A Machine for Breaking or Decorticating and Scutching Fibrous Plants, Stems, or Straws, such as Ramie, Hemp, and the like, Throughout the Length thereof at One Operation.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Aug.; 1895
Complete Specification Left: 14th May, 1896 Accepted, 20th June, 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A Machine for Breaking or Decorticating and Scutching Fibrous
Plants, Stems, or Straws, such as Ramie, Hemp, and the like,
Throughout the Length thereof at One Operation.
We, TAYLOR BURROWS of 88, Upper Kennington Lane, London, Engineer,
and DICK EDWARDS RADCLIFFE of 56 Gloucester Crescent, Regent's Park,
London, Gentleman; do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to a machine or apparatus to both break or decorticate
and scutch fibrous plants stems or straws such as ramie (known also as china
grass or rhea) hemp jute etc. at both ends thereof that is throughout their length
at one operation viz. by passing same once through this machine-the present
invention being especially designed and adapted for separating the fibre or fibrous
parts from the boon or woody part and pellicule (or the greater part thereof) of
ramie or the like plants stems or straws especially while in the green state so as
to get such fibre into the condition known in England as china grass or the
filasse
of china grass although of course this machine may be used for
treating any other fibrous plants stems and straws for which same may be
applicable or adapted.
"
The present invention is as follows:-
In a suitable standard or frame one or more pairs of feed-crushing rollers are
arranged and mounted of any suitable character but advantageously fluted.
For the sake of example we will describe one pair only of such feed crushing
rolls which for the sake of brevity we will hereinafter refer to as the "crushing
rolls."
These crushing rolls are so arranged as to revolve together first in one direction
and then in the other as and for the purposes hereinafter explained.
For this purpose said crushing rolls may be driven in any suitable manner and
the direction of rotation changed by any suitable reversing mechanism for instance
on one end of each roller a toothed wheel may be mounted these two toothed
wheels intergearing and thus ensuring said two rolls revolving ideutically while on
the other end of the axle or shaft of one of the rollers any. well known bevel
change driving mechanism or reversing clutch or other suitable reversing
mechanism may be mounted and so arranged that same can be automatically
operated on (as hereinafter described) by a moving part of the feeding mechanism
so as thus at the right moments to cause the reversal in the direction of revolution
of said rolls through the medium of any suitable system of levers or other suitable
mechanism or intermediate gear or such clutch or reversing motion may be operated
by any other suitable means or by hand lever or pedal action if desired but
advantageously automatically.
Behind said crushing rolls are arranged one or more pair of scutching rollers
or scutching devices which are caused to constantly revolve in one direction
only at a very much higher rate of speed than the aforesaid crushing rolls.
These scutching devices or rollers may be of any suitable character, for the
purpose (and either larger or otherwise than the crushing rolls) but advantageously
may consist of one or more pairs of deeply fluted or furrowed or bladed metal

page_text: rollers the flutes or blades on each pair of which more or less deeply intersect
but advantageously so arranged that the flutes or blades on one such scutching
roller never touches the blades or flutes on the other roller with which it
intersects.
Also in front but below the said crushing rollers there are one or more further
pairs of similar or other suitable scutching rollers (or these may be beaters or both
may be used) which also revolve constantly in one direction and beneath the last-
named pair of scutching rollers or beaters or other scutching device a table or
endless band or a receptacle may be arranged to receive the fibre or fibrous material
as same comes from the machine.
The feeding arrangement and its operation of the aforesaid reversing motion to
reverse the aforesaid crushing rolls at the right moments forms a very important
and essential feature of the present invention and is as follows:-.
On suitable arms projections or supports advantageously carried on or by the
main frame of the machine a stationary feed table is arranged of sufficient length
to receive thereon the plants stems or straws to be treated.
An endless chain (rope or band or equivalent) is arranged to continuously travel
round and round on each side of said table for instance if chains be used these are
caused to travel round sprocket wheels at or near each end of said feed table
motion being imparted to these sprocket wheels in any suitable manner.
