GB709442A - Improvements in and relating to bast and like fibre decorticating machine - Google Patents

Abstract

709,442. Decorticating-machines. GARDELLA, A., and GARDELLA, C., [trading as SOC. COLL A. GARDELLA & F. LLO]. July 9, 1951, No. 16206/51. Class 120(1) A bast or leaf fibre decorticating machine - comprises a plurality of operating devices including at least two sets of scutching members, each set being composed of a revolving scutching drum provided with a plurality of hammering members and of a corresponding material-supporting or anvil roller; the feed of the material past the scutching drums is effected by a substantially vertical train of juxtaposed rollers, revolving alternately in opposite directions, a sheet of fibrous material passing from a longitudinal half of each feeding roller to the opposite half of the next whereby the material passing alternately from one side to the other of the train of feed rollers exposes alternately both its sides to the operating devices, including the scutching drums. As shown, Fig. 1, material is fed endwise by a slatted conveyer 7, and a gripping roller 8, from a hopper 9, past a spring-loaded shutter 11 providing a controllable outlet passage 10, to spring-loaded breaking and crushing rollers 2, 2' and 3, 3', rollers 2, 2<SP>1</SP> being fluted lengthwise or circumferentially. From rollers 3, 3<SP>1</SP> the material passes to and fro between feeding and supporting rollers 16, 16<SP>1</SP> of which roller 16<SP>1</SP> is mounted in fixed bearings while rollers 16 are spring-pressed thereagainst from above and below. While supported on rollers 16, 16<SP>1</SP>, the material is treated by scutching drums 17 and brush drums 26, the axes of which are set slightly forward of the axes of the corresponding supporting rollers 16, 16<SP>1</SP>. The setting of each drum 17 or 26 from the corresponding roller 16 is controlled by screw means 23. From rollers 16 the material is delivered by a belt 29 and swinging arm 30 which folds the sheet of fibres. The axes of rollers 16, 16<SP>1</SP> may lie in a common vertical plane or on two parallel or diverging vertical planes, and the rollers may be of the same or of increasing size, the peripheral speed of the rollers being constant or increasing slightly towards the delivery end. Drums 17 comprise beaters 18, Fig. 6, mounted in dovetail grooves and pressed outwardly by springs 19 or by centrifugal force; alternatively beaters 18 may be fixed in the drums. The scutching surface may slope towards the drum in the direction of scutching, as at 18<SP>1</SP>. The bristles 28 of drums 26, Fig. 10, are of equal length and are inserted in sectors 27 at the same angle with respect to the tangential planes so that their ends lies on a cylindrical surface. Sprays 32 provide for washing of the material during treatment. The machine may include, in addition to the scutching drums, any desired number of breaking, crushing, hackling, brushing and stripping, burr-separating or other operating devices fitted on drums or cylinders.