US1872284A - Method of and mechanism for conditioning starch - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 16, 1932. H.W. HARRIGAN 1,872,284

METHOD OF AND MECHANISM FOR CONDITIONING STARCH Filed April 4, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 16,1932. H. w. HARRIG N" I 1,872,284

METHOD OF AND MECHANISM FOR CONDITIONING STARCH Filed April 4. 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 16, 1932. H. w. HARRlG-AN 1,872,284

I 1 METHOD OF AND MECHANISM FOR CONDITIONING STARCH 4 Sheets-Shet 3 Filed April 4, 1931 @0012?- Jfmwia? 714% wwww 422w.

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METHOD OF AND MECHANISM FOR CONDITIONING STARCH Filed April 4/ 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 n g, 7 1,77 5;; bfl\ {R I mil \Fj" Fly/ 1 1 4 W I. w ,1 Y Hf J w W W EM Patented Aug. 16, 1932 HAROLD w. mnIoaN, or

IACTURING COMPANY onusa'r'rs k mannosn, imssacnusa'rrs; ASSIGNOR 'ro nmzsmr mun-i or nos'roN, massacnosmrs, a ooRroaA'IIoN or MASBA-I fixmnon o1 aNnmncnLNIsu son CONDITIONING s'rmcn 1 Application filed April 4, 1931. Serial No. 527,698

In my Patent No. 1,693,649 granted December 4, 1928, is shown and descr bed a method of and a mechanism for taking starch from a candy molding machine orbuck, after eration during which the starch V u tions particularly adapted to the manufaca molding op I absorbs moisture, and so treating it as to bring it' to the desired conditions of moisture content and temperature for subsequent use in the molding machine. Suchcond1- 1o tioning mechanism may include a drier for the starch, means the desired temperature-,and means-for separating out from the starch foreign matter which may have mingled therewithzdurmg 16 handling in molding. In "that patent is shown and described also, chronized control of the other various mechanisms from the molding machine, the operation of-which is not continuous.

$9 One of the'objects of the present invention is to provide an automatic control of the other mechanisms -more suited to the requirements of practice than is the synchronized control disclosed inthe' patent; When startingthe moldingmachine, various adjustments are usually found necessary, which I require that the machine belstopped for short intervals .untilthey have been made to the satisfaction of the operator, after which the machine is permitted to "run for a more-ex-.

tended period. It is neither necessarynor desirable, however, to stop and startthe .drier or other starch conditioning mechanisms whenever the molding machine is stopped I justments. Accordingto the present invention. therefore, meansare provided for introducing a lag in the controlof the drier or other conditioning mechanisms from the molding machine. Theconditioning mechanisms will not then be put into operation until the molding machine has been in continuous operation"for 'a predetermined period. say, two minutes, so that reasonably continuous operation of the molding machine for a considerable period' may be expected. Likewise when the molding machine. is stopped the conditioning mechanisms continue to operate for a period, say, two minute's, at the end of which time they also stop,

for bringing the starch to an automatic synand startedduring this period of initial ad-- provided that the molding machine has not I again been started duringthat'period, v

This'invention also relatesto improvements inthe cycleof operations making for greater .efiiciency, and to certain modificature of candy of the types" known in the trade as gums or jellies. l i

For a more complete understanding of this invention, referencesmay be had to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a diagrammaticview of mechanism particularly suitable for conditioning starch for use in the molding of marshmallows or creams. V j' Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing a. mechanism particularlysuitable for conditioningstarch for use in the molding of gums or jellies. 7 Q 1 Figure 3 is a vertical ,sectionthrough a conditioning mechanism control device showing the parts in the {positions taken when the buck or molding machine' has just been starteda I Figures 4 and fiare' sections on lines 4 -4 and 5-5, respectively, oflFigure' 3.

Figures 6 tol9 inclusive are perspectives of certain of the partsof thecontrol device. Figures 10 to 13 inclusive are sectional details showing different positions of the switch operating elements of the control device.

Figure 14. is a diagram of the mechanism. Figure. 15 is a'diagram showing a modification. I

' Referring first to Figure 1, at 1 is indicated a starch molding machine such. as is known commercially inth'e art as a buck or mogul. The starch in this machine is made into molds into which the candy stock in fluent condition is poured and allowed to set. After the setting has been effected the molded candies are removed. The starch during the molding operation takes up moisture from the candy and thus is notthereafter' in condition for immediate re-use. As shown in Figure l'this moist starch is taken up by an elevating conveyor, indicated diagrammatically at 2, and discharged at the upper'end of the conveyor into a pipe 3 which leads to a drier 4. This dried as shown comprises a. downi trols the diaphra m steam valve 12. Air is drawn through 1: e drum in countercurrent the shaft 5 having a pinion 6 thereon meshing with an annular gear 7 secured to the drum. At 8 are roller supports adjacent to the opposite ends of the drum which facilitates the rotation thereof. At the lower end of the drum is shown diagrammatically an air heater 10 provided withsteam coils, the steam supply thereto being regulated to the desired temperature as by an automatic temperatur regulating device at 11, which conflow to the starch as by means of a fan at 13 shown as driven by belt connection 1414a from a counter shaft 15. The air is drawn by the fan through a pipe 16 to and through a dust separator 17 which separates the starch which has been carried thereby from the air, the starch passing down through the hopper 18 into the pipe 3 and thus being returned to the upper end of the drier drum 4 while the air is permitted to escape as through the discharge pipe 13a.

After passing out at the lower end of the drier drum, the starch, now dried to the desired moisture content, passes through a pipe 20 past an air damper 19, which prevents the fan 13 from drawing air from the cleaner rather than through the heater. 10, into a cleaner 21. This cleaner may be of any suitable'type, but as herein shown is provided with a rotary screen 22 through which the starch passes, the starch passing through the screen into a hopper 23 from which it is conveyed by the rotary conveyor at 24 to the upper end of a downwardly inclined cooler 25. The starch being relatively dry when screened, the foreign matter is more easily freed therefrom than when it is moist in which condition it is more sticky.

The screen drum is rotated as by belt connect-ion with the counter shaft 15, and the conveyor 24 may be driven by the belt 26 which also derives its motion from the counter shaft 15 through the intermediate shaft 21 which is coupled to the rotary screen shaft. The cooler 25 may be of any suitable type such as is shown in my patent hereinbefore mentioned, cooling liquid being passed therethrough as through the pipe 30, and being controlled in amount by the thermometer 31 in the starch return pipe 32 through the automatic temperature control mechanism at 33 which controls the cooling liquid supply valve 34. These parts may be so adjusted as to cause the starch passing through the pipe 32 to be returned to the molding machine 1. cleaned and properly conditioned for immediate re-use both as to its moisture content and temperature. When returned in cooled condition it is suitable for use in the molding of marshmallows.

The cooler may be driven from the counter shaft 15 as through the belt connection 36.

counter shaft 15 is driven by a motor through a belt 41 and, as will be later more fully described, this'motor is automatically controlled in accordance with the operationof the molding machine 1.

When the starch is to be used in the manufacture of candies such as gums and pastes the starch should be delivered to the molding machine in hot condition but relatively dry. Where this is desired the arrangement of mechanism shown in Figure 2 is desirable. The starch is taken from the molding machine 1 by the elevating conveyor 2 and delivered through the pipe at the upper end of the conveyor to the upper end of a preheater 51 in which the starch is given an initial heating before it is delivered through the pipe 52 to the upper end of the drier drum 53. This preheater 51 may be supplied with steam through a pipe 54 and it may be provided with ascrew conveyor mechanism for moving the starch therethrough which is driven from a shaft 55 through the geared connections 56 at opposite ends thereof. In order that the starch may not be heated excessively, as when the conveyor is stopped, the supply of steam may be regulated through a governor controlled valve 57 geared as at 58 to the shaft 55. With this construction, when the shaft 55 is not rotating, the valve 57 is closed and when the shaft 55 is rotating and the conveyor is in operation, the valve is open to permit the steam to pass through the preheater. 60 for the drier is positioned at the entry end thereof so that the air and starch pass in the same direction through the drier. The starch being preheated but containing its moisture, the air from the heater 60 coming in contact therewith causes a rapid drying of the starch to the desired degree while maintaining its temperature relatively high. Air is drawn through the heater 60 and the drum 53 through a pipe 66 and to and through the dust separator 67 as by the fan at 65. The

starch passes from the dust separator 67 through a chute 68 to the preheater 51 while the air is allowed to escape. A valve 69 at the lower end of the hopper 68 prevents the passage of air from the dust collector into the preheater 51. The supply of steam to the air heater 60 may be controlled by a thermometer 70, which through the automatic control 71 controls the diaphragm steam supply valve 72. The starch which has been heated and dried is then passed through a pipe 75 to the cleaner 76, a valve 77 being provided in the pipe 75 to prevent air being It will be noted also that the heater drawn up from the cleaner by the fan 65, this valve opening, however, to permit the passage of the starch to the cleaner. This cleaner may be of the rotary screen type, as is a shaft 78 connected counter shaft 80. This counter shaft also v drives the conveyor 2 through the belt 84,

. a shaft 85, belt 86, shaft 87, and gearing 88. The counter shaft. is driven by the motor 40 through the belt 82. The shaft 56 is also driven bythe motor 40, being connected by the belt tothe shaft 78.- Thefan 65 is 0 belt driven from the; shaft 87. The starch. assingthrough the cleaner 76 falls into the opper fromwhich it is delivered tothe 1' 96 which carries it to the molding conveyor mach ne 1., The conveyor 96 maybe-driven from the motor 40 as-through its beltconnec- 40 which drives the;drier' and the various other starch conditioning mechanisms corresponds to the motor 40 shown in Figure 1, which drives the drier and the starch condi tioning mechanisms 'shownin that Figure.

isthe usual drive for machines of this charpulleys as 104, to the f to oppositely These motors 40, in either of the arrange mentsshown, may be controlled automatically throu h the operation of the starch molding mac ine as by mechanisms shown in detall 1n Figures 3 to 15. The starch molding machine is operated by a motor 100, shown diagrammatically in Figures 14 and 15, and interposed between this motor 100 and the operative mechanisms is a clutch of any suitable descri tionwhich is clutched or unclutched by axial motion of a shift bar 102. This actor and hence has notb een illustrated. in detail. In the mechanism shown in Figures 1 to 14"this clutch-bar 102 has fixed thereto a cable 103 which passes about suitable upper face of a casing 105, opposite ends of this cable extending down into the casing 105 and being attached disposed'cam bars 110. Springs 106, are interposed in the cable 103 between ith' sitel OPPQ y the clutch bar 102 and the cam bars 110.

These cam bars are alike so that a description of one will be suflicientlfor both.

' Each cam bar is mounted in a vertical guide member 111, shown detached in Figure 6, and is provided,

as shown best in Figure 7 disposed side flanges 112,

each having a forwardlyprojecting intermediate portion 113 which rides in guide slots 114 through inwardly turned forward wall members 115 of the guide 111. The member 110 is of less thickness than the guideway 116 within the member 111 and is normaly pressed forwardly with its flanges 112 riding against the rear faces of the walls 115 as by means of aleaf spring 120 (see Figures '10 and 13) It is normally pulled downwardly within its guide member as by means of a coil spring fixed at opposite endsof the base of the member 111 and the lower end of the cam two cam bars hold the cable 103 in taut condition but by shifting the clutch rod 102 axshaft 131 supports member 110. The two springs 121 for the.

portion 125 and supporting feet 126 by which it is secured at opposite ends ofthe'web portion to the base of the casin 105. Remote from the guide portion llltiie web .125 has upstanding 7 between the forked portions ofwhich is pivin which is journaled one end portion of a shaft 131. Adjacentto its opposite end this ,backof the flanges 115 of the bearinggost 111 and, between the flanges 112 of the ar 110.

a bearing 132 provided with a journal opening 133 (see Figure 8) in tion'97 to thecleaner shaft 98; Y The motor y shown detached in Figure 9. This slide 135 therefrom aforked bearing 128 otally mounted at 129 a bearing sleeve 130 The block is provided on its rear face v wit-ha latch lug .140 which may be engaged in a slot141 in the forward face of the member110. This slot 141 has a shoulder 142 at its lower end-which engages the latch lug so that when the 'member110 is in its forward position, as it israised by the pull of the cable 103 thereon, its shoulder 142 engages the lug 140 onthe block135 and raises the-shaft bearing 132. Thisbrin s a grooved friction pulley 145 fixed to the s aft 131 adjacent to the bearing 132 into driven relation with a conical pulley 146 on a counter shaft 147. Two of these conical pulleys 146 are employed. one for each of the grooved pulleys 145. The shaft 147 is driven through su1t able reduction gearing including the bevel gears 148 and the worm and worm wheel drive 149 from-a shaft 150 of a small motor 151 which acts as. a timing motor. This reduction gearing and the relative sizes of the friction pulleys 146 and 145 are so designed that when either of the friction pulleys 145 is drawn up into engagement with the pulleys 146 and the motor 151 is running, the shaft 131 carrying the friction pulley 145 which is being driven, turnsthrough a predetermined angularvdistance during the desired time of delay between the starting of the molding machine and the'starting of the starch conditioning mechanism, or between the stopping of the molding machine and stopping of the conditioning'mechanisms.

spacing of the projecting ortions 113 of the cam piece so that w en the shaft 131 has been turned a predetermined angular amount depending on the angular setting of the sleeve 157 and its cams 155 and 156, these humps 161 engage the projecting portions 113, push the member 110 rearwardly and release the latch lug 140, as shown in Figure 11, permitting the slide and the friction pulley to drop so that the friction pulley 1s brought out of contact with its driving pulley 146, as shown at the right hand side of Figure 3. As soon as the pulley 145 is out of driven relation to its pulley 146, a weight 165 attached to a cord 166 which is wound around a drum 167 fixed to the shaft 130, causes the shaft 131 to be turned backwardly to its starting position so that when the pulley is again brought up into contact with the drivlng friction pulley 146 it will be rotated through the predetermined angular distance before the engagement between the driving pulley is again released by the action of the cam humps 161. If before this time has elapsed, the operator should throw the clutch rod 102 in a direction to permit the lowering of the member 110, the pulley 145 immediately drops out of engagement with its driving pulley 146 and the weight 165 returns the pulley 145 to its initial angular position. Each time the pulley is moved up into contact with its driving pulley 146, therefore, the time necessary for the shaft 131 to be turned the full predetermined angular dis tance must elapse before the pulley is automatically released. Just before the pulley releases automatically its rotation actuates either of a pair of switches 170 both together controlling the motor 40, either to start this motor 40 when the clutch rod 102 has previously been thrown to clutching position, or to stop the motor, if this clutch has been thrown to stop the operation of the molding machine. These switches 17 0, as shown, are of the push button type, each being provided with an actuating push button 172 which being depressed throws the switch arm 175 or 175a. Arm 175 in Figure 14 designates the switch arm of one of the switches 170 and 175a designates the switch arm of the other switch 17 0 and depression of the push button brings the corresponding switch arm alternately into contact with either of a pair of contacts such as 176, 177 and 17 6a, respectively. The switch button is shown as actuated by a cam disk 178 which may be formed integral with the drum 167. This cam drum 17 8 is circular for the major portion of its outline, the remainder of this outline being formed as a rise 179 and a drop 180. As the shaft 131 nears the release angular position when being driven by the motor 151, the rise 179 of the cam 178 engages the push button 172 and depresses it so that the switch 17 0 is thrown just before the drop 180 of the cam is reached,

[after which the friction pulley 145 is automatically caused to drop away from its driving pulley 146 and the cam 178 is returned to its initial position by the action of the weight 165 as before described. It will thus be seen that neither switch 170 can be actuated until a-shaft 131 has been raised to hold its friction wheel 145 in continuous contact with its driving pulley 146 for a predetermined period, and if before the completion of this period, the shift rod 102 is moved to release the frictional driving engagement, the shaft returns to its initial position so that the switch is not operated and an additional complete period is again necessary when the shift lever has been moved to its former position before the switch is operated. Thus a continuous operation of the molding machine for a definite period is necessary before the starch conditioning mechanisms are thrown into operation, and stopping of the molding machine short of this period, returns the control parts to initial position so that the time already taken is not efl'ective when the molding machine is again put in operation. Llkewise the stopping of the conditioning mechanism may be produced only after the molding machine has been continuously idle for a predetermined period. In actual practice a lag or time interval of about two minutes is found suflicient in both starting and stopping.

In Figure 14 a wiring diagram of connections is shown by which the mechanism just described may be employed to accomplish this desired control. At 200 and 201 are shown line wires from a suitable power source and at 202 is a main switch for controlling the operation of the molding machine motor 100. In series with this motor is one coil 203 of a relay 204. This relay when closed by the energization of the coil 203 closes a connection through the timing motor 151 between the power lines 200 and 201 so that as soon as the motor 100 for the molding ma chine is energized the timing motor 151 is set into operation. The motor 40 which drives the conditioning mechanism is' arranged in series with the relay coils 205 of the relay 204 so that whenever this motor 40 is energized the relay is closed and the timing motor 151 is energized. Thus even though the main switch 202 should be opened to stop the molding machine while the motor 40 is in operation, the timing motor 151 remains in operation so that at the proper time the motor 40 is stopped whereupon the timing motor also stops. In the condition shown in full lines in Figure 14. the motor 40 is stopped.

Assuming now that the switch 202 be closed so as to energize the motor 101 and the clutch bar 102 be thrown to the. right as viewed in Figure 3 to start the operation of the molding machine. This pulls upwardly on the left hand cam bar 110 and raises the left hand jc1rcuit from the line switch; arm175, 'conta the line .wi're 200 so mat s motor-"40 shaft 131 so as to bring its friction pulley 145 into driving relation to its drive pulley 146. If the rod 102 is left in this position at the end of the desired time 1ag,sa tw o minutes, the lefthand switch 170 is' actuatedtomove its arm 17 Mo engage the contact 17 7 as shown b dotted lines in Figure 11-. This-closesthe' wire switch arm 175, relay coil 205 and thejmotor isenergized and the conditioning'mechanisms "areput into operation. If at any time prior time for the switch arm 17 5 to be thrown, t e clutch rod 102'should have been thrown to disconnect the motor 100 -from the molding machine, the pulley 145 would to the full delay have been released from its *driving pulleydrawn up withits 7 the required time to, complete the necessary a and returned the full time delay 40. If now after the motor 40 has been started,'1

the shift'bar 102 bemoved to the left to stop "the operation of the molding mechanism, the

right hand shaft 131 shown in Figure 3 is,

angular motionof the shaft 131, the switch arm 17 5a is thrown away from the contact 177a and into engagement with the'contact" thus breaking the circuitto the motor 40'and'causing this motor to stop. If now the shift rod 102 be actuated to again start,

the molding machine, after the desired timeof continuous operation of the moldingfmachine, the switch arm 175 is thrown out of en- I i to stop the motor 40. If now the molding ma chine is again stopped, after a gagement with the of the cable 103 with the shift bar 102, an electrical connection is employed;' 'Inthis gagement with the contact 177 land into encontact 17 6, whereupon connections are again re-established through "the motor vengagement with the contact 176a as it was' 40, the switch arm 175a being in on the preceding throw of this arm 175a continuous idle period of the desired duration, the switch arm 175a is moved out of engagement with the contact 176a whereupon the circuit to the motor 40is interrupted.

InFigure 15 amodification is shown, in

which, instead of the mechanical connection constructionthe shift rod 102 is provided with a switch throwing element 210 which acts on a switch lever 211 so that when the rod 102 is in clutching position it has actuated the switch arm211 to close connection between the line wire 200 and a terminal 212" arranged in series with a solenoid 213 which when energized pulls the right hand cam bar 110 shown in Figure 3 upward in the same' manner that it is pulled mechanicallyby the 201 through the ct l7'l,'contact 177a,

to bring its pulley 145 into contact} driving pulley 146, whereupon after;

vperiod and for cable mechanism shown in Figure 3. When the clutch bar 102 is thrown to the left, the arm 211 is thrown in the opposite direction into engagementwith a'contact 214 in series with'a solenoid 215, the energizationof which "raises the left 'handcam bar'110.-- In other respects this mechanism is the same as that shown in Figure 14.

From thedescription of certain embodiments of the invention hereinbefore given, it

will'be evident to'those skilled in the art that various other modifications and changes might be made without departing from In combination with amachine for thespirit or scope of this inventionias it is de' finedin the appended claims.- 0 4 l claimr molding. starch, means forreconditioning starchfrom said machine for subsequent use,

and means for starting said conditioning means only after a pred termined time of contmuousoperation of said machine.-

*- 2. combinationwith a machine for molding starch, means for reconditioning starch from said machine for subsequentuse, and means for stoppingthe operation of said conditioningmeans only after a predetermined time of continuous idleness of said' machine.

3. In combination with a machine for molding; starch, means for reconditioning starch from said machinefor subsequent use,

and means for starting and stopping said.

conditioning meansonly after a predeterm ned time of contmuous operation and of contmuous idleness, respectively, of said machine, a

4. I [n combination with a machine for 'moldmg starch, means for drying the starch after use in; said machine and for delivering the driedstarch at a desired temperature to said machine,fland control mechanism for automa'tically Startin the operation of said means only g aftejr sai machine has been in continuous operation for a predetermined {51 -111 combination; with a machine for 'inolding starch,m'eans 'for 'drying the starch "afte'rin said machine andjfor delivering the driedstarch at adesired temperature to said machine, and control mechanism for automatically stopp ng" the operation of said means only after said machinehas been continuously idle for a predetermined'period;

6. In combination with a I machine for molding starch, means for d" ing thestarch 'after use in said machine, fan for delivering j the dried starch at a desired temperature to said machine, 1 and control mechanism for automatically starting the operating of said means only afterrsaid machine has been in continuous operation for a predetermined stopping the operation of said means onl after said machine has been continuously i e for a predetermined period,

7. The combination with a starch molding machine, of means including a drier for reconditioning starch used by said machine for re-use therein, control means for starting and stopping said machine, control means for starting and stopping said drier, a timing mechanism set into operation by thestartin of said machine when said drier is stoppe and by the stopping of said machine when said drier is in operation, means actuated by said mechanism for actuating said drier control means to start said drier only after a predetermined time of continuous o eration of said machine, and means actua le by said mechanisrr for actuating said drier control means to stop said drier only after a predetermined idle period of said machine.

8. In combination, a machine, a mechanism, a motor for driving said machine, a clutch interposed between said, motor an d machine, a motor for driving said mecha nism, a timing motor, switch means for controlling said mechanism motor, means for energizing said timing motor whenever either said machine motor or said mechanism motor is energized, a device started by the closing of said clutch to cause said timing motor to close said switch means after a predetermined time, means actuable on the opening of said clutch within said time to return said device to initial position, a device started by the opening of said clutch to cause said timing motor to open said switch means after a predetermined time, and means actuable on the closing of said clutch within said switch opening time to return said last mentioned device to initial osition.

9. In combination, a mac ine, a mechanism, means for driving said machine, means for driving said mechanism, a controller for said machine driving means, and means acting automatically when said controller has been actuated to start said machine driving means and only after said machine has operated continuously for a predetermined period for renderin said mechanism driving means effective to rive said mechanism.

10. In combination, a machine, a mechanism, means for driving said machine, means for drivin said mechanism, a controller for said machine driving means, and means acting automatically after said controller has been actuated to stop said machine driving means and only after said controller has been continuously in machine driving means stopping condition for a predetermined period to render said mechanism driving means ineffective to drive said mechanism.

11. In combination, a machine, a mechanism, means for driving said machine, means for driving said mechanism, a controller for said machine driving means, means acting automatically when said controller has been actuated to start said machine driving means and only after said machine has operated continuously for a predetermined period for rendering said mechanism driving means effective to drive said mechanism, and means acting automatically after said controller has been actuated to stop said machine driving means and only after said controller has been continuously in machine driving means stopping conditlon for a predetermined period to render said mechanism driving means ineffective to drive said mechanism.

7 12. In combination, a drive shaft, a driven shaft, means selectively operable to couple to or uncouple said driven shaft from said drive shaft, yielding means tending to hold said driven shaft in one angular position and free to return said driven shaft to such angular position when said driven shaft is uncoupled from said drive shaft, and a device actuable by said driven shaft on rotation thereof away from said one angular position to a predetermined angular extent.

13. In combination, a drive shaft, a driven shaft, means selectively operable to couple to or uncouple said driven shaft from said drive shaft, yielding means tending to hold said driven shaft in one angular position and free to return said driven shaft to such angular position when said driven shaft is uncoupled from said drive shaft, a device actuable by said driven shaft on rotation thereof away from said one angular position to a predetermined angular extent, and means acting to release said driven shaft from said drive shaft after said device has been so actuated.

14. In combination, a rotary drive shaft, a pulley on said drive shaft, a driven shaft, a pulley on said driven shaft, means supportin said driven shaft for movement to bring sai pulleys into or out of driving relation, means tending to hold said driven shaft out of driven relation and in a definite angular position, means actuable to move and hold said driven shaft in drivin relation, and a device actuable by said driven shaft when said driven shaft has been turned by said drive shaft a redetermined angular amount.

15. In com ination, a rotary drive shaft, a pulley on said drive shaft, a driven shaft, a pulley on said driven shaft, means supporting said driven shaft for movement to bring said pulleys into or out of driving relation, means tending to hold said driven shaft out of driven relation and in a definite angular position, means actuable to move and hold said driven shaft in driving relation, a device actuable by said driven shaft when said driven shaft has been turned by said drive shaft a predetermined angular amount, and means actuable by rotation of said driven shaft after said device has been actuated to release said driven shaft from driven relation to said drive shaft and permit said driven shaft to be returned to said angular position.

16. The method which comfrises passing moist starch previously used or molding in countercurrent flow to heated air to dry said starch, cleaning the starch so dried, and cooling the cleaned starch in condition for re-use for molding.

17. In combination, a machine, a mechanism, means for driving said machine, means for driving said mechanism, a controller for said machine-driving means, means movable from a definite initial condition on the actuation of said controller to start said machinedriving means and acting after a definite extent of movement from said condition to render said mechamsm-dnvmg means efiective to drive said mechanism, and means acting on actuation of said controller to stop said machine-driving mechanism prior to the completion of said extent of movement of said movable means to return said movable means to its starting condition.

18. In combination, a machine, a mechanism, means for driving said machine, means for driving said mechanism, a controller for said machine-driving means, means movable from a definite initial condition on the actuation of said controller to stop said machinedriving means and acting after a definite extent of movement from said condition to render said mechanism-driving means inefl'ective to drive said mechanism, and means acting on actuation of said controller to start said machine-driving mechanism prior to the' completion of said extent of movement of said movable means to return said movable means to its'startin condition.

19. In com ination, a machine, a mechanism, means for driving said machine, means for driving said mechanism, a controller for said machine-driving means, lag means acting on actuationof said controller to start or stop said machine-driving means to respectivelystart or stop said mechanism-driving means after a definite time interval from the actuation of said controller, and means acting on reverse actuation of said controller before the expiration of .said time interval to return said lag means to itsin'itial condition, whereby continuous operation or continuous idleness of said machine for a predetermined period is required in order to respectively start or stop the operation of said mechanism.

In testimonywhereof I have aflixed my signature.

HAROLD W. HARRIGAN.

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