Improved Apparatus for Dressing Fibrous Plants.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Oct.. 1896
2008
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus for Dressing Fibrous Plants.
I JOSEPH BANKS HILLIARD Surgical Instrument Maker 65 Renfield Street-
Glasgow, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This
On a frame is placed a revolving drum, fitted with transverse floats or beaters.
The spindle of this drum is fitted with alterable gear, which enables the operator
to alter the speed for different fibres. The fibre-plants are fed to the revolving
drum, and pressed against the passing floats by a special feed presser.
presser is under perfect control of the operator who may instantly alter the friction
on the fibre-plants from a heavy pressure to nothing. This enables the operator
to properly dress and finish the plants before withdrawing them from the machine.
When withdrawing them, the pressure is entirely removed. The fan action of
the revolving drum throws all debris clear of the machine. The feed presser is a
curved metal plate, hung over the revolving drum, and brought into action by a
lever pressed on by the operator's foot. When the pressure is removed the feed
presser is lifted from the revolving drum by a counter balance weight at the en.l
of the lever. By this means the fibre plants which are passed in between the feed
presser and the revolving drum, may be rubbed and beaten to any desired extent,
and when it is necessary to withdraw them from the action, the pressure may be
entirely removed merely by the operator lifting his foot from the lever, and
letting the counter balance weight lift the feed-presser entirely. Preferably, I
place the feed presser over the upper part of the drum, and feed the fibre plants
over the drum, but the mechanism may be similarly applied to any part of the
circumference of the drum.
J. B. HILLIARD,
65 Renfield Street Glasgow.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus for Dressing Fibrous Plants.
I, JOSEPH BANKS HILLIARD, Surgical Instrument Maker, 65, Renfield Street,
Glasgow, 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:-
On a frame is placed a revolving drum, fitted with transverse floats or beaters.
The fibre-plants are fed to the revolving drum, and pressed against the passing
floats by a special feed presser. This presser is under perfect control of the

page_text: operator who may instantly alter the friction on the fibre-plants from a heavy
pressure to nothing. This enables the operator to properly dress and finish the
plants before withdrawing them from the machine. When withdrawing them,
the pressure is entirely removed. The fan action of the revolving drum throws
all debris clear of the machine.
The feed presser may be made of wood metal or other material and is placed
over the revolving drum, and brought into action by a lever pressed on by the
operator's foot or otherwise. When the pressure is removed the feed presser is
lifted from the revolving drum by a counterbalance weight at the end of the
lever or by a spring. By this means the fibre plants which are passed in between
the feed presser and the revolving drum, may be rubbed and beaten to any desired
extent, and when it is necessary to withdraw them from the action, the
pressure
may be entirely removed merely by the operator releasing the lever, and letting
the counter balance weight or spring lift the feed presser entirely. Preferably, I
place the feed presser over the upper part of the drum, and feed the fibre plants
over the drum, but the mechanism may be similarly applied to any part of the
circumference of the drum.
In order that my Invention may be properly understood and readily carried into
effect I have hereunto appended two sheets of Drawings, of which;
Figure 1 is a side view and
Figure 2. is a plan of the apparatus..
A is the frame carrying a revolving drum B. fitted with. transverse beaters b.
The fibrous plants are fed to the revolving drum in the direction shown by the
arrow and are pressed against the revolving drum by a special presser. The
presser is constructed of two arms C, C, secured to the frame work. The arms are
connected together by two or more crossbars D, D, of suitable shape. A rod E
connects the presser to an arm F pivoted at one end of the frame. The other end
of the arm Fis worked by the foot in order to bring the crossbars to press on the
fibrous material. As the fibrous material passes along it is partly broken by the
first crossbar, D. It then passes on to the revolving drum against which it is
pressed by the second crossbar, D. The presser is under perfect control so that
any required pressure may be employed to properly dress; and finish the material.
When the operator's foot is removed from the end of the arm F the presser is
raised by a spring or counterbalance weight. The machine is driven by the
handle G.
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:-
In apparatus for dressing fibrous plants the special presser by which the amount
of pressure applied to the material can be varied, substantially as described.
Dated this 27th day of July 1897
BOTTOMLEY & LIDDLE,
154, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Applicant's Patent Agents.