^^5^: 



DKYiNo rnuiT. 



air, kept dry l>v a continued fresh sujiply, would accomplish tlio work in far less time, 

 and at a much lower temperature; and consoijucntly retain in an inci)iiii)arali!y more 

 perfect manner the original characteristics and color of the fruit. 



In order to make a beginning in this matter, and to 

 assist in the erection of good, cheap, rapidly-operating, 

 aiitl perfect fruit drying establishments, we present to our 

 readers a figure and description of an apparatus for this 

 purpose, which, although never patented, we believe to be 

 far more valuable than many machines not thus thrown 

 open to the public. Its peculiar advantages will be obvi- 

 ous as soon as the description is examined. 



It consists of a tall upright shaft, a b, represented in the 

 annexed section of the apparatus, through which passes an 

 endless chain, made of a number of strong frames, securely 

 hinged together at their corners. This chain should be 

 strong enough to bear several hundred pounds without 

 breaking. At every joint it is furnished with a braced 

 shelf, each consisting simply of a square frame furnished 

 with coarse twine-netting, like a sieve. This endless chain 

 with its series of sieves runs over an angular wheel above 

 and another below, precisely like those of a common chain 

 pump, but wide enough to receive the full breadth of the 

 chain. Its motion is quite slow, descending from a to 6 

 on one side, and rising on the other, and is accurately reg- 

 ulated by means of the pendulum d connected to the 

 notched wheel c, by means of an escapement like that of a 

 common clock, but made very strong. A strong and 

 broad India-rubber band connects the axle of this wheel to 

 the drum e, on which the chain runs. As the chain is 

 loaded with the drying fruit, and is therefore quite heavy, 

 it must not, and indeed can not, be subjected to the suc- 

 cessive vibrations of the clock-work, these vibrations being 

 broken and destroyed by the India-rubber band. 



The whole apparatus being ready for operation, heated 

 air from a stove and drums is made to pass up through 

 ^^ the shaft a b, being let in at the sides at 6, and confined to 

 this shaft by the drum e being made tight, and fitting 

 closely without touching in its revolutions. A person with freshly cut and pared 

 fruit stations himself at o, and as each successive shelf or sieve slowly descends, spreads 

 a single layer over them. Tliey operate like the weight of a clock in keeping up the 

 motion of the pendulum ; and the velocity of their descent is accurately regulated by 

 means of the relative sizes of the wheels placed on the axles of c and e, and also, 

 necessary, by using different lengths for the pendulum rod. 



