Improvements in Machines for Separating and Cleaning the Fibres of Plants of every description.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Sept., 1896-Accepted, 28th Aug., 1897
[Communicated from abroad by SAMUEL BENJIMAN ALLISON, of New Orleans,
Louisiana, in the United States of America, Mechanical Engineer.]
Improvements in Machines for Separating and Cleaning the Fibres of
Plants of every description.
I, CHARLES JUNGE, of Lincoln Chambers, 75, Chancery Lane, in the County of
London, Consulting Engineer, 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:-
My invention relates to improvements in machines for separating and cleaning
the fibres of plants of every description.
In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a partial section of the machine;
Figures 2 and 3 are similar views showing modified details; Figure 4 is a partial
end view on a reduced scale and partly diagrammatic in character of the upper
half of rotary cleaning devices of the machine, a cover for said devices being shown
in section; Figure 5 is a partial elevation of a corrugated fiber separating roller;
Figures 1 and 2 are longitudinal sections of modified machines; Figure 1 is a
longitudinal section of a modification; Figure 2 is an enlarged horizontal section
of a detail.
Numeral 1 denotes the main frame in which (see Figure 1) is journaled a rotat-
ing skeleton cylinder or drum with heads 2 secured to a shaft 3. The heads have
each an annular flange 2¹ connected to each other by working devices such as the
interchangeable fiber cleaning blades 4, grooved bars 5, brushes 6, and elastic
rubbers 7. These rubbers are omitted in Figure 4 which is designated simply to
shown the relation of a cover 30 to the rotary cleaning devices carried by shaft 3.
These devices may be connected directly to the flanges 21 of the skeleton heads as
indicated in Figure 1, or to a perforated cylinder or drum as indicated in
Figures 2 and 1, or to entire cylinders or drums as indicated in Figures 1 and 2*,
or they may simply be jointed at each of their ends to a wheel as indicated in
Figures 1, 2, and 3"; the whole in each case constituting what may be called a
rotating tool-carrying frame, and. in this specification the terms rotating (or
rotary), cylinder, or drum, or frame denote respectively the main rotating part
that carries on its circumference the fiber cleaning devices.
8 denotes a feeding roller, and 9 a grooved splitting and drawing-in roller.
10 indicates a curved plate having pivots 11 journaled in the main frame of the
machine and provided with adjusting screws 12. This plate has an edge 13 to
clean the roller 8 and is extended above said roller 8 and has its upper end on the
side next the roller 9 concave as shown at 10¹.
The stalks or leaves are crushed between the rollers 8 and 9 and then rubbed
and the fiber loosened on the concave bed 10¹ and then sharply bent across the
upper edge 14 and forced down between the main concave surface 15 of plate 10
and the rotating drum 2 by the separating devices attached to said drum.

page_text: The screws 12 are to turn the plate 10 on its pivots 11 to adjust the edge 13
with reference to roller S and to vary the distance of the upper end of the plate 10
frem roller 9 and also the distance of its main part or working bed 15 from the
working devices borne by the rotating frame.
18 indicates a pipe to supply water or a chemical solution to the stalks.
19 denotes a fiber gripping roller situated at the foot of plate 10. 20 is an
elastic belt and 21 a roller co-operating with roller 19 to move the belt.
23 is a roller co-operating with roller 19 to grip the fiber and move it out of the
machine. Its bearing can be moved to or from roller 19 by means of an adjusting
device 38. Roller-scraping blades or the like are denoted by 22.
25 denotes an endless belt for carrying off the fiber. It is driven preferably
about one-third faster than belt 20 by rollers 26 and has transverse bars 27 which
press the fiber against the belt 20 and rub off remnants of the refuse.
The fiber will be carried between rollers 19 and 23 by the cleaning devices, and
the fan 26 27 indicates a tubular fan shaft surrounding the drum shaft 3.
30 indicates a cover which aids the production of an air current to carry dust
downwardly. 28 denotes a guide for refuse.
