Improvements in Machinery for Decorticating Jute, Ramie, and other Fibrous Plants.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Mar., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 30th Sept., 1892-Accepted, 5th Nov., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery for Decorticating Jute, Ramie, and other
Fibrous Plants.
I, FELIX BERNILARD FREMEREY, Civil Engineer, of Galveston, in the County
of Galveston and State of Texas, United States of America, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to decorticate jute, ramie or other fibrous
plants, separating the back or skin and preparing the fibre for use with the
least possible waste or injury.
My invention comprises two parts, to wit: a suitable automatic feeding device,
which will separate and feed the stalks individually into the channels through
which they are to pass, and in which they are to be treated, and second, the
decorticator proper, which receives the individual stalks from the feeder and
reduces them to fibrous ribbons.
Machines heretofore in use for this purpose are defective, in that they must
be fed by hand, they do not readily and successfully separate the refuse from the
valuable fibre, and the fibre itself is often broken or cut to a greater or less
extent, by the broken woody fragments being crushed through the bark of the
fibrous portions, whereby a great part of the valuable fibre is spoiled and
wasted. Such machines moreover require a high motive power and hence are
very expensive in use.
In order to produce a machine adapted for general use by farmers who follow
the industry of raising ramie, flax, hemp and other fibrous plants, such a machine
should be self feeding and must be of moderate cost, light and portable, simple
in construction and adapted to operate with speed and economy.
The principle parts of the automatic feeding mechanism are a feed table and a
stalk separating bar upon which the stalks are placed, suitable side boards and
transverse headboard for confining the stalks, which head-board extends downward
a sufficient extent to keep back all but a few lower stalks which are permitted to
move forward by a yielding lower extension on said bead-board; a feeding device
provided with (preferably a set of) grips which move upward beneath the stalks,
embracing a proper number of them individually, then close upon the stalks, then
move forward and downward with the gripped stalks, to release them from the head
board and then forward till the ends of the respective stalks enter the decorticator,
and then releases its hold and returns for a fresh load. A guiding comb which
intermittently and at the proper time engages the individual stalks to overcome any
deflection which may have occurred; and a pair of stripping jaws, which inter-
mittently open and admit the ends of the stalks and then close around the stalks so
that continued movement of the latter causes the leaves and limbs to be scraped off.
Also certain co-operating minor parts which will be hereinafter mentioned.
The stalks are introduced by the feeder into a pair of guiding feed rollers, from
which they pass between slitting rollers. The upper ones of these slitting rollers is
furnished with any desirable number of rotary cutters, adapted to slit the stalks
open longitudinally, while the lower one is provided with V shaped grooves turned
in its periphery, to prevent the stalks from slipping to either side of the knives.
From the slitting rollers the stalks pass between flattening or spreading rollers
which open out and flatten the slit stalks. The flattened stalks are then passed
between fluted rollers adapted to break the pith of the stalks into fragments and to
loosen the epidermis of the bark, after which the broken and crushed stalks pass
onward to beaters which beat off the woody fragments leaving the fibre. The fibre

page_text: thus freed is conveyed away from the machine by an endless carrier to any suitable
point or well known degumming apparatus.
The machine comprises a suitable frame upon which is mounted a feed table
having side boards which extend forward and support a head board, and a lower
yielding abutting bar against which board and bar the stalks abut, also a serrated
stalk separating bar made adjustable vertically by means of slots and attaching
screws.
This bar supports and separates the forward or butt-ends of the stalks so that the
individual stalks may enter the respective openings or jaws of the grip. The lower
yielding abutting bar is intended to virtually continue the head board so as to bring
the stalks into proper allignment when they are placed upon the table, but to yield
upon engagement of the gripper bar with the supporting side plates of said bar, and
permit the forward movement of the lower stratum of the stalks which are, for the
time being, in the grasp of the grippers until said stalks can, by suitable mechanism,
be lowered to a plane beneath the yielding abutting bar, and, be thus released
from it.
The abutting bar has side fins which rest upon flanges and is provided with guide
rods working in the transverse angle bar, between which angle bar and the yielding
abutting bar and surrounding the guide rods are spiral springs.
The feeder consists preferably of a pair of endless chain belts running on pairs of
sprocket wheels. Upon these belts is mounted the means for gripping the stalks
consisting preferably, though not necessarily, of two sets of transverse gripper bars
so placed as to grasp successively the same stalks at two different points.
Each gripper consists of an inner toothed bar and a pair of outer toothed bars
with lateral flanges.
These are mounted on a base in such manner that the outer bars have a movement
relatively to said base in one direction while the inner bar has a relative movement.
in the opposite direction. The middle bar is provided with lugs which project
through slots formed in the base, and is held in position by pins passed through the
lugs. The outer bars are secured by means of screws working in slots in the outer
bars and being passed into the base plate.
These bars are partly controlled by springs stretched between the lugs and fixed
points on the base plate and by other springs between fixed points on the base plate
and certain screws. The inner and the pair of outer jaws project beyond the ends
of the base plate, so that when the grip passes through a restricted passage, or
between properly spaced stationary parts, the said jaws are moved relatively to each
other so as to cause the teeth to approach and close upon the stalks.
The gripping bars are mounted on endless belts and are arranged so as to pass to
the rear on the underside of the wheels and then upward beneath the stalks which
have been previously separated by the toothed bar, and come in contact with said
stalks just forward of said bar. The jaws of the gripper bars are so spaced that
they will coincide with the depressious in the bar and thereby insure the entrance
of the individual stalks between the jaws.
In order to insure the gripping of the stalks by the grip bars, the axle of one
pair of the sprocket wheels is mounted in bearings which are secured upon plates
hinged at their forward ends, cams are provided which working against brackets
cause the bearings and with them the spocket wheels to be raised and give the
grip a positive vertical movement beneath the stalks. At the proper point the
stalks are released and pass forward to the feeding rolls.
The pins are formed with a notch or shoulder so arranged that after the buts
of the stalks strike the yielding bar, the ends of the grip bar will engage said
shoulders and thereby move the bar and the plates or fins forward in opposition to
the springs without a tendency to force the stalks backward through the grip jaws,
the operation is continued until the summit of the cam passes the bracket and
permits the sprocket wheels to fall. In order to admit of adjustment of the bearing
of the wheels for stretching the chain and keeping the grip bars up to their proper
plane the said bearings are made in blocks which are adapted to slide in the frame.

page_text: Set screws threaded into the ends of the frame bear against the blocks in order to
force them backward. To avoid or counteract any deflection of the stalks a
vertically reciprocating comb is provided whose teeth have vertical movement
through a stationary guard.
As the butts of the stalks pass beneath this comb a downward thrust of the
latter causes its teeth to engage on opposite sides of the individual stalks and to
bring them into allignment with the individual channel into which the respective
stalks must pass.
As soon as the ends enter the channels the comb withdraws to
its normal position in order to avoid entanglement.
At this point in the machine, I also provide, just beyond the comb, means for
stripping the stalks of the leaves and branches and this stripping mechanism is
preferably made to open for the purpose of admitting the ends of the stalks and to
immediately close after the entrance of the stalks between the respective parts so
as thereafter to form a restricted channel through which the stalks are dragged by
means of a pair of feed-rollers of the decorticator proper. This stripping
mechanism consists of a lower vertically reciprocating bar having curved serrations
and an upper stationary bar having angular serrations. In order to impart a
reciprocatory movement to the comb which directs the butts of the stalks and to
the lower plate of the stripper which at the same time opens to receive the stalks,
a transverse shaft is mounted in bearings on the upper part of the machine, and
this shaft is provided with radial arms, which engage a peculiarly shaped frame
which has sliding bearings on the frame of the machine and which carries at
proper points the comb and the plate. On the opposite side of the shaft is a spur
having a spring attached to a fixed part of the machine and holding said spur
normally down upon the stop. By means of this spur and spring and stop the
arms are beld normally upward.
The movement of these arms is partly effected by means of a shaft having an
arm to which is attached a pitman having a crooked end resting upon, and adapted
to be engaged by, pins symmetrically arranged on the diameter of a pinion.
