IM- PROVEMENTS IN SNIPPING, COMBING, AND BEATING JUTE, FLAX, AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREFOR.
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Parell Butchart, of Dundee, in the
County of Forfar, North Britain, for the Invention of "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN SNIPPING, COMBING, AND BEATING JUTE, FLAX, AND OTHER
FIBROUS SUBSTANCES, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED
THEREFOR.
"
Sealed the 16th July 1872, and dated the 28th March 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Parell
Butchart at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 28th March 1872.
I, WILLIAM PARELL BUTCHART, of Dundee, in the County of Forfar,
North Britain, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN SNIPPING, COMBING, AND BEATING JUTE, FLAX, AND OTHER
FIBROUS SUBSTANCES, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREFOR,"
to be as follows, that is to say :-
This Invention, which relates to the snipping, combing, and beating
of jute, flax, and other fibrous substances, has for its object to carry
out those operations in a more effectual manner than hitherto.

page_text: The machinery employed for effecting the said operations consists of
a pair of revolving cylinders or conic frusta, one placed over the other,
whose surfaces are provided with hackling or combing pins. Near to
the place whereat these cylinders or conic.frusta approach nearest to
each other a horizontal or inclined disc is situated, whose periphery is
provided with one or more grooves for receiving one or more endless
chains or ropes.
Pullies for carrying one or more endless chains or
ropes in combination with the revolving disc are arranged round about
the machine, so that the chain or chains, rope or ropes are in contact
with a portion of the periphery of the disc only. One or more tension
pullies are also provided to maintain a constant degree of pull on the
chain or chains, rope or ropes.
At the side of the machine an inclined
travelling belt is placed. The jute, flax, or other similar fibrous sub-
stance to be snipped, combed, or beaten is fed on to that part of the disc
which is not surrounded by the chain or chains, rope or ropes, and as
the disc revolves the fibres are caught in between the chain or chains,
rope or ropes, and grooves in the periphery thereof, so that they are
carried round correspondingly with the disc's revolution.
.
The over-
hanging ends to be snipped, combed, or beaten are brought into contact
with the inclined belt, which from its position prevents them from
collecting together in a mass prior to coming into contact with the
snipping, comping, or beating cylinders, or conic frusta, upon which they
are laid by the action of the disc's revolution. The teeth or pins at that
end where the fibres enter between the cylinders or frusta are coarsely
set, becoming more closely set towards the opposite end whereat the
snipping or combing is finished, and on arriving at which they pass out
of contact with the chain or chains, rope or ropes, so that they can be
withdrawn by an attendant.
In place of using a revolving disc with a chain or chains,
rope or
ropes for holding the fibres, as herein-before described; a series of
horizontal or inclined chains may be substituted therefor.
.
When the cylinders or .conic frusta. are provided with beaters for
beating in addition to snipping and combing the fibres, the cylinders or
conic frusta are geared together so as to ensure the beaters, not coming
in contact to injure each other.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Parell Butchart in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 28th September 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
PARELL BUTCHart, of Dundee, in the County of Forfar, North Britain,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-eighth day of March, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the 35th
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said William Parell Butchart, Her special license
that I, the said William Parell Butchart, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Parell Butchart, my
executors, administrators, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and
no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
SNIPPING, COMBING, AND BEATING JUTE, FLAX, AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES,
AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREFOR," upon the con-
dition (amongst others) that I, the, said William Parell Butchart, by an
instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed
in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Parell Butchart, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to
say:
My said Invention, which relates to the snipping, combing, and
beating of jute, flax, and other fibrous substances, has for its object to
carry out those operations in a more effectual manner than hitherto.

page_text: The machinery employed for effecting the said operations consists of
a pair of revolving cylinders or conic frusta, one placed over the other,
whose surfaces are provided with hackling or combing pins. Near to
the place whereat the cylinders or conic frusta approach nearest to
each other a horizontal or inclined disc is situated, whose periphery is
provided with one or more grooves for receiving one or more endless
chains or ropes. Pullies for carrying one or more endless chains or ropes
in combination with the revolving disc are arranged round about the
machine, so that the chain or chains, rope or ropes are in contact with
a portion of the periphery of the disc only. One or more tension pullies
are also provided to maintain a constant degree of pull on the chain or
chains, rope or ropes. At the side of the machine an inclined travelling
belt is placed. The jute, flax, or other similar fibrous substance to be
snipped, combed, or beaten is fed on to that part of the disc which
is not surrounded by the chain or chains, rope or ropes, and as the disc
revolves the fibres are caught in between the chain or chains, rope or
ropes, and grooves in the periphery thereof, so that they are carried
round correspondingly with the disc's revolution. The overhanging ends
to be snipped, combed, or beaten are brought into contact with the
inclined belt, which from its position prevents them from collecting
together in a mass prior to coming in contact with the snipping, comb-
ing, or beating cylinders or conic frusta, upon which they are laid by
the action of the disc's revolution. The teeth or pins at that end where
the fibres enter between the cylinders or frusta are coarsely set, becoming
more closely set towards the opposite end whereat the snipping or
combing is finished, and on arriving at which they pass out of contact
with the chain or chains, rope or ropes, so that they can be withdrawn
by an attendant.
•
When the cylinders or conic frusta are provided with beaters for
beating in addition to snipping and combing the fibres, the cylinders or
conic frusta are geared together so as to ensure the beaters not coming
in contact to injure each other.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood
I now proceed more particularly to set forth the system, mode, or manner
in or under which the same is or may be used or practically carried
into effect, that is to say :-

page_text: Juan, and IOUS SUDStances
constructed in accordance with
this Invention; Figure 2 is a plan thereof, whilst Figure 3 is an end
elevation of the same.
'
"
As shewn by these Figures the machine consists of a framing A, in
which are carried the axes of a pair of revolving cylinders B, one of
which is placed over the other, and whose surfaces are provided with
hackling and combing pins, as shewn at a, Figure 1. Immediately in
front of the position whereat the cylinders B approach nearest to each
other a horizontal disc C is situate, and which is supported on a vertical
shaft D, as shewn. The periphery of the disc C is formed with one or
more grooves b for receiving one or more endless chains or ropes x
passed round that portion of the disc nearest to the position whercat
the cylinders B approach nearest to each other, as more particularly
seen in plan at Figure 2. Guide pullies E, over which the endless
chains or ropes x are also passed, are arranged near to the horizontal
disc C, and other guide pullies E together with stenting or tension
pullies E are arranged at the opposite end of the framing A, as shewn,
by which means the chains or ropes x are kept in contact with that
portion of the periphery of the disc C nearest to the snipping or
combing cylinders B, as shewn more particularly in plan at Figure 2
of the Drawings. The stenting or tension pullies E¹ at one side of the
framing, and at the end opposite to that whereat the horizontal disc C
is situate, maintain a constant degree of pull or strain on the said chains
or ropes, for which purpose the said pullies E' are arranged on stud
bearings c fitted to slide between guide brackets d, and underneath
the bearing c of each tension pulley E' a small carrying pulley e is
placed, as shewn in side elevation at Figure 1 of the Drawings. Over
each such pulley e a rope or chain is passed, one end of which is
attached to the under side of the bearing c of the corresponding tension
pulley E', the other extremity of the said rope or chain being attached
to a weight f, as shewn. By means of this arrangement of weights a
constant tendency to slide outwards is imparted to the bearings of each
pulley E', thereby maintaining the necessary degree of strain or pull
on the chains or ropes x. A series of guide pullies E and a tension
pulley E' is provided for each chain or rope x passed round the inner-
most portion of the periphery of the horizontal disc C. At one side
of the machine and at the end whereat the snipping or combing
cylinders B are situate an endless travelling belt F is placed, the

page_text: surface of which is provided with bars / transversely, as shewn. The
belt F is inclined at an angle and passed over bearing pullies.or rollers i,
on the axis of one of which a driving pulley k.is situate, and over
which a driving belt or band is passed, the said belt or band being
also passed over a pulley G situate on one extremity of the driving
shaft H, as shewn. The horizontal disc C by which the jute, flax, or
other fibrous substance is fed to the snipping or combing cylinders B
is diven from the driving shaft H by a bevil pinion I situate thereon,
and which gears into a corresponding bevil wheel J. situate on one
extremity of an intermediate shaft K. On the extremity of the
intermediate shaft K opposite to that whereon the .bevil wheel J is
fixed, a bevil pinion L is placed, and which gears into a corresponding
bevil wheel W situate on the upper extremity of the vertical shaft D
whereon the horizontal disc is fixed. Motion is communicated to
the driving shaft H of the machine by a spur wheel M placed on one
extremity thereof, and which is driven by a corresponding spur
pinion N carried on a stud O, which is rotated by a belt or band passed
round the pulley Q, and also round a pulley S, on the shaft of the
lower snipping or combing cylinders B. Fast and loose pullies R
and P respectively are also placed on the shaft of the lower snipping
or combing cylinder B, as shewn at Figures 2 and 3, and motion is
communicated to the said lower snipping or combing cylinder B by a
belt or band passed round the pulley R, and also round a pulley V
situate on a shaft X. The upper combing or snipping cylinder B is
rotated by a belt or band passed round the pulley T on the axis thereof,
and also round the pulley Y on the shaft X. The spur pinion N is
so arranged on the stud O as to be easily removed, and a larger or
smaller pinion substituted therefor, when it is desired to drive the
disc C with a greater or less velocity.
In actuating the machine the details of mechanism constituting
which, under one modification, have now been described, the jute, flax,
or other similar fibrous substance to be operated upon is fed or laid
by an attendant on to that part of the horizontal disc C which is not
surrounded by the chains or ropes x, in such a manner that the ends
of the fibres hang over the side of the said disc, as shewn at Figure 1,
and when the disc is caused to rotate by the bevil wheels and
pinions I, J, L, and W, as herein-before described, the overhanging
0 11
•
C

page_text: the grooves in the periphery of the disc C, so that they are carried
round correspondingly with the disc's revolution and are brought into
contact with the snipping or combing cylinders B, between which the
fibres of jute, flax, or other substance are laid by the action of the disc's
revolution and snipped or combed by the combing or hackling teeth
or pins a fixed in the surfaces thereof. The teeth or pins a at that
end where the fibres enter between the cylinders B are coarsely set,
becoming, more closely set towards the opposite. end whereat, the
snipping or combing operation is finished, and after passing which the
snipped or combed fibres of jute, flax, or other similar substance are
brought out of contact with the chains or ropes x, and are then lifted
off the disc C by the attendant. Prior to the fibres of jute or other
similar material being brought into contact with the cylinders B, as
herein-before set forth, the overhanging ends of the said fibres are
caught by the inclined belt F, which from its position prevents the
overhanging ends of the fibres from becoming tangled with each other
or collecting together in a mass, and assists in gradually presenting them
to the combing and hackling teeth.
In lieu of employing cylinders provided with combing or hackling
teeth or pins to perform the snipping or combing operation as herein-
before described and shewn on the Drawings, conic frusta similarly
provided with the said teeth or pins may be arranged and employed for
that purpose.
And in lieu of arranging the disc C horizontally as herein-before set
forth and illustrated at Figures 1, 2, and 3 of the Drawings hereunto
annexed, the said disc may be inclined at an angle, and although I have
on the appended Drawings illustrated the periphery of the said disc as
provided with three grooves for three separate chains or ropes, it is to
be understood that I do not confine myself to employ any definite
number of the said chains or ropes in performing the operations herein-
before described, nor do I confine myself to employ a revolving disc
placed either horizontally or inclined at an angle and provided with
chains or ropes for holding the fibres as described, as in lieu thereof a
series of horizontal or inclined chains or ropes may be employed for that
purpose.

page_text: ropes a passed over pullies b, and which may be employed to feed the
jute, flax, or other similar fibrous substance to the snipping or combing
cylinders. B.
In the arrangement of machine illustrated at Figures 1, 2, and 3 of
the Drawings the snipping or combing cylinders B are not shewn
provided with beaters with which to beat the fibres of jute, flax, or other
substance previous to performing the snipping or combing operation,
but it is intended in instances when necessary so to provide the said
cylinders or conic frusta, and when such are employed the beaters are
arranged at one end thereof as shewn by the detail views at Figures 4
and 5 of the Drawings. When the cylinders or conic frusta are pro-
vided with beaters, as shewn marked U in these Figures, the jute, flax,
or other similar fibrous substance is delivered by the disc or series of
chains or ropes first to the beaters U, and after being beaten thereby
the fibres are carried onwards to the snipping or combing mechanism
and operated on as herein.before described. The cylinders or conic
frusta when provided with beaters are geared together so as to ensure
the beaters U not coming in contact to injure each other.
Under another arrangement cylinders or conic frusta provided with
beaters merely may be employed to effect the beating operation.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my
said Invention, and the system, mode, or manner of carrying the same
into practical effect, I desire to observe in conclusion that I do not
claim all the details of the mechanism; but what I do consider to be
novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me
by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
First. The general arrangement and combination of mechanism con-
stituting the snipping, combing, and beating machine herein-before
described and shewn on the annexed Sheet of Drawings, or any mere
modification thereof.
•
Second. The combination of the horizontal or inclined disc with
chains, or the system of chains and pullies, for holding the fibrous
material to be snipped, combed, or beaten, together with a pair of
revolving cylinders or conic frusta provided with teeth or pins and
beaters, or beaters only, so as to cause the fibrous material entering and
passing continuously in one direction as distinct from a reversing motion

page_text: to be snipped, combed, or beaten on both sides at once, as herein-before
described and illustrated by the annexed Sheet of Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Parell Butchart, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of
September One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two.
WILLIAM PARELL BUTCHART. (L.S.)