Stop-motions" for "Combing Machines" used in the Manufacture of Cotton.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Mar., 1893.
Complete Specification Left, 28th Dec., 1893-Accepted, 3rd Feb., 1894
Improvements in
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Stop-motions" for "Combing Machines" used in
the Manufacture of Cotton.
I, JOHN FLETCHER, of 709 Oldham Road, Failsworth, in the County of
Lancaster, Foreman, in the employ of Messieurs Platt Brothers and Company.
Limited, of Hartford Works Oldham, in the County of Lancaster, Machinists do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-*
"
"
My invention relates to stop-motions for combing machines used in the
manufacture of cotton and consists in an arrangement of stop motion which is more
convenient in application and more effective in use than the arrangements hitherto.
employed.
"
According to my invention I provide the combing machine to which my invention.
is to be applied with a series of sliding bars. These sliding bars are actuated by
an oscillating shaft provided with arms or levers, each sliding bar being connected
to or placed in engagement with one of the said arms or levers and receiving a to
and fro motion therefrom. In conjunction with each "head" of the combing
machine is provided a spoon lever or detector over which the sliver from such'
"head" passes on its way to the " can
in which it is to be placed. The spoon
end of this lever is lighter than the other or tail end. The passage of the sliver
over the spoon end of the said spoon-lever or detector causes the end of the spoon-
lever or detector on which the sliver presses to be pressed down and the tail end
lifted up. The spoon-levers or detectors are so formed and arranged that on the
sliver resting upon one of such spoon-levers or detectors being broken or ter-
minating, the spoon end of the spoon lever or detector on which the sliver
pressed previous to its being broken or terminating, being thus set free
will rise and the tail end will fall. One of the sliding bars above men-
tioned is employed in conjunction with each of the spoon levers or detectors.
Each sliding bar is provided with a notch or other device formed in a
suitable position, into engagement with which the tail end of the spoon lever or
detector, with which such sliding bar is used, will pass as soon as such spoon-lever
or detector is set free by the breakage, or termination of the sliver passing over it,
thus arresting the movement of the sliding bar and the oscillating shaft to which
the said sliding bar is connected and by which it is actuated. The movement of
the oscillating shaft being thus arrested other mechanism which being well known,
need not be further described, will be brought into action and stop the combing
machine. The mechanism of which my invention consists is provided with all
necessary means of adjustment and is preferably so arranged that the sets of parts.
to be applied in conjunction with the several "heads" of the machine shall be alike
in construction and only differ in position in accordance with the position or path
of the slivers which are to be passed over the several spoon-levers or dětectors.
Dated this Twenty-seventh day of March 1893.
HOWARD
CHEETHAM,
Manchester, Agent to the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in "Stop-motions" for "Combing Machines" used in
the Manufacture of Cotton.
I, JOHN FLETCHER, of 709 Oldham Road, Failsworth, in the County of
Lancaster, Foreman, in the employ of Messieurs Platt Brothers and Company
Limited, of Hartford Works, Oldham, in the County of Lancaster, Machinists 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 "stop motions" for "combing machines" used in the
manufacture of cotton and consists, in an arrangement of stop motion which is more
convenient in application and more effective in use than the arrangements hitherto
employed.
According to my invention I provide the combing machine to which my invention
is to be applied with a series of reciprocating sliding bars. These sliding bars are
actuated by an oscillating shaft provided with arms or levers, each sliding bar being
connected to or placed in engagement with one of the said arms or levers and
receiving a to and fro motion therefrom.
66
"
In conjunction with each "head" of the combing machine is provided a spoon-
lever or detector over which the sliver from such "head" passes on its way to the
can in which it is to be placed. The spoon end of this lever is lighter than the
other or tail end. The passage of the sliver over the spoon end of the said spoon-
lever or detector causes the end of the spoon-lever or detector on which the sliver
presses to be pressed down and the tail end lifted up. The spoon-levers or
detectors are so formed and arranged that on the sliver resting upon one of such
spoon-levers or detectors being broken or terminating the spoon end of the spoon-
lever or detector on which the sliver pressed previous to its being broken or
terminating being thus set free will rise and the tail end will fall. One of the
sliding bars above mentioned is employed in conjunction with each of the spoon-
levers or detectors. Each sliding bar is provided with a notch or other device
formed in a suitable position, into engagement with which the tail end of the spoon-
lever or detector with which such sliding bar is used, will pass as soon as such
spoon-lever or detector is set free by the breakage or termination of the sliver
passing over it, thus arresting the movement of the sliding bar and the oscillating
shaft to which the said sliding bar is connected and by which it is actuated. The
movement of the oscillating shaft being thus arrested other mechanism which being
well known, need not be further described will be brought into action and stop the
combing machine.
