Patent GB-323083-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to decortication in connection with the preparation of vegetable fibres
IPC: D01B1/10
Filed: 1928-11-07
Abstract: 323,083. Dron, D. W. Nov. 7, 1928. Breaking and scutching apparatus. -In a machine for removing pith, pulp, &c from fibrous leaves, such as those of the wild pine plant used in obtaining Pita fibre, the leaf sections are automatically supplied to gripping devices on a broad multi-compartment. endless conveyer and are pushed into and pulled out of the zone of action of a scutching device, the resulting fibre and the butt ends of the leaf sections being automatically discharged independently of one another. The endless chains a, Fig. 1, running over sprockets x on shafts c<1>, c<2> carry a number of transverse tables b, some of which are provided with ribs b<1> to divide them into compartments of a size suitable to receive a leaf section. The. leaf sections are placed in a series of bins d above the conveyer, each bin being provided with hinged doors d', d<2>, Fig. 3, arranged to open downwards and to drop the leaf sections on to the tables b. The doors are controlled by arms d", d<7> at opposite ends of the bins and operated by links d<4>, connected to cranks d<10>, moved in opposite directions by coaxial shafts d<12>, d<13> driven centrally by bevel gearing d<14>, d<15>, d<16>, The central bevel gear d<15> is rotated periodically by a cam element b<3>, b<4>, carried by the conveyer, engaging a roller on an arm d<18> mounted on the shaft carrying the gear. The conveyer carries two pairs of gripping jaws e<1>, e<2>, e<3>, e<4>, the lower jaws e<2>, Fig. 6, being positioned so that the tail end of a leaf section lies above it as the doors d', d<2> open, and the upper jaw e<1> being hinged and controlled by an arm e<5> and cam rails g, so that it is opened to receive the leaf section, held closed when the leaf section is being treated, and opened to eject the fibre, at the requisite time. A hinged flap f hangs down from the bins above the tables b and ensures the leaf sections being held back and pushed into the jaws of the grippers. The, flap is raised by projections h' on the conveyer to allow the material to be carried forward when gripped. The. decorticating drum i, Fig. 8, is built up of a number of similar toothed rings splined on the shaft j so that the teeth i<1> are coincident. The drum i cooperates with an abutment k, which has a curved surface and is adjustable by screws k<2>. The upper part of the abutment k accommodates a positively driven roller l rotating in the same direction as the drum i. The drum i is kept clean by a knife k<4>, and the roller l by a, knife k<6>. As the conveyer runs along the lower stretch the fibres are drawn back over the abutment k and roller l. When freed from the drum the fibres rest on a guide surface n formed of flaps n<1> adapted to be operated by a crank q<1> and link a<2> in unison with the doors of the feeding bins d. At the end of the guiding surface n knives p<1> of the reaper type are arranged to sever the butt ends held in the grippers and leave the fibres on the guide n, from which they are deposited into the trays o below. The grippers are opened to eject the butt ends by the cams g. The machine is mounted on a wheeled carriage and driven by a motor y. The drum i is driven directly by a belt y<1>, and the drum shaft j drives through gears y<2> - - y<7> to the shaft c<2> operating the, convener. The roller l is also driven from the shaft j through gears m<1> - - m<4>.