Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Aug., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 23rd May, 1898-Accepted, 25th June, 1898
We, THOMAS RODGERSON MARSDEN, of Bank View, Derker, Oldham, in the
County of Lancaster, Manager, and 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:-
This invention relates to carding-engines and relates more particularly to the
driving of the doffers of such machines.
In consequence of the high speed at which carding-engines are now worked,
the delivery of "web" or sliver by the doffer of a carding-engine now takes place
at a speed so great that except by an attendant of more than ordinary
dexterity the "piecing" or passing of the sliver into the bite of the calender
rollers of a carding-engine, after the sliver has broken down is not effected quickly
enough to avoid an accumulation of "web" or sliver beneath the doffing comb,
which is both objectionable and wasteful. To remove these and other objections
carding engines have been provided with apparatus by means of which the
attendant in charge of a carding-engine can reduce the speed of the doffer when
piecing is to be effected and by that means reduce the speed at which the "web"
or sliver is delivered by the doffer and so obtain more time for the piecing of
broken slivers. It is the duty of attendants making use of such apparatus to set
the doffers at work at full speed again immediately after piecing has been accom-
plished, but careless or negligent attendants often omit to do so and the doffers
are allowed to continue working at a slow speed so that not only is the production
of sliver reduced, but inferior work is done.
The object of the first part of this invention is to prevent the doffers of carding-
engines provided with means for enabling the doffers to be made to revolve slowly
when the slivers stripped therefrom are to be pieced, from being allowed to con-
tinue working at the slow speed by the mistake or neglect of the attendants in
charge of such carding-engines after the piecing of the slivers has been accom-
plished or after such doffers have continued to revolve slowly for a sufficient length
of time to allow of the piecing being done by ordinary attendants.
To illustrate this part of this invention we will describe one arrangement of
mechanism. In this arrangement of mechanism we provide a train of gearing
which consists in part of a worm mounted on a movable shaft and imparting
motion to a worm-wheel which is mounted on a stud or shaft and is capable of
being driven at a suitable speed and a projecting finger which is mounted on the
said stud or shaft and in conjunction with the said projecting finger we provide
a lever or arm capable of being turned upon the said stud or shaft by means of the
said finger and provide such lever or arm with or connect it to a weight or spring
which when the said lever or arm has been turned through a suitable part of a
revolution by means of the said projecting finger will turn the said lever or arm
suddenly and cause a suitable part formed upon or connected to such lever or arm
and preferably formed so that it may act as a cam to so raise or move the lever

page_text: or other means used to control the action of the mechanism which is employed to
transmit motion to the doffer as to automatically bring about the driving at full
speed of such doffer.
The second part of this invention consists in arrangements of mechanism for
enabling the doffers of carding-engines to be made to revolve at less than their
full working speed when the webs" or slivers stripped therefrom may require
to be "pieced" and has for its object the provision of arrangements of mechanism
for the said purpose which, shall be simple and efficient and capable of being
readily applied to carding-engines already in use.
According this part of this invention, we mount upon the axle of the pinion
which is mounted on the drop-lever for driving the doffer of a carding-engine, a
suitable friction pinion or toothed pinion capable at times of imparting motion to
a friction-pinion or toothed pinion mounted upon one arm of a lever hereinafter
termed the slow-motion-lever. Secured to the said friction-pinion or toothed
pinion on the slow-motion-lever is a pulley which by means of a band communi-
cates motion to a pulley mounted upon a stud or shaft in the other arm of the
slow-motion-lever. The pulley last named has secured to it a pinion hereinafter
termed the slow-motion-pinion which gears at times into the doffer-wheel to drive
it at a slow speed. When it is necessary to put into action the slow motion, the
attendant releases the drop-lever and by so doing not only disengages the pinion
which drives the doffer at full speed but also brings the friction-pinion or toothed
pinion upon the axle of the pinion on the drop-lever into gear with the friction-
pinion or toothed pinion on the slow-motion-lever which by means of the band
and pulley aforesaid will communicate motion to the slow-motion-pinion which
when it is engaged with the doffer-wheel will impart a slow motion to the doffer.
The drop-lever in its fall besides disengaging the pinion which it carries from the
doffer-wheel and engaging the friction-pinions or toothed pinions for driving the
slow-motion-pinion, causes by its weight the slow-motion-lever to turn on its
support and in so doing puts the slow-motion-pinion into gear with the doffer-
wheel. When the drop-lever is lifted to disengage the slow speed and re-engage
the full speed the slow-motion-pinion will be disengaged from the doffer-wheel
before the full speed pinion is re-engaged. When it is necessary for the attendant
to stop the doffer without stopping the carding-engine, the drop-lever is let down
by the attendant on to a catch which is provided to hold the drop-lever in an
intermediate position. When the drop-lever is held in the intermediate position
by the catch both the pinion mounted on such drop-lever and the slow-motion-
pinion are disengaged from the doffer-wheel.
Doted this Twentieth das of August 1897
HOWARD
CHEETHAM,
Manchester, Agent to the Applicants.
We, THOMAS RODGERSON MARSDEN, of Bank View, Derker, Oldham, in the
County of Lancaster, Manager, and 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 per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following state-
ment:-
This invention relates to carding-engines and relates more particularly to the
driving of the doffers of such machines.

page_text: İn consequence of the high speeds at which carding-engines are now worked
the delivery of "web" or sliver" by the doffer of a carding-engine now takes
place at a speed so great that except by an attendant of more than ordinary
dexterity the " piecing" or passing of the sliver into the bite of the calender-
rollers of a carding-engine after the sliver has broken down, is not effected
quickly enough to avoid an accumulation of "web" or sliver "beneath the
doffing comb, which is both objectionable and wasteful.
66
To remove these drawbacks and other objections, carding-engines have been
provided with apparatus by means of which the attendant in charge of a carding-
engine can reduce the speed of the doffer when piecing is to be effected and by that
means reduce the speed at which the web or sliver is delivered by the doffer and
so obtain more time for the piecing of broken slivers. It is the duty of attendants
making use of such apparatus to set the doffers at work at full speed again
immediately after piecing has been accomplished, but careless or negligent
attendants often omit to do so, and the doffers are allowed to continue working at
a slow speed so that not only is the production of sliver reduced but inferior work
is done, in consequence of some parts of the carding-engines being on their full
speed whilst other parts are on the slow speed.
The object of the first part of this invention is to prevent the doffers of carding-
engines provided with means for enabling the doffers to be made to revolve slowly
when the slivers stripped therefrom are to be pieced, from being allowed to con-
tinue working at the slow speed by the mistake or neglect of the attendants in
charge of such carding-engines after the piecing of the slivers has been accom-
plished or after such doffers have continued to revolve slowly for a sufficient length
of time to allow of the piecing being done by ordinary attendants.
To illustrate this part of this invention we will describe one arrangement of
mechanism. In this arrangement of mechanism we provide a train of gearing
which is arranged to be set in motion by the bringing into operation of the means
by which the doffer of the carding-engine is caused to revolve at a slow speed and
consists in part of a worm mounted on a movable shaft and imparting motion to a
worm-wheel which is mounted on a stud or shaft and is capable of being driven
at a suitable speed, and a projecting finger which is mounted on the said stud or
shaft and in conjunction with the said projecting finger we provide a lever or arm
capable of being turned upon the said stud or shaft by means of the said finger
and provide such lever or arm with or connect it to a weight which when the said
lever or arm has been turned through a suitable part of a revolution by means of
the said projecting finger will turn the said lever or arm suddenly and cause a
suitable part formed upon or connected to such lever or arm and preferably formed
so that it may act as a cam, to so raise or move the lever or other means used to
control the action of the mechanism which is employed to transmit motion to the
doffer as to automatically bring about the driving at full speed of such doffer.
The second part of this invention consists in arrangements of mechanism for
enabling the doffers of carding-engines to be made to revolve at less than their
full working speed when the webs or slivers stripped therefrom may require
to be "pieced" and has for its object the provision of arrangements of mechanism
for the said purpose which shall be simple and efficient and capable of being
readily applied to carding-engines already in use.
According to this part of this invention we mount upon the axle of the pinion
which is mounted on the drop-lever for driving the doffer of a carding-engine, a
suitable friction-pinion or toothed-pinion capable at times of imparting motion to
a friction-pinion or toothed-pinion mounted upon one arm of a lever hereinafter
termed the slow-motion-lever. Secured to the said friction-pinion or toothed-
pinion on the slow-motion-lever is a pulley which by means of a band communi-
cates motion to a pulley mounted upon a stud or shaft in the other arm of the
slow-motion-lever. The pulley last named has secured to it a pinion hereinafter
termed the slow-motion-pinion which gears at times into the doffer-wheel to drive

page_text: it at a slow speed. When it is necessary to put into action the slow-motion, the
attendant releases the drop-lever and by so doing not only disengages the pinion
which drives the doffer at full speed but also brings the friction-pinion or toothed-
pinion upon the axle of the pinion on the drop-lever into gear with the friction-
pinion or toothed-pinion on the slow-motion-lever which by means of the band
and pulley aforesaid will communicate motion to the slow-motion-pinion which
when it is engaged with the doffer-wheel will impart a slow motion to the doffer.
The drop-lever in its fall besides disengaging the pinion which it carries from the
doffer-wheel and engaging the friction-pinions or toothed-pinions for driving the
slow-motion-pinion, causes by its weight the slow-motion-lever to turn on its
support and in so doing puts the slow-motion-pinion into gear with the doffer-
wheel. When the drop-lever is lifted to disengage the slow speed and reengage
the full speed the slow-motion-pinion will be disengaged from the doffer-wheel
before the full-speed-pinion is re-engaged.
When it is necessary for the attendant to stop the doffer without stopping the
carding-engine the drop-lever is let down by the attendant on to a catch which is
provided to hold the drop-lever in an intermediate position. When the drop-
lever is held in the intermediate position by the catch, both the pinion mounted
on such drop-lever and the slow-motion-pinion are disengaged from the doffer-
wheel.
The arrangement of mechanism herein before described in illustration of the
first part of this invention and one form of the mechanism employed according to
the second part of this invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings as
applied in conjunction with each other. In the accompanying drawings in all
the figures of which the same letters of reference are employed to indicate corre-
sponding parts, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of so much of a carding-engine with
mechanism applied thereto in accordance with this invention as is requisite for
the illustration of this invention, Fig. 2 is an end elevation partly in vertical
section of a portion of that which is shown in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a plan of a portion
of that which is shown in Fig. 1, one of the wheels being only indicated in part
so that parts below it may be clearly shown; Fig. 4 is a side elevation showing
the parts which are employed in accordance with this invention in the arrange-
ment illustrated by Figs. 1, 2 and 3; Fig. 5 is a plan of part of that which is
shown in Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is an end elevation of part of that which is shown in
Fig. 4; Figs. 7 and 8 are respectively a side elevation at right angles to and a
side elevation in the direction of the length of the carding-engine, of a weighted
lever shown but not capable of being fully illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6;
Fig. 9 is a plan of a bracket shown but incapable of being fully illustrated in
Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 6. Figs. 10 and 11 are vertical sections through some of the
toothed wheels and pulleys employed in the arrangement illustrated and the parts
by which they are supported, but with some parts shown in side elevation so as
to be clearer; Fig. 12 is a vertical section taken on the plane indicated by the
line (A A) of Fig. 4 through a pulley employed in the arrangement illustrated
in Fig. 1 and the parts by which it is supported but showing external views of some
parts.
In the carding-engine of which part is illustrated in Fig. 1 the doffer is
arranged to be driven by a belt («) receiving motion from a pulley upon the axle
of the taker-in-roller of the carding-engine. The belt (a) imparts motion to a
pulley (b) which is mounted upon a stud (61) secured in a drop-lever (c) and is
furnished with a pinion (2) fast upon it and gearing into a toothed-wheel (d).
