IMPROVE- MENTS IN THE MODE OR METHOD OF PREPARING AND SPINNING COTTON, WOOL, FLAX, AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edmund Leach, of Rochdale, in the County
of Lancaster, Machine Maker, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MODE OR METHOD OF PREPARING AND SPINNING COTTON,
WOOL, FLAX, AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES, AND IN THE MACHINERY
OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN."
Sealed the 13th April 1853, and dated the 31st January 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edmund Leach
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 31st January 1853.
I, EDMUND LEACH, of Rochdale, in the County of Lancaster,
Machine Maker, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OR METHOD OF PREPARING AND SPINNING
COTTON, WOOL. FLAX, AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES, AND IN THE MACHINERY
QR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN," to be as follows:-
The first part of my improvements relates to the machinery or
apparatus used for scouring, cleaning, opening,drying, and otherwise
preparing the fibre or material to be spun, whether the same is accom-
plished by oiling, damping, or wetting it, in all of which processes I
027

page_text: cconomise the compound used for the purpose, and avoid to a very
great extent the injury which the material is so liable to suffer by the
present processes.
Secondly, to the machines used for carding, stretching, twisting,
ruling,orcompressing byendless cardings, usually called condensory and
piecing machines, parts of which are applicable to common cardings.
Thirdly, to the machine used for spinning, twisting, backing off,
winding, and regulating the shape of the cop or bobbin and the size of
the yarn,&c., all of which improvements I will fully explain and illus-
trate in my Complete Specification.
FURTHER PARTICULARS OF THE INVENTION OF EDMUND LEach.
The first part relates to the method of scouring or cleaning the cotton,
wool,&c., which has usually been accomplished by steeping thematerial
in a composition of urine or some strong solution of the same, and
then ringing or squezing it dry. Instead of which he proposes
to introduce rollers or cylinders into the vessel containing the liquid
over which the material passes, and then by a continuous motion
convey it between other rollers by which it will be squezed or dried,
and, if necessary, repeat the process or use an hydro-extractor to
further cleanse it. The next process is commonly called opening,
and the present process for wool is to sprinkle it with oil, and then
beat it with flails to make the oil penetrate and spread. If cotton be
the material, instead of oil, soap suds is generally used. Instead of the
above process he proposes to use a machine or apparatus similar to the
first mentioned, with a spoked cylinder running in oil, and passing
through rollers; the oil,or its equivalent, will be distributed uniformly,
and with considerably less water than on the usual plan. The next
process is the scribbler or carder, in which he proposes to run the feed
rollers in oil, or an equivalent, and use a spiked comb with an up and
down motion to cause the oil to penetrate uniformly. The finishing
or condensing process relates to bringing forward the fibres in a more
uniform direction, which he proposes to accomplish by giving one roller
a quicker motion than the doffer, so as to lay the fibres in a lateral
direction, and then by a combination of the twisting and rubbing
process collect the sliver through a tube, and then introduce a number

page_text: of rollers revolving instead of straps. If he uses rubbers without a
tube he will use 3 under rollers and 2 top ones; he also proposes
to wind on the sliver by a surface motion on bobbins, either with or
without heads, and to vary the traverse. In the spinning machine he
proposes to obtain the regular double speed to the spindle by the twist
pulley, and to vary the twist so that it may not have too much or too
little, from which he obtains a backing off motion, to facilitate which
he has a worm independent of the main pulley on the contrary side to
the strap; this worm keeps regularly moving, and throws the strap off
the fast pulley when desirable.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Edmund Leach in the Great Seal Patent Office,
on the 30th July 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COMF, I,
EDMUND LEACH, of Rochdale, in the County of Lancaster, Machine
Maker, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirty-first day of January, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the
sixteenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Edmund Leach, Her especial license
that I, the said Edmund Leach, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Edmund Leach, 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, exer-
cise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the, Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OR METHOD OF PREPARING AND SPINNING
COTTON, WOOL, FLAX, AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES, AND
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN," upon the condition,
amongst others, that I, the said Edmund Leach, by an instrument in

page_text: writing under my han 1 and seal, 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 Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Edmund Leach, do hereby
declare the nature of my 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):
My invention consists of improvements in the arrangement and con-
struction of some of the machines or apparatus used for preparing
fibrous materials to be spun, and also in the machinery or apparatus
used for spinning the same; and in order that this my Specification
may be clearly understood I will divide it into separate heads or sec-
tions, so as to describe and illustrate my said improvements in each
machine separately and distinctly; and as they are more particularly
applicable to the treatment of animal wool, I will confine my descrip-
tion of the several machines or apparatus as applicable to that material;
but in so doing I wish it to be distinctly understood that I do not
eonfine myself to the application of my improvements to that material
alone, as I shall be able to apply some of them to cotton, flax, or other
fibrous substances. In my Provisional Specification I described the first
part of my improvements as relating to the method of scouring or
cleaning the cotton, wool, &c., but finding that machinery orapparatus
for the same purpose similar to my said improvements have been
already specified in a Patent obtained a short time previous to mine, I
desire and hereby disclaim my right to the said machinery or apparatus
for cleaning, scouring, &c. Nevertheless, I strongly recommend the
wool to be well cleaned and opened before it is submitted to the oiling
process, however such cleaning and opening may be effected; and in
all cases where found necessary let the process be repeated until the
wool is thoroughly cleaned before being oiled. The process of oiling
the wool is refered to in my Provisional Specification as the second part
of my improvements, and which operation is of the greatest importance,
both on account of the serious costof the oil itself and the improvement

page_text: it makes in the yarn by being properly applied. This oiling apparatus
may be applied to the teaser, devil, willow, or any of the machines used
in the preparation of the wool to be spun, but is illustrated in No. 1,
sheet of Drawings accompanying this Specification, as attached to a
scribbling engine, by which it will be perceived that I oil the wool with
much more certainty and regularity, and that I produce a much better
effect on the yarn at less cost, thau can be produced by the present
methods. In this oiling apparatus two sets of feed rollers are placed
in front of the ordinary feed rollers, the first bottom feed roller being
plain and the others fluted, there being a quarter of an inch of space
between the two sets to admit of needles or broaches passing between
them; underneath the two pair of feed rollers is a vessel extending
their length containing oil or other fluid; this vessel has communica-
tion with another vessel by a pipe to supply it; it has also another pipe
as an overflow pipe to conduct the surplus oil back to the last-mentioned
vessel; between and on the top side of the two bottom feed rollers is a
metal plate, with holes through its centre at the same pitch for the
needles or broaches to pass through; there is also another plate for the
same purpose lying between and on the top side of the two top feed
rollers; these needles are fixed in the frame attached to the top of two
sliding rods which pass through guides that are attached to a moveable
metal plate lying. on the cross rail of the engine frame. About the
middle of these rods is a stud, on each of which is a connecting rod or
link; the other end of the connecting rod is connected to studs attached
to levers keyed on a shaft extending across the frame. At one end of
this shaft is another lever having a moveable stud in it, by moving
which the stroke of the needles may be lengthened or shortened; to
this stud is a connecting rod, the other end of which is connected by a
stud to the end of another lever working in an eccentric groove of a
peculiar form, which gives a peculiar lifting motion to the needles;
there is also another lever, one end of which also works in the same
groove, but at the opposite diameter; there is also another lever on the
end of the first bottom feed roller shaft, the bottom end of which is
connected by a rod to the last-mentioned lever; the top end of the
lever on the feed roller shaft has a slot in which is a stud carrying a small

page_text: latch, and keyed on the feed roller shaft; close to the said lever is a
ratchet wheel upon which the said latch acts, and the peculiar form of
the eccentric groove gives it a peculiar step by step motion. It will also
be perceived from the form of the eccentric that nearly one half the
time the levers are stationary during their respective occupations of
the dead rim in the outer diameter, this eccentric derives its motion
from a pully on the main cylinder through a strap. It will be evident
by these movements that a crank-like or up and down motion will be
given to the needles, the pully on the lever moving the same being in
the dead rim, and the needles raised will keep them stationary; and
during this time the pulley on the other lever will be in the eccentric
rim, and cause the rollers to move until the pully comes into the dead
rim which then keeps the rollers stationary to allow the needles to make
another up and down stroke, and so on alternately, so that by repeated
strokes of the needles, whose points penetrate to a certain depth, takes
up a portion of oil on the point of each needle, and is wiped off by the
wool on their being withdrawn with their points above the wool; and
while the points remain in this state the rollers make another move, so
that the needles in their descent pass through a fresh portion of the
wool; there is also a traversing motion given to the frame and needles
in a lateral direction at every stroke, until it has traversed about three
fourths of an inch, that being about the pitch of the needles, so that
from the number of strokes and the number of needles, combined with
the forward movement of the wool and the transverse traverse of the
needles, almost every minute portion of the wool will receive a portion
of oil; and it is further regulated and distributed by being pressed in
passing through the second pair of rollers before entering into the
ordinary feed rollers, and although only two pairs of feed rollers are
employed in this particular machine (except the ordinary pair), any
number iuay be employed that may be thought advisable; the wool is
supposed to be weighed and spread upon the endless feeding cloth in
the usual manner, or supplied from a lap or slivers, or any other conve-
nient mode. I have described the metal plates, with holes through, lying
between and above the feed rollers; there is also another plate made of
țin or other suitable metal or material, having larger holes through it,

