IMPROVEMENTS IN ROVING MACHINERY
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
and Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for an Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ROVING MACHINERY." A communication from abroad
by William E. Whitehead and Abel T. Atherton, both of Lowell, Massachusetts,
United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th January 1882.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co. Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN ROVING MACHINERY."
[A communication from abroad by William E. Whitehead and Abel T. Atherton,
both of Lowell, Massachusetts, United States of America.]
The customary way of making cotton roving for spinning purposes is to pass the
sliver which comes from the drawing-frame, and which is usually termed the
drawing," through two or more "speeders" so called, which reduce the sliver
ultimately to roving of the required size and quality. Each speeder consists of a
stand of drawing-rolls, by which the sliver is drawn, and a flier and spindle and
their appurtenances, by which the sliver delivered from the drawing-rolls is twisted
and wound onto a bobbin. The roving produced by the first speeder is again drawn
and twisted in the second speeder, and so on, until roving of the desired fineness is
finally produced. It is usual, also, to double the strands of roving in each speeder-
that is to say, the second or intermediate speeder takes and condenses into one, two,
or more rovings, such as are made by the first speeder, and so on. This method of
manufacturing roving is disadvantageous on many accounts. It necessitates the
employment of two or more separate machines, which not only are expensive, but
require the separate handling of the cotton for each machine, which is objectionable,
inasmuch as the material, in order to obtain the best results, should be handled as
little as possible. Furthermore, each speeder after the first acts, not upon a sliver
in which the fibres lie straight and substantially parallel with one another, but
upon a roving which has been previously permanently twisted by a spindle and
flier. This twist which remains in the roving gives rise to kinks in the finished

page_text: thread or yarn, and also puts the fibres in a position in which the staple is liable to
be injured or broken when the roving is subjected to the drawing operation. Owing
to these and other objections which attend the method of manufacture referred
to, the thread or yarn made from the roving is harsh, kinky, and lacking in
strength.
The object of my Invention is to overcome these objections, and this object I find
I can attain by subjecting the sliver while in untwisted condition to successive
drawing operations until it is reduced and drawn out to the proper extent, and
then, and only then, twisting said sliver into roving of proper fineness by means of
the usual flier and spindle. In other words supposing it be desired to subject the
sliver to three drawing operations, I mount in one frame at proper intervals apart
three sets of drawing-rolls through which the sliver successively passes and, dis-
pensing with fliers and spindles for the first and second sets, I employ only a flier
and spindle with the third or final set. I thus dispense with two sets of fliers and
spindles, avoid all handling of the cotton during the several drawings to which it
is subjected and make one machine do the work that has heretofore required the
use of three. The sliver, as it leaves each set of drawing rolls is a thin ribbon-liko
product too delicate and fragile to permit of its being carried to and taken by the
next set without first having been condensed and put into a more compact shape.
To this end interpose between each two adjoining sets of drawing-rolls a distinct
condensing device, which acts to compact and condense the sliver as it passes from
one set of rulls to the other, without, however putting any twist in it or exerting
any appreciable drag upon it.
I am aware that it has before been proposed to use between drawing-rolls, for the
same purpose that I have in view stationary tapering or funnel-like troughs or
tubes in order to compact without twisting the sliver as it passes along through
the machine from one set of rolls to the next set; but a device of this kind is not
--adapted for industrial use... The unavoidable drag or friction between the walls of
a stationary trough or tube, and the delicate and fragile body of sliver is sufficient
to break the latter, so that such a machine would not possess practical utility. It
is essential to obtain condensing action without exerting such strain or drag on the
Bliver as to endanger its breaking; and to this end I employ not a stationary but
a moving or rotating condenser, and I so construct this rotating condenser that it
will in moving act not only as a condenser, but also in some measure as a conveyer,
the tendency of its action being to carry along the sliver in the direction in which
it should move through the machine to such an extent as to counteract and
neutralize the drag to which the sliver would otherwise be subjected with the
injurious consequences above stated. It is this combination with two adjoining
sets of drawing rolls of an intermediate rotary condenser-by which term I intend
condenser which acts also in some sort and in the sense above indicated as a conveyer
-that mainly characterizes my Invention. By this combination of instrumentalities
I am enabled to carry the sliver uninterruptedly through as many sets of drawing
rolls as may be desired, condensing and compacting without twisting the sliver as
it passes from one set to the other in such manner as to impart to it all needed
strength and to put it into shape and condition in which it can be effectively
operated on by the set of rolls to which it may be delivered from the condenser.
Rotary condensing devices of various forms may be employed in carrying my
Invention into effect.
