Improvements in Yarn Cleaners or Clearers.
Year: 1897

page_text: Improvements in Yarn Cleaners or Clearers.
I, JOSEPH WITTLE, of Higher House, Moorside Road, Swinton, in the County
of Lancaster, Cotton Mill Manager, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
My invention consists in improvements in yarn-cleaners or clearers, and has for its
principal object the provision of yarn-cleaners which shall be efficient in removing
motes and loose fibre and thick places and bad or tender places and other imper-
fections from the yarns operated upon thereby and shall not be liable to cut
through such yarns and shall be capable of smoothing the yarn operated upon so
that yarn produced by ring-spinning and ring-doubling machinery shall be
rendered equal in appearance to yarn produced by the use of flyers or yarn spun
or doubled by the use of spindles such as are employed in the machines known
as mules or twiners and shall be simple in construction and simple and easy to
adjust in order that the extent or intensity of their action upon the yarns operated
upon may be regulated as may be desirable from time to time and may be regulated
with precision so as to impart any requisite amount of drag or tension to the yarns
or threads operated upon and shall not be liable to derangement and shall when
constructed in some of the forms in which my invention may be carried into
effect be capable of imparting different amounts of drag or tension to yarns or
threads of different thicknesses without requiring adjustment for that purpose
and shall, when constructed according to some of the modes in which my invention
may be carried into effect not be liable to wear unequally in different parts and
shall not be liable to have their operation interfered with by vibration of the
machines in which they are employed and shall be capable of being readily applied
to machines already constructed and shall be capable of being applied to twiners,
winding machines, reels, gassing frames, doubling machines, twisting frames or
warping machinery or other machines in which yarns or threads are wound in any
way or into any form after being spun.
In constructing a yarn-cleaner according to my invention, I provide two discs
or plates of suitable material such for instance as steel, one or both of which is
or are made capable of being moved in the direction of its or their axis or axes.
The said dises or plates are supported by being mounted upon a rod or bar sup-
ported in any suitable manner or by one of such discs or plates being formed
with a spindle or axle which passes through the other. A spring or weight or
springs or weights is or are provided to press the one of the said discs or plates
towards the other or if the said discs or plates be mounted so that their axes are
vertical or inclined to a suitable extent, the weight of one of such discs or plates
may be employed to press it towards the other. When a spring or springs is or
are employed to press the one disc or plate towards the other or to press the two
discs towards each other provide an adjustable collar or adjustable collars or
other means of adjusting the pressure tending to force the one disc or plate
towards the other or to press the two discs or plates together as may be desirable

page_text: from time to time and if a weight or weights be employed the weight or position
or weight and position of such weight or weights may be made adjustable for
the said purpose.
The yarn to be operated upon is caused to pass between the said dises or plates
so as to be pressed between them and the edges of the said discs or plates which
act upon the said yarn are so made as to form cutting or shaving edges of any
degree of sharpness which may be considered desirable in order that the yarn
may be operated upon in the manner and to the extent which may be considered
desirable or in any case in which a scraping action rather than a cutting or shaving
action may be considered preferable the said edges may be made rectangular or
in any case in which a smoothing rather than a cutting or shaving or scraping action
may be considered preferable the said edges may be rounded to any extent which may
be considered desirable. Each of the said dises or plates is provided with a hole
or slot or opening or groove or recess or a suitable number of holes or slots or
openings or grooves or recesses of any suitable form and arranged in any suitable
manner so that the yarn being operated upon may pass a suitable number of them
and formed with edges which are made acute to any desirable extent or rect-
angular or rounded to any desirable extent according as a cutting or shaving or a
scraping or a smoothing action may be desired to be produced upon the yarn
operated upon and in order that a further smoothing action may be obtained,
I in any case in which it may be desirable to do so, provide one or both of the
said discs or plates with a groove or grooves of suitable form extending across
it or them in any suitable manner, so that the yarn being operated upon may
engage therewith in passing between such discs or plates. The holes or slots or
openings or grooves or recesses in the said discs or plates are preferably so formed
that the coincidences between or arrival in corresponding positions of the holes
or slots or openings or grooves or recesses of the one disc or plate and those of
the other shall be as few or occur as seldom as possible in comparison with the
number of such holes, slots, openings, grooves or recesses in order that the yarn
to be operated upon may be cleaned as efficiently as possible without being in
danger of being cut through or injured. One of the said dises or plates is pre-
ferably arranged to be capable of being revolved by the yarn being operated
upon bearing against it or by any other suitable means while the other whether
fixed against lateral movement or capable of being moved laterally is prevented
from being revolved or made to revolve in the direction opposite to that in which
the yarn moves in contact with it or in the same direction as the yarn moves in
contact with it or alternately in both directions as may be considered preferable.
The disc or plate which is prevented from being revolved or both discs or plate
in any case in which either or both is or are prevented from being revolved is or
are preferably fixed in such position in relation to the path of the yarn passing
between the discs or plates of the yarn-cleaner in order to be cleaned thereby
that the yarn shall be caused to pass the hole, slot, opening, groove or recess or
as many as possible of the holes, slots, openings, grooves or recesses in such disc
or plate or dises or plates and in any case in which both of the discs or plates
employed in a yarn-cleaner constructed according to my invention are prevented
from being revolved the said dises or plates need not be made circular but may
be of any shape which may be considered preferable.
