IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR CLEANING, SOFTENING, AND SEPARATING THE FIBRE OF FLAX, HEMP, RHEA OR CHINA GRASS, AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES, ALSO APPLICABLE TO ROLLING TEA LEAVES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Andrew Charles Guy Thompson, of Chiswick, in the
County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY
OR APPARATUS FOR CLEANING, SOFTENING, AND SEPARATING THE FIBRE OF
FLAX, HEMP, RHEA OR CHINA GRASS, AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES, ALSO
APPLICABLE TO ROLLING TEA LEAVES."
Sealed the 22nd August 1876, and dated the 24th February 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Andrew Charles Guy
Thompson at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th February
3876.
ANDREW CHARLES GUY THOMPSON, of Chiswick, in the County of Middlesex.
IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR CLEANING, SOFTENING, AND
SEPARATING THE FIBRE OF FLAX, HEMP, RHEA OR CHINA GRASS, AND OTHER
FIBROUS SUBSTANCES, ALSO APPLICABLE TO ROLLING TEA LEAVES."
This Invention has for its objects improvements in the construction and arrange-
ment of machinery or apparatus used for the purpose of cleaning, softening, and
separating the fibre of flax, hemp, jute, rhea or China grass, and other analogous
fibrous substances, by which improvements great economy in the time occupied and
in the cost of so treating such fibrous substances, and an increase in the quantity
treated are well as less waste of the material are obtained as compared with
machinery or apparatus as heretofore constructed and used for such purposes.
I take a drum of considerable diameter and arranged so that it can revolve in
horizontal bearings suitably arranged. I make the periphery of this drum of wood,
metal, india-rubber, or other suitable material, preferably having narrow grooves
or flutes formed across its periphery. I cause the drum to revolve continuously
by means of any suitable power, and I fit and adjust upon a sufficient portion of
its periphery one or more plates, frames, or blocks of wood, metal, or other suitable
material, curved to fit the drum, and having their concave sides (which may, if
desired, be lined with india-rubber or other sufficiently soft substance) nearly in
contact with the periphery of the drum. The concave plates described are formed
of a series of narrow transverse strips or battens of wood, metal, or other suitable
material, each such strip or batten being separately adjustable by means of springs,
weights, or screws, so that it may be pressed with the requisite force towards the
surface of the drum. I prefer to make the inner or concave surface of the strips
[Price 8d1

page_text: of which the plates are composed with grooves or flutes, parallel or nearly so with
the grooves or flutes already described on the periphery of the drum.
Instead of the concave plates being concentric with the periphery of the drum,
a greater space may be left between them at one end of their length than at the
other. The flax, hemp, or other fibrous substance to be operated upon (having a
been first treated in the usual way to extract the woody stem) is fed in between
the periphery of the drum and the upper edge of the concave plates or frames con-
taining the transverse strips or battens described, the material being supplied in a
position parallel to the axis of the drum, so that in its passage between the drum
and the plates its fibres are compressed and rolled over between them and against
each other, and when delivered are cleaned and separated and the outer epidermis
removed. The material may be fed between the periphery of the drum and
the concave plates by hand, or by endless travelling belts, or in any other con-
venient way.
Instead of the concave frames being fixed they may be made to vibrate backward
and forward upon the same centres as carry the drum; or the drum itself may be
made to reciprocate backward and forward whilst making its revolutions.
Sometimes I use the arrangement above described, and in addition I arrange
underneath or adjoining it another apparatus consisting of a drum and concave
.frames similarly constructed, but having its drum revolving in the opposite direction,
so that the fibrous substance having passed between the first drum and concave
plates then enters between the second drum and concave plates, where its fibres are
compressed and rolled over in the opposite direction. Additional drums and con-
cave plates, similarly constructed, may be added if desired.
