IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF FIBRE BEARING LEAVES AND PLANTS FOR THE SEPARATION OF THE FIBRES THEREFROM AND FOR THE WASHING DRYING AND BLEACHING OF THE SAME, EMPLOYED THEREIN ADDED TITR A AD "
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Charles Smith of Richmond in the County of
Surrey, Engineer, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT
OF FIBRE BEARING LEAVES AND PLANTS FOR THE SEPARATION OF THE FIBRES
THEREFROM AND FOR THE WASHING DRYING AND BLEACHING OF THE SAME,
EMPLOYED THEREIN
ADDED TITR
A
AD
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Charles Smith at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th November 1882.
HENRY CHARLES SMITH of Richmond in the County of Surrey, Engineer
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF FIBRE BEARING LEAVES AND PLANTS FOR
THE SEPARATION OF THE FIBRES THEREFROM AND FOR THE WASHING DRYING
AND BLEACHING OF THE SAME AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED
THEREIN
This invention relates to a mode or method of separating the glutinous matter
from the fibre in the leaves or stalks of the Aloe, Pine apple, Phormium Tenax
(or New Zealand flax) and other fibre bearing leaves and stalks and has for its
object the more complete and expeditious removal of the fleshy or pulpy part of
the plant from the fibre thereby preventing discoloration of such fibre by the
action of the acrid or acid matter of the said pulp upon the fibre whilst at the
same time the operation is not only simplified and economy of labour effected but
it can be advantageously and efficiently applied to those classes of Aloes or other
fibre bearing plants which owing to their acrid nature cannot practically be treated
in the scutching machine at present in use.
According to my said invention I scutch the leaves or stalks and wash and
bleach, or wash or bleach, the separated fibres at one operation in lieu of first
scutching and then subjecting the libres to separate washings, wringings, bleaching
and drying. For this purpose I drive the scutcher at a high velocity so as to
generate a current of air sufficiently powerful to drive or force the fibres into or
through a jet or jets of hot or cold water which are caused to play upon the fibre
and cutching wheel thereby thoroughly removing all the glutinous matter from

page_text: the fibre as fast as it is passed through the machine whilst the scutching wheel
is also kept perfectly free from the destructive effects of the acrid matter upon the
iron. The before mentioned jet or jets of water may be so applied as not only to
wash the fibre but in some cases to act also as a cushion or yielding backing to
the fibre for maintaining it in longer contact with the scutcher. The current of air 5
generated by the scutcher serves also to dry the fibres as fast as they are drawn
back over the feeder. When it is desired to bleach the fibre at the same time any
well known bleaching matter can be used with the water.
The apparatus may be constructed in various ways but it is essential that
special jet pipes and cocks be employed in combination with the scutching wheel 1
so as to supply the requisite jet or jets of water for acting on the fibre whilst it is
being scutched.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Henry Charles Smith in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 14th April
1883.
HENRY CHARLES. SMITH of Richmond in the County of Surrey, Engineer
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF FIBRE BEARING LEAVES AND PLANTS FOR
THE SEPARATION OF THE FIBRES THEREFROM AND FOR THE WASHING DRYING
AND BLEACHING OF THE SAME AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED
THEREIN."
My said invention relates to a mode or method of separating the glutinous
matter from the fibre in the leaves or stalks of the Aloe, Pine apple, Phormium
Tenax (or New Zealand Flax) and other fibre bearing leaves and stalks and has
for its object the more complete and expeditious removal of the fleshy or pulpy
part of the plant from the fibre thereby preventing discoloration of such fibre
by the action of the acrid or acid matter of the said pulp upon the fibre whilst at
the same time the operation is not only simplified and economy of labour effected
but it can be advantageously and efficiently applied to those classes of aloes or
other fibre bearing plants which owing to their acrid nature cannot practically be
treated in the scutching machine at present in uso.
According to my said invention scutch the leaves or stalks and wash and
bleach or wash or bleach the separated fibres at one operation in lieu of first
scutching and then subjecting the fibres to separate washings, wringings bleaching
and drying. For this purpose I drive the scutcher at a high velocity so as to
generate a current of air sufficiently powerful to drive or force the fibres into
or through a jet or jets of hot or cold water which are caused to play upon the
fibre and scutching wheel thereby thoroughly removing all the glutinous matter
from the fibre as fast as it is passed through the machine whilst the scutching
wheel is also kept perfectly free from the destructive effects of the acrid matter
upon the iron. The before mentioned jet or jets of water may be so applied as not

page_text: only to, wash the fibres but in some cases to act also as a cushion or yielding
backing to the fibre for maintaining it in longer contact with the scutcher.
The current of air generated by the scutcher serves also to dry the fibres as
fast as they are drawn back over the feeder. When it is desired to bleach
the fibre at the same time any well known bleaching matter can be used with
the water.
The apparatus may be constructed in various ways but it is essential that
special jet pipes and cocks be employed in combination with the scutching wheel
so as to supply the requisite jet or jets of water for acting on the fibre whilst it is
being scutched.
And in order that my said invention may be fully understood I shall. now
proceed more particularly to describe the same and for that purpose shall refer to
the several figures on the explanatory sheet of drawings hereunto annexed the
same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts in all the figures.
Figure 1 is a side elevation and partial section of my improved machine for
carrying out my said invention.
Figure 2 is a corresponding front view of the same.
Figure 3 is a detail plan of the feed table or plate with its jet pipe attached
drawn to a larger scale.
Figure 4 is a corresponding transverse section of the same and Figures 5 and 6
are enlarged details of a portion of the scutching drum and one of its beaters.
A A are the cast iron or other standards of the machine. B B are plummer blocks
carrying the journals of the shaft C on which is mounted the scutching drum D
provided with suitable beaters E E round its circumference. F is the driving
pulley by which or by suitable gearing a rapid rotary motion is imparted to the
drum. G is the feed table or plate across which the leaves to bo scutched are fed
towards the beaters by the attendant and drawn back as they are scutched. This
feed table may either be fixed or adjustable but I prefer to make it adjustable
both in a vertical and in a horizontal direction as shown in my drawings so as to
be enabled to regulate or adjust the position of its front curved edge a with
reference to the beaters. For this purpose the table which may be of cast iron
is formed with flanges or lugs b b at each end resting upon vertically sliding
adjustable supports cc inside the standards acted upon by elevating screws d d.
The horizontal adjustment towards or from the beaters may be effected by the
adjusting screws e e carried in lugs fon the vertical sliding supports c and working
through a lug or web g at each end of the table. h is a screw passing through
a alot in each lug b and provided with a tightening nut for fixing the table in its
adjusted position. At any convenient distance below the front edge of the table
or feed plate I mount in suitable holders i attached to the table or otherwise fitted
one or more water jet pipes H shown more clearly in figures 3 and 4. This pipe is
perforated or formed with a fine slit along its side next to to the beaters and may
be supplied with water or with bleaching liquor under pressure in any convenient
manner through the branch the ends of the perforated pipe being closed by
removeable screwed caps for the convenience of cleaning out the pipe. The
holders i of the said jet pipe are by preference split as shown in figure 4 so
that whilst gripping the jet pipe the latter may be free to be turned or adjusted
to the best position for the effective action of the liquid jet or jets on the fibres.
In using this machine the attendant gradually brings the thick end of the leaf
up to the beaters by moving it forward over the table as fast as the pulpy matter
is removed by the beaters and the fibres become exposed. Simultaneously with
this operation any gummy or pulpy acrid matters which may still be adhering to
the fibres and which will if allowed to remain inevitably discolour and injure the
fibres is effectually washed away by the action of the water jets on the fibres the
said fibres being rapidly dried by the passage through them above the water jets
of a current of air generated by the revolving beaters themselves or by a special
fan or blower worked by the machine. These jets of washing or bleaching liquor
may be directed through the fibres either from the outer side inwards towards

page_text: the drum or vice versa but I prefer the former arrangement as the force of the
jet or jets then serves as a yielding backing for holding the hanging or free
ends of the fibres gently up to the beaters and thus keeping them longer under
their action.
.In some cases if found desirable a second scutching wheel may be employed
working in conjunction with the main scutcher and so placed in the machine as
that it shall operate upon the outer side of the trees of fibres at the same time that
the main scutcher is operating on the inner side.
I is a tank or cistern for receiving the refuse matter removed by the beaters
along with the surplus water or liquor used in washing or bleaching the said
fibres.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
invention and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original
and therefore claim as the invention secured to me by the hereinbefore in part
recited letters patent is :-
First. The mode or method of treating fibre bearing leaves and plants by the
combined and simultaneous action of beaters or scutchers a current of air and
a jet or jets of water or bleaching liquor substantially as and for the purpose
herein before described.
Second. The combination in a scutching machine for separating or removing
the pulpy matters from the fibres of fibre bearing leaves and plants of beaters
(in conjunction or not with a fan or blower) a feed table, and liquid jet pipo
or pipes, all operating together for simultaneously effecting the scutching washing,
bleaching and drying or scutching washing and drying of the fibres substantially
as set forth.
Third. The jet pipe or pipes H in combination with a scutching machine
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
In witness whereof I the said Henry Charles Smith have hereunto set my
band and seal this Twenty ninth day of March in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and eighty three.
ANY