CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES OR MACHINERY FOR PIECING CARDINGS FROM WOOLLEN OR COTTON CARDING ENGINES, AND FOR DRAWING, SLUBBING, AND SPINNING WOOLLEN AND COTTON
Year: 1827

page_text: TO ALL PERSONS TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME,
I, JAMES WHITAKER, of Wardle, in the County of Lancaster, Woollen
Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS His most Excellent Majesty King George the Fourth, by His
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Twenty-fourth day of April, in the seventh year of His
reign, did, for Himself, His heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said James Whitaker, special licence, full power and sole privilege and
authority, that I, the said James Whitaker, my exors, aditiors, and assigns,
and every of them, or such others as I, the said James Whitaker, my exors,
adiiors, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from
time to time and at all times during the term of fourteen years, to be
computed from the date of the now reciting Letters Patent, should and law-
fully might use, exercise, and vend, within that part of the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Ireland called England, the Dominion of Wales, and
the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, the Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS
IN MACHINES OR MACHINERY FOR PIECING CARDINGS FROM WOOLLEN OR COTTON
CARDING ENGINES, AND FOR DRAWING, SLUBBING, AND SPINNING WOOLLEN AND
COTTON;" in which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso obliging ine,
the said James Whitaker, by an instrument in writing under my hand and
seal, to be enrolled in His Majesty's High Court of Chancery within two
calendar months next and immediately ensuing the date of the now reciting

page_text: Letters Patent, to cause a particular and exact description of the said Inven-
tion, and the manner of making and using the same, in default whereof the
said Letters Patent, and all liberties and privileges thereby granted, were to
cease, de ermine, and become void.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
James Whitaker, do hereby declare the nature of my Invention by the
following description thereof, and the manner in which the same is to be per-
formed or carried into effect by the Drawings hereto annexed, reference being
thereto had, and to the figures and letters marked thereon, as follows:-
But before describing the nature of my Invention, it may be well to state
the advantages to be derived by the adoption thereof. In the manufacture of
wool for the purpose of making flannels and similar goods, and also in the
manufacture of cotton for the coarser description of calicoes, it is usual to
subject the raw material to the action of the well-known machine called a
carding engine, which machine delivers the carded wool or cotton from its
front or delivering roller in lengths or pieces, generally from about twenty to
sixty inches long, which pieces are called cardings. In the manufacture of
woollen these cardings are taken from the engine by children, or persons called
piecers, and being placed successively in a frame usually called the billy, are
partially elongated and spun or twisted into a coarse thread called a slubbing.
While this process is going forward it is the business of the piecer to piece or
connect together the several cardings as they are consumed, or converted into
slubbings, by the action of the billy. This piecing is effected by placing the
two cardings endwise together, and rolling or rubbing them by hand, so that
their respective fibres interlace and adhere to each other. To obviate the
necessity of this operation of piecing by hand is one of the advantages of my
Invention.
The woollen cardings already described being converted into slubbing by
the action of the billy frame are transferred to the mule, where they are further
elongated by drawing rollers, and spun or twisted into fine yarn for the
purpose of either warp or weft, to be afterwards woven into flannels or other
similar fabric. Now, having formed my cardings. into one continuous length
by the action of my piecing machinery, hereafter to be described, the other
essential improvements of which my Invention consists is, the transferring of
such carding direct from the piecing machine to the mule, and subjecting.
them to the action of drawing rollers without the intervention of the billy, or
their being converted into slubbings by drawing the cardings by drawing rollers
before it receive much twist, and spinning it into either warp or weft fit for
the loom at once, thereby shortening the process and lessening the expense.

page_text: Having described the nature of the advantages to be gained by my " Certain
Improvements in Machines or Machinery for Piecing Cardings from Woollen
or Cotton Cardings Engines, and for Drawing, Slubbing, or Spinning Wool or
Cotton," I shall proceed to 'describe the apparatus by which the operations of
piecing. the cardings is effected..
Table 1 is a front view, Table 2 an end,view, Table 3, Figure 1, a trans-
verse section taken at the line Z¹, as seen in Table 1; Table 4 is a plan of
my.machine for piecing cardings, and Table 5 a plan of the drawing rollers
and continuous cardings; ir all. which Tables or Drawings the same letters
refer to the same parts throughout. This. machine is adapted to piecing four
rows of carding, but by similar arrangements any number may be pieced at
the same time, and when more than four rows of cardings are to be operated
on any requisite number of cans marked y, y, y, y, as hereafter described, may
be placed in succession by having another tin roller, similar to W, hereafter
described, over which the additional cardings would have to be conducted. A,
Table 1, is the front or delivering roller of the carding engine, and the carding
in its progress from the said delivering roller may be seen at a, a', in front
marked red, in Tables 1, 2,. 3, and 4, and this point is the commencement of
my new apparatus for piecing. B is a smaller cylinder laying parallel to the
delivering roller, for the purpose of receiving the cardings as they are succes-
sively delivered by the large cylinder A. This smaller cylinder is acted on by
a wheel, having a portion of teeth only sufficient to give it one half revolution
for every carding which it receives from the cylinder A. b, b, are longitudinal
turned faces, into which the cardings are received as delivered by the engine,
and which, from the peculiar construction and arrangement of the receptacle B,
are detained and held stationary in the same position during the delivery of the
carding from the front or delivering roller A, so that from the rotary motion
communicated to the carding by A. it is stretched and placed perfectly straight
on the face b, b, before it is delivered to the second receptacle F. C is a lever
weighted at D, and pressing on two pins or studs placed at the end of the
cylinder B, as seen at d, d, in the sectional views, Figure 1, Table 3.
studs and the lever are for the purpose of holding the cylinder B in the exact
position for receiving the carding on the respective faces b, b, at every half
revolution imparted to it by the teeth of the wheel E, Table 1; by the action
of the cylinder B, the cardings are successively conveyed from the delivering
roller A, and placed on the face of a second receiver F, Figure 1, Table 3,
where the carding may be seen marked red. This receptacle F makes uniform
half revolutions similar to the cylinder B, and is acted on in a like manner by
the lever G and weight H, having studs at its extremity similar to d, d, on B.
These

page_text: From the position, as seen at F, Figure 1, Table 3, the cardings are allowed to
fall in succession by the half revolution of F on to the face of that portion of
the machine which revolves on the shaft I, as shewn in Tables 1, 2, 3, and 4.
The construction of this part of the machine will be more clearly seen by
reference to the sectional view, Table 3, Figure 1, where the respective faces
for receiving the cardings as delivered from F will be seen at i, 1, 2, . These
faces are caused to revolve in the direction of the arrow placed near i, and the
cardings, as they are respectively deposited on the faces i, i, i, 13, from F,
roll or slide down by their own weight into the angles k, k, k, k³. These
angle pieces are constructed to move freely on the axis whereon the letters
k, k, &c., are placed, and balanced so as to fall forward and deliver their
respective cardings uniformly at one point of the revolution round the shaft I;
or, in other cases, I have arranged projecting pieces to strike against stubs on
the frame so as to cause then to deliver the carding which they convey at the
proper period, but at the same time that each angle piece, as shewn at
k, k¹, k, k³, delivers the cardings which they carry at separate and distinct
periods of the revolution round the shaft I. These periods of delivery are so
arranged as to drop or deposit the cardings into the successive boxes or recep-
tacles K, L, M, and N, where again they roll their own weight or gravity
into the lowest angle, as shown by the red marks in section, Figure 1, Table 3.
Attached to the shaft I will be seen a projecting piece or lever O, which at
every revolution acts on the pivot P, and opens the box or receptacle M. This
point P is connected by the rods p, p, and lever P¹ to the diagonal or moveable
sides of the boxes K, L, and N, which vibrate on their respective centres
7, 7, 9. Consequently, as soon as the respective faces i, i,,, shall have
deposited a carding each into the boxes or receptacles K, L, M, and N, by
performing one revolution around the shaft I, the lever O, striking against the
point P, opens the boxes and drops the cardings on to a continuous web or
cloth, hereafter to be described, in the position as seen at 1, 1, 1, 1, Figure 1,
Table 3. As soon as the lever O has passed the coint P, the weight Q acting
on the rods p, p, p, p, and the lever P', immediately closes the boxes or recep-
tecles K, L, M, and N, and leaves them in a situation successively to receive
carding from the face, in the box N, the carding from the face in the
box M, and from the face in the box L, and that from the face i in the box K.
Having traced the progress of the carding from the delivering roller of the
carding engine as far as 1,,,, where it is deposited in four rows on the con-
tinuous web of cloth R, I shall proceed to describe some other forms of receivers
which I have used instead of that marked B in section, Figure 1, Table 3.
Figure 2, Table 3, represents end and front views of a receiver, which I cause

page_text: to revolve one half revolution, taking a carding into its alternate compartments,
and delivering them in succession to the second receiver F. Figure 3, Table 3, is
another arrangement which I cause to revolve half revolutions, taking a carding
each time and delivering it as before described. Figure 4, Table 3, are views of
a receiver which perform but half a revolution and return back into its original
position by means of a strap and weight on the pulley M. Figure 5, Table
8, represents another receiver, which performs a whole revolution for every
carding received; and Figure 6, Table 3, I have sometimes used in the place
of F, Figure 1, Table 3, causing it to open and allow the escape of the
cardings in regular succession, as they were received from B. K', Figure 1,
Table 3, is an arrangement of four revolving brushes having a rotary motion
communicated to them, as hereafter described, and coming within a very small
distance of the angle pieces k, 1, 1, 1, during the revolution round their
centre I. If, by any irregularity of the machine, two or more cardings should
come together on to the face i, i, 2, 3, or from any other cause a carding
should lay irregular or project over the angle piece so as not to be perfectly
straight, which is essential to making good work, these revolving brushes take
hold and remove it entirely out of the way. In Table 1 will be seen the.
direction and course of the continuous web of cloth R, on to which the
cardings are successively placed in the manner herein-before described. This
endless cloth, passing round the pulley S and under the pullies S¹ and S², is
continued over the drum or cylinder T, which has occasional motion imparted
to it through the wheel U by the bevil U and U, the latter of which has only
teeth sufficient to move the continuous cloth R through a space not quite equal
to the length of the cardings deposited on it at 1, 1, 1, 1. The continuous
web R having received sufficient motion from the bevil U to bring forward
the end of the carding first deposited as far as the point V, another succession
of cardings are deposited thereon from the boxes K, L, M, and N, see
1, 1, E, F, Table 2, which cardings touch and overlap in a small degree those
which were last removed in the direction V. The succeeding motion imparted
to the continuous cloth R by the segment of the bevil U carries forward the
cardings towards the cylinder T, whence they pass over the cylinder W and
under its presser X, and are finally deposited in the tin cans y, y, &c., which
receives a slow rotary motion by means of a band, thereby placing the carding
in a coiled and uniform arrangement, in which state it is either transferred to
the billy to be converted into slubbings, or, as I recommend, to the drawing
rollers of the mule, where it is stretched or elongated and converted into warp
or weft, as circumstances may require. In Table 4 is seen the plan of my
machine for piecing cardings, where the action of the bevil U¹, and the

page_text: A 1,
segment of the bevil U, for the purpose, of imparting occasional motion to
the web R¹ as the cardings are successively deposited. on it from the boxes
K, L, M, and N, will be, more clearly seen. At the opposite end of the
shaft on which the wheel U is placed will be: seen. an eccentric motion
acting on. the lever for the purpose of traversing the cylinder W,
over which the cardings, pass in their course.-towards the cans y, y,
&c. This motion I have found essential in placing the cardings in the
best position for leaving the cans either at the billy or the mule.
Table 4, is an eccentric for passing back and forth the piece V, which moves
freely by the guides,,. This motion is imparted, through the bevils B
and B. Referring to the same letters in Table 1, immediately below the
piece V will be seen a stretched surface of cloth, or other flexible. material,
marked V. C is a presser of wood, covered with cloth or other similar sub-
stance, placed beneath, the upper surface of, the cloth or endless web R,
and extending its, whole width. This presser is permanently fixed on the
levers D', D', D', D',,Table 4, which move, on their fulcruins E¹, as seen in
Table 1, and are counterballanced by the levers F, and weight G¹, as soon as
the cardings which have been so placed on the endless web. as to overlap or
touch each other endwise shall be brought immediately under the face V by
the occasional motion of the endless web R. The presser C is raised by the
action of the tappet or eccentric H acting on the levers h,.h, which move on
their fulcrum, h', and thereby raising the lever D', to which they are connected
by the rod h. The cardings, thus. pressed by 'c against the surface V', which
is at the same time receiving the alternate back and forth motion from the
eccentric A¹, are pieced or jointed together in a similar manner to the ordinary
method of piecing by hand, and formed into the continuous carding, which is
carried forward by the endless web R, and. deposited in the cans y, y, &c., as
already described.
Having gone through the method by which the cardings. are received from
the: delivering roller of the ordinary carding engine, and successively and
separately transferred and deposited, equidistant, and parallel to each other, on
the continuous, web of cloth R; R, &c.,. and thence passing between..the
surface V and the presser C', where they are mechanically joined and passed
forward by means of this endless web R over the cylinders T and W, in four
continuous lengths,. to the cans y, y, y; y, &c., I shall now proceed to trace the
motion as it is imparted to my machinery for the purpose of piecing from the
original carding engine, Plan 4: The Figure 1 represents a bevil wheel
giering into another, placed on a shaft of the engine. This transmits motion
by the shaft 2 to the bevils 3 and 4; the latter of which is connected by the

page_text: shaft I to the wheel 5, geering into the wheel 6, which, through the shaft 7,
effects the occasional motion of the endless web or cloth R, the traverse of the
cylinder W, and the revolving motion of the cans Y, Y, Y, Y, as already
described. On the opposite side of the wheel 5 is placed the pinion 8, into
which it geers, and carries motion through the shaft 9 for the purpose of
effecting the piecing of the cardings by the alternate traverse or back and
forth motion of the part V as already described. The continuation of the
shaft I, which receives motion from the bevils 3 and 4, is connected to the
eccentric or cam H¹, which at each revolution raises the presser C¹, as already
described. On the upper part of the wheel 5 is placed the pinion 10,
imparting motion to the shaft 11. On this shaft is placed the pulley 12,
which, by the strap 13 and the pulley. 14, carries motion through the shaft 15
to the four brushes K', as already described. On the opposite side of the
pinion 10, the shaft 11 is connected and secured to the wheel E, which wheel
has only sufficient teeth to turn the pinion 16, into which it giers; one half
revolution thereby imparting the required motion to the first receiver B, as
already described. On the opposite side of the wheel E. is the pinion 17,
receiving occasional motion from E, and imparting it through the wheels 18
and 19 to the second receiver, as seen at F, in the sectional view, Figure 1.
Table 3. The cans y, y, &c. being filled with continuous cardings are removed
to the billy. where they are converted into slubbings, or, as I recommend par-
ticularly when designed for weft, to the mule, where it is passed in the state of
a continuous carding through the additional rollers, as represented in Table 5.
These rollers are speeded according to the nature of the wool to be manu-
factured, which can be varied; but the arrangements shewn in the Table 5
has been found to answer; and it is this arrangement, and the discovery,: that
such cardings were susceptible of being drawn and clongated by drawing
rollers, together with the proper arrangements of such drawing rollers, that
constitute the second and essential part of my Invention of Certain Improve-
ments in Machines or Machinery for Piecing Cardings from Woollen or other
Cotton Carding Engines, and for Drawing, Slubbing, and Spinning Wood
and Cotton." In the Drawing, Table 5, the carding is coloured red, as here-
tofore, and reduced to a thin red line when spun into weft by the action of the
mule.
:
Having now described the various combinations of machinery; and the
manner in which I effect my "Improvements in Machines or Machinery for
Piecing Cardings from Woollen or Cotton Carding Engines, and for Drawing,
Slubbing, and Spinning Wool and Cotton, it must moreover clearly be under-
stood that in the construction of the various apparatus which constitute my

page_text: Invention the proportion of the parts may be varied, and that various minor
particulars as to the sizes of such parts are considered perfectly attainable by
any workman reasonably acquainted with mechanical operations.
operations. And
although I do not claim entire novelty in the mechanical piecing of cardings,
I do claim the novelty of the construction and property of the part B, Table 1,
which, as herein-before described, stretches and holds the cardings in a proper
state to deliver then uniformly and successively to the receiver F; and as the
entire novelty of the part B, along with the general arrangement herein-before
described, and as the forms or parts of the said machinery admit of many
modifications, all capable of producing the same effect, and may be constructed
with belts and pullies instead of wheels, with parts differently arranged, or of
different magnitudes, with parts introduced to change the direction of the
motion, or with parts differently proportioned, so as to require the application
of the generating motion to other parts of the apparatus than which I have
applied it, I do claim such modifications of these forms or parts of machinery
as applied to machines or machinery for piccing cardings from woollen or
cotton carding engines, and for drawing, slubbing, and spinning wool or
cotton.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Whitaker, have hereunto put my
hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of June, One thousand eight
hundred and twenty coton