A NEW OR IMPROVED MACHINE FOR DRESSING AND SEPARATING THE FIBRES OF CERTAIN FIBROUS SUBSTANCES, THE SAME BEING SPECIALLY APPLICABLE FOR TREATING RHEA OR CHINA GRASS.
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to David Greig and John Greig, both of Edinburgh,
in the County of Mid Lothian, North Britain, for the Invention of
"A NEW OR IMPROVED MACHINE FOR DRESSING AND SEPARATING THE FIBRES
OF CERTAIN FIBROUS SUBSTANCES, THE SAME BEING SPECIALLY APPLICABLE FOR
TREATING RHEA OR CHINA GRASS.-A. communication from abroad by
John Greig, the younger, of Nassick, in the Dominion of British
India.
Sealed the 29th November 1870, and dated the 11th June 1870.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said David Greig and John
Greig at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their
Petition, on the 11th June 1870.
We, DAVID GREIG and JOHN GREIG, both of Edinburgh, in the
County of Mid Lothian, North Britain, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention of "A NEW OR IMPROVED MACHINE FOR DRESSING AND
SEPARATING THE FIBRES OF CERTAIN FIBROUS SUBSTANCES, THE SAME BEING
SPECIALLY APPLICABLE FOR TREATING RHEA OR CHINA GRASS," to be as follows,
that is to say :-
This Invention which relates to a new or improved machine to be

page_text: employed in cleansing and separating the fibres of certain fibrous sub-
stances, and which machine is specially applicable for treating rhea or
China grass, consists of a framing, at the top or upper end of which a
number of fluted rollers are arranged. The rhea or China grass or other
fibrous substance to be operated upon is caused to pass between these
fluted rollers, being delivered thereto by a travelling table or platform.
As the stalks of rhea or China grass or other fibrous substance being
operated upon pass between the fluted rollers, their cores of pith are
broken, and the outer shell or skin is likewise broken up. The stalks of
material then pass down between one of the fluted rollers and a pressure
roller and are thence conducted between two rollers placed parallel with
each other, and which rollers are provided with a series of knives or
scrapers. By means of these knives or scrapers the short pieces of pith
are separated and thrashed away, and at the same time the skin or shell
of the grass is divested of the mucilaginous and vegetable matters
adhering thereto. As the ribbons of fibre pass between the knives they
are blown by a revolving brush between two rollers, and are delivered
thereby to another travelling table or web by which they are removed
from the machine. When the roots or thickest ends of the stalks of
grass have passed between the fluted rollers this portion of the stalks
falls down and is caught between a second set of revolving knives or
scrapers which act in a similar manner to the knives or scrapers herein-
before mentioned.
By this arrangement the whole length of the fibre is
cleaned at one operation.
In order that the fibre may be more perfectly cleaned a tank or box is
placed on the top of the machine. This tank or box is provided
with a cock and perforated pipe, and by this means water or other liquid
is discharged on the rhea or China grass or other fibrous substance being
operated unon
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, 3
filed by the said David Greig and John Greig in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 8th December 1870.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, 3
filed by the said David Greig and John Greig in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 8th December 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, DAVID
GREIG and JOHN GREIG, both of Edinburgh, in the County of Mid
Lothian, North Britain, send greeting.
3

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eleventh day of June, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy, in the 33rd
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto us, the said David Greig and John Greig, Her special
license that we, the said David Greig and John Greig, our executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said David
Greig and John Greig, our executors, administrators, or assigns, should
at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all
times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an
Invention for "A NEW OR IMPROVED MACHINE FOR DRESSING AND SEPARATING
THE FIBRES
FIBROUS SUBSTANCES, THE
APPLICABLE FOR TREATING RHEA OR CHINA GRASS," a communication from
John Greig, the younger, of Nassick, in the Dominion of British
India, upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said David
Greig and John Greig, by an instrument in writing under our hands
and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
OF CERTAIN
BAME
⚫ BEING SPECIALLY
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said David Greig and John Greig,
do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement, reference being had to
the accompanying Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked
thereon, that is to say:-
Our said Invention which relates to a new or improved machine to
be employed in cleansing and separating the fibres of certain fibrous
substances, and which machine is specially applicable for treating rhea.
or China grass, consists of a framing, at the top or upper end of which
a number of fluted rollers are arranged. The rhea or China grass or
other fibrous substance to be operated upon is caused to pass between
these fluted rollers, being delivered thereto by a travelling table or
platform. As the stalks of rhea or China grass or other fibrous sub-
stance being operated upon pass between the fluted rollers their cores
or pith are broken and the outer shell or skin is likewise broken up.

