IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR OPENING AND CLEANING COTTON
Year: 1871

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Thomas Seddon at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 17th
March 1871.
I, THOMAS SEDDON, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Merchant,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN APPARATUS FOR OPENING AND CLEANING COTTON," to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to that class of apparatus for opening and
cleaning cotton in which vibrating arms or batting rods are employed
to strike the cotton in a succession of rapid blows while it is borne and
carried forward upon a travelling perforated or openwork apron, and
consists,-
First. In so fitting and operating the said vibrating arms or batting
rods, when two or more sets of the same are caused to rock on or with
the same shaft, that they deliver their blows on the cotton with their
striking surfaces parallel or nearly parallel to the bearing surface of the
said travelling perforated or openwork apron.
Second. In the employment in combination with cotton opening and
cleaning machines, in which vibrating arms or batting rods and a
travelling perforated or openwork apron are used, of an exhaust fan or
other means producing a current to draw away the dust and other

page_text: impurities released from the cotton by the action of the said arms or rods
through the said apron and also to detain the mass of the cotton on the
apron in position whilst being operated upon.
Third. In the employment in combination with cotton opening and
cleaning machines, in which the parts described under the above first
head are used, of an exhaust fan or other means producing a current to
remove the dust and other impurities released from the cotton by the
action of the said arms or rods and also to assist in moving the cleaned
cotton forward in a moderately level and free state fitted for the further
successive operations of spinners.
Fourth. In the employment in combination with cotton opening and
cleaning machines, in which vibrating arms or batting rods are employed,
of a vibrating guide placed at the back of the feed rollers for the purpose
of separating the cotton fed by them and delivering it in two distinct
feed currents to the machine. In place of the vibrating guide a toothed
or other beater is used to separate the cotton fed by the rollers and to
deliver it in two distinct feed currents to the machine and also to render
the cotton fleecy and open when the same has been introduced in an
irregular, bumpy, or compacted condition.
Fifth. In the employment in combination with cotton opening and
cleaning machines, having the above first and second parts of my Inven-
tion, of two or more rubber covered rollers, or rollers otherwise rendered
elastic or partially elastic at their surfaces, or rollers fitted at the
bearings with helical or other springs or elastic fluid for the purpose of
carrying the travelling perforated or openwork apron and to assist in
imparting the desired rebound to the combined vibrating arms or
batting rods.
Sixth. In the employment in combination with cotton opening and
cleaning machines, having the above first and second parts of means for
adjusting the rollers or carriers, of the travelling perforated or openwork
apron so that they may cause the vibrating arms or batting rods to
trip or slightly bend when when about to strike the cotton. The means
employed consist of set screws or their equivalents adjusted to act upon
the bearings.