IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR SIFTING, SEPARATING, OR PURIFYING FLOUR AND OTHER LIKE MATERIALS
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson of 47 Lincolns Inn Fields in the
County of Middlesex Gentleman for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR SIFTING, SEPARATING, OR PURIFYING FLOUR
AND OTHER LIKE MATERIALS " communicated to him from Henri Cabanes a
mcident at Bordeaux in the Republic of France.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th August 1883,
"
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON of 47 Lincolns Inn Fields in the County of Middlesex
Gentleman "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR SIFTING
SEPARATING OR PURIFYING FLOUR AND OTHER LIKE MATERIALS a communication
to me from Henri Cabanes a person resident at Bordeaux in the Republic of
France
This Invention relating to machinery or apparatus for sifting separating or
purifying four and other like materials consists in certain improvements in the
arrangement and construction of the parts as hereinafter described whereby the
apparatus is rendered capable of being employed in combination with any method
of grinding
The improved arrangement and novel construction of the parts enable this
machine to produce a more powerful and efficient mechanical action than a mere
sifting which they supplement; this action is better adapted to the object in view
and is more in harmony with the varying nature of the products obtained by the
disintegrating Cylinders which are now becoming generally substituted for the
horizontal stones
This apparatus is however applicable with equal advantage to the products of
all descriptions of grinding Mills some of which products simply require a aifting
whilst others require sorting or separating and purifying-This apparatus
consequently combines the function of a separator and purifier as well as a sifter.
An apparatus constructed according to this Invention consists of a frame actuated
by means of a cam shaft and springs and moving vertically and horizontally in a

page_text: case of wood work of suitable length supported by a frame constructed with
transverse and diagonal stays and divided at its lower part by partitions of
suitable form for collecting and directing the sifted products falling from the
apparatus.
To The said frame is attached by screws or otherwise another frame or series of
frames or sieves covered with cloth or gauze upon which fall the materials from a
hopper provided with a distributing roller (worked by gear wheels) and a sliding
valve
The materials falling upon the second frame or frames or sieves are subjected to
the combined three fold action of a vertical impulse acting between two (an upper
and a lower) drawing or propelling currents-I will now proceed to describe each of
these actions separately
Two blowing fans on a shaft at one end of the apparatus deliver a current of air
along lateral passages underneath the frame carrying the sieves which is connected
to the sides of the passages by a flexible material serving to prevent escape of air.
The pressure of the air escaping from these passages below the sieves is regulated
by means of adjustable valves provided with springs
The air thus delivered below the sieves being slightly compressed by the vertical
movement of the latter forces itself vertically upwards through the materials
moving longitudinally lifting them to a certain extent and facilitating the sifting
thereof
This sifting action is supplemented by the action of upper and lower horizontal
currents obtained by placing both the under and upper sides of the frames carrying
the sieves in communication with a chamber from which air is exhausted by means
of a central exhaust fan communicating with the said chamber by means of lateral
passages
This air is expelled into a discharge passage at the bottom of the apparatus and
the degree of exhaust is regulated by a valve in the hinged cover or lid of the case
and near to the hopper-Another regulating valve is situated at the lower part of
the chamber The former of these two valves by means of a curved plate or
deflector admits a horizontal current on the surface of the frame or sieves and the
second admits an ascending current in the exhaust chamber.
The horizontal current above the sieves carries away the light matters or particles
lifted by the vertical current hereinbefore described and conveys them past a
regulating valve to the exhaust chamber-Here the said light matters or particles
are met by the ascending current admitted as hereinbefore described and the lighter
portion thereof is thereby held in suspension on a level with an orifice communi-
cating with the lateral passages leading to the central exhaust fan hereinbe'ore
referred to whilst the heavier portion is deposited on a valve provided with a
counterweight which discharges them from time to time-The matter thus conveyed
to the said lateral passages is deposited therein in order of density or passes through
the fan and is delivered into the discharge passage hereinbefore referred to at the
bottom of the apparatus
A horizontal current below the sieves is obtained by means of preferably two
longitudinal passages underneath the sieves and communicating with the exhaust
chamber These passages are formed by a rectangular trough and a roof like
cover with two inclines hinged at the ridge or apex and moving independently
so as to enable the space between them and the sides of the trough to be
adjusted
These inclines which act as valves are connected to adjustable springs whereby
they are controlled the edges of the said inclines projecting beyoud the edges of
the trough and delivering the materials on to a second set of inclines the lower
edges of which are provided with strips of flexible material to prevent escape of
air by coming in contact with a surface inclined in the opposite direction and
serving to direct the materials into a shoot or receptacle
It results from this arrangement that the air is drawn from the space below the
sieves into the exhaust chamber after passing over the edges of the sides of the

