Mr. Mills was granted three patents by the U.S. Patent and
Trademark Office. His first patent, No. 38,320 was issued on April, 28th 1863.
It had a single clockwork main spring and a sheet-metal drum. The below pictures
are of his 1865 patent roaster, which had two clockwork springs and a
mesh screen drum. This 1865 roaster was assigned to the Ureka Manufacturing
Company, of Boston, Massachusetts. His third patent, No. 115,228, issued on May
23, 1871 and was for a larger commercial roaster.
UNITED STATES PATENT
OFFICE
C. A. MILLS, OF BRISTOL, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE UREKA MANUFACTURING
COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.
COFFEE-ROASTER
Specification forming part of Letters
Patent No. 50,878, dated November 7, 1865.
To all whom it may concern:
Be it known that I, C. A. Mills, of Bristol, in the county
of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and Improved
Coffee-Roaster; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and
exact description thereof, which will enable those skilled in the art to make
and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part
of this specification, in which —
Figure 1 is a front view of my invention, partly in section, as indicated by the
line x x, Fig. 3; Fig.22, a transverse vertical section of the same, taken in
the line x’ x’, Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a plan or top view of the same, with
the cover of the coffee-receptacle removed.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
This invention relates to certain improvements on a coffee-roaster for which
Letters Patent were granted to me bearing date April 28,
1863.
The original invention consisted of a rotating sheet-metal coffee-receptacle
hung on a shaft or pivots horizontally, and operated by means of a
clock-movement provided with a single spring.
The present improvements consist in substituting a wire-cloth coffee-receptacle
for the sheet metal one previously used, whereby the coffee is screened while
being roasted and the husk and other substances which give the coffee a
disagreeable bitter taste removed or separated from the coffee.
Another improvement consists in using a detachable lid or cover with the
receptacle above mentioned, whereby the heat is retained around said receptacle
and also the aroma of the coffee, while previous to the roasting operation the
lid or cover is removed, in order to admit of all moisture being expelled, so
that the coffee may be roasted in a dry state.
Another improvement consists in applying two driving-springs to the
clock-movement, whereby the device may be wound up during the time the same is
in operation without stopping the rotation of the coffee-receptacle to the
device, whereby it may be readily detached for the purpose of being filled and
emptied and readily applied and connected for use.
A represents a metallic frame, of skeleton form and of any suitable dimensions,
having secured to it at one end a metal shell or case, B, in which the
clock-movement C is placed. This shell or case is cast or otherwise constructed
with openings a, to admit of a free circulation of air through it, in
order that the driving-mechanism may be kept in a cool state when the device is
at work on a range or stove, the fan D, which is connected with the
clock-movement, serving to cool said parts, and also serving as a fly or
equalizer of the movement of the working parts. This clock-movement is operated
by two springs, E E, each of which is connected with a toothed wheel, F, in the
usual way, said wheels gearing into a pinion, G, on a shaft, H, from which the
coffee receptacle is rotated. By this arrangement it will be seen that the
device may be wound up at any time without stopping, one spring keeping the
device in operation while the other is being wound up. No delay, therefore, will
be occasioned in winding up the device when in operation.
The shaft H is provided at one end with a socket, I, having a rectangular
opening or interior to receive one end of the shaft J of the coffee-receptacle.
The shaft J. At its upper end, has its journal b resting in an open bearing, c.
By this arrangement it will be seen that the coffee-receptacle may be readily
detached from and applied to the device.
The coffee-receptacle is composed of wire cloth d, bent in the form of a hollow
cylinder, and having ends, composed of circular heads or disks e of sheet metal,
fitted on shaft J, one of which is arranged like the lid of a box, so that it
may be taken off and fitted on one end of the receptacle to admit of the latter
being filled and emptied.
K is a lid or cover, constructed of tin and provided with a handle, L, to admit
of its being readily placed over and removed from the coffee-receptacle. This
lid or cover retains the heat, causing the coffee to be roasted over a
moderately-heated top-plate of a range or stove, and at the same time it
prevents the aroma of the coffee from escaping. It my be raised from time to
time in order to see how the roasting process is progressing, and to ensure the
coffee being roasted to the required degree.
The coffee-receptacle should rotate with a moderate speed, and it will of course
be seen that the coffee is screened while being roasted, the skin of the berry
being thoroughly scoured off, and all impurities sifted out, so that the
beverage made from it will be free from the sediment and bitter taste which so
often renders coffee disagreeable.
Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by
Letters Patent
1. A rotating coffee-receptacle in which coffee is roasted
constructed of a wire-cloth so as to form a screen or sieve when said receptacle
is rotated or operated through the medium of a clock-movement, substantially as
shown and described.
2. In combination with the coffee-receptacle, constructed
as set forth, the lid or cover K, arranged to fit over the receptacle, as
described.
3. The application of two springs, E E, to the
clock-movement when the latter is used in connection with or to drive a rotating
coffee receptacle, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
4. The applying of the coffee-receptacle to the device by
having a socket, I, at one end of the shaft H of the clock-movement, to receive
one end of the shaft J of the coffee-receptacle, while the journal at the
opposite end of said shaft is fitted in an open bearing, c, substantially as
described.
The above specification of my invention signed by me this 4th day of
August, 1865.
C.A. MILLS
Witnesses:
M. M. Livingston,
C. L. Topliff.
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The
below scan was taken from page 433, of the Illustrated Catalogue of American
Hardware of the Russell Erwin Manufacturing Company, Manufactory, New Britain,
Conn. Warehouses New York, Philadelphia, Boston, San Francisco, 1865.
This
scan was provided by Dennis A. Traverso, who owns one of the only other Mills roasters
that I am aware of.
Old Coffee Roasters
