US2905975A - Process and apparatus for decorticating fiber-producing plants - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 29, 1959 A, s, MQsEs 2,905,975

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR DECORTICATING FIBER-PRODUCING PLANTS 4 Sheets-Sheet -l Filed May 17, 1949 f--JLL WFM als 52 FIG. 2. f2 42,652

INI/ENTOR'I fofl /sHELE/GH S. Mosfs Sept. 29, 1959 A. s. MQSES PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR DECORTICATING FIBER-PRODUCING PLANTS Filed May 17. 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR: ASHELEIGH S. Mos Es MW BY ATTORNEYS.

A. S. MOSES Sept. 29, 1959 PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR DECORTICATING FIBER-PRODUCING PLANTS Filed May 17. 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. y6.

FIG. 7.

FIG.

lNvENToR: AsHELElGH S. MOSES.

ATTORNEYS.

Sept. 29, 1959 A. s. Mosl-:s 2,905,975

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR DECORTICATING FIBER-PRODUCING PLANTS Filed May 17, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG. 9.

23 mmmmm`mw AINVENTOR: ASHELEIGH S. MOSES ATTORNEYS United States Patent Q g PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR DECORTICAT- ING FIBER-PRODUCING PLANTS Asheleigh Strudwick Moses, Montrose, Ala.

Application May '17, 1949, Serial No. 93,742

13 Claims. (Cl. 19-15) This invention relates to the decortication of brous materials, and more particularly such materials of the green leaf type such as Sisal, Sanseviera, Lechuquilla, Abaca, Banana, Pineapple, etc.

In the decortication of ber-producing plants of the character described containing ber surrounded by pulp or bark, various means have been resorted to in order to disintegrate the plant so as to remove the pulpy and bark component from the fibers. In machines of the drum type, the pulp or bark has heretofore been stripped from the bers by pins on the drum, between which and the backing or scutching plate the plant is passed; such machines are, however, open to one objection in that the spaces between the pins become clogged, requiring resorting to various means to clean the same. In the blade type machine in which a series of blades are mounted on a drum, between which and a scutching plate the plant is passed, the action is one of slicing, therefore requiring a small clearance. In both types of machines the action is such as to subject the plant and the bers to severe crushing, scraping and cutting, so that the ber component is weakened and often broken up, resulting in a low recovery.

One of the objects of this invention therefore is to provide a process of and an apparatus for decorticating ber-producing plants whereby such decortication can be efficiently proceeded with, with a high recovery of the ber content.

Further objects will appear from the detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which will be described and shown an illustrative embodiment of this invention; it is to be understood, however, that the invention is susceptible of various embodiments within the scope of the appended claims. In the specification, a theory of what is believed to be the action or mode of operation has been formulated; it is to be understood, however, that this is done in order to facilitate the disclosure.

In the prior procedures of decorticating ber-producing plants, the plant has been subjected to a cutting instrument to cut or tear pulp or bark from the ber. That is, however, liable to injure and even break the bers, resulting in much waste.

'Ihe process and apparatus embodying this invention are believed to operate on a novel principle as applied to the decorticating of ber-producing plants. This invention operates on the principle of the well-known hammermill, employing a rotary impeller having hammers within a perforated concave conforming to the orbit of the hammers and forming a shield, so that the material to be comminuted is thrown or projected by the hammers against the concave until successive impacting reduces the material ne enough to pass through the screen. In order to accomplish this purpose, however, the impeller must rotate at a high speed, Viz., 5,000 feet per minute.

Generally stated, and in accordance with an illustrav2,905,975 Patented Sept. 29, 1959 tive embodiment of this invention, the plant containing ber surrounded by pulp or bark, is subjected to a rapid succession of rotative-radial-impacting blows delivered against and along the plant, whereby the plant is projected radially outwardly but arrested in its radial outward movement a distance spaced from the orbit of the blows substantially greater than the thickness of the ber component of the plant, the rapidity and magnitude of the blows being suicient to cause the plant to vibrate radially at a high rate so as to break the pulp or bark from the ber of the plant by the operation of such blows on the plant so arrested.

