IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR OPENING AND BREAKING HARD WASTE, RAGS OF COTTON, WOOLLEN, FLAX, OR SILK, AND FOR SCUTCHING AND CARDING COTTON, WOOL, AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Tatham, of Rochdale, in the County
of Lancaster, Machinist, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY FOR OPENING AND BREAKING HARD WASTE, RAGS OF COTTON,
WOOLLEN, FLAX, OR SILK, AND FOR SCUTCHING AND CARDING COTTON, WOOL,
AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES."
Sealed the 27th May 1870, and dated the 3rd December 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Tatham at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 3rd December 1869.
I, WILLIAM TATHAM, of Rochdale, in the County of Lancaster,
Machinist, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "Im.
PROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR OPENING AND BREAKING HARD WASTE, RAGS OF
COTTON, WOOLLEN, FLAX, OR SILK, AND FOR SCUTCHING AND CARDING COTTON, WOOL,
AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES," to be as follows:-
My first improvement relates to the means of feeding hard waste to
a breaking cylinder and holding it during the process more firmly than

page_text: heretofore. This I accomplish in the following manner:-I place in front
of the breaking or teazing cylinder a fluted roller, and over and under it
instead of one pressed roller I place two pressed or weighted rollers also
fluted and weighted independently. Both of these rollers may be driven,
but I elect only to drive one of the two pressed or weighted rollers, the
other being driven as heretofore. The action of these three rollers is to
double the intensity of the bite in feeding, which holds more firmly
against the teazing action of the breaking or teazing cylinder. The
above arrangement may be substituted in all cases where more than
two rollers or roller and dish are now used for similar purposes, as in
the case of scutchers and carding engines for cotton, teazers and carding
engines for wool, and the co-ordinate machines for flax. And as in the
case of opening woollen rags the teazing cylinder is moved in a direction
opposite to that ordinarily employed, the rollers above described would
also be modified in their sizes and relations accordingly.
My second improvement refers to the delivery end of a carding engine
and is as follows:-I place the coiler or coilers, folder or folders in front
of the carding engine (where one or more slivers are delivered) upon a
cross beam immediately in front of the doffer cylinder, and instead of
using the draw box I take the sliver direct to the funnel of the coiler.
I place the doffing comb above the herein-before described cross beam.
As a modification of this one or more small cylinders or strippers
(whether with or without spaces) are placed so much higher than the
centre of the doffer that the application of the usual doffing comb to
these strippers instead of to the doffer will deliver the sliver direct to the
funnel of the coiler or folder. In the above-named two forms of this
part of my Invention I have kept to the method of carrying the coiler
or coilers, folder or folders in a cross beam, but it is obvious that they
may be carried as hitherto upon a pillar resting on the floor or foundation
plate whilst the advantages of this part of my Invention otherwise would
be secured. It is also obvious that the doffing comb may strip the
doffer at any height at which the material doffed will leave the doffer
surface without becoming entangled thereby, so that the sliver at the
point at which it is doffed may without the intervention of stripping
roller or rollers approximate more or less near the level of the top of
the coiler or folder, and without the intervention of the draw box or
calender rollers, and will equally admit of bringing the can close up
to the doffer. I am enabled by this part of my Invention to bring the
can as close as possible to the face of the doffing cylinder, and thus

page_text: economize the room which has hitherto been occupied. By this part of
my Invention I am also able to dispense with the usual machinery for
driving the draw box, and the doffer wheel gives motion direct to the
shaft or shafts by which the coiler is driven; and also when the sliver
is broken it will be more easily gathered and pieced by the operative at
the height of the can than at a lower level. It will also be more easily
seen when broken at the above height. It will also be less easily broken,
the distance between the doffing cylinder or stripping roller, and the
funnel of the coiler or folder being materially reduced.
My third improvement refers to the stopping of the feeding rollers of
the teazing and scutching machines when the feed is attenuated, and
consists in placing a roller on two arms so jointed and held that the
roller will rise and fall as the material underneath becomes more or less
thickened or attenuated. I place upon a stud two levers weighted one
heavier than the other, when the lighter weight falls it pulls the friction
motion or clutch into gear and so puts the feeding rollers in motion.
When the heavier descends it counteracts the lighter and stops the
feeding rollers. This liberating or heavier weighted lever has a stud
placed therein which rests against a hook catch in a lever loosely placed
upon a stud in the framing having two ends. Upon the end of the
above-named catch lever opposite to the catch the roller which rests
upon the web when the web has become sufficiently attenuated rests,
and raises the hook catch and liberates the heavily weighted lever which
counteracts the lighter weight, raises it, and stops the feeding rollers.
My fourth improvement relates to the same machines, and is for the
purpose of closing a passage to any following beater, cover, or chamber
from the one going before it in case of a fire originating within the cover
of the last-mentioned beater. This I do by placing a damper upon a
hinge and closing it by means of a handle, which at the same time and
by the same instrument cuts off the feed by stopping the feeding rollers,
that is to say, by the action of the same lever which has closed the
lampers and thus arrests the fire in its progress through the machine.
The closing of the dampers and the stopping of the rollers may however
be separately performed without departing from the spirit of this part of
my Invention.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Tatham in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 3rd June 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
TATHAM, of Rochdale, in the County of Lancaster, Machinist, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Third day of December, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the thirty-
third year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said William Tatham, Her special licence that
I, the said William Tatham, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said William Tatham, my executors, adminis-
trators, 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, usc, exercise, and vend,
within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY
FOR OPENING AND BREAKING HARD WASTE, RAGS OF COTTON, WOOLLEN, FLAX, OR
SILK, AND FOR SCUTCHING AND CARDING COTTON, WOOL, AND OTHER FIBROUS
SUBSTANCES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
William Tatham, 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 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 William Tatham, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement and accompanying Drawings (that is to say) :-
My first improvement relates to the means of feeding hard waste to a
breaking cylinder, and holding it during the process more firmly than
heretofore. This I accomplish in the following manner :-I place in
front of the breaking or teazing cylinder a fluted roller of the ordinary
diameter, and over or under it I place other two rollers smaller in diameter,

