Improvements in Machinery for Washing or Scouring Wool or other Fibres.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Aug., 1897
Comentato Cannifontion Loft 28th Ann 1800 40oanted 18th June 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery for Washing or Scouring Wool or other
Fibres.
I, JOSEPH SMITH, of David Smith and Company, Limited, of Kensington Works,
Halifax, in the County of York, Wool Merchants, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
This invention refers to any ordinary form and construction of machine for
washing and scouring wool and other loose fibre, the primary object of my inven-
tion being to employ new and automatic mechanism for removing fibre from the
mechanism after it has undergone the process of washing or scouring.
In carrying out my invention I place at the delivery end of the machine, a set
or series of fallers or gill combs worked backward and forward by an upper and
lower set of screws after the manner of those employed in gill boxes, except in
this case the combs (preferably) project downwards instead of upwards. The gills
can be traversed at any required speed so that the fibre may be removed quickly
or slowly according to requirements. These travelling gill combs carry the fibre
forward direct to the nip rollers, and as the teeth of the fallers have a vertical lift
they leave the fibre without entangling it.
Dated this 19th day of August 1897.
TASKER & CROSSLEY,
Halifax, Patent Agents.
Improvements in Machinery for Washing or Scouring Wool or other
Fibres.
I, JOSEPH SMITH, of David Smith and Company, Limited, of Kensington Works,
Halifax, in the County of York, Wool Merchants, 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:-
This invention refers to any ordinary form and construction of machine for
washing and scouring wool and other loose fibre, the primary object of my inven-
tion being to employ new and automatic mechanism for removing fibre from the
machine after it has undergone the process of washing or scouring.
In carrying out my invention I place at the delivery end of the machine, a set
or series of fallers or gill combs worked backward and forward by an upper and
lower set of screws after the manner of those employed in gill boxes, except in
this case the combs (preferably) project downwards instead of upwards. The gills
can be traversed at any required speed so that the fibre may be removed quickly

page_text: or slowly according to requirements. These travelling gill combs carry the fibre
forward direct to the nip rollers, and as the teeth of the fallers have a vertical lift
they leave the fibre without entangling it.
In order that my said invention may be fully understood reference is hereinafter
had to the annexed sheet of drawings forming a part of this specification, in
which:
-
Fig. 1 is longitudinal section of the delivery end of a washing or scouring
machine having my improvements applied thereto, the same being shewn in
section taken on line x, x, of Fig. 2.
Fig. 2, is transverse elevation, partly in section, looking in the direction of
arrow y, Fig. 1.
Referring to the drawings, letter a represents the washing bowl or scouring
vessel, and b the nip rollers journalled in bearings in pedestals c between which
rollers the fibre has to pass on leaving the machine in order to squeeze the suds
and water therefrom.
The delivering end of the washing bowl a inclines or slopes toward the "nip"
of the rollers b somewhat as shewn and in order to carry the fibre from the point
where it is left by the last fork of the machine, forward and upward to the said
rollers, I employ mechanism constructed and operating in a manner similar to
the fallers or gill combs of an ordinary gill box, but in reverse order, this mechan-
ism being situated intermediate of the washing bowl and the nip rollers and
arranged at about the same angle as the delivery end of the washing bowl. The
mechanism comprises two pairs of screws d, d, and d¹, d', respectively arranged
one above the other and journalled in bearings in screw boxes or frames e-secured to
or made integral with the sides of the washing bowl a, these two pairs of screws
are rotated in opposite directions by trains of gearing f deriving motion through
bevil gears g, from a cross shaft h driven from any suitable rotating part of the
machine. Into the spaces or each alternate space between the threads of the said
two pairs of screws d¹, d, d¹, d, enter the opposite ends of fallers or gill combs k
comprising steel bars whereto are fixed rows of pins or teeth which project down-
wards from the undersides of said bars. As the screws rotate these fallers are
carried forward thereby in the direction of arrow to the ends of the screws d, d
where they are engaged, by cams m on said screws and lifted up into gear with
the top pair of screws d', d', whose reverse rotary motion carries them backward
over the lower fallers, in the direction of arrow n, to the opposite ends of such
screws when they are engaged by cams thereon and forced down into gear with
the lower screws d, d, again, this going on continuously while the machine is in
motion. The fibre carried forward by the forks in the ordinary way through the
washing bowl is delivered by the last fork to the fallers as they pass from the top
to the bottom pair of screws to commence their forward journey, the pins or teeth
of same taking hold of such fibre and carrying it forward or lifting it from the
washing bowl and delivering it to the lower nip roller which conducts it between
the said nipping rollers to have the suds and water squeezed out.
As the fallers rise vertically in passing from the lower to the upper pair of
screws, the pins or teeth leave the fibre without entangling it.
The springs and guides for guiding the fallers from one pair of screws to the
ether as indicated at p are practically the same as those employed in gill boxes,
any approved construction and arrangement of these being applicable.
By employing the mechanism herein described for conveying fibres from the
washing bowl or scouring vessel to the "nip," I obtain a more regular and con-
tinuous delivery of fibre; avoid a too wet "nip"; effect a considerable saving in
roller covering, and prevent excessive waste of the material or fibre.
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 :-
The application to and employment in combination with washing or scouring

page_text: machines of fallers or combs and operating screws and parts arranged and acting
in the manner and for the purpose substantially as herein shewn and described.
Dated this 27th day of April 1898.
TASKER & CROSSLEY,
Patent Agents, Halifax,