Machinery Connected therewith.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Oct., 1886.
Complete Left, 29th July, 1887.
Complete Accepted, 23rd Sept., 1887.
and in Machinery Connected therewith.
I GEORGE WALKER of Newtownards, County Down, Ireland, Flax and Hemp
Spinner do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Hitherto in order to soften hemp or other fibres especially those of the flax and
hemp tribe and prepare them for the heckling and subsequent operations it has been
usual to pass them between bruising, pressing or squeezing rollers whereby the woody
matter or shive and the resinous or gummy matter contained therein are loosened or
removed. A good result has sometimes been attained when the fibres have been
previously submitted to the action of chemical substances but these frequently affect
the fibre injuriously.
Now by means of my invention I effect the softening of the fibres in a much more
efficient manner while the use of chemicals is (at least in the case of most fibres)
unnecessary.
The invention essentially consists in submitting the fibres in the form of twisted
strands or ropes to the action of bruising, pressing or squeezing rollers or cylinders
either plain or fluted; I find that by passing the fibres in this form between a
sufficient number of pairs of rollers or cylinders, or a sufficient number of times
between a pair or pairs of rollers or cylinders heated by steam or otherwise not only
is the woody matter or shive effectually broken up but the resinous or gummy matter
is desiccated and reduced to powder so that it either falls out during the bruising
operation or during the subsequent processes of heckling &c.
The machinery for carrying out my invention can be arranged in various ways,
but I have designed for the purpose a special construction which I will now proceed
to describe. It is composed of a number of pairs of fluted (or plain) rollers,—say
30 pairs, more or less-arranged horizontally in succession in a suitable frame as in
some machines now employed for softening fibres. At the front or entrance end of
the machine is a horizontal plain or non fluted roller and below this roller is a row
of (say ten or twelve) mouths, conductors or guide openings in line with the space
Behind the plain roller is a
between the upper and lower rollers of the first pair.

page_text: beam or bar carrying upright arms or rods the number of which corresponds with
that of the guides above referred to. The twisted strand or rope to be operated on is
given off by a reel or drum mounted in a convenient position relatively to the
softening machine. The end of the strand is passed through the first mouth, that is
to say, the mouth at the extreme left or right of the series and is taken hold of by
the first pair of fluted rollers; these pass it on to the next pair and so on until it has
been passed through between the whole series of pairs of rollers; it is then returned
above (or below) the series of rollers and is led between the first and second uprights
and then over the plain roller; from the plain roller it is passed into the second
mouth;
it again goes through the whole series of fluted rollers, is returned above or
below them, then between the second and third uprights and over the plain roller to
the third mouth and so on until it has been passed into all the mouths in turn (or as
many of them as may be considered necessary) and as many times through the series
of fluted rollers and it finally issues at the rear or delivery end of the machine.
The series of mouths or guide openings are preferably adjustable and are graduated,
that is to say, they become gradually smaller from the first to the last of the series so
as to be adapted to the gradual diminution in thickness of the strand of fibre and
also to be capable of giving a sort of quarter turn or revolution to the strand as it
enters it in the more or less flat state into which it has been squeezed by the previous
passage through the fluted rollers. The rollers or some of them are preferably heated
internally by steam or otherwise so as to impart heat to the fibre; and in order
that the heat may not become wastefully dissipated, or the fibres get cooled as they
return over or under the rollers, I cover in the series with wood or other suitable
material.
Another arrangement of machinery suitable for bruising or squeezing a twisted
strand or rope of fibre in accordance with my invention consists of a pair of heavy
cylinders between which the strand or rope is passed a number of times in a spiral
manner, that is to say, it is led by means of guides spirally around one of the cylinders
while the other produces the required pressure. Either or both of the cylinders may
be internally heated.
For the purpose of forming the twisted strand or rope of fibre ready to be
submitted to the bruising or squeezing operation, I employ a machine in which an
endless belt on which the fibres are laid longitudinally and which passes over rotating
rollers at each end of its travel, feeds the fibres in a continuous stream to conductors
which lead them to a pair of pressing rollers; the stream of fibres passes from these
rollers through a nozzle, preferably bell-mouthed at its delivery end, to a reel or
drum; this reel has two motions, viz. :-first a rotary motion at right angles to the
line of travel of the fibre whereby the fibre becomes twisted between the reel and the
drawing rollers, and secondly, a rotary motion on its own axis whereby the rope as it
becomes twisted is wound upon the reel. When the reel is full, it is removed
and is ready to give off its rope to the bruising or squeezing machine above
described.

page_text: and in Machinery Connected therewith.
1 GEORGE WALKER, of Newtownards, County Down, Ireland, Flax and Hemp
Spinner, 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 :-
Hitherto in order to soften hemp or other fibres, especially those of the flax and
hemp tribe, and prepare them for the heckling and subsequent operations it has been
usual to pass them between bruising, pressing or squeezing rollers or to submit them
to a beetling and bruising process whereby the woody matter or shive and the resinous
or gummy matter contained therein are loosened or removed. A good result has
sometimes been attained when the fibres have been previously submitted to the
action of chemical substances but these frequently affect the fibre injuriously.
Now by means of my invention I effect the softening of the fibres in a much more
efficient manner while the use of chemicals is (at least in the case of most fibres)
unnecessary.
The invention essentially consists in submitting the fibres in the form of twisted
strands or ropes to the action of bruising, pressing or squeezing rollers or cylinders
either plain or fluted. I find that by passing the fibres in this form between a
sufficient number of pairs of rollers or cylinders or a sufficient number of times
between a pair or pairs of rollers or cylinders heated by steam or otherwise not only
is the woody matter or shive effectually broken up but the resinous or gummy matter
is desiccated and reduced to powder so that it either falls out during the bruising
operation or during the subsequent processes of beckling, &c.
The machinery for carrying out my invention can be arranged in various ways but
I have designed for the purpose a special construction, which is represented in side
elevation in Figure 1, and in plan in Figure 2 (Sheet 1), of the annexed drawings,
and which I will now proceed to describe. It is composed of a number of pairs of
fluted rollers 37, 37 arranged horizontally and in succession in a suitable frame as in
some machines now employed for softening fibres; the machine is represented as
having twenty three pairs of these rollers, but the number may be more or less, and
they may be either plain or fluted and when fluted the flutes may be spiral or
otherwise. The rollers are driven from the shaft of the driving pulleys 38 through
the intermediation of gearing 39, 40, 41, 42. At the front or entrance end of the
machine is. a horizontal plain or non-fluted roller 32 for supporting the fibre and
below or behind this roller is a row of mouths, conductors or guide openings 33 in
line with the space between the upper and lower rollers of the first pair. Twelve of
these mouths or guide openings are shown but the number may be more or less.
Behind the series of mouths 33 is a beam or bar carrying upright arms or posts 35
the number of which corresponds with that of the mouths 33. The twisted strand or

page_text: rope to be operated on is given off by a reel or drum mounted in a convenient
position relatively to the softening machine. The end of the strand is passed under
the roller 32 and through the first mouth, that is to say, the mouth at the extreme
right of the series (or it might be the one at the extreme left) and is taken hold of by
the first pair of fluted rollers; these pass it on to the next pair and so on until it has
been passed through between the whole series of pairs of rollers; it then passes above
(or it may be passed below) the series of rollers 37 and is led between the first and
second posts 35 and then over and under the roller 32; from this roller it is passed
into the second mouth; it again goes through the whole series of fluted rollers, is
returned above (or below) the same, then between the second and third uprights
and over and under the roller 32 to the third mouth and so on until it has been
passed into all the mouths in turn (or as many of them as may be considered
necessary) and as many times through the series of fluted rollers and it finally issues
at the rear or delivery end of the machine. I find in practice that it is better to
return the strand or rope underneath the series of rollers for a portion of the times
that it travels through the machine, but it may be returned always above the rollers
or always below them as thought best. When the strand is returned below it passes
over the roller 36 at the further end of the machine and on reaching the front end it
passes under the roller 32 instead of over it. The series of mouths or guide
openings 33, one of which is shown separately on a larger scale in Figure 3
(Sheet 2), are preferably adjustable by means of the screw 25 and are graduated,
that is to say, they become gradually smaller from the first to the last of the series so
as to be adapted to the gradual diminution in thickness of the strand of fibre and also
to be capable of giving a sort of quarter turn or revolution to the strand as it enters
or passes through it in the more or less flat state into which it has been squeezed by
the previous passage through the fluted rollers; a fresh surface of the strand will
thus be presented to the action of the rollers. 43 represents steam piping situated
below the rollers 37 by means of which these and the fibre are heated, and, in order
that the heat may not become wastefully dissipated, or the fibres get cooled, I cover
in the series with a cover 44 of wood or other suitable material. This cover is seen
in Figure 1 but is removed in Figure 2.
