IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY POR PREPARING AND SPINNING COTTON AND OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS."
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Muir Hetherington, of Manchester, in the County
of Lancaster, Machinist, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY
POR PREPARING AND SPINNING COTTON AND OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Muir Hetherington at
the Office of the Commissionors of Patents on the 13th November 1880.
4
JOHN MUIR HETHERINGTON, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster,
Machinist. IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR PREPARING AND SPINNING
COTTON AND OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS."
My Invention relates to the machinery used in the preparing and spinning of
cotton and other fibrous materials. In some cases, by reason of a want of truth in
the rollers of combing machines, or from other causes, the weight hooks vibrate or
dance upon the roller necks and thereby interfere with the regular action of the
rollers. To remedy this defect I interpose a suitable spring between the roller and
the weight, as, for example, I hook a spiral spring on to the lower end of the
weight hook, or I form the lower end of the said hook into a spiral spring,
and I suspend the weight from the lower end of this spring. A spring so applied
permits the weight hook to follow the movements of the roller neck more quickly
than the inertia of the weight will permit when the said weight is applied in
the ordinary manner. This part of my Invention is also applicable to the drawing
rollers of other apparatus employed in preparation and spinning. To the ordinary
nipper which holds the cotton during the combing operation I apply a plate or bar
which presses the cotton against a surface which I form or provide upon one of
the jaws of the nippers with the object of putting an amount of pressure or tension
upon the fibres whilst they are being drawn forwards and detached. A sliding
movement may be imparted to the said plate or bar in order to assist the feeding
of the cotton into the nipper.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Muir Hetherington in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 12th
May 1881.
"
JOHN MUIR HETHERINGTON, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster,
Machinist. IMPROVEMENTS
MACHINERY
SPINNING
PREPARING
COTTON AND OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS."
IN
FOR
AND
My Invention relates to the machinery used in the preparing and spinning of
cotton and other fibrous materials. In some cases, by reason of a want of truth
in the rollers of combing machines, or from other causes, the weight hooks vibrate
or dance upon the roller necks and thereby interfere with the regular action of
the rollers. To remedy this defect I interpose a suitable spring between the roller
and the weight. This part of my Invention is also applicable to the drawing
rollers of other apparatus employed in preparation and spinning. To the ordinary
nippers which hold the cotton during the combing operation I apply a blade, plate,
or bar, which presses the cotton against a surface upon one of the jaws of the
nippers with the object of putting an amount of pressure or tension upon the fibres
whilst they are being drawn forwards and detached.
In order that the following description of my Invention may be fully understood
I have attached hereunto three Sheets of Drawings marked with letters of reference.
Referring to Sheet 1 of the said Drawings, Figs. 10 to 14, drawn about half the
full size, illustrate the improvements in the weighting of top rollers in combing
machines and other top drawing rollers employed in the preparation and spinning
of fibrous materials. In Fig. 10 a is the top roller and 61 is a hook upon which
an ordinary weight can be hung. In the example the hook b₁ is connected by
means of a spiral spring cl with the slotted link d¹, which can be acted upon to
take the weight off the roller when a weight relieving motion is employed. The
interposition of the spring c prevents the dancing or vibration of the ordinary
weight hook e upon the roller neck; Fig. 11 illustrates a simple arrangement
wherein the spring directly connects the weight hook el with a weight f¹. In
Fig. 12 the spring is concealed within a chamber forined within the weight; Fig. 13
illustrates the application of the spring in cases wherein the weight is mounted
upon a lever so that the pressure upon the roller neck may be regulated; Fig. 14
illustrates a form of flat curved spring which may be employed in lieu of the spiral
spring. I do not confine myself to any form of spring so long as a spring is
interposed between the weight and the part which transmits the effect of the
weight to the roller. Figs. 1 to 9 in the three Sheets illustrate the improvements
in the nipping apparatus of combing machines. In the said Figs. is the shaft
which carries the levers to which the upper nipper jaw c is attached. The
said levers are each in two parts, one parts being fixed to the shaft and the other
part 6 being secured to the part as is usual. Upon studs or pins d, d, which are
secured to the arms 8, 8, is mounted the levor frame e, to which is secured the lower
nippor jaw has is usual. Upon each of the said studs is also mounted an
additional lever f, and these two levers carry the blade or plato g which I add to
the apparatus. This blade, which I will term a presser plate, is formed at each end
with a projection which is drilled to fit upon a pin y which is secured to one of
the levers f. Each projection is also forined with a slotted lug through which
passes a bolt which secures the said lug to the side of the lever f, the arrange-
inent permitting of the adju-tment of the presser plate upon the levers. The
plate connects together the ends of levers f, f, so as to form a lever frame. The
hooks j, which are acted upon by the springs to lift the lever frame e, are not
directly connected with the said lever-frame but are attached to levers which are
mounted upon studs or pins which are secured to the said lever fratne.
One of the levers with the hook is separately represented in Fig. 3.
In the case of each lever one end is mounted upon the lever frame and
formed on the
the other end bears against the underside of a projection
lever f, the attachment to the hook boing intermediate. The effect of this

page_text: arrangement is that the hooks j, j, raise both the ordinary nipper jaw and the
presser plate 9, but owing to the connection of the two lever frames by means of the
levers,, one lever frame can rise in advance of the other. The lever frame e is
drawn down at the required times by means of fingers n which are fixed upon
the shaft m and act upon projections ", r, on the said lever frames as is usual, and
when the said lever frame is so drawn down it comes in contact with the ends of
adjustable screws i, i, which are carried by the lever frame f, whereby the presser
plate is withdrawn a short distance so as to permit the sliver to be drawn
forwards when the feed takes place. Figs. 4 to 9 illustrate the action of the
nipper h and of the presser plate g, the nipping jaws on the combing cylinder
being represented by S' and 'T', and the feed roller by p. In Fig. 4 the parts are
represented in the positions assumed when the jaws last named are about to seizo
the strick of combed fibres, both the nipper h and the presser plate g holding_the
sliver. In Fig. 5 the jaws S' and T' have closed upon the strick of fibres, and in
Fig. 6 they have moved forwards, the nipper h and the presser plate g having
retired, the latter having been drawn down only sufficiently to permit the sliver
to be drawn forwards. The comb which is about to enter the sliver is represented
by D. In Fig. 7 the said comb has entered the sliver and the presser plate g has
been raised into closer contact therewith so as to hold the same against the under-
surface of the jaw c. In Fig. 8 the combed strick of fibres has been separated and
the ordinary nipper.h has been raised by the springs, the sliver being held by the
presser plate as well as by the nipper h. The combs on the cylinder now advance
and comb the fibres as indicated by Fig. 9. The presser plate by holding the
longer staple lessens the production of waste in the combing. I may arrange for
the presser plate to swivel upon the studs y, or otherwise suitably mount it so
that its upper end can be moved with the sliver during the feeding forwards of the
same. The said presser plate may be adapted to parts of combing machines
otherwise constructed than as indicated in the Drawings, and in some cases may
hold the sliver against a lower nipper instead of against an upper nipper.
Having now fully set forth and indicated the nature of my said Invention, and
the manner in which I carry the same into practical effect, I would have it to be
understood in conclusion that I claim,-
First. The combination of parts for weighting top drawing rollers, substantially
as set forth and indicated herein before, and in and by Figs. 10 to 14 of the
accompanying Drawings.
Secondly. The interposition of springs between the loads and the parts, which
rest upon the top roller necks or gudgeons, substantially as and for the purpose set
forth and indicated.
Thirdly. The application to each combing head in combing machines of an
additional presser plate to hold the sliver between the ordinary nipper jaw and the
feed roller, substantially as set forth and indicated.
And, Lastly. The presser plate g arranged and acting substantially as and for
the purpose set forth and indicated.
In witness whereof, 1, the said John Muir Hetherington, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Tenth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
Signed, sealed, and delivered in
presence of
EDWARD K. DUTTON,
41, John Dalton St.,
Manchester.
(Agent for the Patentee.)
JOHN M. HETHERINGTON. (Ls.)