IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR PREPARING COTTON AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO MACHINERY USED IN WEIGHING
Year: 1849

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
HOLT, of Todmorden, in the County of Lancaster, Manager of the Waterside
Works, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Twenty-fourth day of July last,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
John Holt, my exors, adññiors, and assigns, Her especial license, that I, the
said John Holt, my exors, adñiors, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said John Holt, my exors, adññiors, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times during the term of
years therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR PREPARING
COTTON AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE
APPLICABLE TO MACHINERY USED IN WEIGHING;" in which Letters Patent is con-
tained a proviso, obliging me, the said John Holt, by an instrument in writing
under my hand and seal, particularly to describe and ascertain the nature of my
said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, and to
cause the same to be enrolled in Her Majesty's High Court of Chancery
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
recited Letters Patent, as in and by the said Letters Patent, reference being
thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
John Holt, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention to consist,-
First, in certain combinations and arrangements of machinery applicable to
the machines commonly called "openers," "scutchers," or "willows" for the
purpose of weighing the cotton or other fibrous substance which has been
operated upon, and for collecting the same into a receiver from whence it is
taken by the attendant to the blower, or to undergo the next operation.
"
Secondly, in certain combinations and arrangements of machinery also
applicable to openers," "scutchers," or "willows". for dividing the cotton
or other fibrous substances under operation into portions of equal weights
and for depositing the same on to an endless belt from whence they may be
taken by the attendants and delivered to the blowers or to undergo the next
operation.
Thirdly, in certain improved combinations and arrangements of parts appli-
cable to the lap machines of "blowers" or "scutchers" for compressing the
web or fleece during the operation of forming such web or fleece into a lap.
Fourthly, in an improved feeding apparatus applicable to carding engines.
Fifthly, in certain combinations and arrangements of parts for giving a
circular radiating or vibrating motion to the can or other receptacle for slivers.
or rovings applicable to carding engines, drawing frames, and other machines
of the like nature.
And, lastly, in certain combinations and arrangements of machinery or
apparatus for governing the supply of fluids or solids in a running state to
weighing machines; and in 'further compliance with the said proviso, and in
order that my Invention may be fully understood and readily carried into
effect, I will proceed to describe the annexed seven Sheets of Drawings. These
Drawings are made to the scales marked upon them, and when the same part
is represented in different Sheets or in different Figures of the same Sheet, it
is marked with corresponding letters and figures of reference.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
In Sheet 1, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of my improved machinery
and apparatus connected to an "opener" for weighing cotton or other
fibrous substances; Figure 2 is a plan view of the same; Figure 3 is
a detached view or an enlarged scale of part of the machinery for
stopping the delivering roller, when the requisite quantity of fibrous substance
has been deposited in the receiver.
On Sheet 2, Figure 4 is a transverse sectional elevation of part of the
machinery, shown in Figure 1; Figure 5 is a front elevation of Figure 4;

page_text: Figure 6 is a side elevation of part of the machinery for stopping the delivering
roller, showing the relative position of the parts when the said roller is stopped;
Figure 7 is another detached view of part of the pieces shown in Figure 6.
On Sheet 3, Figure 8 represents a front elevation of my improved machinery
for weighing cotton, and of the endless flexible lattice on which it is delivered
and carried to the blowers; Figure 9 is a plan view of Figure 8, and Figure 10
a side elevation of the same; Figure 11 is a detached view of the rollers which
deliver the cotton on to the endless flexible lattice before mentioned and their
adjuncts, and Figure 12 is a side view of Figure 11.
On Sheet 4, Figure 13 represents a side elevation of my improved machinery
or apparatus connected with an "opener," for weighing the cotton under opera-
tion and delivering it to the endless flexible lattice; Figure 14 is a plan view of.
Figure 13; Figure 15 is a front elevation of the upper part of the machinery
shown in Figure 13; Figure 16 is a detached front view of part of the
machinery for starting the delivering roller and actuating the balance flexible.
Figure 17 is a plan view of Figure 16; on Sheet 2, Figure 18 is an elevation
of, the end of a blower, showing the lap rollers and my improved apparatus
for compressing the web or fleece during the operation of winding it into the
form of a lap; Figure. 19 is an end view of Figure 18.
On Sheet 5, Figure 20 represents a sectional elevation of the end of
a blower with another modification. of the apparatus, shown in Figures
18 and 19;. Figure 21 is an end view of Figure 20, shown partly in section;
Figure 22 is a plan view of part of the pieces, shown in Figure 20; Figure
23 is an elevation of the end of a blower with another modification of the
apparatus, shown in Figures 18, 19, 20, 21, and 22; and Figure 24 is an end
elevation of Figure 23.
In Sheet 6, Figure 25 represents a sectional elevation of part of a carding
engine with my improved feeding apparatus applied thereto; Figure 26 is a plan
view of part of the pieces, shown in Figure 25; Figure 27 is a front elevation
of my improved machinery for compressing slivers or rovings into radiating cans ;
Figure 28 is a side elevation taken partly in section, and Figure 29 is a plan
view of the same.
On Sheet 7, Figure 30 represents a front elevation of my improved machinery
or apparatus, applicable to a weighing machine of the ordinary construction;
Figure 31 is a side elevation of Figure 30; Figure 32 is a front elevation on
an enlarged scale of part of the machinery, shown in Figure 30, and Figure
33 is a plan view of the same; Figure 34 is a front elevation of another
modification of my improvements applicable to weighing machines, and Figure
35 is a side elevation of the same. In Figures 1, 2, and 4, a represents an

