IMPROVED FEEDING APPARATUS FOR CARDING AND OTHER MACHINES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVED FEEDING
APPARATUS FOR CARDING AND OTHER MACHINES." A communication from
abroad by William Calvert Bramwell, of Terre Haute, in the County of Vigo
and State of Indiana, United States of America.
Sealed the 21st July 1876, and dated the 16th March 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville Clark at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th March 1876.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middle-
sex, Patent Agent. "IMPROVED FEEDING APPARATUS FOR CARDING AND OTHER
MACHINES."
This Invention consists in feeding the wool or other textile material to a carding
or similar engine by means of an apparatus, consisting essentially of a case for
containing the wool, an elevating belt or apron armed with hooks or teeth, a scale
for weighing the wool or other similar substance raised out of the case by the
apron, and an equalizing device, all being arranged so that the scale on receiving
from the elevating apron a supply sufficient to turn the balance of said scale it will,
by appliances hereafter described, at once cause the elevating apron to stop, thus
shutting off further supply until the scale has deposited that which it already con-
tains on to the feed table. This depositing of wool from the scale is caused to
take place at regular intervals by a device giving a tilting motion to the pan of the
scale containing the wool.
.
The feed table mentioned is of the ordinary kind used when feeding by hand.
The wool having been thus deposited, and the scale returned to its original position,
and while the elevating apron is delivering a fresh supply to the scale, a scraper or
equalizer removes the pile of wool just dropped by the scale and presses it up to
the edge of that which has already been fed on and is about to enter the feed rolls
of the carding engine. By this operation the wool is removed out of the way and
a clear place given to the next lot, so that it may not by piling up obstruct the
proper action of the tilting pan of the scale, and that all the wool may be dropped
cach time. The tilting and emptying out of the wool from the scale is entirely
independent of the time it may take the scale to turn its balance as this time is
constantly varying; for instance, if a fresh supply of wool has just been thrown
[Price 6d.

page_text: into the box or case, it not only raises the level, and consequently increases the
contact of the wool with the elevating apron, thus tending to make the latter raise
a greater amount than before the addition, but the wool so thrown in is far more
compact than that which has been opened and picked apart in the machine, all of
which tends very materially to increase the amount raised at each revolution, or
part of same, of the elevating apron, and thus the scale will quickly be filled to
that point at which the balance is adjusted and as quickly stop the delivery of
wool from the apron, it will then remain in this position until tilted and con-
sequently emptied of its contents. As the wool becomes more bulky and lighter in
weight it takes the scale longer to receive a supply, but the speed of the elevating
apron and the tilting device of the scale are so proportioned that plenty of time is
allowed the scale to fill and balance, even if there should only be, say, a handful or
so of wool in the case.
It is by this means that the apparatus is caused to run itself out of wool when
desired, and yet keep the work even to the last, which probably no other device
except hand feeding accomplishes.
The following is a detailed description of the apparatus:-In rear of the case
before-mentioned as containing the wool is placed the toothed belt or apron, set in
an almost vertical position. At the upper part of the casing is also mounted a
picker cylinder or fan armed with teeth and revolving in the opposite direction to
the apron at a much faster velocity. A clearer fan or cylinder, which may either
contain teeth or have simply strips of leather or brushes, is employed to clean off
from the elevating apron such wool as has passed the picker cylinder; it revolves
in the same direction as the apron and at a somewhat quicker speed than the
picker, the wool by its action being swept off the apron into a spout, where it falls
into the pan of the scale to be weighed. This pan, which forms a division in the
spout, is made smaller than the area of spout to allow of its free action.
The device for tilting the pan consists of a lever composed of two arms secured to
a journal passing through a suitable support. One of these arms is inside the
frame and immediately over the pan of the scale, the other arm being outside, and
carrying a pin working in the upper end of a slotted lever, which works on a stud,
and is so actuated by pins on a wheel attached to the shaft of the feed roll. Theso
pins in acting on the slotted lever cause the first-mentioned lever to make a
quarter revolution, thus depressing the scale pan until it assumes nearly, or quite a
vertical position, thus dropping the wool on to the feed table. After any of the
pins in the wheel have ceased to act on the scale pan the latter is immediately
returned to a horizontal position by a counterbalance weight, and the scale reset as
before.