In any case in which it may be considered preferable to so construct it, a yarn-
cleaner made according to my invention may have one disc or plate with a hole,
slot, opening or groove or recess or holes, slots, openings or grooves or
recesses and one disc without a hole, slot, opening or groove or recess or holes,
slots, openings or grooves or recesses.
In any case in which the outer edges of the discs or plates employed in a yarn-
cleaner constructed according to my invention and the surfaces which such dises
or plates present towards each other are able to exert the required cleaning or
smoothing action upon the yarn operated upon, the formation of a hole or slot
or opening or groove or recess or holes or slots or openings or grooves or recesses

page_text: in both or either of the said dises or plates may be dispensed with. In any
cases in which discs or plates simply provided with holes or slots or openings
or recesses or grooves and simple smoothing edges upon the outer edges of such
discs or plates will produce the action requisite upon the yarn to be operated upon
they may be employed, and in any such case the formation of cutting or shaving
or scraping edges upon such discs or plates may be dispensed with..
In any case in which a number of yarn-cleaners constructed according to my
invention are to be applied to a machine and a spring is employed to press the one
plate or disc of each yarn-cleaner towards the other plate thereof, the yarn-cleaners
may be mounted in pairs or groups or at suitable distances apart upon one rod
or bar or two or more rods or bars mounted in any suitable part or position in
the machine in which such yarn-cleaners may be intended to be employed.
In any case in which two yarn-cleaners may be required to be placed closer to-
gether than is possible with the use of a separate spring for each yarn-cleaner
I may employ one spring to act upon two discs or plates and cause them to be
pressed towards the discs or plates in conjunction with which they are respectively
employed.
In any case in which two or more yarn-cleaners constructed according to my
invention are mounted upon one bar or rod, and the machine in which they are
employed is provided with a lifting or building motion by which the yarns
operated upon are guided in the manner requisite in order to be wound in the
desired form upon bobbins or spindles or other objects and one disc or plate of
each yarn-cleaner is required to be oscillated or turned first in one direction and
then in the opposite direction the oscillation or backward and forward turning of
the discs or plates requiring such motion may be effected by the bar or rod on
which the said yarn-cleaners are mounted being connected by means of a strap
or chain or straps or chains or other suitable means to any suitable part of the
said lifting or building motion so as to be oscillated or turned thereby or the
lifting or building motion may be caused to turn the said bar or rod in one
direction while a weight or spring or any other suitable means is employed to
turn such bar or rod in the opposite direction.
I prefer that the varn operated upon by a yarn-cleaner constructed according
to my invention shall be made to pass in contact with the rod or spindle or axle
by which the dises or plates employed in such yarn-cleaner are supported or kept
in proper relative position.
Dated this Twenty-fifth day of October 1897
HOWARD CHEETHAM,
Manchester,
Agent to the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Yarn Cleaners or Clearers.
I, JOSEPH WHITTLE, of Higher House, Moorside Road, Swinton, in the County
of Lancaster, Cotton Mill Manager, 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 consists in improvements in yarn-cleaners or clearers and has for its
principal object the provision of yarn-cleaners which shall be efficient in removing
motes and loose fibre and thick places and bad or tender places and other imper-
fections from the yarns operated upon thereby and shall not be liable to cut
through such yarns and shall be capable of smoothing the yarn operated upon so

page_text: that yarn produced by ring-spinning and ring-doubling machinery shall be
rendered equal in appearance to yarn produced by the use of flyers or yarn spun
or doubled by the use of spindles such as are employed in the machines known
as mules or twiners and shall be simple in construction and simple and easy to
adjust in order that the extent or intensity of their action upon the yarns operated
upon may be regulated as may be desirable from time to time and may be regulated
with precision so as to impart any requisite amount of drag or tension to the yarns
or threads operated upon and shall not be liable to derangement and shall when
constructed in some of the forms in which my invention may be carried into
effect be capable of imparting different amounts of drag or tension to yarns or
threads of different thicknesses without requiring adjustment for that purpose
and shall, when constructed according to some of the modes in which my invention
may be carried into effect not be liable to wear unequally in different parts and
shall not be liable to have their operation interfered with by vibration of the
machines in which they are employed and shall be capable of being readily applied
to machines already constructed and shall be capable of being applied to twiners,
winding machines, reels, gassing frames, doubling machines, twisting frames or
other machines in which yarns or threads are wount in any way or into any form
after being spun.
In construoting a yarn-cleaner according to my invention, I provide two discs
or plates of suitable material such for instance as steel, one or both of which is
or are made capable of being moved in the direction of its or their axis or axes
The said dises or plates are supported by being mounted upon a rod or bar sup-
ported in any suitable manner or by one of such discs or plates being formed
with a spindle or axle which passes through the other. A spring or weight or
springs or weights is or are provided to press the one of the said discs or plates
towards the other or if the said dises or plates be mounted so that their axes are
vertical or inclined to a suitable extent, the weight of one of such discs or plates
may be employed to press it towards the other. When a spring or springs is or
are employed to press the one disc or plate towards the other or to press the two
discs towards each other I provide an adjustable collar or adjustable collars or
other means of adjusting the pressure tending to force the one disc or plate
towards the other or to press the two discs or plates together as may be desirable
from time to time and if a weight or weights be employed the weight or position
or weight and position of such weight or weights may be made adjustable for
the said purpose.
