IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN CARDING WOOL AND OTHER FIBRES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Isaac Holden, of the Firm of Isaac Holden and Sons,
Machine Wool Combers, of Bradford, in the County of York, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN CARDING WOOL
AND OTHER FIBRES.”
Sealed the 7th October 1879, and dated the 10th April 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Isaac Holden at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th April 1879.
ISAAC HOLDEN, of the Firm of Isaac Holden and Sons, Machine Wool Combers,
of Bradford, in the County of York. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS OR APPARATUS
EMPLOYED IN CARDING WOOL AND OTHER FIBRES,"
In carrying my improvements into effect I employ five, six, or more opening card
rollers, and by preference I arrange these rollers in two tiers, with one of the upper
and then one of the lower acting on the fibre in succession.
By such increased number of the opening rollers increased facilities for utilization
of the draught are attained, whilst by arranging them in two tiers I am able to
obtain increased facilities for utilizing the whole of their working surfaces.
The whole draught between the feeding rollers and the main cylinder is utilized,
every succeeding opening roller stripping its preceding one, and the main cylinder
stripping the last of the series.
With each opening roller I apply two working rollers, with or without strippers,
with a bearing roller between them on the first, second, third, and fourth or more
of the series.
Those opening rollers of the series on which the fibres pass on the upper side
require more room for the burrer than the others. For this purpose I form them
of larger diameter than the others, and in order to obtain more room for the two
working rollers with their strippers I apply each alternate opening roller on a
different level to its predecessor. As stated, the one on which the fibres pass on
the upper side being on a higher level than that on which the fibres pass on the
lower side.
My object in these arrangements is so to utilize the draught between the feed
rollers and the main cylinder by each opening roller stripping each preceding roller,

page_text: and the cylinder stripping the last one in the series as to get sufficient working and
opening of the fibres on the opening rollers to be able to dispense with one of the
main cylinders with its fancy and doffer.
On the opening rollers, on which there are placed two working rollers, with a
burring roller between them, I place in front of the first worker a stripper of very
small diameter, say, two inches diameter (without its teeth), in order to open the
tufts in passing around its periphery when taken by the opening roller, and also at
the same time in order to tighten the fibres on the opening roller before passing to
the burring roller.
I also apply the feeding rollers at such. an angle to the first opening roller that
the tufts, staples, and fibres may pass in a straight line to the point where the teeth
of the stripper of the feeding roller approaches nearest to the teeth of the opening
roller, the size of these feed rollers being regulated by the length of fibre under
operation, and I employ several pairs of such feeding rollers, with more or less
draught between each pair.
I also employ a travelling belt supported by suitable pulleys to act across the
opening rollers with a brush or leather flap to clean the burrer receptacle.
The supply of the material to be operated upon by each carding engine is
conveyed thereto in boxes or carriages, and the operator in attendance thereon
takes from time to time quantities from such box or carriage for each successive
feed to the apron.
It is however highly important to the correct working of the carding engine and
the production of uniform slivers therefrom that the successive quantities taken
from these boxes or carriages to place on the feed apron be as uniform as possible,
and with the object of securing this uniformity in some cases scales have been
applied in connection with the feed aprons to each carding engine in order that the
attendant might weigh each feed, but through negligence or otherwise such use has
not been found to answer well, and in practice the quantity for each feed is
generally dependent upon the discretion of the attendant, but the result is want of
uniformity in the work.
•
The object of another part of my Invention is to remedy this evil. For this
purpose I provide the boxes or carriages for the supply of the respective carding
engines with light moveable partitions forming compartments for the separation of
the fibres supplied thereto into the desired quantities for the successive feeds, so
that the attendant at each carding engine has only to take the whole of the quantity
of fibres from one of such compartments and then from another in succession for the
respective feeds.
And these quantities are weighed as supplied to the boxes or carriages by the
person in charge of the bulk of fibre for the time to be operated upon at the source
of supply to such boxes, and the partitions are applied by such person to separate
one quantity from the next.
In place of a separate weighing for each feed one weighing may include two or
more feeds, and the separation of the respective feeds may be obtained by the sub-
division of the partition as desired, such partition or partitions being divisible into
two or more parts, which may be turned over or otherwise, and have prongs or
teeth as divisions corresponding with the respective feeds.
Light frames of wire or other openwork answer the purpose well, but I do not
confine myself thereto.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Isaac Holden in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 10th October
1879.
ISAAC HOLDEN, of the Firm of Isaac Holden and Sons, Machine Wool Combers,
of Bradford, in the County of York. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS OR APPARATUS
EMPLOYED IN CARDING WOOL AND OTHER FIBRES."
In carrying my improvements into effect I employ five, six, or more opening card
rollers, and, by preference, I arrange these rollers in two tiers with one of the upper
and then one of the lower acting on the fibre in succession. By such increased
number of the opening rollers increased facilities for utilization of the draught are
attained, whilst by arranging them in two tiers I am able to obtain increased
facilities for utilizing the whole of their working surfaces.
The whole draught between the feeding rollers and the main cylinder is utilized,
every succeeding "opening" roller stripping its preceding one, and the main
cylinder stripping the last of the series.
With each "opening" roller I apply two "working" rollers with or without
"strippers" with a burring roller between them on the first, second, and third, or
more of the series. These "opening" rollers of the series on which the fibres pass
on the upper side require more room for the "burring" roller than the others; for
this purpose I form them of larger diameter than the others, and in order to obtain
more room for the two "working" rollers with their "strippers" I apply each
alternate "opening" roller on a different level to its predecessor, as stated, the one
on which the fibres pass on the upper side being on a higher level than that on
which the fibres pass on the lower side.
وو
My object in these arrangements is so to utilize the draught between the feed
rollers and the "main" cylinder by each "opening" roller stripping each preceding
roller, and the "main cylinder stripping the last one in the series as to get
sufficient working and opening of the fibres on the "opening" rollers to be able to
dispense with one of the "main" cylinders with its "fancy" and " doffer."
**
"
On the "opening" rollers there are placed two "working" rollers, with a
'burring" roller between them. I place in front of the first "worker" a "stripper"
of very small diameter, say, 2 inches diameter (without its teeth), in order to
open the tufts in passing around its periphery when taken by the "opening" roller,
and also at the same time in order to tighten the fibres on the opening roller before
passing to the "burring " roller.
I also apply the "feeding" rollers at such an angle to the first "opening" roller
that the tufts, staples, and fibres may pass in a straight line to the point where the
teeth of the "stripper" of the "feeding" roller approaches nearest to the teeth of
the "opening" roller, the size of these "feed" rollers being regulated by the
length of fibre under operation, and I employ several pairs of such "feeding"
rollers with more or less draught between each pair.
"
I also employ a travelling belt supported by suitable pulleys to act across the
"opening" rollers with a brush or leather flap to clean the burring "roller
receptacle.
But that this part of my Invention may be the better understood, I will by the
aid of the accompanying Drawing proceed to describe the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
The Drawing represents in outline or diagram the relative position of the
respective rollers arranged according to this part of my Invention. a, a, are the
feed" rollers, and they are placed at an angle to the first " opening" roller to
facilitate the placing of the fibre in the feed in a straight line to the point where
56
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
The Drawing represents in outline or diagram the relative position of the
respective rollers arranged according to this part of my Invention.
a, a, are the
"feed" rollers, and they are placed at an angle to the first "opening" roller to
facilitate the placing of the fibre in the feed in a straight line to the point where

page_text: "
the teeth of the "stripper" a¹ approaches nearest to the teeth of the first "opening
roller; b, b, b, represent the upper row of "opening" or "licker-in" rollers, and c, c, c,
represent the lower row of "opening" or "licker-in" rollers, and d represents the
"main" cylinder. The relative speeds of these " opening" card or "licker-in "
rollers to the "main" card cylinder in inches of surface motion per minute is
indicated approximately by the respective numbers on them, but are subject to
variation. The speed of the "working" rollers and "guard " or "burring" roller
will be arranged relatively to their opening" rollers as usual, as will also be the
speed of the "feed" rollers.
"
It will be seen that each-"opening" card or licker-in" roller b or c acts upon
to strip the preceding one, and that the "main cylinder d strips the last of the
preceding rollers b or c, and the number of these rollers b and c with their attendant
rollers may be increased if desired.
"
"
To each of the "opening" card or "licker-in" rollers, I apply two "working
rollers e, e, and with some of them there are also applied "strippers"ƒ and g, the
'strippers "fare of the smaller, dimensions referred to; h, h, represent travelling
belts, having motion given to them over guide rollers in the direction of
the length of the roller to which they are applied to carry brushes or leather flaps
to clear the receptacles i of burrs thrown therein by the "guard" or burring
rollers; j, k, are other "burring" or "guard" rollers to some of the lower rollers e, e;
and is a "burring" or "guard" roller to one of the rollers c; and m is a guard
plate thereto; n is the "fancy," and o, o, o, are "workers with their "strippers
; and q is the "doffer" roller, and the "doffer", thereto for the "main" cylinder
as usual.
"
"
"
"
The supply of the material to be operated upon by each carding engine is con-
veyed thereto in boxes or carriages, and the operator in attendance thereon takes
from time to time quantities from such box or carriage for each successive feed to
the apron.
It is however highly important to the correct working of the carding engine, and
the production of uniform slivers therefrom, that the successive quantities taken
from these boxes or carriages to place on the feed apron be as uniform as possible,
and with the object of securing this uniformity in some cases, scales have been
applied in connection with the feed aprons to each carding engine, in order that the
attendant might weigh each feed, but through negligence or otherwise, such use has
not been found to answer well, and in practice the quantity for each feed is generally
dependent upon the discretion of the attendant, but the result is want of uniformity
in the work.
The object of another part of my Invention is to remedy this evil. For this
purpose I provide the boxes or carriages for the supply of the respective carding
engines, with light moveable partitions forming compartments for the separation of
the fibre supplied thereto into the desired quantities, or layers for the successive
feeds, so that the attendant at each carding engine has only to take the whole of
the quantity of fibres from one of such compartments, and then from another in
succession for the respective feeds.
And these quantities are weighed as supplied to the boxes or carriages by the
person in charge of the bulk of fibre for the time to be operated upon at the source
of supply to such boxes, and the partitions are applied by such person over each
quantity, so as to be between that and the next, and thus to separate one quantity
from the next.
In place of a separate weighing for each feed, one weighing may include two or
more feeds, and the separation of the respective feeds may be obtained by the sub-
division of the partition as desired, such partition or partitions being divisible into
two or more parts which may be turned over or otherwise, and have prongs or
teeth as divisions corresponding with the quantity of the respective feeds.
Light frames of wire or other openwork answer the purpose well, but I do not
confine myself thereto, as sheets or plates of metal or other material may be used.
Having thus described my Invention, and means which I adopt in carrying the

page_text: same into effect, I would have it understood that I do not confine myself to the
precise arrangement of parts as described, as the same may be varied without
departing from the peculiar character of my Invention.
But what I claim is,-
«
"
First. The arranging or combining parts of apparatus employed in carding wool
and other fibres, whereby more than four " opening" card or licker-in rollers
with their attendant rollers and parts are employed to act on the fibre between the
feed rollers and the main card cylinder, and whereby the draught on the fibre
between the feed rollers and first " opening or " licker-in" roller, and between
each pair of "opening" or "licker-in "rollers is decreased, and the entire draught
on the fibre between such feed rollers and the main cylinder is more effectually
utilized, substantially as described.
"
"
Second, I claim the arranging or combining parts whereby the "opening" or
licker-in" card rollers are in two tiers, and also I claim for the upper of such
opening" or "licker-in" card rollers, being of larger diameter than those of the
lower tier to admit of increased space for the better operation of the "burr
receptacles, substantially as described.
"
Third. I claim the use of two " working" rollers with or without the use of
attendant "strippers" to each "opening" or "licker-in" roller, substantially as
described.
Fourth. I claim the use of a «<
stripping" roller in the front of the first working
roller of the first, second, or other of the upper tier of "opening" or licker-in
card rollers, and also for such "stripper" rollers being of small diameter, say, not
more than about one and a half to three inches in diameter, according to the length
of fibre under operation.
Fifth. I claim the arranging and combining "feed" rollers, substantially as
described.
«
"
Sixth. I claim the employment of traversing brushes or leather flaps to clear the
burr receptacles, substantially as described.
Seventh. I claim the application of a
burring roller to the first
working" roller of each "opening" or "licker-in" roller of the upper tier, or to
such of them as may be desired, substantially as described.
"
guard" or
Eighth. I claim the arranging "feed" or "supply" boxes with partitions for
separating the respective "feeds to carding engines, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Isaac Holden, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Fourth day of October, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy nine.
ISAAC HOLDEN. (L.S.)