Fiber separation method and apparatus

Abstract

An apparatus and method for reaching a 99% separation of bast and core fibers from herbaceous fiber producing plants using a series of pre-separation cleaning and conditioning steps which place the bast and core fibers in a better condition for separation before they are actually separated. The harvested fiber plants are cut at a specified length. These fibers are then introduced into a conditioning apparatus which breaks up and dries, but does not yet separate the bast and core fibers. The conditioned fibers are then introduced into an auger and feeder which distributes the dried fiber over up to four identical separation lines. Each line includes at least one core separator made up of a large rotating spiked cylinder partially surrounded by a spiked, grated housing, a smaller rotating spiked cylinder which produces an air flow, and an upwardly moving inclined conveyor having openings therein. The heavier woody core fiber is thrown, shaken or dropped through the grated housing and/or conveyor openings and removed to the core cleaner. The remaining bast fiber may then be introduced into a second identical core separator where this separation process is repeated, or it may be introduced into the multi-saw bast fiber opener with a non-positive feed control. The opener includes many rolls which further clean and separate the bast fiber from the core. The bast fiber is then blown upward into an air line separator from which the fiber exits into a bale press for compression into bales for shipment or storage.