GB448571A - Method of and apparatus for mechanically treating flax stalks for production of a cleaned mass of flax fibre in staple length - Google Patents

Abstract

448,571. Obtaining flax or like bast fibres in staple length. PLATT BROS. & CO., Ltd., Hartford Works, WILKINSON, H., 49, Queen's Road, and PILKINGTON, N., 49, Edward Street, all in Oldham. Feb. 16, 1935, No. 5025. [Classes 120 (i) and 120 (iii)] Staple fibres of flax or like bast fibre for subsequent treatment to obtain a fibrous mass or lap of flax or the like for mixing with cotton or other textile fibres are produced by a continuous process consisting in mechanically feeding, crushing, decorticating and crimping the flax which is then stripped and de-crimped, the mass of flax being then delivered and further cleaned and broken into staple lengths by beating or opening, the cleaned and staple length fibres then being conveyed and delivered pneumatically. In one form of apparatus, the flax straws are fed by a lattice a and collecting feed roller b, Figs. 1 and 2, through fluted crushing rollers c, c<1>, spring- pressed and geared together, then through a succession of pairs of spring-pressed fluted decorticating rollers, e.g. four pairs d<1>, d<1x> ... d<4>, d4x, then through stripping rollers f<1>, f<1x>, f<2>, f<2x>, and delivery rollers g, g<1> to a beater or opener i. The bottom rollers in the decorticating range d<1> ... d4x are positively driven, the upper rollers being driven by contact therewith or positively geared thereto. The rollers are driven at constant speed but diminish progressively in diameter so that there is a progressive reduction in surface speed so as to crush and slightly crimp the flax. The stripping rollers f<1> .. f<2x> are of equal diameter and are spring-pressed and geared together and driven so as to run slightly faster than the rollers d4, d<4x> so as to exercise a slight drafting action which serves to separate the bark &c. from the fibre, and also to take out the crimp -imparted by the decorticating rollers. The shallow-fluted delivery rollers g, g<1> are spring-pressed together and positively driven at a slightly higher speed than the stripping rollers. The opener i, which is somewhat similar to that described in Specification 177,017, [Class 120 (i)], has a grid extending for about 90 degrees and a cover k of woven wire mesh extending for about 180 degrees, a pneumatic delivery pipe m with an air intake at n and a perforated sheet o leading to a storage receptacle, or if desired to a dusting machine or opener for removing any remaining trash, from whence the clean and staple length fibre is delivered for any subsequent treatment. The staple length into which the fibres are broken is controlled by the relative speed of the rollers g, g<1> and beater or opener i. The separated trash is collected in compartments h, h<x> and removed, e.g. by suction pipes h2 or a conveying apron. The Provisional Specification refers to lateral reciprocation of the decorticating rollers.