IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN TREATING WOOL AND OTHER FIBRES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Illingworth, of the Firm of Daniel Illingworth
and Sons, of Bradford, in the County of York, Worsted Spinner, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN TREATING WOOL
AND OTHER FIBRES.”
Sealed the 28th October 1876, and dated the 26th August 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Illingworth at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 26th August 1870.
HENRY ILLINGWORTH, of the Firm of Daniel Illingworth and Sons, of Bradford,
in the County of York, Worsted Spinner. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
EMPLOYED IN TREATING WOOL AND OTHER FIBRES."
The respective washbowls or troughs used in washing the fibre are arranged to
receive the wash liquid, one from the next of the series in succession, and the last
bowl or trough into which the fibre in process of washing is received, is the first to
receive the supply of the soap or other alkaline or wash solution as well as the
water with which that soap or alkaline or wash solution is to be mixed, and in
overflowing this it flows into the second, and overflowing the second it passes into
the third, and so on, according to the number of bowls used, and it passes from
each to the next by suitable conduct pipes entering each bowl at or near one end
and passing out from the opposite end. This part of the Invention is also applicable
to what is called back washing, or the washing of the fibre after it has been partially
worked
I also form each of the forks used in carrying forward the fibre in the wash bowl
or trough in two, three, or more parts, each part being operated by a separate
crank of the same shaft, and coming into operation separately.
I also facilitate the straightening and laying of the fibres when employing
preparers having two or more sets of gill combs for consecutive operation on the
fibre by the bars of one set of the gill fallers being each cranked at the ends.so as
to bring the body of the faller nearer to the body of each of the fallers of the next
series, and thereby reduce the space between the respective series.
When in gilling or drawing or roving worsted or other fibres. two or more
slivers or rovings are required to be combined together, I effect the stoppage of

page_text: the working of such apparatus in the event of any one of the separate slivers or
rovings in the process of being combined becoming used up, and the consequent
production of of imperfect sliver or roving, by continuous working without the
required number of slivers or rovings
The respective guides through which the slivers or rovings are conducted in their
passage to the feed rollers are applied to or formed on a shaft capable of rocking.
These guides, when in position for working, stand somewhat in a vertical direction,
but if tilted forwards the shaft to which they are applied acts by suitable connection
on the stop motion to stop the working of the apparatus.
Each sliver or roving has a knot or loop formed on or near its end, or it has an
enlargement applied thereto, so that as such sliver or roving becomes used up, if its
end should be unobserved by the attendant, the knot or loop or other enlargement
formed on or applied to the sliver or roving will, as it comes in contact with the
guide, draw it from its vertical or other normal position to act on the stop motion
to stop the apparatus.
I also reduce the waste in treating the noil during the preparing and combing
process when treating wool by operating upon the noil, as described in the Speci-
fication of Letters Patent granted to Isaac Bailey and Daniel Smith, of Keighley,
in the County of York, and Leonard Smith, of Bradford, in the same County,
dated the 11th of January 1876, No 123.
For this purpose in addition to the extra and smaller circle of comb teeth to
receive 'the fibre from the extenor of the larger circle after the drawing off from
the teeth of such larger circle, I apply another circle or other circles of teeth, the
teeth of such or other extra circles pointing in the opposite direction, and at the
point of transfer over the teeth of those from which they receive the fibre, and I
draw fibre from the or from each extra circle by drawing off rollers in the usual
way.
'
The transfer from one set of teeth to the other is effected by lifting or moving
teeth to a plate or carrier working against the teeth of the comb from which the
transfer is to be effected, aided by a brush.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Henry Illingworth in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 22nd
February 1877.
HENRY ILLINGWORTH, of the Firm of Daniel Illingworth and Sons, of Bradford,
in the County of York, Worsted Spinner. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
EMPLOYED IN TREATING WOOL AND OTHER FIBRES."
According to the first part of my Invention the respective wash bowls or troughs
used in washing the fibre are arranged to receive the wash liquid one from the
next of the series in succession, and the last bowl or trough into which the fibre in
process of washing is received is the first to receive the supply of the soap or other
alkaline or wash solution, as well as the water with which that soap or alkaline or
wash solution is to be mixed, and in overflowing this it flows into the second, and
overflowing the second it passes into the third, and so on, according to the number
of bowls used, and it passes from each to the next by suitable conduct pipes entering
each bowl at or near one end, and passing out from the opposite end. This first
part of the Invention is also applicable to what is called back washing, or the
washing of the fibre after it has been partially worked.
According to the second part of my Invention I form each of the forks used in
carrying forward the fibre in the wash bowl or trough in two, three, or more parts,
each part being operated by a separate crank of the same shaft, and coming into
operation separately.
