IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR FEEDING FIBROUS MATERIAL TO CARDING ENGINES AND OTHER MACHINES
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Olark, of 58, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN APPARATUS FOR FEEDING FIBROUS MATERIAL TO CARDING ENGINES AND
OTHER MACHINES." A communication from abroad by Ernst Gessner, of
Aue, in the Kingdom of Saxony.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville Clark at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th June 1881.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 58, Chancary Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR FEEDING FIBROUS MATERIAL
TO OARDING ENGINES AND OTHER MACHINES" [A communication from abroad
by Ernst Gessner, of Aue, in the Kingdom of Saxony.]
This Invention relates to improvements in apparatus for feeding fibrous material
to carding engines and other machines.
The objects of this Invention are (1) to deliver continuously an equal and
regular supply of material to the machine, and to equalise and spread the fibre in
an even and regular manner on the feed apron, or by omitting the apron to deposit
the material directly onto the licker-in, or the cylinder, or any working roller of
the machine; (2) to conduct the material equally and regularly supplied by a
feeder to the first breaker card, as above mentioned, onward from the first to the
second carding machine.
The apparatus for feeding the first breaker card consists chiefly-
(1) Of a receiving hopper or box in which the supply of material is placed;
(2) of a device for removing and carrying the material from the receiving hopper
or box to the succeeding parts of the apparatus; (3) of a device for equalising and
trausporting a nearly even and regular supply of material to the feeding cylinder,
and to return to the hopper the excess or that portion of the material which had
not been taken off by the feeding cylinder; (4) of the feeder which takes off from
the supply transported to the same, and delivers continuously a very regular
quantity of material, leaving and stripping off the excess of the fibre which is

page_text: returned to the hopper; (5) of a device which receives from a weighing scale
periodically at proper intervals a regular supply of wool, and delivers the same
continuously and equally onto the feed apron or direct onto the licker-in.
In order that the Invention may be more readily understood I will describe it
with reference to the accompanying Drawings, in which (Sheet 1) Figure 1
represents a side elevation, Figure 2 a front view, Figure 8 a plan view of a
feeding apparatus; Figures 4, 4b, 4º, 4d, 5º, 5b, 6º, and 6b, show in elevation and
section various modifications of one of the rollers.
(Sheet 2) Figure 7 represents a side view, Figure 8 a front view, and Figure 9 a
sectional elevation of an apparatus of similar construction.
Sheet 3, and parts of Sheet 4, show at Figures 10, 21, sectional views of feeding
apparatus of different description.
Sheet 4, at Figures 22-29, shows various modifications of the feeding
cylinder C
(Sheet 5) Figures 30, 36, represent in sectional views different modifications of
feeding apparatus which may be advantageously used in cases when extreme
accuracy of feeding is not required.
(Sheet 6) Figures 37, 42, show sectional views of feeding apparatus in various
modifications.
(1.) In all Figures A is the space box or hopper containing the supply of
material.
(2.) The arrangement for removing and carrying the material to the succeeding
parts of the apparatus is variously constructed. In Figures 1, 2, 3, it consists of
a series of rollers and a short apron or lattice feed sheet Z. The rollers rotate at
the same speed, or they may have different speeds.
In Figures 7, 8, and 9, Z is an elevating apron armed with hooks by which the
material is carried upwards in vertical direction.
Sheets 3, 4, 5, 6, show at Figures 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 30, 36, the
transport rollers a; at Figures 32, 38, 34, 38, 39, 41, an apron; at Figures 20,
21, 37, a toothed apron in vertical position; and at Figure 35, a toothed or hooked
apron in horizontal position, which serve for removing the material from the
receiving hopper to other parts of the apparatus.
At Figure 40 two aprons Z are employed, the material enters between them
and is carried up to the feeder. The wool can also be removed from the receiving
hopper or box by any other means.
(3.) The equalising and transporting device is chiefly composed of one or more
rollers S, which may be combined with one or more equalising or transporting
rollers b, as shown in various modifications.
Figures 1, 3 (Sheet 1), show a roller 8 furnished with long teeth and placed
over the transporting-roller b. The said roller S being revolved in the opposite
direction to the material transported by the apron Z, and held by the adjusting
roller b, separates and takes off a sheet of material which is returned to the
receiving hopper by a stripping off roller d, and thus the supply delivered by the
apron Z and roller b becomes equalised, so that a regular quantity of material is
continuously supplied to the feeding cylinder C. The roller S may run at different
speeds according to the kind of material. In order to prevent any of the flocks
being caught or hooked on the teeth, especially in the case of long wool, the roller S
is encircled with a hollow roller drum or casing, having slots or holes through which
the teeth of the roller 8 pass, the said casing, roller, or drum being placed slightly
eccentric to the axis of the roller S, in such manner that the teeth of the latter in
revolving are protruded on one side through the slots or holes and withdrawn on
the other side, so that the flocks of wool picked up or hooked on the teeth are
easily stripped off when they reach the side where the teeth are withdrawn.
In Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, the bushes or bearings of the roller S are eccentric, and
upon the eccentric bushes & discs n are mounted to revolve, wooden bars or
segments m being fastened to these discs so as to form a drum with longitudinal
slots. The teeth pass through these slots and bear against the edges of the

page_text: segments, so that the roller in revolving carries round the drum also, which in
revolving on the eccentric bushes of the roller causes the teeth to protrude and
withdraw between the segments; or the drum can be driven and similarly transmit
the motion to the roller S. The drum can be made of tin, and instead of slots it
may have rows of holes, one hole for each tooth of the roller S, as shown at
Figures 40, 4. The drum can be made of any other suitable material.
Figures 5, 5b, show a roller S composed of a number of serrated discs or plates
and intermediate pieces. Between the discs bows b are placed fixed to rails 7, the
bowe being arranged in such a position that the teeth of the discs protrude on one
side and are covered on the other side, whereby the material is stripped off.
Figures 60, 6b, show a roller S partly covered with cards or other suitable teeth
which has not a rotating but an oscillating motion. On the end of the shaft of
roller S a fork or yoke g is fastened which embraces an eccentric on a small shaft
which receives rotary motion by a belt. By the rotation of the eccentric in the
yoke g, the roller S receives an oscillating motion and thus acts like the comb of a
doffer. The roller S, as shown at Figure 6, can be made of any suitable shape.
In Figures 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 18, 19, 39, 40, the equalising and transporting
roller or beater S, in combination with a feeding cylinder C, is armed with short
or long teeth or pins which are put on the roller either straight or obliquely.
In Figures 20 and 87 the roller S is furnished with brushes instead of teeth.
In Figures 37 and 38, two equalising and transporting rollers S and S³ are
employed. In Figure 12 the roller S is partly covered with hooks and receives an
oscillating motion by means of an eccentric, as shown and described in Figures 6ª, 6b.
A device or roller 8, which separates, moves, and returns portions of the material
supplied to it, and forms a nearly even thickness of the forwardly moved layer of
wool on the apron as described, need not be in combination with a feeding cylinder
in all such cases when great accuracy of feeding is not required.
Simple feeding apparatus of this kind are shown at Figures 30, 31, 32, 33, 34,
35, and 86.
Figure 30 (Sheet 5), shows the combination with a grooved roller 8 of an
equalising roller 6, which delivers a supply of wool from the receiving hopper onto
the apron Z.
In Figure 32 the roller S is encircled by an eccentric drum, as described and
shown at Figures 4, 4b. In combination with the roller bit forms a uniform
layer of wool on the apron.
Figure 34 shows the equalising and turning of the material by two rollers b
and a suitably shaped piece 8 which has inclined teeth and receives a reciprocating
motion by means of an eccentric.
In Figure 35 the equalising and turning of the wool in the receiving hopper is
effected by an elevating apron or lattice sheet S in a vertical position, the bottom
of the hopper being formed by a toothed apron Z which carries the wool to the
feed rollers a by which it is delivered to a picker cylinder W.
In Figures 81, 82, the roller 8 acts in another way. In revolving it throws the
woal carried by the apron Z or rollers & back to the hopper, but retaining a
portion of it supplies the apron Z and equalising roller b with a quantity of wool
from which it has returned the excess.
The roller 8 can be revolved backward or forward with the same effect. The
shape and number of teeth on the roller S can be different according to the required
quantity of wool to be delivered within a certain time
Figure 36 shows a similar operation; the roller 8' in combination with the
equalising roller b and supporting rollers a supplies wool to a beater or delivery
roller S, which by its backward or forward rotation delivers or throws the wool
to the apron Z and equalising roller b³, where it is equalised again, the excess being
returned. A grate or wire screen is placed between the apron Z and the roller a
for cleaning the material, dirt, straw, &c, dropping through or between the rods
or wires.
In Figure 35 the separating and equalising of the material is effected by an

page_text: apron moved in opposite direction to the material which is carried by the hooked
or toothed apron, whereby the equalising roller b can be dispensed with. The
equalised material is transported to the feed rolls C, C, of which C is a brush
cleaning the wool from the teeth of the apron Z and giving it to a picker
eylinder W.
In all the Figures 30 to 36 the material can be delivered in any quantity
required by suitably adjusting and altering the speed of the equalising roller a, b,
or apron Z. The operation of equalising and separating a certain quantity or
forming a uniform layer of wool from the bulk in the hopper, as described in
Figures 30 to 30, can be combined with a second operation of feeding hereafter
described, or any other mode of feeding, or any operation upon weighing apparatus
may be employed in combination or connection with and serve as a first feeder to
a feeder, as hereafter indicated and shown at Sheets 1, 2, 3, 4, 6.
(4) The feeder (supplied by a first feeding operation) is chiefly and advan-
tageously composed of one or more feeding cylinders O in combination with
transport rollers b, and one or more stripping off rollers d. The latter may be
replaced in certain cases by a grating, comb, or such like. The feeding cylinder O
is armed with hooks, it receives a nearly regular supply of wool by the first feeding
operation; the stripping off roller D equalises the flocks of wool picked up by the
hooks, leaving a portion of the supply, which having the form of a rolling lap
causes a very great equality and accuracy of feeding each hook being supplied.
The rolling lap keeps always the same size, being equalised by the roller S or by
similar means, and the excess being returned to the stock. When the last portion
of material leaves the feeding apparatus, that is, when the lap gets worked off, there
will be some difference as regards equality of feeding, the last portions taking a
longer time before they pass through the feeder. In order to have less difference
in feeding the last portion it has been found advantageons to have the lap as small
as possible. The hooks or teeth of the feeding-cylinder are set or fitted at proper
distances apart, or may be close together, according to the length of the fibre to be
operated upon.
(Sheet 4) Figures 22-29 show various modifications of the feeding cylinder C;
Figure 22 shows a cylinder with a helical groove round it, in which a serrated strip
or blade is fixed; Figure 23 shows a cylinder with two helical strips or blades, one
of which is serrated and the other plain. The strip can be so made that the teeth are
at some distance from one to another, as shown at Figure 25. The strip can be set
more obliquely on the cylinder, so that the cylinder may be compared to a screw
with double, triple, or multiple thread; they may vary from a single thread of very
slow pitch to multiple threads of very rapid pitch, or nearly parallel to the cylinder
axis, or parallel flats with hooks or combs may be fastened on the cylinder.
Figure 24 shows the serrated blade put circularly on the cylinder in separate
rings. At Figure 25, instead of rings a series of hooked or serrated plates or disces
with intermediate pieces are secured to a shaft. Figure 26 shows the serrated
strip or blade put on the cylinder in the form of an elliptic ring; Figure 27 shows
the serrated strip fixed in undulating lines. The strip or blade may be fixed on
the cylinder like single rings, or two or more rings, either serrated or not, may be
placed together. Figure 27 shows two rings placed together. The cylinder may
also be covered in a similar way with cards or such teeth as are used for lickers-in
or picker sylinders, the teeth only covering parts of the surface.
Figures 28, 28b, show a feeding roller C with hooked discs made of tin, and
intermediate pieces of any suitable width secured to a shaft. The hooks may be
single hooks, at some distance from one to another, or with intermediate small teeth,
as shown at Figure 28, or the whole circumference of the discs may be provided
with small teeth.
Figure 29 shows rings made of tin, leather, or any suitable material, into which
teeth are fixed. These hooked discs and rings, as shown at Figures 28 and 29,
pass between the bars of a grating D, picking up the material and stripping off the
excess of the picked up wool on the grating. The grating consists of a series of

page_text: small strips or plates fixed on the shaft t. The teeth can also be applied over the
whole surface of the feeding cylinder; they may be put any suitable distance from
one to another, or may be of different length or shape, see for example the roller 61
at Figure 16; the excess is taken off by an oscillating stripper acting like a doffer
comb; or see Figure 19, where one, and Figure 20, where two rollers C covered
with cards are employed, acting like a cylinder C; the wool is thrown to the same.
by a roller or beater S which takes off and returns the excess.
In cases when the same kind of machine is always used the feeding cylinder C
can also act as a cleaner if in combination with a stripping knife m, which strips
off foreign substances, such as dirt, straw, &a; the cylinder is covered with cards.
like those used for lickers-in (see Figure 11). The knife is in combination with a
stripping roller D, but could also be without it. In lieu of a cylinder C a
toothed apron could be used as well. The feeding cylinder C could also have an
intermittent revolving motion.
Feeding cylinders, as above described, are shown in Sheets 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6,.
Figures 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 39, 40, 41.
In Figures 1, 2, 3, the roller S by separating and removing back a portion of the
material equalises it and forms an equal supply of material which is conveyed by.
the rollers a, the apron Z, and the rollers b, b, to the feeding cylinder. The small
roller b is covered with cards, and is placed in such a position that the material is
pressed onto the feeding cylinder, filling up the teeth with wool, the excess of which.
is taken off by the stripping off roller D, thus equalising the material picked up by
the teeth. Between the small roller b and the roller D a small lap of wool is
formed from the excess of wool stripped off the teeth of the feeding cylinder,
the excess of the lap being taken away and returned to the hopper by the
roller S.
In Figures 7, 8, 9, the material is removed from the receiving box or hopper, and
carried upward by an elevating apron armed with hooks. The wool picked up by
the hooked apron becomes equalised by an equalising beater 8', and is led to a
transporting and equalising roller 8 which clears off the wool from the apron and
throws it over a small-grating r to the transport rollars 6, 6, and the feeding
cylinder C. The roller b presses the wool onto the cylinder, filling up the teeth of
the same.
The excess of the wool picked up is removed from the teeth by a
stripping-off roller D. The supply of wool thus accumulated before the feeding
cylinder moves and turns round like a rolling lap formed by the roller D and the
turning roller d, the small roller 6 being the middle or core of the rolling lap.
When the lap grows too large it becomes equalised, the excess being taken off and
returned to the receiving box by the roller S. The wool is cleared off from the
feeding cylinder and spread onto the feeding apron by a clearer or brush F.
In Sheet 3, Figure 10, a supply of material somewhat regulated by a roller 81
revolving in opposite direction to the forwardly carried material enters between
the rollers a, b, and by the backward or forward revolving of the roller S it is
thrown to the feeding cylinder, where it is accumulated in the space between the
cylinder and the stripping-off roller D, the excess being returned to the box or
Lopper. The ruller D revolving at a lower speed than the cylinder presses the
wool between the teeth and strips off the excess; from the feeding cylinder the
wool is cleared off and spread onto the apron by a clearer or brush F.
In Figure 11 the wool is thrown to the feeding cylinder by a roller S without
being previously equalised. The wool thrown to the feeding oylinder is
accumulated between the cylinder and the stripping off roller D and deposited on
the apron in the same way as described in reference to Figure 10. A cleaning or
stripping knife M is placed in proximity to the roller D to clean from the wool
foreign matters, such as dirt, straw, &e.
In Figure 12 the roller S is partly covered with curved teeth and receives an
oscillating motion like that of a doffer comb, as hereinbefore indicated. This
oscillating roller S has for its object, first, to regulate the pile of wool in the
receiving box and to separate a portion of the same before it enters between the

page_text: rollers a and b; 2ndly, to return the excess from the supply accumulated between
the cylinder and the stripping off roller D. The wool is cleared from the feeding
cylinder by a Hcker-in or any other working roller W of the carding engine.
In Figure 18 the roller S acts in a similar way. The wool enters in the same
way between the rollers a and b. The stripping off roller D is covered with cards
and takes the excess from the teeth of the cylinder, giving it up to the roller d
placed above, which, being covered with cards and rotating at a quicker speed
than the roller D takes off the wool therefrom; the material is taken off again
from d and returned to the box or hopper by the roller S. If the roller & rotates
at a low speed in opposite direction, and is thus made to act as a stripping off
roller, the roller D would pick up the material like the cylinder C, the roller d
would equalise the picked up wool, and a small supply accumulated between the
rollers D and d would be equalised and the excess returned by the roller S. Thus
the apparatus would be provided with two feeding cylinders, the wool would be
cleared off from both cylinders by one clearer F placed between both of them.
the same way three and more feeding cylinders could be employed.
In
In Figures 14 and 15 the feeding cylinder has for its object, 1st, to regulate
somewhat the pile of wool in the receiving box or hopper, separating a portion of
the same before it enters between the apron Z and rollers b; and, 2ndly, to pick
up the wool thus transported to the same. The excess of the wool picked up is
equalised in Figure 14 by a stripping off and turning roller D and d. In Figure 15
the wool is stripped off on a grating D, as described and shown at Figure 28. The
wool is cleared off from the cylinder in both Figures by a brush or clearer F.
In Figures 16 and 17 the roller C¹ serves as a first feeding cylinder in combination
with the feeding cylinder C, it seizes the wool brought by the rollers a, b. In
Figure 16 the roller C is covered with inclined teeth over the whole surface; the
excess of the wool picked up is taken off and returned to the hopper by a clearer d
acting like a doffer comb. In Figure 17 the roller C is like the feeding cylinder,
as shown and described at Figure 28, the excess being stripped off on a grating D,
and the wool equalised by a roller d. The feeding cylinder C runs a little quicker
than the roller C' and therefore takes off the material therefrom, or the wool is
carried over from the roller C to the cylinder C by a brush P, as shown at
Figure 16. A small supply of wool in the form of a rolling lap is accumulated by
the stripping off roller D in Figure 16, and by the grating D¹ in Figure 17, the
excess of wool is taken off and returned by the roller O¹. The wool is cleared
from the cylinder and spread onto the apron by a clearer F.
In Figure 18, Sheet IV., the roller 8 separates a portion of the wool in the box
or hopper and returns the excess of material stripped off on the grating D; the
material having been regulated by the roller S enters between the apron Z and
roller b, and is carried to the cylinder. The material is carried away from the
cylinder by a licker-in or similar roller of the carding engine.
In Figure 19 the pile of wool is regulated in the box or hopper by an elevating
apron S; the wool enters between the rollers a and b, and is thrown by the roller Š
to the roller C, which is covered with suitable shaped teeth and revolves in a
trough or half round box m. The wool thrown on the cylinder C is picked up
by the teeth supported by the trough and carried to the picker cylinder W. All
such wool which has not been picked up by the cylinder O is returned over a
grid back to the box or hopper. In lieu of a box m rollers can be employed,
and more than one cylinder C can be used. Instead of carrying the wool to a
picker cylinder it may be dropped down onto the feeding apron.
In Figure 20 the material is carried upward by an elevating hooked apron Z
equalised by a beater or comb S¹ and delivered to the roller S. The roller S
throws the material over a grid r to the feeding rollers C, C, and returns the excess
from the supply accumulated before the cylinders C, C, back to the hopper. The
rollers or cylinders C, C, are covered with suitable cards and may serve for
common feed rolls delivering the material direct to the licker-in W.
Figure 21 also shows a hooked apron carrying the wool upward to the

page_text: cylinder C. The wool after having been equalized by the beater S is seized
and picked up by the cylinder which runs at higher speed than the apron Z.
The small roller b presses the wool between the teeth of the cylinder; the stripping
off roller D separates the excess from the wool hooked on the cylinder and forms
a rolling lap round the roller b supported by the roller d. The excess is taken off
again by the apron and carried downward to the hopper. Thus the apron acts
efficiently instead of the roller S. The wool is cleared off from the cylinder and
deposited by a clearer F. The apron Z can also carry the wool from above down-
ward to the cylinder O, or the apron may be placed so as to carry the material
sideways or in a horizontal direction.
Sheet VI. shows at Figure 41 the stripping off roller D acting instead of the roller S;
it regulates the wool before being conveyed to the feeding cylinder and removes
the excess of the wool from the cylinder returning to the box or hopper. The
wool being carried by the apron Z, which forms the bottom of the box, is pressed
against the teeth of the cylinder by the roller b. The roller d assists the roller D
in regulating and separating the pile of wool in the receiving box or hopper. The
wool is deposited by the clearer F. The roller D can have an oscillating motion
similar to the roller S, shown at Figure 12, Sheet III.
Figures 39 and 40 show two other modifications of feeding apparatus for coarser
and longer wool. In Figure 39 the wool is conveyed, as before described, by the
inclined apron Z to the roller S, by which it is thrown into a space enclosed by
the feeding roller C, the stripping off rollar D, the clearer b', and the roller S, the
excess being returned. From the equalised lap the feeding roller takes, with the
aid of the stripping off roller D, a uniform quantity of wool, which it delivers to
the licker-in.
Figure 40. The pile of wood in the hopper is regulated by an apron 8' in
vertical position. The wool enters between the two aprons Z and is carried
upward to the feeding cylinder C where it is formed into a rolling lap enclosed by
the stripping off roller D and the roller d and equalised, the excess being returned
to the hopper by the roller S. From the cylinder C it is cleared off by a brush
or clearer F. A very regular feed may also be obtained by repeating the equalising
and transporting of the material by the combination of two rollers S, S, without
using the feeding cylinder O (see Figures 37 and 88).
In Figure 37 an elevating hooked apron Z carries the material from the hopper
to the roller S; the flocks of wool picked up by the apron are equalised by a
comb S. The wool cleared off from the apron Z is thrown over a grater onto the
hooked apron C, and the material thus caught by the hooks of the apron O is
equalised by the stripping off roller d. The amount of wool thus accumulated
before the stripping off roller is equalised by the roller S. The roller 8' taking
off the wool from the apron O throws the same over another grater onto the feed
apron Z; the roller b forms an equal layer of wool on the apron Z, and the excess
is returned again by the roller S
In Figure 38 the pile of wood in the hopper is regulated and separated by the
roller 8. The wool enters between the apron Z forming the bottom of the hopper,
and the equalising roller to the roller S, which rotating in opposite direction to
the roller S, shown at Figure 87, throws the wool onto the roller b¹; an amount of
wool is thus accumulated over the roller b', the excess of which is taken away by
the roller S and thrown over a grater back to the hopper. Over the roller b¹ a
smaller roller b is placed, and the wool is conveyed between both rollers to the
roller 8, which throws the same onto the feed apron Z. The equalising roller b
forms an equal layer of wool on the feed apron, and the excess is thrown over a
second grater and returned by the roller S³.
Feeding apparatus in combination with a weighing scale deposits a certain
amount of material at regular intervals onto the feed table, but an arrangement
for spreading the material continuously and very equally onto the feed apron in
combination with a weighing scale is new.
I combine an arrangement for spreading the material continuously and as equal

page_text: as possible onto the apron, with a weighing apparatus or with any other kind of
feeder.
Figure 42 shows the weighing pan of a feeding apparatus in the position when
it is tilted, the contents being deposited on the apron Z. The material is carried
forward on the apron Z', equalised by the roller b, and spread upon the feed apron
Z of the carding engine by the clearer F. Instead of the simple apron Zand
roller b, more rollers or aprons or a feeding roller C may be employed. The
spreading apparatus may be in connection with any kind of weighing apparatus or
othor feeders.
When the material delivered to. the first breaker card or to other machines by.
the operation, as herein before described, requires to be transported and again equally
delivered from one machine to another, for this purpose I use the apparatus
hereinafter described and shown at Sheets 7 and 8.
Sheet 7, Figures 12ª, 12b, 13, and 13ª, represent plan and side views of an
apparatus for forming the fleece cleared off from the doffer by an oscillating comb
into a broad sliver. Figures 10, 11, and 12, show the apparatus for conveying the
said sliver from the first breaker card to the feed table of the second carding
machine.
Sheet 8, Figures 1 and 2, represent side and plan views of an apparatus for
laying the sliver diagonally onto the feed apron of the second carding machino,
thus forming an equal layer of the material on the apron. Figures 3 to 9 are
special descriptions and modifications of the latter.
Referring to Sheet 7, Figures 12, 12b, the fleece cleared off from the doffer B by
the comb A falls down over a slide plate or a roller W onto an apron Z which
carries the fleece sideways in the direction of the arrows, to and under a pressing
roller D, forming it into a broad sliver. In order to render the sliver very equal,
it has been found very advantageous to place the apron in an oblique position to
the axis of the doffer, as shown at Figure 12. The same effect will be obtained
when instead of placing the apron obliquely, the fleece falls over a side plate or
roller W placed in an oblique position to the doffer axis. The fleece being carried
under the pressing roller D and formed into a sliver is now carried upward and
conveyed above the feeding table of the second carding machine by the conveyor
band T running over the pulleys ƒ, ƒ³, ƒ³, ƒ³, (see Figures 11 and 12). The
pulleya f', ff, are mounted on the lever arm H which is pivoted on the axis of
the pulley f, and is supported by a counterweight g attached to a cord a passing
over a sheaver. At the end of the lever arm H two other pulleys f^, f³, are
mounted, and a pair of conveyor bands T running over the pulleys ff, and the
geared rollers 1, 1, convey the sliver down to the apparatus which lays or delivers it
on the feed apron of the machine. Thus the lever arm H is connected with the
said apparatus, and moves up and down as the said apparatus moves to and fro
across the feeding apron, as shown by dotted lines. In cases when the double
band T is not used, the said apparatus is connected with the lever arm H by a
cord, rod, or chain. Underneath the geared rollers l, l, two delivery rollers L are
mounted in an inclined position as shown, and being driven, lay the sliver on the
feed apron.
Figure 10 shows another modification of the conveyor band T which runs over
the pulleys ffff, and the roller b. Another endless band runs over the
pulley f and the other roller l, the sliver being conveyed between the band down
to the feed apron. The rollers l, l, are drawn to and fro by the apparatus, as
shown in one position by dotted lines, and the aprons are driven by wheels 4, 6, on
the pulleys f³, fs, no delivery rollers L, as shown at Figure 11, being necessary.
The method of conducting the sliver down to the laying apparatus between a
double band or apron, as shown at Figures 10 and 11, is new and original, and can
be very advantageously used for any apparatus for laying the sliver. Instead of
using bands or aprons, any other means could be used for conveying the aliver
from one machine to another. Instead of a broad aliver a narrow one or round
eliver could also be conveyed. The sliver may be conveyed from one machine to

page_text: another in any way, and can be conveyed to the apparatus which lays or deposits
it on the feed apron, either from below or sideways instead of from above. Instead
of conveying the sliver direct from one machine to another, the sliver can be put
into a sliver can, or it may be formed into a lap. The sliver can or the lap may
then be placed before the second machine, for the purpose of laying the sliver
diagonally onto the feed apron.
The apparatus is driven by the wheels 1 to 9 from the doffer B, shown at
Figures 12. 12b. The wheel 11 is driven by the wheel 10 which is of the same
size, and drives, the conveyor band T by the pulley f
-
Sheet 8. It has been found most advantageous for accuracy of feeding, to so
regulate the speed of laying the sliver to and fro upon itself on the apron that
there will be four thicknesses of sliver, and to lay the sliver obliquely at an angle
of about 45° across the apron (see Figures 1 and 2). The dotted lines show the
limit of the equal thickness of the table; beyond this line where the corners of the
folds overlap one another, there are only two thicknesses of sliver in the small
square portions marked x, y.. The dotted line o divides these squares, diagonally
into triangles marked-and-y; by turning a over and doubling it down on y,
there are then four thicknesses of aliver, and so the material laid on the apron has
a straight and even border. The operation of turning over these triangular
corners at the border of the deposited material can be effected in different ways,
either upward or downward.
Figures 3, 8, show a very simple way. The slivers laid on the apron are pressed
down and flattened by a pressing roller W, which is either driven or rotated by
contact with the apron. This roller W extends to the dotted line o at both sides
of the apron, so that the triangular corners a project beyond it. Both ends of the
roller W have a circumferential groove. A wire Z is attached to an arm above the
roller, and lies in the groove half way round the roller, reaching some distance in
the line o (see Figure 8), pressing the corners of the slivers a little down like a
spring. The corners after having passed the roller W are now brought under a
suitable shaped stationary curved guide u by which the corners of the folded
slivers as they are carried forward on the apron are successively turned over the
wire Z before they enter between the feed rollers of the carding machine.
The
In Figures 8, a, b, c, d, e, f, show different sections of the curved guide u, and
how the corners sliding under the polished plate are successively folded over.
wire can vary in length or may be flat, or a small plate may be employed instead
of the wire.
Figures 4 and 4 show the corners turned over by a small strap twisted by
running over pulleys placed obliquely to one another. Figures 5, 5*, show the same
operation with one half only of the strap twisted.
In Figures 6, 6, a rotary plate or disc S placed in an oblique position is used
instead of a wire in combination with the curved guide u to hold the corners
down along the line o, thus assisting the guide to turn them over. The dise 8 may
either be driven or may rotate by friction on the apron.
In Figure 7, 7, a curved guide turns the corners a little round till they reach
the grooved roller i; a small disc S presses the corners into the groove of the
roller and so turns them quite down before they enter between the feed rollers.
Figure 8 shows two eurved guides (one on each side) which are movable on
hinges and connected together by a rod g. By means of an eccentric the rod
receives a reciprocating motion and the curved guides p are oscillated on their
binges, thus laying down the corners of the slivers. The apparatus for laying the
slivers diagonally can be so constructed as to lay them in a more transverse
direction onto the apron. The more transverse they are laid on the apron the
maller will be the overlapping triangles or corners of the border (see Figure 9).
In this case a grooved roller is sufficient to turn the corners and push them
close together before they get between the feeding rollers, while an apron L on
op of the slivers holds them down and maintains the proper width of the
border when the corners are turned.

page_text: The apparatus for laying the slivers onto the apron is shown in Figures 1 and 2
(Sheet 8) and consists chiefly of a pair of rollers L mounted on a carriage h which
is traversed to and fro across the feed table on a slide bar t by an endless strap i
having a catch f which passes in a slot u of the carriage. The rollers L are driven
by bevelled wheels 1, 3,4 The wheels 1, 2, are movable along the shaft t and
have a key which fits in a keyway in the shaft so as to be revolved by the latter.
The rollers L can be driven in any other way. The construction shown at Figures
1 and 2 is distinguished by its simplicity, and especially by the method of driving
the rollers L continuously without stoppage on reversing the direction of their
traverse across the apron.
This apparatus is driven by a strap and pulley S from the carding engine. A
wheel 5 secured to the pulley S transmits the motion by an intermediate change
wheel to the shaft d, which by the bevelled wheels 9, 10, gives motion to the
pulley 8 driving the strap and to a short shaft carrying the wheels 12, 18.
The latter gears by an intermediate wheel 14 with the wheel 15 and drives
the shaft t. A small pulley S8 on the shaft d is employed for driving the feed
apron and the licker-in.

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
17th December 1881.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE OLARK, of 58, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex>
Patent Agent.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR FEEDING FIBROUS MATERIAL
TO CARDING ENGINES AND OTHER MACHINES." A communication from abroad by
Ernst Gessner, of Aue, in the Kingdom of Saxony.
This Invention relates to improvements in apparatus for feeding fibrous material
to carding engines and other machines.
The objects of this Invention are (1) to deliver continuously an equal and
regular supply of material to the machine, and to equalize and spread the fibre in
an even and regular manner on the feed apron, or by omitting the apron to deposit
the material directly onto the licker-in, or the cylinder, or any working roller of
the machine; (2) to conduct the material equally and regularly supplied by a
feeder to the first breaker card, as above mentioned, onward from the first to the
second carding machine. The apparatus for feeding the first breaker card consists
chiefly:-
(1) Of a receiving hopper or box in which the supply material is placed;
(2) of a device for removing and carrying the material from the receiving hopper
or box to the succeeding parts of the apparatus; (3) of a device for equalising
and transporting a nearly even and regular supply of material to the feeding
cylinder and to return to the hopper" the excess, or that portion of the material
which had not been taken off by the feeding cylinder; (4) of the feeder which
takes off from the supply transported to the same and delivers continuously a very
regular quantity of material, leaving and stripping off the excess of the fibre which
is returned to the hopper; (5) of a device which receives from a weighing scale
periodically at proper intervals a regular supply of wool and delivers the same
continuously and equally onto the feed apron, or direct onto the licker-in.
In order that the Invention may be more readily understood I will describe it
with reference to the accompanying Drawings, in which (Sheet 1) Figure 1
represents a side elevation; Figure 2, a front view; Figure 3, a plan view of a
feeding apparatus; Figuras 4, 4º, 4º, 4ª, 5º, 5º, 6º, and 65, show in elevation and
scation, various modifications of one of the rollers; Figure 7 represents a side view;
Figure 8, a front view; and Figure 9, a sectional alevation of an apparatus of
similar construction.
(Sheet 2) Figures 10 to 21 show sectional views of feeding apparatus of a
different description, and Figures 22 to 25 (Sheet 2) and Figures 26 to 29" (Sheet 3)
sbow various modifications of the feeding cylinder C.
(Sheet 3) Figures 80 to 35 and Figure 86 (Sheet 4) represent in sectional views
different modifications of feeding apparatus which may be advantageously used in
cases when extreme accuracy of feeding is not required.
(Sheet 4) Figures 87 to 44 show sectional views of feeding apparatus in various
modifications.
(1.) In all these Figures A is the space, box, or hopper containing the supply of
matarial.
(2.) The arrangement for removing and carrying the material to the succeeding
parts of the apparatus is variously constructed. In Figures 1, 2, 3, it consists of a
series of rollers and a short feed apron or lattice sheet Z. The rollers rotate at the
same speed or they may have different speeds.
In Figures 7, 8, and 9 Z is an elevating apron armed with hooks by which the
material is carried upwards in vertical direction.

page_text: Figures 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 30, 36 show transport rollers a. Figures 32,
33, 34, 38, 39, 41, an apron. Figures 20, 21, 37, a toothed apron in vertical
position; and Figure 35 a toothed or hooked apron in horizontal position which
serve for removing the material from the receiving hopper to other parts of the
apparatus. Figure 40 shows two aprons Z employed, the material enters between
them and is carried up to the feeder. The wool can also be removed from the
receiving hopper or box by any other means.
(3.) The equalising and transporting device is chiefly composed of one or more
rollers S which may be combined with one or more equalising or transporting
rollers b, as shown in various modifications.
Figures 1, 3, show a roller S furnished with long teeth and placed over the
transporting roller b. The said roller S being revolved in the opposite direction to
the material transported by the apron Z and held by the adjusting roller b, separates
and takes off a sheet of material which is returned to the receiving hopper by a
stripping off roller d, and thus the supply delivered by the apron Z and roller b
becomes equalised so that a regular quantity of material is continuously supplied to
the feeding cylinder C. The roller S may run at different speeds according to the
kind of material. In order to prevent any of the flocks being caught or hooked on
the teeth, especially in the case of long wool, the roller S is encircled with a hollow
roller, drum, or casing having alots or holes through which the teeth of the roller S
pass, the said casing, roller, or drum being placed slightly eccentric to the axis of
the roller S in such manner that the teeth of the latter in revolving are protruded
on one side through the slots or holes and withdrawn on the other side, so that the
flocks of woul picked up or hooked on the teeth are easily stripped off when they
reach the side where the teeth are withdrawn.
In Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, the bushes or bearings of the roller S are eccentric, and
upon the eccentric bushes & discs n are mounted to revolve, wooden bars or seg-
ments m being fastened to these discs so as to form a drum with longitudinal slots.
The teeth pass through these slots and bear against the edges of the segments, so
that the roller in revolving carries round the drum also, which in revolving on the
eccentric bushes of the roller causes the teeth to protrude and withdraw between
the segments. Or the drum can be driven and similarly transmit the motion to the
roller S. The drum can be made of tin, and instead of slots it may have rows of
holes, one hole for each tooth of the roller S, as shown at Figures 4º, 4d. The drum
can be made of any other suitable material.
Figures 50, 5b, show a roller S composed of a number of serrated discs or plates
and intermediate pieces. Between the discs bows b are placed fixed to rails r, the
bows being arranged in such a position that the teeth of the discs protrude on one
side and are covered on the other side, whereby the material is stripped off.
Figures 6, 6b, show a roller S partly covered with cards or other suitable teeth,
which has not a rotating but an oscillating motion. On the end of the shaft of
roller S a fork or yoke g is fastened which embraces an eccentric on a small shaft
which receives rotary motion by a belt. By the rotation of the eccentric in the
yoke g the roller S receives an oscillating motion, and thus acts like the comb of a
doffer. The roller S, as shown at Figure 6, can be made of any suitable shape.
In Figures 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 18, 19, 39, 40, the equalising and transporting
roller or beater S in combination with a feeding cylinder C is armed with short or
long teeth or pins which are put on the roller either straight or obliquely. In
Figures 20 and 37 the roller S is furnished with brushes instead of teeth.
In Figures 37 and 38 two equalising and transporting rollers S and S are
employed. In Figure 12 the roller S is partly covered with hooks and receives an
oscillating motion by means of an eccentric, as shown and described in Figures Go, Gb.
A device or roller S which separates, moves, and returns portions of the material
supplied to it and forms a nearly even thickness of the forwardly moved layer of
wool on the apron, as described, need not be in combination with a feeding cylinder
in all such cases when great accuracy of feeding is not required. Simple feeding
apparatus of this kind are shown at Figures 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, and 36.

page_text: Figure 30 shows the combination with a grooved roller S of an equalising roller b
which delivers & supply of wool from the receiving hopper onto the apron Z. In
Figure 32 the roller S is encircled by an eccentric drum, as described and shown at
Figures 4, 4b. In combination with the roller bit forms a uniform layer of wool
on the apron. Figure 34 shows the equalising and turning of the material by two
rollers b and a suitably shaped piece S which has inclined teeth and receives a
reciprocating motion by means of eccentrics . In Figure 35 the equalising and
turning of the wool in the receiving hopper is effected by an elevating apron or
lattice sheet S in a vertical position, the bottom of the hopper being formed by a
toothed apron Z which carries the wool to the feed rollers C by which it is
delivered to a picker cylinder W. In Figures 31, 32, the roller S acts in another
way; in revolving it throws the wool carried by the apron Z or rollers 6' back to
the hopper, but retaining a portion of it supplies the apron Z and equalising roller b
with a quantity of wool from which it has returned the excess. The roller S can
be revolved backwards or forwards with the same effect. The shape and number
of teeth on the roller S can be different according to the required quantity of wool
to be delivered within a certain time. Figure 36 shows a similar operation; the
roller S¹ in combination with the equalising roller b and supporting rollers a
supplies wool to a beater or delivery roller 8, which by its backward or forward
rotation delivers or throws the wool to the apron Z and equalising roller 6¹ where
it is equalised again, the excess being returned. A grate or wire screen is placed
between the apron Z and the roller a for cleaning the material, dirt, straw, &c.,
dropping through or between the rods or wires. In Figure 35 the separating and
equalising of the material is effected by an apron moved in opposite direction to
the material which is carried by the hooked or toothed apron, whereby the
equalising roller 6 can be dispensed with. The equalised material is transported to
the feed rolls C, C, of which C is a brush cleaning the wool from the teeth of the
apron Z and giving it to a picker cylinder W.
Figures 45 and 46 (Sheet 5) show two feeding apparatus for first breakers. An
elevating apron takes from the bulk a portion of wool regulated by the beaters S.
In Figure 45 this portion is transferred to the rollers O, O, by the stripping off
roller F, and in Figure 46 it is effected by the picker cylinder W.
In all the Figures 30 to 80 the material can be delivered in any quantity
required by suitably adjusting and altering the speed of the equalising roller a, b,
or apron Z. The operation of equalising and separating a certain quantity, or
forming a uniform layer of wool from the bulk in the hopper, as described in
Figures 80 to 86, can be combined with a second operation of feading, hereafter
described, or any other mode of feading, or any operation upon weighing apparatus
may be employed in combination or connection with, and serve as a first feeder
to a feeder, as hereafter indicated and shown in the Drawings.
(4) The feeder (supplied by a first feeding operation) is chiefly and advan-
tageously composed of one or more feeding cylinders in combination with
transport rollers b, and one or more stripping off rollers d. The latter may be
replaced in cartain cases by a grating, comb, or such like. The feeding cylinder C
is armed with hooks; it receives a nearly regular supply of wool by the first
feeding operation; the stripping-off roller D equalises the flocks of wool picked up
by the hooks leaving a portion of the supply, which, having the form of a rolling
lap, causes a very great equality and accuracy of feeding, each book being supplied.
The rolling lap remains always the same size, being equalised by the roller S or by
similar means, and the excess being returned to the bulk. When the last portion
of material leaves the feeding apparatus, that is, when the lap gets worked off,
there will be some difference as regards equality of feeding, the last portions taking
a longer time before they pass through the feeder. In order to have less difference
in feeding the last portion, it has been found advantageous to have the lap as small
as possible. The hooks or teeth of the feeding cylinder are set or fitted at proper
distances apart, or may be close together, according to the length of the fibre to be
operated upon.

page_text: Figures 22 to 29 show various modifications of the feeding cylinder O; Figura 22
shows a cylinder with a helical groove round it, in which a serrated strip or blade
is fixed; Figure 28 shows a cylinder with two helical strips or blades, one of which
is serrated and the other plain. The strip can be so made that the teeth are at
some distance from one to another, as shown at Figure 25. The strip can be set
more obliquely on the cylinder, so that the cylinder may be compared to a screw
with double, triple, or multiple thread; they may vary from a single thread of
very slow pitch to multiple threads of very rapid pitch, or nearly parallel to the
cylinder axis, or parallel flats with hooks or combs may be fastened on the cylinder;
Figure 24 shows the serrated blade put circularly on the cylinder in separate rings.
At Figure 25, instead of rings, a series of hooked or serrated plates or discs with
intermediate pieces are secured to a shaft; Figure 26 shows the serrated strip or
blade put on the cylinder in the form of an elliptic ring; Figure 27 shows the
serrated strip fixed in undulating lines. The strip or blade may be fixed on the
cylinder like single rings, or two or more rings, either serrated or not, may be placed
together; Figure 27 shows two rings placed together. The cylinder may also be
covered in a similar way with cards or such teeth as are used for lickers-in or
picker cylinders, the teeth only covering parts of the surface.
Figures 28, 28b, show a feeding roller O with hooked discs made of tin, and
intermediate pieces of any suitable width secured to a shaft. The hooks may be
single hooks at some distance from one to another, or with intermediate small teeth,
as shown at Figure 28", or the whole circumference of the discs may be provided
with small teeth; Figure 29 shows rings made of tin, leather, or any suitable
material into which teeth are fixed. These hooked discs and rings, as shown at
Figures 28 and 29, pass between the bars of a grating D, picking up the material
and stripping off the excess of the picked up wool on the grating. The grating
consists of a series of small strips or plates fixed on the shaft t. The teeth can also
be applied over the whole surface of the feeding cylinder; they may be put at any
suitable distance from one to another, or may be of different length or shape, see,
for example, the roller O at Figure 16, from which the excess is taken off by an
oscillating stripper acting like a doffer comb; or see Figure 19, where one, and
Figure 20, where two rollers C covered with cards are employed acting like a
cylinder C; the wool is thrown to the same by a roller or beater S, which takes off
and returns the excess. In cases when the same kind of machine is always used
the feeding cylinder O can also act as a cleaner if in combination with a stripping
knife m, which strips off foreign substances, such as dirt, straw, &c., the cylinder
is covered with cards like those used for lickers-in (see Figure 11). The knife is
in combination with a stripping roller D, but could also be without it. In lieu of
a cylinder C, a toothed apron could be used as well. The feeding cylinder C could
also have an intermittent revolving motion.
Feeding cylinders, as above described, are shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 10,
11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 39, 40, 41. In Figures 1, 2, 3, the roller S
by separating and moving back a portion of the material equalises it, and forms
an equal supply of material which is conveyed by the rollers a and the apron Z to
the feeding cylinder. The small roller b is covered with cards and is placed in such
a position that the material is pressed onto the feeding cylinder, filling up the teeth
with wool, the excess of which is taken off by the stripping off roller D, thus
equalising the material picked up by the teeth. Between the small roller b and
the roller D a small lap of wool is formed from the excess of wool stripped off the
teeth of the feeding cylinder, the excess of the lap being taken away and returned
to the hopper by the roller S.
In Figures 7, 8, 9, the material is removed from the receiving box or hopper and
carried upward by an elevating apron armed with hooks. The wool picked up by
the hooked apron becomes equalised by an equalising beater S, and is led to a
transporting and equalising roller S which clears off the wool from the apron and
throws it over a small grating to the transport rollers b, b', and the feeding
cylinder C. The roller 6 presses the wool onto the cylinder, filling up the teeth of

page_text: the same. The excess of the wool picked up is removed from the teeth by a
stripping off roller D. The supply of wool thus accumulated before the feeding
cylinder moves and turns round like a rolling lap formed by the roller D and the
turning roller d, the small roller 6 being the middle or core of the rolling lap.
When the lap grows too large it becomes equalised, the excess being taken off and
returned to the receiving box by the roller 8. The wool is cleared off from the
feeding cylinder and spread onto the feeding apron by a clearer or brush F.
In Figure 10 a supply of material somewhat regulated by a roller S¹ revolving
in opposite direction to the forwardly carried material, enters between the rollers
a, b, and by the backward or forward revolving of the roller S it is thrown to the
feeding cylinder, where it is accumulated in the space between the cylinder and
the stripping off roller D, the excess being returned to the box or hopper. The
roller D revolving at a lower speed than the cylinder presses the wool between
the teeth and strips off the excess; from the feeding cylinder the wool is cleared
off and spread onto the apron by a clearer or brush F.
in
In Figure 11 the wool is thrown to the feeding cylinder by a roller S without
being previously equalised. The wool thrown to the feeding cylinder is accumulated
between the cylinder and the stripping off roller D, and deposited on the apron
the same way as described in reference to Figure 10. A cleaning or stripping
knife M is placed in proximity to the roller D to clean from the wool foreign matters
such as dirt, straw, &c.
This
In Figure 12 the roller S is partly covered with curved teeth and receives an
oscillating motion like that of a doffer comb, as herein before indicated.
osaillating roller S. has for its object, first, to regulate the pile of wool in the
receiving box, and to separate a portion of the same before it enters between the
rollers a and b 2nd, to return the excess from the supply accumulated between
the cylinder and the stripping off roller D. The wool is cleared from the feeding
cylinder by a licker-in or any other working roller W of the carding engine.
In Figure 13 the roller S acts in a similar way. The wool enters in the same
way between the rollers a and b. The stripping off roller D is covered with cards
and takes the excess from the teeth of the cylinder, giving it up to the roller d
placed above, which being covered with cards and rotating at a quicker speed than
the roller D takes off the wool therefrom; the material is taken off again from d
and returned to the box or hopper by the roller S. If the roller d rotates at a low
speed in opposite direction and is thus made to act as a stripping off roller the
roller D would pick up the material like the cylinder O, the roller d would equalise
the picked up wool, and a small supply accumulated between the rollers D and d
would be equalised and the excess returned by the roller S. Thus the apparatus
would be provided with two feeding cylinders, the wool would be cleared off from
bath cylinders by one clearer F placed between both of them.
In the same way
three and more feeding cylinders could be employed.
In Figures 14 and 15 the feeding oylinder has for its object, 1st, to regulato
somewhat the pile of wool in the receiving box or hopper, separating a portion of
the same before it enters between the apron Z and roller 6; and, 2nd, to pick up.
the wool thus transported to the same. The excess of the wool picked up is
equalised in Figure 14 by a stripping off and turning roller D and d.
Figure 15 the wool is stripped off on a grating D, as described and shown at
Figure 28. The wool is cleared off from the cylinder in both Figures by a brush
or clearer F.
In
In Figures 16 and 17 the roller serves as a first feeding cylinder in combination
with the feeding cylinder C; it seizes the wool brought by the rollers a, b. In
Figure 16 the roller C₁ is covered with inclined teeth over the whole surface; the
excess of the wool picked up is taken off and returned to the hopper by a clearer d
acting like a doffer comb. In Figure 17 the roller O is like the feeding cylinder,
as shown and described at Figure 28, the excess being stripped off on a grating D
and the wool equalised by a roller d. The feeding cylinder C runs a little quicker
than the roller C, and therefore takes off the material therefrom, or the wool is

page_text: carried over from the roller C¹ to the cylinder O by a brush P, as shown at Figure 16.
A small supply of wool in the form of a rolling lap is accumulated by the stripping
off roller D in Figure 16, and by the grating D¹ in Figure 17; the excess of wool is
taken off and returned by the roller O¹. The wool is cleared from the cylinder
and spread onto the apron by a clearer F.
In Figure 18 the roller 8 separates a portion of the wool in the box or hopper,
and returns the excess of material stripped off on the grating D; the material
having been regulated by the roller S enters between the apron Z and roller b and
is carried to the cylinder. The material is carried away from the cylinder by a
licker-in or similar roller of the carding engine.
In Figure 19 the pile of wool is regulated in the box or hopper by an elevating
apron 8. The wool enters between the rollers a and b, and is thrown by the
roller S to the roller C, which is covered with suitable shaped teeth, and revolves
in a trough or half round box m. The wool thrown on the cylinder C is picked up
by the teeth supported by the trough and carried to the picker cylinder W. All
such wool which has not been picked up by the cylinder C is returned over a
grid back to the box or hopper. In lieu of a box m rollers can be employed, and
more than one cylinder O can be used. Instead of carrying the wool to a picker
cylinder it may be dropped down onto the feeding apron.
In Figure 20 the material is carried upward by an elevating hooked apron Z,
equalised by a beater or comb S², and delivered to the roller S. The roller S throws
the material over a grid r to the feeding rollers C, C, and returns the excess from
the supply accumulated before the cylinders C, C', back to the hopper. The rollers
or cylinders C, C¹, are covered with suitable cards, and may serve for common feed
rolls delivering the material direct to the licker in W.
Figure 21 also shows a hooked apron carrying the wool upward to the cylinder C.
The wool after having been equalised by the beater S¹ is seized and picked up by
the cylinder, which runs at higher speed than the apron Z. The small roller b
presses the wool between the teeth of the cylinder. The stripping off roller D
separates the excess from the wool hooked on the cylinder, and forms a rolling lap
round the roller b supported by the roller d; the excess is taken off again by the
apron and carried downward to the hopper; thus the apron acts efficiently instead
of the roller S. The wool is cleared off from the cylinder and deposited by a
clearer F. The apron Z can also carry the wool from above downward to the
oylinder C, or the apron may be placed so as to carry the material sideways or in a
horizontal direction.
Figure 41 shows the stripping off roller D acting instead of the roller 8; it
regulates the wool before being conveyed to the feeding cylinder, and removes the
excess of the wool from the cylinder, returning it to the box or hopper. The wool
being carried by the apron Z, which forms the bottom of the box, is pressed
against the teeth of the cylinder by the roller b. The roller d assists the roller D
in regulating and separating the pile of wool in the receiving box or hopper.
The wool is deposited by the clearer F. The roller D can have an oscillating
motion similar to the roller S shown at Figure 12.
In Figures 1 to 3, 7 to 9, 18, 19, 38, 40, 41, and 42, the transport roller b can be
made movable and be pressed against the feeding oylinder C. Figures 39 and 40
show two other modifications of feeding apparatus for coarser and longer wool. In
Figure 39 the wool is conveyed, as before described, by the inclined apron Z to the
roller S, by which it is thrown into a space enclosed by the feeding roller C, the
stripping off roller D, the clearer 6', and the roller S, the excess being returned:
From the equalised lap the feeding roller takes, with the aid of the stripping off
roller D, a uniform quantity of wool, which it delivers to the licker in.
Figure 40. The pile of wool in the hopper is regulated by an apron S' in vertical
position. The wool enters between the two aprons Z, and is carried upward to the
feeding cylinder O, where it is formed into a rolling lap, enclosed by the stripping
off roller D and the roller d, and equalised, the excess being returned to the hopper
by the roller S. From the cylinder it is cleared off by a brush or clearer F.

page_text: A very regular feed may also be obtained by repeating one or several times the
equalising and transporting of the material by the combination of two rollers S, Sª,
without using the feeding cylinder C.
In Figure 44 the material is fed by a roller a to an elevating toothed apron Z,
and a beater S removes the excess. The material is removed from the apron by
the toothed transporting cylinder S, and delivered to the roller c and trough m or
other equivalent devices, from which the material is again taken by the cylinder S
and conveyed over the concave grid into the space formed by the equalising
rollers b, b, and W, the excess of wool which this space does not receive being
thrown back by the cylinder S to the hopper A. The rollers 6, 62, and the pressing
roller W deliver the wool onto the travelling apron Z or direct to the licker in of
the carding engine. The cylinder S is driven by a band on pulleys h³, h³. The
roller b¹ is driven by gear wheels 1 and 2. A pinion 3 on the axis of 61 drives
another pinion 4, which drives a wheel 5 loose on the shaft of cylinder S. This
wheel 5 rotates in the direction of the arrow 5*, and drives rollers c and b through
pinions 6 and 7 respectively. It also drives the elevating apron Z through a
pinion 10, which gears with another 11 on the axis of the upper roller of the
elevating apron, and the roller a is driven from the lower roller of the same by
gears 12, 13, 14. The apron ☎ is driven from pinion 3 through gears 8 and 9, and
the beater S¹ is driven from the shaft of cylinder S by a belt &
In Figure 37 an elevating toothed apron Z carries the material from the hopper
to the roller S. The flocks of wool picked up by the apron are equalised by a
comb S¹. The wool cleared off from the apron Z is thrown over a grid onto the
hooked apron C, and the material thus caught by the hooks of the apron C is
equalised by the stripping off roller d. The amount of wool thus accumulated
before the stripping off roller is equalised by the roller S. The roller 8* taking off
the wool from the apron C throws the same over another grid onto the feed
apron 2; the roller b forms an equal layer of wool on the apron Z', and the excess
is returned again by the roller St.
In Figure 88 the pile of wool in the hopper is regulated and separated by the
roller S. The wool enters between the apron Z forming the bottom of the hopper,
and the equalising roller b to the roller S, which rotating in opposite direction to
the roller 8, shown at Figure 37, throws the wool onto the roller b¹; an amount of
wool is thus accumulated over the roller b', the excess of which is taken away by
the roller S, and thrown over a grid r back to the hopper. Over the roller b¹ a
smaller roller b is placed, and the wool is conveyed between both rollers to the
roller 8, which throws the same onto the feed apron Z. The equalising roller b
forms an equal layer of wool on the feed apron, and the excess is thrown over a
second grid and returned by the roller S°.
Feeding apparatus is used in combination with a weighing scale to deposit a
certain amount of material at regular intervals onto the feed table, but an
arrangement for spreading the material continuously and very equally onto the
feed apron in combination with a weighing scale is new.
I combine an arrange-
ment for spreading the material continuously and as equal as possible onto the
apron with a weighing apparatus or with any other kind of feeder. Figure 42
shows the weighing pan of a feeding apparatus in the position when it is tilted,
the contents being deposited on the apron Z. The material is carried forward on
the apron Z equalised by the roller b, and spread upon the feed apron 2 of the
carding engine by the clearer F. Instead of the simple apron Z and roller b, more
rollers or aprons or a feeding roller C may be employed. The spreading
apparatus may be in connection with any kind of weighing apparatus or other
feeders.
Figures 48, 48, represent a feeding apparatus with a peculiar weighing
arrangement consisting of one or more revolving scale pans (three being shown)
L', I, IP, and a shaft P mounted movably in stirrups n, and suspended from two
balance beams K, the shaft being retained in certain positions by the prism or
stop r. The pan L' receives the wool from the elevating toothed apron Z,

page_text: regulated by the beater S, and when sufficient has been received to overcome the
counterweight g, the pan L' falls, performing a third of a revolution, and throws
the weighed quantity of wool onto the feeding roller C or the apron Z. The
next pan L³ now occupies the place of the former one and receives the wool, the
elevating apron Z which was stopped during the rotation of the pans being again
set in motion by any suitable device, and so on repeatedly. The wool is spread
equally by the roller C upon the travelling table of the carding engine or direct
onto the licker in.
When the material delivered to the first breaker card or to other machines by
the operation as hereinbefore described requires to be transported and again
equally delivered from one machine to another, I use for this purpose the apparatus
hereinafter described and shown in Sheets 5 and 6.
Figures 47, 47, 47, 48, 48°, 48°, 48ª, Sheet 5, represent elevation, plan, and
side views of various arrangements of apparatus for forming the fleece cleared off
from the doffer by an oscillating comb into a broad sliver; and Figures 49, 50, and
part of 47 show the apparatus for conveying the said sliver from the first
breaker card to the feed table of the second carding machine alongside of the first.
Figures 51 and 52, Sheet 6, represent side and plan views of an apparatus for
laying the sliver diagonally onto the feed apron of the second carding machine,
thus forming an equal layer of the material on the apron; Figures 53 to 59 are
special descriptions and modifications of the latter.
Referring to Figures 47, 47*, 47b, the fleece cleared off from the doffer B by the
comb A falls down over a conducting plate or a roller W onto an apron Z, which
carries the fleece sideways in the direction of the arrows to and under a pressing
roller D, forming it into a broad sliver. In order to render the sliver very equal,
it has been found very advantageous to place the apron Z in an oblique position
to the axis of the doffer, as shown at Figure 47, the conductor or roller W being
parallel to said axis. The same effect will be obtained if, instead of placing the
apron obliquely, the conductor plate or roller W over which the fleece falls be placed
in an oblique position to the doffer axis, the apron then being parallel to said axis,
as in Figure 48ª.
In Figures 48°, 48d, the fleece after passing over a roller W or not is received on
two endless aprons Z moving towards one another, and passes out at the middle of
the machine in the form of a broad sliver round the rollers D1, D2, D³, to the
conveyor T. The aprons and rollers are mounted and driven as shown. The
fleece being carried under the pressing roller D and formed into a sliver is now
carried upward and conveyed above the feeding table of the second carding
machine by the conveyor band T running over the pulleys f, ƒ³, ƒ³, ƒ³, (see
Figures 47 and 50). The pulleys f¹, f', f³, are mounted on the lever arm H,
which is pivoted on the axis of the pulley f¹, and is supported by a counter-
weight g attached to a cord a passing over a sheave r. At the end of the lever
arm H two other pulleys f, f, are mounted, and a pair of conveyor bands T¹
running over the pulleys f, f, and the geared rollers 2, 7, convey the sliver down
to the apparatus, which lays or delivers it on the feed apron of the machine.
Thus the lever arm H is connected with the said apparatus, and moves up and
down as the said apparatus moves to and fro across the feeding apron, as shown by
dotted lines. In cases when the double band T is not used the said apparatus is
connected with the lever arm H by a cord, rod, or chain. Underneath the geared
rollers, l, two delivery rollers L are mounted in an inclined position, as shown,
and being driven lay the sliver on the feed apron.
Figure 49 shows another modification of the conveyor band T which runs over
the pulleys f, ƒ³, ƒ³, ƒ, and the roller . Another endless band T runs over the
pulley f and the other roller 1, the sliver being conveyed between the bands down
to the feed apron. The rollers l, l, are drawn to and fro by the apparatus, as shown
in one position by dotted lines, and the aprons are driven by wheels on the
pulleys f³, f, no delivery rollers L, as shown at Figure 50, being necessary.
The method of conducting the sliver down to the laying apparatus between a

page_text: double band or apron, as shown at Figures 49 and 50, is new and original, and can
be very advantageously used for any apparatus for laying the sliver.
Instead of using bands or aprons any other means could be used for conveying
the sliver from one machine to another. Instead of a broad sliver a narrow one or
round sliver could also be conveyed. The sliver may be conveyed from one
machine to another in any way, and can be conveyed to the apparatus, which lays
or deposits it on the feed apron either from below or sideways instead of from
above. Instead of conveying the sliver direct from one machine to another the
sliver can be put into a sliver can, or it may be formed into a lap. The sliver can
or the lap may then be placed before the second machine for the purpose of laying
the sliver diagonally onto the feed apron. The apparatus is driven by the
wheels 1 to 9 from the doffer B, shown at Figures 47º, 47b. The wheel 11 is
driven by the wheel 10, which is of the same size and drives the conveyor band T
by the pulley f
It has been found most advantageous for accuracy of feeding to so regulate the
speed of laying the sliver to and fro upon itself on the apron that there will be
four thicknesses of sliver, and to lay the sliver obliquely at an angle of about 45°
across the apron (see Sheet 6, Figures 51 and 52). The dotted lines / show the
limit of the equal thickness of the table; beyond this line where the corners of
the folds overlap one another there are only two thicknesses of sliver in the small
square portions marked a, y, (see Figure 58-). The dotted line o divides these
squares diagonally into triangles marked a and y. By turning a over and doubling
it down on y there are then four thicknesses of aliver, and so the material laid on
the apron has a straight and even border. The operation of turning over these
triangular corners at the border of the deposited material can be effected in different
ways, either upward or downward.
0
Figures 58, 58°, show a very simple way. The slivers laid on the apron are
pressed down and flattened by a pressing roller W, which is either driven or
rotated by contact with the apron. This roller W extends to the dotted line o at
both sides of the apron, so that the triangular corners a project beyond it. Both
ends of the roller W have a circumferential groove. A wires is attached to an
arm above the roller, and lies in the groove half way round the roller, reaching
some distance in the line o (see Figure 58*), pressing the corners of the slivers a
little down like a spring. The corners after having passed the roller W are now
brought under a suitably shaped stationary curved guide u, by which the corners
of the folded slivers as they are carried forward on the apron are successively
turned over the wires before they enter between the feed rollers e of the carding
machine,
In Figures 58, 58, a, b, c, d, e, f, show different sections of the curved guide &
and how the corners sliding under the polished plate are successively folded over.
The wire can vary in length, or may be flat, or a small plate may be employed
instead of the wire.
Figures 54 and 54 show the corners turned over by a small strap twisted by
running over pulleys placed obliquely to one another. Figures 55, 55*, show
the same operation with one half only of the strap twisted.
In Figures 56, 56, a rotary plate or diso 8 placed in an oblique
instead of a wire, in combination with the curved guide u to
down along the line o, thus assisting the guide to turn them over.
either be driven or may rotate by friction on the apron.
position is used
hold the corners
The disc 8 may
In Figures 57, 570, a curved guide turns the corners a little round till they
reach the grooved roller &; a small diso 8 presses the corners into the groove of
the roller i, and so turns them quite down before they enter between the feed
rollers.
Figure 58 shows two curved guides (one on each side) which are movable on
hinges and connected together by a rod g. By means of an eccentric the rod
receives a reciprocating motion, and the curved guides p are oscillated on their
binges, thus laying down the corners of the slivers. The apparatus for laying the

page_text: slivers diagonally can be so constructed as to lay them in a more transverse
direction onto the apron. The more transverse they are laid on the apron, the
smaller will be the overlapping triangles or corners of the border (see Figure 59).
In this case a grooved roller is sufficient to turn the corners and push them close
together before they get between the feeding rollers, while an apron L on top of
the slivers holds them down and maintains the proper width of the border when
the corners are turned.
The
The apparatus for laying the slivers onto the apron is shown in Figures 51
and 52, and consists chiefly of a pair of rollers L mounted on a carriage h which
is traversed to and fro across the feed table on a slide bar t and shaft t¹ by an 1
endless strap i having a catch f, which passes in a slot u of the carriage.
rollers L are driven by bevelled wheels 1, 2, 3, 4. The wheels 1, 2, are movable
along the shaft t¹, and have a key which fits in a keyway in the shaft so as to be
revolved by the latter. The rollers L can be driven in any other way. The
construction shown at Figures 51 and 52 is distinguished by its simplicity, and 1
especially by the method of driving the rollers L continuously without stoppage
on reversing the direction of their traverse across the apron. This apparatus is
driven by a strap and pulley S from the carding engine. A wheel 5 secured to
the pulley S transmits the motion by an intermediate change wheel to the shaft d,
which by the bevelled wheels 9, 10, gives motion to the pulley S₁ driving the ?
strap, and by bevel wheel 11 to a short shaft carrying the wheels 12, 13. The
latter gears by an intermediate wheel 14 with the wheel 15 and drives the shaft t¹.
A small pulley S¹ on the shaft d is employed for driving the feed apron and the
licker-in,
Having described the nature of the said Invention and the manner of performing
the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by the
hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is,-
1st. The respective combinations and arrangements of parts operating as
described, and constituting the several feeding apparatus for carding engines and
other machines herein described and respectively shown in Figures 30 to 86, and
Figures 45 and 46 of the Drawings.
2nd. The respective combinations with a feeding cylinder of the parts, arranged
and operating as described, for supplying the fibre to the feed cylinder, and
equalising the delivery of such feed cylinder, substantially as herein described
and respectively shown in Figures 1 to 3, Figures 7 to 9, Figures 10 to 21,
and Figures 39 to 41 of the Drawings.
3rd. The respective constructions, combinations, and arrangements of parts of
the equalising cylinder, to operate substantially as described and shown in
Figures 4, 5, 6.
4th. The respective constructions of the feeding cylinder (and particularly the
helical arrangement of the serrated strip forming the operative part of this
cylinder), substantially as described and shown respectively in Figures 22 to 29 of
the Drawings.
5th. The combination with the serrated or hooked feeding cylinder constructed
as described of a grating, substantially as and for the purpose described and shown
in Figures 28 and 29.
6th. The combination and arrangements of parts operating as described for
feeding fibrous material in a uniform manner to carding engines and other
machines, substantially as described and shown in Figures 87, 88, and 44.
7th. The combination with a weighing feeder of an apparatus, operating
substantially as described and shown in Figure 42 for spreading the fibrous
material on the feed board or apron.
8th. The combination and arrangement of parts of the weighing feeder in which
one or more revolving scale pans are used, substantially as described and shown
in Figure 43.
9th. The arrangement of the apron in an oblique position to the axis of the

page_text: doffer, substantially as described and shown in Figure 47, 47b, for the purpose
specified.
10th. The combination with an endless apron arranged paralled with the axis of
the doffer, of a conducting plate or roller arranged obliquely to the axis of the
doffer, substantially as described and shown in Figures 48, 48b, for the purpose
specified.
11th. The employment of two endless bands running towards one another, in
combination with the rollers D or their equivalent, the bands receiving the fleece
and delivering it in the form of a broad sliver, substantially as described and
shown in Figures 48°, 48d.
12th. The general arrangement of the endless bands or aprons, and their
supporting apparatus for conveying the sliver to the laying apparatus, substantially
as described and shown in Figures 47, 49, 50.
13th. The employment in combination of two endless bands or aprons between
which the sliver is conducted in a downward direction, substantially as described
and shown in Figures 47, 49, 50.
14th. The respective arrangements of apparatus for driving the delivery rollers
in a continuous and uniform manner, substantially as described and shown in
Figures 47, 49, 50, 51, and 52.
15th. The construction of the apparatus for laying the sliver diagonally on the
feed apron, substantially as described and shown in Figures 47, 49, 51, and 5%.
16th. The turning over the corners of the folds of a flat sliver laid obliquely to
and fro upon the apron, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
17th. The respective combinations and arrangements of means for turning over
the corners of the folds of an obliquely laid sliver, substantially as described and
shown respectively in Figures 51 to 59.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of December, A.D. 1881.