IMPROVEMENTS IN SLUBBING, SPINNING, DRAWING, TWISTING, DOUBLING, AND WINDING WOOL, COTTON, SILK, FLAX, AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edmund Clegg, of Rochdale, in the County of
Lancaster, Flannel Manufacturer, and Edmund Leach, of the same place,
Machine Maker, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SLUBBING, SPINNING,
DRAWING, TWISTING, DOUBLING, AND WINDING WOOL, COTTON, SILK, FLAX,
AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES."
Sealed the 8th August 1854, and dated the 13th February 1854.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edmund. Clegg and
Edmund Leach at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their
Petition, on the 13th February 1854.
We, EDMUND CLEGG and EDMUND LEACH, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SLUBBING, SPINNING, DRAWING, TWIST-
ING, DOUBLING, AND WINDING WOOL, COTTON, SILK, FLAX, AND OTHER FIBROUS
SUBSTANCES" to be as follows:-
Our Invention relates,-
Firstly, to the mode of slubbing, and winding the slubbin on a bobbin
so shaped that it can be turned upside down, and the slubbin wound off'
either end up. By this contrivance we are enabled to dispense with one
operation in this department of manufacture, because a certain amount of
twist being put in the slubbin by the first operation must be taken out again
by another process before it can be proceeded with. Now it is evident that if
the bobbin be made without projecting ends, but merely slightly sunk in the

page_text: centre, there will be no obstruction to prevent the slubbin being taken off
from either end of it, and as the twist is put in as it is wound on the bobbin,
if it be taken off the other end up, the twist will be taken out by the contrary
motion of the bobbin.
Secondly, to the mode of drawing and spinning by means of a pair of
drawing rollers, and the alternate rising and lowering of a faller of any con-
venient shape; the said faller being placed so as to rise near to or immediately
above the tops of the spindles, which give the twist, and which contain the slub-
bins to be spun, the slubbin being given off or delivered at a regulated speed
when the faller is higher than the tops of the spindles, and drawn or stretched
when it is below them. Thus, by means of the pair of drawing rollers
moving at an uniform speed, and the alterisato rising and lowering of the
faller as above stated, a continuous draw or thread is produced.
Thirdly, in fixing or placing the spindles containing the slubbins to be spun
in a diagonal position at any given angle.
Fourthly, to the form and distance of the guide or bearer, which guides and
bears up the threads between the drawing rollers and spindles containing the
slubbin, and to spin from the points or tops of the spindles themselves,
regulating the drawing off or delivery of the slubbin to be spun by a proper
distance between the drawing rollers and the spindles, winding the weft and
winding and twisting the warp in combination with the principles already
stated.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Edmund Clegg and Edmund Leach in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 11th August 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, EDMUND
CLEGG, of Rochdale, in the County of Lancaster, Flannel Manufacturer, and
EDMUND LEACH, of the same place, Machine Maker, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Royal
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of February, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the seventeenth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us,
the said Edmund Clegg and Edmund Leach, Her special licence that we,
the said Edmund Clegg and Edmund Leach, our executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as we, the said Edmund Clegg and Edmund Leach,
our executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,

page_text: 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
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SLUBBING,
SPINNING, DRAWING, TWISTING, DOUBLING, AND WINDING WOOL, COTTON, SILK, FLAX,
AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES," upon the condition (amongst others) that we,
the said Edmund Clegg and Edmund Leach, by an instrument in writing
under our hands and seals, or under the hand and seal of one of us, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in
what manner the same was to be performed, 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 Royal Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Edmund Clegg and Edmund Leach,
do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement (that is to say):-
Our Invention consists,-Firstly, of slubbing or roving on a peculiarly
shaped bobbin, so that the bobbin can be spun from with the opposite end up
from that when it is slubbed upon, by which contrivance we dispense with the
operation of rewinding the slubbin or roving on another bobbin previous to
spinning, for as the slubbin receives a certain amount of twist at the billy, it
requires the said twist to be taken out again before it can be spun, which can
be accomplished by rewinding it on another bobbin in a contrary direction to
that when slubbed or roved; but by using our improved shaped bobbin we
merely have to turn it upside down, when it is evident that as the slubbin or
roving will be taken off the bobbin in the contrary direction to the one it was
put on the twist will be taken out of it by the said operation.
Secondly, of an improved method of drawing and spinning by fixing the bob-
bins containing the slubbin to be spun on the spindles at the back of the frame,
and allowing these spindles to project a certain distance above the tops of the
bobbins, so that in spinning the slubbin may coil itself round the ends or tops of
the spindles, and thus be held fast during the operation of drawing or reducing
the thread. This operation being performed as follows-A certain portion of
slubbin is given off the tops of the spindles by the rising of the lifting levers to
be hereafter described; the motion of these levers being regulated by a cam
revolving on a stud fixed on the head of the frame (as shewn in the accom-
panying plans). The cam is constructed in two parts, one of which is moveable,
so as to contract or elongate the cam, and cause a less or greater amount of
slubbin to be delivered by the shorter or longer time the cam is in active

