IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR SNIPPING OR COMBING CERTAIN FIBRES, SUCH AS JUTE AND HEMP."
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James McKean, of Laragh Mills, near Castle Blayney, in
the County of Monaghan, Ireland, Manufacturer, and John McGrath, of the
same place, Manager, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY
FOR SNIPPING OR COMBING CERTAIN FIBRES, SUCH AS JUTE AND HEMP."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James McKean and John
McGrath at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th April
1876.
JAMES MCKEAN, of Laragh Mills, near Castle Blayney, in the County of Monag-
han, Ireland, Manufacturer, and JOHN MCGRATH, of the same place, Manager.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR SNIPPING OR COMBING CERTAIN FIBRES, SUCH
AS JUTE AND HEMP."
Our Invention refers to certain improvements in machinery for snipping or
combing the ends of certain fibres, such as jute and hemp, and it consists in pro-
viding a cylinder covered with pins, which vary in length, strength, and piteli, or
distance apart, on different parts of its surface. This cylinder is caused to revolve
in such direction that the fibre to be operated upon, and which hangs by its own
gravity downwards, will come in contact with the pins on the cylinder first at the
extreme end of the streak or portion of fibre, and gradually, by the action of the
machine, the streak of fibre will advance upon the cylinder, and thus be operated
upon from the end forward.
The fibre is firmly held in a holder, which is one of a series of similar holders,
having two motions, the one a forward revolution upon a common centre, and the
other a rotation upon their individual axis, while the fibre is in contact with the
cylinder, thus allowing all sides of the streak of fibre to be snipped or combed by
the pins on the cylinder and preventing any portion being unduly acted upon, but
all to be equally and thoroughly snipped or combed.
When the streak of fibre in any one holder has ceased to be in contact with the
cylinder, or at any time the operator may wish, that holder ceases to revolve upon
its own axis, and at the proper time, not necessarily when it ceases to revolve, is
made by the action of the machine to open to perinit of the streak just finished
being removed, and another to be operated upon being placed in position in the
holder, when, by the action of the machine, the holder closes, and in coming in
[Price Gd.]

page_text: contact with the cylinder in its turn, or at any other time, as may be desirable,
will commence to revolve as before.
Whilst in contact with the cylinder the fibre is kept pressed upon the pins
thereof by a cover or saddle, which may be made in one or more parts as required,
and if in more than one, each part is kept separately pressed towards the cylinder
by a suitable weight or spring, so that more or less pressure can be put upon any
individual portion of the saddle, causing more or less work to be given at
of the cylinder at the will of the operator, or according to any variance in the
quality of the fibre.
any part
The twist which it is necessary to put in each streak of fibre to cause it to sepa-
rate freely and without injury or waste from other streaks. when piled together, is
by the action of this machine put into the streak of fibre, causing a corresponding
saving of labour or expense.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said James McKean and John McGrath in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 11th October 1876.
JAMES MCKEAN, of Laragh Mills, near Castle Blayney, in the County of
Monaghan, Ireland, Manufacturer, and JOHN M. GRATH, of the same place, Manager.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR SNIPPING OR COMBING CERTAIN FIBRES, SUCH
AS JUTE AND HEMP."
Our Invention refers to certain improvements in machinery for snipping or
combing the ends of certain fibres, such as jute and hemp, and it consists in providing
a cylinder covered with pins which vary in length, strength, and pitch, or distance
apart, on different parts of its surface. This cylinder is caused to revolve in such
direction that the fibre to be operated upon, and which hangs by its own gravity
downwards, will come in contact with the pins on the cylinder, first at the extreme
end of the streak or portion of fibre, and gradually, by the action of the machine, the
streak of fibre will advance upon the cylinder, and thus be operated upon from
the end forward.
The fibre is firmly held in a holder, which is one of a series of similar holders
having two motions, the one a forward revolution upon a common centre, and the
other a rotation upon their individual axes, while the fibre is in contact with the
cylinder, thus allowing all sides of the streak of fibre to be snipped or combed
by the pins on the cylinder, and preventing any portion being unduly acted upon,
but all to be equally and thoroughly snipped or combed.
When the streak of fibre in any one holder has ceased to be in contact with the
cylinder, or at any time the operator may wish, that holder ceases to revolve upon
its own axis, and at the proper time is made by the action of the machine to open
to permit of the streak just finished being removed, and another to be operated
upon being placed in position in the holder, when by the action of the machine the
holder closes, and on coming in contact with the cylinder in its turn, or at any other
time, as may be desirable, will commence to revolve as before.
Whilst in contact with the cylinder the fibre is kept pressed upon the pins
thereof by a cover or saddle, which may be made in one or more parts as required,
and if in more than one each part is kept separately pressed towards the cylinder
by a suitable weight or spring, so that more or less pressure can be put upon any
individual portion of the saddle, causing more or less work to be given at any part
of the cylinder at the will of the operator, or according to any variance in the
quality of the fibre.
The twist which is necessary to put in each streak of fibre to cause it to separate
freely and without injury or waste from other streaks when piled together is by