Instead of the arrangement of apparatus described I sometimes use two endless
bands or belts, of suitable width and length, each stretched over two rollers and
arranged so that the surfaces of the two belts between the rollers are in contact
with each other, or nearly so, and can be kept in the desired position by friction
rollers, or surfaces of wood, or other suitable material arranged behind them. The
outer surfaces of the endless belts may have narrow transverse strips or battens
fixed across them, and these strips may have grooves or flutes formed on their
surfaces as in the arrangement first described.
The bearings of the rollers may be made adjustable so that the endless bands
may be kept stretched and at the desired distance apart, and I make the rollers
revolve by hand or any convenient power, but at different velocities, so that though
the bands travel in the same direction, one moves more quickly than the other.
The fibrous material is fed between them by hand or other means, as in the
arrangement first described, in a position across the bands and parallel with the
axes of the rollers, and in its passage its fibres are compressed, rolled, separated, and
cleaned, as in the arrangement first described.
In a modified form of this arrangement I use only one endless band stretched
over the adjustable rollers, and having one of its surfaces pressed into contact with
the periphery of a drum (or of a segment of a drum) the axis of which is parallel
to those of the rollers. This drum may be fixed or it may be made to revolve at
a speed greater or less than that of the endless band, and the fibrous material is
fed between it and the latter in a position across the band and parallel with the
axes of the rollers, and in its passage between the drum and the endless band the
fibres are compressed, cleaned, and separated, as in the other arrangements described.
The endless band may have transverse grooves, or fluted strips, or battens, attached
to its surface, as already described, and the surface of the drum or segment of a
drum may be similarly grooved or fluted.
The several forms of apparatus described may be used for the purpose of rolling
tea leaves instead of for treating fibrous material.
Another form of arrangement which I sometimes use consists of a drum or
cylinder of considerable diameter revolving in horizontal bearings, and having its
periphery preferably fluted with transverse grooves or flutings, and formed of wood,
metal, india-rubber, or other suitable material. Round a part of the periphery of

page_text: this drum are fixed one or more adjustable concave frames, the inner surface of
which is nearly in contact with the drum and preferably adjusted so that the space
between the frame and the drum is greater at one end than at the other and can
be regulated as desired. The inner surface of the concave frame may have trans-
verse grooves or flutings, and may be formed of wood, metal, or other suitable
material, and the inner surface of the concave frame consists preferably of a series of
narrow transverse strips or battens, each adjustable and pressed towards the drum
by springs, weights, or screws. The drum is made to revolve at a suitable speed,
and the tea leaves to be rolled (either loose or in bags) are fed between the drum
and the concave frame and transverse strips. If flax, hemp, jute, or other fibrous
substance is to be treated it is similarly fed into the apparatus, the pieces being
supplied in a position parallel with the axis of the drum.
In order that the squeezing and rolling action may be made effective, I make the
drum revolve upon its axis by means of a crank pin working in a straight or curved
radial slot formed in one of the ends of the drum. This crank pin is driven by a
crank of a stroke which may be made adjustable, the crank pin being arranged at
the inner end of a shaft which revolves (parallel to the axis of the drum) in bearings
formed upon and near the circumference of a worm wheel of large diameter which
revolves upon the axis of the drum. Upon the shaft which carries the crank, as
described, is fixed a toothed wheel, gearing into another toothed wheel, which also
revolves upon the axis of the drum. This latter toothed wheel is made to revolve
by hand or other suitable power, preferably by means of a driving pulley attached
to it, and if it is thus set in motion it causes the crank to revolve and the druin to
make simply a series of reciprocating movements backward and forward. Con-
nected to the driving pulley or spur wheel, however, are a set of conical band
pulleys actuating by means of corresponding pulleys in the usual way a transverse
shaft driving (with the intervention of bevilled toothed wheels) an endless screw
which gears into the worm wheel, and thus causes the latter to make a slow,
continuous, forward revolution, carrying with it the crank shaft and crank through
which the drum is also caused to make a corresponding forward revolution inde-
pendently of the reciprocating backward and forward motion first described.
The arrangement of crank and spur wheel described may be applied to both ends
of the drum instead of to one end only.
"
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Andrew Charles Guy Thompson in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 24th August 1876.
ANDREW CHARLES GUY THOMPSON, of Chiswick, in the County of Middlesex.
IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR CLEANING, SOFTENING, AND
SEPARATING THE FIBRE OF FLAX, HEMP, RHEA OR CHINA GRASS, AND OTHER
FIBROUS SUBSTANCES, ALSO APPLICABLE TO ROLLING TEA LEAVES."
My Invention has for its objects improvements in the construction and arrange-
ment of machinery or apparatus used especially for the purpose of cleaning,
softening, and separating the fibre of flax, hemp, jute, rhea or China grass, and
other analogous fibrous substances, by which improvements great economy in the
time occupied and in the cost of so treating such fibrous substances and an
increase in the quantity treated are obtained, accompanied with less waste of the
material as compared with machinery or apparatus as heretofore constructed and
used for such purposes.
In order to put my Invention in operation I take a drum of considerable
diameter, revolving in horizontal bearings suitably arranged. I make the periphery
of this drum of wood, metal, india-rubber, or other suitable material, and across

page_text: the periphery I prefer to make or form narrow grooves. or flutes. The druin
arranged as described is caused to revolve continuously by hand or other suitable
power at a speed which may be varied according to the character of the material
operated upon, and round a part of its periphery I fit and adjust one or more plates,
frames, or blocks of wood, metal, or other suitable material, curved to fit the drum,
and having their concave sides near its periphery but not in contact with it.. The
concave or inner sides of the frames may be lined with india-rubber or other soft
material, or their inner' surfaces may be formed of a number of transverse strips
or battens of wood, metal, or other suitable material, and each of these strips or
battens may be made separately adjustable, so that it may be pressed with the
requisite force towards the periphery of the drum by means of springs, weights,
screws, or other equivalent means. I prefer to make the inner or concave surface
of the frames, or of the transverse strips or battens of which they are composed, as
described, with a series of narrow grooves or flutes parallel or nearly so with the
grooves or flutes upon the periphery of the drum.
I do not make the concave frames described concentric with the drum, but I
make the space between them and the drum greater at one end of the distance
which they occupy round the periphery of the latter than at the other. The flax,
hemp, or other substance to be treated (having been first treated in the usual well
understood way to extract the woody stem) is fed in between the periphery of the
drum and the upper edge of the concave frames, the material being supplied with
its fibres in a position parallel to the axis of the drum, so that in its passage
betweeen the latter and the concave frame or transverse fluted battens its fibres
are compressed and rolled over between them and against each other, and they are
thus delivered clean and separated and their outer epidermis removed. The fibrous
material may be fed between the periphery of the drum and the concave plates
or frames, or transverse battens, either by hand, or by endless travelling belts, or
in any other convenient way.
Instead of the concave frames as described being fixed, they may be made to
vibrate backward and forward for a sufficient distance round the same centre as
that of the drum, this vibration being effected by cranks, excentrics, or cams
actuated by the power which drives the machine and operating upon levers or
projections connected with the drum, or the drum itself may by similar means be
made to reciprocate backward and forward round its centre during its revolution.
I sometimes use the apparatus constructed and arranged as above described, but
in addition I arrange underneath or adjoining it another apparatus consisting of
a drum and concave frames similarly constructed, but having its drum revolving
in the opposite direction, so that the material operated upon having passed between
the first drum and its surrounding concave plates, as already described, then enters
between the second drum and its concave plates, where its fibres are compressed
and rolled over in the opposite direction. Additional drums and concave plates
similarly constructed may be added, if desired.
In the accompanying Drawings in Sheet I., Figure 1 is in illustration of this
part of my Invention. a is a drum revolving in bearings in the frame b, and having
its periphery fluted or grooved; c is a concave frame fitting round it, and having
its inner surface also provided with grooves or flutings which are shewn growing
narrower and finer at its lower end; d is a similar drum arranged below the
drum a, and provided with a concave frame e similar to the frame c. The drums
are coupled together by toothed wheels (shewn by the dotted lines f) so that they
revolve in opposite directions.
Instead of the apparatus constructed and arranged as and for the purposes
described, I sometimes use two endless belts or bands of suitable length and width,
each stretched over two rollers or pullies, and arranged so that the surface of the
belts between the stretching rollers are in contact with each other, or nearly so,
and can be kept in the desired position by means of friction rollers or surfaces of
wood or other suitable material arranged behind them. The outer surfaces of the
belts (which are opposed to each other) may have narrow strips or battens fixed

page_text: across them, and these strips or battens may have grooves or flutes formed on their
surfaces as in the arrangement first described.
The bearings of the stretching rollers may be made adjustable, so that the endless
bands are kept stretched and at the desired distance apart, and I make the rollers
revolve by hand or other convenient power, but I connect them together so that
though the bands travel in the same direction one moves more quickly than the
other. The material to be treated is fed between them by hand or other means, as
in the arrangement first described, in a position across the bands and parallel with
the axes of the rollers, and in its passage the fibres are compressed, rolled, separated,
and cleaned, as in the arrangement first described.
In the accompanying Drawings in Sheet I., Figure 2 is in illustration of this
part of my Invention. , a, are endless belts stretched round the pullies b, c, d, e,
and provided with transverse grooved strips or battens. The pullies b, .d, are
coupled together by toothed wheels (shewn by the dotted lines f, f) of unequal size,
so that the belts a, a, travel at different speeds. The material is fed in between
the belts at g and is discharged at h.
In a modified form of this arrangement I use only one endless band or belt
stretched over adjustable rollers or pullies, and having one of its surfaces pressed
into contact with the periphery of a drumm (or of a segment of a drum), the axis of
which is parallel with those of the rollers. This drum may be fixed, or it may be
made to revolve at either a greater or less speed than that of the endless band, and
the fibrous material is fed between it and the latter in a position across the band
and parallel with the axes of the rollers, and in its passage between the drum and
the endless band the fibres are compressed, cleaned, and separated as in the other
arrangements described. The endless band may have transverse grooves, or fluted
strips, or battens attached to its surface as already described, and the surface of the
drum or segment of a drum may be similarly grooved or fluted.
The several forms of apparatus described may be used for the purpose of rolling
tea leaves instead of for treating fibrous material.
Another form of my Invention which I sometimes employ consists of a drum.
or cylinder of considerable diameter, revolving in horizontal bearings, and having
preferably its periphery fluted with transverse grooves or flutings and formed of
wood, metal, india-rubber, or other suitable material, as in the arrangement first
described. Round a part of the periphery of this drum I fix one or more concave
frames, similar to those in the arrangement first described, their inner surface being
nearly in contact with the drum, but preferably adjustable so that the space
between the frame and the drum is greater at one end than at the other and can
be regulated as desired. The inner surface of the concave frame may have trans-
verse grooves or flutings (which may become smaller and finer as they approach
the end of the frame where the material is discharged) and may be formed of wood,
metal, india-rubber, or other suitable material. and I prefer to form it of a series
of narrow transverse strips or battens, each being adjustable and pressed toward
The drum is
the drum by springs, weights, screws, or other equivalent means.
made to revolve at a suitable speed, and if tea leaves are the material to be treated
they are placed (either loose or in bags) in the space between the drum and the
concave frame with its transverse fluted battens. If flax, hemp, jute, or other
fibrous material is to be treated, it is similarly fed into the apparatus in a position
parallel with the axis of the drum.
