Improvements in Machines for Extracting Fibre from Fibrous Plants.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Jan., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 1st Nov., 1893-Accepted, 25th Nov., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Extracting Fibre from Fibrous
Plants.
I, JOHN JACOB WEICHER, Engineer, residing at No. 579 Macon Street,
Brooklyn, Kings County, New York, United States of America, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
A machine embodying the invention is of that kind which embraces generally a
revoluble drum provided with a series of peripheral beaters or scrapers a stationary
support or bar located near the path of the beaters or scrapers, and upon which the
fibrous leaves or stems rest while they are being acted upon by the beaters or
scrapers, an endless belt forming a movable or travelling bed or table to support
the leaves or stems while the same are being carried into position to be acted upon
by the beaters or scrapers, and clamping devices on the belt to hold the ends of
the leaves or stems while the latter are being acted upon by the said beaters. or
scrapers.
One feature of the invention relates to the devices on the travelling table for
holding or clamping the ends of the leaves or stems, and for this purpose a machine
embodying the invention embraces in connection with the travelling table having
transverse clamping bars or slats thereon, endless chain belts longer than the table
and arranged parallel therewith, said belts being moved at a uniform speed with
and in the same direction as the table, transverse clamping bars or slats attached
to said belts at distances apart corresponding with those of the table, and located
opposite the latter, so that each pair of opposing slats will form a clamp into which
the ends of the leaves or stems may be inserted, and longitudinally arranged
parallel guides located in position to engage the clamping bars as the latter travel
toward and from the beaters in such manner as to hold the bars of each pair firmly
in contact with each other. As usually arranged the guides which engage or act.
upon the clamp bars attached to the table will be formed by the upper and lower
edges of single bars which are located between the oppositely travelling parts of
the flexible endless table, while the guides which act upon the clamp bars attached
to the endless belt will be formed by separate bars, which I term "presser-bars,"
and which are located above and below the said chain belts.
As a further improvement, I make the said guides which engage and hold
together the opposing pairs of clamping bars, movable one toward and from the
other, so that the pressure of the clamping bars may be varied or the same may be
brought more or less closely together, according to the thickness or character of
the leaves or stems being operated upon. In practice I prefer to make the
external guides, or those called the "presser-bars" movable vertically, so that they
will press the external clamping bars or those attached to the chain belts with
more or less force toward or against the clamp-bars on the travelling table. As a
still further improvement, I provide in connection with the guides which are so
movably supported, means for yieldingly pressing them toward the opposing guides,
so that the clamping bars will be held yieldingly instead of positively adjacent to
each other when the leaves or stems are clamped between them, and thereby
providing for variations in the thickness of the masses of fibrous material. I have
employed weights as a means of yieldingly holding the movable guides against the
clamping bars, but the same result may obviously be produced by the use of
springs. When the external guides or "presser-bars" are made vertically movable,
as above stated, I preferably apply weights thereto for forcing them yieldingly
inward, or toward the inner stationary guides.

page_text: In order that the force with which the clamping bars are pressed together may
be varied, I employ means for regulating the pressure with which the movable
guides are forced toward the stationary ones. In the use of weights for the
purpose stated, I prefer to apply the power of the weights through the medium
of levers, on which the weights are made adjustable to vary the force exerted
thereby.
As a further improvement in machines embracing revolving beaters or scrapers,
a support adjacent thereto and a travelling table on which the fibrous material is
placed in feeding it to the said beaters or scrapers, I provide at a point above the
table and adjacent to the beaters, means moving in the same direction as, but
faster than the table, and adapted to act on the leaves or stems so as to drag or
carry the same forward on the table into position to be acted on by the beaters or
scrapers. In practice this device for acting on the leaves and stems has taken the
form of a roller which is located over and close to the table and is driven positively
at a surface speed greater than that of the belt; the roller being preferably ridged
or corrugated longitudinally to more effectively engage and carry forward or
straighten out the fibrous material. Said roller is, furthermore, made movable
toward and from the table, and devices are provided to enable the same to be
easily moved toward and from the table, consisting of a rock-shaft having arms
in which the roller is mounted, and a foot lever connected with and actuating
rock-shaft.
I also propose to employ, as an improved construction in the devices more
directly concerned in removing the soft or pulpy parts of the leaves or stems from
the fibre, a support upon which the leaves and stems rest when acted upon by the
beaters or scrapers, which support consists of a cylindric rod or bar provided at
its ends with eccentric pivots or trunnions by which the bar is supported by
engagement of the said pivots or trunnions with the stationary supports of the
machine; such eccentric pivots or trunnions enabling the working surface of
the bar to be brought nearer to or further from the beaters or scrapers, by turning
the bar, and securing it in its changed position.
