Improvements relating to the Treatment of Raw Fibrous Materials to Prepare them for use in the Manufacture of Brooms. and Brushes.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 14th May, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 15th Feb., 1892-Accepted, 19th Már., .1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to the Treatment of Raw Fibrous Materials
to Prepare them for use in the Manufacture of Brooms. and
Brushes.
I LEWIS BRADSHAW of Kettering in the County of Northampton, Wholesale
Brush Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
In the preparation of bass and piasava for the manufacture of brooms and brushes,
the raw material is subjected to a combing action, in order to clean it and separate
the fibres. The bunch of material is held by one end in the hand of the workman,
and the free end is drawn through the teeth of a fixed comb, until the fibres are
cleaned and opened out.
The bunch of material is then turned round end 'for end,
and the other end treated in the same way.
It is obvious that this is a laborious mode of procedure, and one that can only be
profitably employed with superior descriptions of raw material.
Attempts have been made to effect the cleaning of the raw material by means of
special machines, but the results have not been hitherto successful.
Now the object of the present invention is to prepare bass or piasava in such a
manner as to permit of the lowest class, as well as the superior class of raw
material, being employed with the best results.
In carrying out this invention, the raw material is alternately subjected to a
cutting and a beating action, by which the extraneous matters, such as dirt and
bark, are first cut up into comparatively small pieces, and are then beaten off,
leaving the fibres perfectly clean and separated.
To effect my purpose, I employ a roller or cylinder provided longitudinally with
radial cutting points and beaters arranged in alternate rows round the roller or
Or it may be with two or more
cylinder, a row of points and a row of beaters.
rows of cutting points between one or more rows of beaters.
This roller or cylinder is mounted in suitable bearings above a slotted table or
grid, in such a manner that the points will project a short distance. into the slots,
and a guard or cover is arranged over the cylinder, having an opening in front, of
such a height as will allow the bunch of raw material to readily pass in, but will
prevent the hand of the attendant being caught by the points.
The cylinder is rotated at considerable speed by belt or gearing from shafting
conveniently arranged for the purpose, or from any prime mover.
As the raw material is subjected to the action of the points, the extraneous
matter thereon will be cut up by the cutters, and knocked away by the beaters
through the grid into a collecting chamber below.
Some portion of this refuse will consist of fibrous material, which may be used
for commoner class of work.
By my invention I am not only enabled to treat raw material for which there has
hitherto been no demand, as well as the best material, but I obtain a greater yield
and less refuse.
Dated this 14th day of May 1891.
0
TON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to the Treatment of Raw Fibrous Materials
to Prepare them for use in the Manufacture of Brooms and
Brushes.
I, LEWIS BRADSHAW of Kettering in the County of Northampton, Wholesale
Brush Manufacturer, 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 :-
In the preparation of bass and piassava for the manufacture of brooms and
brushes, the raw material is subjected to a combing action in order to clean it and
separate the fibres. The bunch of raw material is held by the workman by one
end, and the free end is drawn through the teeth of a fixed comb, until the fibres
are cleaned and opened out. The bunch of material is then turned round end for
end, and the other end treated in the same way.
It is obvious that this is a laborious mode of procedure, and one that can only be
profitably employed with superior descriptions of raw material.
Attempts have been made to effect the cleaning of the raw material by means of
special machines, but the results have not been hitherto successful.
Now the object of the present invention is to prepare bass or piassava in such a
manner as to permit of the lowest class, as well as the superior class, of raw
material, being employed with the best results.
My invention consists in submitting the bunches of raw material successively to
a cutting and a beating action, by which the extraneous matters, such as dirt and
bark, are first cut up into comparatively small pieces, and are then beaten off,
leaving the fibres perfectly clean and separated.
In carrying out my invention, I employ a roller or cylinder provided longitudin-
ally with rows of radial sharp points or spikes and blunt points or spikes, arranged
in any convenient manner round the roller or cylinder, as, for instance, a row of
cutting points and a row of beaters. Or it may be with two or more rows. of
cutting points between one or more rows of beaters.
This roller or cylinder is mounted in suitable bearings in a frame, and a guard or
cover is provided in front of the cylinder, on which the hand of the workman may
rest when holding the bunch of raw material, which is to be presented to the
action of the spikes. The hand of the attendant will thus be kept clear of the
points or spikes.