So far, this form of apparatus is very similar to the form of apparatus first described
and shewn in the Drawing; but in order that the squeezing and rolling action may
be made more effective, I cause the drum to revolve upon its axis by means of
a crank pin working in a straight or curved radial slot or groove formed in one of
the ends of the drum. This crank pin is fixed upon a crank of a length of stroke
which if desired may be made adjustable, and the crank is fixed upon the inner
end of a shaft which revolves (parallel to the axis of the drum) in bearings formed
upon and near the circumference of a worm wheel of large diameter which revolves
upon the same axis as the drum. Upon the shaft which carries the crank, as

page_text: described, is fixed a toothed wheel gearing into another corresponding toothed
wheel which also revolves upon the same axis as the drum. The toothed wheel
last described is caused to revolve by hand or other suitable power, preferably by
means of a driving pulley attached to it, and when it is thus set in notion it
causes the crank to revolve and the drum to make simply a series of reciprocating
movements backward and forward upon its axis. Connected to the driving pulley
or toothed wheel, however, is a conical set of band or belt pullies actuating by
means of a corresponding conical set of pullies an independent transverse driving
shaft which drives (with the intervention of bevilled toothed wheels) an endless
screw gearing into the worm wheel already described, and thus causes the latter to
make a slow continuous forward revolution, carrying with it the crank shaft and
crank, by means of which the drum is also caused to make a corresponding slow
forward revolution independently of the reciprocating circular movement first
described.
The arrangement of crank and wheels described may be applied to both ends of
the drum instead of to one end only.
In the accompanying Drawings Sheet II. is in illustration of this part of my In-
vention; Figure 3 is a side view; and Figure 4 an end view of the machine. a is
the drum shewn (in dotted lines) with its periphery grooved transversely; bis the
concave frame adjustable by the bolts c, c, c, and having its inner surface formed
with transverse grooves, as shewn in dotted lines at, d, d, d, Figure 1. The
separate strips or battens of which the grooved surface is formed may be pressed
down by springs, as shewn at e, e', Figure 1. The material operated upon is fed in
at (where feeding rollers or other feeding apparatus may be provided) and it is
discharged at g. The drum a revolves upon the axis h, and is driven by the crank
pin i fixed upon the crank k, and working in a slot in the end of the drum a.
The crank is driven by the shaft m, which revolves in bearings formed in the
worm wheel n which revolves upon the axis h. At the outer end of the shaft m
is fixed the spur wheel o, driven by a corresponding spur wheel p, which also
revolves upon the axis and is itself driven by the driving pulley 7, which also
drives at the desired speed by means of the cone pullies 8, t, and the bevilled
wheels u, v, the endless screw w gearing into the worm wheel w.
Sometimes I make part of the concave frame b near the opening f moveable, and
turning upon hinges or capable of rising and falling, and I connect it by means
of wheels and excentrics or cams, and rods or levers, with the driving shaft of the
machine in such manner that it rises and falls (or opens and shuts) at regular
intervals. And I regulate these movements so that they correspond with the reci-
procating backward and forward movement of the drum already described, in such
manner that when the periphery of the drum is advancing forward the frame is
opened and the material is fed in, and when the drum is receding the frame is
closed and the material is prevented from receding or escaping.
In the forms of apparatus described I sometimes use an endless flexible band of
the same width as the drum, and passing round the latter between it and the
concave frame and round another drum suitably arranged so as to keep the band
stretched by means of the weights or springs. The flexibility of the band allows
the grooves or flutes upon the drum to operate upon the tea leaves or other
material; but after the latter have been discharged the band is stretched sufficiently
to be withdrawn from and to clear the grooves.
Where my improved apparatus is to be used for the purpose of treating such
fibrous substances as the husks of cocoa nuts, I prefer to make both the periphery
of the drum and the inner surface of the concave frame, or transverse strips or
battens, concave instead of straight in front view. Or, in some cases, I make the
drum of greater diameter at one end than at the other, the concave frame being
suitably arranged to correspond with it. This arrangement is especially applicable
to material having very long fibres.
Having now described my Invention and the manner in which it is to be per-
formed, I claim,―

page_text: The general construction and arrangement of apparatus, substantially as and for
the purposes described and shewn in the Drawings.
Also the method of giving a reciprocating circular movement to the drum of such
apparatus simultaneously with a slow continuous forward circular forward move-
ment, substantially as described and shewn in the Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Andrew Charles Guy Thompson, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-second day of August, in the year of our.
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
ANDREW CHARLES GUY THOMPSON. (L.S.)
ANDREW CHARLES GUY THOMPSON. (L.S.)