IMPROVEMENTS IN DRESSING AND CLEANING WHEAT AND OTHER GRAIN
Year: 1856

page_text: Irotection, but notice to proceed with the
application for Letters Patent was not given within the time prescribed
by the Act.)
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by John Birkin at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 27th October
1856.
I. JOHN BIRKIN, of West Bridgeford, in the County of Nottingham, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN DRESSING
AND CLEANING WHEAT AND OTHER GRAIN," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to the employment of certain mechanism for the
purpose of dressing and cleaning wheat and other grain (whereby the wheat is
more effectually separated from the seed of weeds or other extraneous matters),
and at the same time imparts to it an improved appearance. To effect this,
I construct a revolving drum or cylinder, supported by and working in
bearings in a suitable framework, the said revolving drum or cylinder being
covered with flannel or other woollen fabric; there is a hopper with a pipe
attached placed over the said drum or cylinder, into which the wheat or other
grain to be 'dressed and cleaned is put. Underneath the aforesaid revolving
drum or cylinder, and in contact with the flannel or woollen fabric, I fix a
brush, for the purpose of removing the seed of weeds and other extraneous
matter, at or above the centre of the aforesaid revolving drum, and in contact
with it I place a brush revolving in the opposite direction to the nap of the
flannel or woollen fabric, for the purpose of raising the nap. I also construct
suitable troughs, covered with flannel or other woollen fabric, into which the

page_text: wheat or other grain falls, which imparts to it an improved appearance, and is
thus conveyed away. The nature of these improvements will be better under-
stood by the following description of the mode of operation:-The wheat or
other grain to be dressed and cleaned is first placed in the hopper, and descends
through the pipe or opening on to the flannel or other woollen fabric with
which the aforesaid revolving drum or cylinder is covered, the nap on the said
flannel having been previously raised by the aforesaid revolving brush, the
wheat or other grain is thus conveyed partly round by the revolving drum or
cylinder until it falls by it own gravity into a trough lined with flannel or
other woollen fabric, which it descends, and then falls into another trough lined
in the same way with flannel or other woollen fabric, which it descends, and by
theso means imparts a much finer appearance to the wheat and other grain
than as heretofore been effected. The seed of weeds or other extraneous
matter being lighter than the wheat or grain, is conveyed round by the raised
nap on the aforesaid revolving drum or cylinder, until it comes into contact
with the aforesaid brush fixed underneath the aforesaid revolving drum or
cylinder; and by these means, and in this manner, the seed, &c. is effectually
removed from the aforesaid flannel or other woollen fabric, at the same
brushing the nap down, which is afterwards raised by the revolving brush,
previous to arriving at the pipe or opening connected with the aforesaid
hopper, previous to its receiving a fresh supply of grain to be operated upon, as
before stated.