GB461712A - Improvements in serrating textile fibrous material and particularly in breaking flax and other fibrous plants and apparatus therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

461,712. Serrating or breaking flax &c. LINEN INDUSTRY RESEARCH ASSOCIATION, MATTHEW, J. A., and NEILL, H. R. Nov. 15, 1935, No. 31632. Addition to 439,741. [Classes 120 (i) and 120 (iii)] Apparatus for serrating fibrous material as set forth in the parent Specification and particularly for serrating or breaking the stalks of flax and other fibrous plants comprises in combination a bottom roller A and two top rollers B, B<1>, Figs. 2 and 4, pressed together in two pairs AB, AB<1>, and a blade D or like serrating device resiliently pressed into the nip of the second pair of rollers on the delivery side. The roller A is plain while the top rollers B, B<1> are respectively longitudinally fluted and plain, scratched or roughened longitudinally, and are pressed down by springs S, S<1>, Fig. 2. The roller A is positively driven from a pulley P through a chain and sprocket wheels p and the top rollers B, B<1> positively driven therefrom by deep toothed gears. The flax straw is directed from the nip of the rollers A, B to the nip of the rollers A, B<1> by a conductor plate C provided above the roller A and between the rollers B, B<1> and fixed or carried by an angle bar c supported between two plates C<1>, Fig. 4, springs c being provided to bring the plate C into rubbing contact with the top layer of the stalks. The serrating blade D is screwed at the back to receive one or more rods d mounted to swivel on studs d<1> adjustable in slots e in arms E fast on a shaft R, the position of which is adjusted by a rod F passing through a bracket f and controlled by a spring S<2> and having a stud e<1> adjustable in a slot e<2> in an arm E<1> fixed to the shaft R. Alternatively pressure may be applied to the blade D through compound levers, leaf or tension springs as described in the parent Specification. In a modification, the blade D, Fig. 4, is formed with a resilient face to allow for irregularity in the thickness of the layer of straw, a thin metal sheet M over a layer m of resilient material being provided on the face of the blade and a thin metal plate m<1> on the back. The sheet M is bent into contact with the top roller B<1> and is pressed there against by a bar T having springs S<5> and a cushioning layer of rubber or rubber rods N. The machine may comprise two units in series, Fig. 3. In the first unit a definite gap is left between the rollers while the blade D is held with the bevelled edge away from the roller B' and the forward edge in contact with the roller A. Conductor plates C<2>, K and a coarse-pinned ripple comb L are provided to remove seeds and pieces of straw the rollers of the second unit revolving somewhat faster than those of the first to tension the material and force it down into the pins of the comb L. The cleaned material then passes through the second unit where it is folded or pleated and compressed in the cavity a, b, c, Fig. 4, until it forces its way past the blade D.