Improvements in Apparatus for Removing the Outer Layer from the Wood of the Cane Palm.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Apr., 1895
Complete Specification Lelt, 1st Jan., 1896-Accepted, 15th Feb.. 1896.
[Communicated from abroad by HEINRICH CHRISTIAN MEYER, of 3 Hamburger-
strasse, Harburg on the Elbe, in the Empire of Germany, Manufacturer.]
Improvements in Apparatus for Removing the Outer Layer from the
Wood of the Cane Palm.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved process for removing the pebbly outer
layer from the wood of the cane palm (calamus rotany) and to an apparatus therefor.
The cane material as used in the manufacture of chairs and obtained in the
tropics from the cane-palm (calamus rotang) when used for certain purposes for
instance for producing plaited work, is freed from its outer layer and this work has
been up to the present time done in most cases in the tropic countries by the
natives themselves by hand, in which manipulation they become skilled through
long practice.
This manual treatment carried out in foreign countries is however not practicable
for the home industry owing to the difficulty and expense and because moreover
our workmen do not possess the necessary practice and dexterity for obtaining a
produce entirely equal in value to that prepared in the foreign countries.
In order to insure a larger import and the treatment of the raw cane-material
in this country have contrived a mechanical process and machinery, according to
which the outer layer of the cane is removed rapidly and cheaply.
The process consists therein that every part of the slightly humidified cane is
subjected to a repeated bending operation in two directions the movements being
preferably rightangular with regard to each other or in different planes. When
operated upon in this manner the glassy, brownish-yellow, silicions outer layer
springs off or separates from the cane in form of small scales and the cane is thus
rendered suitable for the bleaching process.
For carrying out this process an apparatus may be used having groups of
rollers arranged in pairs in case the cane is to receive a double bending. Each
group of rollers consists of guiding and bending-rollers, the bending rollers of the
one group being located at right angles with regard to the bending-rollers of the
other group.
The guide rollers arranged in pairs at the commencement and end of
each group of rollers and bearing elastically against one another are covered with
soft indiarubber and are uniformly actuated in any suitable manner, so as to draw
the cane through between the said rollers. A further guide and a suitable beuding
off is imparted to the cane in front of each pair of bending rollers by means
of a pair of small guide rollers and a pressing roller which latter guides the
cane between the two bending rollers. The large bending roller is covered
with soft indiarubber, while the small bending roller is forced against the cane by
means of a movable and yielding bearing.
The small bending roller arranged horizontally with the guide-rollers at the
feed end and the adjacent pressing roller are provided with several annular
grooves, arranged side by side and each of which grooves receives the respective
cane to be treated. The annular grooves are used successively as the indiarubber
coverings of the guide rollers become worn against the outer layer of the

page_text: cane. The guide-rollers consequently have a length corresponding to the grooved
rollers and are provided with new indiarubber covers, when their surfaces have
become worn throughout.
According as the grooves of the rollers of the first group are used the
bending rollers, the pressing roller and the small guiding rollers of the second
group must be shifted parallel with regard to their rotary axes, and for this reason
these parts are arranged with guide channels in a slide bearing block. The guide
channels of the first group of rollers are constructed so as to be displaceable each
separately. The actuation of the movable parts of the machine takes place in such
a manner, that the cane to be treated is drawn straight through the apparatus,
during which operation the silicious outer layer of the cane springs off or separates
in the form of scales at the two bending places between the bending rollers, this
process taking place in the first instance inside the first group of rollers principally
at two opposite surfaces and subsequently inside the second group of rollers at two
other opposite surfaces of the outer layer of the cane.
The above described groups of rollers may be successively repeated as often as
is deemed necessary for the purpose.
Dated this and of Ail 1905
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Apparatus for Removing the Outer Layer from the
Wood of the Cane Palm.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent
Agents, 45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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 :-
This invention relates to improved means for removing the outer layer (enamel
or silex) from the wood of the cane palm or rattan, and it consists therein that
the rattan is subjected to a repeated bending operation in two directions the
movements being angular with regard to each other or in different planes.