Instead of returning the twisted fibre below the series of rollers every time it
reaches the further end of the machine it may be returned above them; in this case
the fibre after passing between the posts 35 would go first over instead of under the
roller 32 and then to the next mouth 33.
Another arrangement of machinery suitable for bruising or squeezing a twisted
strand or rope of fibre in accordance with my invention is represented in Figures 4
and 5, Sheet 2, and consists of a pair of heavy cylinders 20 and 21 between which
the strand or rope is passed a number of times in a spiral manner, that is to say, it
is by means of guides led spirally around one of the cylinders while the other
produces the required pressure. Either or both of the cylinders may be internally
heated. The cylinders 20 and 21 are driven from the shaft of the driving pulleys 27
through the intermediation of gearing 28, 29. 26 is a plain roller over which the
twisted fibre passes to the mouths 24. 22 and 23 are diverging guides for guiding
the twisted fibre and keeping it stretched and evenly or spirally led round the
cylinder 21. As in the arrangement shown in Figures 1 and 2 the mouths 24 are
adjustable by means of the screw 25 and are also graduated for the purpose already
explained. 30 and 31 are steam pipes for heating cylinder 21.
For the purpose of forming the twisted strand or rope of fibre ready to be
submitted to the bruising or squeezing operation any suitable machine or apparatus
can be employed but I prefer to employ the machine represented in side elevation in
Figure 6 and in plan in Figure 7, Sheet 3, which in its general construction
resembles machines now in use for cognate purposes but which I have improved and
amplified so as to adapt it for my present object. In this machine an endless belt 1,
on which the fibres are laid longitudinally, passes over rotating rollers at each end of
its travel and feeds the fibres in a continuous stream to conductors 1 which lead
them to a pair of pressing rollers 2, 3 fitted with levers 4, 4 and weights 5, 5; the

page_text: stream of fibres passes from these rollers through a nozzle 6, preferably bell mouthed
as shown at its delivery end, to a reel or drum 8; the fibre is guided to the reel by
a director 7 (shown separately on a larger scale in Figure 8, Sheet 2) having a
universal joint to ensure uniform winding; the reel has two motions viz.: first, a
rotary motion at right angles to the line of travel of the fibre whereby the fibre
becomes twisted between the reel and the pressing rollers 2, 3, and secondly a rotary
motion on its own axis whereby the rope as it becomes twisted is wound upon the
reel. The rotary motion of the reel at right angles to the line of travel of the fibre
is obtained from the driving shaft through the intermediation of the gearing 14, 15.
The rotary motion of the reel on its own axis is obtained by means of a belt passing
over the pulleys 9, 10 and 11. 12 is a brake strap on the pulley 11 for regulating
the speed of the winding motion and 13 is a friction brake on the driving pulley to
be used for stopping and starting the machine. 16, 17 and 18 are gearing for
imparting motion to the pressing rollers 2, 3 and to the endless belt 1. 19 is a lever
with connections to the brake 13 for stopping and starting the machine.
When the reel 8 is full, it is removed, and is ready to give off its rope to the bruising
or squeezing machine above described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The process of softening or preparing hemp and other fibres which consists in
submitting them in the form of twisted strands or ropes to the action of bruising,
pressing or squeezing rollers or cylinders, substantially as herein before described.
2. The particular arrangement of machine herein before described with reference to
Figures 1 and 2, for the purpose set forth.
3. The particular arrangement of machine herein before described with reference to
Figures 4 and 5, for the purpose set forth.
4. The employment of a series of graduated and preferably adjustable mouths or
guides for the purpose of conducting the twisted strand or rope to the bruising,
pressing or squeezing rollers or cylinders, whereby the strand or rope on passing
through each successive mouth or guide receives a sort of turning movement, as and
for the purpose explained.
5. The employment of diverging guides, substantially as hereinbefore described
and represented in Figures 4 and 5, for the purpose of conducting the twisted strand
or rope to the series of mouths leading to the bruising, pressing or squeezing
cylinders when only a pair of these cylinders is employed.
6. The combination of parts hereinbefore described and represented in Figures 6
and 7 constituting a machine for forming a twisted strand or rope of fibre ready to be
submitted to the bruising or squeezing operation hereinbefore set forth.
Dated this 21st day of July 1887