IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR TREATING FIBROUS PLANTS OR SUBSTANCES
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Clark Fay, of Boston, County of Suffolk,
and State of Massachusetts, United States of America, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR TREATING FIBROUS
PLANTS OR SUBSTANCES."-A communication from William Shedd,
residing in Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America.
Sealed the 16th May 1873, and dated the 25th March 1873.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Clark Fay at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and
Declaration, on the 25th March 1873, pursuant to the 9th
Section of the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
CLARK FAY, of Boston, County of Suffolk, and State of Massachusetts,
United States of America, send greeting.
WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MACHINERY FOR TREATING FIBROUS PLANTS OR SUBSTANCES," and have
petitioned Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, to grant
unto me, my executors, administrators, and assigns, Her Royal Letters
Patent for the same, and have made solemn Declaration that the same

page_text: has been communicated to me by William Shedd, resident at Boston,
Massachusetts, United States of America.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Clark Fay, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention to. be as follows, reference
being had to the Drawings accompanying this explanation, and in which
the first portion of the Invention is shown in Figure 1 a plan, while
Figure 2 is a side elevation; Figure 3 a front end elevation; Figure 4
a vertical and longitudinal section; and Figure 5 a vertical and trans-
verse section of a machine embodying these improvements. Figure 6
represents a form of scrapers.
The first portion of these improvements consist,―
First. In the introduction into such machines of a device for effecting
a reversed or two-way motion of the feeding mechanism which drags the
leaf between the scrapers in order the more thoroughly to detach its
fibres and to clean such leaf entirely to its end, since in machinery
heretofore devised for this purpose the butt of the leaf was not utilized
for the reason that a portion of it must be seized by the feeding rollers
in order to drag its remainder between the scrapers.
And Secondly. The first portion of these improvements consist in the
employment of two sets of scrapers, and their application in such manner
that one or the other set may be brought into action at the proper time
according to which set of rollers is at work.
And Thirdly. The first portion of these improvements consist in the
employment of peculiarly formed scrapers for operating upon certain
species of leaves that contain a fine soft fibre.
The organization of this machine is as follows:-A represents the
frame proper of the machine, consisting of two long upright side
standards a, a, united at each end by horizontal shelves or tables b, b.
At one end of this frame and at the upper part thereof is mounted two
sets of horizontal rollers c, c', and d, d', the two first being fluted
rollers which mesh into one another, and the others plain cylinders,
preferably covered with rubber, the outer extremity of each lower roll
being provided with a spur geer e or e¹ fixed to it. Below the two sets
of rollers above named and revolving in suitable bearings formed in
opposite sides of the frame A is disposed a horizontal transverse driving
shaft B, upon each end of which is affixed a pinion for f¹. These pinions
taking into the geers e, e¹, before named. Intermediate between the

page_text: standards a, a, of the machine frame are mounted upon the driving
shaft B two pulleys C, C¹, which travel with the shaft, these two
pulleys C, C¹, being belted with two pulleys D, D¹, mounted loosely
upon a second horizontal shaft E, which is disposed at the opposite end
of the machine frame and revolves in bearings placed thereat, one of the
belts, viz., g, being a plain belt while the other belt his crossed, by
which means the two pulleys D, D', travel in opposite directions upon
their shaft. To each end of the shaft E is affixed a toothed pinion i or j,
while above the shaft E is mounted in the frame A two sets of draft
rollers k, k, and I, 1. The arrangement of these last-named rollers and
the shaft E, pulleys D, D, and pinions i, j, being substantially the same
as those at the opposite end of the machine which has been herein-before
referred to, the last-named rolls k, k¹, and 2, 1, being by preference
covered with or composed of rubber, and being draft rollers to drag
along the fibre as herein-after stated, and the lower ones being provided
with gears m or m¹ to mesh into the adjacent pinion i or j.
-
At each outer end of the machine frame is disposed as before stated a
bench or table which serves to support the leaf as it is fed into the
machine and the cleaned fibre as it emerges from the machine, and
also is disposed alongside of each inner roll d' and k¹ a shelf m
or m', which also serves to support the fibre in its passage through
the machine. The plate or shelf m may or should be placed so
near the roll d as to scrape from off its periphery any glutinous or
gummy matter which might otherwise adhere thereto and accumulate
about it, and the plate m¹ may serve a like office for the roll ".
Furthermore between each two lower rolls c, d, and ½³, l¹, is disposed a
leaf or shelf n or n¹, the purpose of which is similar to that of the
shelf m or m', that is to say, to support the fibre as it passes along, and
when desirable or necessary to aid in scraping the surfaces of the rolls!
Two sets of scrapers o, o', are employed in this instance, one in advance
of the rollers k and k¹, and the other in rear of the rollers and l, and
each set consists of two upright plates p, p², or p², p³, one, viz., p³, of the
lower, fixed immovably to the machine, and the other p movable in a
vertical direction toward or away from the lower.
9 represents a rock
shaft mounted in opposite sides of the machine frame and over the
rollers k, l, while upon each of the said shaft is affixed a lever r or r¹,
two adjacent ends of each lever being pivoted to the movable scraper
next adjacent to it.
.
the

