AN IMPROVED WILLOW PEELER
Year: 1884

page_text: I, ROBERT WALPOLE Engineer, N° 2 Kenyon Street Wharf Street Leicester
do hereby declare the nature of iny invention for AN IMPROVED WILLOW PEELER
to be as follows:-
I mount on suitable frame two pairs of rollers, one pair in front and one
pair at the back of the frame the rollers being grooved to receive the willows
so as to prevent cushing, the number of grooves will be determined by the size
of the machine, the rollers are driven by belts from the main shaft, in the centre
of the machine between the rollers is a case, to receive the knives or scrapers,
having holes to correspond with the grooves in the rollers, the face of which is cup
shaped to receive the ends of the willows, at the back of these holes are the knives
or scrapers, one set to each hole, in two or more parts, the end of each knife or
scraper is shaped in the form of a segment of a circle and slide over each other
so as to reduce or increase the size of the circle, the size being determined by the
Willow, springs are fixed to press against the end of each knife or scraper to
keep them to their work as the Willow is forced through by the rollers, the
machine may be driven by hand or other power.

page_text: I ROBERT WALPOLE 2, Kenyon Street, Wharf Street, Leicester Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention for AN IMPROVED WILLOW PEELERS"
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
I mount on a suitable frame two pairs of rollers one pair in front and one'
pair at the back of the frame the rollers being grooved to receive the willows so
as to prevent crushing. The number of grooves will be determined by the size
of the machine. The rollers are driven by belts from the main shaft in the centre
of the machine between the scrapers having holes to correspond with the grooves
in the rollers the face of which is cup shaped to receive the ends of the willows.
At the back of these holes are the knives or scrapers, one set to each hole in two
or more parts the ends of the knives or scrapers are shaped in the form of a
segment of a circle and slide over each other so as to reduce or increase the size
of the circle, the size being determined by the willow springs which are fixed to
press against the end of each knife or scraper to keep them to their work as the
willow is forced through by the rollers. The machine may be driven by hand or
other power.
In the accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 is a sectional side view of the machine and Figures 2 to 7. are details.
A is the framing, B the inetal rolls grooved as at Q, Figure 7, to receive the
willow rod C (or a number of rods as the case may be).
By grooving the inetal rolls a better hold is obtained upon the willow, which is
not so liable to be split or crushed. D are rolls covered with india rubber or
equivalent to grip the willow after it is peeled but without injuring it.
°
The sliding scrapers E are recessed at their inner ends E' as shown in Figure 2,
and their thickness is reduced so that they may cross as shown in the sectional side
view Figure 4. The springs F have each one end secured to the frame plate G
their other ends being connected with the scrapers, which latter may be dovetailed
into the frame plate & as shown in the plan Figure 3. The pin E³ regulates the
extent to which the spring can pull the lower scraper up & the upper one is pulled.
down on to the lower by the action of the other spring. When no willow is in the
machine the scrapers cross each other so far that the opening is almost closed as
in Figure 2; they are forced apart by the willow as it enters between them.
H. Figure 1 is a portion of cross framing to which the frame plate G is attached,
it carries a boss H₁ the back of which is hollowed at H2 and is provided with the
scoop I fitted on the cross rod K and operated by the rod L from a foot lever
not shown The function of this scoop I is to clear out the strips of bark
remaining after a willow has passed through the rod K is the centre about which
it works.
The four rolls B and D may be all connected by gearing so as to revolve at the
same speed but preferably the rolls D travel about one third faster than rolls B so
as to assist in drawing the willow through the knives.
-
In using this machine the willow is inserted in the direction of the arrow between
the rolls B which carry it forward to the scrapers E which are forced apart and

page_text: strip off the bark The willow then passes on to the covered rolls D which grip
it between their soft coverings and draw it along and finally deliver it ready
stripped of its bark.
The top rolls B and D are journalled in adjustable bearings kept down by
springs M the pressure being regulated by screws N. Figure 5 is an end view and
Figure 6 a side view of the end of one of the rolls B this carries the knife O which
as it revolves just clears the bed P which is preferably of brass and secured to
the main framing in any suitable manner or may be a part thereof and faced
with brass or the like The end of the willow is placed upon the bed P before
being placed in the machine and the knife O cuts it to a suitable angle for entering
between the scrapers.
-
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to performed I declare that what
I claim is
First. In a machine for peeling willows and the like the employment of grooved
rolls B substantially as specified.
Second. In a machine for peeling willows and the like the employment of rolls D
covered with india rubber or equivalent material substantially as specified.
'
Third. In a machine for peeling willows and the like the over lapping spring
knives E E adapted to be. separated by the willow so as to allow of its passage
through and strip the bark substantially as specified.
Fourth. In a machine for peeling willows and the like the combination with the
recessed boss H2 of the scoop I for the purpose of removing the stripped bark after
the willow has passed through substantially as specified.
Fifth. In a machine for peeling willows and the like the combination with
rolls B which take the willow in advance of the knives of Rolls D take the willow
after it has passed the knives are covered with a yielding material which will not
injure the willow & travel at a faster speed than the first rolls B substantially as
specified.
Sixth. In a machine for peeling willows and the like the combination with roll B
of knife O substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Dated th th don of Taunt005
Witness to the Mark of Robt Walpole,
E. H. LEWIS,
Clerk,
23 Gladstone Street, Leicester.
ROBERT WALPOLE, × his Mark.