The bearing boxes of the various rollers will be provided with adjusting
screws 31.
In Figure 2 is illustrated a modification of the improved machine requiring less
power to drive it.
32 is an opening or slot in a plate 10 said opening extending nearly across the
plate. The fibrous portion of the material is blown into this opening by the air
current and heavy refuse is swept down and out of the machine. The belt 20 is
driven in part by the lower crushing and feeding roller 8 and it and its supporting
rullers co-operate with each other and with the lower belt provided with bars 27
in a manner hereinbefore described.
As shown in Figure 3 the lower grip roller 23 is made larger than roller 19 and
placed near the path of the cleaning devices. It has an elastic cover 16 whereon
the tail end of the fiber may be cleaned while the main part thereof is being drawn
out of the machine by said rollers..
When the fiber is dry une belt 20 (see Figure 2), may be omitted. The
fiber will in such case be driven out on an endless belt 25 having transverse slats.
An inclined board 28 similar in operation to the mote board of a cotton gin may
Le used to arrest and guide refuse instead of the lower part of plate 10 as before
explained.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2 numeral 1 indicates the main frame of the
machine shown only in part. 2 is an endless belt to feed stalks, leaves or the like
to the machine. 3 and 4 denote helt supporting and moving rollers, and 5 is a
circumferentially grooved roller, and is a longitudinally grooved roller
co-operating with a roller 7.
6
The woody parts of the stalks having been split and broken are drawn up
between roller G and a curved bed 8 formed in the adjacent face of a block 9. At
the lower end of said bed 8 is a roller-scraping edge 10 adapted to clear roller 7
and guide the material upwardly.
11 denotes a scutching roller provided with curved blades 12 and elastic rubbing
bars 13 or other like devices. This roller rotates in the direction of the arrow
under a cover 14 and by means of the blades and bars the material is bent across
the upper edge of the block 9 which has a corrugated working bed 15. 10 indicates
ecrrugations or projections on the bed.
23 denotes a guard to prevent the refuse carried beyond the edge of the bed from
The block 9 preferably extends under
falling onto a roller 17 situated below.
roller 11 near to or beyond its vertical central plane to prolong its curved bed 15
so that its lower extremity has nearly a horizontal situation. The lower edge of
the bed 15 may be protected if desired with elastic material 18.
At this edge the curtain of fiber is largely separated from the broken wood which
is driven out in a horizontal direction. The sliver falls and the fiber is drawn i

page_text: between a smooth concave bed 19 and the roller 17 provided with brushes 21 and
circumferentially grooved rotating combing rollers 22.
The guard 23 is curved about roller 17 enclosing an air space through which
rushes a current generated by the rapid rotation of said roller.
The fiber is gripped by rollers 24 and 25, and the separated wood is dropped
between the roller 17 and guide plate 26.
From the gripping rollers the fibre passes between the endless belts 27 suitably
moved by rollers as indicated by arrows.
Upon the belts are transverse bars 28 which are preferably provided with teeth
indicated at 29. These bars mesh, and rub and comb the fiber disengaging fine
refuse which falls on the lower belt between its bars and may be dumped at the
outer end of said belt. The lower belt may be made longer than the upper to provide a
support for the cleaned fiber adapted to permit its manipulation thereon, or the
fiber may be dropped on to a bar 33 or onto a carrier.
The roller 11 is adjustable to and from the bed 16 by means of devices of usual
construction indicated at 31.
32 indicates like devices for adjusting roller 17 to and from bed 19. These
adjustments will be made according to the character and condition of the material
under treatment.
The improvement is not limited to particular dimensions but I have found that,
feeding rollers of five inches diameter, run at a speed of fifty feet per minute,
Sutching rollers of eight inches diameter and brushing rollers of sixteen inches
diameter are very suitable.