An arrangement of parts according to this part of my Invention is shown by

page_text: Figures 1 and 2 of the accompaning Drawings, Figure 1 representing a sectional
side view of the parts, and Figure 2 an end view of the same, and it will be seen
that I have only shown so much of the arrangements as will serve to indicate to
persons acquainted with this class of apparatus the nature of this part of my
Invention. a represents about the line of the upper surface of the wash liquid in
the bowl or trough, and b, b, a pair of axes or shafts for operating two sets of forks
c, c¹, and d, d. These shafts b, b, have rotary inotion given to them in the
direction indicated by the arrows by tooth gear in the usual way, or otherwise.
b', 6', Figure 2, represent the position of bearings for the support of these shafts
b, b, as shown, each of the forks is formed in two parts c, c', and d, d¹. The forks
c, d, are connected respectively to rods and d², which are formed to rock in the
usual way on pins c and d from the cranks e and faffixed to the shafts b, b, and
as those shafts b, b, evolve their relative motion is as heretofore controlled by a
rod g, connecting by pin joints g¹, g, the upper ends of the rods e² and d², aided by
the connecting rod h, one end of which is by the pin joint g¹ connected to the
upper end of the rod c², whilst the other end of this rod h simply vibrates on a
stationary pin h¹ carried by parts of the framing The parts c and d of the forks
are in like manner affixed to the lower ends of rods i and j, which at ¹ and ¹
respectively embrace the crank pins of the cranks b², 62, so as to have corresponding
motion given to them to that given by the crank pins c, d, but so that these
portions c, d, may operate at different times, and such times may be varied at the
will of the operator by varying the relative positions of the cranks e, f, to the
cranks 6, 62, on the shafts b, b.
The upper ends of the rods i and are connected together by the connecting rod
k and pins k¹, . The motion of these rods i and j is also controlled in the
rotation of the shafts b, b, by the rod 1, one end of which is by the pin joint k
connected to the upper end of the rod i, whilst the other end of that rod is held
to rock on a fixed stud corresponding in position with that of h. Although I havo
only thus shown the forks c and d divided into two parts c, c¹, and d, d¹, it will bo
evident that they may be divided into other number of parts if desired by increasing
the number of cranks on the shafts b, b, and although I have only shown the
improvements applied to two forks they would in like manner be applied to other
numbers of them. By thus acting on the width of fibre by frames of prongs or
forks divided into two or more parts in succession in place of in one the action on
the fibre is more gradual and effective, and the wool or other fibre is carried
through the bath in smaller quantities and more regularly.
According to the third part of my improvements I facilitate the straightening
and laying of the fibres when employing preparers having two or more sots of gill
combs for consecutive operation on the fibre by the bars of one set of the gill
fallers being each cranked at the ends so as to bring the body of the faller nearer
to the body of each of the fallers of the next series, and thereby reduce the space
between the respective series
Figure 3 shows by plan view one of tho fallers of each set of gill fallers operated
by separate screws to act in succession on the fibre. Figures 4 and 5 show one of
each of such fallers by plan and side view separately. The faller m is of the
ordinary kind, whilst the faller n and cach of those of the series worked by the
same screws is cranked forward from the part n', where they are supported and
operated for their movement to the part n carrying the pins or gill teeth. By this
cranking of the bars the distance between the teeth of each faller n as it comes
next to a faller m, as shown by Figure 3, will be greatly reduced, and the opening
of the fibre will be more easily, gently, and thoroughly effected
According to the fourth part of my Invention, when in gilling or drawing or
roving worsted or other fibres two or more slivers or rovings are required to be
combined together I effect the stoppage of the working of such apparatus in the
event of any one of the separate slivers or rovings in the process of being combined
becoming used up, and the consequent production of imperfect slivers or roving by
continuous working without the required number of slivers or rovings.

page_text: The respective guides through which the slivers or rovings are conducted in
their passage to the feed rollers are applied to or formed on a shaft capable of
rocking. These guides when in position for working stand somewhat in a vertical
direction, but if tilted forwards the shaft to which they are applied acts by suitable
connection on the stop motion to stop the working of the apparatus.
Each sliver or roving has a knot or loop formed on or near its end, or it has an
enlargement applied thereto, so that as such sliver or roving becomes used up, if its
end should be unobserved by the attendant, the knot or loop or other enlargement
formed on or applied to the silver or roving will as it comes in contact with the
guide draw it from its vertical or other normal position to act on the stop motion
to stop the apparatus.
Figure 6 shows by a sectional view some of the operating parts of a frame with
my improvements applied thereto. Figures 7 and 8 show parts separately. o, o,
show some of the bobbins from which separate slivers or rovings are supplied, and
P, P, those slubbings or rovings in their passage to the feed and drawing or con-
ducting rollers 9 and 7, whilst 8, 8, are the guides through the slit or opening, in
each of which each series of slubbings or rovings to be combined together is
conducted. These guides & are each affixed as heretofore to a bar s¹, but in place of
this bar being simply supported in a somewhat vertical direction, or inclined thereto,
it is formed with cranked axes 62, on which it may rock in bearings formed for
them and carried by the main framing, so that whilst these guides have a tendency
by slight spring or weighted pressure to remain in the position indicated by
Figure 6, when a knot or loop or other obstruction formed on or applied to any of
the respective slubbings or rovings p comes in contact with a guide 8, such
obstruction, by not being able to pass through the shit or opening in such guide,
will cause the series of them to be tilted into the position indicated by the dotted
lines 83, when a plate & applied to the to the lower end of an arm s from the axis 83
will be caused to strike against a spring lever arm t to throw that arm t out of its
holding notch.¹ in the guide u, when that arm t will operate on the stop motion
to throw the driving strap off the fast on to the loose pulley, and thereby stop the
further operation of the frame until the obstruction is removed or fresh roving or
slubbing is supplied. If desired each guide s may separately operate on the
stopping apparatus.
