Improvements in and relating to the Automatic Working of Hopper Feeding Machines used in Cotton and Woollen Mills and the like.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Oct., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 16th July, 1898-Accepted, 16th Oct., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to the Automatic Working of Hopper
Feeding Machines used in Cotton and Woollen Mills and the like.
I, STEPHEN HULME of 184, Swanston Street, Bridgeton, in the County of the
City of Glasgow, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention.
to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to a new or improved method of automatically
working or serving the hopper feeding machines used in cotton and woollen mills
and the like, and whereby the cotton or material will be fed to a series or any
desired number of these machines in a self acting and uniform manner and with
a uniform regulated pressure, and hand labour be entirely dispensed with.
According to my improvements the self acting serving of hopper feeders, used
in cotton and woollen mills is so arranged that the pressure of the material on the
usual endless travelling band of spiked lattice work, hereinafter termed “lattice,"
is equal when the hopper is full, or so empty as to require serving, also to serve
any one hopper in a set of any number, to stop serving any one hopper when it
has got the required quantity, and if all the hoppers are full to stop main service
or lattices or during the interval when changing from one hopper to another
to stop main service lattice so that during changes or when all the hoppers aro
full the main service lattice or lattices cease delivering the material they are
serving, and will supply one in a set of any number as well as any other number
or the whole set.
In carrying out my invention I place in the hopper a suitable swivel arrange-
ment which is acted on by the material in the hopper in one direction that is when
filling, and when emptying is acted on by a suitable variable lever which puts
on a varied or regulated pressure on the material in the hopper, so that when the
hopper is emptying and the weight of material is lessened, this moveable lever
puts on so much extra pressure that compensates for the lessened pressure of
material, thereby assuring the pressure on the spiked lattice to be uniform or
the same when a small quantity of material is in the hopper as well as when full.
The formation of this swivel arrangement is so constructed as not to interfere
with the rolling action of the material caused by the action of the spiked lattice
and the stripping roller and apron, and would preferably consist of prongs or bars
mounted on a transverse oscillating spindle, while the variable lever would be
connected to same through toothed gearing and oscillate with a counterweight.
Connected to this swivel arrangement I place suitable levers of bell cranked or
other shape that will transmit the motion of the swivel arrangement to top
weighted levers that fall backward and forward according to the quantity of
material in any one hopper, falling one way when full and the opposite when
empty.
These top weighted levers in falling backwards and forwards actuate a catch
engaging one way and disengaging the other way. Preferably however I employ
instead of these weighted levers, a tumbler fitted with catches mounted to oscillate
slightly on the end of a lever secured on an oscillating shaft so that when it moves
in one direction it engages and when in the other direction it disengages, this

page_text: tumbler being oscillated to bring the catches into action by means of a lever
acted on by pins on a sliding bar operated through suitable connections from the
lever in the hopper and by this means the weighted levers are dispensed with
and the engaging and disengaging effected by the oscillating catches. In con-
nection with this catch arrangement 1 employ what is called a differential motion
one part being in constant motion and the other two motions being governed by
the catches. One of the motions. that not directly actuated on by the catch.
I employ for the purpose of driving the main service lattice which constitutes the
main source of supply of material the other motion 1 employ to carry any
necessary cams or any other suitable motion to engage or disengage any one in
a set of any number. This cam motion can be applied to move a swivel conduit
pipe, or a conduit pipe on pulleys, or to place in and out of gear catch or clutch
boxes and would have mounted on it suitable eams to effect the required variable
motions. These cams and catches would be arranged and connected to the
separate machines so that when any one hopper in a set required serving there
would be suitable stops placed on the cam motion in a proper position to serve any
one hopper and by the stoppage of this cam motion the other part of the differ
ential motion would be set at work and by this means commence serving the
material to any one hopper in a set and when the required quantity of material
has been served to the hopper the top weighted lever would fall on the opposite
side and disengage the cam motion which would again continue to turn round
until it is stopped again by a catch actuated from any other hopper in the set
that required serving.
It will be seen that by these improvements there is an even pressure of material
on the spiked lattice or cylinder and that the rolling is not interfered with and
thub any one hopper in a set can be served as required if all hoppers in a set
have the required quantity of material the main service lattice will be stopped and
will remain so as long as the required quantity of material is in the hoppers and
will attend to one hopper or any part or the whole set. During changes the
serving lattices are stopped until one of the hoppers requires filling. It will
place the conduit pipes or entch or clutch boxes in a position to serve any one
hopper thereby insuring a regular delivery of the material under operation in
an automatic manner.
Dated the 15th day of October 1807
Improvements in and relating to the Automatic Working of Hopper
Feeding Machines used in Cotton and Woollen Mills and the like.
I, STEPHEN HOLME, of 184, Swanston Street, Bridgeton, in the County of the
City of Glasgow, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement, that is to say:-
This invention has reference to a new or improved method of automatically
working or serving the hopper feeding machines used in cotton and wollen mills
and the like, and whereby the cotton or material will be fed to a series or any
desired number of these machines in a self acting and uniform manner and with
a uniform regulated pressure, and hand labour be entirely dispensed with.
According to my improvements the self acting serving of hopper feeders, used
in cotton and woollen mills so arranged that the pressure of the material on the

page_text: usual endless travelling band of spiked lattice work, hereinafter termed "lattice"
is equal when the hopper is full, or so empty as to require serving, also to serve
any one hopper in a set of any number, to stop, serving any one hopper when it
has got the required quantity, and if all the hoppers are full to stop main service
or lattices, or during the interval when changing from one hopper to another
to stop main service lattice so that during changes or when all the hoppers are
full the main service lattice or lattices cease delivering the material they are
serving, and will supply one in a set of any number as well as any other number
or the whole set.
And in order that my said invention and the manner of carrying same into
practice may be properly understood I have hereunto appended three sheets of
explanatory drawings in which like letters of reference are used to denote corre-
sponding parts. Figure 1 on Sheet 1 is a side elevation broken away and Figure 2
an end elevation illustrating the hopper feeding arrangement, while Figure 3 is
a detached side elevation showing the heart cam and connections to the main
service hopper. Figures 4, 5 and 6 on Sheet 2 are a side elevation, end elevation,
and plan respectively illustrating a modified arrangement of my improvements,
while Figure 3 on-same sheet is a diagram view of connection to main service
lattice and hopper, and Figures 7 and 8 on Sheet 3 are diagram side and end
detached views of the sliding bar fittings.
Referring to the drawings on Sheet 1:-
In carrying out my invention I place in the hopper A of carding machine a
suitable swivel arrangement which is acted on by the material in the hopper in
one direction that is when filling, and when emptying is acted on by a suitable
variable lever which puts on a varied or regulated pressure on the material in
the hopper, so that when the hopper is emptying and the weight of material is
lessened, this moveable lever puis on so much extra pressure that compensates
for the lessened pressure of material, thereby assuring the pressure on the spiked
lattice A to be uniform or the same when a small quantity of material is in
the hopper as well as when full.
The formation of this swivel arrangement which is applied to every hopper
feeder of a series is so constructed as not to interfere with the rolling action of
the material caused by the action of the spiked lattice A' and the stripping roller
and apron, and would preferably consist of prongs or bars B mounted on a
transverse oscillating spindle B while the variable compensating lever B would
be connected to same through toothed or bevel gearing BB and oscillate with
a hanging rod and counterweight 135. Connected to each swivel arrangement
I place a lever C coupled by an adjustable connecting rod C¹ to a bell crank
lever C³ on the top of the service lattice frame Z so that the motion of the swivel
arrangement attached to any hopper will be transmitted to top weighted levers D)
that fall backward and forward according to the quantity of material in any one
hopper, falling one way when full and the opposite when empty. These levers I)
are actuated from the hopper feeder through connections CC, bell crank C and
rods, levers and links EEE connected to the sliding bars D' the pins on which
acting on the tail of levers I) tilt same over the upper part of lever carrying with
it the sliding bar 12 by means of the pins on same to lock the disc F in any
desired position. It will thus be seen these top weighted levers D in falling
backwards and forwards actuate catch bar or bars 1 through pins so as to
engage one way and disengage the other way with pins f on a disc F secured to
the cam shaft of the actuating mechanism to stop the cam F in a position
suitable for feeding the hopper A of any machine requiring to be supplied.
In connection with this catch arrangement I employ what is called a differential
motion, one part being in constant motion, and the other two motions being
governed by the catches. One of the motions, that is to say:--the wheel G.
which is not directly acted on by the catch f is secured to the shaft (, and the
wheels G* with pulley G2 attached is loose on shaft G and which through the

page_text: band G³, I employ for the purpose of driving the main service lattice 7 shown in
diagram view Figure 3 which constitutes the main source of supply of material.
The other part the wheel G which is on a sleeve and runs loosely on the shaft G
and is acted on by the catches f 1 employ to control the main service source of
supply to the hopper A of each machine of a series through the medium of a spur
pinion G secured on same and wheel on the cam shaft F¹.
to same.
On the shaft F the heart or other shaped cam is secured, shown particularly
in Figure 3 and also indicated in diagram view Figure 3* to reciprocate a bar
and oscillate the lever I so as to move the hollow rod F and with it the delivery
shoot shown in diagram view Figure 8 fed from the main service lattice
to supply the hopper service lattices or shoots % of any machine in the series,
when the cam is stopped at a position suitable by the bar D2 of any hopper
engaging with its particular pin on the disc F to bring the main delivery
shoot directly over same, the hopper F being continually in motion until
stopped as above described. When the cam has been stopped as above described
in a certain position for feeding a hopper A the spur wheel on same shafi is
also stopped and with it the spur pinion G³ secured on sleeve of wheel G of
the differential motion. When this occurs the wheel Gon shaft G₁ carries round the
wheels Gund with same the pulley Gª which is loose on the shaft to actuate the
main service lattice 7 by the belt. G to supply material to the delivery hopper E
Referring to Figures 4 to 6 on Sheet 2, instead of the differential motion or
wheels being operated from two shafts as shown in Figures 1 to 3, in this case
I employ only one shaft and secure the wheels G of the differential motion
One of the motions or wheel G, on the less of which is secured or enst
the pulley G2, is loose on the shaft G, the pulley G2 being employed for the
purpose of driving the main service lattice 7 which constitutes the main source
of supply of material, while the other motion or wheel G is used for giving motion
to the shaft G through the wheels G³ secured to same, by means of a pulley G
also mounted on the sleeve of wheel G and which pulley G receives its motion
from a palley on the hopper service lattices of any of the machines of the series.
On this shaft G is also secured the cam used for moving the hopper_17
througli the medium of the swivel hollow rod fè running on pulleys, as before
described. The action is as follows:-When the shaft GI is free to revolve the
wheels are carried round by the wheel G and pulley G without turning the
wheel G and pulley G but when the shaft C is stopped the wheels G will actuate
the wheel G and with it the pulley G2 and band G³ to serve the material as
desired. On the shaft 61 a pulley G is mounted, on to the periphery of which
rollers are mounted and act on any of the sliding bars D² in the same manner
as the pins on the dise F Figures 1 and 2 to stop the shafi (1 when any hopper
requires serving. The heart cam 3 being keyed on this shaft G nets on the
bar as before stated to oscillate the lever and hollow rod F to actuate the
main supply hopper or shoot.
The connections to the various machines in the series would be the same as
in Figures and 2 to actuate each of the sliding bars D' and weighted levers D
and would be arranged so that when any one hopper A in a set required serving
the suitable stops on the pulley G placed on the cam motion shaft GP stop the
cam in a proper position to serve any one hopper, and by the stoppage of this
cam motion the other part, or wheel G of the differential motion would be set
at work and by this means commence serving the material to any one hopper A
in a set and when the required quantity of material has been served to the hopper
the top weighted lever D would fall on the opposite side and disengage the cam
motion which would again continue to turn round until it is stopped again by
any bar a actuated from any other hopper A. in the sel that required serving by
connections similar to those shown in Figures 1 and 2.
As shown in the diagram views on Sheet 3 of the drawings 1 employ instead
of these weighted levers, a tumbler or tumblers II fitted with catches mounted

page_text: to oscillate slightly on the end of a lever H' secured on an oscillating shaft so
that when the bar D2 by the usual connections from the hoppers A moves in one
direction it carries with it the lever or levers H' and engages with the bar D'
and moves it in one direction to stop the shaft G in any desired position according
to the position of the cam X or in the other direction it disengages. The sliding
bar has pins operated on by the lever as before described, the weighted
levers being dispensed with and the engaging and disengaging effected by the
oscillating catches on the tumbler H and bar D'
It will be seen that by these improvements there is an even pressure of material
on the spiked lattice A or cylinder and that the rolling is not interfered with
and that any one hopper A in a set can be served as required if all hoppers in
a set have the required quantity of material the main service lattice Z shown in
the diagram view Figure 3 will be stopped and will remain so, as long as the
pulley G and cord G is stationary and required quantity of material is in the
hoppers and will attend to any one hopper or any part or the whole set. During
changes the main serving lattice is stopped until one of the hoppers requires
filling. The cam motions F³ place the hollow rod, in such a position as indicated
in diagram view Figure 3 to serve any one hopper thereby insuring a regular
delivery of the material under operation in an automatic manner.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is;-
First. The method of automatically working or serving the hopper feeding
machines used in cotton and woollen mills, and the like, substantially as set forth.
Second. In a method for the automatic working of hopper feeding machines for
the purposes described, the arrangement and combination of mechanism substan-
tially as herein described in reference to and shown in the accompanying drawings.
Third. In a method for the automatic working of hopper feeding machines for
the purposes described, the arrangement comprising the main service lattice
motion, and the cam engaging and disengaging motion on separate shafts, substan-
tially as herein described in reference to and shown on Sheet of the accom-
panying drawings.
Fourth. In a method for the automatic working of hopper feeding machines
for the purposes described, the arrangement comprising the combined serving and
stop motions on the one shaft, substantially as herein described in reference to
and shown on Sheets 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.
Fifth. In a method for the automatic working of hopper feeding machines for
the purposes described, the arrangement comprising the combination of hopper
for each machine with prongs or bars and variable compensating lever, substan-
tially as herein described in reference to and shown in the accompanying drawings.
Sixth. In a method for the automatic working of hopper feeding machines for
the purposes described, the arrangement comprising the combination of weighted
levers or tumblers sliding bars and catches for controlling the various hoppers of
a series, substantially as herein described in reference to and shown in the accom-
panying drawings.
Seventh. In a method for the automatic working of hopper feeding machines
for the purposes described, the arrangement comprising the combination of cam,
sliding bar, lever, and rod connections for swivelling the main service hopper or
shoot to supply any service lattice of the series substantially as herein described
in reference to and shown in the accompanying drawings.
Dated the 15th day of July 1898
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co..
96, Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Agents.