page_text: By means of the lever ¹ one or the other of the movable scrapers may
be depressed upon its companion and the opposite one elevated above its
companion, since only one pair of scrapers is in operation at a time.
The ends of these scrapers play in vertical grooves t, t, formed in
opposite sides of the machine frame in which they fit with sufficient
closeness to prevent accumulation of gummy, viscid, or glutinous matter,
which may exude from the pith of the plant as the fibres are scraped
from it. The scrapers may be straight, curved, irregular, or zig-zag in
their length, but preferably to make them of the form shown in the
Drawings for the reason that the bearing surface is longer than that of
a straight one, while their scraping edge being placed at an angle to the
line of draft of the fibre as it is drawn between them cleans the fibre
much more effectually and easily than would be the case were the said
cutting edge and line of draft at right angles to each other.
8
Between the pulleys D, D¹, is mounted upon the shaft E, a suitable :
clutch mechanism & which while sliding freely upon the shaft revolves
with it, and this clutch mechanism is connected with a suitable upright
hand lever as shown in Figure 5 of the Drawings. By means of the
lever and its connections the clutch is thrown into engagement with
one or the other of the pulleys D, D', and these pulleys as before stated:
run in opposite directions and each actuates one pair of rollers.
Under the arrangement herein shown if the operator pulls the lever
toward him to its greatest extent, the clutch s is thrown into engage-
ment with the pulley D¹ which drives the rollers k, k³, and the latter not
in motion the pulleys 1, 1, in the meantime remaining idle; while if the
lever is pushed inward from the operator to its limit, the clutch is
engaged with the pulley D and the rollers 1, l, put in rotation, the
rollers k, k¹, remaining stationary. Placed at a point intermediate
between the two pulleys the clutch is disengaged from both and they
travel loosely about the shaft.
H in the Drawings represents a long trough placed between the side
standards of the machine frame at the upper part thereof, and filling
the transverse space between them; this trough joining at each end
with the shelves m, m³, herein-before named, and serving to contain
water in which to immerse the broken or crushed leaves before they are
subjected to the action of the scrapers, as it has been found desirable to
treat some species of plants in this manner.

