US1729772A - Process and apparatus for deriving spinning fiber from fiber-bearing plant stems - Google Patents

Description

1,729,772 ARATUS .FOR DERIVING SPINNING FIBER FROM FIBER BEARING PLANT STEMS e h 4 S t e e h S 4 Oct. 1, 1929. R. FORSYTH PROCESS AND APP Filed Aug. 12. 1926 I i Me; Zor.

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FIBER FROM FIBER BEARING PLANT STEMS Filed Aug. 12, 1926 NG SPINNING 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I I G 3*1 I L l l 4| b l x I E. 11 i .5

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Oct. -1, 1929. FORSYTH 1,729,772 PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR DERIVING SPINNING FIBER FROM'FIBER BEARING PLANT STEMS Filed Aug. 12, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Oct. 1, 1929. R. FORSYTH 1,729,772

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR DERIVING SPINNING FIBER FROM FIBER BEARING PLANT STEMS Filed Aug. 12, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 @Vezpiaz. K05617 252" yi. y Q A JS'JQ'fi Or a. I

. Patented Oct. 1, 1929 .UNl TED STATES PATENT OFFICE ROBERT FORSYTH, OF CHICAGO, ILLINoIs, AssIGNoR To ROBERT N. BURTON, TRUSTEE,

OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 'PROGESS AND APPARATUS FOR DERIVING SPINNING FIBER FROM FIBER-BEARING RLANT sTE vIs Application filed August 12, 1926. Serial No. 128,744.

The purpose of this invention is to provide an apparatus for obtaining the valuable textile fiber from fibrous plants such as hemp, ramie. and jute and the like, containing such fiber in the exterior layers surrounding a woody core, the process of separating the fiber being therefore of the'general character of decortication. It consists in the elements and features of construction of the apparatus shown and the steps of the process described as indicated in the claims.

In the drawings I Figure 1 is a plan view of a tank for heated bath equipped with apparatus embodying this invention for handling the stalks to be treated in and through the bath.

Figure 2 is a transverse vertical section of the apparatus at the line 2-2 on Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal vertical section at the line 33 on Figure '1.

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail section showing the construction of the stripping devices.

Figure 5 is a detail section at the line 5-5 on Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a detail elevation at the line 66 on Figure 4.

Figure 7 is a detail elevation of the drive gearing viewed as indicated at line 77 on Figure 1.

Figure 8 is a detail elevation partly in section. showing the construction of certain small trucks for carrying the stalk carriers in their travel longitudinally of the tank for moving the stalk n'iasses or bfidlesin the bath toward the position therein at which the stalks are to be withdrawn and propelled to the strippers.

Figure 9 is an elevation similar to Figure 8 showing the truck, T, on a larger scale.

Figure 10 is a detail section taken as indicated at line 10-1O on Figure 8.

Figure 11 is a detail elevation taken partly at the plane indicated at lire (3-(S on Figure 4. and partly at the'plane indicated at line 11-11 on Figure 4 for showing the construction of the stripper plates.

The apparatus shown in the drawings comprises an elongated tank, A, for containing a solvent liquid (which may be water only) for softening the removable and fiber-containing layers of the stalks to be treated. The treatment for softening the removable layers re- A quires, in order to be effective, that the solvent liquid should be heated to the temperature approximating the boiling point of water, desirably about from 200 F. to 212 F., and for this purpose the tank is provided with steam heating pipes, B, positioned along the longitudinal walls and end walls as seen in Figures 1 and 2, their proper connections extending out through one end wall as seen at Z), Z), in Figure 3. For maintaining the solvent bath in the tank at proper depth, connection is made with the source of water supply indicated by pipe, 20, entering the tank at the bottom, preferably at the end at which the steam pipe connections are made, so that the entering water from the source of supply is exposed to the heating means promptly upon its entrance, thereby preventing the exposure of the stalk contents of the tank at any point to cold Water. A valve, 21, is provided for regulating the rate of water supply to compensate for the evaporation, and for the water carried away with the stalks when they are ithdrawn in the process of stripping, as hereinafter described; and a float, 22, in the tank has a snap action connection with the valve, which is indicated as to its totality at 24 for closing the valve when the water rises to a predetermined high level, and opening it when the water falls below that predetermined level; said predetermined level being such as to maintain a constant overflow which occurs at the end of the tank at which the stripping devices are located, as hereinafter more particularly described, such overflow discharging into a trough, 60, hereinafter mentioned, and described as provided for the special purpose of receiving the strippings. H Atthe end of the tank opposite that at which the steam pipes are preferably connected, as stated, overhanging a relatively short portion of the length of the tank, there is mounted means hereinafter more particularl I described, and indicated in its totality by re erenceletter, C, for withdrawing the stalks individually and propelling them, to strip-' ping devices indicated in its totality by refcal erence letter, I), and hereinafter particularly described. For locating in the bath the stalks to be treated, and for carrying them to the location therein at which they are to be withdrawn for the stripping, they are handled in bundles or masses which are introduced into the bath at the end of the tank remote from the location of the stripping devices, so that they may be exposed to the bath for softening the layers which are to be stripped throughout the length of time required for stripping the stalks of all the masses of bundles which have preceded them in their advance through the length of the tank; and the length of the tank is such a multiple of the length of the individual stalks masses, or bundles as the time required for softening by the exposure to the hot bath the layers which are to be stripped, is of the time required for stripping the stalks of each mass. And the stalk masses are advanced successively from the end at which they are introduced into the bath to the opposite end at which the stalks having become suitably softened as to their removable layers by the heated bath, are individually withdrawn and propelled to the stripping devices for removing the softened layers. For maintaining the water within the desirable temperature limits. the steam-controlling valve, 23, is thermostatically controlled by temperature responsive device indicated in totality by the reference letter, E. and hereinafter described in detail, having its temperature sensitive element. 25, immersed in the water at about the middle of the width of the tank. For holding and advancing the stalk masses there are provided stalk carriers which, as illustrated, are in the form of slings consisting of a plurality-as shown, twoflexible straps, 30, 30, having their opposite ends attached to supports lodged upon the upper edges of the opposite sides of the tank, and intermediate their ends dropping in a loop into the bath nearly to the bottom thereof, and adapted to hold a mass of stalks which may be lodged in the sling, filling the same nearly to the water level or top of the bath. The stalks to be treated, if they are thoroughly dry, will normally tend to float, and for holding the entire mass submerged in the bath, there is provided a cross bar, 31, extending across the upper open end of each loop, secured to the mounting device hereinafter described to which the ends of the strap are attached. said cross bar being depressed intermediate its ends across the entire upper open end of the loop, so as to be itself slightly submerged in the bath, and thereby to hold the mass of stalks, in its entirety, submerged. For holding the straps which form the sling described, and for carrying the entire sling bodily on the side walls of the tank movable therealong for carrying the stalk masses from the end at which they are introduced to the end at which they are to be stripped, there tank, and of the stalks to be lodged in the sling, thereby holding the two strap loops at a suitable distance apart to adapt them properly to support the stalk masses to be lodged in the sling. And in order to facilitate the adjustment of the two straps in respect to their distance apart suitably according to the length of the stalks, which may vary at different times, the tie-bar, 35, is desirably formed in two sections which are lapped and secured together by bolts, 36, engaging registered and lapping holes, 35 in the two sections of the bar. The trucks, 32, at the other side of the tank are desirably unconnected, for convenience in handling as hereinafter described. The straps are detachably connected with the trucks, 32, by hooks, 32, provided on the trucks for engagement with eyes, 30:, in the ends of the straps. On the trucks, 33, there are journaled windlasses, 37, 37, one upon each of the trucks, 33, connected by a shaft, 38, extending from truck to truck; and to accommodate the adjustment of the two-part bar, 35, a shaft, 38, is in two sections connected by a sleeve, 38. The ends of the straps are connected to the Windlass respec-' tively, for winding up the straps thereon to shorten the loops and press the stalk contents upwardly against the stalk-withdrawing devices hereinafter deseribed. A ratchet wheel, 39, mounted on the shaft adjacent to one of the trucks, co-operates with a pawl, 39, mounted upon that truck for locking the windlasses to uphold the loops at any position to which they may be wound up.

