IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR OPENING AND CARDING COTTON AND OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS.
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Tempest, of the Sandford Iron Works,
Rochdale, in the County of Lancaster, Machinist, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR OPENING AND CARDING COTTON AND
OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS.".:
Sealed the 27th June 1865, and dated the 11th January 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Tempest at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
11th January 1865.
I, ROBERT TEMPEST, of the Sandford Iron Works, Rochdale, in the County
of Lancaster, Machinist, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR OPENING AND CARDING COTTON AND OTHER
FIBROUS MATERIALS," to be as follows:-
My Invention relates principally to the machines commonly called "devils
or "breakers" for tearing up and opening rags, cop bottoms, and other similar
fibrous materials, and it consists in applying to such machines two or more
feeding rollers in combination with a dish or trough; this part of my Invention
is applicable to carding engines. Also in applying to devils or breakers two
perforated drums and two delivering rollers, placed one above the other, for the
purpose of separating the fibres and delivering them in two distinct fleeces.
Also in driving the various parts of such machines by means of V friction

page_text: pulleys. Also, in the application of an extra cutting knife to the circumference
of the tearing cylinder, which knife detaches the unbroken material from the
cylinder, and allows it to drop into a space or spaces provided by opening one
or more dampers. Also, in driving the "tippler" or "tumbler" for dropping
the cardings into buckets by means of a ratchet wheel and catch, and in
holding it in position by a square block acted upon by a spring.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Robert Tempest in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
8th July 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
TEMPEST, of the Sandford Iron Works, Rochdale, in the County of Lancaster,
Machinist, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eleventh day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-eighth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Robert Tempest, Her special license that I, the said Robert Tempest, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Robert
Tempest, 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
MACHINERY FOR OPENING AND CARDING COTTON AND OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Robert Tempest,
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 per-
formed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great 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 Robert Tempest, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the fol-
lowing statement (that is to say) :-
My Invention relates principally to the machines commonly called "devils

page_text: or breakers" for tearing up and opening rags, cop bottoms, and other similar
fibrous materials, and it consists in applying to such machines two or more
feeding rollers in combination with a dish or trough; this part of my In-
vention is applicable to carding engines. Also, in applying to "devils or
breakers" two perforated drums and two delivering rollers, placed one above
the other, for the purpose of separating the fibres and delivering them in two
distinct fleeces. Also in driving the various parts of such machines by means
of V-friction pulleys. Also in the application of an extra cutting knife to the
circumference of the tearing cylinder, which knife detaches the unbroken
material from the cylinder, and allows it to drop into a space or spaces provided
by opening one or more dampers. Also, in driving the "tippler" or "tumbler "
for dropping the cardings into buckets by means of a ratchet wheel and
catch, and in holding it in position by a square block acted upon by a
spring.
And in order that my Invention may be fully understood and readily carried
into operation, I will proceed to describe the two accompanying Sheets of
Drawings, reference being had to the figures and letters marked thereon.
On Sheet 1, Figure 1, is an elevation in section, Figure 2 an end view, and
Figure 3 a plan of a machine, commonly called "devil or breaker," con-
structed according to my improvements. A is the feeding apron, on which the
rags, cop bottoms, and other fibrous materials to be opened are spread by hand
in the usual manner; b, 61, 63, and 63 are a series of four-feeding rollers, tho
lower one of which works in the dish or trough C, the fibrous materials pass
from the feeding apron A between the two rollers b₁ and b³, then back again
between the rollers 62 and 68, and then under the roller 6, by which they are
securely held against the edge of the trough. The number of the feed rollers
can be varied and pressure is applied to them in the ordinary manner.
The combination of two or more feeding rollers with a dish or trough is
also applicable to carding engines; the object of the additional roller or rollers
is to prevent the rollers 6 and 6" from springing. When the fibrous material
has passed between the rollers 6 and 63, and between the lowest roller b³ and
the trough C, it is struck over the edge of the trough and over a series of ribs
projecting from the plate d by the ordinary toothed drum d, and thrown
against the circumferences of the two perforated drums e and f, in each of
which a partial vacuum is formed by a fan, as in machines of the ordinary
construction to remove the dust from the fibres. The drums e and fare
placed over the delivery rollers e¹ and f, and the fibres are delivered by them
in two distinct fleeces on to the aprons or creepers and f and formed into
laps by the surface rollers e³ and f³, as shewn, or the fibres are otherwise dis-

page_text: posed of. I Figures 2 and 3 it will be seen that the main drum d is driven
by the V-friction pulley g¹ fixed on the driving shaft g, and fitting into the
groove of the friction pulley d fixed on the axle of the drum d; other
parts of the machine may also be driven by V-friction pulleys.
On Sheet 2, Figure 4, is an elevation, and Figure 5 a section of a " devil or
breaker," commonly called a rag machine, constructed according to my im-
provements. a is the feeding apron, and 6, 61, 6 are three feeding rollers; in
this arrangement the fibrous materials pass between the two lower feed rollers 6¹
and 63, and the uppermost roller b acts as a stay bar to prevent the springing
of the centre roller. d is the toothed drum, or tearing cylinder, on which the
fibres accumalate, as in machines of the ordinary construction; h and h¹ are
the usual cutting knives, and i is an extra cutting knife which is acted upon by
the screw, to press it forward so as to act on the rags projecting from the
teeth of the tearing cylinder; j is a sliding damper placed under the cylinder,
and is another damper placed at the back of the machine. In operating
upon certain descriptions of waste both the dampers are closed, and when
operating upon rags they are opened, as shewn in Figure 5, to allow the un-
broken bits to drop between them on to the floor. The opened fibres are thrown
off the cylinder d and collected in a suitablo receptacle under the feeding
apron. The driving parts of this machine are shewn in Figure 4. The tearing
cylinder & is driven from the line shaft in the usual manner, and to the axle of
the cylinder d is fixed a small pulley d', driving by a strap the pulley k, on the
boss of which are fixed the pinions and ; the stud of this pulley and
pinions is fixed in the lever l, and as long as the machine is working properly
the pinion drives by the train of wheels and pinions shewn the lowest feed
roller in the direction of the arrow; but when it is desirable to reverse the
direction of motion of the feed rollers to prevent damage to the cylinder, the
attendant unlatches the lever / by the handle 1, and thereby allows the pinion
to drop into gear with the pinion ³, which then drives the feed rollers in the
contrary direction.
Figures 6, 7, and 8 represent a parallel vice for holding the lags of the tearing
cylinder d while the teeth are being put in. m is a cast-iron frame fixed on a
bench, on this frame slides the angle piece or loose jaw m², which is set up by
the screw m²; the lag d³ is securely held between the side of the frame m
and the loose jaw m³, whilst the pins or spikes are driven in.
Figure 9 is an elevation, Figure 10 a plan, and Figure 11 an end view of
my improved "tippler or tumbler" for dropping oardings into buckets as in
piecing machines of the usual construction. n is the axle of the "tippler," the
wings n of which fit in grooves cut in the corners of the axle, as shewn in

page_text: Figure 12. To one end of the axle n is fixed the ratchet wheel n², and to the
other end is fixed the square block n³, see Figure 13. The tippler is turned
round by the wheel o gearing into the pinion o¹ fixed to the same axle as the
lever o³, to this lever is jointed one end of the link o³, the other end of which
is connected to the box lever p, see Figure 14; to this lever is jointed the
catch p taking into the ratchet wheel n; under the block n³ is.a box con-
taining a spiral spring acting on a T-headed bolt which is pressed against the
square block; by this means the tippler is held firm after it has been turned
round every quarter revolution. The brackets shewn in Figures 15 and 16 are
rivetted to the travelling buckets of the ordinary construction to limit the
turning over of the buckets.
Figurs 17, 18, and 19 represent the double or compound eccentrics for work-
ing the rubber rollers of piecing machines forming part of the machine
to which the "tipplers" above described are applied. r, rare tubular wrought-
iron rubber rollers, and s, s are the compound eccentrics fixed on the shaft s',
the straps and rods s² of the eccentrics are connected to the rubber frames s³,
consequently as the eccentrics revolve the requisite motion in the direction of
their axes is imparted to the rubber rollers.
Having thus stated the nature of my Invention, and described the manner of
performing the same, I declare that I claim,-
First, the application of two or more additional feeding rollers to machines
for opening and carding fibrous substances as described.
Secondly, the application of two perforated drums and delivering rollers to
machines for opening fibrous substances, as shewn and described.
Thirdly, driving the various parts of machines for opening fibrous substances
by means of V-friction pulleys, as described.
Fourthly, the application of an extra cutting knife and sliding dampers to
rag machines, as shewn and described.
Fifthly, the application of reversing gear to the feed rollers of rag machines,
as shewn and described.
Sixthly, the improved vice, shown and described, for holding the lags of
spiked drums.
Soventhly, the improved mode of constructing and driving the "tippler " or
"tumbler" of piecing machines, as shown and described.
Eighthly, the application of double or compound eccentrics for working the
rubber rollers of piecing machines, as shown and described.
Ninthly, making the rubber rollers of piecing machines of wrought iron
and tubular, as described.

page_text: And, lastly, the bracket shewn in Figures 15 and 16, when applied to the
buckets of piecing machines, as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Tempest, have hereto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of June, One thousand eight
hundred and sixty-five.
ROBERT TEMPEST. (L.s.)