Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Jan., 1887
Complete Left, 6th Oct., 1887
Complete Accepted, 30th Dec., 1887
1, JOHN ORR WALLACE of Waring Street, Belfast in the County of Antrim, Corn
Broker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to improve further the apparatus for breaking,
scutching and cleaning flax and other similar fibres and thereby make it more
efficient.
The apparatus is constructed with a series of rollers fluted or otherwise between
which, the straw is caused to pass, and a number of pins similar to what are known as
heckle pins mounted upon sliding frames which act upon the fibres as they are
passed through the machine. If not covered or protected, the pins which penetrate
the fibres will get clogged with short fibres, dust et cetera, and get spread out of
position. To prevent this, I place a shield or plate perforated or slotted in front for
the pins to pass through and bent to an L shape at top to prevent dust or dirt falling
between them from above. This shield is attached to the stationary framing in such
a position that when the frame carrying the pins is withdrawn, the pins will not be
drawn out of the perforations or slots. The shield is strengthed by a number of bars
or wires of any convenient shape laid across or in front of it. As the pins are
withdrawn, the bars and shield prevent any of the fibre being carried back between
the pins. The bottom edge of the shield is turned in preferably for a short distance
to strengthen the plate. The rollers should have an intermittent motion alternating
with the motion of the pins, so that the flax will be drawn forward after the pins have
been withdrawn, and before they again enter the fibre, and thus obviate any tearing
of the fibre. For this purpose, I drive the rollers by means of a ratchet wheel placed
on the end of each. With each wheel a pawl carried on a lever engages, thus
ransmitting motion to the rollers at each movement of the levers. The lever is
ctuated by a cam or eccentric on the driving or other revolving shaft, a connecting

page_text: lever being attached thereto. The bearings of the rollers are fitted with a spiral or
other suitable spring to allow for variation in the thickness of the feed. The action
of the pins and rollers on the straw is to break the woody part of the stalk, but does
not remove it from the fibre. For this purpose, I construct a revolving heater
formed with a number of arms or beaters radiating from a hub or centre in the
manner of the spokes of a wheel. This is placed and made to revolve close beside a
plane surface. An opening is made in this through which the ends of the fibre are
projected, the revolving beaters coming in contact therewith. The effect of the
operation of these beaters is to remove the adhering woody substance and to leave
the fibre practically clean for the preparing machines for spinning.
Dated this 5th day of January 1887.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool,
Patent Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Breaking, Scutching, and Cleaning
Flax and similar Fibres.
I, JOHN ORR WALLACE of Waring Street, Belfast in the County of Antrim, Corn
Broker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:-
The chief object for which this invention is designed is to produce a cheap and
effective apparatus for breaking, cleaning and scutching the fibres of flax and other
similar plants.
Machines have been used wherein the fibres are passed between, and the woody
substance of the stalk acted upon by a series of pins, the fibres or stalks passing
laterally between them. In this caso the stalks to be operated upon aro secured in a
screw clamp or holder at one end, so that at each passage through the machine, but
half their length is acted upon.
In the machine constructed according to my invention, the fibre or rather the
whole stalks of the flax or other plant are passed through it in the direction of their
length, and in their passage through the machine are acted upon first by feeding
and breaking rollers and then alternately by rollers and pins, as will be hereinafter
fully described, which thoroughly break up and remove the woody parts, leaving the
fibre clean for the heckling or other preparing machine.
Referring to the accompanying drawings:-
-
Figure 1. is a side elevation of a machine constructed in accordance with my
invention.
Figure 2. longitudinal section.
Figure 3. end elevation and Figure 4 plan of same.
Figures 5 and 6, elevations of parts of opposite side of machine to that depicted
in Figure 1, showing devices for actuating rollers.
Figure 7 perspective view of beating apparatus which is shown in elevation in
Figure 1.
Figure 8 enlarged view of sliding bearing for the rollers.
Figure 9 enlarged view of gill or splitting tool.
Figure 10 perforated protecting plate for the pins of gill.
Figures 11 and 12 details of same with strengthening bars.
In these A is a strong framework for the machine made of wood, iron, or other
suitable material. It may be of any convenient shape, and that shown in the drawings
will probably be found to be the most suitable. B is an upright or standard at the
sides of the frame. In it are formed as shown the bearings C for the rollers D. The
bearings are cast in the upright, when made of metal and may be lined with a brass
bush, if preferred. The rollers are held in position in their bearings by means of a
sliding piece e (see Figure 8) which is pressed against the axle or spindle d of the

page_text: roller by a suitable spiral or other spring c'. The spring at the other end abuts
against the cap or plate c¹¹ into which the shank of the slide projects. This arrange-
ment of the roller bearings is to allow of a lateral movement of the rollers so as to
adjust themselves to the thickness of material fed in, and to maintain thereon an
approximately equal pressure. The frame or standard B is itself rigid and stationary.
Either of the rollers D can at any time be removed from the frame without moving
or disturbing the others. If desired the bearings for the spindles of the rollers may
be formed of brackets bolted or screwed to the frame B on the outside, but I prefer
the arrangement shown. E are two frames or slides which move to and fro between
the members A' of the frame A. The slides E move to and fro in a horizontal plane
and in a direction at right angles to the longitudinal axes of the roller D. They
carry a series of gills or tools F formed of pins which as they move to and fro,
first approach each other until the pins pierce the straw and then recede. One set of
these tools F is placed between each pair of rollers. The pins forming the tools F
pass through guides formed of perforated or slotted plates G strengthened by bars or
rods (see Figures 11 and 12). The plates G are made of the form shown with a
projecting piece g¹ on top to prevent any dust or dirt falling down onto or between
the pins which would be likely to clog them. The slides E receive motion from the
eccentric shafts H through the eccentrics H' and eccentric rods I, or the shaft H may
be a crank shaft and work the slides E through connecting rods I. The shafts H
are driven from the horizontal shaft J by means of the bevel wheels j. It is necessary
that the fibre should not be dragged or pressed forward while it is engaged by the
pins therefore the rollers D and the feed rollers S (hereinafter described) must
have an intermittent motion, and that at the time when the tools F are drawn back.
They are therefore driven by means of pawls engaging with ratchet wheels on their
axles. The ratchet wheels K for driving the rollers D are keyed to the spindles d
and the pawls are carried by a rod M working in brackets m. At each downward
movement of the rod M, the rollers are rotated part of a revolution. The rod M
receives motion from the lever N which is pivoted on A at a and is alternately raised
and depressed by the cam or eccentric n on the shaft J.
If desired a ratchet and pawl device may be attached to the top or any convenient
part of the machine, and intermittent motion imparted to the rollers by means of
toothed, chain, or other gearing, or ratchet wheels may be attached to one pair of
rollers only, the other rollers receiving their motion through any suitable gearing.
S are feed rollers to conduct the straw to the machine. They receive an intermittent
motion synchronously with the rollers D. The ratchet wheels K' on their spindles
are worked by pawls carried by the bar M' which slides in the brackets m¹. The
bar M is worked from the bar M by means of the bell crank N' which is pivoted
at a¹ on A. P is a travelling band or table upon which the fibre drops and is carried
from beneath the rollers to any convenient place where the attendant can receive
the fibre. Qis a revolving beater formed of a series of arms q radiating from a
centre like the spokes of a wheel. The beater revolves close to a flat board or
partition R with a slit or slot in it. Through this slot the attendant presents the
end of the fibre to the beater, first one and then the other, until the adhering woody
matter is knocked off. The machine is herein shown and described with the different
pairs of rollers superimposed and the slides and pins moving horizontally. This, I
consider the best arrangement, but do not limit the invention thereto as the rollers
may be placed horizontally and the slides and pins work vertically, or they may
be set at any inclination to the perpendicular that may be for any reason found
desirable.
The operation of the machine is as follows:-The machine is set in motion and
the fibrous straw fed in by the feed rollers S on the top of the frame and carried
forward by the rollers D at each movement given to them by the pawls and ratchets.
Between each forward movement of the fibre, the slides E carrying the tools F are
caused to advance and recede by the eccentrics H¹ on the shaft H; the pins / then
ponetrate and are withdrawn from the fibre. The action of the pins on the fibrous
inaterial is to split up the woody part of the straw and subdivide the fibre. This

page_text: they do while the material is held by the rollers, and at each successive movement
of the machine a different part is acted upon by the pins, and as it travels through
each length engages with each set of pins once or oftener as may be required.
The pins set at the top of the machine or at the end where the material first enters
it, may be made coarser than those which subsequently act upon it. The fibres
pass from the rollers on to the travelling band P by which it is carried to one side
of the machine, and is then passed by the attendant into the slot r in the partition R
where it is acted upon by the beater Q and the adhering woody material removed,
leaving the fibre in condition to be heckled.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
1. The treatment of the stalks of flax and similar fibrous plants for the purpose
of breaking up and removing therefrom the woody portion, which consists in
subjecting the material alternately to the action of pressing or squeezing rollers and
penetrating pins, the rollers holding the material firmly while being operated upon
by the pins, substantially as described.
2. A machine for breaking, cleaning and scutching woody fibres, having a series
of pairs of rollers by which the material is held, and one, two or more sets of pins
carried on reciprocating slides which move to and fro; the pins penetrating the
material whilst being held by the rollers, substantially as described.
3. In a machine for breaking, cleaning and scutching flax and similar woody fibres,
the use of a ratchet and pawl mechanism for moving the rollers intermittently,
substantially as described, so that the material may not be fed or passed through
whilst being operated upon by the pins.
4. The guide or protecting plate for the penetrating pins formed with a projecting
piece or cover on top, which prevents dirt or dust falling amongst the pins.
5. A machine, substantially such as herein before claimed, having movable
bearings for the rollers, to allow of variation in the thickness of material passing
through it.
6. The apparatus for removing the broken woody material from the fibre, consisting
of a number of radiating arms revolving in close proximity to a board or partition,
substantially as described.
7. A machine, substantially such as herein described for breaking, cleaning and
scutching flax and similar fibres.
DL:
1007
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool,
Agents for the Applicant.