Improvements in Machinery for Softening or Preparing Fibres, such as China Grass, or Rhea, Hemp, Jute, or the like, Ready for Opening or other Subsequent Operations thereon.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 18th May, 1895
Complete Specification Left, 18th Feb., 1896-Accepted, 21st Mar., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery for Softening or Preparing Fibres, such
as China Grass, or Rhea, Hemp, Jute, or the like, Ready for
Opening or other Subsequent Operations thereon.
We, TAYLOR BURROWS of 88, Upper Kennington Lane, London, S.E. Engineer,
and DICK EDWARDS RADCLYFFE of 56 Gloucester Crescent Regent's Park,
London, N.W. Gentleman, do hereby declare the uature of this invention to be as
follows:-
Various modes have hitherto been adopted for softening or preparing fibre such
as the "filasse" of China grass; rhea, hemp, jute, fax, etc. ready for drawing
opening heckling or other subsequent operations thereon a very usual plan having
been to pass the fibre through a series of roilers (often as many as 12 or 20 pairs
of rollers in one machine and sometimes varying in their character) which press
heavily against one another in order to impart a softening action on the fibre
passed between same or in some machines by an advance and return motion (the
advance being more than the return) by which means the same amount of crushing
action on the fibre can be obtained with fewer pairs of rollers and other more or
less effective machinery has been tried to soften and prepare the ultimate fibre or
fibrous material that has been dried after bleaching and dyeing etc.
Now according to our present invention we produce a comparatively small and
inexpensive machine which is designed for the purpose of mechanically softening
fibre either in the form of "filasse" of China grass or with the pellicle on as rhea
or scutched hemp or flax stems or jute in the state in which same is usually
imported in this country either before or after ungumming and bleaching (and if
before ungumming this machine will remove in the form of dust or powder a large
portion if not all of the pellicle and dried gum and soften the fibre ready for
ungumming and bleaching) ready for drawing opening heckling or other desired
operation thereon in preparing such fibres ready for combing and spinning etc.
This invention is as follows:-
In a suitable fraine or support we arrange and mount two deeply fluted or
furrowed rollers the flutes or projections on which deeply intersect or intergear
with one another either of the same or different diameter.
One of these rollers (or both of them) is caused to revolve by any suitable
power either through a train of wheels or other suitable gearing or driving
mechanism so that when the one said roller (which we will term the first roller) is
revolved the other (which we will term the second roller) will thereby be
simultaneously revolved.
Each of these rollers (or the first said roller only) is fluted or furrowed
advantageously for only part of its length between the bearings-the non-fluted
part being advantageously of a less diameter than the said fluted part and
advantageously conical in form tapering away from the fluted part.
Furthermore we find it an advantage in some cases to have the fluted part of
each roller slightly tapered or conical (these being mounted in bearings to suit
this taper) so that the periphery of said rollers where they come in contact are
parallel or thereabouts or we may use reversed tapered rollers or one tapered and
the other not or other suitable form of rollers) the object of this taper being
hereafter pointed out..

page_text: Around one of these rollers for instance the first roll we arrange and mount in
suitable bearings an endless sheet (of rubber or leather etc.) or it may be a series
of small rollers or combination thereof or other arrangement equivalent or otherwise
which press against or into the said roller and nearly encircle the same-the object
being to guide the fibre round the said roller so that such fibre is lapped round it
and thereby is carried round and round on this said roller.
Alongside this toller (on which the fibre is thus lapped) at a point where same
is clear of said encircling rollers or endless sheet we arrange and mount a device
(which we term the "pusher off") the function of which is to move the fibre
lapped on the said roller along lengthwise of the voller (.e. in the direction of the
length of said roller) while same is lapped on and being crushed by the sand
revolving rollers.
This pusher off may consist of a kind of Archimedean screw to which motion is
imparted in any suitable manner and which is arranged parallel or thereabouts
lengthwise of said roller and closely adjacent thereto or to the fluted portion
thereof. Or instead of the last-named or in addition thereto we may use an arm
or bar to which motion is imparted (by any suitable means) in a direction in the
form of an oblong or ellipse, or other suitable motion. On the face or side of this
proximate to the said roller same may bear any suitable bristles or brush-like
surfaces or projections of rubber vulcanite or resilient material or metallic plates
or blades rigidly fixed or hinged with springs to act like a series of spring pawls
or ratchet teeth or other suitable surface or means which intermittently come in
contact with the fibre lapped round said first toller and thereby (intermittently)
push said fibre along lengthwise on said roller while the latter is revolving (the
conical shape of the latter if used greatly facilitating this) until it passes off said
fluted part and hangs loose on the smaller and smooth part of said roller (or it may
be a fixed sleeve over said smaller part of said roller) whence it can be easily
removed in a now thoroughly softened state.
A suitable feed trough or other suitable feeding device may be used as desired.
Dated this 18th day of May 1895.
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.
Improvements in Machinery for Softening or Preparing Fibres, such
as China Grass, or Rhea, Hemp, Jute, or the like, Ready for
Opening or other Subsequent Operations thereon.
We, TAYLOR BURROWS of 88 Upper Kennington Lane, London, S.E. Engineer,
and DICK EDWARDS RADCLYFFE of 56 Gloucester Crescent Regent's Park,
London, N.W. Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
**
Various modes have hitherto been adopted for softening or preparing fibre such
as ile filasse of China grass, rhea, hemp, jute, flax. etc., ready for drawing
pening beckling or other subsequent operations thereon a very usual plan having
been to pass the fibre through a series of rollers (often as many as 12 or 20 pairs
of rollers in one machine and sometimes varying in their character) which press
heavily against one another in order to impart a softening action on the fibre
passed between same or in some machines by an advance and return motion (the
advance being more than the return) by which means the same amount of crushing
action on the fibre can be obtained with fewer pairs of rollers and other more or

page_text: less effective machinery has been tried to soften and prepare the ultimate fibre or
fibrous material that has been dried after bleaching and dyeing etc.
Now according to our present invention we produce a comparatively small and
inexpensive machine which is designed for the purpose of mechanically softening
fibre either in tue. of "filasse" of China grass or with the pellicle on as rhea
or scutched hemp or flax stems or jute in the state in which same is usually
imported in this country either before or after ungumming and bleaching (and if
before ungumming this machine will remove in the form of dust or powder a large
portion if not all of the pellicle and dried gum and soften the fibre ready
for ungumming and bleaching) ready for drawing opening heckling or other
desired operation thereon in preparing such fibres ready for combing and
spinning etc.
This invention is as follows,―
In a suitable frame or support we arrange and mount two deeply fluted or
furrowed rollers the flutes or projections on which deeply intersect or intergear
with one another either of the same or different diameter.
One of these rollers (or both of them) is caused to revolve by any suitable
power either through a train of wheels or other suitable gearing or driving
mechanism so that when the one said roller (which we will term the first roller) is
revolved the other (which we will term the second roller) will thereby be simul-
taneously revolved.
Each of these rollers (or the first said roller only) is fluted or furrowed
advantageously for only part of its length between the bearings-the non-fluted
part being advantageously of a less diameter than the said fluted part and
advantageously conical in form tapering away from the fluted part.
Furthermore we find it an advantage in some cases to have the fluted part of
each roll slightly tapered or conical (these being mounted in bearings to suit this
taper so that the periphery of said rollers where they come in contact are parallel
or thereabouts or we may use reversed tapered rollers or one tapered and the other
not or other suitable form of rollers) the object of this taper being hereafter
pointed out.
Around one of these rollers for instance the first roll we arrange and mount in
suitable bearings an endless sheet (of rubber or leather etc.) or it may be a series
of small rollers or combination thereof or other arrangement equivalent or otherwise
which press against or into the said roller and nearly encircle the same-the object
being to guide the fibre round the said roller so that such fibre is lapped round it
and thereby is carried round and round on this said roller.
Alongside this roller (on which the fibre is thus lapped) at a point where same
is clear of said encircling rollers or endless sheet we arrange and mount a device
(which we term the "pusher off") the function of which is to move the fibre
lapped on the said roller along lengthwise of the roller (i.e. in the direction of the
length of said roller) while same is lapped on and being crushed by the said
revolving rollers.
This pusher off may consist of a kind of Archimedean screw to which motion is
5 imparted in any suitable manner and which is arranged parallel or thereabouts
lengthwise of said roller and closely adjacent thereto or to the fluted portion
thereof. Or instead of the last-named or in addition thereto we may use an arm
or bar to which motion is imparted (by any suitable means) in a direction in the
form of an oblong or ellipse, or other suitable motion.
()
On the face or side of this proximate to the said roller same may bear any
suitable bristles or brush-like surfaces or projections of rubber vulcanite or resilient
material or metallic plates or blades rigidly fixed or hinged with springs to act
like a series of spring pawls or ratchet teeth or other suitable surface or means
which intermittently come in contact with the fibre lapped round said first roller
5 and thereby (intermittently) push said fibre along lengthwise on said roller while
the latter is revolving (the conical shape of the latter if used greatly facilitating
this) until it passes off said fluted part and hangs loose on the smaller and smooth

page_text: part of said roller (or it may be a fixed sleeve over said smaller part of said roller)
whence it can be easily removed in a now thoroughly softened state.
A suitable feed trough or other suitable feeding device may be used as desired.
And in order that our present invention may be easily understood and readily
carried into practice we will proceed to further describe same with reference to the
drawings hereunto annexed ;-
Fig. 1 is a plan, and Fig. 2 is a front view in elevation of a machine according
to our present invention.
Fig. 3 is a cross sectional elevation on line 1-1 Fig. 1 looking in the direction
of the arrow .
Fig. 4 is local sectional detail view showing a slight modification.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout.
A is the standard or frame of any suitable construction.
B is feed trough-the inner end of which extends close up to where the two
main rollers C and D meet.
C and D are the two crushing rolls journalled in the frame A the deep flutes of
which intergear with one another the lower roll C having the large toothed wheel
such as 2 fixed on the end of the shaft or axle thereof and caused to quickly
revolve by gearing with the toothed wheel such as 3 the latter gearing with the
small toothed wheel 4 fixed on the main shaft E revolved from any suitable source
of power such as a belt on the fast and loose pulleys F.
G is a vertical shaft adapted to be slowly revolved for instance by a bevel gear
wheel G' fixed to the lower end thereof gearing with a bevel gear wheel E' fixed
on the main driving shaft E.
On the upper end of this vertical shaft G same carries a crank pin H which
thereby constantly revolves and acts as a crank to impart reciprocating movement
to the "pusher-off."
The pushing off device consists of the bar or rod I which at one end is connected
(journalled) to said crank pin H and at the other end passes through a sleeve or
guiding eye J fixed to the stand A.
IL are blades scrapers or projections arranged and mounted on the side of the
rod I facing the said crushing rolls CD.
In the machine illustrated the roll D is of two separate diameters that is the
largest diameter where the roll is deeply fluted at D and a smaller diameter such
as at d where same is not fluted; and similarly the other roll C is or may be made
to correspond as desired i.e. either with or without a plain part c of smaller
diameter.
M is an endless apron or sheet of suitable flexible material (advantageously
india-rubber or leather) which passes round the upper guide roller N (the latter
journalled in bearing N¹ and N2 respectively formed or mounted on the rigid arms
or supports N³ and N' carried on the main frame A) then round the loose guide
oll similarly mounted to the roll N thence round the lower guide roll P and
then bears against the fluted roll D around which it passes (and which it encircles
for about half way round its circumference or more or less according to the position
at which the rolls N & P are mounted) up to the aforesaid roll N.
The lower guide roll P is carried in spring-mounted bearings for instance the
projecting ends P of said roll P may be mounted in open forked bearings such as
the brackets or side cheeks Q carried on the independent rocking arms R pivoted
at S to the main frame A.
Tare strong springs one end of each of which is adjustably fixed to the frame A
by the bolt T₁ passing through the plate T and having a nut T3 screwed thereon
so that by tightening up or slackening said nut thereby greater or less tension is
put on said spring T.
The other end of each said spring T is similarly or otherwise connected to one
of the rocking arms R and by this means the roll P carried in the two brackets or
cheeks is kept firmly pressed against the fluted roller D while the two brackets Q
being carried on separate arms R with separate spring to each therefore this permits

page_text: one end of the roll P to be pushed back away from the roller D while the other
end of the roll P remains firmly pressed against the fluted roller D.
The roller D is carried in spring mounted bearings in the frame A so that it is
firmly pressed against the lower roll C but permits the fibre to be introduced
between the two said rollers C & D.
Referring now to Fig. 4 :-
Instead of using the endless sheet or apron M as aforesaid-we may use a
number of sinall fluted rollers such as U V X Y all carried in spring mounted
bearings so as to "give" when pressed back by the fibre passing between same and
the roller D or when the latter itself rises; the object of these rollers being the
same as the endless sheet M viz. to guide the fibre-as it emerges from between
the rollers C and D-and cause same to pass round over the top of the rollers D
and so pass again between C & D and thus completely lap same around said
roller D.
The operation is as follows ;-
The fibre to be treated is laid in the feed trough B and the end led in between
the rollers C & D on which latter it is lapped round and thus passes again and
again between the rollers C & D and while being thus continually crushed the
pusher bar I has the aforesaid endwise motion imparted thereto and the projections
thereon L rapidly beat and intermittently push the lapped fibre along the roller D
in the direction of the length of the latter until such fibre passes from between the
fluted parts D & C and now rests lapped loosely round the small part d from which
latter it can be easily removed while the rollers C & D continuously revolve i.e
without stopping the machine more fibre being meantime fed into the machine and
the crushing and softening thereof commenced and so on.
It will thus be seen that this machine is of a very simple and inexpensive
character while capable of rapidly treating a very large quantity of fibre in a very
effective manner-the essential feature of the present invention being the means
for lapping the fibre around one of the crushing rollers and keeping it so lapped
while the said crushing rollers continuously revolve in combination and acting in
conjunction with means to beat said fibre while thus lapped and push same along
said roller in the direction of the length of the latter until it passes clear of the
crushing action between said rollers and can then be removed from the roller on
which it is lapped and thus we obtain a very rapid and beneficial action on the fibre
as and for the purposes described.
It will be easily seen that instead of the push-off bar or device-an Archimedean
screw can be mounted and arranged to revolve closely adjacent to the roller D so
as to operate on or against the fibre lapped on said roller and gradually push same
along while it is being crushed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. In apparatus for mechanically softening or preparing fibre of the character
and in the condition described-the combination of a pair of constantly revolving
fluted rollers adapted at one part thereof to crush the said fibre between same and
at another part not to crush the fibre, means to cause the lapping on one such roller
of the fibre as the latter is fed in between said rollers and means to gradually push
said fibre along in the direction of the length of said roller on which it is lapped
until it is clear of the crushing action of the said pair of revolving rollers and
free to be removed from said roller in a now thoroughly crushed and softened
condition.
2. In apparatus for mechanically softening or preparing fibre of the character
and in the condition described the combination of a pair of fluted rollers constructed
at one part thereof with active working faces to crush the said fibre between them
and at another part with non-active faces and means for revolving said rollers
substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described.

page_text: 3. In apparatus for mechanically softening or preparing fibre of the character
and in the condition described the combination of a pair of fluted rollers constructed
at one part thereof with active working faces to crush the fibre between them and
at another part thereof with non-active faces, means for revolving said rollers,
means for causing the lapping of the fibre on one of the rollers, and means for
gradually pushing said fibre along in the direction of the length of the roller on
which it is lapped until it is clear of the crushing action of the said pair of
revolving rollers, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described.
4. In apparatus for mechanically softening or preparing fibre of the character
and in the condition described, the combination of a pair of crushing rollers means
for causing the fibre to lap and to remain lapped around one of said rollers while
being crushed between the rollers and means for gradually pushing said fibre in the
direction of the length of the roller on which it is lapped until it is clear of the
crushing action of the rollers substantially as and for the purposes herein before
described.
5. In apparatus for mechanically softening or preparing fibre of the character
and in the condition described the combination of a roller having one part thereot
fluted and of larger diameter than the other part a second fluted roller adapted to
intermesh with the fluted part of the first named roller and means for revolving
said rollers substantially as and for the purposes herembefore described.
6. A machine for the purposes described having a fluted roller such as D with
partt hereof of smaller diameter such as d and a fluted roller such as Cin
combination and acting in conjunction with means such as the spring-mounted
endless belt M to cause the fibre to lap and to keep same lapped on said roller D
and a device such as I adapted to gradually push said fibre along in the direction
of the said roller D on which it is lapped until it passes on to the said smaller
part d of said roller substantially in the manner and for the purposes hereinbefore
set forth.
7. A machine for the purposes described having a fluted roller such as D with
part thereof of smaller diameter such as d and a fluted roller such as C in
combination and acting in conjunction with means such as spring-mounted
rollers U V W X to cause the fibre to lap and to keep same lapped on said
roller D and a device such as I adapted to gradually push said fibre along in the
direction of the said roller D on which it is lapped until it passes on to the said
smaller part d of said roller substantially in the manner and for the purposes
bereinbefore set forth.
8. A machine for the purposes described having a fluted roller such as D with
part thereof of smaller diameter such as d and a fluted roller such as C in
combination and acting in conjunction with a device such as I having motion
imparted thereto in the direction of the length of said roller D to gradually push
the fibre along said roller D and means to lap and keep said fibre lapped on the
fluted part of said roller D until it is pushed off same on to the said smaller part d
thereof substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein before set forth.
9. A machine for the purposes described having a pair of crushing rollers and
means to cause the fibre to lap and to keep same lapped on one said roller in
combination and acting in conjunction with an Archimedean screw revolving
adjacent to said roller and operating on the fibre lapped on said roller so as to
gradually push same along the latter while said fibre is being crushed substantially
as and for the purposes herein before described.
Dated this 18th day of February 1896.
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.