CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR OPENING AND FOR CARDING COTTON AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES, AND FOR GRINDING THE CARDS OF CARDING ENGINES
Year: 1847

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, SAMUEL
HARDACRE, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Machinist, sond
greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent, under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Twenty-ninth day of March, in the tenth year of Iler
reign, and in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty-
soven, did, for Herself, Iler heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Samuel Hardacrc, Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege and
authority, that I, the said Samuel IIardacre, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, and such others as I or they should at any time agree with, and
no others, froin time to time and at all times during the term of fourteen
years from the date of the said Letters Patent, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-
upon-Tweed, an Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR
APPARATUS FOR OPENING AND FOR CARDING COTTON AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES,
AND FOR GRINDING THE CARDS OF CARDING ENGINES" (part of which improve-
ments had become known to me whilst residing abroad); in which said Letters
Patent is contained a proviso that I, the said Samuel Hardacre, shall cause a
particular description of the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be perforined, to be enrolled in Her Majesty's High Court
of Chancery within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same (reference
being thereunto had) will more fully and at large appear.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Samuel Hardacre, do hereby declare that the nature of the said Invention,
and the manner in which the same is to be performed, is particularly described
and ascertained in manner following and by aid of the Three Sheets of
Drawings hereunto annexed, with the writing thereon, that is to say:-
The said improvements in machinery for opening cotton and other fibrous
substances, relate to that kind of machinery which is in ordinary use in cotton
manufactories for performing the first stage of the operation of opening cotton
wool, by loosening and partly opening the entangled and matted flocks of the
cotton wool as it comes from abroad, and partly separating dirt therefrom,
which machinery is commonly called a willy, or willow, and operates by a
rapidly revolving drum or cone mounted on a horizontal axis and furnished
with rows of pins,thelengths of the pins being in the directions of radii pointing
away from the axis, and the pins projecting out from the drum or cone, which is
enclosed within a corresponding case or cage, wherein similar rows of pins are
fixed alsoiu the directions of radii, but pointing towards the axis,and the pins of
the drum or cone pass freely in the spaces between the fixed pins, but without
touching each other; the lower part of the cage isan open grating or grid. In the
older kinds of such machines a suitable quantity of cotton wool is put into
the cage and subjected to the operation of opening between the moving pins
and the fixed pins, the dirt which is loosened passing down through the grid,
and after the cotton has been in the machine a sufficient time it is withdrawn
and another parcel put in. In the more modern kind of such machines (and
which usually operate with a revolving conc) the cotton wool is spread upon
an endless creeping apron or grating which circulates over revolving rollers
with a slow motion, and delivers the cotton continually into the cage near to
the small end of the revolving cone, and whilst undergoing the operation of
opening between the moving and the fixed pins, the cotton makes its way to
the large end of the cone, and is thrown out therefrom in a loosened or
partially opened state and much cleaned. According to the present improve.
ments upon such opening machinery now about to be specified, the revolving
axis is placed in a vertical position in the centre of a cylindrical cage or grid,
which is enclosed within a close cylindrical case, leaving a narrow space all
round between the grid and the case. The axis has several arms radiating
out from it horizontally in different directions at different parts of its length,
and the uppermost of those arms has upright pins standing up from it, with
the ength of the pins parallel to the axis and operating between corresponding
fixed upright pins which project downwards from the upper end or flat top of
the cylindrical cage. The cotton is spread upon an endless creeping apron, by

page_text: which (together with suitable feeding rollers)the cotton is delivered regularly
and continually into the upper part of the cage, where it is first operated upon
between the moving and the fixed pins aforesaid, and afterwards in falling
down within the cage the cotton is struck by the revolving arms before men-
tioned (which radiate from the axis) and is thrown out by centrifugal force
against the inside of the cylindrical cage, and whirled round within the same,
and the dirt which is loosened passes through the grid into the aforesaid space
between the same and the cylindrical case; and finally, the cotton,on arriving
at the lower part of the cage, is thrown out therefrom horizontally through a
spout in a partially opened and cleaned state, and an endless cloth or creeping
apron may be applied to the said spout for taking away the cotton with
regularity if desired. The rapid revolving motion of the arms on the axis
causes a current of air to pass from the inside of the cage through the grid
into the aforesaid space around the same, and that current assist the passing
of the dirt through the grid; and in case it is desired to increase such current,
the lower end of the vertical axis may have arms with fanners fastened upon
it to revolve within a suitable cylindrical case beneath the said cylindrical
cago,so as to operate in the manner of a revolving fan, for causing a stronger
current of air to draw through the grid of the cylindrical cage in all directions
from the interior thereof into the aforesaid surrounding space, in order tourgo
dirt through the said grid. In Sheet 1, Figure 1 is an elevation, and Figure 2
a horizontal plan of a machine constructed according to the said improvements.
Figure 3 is a vertical section, and Figure 4 a horizontal section drawn at the
level of the line C, D, Figure 1. All the Figures are drawn to a scale of one
inch and a half to the foot, and the same letters of reference are used to
denote the same parts in all the Figures. a,a,is the external cylindrical case;
u, u, the flat top, and w, w, the flat bottom thereof; that case contains the
cylindrical grid b, b, Figures 3 and 4, within it, but a space y, y, is left
vacant all round between the two. The cylindrical grid b, b, is composed of
a series of upright triangular bars of iron b, b, b, disposed around the circum-
ference with four strong upright bars v, v, v, v, amongst them, and the
flat bottom c, c, c, may also be a grid formed of horizontal triangular bars
with a small space left vacant beneath that grid between the same and the
close bottom w, w. The flat top u of the case is a plate. The vertical
axis f. f, is situated in the centre of the cage, being supported on a pivot at its
lower end, and its upper end sustained in a bearing at the centro of the
flat top u. e, e, Figure 3, are fixed upright pins projecting down from the flat
top u, they are disposed in one straight row, the direction of which row is
across the centre of that top. g, g, is a horizontal bar fastened upon the

page_text: axis ff, so as to project out radially therefrom on opposite sides, and
upright pins h, h, project upwards from the bar 9, 9, so as to occupy the
spaces between the fixed pins e, e, as appears in Figure 3, but without any
contact of the fixed and moving pins. Several horizontal arms or beaters
g', g, g, g, are fastened upon the axis f. f, so as to project out therefrom in
different directions and at different heights, as appears in Figures 3 and 4,and
the extremities of the beaters occupy the spaces between the fixed horizontal
pins d, d, d, d, which project from the four upright bars v, v, v, v, in di-
rections towards the centre of the axis f,f,but there is no contact between the
arms and the pins. The arms or beaters g³, 91, 9, 9', may either be round as
shewn in the Figure, or flat with the edges rounded, or any other suitable
form. The axis f, f, is turned round at the rate of five or six hundred revo-
lutions per minute by means of an endless strap or belt acting around the fast
pulley p, Figures 1 and 3, and there is a loose pulley for the same strap;
when the motion of the axis is to be stopped a worm i is fastened upon the
axis f and turns a worm wheel j, Figure 2, upon a horizontal axis c, which,
by a pinion I on the other end of it, turns a spur wheel m upon the axis of
one of the three fluted feeding rollers n, n,n,which rollers are all mounted in a
frame fixed on the flat top u of the case, and the three rollers are connected by
toothed pinions o, o, o,so as to turn round together. The cotton to be operated
upon is spread out evenly by hand upon an endless feeding cloth 9.9,Figure 2,
which circulates slowly over rollers, between which it is extended, and the
cotton is conducted by the motion of the feeding cloth to the feeding rollers
n, n, n, which take in the cotton between that one which is nearest to the
cloth and the uppermost roller of the three, and then the cotton passes between
the two lowermost rollers, which deliver it downwards through a slot or open-
ing u, Fig. 3, in the top u, into the interior of the cage, where it is struck by
the revolving pins h, h, Figure 3, and is thereby carried against the fixed
pins e, e, by which it is somewhat detained from retreating before the blows;
and by being operated upon between the moving and the fixed pins, the close
matted knots of the cotton will be partially opened and loosened, and dirt dis-
engaged, and afterwards, as the cotton descends in the cage, it is struck by the
radialarms or beaters g'g'g',g',and being rapidly whirled round in the interior
of the cage, the cotton is carried by centrifugal force against the upright bars
