IMPROVE- MENTS IN HACKLING OR DRESSING FLAX, HEMP, AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES; AND IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR RUBBING, STRETCHING, AND EQUALIZING THE BREADTH OF CLOTH MADE FROM FLAX, HEMP, JUTE, AND OTHER FIBROUS SUB- STANCES
Year: 1846

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, PETER
CARMICHAEL, Manager for Baxter, Brothers, & Co., Flax Spinners and Linen
Manufacturers in Dundee, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Fifth day of May in the
year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Peter Carmichael, my exors, admors, and assigns, Her especial licence, full
power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said Peter Carmichael, my
exors, admors, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Peter Carmichael, my
exors, admors, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from
time to time and at all times during the term of years therein expressed,
should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within England
Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN HACKLING OR DRESSING FLAX, HEMP, AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES; AND
IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR RUBBING, STRETCHING, AND EQUALIZING THE
BREADTH OF CLOTH MADE FROM FLAX, HEMP, JUTE, AND OTHER FIBROUS SUB-
STANCES;" in which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso that I, the said
Peter Carmichael, shall cause a particular description of the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be inrolled
in Her said Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar months

page_text: next and immediately after the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent,
as in and by the same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at
large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Peter Carmichael, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention, and
the manner in which the same is to be performed, are fully described and
ascertained in and by the following statement thereof, reference being had
to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the figures and letters marked
thereunto (that is to say):-
-
My Improvements in Machinery for Hackling or Dressing Flax, Hemp,
and other Fibrous Substances consist in performing by mechanical means
certain essential operations on what is generally called Robinson's or the
Belfast flat machines, which operations have hitherto depended on manual
lobour. In these machines the flax has to be placed on the hackles or
pins by boys or girls. The table in which the holder containing the flax
is placed rises and falls, and it is requisite for the proper performance
of the work that the holder should be placed in the table when at its
highest elevation. If this be done the hackles or pins begin dressing at the
end of the flax, and gradually keep approaching nearer the holder where the
flax is held, until the table, having fallen as low as possible without bringing the
holders in contact with the hackle pins, one side of the flax is dressed on
that gradation of hackles. The table rises again with the holder, and on
attaining its elevation the attendant has to turn the holder. On the falling of
the table the other side of that end of the flax is dressed. This operation has
to be performed on each succeeding gradation or fineness of hackles. If the
holder containing the flax be placed on the table, or turned on it when the
table is not at its highest elevation, injurious effects are produced: the hackles
or pins come suddenly in contact with too great a length of the fibre before it
has been prepared for them, and thus have a tendency to break it off from the
body of the flax. This reduces the quantity of dressed flax produced from the
raw flax, and the tow is injured by having long fibres mixed with it. If the
holder be placed in the table before it has attained its elevation, and is not
turned after falling and again rising until it has again fallen a little, the side
first dressed is longer on the hackle pins than the other side, and has conse-
quently more dressing. As these important operations depend upon the
attention of boys or girls, it is quite evident that there is not any certainty as
to their correct performance. A remedy for this evil has been long looked for,
and it is for the purpose of applying this, and also more economically working
the machines, that I have invented the mechanical arrangements which I shall

page_text: now proceed to describe.
I would, however, observe, that my improvements
might be applicable to other combinations of hackles than those about to be
described.
Figure 1 shews a side view of the machine; Figure 3 a front elevation
of the same; Figure 2, an elevation of the turning or reversing motion;
Figure 4 a section of articles connected with turning motion for reversing
holders and Figure 5 a plan of the holder with the flax in it. I would here
observe, that the same letters of reference point out the same article where
seen in each Figure. The heckles (see Figures 1 and 3) are fixed through an
endless sheet to bars attached also to such sheet, and together are moved by
toothed pullies on the shaft A. and friction pullies on the shaft A¹. The driving
pullies are placed on the shaft A, and receive motion from a steam engine or
other motive power.
On this shaft is fixed the wheel B, which takes into and
gives motion to the wheel C, attached to which and working on the same
bearing is the wheel D, which takes into and moves the wheel E. This wheel
E is fixed to the shaft F, as shewn in Figures 1 and 3. On the shaft F are
placed the two camms G, which operates on the plates H at each end of the
machine. These plates support the rails I, together with the fixed holder
seats J, J¹, J, and J³, and the revolving holder seats for reversing the holders
containing the flax K and K', and also other machinery connected with the
moving the holders in and out of the machine, and the reversing of the flax so
as to be dressed on each side. But still the gravity of these plates H,
together with all their appendages, is more than counterbalanced by the com-
pound leverage of the levers L and L. The camms G being moved
round by the shaft F, operate by means of the antifriction pulleys a, on
the plates H, and lower them as much as the distance from the centre of the
shaft F of the largest diameter of the camms will allow, and which is so
regulated by the raising or lowering the small roller a in the plates H as to
bring the holders containing the flax as near the hackle pins as possible. The
camns G, still moving, leave the plates H and all their appendages at liberty
to rise, which they are compelled to do by the force applied underneath them
by the compound leverage before named; fixed to the plates H are the holder
seats J and J³, in which the holders with flax in them are placed, when put
into and removed out of the machine. The holder with flax is placed in the
seat J, and on the rising of the plates H, it is moved on to the short fixed
seat J', which is fixed to the plates I; this holder being then opposite the first
hackle with the coarsest set of pins, the flax on the falling of the plates H is
dressed on one side as near the holder as possible. While this is occurring, the
attendant upon the machine has placed another holder with flax in the fixed

