Improvements in Apparatus for Separating or Sorting Coffee," Grain, and the like.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Jan., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 7th Feb., 1899-Accepted, 14th Oct., 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Separating or Sorting Coffee,"
Grain, and the like.
I, FRANZ JOSEPH DRECHSLER, of Papenstrasse 15, Altona-Ottensen, Germany,
Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:
The method hitherto employed for separating or sorting grain and the like,
especially coffee, by machinery, is very imperfect and also in part very faulty,
so that subsequent sorting by hand is always necessary. This is necessitated
by the nature of the impurities, between which and the coffee beans there are
frequently no great differences either as regards weight or size. The extremely
slight differences in weight render this sorting very difficult.
Now apparatus according to this invention enables such a complete separation
or sorting of coffee, grain, and the like to be effected by mechanical means--that
the subsequent sorting by hand is restricted to a minimum even if in certain
cases it be still requisite.
In a machine according thereto the coffee, grain, or the like to be sorted
(hereinafter called grain) passes on to a shaking bottom of peculiar construction
on which by the co-operation of the shaking movement with a current of air
that is led transversely over the shaking bottom and that can be regulated in
intensity if necessary, the sorting is effected in such a manner that the heavy
impurities (stones, sand, etc.) and the light foreign substances (wood, husks,
etc.) are separated from the grain and are conveyed to separate outlet apertures
in the shaking bottom. On its way over the shaking bottom the grain is being
constantly sorted or cleaned so that finally both cleaned, good grain, and cleaned
heavy and light waste, pass out at the other end of the shaking bottom. This
cleaning is effected by the co-operation of the surfaces (which are provided
with suitably directed teeth or steps) of the shaking bottom, the current of air,
which is regulated to suit requirements, and the continuous shaking movement
of the box. The heavy impurities keep on sinking in the layer of grain and
finally enter a channel of the shaking bottom, which channel is located at the
lowest part and in which they are brought back towards the outlet for the heavy
impurities, whilst the lighter impurities are moved further towards the surface
of the layer of material covering the shaking bottom, whence the current of air
blows them entirely out of the material or carries them more to the other side
of the shaking bottom in order to be forwarded by the steps towards the outlet
intended for them.
In order to sort, in the manner mentioned, the material arriving in the shak-
ing bottom, it is necessary that the steps, which are parallel as to their length,
should be arranged at at least 45° to the sides of the shaking box.

page_text: Ime creamed material coming from the shaking bottom finally passes upon a
sieve with one or more sieve bottoms, where it is sorted according to size.
The accompanying drawings represent a machine or apparatus according to
this invention and of advantageous construction.
-
Fig. 1 is a side elevation and
Fig. 2 a front elevation of the machine;
Fig. 3 is a plan of the shaking box;
Fig. 4 is a plan and
Fig.
Fig.
a front view of the double bottomed sieve, whilst
shows the same in longitudinal central section;
Figs. 7, 8, and 9 are longitudinal sections, and
Figs. 10, 11, and 12 cross sections, of the shaking box and correspond respec-
tively to the similarly numbered lines in Fig. 3;
Figs. 13 and 14 represent in side view and front view an arrangement for
regulating and entirely shutting off the blast produced by the fan; and
Fig. 15 shows in side view the fastening device of the bar that operates the
Bieve.
The shaking box a is supported by rollers b which are suitably fastened to
the framing and on which the box a is moved to and fro from the driving shaft c
by means of connecting rods d.
Over the shaking box a is a casing e, which contains two fans f which are
separated from each other by an air-shaft and are secured on a common shaft f¹
(Fig. 1). The fan shaft f¹ is driven from the driving shaft c by means of a
twisted belt c. The belt pulley is loose on the driving shaft c and can be put
into and out of gear by a lever by means of a friction-coupling c³. For the
purpose of producing as uniform a current of air as possible, the blades of the
fans have an outwardly increasing bent form (Figs. 1 and 2) in order to dis-
tribute uniformly towards both sides, the current of air, which, in the case of
the employment of straight blades, is always stronger in the middle of the fan.
The blast produced reaches the shaking bottom through a blast passage e¹, which
is divided into several parts, and whose outlet opening can be suitably regulated
by means of valves e to the strength of blast for the time being required, and
the blast is compelled by a transverse partition e³ to pass, to the entire length
of the machine, transversely over the bottom of the shaking box in order to
escape finally at the other side through an outlet et, which extends over the
entire length of the machine and which can be closed by one or more valves e6.
