An Improved Machine for the Breaking, Scutching, Decorticating and like Treatment of Ramie, and other Fibrous Plants.
Year: 1896

page_text: This Print is in accordance with the. Original Specification as it stands after
Amendment (under Section. 18 of the Patents, &c., Act, 1883), as allowed
by the decision of the Comptroller General of the 13th day of December 1898.
Date of Application, 22nd Oct., 1896
An Improved Machine for the Breaking, Scutching, Decorticating and
like Treatment of Ramie, and other Fibrous Plants..
CHARLES JAMES DEAR, of 127, Victoria Street, Westminster, in the County
of London, Gentleman, do hereby declare. the nature of this invention to be as:
follows:-
This invention relates to an improved machine the object of which is the
decortication of ramie and other fibrous plants, the reduction of weight, the
simplicity and the lack of liability to clog, render it capable of being worked.
with efficiency. In my machine the decortication of the stems is effected as
follows: I fest pass, the material through a pair of bladed, bottomless rollers,..
the object of which is to break the wood or pellicule; the said rollers are formed
of a number of either square edged, or rounded blades, set round the circum-
ference of a pair of discs which discs are provided with, shafts to facilitate:
driving from thence the material is carried to a pair of bottomless or ordinary
fluted gripping rollers of any suitable form, the said rollers travelling at a.
greater speed than the afore mentioned, bladed rollers has the effect of drawing
the material through the blades of the first pair of rollers and by that. means
loosens the already broken wood or pellicule and crushes same-the bladed
rollers being so set that the retention is not too great to, prevent the fibre being
drawn through as afore explained these crushing rollers will travel at a less.
speed than the scutching drum to which the material is next presented over a
breaking anvil and which has for its object the complete removal or scutching
out of the already crushed and loosened wood or pellicule. It. now only remains
to cleanse the fibre of its outer covering or bark and to effect this it is carried
over a roller carrying a belt, which removes a portion of the bark and afterwards.:
carries the fibre for a certain distance round the circumference of the scutching.
drum this belt which may be of any suitable form or material will travel at
a less or greater speed than the drum and by the friction produced will effec-
tually remove the remaining bark and at the same time separate. the fibres;
as the fibre leaves the machine it falls on to a travelling table or wire and is.
thus carried away...
Having now explained the essential working parts I will proceed to describe.

page_text: the mode of operation:-The stalks are presented by hand or otherwise through
an ordinary feeding trough to the first pair of bottomless bladed, breaking
rollers and from thence is carried to the crushing or retaining rollers which
in their turn pass it to the scutcher which thoroughly cleanses it of the wood
or pellicule the fibre is then carried on to the roller carrying the band and
then round an are of the circumference of the afore mentioned scutching drum
by a high or low speed travelling band and the friction caused by the same,
(the fibres being held by the retaining rollers) effectually separates and debarks
the fibre completing the decortication and presenting the fibre in an
damaged form suitable for degumming, or other uses.
By means of my machine I decorticate the fibre for its entire length and
remove both the pith and bark without a reverse motion of either the machine
or filare being necessary.
Dated this 21st day of Databen 1906
(AMENDE
An Improved Machine for the Breaking, Scutching, Decorticating and
like Treatment of Ramie, and other Fibrous Plants.
