Improvements in Apparatus for Roasting Coffee and the like.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 7th June, 1899-Accepted, 12th Aug., 1899
.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Roasting Coffee and the like.
I, DAVID BUNTING FRASER, of No. 1748, Broadway, in the City of New York,
in the County and State of New York, United States of America, 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 invention relates to improvements in coffee roasters and consists in the
novel features and combinations of parts hereinafter described and particularly
pointed out in the claims.
I have embodied the various features of the invention, for convenience in the
presentation of this application, in a gas coffee roaster, comprising an exterior
casing, an enclosed perforated revoluble coffee roasting cylinder, an inner cylinder,
revoluble with said roasting cylinder, and an elongated gas burner extending
longitudinally through the aforesaid inner cylinder and having slits cut into its
upper part, the said slits being arranged on parallel lines with one another and at
an angle to the transverse diameter of the burner. The exterior casing comprises
the front and rear ends and opposite sides, an exit flue at one end of the roaster,
and an elevated dome or framing extending longitudinally over the top of the
roaster and inclining upward from one end of the latter to the said exit flue. The
front end of the roaster is provided with an inlet hopper or chute for the coffee
to be roasted and with a sliding hood adapted when in its lower position to rest
upon the edges of said chute or hopper and close the same and also form an extension
of the exit flue by which the said chute or hopper and the said flue are connected
together. The said hood is vertically slidable and when moved upward passes
upward upon the sides and front of the exit flue and leaves the inlet chute or
hopper entirely open for the reception of the coffee to be roasted. The front end
of the roaster is also provided with an outlet door-way for the roasted coffee
and this door-way is supplied with a door equipped with means hereinafter
described by which the door may be conveniently opened upward and retained
in its open position. The perforated roasting cylinder and the inner perforated
cylinder surrounding the gas burner are mounted to revolve together and are
carried by suitable hollow cylindrical hubs or sections which are entirely open
at their outer ends, which extend through the ends of the roaster, and freely admit
the air to the inner cylinder. The inner cylinder is also preferably provided
with agitator blades in order that during its revoluble motion a constant agitation
and circulation of air may be maintained around the gas burner. The gas burner
is of novel construction in regard to the arrangement of the exit slits therein, as
above pointed out, and is provided at its inlet end with a suitable gate, damper
or valve for regulating the admission of air with the gas thereto.
The object of the invention is to produce a roaster employing gas and in which
the coffee may be efficiently and quickly treated.
The nature of the invention and the details of the construction by which it
may be carried into effect, will be fully understood from the description herein-
after presented, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which :-

page_text: Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a coffee. roaster constructed in accordance with
and embodying the invention;
Fig. 2 is a front elevation of same;
Fig. 3 is a central vertical longitudinal section of same on the dotted line 3-3
of Fig. 2;
Fig. 4 is a like section on an enlarged scale of a portion of same;
Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse section of same, on the dotted line 5-5 of
Fig. 1; and
Fig. 6 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view of a portion of same on the
dotted line 6-6 of Fig. 2.
'
In the drawings A, B, respectively denote the front and rear heads or ends of
the general roaster, and C the sides of the roaster, said sides extending inter-
mediate said heads A, B. Between the sides C is mounted the roasting cylinder D,
which, as more clearly illustrated in Fig. 4, is formed of perforated sheet metal
and secured at its ends upon the heads E, F. The perforated cylinder D) is
provided along its inner surfaces with the blades G of known construction and
function, and centrally within said cylinder D is mounted the inner cylinder H,
which is preferably formed of wire cloth and is furnished over its inner surfaces
with the series of blades I, which, during the operation of the roaster create a
constant agitation and circulation of air about the inner longitudinal pipe or
burner J, the latter extending on a horizontal line centrally through the
cylinder H.
The cylinders D), H, revolve together during the use of the roaster and have
their revoluble motion imparted to them by a suitable belt connected with the
band or power wheel K, which, as indicated in Fig. 3, is mounted upon the
hollow hub L which passes through the rear end B of the roaster and has mounted
upon its inner edges the rear end or head F of the cylinder D. The rear end of
the inner cylinder H is secured within the inner end of the hollow hub L and
hence both of the cylinders D), H, are secured to the inner end of the hub L and
revolve with said hub. The hub L has its bearing in the end 13 of the roaster,
and the belt wheel K is rigidly secured to said hub.