page_text: operation. When it ceases to act, the lifting levers fall down and cause the
slubbin to fasten itself upon the tops of the spindles till the operation of
drawing or stretching is sufficiently performed, when the cam again begins to
act; the operations of lifting and drawing the slubbin being thus continuously
repeated while the machine is in motion. This arrangement gives the yarn
the necessary stretch in spinning, instead of moving the carriage of the frame
in and out as hitherto adopted in the spinning jenny or mule. We place the
said spindles in a diagonal position, or a little slanting, for the purpose of
allowing the slubbin or roving to fasten itself more securely on the tops of the
spindles when spinning, and thus prevent it from flowing off when not
required. We convey the slubbin or roving from the tops of the spindles by
suitable guides or bearers to and between a pair of drawing rollers at the
front of the frame, which is then wound on bobbins with friction drags in the
usual manner. These improvements will be clearly understood by reference
to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, in which the same letters of reference
are used to represent the same parts in all the Figures.
Fig. 1 is a view of part of a frame, shewing our improvements at the back
of the machine; Fig. 2 is a plan of the same; and Figs. 3 and 4 are end views
of the same; Fig. 5 being a detached view shewing our improvements as applied
to winding on the weft; Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of the spindle and drag as
used for making the weft cop; and Figs. 7 and 8 are views of our improved
bobbin for slubbin upon. a represents the frame of the machine; b, the
drawing rollers; c, the bobbins containing the slubbin or rovings, the requisite
portion of which is lifted off or liberated by the levers d, one of which is
opposite each bobbin. These levers are fast to the shaft e, which extends the
entire length of the machine. The upward movement of the levers d is
obtained by the cam facting upon the lever g, by means of the roller on the
lever and connecting rod ; the return motion is effected by the balance
weight. In the Figures 1, 2, and 3, the cam is shewn in action, with a
portion of the slubbin or roving raised up, and passing between the guides m.
In Fig. 4 the cam is shewn as it has ceased to operate, and the levers have
descended, taking the hooks or open eyes n over the top of the spindle, and
allowing the slack of the roving to be coiled on the top of the spindle as shewn
at o. These operations refer to the drawing and spinning the warp. In
Fig. 5 is shewn a cop spindle adapted to the same principle for winding on
the weft. The thread passes between the rollers b and the hook or eye of
the traversing lever p. The cop and spindle is shewn full size at Fig. 6, in
which the part q is fast to the spindle; r, represents the necessary drag to
keep the thread or yarn at a proper and regular tension. Figs. 7 and 8 shew

page_text: the improved shape of our bobbin for slubbin upon, which when full can be
reversed, thus placing it in a suitable position for unwinding, so as to take out
the twist.
Having thus fully described the nature and particulars of our Invention, we
desire it to be distinctly understood that we do not confine ourselves to the
exat details herein set forth, as such may be varied or modified without
departing from the principle thereof; but we claim as our Invention, and
which to the best of our knowledge and belief has not been hitherto used
within this realm,-
Firstly, the peculiar shaped bobbin from which we can take the slubbin or
roving to be spun, without the operation of rewinding.
And, secondly, the method of spinning from the tops of the spindles, with
the lifter or liberator, and the other necessary apparatus connected therewith,
as herein described, and illustrated in the accompanying Sheet of Drawings.
In witness whereof, we, the said Edmund Clegg and Edmund Leach,
have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Tenth day of August,
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four.
(L.B.)
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the within-
named Edmund Clegg and Edmund
Leach in the presence of
E. J. HUGHES,
EDMUND LEACH. (L.S.)
Patent Agent,
Manchester.