page_text: endless flexible lattice which conveys the cotton or other fibrous substances-
under operation from the opener, scutcher, or willow to the machine by which
the cotton is weighed after it has been deposited in the receptacle b. In
Figure 1, c represents part of the wire drum of the opener, and c¹ the roller
for the ordinary flexible belt c. The roller c¹ is shown by a dotted circle; when
the cotton has passed between the roller c¹ and its top roller , it is delivered
on to the endless flexible lattice a, which is taken over the roller a', which is
also represented by a dotted circle. The roller a is provided with a top roller
a² and the lattice a after passing between them is carried over the roller a³;
these three rollers are mounted in bearings attached to the framing of the
"opener," and a slow motion is given to the lattice a during the operation of
weighing by the pinion c, fixed on the shaft of the roller c¹ in the following
manner: Near the end of the shaft of the roller a¹ is fixed a ratchet wheel a',
which is cast of the same piece or otherwise connected to the grooved pulley
a: The friction band a passes round this pulley, and it is made fast at one
end to a stud projecting from the framing of the opener to the other end of
the band; a weight is attached to give the requisite amount of friction to the
pulley as. This friction pulley is for the purpose of keeping the lattice a to
its proper degree of tension during the time that the receptacle b. is receiving
the cotton. The spur wheel a is mounted loosely on the shaft of the roller
a, and it is turned round at a uniform speed by the pinion c, before mentioned,
the pinion gearing into the double carrier pinion c³, one part of which gears
into the wheel a', as clearly shewn in the plan view Fig. 2. To the inside of the
wheel a are hinged eight or any convenient number of clicks which take into
the teeth of the ratchet wheel a', and it is by these clicks that motion is given
to the roller a¹ and lattice a during the operation of weighing, or when the
lattice a is going slowly at other times, when the receptacle b is receiving the
cotton, the lattice a moves faster and the roller a is taken round by the lattice, as
will be hereafter described. When the roller a' moves faster than the wheel a',
the ratchet wheel at will pass under the clicks hinged to the wheel a without
being retarded by them. The endless flexible lattice a conducts the cotton
from the rollers a¹ and a³ to the roller d, seen best in the section Fig. 4; this
roller has a top roller d', and the cotton after passing between them is carried
forward by the delivering roller e and its top roller e¹. The roller e receives
a continuous rotary motion from the mill gearing by a strap passing round the
pulley, but the roller d is alternately in motion or at rest for the following
reasons: So long as the roller d is revolving, the cotton which has been
brought from the opener continues to be delivered to the receptacle b, but
when the receptacle has received the requisite quantity of cotton, the roller

page_text: s stopped by means that will be hereafter explained, and remains at rest, unti
the attendant has taken the cotton from the receptacle 6 and started the roller
gain. On the shaft of the roller e is fixed a pinion e³, seen best in Figs. 2,
5, and 6, and by a dotted circle in Fig. 1; this pinion gears into the
intermediate pinion e, which is always in gear with the wheel d³ keyed
on the shaft of the roller d, but is occasionally drawn out of gear with
the pinion e, as shewn in Fig. 6. Near to the wheel d² is also fixed the
break pulley do, and upon a continuation of the shaft of the roller d is
hinged the vibrating lever d'. The intermediate pinion e revolves on a
stud fixed in the vibrating lever d'. The shaft of the roller e is also
furnished with a pinion e, which gears into the pinion e, revolving on a stud
fixed into the vibrating lever d'. Into the pinion is fixed a crank pinion e",
from which descends the connecting rod e', the lower extremity of which is
hinged to the lever f, seen best in Figs. 3 and 6. The lever fis fixed near
the end of a short shaft f', to which is also affixed the lever f. As long as
the pinion and e" remain in gear, the levers f and f will have a short
backward and forward motion imparted to them by the crank pin e, before
mentioned, and as the lever f is provided with a click f³, the same motion
will be given to this click, which answers the purpose of a feeler, and comes
occasionally in contact with the disengaging catch g, as will be explained
hereafter. To the main framing of the machine is secured the light frame-
work g, which serves to support one end of the short shaft f', the other
end of which is supported by a bearing attached to the main framing, as
seen best in Fig. 5. The framework g also carries the fulcrum stud of the
lever g', which is in communication with the vibrating lever d', by means of
the adjustable connecting rod . The antifriction rollers ³, seen best in
Figs. 3, 6, and 7, serve to support the sliding bar g', which is always pulled in
the direction of the arrow on Fig. 3, by the weight g; to the sliding bar g*
The lever g' is placed
is hinged the disengaging catch g, before referred to.
directly above the sliding bar g', as seen in Fig. 7, and the under side of the
lever g', and the upper side of the sliding bar g', are each provided with a catch,
the flat surfaces of which remain in contact, as seen in Fig. 3, so long as the
receptacle 6 is receiving its supply of cotton or other fibrous substances. The
receptacle is supported by a balance frame consisting of the bars, which
are attached to the under side of the receptacle, as seen best in Figs. 4 and 5,
the upper levers 6, vibrating on the studs 3, and the lower levers, which
are fixed to the cross shaft . This cross shaft is supported by knife-shaped
journals, similar to those employed in weighing machines, and the weight of
the receptacle, with its swing frame, are nicely balanced by the counter-

page_text: weights 6, suspended to the levers 6. The weight-b, seen best in Figs.
and 2,
to counterbalance the weight of cotton required to be collected in the
receptacle ', and it may be made of a tin box, containing small weights so as
to be capable of the most accurate adjustment. The treadle h, seen best in
Figs. 1, 2, and 5, is connected to the lever g¹, by the connecting rod h', and is
for the purpose of giving motion to the roller d, when the attendant has
emptied the receptacle b; i is a lever, seen best in Figs. 3, 5 and 7, which is
acted upon by cne of the levers 62, and elevates the disengaging catch go.
Having now enumerated the principal parts of my improved machine for
weighing cotton and other fibrous substances, I will proceed to describe how
they act when in operation, premising that in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the various
parts are in the positions they occupy when the roller d is at work, and the
cotton is being delivered into the receptacle b, whereas in Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 7,
I have shewn the same parts in the positions they assume when the receptacle
bhas received its requisite weight of cotton, and has overcome the weights be
and ', thereby stopping the roller d and elevating the treadle h. It has
already been mentioned. that the lever and click f have a regular back-
ward and forward motion imparted to them by the crank pin e; and as the
click f is retained in a horizontal position by a pin, taking into a slot in the
boss of the click, as seen by dots in Fig. 3, it is evident, that so long as the
disengaging catch g, which is directly under the click f³, remains in the
position shown in Fig. 3, the click f³ will pass backwards and forwards over
the disengaging catch without touching it; as soon, however, as the weight of
cotton in the receptacle 6 overcomes the weights 6 and 6, the lever b
depresses one end of the lever i, and elevates the other, which elevates at the
same time the disengaging catch g, and brings it in a line with the click f³.
At the next advancing motion of the click f, it comes in contact with the
disengaging catch go, and pushes it in the direction of the arrow on Fig. 6,
and as the disengaging catch is hinged to the sliding bar g', it is evident that
the sliding bar will also move in the same direction. The length of move
given to the sliding bar is sufficient to bring the catch upon its upper surface,
beyond the catch on the under side of the lever g', which will therefore drop
down into the slanting position shown in Fig. 6. When the lever g drops,
the pinion and e are drawn out of gear, and therefore the roller d is stopped
because it was before turned round by the pinion e, and at the same time the
vibrating lever causes the breaks d to clip the break wheel d, thereby
suddenly arresting the motion of the roller d. The lever d' is connected to
the breaks d by the links 7, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, and the weight 98
suspended from the lever gl is to give greater efficiency to the break. When

