US2222793A

US2222793A - Decorticating machine

Info

Publication number: US2222793A
Application number: US287799A
Authority: US
Inventors: Burkardt Anton
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1939-08-01
Filing date: 1939-08-01
Publication date: 1940-11-26
Anticipated expiration: 1957-11-26
Also published as: FR860790A

Description

A. BURKARDT DECORTIUATING MACHINE I Ndv. 26; 1940 Filed Aug. 1

3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Z 0N8 1211' Mlfig TORNEY.

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DECORTICATING MACHINE Ffiled Aug. 1, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

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Nov. 26, 1940. A. BURKARDT DECORTICATING MACHINE Filed Aug. 1, 1939 Sheets-Sheet} O O O O O MN W NN l INVENTOR- azvzmmaz' BY Q I q, I

ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 26, 1940 UNITED :STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

My present invention relates to machines for treating vegetable stalks containing fibre, and more particularly to an improved machine for decorticating vegetable stalks such as hemp, flax, ramie, and the like.

My present invention is designed to decorticate vegetable stalks in the dry or semi-dry state, as distinguished from the wet or wetting processes, and separate the fibres from the shives by mechanical process, as distinguished from the heretofore used chemical process.

An important feature of my invention is an improved floating anvil over which the stalks are fed to the scutching rotors.

A furtherfeature of my invention is an improved anvil provided with means for delivering air undenpressure to the face thereof.

z ijfurther feature of my invention is an improved assembly of scutching rotors which cooperate with each other to provide a continuous or sinuous path for the fibre and for operating to remove the shives from the fibre while such fibre is lying in the sinuous path.

A still further feature of my invention is an improved scutching rotor provided with means for ejecting air therefrom in a direction gen- I erally radially of the axis of rotation thereof.

A further feature of my invention is an improved scutching rotor having a plurality of blades extending radially outward therefrom and with means for emitting air from a plurality of orifices arranged along the leading edge thereof.

A still further feature of my invention is an improved means for collecting the shives removed from the fibrous material and removing the same from the machine.

Another feature of my invention is the airblast cleaning of the adhering shives from the fibre, while the fibre itself is held taut between the rotor blades.

Another feature of this invention is improved means for preventing the winding of decorticated fibre on the rotors when such rotors revolve at high speed, thereby increasing the output of the machine. 1

Other features of the invention will appear as the description of the invention progresses.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 represents in sectional side elevation of an improved decorticating machine embodying my present invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of a portion of Fig. 1 on an enlarged scale and illustrating a means for delivering air under pressure to a resiliently faced anvil;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of a fragment of a machine similar to that illustrated in Figure 1 and showing a set of scutching rotors, one of which is in direct operative association with an anvil the face of which is provided with a plurality of rows of orifices for delivering air under pressure to the material being worked upon and said set of rotors being provided with radially extending sets of orifices through which air is emitted under pressure;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the rotors shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a sectional side elevation on an enlarged scale of a portion of a machine similar to that illustrated in Fig. 1 and showing a pair of scutching rotors in operative relation with respect to each other and to an anvil and with each of the rotors provided with sets of orifices for delivering air under pressure radially of the axis of rotation and substantially tangentially; and

Fig. 6 is a sectional end elevation taken on the line 6-6 and looking in the direction of the arrows on such section line.

Referring to the drawings, I0 designates generally a framework in which the operating elements of my improved invention are mounted, such framework for clearness of illustration and convenience of description being shown as a framework 'of sheet material. The framework is shown practically in the form of a casing.

At an upper end of the framework III is provided an opening H, the peripheral edges of which are provided with resilient flaps l2. Within the framework It] and adjacent the opening II are arranged in vertical alignment shafts i3 and M, the shaft I3 being vertically adjustable by means of the adjusting screw and spring l6. Mounted on the shaft I3 is a crushing roll I I while secured to the shaft I4 is a crushing roll l8. The crushing rolls l1 and it are normally in engagement with each other and form a throat into which stalks of fibrous material l9 are fed by the conveyor 20, over the feeding platform a. The crushing rolls l1 and I8 have their periphery, engaged by the resilient flaps l2.

Still'within the framework HI and interiorly of the crushing rolls l1 and [8 are rollers 2| and 22 one or both of which may be rubber surfaced, the rollers being relatively adjustable toward and from. each other by means of the adjusting screw 23. The rollers 2| and 22 receive the fibres l8 from the crushing rolls l1 and I8 and serve to prevent individual stalks of the layer of stalks from being drawn into engagement with the anvil by the rapidly rotating deeorticating rotors. In other words, the rollers 2| and 22 ensure that the layers of stalks l8 shall be fed as a unit to the decorticating rotors.

' 22, as indicated by the reference numeral 25,

and is provided on its front face with a resilient facing 28. Also, said block is provided with a plurality of sets of orifices, such sets being numbered 21 and 28 respectively. These sets each consist of a number of orifices extending across the face of the block and the orifices are connected to a manifold 28 which in turn is connected by pipe 38 to a suitable source, preferably of compressed air. flees 21 communicates with aligned orifices in the resilient anvil face 28. The set of orifices 28 is provided with tubular members 3| which terminate just below the lower edge of the resilient anvil face 28.

. Mounted in suitable bearings in the framework lli, such bearings for the simplicity of illustration and description not being shown, are

shafts

32, 33, and 34. These shafts are arranged parallel to each other and on these shafts, respectively, are mounted the scutching rotors 35, 38, and 31.

The

shafts

32, 33, and 34 are interconnected by suitable gearing or equivalent means so as to rotate at the same peripheral-speed and in the direction of the arrows shown, for example in Figure 1. Further, the shaft 32 is provided with'sultable .means for driving the rollers 2| and 22 and crushing rollers |1, |8 all at the proper speed and in'the proper direction. The shaft 32 is driven through the transmission mechanism 38 from the prime mover 38, which in turn has power delivered thereto from any suitable source.

The scutching rotor 35 has the scutching bars thereof associated with the resilient anvil face 28, and the anvil face 28 is always in engagement with the respective scutching bars of the scutching rotor 35 throughout the eflective scutching movement thereof. The peripheral speed of the scutching rotor 35 is measurably greater than the linear speed of travel of the stalks l8-of fibrous ,material. Therefore, as the stalks l8 are fed over the top edge of the resilient anvil face, not only will the shive portions be snapped" therefrom but there will be a combing action on the stalks by the scutching bars of the scutching rotor as long as the scutching rotor is in engagementwith the resilient face 26 or the anvil.

is is led. The rate of feed of the stalks l8 being constant and the peripheral speed of the scutching rotors 35, 38'and 31 also being constant but greaterthan the speed of travel of the stalks l8, it is apparent that there will be a -eombing, and therefore a scutching, action on theistalks l8 by the scutching bars of the scutching rotors as long as the fibrous material lies in The upper set of orithe sinuous path, the stalks beingheld taut by the stated instrumentalities.

After leaving the set of rotors 35, 35 and 31, the now completely deeorticated fibrous material |8a is fed downwardly, as shown in Fig. 1, be- 5 tween the endless conveyor belts 48 and 4|, beingdelivered from without the framework I8 I through an opening 42 in an auxiliary casing 43 attached to the framework II. The endless conveyors 48 and 4| are driven at the same speed 1 and in the same direction, as indicated by the arrows, from the prime mover 38 through the intermediary of the sprocket chain 44.

Arranged on either end of the framework l8 and within the framework are the casings 45'and ll! 48 respectively.

In the casing 45 adjacent the top thereof is an opening 41 and also an opening 48, the opening 48 lying beneath the opening 41. The openings 41 and 48 extend the full width of the framework l0. Associated-with the openings 41 and 48 are endless conveyor belts 48 and 58 respectively. Suitable means is provided for moving the upper reach of each of the conveyor belts 48 and 58 in the direction of the arrows shown in Figure 1 so as to deliver the material deposited thereon through the openings 41 and 48 respectively into the casing '45. The conveyor 48 lies directly beneath the scutching rotor 38 while the conveyor 58 lies beneath but spaced apart from the conveyor 48.

In the casing 48 are provided openings 5|, 52 and 53. The opening 52 is below the opening 5| and the opening 53 is below the opening 52. Associated with the openings 5|, 52 and 53 are 36 the endless conveyor belts 54, 55 and respectively. The conveyor 54 is positioned above the scutching rotor 31 while the conveyor 55 is positioned below such scutching rotor 31. The conveyor 85 is positioned below the conveyor 55 and 4( is spaced apart therefrom as shown. Suitable means is provided for operating the conveyors 54, 55 and 85 and for moving the upper reach thereof in the direction of the arrows shown in Figure 1 so as to deliver the material deposited 4g thereon through the openings 5|, 52 and 53 respectively and into the casing 48.

As the shives, designated by the numeral 85, are removed from the fibrous material l8, the rapid rotary movement of the scutching rotors 5t 35 and 31 cause some of the shives tobe blown upwardly as shown in Fig. 1 to be deposited on the conveyor 54. Also, some of the shives will a cured thereto and rotatable therewith a hub por- 64 tion 58 to which is attached the radially extending blades 53. -The shafts 58 and 51 are rotated from the transmission means 38 through the sprocket chain 88. From an inspection of Fig. 1, it will be apparent that as the blades 58 7| rotate, the shives that pas beyond the conveyors 48 and 55 will be deposited on the blades 58 and, as the shafts 58 and- 51 rotate, such .shives will be deposited on the conveyors "and 85. 'l'hematerialdeposite'tlinthemflfl and 46 may be removed therefrom in any suitable manner.

As will be noted from an inspection of Figure 1, the blades 59 on the shafts 56 and 51 respectively slightly intermesh with each other, and, therefore. engage with the fibrous material l9a. The peripheral speed of the blades 59 is greater than the linear speed of the fibrous material I9, and, therefore, there will be a pronounced scraping or combing action of the fibrous material l9 by the ends of the blades 59 so that any shives that may be loosely attached to the fibrous material l9a will be scraped off therefrom and deposited on the blades 59.

In place of the anvil shown in Figures 1 and 2, I may utilize the form of anvil shown in Figure 3, where the anvil block is designated by the reference numeral GI and is provided with an arcuate operating face designated 62, and also with a cooperating stalk-retaining roll Bla. Such anvil block is provided with a manifold 63 connected through a pipe 64 to a suitable source of air under pressure. The face of the anvil is provided with a plurality of horizontal rows of orifices 65 at various levels communicating with the manifold 53 and through which air under pressure is delivered from the face of the anvil. Such air effects an air combing of the fibre freeing it from shives.

In place of the scutching rotors shown in Figures 1 and 2, I may utilize the scutching rotors shown in Figure 4, wherein is shown a scutching rotor in perspective and designated by the reference numeral 66. Such scutching rotors ,66 are provided with four scutching bars as shown in Figure 4 and also in Figure 3, but obviously may have as many bars as desired, similar to the scutching rotors shown in Figures 1 and 2. The hub portion of the type of scutching rotor indicated by 66 is preferably hollow and is provided with'a plurality of rows of orifices 61 communicating with the hollow interior of the rotors and located each set between adjacent bars thereof. It is obvious, therefore, that asthe scutching rotors rptate, air under pressure will be ejected through the orifices 6f! ing radial directions and will assist in blowing ofi from the fibrous material |9 any shives 95 that may have been loosened by action of the scutching rotors.

In Figure 3, I have shown three such rotors 65 arranged in a position relative to each other, similar to the

rotors

35, 36, and 31 shown in Figures 1 and 2.

As a modification of the type of rotor illustrated inFigure 4, and shown in operative relation with similar rotors in Figure 3, I may utilize a scutching rotor designated by the numeral 58 in Figures and 6. In the scutching rotor 68 there is provided the radially extending setsofj orifices 69 which are designed to deliver air practically at the leading edge of the bars of the rotors.

In Figure 6, I have shown the scutching rotor 68 having associated therewith a tubular member 13 connected through elbow N to a pipe 15 leading from a suitable source of pressure, as air, de-

' livered from a compressor II.

The compressor II shown in Figure 6 may be identical with and the same as the compressor ll shown in Figure 1 and which compressor is utilized as a means for delivering air or other suitable fluid under pressure to the intake pipe for the anvils.

In Figure 5, I have shown but two scutching rotors 69 in operative relation to each other, and

find under some conditions of service that two rotors arranged and constructed as above described and as illustrated in Fig. 5 are sufiicient to effectively decorticate fibrous material.

The use of air or other suitable fluid under 5 pressure in connection with the anvil and in connection with the decorticating rotors has the effect of cleaning and loosening the shives from the fibres and enables a better decorticating action to be effected, and also prevents particularly the air under pressure emanating from the rotors any possible danger of winding of the flbrous material onto the rapidly rotating rotors. It has been found that the air or other suitable fluid under pressure has the effect of expanding or exploding the stalks of the fibrous material enabling the decorticating rotors to effect a quicker and cleaner decorticating action and places the fibrous material in such a condition as to allow the shive material thereon to be more readily and easily attacked by the decorticating rotors,

Whereas I have described my invention by reference to specific forms thereof, it will be understood that many changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for treating fibrous material comprising in combination an anvil, a plurality of scutching rotors provided with scutching bars and comprising a group having the scutching bars interlocking with each other to provide thereby a sinuous path through which fibrous material is led during the scutching operation.

