IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR PREPARING AND TREATING JUTE, HEMP, FLAX, AND OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Bell Blyth, of Dundee Mill, Manager, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR PREPARING AND
TREATING JUTE, HEMP, FLAX, AND OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS."
Sealed the 19th April 1859, and dated the 3rd January 1859.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Bell Blyth at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
3rd January 1859.
I, CHARLES BELL BLYTH, of Dundee, Mill Manager, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR PREPARING
AND TREATING JUTE, HEMP, FLAX, AND OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS," to be as.,
follows:-
Fibrous materials, such as jute, flax, &c., require preliminary treatment:
known as "softening," and it is to machinery employed in this operation of
softening that the present Invention relates.
My Invention consists in arranging and constructing, machines for this
purpose with three or more rows, tiers, or series of rollers,, which I mount
within the same machine framing, and drive by means of bevel or other gearing
at a suitable speed. I feed the material to be treated into and between two
rows of rollers, say, the bottom and middle set of rollers, when three rows or
sets of rollers are employed, and return it back again between the middle and

page_text: top row or set of rollers by means of a return feeder which carries the
material from between the first set or rows up to or between the next set or
rows of rollers in the series composing the machines according to my Inven-
tion, where it is again subjected to a continuation of the treatment it received
in its progress through or between the first rows or set of rollers. When
necessary, the material under treatment may be passed throughout the length
of the machine not only twice as described, but again, or a third time through
or between the several sets or rows of rollers by its falling from the delivery
.end of the machine on to the feeding apron or table, by which it will be
returned; but otherwise after the material has passed through or between the
two or more rows or sets of rollers, it may be delivered on to a travelling
band or apron, and so be removed from the machine.
In applying heating pipes, I prefer to obtain the heat necessary for aiding
the process of softening from steam conveyed in pipes laid below or arranged
beneath the rollers along the whole length of the machine, and I regulate or
govern the quantity of heated air permitted to pass through the material under
treatment, as also the temperature at which such heated air is permitted to
come in contact with the material.
Instead of fluting the whole of the rollers composing the several rows or
series throughout the entire length of the machine, I prefer in some cases to
leave the end rollers of each row or series plain or unfluted:
I propose to have any requisite number of rollers in each row according to
the nature of the material and special purpose for which the machine is
intended; but for treating jute, eighteen rollers in each row (or in a machine
with three rows there would be fifty-four rollers) will be found useful, though
a greater or lesser number in each row may be used.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Charles Bell Blyth in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 2nd July 1859.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
BELL BLYTH, of Dundee, Mill Manager, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Third day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-second
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said Charles Bell Blyth, Her special licence that I,

page_text: the said Charles Bell Blyth, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said Charles Bell Blyth, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from
time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein ex-
I pressed, should and lawfully might make,. use, exercise, and vend, within
the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands,
and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR
PREPARING AND TREATING JUTE, HEMP, FLAX, AND OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Charles Bell Blyth,
by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed
in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calender months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Charles Bell Blyth, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement and accompanying Drawing:-
Fibrous materials such as jute, flax, &c., require preliminary treatment
known as "softening," and it is to machinery employed in this operation of
softening that the present Invention relates.
My Invention consists in arranging and constructing machines for this
purpose with three or more rows, tiers, or series of rollers, which I mount
within the same machine framing, and drive by means of bevil or other
gearing at a suitable speed. I feed the material to be treated into and
between two rows of rollers, say, the bottom and middle set of rollers when
three rows or sets of rollers are employed, and return it back again between
the middle and top row or set of rollers by means of a return feeder, which
carries the material from between the first set or rows up to or between the
next set or rows of rollers in the series composing the machine according to
my Invention, where it is again subjected to a continuation of the treatment it
received in its progress through or between the first row or set of rollers.
When necessary, the material under treatment may be passed throughout the
length of the machine, not only twice as described, but again, or a third time
through or between the several sets of rows of rollers, by its' falling from the
delivery end of the machine on to the feeding apron or 'table, by which it will
be returned; but otherwise, after the material has passed through or between
the two or more rows or sets of rollers, it may be delivered on to a travelling
band or apron, and so be removed from the machine.

page_text: In applying heating pipes, I prefer to obtain the heat necessary for aiding:
the process of softening from steam conveyed in pipes laid below or arranged
beneath the rollers along the whole length of the machine, and I regulate or
govern the quantity of heated air permitted to pass through the material under
treatment, as also the temperature at which such heated air is permitted to
come in contact with the material.
Instead of fluting the whole of the rollers composing the several rows or
series throughout the entire length of the machine, I prefer in some cases to
have the end rollers of each row or series plain or unfluted.
I propose to have any requisite number of rollers in each row, according to
the nature of the material and special purpose for which the machine is
intended; but for treating jute, eighteen rollers in each row (or in a machine
with three rows there would be fifty-four rollers) will be found useful, though
a greater or lesser number in each row may be used.
In the accompanying Drawing, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine
constructed according to this Invention, in which the material to be treated
is fed in between the top and middle rollers; Figure 2 being a plan thereof;
Figure 3 is a side elevation of the feeding end of a machine, in which the
material to be treated is fed between the bottom and middle rollers; Figure 4
is a side elevation of the opposite end of the same machine shown in Figure 3,
the middle portion of the machine being removed. In Figure 4 the flexible
strap or apron is shewn for carrying the material under treatment from
between the bottom and middle courses of rollers up to and between the top.
and middle courses.
In the accompanying views of machines constructed according to this
Invention, I have shown three horizontal rows or series of rollers, but any
greater number of rows may be employed.
In each of the several Figures, A is the main side frames; B, the rollers
which work in the bearing blocks C, C¹, and C2, provided for them; the
bearing blocks of the middle and upper series are fitted in vertical openings
or guides, in which they slide up and down to admit of the variations in the
distances between the centres of the bottom and middle, and the 'middle and
top rollers produced by the feeding in and passing through of the material
under treatment. The sliding blocks C for the centre course need not have
brass bearings or brass bushes fitted thereinto, but instead thereof, the holes.
may be elongated vertically to allow of the roller journals rising and falling
therein. The sliding blocks C for the upper course may be similar to those
described for the centre course or horizontal row of rollers. The bearing C
for the lower or bottom series should invariably be of brass or other suitable