The upper part of each such chains would be just level or thereabouts with the
top of said fixed table so that a cross rod or L-shaped bar (or same may be
U-shaped or any other suitable form or shape) fixed to or carried on said two
chains will be carried round and round by these travelling chains and pass over
and along said table and then descend at the end thereof next the crushing rollers
and pass back underneath said table and come up at the opposite end and pass over
the top of said table again and so on.
The end or ends of this cross bar (which we will term the "pusher bar") may
be prolonged or be so formed or arranged or have mounted thereon any suitable
projection or device (or a suitable separate projection or cross bar or device may
be separately mounted on the said travelling endless chains or equivalent) adapted
to engage a finger or lever arm or other device (connected to or in connection with
the said reversing motion) which lie in the path of travel of said projection etc. on
the travelling chain or cross bar thereon and adapted to be pushed aside or moved
in such manner by said projection etc. as to thereby impart the reversing
motion to said crushing rolls while a second lever arm or other device lying at
another point in the path of travel of said projection etc. is connected to said
reversing mechanism so as to cause the crushing rolls to be again reversed (and
resume their first direction of rotation) upon said projection etc. reaching and
operating said second lever etc. and so on..
The operation is as follows:-
While the aforesaid pusher bar is beneath the stationary table the sticks stems
or straws are laid on said table (which may be provided with side walls or guides)
where same rest until said pusher comes up behind them and pushes same along
the top of the table in between the crushing rolls.
The latter now seize and crush same (the peripheral speed of the crushing
rollers being about the same as the speed of travel of the said pusher bar) and
while still holding same firmly they are presented to the action of the aforesaid
more quickly revolving scutching rollers or devices until just as or just before the
back ends (ie. advantageously the root ends) of said stems etc. pass in between
said crushing rolls the pusher bar now automatically causes the reversal of the
direction of rotation of said crushing rolls (or same may be effected otherwise as
aforesaid) whereupon the stems etc. are now drawn back by said crushing rolls
against the action of the said scutching rolls and the back ends fall or are led or
forced down (advantageously by the pusher bar) in between the aforesaid second
set of scutching rollers or devices where they are now subjected to a second
scutching action while still held back between the crushing rolls until they pass

page_text: clear of the latter after which these rolls are reversed as aforesaid and the operation
repeated and so on.
Instead of the stationary feed table as aforesaid an endless travelling sheet or
feed apron or equivalent may be used (on an incline or horizontal) if desired
having a pusher bar as before carried round thereby or therewith and also
means to actuate the reversal mechanism of the crushing rolls as aforesaid.
66
"
Dated this 13th day of August 1895.
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A Machine for Breaking or Decorticating and Scutching Fibrous
Plants, Stems, or Straws, such as Ramie, Hemp, and the like,
Throughout the Length thereof at One Operation.
We, TAYLOR BURROWS of 88, Upper Kennington Lane, London, Engineer,
and DICK EDWARDS RADCLIFFE of 56 Gloucester Crescent, Regent's Park,
London, Gentleman, 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:-
This invention relates to a machine or apparatus to both break or decorticate
and scutch fibrous plauts stems or straws such as ramie (known also as china grass
or rhea) hemp jute etc. at both ends thereof that is throughout their length at
one operation viz.: by passing same once through this machine the present
invention being especially designed and adapted for separating the fibre or fibrous
parts from the boon or woody part and pellicule (or the greater part thereof) of
ramie or the like plants stems or straws especially while in the green state so as
to get such fibre into the condition known in England as china grass or the
"filasse" of china grass although of course this machine may be used for treating
any other fibrous plants stems and straws for which same may be applicable or
adapted.
The present invention is as follows:-
In a suitable standard or frame one or more pairs of feed-crushing rollers are
arranged and mounted of any suitable character but advantageously fluted.
66
For the sake of example we will describe one pair only of such feed crushing
rolls which for the sake of brevity we will hereinafter refer to as the crushing
rolls."
These crushing rolls are so arranged as to revolve together first in one direction
and then in the other as and for the purposes hereinafter explained.
