IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR BREAKING, OPENING, SEPERATING, COMBING AND CLEANING AND CARDING OF FIBROUS MATERIALS
Year: 1885

page_text: We ROBERT WILD of 3 Carlisle Street, Littleborough, in the County of
Lancaster, Mechanical Engineer; and HENRY LEDGER of 83 Grove Street, Leek,
in the County of Stafford, Cashier, do hereby declare the nature of our_improved
invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR BREAKING,
OPENING, SEPERATING, COMBING AND CLEANING AND CARDING OF FIBROUS
MATERIALS," to be as follows:-
The novelty of our improved Apparatus or Machine for the Breaking, Opening,
Seperating, Combing, Cleaning and Carding of Raw, Spun or Woven Fibrous
Materials, or such like as Cotton, Wool, Silk, Flax, Hemp, Jute, China Grass,
Yucca, Rags, and all other such like Fibres or Fibrous Materials, consists of an
oblong or rectangular construction, with two or more main cast iron frame sides,
with tie cross frames in and between at each end, for the purpose of keeping the
whole firm and rigid when erected.
On the upper or top part of the said main frame sides, a flange is provided,
running, the whole length; whereon are fitted various kinds of fixings, bearings
and pedestals, wherein work the various plain and fluted rollers, a large revolving
lagged Cylinder, having fine steel teeth in or otherwise, a two or four bladed beater,
the side frames or cages sides and covers, a Carding Cylinder and a Doffer roller or
cylinder, covered with fine cards or otherwise, wherein are supported and work the
revolving wire cages (which are placed one above the other, and at an incline, so as
to be out of perpendicular to their axis) and the revolving lagged Cylinder,
Beater, Carding Cylinder and the Doffer roller or cylinder beforementioned.
At the intake or feeding end of our improved Apparatus or Machine, provision is
made for an endless travelling lath creeper, which works on rollers; and at the
delivery end of the said Machine, we use or employ the same means or method if
desired; or in place of the said endless travelling lath creeper, we affix a pair of
suitable large fluted rollers, with all other smaller necessary rollers, fixings and
bearings for same, for the object and purpose of making the Kaw, Spun or Woven
Fibrous materials (after passing through our improved Machine) into a lap or laps,
similar to what a Scutching Machine. does.--In carrying out our Invention, the
Perine 871

page_text: Haw, Spun or Woven Fibrous Materials are first placed or spread upon the endless
travelling lath creeper at the intake or feeding end of our improved Machine or
Apparatus, which delivers it to two sets of weighted fluted rollers, which grip the
materials firmly and passes the same forward to the large revolving lagged Cylinder
having the fine steel teeth attached or otherwise; the said fluted rollers revolve at
a slow speed, whereas the large revolving lagged Cylinder, Beater and large
Cylinder covered with cards, revolve at a high speed; the action of the said lagged
Cylinder having fine steel teeth or otherwise, being to tear, open and comb the
materials under treatment, into a soft and pliable substance, which is duly carried
forward on the underside of, and by the velocity of the said revolving lagged
Cylinder to a pair of revolving wire cages, whereon the combed materials are
deposited and collected, and the dust and dirt, withdrawn through the said wire
cages, down the draft pipes (affixed on the outside of the main framing) by means
of a centrifugal fan or blower, which is situated at the bottom and within the
space formed by the main frame sides, the fan or fans being coupled up to the said
draft pipes, by means of short connecting branch pipes.
The fibrous material or materials after being collected on, and passing between
the said revolving wire cages; are delivered to a pair of plain cast iron rollers, for
compressing the loose fibrous materials more or less, and again delivered to another
set of weighted fluted rollers, which hold the materials firmly and feed or. deliver
the same at a proportionate speed, to the revolving beater having two or four
blades as may be desired; the said beater being for the object and purpose of
beating, drawing and making the fibrous materials under treatment, cleaner, finer
and more regular.
After passing the said Beater, it is again delivered to another pair of collecting
wire cages as beforementioned, and passes through or between them as before
stated, and delivered to another pair of plain rollers, which in their turn deliver
the materials to a set of draft or draw rollers, for the purpose and object of
diawing the fibres to a more uniform and even texture, and the obtaining of a
more regular lap or laps.
After passing the said draft or draw rollers, the materials in question is fed to a
large revolving Carding Cylinder, which is covered with cards of any degree of
fineness, or the same Cylinder may be lagged as in the case of the first Cylinder
herein beforementioned having the fine steel teeth or otherwise, as may be
required.
In conjunction with the said Cylinder we employ a Doffer roller, for the object
and purpose of removing the fibrous matter from the said Cylinder; and for the
stripping of the said Doffer roller, we use or employ a revolving hair or steel brush,
which strips the fibrous matter off the said Doffer roller, from whence it is again
deposited and collected on to another pair of wire cages as before described, and
for the purpose herein before stated, and is delivered therefrom to another pair of
plain cast iron rollers, which pass the said materials onto an endless travelling lath
creeper, provided with all the necessary rollers, from whence the fibrous materials
are delivered into skips or otherwise as may be required.
When it is desired that the fibrous matter should be made into a lap or laps,
then the delivery end of our improved Apparatus or Machine, is provided with the
mechanical arrangement herein before stated, for forming or making the fibrous
materials into laps, similar in manner to what a Scutching Machine does.
The lagged Cylinder, Beater, Carding Cylinder and Doffer roller herein before-
mentioned, are each and separately provided with an under casing made of sheet
iron, which fits from side to side of the said main frame sides; one end of which
is fixed close to the weighted fluted rollers, from whence on the underside, they
partly follow the radius of the said lagged Cylinder and Beater, and thence are
continued and joined to the lower or bottom wire cages, at an angle or incline
most suitable, for the object and purpose of confining and delivering the fibrous
materials onto the said wire cages, the same is the case with the Doffer roller,
but in the case of the Carding Cylinder, the sheet iron follows the radius of the

page_text: Cylinder, and is close to the Cylinder, and one end of the sheet iron joins up to
the sheet iron casing belonging to the Doffer roller.
In conjunction with the said lagged Cylinder and Beater, there is provided a
cast iron stripper or brake, for the removal of the fibrous materials from the afore-
said Cylinder and Beater, and is of the same width as the said lagged Cylinder
and Beater, and has a knife edge abutting to or against the said Cylinder and
Beater; the said brake being secured inside of and to the beforementioned main
frame sides; or if thought more desirable for the removal of the fibrous matter
from the said lagged Cylinder, Beater and Carding Cylinder, or the Doffer roller,
we attach at the back or delivery part of the before mentioned Cylinders, Beater
and Doffer roller an air chamber or box, having one of its outer edges made as a
knife edge, with a fine opening, slit or passage, and which is supplied with com-
pressed air through a pipe attached thereto, by means of a centrifugal or other
pump, fan or blower, for the purpose of directing a current of compressed air,
through the opening in the said knife edge, for the better effect of removing the
said fibrous matters beforementioned.
This portion or part of our improved apparatus or Machine is applicable to all
present existing Carding Engines and Doffer rollers for working fibrous materials.
The Cylinders, Beater and Fans or Blowers are provided with suitable driving
or speed pulleys, and the whole regulated in accordance with the various speeds
required by and for the weighted fluted, plain, cast iron, draw or draft, and creeper
rollers and wire cages; which are driven by suitable speed and carrier wheels,
these in their turn being driven by a side shaft, and the whole being driven from
pulleys on the line or cross shafts overhead, by means of a strap or straps.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Means and Apparatus for Breaking, Opening,
Separating, Combing, and Cleaning and Carding of Fibrous
Materials.
. We ROBERT WILD, of 3 Carlisle Street, Littleborough, in the County of
Lancaster, Mechanical Engineer, and HENRY LEDGER, of 83 Grove Street, Leek,
in the County of Stafford, Cashier, do hereby declare the nature of our invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS AND APPARATUS FOR BREAKING, OPENING,
SEPERATING, COMBING, AND CLEANING & CARDING OF FIBROUS MATERIALS," and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The novelty of our improved apparatus or machine for the Breaking, Opening,
Separating, Combing, Cleaning and Carding of Raw, Spun, or Woven Fibrous
materials, or such like as Cotton, Wool, Silk, Flax, Hemp, Jute, China Grass,
Yucca, Rags and all other such like fibres or fibrous materials, consists of an
oblong or rectangular construction, with two or more cast iron frame sides, with
tie cross frames in and between at each end, for the purpose of keeping the whole
firm and rigid when erected.
On the upper or top part of the said main frame sides, a flange is provided
running the whole length; whereon are fitted various kinds of fixings, bearings
and pedestals, wherein work the various plain and fluted rollers, a large revolving
lagged Cylinder, having fine steel teeth in or otherwise, a two or four bladed
beater; the side frames or cage sides and covers, a Carding Cylinder, and Doffer
Roller or Cylinder, covered with fine cards or otherwise, wherein are supported and
work the revolving wire cages (which are placed one above the other, and at an
incline, so as to be out of perpendicular to their axis) and the revolving lagged
Cylinder, Beater, Carding Cylinder and the Doffer roller beforementioned.
At the intake or feeding end of our Improved Apparatus or Machine, provision
is made for an endless travelling lath creeper, which works on rollers; and at the
delivery end of the said Machine, we use or employ the same means or method if
desired; or in place of the said endless travelling creeper, we affix a pair of suitable
large Buted rollers with all other smaller necessary rollers, fixings and bearings for
same, for the object and purpose of making the Raw, Spun or Woven Fibrous
Materials (after passing through our Improved Machine) into a lap or laps, similar
to what a Scutching Machine dues.
In carrying out our Invention, the Raw, Spun, or Woven Fibrous Materials are
first placed or spread upon the endless travelling lath creeper at the intake or
feeding end of our Improved Machine or Apparatus, which delivers it to two sets
of weighted fluted rollers, which grip the materials firmly and passes the same
forward to the large revolving lagged Cylinder, having the fine steel teeth attached
or otherwise; the said fluted rollers revolve at a slow speed, whereas the large
revolving lagged Cylinder, Beater, and large Cylinder covered with Cards, revolve
at a high speed; the action of the said lagged cylinder having the fine steel teeth

page_text: or otherwise, being to tear, open and comb the materials under treatment, into
a soft and pliable substance, which is duly carried forward on the underside of,
and by the velocity of the said revolving lagged Cylinder, to a pair of revolving
Wire Cages, whereon the combed materials are deposited and collected, and the
dust and dirt withdrawn, through the said Wire-Cages, down the draft pipes
(affixed on the outside of the main framing) by means of a centrifugal fan or
blower; which is situated at the bottom, and within the space formed by the main
frame sides; the fan or fans being coupled up to the said draft pipes, by means of
short connecting branch pipes.
The fibrous material or materials after being collected on and passing between
the said revolving wire-cages, are delivered to a pair of plain cast iron rollers, for
compressing the loose fibrous materials more or less, and again delivered to another
set of weighted fluted rollers, which hold the materials firmly, and feed or deliver
the same to and at a proportionate speed to the revolving beater having two or
four blades as may be desired; the said beater being for the object and purpose of
beating, drawing and making the fibrous materials under treatment, cleaner, finer
and more regular.-After passing the said Beater, it is again delivered to another
pair of collecting wire-cages as beforementioned and passes through or between
them as before stated, and delivered to another pair of plain rollers, which in their
turn deliver the materials to a set of draft or draw rollers, for the purpose and
object of drawing the fibrous materials to a more uniform and even texture, and
the obtaining of a more regular lap or laps.
After passing the said draft or draw rollers, the materials in question is fed to
a large revolving Carding Cylinder, which is covered with cards, of any degree of
fineness, or the same Cylinder may be lagged as in the case of the first Cylinder
herein beforementioned, having the fine steel teeth or otherwise as may be required.
In conjunction with the said Cylinder, we employ a Doffer roller, for the object
and purpose of removing the fibrous matter from the said cylinder; and for the
stripping of the said Doffer roller, we use or employ a revolving hair or steel brush,
which strips the fibrous matter from off the said Doffer roller, from whence it is
again deposited and collected onto another pair of wire-cages as before described, and
for the purpose hereinbefore stated; and is delivered therefrom to another pair of
plain cast iron rollers, which pass the said materials onto an endless travelling lath
creeper, provided with all the necessary rollers, from whence the fibrous materials
are delivered into Skips, or otherwise as may be required.
When it is desired that the fibrous materials should be made into a lap or laps,
then the delivery end of our improved Apparatus or Machine is provided with the
mechanical arrangement herein before stated, for forming or making the fibrous
materials into laps, similar in manner to what a Scutching Machine does.
The lagged Cylinder, Beater, Carding Cylinder and the Doffer roller herein
beforementioned, are each and 'separately provided with an undercasing made of
sheet iron, which fits from side to side of the main frame sides; one end of which
is fixed close to the weighted fluted rollers, from whence on the underside they
partly follow the radius of the said lagged Cylinder and Beater, and thence are
continued and joined to the lower or bottom wire-cages, at an angle or incline most
suitable, for the object and purpose of confining and delivering the fibrous materials
on to the said wire-cages; the same is the case with the Doffer roller; but'in the
case of the Carding Cylinder, the sheet iron follows the radius of the Cylinder, and
is close to the Cylinder, and one end of the sheet 'iron joines up to the sheet iron
casing belonging to the Doffer roller.
:
In conjunction with the said lagged Cylinder and Beater, there is provided a
cast iron stripper or brake for the removal of the fibrous materials. from the
aforesaid Cylinder and Beater, and is of the saine width as the said lagged 'Cylinder
and Beater, and has a knife edge abutting to or against the said Cylinder and
Beater; the said brake being secured inside of, and to the beforementioned main
frame sides; or if thought more desirable for the removal of the fibrous matter
from the said lagged Cylinder, Beater, and, Carding Cylinder or the Doffer roller,

page_text: P. Is the air Brake.
Q. Is the pipe supplying the compressed air to the Brake.
S. Are the flanges of the main frame sides.
T. Is the outlet, slit or opening in the Brake for the compressed air to pass
through.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of this our said
Invention, together with the best methods with which we are acquainted for
carrying the same into practical effect; we wish it to be distinctly understood
that we do not confine ourselves to the precise form and arrangement herein before
described and illustrated on the accompanying Drawings; as the same may be
considerably varied without departing from the Invention, but what we do
claim is:-
1st The combination and general arrangement as described and illustrated in
Fig. 1, on the accompanying Drawing, or any mere modification of same,
substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described.
2nd The use and employment of the draft or draw rollers, or any mere
modification of same, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described
and illustrated in Fig. 1, on the accompanying Drawing.
3rd The use and employment of the compressed air Brake, Box or Chamber, or
any mere modification of same, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore
described and illustrated in Figs, 1, 2 and 3 on the accompanying Drawings.
4th The use and employment of draft or draw rollers, either in combination
with (or otherwise) a Carding Cylinder, Scutcher, Beater or Opening Machine,
substantially as and for the purposes bereinbefore described.