Patent GB-246916-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to decorticating apparatus for the treatment of sisal and other fibrous leaves and stalks
IPC: D01B1/30
Filed: 1924-11-04
Abstract: 246,916. Cook, J. Nov. 4, 1924. Breaking and scutching apparatus. - In the treatment of fibrous material such as sisal, hemp, jute, ramie, rhea, cocoanut fibre, esparto grass, pineapple leaves, &c., the material is subjected on both sides simultaneously to a rotary disintegrating action of slitting or shredding and then to a rotary scutching action. The material 52, Fig. 2, is passed under a narrow crushing-roller 53, whereby the butt-ends of the material are caused to assume a vertical position. The material is passed round between a belt 7 and a vertical pulley 6 and the butt-ends are treated by a pair of disintegrating-rollers 2 and a pair of aligned scutching-rollers 4. The treated butt-ends are then raised to a horizontal position by an air-blast 10, and the grip on the material is shifted so that in its passage between a second belt 14 and vertical pulley 13 the remainder of the material is treated by a second pair of disintegrating-rollers 17, and a second pair of scutching-rollers 19. The fully treated material is the blown out horizontally by a pair of nozzles 23 and is delivered to a pair of squeezing-rollers which, if desired, may be heated to dry the material. The disintegrating and scutching rollers are in sets of aligned pairs. The sets are spaced apart and set cut of line to allow for the change in position of the grip on the material by the chains 7, 14. The scutching-rollers are provided with intermeshing teeth 40, 41, the teeth 41 extending the length of the roller, whilst the teeth 40 only extend over half the length. The disintegrating-rollers are provided with diamond-shaped pyramidal teeth 42, Fig. 6, formed on bars 46 secured to the rollers. The bars on the half of the roller nearest to the feed are double in number to those on the other half. The active parts of the rollers may be made of phosphor bronze to avoid corrosion. The material is fed by chains 35 to the narrow crushing roller 53, which is supported in arms 112 and pressed by weights 114 against the roller 54. The speed of the chain 7 is greater than that of the chains 35 to separate the leaves and allow for individual treatment. The main drive shaft 77 runs alongside the machine and the disintegrating and scutching rollers are driven from it by chains 89, 93, the pairs of rollers being geared together. The belts 7 and 14, which convey the material through the machine, are driven by pulleys on a shaft 68 driven from the main shaft through a chain 79. a clutch, and bevel gearing. This shaft also carries a spiked wheel to assist in transferring the material from one chain to the other, a belt 11 passing over pulleys 69, 70, 71, and the pulley 33 also assists this transferrence. The fan which operates the blasts through the nozzles 10 and 23 is driven from the shaft of the roller 19. The treated material is discharged by a pulley 22 with spiked flanges down a board 25 to the squeezing rollers 27, 28 and the discharge belts 147 and chains 148. The water is supplied to the material through pipes 124, 125, 126, 128. The juices drain down inclines 143 - - 146 to troughs 141. 142. Guard or safety bars 149, 150 are placed below the wheels 13, 6. A roller 133 below the feed chains keeps the butt-ends of the material against a board 134 at the side of the chains.