The preferred forin of condenser and the one which I find embraces all conditions
to successfully carry out the object I have in view is a rotary tube having a bore
cylindrical in cross section and extending spirally instead of in a right line from end
to end of the tube. In the bore the sliver is compacted and condensed and brought
from the form of a thin that ribbon to the cylindrical or approximately cylindrical
form. The object of the spiral arrangement of the bure is to counteract the
tendency to drag or friction between the walls of the bore and the sliver, which
otherwise would cause the latter to break down. When (ns is the case when
the machine is in operation) the condensing-tube rotates the tendency of the

page_text: spiral arrangement of its bore is to cause it to feed or carry forward the sliver
passing therethrough, consequently neutralizing the tendency to drag and preventing
any breaking strain coming upon the sliver from that cause. Thus the device acts
not only as a condenser, but also as a conveyor. The rotary movement of the
spirally-bored condenser, which movement is slow and bears a definite relation to
that of the sliver, imparts no appreciable twist to the sliver, which, after passing
fr. m the mouth of the condenser, passes untwisted into the bite of the succeeding
set of drawing-rolls. If the sliver were stationary during the rotation of the
condenser, it might be otherwise; but during the rotary movement of the latter the
sliver moves forward continuously, the main and only appreciable effect of the
rotary movement being to bring about the condensing of the sliver and to carry it
along without strain. Practically, and as a matter of fact, the sliver passes
untwisted between the drawing-rolls of all the sets, and is twisted and formed into
roving only after it passes the last pair of the final set of drawing-rolls. The
result, so far as the product is concerned, is that the thread or yarn made from
roving manufactured under my Invention is almost entirely free from kinks and is
much smoother, finer, and quite as strong, if not stronger, than thread or yarn
rade under the methods heretofore employed.
I prefer to rotate the condenser by means of a toothed gearing and therefore
provide the tube about midway between its ends, with a worm-gear, designed to
engage a worm on the power driven shaft. The end of the bore which is entered
by the sliver is widened out or flared gradually and evenly so as to offer no
obstruction to the entrance of the sliver.
A number of condensers are of course user between each two sets of drawing-
rolls corresponding to the number of rovings to be produced on the frame.
It is desirable that the point at which the roving enters between the drawing-
rolls should continually vary, so as to avoid grooving or wearing away the rolls in
one spot. To this end the condenser-stands are so mounted as to have a slow
movement of lateral reciprocation when the machine is running. Each set of
stands is attached to a dovetailed plate, which is arranged to slide crosswise of the
machine between gibs. Each plate is slowly reciprocated by means of an arm
jointed to the plate at one end, and at the other terminating in a strap which
encircles an excentric on a shaft extending lengthwise of the machine. This shaft
which also actuates in the same way the guide plate through which the drawing
passes to the first set of rolls, is speeded down to the degree requisite to impart slow
reciprocating movements to the plate, deriving its movement from the shaft which
drives the condenser-rotating shaft through the intermediary of worm-wheels and
worms countershafts and bevelled gears. In order to allow the worms on the
condenser-rotating shafts to follow the lateral reciprocations of the condenser-tubes,
they are united with their shafts by a spline and groove or equivalent connection.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
27th July 1882.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN ROVING MACHINERY."
A communication from abroad by William E. Whitehead and Abel T. Atherton
both of Lowell, Massachusetts, United States of America.
"
The customary way of making cotton roving for spinning purposes is to pass the
sliver which comes from the drawing frame, and which is usually termed the
drawing," through two or more speeders," so called, which reduce the sliver
ultimately to roving of the required size and quality. Each speeder consists of a
stand of drawing-rolls, by which the sliver is drawn, and a flier and spindle and
their appurtenances, by which the sliver delivered from the drawing-rolls is twisted
and wound on a bobbin. The roving produced by the first speeder is again drawn
and twisted in the second speeder, and so on, until roving of the desired fineness
is finally produced. It is usual also to double the strands of roving in each speeder,
that is to say, the second or intermediate speeder takes and condenses into one,
This
two or more rovings, such as are made by the first speeder, and so on.
It neces-
method of manufacturing roving is disadvantageous on many accounts.
sitates the employment of two or more separate machines, which not only are 1
expensive, but require the separate handling of the cotton for each machine, which
is objectionable, inasmuch-as the material, in order to obtain the best results,
should be handled as little as possible. Furthermore, each speeder after the first
acts, not upon a sliver in which the fibres lie straight and substantially parallel
with one another, but upon a roving which has been previously permanently
twisted by a spindle and flier. This twist which remains in the roving gives rise to
kinks in the finished thread or yarn, and also puts the fibre in a position in which
the staple is liable to be injured or broken when the roving is subjected to the
drawing operation. Owing to these and other objections which attend the method
of manufacture referred to, the thread or yarn made from the roving is harsh liable
to kink, and lacking in strength.
