CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF WOOLLEN CLOTHS
Year: 1841

page_text: WELLS' SPECIFICATION.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
AUGUSTUS WELLS, of Saint Joln's Wood, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Seventeenth day of April, in the fourth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Henry Augustus Wells, Her especial license, full power, sole privilege and
authority, that I, the said Henry Augustus Wells, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, and such others as I, the said Henry Augustus Wells,
my executors, administrators, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and
no others, from time to time and at all times during the term of years therein
mentioned, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within
England, Wales, the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and in all Her Majesty's
Colonies and Plantations abroad, my Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MANUFACTURE OF WOOLLEN CLOTHS;" in which said Letters Patent is con-
tained a proviso, obliging me, the said Henry Augustus Wells, by an instrument
in writing under my hand and seal, particularly to describe and ascertain the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, and to cause the same to be inrolled in Her Majesty's High Court of
Chancery within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of
the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference being
thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Henry Augustus Wells, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, is particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following description thereof, reference
being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures
marked thereon (that is to say):-
.
My improvements generally are chiefly applicable to woollen cloths made
by felting, but some of the same are also applicable to the woollen cloths made
by spinning and weaving. The first of my improvements consists in the
simplyfying arrangement, combination, and application of machinery for felting
bats of wool intended for cloths. The bat of wool may be obtained in any of
the methods now in use for obtaining the same, as for instance, by the method
described under tho Patent of William Angus Robertson, dated Fourth April,
One thousand eight hundred and thirty-eight, the Specification of which was
duly inrolled on or before the Fourth day of October, in the same year, or by
the method described under the Patent of Thomas Robinson Williams, bearing
date the Fourteenth day of February, One thousand eight hundred and forty,
the Specification of which was duly inrolled on or before the Fourteenth day
of August, in the same year. This bat of wool, being on a roller, I place near
to one of the ends of the table or hardening machine, Fig. 1, Sheet 1; I also
make use of another roll, which is a canvass roll (same Figure), and bring the
ends of these two rolls upon the revolving apron a, a, which introduces them
between two plattens b, c the under one being of cast hollow metal divided
into two chambers, provided with steam pipes, and an upper one of wood or
metal which receives a transverse reciprocating motion from a crank d, having
a throw of from three eighths to three quarters of an inch, and moving with
convenient speed. When such a bat and a canvass roll is in readiness, or for
the sake of economy and expedition another canvass and a roll of bat, as at f, f,
or if found advisable three or four such rolls of bat and their canvass, and by
means of the travelling apron, have been brought to the opposite end of the
table, steam is admitted into the upper compartment d of the metal plate for
the purpose of giving heat and moisture to the bat or bats, the steam passing
through perforations in the upper surface thereof. The upper platten, regulated
by weights, is made to move forwards and backwards by means of the crank,
and this motion, along with the friction and the moist heat, cause the fibres of
the wool to lock and interlock, and to unite closely with each other. When
after the lapse of a few minutes the bat or bats (supported on canvass) have
shewn a proper diminution in volume, the condensed steam is blown off by

page_text: opening the steam pipe in communication with the under chamber e. The
hot moisture given to the bat and the motion of the top plate having by this
time made the bat or bats to shrink, the subsequent dry heating is intended to
add to this shrinking a greater contraction and a considerable degree of con
sistency, or firmness.. The opposite rolls receive each their canvass with bat
on them, and the same operation of hot-moistening, moving the top plate,
blowing off the steam by dry heating, is. repeated as often as the length of the
bat requires the gradual advancing on the table by means of the travelling
apron. The lifting of the top plate on its crank when the table length is
completed is necessary, in order to make the bat advance such a length
without subjecting it during this advancing to to the friction of the top plate.
The top plate moves both during moist heating and dry heating, and stops
only when the bat is to advance another table length. The bat is kept wound
round, the canvass in order to prevent its surfaces coming in contact with
themselves and to prevent. uniting. When this first state of felting has been
attended to in the manner berein-before mentioned, the bat or bats with their
interrolled canvass are removed from the rolls, (Fig. 1, f*f*,) wrapped up and
firmly tied in another canvass and taken to be immersed in boiling soap water
or diluted acid, thence placed into a trough (after the inner mandril or spindle
has been withdrawn), and is compressed by the apparatus (Fig. 2), or by any
other convenient machine taking care that the bat lie neither damaged nor
strained whilst being pressed. The liquid is allowed to flow off and the bat is
thrown into the fulling machine cylinder or double drum, Figures 3 and 4, in
which h, h, is a cylindrical drum, made steam-tight, mounted in bearings, and
receiving rotatory motion through the pulley i;, k, is an inner angular drum,
also steam-tight, revolving with the outward cylindrical drum h; l is a pipe,
forming a passage for steam into the drum k; and m, m, another steam pipe,
communicating with the outward drum h. The rolls of bat to be felted aro
introduced through the door g, and if the inner angular drun of this machine.
measure about six feet diameter, one or two rolls of bat are sufficient, but if
that space be larger, or divided into four compartments, cach compartment will
admit one roll. The drum is made to revolve slowly, and besides this rotatory
motion, an oscillating one, allowing the axles to ascend and descend alternately
in an angle of about twenty or twenty-five degrees, may be added if desired.
During these motions steam is admitted through the pipe l, and the bat is
heated and moistened, in order to impart to it the same quality of shrinking.
as mentioned in the hardening machine. Twenty or thirty minutes suffice to
produce considerably more shrinking in addition to that already received by
the hardening machine, which is to be ascribed here to the bat having under-