The cylinder is rotated at suitable speed by belt or gearing from shafting con-
veniently arranged for the purpose, or from any prime mover.
As the raw material is subjected to the action of the spikes, the extraneous
matter will be cut up by the sharp spikes, and knocked away by the blunt spikes
into a collecting chamber suitably placed in rear of the roller, and the fibres are
left clean.
Some portion of the refuse will consist of fibrous material, which may be used
for commoner class of work.
By my invention, I am not only enabled to treat raw material for which there
has hitherto no demand, as well as the best material, but I obtain a greater yield
· and less refuse.
In the accompanying drawings:
:-
Figure 1, Sheet I, is a front elevation of my bass-dressing machine; and
Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same."
Figure 3, Sheet II, is a front view of the spiked cylinder detached.
Figure 4 is an end view, and
Figure 5 a cross section on the line -, Figure 3.
Figures 6, 7, and 8, are respectively a side view, plan view, and an end view of
the spike bar.
A is the frame of the machine, provided with standards A', in which are suitable

page_text: bearings for the shaft B. Between the standards, this shaft carries two pulleys of
different diameters, which are driven by bands from pulleys, also of different
diameters, mounted on a shaft B₁ in the lower part of the frame A. This
shaft B receives motion from shafting, or from any primer mover, through a
suitable pulley. On the outer ends of the shaft B are mounted the spiked
cylinders C for operating on the raw material. DD are guards which are
adjustably secured to bars D' carried by brackets D2 adjustably secured to the
standards A' of the frame A. These guards extend in front of the cylinders C,
and carry tables D³.
The position of the guards with respect to height and the distance from the
cylinders C, will be determined by requirements, but the position as shewn in
the drawing will be that generally adopted.
C C
The spiked cylinders will consist of a sleeve C, onto which the ends or discs C'
are driven or otherwise secured. These discs are provided with holes a a and
recesses bb. The spikes are secured to bars E, which are formed with pivots
and laterally extending lugs dd. The pivots c take into the holes a, and the lugs d
enter the recesses in the discs C', springs being provided to keep them at one end
of the recess. The spikes, which may be of square section, and sharp pointed, as
ff, round section and sharp pointed, as hh, and round or other section, and blunt
pointed, as i i, are preferably cast into the bars.
These spikes I prefer to arrange longitudinally of the cylinder, as shewn in the
drawings, that is to say, a row of square sharp points, a row of round sharp points,
and a row of blunt points.
Circumferentially, the rows of points may be arranged as shewn in the
drawings; I do not, however, hold to such arrangement, either longitudinally or
circumferentially.
22
The sharp points I term
66 cutters and the blunt points "beaters," and the
office of the "cutters" is to cut or break up into small pieces the dirt and bark
adhering to the fibres, when in the raw state, while that of the "beaters
is to
beat or knock off the small pieces thus loosened, and thereby clean and prepare the
fibre ready for use in manufactures.
The spiked cylinders are caused to rotate in the direction of the arrows,
Figures 4 and 5, and by reason of the springs, the spikes will be able to yield
slightly when in action, if necessary. The workman presents the bunch of raw
material to the spikes over the top of the guard D, and he gradually advances it
until his hand comes in contact with the guard. He then turns the bunch end for
end, and repeats the operation until the fibres are perfectly cleaned.
As the cylinder is caused to rotate at some speed, a current of air is produced,
which will carry the dust and dirt to the rear, where it may be caused to enter a
settling chamber, if desired.
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 :-
1. The process of preparing bass and piassava for use in manufactures as herein
described, and consisting in submitting the bunches of raw material to a rapid
succession of cutting and beating actions, as set forth.
2. The apparatus as herein shewn and described, for preparing bass and piassava
for use in the manufacture of brooms and brushes.
3. In apparatus for preparing bass and piassava, the use and application of series
of cutting points and beating points for the purpose set forth.
4. In apparatus for preparing bass and piassava, the combination with a rotary
spiked cylinder, of a guard for protecting the hands of the workman, as set forth.
Dated this 15th day of Wabw 1002
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.