The wheel (d) is mounted upon a stud (e) secured in the drop-lever (c). To the
boss of the wheel (d) are secured wheels (f) and (h). The drop-lever (c) is arranged
to be capable of being turned about a stud (3) secured in the side-frame (p) of the
carding-engine. When the drop-lever (c) is in its highest position, the wheel (f)
will be in gear with the wheel (9) fast upon the axle of the doffer. When the
drop-lever (c) is in its lowest position the wheel (h) will be in gear with a wheel (i)
arranged below it and hereinafter further described. When the drop-lever (c) is

page_text: on
state of
same
in the middle position the wheels (f) and (h) are both out of gear with the wheels
with which they at times gear, and the doffer is allowed to remain in
rest. A hand-lever (e) mounted upon a stud (5) secured in the side-frame (2)
of the carding-engine is connected to the drop-lever (e) by means of a link (c).
A catch (2) which is mounted on the hand-lever (e) determines the highest and
middle positions of the drop-lever (c) by being placed with the notch (1) or the
notch (2) in engagement with the bracket (3) mounted upon the side-frame (p)
of the carding-engine. The engagement of the wheels () and () determines the
lowest position of the drop-lever (c). The weight of the parts mounted
the drop-lever. (c) tends to
it downwards and at the
move
time move the lever (c) in the direction indicated by the arrow (D). When the
drop-lever (c) is moved to bring the pinion (f) out of gear with the toothed-
wheel (g) the toothed-wheel (h) is brought into gear with a toothed-wheel (i)
formed with a pulley () and a bevel-wheel (k) and capable of being revolved upon
a stud (m) secured in the lower arm of the slow-motion-lever (n) which is a bell-
crank-lever capable of being oscillated upon a stud (o¹) secured in a bracket (o)
mounted fast upon the side-frame (p) of the carding-engine. The upper end of
the slow-motion-lever (n) is provided with a stud (2) upon which is mounted a
pinion (y) formed with a sleeve fast upon which is mounted a pulley (z). Around
the pulley () and the pulley (1) is passed a band (w) which in Figs. 2 and 3 is
only indicated in part in order that other parts may be better shown.
pinion (y) is so placed that it may be brought into gear with the toothed wheel (g)
by the slow-motion-lever (n) being oscillated in the direction indicated by the
arrow (C). When the drop-lever (c) is lowered to bring the pinion (f) out of gear
with the toothed wheel (g) and the toothed wheel (h) is brought into gear with the
toothed wheel (1) the drop-lever (c) and the parts carried by and connected to it
hear upon the toothed wheel (2) and the lower arm of the slow-motion-lever (n),
and so cause the slow-motion-lever (n) to oscillate in the direction indicated by
the arrow (C) so that the pinion (y) is brought into gear with the toothed wheel (g).
The pulley (7) being smaller than the pulley (a) and the toothed wheel (y) being
smaller than the wheel (f), the bringing of the pinion (y) into gear with the
toothed wheel (g) will cause the doffer of the carding-engine to revolve at the
requisite slow speed.
The
A spring (4) is connected at one end to a stud secured in the slow-motion-lever (n)
and at the other end to a stud in a bracket (2), upon the side-frame (p).
The spring (4) and the weight of the pulley (a) and wheel (y) and the upper arm
of the slow-motion-lever (n) always tend to move the wheel (y) out of gear with
the toothed wheel (g) as soon as the drop-lever is raised.
The movement of the slow-motion-lever (n) in the direction opposite to that
indicated by the arrow (C) is limited by means of a bracket (5) secured upon the
side-frame (p).
The bevel-wheel (k) formed with the wheel (i) is made to gear into a bevel-
wheel (7) mounted fast upon a shaft (r) which at one end is capable of being
revolved and slightly oscillated in a bracket (n¹) secured to the slow-motion-
lever (n) and at the other end is capable of being revolved in bearings provided in
a yoke (s) capable of being oscillated upon a stud (s) secured in a bracket (2)
mounted fast upon the side-frame (p). A worm (t) is mounted fast upon the
shaft (r). The worm (t) is made to gear into a worm-wheel (u) capable of being
revolved upon the stud (s). The worm-wheel (u) is provided with a sleeve (1)
upon which is formed an arm (u) in which is secured a projecting stud (u³) which
if the worm-wheel (u) be revolved will come into contact with and turn a weighted
tumbler-lever (v) which is capable of being revolved upon the stud (s) and is
furnished with a projecting finger () which at times is capable of lifting the drop-
lever (c) from its lowest to its highest position. When the drop-lever (c) is in
its lowest position and the tumbler-lever (v) has been turned by the revolution of
the worm-wheel (w) around the stud (s) in the direction indicated by the arrow (B)

page_text: until the weight (3) upon the tumbler-lever (v) arrives above and is carried over
the stud (s) and tumbles over, the tumbler-lever (v) causes the projecting
finger (v) to raise the drop-lever (c) and bring the wheel (f) into gear with the
wheel (9) and allows the catch (c) to drop into position to hold the wheel (f) in
gear with the wheel (9). When the drop-lever (c) is released to disengage the
wheel (f) from the wheel (g) and engage the toothed wheel (h) with the wheel (2)
and the pinion (y) with the toothed wheel (g) for the purpose of driving the doffer
at a slow speed, the toothed wheels (h) (2), bevel-wheels () (q), shaft (r), worm (t),
worm-wheel (u), arm (u²), projecting stud (3) and weighted tumbler-lever (v)
will after a certain time depending upon the speed at which the worm-wheel (u) is
caused to revolve, raise the drop-lever (c) so as to re-engage the wheel (f) with the
wheel (g) when the doffer will again revolve at full speed. The period for which
the slow revolution of the doffer is allowed to continue may obviously be limited
to any required extent by the gearing employed being arranged to turn the pro-
jecting finger (³) at a suitable speed. When it is necessary to piece up the sliver
or web from the doffer to the calenders, the attendant lifts the catch (c2) which
permits the drop-lever (c) to change the driving of the doffer from the full speed
to the slow speed to enable the attendant to piece the ends, whilst this is being
done the tumbler-lever (v) is being brought into position to lift the drop-lever (c).
The lifting of the drop-lever (c) by the tumbler-lever (v) will change the driving
of the doffer from slow speed to full speed. When the doffer is running at full
speed the slow-motion parts are at rest.
Instead of the spring (4) illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4 we may employ a pin upon
the drop-lever and a slot in a bracket upon the slow-motion-lever as illustrated by
Figs. 13 and 14 which are respectively a side elevation and a plan showing a
portion of the drop-lever and slow-motion-lever with a pin (6) and bracket (7)
provided upon such drop-lever (c) and slow-motion-lover (m) respectively.
Figs. 15 and 16 are respectively a side elevation and a plan of the bracket (7).
The pin (6) is secured in the drop-lever (c) by means of a nut, and the bracket (7)
is secured upon the slow-motion-lever (n) by means of set-screws and provided
with a slot (7) into which the pin (6) projects. The slot (7") is so shaped and
placed as to be nearer to the stud (3) at its upper end than at its lower end and is
thus so inclined to the path in which the pin (6) is moved that the slow-motion-
lever (n) will be moved by means of the pin (6) and bracket (7) in the direction
indicated by the arrow (C) when the drop-lever (c) is lowered and in the opposite
direction when the drop-lever (c) is raised.
It is obvious that it is easy to vary some of the details of this invention, for
instance the wheels (h) and (i) might be replaced by friction-wheels, though
toothed gearing is preferable and the rope (w) and pulleys (1) and (r) replaced
by chain or other gearing, although we prefer to employ the rope (w) and
pulleys (1) and (2).
It is obvious that in the mechanism applied to the carding-engine of which
part is illustrated in the accompanying drawings the parts which are provided
in accordance with the first part of this invention are the wheels (h) () in part,
bevel wheels (k) (g), shaft (r), yoke (s), worm (t), worm-wheel (4), arm (2) and
tumbler-lever (v) and the parts which are provided in accordance with the second
part of this invention are the wheels (h) (i) in part, the slow-motion-lever (n),
pulleys (2) (a), rope (w), wheel (y) and the spring (4) or bracket (7) and pin (6).
It is also obvious that besides being applicable to carding engines to which the
second part of this invention is applied, the first part of this invention, the object
of which is to prevent the doffers of carding-engines provided with means for
enabling the doffers to be made to revolve slowly when the slivers stripped there-
from are to be pieced from being allowed to continue working at the slow speed
by the mistake or neglect of the attendants in charge of such carding engines after
the piecing of the slivers has been accomplished or after such doffers have con-
tinued to revolve slowly for a sufficient length of time to allow of the piecing being

page_text: done by ordinary attendants, may be applied to carding-engines provided with any
means for enabling the doffers to revolve slowly when the slivers stripped therefrom
are to be pieced, provided that means are supplied to impart motion to the
mechanism employed according to the said first part of this invention.
It is also obvious that the second part of this invention may be applied to carding
engines to which the first part of this invention is not applied.
Although the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings as employed
according to the first part of this invention very efficient, it is obvious that so
long as a tumbler-lever like the lever (v) or some equivalent device is provided,
other forms of mechanism may be employed in order to accomplish the object
of the said first part of this invention.
The first part of this invention renders it possible to ensure that the doffers of
the carding-engines to which it is applied shall be caused to again revolve at full
speed after the piecing has been accomplished or after such doffers have been
allowed to continue revolving at a slow speed for a sufficient length of time to
allow of the piecing being done by ordinary attendants.
The arrangements of mechanism provided according to the second part of this
invention are simple and efficient and capable of being readily applied to carding-
engines already in use.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is:
1. The combination with the doffer of a carding-engine provided with means for
enabling the doffer to be made to revolve slowly when the sliver stripped there-
from is to be pieced, of mechanism which being set in motion by the bringing into
operation of the means by which the doffer is caused to revolve at a slow speed
will, after a certain time, cause a tumbler-lever or equivalent device to so raise
or move the lever or other means used to control the action of the mechanism
which is employed to transmit motion to the doffer as to automatically bring about
the driving at full speed of such doffer substantially as described.
2. The combination with the doffer of a carding engine provided with means
for enabling the doffer to be made to revolve slowly when the sliver stripped there-
from is to be pieced, of mechanism consisting in a train of gearing constructed,
arranged and operating substantially as herein before described which being set
in motion by the bringing into operation of the means by which the doffer is
caused to revolve at a slow speed will after a certain time cause a tumbler-lever or
equivalent device to so raise or move the lever or other means used to control the
action of the mechanism which is employed to transmit motion to the doffer as to
automatically bring about the driving at full speed of the doffer.
3. The hereinbefore described mechanism for enabling the doffer of a carding-
engine to be made to revolve slowly when the web or sliver stripped therefrom is
to be pieced and consisting in a pinion upon the axle of the pinion mounted on
the drop-lever for driving the doffer of a carding engine and a lever carrying
pinions and pulleys all arranged, employed and operating for the purposes and
substantially in the manner hereinbefore described.
4. The combination of the herein before described mechanism for enabling the
doffer of a carding-engine to be made to revolve slowly when the web or sliver
stripped therefrom is to be pieced and consisting in a pinion upon the axle of the
pinion mounted on the drop-lever for driving the doffer of a carding-engine and
à lever carrying pinions and pulleys with mechanism consisting in a train of
gearing which being set in motion by the bringing into operation of the means by
which the doffer is caused to revolve at a slow speed will after a certain time cause
a tumbler-lever or equivalent device to so raise or move the lever or other means
used to control the action of the mechanism which is employed to transmit motion

page_text: to the doffer as to automatically bring about the driving at full speed of the
doffer, substantially as described.
Dated this Trantinth day of Nov 1808
HOWARD
CHEETHAM,
Manchester, Agent to the Applicants.