IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR PREPARING WOOL, COTTON, OR OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Tatham, of Rochdale, in the County of Lancaster,
Machine Maker, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR
APPARATUS FOR PREPARING WOOL, COTTON, OR OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Tatham at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th October 1881.
JOHN TATHAM, of Rochdale, in the County of Lancaster, Machine Maker.
" IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR PREPARING WOOL, COTTON,
OR OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS."
My Invention relates, firstly, to machinery or apparatus for feeding wool, cotton,
or other fibrous materials to washing, scutching, carding, and other machines used
for preparing such materials aforesaid, and consists of a box or hopper within
which is placed the wool or other fibrous material to be operated upon.
Within the aforesaid box or hopper are placed rollers, around which passes an
apron or creeper furnished with teeth for lifting the material from the aforesaid
hopper, the amount of material lifted by the aforesaid apron or creeper being
regulated by a vibrating comb or beater.
I remove or strip the material from the teeth of the before named creeper or
apron by means of a vibrating comb, such comb serving to convey the material to
a scale for being weighed, or to a feed lattice, or any desired apparatus.
Beneath the aforesaid vibrating comb I place a plate provided with teeth, by
which any material tending to adhere to the above named vibrating comb will be
removed.
•
In some cases I propose to mount one or both of the vibrating combs above
referred to upon levers actuated by a cam, excentric, crank, or its equivalent, in
such a manner that the said combs shall be withdrawn from the before named
creeper when the said combs are vibrating in one direction.
The second part of my Invention relates to that machine or apparatus known as
the "coiler," and consists in arrangements by which upon one can or other similar

page_text: receptacle used in conjunction there with becoming filled with material, the filling
operation will be transferred to another empty can or other similar receptacle.
For this purpose I employ two "can plates," upon which are placed the cans
which receive consecutively the material.
Upon one of the said cans becoming filled I traverse the coiler head into such
position that it shall deliver material into the other can, and so on alternately from
one position to the other as the cans become filled.
In order to sever the "sliver" when the feed is transferred from a full to an
empty can, I mount a blade or comb so as to be in the path of the sliver when the
"coiler head" is traversing from one can to the other, and to ensure such severance
of the "sliver" taking place I also arrest the motion of the calender rollers during
the passage of the "coiler head" from one can to the other.
I cause the coiler to be traversed from one can to the other by means of a worm
or wheel acting upon a mutilated wheel carrying a pinion, such pinion at intervals
being caused to gear into a toothed rack or racks by which the said traversing is
effected.
Instead of using two cans or other similar receptacles, as above described, I also
propose to use three or more. In such case I disposo them in a circle around the
above named coiler, and upon one of the said cans becoming filled with material I
cause the "coiler head" to be partially rotated so as to bring it above the can to
be filled, the arrangement for effecting a severance of the sliver when the feed is
changing from one can to another being similar to that previously described when
two cans only are being used.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Tatham in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 6th April 1882.
JOHN TATHAM, of Rochdale, in the County of Lancaster, Machine Maker.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR PREPARING WOOL, COTTON,
OR OTHER FIBROUS MATERIAL."
My Invention relates, firstly, to machinery or apparatus for feeding wool, cotton
or other fibrous materials to washing, scutching, carding, and other machines used
for preparing such materials aforesaid, and consists of a box or hopper, within which
is placed the wool or other fibrous material to be operated upon. Within the afore-
said box or hopper are placed rollers around which passes an apron or creeper
furnished with teeth for lifting the material from the aforesaid hopper, the
amount of material lifted by the aforesaid apron or creeper being regulated by a
vibrating comb or beater. I remove or strip the material from the teeth of the
before named creeper or apron by means of a vibrating comb, such comb sorving to
convey the material to a scale for being weighed, or to a feed lattice, or any desired
apparatus. Beneath the aforesaid vibrating comb I place a plate provided with
teeth by which any material tending to adhere to the above named vibrating comb
will be removed. In some cases I propose to mount one or both of the vibrating
combs above referred to upon levers actuated by a cam, eccentric, crank, or its
equivalent in such a manner that the said combs shall be withdrawn from the
before named creeper when the said combs are vibrating in one direction. The
second part of my Invention relates to that machine or apparatus known as
the "coiler," and consists in arrangements by which upon one can or other similar
receptacle used in conjunction therewith becoming filled with material, the
filling operation will be transferred to another empty can or other similar
receptacle. For this purpose I employ two "can plates," upon which are placed
the cans, which receive consecutively the material. Upon one of the said cans
becoming filled I traverse the coiler head into such position that it shall deliver
material into the other can, and so on alternately from one position to the other
as the cans become filled. In order to sever the "sliver" when the feed is
transferred from a full to an empty can, I mount a blade or comb so as to be in
the path of the sliver when the "coiler head" is traversing from one can to the
other, and to ensure such severance of the "sliver" taking place I also arrest the
motion of the calendar rollers during the passage of the "coiler head" from one
can to the other. I cause the coiler to be traversed from one can to the other by
means of a worm or wheel acting upon a mutilated wheel carrying a pinion, such
pinion at intervals being caused to gear into a toothed rack or racks by which the
said traversing is effected. Instead of using two cans or other similar receptacles,
as above described, I also propose to use three or more. In such case I dispose
them in a circle around the above named coiler, and upon one of the said cans
becoming filled with material I cause the "coiler head" to be partially rotated so
as to bring it above the can to be filled, the arrangement for effecting a severance
of the sliver when the feed is changing from one can to another being similar to
that previously described when two cans only are being used. In order that my
Invention may be more thoroughly understood and carried into practical effect,
I will now proceed to describe the same, reference being made to the accompanying
Drawings. The first part of my Invention is illustrated by Figs. 1 and 2 of the
accompanying Drawings. Fig. 1 is a vertical side view, and Fig. 2 a plan thereof,
similar letters of reference being placed upon corresponding parts in both of the

page_text: Figures. At 3 and 4 are end frames connected together by a plate 5. Extending
between the end frames 3 and 4 are rollers 6, 6, around which is a creeper or
apron 7 furnished with spikes or teeth 8. The shafts of the rollers 6, 6*, extend
through openings 9, 10, in the end frames 3 and 4, and are provided with any
ordinary arrangement of bearing or bracket as is usual for lightening such lattice
or creeper, as will be well understood by persons conversant with such apparatus.
Extending across between the lower part of the end frames 3, 4, is a plate 11, the
lower part of which is formed with perforations constituting a grid 11", as is usual,
which in conjunction with the front plate 5, lattice 7, and end frames 3, 4, con-
stitutes a hopper within which is placed the wool to be subsequently fed to the
washing, scutching, carding, or inachine, such hopper I shall hereafter refer
to as the hopper A. As some of the parts hereafter referred to are repeated at the
opposite sides of the machine I shall apply thereto the same letters of reference
with the addition of an asterisk (*). At 12 is a shaft supported by steps 13, 13*,
mounted within a slot 14, 14, formed in brackets 15, 15, secured to the end
frames 3, 4. The shaft 12 is provided with arms 16 upon the ends of which is a
blade or comb 17, such blade or comb being caused to vibrate and during such
vibrations to be advanced to and withdrawn from the lattice 7. Passing through
the brackets 15, 15*, and revolving therein is a shaft 18 formed with cranks 19, 19*,
Buch cranks being provided with connecting rods 20, 20*. One end of each con-
necting rod embraces the shaft 12 which carries the comb 17. Upon the shaft 18
is mounted a disc 21 provided with a pin 22 and constituting a crank; upon this
pin is jointed one end of a connecting rod 23, the other end thereof embracing a
pin or stud 24 secured upon an arm or lever 25 fast upon the shaft 12. At 26 is
a shaft receiving motion from any convenient source of power. This shaft is pro-
vided with a pulley 27 which by means of an endless strap or belt 28 communicates
rotary motion to a pulley 29 fast upon the shaft 18. The bosses of the pulley 29
and dise 21 prevent the shaft 18 from being moved in a longitudinal direction. As
the shaft 18 rotates the revolutions of the pin 22 through media of connecting rod 23
the pin or stud 24, arm 25, shaft 12, and arms 16, will impart a vibratory motion
to the blade or comb 17, the rotation of the shaft 18 will through media of the
cranks 19, 19°, and connecting rods 20, 20*, cause the shaft 12 to be drawn towards
or thrust from the shaft 18 the slots 14, 14*, within the brackets 15, 15*, permitting
such sliding of the steps 13, 13", supporting the shaft 12 to take place in the
position of the parts, as shown in the Drawing, the comb 17 is in its nearest
position to the lattice 7, and upon the pulley 29 rotating in the direction of the
arrow B the comb 17 will be caused to move downward in the direction of the
arrow C; but as such downward movement continues the cranks 19, 19*, will by
means of the connecting rods 20, 20, have drawn away the shaft 12 and comb 17
from the lattice 7, until the shaft 18 shall have made half a revolution from the
position shown in the Drawing, when the comb 17 will be in its lowest position;
but upon a further rotation of the shaft 18 the comb 17 will be elevated and
returned to the position shown, the downward motion of the comb 17 taking place
when nearest to the lattice 7, and the upward movement taking place when the
comb 17 is away from the said lattice 7. At 30 is a shaft mounted so as to be
capable of being vibrated within bearings 31, 31*, formed in the end frames 3, 4.
The shaft 30 is provided with arms 32 fast thereon. Upon the end of the arms 32
is mounted a blade or comb 33, such comb being caused to vibrate by the following
means-Upon the shaft 26 is a pulley 34 which by means of an endless strap or
belt 36 communicates rotatory motion to a pulley 37 turning loosely upon a stud 38,
secured to a bracket 39 attached to the end frame 3 upon the face of the pulley 37,
and secured thereto is a stud or pin 40 constituting a crank upon which is jointed
one end of a connecting rod 41, the other end thereof embracing a pin or stud 42
projecting from an arm or lever 43 mounted fast upon the shafts 30. As the
pulley 37 is rotated such rotation will through media of the pin 40, connecting
rod 41, stud 42, arm 43, shaft 30, and arms 32, impart a vibratory motion to the
blade or comb 33. The wool, cotton, or other fibrous material to be fed to the

page_text: carding, washing, scutching, or other machine is placed within the box or hopper A.
As the apron or creeper 7. revolves therein in the direction of the arrow D, the
wool or other fibrous material will be carried upward, but the amount of material
removed from the hopper A by the apron or creeper 7 is determined by the
vibrating comb 17, and the surplus wool or other fibrous material removed by the
said comb 17 is returned to the hopper A. The wool or other fibrous material
carried past the comb 17 by the apron or creeper 7 is stripped from the said apron
or creeper by the vibrating comb 33, the material falling from the comb 33 upon
an inclined plate 44 extending across and between the end frames 3, 4. The lower
edge 44c of the plate 44 I form with teeth, so that any material tending to adhere
to the comb 33 will be removed therefrom. The wool or other fibrous material
may fall from the plate 44 into a scale pan 45 of any ordinary weighing
apparatus to be subsequently fed to the feed lattice of the carding engine,
indicated by the dotted lines 46; the weighing apparatus may also govern the
motion of the lattice 7 and combs 17 and 32, as will be well understood by persons
conversant with such apparatus. Or the wool may pass from the plate 44 direct
to the feed lattice 46 without the intervention of the weighing apparatus 45,
or it may pass to any other apparatus as may be desired. If it be thought
desirable the vibrating comb 33 may be mounted similarly to the comb 17 so as to
be withdrawn from the apron or creeper when vibrating in one direction. The
next portion of my Invention relates to that machine or apparatus known as the
coiler, and consists in arrangements by which upon one can or other similar receptaclo
used in conjunction therewith becoming filled with material, the filling operation
will be transferred to another empty can or other similar receptacle. Fig. 3 of the
accompanying Drawings is a front elevation of a coiler, Fig. 4 being a plan thereof;
Fig. 5 is a detached view of a portion of Fig. 1, with certain portions omitted in
order that the various parts may be more readily distinguished; Fig. G is a side
elevation of Fig. 5 taken at right angles thereto, and Fig. 7 is a partial plan of
Fig. 5, Figs. 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13 being detached portions of the Figures
previously referred to. I shall apply similar letters of reference to corresponding
parts throughout the whole of the Figures. At 50 is a base plate provided with
feet. Upon the base plate 50 are the can plates 51, 52, provided with toothed
wheels 51, 52*, by which they receive rotatory motion in any convenient manner
from the upright shaft 53, within the square vertical pillar 54, mounted upon the
base plate 50. Upon the can plates 51, 52, are placed the cans or other similar
receptacles 55, 56, for receiving the material. Upon the top of the pillar 54 is the
coiler head 57, provided with the usual calender rollers for delivering the material
to the cans 55, 56. In the position of the parts, as shown in the Drawings, the
coiler head is in the position for delivering material to and coiling it within the
can 55 upon the can plate 51, but upon the can 55 becoming filled with any desired
quantity of material the filling process will be transferred to the empty can 56
placed in readiness for that purpose upon the can plate 52. Such transfer of the
filling from the one can to the other I accomplish as follows:-Upon the upright
shaft 53 and fast therewith is mounted a worm 58 taking into the teeth of a worm
wheel 59 mounted fast upon a shaft 60, revolving within a bracket 61, secured to
the pillar 54. Upon this shaft 60 is secured a bevil wheel 62 gearing into another
bevil wheel 63 mounted fast upon the lower end of an upright shaft 64, which is
supported by and revolves freely within a bush 65, secured to and formed upon a
bracket 68, to be afterwards referred to bolted to the pillar 54; upon the upper end of
the shaft 64 is a worm 69 capable of taking into the teeth of a mutilated wheel 70
mounted loosely upon a shaft 67, such shaft being supported by and capable of freely
revolving within the bracket 68, secured to the pillar 54. Fast upon the shaft 67 is a
bevil wheel 72 gearing into another bevil wheel 71 fast upon the upright shaft 53.