page_text: The stalks of material then pass down between one of the fluted rollers
and a pressure roller, and are thence conducted between two rollers
placed parallel with each other, and which rollers are provided with a
series of knives or scrapers. By means of these knives or scrapers the
short pieces of pith are separated and thrashed away, and at the same t
time the skin or shell of the grass is divested of the mucilaginous
and vegetable matters adhering thereto. As the ribbons of fibre pass
between the knives they are blown by a revolving brush between two
rollers, and are delivered thereby to another travelling table or web by
which they are removed from the machine. When the roots or thickest 1
ends of the stalks of grass have passed between the fluted rollers this
portion of the stalks falls down and is caught between a second set of
revolving knives or scrapers which act in a similar manner to the knives
or scrapers herein-before mentioned. By this arrangement the whole
length of the fibre is cleaned at one operation. In order that the fibre 1
may be more perfectly cleaned a tank or box is placed on the top of the
machine. This tank or box is provided with a cock and perforated
pipe, and by this means water or other liquid is discharged on the rhea
or China grass or other fibrous substance being operated upon.
And in order that our said Invention may be properly understood we 2
now proceed more particularly to set forth the system, mode, or manner
in or under which the same is or may be used or practically carried
into effect, that is to say :-
On the Sheet of Drawings hereunto appended, Figure 1 is a side
elevation, Figure 2 an end elevation, and Figure 3 a plan of the machine 2
or apparatus which constitutes my said Invention.
This machine consists of two side frames A, A, at the tops or upper
ends of which the bearings of a number of fluted rollers B, C, and D
respectively are supported, as shown more particularly in side elevation
at Figure 1. The rhea or China grass or other fibrous substance to be 3
operated upon is passed between the rollers B, C, and D, being led
thereto by the traversing table or platform E, more particularly seen in
plan at Figure 3. At that side of the fluted roller B opposite to the
travelling table or platform E a pressure roller F is placed, as shown in
dotted lines at Figure 1, which roller is, by preference, covered with 3
india-rubber or other elastic material, and immediately underneath the
roller F two revolving rollers or drums G placed parallel with each other
and fitted with a number of radial knives or blades x are supported by
bearings placed in the framing A, as shown at Figure 1. The rhca or

page_text: China grass or other substance being operated upon is caused to pass
between the rollers G, as herein-after more particularly described, and
after passing between the said rollers it is blown by the revolving brush
or fan H between the india-rubber or other elastic pressure roller I, and
the travelling table or platform J, seen more particularly at Figure 1.
The platform or table J is caused to travel round the carrying rollers a
and 6 by means of the bevil pinion c fixed on the axis of the roller b,
and gearing with the corresponding pinion d on the lower end of the
shaft K, which shaft is rotated by the bevil pinion e placed on the
axis of the fluted roller B, and in gear with the bevil pinion f fixed on
the upper end of the shaft K, as shown at Figures 1, 2, and 3, or in
place of traversing the platform J by the mechanism now last described
it may be traversed by an endless pitch chain gearing into pitch pulleys
placed one on the axis of the fluted roller B, and the other on the axis
of the roller b, or the platform J may be otherwised traversed. The
bearings of the roller a which support the outer end of the endless.
travelling table or platform J, are carried in brackets L, bolted to the
framings A, as shown at Figures 1 and 3. At the lower part of the
main framing A another pair of revolving drums or rollers M, provided
with a series of radial knives or scrapers r, similar to those herein-before
described, in reference to the drums or rollers G, are situated, and under
each of the drums or rollers M a revolving brush or fan N is placed as
shown at Figures 1 and 2. The various rollers and traversing portions of
the machine are actuated in the manner now about to be set forth. On
one end of a shaft O supported in that part of the main framing marked P,
Figure 1, fast and loose driving pulleys Q and R respectively are placed
as shewn at Figures 2 and 3. By a driving belt passing over the pulley Q
motion is transmitted (from any prime mover which may be employed
to actuate the machine) to the shaft O and thence to the spur wheel S
carried at that end of the shaft O opposite the end of the shaft whereon
the pulley Q is carried and from the spur wheel S the motion is trans-
mitted to the two spur pinions T and T¹, placed loosely on studs g, as
shown more particularly at Figures 1 and 2. On the backs of the pinions
T, T', other spur wheels U, U¹, are cast as shown, and as the said pinions
T, T', are caused to rotate by the spur wheel S the wheels U, U¹, com-
municate the motion to one of the revolving drums or rollers G and M
in each set, the said drums or rollers G and M having spur pinions V, V,
placed on their axes, which gear into the wheels U, U'; as the drums or
rollers on the axes of which the wheels V are placed revolve they

