An Improved Arrangement of Rubbers for the Drawing Rollers of Flax Preparing Machinery.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Jan., 1891-Accepted, 28th Feb., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Arrangement of Rubbers for the Drawing Rollers of
Flax Preparing Machinery.
We, JOHN ERSKINE, Mill Manager, and FREDERICK WILLIAM FINLAY,
Director, both of Wolfhill Mill, near Belfast, Ireland, and JOHN MCDOWELL,
Foreman Mechanic, of Prospect. Mills, Belfast, Ireland, 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:-
"
or
This invention relates to an improved arrangement of rubbers for the drawing
rollers of flax preparing machinery, and commonly known as "dead rubbers
cleaners, the duty of which rubbers is to remove from the drawing rollers the
dirt or loose fibres collected thereon.
The main object of our invention is to facilitate the clearing of the rubbers from
the refuse matters which they are designed to take up from the rollers, and thereby
to prevent the accumulating matters being returned by the rollers to the passing
slivers.
To this end we so mount the rubbers as to admit of their receiving a tumbling
action, with a view of throwing them out of contact with the drawing rollers,
even while the machine is in action, to facilitate the removal therefrom of the
accumulating dust and fibres.
In the accompanying drawing-
Fig. 1 is a partial front view of a preparing machine, with our invention of a
tumbling rubber applied thereto; and
Fig. 2 is a cross section of the same, shewing the dead rubber in its working
position.
Fig. 3 is a similar view, with the rubber out of action, or in the position for
being cleaned.
Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate a modification of the mode of mounting the tumbling
rubbers.
a is the rubber for one division of the machine, fitted upon an axle b, which is
carried by spring supports cc, sliding in fixed guides d. The rubber a is held
by the upward pressure of the spring supports against the under surface of the
drawing roller e.
Each axle is free to rock in its supports, and for this purpose it is fitted with
a handle or key, the depression of which will rock the rubber into the position of
Fig. 3, or clear of the drawing roller. This tipping of the rubber out of action,
provides for the ready removal of the accumulations of dirt and fibres, and as ready
replacement of the rubber when cleaned, thus avoiding the necessity for
detaching it from its supports for cleaning, and replacing it in its supports when
cleaned.
The rubbers a are made of wood in the usual manner, their concave surface being
clothed with one or more layers of flannel, for pressing against the drawing roller e,
to remove the dirt or short fibre therefrom. As the dirt accumulates on the front
face or edge of the rubber a the attendant will from time to time tip the rubber
into the position shewn at Fig. 3, and pick off the dirt, thus effectually avoiding
the return of the same to the passing slivers, the direction of which is shewn by
arrows.
In place of the spring supports cc, which press the rubber a into contact with
the drawing roller e, we may employ weighted levers f, as shewn in the cross section,
Fig. 4, for holding the rubber in its acting position, and enabling it to take the
tipped position, as shewn at Fig. 5.

page_text: The rubbers we have described as mounted in separate heads or divisions, but
we may remark that they may be carried, if desired, upon an axle extending the
entire length of the drawing roller.
.
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-
The arrangement of "tumbling rubbers" as described with reference to the
accompanying drawing, which rubbers admit of being readily cleaned without
removal from the machine.
Dat this ou
T
1001
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicants.