US2078419A

US2078419A - Apparatus for treating fibrous material

Info

Publication number: US2078419A
Application number: US18761A
Authority: US
Inventors: John N Selvig
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1935-04-29
Filing date: 1935-04-29
Publication date: 1937-04-27
Anticipated expiration: 1954-04-27

Description

April 1937- J. N. SELVIG 2,078,419

APPARATUS FOR TREATING FIBROUS MATERIAL Filed April 29, 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 27, 1937. J. N. SELVIG APPARATUS FOR TREATING FIBROUS MATERIAL Filed April 29, 1935 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 27, 1937. .1. N. SELVIG APPARATUS FOR TREATING FIBROUS MATERIAL Filed April 29, 1935 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 1. fikw April 27, 1937. J. N. SELVIG APPARATUS FOR TREATING FIBROUS MATERIAL 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 29, 1935' April 27, 1937. J. N.-SELVIG APPARATUS FOR TREATING FIBROUS MATERIAL Filed April 29. 1935 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 I Ira/en or m April 27, 1937. J. N. SELVIG APPARATUS FOR TREATING FIBROUS MATERIAL Filed April 29, 1935' 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 r a I I I wkm cdf

I Patented Apr. 27, 1937 APPARATUS FOR TREATING FIBBOUS MATERIAL John N. Selvig, Westfleld, N. I.

Application April 29, 1935, Serial No. 18,761

20 Claims.

My invention relates to apparatus for treating fibrous material and particularly to apparatus for liberating the fibers from fibrous material such as flax, hemp, jute and the like. It is the object of my invention to provide a new and improved form and arrangement of parts by which the control of the stalks and the fiber as they move through the machine is improved and whereby the action of the breaking and scutching elements is improved.

It is one of the objects of my invention to provide an improved form of gripping and forwarding chain and cooperating parts by which the stalks are carried forward for action thereon by the beater devices, with reference particularly to holding the stalks firmly in position so as to be presented with the desired precision of position to the beater devices while at the same time avoiding such tight gripping as would have a tendency to break the fibers. It is another object of my invention to provide an improved form of gripping and forwarding chain and cooperating parts for holding the fibrous material in position by engagement with the fibers after the stalks have progressed part way through the machine and the fibers throughout a portion of the length of the stalks have been separated from the woody portions, such holding means being arranged for moving the partially cleaned stalks forward for the completion of the breaking and scutching action.

It has been one of the objects of my invention to provide an improved form of gripping and forwarding means for the stalks and fibers of such construction as to make the parts eifective for gripping by reason of their weight whereby a heavy pressure can be applied for easing the fibers into crimped relation without positive action thereon such as would be likely to cause.

4 breakage. It is another object to provide that the gripping pressure shall be applied gradually so as to give the fibers a chance to slip longitudinally to the extent necessary for effecting the desired crimping action, the application of gripping pressure being effected preferably during a period ,when the fibers are being moved forwardly whereby the required slippa e may be more readily produced.

It is another object of my invention to provide an arrangement of this type in which the pressure is applied to the stalks and fibers through heavy shoes pivoted transversely so that by a slight swinging motion of the shoes the pressure can be distributed and evened, with the pivotal axes preferably located off center longitudinally for providing an excess of pressure at one end.

It is another object of my invention to provide an improved form and arrangement of parts for controlling the angle of the stalks as they are 60 moved forwardly on the table to the secondacting breaking and scutching means at one side of the table after they have advanced out of engagement with the first-acting breaking and scutching means at the opposite side of the table.-

and specifically to provide improved means by which the stalks are normally presented to said second-acting breaking and scutching means in substantially right-angular relation thereto. It is one of my objects to provide an arrangement of this type which shall have a brushing effect on the fibers for removing partially loosened hurds therefromas the fibers move forward.

It is another object of my invention to provide an improved form of auxiliary feeding apparatus located opposite the second set of beater devices which shall feed the end portions of the stalks forwardly substantially at the same rate of speed as that at which other portions of said stalks are being fed forwardly by the second-acting gripping and forwarding chain, such auxiliary feeding apparatus being effective upon the portions of the stalks already gripped and crimped by the first-acting gripping and forwarding chain.

It is another object of my invention to provide an independent drive for the two sets of beater devices whereby the beater devices operating on the butt ends of the stalks may be operated at the desired speed for meeting such conditions while the beater devices operating on the opposite end portions of the stalks may be operated at any other speed as may be desired for meeting the different conditions there encountered. It is another object of my invention to control in this way the number of blows applied to the stalks and fibers by the beater devices per given unit of length and to provide that the number of such blows applied to the butt ends of the stalks need not necessarily be the same as that applied to the opposite end portions of the stalks. V

It is another object of my invention to improve the construction of the beater reels by which the required protection shall be furnished against entanglement of the fibers with the working parts of the reels, and particularly in connection with the lower reel of each set of reels.