page_text: and covered with leather or similar material, with smaller perforations,
just large enough to admit the needles easily; the last-mentioned plate
forms the lid for the vessel containing the oil under the feed rollers,
and is for the purpose of keeping the dirt out; all the three plates
described are just the length to extend from one upright rod to the
other which carries the needle frames, so that they will be traversed
along with the needle frame, and so keep the holes in a proper position
for the needles to pass through. I have another mode of oiling the wool
by using a semicircularvessel containingoil, in whicharollercovered with
soft cloth is made to revolve in the direction of the broaches, carrying
with it a portion of oil on its surface. The broaches and frame are
moved by the same apparatus as the needles and frame before described;
this apparatus is placed in front and over the first pair of feed rollers;
the periphery of the oiling roller projects over the periphery of the front
feeding rollers, so that when the broach makes its descent it takes a
portion of oil from the oiling roller, and passes down between the first
and second top feeding rollers to the wool. When this mode is adopted
the metal plate lying between and on the top of the bottom feed rollers
may be blank or without holes, as the broaches do not pass through, but
it is necessary to prevent any very short wool from falling between the
bottom feed rollers. These broaches are not pointed the same as the
needles, but are about one twelfth of an inch in diameter, and are con-
cave at the end, so that when the end comes in contact with the oil it
will the more easily take a portion of it; it must be also observed
that the broach is set to an angle with the broach frame, but as the
broach frame descends perpendicular the end of the broach only will
come in contact with the oil; to the semicircular vessel is hinged a
semicircular cover to keep out any dirt that may fly from the working
of the engine. I place another vessel under this semicircular one to
receive the oil from the overflow, which runs back through a pipe to a
vessel from which the oil is supplied, which is connected with the supply
vessel as in the apparatus first described. I have also another mode of
oiling the wool, which consists of a semicircular vessel under the bottom
feed rollers containing oil, in which a cylindrical roller covered with
woollen cloth or other soft material revolves being made to revolve by

page_text: friction of contact with the feed rollers on which it distributes the oil,
the quantity of oil being regulated by the pressure obtained by the
filboes on the journals, the screws passing above the top side of the top
feed rollers, and having a nut upon the regulating screws; this vessel is
supplied from the vessel as first described, and the surplus oil, &c. is
returned through the overflow pipe.
The next part of my said improvements relates to the construction
and arrangement of the several parts of the machinery or apparatus
generally known as the Scribbler or Carding Engine, and in an im-
proved endless rolled carding or rolled sliver machine, and also improve-
ments applicable to condensors and the aforesaid machines, as well as
ordinary carding engines. The object of this improved machinery or
apparatus is to produce a more perfect, even, and clear carding or sliver
at a more rapid rate, and with much less waste than by the methods
now in use; and I will now give a general description of its construction
and mede of action :--A°, ,represents part of the framing of an ordinary
carding engine; Bo, a segment of the main cylinder with part of the.
mountings; C, the doffing cylinder; and D°, the frame of the endless
carding machine. The doffer is shewn as having annular rings or
belts of card, with alternate narrow blank spaces, for the purpose of
separating the fibres and making them into separate and distinct slivers,
and, after being doffed by the comb or other method, they are drawn by
rollers through revolving tubes, the calibre of which must be in propor-
tion to the bulk of sliver; for example, about four inches in breadth of
card, with the middle quality of wool, would require about three eighths
of an inch at the delivery end; the tubes are bell-shaped, the better to
receive the sliver, and compress it whilst passing through. After leaving
the fluted rollers it is further drawn by passing between threerevolving.
rollers (two bottom and one top), having a lateral reciprocating traverse
motion, which has the effect of further compressing the slivers by being
rubbed or rolled into a smooth uniform and round sliver or carding.
The plane of the bottom rubbing rollers form an angle of about forty-five.
degrees with the sliver in passing from the doffer to the fluted rollers;
by this arrangement I am enabled to bring the first bottom roller con-
siderably under the bottom fluted roller, thereby shortening the distance.

page_text: of the uip or point of contact between the fluted rollers and the rubbing
rollers; these rubbing rollers having a revolving and rather rapid reci-
procating motion, it is necessary that they should be made very light,
otherwise from their great weight the momentum would cause an uneasy
movement, and be very destructive to the machine; to avoid which I
recommend them to be made of tin, paper, or other light and suitable
material. In the ordinary mode of constructing revolving rollers or
cylinders having a lateral motion it is usual to have a key or float on
the shaft, and the wheel or pulley giving the rotary motion having a
groove.cut in one side of the hole to fit the key, which mode I consider
bad in principle, from the strain and friction being brought so near the
centre of the shaft are very liable to wear and get out of order. To
obviate this evil I fix a pin or pins towards the outer diameter of the
wheel or pully giving the circular motion, projecting from which, and
passing through a hole or holes in a disc or other forin fast upon the
shaft of the roller to form bushes for the pins to slide in, instead of the
key and groove; these wheels or pullies have a sufficient length of boss
to form a journal and collars which run loose in a pedestal, the shaft of
the rollers running loosely through the centre of the wheel or pully in
which it slides. The sliver on quitting the bottom rubbing roller passes
down nearly perpendicular or about at right angles with the sliver coming
from the doffer to the fluted rollers; by this arangement the machine is
made to occupy very little room, which is a very important advantage.
The slivers nowpass through guides and under a roller revolving on the
surface drum by friction of contact, the sliver is further carried forward by
the surface drum to the spool orbobbin on which it is wound or lapped by
friction of contact with the surface drum. The length of the bobbin or
spool will depend upon the number of slivers and the pitch of the
spindles in the spinning or roving machine; for example, the machine, as
shewn in the accompanying Drawings, is thirty inches on the wire,
delivering six slivers, and the pitch of the spinning or roving machine is.
three inches and three eighths, so that the slivers on quitting the bottom
rubbing roller are contracted to a corresponding space to the pitcb of
the spindles; if the width of the engine be much increased, two or more
surface drums and two or more bobbins would be required, otherwise

page_text: the constraction of the slivers would be too great and would not answer
so well; when two or more surface drums are required they may be
placed upon the same shaft, by which the same gearing and other
apparatus would answer any amount required. Another important
advantage in this machine is the apparatus for varying the speed of the
traverse, so as to wind the slivers side by side from beginning to the end
of the bobbin; and the plan here adopted being very simple and efficient,
I will give a description of its mode of operation :-The surface drum
being one regular and uniform motion with the other parts of the
machine, and the bobbin or spool being made to revolve by friction of
contact with the surface drum, it is evident that as the bobbin increases
in diameter, although moving through the same space, the revolutions
will be slower, consequently the traverse must be slower, to wind the
slivers side by side; for example, if the bobbin barrel be 23 inches
diameter, and the bobbin heads be 12 inches, it amounts to about five
times the difference of diameter, and to accomplish this difference in
the speed of the traverse a strap about sixty feet in length is coiled
upon the boss of a wheel about 1 inches diameter, and when coiled it
should I vary in diameter with the boss about five times, to correspond
with the difference of the size of the barrel and head of the bobbin.
The end of the coiled strap is passed round a pully that works the
traverse, and is fastened to the boss of another wheel of the same
diameter, which obtains its motion through a shaft and catch box, which
derives its motion from the surface drum shaft, and as the speed of the
surface drum is regular, so will the wheel having the coiled strap be
regular; but it will be perceived that as the diameter of the strap
decreases by its uncoiling, less will be given off in a given time, con-
sequently the traverse will be slower as the bobbin fills; as the strap is
delivered from the coil it is coiled upon the boss of the other wheel by
a pinion on one part of a shaft; on one end of this shaft is a pully
turned by a strap giving motion to the coiling wheel through the
pinion on the same shaft; and it must be observed, that the speed of
this pinion must be such as to cause the coiling boss to take up the
strap and keep it tight as it is uncoiled from the other; by the time
the bobbin is full nearly the whole of the strap will be uncoiled from

page_text: the first and coiled upon the second; the two wheels and bosses for
coiling and uncoiling the strap being similar, and similarly connected
with the surface drum, and having catch boxes similar, and also the
shaft communicating motion to the coiling wheel having another
pinion on it like the last described, but being placed in such a position
that when one is in gear with the coiling-on wheel the other is out
of gear with the uncoiling wheel. We may now suppose that the
bobbin is full, and that the strap has been uncoiled from one boss to the
other, the attendant by moving a lever in connection with the two
catch boxes in connection with the coiling and uncoiling wheels, and
also in connection with the two pinions, changes the position of the two
catch boxes, as well as the two pinions, so that the gearing and conse-
quently the action of the coiling and uncoiling wheels are reversed and
ready to begin another bobbin. I have already stated that the pinion
in gear with the coiling wheel must be of a speed sufficiently quick
to take up the strap and keep it tight as it is uncoiled; at the begin-
ning the strap giving motion to the shaft and pinion mustslipupon the.
pully as the coiling goes on, constituting ita friction pully; and I must
further state, that the uncoiling wheels deriving their motion from the
surface drum, their speed is reduced to about one fifth, as compared
with the surface drum, otherwise the length of the strap would be
uncoiled before the bobbin is full. The doffer of this machine is
traversed the full distance of the blank space, for the purpose of keeping
the cylinders clear, which is accomplished by a wheel having a zigzag
flange made to correspond with the required traverse, and being keyed
on the doffer shaft the zigzag flange passes between two regulating
rollers fixed to a bracket on the framework, the revolution of the
wheel giving the necessary traverse by means of the said flange and
the regulating rollers or pins. The wheel for giving rotary motion to
the doffer has its boss fitted to a pedestal and collars to keep it to its
place. In the arms of this wheel are three pins projecting from the
wheels, and parallel with its axis pass through holes corresponding in a
disc keyed on the doffer shaft; the pins communicate rotary motion to
the doffer, and at the same time act as guides for the lateral or tra-
versing motion; by this method the doffer revolves more evenly, conse-

page_text: quently a more even sliver is produced than if a key on the doffer shaft
were used, as noted in describing the rubbing rollers. The rubbing
rollers may be covered from end to end, or with annular belts, suffi-
ciently broad for the rubbing process, of perforated, plain, or corrugated
leather, gutta percha, cloth, or any other suitable material, but I
recommend, as a cheap and very suitable material for the purpose, the
perforated leather of cast off cards, freed from the wire. The carding
engine to which this machine is attached may be fed with either wool
or wool previously scribbled by any of the well-known modes, but I
prefer its being fed from sheets formed of slivers, as shewn and
specified in a Patent granted to me on the Twenty-eighth day of May,
One thousand eight hundred and forty, or with this alteration, instead of
being sheets of the whole breadth of the machine, I should prefer their
being divided.to correspond with the breadth of the annular cards
upon the doffer, which would be effected in the winding or lapping of
the sheets, by having a thick guide at each division, and of a suitable
thickness to correspond with the space between the annular rings of
cards on the doffer, and also placing guides to correspond at the.feeder.
By using a set of five rollers for rubbing or rolling the slivers I can
compress them very even and smooth; they are most applicable in
narrow slivers, where they are very light, and can be properly collected
without the use of the tube, which is a great convenience; for example,
in two doffer condensors the slivers are generally narrow, say three
fourths to one inch and a half broad, consequently the tubes would be
inconvenient, and are not required to collect and compress the fibres in
narrow slivers, the rollers being capable of effecting that object. It is
well known to practical men to be very essential that the fibres of the
wool should be quite straight and smooth upon the cards of the doffing
cylinder, and a great difficulty has hitherto been found in obtaining
such a result; which difficulty arises in proportion to the length of
staple and small diameter of the doffing cylinder; for example, after the
wool has been raised on the cylinder by the fancy it is lathed upon
the cards of the doffer.by the greater velocity of the main cylinder, but
as the point of the cards on the doffing cylinder stand in an opposite
direction to those of the main cylinder, it cannot part with all the

page_text: fibres so freely, and retains a longer hold of the long fibres; conse-
quently there is a kind of struggle between the doffing and main
cylinders, the effect of which is, that a great number of the fibres hang
stragling from the doffer, and more especially on small doffing cylinders.
To remedy these defects I have applied a novel apparatus, its principle
and inodus operandi is as follows:-The doffing cylinder is about nine
inches diameter, in the front of which is a fluted roller whose centre is
about the same height as the doffer; between the card of the doffing
cylinder and this roller is a space of from two to three eighths of an
inch, as may be required; there is also another roller about two and a
half inches diameter; this roller is placed towards the under centre of
thedoffing cylinder, but is considerably further removed from the doffing
cylinder, say, one and a halfto two inches, and passing in a longitudinal
direction across the frame, and parallel with the axis of the doffer and
the two rollers described are two rods upon which are mounted a series
of semicircular guides, forming a flange on each side; the top ends of
these guides terminate in a step or nib to carry the top rollers, which
are placed above the fluted roller; these guides are kept to their proper
pitch or distance, to correspond with the breadth of rings or cards on
the doffer, by bosses of a proper length placed upon the rods between
each guide; an endless strap is passed over the fluted roller, and passing
the outer side of the semicircular flanges on the guides and under the
lower roller, the ends of the strap being joined, the rods carrying the
guides will pass between the inner and outer strap, and will be out of
the way; it will be perceived by this arrangement from the relative
positions of the doffer, the fluted roller, the bottom roller, strap, and
guide, it will form a concave surface up the inner side of the strap;
these rollers are putin motion by a set of wheels, thereby giving motion
to the rollers and strap; the top roller rests upon the strap in passing
over the fluted roller. The speed of these rollers must be such as to
cause the strap to move at a greater velocity, say one fourth, than the
doffing cylinder; by this arrangement the stragling fibres hanging from
the doffer as soon as they come in contact with the strap will be carried
forward by the greater velocity of the strap, and by the time the fibres.
have arrived at the point where the top roller and strap come in con-

page_text: tact the fibres will be brought forward in a straight and smooth
direction, and at this point are also stripped from the doffer; close to the
outside strap and near the bottom roller is a roller covered with card
for the purpose of keeping the strap clean, and although I consider the
plan here described for twisting and collecting the fibres by tubes to be
furthercompressed by rubbingor rollingwiththereciprocatingrevolving
rollers to be the most simple and efficient, I can produce the same
result by passingthesliver through endless twisting straps instead ofthe
tubes, or by passing endless straps, aprons, or belts over rollers having
a revolving reciprocating motion, or through both of the same orother
modifications. At a proper distance from this point is another set of
rollers, top and bottom, which draw the sliver forward between an
endless twisting strap, as shewn immediately before the last-mentioned
rollers. On leaving these rollers the sliver is in a compressed state,
and passing between guides may be wound upon a spool or bobbin. In
gearing the fluted roller, and the lower roller carrying the endless strap,
the lower roller should be made to pass through a little more space;
which will have the effect of keeping the outer side of the strap tight,
and the inner or concave side a little slack, which is important, as it
makes the strap run more uniform, with less friction in the semi-
circular guide. For the purpose of keeping the bottom fluted roller
clear (that is to say,) the last mentioned bottom roller,) there is a
cylindrical roller covered with woollen cloth or other suitable material
by two fixings attached to the frame, in which is a set screw. to keep the
roller stationary, by which means it can be moved at pleasure, when
dirty, to a clean place. Although this description refers to what are
termed condensers, the same principle will apply when the wool is
stripped the whole width of the engine, the same principle being
applied, only varying the dimensions with the size of the doffer, length
of staple, &c. When the sliver is doffed the whole breadth the endless
strap may be the whole breadth. When the doffer attains the size of
twenty-four or twenty-eight inches the concave side of the strap will
be so much reduced that guides may be dispensed with, always minding
that the strap is sufficiently flexible. The tendency of the lower roller
to pass through more space than the top one will cause the inside to be

page_text: sufficiently concave; of course the diameters of the two rollers may be
increased when a larger doffer is used, and the relative position of
the rollers may be varied to suit the length of staple, &c. This prin-
ciple will be found highly beneficial in working what is termed long or
combing wools, not only from the circumstance of stretching up the
stragling fibres, but also from the greater relative velocity with the doffer
at the point of stripping the wool from the doffer which has a tendency.
to comb it out from the card acting as a comb. Although I have described
the wool as being stripped from the doffer by rollers it is not absolutely
necessary that it should be so, for by the greater velocity of the strap
compared with the doffer it might be so far removed from the doffer to
allow of a doffing comb, and yet stretch up the stragling fibres, but the
sliver would require conducting forward at as great a velocity as the
sirap, otherwise the fibres would follow the strap. I can adopt another
mode, and accomplish this object, but which I do not consider so effec-
tual, which is, to place a series of rollers in a semicircular position, and
being connected with gearing made to run in the same direction, taking
care that each succeeding roller passes through more space from the
bottom to the top of the series.
Another of my improvements is what are termed condensers, where
an endless twisting strap is employed; they are generally about from
to one inch in breadth; but I have found from experience that this
breadth leave too much untwisted, nearly the whole breadth of the
strap being so, causing many breakages, particularly in wool of short
staple. To remedy this defect I use a narrow strap, say to of
an inch broad, and up to quarter of an inch thick, which gives it a
firmness and sufficient weight to answer the purpose exceedingly well;
the edges of the straps on the side the sliver enter in passing between
is slightly rounded, which has also a good effect. The strap being
so narrow, guides are fixed upon what is termed the twisting bar,
proper distances, and standing a little higher than the top strap, to
keep the straps in their true positions, one above the other.
at
My next improvement relates to the construction of the machine
technically called the Self-acting Mule, and as my improvements under
this head consist of several modifications of the machine, I will arrange

page_text: them under separate sections. Firstly, to the use of the ordinary double
gear, double or two speed, in conjunction with the self-acting mule,
by which I gain the advantage of the increased speed at any part of
the stretch, or at any time during the twisting of the thread, as may be
desirable. Secondly, in the employment of twist pullies, with grooves of
various diameters, so that the band can be easily changed from one to
another, to vary the amount of twist as may be required, which is very
essential in spinning wool, or similar fibrous materials, where the draft
of the yarn depends upon the amount of the twist. Thirdly, to obtain a
backing-off motion from the rim twist pulley with the least loss of time
and the least amount of friction.. I accomplish this as follows: after
a sufficient amount of twist has been given to the yarn, a catch box on
the twist pulley shaft is instantly withdrawn from the twist pulley,
by which the power of turning the spindles is withdrawn, and the
next instant a train of wheels are put in motion, which effect the
backing-off by the velocity in the disengaged twist pulley and rim,
and at the third instant another catch box is brought into action,
deriving its power from the drum, which is turned from the opposite
or back side of the main strap. This drum is always in motion,
and it is from it that I obtain the motion of the worm which works
the twist wheel. The velocity of motion obtained from this drum is
much slower thau the motion of the twist pulley, although they both run
in the same direction. It will be perceived that the slower movement
will act as a break to the quicker, the latter having no power but what is
obtained by the momentum of the former, which, being soon spent, the
slower motion has to work it out, and according to the interval of time
between freeing the twist pulley and bringing the slower motion into
contact will depend the rapidity of the backing-off motion. Fourthly,
to effect a perfect winding on of the yarn in a proper form of cop or
bobbin, which I accomplish by placing a cylinder in connection with a
catch box upon the tin roller shaft in the carriage, one end of a peculiar
formed chain, as herein-after described, being attached to one end of the
cylinder, and a sufficient number of coils of band, saya dozen, are wound
upon the contrary end of the cylinder, oue end passing over a pulley
attached to the frame of the headstock, and another pulley attached to

page_text: the underside of the floor or ceiling, at the end of which is a weight
suspended, sufficient to keep thechain quite tight; for example, suppose
the carriage to be closed in, one end of the chain being attached to the
end of the cylinder, it will be held in a line at an angle of the axis of the
cylinder; the falling of the weight will wind on a sufficiency of chain for
the length of the stretch, and supposing the stretch to be 6 feet, 5 feet of
the chain so coiled will be of one size,say pitch of 3 and 4 link chain; the
next,6 feet in length, is composed of a compound chain of four different
sizes, the part joining the being a pitch, and the last td, which will
be 18 inches of length of four different sizes. To the larger end of the
chain is attached another of pitch, which being passed over another
pulley at the front end of the headstock is returning to the back part,
and has about five feet of this chain coiled upon it. Upon the axis of
the same pulleyis a bevilwheel about 12 inchesdiameter; a pinion of one
fourth the size is ingearwith it, and upon the axisof the last bevil pinion
is a worm wheel gearing into a worm which derives its motion from the
delivery or front drawing rollers of the mule. Now it will be observed
that the carriage is closed in,and the weight being suspended, and one
end of the chain attached to the cylinder and passed over a pulley
in front of the headstock, and across the headstock to a surplus chain
pulley, the suspension of the weight will keep the chain quite tight;
and suppose the catch box iswithdrawn from the cylinder, and held by
a catch, when the mule is put in motion the cylinder will be free upon
the shaft, and allow it (the shaft) to run at the required velocity, and in
the drawing out of the carriage the weight will coil the chain upon
the cylinder side by side, until it meets with the flange; it then rides
one coil over another to the end of the stretch, and by the time the
carriage has got to the full stretch it will then be in a position to wind
the first thread, and at every succeeding stretch a portion of the chain'
will be uncoiled from the surplus chain pulley to compensate for the
difference of diameter of the bobbin or cop from the winding on of the
yarn. If it is found on winding the first stretch to be too tight, a little
more chain is uncoiled from the said surplus chain pulley, which of
course will be taken up by the weight until the bobbin is set to a
proper size; it is then thrown out of gear, and the chain remains the
0

page_text: same to the end of the set. All the parts of this compound chain must
be stamped from the same strength of metal, so that any one part of
.it will fit another part; it is peculiarly applicable to the winding-on
motion on account of the counter faller giving or taking from any
inequality arising from its not being of a proper taper. I obtain the
form of the bobbin or cop in the following manner: the coping rail is
lowered by two screws of equal pitch, one at each end of it, being set in
such a manner as to give the properlength of traverse for the first thread,
andtobegin winding generally from + of aninch to (which can bevaried
according to the size or form of bobbin head) from the extreme head of
the bobbin, the two screws being connected by a shaft and wheels in
such a manner that whilst the farther end of the copping rail is falling
to give a larger traverse, the other ends is being raised to cause the
faller to wind lower upon the head at every succeeding stretch, until
it has attained near the extremity of the head; it is then changed into
another wheel of a larger diameter, which at the same time reverses
the movement of this screw; consequently, both ends of the copping
rail will fall, but the further end will fall at a greater ratio; they will
retain this position until the bobbin or cop has obtained its proper
size; it will then be changed into anotherwheel, and cause the copping
rail to move parallel for the remainder part of the set, and at the same
time it is changed into this wheel to work the copping rail parallel;
the sameapparatuswithdraws a catch boxin connectionwiththesurplus
chain pulleygear, and the chain remains stationary to the end of the set.
The peculiarity of this copping motion is, to cause it to wind to the
peculiar form of the bobbin, which difficulty is not to be contended with
when spinning upon the naked spindle. I obtain the putting upmotion
in the ordinary manner by a scroll to draw in the carriage, the power
being derived from a pulleyrunning loose upon the rim shaft, and itwill
be perceived from the manner in which the tin roller is turned that the
force required to turn the spindles whilst winding on would be thrown
upon the strain of the chain, consequently a greater strain upon the
scroll band to draw in the carriage; but a provision is made by placing
a narrow pulley as a friction pulley upon the rim shaft between the
common loose pulley and the loose pully which drives the putting up

page_text: scroll. This narrow pulley is so contrived that it may run entirely free
upon the rim shaft, or by tightening the screw any amount of friction
from a fast to a loose pulley can be obtained to assist in turning the
spindles whilst the carriage is running in, which must not be too great,
otherwise it will over run the chain that governs the quantity for wind-
ing on. Or I accomplish the same object by fixing a narrow pulley
fast on the rim shaft, always minding that it be narrow enough not to
give too much power. These my improvements will be clearly
understood by reference to the accompanying six Sheets of Drawings,
which are consecutively numbered, as well as the figures thereon, and
the same letters of reference used to represent similar parts when
different views or diagrams are shewn. In Sheet 1, Fig. 1, is a front
elevation of a scribbler, with my improved oiling apparatus attached,
but which, as has already been stated, may be applied to any of the
machines used in preparing wool to be spun. Fig. 2 is a right-
hand elevation. Fig. 3, a left-hand elevation of the same. Fig. 4, a
section of the oil can, shewing how the oil is supplied to the reservoir.
Fig. 5, an elevation of a portion of the needles, rollers, and oil receiver.
Fig. 6, an end section of the same. Fig. 7, 8, 9, and 10, 'are views
shewing a second method of oiling the wool, in which Fig. 7, is a front
elevation shewing needle elevated to the top. Fig. 8, is a side ele-
vation of the same, shewing the semicircular vessel containing the oil
in which the roller revolves. Fig. 9, is a back elevation thereof; and
Fig. 10 is a left-hand side elevation of the same, shewing the needles
on the wool discharging the oil, and also a pulley on the end of the
oiling roller, and another pulley on the end of the feeding cloth roller
giving motion through the strap passing over the two pullies. Fig.11,
shews the mode of connecting the needle frame and shaft. Fig. 12,
an end elevation of the feed rollers and perforated plate. Fig 13, a
section of the same. Fig. 14, a section shewing another mode of con-
veying oil to the wool by a semicircular vessel under the bottom
of the feed rollers, as already described; and Fig. 15, is an cle-
vation shewing a mode of applying the oil to wool at any of the
opening machines, some of which are commonly called teasers,
willows, or devils, which I effect by a spiked roller revolving in a