b,b,of the grid,and the dirt which has been disengaged passes through into the
space Y, Y, between those bars and the cylindrical case a, a. The cotton is
interrupted by the fixed pins d,d,when circulating around against the bars b,b,
so as to be somewhat detained and subjected to further blows by the ends of
the radial arms g, g, and to further operation between the ends of those arms

page_text: and the pins d,d,and by the time the cotton has descended near to the bottom
of the cage, it will have been much beaten and opened, but without breaking
or injuring the fibre or staple.and much dirt and other extraneous matter will
have passed between the bars b, b, and also through the grid c, c, into the
vacant space beneath that grid, between the same and the close bottom w,w,
and finally the cotton is thrown out by the centrifugal force through the hori-
zontal shoot or spout 7. And note, the rapid revolving motion of the arins g,g,
and gigg,within the cylindrical cage,causes a current of air to pass through
the openings between the upright bars b, b, into the space y, y, and that
current assists in carrying the dirt through between the bars b,b, into the
space y,y. The air which supplies such current enters into the cage at the
same slot or opening in the top u, through which (as already mentioned) the
cotton descends from between the feeding rollers nm,n,and the width of that
opening must be sufficient to admit air freely by the side of the cotton. The
said current of air which passes into the said space y, y, descends within that
space into a wider circular space a, a, below, from one part of which it
escapes through the flue t,t,carrying with it the dust and lighter dirt, but the
seeds and heavier particles of dirt remain at the bottom ofthespacea,,andcan
be removed therefromwhen required through suitable openingsintheexterior
of the circular spacex,x,which openings are closed bydoors when the machine
is at work. And note, the aforesaid shoot or spout"ınay have an endless cloth
or creeping apron applied to it for carrying away the cotton with regularity,
with a roller resting on the cotton, and closing the rest of the passage out of
the spout so as to prevent escape of the current of air. And note, in case of
the flat bottom c, c, of the cage being a grid (as represented in the Figures),
then the space,, must not communicate with the space beneath the said
grid c, c, between that grid and the bottom w, w, into which space (as
already mentioned) some dirt will fall through that grid, but without any aid
from a current of air; and that space should have an opening into it, with a
door for cleaning out the dirt when requisite. A revolving fan may be added
if thought desirable, to cause a stronger current of air for oporating in aid of
that current which will be caused as aforesaid by the revolving motion of
the arms on the axisf,f. Such a fan is shewn in Figure 5, ats, s, consisting
of two or four radial arms, fastened on the lower part of the axis f,f, with a
vane or fan at the end of each arm, the whole being enclosed within a circular
case 2, 5, as usual in revolving fans, with a large circular hole at the centre of
the flat upper side of that case, through which central hole the revolving fan
will draw in air, and will drive it out again at a horizontal flue, which is
similar to t, t, Figs. 3 and 4, but proceeding from the circumference of the

page_text: case 2, 2. The air which is so drawn in will come from the lower part of the
space y, y, all around the same, and will pass, as shewn by arrows, beneath
the flat bottom w, w, to the said central hole. The current of air so caused
will act in the same manner as already explained respecting the current
caused by the revolving motion of the arms of the axis f, f, but with an
additional force of draft through the spaces between the upright bars b,b, for
urging the dirt through. And note, machinery constructed according to the
said improvements may be used for opening short wool and hair, as well as
cotton wool.
The improvements in machinery for carding cotton and other fibrous sub-
stances are twofold, one of them, which I term a dirt extractor, is to be
applied to ordinary carding machinery for removing dirt, seeds, or other
extraneous matters which may be in the cotton or other fibrous substances,
when it is presented to such carding machinery. For this purpose a close
partition is to be fixed vertically across the framing of a carding engine,
beneath the central line or axis of what is well known as the "licker-in
roller, which roller is situated at the feeding end of the carding engine, and its
functions are to take the cotton from the feeding rollers and deliver the same
to the large revolving cylinder or swift. The current of air which is caused
by the rapid motion of the swift is so far retained by the said vertical
partition as to be confined to pass over the upper edge thereof and
beneath the under side of the licker-iu,through a narrow crevice which is left
for that purpose between the said upper edge and the said under side of the
licker-in, and by blowing against the cotton which is at the time spread lightly
in the cards of the licker-in roller, loose particles of dirt which may be
in that cotton will be removed by action of the said current of air. In
Sheet 2, Figure 5, is a vertical section of a common carding engine, with this
improvement applied thereto. a, a, is the fixed framing. b, b, the large
cylinder or swift. c, c, the licker-in roller, and d, d, are pairs of rollers called
strippers and clearers. e, e, are the flat or top cards, and the doffing cylinder.
The cotton or other fibrous substance may be supplied to the engine either
from a lap roller g, or else by spreading out upon an endless feeding cloth, but
in either case it passes in between the feeding rollers h, h, and is taken from
them by the licker-in roller c, c, which carries the cotton round with it, and
delivers it to the swift b, b. All the aforesaid parts being as usual, do not
require any more minute description. i, i, is a vertical partition extending
across from one of the side frames a, a, to the other, all openings in those side
frames being made close by plates or by boarding. The partition I, I, is
beneath the central line or axis of the licker-in roller
0,0,
and the
upper edge

page_text: of the partition i, i, approaches very near to the ends of the wire teeth of
the cards on tho licker-in roller c, c, but so as to avoid contact therewith, and
leaving a narrow crevice for the passage of air which is put in motion by the
swift b, b, but is so retained by the upright partition i, i, as to be caused
to pass through the said crevice with a rapid current of air, which by its
blowing action will separate the dirt from the cotton which is at the time in
the cards at the under side of the licker-in roller c, c.
Theotheroftheimprovementsinmachineryforcardingcottonandotherfibrous
substances is the application of a pair of revolving rollers for doffing or strip-
ping the filamentous weborsheet of cardedcottonor other fibrous material from
off the surface of what is called the doffer cylinder of carding machinery,the said
pairof revolving rollers being adapted to perform the functions of the ordinary
stripping comb or plate, which is actuated with a rapid up and down motion
by revolving cranks. The said comb, with the revolving cranks,swords,guides,
and other parts usually employed for giving motion to the comb, are all to be
removed from the carding engine (or omitted in the making thereof), and a
pair of small rollers placed one above the other, and with their surfaces
almost in contact with the teeth of the cards on the doffer cylinder, are to be
applied in place of the stripping comb, for the purpose of stripping or doffing
or taking off the filamentous web of carded cotton from the cards on the
doffer cylinder. The upper one of the two rollers of the said pair I prefer to
be iron, covered with leather and varnished or japanued, whilst the lower one
is a plain smooth iron roller,and the length of the acting parts of both rollers
must extend opposite to so much of the length of the doffer cylinder as is
covered with cards, in order that the rollers may strip or take off the cotton
or other fibrous material from all parts of the said length of the doffer
cylindor; and the surfaces of the said revolving rollers should move with a
velocity of about one-tenth part quicker than the motion of the surface of
the doffer cylinder, in order to give the rollers what is called a draft to that
extent for enabling them to take off the cotton or other fibrous material
effectually.
The carding engine represented in Figure 5, SheetII.,and alreadyexplained,
is also represented with this improvement in stripping the doff'orcylinder bya
pair of revolving rollers in place of a stripping comb; f being the doffer
cylinder; h, k, are the two small rollers placed horizontally one above the other,
with their length parallel to that of the doffer cylinder, and with their surfaces
as near to the teeth of the cards thereon as can be without actually touching.
The said rollers k, k, are turned round by suitable wheelwork, with the rato
of motion already mentioned, so as to strip or take off the filamentous web of

page_text: spur
cotton from the teeth of the cards where with the surface of the doffer cylin
der fis covered. The acting surface of the lower roller & is polished iron,
but the acting surface of the upper roller lc is covered with leather or other
suitable material, and which I prefer to be varnished or japanned. 1, 1, are
two rails covered with felt or cloth, and applied one above the upper roller k,
and the other beneath the lower roller k, for the purpose of rubbing the
surfaces of the two rollers, and clearing them from any cotton or fibrous
material which may adhere to them. The said filamentous web of cotton or
other fibrous material, after having passed through between the two rollers
k, k, is treated in the same manner in every respect as if it had been stripped
off by a comb in the usual manner. According to the Drawing it passes on-
wards to the ordinary compressing rollers 20, w, by which it is formed into a
sliver, in order to be delivered in that state into a can, the said web being
suitably contracted in width by passing through a conical funnel or trumpet
at n, before it arrives at the rollers w, w. The dotted circles t and v shew
the places of two intermediate spur cog wheels, which transmit motion from a
similar wheel on the axis of the doffer cylinder fto a smaller spur wheel
on the axis of the lower roller 20, so as to turn the same round with its proper
intended velocity,that being(amongst other modes of gearing) commonly used
for turning the said roller w. The lower stripping roller k (in case of such
mode of gearing being used) may be turned round by means of a pinion on
the end of its axis gearing with the spar wheel on the axis of the doffer
cylinder f,that pinion being so adapted to the other wheelsin size and number
of teeth as to cause the surfaces of the rollers k, k, to move with a velocity (as
already stated)one tenth quicker than the surface of the dotted cylindermoves;
for instance, whilst the surface of the doffer cylinder is moving ten inches
the surfaces of the rollers k, k, should move eleven inches. The two rollers
k, k, may be made to turn round together by means of pinions on the
ends of their axis. The upper roller / may be borne down towards the
lower one by its own weight, or if that is not sufficient to cause the rollers
to gripe the cotton between them, then weights or springs may be applied to
hooks suspended on the ends of the axis of the upper roller k to bear the
same downwards with as much force as may be required, as is the usual
and well-known manner of regulating the gripe of drawing or compressing
rollers.
The said improvements in machinery or apparatus for grinding the cards
of carding engines are twofold, one being improvements in machinery for
grinding the flats or top cards of carding engines to enable several such
flats or top cards (or as many as constitute the set belonging to one engine)

page_text: to be introduced together into the grinding machinery for grinding them
all in rapid succession, one immediately after another without material
pause or delay. The grinding cylinder is a revolving drum, with its axis
mounted horizontally in a suitable frame, and its surface covered with
emery in the usual manner, but instead of the several flats or top cards being
applied in the machinery one at a time, and each one removed from the
machinery after it has been ground before another can be introduced, the
whole number of flats or top cards are applied horizontally, side by side, in a
row with the teeth of the cards downwards in a carriage, which runs with
wheels or horizontal rails of the frame, in a direction crossway to the length-
way of the flats and of the grinding cylinder, so as to carry each of the cards in
its turn with a slow motion over the grinding cylinder for grinding the points
of the wire teeth of the cards.
In Sheet 3, Figure 6 is a lateral elevation, and Figure 7 an end elevation
of machinery constructed according to this part of the improvements. a,a,is
the fixed framing of the machinery; b the driving pulley on the end of the axis
c, c, of the grinding cylinder d, d, whereof the surface is covered with emery
or other suitable grinding material, and it is turned rapidly round by an endless
strap or belt acting round the driving pulley b; e, e, is a carriage for receiving
the several flats or top cards f,f, in a row side by side with the teeth of the
cards downwards, their length being horizontal and parallel to the axis c,c,of
the grinding cylinder d, d. The carriage e, e, is supported on wheels i, i, i, i,
which are grooved at their circumferences and run upon the horizontal edges
k, k, of the fixed frame a, a, in the manner of a carriage on a railway. The
several flats are held in place in the carriage by the two ends of each flat being
fastened into a clamp by a screw,see g, g, Figure 7, each of which clamps can
be raised or lowered by means of a vertical adjusting screw h, h, so as to set
each of the cards with the points of its teeth in exact conformity with the same
level plane as the upper part of the circumference of the grinding cylinderd,d.
