IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR PREPARING OR SCUTCHING FLAX AND OTHER ANALOGOUS FIBROUS SUBSTANCES
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT. to Peter, Cranke Wood, of Guildford Street, East, in
the County of Middlesex, Mineral Surveyor, for the Invention of
"IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR PREPARING OR SCUTCHING FLAX AND OTHER
ANALOGOUS FIBROUS SUBSTANCES " A' communication
Sealed the 25th March 1856, and dated the 27th October 1855.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Peter Cranke Wood
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
27th October .1855.
I, PETER CRANKE: WOOD, of Guildford Street East, in the County of Middle-
sex, Mineral Surveyor,.do hereby declare the nature of, the said, Invention for
"IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR PREPARING OR SCUTCHING FLAX AND OTHER ANALOGOUS
FIBROUS SUBSTANCES " to be as follows:-
The object of this Invention is, in the first place, to break and loosen the
woody parts of the flax and other analogous plants from the useful fibres, and
thereby to. facilitate their subsequent removal; and, secondly, to effect the
removal of the woody parts from the plant without injuring the useful fibres,
which may then be submitted to the operations of heckling and combing, to
prepare them for spinning. To effect these objects two machines are required,
the first of which not only breaks the woody part or bark of the plant, but by
the peculiar action of the machine these parts are so effectually loosened that

page_text: they may be detached from the useful fibres by means of the second machine
with the greatest facility.
In the first of these machines, which I shall call the breaking machine, the
rough uncleaned flax is fed forward on endless travelling cloths, of which I
employ two; one of these travelling feeding cloths is placed in front, and even
with a pair of feeding rollers, which conduct the flax between a pressing
cylinder and a roller beneath the latter; from thence the flax passes through
a longitudinal opening made in a stationary plate, the surface of which may
be grooved or roughened...A-similar plate, also-with a longitudinal opening
thereon, is attached to the upper end of vertical bars, to which an up and
down movement is communicated by means of an excentric or crank
below, or in some other convenient manner. Immediately behind this
plate is another pair of rollers which receive the flax after it has passed
through the two plates before mentioned: A second supply of rough
flax is fed into the machine, by means of the second travelling endless
cloth above mentioned, and which is placed in such a manner that the
flax is passed over the pressing eylinder, but is made to enter the working
machine at the same point as the first supply. By this means the two
layers or supplies of flax are united at the point where they- pass through
the plates, and a more even and regular supply is maintained.than otherwise
would be the case. It will now be understood that if the moveable plate
is set in motion when the flax is passing through it, the stalks of the plant will
be moved up and down between the rubbing surfaces, and the boon, bark, or
woody parts effectually broken and loosened, and may be easily detached from
the useful fibres, which, although they were fed in on two distinct tables, aré
united in one sheet when they leave the machine.
It will of course be evident that two or more sets of rubbing surfaces, with
their accessories, such as endless travelling feeding cloths and other parts, may
be placed side by side if required, and actuated by the same machinery. I
would also observe that I adapt to the longitudinal opening of one of the
rubbing plates a moveable bar or rod, which is kept down by means of a
spring or other convenient contrivance, and as the flax passes under this bar
or rod the spring-will press down the latter on the plant, and cause a certain
drag on it, the force of which may be regulated by adjusting screws, as will be
well understood.
The flax having been thus broken, is conducted into. the second machine,
where the woody parts are knocked out or removed; to effect this object the
flax is divided into suitable quantities and placed in holders, which are then
caused to enter the cleaning machine by descending an inclined plane, on to

