Apparatus for decorticating or scraping aloe leaves, fourcroea, sisal and other leaves and stems or stalks and the like

摘要

515,280. Decorticating fibrous leaves &c. RAFFRAY, R. June 2, 1938, No. 16580. [Class 120 (i)] In apparatus for decorticating or scraping fibrous leaves, skins or stalks, e.g., leaves of aloe, sisal &c. in which the leaves are fed into jaws on an endless conveyer and are carried thereby to a scraper, the jaws each comprise a pair of hinged plates of which one is fixed to the conveyer while the other is free and acts gravitationally to grip and release the leaves, pressure bars being provided to maintain the necessary gripping action of the jaws on the leaves &c. between the opening andclosing of the jaws. As shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the leaves are deposited by hand from platforms 10 onto a plate arranged between endless chains 11 carried by sprockets 12 between girders 13, 14 the thin ends of the leaves being directed towards the scraper 15 and the stalks dropped on to the spikes of a counterweighted stalk-support 16. The stalks are gripped by jaws comprising hinged plates 17, 18, Fig. 7, and a curved guard plate 171 may be provided on the bottom plate 17. When on the lower side of the chains 11 the free plates 18 hang down but on rising each free plate 18 is held open by a guide 20 to catch the stalk at the support 16 and then closes by gravity. The plate 17 runs on rollers 26 while rollers 21 on the plate 18 are pressed downwardly by bars 22 the ends of which are fitted with a small adjustable member which can be shortened or lengthened to allow the jaws is arranged at one end of a lever 23 pivoted at 24 to open at the correct moment. The stalk-support a vertical plate 25 being provided at the other end and pressed down by the end of each jaw thus causing the stalk support to rise sufficiently for the fixed plate of the succeeding jaw to pass thereunder. A leaf guard 27 and a counterweighted guide plate 271 are also provided. If the stalks are not to be scraped the fibre may be discharged and carried to washing tanks. Alternatively the treated material is deposited on a platform 28, Fig. 12, from which it is removed by jaws 33, 34 the jaw 33 being fixed to a chain 31 and the jaw 34 hinged on a vertical pin 35 having a horizontal tail-piece 36 which is pressed by a plate 37, to close the hinged plate 34 on to the fibre. The jaws are held closed by a roller 39 pressing upon a bar 41 and the stalks are scraped against a breast-plate 44 by beaters 43. Curved plates 45 are provided to guide the fibres on to the platform 28 and a stop having six radial arms mounted below the platform to limit the width of the bundle hanging over the edge. As the gripper jaw leaves the bar 41 it is forced open, e.g., by a stop or trigger 48 engaging the upper end of the pin 40 or by similar means.