IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Ronald, of Liverpool, in the County of Lan-
caster, Merchant, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR
"
Sealed the 25th February 1862, and dated the 28th August 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Ronald at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 28th
August 1861.
I, JAMES RONALD, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Merchant, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY POR DRESSING HEMP, FLAX, MANILLA, AND OTHER LIKE LONG FIBROUS
MATERIAL," to be as follows (that is to say):
This Invention consists mainly in substituting for gill teeth brushes formed of
whalebone, piassava, or other animal or vegetable fibres mounted on rotating
drums or cylinders, or their mechanical equivalent, for dressing hemp, manilla
and other long fibres.
A machine may be constructed according to this Invention by mounting on
an horizontal driving shaft a revolving drum, to the outer surface of which is
attached a number of brushes, which extend across the surface of the drum

page_text: parallel to the axis thereof, and, by preference, placed a little apart from each
other. A pair of feed rollers are mounted on the end of an horizontal table
placed in front of the brush-carrying cylinder. By this arrangement the
manilla or other fibre to be dressed is laid on the table by the person in
attendance, who introduces the end of tho "strick" between the feed rollers,
holding the reverse end of the "strick," but allowing it to be gradually drawn
forward through the rollers to be operated upon by the revolving brushes.
When the outer end of the "strick" has arrived near the drawing rolls it is
drawn back, turned over, and allowed again to pass through the drawing rolls
as before, to be operated upon on the other side, after which the "strick" is
again withdrawn and the reverse end trented in the same manner. But to
obviate the necessity of having to turn the "strick" so often, it is preferred to
use a second brush-carrying drum mounted above and parallel to the one first
described, by which arrangement both sides of the "strick" can be dressed at
one time, only requiring the ends of the "strick" to be reversed. When two
or more of the brush-carrying cylinders are used, it is preferred to secure tho
"strick" in a suitable holder mechanically operated; in which case the dressing
cylinders may be placed side by side in place of one above the other. When a
long fibre, such as manilla, is to be operated upon it is proposed to use a second
pair of dressing cylinders mounted parallel to the first pair, and which it is
preferred to form of smaller diameter, that they may be brought as near the
delivery of the first pair as conveniently practicable. These supplemental pair
of dressing cylinders are driven at a higher rate of speed than tho first pair.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Ronald in the Great Seal Patent Office on tho
27th February 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
RONALD, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Merchant, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-eighth day of August, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fifth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
ine, the said James Ronald, Her special licence that I, the said James
Ronald, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said James Ronald, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should

page_text: 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,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MACHINERY FOR DRESSING HEMP, FLAX, MANILLA, AND OTHER LIKE LONG
FIBROUS MATERIAL," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
James Ronald, 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 James Ronald, 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 follow-
ing statement (that is to say) :-
This my said Invention consists mainly in substituting for gill teeth brushes
formed of bristles, whalebone, piassava, or other animal or vegetable fibre
mounted on rotating drums or cylinders, or their mechanical equivalent, for
dressing hemp, flax, manilla, and other like long fibres.
A machine constructed according to my Invention by mounting on a
horizontal driving shaft a revolving drum, to the outer surface of which is
attached a number of brushes which extend across the surface of the drum
parallel to the axis thereof, and by preference placed a little apart from each
other. A pair of feed rollers are mounted on the end of an horizontal table
placed in front of the brush-carrying cylinder. By this arrangement the
manilla or other fibre to be dressed is laid on the table by the person in
attendance, who introduces the end of the "strick" between the feed rollers,
retaining hold of the reverse end of the "strick," but allowing it to be
gradually drawn forward through the rollers to be operated upon by the
revolving brushes. When the outer end of the strick has arrived near the
drawing rollers it is drawn back, turned over, and allowed again to pass
through the rollers as before, to be operated upon on the other side; after
which the "strick" is again withdrawn, and the reverse end treated in the
same manner. But to obviate the necessity of having to turn the "strick"
so often, I prefer to use a second brush-carrying drum mounted above, and
parallel to the one first described, by which arrangement both sides of the
"strick" can be dressed at one time, only requiring the ends of the "strick" to

page_text: bo reversed. When two or more of the brush-carrying cylinders are used, I
prefer to secure the strick in a suitable holder mechanically operated or
worked by hand, and in some cases the dressing cylinders may be placed sido
by side in place of one above the other. When a long fibre, such as manilla,
is to be operated upon, I propose to use a second pair of dressing cylinders
mounted parallel to the first pair, and which it is preferred to form of smaller
dimensions, that they may be brought as near the delivery of the first pair as
conveniently practicable. These supplemental pair of dressing cylinders I drive
at a higher rate of speed than the first pair.
That this my said Invention may be the more readily seen and understood,
I have hereunto annexed Drawings in partial illustration of one modification
of my Invention, which will be sufficient to show the practical application of the
Invention. Like letters and figures marked thereon have reference to similar
parts.
Figure 1 is a side or end elevation of one of my improved dressing machines
constructed with two drums or cylinders one above the other, containing or
carrying the brushes, and Figure 2 is a longitudinal elevation of the back of
the same.
A, foundation; B, stationary framework; C, stationary frame on which
travels D, a sliding frame which carries the "strick" holder; E, guard fender
on front of the revolving drums; F, dotted lines, showing the pit in which the
operator stands; G, the lower drum; II, the upper drum; I, main driving
pulley; K, driving pulley on the axle of the upper drum which carries L, a
driving strap working over M, a driving pulley on the axle of the lower drum;
N, brushes projecting from the face of the drums.
Having now fully described and ascertained the nature of this my said
Invention, and how I believe the same may be best carried into practical
effect, I wish it to be understood that I do not wish to confine myself to the
precise details, relative dimensions, or proportions, as it will be readily seen
that the same may be considerably varied without departing from the Inven-
tion; but what I do claim is,-
Firstly, the use of brushes made from bristles, whalebone, piassava, or other
animal or vegetable fibre mounted on rotating drums or cylinders, or their
mechanical equivalent, when applied to the dressing of hemp, flax, manilla, or
other like long fibres, substantially and in the manner herein-before described
and set forth, or any mere modification of the same.
And, lastly, the general construction, arrangement, and combination of the
various parts of the apparatus, substantially and in the manner and for the

page_text: object herein-before described and set forth, or any mere modification of the
same.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Ronald, have hereunto set my
hand and affixed my seal, this Twenty-sixth day of February, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
Witness,
WILLIAM WALKER,
Of 44, Castle Street, Liverpool.
JAMES (L.s.) RONALD.