An Improved Balling Machine Employed in Forming Balls of Fibre or Sliver.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Aug., 1887
Specification Accepted. 14th Oct., 1887
An Improved Balling Machine Employed in Forming Balls
of Fibre or Sliver.
1, WILLIAM BROADLEY LEE of Holmfield Mills, Thornton Road, Bradford, in the
county of York, Engineer and Machine maker, 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 :-
The object of this invention is to drive the plates or discs and the spindle to which
the bobbin for receiving the fibres is fixed by means of toothed wheels in such manner
that as the ball of fibres increases in diameter the speed is retarded so as to maintain
the fibres at a regular tension, thereby ensuring a more certain speed than has hitherto
been the case where friction plates have been employed for driving.
In order to enable my invention to be fully understood I will proceed to describe
the same with reference to the accompanying drawings in which figure 1 represents
an end elevation of my improved balling machine showing the gearing for driving the
plates or discs which hold the bobbin. Figure 2 is a sectional elevation of one of the
plates showing the screw mechanism for adjusting the plate. Figure 3 is a sectional
plan of the driving pulleys with the socket and pinion for changing the speed.
Figure 4 is a side elevation of my improved balling machine. Figure is an end
elevation showing the mechanism for changing the driving belt from one pulley to
another for the purpose of altering the speed, and figure 6 is a sectional plan of
the same.
Similar letters refer to similar parts in all the figures.
The two side frames of the machine are represented at A through which passes the

page_text: driving shaft D, working in bearings E; the shaft carries the fast and loose pullies F
and G respectively and the pinions H and J, which engage with the toothed wheels
formed or fixed upon the sides of the plates or discs K, which are thereby caused to
revolve. It is necessary to regulate the speed of the plates or discs K and L as the
ball of fibres increases in diameter; this object is accomplished by removing the
driving belt from the pulley F to the pulley M. (by an arrangement hereinafter
described) which pulley M is keyed upon the sleeve or socket N, which revolves freely
upon the shaft D. To the other end of this sleeve or socket is fixed the pinion Ŏ
which engages with the spur wheel P which revolves with and upon the same spindle
or stud as the pinion Q.
When the belt is on the pulley F the plates K and L are caused to revolve at the
higher speed at the commencement of the operation of balling; the belt is then
removed on to the pulley M which brings the sleeve or socket N carrying the
pinion O into operation whereby a slower speed is produced when the ball is becoming
of larger diameter.
The mechanism for adjusting and fixing the plate or disc K represented at Figure 2
consists of a hand wheel R which being fixed to an internally screwed barrel S causes
by its rotation the screw T fixed to the plate K to move in the required direction.
For the purpose of changing the speed of rotation of the ball of fibres in winding
by alternately placing the belt on the pullies F or M as aforesaid, the pressing
plate U is fixed upon the upright arm of the L lever X and is held in contact with
the surface of the ball by the weight W fixed upon the end of the short arın of the
said lever X. When the ball of fibres has been about half formed the weight W
has risen half its course and has lifted the two rods Y and Z of which the rod Y
being the longer comes in contact with the powerful flat spring bar A¹, thereby lifting
it out of a notch formed in the cross bar B¹. The spring bar A¹, then comes in
contact laterally with the stud C¹, fixed upon the sliding rod D¹, which actuates the
belt fork E, and changes the belt from the pulley F on to M.
When the ball of fibres is fully formed the weight W has risen as far as possible
and the upright rod Z then brings into operation the spring bar F', whereby the belt
is changed onto the loose pulley G when the ball may be removed. The spring
rod A¹, is forced back into the notch in the rod B¹, by means of the lever G², the
end H¹, of which comes in contact with the upright arm of the L lever X. The
spring rod F is forced back by the lever J, which comes in contact with the upright
rod K, when the L lever X is brought back into position for starting by means of
the hand lever L'.
The feed rollers are represented at M¹³, and N¹, (Figure 4) supported by the
bracket O', the top roller M¹, can be raised up clear of the bottom roller in an arc
from the centre P, as the roller M', is supported by means of the link Q', pivotted at
the centre P¹.
In place of the usually employed bobbin, upon which the fibres or slivers are
wound, I may use a spindle passing through the plate or disc K to the plate L, which
spindle is drawn out when the ball is finished by means of a lever or the hand
wheel R with the sleeve S and screw T, which screw may be formed on one end of
the spindle.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In balling machines the screw T in combination with the barrel S and hand
wheel R for the purpose of adjusting the plate or disc K as described and represented
in the accompanying drawings.
2. The gearing O, P, Q, H, J, for driving the plates or discs in combination with
the sleeve or socket N for bringing into operation the pinion O for changing the
speed in the manner described and as represented in the accompanying drawings.
3. The L lever X with the pressing plate U and weight W in combination with the
vertical rods Y and Z and the springs A', and F', operating the belt fork E, all

page_text: substantially in the manner and for the purpose as described and represented in the
accompanying drawings.
4. The pressing plate or set of rollers U fixed in a frame which press against the
ball of sliver being formed and regulate the speed of its revolution in the manner
described and represented in the accompanying drawings.
5. The general arrangement and construction of a balling machine for fibrous
substances as described and represented in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 27th day of August 1887.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, E.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.