Improved Apparatus for Splitting or Treating Raw or Crushed Fibres.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 12th May, 1899-Accepted, 8th July, 1899
CUMI LEI DITUIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus for Splitting or Treating Raw or Crushed Fibres.
I, Dr. FRANZ SZYMANSKI, of No. 78, Lange Strasse, Berlin, Germany, Chemist,
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:
The present invention relates to a machine for splitting raw or crushed banana
fibre into a larger number of filaments capable of being spun. Other fibrous
substances as well as those of the banana such as sisal, aloe and the like can be
treated in the same manner.
The splitting is effected by means of two pairs of bars, between which the fibre
is always firmly clamped by each pair of bars at a short distance apart and is
rubbed under suitable pressure after the approach of the two pairs of bars.
In consequence of this friction the fibre is divided up into such slender fila-
ments that they are capable of being spun. From time to time the pairs of bars
are opened and the fibre moved far enough to enable another piece to be operated
This operation is continued until the whole length of the fibre has been
on.
treated.
To carry this into practice, it is requisite that the friction of the bar device
should take place by mechanical means: that the pairs of bars be opened auto-
matically after each piece of fibre has been sufficiently treated, and also for the
fibre to be automatically moved on at the proper moment.
A suitable machine for this purpose is illustrated in the accompanying draw-
ings, in which:-
Figure 1 shews the machine in side elevation.
Figure 2 is the front elevation.
Figure 2 shews a detail of construction.
Figure 3 is a section on the line X-X of Figure 5.
Figure 4 is a similar section in another position of the operating parts.
Figure 5 is the ground plan of Figure 1.
Figure 6 illustrates the apparatus for opening the one pair of bars and shifting
the fibre.
Figures 7 and 8 illustrate the arrangement for opening the other pair of bars
in two different positions.
The Figures 9-18 explain the manner in which the pairs of bars work and
the automatic displacement of the fibre.
The framework of the machine consists of the two side walls 1, connected
underneath by cross bars 2. In the framework is supported the shaft 3, on
which the cog-wheel 4 freely revolves. The cog-wheel 4 has a projection 5
forming part of a clutch gear of which the other part 6 can be moved on the
shaft 3 horizontally, and engages with its feather in the corresponding slot (jb
of the shaft, so that the part 6 of the clutch mechanism must rotate with the
shaft 3. The clutch gear 6 is under the influence of a spring 7, which continu-

page_text: ously presses it against the piece 5 so long as it is not moved away by the lever 8,
as hereinafter described. The cog-wheel 4 engages with the cog-wheel 9 which
is placed on the shaft 10 in the frame 1. The cog-wheel 11 is connected with
the cog-wheel 9, and the wheel 12 engages in cog-wheel 11.
The wheel 12 is situated on the shaft 13, which can be rotated by means of
the crank 14. On the shaft 3 is situated the eccentric discs 15, on which engage
the eccentric rings 16. The latter are connected by means of the rods 17 to a
frame 18 which is movable perpendicularly in two slots 19 of the framework.
The slots 19 are wider than the frame 18 so that the latter can also be moved
slightly in a horizontal direction. On each of the two side parts of the frame 18
act the contact rollers 20 of each slide 21, in slots 22 of which the pins 23
fastened in the framework 1 engage. The slide 21 can consequently be moved
horizontally, and is controlled by a weighted lever 24, on the longer arm of
which the weight 25 can be adjusted. The shorter arm of the lever pivoted
at 26 actuates the angle lever 28 pivoted at 27. The lever 28 engages by means
of the slot 29 with a pin 291 fastened on the slide 21. Consequently the slide 21
and likewise the frame 18 is pressed towards the left with greater or lesser pres-
sure according to the position of the weight 25. On the slide 21 are placed
the arms 30, the hooked ends of which engage in a vertical slot 31 of the frame IS.
This arrangement is for the purpose of carrying the frame 18 with it on the
displacement of the slide 21 towards the right.
In the frame 18 the lower bar 32 is fixed whilst the upper bar 33 is vertically
movable with regard to the bar 32. In the position illustrated in Figure 3,
where the frame 18 is caused by the weight 25 to move towards the left and is.
shewn exactly in the middle of its vertical displacement, a second pair of bars 34,
35 stands opposite to the pair of bars 32, 33. The lower bar 34 of this second
pair is rigidly fixed to the framework, 1 while the upper bar 35 is vertically.
movable therein.
In order to be able to open the pair of bars 32, 33, the bar 33 is provided-at
each end with the pins 37 engaging in a slot 36, and likewise a frame 38 is pro-
vided on each side. The latter is vertically movable in the groove 19 and is
carried along by means of the pin 40 engaging in a slot 39 in the frame 18 on.
the vertical movement of the latter.
