US1937794A - Apparatus for treating fibrous material - Google Patents

Description

. 5, 1933. J. N SELVIG APPARATUS FOR TREATING FIBROUS MATERIAL Filed Aug. 20, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 IE4 4 4 H 1 d1 F arm Dec. 5, 1933. J. N.'SELVIG APPARATUS FOR TREATING FIBROUS MATERIAL Filed Aug. 20, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 2- 5, 1933. J. N. SELVIG APPARATUS FOR TREATING FIBROUS MATERIAL 4 Sheets-Sheet. 3

Filed Aug. 20, 1930 orrieys Dgc. 5, 1933. J. N. SELVIG 1,937,794

APPARATUS FOR TREATING FIBRGUS MATERIAL Filed Aug. 20, 1930' 4 Sheets-Shut 4 I V m Patented Dec. 5, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE John N. Selvig, Chicago, in.

Application August 20, 1930. Serial No. 478,702

21 Claims.

My invention relates to apparatus for liber ating fibers from fibrous material such as flax,

. hemp, jute, and the like, and it has for its object the provision of a new and improved form and arrangement of parts whereby the breaking and scutching action may be improved, whereby the fiber may be better kept from winding on the breaking and scutching reels and other rotating parts, whereby an improved stripping m effect may, be attained for taking the fibers from the operating mechanisms, and whereby apparatus of this type may be otherwise improved in sundry details.

In machines of this type as heretofore emplayed, in which stalks such as flax have been moved forwardly transversely of the stalks for presentation of opposite ends of the stalks step by step beyond obliquely disposed supporting members or breaking bars for breaking and scutching the stalks progressively from both ends toward their middle points, there has been a tendency at times for certain of the stalks to lag back, particularly when the stalks have approached closely to the discharge end of the breaking apparatus where the breaking and scutching mechanisms are operating upon the short central portions of the stalks still unbroken, which short sections are held in position by means engaging only the flexible fibers of the portions of the stalks already broken. It is one of the objects of my invention to provide an improved arrangement of parts by which the forward movement of the stalks under such circumstances may be controlled in such manner as ;5 to produce effective results. To this end, it is one of the objects of my invention to provide an arrangement by which forwardly directed blasts of air may be delivered upon the fibers at the portion of the path where there is a tendency to for such lagging behind of the stalks whereby the fibers and short stalk portions may be kept in proper alignment, the arrangement preferably being such that the blasts of air are brought into contact particularly with the lowermost fibers 5 and stalks of the layer being acted upon. It is another object of my invention to provide mechanically acting means operating at the same speed or at slightly greater speed than that of the forward movement of the fibers by the main 0 forwarding chains whereby the fibers and short sections of stalk may be kept in alignment.

It is still another object of my invention to provide an improved arrangement of stationary breaking bar means whereby there shall be such 5 cooperation between the breaking bar and the moving bars of the reel as to insure effective engagement of the fibers and stalks by the moving reel bars whereby such stalks and fibers may be pulled out longitudinally of the fibers so as to be kept eifectively in the desired operative alignment.

It is one of the objects of my invention to provide an improved arrangement of stripping means in connection with an endless belt forwarding mechanism whereby the fibers are eilectively removed from the belt at its delivery end so as to prevent any tendency for such fibers to drag backwardly with the reversely moving inoperative ply of the belt. This action is, of course, particularly necessary in connection with an endless belt of a link chain type in which adjacent links are separated with respect to each other in their movement around an end pulley, such links being adapted to close with respect to each other as the chain straightens out for its run to the pulley at the opposite end. It is one of the objects of my invention to provide means in connection with such an endless link chain forwarding means for keeping the fibers away from the points where the links are assuming their straightened relationship to each other where such fibers would be likely to be pinched between adjacent parts so as to be carried along with the belt.

It is one of the objects of my invention to provide improved shielding means for insuring free movement oi the fibers past the points at the ends of the breaking and scutching reels where the supporting and driving shafts extend into the bearings. It is highly important to prevent the fibers irom being wound to even a slight extent upon the shafts, since such winding when permitted to start is likely to reach such proportions as to interfere materially with the operation of the machine. the objects of my invention to provide an arrangement whereby there shall be no winding at all of the fibers upon the shafts or other parts of the reels.

It is another object of my invention to improve devices of this type in sundry details hereinafter pointed out. The preferred means by which I have accomplished my several objects are illustrated in the drawings and are herein- It is accordingly one of after specifically described. That which I be- 10 lieve to be new and desire to cover by Letters Patent is set forth in the claims.

In the drawings,-

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of my improved apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the apparatus as shown in Fig. 1, with a portion of the housing broken away for clearness of illustration;

Figs. 3, 4 and are vertical cross sections 5 taken on lines 33, 4-4 and 5-5 respectively of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a vertical cross section taken at line 6-6 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a vertical cross section taken upon a considerably enlarged scale at line 77 of Fig. 1;

Figs. 8 and 9 are horizontal cross sections taken at lines 88 and 9-9 respectively of Fig. 4, the ribbed plate associated with one of the conveyors being omitted from Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a vertical cross section taken at line 1016 of Fig. 9; and

Fig. 11 is a view of a fragmentary portion of one of the reel bars showing its connection with the shielding device at the end of the reel.

Referring now to the several figures of the drawings, in which corresponding parts are indicated by the same reference characters, indicates a frame-work of any approved type supporting a flat table 21. As is best shown in Fig. 3, at one side of the table 21 near the receiving end of the machine there are located two intermeshing reels 22 and 23. As is shown in Fig. 4, two additional intermeshing reels 24 and are mounted at the opposite side of the table 21 at the discharge end of the machine. The reels 22 and 23 are located within a housing 26 suitably supported from the frame-work 20, while the reels 24 and 25 are mounted within a housing 27. The housings 26 and 2'7 form parts of the frame-work of the machine, serving to support certain of the operating parts and to reenforce the construction generally.

Upon the table 21. I have provided an endless ,belt conveyor in the form of an endless chain 28 which is mounted upon two gears 29 and 30 (see Figs. 2 and 7), such gears 29 and 30 being held in spaced relation to each other by a longitudinally extending frame bar 31 (see Fig. 3). At one side of the conveyor belt 28, I have provided an auxiliary endless belt 32 mounted upon suitable supporting pulleys, the front pulley 33 of which is fixedly mounted upon a countershaft 34 for driving said pulley and said endless belt conveyor for moving the bottom ply of said conveyor toward the left in Fig. 1. At the opposite side of the main conveyor 28, I have provided a short endless belt 35 also mounted upon suitable pulleys, the front pulley 36 of which is fixedly mounted upon a shaft 31 which is connected with the shaft 34 by driving means comprising an endless chain 38.

At one side of the main conveyor chain 28, with its rear end overlapping the front end of said conveyor 28, I have provided a second conveyor in the form of an endless belt 39, such belt 39 being mounted by means of an idler pulley 40 at its rear end and by means of a driving pulley 41 at its forward end, the driving pulley 41 being fixedly mounted upon a shaft 42 revolubly mounted in the framework 20 near the front or delivery end of the machine (see Figs. 1 and 5).

The arrangement is such that the belts 28, 32 and 35 are adapted to carry a series of stalks of fibrous material such as flax forward along the table toward the left in Fig. 1, with such stalks moving transversely of themselves in parallel arrangement on the table, such stalks being fed in any suitable manner along the table to the con veyors at the receiving end of the machine as shown at the right in Fig. 1. The chain 28 is adapted to grip the stalks as hereinafter described for holding the stalks firmly in position. The chains 32 and 35 are provided with outwardly extending lugs 43, as is best shown in Figs. 1 and 3, which are adapted by engagement with the stalks to move them forward in parallel arrangement with respect to each other. By means of the chains as described, the stalks are fed forward so as to cause their outer ends to project gradually beyond the obliquely disposed edge 44 of the table 21 at one side thereof, and thereafter to cause the opposite end portions of the stalks to project gradually beyond the obliquely disposed edge 45 at the opposite side of the table. When the stalks reach the chain 39, they pass into the grip of said chain, the two chains 28 and 39 together serving to carry the stalks the full length of the table.

Referring now to the reels 22 and 23 (see Fig. 3) it will be seen that such reels comprise heads 46 and 47 mounted upon shafts 48 and 49 respectively, such shafts being mounted between standards 50 forming the end portions of the housing 26. The heads 46 comprise radially extending arms upon the outer ends of which are mounted breaking bars 51, the heads 46 being arranged in staggered relation to each other longitudinally of the reel, with the breaking bars 51 in spiral arrangement. In like manner the heads 47, a plurality of which are employed. comprise radially extending arms connected by means of breaking bars 52 which are also spiral ly arranged, with the heads 4'7 in staggered relation to each other.

The reels 24 and 25 are of similar construction and arrangement comprising heads 53 and 54 mounted upon shafts 55 and 56 respectively revolubly mounted in standards 57 at the ends of the housing 27. Breaking bars 58 are provided in spiral arrangement upon the reel 24 supported by the heads 53 and breaking bars 59 are provided in spiral arrangement upon the reel 25 supported by the heads 54.

Power is applied to the machine by means of a pulley 60 mounted upon a transversely disposed shaft 61. Suitable gearing is provided between the shaft 61 and the longitudinally extending shaft 49 of the lower reel for driving such lower reel at the desired speed of rotation. Intermeshing gears 62 (see Fig. 1) serve to connect the shafts 48 and 49 for causing the reels 22 and 23 to rotate in synchronism. The shaft 61 is also provided with a driving pulley 63 (see Fig. 1)

which is to be operatively connected by a belt 1 6311 with a pulley 64 which in turn is connected by suitable gearing with the shaft 56 of the lower reel 25. The shafts 55 and 56 of the cooperating reels 24 and 25 are connected by intermeshing gears 65 for causing them to have effective cooperation.

As is best shown in Fig. 9, the shaft 56 of the lower reel 25 is connected by means of beveled gears 66 and 67 with a countershaft 68 which in turn is connected by means of a sprocket chain 69 and sprocket gears 70 and 71 with a shaft 72. Such shaft '72 is connected by a sprocket chain '73 and cooperating sprocket gears 74 with the shaft 42 upon which is mounted the forward end of the chain 39 as above described. The arrangement is such that when the reels 24 and 25 are being driven in the operation of the machine the chain 39 also is driven in the direction for carrying the bottom ply of the chain toward the leftdn Fig. l.

Lesa-m4 The shaft 72 is likewise connected by means of a sprocket chain and sprocket gears 78 with a shaft '77, being the shaft upon which the gear 30 is mounted as above described. The arrangement is such that the lower ply of the belt 28 moves toward the left in Fig. 1 upon operative rotation of the reels 24 and 25. The shaft 7'1 is also provided with a sprocket gear '78 (see Fig. 7) which is connected by means of a sprocket chain 79 with the shaft 34 upon which the sprocket gear 33 is mounted as above described. By means of such connections, power is applied for driving the belt 32 for moving its bottom ply forwardly (towards the left in Fig. l) and for driving the shaft 37 through the medium of the sprocket chain 38 as before described for driving the conveyor belt 35.

Upon the table 21 underneath the main conveyor belt 28, I have provided two longitudinally extending ribs 30 which extend upwardly between spaced longitudinally extending links of the lower ply of the conveyor belt 28 (see Fig. '7). In the construction shown, the ribs are formed integrally with each other on one face of a plate 81 rigidly secured in position. The arrangement is such that when a stalk of fibrous material such as flax is fed from the right in Fig. 1 between the lower ply of the chain 28 and the upwardly extending ribs 80 the stalk is crimped sufficiently to be held very strongly against movement longitudinally of itself with respect to the ribs and the chain. At the same time the stalks are readily movable longitudinally of the ribs by the chain as above described.

Underneath the chain 39, I have provided three upwardly extending ribs 82 likewise formed integrally with each other on one face of a plate 83. The ribs 82 extend longitudinally between the links of the chain 39 as is also clearly shown in Fig. 7, the arrangement being such that when the fibrous portions of a stalk are fed transversely into position between the chain and the ribs the fibers are held strongly against movement longitudinally of themselves.

When the stalks of fibrous material are fed to the machine at its right hand end as shown in Fig. 1 so as to be carried by the conveyor chains transversely of the stalks for causing the ends of the stalks to project gradually beyond the diagonally disposed edge 44 of the table, such ends of the stalks are engaged by the breaking bars 51 of the top reel 22 so as to be bent downwardly about the obliquely disposed edge portion 44. Shortly after such bend ing operation has been effected, the breaking bar 52 of the lower reel 23 is brought into engagement with the stalk below the bar 51 so as to bend the stalk in the opposite direction and preferably at the same point asthat at which the initial bending took place. These successive bendings in opposite directions, coupled with the delivery of a succession of blows upon the stalks by the bars 51 and 52, serve to remove the woody portions of the stalks from the fibers, such action proceeding progressively from the end of the stalk toward the middle portion. In due time the opposite end portions of the stalks are brought similarly into eng ement with the bars 58 and 59 of the reels 24 and 25 which serve to bend such end portions in opposite directions by cooperation with the diagonally disposed edge portion 45 of the table 21. Shortly after the stalks reach the rear ends of the reels 22 and 23 and pass out of engagement therewith, the fibers are grasped by the conveyor belt 39. as shown in Fig. 4, for continuing the forward movement of the stalks and fibers.

After these stalks have passed out of engagement with the chain 28, the forward movement of the short sections of stalk still remaining unbroken is controlled and effected by the chain 39 by its engagement with the flexible fibers only as compared with the engagement formerly of the chain 28 with the woody portions of the stalks. For better effecting the desired control of the stalks and fibers by the chain 39 at this stage of the operation, I have provided a ,plate 84 between the chain 39 and the front end portions of the reels 24 and 25, as is best shown in Fig. 8, such plate being indicated by the numeral 84. As is best shown in Fig. 7, the outer edge of the plate 84 is inclined downwardly and outwardly toward the breaking bars of the adjacent reels, such edge portion being preferably curved easily and gradually for providing the desired inclined face portion for supporting the short unbroken sections of the stalks in the desired inclined position for most effective operation of the breaking bars 58 thereon. With the stalks held in inclined position as shown in Fig. 4, the bars 58 in passing downwardly along the stalks have a marked tendency to pull the stalks longitudinally thereof toward the right in said Fig. 4, having a tendency thus to maintain the stalks in parallel arrangement to each other in transverse alignment across the machine. Inasmuch as the breaking bars 58 are obliquely disposed vertically, with their rear end portions brought first into operative relation to the stationary breaking bar 45, the engagement of the bars 58 with the stalks has a tendency to move such stalks forwardly toward the delivery end of the machine. I have found in practice that with the breaking bars 58 obliquely disposed as described and with the edge of the plate 84 inclined downwardly and outwardly toward the breaking bars. the stalks are kept in substantially normal parallel position for effective action of the breaking bars 58 thereon.

For assisting in holding the stalks in parallel arrangement with respect to each other so far as may be desirable, I have provided auxiliary forwarding means, such means comprising an arrangement for delivering a series of blasts of air diagonally outwardly and forwardly from the edge of the plate 84 so as to be brought into contact with the lowermost stalks or fibers of the layer of stalks and fibers moving forwardly along the edge of such plate 84. This means, in the construction shown, 'comprises a chamber 85 provided by coring out the bottom face of the plate 84 to which chamber compressed air is fed by means of a pipe 86 connected with any suitable source. The chamber 85 is provided at the outer edge of the plate 84 with a series of slots or notches 87 through which blasts of air are directed diagonally outwardly and forwardly into engagement with the stalks and fibers extending over the edge of the plate 84.

I have provided also an additional means for holding the stalks and fibers in normal position. Such additional means comprises an endless belt 88 mounted at one end upon a sheave or pulley 89 carried by the shaft 1'1. with its forward end extending about a smaller pulley 90 mounted upon a bellcrank 91. connected with the upper end of the lever 91 serves to apply a constant pressure for tighten- A spring 92 ing the belt 89. The arrangement is such that the lower ply of the belt 88 engages the fibers for holding them in close engagement with the plate 84. In the arrangement shown, the belt 38 is driven at slightly greater surface speed than that of the belt 39, whereby there is a slight tendency for the belt 88 to cause the fibers to be angled forwardly.

By the provision of the plate 84 having its inclined outer edge portion, and with the provision of the means for providing blasts of air outwardly and forwardly, together with the provision of the auxiliary forwarding means comprising the belt 88, either alone or in combination with each other, I have provided an arrangement by which the fibers are kept in their proper parallel relation to each other and whereby the short pieces of stalk at the central portions of the stalks are held firmly enough in position to insure proper action of the breaking bars 58 and 59 thereon for insuring the desired breaking and cleaning action.

The improved means which I have provided for stripping the fibers from the chain 39 at the end of the machine comprises a plurality of flexible strips 93 interposed between the laterally spaced links of the chain 39, as is best shown in Fig. 7. Each strip is secured at the rear end of the chain 39 by means of a bracket 94, and is secured at the forward end of the machine by means of a head 95 to which the strip is connected, such head 95 in turn being adjustably connected by means of a screw 95 with a bracket 9'7. In the arrangement shown, the strips 93 have sliding engagement with the rounded lower end portion of the bracket 97, the arrangement being such that the strips 93 may be independently tightened by a proper adjustment of the respective screws 96. The strips 93 are arranged to fit snugly between the transversely separated link portions of the chain 39 so as to cause the fibers being forwarded by the chain 39 to pass readily out of engagement therewith at the discharge end of the chain so as to be delivered to any suitable receiving mechanism. The strips 93 also are effective for preventing the fibers being carried forward by the chain from entering the spaces 39a between the links of the chain.

At the forward end of the housing 26, I have provided a shield 98 extending downwardly into close proximity to the edge of the table 21 (see Fig. 3) for preventing the hurds from collecting on the table 21 so as to interfere with the free movement of the stalks and fibers therealong. At the forward end of the housing 27, I have provided a similarly arranged shield 99 likewise extending downwardly into close proximity to the edge of the plate 84. By the provision of the housings 26 and 2'7 and the shields- 98 and 99, I have been enabled to keep the table 21 comparatively clear, as well as to keep the, dust to a minimum.

At the forward ends of the reels 22 and 24, I have provided shielding means for preventing the winding of the fibers about the top reels. Each of these devices is in the form of a segmental drum 100. As is best shown in Fig. 9, each of the drums 100 comprises a transversely extending web portion 101 by which the drum is mounted in position upon the housing. As is clearly shown in said figure, the drum extends backwardly into close proximity to the head upon which the breaking bars are mountcd.beingspacedashortdistancefronithe breaking bars. As a further precaution, a sleeve 102 is provided about the end portion of the shaft extending backwardly into a groove in the forward end of the hub portion of the head 53. By the use of this arrangement, the fiber is kept from winding about the reel or any of the parts of the reel.

Upon the forward end of each of the reels 23 and 25, I have provided means for preventing winding of the fiber thereon. This means comprises a disc 103 fixed upon the shaft of the lower reel by means of a hub 104 extending backwardly into contact with the head upon which the breaking bars of the reel are mounted. The outer edge portion of the disc 103 is provided with a fiange 105 which embraces closely the outer edge of a disc 106 carried by the adjacent frame-work, the arrangement being such that it is impossible for fibers under any normal conditions to become entangled between the disc 106 and the disc 103.

The breaking bars 59 are notched at their forward ends so as to have snug engagement about the edge of the disc 103 and the flange 105, with the shoulder portion 107 of each of such bars rounded backwardly with respect to the direction of the rotation of the reel, the end portions of the breaking bars being connected with the disc 103 by means of blocks 1030. By reason of this arrangement, the fibers are effectively prevented from becoming entangled between the breaking bars and the disc.

By the provision of my improved construction, I am enabled to break and scutch such fibrous material as flax very eflectively. I have found in practice that the flax fiber as it comes from a machine built in accordance with the showing of my drawings is commercially clean fiber. Inasmuch as the machine is designed to operate at high speed, it will appreciated that the capacity of the machine is comparatively very great. Inasmuch as the reels are set at a comparatively very small angle from the central longitudinal line of the machine it will be appreciated that with the machine designed for bending or breaking the stalks at intervals of as little as V; of an inch, even under such circumstances the forward movement of the straw is comparatively rapid, since the time intervals between blows of the breaking bars are exceedingly short and the fiax must move forward a comparatively great distance for obtaining the desired projection beyond the obliquely disposed edge of the table. I have found that by the use of my improved machine the dust and woody portions of the stalks are controlled very effectively; and that there is very little if any tendency for the fiber to wind about any of the moving parts.

While I prefer to employ the construction as shown in my drawings and as above described, it is to be understood that my invention is not limited to such construction except so far as it is so limited by the prior art, it being understood that changes might well be made without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:-

1. An apparatus of the type described, comcloseproxlmitytheretoforbreakingtheendsof the stalks as they are presented beyond said obliquely disposed edge of the table, and a plate on said table opposite the forward end portion of said breaking bar serving to raise the effective level of the edge of the table at that point with respect to the breaking bar, said plate hav ing its outer edge obliquely disposed to correspond to the angle of the edge of the table and having such outer edge gradually and easily rounded downwardly and outwardly with respect to the table for supporting the stalks at that point in raised and inclined position.

2. An apparatus of the type described, comprising in combination a table, conveyor means adapted to grip stalks of fibrous material and move them forward transversely of the stalks along a path converging forwardly with respect to the edge of the table, means acting on said stalks as they are fed forwardly along the table for breaking the portions of the stalks extending between the conveyor means and said converging edge of the table, a second conveyor means in lapping relationship to said first named conveyor means at the side thereof at which said converging edge of the table is located and extending forwardly from said first named conveyor means adapted by engagement with the broken portions of said stalks to move the stalks forward transversely of the stalks along a path converging forwardly with respect to a second edge portion of said table, a second means acting on said stalks as they are fed forwardly along the table for breaking the portions of the stalks extending between said conveyor means and said second named converging edge of the table, and a plate on said table at the forward end portion thereof beyond said first named conveyor means serving to raise the effective level of the edge of the table at the point where the portions of the stalks already partially broken by the grip of said first named conveyor means are acted upon by said second breaking means and having its outer edge gradually and easily rounded downwardly and outwardly with respect to the table for supporting the stalks at that point in raised and inclined position.

3. An apparatus of the type described, comprising in combination a table, conveyor means adapted by a firm grip thereon to move stalks of fibrous material forwardly transversely of the stalks along a path obliquely disposed with respect to one edge of said table, a breaking bar, means for moving said breaking bar downwardly past said edge of the table in close proximity thereto for breaking the ends of the stalks as they are presented beyond the edge of the table, and pneumatically acting means adapted to assist said breaking bar and said conveyor means in keeping said stalks moving forwardly in substantially parallel arrangement with respect to each other for effective action thereon by said breaking bar.

4. An apparatus of the type described, comprising in combination a table, conveyor means adapted by a firm grip thereon to move stalks of fibrous material forwardly transversely of the stalks along a path obliquely disposed with respect to one edge of said table, a breaking bar, means for moving said breaking bar downwardly past said edge of the table in close proximity thereto for breaking the ends of the stalks as they are presented beyond the edge of the table, and means for directing a plurality of blasts of air obliquely forwardly and outwardly on said stalks at different points along the path of movement of the stalks near the end of their movement along the table for assisting in keeping the stalks in substantially parallel arrangement with respect to each other for effective action thereon by said breaking bar.

5. An apparatus of the type described, comprising in combination a table, conveyor means for moving stalks of fibrous material forwardly transversely of the stalks along a path obliquely disposed with respect to one edge of said table, a breaking bar, means for moving said breaking bar downwardly past said edge of the table in close proximity thereto for breaking the ends of the stalks as they are presented beyond the edge of the table. and auxiliary forwarding means acting from below on the layer of stalks and fibers extending over the edge of the table for assisting in keeping the stalks and fibers moving forwardly in substantially parallel arrangement with respect to each other for effective action thereon by said breaking bar.

6. An apparatus of the type described, comprising in combination a table, conveyor means for moving stalks of fibrous material forwardly transversely of the stalks along a path obliquely disposed with respect to one edge of said table, a breaking bar. means for moving said breaking bar downwardly past said edge of the table in close proximity thereto for breaking the ends of the stalks as they are presented beyond the edge of the table, and means for delivering a blast of air obliquely forwardly and outwardly with respect to the edge of the table from a point below the stalks and fibers of the layer being treated for assisting in keeping the stalks and fibers moving forwardly in substantially parallel arrangement with respect to each other for effective action thereon by said breaking bar.

7. An apparatus of the type described, comprising in combination a table, conveyor means for moving stalks of fibrous material forwardly transversely of the stalks along a path obliquely disposed with respect to one edge of said table, a breaking bar. means for moving said breaking bar downwardly past said edge of the table in close proximity thereto for breaking the ends of the stalks as they are presented beyond the edge of the table, a plate on said table having a downwardly and outwardly inclined face upon which the projecting ends of said stalks are supported for effective action thereon by said breaking bar, and means for delivering a series of blasts of air obliquely forwardly and outwardly from the edge of the plate below the layer of stalks and fibers being treated adapted to assist in keeping said stalks moving forwardly in substantially parallel arrangement with respect to each other.

8. 'An apparatus of the type described, comprising in combination a table; conveyor means adapted to grip stalks of fibrous material and move them forward transversely of the stalks along a path converging forwardly with respect to the edge of the table, means acting on said stalks as they are fed forwardly along the table for breaking the portions of the stalks extending between the conveyor means and said converging edge of the table, a second conveyor means in lapping relationship to said first named conveyor means at the side thereof at which said converging edge of the table is located and extending forwardly from said first named conveyor means adapted by engagement with the broken portions of said stalks to move the stalks forward transversely of the stalks along a path converging forwardly with respect to a second edge portion of said table, a second means acting on said stalks as they are fed forwardly along the table for breaking the portions of the stalksextending between said conveyor means and said second named converging edge of the table. and means for directing a blast of air obliquely forwardly and outwardly on the portions of the stalks already partially broken by the grip of said first named conveyor means near the end of their movement along said second named converging edge portion of the table for assisting in keeping the stalks in substantially parallel arrangement with respect to each other for effective action thereon by said second named breaking means.

9. An apparatus of the type described, comprising in combination a table, conveyor means for moving stalks of fibrous material forwardly transversely of the stalks along a path obliquely disposed with respect to one edge of said table, a breaking bar, means for moving said breaking bar downwardly past said edge of the table in close proximity thereto for breaking the ends of the stalks as they are presented beyond the edge of the table. a plate on said table having a downwardly and outwardly inclined face upon which the projecting ends of said stalks are supported for effective action thereon by said breaking bar, said plate being cored out on its bottom face for providing a chamber next to the table, with obliquely disposed openings leading from the chamber forwardly and outwardly, and means for delivering air under pressure to said chamber for directing blasts of air through said openings for assisting in keeping said stalks moving forwardly in substantially parallel arrangement with respect to each other.

10. An apparatus of the type described, comprising in combination a table, conveyor means adapted to grip stalks of fibrous material and move them forward transversely of the stalks along a path converging forwardly with respect to the edge of the table, means acting on said stalks as they are fed forwardly along the table for breaking the portions of the stalks extending between the conveyor means and said converging edge of the table, a second conveyor means in lapping relationship to said first named conveyor means at the side thereof at which said converging edge of the table is located and extending forwardly from said first named conveyor means adapted by engagement with the broken portions of said stalks to move the stalks forward transrversely of the stalks along a path converging forwardly with respect to a second edge portion of said table, a second means acting on said stalks as they are fed forwardly along the table for breaking the portions of the stalks extendin between said conveyor means and said second named converging edge of the table, and auxiliary conveyor means adapted by engagement with said stalks closely adjacent to the points where such stalks have been partially broken by the grip of said first named conveyor means to assist in holding the stalks in substantially parallel arrangement with respect to each other for effective action thereon by said second named breaking means.

11. An apparatus of the type described, comprising in combination a table, conveyor means adapted to grip stalks of fibrous material and move them forward transversely of the stalks along a path converging forwardly with respect to the edge of the table, means acting on said stalks as they are fed forwardly along the table for breaking the portions of the stalks extending between the conveyor means and said converging edge of the table, a second conveyor means in lapping relationship to said first named conveyor means at the side thereof at which said converging edge of the table is located and extending forwardly from said first named conveyor means adapted by engagement with the broken portions of said stalks to move the stalks forward transversely of the stalks along a. path converging forwardly with respect to a second edge portion of said table, a second means acting on said stalks as they are fed forwardly along the table for breaking the portions of the stalks extending between said conveyor means and said second named converging edge of the table, and auxiliary conveyor means adapted by engagement with said stalks closely adjacent to the points where said stalks have been partially broken by the grip of said first named conveyor means to urge such portions of the stalks forward at a slightly faster rate than that at which they are carried positively forward by the first named and second named conveyor means for preventing the stalks from dragging backwardly at such partially broken portions.

12. An apparatus of the type described, comprising in combination a table, conveyor means adapted to grip stalks of fibrous material and move them forward transversely of the stalks along a path converging forwardly with respect to the edge of the table, means acting on said stalks as they are fed forwardly along the table for breaking the portions of the stalks extending between the conveyor means and said converging edge of the table, a second conveyor means in lapping relationship to said first named conveyor means at the side thereof at which said converging edge of the table is located and extending forwardly from said first named conveyor means adapted by engagement with the broken portions of said stalks to move the stalks forward transversely of the stalks along a path converging forwardly with respect to a second edge portion of said table, a second means acting on said stalks as they are fed forwardly along the table for breaking the portions of the stalks extending between said conveyor means and said second named converging edge of the table, and a short endless belt mounted between said first named and said second named conveyor means and extending forwardly from said first named conveyor means into close proximity to said second named converging edge portion of the table adapted by frictional engagement with said stalks to urge them forwardly for keeping them in substantially transverse position on the table in substantial parallelism with each other for effective action thereon by said second named breaking means.

13. In an apparatus of the type described, the combination of a table; means for moving stalks of fibrous material forwardly transversely of the stalks along a path obliquely disposed with respect to one edge of said table; a reel comprising a shaft, heads on said shaft. and breaking bars carried by said heads longitudinally of the reel, and extending beyond the head at the delivery end of the reel arranged for breaking the ends of the stalks about said edge of the table as they are projected beyond said edge; and a shield in the form of a segmental cylinder held in fixed position between the shaft and the breaking bars in close proximity to the breaking bars at the outer face of the head at the delivery end of the reel serving to prevent the fibers from winding about the shaft.

14. In an apparatus of the type described, the combination of a table; means for moving stalks of fibrous material forwardly transversely of the stalks along a path obliquely disposed with respect to one edge of said table; a reel comprising a shaft, heads on said shaft, and breaking bars carried by said heads longitudinally of the reel, serving in cooperation with other parts to break and scutch stalks projected beyond said edge of the table; a plate held in fixed position at the delivery end of the reel; and a second plate connected with said breaking bars and embracing said first named plate whereby said two plates serve to prevent the fibers from winding about said shaft.

15. In an apparatus of the type described, the combination of a table; means for moving stalks of fibrous material forwardly transversely of the stalks along a path obliquely disposed with respect to one edge of said table; a reel comprising a shaft, heads on said shaft, and breaking bars carried by said heads longitudinally of the reel, serving in cooperation with other parts to break and scutch stalks projected beyond said edge of the table; a plate held in fixed position at the delivery end of the reel; and a second plate connected with said breaking bars and having a flange extending about said first named plate in close proximity thereto, the ends of the breaking bars having notched engagement with said second plate, with the end portions of the breaking bars bent backwardly with respect to the direction of rotation of the reel, said two plates serving by cooperative action to prevent the fibers from winding about said shaft.

16'. An apparatus of the type described, comprising in combination a pulley, an endless chain conveyor means extending about said pulley and adapted by engagement with the fibers of partially broken and cleaned stalks of fibrous material to carry the stalks forward transversely of the stalks. means for breaking and scutching the unbroken portions of said stalks as they are moved forward by said conveyor means, and means for holding said fibers out of engagement between the ends of the links of said endless chain at the point where such chain passes around said pulley.

1'7. In an apparatus of the type described, the combination of a pulley, an endless chain conveyor means extending about said pulley comprising a plurality of series of articulated links transversely spaced with respect to each other adapted by engagement with the fibers of partially broken and cleaned stalks of fibrous material to carry the stalks forward transversely of the stalks, means for breaking and scutching the unbroken portions of said stalks as they are moved forward by said conveyor means, and guards extending between the several series of links serving to hold the fibers out of engagement between the ends of the links of the chain at the point where such chain passes around said pulley.

18. In an apparatus of the type described, the combination of a pulley, an endless chain conveyor means extending about said pulley com-' prising a plurality of series of articulated links transversely spaced with respect to each other adapted by engagement with the fibers of partially broken and cleaned stalks of fibrous material to carry the stalks forward transversely of the stalks, means for breaking and scutching the unbroken portions of said stalks as they are moved forward by said conveyor means. and flexible strips extending between the several series of links at the lower ply of the endless chain serving to hold the fibers out of engagement between the ends of the links of the chain at the point where such chain passes around said pulley.

19. In an apparatus of the type described, the combination of a pulley, an endless chain conveyor means extending about said pulley comprising a plurality of series of articulated links transversely spaced with respect to each other adapted by engagement with the fibers of partially broken and cleaned stalks of fibrous material to carry the stalks forward transversely of the stalks, means for breaking and scutching the unbroken portions of said stalks as they are moved forward by said conveyor means. flexible strips extending between the several series of links throughout the length of the lower ply of the endless chain serving to hold the fibers out of engagement between the ends of the links of the chain at the point where such chain passes around said pulley, and means for tightening said strips for insuring their being held in effective operative position.

20. In an apparatus of the type described, the combination of a pulley, an endless chain conveyor means extending about said pulley comprising a plurality of series of articulated links 113 transversely spaced with respect to each other,

a plurality of ribs extending upwardly between said series of links into such relationship to said links that the chain by engagement with the fibers of partially broken and cleaned stalks of 115 fibrous material serves to grip said fibers strongly for carrying the stalks forward transversely of the stalks, means for breaking and scutching the unbroken portions of said stalks as they are moved forward by said conveyor means, and 120 guards extending between the several series of links opposite the edges of said ribs serving to hold the fibers out of engagement between the ends of the links of the chain at the point where such chain passes around said pulley.

21. In an apparatus of the type described, the combination of a pulley, an endless chain conveyor means extending about said pulley comprising a plurality of series of articulated links transversely spaced with respect to each other, a plurality of ribs extending upwardly between said series of links into such relationship to said links that the chain by engagement with the fibers of partially broken and cleaned stalks of fibrous material serves togrip said fibers strongly for carrying the stalks forward transversely of the stalks, means for breaking and scutching the unbroken portions of said stalks as they are moved forward by said conveyor means, and flexible strips extending between the 1;; several series of links opposite the edges of said ribs at the lower ply of the endless chain serving to hold the fibers out of engagement between the ends of the links of the chain and to strip the fibers from the chain at the delivery 1;, end of the chain.

JOHN N. SELVIG.

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