IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OR PREPARATION OF FLAX, HEMP, JUTE, AND OTHER FIBROUS MATTERS FOR SPINNING PURPOSES AND IN APPARATUS FOR THE SAME
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of
**IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OR PREPARATION OF FLAX, HEMP, JUTE,
AND OTHER FIBROUS MATTERS FOR SPINNING PURPOSES AND IN APPARATUS
FOR THE SAME."-A communication from abroad by Julien Hyacinthe
Joseph Bayart, Commercial Agent, of 13, Boulevart. St. Martin,
Paris.
Sealed the 22nd December 1868, and dated the 2nd July 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville
Clark at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 2nd July 1868.
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OR PREPARATION OF
FLAX HEMP, JUTE. AND OTHER FIBROUS MATTERS POR SPINNING PURPOSES, AND
IN APPARATUS FOR THE SAME," to be as follows: - .
This Invention relates to the manufacture of threads of all sizes from
short stapled flax, hemp, jute, or other raw textile fibres which have
817

page_text: hitherto been deemed inapplicable for such purpose, and constituting
a new product of this Invention. The fibres have the gummy matters
removed and are then either bleached or dyed for use.
The invention further relates to the processes and apparatus employed
in the above manufacture from fibres of flax, hemp, or jute, which are
now spun in minimum lengths of eight inches, excepting those qualities
used for making wrapping cloths.
The Invention thus consists in the production of threads from short
staples instead of from the long fibres hitherto employed. For this
purpose I employ two modes of operation; I take the refuse of flax,
hemp, or jute, for example, after it has passed through the stripping or
carding processes, and first pass it through a mill or "devil" in order
to get rid of the dust and remove as much of the straw as possible.
I either use the ordinary apparatus, or that shown in Figure 1, Sheet 1
of the Drawings, which is also provided with a brush and doffer for
separating the long fibres which may be contained in the tow, these
being afterwards spun and treated apart from the others.
Figure 1, Sheet 1, shows a central vertical section of the apparatus
of this Invention. A, drum, shown in this example as thirty-two inches
in diameter, and the same in length; B, brush, one foot in diameter,
hair included; C, doffer or stripping drum of one foot in diameter, pro-
vided with a card surface; D, grooved roller, of about two inches
diameter; E, drum of wire gauze; F, G, endless cloths for supplying
and drawing off the matters.
2ndly. I may if desired then proceed to wash the fibres in order to
remove the gummy matters, bleach and dye them before they are spun.
3rdly. I again pass the material through the apparatus above described
for the purpose of opening the fibres.
°
4thly. I pass the material through the apparatus, shown in plan at
Figure 2, Sheet 1, and in vertical section at Figure 3, for the purpose of
equalizing the length of the fibres. In certain cases this treatment may
be dispensed with. a, endless web for supplying the material; b,
grooved rollers or cylinders, which are driven at varying speeds, increas-
ing towards the points c.
I may also use the apparatus shown in elevation at Figures 1 and 2,
Sheet 2, and in plan at Figure 3, in which are placed several series of.