If necessary, on the transverse or covering wall e³ there can be provided one
or more adjustable or exchangeable leather straps which hang down and by
whose adjustment or arrangement the action of the current of air
on the material located on the bottom of the shaking box can be regulated
according to requirement. Instead of leather strips, strips of other suitable
material can be employed, but they must be able to oppose to the current of air
a certain resistance or counter-pressure so that the current of air will be more
or less forced down on the material located on the shaking bottom by means of
these partially lifted strips.
The grain to be sorted is fed into the hopper g, whose outlet is provided with
two valves gl and g³, which are arranged to abut against each other and of which
the one is adjusted to suit the speed at which the grain to be sorted is to be
fed, whilst the other valve g² receives an oscillatory movement during the work-
ing, whereby a regular feed is produced. The adjustment of the valve g¹ is
effected by means of a lever h, which, at its free end, engages elastically in an
arc-shaped scale bar h¹ provided with teeth. The vibration of the other valve g
is effected from the driving shaft c by means of an eccentric i and a rod ¹,
which, by means of a ball-joint 2, engages with an arm of the shaft g³ that
carries the valve g³.
Underneath the shaking box a, there is a sieve-frame k, which runs on rollers
and is moved to and fro from an auxiliary shaft by means of a crank m' and a

page_text: connecting rod m². The shaft m is rotated from the shaft c by means of belt
gearing m³.
At each side of the sieve-frame k there is fastened a wedge-like
tappet, which runs upon its corresponding roller and gives to the sieve-
frame, in addition to the to-and-fro movement, a certain up-and-down movement.
The peculiarly formed bottom of the shaking box is divided into fields A, B,
C, D, each of which is provided with steps inclined obliquely to the length of
the shaking box. Each of the fields A and B, which are arranged in one plane,
has oblique steps which, in this case, propel towards the right hand, whilst the
field C and the intermediate field D are each provided with steps oppositely
directed to them. Between the two fields A and B, which in the drawing are
represented equal in size but which can have any desired relationship as to size.
there is the intermediate field D), which is in the same plane but is provided
with oppositely directed steps. The front field C, which extends over the whole
length of the shaking box, forms, in a certain sense, a channel which is deepest
at its right-hand end, and rises gradually towards the left-hand end. In the
drawing the channel is shown, by way of example, as rising from the middle
and in fact to such a height that the material collecting in the channel is sub-
jected, to an extent increasing from below upwards, and especially in the neigh-
bourhood of the outlet a¹ for the stones, to the action of the blast. Adjoining
the channel is a wedge-shaped inclined plane E, which is provided with back-
wardly striking steps and with a partition wall s. The inclined plane is to effect
a supplementary sorting or cleaning of the heavy material carried high up in
the channel and extends over the entire length of the field A. The partition
wall which is fastened at its upper edge is directed from the left hand towards
the right hand obliquely forwards, joins with the front edge the right-hand
front corner of the field A, and forms in a certain sense a boundary of the
latter.
At the left-hand end of the channel formed by the field C there is the outlet
opening a for the heavier impurities such as stones, sand, and the like, which can
be closed by slides n. Near the front left-hand corner of the shaking bottom,
there is the outlet opening a² for the lighter impurities such as wood, husks,
etc., which can likewise be closed by a suitable slide n¹. For the good material
freed from its impurities, there are provided two further outlet openings a³ a*,
which are located at suitable places in the field B and can likewise be closed by
slides n n or the like. About in the middle of the channel formed by the
field C, there is arranged a further outlet a5 which is closed during sorting and
is opened only when the machine is allowed to run empty.
The machine works in the following manner:-
The grain to be sorted, which is supplied through the hopper g and past the
valves g, g, falls on the rear left-hand corner portion of the field A and is,
whilst falling down, freed, by the current of air produced, from dust and other
very light impurities, which are blown through the opening located in the
framing into a hopper-like receptacle o provided in front of this opening. This
receptacle is provided with a passage of by which the constituents separated
out are led away into a sack o2 or the like, suspended from its mouth. The
hopper-like receptacle is covered with material, such as gauze, that will allow
air to pass through, in order to allow the blast to escape, but to retain the
impurities carried along thereby. In the drawing there is indicated, by way of
example, a roof-like cover 03, but a cover of flat or other desired form can be
employed equally well.