page_text: horizontal guides, where the holders are conducted slowly through the machine
by means of toothed racks, endless chains, or other suitable gearing, and when
the holders arrive at the other end of the machine, they descend a second
inclined plane, and are then removed by the attendant.
The cleansers consist of several sets of longitudinal plates of steel, the edges
of which are serrated. Any convenient number of these serrated plates is
attached to endless chains, mounted vertically in pairs from end to end of the
machine; the serrated edges of the different sets being of different degrees of
fineness, the coarsest being at that end of the machine where the flax enters,
and the finest at the opposite end where it leaves the machine. A slow
vertical motion in one direction is communicated to the serrated plates
above described, and the broken flax, being conducted between the sets of
the serrated plates, the woody parts or boone, which have been loosened by the
previous operation, will be drawn out and removed from the fibres, which will
come out at the other end of the machine perfectly cleansed, and ready to be
taken to the heckling or combing machine.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Peter Cranko Wood in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 26th April 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, PETER
CRANKE WOOD, of Guildford Street East, in the County of Middlesex,
Mineral Surveyor, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-seventh day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the nineteenth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Peter Cranke Wood, Her special license that I, the said Peter
Cranke Wood, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or. such others as
I, the said Peter Cranke Wood, 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 law-
fully 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 "IMPROVED MACHINERY FOR PREPARING OR SCUTCHING FLAX AND
OTHER ANALOGOUS FIBROUS SUBSTANCES," being a communication from. abroad,

page_text: upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Peter Cranke Wood,
by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, 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 "tlie
Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
J.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Peter Cranke Wood, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed,, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the Drawings bereunto annexed,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
1.
The object of this Invention of improved machinery for preparing or
scutching flax and other analogous fibrous substances is, in the first place, to
break and loosen the woody parts of flax and other analogous plants, and thereby
to facilitate their subsequent removal from the useful fibres; and, secondly, to
effect the removal of the woody parts from the plant without injuring the useful
fibres, which may then be submitted to the operations of heckling and combing,
so as to prepare them for spinning. To effect these objects two principal
machines are required, the first of which not only breaks the woody part or
bark of the plant, but by the peculiar action of the machine these parts are so
effectually loosened that they may be detached from the useful fibres by means
of the cleaning machine with the greatest facility.
...)
. 7.
In the first of these machines, which I shall call the breaking or bruising
machine, the rough uncleaned flax, after its roots have been well rasped, is fed
forward on endless travelling cloths, of which I propose to employ two. One
of these travelling, feeding cloths placed in front of and even with a pair of
feeding rollers, which conduct the flax between a pressing cylinder and a roller
beneath the latter, from thence the flax passes through a longitudinal opening
made in a stationary plate, the surface of which may be grooved or roughened.
A similar plate, also with a longitudinal opening thereon, is attached to the
upper end of vertical bars, to which an up and down movement is commu-
nicated by means of an excentric or crank below, or in some other convenient
manner. Immediately behind this plate is another pair of 'rollers, which receive
the flax after it has passed through the two plates before mentioned. A second
supply of rough flax is fed into the machine by means of the second travelling.
endless cloth above mentioned, and-which is placed in such a manner that the
flax is passed over the pressing cylinder, but is made to enter the working
machine at the same point as the first supply. By this means the two layers
or supplies of flax are combined or united at the point where they pass through

page_text: the plates, and a more even and regular supply is maintained than otherwise
would be the case.
It will now be understood that if the movable plate is set in motion when
the flax is passing through it, the stalks of the plant will be moved up and down
between the rubbing surfaces and the boom, bark, or woody parts effectually
broken and loosened, and may be easily detached from the useful fibres, which,
although they were fed in on two distinct tables, are united or combined in one
sheet when they leave the machine. It will of course be evident that two or
more sets of rubbing surfaces, with their accessories, such as endless travelling
feeding cloths and other parts, may be placed side by side if required, and
actuated by the same machinery. I would also observe, that I adapt to the
longitudinal opening of one of the rubbing plates a movable bar or rod, which
is kept down by means of a spring or other convenient contrivance, and as the
flax passes under this bar or rod the spring-will press down the latter on the
plant, and cause a certain drag on it, the force of which may be regulated by
adjusting screws, as will be well understood.
The flax having been thus broken is conducted into the second machine,
where the woody parts are knocked out or removed, and the flax thereby
cleaned. To effect this object the flax is divided into suitable quantities. and
placed in holders, which are then caused to enter the cleaning machine by
lescending down an inclined plane on to horizontal guides which
carry
the
holders down, so as to allow the bruised flax hanging therefrom to be operated
upon gradually by the coarse teeth of the cleaning plates or bars, and are then
conducted slowly in a horizontal direction through the machine by means of
toothed racks, endless chains, or other suitable gearing; and when the holders
arrive at the other end of the machine, they descend a second inclined plane,
and are then removed by the attendant. The cleansing plates consist of several
sets of longitudinal plates of steel, the edges of which are serrated. Any con-
venient number of these serrated plates is attached to endless chains, mounted
vertically in pairs from end to end of the machine; the serrated edges of the
different sets being of different degrees of fineness, the coarsest, being at that
end of the machine where the flax enters, and the finest at the opposite end
where it leaves the machine. A slow vertical motion in one direction is com-
municated to the serrated plates above described, and the broken flax, being
conducted between the sets of the serrated plates, the woody parts or boom,
which have been loosened by the previous operation, will be drawn out and
removed from the fibres, which will come out at the other end of the machine
perfectly cleansed, and ready to be taken to the heckling or combing machine.
Figs 1934 5. 6. 7 and 8 represent various views of the improved

