Improvements in or relating to Apparatus for the Treatment of Various Fibrous Plants.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 29th July, 1595
Complete Specification Left, 29th Apr., 1896-Accepted, 4th July, 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Apparatus for the Treatment of
Various Fibrous Plants.
We, GUSTAVE EMILE SUBRA Engineer, and WALTER SMITH, Merchant,
both of 10 Norfolk Street, in the County of London, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to apparatus for dealing with ramic jute agave rhea and
other fibrous plants for the purpose of separating the fibrous portion which is of
value from the pith of other parts of the stem which are of little or no value.
In a previous Specification No. 23642 of 1894 we described an apparatus
consisting substantially of a pair of admission rollers which directed the stems to
the stripping wheels carrying blades at, some distance apart so that the blades of
one roller intercalated with the blades of the other, thus bending or breaking the
stem and stripping the fibrous material off the pith or other portions. From the
blades the fibre, from which the other portions had by this time been substantially
removed, was delivered to another pair of rollers which drew it from the stripping
blades and delivered it on to a travelling band; some or all of these rollers could
be driven by gearing. The present invention relates to improvements upon the
mechanism above described.
The improvements embrace three points,
First, we find it desirable to place the delivery rollers, which work in con-
junction with the travelling band, in a pivoted frame controlled by suitable
springs or the like, and carrying a gear plate or anvil adapted to be pressed by the
spring into more or less close contact with the blades of one of the stripping rollers.
The anvil plate need not necessarily be in contact with the strip or blades, and its
position may be varied according to the material being operated upon.
The object
of this plate is to ensure the pith or other portions of the stems near the ends being
stripped from the fibre, as we have found that with the previous construction there
was a risk of some portions of the ends of the stems not being entirely cleared.
We prefer to provide the spring with a rapid adjustment and a fine adjustment;
the rapid adjustment would preferably be obtained by employing a helical spring
and carrying it in a cup or equivalent, working in a slot in the framework, so that its
position could be quickly varied to a large extent. The fine adjustment may be
obtained by passing screwed spindles through the helical spring by means of a nut
compressing the spring more or less according to requirement.
The other portions of the invention relate to the means employed for causing the
strip or plates of one roller to engage with or press against the strip or plates
of the other roller, or to remain more nearly in contact than would be the case with
the original apparatus. In one instance we effect this by the gearing which connect
the respective rollers or their shafts so placing them that the blades of one roller
follow closely upon the blades of the other and so as either to touch or almost to
touch. The other way of accomplishing this is to connect one of the rollers
with its shaft by a spring connection so that the blades of one roller press
upon those of the other with the constant resilient pressure which while allowing
the stems to pass between the blades of the respective rollers would compress
them between those blades according to the strength of the spring. The details

page_text: of the spring arrangement may vary but the following description will serve to
indicate one way in which this may be effected.
In this arrangement the axle of one of the wheels carrying the stripping blades
has fixed upon it a disc or the equivalent thereof, carrying stops fitting into circular
grooves in the gear wheel by which the motion is to be imparted to the axle.
In each of these grooves is a helical spring, and stops are provided in grooves
adjustable in slots in the gear wheel so that the compression of the springs
between the two stops and consequently the pressure of the blades of one wheel upon
those of the other, can be varied. We prefer to employ two of these spring
adjustments so that they may balance each other and produce a more even result
than might be the case if only one were used. With this arrangement both of the
stripper blade wheels are driven--they are, in fact, geared together-but by the
intervention of the spring arrangement the blades of one of the wheels operate to
some extent independently of its axle thus producing the result above described.
Dated this 29th day of July 1895.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicants.
Improvements in or relating to Apparatus for the Treatment of
Various Fibrous Plants.
We, GUSTAVE EMILE SUBRA, Engineer, and WALTER SMITH, Merchant,
both of 10 Norfolk Street, in the County of London, 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 apparatus for dealing with ramie, jute, agave, rhea, and
other fibrous plants for the purpose of separating the fibrous portion which is of
value from the pith or other parts of the stem which are of little or no valne.