Mounted fast upou the shaft 67(more clearly shown in Fig. 8) so as to revolve therewith
is a toothed wheel 73 gearing into a toothed pinion 74, turning freely upon a stud 75,
secured to the mutilated wheel 70, the purpose of which I will hereafter explain.
At 76 is a frame capable of being slidden longitudinally within a groove formed in the

page_text: bracket 68, by which it is supported. Within the frame 70 are formed toothed racks
77, 78, into the teeth of which the pinion 74 before referred to is alternately
caused to engage, as will be hereafter described. As the shaft 53 rotates the
worm 58 acting through media of the wheel 59, shaft 60, bevil wheels 62, 63,
shaft 64, and worm 69 will impart a slow rotatory motion to the mutilated wheel 70
in the direction of the arrow F; upon such rotatory motion being continued the
wheel 74 mounted upon the face of the mutilated wheel 70 will be turned in a
downward direction so as to approach the rack 77 of the sliding frame 76 ; such
turning of the mutilated wheel 70 by the worm 69 will also have brought the
blank space G of the mutilated wheel 70 opposite the worm 69, and it will no
longer be driven thereby. The rotatory motion of the shaft 53 acting through media
of the bevil wheels 71, 72, shaft 67 and wheel 73 will cause the wheel 74
to be rotated in the direction of the arrow H thereon, The teeth of the
mutilated wheel having passed out of gear with the worm 69, and the
mutilated wheel 70 being no longer controlled by the worm 69, it will be further
rotated in the direction of the arrow F by the motion of the shaft 67, which
also revolves in the same direction, as shown by the arrow J. Such rotation
of the mutilated wheel 70 will cause the teeth of the wheel 74 to become engaged
with those of the rack 77, as shown in Fig. 10, the first effect of which will be to
cause the teeth K of the mutilated wheel 70 to pass into gear with the worm 69,
such worm then acting as an abutment. The rotation of the wheel 74 will cause
the frame 76 to be slidden in the direction of the arrow M until the rack 77 has
been traversed clear of the wheel 74, as shown in Fig. 11. Upon the upper edge
of the frame 76 is formed a toothed rack 80 gearing into the teeth of a wheel 81
turning freely upon a stud 82 secured to the pillar 54, the wheel 81 also gearing
into a segmental rack 83 formed upon the underside of the coiler head 57. Upon
the coiler head is formed a projecting boss 84 (shown in Fig. 9) passing through
an opening formed in the top of the pillar 54, within which it is free to be rotated,
and is retained therein by the set hoop 85 secured to the boss 84 by a set screw 86,
when the frame 76 is traversed in the direction of the arrow M, as previously
described. The rack 80 acting through media of the wheel 81 and segmental
rack 83 will cause the coiler head 57 to be turned in the direction of the arrow N
BO as to occupy a position above the empty can 50, corresponding to that it had
previously occupied in relation to the can 55. The severance of the "sliver" when
the filling process is transferred from a full to an empty can I effect in the
following manner :-Secured to the base plate 50 is a vertical rod 89, upon the top
of which is fixed a cross plate 90, the edges of such plate being serrated so as
better to effect a severance of the sliver. When the coiler head 57 is being
traversed from the full can or other receptacle to an empty one, the sliver arriving
in contact with the serrated edge of the cross plate 90 will be thereby severed, and
in order to further ensure such severance of the sliver taking place I arrest the
rotatory motion of the calender rollers 98, 98*, used for delivering the sliver during
the time such delivery is being transferred from a full to an empty can as follows:-
Upon the lower part of the frame 76 I form a rib or bar 76 connected to the
frame 76 by end pieces 76, 76, so as to form a slot or opening 76. Within the
slot or opening 76° is a bowl 93 supported by the rib 764. The bowl 93 is mounted
upon the lower end of a rod 94 passing through a guide 94*, the upper end of
which passes through a curved slot in the plate 57 and is secured to a forked
plate 95 embracing a groove formed around the boss of the bevil wheel 96 mounted
upon the upright shaft 53, so as to be capable of being slidden longitudinally
thereon and of receiving rotatory motion froin the shaft 53 by means of a key and
groove. The bevil wheel 96 gears into another one 97 mounted upon one end of
one of the usual calender rollers 98. Upon the calender roller 98 is a wheel 100
gearing into another wheel 99 upon the other calender roller 98*. In the position
of the parts, as shown in the Drawing, the bowl 93 is supported by the bar 76ª,
and the bevil wheel 90 is in gear with the wheel 97; the calender rollers 98, 98*,
are receiving rotatory motion from the shaft 53. The bar 76ª I form with a

page_text: depressed part Q, at the ends of which are formed inclines R, S, when the frame 76
is being traversed in the direction of the arrow M for the purpose of transferring
the filling process from the full to the empty can, as previously described. The
depressed portion Q will be caused to pass below the bowl 93, which being no longer
supported the bevil wheel 96 will be permitted to fall out of gear with the bevil wheel
wheel 97; the rotatory motion of the calender rollers 98, 98*, will be thereby arrested,
the sliver being held between the rollers 98, 98*, and while thus held the coiler head 57
is being rotated from the full can 55 to the empty one 56, such movement bringing
the sliver in contact with the plate 90, thereby causing the sliver to be severed.
