GB397193A - Improvements in machines for decorticating and cleaning fibres - Google Patents

Abstract

397,193. Decorticating and cleaning fibrous leaves. HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING CO., Ltd., Charles Street, and MANGNALL, A. R., White Lodge, Westminster Park, both in Chester. Dec. 24, 1931, No. 35742. [Class 120 (i).] A machine for decorticating and cleaning fibrous leaves and stems, e.g. the leaves of sisal, flax, hemp, or ramie, comprises two or more pairs of coacting crushing rollers 1, Fig. 1, gapped at intervals along their length so that any one pair of rollers will crush the leaf only at intervals the gaps 16, Fig. 2, of one pair being in register with the crushing parts 15 of an adjacent pair. The gapped crushing- rollers may be smooth, corrugated or fluted. After treatment by the rollers 1 the opposite sides of the crushed leaves are cleaned in scutching devices 19, 20. The butt ends of the leaves are aligned against a plate 10 in a feed shoot 9, 9a and the leaves are picked up therefrom by horizontal trays 8 secured between discs 2 driven by belts 5 and are transferred at the top of their path to the belts 5 and fed thereby to the crushing rollers 1. A weighted stop 18 is provided to engage and delay the tip ends of the leaves to allow for the greater spreading of the butt ends when crushed. The cleaning or scutching devices 19, 20 operate respectively on the butt ends and on the remainder of the leaves which are fed therethrough by overlapping rope conveyers 21, 22, 23 arranged as shown on pulleys 24 .. 33. The butt ends are cleaned successively on opposite sides by rotary beaters 36, 37 cooperating with breast plates, the beaters 36, 37 being arranged at different levels, so that a line through their axes is inclined at substantially 45‹. The leaves are similarly scutched over the remainder of their length by beaters 38, 39. Water or other liquid may be sprayed on to the fibres during cleaning, and rubbercovered squeezing rollers provided to remove excess moisture. A guide-plate 43 and stripper fingers 44 are provided and. the treated leaves are delivered on to a curved rod 45 and deflector plate 46. After decortication the fibres may be dried in the sun or by the use of heated air and then brushed. The beaters 19, 20 may be modified by the provision of air or water blasts instead of breast plates.