similar Fibrous Plants.
Year: 1885

page_text: similar Fibrous Plants.
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of the firm of A. M. and Wm. Clark, of
53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Fellow of the Institute of Patent
Agents, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for AN IMPROVED
MACHINE FOR DECORTICATING RAMIE AND OTHER SIMILAR FIBROUS PLANTS
a communication to me from abroad by Joseph Haag, of 10 Passage Nollet, Paris,
France, Engineer to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to an improved machine for decorticating ramie and other
similar fibrous plants, the improvements having for their object to effect in one
machine the several operations required to convert vegetable textile materials and
more particularly ramie, into filaments ready prepared for spinning. The several
operations or different stages of the treatment are so arranged and combined as
to act gradually and with all the care possible upon the fibre in order to avoid
injuring the filaments.
The arrangement is such as to effect an extremely rapid and perfect treat-
ment by causing each stalk of raw material to undergo the whole of the
manipulations or mechanical treatments necessary for decorticating, cleaning,
disaggregating, parallelising, as well as dressing it, so that it may thus be delivered
ready prepared for spinning.
In order that the Invention may be more readily understood, I will proceed to
describe it by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, it
being however understood that the different stages in the operation of the machine
may be modified, increased, or diminished, according to the results to be obtained
or the kind of fibres under treatment.
Figure 1 is an elevation of one half of the machine, both sides being made
precisely alike. For greater clearness only the driving rollers of the parts for
effecting each operation are represented, the details of said parts being separately
represented on a larger scale. Figure 2 is a plan of the entire machine without
the driving gear which may be of any suitable kind. Figure 3 is a top plan of a

page_text: variation which may be made in the arrangement of the machine. Figures 4, 5, 6
and 7 represent on a larger scale the details of the parts employed in the different
stages of the operation succeeding the preliminary breaking of the stems, as will be
hereinafter fully described.
The same letters of reference serve for like parts or parts performing similar
functions in all the figures.
The machine which is perferably vertical and cylindrical in form is arranged to
operate vertically upon the stems and therefore in the direction of their length.
The machine is divided into two equal and symmetrical parts, in the first of
which the stems are decorticated and prepared over a portion of their length while
the ends of the stems by which they have been fed into the machine are similarly
prepared in the other part; it is therefore only necessary to describe one half of
the machine.
The materials are fed into the machine by means of a wheel a, figure 1, having
teeth or projections which seize each stem and conduct them to the large wheel b
also having teeth or projections between rows of horizontal grooves and rotating on
a fixed ring or counterpart also furnished with horizontal grooves. The rotation of
the large wheel b brings the stems between the two compartments of a vertical
casing C, the inner portion C¹ of which is caused to close upon the outer portion C
and hold the stems between them either by means of eccentric spur gear d,
figure 2, or by cams, levers, &c. In addition to this movement the entire casing is
displaced to the desired extent for bringing the stems up to the first chain of
beaters turning around rollers e.
As shown in figure 1, in which the outer compartment of casing C is supposed
to be removed, the surfaces between which the stems pass are formed in several
sections which act differentially upon the material for effecting the preliminary
operation of crushing the ligneous portion. Although I do not limit myself to the
exact arrangement and number of surfaces upon the interior of casing CC in the
example shown, the surfaces are divided as follows:-The portion 1 of the casing
at which the stems are entered is smooth or plain and effects a preliminary
breaking; the portion 2 is ribbed and commences the crushing, while the part 3
which is striated or formed in zigzags, completes the crushing. The box or casing C
may, as seen in figure 3, be replaced by three pairs of vertical rollers 1. 2. 3 the
surfaces of which are similarly formed to those of the inside of casing C. Each of
the parts C. C¹ of the casing may be heated in any suitable manner for the purpose
of completing the drying of the material and so facilitate its treatment; in some
cases however, and especially where the machine would be placed in a perfectly
dry situation, the casing may be replaced by surfaces similarly arranged and
operating.
The material on leaving casing C is presented to the action of beaters carried by
an endless chain f passing over rollers e (separately represented in figure 4) said
beaters causing the material to strike against the fixed plate e', figures 1 and 2,
having a ribbed surface or the latter may be replaced by a series of blades 2¹
spring hinged or oscillated by means of a vertical rod with which each of said
blades is connected, as shown in figure 4. The beaters are formed of blocks g
The
hinged to the chain f and against each of which a spring bears, as shown.
fibres are then subjected to the action of wood spikes or teeth i mounted on a belt
or chain passing over rollers kk, see figure 5.
"
The teeth which are fixed and preferably arranged in pairs as shown act on
the material by pressing it against another belt or chain having teeth similarly
arranged. This operation may be replaced by the beaters employed in the
previous operation acting either on the inside or outside of a fixed surface k¹
figure 1.
The material is next brought under the action of brushes m (figure 7) carried by
an endless chain mounted in an exactly similar manner to the beaters previously
described, the chain of brushes passing over rollers n and cleaning the fibres by
contact with a fixed ribbed or fluted surface n'.

page_text: The next operation is effected by the action of rollers o, figure 6, mounted in a
similar manner to the brushes and beaters before mentioned on an endless chain
passing round rollers p by which it is operated, the material being pressed up to
the rollers by a fixed surface p¹.
When preparing flax and hemp, I employ the arrangement represented at g and
consisting of a chain of rollers similar to that described in figure 6; this arrange-
ment is optional and the rollers may work either against the inner side of a
fixed surface q¹, as shown in full lines, or upon its outer surface, as shown in
dotted lines.
This latter operation may also serve for dressing the fibres under
treatment.
The fibres which have been treated are then tied in a bundle and reversed in
order to subject the opposite ends to similar treatment in the other half of the
machine.
One woman and child are sufficient to feed this machine to which any suitable
arrangement of fan or exhaust may be adapted for the purpose of automatically
carrying off the dust and waste produced during the operations.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Machine for Decorticating Ramie and other
similar Fibrous Plants.
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of the firm of A. M. and Wm. Clark, of
53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Fellow of the Institute of Patent
Agents, do hereby, declare the nature of this Invention (a communication to me
from abroad by Joseph Haag of 10 Passage Nollet Paris, France, Engineer), 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 an improved machine for decorticating ramie and other
similar fibrous plants, the improvements having for their object to effect in one
machine the several operations required to convert vegetable textile materials, and
more particularly ramie, into filaments ready prepared for spinning. The several
operations or different stages of the treatment are so arranged and combined as to
act gradually and with all the care possible upon the fibre in order to avoid
injuring the filaments. The arrangement is such as to effect extremely rapid and
perfect treatment by causing each stalk of raw material to undergo the whole of
the manipulations or mechanical treatments necessary for decorticating, cleaning,
disaggregating, parallelising as well as bleaching or whitening it; so that it may
thus be delivered ready prepared for spinning.
In order that the Invention may be more readily understood, I will proceed to
describe it by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings; it
being however understood that the different stages in the operation of the machine
may be modified, increased, or diminished, according to the results to be obtained,
or the kind of fibres under treatment.
Figure 1. is an elevation of one balf of the machine, both sides being made
precisely alike. For greater clearness only the drawing rollers of the parts for
effecting each operation are represented, the details of said parts being separately
represented on a larger scale; figure 2 is a plan of the entire machine without the
driving gear, which may be of any suitable kind; figure 3 is a top plan of a
variation which may be made in the arrangement of the machine; figures 4. 5. G.
and 7. represent on a larger scale the details of the parts employed in the different
stages of the operation following the preliminary breaking of the stems as will be
hereinafter fully described. The same letters of reference serve for like parts,
or parts performing similar functions, in all the figures.
The machine, which is preferably vertical in arrangement and cylindrical in
form, operates vertically upon the stems and therefore in the direction of their
length. The machine is divided into two equal and symmetrical parts in the first
of which the stems are decorticated and prepared over a portion of their length
while the other ends of the stems by which they have been fed into the machine
are similarly prepared in the other part; it is therefore only necessary to describe
one half of the machine.

page_text: The materials are fed into the machine by means of a wheel a figure 1. having
teeth or projections which seize each stem and conduct them to the large wheel b
also having teeth or projections between rows of horizontal grooves formed thereon
and rotating on a fixed ring or counterpart also furnished with horizontal grooves.
The rotation of the large wheel b brings the stems between the two jaws C C¹
which are caused to close together and compress the stems between them either by
means of spur-gear carrying eccentrics or crank pins actuated by the wheel
figure 2 or by cams, levers, etc. In addition to this movement the jaws are
capable of being displaced to the desired extent for bringing the stems up to the
first chain of beaters turning around rollers e. As shown in figure 1, in which the
outer jaw C is supposed to be removed, the surfaces between which the stems pass
are formed in several sections which act differentially upon the material for
effecting the preliminary operation of crushing the ligneous portion. Although
I do not limit myself to the exact arrangement and number of surfaces upon the
interior of jaws C C¹ in the example shown the surfaces are divided as follows;-
the portion 1 of the jaws at which the stems are entered is smooth or plain and
effects a preliminary breaking; the portion 2 is ribbed and commences the
crushing, while the part 3 which is striated or formed in zigzags completes the
crushing. The jaws may as seen in figure 3 be replaced by three pairs of vertical
rollers 1. 2. 3. the surfaces of which are similarly formed. The jaws may be made
hollow and heated by steam or otherwise for the purpose of completing the drying
of the material and so to facilitate its treatment; in some cases however, and
especially where the machine would be placed in a perfectly dry situation, the jaws
may be replaced by surfaces similarly arranged and operating.
The material on leaving the jaws C is presented to the action of beaters carried
by an endless chain f passing over rollers e (see figure 4) said beaters causing the
material to strike against a fixed plate e' figures 1 and 2 having a ribbed surface,
or the latter may be replaced by a series of blades i spring-hinged or oscillated by
means of a vertical rod l with which each of said blades is connected as shown in
figure 4. The beaters g are hinged to the chain f and against each a spring h bears
as shown.
The fibres are then subjected to the action of wood strips & mounted on
a belt or chain passing over rollers kk (see figure 5). The strips which are fixed
and preferably arranged in pairs as shown act on the material by pressing it
against another belt or chain having strips similarly arranged. This operation may
be replaced by that of the beaters employed in the previous operation acting either
on the inside or outside of a fixed surface k¹ figure 1.
The material is next brought under the action of brushes m (figure 7.) carried by
an endless chain mounted in an exactly similar manner to the beaters previously
described, the chain of brushes pressing over rollers n and cleaning the fibres by
contact with a fixed ribbed or fluted surface n¹.
The next operation is effected by the action of rollers o figure 6 mounted in a
similar manner to the brushes and beaters before mentioned on an endless chain
passing round rollers p by which it is operated, the material being pressed up to
the rollers by a fixed surface p¹.
Finally, and more particularly when preparing flax and hemp, I employ the
arrangement represented at 9 and consisting of a chain of rollers similar to that
described in figure 6; this arrangement is optional and the rollers may work
either against the inner side of a fixed surface q₁ as shown in full lines, or upon its
outer surface as shown in dotted lines in figure 2. This latter operation may also
have the effect of bleaching or whitening the fibres under treatment.
The fibres which have been treated are then tied in a bundle and reversed in
order to subject the opposite ends to similar treatment in the other half of the
machine.
One woman and child are sufficient to feed this machine to which any suitable
arrangement of fan or exhaust may be adapted for the purpose of carrying off the
dust and waste produced during the operations.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is;
1st The herein described machine for decorticating and preparing ramie and
other fibrous plants in which each stem is brought vertically and continously
under the action of the various parts of the machine by which the several
operations are successively performed substantially as specified.
2nd In a machine for decorticating and preparing ramie, the combination of the
whole or part of the herein-described beaters, blades, brushes, and rollers, whereby
the stalks fed vertically into the machine are subjected to the different treatments
necessary for bringing the material into a condition suited for spinning, substan-
tially as described and shown in the drawings.