In a previous Specification No. 23642 of 1894 is described an apparatus
consisting substantially of a pair of admission rollers which directed the stems to
the stripping wheels or rollers carrying blades at some distance apart so that the
blades of one roller intercalated with the blades of the other, thus bending or
breaking the stem and stripping the fibrous material off the pith or other portions.
From the blades the fibre, from which the other portions had by this time been
substantially removed, was delivered to another pair of rollers which drew it
from the stripping blades and delivered it on to a travelling band; some or all of
these rollers could be driven by gearing. The present invention relates to improve-
ments upon the mechanism above described.
On reference to the accompanying drawings it will be seen that, in its entirety,
the machine is characterised by ;-
1. A pair of corrugated cylinders A A¹ which crush and retain the stems;
2. A pair of cylinders or stripping rollers B B with blades which beat and
disaggregate the wood and pulp;
3. A pair of cylinders C C¹ which are smooth and so arranged as to treat the
fibre-ends of the stems which might otherwise be missed by the beater-blades
of the cylinders B B¹;
all, with their respective gear, mounted in a frame, with a fixed apron or table
in front, to aid the introduction to the machine of the stems or stalks of the
textile material to be treated, and an endless apron in the rear for the reception of
the ribbons of treated fibrous material.
Figure 1 represents a longitudinal vertical section of the machine, showing the
beaters arranged for the treatment of dry materials.

page_text: Figure 2 represents the same section of the machine with the beaters arranged for
the treatment of stems or plants in the green or natural state and when treating
only the tail-end of the stalks.
Figure 3 is an elevation partly in section showing the arrangement of the spring
gear wheel for operating one of the beater cylinders and
Figure 4 is a cross section through the gear wheel and adjacent parts.
Figure 5 is a portion of an end view of one of the beater cylinders showing
various shapes of the beater blades.
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
;
It is assumed that the machine is at work, and the fibrous material under treatment
is ramie (nettle-wort or grass-cloth plant).
The stems or stalks W are passed into the machine through the opening T' of
the apron or table T; they are crushed and drawn in with a certain regular, speed
by the ribbed or corrugated rollers A A', whereof the lower roller A1 can only
rotate while the upper one A can both rotate and is also vertically movable in guidés
or ways on the frame and are subjected to a regular pressure determined by the
'springs R, duly adjusted therefor.
The stems, thus crushed, pass on between the blades or arms of the beating or
stripping rollers or cylinders B B¹.
In the case of dried stems these beater-blades may be regulated and secured in
such manner that the blades of the one cylinder penetrate to a certain depth
in the intervals between two blades of the other each blade of one roller main-
taining its position say midway (as in Fig. 1) between two of the blades of the
other roller.
The beater-blades may have their operating or outer edges round, square, or
bevelled as indicated in Figure 5 or otherwise suitably shaped.
The speed of the beating cylinders B B' is much greater than that of the ribbed
or corrugated cylinders A A¹. Owing to the inter-penetration of the beater-blades,
the woody matter of the stems treated is completely broken up and disaggregated,
progressively, and proportionately to the advancement of the stems whose speed of
travel is regulated by the rollers A A'.
:
The machine for treating the green leaves and stalks (Figure 2) is characterised
by the strips or plates of each of the rollers B B being caused to engage with or
press against the strip or plates of the other roller, or to remain more nearly in
contact therewith than would be the case with the original apparatus. In one
instance we effect this by the gearing which connects the respective rollers or their
shafts so placing these rollers and shafts that the blades of one roller follow closely
upon the blades of the other and so as either to touch or almost to touch as
shown for example in Fig. 2. The other way of accomplishing this is to connect
one of the rollers with its shaft by a spring connection so that the blades of one
roller press upon those of the other with the constant resilient pressure which,
while allowing the stems to pass between the blades of the respective rollers, would
compress them between those blades according to the strength of the spring. The
details of the spring arrangement may vary but the following description and
Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings will serve to indicate one way in which this may be
effected.
