Improvements in Machines for Grinding the Cards of Carding-engines.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Apr., 1899-Accepted, 20th May, 1899
[Communicated from abroad by RICHMOND HAYWOOD INGERSOLL, of 15, Crescent
Street, Biddeford, Maine, United States of America, Savings Bank Treasurer.]
Improvements in Machines for Grinding the Cards of Carding-engines.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
45, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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; -
In that class of card-grinding machines in which the grinding wheel or cylinder
during its revolution is traversed longitudinally in opposite directions on its sup-
porting-shaft or shell by means of a feed-screw, much difficulty has been experi-
enced for the reason that the emery dust and fine particles of steel collect in the
thread of the screw, and mixing with the oil therein, form an abrasive paste which
causes rapid wear of the screw and adjacent parts, while the cotton fibres are also
carried into the screw-thread, often packing the same so tightly as to stop the
machine. My invention has for its object to overcome these difficulties and to dis-
ponse with the feed-screw and connections heretofore employed for traversing or
reciprocating the grinding wheel or cylinder, and to this end my invention con-
sists in a traversing mechanism of peculiar construction, which is enclosed within
the grinding cylinder, whereby it is protected from dust and other extraneous
matter, and the wear of the parts reduced to a minimum, as hereinafter more fully
set forth.
In the accompanying drawings;
Figure 1 is a plan view of a card-grinder constructed in accordance with my
invention,
Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the same.
Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.
Fig. 4 is an enlarged transverse vertical section on the line of Fig. 1, look-
ing in the direction of the arrow 4, the annular covering plate or cap of the
grinding cylinder being removed to show the interior construction.
Fig. is an enlarged transverse vertical section on the line 55 of Fig. 1,
looking in the direction of the arrow 5, the covering plate or cap of the grinding
cylinder being removed to show the parts behind the same.
Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the hub and ring removed from the grinding
cylinder.
Fig. 7 is a vertical section on the line 7-7 of Fig. 4.
Fig. S is a vertical section on the line 8-8 of Fig. 4.
Fig. 9 is a perspective view of one of the friction traversing feed-wheels and its
holder.
In the said drawings, A represents the grinding wheel or cylinder, which is
adapted to be reciprocated longitudinally upon a stationary shaft or shell B. the
journals a, b, of which are supported in a suitable frame (. The journal a is
encircled by a sleeve having secured to its inner end a carrier e, and at its
outer end a driving-pulley f, and at the opposite end of the shaft B is a carrier g
similar to the carrier e, and free to be revolved on the journal b Extending
D

page_text: between these two carriers c, g, and supported in bearings therein, are two
shafts h, h, which pass through apertures in the grinding cylinder A and serve to
rotate the same around the supporting shaft B, each of said shafts h, h, having
secured to its opposite ends two gears i, j, the gears i meshing with a stationary
gear secured to one end of the shaft B, and the gears j meshing with a stationary
gear m secured to the opposite end of said shaft, whereby as the sleeve d and
carrier e are revolved by the pulley f, the smaller gears i, j, are carried around
the large stationary gears k, m, and the shafts h, h, thus maintained in parallelism
with the shaft B as they are rotated around the latter, earrying with them the
grinding cylinder A which is in this manner revolved on said shaft B to grind the
cards brought into contact therewith.
Around the gears at each end of the shaft B is a gear-casing or guard a secured
to the adjacent carrier, which supports the ends of the shafts h. h.
As the grinding cylinder A is rotated on the shaft B, it is simultaneously
traversed or reciprocated thereon, to bring it into contact with all portions of the
card being ground, by mechanism contained within said cylinder, which will now
be described, reference being had particularly to Figs. 4 to 9 inclusive.
Within the cylinder A and encircling the shaft B is a hub D, one face of which
fits against and is secured by screws 15 to an annular flange 16 on the inside of
the cylinder A and cast integral therewith, the hub 1) being provided on each side
with an annular flange 18 extending outward, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, and
within each end of the cylinder A is screwed a cap or covering plate p provided
with a central opening for the passage of the shaft B. The hub D is provided
with a series of radial openings 20 arranged at equal distances apart, and forming
bearings in which are fitted a series of cylindrical holders adapted to be oscillated
for a purpose to be hereinafter described, one of said holders detached from the
hub being shown in Fig. 9. Each of these holders is slotted for the reception
of a friction feed-wheels free to rotate on a pin 19, said wheel having rounded
edges, and bearing against the shaft B, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, with which it
is kept in contact with a strong yielding pressure by means of a spring E which
bears upon the head of a screw 21 projecting from the outer end of the holder r,
said screw being provided with a check-nut 22, and by adjusting this screw the
pressure exerted on the holder by the spring E, and the consequent force with
which the edge of the wheels bears on the shaft B, may be regulated as desired.
Each spring E of which there are two, is secured at the center of its length to the
inner side of the cylinder A, its opposite ends each bearing on one of the adjusting
screws 21, as shown in Fig. 4. The friction feed-wheels s when acting on the
shaft B, are each arranged in a plane slightly inclined to a plane at right angles
to the axis of the shaft B, as shown in Fig. 8, the action of these inclined wheels
on the shaft B as the cylinder A is revolved thereon, causing them to travel in a
spiral path around said shaft, and thus feed the cylinder longitudinally thereon to
the right or left according to the direction of inclination of said feed-wheels.
As soon as the grinding cylinder has reached the end of its longitudinal
traverse in one direction, the holders are automatically turned in their bearings 20
to incline the friction feed-wheels s in the opposite direction, and thus cause the
cylinder A to travel back toward the opposite end of the shaft B. The mechanism
by which this change of direction is effected will now be described. Within the
cylinder A is fitted a movable ring G provided at its periphery with two diametri-
cally opposite slots 24 in each of which fits a pin 25 projecting from a crank-
arm 26 secured to a rock-shaft 28 having its hearings in the hub D, each of said
shafts 28 having secured to one end a curved shipper-lever 29, and to its opposite
end another curved shipper-lever 30 extending in the opposite direction, the two
levers 29 being on one side of the cylinder A, and the two levers 30 on the opposite
side of the same. The ring is also provided with another series of peripheral
slots 33 within which fit pins 35 projecting from crank-arms 36 extending at right
angles from the friction feed-wheel holders r, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, whereby
as the ring G is moved slightly around within the cylinder A. it will through the

page_text: connections described, produce a partial axial rotation of the cylindrical holders
within their bearings 20 in order to incline the feed-wheels in the opposite direc-
tion, and thus cause the rotating grinding cylinder A to travel along the shaft B
in the opposite direction.
When the grinding-wheel A has reached the end of its traverse in either direc-
tion, the end of one of the shipper-levers 28 or 29 on that side contacts with one of
a series of pins or projections 38 on a collar 40, Figs. 1 and 2, adjustably secured
to the shaft B, said projections extending through the openings in the covering
plates p, into the path of the inclined ends of said shipper-levers as they revolve
with the grinding cylinder A, the contact of the end of a shipper-lever with one
of the projections 38 moving said lever outward and causing it to rock its shaft 28
and through the connections described, move the ring G which in turn rocks the
holders r, thereby changing the inclination of the feed-wheels s from right to left
or left to right as the case may be, when the revolving grinding cylinder will
instantly commence to travel in the opposite direction, the operation being repeated
at the end of each traverse and in this manner the reciprocation of the grinding
cylinder on its supporting-shaft is effected in a simple and reliable manner, the
feed-screw heretofore usually enclosed in the hollow supporting shaft or shell of
the grinding cylinder being entirely dispensed with as well as the longitudinal slot
in said supporting shell through which passed a connecting device between the
feed-screw and the grinding cylinder, while as the operating mechanism is not
exposed to the flying particles of emery and steel dust and cotton fibres, the wear
of the parts is reduced to a minimum, and the liability of the machine becoming
clogged or obstructed is thus prevented, and much inconvenience and delay thereby
avoided.
In traversing the cylinder to the left, the inclined points of the levers 29 are
first brought into contact with the projections 38 of the collar 40 on that side.
Faid levers 29 being thus moved outward to reverse the traverse of the cylinder,
this movement of the levers 29 and their shafts 28 causing the opposite levers 30
which are also attached to said shafts 28, to be swung inward into a position to
strike the projections 38 on the opposite collar 40 when the cylinder A arrives at
the end of its traverse in that direction the levers 30 passing over said projec-
tions 38, whereby they are swung outward, and the opposite levers 29 at the same
time swung inward into a position to contact with the projections 38 on that side,
as before described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is:-
1. A card-grinder comprising a stationary supporting-shaft or shell, a rotary
reciprocating grinding cylinder thereon, provided with a series of friction feed-
wheels mounted in axially movable holders, and adapted to be alternately inclined
in opposite directions to a plane at right angles to the axis of the supporting-shaft,
said feed-wheels bearing on said shaft, and serving to traverse the grinding-
cylinder in opposite directions as it is rotated thereon, and means for actuating the
feed-wheel holders, and thereby changing the inclination of the feed-wheels at
the termination of each traverse of the grinding-cylinder, substantially as described.
2. In a card-grinder, the combination with a stationary supporting-shaft, of a
1otary reciprocating grinding-cylinder provided with a series of spring-pressed
friction feed-wheels mounted in axially movable holders, and arranged around and
bearing on said supporting-shaft, said feed-wheels being adapted to be alternately
inclined to the right and left of a plane at right angles to the axis of the
said
supporting-shaft, and acting to
the grinding-cylinder on
shaft as it is rotated thereon, and means for automatically changing the inclination
of the feed-wheels at the termination of each traverse of the grinding cylinder,
to reverse the direction of its longitudinal movement, substantially as described.
3. In a card-grinder, the combination with the stationary supporting-shaft, of
traverse

page_text: the rotating grinding cylinder thereon, a hub secured within said cylinder and
provided with a series of radial openings or bearings, axially movable cylindrical
holders fitting within said radial openings, and carrying friction feed-wheels bear-
ing at their edges on the supporting-shaft, and adapted to be inclined first to
one side and then to the other of a plane at right angles to the axis of the sup-
porting shaft to effect the reciprocation of the grinding cylinder thereon, and
means for automatically changing the inclination of the feed-wheels at the ter-
mination of each traverse of the grinding cylinder, substantially as described.
4. In a card-grinder, the combination with the stationary supporting shaft, of
the rotating grinding cylinder thereon, a hub secured within said cylinder and
provided with a series of radial openings or bearings, axially movable cylindrical
holders fitting within said radial openings and carrying friction feed-wheels bearing
at their edges on the supporting shaft, and adapted to be inclined first to one
side and then to the other of a plane at right angles to the axis of the supporting
shaft to effect the reciprocation of the grinding cylinder thereon, crank arms pro-
jecting from the feed-wheel holders, a ring movable within the grinding cylinder
and provided with slots for the reception of pins projecting from said crank arms,
rock-shafts provided with crank armis connected by pins and slots with said ring,
and adapted to oscillate the same, shipper-levers secured to opposite sides of said
rock-shafts, and pins or projections at opposite ends of the stationary supporting
shaft for actuating said shipper-levers to turn said ring and thereby change the
inclination of the feed-wheels at the termination of each traverse of the grinding
cylinder, substantially as described.
5. In a card-grinder, the combination with the supporting shaft, of the rotary
reciprocating grinding cylinder, the hub enclosed within the same and provided
with radial openings or bearings, axially movable holders fitting within said radial
openings and carrying inclined friction feed-wheels bearing on said shaft, adjusting
screws projecting from the outer ends of the feed-wheel-holders, and springs bear-
ing on said adjusting screws, substantially as described.
6. In a card-grinder, the combination with the grinding cylinder and a
stationary supporting shaft for the same, having a gear secured to each end, of
carriers revoluble around journals at the ends of said shaft, one of said carriers
being provided with means for driving the same, shafts passings through the
grinding cylinder, and having their bearings in the carriers, whereby rotary.
motion is imparted to the grinding cylinder around its supporting shaft, and gears
secured to said carrier-shafts and meshing with the stationary gears at the ends
of the supporting shaft, whereby as said carriers are rotated, the shafts carried
thereby will be rotated and maintained in parallelism with each other and the
stationary shaft around which they revolve, substantially as described.
7. In a card-grinder, the combination with the supporting-shaft and the rotary
reciprocating grinding cylinder provided with friction feed-wheels mounted in
axially movable holders, and adapted to be alternately inclined in opposite direc-
tions to a plane at right angles to the axis of the supporting shaft, mechanism for
actuating the feed-wheel holders, shipper-levers connected with said mechanism
and located on opposite sides of the grinding cylinder, and collars adjustable upon
the supporting shaft of said cylinder, and provided with projections adapted to
contact with said shipper-levers to change the direction of the traverse of the
grinding cylinder, substantially as described.