IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR STRIPPING AND EXTRACTING THE FILAMENTS OF TEXTILE PLANTS, AND APPLICABLE TO THE TREATMENT OF FIBRO-LIGNEOUS MATTERS IN GENERAL
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Marc Antoine François Mennons, of the British and
Foreign Patent Offices, 39, Rue de l'Echiquier, Paris, in the Empire of
France, for the Invention of "IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR STRIPPING AND
EXTRACTING THE FILAMENTS OF TEXTILE PLANTS, AND APPLICABLE TO THE
TREATMENT OF FIBRO-LIGNEOUS MATTERS IN GENERAL."-A communication
from Adolphe Boyé, residing at Paris.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Marc Antoine François
Mennons at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition
and Declaration, on the 2nd February 1860, pursuant to the 9th Section
of the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, MARC
ANTOINE FRANÇOIS MENNONS, of the British and Foreign Patent Offices, 39,
Rue de l'Echiquier, Paris, in the Empire of France, send greeting.
WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for "IMPROVED MACHINERY
POR STRIPPING AND EXTRACTING THE FILAMENTS OF TEXTILE PLANTS, AND APPLICABLE
TO THE TREATMENT OF FIBRO-LIGNEOUS MATTERS IN GENERAL," (a communication,)
and have petitioned Her Majesty to grant unto me, my executors, administra-
tors, and assigns, Her Royal Letters Patent for the same, and have made
solemn declaration that it is a communication:

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Marc Antoine François Mennons, do
hereby declare that the following Complete Specification, under my hand
and seal, fully describes and ascertains the nature of the Invention, and the
manner in which the same is to be performed, reference being had to the
accompanying Drawing, in all the Figures of which the corresponding parts
of the mechanism are represented by the same letters and numbers, that is
to say
The Invention consists in an improved mechanical combination for the
direct stripping and extraction of the fibrous constituants or filaments of textile
plants, which combination may, by slight modifications, be applied to the
treatment (crushing, trituration, &c., &c.,) of fibro-ligneous matters in
general.
Figure 1 of the annexed Drawing is an elevation of the left side of the
machine; Figure 2 is a plan; Figure 3 is an elevation of the right side;
Figure 4 is a view of the framing on which are mounted the corrugated tables;
Figure 5 represents the corrugations of a section of these tables; Figure 6
is a plan of the extremity of the framing shewn in Figure 4.
A is the main framework, the dimensions of which vary according to the
number of crushing cylinders, beaters, and corrugated tables employed. This
framework supports and maintains in position the separate pieces of which the
apparatus is composed. B, B¹, are two stretching rollers, in metal or other
suitable material, on which is mounted an endless feeding web C, of metal,
leather, or canvass. This endless web or band may, if required, be replaced
by wooden or metal bars connected by the rack chain, known in France as
"Chaine Gale," or "Vaucanson," or by a leathern strap at each extremity of
the series, joined underneath so as to form an endless runner. Above each of
the rollers B, B¹, is mounted a duplicate as in a, a¹, a third roller of the same
dimensions a being placed over the centre of the feeding band C. In the
working of the machine the raw material to be treated is seized by these
duplicate rollers, and maintained in a horizontal position during its transit
over the feeding band. Under this band (C) is mounted a table b, which
keeps it straight, and allows it to slide freely while the pressure of the upper
rollers a, a, preserves the parallelism of the filaments to be extracted. At
each side of the feeding band C is mounted a guide, which prevents the
matter under treatment from moving beyond the range of the fluted cylinders,
of which five are indicated in the Drawing in D, D, Du, D, D. An equal
number of cylinders d, d', d", d, du, are mounted over D, D¹, D", DIII,
Du, in the corresponding flutings of which they work. The flutings of each
pair of these cylinders in starting from D, d, are gradually reduced in depth

page_text: and spacing, so that while the first pair of the series present corrugations of
upwards of an inch in depth, those of the last pair (Du, d¹¹¹,) are reduced to
about one-twelfth. When a higher number of cylinders are employed, the
corrugations may be made coarser and finer still. For certain plants with
adhesive fibres, such as flax, phormium tenax, osier, &c., &c., the flutings of
all the cylinders should be considerably finer than those above noted. X, X';
X, X, X, X, X; X', are small rollers fitted with curved branches and
interposed between the last pair of crushing cylinders (Dim, d) and the
first drum E, and between each succeeding drum and pair of endless tables
I; I. E represents a cage drum or taimbour, which receives on its circum-
ference the fibrous matter as it egresses from the crushing cylinders. In the
bars of this tambour work three racks F, F; F"; the length of each of which
is equal to the breadth of the tambour itself. Above the latter and between
each of the racks are mounted the beating mills G, G', fitted with articulated
wings or paddles. In certain cases, as hereafter explained, the tambour E may
be covered either with a loose canvass or netting, or with metallic gauze, and
the long racks F, F, F", be replaced by rollers either fluted or smooth. His a
reservoir placed under each of the tambours E; comprised in the machine, and
fitted inside with rollers on which is stretched an endless web or metallic sheet
corresponding with the under circumference of the tambour which enters the
reservoir to a certain distance, as seen in Figures 1 & 3. When intended to
operate on the raw material in a moist state, the tambour arrangement E, above
described, may be suppressed and replaced by an endless web of canvass or
metallic gauze which passes on a second series of rollers in the reservoir. If pre-
ferred, the tambour may be retained and simply covered with canvass, netting,
or metallic gauze. The sixteen screws V, placed under the main framework A,
and corresponding with the fect of the arcades which support the racks F, F,
, and the beating mills G, G; serve, when required, to isolate those parts
from the tambour E. Two superposed endless tables I, I, with transversal
corrugations are placed after each tambour E and reservoir H. These tables
are composed of a variable number of bars in metal, wood, or other suitable
material, connected throughout the series by annular articulations, as seen at
each end of Fig. 5. The corrugations or flutings; the peculiar form of which
is shewn in that Figure, are protected by a metallic rib or moulding on
each side. This rib or moulding forms a species of slide piece, and prevents
the cogging or even contact of the superposed flutings, thus saving the fibrous
matter from the cutting to which it would otherwise be exposed, whilo adding
to the smoothness of the working: These tables have two distinct movements,
ono continuously rotatory, the other'a come-and-go motion in the opposite

page_text: direction. The latter movement is communicated to the tables by the slide
framings, on and round which they are mounted. These slide frames are
provided at each extremity with two double-branched fork pieces; one pair of
the latter rests on the two shafts of each framing, the other pair receives
between its branches a rackwork (as seen in Figure 4), which effects the
continuous rotatory movement, and is maintained in place by a key piece in the
groove cut in the shaft, which prevents slipping in the revolution of the latter
while acting as guide in the come-and-go movement. Under and near the
extremity of each of the bars composing the endless tables, is formed a groove
which acts at the same time as guide and slide piece when the bar is mounted
on the framing Fig. 4. A notch is also cut near these grooves, so that the series
of bars in position forms a rack working with those which transmit the con-
tinuous rotatory movement. When desired to have the ligneous matter of the
plants thoroughly crushed, three or more fluted cylinders should be mounted
between each drum and pair of corrugated tables (E & I, 1'). The flutings
of these cylinders should be alternately longitudinal and transversal, and
graduated in depth and spacing in the same way as the corrugated tables with
which they work. A continuous rotatory movement is communicated to the
longitudinally-fluted cylinders by a series of screws and pinions similar to those
of the cylinders D, d, while the cylinders with transverso flutings receive
(independently of the same rotatory motion) a come-and-go movement like
that of the endless tables, from a series of cams and cranked shafts. In many
cases the tambour E, with the long racks F, F, F, and the beaters G, G',
may be entirely removed, and give place to any required number of the longi-
tudinally-fluted cylinders just described. When this is done, the reservoirs H
should be so arranged as to permit of the partial or entire immersion of the
cylinders in the cleansing liquid.
i
The mechanical arrangements above described, which form the primary
section of the apparatus, are, with the exception of the crushing cylinders D,
D¹, D, D, D, d, d¹, d", d¹, d, repeated in the construction two, three,
four, or five times, or even more, if a high degree of perfection is required in
the product. If so desired the two last tables of the series may be without
corrugations, and simply covered with leather, cloth, or other material present-
ing a certain amount of frictional surface. The residue and waste matters
formed in the working of the apparatus are carried off by brushes mounted in
a suitable position near each pair of tables. These brushes may be either
circular or flat, fixed or moveable.
J, Figs. 2 & 3, is the main shaft of the apparatus on which are mounted,―
1stly, the endless screws 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, transmitting the movement to the

page_text: roller B of the feeding web C, and to the crushing cylinders D, D¹, D",
D, D, by means of the six pinions 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12.
2dly, an endless screw 13 transmitting the movement to the tambour E by
means of the pinion 14. Another endless screw 15, threaded in the opposite
direction (to the left) and communicating, when required, a reverse movement
to the same tambour.
3dly, a rack 16, transmitting the rotatory movement to a secondary shaft K
placed above the main shaft J, by means of the corresponding rack 17. This
shaft K puts in action the cams i, i, connected with the two articulated fork
pieces of the framing, Fig. 4. These cams communicate the come-and-go
movement to this framing, which carries with it the endless table I, by which
it is surrounded, and to which it serves as support. The same shaft K
also gives movement to a third shaft L, by the racks 18, 19, fixed to each.
This third shaft L communicates the come-and-go movement by the cams j, j',
to cach of the upper endless tables 1', as above described, for the lower
tables J, while the rotatory movement is given to the lower shafts M, M', M",
by means of the racks 20 & 21.
4thly, a helicoid rack 22, transmitting the rotatory motion to a smaller rack
of the same kind 23, fixed on a transversal shaft, which carries at its other
extremity a quadruple pulley 24, giving movement to the first two series of
beating mills G, G', by means of the pullies 25, 26, 27, 28, mounted on the
shafts of these mills. The quadruple pulley 24 communicates with the four
pullies 25, 26, 27, 28, by tho two driving bands shewn in Figures 1 & 3.
5thly, an endless screw 29 giving the rotatory movement to the lower
table I, by means of the pinion 30. This table I transmits the rotatory
movement in an opposite direction to the upper table 1', by means of the
rack 31 fixed on one of its shafts, and corresponding with a similar rack 32
on the shaft of 11.
6thly, a fixed pulley 33, giving motion to the entire combination and a free
or stop pulley 34.
7thly, two supplementary racks 35, 36, which may be removed at will, and
accelerating, when required, the come-and-go movement of all the endless
tables of the apparatus.
8thly, a pair of helicoidal racks 37, 38, similar to those seen in 22, 23, and
giving motion to each double pair of beating mills by means of the quadruple
and secondary pullies 39, 40, 41, 42, 43.
A rack 44 mounted on one extremity of the shaft of the tambour E gives
regular motion to the long racks F, F, F", by means of the secondary racks 45
fitted to their shafts. On the shaft of the tambour E is also mounted a rack 46

page_text: giving movement to the endless web in the reservoirs H, by means of the
rack 47, Fig. 1. Five racks 48 are fitted to the five lower cylinders D, D',
Du, D, D, and correspond with the racks 49 mounted on the arbors of
each of the upper cylinders d, d', du, d, d, the movement of which is thus
completely regulated. Two pinions 50 are mounted on the shafts of the
rollers B, B¹, and serve as guides to the endless chain which regulates the
movement of the feeding web C.
Should the machine be intended for the treatment of plants or other
matters in a heated state, the tambours, cylinders, endless tables, and other
principal parts should be so constructed as to serve as recipients for a supply
of steam, which may be led into them by canals formed in the different shafts,
or by an independent series of tubes. The apparatus being set in motion, the
plants or fibrous matters to be operated on in the dry state are placed on the
feeding web C, on which they are maintained by the rollers a¹, a¹, a¹¹, and by
the guides above described. Carried forward in the movement of this web,
they pass between the first pair of corrugated cylinders D, d, from that to
the second pair D, d, and so on to the last pair of the series D, dun On
egressing from this last pair of cylinders, the fibrous matters are seized by the
branched roller X and thrown on the first tambour E, on which they are
submitted to a preliminary beating by the wings or paddles of the first pair of
mills G, G. The long racks F, F', F", prevent them from being carried off
in the rotatory movement of the beaters, and preserve the parallelism of the
fibres. At this point the fibrous matters are taken up by the second branched
roller X', and pass between the first pair of fluted tables I, I', in which they
are submitted to a rubbing action, the object of which is to disintegrate the
adherent envelope of the filaments, which are thus, to a certain point, divided.
On passing from this first pair of fluted tables they are seized by the third
branched roller X³, and are thrown on a second tambour E, on which they
undergo a new beating operation from the second pair of mills G, G. From
thence they are passed by the fourth branched roller X³, between a second pair
of corrugated tables I, I', which strip and divide the filaments to a still greater
extent. The same series of movements is repeated from the mills to the
tables, and from the tables to the mills, both of which may, as before stated,
be multiplied with their accessories ad libitum, and the filaments egress finally
from the apparatus completely freed from their extraneous matters, and ready
for the ordinary finishing operations.
When the raw material is to be treated in the moist state, the tambours E
should be-covered with a metallic or other sheeting, so as to form a species of
plain drum, which thus becomes the counterpart of the endless canvass in the