page_text: seat J. On the plates H rising the second time, the holder last put in is
moved on to the short fixed seat J, and the first-named holder is moved on to
the revolving seat K. This revolving seat is suspended from a shaft attached
to the spur wheel M, and which shaft fits into and revolves freely in a
socked fastened to the fixed rails I (see the section of revolving apparatus
Figures 4). The revolving seat K begins to revolve and carry with it the
holder just moved on it, immediately after the flax attains its highest elevation,
and performs one half a revolution. The flax is then dressed on its opposite
side as the plates H fall by a hackle about the same set of pins as the last, so
that when the turning points of the camms G again pass the small pulleys a,
so as to leave the plates H at liberty to rise, the operation of dressing the flax
at one end on each side by the first fineness of hackles is completed as before;
while this has taken place, a third holder has been placed in the fixed seat J,
and consequently on the rising of the plates H again the first-named holder is
moved on to the short fixed seat J, and the flax on falling is dressed on one
side by the hackles opposite, the pins of which are finer than those before
described. On the plates H rising the fourth time, another holder that has been
placed on the fixed seat J is moved into the machine, and the first-named holder
is moved on to the revolving seat K', which is suspended similar to the seat K,
from the spur wheel M. The operation of turning takes place as before
described; and as the flax falls it is dressed on the opposite side by hackles set
with about the same fineness of pins as those opposite the fixed seat J. The flax
is thus finished dressing on the different finenesses of hackles, and on the rising
of the plates H, again moving another holder into the machine, this the first-
named holder is moved into the fixed seat J³ with one end finished. It is then
taken out of the machine, the flax changed in a well-known manner into
another holder, and passed through either the same or another similar machine
to have the other end dressed. It will be seen, that after the operations above
described have taken place, all the fixed and revolving seats being filled with
holders, each rise of the plates H will move one holder with the end of the
flax undressed into, and another with the end dressed out of, the machine.
one gradation or fineness of hackles were sufficient to dress the flax for
the purposes required, the machine might either be made shorter, or the
fixed and revolving seats might be made double the length, and only
one of each opposite the hackles, and a holder double the length might
be moved into and out of the machine each rise of the plates H. If
more than two gradations or finenesses of hackles were required, the machine
might be made with more than two fixed and two revolving holder scats. If
it were requisite for very fine dressing to pass the flax over more gradations
If

page_text: than the length of the machine would admit of, having fixed and revolving
seats alternately, then each holder scat might be made to revolve, and each
side of the flax might be dressed alternately on the same line of hackles; in
this case a holder would only be moved into and out of the machine each
alternate rise of the plates H, &c. It will be seen that, for the purpose of
commencing to dress the flax at the end, the holders, holder seats, &c. rise and
fall vertically, or at right angles with the hackles that are at the moment
operating upon the flax; but by a different mechanical arrangement, other
means might be adopted to accomplish this purpose, so that the holders might
recede from or approach towards the hackles on the same plane as the hackles
operate on the flax, or in any angle with those hackles that might be thought
most suitable.
Having described the means by which the flax is lowered on to the hackles,
raised and transferred into the fixed and revolving seats, &c., I shall now pro-
ceed to describe by what means I accomplished the object of reversing the
seats so as to bring the holders and the surface of the flax parallel with cach
line of revolving hackles. I have before shewn that on shafts attached to the
wheels M and M', the revolving holder seats K and K, are suspended and
fixed so as to revolve with these wheels. These wheels are connected with
each other by another wheel M³, fixed to this wheel, and rising upwards from
it is the shaft M, supported in a bearing at its upper end, which bearing is
fixed to the stationary rails O. In this bearing the bevel wheel P is so
placed that it can revolve, but not move vertically. On the shaft N is fixed
the projecting key (6) placed parallel with the longitudinal centre of the shaft.
The wheel P has a groove cut through the surface of the inside of its hole, in
which groove the fast key (b) fits. It will thus be seen that this shaft N is
suppurted together with the wheel P, as described, and that the shaft N is at
liberty to slide vertically as the holder seats, &c. rise or fall, without disturbing
the wheel P; taking into the bevel wheel P is another bevel wheel R, fixed
on the shaft S, which is fixed at right angles to the shaft N.
works on the bearings (c and c) fixed on the stationary rails O.
is also placed the angular toothed wheel T (see Figures 1, 2, and 3). Close
to this wheel, and on the same shaft S, is fixed the bell-crank lever U,
attached to which at the end (d) is the small catch (e) and from the other end
(f) is the vertical rod V, on which is placed the weight (g); at the lower end
of the rod V is fixed the lever W, working on its fulcrum (h), which is fixed
to the opposite side of the machine to that to which are fixed the wheels
C and D, and in the same corresponding part of the side. Fixed to
this lever is the antefriction roller (ż). On the shaft F (the same that by
This shaft S
On this shaft

page_text: means of the camms G operate in moving the holder troughs or seats, &c.)
is fixed the camm X (shewn in Figures 2 and 3); as the shaft F revolves
the camm X, the rod V, together with its weight, are elevated, and also the
end D of the bell-crank lever. The small catch (e) passes round the
periphery of the angular toothed wheel and over the inclined side of the
angle, until the rod, &c. being elevated as high as the camm is able to raise
them, they are left at liberty to fall according to the peculiar form of the camm
from ( to ). As the rod and weight fall they bring the catch (e) in contact
with the vertical side of the teeth of the wheel T, and consequently move it
round with the catch, together with the shaft S and the bevel wheel R, which
also revolves the bevel wheel P, and takes with it, by means of the fixed key
(b), the vertical shaft N and the spur wheel M³, which gives a revolving
motion to the spur wheels M and M', and consequently to the holder seats
suspended from and fastened to them. Of course the weight (g) on the rod V
must be so heavy as by its gravity to produce the desired effect. I have thus
shewn how motion is communicated to the revolving holder seats. It is essen-
tial, however, that this motion should produce the effect of always moving the
holder at one time exactly half round, so as to bring it and the surface of the
flax parallel with the lines of varying hackles; also while in this position
they should be so held or locked that the operation of the pins on the flax can-
not by any means disturb them. To accomplish these objects I adopt the
following plan-I fix the fulcrum of the lever Y on the bearing M, which is
fixed to the traversing plates I. A pin (n) passes through the long end of the
lever Yat (o), which rests on the rim of the wheel M. On the surface of
this wheel are fixed the two stops (p and q) placed the distance of one half
the circumference of the rim from each other, and close to these stops a small
hole is bored into the rim of the wheel M. When therefore the pin (n) on
the long end of the lever Y comes to one or other of these stops it not only
prevents the wheel M from moving any further in the direction it does move,
but also dropping into the hole in its rim prevents it from moving at all either
way, and therefore holds it and all its appendages fast, until it is raised up
again; and when the pin n, as described, is against either of the stops or in
the hole in the rim, the revolving seats are in their proper position for the
hackles operating on the flax. I unlock the wheel M, &c. by fixing a stop to
the short end of the lever Y, so that just before the holder seats have attained
their highest elevation it comes into contact with the framing of the machine
at r, and is depressed, which raises the long end of the lever and brings the
pin n out of the hole in the rim of the wheel M and above the stops, at the
time the flax is at its highest elevation. At this moment also the camm X

