IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR HECKLING HEMP AND OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Vincent Newton, of the Office for Patents, 66,
Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsman, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR HECKLING HEMP AND
OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS." A communication from abroad by John Good,
of the City of Brooklyn, State of New York, United States of America.
Sealed the 28th July 1876, and dated the 6th June 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Vincent Newton at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th June 1876.
ALFRED VINCENT NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY
FOR HECKLING HEMP AND OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS."
One of the objects of this Invention is to produce a machine for cleaning and
heckling hemp and other fibrous materials, in which the fibres, as in the ordinary
process of heckling by hand, are first subjected to the action of heckling pins for a
portion or half of their length, beginning at one end, and by a succession of heckling
or combing operations in the same direction continuing the heckling process on
the bunch under operation until it is cleansed and heckled for half its length, or
thereabouts, and then reversing the bunch to undergo a like combing or heckling
operation from its other end for or throughout the remaining half or portion of its
length. Besides this the Invention has other purposes or objects in view, which
will be herein-after explained, the same including coarse and fine heckling of the
bunch at one process, that is, successively during the same operation.
The Invention consists in a combination of holding and feeding devices, such as
a pair of endless belts or feed rollers, having a motion in opposite directions alter-
nately with one or more travelling series of heckling pins whereby the bunch of
fibrous material is held and fed forward for half its length, or thereabouts, while
it is subjected to the action of the heckling pins and then drawn back, and after it
has been turned end for end is again held and fed forward while the other half
or portion of its length is subjected to the action of the heckling pins, and afterwards
drawn back again. The travelling series of heckling pins which are carried by one
or more endless chains, may either move continuously or may have an intermittent
motion moving forward ouly while the fibres are being fed to them, and stopping
while the fibres are drawn back.

page_text: The Invention also consists in the construction of the travelling series of heckling
pins with rows of coarser and more widely spaced pins, and rows of finer and
less widely spaced pins, the said rows being arranged transversely to the motion
of the chain, and the rows of coarser and more widely spaced pins alternating with
the rows of finer and less widely spaced pins, said coarser and finer and differently
spaced pins so operating as to produce coarse and fine heckling at one operation.
The Invention also consists in a combination with an endless travelling chain of
heckling pins, constructed with coarser and finer, and more and less widely spaced
pins, as above described, of guides for said chains constructed to control the bars
carrying the pins, so that the finer do not enter into the fibre till after the coarse
pins have commenced and partly performed their operation upon it.
The Invention also consists in an endless chain or carrier provided with bars
arranged to work in interposed relation with the bars which carry the pins in the
endless travelling chain or series of heckling pins for removing from the said pins
the tow produced in the process of heckling, and for carrying it out of the machine.
Furthermore, the Invention consists in the combination with a travelling endless
chain or scries of heckling pins, and a tow-carrying endless chain arranged to work
in interposed relation with the heckling pins, or their bars of guides, ways, or tracks
for properly directing the heckling pins in their back run or travel to prevent any
interference of the interposed bars of the tow-carrying chain with said pins and
insure the proper re-entrance of the tow-carrying bars between the heckling bars.
The Invention likewise consists in the combination with an automatic and
adjustable device or mechanism for varying the length of the forward and backward
motion of the bunch of the fibre holding and feeding devices of an indicator operated
by said adjustable device or mechanism to make known to the attendant, who intro-
duces the bunches of fibre to the machine, the proper timo during the movement
of said holding and feeding devices when the bunch of fibres to be heckled should
be entered within said holding and feeding devices, and when the same should be
removed or be otherwise manipulated in accordance with the general operation of
the machine.
The Invention still further consists in a novel holding and feeding device for
presenting the fibre to the heckling pins and retracting it therefrom, composed of
a pair of endless elastic faced belts or aprons carried by suitable drums, and arranged
so that their meeting contact is between two of said drums, whereby a soft yet
most positive hold is given, and positive motion is communicated to the fibres
passing in between them, and by reason of the varying and extended feeding
surface which is brought into operation on the fibre great durability is obtained.
In the general operation of the machine a bunch of the fibrous material to be
heckled is introduced by the attendant over a feed table or otherwise in between
the forwardly and backwardly moving, holding, and feeding devices, while the latter
are moving in a forward or feeding direction the proper period for the introduction
of the bunch being noted by the indicator. Said holding and feeding devices convey
the bunch to the travelling series of the heckling pins which comb or heckle the
bunch for half its length or thereabouts during the feeding or returning of the
bunch or both by the holding and feeding devices. After the bunch throughout
the one half its length has been thus heckled, said bunch is turned by the attendant
end for end and again fed forward for the remaining half or portion of its length,
and subsequently retired by the holding and feeding devices which operate in
connection with the heckling pins as before. The tow extracted by the heckling
pins is conveyed away or to the back of the machine by the endless tow carrier
or chain of bars working in intermediate relation with the rows of heckling pins or
their bars.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said Alfred Vincent Newton in the Oreat Seal Patent Office on the 5th
December 1876.
ALFRED VINCENT NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY
County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsman.
FOR HECKLING HEMP AND OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS." A communication from
abroad by John Good, of the City of Brooklyn, State of New York, United States of
Ainerica.
One of the objects of this Invention is to produce a machine for cleaning and
heckling hemp and other fibrous materials, in which the fibres, as in the ordinary
process of heckling by hand, are first subjected to the action of heckling pins for a
portion or half of their length, beginning at one end, and by a succession of heckling
or combing operations in the same direction the heckling process is continued
on the bunch under operation until the bunch is cleaned and heckled for half its
length, or thereabouts, after which the bunch is reversed to undergo a like combing
or heckling operation from its other end for or throughout the remaining half or
portion of its length. Besides this the Invention has other purposes or objects in
view, which will be herein-after explained, the same including course and fine
heckling of the bunch by one process or two consecutive operations.
The Invention consists in a combination of fibre holding and feeding devices,
such as a pair of endless belts or feed rollers, having a motion in opposite directions
alternately with one or more travelling series of heckling pins whereby the bunch
of fibrous material is held and fed forward a distance equal to half its length, or
thereabouts, while it is subjected to the action of the heckling pins and then drawn
back, and after it has been turned end for end again held and fed forward while
the other half or portion of its length is subjected to the action of the heckling
pins and afterwards drawn back again. The travelling series of heckling pins,
which are carried by one or more endless chains, may either move continuously or
may have an intermittent motion, that is, moving forward only while the fibres
are being fed to them, and stopping while the fibres are drawn back.
The Invention also consists in so arranging the travelling series of heckling pins that
they will present to the action of the fibres rows of coarser and more widely spaced
pins, and rows of finer and less widely spaced pins, the said rows running trans-
versely of the line of motion of the chain, and the rows of coarser and more widely
spaced pins alternating with the rows of finer and less widely spaced pins, said
coarser and finer and differently spaced pins sɔ operating as to produce coarse and
fine heckling at one operation.
The Invention also consists in a combination with an endless travelling chain of
heckling pins constructed with coarser and finer, and more and less widely spaced
pins, as above described, of guides for said chain constructed to control the bars
carrying the pins, so that the finer do not enter into the fibre till after tle coarser
pins have commenced and partly performed their operation upon it.
The Invention also consists in an endless chain or carrier provided with bars
arranged to work in interposed relation with the bars which carry the pins in the
endless travelling chain or series of heckling pius for removing from the said pins
the tow produced in the process of heckling, and for carrying it out of the machine.
Furthermore, the Invention consists in the combination with a travelling endless
chain or series of heckling pins and a tow-carrying endless chain arranged to work
in interposed relation with the heckling pins or their bars of guides, ways, or tracks
for properly directing the heckling pins in their back run or travel to prevent any
interference of the interposed bars of the tow-carrying chain with said pins and
insure the proper re-entrance of the tow-carrying bars between the heckling bars.
The Invention likewise consists in the combination with an automatic and adjust-
able device or mechanism for varying the length of the forward and backward
motion of the bunch or fibre holding and feeding devices of an indicator operated

page_text: by said adjustable device or mechanisin to make known to the attendant, who
introduces the bunch of fibre to the machine, the proper time during the movement
of said holding and feeding devices when the bunch of fibres to be heckled should be
entered within said holding and feeding devices, and when the same should be re-
inoved, or be otherwise manipulated in accordance with the general operation of the
machine.
The Invention still further consists in a novel holding and feeding device for
presenting the fibre to the heckling pins and retracting it therefroin, composed of
a pair of endless elastic faced belt or aprons carried by suitable druins and arranged
so that their meeting contact is between two of said drums, whereby a soft yet
most positive hold is given and positive motion is communicate to the fibres
passing in between them, and by reason of the varying and extended feeding surfaces
which are brought into operation on the fibre great durability of such surfaces is
obtained.
Having thus specified the objects and nature of the Invention, its description
will be proceeded with in reference to the accompanying Drawings.
Fig. 1 represents a side elevation of a heckling machine constructed in accordance
with the Invention; Fig. 2 is a front end view of the same; Fig. 3 is a transverse
vertical section thereof on the lino x, a, looking towards the rear of the machine;
Fig. 4 is a plan of a belt shifting mechanism for changing the direction in traveĺ
of the bunch or fibre holding and feeding devices; Fig. 5 is a longitudinal vertical
section upon a larger scale of the forward end of the machine in part, and Fig. 6
a further longitudinal section upon the same scale, as in Fig. 5, of the rear end of
the machine in part; Fig. 7 is an inner face or side view of the guides used for
directing the alternate entry into the fibre, and controlling the successive heckling
operations thereon of the coarse and finer and differently spaced pins in proper
relation with each other; and Fig. 8 is a sectional plan of the same in part with
the bars of heckling pins and tow carrier or endless chair of bars in part.
A is the frame of the machine, B is the main driving shaft which receives an
intermittent motion through a driving belt running on a fast pulley Cor a loose
pulley D, accordingly as it is required to start or stop the machine. E is a feed-
board arranged at the forward end of the machine, and on or over which the hemp
is supplied to the holding and feeding devices that convey the fibre to and with-
draw it from the heckling pins as the bunch is successively presented end for end
by the attendant.
The holding and feeding device or devices for presenting the fibre to the heckling
pins and retracting it therefrom, consist, as represented in the Drawing, of a pair of
endless belts or aprons F, F, which are of rubber, or otherwise made elastic on
their faces, but the bodies of which should be free from stretching longitudinally.
These elastic faced endless belts or aprons are arranged one above the other,
with the upper one somewhat in advance of the lower one where the two belts
approach or meet each other, whereby lost space is reduced between them and the
endless chain or series of heckling pins, thus providing a close nip for the bunch as
it is introduced to the heckling pins.
Said belts or aprons F, F, are carried by upper and lower drums G, H, and
G, H, respectively. These drums are arranged so that the meeting contact of the
belts is between the two adjacent drums H, H', which are here made to be the
drivers of the belts.
The length of said belts should be equal to or in excess of the longest fibre to be
heckled, so that in the course of their operation they present, during each feed and
retraction of the bunch, a varying and extended acting surface on the fibre, which
contributes largely to the durability of the holding and feeding devices, while the
elastic construction of their faces insures a soft yet most positive hold of the fibre,
and a positive motion to the same between the drums H, H'.
These holding and feeding devices have motion given to them in opposite
directions alternately but simultaneously in the same direction as regards the
meeting contact of the belts for the purpose of feeding the bunch for half its length,

page_text: or thereabouts, to the travelling chain or series of heckling pins, and then of drawing
back the same. This is done by communicating to the contiguous drums H, H¹,
reciprocating rotary motion by driving power communicated to the one H¹ of them
and the gearing of said drums together by spur gears or pinions b, b, and provision
is made both for varying the extent of the forward and backward motions of said
drums to adapt the machine to work different qualities of material as regards the
length of fibre, and to make the back. motion of the feeding devices quicker than
the forward motion if desired, so that after the bunch has been heckled for the one
half of its length, or thereabouts, by the travelling chain or series of heckling pins
during the forward motion of the holding and feeding devices, said bunch may be
drawn rapidly back by the holding and feeding devices in their back run or travel
preparatory to being turned by the attendant end for end to heckle the other half
or portion of it. This quick back action of the fibre holding and feeding devices
cconomizes time.
The means for thus alternating the action of the holding and feeding devices for
giving them more or less length of motion in opposite directions successively, and
for giving them a quicker back than a forward motion, will now be described, first
premising, however, that the direction in travel of the endless chain or series I of
heckling pins, or of any number of such chains or series is away from the fibre
holding and feeding devices, and that the velocity is greater than that of said
holding and feeding devices when the latter are making their forward or feeding
movement.
On the main driving shaft B is a pulley J, which by means of a band c gives
motion to a pulley K. Fast on the stud or shaft of this pulley K is a large wide
faced pulley L and a small wide faced pulley M. The pulley L is connected by a
cross belt with a fast pulley N or a loose pulley O on a shaft e, accordingly as
said belt is shifted to one or other of said pulleys N, O, and the pulley M is con-
nected by a straight belt f with a fast pulley P or a loose pulley Qon said shaft c,
accordingly as the bolt is shifted to one or other of said pulleys P, Q. The several
pulleys N, O, P, Q, may all be of an uniform size, and the loose pulleys O and Q have
arranged between them on the same shaft a further loose spacing pulley R to
provide for the joint shifting of the belts d and f to the right or to the left on to
their respective fast and loose pulleys N, O, and P, Q, and to keep said belts from
rubbing against one another. On the shaft e is a pinion g which gears with a spur
wheel on the drum H¹ of the holding and feeding devices. The cross belt & and
the straight belt fare shifted in common to the right or to the left, consequently
only one of said belts drives the shaft e at a time, and they not only operate it in
reverse directions but at different velocities, the cross belt d, as deriving its motion
from the larger pulley L, giving the quicker speed to the fibre holding and feeding
devices during their back run or travel, and the straight belt f, as deriving its motion
from the smaller pulley M, giving the slower speed to said holding and feeding
devices during their forward or feeding run. This difference in velocity during the
forward and backward motion of the fibre holding and feeding devices is not,
however, an absolutely necessary feature of the Invention.
Any suitable belt shifting device may be used to put the belts & and f in or out
of driving connection with the feeding and holding devices. It is desirable, however,
that the same should be automatic and adjustable so as to insure the proper length
of travel of the fibre feeding and holding devices in reverse directions alternately,
and to vary said length of travel according to the length of the fibre being heckled.
This may be done by the following means:-On the one end of the druin H' is a
bevil wheel which gives motion to a bevil pinion on a screw shaft l, carrying
a traveller m. This traveller m as it is operated by the screw shaft slides on or
along a longitudinally adjustable or sliding rod n between adjustable stops o, p,
thereon, and accordingly as the traveller m strikes either of said stops is the
rod n moved forwards or backwards. Connected with this rod n is a tumbling
weight S, which as it passes over its highest point by the action of the traveller m
on either adjustable stop o or p suddenly falls over to the right or to the left and

page_text: causes a bell crank
connected with it (sec Fig. 4) to shift either in one direction
or the other, a transverse sliding rod T which has secured to it belt shifting arins
7, 8, one of which moves the cross belt d, and the other of which moves in the same
direction, the straight belt thus reversing the fibre holding and feeding devices
or causing them to have a forward and backward motion alternately, accordingly as
the weight S is tumbled to the right or to the left. The adjustable stops o, p,
provide for varying the length of motion of the holding and feeding devices.
The same belt shifting mechanism may also be used to stop and start the endless
chain or series 1 of hickling pins when the latter have an intermittent motion
given them in the one direction, that is, so as to move forward but at a higher
velocity than the fibre holding and feeding devices when the latter make their
forward movement, and to remain stationary while said holding and feeding
devices move backwards. Thus on the main driving shaft B is a pulley U,
which is connected by bell with a fast pulley V or a loose pulley W, accordingly as
it is required to communicate motion to or discontinue motion from the endless
chain of heckling pins I and a tow carrier or chain of bars herein-after described.
Fast on the shaft of the pulleys V and W is a pinion t which gears with a spur
wheel u on a cross shaft v. This shaft (see Fig. 6) carries the notched wheels or
discs A, by which the endless chain I of heckling pins is operated and carried at
its one end. The other end of said chain is carried by similar notched wheels or
discs A, which are set in motion or driven by the chain I, and are fast on a shaft
v, (see Fig. 5).
When the sliding rod is shifted, as herein-before described, to give forward or
feeding motion to the fibre holding and feeding devices it also operates a belt
shifting fork or lever to shift the belt which connects the pulley U with either
of the pulleys V or W, so as to throw said belt from off the loose pulley W on to
the fast pulley V, and thereby to set the endless chain of heckling pins in motion
for the purpose of heckling the bunch of hemp as it is fed forward at a slower
velocity than the pins. When, however, the bunch under operation has been
heckled for a portion of its length, beginning at its one end, and by a successive
heckling operation of the chain of pins in the same direction, continuing
the heckling process until the bunch has been cleansed or heckled for half its
length, or thereabouts, the sliding rod n of the belt shifting mechanisin is shifted
to reverse the fibre holding and feeding devices, and the same movement of the
said rod n simultaneously works the belt shifting fork or lever a¹, and shifts the
belt of the pulley U from the fast pulley V on to the loose pulley W. This causes
the endless chain of heckling pins to remain stationary while the fibre holding and
feeding devices are making their back movement and drawing the heckled half or
portion of the bunch from off or out of the chain of heckling pins, after which the
bunch is turned by the attendant end for end, and the other half or unheckled
portion of it introduced to the holding and feeding devices as or shortly after the
Jatter have again been started by the belt shifting mechanism to repeat their
forward or feeding motion and the endless chain of heckling pins has been corres-
pondingly set in motion. Such motions are continued until the last-named half or
portion of the bunch has been acted upon by the travelling chain of heckling pins,
after which the latter is again stopped and the fibre holding and feeding devices
run backwards to deliver the heckled bunch on to the feed board E, from whence
it is removed by the attendant and a new bunch of fibre to be heckled substituted
for it in the machine.
The backward travel of the fibre holding and feeding devices, while the endless
chain of heckling pins remains stationary, may serve to complete the heckling of
the portion of the bunch under operation, or the whole heckling may be done
while the heckling pins are in motion and the fibre holding and feeding devices
make their forward or feeding movement, travelling at a slower velocity than the
pins. If preferred the endless chain of heckling pins may have a continuous instead
of an intermittent motion in the same direction, in which case the fibre holding and
feeding devices should move at an accelerated velocity backwards.

page_text: To heckle first the one half in length of the bunch, and then the other half
thereof, as herein-before described, requires that the attendant in charge should
introduce the bunch, also should reverse it end for end, and afterwards remove the
same in proper relation with the forward and backward motion of the fibre holding
and feeding devices, and as the length of the forward and backward motion of said
devices varies with the length of the fibre to be heckled it is advisable or becomes
recessary to provide means for notifying the attendant when it is requisite for him
to introduce, manipulate, or remove the bunch in or during the continuous operation
of the machine. To this end an indicator is connected by a rod b' (see Fig. 1) and
lever with the traveller m of the automatic belt, shifting device, or mechanism
which reverses and gives any desired length of forward and backward motion to
the fibre holding and feeding devices. The lever e' is fast on a rock shaft d', from
which motion is taken to vibrate an index B¹ over a graduated dial C¹ composing
the indicator. Accordingly as the stops o, p, are shifted or adjusted on the rod n
will the index B' be vibrated to a greater or less extent over the dial, which may
have its graduations marked to correspond with different lengths of fibre to be
heckled. One, say the centre, of these arbitrary marks on or graduations of the
dial may indicate the starting point for introducing the fibre or bunch to its
holding and feeding devices, but it is desirable that the index should move back of
such starting mark during the back run of the holding and feeding devices to give
time prior to the index arriving at said starting point or mark in the next forward
run of the holding and feeding devices for the attendant to manipulate the bunch
as required, and the better to enable him to introduce into the machine either end
of the bunch at the proper time during the movement of the holding and feeding
devices, a gong or bell D' may be connected with the index operating mechanism
in such manner that said bell is sounded when the index arrives at the proper point
on the dial for the introduction of either end of thic bunel into the machine.
The travelling chain or series I of heckling pins is constructed (see Fig. 8) with
rows of bars el of coarser and more widely spaced pins and rows or bars of finer
and less widely spaced pins, the said rows of differently spaced pins being arranged
transversely to the line of motion of the chain, and the rows of coarser and more
widely spaced pins alternating with the rows of finer and less widely spaced pins.
By means of this combination of coarser and finer and more and less widely spaced
heckling pins both coarse and fine heckling may be done at one operation, the
less widely spaced pins following up the preparatory or coarser heckling done
by the more widely spaced pins. To give efficiency to this action it is desirable
that the less widely spaced heckling pins of the bars f¹ should not enter into
the fibre till after the coarser or more widely spaced pins have commenced and
partly performed their operation upon it. Special guides are accordingly provided
at the forward end of the machine for controlling the bars e, f, to obtain this
action. Thus the endless chain or series I of heckling pins is composed of two
or more independent parallel chains on opposite sides of the machine and united
by the cross bars e, f, which carry the heckling pins, and which are free to turn
in the links g of the chains, but which have dogs h1, h2, (see Fig. 5) fast on their
ends. These dogs are provided with guide pins i,, on their outer faces, and
are otherwise constructed to travel over or along and against fixed upper straight
guides,, (see Fig. 7), and against or over suitable curved end guides to keep
the heckling pins steady and in approximately upright positions throughout the
upper horizontal travel of the chain, and so that said heckling pins enter the
hemp vertically, or thereabouts, and leave it in like position, as in certain other
machines long in use for spreading flax, hemp, and other fibrous materials. But
these dogs h,, and the several fixed guides importantly differ from similar pre-
vious constructions and combinations of parts for directing the endless chain or
series of heckling pins. Thus the guide pins of the dogs it on the ends of the
heckling bars e, which carry the more widely spaced pins, are longer than the
corresponding pins of the dogs on the ends of the heckling bars of the less
bars e¹ are making their curvilinear travel at
widely spaced pins, and when the

page_text: the forward end of the machine their pins are guided by outer curved fixed
guides and inuer curved fixed guides m', while when the bars f¹ are making a
similar end travel their pins are guided by fixed inner guides n', which are
excentric to the guides m' and nearer to the centre of the notched discs A², and are,
furthermore, guided by projections o' on said pins dragging over or against the
outer fixed guides , thereby giving the coarser heckling pins the lead as it were,
and preventing the finer and less widely spaced pins from entering the fibre until
the more widely spaced pins have commenced and partly performed their operation
upon it. The endless chain or series I of huckling pins is also guided in its lower
course of travel by the dogs h³, h, with their attached guide pins, being tipped or
directed by adjustable guides s¹ or other suitable means, as the heckling bars
commence their travel froin the rear towards the front end of the machine, in order
that said dogs may enter on and be guided by lower fixed curved guides, ways, or
tracts E', which keep the heckling pins of the bars e¹, f¹, rigidly set outwards and
properly separated for an endless tow carrier or chain J of bars herein after
described to re-engage itself with the endless chain of heckling pins without
interference with the latter. From the guides E¹ the endless chain or series I of
heckling pins, as also the tow-carrying chain, pass up over grooved guide rolls or
wheels K to the notched discs Aª.
The tow carrier or chain J' is constructed of curved links so as to straddle the
bars e, f, of the chain I of heckling pins, and in order that cross bars u¹ of said
carrier may not only work in interposed relation with the bars e', f¹, but may
pass down below the latter during that portion of the upper travel of the heckling
pins when they are engaged in heckling the fibre, so as in nowise to interfere with
the action of the heckling pins. Said chain J¹ gears by its bars with the notched
rotating discs A², and is driven by the latter, its bars u entering notches in said
discs arranged intermediately of the notches in which the bars c', f', fit. From
thence the endless chain or carrier J' passes up and along with the endless chain I
with the bars of the former in interposed relation with the bars of the latter, as
described, until reaching or approaching the back end of the chain I, after which
the chain J' rises and is run over fixed guides N¹ to and over loose pulleys or
idlers L'arranged at any desired distance in rear of the machine. From the loose
pulleys L the endless chain J' of bars passes down to and under or along fixed
guides, ways, or tracks M, which operate conjointly with the fixed curved guides El
to insure the proper re-entrance of the bars of the chain J¹ between the bars of the
chain I. This endless chain J' of bars serves to remove from the heckling pins the
tow produced in the process of heckling, and to carry it out of the machine. Said
endless chain of tow-carrying bars is equally applicable to other travelling chains
or series of heckling pins than the one herein described, including chains or series
in which the several rows of pins may have their heckling pins equally spaced if
desired.
In the operation of the machine a bunch of the fibrous material to be heckled is
introduced by the attendant over the feed board or otherwise in between the
forwardly and backwardly moving fibre holding and feeding devices, while the
latter are moving in a forward or feeding direction, the proper period for the intro-
duction of the bunch being noted by the indicator. These holding and feeding
devices convey the bunch to the travelling series of heckling pins which comb
or heckle the bunch for half its length, or thereabouts, during the feeding or
retiring of the bunch, or both, by the holding and feeding devices. After the bunch
has been thus partially heckled, said bunch is turned by the attendant end for end
and again fed forward for the remaining half or portion of its length, and subse-
quently retired, by the holding and feeding devices which operate in connection
with the heckling pins as before. The tow extracted by the heckling pius is
conveyed away or to the back of the machine by the endless tow carrier or chain
of bars working in intermediate relation with the rows of heckling pins or their bars.
Having now set forth the nature of the Invention of "Improvements in Machinery
for Heckling Hemp and other Fibrous Materials," as communicated to me by my

page_text: foreign correspondent, and explained the manner of carrying the same into effect,
I wish it to be understood that under the above in part recited Letters Patent I
claim―
First. The combination of fibre holding and feeding devices, having a forward
and backward motion, with one or more travelling series of heckling pins, substan-
tially as specified.
Second. The combination with fibre holding and feeding devices, having a back-
ward and forward motion, of an intermittently moving chain or series of heckling
pins, substantially as specified.
Third. A travelling chain or sories of heckling pins, composed of rows of coarser
and more widely spaced pins, and alternating rows of finer and less widely spaced
pins, essentially as and for the purpose herein set forth.
Fourth. The combination with an endless chain of alternating transverse rows
of coarser and finer and differently spaced heckling pins, of guides whereby the less
widely spaced pins are prevented from entering into the fibre till after the coarser
pins have commenced and partly performed their operation upon it.
Fifth. The combination of an endless tow carrier or chain of bars with an endless
travelling chain or series of heckling pins arranged for operation in relation with
cach other, substantially as specified.
Sixth. The combination with a travelling endless chain or series of heckling
pins and endless tow carrier or chain of bars arranged to work in interposed
relation with the heckling pins of guides, ways, or tracks for properly directing
the heckling pins in their return run or travel relatively with each other and with
the bars of the tow carrier or chain.
Seventh. The combination with an automatic and adjustable device or mechanism
for varying the length of the forward and backward motion of the bunch or fibre
holding and feeding devices of an indicator controlled by said adjustable device or
mechanism, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Eighth. The holding and feeding device or devices for presenting the fibre to
the heckling pins and retracting it therefrom, composed of endless elastic faced
belts or aprons, and drums arranged for operation in relation with each other,
essentially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, the Fifth day of December, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
A. V. NEWTON. (L.S.)