The devices for stripping the removable fiber containing layers from the stalk cores hereinafter to be described in detail, are adapted for individual operation upon the individual stalks and for that purpose a, means is provided for Withdrawing the stalks individually from the masses in which they are handled in the softening bath as described. This means for withdrawing individual stalks and propelling them individually to individual strippers, is located at the opposite end of the bath from that at which the stalks are loaded into the carrying slings, and comprises an endless propeller or feeder belt, 40, carried about rollers, 41 and 42, journaled in a suitable frame which consists of side bars, 43, 43, said frame being pivoted at one end to journal bearing brackets, 44, 44, mounted on the top of the end wall of the tank for ournalling the driving roller, 41, (driven as hereinafter described) and a cross'shaft, 45, at the opposite end of the side bars rigid therewith on which cross shaft the idle roller, 42, is journaled. The belts, 40, have their teeth, 40*, projecting outwardly for depending from the belt at its lower course for engaging individual stalks at the top of the mass which may at a given time be in the position at the stripper and of the tank. \Vhen a loaded carrier is to be moved into this position the feeder frame is swung up about its pivotal support on the driving shaft journal brackets; and the carrier isv moved into position to be overhung by the feeder belt when the latter is swung down into operative position. Before swinging it down the check-bars, 31, are removed. the trucks, 33, being first hooked fast to the track, 34, by hooks, 33 provided for that purpose; and when the feeder frame is swung down to feeding position the operator by the ratchet feeding means described winds up the sling straps to press the stalk mass upwardly against the feeder belt, causing the teeth 40 to engage the stalks lying at the top of the mass carried in the sling; and as the belt is driven by the power connection hereinafter described, the individual stalks which have been engaged by the belt teeth, are withdrawn from the mass of stalks and propelled endwise to the individual strippers. Meanwhile the operator winding up the sling straps in steps at short intervals, maintains the upward pressure of the stalk mass against the belt, so that as the mass is reduced by the stalks withdrawn, the successive layers are brought to the top, until the total stalk contents of the carrier are withdrawn. The operator then swings up the feeder frames, and the attendant at the rear side of the tank unhook's the sling straps from the trucks, 32,

and transfers said trucks from the track, 34,

to the track. 34*, which isslightly inclined back down toward the entering end of the tank, so that the trucks are returned by gravity to that end. At the same time the operator at the forward side of the tank transfers the connected trucks, 33, carrying the' sling straps permanently attached thereto, to the return track, 341 at that side, to be returned by gravity to the entering end, where the trucks at both sides are replaced on the inner track, 34, and the sling straps are hooked in place, and made ready for receiving a new loadof stalks.

Tlie stripping devices will now be described. These each consists of a plate of elastic material as rubber, indicated at 50, having for each stripping operation an aperture, 51, for admitting the end of the woody core of the stalks shown at w in Fig. 3, which is usually found exposed beyond the fiber layers or by the splitting and folding back of those layers which results from the exposure of the stalks-to the soaking and softening action of the hot bath and the action of the feeder belt teeth in withdrawing the stalks from the mass inthe carrier. And if the core is not actually protruding when the end of the stalk is thrust to the stripper plate aperture. 51, the outer layers are pushed back and slit by the thrust which forces the core to said aperture, 5'1, of the stripper plate, 50. The thrust which the stalk receives from the feeder belt whose teeth have engaged the stalk as described, is adequate to protrude the core through the stripper plate, 50, into engagement of a pair of co-operating feeding rollers, 53, 54, located beyond the line of the stripping plates, and these rollers driven by powerhereinafter described, pull the stalk core through the stripping plate leaving the outer layers, indicated at y, peeled off from the core behind the stripper plate, like a glove finger peeled off from the finger of the wearer, and accumulated in a mass which droops into the trough, 60, already mentioned, where there is a constant flow of water maintained by an ov'erfiow from the tank, which carries the strippings to the lower end of the trough where an operator stands ready to seize each of the individual strippings as they come to hand and shake them out into full length ready for being passed to a degumming apparatus not shown,

but which is employed in the total process hereinafter described, of which the softening by hot bath and stripping constitute the initial steps.