It is another object of my invention to improve apparatus of this type in sundry details hereinafter pointed out. The preferred means by which I have accomplished my several objects are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and are hereinafter specifically described. That which I believe 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 the preferred form of my apparatus, partially broken away at some points for clearness of illustration;

' Fig. 2 is a side view of the forward end portion of the machine as shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view of the end portions of the endless chain arrangement provided for gripping and forwarding the stalks by engagement with the fibers after the stalks have been partially broken and scutched;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of the end portions of the endless chain arrangement provided .for gripping and forwarding the stalks of fibrous material when first fed to the machine;

Fig. 5 is a vertical cross sectional view taken at the line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a vertical cross sectional'view taken at line 6 -6 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a top face view of a fragmentary portion of the bottom ply of the endless chain structure of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of one of the shoes comprising a part of the endless chain arrangement of Fig. 5;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of one of the shoes comprising a part of the endless chain arrangement of Fig. 6;

Fig. 10 is a side view of the rear end portion of the ribbed slide plate arrangement of Fig. 5;

Fig. 10a is a vertical cross sectional view taken at line Ella-Illa of Fig. 10;

Fig. 11 is a top view, partially in section and largely broken away, of the auxiliary feeding mechanism of my improved apparatus;

Fig. 12 is a vertical cross sectional view taken at line i2-i2 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a vertical cross section taken substantially at line i3i3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 14 is a cross sectional view through the brushing mechanism shown in Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is a bottom face view of a fragmentary portion of the brushing mechanism;

Fig. 16 is a vertical cross sectional view taken at the line l6i6 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 17 is a side view of the forward end portion of one of the lower reels; and

Fig. 18 is a side view of the forward end portion of one of the upper reels.

In describing my improved apparatus, I have referred to the end of the machine at which the stalks are received as being the rear end and to the opposite end as being the front of the machine, so that thestalks and fibers are moved forwardly through the machine toward the left in Fig. 1 from the rear of the machine to the front.

Referring now to the several figures of the drawings, in which corresponding parts are indicated by the same reference characters, 25 and 26 indicate the sections of a table supported by any suitable framework along which stalks of fibrous material such as hemp are moved forwardly toward the left in Fig. 1 for presentation first to a set of breaking and scutching means at one side of the table and then for presentation to a set of breaking and scutching means at the other side of the table. In my improved machine, each set of breaking and scutching means is arranged in convergent position forwardly with respect to the path of movement of the stalks along the table, each set of breaking and scutching means being adapted to act upon the end portions of the stalks which are projected step by step beyond the obliquely disposed edge of the table as the stalks move forward, the stalks being arranged across the table and moved forward transversely of the stalks. The first acting breaking and scutching means at one side of the table is indicated generally by the reference character 21 and that at the other side of the table is indicated generally by the reference character 28. The means to which the stalks are first delivered for forwarding them along the table are indicated generally by the reference character 29, and the gripping and forlengthwise.

After the stalks havemoved substantially half way through the machine so as to be broken and scutched at one end by the beater mechanism at one side of the table for the removal of the woody portions of the stalks from the fibers, the fibers at such side of the machine are brought into engagement with a brushing mechanism indicated generally by the numeral 3 I, such brushing mechanism comprising an endless belt with its upper ply moving toward the side of the table away from the gripping and forwarding means 29. This brushing mechanism serves to straighten out the fibers between the point where the stalks are gripped by the gripping and forwarding means 29' and the point where engagement is to be efiected between the fibers and the forwarding and gripping means 30. when such engagement has been effected, the stalks and fibers are forwarded for a short distance by both sets of gripping and forwarding means before the stalks pass out of engagement with the gripping and forwarding means 29. This brushing mechanism serves by an oblique pulling effect on the fibers backwardly and laterally to control the angle of the stalks after they have passed out of engage- ,ment with the gripping and forwarding means 29 whereby the stalks are presented to the breaking and scutching means 28 at about right angles with respect thereto.

At the end of the gripping and forwarding means 23 I haveprovided a set of auxiliary feeding bars, indicated generally by the numeral 32, arranged diagonally across the extension of the field of action of the gripping and forwarding means 23 so that as stalks cleaned at one end are carried forward by the gripping and forwarding means 30 beyond the end of the gripping and forwarding means 29 the portions of the stalks which were crimped and partially broken by engagement with the gripping and forwarding means 29 are brought into operative engagement with such auxiliary feeding bars. The arrangement of these bars is such, as will hereinafter appear, that they cause the crimped portions of the stalks to be presented to the best possible advantage to the breaking and scutching means 28 as the stalks move forward.

In the arrangement shown, the breaking and scutching means 23 are driven by an electric motor 33. The breaking and scutching means 21 are driven by an electric motor 34 independently of the motor 33. The gripping and forwarding means 23 and 30, the brushing mechanism 3|, and the auxiliary feeding mechanism 32 are driven by a motor 35. The arrangement is such that the speed of driving of each of such several sets of mechanism can be controlled for obtaining the desired variation in speeds for meeting a great variety of conditions.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 16 for a more detailed description of the breaking and scutching means 21, it will be seen that this means comprises two intermeshing spiral reels, the upper one of which comprises a plurality of heads 31 in the form of spiders fixedly mounted upon a shaft 38 which is revolubly mounted at about the level of the table top and parallel with the edge of the table. The arms of the spiders are provided at their outer ends with longitudinally extending spirally arranged breaker bars 39 which in the rotation of the reel arebrought downwardly past the edge of the table 25 in close proximity thereto as is indicated in Fig. 16. A lower reel comprising a plurality of similar heads and a head 4|! in the form of a disc mounted upon a shaft 4| in spaced relation therealong is provided with spirally arranged beater bars 42, such lower reel being mounted on an axle substantially underneath the edge of the table 25 so as to provide effective cooperation between the beater bars 39 and 42 and the edge of the table all in the manner disclosed and claimed by my prior Letters Patent No. 1,718,587 granted June 25, 1929. As is clearly shown in Fig. 16, the shafts 38 and 4| are in the form of heavy pipes being supported at their ends by stub shaft sections 43.

As is clearly shown in Fig. 18, the forward end portions of the bars 39 of the upper reel are bent inwardly toward the shaft 38, such inwardly bent portions extending forwardly beyond the point of breaking cooperation with the table for keeping the fibers out of engagement with the means by which the shaft 38 is supported at its forward end.

As is clearly shown in Fig. 17, the breaker bars 42 of the lower reel are connected with the head 40 by means of lugs 44 which in the construction shown are formed integrally with the head 46, such lugs being arranged on the front faces of the breaker bars 42 in the direction of rotation of the reel. At its front face the head 48 is provided with a peripheral flange 40a within which a drum 48b extends for taking the fiber from the reel without danger of its becoming tangled or caught in the shaft bearings.

The forward ends of the reels comprising the breaking and scutching means 21 are supported by

frames

45 and 46 respectively mounted upon a platform 41. The reels are enclosed within a housing 48 of any approved type except at the point immediately above the table 25 where the housing is left open for the movement of the stalks into operative position with respect to the reels. In the arrangement shown, the motor 34 is mounted upon the housing 48 at its rear end, being connected by a sprocket chain 49 with the upper reel, and the upper and lower reels being connected together by means of intermeshing gears 50 and The arrangement of the mechanism of the breaking and scutching means 28 is substantially the same as that above described in connection with the breaking and scutchingmeans 21 except that it is arranged to operate in the reverse direction at the opposite side of the table. The similarity is such that the same reference characters are employed as are aboveset forth. It is believed to be unnecessary to describe this subject-matter again in detail.

The arrangement of the gripping and forwarding means 29 is best shown in Figs. 4, 6, '7 and 9. As is best shown in Fig. 4, two or more transverse frame bars 52 are provided, spaced a short distance above the surface of the table 25. Upon the bottom faces of a plurality of such cross bars,

I have mounted a longitudinally extending bar 58 preferably of maple, to the side faces of which I have attached side plates 54 provided with upwardly projecting lugs 55 at their rear end portions in which is mounted an axle 56 supporting a sprocket gear 51 revolubly in position. A second sprocket gear 58 is mounted upon a transverse shaft 59 opposite the forward end of the bar 53 in position to cooperate with the sprocket gear 51 for supporting and driving the endless chain arrangement comprising a part of the gripping and forwarding means 29. As is best shown in Fig. '7, this endless chain arrangement comprises a duplex chain construction formed of chains 66 and 6| connected by a series of bars 62 (see Fig. 7), the sprocket gears 51 and 58 being arranged with two sets of teeth for engaging the chains 60 and 6|. The grippingand forwarding means comprises a series of heavy cast shoes 63 (see Fig. 9), each of which is notched at one end for the reception of a correspondingly shaped lug formed on the end of the adjacent shoe as is best shown in Fig. 7, the lug portions of said shoes being indicated by the numeral 64. A series of such shoes are mounted upon selected ones of the cross bars 62 by means of lugs 65 on the inner faces of the shoes. As is best shown in Fig. 4, the mounting lugs 65 are located some little distance off center longitudinally of the shoes being located nearer the forward ends of the shoes with respect to the direction of movement of the chain.