The machine employed for this purpose consists essentially of a plurality of
pairs of what I may call breaking rolls, in as much as their function is to break up
the enamel or silex on the rattan and cause it to drop off after such enamel has
been cracked by bending the rattan, and for conciseness 1 will hereinafter refer to
these rolls as the breaking rolls, the successive pairs of which are arranged to
alternately revolve on horizontal and vertical axes, and so that the nips of said
rolls will lie in different planes.
With these breaking rolls I combine feed rolls, preferably a pair of such on
each side of said breaking rolls, the nips of said feed rolls lying substantially in
the same plane, also suitable guides to guide the rattan from the feed to the
breaking rolls and vice versa. The guides on the feed side of the breaking rolls
consist preferably of a pair of drawing rolls having their nip in a different plane
from that of the nip of the feed rolls and of what I may term a deflecting roll
interposed between said drawing rolls and the breaking rolls, that deflects the
rattan from the plane of the nip of the drawing rolls into the plane of the nip of
said breaking rolls.
In order to make the invention more clearly understood I will proceed to
describe it with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of the improved apparatus embodying the
present invention.

page_text: Figure 2 is a sectional plan view thereof and
Figures 3 and 4 are vertical transverse sections taken respectively on lines -
and y-y of Figure 1.
The operative elements of the machine are mounted on a suitable frame, and in
the drawings e d, and, d, indicate two pairs of breaking rolls, of which there
may be any desired number, arranged successively, each pair being composed of a
larger roller, and d', preferably covered with a flexible material, as soft rubber,
and a smaller roller, c and c. The rolls e and d are arranged to revolve ou hori-
zontal axes and the rolls e¹ and d' on vertical axes the location of the latter
relatively to those of the former being such that the nip of the rolls e¹ and d¹ will
lie in a different plane from that of the nip of the rolls e d, as clearly shown in
Figure 2. In practice and for the purpose of utilizing the entire surface of the
covered roll d of group I, all of the rolls of said group are of the same length, the
smaller or pressure roller e being provided with a series of peripheral grooves e
for the passage of the rattan, any well known means being provided to hold the
smaller rolls e el to their work under the desired pressure, this being also the case
with one of the drawing and feed rolls of each pair of the saine hereinafter
described.
It is obvious that when the covering of the bed roll d becomes worn by the
friction of rattans passed through the groove at one end of the pressure roll e, the
next succeeding groove can be used, and so on until the entire covering of the bed
roll d is worn.
In order that the distance between the planes of the nips of the two groups of
rolls may be maintained as the successive grooves of the roll e are used, I mount
the rolls d and d' in a stand G adapted to slide laterally on the framing, on which
stand I also mount the drawing and deflecting rolls and the guides hereinafter
referred to, so that the whole may be shifted in accordance with the shifting of
the point at which the rattan is passed between the rolls e d. On the feed side of
each pair of rolls is arranged a pair of drawing rolls b b and b¹, b¹, respectively and
an intermediate deflecting or bending roller c and c¹ respectively, which together
constitute a group of rolls marked I and II, Figures 1 and 2. On opposite sides
of each group of rolls I provide suitable guides ff and f¹, f¹, of such form as to
guide the rattan from a normal plane to the drawing rolls of a group, and from the
breaking rolls back into such normal plane, namely, the plane of the nip of the
feed rolls. As shown in Figure 1, there is a pair of these rolls on the feed side of
group and on the delivery side of group II, the latter acting as delivery rolls
when but two groups of such are used. In practice, however, I also arrange a pair
of feed rolls between the two groups of such, as shown in said Figure 1, all the
feed rolls being indicated by the letter a, and they are arranged with their nips in
substantially the same horizontal plane, so that the rattan entering the machine
at the left, for instance will first pass out of the aforesaid horizontal plane in an
upward direction between the small drawing rolls when it will receive a sharp
or abrupt bend, after which said rattan will be deflected downwardly by the
deflecting roller c to the nip of the breaking rolls e and d, where such rattan is
again bent and the cracked enamel or silex broken up. From the breaking rolls e
and d the rattan r will pass through the right hand guide ƒ in an upward direction.
