IMPROVEMENTS IN CARDING MACHINES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Carl Pieper, of Dresden and Berlin, for the Invention of
" IMPROVEMENTS IN CARDING MACHINES." A communication from abroad
by Dr. Hermann Grothe, Civil Engineer, of Berlin, 172, Alte Jacobstrasse.
Sealed the 19th July 1878, and dated the 28th January 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Carl Pieper at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 28th January 1878.
CARL PIEPER, of Dresden and Berlin.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN CARDING MACHINES."
A communication from Dr. Hermann Grothe, Civil Engineer, of Berlin, 172, Alte
Jacobstrasse.
This Invention relates to a new construction of carding machines for wool, cotton,
bourrette, flax, and other fibrous materials, and the object of the same is to carry
out the entire carding process or the several partial processes on one system of
arrangement of the carding machines, by which the fibres are successively treated
with increasing energy.
The assortment of carding machines may consist of two, three, or more single
machines, all constructed according to this system. The object of the Invention is,
moreover, to combine with such carding machines an improved apparatus for con-
verting the fleece into slub.
Instead of one large main or carding cylinder combined with a number of carding
rollers or workers, and clearing rollers or strippers as hitherto employed, I use
several smaller carding cylinders operating independently of each other, each
cylinder being provided with a single worker, and with a doffer which conveys the
fibres to the next carding cylinder. The workers rovolve in adjustable bearings, so
that their distance from the carding cylinder to which they belong can be
regulated, or that they may be brought into operation with two contiguous carding

page_text: cylinders if desired. The number of revolutions which any cylinder of the series
makes is higher than the number made by the preceding one. From the end doffer
the fibres are taken off by a comb as usual.
The described arrangement of cylinders may also be applied in the willow, with
the only difference that the two first cylinders should have strong teeth, whilst the
other cylinders operating together with workers and doffers have to be covered
with cards of suitable fineness.
With the two first cylinders an apparatus is combined for cleaning the wool
from burs, &c. The machine is thus a willow combined (with burring apparatus)
and scribbler.
The carding process proper I prefer to execute on two different machines
delivering fleeces of successively increasing fineness, but which are both constructed
on the same principle. The second one of these machines may be combined with
an apparatus for dividing the fleece into bands or ribbons, and with condensers for
converting the latter into slub..
The improved dividing apparatus which I have invented consists of two rollers,
over each of which a series of endless straps of leather runs; these straps are so
arranged that one strap of the lower roller and the corresponding strap of the upper
roller run in contact with each other to the lower condenser, whilst the contiguous
pairs of straps pass in the same manner to the upper condenser. Any two of these
straps constituting a pair, i.e., one strap from the lower and one from the upper
roller, detach from the fleece a part of their own width, and holding the same
between them convey it to the corresponding condenser.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Carl Pieper in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 22nd July
1878.
CARL PIEPER, of Dresden, in the Kingdom of Saxony, Civil Engineer. "IM-
IN CARDING MACHINES." (A communication from Dr. Hermann
Grothe, of Berlin, 172, Alte Jacobsstrasse, Civil Engineer.)
PROVEMENTS
This Invention relates to a new construction of carding machines for wool, cotton,
bourrette, flax, and other fibrous materials, and the object of the same is to carry
out the entire carding process or the several partial processes on one system of
arrangement of the carding machines, by which the fibres are successively treated
with increasing energy.
The assortment of carding machines may consist of two, three, or more single
machines, all constructed according to this system. The object of the Invention is,
moreover, to combine with such carding machines an improved apparatus for con-
verting the fleece into slub.
Instead of one large main or carding cylinder combined with a number of carding
rollers or workers, and clearing rollers or strippers as hitherto employed, I use
several smaller carding cylinders operating independently of each other, each
cylinder being provided with a single worker, and with a doffer which conveys the
fibres to the next carding cylinder. The workers revolve in adjustable bearings, so
that their distance from the carding cylinder to which they belong can be regulated,
or that they may be brought into operation with two contiguous carding cylinders
if desired. The number of revolutions which any cylinders of the series makes is
higher than the number made by the preceding one. From the end doffer the
fibres are taken off by a comb as usual.
The described arrangement of cylinders may also be applied in the willow, with
the only difference that the two first cylinders should have strong teeth, whilst the
other cylinders operating together with the workers and doffers have to be covered
with cards of suitable fineness.
With the two first cylinders an apparatus is combined for cleaning the wool from
burs, &c. The machine is thus a willow (with buring apparatus) and scribbler
combined.
The carding process proper I prefer to execute on two different machines,
delivering fleeces of successively increasing fineness, but which are both constructed
on the same principle. The second one of these machines may be combined with
an apparatus for dividing the fleece into bands or ribbons, and with condensers for
converting the latter into slub.
The improved dividing apparatus which I have invented consists of two rollers,
over each of which a series of endless straps of leather run; these straps are so
arranged, that one strap of the lower roller and the corresponding strap of the upper
roller run in contact with each other to the lower condenser, whilst the contiguous
pairs of straps pass in the same manner to the upper condenser. Any two of these
straps constituting a pair, i.e., one strap from the lower and one from the upper
roller, detach from the fleece a part of their own width, and holding the same
between them convey it to the corresponding condenser.
On the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, this Invention is represented by
Figures 1
1
6.
The ordinary main or carding cylinder has been abandoned in my improved
carding machine. The material is conducted from the travelling lattice A, Fig. 2,
by the feed rollers B to the taker-in roller C, which makes only from 16 to 20
revolutions per minute. From this roller the slowly rotating roller D (4-10
revolutions) detaches the fibres and charges itself with them. The roller E
revolving at the quicker speed of from 48 to 60 revolutions, thereupon combs the
material off from D and delivers it to the worker F, which rotates slowly, and which

page_text: is also in engagement with the taker-in C. The worker F is however only placed
close enough to C as to allow the teeth of the latter roller to take off from the
worker the flakes which have not been opened, these thereupon being submitted to
a repetition of the first course of working. All the fibres already isolated and lying
smoothly between the carding teeth cannot pass from E to the worker F, but are
carried along until they are taken off by the cylinder G which rotates quicker (at
about 120-180 revolutions), and the carding teeth of which have the contrary
direction. This cylinder thereupon passing the slowly rotating roller H delivers all
unopened flakes to the latter, which on its part returns them to E. The mass of
fibres already sleeked and isolated remains on G and passes in its comparatively
prepared condition to the workers K and J, the former turning it and re-conveying it
to G, the latter eventually delivering it to E. The well prepared and isolated fibres,
however, pass further on to M, with which cylinder the worker L and the fly N act
together for the final completion of the process; the fly lifting the fibres on the
points of the carding teeth, whereupon they are delivered to the doffer O for being.
combed off as usual.
It will be observed that this mode of working differs very materially from the
method formerly applied. When the ordinary large carding cylinder is used, the
mass of fibres deposited on its surface is repeatedly taken up by the workers and
strippers and ever again returned to the cylinder. The result of this is, that flakes
which cannot be opened are dragged on towards the doffer, and if they are not
thrown off by the fly, they will appear in the fleece, although perhaps in reduced
state. In the present system of carding machines, however, the fibres not opened
at any stage of working are always returned to the preceding stage, and even to
the commencement of the process, for being worked over anew. To the progressing
stages of working, the increasing speed of the cylinders C, E, G, M, corresponds,
their number of revolutions being, for instance, 16, 48, 144, and 432, respectively.
By this arrangement a tearing of the unopened flakes on E is impossible, and from
M they will be thrown off by centrifugal force on account of the high speed of this
cylinder. In comparing with this arrangement the operation of the ordinary
carding machine, it will be seen that the main cylinder of the latter, revolving
at a high and constant speed, forcibly tears away the fibres from the taker-in at
the very commencement of the process, and from the workers and strippers during
its continuation.
In the ordinary system of carding machines there is consequently no gradual
completion of the work, the main cylinder being from the commencement the
carrier of the raw fibres, of the fibres under treatment, and of the completely isolated
and sleeked fibres, which are often indiscriminately mixed with each other. The
main cylinder drags along under the other operating parts the raw flakes as quickly
as the fibres which have been isolated and laid parallel, and it cannot be doubted,
but that this action is attended by a deterioration of the quality of the fibres.
As regards motive power, the common main cylinder requires a considerable
mechanical effect for rotating its mass at the high speed of from 500 to 1,000 revo-
lutions. The smaller cylinders of the present new machine on the other hand, of
which only a single one runs at the maximum speed of from 400 to 500 revolutions,
requires but small driving power, so that for the whole set of new machines but
one-third of the power is wanted, which is necessary for driving a set of carding
machines with large main cylinders.
In the ordinary system of carding machines, the fibres can be acted upon by
cards of but a single degree of fineness in every machine. In my new system, how
ever, the cylinders C, G, E, M, may successively be provided with card clothing of
increasing fineness, so that thereby also the work is materially promoted and
facilitated. The increase in fineness of the card clothing may be in proportion to
the increase of speed of the cylinders.
The principle upon which I have designed my carding machine has also been
already applied to the willow with the best success as regards the preservation as
well as the opening of the material.

page_text: Each pair of cylinders of my system working independently of the other in their
operation of taking-up and delivering, the series of them combined in any one
machine works quicker than the ordinary single cylinder, which although provided
with a number of workers and strippers; has to take up the material, work it, and
finally deliver it.
On account of this increased speed of working, obtained by the systematic
division of the process in each machine, the entire process will be abbreviated and
the whole set of machines (willow, scribbler, first and second carding machines) will
be reduced in bulk.
3
Fig. 1 of the accompanying Drawings represents my improved willow, which is
the first machine of the set. A is the feeding cloth, on which the unprepared
wool is spread out; B are the feed rollers. These parts have to be arranged
differently, and the speed of the various rollers to be suitably regulated, when
rags are to be reduced to shoddy or mungo on the machine. The toothed roller C
revolves at the rate of 16 revolutions per minute (instead of 400 and above as
hitherto applied). The teeth of this roller entering into the wool fed in by the
rollers B, slowly comb it out, while the quickly rotating cylinder of willows of former
design tear and cut the wool away from the feed rollers. The flakes carried along
by C are thereupon pushed in between the teeth of D, and subsequently drawn off
by the cylinder E, which rotates quicker.
