Improvements in Machines for Hackling Flax and other like Fibres.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 8th May, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 8th Feb, 1890-Accepted, 8th May, 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Improvements in Machines for Hackling Flax and other like
Fibres.
I JOHN ERSKINE of Wolfhill Mill, Ligoniel, Belfast, Ireland, Manager, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows
This invention relates to machines for purpose aforesaid and the object is by the
employment of an improved construction, combination, and arrangement of parts
applied to a hackling machine to dispense with the hand process of "ending" the
flax, hemp, or other fibre under operation, and effecting the ending by aid of the
machine as improved
-
According to this my invention I employ in connection with the flax holder a
spring on elastic nipping device This device nips between it the flax or fibre at a
distance below the ordinary "holder" The portion of the flax which has been
hackled has its end secured between upping surfaces which through the upward
action of the "channel detaches or ends" the flax or fibie and by means of
levers operated by tappet or cam, from the "head wheel" or other convenient going
part of the machine
'
The said nipping surfaces have imparted thereto motions whereby when opening,
they release the portion or ends of the fibie detached, whereon sliding or tumbling
bars or plates are brought into position for receiving or clearing away the breakings
oi fibre detached
Connected to the ending lever and operated by the head wheel are links and
aims which carry the strippet bais, plates or combs, which strippers work in con-
Junction with, and denive then requisite motions from the said ending lever oi
other wise
Fixed to the channel there are also pressing levers for pressing the flax between
the holder and nipping device One or both of these pressers are faced with india
rubber or elastic substance These pressers are operated on by brackets which are
fastened on the gable of machine on the ending may be effected by means of fluted
or toothed rollers which might also have the bottom of the teeth or grooves faced
with india rubber or endless leather diawing sheets might be employed, which sheets
would have on bais fastened thereon In either of the above devices suitable tow
catchers or strippe's might be combined
In connection with the above I may use a "finishing" hackle with like devices.
1000
WALTER BRIERLEY,
Town Hall Buildings, Halifax, Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
Improvements in Machines for Hackling Flax and other like
Fibres
I JOHN ERSKINE, of Wolfhill Mill, Ligoniel, Belfast Ireland, Manager, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
This invention relates to machines for purpose atoresaid and the object is by the
employment of an improved construction, combination and arrangement of parts
applied to a hackling machine to dispense with the hand process of "ending" the
flax, hemp or other fibre under operation and effecting the ending by aid of the
machine as improved
According to this my invention I employ in connection with the flax holder a
nipping device which may be arranged elastic. This device nips between it the flax

page_text: or fibre at a distance below the ordinary "holder," the portion of the flax which his
been hackled and its ends secured between nipping surfaces which through the upward
action of the channel detaches or "ends the flax, or fibre, and by means of levers
operated by tappet or cam, from the "head wheel" or other convenient going part
of the machine the uppers are opened
The said nipping surfaces have imparted thereto motions whereby, when opening
they release the portion o1
"ends" of the fibe attached whereon shiding, or
tumbling bars, or plates are brought into position for receiving, or clearing away the
breakings, or fibre detached
Connected to the ending lever, and operated by the "head-wheel" are links,
and arins which carry the stripper bars, plates, or combs, which stripper bars work
in conjunction with and derive their requisite motions from the said "ending" lever,
or otherwise
Fixed to the channel there are also pressing levers for pressing the flax between the
holder, and nipping device. One or both of these pressers are faced with india rubber
or elastic substance and are operated on by brackets which are fastened on the gable
of machine, or the ending may be effected by means of fluted, or toothed rollers which
might also have the bottom of the teeth, or grooves faced with india rubber Or
endless leather drawing sheets might be employed, which sheets would have iron bars
fastened thereon In either of the above devices suitable tow catches, or strippers
might be combined
In connection with the above, I may use a finishing "hackle with like devices
Such being the nature and object of my said invention the following is a
complete description of same, reference being made to the accompanying drawings
in which
Fig 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the nipping or
tumbling hackle
<<
'ending" device and
Fig 2 is an end elevation of a backling machine having my improvements applied
thereto.
Fig 3 is an end view of part of machine and view of rollers, brackets, and gearing
connected therewith
Fig 4 is a front view of part of Fig 3.