Signed at Brooklyn, New York, this the 24th day of December 1892.
JOHN JACOB WEICHER.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Extracting Fibre from Fibrous
Plants.
I, JOHN JACOB WEICHER, Engineer, of No. 579 Macon Street, Brooklyn, in
the County of Kings, and State of New York, 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 :--
My invention relates to machines for extracting fibre from fibrous plants, and has
for its object to provide a machine whereby the fibre of such plants may be rapidly,
effectually and economically separated from the pulp thereof. To this end my
invention consists in certain novel features which I will now proceed to describe,
and will then particularly point out in the appended claims.
In the accompanying drawings:
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine embodying my invention, a portion of
the casing being broken away to show the internal construction.
Figure 2 is a plan view of the same, parts of the clamping devices of the feeding
mechanism being broken away.
Figure 3 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figures 2 and 5.
:

page_text: Figure 4 is a detail side elevation of a portion of the side of the machine
opposite to that shown in Figure 1.
Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view, taken on the line 5 -5 of Figures 2 and 3.
Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 2.
Figure 7 is an enlarged detail longitudinal section of a portion of the feeding
and clamping mechanism.
Figure 8 is a plan view of the same.
Figure 9 is an elevation, partly in section, illustrating a modification of the
water supply.
In the said drawings, A represents a drum, secured on a shaft, B, mounted in
suitable bearings in a casing, C, enclosing said drum. The drum A is hollow, and
is provided on its outer periphery with a plurality of blunt knives or scrapers, A¹,
which are arranged transversely of the drum and extend radially outward therefrom.
The knives are connected with the drum by being bolted to radial projections, a,
formed thereon, and by this construction the knives may be readily detached and
replaced when necessary. Water is supplied to the interior of the drum. A from
any suitable source by means of a pipe, A³, extending through the casing C and
terminating opposite one of the side openings, a', of the drum.
There are
formed through the periphery of the. drum a plurality of apertures, a³, through
which the water thus introduced passes out of the drum.
The shaft B is provided at one end with fast and loose pulleys, b, to receive the
belt by means of which the machine is driven, and at the other end with a
pulley, b', hereinafter referred to.
The casing C is open at its rear lower portion, as shown at c, and is provided
with a drip tray, C, to catch the water and pulp as it comes from the
opening c. In the front side of the casing C is a transverse opening, c', through
which the fibrous material is introduced into the interior of the casing.
Immediately subjacent to the opening c is located a stationary support D, which
has preferably the form of a round bar or elongated cylinder, having its ends
mounted in the sides of the casing C and secured by nuts, d. The ends of the bar
are eccentric to the body thereof, as indicated in dotted lines, so that, as the bar
becomes worn, it may be rotated slightly to maintain a fixed distance between the
working surface thereof and the knives.
The mechanism for feeding the fibrous material to the drum and support is
mounted upon an elongated frame, E, extending forward from the opening c¹ of
the casing.
On the rear end of this frame is mounted in suitable bearings a
transverse shaft F provided near each end with two pairs of sprocket wheels, ff,
and at about the middle of the frame E is mounted, in suitable bearings, a second
transverse shaft, F', provided at its ends with sprocket wheels f2, in line with the
sprocket wheels fand sprocket wheels f, in line with the wheels f. At the front
end of the frame E is located a third transverse shaft, F, provided at its ends with
sprocket wheels f*, arranged in line with the sprocket wheels f¹. G, G are sprocket
chains arranged one on each side of the machine and passing over the sprocket
wheels fand ff on their respective sides. Each link of these chains is provided
with an inwardly projecting lug g, and to each opposite pair of lugs is secured a
transverse slat G¹, these slats forming as a whole an endless moving table or bed.
At suitable intervals along this bed or table one of the slats G¹ is provided
with a V-shaped rib or projection g', which forms one member of one of the sets of
clamping jaws.
GG are sprocket chains arranged just outside the chains G G and passing over
the sprocket wheels f¹f, ff and ff. At distances corresponding with the
distances separating the ribs g₁ the sprocket chains G G are connected by
transverse slats or bars, G³, each having arched end portions g³, extending over the
inner chains G, and having its inner face provided with a V-shaped groove or
depression, g', to correspond and co-act with the ribs g¹. These slats form the
other members of the sets of clamping jaws above referred to.
In order to force the slats G towards the ribbed slats G¹, I employ presser-

page_text: bars H H. The upper pair of presser-bars H, are located on each side of the
machine above the slats G³, upon which they bear, and are carried by arms h,
secured to transverse shafts H2, mounted in suitable bearings on the frame E.
An arm,, secured to the projecting end of one of the shafts H2 is provided with an
adjustable weight, 2, which serves to force the presser-bars H downward on
the slats G with the desired pressure. The lower presser-bars H', are similarly
mounted on arms ³, secured to the short shafts H³ mounted in suitable bearings
on the frame E, one pair of said shafts being each provided with an
having an adjustable weight h, which serves to force the lower presser-bars H¹
upward against the slats G'.
arm h
To support the slats G¹ against the action of the presser-bars, I employ
supporting-bars, E', mounted on the shafts F, F2, and H2 and provided, as shown
in Figure 6, with upper and lower bearing surfaces upon which the slats G¹ rest.
I, indicates a roller, mounted above the bed or table formed by the slats G¹ at
a point immediately over the shaft F. This roller is of considerable weight,
and is preferably grooved or fluted transversely to form comparatively sharp
ribs i, as shown.
It is mounted to revolve in bearings in the ends of arms, i, secured to or
formed on an elevated transverse rock-shaft I, mounted in uprights E', on the
frame E. One end of the shaft I¹ has secured on it an arm, 3, which is
connected by means of a link ³, with a foot lever I³, by means of which the
roller I may be forcibly depressed when desired.
The feed mechanism described is actuated in the following manner. The shaft B
is, as already stated, provided at one end with a pulley 6¹ and over this pulley
pass ropes,, which serve to drive a large pulley J, mounted on a stud-shaftj.
On the hub of the pulley J is a bevel gear J, with which meshes a bevel
gear, on a longitudinal shaft, J2, at one side of the machine. On the shaft J'
are loosely mounted two bevel pinions K and K', which mesh with opposite sides
of a bevel gear, Fl on one end of the shaft F. Clutches and splined on
the shaft J³, serve to connect either one of the pinions K and K' with said
shaft J to rotate along with the same. These clutches are simultaneously
operated to cause them to engage and disengage their respective pinions by means
of a hand lever K³, connected directly with the clutch k¹, and connected with the
clutch through the medium of a link k*, and secondary lever K. By this means
rotary motion in either direction may be imparted to the shaft F, or the said shaft
may be allowed to remain stationary.
The other end of the shaft F is provided with a pinion, 1, which meshes with a
pinion on a short shaft L, mounted in bearings on the frame E. This shaft Lis
provided with a sprocket wheel, 1, over which passes a sprocket chain, L'. The
chain L' passes over a sprocket wheel 18, loose on the rock-shaft I and represents
a second sprocket wheel also loose on the rock-shaft I' and connected with the
sprocket-wheel to rotate therewith. The shaft of the roller I, is provided with a
sprocket-wheel, 1, over which and over the sprocket wheel * passes a sprocket-
chain L. By this means the roller I is positively driven in such a direction that
that portion thereof opposite the bed formed by the slats G₁ moves in the same
direction as said bed, but at a higher rate of speed. L' represents a tightener to
keep the sprocket-chain taut.
The machine thus organized operates in the following manner. The drum A
rotates at a high rate of speed, while the sprocket wheels which actuate the feeding
and clamping mechanisms move at a comparatively low rate of speed. The water
supplied to the interior of the hollow drum A issues forcibly therefrom through the
apertures a² by centrifugal force, and provides the necessary water supply at the
fixed support and throughout the casing. Let it be supposed that the fibrous
material to be operated upon is comparatively thin, as in the case of plant
leaves or the like. These leaves are placed upon the bed or table formed by
the slats G, with their forward ends upon one of the ribs g¹ and their bodies
extending thence rearward toward the drum A. The feeding devices are then

page_text: started by causing the clutch k to engage the bevel pinion K through the
medium of the hand lever K* and its connections, when motion will be imparted
to the sprocket chain G, G, and to the endless bed formed by the slats G¹ and also
to the slats G³, the uppermost portion of these devices moving towards the drum A.
As the slats Ga
pass under the presser-bars H, they are forced downward upon the
corresponding slats G¹, and the fibrous material is firmly clamped and held between
said slats, the clamping being rendered more firm by reason of the V-shaped rib
and groove with which said parts are respectively provided. The fibrous material
is thus carried rearward, passing under the roller I, the periphery of which moves
in the same direction with and at a higher rate of speed than the bed of the slats,
so that said roller serves to direct the material towards the opening c¹ in the casing
and insure their entrance lengthwise into the same. The said roller also serves to
crush.the fibrous material and prepare it for further treatment, its effectiveness to
this end being materially increased by the sharp transverse ribs with which it is
provided. The portion of the fibrous material, as it enters the opening c³ in the
casing, extends over the fixed support D and is subjected to the action of the blunt
knives or scrapers A¹ on the drum A, between which and the fixed support they
are acted upon, being broken down and abraided thereby in the presence of a
water supply, whereby the pulp is separated from the fibre, the pulp being
washed or carried away by the water through the opening c of the casing, while
the fibre is carried forward by the undermost portion of the feeding mechanism,
being still clamped between the slats G G3 by the action of the under pressure--
bars H. At a point under the shaft F, the slats G G³, separate and the fibre
is discharged.
In case the machine. is to operate on fibrous material of considerable bulk or
thickness,. such as large stems of plants or the like, the said material may be
operated upon a portion at a time in the following manner: After a portion
of the material has been operated upon by the knives A¹ of. the drum A, the
direction of motion of the feeding mechanism is reversed by so moving the
lever K as to disengage the clutch k from the bevel pinion K and engage
the clutch with the bevel pinion K. This reversal of the feeding motion
withdraws the material, from the casing, and after such withdrawal the material
is again fed forward by a second reversal, this operation being repeated as often
as necessary until the free portion. of the material is freed from pulp. This
mode of extracting the pulp by degrees prevents clogging of the machine and
enables the machine to operate successfully upon fibrous material of large
dimensions.
The pressure exerted by the roller I upon the fibrous material as it lies on the
moving slats may be increased or diminished as desired by pressure on the foot
lever 1.
It is obvious that various modifications in the details of the construction shown
and described may be made without departing from the principle of my invention.
For instance, I have shown, in Figure 9, a modified arrangement of the water
supply,, in which the pipe A', instead of discharging into the interior of the drum,
discharges into the casing at a point between the drum and fixed support D, and
slightly above this latter. In this case it may be desirable to employ a second pipe
similar to the pipe A on the opposite side of the machine. In this connection I
have also shown a supporting plate or bed, D', extending downward from the
support D and adapted to hold the material in position to be operated upon by
the knives A' throughout its length. It will thus be seen that I do not limit
myself strictly to the precise details herein before described and shown in the
drawings.
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
claim is :-
'
1. In a fibre extracting machine the combination with an endless feeding table

page_text: provided with clamping slats at intervals of sprocket chains having co-operating
slats at corresponding intervals and oppositely arranged guides or pressers for
engaging each pair of slats and maintaining the same in proximity to each other,
substantially as described.
2. In a fibre extracting machine the combination with an endless feeding table
provided with clamping slats at intervals of sprocket chains moving in unison there-
with, and having co-operating clamping slats at corresponding intervals, and oppositely
arranged guides for engaging each pair of slats and pressing the same toward each
other with an adjustable yielding pressure, substantially as described.
3. In a fibre extracting machine, the combination with an endless bed provided
with clamping slats at intervals of sprocket chains moving in unison therewith and
having co-operating clamping slats at corresponding intervals, guides located
between the oppositely moving portions of the endless bed, oppositely arranged
guides exterior to the endless bed and radial arms supporting the exterior guides
having a pivoted engagement with the main frame whereby each pair of slats will
be yieldingly pressed together as they pass between the guides, substantially as
described.
4. In a fibre extracting machine the combination with a revoluble drum provided
with projecting knives or scrapers, and a stationary support adjacent thereto, of
clamping devices for holding the fibrous material and which are bodily movable
toward and from the drum and support, feeding mechanism for moving said
clamping devices toward and from the drum and support, and means for reversing
the direction of the motion of said feeding mechanism, substantially as described.
5. In a fibre extracting machine the combination with a rovoluble drum provided
with knives or scrapers, and a stationary support adjacent thereto of an endless
belt or table provided with clamping devices for holding the fibrous material, and
having one of its ends adjacent to said drum and support, and means moving in the
same direction and at a higher rate of speed than the endless bed or table and
arranged above said adjacent end of the same for combing out and directing the
fibrous material over said stationary support into position to be acted upon by the
knives or scrapers, substantially as described.
6. In a fibre extracting machine the combination with a revoluble drum provided
with knives or scrapers, and a stationary support adjacent thereto of an endless bed
or table having one of its ends adjacent to said drum and support, and a positively
actuated roller arranged above the said adjacent end of the endless bed or table
and having a higher surface speed than that of said bed or table, substantially as
described.
7. In a fibre extracting machine the combination, with a revoluble drum provided
with knives or scrapers, and a stationary support arranged adjacent thereto, of an
endless bed or table provided with clamping devices substantially as described, and
having one of its ends adjacent to said drum and support, a positively actuated
roller arranged in operative proximity to said end of the bed or table, and means
for pressing said roller toward the bed or table.
8. In a fibre extracting machine the combination with a revoluble drum provided
with knives or scrapers and a stationary support adjacent thereto of an endless bed
or table provided with clamping devices and having one end adjacent to said drum
and support, and a positively actuated roller provided with longitudinal ribs and
arranged above the said adjacent end of the endless bed or table and having a
surface speed greater than that of said bed or table, substantially as described.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.