IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR PULLING OR OPENING RAGS, WASTE, SILK, COTTON OR OTHER FIBRES "
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Tolson and John Edwin Tolson of Earlsheaton
near Dewsbury in the County of York for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MACHINERY FOR PULLING OR OPENING RAGS, WASTE, SILK, COTTON OR
OTHER FIBRES
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Tolson and John
Edwin Tolson at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
4th December 1883.
GEORGE TOLSON and JOHN EDWIN TOLSON, of Earslsheaton near Dewsbury in
the County of York "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR PULLING OR OPENING
RAGS, WASTE, SILK, COTTON, OR OTHER FIBRES."
The primary object of our Invention is to pull or open rags or other fibrous
materials so that the length of staple composing the fibre is not broken, and this
we accomplish by combining an ordinary rag machine with a carding machine or
with that class of machine called a "Garnet machine."
In addition to combining the two machines together, we employ apparatus
placed between the two machines for the purpose of transferring the fibre from the
rag machine to the "Garnet machine," consisting in the employment of a swift
or porcupine running in connection with the swift of the rag machine for the
purpose of removing the fibre therefrom.
Another roller or stripper is employed for removing the fibre from the porcupine,
and by means of feed rollers, the said fibre is taken to a licker-in which feeds the
fibre to the first swift of the "Garnet machine."
Fibrous materials passing through the combined machinery undergo a double
process, which not only thoroughly pulls or opens the fibre but performs it in such
a manner that there are no strings of unopened fibre, as is the case with the
present construction of machinery, but fibre by this combination, is fully opened
and the length of staple unbroken; this arrangement of machinery also allows the
material to pass through and be delivered in the form of slivers or laps.
One of the advantages to be derived from combining the rag and "Garnet
machine" is found to consist in the fibre which on leaving the rag machine is in a

page_text: warm state and enters the carding machine in the same heated state, and (as is
well known to practical men) that fibre entering a carding machine under certain
degrees of heat, is better adapted for carding and better results obtained than is the
case when the fibre enters in a cool state or at a low temperature.
Another advantage in the combination above described is found in the working
of the swift of the rag machine, which instead of throwing out the material, lashes
it onto the teeth of the porcupine consequently materially assisting in pulling or
opening the unbroken lengths of fibre.
With some descriptions of fibre the second or "Garnet machine" will not be
required as the fibre will be sufficiently opened after being operated upon by the
porcupine and licker-in,

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said George Tolson and John Edwin Tolson in the Patent Office on
the 4th June 1884.
.
•
GEORGE TOLSON and JOHN EDWIN TOLSON of Earlsheaton, near Dewsbury in
the County of York, "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR PULLING, OR OPENING
RAGS, WASTE, SILK, COTTON, OR OTHER FIBRES
L
"
The primary object of our Invention is to pull or open rags, or other fibrous
materials, so that the length of staple composing the fibre is not broken and this
we accomplish by combining an ordinary rag machine with a carding machine, or
with that class of machine called a "Garnett machine."
In addition to combining the two machines together, we employ apparatus
placed between the two machines for the purpose of transferring the fibre from the
rag machine to the "Garnett" or carding machine consisting in the employment of
a swift or porcupine running in connection with the swift of the rag machine for
the purpose of removing the fibre therefrom
Another roller or "flosser" is employed which assists in removing the fibre from
the rag cylinder porcupine and throwing it onto the first swift of the "Garnett"
or carding machine which works up the fibre and carries it through the machine
when it is fed onto an endless apron.
In order that this Invention may be better understood we herein give reference
to the accompanying Sheets of Drawings wherein Fig. 1 is sectional elevation of a
combined machine we employ. A is a rag machine cylinder having straight teeth
or pins as is usual with such cylinders and employed for pulling and opening rags.
B is a roller covered with teeth and known by the name of a porcupine roller and
is employed for removing the partially pulled rags from the cylinder A and C is a
"flosser" or fancy roller employed in stripping or throwing the fibre from the
porcupine roller onto the doffer D which carries it forward and passes it to other
rollers, whereby it is passed through the whole of the "Garnett or carding
machine.
The rags to be operated upon are placed on the creeper G and fed by feed
rollers H to the teeth of the rag machine cylinder A, but should any large piece
of rag pass through the feed rollers unbroken and be carried around by the
cylinder A we arrange and provide apparatus to detect such piece of rag, and
remove it from the rag cylinder, which we effect in the following manner.-viz.-
I is an adjustable plate attached by screws or otherwise to the framework J, one
end a of such plate being a little higher than the points of the teeth on the rag
cylinder, so that when an unbroken piece of rag is being carried away the point a
of the plate I will catch hold of the piece of rag and retain it there until it is either
pulled to pieces or thrown by the rotary motion of the cylinder onto the travelling
apron K when it drops into the box L to be afterwards removed, an opening being
left on the side of the said box, as shown at M in Figure 2 for that purpose.
In order to allow irregular quantities of rags to pass through the feed rollers H
we arrange apparatus to allow the rollers to open when a thick feed is passing
through; but to close again when a thin feed is passing, this is shown in detail
Figure. 3, where two friction rollers b bear and rest upon the upper feed roller H.
These friction rollers are carried by a pedestal c and connected by two rods d to
a plate e. A spring f is attached at both ends to the framework of machine
and the plate e connected by adjustable rod g to the spring, so that when a thick
feed is passing between the rollers H, the spring f will allow the upper feed roller
to rise, but as soon as the thick part has passed, the spring will draw the feed
rollers together again, as will be well understood,