In the accompanying drawings is illustrated so much of the "stop motion" of a
combing machine as is necessary to illustrate the nature of my invention and the
manner in which it may be carried into effect.
Fig. 1 is an end elevation partly in section of a stop motion constructed according
to my invention as applied to a combing machine having eight "heads" or sets of
combing apparatus.
Fig. 2 is a front elevation of a portion of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. I
showing the parts applied to two of the eight heads constituting the combing
machine.
Fig. 3 is a plan of a portion of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is an end elevation partly in section illustrating one spoon-lever or
detector, one sliding bar and one of the arms or levers mounted on the oscillating
shaft which have been above mentioned and will be further described hereinafter.
Fig. 5 is a plan showing part of the spoon-lever or detector, sliding bar, and arm
or lever illustrated in Fig. 4.

page_text: '
and 5.
Fig. 7 shows in plan sliding bars such as
illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.
are employed in the stop motion
Fig. 8 is a front view and Fig. 9 a side elevation showing a part detached.
Fig. 10 is a front view, Fig. 11 a plan, and Fig. 12 a side elevation showing
another part detached.
Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12, are drawn to an enlarged scale.
The same letters of reference are applied to corresponding parts in all the
figures.
In the accompanying drawings (a) is the "rotating cam shaft" which is mounted
in suitable bearings and has secured upon it the excentric (6).
(c) is an excentric lever which embraces the excentric (6), and is formed with an
inclined slot or elongated opening (c¹), and with a projecting part (c²) the upper
surface of which is made flat.
(d) is a shaft capable of being oscillated in bearings formed in brackets (e) (f)
secured to the sliver plate (g) of the combing machine to which the apparatus
being described is applied and in other bearings provided in any suitable parts of
such machine. The shaft (d) is provided with suitable collars or other devices by
which it is prevented from moving endwise.
() is an arm mounted fast upon the shaft (d). (¹) is a stud secured in the
arm () and passing into the slot or elongated opening (e¹) formed in the excentric
lever (c).
(c) is a stud secured in the excentric lever (c) and projecting into a groove
formed around the circumference of the excentric (b). (h) is a nut screwed upon
the stud (¹) secured in the arm (4); a washer being placed between the nut (½³)
and the excentric lever (c).
The studs (h) and (c³) and nut (2) together serve to keep the excentric lever (c)
in proper position upon the excentric (b).
(i) is a weight-lever mounted fast on the oscillating shaft (d) and serving to keep
the stud (h) at the upper end of the inclined slot or elongated opening (c) in the
excentric lever (c).
() is the setting-on and stopping rod connected in any suitable manner to the
strap fork of the machine and capable of being slidden end wise in brackets of
which only one (A) is shown in the accompanying drawings.
(m) is a stud secured by means of a nut (m³) in the bracket (k).
(n) is a sleeve or sliding bush provided with a hook (n') and mounted upon the
stud (m) so as to be capable of being slidden endwise thereon. The sleeve or
sliding bush (n) is formed with ears or brackets (n²) (n³) through which the
rod () is passed. By means of set screws screwed into the ear or bracket (n²)
the sleeve or sliding bush (n) is secured to the rod (j). In the sleeve or sliding
bush (n) is formed notch (n).
(o) is a catch lever which is mounted so as to be capable of being oscillated upon
a stud (p) secured in the bracket (f) and prevented from moving sideways by
means of a collar upon the stud (p) and a pin passed through such stud (p).
The catch lever (o) is formed with a part (o¹) projecting downwards in which
a set screw (o) is screwed. The set screw (02) may be adjusted into any required
position in relation to the part (c²) of the lever (c) and secured by means of the
fock nut (o³).
The catch lever (o) normally rests in the notch (n) formed in the sleeve or
sliding bush (n).
(9) is a spring which is hooked at one end upon the hook (n') upon the sleeve or
sliding bush (n) and at the other end upon a hook or projecting part (e) formed
upon the bracket (e) and tends to draw the sleeve or sliding bush (n) and with it
the rod (j) in the direction indicated by the arrow (A).
The movement of the sleeve or sliding bush (n) and rod (j) in the direction
indicated by the arrow (A) is limited by a stop not shown in the drawings, and the

page_text: !
movement of such sleeve or sliding bush (n) and rod (j) in the direction opposite
to that indicated by the arrow (A) is limited by the sleeve or sliding bush (n)
arriving in contact with the collar (m²) formed upon the stud (m).
(r) and (¹) are the fluted delivery rollers of the combing machine, of which
rollers (r) and (1) two pairs only are shown in Figs. 2 and 3. (s) (s) are the guides
around which the slivers delivered by the rollers (") (r) pass on their way to the
delivery rollers at the end of the comber, one of the guides (s) and one pair of
fluted rollers (r) (r¹) being provided for each "head" of the combing machine.