page_text: machine for breaking, bruising, and loosening the woody parts of the flax or
other analogous plants, and forms the first part of the Invention..
Fig. 1, Sheet, I., is a side view of the machine; Fig. 2 is a front view;
Fig. 3 is a top or plan view of the same; Fig. 4 represents à longitudinal.
vertical section of the machine; Fig. 5. (Sheet, I") is a similar view of the
principal internal working parts of the machine; and Figs. 6, 7, and 8 repre-
sent different views of that part of the machine called the "bruiser."
The machine consists of a framing a, a, a, a, to which the different working
parts are attached. A pulley b is fixed upon the main shaft c, and when
actuated by a strap from any prime mover communicates motion by means of
suitable gearing to the different parts of the machine. The main, shaft c is also
provided with a loose pulley-6'; on to which the driving strap is thrown when
it is wished to stop the machine. Upon the arbor or shaft c at one of its
extremities a pinion d. (see Figs. 1 and 2) is fixed, and actuates the wheel e,
which is fixed by means of a socket on the spindle of a small pinion e'; this
wheel is mounted on an axis fixed to a metal plate bolted to the framing. A
slot made in the metal plate enables the pinion e' to be changed, so as to alter
the speed of certain parts of the machine according to the nature of the
materials to be operated upon. The pinion e' gears into and drives the wheel f,
which also turns on an axis bolted to the framing. On the axle of this wheel a
pinion is also fixed, and drives the two wheels g, g; these latter are fixed to
the supplying and drawing cylinders h, h, Figs. 1, 4, and 5.
In Figs. 1, 4, and 5, 1, ', are two supplying rollers made of wood, and
placed in the machine above the roller h, and are caused to press one on the
other by means of cramp hooks j. (Fig. 4), and levers j', to which weights
(Figs. 1 and 3) are suspended. A pinion k (Fig. 2) fixed on the axle of the
roller h gives motion to the wheel k¹ fixed on the axle of the roller i; the latter
gives motion to the roller by friction of contact caused by the pressure of the
levers and weights j, j, j". The rollers ³, ³, carry an endless band it, which
conducts the flax coming from. the table w, and unites the same with the supply
of flax from the table w', and conducts the two layers between the rollers h
and i before introducing the. flax into the bruisers. I, I, are two working
surfaces, which I denominate the "bruisers;" their inner surfaces are fluted, as
seen in the Figures 4, 5, and 7, and also in the detached front view thereof,
Fig. 6, one of them being fixed, and the other movable up and down.
Long openings are made in these bruisers, as shewn at Fig. 6, for the
purpose of allowing the layer of flax coming from the tables w, w', to pass
through. The bruiser P is mounted at its ends in a horizontal groove made in
the framing; but being secured by a screw, its position may be adjusted, and it

