IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR CLEANSING COTTON
Year: 1861

page_text: En the Matter of a Patent granted to Jonx MACMILLAN DUNLOP, of
Manchester, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY FOR CLEANSING COTTON." bearing date the Eleventh day of
April, One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.
MEMORANDUM OF ALTERATION proposed to be entered by the said
John Macmillan Dunlop, as such Patentee as aforesaid, pursuant to
the Statutes in that case made and provided.
WHEREAS since filing my Specification to the said Letters Patent, I have
discovered that in making the Drawings the pitch line of each of the wheels C
was in error, shown as touching the pitch lines of both of the wheels E, whereas
a space should have been left between the pitch line of the wheel C and the
pitch line of one of the wheels E for an intermediate wheel, as is well under-
stood. And I have also discovered that there is an error in the descriptive
part of the Specification, wherein it is stated as follows, viz." In some cases
an internal spur wheel C is used to give motion to a pair of parallel roller
churkas, as is shown in Figures 5 and 6," whereas it ought to have been
in Figures 6 and 7. I, for this reason, wish to alter, and I do hereby alter
the said Specification, so that the paragraph may read as is shown in
Figures 6 and 7, in place of, "as is shown in Figures 5 and 6." And in order.
that the effect of the Memorandum of Alteration may be better understood, I
annex a copy of the Specification, and of the Drawings as they will appear
when such alterations have been made, as aforesaid.
"This Invention has for its object improvements in machinery for cleansing
"cotton. For these purposes roller churkas' or 'gins' are arranged in

page_text: pairs, in order that several pairs may be driven by one driving shaft. In
one arrangement the driving shaft is placed between the pairs of roller
"churkas or gins in such manner that one spur wheel on the driving shaft gives
"motion to two roller churkas or gins, one on either side of the driving shaft.
Any desired number of pairs of roller churkas or gins may be thus driven
by the same driving shaft, there being a spur wheel on the driving shaft for
"each pair of roller churkas or gins. Or in place of driving by spur wheels,
"drums, pullies, and bands may be used in each case, but whether spur
"wheels, drums, or pullies be used on the driving shaft, they are arranged
thereon in such manner that each may be capable of turning freely on the
driving shaft, when not fixed or held thereon by a suitable clutch or holder,
preferring conical friction clutches for the purpose.
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"Another arrangement consists in placing the driving shaft at right angles
"to the axes of the roller churkas or gins, which are arranged parallel to each
other on the same beam or table. Pairs of these roller churkas or gins are
geared together by spur wheels, and motion is communicated to both pair
of roller churkas or gins by a pair of mitre wheels, one on the driving shaft,
"and the other on one of the axes of the pairs of roller churkas or gins, the
"wheels on the driving shaft in each case being capable of turning freely on
the driving shaft, except when fixed or held thereon by a clutch, preferring
." for such purposes conical friction clutches. In order to feed roller churkas
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by mechanical means an upright box or trunk is employed, open at top and
"closed at bottom by a grid, grating, or otherwise suitable to admit of the
"seeds separated from the cotton dropping through. It is preferred that
there should be one such box or trunk to two roller churkas placed parallel
"of each other, so that the cotton as it descends in the upright trunk or box
may be taken hold of by the two roller churkas and withdrawn by them,
the seeds falling through the grid or reticulate bottom, or such a trunk or
"box may be applied to each roller churka. In order to ensure the cotton
as it descends the 'trunk or open box being nipped and removed by the
"roller churkas a reciprocating agitator is used, consisting of several blades.
placed on a rocking axis; the edges of the blades are curved, though they
may be straight, and notched or serrated, so that by the blades alternately
inclining first in one direction and then in the other towards the roller
churkas, the cotton as it descends on to the upper edges of the blades may
be ensured being moved and engaged by the two roller churkas. It is
preferred that the grid or grating or reticulate bottom should be fixed on
"the rocking shaft or axis which carries the blades, but it may be otherwise
"acted on, so that the grid or bottom may be shaken or moved up and down
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by the rocking of the shaft or axis, or other mechanism. In some cases, in
place of the upper or smaller roller (or it may be both the rollers) of a
"roller churka being plain, it is made with slight grooves winding spirally
"around it; and in order to prevent the smaller roller being injured by a mass
"of cotton passing between the rollers, or by 'lapping,' the bearings or brasses,-
in place of being screwed down by screws, have coiled springs interposed
between the screws and the brasses.
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Having thus stated the nature of my said Invention, I will proceed more-
fully to describe the manner of performing the same..
"DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS..
"Figure 1 is a plan of two pairs of roller churkas F, F, and G, G, but
;
any desired number may be similarly driven from the same driving shaft
"A; the driving wheel C thereon being in each case capable of turning
freely on the driving shaft, except when engaged therewith by a suitable
clutch or holder. Figure 2 shows a vertical section of Figure 1. A is the
driving shaft or axis, which receives motion from a steam engine or other
suitable power. On this driving shaft is a spur wheel C, which gears with:
"two spur wheels E, E, each of which wheels E is so arranged as to drive a
pair of roller churkas, in the manner described in the Specification of my
"former Patent, dated March 27th, 1861, (No. 768), but when preferred,.
"the two wheels E may each be arranged to actuate only one roller churka,.
"and in this manner give motion to only one pair of parallel roller churkas
"B is the longitudinal bed or framing of the machinery. On each spur
"wheel C on the driving shaft A is a friction conical clutch, which receives
"the driving cone D, which slides freely on the shaft or axis A, and is moved
"into and out of gear with the hollow friction cone on the spur wheel C by
a lever, as is well understood. In place of spur wheels C and E, druns.
or pulleys and bands may be used, the driving drum or pulley on the
"shaft A in each case being arranged to turn freely on the shaft A, except
"when held thereto by a suitable clutch or holder. In case of pulleys.or
"drums being used, the driving shaft A will be placed at a greater distance
from the roller churkas. In some cases an internal spur wheel C is used
"to give motion to a pair of parallel roller churkas, as in shown in Figures 6
"and 7. In the arrangement shown in the Drawing, Figures 1 and 2, the
"driving shaft A is parallel with the axes of the roller churkas, but in some cases.
vertical or horizontal driving shaft at right angles with the axes of the roller.
churkas may be used to each pair or to two pairs of parallel roller churkas,
"the bevil driving wheel, or the driving drum or pulley on such shaft, being
"
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arranged to turn freely on the driving shaft, except when held thereto by a
suitable clutch or bolder, or what is equivalent thereto, the wheel, drum, or
pulley C may be fixed, and the wheels, drums, or pulleys E may be capable
"of being acted on by suitable clutches or holders on their axes. I would
remark, that in respect to this part of iny Invention I make no claim to
the mechanical parts separately, the peculiarity consisting in driving each
pair of parallel roller churkas by the same wheel or drum or pulley, the
driving wheel, drum, or pulley, or those of the churka, being capable of
turning freely, except when held, as herein described. Figure 3 shows a
vertical section of a pair of roller churkas, which are placed parallel to each
other; Figure 4 shows a plan of the same. In this arrangement the seed
"cotton is supplied to the two pairs of rollers by a box or hopper. I would
"state that I am aware that a single roller churka has heretofore been
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supplied through a hopper, but it is important when using two parallel roller
"churkas to employ in combination therewith a box or hopper, as herein
explained. At the bottom of such box or hopper are inclined outlets,
having at their bottoms grids suitable for the passage of the seeds, which
are similar to what have before been employed. These grids or gratings
may be stationary, or they may have a to-and-fro or an up-and-down
motion, or both of these motions, communicated to them. In order that
"the cotton may be ensured passing to the nip of each pair of rollers when
two roller churkas are combined, or to the nip of one roller churka when
only one roller churka is used, a reciprocating agitator is employed, which
by its moving to and from the nip of the rollers of a roller churka
insures the cotton being carried towards the nip of the rollers. It is pre-
"ferred that the stem of such agitator should work through the grid, but the
position and manner of actuating it may be varied; F is the box or hopper,
baving two inclined grids G; the upper inclined part of the outlet W may
"have rows of short teeth opposite the bars of the grid, so that the cotton as
"it is moved towards the rollers may be partially opened out, or such teeth
may be dispensed with when the cotton is sufficiently open; A is the
driving shaft, as in the previous Figures, and is intended, as before ex-
plained, to give motion by a suitable spur wheel to the spur pinions on the
"axes of the pair of roller churkas; K is the axis of the agitator T, which
"receives motion by the connecting rod O from the crank pin P on the spur
" wheel N, which receives motion from the axis of one of the roller churkas
by a spur wheel M. In place of feeding roller churkas by means of a box
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or hopper a regular supply may be obtained by means of an endless tra-
velling apron or endless grid, as is shown in Figure 5, which is not new,

