IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR FEEDING WOOL AND OTHER FIBRES TO SCRIBBLING AND CARDING MACHINERY
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Leadbeater and Alfred Leadbeater, both of Moreley,
in the County of York, Iron and Steel Merchants, for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR FEEDING WOOL
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Leadbeater and Alfred
Leadbeater at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th October
1881.
JOHN LEADBEATER and ALFRED LEADBEATER, both of Moreley, in the County
of York, Iron and Steel Merchants. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND
APPARATUS FOR FEEDING WOOL AND OTHER FIBRES TO SCRIBBLING AND
CARDING MACHINERY."
This Invention relates to a new combination and arrangement of mechanism
for feeding fibre more evenly and regularly to carding machinery by means of
travelling sheets, creepers, or aprons placed in suitable positions, preferably one
above the other.
The fibre is placed in a hopper and rests upon the upper creeper; it is taken
therefrom by a revolving spiked roller, being carried forward by the spikes of the
roller, the bulk of the fibre in the hopper is regulated and kept back (in the case
of short fibre) by means of a vibrating comb, but in the case of long fibre we
employ an iron guard grate partly encircling the spiked roller, the spikes in the
roller working between the bars of the grate, a second grate being placed above;
a revolving fan or stripper takes the fibre from the spiked roller and distributes
it upon the bottom creeper or feed sheet; it is then taken from this bottom feed
sheet by a second spiked roller and acted upon by a similar arrangement as above
described; it then passes to the scribbling and carding machinery.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Leadbeater and Alfred Leadbeater in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 8th April 1882.
64
JOHN LEADBEATER and ALFRED LEADBEATER, both of Morley, in the County
of York, Iron and Steel Merchants. IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND
APPARATUS FOR FEEDING WOOL AND OTHER FIBRES TO SCRIBBLING AND CARDING
MACHINERY."
This Invention relates to a new combination and arrangement of mechanism
for feeding fibre to carding machinery, and the improvements consist in the
employment of two travelling sheets or creepers placed within a suitable box or
hopper, one being at about the level of the ordinary creeper of the "scribbler" (or
an extension of same), and the other one placed some distance above. The fibre
to be fed to the machine is placed in the hopper and rests upon the upper creeper,
and is taken therefrom by a revolving spiked roller, upon the spikes of which it is
distributed by means of a vibrating comb and detached therefrom by a revolving
fan, the fibre being then dropped or scattered upon the lower creeper and carried
forward towards the carding machine, but before the fibre thus scattered upon the
lower creeper arrives at the cylinders of the carding machine it comes under, the
operation of a second spiked roller, whereby it is again distributed so as finally
to lay in a perfectly even mass or layer before reaching the "licker-in."
To prevent the fibre gathering on the spiked roller in masses and choking the
machine, one or two racks or grates are employed placed in close proximity to
the spiked roller, which prevent the fibre being gathered and taken away en
masse.
By this means the fibre is more equally fed to the carding engine than by the
present construction of mechanism, and the present delicate weighing apparatus is
dispensed with.
In order that our Invention may be more fully understood, we herein give
reference to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings illustrative thereof.
Fig. 1 is a cross section of the machine shewing the internal arrangement thereof,
and Figs. 2 and 3 are opposite side elevations indicating what we have found to be
a convenient method of driving the various parts. A are the side frames con-
nected by rails a at a distance apart suitable to the width of the scribbler to be
fed. The upper front portion is closed by a door B and the back portion covered
in by a lid or door C, a small sliding door being also provided at D for affording a
The material is
ready inspection of the interior lower portion of the machine.
thrown into the machine at the top and falls upon the lattice sheet E, being
confined by the front of the machine, and the rack or grating F, which is composed
of a series of vertical bars curved to the radius of the spiked roller G. The motion
of the lattice sheet being towards the grating, the material is brought into contact
with the spikes of the roller G, which are arranged in parallel rings upon the
surface of the roller and project beyond the grating. As the material is caught by
the spikes its passage is retarded by the grating, which allows only a limited
quantity to pass, and exercises a breaking up action on the longer material. The
fibres after passing the grating are spread out or distributed by the vibrating
comb H and are then detached by the revolving fan J, the alternate wings of
which may be provided with brushes. The material thus detached falls in a com-
paratively even condition upon the travelling lattice sheet K and is carried towards
the scribblers. The sheet K may be continuous from back to front of the machine,
but we prefer to divide it midway of the machine and thus form two endless
she ts K and K¹. When the material has reached the end of the lattice sheet K

page_text: it comes in contact with a second spiked roller L, which raises it from the sheet
and subjects it to the action of the vibrating roller M and revolving fan N, thus
further equalizing the distribution thereof upon the sheet K¹, from whence it
passes to the licker-in O. As an additional precaution against irregularity in the
feeding of the material, we have devised a stop motion which operates according to
the weight of material upon the apron K. Upon the end of the shaft which carries
the spiked roller G is a toothed wheel P which gears with a spur wheel p from
whence it receives its motion. The toothed wheel P runs loose upon its shaft, and
upon the boss thereof is formed one half of a clutch box. The other half of the
said clutch box is mounted upon a feather upon the said shaft, and is thus compelled
to revolve along therewith. It will thus be seen that when the two halves of the
clutch box are in contact, as the wheel P revolves the spiked roller revolves also;
but when the clutch box is disengaged, the wheel P runs loose and the spiked
roller becomes stationary. The clutch is operated by means of a bell crank lever Q,
the horizontal end of which is connected by rod 9 to the bar R which is fixed
to the two lattice shafts c, d. The shaft c acts as a fulcrum upon which the sheet
swings, the shaft d being capable of raising or lowering in the slot e. Should the
material fall too fast upon the sheet K, the back end is depressed and the clutch
box disengaged until the extra weight is carried forward, when the counterbalance
weight S raises the sheet K and puts the clutch box into gear.
In respect to the gearing of the machine the outlines thereof given in Figs. 2
and 3 will be sufficient to enable anyone conversant with this class of machinery
to carry out the same satisfactorily. In order that the Drawings may be more
easily understood, the principal working centres have each been numbered, and the
same number will be found to represent the same shaft or centre in the different
Figures, a centre not numbered being merely a stud or carrier.
We claim,-
Firstly. The combination of the two travelling aprons E and K within the
machine, as and for the purpose herein shewn and described.
Secondly. The employment of the grate or rack F for preventing the material
from clogging upon the teeth of the spiked roller, as herein shewn and described.
Thirdly. The employment of the spiked roller L, vibratory comb M, and
clearing roller N in combination with the lower feeding aprons, as herein shewn
and described.
Fourthly. The general combination of mechanism as and for the purpose
substantially as herein shewn and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Leadbeater, for and on behalf of myself
and the said Alfred Leadbeater, have hereunto set my hand and seal, this
Fifth day of April, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and eighty two.
Signed, sealed, and delivered
by the within named
John Leadbeater in the
presence of
J. W. TASKER,
Patent Agent,
Halifax.
JOHN LEADBEATER. (L.S.)