Improvements in Apparatus for Feeding Scutching, Opening, Carding, or other Preparing Machines.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd May, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 16th Feb., 1897-Accepted, 27th Mar., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Feeding Scutching, Opening,
Carding, or other Preparing Machines.
We, SAMUEL HERBERT BROOKS Machine Maker and WALTER FROST,
Foreman, both of the Union Iron Works West Gorton, Manchester in the County
of Lancaster, do hereby declare the nature of the said invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in apparatus by which a weighed or
regulated quantity of the raw or loose fibres are fed from a hopper or its equivalent
to the machine.
It consists essentially in constructing the feed apparatus with one two or more pairs
of feed rollers mounted upon balancing levers or beams so that they will be lowered
and brought into operation when a required weight of the material rests upon
them and will be caused to stop again when the weighed quantity has been fed to
the machine.
In carrying out the invention we construct a feed hopper of ordinary form with
a travelling lattice placed at the bottom which carries forward the material to the
spiked upright creeper or lattice in the ordinary way.
A revolving or other stripper is placed at a suitable distance from the spiked
lattice to prevent too great a quantity of the fibre being carried forward. The
stripper is mounted on adjustable bearings or brackets so that its position in
relation to the spiked lattice can be regulated. The stripper blades are made of
leather or other suitable material and are set at such an angle as to deliver the
surplus fibre back into the hopper.
At the other or delivery side of the upright spiked feed lattice we provide a
reserve chamber in which the fibre can from time to time accumulate as the spiked
lattice carries it forward.
In this chamber at the back of the lattice is a short horizontal lattice or creeper
which receives the fibre as it is brought forward and strips any fibre that may
remain adhering to the spiked lattice or it may be stripped by means of an ordinary
stripping or opening cylinder. This lattice also forms the bottom of the reserve
chamber and carries the fibre to the delivery end.
At the delivery end of this reserve chamber are formed one or more preferably
two weighing chambers the bottom of each of these weighing chambers comprises
a pair of rollers which are so balanced that when a regulated weight of the fibre
falls upon them they are set in motion and feed it to the machine. As we at
present prefer to construct the apparatus the bearings of the rollers are supported
on a knife edge or other balancing mechanism connected to a weighted lever which
counterbalances the weight of the rollers and is capable of being so adjusted that
when an additional weight is applied the rollers are lowered and the gear wheel
upon them brought into gear with a cam or other mechanism by which they are set
in motion as the feed is required. Instead of the rollers being so balanced one
two or more bars plates grids or the like may be placed in the bottom of the
weighing chamber which when weighted to the desired degree will be lowered to
bring the fibre within reach of the feed rollers and cause them to be set in motion.
At the upper ends of the weighing chambers are fitted lids doors or the like

page_text: which close when the rollers are lowered and thus prevent any more material
ertering the weighing chamber. The raising of the rollers causes the lids or doors
to open to receive a fresh supply of the fibrous material. Where two weighing
chambers are employed the connection between the feed rollers and the doors of
the chambers are such that one set of feed rollers only can be in motion and that
when one weighing chamber is open the other is closed. During the time if any
in which both weighing chambers are closed the reserve chamber receives the
fibrous material from the spiked lattice and holds it in reserve to fill the weighing
chamber when it opens.
Dated this 15th day of Mo 1806
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
6, Bank Street, Manchester, Patent Agents.
Improvements in Apparatus for Feeding Scutching, Opening,
Carding, or other Preparing Machines.
We, SAMUEL HERBERT BROOKS. Machine Maker, and WALTER FROST,
Foreman, both of the Union Iron Works, West Gorton, Manchester, in the
County of Lancaster, 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:-
This invention relates to improvements in apparatus by which a weighed or
regulated quantity of the raw or loose fibres are fed from a hopper or its equivalent
to the machine.
It consists essentially in constructing the feed apparatus with one two or more
pairs of feed rollers mounted upon balancing levers or heams so that they will be
lowered and brought into operation when a required weight of the material rests
upon them and will be caused to stop again when the weighed quantity has been
fed to the machine.
It will be fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings:-
Fig. 1. Side elevation.
Fig. 2. Longitudinal sectional elevation.
Fig. 3. Side elevation of opposite side of machine.
Fig. 4. Plan.
Fig. 5. Detail of mechanism for driving the feed rollers.
Fig. 6. Enlarged side elevation partly in section showing details at one side of
the machine.
Fig. 7. Enlarged side elevation partly in section showing details at other side
of machine.
The hopper A to receive the raw fibre is constructed of ordinary form with a
horizontal travelling lattice B placed at the bottom to carry forward the material
to the upright spiked creeper or lattice C in the usual way.
A revolving or other stripper D is placed at a suitable distance from the spiked
lattice C to prevent too great a quantity of the fibre being carried forward. The
stripper is mounted on adjustable bearings or brackets so that its position in
relation to the spiked lattice can be regulated. The blades d of the stripper D are
made of leather or other suitable material and are set at such an angle as to
deliver the surplus fibre back into the hopper.
At the other or delivery side of the upright spiked lattice C we provide a
reserve chamber E to receive the fibre as it is delivered by the spiked lattice and
"in which it can from time to time accumulate.

page_text: The top of this chamber might be made with a loose cover so as to permit of
the chamber holding as much fibre as may be necessary.
In this chamber we place a short horizontal lattice F on to which the fibre falls
and by which it is carried forward. This lattice also serves to strip any fibre that
may remain on the spiked lattice C or the spiked lattice may be stripped by means
of any ordinary stripping device.
At the delivery end of the reserve chamber E are formed one or more, preferably
two, weighing chambers G and H the bottom of each of these weighing chambers
comprises a pair of rollers K and L which are so balanced that when a regulated
weight of the fibre falls upon them they are set in motion at fixed intervals and
feed the fibre to the machine through a delivery shoot M or other device.
The two sets of rollers are actuated in a similar manner. The bearings rest
upon a plate or rod N which is supported on a knife edge lever n or other
balancing mechanism which will offer but little resistance or friction. The lever n
is connected to or supported by a pivoted lever P provided with a counterbalance
weight O which balances the weight of the rollers together with their bearings
and framing which carry same, and is capable of adjustment upon the lever P to
sustain any required additional weight. In addition to the weight O or instead of
making it adjustable a small adjustable weight p may be applied to the lever.
When the weight of cotton or other fibre upon the rollers overbalances the
weights O and p the rollers fall or descend and come into gear or engage with
any suitable driving mechanism by which they are set in motion as the feed is
required.
The weighing chambers G and H at the top are each fitted with pivoted or
swinging door or doors R and S which close as soon as the weight of the fibre in
the chamber causes the feed rollers K and L at the bottom to descend and thus
prevent any more material entering the weighing chamber. The two doors R and S
are connected together by quadrants g and on the outside of the frame one of
which is provided with an arm g' and weight r sufficient to overbalance the weight
of the doors and cause them normally to remain closed. The doors are held open
for the desired intervals by a pivoted or swinging catch V upon which a pin in
the arm gl rests.
The pivoted weight lever P by which the feed rollers K and L are balanced is
connected with the quadrants g and h of the pivoted doors which close the top of
the weighing chambers G and H by a pivoted lever T a connecting rod t and a
vertically sliding lever T pivoted at . As the feed rollers K and L rise after
the weighing chamber is emptied the free end of the weight lover P descends and
lifts the lever T'a pin or projection on which comes in contact with the end of
the quadrant arm g¹ and lifts it to open the doors. When the arm g¹ is raised, the
pivoted catch V swings under the pins and holds the arm g' in position and the
doors R and S opened until the lever falls again. A curved or inclined slot in
the sliding lever T passes over the pin or pivot t' which as the lever T is raised
draws it away from the arm g' and disengages the pin or projection therefrom.
When the weighing chamber is filled and the feed rollers descend by reason of the
weight of fibre upon them overbalancing the weight lever P the sliding lever 'T' is
drawn down and in its downward course the projection t" comes in contact with the
pivoted lower end v of the catch V and withdraws it from beneath the pins in the
quadrant arm gl thereby closing the doors R and S and preventing more than
the proper or desired weight of fibre entering the weighing chamber until it has
been discharged.
Instead of the feed rollers being balanced one two or more bars, plates, grids, or
the like may be placed in the bottom of the weighing chamber which when weighted
to the desired degree will be lowered to bring the fibre within reach of the feed
rollers and cause them to be set in motion.
Each pair of feed rollers are geared together by suitable pinions and on the end
of one is fixed a clutch box W with which a sliding clutch W' is brought into gear
at regular or stated intervals. The sliding clutch W is continually rotating,

page_text: receiving motion from the bevel or other gearing w and is moved forward to gear
with the clutch box W on the roller shaft at regular intervals by the cam Y acting
against the clutch fork y. The cam Y is attached to a worm wheel Y' rotated by
the worm y and the clutch W₁ is drawn back out of gear when released by the
spring y. A corresponding cam is placed on the other side of the wheel Y' to
actuate the clutch and clutch fork of the second pair of feed rollers. These cams
are so arranged that one set of feed rollers are set in motion as soon as the other
set stops and also so that only one set can be in motion at one time, thus if the
second weighing chamber becomes fully charged and the feed rollers descend while
the first are in motion they cannot begin to deliver until the first have stopped.
By this means a continuous and even feed of the fibre is assured.
During the time, if any, in which both weighing chambers are closed the reserve
chamber receives the fibrous material from the spiked lattice and holds it in
reserve to fill the weighing chamber when it opens.
It is to be understood that any other convenient or suitable form or arrangement.
of driving mechanism for the feed rollers may be adopted, as the essential features"
of the invention lie in the weighing apparatus and not in the driving mechanism.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we wish it to be understood
that we do not claim per se the use of weighing apparatus for delivering a pre-
determined weight or weighed quantity of fibre but that what we claim is :-
1. Weighing apparatus for feeding raw fibre to scutching opening or other
preparing machines constructed with one or more. sets of balanced feed rollers
(or their equivalent such as bars grids or the like) which are lowered or brought
into operation to feed the fibre to the machine when the required weight of
material rests upon them substantially as described.
2. Weighing apparatus for delivering or feeding raw fibre to scutchers openers
and other preparing machines constructed with two or more weighing chambers
placed beneath a receiving chamber and fitted each with balanced feed rollers
which fall or descend and are set in motion when a required weight of material has
entered the chamber substantially as and for the purpose described.
3. Weighing apparatus for delivering or feeding raw fibres to scutchers openers
or other preparing machines constructed with one two or more weighing chambers
into which the material is led each chamber provided with a pivoted door, or doors
at top to close it when full substantially as described.
4. Weighing apparatus for delivering or feeding fibre to scutchers openers or
other machines constructed substantially as described.
Dated this 15th day of February 1897
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Manchester, Liverpool, and London, Patent Agents.