Improvements in the Machinery Used for Preparing the Fibre of Flax and other similar Fibres for Spinning into Yarns.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Dec., 1887
Complete Left, 18th Apr, 1888
Complete Accepted, 18th May, 1888
Improvements in the Machinery Used for Preparing the Fibre of
Flax and other similar Fibres for Spinning into Yarns.
We JOSEPH RICHARD GARRATT, Rialto Holywood, Co. Down, Flax Spinner and
WILLIAM SCOTT, 76 Agnes Street, Belfast Mechanical Engineer do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The prevention of Dust, Pouce or flowings or other matter derived from the fibre
at the earlier stages of its preparation entering into, or combining with, the fibre when
it is in the form of a sliver or rove.
It is usual in the preparation of Flax fibre (hereinafter called flax) to allow the
dust, pouce, or flowings or other matter as above (hereinafter called dust) to drop
under the Machinery to the floor, to be periodically removed. Portions of this dust
(which is extremely light) deposit themselves on the sliver and produce lumps on the
yarn which is made therefrom. This dust arises chiefly from the action of the Gills
passing through the flax and from the Drawing Rollers through which the flax passes.
These Rollers not only produce dust by their action on the flax but retain on their
surface particles of the fibre or other matter. To prevent these getting into the sliver
it is usual to have rubbers formed of Woollen cloth. The Dust or fibre is retained on
the Woollen surface and though in some cases partly removed by Brushes or other
means yet from the fact of the surface being Woollen it is impossible to remove it
entirely therefrom, and particles of it find their way into the Sliver.
In our Invention to prevent the Dust produced by the Gills coming into contact
with the Sliver we fit a Pan or Box close underneath the fallers or bars to which the
Gills are attached. This Box prevents currents of air blowing the dust into the
Sliver, and forms a receptacle into which the dust may accumulate; and in order to
prevent the dust derived from the Rollers getting into the sliver we use in place of
Rubbers covered with Woollen cloth one or more Scrapers formed of Metal pressed
against the drawing rollers by Springs, Levers or other suitable means. Such
scrapers having knife edges, and placed so as to remove any substance which may
adhere to the Delivery rollers.

page_text: Improvements in the Machinery Used for Preparing the Fibre of
Flax and other similar Fibres for Spinning into Yarns.
We JOSEPH RICHARD GARRATT of Rialto, Holywood, County Down, Flax Spinner
and WILLIAM SCOTT of No. 76 Agnes Street, Belfast, Mechanical Engineers, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement
This invention has for its object the prevention of Dust, Pouce, or Flowings, or
other matter derived from the fibre at the earlier stages of its preparation entering.
into or combining with it when it is in the form of a Sliver or Rove or interfering with
the action of the machinery producing same.
It is usual in machines required for the preparation of flax fibre and its manufacture
into a continuous ribbon, hereinafter called the Sliver and in Machines required for
the manufacture of the sliver into a loosely twisted yarn hereinafter called the Rove,
that particles of Dirt, Dust, Pouce, Flowings, or short and irregular portions of fibre
hereinafter called Dust, derived from the fibre itself or from particles floating in the
neighbourhood, adhere to and become incorporated in the sliver or rove and eventually
produce lumps in the Yarn spun therefrom; or adhere to the Rollers between which
the sliver passes, called the Drawing rollers thereby preventing them gripping the
sliver as is necessary for the purpose of drawing it through the Gills, such adherence
to the rollers being usually known by the name of Licking-up.' It is usual to prevent
as far as possible the entry of dust into the Sliver or Rove by systems of air-currents
obtained by Fans or similar means drawing the dust away; and by frequently
sweeping and cleaning up the floors and portions of the machines on which the dust
lodges. And to prevent the licking-up of the rollers and the accumulation of dust
thereon by rubbers formed of metal or wood and covered with flannel or similar
material pressed against them, the flannel being in contact with the roller, such
rubbers consisting of either a block; so covered, held in position by springs or weights
called a 'dead-rubber' or a cylinder similarly covered pressed and revolved against
the drawing roller called a 'revolving rubber. And as it is found that the greater
part of this dust is produced by the passage of the pins of the gills through the sliver
and by the pressure of the drawing and other rollers and that it is blown about and
deposited on the Sliver and Rove as well as made injurious to the health of the
attendants, and as it is found to accumulate on the rubbers and to become detached
therefrom in lumps which find their way into the Sliver or Rove and as it is further
found that the upper drawing rollers which are commonly made of wood have a
frequent tendency to lick up to prevent which it is usual to have a rubber thereon
consisting of a block of iron or weight faced with flannel resting on their upper
surface but to which there is the same objection as in the case of the lower rubbers.
And that unless the air of the factory be damp the friction of the rubbers and the

page_text: pressure of the rollers on the fibre produces Electricity which attracts the fibre and
tends to make it lick-up.
Now in our invention we avoid as far as possible the above named difficulties. By
preventing any current of air passing around or through the Gills or Sliver, thus
allowing particles of dust produced to settle down and mass themselves together in
such a way as to be easily removed. For this purpose we place a Pan as closely fitted
as possible to the surrounding parts under the Gills as shown in the accompanying
drawing. In this pan the air is perfectly still and the dust settles down as it is
formed without being blown about and from which it can be removed together with
the Pan conveniently.
If desired a small quantity of water or other fluid may be provided in the bottom
to solidify the dust. To prevent the licking-up of the dust on the rollers wo
substitute for the ordinary rubbers one or more scrapers of metal pressed against
them by springs or otherwise such scrapers being so placed and pressed that being
formed originally with keen knife edges their wear against the revolving surface still
keeps them sharp and closely in contact. By this means any particles of dust,
whether of gummy or other nature, are at once scraped or cut off the surface and
drop into a suitable receptacle, in place of accumulating on the rollers or on the
woollen cloth of the rubbers. And further in the case of wood rollers those scrapers
take off the electricity produced by the friction and thereby reduce the tendency to
lick-up.
If we fit a rubber to these Rollers, in place of attaching the flannel direct to the
block, we secure one end only of a strip, by pins and eyelets or other convenient
means to the block so that it can be easily removed. We lead the strip under the
block and attach a small weight to the free end of it so that it is kept in position on
the Rollers as shown. These strips when full of dust can be detached in a moment,
replaced with clean and taken to a convenient place for shaking the dust out of
them.
In the Drawing herewith Fig. 1 shows the Pan and Scrapers in sectional elevation
with the surrounding parts. Fig. 2 the same in front elevation. Figs. 3. 4. 5
show on a larger scale the section, elevation, and plan of the scrapers.
In these views A is the sliver advancing between the back rollers R R in the
direction of the arrows through the Gills G to the Drawing rollers . r, and from
which as it issues it is twisted into Rove by bobbins not shown. g. g. are the
returning Gills; P. P. is the Pan kept in place by catch p. and fitted close at P, to
scrapers. S. S. are the scrapers secured to frame F and pressed against the roller by
spiral springs as shown resting on f. c is a hooked projection secured to frame so
that the spiral springs may be compressed by catching and c. in the fingers for the
purpose of conveniently freeing and removing the frame and scrapers.
The front scraper is made to slide up and down on the frame, the holes in it by
which it is secured being made oval as shown, for the purpose of conveniently cleaning
out any dirt that may lodge between them. It is kept in position by lever L. The
whole being supported by the frame of the Machine M.
S, is a scraper for the top drawing roller which is usually made of wood. Under it
is the pan P, which projects past the line where the scraper touches the wood so as to
catch any dust that may be detached. The scraper is held against the roller by
springs or other well known means not shown.
V is a strip of Flannel secured to the block W by pins X. A weight Y being fixed
at one end to keep it in contact with the Roller.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what way the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:
1st The use of a Pan for holding the Dust and preventing currents of air placed
under the Gills in Machines for Preparing flax fibre.
2nd The use of Scrapers to remove dust from the lower drawing rollers

page_text: 3rd-The use of Scrapers to remove dust and Electricity from the top drawing
rollers.
4th The use of the combination of Pan and Scrapers on the lower drawing rollers
as described.
5th The use of the combination of Scrapers on the top and lower drawing
rollers.
6th-The use of the combination of top roller scrapers and pans as described.
7th The use of the combination of top scrapers bottom scrapers and pans as
described.
Sth The use of a loose strip of Flannel or other similar material resting on the top
roller as described combined with any of the above claimed arrangements.
· Dated this 13th day of Annil 1000
ALEX. B. WILSON,
Holywood, Co. Down, Ireland,
Agent for the above named Joseph R. Garratt
and William Scott.