IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF MACHINERY FOR PREPARING MANILLA HEMP JUTE FLAX AND SIMILAR FIBRES
Year: 1884

page_text: We JAMES BARBOUR-Machinist and AвRAM COMBE-Machinist both of Falls
Foundry Belfast do hereby declare the nature of said invention for IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF MACHINERY FOR PREPARING MANILLA HEMP JUTE FLAX
AND SIMILAR FIBRES to be as follows:-
These improvements consist of a novel arrangement of the drawing rollers and of
a new form of, or method of constructing the doubling plates.
:
The novel arrangement of drawing rollers consists in the use of two lower
drawing rollers, the one next the gills being made smaller than the other so as to
secure a short "nip;" the pressing roller rests upon and between the two lower
rollers and is held in contact therewith by means of springs and connecting rods-
The guides for the ends of the pressing rollers. are levers to which is attached a
counterbalance weight so arranged that when the pressure required for giving
drawing power to the rollers is removed the pressing roller is lifted up clear of the
lower rollers and ready access is obtained to the lower drawing rollers conductors
and gills for cleaning or other purposes.
The counterpoise serves also as a support to the lower drawing rollers when
they are working and thus relieves the pressure from the bearings which support
them.
The new method of constructing doubling plates consists in the use of sheet steel
or other suitable sheet metal and bending the edges thereof so as to form the sides
of the angular slot round which the sliver is bent or folded during the operation
of doubling by these means a very light and effective doubling plate is obtained.

page_text: -
We JAMES BARBOUR Machinist and ABRAM COMBE Machinist both of Falls
Foundry, Belfast do hereby declare the nature of our invention for IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF MACHINERY FOR PREPARING MANILLA HEMP JUTE FLAX
AND SIMILAR FIBRES and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement reference
being had to the drawing herewith in which the same letters and figures of
reference always apply to the same or like parts :-
These improvements consist of a novel arrangement of the drawing rollers and
of a new form of doubling plate or method of constructing the same.
In the drawing herewith Figure 1 is a general section of a drawing frame
illustrating these improvements, Figure 2 is a partial front view of the same
Figures 3 and 4 are detached views of the doubling plate.
The novel arrangement of drawing rollers consists in the use of two lower
drawing rollers (a a) and a top roller b which bears thereon the one (a) next the
gills being of smaller diameter than the other (a¹) so as to bring the nip of the
rollers near to the gills. The pressing roller (b) rests upon and between the two
lower rollers (a a¹) and turns in bearings in the ends of a pair of counter-weighted
levers d strung upon a transverse rod d*.
The spindles of the rollers (a a¹) in addition to the ordinary bearings turn in
intermediate bearings carried by a cross bar (a) which is supported by a pendent
rod (c), a coiled spring (c) being interposed between the cross bar and adjusting
nuts on the lower end of the rod (c¹).
This rod depends from an open link (f) and is secured thereto by regulating
nuts, a second coiled spring (c³) being interposed between the link and the nuts
which secure the rod (c¹) in place.
(c) is a pressure screw working in a threaded hole in the upper part of the
link (f) and pressing upon a bearing (b¹) which rests on the spindle of the
roller (b) and is capable of sliding vertically on the link fas on a guide rod.
This screw (c) is fitted with a hand wheel by turning which the screw is caused
to hold down the cap bearing (6¹) and put the requisite pressure on the roller (b).
The pressure is however rendered elastic by reason of the spring (c) interposed
between the lower part of the link and the nuts on the inner end of the pendent
rod (c¹).
Connected to the levers (d) by means of a rod (d) is a bell crank lever (d¹) to
which is attached a counterweight (d³). As therefore the pressure of the screw (c³)
upon the roller (b) is slackened when it is desired to moderate the pressure on the
rollers (a a¹) the counterweight (d) will cause the roller (b), to rise proportionately.
In like manner, when it is desired to obtain access to the lower drawing
rollers (a a¹) conductors and gills, for cleaning or other purposes, it is only necessary
to turn back the screw (c) to the required extent when the counterbalanced
levers (d) will lift their roller out of action.
The counterpoised levers (d) act as a support also to the lower drawing
rollers (a a') when they are working through the link (f) which carries the
pendent rod (c) and elastically supported cross bar (a) that underlies the roller
axle. Thus the bearings of the lower rollers are relieved from the injurious effect
of the pressure of the pressing roller (b).
The new construction of doubling plate forming the subject of the second head
of our invention is shown in place at (e) Fig. 1. and the mode of making and fitting
it is shewn at Figs 3 and 4 We take strips of sheet steel or other suitable sheet

page_text: metal and bend the edges thereof as shewn in figure 4 so as to form the sides of the
angular slots round which the sliver is bent or folded during the operation of
doubling, by this means a very light and effective doubling plate (e) is obtained.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is:-
=
1. Making the two drawing rollers (a a¹) of different sizes as shown in the
drawing for the purpose of advancing the nip near to the gill bars.
2 Counterbalancing the pressing roller and relieving the bearings of the lower
rollers of undue pressure in the manner above set forth.
3. The construction of doubling plate as above described.