page_text: The agave or amaryllis family contains several varieties, the agave
americana, agave sisilana, agave virginica, etc.; and it is the agave
in some one or more of its varieties that this machine is intended to
utilize, since the leaves of these plants contain a large amount of long,
straight, strong fibres, arranged in regular parallel masses embedded in
and surrounded by a crispy pith which binds them together.
In operating with the above machine the clutch is engaged with the
pulley and the leaf is introduced, butt first between the initial or
macerating rolls c, d, which rupture or crush the vesicles of the leaf
and convert the latter into a broken pulpy mass, the fibres themselves
being uninjured and intact. The leaf in this condition passes over the
shelf or scraper n and enters between the press rolls d, d³, which lay
hold of and feed forward the macerated leaf, the passage of such leaf
between these rolls having the effect of removing its juice or liquid or
semi-liquid portions, the liquid thus exuding falling into a suitable tank
placed below the rolls, from which it may be led to any desirable
locality.
With some leaves the above treatment is all that is necessary to
render them fit for the action of the scrapers, but others being treated
render an additional pair of rollers desirable in order to condense or
solidify the pith of the leaf preparatory to its being acted upon by the
scrapers. These rolls have not, however, been shown in the Drawing
as their use is not arbitrary, but is simply a matter of degree of pressure
which may be exerted upon a leaf and to which this Invention is in no
degree limited.
As more or less glutinous or gummy matter may adhere to the
periphery of one or both rolls d, d, the shelf or plate n is so formed and
placed as to constitute a support for the leaf as it passes from one set
of rolls to the other, and as a scraper to clean the periphery of the lower
roll d³, and usually is placed a second bar in such a position that it shall
serve a like purpose for the upper roll. Emerging from the rolls d, d',
the leaf with its crushed but ropy and gummy envelope passes through
the water contained in the tank, provided this water be used, or other-
wise over its bottom and enters between the scrapers p, p¹, and is seized
by the draft rollers k³, k¹, from which it passes between and is again
seized by the last pair of rollers 1, 1. The conjoint action of the
duplicate set of rollers drags the leaf along, and at the same time by

page_text: -
means of the lever or the scraper bar p is depressed and the leaf
caught between it and its fellow p³, the continued passage of the leaf
between the scrapers having the effect of stripping or cleaning the pulp
from about the fibres and laying bare the latter, which remain disposed
in a uniform parallel mass. This last named action of the machine
operates upon nearly the entire length of the leaf but a portion of it
which must of necessity be seized by the rollers in order to obtain a hold
upon the leaf, and this portion remains unacted upon. In order to clean
this portion of the leaf and to repeat the scraping process over the entire
leaf without reintroducing it to the machine the reversing mechanism
herein shown is intended. For instance the leaf is introduced butt first,
between the crushing rollers as stated, and seized by the draft rollers
when the first movable scraper p is lowered toward its fellow p¹, and the
leaf drawn between them, the pith or pulp being removed from the
fibres in the act and the latter being deposited in regular parallel order.
As the leaf is advanced by the rollers k, k¹, it is seized by the rollers 1, 1ª,
and drawn forward until its last end has been forced between the
scrapers p. p². The reversing mechanism is now changed and the
rollers k, k¹, and I, I, driven in the opposite direction, the scraper p being
elevated and the scraper p' depressed towards its fellow p³, the action of
the rollers producing a return or reverse movement of the leaf which
draws its butt between the scrapers and cleans or lays bare the fibres in
such butt. The mechanism is again reversed and the leaf or the fibres
thereof with such pulp as may adhere to them drawn between the first
named scrapers, the cleaned fibres being finally ejected from the machine.
This reversing of the motion of the machine may be repeated several
times if found necessary, as it is often the case that a leaf cannot be
thoroughly. treated by passing once between the scrapers.
The water contained in the tank especially if of a high temperature
aids in the softening of the gummy or glutinous matter contained in the
pulp of the leaf, and renders the detaching of the fibres an easy task in
many cases.
Figure 6 of the Drawings represents a form of scrapers which are to be
employed in this machine when treating certain leaves which are very
narrow, and which possess a thick and tough outer cuticle or envelope. In
this case double scrapers are employed, one of which or that which consti-
tutes the upper one in the machine is shown as composed of a flat plate or
base to extend across the machine, and a corrugated or zig-zag plate c³