In this arrangement the axle of one of the rollers carrying the stripping blades
say the axle B2 of the roller B as shown in the drawings has fixed upon it a disc F
or the equivalent thereof, carrying stops F¹ fitting into circular grooves E 2 in the
gear wheel E by which the motion is to be imparted to the axle. In each of these
grooves E 2 is a helical spring G and stops E' E3 the latter of which viz. E3 are
adjustable by means of bolts and nuts E 4 in slots E 5 in the gear wheel E so that
the compression of the springs G between the two stops E3 F and consequently
the pressure of the blades of one roller B or B' upon those of the other, can be
varied; the stops E1 F1 are also preferably adjustable on the wheel E and
disc F to enable the machine to be set for treating dried sterns as hereinafter
described. We prefer as shown in the drawings to employ two of the before

page_text: mentioned spring adjustments so that they may balance each other and produce a
more even result than might be the case if only one were used. With this
arrangement both of the stripper rollers are driven (one B¹ by positive connection
with its shaft) they are, in fact, geared together-but by the intervention of the
spring arrangement the blades of one of the rollers operate to some extent
independently of its axle thus producing the result above described.
When the machine is to be used for treating green leaves and stalks the
stops E¹ F' are so fixed, that, with the gear properly adjusted and these stops
touching, the beater-blades of the upper cylinder barely touch those of the lower
cylinder, as shown in Fig. 2.
The springs G press against the stops F1 on the disc F so as to hold them close
against the stops E¹ of the gear wheel E as shown in Fig. 3, while allowing them
a certain elasticity of play and, in case any exceptional thickness of material
passes between the beater-blades, the blades of the upper beater B, while still
rotating, would give way by compressing the springs G thus making room for the
fibres between the blades of the two drums or rollers.
By regulating and combining this pressure with the difference of speed between
the beating cylinders B B' and the crushing cylinders A A' one obtains with
precision a greater or less amount of scraping or rubbing action upon the material'
operated upon, according to the pressure of the springs and in proportion to the
firmness of the stems.
In certain cases, in the treatment of green stuff, au injection of water may be
useful and advantageous.
When it is desired to employ the machine for the treatment of dried stems, the
stops F1 E1 are adjusted and secured on the disc F and gear wheel E respectively,
nearer to the stops E 3 so that (as previously stated) the blades of one beating
cylinder penetrate to a certain depth into the interval between two blades of the
other and vice versa, each blade of one roller maintaining its position say midway
(as in Fig. 1) between two of the blades of the other roller.
In treating dried, as in treating green, stems, the bundles of fibrous material
pass away from the beaters between the two smooth cylinders C C¹.
The linear speed of these cylinders C C¹ is equal to that of the ribbed or
corrugated cylinders A A'.
In order to treat the ends of the stems the following arrangement may be used.
The upper cylinder C is vertically movable in slideways in a frame H pivotted to
each side of the main frame of the machine at H'; two springs C2 applying a
calculated pressure upon this cylinder.
The lower cylinder C¹ carried (except as to rotation) immovably in the frame H
is encircled by an endless linen apron I for the continuous reception and removal
of the fibrous strings or bundles.
The pivotted frame H is controlled by suitable springs J or the like, and carries
a gear plate or anvil H 2 adapted to be pressed by the springs J into more or less
close proximity to or contact with the blades of the stripping roller B'. The anvil
face 3 need not necessarily be in contact with the stripper blades, and its
position may be varied according to the material being operated upon.
The object
of the anvil H 2 is to ensure the pith or other portions of the stems near the ends
being stripped from the fibre, as we have found that with the previous construction
of machine there was a risk of some portions of the ends of the stems not being
entirely cleared. We prefer to provide the springs J with a rapid adjustment and
a fine adjustment; the rapid adjustment would preferably be obtained by employing
a helical spring and carrying it in a cup or equivalent J', adjustable, by means of a
clamping bolt and nut J 5 Fig. 2, in a slot J 2 in the framework, so that its position
could be quickly varied to a large extent. The fine adjustment may be obtained
by means of screwed spindles J 3 secured in the frame Ĥ and passing through the
helical springs J and cups J', nuts J 4 being provided on these spindles for
compressing the springs more or less according to requirement.
So soon as the tail-ends of the stems leave the corrugated crushing cylinders A A

page_text: they are projected against this anvil block H 2 and beneath the lower cylinder C¹
by the beater B. As the cylinder C as well as the apron I draw the fibrous
strings or bundles forward in the same direction, they compel these tail-ends of
the stems to pass between the blades of the lower beating cylinders B' and the
face H 3 of the anvil block H 2. Thus, in this case also, the scraping action is
produced, only in the opposite direction, and the fibres of the tail ends are also
cleared and loosened.
In Figure 2, two sets of stems are shown for the sake of illustration; those on
the left of the drawing are supposed to have passed between the beater drums and
their tails are shown projected against the anvil block H2 where they are being
operated upon by the beaters of the lower drum B' while the smooth rollers CC₁
are gradually drawing them on to the travelling band 1, their tails rising vertically
in front of the anvil block against the motion of the beating blades. Upon the
right hand side of the drawing the stems are shown in their earlier position
where they have entered the machine between the corrugated rolls A A' and have
passed onwards to the rotating beater drums B B' between the blades of which,
as shown, they become distorted, crushed and the woody portion broken up;
they are not shown carried through to the rollers CC' so as not to interfere with
the stems shown on the left hand side hanging down by the anvil block.
A flexible blade or scraper K is provided to prevent the fibres from being wound
round the upper cylinder C.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is ; —
1. In a machine for decorticating ramie hemp or other textile materials the
combination with a pair of beating or scutching rollers with intercalating blades
of an anvil such as H 2 held under control of a spring or equivalent in contact
with or close proximity to the blades of one of the rollers substantially as described
and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
2. In a machine for decorticating ramie hemp or other textile materials the
combination with a pair of beating or scutching rollers with intercalating blades
of a spring-controlled pivotted frame such as H carrying a pair of drawing-off
rollers and an anvil such as H 2 the latter of which is yieldingly held in contact
with or close proximity to the blades of one of the rollers substantially as
described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
3. In a machine for decorticating ramie hemp or other textile materials the
combination with an adjustable anvil such as H 2 of one or more screwed
spindles J 3 fitted thereto and for each spindle a nut J 4 spring J and adjustable
cup J substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
4. The combination with a machine for decorticating ramie hemp or other
textile materials of a spring-controlled frame such as H carrying a pair of drawing-
off rollers and an anvil and adjustably connected to the machine frame by a
screwed spindle J 3 nut J 4 and adjustable cup J' substantially as described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
5. In a machine for decorticating ramie hemp or other textile materials the
employment of a spring gearing device for the purpose described.
6. In a machine for decorticating ramie hemp or other textile materials in
which a pair of beating or scutching rollers such as B B₁ is employed the com-
bination with one of the rollers of a spring gearing device whereby the blades of
one roller are yieldingly held in contact with or more or less close proximity to
those of the other roller substantially as described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
7. In a machine for decorticating ramie hemp or other textile materials in
which a pair of beating or scutching rollers such as B B¹ is employed the com-
bination with a disc secured upon the shaft of one of the rollers of a gear_wheel
and one or more springs G and adjustable or fixed stops such as E' E 3 F¹

page_text: connecting the gear wheel to the disc substantially as described and illustrated in
the accompanying drawings.
8. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete machine
for decorticating ramie hemp or other textile materials substantially as described
and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 29th day of April 1896.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicants.