IMPROVEMENTS IN CARDING ENGINES
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark of the firm of A. M and
W Clark of 53 Chancery Lane in the County of Middlesex Fellow of the
Institute of Patent Agents. for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN CARDING
ENGINES Communicated to him from abroad by Horace Woodman of Saco
in the County of York and State of Maine, United States of America
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville Clark
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th May 1883.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK of the firm of A. M. and W. Clark of 53 Chancery
Lane in the County of Middlesex, Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents,
IMPROVEMENTS IN CARDING ENGINES." [communicated to me from abroad by
Horace Woodman of Saco in the County of York and State of Maine United
States of America]
The object of this Invention is to dispense with the use of cams in machinery
for cleansing the flats of carding engines, and the Invention consists of the several
combinations and arrangement of parts hereinafter described.
The main shaft which carries the main cylinder gives motion to the device for
raising the flats and cleansing them. Upon the end arch of the main frame of
the machine is fixed a curved piece or segment which is recessed on its outer face,
and at the middle of the recess is fixed a curved double or continuous rack in such
a manner that the recess forms a continuous groove above and below the rack and
around its ends. The movable frame carrying the lifting and cleansing devices,
consists of an arm which is formed with a tubular hub fitting loosely on the end
of the main shaft, its lower end projecting below the shaft and being furnished
with a weight for balancing the mechanism carried by the arm at its upper end.
Upon a stud near the outer end of the arm there is a loose gear wheel having at
the middle portion of its periphery a continuous series of teeth, these teeth being
lengthened at intervals so as to project at each side to the rim of the wheel. There
is also upon the stud a loose arm that is fitted at its outer end with an arbor
carrying at its inner end that enters the groove of the segment a pinion engaging

page_text: the rack, and at its outer end a pinion or tumbler which projects upon the face of
the sectional gear wheel. On the arm beneath the gear wheel there is a stud which
carries a pinion engaging the continuous series of teeth on the wheel, and also
carrying a grooved pulley from which a belt passes to a grooved pulley on the
main shaft. Upon the arm there is also hung a lever, the outer end of which is
made adjustable and bent over the cards, and at that end this lever is fitted with
a cleansing brush of ordinary character. This lever is weighted at its lower end
to balance the brush. At the side of the gear wheel opposite to the pinion before
mentioned the arm is fitted with a short arbor upon one end of which is a pinion
or tumbler which engages the sectional wheel and on the inner end of this arbor is
a crank arm provided with a pin that enters a slot in the lever.
Above the gear
wheel the arm is fitted with an arbor which carries at its outer end a pinion or
tumbler and at its inner end has a crank arm that connects by a link to a slide by
which the flats are raised and lowered. The slide is fitted for movement in a slot
in the end of the arm and is formed with flanges that pass above and beneath the
ends of the top flats. Both the pinions by which the intermittent movement of
the frame is obtained and the pinion by which the brush lever is moved, engage
the same series of teeth on the gear wheel which are at the side of the periphery
next to the frame while the pinion operating the slide engages the series of teeth
at the outer side of the periphery. All three of these pinions are provided with
flanges which are curved so as to rest upon the smooth periphery of the gear
wheel when the pinious are not engaged, for the purpose of retaining the pinions
in the proper position for engagement. The flange of the pinion operating the
slide is forined double ended so that either end may rest upon the periphery of the
gear wheel for the additional purpose of sustaining the slide in its raised position
and the edge of the gear wheel is cut away in order to give room for the tumbler
flanges to turn.
The top flats rest at their ends upon the end arches of the frame and are held
in place thereon by pins in the usual manner, but these pins, instead of projecting
through the upper sides of the flats are cut away and additional guide pins
projecting from an upper cross bar carried by the arm, serve as guides for the flats
while being raised and lowered by the slide.
In operation the pulley on the stud beneath the sectional gear wheel being
rotated by its connection to the main shaft gives continuous rotation to said
gear wheel.
The arm being at rest the sectional gearing first engaging the
appropriate pinion rotates the same and its arbor, which acting through the crank
arm and link raises the slide and the flat with which the slide is engaged is carried
upward. The pinion then ceases to rotate and by its tumbler flange resting upon
the smooth surface of the sectional gear wheel the slide is retained in its raised
position. The pinion next coming in contact with the sectional gearing imparts a
reciprocating movement to the lever and the brush is carried beneath and across
the teeth of the raised flats. The gear wheel then ceases to rotate its tumbler
flange rests upon the smooth surface of the sectional gear wheel, and the lever is
retained in the outward position. The first gear wheel is then again engaged by the
sectional gear, thereby moving the slide downward and bringing the flat back to
its position. The gear wheel is then engaged by the sectional gear, and the pinion
which engages the rack being thereby set in rotation the arm is moved forward
and brings the slide into engagement with the second flat beyond. This movement
then ceases and the operation of raising the flat cleaning and lowering the same is
repeated. When the gear wheel reaches either end of the rack it passes to the
other side of the rack, above or below as the case may be, and the frame is then
caused to travel in the opposite direction. In moving in each direction, the
mechanism acts to take up and clean alternate flats. In order to carry the arm
and pinion downward when the end of the continuous rack is reached, and also
for the purpose of steadying the mechanism a spring attached to the arm bears
at its outer end upon the loose arm to which the pinion engaging the rack is
attached.

page_text: It will be understood that similar mechanism is arranged at each end of the
carding engine so that the flats are raised simultaneously at each end. In order
to give synchronous movement to such double mechanism the arm carries a gear
wheel which is on the end of a shaft that extends above the flat to the arm at the
other end of the engine, where it is provided with a similar gear wheel engaging a
sectional gear wheel upon the said arm.
By the use of the tumbler wheels before described all the required movements
are obtained by positive connections and by mechanism of compact character.
The gear wheels can readily be proportioned to give the required extent of
movement, and the gearing by which the brush is operated can readily be made
to give two or more reciprocations to the brush. This is important as a single
movement of the brush or cleaner is not usually sufficient to remove the accumu-
lated dust at the base of the flat teeth, and it has been necessary heretofore to
remove the flats and clean them by hand, at more or less frequent intervals, in
order to get rid of such accumulations.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
27th November 1883.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of the firm of A. M. and W. Clark, of 53 Chancery
Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN CARDING ENGINES" A communication to me from abroad by
Horace Woodman of Saco, in the County of York and State of Maine, United
States of America.
The object of this Invention is to dispense with the use of cams in machinery for
cleansing the flats of carding engines. The invention consists of the several
combinations and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed.
In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, and in which
similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts. Figure 1 is an end view
of a carding engine, at the driving end, showing so much thereof as is necessary for
a proper understanding of the Invention. Figure 2 is a vertical section in the
direction longitudinally of the engine, and on the line xx figure 1. Figure 3 is a
detail section on the line y y figure 2. Figure 4 is a detail view of the sectional
gear and pinions shown from the opposite side from that seen in figure 2. Figure 5
is an enlarged detailed side view with a portion of the sectional gear wheel broken
away.
A is the main frame of a carding engine, and B B represent a series of top flats
of ordinary construction and arrangement; the main card cylinder is shown at C
in figures 2 and 3. D is the main shaft which carries the main cylinder, and gives
motion to the device for raising the flats and cleansing them, as hereinafter
described. Upon the end arch A¹ of the frame A is fixed a curved piece or
segment E which is recessed on its outer face, and at the middle of the recess is
fixed a curved double or continuous rack F in such a manner that the recess forms
a continuous groove a above and below the rack and around its ends. The
movable frame carrying the lifting and cleansing devices consists of an arm G
which is formed with a tubular hub b fitting loosely on the end of the main
shaft D. The lower end of the arm G projecting below the shaft D is fitted with
a weight c for balancing the mechanism carried by the arm at its upper end. Upon
a stud d near the outer end of the arm G is a loose gear wheel H formed at the
middle portion of its periphery with a continuous series of teeth, and at intervals
these teeth are lengthened so as to project at each side to the rim of the wheel.
There is also upon the stud a loose arm f that is fitted at its outer end with an
arbor g carrying at its inner end that enters the groove a of the segment E a
pinion g engaging the rack F and at its outer end a pinion or tumbler h, which
projects upon the face of the sectional gear wheel H. On the arm G beneath the
gear wheel H is a stud i which carries a pinion k engaging the continuous series of
teeth on the wheel H, and also carrying a grooved pulley from which a belt
passes to a ground pulley on the main shaft D. Upon the arm or frame G there is
also hung a lever I, the outer end of which is made adjustable and bent over the
cards B, and at that end this lever is fitted with a cleansing brush m of ordinary
character. This lever is weighted at its lower end to balance the brush. At the
side of the gear wheel H, opposite to the pinion h before mentioned the arm or
frame G is fitted with a short arbor upon one end of which is a pinion or tumbler n
placed for engaging the sectional wheel H, and on the inner end of this arbor is a
crank arm o provided with a pin o¹ that enters a slot p formed in the lever I.
Above the gear wheel H the arm or frame G is fitted with an arbor which carries

page_text: at its outer a pinion or tumbler q and at its inner end it is formed with a crank
arm that connects by a link to the slide 8, by which the flats are raised and
lowered. The slides is fitted for movement in a slot in the end of the arm or
frame G, and is formed with flanges al that pass above and beneath the ends of the
top flats B.
Both the pinions h, by which the intermittent movement of the frame
is obtained and the pinion n by which the brush lever I is moved, engage the same
series of teeth on the gear wheel H which are at the side of the periphery next to
the frame G while the pinion q operating the slide 8 engages the series of teeth at
the outer side of the periphery. All three of these pinions are provided with
flanges shown at h¹, n¹ q¹ respectively, which are curved so as to rest upon the
smooth periphery of the gear wheel H, when the pinions are not engaged, for the
purpose of retaining the pinions in the proper position for engagement. The
flange q' is formed double ended so that either end may rest upon the periphery of
the gear wheel H for the additional purpose of sustaining the slide s in its raised
position and in order to give room for the tumbler flanges h¹ n' q' to turn, the edge
of the gear wheel H is cut away as shown at a figure 4.
The top flats B rest at their ends upon the end arches of the frame, and are held
in place thereon by pins 6' in the usual manner, but these pins instead of projecting
through the upper sides of the flats are cut away, and additional guide pins c¹
projecting from an upper cross bar d¹ carried by the arm or frame G serve as guides
for the flats while being raised and lowered by the slide s.
In the operation of the machine the pulley being rotated by its connection to
the main shaft gives continuous rotation to the sectional gear wheel H, through
the medium of the pinion k. The arm or frame G being at rest the sectional
gearing first engaging the pinion q gives rotation to that pinion and its arbor,
which acting through the crank arin r and link raises the slide s and the flat
with which the slide is engaged is carried upward. The pinion 9 then ceases to
rotate and by its tumbler flange 9' resting upon the smooth surface of the
sectional gear wheel the slide is retained in its raised position. The pinion n
next coming in contact with the sectional gearing imparts a reciprocating movement
to the lever I and the brush m is carried beneath and across the teeth of the raised
flats. I prefer to give to the brush m two movements forward and back, so as to
insure the thorough cleaning of the flat. The gear wheel n then ceases to rotate,
its tumbler flange n' rests upon the smooth surface of the sectional gear wheel,
and the lever I is retained in the outward position. The gear wheel q is then
again engaged by the sectional gear, thereby moving the slide 8 downward and
bringing the flat back to its position. The gear wheel H is then engaged by the
sectional gear, and the pinion g which engages the rack F being thereby set in
rotation the arm or frame G is moved forward and brings the slide 8 into engage-
ment with the second fint beyond. This movement then ceases and the operation
of raising the flat, cleaning and lowering the same is repeated. When the gear
wheel H reaches either end of the rack F, it passes to the other side of the rack,
above or below as the case may be and the frame is then caused to travel in the
opposite direction whenever the pinion kis rotated. In moving in each direction,
the mechanism acts to take up and clean alternate flats. In order to carry the
arm fand the pinion / downward when the end of the continuous rack is reached,
and also for the purpose of steadying the mechanism a spring u is attached upon
the arm G and bears at its outer end upon the arm f.
It will be understood that a --- mechanism similar to that shown and described
is arranged at the other end of the carding engine, so that the flats are raised
simultaneously at each end. In order to give synchronous movement to such double
mechanism the arm G carries a gear wheel which is on the end of a shaft that
extends above the flat B to the arm at the other end of the engine, where it is
provided with a similar gear wheel engaging a sectional gear wheel upon the
said arm.
By the use of the tumbler wheels before described, I obtain all the required
movements by positive connections and by mechanism of compact character. The

page_text: gear wheels can readily be proportioned to give the required extent of movement,
and the gearing by which the brush is operated can readily be made to give two
or more reciprocations to the brush. This is important as a single movement of
the brush or cleaner is not usually sufficient to remove the accumulated dust at
the base of the flat teeth, and it has been necessary, heretofore, to remove the flats
and clean them by hand, at more or less frequent intervals, in order to get rid of
such accumulations.
of
Having described the nature of the said Invention and the manner
performing the same I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected
by the herein before in part recited Letters Patent is:
1 The slotted arm G gear wheel H having the flanges a¹ and toothed segment
on its sides, the slotted lever I having the brush m and the slide s adapted to
carry the top flats in combination with the pinion n and its shaft carried in a
projection, of the arm G, crank arm o having the pin o¹ entering the slot of the
lever I pinion q and its shaft carried in a projection of the aforesaid arm, double
ended flange q₁ adapted to bear upon the flange a¹ of the gear wheel H, crank r
connected to shaft of the pinion q. link connected to slides and crank r
substantially as described.
2nd The pivoted slotted arm G, gear wheel H, having the flanges a¹ and toothed
segments upon its sides, the double or continuous rack F, and pivoted slotted
lever I having the brush m, in combination with the arm f pivoted to arm G and
connected to the shaft g' pinions g and h on the same shaft, the pinion g gearing
with the rack. F and the pinion h gearing with the wheel H, spring u acting upon
the shaft g the pinion n and its shaft, the crank o having pin o' entering the slot
of lever I, pinion q and its shaft, double ended flange q' adapted to bear upon the
Bange of the wheel H, crank and link r¹, substantially as specified.
In witness whereof I the said Alexander Melville Clark, have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Twenty seventh day of November A.D. 1883.
A M CLARK (L.S.)