The rotation of the excentric (b) causes the shaft (d) to oscillate. So long as
the shaft (d) is free to oscillate the catch lever (o) will rest in the notch (n) formed
in the sleeve or sliding bush (n), and the sleeve or sliding bush (n) and rod (1) will
be held by the said catch lever (o) in the positions in which they are indicated in
Figs. 2 and 3. When the oscillation of the shaft (d) is arrested the arm (h) is
prevented from moving in the direction indicated by the arrow (B) when the
excentric lever (c) is moved in the direction indicated by the arrow (C) and the
upper inclined side of the slot or elongated opening (c¹) in the excentric lever (c)
will be caused to slide upon the stud (h¹) thereby raising the end (c) of the
excentric lever (c) and the projecting part (c2), the slot or elongated opening (c)
-permitting this movement of the end (c) of the excentric lever (c) to take place.
When the projecting part (c2) is raised, it acts upon the set screw (02) secured in
the projecting part (o) of the catch lever (o) and causes such catch lever (o) to be
turned upon the stud (p) so as to be removed from the notch (n) in the sleeve or
sliding bush (n). So soon as the catch lever (o) is moved clear of the sleeve or
sliding bush (n) the spring (9) will draw the sleeve or sliding bush (n) and with it
the rod () in the direction indicated by the arrow (A) which will cause the strap
fork of the machine to move the belt by which such machine is driven from the fast
pulley to the loose pulley when the machine will be stopped.
The parts to which reference letters have so far been applied are similar to the
parts of stop motions hitherto employed in combing machines.
I will now proceed to describe the construction and arrangement of the parts with
which my improvements are more directly connected and in order that this may be
done the more readily I will describe one set of the parts, it being understood that
one set of such parts is applied to each "head" of the combing machine.
(t) is a sliding bar which is provided with notches (1) and (2), the notch (t)
forming the space between the projecting parts (13) and (4) and the notch (t²) being
formed by the removal of a portion of the projecting rib (t).
(u) is an arm or lever mounted fast upon the oscillating shaft (d) and engaging
into the notch (¹) of the sliding bar (t) to which it communicates a reciprocating
motion between the positions indicated by the dotted lines (E) and (F).
"
The bracket (v) is secured to the sliver plate (g) by suitable bolts or screws.
The bracket (v) is formed with projecting parts (v¹) (12) see Figs. 4, 8 and 9, in
which the sliding bar (t) is supported, guided and capable of being slidden endwise.
The bracket () is also formed with a groove (v) having "under cut
sides. In
the groove () is mounted and secured a bracket (w) formed with projecting
'arms (w) (w). The bracket (w) is shown detached in Fig. 10, 11 and 12.
On the
inner side of each of the two projecting arms (w) (w) of the bracket (w) is formed
a notch or groove (w²). The bracket (w) is also provided with a projecting
part (w) which has a projection (10) formed upon it.
(a) is a spoon-lever or detector which is provided with two projecting
pivots () () which are supported in the notches (w2) formed in the projecting
arms (w) (w) of the bracket (w). The spoon-lever or detector (a) passes through
a hole (g) formed in the sliver-plate (g) and made sufficiently large to allow the
spoon end (2) of the said spoon-lever to be passed through it from below and to
allow of the free movement of such spoon-lever (a). The pivots (¹) (x)) of the
spoon-lever or detector (a) are made so as to turn freely in the notches (w) (w²) in
which they are mounted and the spoon-lever (a) is nicely balanced upon its axis by
means of an adjustable weight (23) which is secured to it by means of a set screw

page_text: in such a position that when there is an absence of sufficient pressure from the
sliver upon the spoon end (x²) of such spoon-lever or detector (2) such spoon-lever
or detector (a) will move into the position indicated by the dotted lines (D) in Fig. 6
and rest with its "tail end" (a) upon the projection (w) formed upon the projecting
part (w) of the bracket (w). The tail end (c) of the spoon-lever or detector (x)
bearing against the part (w) of the bracket (w) prevents the spoon-lever or
detector (a) from being strained or disturbed by the pressure exerted on it, when
arresting the motion of the sliding bar (t). When however the continuous sliver
bears upon the spoon end (**) of such spoon lever or detector (a) and is passing
along the sliver plate (g) to the delivery rollers by which it and the other slivers
formed by the operation of the combing machine are to be delivered the weight and
tension of the sliver will be sufficient to hold such spoon lever or detector in a
position similar to that in which the spoon lever or detector (a) shown in Fig. 6 is
indicated in full lines.
When the sliver passing over the spoon end (2) of the spoon-lever or detector (2)
breaks or terminates and ceases to press with sufficient force upon the spoon end (22)
of the said spoon-lever or detector (a) the tail end (x) will drop into the notch (2)
formed in the sliding bar (t) employed in conjunction with the spoon-lever or
detector (a) and the movement of the sliding bar (t) will be arrested and with it
the lever (u) and shaft (d) when the catch lever (o) will be disengaged as already
explained and the rod (j) set free to be moved by the spring (7) and the driving
belt shifted to the loose pulley.
