Drawing frameThe drawing frame, as shown in section infigs.328.330., and in a back view infig.329., will require, after the above details, little further explanation.l lare the weights which press down the top rollers upon the under ones, by means of the rodskk′and hooki. Each fluted roller is, as shown atf,fig.329., provided in the middle of its length with a thinner smooth part called theneck, whereby it is really divided into two fluted portions, represented bye ein the figure. Upon this middle neck in the pressure rollers, the hookiand the saddlehimmediately bear, as shown in the formerfig.328.The card-ends, to the number probably of six, are introduced to the drawing frame either from tin cans, placed ate e,fig.330., and atA,fig.329., or from lap-bobbins; and, after passing through it, the ribands or slivers are received either into similar tin cans, asg, or upon other lap-bobbins upon the other side. These appendages may be readily conceived, and are therefore not exhibited in all the drawings. Three of the slivers being laid together, are again introduced to the one fluted portiona b,fig.328., and three other slivers to the other portion. The sloping curved tin or brass plates,fig.329., with its guide pinst, serves to conduct the slivers to the rollers. When the two threefold slivers have passed through between the three pairs of rollers, and been thereby properly drawn, they run towards each other in an oblique direction, behind the last roller paire f,fig.328., and unite, on issuing through theconical funnelm,fig.329., into a single riband or spongy sliver; which is immediately carried off with equable velocity by two smooth cast-iron rollers,n o,fig.329.and330.and either dropped into a can, or wound upon a large bobbin. The surface speed of these rollers is made a trifle greater than that of the delivery drawing rollers, in order to keep the portion of sliver between them always in an extended state. Four fluted drawing portions are usually mounted in one drawing frame, which are set a-going or at rest together. To save all unnecessary carrying of the cans from the back to the front of the frame, the drawing heads are so placed, that the first and third, discharge their slivers at the one side, and the second and fourth at the other. By this arrangement, the cans filled behind one head, are directly pushed aside in front of the next drawing head; by which alternate distribution the work goes on without interruption.Thefastpulleyu,fig.330., by which the whole machine is driven, derives its motion from the main shaft of the mill by means of the bandw. The similar pulleyx, which sits loose upon the axis, and turns independently of it, is called the loose pulley; both together being technically styledriggers. When the operative desires to stop the machine, he transfers the band from the fast to the loose pulley by means of a lever, bearing a fork at its end, which embraces the band. Upony, four pulleys such asxare fixed, each of which sets in motion a drawing head, by means of a band likewgoing round the pulleysxandu. On account of the inverted position of the heads, which requires the motion ofuto be inverted, the bands of the first and third heads are open, but those of the second and fourth are crossed. Every head is provided with a loose pulleyv, as well as the fast pulleyu, in order to make the one stop or move without affecting the others. The shaft of the pulleyuis the prolonged shaft of the backmost fluted rollerf. It carries besides a small pulleyq, which, by means of the bandr, and the pulleyp,fig.329., sets in motion the undermost condensing rollero. The upper rollern, presses with its whole weight upon it, and therefore turns by friction. The toothed wheel-work, by which the motions are communicated from the backmost fluted roller to the middle and front ones, are seen infig.330.The wheelf,fig.328., of 20 teeth, works in a 44-toothed carrier-wheel, on whose axis there are two smaller wheels; 2 with 26 teeth, and 1 with 22 teeth. The wheeld,fig.330., of the middle roller, and the wheelbof the front roller, are set in motion by other carrier wheels; the first has 27 teeth, and the last 40. For every revolution ofb, the rollerdmakes nearly 13⁄4turns, and the rollerf, 4 revolutions. The top rollers revolve, as we have stated, simply by the friction of contact with the lower ones. Now suppose the diameter of the rollersbanddto be 1 inch or 12 lines, that off, 11⁄4inches or 15 lines, the surface velocities of the three pairs of rollers in the series will be as 1, 13⁄4, and 5. Every inch of the cotton sliver will be therefore extended between the first and second pair of rollers into 13⁄4inches, and between the second and third or delivery pair into 5 inches; and after the sliver has passed through all the four drawing heads, its length will be increased 625 times = 5 × 5 × 5 × 5.The further the drawing process is pushed, the more perfectly will its object be accomplished; namely the parallelism of the filaments. The fineness of the appearance