The detail construction of the stripping device is that the rubber strippers are preferably made of comparatively short pieces of rubber plate about one-fourth of an inch in thickness, each piece being of length to accommodate about six stripping apertures, 51, spaced apart about the average diameter of the stalks, or double the diameter of the smaller end; so that in the path or advance of each stalk. propelled by the feeder belt, 40, there will be found at least two stripper apertures, 51. The stripper plate sections, 50, are assembled end to end in a stripper frame mounted fixedly on the end wall of the bath tank, said frame comprising a bracket, 80, having its upstanding web formed with a horizontal succession of apertures corresponding in length to the length of the sections of the rubber plate, 50, and clamping plates, 83, adapted to be applied to said upstanding web for clamping the rubber plate sections, 50, thereto: said clamping plates having apertures, 84, corresponding in position and spacing to the apertures, 51, of the rubber plates, and having said apertures, 8-1, bounded by lips or flanges beveled and tapered as hereinafter described, for guiding the stalks propelled by the feeder belt to the stripper, to insure their entrance each into anaperture', 51. These apertures, 51, being spaced apart from center to center, as above described, the-re are two aper-- tures to each stalk of any normal layer of stalks which will constitute the top of any mass of stalks ,upon which feeder belt operates for engaging and propelling the stalks to the stripper; and the teeth, 41, of the feeder belt are arranged in rows similarly spaced apart in staggered arrangement with alternating rows; so that the number of stalks at any time advancing together to the stripper plate, i. e. with their advance ends in transverse alignment, so as to reach the stripper plate simultaneously, will not exceed one-half the number of stripping apertures in the plate, 50. By this means it is insured that there will never be two stalks steered into the same aperture, and that no stalk which is advanced by the feeding belt can fail of entering an aperture, and being thereby stripped. For it will be understood that when the end of a stalk encounters the rubber plate, 50, at the vicinity of an aperture therein(and that no encounter can occur except at the vicinit of an aperture is insured by the uide lips re 'erred to on the sectional clamp plates, 82)the rubber will yield in the direction of the thrust so as to present a concave face to the thrustino' stalk, at the center of which concavity stands the aperture into which the end of the stalks will be deflected by the slope, if it is not already perfectly in alignment with the aperture.

The apertures, 84, in the clamping plates, 83, are preferably square, and they are spaced to register center to center with the apertures, 51, of the stripper plate, 50. From the face of the clamping plate upper and lower lips, 86, 87, project toward the advancing stalks which are propelled by the feeder belt, said lips being beveled respectively on the under end on the upper sides, making a vertically flaring mouth leading to the respective apertures, 84; and between said apertures there are formed doubly beveled or wedge-shaped flanges, 88, which meet the pivotal lips, 87, and with them form leads tapered from all four sides to the apertures, 84.

For directing the stalks from'the level at which they areengaged by the feeder belt which is necessarily below the governed or overflow level of the tank'to the proper level for encounter with the stripper at the stripper apertures, there is mounted at the end of the tank an approach board, 89, which slopes up from its lower edge, positioned a little below the governed or overflow level of the tank, and the plane at the lower feeding course of the feeding belt, to substantially the level of the lower line of the tapered leads described. By this means it is rendered certain that the stalks will all reach the stripper and that each stalk will enter alone a stripper aperture. 1

The stripper apertures may be adapted for easy enlargement by the thrust of the stalks,

and for easy yielding of the elastic stripper plate into concave form for causing the stalk ends to be directed to the apertures if not aligned therewith, by cutting in the plate, 50,

slits, 51, from the apertures, 51, diverging 90 apart from said apertures preferably in the lines of diagonals of the square apertures of the clamping plates, 83. lVhen this construction'is adopted the plates, 50, may be of other than stretchable material, as, for example, light spring metal, sufliciently flexible and resilient to permit the four tongues caused by the diagonal slitting to be flexed outwardly by the thrust and taper of the stalk cores, and to react resiliently strongly enough to effect the desired stripping without becoming set in flexed form.