page_text: the receptacle descends, owing to the proper quantity of cotton having been
received in it, the bottom of the receptacle bears upon the cross rail 8, which
prevents it from descending more than is necessary, and when the attendant
has removed the cotton and started the machine again, the receptacle ascends
and the weights & bear upon the projections attached to the main framing,
as seen in Fig. 5. At the moment when the roller d is stopped, the endless
flexible lattice a will be drawn so tight as to form almost a straight line from
the roller as to the roller d, and the lower part of the said lattice will be
touching on the floor, but as soon as the roller d stops the roller a', which had
before been turned round by the lattice, will then receive a slow motion from
the pinion c, and will therefore gradually take up the slackness of the under'
part of the lattice, and reduce the tension of the upper part. This slow motion
continues only for a few seconds, or for the time necessary for the attendant
to empty the receptacle b, and start again the roller d, by treading on the
treadle h; by the above described machinery or apparatus, the continuous and
uninterrupted supply of cotton from the opener or other machinery of the like
nature, or from a feeding cloth supplied by hand, is divided into portions of
equal weight, which are then taken to the blowers or other machines, thereby
dispensing with the manual operation of weighing, and ensuring far greater
accuracy in the work, not only of the blowers, but of all the subsequent
machines.
I will now proceed to describe my improvements represented in Sheets 3
and 4 of the Drawings hereto annexed. These improvements are intended to
render the machinery previously described, with reference to Sheets 1 and 2,
more self-acting, and they are particularly applicable where several blowers
are situated near the opener, or in the relative positions shown in Figs. 8 and 9.
In Figs. 9, 10, 13, and 14, a represents the endless flexible lattice
which brings the cotton from the opener to between the rollers d and d¹;
and a', in Fig. 13, is the roller placed in the same position, and driven in the
same manner as the roller previously described with reference to Sheet 1.
The rollers a and a serve to support the lattice a; the principal difference
between the machine shown in Sheets 1 and 2, and the one shown in Figs. 13,
14, and 15 is that the former delivers its produce into a receptacle, from
whence it must be taken by band, whereas the latter delivers it on to a
balance flexible k, which carries it to the hopper 1, seen in Figs. 8, 9,
and 10, from whence it drops on the rollers m, which deposit it on the long
endless flexible lattice n. The lattice n travels in the direction of the arrows
in Fig. 8, and conveys the cotton which is deposited upon it towards the
feeding flexibles of the blowers, represented at 0, 0, 0. The attendants at the

page_text: blowers have therefore only to take the heaps of cotton marked p, and spread
them in the usual manner over the feeding flexibles o, and the speed of the
lattice must be so calculated that sufficient heaps of cotton will be brought
forward to supply the requisite number of blowers to which it is applied. In
Fig. 13, instead of making use of the pinion e and e, I employ the pulley &',
fixed on the shaft of the roller e, and communicating motion by means of a
strap to the pulley e, into which is fixed the crank pin e', for giving the
necessary backward and forward motion to the lever f and click f, as before
described. The disengaging catch g', see Fig. 16, is clevated by the lever i,
and moves the sliding bar g', in the manner already described, thereby
disengaging the pinion e, from the carrier pinion e', and stopping the roller d.
The balance flexible is carried over the rollers and , which revolve in
bearings attached to the sides of the balance frame, and to these side pieces
are attached the uprights k', supported by the diagonal stays, and connected
to the levers 2 and b, as before described. The sides and uprights k' of
the balance frame are also stayed by cross diagonal stays, as seen in Figs. 14
and 15. A varying speed is given to the flexible k, by means that will be
explained hereafter, so as to cause it to move slowly when the cotton is being
delivered upon it, and to increase the speed when the requisite weight has
been put on for the purpose of delivering it to the hopper 1, before the next
heap is commenced. The motion is given to the flexible by the pulley p¹,
seen best in Figs. 8, 10, 14, and 15, fixed to the pulley e, which gives
motion to all the machine; the pulley p¹ by means of a cross strap gives
motion to the pulley p², fixed on a short shaft revolving in a bush attached
to the main frame. On the same shaft as the pulley p is fixed a pinion p³,
gearing into the wheel p, fixed near one end of the shaft 2. This shaft
extends to the other side of the machine, and has upon it the pinion pa and
wheel p7, seen best in Figs. 13 and 15. The pinion p gears into the wheel p³,
and this wheel gears into the pinion q, which revolves loosely upon a stud q².
The pinion is made with a long boss, on which fits loosely the ratchet wheel
13, and it is also provided with five or any convenient number of studs for the
clicks which take into the ratchet wheel ; the object of this will be explained
presently. To the end of the boss of the ratchet wheel q is fixed a small spur
pinion, seen best in the detached view, Fig. 16, and this pinion gears part
of the time in the pinion », fixed near one end of the swivel shaft, and some-
times it works entirely free, because the pinion is lowered out of
gear with
the pinion g³, and into gear with the wheel p', by the action of the lever g¹,
which is influenced by the balance swing frame and click f, in the manner
already described in referring to Sheets 1 and 2. The shaft works at one
9