For the purpose of operating a coupling device to the elevating apron through
the action of the weighing scale the following device is employed:-A disc is
mounted on the shaft or journal of the supporting roller of the elevating apron,
which shaft also carries upon it a loose pulley, held in position by a collar. This
loose pulley has an annular groove formed on its inner face, which is continuous
except at one point where a portion of its width is stopped by a pin. The disc
carries a double crank lever, one arın of which is enclosed by a recess in the inner
face of the disc so as to be flush with said face; this arm has a wrist pin, which
enters the annular groove in the loose pulley, and is held in this position by a
spring; this.also causes the pin in the annular groove to coincide, thus transmitting
the motion of the loose pulley to the apron. The other arm of the double crank
lever above-mentioned also carries a pin, which catches on the projection of a
lever actuated by the scale whenever the end carrying the projection is raised.
This action changes the position of the pins in the annular groove of the pulley so
that they are no longer in contact, and consequently the apron stops its delivery of
stock to the scale. When the scale has been emptied of its contents it releases the
double crank lever and the parts return to their original position, delivering a fresh
supply of material to the scale.
The scraper or equalizer for removing the pile of wool dropped by the scale is

page_text: operated by a shaft having secured to it on each side of the machine arms through
which a rod parallel with the shaft is also secured. To the latter is hinged a
swinging plate or board in such manner that when the arms arrive in the course of
their revolution in a certain position the plate becomes over-balanced and falls on to
and to the rear of the stock previously dropped by the scale, the arms continuing
their movement draw the stock along the feed table until they begin to rise, thus
lifting the swinging plate vertically from the edge of the stock, which is thus left
clear. Owing to the swinging plate travelling at double the speed of the feed table
the wool is pushed up compact and equal all along, thus equalizing any deficiencies
in a simple manner.
A series of rods of iron, either round or of other shape, at proper distances apart,
are placed longitudinally across the lower part of the case. These rods are set in a
curved angle to the apron in such manner that the wool or similar stock on being
acted upon by the teeth in the apron will be more or less agitated and drawn over
the bars or rods, thus sifting out of said stock foreign substances of greater specific
gravity than the wool, such as dirt, chaff, or straw, which readily drops through or
between said rods.
The main frame of the machine herein described is provided with a removable head
for withdrawing the feed roll, the opening through the frame being of sufficient sizo
for the purpose.
When the head is removed in this manner any of the rolls can be
removed at any time for any purpose in a convenient manner. These heads may be
made of sufficient size to screw into the frame, but preferably in the form of circular
plates attached to lugs cast on the frame for the purpose, or in any other approved
manner. Through the heads the journals of the rollers pass, the heads acting as
supports to the same.
From the foregoing description it will be observed that the apron armed with
teeth performs merely the operation of raising the wool or other textile material out
of the case to a height sufficient to be delivered to the scale, where it is weighed
before being delivered to the feed table, the action of the weighing scale instantly
stopping further supply of stock the moment sufficient has been received by the
scale, and it is this which forms the important feature of the Invention.
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 14th
September 1876.
OTHER
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent.
"IMPROVED FEEDING APPARATUS FOR CARDING AND
MACHINES." A communication from abroad by William Calvert Bramwell, of
Terre Haute, in the County of Vigo and State of Indiana, United States of
America.
To those conversant with the subject of this Invention it is well known that the
old method of feeding by hand and weighing on of the wool is, if well attended to,
one of the very best methods ever devised for the purpose. It happens, however,
that hands entrusted with this important process are, as a rule, careless or by
familiarity with the work soon get into a careless habit, resulting in uneven work
caused by alternate heavy and light weightings and other causes. Another objection
is the expense, one hand being needed to each set of carding engines. It is to
obviate those objections that this improved apparatus has been invented.
I am well aware that machinery for feeding the wool automatically has heretofore
been used, but so far as my knowledge extends all such machinery has depended on
filling a throat or packing chamber or similar opening in the attempt to produce
evenness and regularity in the feed. In other words, it has been attempted to
gauge the amount of wool entering the feed rolls of the carding engine by its bulk,
no provision being made for the weight of said wool or other similar stock.

page_text: All machinery of this class is faulty and objectionable, from the fact that as the
condition of the wool varies so does the bulk, in other words, if the wool is for
instance freshly prepared for the carding process it is in a light fleecy condition,
and far more bulky than after it has laid some time after preparation; it impor-
ceptibly yet surely becomes less and less bulky and more condensed the longer it
lays before carding. Attempts have been made to overcome this difficulty but so
far with but poor success.
This being the case the hand feeding, where the wool is weighed and each
weighing fed regularly on to the feed table, has so far proved superior to machinery
intended to supplant it.
This Invention consists in feeding the wool or other textile material to a carding
or similar engine by means of an apparatus consisting essentially of a case for
containing the wool, an elevating belt, or apron armed with hooks or teeth, a scale
for weighing the wool or other similar substance raised out of the case by the apron,
and an equalizing device, all being arranged so that the scale on receiving from the
elevating apron a supply sufficient to turn the balance of said scale it will by
appliances hereafter described at once cause the elevating apron to stop, thus shutting
off further supply until the scale has deposited that which it already contains on to
the feed table. This depositing of wool from the scale is caused to take place at
regular intervals by a device giving a tilting motion to the pan of the scale con-
taining the wool.
The feed table mentioned is of the ordinary kind, such as is used when feeding
by hand. The wool having been thus deposited, and the scale returned to its
original position, and while the elevating apron is delivering a fresh supply to the
scale, a scraper or equalizer is at work removing the pile of wool just dropped by
the scale, and pressing it up to the edge of that which has already been fed on and
is about to enter the feed rolls of the carding engine. By this operation the wool is
removed out of the way and a clear place given to the next lot, so that it may not
by piling up obstruct the proper action of the tilting pan of the scale, and that all
the wool may be dropped each time. The tilting and emptying out of the wool
from the scale is entirely independent of the time it may take the scale to turn its
balance, as this time is constantly varying; for instance, if a fresh supply of wool
has just been thrown into the box or case, it not only raises the level and conse-
quently increases the contact of the wool with the elevating apron, thus tending to
make the latter raise a greater amount than before the addition, but the wool so
thrown in is far more compact than that which has been opened and picked apart
in the machine, all of which tends very materially to increase the amount raised at
each revolution, or part of same, of the elevating apron, and thus the scale will
quickly be filled to that point at which the balance is adjusted and as quickly stop
the delivery of wool from the apron, it will then remain in this position until tilted
and consequently emptied of its contents. As the wool becomes more bulky and
lighter in weight it takes the scale longer to receive a supply, but the speed of the
elevating apron and the tilting device of the scale are so proportioned that plenty
of time is allowed the scale to fill and balance, even if there should only be, say, a
handful or so of wool in the case.
It is by this means that the apparatus is caused to run itself out of wool when
desired, and vet keep the work even to the last, which probably no other device
Figure 1 is an end elevation of an apparatus arranged according to this Invention.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical section. Figure 3 is a front elevation with a
part sectional. Figure 4 is a detail section. Similar letters of reference indicate
corresponding parts.
A is the case containing the wool, in the
apron B set in an almost vertical position.
rear of which is the toothed belt or
C is a picker cylinder or fan armed

page_text: with teeth and revolving in the opposite direction to the apron at a much faster
velocity. D is a clearer fan or cylinder, which may either contain teeth or have
simply strips of leather or brushes to clear off from the elevating apron B such
wool as has passed the picker cylinder, it revolves in the same direction as the
apron and at a somewhat quicker speed than the picker C, the wool by its action
being swept off the apron into the spout E, where it falls into the pan of scale F
to be weighed. The pan F, forming a division in the spout E, is enough smaller
than the area of the spout to allow of its free action. G shows a lever composed of
two arms secured to a journal passing through a suitable support. One of these
arms is inside the frame and immediately over the pan of the scale, the other arm
being outside and carrying a pin working in the upper end of a slotted lever H,
which works on a stud at I, and is actuated by the pins on wheel J, the latter being
attached to the shaft of feed roll K. The pins in J acting on the lever H cause
the lever G to make a quarter revolution, thus depressing the scale pan F until it
assumes nearly or quite a vertical position, thus dropping the wool on to the feed
table Z. After any of the pins in J have ceased to act on the scale pan F, the
latter is immediately returned to a horizontal position by the bent lever and counter
balance weight f, f, and the scale reset as before. L is a lever working on a stud b,
one end being in connection with the scale through the pitman M, and the opposite
end provided with a lug or projection for the purpose of operating a coupling
device to the elevating apron (Figure 1) through the action of the weighing scale,
the said device being as follows:-N is the supporting roller of the elevating apron B.
The disk. O is secured to the shaft or journal of said roll, which carries upon it also
the loose pulley P, held in position by the collar R (see Figure 4). P has an
annular groove formed on its inner face at S, S, which is continuous, except at one
point where a portion of its width is stopped by a pin p. O carries a double crank
lever T, one arm of which 9 is enclosed by a recess in the inner face of O, so as to
be flush with said face; this arm has a wrist pin t, which enters the annular groove
in P and is held in this position by the spring U, this also causes the pin p in the
annular groove in P to coincide, thus transmitting the motion of P to the apron B.
The other arm of double crank T also carries a pin 7, which catches on the projection
of level L, whenever said lever is actuated by the scale and its end carrying the
projection raised. This action changes the position of the pins in the annular
groove of pulley P so that they are no longer in contact, and consequently the apron
B stops its delivery of stock to the scale. When the scale has been emptied of its
contents it releases the lever T and the parts return to their original position,
delivering a fresh supply of material to the scale. V is a shaft having secured to
it on each side of the machine arms through which a rod 8 parallel with the shaft
is also secured, to the latter is hinged a swinging plate or board W, in such manner
that when the arms arrive in the course of their revolution in a certain position the
plate W becomes overbalanced and falls on to and to the rear of the stock previously
dropped by the scale, the arms continuing their movement draw the stock along
the feed table until they begin to rise, thus lifting the swinging plate vertically
from the edge of the stock, which is thus left clear. Owing to the swinging plate
travelling at double the speed of the feed table the wool is pushed up compact and
equal all along, thus equalizing any deficiencies in a simple manner.
In Figures 2 at X is seen a series of rods of iron either round or other shape at
proper distances apart, and placed longitudinally across the lower part of the case
A. They are set in curved angle to the apron B, in such manner that the wool or
similar stock on being acted upon by the teeth in apron B will be more or less
agitated and drawn over the bars or rods, thus sifting out of said stock foreign
substances of greater specific gravity than the wool, such as dirt, chaff or straw, &c.
which readily drops through or between said rods.
In machinery of this class a wire screen has been used for this purpose, but
experience has proved that the rods are superior, because they offer less resistance
to the dirt and more effectually cleanse the stock contained in the case.
Figure 4 shows a section of the main frame of the machine herein described, with

page_text: a removable head at y for withdrawing the feed roll N, the opening through the
frame being of sufficient size for the purpose when the head is removed; in this
manner any of the rolls can be removed at any time for any purpose in a convenient
manner. These heads may be made of sufficient size to screw into the frame, but
preferably in the form of circular plates attached to lugs cast on the frame for the
purpose, or in any other approved manner. Through the heads the journals of the
rollers, &c. pass, the heads acting as supports to the same; t represents the ends of
scale, u pivot or knife edge, v rods or braces attaching the scale ends together.
From the foregoing description it will be observed that the apron B armed with
teeth performs merely the operation of raising the wool or other textile material
out of the case to a height sufficient to be delivered to the scale, where it is weighed
before being delivered to the feed table, the action of the weighing scale instantly
stopping further supply of stock the moment sufficient has been received by the
scale, and it is this which forms the important feature of the Invention.
Figures 5 and 6 show another arrangement for pushing the wool along the feed
apron towards the feed rolls after it has fallen from the weighing pan, also to means
for tilting the scale pan. Figure 5 is a side elevation of the weighing pan, feed
apron, and the apparatus for pushing the wool along the feed apron to the feed
rolls, the pan being represented in the position for dumping. Figure 6 is a side
elevation, showing the pan in the receiving position and the pusher in the act
of pushing the wool along the feed apron towards the feed rolls. Similar letters of
reference indicate corresponding parts in these two Figures. The scale pan C¹ is
shown constructed in the curved form instead of the flat form; O¹ represents the
rolls carrying the ordinary slatted apron by which the wool is carried to the feed
rolls, and along which it is desirable to push the wool a short distance from the place
where it falls from the scale pan, and for which the pusher L' is provided, said
pusher being connected by its studs a¹ with the elbow levers d', and also working
in slotted ways c¹ in the frame of the machine so as to be worked forward and
backward by the levers s' and the studs on the wheel attached to one of the
rolls O¹. The weight 10 returns the pusher; 1 represents a 'presser for pressing
the wool down flat after it is pushed forward by the pusher L', the said presser
being mounted on rock levers g₁, by which and by levers m¹ and projections J¹ on
wheel it is raised out of the way of the pusher when it moves forward with the
wool. For tilting the scale pan the levers fl and g¹¹, connecting rod pl and the
stud pin on the wheel h¹ are provided as shown in Figure 5, and the weight W¹
is provided for throwing it back.
Having described the nature of the said Invention and the manner of performing
the saine, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patents is―
First. A weighing scale for weighing wool or other similar fibrous material
automatically on to the feed table of a carding, combing or other similar engine
used in the treatment of such substances when situated between the wool or other
material to be fed, and the feed roll of such carding or combing engine, as herein
specified and described.
Second. The combination with a scale for weighing wool or similar substances as
described, of an intermittent device actuated from said scale, and coupled with
an elevating toothed apron or belt in such manner that through the action of the
said scale for weighing automatically the stock to be fed, the elevating apron shall be
made to begin or cease its delivery of stock to the weighing scale, as herein specified
and described.
Third. In combination with an automatically actuated weighing scale or balance
of a hinged plate or door to receive from an intermittent revolving apron containing
teeth the wool or other similar textile material to be fed, and for depositing the
same at suitable intervals on to the feed table of a carding or other engine used in
treating textile fibres, as herein specified and described.
Fourth. In combination with an intermittent elevating apron or belt for raising
wool or similar fibres out of a case or box, and a scale or balance for weighing such

page_text: wool, having a hinged plate or door as described of an evener or equalizer arranged
over the feed table and between the weighing scale, and the feed rolls of carding,
combining or similar engines, substantially as described.
Fifth. In combination with a feeding apparatus for wool carding or other similar
engine used in treating fibrous substances having a scale or balance for automatically
weighing such substance, and an equalizing device with an elevating apron whose
motion is controlled by said weighing scale of removable heads for supporting one
end of each roller shaft, journal or cylinder, and covering a hole sufficiently large in
the frame of said apparatus to admit such roller, cylinder, &c. when said head is
removed; attached to the frame in any approved manner as herein specified.
Sixth. A feeding apparatus for carding engines of any kind having an automa-
tically operating weighing scale arranged so as to deposit its stock at regular
intervals, and shut off the supply when balanced and readjust itself when emptied
of its contents, with a case for containing the stock to be fed having a bottom
composed of rods of iron of suitable shape, set at an angle with an intermittently
revolving toothed apron, an equalizer, and the feed mechanism of a carding machine,
all arranged substantially as herein specified and described.
Seventh. The pusher L, Figures 5 and 6, and mechanism, substantially as described,
for operating it, combined with the feeding apron substantially as specified.
Eighth. The arrangement of mechanism, substantially as described, for operating
the scale pan.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
A. M. CLARK. (L.S.)