IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR USE IN PREPARING COTTON, WOOL, SILK, FLAX, AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES FOR SPINNING
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY FOR USE IN PREPARING COTTON, WOOL, SILK, FLAX, AND OTHER
FIBROUS SUBSTANCES FOR SPINNING." A communication from abroad by the
Firms of Portait and Weber and Heilmann-Ducommun and Steinlen, of Paris,
France.
Sealed the 26th June 1877, and dated the 4th January 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville Clark
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th January 1877.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,.
Patent Agent.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR USE IN PREPARING COTTON,
WOOL, SILK, FLAX, AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES FOR SPINNING." A commu-
nication from abroad by the Firms of Portait and Weber and Heilmann-
Ducommun and Steinlen, of Paris, France..
This Invention relates to improved machinery for laying parallel, combing, and
cleaning cotton, wool, silk, flax, and other textile fibres, and more particularly
those which are intended to be dyed before being spun.
The Invention is illustrated in the accompanying Drawings, in which,-
Figure 1 shows a longitudinal vertical section of a machine for laying parallel,
combing, and cleaning textile fibres.
.
Figure 2 shows a detail.
Figure 3 shows the application of a saw-toothed cylinder and pressing fingers;
and Figure 4, a plan of the fingers.
A, B, feed rolls for the fibres to be operated on; C, toothed drum; D, guard by
which the fibres are kept in contact with drum C; E, F, nippers which seize the
fibres as they are presented by the rotation of drum C; the nippers draw the fibres
off the drum, and after being made to recede a certain distance by an adjustable
arrangement, they open and return to their first position for again seizing the fibres ;
G, india-rubber pad or cushion for giving an elastic pressure to the nippers; H,
endless web of leather or other material moved intermittently at each operation of
....Jl

page_text: the nippers by means of the clutch, Figure 2; I, clearer; K, drawing rollers for the
prepared fibres. The toothed drum C is cleared by a brush, a card roll, and a small
vibrating comb.
The gearing for operating the nippers is as follows:-L, main shaft; L¹, arm on
which the nippers are mounted, said arm oscillating on shaft L; M, eccentric from
which the reciprocating motion is given to the nippers through levers, connecting
rods, and cranks, represented by the lines N, O, O', Q, the extent of motion being
regulated according to the position of lever N in the slide of lever O; the angle
which crank O makes with O¹ may be varied so as to adjust the nippers nearer to
or farther from the toothed drum C; R, R¹, toothed sectors oscillating at r, r³,
gearing together, and governing the position of the crossed arms of the nippers; S,
levers by which the nippers are operated from cams T for the purpose of opening
and closing the same; U, lever arm fixed adjustably to S by stud and slot u to
regulate the pressure of the nippers.
By a suitable adjustment of the parts the nippers may be made to almost touch
the surface of the drum C, and each fibre be drawn through the teeth of the same.
If the fibres be very impure and too tangled to draw readily through the teeth of
the drum C, the latter is replaced by either a smooth drum or one provided with
spiral blades, which may be saw toothed, upon which teeth press the fingers shown
in Figures 3 and 4, operated either by springs or weights. Their action is readily
understood: A knot or tangle in the fibres being drawn will raise any one of the
fingers, all for example, the others a¹, a¹¹, b¹, 61, remaining in position to retain the
fibres. It is otherwise if only one finger is employed. In this case the finger would
be raised by the knot, and allow of the adjacent fibres being drawn out.
The machine may be fed either by spreading the fibres upon an endless web
placed in rear of the feed rolls A, B, or by laps wound on a roller or slivers, in which
case a stop motion would be employed.
The teeth of drum Care spaced, and their size, length, inclination, and if necessary
their bend, when teeth similar to those of cards are employed, is regulated to suit
the results to be obtained.
The fibres pass out from the machine after treatment either through a funnel or
to a dyer's frame or can coiler.
The distinguishing features of the Invention consist in the mechanical combination
and arrangement whereby the nippers may be made to work sufficiently close to
the drum C, and the endless web shifting at each action of the nippers, thereby
admitting of the removal by means of cleaner I of any impurities which may adhere
thereto, and be liable to impede the regular action of the machine. Also, the
adjustable lever U, by which the pressure of the nippers may be regulated. Also,
the employment of the series of overlapping fingers, each capable of rising inde-
pendently while the remainder maintain the pressure over the whole surface of the
fibres under treatment.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alexander, Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
3rd July 1877.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR USE IN PREPARING COTTON,
WOOL, SILK, FLAX, AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES FOR SPINNING." A commu-
nication from abroad by the Firms of Portait and Weber and Heilmann-
Ducommun and Steinlen, of Paris, France.
This Invention relates to improved machinery for laying parallel, combing, and
cleaning cotton, wool, silk, flax, and other textile fibres, and more particularly those
dyed before being spun,