The grain spreading out on the field A is moved forward towards the right
hand by the steps in consequence of the continual shaking of the box, and groups
itself. in accordance with its weight, in layers, the heavier impurities (stones,
etc.) lying at the bottom, the good material in the middle, and the lighter parts
at the top. The lower layer is held back by means of the middle field D with its
leftward-propelling steps, whilst the second and lighter layer slides over it always
further towards the right, and the upper and light layer is moved by the current

page_text: of air towards the longitudinal wall marked z. This manner of dividing depends
essentially on the current of air which passes transversely over the shaking
bottom, and which blows the husks, light beans, etc., out of the machine into a
dust catcher hanging in front of the opening e and collects it in a receptacle p¹.
Impurities of the 'same kind still not removed by the blast are moved towards the
rear longitudinal wall of the shaking box, and pass towards the outlet a² intended
for 'them.
P
.
The good material, freed from its impurities, finally passes on to the 'field B
and escapes through one of the two outlet' openings a³ and a The heavier
constituents, such as stones, sand, etc., 'contained in the material are moved
forward by the steps of the field 1 towards the channel formed by the elongated
field C and in the said field are propelled by the shaking movement towards the
outlet al: Before the heavy impurities separated out, have reached this, they
are subjected to a supplementary sorting or cleaning. The blast blows the
good grain that may still be situated under the stones up or over the inclined
plane E provided at this place.
"
'
$ 1
The cleaned material escaping through the outlets a³ and a falls upon the
sieve k that is 'moved to and fro under the shaking box. This sieve is provided
with two sieve bottoms located one above the other, 'an upper one with quite
large meshes, on which 'the-cleaned material falls first. This retains the large
beans and leads them off through a lateral opening 7 and an outlet q¹. Under the
sieve bottom 2 there is a second bottom, made, for example, with portions k³,
k, having meshes of three different sizes. The material that has passed
through the sieves reaches the corresponding outlets 3, 7, 5, whilst that which
is prevented from passing through is led through an outlet 2 (Fig. 1).
Each outlet is provided with a sliding door or similar closure of suitable con-
struction.
If it is desired to run the machine empty, the fans are first put out of opera-
tion, the belt pulley 2 being disengaged by means of the lever
The fans can
quite as well be allowed to run and the mouth of the air passage el closed by
the valves e³. Each of these is fastened as by hinges and is operated by a bar's
which is jointed to it and which is fixed in accordance with the desired position
of the valve for the time being, by the pressure of a strained flat spring s
(Figs. 13 and 14)...
If the action of the blast is suspended in either manner, the machine is first
of all allowed to run for a certain time, in order to move the stones in the
groove towards the left hand, the husks, bits of wood, chaff, etc., towards the
outlet intended for them, and the pure material on to the field B. As soon as
the heavy impurities have passed into the channel, the outlet a located therein,
is opened. This serves likewise for the exit of purified material, and, in fact,
the good grain that passes over the openings a³, a¹ out into the channel' is
passed forward by its steps towards the left hand, so that it can escape' through
the outlet a².
·
In Fig. 15, the connecting rod n connected with the sieve is represented in
side view. It is divided at its front end, from which the under part springs.
At the bottom of the sieve frame, there is fastened a hollow piece m which is
provided with a horizontal recess, and in which the upper part of the connecting
rod m² is inserted, whilst the lower part engages with its cap m around the
hollow piece m, and in such wise holds the rod quite firmly. By means of a
screw bolt me having a thumb nut, the rod can be quickly secured and liberated,
without the help of any tool whatever.
The upper sieve bottom is inserted as a slide into the sieve frame k and is
held fast by means of a hinge-flap t or the like.
In the side wall of the frame over the shaking box a there are hand-holes'u
which can be closed by slides and which allow the material to escape at the
corresponding places of the bottom of the shaking box.
rt
The outlets located in the shaking box bottom can be closed by suitable de-

page_text: vices. In the drawings there are represented, by way of example, flat slides
which are operated either directly or by means of a lever.
D
0711
T
1900
F. WISE HOWORTH,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.
Improvements in Apparatus for Separating or Sorting Conee,
Grain, and the like.
I, FRANZ JOSEPHI DRECHSLER, of Papenstrasse 15, Altona-Ottensen, Germany,
Manufacturer, 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 method hitherto employed for separating or sorting grain and the like,
especially coffee, by machinery, is very imperfect and also in part very faulty,
so that subsequent sorting by hand is always necessary. This is necessitated
by the nature of the impurities, between which and the coffee beans there are
The extremely
frequently no great differences either as regards weight or size.
slight differences in weight render this sorting very difficult.
Now apparatus according to this invention enables such a complete separation
or sorting of coffee, grain, and the like to be effected by mechanical means that
the subsequent sorting by hand is restricted to a minimum even if in certain
cases it be still-requisite.
In a machine according thereto the coffee, grain, or the like to be sorted
(hereinafter called grain) passes on to a shaking bottom of peculiar construction
on which, by the co-operation of the shaking movement with a current of air
that is led transversely over the shaking bottom and that can be regulated in
intensity if necessary, the sorting is effected in such a manner that the heavy
impurities (stones, sand, etc.) and the light foreign substances (wood, husks,
etc.) are separated from the grain and are conveyed to separate outlet apertures
in the shaking bottom. On its way over the shaking bottom the grain is being
constantly sorted or cleaned so that finally both cleaned, good grain, and cleaned
heavy and light waste, pass out at the other end of the shaking bottom. This
cleaning is effected by the co-operation of the surfaces (which are provided
with suitably directed teeth or steps) of the shaking bottom, the current of air,
which is regulated to suit requirements, and the continuous shaking movement
of the box. The heavy impurities keep on sinking in the layer of grain and
finally enter a channel of the shaking bottom, which channel is located at the
lowest part and in which they are brought back towards the outlet for the heavy
impurities, whilst the lighter impurities are moved further towards the surface
of the layer of material covering the shaking bottom, whence the current of air
blows them entirely out of the material or carries them more to the other side
of the shaking bottom in order to be forwarded by the steps towards the outlet
intended for them.
In order to sort, in the manner mentioned, the material arriving in the shak-
ing bottom, it is necessary that the steps, which are parallel as to their length,
should be arranged at at least 45° to the sides of the shaking box.
The cleaned material coming from the shaking bottom finally passes onto a
sieve with one or more sieve bottoms, where it is sorted according to size.

page_text: The drawings filed with my Provisional Specification represent a machine or
apparatus according to this invention and of advantageous construction.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation and
Fig. 2 a front elevation of the machine;
Fig. 3 is a plan of the shaking box;
Fig. 4 is a plan and
Fig. 5 a front view of the double bottomed sieve, whilst
Fig. 6 shows the same in longitudinal central section;
Figs. 7, 8, and 9 are longitudinal sections, and
Figs. 10, 11, and 12 cross sections of the shaking box and correspond respec-
tively to the similarly numbered lines in Fig. 3;
Figs. 13 and 14 represent in side view and front view an arrangement for
regulating and entirely shutting off the blast produced by the fan; and
Fig. 15 shows in side view the fastening device of the bar that operates the
sieve.
The shaking box a is supported by rollers 5 which are suitably fastened to
the framing and on which the box a is moved to and fro from the driving shaft c
by means of a connecting rod d.
Over the shaking box a is a casing e, which contains two fans f which are
separated from each other by an air-shaft and are secured on a common shaft f¹
(Fig. 1). The fan shaft f₁ is driven from the driving shaft c by means of a
twisted belt c. The belt pulley is loose on the driving shaft c and can be put
into and out of gear by a lever by means of a friction-coupling 3. For the
purpose of producing as uniform a current of air as possible, the blades of the
fans have an outwardly increasingly bent form (Figs. 1 and 2) in order to dis-
tribute uniformly towards both sides, the current of air, which, in the case of
the employment of straight blades, is always stronger in the middle of the fan.
The blast produced reaches the shaking bottom through a blast passage e', which
is divided into several parts, and whose outlet opening can be suitably regulated
by means of valves e² to the strength of blast for the time-being required, and
the blast is compelled by a transverse partition e³ to pass, to the entire length
of the machine, transversely over the bottom of the shaking box in order to
escape finally at the other side through an outlet e, which extends over the
entire length of the machine and which can be closed by one or more valves e6.