The apparatus, in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of this invention, has generally the characteristics of a hammermill previously referred to. It has a rotary impeller operating at high speed, viz., 5,000 feet per minute, and having hammers. A concave shield conforms to the impeller, but need not be perforated, as in the ordinary hammermill, and is spaced radially from the orbit of the hammers a distance, viz., on the order of about one-eighth to one-quarter of an inch, which is substantially greater than the transverse dimension of the ber component of the plant and even greater than the thickness of the plant. Mechanism is provided for feeding the plant along and between the impeller and the shield, and the impeller is rotated at a high speed sufficient to cause the hammers to deliver a rapid succession of rotative-radial-impacting blows against and along the plant so as to project the same radially outwardly against said shield and cause the plant to vibrate radially at a high rate, adapted to break the pulp or the bark from the ber of the plant by the operation of such blows on the plant.

In an illustrative embodiment a plurality of rotary impellers are arranged axially in series, and overlapping transversely, each with a shield conforming thereto; and overlapping transversely, each with a shield conforming thereto; and a feeding means engages one end of the plant to progress the same along the rst impeller, and then the other end of the plant is engaged to feed the other end along the second impeller.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure l is a plan of an apparatus or machine embodying this invention, and capable of carrying out the process embodying this invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevation;

Figure 3 is a detail, somewhat diagrammatic in form, in the direction of the line 3 3, Figure 2, and further illustrating the drive connections;

Figure 4 is a similar View along the line 4-4 of Figure 2; y

l Figure 5 is a view, somewhat diagrammatic in form, of the feeding means and connections;

Figure 6. is a section along the line 6 6, Figure 2;

Figure 7 is a detail view of the feeding means;

Figure 8 is a view showing the employment of a pair of crushing rolls; and

Figures 9-11 are somewhat diagrammatic views, illustrating the principles of this invention.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, and more particularly to Figures 1 and 2, 12 designates the side members of a frame connected to and supporting uprights 13, V 14 and 15, in order to provide a bodyv which may be the chassis of a vehicle, one of the springs of which is shown at 16.

Mounted in bearings along the frame are a pair of impellers 17 and 18, arranged in series, but laterally out of line so as to be overlapping. Each impeller is in the form of a drum, provided with dull impeller bars 19v extending along, projecting radially from, and spaced circumferentially of the drum, as shown in Figure 6. Conforming to and overlying each drum for part of its circumference is a shield 20, which may be supported by a pair of straps 21 on angle bars 22 and 23, supported betweenl uprights 13 and 14, or 14 and 15, as the case maybe. The forward end 24 of each drum may be tapered so as to decrease in diameter forwardly (right, Figures 'l and 2). At the forward end each shield is liared as shown at 25, and biased as shown in Figures l and Vv2, `from the feeding means '(at the left, Figure 6') along and circumferentially of the irnpeller axis. The impeller drums may be of the same or different diameter; in Figures 1 and 2 the forward drum is of a smaller diameter than, but rotates at a higher speed than, the rearward drum. l

The forward end of each drum has adjacent thereto a conical guide 26, and adjacent the rearward end of each drum is `a conical guide 27.

Arranged alongside each drum, Figures 1 and 2, is the angle bar 22 heretofore referred to, and a second angle bar 28 V(see Figure 6) also supported between the uprights 13 and 14, or 14 and 15, as the case may be. Between these angle bars are supported the feeding chains, comprising links 29 provided with crosspins 30 and fingers 31, which latter intermesh so as to grip the plant, as hereinafter described. The chains pass over sprockets 32 and 33 on Va center shaft 34, and like sprockets on a lower shaft 35. The forward upper and lower chains pass over sprockets on upper and lower shafts 36 and '37 respectively, j while the rearward chains pass over sprockets and shafts 38Vand 39. The upper chains are supported on guides 40, suspended by links 41 from supports 42, connecting the uprights 13 and 14, or 14 and `15, as the case may be.

Referring to Figure 5, a chain 43 extends along forward cone 26 and over an idler 44, so as to move the plant along the incline and into engagement with a forward drum. A similar chain 45 extends along the rearward cone 26, and passes over a sprocket on the shaft 34 and over an idler 46. These chains 43 and 45 are provided with flights, so as to move the material along the cones 26; Similar chains may extend along the rearward cones 27, suitably driven from the shafts 34 and 38.

Mounted on the lower shaft 37, Figures 2 and 5, are pulleys 47 lover whichvfpass belts 48, and over idlers 49. Arranged alongside ofthe forward drum is a belt 50, supported by a plate 51, and driven by a roll on a shaft 53. A similar belt 54 extends along the rearward drum and :passes Vover roll 55. A pair of belts 56 at the extreme rearward end of the machine passes over roll 57, and these belts lie between the projections 31 and the chains.