page_text: metal, and provision in each case made for their proper lubrication. The
sliding ways or slots I in which these bearing blocks are fitted, may either
have two flat or two V faces, or be of any other form best suited for securing.
the perfect fitting and action of the guide blocks and their rollers. Motion
is communicated to the bottom course or series of rollers either by means of:
bevil gearing as shown in the accompanying Drawings, or in any other
suitable manner. Upon motion being communicated to the driving pully by
means of a flat strap or band, the bevil pinion D gearing into the wheel E,
rotates the shaft F, upon which a number of bevil pinions G are fitted, and
take into and drive the bevil pinions E, one of which is keyed on to the over-
hanging end of each bottom roller shaft.
In Figures 1 and 2, the material to be treated is fed on to the endless
apron or band K, which carries it into and between the upper and middle.
course or series of rollers, and after passing between the several pairs com-
posing the upper and middle rows the entire length of the machine, it is
deflected downwards or diverted between the middle and bottom rows, course,
or series of rollers, by means of the endless band or hinged series of bars L,
and is again carried through the machine to the end from which it started,
and is delivered on to a lower table or receiving apron or endless web M, to
which, as also to the endless bands or webs K and L, motion is communi-
cated by means of bands as shewn in side elevation Figure 1, and in plan
Figure 2.
In Figures 1, 3, and 4, provision is made for applying additional weight or
pressure to each of the top rollers; for this purpose the sliding blocks are shown
as having projections upward cast thereupon, whereon weighted levers, dead
weights, or springs may be applied for the purpose of increasing the pressure
upon the materials under treatment. In Figure 3, the feeding apron K is
here so placed that it feeds the material to be treated between the bottom and
middle courses, rows, or series of rollers, and the material after passing
throughout the length of the machine, is carried upwards by means of a
revolving band L, having horizontal projections or bars thereon of the same
pitch or guage as the teeth or fluting of the rollers, and is thus directed
between the middle and top row of rollers, by which it is carried back to the
same end of the machine at which it was inserted, and it is received upon a
5 fixed or moveable table, where, if it is found to be sufficiently treated, it is
removed, but if it is found to require further treatment, it is again placed upon
the revolving band or feeding cloth K, and is carried forward and returned
backward through the machine as before described.
In the several views I have, as before stated, shewn. a provision for increasing

page_text: the pressure or weight upon the top rollers by means of levers or other
equivalent means, but I do not necessarily require such additions to be made,
as by casting the top rollers solid, sufficient pressure may be obtained, whilst
the rollers of the bottom course alone, or of the bottom and middle courses,
may be cored out or lightened.
In the accompanying Sheet of Drawings I have purposely omitted to introduce
an arrangement of steam pipes for increasing the temperature of the material
under treatment, as I make no claim for the application of steam circulating
through metal pipes for this purpose; and moreover, the particular arrange-
ment best suited for each case may render necessary a special arrangement
or disposition; but I prefer to carry one or more pipes longitudinally along
the machine beneath the rollers, the heat given off from which rarifies the
air, which ascending between the rollers and the material under treatment,
raises and maintains the whole to the required temperature, and which
temperature is capable of modification or regulation as herein-before set
forth.
By means of machinery constructed as herein-before described, I perform
the feeding and returning the material through one and the same machine.
The numbers of sets of rollers, or the multiplication of the vertical series, may
be continued to any required extent which may be found useful, thus avoiding
the use of several machines, and the labour requisite for removing or carrying
the material from one end to the other end of a machine, or from one machine.
to another, as is necessary in the ordinary construction and mode of working
such like machinery for thus treating such like materials, and I am more-
over enabled to maintain the material under treatment at a uniform temper-
ature from the time of commencing the operation until finishing it, and thereby
effect considerable economy in the treatment thereof, as well as ensuring
uniform results.
Having now described my said Invention, and explained the construction
and arrangement of the two machines illustrated by Figures 1 and 2, and
Figures 3 and 4, I wish it to be understood that I do not claim the treatment
of jute and such like materials between fluted and corrugated rollers generally,
as I am aware that two fluted rollers mounted vertically in a frame in one or
more sets have long been employed for the purpose of "breaking," "crimping,"
and "softening" flax, hemp, and other fibrous materials; and two or more
pairs of rollers have been inserted in the same horizontal line, and the
materials have been fed in by hand, and after passing through or between the
rollers have been removed by hand from the back end of the machine, and
again passed through as frequently as necessary; but I claim,―

page_text: First, the construction of machines for preparing and treating jute, hemp,
flax, and other fibrous materials as herein described.
Second, the arrangement and combination of several sets of three or more
fluted rollers mounted and working one above the other for softening and
preparing jute and other fibrous materials, as herein described and illustrated
in the Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed.
Third, the combination of several sets of three or more fluted rollers
mounted and working one above the other with the self-acting apparatus,
described for returning the material under treatment after it has passed
between each pair or horizontal series of rollers.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Bell Blyth, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of June, One thousand eight
hundred and fifty-nine.
5 Witness,
GEORGE CARMICHAEL,
of Dundee.
CHARLES BELL BLYTH. (L.S.)