CERTAIN IMPROVE- MENTS IN MACHINERY FOR PREPARING, CARDING, ROVING, AND SPINNING COTTON AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES
Year: 1843

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
BURNS SMITH, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Cotton Spinner,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at Westminster,
the Eighth day of June, in the sixth year of Her reign, did give and grant
unto me, the said John Burns Smith, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege and authority, that I,
the said John Burns Smith, my executors, administrators, and assigns, and
such others as I, the said John Burns Smith, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and
at all times hereafter during the term of years therein mentioned, should
and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales,
and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MACHINERY FOR PREPARING, CARDING, ROVING, AND SPINNING COTTON
AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES;" in which said Letters Patent there is con-
tained a proviso, that I, the said John Burns Smith, shall cause a particular
description of the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, to be
enrolled in Her said Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said in part recited Letters
Patent, reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
John Burns Smith, do hereby declare the nature of my Invention, and the

page_text: manner in which the same is to be performed, are particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement thereof, reference being had to
the Drawing hereunto annexed and to the figures and letters marked thereon
(that is to say):
My Invention consists in the particular features of novelty which constitute
the subjects of my present Invention, and may be described under these four
heads:-
First, for an improved arrangement of. mechanism constituting a machine
for preparing or opening cotton in the first process of cotton spinning.
Secondly, for an improved carding engine.
Thirdly, for an improved roving frame regulator for governing the winding
of the slub or roving on the bobbins of such machinery to which my improve-
ment is applied.
the
Fourthly, for an application to the spinning and doubling frames, by which
yarn becomes more smooth and solid, and may be sized and adapted for
manufacturing purposes.
And the manner in which my several improvements are to be performed
and carried into effect will be more clearly seen by reference to the annexed
Drawings, which are marked with letters of reference denoting the explained
parts, Sheet 1, Figure 1.
My improved mode of preparing cotton consists of two endless grids a, a,
and b, b, each composed of a series of consecutive iron flat bars g, g, toothed-
like rakes k, k, and affixed or mounted at each end upon two endless chains
d, d. These grids are put. into near contact with each other, the one goes
quicker in surface motion than the other, and the relative speed can be
modified as the cotton requires. By referring to Sheet 1, Figure 1, a 1 repre-
sents the fast driving pulley of the machine, upon whose shaft i, i, are keyed
pologonical drums or cylinders h, h, which like drums are also keyed on the
shafts a i, a 2, a 3, round which drums are the two endless grids which have
continuous motions. c, c, is the hopper-formed mouth which receives the cotton
as taken from the cotton ball or mixing. In the hopper is placed a saw-
toothed roller f,f, for the purpose of feeding and holding the cotton until the
rakes or teeth on the grid b, b, take hold of it and carry it to the point of
contact of the other grid a, a, which is moving at a much quicker speed than
the above grid b, b, and discharges or delivers it at the opposite end d, d. By
this means the cotton receives an opening, raking, and teazing process without
sustaining any injury to the fibres of cotton; and may thence be taken to the
next process of operation.
Before I proceed to describe the annexed Drawing of my improved

page_text: carding engine, I shall briefly endeavour to explain the nature and manner of
working the common carding engine to render the annexed Drawing more
clear, and that my Invention may be more fully and better understood.
It is common and customary with carding engines used for carding cotton
for the lower numbers or coarsest yarns to be mounted over the periphery
of the main cylinder of the carding engine with a series of slow revolving
rollers, and their attendant and attached clearers, each covered with fine
wire-filled filletting. Each roller has a clearer; commonly, one clearer serves
to clean two rollers, one on each side of it. The cotton in being carded
is carried by the main cylinder and stretched upon the first carding roller;
and the knots, loosened fibres, &c. of cotton caught by the first roller, are
teazed and cleared from it by its clearer, which is in near contact with it, but
revolving at a much quicker speed, yet not so fast in surface as the surface.
motion of the main cylinder, which velocity of the clearer keeps the moving
surface of the roller clean, and prepares it to receive and card other fibres of
cotton which are stretched upon it by the main cylinder; the loosened fibres
of the cotton being thus seized by the clearer are again transferred to the.
main cylinder, whence they proceed and receive a teażing, opening, and
separating process from all the series of rollers and clearers, thence to the
doffing cylinder, which process is in part the object of carding.
I shall now proceed to describe my improved manner of carding.
Sheet 2, Fignre 1 represents the side elevation of the carding engine with
my improved application and adaptation. The opposite elevation, being the
driving side conveying motion from the axis A to the doffing cylinder a, a,
common to carding engines. in general, needs no illustration or explanation.
here. I shall commence by briefly remarking that my improvements in.
carding consist in a superior method of cleaning out from the carding rollers
of the carding engine the loosened fibres, knots, moats, earthy, and vegetable
matter which is imbedded in the cotton in its original state, and is effected.
by means of a travelling and revolving brush X, which is mounted on a.
lengtliened arm of the segmental tooth rack h, h, which is suspended on the
axis of the main cylinder A of the carding engine, and has respectively a reci-
procating motion over the arc circumscribed by the periphery of the carding
rollers a 1. The revolving brush having rotatory motion on its own axis from
the fast driving pulley on the axis of the main cylinder, and by its recipro-
cation or oscillation moves over the arc formed by the rollers, and being in
close contact with their surface periphery, keeps them perfectly clean from all.
loosened fibres, dirt, and vegetable matter, and enables the carding engine to
produce a much greater quantity of work in a given time. And I wish it to

page_text: be understood, as will be here seen, that the object of this part of my
Invention is to dispense with all the clearers used to clean the carding rollers
of carding engines, and in place of them employ more carding rollers, and the
reciprocating and travelling motion of the brush will answer the purpose of
clearer or cleaner for all the carding rollers.
I shall commence my description of Sheet 2, Figure 1, from the doffing
cylinder a, a, upon which is secured the spur wheel a 1, which gears and gives
motion to the wheel b, which has attached to it the bevil wheel 61, which
gears and givés motion to the bevil'c, which is fixed upon the line shaft d.
The manner in which I effect the reciprocation and oscillation of the seg-
mental toothed rack h; h, is by motion conveyed by the line shaft d, d, which
is connected between the doffing cylinder a, a, and the feeding rollers' e, e;
loosely upon this line shaft d, d, are two bevil wheels f, f, which are geared
with a
larger bevil wheel g, behind which and úpon whose stud is a small
spur pinion, which gears and works into the segmental toothed rack h, h;
between the two bevils f, f, is a double catch or clutch box i, i, protected by
midfeather on the line shaft d, d. On the segmental rack h, h, are two
adjustable studs h, k, that come repeatedly and alternately into contact with
the small suspended double armed or pronged lever / (see Figure 3, Sheet 2),
and by actuating upon the said lever put into gear the clutch of each of the
two bevils f,f; respectively and repeatedly, and keep up a constant recipro-
cation and oscillation of the segmental rack and brush clearer. On the
opposite side elevation the support for the brush is only a plain arm suspended
on the axle of the main cylinder. And in order to keep the brush clean, I
apply a tin cover or casement circumscribing the brush, and secured to the
lengthened arm of the segmental rack h, h, as delineated in blue line in the
annexed Drawing, Figure 2, Sheet 2. The one edge s being a metallic toothed
comb, and set in close contact with the brush, keeps the brush clean from the
gathered loose fibres of cotton, &c., more particularly explained and shown at
Figure 2. The refuse of loosened fibres, &c. being arrested from the brush,
are immediately gathered by the next coming roller, and are again carried to
the main cylinder and rollers, and so on continuously; where it may be
advisable and desired to retain the refuse of loosened fibres, knots, and
moats, I would employ the metallic comb c, Figure 2, working in con-
junction with the brush, and affixed to the lever P at O.
comb facing the brush receives all the loosened fibres, knots, and moats, &c.,
and in order to keep the comb clean, there is projecting from the fixing e
(which fixing forms a part of the casement) a smooth fixed plate e, i, with an
angular edge the length of the comb, and which is cut at its edge with small
The teeth of the.

page_text: recesses, each to receive a tooth of the comb; and the lever supporting the
comb having an ascending and descending motion keeps the comb clean from
the gathered loose fibres, knots, moats, &c., and which fall and are retained
in the chamber Z until it is full; they are then taken away by opening the
door shown in blue section lines w, w. The lever P is secured to a shaft
which goes through the fixings e at either end of the brush, having a similar
lever at the other end. And in order to clean the toothed edge s, I apply a
smooth plater with an angular edge. This angular edge is cut with recesses
for each tooth of the comb-formed edge S to fit in, and this angular edge
being secured to the lever P has with it an ascending and descending motion
that keeps the edge S clean. The manner in which I effect the ascending and
descending motion of the lever P is by a stationary toothed segmental rack Y
fixed on the entire length of the arc that supports the carding rollers; on the
lengthened arm that supports the brush X is a stud carrying a wheel q, which
gears into the fixed rack Y, and by the lengthened arm moving over the rack
Y the wheel 9 receives a rotatory motion, which it imparts to the wheel t
gearing with it. The wheel t is mounted loose on the shaft of the brush X,
and on the wheel t there is affixed a cam or eccentric u, which gives the
ascending and descending motion to the lever P. Over the entire periphery
of the main cylinder circumscribed by the acting rollers I apply a sheet-iron
guard, sheath, or covering, shown in pink line, which is set near to the surface
of the main cylinder so as not to touch it. This guard or sheath is fixed and
secured to the circular, arcs which support the carding rollers on each side of
the carding engine, and has parallel recesses or openings cut into it for each
roller that they may approach and be set to their place of near contact with
the main cylinder. By means of this guard or covering much of the loose
carded cotton will be prevented from flying off the main cylinder by its centri-
fugal force, and consequently much will be saved from being made into waste,
and the carding engine kept much cleaner in effect and appearance.
And by improvement in roving machinery will be seen by referring to Fi-
gure 2, Sheet 1.
a, a, a, is a parabolic screw; B is a nut in which is a steel
pin working in the groove of the screw. The nut B has two projecting studs
C, C, which are placed.in. the fixed slides f, f, that are secured to the framing
on each side of the nut. Upon the studs of the nut are two parallel rods
d, d, which are affixed and secured to a swivel collar on the end of the cone,
drum, or expanding pulley, so that the cone may be governed and vary its
place of rotation from the position of the nut B. On the end of the screw is
a small pinion e, e, gearing into a larger wheel S, upon whose stud is a
ratchet. wheel G, a tooth of which is gathered by every ascending and

page_text: descending of the bobbin rail. In the ordinary manner common to slubbing and
roving machinery, every tooth which is gathered of the ratchet wheel g impart
from the wheel h, h, a portion of rotation to the pinion e and screw a. Now
it will be seen that every part rotation of the screw diminishes the distance
that the nut travels along the screw, and with the nut the cone through a
parabolic series of changes which are required by the growing diameter of
the bobbins which the screw a governs, and may be divided as required
to the most minute series of shifts or distances by changing the pinion e or
wheel S.
.:
My improvement in spinning is an application and adaptation to the
throstle, doubling, and mule frame. But before I explain the nature of my
Invention, I shall briefly shew the well-known parts of the throstle frame
with which I shew it in conjunction. The doubling frame bears so near a
resemblance to the throstle frame that it needs no illustration here, and its
adaptation to the mule I shall explain hereafter.
Sheet 1, Figure 3, a, a, a, are the drawing, and delivering rollers common to
all spinning machinery; B is the spindle of the throstle frame; c is the bobbin;
C is the bobbin which receives the yarn while spinning; d is the guide wire for
guiding the yarn or thread to the flyer E, which twists the yarn or thread by
its being affixed on the spindle B, which receives its motion in the ordinary
way.
My Invention consists of a trough V, V, shewn in pink section, placed a
little below and in front of the delivering rollers a, a, and extending the
entire length of the same. This trough contains either water or thin size, as
marked by the blue sectional lines: In this trough is mounted a small smooth
copper roller W, which revolves (upon suitable bearings) in an opposite direc-
tion to the front or delivering rollers a, a. The yarn, shewn in yellow line
X, X, X, in travelling or passing from the front or delivering rollers to the
spindles and bobbins, receiving at the same time its portion of twist, is slightly
pressed on the periphery of the small copper roller W. This roller W revolving
in its direction in the water or size, carries on its surface the water or size to
the yarn or thread, and thereby damps or wets the yarn which is passing over the
roller W, and the yarn being slightly pressed upon and drawn over the roller W,
thereby lays and combines the loose outward fibres of the yarn whilst under-
going the operation of twisting or spinning; and by combining the said loose
fibres, make a more smooth solid thread of yarn, and thereby renders it more
suitable for manufacturing purposes. When thin, suitable, and consistent size is.
used it renders the yarn fit and suitable for warps, weaving, and manufacturing
purposes, and in this case I would advise a steam-heated smooth pipe to be

page_text: tapplied to the winding frame of its entire length, so that the yarn in winding
may press upon the steam-heated pipe, and become dry. For the purpose of
warping I have found that the nearer the roller W is placed to the front or
delivering rollers the better, as the twist will not be retarded from being
uniformly distributed over the yarn; and I have found that by giving a
moderately quick motion to the roller W assists the twine in the yarn to
ascend to the point of delivery of the delivering rollers a, a, and also more
freely wets or damps the yarn in passing. The surface motion of the roller W
being nearly the same as the delivering rollers, I have found to answer well.
yarn
With respect to the mule spinning frame, the yarn delivered by the front
rollers being at different angles from the delivering rollers to the spindles by
the receding of the spindles from the front rollers, and that the yarn may be
always in contact with the roller W, I would, for more accuracy of the
touching the roller W, apply an ascending and descending movement to the
trough and roller W to suit the varying angle of the yarn, so that the yarn
might always be in contact with one pressure upon the roller W. But for
more simplicity of construction and adaptation, I would recommend and
advise that the yarn delivered from the front or delivering rollers be carried
forward by the receding spindles in an horizontal line of direction from the
point of delivery of the front rollers, the length of the stretch or draw of the
mule; but I do not intend to limit the construction of my improvement to
the particular size, form, and arrangement delineated in the accompanying.
Drawing of the trough and roller W; but what I do claim as under this fourth
head of my Invention is, the application and adaptation of the roller W for the
yarn to press upon, and revolving in an opposite direction to the front or
delivering rollers in a trough containing water or size.
First head, I claim the arrangements of mechanism constituting the two
endless toothed grids revolving at dissimilar speeds, for the purpose of raking
or opening cotton.
Second head, I do not claim as my Invention the application and adaptation
of the brush X, and the metallic comb for cleaning the same, as applied for
carding engines; but what I do claim as my Invention is, the travelling or
reciprocating motion of the brush over the are formed by the rollers, and being
in close contact with their periphery, keeps them clean, and is used as a
general clearer. Also, I claim the adaptation and manner of effecting the
reciprocation of the brush, and the adaptation and manner of effecting the
movements for cleaning the comb, together with the sheet-iron guard or
covering circumscribing the part of the cylinder fornied the arc of the rollers,
to prevent the cotton from flying off the main cylinder by its centrifugal force.