If necessary, on the transverse or covering wall e³ there can be provided one
or more adjustable or exchangeable leather straps which hang down and by
whose adjustment or arrangement the action of the current of air
on the material located on the bottom of the shaking box can be regulated
according to requirement. Instead of leather strips, strips of other suitable
material can be employed, but they must be able to oppose to the current of air
a certain resistance or counter-pressure so that the current of air will be more
or less forced down on the material located on the shaking bottom by means of
these partially lifted strips.
The grain to be sorted is fed into the hopper g, whose outlet is provided with
two valves g¹ and 92, which are arranged to abut against each other and of which
the one is adjusted to suit the speed at which the grain to be sorted is to be
fed, whilst the other valve g2 receives an oscillatory movement during the work-
ing, whereby a regular feed is produced. The adjustment of the valve g¹ is
effected by means of a lever h, which, at its free end, engages elastically in an
arc-shaped scale bar h¹ provided with teeth. The vibration of the other valve
is effected from the driving shaft by means of an eccentric i and a rod i,
which, by means of a ball-joint, engages with an arm of the shaft g³ that
carries the valve g.
Underneath the shaking box a, there is a sieve-frame k, which runs on rollers
and is moved to and fro from an auxiliary shaft 7 by means of a crank m¹ and a
connecting rod m². The shaft m is rotated from the shaft c by means of belt
gearing m³.
At each side of the sieve-frame k there is fastened a wedge-like

page_text: tappet, which runs upon its corresponding roller and gives to the sieve-
frame, in addition to the to-and-fro movement, a certain up-and-down movement.
The peculiarly formed bottom of the shaking box is divided into fields A, B,
C, D, each of which is provided with steps inclined obliquely to the length of
the shaking box. Each of the fields A and B, which are arranged in one plane,
has oblique steps which, in this case, propel towards the right hand whilst the
field C and the intermediate field D are each provided with steps oppositely
directed to them. Between the two fields A and B, which in the drawing are
represented equal in size but which can have any desired relationship as to size,
there is the intermediate field D, which is in the same plane but is provided
with oppositely directed steps. The front field C, which extends over the whole
length of the shaking box, forms, in a certain sense, a channel, which is deepest
at its right-hand end, and rises gradually towards the left-hand end. In the
drawing the channel is shown, by way of example, as rising from the middle
and in fact to such a height that the material collecting in the channel is sub-
jected, to an extent increasing from below upwards, and especially in the neigh-
bourhood of the outlet a' for the stones, to the action of the blast. Adjoining
the channel is a wedge-shaped inclined plane E, which is provided with back-
wardly striking steps and with a partition wall s. The inclined plane is to effect
a supplementary sorting or cleaning of the heavy material carried high up in
the channel, and extends over the entire length of the field A. The partition
wall which is fastened at its upper edge is directed from the left hand towards
the right hand obliquely forwards, joins with the front edge the right-hand
front corner of the field A, and forms in a certain sense a boundary of the
latter.
At the left-hand end of the channel formed by the field C there is the outlet
opening a for the heavier impurities such as stones, sand, and the like, which can
be closed by slides n. Near the rear right-hand corner of the shaking bottom,
there is the outlet opening a³ for the lighter impurities such as wood, husks,
etc., which can likewise be closed by a suitable slide n¹. For the good material
freed from its impurities, there are provided two further outlet openings a³ a,
which are located at suitable places in the field B and can likewise be closed by
slides n³ n³ or the like. About in the middle of the channel formed by the
field C, there is arranged a further outlet a5 which is closed during sorting and
is opened only when the machine is allowed to run empty.
The machine works in the following manner:-
The grain to be sorted, which is supplied through the hopper g and past the
valves g', g, falls on the rear left-hand corner portion of the field A and is,
whilst falling down, freed, by the current of air produced, from dust and other
very light impurities, which are blown through the opening located in the
framing into a hopper-like receptacle o provided in front of this opening. This
receptacle is provided with a passage o¹ by which the constituents separated
out are led away into a sack 02 or the like, suspended from its mouth. The
hopper-like receptacle o is covered with material, such as gauze, that will allow
air to pass through, in order to allow the blast to escape, but to retain the
impurities carried along thereby. In the drawing there is indicated, by way of
example, a roof-like cover 03, but a cover of flat or other desired form can be
employed equally well.