page_text: may be caused to approach to or recede from the moveable working surface
or bruiser 1, so as to admit of their being set a proper distance apart pro-
portionate to the thickness intended to be given to the ribbon which they
are intended to operate upon. Motion is communicated to the working
surface by means of excentrics m below, as seen in Figs. 2 and 7. 0, 0',
(Figs. 4, 5, and 7,) are two rollers placed in front of the bruiser l', to assist
the introduction of the flax through the slits or passages made in the stationary
bruiser . On the axle of the lower roller o a pinion is fixed, and is actuated
by the wheel (Fig. 2), with the assistance of an intermediate pinion, not
shewn in the Drawing; at the opposite end, on the axle of each roller, pinions
(Fig. 3) are mounted, in such a manner that the one underneath will set in
motion the one above; the latter, having to raise or lower itself according to
the thickness of the layer of flax, is put in motion in a vertical groove, and is
maintained by the weighted rods p, p, p, Fig. 4. 9,9', are two small rollers
placed behind the opening of the movable bruiser l, and receives the flax by
means of short endless bands that pass round the rollers, and are put into
motion simply by drawing forward of the flax, which they support. The small
rollers o, o', are actuated in the same manner and in conjunction with the
rollers in the long slit or opening in the bruisers, act on the flax, and by the
means of springs r, r, (Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 7,) prevent the flax from issuing out
with an irregular speed.
"In Figs. 4 and 5, t, t', t², t³, are drawing cylinders; which receive motion
from a pinion mounted on an axle in the interior of the framing. Upon'the
axle of the cylinder h¹ is a wheel which communicates with that fixed on the
axle of the cylinder t; this latter communicates motion to the others mounted
in fixed bearings, except the roller t, which is only supported by the layer of
the flax. The rollers h and t are slightly fluted, so as to prevent them from
slipping over the flax, which they have to draw with a regular and continuous
speed, and pressure levers u, u', which act above, facilitate the regularity of the
draft. On the axle of the roller is fixed a ratchet wheel T; which is held by
a click lever T, that prevents it from rotating by the effect of the tension
of the flax when the movable bruiser reaches the end of its ascending or
descending course.
w, w, (Figs. 1, 4, and 5,) are tables divided into two parts, and provided
with travelling endless cloths x, x, passing over rollers x¹, x², x³, x, which are
set in motion by the roller through the endless chains y, y, (Figs. 1, 2, and 3).
It is upon the cloth x, x, of these tables w that the textile plants which are
.intended to be operated upon are spread. The table w is not shewn in the
plan view, Fig. 3, so as not to confuse the Drawing. y', y', (Figs. 1

page_text: °
and 3,) are guiding. chains stretched on the outside of the framing of the
tables, and are passed round, spur. pulleys fixed at one of the ends of rollers
a, a, a, ; these chains are so regulated that the layers of flax proceeding
from each table are made to spread themselves out in such a manner that the
layers are regularly doubled between the rollers h and 7 (Fig. 5). The rollers
a. a, (Figs. 1, 4, and 5.) tend to widen or.spread out the layers of flax before
their introduction into the furnishing rollers, and their own weight is sufficient
to make them: follow the motion of the flax on which they rest. z, z, (Figs. 1, 4,
and 5,) are two rollers which support the layer or ribbon of flax on its exit
from the machine; they are actuated by a crossed strap. The top roller is
movable in a vertical groove; and yields to the pressure of the weighted lever
23, which acts upon its axle. (Figs.. 1, 2, 3, and 4,) is a fly wheel fixed on
the main shaft c, and has the effect of softening the shock of the blows given
by the moveable bruiser.
Fig. 6. is a front view of the bruisers. 1, 1, represents the pressing springs,
which act. upon the upper rod of the moveable bruiser mentioned above,
and which press upon the flax as it passes through the slit or opening.
Fig. 7 represents, in sectional view, the moveable bruiser, drawn as it would
appear when at the end of its course. By the up and down motion of this
bruiser a fold is formed in the ribbon of flax, and the flax, continues refolding
itself at each motion of the bruiser and revolution of the excentric m.
The flax or other plant having been thoroughly bruised in the machine
above described, so that the woody particles thereof are loosened, the bruised
flax is then to be conveyed to the second machine, which I call the "cleaner,"
in which the loosened woody parts, or boom, or bark of the plant are removed
from the valuable fibres.
Fig. 9 (Sheet II.): represents an end elevation of the machine employed
for this purpose; Fig. 10 is:a longitudinal or side view of the machine, which
consists of a framing.a, a, a, a, on which the several working parts are mounted.
A pulley.b, fixed upon an arbor or shaft c, and driven by a strap from any prime
*mover, sets the different parts of the machine.in motion. A toothed wheel d
fixed upon the shaft c gives motion to the wheel d' (on the shaft c) by means
of the intermediate gearing d², d³. On the arbors c, c¹, as well. as on the arbors
e, el, above them, are mounted two spur pullies,, around, which pass the endless
-chains-ff, which carry the thin serrated iron blades. ff. The shafts e, e¹,
and c, c, are mounted in moveable, or adjustable bearings, which admit of being
-inoved. nearer. to or further from each other, so as to regulate, the operation of
the blades on the flax, as, may be found necessary. .,h, h, h. h, are another pair
of rollers, round which pass endless chains to which blocks are attached, for

