An Improved Flax Scutching Machine.
Year: 1898

page_text: I, WILLIAM VANCE MARRS, of 130, Elgin Terrace, Limestone Road, Belfast,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a machine for scutching flax which is so constructed
and arranged that no injury is done to the flax whilst being scutched. Further
there is no waste of valuable material for the manufacture of tow.
By this machine the full amount of the flax is obtained as grown upon the
stalk.
"
The machine consists of a suitable frame in which is carried, by preference,
seven pairs of rollers the first pair being plain and serving to prepare the flax for
the other five pairs which are fluted. The rollers are driven at the desired speed
by means of any suitable and well known form of gear. Arranged between cach
pair of rollers is a cleaner or cleaning roller which serves to take off the "showes'
whilst the flax is passing through the fluted rollers. These cleaners can be driven
by means of a cat-gut, cotton, or other band or in any other suitable manner and
they are so arranged that they can be drawn out and renewed or cleaned at any
time. Each cleaner is provided with two or other number of steel blades which
can be easily taken off when worn and renewed.
"
The main body of the 'machine is enclosed within a casing through which a
current of air is caused to pass for the purpose of carrying away all "showes
and dust before the flax passes through the last pair of rollers which arc,. pre-
ferably, plain finishing rollers.
The machine is provided with a self-feeding spread-board and a delivery table.
+37
101
1908
An Improved Flax Scutching Machine.
I, WILLIAM VANCE MARRS, of 130, Elgin Terrace, Limestone Road, Belfast,
Engineer, 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:-
This invention relates to a machine for scutching flax and is so constructed
and arranged that no injury is done to the flax whilst being scutched. Further
there is no waste of valuable material for the manufacture of tow.

page_text: By this machine the full amount of the flax is obtained as grown upon the
stalk.
In order that my said invention may be properly understood I have hereunto
appended an explanatory drawing which illustrates, in side view, the improved
flax scutching machine.
The machine consists of a suitable frame a in which is carried, by preference,
seven pairs of rollers the first and last pairs 6 62, being plain and the other five
pairs 6 fluted. The first pair of rollers serve to prepare the flax for the others.
The rollers are driven at the desired speed from the main driving shaft c by
means of toothed or other gearing d d' and e as shown in dotted lines.
Arranged between each pair of rollers b is a cleaner or cleaning roller f which
serves to take off the "showes " whilst the flax is passing through the fluted
rollers. These cleaners f can be driven by means of a cat-gut, cotton, or other
band g or in any other suitable and well known manner and they are so arranged
(as shown) that they can be drawn out and renewed or cleaned at any time by
unscrewing the nuts h and removing the plates i. Each cleaner is provided with
two or other number of steel blades j which can be easily taken off when worn
and renewed.
The main body of the machine is enclosed within a casing through which a
current of air from a fan or blower is, or may be, caused to pass for the purpose of
carrying away all "showes" and dust before the flax passes through the last pair of
rollers which are, preferably, plain finishing rollers. In order to adjust the
pressure on the rollers spring and screw adjusting mechanism m is provided.
is the air shaft.
At one end the machine is provided with a self feeding spread-board which
consists of a bracket n bolted or otherwise secured to the frame a of the machine
and having fitted thereon an endless band o actuated from the lower roller b¹.
The tension of the band can be regulated by means of the screw adjusting
mechanism fitted to the bracket n.
At the other end of the machine is fitted a delivery table consisting of a
bracket and endless band o¹ driven from the last roller b².
Screw adjusting mechanism p¹ for regulating the tension on the band o¹ is
attached to the bracket n¹.
The number of pairs of rollers can be varied as may be found desirable.
The air blast for blowing off the "showes," or broken straw, can be used or not
as desired.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
consider novel and desire to claim is:
-
A flax scutching machine constructed substantially as hereinbefore described
with reference to the drawing annexed.
Dated this 14th day of Tu1900
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
100, Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.