An Improved Machine for Sorting Coffee and other Grain.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Apr., 1891-Accepted, 23rd May, 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by ROBERT OKRASSA, of Portal, in the Republic of
Guatemala, Central America.]
An Improved Machine for Sorting Coffee and other Grain.
I, JOHN WILTON GORDON, Engineer, Dashwood House, 9 New Broad Street
London E.C. 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:-
This invention has reference to the construction of an improved machine for
sorting coffee or other grain.
This invention consists of suitably constructed tubes provided with hoppers,
placed transversely across a suction pipe to which they.are connected.
This suction pipe is connected to an exhaust fan.
Under these tubes are placed hoppers which deliver on to travelling bands.
One or more transverse tubes can be employed.
The accompanying drawings represent a machine constructed according to this
invention.
Fig. 1 represents an end elevation partly in section.
Fig. 2 represents a side elevation.
Fig. 3 represents a plan.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in these three figures.
A is a transverse tube placed across the suction pipe B.
C is a hopper.
D is the connection between the transverse tube A and the suction pipe B.
E and Fare flap valves to prevent the entrance of air.
G is a standard supporting the suction pipe B under the transverse tu!.es A.
I is a hopper placed above the travelling band K which runs on roll.
L.
The rollers L' are driven by a worm M and a worm wheel N. The worm is on a
shaft O and is driven by a band from a pulley on the fan spindle.
Qare screws for tightening the travelling band K.
R is an exhaust fan to which the suction pipe B is connected.
S is a delivery pipe from the fan.
The action of the machine is as follows:-
The coffee or other grain to be sorted is placed in the hopper C and passes
through the opening T where it becomes subjected to the upward current of air.
through H, caused by the rapid rotation of the exhaust fan.
The broken grains and light beans are drawn up by the air, and are deposited
at E, while dust and small particles are drawn into the suction pipe B at D and are
blown out at the pipe S.
Those beans which are not drawn up by the current of air fall out at H into the
hopper from whence they pass on to the travelling band K and are carried over
the roller and delivered down the shoot P'.
While the coffee is on the travelling band, the black and bad beans are picked out
by hand.
When a sufficient quantity of broken and light beans have collected at E, their
weight will open the valve, and they will be discharged at F.
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. The combination of parts forming an improved machine for sorting coffee or
other grain.

page_text: 2. I claim specially the form of the transverse tube with its hopper and valves
and connected to the suction pipe of an exhaust fan.
3. I claim specially the combination with the travelling band all substantially as
and for the purposes hereinbefore described.
JOHN W. GORDON.