page_text: .
semicircular vessel containing the oil or other liquid, the supply
being obtained in the same manner as before mentioned in the other
apparatus, the overflow being returned in a similar manner, the qcan-
tity of oil being regulated by raising or lowering the vessel. In Sheet
2, Fig. 1, is a right-hand elevation of a scribbler or carding engine,
shewing part of my said improvements. Fig. 2, a left-hand side eleva-
tion thereof. Fig. 3, a side elevation of the bobbin stand frame, with
guides for the sliver and cam for giving motion to the same; and Fig.
4, an end view, shewing a set of 5. rollers for rubbing or rolling the
slivers. In Sheet 3, Fig. 1, is a front elevation of the scribbling or
carding engine. Fig. 2, a back view of the apparatus, shewing the
motion of the rubbing rollers. Fig. 3, a plan of the bobbin stand,
shewing the guides for guiding the sliver to the bobbin and the cam
for the traverse motion. Figs. 4, two side views of the zig-zag wheel
and driving wheels, with the plate and pins, for giving the doffer a
vibratory motion. Fig. 5, a front elevation of the small pullies, chain,
and spring on the bobbin frame for lowering and balancing the falling
portion of the frame. In Sheet 4, Fig. is a right-hand side elevation of
a self-acting mule, shewing my improvements therein. Fig. 2, a view
of my peculiar formed taper chain. Fig. 3, an elevation of the chain
pulley and catch box; and Fig. 4, a view of the bobbin. Fig. 5, back
clevation of apparatus for keeping in the carriage, and throwing the
catch box out of connection with chain cylinder. In Sheet 5, Fig. 1, is
a left-hand side elevation of a self-acting mule. Fig. 2, a right-hand
side elevation of the copping rail and apparatus. Fig. 3, a plan of the
double wheels, and Fig. 4, a section of the loose part or friction pulley.
In Sheet 6, Fig. 1, is a plan or part of the twisting bar strap and guides.
Fig.2, shews the mode of connecting the fluted rollers 90, and the plain
rollers 91, by wheels, with the doffing cylinder 89; the clearer 104, may
be turned from any convenient part of the machine by an endless band
or other contrivance. Fig. 3, represents the curved lever 13, the con-
necting rod p3, the bell crank lever n³, the weight m³, the inclined
plane 11,and the latch lever to, and the end view of the I, lever wr.
Fig. 4, is a view of the apparatus for bringing the straggling fibres on
the doffing cylinder into astraight, smooth, and uniform direction; and

page_text: Fig. 5 is a plan of the lever ns, the connecting rod m³, the notched
levers 85, and the brackets 86. Fig. 6, a front elevation of the mule
headstock, and a portion of the carriage and rollers. In Sheet 1, A°,
represents the frame of the scribbling engine; B,a segment of a cylinder
with part of its mountings; C, the feeder board; f, the frame for hold-
ing the needles g, which convey the oil to the wool; h, represents rods
working in the slides i°, and carrying the frame f; ho, are connecting
links, one end connecting to the lever i, and the other end connecting to
the rods h, (see Fig. 11,) by the studs jo, in order to lift the rods h,
parallel; m, is a lever having a pulley no, at one end working in the cam
groove n, which gives motion to the lever, through the connecting rods
mo, on the shaft ; the lever l, has a slot in for the stud no, by moving
which the length of the stroke of the needles is varied; o,isa lever which
derives motion from the cam n, which conveys motion to the feed rollers.
p, and q, through the lever r, catch s, and ratchet wheel t, which give
it a step by step motion; u, are gearing wheels to connect and turn the
feed rollers; v, is a lever fixed on the shaft k, giving motion to a lever w,
through the rod a, and ratchet wheel y; 2, is a skewed wheel keyed on
the boss of the ratchet wheel y, running loose on the stud a¹, attached to
the bracket aº; the skewed wheel runs ina notch on the sliding plate bº,
to which the slides i, are attached, and by the revolution of the skewed
wheel gives a traverse motion to the needle frame f; b, is a cam or
vessel for holding the oil; c', an index to indicate thequantityinthesaid
vessel; d'; a reservoir; e', an overflow pipe; /', a pipe.by which the
quantity of oil can be ascertained; g¹, shewn in Fig.4, is an endless belt
passing under the pulley, which is immersed in the oil or other liquid
used for the purpose, and over the pulley i¹, into a small reservoir k¹, for
supplying the reservoir d', which discharges its oil or liquid from the
belt g', over the docter into the reservoir ¹; o¹, is a tube in connec-.
tion with and for supplying oil to the reservoir d¹, as already stated.
Figs. 7, 8, 9, and 10, shew another mode of supplying the oil to the
wool; p, is a case containing the oil and roller q1. In Fig. 8, r', is
the overflow compartment, and shews the position of the roller q', the
underside of which being immersed in the oil, as shewn by the dotted
lines: s, is a loose part of the case p 1, which is capable of being

page_text: turned back by the hinge t, to allow of getting the roller q', in and
out; w¹, is a cast metal frame for holding and forming the end of
the case p'; v¹, is a dirt board to prevent any dirt falling upon the
wool; e¹, is a conducting pipe from the overflow compartment ¹, to
the oil can b; g, the needles set to an angle in the frame f; the
ends of these needles are concaves, and in their descent touch upon
the periphery of the roller q', and take a portion of oil down to the
wool, is a pulley on the feeding cloth; m', is a pulley on the end
of the roller q; n', is a strap giving motion to the roller q', through
the strap and pulley ; w¹, are metal plates, lying on the top sides
of the feed rollers, having holes through their centres through which
the needles g, pass, as already stated. Fig. 14, shews another mode
of supplying the oil to the wool; 9, 9, are the bottom feed rollers;
x², is a roller covered with cloth, or other soft material, revolving in
oil contained in the reservoir d¹, the roller ¹, being drawn up by the
regulating screw y', to the underside of the feed rollers 9, 9, and sup-
plies them with oil, the roller x', being turned by friction of contact
by the rollers 9, 9. Po, Fig. 1, are the brackets carrying the shaft k,
by moving which the height of the needles are adjusted by the screw
Ro; they also regulate the depth of the needles in the oil vessel d', and
consequently they regulate the quantity of oil taken up by them; and
the quantity of oil laid on the wool may be further regulated by varying
the speed of the stroke of the needles and the variation of the space.
The feed rollers move through in a given time, which is effected by a
variation in the leverage moving the catch in the ratchet wheel. So,
are the pedestals carrying the feed rollers; To, the caps or saddles on
the top side of the feed rollers; Q°, the springs; U°, the regulating
screws acting upon the springs, to regulate the pressure on the top feed
rollers. In Fig. 15, another mode of supplying the oil is shewn, as
applied to any of the opening machines termed the teaser, the willow,
the devil, &c. Bo, is a segment of the main cylinder, running in the
direction of the arrow; X, is the oil vessel; Yo, spiked roller running
in oil, acting as a feed roller in connection with the top feed roller
Zo. In Sheet 2, A, represents the lever for moving the strap from one
pulley to another, thereby giving or stopping the motion of the carding

page_text: engine; B,a zigzag wheel keyed on the doffer, which gives ita vibratory
motion for the purpose of keeping the cylinder clear; C, tubes through
which the slivers pass; Y2,guides fitted into grooves on blank spaces of
the doffer, the better to separate the slivers; D, and E, fluted rollers,
which convey the slivers to the rubbing rollers F, G, and H. I, is a
strap on the pullies K, L, and M, giving motion to the diagonal shaft
N, which by means of the connecting rods O, and P, and the eccentric
Q, on the top of the said diagonal shaft, gives a lateral motion to
the said rubbing rollers F, G, and H. R, represents the carrier
wheels for conveying motion to the different parts of the machine. S,
and T, are pullies giving motion to the shaft driving the tubes C, on
which shaft are a series of smaller pullies To, for turning the tubes;
U₁, the bobbin stand frame; V, that portion of the frame that falls
to allow the bobbin to be removed when full; Vo, is a spring attached
to the frame U, pressing against the falling frame V, to assist in
starting the fall; W, the bobbin or spool; X, in Fig. 5, Sheet 3, is a
spring to break or regulate the fall; Y, a catch to keep the frame V,
in its place; Z, brackets to support the stationary rollers for working
the traverse motion of the zigzag wheel B; 7°, the rollers fixed on
the bracket Z, acting on each side of the zigzag wheel to give the
traverse. See Fig. 4, Sheet 3, for the zigzag wheel and rollers.
In Fig. 2, A¹, represents pins screwed into the doffer wheel B', which
give motion by means of the plate C1, to the doffer, being keyed on the
doffer shaft. D', is a wheel which receives motion by the carrier wheels
R, from the wheel B. E, is a wheel which gives a circular motion to
the top rubbing roller H. F, is a lever attached to the end of the
rod O, giving a vibratory motion to the said top rubbing rollers. G', is
a frame connecting the two bottom rubbing rollers; at the bottom end
of this frame is a joint Go,connecting the frame G¹, to the eccentric Q,
by the rod P, (Sheet 3). H¹, is a cam giving motion to the bar I', and
the rail K¹, upon which is keyed the guides Q. L', is a pulley having
flanges to form a friction pulley, fixed on the shaft S₁, which receives
its motion through the strap Mo, from the pulley M¹, upon the carrier
wheel R. N¹, is a forked lever moved by the hand lever O', in the
guides P', for changing the gear to regulate the speed of the cam H¹,

