Three-way harvester/decorticator for bast fiber crops with initial chemical processing in the field utilizing improved stapling technique
US5632135A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 26, 1995 |
| Grant date | May 27, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 26, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA01D45/065
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A machine for harvesting and decorticating ramie plants is shown in the form of a wheeled vehicle using an adjustable sickle bar or rotary blades located in the front of the machine for selecting the mature stalks. A series of entry points are provided for the plants, wherein the uniformly cut stalks travel back falling on an apron at a 45.degree. angle for the first decorticating butt drum. A leaf stripper strips any leaves left at the stalks just before the butt decorticator drum. The second decorticating drum has helically arrayed bars on its exterior surface, operably disposed adjacent a machined surface located on a first leg of a generally U-shaped breast plate, such that the interaction of the bars with the breast plate removes unusable portions of the plants adjacent the upper ends and frees the ramie fibers. The third decorticating drum is operably disposed adjacent the machined surface located on the second leg of the U-shaped breast plate, for further removal of unusable plant portions from the ramie fibers resulting in clean decorticated fibers rather than ribboned fibers. Water is sprayed onto the stalks at point of entry into the third drum which facilitates the decor…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.