It may be found of advantage in ope-rating upon certain types of fiber stalks, as certain rank growths of hemp, to promote the splitting of the layers which are to be stripped by flattening the soaked and softened stalks as they leave the bath before they encounter the strippers. And for that purpose there are shown in the drawings a pair of flattening and squeezing rollers, 95, 95, mounted at the head of the sloping approach board, 89, and

between the latter and the protruding lips and flanges of the clamping plates, 83, between which rollers the stalks are thrust by the feeder belt, the rollers being mounted for being readily rotated by frictional engagement of the stalks passing through them, and held yicldingly toward each other for applying the necessary squeezing pressure to the stalks to flatten their softened layers with the tendency to split them at the opposite sides as they pass through the roll.

In some instances it may be found useful to drive these flattening rollers at a speed corresponding to the rate at which the stalks are propelled by the feeder belt to relieve the belt and the stalk-engaging teeth thereof of the duty of propelling the stalks against the resistance imposed by the pressure of the rollers for flattening and splitting the softened layers. And the drawings show means for s0 driving these flattening rollers, consisting of a belt, 96, passing around a pulley, 97, upon the shaft of the lower of the two rollers. The belt may be disconnected when the character of the stalks does not require the rolls to be driven.

For snap action of the water supply valve the construction is as follows:

Upon the stem of the valve, 21, which is of the turn-cock type there is pivotally mounted an upstanding weighted lever, '0, having a range of pivotal movement on the stem determined by the are between two stop pins, '0 0 set in the hub of the lever for encounter with a pin, '0 which projects radially from the turncock stem, V The lever, Q), has a horizontal arm, '0 which is connected with the float, V for upward swinging of said lever arm, when the float rises with the water to the desired overflow level. When the lever is thus swung up far enough to carry the weighted lever over the center of the turn cock stem, the weight falling on the opposite side carries the radial pin, 0 into encounter with the right hand stop pin, of, and rocks the turneock to closed position. When the water level falls the short distance necessary to cause the float by its unbuoyed weight to rock the weighted lever, 41, back over the center, said lever falls in the opposite direction, and by engagement of the radial pin, 0 With the left hand stop pin, o rocks the turn-cock to closed position.

The thermostatic control of the steam-eontrolling valve, 23, comprises a simple bi-me tallie'bar, W, mounted rigidly by one end on the tank wall, and extending submerged in the hot water of the bath. The free end of this bar is connected by a link, W to a tumble bob device similar to that employed for operating the turn-cock valve, 21, to control the water level; the steam-controlled valve, 23, being a turn-cock having its stem, w, provided with radial pin, w, projecting between stop pins, 102 and w on the hub of a weighted tumble bob lever, W which has a horizontal lever arm, w, connected by link, W with the free end of the thermostatic bar, W, lost motion at one of the link connections being provided by a slot, 10 in the link long enough to accom- I modate the tumbling movement of the weighted lever,- W when it has first been tilted past the center by the pull or push of the thermostatic bar due to the fiexure of the latter resulting from change of temperature which requires either the elosing or the opening of the steam valve.

The hot bath described, beside softening the gums and resins of the stalks, acts to dissolve a large proportion of the water solubles, in eluding such as tannic acid and peptic acid, which are made accessible by the softening of the gums and resins and which remain in the water of the bath and pass off in the overflow with other scum-forming dross liable to be carried superficially by the stalks.

The entire process of deriving spinning fiber from the fiber-bearing stalks, of which the initial steps consist in treating thefstalks, as described, in a hot bath for softening the removable layers, and then stripping these layers from the woody center core of the stalks, comprises subsequent steps consisting in straightening the strippings and subjecting them to pressure to squeeze out the softened gum and resin, which may be done by wringing rolls or the like, as may be understood without illustration or further description; next subjecting the straightened and squeezed fibers for from one-half an hour to three-quarters of an hour, while carefully maintaining the fibers in substantially straightened arrangement, to a second bath at a temperature of approximately the boiling point of water, said bath being rendered slightly alkaline by the addition to the water of about 3% of sodium carbonate (5% of 58% commercial sodium carbonate) to dissolve the remnant of gums and resins remaining after the softening and squeezing of the preceding steps and the water solubles not rendered accessible bythe first bath; next subjecting the fiber, still maintainedin straightened form, to pressure for squeezing out the substances dissolved by the last bath; next subjecting the squeezed and straightened fiber to a third bath of substantially the same temperature as before, having a very small per cent of hydrochloric acid (1% is sufficient) for neutralizing the alkali remaining in the fiber from the preceding bath next, subjecting the fiber to pressure for eliminating the liquid of the acid bath next, washing the fiber, still maintained in straightened form, for clearing the remnant of acid and the remnant of water solubles; and finally eliminating the water by pressure, and drying the fiber at a temperaturenot exceeding 150 F. The apparatus for these steps subsequent to the stripping is n standing the process.