According to the fifth part of the Invention I reduce the waste in treating the
noil during the preparing and combing process when treating wool by operating
upon the noil as described in the Specification of Letters Patent granted to Isaac
Bailey and Daniel Smith, of Keighley, in the County of York, and Leonard Smith,
of Bradford, in the same county, dated the 11th of January 1876, No. 123.
For this purpose, in addition to the extra and smaller circle of comb teeth to
receive the fibre from the exterior of the larger circle after the drawing off from
the teeth of such larger circle, I apply another circle or other circles of teeth, the
teeth of such or other extra circles pointing in the opposite direction, and at the
point of transfer over the teeth of those from which they receive the fibre, and I
draw from the or from each extra circle by drawing-off rollers in the usual way.
The transfer from one set of teeth to the other is effected by lifting or moving
teeth attached or applied to a plate or carrier working against the teeth of the
comb from which the transfer is to be effected, aided by a brush.
Figure 9 shows by plan view, Figure 10 by sectional view, and Figures 11 and
12 parts separately of an arrangement of apparatus according to this fifth part of
the Invention A, in Figure 9, shows a portion of a circle of carrying combs, and
B the extra and smaller circle of comb teeth described in such former Specification
to receive the fibre from the teeth of that larger circle after the drawing off by the
drawing-off rollers from the teeth of such larger circle of comb teeth, and C
represents another circle of comb teeth, with the teeth thereof pointing in the
opposite direction to those of the teeth in the circle B, such teeth at the point of
receiving fibre from the teeth of the circle B being immediately under those of the
circle B. Fibre will be diawn off from the teeth of the circle B by drawing-off

page_text: rollers, as described in the said former Specification, and the transfer to the teeth of
the circle C of the fibre remaining in the teeth of the circle B after such drawing
off from the teeth of the circle B is effected by means of teeth applied to a plate
D, and this plate D is attached to the upper end of the rod D', which is operated at
its lower end by the excentric D³, or by other suitable means, and towards its
upper end is guided by its sliding in the rocking guide D³, so that the teeth in the
plate D may enter between the root ends of the teeth in the circle B, and by
moving down them towards their points carry the fibre therein downwards on to
the teeth of the comb C. This operation is aided by a dabbing brush E, to which
a quick up-and-down motion is given in the ordinary way.
I have not thought it necessary to show the position of the drawing-off rollers to
the circle B, but F, F, represent the position of drawing-off rollers for drawing off
the fibre from the teeth of the comb C, and G a noil lifter for lifting the noil up
out of the teeth of the comb C.
In like manner may other number of extra circles of comb teeth be employed to
act in succession, the points of each succeeding set of teeth being applied to operate
in the opposite direction to those preceding.
Having thus described my Invention, and means which I adopt in carrying the
same into effect, I would have it understood that I do not confine myself to the
precise arrangements of parts, as shown and described, as the same may be
varied without departing from the peculiar character of my Invention, but what I
claim is,―
First The arranging of the supply of the wash or other liquid to wash bowls or
troughs employed in treating wool or other fibre for the cleansing of such fibre so
that there may be a continuous flow of the wash or other liquid in a direction
from one end to the other of such wash bowls or troughs, in manner substantially
as explained.
Secondly I claim the arranging or combining parts by which the frames of
prongs or forks used in moving forward the fibre in the wash bowls used in treating
wool or other fibres are each formed in two or more parts to operate separately and
in succession on the width of fibre for the time across the bowl or trough, sub-
stantially as described.
Thirdly. I claim, when using separate sets or series of gill bars or combs for
consecutive operation in the preparing process of treating wool or other fibres, the
forming of the bars n cranked at their ends to enable them to work closer to the
next set of gill bars, as described.
Fourthly. I claim the arranging or combining parts of apparatus employed in
the process of gilling, drawing, or loving in the treatment of wool or other fibres
whereby the stoppage of the motions of the frame may be effected by the action
of knots, loops, or other obstructions on the guides, in manner substantially as
described.
Fifthly. I claim the arranging or combining parts of apparatus employed in
treating wool or other fibre whereby two or more extra circles of teeth are employed
to act on the fibre taken from the main circle of teeth after the drawing off by
drawing-off rollers from such main circle, in manner substantially as explained.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Illingworth, have hereunto set my
hand and scal, this Twelfth day of February, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
HENRY ILLINGWORTH, (LS.)