SCUTCHING 141 



The resultant action of the mechanism is as follows: The 

 operator places the strick of flax to be scutched between the 

 open jaws of D and E with one hand, and with the other he 

 grasps the stud R and simultaneously moves the lever arm B 

 counter clockwise. The effect of this movement is to gradu- 

 ally increase the radial distance between the studs O and J, 

 which also tends to increase the radial distance between the 

 studs and L ; the groove M facilitates this, but the strong 

 spiral spring P operates to neutralize the action and to restrain 

 any radial movement of the stud L in the groove M, and 

 simultaneously slightly oscillate the stud L, together with the 

 lever I, clockwise about the stud J. 



Consequently the downward movement of the right arm 

 of lever I, operating through link H, pulls the upper jaw E 

 downwards into suitable gripping contact with the lower 

 jaw D. The left arm of lever I, with the weight of K, simul- 

 taneously rises into a position of accumulated potential energy 

 ready to operate in assisting to automatically open the jaws 

 as soon as the lever B is moved clockwise to reverse the fore- 

 going motions. When the lever B is moved counter-clockwise 

 the grip is closed, as shown by the dotted lines in the figure, 

 and the flax between them is then in operative contact with 

 the revolving scutching blades. 



119. The Automatic Scutcher. This machine was conceived, 

 designed, and patented by the Fibre Corporation, Dromara, 

 co. Down, Ireland, and is now used and manufactured by them. 



The characteristic feature of this machine lies in its ability 

 to automatically and completely scutch by buffing or roughing 

 and cleaning and finishing both ends of the rolled and broken 

 flax straw, without the aid of an experienced scutcher. 



The complete machine, denominated a unit, comprises four 

 complete scutching wheels and a like number of gripping 

 devices for carrying forward and simultaneously holding the 

 strick of flax during the operation of scutching. Each scutch 

 wheel may carry from six to twelve blades. 



Fig. 91 diagrammatically illustrates the essential features 



