Improvements in or relating to Automatic Hopper Feeders for Feeding Wool and other Fibres to Carding or Scribbling Machinery.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Oct., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 7th July, 1896-Accepted, 8th Aug., 1996
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Automatic Hopper Feeders
for Feeding Wool and other Fibres to Carding or Scribbling
Machinery.
We, JOSEPH BOOTH of Dobcross in the County of York, Carder, and
BENJAMIN BOOTH of Rock Terrace Berry Brow, near Huddersfield in the County
of York, Scribbling Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to supply fibre to the machine equally, whether
the hopper be full or only partially full of fibre, whereby we obtain even and
uniform carding and consequently even yarn.
In carrying out our invention we dispense with the rear portion of the present
hopper and in lieu thereof employ a screen or door which is hinged at the bottom
thereof to the side frames of the hopper or to brackets, in a position close to the
bottom of the travelling spiked apron or lattice sheet common to these machines.
The space between the lattice sheet and hinged door or screen is charged with
a full supply of fibre whose bulk causes the said door or screen to incline outwardly
from the machine in which position it is engaged by suitable curved fingers, cams,
or equivalent mechanical devices mounted on a cross shaft journalled in the side
frames of the machine. On the end of the cross shaft is mounted a pulley or drum
having coiled thereon one end of a cord or chain at whose opposite end is suspended
a weight which acts as a counterbalance to the pressure of the bulk of the fibre
on the hinged door or screen-
-that is to say-as the fibre is gradually removed by
the travelling apron and the bulk in the hopper therefore constantly lessening, the
counterbalance weight descends and uncoils a portion of chain or cord off the
drum on the cross shaft and thus rotates said shaft which causes the curved
fingers or cams thereon to gradually force the hinged door or screen inwardly
towards the travelling apron and thereby reduce the space between them in
propertion as the quantity of fibre in the hopper diminishes.
When the screen or door has been moved beyond the vertical centre it is not
necessary to have the further assistance of the curved fingers, as the said screen
will, from this point, by its own weight follow the diminishing bulk of fibre, but
it will be understood that the curved fingers or cams could be arranged to act
throughout, or for such purpose, the cord or chain with weight suspended therefrom
could be attached to the screen or door.
The return movement of the hinged door which is effected by hand or by the
re-charging of the hopper with fibre, re-winds the cord onto the drum and places
the parts in their original positions.
By means of a hinged door or screen acting as above set forth, the fibre is
supplied equally to the travelling apron throughout to the last feed of fibre left in
the hopper, this being effected without any attention on the part of the carder
and without requiring his assistance to push the fibre up to the apron as is the case
at present.
The feed being regular and well opened out a more even yarn can be produced.
Dated this 9th das of other 1805

page_text: Improvements in or relating to Automatic Hopper Feeders
for Feeding Wool and other Fibres to Carding or Scribbling
Machinery.
We, JOSEPH Booru of Dobeross, in the County of York, Cander, and
BENJAMIN BOOTH of Rock Terrace, Berry Brow, near Huddersfield, in the
County of York, Scribbling Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performel, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The object of this invention is to supply fibre to the machine equally, whether
the hopper be full or only partially full of fibre, whereby we obtain even and
uniform carding and consequently even yarn.
In carrying out our invention we dispense with the rear portion of the present
hopper or place within said hopper a door or fence which is hingel at the bottom
there of to the side frames of the hopper, or to brackets, in a position close to the
bottom of the travelling spiket apron or lattier sheet common to these in chines,
The space between the lattice sheet and hinged door or fence is charged with a
full supply of fibre, whose hulk causes the said door or fence to inclin outwardly
from the machine in which position it is engaged by suitable fingers, levers, cams
or equivalent mechanical devices mounted on a cross shaft journaled in the sile
frames of the machine. As the charge of fibre is grelually diminish 1 by the
constant removal of small quantities thereof by the spike travelling sheet the sail
cross shaft is partially rotated by the gravity action of a weight or weights, and
causes the fingers or levers thereon to gradually force the hinged door or tence
inwardly towards the travelling apron and thereby reduce the space between them
in proportion as the quantity of fibre in the hopper diminishes by which means the
delivery or feel of fibre to the travelling apron or lattice sheet is regular from fall
to empty hopper, and the weighing being consequently more exact we obtain even
and uniform carding and more even yarn,
For the purpose of fully describing and ascertaining our sail invention, we
herein make reference to the annexed sheet of drawings forming a part of this
specification, in which :—
Fig. 1 is rear elevation and Fig. 2 transverse section of so much of an automatic
hopper feeder for feeding wool and other fibres to carding or seribbling machinery
as is necessary to shew the application of our improvements thereto.
Referring to the drawings A represents the side frames of the hopper feeder,
B the travelling spiked apron or lattice sheet, C the rollers around which the
lattice sheet travels in the direction of the arrows, for removing small quantities
of fibre from the hopper and discharging them into the weigh pan, and D is the
vibrating comb or beater for clearing the lattice sheet of surplus fibre and pre-
venting too much fibre being carried out at one time, all sail parts being arranged
and operating in the usual manner and forming no part of our invent on which
consists in applying to the machine a movable or hinged door or fence E hung
upon studs secured to the sides of the door near the bottom thereof, and jurnalled
in bearings in the side frames A.
The said door, or fence is hinged to the side frames in a position close to the
bottom roller C and just clear of the spikes or pins on the lattice sheet Band
forms the rear or back part of the hopper F into which the fibre to be fed to the
carding machine is placed.
In a suitable position at the back of the feeder and journalled in bearings in the

