IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR CARDING COTTON AND OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederick Wilkinson, of Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Yarn Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY
FOR CARDING COTTON AND OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS."
Sealed the 17th April 1877, and dated the 20th October 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederick Wilkinson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th October 1876.
FREDERICK WILKINSON, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Yarn Agent.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR CARDING COTTON AND OTHER FIBROUS
MATERIALS."
My Invention refers to those carding machines in which what are commonly
called flats are used as distinguished from the roller and clearer system, and consists
in causing such flats to travel constantly or periodically transversely across the
surface of the cylinder, a clearer being adapted to strip the said flats.
To carry this Invention out I propose to use flexible bands, by preference of
metal, to which the wires are attached, such bands passing over rollers and at their
edges between fixed guides in order to maintain them in their true position; such
guides being supported by any convenient and adjustable fixings. These endless
bands I propose to drive at a slow speed by any suitable gearing or banding, and
to adapt a clearer driven in a suitable manner, which clearer may also carry grinding
apparatus.
In driving the flats I propose to make them travel alternately, or in series, in
contrary directions, and to apply them to the lower as well as the upper part of
the cylinder; and in order to facilitate the foriner application I propose to mount
them on a circular frame concentric to the cylinder, so that they may be adjusted
in the upper position and then turned to the lower. The wire may vary in fineness
as it advances from one end of the cylinder to the other.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Frederick Wilkinson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 20th
April 1877.
FREDERICK WILKINSON, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Yarn Agent.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR CARDING COTTON AND OTHER FIBROUS
MATERIALS."
My Invention refers to those carding engines in which what are commonly called
flats are employed as distinguished from the roller and clearer system, and consists
in causing such flats to travel constantly or periodically across the surface of
the cylinder. For this purpose I use flexible bands, by preference of metal, to
which the wires are attached, such bands passing over rollers and at their edges
between guides in order to maintain them in their true positions.
In the accompanying Drawing Fig. 1 represents a portion of a carding engine in
side view with two of my travelling cards adapted; Fig. 2 is a cross section of the
same; and Figs. 3 and 4 enlarged views of certain parts. At 1 is the ordinary
frame, and at 2 that which is commonly called the bend.
Referring for the present to the left-hand side of Fig. 2, at 3 is a bracket capable
of being tightened to the bend by a screw 4, and at 5 is a set screw, by which
arrangement therefore the bracket 3 may be adjusted upward or downward as
desired. To the bracket 3 is adapted another bracket 6, capable of being
tightened to the former by a nut 7, and of being adjusted inward or outward by a
set screw 8. The secondly mentioned bracket 6 is formed hollow (see the detached
view, Fig. 3), and within it is situate a roller 9 mounted on an axis 10. The
whole of the parts just described are repeated on the right-hand side of Fig. 2, but
the brackets are not drawn; the second roller 9 however which they carry is
shewn, but with the addition of a worm wheel 10 on its end. Around these two
rollers is a flexible endless band 11 provided with wire cards, and thus con-
stituting a flat working in contact with the ordinary cylinder 12, and thus con-
stituting a flat. In gear with the worm wheel 10 is a worm 13 on a shaft 14,
which is provided with a wheel 15 answering to that of an ordinary roller or
clearer and driven in a similar manner. To the bracket 3 is fixed a cross bar 16,
see particularly Fig. 4, and at each side thereof is attached a separate bar 17, a
space however being left between the two to allow of the free passage of the endless
band 11, see Fig. 5. When the carding operation is proceeding the wheel 15 by
the means above described gives motion through the worm and worm wheel 13, 10,
to the endless band of cards 11; and as they travel across the cylinder they act
upon the material as flats by a constantly slow change of position.
The above description refers to one travelling flat only, and the Drawing Fig.
1 and 4) shew two and three respectively, but of course they are adapted in any
number that may be desired to the bend 2, beyond which on the feed end are
shewn two rollers and clearers 18, and it will of course be understood that this
arrangement may be varied at will. In driving the travelling flats I prefer
them to cross the cylinder alternately in contrary directions, but they may be
caused to travel in alternate groups, say, two or three in one direction and the same
number in the contrary direction, or in any other order; and these different direc-
tions may be effected by making the worms 10 right and left handed, by crossing
the driving chain, or by other ordinary means. The flats so constructed may be
stripped, and if desired ground in the following manner.
Mounted loosely upon
the cylinder shaft 20 is a boss carrying four arms 21, 22, 23, 24, which are provided
with wire cards 25, and the other with an emery surface; this apparatus is driven
from the doffer 26 by a band and pullies 27, and as it revolves the cards 25 strip
the flats 11, and the emery surface grinds them, but these ordinary operations may
be effected in any suitable manner. At 30 is a card for stripping the strippers 25.
The screws 4, 5, adjust the bands 11 nearer to or further from the cylinder,
those shewn at 7, 8, serve to tighten the said bands, and heeling may be effected by

page_text: the set screws 5. The endless bands 11 I prefer to form of thin steel, the ends
being brazed together; and as they travel across the cylinder in the grooves
formed in the bars 17 they are kept true to their required level. The wire cards
may be attached to the bands by forming holes in the latter to enable the former
to be stitched on, and when it is desired to remove and replace a band it will only
be necessary to remove one of the bars 17.
I have referred to the flats as being on the top of the cylinder, but they may
also be placed on the bottom of the same or under the licker in.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention, and the
manner in which the same is to be performed, I desire it to be understood that I
claim as secured to me under the above in part recited Letters Patent, and for the
purposes above set forth, the use of endless bands of wire cards travelling across the
cylinder or licker in. Also causing such bands to travel in slots or guides substially
as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederick Wilkinson, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
FREDK. WILKINSON. (L.S.)