For this purpose said crushing rolls inay be driven in any suitable manner and
the direction of rotation changed by any suitable reversing mechanism for instance
on one end of each roller a toothed wheel may be mounted these two toothed
wheels intergearing and thus ensuring said two rolls revolving identically while on
the other end of the axle or shaft of one of the rollers any well known bevel
change driving mechanism or reversing clutch or other suitable reversing mechanism
may be mounted and so arranged that same can be automatically operated on (as
hereinafter described) by a moving part of the feeding mechanism so as thus at the
right moments to cause the reversal in the direction of revolution of said rolls
through the medium of any suitable system of levers or other suitable mechanism
or intermediate gear or such clutch or reversing motion may be operated by any
other suitable means or by hand lever or pedal action if desired but advantageously
automatically.
Behind said crushing rolls are arranged one or more pair of scutching rollers or

page_text: scutching devices which are caused to constantly revolve in one direction only at
a very much higher rate of speed than the aforesaid crushing rolls.
These scutching devices or rollers may be of any suitable character for the
purpose (and either larger or otherwise than the crushing rolls) but advantageously
may consist of one or more pairs of deeply fluted or furrowed or bladed metal
rollers the flutes or blades on each pair of which more or less deeply intersect but
advantageously so arranged that the flutes or blades on one such scutching roller
never touches the blades or flutes on the other roller with which it intersects.
Also in front but below the said crushing, rollers there are one or more further
pairs of similar or other suitable scutching rollers (or these may be beaters or both
may be used) which also revolve constantly in one direction and beneath the last-
named pair of scutching rollers or beaters or other scutching device a table or
endless band or a receptacle may be arranged to receive the fibre or fibrous material
As same comes from the machine.
The feeding arrangement and its operation of the aforesaid reversing motion to
reverse the aforesaid crushing rolls at the right moment forms a very important
and essential feature of the present invention and is as follows:-
On suitable arms projections or supports advantageously carried on or by the
main frame of the machine a stationary feed table is arranged of sufficient length
to receive thereon the plants stems or straws to be treated..
An endless chain (rope band or equivalent), is arranged to continuously travel
round and round on each side of said table for instance if chains be used these are
caused to travel round sprocket wheels at or near each end of said feed table
motion being imparted to these sprocket wheels in any suitable manner.
The upper part of each such chain would be just level or thereabouts with the
top of said fixed table so that a cross rod or L-shaped bar (or same may be
U-shaped or any other suitable form or shape) fixed to or carried on said two
chains will be carried round and round by these travelling chains and pass over
and along said table and then descend at the end thereof next the crushing rollers
and pass back underneath said table and come up at the opposite end and pass over
the top of said table again and so on.
The end or ends of this cross bar (which we will term the " pusher bar") may
be prolonged or be so formed or arranged or have mounted thereon any suitable
projection or device (or a suitable separate projection or cross-bar or device may
be separately mounted on the said travelling endless chains or equivalent) adapted
to engage a finger or lever arm or other device (connected to or in connection
with the said reversing motion) which lie in the path of travel of said projection etc.
on the travelling chain or cross bar thereon and adapted to be pushed aside or
moved in such manner by said projection etc. as to thereby impart the reversing
motion to said crushing rolls while a second lever arm or other device lying at
another point in the path of travel of said projection etc. is connected to said
reversing mechanism so as to cause the crushing rolls to be again reversed (and
resume their first direction of rotation) upon said projection etc. reaching and
operating said second lever etc. and so on.
And in order that our present invention may be easily understood and readily
carried into practice we will proceed to fully describe same with reference to the
drawings hereunto aunexed:-
Fig. 1 is a plan of the machine.
Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view on line 1-1 Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is an end view on line 2-2 Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrow 2.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout.
A is the main frame of the machine and A' an extension or part thereof
supporting the feed table.
BB are fast and loose pulleys on the main driving shaft B of the machine and
driven by a driving belt from any suitable source of power.
C is a pulley or grooved wheel keyed or otherwise rigidly fixed, on the said
shaft B.

page_text: C¹ is a driving band or belt from the large pulley C to the small pulley D¹ on
the shaft D journalled in said frame A.