page_text: trough and the lighter portion of the material that has passed through the sieves
is intercepted on its way to the shoots and drawn into the central exhaust fan or
deposited in order of density on the bottoms of the passages
The materials
deposited in the passages may be removed by hand through suitable doors or
automatically by creepers or otherwise
This method of propelling directing and distributing the air in contact with the
moving particles and the combination of the vertical current and the horizontal
currents in the spaces above and below the sieves has the effect of purifying and
separating the materials in the most efficient manner owing to the large extent of
surface rendered available for the action of the currents although the machine is
kept within the usual dimensions-The air is completely under control and its
action is enabled to be regulated exactly in accordance with the work that it has
to perform

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Henry Johnson in the Patent Office on the 8th February
1884.
"
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON of 47 Lincolns Inn Fields in the County of Middlesex
Gentleman "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR SIFTING
SEPARATING OR PURIFYING FLOUR AND OTHER LIKE MATERIALS a communication
to me from Henri Cabanes a person resident at Bordeaux in the Republic of
France
This Invention relating to machinery or apparatus for sifting separating or
purifying flour and other like materials consists in certain improvements in the
arrangement and construction of the parts as hereinafter described whereby a more
powerful and efficient mechanical action is produced than is possible with
apparatus as ordinarily constructed-The improved apparatus is applicable to the
treatment of the products of any system of grinding mills but is especially well
adapted to the treatment of the products obtained by the disintegrating cylinders
or roller mills now becoming generally substituted for horizontal grind stones-In
the improved apparatus hereinafter described a sifting action is combined with a
sorting or separating and purifying action-This apparatus consequently combines
the functions of a separator and purifier with those of a sifter.
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same and for that purpose shall refer to
the several figures on the annexed sheets of drawings the same letters of reference
indicating corresponding parts in all the figures.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings is a side elevation partly in section of
an apparatus constructed according to this Invention.
Figure 2. is an elevation of the hinder end of the apparatus showing the left
hand side in section the section being taken along the line 1-2 figure 1.
Figure 3. is an elevation of the front end of the apparatus the left hand part
representing a section taken along the line 3-4 figure 1.
The apparatus is provided with a casing A of woodwork supported by suitable
diagonal stays and bars-The flour or products to be treated in the apparatus are
placed in a hopper P at one end of the case the rate at which the products are
delivered from the hopper being regulated by a feed roller O driven by gearing O'
and combined with a sliding or adjustable plate o-At the upper part of the case A
there is a vibrating frame K supported on springs M N and baving a vertical and
horizontal motion imparted to it by means of cams or equivalent devices on a
shaft L driven by pulleys L'-The vibrating frame K carries a sieve or series of
sieves K¹ of cloth, gauze or other suitable materials for sifting the products to be
treated in the apparatus The space at X underneath the sieves is divided
transversely by partitions p into compartments communicating at the lower part
of the apparatus with discharging shoots p¹ provided with suitable valves or
doors p-The said space is traversed in a longitudinal direction by lateral wind
passages C (figures 2 and 3) supplied with air under pressure by two fans b one of
which is shewn in section in figure 3-These passages communicate with the
space X through longitudinal openings c provided with spring valves D capable of
being adjusted by means of armis d' connected to a spindle - The space X is also
traversed by wind passages E arranged between the passages C and communicating
with the said space through longitudinal openings e controlled by spring valves e¹
operated by the spindle e-These passages E communicate at the hinder end of
the apparatus with an exhaust chamber a' which communicates through orifices

page_text: not shown in the drawing with passages a¹ formed at the sides of the discharging
shoots p-A fan B arranged between the fans 6 exhausts air from the passage al
and chamber a' and delivers it into a passage F arranged at the lower part of the
apparatus and leading to a discharge shoot or outlet at F-The fans B b b are
preferably mounted on one shaft Z and are driven by belts and pulleys from the
shaft L as shown in the drawing or by other suitable means.
The products supplied from the hopper P onto the sieves K¹ are subjected to the
threefold action of a vertical impulse produced by the movement of the frame K
acting in combination with a horizontal current of air in the space Y above the
sieves and another horizontal current in the space X underneath the sieves as
hereinafter described.
The aforesaid vertical impulse is obtained by the aid of the air under pressure
supplied from the fans b to the passages C which deliver or distribute the air as
indicated by the dotted arrows into the space X underneath the sieves K¹ through
the orifices o controlled by the adjustable valves or flaps D as herein before
described. The air in the space underneath the sieves being confined by bands k
of flexible material connecting the frame K with the sides of the case is compressed
to a certain extent by the downward vibrations of the sieves and forces its way
vertically through the products upon the latter as the said products are travelling
horizontally towards the hinder end of the apparatus. This current slightly lifts
the products on the sieves and greatly assists the sifting action being combined
with horizontal currents produced by the action of the fan B drawing air as herein.
before described from the chamber a' which communicates with the space Y above
the sieves and also with the space ✗ below the sieves through orifices h¹, and h*
(figure 1) respectively the said orifices being controlled by suitable valves or
registers as indicated in the drawing.
Air for producing the horizontal current in the space Y is admitted in regulated
quantity by an adjustable valve or door H in the hinged lid or cover G figura 1
and is deflected on entering by an incline h. This current acts upon the light
particles that are lifted by the action of the vertical current produce! by the
fans b b acting in combination with the movement of the sieves and carries these
particles through the opening into the chamber a where it meets an ascending
current of air admitted in regulated quantity by a valve I which in combination
with the valve H enables the relative force or intensity of the currents meeting
in the chamber a³ to be regulated as required. The current coming from the
space Y carries into the chamber a³ a certain quantity of materials the lighter
portion of which is blown by the current entering at I into the passages a¹
leading to the fan B whilst the heavier particles are deposited at the bottom of the
chamber a³ upon a tilting valve or trap J which allows them to fall at intervals
into a receptacle placed to receive them
The materials drawn into the passage a' by the action of the fan B are deposited
in order of density on the bottom of this passage any light particles that are not
so deposited being drawn into the fan B and blown or expelled along the passage F
where they are finally deposited or are discharged at F¹
The air producing the horizontal current underneath the sieves is drawn in at b³
figure 3 by the fans b and distributed by the lateral passages C in the space X.
The materials falling from the sieves are received upon inclined planes e¹, e
figure 2 where they are exposed to the action of the current of air coming from
the passages C. The inclined planes e³ are provided at their lower edges with
strips of flexible material e for the purpose of confining the air without obstructing
the passage of the products to the discharge shoots pl. The movement of the air
in the space X is further promoted by the exhaust which is produced in the
longitudinal passages E so that the air after acting on the materials falling from
the sieves and roiling down the inclined planes e¹ and is drawn into the
passages E carrying with it the light particles which are either deposited in order
of density on the bottom of the said pas-ages E or are blown or drawn through
suitable orifices into the exhaust chamber a where they are acted upon by the air

page_text: in the same manner as the materials entering the said chamber through the
orifice has hereinbefore described
The materials deposited by the currents of air in the various passages are
removed continuously or at intervals by hand or automatically by suitable
mechanical devices such as creepers or endless screws R and shoots S as indicated
in the drawing the said screws being driven by a chain or belt from the feed
mechanism of the hopper P or otherwise.
The materials are thus exposed to the action of regulated currents for a very
considerable period and caused to travel over a very large extent of surface
whereby their separation and deposition is performed under the most favourable
conditions with the greatest possible economy of power and space. The force of
the currents can be regulated with the utmost nicety in accordance with the work
they have to perform and every particle of product treated is exposed to the action
of the air
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said
Invention and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original
and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore in part
recited Letters Patent is :-
First. In machinery or apparatus for sifting separating or purifying flour or the
like the employment of a horizontal current above the sieves in combination with
a horizontal current below the sieves for the purpose of carrying away the lighter
particles or impurities and depositing them in order of density substantially as
hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings
Second. In machinery or apparatus for sifting separating or purifying flour or
the like the arrangement of longitudinal passages and means for regulating or
controlling the circulation of air therein whereby an extended surface for the
deposition of products in the order of density is obtained substantially as
hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings
Third. In machinery or apparatus for sifting separating or purifying flour or the
like the employment of a centrally arranged exhausting fan drawing air from an
exhaust chamber communicating with the spaces above and below the sieves as
and for the purpose substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
Fourth. In machinery or apparatus for sifting separating or purifying flour or the
like the employment of means for distributing regulating and controlling the air
circulating in the space below the sieves and rising through the latter substantially
as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings
Fifth. The general arrangement and combination of parts constituting the
machine or apparatus for sifting separating or purifying flour or the like substantially
as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In witness
whereof I the said John Henry Johnson have to this my Specification set my
hand and seal this seventh day of February One thousand eight hundred and
eighty four