The carriage is moved slowly along the rails k,k, by means ofastraps,s, at each
side of the carriage; each of those straps being fastened atone of its ends to the
carriage,extends therefrom to a pulley 7,ona horizontal cross axisg,atoue end
of the machine. After passing half round that pulley the strap returns to another
pulley r,at the other end of the machine; and after passing half round the latter
pulley theother end of the strapisfastened tothecarriage, wherefore the carriage
will be drawn along the rails k,k, when the cross axisqof the pulliesr is turned
round, which is done by means of a worm whoel p fastened on one end of the
axis q, and actuated by a worm o one one end of an axis n, n, which is in an
inclining direction, and has another worm wheel m fastened upon the other
end of it, deriving motion from a worm on one end of the axis c, c, of the

page_text: grinding cylinder d, d. Therapid revolving motion of that cylinder is reduced
in its transmission through the two successive pairs of worms and worm wheels
l,m,and o, p, and then by the pullies of the straps s, s, to a slow travelling
motion of the carriage along the rails k, k, a set of flats or top cards being
mounted in the carriage by means of the clamps already explained; when it is
at one end of the rails k, as in Figure 6, then each flat is truly adjusted by the
screws h, h, so that the under sides of the teeth of all the cards are brought
into the same horizontal plane with the highest part of the grinding cylinder
d.d; then that cylinder being set in motion the carriage commences to travel
slowly along the rails k, k, and carries the cards one after another over the
grinding cylinder d, d, with the points of their teeth in contact with its
moving surface, which, by the emery thereon, grinds those teeth in the usual
manner of grinding top cards, as to the operation upon each of the flats or
top cards by itself; but according to the present improvement, all the cards
being mounted in the carriage together and adjusted truly to level, no time is
lost in removing one after it is ground and replacing it by another, and
adjusting the same before it can be ground; but the grinding proceeds regu-
larly,grinding one card after another until the whole number are finished, and
all of them will be equally ground to true flat surfaces. By the time that is
done, the carriage will have arrived at the other end of the machine, and a
part of the carriage coming in contact with a lever catch v moves the same so
as to lower the bearing for that end of the axis n, until the worm o quits
contact with the teeth of the worm wheel p, whereby the travelling motion
of the carriage ceases, and the set of flats is removed; then the empty
carriage is run back by hand to the position shewn in Figure 6, ready for
putting in another set of flats as before. And note, the grinding cylinder
d, d, has a small extent of slow traversing motion backwards and forwards
endway, in the direction of its length, at the same time that it is revolving
rapidly. This traversing motion is given byan oblique ring projecting around
a revolving wheel 4,Figure 7, entering into a groove around a wheel u, which
is fastened on the axis c, c, of the grinding cylinder. The wheel being
turned slowly round by its contact with the wheel u, the oblique rim of the
wheel gives the said traversing motion to the grinding cylinder d, d.
The other improvement in machinery or apparatus for grinding the cards of
carding machinery is for grinding the smaller sized cylindrical rollers covered
with cards, which are termed strippers and clearers, and which are used
in most carding engines; for instance, the carding engine, Figure 5,
Sheet 2, has two pairs of strippers and clearers d, d, and d, d, according
to the present improvement; several such rollers, or as many as constitute a
set belonging to the same carding engine, are to be mounted on a frame in a

page_text: row with their axes horizontal and parallel to one another, in pairs consisting
of one stripper and one clearer, and with the surfaces of the adjacent rollers of
each pair in contact, and all the rollers being turned rapidly round, but so that
the several surfaces which are in contact will move in opposite directions, and
with the teeth of the cards on each roller moving with their points backwards
then the teeth will act mutually one against another to grind and sharpen
them, and they may be supplied with oil and emery to increase their grinding
action. Every alternate roller in the row should have a small extent of slow
traversing motion end ways in the direction of its length during the operation of
grinding.
