A NEW HAND POWER SEPARATING MACHINE FOR GRAIN AND SEEDS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Sainty and Barnard Sainty, Engineers, and George
Hiscox, Timber Merchant, all of Wisbeach, Saint Peter's, in the County of
Cambridgeshire, for the Invention of "A NEW HAND POWER SEPARATING
MACHINE FOR GRAIN AND SEEDS."
Sealed the 9th September 1876, and dated the 16th March 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Sainty and Barnard
Sainty and George Hiscox at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
16th March 1876.
JOHN SAINTY and BARNARD SAINTY, Engineers, and GEORGE HISCOX, Timber
Merchant, all of Wisbeach, Saint Peter's, in the County of Cambridgeshire. "A NEW
HAND POWER SEPARATING MACHINE FOR GRAIN AND SEEDS."
This Invention relates to improvements in corn and seed separating machines,
and consists of a wood frame to receive two rollers which are disposed of on each
end of the machine which serve to receive an endless leather band with indents of
various sizes and form to suit the different corn and seeds required to be separated;
revolving on the rollers at each end of the machine other bands can be used, india-
rubber, gutta percha, or a combination of metal and leather or other flexible
material. We prefer introducing leather for its durability which can be used any
length or breadth, according to the size a machine is required.
To decrease the labour in the process of separating we further provide working
one or more endless bands with cleansing brushes attached, or other flexible
appliances, one or both of these bands are free to work in the same or opposite
direction, one or both bands are worked with two wheels or bands, or other
convenient arrangement of gearing from the crank spindle.
To secure a regular feed for the machine we attach a self-feeding elevator which
takes the corn from the heap, and deliver it into the machine in equal quantities,
which is regulated by a screw sliding board to secure feeding the proper quanties.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Sainty and Barnard Sainty, and George Hiscox in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 16th September 1876.
"
SEPARATING
JOHN SAINTY and BARNARD SAINTY, Manufacturing Engineers, and GEORGE
Hiscox, Merchant, all of Wisbech, in the County of Cambridge.
GRAIN AND SEEDS OF ALL KINDS."
Figure I. represents a side view or elevation of our separator, the dotted lines
indicating the more important internal parts.
Figure II. is a plan or view of the separator from the top, a portion of the top
casing being removed (from x to y), that the parts beneath may be seen.
Similar letters are used for indicating the same parts on both Drawings, but in
Figure I., a capital letter is used, and in Figure II., a small italic letter.
This Invention consists of a very broad and endless band (A, a,) revolving upon
two rollers (B), one of which is placed near each end of the framework which is
made to receive them, and the other machinery necessary to the carrying out of
the Invention. The framework (C, c,) is of wood and iron, and varies in size
according to the amount of work required to be done. The band can be made of
leather, india-rubber, gutta percha, or other flexible material, or a combination of
any two or more of them with or without metal. The outer surface of the band is
filled as closely as possible with indents of a suitable size, and each indent just
sufficiently large to receive one of the seeds or grain intended to be separated from
the bulk. The indents may be of any size or shape according to the size of the
seed to be separated. The band receives its motion from a pinion (d) on the spindle
of the handle, which turns the cog wheel (e) fastened to the end of one of the
rollers (B) upon which the indented band revolves. The grain falls upon the
indented band from the feeding hopper (T, t,) at (F), and the good and perfect corn
which is too large to get into the indents is swept off the surface of the band by a
series of brushes or sweepers (G, g,) the width of the indented band or thereabouts.
The brushes or sweeping media are composed of bristles, fibre, india-rubber, or
other pliable and suitable material, and are carried forward by two or more leather
bands, straps, webs, or metallic links (H, h,) working over two sets of pullies
parallel with the rollers of the indented band. The brushes or sweeping media
receive their motion by a strap (I) and pulley (J) working from a pulley (K) on the
opposite end of the handle spindle, and move in an opposite direction to the
indented band, the surface of which they sweep, thus brushing the good corn off
the indented band at the opposite end to which it falls upon the same band. The
small seed to be separated is swept into the indents of the band, and is then carried
under the brushes by the motion of the indented band, and falls from the band at
the opposite end to that from which the good grain falls.
In case of any seed becoming temporarily fixed in the indents, a hammer is placed
underneath (L) worked by a pulley (M) and strap (N) from a pulley on one of the
brush pulley spindles. This hammer strikes the under part of the indented band,
and causes any fixed seeds to fall.
In order to ensure the brushes sweeping the indented band with the requisite
degree of exactitude, and to compensate for the wear of the brushes, the bearings of
the spindle (U) at the end nearest the hopper have a special and peculiar con-
trivance, and consist of a bearing with double flanges on each side, so that it can
be moved up and down in the outer casting, and has a thumbscrew working from
the outer casting to regulate the inner bearing in the required position. As this
bearing is hid in the Drawing by the pullies it is shown separate in the margin (V, v,).
The pinion at the opposite end works in an eye in the centre of a screw rod (0,0,)
with screw nuts at each end of the rod to move it and set it to the proper tension.
This is also an Invention of our own, and being placed obliquely also serves to
lower the brushes at each end as they wear out.
The bearings of the indented band at the opposite end to which it receives its

page_text: motion are also similar to those last described, but are placed horizontal, and thus
serve to maintain the proper tension of the indented band. In order to keep the
upper surface of the indented band quite rigid while being swept by the brushes, a
table (W) is fixed beneath, over which it passes.
The separator may be fed by a feeding elevator, consisting of a number of metallic
troughs or lifts fastened to a web revolving upon two rollers, and worked by a
pulley and strap from a pulley on the brush pulley spindle. The supply of corn is
then regulated by the opening to the elevator which is raised and lowered by a
BCrew, and can be set so as to admit the quantity required according to the
sample.
When the self-feeding elevator is not used the bottom of the hopper (T, t,) is
provided with an arrangement for regulating the supply. This consists of a series
of openings (p) at the bottom of the hopper, beneath which openings a metallic
strip is provided which has corresponding openings. When the openings in the
metallic strip are contemporaneous with those of the hopper, the feeding capacity is
greatest, and is reduced accordingly as the openings at the bottom of the hopper
are shut off by the blank spaces of the strip, the position of which is regulated by
a knob (q).
To prevent the seed from blocking in the openings of the hopper, a rod is provided
with revolving stirrers (r) which is turned by the pulley at the end (S, 8,) worked
by the band or strap (N).
Our said Invention will also remove small stones, grit, and the like, which cannot
be extracted by other means.
Having now described and ascertained the nature of our said Invention, and
the manner in which the same is or may be carried into effect, we would observe
in conclusion that what we consider to be novel and original, and therefore
claim as the Invention secured to us by the herein-before in part recited Letters
Patent is,―
The principle of a broad endless band or other horizontal or flat surface covered
with indents suitable for receiving, and thence discharging the small seed, grain,
stones, grit, &c., to be separated, and the series of brushes or scrapers working in an
opposite direction for removing the good corn or seed which is too large to become
deposited or swept into the indents of the band.
We also claim as original and our own Invention the regulating bearings, and the
manner in which the whole machine is arranged and combined, enabling the work
to be performed with the smallest amount of labour, being worked easily by one
person even with elevator attached.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Sainty, on behalf of myself and the said
Barnard Sainty and George Hiscox, have to this our Specification set my
hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of September, in the year of our Lord One
thousand oight hundred and seventy-six.