INTERIM REPORT OF THE FLAX COMMISSIONERS.
MACHINERY. {Continued.) The importance of dressing the leaf out to the tip is considerable, as it prevents great waste. In Gibbons 's machine, and also in Fraser's new one, the feed-rollers are deeply and sharply fluted, and hold the leaf firmly to the tip ; the distance, however, to the place where the leaf is stripped, is rather longer than in Price's, which, beating on the lower roller, reduces this distance to a minimum. On the other hand the lower roller of Price'smachine must be made smooth, as li the flax is dressed on it, and so cannot take so good a hold of the thin end of the leaf, but allows it sometimes to be pulled, through by the beaters. This can, to;'ff certain extent, be remedied by the person feeding, either twisting the thin portion of the leaf round his forefinger, as it enters the rollers, or by "tailing" the butt end of one leaf to the thin point of the one before it, and so increasing the pressure on it. This " tailing on," however, must not be overdone, as the leaves are apt to entangle with the " out taker" underneath the machine. Fraser's old machine has the fault of a smooth lower roller, combined with a considerable distance between the beating-plate and the feed-roller. In practice, when the machines are in good order, and working well, we are of opinion that there is little difference between Fraser's, Price's, and G-ibbons's machines in this respect. Next in importance to the quality of the fibre produced comes the quantity of green flax passed through in a given time. ! This depends not only on the diameter "and velocity of the feed rollers, but also upon the size and shape of the leaf taken through, the liability to stoppage by flax getting round the shafts, and the ease of clearing the machine when choked. The diameter of the feed rollers is nearly alike in all the machines, those of G-ib-bons's being the largest, and the angular velocity can of course be altered to the wish of the flax manufacturer. It is easy to drive the machines fast, and the "feeder" can put a large number of leaves through in a minute ; but our experience is that'from thirty to thirtyfive leaves in a minute is quite as much as the " out-taker" can manage, without entangling or losing a large part of them, and it is in this direction that improvement is most required. It will be found that feeding at the rate of 2f feet per second will pass thirty-three averagesized leaves through per minute, or a quarter of a ton per hour per machine. The size and shape of the butt of the leaf that the machine will allow through is important, for much time is lost when the machine refuses to take in big butts cut square at the ends, and it take? too long to go over all the flax first and cut off the thick ends and point them ; to say nothing of the waste of stuff that has been paid for. In this respect both Gibbons's and Frasetfs new machines, which have both feed-rollers fluted, have an advantage over Price's, the lower roller of which is compelled to be smooth. The merit of this improvement is claimed by Messrs Gibbons, and is one of the points for which they are now taking out a patent. Stoppages are sometimes occasioned by flax getting round the shafts of the drum or feed-rollers, and into the bearings; but with the machines in good order, this now seldom occurs except through carelessness. As, however, it will in spite of all care happen occasionally, it is of importance that every facility Bhould exist for clearing with as little delay as possible. Fraser's old machine was very deficient in this respect ; but bis new one, and G-ibbons's and Price's, leave little to be desired. Mr M'lntyre, of Onehunga (as instructed by Mr Dougal, who claims to be the originator of these machines) has recently begun to manufacture flax machines, but as these are on the same principle as Price's, no further, notice need be taken of them, except that they have been got up with great care, and with a view to durability — the bearings being all brass. Mr Mills, of Wellington, and Mr Murray, are also making machines ; but neither is it necessary to dwell on these, as the above remarks can be easily applied to any other machine, and its merits ascertained. (Here follow the Appendices.)
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Southland Times, Issue 1260, 3 June 1870, Page 3
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760INTERIM REPORT OF THE FLAX COMMISSIONERS. Southland Times, Issue 1260, 3 June 1870, Page 3
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