As shown in Figure 2" the rotating frame is made larger and preferably with
a diameter of about eighteen inches. 34 denotes a device adapted to sprinkle with
water or chemical solutions and also to deflect the stalks, leaves or plants. 35 denotes
a pipe, which preferably will carry a sprinkler for washing away refuse
blown into the chute 36. A longitudinally corrugated roller 37 rubs the fiber
against a smooth bed 191 formed in the block 91. Said block is situated under the
tating frame and extends around its lower side substantially as indicated so that
its outer end approaches a vertical line tangential to the circumference of the frame
with the effect to direct the separated refuse beyond said line. The length of the
block and bed may however be varied. Belts 27 provided with bars 29 that mesh
receive the fiber immediately from said bed and roller and effectually rub, comb
and clean the same as above described in connection with Figure 1 and 1*.
In practice the scutching devices carried by the upper frame illustrated in
Figure 1 will be driven at from three to five hundred rotations per minute and
the brushes and combing rollers at from seven to ten hundred per minute. The
devices carried by the rotating frame illustrated in Figure 2 may be driven at the
rate of about six to seven thousand feet per minute and the material fed at the rate of
al out fifty feet per minute. The endless cleaning belts may run about five times.
as fast as the rubbing roller 37 which will insure a thorough rubbing, combing
and cleaning action. The speed of the various devices may be varied to suit
different conditions of material.
Referring to Figures 14, and 24, numeral 1 denotes a feed table. 2, 2 indicates
circumferentially grooved rollers and 3, 3 longitudinally grooved rollers.
4 denotes a cylinder provided with scraping bars, brushes and fiber combing
devices.
5 denotes an endless belt for carrying the cleaned fiber out of the machine.
6 and 7 are belt-supporting and operating rollers. The latter consists of a metal
center two inches in diameter enclosed by a rubber tube, the wall of which is an
inch in thickness.
The following dimensions have been found suitable though the improvement
is independent of particular dimensions.
The cylinder 4 may have a diameter of twenty inches and a length of eighteen.
The upper roller 3 may have a diameter of four and a half inches and the lower one
a diameter of three and a half inches and the rollers 2 each a diameter of 3 inches

page_text: The
with grooves one-fourth of an inch deep and one-half an inch in width.
cylinder 4 can be rotated from fifteen to twenty or more times faster than the first
rcllers with good results.
8 denotes a hollow receptacle having a concave face 9 constituting a working
led adjacent the upper roller 3 and a like face 10 adjacent the path of the cleaning
devices carried by the cylinder 4.
Below the face and bed 10 and in the wall of the receptacle 8 is a transversely
cerrugated face 11.
12 denotes a pipe for introducing liquid into the receptacle 8. This pipe may
be rigidly secured to or in the end walls of the receptacle. The end of the pipe
opposite the inlet for liquid is stopped with a plug or otherwise.
13 denotes a line of perforations situated about one-fourth of an inch apart and
having a diameter of about one-sixteenth of an inch. These perforations are by
preference gradually increased in size toward the closed end of the pipe. They
provide for the equal simultaneous supply of liquid to the receptacle.
14 denotes fine perforations in the corrugated face 11 of receptacle S to provide
for moistening the material passing downwardly and beaten, brushed and scraped
against the vertices of the corrugations or projections.
The perforated pipe supports and strengthens the receptacle 8. 81 indicates nuts
for rigidly connecting the pipe frame and reservoir.
In operation the woody parts of the stalks are first crushed and broken and then
rubbed by the corrugations of the upper roller 3 upon the bed 9. The material is
bent across the upper edge of the receptacle 8 and is then beaten and brushed. The
fiber thus largely separated from the woody fragments is in condition to be more
efficiently treated with a liquid than at an earlier stage of the operation. By this
means a more effectual operation is secured with a less expenditure of the liquid
which is desirable even if water only be used, but more so in the case of chemical
solutions. Simultaneously with the moistening operation the material is beaten
and brushed against the wash board" surface of face 11 which insures a thorough
distribution of the liquid in contact with the fiber and a complete loosening of the
remainder of the refuse adhering thereto.