I, CHARLES JAMES DEAR, of 127, Victoria Street, Westminster, in the County
of 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 an improved machine, the object of which is the
decortication of ramie and other fibrous plants, the reduction of weight, the
simplicity and the luck of liability to clog, render it capable of being worked
with efficiency. In my machine the decortication of the stems is effected as
follows:-
I first pass the material through a pair of bladed rollers, the object of which
is to break, the wood or pellicle; the said rollers are formed of a number of
either square edged, or rounded blades, set round the circumference of a pair
of discs, which discs are provided with shafts to facilitate driving; from thence
the material is carried to a pair of ordinary fluted gripping rollers of any suit-
able form, the said rollers, travelling at a greater speed than the afore-
mentioned bladed roller, has the effect of drawing the material through the
blades of the first pair of rollers, and by that means loosens the already broken
wood or pellicle and crushes same--the bladed rollers being so set that the reten-
tion is not too great to prevent the fibre being drawn through as afore-
explained these crushing rollers will travel at a less speed than the scutching
drum to which the material is next presented over a breaking anvil, and which
has for its object the complete removal or scutching out of the already crushed
and loosened wood or pellicle.. It now only remains to cleanse the fibre of its
outer covering or bark; and to effect this, it is carried over a roller carrying
a belt, which removes a portion of the bark and afterwards carries the fibre for
a certain distance round the circumference of the scutching drum,-this belt,
which may be of any suitable form or material, will travel at a less or greater.
speed than the drum, and by the friction produced, will effectually remove the
remaining bark and at the same time separate the fibres; as the fibre leaves. the
machine, it falls on to a travelling table or wire and is thus carried away.,

page_text: Having thus explained the essential working parts, I will proceed to describe
the mode of operation:-
it
The stalks are presented by hand or otherwise through an ordinary feeding
trough to the first pair of bladed breaking rollers, and from thence is carried
to the crushing or retaining rollers, which in their turn pass
to the scutcher which thoroughly cleanses it of the wood or pellicle. The fibre
is then carried on to the roller, cehrying the band, and then round an arc of
the circumference of the afore-mentioned scutching drum by a high or low
speed travelling band and the friction caused by the same, the fibres being held
by the retaining rollers effectually separates and debarks the fibre, completing
the decortication and presenting the fibre in an undamaged form suitable for
degumming.
By means of my machine, I decorticate the fibre for its entire length and
remove both the pith and the bark without a reverse motion of either the machine
or the fibre being necessary.
I may, if desired, set the anvil plate to any desired angle with the bed, by
means of a screw thread or other suitable device. A carrier band is also fixed
under the drum to facilitate the delivery of the fibre.
I will now proceed to describe the machine in reference to the accompanying
drawings:-
Figure 1, Sheet 1. Side elevation of the machine.
Figure 2, Sheet 1. Front elevation of the machine.
Figure 3, Sheet 2. Sectional diagram elevation of the working parts.
Figure 4, Sheet 3. Part section of bladed scutching drum.
Figure 5, Sheet 3. Section of fluted gripping rollers.
Figure 6, Sheet 3. Part section of bladed breaking rollers.
Figure 7, Sheet 3. View, shewing arrangement of high-toothed gearing for
driving rollers.
Figure 8, Sheet 3. View, shewing arrangement of spring adjustment for
rollers.
Figure 9, Sheet 3. View, shewing arrangement of fixed quadrant adjustment
for band rollers.
Figure 10, Sheet 3. Section of bearing showing method of clamping in
position by belts and nuts.
Referring to Sheet 1. "A," Figs. 1 and 2, shew sliding bed-plate, carrying
the standards for the gripping and breaking rollers, also anvil plate and feeder;
this is constructed on the lathe bed principal to slide backwards or forwards at
will, and regulated by means of clamping bolts, or other,suitable means.