The isolated fibres are deposited in the carding cloth of E, while the projecting
unopened flakes are caught by G and carried around to the cylinder C, by whose
teeth they are seized again for being reconducted to the first stage of the working
process. Burs and particles of straw, which are not acted upon by roller G on
account of its being too far distant from E, are taken off by the bur roller M,
provided with auxiliary roller N, and with other suitable known organs usually
applied to buring apparatus for the purpose of removing burs, &c. The isolated
and sleeked fibres which have remained on E hereupon pass over to the doffer F
(the teeth of which have by error been shown directed the wrong way in the
Drawing), and are transported by F to the second cylinder H, from which the
knives O remove the remaining burs, while the fibres after being lifted by the
fly J are taken off by the doffer K. From the latter roller a comb finally detaches
the fleece, which is thereupon to be worked by the second machine.
It is evident that the described machine may be provided with a fan, &c., for
removing the dust in the usual manner.
As second machine of the set, the one has to be considered which has been
described first, the same is represented by the Figures 2, 3, and 4. This machine
may yet be briefly reconsidered with reference to the Drawings. The feeding
apparatus A, B, delivers the material (wool, mungo, shoddy, floret silk, bourrette,
&c.) to the taker-in roller C, whence it passes over the rollers and cylinders D, E,
J, G, K, M, O, acting together with the rollers F, H, L, as above described. It
must be observed however that the rollers F and J have adjustable bearings, so
that they may be brought into contact with each other, as shown by Fig. 2. The
system then works as follows, A, B, C, D, E, F, J, E, G, &c. This may be of im-
portance when long-fibred wool is worked, as experiments made with common
native wool have shown.
When the rollers F and J are adjusted as shown by Fig. 3ª (the_roller F only
being shifted) the process of working will be in the order A, B, C, D, E, F, J, G.
If K is yet shifted, as pointed out in the Drawing, the fibres will take the course
G, M, O, without transfer by K. These different combinations are not immaterial
and may be of great advantage in special cases.
To the described second machine of the set an ordinary fleece apparatus may be
attached.
The third machine of the set is in design conformable to the described second
machine, but with the same, a fleece divider, represented by Figs. 5 and 6, may be
combined. B and D are rollers composed of disks of different diameters alternating
with each other, a large disk of D working against a small one of B; over each of

page_text: these disks an endless strap runs. The straps r from the large disks of B pass over
the roller E, the straps q from the small disks of B over roller N, in the same
manner the straps p from the large disks of D over L, and finally the straps t from
the small disks of Dover F. The fleece combed off from the doffer A is conducted
by the rollers G, g, to B, D, but the rollers G, g, are not necessarily required. By
the rollers B, D, the fleece is introduced between the different pairs of straps, each
pair of co-operating straps q and p, or r and t, separating a strip of the fleece, the
latter being thereby divided into a series of strips, which are alternately conveyed
to the condensers v and w. The said straps may be made of leather, india-rubber,
or steel, and pressure rollers m, m, may be provided for the purpose of increasing
the grip of the straps on the fleece parts, which they convey; o and n are rotating
brushes for cleaning the straps.
It may finally be observed that the machines of my improved system cost less
than the machines at present in use.
Firstly. Because the smaller carding cylinders are less expensive than the large
main cylinder, which presents comparatively greater difficulties in manufacture.
And, Secondly. Because my machines are smaller in bulk and require less space.
Having thus described the nature and object of this Invention, and the manner
in which it is to be carried out in practice (as communicated to me by the inventor);
I claim as new and important features of the same.
1. In carding machines a number of carding cylinders C, E, G, M, Figs. 2-4,
rotating at different consecutively increasing speeds, and operating in combination
with each other and with the upper rollers F, J, L, and the lower rollers D, K, L,
each of these rollers working together with two contiguous cylinders, as and for
the purpose described.
2. In carding machines a number of carding cylinders C, E, G, M, Figs. 24,
rotating at different consecutively increasing speeds, and operating in combination
with each other and with the upper rollers F, J, L, and the lower rollers D, H, K,
one or more of these rollers being adjustable, so that each may work together with
the corresponding two cylinders, or with one of them and with the contiguous
roller, as set forth and for the purpose specified.
3. In the improved willow, or combined willow and scribbler, Fig. 1, the
cylinders or rollers C and D provided with strong teeth, the carding cylinders E
and H; the carding rollers F and G, fly J, doffer K, comb L, and buring apparatus
M, N, as described, and for the purpose set forth.
4. In the fleece divider, Figs. 5 and 6, the rollers B and D, straps t, r, and P, q,
rollers E, F, L, N, and condensers V and W, combined together, as and for the
purpose described.
5. In combination with the straps of the fleece divider, the rotating brushes n, as
described and for the purpose set forth.
6. In combination with the straps of the fleece divider, the pressure rollers m, m,
as and for the purpose specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Carl Pieper, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Eighth day of July, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-eight.
CARL PIEPER. (L.S.)