Figures 1, 2, and 3 are longitudinal sections of the machine modified in
certain details.
1 denotes the main frame, and 2 indicates wheels fixed on a shaft 3 and carrying
fixed between them fiber cleaning devices 4, 5 and 5. 7 is a driving pulley. A
driving belt is denoted by 8 and 9, 10 and 101 are belt pulleys. 11 is a corrugated
stalk-splitting roller and 12 a rubber or leather covered roller co-operating there-
with. 18 is a roller like the last named and 17 a longitudinally ribbed crushing
roller. 19 is a stalk supporting plate. 20 is a working bed pivoted at 21 and
adjustable by means of screw shaft 22. 23 is a roller clearing scraper and 24 a
wood separating edge of the working bed. 25 is a liquid supply pipe. 26 is a
grip roller adjustable by means of screw rod 26 and co-operating with a belt 14
moved by rollers 13 and 16 made adjustable by rods 15. 27 is a bed for cleaning
the tail of the fiber, pivoted at 28 and adjustable by means of rod 29. 30 is a hood
and 31 indicates adjusting-rods for the stalk splitting rollers.
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. In combination, feeding rollers comprising a longitudinally grooved roller
and a roller co-operating therewith to break stalks transversely, a rotating frame
provided with fiber cleaning devices, a concave working bed having an edge
adapted to clean the lower feeding roller and an edge situated above, said bed
conforming to the upper feed roller, the ribs of said grooved roller being adapted to
first break the stalks on the lower roller and then to loosen the fragments on said
bed whereby they may be beaten and brushed out from the fiber bent over the
upper edge of the bed, substantially as described.

page_text: 2. In combination, the rotating frame, supporting cleaning devices, the
euclosing cover, the feeding rollers, the guiding and working plate having a
working bed conforming to the upper feed roller and also a working bed conform
ing in shape to the path of the device carried in said rotating frame, the gripping
rellers, the carrying-off belt and the liquid supplying pipe, all substantially as set
ferth, whereby a continuous conduit for air is produced and whereby liquid may
be admitted to said conduit.
3. In combination with a rotating frame carrying fiber-cleaning devices, the
concave working bed conforming thereto, a fiber gripping roller carrying an
endless belt and situated at the foot of the said bed and a second grip roller
situated below the first named, and a belt carrier having transverse slats adapted
to rub the material against the upper belt adjacent a belt carrying roller,
substantially as described.
4. In a fiber cleaning machine, a rotary frame provided with cleaning devices,
a working bed conforming in shape to the path of cleaning devices carried by said
frame, fiber gripping and removing rollers situated immediately at the foot of
seid bed, an endless belt, a roller co-operating with the upper gripping roller to
support and move said belt, and a separate endless belt adapted to rub the fiber
against the belt first named, substantially as described.
5. In a machine for separating the fiber of plants, the combination of feeding
rcllers, a working bed conforming to the upper feeding roller, a roller carrying
fiber cleaning devices, a curved working bed conforming thereto, a curved bed
adjacent to and reversely situated with respect to the second named bed and joined
thereto by a fiber-bending edge, and a roller carrying fiber-cleaning devices
situated adjacent said latter bed, substantially as described.
6. The combination of scutching and brushing rollers, working beds interposed
1etween said rollers, hoods to direct air currents to said beds and separate refuse,
ond fiber exits for each bed, substantially as described.
7. In a plant crushing and fiber separating machine, the combination of a liquid
receptacle having faces or working beds and devices co-operating with said beds to
remove the coarser woody fragments, said receptacle having liquid discharging
perforations, substantially as described.
8. In a plant crushing and fiber separating machine, the combination of a liquid
receptacle having liquid discharging perforations and faces or working beds
co-operating with separating devices, and a perforated interior supply pipe,
substantially as described.
DL: 0011 Candan 1900