page_text: reservoirs H. The beating mills G, G¹, and the long racks F, F¹, F", are then
isolated by means of the screws V, corresponding with the feet of the arcades.
by which they are supported. By this arrangement the raw material in
egressing from the crushing cylinders D, D₁, D, D¹¹, D, d, d¹, d"; d, d
passes between the endless webs of the reservoirs H and the coverings of the
tambours E, which correspond with them, and. is thus carried through the
cleansing solution of the reservoirs, which removes the impurities without dis-
turbing the parallelism of the filaments. From this the fibres ascend to the
corrugated tables I, I, thence to a second reservoir, and so on throughout the
whole combination.
Should the machine be intended exclusively for the treatment of fibrous
matters in the moist state, the tambours E and the beating mills G, G¹, with
the separate reservoirs H, may be entirely suppressed. In this case the
successive series of endless tables I, I', should be brought close together, and
the whole apparatus placed in one large basin or reservoir containing the
cleansing solution, which covering the tables, allows the entire operation to be.
carried on under the surface.
It is obvious that the machinery above described may be applied to the
treatment of all fibro-ligneous or filamentous' matters for whatever purpose
they may be intended, so long as this treatment comprises a separating and
crushing or rubbing action. When employed in the preparation of vegetable
matters used in the manufacture of paper pulps and analogous products, the
corrugated surfaces of the endless tables should be brought as close as
possible together, so as to increase the triturating action, and add to the
fineness of the division of the fibres. When intended to operate on peat; bark,
rushes, or other similar products containing a certain amount of extraneous
matter, one, or several cylinders fluted transversely should be added to the
crushing cylinders above described. The endless web of the reservoirs H
should be replaced by a series of semicircular sieves formed of pierced sheet
metal, in which work an equal number of paddles. The raw material on
egressing from the cylinders passes into the first sieve, where it is beaten
by the paddles, which throw it at each stroke into the succeeding sieve. On
reaching the last of the series the matter is thrown on an endless web,
which carrics it between the corrugated tables I, I, from thence to a new
series of sieves and paddles, and so on to the end of the combination. If so
required, the arrangement of sieves and paddles above described, may, for the
treatment of substances containing earthy matters (peat for instance), be
replaced by a pair of Archimedan screws set at right angles, which cleanse the
85

page_text: raw material, and throw it on the web to be passed to the fluted tables, thence
to a second pair of screws, and so on to the end of the series.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner
of carrying it into effect, I would bave it understood that I do not confine
myself to the precise mechanical details above laid down, as it is evident that
these details may in many points be modified without departing from the
principle which forms the base of the system; but what I claim is,―
1stly, the peculiar form and arrangement of the bars composing the endless
tables represented in I, 1, Figs. 1, 2, 3, of the annexed Drawing, in which
bars the corrugations or flutings are flanked by elevated ridges or ribs, and 1
thus protected from direct contact in the working of the apparatus.
2dly, the peculiar construction and arrangement of the framings, on and
round which are mounted the endless tables I, I', substantially as above
described and represented in Figs. 4 & 6 of the annexed Drawing.
3dly, the peculiar form of the flutings or corrugations of the tables I, I', as 1
represented in Fig. 5 of the Drawing, and the graduated spacings and
dimensions of these corrugations.
4thly, the general construction and arrangement of the tambours represented
in E, Figs. 1 & 3 of the annexed Drawing.
5thly, the form and arrangement of the long racks, as above described and 2
represented in F, F, F, Figs. 1, 2, 3 of the annexed Drawing.
6thly, the application and arrangement of the reservoirs H, fitted with
endless webs, as above described and represented in Figs. 1 & 3 of the annexed
Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Marc Antoine François Mennons, have 2
bereto set my hand and seal, this Thirty-first day of January, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty.