IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY, FOR SERDING, BREAKING, DRYING, WASHING, BLEACHING, SOFTENING, COMBING, BRUSHING, AND HACKLING FLAX, HEMP, JUTE, CHINA GRASS, NEW ZEALAND PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Spencer, of 5, Euston Road, King's Cross,
County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY,
FOR SERDING, BREAKING, DRYING, WASHING, BLEACHING, SOFTENING, COMBING,
BRUSHING, AND HACKLING FLAX, HEMP, JUTE, CHINA GRASS, NEW ZEALAND
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Spencer at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 22nd
March 1867.
I, JOHN SPENCER, of 5, Euston Road, King's Cross, County of Middlesex,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY FOR SEEDING, BREAKING, DRYING, WASHING, BLEACHING, SOFTENING
COMBING, BRUSHING, AND HACKLING FLAX, HEMP, JUTE, CHINA GRASS, NEW
ZEALAND FLAX, ESPARTO, AND OTHER FIBRES FOR SPINNING AND PAPER STUFF," to
be as follows:-
The first part of my Invention relates to an improved mode of removing the
husks or seed pods from the straw of flax and other similar plants. For this
purpose I mount on a suitable frame an open fluted platform or table which
is supported on springs; I employ one or more rollers with a too-and-fro
motion on the top of the platform or table, the table being open betwixt the
flutes allows the seed to fall through without injury, also being supported on
ГР. 971

page_text: springs will admit of various thicknesses of flax passing between the rollers
and table without injury to the fibre; I propose to construct the table fluted,
serrated, or corrugated, corresponding with the rollers employed.
The second part of my Invention is an improved combined breaking and
drying machine for seperating the straw, burr, or wood from the valuable
fibres of flax, hemp, jute, and other fibrous yielding plants so as to prepare
them for washing, bleaching, combing, or hackling, by which means they are
made suitable for spinning and paper stuff. I construct on a suitable frame
an open fluted, serrated, or corrugated table or platform; on the top of the
table or platform I employ two or more rollers corresponding with the table,
which are worked by a too-and-fro motion; I construct the table on springs,
which allows of various thicknesses passing through without injury to the
fibre. The inside framework of this machine I enclose into a drying room
by means of sheet iron or other suitable material; this room I heat with
air from a stove suitable for the purpose supplied by a fan or blower; inside
the drying room I employ rollers at each end and from end to end, and
around each roller I fix a suitable web; the flax or material to be dried is put
on the web at one end, and the roller at the opposite end being turned by
suitable machinery, the flax or material travels to the other end through the
heated room and will be ready for breaking; by this process the flax or
material will be much better and readier cleaned of the wood or burr.
The third part of my Invention relates to an improved washing, bleaching,
wringing, and drying machine constructed as follows:--The various processes
are constructed on one frame, the first part is an open fluted table supported
on springs; on the table I employ a fluted roller corresponding with the table;
underneath the table I fix a pan or tank which is supplied with hot or cold
water, or bleaching liquid, as required, and a too-and-fro motion being given
to the fluted roller the material being operated on is immersed in the liquid,
and a washing and rubbing action is obtained. The second part of this
machine is the same as the first as regards the table, roller, pan, or tank, but
I construct a perforated pipe immediately above the flax or material to be
operated on, and which is supplied with hot or cold water; the material from
the first operation is passed to the second, and by aspray of water falling on
the top of the flax or material a thorough washing is obtained, which removes
the gummy matter that may remain. The third part of this machine is a
platform or table with a smooth or corrugated surface constructed on springs;
on the top of the table I employ a smooth or corrugated roller; motion given
as before stated. The flax or fibre brought from the last process is nearly dried
by passing through this part of the machine; it is then ready to go into the

page_text: heated drying room, which is constructed in this machine the same as in the
second part of my Invention; it is then ready for passing through the softening
machine.
The fourth part of my Invention relates to an improved softening machine.
I arrange by preference four or more fluted, serrated, or corrugated rollers
round the circumference of a large open fluted, serrated, or corrugated roller,
cylinder, or drum corresponding with the said rollers; the rollers are carried
and supported on a bell crank which works on the same centre as the large
roller, cylinder, or drum; the bell crank is driven by means of a crank shaft
which revolves in suitable bearings in the arms of the bell crank, which gives
a reciprocating motion to the bell crank, and therefore to the rollers; these
rollers are kept in contact with the large roller, cylinder, or drum by springs
which are regulated by set screws, whereby any required pressure may be given
on the material to be operated on (machines similer constructed to the above,
the large cylinder, roller, or drum travels forward at the same timeas the top
rollers are working too and fro%; I find this process to injure the flax or
material in passing through). I construct my machine so that at the time the
rollers are reciprocating or working too and fro the large roller, cylinder, or
drum remains stationery. As soon as the flax or material is sufficiently
operated on the top rollers is stopped working, and the large roller, cylinder,
or drum is then put in motion, which carries the flax or material out of the
machine; I have found this process much superior to other machines at
present in use.
The fifth part of my Invention is an improved combing, brushing, and
scutching machine. I construct in a suitable frame a wheel or disc by
suitable machinery; it is made to rotate on its axis. I fix on the outside
of the wheel or disc a series of combs, brushes, or stricks, as may be found
suitable. I construct an opening in the frame immediately in front of the
combs, brushes, or stricks, and by a continuous feed motion the flax or
material is brought through the opening in the frame into contact with the
combs, brushes, or stricks; the flax or material is fed to the combs, brushes,
or stricks by means of chain gear or belt working round suitable wheels;
the flax or material is hung on the chain gear or belt by suitable holders
immediately underneath the chain gear or belt, and in front of the combs,
brushes, or stricks, and behind the flax or material, I construct a fan or blower
driven by suitable gearing; the blast is directed behind the flax or material,
and forces it into the combs, brushes, or stricks, consequently a better process
is obtained. At the opposite side of the framing I construct a series of teeth
or pins, which are made to rotate by means of a cam on the side of the disc,

page_text: and which cleans out the tow from the combs and brushes; this machine is
constructed with combs and brushes on both sides of the wheel or disc, so that
a double machine is made on one frame.
The sixth part of my Invention is an improved hackling machine. In a
suitable frame I construct a cylinder, wheel, or drum; on the face I fix
holders at equal distances apart; flax or material to be hackled is put into
these holders; immediately in front of the cylinder, wheel, or drum I fix a
series of hackles, varying coarse and fine, and by suitable gearing they are
brought in front of the flax or other material; the cylinder, wheel, or drum is
put in motion, and by its velocity the flax or material is made to fly out at
full length; the hackles is gradually moved forward until the flax or material
comes into the hackles. When the hackle has travelled up to near the holders
the flax or material will be ready for the second or finer hackle, which by
suitable gearing is brought into the place of the coarse hackle, the hackle is
then moved forward as before; the same mode applies to the third and finer
hackle. I construct one or more cylinders, wheels, or drums on one frame; I
also construct hackles similar to those named behind the wheel, cylinder, or
drum, and by reversing the motion of the wheel, cylinder, or drum the flax
or material is hackled on the other side without taking off the holders.
The seventh part of my Invention relates to an improved breaking machine;
it is the same as the fourth part of my Invention, except that it is made a
very strong heavy machine suitable for fibres such as New Zealand flax
(phorneium tenax), Russian hemp, esparto, and other strong bound fibres. I
arrange by preference ten or more fluted, serrated, or corrugated rollers round
the circumference of a large open fluted, serrated, or corrugated roller,
cylinder, or drum; other details are the same as number four of my
Invention. Without departing from this part of my Invention I propose to
construct a machine with an open fluted table and oscillating rollers, the table
remaining stationery when the oscillating of the rollers is in motion, and the
rollers remaining stationery when the table is put in motion to carry out the
flax or material from the machine.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Spencer in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
21st September 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
SPENCER, of 5, Euston Road, King's Cross, in the County of Middlesex, send
greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-second day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirtieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said John Spencer, Her special licence that I, the said John Spencer, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John
Spencer, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY
FOR SEEDING, BREAKING, DRYING, WASHING, BLEACHING, SOFTENING, COMBING,
BRUSHING, AND HACKLING FLAX, HEMP, JUTE, CHINA GRASS, NEW ZEALAND FLAX,
ESPARTO, AND OTHER FIBRES FOR SPINNING AND PAPER STUFF," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said John Spencer, my executors or adminis-
trators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands
and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the
same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months
next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Spencer, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
The first part of my Invention relates to an improved mode of and
machinery for removing the husks or seed pods from the straw of flax and
other similar plants or fibrous vegitable matters. For this purpose I employ
a machine which is constructed and operates as follows:-Upon a suitable
frame or supports I mount a table or platform, the under surface of which is
fitted with spring bearings, and the upper surface of which table is corrugated,
grooved, or fluted transversely, the bottoms of such corrugations, grooves, or
flutes being open, perforated, or slotted. Above the said table I fit one or
more rollers, the peripheries of which are corrugated, grooved, or fluted
longitudinally, such corrugations, grooves, or flutes being made to correspond
with those in the upper surface of the table before mentioned, along which
the rollers work forwards and backwards by means of suitable mechanism.
The straw, flax, or other vegetable matter from which the husks, seed, or
seed pods are to be removed is placed upon the table, and the rollers passed
over the same by hand or other power. The openings in the table allow the

page_text: husks separated by the action of the machine and the seeds to pass through
uninjured, while the table being supported on springs allows it to yield and
admit of various thicknesses of flax passing under the rollers without injuring
the fibre.
The second part of my Invention consists of an improved combined breaking
and drying machine for separating the straw, run, or wood from the valuable
fibres of flax, hemp, jute, rheed, China grass, and other fibre yielding plants,
so as to prepare them for washing, bleaching, combing, or hackling, by which
means they are made suitable for spinning and paper stuff. In constructing
this machine I make a table mounted upon springs and fitted with rollers, as
before described, but instead of mounting the table upon an open frame I
place it upon a close or box frame, the interior of which I convert into a
drying room or chamber by heating it with hot air from a stove suitable for
the purpose; this stove I connect with the interior of the chamber by a tube
or pipe, and in connection with the said chamber I provide an air pump,
blower, or fan for drawing or impelling the hot air as required. At each end
of this chamber or drying room I place a roller, and round these rollers I pass
an endless web of wire or other suitable material; the flax, &c. to be dried is
placed upon the web at one end of the machine, and the rollers being then
put in motion is carried through the heated space to the opposite end of the
machine, and vice versa, until it is ready for breaking by the rollers and table
above. By this process the flax, &c. is brought into a state in which it can
be more readily and perfectly cleansed of the wood or bun.
The third part of my said Invention relates to an improved washing,
bleaching, and wringing and drying machine, by which these three several
processes may be carried on upon the frame. In constructing this machine I
fix tanks on the supporting frame, and place the tables therein. Two of the
said tables in this case for washing and bleaching are formed in the shape of
a disk, but have their bottom surfaces corrugated or grooved, and slotted or
perforated, as before described; the third table for wringing and drying may
have either a plain or corrugated surface; they are all mounted upon springs,
as before described, and have each a traversing roller; the washing and
bleaching rollers are grooved or fluted, and the wringing roller plain. The
pans or tanks in which the dished tables are placed are supplied with hot or
cold water or bleaching liquid according as the process may require. In the
first or washing process the material to be operated upon having been first
immersed or not in the tank is placed on the table, when upon motion being
imparted to the rollers by hand or otherwise the liquid in the tank as the table
is depressed therein will pass through the openings, slots, or perforations in

page_text: the bottom of the said table, and the material thereon will be thus subjected
to a washing and rubbing action. In the second part of this machine to the
table and roller (which are similar in form and action to those in the first
part of the machine just described) a perforated pipe is added, through which
hot or cold clean water is conveyed to and discharged upon the flax or
material (removed from the first machine) in the form of "spray," the liquid
passes through the material and tube aided by the action of the roller into
the tank underneath the latter, and thus a thorough washing of the material
is obtained, and any gummy matter which may remain is removed therefrom.
The third part of this machine, which is intended for wringing or pressing and
drying the flax or material after it has passed through the second process, is
fitted by preference with a smooth surface roller and table, the latter being
perforated and mounted upon springs receives the material over which the
roller is worked, as before described, pressing out the water and moisture.
The material having been passed through this part of the machine will be
found to be nearly dry, when by passing it through a hot-air chamber, which
may be added to the machine under the tanks and heated in the manner
before explained or otherwise, the drying operation may be completed, and
the material brought into a condition suitable for being softened.
"
The fourth part of my Invention relates to an improved "softening
machine, which is intended to operate and is constructed as follows:-I form
a large cylinder with a corrugated, serrated, , or fluted periphery with openings
therein similar to those before described in the tables referred to in the first
part of my Invention, and mount it upon its axis in a suitable frame; round
the upper portion of this cylinder in a second frame mounted so as to rock
upon a centre in the same axis Ifit in spring bearings a number of rollers or
small cylinders; the bearing springs of the latter are adjustable by set screws,
so as to regulate their pressure upon the main cylinder as required. The
surfaces of the rollers are also corrugated, serrated,orfluted to correspond with
the surface of the large cylinder. The material to be softened is to be placed
between the large cylinder and rollers, and the latter are then caused to roll
backwards and forwards upon the former, which remains stationary until the
required condition of the flax, &c. is obtained, when the roller frame is locked
and the large cylinder can be turned in either direction, and thus carries out
the finished material on one side of the machine, while the unfinished material
to be operated upon is fed on the other. The distinguishing features of this
machine constructed according to my Invention are, first, the open corrugated
periphery of the large centre cylinder for allowing the dust and other refuse
matter separated from the flax,&c.in the softening process to fall through ;

page_text: secondly, the mode of gearing and working the machine so that the main
cylinder remains stationary while the large cylinder is being turned.
The fifth part of my Invention relates to an improved brushing, combing,
and scutching machine. In the construction of this machine in a suitable
frame I mount a disc or flat wheel, which is made to rotate upon its axis by
any suitable mechanism moved by hand or otherwise; on one side of this disc
I fix a series of stricks, combs, and brushes. The supporting frame is made
with a suitable opening therein, through which the flax, &c. is conducted
into contact with the said stricks, combs, and brushes as the disc rotates,
being fed by means of an endless belt or chain gear fitted with holders
from which the flax hangs. Opposite the opening in the supporting frame
and behind the flax, &c. I fit a blower actuated by suitable gearing. The
blast of this blower is directed against the suspended flax, and thus drives it
into contact with the stricks.combs,and brushes as the disc rotates. On the
same side of the frame, but opposite to the opening before described, I fit a
series of pins or teeth which are made to rotate by means of a cam on the
side of the disc for taking out the tow from the combs and brushes on both
and thus form a double machine.
The sixth part of my Invention consists of an improved hackling machine
by which the flax,&c.is subjected to a centrifugal action; for effecting this
I mount a cylinder or drum upon suitable bearings, and fit 4 or more or less
flax holders, closing by a spring or otherwise, to the periphery. Opposite the
centre of the cylinder above mentioned and in suitable slides I fit a series of
hackles (varying from coarse to fine); these hackles have a double motion
imparted to them, one an advancing and the other a receding motion, by
which they are adjusted at a greater or less distance from the periphery of the
cylinder,and the other a transverse motion by which they are moved sideways
to or from the face of the cylinder, or from left to right, and vice versa. The
cylinder being supplied with the flax,&c. is caused to rotate, when the centri-
fugal action will cause the fibres to fly out in a radial direction from the
centre, the hackles are then worked forward till the coarse teeth take the fibre,
and when sufficiently hackled by these the next finer teeth are brought
opposite the cylinder by the sliding side motion, when the second backling
operation being completed the third or finishing hackle takes the place of the
others by a further side motion, and the entire operation is completed by one
machine.
The seventh part of my Invention relates to machinery for breaking the
fibres as herein described. In the construction of my improved machine I
adopt the form before described under the head of the fourth part of my

page_text: Invention for the softening machine, only that in this case I make the centre
cylinder longer, heavier, and stronger, and increase the number of the rollers
to ten or more, placing an equal number on each side of the centre, and gear
and work the same also as before described; or in lieu of the centre cylinder
a segmental or flat slotted or perforated table may be used, and the rollers
caused to roll thereon with a reciprocating motion; and when the roller frame
is locked the table, which is stationary when the rollers are in operation, may
be moved so as to deliver the material.
The details of construction are shewn upon the accompanying Drawings
marked A, B, C, D, E, and F respectively, and to which Drawings the
following explanation applies. Before proceeding to explain the same in
detail, however, I would here observe that 1 do not absolutely confine myself
to the precise proportions or forms of the different parts, nor to the particular
mode of gearing and actuating the same, as in these respects modifications
may be made in practice without departing from the respective principles
nnon which the several machines are constructed and the modes in which

page_text: with the roller by having a sufficient length of vulcanized india-rubber tube
fitted thereto; d is the space under the tank which I enclose and convert into
a drying chamber. Fig. 4 on this Drawing shews the form of surface of the
table and the periphery of the rollers for esparto grass and other similar hard
fibre.
Drawing D. This Drawing shews the details of construction for the
improved machinery described under the fourth and seventh sections of this
Specification. Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the softening machine, the other
details of which are similar to those of the breaking machine, which are fully
illustrated, and of which Fig. 1ª is a side elevation; Fig. 2, a plan; Fig. 3, a
transverse section; and Fig. 4, a sectional plan.
Drawing E shews the improved machine which forms the fifth part of my
said Invention for scutching, combing, and brushing the fibres. Fig. 1 is a
side elevation; Fig. 2, a plan; and Figs. 3 and 4 are transverse sections.
the disc; b, the feed; c, the blowing fan; d, the comb cleaners.
a is
Drawing F is intended to illustrate my improved hackling machine, Fig. 1
shewing the same in side elevation, Fig. 2 in plan, and Figs. 3 and 4
respectively in sectional end elevations. a is the revolving cylinder; b, the
flax holders; c¹, c², c³, the advancing and receding and lateral sliding hackles,
which are caused to advance and recede by the screw d, and to slide by the
rack and pinion e, e.
The various Drawings are laid down to a geometrical scale of of an inch
to a foot.
Having thus described and illustrated my said improvements, I hereby
further declare that what I more particularly claim is as follows:-
First, in reference to the whole of the machine when the same forms a
part thereof, I claim the openings, slots, and perforations in plain, corrugated,
fluted, or serrated surfaced tables or hollow cylinders, with the rollers herein
described working along or upon the same, the dimensions of such openings,
flutes, &c. being varied as circumstances may require for each and all the
purposes herein-before enumerated or analogous thereto.
I claim the said forms in the construction of the single and combined
machines as herein described and illustrated upon the Drawings.
I claim the machine in which the washing, bleaching, and drying operations
and a heated chamber are combined.
I also claim the mode of fitting and heating the said chambers by drawing
hot air into and through the same.
I claim the softening and breaking machines in which the centre cylinder
or drum or table remains stationary while the rollers operate, and the rollers

page_text: remain stationary while the said cylinder or table is being moved for feeding
or delivering the fibre.
I claim the disc fitted as shewn on Drawing E, and herein described, the
the mode of feeding the flax or other fibre thereto, and the blowing motion
thereof on the combs and brushes, and also the mode of making the combs
self-cleaning.
And, lastly, I claim the the centrifugal action cylinder and sliding hackles in
the machine shewn on Drawing F and herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Spencer, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-first day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
JOHN SPENCER. (L.B.)