page_text: gone moist heating, and the and the coming in contact internally with the
angles and ends of the drum k. A stop-cock in the door is then opened a
little, to blow off the steam and vapour, which is effected by the admission of
steam through the pipe m, between the space of the outer and inner drum.
This last operation, viz', dry heating, the continually causing the drum to
revolve and oscillate, adds to the equally shrinking and the giving of additional
solidity, and this machine assists, where co-operated with the hardening
machine, in effecting at east one half of the felting operation. After a short
interval the bat is taken out of the fulling machine or cylinder, freed from its
canvass, moistened a little with soap water or diluted acid, rolled up broadways,
and laid into the planking or milling machine (Fig. 5), which corresponds with
the breadth of the bat. n is a lever carrying a hammer o, which, by means
of the tappet wheel p, strikes at the under part of the roll of bat which
leans against a hollow cast plate q, divided into two chambers 1, 5, of a con-
venient semicircular form, being ribbed in its face and kept moist and hot by
opening a stop-cock t, for the emission of steam to the chamber r, from whence
it passes on to the bat through perforations therein. During every stroke tho
ribbed hammer gives to the bat which leans against the ribbed plate q, tho
weighted counter lever retains the bat whilst in its place, and by the arrange-
ment shewn, an inclination is given to the bat to turn itself round and change
the point of contact; besides the front hammer two side hammers may also be
used, acting at intervals with the main hammer, in order to assist the equal
shrinking of the bat. After a short interval the steam or vapour is blown off,
by opening the other stop-cock v, connected with the back heating chambers,
in the hollow bat plate. The bat may be removed and folded in another
direction lengthways, and again submitted to the planking machine; the same
may be repeated several times, and receive plenty of side work, but the folds
cr cross should be changed or rolled regularly. The bat has now shrunk to a
considerable degree, has also acquired great firmness and solidity, and may be
passed through the ordinary fulling stocks or not, as the manufacturer may
deem advisable.
Now, what I claim as my improvements, as above described, are-
Firstly, the peculiar form of hardening machine, described under Fig. 1.
Secondly, the plan of pressing the bat, as described under Fig. 2.
Thirdly, the plan of giving motion and blows to bats of wool, or incipient
cloth, by means of a rotating vessel with steam, as described under Figures 3
and 4.
And fourthly, the improved construction of planking or fulling machine,
described unler Eiv. 5.

page_text: My improvements aforesaid further consist in other and different methods of
hardening and partially fulling or felting bats. Fig. 1, Sheet 2, is a machine
which I denominate a planking machine. Fig. 1 is a side view, and Fig. 2 an
end. view, the side and end castings being removed. a, a, a, a, forms a wooden
box, measuring three feet in width, three and a half feet in height, and fifteen
fect in length. This box is provided with two rollers b, b, corresponding in
length with that of the box; these rollers are placed with their axles on the
top part of the box, and are three or four inches distant from each other;
their diameters may be from nine to twelve inches, or more. On one end of
these rollers are levers c, c, or pinions, so as to communicate to them by any
convenient motion an oscillating one. To each of these rollers is nailed, or
otherwise fixed, a canvass cloth or any similar material c, e, forming a bag or
apron, the other end of which is fixed to the rollers d, d, provided with ratch
whcols. This canvass or bag descends into the box, and receives the fabric f
for the purpose of being milled; the ratch wheel regulates the length of the
bag. Along the sides and towards the interior of the box are a series of
rollers 9, 9, g, for the purpose of .assisting the planking or milling operation,
this latter being produced by tlie bag being alternately raised and lowered or
rolled up and down within the box by the oscillating motion from the top
rollers b, b, and by rubbing against the side rollers 9, 9, 9, 9, as the canvass
passes up and down. The friction thus caused adds to the facility of the
milling process. The box, which is provided with a lid on cach side of the
large rollers, having been shut after the fabric has been introduced, steam is
admitted through the pipe h at the bottom of the vessel, or at any other part
thereof, and the ascending and descending motion is imparted to the fabric. It
is necessary that the fabric to be planked or milled should be properly folded
and undergo various changes in the manner of folding, so as to receive equal
and effective work when in the rolling motion, and I therefore recommend the
following modes of folding:-At first the fabric is folded in broad layers, and
subjected to the action of planking or rolling within the box for a short interval,
the goods are taken out and folded in narrower layers, or crosed, again sub-
mitted to the planking, withdrawn after a short time for the purpose of changing
the folds into diagonal ones; recourse may also be had to folding the goods on
an opposite direction. Beside the folding now recommended, the fabric may
be twisted so as to give it a spiral shape, and by being thus wound around
itself, the edges are tightened and brought into close contact with the piece,
and as they can neither start up or ruffle, they receive along with the roll a due
degree of milling. Various other modes of folding, &c. will naturally suggest
themselves to the operator, who will alter the position of the cloth from length.

page_text: ways to broadways, and he will at the same time learn the time requisite for
each of these changes.
I claim as my improvement last described, the machine as described under
the said Figures 1 and 2, Sheet 2.
A planking machine of another kind is shewn in Sheet II.; Figures 3 and 4
representing a frame a, a, a, a, so constructed as to hold a series of rollers,
from ten to fifteen, placed one upon the other (1, 1, 1, l, m, m, m, m,) and
forming pairs; the diameters, may be from four and a half to seven inches,
and the material of which these rollers are made may be wood or metal, the
latter, however, is indispensable for those rollers marked d, d, d, d, as they
require to be heated through their axles and kept hot by steam during
the operation; the steam which enters at one end of the axles at n, n, n, n,
is allowel to blow off at the opposite end by suitable stop-cocks. These
hollow metal rollers may be placed at distances from each other, differently
from those in the Drawing represented two and two; between these under
rollers and those above moves an apron h, which is kept stretched broadways
by appropriate pulleys, or otherwise; it passes at the ends over the rollers g, 9,
and beneath, over the roller i; there may be two aprons instead of one,
and in that case the other one must pass above instead of beneath the frame,
as marked by the dotted lines. The fabric having now been introduced
between the rollers, and a motive power given to the rollers by any con-
venient motion, the apron carries it through between the rollers from one
end to the other. The steam pipes c, c, which are situated at the nearest
ends of the frame between the under rollers, have small perforations to allow
the steam to issue, and to act as a moistener on the fabric during the passage.
The rollers d, d, d, d, which are slightly fluted, being internally beated by
steam, cause the fabric to be compressed and partially to be dried; the small
flutes on the surface have, besides their increasing the power of contact, also
the advantage of admitting between a sufficient quantity of air to accelerate
the drying or driving off the heated vapour, and thus facilitate the felting, and
adds solidity. As the fabric passes thoroughly through the planking machine,
the speed of which may be regulated as circumstances require, it is either
rolled up on the pulley f, or deposited in folds, as marked by the dotted lines
at k, and the operation may thus be repeated backwards; the same contrivance,
as pulley for k, being of course at the opposite side, and as the steam pipes
and heated rollers are so disposed as to act both ways, it is plain that the
fabric in its passing to and fro will receive equal work as often as the operation
is repeated. The planking or milling by this machine is not confined to one
piece of goods at a time, but may al-o be applied to two or more at once.

page_text: What I claim, in reference to the last-mentioned improvement, is the passing
of the bat or cloth backwards and forwards between these rollers, in contra-
distinction to those planking machines in which the bat passes from end to end
of the machine in one direction only. And I claim also the use of some rollers
fluted in such a machine.
One of my further improvements is a machine called an overhauling
machine, which is to substitute the operation now practised by hand, in
reference to stretching cloths during the process of milling. Fig. 5, Sheet II,
is the top view of the machine, with two of its double rollers; Fig. 6
is part of the machine, representing the under side of the frame, or top of
the machine, which consists of strong wooden pieces a, a, a, of about six
inches square, and provided with hinges, placed at any part most convenient,
so as to shut upon the under frame, which is precisely the same as the upper.
These wooden pieces across are provided with notches or ribs, which ribs
are tapered downwards and tend towards a centre; they may be made either
the upper one to fit into the lower ono or merely cover them. When the
bars are unhinged or otherwise opened, the cloth c, c, is laid on the lower
part of the frame and drawn towards the rollers b, b; the lid is shut, and by
the rollers having received motion, either by a pulley or bevil gear, or other
convenient means, the cloth is seized between them and stretched or over-
hauled in a quick yet equal manner, because each of the ribs or notches
having an oblique position and diverging from the centre, and being besides
tapered at one end, cause the pull to be, not only onward, but also sideways,
and thus distribute the action from the middle of the piece towards the edges,
whilst the rollers diagonally placed, follow and produce a similar pulling
action. This mode of overhauling is applicable, not to felted goods only,
but also to woollens cloth made with threads.
What I claim in reference to the last-mentioned improvement is the last-
mentioned machine, as described under Figures 5 and 6, Sheet II.
I proceed now to describe the following further improvement in the manu-
facture of woollen cloths when not made with threads:-In the process of
making cloth by means of felting, it is usual at present to commence making
the cloth by producing a bat of wool formed from or by a series of layers of
wool called slivers, which pass from a common carding machine, which slivers
accumulate one upon another until they are of sufficient thickness to be formed
into cloth. The Drawing, Sheet 3, to which I shall now refer, represents in
part machinery already known and used, together with that which is the
subject of the last-mentioned improvement. A is a common carding engine,
from the lat duffer of which the sliver is taken off by the usual comb crank,

page_text: and the sliver so taken off passes on to the endless apron b, 6, and proceeds with
it, and is taken through the apparatus backwards and forwards until any fixed
quantity of wool has been passed through the engine and received upon this
apron and carried to the accumulated bat to produce any required thickness
of bat, and consequently any required weight of goods that may be desirable.
The sliver of wool which so passes from the card is composed of seperate fibres,
which are laying in a longitudinal direction, or end to end towards the carding
engine, and consequently all the fibres may be said to be laying. in this
direction paralled to and side by side with each other. In consequence of this
circumstance, cloth in the direction of its length is stiffer, moro rigid, and .less
elastic, than in the direction of its breadth, while in point of strength, as against
fracture, it more difficult to tear the cloth across its breadth than down its
length; when it is torn across its breadth the fibres have each to be broken
across, but when it is torn along its length the fibres may be said more to bo
displaced or separated. It therefore has become a desideratum to make cloth
equally rigid and strong each way, and this is effected: by my newly invented
machine, the object of which is to pass slivers of wool across the long sliver
before mentioned, so that while the long sliver may be called the warp sliver,
the sliver across may be properly denominated, from its position and advan-
tages, a weft sliver.
Having thus given a description of the object of the new machine, my
Invention may be described to, consist in the making use of any of the
machines already in existence and in use for making a bat by the sliver or
layers of slivers, and combining with the same cortain other machinery, by
which upon these layers of slivers other layers of slivers are deposited one
upon the other in a crosswise direction, so as to cause a crossing of the fibres
of the wool of each of the separate slivers, and that this crossing bo at right
angles as herein-after described.
The Drawing, Figure 1, Sheet 3, shews a sliver machine with its travelling
apron for the making of a long continued sliver as in present use. Fig. II, is
a machine placed for causing a like sliver to be thrown or laid across the long
sliver at intervals and at right angles to the long or warp sliver. The machine
for carding the wool is not shewn in the Drawing, but it will have to be made
of the ordinary form, and will have to stand behind the two rollers or drums in
Fig. II. alternately, with one layer over the whole circumference of each;..d.1
represents a receiving roller or drum, the circumference of which is about equal
to the breadth of the small travelling revolving apron, which is put in motion
by the action of the doffer of the carding machine behind by means of gear.
This drum being covered with velvet or plush receives thereon a layer of wool,

page_text: and when this receiving drum (d 1) has made a revolution by which it becomes
covered with one sliver of wool, a bar (i), Fig. V., is detached and liberates the
drum thus charged or covered with wool. The drum then rolls down the
inclined planes (c, c), the inclination of which is regulated by adjusting screws
(h, Fig. IV.), and as it passes along, deposits upon the small travelling apron
(c, c,) its layers or sliver of material. This layer thus spread upon the surfaco
of the apron (c, c, is then gradually brought in contact with the main apron
(b, b), and allowed to combine with its sliver of wool crossways, it being laid
or deposited upon the main sliver at right angles, as shewn at Fig. 8. The
receiving drum (d 1) rolls on beyond the rails (e, e), and upon the swing bars
(f, f, Fig. III.), where semicircular extremities arrest the fall and brings the
said drum (1) back towards its former starting point, or rather to the uprights
(g, g), in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 4, where it falls into the groove and
becomes a reserve drum, when the one in operation for being charged is again
liberated, the roller so discharged being raised to its former position by means
of cams or levers or other mechanical means. The charging of the drum by
turns, the rolling off and at the same time the depositing of the sliver in slabs
or sheets upon the cross apron, the returning of the drum towards its former
position, and the revolving of the two aprons, one upon the other, for the union
of the two slivers differently formed as regards the position of the fibres of the
wool, is continued as long and as often as the fabric may require it. By
properly adjusting the parts of this machine and regulating the speed of
travelling of its various parts, it will be obvious that the slivers deposited by
these rollers may be made to overlap each other slightly at the edges thereof,
or be made to join each other closely, side by side.
The same mode ofcrossing may be effected in another way instead of swing
bars, and the Drawing, Sheet 4, will shew the arrangements. A, A, is sup-
posed the long sliver machine, with its long under apron b, b; B, the cross
sliver machine, with its small upper apron c, c; its receiving drum d 1, and
reserve drum d 2, the rails e 1, o 1. Instead of the rails e, as in the former
machine, and the swing bars f, there are upper rails e 2, e 2, on which the
rollers are thrown through the guides f by a lever fixed on the axle h, put
in motton by pulleys k, k, connected with the one 1, attached to the large
drum. The upper rails 2, 62, being inclined, the rollers arrive in succession
at g, where the lever i liberates the same after each revolution.
Sheet 5 represents another combination of machinery for effecting this
object. Fig. 1 is a transverse vertical section of the machinery or ap-
paratus; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal view of the same, looking towards the
left-hand end of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a partial plan or horizontal view;

page_text: in all of which Figures similar letters; denote the like parts. A is an
ordinary carding engine, which the slivers are taken from the last doffer
by the usual comb cranks motion; and deposited on to the apron a; a
and conveyed to the apparatus B, where they pass backwards and forwards
until the desired thickness is obtained, as described in the Specification of
Thomas Robinson Williams as aforesaid; during which passage, however, of
the slivers along the apron a, a, transverse, or, as I call them, weft slivers, are
laid thereon in the following manner :-c, c, represents an ordinary carding
engine placed at right angles to that which supplies the longitudinal apron,
a, a; b, b, is a short endless apron, between which and the apron a, a; the
longitudinal bat passes, on to which the transverse or weft slivers are deposited
previously to being united with the longitudinal bat, which apron is driven in
the direction of the arrow by bands and pulleys, as shewn in the Drawing,
or in any other convenient manner. The wool or other material as it passes,
through the engine c is taken off by an ordinary comb crank or plush roller
at c, and received upon one of the rollers d ord, say d, which roller turns in
a slot at the end of the inclined plane e, e, and bas rotatory motion commu-
nicated to it through the pinions f, g, as shewn in the Drawing. When a
sufficient length has accumulated thereon to extend across the width of the.
longitudinal bat, a cam h mounted upon the shaft i arrives in contact with the
stud k, draws down the sliding piece 1, and liberates the roller d from its.
bearings, when, by its gravity, it will descend along the inclined plane e, c, and
occupy the position of the other roller d*, during which movement one end of
the sliver will attach itself to the apron b, b, at m, and the whole length be
transferred or rolled off thereon. In order to disconnect the required length. of
weft sliver from the doffer cylinder, a break or space is left in the cards thereof
parallel to its axis; but, if desired, the requisite length might be cut from the
continuous sliver on, the engine. Previously to the roller d being liberated
from its bearings, cams n, n, cone into operation upon one end of the lifting
levers o, o, which turning upon their centres at p, p, operate at their other ends
against the axles of the rollers dx, and carry it upwards into the position
shewn by dotted lines in Fig. 1, when it immediately descends along the upper.
inclined plane 7, 7, and falls into the position of that which has just spread-its
sliver across the short apron 6, 6, and the sliding pieces 6 having returned to
their former position, it is there held, in order to receive its sliver and distri-s
bute it, as before. Previously, however, to its descending into this position a
cam r on the shaft i, i, comes into operation against the rocking lever s, s, on
which the driving pinion f is mounted, by which means it and the pinion are
forced a short distance outward, leaving the pinion g to descend freely with its