The yarn to be operated upon is caused to pass between the said dises or plates
so as to be pressed between them and the edges of the said discs or plates which
act upon the said yarn are so made as to form cutting or shaving edges of any
degree of sharpness which may be considered desirable in order that the yarn
may be operated upon in the manner and to the extent which may be considered
desirable or in any case in which a scraping action rather than a cutting or shaving
action may be considered preferable the said edges may be made rectangular or
in any case in which a smoothing rather than a cutting or shaving or scraping action
may be considered preferable the said edges may be rounded to any extent which may
be considered desirable. Each of the said discs or plates is provided with a hole
or slot or opening or groove or recess or a suitable number of holes or slots or
openings or grooves or recesses of any suitable form and arranged in any suitable
manner so that the yarn being operated upon may pass a suitable number of them
and formed with edges which are made acute to any desirable extent or rect-
angular or rounded to any desirable extent according as a cutting or shaving or a
scraping or a smoothing action may be desired to be produced upon the yarn
operated upon and in order that a further smoothing action may be obtained,
I in any case in which it may be desirable to do so, provide one or both of the
said dises or plates with a groove or grooves of suitable form extending across
it or them in any suitable manner, so that the yarn being operated upon may
engage therewith in passing between such discs or plates. The holes or slots or

page_text: openings or grooves or recesses in the said discs or plates are preferably so formed
that the coincidences between or arrival in corresponding positions of the holes
or slots or openings or grooves or recesses of the one disc or plate and those of
the other shall be as few or occur as seldom as possible in comparison with the
number of such holes, slots, openings, grooves or recesses in order that the yarn
to be operated upon may be cleaned as efficiently as possible without being in
danger of being cut through or injured. One of the said discs or plates is pre-
ferably arranged to be capable of being revolved by the yarn being operated
upon bearing against it or by any other suitable means while the other whether
fixed against lateral movement or capable of being moved laterally is prevented
from being revolved or made to revolve in the direction opposite to that in which
the yarn moves in contact with it or in the same direction as the yarn moves in
contact with it. or alternately in both directions as may be considered preferable.
The disc or plate which is prevented from being revolved or both discs or plates
in any case in which either or, both is or are prevented from being revolved is or
are preferably fixed in such position in relation to the path of the yarn passing
between the discs or plates of the yarn-cleaner in order to be cleaned thereby
that the yarn shall be caused to pass the hole, slot, opening, groove or recess or
as many as possible of the holes, slots, openings, grooves or recesses in such disc
or plate or discs or plates and in any case in which both of the discs or plates
employed in a yarn-cleaner constructed according to my invention are prevented
from being revolved the said discs or plates need not be made circular but may
be of any shape which may be considered preferable.
In any case in which it may be considered preferable to so construct it, a yarn-
cleaner made according to my invention may have one disc or plate with a hole,,
slot, opening or groove or recess or holes, slots, openings or grooves or
recesses and one disc without a hole, slot, opening or groove or recess or holes,
slots, openings or grooves or recesses.
In any case in which the outer edges of the discs or plates employed in a yarn-
cleaner constructed according to my invention and the surfaces which such discs
or plates present towards each other are able to exert the required cleaning or
smoothing action upon the yarn operated upon, the formation of a hole or slot
or opening or groove or recess or holes or slots or openings or grooves or recesses
in both or either of the said discs or plates may be dispensed with. In any
cases in which discs or plates simply provided with holes or slots or openings
or recesses or grooves and simple smoothing edges upon the outer edges of such
discs or plates will produce the action requisite upon the yarn to be operated upon
they may be employed, and in any such case the, formation of cutting or shaving
or scraping edges upon such discs or plates may be dispensed with.
In any case in which a number of yarn-cleaners constructed according to my
invention are to be applied to a machine and a spring is employed to press the one
plate or disc of each varn-cleaner towards the other plate thereof, the yarn-cleaners
may be mounted in pairs or groups or at suitable distances apart upon one rod
or bar or upon two or more rods or bars mounted in any suitable part or position in
the machine in which such yarn cleaners may be intended to be employed.
In any case in which two yarn-cleaners may be required to be placed closer to-
gether than is possible with the use of a separate spring for each yarn-cleaner,
I may employ one spring to act upon two discs or plates and cause them to be
pressed towards the discs or plates in conjunction with which they are respectively
employed.
In any case in which two or more yarn-cleaners constructed according to my
invention are mounted upon one bar or rod, and the machine in which they are
employed is provided with a lifting or building motion by which the yarns
operated upon are guided in the manner requisite in order to be wound in the
desired form upon bobbins or spindles or other objects and one disc or plate of
each varn-cleaner is required to be oscillated or turned first in one direction and
then in the opposite direction the oscillation or backward and forward turning of

page_text: '
the discs or plates requiring such motion may be effected by the bar or rod on
which the said yarn-cleaners are mounted being connected by means of a strap
or chain or straps or chains or other suitable means to any suitable part of the
said lifting or building motion so as to be oscillated or turned thereby or the
lifting or building motion may be caused to turn the said bar or rod in one
direction while a weight or spring or any other suitable means is employed to
turn such bar or rod in the opposite direction.