page_text: The Invention is illustrated in the accompanying Drawings, in which,-
Figure 1 shows a longitudinal vertical section of a machine for laying parallel,
combing, and cleaning textile fibres.
Figure 2 shows a detail.
Figure 3 shows the application to the machine of a saw-toothed cylinder and
pressing fingers; and Figure 4, a plan of the fingers.
A, B, delivery rolls by which the fleece of fibres to be operated on is fed to the
machine; C, toothed drum or rotary gill; D, guard by which the fibres are kept in
contact with the teeth of the drum C; E, F, nippers which close on and seize the
fibres as they are presented to them by the rotation of drum C; the nippers draw
the fibres from the drum C, and after receding a certain distance they open and
return to their former position in order to seize a fresh lot of fibres; G, india-rubber
pad or cushion for giving an elastic pressure to the nippers; H, endless apron of
leather or other material moved intermittently at each stroke of the nippers by
means of the clutch, shewn separately in Figure 2; I, top clearer for clearing the
apron K, rollers for drawing the prepared fibres onward. The drum C is cleared
by a brush, card drum, and a small vibrating comb.
The nippers are operated from the shaft L by the following mechanism:-L¹ is
an arm mounted by one end to oscillate on shaft L as a centre, the nippers being
mounted at the other end of this arin, as hereafter described; M is an eccentric by
which the reciprocating motion to and from drum C is given to the arm and nippers
through levers, connecting rods, and cranks, represented by the lines N, O, O¹, Q, the
extent of this motion depending on the position of lever N in the slot of lever O;
the angle which the crank arm O makes with the crank arm O¹ may be varied, so
as to enable the nippers to be brought nearer to or farther from the drum C; R, R¹,
toothed sectors oscillating at r, rl, gearing together, and governing the position of
the crossed arms of the nippers E, F ; S, levers by which the nippers are opened and
closed, the said levers being operated by cams T; U, lever arm fixed adjustably to
S by a stud and slot u in order to regulate the degree of force with which the nippers
are pressed together.
By a suitable adjustment of the parts the nippers may be made to almost touch
the drum C, so that each fibre will be drawn through the teeth thereof.
If the fibres be very impure and too tangled to draw readily through the teeth of
the drum C, the latter is replaced by either a smooth drum or one provided with
spiral blades, which may be either plain or saw toothed, upon which teeth the fibres
are pressed by the overlapping fingers, shown in Figures 3 and 4, which are operated
either by springs or weights. These fingers press on the whole surface of the fibres
being treated, and yet they are independent of one another, so that if a knot or
tangle in the fibres passes under any one of them it will raise that one only, all for
example, the others a¹, a¹¹1, 61, 61, remaining down, whereas if one long pressing
surface were employed, it would be raised entirely by the knot, and allow of the
adjacent fibres being drawn out.
'
The machine may be fed either by spreading the fibres upon an endless apron
placed in rear of the feed rolls A, B, or by laps wound on a roller or slivers, in which
case a stop motion would be employed.
The teeth of drum Care spaced, and their size, length, inclination, and if necessary
their curve (when teeth like card teeth are employed), is regulated to suit the results
to be obtained.
The fibres may pass out from the machine after treatment through a funnel or
otherwise, or to a can coiler.
Having described the nature of the said Invention and the manner of performing
the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
1st. The general arrangement and combination of mechanism herein-before
described.
2nd. The mechanical combination and arrangement whereby the nippers may be
made to work close up to the drum C, as described,

page_text: 3rd. The endless apron, applied as described, and shifted at each stroke of the
nippers, and cleaned by a stationary clearer I to remove any impurities that may
adhere to the nippers.
4th. The lever U, made adjustable as shown and described, by which the pressure
of the nippers may be regulated, as specified.
5th. The employment of the series of overlapping fingers, each capable of rising
independently while the remainder maintain the pressure over the whole surface of
the fibres under treatment, as described:
6th. The use and application of the machine for preparing all kinds of filaments,
more especially those of cotton and other kinds which are dyed before being spun.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Third day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
A. M. CLARK. (L.S.)