GB149806A - Improvements relating to the decortication and other mechanical treatment of plants to obtain fibres therefrom - Google Patents

Abstract

149,806. Schlichten, G. W. June 4, 1919. Breaking and scutching apparatus. - Apparatus for decorticating, mechanically degumming, cleaning, and otherwise producing fibres from materials such as ramie, flax, hemp, jute, sesbania, nettles and other stem fibre plants, particularly in the dry unretted state, comprises means for crushing, flattening the stems, splitting and spreading them, breaking them, and then combing, whipping, scutching, and degumming them. The material is fed from a table 1, Fig. 3, to crushing-rollers 4 through spaced apart interengagmg disks 3<a> on shafts 3 which spread them. It is then split by a pair of rolls 5 with circumferential grooves. It then passes in succession through a pair of grooved breaker rolls 6 which effect a partial treatment; a second pair of grooved breaker rolls 7, of which the grooves and ridges engage more deeply to effect a more drastic breaking-action; and a series of pairs of rotating combing &c. devices 8, 10, - - - and grooved softening-rolls 9, 11 - - - to the delivery apron. A grooved feed table 1, Fig. 7, with a grooved hood 2 may be employed to spread and even the material. The grooving of the crushing-rollers 4, the primary breaking- rollers 6, the secondary breaking-rollers 7, and the softening-rollers is shown in Figs. 9 - - 12 respectively. The combers comprise a series of toothed blades 8<c>, Fig,. 17, mounted on the arms of spiders 8<b> on shafts 8<a> so as to be adjustable along the arms and at an angle to them. The pins, points, or projections on the blades are staggered relatively to adjacent blades on the same spider and also relatively to the coacting blades on the co-operating combing-device. Minor projections 8<k>, Fig. 27, may be formed on the projections on the blades. Whipper blades 38<b>, Fig. 13, with bevelled edges may be substituted for the combing-devices and may co-operate with U-shaped guards 39. The material is delivered by plain rollers, provided with guards to prevent the material from lapping around the rollers, on to a slatted delivery apron supported in such a way as to vibrate and shake the material. The material may be delivered in a folded endless form by a pivoted apron oscillated to and fro by a crank and connecting-rod. The various rollers and devices are mounted so as to be interchangeable in a series of housings 20, Fig. 4, bolted to the frame. The housings have vertical openings 20<a> to accommodate the flanged bearings 21 of the rollers. The upper bearing is pressed downwards by a spring 23<e> surrounding a bolt 23d screwed into the bearing. The spring is adjusted by a screw cap 23<c>. The bearings of the rollers &c. have annular projections extending into the various rollers &c. to prevent the material from winding on the roller &c. shafts. The various devices are driven from a main shaft by means of spur and chain and sprocket gearing, the highspeed combing &c. devices being driven from one side of the machine, and the lower-speed rollers from the other side.