AN IM- PROVED SYSTEM OF AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING FLAX, HEMP, JUTE, RHEEA, AND OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS, WHETHER THE SAME HAVE OR. HAVE NOT BEEN PREVIOUSLY PREPARED OR MANUFACTURED.
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Walker, of Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Consulting Engineer, for the Invention of "AN IM-
PROVED SYSTEM OF AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING FLAX, HEMP, JUTE,
RHEEA, AND OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS, WHETHER THE SAME HAVE OR. HAVE
NOT BEEN PREVIOUSLY PREPARED OR MANUFACTURED.
"
Scaled the 24th February 1874, and dated the 2nd September 1873.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Walker at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
2nd September 1873.
I, WILLIAM WALKER, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster,
Consulting Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "AN IMPROVED SYSTEM OF AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING FLAX,
HEMP, JUTE, RHEEA, AND OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS, WHETHER THE SAME HAVE
'OB HAVE NOT BEEN PREVIOUSLY PREPARED OR MANufactured,' to be as
follows, that is to say :—
"
This Invention has for its object certain improvements in the treat-
ment of hemp, flax, jute, rheea, or China grass, New Zealand hemp or

page_text: grass, Manilla hemp, aloe fibre, cocoa or coir, and other analogous
fibrous materials for the purpose of separating the woody and other
extraneous matter therefrom, and for softening, separating, and otherwise
treating the fibres, be they either in a raw, partially prepared, or manu-
factured state, in a superior, expeditious, and economical manner, and 5
in the apparatus for performing those operations.
A machine constructed according to this Invention may consist of
two open reels formed with a disc at each end, having (say) four or more
short radial arms projecting from the periphery of the discs, which by
preference are formed in one piece, and the ends of the reels and each 1
pair of discs are connected together by parallel transverse bars extending
from the arms on one disc to corresponding arms on the other, thus
forming an open reel; which may be of any required size.
It has been found by actual experiment that discs and radial arms
having a diameter of about two to three fect, and the connecting bars of
from one foot six inches to two feet six inches are convenient sizes,
but of course these dimensions and proportions may be varied to suit
circumstances, for where materials of very long fibre are to be treated,
such as New Zealand hemp, it would be desirable to increase the
diameter of the discs and the length of the arms, and for short fibres
they may be of smaller dimensions.
The transverse parallel bars are pierced with a number of holes,
through which work a series of parallel heckle pins or teeth or knife-
like blades, as herein-after explained. Each disc is formed with a
hollow sleeve or collar projecting outwards, and cach reel is mounted
within a suitable frame on a pair of horizontal fixed axles or trunnions
secured to the framework. The recls are so placed that each pair of
axles are in line, and each pair parallel with one- another, and by
preference arranged in a vertical line onc above the other, and their
axles so placed that on being rotated (which they are in opposite
directions) the outer paths of the radial arms slightly intersect each
other. From one side of the inner ends of each trunnion or fixed axle,
on which the reels rotate, springs a short horizontal fixed axle or stud,
to each of which are jointed two short link rods, one above the other;
the inner one is on its outer end jointed to a sliding bar working on the
inner surface of the disc, and held in position by suitable guides. This
slide bar is formed with a heart or other suitably shaped loop to allow

