[0001] The invention relates to a device and method for the separation of the fibres from
the waste material in bast fibre bearing plants.
[0002] Natural fibre products have a number of advantages over those manufactured from synthetic
materials. These include the renewability of the raw material and the biodegradability
of products at the end of their useful life. In addition, some fibre crops improve
the condition of soil in which they are grown by virtue of their long roots that break
up the soil and by the choking out of weeds due to their dense coverage of leaves.
[0003] The processing of the plant material to obtain useable fibres comprises many steps,
which are broadly similar for a number of different fibre bearing plants. Examples
of plants grown as fibre crops include flax, hemp, jute, manila and ramie etc.
[0004] After the plant has been harvested, the stems are retted to break down the adhesion
of the fibres to the waste material. The separation of the fibres from the woody core
of the plant stems is known as decortication or scutching. The fibres are subsequently
hackled and combed and are then ready for spinning or other uses.
[0005] Historically, the scutching process was carried out by hand and is labour intensive.
The cost of hand breaking the plant fibres from the woody core makes the growth of
such fibre crops not economically viable in some countries.
[0006] In order to reduce the cost of the decortication process machines have been developed
to break up the woody portion and to separate the broken pieces of woody material
(which are usually called hurds or shives) from the fibre. These machines have been
designed to obtain a high proportion of long fibres (or sliver) which are as long
as the raw plant stems and a low proportion of very short fibres (tow).
[0007] With the advent of synthetic fibres and the large amount of cotton (a seed fibre)
in use today, most textile producers can only make use of relatively short fibres.
Natural short fibres can be used in insulation, paper, composite materials and other
applications. In addition the high cellulose content of the hurds makes them a useful
raw material for certain products and they have other uses such as animal bedding.
[0008] It is therefore desirable to effectively and cheaply decorticate the retted straw
of bast fibre bearing plants without damaging the fibre beyond commercial use or excessively
shortening the length of the fibres. Furthermore, given the low volume density of
the straw it is desirable to make the decortication means cheap and portable to allow
the process to occur near the location where the plants are grown. This reduces the
transportation costs associated with the fibre crop and, since the fibre is more valuable
than the straw makes the crop more attractive to potential growers.
[0009] It is therefore an object of embodiments of the present invention to provide a device
and method for the separation of the fibres from the waste material in bast fibre
bearing plants, in particularly for the decortication of retted fibre straw, the device
being readily transportable and able to meet relevant standards for the quality of
the fibre material produced.
[0010] According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided a device for the
separation of fibres from waste material in fibre bearing plants, comprising a plurality
of processing members mounted for rotation within an enclosure, the enclosure comprising
an inlet for material to be processed, an outlet for fibres and a plurality of apertures
to allow the egress of waste material, the device being arranged, in use, to receive
material at the inlet to undergo a first processing operation by a first plurality
of said processing members, said first plurality of processing members being arranged
along a first axis of rotation and being arranged to perform a first stage of separation
of fibre from waste and to transfer fibres in a process direction for processing by
at least a second plurality of said processing members.
[0011] Preferably, the material to be processed comprises pre-prepared material from plants
such as flax, hemp, jute, sisal, manila, ramie, nettles or other fibre bearing plants.
[0012] Preferably, the pre-preparation comprises harvesting, cutting to suitable lengths,
retting and drying to a suitable moisture content.
[0013] Preferably, there are provided first through third pluralities of said processing
members, said first through third pluralities being rotationally mounted along respective
first through third rotational axes. The first through third plurality of processing
members are preferably arranged such that the first through third axes are transverse
to the process direction and are preferably arranged in sequence such that the first
plurality of processing members propel material having undergone the first stage of
separation toward the second plurality, and the second plurality propel material having
undergone a second stage of separation toward the third plurality. The third plurality
of processing members are preferably arranged to propel the material having undergone
a third stage of separation toward the outlet for fibres.
[0014] The first plurality of processing members preferably counter-rotate with respect
to the second plurality and the second plurality preferably counter-rotate with respect
to the third plurality.