"
It is indicated in Figs. 1 and 3 of the accompanying drawings that the several
guides (s) and spoon-levers or detectors (a) provided in conjunction with the
several "heads of the combing machine are placed in such positions that
each of the several slivers produced by the several heads of the combing machine
shall pass around one of the guides (s) and over the spoon end (2) of one of the
spoon-levers or detectors (x) and so that such slivers shall be in close proximity
and parallel to one another while passing along the sliver plate (g) to the mechanism
by which they are to be delivered. The brackets (w) are all alike. The spoon-
levers or detectors (a) are all alike and the brackets (v) are all alike. The fixing
of each spoon-lever or detector (a) in the required position is secured by the
groove () in the bracket (v) extending throughout the length of such bracket (v)
so that the bracket (w) may be secured to it, in the required position, so as to
permit of the several slivers passing along the sliver plate (g) in close proximity
and parallel to each other. The bracket (0) is provided with a set screw by means
of which it may be secured in position in the groove (1) in the bracket (v) in
which it is mounted.
The notch (2) formed in each sliding bar (t) is formed in such a position therein,
that when such sliding bar (t) is mounted in the bracket (v) and in the position in
which the sliding bar (t) shown in Fig. 4 is indicated by the dotted lines (E), it
shall be in line with the tail end (a) of the spoon-lever or detector (a) in con-
junction with which it is employed so that when the tail end (4) of such lever (*)
is at liberty to descend into contact with the projection (w) it will in moving into
contact with the projection (10) pass into the notch (2) of the sliding bar (t).
So long as all the slivers produced by the operation of the several heads of the
machine are passing unbroken to the mechanism by which they are to be delivered
an each of them is pressing upon the spoon end (3) of the spoon-lever or
detector (a) provided for it the revolution of the excentric (6) will continue to
oscillate the shaft (d) and cause the sliding bars (t) to move backwards and
forwards.
When any one of the slivers produced by the operation of the several heads of
the machine becomes broken or terminates from any cause, its pressure upon the
spoon end (2) of the spoon-lever or detector (2) provided for it, will cease or
become insufficient to keep the tail end (1) clear of the sliding bar (t) employed
in conjunction with it and the tail end (2) of the said spoon-lever or detector (a)
will rest upon the rib (c) until the notch (2) of the said sliding bar (t) comes into

page_text: line with the end (21) of the said spoon-lever or detector (r) when such spoon-
lever (r) will bring its tail end (a) into engagement with the notch (2) formed in
the said sliding bar (t) so as to arrest the movement of such sliding bar (t) and
with it the arm (u) and shaft (d) which will bring about the release of the stop
rod (1) in the manner hereinbefore described and so stop the machine.
The use of the parts (v) (w) (a) (³) and levers (u) with each of the "heads"
very much simplifies the application of my improvements. The employment of the
sliding bars (t) which are similar to each other in so far as regards the relative
position of the notches (t¹) formed therein both in relation to the length of such
sliding bars (t) and in relation to the levers (u) and the axis of the oscillating
shaft (d) enables me to overcome the difficulty arising from each of the slivers on the
sliver plate (g) being in a different vertical plane in relation to the levers (u) and
the oscillating shaft (d).
Each sliding bar (t) is moved through an equal distance and being constructed
with the notch (2) in the proper place to enable one of the spoon-levers or
detectors (x) to act upon it will when arrested by the tail of such spoon-lever or
detector (a) be equally effective in bringing about the stoppage of the machine
as previously explained.
Each spoon lever or detector (r) may be placed close to the guide (s) employed
in conjunction with the particular "head" of the combing machine in conjunction
with which it is employed.
The above described arrangement of apparatus is economical in cost of
construction, easy to apply and most effective in use.
•
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. In a stop motion for a combing machine for use in the manufacture of cotton,
the combination of parts consisting in a separate sliding bar (t) for use with each
"head" of the combing machine, which receives a backward and forward motion
from the shaft (d) to which is imparted an oscillating motion and is provided with
a notch (2) formed in a suitable position to receive a part of a spoon-lever or
detector (c) employed in conjunction with it, and brackets (v) and (w) to support
such sliding bar (t) and the spoon lever or detector (a) employed, and operating
for the purposes and substantially in the manner hereinbefore described and
indicated in and by the accompanying drawings.
2. In a stop motion for a combing machine for use in the manufacture of cotton
the use of reciprocating sliding bars such as (t) supported in suitable bearings, for
the purposes hereinbefore described.
Dated this Twenty-seventh day of December 1893.
HOWARD
CHEETHAM,
Manchester, Agent to the Applicant.