CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR CARDING COTTON AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES
Year: 1843

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, SAMUEL
FAULKNER, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Cotton Spinner, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at West-
minster, the Twenty-fifth day of July, One thousand eight hundred and forty-
three, and in the seventh year of Her reign, did, for Ierself, Her heirs and
successors, give and grant unto me, the said Samuel Faulkner, Her especial
licence, full power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said Samuel
Faulkner, my executors, administrators, and assigns, and such others as I, the
said Samuel Faulkner, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times during
the term of years therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within England and Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-
Tweed, my Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS
FOR CARDING COTTON AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES;" in which said Letters
Patent is contained a proviso, that I, the said Samuel Faulkner, shall cause a
particular description of the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be inrolled in Her Majesty's High Court of
Chancery within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of
the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference being
thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Samuel Faulkner, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention, and
the manner in which the same is to be performed, is particularly described
and ascertained in and by the Drawings hereto annexed, and the following
explanation thereof (that is to say):—
My improvements in machinery or apparatus for carding cotton and other
fibrous substances apply more particularly to that construction of carding
engine or machine, which is fully described and shewn in the Specification of
a former Patent granted to me by His late Majesty William the Fourth, and
dated the Seventh day of August, One thousand eight hundred and thirty-five,
and which was duly enrolled in the Petty Bag Office.
My present improvements consist, firstly, in a novel and peculiar arrange-
ment and combination of mechanism for effecting the process of carding in a
much more perfect and economical manner than has hitherto been accom-
plished, and differing from carding engines now in use, and also from that
of my former Patent.
Secondly, in the novel application of a preliminary breaker roller or
cylinder, working below the doffer cylinder, in combination with a certain
arrangement of smaller revolving carding rollers, and also certain blades or
straight edges connected therewith, for the purpose of opening or breaking up
the cotton, &c., prior to its being submitted to the carding operation usually
performed by the main carding cylinder and other smaller carding rollers,
which arrangement of mechanism will enable the carding engine to perform a
much greater quantity of work, and to produce the sliver at one operation as
perfect as it is frequently performed by submitting the cotton to the operation
of a second carding engine.
Thirdly, in the application, use, or employment of wrought-iron or common
gas tubing for the construction of the smaller carding rollers, and having a
solid pivot in each end for a bearing, for the purpose of combining great
strength and lightness in these rollers; and also in the application of a leather
covering for the larger carding cylinders when made of metallic rings covered
with sheet iron, which leather covering is employed instead of the cement
commonly used for this purpose. I have found leather from old fillet cords
may be conveniently employed when turned to a true surface.
Fourthly, in the novel application of a series of top carding rollers and
certain straight edges or blades placed above the main carding cylinder, in
combination with the series of bottom carding rollers and straight edges or
blades, as employed in my former improved carding engine.
Fifthly, in the particular manner in which I work or employ the revolving

page_text: brush or roller clearer which is moved round in the arc of the main cylinder
and breaker cylinder, and continually passed in contact and over the several
top carding rollers to clean or strip them of motes or other extraneous matter
collected by them during the carding process, that is, my improvement consists
in causing this revolving stripper or clearing brush to advance gradually and
progressively from one carding roller to the next, at certain intervals throughout
the entire series of rollers, and to make a number of revolutions in contact with
each roller separately, whilst the carding roller makes rather more than one
revolution, and then pass on to the next, thereby effectually and completely
cleaning or stripping every card roller separately and in succession, and clearing
them from all motes or whatever they may have collected, instead of merely
licking or clearing that point of each roller which may happen to be in contact
with the brush as it passes over the whole range, as hitherto done.
Sixthly, my improvement consists in the application and employment of a
novel and peculiar construction of comb for cleaning or stripping the above-
named clearing brush, by the use of which the waste or extraneous carding is
taken on the points of the teeth of the comb, and as the rollers retain very
small portion of cotton, which is principally of short staple, and which it is
desirable to separate from the cotton in carding, is taken off by the brush in
almost separate fibres, and pressed between the teeth of this peculiar shaped
comb; and each fibre forces those before it through the teeth, and the cotton
waste is set at liberty at the back of the comb without further assistance, and
will fall off behind by its own weight. I wish it, however, to be understood that
this comb is not so well suited to strip any other brush than such as is working
to and stripping rollers which have straight edges attached to them as clearers
to prevent their accumulating cotton on their surface, as described in my former
Patent of August Seventh, One thousand eight hundred and thirty-five.
Seventhly, in a certain improved construction of the plates, steps, or bearings,
for facilitating the action of the feed rollers and allowing them to adjust them-
selves by the action of a spiral or other spring, instead of a weighted lever as
in general use, and thus be relieved from any strain in the event of knots or
other imperfections passing with the cotton between them; and also in certain
other improved plates, steps, or bearings for fixing, setting, or adjusting the
position of the smaller carding roller with the main or larger carding cylinders,
so that their peripheries may be suitably adjusted or set for performing the
carding operation in the most perfect manner.
40
And lastly, my improvement consists in performing the operation of
doffing," that is, stripping or removing the sliver or filamentous sheet of
carded cotton, &c. from off the surface of the doffing cylinder, by the novel

