US2197242A - Mechanism for decorticating fibers obtained from the leaves of sisal and like plants - Google Patents

Description

April 1940- J. McCRAE 2 2,197,242 MECHANISM FOR DECORTICATING FIBERS OBTAINED FROM THE LEAVES OF SISAL AND LIKE PLANTS Filed July 26, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet l A770 IVE/V5 April 16, 1940.

J. M CRAE 2,197,242 MECHANISM FOR DECORTICATING FIBERS OBTAINED FROM THE LEAVES OF SISAL AND LIKE PLANTS Filed July 26, 1937 20 I/VVF/VTUA James mccrwr. 8)

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ATTORNEYS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 16, 1940. CRAE 2,197,242

.. J. Mc MECHANISM FOR DECORTICATING FIBERS OBTAINED FROM THE LEAVES OF SISAL AND LIKE PLANTS Filed July 26, 1937 3 -Sheet 3 Fig. 7

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1 llllllllllllllllllllj Tamas 40 MQETQQ Patented Apr. 16, 1940 M UNITED STATES'P'ATENT OFFlCE MECHANISM FOR DECORTIGATING FIBERS OBTAINED FROM THE LEAVES OF SISAL AND LIKE PLANTS James McGrae, Longonot Estate, Naivasha, Kenya Colony, East Africa.

Application July 26, .1937, Serial No. 155,683. Renewed March 8, 1940. In Great Britain August 6, 1936 3 Claims. (01. 19-15) This invention relates to mechanism for Fig. '7 shows a modification of the blade and decorticating fibers obtained from the leaves of the method of mounting same as compared with sisal and other plants, and my present invention Fig. 5. consists in devices and mechanism for further Fig, 8 also Shows a modification of said blade .5 treating the fibers after they have been prepared and the method of mounting same upon the v and acted upon by the mechanism described in lattice bar.

the specification of my further concurrent appli- Fig. 9 is a drawing in detail showing a method cation for Letters Patent Ser. No. 155,682, filed of securing the blade carrying member mounted simultaneously herewith, or fibers similarly upon the lattice bar referred to.

10 treated by any other process than that as ex- Fig. 10 shows a modification in the shape of 1p plained by my said specification. the operating blades shown by Figs. ,5, 6, 7 and 8,

My said invention comprises the employment said modification comprising the said formation of machinery or mechanism for carrying out the to enable said blade to act as is hereinafter fully treatment whereby the force acting upon the explained.

threads of fibers lays such stress or tensional Fig. 11 is a plan showing how the threads, as 15 strain thereon that the separate fibers in their they are separated and treated by the blades, are natural bundled state are forced or burst asunder caused 'to be cleaned, strained and stressed as or caused to'separate in increasing degree from desired. each other.(as well as all the other substances Fig. 12 is a plan drawn to a reduced scale accompanying same), the said process of separashowing somewhat how the series of blades may 2 tion being carried out to any desired degree be varied throughout the length ofeach of the appropriate to the preparation of the fibers for lattice bars upon which said blades are mounted. any of the particular purposes for which they Fig. 13 is a diagrammatical plan and Fig. 14 a may subsequently be used. diagrammatical elevation (seen in the direction, of

In carrying my invention into effect I make arrow 40, Fig. 13) of the main operating parts of 5 use of the mechanism and devices herein-after a machine (drawn to areduced scale) to show the d c be y reference 110 t cco p nying relative positions of the said operating parts. sheets of drawings, in which: To attain the object of my invention I make l i a Se on e d e t on ow ng he use of feed mechanism comprising two pairs of operating belt devices for feeding the prepared travelling chains 2, 2a and 2b, 20, one chain of '30 leaves to two pairs of lattice belt devices carrying each pair 2 or 2b being superposed to travel in a ades for subjecting S leaves to their Defies path over the path in which the other chain of trati e, m v d cleaning p a s on the the pair 2a or 20 travels in order that the crushed fibers d ved om d leaVeS- leaves w (Fig. 3), with their cutieles or coverings 2 s a sectional p a of a p n of t and other matter, may be fed to the chains 3, 35

devices shown by Fig. 3a and 3b, 30, as is hereinafter explained.

Fls. 3 1 a slmi r vi w o Fla 1 bu shows on The formation and construction of said pair of feeding b devices n n t n wit travelling chains 2, 2a and 2b, were such that One P Of lhttlce belt Carrylng blade devlces, their surfaces 3: (see Fig. 3) will contact with 40 the Same being dram} an enlarged Scale in each other, and by being covered with india ruborder more clearly to illustrate the construction t each chain carrying its respective rubber of my improved parts.

g 4 shows the chain pp g wheel p I covering formed as shown at a: (Fig. 3) is enabled which the belt-gripping-devices shown by Fig. 3 i to act as Jaw or gripping member that W111 are mounted said belt gripping devices being firmly gripthe sheets or bundles of fibers fed mounted upon the chains arranged according to to F the gnppmg acnons bemg Secured P 45 my invention. spring actuated members that force one chaln Fig. 5 is a side elevation of one of my improved i the other Whlle Where necessary piercing, removing, Smoothing and scraping frictionbowls .9 may be mounted upon. the chains blades mounted upon one of the lattice bars to travelsoverthe guiding s4 i0h support 50 forming the lattice driving belt shown by Figs. them- 1 2 and v v The india rubber belt surfaces as are endless so Fig. 6 is a'side elevationof the members shown that they may ak v a d circulate y th by Fig. 5 as seen looking from right to left of said rotary actions of their operating sprocket wheels figure. -5 which are mounted at the extremities of the 555 paths through which the belts 2, 2a, 2b and 20 travel.

Adjacent the vertical planes in which the gripping chains, 2, 2a, 2b and 2c operate, and parallel therewith, are mounted two shafts I0, Illa and lllb, lllc respectively, by which arrangement the sprocket wheels mounted upon the shafts H], 10a and I01), I00 revolve in planes at right angles to the planes in which the gripper chains 2, 2a. and 2b, 20 travel.

Upon these-shafts It to I00 are mounted the desired number of sprocket wheels (all of which are referred to as I l) so that the lattice belts or chains 3, 3a and 3b, 3c may take over these sprocket wheels II and extend to take also over sprocket wheels l2 mounted upon shafts parallel thereto. These lattice belts 3 to' 30 are provided with cross bars or staves I l, Ma and Mb, I lc, those staves at i l and Mb being thus caused to travel through paths vertically above the paths in which the staves Ma. and Me operate.

In appropriate base members l5 which are fixed upon the staves Ma and Me are mounted blades it which have base parts 16a of appropriate construction or formation to suit their fitting within the hollow retaining member I5, from which it will be observed that the modification in said base part Mia, from fitting one fixing member or another fixing member, varies from the rectangular shape shown by Fig. 5 to those shown by Figs. '7 and 8, in each case the base member [5 being secured against rotation upon the stave or bar Ma by the fixing member l5w as circumstances necessitate.

Upon the staves I l and Mb which travel in paths above the paths in which the staves Ma and We travel cross bars of an appropriate shape as shown by Fig. 3 have projecting strips hlw extending their length crosswise to overhang the spaces between the laths beneath.

The strips l lw which intervene between the base members 15 which carry the blades l6 as shown by Fig. 3, by pressing upon the leaves or fibers t extending from said leaves to will force those down between the blades it in order that said blades may pierce the fibers t, or the fibers which have been extracted from said leaf while the said leaf is being still carried forward in the direction indicated by the arrows 1; shown in the several drawings.

The lattices M, Ma, i412 and Me are carried around their sprocket wheels H and 12 in order to be moved in the directions shown by the arrows 15 Thus it will be observed that the lattices described move in paths which are at right angles to the paths in which the feeding belts 2, 2a and 2b, 20 travel. Therefore as the belts 2, 2a, 2b and 2c are the feeding belts which receive the leaves w as they are fed thereto, these leaves are carried laterally towards the ends or edges of the lattices referred to. By these means and since the leaves are fed at the feeding end of.

the chains 2, 2a, 2b and 20 (as shown by Fig. 4) they travel with the leading edges along the paths of the chains described so that they encounter the projections l6 which are moving crosswise their path. Consequently these projections are caused to pierce the said leaves to and after piercing said leaves they move longitudinally along said leaf until all the loose matter thereon and all the loose matter adhering, to the fibers from said leaves is carried away by the scraping actions of said members l6, and this engaging, removing and scraping (as well as the separating actions that the blades 16 have upon the bundles of fibers t as these are passing over same) eifects the complete separation of each fiber from its neighbour so that when. finished at the end of their operations by the actions of the lattices l4 and Ma the fibers from the leading end of the leaves are perfectly cleared and cleaned, while those from the rear edges are also cleaned and cleared in order to be deposited at the end of the path of motion of the chains 21) and 2c of the stationary table or support from which they may be removed for packing, bundling or like treatment as may be desired.

In order to secure the desired scraping effect of the blades It upon the fibers t as they are traveling through the machine, said blades are made with a curved front edge, a rounded top and a straight back edge as clearly shown in side views in Figures 5, 7 and 8, and in their simplest form are perfectly straight and even. As previously stated the actual front edge corresponding to the thickness of the metal is square to the sides of the blade. The scraping effect may be increased if the top of the blade is offset as shown in Figure 10, while the upper end may also be twisted to facilitate entry between the fibers. In this case the lower part of the blade is maintained square so that the angularity of these edges is an acute angle to the fibers t that are pulled against the rear edges 1610 of the blades i8 and said fibers will therefore be greatly stressed and made to spread so that on being next laid hold of by the succeeding blades the separate fibers will be engaged with on the opposite side of the next blade because of the separation and spreading actions referred to. Consequently such spreading actions are of importance in the quick working of the machine to perform the functions of scraping and cleaning as desired.

I may also have the blades it formed with offset tips as shown at [6:17 (Fig. 10) in which case as the fibers come in contact with the inclined center parts they are strained downwardly and continue to move laterally during all the motions of the blades as carried by their respective lattices Ma and Me. In this manner the dividing and splitting up 01' the bundles of fibers is effected so that ultimately each fiber is separated from its neighbour and all the fibers are delivered in their separate positions and free of each other, as well as being free of any gummy matter which in nature is associated with them.

It may be found advantageous to have certain of the upper ends i631 of the blades l6 twisted or turned from being in strict alignment with the path of motion of said blades as is shown by a blade at the end of the series shown by Fig. 11, since by being in that position they more readily will enter between the series of threads when such threads are at an angle to the line of travel of the blades I6 as carried by their respective lattices.

These blades I6 are held in their base members l5 by the bases of said blades I6 fitting the longitudinal opening through their respective base holding members 15, and these may be of varied shapes as shown by Figs. 5, 7 and 8, where they are respectively rectangular in cross section, circular in cross section and semi-circular in cross section.

The fixings at I510 are made to suit the outer contour of the openings made through them and of the'bases of the blades 16 so that said base holding members l5 will be of the shapes or contour shown by Figs. 5, '7 and 8.

When the base members l are of cylindrical contour or semi-cylindrical contour. as shown by Figs. 7 and 8 the retaining or holding members i511) have an inwardly extending projection 31 shown by Fig. 9 so that said projection will fit in a slot extending lengthwise the cylindrical or semi-cylindrical retaining members l5 as shown by Figs. 7 and 8. Thus these latter are more firmly secured and held against rotation.

In order to secure the spaces between the blades 16 I have spacing pieces 3! of the proper contour that are placed within the retaining members l5 and I510 so that according to the number of said spacing pieces so will the distance or space apart be secured for the blades I6.

The spacing members, as well as the blades l6, are held together either by a rectangular bolt or bar I55- (shown by Fig. 5) extending through same and having its outer ends screw-threaded and nuts mounted thereon, or the cylindrical rods I5t may be used as is shown by Figs. 7 and 8, in which latter case the said rod has screwed nuts I 5p mounted thereon to bind the whole together throughout the length of the member 15 within which they are mounted.

I may arrange said blades IE to be spaced so that one section, as the commencing section shown on the left of the diagram (Fig. 12), may be the coarsest pitch, while the next may be of less pitch, and the succeeding ones again of lesser pitch in order that the threads passing through and between them to be cleaned and scraped by them will finally pass through the closer spaced blades at the right hand of Fig. 12, in which the scraping actions as described in reference to the stressing and angular strain put upon them and shown by Fig. 11 will be the final finishing of the threads before same are discharged from the machine.

In the treatment of the leaves as above described a tube or conduit 4a: is made use of for conveying water (which may be hot or cold) through said tube 4:1: and along same to be supplied in jets through the orifices 43 leading from said jets, and which orifices may be covered by a plate 41 as is shown by Fig. 3 so that they may be shut-off or opened as occasion may require. It may be advantageous to have the conduit 4m in sections as it extends lengthwise the machines in order that the water or liquid supplied thereby may be varied for difierent sections in order that the last section when desired may supply a liquid containing soapy or other ingredients to treat the fibers as they are passing between the finishing blades [6 shown at the extreme end of Fig. 12 of the drawings.

Figs. 13 and 14 diagrammatically show the passage of the leaves through the machine. Firstly they are fed to the feeding belts at, r. These carry them forward to encounter the lattice belts Mb which comb out the woody pulp and other matters from the fibers and continue so to do until these fibers leave the lattices 14b and are carried by the belts ac to the lattices M in order that after the former treatment of the fibers by the lattices Mb to clear the fibers in the extending ends of the leaves, the other lattices I4 clear the fibers from the root ends of the leaves, thus depositing the finally finished fibers t cleaned throughout their whole lengths;

Such being the nature and object of my said invention, what I claim is:

l. apparatus for treating fibers derived from the leaves of sisal and like plants, feeding belts for carrying prepared leaves, two sets of travelling lattices mounted to travel laterally in two directions therefrom, tubular holders mounted on said lattices and extending transversely thereon, each said holder having a longitudinal slot therein, a series of blades supported by each said holder, each said blade having a base portion within the holder, spacing elements within the holders between successive blades, and a longitudinal securing member extending through each series of blades and the spacers associated therewith.

2. In apparatus for treating fibers derived from the leaves of sisal and like plants, a set of travelling lattices, feeding belts adjacent to said lattices for carrying prepared leaves past said lattices, and series of blades on said lattices, some of said blades being twisted so that their free ends make acute angles with the direction of motion thereof.

3. In apparatus for treating fibers derived from the leaves of sisal and like plants, a set of travelling lattices, feeding belts adjacent to said lattices for carrying prepared leaves past said lattices, series of blades extending across said lattices, and spacers between, successive blades in each said series, said spacers being progressively narrower from one side of the lattices to the other, some of said blades being twisted so that their free ends make acute angles with the direction of motion of the blades.

JAMES MCCRAE.

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