EF are a pair of very quickly revolving beating rollers the blades or beaters of
which intersect with one another but never touch,-one such set of blades or
beaters E being carried on the said shaft D and very quickly revolved by the said
Sinall pulley D¹.
On the end of the shaft D opposite to the pulley D¹ is a toothed wheel (uot
shown) which gears with a toothed wheel G¹ (see Fig. 3) on the shaft G carrying
the blades or beaters F whereby the latter are correspondingly revolved with the
bladed roller E.
Thus the bladed rollers E and F are revolved at a very high rate of speed.
His a small toothed wheel fixed also on the main shaft B and which gears with
the large toothed wheel H² fixed on the axle or shaft H whereby a comparatively
slow motion is imparted to said shaft H.
I is a very small pinion or toothed wheel which gears with said large toothed
wheel H said toothed wheel I being fixed on to or to the shaft or axle of the
roller J (having deep blades flutes or furrows therein-or constructed like the
rollers E and F) which shaft or axle at its other end has a toothed wheel (not
shown) which gears with a similar toothed wheel (not shown) fixed on the shaft of
the spring mounted roller K (similar to the said roller J) whereby the latter (K) is
revolved at the same high speed as the said roller J or the roller K may simply
be revolved (at equal high speed with the roller J) by reason of its blades or flutes
being pressed into those on the roller J by means of the springs L acting on its
bearings to force down said roller K normally against said roller J whereby the
former is caused to revolve by and with the latter.
M is a bevel toothed wheel on the slowly revolving shaft H which meshes with
and thereby revolves the bevel cog wheel N fixed on the shaft N' on the other end
of which fatter is the bevel cog wheel O-said shaft N¹ being journalled in
brackets N2 fixed to the main frame A.
The said bevel toothed wheel O gears with the two bevel cog wheels PQ which
latter are thereby continuously revolved (in opposite directions to each other)
freely on the shaft or axle R of the roller S of the pair of feed and crushing
rollers S S the latter of which S' may either be driven by a toothed wheel (not
shown) on the axle thereof gearing with a toothed wheel (not shown) on the axle
of the lower roller S or said roller S' may be an "idle roller which by means of
the strong springs S? (see Fig. 2) acting on the bearings thereof is firmly pressed
against the driven roller S and thereby revolved therewith.
دو
T is the clutch piece of the well-known type sliding on a feather on the shaft R
by which the latter is revolved backwards or forwards when the said clutch piece T
is thrown into gear with one or other of the bevel wheels P or Q as hereinafter
explained.
Tis a forked lever pivoted at T2 to a bracket Ts fixed to the frame A of the
machine the upper end of said pivoted lever T' being controlled by a spring T
fixed to another bracket T on said frame A.
The lower end of said lever T₁ being forked and embracing the said clutch
piece by which the latter is moved longitudinally along the shaft R as hereinafter
explained.
U is
a connecting rod pivoted at one end to the said lower or forked end of the
pivoted lever T' while at its other end this rod U is pivoted to the bell crank V
which latter is pivoted at V₁ to the main frame A. Thus when the free end of
said bell crank V is forced downwards as hereinafter explained thereby the clutch
piece T is drawn out of engagement with the bevel cog-wheel P and forced (against
the action of the spring T) into engagement with the bevel cog wheel and
thereby the direction of rotation of the roller S is reversed.
W is a toothed wheel (loose on the shaft R) fixed to or forming part of the
bevel wheel P whereby said toothed wheel W is constantly revolved in the same
direction as the bevel wheel P (the said toothed wheel W gearing with a toothed

page_text: wheel X see Fig. 1) the latter being fixed on the shaft Y by which means the
feeding motion is imparted and the mechanism for reversing the roller S S¹ actuated
as hereinafter explained.
Z is the feed table in the case illustrated formed by a board or plank fixed to the
frame A¹
a a' are sprocket wheels fixed on the shaft Y at opposite sides of the fixed feed
table Z.
bbare endless chains driven by said sprocket wheels a a¹ at one end and
passing round idle pulleys or loose rollers c c at the other end.
d is a cross rod or L-shaped bar (or same may be U-shaped or any other
suitable form or shape) advantageously of metal and fixed to or carried on said
two endless chains 6 6¹. (or equivalent endless ropes apron band etc.) so that said
cross rod d will be continuously carried round and round by these two driving
chains bb' in the direction shown by the arrows y in Figs. 1 and 2 and pass over
and along said table Z and then descend at the end thereof next the aforesaid
rollers S S¹ and pass back underneath said table Z and come up at the opposite
end thereof and pass over the top of said table Z again and so on.
One end of this cross bar (which we will term the "pusher bar") d is prolonged
at d' (or may have mounted thereon any suitable projection or device or a suitable
separate projection or cross bar or other device in addition to the said cross-bar d
can be separately mounted on the said endless travelling chains or equivalent)
adapted to engage the finger or arm of the aforesaid bell-crank V whereby the
latter is forced into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3 and thus the clutch
piece T is drawn out of connection with the bevel wheel P and put in connection
with the bevel wheel Q whereupon the direction of rotation of the shaft R and
roller S thereon is reversed.
e is a lever mounted by a collar el on the shaft Y said collar el having studs or
projections thereon which engage with a finger U connected to the aforesaid
lever U whereby the latter is raised and the clutch piece T moved out of the bevel
wheel into gear again with the bevel wheel P when the said lever e is pulled
over in the opposite direction to the arrow z as hereinafter explained.
is a long connecting rod pivoted at one end to the lever e and at the other end
to a lever arm g which latter at its other end is pivoted at g' to a bracket or other
suitable support on the frame A¹
i is a weight or counter-balance fixed rigidly by the arm to the said short lever g.
j is another arm or lever fixed rigidly to the same pin or axis gl as that on which
the said short lever arm g is fixed. This arm or lever j being interposed in the
path of travel of the said projection d¹.
m is endless band with battens or ribs n thereon carried on the rollers o and
caused to travel continuously in the direction of the arrows by the chain p
passing round the sprocket wheel o' fixed to the roller o and the sprocket wheel q
fixed on the constantly revolving axle H whereby motion is thus imparted to said
endless travelling band m upon which the fibre drops or is delivered from the pair
of beaters E F and thereby delivered at the end A of the machine convenient for
removal.
t is a board or shield at the other end of the machine i.e. behind the rollers J K
upon which the woody part or other matter removed from the fibrous material drops.
The operation is as follows:-
While the aforesaid pusher bar d is beneath the stationary table the fibrous
sticks stems or straws are laid on said table Z (which may be provided with side
walls or guides along each side if desired) where same rest until said pusher bar d
comes up (round the pulloys c c¹) behind them and pushes same along the top of the
table Z so as to feed them in between the crushing rolls S S¹. The latter now
seize and crush said sticks stems or straws (the peripheral speed of the crushing
rolls S S being about the same as the speed of travel of the said endless chains bb
and pusher bard thereon) and while still holding them firmly present same to the
action of the aforesaid more quickly revolving scutching or beating devices or

page_text: rollers J K until just as or just before the back ends (i.e. advantageously the root.
ends) of said stems etc. pass in between said crushing rolls S S₁ the end d' of the
pusher bar d now strikes the finger or arm of the bell-crank lever V and thereby
causes the reversal of the direction of rotation of said crushing rolls S S₁ (or
this reversal may be effected in any equivalent or other suitable manner as desired)
whereupon the stems etc. are now drawn back by said crushing rolls S S¹ against.
the action of the said scutching rolls J K and the back ends of said stems etc.
fall or are led or are forced downwards (by the pusher bar d or otherwise) and
pass in between the aforesaid second set of very quickly revolving scutching or
beating devices or rollers E F where that part of the back end of the stems etc..
which has not passed in between the rollers J K is now subjected to a scutching
or beating action between E & F while the remainder of the length of these
stems etc. which had already been subjected to one action between the rollers J K
is now subjected to a second scutching or beating action while still held between.
the crushing rolls S S until they pass clear of the latter whereupon the cleaned
fibre drops from between the said rollers or devices E F either on to the travelling
delivery belt m as aforesaid or the fibres may be delivered or removed in any
other suitable manner.
Meantime the pusher bar d has been travelling along beneath the table Z and
after the fibres have been delivered clear of the rollers S S-the end or
projection on said pusher bar d now arrives and strikes against the lever j
(Figs. 1 and 2) whereby the lever arm g and weight or counter-balance i fixed
thereon are thrown into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2 and thus, by
means of the connecting rod f the lever e is pulled over into the position shown in
dotted lines in Fig. 2 the stud or projection e' strikes the finger U₁ and thereby
returns the bell-crank lever V and connecting rod U into their original position
shown in full lines in Fig. 3 and thus the clutch piece T is thrown out of connection
with the bevel wheel Q and into connection again with the bevel wheel P whereby
the shaft R with the roller S thereon is again driven forwards in the direction
shown by the small arrows in Fig. 2.
The pusher bar d now comes round the pulleys cc' again and feeds in the next.
lot of sticks straws or stems laid on said table Z when the operation is repeated
and so on-the reversal of the direction of the rollers S S¹ being thus automatically
effected.
Instead of the stationary feed table as aforesaid an endless travelling sheet or
feed apron or equivalent may be used (either on an incline or horizontal) if desired
having a pusher bar as before carried round thereby or therewith and also means
to actuate the reversing mechanism of the crushing rolls S S¹ as aforesaid.
The fibrous stems sticks or plants vary from one another considerably in their
length and consequently it is important that the back end of all the stems in each
lot fed into the machine should all arrive together and evenly at the feed crushing
rolls otherwise the shorter stems would be liable to pass through the rollers S S¹
before the reversal of the latter took place and consequently would not be with-
drawn by said rollers S S¹ and presented to the beaters E F.
Now the pusher bar d arranged and acting endwise on the said stems to push
same into the feed-crushing rollers (as described) consequently ensures the said
back ends all arriving simultaneously at the feed crushing rollers S S¹ and as same
are thus all in a line and as the reversal of said rollers is caused to take place
(advantageously by said pusher bar d) just as said pusher bar d and the tail ends
pushed thereby arrive close to the rollers S S' therefore all the stems are crushed
equally and are all drawn back by said rollers S S¹.
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
olaim is :-
-
1. A machine for breaking or decorticating and scutching fibrous plants stems or
straws such as ramic or the like throughout the length thereof at one operation―

page_text: having in combination a pair of feed crushing rollers such as S S¹ adapted to
revolve in either direction and to be reversed without stopping the machine a pair
of more quickly revolving scutching decorticating or beating rollers such as J K
behind said rollers S S¹ and constantly revolved in one direction only a second pair
of quickly revolving beating rollers or devices such as E F arranged below said
crushing rollers S S¹ and means actuated by the fibre feeding device to cause the
alternate reversal of the said rollers S S¹ substantially in the manner and for the
purposes herein before set forth.
2. In a machine for the purposes described the arrangement and combination of
two pairs of rollers such as J K and E F each pair revolving in one direction only
but in the opposite direction to the other pair with a pair of crushing rollers such
as S S¹ between said two pairs of rollers J K and E F said rollers S S¹ being
adapted to revolve in either direction means to impart motion to said rollers in
either direction without reversing or stopping the machine a lever or system of
levers connected to said reversing mechanism some part or parts of which is or are
interposed at two points in the path of travel of a projection or device carried on or
by the feeding mechanism an endless travelling feed apron belt or chains such
as bb carrying round there with a pusher bar such as d to push the stems end wise
and a finger or projection such as d which latter at one point of its travel strikes
one of the reversing devices such as V and at another point strikes a reversing
device such as ; all arranged and acting-to automatically reverse said crushing
rolls SS substantially in the manner and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.
3. A machine for breaking or decorticating and scutching fibrous plants stems
or straws throughout the length thereof at one operation. arranged constructed
combined and acting substantially in the manner and for the purposes hereinbefore
described and illustrated in the drawings hereunto annexed.
Dated this 14th day of Mar 1896
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.