Improvements in the Manufacture of Yarns and Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Dec.,
1897
Complete Specification Left, 11th Aug., 1898-Accepted, 1st Oct., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Yarns and Apparatus therefor.
I, JAMES YATE JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of London,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (which has been com-
municated to me from abroad by William Henry Drury, of Waltham, in the
County of Middlesex, and State of Massachusetts, in the United States of America,
Lawyer), to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of yarns and in
apparatus employed therefor and has for its object to produce by one continuous
operation or continuous series of operations twisted and completed yarn from
unspun fibrous material and consists in passing the material through a carding
process, and thence continuously in numerous sections through a spinning process,
rolling up said sections of material severally into fibrous rolls and revolving the
said fibrous rolls, drawing the said rotating fibrous rolls severally, as they form,
lengthwise of themselves into strands of yarn, and condensing the said strands
of material severally while being so drawn.
The carded fibrous material, in numerous sections or subdivisions as it leaves
the carding engine is received by a spinning machine in which the said sections
or subdivisions of material are severally rolled into fibrous rolls, the said rotating
fibrous rolls as they form, being drawn lengthwise of themselves into strands of
yarn, and the said strands of material severally being condensed while being 80
drawn.
The invention is applicable for making yarn from all kinds of fibrous materials,
including not only those ordinarily used for making yarn, but also those which by
ordinary yarn-making systems and machinery cannot be so well utilized for that
purpose, such as cattle hair, wool waste, cotton waste, flax waste, jute waste,
ramie waste, silk noils, fibrous peat, asbestos, and many other slippery, short stiff,
weak or cheap fibres,-every fibre whatsoever that can be carded being suitable
for making yarn successfully and economically by this invention.
In conducting a common and well-known system of making yarn, two or more
ring-doffers are used upon a finisher carding machine in such manner that the
doffer-rings of such doffers serve to subdivide the fibrous material from the sur-
face of the main cylinder of the machine lengthwise of the direction of the card-
ing into many or numerous narrow sections or strips. In succeeding stages of
that system devices are employed which served continuously to take from the
said doffer-rings the said fibrous sections and to rub and condense them and draw
them away forward of the rings and wind them upon a spool in the form of
numerous strands of untwisted roving. In the final stage of that system the
spool of roving is put upon a mule on which the several strands from the spool
are drawn, spun and twisted into as many strands of completed yarn.
According to this invention the material of each of the fibrous sections, instead
of being drawn off forward of its ring in an untwisted strand, is rolled up into a
fibrous roll lying crosswise of the length of the section and drawn sidewise of its

page_text: ring, being at the same time twisted from behind and compressed and stretched
and wound in the form of a strand of twisted and completed yarn ready for use.
One of the advantages of this invention is to simplify in a practical way the
making and spinning of yarn, to the way of making and spinning it, to dispense
with a mule or the like, and, instead of taking from the canling machine numerous
strands of untwisted roving to be subsequently made into completed yarn with
much additional labour and machinery, to transform the material from the card-
ing machine directly into many or numerous strands of twisted and completed
yaru ready for use, and thus to make much saving in room, machinery, power
and labour.
A machine constructed and operating in accordance with this invention, although
of trivial cost and occupying not more than a foot in depth of space across the
delivery end of a carding machine, saves the cost of a mule, the wages of a man
to operate a mule, the power required to run a mule, and the vast room occupied
by a mule, and, in short, as compared with any other known system of spinning,
eliminates entirely the cost of spinning and saves considerable in the cost of card-
ing.
In a carding and yarn-making machine conducting a process different from the
common system aforesaid thero has been embodied the combination with its doffer
and comb, of mechanism to co-operate with the doffer and comb to collect and
compress the combed-off material into a fibrous roll lying parallel to the axis of
the doffer, and to revolve said fibrous roll to produce the desired twist in the yarn,
and mechanism whereby the rotating fibrous roll, as it forms, is continuously
drawn lengthwise into yarn. But by such machine no more than two strands of
twisted and completed yarn at a time can be produced, and even those few must
be drawn in opposite directions from each other so that one has a right-hand and
the other a left-hand twist. Hence its production is so small and of such
quality that it is not commercially practical to make therewith anything but very
coarse-sized yarns, for which the demand is comparatively trivial. Although
such machine can make good yarn from fibres which cannot well be used for
making yarn by any ordinary method or machinery, the limitations above
mentioned so restrict its usefulness that it has not come and is not likely to come
into considerable use.
By this invention, may be made from a web, sheel, or width of carded fibrous
material, as many strands of twisted and completed yarn at a time, as are ordinarily
made of untwisted roving by the common and well known system aforesaid; and
each strand may be of as light weight as a strand of untwisted
roving ordinarily produced by the said well known system, 80 that
this invention 18 useful and economical for the manufacture of small
or medium sized yarn, for which the demand is far beyond that for coarser
yarns; and by this invention all the strands that can be produced at a time may
be uniform with each other in their twist, so that the usefulness of the yarn for
muking even-faced and well-finished fabrics therefrom may be unimpaired, it
being well known that such fabrics cannot be made when yarns of different twists
are mixed together in the same piece. By the use of this invention it is practical
to make as many as 64 strands, or even more, of twisted and completed yarn
at a time, of uniform twist, directly from a 48-inch card.
Another advantage of this invention is that a spinning or yarn-making machine
is provided which may be set at the delivery end of a carding machine and receive
the material therefrom and transform it directly into many or numerous strands
of twisted and completed yarn, a spinning or yaru-making machine which may
be self-contained, may be dealt in as an article of manufacture by itself, may be
made of various sizes so as to operate upon or with various sized carding machines,
and may
when completed, be ready to transport without taking it
apart and be ready on arrival at its destination to operate upon
with any carding machine of corresponding width, whether old or new,
and whether made by one maker or by another, so that while revolutionizing
or

page_text: any existing system of making and spinning yarn in a mill its adoption in such
mill need not involve great or undesirable waste of existing equipment.
By this invention the fibrous web, sheet or width produced by carding is sub-
divided lengthwise into many or numerous narrow fibrous strips, sections or parts;
the material of each strip is rolled up and wrapped in thin films or layers one upon
the other to form a fibrous roll lying crosswise of the strip; each of the said rolls
is revolved and whirled to compact and reduce it and to twist, from its hind end,
the yarn made therefrom, and is drawn lengthwise of itself and further com-
pressed, evened and condensed while being so drawn; and the material of tho
whole web, sheet or width is transformed directly and continuously into many or
numerous strands of twisted and completed yarn.
In the accompanying drawings are represented a spinning and yarn-making
machine, and certain improvements in machinery, for performing the various
operations by which a web, sheet or width of carded fibrous material is transformed
directly and continuously into many or numerous strands of twisted and com-
pleted yarn in accordance with this invention.
Figures 1 and 2 are views of the right-hand side and left-hand side, respectively,
of a machine constructed according to this invention arranged at the delivery end
of a carding machine in position to operate with such carding machine to make or
epin continuously numerous strands of yarn from fibrous material in the progress
of the carding of such material by such carding machine. Figure 1* is a detail
view shewing the slot in the devices mounted on the ends of the traversing or
sliding rods which carry the traversing fingers of the winding mechanism. Figure 3
is an end view of the machine looking towards the end at which the strands of
completed yarn are delivered. Figure 4 is a vertical section on the line 1-4
in Figure 3. Figure 5 is a plan of two of the spinning devices. Figure 6 is a
vertical section on line 6-6 in Figure 5. Figure 7 shews a comb in connection
with one of the spinning devices. Figure 8 illustrates a modification. Figure 9
is a side view, and Figure 10 a front view illustrating another modification.
Figures 4 to 10 inclusive are drawn on a larger scale than the others.
ог
In the drawings the improved spinning or yarn-making machine is shewn as
including the two series of doffer-rings C; the corresponding series of twisting
and wipe rolls D the corresponding series of side-drawing rolls a and b driven
by the shafts by means of the bevel wheels d gearing with the
bevel wheels e; the condensing straps devices driven by the
shafts 9 by means of the pulleys h round which the driving straps
pass; the winding mechanism shewn for winding the yarn produced by the
machine;
and the side frame A' and girders E which support the several elements
The doffer-rings C, instead of being a part of the improved machine, mey, if
preferred, form a part of the carding machine proper; in which case their support-
ing arms instead of being cast with or bolted to the frame work A' of the spin-
ning machine, may be cast with or bolted to the frame work A of the carding
machine proper in the same way as usual when ring-doffers are used on a finisher
carding machine.
aforesaid.
Moreover, the winding mechanism, instead of being supported by the frame-
work of spinning machine, may be supported in any other suitable manner.
The two series of doffer-rings C have the same arrangement and function in
relation to the main cylinder B of the carding machine and to each other as
doffer-rings usually have when used on a finisher carder-the rings of the one
ring-doffer being set opposite the intervals between the rings of the other ring-
doffer, as shewn in Figure 3. The doffer-rings shewn in Figures 1 to 8 inclusive
differ from the common kind in being open down to the doffer-shafts, so as to
admit of placing side-condensing and side-drawing devices and their supports
on one side of each ring. The common kind of ring-doffers may be used, how-
ever, as illustrated in Figures 9 and 10; and probably this common kind will
be the favourite style of ring-doffers to use with or on this improved machine.

page_text: The doffers are actuated from the main-cylinder shaft H of the carding engine
by a belt G passing round the pulley I thereon, and thence round pulleys J which
run on shafts supported by the framework A' the said pulleys J being con-
centric with and made fast to pinions i which gear into wheels on the ends of the
doffer-shafts.
As may be inferred from what has already been expressed the framework A
and girders E support the twisting roll shafts the strap-driving shafts g and the
shafts c which through suitable gearing operate the shafts e of the drawing rolls a
and b. The same girders also support the stends K which hold up the studs on
which the loose pulleys L run, the studs on which the loose pulleys 7 run, the
fulcrums w of the levers m, the bearings of the shafts n of the side-drawing rolls a, b,
and the protecting plates q.
The twisting-roll shafts & are actuated by the pinions i which gear with wheels r
on the ends of the twisting-roll shafts and rotate the latter in the same direction
as the doffers. Each of the twisting-roll shafts carries a series of twisting-rolls D
in number, arrangement, position and length, that each of the doffer-rings is
provided with its own separate individual twisting roll. The twisting rolls are
here called by that name because they and the doffer-rings help each other to
rotate and whirl or spin between them the fibrous rolls hereinbefore referred to,
and thus impart twist to the strands of yarn.
The twisting-rolls may be clothed with corduroy, or card clothing or emery,
or some other suitable material, so as to act as wipe-rolls to clear their accom-
panying doffer-rings of their fibrous material. When the doffer-rings and the
wipe-rolls are in proper relation to each other in speed and position and are in
action, the wipe-rolls clear the doffer-rings, and the doffer-rings in turn clear the
wipe-rolls, and each doffer-ring and its accompanying wipe-roll combined, then
act upon the fibrous material in such manner that they co-operate to form between
them a fibrous roll of the material and to rotate such fibrous roll between them
with great rapidity. The wipe-roll is an element of great importance in this
invention in its best form, because it wholly dispenses with the use of a comb on
most classes of fibrous material.
When covered with card clothing, the twisting roll comprises three rolls com-
bined in one. That is to say, it is a twisting roll, a wipe-roll, and a scavenger roll
or dicky, all combined in one roll, keeping its accompanying doffer-ring clean
and sharp, besides co-operating therewith as aforesaid. And when thus covered
it acts in each of its several capacities better, with most fibrous materials, than
when it is bare or when it is covered with corduroy.
Each doffer-ring and its accompanying twisting and wipe-roll compose a set of
devices, the office of which is as follows:-The doffer-ring receives from the main
cylinder of the carding-machine a narrow section, strip or part of the fibrous web,
sheet or width, which lies thereon in the ordinary operation of carding, and the
devices of the said set (of which said doffor-ring forms part) co-operate to roll up
the material of such fibrous strip, section, or part into a fibrous roll lving cross-
wise of the length of the strip and to rapidly rotate or whirl such fibrous roll
about its axis, and at the same time compress and compact the fibres of the roll
together, as if it were rolled between human hands. The devices of the said sets
must be carefully adjusted in relation to each other in speed and position as to co-
operate as aforesaid, which, although it requires skill and practice, a person of
ordinary skill in the art can readily do after a little practice and on understand-
ing the effects desired to be accomplished by the said devices. If the doffer-rings
used are 12 inches in diameter (a good size to use) it is recommended that they
be made to run from 36 to 48 revolutions per minute, after the machine gets settled
to its regular work. The surface speed of the twisting and wipe rolls should be
as fast as that of the doffer-rings, or a little faster. Their speed may be varied
as required, by change wheels on the ends of their shafts.
Figure 7 illustrates a modified form of the mechanism for co-operating with the
doffer-ring to collect and roll up the fibrous material from the latter into a roll and

page_text: to rotate or whirl the fibrous roll. In this modified form, each series of doffer-
rings, besides being provided with a corresponding series of twisting rolls, is pro-
vided with a corresponding series of vibrating combs to clear the doffer-rings.
The combination with each doffer-ring, of a doffing-comb and twisting roll, works
effectively with all kinds of carded fibrous materials, and the comb aids the work
when there is occasion to start a new strand of yarn from a fibrous roll through
the condensing and drawing mechanism. If combs are used at all, they should
vibrate with great rapidity or else the speed of the doffer-rings and twisting rolls
should be less than hereinbefore advised. With such rings and rolls having tho
speed herein before advised, it would be preferable to cause the combs to make
1800 vibrations per minute. If combs are used, each doffer-ring and its accom-
panying comb and twisting roll should be adjusted in such relation to each other
that the ring and twisting roll almost touch each other, and that the comb keeps
the fibrous roll well down between the ring and twisting rolls so that they will
rapidly rotate it, roll it, and compress it: as it is at this stage the yarn is made
and twisted. However, for ordinary work the combs may be dispensed with.
Each set of devices hereinbefore described is provided with a separate condensing
device which consists of a narrow endless strap f with two of its surfaces normally
touching each other on the extended axial line of the fibrous roll to be operated
upon by one of the said sets of devices which such condensing strap accompanies.
The two normally touching surfaces of the endless strap move in opposite directions
from each other across and transversely to the said axial line. The strap driving
shafts g are driven from the main cylinder shaft H, in the opposite direction from
the said doffers by a belt N passing over the pulley M thereon, and thence over
the pulleys on the ends of the strap-driving shafts. The straps are directly
driven by the pulleys on said shafts 9. Figure 4 shews the arrangement and
mode of operation of each of the straps, which pass round the pulleys h and the
loose pulleys L running alongside the doffer-rings on studs held by stands Kas
before mentioned. The inner surfaces of each strap are brought and kept together
at so as to normally touch each other at that point, by means of the small loose
pulleys and u. The loose pulley u is supported on a stud in the end of a vibratory
lever m fulcrumed in the stand K at to and having at its other end a similar loose
pulley which is situated between the two parts of the strap, and is when required
caused to bear against and lift the upper part of the strap. The loose pulley
as well as the pulley are beneath the under part of the strap, and are caused to
press the two faces of the strap together, when the parts are in normal position ns
shewn in Figure 4. The lever mis held in this position by the spring a. When
the lever m by its handle is pushed or tilted from its normal position
in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 4 the pulley
will drop,
will lift the upper part of the strap, while the pulley u
60 as to allow the under part of the strap to correspondingly drop, thus
permitting the meeting faces of the strap to separate thereby making it easy to
start the fibrous roll between the normally touching surfaces of the strap. Between
the normally touching surfaces of the strap the material from the fibrous roll
continuously passes on its way to the drawing mechanism of the machine. Good
results are obtained by running the straps at about the same speed as the surface
speed of the doffer-rings and this should be their usual speed, because generally
it would be injurious to the working of this system to allow them to run either
much faster or much slower; but their speed should be adjustable so as to be
varied when desired, which may be done by substituting larger or smaller pulleys
in place of the pulleys s on the ends of the shafts which drive said straps.
each side of the said strap. in the protecting plate and in the support of the
etud on which the loose pulley 7 runs, is an eye (Figure 6) through which the
fibrous material passes. These eyes guide the material and keep it from depart-
ing from said axial line while being acted upon by said strap. The office of said
strap is to assist the doffer-ring and its accompanying twisting-roll in rotating
the fibrous roll, or to prevent it from lagging behind the speed of revolution at
On

page_text: which the doffer-ring and twisting roll tend to whirl it, also to prevent the strand
from untwisting before it passes the drawing mechanism and to compress, even
and condense the material which passes between its said normally touching surfaces
on its way from the body of a fibrous roll to a drawing mechanism. The action
of the strap, also, upon the fibrous roll is like rolling it between human hands.
Besides revolving that part of the fibrous roll which it touches, being more positivo
than the doffer-ring and twisting roll in its action upon the fibrous roll, it even
helps to rotate that part of the latter which is between the doffer-ring and twist-
ing-roll, and in that way, but in no other, helps in twisting the yarn.
In the continuous operation of the machine the straps and sets of devices which
they accompany act upon the fibrous rolls respectively to keep them rotating and
twisting, while the strands of yarn, into which the fibrous rolls are converted, ara
being drawn away. It is by the rotation of each fibrous roll between the doffer-
ring and its accompanying twisting roll that the yarn produced from the fibrous
roll, receives its positive twist from its hind or loose end which is contained in
the fibrous roll. However fast the condensing device runs tho yarn is not twisted
any more rapidly than the fibrous roll revolves before coming between the normally
louching surfaces of the strap.
The use of the protecting plate q, in addition to its use for the eye before
mentioned, is to protect the condensing mechanism from the gathering of fibrous
material therein.
As shewn in the drawings (Figures 1 to 6), each set of devices comprises draw-
ing mechanism, which consists of a pair of nipping and drawing rolls coupled
together and arranged in position to draw the material from the fibrous roll between
the normally touching surfaces of the strap; and they constantly nip and hold
the twist of the completed yarn as it is drawn by them between and from the
touching surfaces of the strap f. The drawings shew separate drawing mechanism
for each strand of yarn produced by the machine; but if drawing mechanism
common to all the strands or for some of them should be used it would not be a
departure from this invention.
Figures 4, 5 and 6 of the drawings shew the construction of the drawing
cchanism and how they operate. The shafts are driven in the opposite direction
from said doffers by the gears k, through intermediate gearing r,, finally mesh-
ing into the gears y on said shafts c. The drawing mechanisms are driven by
these shafts c by means of the bevel wheels & thereon gearing with the bevel gears e
on the drawing-roll shafts n, to each of which is fixed the lower roll a of one of
the pairs of drawing rolls. The upper and lower drawing rolls of each pair aro
kept together by springs and are geared together like common drawing rolls.
'The several pairs of drawing rolls are so situated and operated as to draw the
strands of yarn coming from the doffer-rings in the same direction with each other,
so that the strands will all be alike in twist. The speed of each drawing
mechanism should be carefully adjusted to draw the material as rapidly
without breaking the material, in order that the full capacity of the machine in
weight of production of any particular yarn within a given time may be utilized.
This varies with the quality, length and strength of fibre, and with the size of
yarn produced. Hence the speed of each drawing mechanism should be readily
adjustable to suit such varying conditions. It should also be thus adjustable with-
out affecting the speed of the doffers, because in many cases it will be desirable
to increase the speed of the drawing mechanism while lessening or not changing
that of the doffers, or vice versa. In the machine illustrated it is easy to change 5
the speed of all the drawing mechanisms at once by simply substituting gears of
more or fewer teeth in place of the gears y on the ends of the shafts c which drive
the drawing mechanism. The speed of the drawing mechanism should depend
materially upon the surface speed of the doffer-rings and twisting rolls. In the
ordinary working the ratio of the speed of drawing away a strand of yarn will be, 5
to the surface speed of the rings, probably not more than as one to two; or one
to three, or somewhere between these ratios but the one first mentioned will
r

page_text: ordinarily be found better, because it gives the yarn time to make, which must
always be done. A strand of coarse yarn can be made and drawn off faster per
yard than one of fino yarn.
The size of yarn made when the doffer-rings are of a given width should be
regulated mainly at the feed end of the carding machine, by feeding in faster when
coarser yarn is wanted, and slower when finer is wanted.
By the arrangement of doffor-rings, sets of devices and condensing and drawing
mechanisms herein before described, the web, sheet, or width of fibrous material
which in the ordinary operation of carding lies upon the main cylinder of the
carding machine represented in the drawings is continuously subdivided into twelvo
narrow strips of equal width which are transferred separately and simultaneously
to the surfaces of the dolfer-rings respectively; then between rings and twisting
rolls the said fibrous strips of material separately and progressively rolled up,
and at the same time all the fibrous rolls, thus formed are rotated rapidly about
their axes and the fibres thereof compacted together; and the said fibrous rolls,
while rotating, are separately and simultaneously drawn lengthwise continuously
between the normally touching surfaces of the straps f, and while being so
drawn are further compressed, evened and condensed to form the desired strands of
yarn.
The several strands, after passing through the nipping and drawing rolls are
wound upon spindles z, the surfaces of which bear upon the outside of the revolving
drums O, the frictional action of which against the spindles or the material there-
on causes the spindles to revolve, or the winding may be done by any other suit-
able means.
The drums may be conveniently rotuted from the shafts c which
drive the drawing mechanisms, by means of bells passing over the pulleys o
on the shaft c and the pulleys p which drive the wheels A' which gear with wheels i
on the ends of the shafts Q which carry the said drums. The yarn is distributed
across the spindles by traversing fingers a attached to lengthwise sliding rods b'.
On the end of each sliding rod is a device c' (see Figure 1) in which there is a
slot at right angles to the rod and into this slot is inserted a pin d' on the end
of an arm el which is fixed to a vertical shaft carrying a bevel wheel f¹ which
is driven by a bevel wheel ¹ on the end of the drum-shaft Q. When the drum-
shaft Q revolves it causes the pin on the end of arm el to sweep around in a circle
and to slide to and fro in the slotted device c' and slide the rod with its travelling
fingers.
The nipping or drawing rolls shewn in the drawings may be wholly dispensed
with, without departing from this invention, and the drawing away of the strands
of yarn may be done wholly by the winding mechanism, in which case each strand
of yarn, as it comes from the condensing device is made to turn around a loose
pulley g', or other equivalent device, as shewn in Figure 8.
The drawings shew six doffer-rings of equal width, and represent
a machine adapted for subdividing a carded fibrous web, sheet or width into 12
narrow strips or sections of equal width to produce 12 strands of yarn at a time.
If the main cylinder of the carding machine be supposed to be 48 inches wide, each
doffer-ring would be four inches wide or thereabouts, and any two adjacent rings
would be four inches apart or thereabouts. The open space between adjacent rings
is for condensing and drawing mechanisms and their supports. Such open space
is not necessary, however, and it is practical, as before stated, to use ordinary
ring-doffers, which do not have such open space. All that is necessary is to change
the position of the condensing straps, discard the numerous pairs of nipping rolls,
and draw out each strand of yarn around a loose pulley g', and conduct it thence
to the winding mechanism, as shewn in Figures 9 and 10. But the distance
between two adjacent rings may be less than 4 inches. For example, it may be
reduced to 2 inches, in which case there could be 24 doffer-rings, each 2 inches
5 wide arranged in two series of 12 each; or there could be 48 doffer-rings, cach
one inch wide arranged in three series of 16 each. The former would be suitable
· for making 24 strands and the latter for making 48 strands, of yarn at a time,

page_text: I do not restrict myself to the use of two series of doffer-ings, since it is evident
that a larger number may be used if desired. For example, three series may be
used with three corresponding series of twisting and wipe rolls and condensing
mechanisins. It is common to use three series of doffer-rings upon a finisher card
in operating the common and well-known system of making yarn. If three series
be used on a machine constructed according to this invention they would have
the same arrangement and function in relation to the main cylinder and to each
other, as doffer-rings usually have when three series are used on a finisher card.
Thus a machine with main cylinder 48 inches wide may have 24 two-inch doffer-
rings in two series of 12 each, or 48 one-inch doffer-rings in three series of 16
each. In either case any two adjacent doffer-rings in either series would be two
inches apart or thereabouts, giving ample room for the necessary mechanism
between rings. In the one case the machine would be adapted for producing 24
strands, and in the other case for producing 48 strands, of yarn at a time from a
sheet of carded fibrous material.
I do not confine myself to the use of straps for condensing devices; as tubes
or trumpets revolving in the opposite direction from the doffer-rings may be used
instead of the straps, but not with so good effect, as compared with the straps.
The ordinary ring-doffer, now in use may be employed with the straps. The straps
accommodate themselves to all circumstances automatically and require no change
when changing from one size of yarn to another. But if tubes should be preferred
they should be like pulleys in external shape, their central openings should be
in line with the fibrous roll being drawn, they should run in bearings supported
between the open doffer-rings, and should be rotated by bands passing around
the pulleys and around the tubes; or they may be driven and supported by any
other suitable means.
In the machine illustrated all the strands are drawn out from the fibrous roll
in the same direction. This is preferred, because it makes all the strands uniform
in twist which, as well known to weavers and finishers of cloth is very desirable. If
desired, however, the strands drawn from the fibrous rolls in one horizontal line
may be drawn towards the right and those drawn therefrom in another horizontal
line may be drawn towards the left, by placing the condensing mechanisms to the
right of the fibrous rolls in one horizontal line, and to the left of the fibrous rolls in
another horizontal line. The strands of yarn drawn towards the right would have
opposite twist from those drawn towards the left.
A machine spinning and making 48 strands of yaru at a time from a 48-inch
card is better than one making 24 strands, for production of yarn of No. 1 run
(1600 yards per lb.) or thereabouts; but for coarser sizes say No. 4 run (400 yards
per lb.) the machine making 24 strands at a time would be better.
A machine constructed according to this invention is portable, and several of
the said machines may be used one at one time with the same carding machine:
so that a manufacturer of yarn according to this invention may always have at
command the means best adapted for the production of various sizes of yarn upon
or with the same carding machine. For example, one of the said machines adapted
to operate with a 48-inch card may be provided with 12 four-inch doffer-rings
as illustrated in the drawings, another with 16 three-inch rings, another with 24
two-inch rings, another with 32 one-and-one-half inch ringa, another with 48 one-
inch rings, and another with 64 three-fourth inch rings; and either of these may
be used with the same 48-inch card. Herein consists one of the great advantages
of this invention, since the cost of making one of these machines would be trivial 5
as compared with that of making a carding machine, and it would be a simple
matter to substitute one of the machines for another.
By the invention hereinbefore described fine or coarse yarns of good or poor,
stock, can be spun and made with great economy in space and in cost of power,
machinery and labour; and many valuable styles of yarn can be made which can- 5
not be made by any other system; and many materials can be used to good
advantage for making yarn, which cannot be used at all to any advantage for that

page_text: purpose by any other system. Any fibrous material whatsoever that can be carded,
can be advantageously made into yarn by machines constructed according to this
invention.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Yarns and Apparatus therefor.
I, JAMES YATE JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of London,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (which has been com-
municated to me from abroad by William Henry Drury, of Waltham, in the
County of Middlesex, and State of Massachusetts, United States of America,
Lawyer,) and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of yarns and in
apparatus employed therefor and has for its object to produce by one continuous
operation or continuous series of operations twisted and completed yarn from
unspun fibrous material and consists in passing the material through a carding
process, and thence continuously in numerous sections through a spinning process,
rolling up said sections of material severally into fibrous rolls and revolving the
said fibrous rolls, drawing the said rotating fibrous rolls severally, as they form,
lengthwise of themselves into strands of yarn, and condensing the said strands
of material severally while being so drawn. Second, the carded fibrous material.
in numerous sections or subdivisions as it leaves the carding engine is received
by a spinning machine in which the said sections or subdivisions of material are
Beverally rolled into fibrous rolls, the said rotating fibrous rolls as they form,
being drawn lengthwise of themselves into strands of yarn, and the said strands
of material severally being condensed while being so drawn.
The invention is applicable for making yarn from all kinds of fibrous materials,
including not only those ordinarily used for making yarn, but also those which by
ordinary yarn-making systems and machinery cannot be so well utilized for that
purpose, such as cattle hair, wool waste, cotton waste, flax waste, jute waste,
ramie waste, silk noils, fibrous peat, asbestos, and many other slippery, short, stiff,
weak or cheap fibres,-every fibre whatsoever that can be carded being suitable
for making yarn successfully and economically by this invention.
In conducting a common and well-known system of making yarn, two or more
ring-doffers are used upon a finisher carding machine in such manner that the
doffer-rings of such doffers serve to subdivide the fibrous material from the sur-
face of the main cylinder of the machine lengthwise of the direction of the card-
ing into many or numerous narrow sections or strips. In succeeding stages of
that system devices are employed which served continuously to take from the
said doffer-rings the said fibrous sections and to rub and condense them and draw
them away forward of the rings and wind them upon a spool in the form of
numerous strands of untwisted roving. In the final stage of that system the
spool of roving is put upon a mule on which the several strands from the spoot
are drawn, spun and twisted into as many strands of completed yarn.
According to this invention the material of each of the fibrous sections, instead
of being drawn off forward of its ring in an untwisted strand, is rolled up
into a
fibrous roll lying orosswise of the length of the section and drawn sidewise of its

page_text: ring, being at the same time twisted from behind and compressed and stretched
and wound in the form of a strand of twisted and completed yarn ready for use.
One of the advantages of this invention is to simplify in a practical way the
making and spinning of yarn to the way of making and spinning it, to dispenso
with a mule or the like, and, instead of taking from the carding machine numerous
strands of untwisted roving to be subsequently made into completed yarn with
much additional labour and machinery, to transform the material from the card-
ing machine directly into many or numerous strands of twisted and completed
yarn ready for use, and thus to make much saving in room, machinery, power
and labour.
A machine constructed and operating in accordance with this invention, although
of trivial cost and occupying not more than a foot in depth of space across the
delivery end of a carding machine, saves the cost of a mule, the wages of a man
to operate a mule, the power required to run a mule, and the vast room occupied
by a mule, and, in short, as compared with any other known system of spinning,
eliminates entirely the cost of spinning and saves considerable in the cost of card-
ing.
In a carding and yarn-making machine conducting a process different from the
common system aforesaid thero has been embodied the combination with its doffer
and comb, of mechanism to co-operate with the doffer and comb to collect and
compress the combed-off material into a fibrous roll lying parallel to the axis of
the doffer, and to revolve said fibrous roll to produce the desired twist in the yarn,
and mechanism whereby the rotating fibrous roll, as it forms, is continuously
drawn lengthwise into yarn. But by such machine no more than two strands of
twisted and completed yarn at a time can be produced, and even those few must
be drawn in opposite directions from each other so that one has a right-hand and
the other a left-hand twist. Hence its production is so small and of such
quality that it is not commercially practical to make therewith anything but very
coarse-sized yarns, for which the demand is comparatively trivial. Although
such machine can make good yarn from fibres which cannot well be used for
making yarn by any ordinary method or machinery, the limitations above
mentioned so restrict its usefulness that it has not come and is not likely to come
into considerable use.
By this invention, may be made from a web, sheet, or width of carded fibrous
material, as many strands of twisted and completed yarn at a time, as are ordinarily
made of untwisted roving by the common and well known system aforesaid; and
each strand may be of as light weight 819 a strand of untwisted
roving ordinarily produced by the said well known system,
this invention is useful and economical for the manufacture of small
SO that
or medium sized yarn, for which the demand is far beyond that for coarser
yarns; and by this invention all the strands that can be produced at a time may
be uniform with each other in their twist, so that the usefulness of the yarn for
making even-faced and well-finished fabrics therefrom may be unimpaired, it
being well known that such fabrics cannot be made when yarus of different twists
are mixed together in the same piece. By the use of this invention it is practical
to make as many as 64 strands, or even more, of twisted and completed yarn
at a time, of uniform twist, directly from a 48-inch card.
Another advantage of this invention is that a spinning or varn-making machine
is provided which may be set at the delivery end of a carding machine and receive
the material therefrom and transform it directly into many or numerous strands
of twisted and completed yarn,-a spinning or varn-making machine which may
be self-contained, may be dealt in as an article of manufacture by itself, may be
made of various sizes so as to operate upon or with various sized carding machines,
and may,
when completed, be ready to transport without taking it
apart and be ready on arrival at its destination to operate upon
with any carding machine of corresponding width, whether old or new,
and whether made by one maker or by another, so that while revolutionizing
or

page_text: any existing system of making and spinning yarn in a mill its adoption in such
mill need not involve great or undesirable waste of existing equipment.
By this invention the fibrous web, sheet or width produced by carding is sub-
divided lengthwise into many or numerous narrow fibrous strips, sections or parts;
the material of each strip is rolled up and wrapped in thin films or layers one upon
the other to form a fibrous roll lying crosswise of the strip; each of the said rolls
is revolved and whirled to compact and reduce it and to twist, from its hind end,
the yarn made therefrom, and is drawn lengthwise of itself and further com-
pressed, evened and condensed while being so drawn; and the material of the
whole web, sheet or width is transformed directly and continuously into many or
numerous strands of twisted and completed yarn.
The invention will be clearly understood from the following description with
reference to the drawings accompanying the Provisional Specification in which
are represented a spinning and yarn-making machine, and certain improvements
in machinery, for performing the various operations by which a web, sheet or
width of carded fibrous material is transformed directly and continuously into many
or numerous strands of twisted and completed yarn in accordance with this inven-
tion.
Figures 1 and 2 are views of the right-hand side and left-hand side, respectively,
of a machine constructed according to this invention arranged at the delivery end
of a carding machine in position to operate with such carding machine to make or
spin continuously numerous strands of yarn from fibrous material in the progress
of the carding of such material by such carding machine. Figure 1 is a detail
view showing the slot in the devices mounted on the ends of the traversing or
sliding rods which carry the traversing fingers of the winding mechanism. Figure 3
is an end view of the machine looking towards the end at which the strands of
completed yarn are delivered. Figure 4 is a vertical section on the line 4-1
in Figure 3. Figure 5 is a plan of two of the spinning devices. Figure 6 is a
vertical section on line 6-6 in Figure 5. Figure 7 shows a comb in connection
with one of the spinning devices. Figure 8 illustrates a modification. Figure 9
is a side view, and Figure 10 a front view illustrating another modification.
Figures 4 to 10 inclusive are drawn on a larger scale than the others.
In the drawings the improved spinning or yarn-making machine is shown as
including the two series of doffer-rings C; the corresponding series of twisting
and wipe rolls D; the corresponding series of side-drawing rolls a and b driven
by the shafts c by means of the bevel wheels d gearing with the
bevel wheels e; the condensing straps or devices driven by the
shafts by means of the pulleys round which the driving straps
pass; the winding mechanism shown for winding the yarn produced by the
machine; and the side frame A' and girders E which support the several elements
aforesaid.
The doffer-rings C, instead of being a part of the improved machine, may, if
preferred, form a part of the carding machine proper; in which case their support
ing arms instead of being cast with or bolted to the frame work A of the spin-
ning machine, may be cast with or bolted to the frame work A of the carding
machine proper in the same way as usual when ring-doffers are used on a finisher
carding machine.
Moreover, the winding mechanism, instead of being supported by the frame-
work of spinning machine, may be supported in any other suitable manner.
The two series of doffer-rings C have the same arrangement and function in
relation to the main oylinder B of the carding machine and to each other as
doffer-rings usually have when used on a finisher carder--the rings of the one
ring-doffer being set opposite the intervals between the rings of the other ring-
doffer, as shown in Figure 3. The doffer-rings shown in Figures 1 to 8 inclusive
differ from the common kind in being open down to the doffer-shafts, so as to
admit of placing side-condensing and side-drawing devices and their supports
on one side of each ring. The common kind of ring-doffers may be used, how-

page_text: ever, as illustrated in Figures 9 and 10; and probably this common kind will
be the favorite style of ring-doffers to use with or on this improved machine.
The doffers are actuated from the main cylinder shaft H of the carding engine
by a beli G passing round the pulley I thereon, and thence round pulleys J which
run on shafts supported by the framework 3, the said pulleys being con-
centric with and made fast to pinions which gear into wheels j on the ends of the
doffer-shafts.
C
As may be inferred from what has already been expressed the framework A
and girders E support the twisting roll shafts k, the strap-driving shafts g and the
shafts which through suitable gearing operate the shafts e of the drawing rolls a
and b. The same girders also support the stands which hold up the studs on
which the loose pulleys L run, the studs on which the loose pulleys run, the
fulcrums ir of the levers m, the bearings of the shafts n of the side-drawing rolls a, b,
and the protecting plates g.
The twisting-roll shafts & are actuated by the pinions i which gear with wheels r
on the ends of the twisting-roll shafts and rotate the latter in the same direction
as the doffers. Each of the twisting-roll shafts carries a series of twisting rolls D,
in number, arrangement, position and length, that each of the doffer-rings is
provided with its own separate individual twisting roll. The twisting rolls are
here called by that name because they and the doffer-riugs help each other. to
rotate and whirl or spin between them the fibrous rolls herein before referred to,
and thus impart twist to the strands of yarn.
The twisting rolls may be clothed with corduroy, or card clothing or emery,
or some other suitable material, so as to act as wipe-rolls to clear their accom-
panying doffer-rings of their fibrous material. When the doffer-rings and the
wipe-rolls are in proper relation to each other in speed and position and are in
action, the wipe-rolls clear the doffer-rings, and the doffer-rings in turn clear the
wipe-rolls, and cach doffer-ring and its accompanying wipe-roll combined, then
act upon the fibrous material in such manner that they co-operate to forma between
them a fibrous roll of the material and to rotate such fibrous roll between them
with great rapidity. The wipe-roll is an element of great importance in this
invention in its best form, because it wholly dispenses with the use of a comb on
most classes of fibrous material.
When covered with card clothing, the twisting roll comprises three rolls com-
bined in one.
That is to say, it is a twisting roll, a wipe-roll, and a scavenger roll
or dicky, all combined in one roll, keeping its accompanying doffer-ring clean
and sharp, besides co-operating therewith as aforesaid. And when thus covered
it acts in cach of its several capacities better, with most fibrous materials, than
when it is bare or when it is covered with corduroy.
Each doffer-ring and its accompanying twisting and wipe-roll compose a set of
devices, the oflice of which is as follows:--The doffer-ring receives from the main
ovlinder of the carding machine a narrow section, strip or part of the fibrous web,
sheet or width, which lies thereon in the ordinary operation of carding, and the
devices of the said set (of which said doffer-ring forms part) co-operate to roll up
the material of such fibrous strip, section, or part into a fibrous roll lying cross-
wise of the length of the strip and to rapidly rotate or whirl such fibrous roll
about its axis, and at the same time compress and compact the fibres of the roll
together, as if it were rolled between human hands. The devices of the said sets
must be carefully adjusted in relation to each other in speed and position as to co-
operate as aforesaid, which, although it requires skill and practice, a person of
ordinary skill in the art can readily do after a little practice and on understand-
ing the effects desired to be accomplished by the said devices. If the doffer-rings
used are 12 inches in diameter (a good size to use) it is recommended that they
be made to run from 36 to 48 revolutions per minute, after the machine gets settled
to its regular work. The surface speed of the twisting and wipe rolls should be
as fast as that of the doffer-rings, or a little faster. Their speed may be varied
as required, by change wheels on the ends of their shafts.