This pinion engages another pinion on the shaft of one of the sprocket-wheels
and the relations of such parts are such that the pinion rotates once while the
wheel rotates twice but there being two pins the crooked end of the pitman is
engaged twice in one revolution of the pinion or in two revolutions of the grip
driving wheels, and consequently the arm, comb, and plate are depressed each time
the grip brings the load of stalks beneath the comb.
The stalks being thus fed between the guiding rolls, are by the rolls fed into the
revolving cutter-rollers where they are slit longitudinally.
One of the pair of rollers having one or more circumferential cutters and
the other of them a corresponding number of grooves directly beneath the cutters.
The spreading and flattening of the stalks is effected by a third pair of rollers one
of which is furnished with angular circumferential ridges and the other has a
smooth cylindrical surface. After being thus spread the stalks pass to another
pair of rollers by which the spreading is completed which effect a flattening of
them. The stalks then pass through a series of pairs of fluted rollers which break
the woody portions of the stalks into fragments and loosen the epidermis of the
bark. The stalks then pass between large beating cylinders where the broken and
crushed woody fragments are separated from the fibrous portion of the stalks.
These consist of a pair of revolving cylinders having a series of blades which
project radially therefrom and are adapted to act upon the woody side of the
crushed stalks so as to effectually beat the woody fragments off from the fibrous
ribbons. After leaving the beating cylinders the material is discharged on an
endless carrying apron and delivered at any desired point.
The machine is provided with a driving and a loose pulley of the usual
construction.
The power is communicated from the shaft of the driving pulley by means of a
series of gear wheels to every alternate roller and on the opposite side of the
machine each pair of rollers is geared together by pinions.

page_text: The same shaft of the driving pulley also carries another pulley for the purpose
of driving the beating cylinder.
Motion to the grippers, comb, and strippers is communicated from the shaft
of one of the rollers by a suitable arrangement of chain gearing working on
sprocket wheels.
Dated the Twenty-second day of March 1892
NEWNHAM BROWNE,
Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE
SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery for Decorticating Jute, Ramie, and other
Fibrous Plants.
I, FELIX BERNHARD FREMEREY, Civil Engineer, of Galveston in the County
of Galveston and State of Texas, United States of America, 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 object of my invention is to decorticate jute, ramie or other fibrous plants,
separating the bark or skin from the woody matters of the stalk and preparing the
fibre for use with the least possible waste or injury.
My invention comprises two parts, to-wit; a suitable automatic feeding device
which will separate and feed the stalks individually into the channels through which
they are to pass, and in which they are to be treated, and second, the decorticator
proper, which receives the individual stalks from the feeder, and reduces them to
fibrous ribbons.
Machines heretofore in use for this purpose are defective, in that they must be
fed by hand, they do not readily and successfully separate the refuse from the
valuable fibre, and the fibre itself is often broken or cut to a greater or less extent,
by the broken woody fragments being crushed through the bark of the fibrous
portions, whereby a great part of the valuable fibre is spoiled and wasted. Such
machines moreover require a high motive power and hence are very expensive
in use.
In order to produce a machine adapted for general use by farmers, who follow the
industry of raising ramie, jute and hemp and other fibrous plants, such a machine
should be self-feeding and must be of moderate cost, light and portable, simple in
construction and adapted to operate with speed and economy.
The principal parts of the automatic feeding mechanism are a feed table and a
stalk separating bar upon which the stalks are placed, suitable side boards and
transverse head-board for confining the stalks, which head-board extends downward
a sufficient extent, to keep back all but the lower strata of stalks, which are permitted
to move forward by a yielding lower extension on said headboard; a feeding device
provided with two or more sets of grips, which move upward beneath the stalks,
embracing a proper number of them individually, then close upon the stalks, then
move forward and downward with the gripped stalks, to release them from the head-
board and then forward, till the ends of the respective stalks enter the decorticator,
and then releases its hold and returns for a fresh load. A guiding comb, which
intermittently and at the proper time engages the individual stalks to overcome any
deflections which may have occurred; and a pair of stripping jaws which inter-
mittently open and admit the ends of the stalks and then close around the stalks, so
that continued movement of the latter causes the leaves to be scraped off. Also
certain co-operating minor parts which will be hereinafter fully described.