page_text: will have raised the rod V with its weight, &c. to its highest elevation, and
therefore all the appendages of the reversing motion being at liberty to move
are carried round by the means before described. But this motion is so
graduated by the form of the cam X from k to that before the half revolution
is completed the plates H, together with the spur wheels, holder seats, &c.,
have fallen sufficiently to free the short end of the lever Y from the framing,
so that the pin n is again resting on the rim of the wheel M, and on coming
into contact with the stop opposite the one it was last in contact with, arrests
the motion of the wheels, &c., and by again dropping into the hole in the
rim locks all as before described.
I am aware that by a different arrangement of bevel and spur wheels, spur
wheel racks or pullies, operated upon by chains or bands, this reversing
motion might be accomplished, and also that it might be so arranged that the
turning of the holders and flax might be positive, but I prefer the mode
described, because I consider there is less liability to breakages. If, for
instance, by any means a holder was moved too far, so as to rest partly on
one seat and partly on another, or if anything connected with the mechanical
arrangement were prevented from operating properly, the rod V would merely
hang suspended until the obstruction was removed, as although it and its
weight are sufficient for moving all that are dependent on them, yet there
gravity is not sufficient to break the machine. If it were thought advisable
I could apply more than one line of holder seats and their appendages to the
same machine by increasing its size accordingly.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the means by which
I carry the same into effect, I wish it to be understood that I do not
confine myself to the precise details given, provided the peculiar character of
my Invention is retained; and what I claim as my Invention is,―
The application of mechanical means for turning or reversing the holders
as described, and dressing both sides of the flax at one end as it passes over
the same lines of hackles, whether of the same or different gradations or fine-
nesses of pins.
And I claim the application not only to the particular combination of
hackles as described, but to any other combination moved simultaneously in
the same direction by the same common shaft or shafts, and to which it can
be beneficially applied.
Having thus described the nature and advantages of my improvements in
machinery for dressing flax, hemp, and other fibrous substances, I now proceed to
describe and point out the advantages of my new machine for rubbing, stretch-
ing, and equalizing the breadth of cloth made from flax, hemp, jute, and

page_text: other fibrous substances. They consist in performing by mechanical means
upon a separate machine what has hitherto been performed while the cloth
was in the loom during the process of weaving. In the ordinary mode of
weaving linen or hempen cloth the weaver rubs the cloth while in the loom
at stated times with a piece of hard wood, stone, or other substance across the
warp so as to spread it equally, or cause each thread of the warp to be equi-
distant from the other. This is necessary on account of the cloth being woven
with two or more threads passing through each split of the reed, and, without
rubbing these threads, remain in splits in the web with an open space between
them. Another necessity for the rubbing is that it causes all the threads to
be equally tightened, so that each thread of the warp and weft bears the same
tension throughout the web. It also has the effect of making a longer web,
and of more uniform breadth. To perform this operation properly requires
great skill and attention on the part of the weaver, and in heavy fabrics a
considerable amount of hard labour. For it is evident if the cloth be rubbed
more in one place than in another it will make the web narrower at that place,
or if it be rubbed towards one selvidge more than the other it will make the
web longer at that side, and the texture of the cloth different. Further,
some weavers, on the same kind of cloth, will rub more and some less, and will
of course make longer or shorter webs, and a difference to correspond in the
texture. To obviate all these evils by performing the operation with me-
chanical certainty, and also to lessen the amount of skill and labour required,
at the same time to do it more economically, I have invented the machine
which I shall now proceed to describe.
Figure 1 shows a side view of the machine. Figure 2 also a side view,
being the opposite side. Figure 3 is a plan or bird's-eye view. I would here
observe, that the same letters of reference point to the same part of the machine
where seen in all the Figures. A are the diving pullies, which receive motion
from a steam engine or other motive power. Upon the same axis is fixed the
wheel B, which takes into and gives motion to the two wheels C and C, fixed
upon the axis of the two Archimedian screws C and C, as seen in Figure 3.
The blades of these screws are made of thin iron, and are put on their respective
rollers, one right hand and the other left hand, so that when revolving in
the same direction, which they must do from being driven with the same wheel,
they rub the cloth passing under them across the warp,-one towards the right
hand and the other to the left, thus combining the double advantage of rubbing
across the warp with a continuous circular motion. Working into the same
wheel B is the intermediate wheel D, which is geared into the stud wheel E,
carrying on its axis the pinion F. This pinion is geared into the large

page_text: wheel G, which is fixed on and gives motion to the roller H. Upon the
opposite end of this roller, as seen in Figure 2, is the wheel I, giving motion
to the wheel K, which is fixed to the roller L; resting upon the roller L and
receiving motion from it by contact (the pressure being increased by weight),
is the cloth roller M, upon which the cloth is wound, as the machine gives it
out. The ends of the roller M fit into the vertical slits in the framing N,
which keep it parallel to the roller L. Within the framing are two bushes O, O,
into which the arbor of the roller M is fitted. To these bushes are suspended
the four rods P, P, as seen in Figures 1 and 2, the inner rods of each being
hid by the framing. To the lower end of these rods are fitted two racks, one
at each side of the machine, geared into the pinions Q, as seen Figure 2. As
the cloth is wound upon the roller M it rises, lifting with it the rods P, P, and
the racks attached to them, and of necessity turning the pinions Q; but as
these pinions are fixed to the same shaft, at opposite sides of the machine,
they bind the roller M, so that one end cannot rise before the other, or, in
other words, prevent the cloth as it winds on from increasing more in diameter
at one end than the other, and thus keeps it always flat and uniformly rubbed.
R is a plain wheel upon the same axis as the pinions Q, having a ratchet and
pall inside for the purpose of lifting and keeping the cloth roller M out of
contact with the roller L, while the cloth is being wound off the roller after it
is finished. S are the bearings into which the cloth roller, as it comes from
the loom (or the roller on to which the cloth has been transferred), is laid
(see Figures 1 & 2). T is the weighted roller which rests upon the cloth,
and is supported upon pivots at T¹; these pivots being placed in such a
position that as the cloth beam empties or decreases in diameter the weight T
decreases in a uniform ratio, on account of approaching nearer to the vertical
position, and thus keeps an equal tension on the cloth. U, U, are five wooden
rails, over and under which, or any number of them, the cloth passes, to give
the requisite strain or tightness. W is a roller covered with woollen cloth,
round nearly the whole of the circumference of which the cloth passes. Upon
the axis of this roller is fixed the drag or friction pulley W₁, as seen Figures 2
and 3. Round this drag pulley a cord is wound, having one end fixed, and
the other attached to the lever W, F, W, P. Upon this lever is suspended a
weight W, W. By shifting this weight out or in, the exact degree of tension
is put upon the cloth to make it the required breadth. X is another roller,
over which the cloth passes. Y, Y, are two round bars, above which the
cloth passes.
Their use is to keep the cloth in a proper position for the
rubbers acting upon it. The path of the cloth, from where it enters the
machine until it is wound on the roller M in a finished state, is represented by
the red dotted lines, as shewn in Figure 1.

page_text: En the latter of a Patent granted to Peter Carmichael, Manager for
Baxter, Brothers, and Co., Flax Spinners and Linen Manufacturers
in Dundee, for his Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN HACKLING OR
DRESSING FLAX, HEMP, AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES; AND IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MACHINERY FOR RUBBING, STRETCHING, AND EQUALIZING
THE BREADTH OF CLOTH MADE FROM FLAX, HEMP, JUTE, AND OTHER
FIBROUS SUBSTANCES," bearing date at Westminster, the Fifth day
of May, One thousand eight hundred and forty-six, to which a
Specification has been duly inrolled.
DISCLAIMER proposed to be entered by the said Peter Carmichael with
the Clerk of the Patents of England, pursuant to an Act passed in the
fifth and sixth years of the reign of His late Majesty King William the
Fourth, intituled "An Act to amend the Law touching Letters Patents
for Inventions."
Since the enrolment of the said Specification, I have been advised that it
ht possibly be held in a Court of Law, that I claim the application of
chanical means generally to turn holders of heckling machines, whether
h holders be caused to approach to and recede from the heckles or not; but
h was not my intention, as my Invention was directed only to improve
chines where the holders approached to and recede from the heckles. For
ch reason I wish to disclaim, and I do hereby disclaim, the turning of
ders used in machines by mechanical means, where the same are conducted
tinuously through the machines without the holders being caused to approach
nd recede from the heckles.
In witness whereof, I, the said Peter Carmichael, have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Twenty-sixth day of December, One thousand eight

page_text: Seal, bearing date the 5th day of May 1846, and to which a Specification has
been duly enrolled. And having considered the said application, and no
objection having been made to the same, I have accordingly granted leave to
the said Peter Carmichael to file his said Disclaimer pursuant to the Statute
passed in the 5th & 6th years of the reign of His late Majesty, entitled "An
Act to amend the Law touching Letters Patent for Inventions."
Dated this Third day of January, 1849,
JOHN JERVIS.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Twenty-sixth day of December,
in the year of our Lord 1848, the aforesaid Peter Carmichael came before our
said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the Disclaimer
aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and specified, in form above
written. And also the Disclaimer aforesaid was stamped according to the tenor
of the Statute made for that purpose.
Enrolled the Sixteenth day of February, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and forty-nine.