page_text: frames A is a cross shaft G having mounted thereon at equi distances apart
between the side frames two or more fingers, levers or equivalent devices H adapted
to engage with the upper end of the hinged door or fence E, whilst on one or both
outer ends of said cross shaft is secured a lever arm I carrying a weight J which
acts as a counterbalance to the weight of the door E and is assisted when most
required by a flat spring K attached to the side frame or any fixed part of the
machine.
On the hopper being charged with fibre, the bulk thereof forces the door or
fence E outwardly against the resistance of the weighted lever I, into the position
shewn in full line in Fig. 2, or any position within the limit of its outward motion
to accommodate the bulk of fibre introduced into the hopper.
As the bulk or charge of fibre in the hopper is gradually reduced by the
constant removal of small quantities of same by the spiked lattice sheet B, the
gravity action of the weight J, assisted at the first by spring K, causes the lever 1 to
descend and thus partially rotate the cross shaft G, and therefore the fingers H
mounted thereon which, being moved by slow degrees through the are of the
circle indicated by broken line in Fig. 2, consequently force the hinged door or
fence E in the direction of the arrow, or toward the spiked lattice sheet B, and
gradually reduce the space between the two proportionately as the bulk of fibre in
the hopper diminishes, until by the time the last feed of fibre is removed from the
hopper the door has arrived close up to the spiked lattice sheet.
By the means above described the fibre is fed or supplied to the travelling lattice
sheet equally throughout to the last feed left in the hopper without calling for the
least attention on the part of the carder, and without requiring his assistance to
push the fibre up to the apron B as it has been necessary to do heretofore, the
feed or delivery being much more regular, well opened out and ensuring more
exact weighing, especially when the hopper is getting empty, whereby a more even
yarn is produced.
We find it advantageous to provide the inner face of the hinged door or fence E
with a few rows of teeth or spikes El projecting upwardly by which the fibre is
held up and also prevented from rolling or being rolled round and round in small
or large masses.
We may, if required, attach to the side frames A and close to the travelling
spiked lattice sheet B suitable stop pieces L to prevent the hinged door or fence,
or the spikes thereon, coming into contact with the said travelling lattice sheet
when forced up to same.
Instead of a weighted lever I, we may employ any equivalent gravity contrivance
for actuating the fingers H, such for instance, as a weight suspended from the end
of a chain attached to and wound upon a drum or pulley fast on the cross shaft G,
the uncoiling of the said chain off the pulley by the gravitation of the weight,
giving the requisite motion to said cross shaft; or a weight suspended from the
end of a chain passing over a pulley and connected to the hinged door, or any
other mechanical arrangement which serves in like manner to gradually force or
draw the hinged spiked door or fence toward the lattice sheet of the hopper feeder
as the bulk of fibre in the hopper diminishes, and in exact proportion to such
diminishing bulk, may be employed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
Firstly. In self feeders, of the hopper type, for feeding wool and other fibres to
carding or scribbling machinery, the combination therewith of a hinged or pivoted
spiked door or fence such as E adapted to be actunted in the manner and for the
purposes substantially as herein shewn and described.
Secondly. In self-feeders for feeding wool and other fibres to carding or scribbling
machinery, the combination with the hinged or pivoted door or fe ice herein

page_text: shewn and described, of a counterbalance weight and intermediate connections for
forcing said door or fence in the direction of and up to the travelling spiked lattice
sheet or apron substantially as set forth.
Dated this 6th day of July 1896.
TASKER & CROSSLEY,
Huddersfield, Patent Agents.