IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR FEEDING WOOL, COTTON, JUTE, AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES TO CARDING ENGINES AND OTHER PREPARING MACHINES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Thomas Whiteman, of the Firm of Murdoch and
Whiteman, of No. 7, Staple Inn, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agents,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR
FEEDING WOOL, COTTON, JUTE, AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES TO CARDING
ENGINES AND OTHER PREPARING MACHINES." A communication from abroad
by Ewell A. Dick, of the City of Washington, in the District of Columbia, in
the United States of America.
Sealed the 13th May 1879, and dated the 12th March 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Thomas Whiteman
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th March 1879. .
WILLIAM THOMAS WHITEMAN, of the Firm of Murdoch and Whiteman, of
No. 7, Staple Inn, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agents. IMPROVEMENTS
IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR FEEDING WOOL, COTTON, JUTE, AND OTHER
FIBROUS SUBSTANCES TO CARDING ENGINES AND OTHER PREPARING MACHINES."
[A communication from abroad by Ewell A. Dick, of the City of Washington, in
the District of Columbia, in the United States of America.]
The machines heretofore constructed for automatically feeding wool or other fibre
to carding or other engines have been subject to the following (amongst other)
defects They deliver the wool not by weight but by bulk, so that owing to the
different density of different portions of the said wool the resulting sliver is of
unequal weight in parts. Also the moving parts of the said machines are apt to
lap or wind the fibres around them, and thus cause the stoppage of the machine,
this being especially the case with long wool.
It is to be observed that the great object of all automatic feeding machines is the
ultimate production of a yarn which shall have for each unit of measure a certain
weight, so that the fabric made therefrom shall also be uniform in weight throughout.
Any method of feeding the wool simply by bulk or volume must produce inequality
in the weight of the yarn. To secure a perfect result equal weights of the wool
must be distributed over equal areas of the feeding apron.
The object of this Invention is therefore to feed the wool or other fibre to the
carding engine in such a way that equal weights of equal bulk shall be presented
thereto uniformly.

page_text: The said Invention consists of reciprocating mechanism for "evening” and
combing the wool as it is lifted by an endless lifting apron; in devices to prevent
lapping and winding on the rotating mechanism; in a stripping apron and a device
operating in conjunction therewith for removing the wool from the aforesaid lifting
apron in the construction and arrangement of a scale for weigbing and delivering
the wool, and in certain devices for working the said scale; in delivering the wool
diagonally to the first breakers of carding machines; and in the general construction
and arrangement of parts hereinafter described.
The improved machine or apparatus constituting this Invention is constructed
and acts as follows:-In a case or receptacle into which the wool to be fed is thrown
are mounted rolls carrying a lifting apron furnished with tines or teeth, which apron
works by preference in a vertical or nearly vertical plane. Opposite to the said
apron, at the upper part thereof is mounted a vibrating comb to prevent the said
apron from carrying the wool forward in lumps or bunches. At the other side of
the said apron is mounted a stripping apron furnished with strips of india rubber,
leather, or other flexible material extending across the said apron, or with teeth.
This apron is driven at a greater speed than the lifting apron, and removes the wool
therefrom. The lower part of the stripping apron works in a trough or dish which
aids in stripping the wool from the lifting apron; from this trough the wool falls into
a scale or other receptacle. The said scale is constructed in two parts or halves
which are carried by levers which turn upon pivots or knife edges and are counter
balanced by sufficient weights, the said parts being so arranged that when a certain
weight of wool has been fed into them they are caused to separate and let the said
wool fall on to a creeper on which it is pushed forward in a diagonal direction by
means of a rake or pusher." When the determined quantity of wool has been
deposited in the scale, the delivery of wool thereto̟ is stopped by the arrangement
hereinafter described until the wool has been liberated from the scale and the two
halves thereof have been restored to their normal position ready to receive the next
charge of wool. On the shaft of the upper roller over which the lifting apron passes
is mounted a clutch wheel provided with teeth, and in proximity to the said wheel is
mounted a stop lever, one end of which rests on an intermediate lever, the longer
arm of which rests on a pin carried by one of the halves of the scale, which when
it turns carries down this pin with it, and thus causes the lower end of the
intermediate lever to fall and its upper end to tilt the stop lever and cause it to
engage with one of the teeth of the clutch wheel, and thus arrest the motion of the
lifting apron.
"
In order to separate the halves of the scale to a sufficient distance to allow the
wool to fall therefrom a pin is affixed to one of the said halves, which pin works
through slotted levers affixed to the said halves and is acted upon by the upper arm
of a three armed lever, on the lower arm of which is formed a projection which is
acted upon by a pin carried by a change wheel. The horizontal arm of the said
lever is counterbalanced. At each revolution of the change wheel the pin thereon
bears against the projection on the lever and thus causes the upper end thereof to
depress the pin on the scale, and thus to separate the halves thereof. On the axis
which carries the three armed counterbalanced lever aforesaid is another three
armed counterbalanced lever, on the vertical arm of which is a projection, which
after the scale has ejected its wool is acted upon by the pin on the change wheel
aforesaid. One of the arms of this lever is thus depressed and caused to pull a wire
attached to one end of a lever mounted under the stop lever aforesaid, and thus to
liberate its engaged end from the tooth of the clutch wheel the shaft of which is
then free to rotate. Any clutch mechanism may be used which when locked by
the stop lever aforesaid will allow the pulley to run free on its shaft.
The levers herein before described are slotted to allow of adjustment by means of
pins or set screws working in their slots.
The rake or "pusher" herein before referred to consists of a board having at its
ends pins which slide in guide grooves in the sides of 'the machine and project
through the said grooves and engage in slots or openings formed in levers mounted

page_text: on a shaft which receives an oscillating motion from a pin on a gear wheel, which
pin passes through one end of an adjustable connecting rod, the other end of which
jointed to one of the levers on the said shaft. The slots or openings in the said
levers are of such respective forms as to cause the "pusher" to be advanced first on
one side so as to bring it into a diagonal position relatively to the length of the apron,
and then equally on both sides during the remainder of its traverse along the feed
apron which is driven from the main shaft by a train of wheels.
The vibrating comb hereinbefore referred to consists of a serrated blade affixed to
a stock which is made in two or more parts which are affixed to counterbalanced
arms carried by a shaft, slots being formed in the said arms through which pass
screws by which the stock is secured to the said arms. This arrangement allows of
The comb
the adjustment of the several parts of the stock upon the said arms.
shaft is driven by a band pulley having on its face a pin which works through one
end of a connecting rod, the other end of which is connected by a set screw to a
slotted lever affixed to the said comb shaft.
The stripping trough or "dish" used in conjunction with the stripping apron is
affixed to the frame of the machine by screws passing through slots in the ends of
the said trough which can thus be adjusted nearer to or further from the lifting
apron.
The shields for preventing the wool from lapping or winding round the journals
of the shafts and rollers of the machine are hollow cylinders or cones which are
affixed either to the bearings of the said journals or to the frame of the machine,
The ends of the
the said journals in either case passing through the said shields.
rollers or cylinders are hollowed out to admit the ends of the said shields which
enter the recesses thus formed.
The action of this machine is as follows:-
The wool-box or receptacle having been filled and the driving shaft being put in
motion, the wool is raised by the lifting apron, the quantity carried over to the
stripping apron being regulated by the reciprocating comb which also prevents the
carrying over of the said wool in lumps or bunches, and helps to prepare it for the
carding process. The friction of the wool against the sides of the case retards
the said wool so that more wool is carried up by the middle portion of the lifting
apron than by the side portions, but by the adjustment of the comb plate and stock
as hereinbefore described the teeth of the said plate can be set closer to or further
from the teeth of the delivery apron at either side or in the middle, so that by the
operation of the said comb the superfluous wool may be removed from the said
apron. After the wool has been carried over the upper roller of the lifting apron it
is removed therefrom by the stripping apron and stripping trough, from which the
said wool passes to the scale, which when the required weight of wool has been
deposited therein opens slightly, and by means of the clutch mechanism hereinbefore
described stops the lifting apron. By the continued operation of the machine the
halves of the scale are separated sufficiently to allow the weighed wool to fall there-
from on to the feed apron. The "pusher" then comes into action. Its first motion
places the weighing of wool diagonally across the said apron. The pusher then pushes
the said wool (maintaining its diagonal position) against the last preceding weighing.
By reason of the diagonal position of the successive weighings of wool one or more
of the junctions between them is or are always entering the carding engine at the
same time. The motion of the pusher is much more rapid than that of the
feed apron, so that the wool is pressed forward into a compact layer. After the
scale has discharged its wool the halves of the said scale are brought together and
the stripping apron is again set in motion by the arrangements of mechanism
hereinbefore described.
The scale may be mounted diagonally relatively to the length of the feed apron,
in which case the rows or layers of wool may be fed to the carding engine without
the peculiar arrangement of the pusher described.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Thomas Whiteman in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
12th September 1879.
WILLIAM THOMAS WHITEMAN, of the Firm of Murdoch & Whiteman, of
No. 7, Staple Inn, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agents. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR FEEDING WOOL, COTTON, JUTE, AND OTHER
FIBROUS SUBSTANCES TO CARDING ENGINES AND OTHER PREPARING MACHINES."
A communication from abroad by Ewell A. Dick, of the City of Washington, in
the District of Columbia, in the United States of America.
The machines heretofore constructed for automatically feeding wool or other fibre
to carding or other engines have been subject to the following (amongst other)
defects. They usually deliver the wool not by weight but by bulk, so that, owing
to the different density of different portions of the said wool, the resulting sliver is
of unequal weight in parts. Also the rotary beaters of the said machines are apt
to lap or wind the fibres around them and thus cause the stoppage of the machine,
this being especially the case with long wool.
It is to be observed that the great object of all automatic feeding machines is the
ultimate production of a yarn which shall have for each unit of measure a certain
weight, so that fabric made therefrom shall also be uniform in weight throughout.
Any method of feeding the wool simply by bulk or volume must produce inequality
in the weight of the yarn. To secure a perfect result equal weights of the wool
must be distributed over equal areas of the feeding apron.
The object of this Invention is therefore to feed the wool or other fibre to the
carding engine in such a way that equal weights on equal areas of the feed apron
shall be presented thereto uniformly.
The said Invention consists in reciprocating mechanism for " evening" and
combing the wool as it is lifted by an endless lifting apron; in devices to prevent
lapping and winding on the rotating mechanism in a stripping apron, and a device
operating in conjunction therewith for removing the wool from the aforesaid lifting
apron; in the construction and arrangement of a scale for weighing and delivering
the wool; and in certain devices for working the said scale; and in delivering the
wool diagonally to the first breakers of carding machines; and in the general
construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described.
The improved machine or apparatus constituting this Invention is constructed
and acts as follows:--In a case or receptacle into which the wool to be fed is thrown
are mounted rolls carrying a lifting apron furnished with tines or teeth, which
apron works by preference in a vertical or nearly vertical plane. Opposite to the
said apron at the upper part thereof is mounted a vibrating comb to prevent the
said apron from carrying the wool forward in lumps or bunches. At the other side
of the said apron is mounted a stripping apron furnished with strips of india rubber,
leather, or other flexible material extending across the said apron, or with teeth.
This apron is driven at a greater speed than the lifting apron and removes the wool
therefrom. The lower part of the stripping apron works in a trough or dish which
aids in stripping the wool from the lifting apron. From this trough the wool falls
into a scale or other receptacle. The said scale is constructed in two parts or
halves which are carried by levers which turn upon pivots or knife edges, and are
counterbalanced by sufficient weights, so that when a certain weight of wool has
been fed into the scale it turns its balance and the delivery of wool is stopped.
After a certain interval, by the continued operation of the machine, the two halves
of the scale are caused to separate and let the said wood fall onto a creeper, on
which it is pushed forward in a diagonal direction by means of a rake or "pusher."
When the determined quantity of wool has been deposited in the scale, the delivery
of wool thereto is stopped by the arrangement herein after described until the wool
has been liberated from the scale and the two halves thereof have been restored to

page_text: their normal position ready to receive the next charge of wool. On the shaft of the
upper roller, over which the lifting apron passes, is mounted a clutch wheel pro-
vided with teeth, and in proximity to the said wheel is mounted a stop lever, one
end of which rests on an intermediate lever, the longer arm of which rests on a pin
carried by the scale, which, when it turns its balance, carries down this pin with it
and thus causes the lower end of the intermediate lever to fall, and its upper end to
tilt the stop lever and cause it to engage with one of the teeth of the clutch wheel
and thus arrest the motion of the lifting apron.
In order to separate the halves of the scale to a sufficient distance to allow the
wool to fall therefrom a pin working through slotted levers affixed to the said
halves is acted upon by the upper arm of a three armed lever, on the lower arm of
which is formed a projection which is acted upon by a pin carried by a change
wheel, the horizontal arm of the said lever being counterbalanced. At each revo-
lution of the change-wheel the pin thereon bears against the projection on the lever
and thus causes the upper end thereof to depress the pin on the scale and thus to
separate the halves thereof. On the axis which carries the three armed counter-
balanced-lever aforesaid is another three armed counterbalanced lever, on the
vertical arm of which is a projection which, after the scale has ejected its wool, is
acted upon by the pin on the change-wheel aforesaid; one of the arms of this lever
is thus depressed and caused to pull a wire attached to one end of a lever mounted
under the stop lever aforesaid and thus to liberate its engaged end from the tooth
of the clutch wheel, the shaft of which is then free to rotate. Any clutch
mechanism may be used which when locked by the stop lever aforesaid will allow
the pulley to run free on its shaft. The levers hereinbefore described are slotted to.
allow of adjustment by means of pins or set screws working in their slots.
The rake or "pusher" hereinbefore referred to consists of a board having at its
ends pins which slide in guide grooves in the sides of the machine, and project
through the said grooves and engage in slots or openings formed in levers mounted
on a shaft which receives an oscillatory motion from a pin on a gear wheel, which
pin passes through one end of an adjustable connecting rod, the other end of which
is jointed to one of the levers on the said shaft. The slots or openings in the said
levers are of such respective. forms as to cause the pusher to be advanced first on
one side so as to bring it into a diagonal position relatively to the length of the
apron, and then equally on both sides during the remainder of its traverse along.
the feed apron, which is driven from the main shaft by a train of wheels.
The vibrating comb herein before referred to consists of a serrated blade affixed
to a stock which is made in two or more parts which are affixed to counterbalanced
arms carried by a shaft, slots being formed in the said arms through which pass
screws by which the stock is secured to the said arms. This arrangement allows
of the adjustment of the several parts of the stock upon the said arms.
The comb
shaft is driven by a band-pulley having on its face a pin which works through one
end of a connecting rod, the other end of which is connected by a set screw to a
slotted lever affixed to the said comb shaft.
The stripping trough or "dish" used in conjunction with the stripping apron is
affixed to the frame of the machine by screws passing through slots in the ends of
the said trough, which can thus be adjusted nearer to or farther from the lifting
apron.
The shields for preventing the wool from lapping or winding round the journals
of the shafts and rollers of the machine are hollow cylinders or cones, which are
affixed either to the bearings of the said journals or to the frame of the machine,
the said journals in either case passing through the said shields. The ends of the
rollers or cylinders are hollowed out to admit the ends of the said shields which
enter the recesses thus formed.
Having now described the nature of this Invention I will proceed to describe the
manner in which it is to be performed, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings and to the letters and figures marked thereon. The same letters and
figures of reference indicate like parts in the several Figures of the Drawings.

page_text: Figure 1 is an end elevation; Figure 2 is a sectional view showing the upper
part of the lifting apron, the reciprocating comb and stripping apron, and dish or
shell to assist the operation of the stripping apron; Figure 3 is a plan of the
comb.
Figure 4 shows the operation of the pusher upon the feed apron.
Figures 5 and 6 are separate views of the shields to protect the journals of the
rotating mechanism.
1 is the case or receptacle into which the wool is thrown, in the bottom of which
is a grating of parallel rods, shown by the dotted lines 2. In the rear of the case 1
is the lifting apron, shown by dotted lines 3, 3, carried by rolls 4 and 5, and
provided with teeth, more clearly shown in Figure 2. To prevent this apron from
carrying forward the wool in lumps or bunches a reciprocating or vibrating comb 6,
more clearly shown in Figure 2, is used. To clear the teeth of the apron 3 a
stripping apron 7, operated by rolls 8 and 9, is used, and in connection therewith a
shell or dish 10, clearly shown in Figure 2, is employed. At 11 in Figure 1 is the
scale into which the wool is deposited by the stripping apron 7. The scale in its
general arrangement consists of two lever arms resting on knife edges, one of which
is shown at Q, Figure 1, which arms are balanced at one end by the proper weights,
and at the other support the receptacle of the scale formed by end pieces and wings
pivoted at their upper edges. The wings are attached to shafts which form the
pivots therefor, and rest in suitable bearings in the end of the aforesaid balanced
levers. At one end the shafts are connected with the slotted levers R, R¹, the latter
of which is weighted, as shown, so that the weight tends to keep the wings closed.
At certain intervals this scale is caused to discharge its contents upon the feed
apron, shown by dotted lines 12, and operated by the rolls 13 and 14. Immediately
after such discharge the wool is pushed forward by a board or "pusher" x, shown
clearly in Figure 4, one end of the said pusher being caused to travel in advance of
the other, pushing the wool before it diagonally across the apron 12. 15 and 16
represent adjustable boxes carrying rolls 5 and 14 provided with means for keeping
the aprons tight. The various motions in this machine are obtained from the
driving shaft 17. Change wheels 18 gear with the pulley 19 which operates the
apron roll 4 by the belt 20%. By the change wheels 18 and 19 the speed of the
lifting apron 3 is altered at will; or this may be done by changing the pulleys 20,
21, or in any ordinary way.
The rolls 8 and 9 are operated by suitable band pulleys or other gearing, not
shown, from the shaft or of the rollers of the lifting apron, so that the stripping
apron has a motion slightly faster than the lifting apron. Other disposition may
be made for imparting motion to these rolls.
When a sufficient weight of wool has been deposited on the scale the delivery of
wool thereto is stopped by the following mechanism until the wool is discharged
from the scale and the wings again closed :-
A is a lever operated by a lever B, the longer end of which rests on a pin G
attached to the weighing scale. When the scale turns its balance and carries down
with it the pin G it causes the longer end of the lever B to follow it, that end
being the heavier. In so doing the stop lever A becomes tilted, and catches in one
of the teeth of a clutch H or other mechanism for arresting further delivery of wool
or other fibrous material. 22 is a toothed wheel, which regulates the discharging
of the scale through the toothed wheel 23, which is provided with a pin 24, which
latter at each revoluion comes in contact with the projecting part 25 of the lever
K, K. This lever pressing on the pin 26° causes the wings of the scale to open, as
shown by the dotted lines, and to discharge the wool.
When the pin 24 has passed the projection 25 of the lever K it comes in contact
with the projecting end H² of the lever D, and thus pulling on the wire E tilts the
lever C, which in turn forces the stop lever A out of contact with the teeth 26 of
the clutch H. Any clutch mechanism may be used, which when engaged by the
stop, lever will allow the pulley to run free on its shaft.
The balance weight 27 returns the lever K, K, to its original position after it has.

page_text: operated by the pin 24, and in like manner the weight F returns the levers C and D
to position.
The levers A, B, C, and D, and the connection of the rod or wire E are made
adjustable by slots and a screw, as clearly shown in the Drawing.
28 is a pin or stud affixed to the toothed wheel 23, and operating the pusher
lever 29 by the connecting rod 30, which is capable of adjustment by set screws
and slots or equivalent mechanism. The pusher lever 29 is affixed to one end of
the shaft 31, to the other end of which a plain slotted lever 32 is affixed. 33 is a
pin secured to one end of the pusher, and working through a slot 34 in the frame
of the machine. On the other side of the machine a corresponding slot, but of
greater length, carries the pin shown at 35 in dotted lines at the other end of the
pusher. The push lever 29 has an opening, in which the pin 33 rests, of such a
form that during a portion of its stroke the said push lever does not operate the
pusher. The lever 32 at the other side of the machine moves the pusher in advance
of the lever 29 before the latter comes into contact with the pin 33, thus bringing
the pusher into the diagonal position more fully shown in Figure 4.
Motion is imparted to the feed roll 13 from the main shaft 17 by a train of
gearing, not shown, to avoid the appearance of unnecessary complication. The
vibrating comb 6, more clearly shown in Figures 2 and 3, is driven by the pulley 36,
which carries a crank pin 37, which operates the connecting rod 38 and slotted
lever 39 affixed to the comb shaft 40. 41, 41, are the arms or levers, to which the
adjustable comb stock 44 is attached by screws 46 passed through slots 43 in the
said arms or levers 41. Motion may be imparted to the pulley 36 directly from
a pulley on the roller 5, or on any other convenient rotating shaft of the
machine.
10, Figure 2, represents the trough or dish used in connection with the stripping
apron 7 to assist the said apron in removing the stock (wool) from the teeth of the
lifting apron 3. This trough or dish is provided at each end with slots 47, by
which it may be adjusted. Figure 4 shows the various positions of the pusher.
48 are portions of each side of the frame of the machine with the slots through
which the pins 33 and 35 of the pusher work; X is the pusher in the position it
occupies before it commences its forward movement; Y shows its position when the
lever 32 has moved in advance of lever the 29, and before the latter lever has
begun to move the pusher. From this point the pusher moves forward an equal
distance at each end, until it arrives at Z, which shows the limit of its movement.
The limit however may be increased or reduced as desired.
Figures 5 and 6 show two forms of the shield used to protect the journals of the
rotating mechanism from the lapping or winding of the stock or wool. Figure 5
shows the shields as applied to the small rolls, and Figures 6 to the cylinder; 49 is
the shaft or journal of the roll or cylinder, and 50 the box or bearing of the same
with the shield attached thereto.
The end of the roll or cylinder is hollowed out to admit of the shield as shown
in the said Figures 5 and 6. If preferred the shield may be attached to the
frame of the machine instead of to the bearing.
The operation of the machine is as follows:-
The wool box or receptacle having been filled and the machine put in motion,
the wool is raised by the lifting apron 3, the teeth of which take hold of the wool.
The quantity of stock which is carried over by the apron is regulated by the
reciprocating comb 6. This comb also prevents the carrying forward of the stock
in lumps or bunches, and also aids to prepare it for the carding process. The stock or
frame of this cone is constructed in two or more parts 44 which are adjustable by
means of slots 43 and screws 46. These parts are connected together by the comb-
plate 6, which is a serrated or toothed blade sufficiently flexible to permit of the
adjustment of the stock or frame.
In operation the friction of the sides of the case retards the stock, so that it is
fed more heavily in the middle than at the sides. By the adjustment of the comb
plate and stock the former can be set closer to or farther from the teeth of the

page_text: delivery apron at either side, or in the middle, so that by its operation the wool
shall be equally distributed along the entire width of the apron. As herein before
described the comb is balanced by the balls 42, and is reciprocated or vibrated
through suitable mechanism.
After the wool has been carried over the upper roller 4, it is removed from the
lifting apron by the stripping apron 7 operating in conjunction with the trough or
dish 10. The said stripping apron is provided with strips of leather, india rubber,
or other flexible and elastic material, or with teeth or other suitable appliances,
and runs parallel to or at a slight angle with the lifting apron, but at a greater
speed, and remove the wool from the teeth of the lifting apron. The adjustable
trough or disk 10 assists in conveying the stock from the delivery apron to the
weighing pan or scale or any desired receptacle. The wool is delivered to the
weighing pan or scale equally throughout its entire length. When the required
weight of wool has been deposited on the scale, the latter turns its balance and
carries down the pin G. The lever B by reason of the greater weight of its longer
arm then turns on the pivot, and tilts the lever A which engages with the clutch H,
and stops the lifting apron and consequently the delivery of wool to the scale.
By the continued operation of the machine the wool is automatically discharged by
the movement of the lever K which is effected by the pin 24 on the wheel 23
striking the projection 25 on the said lever, which by pressing on the pin 26a
opens the wings of the scale by means of intermediate levers. The wool on being
discharged from the scale is deposited evenly across the feeding apron 12 by which
it is fed to the carding engine.
The first motion of the pusher X brings the weighing of wool into a diagonal
position across the apron. It then pushes the wool along the apron, maintaining
its (diagonal position) against the previous weighing. By reason of the diagonal
position of the wool, one or more junctions between the separate weighings of raw
wool are always entering the carding engine at the same time. The movement
given to the pusher is much more rapid than the progress of the feed apron, so that
the wool is pressed forward solid and compact to close up all irregularities. The
mechanism for giving the reciprocating motion to the pusher has already been
described and need not be here repeated. After the scale is emptied of the wool the
wings are closed by the operation of the pin 24, lever K, and counterweights, and
the lifting apron is again set in motion by the said pin 24 striking the projection
on the arm H² on the lever D which pulls the wire E, and so causes the free
end of the lever C to strike the lever A and disengage it from the clutch H.
The stripping apron is of such a length as to prevent any wool from winding
round it. To prevent the wool winding about the journals; the shields 51 affixed
to the bearings project into the hollow or recesssed ends of the rollers or cylinders
as herein before described with reference to Figures 5 and 6. The said arrange-
ments effectually protect the journals from any stock which would otherwise fall
thereon and cause the stoppage of the machine.
The scale may be mounted diagonally relatively to the length of the feed apron
in which case the rows or layers of wool may be fed to the carding engine without
the peculiar arrangement of the pusher described.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention and the manner in which
it is or may be carried into effect, I claim,-
Firstly. The combination with an automatic weighing scale and the feed apron
of a carding engine, or similar machine of a lifting or delivery apron, and a
stripping apron so arranged relatively to the said feed apron and scale as to deposit
the wool thereon, substantially as described.
Secondly. The combination with a rotatory stripping device of a trough or dish
mounted below the said stripping device, and arranged to deliver the wool into a
suitable receptacle, substantially as described.
Thirdly. The combination with an endless stripping apron of an adjustable
trough or dish mounted below the same, and arranged to deliver the wool or other
fibrous material to a suitable receptacle, substantially as described,

page_text: Fourthly. The combination in a, machine to deliver wool or other fibrous
material to a carding engine or similar machine of a lifting or delivery apron, and
reciprocating or vibrating comb or its equivalent, mounted on the lifting side of the
said apron and operating to even or comb the wool carried by the said lifting
apron, substantially as described.
Fifthly. The combination with the feed apron of a carding or similar machine,
and a scale arranged to weigh wool of a delivery or lifting apron and a vibrating
comb mounted on the side of the said delivery apron upon which the wool is lifted,
the said lifting apron and vibrating comb being operated by suitable mechanism to.
strip off and even the wool carried by the said lifting apron before the wool is
delivered to the scale, and to return the portion stripped off to the wool box,
substantially as described.
Sixthly. In a machine for delivering wool or other fibrous material to be fed to
a carding engine or other preparing machine the combination with the lifting or
delivering apron of an evening device and means for adjusting the same at different
points, nearer to or farther from the delivery apron, so that the said evening device
may act with more or less effect upon the wool carried by different parts of the said
apron, substantially as described.
Seventhly. The adjustable evening device for use in connection with the lifting
aprons of machines for delivering fibrous materials to be fed to preparing machines,
the said evening device consisting of a suitable frame and a comb or serrated plate
and means for adjusting the same to bring the teeth from a straight line to a curve,
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Eighthly. The evening device for use in connecting with a lifting or delivery
apron, the said evening device of a series of arms attached to a cross shaft, a stock
composed of two or more parts adjustably secured on the said arms, and a comb or
toothed plate attached to the said adjustable stock, substantially as described.
Ninthly. The combination of the following parts arranged to deliver wool to the
feeding apron of a carding or similar engine or to an intermediate scale, (1) a lifting
apron; (2) a reciprocating or vibrating comb mounted on the side of the said lifting
apron upon which the wool is lifted for evening the stock carried thereby; and (3)
a stripping apron mounted on the delivery side of the aforesaid lifting apron for
detaching the stock carried thereby, substantially as described.