page_text: Figure 7 illustrates a modified form of the mechanism for co-operating with the
loffer-ring to collect and roll up the fibrous material from the latter into a roll and
to rotate or whirl the fibrous roll. In this modified form, each series of doffer-
ings, besides being provided with a corresponding series of twisting rolls, is pro-
vided with a corresponding series of vibrating combs to clear the doffer-rings.
The combination with cach doffer-ring, of a dolling-comb and twisting roll, works
effectively with all kinds of carded fibrous materials, and the comb aids the work
when there is occasion to start a new strand of yarn from a fibrous roll through
the condensing and drawing mechanism. If combs are used at all, they should
vibrate with great rapidity or else the speed of the doffer-rings and twisting rolls
should be less than herein before advised. With such rings and rolls having the
speed hereinbefore advised, it would be preferable to cause the combs to make
1800 vibrations per minute. If combs are used, each doffer-ring and its accom-
panying comb and twisting roll should be adjusted in such relation to each other
that the ring and twisting roll almost touch each other, and that the comb keeps
the fibrous roll well down between the ring and twisting rolls so that they will
rapidly rotate it, roll it, and compress it; as it is at this stage the yarn is made
and twisted. However, for ordinary work the combs may be dispensed with.
Each set of devices hereinbefore described is provided with a separate condensing
device which consists of a narrow endless strap f with two of its surfaces normally
touching each other on the extended axial line of the fibrous roll to be operated
upon by one of the said sets of devices which such condensing strap accompanies.
The two normally touching surfaces of the endless strap move in opposite directions
from each other across and transversely to the said axial line. The strap driving
shafts gare driven from the main cylinder shaft H, in the opposite direction from
the said doffers by a belt N passing over the pulley M thereon, and thence over
the pulleys on the ends of the strap-driving shafts. The straps are directly
driven by the pulleys h on said shafts y. Figure 4 shows the arrangement and
mode of operation of each of the straps, which pass round the pulleys hand_the
loose pulleys L running along side the doffer-rings ou studs held by stands K as
before mentioned. The inner surfaces of each strap are brought and kept together
at t so as to normally touch each other at that point, by means of the small loose
pulleys and u. The loose pulley is supported on a stud in the end of a vibratory
lever m fulcrumed in the stand K at io and having at its other end a similar loose
pulley which is situated between the two parts of the strap, and is when required
caused to bear against and lift the upper part of the strap. The loose pulley u
as well as the pulley 7 are beneath the under part of the strap, and are caused to
press the two faces of the strap together, when the parts are in normal position as
When
shown in Figure 4. The lever mis held in this position by the spring.
the lever by its handle is pushed or tilted from its normal position
in the direction indicated by the arrow, in Figure 4 the pulley u
will drop,
will lift the upper part of the strap, while the pulley
80 as to allow the under part of the strap to correspondingly drop, thus
permitting the meeting faces of the strap to separate thereby making it easy to
start the fibrous roll between the normally touching surfaces of the strap. Between
the normally touching surfaces of the strap the material from the fibrous roll
continuously passes on its way to the drawing mechanism of the machine. Good
results are obtained by running the straps at about the same speed as the surface
speed of the doffer-rings and this should be their usual speed, because generally
it would be injurious to the working of this system to allow them to run either
much faster or much slower; but their speed should be adjustable so as to be
varied when desired, which may be done by substituting larger or smaller pulleys
in place of the pulleys on the ends of the shafts which drive said straps. On
each side of the said strap, in the protecting plate g and in the support of the
stud on which the loose pulley / runs is an eye g3 (Figure 6) through which the
fibrous material passes. These eyes guide the material and keep it from depart
ing from said axial line while being acted upon by said strap. The office of said

page_text: strap is to assist the doffer-ring and its accompanying twisting-roll in rotating
the fibrous roll, or to prevent it from lagging behind the speed of revolution a
which the doffer-ring and twisting roll tend to whirl it, also to prevent the strun
from untwisting before it passes the drawing mechanism and to compress, ever
and condense the material which passes between its said normally touching surface
on its way from the body of a fibrous roll to a drawing mechanism. The action
of the strap, also, upon the fibrous roll is like rolling it between human hands
Besides revolving that part of the fibrous roll which it touches, being more positive
than the doffer-ring and twisting roll in its action upon the fibrous roll, it even
helps to rotate that part of the latter which is between the doffer-ring and twist-
ing-roll, and in that way, but in no other, helps in twisting the yarn.
In the continuous operation of the machine the straps and sets of devices which
they accompany act upon the fibrous rolls respectively to keep them rotating and
twisting, while the strands of yarn, into which the fibrous rolls are converted, are
being drawn away. It is by the rotation of each fibrous roll between the doffer-
ring and its accompanying twisting roll that the yaru produced from the fibrous
roll, receives its positive twist from its hind or loose end which is contained in
the fibrous roll. However fast the condensing device runs the yarn is not twisted
any more rapidly than the fibrous roll revolves before coming between the normally
touching surfaces of the strap.
The use of the protecting plate ?, in addition to its use for the eye before
mentioned, is to protect the condensing mechanism from the gathering of fibrous
material therein.
As shown in the drawings (Figures 1 to 6), each set of devices comprises draw-
ing mechanism, which consists of a pair of nipping and drawing rolls coupled
together and arranged in position to draw the material from the fibrous roll between
the normally touching surfaces of the strap; and they constantly nip and hold
the twist of the completed yarn as it is drawn by them between and from the
touching surfaces of the strap f. The drawing shew separate drawing mechanism
for each strand of yarn produced by the machine; but if drawing mechanism
common to all the strands or for some of them should be used it would not be a
departure from this invention.
Figure 4, 5 and 6 of the drawings shew the construction of the drawing
mechanism and how they operate. The shafts c are driven in the opposite direction
from said doffers by the gears k, through intermediate gearing, r, finally mesh-
ing into the gears y on said shafts c. The drawing mechanisms are driven by
these shafts c by means of the bevel wheels & thereon gearing with the bevel gears e
on the drawing-roll shafts n, to each of which is fixed the lower roll a of one of
the pairs of drawing rolls. The upper and lower drawing rolls of each pair are
kept together by springs and are geared together like common drawing rolls.
The several pairs of drawing rolls are so situated and operated as to draw the
strands of yarn coming from the doffer-rings in the same direction with each other,
so that the strands will all be alike in twist. The speed of each drawing
nechanism should be carefully adjusted to draw the material as rapidly as can be done
without breaking the material, in order that the full capacity of the machine in
weight of production of any particular yarn within a given time may be utilized.
This varies with the quality, length and strength of fibre, and with the size of
yarn produced. Hence the speed of each drawing mechanism should be readily
adjustable to suit such varying conditions. It should also be thus adjustable with-
out affecting the speed of the doffers, because in many cases it will be desirable
to increase the speed of the drawing mechanism while lessening or not changing
that of the doffers, or vice versa. In the machine illustrated it is easy to change
the speed of all the drawing mechanisms at once by simply substituting gears of
more or fewer teeth in place of the gears y on the ends of the shafts which drive
the drawing mechanism. The speed of the drawing mechanism should depend
materially upon the surface speed of the doffer-rings and twisting rolls. In the
ordinary working the ratio of the speed of drawing away a strand of yarn will be,

page_text: to the surface speed of the rings, probably not more than as one to two; or one
to three, or somewhere between these ratios but the one first mentioned will
ordinarily be found better, because it gives the yarn time to make, which must
always be done. A strand of coarse yarn can be made and drawn off faster per
yard than one of fine yarn.
The size of yarn made when the doffer-rings are of a given width should be
regulated mainly at the feed end of the carding machine, by feeding in faster when
coarser yarn is wanted, and slower when finer is wanted.
By the arrangement of doffer-rings, sets of devices and condensing and drawing
mechanisms hereinbefore described, the web, sheet, or width of fibrous material
which in the ordinary operation of carding lies upon the main-cylinder of the
carding machine represented in the drawings is continuously subdivided into twelve
narrow strips of equal width which are transferred separately and simultaneously
to the surfaces of the doffer-rings respectively; then between rings and twisting
rolls the said fibrous strips of material separately and progressively rolled up,
and at the same time all the fibrous rolls, thus formed are rotated rapidly about
their axes and the fibres thereof compacted together; and the said fibrous rolla,
while rotating, are separately and simultaneously drawn lengthwise continuously
between the normally touching surfaces of the straps f, and while being so
drawn are further compressed, evened and condensed to form the desired strands of
yarn.
f
The several strands, after passing through the nipping and drawing rolls are
wound upon spindles z, the surfaces of which bear upon the outside of the revolving
drums O, the frictional action of which against the spindles or the material there-
on causes the spindles to revolve; or the winding may be done by any other suit-
able means
The drums O may be conveniently rotated from the shafts which
drive the drawing mechanisms, by means of belts 1 passing over the pulleys o
on the shaft c and the pulleys p which drive the wheels which gear with wheels it
on the ends of the shafts Q which carry the said drums. The yarn is distributed
across the spindles by traversing fingers a' attached to lengthwise sliding rods b'.
On the end of each sliding rod is a device c' (see Figure 1) in which there is a
slot at right angles to the rod and into this slot is inserted a pin on the end
of an arm c which is fixed to a vertical shaft carrying a bevel wheel f which
is driven by a bevel wheel ¹ on the end of the drum-shaft Q. When the drum-
shaft Q revolves it causes the pin on the end of armi e to sweep around in a circle
and to slide to and fro in the slotted device c¹ and slide the rod with its travelling
fingers.
The nipping or drawing rolls shewn in the drawings may be wholly dispensed
with, without departing from this invention, and the drawing away of the strands
of yarn may be done wholly by the winding mechanism, in which case each strand
of yarn, as it comes from the condensing device, is made to turn around a loose
pulley g', or other equivalent device, as shewn in Figure 8.
The drawings shew six doffer-rings of equal width in each series, and represent
a machine adapted for subdividing a carded fibrous web, sheet or width into 12
narrow strips or sections of equal width to produce 12 strands of yarn at a time.
If the main cylinder of the carding machine be supposed to be 48 inches wide, rach
doffer-ring would be four inches wide or thereabouts, and any two adjacent rings
would be four inches apart or thereabouts. The open space between adjacent rings
is for condensing and drawing mechanisms and their supports. Such open space
is not necessary, however, and it is practical, as before stated, to use ordinary
ring-doffers, which do not have such open space. All that is necessary is to change
the position of the condensing straps, discard the numerous pairs of nipping rolls,
and draw out each strand of yarn around a loose pulley g', and conduct it thence
to the winding mechanism, as shewn in Figures 9 and 10. But the distance
between two adjacent rings may be less than 4 inches. For example, it may be
reduced to 2 inches, in which case there could be 24 doffer-rings, each 2 inches
wide arranged in two series of 12 each; or there could be 48 doffer-rings, each

page_text: one inch wide, arranged in three series of 16 each. The former would be suitable
for making 24 strands and the latter for making 48 strands, of yarn at a time.
I do not restrict myself to the use of two series of doffer-rings, since it is evident
that a larger number may be used if desired. For example, three series may be
used with three corresponding series of twisting and wipe rolls and condensing
mechanisms. It is common to use three series of doffer-rings upon a finisher card
in operating the common and well-known system of making yarn. If three series
be used on a machine constructed according to this invention they would have
the same arrangement and function in relation to the main-cylinder and to each
other, as doffer-rings usually have when three series are used on a finisher card.
Thus a machine with main cylinder 48 inches wide may have 24 two-inch doffer-
rings in two series of 12 each, or 48 one-inch doffer-rings in three series of 16
each. In either case any two adjacent doffer-rings in either series would be two
inches apart or thereabouts, giving ample room for the necessary mechanism
between rings. In the one case the machine would be adapted for producing 24
strands, and in the other case for producing 48 strands, of yarn at a time from a
sheet of carded fibrous material.
I do not confine myself to the use of straps for condensing devices; as tubes
or trumpets revolving in the opposite direction from the doffer-rings may be used
instead of the straps, but not with so good effect, as compared with the straps.
The ordinary ring-loffer, now in use may be employed with the straps. The straps
accommodate themselves to all circumstances automatically and require no change
when changing from one size of yarn to another. But if tubes should be preferred
they should be like pulleys in external shape, their central openings should be
in line with the fibrous roll being drawn, they should run in bearings supported
between the open doffer-rings, and should be rotated by bands passing around
the pulleys h and around the tubes; or they may be driven and supported by any
other suitable means.
In the machine illustrated all the strands are drawn out from the fibrous roll
in the same direction. This is preferred because it makes all the strands uniform
in twist, which as well known to weavers and finishers of cloth is very desirable. If
desired, however, the strands drawn from the fibrous rolls in one horizontal line
may be drawn towards the right and those drawn therefrom in another horizontal
line may be drawn towards the left, by placing the condensing mechanisms to the
right of the fibrous rolls in one horizontal line, and to the left of the fibrous rolls in
another horizontal line. The strands of yarn drawn towards the right would have
opposite twist from those drawn towards the left.
A machine spinning and making 48 strands of yarn at a time from a 48-inch
card is better than one making 24 strands, for production of yarn of No. 1 run
(1600 yards per lb.) or thereabouts; but for coarser sizes say No. 4 run (400 yards
per lb.) the machine making 24 strands at a time would be better.
A machine constructed according to this invention is portable, and several of
the said machines may be used one at one time with the same carding machine:
so that a manufacturer of yaru according to this invention may always have at
command the means beat adapted for the production of various sizes of varn upon
or with the same carding machine. For example, one of the said machines adapted
to operate with a 48-inch card may be provided with 12 four inch doffer-rings
as illustrated in the drawings, another with 16 three-inch rings, another with 24
two-inch rings, another with 32 one-and-one-half inch rings, another with 48 one-
inch rings, and another with 64 three-fourth inch rings; and either of these may
be used with the same 48-inch card. Herein consists one of the great advantages
of this invention, since the cost of making one of these machines would be trivial
as compared with that of making a carding machine, and it would be a simple
matter to substitute one of the machines for another.
By the invention hereinbefore described fine or coarse varns of good or poor,
stock, can he spun and made with great economy in space and in cost of power,
machinery and labour; and many valuable styles of yarn can be made which can-

page_text: not be made by any other system; and many materiale can be used to good
advantage for making yarn, which cannot be used at all to any advantage for that
purpose by any other system. Any fibrous material whatsoever that can be carded,
can be advantageously made into yarn by machines constructed according to this
invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
-
1. The system or art of making yaru from fibrous materials, which consists in
continuously passing the material through a carding process; then in succession
directly through a process of subdividing the carded material into many or
numerous narrow and separate sections; and then in succession directly through
a spinning process by progressively rolling up the said sectious or subdivisions
of material severally and revolving the fibrous rolls thus formed, drawing the said
rotating fibrous rolls severally, as they form, into strands of yarn, and compressing
or condensing the said strands of material while being so drawn, substantially as
hereinbeforo described.
•
2. In a machine for spinning or making yarn from fibrous materials, the com-
bination with mechanism for continuously receiving the material in
numerous narrow and separate sections or subdivisions, and forming
01' rolling up the said sections or subdivisions of material severally
into fibrous rolls and revolving said fibrous rolls, of mechanism whereby said rotat-
ing fibrous rolls, as they form, are severally and continuously drawn lengthwise
of themselves into strands of yarn; and means whereby the said strands of
material are severally compressed or condensed while being so drawn, substantially
as hereinbefore described.
3. In machinery for spinning or making yarn from fibrous materials, the com-
bination with a carding machine for carding the material, of mechanism to con-
tinuously receive the material directly from the said carding machine in many
or numerous narrow and separate sections or subdivisions; mechanism to con-
tinuously form or roll up the said sections or subdivisions of material severally
into fibrous rolls and revolve the said rolls; mechanism to continuously draw the
said rotating fibrous rolls severally, as they form, lengthwise of themselves into
strands of yarn; and of mechanism to compress or condense the said strands of
material while being so drawn, substantially as hereinbefore described.
4. In the herein described machinery for making yarn from fibrous materials, the
combination with the carding machine, of the spinning machine, substantially, as
hereinbefore described.
5. In a machine for spinning or making yarn from fibrous materials, the com-
bination with mechanism for continuously subdividing a web, sheet or width of
carded fibrous material lengthwise into many or numerous narrow and separato
sections or strips, of mechanism for continuously forming or rolling up the said
sections or strips of material severally into fibrous rolls and revolving the said
rolls; mechanism whereby the said rotating fibrous rolls, as they form, are severally
and continuously drawn lengthwise of themselves into strands of yarn; condensing
straps between meeting surfaces of which the said strands of material pass while
being so drawn; and means for operating the said straps to rub the said strands
of material in the same direction as that in which they are being revolved, sub-
stantially as hereinbefore described.
6. In a machine for spinning or making yarn from fibrous materials, the com-
bination with a plural number of series of rings, having their surfaces arranged
in relation to each other like ordinary doffer rings of the same number of series,
for receiving fibrous material in numerous narrow sections or subdivisions, of
mechanism to co-operate with such rings to collect therefrom and form or roll up
the said sections or subdivisions of material severally into fibrous rolls and revolve
the said rolls; mechanism whereby the said rotating fibrous rolls, as they form,
are severally and continuously drawn lengthwise of themselves into strands of
yarn; means whereby the said strands of material are compressed or condensed

page_text: while being so drawn; and means for operating the said rings, substantially as
herein before described.
7. In a machine for spinning or making yarn from fibrous materials, the com-
bination with a plural number of series of doffer-rings for receiving fibrous
material in numerous narrow sections or subdivisions, of corresponding twisting
and wipe rolls to accompany the said rings respectively and to co-operate there-
with to collect therefrom and form or roll up the said sections or sub-divisions of
material severally into fibrous rolls and revolve the said fibrous rolls; mechanism
whereby the said rotating fibrous rolls, as they form, are severally and continuously
drawn lengthwise of themselves into strands of yarn; means whereby the said
strands of material are compressed or condensed, while being so drawn; and
means for operating the said rings and the said twisting and wipe rolls, substan-
tially as herein before described.
8. In a machine for spinning or making yarn from fibrous materials, the com-
bination with a plural number of series of doffer-rings for receiving fibrous
material in numerous narrow and separate sections or subdivisions, of correspond-
ing individual doffing combs to accompany the said rings and vibrate up and
down across the surfaces thereof respectively; mechanism to co-operate with such
rings and combs to collect from the said rings and form or roll up the said sections
or subdivisions of material severally into fibrous rolls and revolve the said rolls;
mechanism whereby the said rotating fibrous rolls, as they form, are severally
and continuously drawn lengthwise of themselves into strands of yarn; means
whereby the said strands of material are severally compressed or condensed while
being so drawn; and means for operating the said rings and combs, substantially
as hereinbefore described.
9. In a machine for spinning or making yarn from fibrous materials, the com-
bination with a plural number of series of twisting and wipe rolls for collecting
fibrous material in numerous narrow sections and forming or rolling up the said
sections of material severally into fibrous rolls and revolving such rolls, of
mechanism whereby such rotating fibrous rolls, as they form, are severally aud
continuously drawn lengthwise of themselves into strands of yarn; means whereby
the said strands of material are severally compressed or condensed while being
so drawn; and means for operating the said twisting and wipe rolls, substantially
as hereinbefore described.
10. In the herein described machine for spinning or making yarn from fibrous
materials, the combination of the doffer-rings for receiving the material in many
or numerous narrow and separate sections or subdivisions; the twisting and wipe
rolls for co-operating with the said doffer-rings respectively to collect therefrom
and roll up and compress the said sections or subdivisions of material severally
into fibrous rolls and revolve the said fibrous rolls; the side-drawing mechanism
for drawing the said rotating fibrous rolls severally, as they form, lengthwise of
themselves into strands of yaru; the condensing mechanism for compressing or
condensing the said strands of material severally while being so drawn; and the
means for operating the said rings, the said twisting and wipe rolls and the said
mechanisms, substantially as hereinbefore described.
11. In the herein described machine for spinning or making yarn from fibrous
materials, the combination of the doffer-rings for receiving the material in many
or numerous narrow and separate sections or subdivisions; the individual doffing
combs for accompanying the said rings and vibrating up and down across the
surfaces thereof respectively: the twisting rolls for co-operating with the said rings
and combs respectively to collect from the said rings, and roll up and compress
the said sections or subdivisions of material severally into fibrous rolls and revolve
the said fibrous rolls; the side-drawing mechanism for drawing the said rotating
fibrous rolls severally, as they form, lengthwise of themselves into strands of yarn;
the condensing mechanism for compressing or condensing the said strands of
material while being so drawn; and the means for operating the said rings, combs,
twisting rolls, and mechanisms, substantially as hereinbefore described.

page_text: 12. In the herein described machine for spinning or making yarn from fibrous
materials, the combination of the doffer-rings for receiving the material in many
or numerous narrow and separate sections or sub-divisions; the twisting and
wipe rolls for co-operating with the said rings respectively to collect therefrom
and roll up and compress the said sections or subdivisions of material severally
into fibrous rolls and revolve the said fibrous rolls; the winding mechanism for
drawing the said rotating fibrous rolls severally, as they form, lengthwise of them-
selves into strands of yarn and winding the said yarn; the condensing mechanism
for compressing or condensing the said strands of material severally while being
so drawn, and the means for operating the said rings, said twisting and wipe rolls
and the said mechanisms, substantially as herein before described.
13. In the herein described machine for spinning or making yarn from fibrous
materials, the combinations of the doffer-rings for receiving the material in many
or numerous narrow and separate sections or subdivisions; the individual doffing
combs for accompanying the said rings and vibrating up and down across the
surfaces thereof respectively; the twisting rolls for co-operating with the said
rings aud combs respectively to collect from the said rings and roll up and com-
press the said sections or subdivisions of material severally into fibrous rolls and
to revolve the said fibrous rolls; the winding mechanism for drawing the said
rotating fibrous rolls severally, as they form, lengthwise of themselves into strands
of yarn and winding the said yarn; the condensing mechanism for compressing
or condensing the said strands of material severally while being so drawn; and
the means for operating the said rings, combs, twisting rolls, and mechanisms,
substantially as hereinbefore described.
14. In a machine for spinning or making yarn from fibrous materials, the com-
bination of a doffer for receiving the material; a twisting and wipe roll for
co-operating with such doffer to collect therefrom and roll up and compress the
material into a fibrous roll and revolve such fibrous roll; side-drawing machanism
for drawing such rotating fibrous roll, as it forms, lengthwise of itself into yarn:
condensing mechanism for compressing or condensing the material while being so
drawn; and means for operating the said doffer and the said twisting and wipe
rolls, substantially as hereinbefore described.
15. In a machine for spinning or making yarn from fibrous materials, the com-
bination of a doffer for receiving the material; a doffing comb for accompanying
the said doffer and vibrating up and down across its surface; a twisting roll for
co-operating with such doffer and comb to collect from the doffer, and roll up and
compress the material into a fibrous roll and revolve the said fibrous roll; winding
mechanism for drawing the said rotating fibrous roll, as it forms, lengthwise of
itself into varu and winding the said yarn; condensing mechanism for compress-
ing or condensing the said material while being so drawn; and means for operating
the said doffer, comb and twisting and wipe roll, substantially as hereinbefore
described.
16. In machinery for making yarn from fibrous materials, the combination of
means for carding the material, cylinders clothed with numerous narrow rings of
card clothing, on each at predetermined intervals apart, to subdivide the carded
inaterial into numerous narrow and separate sections, and means for simultaneously
drawing away from the said rings respectively, sidewise thereof, the said sections
of fibrous material, and spinning the same into yarn, substantially as and for tho
purposes herein before described.
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.