The front end or head E of the cylinder D is in the nature of a spider and its
hub M, shown more clearly in Fig. 4, has secured to it the annular flange N, to
which the front end of the cylinder H is secured. Thus the front end of the
cylinder D and the front end of the cylinder H are secured together and will have
a uniform motion under the action of the belt wheel K. The hub M of the front
head or spider E of the cylinder D has its bearing within the front head A of
the roaster and has secured to it by means of screw threads the short cylindrical
section P, upon whose outer end is supplied by threading the annular shoulder or
stop Q. Around but not resting on the cylindrical section P, at the rear side of
the stop Q, is applied the collar or sleeve R which is supported from the head A
by brackets R' and to which, by means of the bent rod S, is connected the rod T,
the latter extending inward through the cylindrical section P and hub M of the
spider E and carrying at its inner end the plate V snugly fitting within and
closing the front end of the burner J, as more clearly illustrated in Fig. 4. The
burner J has no revoluble motion, and hence the said burner is not connected with
the cylinders D, H. The rod T, bent rod or arm S and collar R continue in
stationary position and support the front end of the burner J, while the front
head or spider E and cylindrical section P' have their revoluble motion.
The coffee to be roasted is fed to the cylinder D) and is kept from entering the
inner cylinder H. The entrance for the coffee to the cylinder D is through the
hopper or chute W, and its exit from the cylinder D is through the door-way X,
and the latter being provided with the hinged door Y shown more clearly in
Fig. 2. The hopper W is of usual outline and above this hopper is provided the
vertically slidable hood a having a convenient handle and being connected with
the counterbalance weight d, whose cord at one end is connected with the upper
edge of said hood a and thence passes over a pulley wheel connected with the

page_text: smoke-stack or exit flue e, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The hopper W projects
forward of the front head A of the roaster and above the opposite sides of this
hopper are provided the guides of which take the extreme inner edges of the hood a
and guide the latter in its vertical movements from its lower position shown by
dotted lines in Fig. 3, to its upper position, shown by full lines in said figure.
The hood a when in its lower position closes the space between the lower front
edges of the flue e and the upper edges of the hopper W and hence when in
such position forms a means for directing the smoke and gases ascending from the
cylinder D and hopper W, into the exit flue e. When the hood a is in its upper
position, shown by full lines in Fig. 3, it exposes the open upper end of the
hopper W in order that the coffee to be roasted may be passed into said hopper
and by it directed into the roasting cylinder D.
The hood a is composed of a flat front face, as shown in Fig. 2 and plain flat
sides, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, and the lower front portions of the flue e are
conformed to the shape of the hood a in order that said hood may pass upward
upon said flue during the opening of the hopper W for the reception of the coffee
to be roasted. The hood a when given the form and construction illustrated and
arranged with due relation to the flue e, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, constitutes a
very desirable and convenient construction and one which does not mar the
appearance of the roaster. When the hood a is in its lower position, its front
face is on a line with the outer front edge of the hopper W and the front surface
of the exit flue e, and hence said hood presents no objectionable projecting parts,
being harmonized with the general construction presented by the roaster.
Above the roasting cylinder D the space between the sides C, C, is covered by
the dome or framing g which extends from the rear end of the roaster to the smoke
flue e, as clearly illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3. The dome or framing extends
over the entire length of the roaster and preferably is inclined from the flue e
downward and rearward to the upper edges of the rear head B of the roaster,
and said dome or framing g thus through an extended area at its front end
directly opens into the lower portion of the flue e and serves to draw off the
smoke and gases generated within the cylinder D. It is very desirable that the
smoke and gases generated during the roasting of the coffee should not be con-
fined with the coffee, but should be removed therefrom as rapidly and efficiently as
possible, and with the construction presented in respect of the dome or framing 9,
flue e and hood a, I provide entirely efficient means for withdrawing from the
roasted coffee the smoke and gases generated within the cylinder D. The
length of the dome or framing g is clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 3 and the width
of said framing is illustrated in Fig. 5, and from this figure it will be seen that
the framing constitutes. a dome of extended area and capacity and that the
smoke and gases generated within the cylinder D may be rapidly withdrawn
therefrom and directed to the flue e.
It has been mentioned above that the exit for the coffee from the cylinder D
is through the door-way X and that this door-way is provided with a door Y.
