IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR DRAWING HEMP, FLAX, AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Sinclair MoPherson, of Wellington Foundry,
Leeds, in the County of York, for the Invention of "IMPROVED APPARATUS
FOR DRAWING HEMP, FLAX, AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES."
Sealed the 11th June 1878, and dated the 28th December 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Sinclair MoPherson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 28th December 1877.
ALEXANDER SINCLAIR MCPHERSON, of Wellington Foundry, Leeds, in the
County of York. " IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR DRAWING HEMP, FLAX, AND
OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES."
This Invention relates to a novel arrangement of mechanism for drawing the
fibres from the gills of what is known in rope-spinning machinery as the spreader,
without subjecting the fibres to the risk of being cut or injured, as is not unfre-
quently the case when the ordinary drawing rolls are sufficiently pressed to ensure
a firm bite of the fibres.
My Invention consists in the use of smooth toothed gearing or interlocking rolls,
which will present an undulating holding surface to the fibres, and hold them firmly,
while, by the rotation of the rolls, the drawing of the fibres is effected; to obtain
this action I use a large toothed roll which is driven, and I set above or around this
roll two, three, or more smaller rolls, having similar rounded teeth or flutings, which
will work smoothly into the teeth of the larger roll; these small rolls are weighted
and driven by friction of contact with the larger roll.
To provide against the rounded teeth or flutes interlocking too deeply, and
thereby injuriously biting the fibres which are passed between them, I form the
small rolls with plain end extensions which bear upon similar extensions on the
larger roll, and I thus gauge the depth at which the small rolls will interlock with

page_text: the larger roll. The fibre in passing between these holding surfaces will be subjected
to a steady drawing action, the liability of any slip occuring being removed, and
that without risk of the fibre being cut or crushed while in contact with the fluted
rolls.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alexander Sinclair McPherson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
28th June 1878.
"
ALEXANDER SINCLAIR M°PHERSON, of Wellington Foundry, Leeds, in the
County of York. IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR DRAWING HEMP, FLAX, AND
OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES."
This Invention relates to a novel arrangement of mechanism for drawing the
fibres from the gills of what is known in rope-spinning machinery as the spreader,
and in flax-preparing machinery as the drawing frame, without subjecting the fibres
to the risk of being cut or injured, as is not unfrequently the case where the
ordinary drawing rolls are sufficiently pressed to ensure a firm bite of the
fibres.
Several attempts have been made to overcome the injurious effects on the fibre of
the tight gripping of the rolls; for example, it has been proposed to mount the top
rollers in fixed bearings, and thereby to maintain them in a certain fixed relation
with the lower drawing roller.
It has also been proposed to obtain an extended hold on the fibres by means of a
travelling endless chain overlying a portion of the periphery of the lower drawing
roller, and gearing with the rounded ribs or projections thereof.
To attain the same end, but in a more efficient manner, I propose to use a novel
arrangement of smooth toothed gearing or interlocking rolls, which will present an
undulating holding surface to the fibres and hold them firmly by friction of contact,
while by the rotation of the rolls the drawing of the fibres is effected.
In the accompanying Drawing, Fig. 1 shews in longitudinal sectional elevation,
and Fig. 2 in transverse section, a portion of a machine with my improved arrange-
ment of drawing rollers applied thereto.
In these Figures A is the main framing of the machine, and B are the screw gills
which deliver the open fibres to the drawing rollers; C is the lower drawing roller
formed with rounded teeth or flutings, and mounted and driven as usual.
Above this
roll are set four smaller rolls D, D, having similar rounded teeth or flutings, which will
work smoothly into the teeth of the larger roll; these small rolls are mounted in
bearings in radial guides, formed in standards E, and are pressed down upon the
lower roller by means of coiled springs. They are driven by friction of contact with
the larger roll.
To provide against the rounded teeth or flutes of the rolls D interlocking too
deeply, and thereby injuriously biting the fibres which are passed between them,
the small rolls are formed with plain end extensions d which bear upon similar
extensions c on the larger roll, and the depth at which the small rolls will interlock
with the larger rolls is thus permanently gauged. As rotary motion is given to the

page_text: lower roll the upper rolls will be caused to rotate by friction of contact, and thereby
present a travelling undulating holding surface to the fibres brought into the grip
of the drawing rolls. The fibre in passing between these holding surfaces will be
subjected to a steady drawing action, the liability of any slip occurring being
removed, and that without risk of the fibre being cut or crushed while in contact
with the fluted rolls.
I would remark that although I have in the accompanying Drawing shown four
upper rolls D as gearing into the lower roll C, yet I do not propose to use in all
cases this number of upper drawing rolls, as three will be found in some cases to
give good results.
The number employed will depend on the judgment of the attendant and on the
character of fibre upon which he is operating, it being understood that an increase
in the number of the upper rolls will tend to ensure a firmer hold upon the fibre,
and consequently a better drawing action.
Having now set forth the nature of my Invention of "Improved Apparatus for
Drawing Hemp, Flax, and other Fibrous Substances," and explained the manner of
carrying the same into effect, I wish it to be understood that under the above
in part recited Letters Patent I claim, the application to machines used for
drawing hemp or other fibrous material through gills of the arrangement of drawing
rolls above described, whereby, without risk of cutting or crushing the fibre, I am
enabled to obtain a firm hold of the fibres as they are brought up by the gills, and
ensure the proper drawing action.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Sinclair McPherson, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the Twenty-fifth day of June, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
A. S. MOPHERSON. (L.S.)