Improvements in or relating to Hackling Machines for Treating Flax and other Fibres.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 16th June, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 12th Mar., 1897-Accepted, 15th May, 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Hackling Machines for Treating
Flax and other Fibres.
I, HENRY MERCER GIRDWOOD, of Broughton Flax Mills, Salford, in the County
of Lancaster, Flax Spinner, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:--
My invention relates to improvements in or relating to hackling machines, and the
chief object of my improvements is to relieve the boys girls or other operatives when
attending to hackling machines, and to enable them to sit at work in place of
standing and carrying holders filled with flax from one machine to another.
In applying my improvements to a hackling machine when such machines are
arranged to work in pairs side by side I employ a special adjustable chair or seat for
each operative placed so that each operative can readily fill and empty and apply to
and remove from the machines the filled holders. The top of the scat is preferably
placed at a slight angle and it is connected to a bracket free to swivel at the will
of the operative; this bracket is mounted upon an upright bar the height of which
can be readily adjusted and a foot rest adjustable as to height is also employed in
connection with the seat.
In order that one operative can pass the holders full of flax to the operative at the
next machine I fit preferably to the usual machine table on which the flax is laid an
inclined guide or rail which bridges the space between the pair of machines and as
each holder from one machine is laid on or in the guide rail by one operative it runs
down the incline by gravity and can then be raised by the other operative and put
into the next hackling machine.
These operations can be readily effected by the operatives whilst seated on their
swivel chairs without leaving their seats whereas in the ordinary course some of the
operatives have to walk two or three steps and to carry holders from one machine to
the other.
By the use of this arrangement of seat and slide the labour of the operatives
becomes so much easier that the machinery can be driven at a quicker speed and a
greater output obtained therefrom.
Dated this 15th day of June 1896
H. B. BARLOW & GILLETT,
Agents for Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Hackling Machines for Treating
Flax and other Fibres.
I, HENRY MERCER GIRDWOOD, of Broughton Flax Mills, Salford, in the County
of Lancaster, Flax Spinner, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to improvements in or relating to hackling machines for
treating flax and other fibres, and the chief object of my improvements is to relieve

page_text: the boys, girls, or other operatives when attending to hackling machines, and enable
them to sit at work in place of standing and so obviate the necessity of carrying
holders filled with flax from one machine to another.
In the accompanying sheet of drawings-
Fig. 1 is a front elevation and Fig. 2 a plan of the feed tables placed in front of a
pair of hackling machines to which my improvements are applied; and Fig. 3 is an
end view of Fig. 1.
In these views the feed tables a are shown placed in front of a pair of hackling
machines the positions of which are indicated by the lines b, Fig. 2; in front of each
table is placed an adjustable pivoted seat c preferably inclined, for the operative;
this swivel seat can be set at any desired distance from the table and is mounted to
swivel upon a pillar d fitted in a fixed or stationary standard e the height of the
pillar d and swivel seat c can be adjusted by bolts which secure the pillar in the
standard e. To each standard e is also fixed a foot board g which can be adjusted
as to height and then fixed in position by means of set screws and to the foot board
is secured an adjustable foot rest g'. The feed tables a are connected together by an
inclined guide consisting of rails i which are supported on pillars ; and bridge the
space between the tables a of the pair of hackling machines as clearly shown in
the drawings.
The operatives, when on the seats c, can turn freely in any direction and so are able
to reach and handle the flax and to fill the holders and place them in and remove
them from the hackling machines, and then by turning on the seat the operative can
put the holders on the incline or bridge i upon which they slide to the lower end,
when the next operative by turning on the seat is enabled to reach the holders and
lift them into the next hackling machine, whereas in the ordinary course the
operatives have to walk two or three steps and have to carry the holders from one
machine to the other.
By the use of this arrangement of seat and incline or bridge the labour of the
operatives is so materially reduced that the machinery can be driven at a quicker
speed and a greater output obtained therefrom.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what 1
claim is :-
1. The combination with the feed table of a hackling machine, of an adjustable
seat substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.
2. The combination with a pair of feed tables a, of the incline or bridge i
substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.
3. The combination with the feed tables a, of the adjustable seats and incline or
bridge substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.
Dated this 10th day of March 1897.
H. B. BARLOW & GILLETT.
17 St. Ann's Square, Manchester, Agents for Applicant.