Patent GB-190312890-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Machines for Combing or Heckling Flax, Hemp and similar Fibre.
Inventor: HADDAN REGINALD
Filed: 1903-06-08
Granted: 1904-04-28
Abstract: 12,890. Haddan, R., [Soc. Anon. de la Lys]. June 8. Heckling-machines feeding and transferring flax &c. - The stricks of flax, hemp, &c. are gripped at one end between intermittently-driven rubber-faced endless belts 87,88, Fig. 1, and carried along the vertically reciprocating slide 4 of a fi r s t heckling- machine, shown in Fig. 1, the heckled ends being the n taken by another pair of similar belts 89, 90, Figs. 1 and 1<a>, and carried through a second heckling - machine, shown in Fig. 1<a>, for heckling the other end of the stricks, which are fi n a 11 y deposited transversely on a horizontal apron 81 travelling obliquely to the axis of the machine. The belts 87, 88 pass round adjustable guide-rollers mounted on a frame 19 carried by the slide 4, which is reciprocated by counterbalanced straps 7, Fig. 2, passing over and fixed to a pulley 8 oscillated by a belt 12 and rod 14 from a c a m - actuated lever 15. The stricks are laid on the belt 88 as it passes over an endless apron 23, Fig. 1, and the belts, after receiving the stricks, pass between vertical rollers carried by a guide 31 arranged at the front end of the slide 4, being thereby turned into a vertical position with the stricks hanging down. In this position, the belts travel through the machine, and round pulleys 44, 45 carried at the rear end of the slide 4. The ;pulleys are toothed to engage perforations in the belts, and are geared together and actuated to move the belts intermittently by a pawl 48 operated by a rod 49, a series of levers, and a bar 57, from a cam-actuated lever 58, Fig. 2. As the belts 87, 88 pass round the pulleys 44, 45, the heckled ends of the stricks are taken between belts 89, 90 passing round pulleys 64, 65 below. The belts 89, 90 are turned through a right - angle in passing to a pulley 68, Fig. 1a, and a horizontal roller 72 carried on a spring arm, and then through another right-angle as they pass to vertical rollers carried by a guide 75 fixed to the slide 4 at the front of the second machine. The ends of the fibres to be heckled thus hang down vertically, and are carried through the second machine in a similar manner to their passage through the first, the belts 89, 90 finally passing round similar pulleys 44, 45 and depositing the fibres on the apron 81, which is driven intermittently from the pulleys 44, 45. The movement is imparted to the belts, to carry the stricks from one set of heckles to the next, when the slide 4 is in its highest position, the belts merely moving with the slide during its vertical movement, and pneumatic pressure is applied to the belts to grip the fibres firmly during the heckling. To effect this, one of the bars 5, Fig. 9, of the slide 4 carries a block of wood 92 extending through the machine, and a series of wood blocks 93 opposite the block 92 are suspended by a rod 94 from a pivoted lever 96, on which a spring 98 acts to press the blocks 93 forward sufficiently to cause the belts 87, 88 to hold the fibres and still allow the belts to travel. A flat flexible pipe 101 is arranged behind the blocks 93, and compressed air is automatically admitted to, and released from, this pipe before and after the heckling, by the movements of the lever 15, Fig. 2, actuating valves in a valve-box 106 connected with the compressedair supply. A spring 102 forces the air from the pipe 101 when the exhaust valve is opened ; the pipe 101 is supplied through a pipe 104, Fig. 1<a>, which passes through the machine and is flexibly connected to a pipe 105 communicating with the valve-box at the openings 110, 111, Fig. 3. The opening 107 communicates with the air supply, and the opening 108 with the atmosphere for exhaust. In a modification of the pressing- arrangement, the blocks 93 are replaced by guides carried by steel blades hinged to the axis of the lever 96 and normally pressed inwards by the lever. The air pipe 101 transmits the pressure through a block having a single contact point bearing against the central part of the guide, so that the maximum pressure is applied at the centre of the width of the belts. In another modification, the lever 96 is hinged to a pivoted lever from which the blocks are suspended, and hangs down vertically in front of the air pipe.