page_text: the action of this machine put into the streak of fibre, causing a corresponding saving
of labour and expense.
We will now proceed to describe our Invention by the aid of the accompany
Drawings.
.
Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of the end view of the machine.
Fig. 2 is a plan view, A, A, are the main framing of the machine firmly bolted
together by means of the cross beams and stretchers B, B1, B2 C is a cylinder
covered with pins or teeth varying in length, strength and pitch, or distance apart,
the coarsest being at that part of the cylinder which first operates on the fibres,
called "entering" end, and the finest being at the finishing or "delivery" end. D is
a large wheel or carrier firmly secured to the vertical shaft E, made to revolve slowly
in the direction indicated by the arrow. On the periphery of this carrier D are a
series of holders F, which are free to revolve in the bearers G attached to the
carrier D. The holders F are provided with a set of cogs, (a) which gear into
corresponding cogs on a segment of the fixed ring H, and thus is imparted to the
holders Fa rotatory motion on their own axes whilst the streaks of fibre in their
respective holders are being operated upon by the cylinder C. Attached to each
holder is a pin, as shewn at I, round which the streak of fibre to be snipped is
hitched, and if advisable two or more pins may be used for this purpose. On the
outer part of the bearers G, and between two of the cogs on the holder F, are open-
ings or gaps to admit of the streak of fibre being pushed into the centre of the
holders F. Above and below the holders F are fixed guards (b) and (b¹) for the
purpose of retaining the streaks in proper position whilst being operated upon.
Projecting from the holders are two horns (c) and (c¹), which slide against a plain
part of the fixed ring H, and thus prevent the holders from turning on their own
axes when no longer in gear with the cogged segment of H, whilst in this position
the opening in the holder F is in a line with that on the bearer G.
J is one of a series of bell crank levers placed opposite each holder F, and it
works on a stud (d) on the standard (e) supported from the carrier D. Attached to
the outer limb of this lever J, which extends to and above the holder F, is a fixed
flanged roller (f), over which the upper portion of the streak is placed and then in-
serted between the fingers of a clip (9), also carried on the lever J, the outside limb
of the bell crank lever J also carries the stud (h), on which works another bell crank
lever K, the outer end of this lever K carries a fixed roller (i) which rests upon the
flanged roller (f), thus grasping between them the upper portion of the streak.
These rollers or holders may be covered with india-rubber or other resilient material
to increase the tenacity. At the extremity of the inner limb of the lever J is a
friction bowl (k), which acts against a fixed eccentric L as it is carried forward by
the carrier D. This eccentric (L) is so formed and placed that acting through the
lever J the grasping rollers (f) and (i) rise gradually and increase the distance
between them and the holders F whilst the latter are revolving on their own axes.
The pressure of the top roller (i) on to the bottom roller (f) is sufficient to prevent
the twist given to the streak by the rotation of the holder from passing beyond them,
but admits of the streak sliding between them as they ascend. After the holder F
has passed over the finishing end of the cylinder C the grasping rollers (f) and (i)
rapidly descend to their former position near the top of the holder F. That portion
of the streak between the pin I and the grasping rollers (f) and (i) having received
a certain amount of twist from the rotation of the holder F on its own axis is by
the sudden descent of the grasping rollers (f and i) doubled, and naturally takes
a twisted form. At the extremity of the inner limb of the lever K is a friction
bowl (), which immediately after the descent of the grasping rollers (f and i)
comes in contact with a fixed eccentric M, and causes the top roller (i) to rise from
off the fixed roller (f), the streak thus liberated is then removed and another one
placed in position. The fixed roller (i) descends into its former position on the
top of the roller (f) immediately before the holder F commences to revolve on its
own axis.

page_text: N is a curved saddle or cover, which may be made in one or inore parts; it is
placed at the finishing end of the cylinder C, and may extend as far towards the
entering end as is thought desirable. The object of this saddle is to press into
the teeth of the cylinder the ends of streaks which have to pass between it and
the cylinder, thus ensuring that the ends of the streak shall be thoroughly combed;
if necessary the under side of the saddle or saddles might have projecting ribs,
running from the lip downwards in the direction in which the cylinder revolves.
We do not confine ourselves' to the exact form of holder herein described, but it
may be made in other forms, as for instance in two parts hinged together and made
to open and close by convenient mechanisın.
The cylinder may be conical if desired, and it may have beaters instead of teeth
or pins, or it may have part beaters and part teeth if preferred.
Having thus described the object and nature of our said Invention, and the
manner in which the same is to be carried into effect, we claim, without limiting
ourselves to these precise details,-
.
First. The carrying forward of pendent streaks of fibre and laying them upon
the operating cylinder so that the extreme ends of the streaks are first combed out
in the manner herein described.
Second. The revolving of the streak of fibre on its own axis whilst being
operated upon by the teeth of the cylinder, and the means by which the said
operation is performed.
Third. The automatic twisting and doubling together or the twisting only the
streak before it is removed from the machine, and the means by which such
operations are performed as herein more fully set forth and specified.
In witness whereof, we, the said James McKean and John McGrath, have here-
unto set our hands and seals, this Fifth day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
JAMES MOKEAN. (L.S.)
JOHN MCGRATH. (L.S.)