In Sheet 3, Figure 8 is a side elevation, and Figure 9 a front elevation
of machinery or apparatus constructed according to this improvement.
a, a, is the fixed framing, with suitable bearings thereon, for receiving the
axes of several rollers, which are marked d, for the larger size called strippers,
and efor the smaller size called clearers. The said bearings are all adjustable
as to their positions on the framing by means of the screws, by which they are
fastened to the framing; and a setting screw may be applied to each bearing
(or to every other bearing) for facility of adjustment, to suit the exact size of
the several rollers, so that, when they are all mounted in place (as in the
Figures), that those surfaces of the adjacent rollers which are to act together
for grinding will be duly in contact one surface with another. The rollers are
arranged in pairs, consisting of one stripper d, and one worker e (being the
same stripper and worker which form a pair in the carding engine), and it is
the adjacent surfaces of the pair which are brought into contact for acting
together. The other adjacent rollers, which are not pairs, do not touch, as is
seen in Figure 9. The bearings for the axes of the strippers d., d, are fastened
by their screws to the fixed frame a, a, but the bearings for the axes of the
clearerse are formed in separate pieces f,f,whereof those which are at opposite
sides of the frame are united in pairs by two long horizontal rods k, k, for each
pair, extending behind the rollers across the frame from one piece f to the
other, and with their ends fastened to both, so that they form a distinct frame,
which is sustained in place by the two rods k, k, passing through holes in the
fixed frame; but the rods are capable of sliding end ways in their holes, in
order to permit of giving to the clearers a small extent of traversing motion
slowly endways in the direction of the lengths of the rollers during the
grinding. There are three such frames f, f, for containing six clearers e in
the machinery, see Fig. 8. The several rollers are turned round by similar
means to those by which they are turned round when in use in the carding
engine.

page_text: Figure 9 represents the strippers d, with grooved pullies at their ends for
an endless band, and the clearers with pullies for an endless strap, which is
marked g, and its course is shewn in Figure 8: videlicit, round a pulley hon
the main driving axis b, b, then over the pullies of two clearer e, e, and thence
upwards and downwards to the pullies of two other clearers at the upper and
lower part of the machinery, and round those pullies, to go backwards around
behind two leading pullies i, i, and from those pullies forwards again to go
round the pullies of other clearers e, e, and then backwards and over other
eading pullies i, i, and therefrom up and down vertically at the back of the
frame, where both the courses which have been traced meet together in one.
The endless bandj, Figure 9, for the strippers d, d, passes around a grooved
pulley on the main driving axis b, and then upwards and downwards over and
around the grooved pullies at the ends of the several strippers, and over
leading pullies by a somewhat similar course to that of the endless strap 9 ;
the arrangements of the endless strap g, and of the endless cordj, around the
several pullies of the strippers and clearers being such as will cause the surfaces
of the rollers which are in contact to move in contrarydirections one to the other,
and the rollers are all turned round at nearly the same rate, but owing to the
larger size of the strippers d, d, their surfaces move quicker than those of the
clearers e, e. The slow traversing motion of the clearers e, e, is given by
similar means to that already described in reference to Figures 6 and 7, viz.,
by means of oblique rims projecting around three revolving wheels 1, 2, l, which
rims act in grooves around the centre bosses k of the leading pullies i, i, and in
a groove around the main axis b. The wheels 1, 1, 1, are mounted on studs
fixed to the three pieces f,f,f; and the wheels 1, 1, 1, are turned round by
their contact with the grooves in which their oblique rims act, and, in so
turning, the obliquity of the said rims gives the requisite traversing motion to
the frames f,ff, and to the clearers which mounted therein.