"B"
and "B" Figs. 1 and 2, are the bladed breaking rollers, which are constructed
by means of setting blades longitudinally round the circumference of two discs,
which discs are provided with spindles for driving. "C" and "C" Figs. 1
and 2,-ordinary fluted gripping rollers, provided with spindles for driving;
both sets of these said rollers are carried in standards with adjustable spring
bearings "E" and "F," Figs. 1 and 2. "D," Fig. 1, anvil plate curved to
correspond with the arc of the beater drum, the edges of which may be rounded
or otherwise constructed on bed-plate "A" and adjustable as hereinafter
described with Sheet 2. "G" Figs. 1 and 2, is the feeder. "H," Figs. 1
and 2, is the bladed scutching drum, constructed of any material and provided
with blades at intervals round the circumference longitudinally, diagonally, or
both, set at any desired angle, the drum to be provided with a spindle for driv-
ing. "I" and "I," Figs. 1 and 2, are the band rollers, "I" to be set in a
suitable adjustable spring. bearing, "L" constructed or built up on the frame
of the machine, and "I," in a fixed quadrant adjustable bearing, "K" also
built up or constructed in the frame of the machine hereinafter described more
fully in connection with Sheet 3. "J," Fig. 1. the scraping band, running
in the same direction as the drum, over rollers "I" and "I'," and of any suit-
able material. "M," the side plates or frame for carrying the machine which
:

page_text: may be of any form. or design, according to the nature of the foundation; to
which one may desire to fix it. "N," the carrier band, running under the drum
to collect the fibre; this may be of canvas, wire mesh or other suitable material.
"0" a plain delivery roller set in an adjustable spring bearing, pressing on
roller 1," which has for its object the straighter and better delivery of the
fibre on to the caurier band "N," it may be made of wood or rubber, covered,.
or of any suitable material...
Referring to Sheet 2, which shews more fully and on au enlarged scale, the
general construction, working, and driving of the machine. "A" is the sliding
bed-plate; "B" and "B" the breaking rollers; "C" and "C" the gripping
rollers), the anvil plate H," the scutching drum; "I" and "I" band
rollers; J, the band; "0," the delivery roller; "P," the screw thread ad-
justment for anvil plate. This screw adjustment has for its object the altera-
tion of the angle or curve of the anvil plate at will. It will be understood that:
it may be desirable to treat a course fibre, in which case the anvil plate need
not be set so close to the drum as when treating a fine fibre, and by means of
the adjustment the distance of the anvil plate from the drum can be regulated
to any degree. The screw threaded stud is simply carried on a beater plate,
passing across the machine and fixed to the side plates "M," with a boss in the
centre threaded to take the said screw threaded stud, the other end of the stud
being plain, which runs in a corresponding boss made to take it in the back
of the anvil plate; the stud is also provided with a locking nut to fix in position
when the right distance for setting has been arrived at. It will be seen that
all that is necessary to alter the angle or curve and consequently the distance
from or to the drum, is to screw the stud either to the left or right, as may be
desired. The driving of the machine is effected by means of a belt- "Q"
either running direct from the engine or from a counter shaft, on to a pulley","
on spindle of scutching drum "H"; from thence slack chain belts "RI
and S1, are run from two sprockets "R," and "$2," also on
spindle of
drum "H," and preferably on same side as pulley, to corresponding sprockets "R
and "S" on the spindles of rollers "C" and "B" respectively. On the other
side of drum "H is fixed another sprocket "T" with a belt T running tight
on to a sprocket "T," fixed on spindle of "I" The carrier band "N" will
be driven direct. It will be understood that by the use of slack chains, the
rollers C" and "B" can be set back with the bed-plate "A" to any desired
distance, thus decreasing or increasing the distance between the anvil or beater
plate, and the drum, according to the fibre to be treated. The speeds are as
follows, taking the speed of the breaking rollers "B" to be say 50 revolutions
per minute, the speed of the gripping rollers would have to be faster, say 60 per
minute; and the drum again much faster, say 500 per minute. It will thus
be seen that whatever may be passing through the machine will be subject
throughout its progress, to a slight drawing action as well as the scraping action
effected by the drum. The speeds of the band "J" and the carrier "N" will
be relatively faster or slower than the speed of the drum, according to the class
of material it is desired to treat. The speeds can be easily and readily regu-
lated, as may be desired, by substituting either larger or smaller pulleys according
to whether it is desired to raise or lower the speed in the usual way.
39
Referring to Sheet 3, which shews in detail the different parts of the machine:-
Fig. 4 is part section of scutching drum "H," shewing manner of construc
tion. Fig. 5, section shewing construction of gripping rollers "C" and "C"
Fig. 6, part section of breaking rollers. "B" and "B," shewing arrangement
of blades and general construction.
Fig. 7. shews means of driving all the rollers by high toothed gearing, viz.
spur wheels constructed with high teeth-so as not to run out of gear when any
irregularity of material may be passing through the rollers...
Fig. 8, enlarged view of adjustable spring bearings. "F", and "E," which
are constructed as follows:-The top rollers are run in loose bearings and are
:

page_text: kept down to the work by means of spiral springs, which bear on the bearings,
and the pressure is regulated by means of a screw and hand wheel, which when
screwed down or up, either increase or decrease the pressure.
It will be seen that by this means any great irregularity of material passing
through the machine will lift the rollers and not clog it.
This description of bearing is used in connection with rollers "C," "B," "I,"
and "O."
Fig. 9, side elevation to enlarged scale of quadrant adjustable bearing K,
which carries the roller I¹, and has for its object the setting of the said roller at
any desired centre, in the curved slide. U by means of clamping bolts V,,and VI,
passing through slots W, and W, made to take them.
Fig. 10, section of same, shewing bearing K, clamped in position.
Having now described the working parts and the general arrangements of
the said machine, I will now proceed to describe the mode of operation, and in
so doing, will take the Sheet No. 2, as being the most illustrative, to shew the
passage of the material through the machine.
The sticks, or leaves, or whatever it is desired to treat, are presented to the
breaking rollers "B," and "B," over the bed plate "A," and through feeder" G."
It is at once caught up by the said rollers and in passing through them, its wood
or pellicle is broken and a large quantity falls away; the remaining sticks or
leaves are next taken by the gripping rollers "C" and "C" which in their
turn have the double effect of crushing the remaining wood and, travelling
as they do at a high rate of speed than the afore-mentioned rollers "B"
and "B," of drawing the fibre through the said breaking rollers, care being
taken that they are not set too tightly; this drawing action has the effect of
still further cleaning or scraping the fibre. Passing on through the crushing
rollers "C" and "C" the fibre which is now reduced to absolute uniformity
of thickness, is presented over the anvil plate "D" to the scutching drum "H,"
where being held by the gripping rollers "C" and "C"," which move much
slower than the drum, it is beaten and thoroughly cleansed of the remaining wood
and pellicle and also a great portion of the bark. This drum travelling at a
very high rate of speed, throws all the waste away from the machine and directs
the fibre for a certain distance round its circumference where it is effectually
cleansed of any remaining bark by the friction of the scraping band "J" and
passed between the rollers "I" and "O," which prevent tangling, on the carrier
band "N" and is delivered at any desired distance in a clean and perfectly
decorticated ribbon. The arrows denote the direction of the passage of the fibre
through the machine.
Having particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. The use of breaking rollers of a hollow nature, which permit the refuse
removed from the fibre to fall free from the machine, and gripping rollers so
fluted, that they crush and retain, without damaging, the fibre, securing the
reduction of the material to be treated to absolute uniformity of thickness, so
that the after treatment by the drum may act thoroughly on the material,
irrespective of its former irregularity and thickness.
II. The combination of hollow breaking rollers, fluted gripping rollers,
scutching drum and anvil substantially as described.
III. The use of a suitably constructed scraping band, running at a higher or
lower rate of speed than the drum and in the same direction, upon which the
fibre is finally scraped and cleaned.
IV. The spring and fixed quadrant adjustable bearings to the belt, by
which means it can be brought to bear upon the drum for any desired are of its
circumference, according to the degree of treatment it is desired to give the fibre.
V. The hereby described decorticating machine constructed so as to reduce

page_text: the material to be treated to uniformity and the combination of breaking and
crushing rollers, scutching drum, saraping band, and adjustable anvil-plate,
arranged and operated substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.
Dated this 17th day of August 1897.
F. G. PATERNOSTER,
For Applicant,
10, Basinghall Street, E.C.,