page_text: rollers as seen. a, endless web or spreader; b, rollers; c, cylinders,
acting on the fibres; d, band gearing.
5thly. I pass the fibres through the drawing and spreading apparatus,
shown in vertical section, Figure 4, Sheet 1, and in transverse section
at Figure 5, in order to obtain a lap or sliver. This apparatus differs
from that ordinarily used for treating cotton fibres by the addition of
a card roller a to the brush b, said roller a draws out the lap and the
brush 6 cleans it; the other parts of the apparatus are the same as usual.
6thly. The fibres may be treated in a wool-combing machine if desired,
but this may be dispensed with if only inferior qualities are required.
7thly. The fibres are passed through the drawing apparatus repre-
sented in Sheet 1, at Figures 6 and 7 in elevation and section, which is
also provided with a roller a for drawing out the lap or sliver and a
cleaning brush b.
:
8thly. The fibres are passed through a roving frame the same as in
use for preparing cotton, except that a drawing roller is adapted
thereto, or the fibres may be submitted to the action of a rotary rubber.
The materials thus prepared may be then spun in any kind of apparatus
either by means of a mule spinning frame, or continuously as when
spinning wool or cotton.
The second process of this Invention consists:-
1st. In cleaning the material by means of a "devil" or other appa-
ratus, either that in ordinary use or the one herein-before described of
this Invention.
2ndly. In bleaching the fibres.
3rdly. In passing the material again through the above apparatus.
4thly. In passing it through the apparatus shown in Figures 2 and 3,
Sheet 1, before described, for the purpose of reducing the fibres to a
length of from one to two inches according to the quality of the threads
to be produced. The material thus prepared is then formed into laps or
slivers in the manner before described, and subjected to the several
operations usual in spinning cotton. The spreader, drawer, and roving
frame are preferably provided with two rollers superposed for the more
perfect preparation of the fibres.
The Invention thus consists,--
1st. In preparing and spinning short stapled fibres, or tow of flax,
hemp, jute, and other material in the manner described.

page_text: 2ndly. In an improved apparatus described for spreading and other-
wise preparing said fibres.
3rdly. In the improvements in drawing and roving frames herein
described.
4thly. In the novel application of mule spinning frames, self-acting
frames, and rotary cleaning apparatus as before-mentioned for spinning
hemp, flax, jute, and other short fibres which have never hitherto been
applied for this purpose.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 1st January 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER
MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Second day of July, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the thirty-
second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Alexander Melville Clark, Her special
licence that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Alexander
Melville Clark, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time, and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OR PREPARATION OF FLAX. HEXP, JUTE,
OTHER FIBROUS MATTERS FOR SPINNING PURPOSES, AND IN APPARATUS POR
a communication to me from abroad by Julien Hyacinthe
Joseph Bayart, Commercial Agent, of 13, Boulevart St. Martin, Paris,
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Alexander Melville
Clark, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under
my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the

page_text: same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement, reference being had to the Sheet of
Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked
thereon (that is to say):-
This Invention relates to the manufacture of threads of all sizes from
short stapled flax, hemp, jute, and other raw textile fibres which have
hitherto been deemed inapplicable for such purpose, and constituting
a new product of this Invention. The fibres have the gummy matters
removed and are then either bleached or dyed for use.
The invention further relates to the processes and apparatus employed.
in the above manufacture from fibres of flax, hemp, or jute, which are
now spun in minimum lengths of six inches, excepting those qualities
used for making wrapping cloths.
The Invention thus consists in the production of threads from short
staples instead of from the long fibres hitherto employed. For this
purpose I employ two modes of operation; I take the refuse of flax,
hemp, or jute, for example, after it has passed through the stripping or
carding processes, and first pass it through a mill or "devil" in order
to get rid of the dust and remove as much of the straw as possible. I
either use the ordinary apparatus, or that shown in Figure 1 of the
Drawings, which is also provided with a brush and doffer for separating
the long fibres which may be contained in the tow; these being after-
wards spun and treated apart from the others.
Figure shows a central vertical section of the apparatus of this
Invention. A, drum, shown in this example as thirty-two inches in
diameter, and the same in length; B, brush, one foot in diameter, hair
or bristles included; C, doffer or stripping drum of one foot in diameter,
provided with a card surface; D, grooved roller, of about two inches
diameter; E, drum of wire gauze; F, G, endless cloth for supplying and
drawing off the matters.
2ndly. I may
if desired then proceed to wash the fibres in order to
remove the gummy matters, bleach and dye them before they are spun.

page_text: 3rdly. I again pass the material through the apparatus above described
for the purpose of opening the fibres.
4thly. I pass the material through the drawing apparatus, shown in
plan at Figure 2, and in vertical section at Figure 3, for the purpose of
equalizing the length of the fibres, but in certain cases this treatment
may be dispensed with. a, endless web for supplying the material;
b, grooved drawing rollers or cylinders, which are driven at varying
speeds, increasing towards the brush roller c.
I may also use the apparatus shown in elevation at Figures 8 and 9,
and in plan at Figure 10, in which are placed several series of rollers,
as seen. a, endless web or spreader; b, drawing rollers; c, cylinders,
acting on the fibres; d, driver.
5thly. I pass the fibres through the drawing and spreading apparatus,
shown in vertical section at Figure 4, and in transverse section at
Figure 5, in order to obtain a lap or sliver. This apparatus differs from
that ordinarily used for treating cotton fibres by the addition of a card
roller a and brush b, said roller a draws out the lap and the brush b
cleans it; the other parts of the apparatus are the same as usual.
6thly. The fibres may be treated in a wool-combing machine if
desired, but this may be dispensed with if only inferior qualities are
required.
7thly. The fibres are passed through a drawing apparatus, the
apparatus represented in Figures 4 and 5 may also be used for drawing
out the lap or sliver.
In
8thly. The fibres are passed through a roving frame, seen in front and
side views at Figures 6 and 7, the same as in use for preparing cotton,
or the fibres may be submitted to the action of a rotary rubber.
some cases, such as when employing a roving frame, one row of draw-
ing rollers may be removed and a card roller substituted. The materials
thus prepared may be then spun in either a wet or dry state in any kind
of apparatus either by means of a mule-spinning frame, or continuously
as when spinning wool or cotton.
This process may also be modified in the following manner:-Thus
I may, 1st, pass the material through a mill or "devil "; 2ndly, cleanse,
bleach, or dye it; 3rdly, again pass it through the mill; 4thly, I
pass
the materials through the drawing apparatus in the manner before
described; and, 5thly, through the spreading and drawing apparatus,
represented in elevation at Figure 11, and plan at Figure 12. A, iron

page_text: framing; B, C, two pairs of grooved rollers which are adjusted on the
frame more or less closely to the card rollers D, according to the length
of the fibres to be treated. The card rollers D are provided with a
brush below, not shown; E, F, grooved rollers, over which is placed
the pressing cylinder G; H, grooved or other drawing rollers. This
apparatus is to be used for the preparation of very short fibres, those of
greater length being prepared in the apparatus, Figures 4 and 5, before
described.
6thly. The fibres are combed as before described; 7thly, the fibres are
passed to a drawing apparatus represented in end view at Figure 13,
in plan at Figure 14, front view at Figure 15, and back view at
Figure 16. A, frame; B, grooved rollers; C, card rollers superposed;
D, grooved rollers surmounted by a pressing cylinder E; F, grooved
drawing rollers; 8thly, the materials are passed to the roving frame and
otherwise treated as before described.
The second process of this Invention consists,-
1st. In cleaning the material by means of a "devil" or other ap-
paratus, either that in ordinary use or the one herein-before described
of this Invention.
2ndly. In bleaching the fibres.
3rdly. In passing it again through the above apparatus.
4thly. In passing it through the apparatus shown in Figures 2 and 3
before described, for the purpose of reducing the fibres to a length of
from one to two inches according to the quality of the threads to be
produced. The material thus prepared is then formed into laps or
slivers in the manner before described, and subjected to the several
operations usual in spinning cotton. The spreader, drawer, and roving
frame are preferably provided with two rollers superposed for the more
perfect preparation of the fibres.
Having described the nature of this Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to
be protected by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
First. Preparing and spinning short stapled fibres, or tow of flax,
hemp, jute, and other textile fibres, in the manner described.
Secondly. I claim the improved apparatus described for spreading
and otherwise preparing said fibres.
Thirdly. I claim the improvements in drawing and roving frames
herein described.

page_text: Fourthly. I claim the novel application of mule spinning frames, self-
acting frames, and rotary cleaning apparatus for spinning hemp, flax,
jute, and other short fibres which have never hitherto been applied for
this
purpose, all as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Thirty-first day of December,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-
eight.
Witness,
JAMES DAISH,
53, Chancery Lane,
London.
A. M. CLARK. (L.S.)