page_text: application of a current of air supplied by a suitable apparatus, instead of
doffing by means of a bar or comb, as hitherto practised.
Having thus described the nature and object of my present improvements,
I proceed to shew the manner in which the same are to be performed; and in
order that the several features of novelty may be clearly understood, I have
attached to these Presents two Sheets of Drawings, the first of which repre-
sents an elevation of my improved carding engine complete, and also a
longitudinal section taken through the middle of the same, exhibiting the
general arrangement and novel construction of the carding engine and its
several accompanying auxiliaries, drawn upon a scale of about two inches to
the foot. The Figures upon the second Sheet of Drawings exhibit, by way of
more perfect illustration, the several improved parts detached from the machine
and drawn upon a larger scale; similar letters of reference will be found upon
corresponding parts of the mechanism in all the Figures.
In Sheet 1, Figure 1 represents an elevation of my improved carding
engine and Figure 2, a longitudinal section, taken through the middle
of the same.
It is particularly arranged and adapted in these views for
carding Sea Islands cotton for spinning the finer numbers of yarns, and
may be made of any width it is common to construct carding engines.
In this improved construction of engine it will be observed that the cotton
is fed in the ordinary manner from a feeding cloth A, driven by any con-
venient connecting motion of the engine, and that the feeding cloth is
placed below the doffing cylinder B in front of the card. From the feeding
cloth A the cotton is uniformly delivered to the feeding rollers C, and the
gearing for effecting this and all the other motions common to carding
engines is shewn in Figure 1; but being now well understood by any com-
petent mechanic, and, so subject to variation as circumstances may require, it is
not necessary to enter into more particular detail. The cotton is then passed
under the operation of a breaker roller D, covered with cards and a series of
carding rollers E, E, with their accompanying straight edges or blades
F, F, arranged below or around the lower portion of the roller D; the first
series of blades F act to each carding roller E as a stripper, and the second
series of blades F' are placed at such a distance behind the first as is considered
sufficient to allow the dirt, motes, or other extraneous matter to escape as it is
disengaged by the action of the cards; this straight edge is also intended to
knock off any dirt that may be upon the face of the breaker or carding cylinder
D, but for that purpose I do not consider it new. I have ascertained by prac-
tical working that from one-eighth to one-fourth of an inch is sufficient space
or opening to allow between the two blades F, F'. The cotton now having

page_text: passed this first breaking or carding process, and beyond the action of the series
of rollers and blades, a very considerable portion of all the extraneous matter
is separated from it, and will have fallen upon the floor below the cylinder D.
The cotton is now taken off the cylinder D by means of the intermediate card
cylinder G, which conveys it to the main carding cylinder H, and is then sub-
mitted to the action of that and the lower series of carding rollers I, I, and their
assistant clearers, blades, or straight edges J, J, on the lower part of the peri-
phery of the main cylinder, in a similar manner as just described, and thereby
receives an increased carding, to disengage that portion of motes and other
extraneous matter which may still remain from this part of the process the
cotton continues to pass with the main cylinder until it is submitted to the action
of the top series of carding rollers K, K, and their clearers, blades, or straight
edges L, L, which are more particularly intended to take out the small white
"neps" or knots which frequently still remain and are mostly found in fine
or Sea Islands cotton, and it is chiefly for this purpose that I consider them
useful, and that they may be dispensed with in carding coarser cotton. The
cotton now being completely carded, is taken off the main cylinder H by the
doffing cylinder B and is removed therefrom either by the ordinary doffing
comb or bar M, (sco Figure 1) or by my improved mode of doffing hereafter
described and conducted in a sliver as usual into cans or receptacles through
a pair of delivering rollers revolving in the box N.
The foregoing description being applicable to the general arrangement of
the carding engine, and to the first and second features of my present improve-
ments (the third being for the construction of the carding cylinders, as
previously described), I proceed to describe the fourth feature of novelty, that
is, the peculiar office and working of the revolving clearers or brushes 01, 0º,
for cleaning or stripping the small carding rollers E, I, and K around the
breaker and main cylinders. These revolving clearers or brushes O¹, 0%, have
been heretofore employed, but not in a similar manner as here applied. They
are mounted at the extremities of two arms P, P, affixed to the toothed
segments or wheels Q, Q, one on each side of the engine, and are caused to
pass from one carding roller to another after the brush has made several
revolutions in contact with each roller as it slowly revolves, and there to
continue for a short interval, or until it has completely cleared each roller,
and then to pass on to the next in succession, and proceed to clear that also;
which performed, the brush is passed onwards to the next, and thus complete
the entire series. The one brush or clearer O' having effectually cleaned
each of the small carding rollers E around the breaker cylinder, and the other
brush or clearer 02 having cleaned the series of carding rollers I and K,

page_text: around the main cylinder. The mechanism I have employed for this purpose
of thus shifting the brushes or clearers 0, 0, and stopping them for a certain
interval whilst they strip the card rollers, may of course be varied according
to the discretion of the operator. I have employed an ordinary arrangement
of gearing and catch boxes for reversing the passage of the brush after it has
completed its circuit, and conducting it back again in a similar manner to the
position from whence it first commenced. In the arrangement of the engine,
as shewn in Figure 1, this alternate action of the clearers O¹ and O2 is
effected by the several pins or studs 1, 2, 3, 4, &c., fixed upon the side of the
brush wheels Q, coming alternately in contact with a projection or nib S in
connection with a catch box motion thrown in and out of gear by any suitable
means for the purpose of stopping the clearer O over every carding roller, and
passing it on to the next as required. I have shewn in Sheet 2, Fig. 7, an
arrangement of gearing for this purpose, but which may be varied if required,
provided the constant clearing action of the brush is maintained opposite each
carding roller separately, and having made several revolutions in contact with
the carding roller is passed onwards to the next, and so on throughout the
entire series. Of course it will be seen that one pin is required for each
carding roller except the first of the range, and that the first pin 1 is required
to stop the clearer O at roller No. 2 in each cylinder, and so on to each roller
as the brush moves to strip them. I wish it to be particularly observed that
in my improved arrangement of the carding engine, that the segment toothed
wheels in connection with and for working the clearers or brushes O are placed
one on each side of the carding cylinders, and connected together by a shaft
and pinions crossing the card below the doffing cylinder. By these means the
brush is always moved through the arc of the cylinder square and true, and is
thereby enabled to strip the rollers effectively. The brush O', which works in
connection with the breaker cylinder D, strips each card roller three several
times; whilst the brush 02, which works round the main cylinder H, strips
each of its rollers once. This arrangement is desirable, as the rollers on the
breaker cylinder are working the cotton in its dirtiest state, and consequently
require more cleaning themselves.
The sixth feature of my improvements in carding engines is shewn at full
size in Sheet 2, in the sectional Figure 1, and the back view, Fig. 2, which
shews the peculiar form of the comb I use for cleaning or stripping the
revolving brushes or clearers O' and O. The shape of the teeth of the comb
is shewn at a, a, and the edge of the teeth nearest the brush is formed of the
same curve as the periphery of the brush. The teeth a, a, are of sheet steel,
and placed or fixed in a rod or tube b for support at the spaces apart, as seen

page_text: in Fig. 2. The short fibres of the waste or extraneous carding which it is
desirable to remove are taken upon the points of the teeth of the comb in
almost separate fibres, and pressed between the teeth a, a, of this comb,. each
fibres forces the other through until a small strip of waste is formed at the
back of the comb, and falls off by its own weight without any assistance from
the operative attendant. Of course I do not mean strictly to confine myself
to the peculiar shape of the teeth shewn in the Figure, as it may be slightly
modified and still produce the same effect, that being the object desired.
The seventh part of my improvements is shewn at the front view, Fig. 3,
and sectional view, Fig. 4, and consists in the simple mode of fixing, setting,
or adjusting the small carding rollers E, I, and K, and their cleares, blades,
or straight edges F, J, or L, namely, by the plates or steps c, c, and the
adjusting or set screws d, d, which is an improvement upon the plan shewn in
my former Patent. The arrangement for allowing self-adjustment to the
feeding rollers C is shewn in section at Fig. 5, and consists in the application
and use of the spiral spring e, e, working in its box, and pressing on the
bearing or step of the shaft of the upper feed roller, instead of using the
common weighted lever for this purpose. I also claim the separate attaching
or fixing plate f, f, of the feed rollers, and its adjusting screws g, g.
This tube is to
open ends and
Lastly, my improvements in the mode of doffing the sliver of cotton or
removing it from the doffer cylinder B is exhibited in its relative position
attached to the doffer cylinder at R, Fig. 2, Sheet 1, and at full size, detached,
in the cross sectional view of the apparatus, Fig. 6, Sheet 2. It consists of a
hollow tube g, having vanes or fans h around its periphery.
be driven at a great velocity, and collects the air from its
disperses it through the holes i around the periphery of the tube into the
space formed
the outer tube or casing k, in which the hollow fan revolves,
and the current of air being discharged through the opening or slot along the
tube and against the whole breadth of the doffing cylinder, will strip off or
doff the sliver of cotton without the aid or assistance of the ordinary doffer comb.
The extreme edges of the vanes or leaves h may either be caused to act upon
the outer fibres of the cotton to assist the operation or not, as found necessary.
In witness whereof, I, the said Samuel Faulkner, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty-four.
SAMUEL (L.B.) FAULKNER.

page_text: гаргонагу подспатесту.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the same Twenty-fourth day of
January in the year above mentioned, the aforesaid Samuel Faulkner came
before our Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the Specifi-
cation aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained, in form above
And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according to the
written.
tenor of the Statute in such case made and provided.
Inrolled the Twenty-fifth day of January, in the year above written.
Inrolled the Twenty-fifth day of January, in the year above written.