page_text: to overlap the former, and project sufficiently far below it as to seize and
strip from the leaf the skin which envelopes it, while the plate 6ª serves
the purpose of cleaning the fibres of the leaf. Between each corrugation
or swell of the plate c³, or at certain distances apart throughout the
length of such plate, is disposed a series of bars d³, d², etc., the inter-
vening distance being sufficient to receive a narrow leaf, and to prevent
a general interference of a number of leaves which may be passing
through the machine at the same time. The duplicate of a scraper thus
formed is to be deposited below it in order to obtain a pair.
The second portion of these improvements consist in the combination
of a concave bed and (revolving above it) a series of knives or scrapers
applied to a suitable cutter head or cylinder, the surface of the bcd
being composed of a soft or semi-elastic material in order that the fibres
may not suffer injury in the beating or scraping process which they
undergo; while in addition to this combination of concave bed and
revolving knife studded cylinder, is employed, when necessary or
desirable, a pair of fluted, roughened, or elastic rollers for holding back
the leaf while the rotation of the knives scrape the pulp from. about the
fibres, and lay bare the latter in good order for the next treatment which
they undergo. The revolutions of the series of knives acting upon the
leaf drag the latter along without other assistance, and in fact advance it
so fast that in most instances a hold back of some nature is required in
order to retain the leaf within the machine a sufficient length of time to
undergo effective treatment.
The Drawings embracing the second portion of this Invention repre-
sent in Figure 1' a plan; in Figure 2¹ a side elevation; in Figure 3' an
end view; and in Figure 4' a vertical and longitudinal section of this
machine. This, the second portion of these improvements, represent in
the Drawings at A' the frame of this machine composed of two upper
horizontal rails a, a, united by a platform 6, the three constituting a
trough c, the remainder of the machine frame consisting of four
legs d', d³, d³, d*, united by cross ties or rails e³, e*, es, eª. The driving
shaft of the machine is shown at B and is horizontal and supported in
boxes applied to the side rails e*, the outer extremity of one end of said
shaft protruding beyond the rail and carrying a spur geer C.
the Drawing represent two horizontal, fluted, roughened,
rollers placed one over the other and revolving in contact, the
these rollers being supported in suitable boxes applied to
D', D', in
or elastic
shafts of
the side

page_text: rails a', a', of the machine frame, the upper roller D' being above the
platform b*, while its fellow roller D³ is below such platform. E repre-
sents a horizontal cylinder; the journals f*, f*, of whose shaft revolves in
boxes affixed to the upper part of the rails a', a', before named, the
periphery of the cylinder being armed with thin steel blades or
knives g, g*, &c., arranged about it as shown; while below the cylinder,
and spauning the rails a, a, is disposed a horizontal beam or bed F*,
whose upper concave surface is a segment of the circle described by the
revolving knives g*, such surface being concentric with the cylinder and
so disposed in relation to the knives that the outer edges of the latter
impinge against it or revolve closely to it, the said surface being of a
soft or elastic nature in order that the fibres passing between it and the
knives may not be abraded and flattened. The beam F' may be fixed
rigidly between the rails a, a, or it may be hinged to a bar G' disposed
in front of it, and like it spanning the rails a', at, in order that it may be
turned down away from contact with the knives 9' should occasion
require, and it should be provided with a suitable spring * to elevate it
into its proper position. The cylinder E is parallel to the roller D', and
substantially in the same horizontal plane. H' in the Drawing repre-
sents a second cylinder placed below the platform 6 and slightly in
advance of the cylinder E*, and like it, armed with a series of radial or
tangential knives *, *, &c., and mounted between the rails a', a*. This
second cylinder like the first is combined with a concave beam I*, placed
over it and alongside of the cylinder E*, the said cylinder H* and beam I'
being counterparts in construction of the two first named. J', Jo, denote
two rollers placed parallel to the cylinder E' and H*, and in the same
horizontal plane with them and the fluted rollers D', D³, these
rollers J, Jo, serving to seize and conduct the mass of fibres as it
emerges from between the said cylinders E' and H. The employment
of these latter rollers as well as the first however is not compulsory, as
they may be omitted for the reason that the strong current of air
generated by the rapid revolution of the cylinders E' and H' would suffice
in many instances to force the leaf along. Nevertheless as before stated
the fluted rollers D', D', are useful adjuncts, as revolving comparatively
slowly they hold back the leaf and retard its progress sufficiently to
permit the knives to act effectively upon it.
TT
1
11 DS