The object of the said Invention is to overcome these objections, and this object
I attain by subjecting the sliver while in an untwisted condition to successive
drawing operations until it is reduced and drawn out to the proper extent, and
then, and only then, twisting the said sliver into roving of proper fineness by means
of the usual flier and spindle. In other words, if it is desired to subject the sliver
to three drawing operations, I mount in one frame, at proper intervals apart, three
sets of drawing-rolls, through which the sliver successively passes, and, dispensing
with fliers and spindles for the first and second sets, I employ a flier and spindle
with the third or final set. I thus dispense with two sets of fliers and spindles,
avoid all handling of the cotton during the several drawings to which it is sub-
jected, and make one machine do the work that has heretofore required the
uso of three. The sliver, as it leaves each set of drawing-rolls, is a thin ribbon-
like product, too delicate and fragile to permit of its being carried to and taken by
the next set, without first having been condensed and put into a more compact
shape. To this end I interpose between each two adjoining sets of drawing-rolls
a distinct condensing device, which acts to compact and condense the sliver as it
passes from one set of rolls to the other without however putting any twist in it
or exerting any appreciable drag upon it.
I am aware that it has before been proposed to use between drawing-rolls, for

page_text: the same purpose that I have in view, stationary tapering or funnel-like troughs
or tubes in order to compact, without twisting, the sliver as it passes along through
the machine from one set of rolls to the next set; but a device of this kind is not
adapted for industrial use. The unavoidable drag or friction between the walls of
a stationary trough or tube and the delicate and fragile body of sliver is sufficient
to break the latter, so that such a machine would not possess practical utility, it is
essential to obtain condensing action without exerting such strain or drag upon the
sliver as to endanger its breaking; and to this end I employ not a stationary but
a moving or rotating condenser, and I so construct this rotating condenser that it
will in moving act not only as a condenser, but also in some measure as a conveyer,
the tendency of its action being to carry along the sliver in the direction in which
it should move through the machine to such an extent as to counteract and
neutralize the drag to which the sliver would otherwise be subjected with the
injurious consequences above stated. It is this combination, with two adjoining
sets of drawing-rolls, of an intermediate rotary condenser-by which term I intend
a condenser which acts also in some sort and in the sense above indicated as a
conveyer-that characterizes my Invention. By this combination I am enabled to
carry the sliver uninterruptedly through as many sets of drawing-rolls as may be
desired, condensing and compacting without twisting, the sliver as it passes from
one set to the other in such manner as to impart to it all needed strength and to
put it into shape and condition in which it can be effectively operated on by the
set of rolls to which it may be delivered from the condenser.
Rotary condensing devices of various forms may be employed in carrying the
said Invention into effect.
The form of condenser which I prefer to employ and which embraces all
conditions necessary to successfully carry out the object in view, is a rotary tube
having a bore cylindrical in cross-section and extending spirally, instead of in a
right line, from end to end of the tube. In the bore the sliver is compacted and
condensed, and brought from the form of a thin flat ribbon to the cylindrical or
approximately cylindrical form. The object of the spiral arrangement of the bore
is to counteract the tendency to drag, or friction between the walls of the bore and
the sliver, which otherwise would cause the latter to break down. When (as is the
case when the machine is in opération) the condensing-tube rotates the tendency
of the spiral arrangement of its bore is to cause it to feed or carry forward the
sliver passing therethrough, consequently neutralizing the tendency to drag and
preventing any breaking strain coming upon the sliver from that cause. Thus the
device acts not only as a condenser, but also as a conveyer. The rotary movement
of the spirally-bored condenser, which movement is slow and bears a definite
relation to that of the sliver, imparts no appreciable twist to the sliver, which, after
passing from the mouth of the condenser, passes untwisted into the bite of the
succeeding set of drawing-rolls. If the sliver were stationary during the rotation
of the condenser, it might be otherwise; but, during the rotary movement of the
latter, the sliver moves forward continuously, the main and only appreciable effect
of the rotary movement being to bring about the condensing of the sliver and to
carry it along without strain. Practically, and as a matter of fact, the sliver passes
untwisted between the drawing-rolls of all the sets, and is twisted and formed into
a roving only after it passes the last pair of the final set of drawing-rolls. The
result, so far as the product is concerned, is that the thread or yarn made from
roving manufactured under the said Invention is almost entirely free from kinks
and is much smoother, finer, and quite as strong, if not stronger, than thread or
yarn made under the methods heretofore employed.