page_text: N is an adjustable "bit board" employed to prevent loose pieces of fibre being
thrown into the box L.
With some description of rags the second or "Garnett" or carding machine will
not be required, as the rags will be sufficiently opened after being operated upon
by the rag machine cylinder, porcupine roller, and doffer which is illustrated in
Figure 2, which is elevation of one side of machine, Figure 4 elevation of opposite
side thereof and Figure 5 cross section. This machine is similar to the one already
described; except that the length of the "Garnett" or carding machine is
shortened and the fibre is removed from the doffer D by ordinary doffing comb E
such fibre dropping onto the creeper F where it is delivered in the form of slivers
or laps according to arrangement: The end elevations of the machine fully
illustrate the means of driving the various rollers and cylinders, and will be
easily understood by practical Men, P being the main driving shaft which by
strap R communicates rotary motion to the porcupine roller.
Fibrous materials passing through the combined machinery herein shown and
described undergo a double process, which not only thoroughly pulls or opens the
fibre, but performs it in such manner that there are no strings of unopened fibre,
as is the case with the present construction of machinery, but fibre treated by this
combination is fully opened and the length of staple unbroken. One of the
advantages to be derived from combining the rag and "Garnett" or carding
machine is found to consist in the fibre, which on leaving the rag machine cylinder
is in a warm state, and enters the carding machine in the same heated state, and
(as is well known to practical Men) that fibre entering a carding machine under
certain degrees of heat is better adapted for carding and better results obtained,
than is the case when the fibre enters in a cool state or at a low temperature.
Another advantage in the combination above described is found in the working
of the rag machine cylinder which instead of throwing out the material as in an
ordinary rag machine, lashes it onto the teeth of the porcupine, consequently
materially assisting in pulling or opening the unbroken lengths of fibre.
Having thus fully described the nature and particulars of this our said Invention,
together with the manner in which the same is to be, or may be performed, or
carried into practical effect, we would have it understood that what we claim as
our Invention is,
Firstly The combination of a porcupine roller, working in contact with a rag
machine cylinder for purposes set forth.
Secondly The combination of the rag cylinder A, porcupine roller B, "flosser" C
and doffer D in manner as herein shown and described.
Thirdly The combination of a rag machine with a
machine substantially as herein described.
"Garnett" or carding
In witness whereof we the said George Tolson, and John Edwin Tolson have
hereunto set our hands and seals this Twenty eighth day of May, in the year of
our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and eighty four.
CHOD SON
ORCE TOLSON
GEOR
(L.S.)
JOHN EDWIN TOLSON (L.S.)