IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR CLEARING AND SEPARATING THE WOODY PARTS FROM THE FIBROUS PORTION OF FLAX, HEMP, OR OTHER LIKE MATERIAL
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to David Nevin and William Coppin, of Londonderry,
Ireland, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR CLEARING
AND SEPARATING THE WOODY PARTS FROM THE FIBROUS PORTION OF FLAX,
HEMP, OR OTHER LIKE MATERIAL."
Sealed the 16th June 1868, and dated the 5th January 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said David Nevin and William
Coppin at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their
Petition, on the 5th January 1863.
We, DAVID NEVIN and WILLIAM COPPIN, of Londonderry, Ireland, do
hereby declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY
FOR CLEARING AND SEPARATING THE WOODY PARTS FROM THE FIBROUS PORTION OF
FLAX, HEMP, OR OTHER LIKE MATERIAL," to be as follows:-
The Invention consists in improvements in machinery for cleaning and sepa-
rating the woody parts from the fibrous portion of flax, hemp, or other like
material. For this purpose two sets of revolving flat or curved bars are used,
bolted or otherwise secured to arms keyed on to two separate parallel shafts
revolving towards each other. The bars of one shaft enter between the arms of
the other shaft. The bars of one set pass between the bars of the other set, and are
kept from contact by means of toothed wheels of equal diameters and equal
number of teeth keyed on the two shafts working into each other. One or more
of the bars in each set are provided with short teeth for the purpose of keeping

page_text: the fibre straight and clear. Above the revolving sets of bars is placed a cover
having a rectangular opening through which to pass the fibrous material, and
by the action of the bars both sides of the flax or other like material are
cleaned at the same time. An improved set of holders or clips for holding
flax, hemp, or other like material while being dressed or cleaned is provided.
Each holder or clip consists of two sets of bars or fluting faced or covered with
india-rubber or other like material, having a joint or hinge at one end, the
two sides closing fit into each other, and are held together by the aid of springs
and rackwork, one of those holders being placed or fastened on the end of the
material to be dressed, the other end is passed through the opening in the
cover of the machine and dressed between the revolving sets of bars, and when
sufficiently acted on is withdrawn, and the dressed end is secured in another
clip or holder, the first then being removed, and the undressed end passed
through the opening and dressed in like manner.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said David Nevin and William Coppin in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 4th July 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, DAVID
NEVIN and WILLIAM COPPIN, of Londonderry, Ireland, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-sixth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
us, the said David Nevin and William Coppin, Her special licence, that
we, the said David Nevin and William Coppin, our executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as we, the said David Nevin and William Coppin,
our executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, 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 CLEARING AND SEPARATING THE WOODY PARTS FROM THE
FIBROUS PORTION OF FLAX, HEMP, OR OTHER LIKO MATERIAL," upon the condition
(amongst others) that we, the said David Nevin and William Coppin, our
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under our or their
hands and seals, or under the hand and seal of one of us or them, should

page_text: 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 calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Coppin, on behalf of myself
and the said David Nevin, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement thereof, that is to say :-
The Invention consists in improvements in machinery for clearing and sepa-
rating the woody parts from the fibrous portion of flax, hemp, or other like
material. For this purpose two sets of revolving flat or curved bars are used,
bolted or otherwise secured to arms keyed on to two separate parallel shafts
revolving towards each other. The bars of one shaft enter between the arms of
the other shaft. The bars of one set pass between the bars of the other set, and
are kept from contact by means of toothed wheels of equal diameters and equal
number of teeth keyed on the two shafts working into each other. One or more
of the bars in each set are provided with short teeth for the purpose of keeping
the fibre straight and clear. Above the revolving sets of bars is placed a cover
having a rectangular opening through which to pass the fibrous material, and
by the action of the bars both sides of the flax or other like material are
cleared at the same time. An improved set of holders or clips for holding
flax, hemp, or other like material while being dressed or cleaned is provided.
Each holder or clip consists of two sets of bars or fluting faced or covered with
india-rubber or other like material, having a joint or hinge at one end, the two
sides closing fit into each other, and are held together by the aid of springs and
rackwork, one of these holders being placed or fastened on the end of the
material to be dressed, the other end is passed through the opening in the
cover of the machine and dressed between the revolving sets of bars, and when
sufficiently acted on is withdrawn, and the dressed end is secured in anothe
clip or holder, the first then being removed and the undressed end passed
through the opening and dressed in like manner.
Having thus stated the nature of our Invention, we will proceed more fully
to describe the manner of performing the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is an end elevation; Figure 2 a front view (part in elevation
and part in section); Figure 3 a plan, part being shewn in section of a
machine constructed according to our Invention; Figure 4 is a detached view
of the revolving beaters formed by a series of grooves or fluting with teeth or

page_text: corners projecting; Figure 5 is also a detached view of beaters formed of
grooved bars with studs projecting for straightening the fibre; Figure 6 shews
a clip or holder for securing the material under operation from being drawn
through the machine. In each of these Figures the same letters of reference
refer to like parts.
A, Figure 1, is a side frame enclosing the revolving beaters and feed rollers;
B, frame for supporting the feed boards; C, C³, centres or arms on which the
beaters are secured; D, D³, shafts for carrying the centres; E, E, a fast and
loose pulley on shaft D; G, G', spur wheels on the shafts D, D¹. a, a, a, a,
a', a', a', a³, beaters with teeth for keeping the fibre straight; b, 6', rollers for
feeding, either plain or fluted; these rollers we prefer to employ, especially
when the feed board on which the fibre to be acted on is spread is only slightly
inclined, but when the feed board is set at a considerable inclination the rollers
may be dispensed with; we, however, in all cases prefer to employ them.
c, worm wheel mounted on end of lower roller spindle; d, worm or screws for
communicating motion to roller; e, upright shaft; f, f, wheel gearing
mounted on upright and beater shafts; g, foot step; h, bracket for securing
top of upright shaft; i, rod for connecting top feed roller with leverj; k, foot-
board for depressing lever and tightening roller on material when in operation;
1, counter balance for raising roller; m, m³, feed roller spindles; n, n, bushes
in framing (the upper one made to rise high enough to admit the material);
o, guide plate for conducting material between rollers; P, feed board on which
the material is evenly spread for feeding the machine.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Coppin, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
WILLIAM COFFIN. (L.S.)