IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PREPARING AND CARDING WOOL, COTTON, SILK, AND OTHER FIBROUS SUB- STANCES.
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Eli Wilkinson, of Marsden, near Huddersfield in the
County of York, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
PREPARING AND CARDING WOOL, COTTON, SILK, AND OTHER FIBROUS SUB-
STANCES.
"
Sealed the 18th January 1878, and dated the 17th November 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Eli Wilkinson at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th November 1877.
"
IMPROVE-
ELI WILKINSON, of Marsden, Huddersfield, in the County of York.
MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PREPARING AND CARDING WOOL, COTTON, SILK, AND
OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES."
"
This Invention relates,-
Firstly. To a novel arrangement of the card cylinders in such machinery which
has heretofore generally consisted of a series of card cylinders called "swifts" and
doffers," the swifts having a series of "workers" mounted over them, each of
which "workers" has had a separate "stripper." Each swift has had a "fancy" to
raise the wool or other fibre, so that the "doffer" might take it to the "angle
stripper" which takes it from the first doffer, and the second cylinder takes it
forward to the workers and strippers which are placed over it, and so on until the
last doffer is reached.
Now, my Invention consists in arranging the cylinders in two parallel rows, the
doffers being lowest, and the main cylinders which are of smaller diameter placed
above in the angle betwixt each two doffers.
Under each main cylinder is fixed a small stripper, which strips the doffer
clean; the main cylinder again takes the material from the small stripper and
transfers it to the next doffer, and so on from one end of the machine to the other.
By this arrangement the material is kept on the upper surface only of the doffers,
so that the lower surface is always free from material, and can be cleaned or ground
whilst the machine is in motion.

page_text: By enlarging the doffers I may fix two main cylinders over one doffer, and also
an intermediate stripper, by means of which I can increase the efficacy of the
machine, and still retain the principle of keeping the material on the upper side of
the doffer. The cylinders may be covered with ordinary cards, or what are known
as the Garnett metallic teeth, or with the teeth described in the second part of this
Specification.
In some cases I fix a cylinder clothed with straight wire teeth next to the "licker
in" and in front of the first doffer, so that any hard substance which may be in the
material may be thrown out before reaching the main cylinders covered with the
finer metallic teeth.
In applying my Invention to ordinary cards for scribbling and carding cotton,
woollen, silk, and other fibres, I may also employ the above-mentioned straight
toothed cylinders, and in conjunction there with a series of small retaining rollers,
so that all the bits of hard rags may be opened or dropped before coming in contact
with the fine carded main cylinders and doffers.
Secondly. My Invention relates to a new or improved method of covering rollers
and cylinders employed for opening and carding wool, cotton, silk, and other fibrous
substances, and consists in forming the teeth of iron, steel or other metal, by punch-
ing or cutting out portions of a strip of metal of suitable breadth and thickness,
the length being equal to the length of the cylinder to be covered. The teeth thus
cut resemble a comb, and are fixed on to the cylinder by insertion into channels or
grooves cut from end to end thereof, parallel to the axis. The channels are cut at
an angle to the radius of the cylinder, so that the points of the teeth when inserted
present a similar appearance, and correspond to the bend of an ordinary wire card,
or the grooves may be cut in a line with the radius when the cylinder is required
for cleaning and stripping other cards., Constructed in the following manner, these
combs cylinders are adapted for strippers for an ordinary scribbler or carding
machine to strip and keep the workers clean, doing away with a great amount of
hand labour.
✓
An ordinary wood cylinder or roller may be taken, and grooves cut in the periphery
thereof parallel to the axis; into these grooves a strip of metal may be fixed by
screws or other means, and a groove cut therein for the reception of the row of
teeth. Existing wood cylinders may thus be utilized.
By the use of my Invention, the expense attending the construction of carding
machinery is reduced, the cylinders are more perfect and durable, and to a great
extent self-cleaning. If the teeth are punched out of steel, they may be hardened
and tempered.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Eli Wilkinson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 17th May
1878.
ELI WILKINSON, of Marsden, near Huddersfield, in the County of York. "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PREPARING AND CARDING WOOL, COTTON, SILK,
AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES.”