page_text: roller d*, the cam allowing the driving pinion f to fall back into gear with
the pinion g as soon as the space left in the cards of the doffer cylinder has
passed that point from which the sliver is taken. In order to prevent the
roller-d from running down the levers o, o, when being lifted, sliding pieces
t, t, at each side of the frame are attached, which pieces are kept down by the
levers o, o; but when those levers rise in order to lift rollers, as before.
described, the springs u, u, will cause the pieces t, t, to rise, and thereby prevent
the roller from running out of its slot. The rollers d and d* having thus
changed places, another transverse or weft sliver is laid across the apron b, b,
the former one being carried by the revolution of the apron b, b, to the under
side thereof, and consequently laid upon the longitudinal bat; the last trans-
verse or weft sliver, however, being deposited so as slightly to overlap the
former on the apron b, as shewn in the detached views, Figures 4 and 5.
The claim of my Invention of improvements in the manufacture of woollen
cloths consists in combining a weft sliver with a warp sliver crossways or at
right angles, as above described, and the application and use of the machinery
above described, for effecting this object.
Having thus described the said cross sliver machine, I may also mention
another mode of producing the cross sliver, which in many cases may be found
applicable. Instead of supporting the sliver on a revolving apron, and separating
the same in the manner described, I also make use of a skeleton apron, which
consists merely in sides similar to a clain, and is connected at the two ends
with bars having teeth or points; which seize by turns the sliver as it is coming
from the doffer, and carrying the thin sliver, supported merely by its own
strength, until it reaches the extreme breadth of the long apron, when the bars
are liberated, the sliver allowed to drop down off it, and the bar and fine teeth
gets hold of another end of sliver beginning to form. As the sliver, thus
weakly supported, cannot resist any violence which is necessary for tearing, the
doffer is so constructed as to allow a space for the non-formation of a sliver
whilst turning; this space amounts to about three or four inches, and consists
in the absence of its cards, so that there is a sufficient inaction in the carding,
notwithstanding the continual revolution of the doffer. I have also found in
practice another method very serviceable for combining a cross sliver with the
long sliver, which I effect as follows:-The carding machine and apron now in
use, as described in Sheet 1, Fig. 1, having made a bat of four or five slivers
thick, this bat is cut in the usual manner, and wound on to a roller. After this
has been done, the carding machine and apron proceed to form another bat, of
say, from four to six slivers thick, and is then made to rest until the following
process has taken place:-The first-mentioned bat, of say, five or six slivers

page_text: thick, should be taken to a table, where it is unwound and cut into slabs, and
those slabs aro joined by the side edges, which should be made thinner (by less
feeding of the cards at the edges) than the rest of the bat, and these slabs
should be rolled on to a roller placed at right angles on the table to the roller
which has taken off the bat from the sliver apron. When these joined slabs
of cross sliver or reversed bat have been rolled on to a roller, such roller should
then be brought to the said apron, and it and the carding machine being again
set in motion, the said cross sliver bat is made to travel on the top of the
second bat of four to six slivers, as above mentioned, standing on the apron,
and such cross sliver bat may be then covered with as many slivers on its upper
surface as the manufacturer may think fit, and the bat, when thus completed,
is to be hardened and felted in the usual manner.
And I claim generally in reference to the three last-mentioned plans the
insertion, in bats of wool for forming cloths, of cross slivers, or of cross slivers
bats, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Augustus Wells, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty-one.