I claim:

1. A decorticating apparatus for operating onfiber-bearing stalks comprising a heated bath; means for carrying stalks to be operated upon en masse in the bath to a preselected position therein; said stalks being disposed and maintained longitudinally of their direction of movement in the bath; a stalk feeder overhanging said postion for engaging the stalks individually for withdrawing them longitudinally from the mass and propelling them towards stripping means, and a stripping device to which the stalks are thus propelled in said withdrawing movement.

2. In the construction defined in claim. 1 means for upholding the mass of stalks at the selected postion in the bath for engagement of a top stratum thereof with the withdrawing means and for lifting the mass as. stalks are withdrawn from the top, to replace the withdrawn stalks by those below which are thereby brought into position to be in turn cated in combination with a heated bath in an elongated tank, means for carrying suc- 4. In an apparatus for the purpose'indifor stalk-propelling movement longitudinally of the bath; whereby the stalk masses may be arranged in the bath with the stalks lengthwise thereof, so that the mass movement toward the postion of individual movement to the stripping means is in the same direction as said individual movement.

6. In the construction defined in claim 1 the means for engaging the stalks individually for propelling them to the stripping means, comprising an endless belt mounted for travel in a vertial plane and having protruding teeth for engaging the stalks from above in the lower course of said travel, and means for driving said belt.

7. In the construction defined in claim 4 a I stalk-actuating device mounted overhanging the position in the tank to which the stalk masses are successively advanced, comprising an endless toothed belt, a frame on which the belt is carried for travel in its endless path for engaging the stalks by the belt teeth in the lower course of the belt; rollers by and about which the belt is driven in said path, said frame being pivoted about the axis of the driving roller for swinging up from the bath to admit the stalk mass to place under the down-swing postion of the belt.

8. A decorticating apparatus for operating on fiber-bearing stalks and the like comprising a heated bath; carriers for carrying successive masses of stalks in the bath along the extent thereof to a selected postion therein; means movably upheld overhanging said selected postion for engaging individually the upper stalks of the mass and withdrawing them endwise from the carrier, said over hanging means being mounted for movement out of said overhanging postion to admit and permit the withdrawal of the carrier.

9. In the construction defined in claim 8 the stalk withdrawing means comprising an endless belt, driving and driven rollers about which it passes, and a frame in which said rollers are journaled, said frame being pivoted for swinging about the axis of one of the rollers to clear the path for admitting and withdrawing the stalk-mass-carriers toand from said position.

10. In conbination with a heated bath in whose contents a mass of stalks may be immersed forsoftening the removable layers I thereof preparatoryto their removal, a stripping device, and means for moving the stalks individually thereto; a trough at the entering side of the stripping devices for receiving the fiber stripped from the stalks, and means for maintaining a current through said trough to move the strippings away from the stripping devices.

11. In an apparatus for the purpose indicated in combination with a heated bath for softening the removable layers of stalks to be treated, and means for propelling the stalks individually from the bath to said stripping devices, the stripping devices comprising each a plate of elastically stretchable material as rubber, having apertures dimensioned for admitting the smaller end of the stalk core, and means located beyond said apereured plate-for engaging the core and pulling it through the aperture.

12. In an apparatus for the purpose indi cated a stripping device comprising a support and parts mounted therein forming stretch-v able boundaries for apertures normally dimensioned for admitting the smaller ends of stalk cores, and adapted to be stretched by the passage therethrough of the stalk core at greatest diameter thereof.

13. In the construction defined in claim 1 the stripping device located at a plane above the stalk-engaging and propelling ply of the belt, and an inclined guid e plate positioned across the path in which the stalks are propelledfrom the bath, sloping upwardly from a level below said bath approximately to the level of the stripping device for deflecting the forward ends of the stalks upwardly from the bath and guiding them to the stripping means.

14. In an apparatus for the purpose indicated a stripping device consisting of a fixed member having an elastically bounded aperture normally dimensioned for admitting the smaller end of the core of a stalk from which the core-enveloping layers are to be stripped, and adapted to be yieldingly enlarged by the core to accommodate the same at the parts of its length at which its diameter is greater.

15. In the construction defined in claim 14 the fixed member being a rubber plate having an aperture, as specified in said claim 14.

16. In the construction defined in claim 14, the fixed member being a rubber plate having an aperture, and means located at the entering side thereof for thrusting the stalk to be stripped through saidaperture, and means at the opposite side for. engaging the core protruded from the aperture for pulling it through the stripping plate.

17. In the construction defined in claim 14 in c0mbinationw'ithithe elastically apertured stripping plate, means located at the entering side thereof for thrusting the stalks to be stripped through the aperture, and grip their stripping by the stripping means. 1

19. In an apparatus for the purpose indicated in combination with an elongated tank for containing a solvent liquid bath, through which a quantity of fiber-bearing stalks are to be moved endwise, and stalk-stripping means located at a selected position in the path of travel; open-topped carriers for masses of stalks to be treated in the bath supported on the opposite longitudinal walls of the tank movable therea'long, and having each a transversely extending check-bar near the open top for holding the stalk contents of the carrier longitudinally disposed with respect to their direction of movement and submerged in the bath throughout the movement to the selected position, removable at that position for exposing the stalks at the top of the mass to stalk-feeding means.

20. In an apparatus for, the purpose indicated, in combination with an elongated tank for containing a solvent liquid bath through which a quantity of fiber-bearing stalks are to be moved endwise, and stalk-stripping means located at a selected position in the a path of travel; open topped carriers for the mass of stalks to be treated in the bath, supported on the opposite longitudinal walls of the tank and movable therealon releasableu u b I means for holdlng the stalks 1n. the carriers submerged in the bath through the movement to said selected position; a stalk-feeder overhanging the selected position for engaging the stalks individually for withdrawing them longitudinally from the mass, and propelling them toward the strippers, the open-tapped carriers depending into the bath; and means for pressing the stalk contents of the carriers upwardly for holding the top layers of stalks in engagement with the stalk feeder.

21. In an apparatus for the purpose indicated, in combination with an elongated tank for containing a solvent liquid bath through which a quantity of fiber-bearing stalks are to be moved endwise, and stalk-stripping means located at a selected pdsition in the path of travel; open topped carriers for the I mass of stalks to be treated in the bath, supported on the opposite longitudinal walls of the tank and movable therealong; releasable means for holding the: stalks in the carriers submerged in the bath through the movement to said selected position; a stalk feeder overhanging the selected position for engaging the stalks individually for withdrawing them longitudinally from the mass and propelling them toward the strippers, the opentopped carries comprising earh a pluralityof flexible straps forming loops drooping into the bath transversely of the tank, and means at one side of the tank for drawing up the ends of the straps at that side'to shorten the loops and press the stalk contents upwardly into engagement of the upper stalks with the overhanging stalk feeders when the checkbars have been removed.

22. In an apparatus for the purpose indicated, in combination'with an elongated tank for containing a'solvent liquid bath through which a quantity. of fiber-bearing stalks are to be moved endwise, and stalk-stripping means located'at a selected position in the path of travel; open topped carriers for the mass of stalks to be treated in the bath, supported on the opposite longitudinal walls of the tank and movable therealong releasable means for holding the stalks in the carrier's submerged in the bath through the movement to said selected position; a stalk feeder located overhanging the selected position for engaging the stalks individually for withdrawing -them longitudinally from the mass, and propelling them toward the strippers, the open-topped carriers comprising each a plurality of flexible straps forming loops drooping into the bath transversely of the tank; a Windlass device at one side of the tank to which the ends of the straps at that side are attached; means for operating the Windlass for winding up the straps at that side to shorten the loops and press the stalk contents upwardly into engagement of the upper stalks with the overhanging stalk feeder when the check-bars have been removed.