This Invention relates,―
"
Firstly. To a novel arrangement of the card cylinders in such machinery which
has heretofore generally consisted of a series of card cylinders called "swifts
and
"doffers," the swifts having a series of "workers" mounted over them, each of which
"workers" has had a separate "stripper." Each "swift" has had a fancy to
raise the wool or other fibre, so that the "doffer" might take it to the "angle
stripper" which takes it from the first "doffer," and the second cylinder takes it
forwards to the workers and strippers which are placed over it, and so on until the
last doffer is reached.
Now, my Invention consists in arranging the cylinders in two parallel rows, the
doffers being lowest, and the main cylinders, which are of smaller diameter, placed
above in the angle betwixt each two doffers.
Under each main cylinder is fixed a small stripper which strips the doffer clean;
the main cylinder again takes the material from the small stripper, and transfers it
to the next doffer, and so on from one end of the machine to the other. By this
arrangement, the material is kept on the upper surface only of the doffers, so that
the lower surface is always free from material, and can be cleaned or ground whilst
the machine is in motion.
By enlarging the doffers I may fix two main cylinders over one doffer, and also
an intermediate stripper, by means of which I can increase the efficacy of the
machine, and still retain the principle of keeping the material on the upper
side of the doffer. The cylinders may be covered with ordinary cards, or what
are known as the Garnett metallic teeth, or with the teeth described in the
second part of this Specification.
In some cases I fix a cylinder clothed with straight wire teeth next to the
licker-in, and in front of the first doffer, so that any hard substance which may
be in the material, may be thrown out before reaching the main cylinders covered
with the finer metallic teeth.
In applying my Invention to ordinary cards for scribbling and carding cotton,
woollen, eilk, and other fibres, I may also employ the above-mentioned straight
toothed cylinders, and in conjunction therewith a series of small retaining rollers, so
that all the bits of hard rags may be opened or dropped before coming in contact
with the fine carded main cylinders and doffers.
Secondly. My Invention relates to a new or improved method of covering rollers
and cylinders employed for opening and carding wool, cotton, silk, and other fibrous
substances, and consists in forming the teeth of iron, steel, or other metal by punching
or cutting out portions of a strip of metal of suitable breadth and thickness, the
length being equal to the length of the cylinder to be covered. The teeth thus cut
resemble a comb, and are fixed on to the cylinder, either by wood lags or insertion
into channels or grooves cut from end to end thereof, parallel to the axis. The
channels are cut at an angle to the radius of the cylinder, so that the points of the
teeth when inserted present a similar appearance, and correspond to the bend of an
ordinary wire card, or the grooves may be cut in a line with the radius, when the
cylinder is required for cleaning and stripping other cards. Constructed in the
above manner, these comb cylinders are adapted for strippers for an ordinary scrib-
bler or carding machine, to strip and keep the workers clean, doing away with a
great amount of hand labour; also for feed rollers for scribbling and carding
machinery, and also in place of cards for the fancy.

page_text: "
An ordinary wood cylinder or roller may be taken and grooves cut in the peri-
phery thereof parallel to the axis; into these grooves a strip of metal may be fixed
by screws or other means, and a groove cut therein for the reception of the row of
teeth or lags. Existing wood cylinders may thus be utilized.
By the use of my Invention, the expense attending the construction of carding
machinery is reduced, the cylinders are more perfect and durable, and to a great
extent self-cleaning. If the teeth are punched out of steel, they may be hardened
and tempered.
In order that my Invention may be more fully understood, I have hereto annexed
two Sheets of Drawings illustrative thereof, marked with figures and letters of
reference.
Fig. 1 represents a side elevation of a machine constructed according to the first
part of my Invention. A are the main cylinders and B the doffers, and C are
strippers, each of which takes the fibrous material from the doffer preceding it, and
transfers it to the main cylinder immediately above it, which in its turn delivers it
to the next doffer, and so on, from one end of the machine to the other.
D are
cleaning rollers, which may be employed whilst the machine is in motion, as by my
Invention the fibrous material is always kept on the upper half of the doffer
cylinders. Instead of cleaning rollers grinding rollers may be employed when
required, so that the doffer cylinders can be either ground or cleaned whilst the
machine is at work; by this arrangement a great saving of time is effected.
In Fig. 2 I have shewn the doffers considerably larger in proportion to the main
cylinders than in Fig. 1; by thus enlarging the doffers I am enabled to employ two
main cylinders A and A' to each doffer, and also two strippers C and C₁, to work in
connexion therewith. By this arrangement I can increase the efficacy of the
machine, and still retain the principle of keeping the material on the upper side of
the doffer.
In some cases I employ a cylinder (see E, Figs. 1 and 3) clothed with straight
wire teeth, next to the "licker-in F," and in front of the first doffer, so that any
hard substance which may be in the material may be thrown out before reaching
the main cylinders covered with the finer metallic teeth.
The cylinders may be covered with ordinary cards, or what are known as the
Garnett metallic teeth, or with the teeth described in the second part of this
Specification.
In applying my Invention to ordinary carding machines for scribbling and carding
cotton, woollen, silk and other fibres I may also employ the herein-before described
straight toothed cylinders E (see Fig. 3) and in conjunction therewith a series of
small retaining rollers G, so that all the bits of hard rags may be opened or dropped
before coming in contact with the fine carded main cylinder.
Secondly. My Invention relates to a new or improved method of covering rollers
and cylinders employed for opening and carding wool, cotton, silk, and other fibrous
substances, and consists in forming the teeth of iron, steel, or other metal by
punching or cutting out portions of a strip of metal of suitable breadth and thick-
ness, the length of the strip being equal to the length of the cylinder to be covered.
The teeth thus cut resemble a comb, as will be seen on reference to Figs. 4 and 5,
the teeth shewn in Fig. 4 being the kind I employ for the "fancy," and those in
Fig. 5 I employ for the "strippers" of the "workers" and "doffers" used in carding
wool, cotton, silk, and other fibrous materials. These "strippers" also act as
mechanical cleaners by " stripping" all the short fibres and preventing the card
from being filled up with anything but "gruft," and thus dispenses with a great i
amount of hand labour.
The strips of teeth of the kind shewn in Figs. 4 and 5 are fixed to the cylinder
by first securing them to wood "lags" H (Fig. 9) by nails or screws, and then the
wood lags are screwed to the cylinder.
Fig. 9 is an end view of a cylinder, specially adapted to strip and clean the
workers" and Fig. 10 represents an angle stripper" for stripping and cleaning
"
the "doffer."

page_text: The strips of teeth I are fixed to the wood lags J, which are secured to the
roller by screws or similar fastening. The lags are angular in section, so that when
secured to the roller the points of the teeth incline and present a similar appearance
to the bent portion of ordinary wire cards.
Fig. 11 represents a "fancy," the teeth of which are secured as in Fig. 10.
In combination with my improved teeth ordinary wire cards may be used if
desired.
Fig. 6 shews the form of teeth which I use for covering rollers used in opening
wool or other fibrous material; and Fig. 7 shews the teeth used for feed rollers of
scribbling machines.
In Figs. 6 and 7 that portion of the strip which enters the cylinder is thicker
than the other portion, and when the strip has been inserted the edge of the groove
is pressed by rollers over the ledge in the strip, and firmly secures the same.
Fig. 8 shews the end view of a feed roller, in which the teeth are secured as above
described.
In any of the above cases the comb teeth, whether punched out of iron or steel
metal plates, may be hardened and tempered by any of the well-known means of
hardening and tempering.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of carrying
the same into effect, I would have it understood that in regard to the first part of
my Invention, I claim,―
Firstly. The arrangement of main cylinders, doffers, and strippers, substantially
as herein shewn and described, whereby the material under operation is kept on the
upper surface of the "doffers."
Secondly. The employment in combination with my improved arrangement of
cylinders of a straight toothed cylinder E, with or without the retaining rollers G,
as and for the purpose herein shewn and described.
And in regard to the second part of my Invention I would have it understood
that I claim the employment of teeth constructed and applied in the manner herein
shewn and described for the purpose of carding fibrous materials, or for stripping
and cleaning the "workers," "doffers," and "swifts" used in carding machinery.
In witness whereof, I, the said Eli Wilkinson, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Fourteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-eight.
TTT
TT TUNAYY
ELI
WILKINSON. (L.S.)