The grain spreading out on the field A is moved forwards towards the right
hand by the steps in consequence of the continual shaking of the box, and groups
itself, in accordance with its weight, in layers, the heavier impurities (stones,
etc.) lying at the bottom, the good material in the middle, and the lighter parts
at the top. The lower layer is held back by means of the middle field D with its
leftward-propelling steps, whilst the second and lighter layer slides over it always
further towards the right, and the upper and light layer is moved by the current
of air towards the longitudinal wall marked z. This manner of dividing depends
essentially on the current of air which passes transversely over the shaking

page_text: bottom, and which blows the husks, light beans, etc., out of the machine into a
dust catcher p hanging in front of the opening e¹ and collects it in a receptacle 2.
The funnel o and the bag p are arranged in front of the common opening e
and are used simultaneously. The funnel o is arranged at the back left corner
portion, where the grain or the like to be sorted falls down, through the funnel g
and its flaps g, g, to the field a. When the fruit is falling down it is freed
from dust and other very light admixtures by means of the current of air pro-
duced by the ventilator f and these admixtures are conveyed into the funnel.o.
The somewhat heavier admixtures are conveyed with the good material further
to the right on the shaking frame by means of the teeth and collect as the
specifically lightest material as an upper layer and are conveyed by the current
of air to the back longitudinal wall of the shaking box and through the open-
ing e into the bag 2. Whilst the heavier admixtures, as husks, small pieces
of wood, etc., are therefore blown into the latter, the funnel serves solely for
the reception of the quite light admixtures, as dust and the like. Impurities
of the same kind still not removed by the blast are moved towards the rear longi-
tudinal wall of the shaking box, and pass towards the outlet a³ intended for
them.
The good material, freed from its impurities, finally passes on to the field B
and escapes through one of the two outlet openings a³ and a. The heavier
constituents, such as stones, sand, etc., contained in the material are moved
forwards by the steps of the field 1 towards the channel formed by the elongated
field C and in the said field are propelled by the shaking movement towards the
outlet a¹. Before the heavy impurities separated out, have reached this, they
are subjected to a supplementary sorting or cleaning. The blast blows the
good grain that may still be situated under the stones up or over the inclined
plane E provided at this place.
The cleaned material escaping through the outlets a³ and a falls upon the
sieve that is moved to and fro under the shaking box. This sieve is provided
with two sieve bottoms located one above the other, an upper one 2 with quite
large meshes, on which the cleaned material falls first. This retains the large
coffee beans and husks or the like and leads them off through a lateral opening 7
and an outlet q¹. Under the sieve bottom 2 there is a second bottom, made, for
example, with portions ³, k, having meshes of three different sizes. The
material that has passed through the sieves reaches the corresponding outlets
3,4,5, whilst that which is prevented from passing through is led off through
an outlet (Fig. 1).
Each outlet is provided with a sliding door or similar closure of suitable con-
struction.
If it is desired to run the machine empty, the fans are first put out of opera-
tion, the belt pulley 2 being disengaged by means of the lever .
The fans can
quite as well be allowed to run and the mouth of the air passage el closed by
the valves e. Each of these is fastened as by hinges and is operated by a bar s
which is jointed to it and which is fixed in accordance with the desired position
of the valve for the time being, by the pressure of a strained flat spring sl
(Figs. 13 and 14).
If the action of the blast is suspended in either manner, the machine is first
of all allowed to run for a certain time, in order to move the stones in the
groove towards the left hand, the husks, bits of wood, chaff, etc., towards the
outlet intended for them, and the pure material on to the field B. As soon as
the heavy impurities have passed into the channel, the outlet a located therein,
is opened. This serves likewise for the exit of purified material, and, in fact,
the good grain that passes over the openings a³, a out into the channel is
passed forward by its steps towards the left hand, so that it can escape through
the outlet a5.
In Fig. 15, the connecting rod m² connected with the sieve is represented in
side view. It is divided at its front end, from which the under part springs.

page_text: At the bottom of the sieve frame, there is fastened a hollow piece m* which is
provided with a horizontal recess, and in which the upper part of the connecting
rod m² is inserted, whilst the lower part engages with its cap m³ around the
hollow piece m', and in such wise holds the rod quite firmly. By means of a
screw bolt me having a thumb nut, the rod can be quickly secured and liberated,
without the help of any tool whatever.
The upper sieve bottom is inserted as a slide into the sieve frame k and is
held fast by means of a hinge-flap t or the like.