page_text: the purpose of supporting the flax holders k, k, during the operation of cleaning.
or scutching. the flax. These rollers receive their motion from the shafts e, e,
by means of the chains o, o. 1, 1, 1, 1, are another arrangement of endless chains
placed horizontally, and are intended to receive the flax holders k, l, and
convey them along the machine from end to end thereof. The flax holders k;
when supplied with flax or other material, are conveyed down inclined ways,
not shewn in the Drawing, and are placed on the blocks y of the chains y',
and are by the latter gradually lowered, so as to allow the flax hanging there-
from to descend between the serrated plates f'; f', and when the holders have
reached the bottom of their course they rest upon the horizontal chains.1, 1, 1,
which are provided at intervals with teeth p, which, when the holders k.come.
down on to them, take into notches made on tlie under side of the side pieces
of the holders, and consequently carry the latter forward; the chains 1, 1; are
passed' round a series of pulliés p, p, p, p, suitably arranged as guides at the
extreme ends of the machine, and are set into a slow motion by the-screw s
(Fig. 10), which actuates the wheels sands. These wheels stands are so
secured on their shafts as to be capable of being changed when desired,
according to the requirements of the work. It will be seen that the holders k
enter the machine at the point 1; and gradually descend to the point 2' at the
entrance of the machine, as seen in Fig. 9; the effect of which is, that that
part of the flax which hangs down becomes gradually disentangled; beginning
with the bottom, which of course euters first between the cleaning teeth of the
blades f. It will be seen, on referring to Fig. 10, that these blades f¹³ are
serrated in a peculiar manner; and that the teeth are larger or coarser at that
point where the flax enters the machine, and gradually increase in fineness
towards the other end where the teeth are small and fine, so as to operate
effectually on the flax, and remove all the small particles of woody matter
therefrom after the coarser .teeth have removed the larger pieces. I would
observe, that in place of moving the flax holders along the machine by means
of the chains-1, 1, as above 'described, toothed racks and pinions may be
Employed.
Fig. 11 is a detached view of a flax holder of somewhat peculiar construction,
and represents. the two plates of the holder apart. These parts are: united by
means of hooks vv, fixed on each side, assisted by teeth.", above. Near the
hooks in one of the plates is a nick or notch, in which is placed. a band of cloth.
or caoutchouc, which presses the flax or other analogous plants against a pro-
jecting rib on the other plate.
:
Before submitting the plants to the action of the bruising machine, I find it

page_text: .
convenient to submit them to a preparatory process, whereby the roots may be
rasped, and a portion of the extraneous matter removed therefrom.
The machine employed for this purpose is shewn in Figs. 12 and 13.
Fig. 12 is an end view, and Fig. 13 is a plan view, of the machine for rasping
the roots of the textile plants, before putting them into the bruising machine
above described, so as to accelerate the work of the said bruising machine:
A, A, is a bar or plate, fluted on both sides, so that it may be used on both
sides at once, if required. This bar is mounted in vertical grooves B, B, and
actuated by means of excentrics D, fixed on an arbor E, which is driven by
means of a strap or band passing over the pulley F; E', E, are two cross bars
fixed to the framing E³, and in which openings are made in the length. To
these openings are adapted guides F¹, F', so as to facilitate the introduction of
the lower end of the textile plants, and after setting the fluted bar or plate in
notion, the latter will rasp away the woody portions of the root of the plant.
The roots of the fibrous plants having been introduced into the openings of
the small rasping machine just described, in pushing them with force against the
fluted bar or plate, the latter, when set in motion rapidly, and having a stroke
of about three inches, will rasp or cut away the woody parts of the roots, and
after they have been rasped in this machine, the roots are placed on the feeding
cloths of the bruising machine, as shewn at Fig. 3, in Sheet I. The plants
thus placed upon the tables are introduced by a continuous motion into the
bruisers of that machine, from whence they issue bruised throughout their
whole lengths, as already explained. Though the plants are converted into a
sort of ribbon or sliver in passing through the bruising machine, the workman
can easily separate them by taking them one at a time as they issue from the
rollers 3, 3, of that machine, as they become spread out regularly on the endless
cloths. After having detached suitable lengths of bruised flax from the ribbon
or sliver, the flax is to be placed in the holders above mentioned, in order to
undergo the operation of cleaning or scutching, taking care to have rather
more than the half of the length of the fibres beyond the lower part of the
holder, so that the body or greater portion of the textile plant may be also well
cleaned as well as its ends. From time to time as the holders are furnished
with flax or hemp, they are brought down inclined guides into the machine to
the point 1 (Fig. 9, Sheet II.), whence they descend vertically to the point 2,
and then they are drawn forward through the entire length of the cleaning
machine; each holder when placed at the part 1 of this machine must occupy
a certain time to perform its descent from the point 1 to the point 2, and when
it has arrived at that point, the workman must push it forward with his hand