page_text: end in a swivel bearing attached to the lever g, seen in the rigs. 15 and 17, ana
at the other end it works in a swivel bearing hinged to brackets projecting
from the side frame ³, as seen in Fig. 15. At the extremity of the swivel
shaft is fixed the wheel, which gears into the pinion ka fixed to the end of
the shaft of the roller . Upon the shaft and near the pinion r is fixed the
cam, seen best in the detached Fig. 16. . This cam is for the purpose of
raising the pinion r out of gear with the wheel p', when the quick speed of the
balance flexible is reduced to a slower one. So long as the pinions ³ and r
remain in gear, the balance flexible k moves slowly to receive the cotton de-
livered by the roller e; but when the weight of cotton on the balance flexible
overcomes the weights and b, the balance flexible descends, thereby causing
the lever to actuate the lever i, which elevates the disengaging catch g, and
brings it in contact with the click f. By this means the catch on the sliding
bar is brought beyond the catch at the under side of the lever g', which
descends; and as the bearing of the swivel shaft 2 is attached to the lever g',
it is evident that the pinion will be drawn out of gear with the pinion ³ and
into gear with the wheel p, which imparts a quicker motion to the balance
flexible during so much time as is necessary for delivering the heap of cotton
upon it to the hopper and rollers m. The pinion and the wheel p remain
in gear until the cam comes against the antifriction roller 1, seen in Figs.
15 and 16, which revolves on a stud fixed in the frame side, and which is so
placed that as the can continues to revolve, it just lifts the pinion 1 out of
gear with the wheel pand into gear again with the small pinion. The
distance between the pinion and wheel p is not sufficient to admit
of the pinion being clear of the teeth of the wheel before it is
in gear with the pinion 7. It is therefore necessary to have the ratchet
wheel and clicks in the wheel q, to allow the smaller pinion q³ to run
faster than the pinion 2, which is always revolving at a uniform speed, being
driven, as before described, by the pinion 2 on the shaft p. In Figure 16, I
have shown many of the picces by red lines, in order that the parts beneath
them may be more clearly seen; the rollers m which are seen best in Figures
9 and 11 of Sheet 3, are mounted in swivel bearings m', and are supported by
the side frames m, which also support the bearings of the roller n' of the long
endless flexible lattice n. The said lattice n has a uniform motion given to it
by a strap driven by the mill gearing, and passing round the pulley n. This
pulley is fixed to the end of the strap of the roller n³, and the lattice is sup-
ported at intervals by the rollers n, as clearly shown in Figure 8. The roller
n gives motion to the rollers m, by means of the pulley n, fast to the shaft of
The
the rollern, and the strap 7, which passes round the pulley m³.

page_text: pulley m³ is fixed on the top of the spur wheel m, and they both
revolve freely on a stud, from which depends the socket bush m, which
contains the shank of the swivel bearing m¹. The wheel m' gears into a
similar wheel me, and both these wheels gear into the wheels m', fixed
to the ends of the shafts of the rollers m. It is necessary to remark that the
teeth of the wheels mt, m³, and m7, must be rounded off, to compensate for the
diagonal position sometimes assumed by the rollers m. The socket bushes m
are drawn towards each other and against the stops m³, see Figures 11, by the
vulcanized india-rubber springs mo, and the rollers m are supported at each
side by similar swivel bearings and sockets, so as to admit of the rollers opening
more at one side than the other, when the cotton from the balance flexible k
descends in uneven layers. The stops m¹ are to prevent the rollers m from
being too much separated when the cotton is passing between them, and I
make the surface of the rollers m with coarse flutes, to take better hold of the
cotton. It will be apparent from the above descriptions that the produce of
the opener, or other machine of the like nature, will be supplied without inter-
ruption to the lattice a, and delivered by the rollers e and e' in heaps or
portions of equal weight on the balance flexible k, in which condition it is
dropped into the hopper 1, and deposited by the rollers m on the lattice n, from
which the attendant of each "blower" has to remove it, as before described.
The manual operation of weighing and of carrying the weighted portions from
the scales, or from the machine shown in Sheet 1 and 2, is thus entirely dis-
pensed with, and a considerable reduction is made in the number of persons
required to attend the machine.
The next part of my improvements in machinery or apparatus for preparing
cotton and other fibrous substances relates to the formation of laps by the
lapping rollers applied to blowers, scutchers, or other machines of the like
nature.
The first of these improvements is represented by Figures 18 and 19 of
Sheet 2. In these views t is a curved metal plate, supported by the levers t',
which vibrate on the bearings of the shaft of the lap roller u, represented by a
dotted line in Figure 18. is the second lap roller, and between them is
formed the lap roller, which is weighted in the usual manner by the weight
hooks u². Into one of these weight hooks I fix the stud u³, which takes into
a curved slot t², formed in the plate t³, and connected with one of the levers,
as shewn best in Figure 19; or the stud and plate t may be applied to each
side of the machine, if it should be found more advantageous. is a cross
stay, for uniting the levers. ', u', in Figure 18 are the callender rollers; and
u part. of the wire drums of an ordinary blower, and the red lines represent

page_text: It will be seen, on referring to figure
the cotton in its passage to the lap.
that the lap is supposed to be partly formed, and the web or fleece after passing
over the plate t is compressed by the lap as it passes over the rounded edge of
the said plate, during the time that the lap is being formed. By this means
the back or under side of the web or flecce is made smooth and level, and the
lap is rendered much less liable to catch when unwound than is the case when
the laps are formed without the use of the above-mentioned curved plate t.
The shape of the slot t must be so calculated that at the commencement of a
lap the ends of the slot marked t* shall be near the stud u³, and as the lap
increases in diameter, the stud u³, by acting on the upper edge of the slot,
moves the curved plate t in a corresponding degree in the direction of the arrow
above it, and by so doing the pressure of the lap against the rounded edge of
the plate t is kept uniform. The straight part of the slot t is to admit the
stud when the weight hooks are raised up for the purpose of removing the
full lap. The method of giving the requisite weight to the hooks u³, and for
removing the lap when full, do not require to be particularly described, as they
form no part of my Invention.
On Sheet 5 and in Figures 20, 21, and 23, I have shown another method of
applying the curved plate t in this modification of my Invention of apparatus
for compressing the back of the web or fleece during the formation of it into a
lap. I make use of the weights v, which are suspended by straps to the studs
By means of the
v, projecting from an adjustable slide, fixed to the levers t.
weights v, the rounded off edge of the curved plate t is at all times kept close
up to the lap. The roller on which the lap is formed is now supposed to be
empty, and consequently the levers are drawn by the weights v into the
position shown in Figure 20. When the lap begins to increase in diameter,
the action of the cotton on the curved plate t causes the levers t' to move in
the direction of the arrow under the roller u and raise up the weight v, until
when the lap is complete the levers t¹ have assumed the position indicated by
the diagonal red line in Figure 20. The other parts of this apparatus do not
require particular notice, as they are similar to those explained with reference
to Figures 18 and 19 on Sheet 2.
In the Figures 23 and 24, I have shown a third modification of my improve-
ment in machinery for compressing the web or fleece during the formation of a
lap. In these views wis a plate with a curved slot fastened to the weight
hooks w¹, and this slot takes hold of a pin projecting from an adjustable piece
attached to the levers t'. This slot must be so shaped that at the commence-
ment of forming a lap, the plate t shall be close to the roller on which the lap is
formed, and as the lap increases in diameter the curved slot, by acting on the

page_text: pins attached to the levers t¹, must move the edge of the curved plate further
from the roller, as before described in referring to Figures 18 and 19. Other
modifications of this part of my Invention might be shown, but the foregoing
will be sufficient to illustrate my improvements in compressing the web or
fleece of cotton or other fibrous substances produced by blowers or scutchers
during the winding of the same into a lap, so as to render the said laps more
easy to unwind. And I also obtain the same object without the aid of the
curved plate t, by causing the surface of the lapping roller marked u in Figures
18, 20, and 23, to revolve at a greater velocity than that of the roller u¹. In
this case it is essential that the surface of the roller u should be without
flutes; in other respects the lapping apparatus would be similar to those in
ordinary use.
I will now proceed to describe my improvements in carding engines:―these
improvements are represented in Figs: 25 and 26 of Sheet 6, and consist of a
straight edge or ruler a, shown in section in Figs. 25, and in plan view in
Fig. 26; this ruler is hinged by means of the two bent studs a¹ to the ordinary
side plates for holding the lap marked ; are the unwinding rollers which
support the lap a', the table a, the feed rollers, the licker-in, and a
part of
the main cylinder, all of which are similar to those in common use. The
ruler a bears upon the cotton or other fibrous substances under operation,
which is represented by a red line, and it is made sufficiently heavy to retain
the cotton against the lower feed roller, and thus renders the supply to the
licker-in more uniform than in the feeders of the ordinary construction.
My improvements in machinery or apparatus for compressing slivers or
rovings into cans or other receptacles are represented in Figures 27, 28, and 29.
These improvements are applicable to carding engines and drawing frames, or
other machines of the like nature. The improvements consist in giving
a circular radiating or vibrating motion to the can in which the slivers are
collected by this means the position of the cans is constantly changing, and
the slivers or rovings are uniformly distributed into them. y, y, represent the
drawing rollers of an ordinary drawing frame; and y', a set of calender rollers
supported by the plate y; these calendar rollers and the plate for supporting
them are well known to persons coversant with this class of machinery, and
do not form part of my Invention. ³ is a cam supported below by the
plate y, resting on a pivot fixed in the treadle lever y', and which bears above
against the under side of the circular plate y; the two bent pins seen in
Figures 27 and 28, fixed into the plate y" which supports the bottom of the
can, are to prevent the can from revolving. The plate y is shewn in the
Drawings as being attached by studs to the plate y, but it may be entirely

page_text: =
dispensed with by increasing the size of the plate y and lowering it. When
the plate is used, it is necessary to have a short guide or spout for conducting
the slivers from the calender rollers to the can, as seen in Figures 27 and 28.
The circular radiating or vibrating motion is given to the upper part of the
can by a pinion y fixed on the front roller, and shewn by a red line in Fig. 28;
this pinion gears into the intermediate wheel y', which drives the wheel.y'
fixed on the shaft y. Near the end of this shaft is fixed a bevil pinion gearing
into the bevil pinion, to the boss of which is fixed a spur pinion ³
gearing into the wheel ; these wheels have each a stud fixed into
them, fitting into the bosses of the horizontal lever ; the lever is made
with a hoop of sufficient diameter to pass over the top of the can y³. The
treadle lever y is furnished with a counterpoise, the weight of which must
balance the can when full of slivers. To this counterpoise is hinged a wire,
which is carried upwards and is guided above by a bracket projecting from one-
of the roller beams; near to the top of this wire is fixed a stud 2; and a
spring of vulcanized india-rubber or other elastic material, marked ", connects
the stud with the bent end of the stop rod 8. There is a notch cut into the
under side of this stop rod, which catches on a small staple, shewn in Figures
27 and 28; and the other extremity of the stop rod is hinged to the vertical
arm of the elbow lever, the horizontal arm of which is provided with a
counter-weight 10. The elbow lever is fixed on the shaft ", to the other
extremity of which is fixed the rod of the guide fork 2¹8.
I have shewn the various parts of this apparatus in the positions they occupy
when the slivers are being delivered into the can y³; as soon as the requisite.
weight of slivers have been compressed into the can, the resistance of the slivers.
against the under side of the plate y, conbined with the weight of the can
and the pressing downwards of the slivers by the calender rollers y', overcome.
the counterpoise on the lever ', which in rising causes the stud ", by means
of the spring, to lift the notch in the stop rod 28 out of the staple before
mentioned; the weight then acts on the elbow lever, and moves the
driving strap from the fast to the loose pulley in the ordinary manner. The
attendant must now put his foot on the treadle yl, and withdraw the full can
from the hoop in the lever and substitute an empty one in its stead. When
the empty can is in its place the attendant must replace the driving strap on
to the fast pulley, and by so doing the elbow lever will move the stop rod
into the position shewn in Fig. 27; and the spring
the said stop rod on the staple, by which it is retained until again liberated,.
as before described, by the full can acting on the treadle lever y'. By this
arrangement a large amount of slivers or rovings may be compress'd into cans
will retain the notch in

page_text: without giving twist to the slivers or rovings, and they are withdrawn from the
cans at the next operation with less injury and with less breaking than in the
ordinary methods. And I wish to remark that other means may be devised for
giving a circular vibrating motion to the can, but I prefer the apparatus
herein-before shewn and described.
My improvements in machinery or apparatus applicable to machinery used
in weighing are shewn in the various Figures of Sheet 7. These improvements
are intended to render weighing machines of the ordinary construction nearly
self-acting, and are applicable in most cases where fluids or solids in a running
state are to be weighed.
In Figs. 30 and 31, I have shewn a weighing machine of the ordinary
construction with my improvements applied thereto, suitable for weighing.
flour as it is. delivered from a dressing machine or from a pair of grind-
stones. In these views, A represents the scale in which the article to be
weighed is supported, and B the scale for the weights; C is the main
frame, and C a bracket for supporting my improved apparatus; D, D, are
two beams which are supposed to form part of the building in which the
weighing machine is placed, and D' an inclined plank which supports the hose
or flexible pipe D³, through which the flour or other material in a running
state is conducted to the sack D³; E is a flap or valve which is fixed on a
shaft supported by bearings attached to the beams D, and to the same shaft is
fixed a lever E¹, connected to the upper end of the rod E, the lower end of
which is hinged to the drop weight G. The short arm of the lever E¹ is con-
nected by a string or wire to the alarum bell E³, the object of which will be
explained hereafter. H is a pulley actuated by a strap driven by the gearing
of the mill; this pulley revolves on a stud fixed to the bracket C¹, and to it is
fixed an excentric pin to which the rod H¹ is suspended; this rod is hinged
below the lever H, seen best in Figs. 32 and 33. The lever H2 is fixed on a.
shaft moving in a bush bolted to the bracket C¹; and to the other end of this
shaft is fixed the lever H³, from which projects a feeling pin, seen clearly in
Figs. 31 and 33; the lever H³ has thus a continual backward and forward
motion given to it by the excentric pin in the pulley H. The lower end of the
weight G is usually supported by the sliding plate I, which is provided with
two slots, and is held against the bracket C¹ by two flat-headed bolts, seen by
dotted lines in Fig. 32; to the plate I is hinged the click J, and the horizontal
arm of the elbow lever K is brought under the click J. The scale A is
provided with the plate A', as clearly seen in Fig. 32, and the lower portion of
this plate is bent, so that when the scale descends, the bent portion of the plate
A¹ comes in contact with the lower arm of the elbow lever K.

page_text: The method of using this improved weighing machine is as follows:-The
sack for containing the flour or other substance having been secured to the
ring A, the end of the hose D³ is put into the sack, and the flour or other
substance continues to descend into the sack until it has received a sufficient
quantity to overcome the weights on the scale B. As soon as the scale A
descends, the bent end of the plate A by acting on the elbow lever Ķ causes
the horizontal arm thereof to elevate the click J; by so doing the upper part
of the click will be acted upon by the feeling finger projecting from the lever
H³. At the next move of the said lever the sliding plate I will be moved a
short distance in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 32; by moving the plate I,
the support will be taken from under the weight G, which then descends by its
own gravity, as shewn in Fig. 32, and closes the hose or elastic pipe by, the
clap or valve E, compressing it against the plank D¹; the bell-E* giving
notice to the attendant, who will thus be enabled, to mind several weighing.
machines or to be otherwise engaged.. When the full sack has been removed.
and an empty one replaced on the scale A... the attendant must elevate the
weight G so as to allow the sliding plate I to be pushed again into its original
position, shewn in Fig. 30, by the action of the spring Is, and the various-
parts will remain in the positions shewn in Figs. 30 and 31 until the sack is.
again filled.
In Figs 34 and 35, I have shown another modification of my improvements
applicable to weighing machines, by which, I am enabled to dispense with
the pulley H and the other parts set in motion thereby. In these views,
A, A, B, C, C, E, G, and K, represent parts corresponding to those
already described in Figs. 30 and 31. L is a bent piece hinged at L¹ to
the bracket C', and provided with a catch for supporting the weight G.
L is a projection from the piece L, which is acted upon by the anti-friction
bowl at the end of the lever N; this lever is on the same shaft as the stud N¹
and tumbler Nº. In this instance, when the weight of the sack or other
receptacle overcomes the weights in the scale B, the bent end of the plate A¹,
by acting on the elbow lever K, elevates the stud N¹, and as this stud on
the same shaft as the tumbler Ne, it is evident that a very slight elevation of
the stud N¹ will cause the tumbler to fall over in the direction of the arrow
in Fig. 34, and thereby bring the anti-friction bowl at the end of the lever N
against the projection L, with sufficient force to withdraw the catch from
under the weight G, which, in dropping, will stop the supply, as before
described. The above-described apparatus might be applied for weighing
fluids by dispensing with the flap or valve E, and fixing the lever E¹ to the

page_text: end of a tap or cock, or the lever. E might be made to act on a slide or
damper working in a metal or wooden pipe, but these modifications of my
Invention do not need to be more fully described, as their application will be
apparent to persons conversant with the particular class of machinery for
which they are required. I wish to remark, that these improvements may be
applied to the weighing machines, as shewn in the Drawings, or they may
be placed in any convenient position near to the weighing machines, providing
there is a connection from the weighing machine to my improved apparatus.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim as of my Invention,
First, the machinery or apparatus for weighing cotton or other fibrous
substances, as herein-before described and shewn in- Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7
of Sheets 1 and 2 of the Drawings hereto annexed, and which is applicable to
the machines commonly called openers, scutchers, willows, or other machines of
the like nature, or to an endless flexible lattice or feeding cloth supplied by hand.
Secondly, the improved machinery or apparatus for weighing cotton or other
fibrous substances, and for conveying the cotton or other fibrous substances
when weighed towards the blowers, or to undergo the next operation, as
herein-before described and shewn in the various Figures of Sheets 3 and 4.
Thirdly, the application of the curved plate marked t in Figs. 18, 19, 20,
21, 22, 23, and 24, to one of the lapping rollers of blowers, scutchers, or other
machines of the like nature, for the purpose of compressing the web or fleece
by the action of the said plate on the under surface of the lap during its
formation, whether the plate be actuated by either of the means herein-before
described, or by any modification of the same.
Fourthly, the improved machinery for compressing the web or fleece during
the formation of the same into a lap, by giving a different speed to the surfaces
of each of the lapping rollers of blowers, scutchers, or other machines of the
like nature, as herein-before described.
Fifthly, the application of the straight edge or ruler a to the lower feeding
roller of a carding engine, or other machine to which the same is applicable,
in the manner and for the purpose herein-before described, with reference to
Figures 25 and 26 of Sheet 6 of the Drawings hereto annexed.
Sixthly, the machinery or apparatus, or any modification thereof applicable
to carding engines and drawing frames, or to other machines of the like nature,
for giving a circular, radiating, or vibrating motion to cans or other receptacles
for slivers or rovings, and for stopping the said machines when the cans are
full, as herein-before described in reference to Figs. 27, 28, and 29.

page_text: And, lastly, the combinations and arrangements of machinery herein-before
described, with reference to the various Figures on Sheet 7, for regulating the
supply of fluids or of solids in a running state to weighing machines.
And this my Invention being, to the best of my knowledge and belief,
entirely new and never before used within that part of Her said Majesty's
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland called England, Her Dominion
of Wales, and Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, I do hereby declare this to be
my Specification of the same, and that I do verily believe this my said
Specification doth comply in all respects fully and without reserve or disguise
with the proviso in the said herein-before in part recited Letters Patent
contained. Wherefore I do hereby claim to maintain exclusive right and
privilege to the said Invention.
In witness whereof, I, the said John. Holt, have hereunto set my hand
Enrolled the Twenty-third day of January, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty.