Improvements in Hackling Machines for Flax or similar Fibres.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Aug., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 28th June, 1900-Accepted, 29th Nov., 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Hackling Machines for Flax or similar Fibres.
JOSHUA VALENTINE EVES, Flax Spinner, Forth River Mill, Belfast, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of these improvements is to economise labour in the manual atten-
dance required to pass the flax through hackling machines, and also to make more
efficient the mechanical devices already in use for that purpose.
I make the "heads" of the pair of hackling machines rise & fall in unison
by connecting the two driving shafts by a cross shaft & I employ a wheel and
pinion arrangement which allows of the belt being driven at a much higher
superficial speed than at present when it drives direct on to the main shaft of
the machines. The fly-wheel effect of the faster running pulley & belt steadies
the whole motion of the machine when the reciprocating parts are in action.
Between the holder-channels of each pair of backling machines is placed a cross
over channel which is also made to rise and fall in time with the aforesai‹l
channels. The holders are carried into and out of this cross over
channel by radial arms which are opposite the main channels when the "head
is at the top of the lift and which are given a quarter revolution by the ascent or
descent of the "head," a projection from the armis travelling up or down a
volute path.
"
A catch bar arrangement, as is in use at present in the main channels, or similar
device, carries the holders out of one radial arm, thence along the cross over
channel and into the opposite radial arm.
During the passage of a holder along this cross over channel, at the "feed"
end of the machine I employ mechanism which turns the holder upon its side,
lays it on a table & lifts up the cover plate of the holder to allow the attendant
to take out the hackled fax & to spread the rough flax in the emptied holder
to undergo the process.
To accomplish this 1 hinge the upper & lower holder plates to a bridge piece
which is supported by the channels & made to slide along them by the usual
catch bars. A spring is interposed between the hinges of the front and back
plates to hold them tightly together when the flax has been spread between them.
Before the filled holder enters the channel above the hackling sheets which are
covered with pins I subject it to a powerful squeeze between jaws suitably
arranged for the purpose, and at the proper moment mechanism moves a circular
wedge or its equivalent, fastened to one plate of the holder, into gear with a notch
in a stud which is fastened to the other holder plate.
Thus the flax when put into the holder is held sufficiently tight by the spring
hinges not to fall out till the holder passes into the jaws which put on the ulti-
mate pressure sufficient to resist the tearing out action of the hackling sheets.
At the opposite end of the machine the squeezing jaws compress the filled
holder
be
that the circular wedge can
withdrawn. Thick india-
rubber may be interposed between the holder plates or springs may be
employed 80 as to yield and keep up the pressure given by the
80

page_text: An alternative method for putting on pressure upon flax in the holders is
obtained by placing a pneumatic or hydraulic arrangement of pistons or an
expanding or Hexible tube or similar device in the path of the holders before or
while they are passing through the machine The pressure can be relieved to
allow of the holders being pushed onwards when the "head" is up & put on
again when the " head falls & carries the flax into contact with the pins.
"
Such pneumatic or hydraulic arrangement may be supplied from a general
resevoir or accumulator or from a separate supply actuated by the mechanism of
each hackling machine.
To withstand the pressure which thus acts upon the holders I place bows-like
punching bears over the channels to make the pressure selfcontained between
"
each side of the channel.
I can also use these bows in connection with pressure applied by screws, cams
or levers, actuated by the mechanism of the machine to put pressure upon the
holders when filled with flax.
The pneumatic or hydraulic pistons, expanding tubes or similar device can be
used to put on or to relieve the pressure in the tongs of M'Kibbin's patent hack-
ling machine No. 3202 Feb. 8, 1898 which he employs for putting on pressure on
the holders attached to an endless belt.
Further in connection with hackling machines of this class one or more shafts
with tappets can be made to open or close the tongs against the action of the
spring which they now contain, instead of merely allowing the legs of the tongs
to come in contact with a fixed portion of the machine. Or the legs of the tongs
can be drawn together or separated by a right- and left-hand screw actuated by
levers or racks engaging with a pinion on the screw. In these cases the legs
of the tongs may yield as a spring to accommodate the varying thickness of flax
in successive holders.
دو
In the holder plates of any class of hackling machine, with the object of giving
flexibility so that the surfaces will follow the irregular thickness of the flax,
I make one or more sets of articulations, each plate of the set being separately
acted upon by bridge-pieces or fingers against which the pressure is applied.
This has the effect of lessening the pressure required to prevent slipping of
flax, whether put on by hand with wrench and nut, or by power.
At the cross over channel of the "
changing end of the pair of hackling
machines that is where one or more attendants clamp the holders upon the
hackled portion of a piece of flax prior to that piece being passed down the next
machine for the hackling of its second half by suitably arranged mechanism
operating the hinged plates of the holders above described and carrying the holders
themselves into position as regards each other. I make this changing of the ends
of the piece of flax automatic.
To effect this I may have to employ one or more free or extra holders which are
for the purpose of taking the flax out of the first machine's holders and transfer-
ring it to the holder entering the second machine or being passed into that
machine direct-the emptied holder acting as a spare holder for a repetition of the
operation.
In order to lessen the friction developed in raising or lowering the counter-
balanced "head" which comprises the whole of the holders & channel I mount the
journals of the shaft on ball or roller bearings or anti friction bowls.
This improvement can be applied to any class of hackling machine making it
work without jerking and facilitating the work of the attendant who has to turn
the machine by hand for cleaning purposes.
chang-
In order to lessen the labour of the attendant at either the "feed" or
ing" end of hackling machines, I make the platform upon which he stands or
sits, and the table upon which the supply of flax is kept to rise and fall in
unison with the head of the machine. By this means I obviate the difficulty
which the attendant experiences in lifting the heavy iron holders into a channel
which may sometimes be beyond comfortable working reach.

page_text: In the case of continuously fed machines, where the holders have not to be
handled, the rising and falling platform gives the attendant great facilities as
he is always level with the position of the travelling band or channel of holders.
To facilitate the laying of the flax into the holders of hackling machines in a
smooth and well spread condition I employ a blast of compressed air or air under
suction, which carries stray fibres into position. Or I use guides and fingers
working in conjunction with the opening & closing mechanism of the holders
for the same purpose.
Dated thin orth awe of twu 1000
Improvements in Hackling Machines for Flax or similar Fibres.
I, JOSITA VALENTINE EVES, of Forth River Mill, Falls Road, Belfast, in the
County of Antrim, Ireland, Flax Spinner, 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 machines for hackling long staple fibres such as flax
and is designed to economise labour in the manual attendance required to pass
the fibre through the machines and also to render more efficient the mechanical
devices already applied to that purpose.
"
The invention consists essentially in constructing the machines with a connect-
ing channel at one end by which the flax holders are automatically conveyed from
one head to the next by a swivelling piece, a turn table or reversing mechanism
by which the flax is reversed or changed in the holders when part has been
operated upon, a channel at the other end to receive and open the holders when
the flax has been operated upon for the removal of such flax and the insertion of a
fresh niece, a channel to carry the holder when re-filled to the first head, a holder
which can be compressed and released as it travels intermittently along the
channel and a pneumatic or hydraulic gripping device extending the length of the
channel or placed at the ends thereof which alternately compresses and releases
the holder to allow it to pass along the machine as the fibre is acted upon succes-
sively by each set of hackle pins.
The invention will be fully described with reference to the accompanying
drawings in which sufficient of a hackling machine is shown for the purpose:-
Fig. 1. Front elevation of one end of one machine or head.
Fig. 2. End elevation of one head.
Fig. 3. End elevation of the adjoining head.
Fig. 4. Plan of the driving mechanism shown in Figs. 2 and 3.
Fig. 5. Side elevation of mechanism for reversing the holders and fibre.
Fig. 6. Transverse section of Fig. 5.
-
Fig. 7. End elevation (enlarged) of opposite head shown in Fig. 3 also showing
mechanism for opening holders to release the finished fibre and replace it with a
fresh piece or bunch.
Fig. 8. Side elevation of holder opening and releasing mechanism shown
in Fig. 7.
Fig. 9. Plan (enlarged) showing ends of longitudinal channel-with mechanism
for transfering holders to or from the same.
Fig. 10. Transverse section (enlarged) through the blades of holder and lower
channel and pneumatic tube.

page_text: Fig. 12. Plan of Fig. 11,
Fig. 13. Front elevation of one pneumatic (or hydraulic) press and valve for
cperating same.
Fig. 14. Front elevation of same at end of adjoining machine.
Fig. 15. Side elevation of press partly in section.
Fig. 16. Plan of same (Fig. 13).
Fig. 17. Plan of Fig. 14.
Fig. 18. Diagramatic plan showing four presses outside the four corners of two
machines.
The hackle sheets A and the parts of the machine which carry and operate them
are of usual construction and are consequently not shown in the drawings or
described in the specification.
It is necessary that the channels B which carry the flax holders C in the two
heads of the machines should work, or rise and fall perfectly in unison in order
that the holders may be regularly transferred from one to the other. To effect
this I connect the two driving shafts D D (Fig. 4) by a cross shaft D and bevel
wheels d d so that both shafts D D¹ are driven from the same source of motion.
The shaft D is driven by wheel and pinion from the belt pulley shaft D³, the
arrangement being such that the driving belt is driven at a much higher super-
ficial speed than at present when it drives direct onto the main shaft of the
machines. The belt runs on to the fast and loose pulleys and the fly-wheel
effect of the fast running pulleys and belt steadies the whole motion of the
machine when the reciprocating parts are in action.
Between the first and second heads or machines I place a transverse or cross
over channel E by which the flax holders are carried from one to the next.
These may be made to rise and fall with the channels B in the machines but I
at present prefer to make the greater part of the cross over channel E stationary
with the swivelling ends E¹ only rising and falling with the channels B to
transfer the holders C from one to the other.
The transverse channel E is divided at or near the centre to allow of the chang-
ing or removal and replacement of the flax holders at one end for the purpose of
reversing the flax in the holder and at the other end it is partially cut away for
the purpose of removing the hackled piece or bunch of flax and replacing it by
another.
In the simpler form of the machine these operations may both be performed
by hand labour but I also include in my invention mechanism at one end of
the machines inserted at the opening in the transverse channel E to reverse the
flax and at the other end of the machines mechanism to release or open the
holder to permit of the removal of the finished piece or bunch of flax and the
replacement of it by a fresh piece or bunch of unhackled flax.
Between the ends of the channels B and the transverse channels E are fitted
Swivelling end pieces E which rise and fall with the channel B which when
the channels B are at the top of their traverse are in line therewith and when the
channels B are at the bottom of their traverse are level with and in line with
the transverse channel E. The swivelling end pieces F¹ are mounted upon radial
arms mounted upon swivelling pins or pivots e¹ and are caused to rotate a
quarter revolution as the head ascends and descends by the projection engaging
a volute or twisted or screwed bar es.
The holders C are pushed into (or out of) the swivelling ends E¹ in the ordi-
nary way by the catch bar B at present employed with the main channels Ba
similar catch bar arrangement carries the holders out of one radial or swivelling
end thence across the cross over channel E into the opposite swivelling end
where it is taken hold of by the catch bar of the main channel and carried
forward in the usual way.
Each machine head is now preferably made with two channels an upper one B
from which the holders C are suspended and a lower one B¹ where pressure is

page_text: intermittently applied to the holders and the holders C are made with arms c
to extend from the upper to the lower channels.
It is to be understood however that the machine may be constructed with one
channel only and the other parts may be modified to correspond therewith and
with the form of holders.
The two channels 13 and B are attached to and suspended by bows b similar in
shape to "punching bears" sufficiently strong to bear the weight of the channels
and holders and the lateral pressure applied thereto. The channels are suspended
by the chains 6' and counterbalanced by the weights b.
The holders Care made with projecting arms c and the two parts are hinged
or pivoted together on a shaft or spindle c¹ to which a spring is applied to
maintain the two faces closed together. The spring exerts sufficient pressure
to hold the piece of flax in its place when no pulling action is applied to it. A
Thead piece is attached at each end of the spindle o by which the holder is
suspended from the main upper channel B and the transverse or cross over
channels E. The T pieces are connected by the bridge pieces c³. Two lateral
projections are attached to the arms c to open and close them as the holders
pass through the changing and reversing mechanism at one end and through the
releasing and opening mechanism at the other. The flax in the holder is held
sufficiently tight by the springs till the holder passes into the channels where
the ultimate pressure is applied to resist the tearing out action of the hackling
sheets A.
Sufficient pressure must be applied to the holders C at the time the flax fibre
enters between the hackle pins on the sheets A to prevent the fibres being dragged
out and this when not applied individually to each holder must be released when
the flax again emerges from between the hackle pins to permit of the lateral
movement of the holders along the channels B B¹.
In the channel B' behind the blades of the holders C is fitted a pneumatic or
hydraulic tube which runs the whole length of the machine. This tube F is
in communication through a valve G with an air pump or accumulator or other
source of air or hydraulic pressure (not shown in the drawings). The valve G is
of ordinary type with an air inlet g and exhaust g and is attached to rise and
fall with the channels B B¹. The valve operates to shut off the air supply and
open the exhaust connected with the pipe F as soon as the channels B B reach
the top of the lift and in the reverse direction to open the air inlet and close the
exhaust and thus apply pressure to the pneumatic tube F as soon as the channels
commence to descend. The pneumatic tube is placed between the side of the
channel B and a movable plate or belt f and is encased in a tube fl of canvas
or leather or other protecting material. The tube F may be hydraulic instead of
pneumatic. The valve G is operated by the lever which at the top of the
upward traverse of the channels B B' engages with a fixed part of the frame and
is moved in one direction to close the valve and open the exhaust and when the
channels commence their downward traverse the underside of the lever g³ engages
another fixed projection and is thereby reversed.
Pressure may be applied to the movable plate or belt f or to the sides of the
holders C by any suitable mechanical motion such as by a circular wedge, eccen-
tric, cam, screw lever or other device, or by an hydraulic or pneumatic piston
or plunger.
The pneumatic or hydraulic pressure may be supplied from a general reservoir
or accumulator or from a separate supply actuated by the mechanism of each
hackling machine.
At the changing end of the machines I apply the changing mechanism shown
in Figs. 5 and placed between the upright framing H shown in Figs. 1, 23
and 4 which also support the ends of the transverse channel E.
In the framing H is inserted a toothed ring or annular carrier K which is alter-
nately rotated half a revolution in one direction and then in the reverse direction.

page_text: The carrier K is rotated by a reciprocating rack L which is actuated by a crank
pin working in a transverse slot 7 eo formed with a radial portion in the centre
to allow for cessation of the movement of revolution at the top and bottom of each
stroke. The crank which carries the crank pin is driven by spur wheels P.
At the top and bottom of the annular carrier K I place a bracket M. with
grooves m into which the T shaped suspending head of the holder C slides.
The head fits sufficiently tightly into the grooves m as to be firmly held and
carried round with the carrier K as it is rotated. In the bracket M are two pro-
jecting plungers m¹ which pass through it to the inside, the inner ends bear
against the projecting ends of the holder arms and the outer ends carry
runners m which project beyond the periphery of the annular carrier K. Beyond
the carrier K are placed two fixed cam surfaces k k with which the runners m³
engage at each half revolution of the annular carrier K and by which the rods
or plungers m¹ are forced through to the other side against the pressure of a
spring. The rods m¹ engage with the projecting ends of the holder arms and
force them outwards causing the holder C to open. An empty holder is waiting
in the lower position see Figs. 5 and 6 and when a full holder is carried into the
bracket M at top of the carrier K the depending ends of the flax in top holder
enter between the jaws of the bottom holder. As the carrier K rotates the
plungers or rods m¹ are released from the fixed cams kand the holder blades
are allowed to close upon the finished ends of the flax. The other holder when it
reaches the bottom position is opened by the rods or plungers m³ engaging the
cams and releasing the flax it previously held and remaining empty in
readiness to receive another piece or bunch. The recharged holder with the
changed flax is then moved on along the transverse channel E and another holder
takes its place and the flax therein is reversed in a similar manner.
At the sides of the rotary annular carriers K are placed two air discharging
nozzles N through which a current of air is caused to impinge upon the edge of
the flax immediately before the holder closes to ensure that all ends or fibres of the
flax will be within the edges of the holder when it closes upon it.
At the transverse channel E between the feed and discharge ends of the
machine I employ mechanism which turns the holder upon its side, lays it on a
table and lifts up the cover plate of the holder to allow the attendant to take
out the hackled flax and to spread the rough flax in the emptied holder to undergo
the process. (See Figs. 7 and 8). Below the channel E I pivot a table O carried
by two arms or levers o pivoted at o¹ and actuated by a bell crank lever P with
a slot p in one end which engages the pin o in an arm o³ projecting behind the
levers o.
The lever P is attached to the shaft P¹ and is operated by the short
arm p¹ with which the vertically moving piece or slide S engages. The lever P
lifts the table into a horizontal position and the table lifts or raises the
holder C also to the horizontal. When in the horizontal position the
levers R engage with the projections of the holder arms C of one
side of the holder and raise it to the position shown in dotted lines
Fig. 8 so that the finished flax may be removed by the operative and replaced
by a fresh piece or bunch of unhackled flax. The levers R are attached to the
shaft R¹ and are operated by the short lever r which is raised by the vertically
sliding piece S¹.
The lever P and table O are counterbalanced and brought back to normal posi-
tion by the weight W on the arm c or positively by a groove in slide S.
Instead of a pneumatic tube extending the whole length of the channel pressure
may be applied by pneumatic or hydraulic pistons or by mechanical devices either
applied to each holder separately or to the whole length of holders at the same
time.
In one arrangement I provide presses U (see Figs. 13, 14 and 15) at each corner
of the pair of machines through the jaws of which the holders C pass as they
enter and leave the channels, Between the jaws of the presses U the holder Ċ

page_text: is subjected to a powerful squeeze and when thus compressed by the plunger U1
a spring catch circular wedge (or its equivalent) attached to one plate of the
holder is moved into engagement with a corresponding catch fixed to the other
plate of the holder.
The holder C is preferably provided with a latch on one cover plate or blade
which may be made in the form of a spring. It engages with catches projecting
from the opposite cover plate. The pneumatic or hydraulic presses shown at C
force the two plates with the flax between them tightly together, a revolving
motion is given to the head u of the ram U¹ by the cams or levers u¹ fastened
to the channels B coming in contact with the lever attached to the head of
the ram.
The latter is grooved so that the latch fits into it-thus it is carried at
one time into the catches or at another time out of them according as the holder
plates have to be freed from pressure or squeezed together. The presses U are
operated simultaneously by a single pipe U2 by the valve G.
The advance or withdrawal of the rams is made simultaneously on all four
corners of the pair of machines.
I may employ lever mechanism for applying this pressure but at present the
pneumatic or hydraulic seems preferable as it does not load the hackling machine
with complicated mechanism.
Thus the pressure of the springs on the holder is augmented if insufficient to
resist the tearing or pulling out action of the hackling sheets.
Thick indiarubber may be interposed between the holder plates or springs may
be employed to maintain the pressure applied by the squeezing jaws U.
In the holder plates of any class of hackling machine with the object of giving
flexibility so that the surfaces will follow the irregular thickness of the flax,
make one or more sets of articulations, each plate of the set being separately
acted upon by bridge-pieces or fingers against which the pressure is applied.
This has the effect of lessening the pressure required to prevent slipping of flax,
whether put on by hand with wrench and nut, or by power.
The pneumatic or hydraulic pistons, expanding tubes or similar device can be
used to put on or to relieve the pressure in the tongs described in the Specifi-
cation of Reade and M'Kibbin's Patent No. 3202 Feb. 8, 1898 which he employes
for putting pressure on the holders attached to an endless belt.
Further in connection with hackling machines of this class one or more shafts
with tappets can be made to open or close the tongs against the action of the
spring which they now contain, instead of merely allowing the legs of the tongs
to come in contact with a fixed portion of the machine. Or the legs of the tongs
can be drawn together or separated by a right and left hand screw actuated by
levers or racks engaging with a pinion on the screw. In these cases the legs of
the tongs may yield as a spring to accomodate the varying thickness of flax in
successive holders.
In order to lessen the friction developed in raising or lowering the counter-
balanced "head" which comprises the whole of the holders and channel I mount
the journals of the hackle pin shafts on ball or roller bearings or anti friction
bowls. This improvement can be applied to any class of hackling machine making
it work without jerking and facilitating the work of the attendant who has to turn
the machine by hand for cleaning purposes.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:
1. Machines for hackling flax or long staple fibre constructed with automatic
transverse or turn over channels at the ends of the machines, the ends of the
channels being provided with swivelling ends to transfer the holders from the
main longitudinal channels to the transverse channels substantially as described.
2. In machines for hackling flax or long staple fibre the use or combination of
changing mechanism to turn or change the fibres when hackled at one end.

page_text: 3. In a machine for hackling flax or long staple fibre mechanism for turning or
changing the fibres constructed with a revolving annular carrier fitted internally
with brackets to carry and reverse the holder sliding plungers or rods to open the
holder and fixed cams to actuate such plungers or rods as the carrier revolves
substantially as described.
4. Changing machinery for hackling machines for changing or reversing the
piece or bunch of fibre when hackled at one end constructed substantially us
described and shown.
5. A flax or fibre holder for hackling machines constructed with two pivoted
or hinged blades attached by arms to a shaft or spindle and beld closed upon the
fibre by a spring substantially as described.
6. A flax or fibre holder for backling machines constructed with arms project-
ing from the plates bridge pieces with T, heads for suspending the holder,
springs for compressing or applying pressure to the plates and projections for open-
ing same substantially as described.
7. A flax or fibre holder for hackling machines constructed and arranged sub-
stantially as described and shown.
8. A machine for hackling flax or long staple fibre constructed with two channels
one to support the holders in which the fibre is clamped and the other to guide
such holders with mechanism to apply pressure thereto to hold the flux firmly
during the process of hackling substantially as described.
9. In machines for hackling flax or long staple fibre the use of a pneumatic
or hydraulic tube for applying the necessary pressure to the holders to resist the
drag of the hackle pins during the process substantially as described
10. In a hackling machine for hackling flax or long staple fibre the combination
with the holder channel of a pneumatic or hydraulic tube for applying pressure
to the holders and a valve for connecting such tube with a source of pressure
whereby the pressure can be applied and relieved as required substantially as
described.
11. In a machine for hackling flax or long staple fibre pneumatic or hydraulic
mechanism for applying pressure to the holder substantially as described.
12. In a machine for hackling flax squeezing jaws applied at the ends of the
main channels to powerfully squeeze the fibres one set to permit of fibres being
firmly clamped and the other to permit of the fibres being released substantially
as described.
13. In a machine for hackling flax or long staple fibres the construction and
arrangement of four squeezing presses at the four ends of the machine connected
together to work simultaneously by a single pipe pneumatic or hydraulic substan-
tially as described and shown.
14. In a machine for hackling flax or long staple fibre the use or combination
of releasing mechanism for opening the holders so that the finished fibre may
be removed and replaced by a fresh piece or bunch of unhackled fibre.
15. In a machine for hackling flax or long stapled fibre mechanism for opening
the holders so that the fibre may be removed and replaced constructed with a
table which is lifted from vertical to horizontal position and levers to act upon
the arms of the holders to open them substantially as described.
16. In a machine for hackling flax or long staple fibre a releasing and opening
mechanism constructed and arranged substantially as described and shown.
17. A machine for hackling flax or long staple fibre having the several parts
constructed and arranged in combination substantially as described and shown.
Dated this 26th day of June 1900.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
6, Bank Street, Manchester, Patent Agents,