to the nip of the intermediate feed rolls a a, thence to the drawing rolls of the
second group of rolls, where such rattan will again be sharply bent, after which
the rattan is deflected laterally by the roller to the nip of the breaking
rolls ed, and from the latter the rattan will be guided in an opposite direction
back into the normal plane of feed to the feed or delivery rolls a a, as the case may
be at the right hand side of the machine.
Inasmuch as the rolls of the second group are mounted on vertical axes, the
rattan will first be operated upon on two sides simultaneously by the first group of
rolls, and then upon the opposite two sides by the second group of rolls, whereby
the enamel is more effectually and rapidly broken up and removed than wonki be
the case if the rattan were first passed through a series of rolls arranged zigzag

page_text: fashion and revolving on horizontal axes and then through a like series of roll
revolving on vertical axes, as will be readily understood.
.
To properly deflect the rattans to the successive grooves of pressure roll 'e, the
deflecting roll c is also provided with peripheral grooves e in register with the
grooves of said roll e.
•
The guides on the opposite sides of group l'are adjustable independently in the
plane of the axes of rotation of the rolls of said group, while the corresponding
guides for the group II are, as above stated, secured to the adjustable stand G,
and are consequently adjusted with the rolls of group II.
The rolls of 'the groups of such, as well as the feed rolls are driven by any
suitable driving gearing, thus, for instance the breaking rolls of each group can be
geared together, as shown, the shaft of the bed rolls having a belt pulley secured
thereto 'driven from any suitable prime motor which also drives the feed rolls
while the drawing rolls 6 b, b1 61, and the 'deflecting rolls c c are driven by
friction.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim' is :-
1. In a rattan machine, mechanism for removing the silex from rattan comprising
a plurality of pairs of breaking rolls the successive pairs of such revoluble on
horizontal and vertical axes alternately, for the purposes set forth.
2. In'a rattan machine, mechanism for removing the silex from rattan, comprising
a plurality of pairs of breaking rolls the successive pairs of such revoluble on
horizontal and vertical axes alternately and having their nips in different planes,
for the purposes set forth.
3. In a rattan machine, mechanism for removing the silex from rattan, comprising
a plurality of pairs of breaking rolls the successive pairs of such revoluble on
horizontal and vertical axes alternately, and having their nips in different planes, in
combination with feed and delivery rolls having their nips in substantially the
same plane, for the purpose set forth.
4. In a rattan inachiue, mechanism for removing the silex from rattan, comprising
a plurality of groups of rolls, each composed of a pair of drawing rolls, and a
pair of breaking rolls having their nips in different planes, the successive groups
of rolls revoluble on horizontal and vertical axes alternately, the rolls of a group
having their nips in a different plane from that of the rolls of a preceding or
succeeding group, for the purposes set forth.
5. In a rattan machine, mechanism for removing the silex from rattan, comprising
a plurality of groups of rolls each composed of a pair of drawing rolls, and a
pair of breaking rolls, having their nips in different planes, the successive groups
of rolls revoluble on horizontal and vertical axes alternately, the rolls of a group
having their nips in a different plane from that of the rolls of a preceding or
succeeding group; in combination with feed and delivery rolls revoluble on
horizontal axes and having their nips in substantially the same plane, substantially
as set forth.
a
6. In a rattan machine, mechanism for removing the silex from rattan, comprising
plurality of groups of rolls each composed of a pair of drawing rolls, and a pair
of breaking rolls, having their nips in different planes, the successive groups of
rolls revoluble on horizontal and vertical axes alternately, the rolls of a group
having their nips in a different plane from that of the rolls of a preceding or
succeeding group; in combination with feed and delivery rolls revoluble on.
horizontal axes and having their nips in substantially the same plane but in a plane
different from that of the nips of said drawing and breaking rolls of the several
groups of such, for the purpose set forth.