page_text: against that holder which precedes it before he allows another holder to be
introduced to follow it. When the holders reach the end of the machine; they
must either be taken out by hand or allowed to pass down a second inclined
way one by one, and the cleaned part of the flax must then be placed in
another holder in order that the uncleaned part may undergo the same opera-
tion. I would observe that the holders may either be placed in the cleaning
machine by the hand of the workman, or when supplied with a proper quantity
of flax, they may be placed on inclined guides or rails, as above mentioned,
and so arranged with reference to the machine that the holders will slide.down
the guides into the machine, and be then carried along by chains as described,
or by means of racks.
Fig. 14 is a side elevation, and Fig. 15 an end view; of a modification of the
cleaning machine above described. In this instance, the flax holders and the
mechanical contrivances for carrying the flax into and along the machine from
end to end thereof. are dispensed with, and the flax is held by the hand
of the workman while being operated upon by the teeth of the cleaning
blades, which are constructed very much in the same manner as those
shown in the machine above described, except that the larger or coarser
teeth are rather more rounded, and they are made coarser at both ends,
and finer towards the centre of the blades. The blades are attached to
chains f, f, as in the foriner instance, and these chains are actuated by
means of toothed wheel gearing, as shewn in the Drawing. In order to
facilitate the introduction of the flax, guides m, m, are employed, as shewn
by dots in Fig. 15.
Having now described the Invention of "Improved Machinery for Pre-
paring or Scutching Flax and other analogous Fibrous Substances," and also the
manner of carrying the same into effect, as communicated to me from abroad,
I desire it to be understood that I do not mean or intend to confine myself
rigidly to the precise arrangement or construction of parts herein shewn and
described, as they may doubtless be varied without departing from the nature
and object of the present Invention; nor do I intend to claim all the parts
herein-before described, as some of them have been used for similar purposes;
but I claim as the Invention secured to me by Letters Patent as aforesaid, the
use of the rubbing surfaces 1, P, through which the rough plant is made to pass,
and by the working of the said surfaces or bruisers becomes broken, so that
the woody parts having become loosened, may be easily removed or detached
from the valuable fibres by a subsequent operation. I claim also, the double
feed of the plants into the machine by means of the two travelling endless

page_text: bands w, w; that is, feeding in two separate lots of flax on two separate tables,
and, combining them together in.the machine, whereby a more perfect layer or
ribbon is obtained than if the flax be fed in at one place only.
I claim, secondly, cleaning the flax or other analogous fibre from the
loosened woody parts, by means of a series of travelling plates or bars with
serrated edges, in the manner shewn, and described. I claim the use and
application of these serrated plates for the purpose above, set forth, whether
the flax or other plant be held in holders, as shewn in Sheet II., and made to
travel through the machine by mechanical means, or whether, the flax or other
plant, be held in the hand of the workman while being operated upon by the
machine, as shewn in Figures 14 and 15.
In witness whereof, I, the said Peter Cranke Wood, have. hereunto set
"
my hand and seal, the Seventh day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six.
Witness,
J. W. MOFFATT,
66, Chancery Lane.
P.
C. WOOD. (L.S.)