IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR PREPARING AND FEEDING FIBROUS SUBSTANCES ONTO SCRIBBLING, CARDING, OR OTHER MACHINES."
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Constantine Fawcett, of Leeds, in the County of
York, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS
FOR PREPARING AND FEEDING FIBROUS SUBSTANCES ONTO SCRIBBLING,
CARDING, OR OTHER MACHINES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Constantine Fawcett
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th January 1881.
THOMAS CONSTANTINE FAWCETT, of Leeds, in the County of York. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR PREPARING AND FEEDING FIBROUS
SUBSTANCTS ONTO SCRIBBLING, CARDING, OR OTHER MACHINES."
My improvements relates to the preparing and feeding apparatus for supplying
wool and other fibrous substances to scribbling, carding, and other machines.
In my improvements I construct a receiver of rectangular form into which the
material is deposited, having two of its vertical sides constructed in the form of
lattice or flexible sheets and attached to the bottom thereof. The other two sides
may be fixtures, and formed of solid pieces and not attached to the bottom, or they
may be also of a lattice or flexible construction and attached thereto.
The lattice or flexible sides of the receiver are caused to rise with the bottom,
this being effected by means of gearing whereby they, after rising a suitable
distance, fall away from the material, leaving it projecting, so that it may be
taken off by rakes or carding to complete the preparing and feeding operations.
By this arrangement the material in the receiver is retained the same density
during the whole operation, consequently taken therefrom in regular or even
quantities to carding, scribbling, or other machines.
I employ by preference frictional gearing; this is arranged so that if any
irregularity takes place in the receiving trough the speed of the feed sheets is
increased or reduced, as required, automatically.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Thomas Constantine Fawcett in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 19th July 1881.
THOMAS CONSTANTINE FAWCETT, of Leeds, in the County of York.
"IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR PREPARING AND FEEDING FIBROUS
SUBSTANCES ONTO SCRIBBLING, CARDING, OR OTHER MACHINES."
My improvements relate to the preparing and feeding apparatus for supplying
wool and other fibrous substances to scribbling, carding, and other machines.
In my improvements I construct a receiver of rectangular form, into which the
material is deposited, having two of its vertical sides constructed in the form of
lattice or flexible sheets and attached to the bottom thereof. The other two sides
may be fixtures and formed of solid pieces and not attached to the bottom, or they
may also be of a lattice or flexible construction and attached thereto. The lattice
or flexible sides of the receiver are caused to rise with the bottom, this being
effected by means of gearing whereby they, after rising a suitable distance, fall
away from the material, leaving it projecting, so that it may be taken off by rakes
or carding to complete the preparing and feeding operations.
By this arrangement the material in the receiver is retained the same density
during the whole operation, consequently taken therefrom in regular or even
quantities to carding, scribbling, or other machines.
I employ by preference frictional gearing; this is arranged so that if any
irregularity takes place in the receiving trough the speed of the. feed sheets is
increased or reduced, as required, automatically.
And in order that my Invention may be more completely understood reference
is given to the accompanying Drawings and to the letters and marks thereon.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 is a part longitudinal section; Fig. 2 a part front elevation.
"
The rectangular receiver is shewn at a having two of its vertical sides b and c
constructed in the form of lattice or other flexible sheets; these are attached by
any suitable ordinary means to the bottom piece d. The rollers e and fare mounted
in suitable bearings within the framework of the scribbling or carding machine;
over these the flexible sheets are passed in the manner shewn. And in order to
give the required and continued rigidity to the flexible sheets I apply weights
thereto at g. The flexible sides of the receiver a are caused to travel upwards
carrying the bottom piece with them. This movement is effected through gearing h
actuated from friction plate i on doffer" shaft j, through friction pulley k, shaft l,
worm m, and worm wheel n. The receiver a is filled with the material to be
operated upon, such material being fed upwards it is found necessary in practice to
arrest or retard its motion regulating the supply of the material thereof to the
scribbler, and for this purpose I suspend the second receiver or trough o by any
convenient means, so that when more material is fed thereinto than is required to
feed the scribbler, the weight therein being increased, a downward movement is
imparted thereto, which actuates the lever p through which a clutch q is withdrawn,
throwing thereby the shaft out of gear, arresting the upward movement of the
receiver, and stopping the feed. Or instead of arresting the upward movement or
feed, I, by a modification in the arrangement and construction of lever P shewn in
dotted lines at r, and by mounting the friction pulley k so that it can be moved
inwards or outwards on the friction plate i, reduce or increase the speed thereof,
this being affected by the falling or rising of the second receiver or trough o regulates
the amount of feed automatically.

page_text: Although I have stated that the sides are composed of lattice or flexible sheets,
and are caused to move upwards in the manner and for purposes described, I
would have it understood that the ends of the receiver a may be constructed and
actuated in a similar manner. The material by the outward movement of the
flexible sheets b and c is raised above the receiver a and is taken therefrom by
rakes, carding, or other convenient means into the second receiver o from which
it is conveyed to the scribbler by lattice sheets s, ordinary means being employed
for stripping it therefrom and passing it to the doffer; also any convenient arrange-
ment may be provided for beating off any superabundant supply taken up by the
sheet 8.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and described by
Drawings how the same may be carried into practice, I would have it understood
that I do not limit myself to the exact details or configuration of the parts I
have described and shewn, but what I do claim and desire to be secured to me by
Letters Patent is,―-
The arrangement, construction, and application of lattice or other flexible sheets
in combination with the bottom piece d and parts connected therewith for
regulating or arresting the upward movement thereof, and also for imparting such
movement thereto, substantially as and for purposes herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Constantine Fawcett, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of July, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.