page_text: which also reverses the traverse motion. Q', represents the guides for
the sliver which rest on the roller R¹. T',represents two pinion wheels
worked by the friction pully L', giving motion to the two wheels U,
and Vo. U¹, and V₁, are two pullies on U°, and Vo, on which the
strap Wo, is coiled for giving motion to the cam H', by passing round
the pully X¹, on the cam shaft X°, to the taking up pully U¹. Y₁, is
the surface drum or cylinder for turning the bobbin, which drum
receives motion from the carrier wheel R. Z¹, is an apparatus to give
notice or alarm when the bobbin is full. In Fig. 5, of this Sheet of
Drawings a, represents a stud fixed on the frame U, upon which is
placed the pully b. c, is a chain fixed to the small pully e, attached
to the spring X, which is fixed to the frame U. Fo, and Go, represent
discs on the rubbing roller shaft. H°, and I°, are wheels with pins Jo,
and Ko, on the rubbing roller shaft. Lo, is a wheel on the end of the
surface drum shaft. Me, is a driving wheel placed on the main
cylinder shaft, communicates motion to the carrier R. No, is a chain,
one end attached to the frame U, and the other to the pully b. O, is
a latch spring to catch in the notch Po, in the wheels 6°, to hold the
falling frame V, down until the bobbin is changed. Fig. 4, in Sheet 6,
is a section illustrating the principle or mode of bringing the long
stragling fibres on the doffing cylinders into a straight, smooth, and
uniform direction. 87, is the segment of a cylinders; 88, shews the
fancy; 89, the top doffing cylinder of a condenser with annular rings
or card on; 90, a fluted roller; 91, a plain roller; 92, a strap passing
round the rollers 90, and 91; 93, is a metal guide forming a guide for
the strap 92, the top end forming a step or nib to support the top
roller 94; 95, being a section of metal guide 93, cut across one of the
holes 96; the red line shews the thread passing between the narrow
twisting strap 97; 98, is one of the guides for the narrow strap; 99, is
a fluted roller in front of the strap; 100, is a top roller; 101, is a
cylindrical roller covered with cloth or other suitable material, forming
a clearer to keep the fluted roller 99, clean; this roller 101, is carried
by two fixings attached to the frame 102, in which is a set screw to
keep the roller 101, stationary; by this means it can be moved at
pleasure when dirty to a clean place; 103, is the twisting bar; 104, is

page_text: a clearer covered with cards for the purpose of keeping the strap 92,
clean from dirt. In Sheet 4, which refers to the self-acting mule,
A°, is the framing; a³, is a chain which gives motion to the tin roller
63, through the cylinder c³, in Fig. 3, for winding the thread on the cop;
d³, a pully on which the surplus chain is wound; e³, a bevil wheel
keyed on the axes of the pully d³; f³, is a bevil pinion gearing into
the bevil wheel c³; g³, a pinion on the axes of the bevil pinion f³; h³, a
worm worked on the back shaft that obtains its motion from the delivery
rollers 13; 3, a spur wheel with two rollers acting upon the curved
levers 13; see Fig. 3, Sheet 6, for lifting the weights m³ ; n³, are bell
crank levers connecting the rod p³, and the weight m³; o³, handles
attached to the rods p3, for the purpose of raising the weight m³, when
required; q, a bevil wheel worked by the bevil pinion³, which'derives
motion from a pully running loose on the rim shaft for the purpose of
putting up the carriage; on the shaft of the wheel q³, is keyed a small
pinion which works the spur wheel 3; 33, is a worm worked by the
puliy t3, from the pully n³, through the band a2, which derives its
motion from the back side of the main strap through the cylinders
V3; W3, is a pully running loose on the rim shaft y, having a bevil
wheel upon it for putting up the carriage; a³, a lever riding on a stud
about the centre, attached to the rim shaft pedestal 7, to lift the latch
in connection with the strap guide, so as to stop the mule at
any time,
and to retain the strap on the loose pully until required to act upon
the pully for the putting up motion; y³, a spur wheel working in the
wheel z³, keyed on the rim shaft y', which forms part of the double or
two speed gear; a¹, is a pully worked by a strap in connection with
the backing off motion; 64, is a spring which acts upon one end of the
T lever moving the two catch boxes in connection with the putting up-
motion; c, is a latch lever riding on a stud in the rim pedestal 7, in
connection with the twist wheel and strap motion d4; e4, is a step sus-
pended from the lever f4, carrying one end of the shaft g*, on which the
wheel d4, is keyed for the purpose of working the strap guide; 4, are
two tappets worked by the worm wheel d4, on the shaft g4, for lifting
the latch it, of the strap guide, and also for lifting the lever c¹, through
the connecting rod, k4, to the lever ; on the top of this lever +, is a

page_text: screw. m², for regulating the lifting of the latch 4, in unison with the
strap in passing from the fast to the loose pully; n4, is a pillar for
supporting the strap guide 04; p4, is a cranked lever, the fulcrum of
which raises a latch a10, and brings the catch in the tin roller shaft in
connection with the cylinders c³, on which the chain is coiled for turning
the tin roller 63, whilst the carriage is running in; q, is a weight
attached to the band r4, which coils round one end of the cylinders b³.
105, is a lever at the foot of the frame; 106, is a pully in a stud on
the end of the same; 107, is a weight on the end of the lever; 108, is
a latch. suspended upon a stud from the top of the frame; 109, is a
square stud on the lever 105, for the latch 108, to latch upon and carry
the weight 107, is a bracket attached to the back of the carriage,
which acts upon the latch 108, at the closing in of the carriage,
causing the weight 107, to fall, and the pully 106, to catch on the
inside. of the carriage frame, and keep it closed in; 111, is a stud;
112, a connecting rod to connect the bell crank lever 113, (Fig. 5,
Sheet 4;) 114, is a stud' in the back of the frame to carry the beli
crank lever; the falling of the weight also actuates the lever 113, which
comes into contact with the lever yt, and withdraws the catch box in
connection with the chain cylinders on the tin roller shaft, and thereby
stops the spindles.; 115, is a spring click fixed to the back of the
carriage to work the wheel 4; s4, is a parallel level bearing a roller p³,
and lifted by a plate n+, for putting down the faller; v4, is a jointed
lever holding the faller in its proper position whilst spinning, which is
capable of moving the faller out of the way during the operation of
doffing; w¹, is a copping rail which derives its motion from a wheel a
moved by a spring click y4; attached to the back of the carriage +, are
ears on brackets attached to the copping rail w4; a5, are studs, one of
which has a thread cut in to fit the screw 65, for moving the copping
rail w; the other stud c5, forms a bush sliding on the outer part of the
screw 65, to form a guide for it; d³ are mitre wheels, one of which is
fixed on the screw b, the other upon one end of the shaft e³, which
extends to the other screw f; on the other end of the shaft e, is a
mitre wheel go, gearing in a mitre wheel attached to the screw f; h is
aspur wheel moving on a float upon the shaft e³; i is a face wheel

page_text: attached to the top of the screw f5; on the under side of the wheel, is
a smaller face wheel fast to the above, and in the same plain, so that
the spur wheel ", is capable of moving from the large diameter to the
smaller one, (see Fig. 3, Sheet 5); %, (sec Sheet 5, Fig. 2,) is a
gearing rod, one end attached to a stud m³, attached to the lever n³,
in connection with a sliding catch box on the shaft h3; in the other
end of the gearing rod is a flat stud 05, fitted to the groove of the spur
wheel ; p, is a sliding plate having an inclined slot sliding in the
bracket ; the sliding platep", is moved by the spring; 5, is a notch
in the gearing rod; t, is a bracket, in which the gearing rod 75, slides,
and forms a catch for the notch s; w, is a spring, one end of which
is attached to the bracket to, the other end is attached to the gearing
rod ;, is an upright latch sliding in the bracket; w³, forms a stop
for the stud a, in the sliding plate p³; 5, is a stud attached to the
upright latch ;, isa slide upon the study", which comes in contact
with the copping plate w; a", is a bell crank lever moving on a
stud 6", attached to the bracket w³; c, is a fulcrum sliding on the bell
crank lever a, which is acted upon by a moveable stud do, attached
to the back of the copping railw4; e, is a lever extending across the
headstock keyed on the upright shaft., Sheet 5, Fig. 1; g, is a wing
attached to the shaft f; one end of which works in the groove of the
catch box, Fig. 6, Sheet 6, which slides on a key fast to the twist
pully shaft ; is. the varied rim twist pully, keyed on the boss jo,
running loose en the shaft ;, is a catch box fast on the boss of the
twist pully ; m, is a spur wheel keyed on the other end of the rim
twist pully ; ne, is a spur pinion running on the stud 0%, attached to
the frame p; q, is a spur wheel running loose on the counter shaft 7,
one end of which runs in the frame p; s6, is a catch box keyed on the
spur wheel q; to, is a catch box sliding on a key fixed to the counter
shaft ; n, is a spur pinion keyed on the counter shaft ;v; is a
moveable bracket attached to the frame; w, is a spur wheel in gear
with us;, is a catch box keyed on the boss of the spurwheel w; yo, is
a catch box moving on the key fast on the twist pully shaft i; 26, is a
mitre wheel keyed on the boss of the spur wheel w; a², are pedestals
attached to: the frame. to carry the twist pully shaft ; 67; is a footstep

page_text: attached to the frame, carrying the upright shaft ci; d', is a mitre
wheel working in the mitre wheel 26; e', is a bracket attached to the
frame to carry the top of the upright shaft c; f, is a bevil wheel on
the top of the upright shaft c', which works in a bevil wheel g', keyed
on the shaft h; 7, is a boss upon the shaft h; 7, is a spring, one end
of which is attached to the stud F, the other end being attached to the
boss i; m², is a collar to keep the shaft h', in its place; n', is a cam or
tappet keyed on the shaft h; o, is a boss fast on the shaft h; p', is the
segment of a pully moving loose on the shafth"; 9', is a short rod passing
through the lever e, to one end of which is attached a chain passing over
the segment h', and to the other end is suspended the weight r²; s², are
two brackets carrying the shaft h; f', is an upright shaft, having a
cross bar w, forming a T lever; V, is a wing fast to the upright f",
having a stud w, working in the groove upon the catch box y', upon the
twist pully shaft ; x, is a wing fast to the opposite side of the upright
shaft h', having a stud y', working in the groove of the catch box sc,
moving on the counter shaft ; 7, is a bracket fast to the frame p®, and
carries the upright shaft f; a8, is a bracket attached to the frame to
carry the top of the upright shaft f; 68, is a curved stud forming a
lever, the top end of which is fitted into a groove in the catch box c³,
moving opon a key fast to the shaft ds; as, is a pully running loose on
the shaft ds, the said pully forming a catch box in connection with the
catch box cs; e, is a vee-grooved pully keyed on the shaft ds; f³, are
two brackets supporting the shaft d8; 98, are two grooved pullies
running loose on the stud hs, which is attached to the bracket i³, which
is attached to the frame; ³, is a pully running loose on the stud 18,
which is attached to the bracket ; see Fig. 5, Sheet 6; m³, is a rod
passing through the end of the leverns, which is attached to the bottom
of the strap guide pillar n4; 08, is a chain attached to the end of the
rod m³, one end of which passes over the pully ³, the other end
being attached to the weight p³, for working the strap guide n¹; q³, is a
worm keyed on the screw f³, working the worm wheel 8, upon the
shaft s; on the other end is keyed a worm t³, working in a worin wheel
u, keyed on the boss of the grooved wheel 8, running loose on the
shaft ; w, is a grooved wheel keyed on the shaft h'; x³, are two studs,

page_text: one in the arm of each wheel to form stops; y8, is a chain, one end of
which is attached to the grooved pully 8, passing under the two
rollers ; the other end is attached to the grooved pully cs; aº, is a
cranked upright rod moving in the bracket 69, the lower one being
attached to the pedestal a', and the top one to the top pedestal si;
c9, is a bracket attached to 69, and carries one end of the worm
shaft ss, the other end being carried by the brackets do; e³, is a stud
fixed in the cranked upright rod a°; to the other end of the stud
is attached the frame carrying the rollers 8; to the rod aº, is attached
the bracket u; f9, is a stud attached to the bracket u4, and is held
up by the latch go, riding on a stud h, attached to the copping rail
204; 19, is a stud attached to the bottom of the cranked rod a; to one
end of the stud 2, is attached a cord ko, passing in a groove in the
shaft ; to the other end is attached the weight P, to balance the
cranked upright rod a"; m, is a stud attached to the frame; nº, is a
flanged pully working on the stud m³, over which passes the winding-
on chain a³; o, is a latch lever having an inclined plane near one end,
which is acted upon by the levere", and lifts the latch lever o'; the notch
pe, on the latch lever o³, is attached to the upright Aº; q³, is a stud
carrying the latch lever 09, and is attached to the bracket, which is
fixed to the frame; so, is a latch rod, one end of which is connected to
a stud in the curved lever 1, see Fig. 3, Sheet 6, the other end pass-
ing through a slot in the frame, and on the rod so, is a notch catching
on the bottom part of the slot in the frame; /, is another notch near
the other end of the rod acting on one end of the lever u²; u³, is a
cranked stud attached to the end of the latch rod q; 19, is a latch rod,
one end of which is attached to a stud in the curved lever 1³, the other
end passing through a slot in the frame and through a hole in the 'T'
lever u', and is similarly connected to the curved lever 13, and to the
bell cranked lever n³, and weighed in the same manner as the rod sa;
w, is a notch near one end of the latch rod s, catching on the bottom
of the slot in the frame A°; x, is a strap pully running loose on the
rim shaft y', having a spur wheel 2, on the boss of the loose pully a, in
connection with another spur wheel zº, keyed on one end of the shaft 1;

page_text: y³, is another spur wheel keyed on the other end of the shaft 1; ³,
is another spur wheel working in the spur wheel ³, and keyed on the
rim shaft yo, thus completing the aforesaid double gear and double or
two speed motion; 2, is a pully running loose on the rim shaft; 3, is
a pully keyed on the same; 4, is a loose pully on the same; and 5,
is a friction pully on the same. Fig. 4, Sheet 5, is a section of the
friction pully 5; y, the rim shaft; 116, is a segment of brass or other
metal; 117 is a screw fitted to into the nut, 118, being fastened on
the pully 5, and the lower end of the screw fitting in the brass segment
116; the top end of the screw 117, is made square for a box key, and
by screwing down the brass segment more or less to the rim shaft y,
it can be either fast friction or loose; w³, is another pully already
described; v³, is a cylinder running the whole length of the pullies on
the rim shaft; 6, is a groove in the cylinders v³, the depth being the
thickness of the strap, and a little wider than the breadth; 7, is a
pedestal, carrying the rim shaft and pullies; 8, is a break to assist the
rim twist pully ko, to stop; 9, is a bracket holding the stud 10, which
holds the break 8, for stopping the rim twist pully 6, moved by the
wing g", on the upright shaft fe; 11, is an inclined plane acting on the
roller 12, attached to the cranked rod, having an inclined plate at
the bottom; 13, is a scroll running in the frame 14, for drawing out
the carriage. The frame 14, moves on a stud attached to a bracket
on the pedestal 7; 15, is a lever attached to the frame 14, stopping on
a stud in the frame; 16, is a flat stud attached to the bottom end of
the lever 15; 17, is a rod passing through a hole in the flat stud 16,
one end of the said rod being attached to a spring 18, and to the other
end of the spring 18, is a regulating screw 19, passing through a hole
in the flattened stud 20, which being attached to the cranked rod 21,
one end of which has a regulating screw 22, passing through a flat stud
23, swivelling in the bell crank lever 24; 25, is a stud attached to the
frame for carrying the bell crank lever 24; 26, is a swan-neck lever
riding on a stud 27, attached to a bracket on the frame 7; 28, is a
bevil wheel on the rim shaft z9; 29, is a bevil wheel working in the
bevil wheel 28; 30, is an inclined shaft carrying the bevil wheel 29;