7. In a rattan machine, nechanism for removing the silex from rattan, comprising
a plurality of groups of rolls, each composed of a pair of drawing and a pair of
breaking rolls having their nips in different planes, and an intermediate deflecting.

page_text: roll, the successive groups of rolls revoluble on horizontal and vertical axes
alternately, the rolls of a group of such having their nips in a different plane
from that of the rolls in a preceding or succeeding group, for the purpose set
forth.
8. In a rattan machine, mechanism for removing the silex from rattan, comprising
a plurality of pairs of breaking rolls revoluble on horizontal and vertical axes
alternately each alternate pair of rolls adapted to be shifted relatively to the
preceding or succeeding pairs of such rolls for the purpose of varying the
distance between the nips of the successive pairs of rolls, for the purpose set
forth.
:
9. In a rattan machine, mechanism for removing the silex from rattan, comprising
a plurality of sets of breaking rolls. revoluble on horizontal and vertical axes
alternately, each alternate pair of such rolls composed of a pressure roll provided
with a series of peripheral grooves and a bed roll covered with a yielding or
elastic material, the intermediate pairs of rolls composed of plain surfaced rolls,
said intermediate rolls adjustable relatively to the preceding or succeeding pairs of
rolls for the purpose of varying the distance between the plane of the nip of sail
intermediate rolls and the plane of the nips of the preceding or succeeding rolls, for
the purpose set forth.
10. In a rattan machine, mechanism for removing the silex from rattan, comprising
a plurality of sets of breaking rolls revoluble ou horizontal and vertical axes
alternately, each alternate pair of such rolls composed of a pressure roll provided
with a series of peripheral grooves and a bed roll covered with a yielding or
elastic material, the intermediate pairs of rolls composed of plain surfaced rolls,
said intermediate rolls adjustable relatively to the preceding or succeeding pairs of
rolls for the purpose of varying the distance between the plane of the nip of said
intermediate rolls and the plane of the nips of the preceding or succeeding rolls;
in combination with feed and delivery rolls revoluble on horizontal axes and
having their nip in substantially the same plane, for the purpose set forth.
11. In a rattan machine, mechanism for removing the silex from rattan,
comprising a plurality of sets of breaking rolls revoluble on horizontal and vertical
axes alternately, each alternate pair of such rolls composed of a pressure roll
provided with a series of peripheral grooves and a bed roll covered with a yielding
or elastic material, the intermediate pairs of rolls composed of plain surfaced rolls,
said intermediate rolls adjustable relatively to the preceding or succeeding pairs
of rolls for the purpose of varying the distance between the plane of the nip of said
intermediate rolls and the plane of the nips of the preceding or succeeding rolls; in
combination with feed and delivery rolls revoluble on horizontal axes and having
their nip in substantially the same plane but in a plane different from that of the
breaking rolls, and suitable guiding devices for guiding the rattan to the different
sets of rolls, for the purpose set forth.
12. In a rattan machine, mechanism for removing the silex from rattan,
comprising at least two groups of rolls one of which is composed of a pair of
breaking rolls consisting of a pressure roll provided with a series of peripheral
grooves, a co-operating bed roll covered with a yielding or elastic material, a pair
of drawing rolls on the feed side of the breaking rolls and an intermediate deflecting
roll also provided with a series of peripheral grooves corresponding with those in the
aforesaid pressure roll, all of said rolls revoluble on horizontal axes, the second
group composed of similar but plain faced rolls all revoluble on vertical axes, said
second group of rolls adjustable in the plane of the axis of rotation of the rolls of
the first group, for the purpose set forth.
