GB913081A - Improvements in or relating to crushing, tearing and curling machines for use in themanufacture of tea - Google Patents

Abstract

913,081. Tea manufacture. HOADLEY, L., and BRITANNIA ENGINEERING CO. Ltd. Dec. 29, 1960 [Feb. 15, 1960], No. 5347/60. Class 129. [Also in Group II] A C.T.C. machine comprises a central U-shaped body part 8 whose arms support bearing assemblies 7 to receive the cutting rollers 1, 2 each bearing assembly 7 comprising top and bottom plates A and B having tongues 6 which engage grooves in bearings 5 kept in position by back and front spacers C and D, the whole assembly being fixed in position on the central body by nuts and bolts. High and low speed cutting rollers 1 and 2, comprising stainless steel segments 3, are mounted on shafts 4 carried in the bearings 5, adjustable along tongues 6 by screws. Alignment of the teeth of rollers 1, 2 is effected by screw adjusters 12 turned by C-spanners 13 and operating on either the high- or low-speed shaft 4 but preferably on the latter. The adjusters 12 engage plates 14 to move the bearings 15 and adjustment is effected by loosening one adjuster 12 and tightening the other until the teeth mesh. The loosened screw is then tightened up. The body part 8 is bolted on a base unit 16 incorporating a conveyer shaft 17 and a roller 18 or a paddle unit to eject the cut leaf from the machine. The input conveyer shafts 19, 20 can be removed sideways or from the front of the machine, and have adjustable bearings 5<SP>1</SP> similar to bearings 5. This facilitates the use of pliable, instead of metal, bands. The machine is enclosed by a pivoted cover unit 25 with an integral feed hopper G. The leaf can be fed indirectly through door 28 and an inspection door 29 gives direct access to hopper G. Specification 870,529 is referred to.