page_text: "similar arrangements for feeding roller churkas having before been em-
ployed. The cotton as it comes from the endless apron or grid is received on
"to a suitable grid G, there being a suitable agitator T moving to and from
"the rollers of the churka so as to insure the cotton being nipped thereby ;
"this agitator T is shown to work through the grid G, but this may be varied.
"I would remark in respect to this part of my Invention, that I make no
"claim to any of the mechanical parts separately, but claim the combined
arrangement herein described, and the employment of an agitator moved to
"and from the rollers of a roller churka, so as to ensure the cotton being
"presented to and nipped by the churka. Figure 6 shows an end elevation,
"and Figure 7 a plan, of a pair of parallel roller churkas, driven by an
"internal spur wheel C, such wheel working freely on its axis A, which is
"shown to be fixed, the wheel being driven by a crank handle, but when
driving by power the internal spur wheel C would, as above explained in
respect to Figures 1 and 2, turn freely on the driving shaft, and be held
thereto by a suitable clutch or holder when driving the pair of parallel roller.
"churkas. In order to prevent the prejudicial effects consequent on too
"much cotton being taken in and nipped by the rollers of a roller churka, or
by the rollers lapping (as is sometimes the case), I, in place of directly
screwing down the brasses of the top roller by screws, as heretofore, inter-
pose metal springs I, I, or it may be vulcanized india-rubber springs. I
"would remark in respect to this part of my Invention, that I claim the
application of springs to the brasses or bearings of roller churkas, as above
"described."
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In witness whereof, I, the said John Macmillan Dunlop, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Seventh day of December, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one
I hereby grant my fiat giving leave to the above-mentioned John Macmillan
Dunlop to file in the Great Seal Patent Office, with the Specification to
which the same relates, the above-written Memorandum of Alteration.

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Macmillan Dunlop, of Manchester, Engineer, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR CLEANSING COTTON."
Sealed the 10th October 1861, and dated the 11th April 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Macmillan Dunlop
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
11th April 1861.
I, JOHN MACMILLAN DUNLOP, of Manchester, Engineer, do hereby declare
the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR CLEANSING
COTTON," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in machinery for cleansing
cotton. For these purposes "roller churkas" or "gins" are arranged in
pairs in order that several pairs may be driven by one driving shaft. In one
arrangement the driving shaft is placed between the pairs of roller churkas or
gins in such manner that one spur wheel on the driving shaft gives motion to
two roller churkas or gins, one on either side of the driving shaft. Any
desired number of pairs of roller churkas or gins may be thus driven by the
same driving shaft, there being a spur wheel on the driving shaft for each pair
of roller churkas or gins. Or, in place of driving by spur wheels, drums,
pullies, and bands may be used in each case; but whether spur wheels, drums,

page_text: or pullies be used on the driving shaft, they are arranged therein in such
manner that each may be capable of turning freely on the driving shaft when
not fixed or held thereon by a suitable clutch or holder, preferring conical
friction clutches for the purpose.
Another arrangement consists in placing the driving shaft at right angles to
the axes of the roller churkas or gins, which are arranged parallel to each
other on the same beam or table. Pairs of these roller churkas or gins are
geared together by spur wheels, and motion is communicated to both pair of
roller churkas or gins by a pair of mitre wheels, one on the driving shaft and
the other on one of the axes of the pairs of roller churkas or gins, the wheels
on the driving shaft in each case being capable of turning freely on the driving
shaft, except when fixed or held thereon by a clutch, preferring for such pur-
poses conical friction clutches. In order to feed roller churkas by mechanical
means an upright box or trunk is employed, open at top, and closed at bottom
by a grid, grating, or otherwise, suitable to admit of the seeds separated from
the cotton dropping through. It is preferred that there should be one such
box or trunk to two roller churkas placed parallel to each other, so that the
cotton, as it descends in the upright trunk or box, may be taken hold of by
the two roller churkas and withdrawn by them, the seeds falling through the
grid or reticulate bottom, or such a trunk or box may be applied to each roller
churka. In order to ensure the cotton as it descends the trunk or open box
being nipped and removed by the roller churkas a reciprocating agitator is
used, consisting of several blades placed on a rocking axis; the edges of the
blades are curved, though they may be straight and notched or serrated, so
that by the blades alternately inclining, first in one direction and then in the
other, towards the roller churkas, the cotton, as it descends on to the upper
edges of the blades may be ensured being moved and engaged by the two
roller churkas. It is preferred that the grid or grating, or reticulate bottom,
should be fixed on the rocking shaft or axis which carries the blades; but it
may be otherwise acted on, so that the grid or bottom may be shaken or
moved up and down by the rocking of the shaft or axis, or other mechanism
In some cases, in place of the upper or smaller roller (or it may be of both
the rollers) of a roller churka being plain, it is made with slight grooves
winding spirally around it; and in order to prevent the smaller roller being
injured by a mass of cotton passing between the rollers, or by "lapping," the
bearings or brasses, in place of being screwed down by screws, have coiled
springs interposed between the screws and the brasses.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Macmillan Dunlop in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 10th October 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
MACMILLAN DUNLOP, of Manchester, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eleventh day of April, in the year of our Lord:
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fourth year of Her.
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the.
said John Macmillan Dunlop, Her special licence that I, the said Jobn
Macmillan Dunlop, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said John Macmillan Dunlop, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR CLEANSING COTTON," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said John Macmillan Dunlop, 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Macmillan Dunlop, do hereby
5 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 Invention has for its object improvements in machinery for cleansing
cotton. For these purposes "roller churkas" or "gins" are arranged in pairs,
in order that several pairs may be driven by one driving shaft.
In one
arrangement the driving shaft is placed between the pairs of roller churkas or
gins, in such manner that one spur wheel on the driving shaft gives motion to
two roller churkas or gins, one on either side of the driving shaft. Any
desired number of pairs of roller churkas or gins may be thus driven by the
same driving shaft, there being a spur wheel on the driving shaft for each pair
of roller churkas or gins. Or, in place of driving by spur wheels, drums,
pullies, and bands may be used in each case, but whether spur wheels, drums,
or pullies be used on the driving shaft, they are arranged thereon in such

page_text: manner that each may be capable of turning. freely on the driving shaft when
not fixed or held thereon by a suitable clutch or holder, preferring conical
friction clutches for the purpose.
Another arrangement consists in placing the driving shaft at right angles to
the axes of the roller churkas or gins, which are arranged parallel to cach
other on the same beam or table. Pairs of these roller churkas or gins are
geared together by spur wheels, and motion is communicated to both pair of
roller churkas or gins by a pair of mitre wheels, one on the driving shaft, and
the other on one of the axes of the pairs of roller churkas or gins, the wheels
on the driving shaft in each case being capable of turning freely on the driving
shaft, except when fixed or held thereon by a clutch, preferring for such
purposes conical friction clutches. In order to feed roller churkas by
mechanical means an upright box or trunk is employed, open at top, and
closed at bottom by a grid, grating, or otherwise, suitable to admit of the seeds
separated from the cotton dropping through. It is preferred that there should
be one such box or trunk to two roller churkas placed parallel to each other.
so that the cotton as it descends in the upright trunk or box may be taken
hold of by the two roller churkas and withdrawn by them, the seeds falling
through the grid or reticulate bottom, or such a trunk or box may be applied
to each roller churka. In order to ensure the cotton as it descends the trunk
or open box being nipped and removed by the roller churkas a reciprocating
agitator is used, consisting of several blades placed on a rocking axis; the
edges of the blades are curved, though they may be straight and notched, or
serrated, so that by the blades alternately inclining first in one direction and
then in the other towards the roller churkas, the cotton as it descends on to
the upper edges of the blades may be ensured being moved and engaged by
the two roller churkas. It is preferred that the grid or grating or reticulate
bottom should be fixed on the rocking shaft or axis which carries the blades,
but it may be otherwise acted on, so that the grid or bottom may be shaken
or moved up and down by the rocking of the shaft or axis, or other mechanism.
In some cases, in place of the upper or smaller roller (or it may be both the
rollers) of a roller churka being plain it is made with slight grooves winding
spirally around it, and in order to prevent the smaller roller being injured by
a mass of cotton passing between the rollers, or by "lapping," the bearings or
brasses in place of being screwed down by screws, have coiled springs
interposed between the screws and the brasses.
Having thus stated the nature of my said Invention I will proceed more
fully to describe the manner of performing the same.