In the side wall of the frame over the shaking box a there are hand-holes u,
which can be closed by slides u¹ and which allow the material to escape at the
corresponding places of the bottom of the shaking box.
The outlets located in the shaking box bottom can be closed by suitable de-
vices. In the drawings there are represented, by way of example, flat slides
which are operated either directly or by means of a lever.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is: -
1. A sorting apparatus for coffee, grain, and the like, in which the blast of
air, which is produced by two or more fans (f) divided by air shafts and secured
on a common shaft (f), is capable of being regulated by adjustable valves (e²),
and is guided, by means of a stationary transverse or covering wall (e) with
depending strips (e), transversely over the shaking box bottom provided on its
entire surface with oblique steps, drives the dust and other very light impurities
contained in the material to be sorted, through an opening (e), which extends
over the entire length of the machine, and into the special receptacles which
are intended for them, but acts, in consequence of the peculiar arrangement of
the steps, in such a manner on the grain or the like contained in the shaking
box, that the light impurities, such as husks, bits of wood, and lighter beans,
and the heavy impurities, such as stones and sand, are separated from the clean
material and specially conducted away, and the said clean material passes on to
a sieve with two or more sieve bottoms having portions with meshes of different
widths, where it is sorted according to its size.
2. In a sorting apparatus according to the preceding claim, a shaking box
having a bottom provided with oblique steps or teeth, and divided into fields
A, B, C, D, of which the leftward-propelling field D) is arranged between the
rightward-propelling fields A and B and the likewise leftward-propelling field C
is arranged in front of the fields A, B, and C and to the entire length of the
shaking bottom, and which, with the help of the blast of air produced by the
fans, act upon the material to be sorted, which lies in layers, in such a manner
that the upper layer formed of the material of less value, together with husks,
bits of wood, etc., is blown towards the rear longitudinal wall, the middle layer
or the clean material is led away over the lowest layer on to the field B and to
the outlet intended for it, whilst the heavy impurities, such as stones and sand,
are propelled to the channel formed by the front field C and in this to the outlet
intended for it, but are preliminarily subjected to a supplementary sorting or
cleaning, whilst the blast brings back any good grain, that has been carried along,
over an inclined plane E to the first-mentioned field A.
3. A machine according to Claim 1, in which the fan-case (e) is provided with a
divided air passage (el), which extends over the entire length of the machine and
which adjoins a transverse or covering wall (e), which is located between the
casing and the shaking box so that the blast of air blown on the one side on to
the shaking bottom or the material passes transversely over the latter.
4. A machine according to Claim 1, in which, by means of suitable valves (e²)
and exchangeable strips of leather (5) or the like arranged over the bottom of
the shaking box, the blast of air can be led transversely over the bottom in such

page_text: a manner that it will act, in accordance with the material to be sorted more or
less strongly upon the said material.
5. In a sorting machine according to Claim 1, a feeding device (g) comprising
two valves (92) one of which (g) can be adjusted to suit the size of the
material to be sorted, by means of a lever (h) engaging with its free end elastically
in an arc-shaped scale bar (h¹) provided with teeth, whilst the other (92) during
working receives an oscillatory movement, which is effected from the driving
shaft (c) by means of an eccentric (2) and a connecting rod (i) which, by means
of a ball joint, engages an arm (94) of the shaft (g) carrying the last mentioned
valve ().
6. A machine of the kind herein before described, in which there is one or
more disengagable fans (f) having blades each of which comprises two portions
extending from the middle towards the ends at an obtuse angle to each other,
and which, during rotation, act upon the air sucked in at the axis after the
manner of blunt wedges, for the purpose of uniformly distributing the blast upon
the entire length of the shaking box.
7. In combination with sorting apparatus according to Claim 1,. a hopper (o)
or sack (p) arranged before the blast outlet opening (e) for the purpose of
leading away and catching the dust etc. blown out of the material being sorted.
8. In a machine according to the preceding claims, a sieve-frame (k) which is
moved to and fro on rollers (l), is provided with two or more sieve bottoms of
different mesh widths, and which sorts, according to size, the material that has
been freed from its impurities.
1
9. Apparatus for separating or storing coffee, grain, and the like, constructed,
arranged, and operating as herein before described with reference to and shown
in the drawings.
".
Dated this fith dow of Wa
OFY
F. WISE HOWORTH,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicant:
L