IMPROVEMENTS IN FEED REGULATORS OF OPENERS AND SCUTCHERS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Samuel Andrew, of Staleybridge, in the County of Chester,
Machinist, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN FEED REGULATORS OF
OPENERS AND SCUTCHERS."
Sealed the 1st October 1878, and dated the 4th April 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Samuel Andrew at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th April 1878.
SAMUEL ANDREW, of Staleybridge, in the County of Chester, Machinist.
PROVEMENTS IN FEED REGULATORS OF OPENERS AND SCUTCHERS."
"IM-
My Invention consists of a new arrangement of plates and transmission gear
whereby the speed of feed rollers of openers and scutchers is varied according to the
thickness of the cotton layers passing the feed roller, and I accomplish this in the
following manner-Upon a shaft or centre near the feed roller a plate of about
the same length as the feed roller, but divided lengthwise in a convenient number
of parts, usually four, is centred in such a manner, and is of such a breadth as to
touch the feed roller. These plates are pressed against the feed roller by means of
a counterweight on a bell-crank lever, which pressure is transmitted through an
arrangement of scale-beam levers and rods in the manner following, that is to say,
cach plate has on its under side a boss-like lug or block, into which a shallow conical
hole or indent is drilled, which fits a pointed rod in knife-edge fashion. These rods
are supported in pairs on balanced scale-beam levers, and the supports of these latter
again rest on the ends of another scale-beam lever, suspended from the short end of
the weighted bell-crank lever, the long weighted arm thus pressing the short arm,
and consequently the whole series of levers with the rods and feed plates, upwards
against the feed roller. All supports are on knife edges. The long arin of the
balance lever is coupled by means of a connecting rod, having suitable screw, block,
and slot adjustment to a short bell-crank lever, centred to an upright box standing at
the side of the machine and containing the driving cones and strap forks, by means
of which motion is imparted to the feed roller in the ordinary way. The axes of

page_text: the cones are horizontal and the strap vertical, the strap fork being carried on a rod
which is actuated by the bell-crank lever last mentioned.
The arrangement operates as follows:-If a lump of cotton passes from the lattice
or feed apron between the feed roller and one of the plates, then that plate is
depressed. If this depression is not counterbalanced or equalized by the neigh-
bouring plates the movement is transmitted to the principal scale-beam lever, the
short end of the bell-crank lever which supports the same sinking down, and thus
raising the long weighted arm, and with it the connecting rod. The movement
which is thus greatly multiplied by the short arm actuating the long arın is
imparted to the bell-crank lever on the cone box through the connecting rod, one
arm being thus raised while the other is moved in the direction of and shifting the
strap fork, which is fixed on the rod jointed to the lever. The movement of the
strap on the cone pullies causes a slower movement of the driven cone, and con-
sequently a reduction in the speed of the feed rollers, so that the cotton enters the
same at a slower rate than before.
Various modifications of this arrangement may be adopted. The feed plates
may be straight, or curved either upwards or downwards, according to the quality
of cotton to be worked.
Instead of supporting these plates by an upward trust they may be formed into
double levers, and the whole arrangement reversed, so that the scale-beam levers
are pressed down instead of up, the link rods drawing down the balance ends of the
plates instead of exerting an upward pressure on them.
The cone pullies may also be applied vertically, as has hitherto been the case, the
only alteration necessary being in the bell-crank lever centred on the cone box, the
actuated arm being always placed as nearly as possible at a right angle to the strap
fork guide; or the last-named bell-crank lover may be dispensed with altogether
and the weighted lever be made straight and to actuate the strap guide direct.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Samuel Andrew in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 3rd October
1878.
SAMUEL ANDREW, of Staleybridge, in the County of Chester, Machinist.
PROVEMENTS IN FEED REGULATORS OF OPENERS AND SCUTCHERS."
"IM-
My Invention consists of a new arrangement of plates and transmission gear
whereby the speed of feed rollers of openers and scutchers is varied according to
the thickness of the cotton layer passing the feed roller, and I accomplish this in
the following manner-Upon a shaft or centre near the feed roller a plate of about
the same length as the feed roller, and divided lengthwise in a convenient number
of parts, usually four, is centred in such a manner, and is of such a breadth as to
touch the feed roller. These plates are pressed against the feed roller by means of
a counterweight on a lever, which pressure is transmitted through a system of
scale-beam levers and rods in the manner following:-Each plate has on its under
side a boss-liko lug or block, into which a shallow conical hole or indent is cast
and chilled or drilled, which fits a pointed rod in knife-edge fashion. These rods
are supported in pairs on balanced scale-beam levers, and the supports of these latter
again rest on the ends of another scale-beam lever, suspended from a short lever
which is rigidly connected with the weighted lever, the long weighted arm thus
pressing the short arm, and consequently the whole series of levers with the rods
and feed plates upwards against the feed roller. The long arm of the balance lever
is coupled by means of a connecting rod, having suitable screw, block, and slot
adjustment, to a short bell-crank lever, centred to a frame or box standing at the
side of the machine, and containing the driving cones and strap forks, by means of
which motion is imparted to the feed roller in the ordinary way. The axes of the
cones aro horizontal, and the strap vertical, the strap fork being carried on a rod
which is actuated by the weighted balance lever just mentioned.
If a lump of cotton passes from the lattice or feed apron between the feed roller
and one of the plates it depresses that plate, and if this depression is not counter-
balanced or equalised by the neighbouring plates the movement is transmitted to
the principal scale-beam lever, the short lover which supports the same sinking
down, and thus raising the long weighted lever, and with it the connecting rod.
The motion, greatly multiplied by its transmission from the short arm to the long
arm, is imparted to the bell-crank lever on the cone box or frame through the con-
necting rod, one arm being thus raised while the other arm is shifting the strap
fork, which is fixed on a rod jointed to the lever. The movement of the strap on
the cone pullies causes a slower motion of the driven cone, and consequently a
reduction in the speed of the feed roller, so that the cotton enters the same at a
slower rate than before, and until the quantity passing the feed roller is reduced or
further increased, when the mechanism answers accordingly.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figs. 1, 2, and 3, Sheet I., illustrate in vertical section, front view, and end
elevation a feed regulator with four feed plates B 1, B2, B3, B4, and chilled or drilled
boss b, and rods C1, C2, C3, C4, resting in the boss and on the scale beams D 1 and D2
which are supported on knife edges in their centre by the scale heam E which latter

page_text: Fig. 4, Sheet I., shows the balance levers or scale beams in plan; and Fig. 5,
Sheet I., the ends of the rods C on a larger scale.
The quantity of cotton or other fibrous substanco A which is drawn into the
machine by the feed roller R varies with the speed of the roller. If the average
thickness of the material passing between roller and feed plate increases the speed
of the roller decreases, and vice versa, the result being a constant and regular supply
of cotton to the machine.
Figs. 6, 7, and 8, Sheet II., show in vertical section, front elevation, and plan a
modification of the regulator where the position of the scale beam is inverted, each
feed plate pressing upon the shorter arm of a double-armed lever S, T, from which
the rods C1, C2, C3, C4, and the scale beams D1 and D2, are suspended. The scale
beam E acts upon a lever I, which controls the rod J, and from there the strap
fork N in a similar manner as described before. The lever i may also be provided
with a counterweight. The driving cone U receives its motion from the shaft V
through the spur wheels W and X.
Compared with other contrivances for the same purpose my Invention has the
advantage of being much simpler and more effective.
The scale beam arrangement is very sensitive and put in motion by the slightest
variation in the supply of the fibrous substance.
By placing the cones horizontally the inconveniences which arise from greasing
tho shafts of vertical cones are also avoided.
I do however not limit myself to the number, position, shape, and size of parts
shown by these two examples.
The motion from the feed plates to the scale, and from here to the strap forks,
may be transmitted by any other known mechanism or lever arrangement, and the
strap forks may be guided in a straight line in any known manner.
What I claim as my Invention is substantially as set forth :—
1. The application of feed plates turning on a shaft or centre, and supported on
chilled or drilled conical bosses by loose rods or by levers for regulating the supply
of cotton or other material to scutchers, openers, and similar machines.
2. The use of free pointed rods for transmitting the motion of the feed plates.
3. The parallel motion of the strap forks for the cones, substantially as shown
and described
ATTHY
VANNIT
Witness,
A. HILDEBRANDT,
Patent Agent,
55, Cross Street,
Manchester.
SAMUEL ANDREW. (L.S.)
1st October 1878.