Between the pins 37 is a frame 38, and a sloping bridge 41, along which the
pins 37 slide as soon as the frame 18 is moved horizontally. Owing to the inclina-
tion of the bridge 41 the bars 32, 33 are closed when the frame 18 is immediately
before the pair of bars 34, 35, (Figure 3), whereas they are open when the
frame 18 is moved towards the right in the grooves 19 from the pair of bars 34, 35,
(Figure 4). The horizontal displacement of the frame 18 is effected by means
of the levers 42 pivoted at 43 at both sides of the machine, and the pins 44 of
the discs 45 press against the under ends of the said levers 42 at a certain posi-
tion of the discs. Consequently the levers 42 with their pins 421 cause a displace-
ment of the angle lever 28, and also, therefore, of the slides 21 which take the
frame 18 with them by means of the levers 30. The discs 45 are situated on
the shaft 46, which is supported in the framework 1. On the shaft 46 is placed the
cog-wheel 47 with which the pinion 48 on the shaft 49 engages. On the shaft 49
moreover is the cog-wheel 50 with which engages the pinion 51 on the shaft 13
actuated by the crank handle 14.
For the purpose of opening the pair of bars 34, 35, the bar 35, vertically mov-
able in the framework 1, is provided with pins 52 on each end, which engage in
the levers 54 pivoted at 53. The levers 54 are attached by means of pivots 55
to the rails 56, which are moreover so joined to the framework 1 by means of
the jointed lever 57, that they can be moved vertically. To the lower part of
each rail 56 is fixed the lever 57. At the free end of this latter there is a pin 58
on which the contact roller 59 revolves. The roller 59 rolls on the periphery of
a disc 60. This latter has at one point of its periphery a groove 61. As soon
as the roller 59 arrives at the groove 61, the bar 56 is depressed, so that the

page_text: bar 35 is thus removed by means of the lever 54 from the bar 34, and conse-
quently the pair of bars 34, 35 is opened.
In front of the bar 34 rigidly fixed to the framework, a roller 62 is revolubly
supported in the framework 1. Above the roller 62 there is placed a second
roller 63 which is suspended in a cross piece 64. The latter is moveable vertically
in the standwork 1 and is controlled by a lever 65, which is pivotted at 66 in an
arm 67 fixed to the framework. The free end is provided with a moveable
weight 68 so that the pressure of the moveable roller 63 against the roller 62
can be regulated as required. The roller 62 can be rotated from the shaft 46.
For this purpose the disc 60 has on its circumference a projection 68, which at
every revolution of the wheel 60 engages in a groove 10 of the wheel 71 provided
with cogs 69, and thereby moves the wheel 71 one cog 69 forward. The wheel 71
is placed on the shaft 72, the cog-wheel 73 of which engages in the cog-wheel 75
revolving on 74. The wheel 75 engages with a cog wheel 76 connected with the
roller 62. At each revolution of the disc 60 the roller 62 will consequently rotate
a certain amount.
For disconnecting the aforesaid clutch coupling a cam 77 is keyed on the
shaft 46, on the circumference of which there is a projection 78, which, at a given
position of the disc 77 strikes against the roller 79, which is carried on a side
piece 80 of the lever 8. Consequently the projection 78 causes the lever 8 to
move outwards and thus draw out the coupling 6 from the clutch 5 of the cog
wheel 4.
The operation of the machine described is as follows:-
The fibre to be operated on is brought between the pairs of bars 32, 33 and
34, 35 respectively in the manner shewn in Figures 9 to 18. On lifting the upper
roller 63 the fibre is easily passed between the two rollers 62, 63, so that when
the lower roller 62 revolves the fibre is moved in the direction of the arrow.
In order that the rollers 62 and 63 may better lay hold of the fibre they are
preferably covered with rubber.
After the fibre has been supplied to the machine with the pairs of bars in the
position indicated in Figure 4, and the roller 63 raised, the shaft 13 is rotated
by means of the crank handle 14. In consequence of this, on the one hand, the
discs 60 are rotated by means of the cog-wheels 51, 50, 48 and 47, and on the
other hand the wheel 4 is also set in motion by means of the wheels 12, 11, 9.
The clutch however has previously been taken out of engagement with the
clutch 5 so that the shaft 3 remains stationary.
In consequence of the revolution of the disc 60, the rollers 59, which carry
the rails 56, come out of the grooves 61 on the periphery of the disc 60. Conse--
quently the rails 56 are lifted, the bars 35 drop and thus the fibre is firmly
gripped between the bars 34 and 35 (Figure 10). Thereupon the pin 44 on the
disc 45 slips from the lever 42 so that the slide 21 under the influence of the
weight 25 and of the angle lever 28 is moved towards the left. Thus the sloping
bridge 41 of the frame 38 presses on the lower pin 37 of each end of the bar 33,
whereby at the horizontal movement of the frame 18 the bar 33 is depressed
and in this manner also the pair of bars 32, 33 is automatically closed, (Figure 11).
There is consequently, now a certain length of fibre between the two pairs of
bars and it is held there securely. Thereupon the projection 78 on the disc 77
slips off the contact roller 79 of the arm 8. The spring 7 causes the coupling 6
to engage in the clutch 5 so that the shaft 3 now revolves. After a quarter
revolution of the shaft 3, the frame containing the pair of bars 32, 33 reaches
the position shewn in Figure 12, and after each quarter revolution respectively
reaches the positions shewn in Figures 13, 14 and 15. Thus it may be seen,
that, under a certain pressure depending on the position of the weight 25, the
pairs of bars are displaced with regard to one another, whereby the fibre is
firmly gripped in two places at short distances and is rubbed between the two
pairs of bars. This friction is repeated until the strip of fibre is sufficiently
operated on, which will be the case after a certain number of revolutions of the

page_text: shaft 3. According to the proportion of the transmission (ratio of gearing)
between the shafts 13 and 3 on the one hand, and that of the shafts 13 and 46
on the other hand, after a certain number of revolutions, the projection 78 of
the disc 77 will then again cause the coupling 6 to disengage from the clutch 5,
so that the frame 18 again becomes stationary. The proportion of the trans-
mission is arranged in such a manner that after the rubbing process is finished,
the moving out of the shaft 3 leaves the frame 18 again in its lowest position.
Immediately after the shaft 3 has moved out, the rollers 59 again fall into the
grooves 61 of the discs 60. The bar 35 is consequently raised (Figure 16). Then
the projection 44 of the disc 45 pushes the lever 42 outwards. This latter
presses with its piece 421 against the angle lever 28, so that the movement of
the slide 21 takes place and on account of the lever 30 engaging in the slot 31,
a displacement of the frame 18 also takes place. The pair of bars 32, 33 is thus
moved away from the pair of bars 34, 35 and at the same time the bar 33 is
raised. Now therefore both pairs of bars are opened and at a distance from
each other. Thereupon the projection 68 of the disc 60 reaches a groove 70
of the wheel 71, and moves the latter one cog 69 further. The rotation of the
wheel 71, is transmitted to the roller 62 by means of the wheels 73, 75 and 76.
As the roller 63 is caused by the weight 68 to press against the roller 62, the
roller 63 also revolves and the fibre is moved to a corresponding extent. The
described operation then is repeated, whereby the next strip of fibre is gripped
and treated. The fibre throughout its whole length is thus consecutively treated
in the manner described, and mechanically and automatically transformed into
a number of filaments capable of being spun.
Obviously the machine can be operated with any desired motive power by
means of belt pulleys or the like instead of being worked by hand.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is-
1. A machine for splitting raw or crushed fibres into textile fibres suitable
for spinning and other purposes, consisting of double pairs of bars movable with
regard to one another, and capable of holding the fibres firmly at short distances
apart, means for applying pressure and friction to the fibres, and means for
automatically displacing the fibres between the gripping bars after a given num-
ber of revolutions of the driving shaft, substantially as described.
2. A machine for splitting raw or crushed fibres into textile fibres suitable
for spinning and other purposes, consisting of double pairs of bars movable with
regard to one another and capable of holding the fibres firmly at a short distance
apart, means for applying pressure and friction to the fibres and a vertically
movable roller in combination with a fixed roller, said rollers revolving from time
to time and thus moving the fibres to an extent corresponding to the finished
work, substantially as described and shewn in the accompanying drawings.
3. A machine for splitting raw or crushed fibres into textile fibres suitable
for spinning and other purposes, consisting of double pairs of bars movable
with regard to one another and capable of holding the fibres firmly at short
distances apart, means for applying pressure and friction to the fibres a clutch
for coupling and uncoupling the shaft which moves the pairs of bars, and means
for automatically displacing the fibres between the gripping bars after a given
number of the revolutions of the drawing shaft, substantially as described and
shewn in the accompanying drawings.
4. A machine for splitting raw or crushed fibres into textile fibres suitable
for spinning and other purposes, consisting of double pairs of bars movable with
regard to one another and capable of holding the fibres firmly at short distances
apart, means for applying pressure and friction to the fibres, means for auto-
matically displacing the fibres between the gripping bars after a. given number
of revolutions of the driving shaft and means for automatically opening the

page_text: Tipping bars
means of gearing from the same shaft which also drives the
pairs of bars, substantially as described and shewn in the accompanying drawings.
Dated the 12th day of May 1899.
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
322, High Holborn, London, W.C., Patent Agents for the Applicant.