CERTAIN IM- PROVEMENTS IN CARDING ENGINES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Barker and Thomas Barker, both of Manchester,
in the County of Lancaster, Mechanics, for the Invention of "CERTAIN IM-
PROVEMENTS IN CARDING ENGINES."
Sealed the 29th December 1876, and dated the 31st October 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Barker and Thomas
Barker at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 31st October
1876.
WILLIAM BARKER and THOMAS BARKER, both of Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Mechanics. " CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN CARDING ENGINES."
Our Invention consists in an improved self-acting stripping motion for stripping
the top flats of carding engines.
To each of the ordinary radial arms forming part of the stripping motion is fixed
a stud on which an internal toothed segment revolves; these segments are driven by
pinions from the ordinary cross shaft. Each internal segment drives a pinion
fixed to a disc in which is a crank pin to raise and lower a connecting rod with an
adjustable coupling nut to regulate the length. At the top of these connecting rods
is fixed a slot piece to catch hold of the ends of the top flat; to the slot pieces are
jointed two claws connected by a spring, and each slot piece has a stud for sup-
porting a pinion.
When the connecting rods are raised the pinions come into gear with racks on
the radial arms and cause the slot pieces to vibrate on their centres, thereby
bringing the card teeth on the top flat against the stripper which is moved to and
fro in the ordinary manner.
When the connecting rods descend the stripped top flat is brought down on to
the main cylinder of the carding engine. By this means each top flat is raised,
stripped, and lowered more expediously than by the machinery now in use.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Barker and Thomas Barker in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 28th April 1877.
WILLIAM BARKER and THOMAS BARKER, both of Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Mechanics. " CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN CARDING ENGINES."
Our Invention consists in an improved self-acting stripping motion for stripping
the top flats of carding engines, whereby the operations of raising, stripping, and
lowering the top flats are performed with great rapidity.
And in order that our Invention may be fully understood and readily carried
into operation, we will proceed to describe the accompanying two Sheets of
Drawings.
On Sheet 1, Fig. 1 is an elevation of part of an ordinary self-stripping carding
engine to which our improvements are applied.
On Sheet 2, Fig. 2 represents the parts in the positions they occupy when the top
flat has been raised; Fig. 3 shews the top flat in the act of being stripped; Fig. 4
represents the stripped top flat lowered into its position again; and Fig. 5 repre-
sents an edge view of part of the apparatus.
a is the axle of the main cylinder b; c, one of the radial arms; d, the top flats;
e, the segmental mangle rack; f, the pinion gearing therein; and g, the cross shaft,
which is driven from the axle a; all these parts and the others not particularly
referred to hereafter, but which are requisite to complete the carding engine, are
made in the usual manner.
On each end of the cross shaft g is fixed a spur pinion g¹ gearing into the wheel h
which revolves on a stud fixed in the radial arin c; the wheel is cast with an internal
toothed segment 1 gearing into the pinion i which is cast or fixed on the end of
a short shaft which revolves in the radial arm c; at the other end of the said shaft
is fixed or keyed on the disc ¹; to each disc is fixed a crank pin or stud i², to
which is jointed the lower end of the connecting rod or link j; these links are pro-
vided with adjustable coupling nuts taking into right and left-handed threads to
regulate their length. In order to suit the required radius of the stripper by the
application of these coupling nuts and links, we can adjust the raised top flat so as
to clean the entire surface thereof. The upper ends of the links j are jointed to the
studs k projecting from the slot pieces, shewn in Fig. 5; these slot pieces are made
with a recess to catch hold of a correspondingly shaped projection at each end of
the top flats; by this means the top flats are held firm while being stripped. To
the slot pieces are fixed studs supporting the claws which bear upon the ends
of the top flat, and assist in holding it while being raised, stripped, and lowered.
The claws are acted upon by the spring . To each stud k is fixed a pinion k³
having teeth on only a part of its circumference, as shewn in Fig. 1; the stud / and
pinion are carried up and down with the slot piece /c, and on one side of the slot
in each radial arm c is cast or fixed a rack c¹. The pinions k² and racks c¹ form no
part of our Invention, except when acting in the manner herein-after described.
The slot pieces ¹ are guided by the sliding blocks which fit in the slot in each
radial arm c, and when the slot pieces are raised the pinions come into gear with
the racks c¹, as will be described hereafter.
The stripper m for cleaning the top flat when raised is actuated in the following
manner: To the cross shaft g, see Fig. 4, is fixed the disc g³ in which is a stud or
crank pin for communicating a vibratory motion to the lever n by the link n¹; to
the lever n is fixed the toothed segment n² gearing into the pinion m¹ fixed to the
axle of the stripper m, which clears itself against the ordinary stripping board o.
The above parts marked g², n¹, n, and m form no part of our Invention
The mode of operation is as follows:-When the radial arms have been brought
by the usual mechanism opposite the top flat to be stripped, the V shaped recesses
in the slot pieces are under the corresponding projections on the ends of the top
flat, as shewn in Fig. 1, and when the internal toothed segment h¹ comes into gear

page_text: with the pinion i it imparts motion to the discs ; the links j then raise the slot
pieces and lift the top flat into the position shewn in Fig. 2; as the slot pieces
continue to rise the pinions come into gear with the racks c¹ and cause the slot
pieces ¹ to turn partly round so as to bring the parts into the position shewn in
Fig. 3; the stripper m is then brought into operation by the disc g² and strips the
top flat while it is descending. The pinions remain in gear with the racks c¹
while the top flat is being stripped. When the stripper has cleared the top flat it
strips itself against the card teeth on the board o, and is then brought back to its
original position ready for the next operation.
As soon as the top flat has been brought down the radial arms are moved in the
ordinary way to another top flat, and the operations are repeated as before.
Having thus stated the nature of our Invention, and described the manner of
performing the same, we declare that we claim,-
First. The mechanism for raising and lowering the top flats, consisting of the
internal segments h¹, pinions i, discs ¹, and adjustable links j, as shewn and
described.
Secondly. The slot pieces ¹ with a V shaped recess, and the corresponding pro-
jections at the ends of the top flats, as shewn and described.
Thirdly. The claws with the springs for holding the top flat while being
raised, stripped, and lowered, as shewn and described.
Fourthly. The combination of the slot pieces ¹, the pinions 2, and the racks c¹
acting in the manner described for partially turning the top flat and holding it
while being stripped.
And, Lastly. The general combination and arrangement of the parts shewn and
described for raising, stripping, and lowering the top flats.
In witness whereof, we, the said William Barker and Thomas Barker, have
hereto set our hands and seals, this Twenty-seventh day of April, One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
WILLIAM BARKER. (L.S.)
THOMAS BARKER.
(L.S.)