CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PROCESS OF PREPARING COTTON, WOOL, FLAX, AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES FOR SPINNING, AND IN CARDING AND PREPARING MACHINERY."
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Apperly, of Dudbridge, near Stroud, in the
County of Gloucester, Cloth Manufacturer, for the Invention of "CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PROCESS OF PREPARING COTTON, WOOL, FLAX, AND
OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES FOR SPINNING, AND IN CARDING AND PREPARING
MACHINERY."
County of Gloucester, Cloth Manufacturer, for the Invention of "CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PROCESS OF PREPARING COTTON, WOOL, FLAX, AND
OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES FOR SPINNING, AND IN CARDING AND PREPARING
MACHINERY."
Sealed the 20th February 1857, and dated the 2nd September 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Apperly at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
2nd September 1856.
I, JAMES APPERLY, of Dudbridge, near Stroud, in the County of Gloucester,
Cloth Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PROCESS OF PREPARING COTTON, WOOL, FLAX,
AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES FOR SPINNING, AND IN CARDING AND PREPARING
MACHINERY," to be as follows:-
In preparing fibrous substances for roving and spinning, they are subjected
to the action of a series of machines for the purpose of manufacturing there-
from a sliver of uniform thickness. The object of this Invention is to facilitate
this operation, and also to ensure greater regularity in the sliver than has been
heretofore obtained.
To this end, I propose to lay a condensed web or band of sliver delivered
from one scribbling, carding, or condensing machine diagonally on the feed
cloth of the following machine in pieces of suitable length, or in one con-

page_text: tinuous length. This I propose to effect either by hand or by mechanism,
with the view of equalizing the sliver.
In transferring the fibre by mechanism from one machine to the next of the
series, I propose to employ two endless bands, which will receive it from a
trumpet mouth, and deposit it in parallel lines on the feed cloth of the next
following machine. To expediate the operation, I propose, instead of using a
series of detached machines, as is now commonly done, to connect the series
together, so that one hand-feeding will suffice, the work delivered out of the
first machine passing by means of a travelling apron to the feed rollers of the
second, and so on throughout the series, until the even sliver required is
obtained. The machines may be arranged in a line, one in the rear of the
other, or otherwise, as may be found most convenient, considering the space
to be occupied, and the working capacity of the various scribbling or carding
machines to be thus connected together.
As an improvement in carding machines, I propose to form the cylinder of
several light tubular castings, strung together on a common shaft, and turned
down true to receive the card cloth; I thus obtain a cylinder of great lightness
and strength, and one that will not warp or twist by the action of extremes of
temperature.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Apperly in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
2nd March 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
APPERLY, of Dudbridge, near Stroud, in the County of Gloucester, Cloth
Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Second day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the twentieth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
James Apperly, Her special license that I, the said James Apperly, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said James
Apperly, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and

page_text: vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
PROCESS OF PREPARING COTTON, WOOL, FLAX, AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES FOR
SPINNING, AND IN CARDING AND PREPARING MACHINERY," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said James Apperly, by an instrument in writing
under my hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be per-
formed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within
six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said James Apperly, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement (that is to say):-
In preparing fibrous substances, such as wool and cotton, and other short
staple, for the roving and spinning processes, it is the practice to subject them
to the action of a series of carding engines and condensers, for the purpose of
manufacturing therefrom a sliver fit for the roving, drawing, or spinning
machine; but, in consequence of the present mode of feeding the carding
engines, it has been found that even where the greatest care is exercised an
uniform thickness of roping or sliver cannot be ensured, and therefore great
irregularity is frequently observable in the spun yarn.
Now, the object of the first part of my Invention is to remedy this evil, by
ensuring greater regularity in the sliver or roping than has been heretofore
obtained. This I propose to effect by laying a condensed web or band of
sliver, delivered from one scribbling, carding, or condensing machine, diagonally
on the feed cloth of the following machine, in pieces of suitable length, or in
one continuous length. The fibrous substance to be prepared for spinning
(say wool) is first weighed out and spread over the feeding apron of the first
carding engine or condenser in the usual manner, and from this machine the
wool passes out in the form of sliver. This sliver I then transfer by hand to
the travelling feed apron of the next machine, laying short lengths of it in
parallel lines diagonally across the apron, so that as many lines of sliver as
serve to make up the required breadth of feed will be simultaneously drawn
upon by the licking in or feed rollers to supply the carding surfaces; or, instead
of employing a feed apron to carry in the sliver, I propose to employ two
endless bands, provided with bent pins, to receive serpentine folds of sliver, and
carry the same up to the licker in rollers. These bands must work at tension
over rollers or pulleys, and. be set apart at a distance corresponding to the

page_text: breadth of feed to be given to the engine, and rotary motion must be given to
them in the same manner as to the rollers of the ordinary feed apron. In this
instance I use a continuous sliver, and lap it round the pins, carrying it across
from one band to the other in a diagonal direction. The serpentine lines thus
formed should be as close together as may be, and the pins being bent or
curved slightly backwards, will ensure their easy release from the sliver as they
descend over the forward roller or pulleys. If it should be thought desirable
to give the sliver support between the endless bands, a table may be provided
for the purpose. This mode of feeding carding or condensing engines, it will
be evident, will ensure a thorough blending of the slivers, and that in such a
manner, that if one line of sliver is unequal to the others in bulk its inequality
will be lost (by being spread by the continuous feed action) across the carding
surfaces. Again, supposing that the sliver produced by the first machine
is very irregular, owing to careless feeding, and assuming that the machine
will take breadthwise forty slivers laid diagonally, the main cylinder will be fed
by forty slivers simultaneously, which slivers, by reason of their peculiari
arrangement, will be received on to the carding surfaces as if a lateral traverse
motion had been communicated to them in addition to their forward motion,
and thus an equable distribution of the fibres over the card surfaces will be
effected, which result in a superior quality of sliver. The sliver thus obtained
I submit in like manner to another carding and condensing engine, and I thus
obtain an even sliver fit for the spinning operation.
The second part of my Invention relates to an improved mode of con-
structing the cylinders of carding engines or preparing machines. Instead of
constructing the cylinder of wood or of a single cylindrical casting, I form the
cylinder of several light tubular castings of the diameter required, and these I
string upon and key to a common shaft after having turned down their edges
that they may fit closely together. I next turn down the periphery of the
compound cylinder true, and drill holes therein at suitable distances apart, into
which I drive wooden pegs. The metallic cylinder is then in a state to receive
the card cloth, which is nailed thereto by driving tacks through the cloth and
into the wooden pegs; I thus obtain at a comparatively cheap rate a cylinder
of great lightness and strength, and one that will not warp or twist by the
action of extremes of temperature.
Having now set forth the nature of my Invention of "Improvements in the
Process of Preparing Cotton, Wool, Flax, and other Fibrous Substances for
Spinning, and in Carding and Preparing Machinery," and explained the
manner of carrying the same into effect, I wish it to be understood that under
the above in part recited Letters Patent I claim,

page_text: First, supplying carding and condensing engines with sliver arranged
diagonally and in parallel lines, for the purpose above described.
And, secondly, constructing the cylinders of carding or preparing machinery
in the manner above described.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Apperly, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, the Twenty-sixth day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven.
JAMES APPERLY. (L.S.)