As is best shown in Figs. 6 and 9, each of the shoes 63 comprises a longitudinally extending rib 66 at an intermediate point and two

side ribs

61 and 68 along the side edges, the intermediate rib 66 being tapered downwardly. The

ribs

61 and 68 are provided with teeth 69 in spaced relation therealong, and the rib 66 is provided with transversely extending ribs or teeth 18 extending from the rib 81 to the rib 68.

Underneath the lower ply of the endless chain arrangement comprising the gripping and forwarding means 29 I have provided two upwardly projecting ribs 1| which in the arrangement shown are formed integrally with a longitudinally extending plate 12 positioned upon the top face of the table 25. The arrangement is such that the ribs 1| extend upwardly at opposite sides of the intermediate ribs 86 of the shoes 63, with the teeth 69 extending downwardly opposite the outer faces of the stationary ribs 1|. When the lower ply of the endless chain is moved forwardly, or toward the left in Figs. 1 and 4, by power applied through the shaft 59, stalks of fibrous material presented at the rear end of the chain are engaged by the downwardly projecting teeth of the shoes and are drawn into position between the shoes and the ribs 1|, the rear ends of the ribs 1| being tapered off toward the right for permitting easy movement of the stalks into position. As wiil'be appreciated from an inspection of Fig. 6, the stalks of fibrous material will necessarily be crimped more or less by engagement between the shoes and the ribs 1| so as to be carried forwardly by the moving chain and so as to be gripped tightly by the parts for resisting strongly any pull upon the stalks longitudinally of the stalks. The arrangement is such, however, that the angle of crimping is not great enough for breaking the fibers. For controlling more effectively the degree of clamping effected by the shoes upon the stalks, I have provided'side ribs 13 on the shoes 63 which engage longitudinally extending bars 14 carried by plates 15 attached to the lower edge portions of the side plates 54 serving to limit the movement of the shoes toward the ribs 1 I. At the same time the side plates 54 prevent the shoes from moving too far away from the ribs, being particularly effective for this purpose at the point where the stalks are initially gripped and crimped at the right in Fig. 4. In the operation of my improved mechanism, the heavy shoes 93 float on the stalks after the initial crimping has been eifected. The of!- center pivotal mounting of the shoes insures a normal gravity pressure by the shoes at their rear ends upon the stalks which are arranged between the teeth 59 for their movement along the top faces of the ribs 1|.

The gripping and forwarding means 38 is similar to the gripping means 29 above described with respect to the general arrangement, the principal difference being with respect to the formation of the shoes and the formation of the slide bar means cooperating with the shoes for gripping the fibers as above explained briefly. This mechanism is shown in Figs. 3, 5, 8 and 10. In this arrangement a longitudinal bar 15 is mounted upon transverse frame bars 11, having side plates 18 connected thereto which are provided at their rear ends with upwardly extending lugs 19 supporting a bolt 88 upon which a sprocket gear 8I is revolubly mounted. A second sprocket gear 82 is mounted upon a cross shaft 83 at the forward end of the machine opposite the end of the bar 16, the sprocket gears BI and 82 being similar to the

gears

51 and 58 and supporting

endless chains

84 and 85 connected by cross bars 88 correspond ing to the cross bars 62 of the first described arrangement. Upon selected ones of the cross bars 86, I have mounted heavy cast shoes 81 by means of lugs 88 formed on the inner faces of the shoes in off center relation longitudinally of the shoes as above explained in connection with the shoes 63. As is best shown in Fig. 8, the ends of the shoes 81 are notched, the arrangement being such that the end of one shoe fits loosely in the correspondingly notched end of the adjacent shoe. The shoes 81 are supported by means of side ribs 89 thereon which engage longitudinally extending strips 98 carried by plates 9| attached to the lower edge portions of the side plates 18, the side plates 18 and the strips 98 serving to limit vertical movement of the shoes.

Each of the shoes 81 is provided on its outer face with a plurality of longitudinally extending ribs 92, the lower faces of which are provided with teeth 93 therealong, the ribs 92 and the teeth 93 being downwardly tapered as is best shown in Fig. 5. Between the shoes 81 and the table section 26, I have provided a slide plate 94 having ribs 95 in spaced relation to each other thereon, the arrangement being such that the ribs 95 extend upwardly between the longitudinally extending ribs 92 of the shoes 81. As is clearly shown in Fig. 5, the grooves between the ribs 92 are rounded, and the upper edges of the ribs 95 are likewise rounded, the space between the ribs and the grooves being comparatively small so as to enable the shoes to grip the fibers at the cleaned end portions of the stalks so as to carry the stalks forward and to hold the fibers firmly against movement longitudinally of the fibers with respect to the gripping and forwarding means.