Tenthly. The combination with a revolving shaft, hollowed or recessed at the end
and provided with a journal, of a stationery shield arranged to project into the
hollow or recess of the said shaft. the said shield flaring outward from its point of
attachment as it enters the said hollow or recess, substantially as shown and
described.
Eleventhly. In a machine for delivering wool or other fibrous material to be fed
to a carding engine or preparing machine, the combination with the weighing scale
and lifting or delivery apron of a clutch arranged on one of the rollers upon which
the said lifting apron is mounted, a pivoted stop lever, arranged by its engagement
or disengagement with the said clutch, to stop or permit the revolution of the said
apron, a lever or device operated by the balance to cause the aforesaid stop lever to
engage with the said clutch, an independent lever or series of levers and mechanism
for operating the last named lever or levers independently of the balance to cause
the disengagement of the aforesaid stop lever, the said devices being automatic in
their action, substantially as described.
Twelfthly. The combination in a machine for automatically weighing and de-
livering wool to be fed to a carding or similar engine of the following parts :-(1) A
lifting apron mounted on rollers; (2) a weighing scale; (3) a clutch on the sbaft of
one of the said rollers; (4) a pivoted stop lever arranged by its engagement or dis-
engagement with the said clutch to stop or permit the rotation of the said apron ;
(5) an automatic device operated by the weighing scale to cause the engagement of
the said lever with the clutch; (6) a continuously rotating wheel carrying a pin ; (7)
a lever and intermediate mechanism operated by engagement with the said pin to
discharge the said scale and return it for refilling; (8) an independent lever and

page_text: connections arranged to be operated upon by the aforesaid pin to cause the disengage-
ment of the stop lever from the clutch as the scale is returned for refilling,
substantially as described.
Thirteenthly. The combination with the feeding apron of a carding engine of a
pusher and mechanism for operating the same to move the wool diagonally across
the said apron for feeding the wool to the carding engine substantially as
described.
Fourteenthly. The combination with the feeding apron of a carding machine and
mechanism adapted to automatically deliver thereto wool or other fibre in a series
of rows or layers of a pusher and mechanism for operating the same to push the
said rows or layers of wool diagonally along the feeding apron, substantially as
described.
Fifteenthly. The method of delivering and feeding unprepared wool or similar
fibre to carding engines in a series of unconnected rows diagonally arranged so that
the breaker of the engine always acts upon the junction of two or more rows,
substantially as described.
Sixteenthly. The combination with the feeding apron of a carding machine of
mechanism, substantially as described, arranged to automatically form on the said
apron a series of separate or unconnected diagonal rows or layers of unprepared
wool or fibre, substantially as described.
Seventeenthly. The combination in a machine for feeding wool or other fibrous
material to carding engines, or similar machines, with a feeding apron of a lifting
or delivery apron, an evening device and mechanism for weighing and forming on
the said feeding apron diagonal rows or layers of equal weights, substantially as
described.
Eighteenthly. The combination with the feed apron of a carding machine of a
reciprocating pusher moving back and forth in substantially the same plane parallel
to the said apron, substantially as described.
Nineteenthly. The combination with a feeding apron of a pusher provided with
pins resting in slots, slotted levers for actuating the said pusher and mechanism,
substantially as described.
Twentiethly. A pusher for use in connection with the feed apron of a carding
machine in combination with mechanism for imparting to the said pusher a forward
motion, first at one end only and then equally at both ends, substantially as
described.
Twentyfirstly. The combination with a feeding apron and reciprocating pusher
provided with pins resting in slots of levers or connections arranged to act on the
said pins, one of the said levers or connections having a suitably shaped opening
to allow a forward movement to be given to the other end before it commences to
operate, substantially as described.
Twentysecondly. In a machine for delivering wool or other fibrous material to
carding engines or other preparing machines, the combination with the lifting apron,
the adjustable vibrating comb or evener, the stripping apron and adjustable trough
or dish, the automatic weighing scale, the feeding apron, and the reciprocating
pusher having a diagonal movement along the said apron, substantially as
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Thomas Whiteman, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Eleventh day of September, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.