IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OR PREPARATION AND MANUFACTURE OF JUTE, HEMP, FLAX, AND OTHER FIBROUS OR TEXTILE MATERIALS
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Addison Cox, of Lochee, Dundee, in the
County of Forfar, North Britain, Jute and Flax Spinner, and Power
Loom Linen Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE TREATMENT OR PREPARATION AND MANUFACTURE OF JUTE, HEMP, FLAX,
AND OTHER FIBROUS OR TEXTILE MATERIALS."
Sealed the 27th May 1863, and dated the 2nd April 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Addison Cox at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
2nd April 1863.
I, GEORGE ADDISON Cox, of Lochee, Dundee, in the County of Forfar,
North Britain, Jute and Flax Spinner, and Power Loom Linen Manufacturer,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE TREATMENT OR PREPARATION AND MANUFACTURE OF JUTE, HEMP, FLAX, AND
OTHER FIBROUS OR TEXTILE MATERIALS," to be as follows, that is to say :--
This Invention relates to the arrangement and construction of various
mechanical contrivances to be used for snipping, teasing, hackling, cutting,
breaking, and otherwise treating, as a part process of the manufacture thereof,
jute, hemp, flax, and other fibrous or textile materials, such operations being
anterior to those relating to the spinning and final manufacture into fabrics
of the fibrous or textile materials berein-before referred to.
According to one modification of the machinery or apparatus involved in
carrying out the present Invention, the contrivance for holding or gripping
the jute, hemp, flax, or other fibrous material consists of two endless grippers

page_text: or holding sheets made of hemp or other fibrous material, gutta percha,
caoutchouc, leather, chain wire, or other flexible substance. These grippers
or holders work over grooved or plain pulleys or carrying rollers, one being
situated at each end of the loop or bend of the grippers, which operate in a
horizontal direction. These traversing grippers are disposed in an open frame
which carries the bearings for the pulleys, one gripper being directly above
the other, the two being set to work parallel with each other and in contact.
The lower endless gripper is made considerably longer than the upper one, in
order that a space may be left at each end of the longer one to act respectively
as feeding-in and delivery tables. Both the upper and lower grippers
traverse continuously in the same direction, and if a firmer hold upon the fibro
is required, that effect can be secured by adjusting the levels of the roller
centres closer to each other, the projections of one coinciding with the grooves
or recesses of the other. Immediately above and beneath the point where the
hackle or gill of the cylinders, travelling gill, sheet, or comb work upon the
fibre for the opening or disintegrating process there are disposed curved plates
or other fixtures to afford the grippers or holders a superior strain or more
powerful hold upon the fibre; there are also adjustable rests placed in front
of the holders or grippers to give the necessary length of nip or holding
pressure. Parallel to the travelling grippers or holders, so far as snipping,
teasing, combing, or hackling are concerned, there is disposed a cylinder or
cylinders, or revolving sheet, or combing arm, running either with or against
the direction of traverso of the fibre, as may be necessary, these details being
fitted with hackle pins, gill pins, or whatever pointed or blunt instruments
may be necessary for the further treatment of the fibre. As the fibre is fed
into the gripper or holder, the attendant allows the end of the fibrous mass to
hang over the edge to the extent to which it is intended to be hackled,
snipped, teased, or combed; it is carried along by the lower gripper until
it is conveyed between it and the upper gripper; here it is secured and
carried along over the face of the cylinders, where the operations of
hackling, snipping, teasing, and combing are accomplished. The operating
cylinders are filled with pins, graduated as to length, and set, beginning
with short open pins, and gradually thickening and lengthening to the end
of the cylinders or revolving sheet or comb, just as one or other may be
used for the special class of work in hand. After undergoing the necessary
operations of hackling, snipping, and preparing, the fibrous material is
delivered at the opposite end of the machine, where it can be removed by
the attendant or allowed to drop off. The tow, or hacklings, or snippings
are thrown off the cylinders by their own velocity, or they may be removed

page_text: by slips or combs. As regards the arrangements appertaining to the breaker
or cutter actions the details are the same, but a repetition of them is required
so as to take in the entire length of the strike or parcel of fibre, and revolving
cutters or breakers or breaking arms are placed at the proper pitch or distance
to suit the lengths at which the fibre is to be cut or broken. It is obvious
that any number of cutters can be arranged in the machine to suit any
required length of fibre, and in the case of jute, or other fibre with a root, the
cylinders, revolving sheet or combing arm can, if preferred, be fitted to the root
end side of the machine so as to snip, hackle, or comb it off as it moves along.
The most obviously valuable portion of the improvements embodied in
this Invention is the holder or endless travelling gripper; for by its aid the
operator can keep up a continuous feed of fibre, thus enabling him to get
through a very much increased quantity of work as compared with existing
machines. In snipping in the ordinary machines two pairs of feeding rollers
are fixed in front of a revolving cylinder, when the fibre is run partially through
and allowed to rest upon the cylinder. When snipped or combed sufficiently,
the feeding rollers are reversed and the fibre is run out, thus involving a great
loss of time. By the present Invention all this loss is avoided.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Addison Cox in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
1st October 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
ADDISON Cox, of Lochee, Dundee, in the County of Forfar, North Britain,
Jute and Flax Spinner, and Power Loom Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Second day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-sixth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said George Addison Cox, Her special license that I, the said George
Addison Cox, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said George Addison Cox, my executors, administrators, or 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 THE TREATMENT OR PREPARATION AND MANUFACTURE OF

page_text: JUTE, HEMP, FLAX, AND OTHER FIBROUS OR TEXTILE MATERIALS," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said George Addison Cox, my executors
or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, or
under the hand and seal of one of them, 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 George Addison Cox, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:-
My said Invention relates to the arrangement and construction of various
mechanical contrivances to be used for snipping, teasing, backling, cutting,
breaking, and otherwise treating, as a part process of the manufacture thereof,
jute, hemp, flax, and other fibrous or textile materials, such operations being
anterior to those relating to the spinning and final manufacture into fabrics of
the fibrous or textile materials herein-before referred to.
According to one modification of the machinery or apparatus involved in
carrying out the present Invention, the contrivance for holding or gripping
the jute, hemp, flax, or other fibrous material, consists of two endless grippers
or holding sheets made of hemp or other fibrous material, gutta percha,
caoutchouc, leather, chain wire, or other flexible substance. These grippers
or holders work over grooved or plain pulleys or carrying rollers, one being
situated at each end of the loop or bend of the grippers, which operate in a
horizontal direction. These traversing grippers are disposed in an open
frame which carries the bearings for the pulleys, one gripper being directly
above the other, the two being set to work parallel with each other and in
contact. The lower endless gripper is made considerably longer than the
upper one, in order that a space may be left at each end of the longer one to
act respectively as feeding-in and delivering tables. Both the upper and
lower grippers traverse continuously in the same direction, and if a firmer
hold upon the fibre is required, that effect can be secured by adjusting the
levels of the roller centres closer to each other, the projections of one
coinciding with the grooves or recesses of the other. Immediately above and
beneath the point where the hackle or gill of the cylinders, travelling gill,
sheet, or comb work upon the fibre for the opening or disintegrating process
there are disposed curved plates or other fixtures to afford the grippers or

page_text: holders a superior strain or more powerful hold upon the fibre; there are
also adjustable rests placed in front of the holders or grippers to give the
necessary length of nip or holding pressure. Parallel to the travelling
grippers or holders, so far as snipping, teasing, combing, or hackling are
concerned, there is disposed a cylinder or cylinders, or revolving sheet, or
combing arm, running either with or against the direction of traverse of the
fibre, as may be necessary, these details being fitted with hackle pins, gill pins,
or whatever pointed or blunt instruments may be necessary for the further
treatment of the fibre. As the fibre is fed into the gripper or holder, the
attendant allows the end of the fibrous mass to hang over the edge to the
extent to which it is intended to be hackled, snipped, teased, or combed; it is
carried along by the lower gripper until it is conveyed between it and the
upper gripper; here it is secured and carried along over the face of the
cylinders, where the operations of hackling, snipping, teasing, and combing
are accomplished. The operating cylinders are filled with pins, graduated as.
to length and set, beginning with short open pins, and gradually thickening
and lengthening to the end of the cylinders, or revolving sheet, or comb, just.
as one or other may be used for tho special class of work in hand. After.
undergoing the necessary operations of backling, snipping, and preparing, the
fibrous material is delivered at the opposite end of the machine, where it can
be removed by the attendant or allowed to drop off. The tow, or hacklings,
or snippings are thrown off the cylinders by their own velocity, or they may
be removed by slips or combs. As regards the arrangements apertaining to
the breaker or cutter actions the details are the same, but a repetition of
them is required so as to take in the entire length of the strike or parcel of
fibre, and revolving cutters or breakers or breaking arms are placed at the
proper pitch or distance to suit the lengths at which the fibre is to be cut
or broken. It is obvious that any number of cutters can be arranged in the
machine to suit any required length of fibre, and in the case of jute, or other
fibre with a root, the cylinders, revolving sheet, or combing arm can, if
preferred, be fitted to the root end side of the machine so as to snip, hackle,
or comb it off as it moves along.
The most obviously valuable portion of the improvements embodied in this
Invention is the holder or endless travelling gripper, for by its aid the operator
can keep up a continuous feed of fibre, thus enabling him to get through a
very much increased quantity of work as compared with existing machines.
In snipping in the ordinary machines, two pairs of feeding rollers are fixed in
front of a revolving cylinder, when the fibre is run partially through and
allowed to rest upon the cylinder. When snipped or combed sufficiently, the

page_text: feeding rollers are reversed and the fibre is run out, thus involving a great
loss of time. By the present Invention all this loss is avoided.
And in order that my said Invention of improvements in the treatment
or preparation and manufacture of jute, hemp, flax, and other fibrous or
textile materials may be properly understood, I shall now proceed to describe
the several Figures on the explanatory Sheets of Drawings, which I have
hereunto appended for the purpose of showing certain modifications under
which my improvements may be judiciously carried out in practice, that
is to say:
Figure 1, on Sheet 1, of the accompanying Drawings is a front elevation
of one modification or arrangement of a machine for snipping, teasing,
hackling, or combing jute, hemp, flax, or other generally similar fibrous
materials; Figure 2 is a back elevation of the machine; Figure 3 is an end
elevation showing the feeding end, and Figure 4 is a corresponding elevation
showing the delivery end of the machine. Figure 5 is a plan of the machine
corresponding to Figures 1 to 4; and Figure 6 is a transvers vertical section
of the holders or "grippers" for holding the fibrous materials while under
operation; this detail is drawn to a scale one-half the actual size.
Referring to Shect 2 of the Drawings, Figure 1, on the said Sheet is a side
elevation looking on the driving end of the improved machine for cutting
jute, hemp, flax, or other fibrous materials, and Figure 2 is a corresponding
elevation taken on the opposite side of the machine. Figure 3 is a front
elevation, and Figure 4 a plan, of the machine corresponding to Figures 1
and 2:
In reference to the modification shown on Sheet 1 of the accompanying
Drawings, the framing A of the machine consists of two longitudinal standards
connected by end pieces, these standards are intersected at the central part
by a secondary framing B, which extends outwards in a lateral direction, as is
shown more particularly in the two end elevations and in the plan Figure 5. An
endless belt driven from a contiguous prime mover gives motion to the fast-
and-loose pulley C, which is carried on the horizontal shaft D, the bearings of
which are carried in the secondary framing B. On the shaft D is keyed the
spur wheel E, which is in gear with the corresponding wheel F; this wheel is
keyed to a short horizontal shaft G carried in the framing B, but in a lower
plane than the shaft D. On the shaft G is a worm H, which gives motion to
the worm wheel I, keyed on the shaft J, that is carried in bearings pendent
from the framing B. On the inner end of this shaft is a pinion K, which is
in gear with the wheel L; this wheel is carried on a stud in the bracket
piece M, the lower end of which takes on to the end of the shaft J. The

page_text: large spur wheel L drives the wheel N, on the shaft of the drum or pulley O;
this pulley, as well as others that will be presently referred to, is made with a
series of grooves on its surface to suit the particular configuration of the
ribbed band or "gripper," which is shown in the detail Figure 6. The
gripper or endless nipping and feeding band P is formed of a series of
ropes or cords P¹, as shown in Figure 6; these cords are formed of hemp,
gutta percha, chain wire, or other suitable flexible material or materials.
The cords are inserted longitudinally into an endless band P, of cloth, leather,
caoutchouc, or other suitable material, so as to form a fabric which is ribbed.
longitudinally, as shown in the Drawings.
'
Another mode of making these "grippers" or endless snipping bands
consists in attaching the ropes P¹ or their equivalent to the surface of the
fabric P, which arrangement admits of their gripping together more closely,
and so taking a firmer hold of the fibrous material to be operated upon. Two
or more ropes or bands are attached to the back of the fabric forming the
endless band; these ropes or bands run in grooves formed for the purpose in
the pulleys round which the "grippers" are extended, and thus act as guides
for keeping the endless sheet in its place on the pulleys. The fibrous material
to be operated upon is carried between two of these ribbed bands, and from
the peculiarity of their make and their mechanical arrangement they exert a
very effective hold or nipping action on the fibre, hence I have designated
them as "grippers" or fibre holders. The "gripper" P extends along the
machine, and is carried round the pulley O', the shaft of which is carried in
adjustable bearings carried on the framing A. The bearings of the shaft of
the pulley O' are carried in the brackets Q, which are made so as to slide to
and fro on the framing A; at the back of each of the brackets Q is a secondary
bracket carrying the adjusting screw Q', which works through a nut in the
bracket Q, and by means of which the brackets and the shaft are moved
outwards, and so caused to tighten up the endless band or ". gripper" P as
required. Between the two end drums or pulleys O and O' are arranged the
two bearing pulleys R and R', which serve to sustain in part the gripper P;
these pulleys are constructed like those before described. The wheel L gives
motion to the wheel S, which is carried on a stud in a radial bracket piece M³,
pendent from the shaft of the wheel T, to which the wheel S gives motion.
The wheel T is carried on the shaft of the pulley U, round which is carried
the upper endless band or "gripper" V. This band extends round the
pulley U, carried at the other end of the framing B, the bearings of the shaft
of the pulley U being fitted in adjustable brackets W, similar to those herein-
before described, so as to tighten up the "gripper" V when required. The

page_text: jute or other fibrous material to be operated upon is spread over the feeding
end of the lower gripper P, which is specially elongated for the purpose.
Parallel with the edge of the "gripper" is arranged an endless travelling
band or "rest" X, this band is carried round a pulley Y, carried on the shaft
of the pulley O', and thence round the pulleys Z and Z. In feeding in
the fibrous material the overhanging ends rest upon the band X, which serves
to give the necessary amount of nip as required. As the fibrous material
is carried forward by the gripper P, it is carried under the gripper V,
and is then subjected to the action of the cylinder a, or revolving sheet, or
combing arm. This cylinder is arranged at right angles to the grippers P
and V, and its surface is filled with hackles, gill pins, or other pointed
instruments suitable for operating on the particular kind of fibrous material
under operation. The pins are set in the cylinder a, beginning with short
open set pins, and gradually thickening and lengthening to the end of the
cylinder. As the jute or other fibrous material is carried along in fron of the
cylinder it is subjected to the action of the pins, and is thus caused to undergo
the processes of snipping, hackling, or teasing. In lieu of this arrangement
the machine may be fitted with two or more of these cylinders, the surfaces
of which may be either conical, as shown in the Drawing, or cylindrical, or
one cylinder may be conical and the other cylindrical, as may be found most
suitable for the particular kind of fibrous material to be operated upon. The
fibrous material after being thus treated is carried on the "gripper" P to the
delivery side of the machine, from whence it is either removed by the attendant
worker, or it is allowed to fall off the "gripper." The partially refuse matters,
consisting of the snippings, hacklings, or the tow, are either thrown off the
cylinder a by its velocity, or they are removed therefrom by means of "slips,"
or they may be combed off as found most convenient in practice. Immediately
contiguous to the backling pins or teeth in the cylinder a is arranged a curved
plate b, which rests upon the upper side of the gripper V, and serves to
impart to the grippers an extra strain or more powerful holding pressure on
the fibrous materials under operation; or in lieu of this arrangement there
may be two of these plates 6, one pressing in a downward direction and the
other in the upward direction, the pressure of the plates on the grippers being
regulated, if necessary, by means of screws or other equivalent contrivance.
In Sheet 2 of the accompanying Drawings is shown the arrangement of my
improved cutting machine or breaker for cutting or breaking the jute or other
long fibrous material into lengths suitable for spinning. Figures 1 and 2 are
elevations taken at the opposite ends of the machine;
Figure 3 is a front
elevation of the same, and Figure 4 is a plan of the machine corresponding to

page_text: Figures 1 to 3. The framing A of the machine consists of two cast-iron
end standards with open panels; these standards are connected by longitudinal
side rails, and adjutting out from the main central frame on each side is a
smaller secondary frame B. The main driving shaft C extends right across
the centre of the machine, and it has keyed on its right-hand overhanging
extremity the fast-and-loose pulley D, which is driven from a contiguous
prime mover. On the other end of the main shaft C is a pinion E, which
gears with the spur wheel F, that is carried on a long stud projecting out from
the framing A. The spur wheel F gives motion to the pinion G, on the boss
of which is the wheel H; this wheel is in gear with the pinion I, on the boss
of which is the wheel J; this pinion and wheel are keyed on the end of the
shaft K, the bearings of which are carried in brackets pendent from the
under side of the framing A. Parallel with the shaft K, but on the other
side of the main shaft C, is a second shaft K', and both these shafts aro
fitted with a series of grooved pulleys L and L', which are similar to those
herein-before described, and shown in the snipping machine, Sheet 1 of the
accompanying Drawings. The bearings of the shaft Kare carried in sliding
brackets M, which are adjustable by means of the screws N, carried in the
eyes of the fixed brackets O. Round cach opposite pair of pulleys L and L'
is extended the endless ribbed band P, which forms the upper "gripper" of
the machine. The upper "gripper" P travels in contact with the lower
'gripper" Q, the corrugations of the one gripper working into the undulations
or depressions of the other gripper, as herein-before described and shown in the
enlarged sectional view, Figure 6, on Sheet 1 of the accompanying Drawings.
The lower "gripper" Q is driven from the wheel J, which gives motion to the
intermediate pinion R, in gear with the corresponding pinion R'; both these
pinions are carried on studs arranged in the slots of the supporting brackets
pieces. The pinion R¹ gives motion to the spur wheel S on the end of the
shaft T, which carries one series of pulleys U, round which the lower grippers
Qare stretched. The bearings of the shaft T are carried in brackets
arranged on the laterally extending framing B, and on the corresponding
framing on the other side of the machine is fitted a shaft T, on which is
carried the second series of pulleys U¹, round which the grippers Q are
extended. The bearings of this shaft are fitted in the adjustable brackets V,
and the tension of the grippers are regulated by the screws V₁, as before
described. Both series of grippers are made to suit the length to which the
fibre is to be cut or broken, and they are arranged a sufficient distance apart
to admit of the cutters being fitted between the contiguous edges of the series
of grippers, as shown more particularly in the plan of the machine, Figure 4,
"

page_text: on Sheet 2 of the accompanying Drawings. The machine as arranged on the
Drawing has a series of five pairs of "grippers," and between each contiguous
pair is fitted a disc wheel W, which is keyed to the main shaft E. Each of
these discs W is made with a broad periphery in which is fitted in dovetail
grooves the cutters or breakers X, which act as a species of blades for
severing the fibrous material. As the grippers Q carry the fibrous material
forward, as indicated by the arrows, it is brought into contact with the
cutters X, and thus severed into lengths suitable for spinning. Parallel with
the disc wheels W, and on each side of them, is fitted a curved plate Y, which
serves to support the grippers at this part, and increase their hold on the fibrous
material. This machine may also be arranged with a backling cylinder,
revolving sheet, or combing arm at the root end side of the machine, so as to
snip, hackle, or comb off this part of the fibrous material as it is carried along
in the machine. The "grippers" or endless holding bands, herein-before
described, may also be variously modified in their arrangement and manu-
facture without departing from this peculiar feature of these improvements.
With these improved arrangements of machinery the several processes of
snipping, teasing, backling, cutting, or breaking jute, hemp, flax, or other
generally similar fibrous material may be greatly expedited, and the production
of fibre in a state suitable for spinning is largely increased..
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, I would observe in conclusion, that what I consider novel and
original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent, is,-
First, the general arrangement, construction, and combination of parts
forming the machinery for treating or preparing jute, hemp, flax, or other
fibrous materials suitable for the manufacture of textile materials, as herein-
before described and shown in the accompanying Drawings, or any merc
modification of or equivalent for the said arrangement.
Second, the system or mode of forming or making the endless holding bands
or "grippers" with a corrugated, ribbed, or roughened surface for the purpose
of obtaining a firm and securo hold of the jute, hemp, flax, or other fibrous
materials during the operations of snipping, hackling, teasing, or combing, as
herein-before described and shown in the accompanying Drawings, or any
mere modification of the said system of manufacture.
Third, the application to and use in machinery or apparatus for treating or
preparing jute, hemp, flax, or other generally similar fibrous materials of the
corrugated, ribbed, or otherwise roughened endless holding bands or "grippers,"

page_text: whereby a continuous feed of the fibrous material is obtained, resulting in
a largely increased product, as herein-before described and shown in the
accompanying Drawings, or any mere modification of, the said arrangement or
equivalent therefor.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Addison Cox, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of September, One thousand
eight hundred and sixty-three.
GEORGE ADDISON COX. (L.S.)