2. An apparatus for treating fibrous material comprising in combination an anvil provided with a resilient working face thereon, a plurality of orifices extending through the resilient face, means for supplying gaseous fluid under pressure through'said perforations, means for feeding fibrous material to the anvil and across the face at a predetermined rate of speed, and scutching rotors cooperating with the resilient face of the anvil for scutching the fibrous material.

3. An apparatus for treating fibrous material comprising in combination an anvil provided with a resilient working face thereon, a plurality of orifices extending through the resilient face, means for supplying fluid under pressure through said perforations, means for feeding fibrous material to the anvil and across'the face at a predetermined rateof speed, and scutching rotors arranged in a group for cooperating to scutch the fibrous material and said scutching rotors provided with sets of perforations extending radially outward from the hub of the rotors, and means for supplying fluid under pressure to the rotors for passage through the perforations.

4. An apparatus for treating fibrous material comprising in combination an anvil provided with a resilient working face thereon, a plurality of orifices extending through the resilient face, means for supplying air under pressure through said perforations, means for feeding fibrous ma- 55 terial to the anvil and across the face at a predetermined rate of speed, and scutching rotors arranged in groups to provide a sinuous path therethrough, said rotors having scutching blades thereon interengagingeach other, and said scutching rotors having sets of perforations .extending through the hub portion thereof and terminating at the leading edge of the scutching blades, and means for supplying air under pressure for forcing said air through the perforations.

5. An apparatus for treating fibrous material comprising in combination an anvil provided with a; resilient working face thereon, a plurality of orifices extending through the resilient face, means for supplying air under pressure through said perforations, means for feeding fibrous material to the anvil and across the face at a predetermined rate of speed, and scutching rotors arranged in a group to provide a sinuous path therethrough, such scutching rotors provided with perforations through which air under pressure is fed to cooperate with the air emitted through the perforations in the resilient face of the anvil and with the air emitted by the respective rotors for expanding or exploding the fibrous material being fed therethrough to facilitate the removal of shives therefrom.

6. An apparatus for treating fibrous material comprising in combination an anvil provided with a resilient working face thereon, a plurality of orifices extending through the resilient face, means for supplying air under pressure throughsaid perforations, means for feeding fibrous material to the anvil and across the face at a predetermined rate of speed, and scutching rotors arranged in a group to provide a sinuous path therethrough, such scutching rotors provided with perforations through which air under pres-. sure is fed to cooperate with the air emitted through the perforations in the resilient face of the anvil and with the air emitted by the respective rotors for expanding or exploding the fibrous material being fed therethrough to facilitate the removal of shives therefrom while such fibrous material is held relatively taut by the engaging blades of a group of scutching rotors.

7. An apparatus for treating fibrous material comprising in combination an anvil, scutching rotors associated therewith and having a greater surface speed than the speed of feed of fibrous material to the anvil, and means for emittin air through the hub and scutching blades of the rotors for preventing winding up of the fibrous material'on the rotors. 5

8. An apparatus for treating fibrous material comprising in combination an anvil, means for feeding fibrous material thereat at a definite rate of speed, a group of scutching rotors associated with the anvil for removing shives from the fibrous material, means for receiving the removed shives including a pair oi rotatable members provided with radially extending blades interengaging with each other and rotating at a surface speed greater than the speed of travel of the fibrous material whereby shives from the fibrous material are combed from the fibrous material.

9. The structure defined as under claim 8, combined with means for supplying air under pressure in the zone between said anvil and said 20 scutching rotors.

10. An apparatus for treating fibrous material comprising in combination an anvil, means for feeding fibrous material thereat at a definite rate of speed, scutching rotor means" associated with anvil for removing shives from the fibrous material, means for receiving the removed shivesincluding a pair of rotatable members provided with radially extending blades interengaging with each other and rotating at a surface speed 30 greater than the speed of travel of the fibrous material whereby shives from the fibrous material are combed from the fibrous material, and r means for supplying air under pressure through said anvil and directing such air against such 35 fibrous material in the zone of such scutching rotor means.

ANTON BURKARDI'.