As is clearly shown in Fig. 10, the rear end portions of the plate 94 and the ribs 95 are tapered toward the rear for providing ready engagement of the fibers therewith. As is best shown in Fig. 18a, the several ribs 95 are given different deplate grees of taper at their end portions so that the crimping of the fibers may be effected gradually without danger of applying sufficient pressure thereto for breaking the fibers. By my improved arrangement, the same floating effect is produced in connection with the shoes 81 and the fibers as is produced in connection with the 'shoes 53 and the stalks. The shoes 81 grip the fibers firmly by reason of the plural bends about the ribs 95.

Referring now to the brushing device 3I, as best shown in Fig. 13, it will be seen that it is made up of a series of slats 96 carried by two oppositely disposed endless chains 91 mounted upon sprocket gears 98 and 99 carried by shafts I88 and IN, the latter of which is connected by a sprocket chain I82 with a longitudinally extendirm drive shaft I83 as is clearly shown in Fig. 2. The shaft I83 is driven by a sprocket chain I84 from a longitudinally extending shaft I (see Fig. 13) which in turn is driven by the motor 35 through a sprocket chain I81 and a variable speed gear box I88 of any suitable type. The arrangement is such that the brushing device 3I is driven by the motor 35 so as to carry the upper ply of the belt toward the right in Fig. 13 away from the gripping and forwarding means 29, the slats 98 in their movement passing underneath the rear end of the gripping and forwarding means 38 as is best shown in Fig. 3. For accomplishing this purpose, the intermediate portion of the upper ply of the belt runs upon shoes 96a located upon the framework underneath the chains 91, by which such upper ply portion is bowed upwardly. The arrangement is such that when the fiber is drawn by the gripping and forwarding means 29 toward the left in Fig. 1 out of engagement with the breaking and scutching means 21 it is drawn into position upon the top face of the belt 3|, from which it is carried into position above the plate 94 and the ribs into effective engagement with the shoes 81 of the gripping and forwarding means 38. As will be appreciated, the engagement of the fibers with the upper ply of the belt comprising said slats 95 serves to apply a fairly heavy pull on such fibers backwardly and transversely of the machine, controlling thus the angle of the fibers as they are engaged by the gripping and forwarding chain 38 and controlling thus the normal .position of the stalks after they are freed from the chain 29.

For protecting the fiber from being caught between the ends of the shoes 81 as they straighten out into alignment with each other about the sprocket gear 8|, I have provided aguard plate I89 extending across underneath the rear end of the endless chain arrangement comprising the shoes 81. As is best shown in Fig. 3, such guard I89 is carried by side plates II8 which are adjustable longitudinally of the plates 9| for placing the guard or shield I 89 at the desired point.

In the arrangement shown, the

shafts

59 and 83 by which the gripping and

forwarding mechanism

29 and 38 are driven are connected with the shaft I83 by means of trains of gearing comprising sprocket chains III and worm gear mechanisms II2 of any approved form.

The auxiliary feeding mechanism 32 comprises a plurality of bars II3 each provided with a series of downwardly projecting pins H4 on its lower face, such bars II3 being connected at their rear ends with a head I I5 rotatably mounted upon a transverse axis which in the arrangement shown is in the form of a stud H8,

'I I8 are provided between the an anti-friction bearing device II1 being interposed between the shaft and the head II! in the construction illustrated. Anti-friction bearings head H5 in the arrangement shown. At their forward ends, the bars II3 are connected by means of anti-friction bearing devices II8 with a head II9 carried by a transversely extending gripping and forwarding means shaft I20 which is driven by power from the shaft 83 by means of a belt I2I operating on pulleys I22 and I23 carried by the shafts B3 and I20 respectively. The arrangement is such that upon the rotation of the head H9 in clockwise direction in Fig. 2 the bars II3 are revolved about each other and the pins H4 of said bars are carried forwardly along the top surface of the table toward the left in said Fig. 2- so that at the lowermost portions of their movements the fingers project between the stalks being carried forward by the gripping and forwarding means 30, engaging such stalks at points therealong closely adjacent to the points of action thereon by the breaking and scutching means. The driving means is arranged for insuring movement of the pins Ill at substantially the same rate as that at which the shoes 81 are moving, with the result that the stalks are controlled effectively for presentation in the normal manner to the breaking and scutching means. With such bars H3 arranged directly opposite the end of the 29 in the extension of the field of action thereof, the pins H4 provide an auxiliary ,Vfeeding effect for the portions of the stalks which have been crimped and more or less broken by engagement with the gripping and forwarding means 29. In case of possible necessity, the belt I2I operating on the pulleys I22 and I23 permits a slight yielding by slippage for preventing any breakage of the fibers.

