Year: 1888

page_text: [Communicated from abroad by ALBERT AUGUSTUS POPE, of Boston, Manufacturer,
and FRANK ROCKWOOD HALL, of Brookline, Iawyer, both in Massachusetts,
United States of America.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine Lake & Co. Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex 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 :-
In burring wool two methods are commercially practised, one mechanical, in which
the burring machine is something like the saw gin used for cotton, and one chemical,
in which the burrs are dissolved by acids. The chemical method is not successful
with the larger sorts of hard burrs, and is said to injure the felting quality of the
wool. The mechanical method is nearly certain to break a considerable part of
the fibres, and thereby injure the staple. The mechanical method is applied,
commercially, only to scoured wool, and it is not believed to be practical to use
it upon wool, "in the grease" on account of the "suint" of the wool clogging
the parts.
The principle of the saw gin is the principle that has hitherto usually been adapted
to practically burring wool mechanically. In this, the fibre containing burrs or seeds
is brought up to a grating, too small for the seeds or burrs to pass, and the fibres
caught by fine teeth which project through the grating and pull the fibres away from
the burrs or seeds. This principle is sometimes modified by using two sets of teeth
running in opposite directions on neighbouring, or on the same, tangents: but this is
obviously only the substitution of two combs for one comb and a grating.
The principle involved in roller ginning seems better adapted for burring wool than
the principle of the saw gin. In the roller gin the fibre is caught between the presser
bar and roll of the gin, and the seed is knocked out of it by vibrating clearers, the
fibre being very little broken in the operation. I attempted to apply the principle of
the roller gin to the burring of wool, and in my desire to remove the burrs from

page_text: uncleaned wool, or, as it is technically called, wool "in the grease.". I have found
that the character of the work of burring wool requires some changes and modifications
in the working parts of the machine, and these changes, which seem to be essential
for the performance of the work, and which I was only able to make after repeated
experiments, I now propose to describe.
They relate to the texture of the friction surface of the roller, to the shape of the
clearer blade or blades, and particularly to the shape of the working edge of these
blades, to the presser bar, and to certain appliances connected with the feed table.
With the form of construction hereinafter described all sorts of burrs have been
removed from unscoured wool without injury to the fibre, with hardly any waste,
excepting the loss of the weight of the burrs themselves, and without there being any
suspicion on the part of anyone to whom the work was exhibited after it was finished,
that the wool had ever been burred.
The machine here illustrated belongs to the belt gin type of roller gin. It is
obvious that the changes in the working parts herein-illustrated and described are
equally applicable to a gin in which the rolling frictional surface is of cylindrical form,
as in the roller gin proper, as it is to a gin in which the rolling cylindrical surface is
of nearly oval form, as in what is technically termed the belt gin.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 is a vertical section of the machine.
Figure 2 is a similar section of the head and front of the machine, showing a slight
variation of some parts.
Figure. 3 is a transverse section of some parts of the connecting rod D of
Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a plan of the head of the machine.
Figure 5 is a perspective detail of parts of the presser bar and clearers.
Figure 6 is a section on a larger scale than before; of the head and front of the
machine in another modified form.
Figure 7 is a perspective of the feed-table drag-teeth.
Figure 8 is an elevation of part of the side of the machine which is hidden in
Figure 2.
Figure 9 is an elevation of the clearers and of the roll, belt and presser bar in
section.
Figures 10, 11 and '12 are details of clearer blades.
Figure 13 is an elevation of part of the belt straining device.
Figure 14 is a section of the parts illustrated in Figure 3.
A is the frame of the machine, A' the feed table, Bi C are rolls over which runs the
endless belt C¹. This is made of several plies of duck vulcanized together with india-
rubber compound. I have usually used a belt with about twelve plies. It should
have six or more plies. While for commercial purposes in ginning cotton it is
essential that the duck of which this multiplied belt is made, should be comparatively
coarse, in burring wool it is as essential that the duck should be comparatively fine.
I have found by experience that what is known as twelve ounce hose-duck gives the
best results in belts for burring wool. There is, of course, a small range of weights
and sizes of threads either way from this number of duck, but the practical statement
of this requirement is that for burring wool the belt or covering for the roll must be
made of about twelve ounce hose-duck, cemented with vulcanizable material and
vulcanized.
For ginning cotton, such a belt or roller cover, to get the best results, is made of
about eighteen ounce hose-duck.
The belt must, as in the cotton gin belts, be built up with a minimum quantity of
rubber between the plies.
Dis the connecting rod which actuates the clearer H and is itself actuated by the
excentric d*, which is on the driving shaft D¹, as can be understood from Figure 3.
If any other form of reciprocating clearer than that shown at H Figure 1, is used, as,
for instance, the form shown in Figure 9 the connecting rod D will be used to actuate
that as well. The upper part of this connecting rod D has an eye formed in it into

page_text: which is driven the wooden bushing d³, as shown in Figure 3. The main shaft D¹ has
mounted upon it an excentric d', and two cheeks d³ do, and these cheeks are fastened to
the shaft by set screws d', or by a spline which would be the equivalent of these set
screws. A large eye formed at the lower end of the connecting rod Denvelopes this
eccentric and there is space enough between the interior of this eye and the exterior of
the eccentric for a wooden bushing ds. This wooden bushing is made in two parts, which
are allowed to have a small interval between them, and in case of wear these parts are
forced together, so that the bushing de fits closely to the exterior of the eccentric d',
by driving in the adjusting screw which passes through the lower part of the lower
eye of the eccentric rod D. On one of the flanges d', is attached a counter weight D³,
to act as a counterpoise to the eccentric in the revolution of the shaft D'. In order to
unite these cheeks ds de firmly with the eccentric da bolt do, passes through them
and the eccentric from side to side, and is firmly screwed up. This method of using
wooden frictional surfaces rubbing against iron is as important in such a machine as
a cotton gin or a wool burrer, as it is in the thrust bearing of a screw steamer. I
have employed for the wooden bushing, pitch pine.
E are the clearer arms, pivoted at the front of the machine on the cross bar which
is held in notches a by the cap squares e¹. These notches are in the checks a¹ on
either side of the feed table A¹. There are several of these notches to enable the
clearers to be worked at different angles if desired.
Fis the body of the presser bar: it is set in notches on the frame of the machine,
and adjusted to and from the belt by adjusting screws ff. This body F is much
more solid than usual, and is of iron. A steel blade, f, is notched into it and screwed
to it by the screw f³. These screws except perhaps those at the ends, should be put
in from the belt side, as shewn in Figures 6 and 9.
The clearer H is fast to the clearer arm E, and is straight for a considerable
distance, and then curved sharply away from the front of the machine toward the
roller, the bend being inclined to the body of the clearer at an angle of 30 degrees and
terminates in a slightly rounded edge near the presser bar as shown in Figures 1, 5
and 6. This formation of the working edge has a blunt rounded edge instead of a
cutting edge and is important. If the edge be smooth, and not cut into teeth, it will
serve very well for removing the larger varieties of burrs. But it requires to be
modified for the smaller sorts of burrs, and particularly for what are called spiral
burrs.
For removing the spiral burr from wool the edge of the clearers must be notched.
with fine notches & Figure 12 which are triangular on all their faces. They are not
in the form of saw teeth, but each is a short, blunt pyramid and they are cut only
in the turned or wire edge of the clearer, and ought not to enter upon either of the
faces of the body of the clearer adjacent to the edge, and must not enter upon the
lower face of the lower clearer, when a lower clearer H¹ is used as in Figures 9, 10.
In this latter case the notches ³ of the lower clearer need to be shallower, and the
pyramids blunter, than is at times permissible in those of the upper clearer. This
form of tooth can be seen on examination of Figures 10, 11 and 12 of which Figure 10
shows the front side of the clearer and Figure 12 the back side, with the notches /
not going through the blade, but only notching the 'turned edge. They are pretty
deep on the roller face, and the instrument which cuts them is so inclined as not to
impair the continuity of the feed table face, and but slightly the wire edge itself on
the side adjacent to the roll.
If double clearers are desired they may be attached to the arin E as shown in
Figure 9 at H H³, or the lower clearer may form the edge of the feed table, as shown
in Figure 6, in which case the table A¹ would be pivoted at e³, and the feed table
vibrated up and down from the connecting rod D by the action of the pin d³, link d',
and ear as shown in Figure 6. If a lower clearer be used it must be slotted as
shown at 2 Figure 11 for the passage of the burrs when they are knocked out of the
wool. The notched edge is required for this lower clearer as well as for the upper one,
in case of spiral burrs, and, as previously explained, the notches.³ must not enter
upon the vertical or slightly inclined face of the body of the clearer on the side

page_text: towards the roll, because as the fibre of the wool is not dragged past this point in the
clearer the "suint" which is worked out of the wool in the burring operation, will
collect and cake on this face of the clearer and clog the notches, whereas if they are
made short and shallow in this lower side, it does not clog the notches. G is the back
board or separator, and g is a revolving goffer to clean the belt, C³, of fibre. It is
run by a belt, g', (see Figure 4) from the shaft of the roll B¹. On this same shaft is
an eccentric from which the eccentric rod i of Figure 4, connects with the rocker
arm of the shaft I of the feed table drag teeth.
The feed table A' is slotted at a³, Figure 4, to allow of the passage of the drag teeth:
These can be understood from Figure 7. They are fixed on the shaft I, either straight,
as at j or with curved tips as at &, and I prefer that they shall be alternately straight
and curved. They are vibrated lengthwise the feed table detaining and loosening the
wool as it passes them to be burred. The slot in the arın allows more or less motion
to be given them. An equivalent for this detail is shewn in Figure 2, where the
toothed cylinder J having curved teeth & is shewn for the same purpose. This toothed
cylinder is run by a gearing from the wheel K as shewn in Figure 8, and this wheel K
is run by a belt from the shaft of the roll B', as shewn in Figure 2. The wheel K is
on a lever, k, adjustable in height as shewn in Figure 2 and in Figure 8.
In order to adjust the clearers to the varying lengths of different fibres, slots are
made in them through which binding screws pass, which screws are attached to the
clearer arms.
It is illustrated in the upper clearer of Figure 5 and in the lower
clearer in Figure 11.
To get the proper tension on belt the boxes of roll Care movable to and from
roll B, in slots in the frame of the machine, each box has a hooked ear, L, fast to it,
as shewn in dotted lines Figure 4, in elevation Figure 13. The frame is slotted
transversely at m, and a long transverse spine n with symmetrical wedges at each end
is thrust through these slots from side to side. The hooks of ears L hook on the
wedges of the spline, and one end of the spline n is turned up into an ear o. Through
this ear o passes a rod p, which lays hold of the machine, and a nut, p³, serves to
shorten this rod, drive the wedges forward and strain the belt C'.
In both modifications of the clearer H, that illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 in which
the edge is not serrated, and that illustrated in Figures 9 and 10, in which it is serrated,
the body of the clearer is set forward of the edge, assuming the feed table to be the
front of the machine, and a deep recess exists above the working edge into which the
wool, may expand after the downward stroke, which expansion I believe to be essential
to feeding wool, but which is not essential or desirable for cotton ginning, on account
of the differing elasticity of the fibres. The projection of the working edge in rear
of the rear face of the clearer ought to be in the vicinity of a quarter of an inch,
but if an eighth, it will do work, and more than a quarter will do no great harm.
The angle of projection of the rear face ought to be about 30°, but a larger angle is
admissible, and a smaller one, even less than 20°, will do good work. Hence there is
some range allowable to take up wear of the clearer.
The double curvature of the clearers H shewn in Figures 9, 10, 12' is made
because the clearers are set in Figure 9 on the front side of the end block of arm E,
instead of on the back of said end block as in Figure 6, a form of construction adopted
for hand machines, while the other form of Figure 6 is adopted for power machines.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondents I declare that what I claim is-
-
First In combination with the connecting rod D formed at the lower end into
an eye, the shaft D₁, eccentric d', cheeks do, do, all united together substantially as
described, and the adjustable wooden bushing d and means whereby said bushing is
adjusted as described, substantially as and for the purpose described.
Second-The combination with the movable boxes of rolls C furnished with the
hooked ear L, of the wedged-shaped spline provided with the ear o, and the rod p and
nut p¹ substantially as described.

page_text: Third The pivot shafte of the clearer arms E in combination with the said clearer
arms, with means whereby a vibrating movement is imparted to the arms E, and with
the clearers H attached to said arms E, and with means whereby the position of
said pivot shaft e may be shifted vertically and the clearers H given a different
inclination of stroke, substantially as and for the purpose described.
Fourth In a wool burring machine, the clearer H formed with a curvature from
front to back adjacent to the edge, at about an angle of thirty degrees with the body
of the clearer, which clearer is provided with a working edge notched with fine
notches, Figure 12 each of the teeth of which clearer is a short blunt pyramid,
and each of which notches, h, is cut only in the turned edge of the clearer,
substantially as described.
Fifth In a wool-burring machine, the combination of a roller B adapted to be
revolved downward upon its front side, which roller is armed with a multiply surface
of rubber duck of about the fineness of twelve ounce hose duck, a chissel edge presser-
bar which presents its edge adjacent to said duck covering and has its bevel arranged
on the front side and its back face arranged tangentially to the roll, and a clearer H
which has a curvature from front to back of about an angle of thirty degrees with
the body of the clearer, which clearer is provided with a working edge notched with
fine notches h, whereby the edge thereof is provided with teeth, each of which teeth is a
short blunt pyramid as shown in Figure 12, of the drawing, and each of which notches h
is cut only in the turned edge of the clearer, and means for rotating said roll E and
vibrating said clearer H past and adjacent to the point of nearest approach, between
the presser-bar and the armament of the roller, and a feed table A, substantially as
described.
Sixth In an apparatus for burring wool, the combination of a drawing roll
provided with a suitable covering, a stationary presser bar adjacent to said roll, by
the aid of which drawing roll covering and presser bar the fibre is pulled along, a
vibrating clearer which is vibrated adjacent to the point of junction of said drawing
roll and presser bar, which vibrating clearer is actuated to forcibly strike the fibre at
or near the junction between the presser bar and drawing roll, suitable mechanism for
actuating said drawing roll and vibrating clearer, a feed table whereby the fleece to be
burred is presented to the drawing roll, and a combing apparatus which is projected
through said feed table, and suitable actuating mechanism for causing said combing
apparatus to pull the fibre away from the drawing rolls as it passes forward over the
feed table, whereby the fibre is pulled in one direction by the drawing roll between
the drawing roll and presser bar, and in the opposite direction by the combing
apparatus, and in this condition of comparative tension is struck and cleaned from burrs
by the vibrating clearer; all substantially as and for the purpose described.
Dated this Fourth day of December 1888.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London,
Agents for the Applicant.