[0015] Preferably, each plurality of processing members comprises fibre separation elements
which are mounted to a shaft. The first plurality of processing members preferably
comprises a plurality of fibre separation elements extending from a common shaft defining
the first axis of rotation, the second plurality of processing members preferably
comprises a plurality of fibre separation elements extending from a common shaft defining
the second axis of rotation and the third plurality of processing members preferably
comprises a plurality of fibre separation elements extending from a common shaft defining
the third axis of rotation. Preferably, the fibre separation elements extending from
the respective shafts are disposed along the length of their respective shaft and
around its circumference.
[0016] Preferably, the fibre separation elements extending from the respective shafts are
disposed in such a way as to balance the shafts during rotation.
[0017] Preferably, the fibre separation elements extending from the shaft defining the first
axis of rotation each comprise a breaking member and a support member.
[0018] Preferably, a first end of each support element is attached to a shaft and a second
end of each support element is attached to a first end of a breaking member.
[0019] Preferably, each breaking member is arranged substantially parallel to the shaft
from which the support member extends and is adapted to break the material to be processed
and scutch the woody material from the fibres.
[0020] Preferably, each breaking member comprises a cutting edge. The cutting edge may be
a substantially linear edge, arranged so that the line of the edge runs parallel to
the shaft from which the associated support member extends. The cutting edge may also
be arranged to comprise the leading edge of the breaking member as the first shaft
rotates.
[0021] Preferably, the fibre separation elements are similar to the L-shaped blades of a
rotary cultivator.
[0022] Preferably, the fibre separation elements extending from the shaft defining the second
axis of rotation comprise a beating member. Preferably, each beating member is substantially
rectangular in plan, end and side elevations and extends normal to the shaft defining
the second axis of rotation.
[0023] Preferably, the fibre separation elements extending from the shaft defining the third
axis of rotation comprise rods. Preferably, the rods extend normal to the shaft defining
the third axis of rotation and are substantially cylindrical.
[0024] Preferably, at least the fibre separation elements extending from the shaft defining
the first axis of rotation are adapted to produce and promote air movement in the
enclosure to aid the separation of the hurds and the fibre once the woody material
has been broken away from the fibres. The air movement is preferably arranged to promote
the progress of the fibres through the machine to move the fibres and discourage wrapping
of the fibres around the shafts.
[0025] Preferably, the apertures are formed in a lower boundary member mounted below the
processing members. The apertures may be formed in both a lower boundary member mounted
below the processing members and an upper boundary member mounted above the processing
members.
[0026] Preferably, the apertures are adapted to allow the passage therethrough of the waste
material, and to substantially prevent the passage of the fibres.
[0027] Preferably the apertures are circular and arranged in a regular fashion. Preferably,
the apertures are arranged in rows, the rows offset to one another so that the centre
of the apertures comprising even numbered rows are aligned between the apertures of
odd numbered rows. The apertures may make up a high proportion of the area of the
boundary members, suitably 70% of the area of the boundary members may comprise. The
apertures may suitably have a diameter of 10mm for processing certain plant varieties,
and be arranged with 15mm centre distances. The size and arrangement of the apertures
may vary for processing other plant varieties.
[0028] Preferably, waste material passes through apertures formed in the lower boundary
member under gravity. Waste material may pass through apertures formed in the upper
boundary member by means of induced air currents. Such induced air currents may be
promoted by suction means, such as cyclone generator. Induced air currents may be
provided by the rotating action of the processing members.
[0029] The enclosure may contain means to prevent fibres from moving away from the outlet
back toward the inlet. These may comprise spikes extending from the upper and lower
boundaries of the enclosure. The spikes may further assist the separation of the fibres
from the waste material by holding back partially separated bundles of fibres while
the breaking members act on them.
[0030] The enclosure may further contain aerodynamic means to promote a favourable flow
of air within the enclosure to aid in the separation process. The aerodynamic means
may comprise fins disposed between the envelope defined by the rotating processing
members and extending from the upper and lower boundaries of the enclosure.
[0031] The fins may be adapted to produce pockets of slow moving air to aid the removal
of waste. The fins may be adapted to generate vortices.
[0032] Preferably, the device may be adapted for easy transportation. The device may be
mounted on a wheeled trailer. The device may have wheels attached to it. The trailer
or device may comprise retractable legs used to support the device when stationary.
[0033] The device may further comprise feeding means for providing material to the inlet.
Such feeding means may comprise conventionally available unbailing mechanisms, conveyor
feed systems or, for instance, mechanisms for picking up material directly from the
field.
[0034] According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for
the separation of fibres from waste material in fibre bearing plants, the method comprising
the steps of:
(a) the reception of material at an inlet of an enclosure;
(b) the processing of the material to perform a first stage of separation of fibre
from waste;
(c) processing of the material in a second processing operation to undergo a second
stage of separation of fibre from waste;
(d) the transfer of fibres after said processing operations to an outlet of said enclosure;
and
(e) the removal of waste material from said enclosure through a plurality of apertures
during any of steps (b) to (d).
[0035] Preferably, during step (b) material is automatically transferred from the inlet
to a first plurality of processing members which are mounted for rotation within the
enclosure and which perform the first processing operation and, preferably, following
performance of the first stage of separation of fibre from waste, the fibres are automatically
transferred to a second plurality of processing members which perform the second processing
operation.
[0036] Preferably, automatic transfer of the material from the first plurality of processing
members to the second plurality of processing members is achieved by virtue of air
currents flowing within the enclosure.
[0037] Preferably, automatic transfer of the material from the first plurality of processing
members to the second plurality of processing members is achieved by virtue of the
inertia of the material.
[0038] Preferably, said air currents are caused by rotation of the first and second pluralities
of processing members.
[0039] The method may comprise third or further subsequent processing operations between
the second processing operation and the transfer of fibres to the outlet. The third
or further subsequent processing operations and the transfer of material between them
may be similar to those described for the first and second processing operations.
[0040] Preferably, removal of the waste material from the enclosure in step (e) occurs in
an automatic fashion.
[0041] Removal of waste material may be under gravity and/or assisted by air movement.
[0042] The waste material may be transported away from the enclosure by transportation means.
Preferably, the transportation means comprise a conveyor system.
[0043] Preferably, the processing members may rotate at speeds in the range of 300-1000
revolutions per minute. More preferably, the processing members may rotate at speeds
in the range 500-750 revolutions per minute. Each plurality of processing members
may rotate at its own speed. The speed of rotation of the third plurality of processing
members may be greater than that of the first and second pluralities of processing
members.
[0044] The method of the second aspect may incorporate any one or more of the device features
described in relation to the first aspect in any logical combination.
[0045] For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how embodiments of the same
may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the
accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a diagrammatic drawing showing a sectional side view of an embodiment
of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a diagrammatic drawing showing a plan view of an upper or lower boundary
member of the enclosure used in embodiments of the present invention;
Figure 3 is a diagrammatic drawing showing a sectional end view of an embodiment of
the present invention; and
Figure 4 is a diagrammatic drawing showing views of the processing members used in
embodiments of the present invention.
[0046] Referring now to Figure 1, there is shown an example of a device embodying the present
invention. The device 10 comprises an enclosure 1, an inlet 11 for the material to
be processed, an outlet 12 for the fibres, first through third pluralities of rotationally
mounted processing members 13A-13C, shafts 14A-14C for the first through third pluralities
of processing members 13A-13C, fins 15A-15D, a lower boundary 16A, an upper boundary
16B, a cyclone dust extractor 17, spikes 18, an inlet safety plate 19, a conveyor
system 20, an inlet feed mechanism 21 and an outlet feed mechanism 22.
[0047] An example of the configuration of the lower and upper boundary members 16A, 16B
is shown in Figure 2 which details an example of the arrangement of the apertures
24 in even rows 25 and odd rows 26.
[0048] Figures 3 and 4 show details of the fibre separation elements used in embodiments
of the present invention.
[0049] When the device shown in Figure 1 is operating, the first through third pluralities
of processing members 13A-13C are caused to rotate under the action of an external
power source (not shown). In preferred embodiments of the invention the external power
source is a tractor power take off. Power may be transferred from the tractor power
take off to the processing members by any suitable transmission means, for example
gearing, chain drives, belt drives etc. The central plurality of processing members
13B rotates in the opposite direction to the other pluralities of processing members
13A and 13C. This change in sense may be suitably achieved by the use of gearing,
however each plurality of processing members 13A-13C may be driven independently.
[0050] The material to be processed is fed into the enclosure 1 through inlet 11 by the
inlet feed mechanism 21. The material to be processed may comprise loose plant straw,
straw bales or any other suitable plant material. The inlet feed mechanism is adapted
to ensure a constant amount of plant material is fed into the device and may be of
a type generally known in the art. This helps to prevent an inlet feed rate of material
to be processed that is not balanced by the extraction rate of fibres at the outlet
12. An excess of material fed to the inlet 11 would cause a build up of material within
the enclosure 1 and lead to the device 10 becoming blocked.
[0051] The inlet safety plate 19 ensures the first plurality of processing members 13A is
not easily accessible by material other than the material to be processed and helps
to prevent the rejection of the material to be processed.
[0052] Each plurality of processing members comprises a plurality of fibre separation elements
which are mounted on a common shaft which defines the axis of rotation of the plurality
of processing members. Each fibre separation element 30 of the first plurality of
fibre processing members 13A comprises a support member 32 and a breaking member 31,
a first end of each support member 32 is attached to the shaft 14A, and the second
end of each support member 32 is attached to a first end of a breaking member 31.
Each breaking member 31 is arranged substantially parallel to the shaft 14A and comprises
a cutting edge 34. The cutting edge 34 is substantially linear and also runs parallel
to the shaft 14A. As the shaft 14A rotates the cutting edge 34 comprises the leading
edge of the breaking member 31. The fibre separation elements 30 are similar to the
L-shaped blades of a rotary cultivator.
[0053] Once the material to be processed has entered the enclosure 1, the action of the
first plurality of processing members 13A is to cause the cutting edge 34 of the breaking
members 31 to impact upon the material. This has the effect of damaging the bonding
between the fibres and the woody material in the plant stems and may chop the material
to be processed into shortened lengths. The air flow created by the movement of the
breaking members 31 and the fins 15 and the impact of the breaking members 31 on the
stems causes the material to be drawn onto the second plurality of processing members
13B.
[0054] Each fibre separation element 36 of the second plurality of processing members 13B
comprises a beating member. Each beating member comprises a prismatic bar of rectangular
cross-section that extends normal to the shaft 14B. The action of the second plurality
of processing members 13B is to beat the material being processed to further break
the bonding between fibres and the woody material in the plant stems. The airflow
created by the movement of the beating members and fins 15, the inertia of the material
being processed and the impact of the beating members on the stems causes the material
to be drawn on to the third plurality of processing members 13C. Each fibre separation
element 38 of the third plurality of fibre processing members 13C comprises a cylindrical
rod that extends from the shaft 14C and normal to it. The action of the third plurality
of processing members 13C is to cause the rods to open up and separate the fibres
from one another once the majority of the woody material has been separated from them.
The air flow created by each of the first through third pluralities of processing
members 13A-13C and inertia of the material also aids its passage through the enclosure
towards the outlet 12.
[0055] As the stems pass through the machine, the hurds that are broken from the stems are
forced along the lower boundary member 16A of the enclosure 1 by the motion of the
remaining stems and fibres and the airflow created by the pluralities of processing
members 13A-13C. The constant sweeping of the lower boundary member 16A by the remaining
stems and fibres as they move through the enclosure 1 helps to prevent blockages in
the device 10. The hurds then fall under gravity through the apertures 24. The apertures
24 are arranged to allow the easy egress of the hurds, while preventing any loss of
fibre. The hurds fall onto the conveyer system 20 and subsequently are collected.
[0056] It may be desirable for each of the pluralities of processing members 13A-13C to
rotate at its own speed.
[0057] For example, the speed of rotation of the third plurality of processing members 13C
may be greater than that of the first and second pluralities of processing members
13A, 13B to enhance the separation of the fibres and ensure that any hurds that are
trapped between the separated fibres are able to fall through the apertures 24.
[0058] The cyclone dust extractor 17 removes any dust and small particles from the enclosure
1 through the apertures 24 in the upper boundary 16B.
[0059] The fibres within the enclosure 1 are prevented from returning towards the inlet
11 by spikes 18, which project through the apertures 24 in upper boundary member 16B
and the lower boundary member 16A and by the shaping of the fins 15 and are urged
toward the outlet 12 by the action of the outlet feed mechanism 22. The spikes may
also help the separation of fibres from the waste by holding back partially separated
bundles of fibres while the breaking members 31 act on them.
[0060] Further, the fins 15 produce vortices or pockets of slow moving air beyond a peak
or crest line. This turbulent area can help to retain the waste material or slow it
down to aid extraction through the apertures 24.
[0061] The outlet feed mechanism 22 comprises a pair of intermeshing fluted rollers of the
type generally known in the fibre processing and textile industries that trap the
fibres between them and rotate drawing the fibres from the device 10. The speed of
the outlet feed mechanism 22 may be controllable relative to the amount of plant material
entering the device 1 to ensure the amount of material entering the device 10 is balanced
by the amount of material leaving it. Once the fibre has left the machine it can be
passed to further machinery or left for later bailing etc.
[0062] In some embodiments, the air flow may be regulated so as to propel the separated
fibres from the outlet without the requirement for a specific outlet feed mechanism
22.
[0063] The operation of the device 10 as described above is generally applicable to any
of the previously mentioned plant varieties. By way of example, details of the specific
construction and operation of the machine for the decortication of hemp will be described.
Hemp has been chosen in this instance since it is regarded as the toughest fibre bearing
plant to process.
[0064] The hemp plants are harvested, cut to lengths of around 300mm and then retted. The
retted material is dried to a moisture content of 15%-20% before being fed into the
machine.
[0065] The pluralities of processing members 13A-13C may rotate at 500-750 revolutions per
minute. The power needed to operate the pluralities of processing members 13A-13C
and the other moving parts may come from a tractor power take off and may be approximately
60 kW.
[0066] The fibre separation elements 30 may extend 200-300mm from the shaft 14A, with a
clearance of 70-100mm to the upper and lower boundary members 16A and 16B. The fibre
separation elements 30 may be arranged in groups of two, three or four at 180°, 120°
or 90° respectively from one another around the circumference of the shaft 14A. The
groups of fibre separation elements 30 may be separated from one another along the
shaft 14A by approximately 300mm. The breaking members 31 may be approximately 150mm
in length.
[0067] The fibre separation elements 36 and 38 may be of similar dimensions to those given
for the fibre separation elements 30, with the rods and extending from the shaft 14C
approximately 8mm in diameter.
[0068] The device 10 may be 2 metres long overall and approximately 2 metres wide.
[0069] The upper and lower boundary members 16A and 16B may be manufactured from 5mm steel
plate. This gives them the resilience needed to withstand the ingress of material
such as small stones that could be inadvertently fed into the device 10 with the plant
material.
[0070] The apertures 24 may be 10mm in diameter and the apertures 24 may comprise 70% of
the area of the upper and lower boundaries 16.
[0071] The spikes 18 may be 10mm in diameter and 100mm long. The spikes 18 are arranged
in rows across the width of the enclosure 1, transverse to the process direction.
The spikes may be reinforced with support means and project through the apertures
24 of the upper boundary member 16B and the lower boundary member 16A. The rows are
arranged at 200-300mm intervals along the process direction, and each spike is of
a suitable length to prevent the transfer of fibre material back toward the inlet
11. The length of the spikes 18 may vary according to their position along the process
direction due to their proximity to the pluralities of processing members 13A-13C.
[0072] The fins 15A-15D extend from the boundary members 16A and 16B and are disposed transverse
to the process direction. The fins may be 100mm in height and of the same width as
the boundary members 16A and 16B.
[0073] It can be seen that the device 10 is of suitable dimensions for easy transportation
when mounted on a trailer, or towed on its own wheels.
[0074] The dimensions mentioned are to be regarded as examples only, and are to be scaled
to achieve the best decortication of different plant varieties. It would be possible
to use the basic device 10 with interchangeable boundary members 16A and 16B and the
pluralities of processing members 13A-13C operating at different speeds to process
different plant varieties.
[0075] It will be appreciated by the person skilled in the art that although a specific
embodiment has been disclosed, equivalent elements may replace those shown. For instance,
the apertures 24 may be of alternative geometries without substantially altering their
technical effect.
[0076] As described above the device and method shown confer advantages over the state of
the art in simplifying the decortication of bast fibre bearing plants and providing
an effective and readily transportable apparatus for carrying this out.
[0077] The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently
with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which
are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such
papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.
[0078] All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims,
abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed,
may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such
features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.
[0079] Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims,
abstract and drawings), may be replaced by alternative features serving the same,
equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly
stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of
equivalent or similar features.
[0080] The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The
invention extend to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed
in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings),
or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process
so disclosed.
1. A device (10) for the separation of fibres from waste material in fibre bearing plants,
comprising a plurality of processing members (13A, 13B, 13C) mounted for rotation
within an enclosure (1), the enclosure (1) comprising an inlet (11) for material to
be processed, an outlet (12) for fibres and a plurality of apertures (24) to allow
the egress of waste material, the device being arranged, in use, to receive material
at the inlet (11) to undergo a first processing operation by a first plurality of
said processing members (13A), said first plurality of processing members being arranged
along a first axis of rotation (14A) and being arranged to perform a first stage of
separation of fibre from waste and to transfer fibres in a process direction for processing
by at least a second plurality of said processing members (13B).
2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein there are provided first through third pluralities
of said processing members (13A, 13B, 13C), said first through third pluralities being
rotationally mounted along respective first through third rotational axes (14A, 14B,
14C).
3. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said first plurality of processing members
(13A) counter-rotate with respect to the second plurality (13B) and the second plurality
(13B) counter-rotate with respect to the third plurality (13C).
4. A device as claimed in any one the above claims, wherein each plurality of processing
members (13A, 13B, 13C) comprises fibre separation elements (30, 36, 38) which are
mounted to a shaft (14A, 14B, 14C).
5. A device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said fibre separation elements (30, 36, 38)
extending from the shaft defining the first axis of rotation each comprise a breaking
member (31) and a support member (32).
6. A device as claimed in claim 8, wherein a first end of each support element (32) is
attached to a shaft (14A) and a second end of each support element (32) is attached
to a first end of a breaking member (31).
7. A device as claimed in claim 6, wherein each breaking member (31) comprises a cutting
edge.
8. A device as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein said fibre separation elements
(36) extending from the shaft defining the second axis of rotation (14B) comprise
a beating member.
9. A device as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 8, wherein at least the fibre separation
elements (30) extending from the shaft defining the first axis of rotation (14A) are
adapted to produce and promote air movement in the enclosure (1) to aid the separation
of the hurds and the fibre once the woody material has been broken away from the fibres.
10. A device as claimed in any one of the above claims, wherein said waste material passes
through apertures (24) formed in the lower boundary member (16A) under gravity.
11. A device as claimed in any one of the above claims, wherein the enclosure (1) contains
means to prevent fibres from moving away from the outlet back toward the inlet.
12. A device as claimed in any one of the above claims, wherein the enclosure (1) contains
aerodynamic means to promote a favourable flow of air within the enclosure (1) to
aid in the separation process.
13. A device as claimed in any one of the above claims, wherein removal of the waste material
from the enclosure (1) occurs in an automatic fashion.
14. A method of operating a device (10) for the separation of fibres from waste material
in fibre bearing plants, the device comprising a plurality of processing members (13A,
13B, 13C) mounted for rotation within an enclosure (1), the enclosure (1) comprising
an inlet (11) for material to be processed, an outlet (12) for fibres and a plurality
of apertures (24) to allow the egress of waste material, the method comprising:
receiving material at the inlet (11), said material subsequently undergoing a first
processing operation by a first plurality of said processing members (13A), said material
subsequently undergoing a first stage of separation of fibre from waste by a first
plurality of said processing members (13A) which are arranged along a first axis of
rotation (14A), said first plurality of processing members subsequently transferring
the fibres in a process direction for processing by at least a second plurality of
said processing members.