The door Y and its connecting parts form a portion of the invention and are
illustrated more clearly in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. The door Y is hinged at its upper
edges upon a rod and upon its front face carries lugs i, i, in which is pivoted
the links, 21, secured on the rod j whose middle nortion is fashioned into a
handle, as shown in Fig. 2. and whose ends pass outward through frames k, k,
secured upon the front of the roaster. The frames k, k, are slotted to receive the
ends of the hinged rod j and their upper and lower ends are recessed, as at m.
to form pockets for the reception of the ends of the rod j. When the door Y
is to be opened, the attendant will grasp the middle portion of the rod j and
through said rod turn the door Y upward upon its hinges. The upward move-
ment of the door Y and rod will result in the ends of said rod reaching the
upper recesses m in the slotted frames k, k, and the attendant will allow the ends
of said rod to pass into said upper recesses m in order that said recesses may serve
as a lock to engage the ends of said rod and hold the door Y open. When it is

page_text: desired to close the door Y the attendant will grasp the middle portion of the
rod and by slightly lifting said rod will free the ends of the latter from
the upper recesses m, and thereupon the door of its own weight will automatically
close, the ends of said rod; passing downward along the inclined slots of the
frames k, k, until the lower ends of said slots have been reached and at this
time the ends of the rod will be passed into the lower recesses m of said
frames, k, for the purpose of locking the door Y in its closed position. The
hinged rod connected with the door Y, and the slotted and recessed guiding
frames, k, secured to the roaster, constitute a very desirable means for locking
the door Y in both its open and closed positions, and at the same time the
rod serves as a convenient means by which the attendant may operate said
door.
2)
The front of the roaster is provided, as usual, with a try-hole a through which a
portion of the coffee may be withdrawn for the purpose of inspection. This try-
hole in the present instance is permanently open and about it is secured the
plate which is in the general form of a shield and is formed with flanges by
which it is secured to the front of the roaster and also with the inclined side q,
the very much less inclined side r, and the inclined middle portions, the latter
extending downward to the lower portion of the try-hole n. The side of the
plate has its upper edges removed forming a recess t, as shown in Figs. 2 and 6,
through which recess will be inserted the spoon or other device for with-
drawing a portion of the coffee in order to determine its condition. The direction
of motion in the cylinder D is such that any coffee passing through the try-hole n
is directed against the longer inclined side of the plate 7 and said coffee is by
said side g and middle portions of said plate p directed back through the try-
holen into the cylinder D. The plate is of such form that the try-hole n
may always be left open and hence it is at all times convenient to inspect the
coffee within the roaster. The form of the plate is such that the coffee will
not be thrown out through the recess t, since the movement of the coffee is not
against the side of the plate p, but against the inclined side 7 of said plate.
J
The burner constitutes an important part of the invention made the subject
of this application, and said burner is in the nature of a pipe closed at its
front end by the plate and provided at its rear end with a suitable damper or
gate by which the admission of air to said pipe may be regulated at will. The
pipe is fed with gas from the smaller pipe shown in Fig. 3, and that portion
of the pipe constituting the burner proper and which is within the cylinder H
is provided with the series of slots which are parallel with one another and
close together and at an angle to the transverse diameter of the burner J, as
shown more clearly in Fig. 3. The slots pass through about the upper half of
the pipe or burner J and their arrangement at an angle to the transverse diameter
of the burner J is of importance in that it enables me to obtain a greater area
of opening in the burner J than would be possible if said slots were directly
across the burner J instead of on an angle to the transverse diameter thereof. The
rear end of the pipe or burner J has mounted upon it a frame y to receive and
guide an ordinary gate or damper by which the quantity of air entering the
burner pipe J may be regulated at will. This gate or valve z will be slotted to
pass downward over the gas pipe w.
The inner surfaces of the cylinder H are provided with the blades I, as above
described, and during the revoluble motion of the cylinders D, H, said blades I
create a constant agitation of air about the burner J and very greatly facilitate
combustion and the proper roasting of the coffee.
The invention has been illustrated in a coffee roaster within which the coffee
is roasted by heat generated from the burning of gas, and while I illustrate the
preferred embodiment of the invention, I do not limit all of the features of
construction to the special gas roaster shown, nor is the invention at all limited to
the various blades provided within the cylinder D for acting upon the coffee.
The operation of the roaster will probably be understood from the description

page_text: which has been given hereinbefore. In use, the hood a is elevated and the coffee
fed through the chute or hopper W to the roasting cylinder D, and thereupon
the hood is lowered, the coffee being within the cylinder and the gas being
ignited at the slots .. The burner having been ignited, the cylinders 1), H, are
set in motion by power applied to the belt wheel K, and with proper attention the
roasting is then carried on. The coffee during its process of being roasted, may
be inspected or tried from time to time through the try-hole and after the
roasting has been completed the coffee will be withdrawn in the usual manner
from the cylinder D through the door-way X, the door x having been elevated
and locked in its upper position for this purpose.
The framing or dome g and the hood a and also the means for elevating and
lowering and locking in its open and closed positions the door Y are applicable to
roasters which do not belong to the gas roaster class and hence said features are
not limited to a roaster employing a gas burner J; the said features are, however,
important and valuable parts of the gas roaster shown and are claimed as a part of
such roaster.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is ::
1. In a coffee roaster, the outer sides, the dome or framing extending length-
wise over the roaster, and the exit flue at one end of the roaster and connected
with the end of said dome or framing, combined with the coffee roasting cylinder
extending lengthwise below said dome or framing and between said sides;
substantially as set forth.
2. In a coffee roaster the outer sides, the exit flue at one end of the roaster,
and the framing or dome extending lengthwise over the roaster and inclining
upward from one end of the roaster to said flue at the other end thereof, combined
with the roasting cylinder extending lengthwise below said dome or framing and
between said sides; substantially as set forth.
3. In a coffee roaster, the front and rear ends, the exterior sides, and the exit
flue, the said front end being provided with the hopper for introducing the
coffee, combined with the vertically slidable hood adapted to be moved.
upward on said flue and when in its lower position to form a continuation of said
flue downward to the upper edges of said hopper, and the perforated roasting
cylinder mounted between said ends and adapted at one end to receive the coffee
from said hopper; substantially as set forth.
4. In a coffee roaster, the front and rear ends, the exterior sides, and the exit
flue, the said front end being provided in its upper part with the inlet hopper
and at its lower part with the door-way for the escape of the roasted coffee,
combined, with the door for said door-way, the rod mounted in links pivotally
secured on said door, the rigid upwardly extending guiding frames for the ends
of said rod and having the recesses to retain the ends of said rod and lock said
door open, and the roasting cylinder mounted between said front and rear ends
and exterior sides; substantially as set forth.
5. In a coffee roaster, the combination of the perforated revoluble roasting
cylinder to receive the coffee, the inner perforated cylinder revoluble with said
roasting cylinder, the agitator blades within said inner cylinder, and the elongated
gas burner within said inner cylinder; substantially as set forth.
G. In a coffee roaster, the exterior casing and exit flue, combined with the
perforated revoluble roasting cylinder, the inner perforated cylinder, and the
elongated gas burner within said inner cylinder, said burner being in the form
of a horizontal pipe having its upper portions provided with the parallel slots cut
at an angle to the transverse diameter of the pipe: substantially as set forth.
7. In a coffee roaster, the exterior casing, the exit flue, the inlet feed hopper at
the end of said casing, and the discharge door-way at the lower portion of one
end of said casing for the discharge of the roasted coffee, combined with the

page_text: perforated revoluble roasting cylinder mounted between the ends of said casing
and adapted to receive the coffee from said inlet hopper and to discharge, the
same through said door-way, the inner perforated revoluble cylinder from which
the coffee is excluded, and the elongated gas burner J extending horizontally
through said inner perforated cylinder, said burner I being closed at one end and
at the other end connected with the gas pipe and provided with means for
regulating the admission or air, the pipe J having its upper portion provided with
the series of slots a which are parallel with one another and close together and
at an angle to the transverse diameter. of the burner; substantially as set.
forth.
8. In a coffee roaster, the exterior casing and exit flue, combined with the
perforated revoluble roasting cylinder within said casing, the inner perforated
cylinder open at both ends so as to receive the air through both ends of the
roaster, the elongated gas burner within said inner cylinder, and the gate for
regulating the admission of air to the inlet end of said burner; substantially as
set forth.
9. In a coffee roaster, the exterior casing and exit flue, combined with the
perforated revoluble roasting cylinder, the cylindrical hub sections upon which
the ends of said roasting cylinder are mounted and which have their bearings in
the ends of the roaster and are open at their outer ends, the inner perforated
cylinder supported by said cylindrical hub sections and open at its outer ends, and
the elongated gas burner within the said inner cylinder; substantially as set
forth.
10. In a coffee roaster, the exterior casing and exit flue, combined with the
roasting cylinder, and the shield plate over the try-hole in the front of
the roaster, said plate ? having the inclined side q, the recessed side r, the
sides, and the flanges by which it is secured to the roaster; substantially as
set forth.
001
1
P
1000