page_text: 31, is a foot step attached to the frame carrying one end of the shaft
30; 32, is a bevil wheel on the bottom end of the shaft 30, gearing in
the bevil wheel on the roller shaft 23; 33, is a pinion keyed in the
roller shaft, driving the wheel 34 on the back shaft; 35, is a bracket,
with a slot attached to the frame, for carrying one end of the back shaft;
36, is a spur pinion on the back shaft; 37, is a spur wheel, having holes
in its disc; 38 and 9, are two studs in the wheel 37, for regulating the
quantity of roving; 40, is a lever having a stud 41, to carry the wheel
37; 42, is a stud to carry the lever 40; 43, is a bracket attached to the
frame in which the stud 42, works; 44, is a pin connecting the cranked
rod 21, to the lever 40; 46, is a bracket attached to the frame; 47, a
stud to carry the latch lever 48; 49, is a square stud on the lever 40,
for the latch lever 48, which is held in its place by the notched lever 48;
50, is a filboe on the back shaft, to one end of which is attached the
spring 51, and the other end to the bracket 46; 52, is a stud attached
to the carriage, which acts upon the lever 40, for the purpose of drawing
the scroll 13, and the inclined shaft 30, into gear; 53, is a latch lever,
riding on a stud 54, attached to the frame; 55, is a goat horn, with a
set screw sliding on the lever 53, for putting the scroll out of gear; 56,
is a latch lever riding on a stud 57, attached to the frame; on one end
of the said latch lever is a goat horn 58, sliding on the lever 50,
having a set screws; the flat stud 16, on the lever 15,is for keeping the
scroll 13, out until the carriage closes in; 59, is the putting up scroll;
60, and 61, are the scroll bands crossing over the pullies 62, and 63,
riding on the stud in the frame, the other ends of the bands being
attached to the ratchets 64, and 65; 66, and 67,are bands attached to
the scroll 13, passing over the pollies 68, and round the pully 69, to the
ratchet wheel 70; the band 66, passing over a pully 71, attached to the
frame, and under the pully 72, to the ratchet 73; 74, is the rim band
passing from the under side of the rim and passing over the pully cs,
on the shaft ds, and under, the carrier pully gs, round the twist pully
, over another carrier pully gs, to the top side of the rim; 75, is the
outside twist pully in the twist pully shaft; 76, is a twist pully band
passing part round the pully 77, on the tin roller, and part round the

page_text: tightening pully 78, and over the back twist pully 79, to the front
twist pully 75; 80 is a band attached to the boss of the wheel 37,
passing over the pully S1, having a weight 82, attached to the end of
the band for the purposcof bringing the wheel 37, to its proper position
after being taken out of gear; 83 is a sliding rod, having two brackets
S4, acting upon two notched levers 85, sliding through a backet 86,
attached to the frame; one end of the lever 85, is a regulating screw
connected to the strap guide lever n³.
Having thus fully described the nature and particulars of my said im-
provements, and the manner of carrying the same into practical effect, I
desire itto be distinctly understood, that I do not confine myself to the
exact details herein described,as such may be varied or modified, without
departing from the principle of my Invention; but I claim,-First,
the mode of distributing the oil or other liquid upon the wool as
applicable to any of the opening machines by means of a spiked
roller, revolving in the oil or liquid, and the vessel containing it raised
or lowered to regulate the supply to the spiked roller. Second, the
machinery or apparatus, as herein described, for connecting the oiling
apparatus to the scrilbber by needles passing through the wool, and
into the oil or liquid, with the mode of regulating the length of stroke
of the needles, and thereby their depth in the oil. Third, another
mode of conveying oil or other liquid to the wool, by running a roller
in it, and supplying the broaches therefrom. Fourth, by a roller covered
with woollencloth or other suitable material, revolving in the oil orliquid,
and turned by friction of contact with the feed rollers, thereby supplying
them with the oil or liquid from the vessel in which it runs, the quantity
being regulated by screws, which regulate the amount of pressure.
Fifth, by a plain or fluted or any other kind of roller, running in the oil
or liquid, as described, in the opening machine, the quantity being regu-
lated by a doctor plate or plates. Sixth, the general arrangement and
construction of the machinery or apparatus, which I term the endless
rolted carding or sliver machine, as applicable to carding machinery.
Seventh, the rubbing rollers, in conjunction with the revolving tubes
Eighth, the wheels, pins, and disc, in contradistinction to the key on the

page_text: shaft and groove in the wheel, the wheel giving a rotary motion to the
doffer through the pins, in connection with the disc, and at the same
time serving as guide pins for giving the lateral reciprocating motion.
Ninth, the covering of the rubbing rollers with perforated or corrugated
leather, covered either the whole length, or in annular belts, or rings,
and blank spaces. Tenth, the peculiar mechanism for traversing the
rubbing rollers through the lever and rods, in connection with the
same eccentric. Eleventh, the zigzag wheel for traversing, as applied
to the doffer. Twelfth, the differential motion working the traverse in
connection with a surface drum, as applied to machinery in connection
with carding, piecing, or similar machines. Thirteenth, this particular
differential motion as applied to other machinery. Fourteenth, the
method of balancing the fall of the full bobbin at the surface drum
machine, and the peculiar arrangement of holding it in its place whilst
the bobbin is being removed. Fifteenth, the separate pullies on the
shaft for turning the tubes instead of a cylinder the whole length of the
machine. Sixteenth, the top rollers being fluted. Seventeenth, the
peculiar construction of the frame, by which I bring the rubbing rollers
to an angle with the sliver coming from the doffer. Eighteenth, the
use of five rubbing rollers in condensors for rolling and compressing.
the slivers, where narrow slivers are produced: Nineteenth, a fixed-
cylindrical roller covered with woollen cloth, or other soft material, for
cleaning the fluted roller. Twentieth, the method of bringing the
stragling fibres forward in a more straight and even form when a doffing
comb is used. Twenty-first, the same apparatus in conjunction with a
top roller or rollers, for the purpose of further sketching and drawing
the fibres from the card. Twenty-second, the narrow twisting strap
and guides. Twenty-third, the dividing of the sheets of sliver as re-
quired for feeding carding engines, having one doffer with narrow blank
spaces. Twenty-fourth, the double gear, double or two speed motion,
asapplied to self-acting mules. Twenty-fifth, the application of a twist
pully, with grooves of various diameters, for facilitations the change of
twist. Twenty-sixth, the application of a drum or cylinder, deriving its
motion from the back or contrary side of the driving strap. Twenty-.

page_text: seventh, the apparatus for backing-off, as described, in connection with
the strap pully and catch, which derives its power from the cylinder.
Twenty-eighth, the apparatus for backing off separately, the power being
derived from the momentum of the rim and twist pully alone. Twenty-
ninth, the application of the break or friction acting on the twist pully.
Thirtieth, the curved standards or bearings for adjusting the cylinder
ordrum to follow the promiscuous position of the strap. Thirty-first, the
mode of working the copping rail, so that whilst one end is falling the
other is being raised to make the faller wind the thread to the peculiar
form of the bobbin head. Thirty-second, the apparatus by which the
changing of the wheels are effected whilst working the copping plate,
and also the withdrawing of the catch box, in connection with the
gearing turning the surplus chain pully. Thirty-third, the peculiar
formed chain, either as compound or taper, composed of various sizes,
which, when being coiled one coil over another, forms a péculiar coil,
and which may be varied at pleasure, the uncoiling of which gives a
differential motion, and when in connection with a spindle will wind the
thread in a corresponding cone-like form. Thirty-four, the gearing in
connection with the surpluschainpully, which gearing derives itsmotion
from the delivery or front drawing rollers. Thirty-fifth, the apparatus
of curved lever and weight for the purpose of keeping the carriage up
when closed in, and the apparatus in connection with it for with-
drawing the catch box from the chain cylinder on the tin roller shaft.
Thirty-sixth, the application of a narrow pully on the rim shaft
between the loose pully and the pully used in connection with the
putting up motion, which may be either a friction or fast pully.
Thirty-seventh, the jointed stop, for the purpose of keeping the faller
in its place whilst spinning, and move out of the way whilst doffing.
Thirty-eighth, the adjusting screw for regulating the unlatching in
connection with the backing-off motion. Thirty-ninth, the inclined
plane on the latch rod, in connection with the cranked rod and pully,
and inclined fulcrum for lifting the latch to allow the catch box to
move into gear with the cylinder for turning the spindles whilst putting
up. Fortieth, the peculiar construction of the cylinder and flange on

page_text: which the chain is coiled, all of which improvements are particularly
described in this my Specification, and illustrated in the accompanying
six Sheets of Drawings. Forty-first, the latch lever, with goat hornand
spring for keeping the scroll out of gear until the last moment of the
carriage closing in.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edmund Leach, have set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-ninth of July, One thousand eight
hundred and fifty-three.
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the
within-named Edmund Leach in
the presence of
E. J. HUGHES,
Patent Agent,
EDMUND LEACH. (L.S.)
Manchester.