Improvements in Wire Cards, and in the Foundations of the same.
Year: 1895

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Wire Cards, and in the Foundations of the same.
I ELIJAH ASHWORTH of the Moss Brook Works, Collyhurst, Manchester, in
the County of Lancaster, Machine Maker, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
My said invention relates to improvements in wire cards and in the manufacture
of the material, foundation or backing into which the fine wire teeth or dents are
inserted.
At present in preparing this foundation it is customary to cement several
thicknesses or plies of woven fabric together, the cement employed being usually
rubber solution. I have found in the course of a long experience that after such
a card backing has been in use for some time, the cement loses its powers of
cohesion to such an extent that frequently the respective layers of fabric become
quite disconnected. This I have tested in many instances by removing the wire
dents from a piece of card clothing which has been some time in use, whereupon
the layers composing the foundation have fallen apart, showing that it was
only the binding effect of the inserted dents which had kept them together.
This loosening of the layers is caused partly by the mechanical disintegration
caused by use and wear and partly by the cement losing its nature or being
affected by the atmosphere. The result of this separation of the layers of the
foundation is that when the card is at work or when being applied to the cylinder
or other part, the layers of the foundation are apt to more relatively to each other
and thus alter the position and angle of the inserted dents thereby causing bad
work and injuriously affecting the efficiency of the carding apparatus.
The object of my present invention is to prevent any such separation or looseness
Accordingly in
of the respective thicknesses or layers of the foundation.
preparing the foundation instead of cementing the different layers as at present,
I stitch or sew the layers together and thus obtain a positive and unalterable
attachment common to all of the layers and absolutely preventing separation or
relative movement of the thicknesses. The rows of stitching would be spaced at
a suitable distance apart and the stitching might be done in successive multiple
rows by a suitable machine or machines devised for the purpose. The fabric or
cloth from which my improved foundation is made, may be pressed or calendered
or finished or stiffened or polished on one or on both surfaces or on the surfaces
only of the complete foundation. Also the finished foundation to prevent after
slackness may be stretched by suitable stretching apparatus. The layers composing
my improved foundation will always remain securely connected together so that I
gain both increased strength and greater reliability as regards the stability and
correct position of the dents. The cost of my improved stitched foundation is no
greater and might be less than the cemented material, as the expensive rubber
cement is saved and also a certain economy in time effected seeing that the
manufacture of the foundation can be carried on without any of the delay that is
entailed by waiting until the respective layers of cement have become dry.
Another advantage obtained by means of my invention especially in the case of
filleting is that the two or more layers constituting the stitched foundation can be
woven to the proper width, so that when stitched together, uncut edges are
presented on both sides of the foundation and no paring is necessary, so that not

page_text: only is there an economy of material but also the edges are not liable to become
unravelled.
Dated this 26th day of July 1895.
improvements in Wire Cards, and in the Foundations of the same.
I ELIJAH ASHWORTH of the Moss Brook Works, Collyhurst, Manchester, in
the County of Lancaster, Machine Maker, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement and accompanying
drawings :-
My said invention relates to improvements in wire cards and in the manufacture
of the material, foundation or backing into which the fine wire teeth or dents are
inserted.
At present in preparing this foundation it is customary to cement several
thicknesses or plies of woven fabric together, the cement employed being generally
rubber solution. I have found in the course of a long experience that after such
a card backing has been in use for some time, the cement loses its powers of cohesion
to such an extent that frequently the respective layers of fabric become quite
disconnected. This I have tested in many instances by removing the wire dents
from a piece of card clothing which has been for some time in use, whereupon the
layers of fabric composing the foundation have fallen apart showing that it was
only the binding effect of the inserted dents which had kept them together. This
loosening of the layers is caused partly by the mechanical disintegration caused
by the wear and partly by the cement losing its nature or becoming affected by
the atmosphere. The result of this separation of the layers of the foundation is
that when the card is at work or when being applied to the cylinder or other part,
the layers of the foundation are apt to move relatively to each other and thus
alter the position and angle of the inserted dents, thereby causing bad work and
injuriously affecting the efficiency of the carding apparatus.
In addition to these defects, if the cemented foundations (when in the form of
filleting for example) should be injured in the course of manufacture, it is impossible
to effect a neat joint or splice of the same nature as the rest of the filleting and
for this reason and because users will not usually accept an interrupted or spliced
length, the whole of the filleting already set has sometimes to be thrown away.
The object of my present invention is to prevent any such separation or
looseness of the respective thicknesses or layers of the foundation. Accordingly
in preparing the foundation, instead of cementing the different layers as at present,
I stitch or sew the layers together and thus obtain a positive and unalterable
attachment common to all of the layers and absolutely preventing separation or
relative movement of the thicknesses.
Such a stitched or sewn foundation is shown in longitudinal section in the
accompanying drawing. Any suitable number of layers of fabric may be used.
In the drawing I show six such layers but there might be more or less. The
layers a, a, a, a, a, a, are sewn together by the stitches b and the wire dents c are
inserted in the usual manner into the said stitched foundation. The rows of
stitching would be spaced at a suitable distance apart and the stitching might be
done in successive multiple rows by a suitable machine or machines devised for the
purpose but not forming part of my present invention. The layers of fabric or

page_text: cloth from which my improved foundation is made may be pressed or calendered
or finished or stiffened or polished on one or on both surfaces or on the surfaces
only of the complete foundation. Also the finished foundation, to prevent after
slackness, may be stretched by suitable stretching apparatus. The layers composing
my improved foundation will always remain securely connected together so that
I gain both increased strength and greater reliability as regards the stability and
correct position of the dents. The cost of my improved stitched foundation is
much less than the cemented foundation as the expensive rubber cement is saved
and also a certain economy in time effected seeing that the manufacture of the
foundation can be carried on without any of the delay that is entailed by waiting
until the respective layers of cement have become dry. In a cemented foundation
the number of layers affects the cost considerably as the greater the number of
layers the greater is the expense entailed for cement and the more time is required
for manufacture. But in my improved stitched foundation the number of layers
does not affect the cost since it is almost as easy to stitch ten layers together as it
is to stitch two or three and no increased cost is entailed either in regard to
material or time. If the foundation should happen to become damaged in course
of manufacture, it can be easily spliced by unpicking the stitches and connecting
the layers at the divided part by a series of lap joints secured by stitching as in
the body of the foundation. Such a splice can be made of about the same
thickness and quite as flexible and strong as the main body of the foundation.
The absence of the cement makes my improved card foundation much more
durable as it is not affected by age, oil or light as those foundations are into the
composition or manufacture of which rubber enters. Another advantage obtained
by means of my invention (more especially when applied to the manufacture of
Jilleting) is that the two or more layers constituting the stitched foundation can
be woven to the proper width, so that when stitched together, uncut edges are
presented on both sides of the foundation and no paring is necessary, so that not
only is there an economy of material but also the edges are not liable to become
unravelled.
For certain purposes I might introduce between the stitched layers of woven
fabric one or more thicknesses of sheet rubber or telt or other suitable material
or instead of placing these between the layers I might apply them to one or both
sides or surfaces of the foundation, the whole being secured together by stitches as
aforesaid. The said rubber, felt or other material might also be cemented on one
side or surface of the stitched foundation as is at present the practice in some
instances.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is.
1. The improved wire card having a foundation composed of several layers of
woven fabric or other suitable material stitched together as hereinbefore set
forth.
2. In wire cards forming the foundation of several layers of woven fabric or
other suitable material stitched together as set forth.