GB190226329A - Improvements in Machines or Apparatus for Cleaning and Feeding Swedes Turnips and the like to Root-cutting Machines or the like. - Google Patents

Abstract

26,329. Bamford, J. Nov. 29. Screening roots.-Relates to apparatus for cleaning swedes, turnips, mangold wurzels, carrots, beet-root, &c., and for feeding them to a receptacle or to a cutting or pulping machine. It is described in connection with a root pulper. On a continuation of the shaft of the pulper is mounted a roller B connected by a chain and sprocket-wheels, or equivalent means, with a similar and parallel roller A, which is driven in the same direction. The rollers consist of two circular end plates connected by longitudinal round or flat bars a<3>. They are covered by a cage G' which forms a continuation of a hopper into which the roots are thrown. As the root pulper is turned, the rollers cause the roots to rub against one another and loosen the dirt, which drops through the rollers while the roots pass on to the pulper. Wire or other brushes may be fixed on the rollers as at H<1>, H<2> and on the cage as at l<1>, l<2>, and they may be made adjustable as at H<5>, H<6>. The rollers may slope downwards towards the pulper and then may be plain, grooved, ribbed, or otherwise roughened, or they may consist of cores with a series of discs mounted upon them or with projecting pegs or a spiral screw. In one modification, three or four rollers are used and in another a single roller is placed at the side of the pulper instead of at the back and is driven from a countershaft by bevel gearing. In the modification shown in Fig. 7, the rollers are replaced by a moving inclined endless band or chain P, with projecting cross-bars p<1>, mounted on rollers or pulleys Q', Q<2>, the shaft q<1> of the pulley Q<1> being a continuation of the shaft of the pulper or driven therefrom by an universal joint. The cross-bars may have projecting wires or bristles, or a plain leather or other band or bands may be used. The Provisional Specification states that the bars of the rollers may be spirally twisted and that a series of small rollers may be placed cross-wise of the feeding trough.