Patent GB-190224736-A (GB)
Title: Improved Apparatus for Pulling Out or Separating the Fibres and Strands of Wool, Cotton, and all Textile Fabrics, and also Flax and the like.
Inventor: WILKINSON FRED
Filed: 1902-11-11
Granted: 1903-11-11
Abstract: 24,736. Wilkinson, F. Nov. 11. Openers &c. ; breaking and scutching apparatus.- In apparatus for pulling-out or ssparating the fibres and strands of wool, cotton, flax, and other textile materials and fabrics, for the manufacture of yarns, felt, waste, flock, shoddy, &c., the material is fed intermittently, by an endless apron 1, Fig. 4, and rollers 19, 28, between gratings 9, 10, where it is acted upon and drawn out by a series of combs and then presented over a serrated bar 22 to the action of a toothed roller 24. One of the rollers carrying the apron 1, and the feed-rollers 19, 28, are driven intermittently by a wiper 49 carried by the main shaft 48 and acting through a lever 8, ratchet gear 6, and a train of spur-wheels. The gratings 9, 10 are preferably constructed with strips of steel secured, and spaced by slots, in a frame 11, and a sheet-metal mouthpiece is secured to the front ends of the gratings and to the cross-frames 17, 18. The rear ends of the gratings enter slots in cross-frames 20, 21, and the teeth of the roller 24 pass through serrations in a bar 22 fixed at the end of the lower grating. Two sets of combs are employed, the upper set being fixed to T-shaped bars 36, 37, 38, 39, and the lower set to bars 40, 41, 42, 43. The bars 36, 37, 40, 41 are linked to a frame 30, which is bolted to rocking arms 31 and oscillated by an eccentric 34 on the main shaft, and the bars 38, 39, 42, 43 are linked to vertical frames 25, which work in guides 27 fixed to the frames 18, 21, and are operated from the frame 30. The horizontal movement of thebars36,40 is limited by straps which hold them to the frame 30, and horizontal movement is imparted to the bars 37, 41 by the wiper 49, which acts on an extension 67 of the link carrying the bar 41, and on a lever 52 connected to a bell-crank link carrying the bar 37. In the position shown in Fig. 4, the upper set of combs have just completed their action, and the eccentric next acts to raise the frame 30, so that the upper combs are lifted clear and the lower combs rise into the spaces in the grating 10, the bar 41 being moved forwards, by the mechanism described, and pushing the bar 42 in front of it, to draw out the material, which is held by the bar 40. The lower set of combs then descend, and are moved into the position shown ready for the next operation, and the upper set come into action. The latter part of the return movement of the bars 41, 42 pushes the bar 40 as far as its limiting- straps will permit, and when next raised, the bar 40 rises into a fresh portion of the material. This small movement of the bars 36, 40 in their straps is effected against spring detents 57, 58 to prevent shock. Pivoted catches 63, 64, actuated by curved springs, detain the bars 37, 38 and 41, 42, respectively, during their period of action, these bars being returned by spiral springs 61 when moved clear of the gratings. The final separation of the fibres is effected by the bars 39, 43, which prevent irregular quantities from being presented over the serrated plate 22 to the toothed roller 24. The combs are preferably constructed with steel wire bent into staple form and secured by a flat bar and bolts to the T-shaped bars, wood filling-pieces being passed through the staples. In a modification, the springs 61 and catches 63, 64 are dispensed with, and the wiper 49 is replaced by cams which are partly concentric, so as to hold the levers 67, 52 steady and detain the bars 38, 39 and 41, 42 when in working position. Springs attached to the levers perform the functions of the springs 61. In some cases, the bar 22 and roller 24, or one of the sets of combs, may be dispensed with, and in others, the comb bars 36, 37, 38, 40, 41, 42 and the gratings may be dispensed with, the material being delivered into a groove between the comb bars 39, 43. According to the Provisional Specification, one comb bar may be arranged above the material and another one below, one comb holding the material while the other one draws it out, also, where a series of combs are employed above and below, a triangular cam bar is moved, by a crank or eccentric, between the outer comb and the next one to incline the outer one, which then enters the material, and a cam afterwards acts on the upper part of the comb, moving it about the triangular bar as a fulcrum, to draw out the fibres. Chains passing round sprocket-wheels at each side of the machine carry projections, which engage with the ends of the comb which has just completed its operation, and carry it up an inclined guide and over the other combs. This comb returns to its vertical position, and is then engaged by projections on other chains and carried down into position for operating again. In the interval, the triangular bar has acted upon the next comb in succession.