IMPROVEMENTS IN PRE- SUBSTANCES, AND PARING AND DRESSING FLAX, Tow. AND IN DOUBLING, DRAWING, AND TWISTING FLAX, TOW, AND OTHER FIBROUS " in which SUBSTANCES. AND IN THE MACHINERY TO BE USED FOR SUCH PURPOSES FI
Year: 1848

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
MARTIN, of Rillyleagh Mills, in the County of Down, Ireland, Manufacturer,
send greeting..
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent, under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Sixth day of July, One
thousand eight hundred and forty-eight, in the twelfth year of Her reign, did,
for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said John
Martin, my exors, admiors, and assigns, Her especial licence, full power,
sole privilege, and authority, that I, the said John Martin, my exors, adiiors,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said John Martin, my exors, admiors,
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 expressed, should and
lawfully night nake, use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and
the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PRE-
SUBSTANCES, AND
PARING AND DRESSING FLAX, Tow. AND
IN DOUBLING, DRAWING, AND TWISTING FLAX, TOW, AND OTHER FIBROUS
" in which
SUBSTANCES. AND IN THE MACHINERY TO BE USED FOR SUCH PURPOSES;
said Letters l'atent is contained a proviso, that 1, the said John Martin,
shall cause a particular description of the nature of my said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, by an instrument in writing
under my hand and seal, to be inrolled in Her said Majesty's High Court of
OTHER
FIBROUS

page_text: 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
John Martin, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention, and the
manner in which the same is to be performed, are fully described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement thereof, reference being had to the
Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the figures and letters marked thereon,
that is to say :-
My Invention relates, first, to improvements in the process and machinery
for preparing tow, and other fibrous materials requiring similar preparation,
and consists of applying apparatus to the carding engines used for such process,
in order to sharpen the teeth of the cards used, and for removing the dirt
during the process of preparing by carding, as herein-after explained.
Secondly, my Invention relates to improvements in dressing flax, and other
fibrous material requiring similar treatment, and consists of improvements in
the construction and use of hackling machinery, hereafter described.
Thirdly, my Invention consists of a mode of applying steam when drawing
flax, hemp, or tow.
And, fourthly, my Tuvention consists of a mode of varying the drag of
bobbins when twisting flax, hemp, or tow.
It is well known that in carding tow, and other fibrous matters requiring
a similar preparation by carding, that after the cards have been at work for
some time the points gradually wear, and become flat and smooth on the
tops, and I believe that no effectual method has hitherto been resorted
to for maintaining the teeth on a tow-carding engine sharp. Now, the
object of the first part of my improvements is to point or sharpen the points
of card teeth used in preparing tow, and other fibres requir ing a similar
process, and this is effected by the addition to the carding engine of
apparatus.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS A.
Figures 1 and 2 shew two views of parts of an ordinary tow-carding engine,
the details of the apparatus applied according to my Invention being shown
separatively on a larger scale, in order that they may be the more readily
understood. A is the framing of the engine; B is the main cylinder, which is 3
affixed to the shaft or axis B', which when the card teeth are to be sharpened
receives motion from the axis G, which axis G has a longitudinal groove on
each side; k is a tube, which has feathers on its inner side. These feathers

page_text: enter the grooves in the axis G, controlling the tube k to revolve with the
shaft G, while at the same time it is capable of movement in the direction of
the length of the axis G. On this tube are placed a number of circular
discs or thin plates of cast steel I. The sides of these discs are plain and flat,
so that they come close together, excepting towards the edges (say, about five-
sixteenths of an inch,) where they are bevelled off on either side, so that
their edges become angular, and these angular faces are to be cut like fine
files, the extreme circumference for about one-eighth of an inch being left
plain. The number of these circular cutters in a series are to correspond with
the rows of teeth across the card fillet, and an additional one, so as to have
as many spaces as there are rows of teeth in the breadth of fillet. The
cutters are put on the tube from the fixed collar k², to the loose collar k³,
which is retained in its place by the nut 4, which when screwed up tightly
keeps all the cutters firmly together in their proper position. The tube kis
then put on the axis G between the two lower sides of the guide case H, the
sides of which are bored out to fit the shaft G, the other end of this case H
being open below, and having a cover above, forming a case, in which are
placed a series of plates or guides h, corresponding with the number of the
cutters. These guides h are made of sheet iron of such thickness as will fill
(and at the same time admit of their moving in) the spaces between the rows
of teeth in the card and in order to keep these guide plates correct, there are
intermediate plates of the thickness of the wire fixed between the neighbouring
plates h, the guide plates only descending amongst the rows of teeth of the
cards. The guide plates h I make about six inches long by two inches deep,
their lower edges next the card being formed to the same curveas the circum-
ference of the card cylinder or roller on which the apparatus is to be applied.
The front edge H¹ of the guide case H is formed to a straight edge and works
at right angles to the edge of the fillet of card. On each side of the framing A
of the engine a cast-iron bearing A' is firmly bolted, having a hole throughits
centre to receive the stem A2 of the bearings of the cuttershaft G. Thestems
A are formed with fine screw threads (as shown) to receive the nuts A³, sons
to set these bearings nearer to or farther from the cards, as may be required.
One end of the shaft G carries the fast and loose pulleys G1, G2, capable of
receiving motion from a steam engine or other convenient power. On the
other end of the shaft G is formed or affixed a worm G³ with double thread,
driving a worm wheel O on one end of a cross shaft P, which has on its other
end a four-thread worm O', driving a worm wheel R on the centre shaft or
axle B of the cylinder B; the cross shaft P is supported in bearings at either
end as shown. In order to this cutter apparatus being most beneficially

page_text: applied, it is necessary to have the fillet of card carefully fixed on the cylinder,
and so that the spiral lines formed in winding the fillet round shall be all
uniform. The axis G will be placed in a plane at right angles to the edges of
the card fillet, which will be in a plane at an angle to the axis B, depending on
the width of the fillet and the size of the cylinder. The tube K with the
cutters is then to be entered on the shaft at the higher end, which is then, by
the adjusting screws on its pillar bearings, to be set so as to bring the cutters
between the rows of wire teeth till their bevel edges bear equally on either sido
of the teeth. The guides h are also to be entered into the corresponding rows
of teeth. I give to the cutter axis G such a motion as will obtain about forty-
seven feet of motion at the circumference of the cutters per minute, and the
cylinder is to be turned by the worms and wheels on the cross shaft at a
velocity of about seven inches of its circumference in the same time. The
revolution of the cylinder (the card teeth of which acting by the spiral line of
the fillet on the cutters) will cause the tube to slide along the axis G as it
turns, producing a traversing motion of the cutters across the surface of the
card cylinder. I find that the cutters should be entered between the teeth
lightly at first till they have traversed once over, and then I set them deeperafter
each traverse, till the teeth, by being brought closer and closer to the surface at
the bottom of the bevelled spaces of the cutters, are gradually ground to a fine
point. As the cutters must be kept steadily in the rows, and always entered so
as to confine them to oue breadth of fillet at a time, it is of importance to have
all the teeth in perfect line, with their points in the same direction and at
a uniform height from the leather or sole of the fillet. This is completely
attained by the guides h, which, going before the cutters, presents their points
ina proper direction to the cylinder, the revolution of which brings the rows of
teeth between the guide plates, so that the points of the guide plates turn into
line and raise up out of the spaces any teeth which may have been displaced in
the process of working, while the straight edge on the front of the guide case
sets to their proper level any teeth that have been bent upwards. As the
breadth of card fillet is usually the same for cylinders of all sizes, and the effect
of its being wound round their circumference is to cause a deviation from
the square equal to one breadth in each turn, the spiral becomes so oblique on
a cylinder of small diameter, that the angle of inclination for the shaft G to
bring the cutters parallel to the spiral line would cross the roller (if but four
inches diameter) in one-fourth of its length of four feet. To obviate this, and
save the trouble and loss of time that would be incurred by stripping the fillets
of small rollers and putting them on large cylinders to be sharpened, I have
shown at Figures 3 and 4 a frame, which I will now proceed to describe, for

page_text: grinding the teeth of cards fixed on cylinders of different sizes and of small
diameter, which will give the additional advantage of doing them at any time
without stopping the carding engine for that purpose. The shaft G with the
cutters is similar to that already described. The cutter shaft G is carried, as
shewn, by bearings, suspended by standards M, sliding between the parts of the
frame A. The bearings turn on pivots to allow of the adjustment of
theshaft G to different angles. The lower parts of these standards are formed
into racks M, which are taken into by the pinions N on the shaft O. The
card cylinder with the fillets to be ground are placed on moveable bearings R,
which are made capable of sliding to and fro by the screws S on the brackets Q,
so that whatever may be the diameter of the card cylinder, its wire teeth can
be brought into contact with the cutters I. On the axis of one of the two card
cylinders to be ground I place a driving pulley, and on the same axis a wheel
C,which gives motion to a train of wheels which give motion to the shaft O aud
to the other card cylinder, the racks M' being thereby raised at such speed,
that on each revolution of the card cylinders, the racks with the cutter shaft G
are moved up just as much as will be equivalent to the increased deviation of
the cutters (caused by the more oblique course of the fillet on small cylinders)
from the square or parallel line of the card cylinder, and cause the cutters to
be traversed along the cylinders in lines parallel with their axes, while the
cutter shaft is retained at the proper angle of inclination to keep the cutters
parallel with the spiral edges of the fillets. As the cutter shaft is continually
changing its position,a separate pulley is applied to it from that which drives
the other parts. The action of the cutters, and guides and the method of work-
ing them are the same as described for the cylinder of the carding engine. I
would here state that I have not thought it necessary to shew the guides in
detail in this arrangement, as they are to be similar to those above described.
Another improvement in the effect of the carding engine is the application of
acrank working a grating with a-doffing comb across its front to strip the feed
rollers C; the crank Z, worked by an eccentric Z on the axle of the first
stripper D, gives a vibrating motion to the comb f; forming the front bar of
the grating 1,2,3,&c., and strips the tow off the feed rollers, throwing it on the
main cylinder, which carries it on to the first stripper D, while the shaking
motion of the grating Z causes the dirt to drop through the rails 1, 2, 3,4,5,6,
aided by the blast of the cylinder in revolving over them. The bars shown
in the plan are one inch apart; the spaces may be varied according to circum-
stances. This improvement obviates the defect of the usual application of
rollers for stripping the feed rollers, where the space round the cylinder is so
closely occupied that little dirt and "shough" can escape, although this is the

page_text: place at which it ought to be chiefly thrown out,as in the subsequent action of
the card such dirt and "shough" becomes mingled with the fibres and cannot
so well be separated, and by this means much of the fibre which is usually
discharged with the dirt which is thrown out between the rollers is saved.
The second part of my Invention has for its object improvements on two
classes of hackling machinery, which I will proceed to describe by reference
to the Drawings marked B and C. Figure 1, Drawings B, shews a front
view, Figure 2 a left-hand end view, and Figure 3 a section, of a machine for
hackling according to my improvements; and I would here remark that by this
machine the hackling takes place on both sides of thestreaks at the same time.
A is the framing of the machine, with bearings to support the shafts C, C,
Ci, C, with driving pullies on one of the upper oues C, as shewn. On the
upper shafts C,C,are drums or pulleys D); on the lower shafts C1,C,are drums
or pulleys D¹,D'. Round the peripheries of the drums or pulleys D,at regular
intervals,are recesses D. The lower pulleys or drums D' have open grooves
D³,as shewn. Endless straps G are extended over each pair of pulleys D,D';
on these straps at regular distances are placed the "cocks" I screwed to them
by bolts,the heads of which being capable of fitting into the recesses Din the
peripheries of the upper pullies D. Hackle stocks or bars are applied to the
straps G,so as to move therewith,by having theirends passed through the open
parts of the "cocks" I, they lie parallel to the pulley shafts C. On the upper part
of each of the" cocks" I is formed a prolongation I' recessed to receive the ends of
the stripping laths L. The circular drums or pulleys Don the ends of the upper
shafts Chave each a rim or flange D+, with openings through which the strikers
E are capable of sliding freely, in order to drive out the hackle stocks into their
working positions. These strikers E have on their lower ends small bowls E1,
which come against circular plates d,fixed to the face of each of the drums or
pulleys. These strikers E, I prefer to be hollow, and to have wood or other
soft material inserted at their outer ends, where they strike the backs of the
hackle stocks. On each end of the framing of the machine are projecting
plates F, so formed that the bowls E' in the revolution of the drums or pulleys
D may pass against the plates F,which will cause the strikers E to be forced
outwards and act against the hackle stocks,whereby those stocks K which are
passing over opposite the plates F will be forced outwards into their working
positions, and will thus be forced into the flax at right angles (or it may be at
other angles) thereto,and the pins will remain at right angles until they are
carried off the guides, and then round the lower drums or pulleys D¹; the
hacklestocks being retained in their working positions during their action on
the flax by means of the guide bars M, which are shewn to be arranged so as

page_text: to cause the two sets of hackle stooks to move in parallel planes, and, by fixing
them nearer to or further from each other, they will cause the pius to enter it
more or less, as desired; such guide bars M may, however, be so fixed as to
cause the two sets of hackle stocks to move in planes at angles to each other.
The ends of the stocks are guided in their movements by the "cocks" I; each of
the holders V is forined with a light framing V1, projecting upwards, which
when closed on the upper part of the streak offer a guard to keep the flax
straight. Vis the cross head of the holders, by which the holder is supported
in working. This cross head is fitted to enter and pass freely through the fixed
receivers U (attached to the framingat either end of themachine), and through
the traversing slides T, at the lower ends of their lifting rods T. The flax
is shewn in the holders as if in
process suspended between the opposite sets of
hackles. The lifting rods T¹ are fitted to slide through the bearings in the top
rail of the frame A. Q, is the cam shaft, which receives motion from one of
the shafts C, by means of toothed wheels, as indicated by the blue circular
lines. On the shaft Q are cams R. N is a bar fixed at each end in the
framing A of the machine; this bar forms the axis of the levers O; the outer
end of each of these levers O receives a projection S from the lifting rods T¹;
each lever carries a stud having a bowl P on its end, which rests upon one of
the cams R, which cams are arranged in sets of three (or it might be other
number), capable of sliding on the shaft Q, so as to bring one or other of the
surfaces into action on its particular holder lever; at the left-hand end of the
shaft Q is affixed a cam X, which receives the bowly on the end of the lever
y, which lever, by means of the link y, is connected to one end of the crank
lever Ya, which gives the traversing motion to the holders V. The hackle
stocks K in their revolutions are acted on by the semicircular guards Z,
which cause tho hackle stocks to be gradually brought towards their axes of
rotation till they arrive into the positions where they are to be struck out by the
strikers E. By reference to these Drawings B the working and effect of this
machine will readily be understood. The flax having been screwed in the
holders V, it is entered into the fixed or stationary receiver U, which has a
longitudinal opening or groove in its lower side, through which the neck of the
holder below its cross head V can slide, the other or moveable receivers T
being made in a similar manner. The shaft Qbeing put in motion, the cam
X revolves and gives motion to the lever Y, which at its upper end acts on
the holder V, placed in the receiver U, and slides it quickly at the proper time
into the first moving receiver T, attached to the end of its lifting rod T', that
is, when the first rod T is raised up with its receiver in line with the fixed
receiver U, at which time all the moveable receivers T will be on the same

page_text: line, so that the pushing in of one holder V from the fixed receiver U will
cause the holder previously in the first moveable receiver T to be traversed
into the second moveable receiver T, and so on, the cams R being all coinci-
dent at one part to produce this state of things. The cam shaft continuing to
turn, will gradually allow the levers O to descend, according to the shape of the
cam surfaces R for the time being in action, which may be varied so as to
produce a great difference in the velocity or motion of the levers and conse-
quently of the bolders. The holders thus successively arrive in the fixed
receiver at the right-hand end of the frame, and they are success vely driven out
into an inclined guide (hereafter described), down which they slide and remain
till the attendant removes them, when the flax is reversed in the holders, and
they are again entered in the machino and finished. The pulleys Darecach
formed in two parts, so that the parts D', in which are the holes for the pas-
sage of the strikers E, may be turned on the shaft independently of the other
parts of such pullies D¹, in order to vary the time of the strikers E acting on
the passing stocks.
