A New or Improved Machine for Extracting Fibrous Matter from Agaves, Aloes, and other similar Plants.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Dec., 1893-Accepted, 10th Feb., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Machine for Extracting Fibrous Matter from
Agaves, Aloes, and other similar Plants.
I, EDUARDO SAMPER, of 72 Boulevard Sebastopol, Paris, France, Banker,
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 has for its object a new machine for extracting fibrous matter from
agaves, aloes and other similar plants and is intended as a substitute for the
apparatuses at present in use and which as a rule are very complicated, too expensive
and requiring a moving power out of proportion with their yield; thus rendering
them unfit for being used by small growers.
In order that my invention may be more clearly understood I refer to the annexed
drawings, in which ;-
Fig. 1 illustrates a side view of my apparatus.
Fig. 2 an end view in the direction of the arrow 1.
Fig. 3 an end view in the direction of the arrow 2, and Fig. 4 a plan view of
Fig. 1.
Figs. 5 & 6 are views of cutters O. O and blade P on a larger scale and Fig. 7
is a side view, with a sectional part, of Fig. 6.
In all these figures, the same letters indicate corresponding parts.
A is an iron, cast iron or wooden frame; B B are two corrugated or undulated
cylinders, each of them fixed upon an axis; C C two toothed wheels, each of which
is keyed upon a different axis of the cylinders B B. D is a frame provided with
brackets E E with bearings in which the axes of the cylinders revolve; F is a
flywheel with a crank G to move the cylinders; H is a cast-iron frame holding
two sliding-plates I & J each moving vertically in grooves K & L by means of
excentric levers M, N.
The sliding-plate I is fitted with vertical cutters O. O. O. The sliding plate J
is fitted with an horizontal blade P which, on being brought down to its lowest
position is situated at about one millimeter's distance from another horizontal
blade Q parallel to it and resting on an elastic stand or flexible seat R made of
indiarubber or consisting of a flexible plate, a spring &c.
This blade Q see Figs. 6 and 7 slides vertically in a groove wherein it is held
loosely by means of screws S, so that by strongly pressing on its upper rounded
part, this blade Q yields and is lowered vertically according to the pressure applied.
The upper portion of each sliding-plate I and J has the shape of a pulley-frame
crossed by a bolt bearing a small friction-roller U running in the circular opening V
cut in the excentric levers M &*N.
These excentric levers serve to move the sliding-plates upwards and downwards.
In Fig. 1 I bave illustrated by dotted lines the lowest position of the lever N
and in that position the flat part X of the excentric lever rests upon the upper
side of the sliding plate J which has been brought down to its lowest position.
The result is that any effort to raise the sliding plate is powerless to move the
atter, the upper side of which strikes against the flat part on X. Y is a drum
keyed on an axle Z and resting on two bearings a, a fixed at the end of two
rms b, b; c is a crank.
The drum Y is arranged so as to caus: the leaf of the plant d to adhere to its
circumference in order to submit it to the action of the sliding-plate J.

page_text: This arrangement consists in cutting the periphery of the drum and in folding
up a certain portion of the said periphery towards the centre of the drum as
shown by the curved line f. g (Fig. 1), producing at the same time an opening e.
A block or brake / moveable around an axle is held by a spring ; against the
lower part of the curve; K is a lever fixed upon the axle i to allow of removing
at will, the block h from the surface corresponding to g.
If any fibrous matter d is introduced into the free space e until these fibres
descend between point 7 and point h, that is in the opening produced between these
two surfaces, by attracting the lever K which has caused the block to come down
and if the lever K is released, the force imparted to the block by the spring
raises the latter which then adheres to the portion g, producing such a pressure
that if at that moment the drum. is caused to revolve in the direction pointed
out by the arrow 3, the fibres will adhere more or less between the block and
party and consequently on the surface f, g according to the greater or less amount
of traction employed.
O is a cutter or preferably a triangular horizontal rod having its lower side
rather round than sharp. Said piece as well as cutters O. O. O being moveable,
can be changed in case of wear or for any cause.
To extract the fibrous matter I proceed as follows:-
:-
I push forward the lever M raising the sliding-plate I and consequently the
cutters 0. 0. 0; I then seize a leaf by its broader end and introduce it into the
aperture W. (Figs. 2 & 3) i.e. underneath the cutters so as to make the leaf rest
upon the curve; with one hand I hold the leaf and with the other I pull back
the lever M; the cutters are then lowered and pierce the leaf through; I then
draw the latter and divide it into a number of longitudinal strips proportional to
the number of cutters.
These strips still adhere to the broader end of the leaf which has not been
submitted to the action of the knives. I then seize these strips holding the broader
end of the leaf vertically downwards and successively introduce the cutter 0¹
between the strips made by the cutters O. O. O and by drawing upwards I separate
the strips on the side of the broader end. I then submit each strip separately to
the action of the cylinders B, B and then place each of them thus crushed on the
blade Q between the cheeks o", o" of aperture m. i.e. under sliding-plate J.
This being done I draw out the leaf lengthwise and introduce the broader end
into the opening e of the drum Y till it is seized by the block h, afterwards I draw
back the lever n, the rounded blade P then presses on the strip d. d. I move the
drum in the direction of the arrow 3, Fig. 1, said drum carrying along with it the
strip or leaf and the pressure effected by both blades P & Qbeing regularized by
the elastic fitting and combined with the traction of the drum, suffice to rid the
fibre of the parenchyma and all other substances without breaking the fibre.
After the end of the fibrous strip has come out of the jaws P & Q, I revolve the
drum in the opposite direction in order to effect its unrolling and I move the
lever K removing the block and the fibrous strip is thus liberated.
If I wish to economize the raw material, I pass my strip over again in the
opposite direction in order to rid the other end of the substances still adhering to
it. I proceed in the same way for every strip to be unfibred and I thus obtain
fibres which have only to be subjected to the usual operations of washing &c.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
'
1stly. In a new or improved machine for extracting fibr as matter, the
cutters O. O. O to cut the fibrous matter into strips, the corrug ced cylinders B, B,
intended to soften the said matter; drum Y with inner tightening together with
the horizontal rounded blades P & Q acting as jaws to remove the pulpous portion
of the matter to be unfibred, substantially as described in the above Specification
and illustrated in the annexed drawings.

page_text: 2ndly. In a Dew or improved machine for extracting fibrous matter, the
cutters 0, 0, 0 to cut the fibrous matter into strips, the corrugated cylinders B, B,
intended to soften the said matter; the drum Y having an inner tightening,
together with the rounded horizontal blades P & Q forming jaws to remove the
pulpous portion of the matter, the two sliding plates I & J actuated by excentric
levers M & N and the elastic stand or seat R placed under the blade Q, substan-
tially as described and illustrated in the annexed drawings.
3rdly. In a machine for extracting fibrous matter, the interior arrangement of the
drum, consisting in doubling up a portion of the periphery of the said drum
towards its centre, so as to produce an opening on the said periphery, the block or
brake provided with a lever K and actuated by a spring j, substantially as
described and illustrated in the annexed drawings.
Dated this 15th day of December 1893
A. H. REED,
Agent for Applicant.