A further traversing of the frame 76 and bar 764 will cause the incline S to raise
the bowl 93, rod 94, fork 95, and so cause the bevil wheel 96 to again gear with the
wheel 97, when the rollers 98, 98*, will receive rotatory motion from the shaft 53.
The full can 55 may now be removed and an empty one substituted upon the can
plate 51. The filling process having now been transferred to the can 56, during
which the worm 69 will be imparting a slow rotatory motion to the mutilated
wheel 70 in the direction of the arrow F, as shown in Fig. 12, and a still further
rotation of the mutilated wheel 70 will bring the blank space O thereof opposite
the worm 69. The mutilated wheel will now be carried forward in the direction
of the arrow F by the revolutions of the shaft 67 causing the wheel 74 to pass
into gear with the rack 78, the worm 69 acting as an abutment, as previously
described. The frame 76 will now be traversed in the direction of the arrow P
until the teeth of the rack 78 become clear of the wheel 74, such traversing of the
frame in the direction of the arrow P acting through media of the rack 80,
wheel 81, and segmental rack 83 will cause the coiler head to be rotated in a
direction opposite to that of the arrow N until it arrives in the position shown in
the Drawing, when the filling of the empty can upon the plate 51 will proceed.
The rotation of the coiler head from the full to the empty can will have caused
the sliver to have come in contact with the serrated plate 90, by which it will
have become severed. The passage of the depressed portion Q of the bar 76
beneath the bowl 93 in the direction of the arrow P will have allowed the bevil
wheel 96 to pass out of gear with the wheel 97, theroby arresting the motion of
the rollers 98, 98*, to ensure such severance of the sliver taking place, as previously
described. In the foregoing description and accompanying Drawings I have only.
referred to an arrangement in which two can plates are employed, but if desired three
or more may be employed, and in such case I dispose them in a circle around the
pillar 54, and upon one of the cans or other similar receptacles becoming filled
with material I cause the coiler-head 57 to be partially rotated, so as to bring it
above the can to be next filled, the arrangement for effecting the severance of the
sliver when the filling is being transferred from one can to another being similar
to that previously described when two cans only are being used.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, I desire it to be understood that I claim
as secured to me under the above in part recited Letters Patent,-
Firstly. Mounting the vibrating comb or combs used in connection with the
lattice or creeper of feed apparatus in such manner that when vibrating in one
direction they shall be nearer to the said lattice than when vibrating in the other
direction, substantially in the manner and for the purpose shown and described in
reference to Figs. 1 and 2.
Secondly. The use of a vibrating comb 33 for stripping the wool or other fibrous
material from the lattice, substantially in the manner and for the purpose described
and shown in reference to Figs. 1 and 2.
Thirdly. The use of a vibrating or stripping comb 33 in combination with the
plate 44 for removing the wool or other fibrous material from the lattice or
creeper 7, substantially in the manner and for the purpose shown and described in
reference to Figs. 1 and 2.
Fourthly. In those machines or apparatus known as coilers, causing the coiler

page_text: head to be shifted, so as to transfer the filling process from a full to an empty can,
substantially in the manner and for the purpose above described and shown in
reference to Figs. 3 to 13 inclusive.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Tatham, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Fifth day of April, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty two.