Fig 5 is an end, sectional view of nipper brackets, stripper plates finishing hackle
and appliances connected therewith, shewn detached from the machine in order to
more clearly illustrate same
Fig 6 is an end view of sheets, and transverse nipping bars
Figs. 7, 8 and 9 are details, or parts detached
Fig 10 18 a modified arrangement of parts for opening, and closing the hackles
or nippers
Fig 12 is a detail drawn to enlarged scale
According to this my said invention I employ in connection with the flax holder 3
anipping device which may be arranged to be elastic, and is constructed, and operates
as follows
Below the ordinary "holder" 3 is fixed a projecting pad 4, its position being
adjustable vertically to suit the different lengths of flax, or other material operated
upon, opposite to the said projecting pad 4 is a second pad 5 mounted, and carried on
the lever 6, by which it is brought into contact with its corresponding, and stationary
pad 4, thus forming a nipping device which is opened, and closed by the lever 6
which is free to move on its fulcrum pin 7, and its lower end is formed into a cam
surface or track 8 acted upon by the runner 9 on the "head wheel 10
The nipping device 4.5 above described, nips between it the flax, or fibre 11 under
operation, at a distance below the ordinary "holder" 3, that portion of the flax 01
fibre 11 which has been "hackled' having its "end" secured between the nipping
sui faces 4 5 and through the upward action of the channel and ordinary "holder" 3
detaches, or "ends 'the flax, or fibre 11 The said nipping sui face 5 recedes from
the surface 4 through the action of the runner 9, and track 8, on the lever 6 thus
releasing the portion or "ends" of the flax or fibre 11" whereon sliding, or tumbling

page_text: bars, or plates 18 18 are brought int position for clearing away the breakings, or
fibie detached
The action and use of the nippers 4 5 is to break, and remove weak, and bad fibre,
and loose "ends" from the hackled material which hangs down below the ordinary
"holder 3, the nipping device 4 5 being open until the fibro has got to the limit of
its descent, whereon the face 5 is brought in contact with the stationary face 4 and
the fibre is held between the same whilst the channel with the "holder "2 3 ascends,
thus the weak, and bad portions, and the loose "ends" of the "strick' are detached,
and left between the uppers 45 When the channel and holder 3 have ascended
and lifted the flax, or fibie 11 free of the nipping device 4, 5 then the moving pad
is withdiawn
At the same time a pan of stupper plates 18. 18 descend (see Figs 2 & 5), through
the action of lever 6 and connecting rod 6' turning the aims ob on their fulcram
studs and clear away the loose ends, or waste from the nippers 45 and allow it to
fall away
As the channel and holde 3 again descends the stripper plates 18 18 are
withdrawn by the action of the runner 9 on the level 6 which operates the said
strippers, and the same action closes the nippers + 5 and the operation is repeated, so
that these parts alternately assume the positions shewn in Figs 2 and 5
Along and in combination with the before described nipping device 45 for
"ending" the flax or fibre, I in some cases employ finishing hackles, or combs 13 13
which act on both sides of the flax, or fibre 11 as it is being drawn up by the channel
and "holder", the hackles 13 13 being withdrawn, after the flax or hibre 11 has
passed through them, and the stupper plates 14 14 remove the tow, or waste from
them (see Figs 5 and 12)
The hnishing hackles 13 13 are brought into and out of operation at the same
time as the nipping device being actuated by the level 6, (see Fig 7) detailed part
which shows how the hackles are supported by two bars 7" 7 which are fastened to
the same plate on which the moving pad 5 is hxed, thus the advancing and retiring
motion is given to the hackle 13 on that side simultaneously with the nipping device
The hackles on the opposite side are supported by radius arms 7° 7 (see Fig 1)
which are fixed on the rocking shaft 4* One of these radius arms is connected to
the pendant lever 29 by a link at 29ª The pendant level 29 is connected to the
lever 6 by link 30' thus giving the hackle 13 which 13 supported by the radius
arms 77 the corresponding motion to the other side
When the breaking or ending of the fibre is done by rollers (see Fig 3) the pendant
lever 29 and the lever 6 and nipping brackets 4 and 5 are dispensed with in which
case 1 use the motion shewn in Fig 10 to work the hackles
Fixed to the channel which carries the "holders " 3 are pendant levers 15 15 which
carry presseis 16 16 for pressing the fibre 11 between the holder 3 and the nipping
device 45 one or both of which pressers 16 are faced with india rubber, or other
elastic substance, and are operated by springs, or by brackets 17 17 fixed to the end
of the machine, which brackets 17 17 as the channel and "holders" 3 descends force
together the pendant levers 15 15 and pressers 16 16 which pressers 16 16 are only
used for the "breaking," and not for hackling (see Fig 1) and are used above the
stripper and rollers
When the channel and holder 3 have ascended after the fibre 11 has been broken
(see Fig.1) it (the fibre) is then pushed forward and is let down between the combs
or hackles (see Fig 1) The latter are brought into contact with 11 on both sides
(see Fig 2) while it is drawn up again The combs are then drawn back and as they
etire they go between the plates 14 14 which push the combings from the pins and
assume the position shewn in Fig 5 with 14 14 projecting over the pins The
stripper plates 14 14 are fastened together by studs or bolts 34 (see Fig 12) which
also fasten the slotted brackets 35 to 14.
When the hackles close on the fibie 11 the stripper plates 14 14 are held back by-
the slotted brackets 35 which are held u position by 26 20
In some cases (see Fig 6) where the fibre is strong the "ending" is effected by
means of endless sheets, or aprons 18 having transverse non bars 19 fixed thereon but
r

page_text: for weak fibres the transverse iron bars 19 may be dispensed with
The "
ending
در
is also effected by fluted, grooved or plain rollers as shewn in Figs 3 and 4
To remove the tow or waste from the rollers a a shewn in Figs. 3 and 4 ordinary
stationary rubbers are employed, and in case of the endless sheets Fig. 6 with or
without bars 19 tumbling combs 25 25 with stripper plates 14" 14" are employed
In Fig 10 is shewn a modification of my improved device for working the finishing
hackle when the ending is done by rollers on the shaft, or axis of the "head wheel " 10
18 a tappet 20 which operates one end of a lever 21 the other end being fixed on a
fulcrum stud 21" and about midway the length of the said lever 21 18 a vertical
connecting rod 22 attached to two bell crank levers 23 23 When the lever 21 rises,
or falls through the action of the tappet 20 it imparts a nipping motion to the nippers
4 5, attached to them the bell crank leveis 23 23 tunning on their fixed studs 24 24,
which are the equivalent of the fixed fulcrum stud 7 and pendant lever in Fig 2 and
radius levers 7 7 and rocking shaft 4° (see Fig 1)
The projecting studs 26 26 fixed on the gable of the machine "tumble" the
hackles 13 13 (see Fig 1) by the levers 30 30 striking the projecting studs 26 26
when the hackles are opening or receding The same studs also bing the plates
back o into position when the hackle is entering the fibre 11
The hackles are brought into position when moving towards each other by means
of levers and counter balance weights 27 27 which est on brackets 28 28 keeping
them firm in position against the pressure on the hackles At 31 is tumbling tow
catcher (see Fig 12) with balance weight At 32 is the aim for stinking or tumbling 31
by striking it at 33 The hackle 13 13 is arranged to be tumbled at such a time as
the stupper plates fall and clear away the tow, and if desirable the plates may be
dispensed with and the combs cleaned with a brush if only one or two combs be used
The combs are made by soldering pins on light steel bars, or plates, and a piece of
light material is soldered on the plate behind the pins so as to provide a smooth and
even surface for the stripper plates on the bais may be sunk the thickness of the pins,
which are then soldered l'he hackle is made leaving space between the rows of pins
for the strippers to work between
Fig 12 is an enlarged and sectional view of a hackle 13 composed of four combs
and tumbling tow catcher, also the the top end of a radius arm 6 shewing how the hackle
18 hinged to it by a 1od which passes along the bottom at 40 through the tops of the
radius levels and through the eyes 40° at the bottom of the hackle The dotted lines
shew the stripper plates 14 When the hackle 13 is receding the projection 30
strikes 26 (see Fig 1) and tumbles the hackle (as in Fig 5)
balance weight 27 is then lifted from its resting bracket 28 until the hackle 13 15
going for ward when the lever again falls against 28 which causes the hackle 13 to
have a level position for re-entering the fibre
The lever and counter-
The tumbling tow catcher 31 18 made of wood and fastened to a level 36 which
works upon the rod 37 which is held by 38 that is fastened on the rod 26
The tow catcher 18 for removing the combings from 14 When the hackle is
tumbling it comes in contact with 31 and depresses it At 32 is a radius bracket
which strikes a projection on 31 at 33 knocking the tow catcher down so as to throw
the tow from it At an extended end of 39 is counterbalance weight
Referring now to Figs 3 and 4 which are respectively front and side views of
rollers brackets and gearing connected therewith, shewn in position on the gable
(see Fig 3) at 1 is bracket for bolting to machine 2 is a bracket for carrying rollers
which is adjustable by screw and hand wheel 3 4 iron rolleı 5 wood pressing
roller with iron axles, 6 spiral springs for pressing wood roller 7, 8 pinions gearing
both rollers 9 driving pinion 10 intermediate wheel for adjusting gearing by radius
bracket 11 12 driving pinion on sheet shaft.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature and object of my
said invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim 18
-
"
1 The use and employment of a fixed nipping device for effecting the "ending ” of

page_text: the flax, or fibre, operating and operated by means such as described herein and illus-
trated by annexed drawings Figs 2 3 4 5 and 6
2 The use and employment of a finishing hackle either before, orafter the "ending"
operation has been performed, as her ein described,such finishing hackle being employed
in combination with the fixed nipping device
3 The use and employment of a finishing hackle either before, or after the "ending"
operation has been performed, as herein described, and as illustrated by diawings
annexed
Deted the 7th day of February 1890
JOHN ERSKINE.
By his Agent, Walter Brierley,
Central Chambers, Halifax