In order that this machine may work. quickly and safely, I arrange the
fixed receiver U at the left-hand end of the machine, and also the fixed
receiver at the right-hand end of the machine, in such manner that the
holders cannot be moved except at the proper times, and further that they
shall not be moved too far, for which purpose the receiver U at the left-hand
end of the machine is provided with apparatus, which will be best understood
by reference to Figures 4 and 5. U is the fixed receiver, before described,
there being a slot or opening U, through the upper plate of it; through this
slot or opening the stud or stop U passes, such stop or stud U being fixed
on the lever u³, which moves on an axis on the upper plate of the
receiver U. This stud or stop U prevents the holder being pushed beyond
it till the lever U³ is raised by the coming up of the first moveable receiver T,
which, coming under the end of the lever, raises it, and then the passage for
the holders will be open from end to end of the machine, and the traverse
take place with safety. And in order to prevent the holder farthest from the
lever Y being moved too far, the fixed receiver at the right-hand end of the
machine has apparatus applied thereto, which will be best understood by
Figure 5. is a lever which will be acted on at one end by the coming up
of the last moveable receiver T, which will cause the other end of the lever u
to descend, and thus offer a stop to the passage of the holder (last pushed into
this receiver) till the lever is released by the descent of the moveable
receiver, and then the spring ul will raise the lever and allow the holder to
fall on the inclined plane. In order to remove the fow from the machine I

page_text: prefer to use apparatus which will be understood by reference to Figures 6,
7, and 8.
At the crank joining of the vertical traverse lever Y³ is fixed a jointed
driver set to work into the teeth of a ratchet wheel a, as shewn. On the
side of the ratchet wheel is a small projecting wiper b, which in each revo-
lution acts upon a bowl c on the shorter arm of a lever d, the fulcrum of
which is a stud fixed to the framing A, its longer arm passing between the
limbs of a fork e at one of a bell crauk-lever el, having on its other end a
fork also, which when raised into a vertical position embraces the lower end
of the lever f, which then by the bowl on its short end (working in the
cam X) has motion given to it, and motion is thus transmitted to lever g, to
which the bell cranked lever c¹is attached, and then the lever g, by its con-
necting rod h, gives a quick motion to the frame or rake i, which is supported
by grooved wheels j, which run on rails, or the tow may be conveyed away
as it falls from the pins by having endless aprous moving below the machine.
I will now describe another part of my improvements.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS C.
Figure 1 shews a left-hand end view, Figure 2 a front view, of a
hackling machine for hackling only on one side of the "streak" at a
time, with parts arranged according to this part of my In vention. The
other views shew some of the parts separately. Many of the parts of this
machine are similar to those shewn and described with respect to Drawings
marked B, but in this case the tools or hackles work horizontally, as is
the case with others in common use. The flax is shewn in the holders
Ventered in the slide of the stationary receiver U, attached to a bracket from
the end frame A. The shaft C has a pinion (1) driving a wheel (2), attached
to which is a pinion (3), which geers into and drives the toothed wheel (4) on
the cam shaft Q, on which are affixed three cams Rwith rims, forming courses,
within which are received the bowls P on the upright levers 01, 02, 0³. On
the other end of this shaft Q is a pinion (5), which takes into and drives the
wheel (6) on a short shaft Q. On this shaft Q1 is affixed the double cam X,
having on each side a course formed to receive the bowls on the ends of the
levers Z and Y. The courses on the cam X are each formed to produce their
effect on their respective levers twice in each revolution, or once for two turns
of the cam shaft Q, so that on every turn of that shaft one or other of them
acts alternately. The upper end of the bell-crank lever Y terminates in a
slotted opening, through which a stud Y' from the sliding bar Y
passes. On

page_text: the front of this sliding Y are affixed projecting forms Y*, which embrace
the stems or necks of the holders under the cross heads V2, as shewn.
This
bar Y (with its forks) traverses on small bowls Y3 in the bottoin of links 03,
suspended from the ends of the two levers O2, with which it is raised and
lowered. The upper end of the lever Y is curved forwards, as shewn, to the
segment of a circle described by the levers O2, so that the stud Y in the
traverse bar Y2, which moves with the lever Y, may pass up and down freely
in the slotted opening at the top of the lever Y. On the cam shaft Q is
affixed a cam O' which actuates the sliding bar 06; this sliding bar is guided
at its lower end by a socket carried by the framing. This sliding bar O is
coupled in its length by an adjusting screw coupling, and at its upper end it
is attached to one of the levers O2. The levers O2 are carried by and affixed
to the spindle bar 07, which at its ends is supported by the main framing, so
as to turn freely therein. Through the other ends of these two levers a bar Os
is passed, and secured so as to connect these levers firmly together. On the
bar O is arranged a series of rollers, one to receive each of the holder levers
0º, whereby these levers will have given to them a lifting movement when.
the bar O is raised. The levers O are each at their back ends connected to
an upright lever 01, 02, or 0³, and these levers 01, 02, and 03 turn freely
upon the shaft 011, carried by bearings on the frame A so as to allow of the
levers 01,03, 03, being actuated by the cams R, which are formed with sunk
courses to receive the bowls or trucks P on those levers. The front ends of
the levers O' are bored to receive the spindles T¹ of the holder receivers T,
so as to support the holder and receivers with a capability of their turning
freely. The upper end of each of the spindles T¹ is fixed securely into the
stein of the disc T2, which is formed to receive parts of apparatus, by which
the turning of the "streak" is effected at certain times, as I will now proceed
to describe. is a lever which turns upon a centres, and at one end carries
a truck which is actuated by the course on one side of the cam X, and at the
other end the lever is connected by means of the link 3, to the arm 1
aflixed to the shaft 5, to which are affixed other arms, the outer ends of
which are formed into socket joints which slide in the openings formed in the
head of the sliding spindle (5), which is fitted to the inside of a hollow tube (6),
which is made to turn in the socket (7) formed on the frame of the machine.
At the lower end of this turning tube (6) is formed a disc (8), which when the
tube (6) is entered in the socket (7) forms a flanch round its under edge, and
at the top of the tube (6) is formed a male screw to receive a nut (9), which
forms a collar or bearing on the upper edge of the socket. Inside of the
tube (6) are fixed small studs (10), projecting into spiral grooves in the cir-

page_text: cumference of the sliding spindle (5). Two pins (11) are fixed in and project
from the lower surface of the disc (8) of the tube (6), so as to be capable of
entering into the cut-out parts of the disc T. On the top of the turning
spindle of the holder receiver T (16) is a sliding catch, working in a socket
formed in the end of each lever 09, having a head or projection which comes
under the points of the pins, the action of which catch (16) is to secure the
holder at all times, except when the disk T³ is clutched by the pins (11), when
the pressure of one of the pins (11) on the disc (8) pushes down the slido
catch (16) into the lower part of the socket, at which time the disc T is
capable of turning round with its holder T by the spiral (5*) acting on the
revolving tube (6). When the catch (16) is released from the pressure of
the pin (11), and the disc has revolved half round, the slide catch (16), is
immediately pushed by a spiral spring into the groove above the joint, and
forms a sliding key or bolt to keep the receiver T in a correct position. (12)
are levers turning on studs (13); these levers (12) at their back ends carry
bowls (actuated by cams 12×), and at their front ends are attached by links
(11) to the brush 15). These motions of the brush are shown by red lines.
In order that the various parts may be better understood I will now describe
the mode of operation. The cams marked R on the shaft Q regulate the
time for tho flax to remain on the hackles, varying the speed at which it
advances and returns, the dwell on each particular portion of its length, and
the lowering it to and raising it from the hackles.
By changing the differential motion of the levers 01, 02, 03, which is effected
by changing the outline of the cams, all the points of dwell and motion cau bo
varied on each head separately, the lovers of each being moved by its own cam
independently of the others, thus giving the power of varying the speed, degree
of work, and time for the flax to remain on each gradation of tools or hackles,
according as its properties require more or less work on the coarser or finer
hackles; but the revolution of all must be simultaneous, and their extreine
distar.ce from the centre the same, so that whatever may be the deviation of
each in the outline of the channels (moving the bowl and levers) they shall all
have their longest point in line, so as to bring the ends of their respective
levers all to one level and line at the moment when the changes are to be
effected. A different outline in the cam is adopted for each head, as shown.
These camsare single-acting, producing the effect once in each revolution. The
double cam X, for moving the traverse lever Y and the turning lever, have,
each double action, that is, their effect is produced on the bowls twice in each
revolution of their shaft, as shewn. The acting parts are shewn at the two
points of extreme distance 2p. The parts of the cam X which actuate the

page_text: lever Y have also two other parts, which are for the purpose of bringing back
the lever Y to its upright position after having made the traverse. The four
points of action in the channels of this double cam X are set at right angles on
either side of the division plate, so as to act alternately on the turning and
traverse levers, leaving the one at rest while the other is acting, and their
speed being one-fourth of the cams R on the shaft Q (which regulate the
time for each holder to remain with its flax on the hackles), there will be one
action of the traverse lever Y, and one action of the turning lever Z in regular
alternation for each alternate turn of the cam shaft Q, which having single
cams R producing their effect at each revolution, the double cam X would
produce its changes as often at half speed, but its action being only required
at every other turn of the cams R, its velocity is reduced to one-fourth that of
the cam shaft Q.
I would remark that I do not confine myself to this arrangement of the
cam s, as the same effects may be produced by different arrangements.
The working of the various motions and their effect will be thus:-The
pulley B gives motion to the shaft C, turning that shaft and the pulleys D, D¹
with the straps and hackles attached, and the stocks are put in action by the
strikers, as in the vertical double machine, before described; butan advantage
is here gained in the manner of applying the flax horizontally in the closer
approach of the holders to the hackles, they being brought to act close up to
the nip supposing the bowls of the levers 01, 0, 0, to be on the cams Rat
their highest points, and the bowl of the bar O on the highest point of its cam
then the holder slide receivers T will all three be on a level with the stationary
receiver U (having inserted a holder V with flax spread level). The part of
the cam Xwhich acts on the lever Y being set just at the point to produce the
traversing action on the bowl of the lever Y, which is standing upright, acts
instantly and slides the bar Ye, having between its first fork the stem of the
holder V, which it traverses rapidly into the slide receiver over the first head or
course gradation of hackles at the same moment just when the holder is depo-
sited in its place. The cams R, having their highest partunder the bowls, their
moving will cause the holder receivers suddenly to descend to their lowest
positions. The descent of the holder receivers Tbrings down the ends of the
flax first on the hackles, just behind their striking-in point, and the levers
01, 03, 03 being then moved forward, bring the receiver and flax over and in
action with the hackles, the onward movement of which brings the fibres in a
horizontal position over the points which are to be struck by the strikers E
into the flax in this horizontal position, so that the hackle points are presented
at right angles to the flax, the line in which they are most effective; the levers

page_text: 01; 03,0%, continuing their motion forwards till the whole length of tho streak
is on the hackles, close up to tho holders. The action of the bowls on tho
levers O', 02; 03 is, now reversed; but before the return motion of these levers:
commences, the brush (15), having been lifted by its levers, and the back
part of the brush near the flax ends being slightly elevated, so as to bring it
first into contact with the flax, it closes down till it is horizontal, and is press-
ing lightly on the flax; when the backward movement of the levers O¹, 02, 0³,
draws out the flax against the run of the hackles, and; by the contact of the brush,.
every nap or lumpis cleaned away, passing off with the tow. The movement
of the levers being now completed, the bar Ois.lifted up by its cam, raising
the bar Os and the levers O with the receivers to the line of the fixed
receivers where the operation commenced. The cam shaft Q having now.
performed one revolution, and the flax being dressed on the lower side, will
require to be done on the othor; it must therofore be turned, and for this
purpose the pins (11), in the underside of the turning tube8, which in the rise
of the levers with the receivers, are brought through the openings in the
disc T. The bowl of the levers is just at the point of action, and being.
passed rapidly through its course it moves, the shaft 5, thereby acting upon the
sliding spindle 5 to turn' the tube 6 half round, and thus the other side of the
flax is brought round, so as to lie on the hackles. The lifting bar 06 now
descends with the holder levers O, bringing the flax into contact with the
hackles, as before, till, on another revolution of the cams being performed, the
flax is drawn back and elevated, as before, to the line of the fixed receivers.
On its arrival at this point the cam has just completed a revolution. The
acting point of the cam is on the bowl, and being brought to bear upon it; the
slide or traverse is again effected, and the flax first introduced will be ready to
be lowered on the second head or gradation of hackle tools, where the same
operation is repeated. The turning motion being again brought into operation,
the same motions are to be successively repeated, till the flax having been
passed over all the gradations is slid out into the last stationary receiver, and
thence removed by. an inclined plane to a depôt for holders, till the attendant
can remove and refill them with other flax, which goes through all the same
operations.
.:.
I will now describe the third part of my. Invention, which consists of
placing a perforated steam pipe so as to cause jets of steam to coine against the
passing flax,hemp, or tow as it is being drawn out by drawing rollers;; this-
steam pipe runs across the machine from end to end, and has numerous small
holes for the passage of jets of steam, and the pipe is so fixed that the jets of
steam strike against the passing flax, hemp, or tow as it goes from the

page_text: retaining rollers to the drawing rollers, so that in the act of the fibres being
drawn out the steam will actamongst them; and the steam pipe is so arranged
as to traverse across the machine, to correspond with the traverse of the.
rovings.
I will now describe the fourth part of my Invention. It is well known that
in spinning machines used for spinning flax, hemp, and tow, that the drag to the
bobbins is obtained by weighted cords, which hang over a notched bar, and
according as the weighted cords are in one or other notch so will be the extent
the cords will lap round the bobbins. Now, according to this part of my
Invention, I make the notched bar moveable endways of its length, and when
the bobbins are empty I apply the friction or cords, so as to produce the least
friction by lapping round the bobbins to the smallest extent required, and then
as the bobbins become filled I cause the notched bar to bo moved so as
progressively to extend the friction of the cords on the surfaces of the bobbins,
by which the drag on the bobbins by the weighted cords will be encreased
gradually, and such moving of the notched bar may be done by any convenient
mechanism what I use in a ratchet wheel putin motion by a driver, carried
by the bar which rises and falls to produce the copping action, the ratchet
wheel having a screw through it which is connected to the notched bar, and
thus is the notched rail gradually moved endways.
;
Having thusdescribed the nature of my Invention, and the manner in which
the same is to be performed, I would have it understood that I do not
confine myself to the details as herein described so long as the peculiar
character of either part of my Invention be retained; but what I claim is, —
First, the mode of combining apparatus for applying a series of cutters to
sharpen the teeth of cards set around a cylinder used for carding tow, and
other fibres requiring a similar preparing process; and I also claim the mode
of arranging apparatus for facilitating the removal of dirt from the fibres
when being carded, as herein explained in respect to Drawings A.
Secondly, I claim the mode of arranging hackle stocks in cocks, and
causing them to be moved out by strikers, and the mode of continuing the
hackles in action, as herein described in respect to Drawings B and C; and
I also claim the mode of arranging apparatus in combination with fixed
receivers for ensuring the correct traversing of the holders, as described in
respect to Drawings B; and I also claim the mode of arranging and working
a rake apparatus for removing tow, as described in respect to Drawings B; and
I also claim the mode of arranging cam apparatus for governing the descent
of the flax, whereby the several holders in a machine may descend with
different speeds, and the speed of each holder may be varied, as described;