of the sliver after the last draught depends upon the number of doublings conjointly with the original fineness and number of drawings. The degree of extension may be increased or diminished, by changing the wheels infig.330., for others with a different number of teeth. Thus the grist or fineness of the sliver may be modified in any desired degree; for, when the subsequent processes of the mill remain the same, the finer the drawings the finer will be the yarn. For spinning coarse numbers or low counts, for example, six card-ends are usually transmitted through the first drawing head, and converted into one riband. Six such ribands again form one in the second draught; six of these again go together into the third sliver; and this sliver passes five-fold through the last draught. By this combination 1080 of the original card-ends are united in the finished drawn sliver = 6 × 6 × 6 × 5. The fineness of the sliver is, however, in consequence of these doublings not increased but rather diminished. For, by the drawing, the card-end has been made 625 times longer, and so much smaller; by the doubling alone it would have become 1080 times thicker; therefore the original grist is to the present as 1, to the fraction625⁄1080; that is, supposing 1072 feet of the riband delivered by the card to weigh one pound, 625 feet, the sliver of the last drawing, will also weigh a pound, which corresponds in fineness to number 0·24, or nearly1⁄4.The rearmost or last drawing roller has a circumference of nearly 4 inches, and makes about 150 revolutions per minute; hence, each of these drawing heads may turn off 35,000 feet of sliver in 12 hours.Some manufacturers have lately introduced a double roller beam, and a double draught at the same doubling, into their drawing frames. I have seen this contrivance working satisfactorily in mills where low counts were spun, and where the tube roving frame was employed; but I was informed by competent judges, that it was not advisable where a level yarn was required for good printing calicoes.The loss which the cotton suffers in the drawing frame is quite inconsiderable. It consists of those filaments which remain upon the drawing rollers, and collect, in a great measure, upon the flannel facing of the top and bottom cleaner bars. It is thrown among the top cleanings of the carding engine. When from some defect in the rollers, or negligence in piecing the running slivers, remarkably irregular portions occur in the ribands, these must be torn off, and returned to the lap machine to be carded anew.The fifth operation may be called thefirst spinning process, as in it, the cotton sliver receives a twist; whether the twist be permanent as in the bobbin and fly frame, or be undone immediately, as in the tube-roving machine. In fact, the elongated slivers of parallel filaments could bear little further extension without breaking asunder, unless the precaution were taken to condense the filaments by a slight convolution, and at the same time to entwine them together. The twisting should positively go no further than to fulfil the purpose of giving cohesion, otherwise it would place an obstacle in the way of the future attenuation into level thread. The combination of drawing and twisting is what mainly characterizes the spinning processes, and with this fifth operation therefore commences the formation of yarn. As however a sudden extension to the wished-for fineness is not practicable, the draught is thrice repeated in machine spinning, and after each draught a new portion of torsion is given to the yarn, till at last it possesses the degree of fineness and twist proportioned to its use.The preliminary spinning process is calledroving. At first the torsion is slight in proportion to the extension, since the solidity of the still coarse sliver needs that cohesive aid only in a small degree, and looseness of texture must be maintained to facilitate to the utmost the further elongation.Roving frameFig.331.is a section of the can roving frame, the ingenious invention of Arkwright, which till within these 14 years was the principal machine for communicating the incipient torsion to the spongy cord furnished by the drawing heads. It differs from that frame in nothing but the twisting mechanism; and consists of two pairs of drawing rollers,aandb, between which the sliver is extended in the usual way;care brushes for cleaning the rollers; anddis the weight which presses the upper set upon the lower. The wiping covers (not shown here) rest upona b. The surface speed of the posterior or second pair of rollers is 3, 4, or 5 times greater than that of the front or receiving pair, according to the desired degree of attenuation. Two drawn slivers were generally united into one by this machine, as is shown in the figure, where they are seen coming from the two canse e, to be brought together by the pressure rollers, before they reach the drawing rollersa b. The sliver, as it escapes from these rollers, is conducted into the revolving conical lanterng, through the funnelfat its top. This lantern-can receives its motion by means of a cord passing over a pulleyk, placed a little way above the step on which it turns. The motion is steadied by the collet of the funnelf, being embraced by a brass busk. Such a machine generally contained four drawing heads, each mounted with two lanterns; in whose side there was a door for taking out the conical coil of roving.The motion imparted to the back roller by the band pulley or riggerm, was conveyed to the front one by toothed wheel work.The vertical guide pulley at bottomn, served to lead the driving band descending from the top of the frame round the horizontal whorl or pulley upon the under end of the lantern. The operation of this can-frame was pleasing to behold; as the centrifugal force served both to distribute the soft cord in a regular coil, and also to condense a great deal of it most gently within a moderate space. Whenever the lantern was filled, the tenter carried the roving to a simple machine, where it was wound upon bobbins by hand. Notwithstanding every care in this transfer, the delicate texture was very apt to be seriously injured, so as to cause corresponding injuries in every subsequent operation, and in the finished yarn. Messrs. Cocker and Higgins, of Salford, had the singular merit, as I have said, of superseding that beautiful but defective mechanism, which had held a prominent place in all cotton mills from almost the infancy of the factory system, by the following apparatus.The Bobbin and Fly frameis now the great roving machine of the cotton manufacture;to which may be added, for coarse spinning, the tube roving frame. Of such a complicated machine as the bobbin and fly frame, it is not possible to give an adequately detailed description in the space due to the subject in this Dictionary. Its mechanical combinations are however so admirable as to require such an account as will make its functions intelligible by the general reader.Bobbin and fly frameFig. 332 enlarged(367 kB)Fig.332.exhibits a back view of this machine; andfig.333.a section of some of the parts not very visible in the former figure. The back of the machine is the side at which the cotton is introduced between the drawing rollers.Detail of machineThe cans, or lap-bobbins filled with slivers at the drawing frame, are placed in the situation markedB,fig.333., in rows parallel with the length of the machine. The sliver of each can or the united slivers of two contiguous cans are conducted upwards along the surface of a sloping boardf, and through an iron staple or guidee, betwixt the usual triple pair of drawing rollers, the first of which is indicated bya,b. Infig.332., for the purpose of simplifying the figure, the greater part of these rollers and their subordinate parts are omitted. After the slivers have been sufficiently extended and attenuated between the rollers, they proceed forwards, towards the spindlesi i i, where they receive the twist, and are wound upon the bobbinsh. The machine delineated contains thirty spindles, but many bobbin and fly frames contain double or even four times that number. Only a few of the spindles are shown infig.332., for fear of confusing the drawing.Fluted rollersWith regard to the drawing functions of this machine, I have already given abundantexplanation, so far as the properties and operation of the rollers are concerned. The frame-work of this part of the machine, called theroller-beam, is a cast iron bench, upon which nine bearersc, are mounted for carrying the rollers. The fluted rollersa a a,fig.334., are constructed in four pieces for the whole length, which are parted from each other by thinner smooth cylindric portionsz, called necks. Seven such partings for four rollers, and one parting for two rollers, constitute together the 30 fluted rollers of which the whole series consists. The coupling of these roller subdivisions into one cylinder, is secured by the square holesx, and square pinsy,fig.334., which fit into the holes of the adjoining subdivision. The top or pressure rollersb, are two-fold over the whole set; and the weighted saddle presses upon the neckw, which connects every pair, as was already explained underfig.329.These weightsg,g,fig.333., are applied in this as in thedrawing frame;d, are the bars faced with flannel for cleaning the top rollers. A similar bar is applied beneath the rollers, to keep the flutings clean.SpindleThe structure and operation of the spindlesi, may be best understood by examining the sectionfig.335.They are made of iron, are cylindrical from the top down toa2, but from this part down to the steel tipt rounded points they are conical. Upon this conical portion there is a pulleyk, furnished with two grooves in its circumference, in which the cord runs that causes the spindle to revolve. The wooden bobbinh, is slid upon the cylindrical part, which must move freely upon it, as will be presently explained. To the bobbin another two-grooved pulley or whorlqis made fast by means of a pinr, which passes through