I prefer that the yarn operated upon by a yarn-cleaner constructed according
to my invention shall be made to pass in contact with the rod or spindle or axle
by which the discs or plates employed in such yarn-cleaner are supported or kept
in proper relative position.
In the accompanying drawings, in all the figures of which the same letters of
reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts are illustrated some forms
of yarn-cleaners made according to my invention and some modes of applying
cleaners made according to my invention to different machines. Fig. 1 is in part
a front elevation and in part a vertical section showing four yarn-cleaners con-
structed according to my invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the face of one
of such yarn-cleaners which is presented to the yarn or thread to be operated upon
and Fig. 3 is a side elevation showing the other face of such disc or plate.
Each of the yarn-cleaners illustrated in Fig. I is formed of two discs or plates (a).
One of the said discs or plates (a) that is to say the disc or plate (a) is secured
by means of a set screw (a³) upon a rod (b) supported in any suitable manner
in the machine in which such yarn-cleaners are to be employed and the other of
such dises or plates (a) that is to say the disc or plate (a) is capable of being
moved in the direction of its axis and also capable of being turned upon the said
rod (b). In conjunction with the discs or plates (a) illustrated in Fig. 1 are
employed a corresponding number of springs (e) and a corresponding number of
collars () secured by means of set screws (d) in position upon the rod (b). Each
spring (c) bearing at one end against the disc or plate (2) in conjunction with
which it is employed and at the other end against the collar (d) employed in
conjunction with it tends to press such disc or plate (2) in the direction indicated
by the arrow (A) towards the disc or plate (¹) in conjunction with which such
disc or plate (w) is employed. Each of the discs or plates (a) illustrated in
Figs. 1, 2 and 3 is provided with an acute edge (a) so as to exert a cutting or
shaving action upon the yarns or threads which are passed in contact with such
plates (a).
Fig. 4 of the accompanying drawings is a vertical section illustrating a yarn-
cleaner the plates or discs (a) of which are formed with rectangular edges (a")
so as to exert a scraping action rather than a cutting or shaving action upon the
yarns or threads passed between them and Fig. 5 is a vertical section illustrating
a yarn-cleaner the discs or plates of which are formed with rounded edges (a)
to exert a smoothing action rather than a cutting or shaving action or a scraping
action upon the yarns or threads passed between them.
The disces or plates (a) illustrated in Figs. 1. 2, 3, 4 and 5 are shown as provided
with plain faces to hear upon the yarns or threads passed between the discs or
plates of the yarn-cleaners in which such discs or plates (a) are employed.
Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9 are side elevations of other forms of discs or plates (a) which
may be employed in yarn-cleaners constructed according to my invention and
showing the faces of such discs or plates which are to be made to bear upon the
yarns or threads to be operated upon thereby and illustrate some of the different
forms and arrangements of holes, slots or openings which may be employed in
the discs or plates of yarn-cleaners constructed according to my invention. Fig. 6
illustrates a disc or plate (a) formed with several holes of one size and Fig. 7
illustrates a disc or plate (a) formed with a larger number of holes of smaller
size than those illustrated in Fig. 6. Fig. 8 illustrates a disc or plate (a) formed
with several slots and Fig. 9 illustrates a disc or plate formed with a number of
openit gs each of a shape approximately that of the sector of a ring.

page_text: Fig. 10 19 a side elevation of another form of disc or plate (a) which may be
employed in a yaru-cleaner according to my invention and showing the face of
such disc or plate (a) which is to be presented to the yarn or thread to be operated
upon, illustrates a disc or plate formed with three grooves which taper from
5 the edge of the said disc or plate (a) and terminate near the central part of such
dise or plate (a). The formation of holes slots or other openings or grooves in
the discs or plates of yarn-cleaners made according to my invention may be accom-
plished by any suitable means but when the edges surrounding the holes, slots
or openings formed in such discs or plates are required to exert a cutting or
O shaving action upon the yarns or threads operated upon and consequently require
to be kept as sharp as may be possible, I prefer to form such holes, slots or open-
ings either by casting them in the discs or plates or by drilling them therein or
by any other suitable means so that as is illustrated in Fig. 11 which is a section
taken through a portion of a disc or plate (a) in a plane at right angles to the
5 faces thereof, such holes, slots or openings shail taper or become narrower towards
the faces of the discs or plates which are presented to the yarns or threads
operated upon and so cause the edges surrounding such holes, slots or openings to
keep sharp even though they may become worn by the yarns or threads operated
upon.
Fig. 12 is a front elevation showing two yarn-cleaners made according to my
invention and illustrating one manner in which one spring (c) may be employed.
in conjunction with two yarn-cleaners. The spring (c) in Fig. 12 is placed
between the two plates (a) of the two yarn-cleaners illustrated in such figure
and presses each towards one of the two plates (a) which are secured by means
of set-screws (a) in position upon a rod (b) which is mounted in any suitable
position in the machine in which such yarn-cleaners are to be employed.
Fig. 13 is a vertical section of a yarn-cleaner which being placed with its axis
vertical or inclined to a suitable extent to a horizontal plane is provided with one
movable disc or plate (a) movable in the direction of its axis and pressed by its
own weight towards the disc or plate (a) in conjunction with which it is employed
and Fig. 13 also illustrates one method in which one disc or plate, that is to say
in the case illustrated by Fig. 13, the plate (a), is provided with an axle or
spindle () passing through the other so that the one disc or plate (a¹) being sup-
ported by any suitable means supports the other.
The lines (BB) and (B' B) in Figs. 2 and 3 indicate the limits between which
it is preferable to keep the paths in which the yarns or threads to be operated
upon by the yarn-cleaners constructed according to my invention are caused to
pass between the discs or plates of such yarn-cleaners, and the lines (132 B2)
and (BBB) indicate the extreme limits between which it is necessary to keep
the paths in which the yarns or threads pass between the dises or plates of such
yarn-cleaners. It is preferable to keep the paths in which the yarns or threads.
to be operated upon are caused to pass between the discs or plates of the yarn-
cleaners within the limits indicated by the lines (BB) (B' B¹) in order that the
yarns or threads may not tend to cause the movable discs. or plates of the yarn-
cleaners to be more widely separated at one side than at the other from the discs
or plates with which they are used or to bind upon the bars or rods on which
hey are mounted.
The passage of yarns or threads between the discs or plates (a) of yarn-cleaners
rranged in the manner illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12 and 13
ill cause the discs or plates (2) of such yarn-cleaners which are free to turn
pon the bars or rods or spindles or axles on which they are mounted to revolve
nd so will tend to prevent the edges of such discs or plates (a²) from being worn
nequally in different parts by the said yarns or threads and thus tend to keep
e action of the yarn-cleaners more effective than would be the case were both
ises or plates (a) of each of such yarn-cleaners incapable of being revolved. If
e arrows (C) of Figs. 2 and 3 indicate the direction in which the yarns or threads
e caused to pass between the discs or plates of the yarn-cleaners the arrows (D).

page_text: indicate the directions in which such yarns or threads will tend to turn the
movable discs or plates of such yaru-cleaners. In some cases both of the plates (a)
of each yarn-cleaner of the forms illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
and 12 might be made capable of revolution upon the rod (b) on which they are
mounted but in any such case the yarn or thread passing to the yarn-cleaner must
make with the yarn or thread passing away from such yarn-cleaner an angle
not greater than one hundred and thirty-five degrees in order that the revolution
of the discs or plates (a) of the yarn-cleaner shall not tend to displace the said
yarn or thread from between the discs or plates (a) of such yarn-cleaner.
Although yarns or threads placed between the discs or plates of a yarn-cleaner
constructed according to my invention do not tend to become accidentally dis-
placed therefrom or to be injured by the cutting edges if such are provided upon
the said plates it is preferable that each yarn or thread should be passed to the
discs or plates to operate upon it approximately in the plane of the division
between such discs or plates, so as to be as little liable as possible to become dis-
placed and so that it shall not tend to separate the movable disc or plate more
at one side than at the other from the disc or plate with which it is used. The
yarn or thread in issuing from between the discs or plates of a yarn-cleaner con-
structed according to my invention may be made to pass at a considerable inclina-
tion to the plane of the division between such discs or plates.
Each of the yarn-cleaners illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12
and 13 is provided with a projecting flange (a) on each of the discs or plates (a)
employed in it in order that it may be more easy than would otherwise be the case
to pass the yarns or threads between the said dises or plates (a) in putting the
machine to work or after the piecing of broken yarns or threads.
The formation of holes, openings or slots or grooves in the plates or discs of
yarn-cleaners made according to my invention increases the cutting or shaving
action or the scraping action of such yarn-cleaners according as the edges
surrounding such holes, openings or slots or grooves and made to act upon the
yarns or threads being operated upon are made more or less acute or rectangular
or rounded and the smoothing action exerted by yarn-cleaners made according
to my invention upon the yarns or threads operated upon thereby is greater or
less according as the discs or plates (a) of such yarn-cleaners present a greater
or less extent of smooth and uninterrupted metal surface to the yarns or threads
operated upon and thus it is obvious that by the use of discs or plates with more
or less acute, rectangular or rounded edges and the formation of suitable numbers
and sizes of holes, openings or slots in the discs or plates of such yarn-cleaners
and the use of suitable acute, rectangular or rounded edges around such holes
openings or slots or the use of discs or plates entirely without holes, openings
or slots any desirable shaving or cutting action or scraping action or smoothing
action may be arranged for in the preparation of yarn-cleaners according to my
invention. By the collars (d) against which the springs (c) employed in con-
junction with the yarn-cleaners illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 12
of the accompanying drawings being placed and secured in different positions
upon the bars or rods on which they are mounted the said springs may be
adjusted with precision and caused to bear more or less upon the discs or plates
in conjunction with which they are employed and cause such discs or plates
to be pressed more or less firmly towards the discs or plates employed in con-
junction with them and so cause the yarns or threads passed through the yarn-
cleaners in which such discs or plates are employed to be more or less acted upon
thereby and to impart any requisite amount of drag or tension to the yarns or
threads operated upon.
Yarn-cleaners made according to my invention with smoothing edges and
without holes, slots, openings or grooves in one or each of the plates used in each
yarn-cleaner or with holes, slots, openings or grooves with rounded or smoothing
edges to act upon the yarns or threads may with advantage be used to act upon
yarns or threads which are smooth and need little or no cleaning, but in all other

page_text: cases it is necessary to so form the edges of the discs or plates or the edges
surrounding or adjacent to holes, slots or openings or grooves that they shall exert
a greater or less degree of scraping or shaving or cutting action upon the surfaces
of the yarns or threads operated upon.
In any case in which it may be considered preferable each disc or plate of a
yarn-cleaner constructed according to my invention may have a spring provided
to press it towards the other disc or plate of such yarn-cleaner.
Fig. 14 illustrates one manner in which yarn-cleaners constructed according to
my invention may be applied to machines for winding yarns or threads two or
more together on to bobbins, spools or tubes with or without heads or spindles
or upon or into other bodies or forms and is a plan of six yarn-cleaners made
according to my invention and so much of a quick-traverse winding frame for
winding yarns or threads two or more together on to bobbins, spools or tubes
without heads as is requisite to illustrate this application of my invention. The
disc or plate (a¹) of one of the yarn-cleaners illustrated in Fig. 14 that is to say
the yarn-cleaner (E) is secured by means of a set-screw (a") in position upon a
rod () mounted in a suitable position in the said machine and the plate (a) used
with such disc or plate and the discs or plates (a¹) (a²) of the other five yarn-
cleaners (E) (E²) (13) (E) (E³) illustrated in the said figure are mounted upon
the rod () so as to be capable of being slidden lengthwise thereof and the discs
or plates (a) of the yarn-cleaners (E¹) (E) (E³) (ES) (E) are caused to bear against
the discs or plates (a²) of the yarn-cleaners (E) (E¹) (E³) (E³) (E) respectively
and against the disc or plate (a2) of the yarn-cleaner (E) is caused to bear one end
of a spring (c) which at its other end is caused to bear against a collar (4) secured
upon the rod (6). The discs or plates (a²) of the yarn-cleaners (E) (E¹) (E²) (E³) (E³)
and the discs or plates (¹) of the yarn-cleaners (E¹) (E²) (E³) (14) (1) are pro-
vided with central bosses shorter than the central bosses of the yarn-cleaners
illustrated in Fig. 1, in order that the yarn-cleaners illustrated in Fig. 14 may
be placed close together as is desirable in order that the yarns or threads operated
upon may be kept close together in their passage through the machine and pass
with little friction through the eyes (e) which are fixed to any suitable part of
the machine and are employed to guide such yarns or threads to a guide (f) fixed
in any suitable part of the machine and employed to guide the yarns or threads
to the traversing guide by which such yarns or threads are guided to and laid
in the requisite positions upon the bobbin, spool or tube on which they are to be wound.
The guides (e) are employed in order to ensure that the yarns or threads may not
be drawn out of the yarn-cleaners by being led obliquely therefrom and the
guide (f) is employed in order that the movements of the traversing guide may
not cause variations in the tension of the said yarns or threads.
Fig. 15 illustrates another manner in which yarn-cleaners made according to
my invention may be applied to machines for winding yarns or threads two or
more together on to bobbins, spools or tubes with or without heads or spindles
or upon or into other bodies or forms and is a plan of six yarn-cleaners made
according to my invention and so much of a quick-traverse winding frame for
winding yarns or threads two or more together on to bobbins, spools or tubes
without heads as is requisite for the illustration of this application of my inven-
tion. The yarn-cleaners (E) (E¹) (E²) (E³) (E) (E) illustrated in Fig. 15 are
mounted in groups of three upon two rods (b) and are placed in such position that
the yarns or threads operated upon by or to be operated upon by the yarn-cleaners
on one rod (b) may pass by the sides of the yarn-cleaners on the other rod (b)
so that the yarns or threads may be brought closer together in their passage
through the machine than is possible in the arrangement illustrated in Fig. 14
but in other respects the arrangement illustrated in Fig. 15 is similar to that
illustrated in Fig. 14 and so needs no further description."
Fig. 16 is an end elevation of so much of a machine for winding yarns or threads
from ring-frame bobbins or cops on to warpers' bobbins as is requisite to illustrate
one mode of causing the discs or plates (a¹) of yarn-cleaners made according to
P

page_text: my invention which are fixed to the bar or rod (b) on which they are mounted to
oscillate first in one direction and then in the opposite direction by means of the
lifting or building motion by which the yarns or threads operated upon are guided
in the manner requisite in order to be wound upon the bobbins or spindles or
other objects upon which they are to be wound. As the machine of which part
is illustrated in Fig. 16 is similar to machines already in use, I shall only refer
to the parts thereof in so far as is necessary for the description of my invention as
applied to such machine. The yarn-cleaners applied to the said machine are mounted
upon a bar or rod (b) capable of being oscillated or turned in bearings formed in
brackets (g) of which only one is shown in Fig. 16. The brackets (g) are secured
upon the end-frames (h) of the machine, of which end-frames only one is indicated
in Fig. 16, and upon the intermediate transverse frames of the machine which are
omitted altogether from Fig. 16. Upon the bar or rod (b) is mounted a boss (i)
to which is secured one end of a chain () which is passed over a pulley (¹) mounted
upon a stud secured in the end-frame (h) illustrated in Fig. 16 and is secured to
one of the lifting bars (4) which support and move the guide (l) and brush (m)
through which the yarns or threads operated upon are guided to the bobbins upon
the spindles. Each descent of the lifting bars (k) acting by means of the chain ()
causes the rod or bar (b) to turn in the direction indicated by the arrow (F) and
a weight (n) upon a chain (n) secured to the boss (i) causes the rod or bar (6)
to turn in a direction opposite to that indicated by the arrow (F) during each
upward movement of the lifting bars (k) and guide (!). The turning or oscillation
of the bar or rod (6) causes the turning or oscillation of the discs or plates (a)
of the yarn-cleaners which are fixed thereto.
Fig. 17 is an end elevation of so much of a machine for winding yarns or threads
from ring-frame-bobbins or cops on to warpers' bobbins as is requisite to illustrate
another mode of causing the discs or plates (a) of yarn-cleaners made according
to my invention which are fixed to the bar or rod (b) on which they are mounied
to oscillate first in one direction and then in the opposite direction
by means of the lifting or building motion by which
the yarns or
threads operated upon are guided in the manner requisite in order
to be wound upon the bobbins or spindles or other objects upon which they
are to be wound. As the machine of which part is illustrated in Fig. 17 is
similar to machines already in use and also similar to the machine of which part
is illustrated in Fig. 16 I shall only refer to the parts thereof in so far as is neces-
sary for the description of my invention as applied to such machine. The yarn-
cleaners applied to the said machine are mounted upon a bar or rod (b) capable
of being oscillated or turned in bearings formed in brackets (s) of which only one
is shown in Fig. 17. The brackets (s) are secured upon the lifting bars (k) of
which lifting bars (k) only one is indicated in Fig. 17. Upon the bar or rod (!)
is mounted a pulley (1) around which passes a band (u) which is passed around a
pulley (e) mounted fast upon the shaft which has mounted fast upon it the pinions
which gear into the racks formed upon the lifting bars. The band (7) also passes
around pulleys (w) mounted upon an axle from which is suspended a weight (w)
which serves to keep the band (u) tight, although the bar (b) is raised and lowered
with the guide-rail carried by the lifting-bars (4). In the ascent and descent of
the lifting-bars (k) and the guide-rail thereon the pulleys () will by means of
the band (u) cause the pulley (t) and bar or rod (b) to turn first in one direction
and then in the opposite direction and so cause the discs or plates (a) of the
yarn-cleaners which are fixed upon the bar or rod () to also oscillate.
Fig. 18 is an end elevation of so much of a machine for winding yarns or threads
from ring-frame-bobbins or cops on to warpers' bobbins as is requisite to illustrate
one mode of causing the discs or plates of yarn-cleaners made according to my
invention which are fixed to the bar or rod on which they are mounted to turn
continuously in one direction during the working of the machine. As the machine
of which part is illustrated in Fig. 18 is similar to machines already in use, I
shall only refer to the parts thereof in so far as is requisite for the description of

page_text: my invention as applied to such machine. The yarn-cleaners applied to the said
machine are mounted upon a bar or rod (b) capable of being turned in bearings
formed in brackets (9) of which only one is indicated in Fig. 18. The brackets (9)
are secured upon the end-frames (h) of the machine of which only one is indicated
in Fig. 18 and upon the intermediate transverse frames of the machine which are
omitted altogether from Fig. 18. The bar or rod (b) is provided with a pulley (0)
around which is passed a band or belt (p) which is passed around a pulley (2)
much smaller than the pulley (o) and mounted fast upon the main driving
shaft (r) of the machine so that the revolution of the main driving shaft (r) will
cause the bar or rod to revolve slowly and cause the plates or discs of the yarn-
cleaners fixed thereon to also revolve slowly.
It is preferable that the plates or discs employed in yarn-cleaners made accord-
ing to my invention shall be circular in order that one or each of the discs or
plates of each yarn-cleaner may be made to turn or oscillate upon or with the
rod or bar on which it is mounted and so be prevented from becoming worn un-
equally by the yarns or threads operated upon or in order that the discs or plates
fixed upon the rods or bars upon which yarn-cleaners are mounted may be
turned into and fixed in different positions thereon as one part after another
becomes worn by the yarn or thread operated upon but yarn-cleaners made
according to my invention may in any case in which it may not be requisite or
desirable that either of the discs or plates of a yarn-cleaner shall be capable of
being turned upon or turned with the bar or rod on which it is mounted yarn-
cleaners made according to my invention may be formed of plates which are not
circular but made of other shapes for instance of the shape illustrated in
Figs. 19 and 20 which are respectively a front elevation and side elevation of a
yarn-cleaner made according to my invention and provided with plates (a) of a
rectangular form. The rod (b) upon which the plates (a) illustrated in Figs. 19
and 20 are mounted is made with a flattened portion (1) and the opening in each
plate (a) to receive the rod (b) is made of a corresponding form in order that the
plate (a) may be readily secured in proper position upon the bar (b) and in order
that although the plate (2) may be capable of being moved lengthwise of the
rod (6) it shall be incapable of being turned thereon.
