An Improved Sorting and Grading Machine.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 18th July, 1896-Accepted, 5th Sept., 1896
An Improved Sorting and Grading Machine.
I, GUSTAV MÜNCHEMEIER of Landwirt, Schnarsleben, near to Niederado-
deleben, 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 :-
My invention relates to an improved machine or apparatus for sorting and grading
potatoes, grain, peas, beans and other substances and materials of varying sizes and
dimensions, and has for its objects simplicity of construction, easiness of working,
and a method and means by which, in one operation, the articles mentioned or the
like may be divided and sorted into two or more grades or sizes, and freed from
dust and dirt, and each grade be conveyed by separate chutes or conduits into
piles or heaps, or into other chutes or conduits, away and apart from each other.
In order that my invention and the manner of its operation may be clearly
understood reference is hereinafter made to the accompanying sheet of drawings,
of which
Fig. 1 is a side elevation, while Figs. 2 and 3 are front and back elevation
respectively of my said machine or apparatus, substantially as I prefer to construct
it, and the description hereinafter contained is based upon the assumption that the
said apparatus is in use for sorting or grading potatoes.
Figs. 4 and 5 are central vertical longitudinal section and plan respectively of
the same machine.
My invention consists of a preferably rectangular frame A, of any dimensions
according to the desired capacity of the machine, the said frame having suitable
cross stays or ties B in any way best suited for the stability and rigidity of the
same. Upon the front of the said frame 1 mount in any suitable position, a pair
of stays C and C', these being connected at their upper ends by a cross stay D,
which serves to support a hopper or receiver E, and carry rings or hooks F and F,
for pivotally holding the upper ends of a pair of depending rods G and G'. The
upper horizontal rails at the sides of the frame A each carry similar_eyes or
hooks H and H', to which is connected in like manner depending rods J and J,
the lower ends of which, and the rods G and G' terminate in hooks, and engage
with eyes or hooks J" fixed in a suitable position upon both sides of a rectangular
bottomless frame K, so that K is suspended thereby, the length of the rods G
and G being slightly longer than the rods J and J' the said frame is suspended
normally at or about the angle shewn in Figs. 1 and 4, relatively to the frame A.
The said frame K carries internally three or more interchangeable sieves L, L'
and L, which rest upon suitable ridges upon the inside of the frame as shewn, the
said sieves having each a grading surface M composed of woven wire or other
suitable material, the upper surface of which is sufficiently smooth not to injure the
potatoes or the like being passed thereover. The mesh of the upper sieve L is
larger than that of L', while that of L' is larger than that of L". The back end
of the frame K has an opening or outlet, to which is connected a chute N, in com-
munication with the sieve L, and a like chute N¹ in communication with the
sieve L', the said chutes being fixed upon K at such angles that the graded
material as expelled from their respective sieves thereinto, would be by them
conveyed and deposited in separate heaps at opposite sides of the machine, or into
other chutes or conduits for conveying the same to where required. The angle of
the said chutes will be understood by reference to Figs. 3 and 5.

page_text: At the end of the sieve L" I provide an opening O, through which the material
expelled from 'L" would pass into a transverse chute P (shewn in Fig. 3) and be
deposited onto a beap at the side of the machine in such a position as not to
mingle with the heap made by N', or in like manner P may lead to another chute
or conduit, that the said material may be conveyed away to where required.
The upper end of the frame K has pivotally connected thereto one end of a
rod R, the opposite end of which is connected to the crank of a crank shaft S,
mounted upon the frame A, the said crank being arranged for rotation by the
means of suitable gearing T, operated by a handle V or by other convenient or
available power.
In practice, the potatoes or the like to be graded or sorted would be first
deposited in the hopper or receiver E, from which they would be led by gravity
into the frame K, and be deposited upon the grading surface M of the sieve L,
when, by the rotation of the handle V, motion would be imparted to the crank
shaft S, and from this, by the agency of the rod R, a to and fro horizontal motion
would be imparted to the frame K and the sieves therein, which would also receive
a slight up and down motion by reason of the sector of a circle described by the
depending rods G G J and J', such vertical or up and down motion of the two
ends of the frame K being slightly uneven, consequent upon the difference in the
length of the rods G and G' relatively to the rods J and J', and the radius of the
circles described thereby, the combined motions thus imparted to the sieves L, L
and L very closely resembling that given to an ordinary hand sieve, and by the
means of such motion and the angle at which the frame K is suspended the
potatoes or the like deposited in the sieve L, would be gradually conveyed along
the surface M of this towards the chute N, and such of these as were less in size
than the mesh of L would pass therethrough on to the sieve L', while such as
would not pass through L would pass out through the chute N. The same motion
being imparted to the sieve L' such potatoes or the like as would not pass through
this onto L would be conveyed to, and pass away through, the chute N', while
such (if any) as were too large to pass through L would pass down through the
opening O, and the chute P, and such chats or dust and dirt as would pass through
the meshes of L would be deposited upon the ground and be removed at will, and
by these means I am enabled, by one operation, to divide or separate the potatoes
or the like into as many grades as there as sieves of different meshes, and to
remove all dirt and dust therefrom.
From the foregoing it will be understood, that by the employment of sieves such
as L, Land L, or any desired extension of their number, each provided with a
mesh M of lesser grading capacity than the one above it, that my said apparatus
may be employed in like manner for the sorting and grading of any substances or
materials, cerial or otherwise, consisting of large and small particles, and I reserve
to myself the right to construct and use iny said apparatus for all purposes for
which it may be applicable without departing from the principle involved."
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,
Ist. In an improved machine for sorting, grading and sifting potatoes, peas,
beans, and all other substances and materials consisting of large and small
particles, the construction, use, and application of the herein described apparatus,
in combination with suitable mechanism for imparting the desired motion to the
moving parts of same substantially as herein described and shewn.
2nd. In an improved sorting, grading and sifting machine, the combination of
a multiple sieve, suspended in a suitable frame, provided with suitable chutes for
depositing in different directions the several grades of materials or substances
sorted thereby, with means for imparting a horizontal and differential vertical
motion to the said multiple sieve, substantially as herein described, and shewn.
3rd. In a sorting grading and sifting machine, the combination of a frame such

page_text: as K, containing any number of sieves of different grading capacities such as L, L¹
and L", and suspended by rods such as G G J and J to a frame or staging
such as A, and provided with chutes such as N N¹ and P, arranged as shewn, with
means such as a rod R connected to K and a crank shaft S, the latter rotated by
suitable gear such as T operated by a handle V or by other suitable means, for
imparting a horizontal and differential vertical motion to the said sieves, in
combination with a hopper or receiver such as E, substantially as herein described
and shewn by the drawings.
Dated this 18th day of July 1896.
GEO. THOS. HYDE,
1 Broad Street Buildings, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicant.