Improvements in the Method and Means for Preparing Bristles for Brush Making.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 10th July, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 29th Mar., 1895-Accepted, 4th May, 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Method and Means for Preparing Bristles for
Brush Making.
I ALFRED SEAMAN MILES, Brush Manufacturer, of 58 Williams Avenue,
Brooklyn, State of New York, United States of America, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to the art of arranging bristles to prepare them for the
brush makers use and involves new methods and arrangements or combinations of
mechanical appliances as will be herein fully explained.
Heretofore the desired straightening and arranging of the bristles with their
butts or root ends in one direction was accomplished by taking advantage of the
fact that the centre of gravity of each bristle is located considerably nearer the
butt than the flag end; and in the present case this same peculiarity is relied upon,
the bristles being delivered, as may be briefly said into the open mouth of a
vertical chute, allowed to drop therethrough, being free to turn therein and being
delivered from the bottom thereof roots or butt-ends first.
My present invention relates chiefly to the method and means of delivering the
bristles to the open mouth of the chute and the treatment thereof previous to such
delivery; and to the method and means of collecting and arranging the bristles
after discharge from the chute.
In the drawings Fig. 1 is a plan view of the upper part of the machine showing
the distributing aprons, pulleys, rolls &c. mounted on the upper frame, omitting
the hopper. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation on a larger scale than Fig. 1
showing the hopper, the ejecting or projecting rolls at the mouth thereof, the
dampening roll and the straightener roll; and Fig. 3 is an axial sectional view of
the straightener roll.
Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation of the picker and projecting rolls at the delivery
portion of one of the aprons, and Fig. 5 is a plan of the lower projecting roll.
Fig. 6 is a side view showing the arrangement of hopper, rolls, belts and driving
mechanism in connection with the upper end of the chute, and Fig. 7 is a
continuation of Fig. 6 showing in section the lower end of the chute and in
elevation the bottom plate, rolls at the mouth of the chute, and carrying apron.
Fig. 8 is a plan of the gang or table of rolls upon which the bristles are
projected.
Fig. 9 is a cross sectional view on line X X of Fig. 7 showing grooves in
bottom plate of chute.
I have discovered that in the movement of a body of bristles they become
electrified and cling together or to portions of the apparatus to such extent as to
prevent them being, by mechanical means, individually separated so as to freely
turn in the chute; and also that if the bristles are delivered to the chute in an
imperfectly separated condition, one will interfere with the free turning of another.
I therefore prevent electrification of the bristles from the time they are delivered
from the hopper or otherwise started to move in the machine, and otherwise prevent
them from following too closely upon each other.
A is a hopper into which bristles previously cleansed and dried are delivered to
be fed to and operated upon by the machine, but the hopper may be omitted as
I sometimes scatter the bristles by hand on the first travelling apron.
In the lower mouth of the hopper is a slowly revolving roll A¹ supplied with

page_text: projecting disks A² separated by rubber or other sleeves A*. The bristles (as a)
rest upon this roll and are carried forward by it until pinched by the projecting
rolls when they are advanced more rapidly, being thus dragged from between the
disks A causing them to be delivered in the direction of their length. The
ejecting or projecting rolls at the end of the hopper are three in number. The
large roll B is covered with rubber or some material which is slightly yielding and
will carry a thin film of water, and revólves rather slowly. Another roll B'
pinches the bristles down on roll B causing them to move beneath a third roll B*,
which moves more rapidly, the difference in speed causing the bristles to separate
somewhat.
Cold water is supplied to roll Bas by a roll B³ preferably covered with felt
as B so it will take up water. In the form shown roll B³ revolves in a trough B³,
a stripping roll as B revolving against roll B³ to prevent too great a quantity of
water being carried. Other means may be adopted for this purpose.
Roll A is driven by a belt A' and roll B' by a belt B', both moved by shaft C,
but at different speeds.
Roll Bis driven by a belt B leading from a pulley D on main shaft E
around idlers F, F' and over pulley B°. The speed of roll B may be varied as
required.
From the hopper the bristles are projected on an endless apron G, the speed
of which is a trifle greater than that of roll B. Apron G travels upon an idle
roll G and is moved by a shaft G³.
A picker roll H has projecting teeth (Fig. 4) for the purpose of entering between
the bristles, and to drag and force them forward off the apron and between the
succeeding rolls.
In advance of picker roll H are located two projecting rolls I, II travelling
faster than rolls Hand G. One of the projecting rolls, preferably the lower oue 11
has a spiral winding as 13. Some bristles strike the windings and are immediately
cast forward and others enter the spaces and cannot be projected until the roll has
turned enough to catch them, and thus the bristles are further separated. The
windings also carry the bristles sideways, to turn them if necessary so they will be
projected more nearly in the direction of their lengths, and also to prevent
clumps from being carried forward. The winding may be dispensed with in some
cases.
A second apron K is mounted and moved in a manner quite similar to apron G
but at a greater speed by reason of which the bristles will be still further separated.
At the delivery end of this apron is a picker roll H' and projecting rolls 13 ]*
which project the advancing bristles upon a third apron L travelling faster than
apron K and thus they arrive over the chute M well scattered. To prevent the
bristles being thrown across the chute, a short endless apron L' is mounted on
rollers L L³, and this gives them a downward inclination, after which they are
received between two projecting rolls L, L' and by these projected into the mouth
of the chute to be acted upon by natural forces and resistances as they fall. The
driving belts may be arranged in any preferred way. In Fig. 6 a single belt B™
is driven by shaft E and in turn drives rolls I, I, L', the circles B", B" repre-
senting only idlers or belt tighteners. Apron L is driven from shaft E as by a
belt B and apron K from same shaft as by a belt B running over a larger pulley.
The apron G is driven from the shaft of the roll which carries apron K as by a
belt Brunning over a still larger pulley, from which it will be seen that the speel
may be varied at pleasure.
The projecting rolls should be covered with some yielding substance.
The bristles thus moved rapidly and in considerable quantities are liable to
become electrified unless prevented, and thus to defeat the objects sought to be
attained. The dampening of roll B is found to moisten and chill the bristles just
enough to reduce them to a state in which they are best calculated to be benefited
by the subsequent treatment.
Upon the first apron the bristles travel quietly until they reach the point where

page_text: A
they are to be again disturbed in position and velocity, and at this point it is
desirable to again treat them. The application of too much moisture will be
detrimental because it will make the bristles soggy, and I therefore subject them
to a quiet steaming process, just enough steam being supplied to prevent drying,
to overcome any tendency to further electrification and to raise the temperature
only very slightly. Any suitable form of steaming apparatus may be used.
convenient form is shown, wherein V is any vessel into which live steam is carried
by a pipe as V' and in which the steam may expand so it will issue quite slowly.
This vessel is placed beneath the aprons and has branches V2, V2, which deliver
steam to cross conduits V³, V from whence it issues through perforations in the
manner desired. V is a valve in supply pipe V. V is a drain pipe by which
water of condensation may be carried off.
The initial cold dampening process may sometimes be omitted and the steaming
process wholly relied upon.
The chute M is of considerable length and the bottom plate M' is fluted or
grooved (Fig. 9). The bristles strike upon this plate butt end first, and are pro-
jected down to the delivery end. The guard M' is to prevent upward currents of
air through the chute.
An extension M³, on the bottom plate turns the bristles nearly horizontally, and
leaving this extension they are received between revolving rolls M₁ M' by which
they are thrown forward upon a table composed of a number of rolls N, N'.
These rolls are driven in pairs, the bristles being carried down between them and
then delivered on an endless apron N2 travelling only moderately fast by which
they are carried forward, butt ends first.
If desired the forward portion of apron N* may be carried over a pair of
rolls N³, N3 so as to afford a broad surface on which the picker roll N' can operate.
This last named roll forces the bristles forward so they may be seized or removed
by hand or otherwise, when they will be found perfectly arranged and may be
carried away for immediate use.
Dated this 10th day of July 1894.
K. HADDAN,
Agent to Applicant.
COME LEIE SIECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Method and Means for Preparing Bristles for
Brush Making.
I ALFRED SEAMAN MILES, Brush Manufacturer, of 58 Williams Avenue,
Brooklyn, State of New York, United States of America, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to the art of arranging bristles to prepare them for the
brush maker's use and involves new methods and arrangements or combinations of
mechanical appliances as will be herein fully explained.
Heretofore the desired straightening and arranging of the bristles with their
butts or root ends in one direction was accomplished by taking advantage of the
fact that the centre of gravity of each bristle is located considerably nearer the
butt than the flag end; and in the present case this same peculiarity is relied upon,
the bristles being delivered, as may be briefly said, into the open mouth of a vertical
chute allowed to drop there through being free to turn therein and being delivered
from the bottom thereof roots or butt-ends first.
My present invention relates chiefly to the method and means of delivery the
bristles to the open mouth of the chute and the treatment thereof previous to such

page_text: delivery; and to the method and means of collecting and arranging the bristles
after discharge from the chute.
In the drawings, filed with the Provisional Specification, Fig. 1 is a plan view of
the upper part of the machine showing the distributing aprons, pulleys rolls &c.,
mounted on the upper frame omitting the hopper. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation
on a larger scale than Fig. 1 showing the hopper, the ejecting or projecting rolls at
the mouth thereof the dampening roll and the straightener roll; and Fig. 3 is an
axial sectional view of the straightener roll.
Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation of the picker and projecting rolls at the delivery
portion of one of the aprons and Fig. 5 is a plan of the lower projecting roll.
Fig. 6 is a side view showing the arrangement of hopper rolls belts and driving
mechanism in connection with the upper end of the chute, and Fig. 7 is a
continuation of Fig. 6 showing in section the lower end of the chute and in
elevation the bottom plate, rolls at the mouth of the chute, and carrying apron.
Fig. 8 is a plan of the gang or table of rolls upon which the bristles are
projected.
Fig. 9 is a cross sectional view on line X X of Fig. 7 showing grooves in bottom
plate of chute.
I have discovered that in the movement of a body of bristles they become
electrified and cling together, or to portious of the apparatus to such extent as to
prevent them being by mechanical means individually separated so as to freely turn
in the chute, and also that if the bristles are delivered to the chute in an imperfectly
separated condition one will interfere with the free turning of another. 1 therefore
prevent electrification of the bristles, from the time they are delivered from the
hopper or otherwise started to move in the machine and otherwise prevent them
from following too closely upon each other.
A is a hopper into which bristles previously cleansed and dried are delivered to
be fed to and operated upon by the machine, but the hopper may be omitted as
I sometimes scatter the bristles by hand on the first travelling apron.
In the lower mouth of the hopper is a slowly revolving roll A' supplied with
projecting disks A separated by rubber or other sleeves A'. The bristles (as a)
rest upon this roll and are carried forward by it until pinched by the projecting
rolls when they are advanced more rapidly being thus dragged from between the
disks A causing them to be delivered in the direction of their length. The ejecting
or projecting rolls at the end of the hopper are three in number. The large roll B
is covered with rubber or some material which is slightly yielding and will carry a
thin film of water and revolves rather slowly. Another roll B pinches the bristle
down on roll B causing them to move beneath a third roll B* which moves more
rapidly the difference in speed causing the bristles to separate somewhat.
Cold water is supplied to roll B as by a roll B³ preferably covered with felt as B
so as it will take
In the form shown roll B³ revolves in a trough Ba
water.
up
stripping roll as B revolving against roll B³ to prevent too great a quantity of
water being carried. Other means may be adopted for this purpose.
Roll A is driven by a belt A' and roll B' by a belt B' both moved by shaft C
but at different speeds.
Roll B is driven by a belt B leading from a pulley D on main shaft E around
idlers F F and over pulley B. The speed of roll B may be varied as required.
From the hopper the bristles are projected on an endless apron G the speed of
which is a trifle greater than that of roll B. Apron G travels upon an idle
roll G and is moved by a shaft G³.
A picker roll H has projecting teeth (Fig. 4) for the purpose of entering between
the bristles and to drag and force them forward off the apron and between the
succeeding rolls.
In advance of picker roll H are located two projecting rolls II' travelling faster
than rolls H and G. One of the projecting rolls preferably the lower one l' has
a spiral winding as I'. Some bristles strike the windings and are immediately cast
forward and others enter the spaces and cannot be projected until the roll has

page_text: turned enough to catch them and thus the bristles are further separated. The
windings also carry the bristles sideways to turn them if necessary so they will be
projected more nearly in the direction of their lengths and also to prevent clumps
from being carried forward. The winding may be dispensed with in some cases.
A second apron K is mounted and moved in a manner quite similar to apron G
but at a greater speed by reason of which the bristles will be still further separated.
At the delivery end of this apron is a picker roll H and projecting rolls 13 [+ which
project the advancing bristles upon a third apron L, travelling faster than apron K
and thus they arrive over the chute M well scattered. To prevent the bristles
being thrown across the chute, a short endless apron L' is mounted on rollers L' L³,
and this gives them a downward inclination after which they are received between
two projecting rolls L4, L5 and by these projected into the mouth of the chute to be
acted upon by natural forces and resistances as they fall. The driving belts may
be arranged in any preferred way. In Fig. 6 a single belt B10 is driven by shaft E,
and in turn drives rolls I IL, the circles B1, B representing only idlers or belt
tighteners. Apron L is driven from shaft E as by a belt B12 and apron K from
same shaft as by a belt B running over a larger pulley. The apron G is driven
from the shaft of the roll which carries apron K as by a belt B₁ running over a
still larger pulley from which it will be seen that the speed may be varied at
pleasure.
The projecting rolls should be covered with some yielding substance.
The bristles thus moved rapidly and in considerable quantities are liable to
become electrified unless prevented and thus to defeat the objects sought to be
attained. The dampening of roll B is found to moisten and chill the bristles just
enough to reduce them to a state in which they are best calculated to be benefited
by the subsequent treatment.
Upon the first apron the bristles travel quietly until they reach the point, where
they are to be again disturbed in position and velocity, and at this point it is desirable
to again treat them. The application of too much moisture will be detrimental
because it will make the bristles soggy, and I therefore subject them to a quiet
steaming process just enough steam being supplied to prevent drying, to overcome
any tendency to further electrification and to raise the temperature only very
slightly. Any suitable form of steaming apparatus may be used. A convenient
form is shown, wherein is any vessel into which live steam is carried by a pipe
as V and in which the steam may expand so it will issue quite slowly. This vessel
is placed beneath the aprons and has branches V, V, which deliver steam to cross
conduits V, V, from whence it issues through perforations in the manner desired.
V is a valve in supply pipe V. V is a drain pipe by which water of condensation
may be carried off.
The initial cold dampening process may sometimes be omitted, and the steaming
process wholly relied upon.
The chute M is of considerable length and the bottom plate M is fluted or
grooved (Fig. 9). The bristles strike upon this plate, butt end first, and are
projected down to the delivery end. The guard M' is to prevent upward currents
of air through the chute.
An extension M³ on the bottom plate turns the bristles nearly horizontally, and
leaving this extension they are received between revolving rolls M M by which
they are thrown forward upon a table composed of a number of rolls N. N₁. These
rolls are driven in pairs, the bristles being carried down between them and then
delivered on an endless apron N' travelling only moderately fast by which they
are carried forward butt ends first.
If desired the forward portion of apron N' may be carried over a pair of
rolis N'N' so as to afford a broad surface on which the picker roll N* can operate.
This last named roll forces the bristles forward so they may be seized or removed,
by hand or otherwise when they will be found perfectly arranged and may be
carried away for immediate use.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. The herein described method of treating bristles, the same consisting in
subjecting them as they are being moved to the action of a quiet current of steam,
with or without the preliminary chilling process for the purposes set forth.
2. The method of straightening and arranging bristles consisting in effecting their
separation, preventing electrification and permitting them to fall through an open
space substantially as explained.
3. The combination with the hopper of the dampening roll and the straightening
roll, one or both, as set forth.
4. The combination with the hopper and the endless belts of the projecting rolls
constructed and operating substantially as set forth.
5. In a machine for straightening bristles, the combination of the travelling
aprons and the chute, the aprons being moved at different speeds, for the purposes
explained.
6. In a machine for straightening bristles, the combination of travelling aprons
and the steam conduits located below them, for the purposes set forth.
7. The chute for receiving the bristles from the aprons, the same being supplied
with the fluted bottom and operating with or without the wind guard, substantially
as set forth.
8. In combination with the chute, the roller table in advance of the discharge
end of the chute for receiving the bristles the same operating as set forth with or
without the endless apron beneath it substantially as shown.
Dated this 29th day of March 1895.
R. HADDAN,
Of the Firm of Herbert Haddan & Co.,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.