The driving mechanism for the various parts is `shown in yFigures l Aand 2 in connection with Figures 3 5. The motor 70 drives a shaft'71, supported lin the frame. This shaft -is provided with a pulley 72 connected by a belt 73, with a pulley 74 on a shaft 75. This shaft 7S extends into a .gearing 76, provided with suitable gears causing opposite rotation of the shaft 77 from that Aof the shaft 75.; 'The shaft 77 is provided with a pulley '78, connected by a belt 79 with a pulley on the shaft of the forward drum, thereby causing the same to move counter-clockwise, as shown in Figure 9. The shaft 71l is also connected by a belt 80 to a vpulley 81 on a shaft 82, extending along the machine and having a pulley 83 VFigure 4, connected by a belt to a pulley on a shaft ofthe second or rearward drum, so as to rotate the same ina direction reverse from that of the first drum. The shaft 82 is also provided'with a pulley 85 connected by arbeit 86 -to a pulley '87 on a-shaft 88, having a pinion 89 meshing with a bevel .gear 90 on a shaft 91, provided with a sprocket 92 connected by a chain to a sprocket on shaft 93. 'Ihis shaft hasV a pinion meshing with a gear on shaft 39, which in turn meshes with a like .gear on shaft 38. The shaft 39 has a pulley 94 connected by a belt to Va pulley 9,5 on a. shaft .96, onwhich is mountedthe .roll` 5, Figure 1.

4 The rear roll of the belt 50 is driven from the shaft 34 by gears 97 and 98 on shafts 34 and 53.

Although in most cases unnecessary, the shafts 36 and 37, Figure 8, may be provided with uted rolls 99 in order to partially crush the plant preparatory to delivery of the same to the decorticating mechanism. These rolls, the fronts of which intermesh, may be placed 0n the shafts 36 and 37 on both sides of the sprockets on the shafts carrying the feed chains 29. At the delivery end, Figure 2, .the machine may be provided with a pipe 100 in which can be inserted a bar 161 to receive the decorticated material.

In the operation of the machine as shown in the drawings, the plant, such as the leaf of a Sisal plant, is placed on the feeding belts 48 in order to cause the forward chains 29 to engage and grip the leaves about midway of their lengths. As a given leaf is carried along over the forward incline 26, it will pass into engagement with the inclined end of the forward impeller .drum there to pass underneath the shield 20. During the pass between the drum and the shield, the plant will be operated upon to remove the pulp and bark from that portion in engagement with'the drum, while the other end of the plant will lie upon `and will be carried with the belt 50. -As the plant leaves move rearward from and pass Vclown the ineline 27, `they will next pass into the grip of the second or rearward set of feeder chains 29. It will be noted, however, that by virtue of the overlapping of the drums and the lateral displacement of the second set of feeding chains with respect to the first set of feeding chains, the plant Will now be gripped at the decorticated fiber portion of the plant. The other half of the plant will then be carried rearward into engagement with the second impeller drum, and between the drum and its shield, in order to decorticate that part of the plant not previously decorticated by the iirst drum. As the material now passes out of the second drum, it will be carried rearward by the feeder chains and thereafter by the belts. It will be noted that the belt 54 serves to carry the previously decorticated part rearwardly without any drag. As the completely decorticated material then leaves the belt, it

will pass onto the bar 101, conveniently inserted, and on which the material can hang, so that it can be readily placed in position for drying for subsequent operations. In order to further facilitate the disclosure, but only for illustrative purposes, the dimensions of a practical machine will be given, suitable for operating on Sisal, VSanseviera, Lechuquilla, Abaca, Banana and Pineapple leaves. The drums may have a. length of about three feet, with from one-fourth to vone-half of the total length taken up by .the forward coned part. 'lhe diameter may be eighteen inches outside of the bars, with the smallest cone diameter fifteen inches. The shield can extend about full length, with a clearance at the belt entrance at the cone of smaller diameter of one and konehalf to two inches beyond the bars, and with the larger eighteen inch diameter Vprovided with a clearance of one-eighth to' onefourth inch. The depth ofthe bars can bey one inch, spaced from two inches to three inches circumferentially of the drum. The overlap of one drum with respect to the other can be three inches. The speed of revolution of the drums can be about oneV .thousand revolutions per minute, so as to produce a peripheral speed of about five vthousand feet per minute, although the speed can vary somewhat with the condition and 'type of the fiber, the speed of revolution being greater the drier the leaf, and lessfor green plants. The speed of the feedv along the drums can be about onehundred lfeed per minute. Such speed is'tsuicient yto project the plant against the shield so as to break the pulp or barkfrom the fiber.

Figures-i9, l0 and ll shows what is believed to illustrate theprinciple of operation, the parts being simply shown diagrammatically, but with like numerals `employed as in the other drawings. Figure 9 is a crossview taken at the leading edge of ,the forward drum, Figure. l0

a cross view after the leaf has passed into the straight part of the drum, and Figure 11 is a View like Figure 10, but across the straight side of the rearward drum.

As the leaf of a plant such as a Sisal plant, shown at L, gripped by the mechanism 29, passes into engagement with the smaller diameter of the inclined end of the forward drum as shown in Figure 9, and is carried under the leading edge of the shield 20, the leaf will be subject to rotative-radical-impact delivered against and along the plant, the impeller bars 19 acting somewhat analogous to the hammers in a hammermill for the impeller blades 19 form hammers to impell the plant against the shields 20 and 21.

The action of the impeller bars against and along the plant is in the nature of blunt mechanical impacts delivered rotatively and radially, so asto disintegrate the pulp or bark; for the action is not a cutting action, for the outer faces of the impeller bars are dull, because even the corners of the impeller bars are dull, not sharp but somewhat rounded, so as to act as impellers or hammers and not as cutters or Scrapers. The result is therefore a series of blunt mechanical impacts delivered rotatively and radially against the plant. The shield, while maintaining the plant in Contact with the impellers, has a clearance with reference to the impellers which is not small, but substantial, viz., on the order of about one-eighth to onequarter of an inch and is substantially greater than the fibrous plant component and greater than the thickness of the plant. As viewed from the end Ait appears, especially when the condition of Figure l0 is reached, that the impellers not only impact with the plant but throw the same against the shield, so that the plant will vibrate back and forth radially of the impeller at a high rate. The pulp or bark is broken up into pieces analogous to wet sawdust if the plant is wet or has considerable moisture. After this pulp and bark has been disengaged from the fibers, falling below the impeller as if sawdust, the bers seem to float on top of the impeller bars, even out of contact with the shield. Y

The procedure following the operation of decorticating one end of the plant, and shown in Figures 9 and l0, is to decorticate the other half, and that is shown in Figure 1l. Here the fibers are grasped by the feeder 29 and the other end of the leaf is moved through the decorticating zone, causing the action above described to be again repeated on the other half of the plant. Either end of the leaf may be decorticated first, although usually the tip end will be decorticated last.

Where the plant is wet and green and has considerable moisture, the decorticating operation may be performed without any previous crushing. This is of advantage because the plant may be decorticated while the machine is moved into the field to take the green plant, the leaves being simply stripped and fed as leaves into the mechanism. Where however the plant is somewhat dry, then it is of advantage to first pass the leaf through crushing rolls, as shown in Figure S, one set of which may be positioned in front of either drum, as heretofore described.

It will therefore be seen that this invention accomplishes its objects. A process and apparatus are provided whereby plants of the character described may be readily decorticated. Since the action is apparently one of blunt impacting by rotative-radial-impacting blows or forces and impelling power delivered to the plant, as distinguished from a tearing, scraping, or cutting action, the pulp or bark -is loosened and disengaged from the fibers by the operation of such blows on the plant without materially affecting the fibers themselves. The fibers are, however, separated and effectively cleared of the pulp or bark.

In actual operation the action is` not only one of clearing the fibers of their pulp or bark, but the fibers are separated to form strands; in fact the impellers seem to `actually comb and separate the fibers after removal of the pulp or bark; but the latter operation does not place a strain on the fibers, since the 4action then is one of gentle combing.

In view of the nature of the operation, the machine can be mn at a high capacity without affecting the nal character of the decorticated fibers.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. An apparatus for decorticating fiber-producing plants containing fibers surrounded by pulp or bark, comprising, a rotary impeller having hammers, a concave shield conforming to said impeller and spaced radially from the orbit of said hammers a distance which is substantially greater than the transverse dimension of the fiber component of the plant, means for feeding the plant along and between said impeller and said shield, and means for rotating said impeller at a speed sufcient to cause said hammers to deliver a rapid succession of rotative-radial-impacting blows against and along the plant so as to project the same lradially outwardly against said shield and cause the plant to vibrate radially at a high rate, adapted to break the pulp or bark from the fiber of the plant by the operation of such blows on the plant.

2. An apparatus for decorticating fiber-producing plants containing fibers surrounded by pulp or bark, comprising, rotary impellers, each having hammers and arranged in series, a concave shield conforming to each impeller and spaced radially from the orbits of the hammers of the respective impellers a distance which is substantially greater than the transverse dimension of the fiber component of the plant, means for feeding the plant along and between said impellers and said shields, and means for rotating said impellers at a speed sufiicient to cause said hammers to deliver a rapid succession of rotativeradial-impacting blows against and along the plant so as to project the same radially outwardly against said shield and cause the plant -to vibrate radially at a high rate,`

adapted to break the pulp or bark from the fiber of the plant 'by the operation of such blows on the plant.

3. An apparatus for decorticating fiber-producing plants containing fibers surrounded by pulp or bark, comprising, rotary impellers, each having hammers and arranged in series and overlapping transversely, a concave shield conforming to each impeller and spaced radially from the orbits of the hammers of the respective impellers a distance which is substantially greater than the `transverse dimension of the fiber component of the plant, means for feeding the plant along and between said impellers and said shields, and means for rotating said impellers at a speed sufficient to cause said hammers to deliver a rapid succession of rotative-radial-impacting blows yagainst and along the plant so as to project the same radially outwardly against said shield and cause the plant to vibrate radially at a high rate, adapted to break the pulp or bark from the fiber of the plant by the operation of such blows on the plant.

4. An apparatus for decorticating fiber-producing plants containing fibers surrounded by pulp or bark, comprising, rotary impellers, each having hammers and arranged in series and overlapping transversely, a concave shield conforming to each impeller and spaced radially from the orbits of the hammers `of the respective impellers a distance which is substantially greater than the transverse dimension of the fiber component of the plant, means for feeding the plant along and between said impellers and said shields to present successively first one end and then the other end to the resepctive impellers and shields, and means for rotating said impellers at a speed sufficient to cause said hammers to deliver a rapid succession of rotative-radial-impacting blows against and along the plant so as to project the same radially outwardly against said shield and cause the plant to vibrate radially at a high rate, adapted to break the pulp or bark from the fiber of the plant by the operation of such blows on the plant.

5. An apparatus for decorticating berfproducingplants Ycontaining bers surrounded bypulp or bark,'comprising, Aa rotary impeller'having hammers and having one end of smaller diameter than the other end, a concave shield conforming to said impeller and spaced radially from the orbit of said hammers at one of the diameters a distance which is substantially greater than the transverse dimension of the fiber component of the plant, means for feeding the plant along and between said irnpeller and said shield, and means for rotating said impeller at a speed suflicient to cause said hammers to deliver a rapid succession of rotative-radial-impacting blows against and along the plant so as to project the same radially outward- Ily against said shield and cause the plant to vibrate radially at a high rate, adapted to break the pulp or bark from the: fiber .of `the vplant by the operation of such blows on the plant.

6. An apparatus for decorticating fiber-producing plants containing tibers surrounded by pulp or bark, comprising, a rotary impeller having hammers, a concave shield conforming to said impeller, tlaring outwardly at one end and spaced at the other end radially from the orbit of said hammers a distance which is substantially greater than the transverse dimension of the fiber component of the plant, means for feeding the plant along and between said impeller and said shield, and means for rotating said impeller at a speed suflicient to cause said hammers to deliver a rapid succession of rotative-radial-impacting blows against and along the plant so as to project the same radially outwardly against said shield and cause the plant to vibra-te radially at a high rate, adapted to break the pulp or bark from the fiber of the plant by the operation of such blows on the plant.

7. An apparatus for decorticating fiber-producing plants containing bers surrounded by pulp or bark, comprising, a rotary impeller having hammers and having one end of smaller diameter than the other end, a concave shield conforming to said impeller, liaring outwardly at one end and spaced at the larger diameter radially from the orbit of said hammers a distance which is substantially greater than the transverse dimension of the her component of the plant, means for feeding the plant along and vbetween said impeller and Said shield, and means for rotating said impeller at a speed suicient to cause said hammers to deliver a rapid succession of rotative-radial-impacting blows against and along the plant so as to project the same radially outwardly against said shield and cause the plant to vibrate radially at a high rate, adapted to break the pulp or bark from the fiber of the plant by the operation of such blows on the plant.

8. An apparatus for decor-ticating fiber-producing plants vcontaining fibers surrounded by pulp or bark, comprising, a rotary impeller having hammers, a concave shield conforming to said impeller and spaced radially from the orbit of said hammers a distance which is substantially greater than the transverse dimension of the ber component of the plant, means for feeding the plant along and between said impeller and said shield, saidshield having one end inclined outwardly and spaced from said feeding means, and means for rotating said impellei at a speed suiiicient to cause said hammers to deliver a rapid succession of rotative-radial-impacting blows against and along the plant so as to project the same radially outwardly against said shield and cause the plant to vibrate radially at a high rate, adapted to break the pulp or bark from the ber of the plant by the operation of such blows on the plant.

9. The process of decorticating fiber-producing plants containing fibers surrounded by pulp or bark, comprising, subjecting the plant to a rapid succession of rotativeradial-impacting blows delivered against and along the plant, whereby the plant is projected radiallyoutwardly but arrested in its radial outward movement a distance spaced from the orbit of the blows substantially greater than-the thickness of the ber component of the plant, the rapidity 'and magnitude of the blows being suilicient to cause the plant to vibrate radially at a high rate so as to break .the pulp'or bark from the liber of the plant by the operation of such blows on the plant so arrested.

l0. The process of decorticating ber-producing plants .containing fibers surrounded by pulp or bark, comprising, subjecting 'the plant to a rapid succession of rotativeradial-impacting blows delivered against and along the plant, whereby the plant is projected radially outwardly but arrested in its radial outward movement a distance spaced from the orbit of the blows substantially greater than the thickness of the fiber component of the plant, the rapidity and magnitude of the blows being suicient to cause .theplant to vibrate radially at a high rate so as to break the pulp or bark from the fiber of the plant by the operation of such blows on the plant so arrested, and feeding the plant in a direction transversely of its length to present the same so as to receive such blows.

11. The process of decorticating liber-producing plants .containing fibers surrounded by pulp or bark, comprising, subjecting the plant to a rapid succession ofy rotativeradial-impacting blows delivered against and along the plant, whereby the plant is projected radially outwardly but arrested in its radial outward movement a distance spaced from the orbit of the blows substantially greater than the thickness of the ber component of the plant, the rapidity and magnitude of the blows being suihcient to cause the plant to vibrate radially at a high rate so as to break the pulp or bark from the ber of the plant by the operation of such blows on the plant so arrested, and feeding the plant in a direction transversely of its length to present first one end and then the other end so as to receive such blows.

12. The process of decorticating ber-producing plants containing fibers surrounded by pulp or bark, comprising, subjecting the plant to a rapid succession of rotativeradial-impacting blows delivered against and along the plant, whereby the plant is projecting radially outwardly but arrested in its radial outward movement a distance spaced from the orbit of the blows substantially greater than the thickness of the fiber component of the plant,

Ythe rapidity and magnitude of the blows being sufn'cient to cause the plantto vibrate radially at a high rate so as to break the pulp or bark from the ber of the plant by the operation of such blows on the plant so arrested, and feeding a succession of adjacent plants in a direction transversely of their lengths to receive such blows.

13. The process of decorticating fiber-producing plants containing iibers surrounded by pulp or bark, comprising, subjecting the plant to a rapid succession of rotative-radial-impacting blows delivered against and along the plant, whereby the plant is projected radially outwardly but arrested in its radial outward movement a distance spaced from the orbit of the blows substantially greater than the thickness of the ber component of the plant, the rapidity and magnitude of the blows being Suicient to cause the plant to vibrate radially at a high rate so as to break the pulp or bark from the fiber of the plant by the operation of such blows on the plant so arrested, and feeding a succession of adjacent plants in a direction transversely of their lengths to present first one end and then the other end to receive such blows.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 328,355 Stephens Oct. 13, 1885 328,357 Stephens Oct. 13, 1885 806,429 Remirez Dec. 5, 1905 1,356,740 Roberts Oct. 26, 1920 1,486,750 Holland-Lotz Mar. ll, 1924 2,288,652 .Simons July 7, 1942 2,490,157 Reeves Dec. 6, 1949

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