Improvements connected with Silk-dressing Machinery.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Nov., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 6th Aug., 1890--Accepted, 1st Nov., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements connected with Silk-dressing Machinery.
I, GEORGE FREDERICK PRIESTLEY, of Hope Street, Halifax, in the County of
York, Card Maker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention has reference to machinery employed for dressing silk.
In the
process of dressing silk it is customary to place a tuft of silk within two flat boards
technically called books." One end of the tuft of silk placed between such boards
projects beyond the book to be dressed, and when such projecting fringe has been
dressed, it is removed and reversed so that the undressed fringe projects, the object of
my invention being to open the books and change the tuft by self acting mechanism.
According to this invention when the projecting fringe in a "book" has been
dressed, the said book is transferred onto an inclined table, where, at a given point, it
is stopped by two upright rods, caused to be actuated at a given time by cams or
other like mechanism. Simultaneously therewith two other vertical rods provided at
their upper ends with right-angular prongs or forks are caused to advance for the
purpose of inserting the said forks between two studs projecting from each end of the
book. After the prongs have entered between the studs, the upper prong is made to
rise by a cam or other like means, leaving the lower prong stationary resting upon
the lower stud of the book. As the upper prong rises, it takes with it one of the
studs, projecting from the end of the book, the effect of which is to gradually open
the said book, each longitudinal edge of which forms a hinge or fulcrum. The elastic
bands passing around the books prevent the boards of the books from slipping.
When the prongs have raised sufficiently high as to cause each of the longitudinal
edges of the book to stand one upon the other, a lever is caused to advance so as to
push the flat boards beyond their centre, causing the leaves of the said book to be
shut the reverse way, being collapsed or brought together by the elastic bands,
assisted by various levers, rods, and tappets, which for this purpose are changing their
positions. When the book is reversed as above described, the fringe of silk which
was without the book is now within and that part of the fringe which was within the
book is now the projecting fringe; but as such projecting fringe is in a drooping
position, a current of air generated by a fan is caused to be blown through a per-
forated pipe placed underneath the hanging fringe so as to lift up the fringe and
keep it in position until a flat horizontal plate is caused to descend upon it, and
whilst in this position, the books are pushed away from the silk causing the silk
to be drawn further out of the books than when they were first closed after being
reversed. By this means the length of projecting fringe is extended. After this
operation the books are pushed forward down another inclined table, and afterwards
fall into the first opening of the travelling chain working in connection with the
next silk dressing drum to be further operated upon.
After the fringes projecting from the book have been operated upon by the next
succeeding drums, they are conveyed to an inclined table upon which they fall by
gravitation, but are stopped as described in the first part of this Specification by two
upright rods, after which the books are slightly opened by other prongs and levers as
already described, but now the silk is allowed to fall from the books on a travelling
apron and conveyed to a box or other receptacle placed to receive it, whilst the empty
books are received by another endless travelling apron which carries them away to
another set of machines similar to that which they have passed through for the
purpose of being re-filled ready for another operation, and so on.
Dated this 5th day of November 1889.
TASKER & CROSSLEY,
Halifax, Agents.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements connected with Silk-dressing Machinery.
1. GEORGE FREDERICK PRIESTLEY, of Hope Street, Halifax, in the County of
York, Card Maker, 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 :-
My invention has reference to machinery employed for dressing silk and other
fibrous substances. In the process of dressing silk, it is customary to place a tuft of
silk within two flat boards technically called "books." One end of the tuft of silk
placed between such boards to be dressed projects beyond the book, and when such
projecting fringe has been dressed, it is removed and reversed so that the undressed
fringe projects, the object of my invention being to open the books and change the
tuft by self acting mechanism.
According to this invention, when the projecting fringe in a book has been dressed,
the said book falls from other machinery onto an incline: table, where, at a given
point, it is stopped by two upright rods, caused to be actuated at a given time by
cams or other like mechanism. Simultaneously therewith, two other vertical rods
provided at their upper ends with right-angular prongs or forks are caused to advance
for the purpose of inserting the said forks between two studs projecting from each end
of the book. After the prongs have entered between the studs, the upper prong is
made to rise by a cam or other like means, leaving the lower prong stationary and
resting upon the lower stud of the book.
one of the sinds, projecting from the end of the book, the effect of which is to gradually
As the upper prong rises, it takes with it
open the said book, each longitudinal edge of which forms a hinge or fulcrum.
Elastic bands passing around the books prevent the boards of the books from slipping.
When the prongs have risen sufficiently to make each of the longitudinal edges of the
book stand one upon the other, a lever is caused to advance so as to push the flat
boards beyond their centre, causing the leaves of the said book to be shut the reverse
way, being collapsed or brought together by the elastic bands, assisted by various
levers, rods, and tappets, which for this purpose are changing their positions. When
the book is reversed as above described, the fringe of silk which was without the book
is now within, and that part of the fringe which was within the book, is now the
projecting fringe. After this operation the books are pushed forward down another
inclined table, and afterwards fall into the first opening of a travelling chain working
in connection with a silk dressing drum to be further operated upon.
After the fringes projecting from the book have been operated upon by the next or
subsequent silk dressing drums, they are conveyed to an inclined table of another
machine, upon which they slide or fall by gravitation, but are stopped as described in
the first part of this Specification by two upright rods, after which the fibre is pulled
from the books by mechanical devices, such fibre being afterwards received by and.
carried away upon a travelling apron, and conveyed to a box or other receptacle
placed to receive it, whilst the empty books are received by another endless travelling..
apron, which carries them away to another set of machines similar to that which they
have passed through for the purpose of being refilled ready for another operation,
and so on.
Such being the nature and object of my said invention, in order that the same may
be better understood, I will now mako reference to the accompanying sheets of
drawings illustrative thereof, wherein
Fig. 1 is end elevation of a machine constructed according to my invention,
Fig. 2 end view of the opposite side of Fig. 1 shewing some of the gearing;
Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of some portions of my invention, and
Fig. 4 is plan view of same.
The books" marked 1, between which the fibre is carried, are usually made
about 28 inches long and 34 inches wide, and on each end of the top and bottom
boards forming the book are projecting studs ? around four of which i

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Nov., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 6th Aug., 1890-Accepted, 1st Nov., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements connected with Silk-dressing Machinery.
I, GEORGE FREDERICK PRIESTLEY, of Hope Street, Halifax, in the County of
York, Card Maker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention has reference to machinery employed for dressing silk.
In the
process of dressing silk it is customary to place a tuft of silk within two flat boards
technically called "books." One end of the tuft of silk placed between such hoards
projects beyond the book to be dressed, and when such projecting fringe has been
dressed, it is removed and reversed so that the undressed fringe projects, the object of
iny invention being to open the books and change the tuft by self acting mechanism.
According to this invention when the projecting fringe in a "book" has been
dressed, the said book is transferred onto an inclined table, where, at a given point, it
is stopped by two upright rods, caused to be actuated at a given time by cams or
other like mechanism. Simultaneously therewith two other vertical rods provided at
their upper ends with right-angular prongs or forks are caused to advance for the
purpose of inserting the said forks between two studs projecting from each end of the
book. After the prongs have entered between the studs, the upper prong is made to
rise by a cam or other like means, leaving the lower prong stationary resting upon
the lower stud of the book. As the upper prong rises, it takes with it one of the
studs, projecting from the end of the book, the effect of which is to gradually open
the said book, each longitudinal edge of which forms a hinge or fulcrum. The elastic
bands passing around the books prevent the boards of the books from slipping.
When the prongs have raised sufficiently high as to cause each of the longitudinal
edges of the book to stand one upon the other, a lever is caused to advance so as to
push the flat boards beyond their centre, causing the leaves of the said book to he
shut the reverse way, being collapsed or brought together by the elastic bands,
assisted by various levers, rods, and tappets, which for this purpose are changing their
positions. When the book is reversed as above described, the fringe of silk which
was without the book is now within and that part of the fringe which was within the
book is now the projecting fringe but as such projecting fringe is in a drooping
position, a current of air generated by a fan is caused to be blown through a per-
forated pipe placed underneath the hanging fringe so as to lift up the fringe and
keep it in position until a flat horizontal plate is caused to descend upon it, and
whilst in this position, the books are pushed away from the silk causing the silk
to be drawn further out of the books than when they were first closed after being
reversed. By this means the length of projecting fringe is extended. After this
operation the books are pushed forward down another inclined table, and afterwards
fall into the first opening of the travelling chain working in connection with the
next silk dressing drum to be further operated upon.
After the fringes projecting from the book have been operated upon by the next
succeeding drums, they are conveyed to an inclined table upon which they fall by
gravitation, but are stopped as described in the first part of this Specification by two
upright rods, after which the books are slightly opened by other prongs and levers as
already described, but now the silk is allowed to fall from the books on a travelling
apron and conveyed to a box or other receptacle placed to receive it, whilst the empty
books are received by another endless travelling apron which carries them away to
another set of machines similar to that which they have passed through for the
purpose of being re-filled ready for another operation, and so on.
Dated this 5th day of November 1889.
TASKER & CROSSLEY,
Halifax, Agents.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements connected with Silk-dressing Machinery.
I, GEORGE FREDERICK PRIESTLEY, of Hope Street, Halifax, in the County of
York, Card Maker, 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:-
My invention has reference to machinery employed for dressing silk and other
fibrous substances. In the process of dressing silk, it is customary to place a tuft of
silk within two flat boards technically called "books." One end of the tuft of silk
placed between such boards to be dressed projects beyond the book, and when such
projecting fringe has been dressed, it is removed and reversed so that the undressed
fringe projects, the object of my invention being to open the books and change the
tuft by self acting mechanism.
According to this invention, when the projecting fringe in a book has been dressed,
the said book falls from other machinery onto an incline: table, where, at a given
point, it is stopped by two upright rods, caused to be actuated at a given time by
cams or other like mechanism. Simultaneously therewith, two other vertical rods
provided at their upper ends with right-angular prongs or forks are caused to advance
for the purpose of inserting the said forks between two studs projecting from each end
of the book. After the prongs have entered between the studs, the upper prong is
made to rise by a cam or other like means, leaving the lower prong stationary and
resting upon the lower stud of the book.
one of the studs, projecting from the end of the book, the effect of which is to gradually
As the upper prong rises, it takes with it
open the said book, cach longitudinal edge of which forms a hinge or fulcrum.
Elastic bands passing around the books prevent the boards of the books from slipping.
When the prongs have risen sufficiently to make each of the longitudinal edges of the
book stand one upon the other, a lever is caused to advance so as to push the flat
boards beyond their centre, causing the leaves of the said book to be shut the reverse
way, being collapsed or brought together by the elastic bands, assisted by various
levers, rods, and tappets, which for this purpose are changing their positions. When
the book is reversed as above described, the fringe of silk which was without the book
is now within, and that part of the fringe which was within the book, is now the
projecting fringe. After this operation the books are pushed forward down another
inclined table, and afterwards fall into the first. opening of a travelling chain working
in connection with a silk dressing drum to be further operated upon,
After the fringes projecting from the book have been operated upon by the next or
subsequent silk dressing drums, they are conveyed to an inclined table of another
machine, upon which they slide or fall by gravitation, but are stopped as described in
the first part of this Specification by two upright rods, after which the fibre is pulled
from the books by mechanical devices, such fibre being afterwards received by and.
carried away upon a travelling apron, and conveyed to a box or other receptacle
placed to receive it, whilst the empty books are received by another endless travelling.
apron, which carries them away to another set of machines similar to that which they
have passed through for the purpose of being refilled ready for another operation,
and so on.
Such being the nature and object of my said invention, in order that the same may
he better understood, I will now make reference to the accompanying sheets of
drawings illustrative thereof, wherein
Fig. 1 is end elevation of a machine constructed according to my invention,
Fig. 2 end view of the opposite side of Fig. 1 shewing some of the gearing;
Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of some portions of my invention, and
Fig. 4 is plan view of same.
The books" marked 1, between which the fibre is carried, are usually made
about 28 inches long and 3 inches wide, and on each end of the top and bottom
boards forming the book are proisating stu

page_text: band 3 for keeping the two boards of the book together. The machine consists of
two end frames 4 suitably bolted together with studs and rods, the said machine being
mounted upon rollers or wheels 5. The book 1 holding a combed projecting tuft of
fibre, as shewn in Fig. 5, falls by gravitation onto the inclined table 6, where the book
is met and stopped in the required position by two vertical rods 7 employed to prevent
the further descent of the said book down the inclined table. These vertical or
inclined rods 7 are attached to the forward end of the lever 8 working loosely on the
shaft 9 operated by a tappet 10 fixed on the shaft 11. The vertical rods 7 are caused
to rise up quickly by spiral springs 12 so as to release the books 1 and permit
them to descend from the inclined table 6 onto the horizontal platform 14 where
horizontal prongs or forks 15 are caused to advance and to enter between the studs 2
projecting from the ends of the book. There are two pairs of prongs 15, shewn
more clearly in Fig. 3, attached to the top of vertical rods 16, being caused to
advance laterally for the purpose of inserting the points of the prongs between the
studs 2 by means of a tappet 17, but such prongs are withdrawn by means of the
weight 18 attached to chain 19, the opposite end of such chain being connected to
one of the vertical rods 16. When the prongs 15 enter between the studs 2 pro-
jecting from the edge of the book, the upper prong is raised as shewn in Fig. 3 by
means of a tappet 20 fixed to shaft 21; the effect of this upward movement of the
upper prong is to raise the books on end one above the other, as shown in Fig. 3,
and whilst momentarily occupying this position the back part of the projecting fibre
is dragged out from between the books by means of teeth 22 attached to the
vertically reciprocating rod 23, after which the horizontal prongs 15 descend or drop
to their lowest position again. The reciprocating rod 23 is attached to a chain 24
passing over pulleys 25 and connected to the lower lever 26 working loosely on
shaft 27. When the fibre is about to be drawn or pulled out by the teeth 22, the
frame 23 is at its highest point, having been raised by cam 28 operating on the foot
of rod 29, but when the point 30 of cam 28 has gone past the foot of rod 29 the
frame 23 suddenly drops, causing the teeth 22 to pull the fibre out from between the
books the required length, after which the frame 23 is immediately raised to its
former position, this being effected by the sudden dropping of the weighted lever 40
off the nose of tappet 41, the sudden dropping of such lever raising the frame 23 to
its original position, where it remains until the next revolution of the driving shaft.
The frame 23 is raised after the fibre has been drawn out as explained, and the
books 1 are still momentarily upright us shewn at Figs. 3 and 6, the horizontal
bar 31 attached to the semicircular rod 32 fixed to the shaft 9 is now operated by
tappet 33 on shaft 27, such horizontal bar 31 forcing the book 1 past its vertical
position, and simultaneously therewith prongs 15 cominence to descend, permitting.
the book, through the influence of the elastic bands 3, to gradually close, whereby the
tuft of fibre which was between the books at the commencement of the operation, now
projects, whilst the combed tuft lies between the books, as shewn in Fig. 7. The
book and tuft of fibre are now allowed to fall by gravitation onto a dressing machine
for the purpose of having the newly projecting fringe operated upon, but before being
removed, the vertical bent fingers 34 connected to bar 35 are operated upon in a
similar manner to the vertical rods 7, such said vertical rods being used to stop the
descent of the books 1 when they have reached the bottom of the gradient or inclined
plane 6. When the books 1 have been finally closed, the bent wires 36, attached to
horizontal rod 37, are actuated by weighted chain 38, tappet 59, which comes sharply.
in contact with the said books so as to push them further down the second gradient 42,'
from which they enter the combing machine to have the newly projecting tuft
operated upon.
The new portions of fibre, projecting from between the newly turned books, having
now been combed, they fall onto another machine specially employed to remove the fibre
from between the hooks, so that the fibre and books may be separately conveyed away.
A machine to accomplish this object is shewn in Fig. 8, which is end view thereof,
Fig. 9 being view of opposite end to Fig. 8. Figs. 10 and 11 are enlarged views of
some of the principal parts. In this machine the books 1 fall by gravitation upon the

page_text: incline or gradient 5, where they are stopped or arrested in their movement by vertical
rods 7 attached to lever 8 operated in one direction by tappet 9 fixed upon shaft 10
and in the opposite direction by spiral spring 11 (see Fig. 9). On the quick upward
movement of vertical rods 7 the books are allowed to continue their sliding descent
towards another inclined gradient 12 capable of working or oscillating upon the
fulcrum 13. When the books are on the first inclined gradient 5 they rest bodily
thereon, but when they reach the second inclined gradient 12, they are borne only on
studs 2 projecting from each end thereof, as shewn in Figs. 8 and 10. When the
books have reached the bottom of the second gradient 12, they come into contact with
horizontal pushing bars 13 caused to slide horizontally by tappet 14 fixed upon the
shaft 10 which is caused to revolve by a chain and wheel from shaft 15 below it.
When the books have slided upon their studs 2 down the incline 12 they are prevented
moving further by coming into contact with the end of the horizontal bars 13; at the
same time the projecting fringe of fibre lays against a fixed jaw 16 (see Fig. 10) with
a smooth rounded surface on the underside, and whilst the books and fibre are in this
position, an oscillating jaw 17 operated by tappet 18 on the shaft 15 is made to
advance so as to firmly grip the tuft of fibre between the fixed jaw 16, and whilst the
tuft is thus held between the jaws, another oscillating pusher or wiper 19 operated by
tappet 20 on the same shaft 15 is made to advance and push the hanging tuft onto
the moveable revolving endless apron 21. The moveable gradient or inclined plane 12
is now made to rise as shewn in dotted lines Fig. 9, such movement being performed
by a lever from a tappet 22 on shaft 15; such rising movement of the gradient lifts
the book vertically away from the gripped fibre, at the same time the horizontal
pusher 13 forces the book still further away up the gradient 12, as shewn in dotted
lines Fig. 10, which table is now tilted as shewn in dotted lines of Fig. 9, when
the books being thus released from the fibre, fall empty upon the endless travelling
apron below, marked 23, shewn more clearly in Fig. 11. On the wiper 19 and
moving jaw 17 retreating from the fixed jaws, the roller 24, over which the apron 21
revolves, is now gradually raised, as shewn in dotted line Fig. 10, by means of
levers 25, actuated by a tappet 26 on shaft 15; such roller 24 presses the projecting
fringe of fibre against the underside of the smooth polished surface of fixed jaw 16,
and simultaneously therewith the apron 21 is made to revolve in the direction of
the arrow, whereby the fibre is carried away and deposited into the can or other
receptacle 28 at the foot of the machine. The oscillating jaw 17, wiper 19, and
table 12, are carried back when released by their cams by means of weights 27, as are
also the horizontal pushers 13.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
Firstly. The combination of the mechanism substantially as herein shewn and
described for opening and reversing books containing tufts of fibre.
Secondly. In books for holding tufts of fibre in the process of dressing, the com-
bination therewith of studs projecting from each end of the books, and held together
by flexible cords.
Thirdly. The general arrangement and construction of machinery for removing
tufts or fringes of fibre from books, substantially as shewn and described.
Fourthly. The general arrangement and construction of machine for removing
tufts of dressed fibre from books, and means of carrying such books and fibre
separately away, all as described.
Fifthly. In machinery for changing tufis of fibre in books, the combination
therewith of inclined surfaces to assist the transit of such books from one machine
to another.
Dated this 5th day of August 1800
TASKER & CROSSLEY,
Halifax, Agents.