While I prefer to employ the form of mechanism' as shown in my drawings and as above described, it is to be understood that my invention is not limited to the arrangement shown except so far as the claims may be so limited by the prior art.

I claim:-- 1. In an appar tus of the type described, the

combination of a table having a longitudinally extending groove in its top face, an endless forwarding chain structure comprising reticulated members arranged thereabout and having outwardly projecting lugs on their outer faces, means for supporting and driving said chain structure with the outwardly projecting lugs on the reticulated members of the lower ply extending into said groove, and means slidably engaging the lower ply of said chain structure between its end portions serving to support said reticulated members and to hold them down in operative relation to said groove.

2. In an apparatus of the type described, the combination of a table, an endless chain operatively supported above the table in position for its lower ply to move along the face of the table in upwardly spaced relation thereto, a series of heavy shoes in the-form of plates arranged transversely across the outer face of the chain and each pivotally mounted on said chain on a trans-' bars Ill and the tlvely supported above the table in position for its lower ply to move along the face of the table in upwardly spaced relation thereto, a series of heavy shoes in the form of plates arranged transversely across the outer face of the chain and each pivotally mounted on said chain on a transverse axis located substantially nearer to one end of the shoe than to the other end, and ribs on the table underneath said chain between which fibers are crimped by the gravity pressure of said shoes for causing said fibers to move forwardly along the upper faces of the ribs with the shoes.

4. In an apparatus of the type described, the combination of a table, an endless chain operatively supported above the table in position for underneath said chain between which fibers are crimped by the gravity pressure of said shoes for causing said fibers to move forwardly along the upper faces of the ribs with the shoes, and means having sliding engagement with said shoes for limiting the vertical movement of the shoes with respect to the table.

.5. In an apparatus of the type described, the combination of a table; means for moving stalks of fibrous material forwardly along a path obliquely disposed with respect to one edge of the table; a-reel comprising a shaft, heads on said shaft in spaced relation to each other therealong, and breaker bars carried by said heads longitudinally of the reel; and means for revolving said reel; the head at the forward end of said reel toward which said fibrous material ismoved being in the form of a disc having integrally formed lugs thereon extending longitudinally of the reel at the faces of said breaker bars in advance in the rotation of the reel for preventing the fiber from becoming caught between the breaker bars and the disc.

6. In an apparatus of the type described, the combination of a table; means for moving stalks of fibrous material forwardly along a path obliquely disposed with respect to one edge of the table; a reel comprising a shaft, heads on said shaft in spaced relation to each other therealong, and spirally arranged breaker bars carried by said heads longitudinally of the reel and.

having their forward ends bent inwardly toward the shaft in advance of the forward head; and means for revolving said reel.

7. In an apparatus of the type described, the combination of a table, means for gripping and forwarding stalks of fibrous material longitudinally of the table, breaking and scutching means at one side of the table in convergent position forwardly with respect to said gripping and forwarding means for breaking and scutching the end portions of the stalks as they are projected beyond the edge of the table, other breaking and scutching means at the opposite side of the table in more advanced position forwardly than said first named breaking and scutching means and likewise in convergent position forwardly with respect to said gripping and forwarding means for breaking and scutching the end portions of the stalks as they are projected beyond said opposite edge of the table, and transversely moving means at the forward end of said first named breaking and scutching means adapted to pull the fibers backwardly and transversely of the machine for controlling the angle at which the stalks are presented to the breaking and scutching means at the opposite side of the machine.

8. In an apparatus of the type described, the combination of a table, means for gripping and forwarding stalks of fibrous material longitudinally of the table, breaking and scutching means at one side of the table in convergent position forwardly with respect to said gripping and forwarding means for breaking and scutching the end portions of the stalks as they are projected beyond the edge of the table, other breaking and scutching means at the opposite side of the table in more advanced position forwardly than said first named breaking and scutching means and likewise in convergent position forwardly with respect to said gripping and forwarding means for breaking and scutching the end portions of the stalks as they are projected beyond said opposite edge of the table, and an endless belt extending transversely of the machine with its upper ply bowed upwardly at its intermediate portion and moving away from said gripping and forwarding means at the same side of the table as that at which said first named breaking and scutching means is located serving to pull the cleaned fibers backwardly and transversely of the machine.

9. In an apparatus of the type described, the combination of a table, means for gripping and forwarding stalks of fibrous material longitudinally of the table, breaking and scutching means at one side of the table in convergent position forwardly with respect to said gripping and forwarding means for breaking and scutching the end portions of the stalks as they are projected beyond the edge of the table, other breaking and scutching means at the opposite side of the table in more advance position forwardly than said first named breaking and scutching means and likewise in convergent position forwardly with respect to said gripping and forwarding means for breaking and scutching the end portions of the stalks as they are projected beyond said opposite edge of the table, and an endless belt extending transversely of the machine comprising two endless chains arranged side by side in spaced relation to each other and a series of slats extending from one chain to the other longitudinally of the machine, said belt having its upper ply located at about the same level as that of the table and moving in the direction away from said gripping and forwarding means at the same side of the table as that at which said first named breaking and scutching means is located serving to pull the cleaned fibers backwardly and transversely of the machine.

10. In an apparatus of the type described, the combination of a table, means for gripping and moving stalks of fibrous material forwardly along a path obliquely disposed with respect to one edge of the table, breaking and scutching means at said edge of the table in position to act on the ends of said stalks as they project beyond the edge of the table in their forward movement therealong, an endless belt arranged with its upper ply moving transversely of the machine away from said first named gripping and forwarding means in advance of the forward end of said breaking and scutching means for pulling the cleaned fibers backwardly and transversely of the machine as said stalks are carried forward, and other means arranged alongside of said first named gripping and forwarding means and extending backwardly a short distance over said endless belt adapted by engagement with said fibers coming from said endless belt to carry the fibers forwardly beyond the forward end of said first named gripping and forwarding means.

11. In an apparatus of the type described, the combination of a table, means for gripping and forwarding stalks of fibrous material along the table, breaking and scutching means at the edge of the table in convergent position forwardly with respect to said gripping and forwarding means for breaking and scutching the ends of said stalks as they are projected beyond the edge of the table in their forward movement, means alongside of said first named gripping and forwarding means and extending forwardly therefrom adapted by a gripping engagement with the fibers cleaned by said breaking and scutching means to forward the partially cleaned stalks along the table in continuation of the movement of the stalks by said first named gripping and forwarding means, other breaking and scutching means at the edge of the table opposite that at which said first named breaking and scutching means are located and also in convergent position forwardly with respect to said second named gripping and forwarding means for breaking and scutching the ends of said stalks as they are projected beyond said opposite edge of the table in the forward movement of the stalks, and means arranged substantially parallel with said second named breaking and scutching means and extending obliquely across the forward extension of the field of action of said first named gripping and forwarding means adapted by engagement with the portions of said stalks crimped by engagement with said first named g ipping and forwarding means to move such crimped portions of the stalks forward at substantially the same rate as that at which the gripped portions of the stalks are being moved forwardly by said second named gripping and forwarding means.

12. In an apparatus of the type described, the combination of a table, means for gripping and forwarding stalks of fibrous material along the table, breaking and scutching means at the edge of the table in convergent position forwardly with respect to said gripping and forwarding means for breaking and scutching the ends of said stalks as they are projected beyond the edge of the table in their forward movement, means alongside of said first named gripping and forwarding means and extending forwardly therefrom adapted by a gripping engagement with the fibers cleaned by said breaking and scutching means to forward the partially cleaned stalks along the table in continuation of the movement of the stalks by said first named gripping and forwarding means, other breaking and scutching means at the edge of the table opposite that at which said first named breaking and scutching means are located and also in convergent position forwardly with respect to said second named gripping and forwarding means for breaking and scutching the ends of said stalks as they are projected beyond said opposite edge of the table in the forward movement of the stalks, a disc revolubly mounted on a transverse axis at about the forward end of said first named gripping and forwarding means, a second disc revolubly mounted on a transverse axis a considerable distance in advance of the forward end of said first named gripping and forwarding means, bars arranged obliquely opposite the forward end of said first named gripping and forwarding means and connected eccentrically with said discs, and means for revolving said discs for carrying said bars successively forward in effective engagement with said stalks and moving at substantially the same rate of speed as that at which the gripped portions of the stalks are carried forwardly by said second named gripping and forwarding means.

13. In an apparatus of the type described, the combination of a table, an endless chain supported above said table for movement of its lower ply along the face of the table in spaced relation thereto, a pair of ribs underneath the chain in spaced relation to each other, and a series of gripping and forwarding shoes in the form of plates arranged transversely across the outer face of the chain and each pivotally mounted at an intermediate point on a transverse axis on said chain, each of said shoes being provided with a longitudinally disposed toothed rib in position to extend downwardly between the stationary ribs on the table and provided with toothed ribs along its side edges in position to extend downwardly opposite the outer faces of said stationary ribs.

14. In an apparatus of the type described, the combination of a table, an endless chain supported above said table for movement of its lower ply along the face of the table in spaced relation thereto, a pair of ribs underneath the chain in spaced relation to each other, and a series of gripping and forwarding shoes in the form of plates each pivotally mounted on said chain by means of a lug on its inner face transversely of the shoe for holding the plate in transverse position across the outer face of the chain, each of said shoes being provided with a longitudinally disposed toothed rib in position to extend downwardly between the stationary ribs on the table and provided with toothed ribs along its side edges in position to extend downwardly opposite the outer faces of said stationary ribs.

15. In an apparatus of the type described, the combination of a table, an endless chain supported above said table for movement of its lower ply along the face of the table in spaced relation thereto, a pair of ribs underneath the chain in spaced relation to each other, and a series of grippingand forwarding shoes in the form of plates arranged transversely across the outer face of the chain and each pivotally mounted at an intermediate point on a transverse axis on said chain, each of said shoes being provided with a downwardly tapered intermediate rib longitudinally thereof and other ribs along its side edges, said last named ribs being provided with downwardly projecting teeth in spaced relation therealong and said intermediate rib being provided with downwardly projecting transverse teeth extending from one of said last named ribs to the other opposite the teeth of said last named ribs.

16. In an apparatus of the type described, the

combination of a table, an endless chain supported above said table for movement of its lower ply along the face of the table in spaced relation thereto, a plurality of ribs underneath the chain in spaced relation to each other, and a series of gripping and forwarding shoes in the form of plates arranged transversely across the outer face of the chain and each pivotally mounted at an intermediate point on a transverse axis on said chain, each of said shoes being provided with a plurality of downwardly tapered toothed ribs longitudinally thereof on its bottom face in position to extend between the stationary ribs on the table.

1'7. In an apparatus of the type described, the combination of a table, an endless chain supported above said table for movement of its lower ply along the face of the table in spaced relation thereto, a plurality of ribs underneath the chain in spaced relation to each other, and a series of gripping and forwarding shoes in the form of plates arranged transversely across the outer face of the chain and each pivotally mounted at an intermediate point on a transverse axis on said chain, each of said shoes being provided with a plurality of downwardly tapered ribs longitudinally thereof on its bottom face in position to extend between the stationary ribs on the table, and each of said ribs on the shoe being provided with a series of teeth therealong normally located below the level of the upper edges of the stationary ribs on the table.

18. In an apparatus of the type described, the combination of a table, an endless chain supported above said table for movement of its lower ply along the face of the table in spaced relation thereto, a plurality of ribs underneath the chain in spaced relation to each other, and a series of gripping and forwarding shoes each pivotally mounted at'an intermediate point on a transverse axis on said chain, each of said shoes being notched at its ends for interfitting engagement with the adjacent shoes, and each of said shoes being provided with a plurality of downwardly projecting toothed ribs longitudinally thereof on its bottom face in position to extend downwardly between the stationary ribs on the table.

19. In an apparatus of the type described, the combination of a table, an endless chain supported above said table for movement of its lower ply along the face of the table in spaced relation thereto, a plurality of ribs underneath the chain in spaced relation to each other, a series of gripping and forwarding shoes in the form of plates arranged transversely across, the outer face of the chain and each pivotally mounted at an intermediate point on a transverse axis on said chain, and a guard extending across the bottom face of the chain at the point where said shoes straighten into alignment with each other at the rear end of the chain for preventing fiber from being caught between the ends of the shoes, each of said shoes being provided with a plurality of downwardly projecting toothed ribs longitudinally thereof on its bottom face in position to extend downwardly between the stationary ribs on the table.

20. In an apparatus of the type described, the combination of a table, an endless chain supported above said table for movement of its lower ply along the face of the table in spaced relation thereto, a plurality of ribs underneath the chain in spaced relation to each other, a series of gripping and forwarding shoes in the form of plates arranged transversely across the outer face of the chain and each pivotally mounted at an intermediate point on a transverse axis on said chain, and a guard extending across the bottom face of the chain at its rear end portion and adjustable longitudinally of the chain for preventing fiber from being caught between the ends of the shoes as they straighten out into alignment with each other, each of said shoes being provided with a plurality of downwardly projecting toothed ribs longitudinally of the shoe on its bottom face in position to extend downwardly between the stationary ribs on the table.

JOHN N. SELVIG.