THE HARVESTING OF THE CANE 



181 



Cane Unloading. The cane after arrival at the factory is transferred by 

 one or other of the means described below on to an endless belt slat conveyor, 

 or is dumped into a hopper and elevated to the mill by an endless belt con- 

 veyor set at a steep angle. The conveyor is provided with broad curved teeth, 

 which catch the tangled mass of material and prevent it slipping backwards. 



The endless belt conveyor, usually called a carrier, as opposed to the 

 elevator, is claimed in Patent 8731, 1840, granted to Robinson on behalf of 

 unnamed parties. This patent includes means for cutting off steam from the 

 engine when the thickness of the feed of canes is too great. The hopper and 

 elevator appear first in Kiely's patent (U.S. 675222, 1901), and are indicated 

 in Plate XXI. 





The methods actually used are : i. The hoist and dump. 2. The car 

 dump. 3. The endless belt rake. 4. The reciprocating mechanical finger. 

 The first patent on the hoist and dump is that of Carr (U.S. 517730, 1893), 

 but that of Kiely (U.S. 675222, 1901) has been very extensively used in 

 Cuba. This method, which is similar to the cart transfer, is indicated in 

 Plate XXII. In using the hoisting device, chain slings are laid on the car 

 previously to loading. 



In Cuba the car dump is superseding the hoist and dump. This method 

 is claimed in Sanchez' patent (U.S. 520271, 1894). In this device the cane 

 is dumped into a revolving cylinder, which distributes the material to the 

 carrier. This latter appliance has not come into use, and when the dump 

 is installed the load is dropped directly into a hopper of the type shown in 

 Fig. 74. The cane cars are provided with doors, swinging from the top. 

 Alongside the hopper is arranged a platform, which pivots about a fulcrum, 

 as indicated in the figure ; at a certain angle the whole contents of the car 