page_text: transmit motion to the corresponding roller in each set through the
intervention of the spur wheel Z placed on the ends of their axes opposite
to the wheels V as shewn at Figures 2 and 3, and which wheels Z are of
equal diameter. The spur wheel U also actuates the revolving brush or
fan H through the medium of the pinion X, and the wheel U¹ com-
municates a similar motion to the revolving brush N by actuating the
pinion Y attached to the axis thereof. The other revolving brushes N¹
and N respectively are rotated by the spur wheels W, W', gearing with
their respective pinions k, k¹, as shown at Figures 1 and 3, and more
especially at Figure 1. On the herein-before mentioned shaft O a spur
pinion m is also fixed, as shown at Figures 2 and 3, which gears with the
intermediate pinion n from which the fluted roller B is rotated through
the intervention of the large spur wheel p shown at Figures 1, 2 and 3,
and the endless table or platform E is caused to travel at the same linear
rate as the fluted roller B by means of the endless pitch chain S¹ passed
round pitch pulleys & placed respectively on the axes of the rollers B and
u as shown.
Having now described the various details of mechanism which con-
stitute our improved machine or apparatus for dressing and separating
the fibres of rhea or China grass and other fibrous substances, we
now proceed to set forth more particularly its mode of operation. The
stalks of rhea or China grass or other fibrous material to be operated
upon, are in the first place spread on the travelling platform or table E,
and as the said platform or table is traversed the stalks are caught
between the fluted rollers B, C, and D, where their cores or pith are a
broken and the outer shell or skin is likewise broken up. The fibres
then pass down between the roller B and the pressure roller F, as shown
at Figure 1, and are thence conducted between the revolving drums or
rollers G, and by means of the knives or scrapers x attached thereto, as
herein-before set forth, the short pieces of pith which have been broken a
by the action of the fluted rollers B, C, and D are separated and thrashed
away, and at the same time the skin or shell of the grass is divested
of the mucilaginous and vegetable matters adhering thereto. As the
ribbons or strips of fibres pass from contact with the knives or scrapers x,
they become suspended vertically and are blown between the pressure 3
roller I and the travelling table or platform J by means of the revolving
brush or fan H, actuated in the manner herein-before set forth. When
the roots or thicker ends of the stalks of fibre have passed between the

page_text: fluted rollers B, C, and D, they fall downwards by their own weight, and
being suspended by the portions of the fibres held between the pressure
roller I and table or platform J, they come into contact with the lower
set of revolving knives or scrapers attached to the drums or rollers M,
by which the fibres of the said roots or thicker ends of the stalks are
likewise divested of the pieces of pith and adhering mucilaginous and
vegetable matters, and the now cleansed fibre is drawn upwards by the
friction between the pressure roller I and the travelling table or plat-
form J, by which table or platform it is conducted away from the
machine. By the arrangement of mechanism herein-before set forth
the whole length of the fibre is cleaned at one operation, and in order
to still further cleanse the fibre while it is being operated upon, a tank
or box is placed at the top of the framings A, A, as shown at
Figures 1 and 2. This tank is provided with a cock w and perforated rose
z, extending across the upper part of the machine, by means of which
water or other liquid may be discharged on the rhea fibre or China grass
or other fibrous material being operated upon. In order to prevent the
vegetable and mucilaginous matters from adhering to the knives or
scrapers and r whilst they are removing the said matters from the
fibres under treatment, the said knives or scrapers during their revolution
are caused to come in contact with the brushes N, N¹, and N2, and are
thereby kept free from the said matters.
It is to be understood that we do not confine ourselves to employ the
herein-before specified machine in the treatment of rhea or China grass
alone, as the apparatus with slight modifications is equally applicable
for the treatment of other fibrous substances, such for example as the
substance known as Manilla," for the treatment of which the fluted
rollers B, C, and D may be removed and smooth rollers substituted
therefor, and in lieu of the knives or scrapers x and being caused to
come in contact with revolving brushes N³, N³, respectively for the
purpose of keeping them free of the matters being removed from the
fibres under treatment, springs may be attached to the framing A
having pieces of soft metal or other material fixed thereto, against
which the said knives or scrapers x and may come in contact as they
rotate, or the knives or scrapers may be kept clean in any other suitable
manner.
It is further to be understood that a special feature of the mechanism
herein-before described is that it cleans the fibrous materials at one
operation in place of by two or more operations as in other machines.

page_text: Having now described the nature of our said Invention, and the
system, mode, or manner in or under which the same is or may be
used or practically carried into effect, we would observe in conclusion
that what we consider novel and original, and therefore claim as the
Invention secured to us by the herein-before in part recited Letters t
Patent is,―
The general arrangement and combination of parts constituting the
machine herein-before described and shown on the accompanying Sheet of
Drawings, or any mere modification thereof, and the employment of the
said machine for operating upon rhea fibre, commonly known as China 1
grass, or other fibrous substances, as herein-before set forth.
In witness whereof, we, the said David Greig and John Greig,
have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Third day of De-
cember One thousand eight hundred and seventy.
DAVID GREIG. (L.s.)
JOHN GREIG.
(L.S.)