page_text: also fluted and independently weighted. I drive one of these smaller
rollers only, although both may be driven, the larger roller being driven
as heretofore. The action of these three rollers is to double the in-
tensity of the bite in feeding, whilst on account of the small diameter
the feed is held both closer to and more firmly against the teazing action
of the breaking or teazing cylinder. The above arrangement may be
substituted in all cases where more than two rollers are now used for
similar purposes, as in the case of scutching machines, carding engines
for cotton teazers, and carding engines for wool, and the co-ordinate
machines for flax. And as in the case of opening woollen rags the teazing
cylinder is moved in a direction opposite to that ordinarily employed, the
rollers above described would also need to be modified in their sizes and
relations accordingly.
My second improvement refers to the delivery end of a carding engine,
and is as follows:-I place the coiler or coilers in front of the carding
engine (where one or more slivers are delivered) upon a cross beam
immediately in front of the doffer cylinder, and instead of using the draw
box take the sliver direct to the funnel of the coiler. As a modification
of this I place one or more small cylinders or strippers, whether with or
without spaces, so much higher than the centre of the doffer that the
application of the usual doffing comb applied to these strippers instead
of to the doffer will deliver the sliver direct to the funnel of the coilers.
The plan enables me to bring the can as close as possible to the face of
the doffing cylinder, and thus save the room which has hitherto been
occupied in the forms hitherto adopted. By the method thus described
the machinery necessary to drive the draw box is dispensed with, and
the doffer wheel gives motion direct to the shaft or shafts by which the
coiler is driven, and also when the sliver is broken it will be more easily
gathered by the operative at the height of the can than at any lower
level.
My third improvement refers to the stopping of the rollers of the above
teazing or scutching machines when the feed is attenuated, and consists
in placing a roller on the two arms so jointed and held that the roller
will rise and fall as the material underneath becomes more or less
attenuated or thickened. I place upon a stud two levers weighted, one
heavier than the other, so that when the lighter falls it will pull the
friction motion or clutch into gear, and so put the feeding roller in
motion; when the heavier descends it will counteract the lighter and

page_text: stop the feeding rollers. The liberating lever has a stud placed therein
which rests against a hook catch when the heavier weight has been
raised sufficiently far to permit the lighter weight above described to
put the clutch or friction in gear. When the roller above-named lying
upon the web descends it presses upon one end of the above-named hook
catch, liberates the heavier weight, which then descends, counteracts the
lighter weight, raises it, and stops the feeding rollers.
My fourth improvement relates to the same machines, and is for the
purpose of closing the passage to the following beater chamber or other
exit from the one going before it in case of a fire originating within the
cover of the last-mentioned beater; this I do by placing a damper upon
a hinge and closing it with a handle, by which means the fire is
confined within the cover. At the same time and by the same instru-
ment I cut off the feed by stopping the feeder shaft by the action of the
same lever which has closed the damper. These acts may, however, be
separately performed without departing from this part of my Invention.
And in order that my Invention may be more fully understood, and
more readily carried into effect, I will now proceed to describe the same,
reference being had to the accompanying Drawings on three Sheets, in
which Figure 1 represents an elevation of a teazer or breaking machine
for hard waste having my improvements in feeding rollers applied
thereto; Figure 2 represents a plan view of the same; Figure 3 shews
the mode of weighting the same.
Figures 4, 5, 6, and 7 represent elevations of a portion of a carding
engine having my improvements in connection therewith attached;
Figure 8 represents a plan of the latter improvements.
Figure 9 represents an elevation, and Figure 10 a plan of the method
of stopping the feeding rollers when the material is attenuated.
Figures 11 and 12 represent the improvements for separate com-
partments on fire.
ས་
My improvements I will now proceed to describe in the order in which
they occur in the foregoing statement.
My first improvement relates to the feeding rollers of a breaking or
teazing cylinder, and to carding engines for cotton, and co-ordinate
machines for wool and flax, and is shewn on Sheet 1, Figures 1, 2, and 3.
The material is shewn upon the travelling creeper a, which is carried
forward by the rollers and situated within it, one at either end of

page_text: the creeper a.
As the material is made gradually to approach the
feeding rollers c, c', c, it is taken up by them and passed on to the
breaking or other cylinder according to the class of work. The rollers
however perform two distinct functions, that is to say, they transmit
the material to the cylinder, and they hold it against their tcazing
action. It is to this last-named function that my improvement applies.
Ordinarily the material passes through a single pair of rollers, or two
pairs of rollers acting in conjunction, or between a roller and a plate or
dish. It is obvious that two rollers c', c, resting upon the single
roller c will double the bite thereupon. It is also obvious that the two
rollers c', c³, will have a greater and closer bite upon the roller c and
the material between them than can be obtained from two pairs of rollers
set at distances apart such as will enable the surface of the rollers to
clear each other in working, inasmuch as the length of the fibre being
excceded by the closest possible adjustment of the rollers, whatever
pressure may be put on both pairs is limited by the length of the fibre.
Now rollers arranged as c, c', c³, hold the fibre in a radial direction to
the centre of the roller c, and thereby even with the same diameter of
rollers a closer bite is obtained. This is clearly shewn by the radial
lines c, c, which are seen to approximate more closely than they could
do if arranged in two parallel sets. Figures 2 and 3 shew the method of
carrying, weighting, and driving the rollers. It is evident that the single
roller may be placed at the top and the two rollers at the bottom, but
this I should regard as a modification of this part of my Invention.
My second improvement relates to the machinery employed at the
front of carding engines, and is shewn at Sheet 2, Figures 4, 5, 6, 7
and 8. A portion of a doffing cylinder d is doffed by the doffing comb d¹
at a height a short distance above the top of the funnel d, which funnel
rests upon the rollers d³, d, being guided by the hole in the plate d¹³,
which is supported at each end by the framing. Through the funnel a
the sliver passes to the rollers d³, d', upon which the funnel de rests as
above described. From the rollers d³, d', the sliver passes to the angular
funnel of the coiling wheel d³. The coiling wheel is carried by and
revolves in the table plate do, which is bolted upon the cross beam d","
which is attached at each end to the stands d¹s on the framing. This cross
beam is placed immediately in front of the doffing cylinder d. The boss
of the pinion d which gives motion to the coiling wheel is also carried
by a stud in the bracket d fastened to the cross beam. On the boss

page_text: of the pinion d is fastened the bevil d", which gears with the bevil d¹³
upon the shaft de revolving in suitable bearings carried by the beam d
above mentioned. The can do is supported and moved in the ordinary
manner, whether it is accommodated to coil or fold. The coiling or
folding is only a portion of the whole apparatus, and forms an element
in the new combination above described. By this arrangement or com-
bination I am enabled to bring the apparatus in the front of the carding
engine into much smaller space, to put a larger number of coilers into
this space, and to afford much greater facilities for piecing broken sliver,
and for the general superintendence of the work to be done at the front
of the carding engine. I am also enabled to drive the coiler shaft direct
from the doffer wheel, and to dispense with the calendar or drawing
rollers and the gearing which connected them with the doffer wheel. I
am also enabled to lead the sliver in a direct line from the doffing point
on the doffing cylinder to the entrance of the coiler.
The arrangement may be varied by the following method shewn in
Figure 7 (Sheet 2):-In contact with the doffer d I place the well-known
small additional doffer da, by which I am enabled to gain a higher level
for doffing than can be obtained from a low set doffer, or I am enabled
to use a longer can than ordinary if the doffer is placed at a moderate
height, and I am enabled to bring the doffing point more nearly over the
coiler funnel than has hitherto been possible. The other parts of the
arrangement remain the same as those herein-before described. It is
obvious that the ordinary coiler pillar may be substituted for the cross
beam, but without conferring any advantage, and with the drawback
that the arrangement for the purpose of accommodating coiler pillars,
would occupy more space than the arrangement herein-before described,
it would simply be a less suitable method of carrying the coiler appa-
ratus. It is also obvious that by shortening the coiler can the material
may be doffed from the doffing cylinder although low set, and the other
advantages of my present Invention be thereby obtained, by which I am
enabled to reduce the machinery, to economise the space, and subdivide
into more numerous slivers the sliver in front of a carding engine. I
place a guard between the material doffed and the surface of the
doffer to prevent the entanglement thereof.
My third improvement relates to the stopping of the feeding rollers of
the teazing and scutching machines when the feed is attenuated; this
e is a roller resting upon
is shown in Figures 9, 10, and 11, Sheet 3.

page_text: the travelling creeper a; it is carried by two arms e', e, one at each side
of the framing, so that when the material is full upon the creeper the
roller e is raised; when it becomes attenuated it falls; motion is com-
municated to it by the wheel upon the roller e', which gears with the
intermediate e upon the stud ee. The wheel es gears with the wheel e
upon the stud or shaft which carries the arms e', e, upon which the
roller e is carried. The wheel es upon the end of the roller e gears with
the wheel e by which it is moved at proper velocity, and is kept in gear
in whatever way or manner it is caused to oscilate. When the roller e
descends the arm e' descends with it, and causes the end of the catch
lever e upon which it rests also to descend; and as the catch lever e
is placed loosely upon the stud e¹0 so as to oscillate freely thercon the
other end of the catch lever is thereby raised, and the notch therein
shewn is removed from the stud e" in the lever e¹. This lever is sub-
jected to the action of two weights, one of which is adjusted to press
the frictions shown in dots sufficiently to drive the feeding rollers, or to
put a clutch or other convenient means of driving into action. The
other is heavier, and has power when the notch in the catch lever e' is
removed from the stud e" in the lever e2 above described to withdraw
the frictions from contact, or to remove the clutch or other convenient
connection from action. When the feed is again restored by the
operative the lever el is brought back by him, and the stud e¹ hooked
upon the catch lever c above described.
My fourth improvement relates also to teazers and scutchers, and is
for the purpose of stopping communication between separate beater
covers in case of fire, and for cleaning purposes, and at the same time
stopping the feeding rollers; this is shewn in Figures 9, 11, and 12,
Sheet 3. I alter the weighted lever e in my last improvement described
and shewn so as to make it into two distinct levers e¹, e¹³, Figure 12,
the lever es being capable of being disconnected with e" in one direction,
so that it may be moved in such manner as to throw out the feeding
rollers in the manner herein-before described under my last improve-
ment by the action of the rod f, which is made hollow for that purpose,
and which slides in the brackets f', f, f³, bolted on the framing. In
the rod fis fastened the stud f, upon which acts the one end of the
weighted lever fs, freely set to oscillate upon the shaft fe across the
framing. To the shaft fe extending across within the frames I fasten a
damper plate fs of such length as to reach across the opening leading

page_text: from the beater cover fi to the following cover, and so adjusted that
when the weighted lever f' is pushed over, and with it the damper
plate fs, the end of the lever fs above described acts upon the stud f
fastened in the rod f, and draws that rod with it, which by means of the
hollow part raises the weighted lever e¹³, and causes the feed to cease.
For the lever and weight e, Figure 11, I substitute as equivalent the
spring and lever h, e¹³, Figure 12. By this means I am enabled to
isolate any beater chamber from the rest, or the whole chambers from
cach other, and thus prevent the spread of fire, and by stopping the
supply of material by means of the feeding rollers deprive the fire of any
farther fuel.
It is obvious that the two actions may be separated, but this though
not an improvement but the contrary I should regard as another form of
this improvement.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the
manner in which it is to be performed, I declare that I claim as secured
to me thereby,-
Firstly. The method described and shewn by which the bite of the
rollers, feeding beaters, teazers, and co-ordinate machines in cotton,
wool, and flax may be greatly increased.
Secondly. The combination of machinery described by which the sliver
is led direct to the top of the coiler from the doffing point on the doffing
cylinder instead of being led thereto at an angle as heretoforc, and
shewn at the front of the carding engine, and by which the space is
economized and the number of parts employed in the coiler and carding
engine greatly reduced, and by which it becomes casier to gather and
piece broken sliver, and facility of attendance upon the machine in front
is greatly increased. I also claim the guard d placed between the
material doffed and the doffing cylinder to prevent the entanglement
thereof.
Thirdly. The means described and shewn whereby the feeding rollers
of teazers and scutchers may be stopped when the web of material
supplied becomes attenuated or broken.
Fourthly. The means described and shewn by which fire may be
isolated within any beater chamber, and the series of beater chambers
may be isolated from each other, and at the same instant the feed may

page_text: be stopped, thereby stopping the supply of fuel, in like manner isolating
the chambers when required for other purposes.
Fifthly. The combination of the above-mentioned improvements
respecting teazers and scutchers into one machine, whereby such
machine will be greatly improved.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Tatham, have hereto set
my hand and scal, this Second day of June One thousand eight
hundred and seventy.
Witness,
WILLIAM TATHAM. (L.S.)
WILLIAM ROBERTSON,
Engineer,
17, Queen's Chambers, Market Street,
Manchester.