IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR OPENING AND STRAIGHTENING WOOL, COTTON, AND OTHER FIBRES
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joshua Thornton, of Cleckheaton, in the County of
York, Machine Maker, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS
OR APPARATUS FOR OPENING AND STRAIGHTENING WOOL, COTTON, AND OTHER
FIBRES."
Sealed the 12th January 1866, and dated the 18th July 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joshua Thornton at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 18th
July 1865.
I, JOSHUA THORTON, of Cleckheaton, in the County of York, Machine
Maker, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR OPENING AND STRAIGHTENING WOOL, COTTON,
AND OTHER FIBRES," to be as follows:-
In the operations of opening and straightening wool, cotton, and other
fibres toothed surfaces are employed, which have heretofore been formed in
flattened wire or ribbons, and such teeth have also been formed in bands
flanged on one side, so that the section of such band resembled the letter L.
My improvements consist in forming the bands for such teeth of iron or steel
having three ribs, so that the section thereof resembles an inverted T obtained
by cold. rolling. 1 form the desired teeth in the rib standing up between the
side ribs or surface, by which when the teeth are applied to a cylinder or
other surface a more extended base or bearing and consequently greater
strength and steadiness are obtained.

page_text: In order to obtain this section of metal of small size cold rolled for this
purpose first obtain a wire drawn to an angular section or inclining to an
edge along one surface. The wire thus obtained I pass in a cold state
between a pair of rolls, one of which is formed with a groove around it
corresponding with the rib in which the teeth are to be formed, and I pass
this wire with its narrow edge in such groove, when by the pressure of the
other roller the desired form to it is obtained. The teeth are afterwards cut
to any figure desired in the ordinary way.
By another method I produce the desired teeth upon bands or ribbons of
iron or steel by punching or cutting such bands to the form of the desired
teeth, excepting that part thereof which is to form their base or bottom part,
and then turning up these parts thus cut, so that they may stand up pointing
from the band. Several rows of teeth may thus be formed in the same band
or ribbon.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Joshua Thornton in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
17th January 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOSHUA
THORNTON, of Cleckheaton, in the County of York, Machine Maker, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighteenth day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-ninth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Joshua Thornton, Her special licence that I, the said Joshua Thornton,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Joshua Thornton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MEANS OR APPARATUS FOR OPENING AND STRAIGHTENING WOOL, COTTON, AND OTHER
FIBRES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Joshua
Thornton, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
.

page_text: Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the
date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Joshua Thornton, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say:-
In the operations of opening and straightening wool, cotton, and other
fibres tooth surfaces are employed, and such teeth have heretofore been
formed from flattened wire or ribbons, and such teeth have also been formed
from bands flanged on one side thereof, so that the section of such band
resembled the letter L; both of these arrangements have, however, been
found objectionable on account of the imperfect and unsteady bearing obtained
for the teeth upon the surface to which they are applied, and my improvements
consist in forming bands for such teeth of iron or steel having three ribs
obtained by cold rolling. The section of such band resembles an inverted T.
I form the desired teeth in the rib standing up between the side ribs or
surfaces, by which when the teeth are applied to a cylinder or other surface
a more extended base or bearing acting on each side thereof, and consequently
greater strength and steadiness are obtained.
In order to obtain this section of metal of small size cold rolled for this
purpose I first obtain a wire drawn to an angular section or inclining to an
edge along one surface. The wire thus obtained I pass in a cold state
between a pair of rolls, one of which is formed with a groove around it
corresponding with the rib in which the teeth are to be formed, and I pass
this wire with its narrow edge in such groove, when by the pressure of the
other roller on the broadside or base of the section the desired form is obtained
to it. The teeth are afterwards cut to any figure desired in the ordinary way:
By another method I produce the desired teeth upon bands or ribbons of
iron or steel by punching or cutting such bands in the form of the desired
teeth, excepting that part thereof which is to form their base or bottom part,
and then turning up these parts thus cut, so that they may stand up pointing
from the band. Several rows of teeth may thus be formed in the same band
or ribbon.
But that the Invention may be better understood, I will by the aid of the
accompanying Drawings proceed to describe means pursued by me.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.

page_text: Figure 3 represents a side view, and Figure 4 a section of the same wire
when it has been operated upon by being passed between a pair of rollers,
one of which is grooved as described; Figure 5 represents a side view, and
Figure 6 a section of the same after teeth have been formed on its rib a.
It will readily be understood that the surface b is that which will rest
upon the cylinder or drum to which the teeth are applied, and this part b
may be either held to such surface by means of pins passed through holes
provided for the purpose at intervals on each side of the projecting and
toothed flange u, or by staples or by other suitable means. It will also be
understood that the size of wire and consequently of the bands of teeth
produced therefrom, as well also as the form or character of the teeth
produced on the surface may be greatly varied, depending upon the
character of the fibre to be opened or straightened or the effect desired to be
produced upon it.
Figure 7 represents in plan view a band or ribbon of iron or steel cut in
angular directions, as indicated at c, c, c, to obtain tooth surfaces according
to the other part of the Invention. When thus cut the parts c, c, c, are bent
or turned up at right angles, or thereabouts, to the surface of the band or
ribbon, as indicated by the plan, side view, and section, Figures 8, 9, and 10.
Bands or ribbons with tooth surfaces thus produced in them, and of the form
desired, when applied to suitable cylindrical or other surfaces are in like
manner applicable to the opening and straightening of wool, cotton, and other
fibres.
Having thus described my improvements, I would have it understood that
I do not confine myself to the precise forms or arrangements shown and
described, as theso may be varied; but what I claim is, the manufacture of
tooth surfaces for use in opening and straightening wool, cotton, and other
fibres in manner substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joshua Thornton, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twelfth day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
JOSHUA THORNTON. (L.S.)