelling over the
screen c to the trough K the remaining body of the coffee passes through said screen
and falls upon the incline h by which it is directed to the upper end of the
screen d which removes a further grade of the coffee by preventing the same from
passing through the mesh thereof and directing it to the trough L which connects
with the trunk d as above described. That portion of the coffee not belonging to
the grade which will enter the trough L will pass through the meshes of the
screen d and fall upon the incline i down which it will move to the upper end of
the screen e which will separate the final grade of coffee by causing the same to
ride over its surface and fall into the trough M by which and the chute q it will be
directed to the trunk e". The finer foreign matter contained in the coffee will
pass through the screen e and fall upon the incline ; which will direct to one side
of the machine and permit it to escape therefrom as indicated in Figure 3. It
will thus be observed that all of the coffee passes through the screen a while the
remaining screens b, c, d, e effect the separation of the various grades in accordance
with the size of their meshes; the larger beans in each instance riding over the
screen and being directed to its independent trunk, while the smaller beans to be
further separated pass through the upper screens and are directed to the lower
screens whose mesh is arranged to effect the further separation of the grades as
above pointed out. The operation of the machine is practically continuous since
all of the screens operate at one time and continuously with the supply of coffee
fed to the upper screen from the hopper D. During the travel of the coffee from
the hopper D to the trunks provided for the respective grades, the frame C is
reciprocated by means of the eccentrics E and it jars the coffee sufficiently to cause
it to pass down the inclined screens, while at the same time the screens
further jarred by the rapping of the balls C' against the same. In view of the
fact that a separate trunk and a separate bin is provided for each of the screens
it will be found desirable in practice to designate the bins and screens by similar
indicating marks or numerals in order that the attendant may be able to open any
one of the bins desired and know that it contains the screenings from the particular
screen in mind. The screenings will of course vary in accordance with the mesh
of the screens, and may be subjected to further cleaning and separating for the
obtaining of a poorer grade of coffee. The different grades of coffee separated by
the machine will be collected at the lower ends of the independent trunks", c",
d", ", and the screenings from these particular grades of coffee will be collected
from the bins b', c', d', e¹.
are
I do not confine the invention to the use of any particular number of screens ;
nor to the special character of the mesh thereof, since it is obvious that the number
of screens may be increased or diminished and that the mesh of the screens will
vary in accordance with the particular result sought, and the character of the
coffee to be treated. In the machine heretofore constructed by me in accordance
with the invention I have provided extra screens which may be employed in place
of some of the screens illustrated in the drawings for the purpose of effecting a
different separation of the grades of coffee and I have also furnished two sizes of
peaberry screens which may be used when it is desired to separate the peaberry or
small round coffee bean from the Hat beaus. During the use of the machine the
suction from the fan O will be regulated in accordance with the character of the
coffee by means of the dampers T above described; for a very heavy coffee a
stronger draft would be employed than for light coffee, and hence the particular
degree of the air suction will be regulated in accordance with the judgment of the
attendant and the nature of the screenings it is desired to elevate to the inde-
pendent bins. The hinged rods B' causing the balls C' to rap the screens while
the latter are in use, facilitate and expedite the operation of the machine.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In a machine for cleaning and grading coffee, the vibratory frame, the series
of oppositely inclined sieves carried thereby, the sieves being of different mesh to
effect a separate grade of the coffee on each of the grading sieves, an independent
trough to each sieve to receive the grade of that particular sieve, and an incline
beneath each sieve arranged to receive the several grades of coffee passing through
the sieve next above it and deliver them on the upper portion of the sieve next
below, combined with the independent trunks, one in communication with each
sieve to receive its particular grade of coffee, a series of bins, one in communication
with each trunk at its upper portion, means for creating an air current through
each trunk and bin, and means for independently controlling the force of the
current through each trunk and bin; substantially as and for the purposes
described.
2. In a coffee separator and grader, the vibratory frame, the oppositely inclined
sieves carried by said frame, the upper sieve having a mesh to permit all the
grades of coffee to pass through it, and the 1wer sieves formed each with a
different mesh so as to effect a separate grade of the coffee on each sieve, an
incline under each sieve arranged to direct onto the upper portion of the next
lower sieve the various grades of coffee passing through the next, above sieve, a
trough at the lower end of the upper sieve to receive foreign matter passing over
the end of that sieve, and a separate trough to each of the lower sieves to receive
the particular grade of coffee from each respective sieve, combined with independent
trunks, one for each of the grading sieves to receive the distinct grade of each
respective sieve, bius, one for each trunk and in communication with the upper
portion of the trunk, and a fan for creating an air current through each independent
trunk and bin, substantially as and for the purposes described.
3. In a coffee separator and grader, the vibratory frame carrying a series of
inclined sieves of different mesh to effect a separate grade of coffee on each siere,
an incline beneath each sieve to receive the various grades passing through the
sieve next above and deliver them to the next lower sieve, and an independent
trough to each sieve to receive the grade of its particular sieve, combined with a
stationary frame to one side of the vibratory frame and having a series of inde-
pendent trunks on its side next to the vibratory frame and communicating one
with each of the troughs of the sieves to receive each an independent grade of
coffee, independent bins arranged in the stationary frame and communicating one
with each of said trunks, a fan chamber in communication with all of said bins, and
means for independently controlling communication between said fan chamber and
each of said bins; substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
4. In a machine for separating and grading coffee, the vibratory frame, the
series of oppositely inclined sieves carried thereby, the sieves being of different
mesh to effect a separato grade of the coffee on each of the grading sieves,
combined with an independent trough to each sieve to receive the grade of that
particular sieve, an independent chute leading from each of said troughs to keep
the various grades of coffee separated from each other, and an incline below each
sieve arranged to receive the several grades of coffee passing through the sieve
next above it and deliver them upon the upper portion of the sieve next below;
substantially as set forth.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.