Year: 1888

page_text: hereby declare the nature of my said invention to be as follows :—
The object of my invention is to effect improvements in the construction of
machines for scutching flax and other fibrous inaterials; my improved machines
preparing the fibres so completely that they may be used directly for spinning.
My invention consists in arranging beaters, in such a manner that two sets of
beaters travel in opposite directions at constant distances apart from each other,
and a third set of beaters operate at right angles or thereabouts to the paths of
motion of the two first mentioned sets of beaters, the flax being held in suitable
toothed bars for gripping the same.
The extent of motion of the beaters which operate transversely to the lines of
motion of the longitudinally operating beaters, is carried beyond the paths of the
latter, but such motions are so arranged that actual contact of the beaters is avoided.
At or near the positions where the transverse beaters terminate their reciprocating
motions, carding rods are fitted, for the purpose of combing out the ends of the layers
of flax or other fibrous material.
The effect of this arrangement is such that the fibrous materials are carried to and
fro by the transverse beaters against the longitudinal beaters, and into contact with
the carding rods, whereby the woody particles are thoroughly broken up separated
and dispersed and the fibre is prepared for spinning.
In constructing apparatus for carrying into effect the aforesaid operations, I fit the
longitudinal beaters so that they travel in parallel orbits round a centre, at a suitable
distance apart; or in concentric circular paths; or in reciprocating paths; and cause
the same and also the transverse beaters to operate by means of eccentrics, cranks,
wheels, and other well known gear for effecting such movements.
Dated 15th Tune 1888
GEO. DOWNING,
Agent for Applicant.

page_text: I, JAN ROSICKÝ, of Prague, Bohemia, in the Empire of Austria, Merchant, do
hereby declare the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
The object of my invention is to effect improvements in the construction of machines
for scutching flax, and other fibrous materials; my improved machines preparing the
fibres so completely that they may be used directly for spinning.
My invention consists in arranging beaters in such a manner that two sets of heaters
travel in opposite directions, at constant distances apart from each other, and a third
set of beaters operate at right angles or thereabouts to the paths of motion of the two
first mentioned sets of beaters, the flax being held in suitable toothed bars for
gripping the same.
The extent of motion of the beaters which operate transversely to the lines of
motion of the longitudinally operating beaters, is carried beyond the paths of the
latter, but such motions are so arranged that actual contact of the beaters is avoided.
At or near the positions where the transverse beaters terminate their reciprocating
motions, carding rods are fitted, for the purpose of combing out the ends of the layers
of flax or other fibrous material.
The effect of this arrangement is such that the fibrous materials are carried to
and fro' by the transverse beaters against the longitudinal beaters, and into contact
with the carding rods, whereby the woody particles are thoroughly broken up,
separated, and dispersed, and the fibre is prepared for spinning.
of
In constructing apparatus for carrying into effect the aforesaid operations, 1 fit
the longitudinal beaters so that they travel in parallel orbits round a centre, at a
suitable distance apart; or in concentric circular paths; or in reciprocating paths;
and cause the same and also the transverse beaters to operate by means
eccentrics, cranks, wheels, and other well-known gear for effecting such movements.
And in order that my said invention may be particularly described and ascertained
reference is hereby made to the accompanying drawings in which similar letters of
reference indicate corresponding parts.
Figs. 1 to 6 are diagrams showing the relative positions of the beaters at work.
Figs. 7 to 10 illustrate a small scutching machine with three oscillating beaters.
Figs. 11 and 12 illustrate a large scutching machine with two rotating and one
oscillating beater, with continuous feed.
Figs. 13 to 15 illustrate another form of scutching machine with continuous feed.
Two of the beaters a and b move in horizontal or in circular directions, being
either guided by horizontal guides or caused to oscillate upon one axis or upon two
The third beater c reciprocates vertically. The successive positions of these
beaters are represented in Figs. 1 to 6. In Fig. 1. the beater c is shown beating the
axes.

