SUGAR-CANE SIRUP MANUFACTURE — 45 
of the cane hopper. It extends beyond the cane hopper, at an incline 
of not more than 22°, up to the top of the cane chute that leads down 
to the crusher or first mill. This trough contains a wooden apron, 
made of wooden slats, fastened to two strands of chain. These two 
strands of chain are passed over sprocket wheels, carried on a head 
and tail shaft, and over runners fastened to the sides of the wooden 
trough, designed to hold the apron in place when it is loaded with 
cane. 
The carrier may be driven by a small separate engine, or it may 
be run from the bottom roll of the crusher or first mill by means of 
a chain and sprockets. In most cases the drives for the cane carriers 
are furnished with the milling plants. The horizontal portion of 
the carrier that passes the cane hopper should be so low that the 
cane may be raked down from the cane hopper upon the apron. 
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Fic. 15.—Boiler setting and furnace for burning bagasse or wood 
In the 50 and 100 ton plants the portion of the carrier adjacent to 
the cane hopper need not be horizontal or parallel to the bottom of 
the hopper, but may be inclined throughout its whole length. This 
simplifies the construction and eliminates the tendency of the apron 
to rise from the chain runners when the tension on the chain becomes 
great and there is no cane on the horizontal portion of the carrier 
to hold it down. In the 50 and 100 ton plants the cane carrier may 
be made rather short, say from 15 to 25 feet; in the larger plants 
it is better to have it longer and moderately inclined (not over 22°) 
to make certain that the cane does not slip on the apron. The width 
of the cane carriers should be the same as the length of the mill rolls, 
and the depth should be two-thirds of the width. 
Perforated water pipes arranged across the carrier wash the cane 
thoroughly, freeing it from mud, dirt, or other adhering matter 
while it is being carried from the hopper to the mills. 