The nature of the said Invention and the manner in which the same is or may
be carried into effect will be understood by reference to the accompanying Drawing,
in which-
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine embodying the said Invention.
Figure 2 is a side elevation, drawn to an enlarged scale, of the head or upper part
of the fame which normiss the stands of the deamine salla

page_text: Figure 3 is a plan, drawn to the same scale, of a portion of the machine.
Figure 4 is a side elevation of the condenser, together with a sectional elevation
of its supporting stand on the line 4, 4, Figure 5.
Figure 5 is a section on the line 5, 5, Figure 4.
Figure 6 is a sectional elevation on the line 6, 6, Figure 7 and
Figure 7 is an elevation of that end of the condenser which the sliver enters.
Figures 4 to 7 inclusive are drawn to an enlarged scale.
Like letters indicate the same parts throughout the Drawing.
The frame of the machine is indicated at A. Upon the platen or top plate
of the frame are mounted the stands which carry the drawing-rolls and the
condensers. There are, in the machine shewn in the Drawing, three sets of
drawing-rolls, each carried by a stand B secured to the platen. Each set of
drawing-rolls consists of three pairs of rolls a, b, c, which are mounted in their
stand and driven in the usual manner. In each set the "draw" is effected prin-
cipally between the second and third pairs b, c, the second pair b revolving slightly
faster than the first pair a, while the third pair c, of rolls of greater diameter than
those of the other pairs, revolves at a considerably greater peripheral speed than the
first pair; and the initial pair a of each set of rolls revolves at the same peripheral
speed as that of the terminal pair c of the set of rolls next in rear, relatively to the
movement of the material through the machine, in order to avoid undue draught
on the sliver passing from one set of rolls to the next succeeding set. The drawing-
rolls of each set are arranged in a manner similar to that employed heretofore in
speeders, and the gearing for driving the same may be of any ordinary or suitable
kind well known to thoso skilled in the art to which the said Invention pertains.
I consequently omit description of the same, and have also omitted the same from
the Drawing, in order not to obscure those parts of the machine in which the said
Invention is more particularly comprised.
The several sets of drawing-rolls obtain motion, each independently of the other,
from the shaft I, hereinafter referred to, the initial rolls of each set receiving their
motion from the shaft by means of intermediate shafting and gearing, so arranged
and proportioned that each initial pair of rolls will have the same peripheral speed
as the terminal pair of rolls of the set next in the rear. The second and terminal
pairs of rolls of each set obtain movement from the initial pair of that set by means
of gearing in the usual manner.
At the delivery end of the machine beyond the terminal set of drawing-rolls are
the spindle and flier, or equivalent devices, for twisting the sliver into roving and
winding the roving upon the spools or bobbins, one of which spindles and fliers is
shewn at O. At the other end of the machine are placed the cans (one of which is
shewn at D) containing the drawing to be operated upon in the machine. The
material from the can passes between and is acted upon by the drawing-rolls of the
different sets successively, until, after having been reduced and drawn out to a
sliver of the proper size, it passes from the terminal set of drawing-rolls to the
flier and spindle, where it is twisted and wound in the usual manner. Inasmuch,
however, as the sliver, when passing from one set of drawing-rolls, is a thin ribbon-
like product, too fragile and attenuated to be acted upon by another set of drawing-
rolls without having first been condensed or brought to a shape in which it may
again be drawn without being broken or ruptured, it becomes necessary to combine
with the sets of drawing-rolls means, intermediate between adjoining sets, for con-
densing the sliver as it passes from one set to the other; but in this condensing
operation it is important, for reasons hereinbefore stated, to avoid putting a twist in
the sliver or subjecting it to injurious drag or strain. To this end I combine with
any two adjoining sets of rolls an intermediate rotary condenser, which acts upon
the sliver, as it passes from one set of rolls to the other, to compact and condense it,
and bring it from the flat to the cylindrical, or approximately cylindrical, form
without exercising twisting action upon it.
The form of condenser which answers all these conditions, and which I believe to
be practically the best adapted to effectuate the said Invention is represented in

page_text: the Drawing. It may, in a general way, be described as a rotatory tube, having a
bore, substantially cylindrical in cross-section, extending through the tube, not in a
right line, but in a spiral, or, in other words, a cylindrical bore extending spirally
from end to end of the tube. Through this spiral bore of cylindrical cross section
the sliver passes and is condensed therein without being twisted. The conditions
under which this condenser can most successfully be used may be gathered from
the following-Assuming that the spiral on which the bore is formed is of such a
pitch as to make one turn in two inches, then the rate of rotation of the condenser-
tube on its axis relatively to the travel of the sliver should be such that the tube
will make one revolution while tho sliver travels forward two inches or thereabout.
Under these conditions the spirally-bored tubo acts as a conveyer to carry along
the sliver through it, overcoming the tendency to drag due to friction. It also acts
to condense and compact the sliver, and bring it to cylindrical form without
twisting it.
I prefer to make the condenser by cutting a spiral bore of cylindrical cross-
section in a brass core d, (the slot through which the boring tool works in cutting
the bore being shewn at Figure 6). After the core is spirally bored, it is driven
tightly into an iron or steel tube C, provided with a nozzle C³, and with a flanged
rear end C.
I prefer to rotate the condenser by means of toothed gearing, and therefore
provide the tubo C about midway between its ends with a worm wheel d' designed
to engage with a worm e on the power-driven shaft E hereinafter referred to.
The end of the bore which is entered by the sliver is widened out gradually
and evenly as shown in Figure 6, so as to offer no obstruction to the entrance of
the sliver.
The condenser-stand D' is formed with an opening to permit the unobstructed
passage of the shaft E, and with bearings to receive the cylindrical parts of the
tube C on each side of the central worm-wheel d'. The tube, when in this position,
is held in place by a hinged cover D³, which fits down over the journals and forms
in effect the upper half of the bearings. The tube is prevented from endwiso
movement in the stand by the flange C and worm-wheel d'. A spring-latch f
holds the cover D³ down, and permits the latter to be raised whenever it becomes
necessary to remove the condenser. The stand is placed in the machine so that
the nozzle of its condensing tube shall be close to the first pair of the set of
drawing-rolls in front, as indicated in Figures 1, 2 and 3. The direction of rotation
of the condenser is indicated by the arrow thereon.
A number of condensers are used between each two sets of drawing-rolls,
corresponding to the number of rovings to be produced on the frame.
It is desirable that the point at which the roving enters between the drawing-
rolls should continually vary, so as to avoid grooving or wearing away the rolls in
one part. To this end the condenser-stands are so mounted as to have a slow
movement of lateral reciprocation when the machine is running. A convenient
arrangement for the purpose is shewn in the Drawing. Each set of stands is
attached to a dovetailed plate F which is arranged to slide transversely of the
machine between guides g. Each plate F is slowly reciprocated by means of an
arm h jointed to the plate at one end, and at the other terminating in a strap h¹
which encircles an excentric on a shaft G, extending lengthwise of the machine.
This shaft, which also actuates in the same way the guide-plate i, through
which the drawing passes to the first set of rolls, is speeded down to the degree
requisite to impart slow reciprocating movements to the plate, deriving its
movement from the shaft H, which drives the condenser-rotating shaft E through
the intermediary of worm-wheels, and worms j, j, k, k', counter-shafts 1, 1, and
bevelled gear wheels m, m'. The shafts E which communicate rotary movement
to the several sets of condenser-tubes, are actuated by means of the gear
wheels H H and shafting I, the latter receiving its movement from the main
shaft J. In order to allow the worms e on the shafts E to follow the lateral

page_text: reciprocations of the condenser-tubes, each of them is united with its shaft E by a
spline and groove as indicated in Figures 4 and 5, or equivalent connection.
Having thus fully described the said invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondents, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I do not confine myself to the details herein before described, as the same may
be varied to a considerable extent without departing from the nature of the said
Invention; but I claim,
First. The rotating tubular condenser, provided with a spiral bore of cylindrical,
or approximately cylindrical, cross-section, substantially as, and for the purposes, set
forth.
Second. The combination, with two sets of drawing-rolls, of an intermediate
rotating condenser, arranged and operating to compact and condense, without
twisting, the sliver as it passes from one set of rolls to the other, substantially as,
and for the purposes, set forth.
Third. The combination of two or more sets of drawing-rolls, rotating condensers
between each two sets of drawing-rolls arranged and operating to compact and
condense the moving sliver without putting twist therein, and means for twisting
and winding the sliver after it passes from the terminal set of drawing rolls, all
substantially as, and for the purposes, set forth.
Fourth. The combination, with the condenser-stand and the means for imparting
lateral reciprocatory motion to the same, of the condenser-tube and the rotary
driving-shaft, provided with a sliding worm engaging with a corresponding worm-
wheel on the condenser tube, substantially as and for the purposes, set forth.
In witness whereof I the said William Robert Lake have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Twenty seventh day of July in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty two.