23. In an apparatus for the purpose indiforming loops drooping into the bath tran versely of the tank; a windlass at one side of the tank to'which the strap ends at that side are connected for winding up the straps to press the stalk contents of the carriers upwardly at the selected position when the stalk-submerging means are released; stalkfeeding and withdrawing means overhanging said position, against which'th stalks are thus pressed.

24. In an apparatus for the purpose indicated a plurality of strippers arranged in a row side by side at short intervals with wedgeshaped guidesaligned respectively with the half-way points between the consecutive strippers for guiding the stalks individually to individual strippers; means for assembling a plurality of stalks to be stripped in posit-ion side by side with their length transverse to the row of strippers; stalk feeders for engaging the stalks individually and propelling them end-wise toward the strippers, the strippers being in number at least two in the path of operation of each stalk feeder; for avoidin g feeding of two stalks to the same stripper.

25. In an apparatus for the purpose indicated in combination with means for positioning stalks in amass extending all in the same general direction, stalk feeders distributed at intervals transversely of the length of the stalks for engaging the stalks individually and withdrawing them lengthwise from the mass, and propelling them towards stripping devices, such stripping devices distributed in line transverse to the direction of withdrawal and propulsion of the stalks, said stripping devices being in number at least two for each unit of'the stalk'feeders; for avoiding feeding two stalks to the same stripper.

26. In an apparatus for the purpose indicated in combination with a'heated bath for softening the removable layers of stalks,

means for moving the stalks en masse side by side longitudinally through the bath; stripping devices adjacent a selected position in the bath, and means for propelling the stalks individually to said stripping devices; a trough at the entering side of the stripping devices for receiving the fiber stripped from the stalks, and means for maintaining a current through said trough to move the strippings away from the stripping devices.

27 In an apparatus for the purpose indi cated in combination with a heating bath for softening the removable fiber-containing layers of the stalks to be treated; means for propelling the stalks individually to the stripping means; stripping devices at which the stalks are thus propelled adapted for delivering the strippings at the side adjacent the I bath; a trough into which the strippings are thus delivered connected with-the bath for receiving overflow therefrom for maintaining a current through the trough to move the strippings away from the stripping devices.

28. The process of derivin spinning fiber from fiber plant stalks whic comprises the following steps :'-first :-:-subjectingthe stalks to the action of a water bath at atemperature approximating the boiling point for a suflicient time to render plastic the gums and res ins, and dissolve the water solubles thereby rendered accessible; second :-mechanically stripping the softened layers from the central woody core; third :-straightening'the strippings]; fourth :subjecting the straightened strippings to pressure for squeezing out the plastics; fifth :-subjecting the straightened partly degummed fibers to a second hot water bath containing approximately 3% sodium carbonate at a temperature approximating the boiling point for 30 to 45 minutes; sixth subjecting the fiber in substantially straightened form to pressure for squeezing out the substance dissolved by the bath; seventh subjecting the fiber to a third hot bath consisting of a weak solution of hydrochloric acid for neutralizing the alkali remaining in the fiber from the preceding bath; eighth subjecting the fiber to pressure for eliminating the water-of the last bath; ninth washing the fiber in distilled water for clearing it of the remnant of acid and absorbing the remnant of water solubles; finally removing the water by pressure and drying the fiber at a temperature not exceeding 150 F.

29. The process of deriving spinning fiber from fiber plant stalks which consists in first :-rendering plastic the gum and resinbearing and fiber-containing layers; second:--mechanically stripping the softened and plastic layers and straightening the fiber containing strippings; third :-mechanically eliminating the plastics from the fibenby pressure; fourth :treating the remaining straightened fiber by a weak alkaline solution for dissolving the remaining plastics and water solubles; fifth :--mechanically eliminating the solvent liquid andplastics carried thereby; sixth :subjecting the fiber to a hot very weak hydrochloric acid solution for neutralizing the remnant of the alkali; seventh:-washing the fiber in distilled water for removing the remnant of the acid; and

finally drying the fiber in substantially straightened form.

ROBERT FORSYTH.

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