IMPROVEMENTS IN SLIVER
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Barbour, of Belfast, in the County of Antrim,
Ireland (Machinist), for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SLIVER CON-
Sealed the 19th December 1879, and dated the 23rd June 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Barbour at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd June 1879.
JAMES BARBOUR, of Belfast, in the County of Antrim, Ireland, "Machinist."
"IMPROVEMENTS IN SLIVER CONDUCTORS."
This Invention consists of a novel construction of conductor for the sliver when
passing from the gills to the drawing rollers in machinery for preparing flax, hemp,
tow, and similar fibres.
The peculiar feature of this arrangement being that the conductor is supported by
the bottom roller and held laterally by the upper or "lower" roller by flanges or
projections on each side of the boss of the roller, thus dispensing with the usual
bar or rail to carry the conductors. The conductor accommodates itself to the
position of the rollers, so that it matters not how the roller alters its position, from
either pressure or wear, the conductor always retains its proper position, which it
does not do when supported entirely as hitherto by a separate rail or bar,

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said James Barbour in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 23rd December
1879.
JAMES BARBOUR, of Belfast, in the County of Antrim, Ireland.
IN SLIVER CONDUCTORS."
"IMPROVEMENTS
This Invention consists of a novel mode of constructing the conductor through
which the sliver is passed from the gills to the drawing rollers of machinery for
preparing flax, hemp, tow, and similar fibres.
The peculiar feature of this Invention is that the conductor is supported by the
bottom roller and held laterally by the upper roller by flanges or projections on
each side of the conductor, which embrace the pressing roller, thus dispensing with
the usual bar or rail to carry the conductors. This arrangement will be readily
understood by reference to the accompanying Drawing, wherein the same letters
and figures. of reference always refer to the same or like parts.
Figures 1 and 2 shew the conductor a as applied to a drawing frame for flax or
tow; Figures 3, 4, 5, and 6 shew its form as applied to smaller rollers of roving
frames for flax or tow; and Figures 7, 8, 9, and 10 shew a form of conductor a
whereby the bar b is dispensed with.
The conductor a is supported by the bottom or drawing roller c, and held laterally
by its flanges or projections a', which partially embrace the sides of the pressing
roller e.
In soine cases a light bar as at b is introduced to prevent the conductor a from
falling backwards on to the gills g when the pressing roller e is removed temporarily
for the purpose of changing, but as the finger of the conductor a merely rests upon
the bar b. This bar does not provent the conductor a from following the roller c
as it
goes downwards by pressure or wear in the journals.
It is practicable to dispense with the light bar b altogether, as shewn in Figures
7, 8, 9, and 10, where the conductor a is supported entirely by the drawing roller c.
For this purpose on the front part of the guiding flanges a' projecting anugs a³ are
fitted, which come into contact with the pressing roller e, and so prevent the con-
ductor a from falling back upon the gills. In practice, however, the conductor a
has little or no tendency to turn backwards, for, owing to the direction in which
the drawing roller c rotates, the conductor is kept poised on the top of the drawing
roller c.
Having now set forth the nature of my Invention of "Improvements in Sliver
Conductors," and explained the manner of carrying the same into effect, I wish it
to be understood that I do not confine myself to the exact form of sliver conductor
drawn and described, but what I claim under the above in part recited Lotters
Patent is, a sliver conductor supported and guided by drawing rollers, as and for
the purpose above described.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Barbour, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, the Sixteenth day of December, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.
JAMES BARBOUR. (L.S.)