Patent GB-375834-A (GB)
Title: Improvements relating to the decortication of the stalks of fibrous plants
IPC: D01B5/00
Filed: 1931-01-02
Abstract: 375,834. Decorticating fibrous stalks. HOLLIER, W. J., 2, Sidney Street, St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.A. Jan. 2, 1931, No. 225. [Class 120 (i).] In decorticating fibrous plant stalks the stalks are disposed substantially at right-angles to the direction of feed and are combed to disentangle and lay them parallel, the mass of stalks then being decorticated over part of their length the fibres being simultaneously heckled while the decortication of this length is completed, the remainder of the mass of stalks then being similarly treated. The machine comprises combing sections A, D, Fig. 1, and two overlapping decorticating and heckling sections B, C, the section B treating the root or butt ends and the section C the remainder of the stalks. The section D is provided for deseeding or cleaning the ends remote from the butt ends and the sections B, D operate simultaneously. The combing section A comprises two endless chains a<1> carrying cleaning bars a<2> having pins or like members spaced therealong. The deseeding section D comprises similar bars d<1> each consisting of a supporting bar d<2>, Figs. 2 and 3, in a slot in which is secured a bar d<3> having pins or staples d<4>, the spacing of which is progressively closer from the feed end towards the finishing end. The material is passed by a feed belt a through the section A and is there subjected to a combing action of progressively increasing severity. It is then conveyed by bands b through the sections B, D, the section B comprising endless chains or sprockets b<1> carrying stripper bars each consisting of a member b<2> supporting in a longitudinal slot a fixed bar b3 carrying staples b<4>, Figs. 4 and 8, another bar b<5> having pins or staples b<6> being mounted in a longitudinal slot in the bar b<3>. Preferably the bars are furnished with staples at the feed end and centre and pins at the finishing end while the staples on the fixed member span the movable member. The normal operative position of the stripper bars is shown in Fig. 7, the stalks being bent, flattened, and scraped in being drawn through the pins or staples. The pins are automatically aligned, as in Fig. 6, to allow the stalks to enter therebetween, by the action of disc cams c<2> secured on a fixed cam shaft c<1> adjacent to the entrance of the section B. A lug c<3> is provided on each fixed bar b<2> and a lug c<4> on each movable member b<5>, a plunger c<6>, ball-ended at c<7>, passing through both lugs which are normally spaced apart, Fig. 7, by a spring c<5>. On passing the cams c<2> the plungers c<6> and bars b<5> are moved thereby into the position shown in Fig. 6 to receive the stalks. Alternate stripper bars are moved right- and left-handed. The section B is provided between the stripper bars at the finishing end with heckling bars b<7> having fixed inclined pins b<8>, Figs. 13 and 14. The final section C is substantially identical with section B. Each section may have a separate drive or the whole machine may be driven from a single main shaft by suitable gearing. As shown, a shaft d, Fig. 12, drives the sprocket chains of sections A, B and through bevels e, f and an auxiliary shaft f<1> drives the sprocket chains of sections D, C. The conveyer bands a, b, c which are of rubber having corrugated surfaces are driven from the shaft g which through bevels g<1>, h<1> and an auxiliary shaft h positively drives the shaft g<2> common to the bands b, c. Auxiliary supporting bands i may be provided between the sections D, C and the finished fibre discharged on belts k.