The stalks are introduced by the feeder into a pair of guiding feed-rollers, from
which they pass between slitting rollers. The upper one of these slitting rollers is
furnished with any desirable number of rotary cutters, adapted to slit the stalks
open longitudinally, while the lower one is provided with "V" shaped grooves
turned in its periphery, to prevent the stalks from slipping to either side of the

page_text: ends upon bar 22, by screws 22ª. The notches or shoulders 21 are formed on each
of the fins 21, as clearly shown in the drawings. The bar is provided with guide-
rods 23, working in the transverse angle bar 25, between which angle bar and the
yielding abutting-bar 22, and surrounding the guide-rods 23, are spiral springs 24.
It will be understood that notwithstanding the fact that in some views I have
shown parts of the machine in section and therefore but single ends of some of the
transverse parts with their means of attachment, these means of attachment are
duplicated on the opposite side, as will appear in other views of the machine.
The feeder consists preferably of a pair of suitably spaced endless chain belts
running on pair of sprocket wheels, 9, 91, which are secured respectively to shafts 8, 8¹.
Upon these belts is mounted in any suitable manner, the means for gripping the
stalks, which consist of two or more sets of transverse gripper bars 3, Fig. 5, or
tongs, one of which is represented in Fig. 6, located at such distance apart as to
successively grasp the same stalks at two or more different points._
Each of the grippers 3, consists of an inner toothed bar 3", see Fig. 5, and a pair
of outer toothed bars 3, provided with lateral flanges on their respective outer
sides, 20 & 20%. All of these toothed bars are mounted upon a base 4, in such a
manner that the pair of outer bars have a movement relatively to said base in one
direction, while the inner or middle bar has a relative movement in the opposite
direction. In order to secure these bars to the base and permit them to move
relatively as stated, the middle bar is provided with lugs 6, which project through
slots formed in the base 4. This middle bar is held in position by pins 7, passed
transversely through the lugs 6. The outer bars are secured by means of screws 5¹
working in the slots 5 in the outer bars, said screws being passed into the base
plate 4. These bars are normally held in such position that the teeth of the outer
bars coincide with those of the inner bars. The outside blades 3" of the gripper are
pushed to the right side by the contact of their extreme ends 20 against flange 20
on the left side-board of the machine, while the middle blade 3 by the contact of
its extreme end 20 against flange 20 on the right side-board is pushed to the left;
in this manner the stalk is held in direct line towards the centre between rollers B
and B. Stalks P, are shown grasped in the gripper.
In order to hold these bars in the position above described, springs 26, shown in
Fig. 3, are stretched between lugs 6 and fixed points on the base plate, which
springs thereby retain the inner plate in normal position. Similar springs 26',
stretched between fixed points on the base plate and screws 5', which are fixed in
the outer jaws ", and work in slots 5 in the base plate, serve to keep said outer jaws
in normal position. The inner and the pair of outer are made to project at 20ª
and 20 respectively beyond the ends of the base, so that when the grip passes
through a restricted passage or between properly spaced stationary parts of the
machine, said jaws are moved relatively to each other, so as to cause the teeth to
approach and close upon the stalks, which have been guided into the respective jaws
as will hereinafter more fully appear.
The gripping bars being thus formed, two or more of them are mounted on the
endless chain belts in close proximity, so as to embrace each stalk in two or more
places and keep it in a position parallel to the line of movement.
Now by referring to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be seen that the gripper bars attached
to the chains pass to the rear on the under-side of the wheels and then upward
beneath the stalks, which have been previously separated by the toothed bar 1, and
come in contact with said stalks just forward of said bar. The jaws of the gripper
bars are so spaced that they will coincide with the depressions in the bar 1, and
thereby insure the entrance of the individual stalks between the jaws. In order to
cause the jaws to close upon the stalks as they pass forward, the passage through
which the gripper-bars pass is restricted by means of flanges 20, shown in detail in
Fig. 21, having their forward ends bevelled, so that the ends 20ª, 20%, of the
respective parts of the grip will be forced together sufficiently to insure the gripping
of the individual stalks until said gripper bar passes forward beyond the end of the
flanges 20 and begins to move downward, when the jaws will be suddenly relaxed

page_text: by their springs 26, 261, by which time the butts of the stalks will have been seized
by the guiding feed rollers B, B', of the machine. After the gripper bar 3 above
referred to enters the flanges 20, and has gripped the stalks, and before said stalks
leave the separating bar 1, a second gripper bar has reached the gripping position
and takes hold of the individual stalks in the rear of the front bar 1, so that the
stalks move forward in a straight line and cannot fail to enter the decorticator in
the proper manner. In order to insure the gripping of the stalks by the grip bars,
the wheel 9 with its axle S is mounted in bearings, which are secured upon plates 15,
suitably hinged at their forward ends upon the axle S, and thereby adapted to raise
up and give the grip a positive vertical movement beneath the stalks. In order to
thus raise the bearings of the shaft 8, said shaft is provided with cam wheels 11,
which cams terminate abruptly at the apex, and these cam wheels rest upon
brackets 18, secured to the sides of the frame 16. The effect of this construction
is to raise the wheel 9 with its gripper just as the gripper comes beneath the stalks
and to hold the same in such raised position until the gripper is closed upon the
stalks, and passes a short distance into the restricted passage between flanges 20.
This forward movement of the stalks and gripper is thus far opposed by the
abutting bar 22. To release the stalks from this strip bar 22, the cam permits the
wheel to drop as soon as the apexes of said cams pass the brackets 18; at
the same time fins 21 with bar 22 attached to them, are pushed forward by the ends of
the gripper blades 20 and 20"; by this motion the ends of the stalks are released
from the bar and may then pass downward and forward unobstructed to the
feeding rolls B, B', of the decorticator, as more amply explained in the following
paragraph.
21, represents a notch or shoulder formed on each of the fins 21, and is so
arranged that after the butts of the stalks strike the bar 22, the ends 20 and 20°,
of the grip bar will engage said shoulders and thereby move fins 21 and bar 22
attached to them forward, in opposition to springs 24; this movement is continued
until the summit of cam 11 passes the bracket 18 and permits sprocket wheels 9 to
fall by which the stalks in the grip of the gripper are drawn downward far enough
to admit of their passing under the bar, and now the bar 22 is pushed backward
into its original position by means of springs 24.
In order to admit of adjustment of the bearings of wheels 9, for stretching the
chain, and keeping the grippers up to their proper plane, said bearings are made in
blocks 12, which are adapted to slide in frame 14. Set screws 13, threaded
into the ends of frame 14 bear against the blocks 12, in order to force them
backward.
It is found in practice that the grip is liable to deflect slightly the butt ends of
the stalks as they are about to enter between the first pair of rollers. To avoid
this deflection or to counteract it, should it occur, a vertically reciprocating
comb 27, see Fig. 3, is provided, whose teeth have vertical movement through a
stationary guard 28. As the butts of the stalks pass beneath this comb a down-
ward thrust of the latter causes its teeth to engage on opposite sides of the
individual stalks and to bring them into alignment with the individual channels into
which the respective stalks must pass. As soon as the ends enter the channels, the
comb 27 immediately withdraws to its normal position in order to avoid entangle-
ment with the leaves or branches of the stalks and consequent interference with the
continued forward movement of said stalks. At this point in the machine, I also
provide, just beyond the comb 27, means for stripping the stalks of the leaves and
branches and this stripping mechanism is made to open, for the purpose of admitting
the ends of the stalks between the respective parts, so as thereafter to form a
restricted channel, through which the stalks are dragged by means of the feed
rollers 1, B, of the decorticator proper, between which the ends of the stalks have
by this time passed. This stripping mechanism cousists of a lower vertically
reciprocating bar 29, see Fig. 3, having curved serrations and an upper stationary
bar 30 having angular serrations.

page_text: .
.
In order to impart a reciprocating movement to the comb 27, which directs the
butts of the stalks, and to the lower plate 29, of the stripper, which at the same
time opens to receive said stalks, a transverse shaft 31, is mounted in bearings 31ª,
at a convenient point on the upper part of the machine and this shaft 31 is provided
with radial arms 37, which engage à frame 38, which has sliding bearings on the
frame of the machine, and which carries at proper points the comb 27 and the
plate 29.
On the opposite side of the shaft 31 is a spur 32, having a spring 32ª attached to
a fixed part of the machine and holding said spur normally down upon the stop 36.
By the means of this spur 32, spring 32 and stop 36, the arms 37 are held normally
upward, and the comb 27 and plate 29 normally in the positions shown in Fig. 3.
In order to depress the arm 37 and raise the arms 32 in opposition to its spring 32",
the shaft 31 is provided with an additional arm 33, and to this arm 33 is attached a
pitman 34, having a crooked end 34" resting upon and adapted to be engaged by
pins 35 symmetrically arranged as shown, upon the diameter of a pinion 35. The
pinion 35 engages a pinion 9b on shaft 8' of wheel 91 and the relations of the
wheel 9 pinion 9b and pinion 35 are such that the pinion 35 rotates once, while the
wheel 9' rotates twice, but there being two pins 35, the crooked end 34° is engaged
twice in one revolution of the pinion 35, or in two revolutions of the grip driving
wheels and consequently the arm 33, comb 27, and plate 29 are depressed each time
the grip brings the load of stalks beneath the comb 27. By the employment of
two pins 35, it will be seen, that while one engages the pitman 34 and draws it
down, the other engages the inside of said pitman to cause its disengagement at the
proper time.
The stripper, guide comb & grippers are mounted in front of the machine in such
a position that the stalks of jute, ramie or other fibrous plants introduced by them
will be accurately guided in a straight longitudinal position into the guiding
rollers B, B. See also Figs. 9 & 10, in which represents the upper roller having
rubber rings B and square circumferential grooves B2, in which the rubber rings
are placed. B' represents the lower roller with V shaped circumferential grooves
for receiving the stalks, and P is a stalk passing between the rollers. By these
rollers the stalks will be fed lengthwise into the revolving cutter rollers C, C', where
the stalks are slit longitudinally, see detail drawings Figs. 11 & 12. The upper
roller C of this pair is a smooth roller having circumferential cutters or knives C²
equal in number to the stalks to be simultaneously fed, while the lower roller C¹ of
the pair is formed with a corresponding number of circumferential "V" shaped
grooves directly beneath the cutters for receiving the stalks from the rollers B, B',
and for keeping them straight below the knives. P, is a stalk passing between the
rollers. The grooves serve to keep the stalks in position while the cutters slit them,
to adapt them to be spread open. The spreading and flattening of the stalks are
effected by the third pair of rollers, D, D', see also Figs. 13 & 14, the upper one D,
of which is furnished with angular circumferential ridges for the purpose of
engaging in the slits or openings formed by the cutters, and spread and Hatten the
slit stalks against the lower roller D', which has a smooth cylindrical surface.
E, E, see also Figs. 15 & 16, represent a pair of smooth cylindrical rollers between
which the stalks pass after being spread, and these rollers complete the spreading
or flattening of the stalks. F, F, see also Figs. 17 & 18, represent one pair of a
series of three pairs of fluted rollers through which the split and flattened stalks
from the rollers E, E, successively pass, and these serve to break the woody
portions of the stalks into fragments and loosen the epidermis of the bark. From
the rollers F, F, the material passes between large beating cylinders G, Û¹, sec
also Figs. 19 & 20, where the broken and crushed woody fragments are separated
from the fibrous portion of the stalks. These beaters are driven rapidly, say about
700 revolutions per minute, and consist of a pair of revolving cylinders, having a
series of blades which project radially therefrom, and are adapted to act upon the
woody side of the crushed stalks, so as to effectually beat the woody fragments off

page_text: from the fibrous ribbons. After leaving the beating cylinders the material is
discharged on the endless carrying apron H, and thereby delivered to any desired
point, as for instance to a suitable degummer.
In order to drive the machine, power is transmitted from any suitable source to
a pulley K, which is keyed upon one of the axles of rollers E, E'. The pulley L
is loose for putting the belt on when the machine is to be stopped.
On the same shaft as the pulley K, is a gear wheel M, communicating the motive
power to every alternate upper & lower member of each pair of working rollers of
the machine by means of gearing wheels M. M. On the opposite side of the
machine each pair of rollers is geared together by pinions N, N.
Opposite to the pulley K, and secured upon the same shaft on the other side of
the machine is pulley I, for the purpose of driving the pulley J, of beating
cylinders G, G'.
On the left side of the machine, and on the lower roller B, in front of the
gearing wheel, pinion 40 is secured, which by means of a chain helt (not shown in
the drawings) drives sprocket wheel 41, situated in the lower part of the machine;
by this wheel again motion is transmitted through a shaft to sprocket wheel 42;
from this wheel 42 motion is imparted by a chain belt to sprocket wheel 10,
which being secured upon the axle 8¹ imparts motion to the grippers, comb and
strippers.
In front of the sprocket wheel 42 and secured on the same shaft is a smooth
pulley 43, for the purpose of communicating the motion to pulley H of the endless.
apron H, H.
I have not deemed it necessary to show all the belt and chain connections, as the
manner of mounting these will be quite obvious, and the illustrations of them would
in some cases hide parts of the machine.
The machine being constructed, and the parts arranged and connected as
described, it will be seen that a bundle of stalks of ramie, jute or other fibrous
plants may be thrown longitudinally upon the table A, and the machine being in
operation, the bottom layer of stalks will be separated or spaced; the grippers will
pass around, embrace cach stalk in two places and carry it forward in a longitudinal
position, thrusting the ends of the respective stalks through the restricted openings
of the stripper, and into the channels in the feed-rollers B, B¹.
The feed-rollers B, B1, of which the upper one is provided with rubber rings
immediately take hold of the ends of the stalks, dragging them through the stripper,
by which means the leaves and branches are torn off, and pass said stalks into the
slitting rollers. The stalks are here slit or partially cut through, after which they
pass into the spreading rollers and are laid open, then into the flattening rollers, so
as to expose the inner woody portions, then into the breaking rollers, where the
woody portion is reduced to fragments, and finally to the beater-cylinders, where
said woody fragments are knocked off from the fibrous portion, and from which the
fibrous ribbons are delivered to the endless belt, the wooden fragments dropping to
the floor. The endless belt carries the ribbons away, permitting some remaining
fragmentary woody parts to escape. All the woody parts may be collected and
used for fertilizer, fuel or other purposes.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A feeder for stalks or similar material, consisting of a feed table, the endless
chain belt carrying suitable grippers and working in front of said feed table, and
the means in front of said endless belt for receiving the ends of the stalks, sub-
stantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.
2. The feeder for stalks or similar material, which consists of the feed table
adapted to receive stalks, the serrated separating bar in front of said table upon
which the stalks rest, the longitudinally movable gripper having jaws corresponding
in position to the serrations in the separating bar, and the means for receiving said
B

page_text: stalks at the forward limit of the gripper's movement, substantially as and for
the purposes set forth.
3. The feeder for stalks or similar material, which consists in the feed-table, the
head-board against which the stalks abut when placed upon the table, the gripper
mounted upon an endless belt running longitudinally forward from the table and
beneath the head-board, suitable pulleys upon which the endless belt runs, and the
cams rotating with said pulleys and having a suitable bearing surface and adapted to
elevate and drop the bearings of one of the pulleys successively, whereby the grip
rises beneath the stalks and then falls, so as to release the stalks from the head-
board, substantially as in the manner described.
4. The feeder for stalks or similar material which consists in the feed table, the
separating bar located in front of said table, the grip having jaws corresponding in
position to the teeth on the separating bar, an endless belt upon which the grip
is mounted and the cams for engaging the grip and closing its jaws upon the stalks,
substantially in the manner and for the purposes set forth.
5. The feeder for stalks or similar material consisting of a feed table, the gripper
travelling longitudinally forward from the said feed table, the head-board against
which the stalks abut, longitudinal flanges on the side-board, and adapted to engage
the gripper and close it upon the stalks, the rotating cam adapted to rise and fall
with the gripper and the lower yielding abutting liar, all substantially as and for
the purpose set forth.