page_text: of its rotating eccentrically round the stud, to which it is connected by
the short link rod above described. The opposite side of the reel is
fitted with a like slide bar, and connected with the fixed stud by a like
link. The outer ends of these two parallel slide bars are each connected
together (a little within the transverse bars of the reel) by a pair of
parallel bars, which are parallel with the rigid bars of the reel. The
bars on the end of the slide rods carry one, two, three, or more rows of
heckle pins, teeth, or knife-like blades, which are free to work through
the holes which correspond thereto in the reel bars. The reel is also
fitted with a second pair of parallel slide bars at right angles to the first,
and which are in every way fitted and mounted in a like. manner,
except that in place of being formed with a heart or other suitably
shaped loop in their length they are simply cranked in the centre of
their length to allow their working clear of the lower bar, and they are
jointed to the fixed studs by the upper link rods. The upper and lower
reels are counterparts of each other.
By the foregoing description of the arrangements of the parts it will
be seen that if the pair of fixed studs (on the inner ends of the fixed
trunnions) on which cach recl is mounted are accurately adjusted in the
same plane on the recl being rotated the several sets of heckle teeth or
knife-like blades will advance and recede through the openings in the
reel bars equally at every part of their path.
The link rods connecting the sliding bars, carrying the heckle pins,
may be dispensed with by forming the slide bars with a cross piece in
the centre, having a slotted opening at right angles to the body of the
slide bar to receive the stud; or again, the sliding bars may be formed
in two parts, each jointed to a loose garter surrounding the fixed stud
by an intermediate link; or the two semi-slide bars may be connected
together by an intermediate link, in which case the lower or inner ends
of the semi-bars are provided with a lateral stud fitted with. an anti-
friction roller travelling within a hollow cam or eccentric formed on or
attached to the inner ends of the trunnions, on which the reels revolve;
or the link may be fitted as a balance beam having its fulcrum on the
fixed stud described; or straight slide bars, which carry the gill bars on
both ends, may be substituted by simply forming two transverse feet
on one side of each so as to be in contact with the periphery of a fixed
eccentric on the ends of the trunnions on which the reels rotate. But
it is preferred to use the fixed stud and link rods first described.

page_text: "
The upper and lower reels are geared so that they rotate in unison,
but in opposite directions, by means of a pair of toothed wheels keyed
on to the sleeves of the réels or secured to the ends of the same in any
other convenient way, but it is preferred to secure to the outer side of
one or both ends of the. reels a driving pulley, having a number of
projections on the centre or middle line of the periphery, and to use a
driving band to connect them, which is perforated to receive the pro-
jections; or two parallel driving bands connected together at intervals
by transverse tics may be used, the object being to prevent the slipping
of the same on either of the pulleys, which might cause the reel bars to
come into contact with each other.
When the band or bands are driven from above the said band or bands
are passed round the bottom of the lower pulley, and one fold brought
up over and under the upper pulley,' and over one side and partially
round the top thereof, and thence round a larger pulley on the driving
shaft, by which arrangement the reels are driven in the desired direction,
and the two folds of the strap or straps can pass cach other without
being in contact. When driven from below the band or bands are simply
reversed, as will be readily understood.
The reels may be driven from ono or both ends, and when they are
long it might be desirable to drive from both ends to prevent the
possibility of the reels being strained.
In treating long fibre, such as Manilla and New Zealand hemp, in
place of enlarging the reels it may be desirable to use a second pair of
reels, and so forth, placed in front of tho first, and driving the same at
a somewhat greater speed than the first pair.
To insure perfect lubrication of the fixed axles there is drilled or
otherwise formed a longitudinal hole through cach, which holes are
closed at the inner ends to prevent the lubricating material escaping in
that direction. From these longitudinal passages lateral holes are formed
leading directly on to the rubbing parts of the axles of the reels and the
fixed studs thereon, the oil or other lubricator being supplied from oil
cups fitted on to the outer ends of the trunnions, by which arrangement
a constant and uniform lubrication is insured during the time the
machine is at work, and it has been found by actual experiment that
this is important, the best results being attained when the machine is

page_text: driven at a high speed, say from two hundred and fifty revolutions and
upwards per minute.
On the frame of the machine in rear of the gill reels is mounted a set
of two, three, or more horizontal deeply fluted rollers so as to deliver
the material to be operated upon immediately between the gill reels.
These fluted rollers have the effect of breaking and softening as well as
evenly delivering the material to be dressed by the gill reels.
.
Where short fibrous materials are to be operated upon, or where it is
desirable to dress long fibres as near to the end as practicable, the fluted
rollers are set backwards and in front thereof, that is to say between tho
rollers and the gill reels. Several devices are used to meet the varying
exigencies of the operation, such as using a feed apron to receive the
fibrous material from the fluted feed and softening rollers, and carrying
it forward on to a narrow transverse stationary table or bar, the one
longitudinal edge of which is fixed so as to be as nearly in contact with
the gill teeth as practicable, and the other edge as near to the upper
surface of the travelling apron from which the charge is received as can
bc. Above there is fitted a lever or oscillating bar which extends. along
the length of the fixed bar table, and fitted at each end with a lever arm
projecting obliquely backwards, and kept up by a spring attached at
one end to the top of the lever and at the other to the frame of the
machine.
In the rear of this flap lever is fitted a relief lever, which can be acted
upon by the attendant, and at the back of the nipping flap there is a
revolving shaft which carries a cam or cams, which periodically elevate
and relcase the gripper to allow the material being operated upon to.
advance towards the gill reels. In this arrangement it is preferred to
actuate the feed apron by a ratchet motion so as to throw forward the
supply at the moment the nipping flap is clevated by the cam. This
arrangement may be modified and the vibrating clip flap dispensed with
by substituting therefor a rigid bar of suitable shape and fitting the
ends of the feed table or apron with a like bar parallel thereto, which is
jointed to the frame at each end and actuated by a cam or other like
motion so as to cause it to open and close with a jaw-like action; or a
pressure lever somewhat like the pressure flap first described may be
used with feed lever so arranged as to advance and push forward the
supply at the desired moment, and which clevates the pressure lever.

page_text: On the return stroke the pressure or grip lever immediately comes into
action again.
In all cases it is preferred that the feed gear should be actuated inde-.
pendently of the gill reels that it may be stopped or reversed while the
gills continue in motion, for at the high rate they travel to bring them
to rest or to reverse them would be a waste both of power and of time,
and it is preferred to drive the feed gear by friction that it may be
instantly stopped or reversed by the attendant through a hand or foot
lever.
The materials to be operated upon are simply supplied lengthwise to 1
the feed roller directly by hand or on to a feed apron.
In the case of old ropes and other cordage they are first unstranded
and then the twist taken out of the strands, when the material may be
coiled away into baskets or wound on to reels ready for being passed
through the machine. The unstranding and untwisting of the strands
may be conveniently done by the aid of a common jack or rope-
makers' whirl.
As the finished material comes from the machine it may be allowed to
fall on the floor of the room or into any suitable receptacle, but it is
preferred to allow it to fall on to a long travelling apron by preferences
made of an open perforated web that the dust and shive may fall
from the fibre, which is then received into a suitable receptacle or
divided into such portions as to form slivers suitable for spinning,
caulking, or other purposes.
When used for caulking it is preferred to compress the slivers by
passing them between transverse and longitudinal rollers, the axles
of which are at various angles. The transverse may be grooved round
their faces, and the longitudinal ones formed with special grooves or
screws to cause the sliver to pass between them, by which operation
round and compact slivers without twist are produced suitable for
caulking, and which can be balled or placed on reels for usc.
The longitudinal rollers may be smooth if mounted in reciprocating
bearings, so that the thread may be withdrawn therefrom after being
sufficiently rolled and to allow the following portions of the slivers to
be drawn in between the rollers to be rounded up in the same way. In
this case endless aprons may be used in combination with the smooth

page_text: rollers, and in the other case some of the rollers may be smooth and
others spiral-grooved to give the necessary delivery draw. The longi-
tudinal rollers may have an alternate motion round their axes.
In some cases beaters are used, which act on the travelling screen to
rollers, and in the other case some of the rollers may be smooth and
others spiral-grooved to give the necessary delivery draw. The longi-
tudinal rollers may have an alternate motion round their axes.
In some cases heaters are rised, which act on the travelling screen to
facilitate the separation of the dust, woody matter, and shive from the
fibre.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Walker in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 2nd March 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
WALKER, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Consulting Engineer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Second day of September, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in
the thirty-seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and
successors, give and grant unto me, the said William Walker, Her
special license that I, the said William Walker, my executors, admi-
nistrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Walker,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
SCAN
IMPROVED SYSTEM OF AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING FLAX, HEMP, JUTE, Rheea,
AND OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS, WHETHER THE SAME HAVE OR HAVE NOT BEEN
PREVIOUSLY PREPARED OR MANUFACTURED," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said William Walker, my executors or administrators,
by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands
and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,
and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within
six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Walker, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, that is to say :-
This my said Invention has for its object certain improvements in the
treatment of hemp, flax, jute, rhcca or China grass, New Zealand hemp
or grass, Manilla hemp, aloè fibre, cocoa or coir, and other analogous
fibrous materials, for the purpose of separating the woody and other
extraneous matter therefrom, and for softening, separating, and otherwise
treating the fibres, be they either in a raw, partially prepared, or manu-
factured state, in a superior, expeditious, and economical manner, and in
the apparatus for performing those operations.
A machine constructed according to this my said Invention may
consist of two open recls formed with a disc at each end, having (say)
four or more short radial arms projecting from the periphery of the disc, 1
which by preference I form in one piece, and the ends of the reels and
cach pair of discs are connected together by parallel transverse bars
extending from the arms on one disc to corresponding arms on the other,
thus forming an open reel, which may be of any required size.
I have found by actual experiment that discs and radial arms having a
a diameter of about two to three feet and the connecting bars of from
one foot six inches to two feet six inches are convenient sizes, but of
course these dimensions and proportions may be varied to suit circum-
stances, for where materials of very long fibro àre to be treated, such as
New Zealand hemp, it would be desirable to increase the diameter of the
discs and the length of the arms, and for short fibres they may be of
smaller dimensions.
1
The transverse parallel bars are pierced with a number of holes,
through which work a series of parallel heckle pins, or teeth, or knife-
like blades, as hercin-after explained. Each disc I form with a hollow a
sleeve or collar projecting outwards, and each reel I mount within a
suitable frame or a pair of horizontal fixed axles or trunnions secured to
the framework. The reels I so place that cach pair of axles are in a line,
and each pair parallel with one another, and by preference arranged in a
vertical line one above the other, and their axles so placed that on being.
rotated (which they are in opposite directions) the outer paths of the
radial arms slightly intersect each other. From one side of the inner

page_text: ends of each trunnion or fixed axle on which the wheels rotate springs
a short horizontal fixed axle or stud, to cach of which are jointed
two short link rods, onc above the other; the inner one is on its outer
end jointed to a sliding bar working on the inner surface of the disc, and
held in position by suitable guides. This slide bar is formed with a heart
or other suitably shaped loop to allow of its rotating excentrically round
the stud, to which it is connected by the short link rod above described.
The opposite side of the reel is fitted with a like slide bar, and connected
with the fixed stud by a like link. The outer ends of theso two parallel
slide bars are each connected together (a little within the transverse bars
of the reel) by a pair of parallel bars, which are parallel with the rigid
bars of the reel. The.bars on the end of the slide rods carry one, two,
three, or more rows of heckle pins, or teeth, or knife-like blades, which
are free to work through the holes which correspond thereto in the reel
bars. The recl is also fitted with a second pair of parallel slide bars at
right angles to the first, and which are in every way fitted and mounted
in a like manner, except that in place of being formed with a heart or
other suitably shaped loop in their length, they are simply cranked in
the centre of their length to allow their working clear of the lower bar,
and they are jointed to the fixed studs by the upper link rods. The
upper and lower reels are counterparts of each other.
By the foregoing description of the arrangements of the parts it will
bc scen that if the pair of fixed studs (on the inner ends of the fixed
trunnions) on which cach reel is mounted are accurately adjusted in the
same plane, on the reel being rotated the several sets of heckle teeth or
knife-like blades will advance and recede through the openings in the recl
bars equally at every part of their path.
The link rods connecting the sliding bars carrying the heckle pins
may be dispensed with by forming the slide bars with a cross piece in
the centre, having a slotted opening at right angles to the body of the
slide bar to receive the stud; or, again, thic sliding bars may be formed
in two parts, each jointed to a loose garter surrounding the fixed stud
by an intermediate link; or the two semi-slide bars may be connected
together by an intermediate link, in which case the lower or inner ends
of the semi-bars are provided with a lateral stud, fitted with an anti-
friction roller travelling within a hollow cam or eccentric formed on or
attached to the inner ends of the trunnions on which the reals revolve;
or the link may be fitted as a balance beam, having its fulcrum on the

page_text: fixed stud described; or straight slide bars, which carry the gill bars on
both ends, may be substituted by simply forming two transverse feet on
one side of each, so as to be in contact with the periphery of a fixed
eccentric on the ends of the trunnions on which the reels rotate. But it
is preferred to use the fixed stud and link rods first described.
The upper and lower reels are geared so that they rotate in unison but
in opposite directions by means of a pair of toothed wheels keyed on to
the sleeves of the reels or secured to the ends of the same in any other
convenient way, but it is preferred to secure to the outer side of one or
both ends of the reels a driving pulley having a number of projections
on the centre or middle line of the periphery, and to use a driving band
to connect them, which is perforated to receive the projections, or two
parallel driving bands connected together at intervals by transverse ties
may be used, the object being to prevent the slipping of the same on
either of the pullies which might cause the reel bars to come into con-
tact with each other.
When the band or bands are driven from above, the said band or bands
are passed round the bottom of the lower pulley and one fold brought
up over and under the upper pulley and over one side and partially
round the top thereof, and thence round a larger pulley on the driving
shaft, by which arrangement the reels are driven in the desired direction,.
and the two folds of the strap or straps can pass cach other without
being in contact. When driven from below, the band or bands are
.simply reversed, as will be readily understood.
The reels may be driven from one or both ends, and when they are
long it might be desirable to drive from both ends to prevent the
possibility of the reels being strained.
In treating long fibres, such as Manilla and New Zealand hemp, in
place of enlarging the reels, it may be desirable to use a second pair of
reels and so forth, placed in front of the first and driving the same at a
somewhat greater speed than the first pair.
To insure perfect lubrication of the fixed axles, these I drill or other-
wise form with longitudinal holes, through each which holes are closed at
.the inner ends to prevent the lubricating material escaping in that
direction. From these longitudinal passages lateral holes are formed
loading directly on to the rubbing parts of the axles of the reels and the

page_text: fixed studs thereon, the oil or other lubricator being supplied from oil
cups fitted on to the outer ends of the trunnions, by which arrangement
a constant and uniform lubrication is insured during the time the machine
is at work, and I have found by actual experiment that this is important,
the best results being attained when the machine is driven at a high
speed, say from 250 revolutions and upwards per minute.
On the frame of the machine in rear of the gill reels is mounted a set
of two, three, or more horizontal deeply fluted rollers, so as to deliver
the material to be operated upon immediately between the gill reels.
These fluted rollers have the effect of breaking and softening as well as
evenly delivering the material to be dressed by the gill reels.
Where short fibrous materials are to be operated upon, or whero it is
desirable to dress long fibres as near to the end as practicable, the fluted
rollers I set backwards, and in front thereof, that is to say, between the
rollers and the gill reels I use several devices to meet the varying
exigences of the operation, such as using a feed apron to receive the
fibrous material from the fluted feed and softening rollers, and carrying
it forward on to a narrow transverse stationary table or bar, the one
longitudinal edge of which is fixed so as to be as nearly in contact with
the gill teeth as practicable, and the outer edge as near to the upper
surface of the travelling apron from which the charge is received as can
.be. Above there is fitted a lever or oscillating bar, which extends along
the length of the fixed bar table, and fitted at each end with a lever arm
projecting obliquely backwards and kept up by a spring attached at one
end to the top of the lever and at the other to the frame of the
machine.
In the rear of this flap lever is fitted a relief lever, which can be acted
upon by the attendant, and at the back of the nipping flap there is a
revolving shaft, which carries a cam or cams which periodically elevate
and release the gripper to allow the material being operated upon to
advance towards the gill reels. In this arrangement it is preferred to
actuate the feed apron by a ratchet motion, so as to throw forward the
supply at the moment the nipping flap is elevated by the cam. This
arrangement may be modified and the vibrating clip flap dispensed with
by substituting therefor a rigid bar of suitable shape, and fitting the
ends of the feed table or apron with a like bar parallel thereto, which is
jointed to the frame at cach end and actuated by a cam or other like

page_text: motion so as to cause it to open and close with a jaw-like action, or a
pressure lever somewhat like the pressure flap first described may be
used with feed lever so arranged as to advance and push forward the
supply at the desired moment, and which clevates the pressure lever.
On the return stroke the pressure or grip lever immediately comes into
action again.
In all cases it is preferred that the feed gear should be actuated inde-
pendently of the gill reels that it may be stopped or reversed while the
gills continue in motion, for at the high rate they travel to bring them
to rest or to reverse them would be a waste both of power and of time, ]
and it is preferred to drive the feed gear by friction that it may be
instantly stopped or reversed by the attendant through a hand or foot
lever.
The materials to be operated upon are simply supplied lengthwise to
the feed roller directly by hand or on to a feed apron.
In the case of old ropes and other cordage they are first unstranded
and then the twist taken out of the strands when the material may bo
coiled away into baskets or wound on to reels ready for being passed
through the machine. The unstranding and untwisting of the strands
may be conveniently done by the aid of a common jack or ropemaker's
whirl.
J
As the finished material comes from the machine it may be allowed to
fall on the floor of the room or into any suitable receptacle, but it is
preferred to allow it to fall on to a long travelling apron, by preference
made of an open or perforated web, that the dust and shive may fall:
from the fibre which is then received into a suitable receptacle or
divided into such portions as to form slivers suitable for spinning,
caulking, or other purposes.
When used for caulking it is preferred to compress the slivers by
passing them between transverse and longitudinal rollers, the axles of a
which are at various angles. The transverse may be grooved round
their faces, and. the longitudinal ones formed with spiral grooves or
scrows to cause the sliver to pass between them, by which operation
round and compact slivers without twist are produced suitable for
caulking, and which can be balled or placed on recls for usc.
The longitudinal rollers may be smooth if mounted in reciprocating
bearings so that the thread may be withdrawn therefrom after being

page_text: sufficiently rolled, and to allow the following portions of the slivers to be
drawn in between the rollers to be rounded up in the same way. In
this case endless aprons may be used in combination with the smooth
rollers, and in the other case some of the rollers may be smooth and
others spirally grooved to give the necessary delivery desired. The
longitudinal rollers may have an alternate motion round their axes.
In some cases beaters are used which act on the travelling screen to
facilitate the separation of the dust, woody matter, and shive from the
fibre.
That this my said Invention may be the more roadily seen and under-
stood I have hereunto annexed Drawings of so much of the same as is
requisite to illustrate its practicable application. Like letters and
figures marked on the Drawings are used to denote similar parts.
•
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a dressing and softening machine con-
structed according to one modification of my Invention, and Figure 2
is a front elevation, and Figuro 3 is a plan or top view of the same.
Figure 4 shows an enlarged plan of one half of one of the sliding bars
which carry the gill teeth bars and is jointed by the link rod L to M, a
solid fixed stud formed on the face of a disc on the end of F, fixed trunnion
or axle on which the gill reels rotate, the reverse end of which is seen
broken off for economising space on the Sheet of Drawings; Figure 5 is
a section of the same taken through a line from a to b. Figure 6 illus-
trates a modification of the arrangement for working the gill bars, shown in
Figure 5, and Figure 7 is another modification as well as Figure 8 is
also another arrangement of the motion. Figure 9 is a side view of an
arrangement of self-acting feed apparatus, and Figure 10 is another
arrangement for the same purpose which is also self acting, and
Figure 11 is a view of another modification of the apparatus for feeding
and holding the fibres to be operated upon. A (Figures 1, 2, and 3),
stationary frame of the machine; B, fixed axles or trunnions on which
are mounted C, the gill reels, and which are scen fitted on each side
with D, driving pulleys which I prefer to form with projections on the
periphery which take into corresponding openings in the driving straps
to insure uniformity of speed in the upper and lower reels E, (Figure 1)
first driving pulley; F, (Figures 4 and 5) fixed trunnion or axle, shown
enlarged, for convenience only partially seen, on which is mounted
and rotates G, the armed discs which form the sides of the reels, and

page_text: H, transverse parallel bars which connect the two sides of the reel, and
which are perforated to receive I, the gill teeth which are secured to J,
transverse parallel bars attached to K, sliding bars actuated through L,
link rod, one end of which is jointed to the sliding bar K and'the other
to M, a solid stud formed on the inner face of the disc on the fixed
axis F. N (Figures 6 and 7) shows an axle the same as that seen in
Figures 4 and 5; P (Figure 6) are two rods set at right angles to each
other, and being slotted in the centre and confined by the stud N on
rotation impart the desired reciprocating motion to the gill bars.
Q (Figure 7) is a garter encompassing the fixed stud N, and to which
are jointed R, link rods which are again jointed at their outer ends to
..the reciprocating gill bars K. S (Figure 8) shows the end of a fixed
eccentric ended shaft; T, two straight bars which carry the gill bars on
their outer ends, and have imparted thereto a motion in the same way
as those already described by t, cross bars fixed to the sides of the rods.
U, (Figure 9) an oblique Ṭ headed lever having its fulcrum at u, which
is actuated through V, a small cam working over W, a fixed table
which is supplied with the fibre to be operated upon by X, an endless
apron. Y (Figure 10) shows a pushing feeder, which has a reciprocating
motion imparted thereto in any convenient way, and Z is a jointed flap
piece which is prevented from rising so as not to intercept the path of
the gill teeth, under this arrangement the fibre to be treated is spread
on a fixed table. d, (Figure 11) a solid bar which extends across the
machine from frame to frame, and under which is e, an oscillating bar
of a like form in section. f, a travelling feed apron which delivers the
fibre between the fixed bar d and the oscillating bar e; which latter
opening and closing periodically delivers and holds the fibre alternately.
Having now fully described and ascertained the nature of this my
said Invention, and the best means I am acquainted with for carrying
the same into practical effect, I wish it to be understood that I do not
confine myself to the precise detail proportions or dimensions, as it will
be readily seen that the same may be considerably varied without
departing from the Invention, but what I do claim is,―
First. The guiding and controlling the motion of the bars carrying
the gill teeth by a fixed centre, substantially in the manner and for the
purposes herein-beforo fully described and set forth.
Second. The peculiar arrangements of feed motions described and
illustrated by Figure 9 with the modifications shewn in Figures 10 and

page_text: 11, all operated substantially in the manner and for the purposes set
forth.
Third. The general form, arrangement, combination, and construction
and system of operating the fibre softening, cleaning, and dresssing
machine, herein-before fully described, set forth, and illustrated by
Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.
Fourth. Forming the fibres to be used for caulking into rounded
threads without or but slightly twisted direct from the delivery apron in
rear of the dressing machine, substantially in the manner and for the
purposes herein-before fully described and set forth.
Fifth. The construction of fibre-dressing machines with two or more
pairs of recls carrying the gill or heckle teeth, arranged and operated
substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein-before described
and set forth.
And, lastly. The mode of actuating the feed and softening rollers, and
system of reversing the ends of the fibres being operated upon, as applied
to and in combination with my improved fibre-dressing machine, sub-
stantially in the manner and for the purposes herein-before fully
described and set forth.
In witness whereof I, the said William Walker, have hereunto set
my hand and affixed my seal, this Second day of March, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-.
four.
WILLIAM ༼fr,s༽
WALKER