IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR DISINTEGRATING FIBROUS PLANTS
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Lloyd Wise of 46 Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the
County of Middlesex for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY
OR APPARATUS FOR DISINTEGRATING FIBROUS PLANTS A communication
from Demetrio Prieto, of Washington, District of Columbia, United States of
America
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Lloyd Wise at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th June 1883.
WILLIAM LLOYD WISE of 46 Lincolns Inn Fields in the County of Middlesex
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR DISINTEGRATING FIBROUS
PLANTS a communication from Demetrio Prieto of Washington, District of
Columbia, United States of America
"
The object of this invention is to provide a new and improved machine for
extracting the fibre from those plants the fibre of which is or may be used for
commercial purposes, and to especially adapt it for use in cleaning those plants
indigenous to tropical climates, and particularly of the Bromelia and kindred
classes.
It consists in combination with a suitable frame of a set of crushing groove
rollers, carrying chains, friction rollers, and scraping knives, by which the plants
are first broken or crushed then carried to one set of knives by which one part of
the plant is scraped and then to another set of knives by which the remaining part
is scraped, and all matter removed except the fibre.
It is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1, is a plan view,
Fig. 2, an end view; Fig. 3, a front view; Fig 4 an enlarged horizontal sectional
view of a portion of the machine to the right of the line z Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 a
side sectional view on line x x of Fig. 4.
The same letters designate corresponding parts in the several views.
A is the frame of the machine; B, B, removable covers of the bladed scraping

page_text: wheels, which covers are used to prevent the acid juices of the plants as they are
scraped from being thrown on the operatives.
C, C, are adjustable crushing groove rollers mounted on one side of the machine
and revolving towards each other to crush the plants and carry them forward to
the cleaning mechanism. They are adjusted vertically, as to pressure, by thumb
screw c'. On the shafts of the same rollers are secured discs c³, having projecting
teeth c. As the plants are fed lengthwise to the rollers C, they are caught by the
teeth which aid to guide and feed them through the crushing rolls. D, D', are
duplicate wheels located on opposite sides of the machine and provided with
scraping or scutching blades E secured to brackets f, which brackets are bolted to
or may be cast on the rims of the wheels. These blades are adjusted vertically by
means of set screws d³.
G, G, H, H, are pin or sprocket wheels adapted to carry the link chains I. I.
and K. The chains I. I are composed of open links, but the links k¹ of lower
chain K are closed and are provided with recesses in their under surface for the
reception of the pins on the wheels. The upper surface of the said links is provided
with a central rib K2, on both sides of which are secured rubber strips K³. This
rubber stripping acts as an elastic cushion for the chains I, I, and prevents the
plants from being torn as the same are carried between the upper and lower set of
chains. O and o', o¹, o¹, are small anti friction rollers between which the chains I, I,
and K are carried.
The upper set of rollers, O have their bearings in a frame N, which is adjustable
vertically by thumb screw P by which the pressure of the carrying chains upon the
plants may be varied and controlled. R is a circular disc having saw teeth and
mounted on a shaft between the two wheels D, D' to aid in carrying the plants
from wheel D to wheel D¹
The actuating mechanism consists of pulleys 1. 2, mounted on the shafts 3, 4, of
the scraping wheels, and from which bands may be carried to any suitable driving
mechanism. Motion imparted to shaft 3 is communicated through bevel gearing S,
to the crushing rolls and also through worm T and cogs V to disc R and the upper
and lower chains I, I, and K.
In the operation of dressing the plants they are presented, as already stated,
length wise to the machine and carried between the crushing groove rollers, then
forward between the chains I, I, and K, to the scraping wheel D, where one end of
the plant is stripped of all but its fibre by the blades E; then carried forward by
the chains and the revolving blade R, to the second wheel D' where the opposite
end of the plant is stripped, whereupon the operation is completed
Having thus described the nature of the said invention and in what manner it
is to be performed as communicated to me as aforesaid I would have it understood
that what is claimed is:
In a machine for disintegrating fibrous plants
1. The combination of the grooved adjustable crushing rolls, the carrying
yielding adjustable chains, the duplicate wheels and their blades, whereby the
plant is first partly crushed, then carried between the elastic supports, one end
of the plant cleaned, and then carried forward and the remaining end cleaned,
substantially as described.
2. The combination of the adjustable groove crushing rollers and the revolving
discs and projecting teeth for feeding and crushing the plants, substantially as
described.
3. The application and use of the sets of carrying chains, one set provided with
an elastic surface, substantially as and for the purpose described.
4. The combination of the chains I and K and vertically adjustable anti-friction
rollers, substantially as and for the purpose described.
5. The wheels 1 and D' provided with the adjustable blades E, and suitable
mechanism for carrying the plants between the said wheels, whereby one end of
the plant is cleaned, and then the opposite end substantially as described.

page_text: 6. The combination of the revolving toothed disc R, and the carrying mechanism,
substantially as described.
Lastly I claim the improved machine for treating fibrous plants constructed
arranged and operating as herein above described and shewn.
In witness whereof I the said William Lloyd Wise have hereunto set my hand
and seal this fifth day of June in the year of Our Lord one thousand eight
bundred and eighty three.