IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR STRIPPING' OR 'DOFFING' FIBROUS MATERIALS FROM CARDING MACHINE CYLINDERS, AND FOR DRAWING OR THINNING THE 'SLIVER' BY THE SAME PROCESS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles William Ratcliff and Frederick Ratcliff, both of
Upper Wortley, near Leeds, in the County of York, Machinists, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR STRIPPING' OR 'DOFFING'
FIBROUS MATERIALS FROM CARDING MACHINE CYLINDERS, AND FOR DRAWING
OR THINNING THE 'SLIVER' BY THE SAME PROCESS."
Sealed the 24th April 1877, and dated the 31st October 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles William Ratcliff and
Frederick Ratcliff at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 31st
October 1876.
85
CHARLES WILLIAM RATCLIFF and FREDERICK RATCLIFF, both of Upper Wortley,
near Leeds, in the County of York, Machinists. IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY
FOR STRIPPING' OR 'DOFFING' FIBROUS MATERIALS FROM CARDING MACHINE
CYLINDERS, AND FOR DRAWING OR THINNING THE 'SLIVER' BY THE
PROCESS."
SAME
Our Invention consists in an improved doffing apparatus for carding machines
used for preparing all kinds of fibrous material, such as wool, worsted, cotton, and
silk, and is so constructed and arranged as to produce a continuous thick uniform
and straight fibred film or sliver of the carded material, and consequently making
more top and less noils, and passing a greater quantity of material in a given time
than the apparatus in common use.
In carrying out our Invention we place a card covered roller, which may be
termed the stripper, working in contact with the last doffer of the machine in such
a manner that the stripper takes off the carded material from the last-mentioned
roller and spreads or lays it on and over a plain roller generally placed under and
in contact with the stripper, which plain roller may be termed the carrier, as its
purpose is for carrying the carded material from the stripper under another plain
roller (which may be termed the retaining roller, and which is used for preventing
the film or sliver leaving the carrier) to a third plain roller or rod which may be
termed the guiding roller, and which is used for the purpose of preventing the film
or sliver gathering in or contracting in width on the carrier roller and for guiding
the carded material to such position as is required for the next process of the manu-
Di

page_text: facture. Sometimes two or more retaining rollers may be used, as circumstances
require.
'
The thickness of the film or sliver of the carded material is regulated by the
relative speeds of the peripheries of the different rollers of the doffing apparatus
which are adjusted to suit the requirements of the material operated upon.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Charles William Ratcliff and Frederick Ratcliff in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 28th April 1877.
CHARLES WILLIAM RATCLIFF and FREDERICK RATCLIFF, both of Upper Wortley,
near Leeds, in the County of York, Machinists. 'IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY
FOR STRIPPING OR DOFfing FIBROUS MATERIALS FROM CARDING MACHINE
CYLINDERS, AND FOR DRAWING OR THINNING THE SLIVER BY THE SAME
PROCESS."
Our Invention consists in an improved "dofling" apparatus for carding machines
used for preparing all kinds of fibrous material, such as wool and worsted, and is so
constructed and arranged as to produce a continuous thick, uniform, and straight
fibred film or "sliver" of the carded material.
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In carrying out our Invention we place a card covered roller, which may be
termed the "stripper," working in contact with the last "doffer" of the machine in
such a manner that the "stripper" takes off the carded material from the last
"doffer" and spreads or lays it on and over a plain cylinder or roller generally
placed under and in contact with "the" stripper," which plain roller may be termed
the "carrier," as its purpose is for carrying the carded material from the "stripper
under another plain roller (which may be termed the "retaining roller," and which
is used for preventing the film or "sliver" leaving the "carrier") to a. third
plain roller or rod which may be termed the "guiding roller," and which is used
for the purpose of preventing the film or "sliver" gathering in or contracting in
width on the "carrier" roller, and for guiding the carded material to such a position
as is required for the next process of the manufacture. Sometimes two or more
"retaining rollers" may be used as circumstances require.
The thickness of the film or "sliver" of the carded material is regulated by the
relative speeds of the peripheries of the last "doffer" of the machine and the
stripping" motion, which is adjusted to suit the requirements of the material
operated upon.
$
The following letters refer in the accompanying Drawing to the before-mentioned
parts of our said Invention.
", the "stripper," a card covered roller; b, b, b, b, b, b, the "sliver" or film of
material; c, the "carrying roller," having a polished surface of metal or hard wood;
c', a felt covered cleaner for the carrying roller c; d, the "retaining roller," having
a leather covered surface; d, a felt covered cleaner for the retaining roller d;
e, "guiding" roller, having a polished surface; f, "guiding" roller.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said Inven-
tion, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into effect,
we wish it to be understood that we do not confine or restrict ourselves to the
precise details which we have referred to and described, as many modifications and
variations may be made therefrom without deviating from the principle or main
feaures of the said Invention, but what we consider to be novel and original and
therefore claim as the Invention secured to us by the herein-before in part recited
Letters Patent is,―
Firstly. The use of a smooth carrying cylinder or roller combined with a carded 5
stripping roller working on the last "doffer" of a carding machine, for the purposes
above named, substantially as described and illustrated.

page_text: Secondly. The combined use of a roller covered with leather or other suitable
material working close to the stripper, just clear of the carrying cylinder, for the
purpose above named, substantially as described and illustrated.
Thirdly. The use of a guide roller behind the above-named carrying cylinder to
guide the "sliver" clear from the machine, for the purpose above named, substan-
tially as described and illustrated.
In witness whereof, we, the said Charles William Ratcliff and Frederick
Ratcliff, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Twenty-seventh day of
April, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
seven.
CHARLES WILLIAM RATCLIFF. (L.S.)
FREDERICK RATCLIFF.
(L.S.)