Improvements in Apparatus for Grinding the " Revolving Flats" Employed in Carding-engines.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Oct., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 29th Aug., 1889-Accepted, 5th Oct., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Grinding the " Revolving Flats"
Employed in Carding-engines.
We JAMES EDWARD PLATT of Hartford Works, Oldham in the county of
Lancaster Engineer and JAMES FIDLER of the same place Machinist do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to arrangements of apparatus for grinding the "revolving
flats" employed in carding-engines.
According to our invention we place behind the pulleys situate over the "doffer "
or over the "taker in" and around which the "flats" are caused to "travel" two
other pulleys placed at such a distance apart as will admit of several "flats" travel-
ling horizontally between the said pulleys. We arrange upon suitable fixings,
brackets, one of such brackets being at one side of the carding-engine and the
other at the opposite side of the carding-engine." The said brackets are formed on
their upper surfaces of a curve or curves the same as or similar to that of the
flexible bend upon which the "flats" travel when carding. We cause the "flats"
to be moved forward at an uniform speed the "flat" which is being ground being
When being
supported on the upper surfaces of the brackets before referred to.
ground each "flat" is suspended from the surface by which it is supported when at
work the "card wire" being underneath. We place a revolving grinding roller
under the "flat" to be ground. We support the grinding roller aforesaid at each end
by means of levers capable of being oscillated upon the studs upon which such
levers are supported. Acting on convenient parts of the levers above mentioned
are cams of a spiral or other suitable for which cams perform one revolution or
a suitable part of a revolution during such time as each "flat" moves through a
distance equal to its own width. The grinding roller and the levers and studs by
which such grinding roller is supported are carried by brackets capable of being
moved vertically, such brackets being supported at each side of the carding-engine
upon excentrics formed upon or secured to a shaft extending across the carding-
engine. The said shaft when caused to revolve will by means of the excontrics
above mentioned raise or lower the grinding-roller as may be necessitated by the
various lengths of the card wire of the "flats" to be operated upon.
The
The grinding roller is adjusted by means of the excentrics before mentioned so
as to touch the card wire when the "heel" of the "flat" is immediately over the
grinding-roller. The grinding roller is then gradually lifted by the before mentioned
cams acting on the levers which carry the grinding roller, so that the card-wire
surface of the "flat" will be caused to be ground to the desired "bevel."
degree of "bevel" imparted to the card wire surface of the "flat" may be varied
in any required manner by the cams above mentioned being made of suitable form.
Upon the cams before mentioned having made a complete revolution or a suitable
part of a revolution the levers which support the grinding-roller will return to their
original position and the grinding roller having descended will be in readiness to
act upon the next "flat" to be ground.
According to another arrangement of our invention instead of carrying the grind-
ing roller upon levers capable of being oscillated as previously described we carry
the grinding roller by the brackets which have a vertical movement as previously
described and connect the levers previously mentioned to the curved brackets on
which the "flats" travel whilst being ground and by elevating or depressing the said
brackets we produce the same effect as is obtained by the movement given to the
grinding roller in the arrangement previously described.
Dated this Twenty-seventh day of October 1888.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Grinding the "Revolving Flats'
Employed in Carding-engines.
We JAMES EDWARD PLATT of Hartford Works Oldham in the County of Lancaster
Engineer and JAMES FIDLER of the same place Machinist 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:-
Our invention relates to arrangements of apparatus for grinding the "
flats employed in carding-engines.
دو
"
revolving
According to our invention we place, behind the pulleys situate over the "doffer"
or over the "taker in" and around which the "flats" are caused to "travel" two
other pulleys placed at such a distance apart as will admit of several "flats" travel-
ling horizontally between the said pulleys. We arrange upon suitable fixings,
brackets, one of such brackets being at one side of the carding-engine and the
other at the opposite side of the carding-engine. The said brackets are formed on
their upper surfaces of a curve or curves the same as or similar to that of the
"flexible bend
upon which the "flats" travel when carding. We cause the "flats
to be moved forward at an uniform speed, the "flat" which is being ground being
supported on the upper surfaces of the brackets before referred to.
When being
ground each "flat" is suspended from the surface by which it is supported when at
work the "card wire being underneath. We place a revolving grinding roller
under the " flat to be ground. We support the grinding roller aforesaid at each
end by means of levers capable of being oscillated upon the studs upon which such
levers are supported. Acting on convenient parts of the levers above mentioned
are cams of a spiral or other suitable form which cams perform one revolution or
a suitable part of a revolution during such time as each "flat" moves through a
distance equal to its own width. The grinding roller and the levers and studs by
which such grinding roller is supported are carried by brackets capable of being
moved vertically, such brackets being supported at each side of the carding-engine
upon excentrics formed upon or secured to a shaft extending across the carding-
engine. The said shaft when caused to revolve will by means of the excentrics
above mentioned raise or lower the grinding-roller as may be necessitated by the
various lengths of the "card wire" of the "flats" to be operated upon.
"
33
The grinding roller is adjusted by means of the excentrics before mentioned so as
to touch the "card wire" when the "heel "
of the "flat" is immediately over the
grinding roller. The grinding-roller is then gradually lifted by the before mentioned
cams acting on the levers which carry the grinding-roller, so that the "card wire"
surface of the "flat" will be caused to be ground to the desired "bevel." The
degree of "bevel" imparted to the "card wire surface of the "flat" may be
varied in any required manner by the "cams" above mentioned being made of
suitable form. Upon the cams before mentioned having made a complete revolution
or a suitable part of a revolution the levers which support the grinding roller will
return to their original position and the grinding roller having descended will be in
readiness to act upon the next "flat" to be ground.
One method of carrying our invention into effect is illustrated in the accompany-
ing drawings which show so much of a carding-engine as is requisite to illustrate
our invention Figs. 1 and 2 are elevations showing parts situate at opposite sides
of the carding engine. Fig. 3 is a view of part of that which is shown in Fig. 1,
when looking in the direction indicated by the arrow A of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a view
of part.of that which is shown in Fig. 1, when looking in the direction indicated by
the arrow B of Fig. 1 and Fig. 5 is a view of part of that which is shown in Fig. 2,
when looking in the direction indicated by the arrow C of Fig. 2. We shall apply
the same letters of reference to corresponding parts throughout the whole series of
figures. When like parts are applied at opposite sides of the carding-engine the
same letters of reference are applied to such parts.

page_text: The accompanying drawings show our invention as applied to the "doffer end"
of a carding-engine.
a. a are the pulleys which we place at such a distance from the pulleys b. b. around
which the "flats" are caused to "travel" that several "flats" may be travelling
between the pulleys b. and the pulleys a. a at the same time. The pulleys a. a are
mounted fast upon the shaft d which is mounted in brackets e, e and receive rotary
motion as will be hereinafter described. The brackets e, e are capable of being adjusted
by means of screws e¹, e¹ and are secured after adjustment to the bends ff of the
carding-engine by studs e², e² and nuts e³ ³. Around the circumferences of the
pulleys a. a. are formed the notches a¹ by means of which the chain of "flats" c is
driven. Extending across the carding-engine is a shaft g supported by and capable
of being rotated in the brackets e. e. situate at opposite sides of the carding-engine.
Fast upon the shaft g is a worm-wheel which is driven by means of a worm fast
upon a short shaft k carried by and capable of being revolved in a "cannon"/
"formed
on the bracket e at one side of the carding-engine. The short shaft receives motion
from the axle of the main cylinder m by means of the worm n and worm wheel o
ordinarily employed for driving the "notch block shaft." Fast upon the shaft g
(see Fig. 2) is a pinion p which gears into a wheel q carried by and capable of being
turned upon a stud secured to the bracket e at one side of the carding-engine.
Fast with the wheel q is a pinion s (see Fig. 2.) which gears into a wheel t fast upon.
one end of the shaft d. Carried by and capable of being rotated in the brackets e. e
is a shaft u upon which are mounted the pulleys b. b. The "flats" e during the work-
ing of the carding-engine travel around the pulleys b, 6 and a. a in the usual manner.
Each of the brackets e, e is provided with a supporting bracket one of such
brackets v, v being situate at one side of the carding-engine and the other at the other
side of the carding-engine. One of the supporting brackets v, v is shown detached
in Fig. 6 (see sheet 1). The portion F of the edge of each of the brackets vv between.
the points D and E is formed preferably of a curve corresponding to the curved
surface of the "flexible bend" w over and in contact with which the "flats
when carding.
J.
دو
c travel
Upon the brackets v, v are also formed inclined parts v¹, 2-(see Fig. 6). The
"flats" c when passing to the curved surfaces of the brackets pass along the
inclined parts v₁, v and when leaving the said curved surfaces pass along the inclined
parts ², At opposite sides of the carding-engine are secured brackets x, x
capable of being moved longitudinally between ribs et formed on the brackets e. e.
Formed in the brackets x, x are slots through which pass set screws y y by means of
which the brackets xa may be secured to the brackets e. e. Secured to the brackets x, x
respectively are studs z, z upon which are mounted levers 1. 1 capable of being
oscillated upon the studs z, 2.
Each lever 1 is provided with a projection 1ª which
rests upon one of two cams 22 mounted fast on the shaft On each lever 1 is
formed an arm 1b provided with a bearing 3 which supports one end of the axle 4ª of
a grinding roller 4, which axle 4º is capable of being rotated in the bearings.3, 3..
Fast upon the axle 4" of the grinding roller 4 is a pulley 5-(see Figs. 3 and 4) by:
means of which the grinding roller 4 receives rotary motion from any convenient
part of the carding-engine. The pulley 5 is omitted from Fig. 1 in order that other
parts may be more clearly shown. Formed in the brackets e. e. are bearings in which
and capable of being turned therein is a shaft 6 extending across the width of the
carding-engine. Upon the opposite ends of the shaft 6 are formed excentrics 7, 7 each
of which is at times caused to act against the end of one of the brackets x, x.
Fast upon the shaft 6 is a worm wheel 8. Taking into or engaging with the teeth of
the worm-wheel 8 is a worm 9 formed upon a short shaft 10 carried by and capable
of being turned in a bearing formed on one of the brackets e, e. The short shaft 10
is provided with a collar 10 by which and the worm 9 the short shaft 10 is prevented
from moving longidudinally. After the set screws y, y are slackened the shaft 6
may be turned by means of a key placed upon the squared portions 10° of the
short shaft 10 and the excentrics 7, 7 may be caused to act against the brackets x, x
and move such brackets in the direction indicated by the arrow, F*. By the

page_text: shaft 6 and excentrics 7. 7 being turned as above described. the grinding-roller 4
may be caused to act upon the "flats" c to any desired degree. After the brackets,
have been moved to the extent desired such brackets x, x may be secured in position
by the set screws y, y. being tightened.
g
When the carding-engine is at work the shaft g will be caused to rotate in the
direction indicated by by the arrow G. The rotation of the shaft will by means
of the pinion p, wheel q pinion s and wheel t cause the shaft d to be rotated in the
direction indicated by the arrow H and thus cause the "flats" c to travel in the
direction indicated by the arrow J. The pinion p, wheel 7, pinion s and wheel t must
be so proportioned one to another that each revolution of the shaft will cause the
chain of flats" c tobe advanced a distance equal to the breadth of one
"flat" c and
the space between such "flat" c and the adjacent "flat" c or distance of the flats
from centre to centre. The cams 2, 2 are so placed upon the shaft that when the
advancing edge of the "card wire" surface of each "flat" c is passing a plane
passing through the axis of the grinding roller 4 and indicated by the line k the
projection 1 of each of the levers 1 will be supported by the "lowest" part 2 of
the cam 2 on which it rests. When a "flat
c is in this position the grinding
roller 4 is so adjusted by means of the excentrics 7, 7 and brackets a that such grind-
ing roller 4 will act in the desired degree upon the wire of the said "flat" c. As
the said "flat" c is moved in the direction indicated by the arrow J the rotation of the
cams 2, 2 in the direction indicated by the arrow Ġ will move the levers 1, 1 in.
the direction indicated by the arrow L and thus cause the grinding roller 4 to be
gradually moved in the direction indicated by the arrow M as the said "flat" travels
along the curved portions F, F of the brackets in the direction indicated by
the arrow J so that the "card wire" surface of such "flat" e will be ground to the
desired " angle" or "bevel" relative to the part of the "flat" which rests on the
"flexible bend when such "flat" is at work. The form of the cams 2, 2 may be
varied to suit any desired angle" or bevel" of the "flats." According to the
positions in which the parts are shown in the drawings the "flat" being ground
has had one half of its "card wire" surface operated upon by the grinding roller 4.
When the entire breadth of the "flat" c has been operated upon by the grinding
roller 4 the projections 12, 1ª of the levers 1, 1 will be upon the points 2b 2b of the
cams 2, 2. Upon the points 2b, 2b of the cams 2, 2 passing from beneath the pro-
jections 1", 1" the levers 1, 1 will be moved in a direction opposite to that indicated
by the arrow L until the projections 1ª 1ª rest on the "lowest" parts 2ª 2" of the
cams 2, 2 and a further rotation of the cams 2, 2 will bring the grinding roller 4 into
position for acting upon the next "flat" e to be ground.
"
"
"
We have in the accompanying drawings shown our improved grinding apparatus
as situate at the "doffer end" of a carding-engine but such grinding apparatus may
if desired be placed over the "taker in end" of a carding-engine. When the grind-
ing apparatus is placed over the "taker in end" of the carding-engine the cains 2, 2
will require to be so formed and placed that the levers 1, 1 will be moved in the
required manner.
Instead of the grinding roller being carried by the levers 1. 1. which we prefer, it
will be obvious that such grinding roller may be carried by sliding brackets each of
which is acted on by a cam similar to the cams 2, 2.
Although we have in the accompanying drawings shown the cams 2, 2 as arranged
to perform a complete revolution during the time a "flat" is presented to the
grinding roller we would have it understood that cams arranged to perform a suitable
aliquot part of a revolution during the time a "flat" is presented to the grinding
roller, may be employed in place of such cams 2, 2, wheels of suitable sizes being
in such cases employed to convey rotary motion from the shaft g to the shaft d.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :
. 1. The herein before described combination and arrangement of apparatus for grinding

page_text: the "card wire" surfaces of the "revolving flats" employed in carding-engines
which combination and arrangement of apparatus consist of supporting surfaces such
as F employed in conjunction with a grinding roller 4 capable of being moved nearer
to and further from the said supporting surfaces and operated by means of cams
such as 2, 2 and adjusted as required by means of excentrics such as 7, 7 sub-
stantially as herein before described and indicated in and by the accompanying
drawings.
2. The hereinbefore described combination and arrangement of apparatus for
grinding the "card wire" surfaces of the "revolving flats" employed in carding-
engines which combination and arrangement of apparatus consist of supporting
surfaces such as F employed in conjunction with a grinding roller 4 capable of being
moved nearer to and further from the said supporting surfaces and operated by means
of cams such as 2, 2 substantially as hereinbefore described and indicated in and
by the accompanying drawings.
Dand the T1000