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF
Figure 1 is a plan of two pairs of roller churkas F, F, and G, G, but any
lesired number may be similarly driven from the same driving shaft A, the
Iriving wheel C thereon being in each case capable of turning freely on the
Iriving shaft, except when engaged therewith by a suitable clutch or holder.
Figure 2 shows a vertical section of Figure 1. A is the driving shaft or axis,.
which receives motion from a steam engine or other suitable power. On this
driving shaft is a spur wheel C, which gears with two spur wheels E, E, each.
of which wheels E is so arranged as to drive a pair of roller churkas in the.
manner described in the Specification of my former Patent, dated March 27th
1861 (No. 768), but, when preferred, the two wheels E may each be arranged.
to actuate only one roller churka, and in this manner give motion to only one.
pair of parallel roller churkas. B is the longitudinal bed or framing of the.
machinery. On each spur wheel C on the driving shaft A is a friction conical
clutch, which receives the driving cone D, which slides freely on the shaft or
axis A, and is moved into and out of gear with the hollow friction cone on
the spur wheel C by a lever, as is well understood. In place of spur wheels C
and E, drums or pulleys and bands may be used, the driving drum or pulley.
on the shaft A in each case being arranged to turn freely on the shaft A,
except when held thereto by a suitable clutch or holder. In case of pulleys.
or drums being used, the driving shaft A will be placed at a greater distance
from the roller churkas. In some cases an internal spur wheel C is used to
give motion to a pair of parallel roller churkas, as is shown in Figures 5.
and 6. In the arrangement shown in the Drawing, Figures 1 and 2, the
driving shaft A is parallel with the axes of the roller churkas, but in some cases
a vertical or horizontal driving shaft at right angles with the axes of the
roller churkas may be used to cach pair, or to two pairs of parallel roller
churkas, the bevil driving wheel or the driving drum or pulley on such shaft
being arranged to turn freely on the driving shaft, except when held thereto
by a suitable clutch or holder; or what is equivalent thereto, the wheel, drum,
or pulley C may be fixed, and the wheels, drums, or pulleys E may be capable
of being acted on by suitable clutches or holders on their axes. I would
remark, that in respect to this part of my Invention I make no claim to the
mechanical parts separately, the peculiarity consisting in driving each pair of
parallel roller churkas by the same wheel or drum, or pulley, the driving
wheel, drum, or pulley, or those of the churka being capable of turning freely,
except when held as herein described. Figure 3 shows a vertical section of a
pair of roller churkas, which are placed parallel to each other; Figure 4

page_text: shows a plan of the same.
In this arrangement the seed cotton is supplied to
the two pairs of rollers by a box or hopper. I would state that I am aware
that a single roller churka has heretofore been supplied through a hopper, but
it is important when using two parallel roller churkas to employ in com-
bination therewith a box or hopper, as herein explained. At the bottom of
such box or hopper are inclined outlets, having at their bottoms grids suitable
for the passage of the seeds, which are similar to what have before been
employed. These grids or gratings may be stationary, or they may have a to-
and-fro or an up-and-down motion, or both of these motions communicated to
them. In order that the cotton may be ensured passing to the nip of each
pair of rollers, when two roller churkas are combined, or to the nip of one
roller churka, when only one roller churka is used, a reciprocating agitator is
employed, which, by its moving to and from the nip of the rollers of a roller
churka, insures the cotton being carried towards the nip of the rollers. It is
preferred that the stem of such agitator should work through the grid, but the
position and manner of actuating it may be varied. F is the box or hopper
baving two inclined grids G. The upper inclined part of the outlet W may
have rows of short teeth opposite the bars of the grid, so that the cotton as it
is moved towards the rollers may be partially opened out, or such teeth may
be dispensed with when the cotton is sufficiently open. A is the driving shaft
as in the previous Figures, and is intended, as before explained, to give motion
by a suitable spur wheel to the spur pinions on the axes of the pair of roller
churkas; K is the axis of the agitator T, which receives motion by the con-
necting rod O from the crank pin P on the spur wheel N, which receives
motion from the axis of one of the roller churkas by a spur wheel M. In
place of feeding roller churkas by means of a box or hopper, a regular supply
may be obtained by means of an endless travelling apron, or endless grid,
as is shown in Figure 5, which is not new, similar arrangements for feeding
roller churkas having before been employed. The cotton as it comes from the
endless apron or grid is received on to a suitable grid G, there being a suitable
agitator T moving to and from the rollers of the churka so as to insure the
cotton being nipped thereby; this agitator T is shewn to work through the
grid G, but this may be varied. I would remark in respect to this part of
my Invention that I make no claim to any of the mechanical parts separately,
but claim the combined arrangement herein described, and the employment of
an agitator moved to and from the rollers of a roller churka, so as to ensure
the cotton being presented to and nipped by the churka. Figure 6 shows an
end elevation, and Figure 7 a plan of a pair of parallel roller churkas driven
by an internal spur wheel C, such wheel working freely on its axis A, which

page_text: is shewn to be fixed, the wheel being driven by a crank handle, but when
driving by power the internal spur wheel C would, as above explained in
respect to Figures 1 and 2, turn freely on the driving shaft, and be held thereto
by a suitable clutch or holder when driving the pair of parallel roller churkas.
In order to prevent the prejudicial effects consequent on too much cotton
being taken in and nipped by the rollers of a roller churka, or by the rollers
lapping (as is sometimes the case), I, in place of directly screwing down the
brasses of the top roller by screws as heretofore, interpose metal springs I, I,
or it may be vulcanized india-rubber springs. I would remark in respect to
this part of my Invention that I claim the application of springs to the brasses
or bearings of roller churkas, as above described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Macmillan Dunlop, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Third day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.
JOHN M. DUNLOP. (L.S.)