A NEW OR IMPROVED CON- TINUOUS SELF-FEEDING COTTON GIN
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Jules Alfred Chaufourier, of Paris, in the French
Empire, Advocate, for the Invention of "A NEW OR IMPROVED CON-
TINUOUS SELF-FEEDING COTTON GIN."
Sealed the 25th September 1869, and dated the 8th April 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Jules Alfred Chaufourier
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 8th April 1869.
I, JULES ALFRED CHAUFOURIER, of Paris, in the French Empire,
Advocate, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "A
NEW OR IMPROVED CONTINUOUS SELF-FEEDING COTTON GIN," to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to improvements in machinery for ginning
cotton, by means of which a continuous and self-acting feed is obtained.
The machine is of simple construction and is arranged so as to prevent
breakage of the fibres of cotton, and, further, does not require super-
vision, and one man may easily manage several machines in motion.

page_text: This improved gin is composed of a framing carrying the principal parts
consisting,-
1st. Of two ginning rollers of small diameter, between which the lap
of cotton passes deprived of the seeds which are discharged without
being crushed.
2ndly. Of two drawing rollers placed immediately behind the ginning
rollers, and serving to draw out the lap of cotton after it has been
deprived of the seeds.
3rdly. Of two cleaning rollers with flexible casings, which are kept
in constant contact with the drawing rollers for the purpose of cleaning
the same, and at same time preventing the lap of cotton from coiling
round said rollers.
4thly. Of an endless web travelling over rollers within a receptacle
and furnished with inclined card teeth, by the aid of which the cotton
is fed in a continuous manner to the ginning rollers. In order to obtain
a uniform lap on the endless web provided with the inclined card teeth
I provide a beater cylinder turning at a high speed and in the reverse
direction to the endless web, which beater by the aid of its arms or
pallets prevents any excessive quantity of raw material being presented
to the ginning rollers by the card teeth.
Lastly. I provide a fan at the upper part of the machine for intro-
ducing cold air to assist in the passage of the lap of cotton between the
ginning rollers, and at same time keep all the parts cooled and prevent
the heating of the cotton.
My Invention will be readily understood by reference to the
accompanying Drawing, which shows a central vertical section of an
improved cotton gin without any of the driving gear attached, which
may be arranged in any suitable manner.
a, framing of the machine carrying the whole of the working parts;
b, receptacle placed in front of the machine in which the raw unginned
cotton is placed. In this receptacle are mounted the rollers c, c¹, c³,
carrying an endless travelling web d provided with inclined card teeth,
by the aid of which a continuous self-acting feed of the material is
obtained. f, beater cylinder, to which a high speed is imparted in the
reverse direction to the motion of the endless web for the purpose of
ensuring a uniform thickness of material being presented to the ginning
rollers, and to prevent their becoming choked, the excess of material fed

page_text: by the endless web being returned to the receptacle; g, fan turning
at a high speed for injecting cold air on to the ginning rollers for the
purpose of cooling the same, and at same time prevent the cotton
becoming heated. This fan blast may also serve for directing the cotton
to the ginning rollers h, between which it passes in the form of a lap
deprived of the seeds. i, rollers for drawing out the lap of ginned
cotton; j, cleaning rollers covered with leather or other flexible material.
These rollers turn in contact with the drawing rollers i for the purpose of
cleaning the same, and at same time to prevent the cotton from coiling
on the drawing rollers. The lap of cotton is represented by the red line.
The following is the action of the machine:-The raw unginned cotton
is first placed in the receptacle 6 and the machine set in motion, the
endless travelling web d by means of its inclined card teeth then takes
up a quantity of the raw cotton, which is spread in a uniform thickness
by the beater f and presented to the action of the ginning rollers h,
while any seeds that may still adhere are prevented from passing
between said rollers h. The lap of cleaned cotton then passes between
the drawing rollers i and away out of the machine, while the seeds fall
into a receptacle provided for the purpose. It will be understood that
the ginning rollers h seize the cotton at the same rate as it is supplied
by the endless travelling web and deprive it of the seeds which fall into
the receptacle. It is then immediately seized a second time by the upper
drawing roller i between it and the lower ginning roller h. The cotton
is then again seized at a third point between the upper and lower
drawing rollers. The cotton being thus seized almost simultaneously
at these three points during the ginning operation is subjected to
constant pressure and a continuons drawing action throughout the
length of the fibre which is thus preserved entire. I would remark
that the endless web not only serves for feeding the ginning rollers, but
also to prevent their becoming choked by too large a supply of material
being fed in at a time, any excess being carried away by the circular
motion of the travelling web. I also reserve the right of using a small
beater or other suitable device, as before mentioned, for regulating the
supply of cotton to the ginning rollers.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Jules Alfred Chaufourier in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 29th September 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JULES
ALFRED CHAUFOURIER, of Paris, in the French Empire, Advocate, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of April, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the thirty-
second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Jules Alfred Chaufourier, Her special
licence that I, the said Jules Alfred Chaufourier, my executors, admi-
nistrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Jules Alfred
Chaufourier, 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, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an
Invention for "A NEW OR IMPROVED CONTINUOUS SELF-FEEDING COTTON GIN,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Jules Alfred
Chaufourier, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, 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 Jules Alfred Chaufourier, 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, reference being had to the Sheet
of Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked
thereon (that is to say):-
My Invention relates to improvements in machinery for ginning
cotton by means of which a continuous and self-acting feed is obtained.
The machine is of simple construction and is arranged so as to prevent
breakage of the fibres of cotton, and further does not require supervision,

page_text: and one man may easily manage several machines in motion. This
improved gin is composed of a framing carrying the principal parts
consisting,―
1st. Of two ginning rollers of small diameter between which the
lap of cotton passes deprived of the seeds which are discharged without
being crushed.
2ndly. Of two drawing rollers placed immediately behind the ginning
rollers and serving to draw out the lap of cotton after it has been
deprived of the seeds.
3rdly. Of two cleaning rollers with flexible casings which are kept
in constant contact with the drawing rollers for the purpose of cleaning
the same, and at same time preventing the lap of cotton from coiling
round said rollers.
4thly. Of an endless web travelling over rollers within a receptacle
and furnished with inclined card teeth, by the aid of which the cotton
is fed in a continuous manner to the ginning rollers. In order to obtain
a uniform lap on the endless web provided with the inclined card
teeth I provide a beater cylinder turning at a high speed and in the
reverse direction to the endless web, which beater by the aid of its
arms or pallets prevents any excessive quantity of raw material being
presented to the ginning rollers by the card teeth.
Lastly. I provide a fan at the upper part of the machine for intro-
ducing cold air between the ginning rollers and, serving at same time
to keep all the parts cooled and prevent the heating of the cotton.
My Invention will be readily understood by reference to the
accompanying Drawings.
In Figure 1 which is a central vertical section of the gin I have
shown only the principal parts without any of the driving gear attached.
a, framing of the machine carrying the whole of the working parts;
b, receptacle placed in front of the machine in which the raw unginned
cotton is placed. In this receptacle are mounted the rollers c, c', c,
carrying an endless travelling web d provided with inclined card teeth, by
the aid of which a continuous self-acting feed of the material is obtained
f, beater cylinder to which a high speed is imparted in the reverse direction
to the motion of the endless web for the purpose of ensuring a uniform
thickness of material being presented to the ginning rollers and to
prevent their becoming choked, the excess of material fed by the endless

page_text: web being returned to the receptacle; g, fan, turning at a high speed
for injecting cold air on to the ginning rollers for the purpose of cooling
the same, and at same time prevent the cotton becoming heated.
This fan blast may also serve for directing the cotton to the ginning
rollers h, between which it passes in the form of a lap deprived of
the seeds; i, rollers for drawing out the lap of ginned cotton; j, cleaning
rollers covered with leather or other flexible material. These rollers
turn in contact with the drawing rollers i for the purpose of cleaning
the same and at same time to prevent the cotton from coiling on the
drawing rollers. The lap of cotton is represented by the red line.
The following is the action of the machine:-Thé raw or unginned
cotton is first placed in the receptacle 6, and the machine set in motion.
The endless travelling web d, by means of its inclined card teeth then
takes up a quantity of the raw cotton, which is spread in a uniform
thickness by the beater f, and presented to the action of the ginning
rollers h, while any seeds that may still adhere are prevented from passing
between said rollers h. The lap of cleaned cotton then passes between
the Drawing rollers i, and away out of the machine, while the seeds fall
into a receptacle provided for the purpose. It will be understood that
the ginning rollers h seize the cotton at the same rate as it is supplied
by the endless travelling web, and deprive it of the seeds. It is then
immediately seized a second time by the upper drawing roller i between
it and the lower ginning roller h. The cotton is then again seized at a
third point between the upper and lower drawing rollers. The cotton
being thus seized almost simultaneously at these three points during the
ginning operation is subjected to constant pressure and a continuous
drawing action throughout the length of the fibre, which is thus pre-
served entire. I would remark that the endless web not only serves for
feeding the ginning rollers, but also to prevent their becoming choked
by too large a supply of material being fed in at a time, any excess being
carried away by the circular motion of the travelling web. I also
reserve the right of using a small beater or other suitable device, as
herein-after described, for regulating the supply of cotton to the ginning
rollers.
Having now described the action of the working parts of the improved
machine I will proceed to explain the mode of imparting motion to the
various parts as they would be actually arranged in practice.
In the Drawing I have only shown one stripping cylinder instead of

page_text: two, it being placed between the two drawing rollers which it strips, and
also serves to open the cotton. As the endless web before referred to
would require to be placed at varying distances from the ginning rollers
I employ a stretcher or other means for keeping said endless web in
constant tension. I have also shown a small beater for detaching the
cotton raised by the endless web.
Figure 2 of the Drawings shows a side elevation of the improved
machine, and Figure 3 a section on line 1, 2, Figure 4, which is a plan
of the machine. The same letters of reference indicate like parts in all
the Figures. m, driving shaft, turning in bearings in the side frames;
this shaft may either be driven by hand by means of a crank, or by a
strap passing round pulley n; o, loose pulley; p, toothed wheel, keyed
at one end of driving shaft m. The wheel p gears with a smaller
toothed wheel q, keyed on one end of a shaft », for imparting motion
thereto. At the other end of this shaft is keyed a large wheels, gearing
with a pinion t, Figure 4, keyed on one end of the fan shaft u. The
latter, by the arrangement of gearing above described, may be driven at
the desired speed. A small pinion is keyed on one end of the lower
ginning roller h, gearing with wheel 8. The other end of roller h
also carries a pinion (seen in Figure 1) which gears with a pinion of
the same diameter, keyed on the end of the upper ginning cylinder h
(Figure 4). In this manner said ginning cylinders are caused to rotate
in opposite directions, as indicated by the arrows, Figures 1 and 3. A
pinion (Figure 1) is also keyed in front of pinion v, gearing with a
pinion y, keyed on the end of the lower drawing roller j. Lastly, there
is a pinion keyed on lower drawing roller behind the pinion g, and
gearing with a pinion z, keyed on one end of the upper drawing roller i.
These gearing wheels serve to drive the ginning and drawing rollers in
the direction indicated by the arrows.
I will now describe the mode of transmitting motion to the endless
web provided with card teeth, and also to the beater cylinder, cleaning
roller, and reed. a', Figure 3, reed mounted on an axis turning
in bearings on the framing, to which reed an oscillating motion is
imparted for freeing the cotton carried along by the endless web, so as to
facilitate the seizure of the lap by the ginning rollers h. b¹, fork keyed
on one end of the shaft of reed a¹; d', pulley turning on a spindle
carried on the framing, said pulley being provided with an eccentric pin
or stud e, engaging in fork 6'; f¹, pulley keyed on the end of fan

page_text: shaft ; g, pulley keyed on the end of cleaning roller j; h', pulley
keyed on the end of beater f. An endless band or strap passing round
the pullies f, g, d, and h, as shown in Figure 2, serves for communi-
cating rotary motion to the beater cylinder f and clearing roller j,
in the direction indicated by the arrows. This endless band further
communicates to-and-fro motion to the reed a¹ by the aid of pulley d³,
pin e', and fork b¹.
I will next describe the mode of transmitting motion to the
pullies c, c, c, carrying the endless web d, having inclined card
teeth., pulley mounted at the lower part of the framing or recep-
tacle b. On the axis of this pulley is mounted a small pinion j¹, gearing
with a toothed wheel, keyed on one end of the shaft of lower roller c",
round which web d passes. Pulley is set in motion by a band, which
also passes round a pulley 1, keyed on one end of shaft r, the latter
being driven as herein-before described. I may, if desired, dispense with
pulley, pinion j', and toothed wheel k³, and transmit the motion to
roller by means of a band from pulley to a pulley keyed on the
axis of said roller c³. m³, Figure 2, screw for adjusting the position of
roller c, and consequently of the inclined card teeth of the endless web
with regard to the ginning rollers, so as to leave sufficient space between
the ginning rollers and roller c to allow the seeds to fall through, the
latter varying in size according to the kind of cotton. n¹, Figure 3,
partition plate, on one side of which the seeds fall, and on the other the
ginned cotton. I may, if desirable, employ a stretcher for keeping the
endless web d at a uniform tension on rollers c, c', c³, for ensuring its
continuous motion, notwithstanding the adjustment of roller c above
described. o', Figure 3, roller placed at the end of two oscillating arms,
which are adjusted at an angle more or less, so that the roller will bear
against the inside of the endless web and keep it stretched at the moment
of adjusting roller c, as before explained. This stretcher is adjusted in
position by means of a crank p' and ratchet and pawl q', r, mounted
outside the framing.
I also reserve the right of adding an endless apron &¹ (shown in dotted
lines in Figure 3) at the bottom of receptacle 6, and to which motion is
imparted for supplying the raw or unginned cotton to the card teeth d,
so as to ensure a continuous feed. Instead of this arrangement the side
of the receptacle 6 may be inclined with the same object of keeping up
the supply of raw cotton to the card teeth.

page_text: Having described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I declare that what I claim as my Invention, to be
protected by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, -
1st. Producing a continuous self-acting feed of the cotton to be
ginned in the form of a lap by the employment of an endless web d,
having inclined card teeth, substantially as shown and described.
2ndly. I claim the application of a beater f for regulating the
thickness of the lap on the card teeth, as herein-before described.
3rdly. I claim the combination and arrangement of ginning
cylinders h, h, drawing rollers i, i, and one or more stripping or cleaning
rollers j, as shown and described.
4thly. I claim the application of a fan 9 for injecting cold air for
cooling the cylinders and preventing the heating of the cotton, all as
herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Jules Alfred Chaufourier, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of
September, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and sixty-nine.
J. A. CHAUFOURIER. (L.S.)