page_text: geer K, while upon the corresponding or front extremity of the shaft of
the cylinder H* is mounted a pinion L*; upon the front of the shaft of
the upper roller J* is mounted a spur geer M*; and upon the opposite
or rear extremity of the same shaft is mounted a pinion N* which meshes
into a second pinion O' fixed to the adjacent end of the shaft of the
lower roller J³. Upon the rear extremity of the shaft of the cylinder H*
is mounted a pinion P' which engages with a pinion R* mounted upon
the adjacent end of the shaft of the cylinder E. The geer C* which is
mounted upon the driving shaft B* revolves in the direction of the arrow
thereupon, and drives the geer K* and roller D' as well as the pinion L*
and cylinder H*, while the pinion L' drives the geer M* and roller J*.
The pinion N* being driven by the roller J* drives the pinion O* and
lower roller J³ while the pinion P' driven by the cylinder H* drives in
its turn the pinion R* and the upper cylinder E. The rollers D' and J*
and the cylinder E* all revolve in a uniform direction as indicated by
their arrows, while the rollers D³ and J' and cylinder H* revolve in a
uniform but opposite direction as shown also by their arrows.
rollers D', D', and J', J', if they are employed, should be
same rate of speed, while the cylinders E' and H* should be driven at a
much greater, but not necessarily the same rate of speed. Upon the lower
front corner of the beam I' is affixed a flexible flap or lip j* which inter-
cepts the path traveled by the knives g*, and serves to prevent the fibres •
from being carried around by the current of air induced by the revo-
lution of such knives; while between the cylinder H* and roller,
and parallel thereto, is interposed a bar or deflector which spans the
rails a', a.
•
The
driven at the
The action of the machine is as follows:-If the rollers D', D³, are
employed the leaf to be treated is inserted between them and advanced
by them slowly to the action of the knives of the cylinder E, and the
action of the rollers D', D³, may be such as to mangle and soften the
pulp of the leaf or not, according to circumstances, but it will not in
any instance probably be necessary; and the main purpose of the rollers
is to exert a hold upon the leaf and feed it to the cylinders E' and H*,
or to others if more are employed. As the leaf proceeds and ap-
proaches the cylinder E' the strong blast of air caused by the knives of
the latter seizes and impels forward the leaf, and drags it between such
revolving knife and the concave bed F", the effect of which is to partially
or entirely remove the pulp from about the fibres by a combined
I

page_text: .
beating and scraping, action, the fibres passing from the cylinder toward
and being seized by the blast induced by the rotation of the cylinder H*,
the action of the latter cylinder in conjunction with the concave bed I*
serving to completely remove from the mass of fibres any pulpy, glutin-
ous, or gummy matter which the first cylinder did not remove, and
deposit upon the platform 6' the mass of fibres in a straight parallel
state and in a clean condition.
-
The knives or blades g or may be disposed obliquely or spirally
about the periphery of their cylinders should this be found desirable,
and the sizes of the various geers and pinions herein named may be 1
changed according to the various speeds desired, or may be omitted
altogether, and belts and pulloys wholly or in part substituted.
*
Although two armed cylinders E' and H are shown only one may be
found necessary, or more than two may be desirable, and the number or
disposition of the same is not confined as they may be varied to suit 1
circumstances or convenience. So with regard to the fluted rollers D*, D³,
some other device may be substituted for them which will exert a
certain drag upon the leaf, since this is the principle office performed by
them, which becomes necessary from the fact that the cylinders E* and
H* are driven at a very high rate of speed in order to obtain the best 2
results.
Concerning the character of the concave beds F' and I', they should
be of a comparatively soft material, in order as before stated not to
injure the fibres. In the machine now in use pine wood has been
employed. India-rubber, either alone or in combination with some other 2
substance, may be employed to advantage.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Clark Fay, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of Febuary 1873.
WILLIAM- CLARK FAY. (L.S.)