6. The combination of the feed table, the gripper moving longitudinally forward
from the feed table, the yielding abutting strip against which the stalks abut, and
the cams for raising and dropping the gripper, substantially as, and for the purpose
set forth.
7. In a feeder of substantially the character described; the combination of the
feed table, the gripper moving forward longitudinally from said feed table, and the
stripper located in front of the gripper, and adapted to afford a restricted passage
for the stalks, substantially as, and for the purposes set forth.
8. In the feeder for the purpose specified, the combination of the feed table, the
gripper moving longitudinally forward from said feed table, and the stripper
located in front of said gripper and consisting of a pair of separable jaws suitable
driving mechanism for the feeding and working connection between said driving
mechanism and one of the jaws whereby the jaws are opened intermittently to
receive the stalks, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
9. In a feeder of substantially the character specified, the combination of the
feed table, the feeding grip having a forward movement from the feed table, the
restricted passages into which the stalks are individually introduced and the vertically
reciprocating comb located in front of said restricted passages, and having suitable
working connection, whereby it receives an intermittent reciprocating movement as
the stalks are brought beneath it substantially as in the manner specified.
10. The feed mechanism constructed and operating substantially in the manner
hereinbefore indicated.
11. The construction of the several parts or members of the feed mechanism,
whereby they are adapted for the respective functions which they are to perform.
12. The combination with the feed table of the means for guiding the stalks and
the slitting rollers one of said rollers having peripheral cutting edges and the other
peripheral grooves adapted to receive said edges, substantially as set forth.
13. The combination of the feed table, means for directing the stalks from said
table, slitting rollers, and spreading rollers, substantially as and for the purpose set
forth.
14. The combination with the slitting rollers and spreading rollers of the fluted
crushing or breaking rollers, and the beaters, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
15. The combination of the feed table, means for directing the stalks across said
table, feeding rollers for receiving the stalks, and the slitting and spreading rollers,
substantially as set forth.

page_text: 16. The combination with the feed table and the slitting rollers; of the feeding
rollers having intermeshing peripheral ribs of rubber and grooves respectively, and
means for directing the stalks to said feed rollers, substantially as set forth.
17. The combination with the feed table.and the slitting rollers; of the feeding
rollers, one of which is provided with peripheral bands of rubber and the other
with corresponding grooves and a guide located before the feed rollers for
directing the individual stalks into their respective channels, substantially as
set forth.
18. The combination of the travelling feed device, the slitting and spreading
rollers, and guides for directing the stalks to said rollers, substantially as set
forth.
19. The combination of the travelling feed device having grippers; the feed
rollers having peripheral grooves and ridges coinciding with the grooves formed
by said rubber ribs, and the slitting and spreading rollers, substantially as set
forth.
20. The combination with the feed table, and the slitting and spreading rollers;
of a stripper arranged athwart said table in advance of said rollers, substantially as
set forth.
21. The combination with the feed table, and the slitting and spreading rollers;
of the stripper consisting of the stationary and the vertically reciprocating serrated
plates arranged athwart said table in advance of the said rollers, substantially as
set forth.
22. The combination of the feed table having the separating device, the vertically
reciprocating stripping plate and the feed rollers adapted to drag the stalks past
the said plate substantially as set forth.
23. The combination with the feed table and feeding rollers of a series of pair of
breaking rollers and the separating beaters substantially as set forth.
24. The combination of a feed table having a separating bar, the slitting rollers,
the spreading rollers, one of which has peripheral ribs, and the succeeding spreading
rollers E, having plane surfaces, substantially as set forth.
25. The combination with the slitters, spreaders, and breakers of the revolving
drum having beaters, substantially as set forth.
26. The arrangement of the several members for performing the successive steps
in substantially the manner specified.
27. The construction of the several parts of the reducing portion of my machine
whereby the fibre is separated from the woody portions.
28. The mechanical connections of the parts of the machine as herein described.
29. The construction and arrangement of the details of the respective parts of
the reducing portion of my machine whereby they are adapted to perform the
several functions assigned to them.
30. The decorticator having an automatic feed.
Dated this Thirtieth day of September 1892.
NEWNHAM BROWNE,
Agent for the Applicant.