Improved Machinery for the Preparation of Vegetable Fibres.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Sept., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Machinery for the Preparation of Vegetable Fibres.
I ROBERT JAMES EKE, of 34 (A) White Lion Street Pentonville in the County of
London, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this Invention to be as
follows:-
The first part of this Invention relates to machinery for decorticating vegetable
fibres, either in the green or dry state, or for softening the ribbons and filasse.
According to this part of my said Invention, in a suitable framing I mount
in bearings two or more rollers having on their surfaces circumferential grooves
of a V form in cross section, with the portion of the metal between any two neigh-
bouring grooves rounded, so as to prevent the fibre from being cut. These
rollers are so set in pairs, in respect to one another, that the convexities on the
one roller enter into the concavities on the other roller, without coming into
contact, the distance being determined by the nature of the sticks to be operated
upon. These rollers I may make adjustable with respect to one another.
In advance of the said rollers, I mount other rollers in pairs having longitu-
dinal corrugations. In each pair one of the rollers is provided with longitudinal
V grooves, and the other with longitudinal U grooves. The rollers in each
pair are so set and geared with respect to one another that they intermesh as they
rotate but do not come into actual contact. The metal between any two neigh-
bouring U grooves is brought up to a blunt edge.
These rollers are mounted so as to be capable of being adjusted.
I prefer to rotate all the rollers at the same speed.
These latter rollers are intended to break up the stick transversely, after it has
been split longitudinally by the first mentioned rollers.
In advance of the last mentioned rollers, I mount a beater or beaters, The
shafts carrying the blades of the beaters are rectangular in cross section, and
the blades are so fixed as to extend diagonally across one or more of the faces of
the shaft. Where I have more than one beater, I so set the blades on the beaters,
that they shall tend to throw the fibre in opposite directions. By this means
the woody portion of the fibres is eliminated, leaving only the ribbons. I provide
suitable rollers for conveying these ribbons on to an endless band travelling
at a higher speed than the machine, in order to keep the ribbons straight.
Where I have more than one beater, I prefer to mount a pair of the last men-
tioned rollers between the beaters.
The second part of this Invention relates to machinery for treating the ribbons,
and the filasse.
According to this part of my said Invention, in a suitable framing, I mount
horizontally two shafts in suitable bearings, say six feet apart for example:
and at or near each end of each shaft, I key a sprocket wheel, and over the cor-
responding sprocket wheels at the end of each shaft, I pass an endless chain. On
to the aforesaid chains I fix metal plates (across from chain to chain) say at
every other link. These plates are provided with slots, into which pins fixed on
other plates of a similar size, take, so that the latter plates are capable of moving

page_text: longitudinally as hereinafter described. The upper surfaces of these last men-
tioned plates are corrugated in any suitable way, To one end of each of the
upper plates before mentioned, I fix a horizontal arm, to the end of which I fix
a pin provided with a roller, On this side of the plates, at this side of. the
machine, I fix horizontally a plate having a waved groove. This plate extends
throughout the entire length of the machine. Into the waved groove, the afore-
said rollers fitted to the pins (which are vertical) at the ends of the plates, take,
so that as the chains are worked by the shafts, the aforesaid corrugated plates
shall have, a longitudinal motion imparted to them.
Above this series of travelling plates, I fit another similar arrangement, but
inverted, and set so that the corrugated plates in the upper and lower series shall
have a longitudinal motion in opposite directions, any plate of either series mov-
ing in an opposite direction to its neighbour.
The distance between shaft and shaft in the lower series is greater than that
in the upper series, so as to facilitate feeding the machine.
At the outlet of the machine, I have a hinged table, raised to an angle by any
suitable means, so that the fibre which has already passed through the machine
may be thrown upon the upper portion of the upper arrangement of travelling
plates, so that it may be carried to the feeding end of the machine, and passed
through as often as may be necessary.
Midway between the endless chains, I fix a longitudinal support to prevent
sagging of the under chains.
When this part of the machinery is intended for washing the fibre, I may
find it desirable to spray water or chemical solution over the fibre, or place and
work the machine in a tank containing-water-or-chemical solution.
Dated this 11th day of September 1896.
BROWNE & Co.,
9 Warwick Court, Gray's Inn. London. W.C. Agents for the Applicant.
I ROBERT JAMES EKE of 34A Whitelion Street, Pentonville in the County of
London, 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:-
The first part of this invention relates to machinery for decorticating vege-
table fibres, either in the green or dry state, or for softening the ribbons and
filasse.
According to this part of my said invention, in a suitable framing. I mount
in bearings two or more rollers having on their surfaces circumferential grooves
of a V form in cross section, with the portion of the metal between any two
neighbouring grooves rounded, so as to prevent the fibre from being cut. These
rollers are so set in pairs in respect to one another that the convexities on the
one roller enter into the concavities on the other roller, without coming. into con-
tact, the distance being determined according to the nature of the sticks to be
operated upon. These rollers I may make adjustable with respect to one another.
In advance of the said rollers, I mount other rollers in pairs having longitu-
dinal corrugations. In each pair, one of the rollers is provided with longitu-
dinal V grooves, and the other with longitudinal U grooves. The rollers in each
pair are so set and geared with respect to one another that they intermesh as
they rotate but do not come into actual contact. The metal between any two
neighbouring U grooves is brought up to a blunt edge. The rollers are mounted

page_text: so as to be capable of being adjusted. These latter rollers are intended to break
up the stick transversely, after it has been split longitudinally by the first men-
tioned rollers.
In advance of the aforesaid last-mentioned rollers, I mount a beater or beaters.
By this means the woody portions of the fibres are eliminated, leaving only the
ribbons.
I provide suitable rollers for conveying these ribbons on to an endless band
travelling at a higher speed than the machine, in order to keep the ribbons
straight.
Where I have more than one pair of beaters, I prefer to mount a pair of the
last mentioned rollers between the pairs of beaters.
The second part of this invention relates to machinery for treating the ribbons
and filasse.
According to this part of my said invention, in a suitable framing I mount horizon-
tally two shafts in suitable bearings, say six feet apart for example, and at or near
each end of each shaft I key a sprocket wheel, and over the corresponding sprocket
wheel at the end of each shaft, I pass an endless chain. On to the aforesaid
chains I fix metal plates (across from chain to chain) say at every other link.
These plates are provided with slots, into which pins fixed on other plates of a
similar size take, so that the latter plates are capable of moving longitudinally
as hereinafter described. The upper surfaces of these last mentioned plates are
corrugated in any suitable way. To one end of each of the upper plates before-
mentioned, I fix a horizontal arm to the end of which I fix a pin provided with
a roller. On this side of the plates, at this side of the machine, I fix horizontally
a plate having a waved groove. This plate extends throughout the entire length
of the machine. Into the waved groove, the aforesaid rollers fitted to the pins
(which are vertical) at the ends of the plates, take, so that as the chains are
worked by the shafts the aforesaid corrugated plates shall have a longitudinal
motion imparted to them.
Above this series of travelling plates, I fit another similar arrangement, but
inverted, and set so that the corrugated plates in the upper and lower series
shall have a longitudinal motion in opposite directions, any plate of either series
moving in an opposite direction to its neighbour.
The distance between shaft and shaft in the lower series is greater than that
in the upper series, so as to facilitate feeding the machine.
At the outlet of the machine, I have a hinged table, raised to an angle by any
suitable means, so that the fibre which has already passed through the machine
may be thrown upon the upper portion of the upper arrangement of travelling
plates, so that it may be carried to the feeding end of the machine, and passed
through as often as may be necessary.
Midway between the endless chains, I fix a longitudinal support to prevent
sagging of the under chains.
When this part of the machinery is intended for washing the fibre, I may find
it desirable to spray wafter or chemical solution over the fibre, or place and work
the machine in a tank containing water or chemical solution.
And in order that my said invention may be better understood I will now
proceed to describe the same with reference to the drawing accompanying this
specification in which Fig. 1 shews an elevation of the machinery made according
to the first part of my said invention. Figs. 2 to 7 shew details, Fig. 8 plan of
this part of the machinery, Fig 9 elevation, and Fig. 10 plan of machinery con-
structed according to the second part of this invention.
The same letters denote the same parts in Figs 1 to 8.
aa shew the standards of the machine, bb the rollers for splitting or wedging
open the stalks as they are fed into the machine; a plan of a portion of these
rollers is shewn at Fig. 2 drawn to an enlarged scale shewing the position when
fitted in the machine. It will be seen that the edges of the circumferential
V grooves are rounded so that the stalks may not be cut but only wedged open

page_text: longitudinally. It will also be observed that the rollers bb do not touch at any
part. dd shew the rollers for breaking the stalks transversely after they have
been wedged open by the rollers b b. Although I have shown the rollers d d,
the one provided with longitudinal V shaped grooves and the other with longi-
tudinal grooves (see Fig 7) I may have these grooves of any other suitable
form, and I prefer to have both the rollers provided with longitudinal V grooves.
ee shew the beaters, these are provided with blades which intermesh as shewn
at Fig 6 detached; the edges f'of the blades are rounded so that the fibre may
not be cut. gg shew the tension rollers which I prefer to have grooved longi-
tudinally in the same way as the rollers d d. h shews the feeding table or endless
band, and i the delivery table or endless band. These tables or bands travel on
the rollers kk, I respectively. The beaters e e are caused to rotate at a high
speed by means of the pinion m which engages with a spur wheel n keyed on
the pulley shaft o. On the shafts of the rollers b b are keyed spur wheels which
engage with one another so that one of these rollers is driven by the other. On
to each of the shafts of the other rollers d dee and g g is likewise keyed a
coupling wheel so that each of the upper rollers is connected with a corres-
ponding lower one. These coupling rollers are not shewn in the drawing. The
splitting rollers bb and beaters ee are adjusted by the handles 10. shews
shield for preventing the woody portions from mixing with the treated fibre on
the table. The bearings ratu slide in the pockets r s t u in the frame a
so that the rollers bb dd, beaters e e and tension rollers 9 g can be adjusted
according to the nature of the fibre to be treated, as the different fibres require
more or less pressure exerted on them. shews springs pressing on bearings s
and u.
The action of a machine constructed, as above is as follows:-
The pulley shaft is driven by suitable means. The pinion engages with
the spur wheel 9 which is keyed on the shaft of the bottom splitting roller b
which ensures this pair of rollers bb rotating. The spur wheel wo on the shaft 5
engages with the idle wheel and thus drives the spur wheel y on the shaft 6
thereby actuating the pair of breaking rollers d d. Another spur wheel z is also
keyed on the shaft 6 and this spur wheel gears with another idle wheel z¹ and
so transmits motion to the spur wheel y keyed on the shaft 8 thereby actuating
the pair of tension rollers 9 g. The roller is provided with a sprocket wheel
connected by means of a chain a with another sprocket wheel w keyed on
shaft 5.
The stalks are fed on to the band or table h and they are then carried to the
rollers bb; the stalks enter the grooves of the upper and lower rollers bb and
are wedged open as they pass between the said rollers. They are then conveyed
to the said rollers d d where they are broken transversely and in this form are
carried between the heaters e e, where on account of the interior being exposed,
the woody portions are beaten out and the fibre then passes between the tension
rollers gg and is delivered on to the band or table i.
I have found that it is necessary to set the beaters e e as close as possible to the
tension rollers g g so that the ribbons may be cleaned right to the end.
I may have additional pairs of beaters and tension rollers if found desirable.
If desired the fibre treated as above can be passed through the machine a second
time, but this will not be found necessary as a rule.
The second part of this invention is applicable to washing or softening the
fibre, and when the machine is used for the first named purpose, it should be
worked in water or have water sprayed on it.
Figure 9 shews plan of this machine. Fig 10 is an elevation.
The same letters denote the same parts in both these figs.
a and b shew shafts, mounted respectively in the hearings a in framing A.
shew sprocket wheels keyed on the shafts a and d d are other sprocket wheels
on the shaft b. e shews an endless chain passing over the sprocket wheels c and d,
and e a similar chain passing over c and d f shews metal plates (one only

page_text: is shewn on the drawing) rivetted or otherwise suitably fixed to corresponding
links on the chains e and e¹. These plates are provided at every other link of
the chains or at other suitable intervals throughout the entire length, thus
forming an endless band of such plates. These plates are provided with slots gg
into which pins fixed on other plates h (one of which is shewn on the drawing of
a similar size) take, so that these latter plates are free to move backwards and
forwards. The upper surfaces of the plates are corrugated in any suitable way,
and the said plates are provided at one end with a horizontal arm i, to the end of
which is fixed a vertical pin provided with a roller j. k shews a horizontal
plate having a waved groove into which groove the aforesaid rollers j¹ take.
Thus when the shafts a and b rotate, the endless band of plates f travels with
the chains e and el, and at the same time each plate has a backward and
forward motion imparted to it, in consequence of the rollers jj travelling in
the waved groove l.
m and n shew two more shafts, similar to a and b (above which they are fitted)
provided with sprocket wheels o, o' and p, p, chains q, q' and corrugated plates h¹,
the whole forming a similar arrangement to that just described, but inverted,
the rollers in this case working in the waved groove ¹ in the plate k¹, in such
a way that any corrugated plate in the upper series shall move backwards while
the plate below it in the lower series moves forward, or vice versa.
The distance between the shafts a, b in the lower series is greater than that
between m and n in the upper series. This facilitates the feeding of the machine.
The lower chains e, and e¹ extend beyond the sprocket wheels d,. d to other
and raised sprocket wheels r, r, on the shaft s, thus forming a table, as shewn
at B Fig 10. This table may be turned back about the pivot t by raising the
lever u so that the fibre which has already passed through the machine may be
thrown upon the upper portion of the upper travelling plates, in order that
it may be carried back to the feeding end of the machine and passed through as
often as may be necessary.
v, v shew angle bars, between which the plates pass. w shews tank con-
taining water, or such chemical solution as I may find it desirable to employ
when this part of the machinery is intended for washing fibre.
The machinery is driven through the medium of a pulley shaft
on which
is keyed a pinion y gearing in a spur wheel z, keyed to the shaft a. The motion
is communicated to the shaft m by means of a wheel 7 on that shaft gearing
with a wheel 2 on the shaft a.
As the fibre passes through between the corrugated plates h and h¹, it is sub-
jected to a rubbing action.
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. The general construction and arrangement of machinery substantially as and
for the purposes set forth.
2. In machinery for the preparation of vegetable fibres, the employment of
rollers such as those shewn at Fig. 2 on the accompanying drawings, for the pur-
poses set forth.
3. In machinery for the preparation of vegetable fibres, the employment of rub
bing plates, such as those shewn at Figs. 9 and 10, arranged and operated sub-
stantially as set forth.
T
1007
BROWNE & Co.
Agents for the Applicant. 9 Warwick Court. London. W.C.