In any case in which one or each of the discs or plates of a yarn-cleaner made
according to my invention is arranged to be revolved or oscillated it is preferable
that the revolution or oscillation of such disc or plate shall be as slow as possible
and in any case in which one or each plate of a yarn-cleaner is arranged to be
revolved otherwise than by the yarn or thread passing in contact with it, the said
disc or plate is preferably caused to revolve in a direction opposite to that in which
the said yarn or thread would tend to revolve it.
Although in the accompanying drawings all yarn-cleaners made according to
my invention which are mounted upon horizontal rods or bars are illustrated as
provided with springs to press the movable discs or plates employed in each of such
yarn-cleaners towards the discs or plates in conjunction with which they are
employed, the methods in which weights may be employed to press the movable
discs or plates of yarn-cleaners made according to my invention towards the discs
or plates used therewith may be fully understood without further description than
has been hereinbefore given. Yarn-cleaners provided with springs in the manners
illustrated in Figs. 1, 12, 14 15 and 19 of the accompanying drawings are capabie
of imparting different amounts of drag or tension to yarns or threads of different
thicknesses without requiring adjustment for that purpose and are not liable
to have their operation interfered with by vibration of the machines in which
they are employed, and therefore it is preferable to employ springs rather than
weights or the weight of the movable discs or plates of the yarn-cleaners to press
the movable discs or plates towards the discs or plates used therewith even in
cases in which yarn-cleaners made according to my invention are mounted with
their axes vertical or inclined to a horizontal plane.

page_text: Yarn-cleaners made according to my invention are very efficient in removing
motes and loose fibre and bad or tender places and other imperfections from the
yarns operafed upon thereby and in rendering the yarns or threads much brighter
in appearance and are not liable to cut through such yarns or threads and are
also capable of smoothing the yarn operated upon so that yarn which has been
produced by ring-spinning and ring-doubling machinery shall in being after-
wards passed through such yarn-cleaners be rendered equal in appearance to yarn
produced by the use of flyers or yarn spun or doubled by the use of spindles such
as are used in the machines known as mules or twiners and yarn-cleaners made
according to my invention are simple in construction and simple and easy to adjust
in order that the extent or intensity of their action upon the yarns or threads
operated upon may be regulated as may be desirable from time to time and may
be regulated with precision so as to impart any requisite amount of drag or tension
to the yarns or threads operated upon and are not liable to derangement and as
is obvious from the accompanying drawings which illustrate some of the modes in
which my invention may be applied to machines, yarn-cleaners made according
to my invention are capable of being readily applied to twiners, winding machines,
reels, gassing frames, doubling machines or other machines in which yarns or
threads are wound in any way or into any form after being spun.
In many machines for winding yarns or threads yarn-cleaners made according
to my invention may be simply substituted for the woollen washers hitherto em-
ployed to clean and smooth the yarns or threads being wound in such machines.
Furthermore as yarn-cleaners made according to my invention are capable of
being adjusted to impart any required drag or tension to the yarns or threads
operated upon thereby, the employment of such yarn-cleaners renders it
possible to increase the quantity of yarn or thread which can be wound upon or
into a bobbin, or pirn or other body or form of any particular size, in comparison
with the quantity possible by the use of the arrangements hitherto employed.
In any case in which a yarn-cleaner constructed according to my invention is
provided with a spring or weight to act upon it alone, each yarn-cleaner can be
adjusted as may be requisite without regard to the adjustment of any other yarn-
cleaner employed in the machine in which it is used and thus it is made easy for
any part of a machine to be used for winding yarns or threads different from
those being operated upon in other parts of such machine.
Yarn-cleaners made according to my invention need little or no attention so
long as the yarns or threads passing between the discs or plates thereof remain
intact as such yarn-cleaners are not liable to be put out of operation by vibration
of the machines in which they are employed or by the pressure of the yarns or
threads operated upon.
Dyed yarns or threads which are subjected to the action of yarn-cleaners made
according to my invention are rendered brighter by the removal of rough places
and particles of colouring matter.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. A yarn-cleaner or clearer consisting in two discs or plates each with an acute
or rectangular or rounded edge and each or one with or without a hole or opening
or slot or holes or openings or slots and each or one with or without a groove or
grooves and both mounted upon a bar or rod and arranged to have the yarn or
thread on which they are to operate passed between them and so that one or each
being moved in the direction of its axis with or without being revolved by the
yarn or thread or otherwise shall be pressed towards the other by means of a
spring or weight or so that one being movable in the direction of its axis with or
without being revolved by the yarn or thread or otherwise shall be pressed towards
the other by its own weight for the purposes and substantially in the manner
hereinbefore described.

page_text: 2. A yarn-cleaner or clearer consisting in two discs or plates each with an acute
or rectangular or rounded edge and each or one with or without a hole or opening
or slot or holes or openings or slots and each or one with or without a groove or
grooves and one provided with an axle or spindle passing through the other so
that the one being supported will support the other and arranged to have the
yarn or thread on which they are to operate passed between them and so that
one being movable in the direction of its axis with or without being revolved or
oscillated by the yarn or thread or otherwise shall be pressed towards the other by
a spring or weight or its own weight for the purposes and substantially in the manner
herein before described.
1261
hday of January 1898.
HOWARD CHEETHAM,
Manchester,
Agent to the Applicant.