13. In a rattan machine, mechanism for removing the silex from rattan,
comprising at least two groups of rolls one of which is composed of a pair of
breaking rolls consisting of a pressure roll provided with a series of peripheral
grooves, a co-operating bed roll covered with a yielding or elastic material, a pair
of drawing rolls on the feed side of the breaking rolls and an intermediate deflecting
roll also provided with a series of peripheral grooves corresponding with those in

page_text: the aforesaid. pressure roll, all of said rolls revoluble on horizontal axis, the second
group composed of similar but plain faced rolls all revoluble on vertical axes, said
second group of rolls adjustable in the plane of the axis, ofi rotation of the rolls of
the first group; in combination with a pair of feed rolls on the feed side of the
first group, a pair of delivery rolls on the delivery side of the second' group,
said feed rolls of the same length as the rolls of the first. group and revoluble
on horizontal axes with their nip in substantially the same. plave, for the purpose
set forth.
14. In a rattan machine, mechanism for removing the silex from rattan, comprising
at least two groups of rolls each composed of a pair of breaking rolls consisting of a
pressure roll provided with a series of peripheral grooves and a co-operative bed roll
covered with a yielding or elastic material, a pair of drawing rolls on the feed side
of said breaking rolls, an intermediate deflecting roll also provided with a series of
peripheral grooves corresponding with those in the aforesaid pressure roll, all of
said rolls revolible un horizontal axes, and a guide for the rattan on the feed and
delivery side of said group, said gnides adjustable in the plane of the axis of rotation
of said rolls, the second group composed of similar but plain faced rolls revoluble
on vertical axes, and, a guide on the feed and delivery, side of said second group of
rolls, the latter together with its guides adjustable in the plane of the axis of
rotation of the rolls of the first group, for the purpose set forth.
15. In a ruttan machine mechanism for removing the silex from rattan
comprising at least two groups of rolls each composed of a pair of breaking rolls
consisting of a pressure roll provided with a series of peripheral grooves and
a co-operative bed roll covered with a yielding or elastic material, a pair of drawing
rolls on the feed side of said breaking rolls, an intermediate deflecting. roll also
provided with a series of peripheral grooves corresponding with those on the
aforesaid pressure roll, all of said rolls revoluble ou horizontal axes, and a guide for
the rattan on the feed and delivery side of said group, said guides adjustable in the
plane of the axis of rotation of said rolls, the second group composed of similar but
plain faced rolls revoluble on vertical axes, and, a guide on the feed and delivery
side of said second group of rolls, the latter together with its guides adjustable in
the plane of the axis of rotation of the rolls of the first group; in combination, with
feed. rolls of the same length as those of the first group, one pair of feed rolls on the
feed and delivery side of each group, said feed rolls revoluble on horizontal axes
with their nip in substantially the same plane, for the purpose set forth.
16. In a rattan machine, mechanism for removing the silex from rattan,
comprising at least two groups of rolls each composed of a pair of breaking rolls
consisting of a pressure roll provided with a series of peripheral grooves and
a co-operative bed roll covered with a yielding or elastic material; a pair of drawing
rolls on the feed side of said breaking rolle, an intermediate deflecting roll also
provided with a series of peripheral grooves corresponding with those in the
aforesaid pressure roll, all of said rolls revoluble on horizontal axes, and a guide for
the rattan on the feed and delivery side of said group, said guides adjustable in the
plane of the axis of rotation of said rolls, the second group coinposed of similar but
plain faced rolls revoluble on vertical axes, and a guide ou the feed and delivery
side of said second group of rolls, the latter together with its guides adjustable in
the plane of the axis of rotation of the rolls of the first group; in combination with
teed rolls of the same length as those of the first group, one pair of feed rolls ou
the feed and delivery side of each group, said feed rolls revoluble on horizontal axes
with their nip in substantially the same plane but in a plane different from that of
the rolls in either group of the same for the purpose set forth.
1004
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.