Having now described the said improvements, I, the said Samuel Hardacre,
do hereby declare that the new Invention, whereof the exclusive use is granted
to me by the Letters Patent herein-before recited, consists in the following
particulars, viz:-
First, the improvements herein-before described and represented in Sheet]
of the Drawings hereunto annexed in machinery or apparatus for opening
cotton or other fibrous substances, the essential character of the improve-
ments being as follows:-The vertical position of the revolving axis, and the
cylindrical grid surrounding the same on all sides, so as to give a very
extensive surface of grating for dirt to pass through; and with a narrow vacant
space all round behind the cylindrical grid between the same and the cylin-

page_text: drical case, through which space (and between the bars of the cylindrical grid)
a continual current of air is kept up for carrying away the dirt and dust; such
current being caused by the motion of the arms on the revolving vertical axis,
but aided and increased by a fan on the said axis, if greater force of draft is
thought desirable; also the cotton or other fibrous substance being introduced
into the upper end of the cylindrical space within the said grid, so that it will
descond by its own weight into the interior thereof; likewise the pins which
are to act in the first instance upon the cotton or other fibrous substance being
vertical and parallel to the revolving axis, as well those moveable pins which
are carried by the uppermost revolving arms of the axis as the fixed pins
wherewith the said moving pins are to act; also the arms lower down on the
revolving axis being more straight arms radiating therefrom, and leaving
ample vacant space within the interior of the cylindrical grid and their ends
operating between fixed pins projecting horizontally inwards from the cylin-
drical grid, but which last-mentioned pins are not new, being similar to the
fixed pins in ordinary machinery.
Secondly, the improvements herein-before described and represented in
Figure 5, Sheet 2, in machinery or apparatus for carding cotton or other
fibrous substance. One of those improvements (which I call a dirt extractor)
being the application in manner herein-before described of a vertical partition
beneath the licker-in roller for directing the current of air caused by the
revolving motion of the swift to pass with rapidity through a narrow crevice
that is left open between the upper edge of the said vertical partition and the
under part of the circumference of the licker-in, in order by such current to
remove dirt from the cotton or other fibrous substance, which is at the time
in the cards wherewith the licker-in is covered. And the other of the said
improvements in machinery for carding cotton or other fibrous substances,
being the application in manner herein-before described of a pair of revolving
rollers in place of a comb,moved by crank motion forstripping off or removing
the filamentous web of cotton or other fibrous substance from the cards on
the circumference of the doffer cylinder, the acting surface of the lowermost
of those rollers being polished iron, but the acting surface of the upper one
being covered with leather, which I prefer to be varnished or japanned.
Thirdly, the improvements herein-before described and represented in
Sheet 3, in machinery orapparatus for grinding the cards of carding engines,
one of which improvements is for grinding the flats or top cards of carding
engines in manner herein-before described, by mounting several such flats or
top cards (or a set of so many as belong to the same engine) at the same time
in a carriage, which by a slow travelling motion carries them in succession

page_text: over the revolving grinding cylinder, by which the teeth of their cards are
ground, one flat or top card after another in rapid succession. And the other
of the said improvements in machinery orapparatus for grinding the cards of
carding engines is for grinding the cards of cylindrical rollers (such for
instance as are called strippers and clearers) in manner herein-before
described, by mounting several such rollers in pairs in a suitable frame, with
the surfaces of the two rollers of each pair in contact, and the rollers
being all turned round, so that the teeth of their card will move with their
points backwards, and so that the several surfaces which are in contact as
aforesaid will move in contrary directions, one surface to the other, in order to
grind and sharpen the teeth of the cards by the mutual action of those teeth
one against another, and that being done either with the assistance of emery
or without.
In witness whereof, I, the said Samuel Hardacre, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of September, One thousand eight
SAMUEL (L.s.) HARDACRE.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Twenty-ninth day of September,
in the eleventh year of the reign of Her Majesty Queen Victoria, the said
Samuel Hardacre came before our said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery,
and acknowledged the Instrument aforesaid, and all and every thing therein
contained and specified, in form above written. And also the Instrument
aforesaid was stamped according to the tenor of the Statute made in the fifty-
fifth year of the reign of His late Majesty King George the Third.
Inrolled the Twenty-ninth day of September,One thousand eight hundred