EXCELSIOR 429 



the two guides and supports a steel frame. The spurs or teeth which cut 

 the excelsior are attached to this steel frame. The spurs are flat pieces 

 of steel 3I in. long, ^ in. thick and § in. wide at the base and taper to a 

 point. The number of these points determines the grade of excelsior. 

 They vary from 35 to 205 in number. Just above the steel frame is 

 fastened a wide knife which follows the points and cuts off the scorings 

 made by them. Two horizontal, corrugated feed rolls actuated in oppo- 

 site directions serve to advance the bolt as fast as the cutting requires 

 and can be easily regulated according to the fineness of the desired 

 product. It ordinarily requires four to six minutes for a 2-ft. bolt to pass 

 through one of these machines, each of which is capable of producing 

 about 500 lb. of excelsior of medium grade in a ten-hour day. 



{b) Horizontal excelsior machine. 



A common form of the horizontal type is an 8-block machine con- 

 sisting of 2 sliding steel frames, carrying 8 toolheads into which the 

 knives and comb-like spurs are spanned. The sliding frames are moved 

 with powerful cranks and pitmans on hard maple sUdes. Above these 

 sliding frames are 2 stationary frames, each of which has 4 sets of rolls. 

 The latter by their rotation press a wood block downward against the 

 knives. This 8-block machine requires from 25 to 35 h.p. to operate it, 

 depending on the grade of excelsior. Fine grades of wood wool require 

 more power than the manufacture of coarser grades. One man can 

 tend the machine and keep it supphed with blocks. It will turn out about 

 2 tons of wood wool or from 5 to 6 tons of packing or mattress stock in a 

 day of ten hours. 



Baling Press. 



There are two common types of baling presses on the market. In 

 general they follow the same principles as employed in hay or shaving 

 presses. The following are two representative types: 



The horizontal press has a steam cylinder mounted in a direct line 

 with the plunger and the body of the press. The stroke of the plunger 

 is central. The excelsior is placed in a hopper in front of the press and 

 at each thrust the plunger forces the hopper-full into the press. This 

 process is repeated until the bale is completed when it is wired and pushed 

 out. The wire is first placed in grooves in the bottom and sides. Bales 

 made by this type of press are 18 in., by 22 in. but they can be made 

 14 by 18 in. or 16 by 20 in. The bales of the first size weigh from 90 to 

 no lb. each. This press requires 5 h.p. of steam when it is operated 

 continuously. The diameter of the cylinder is 10 in., length of stroke 36 

 in., and extreme length of press 15^ ft. The hst price of this press is $380. 