page_text: layer from below, and the beater a is proceeding from right to left. In Fig. 2.
c arrives near the card d and a drives the layer from right to left thus carding its end
and breaking it completely.
In Fig. 2 c proceeds on its way down, thus beating the layer from the other side.
The scutching is doubled. Figs. 4. 5 and 6 show the respective opposite positions to
those shown in Figs. 1. 2 and 3. First a and c and afterwards b and c are near to
each other in equal intervals but without actual contact.
с
For this purpose e rises higher than a and moves lower than b-Just when it comes
to its highest or lowest point a and b run through the first under c in one direction,
and the second over c in the opposite direction. The flax is scutched through many
times on both sides, and it is bent many times more than 180° and scutched at the
same time. Then the layer is turned and the other half of its length is worked.
It will understood that the paths traversed by the heaters a b c in the above
diagrams need not necessarily be straight lines, but may be caused to travel in flat
curves of any kind, according to the construction of the machinery-Also that the
paths of a and b need not be quite parallel, and the path of c need not cut those paths
at exactly 90°.
This principle can be carried out in many ways, the chief point being the peculiar
thorough bending and scutching as indicated by the diagrams. The following are
some examples of such machinery which may be varied in many ways without departing
from the principle of my invention.
Referring to Figs. 7. 8. 9 and 10 the horizontal spindle x is rotated by the
gearing hg in any convenient manner. It is provided with a crank and crank
pins t¹, p', m; t¹, being set at about 90° from p' m' which are at 180° froin each
other, or nearly so. actuates the beater c by means of the lever and connecting
rods jointed at ¹ s¹ z and f. The beater a is carried by the lever y² which oscillates on its
pin y¹ by means of the connecting rod m driven by its crank m'. The beater bis in
a similar connection with the crank p' by means of the rod pl q' and its lever by¹.
u and v are rails which guide and support the holder. d and è are cards. The action
of the machine will be understood from the drawings in connection with the above
diagrams.
For large machines I prefer to use rotating beaters, as shown in Figs. 11 to 15.
Two or more beaters a and b, rotate upon the axis y. The feeding is continuous and
is effected by means of the feeding screw N. The holders k¹ are provided with parts
of screw threads which gear with the screw formed upon N. If the holder k¹ k² is
laid upon its table so that m gears with N the rotations of N drive it from the left
to the right, and, on its way, the flax will be continually worked out by the
beaters a b c and by the cards.
The cylindrical cards d' d² d³ are divided in such a way upon their axis that d¹ d²
are (for instance) loose, while d³ is fixed to the axis, its carding being thus more
effective. The cylindrical card d² may also be fixed but not fastened to its axis. In
this case it will be hollow and the axis passes through it. Such cylindrical carders
may be combined in various ways as found most advantageous.
In Figs. 13 to 15 the rotary beaters a and bare provided with hollow journals and
the fixed spindle y which passes through their centres carries the carder d.-The
beater c is moved vertically by means of eccentrics and vertical guides, or in any other
convenient manner. e is another fixed card.
I also construct such machines where the horizontal screw N, is not parallel to the
horizontal axis y but nearer to it at one end than at the other, with bevel wheels or in
any other well known method of gearing. Or the screw may be carried nearer
to the beaters during the operation. Both this and the former arrangements
are for the sake of working the half of the length of the fibres instead of a
portion only.
In case the screw N is fitted parallel to y or in case it is fitted nearer to the right
end than to the left, but not sliding towards the beaters, oue holder may be fitted after
the other upon the left end of the feeder, and thus continuously scutch several clutches
of flax or other fibres at one time.

page_text: Having, now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is.:
1. The manufacture and use of scutching machines arranged and operating so as to
carry two sets of beaters in opposite directions and another beater at right angles
thereto or, thereabouts in combination with fixed cards d and e substantially as herein-
before described and illustrated by the drawings.
2. The method of combining the beaters with the cards, so as to beat the fibres on
both sides, and so as to bend them many times to an extent of 180° or thereabouts in
carding out their ends; substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by the
drawings.
3. In combination with scutching machines as aforesaid, the method of operating
the holder by means of a rotating horizontal screw N, the screw being either parallel
with the horizontal axis y (Figs. 13 and 14) or inclined thereto, or sliding upon a
support so as to approach the beaters, substantially as herein before described and
illustrated by the drawings.
4. The method of passing several scutches one after another from the side upon
one and the same feeding screw N substantially as herein before described and
illustrated by the drawings.
5. The general construction arrangement and combination of the several and
respective parts together forming my improvements in scutching machines substantially
as hereinbefore described and illustrated by the Drawings.
GEO.
DOWNING,
8, Quality Court, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.