it; by removing this pin, the bobbin can be instantly taken off the spindle. The upper end of the spindle bears a forks t, which may be taken off at pleasure by means of its left-handed screw; this fork or flyer, has a funnel-formed hole atv. One arm of the fork is a tubes,u, open at top and bottom; the legt, is added merely as a counterpoise to the other. Infig.333., for the sake of clearness, the forks or flyers of the two spindles here represented are left out; and infig.332.only one is portrayed for the same reason. It is likewise manifest from a comparison of these two figures that the spindles are alternately placed in two rows, so that each spindle of the back range stands opposite the interval between two in the front range. The object of this distribution is economy of space, as the machine would need to be greatly longer if the spindles stood all in one line. If we suppose the spindles and the bobbins (both of which have independent motions) to revolve simultaneously and in the same direction, their operation will be as follows: The sliver properly drawn by the fluted rollers, enters the opening of the funnelv, proceeds thence downwards through the hole in the arm of the fork, runs along its tubeu,s, and then winds round the bobbin. This path is marked infig.335.by a dotted line.The revolution of the spindles in the above circumstances effects the twisting of the sliver into a soft cord; and the flyers,t, or particularly its tubular arms, lays this cord upon the bobbin. Were the speed of the bobbins equal to that of the spindles, that is, did the bobbin and spindle make the same number of turns in the same time, the process would be limited to mere twisting. But the bobbin anticipates the flyers a little, that is, it makes in a given time a somewhat greater number of revolutions than the spindle, and thereby effects the continuous winding of the cord upon itself. Suppose the bobbin to make 40 revolutions, while the spindle completes only 30; 30 of these revolutions of the bobbin will be inoperative towards the winding-on, because the flyers follow at that rate, so that the cord or twisted sliver will only be coiled 10 times round the bobbin, and the result as to the winding-on will be the same as if the spindle had stood still, and the bobbin had made 40 - 30 = 10 turns. The 30 turns of the spindles serve, therefore, merely the purpose of communicating twist.The mounting and operation of the spindles are obviously the same as they are upon the household flax wheel. In the bobbin and fly frame there are some circumstances which render the construction and the winding-on somewhat difficult, and the mechanism not a little complicated. It may be remarked in the first place, that as the cord is wound on, the diameter of the bobbin increases very rapidly, and therefore every turn made round it causes a greater length of roving to be taken up in succession. Were the motions of the bobbins to continue unchanged in this predicament, the increased velocity of the winding-on would require an increased degree of extension, or it wouldoccasion the rupture of the cord, because the front fluted rollers move with uniform speed, and therefore deliver always the same length of sliver in the same time. It is therefore necessary to diminish the velocity of the bobbins, or the number of their turns, in the same proportion as their diameter increases, in order that the primary velocity may remain unchanged. Moreover, it is requisite for the proper distribution of the cord upon the bobbin, and the regular increase of its diameter, that two of its successive convolutions should not be applied over each other, but that they should be laid close side by side. This object is attained by the up and down sliding motion of the bobbin upon the spindle, to the same extent as the length of the bobbin barrel. This up and down motion must become progressively slower, since it increases the diameter of the bobbin at each range, by a quantity equal to the diameter of the sliver. What has now been stated generally, will become more intelligible by an example.Let it be assumed that the drawing rollers deliver, in 10 seconds, 45 inches of roving, and that this length receives 30 twists. The spindles must, in consequence, make 30 revolutions in 10 seconds, and the bobbins must turn with such speed, that they wind up the 45 inches in 10 seconds. The diameter of the bobbin barrels being 11⁄2inches, their circumference of course 41⁄2inches, they must make 10 revolutions more in the same time than the spindles. The effective speed of the bobbins will be thus 30 + 10 = 40 turns in 10 seconds. Should the bobbins increase to 3 inches diameter, by the winding-on of the sliver, they will take up 9 inches at each turn, and consequently 45 inches in 5 turns. Their speed should therefore be reduced to 30 + 5 = 35 turns in 10 seconds. In general, the excess in number of revolutions, which the bobbins must make over the spindles, is inversely as the diameter of the bobbins. The speed of the bobbins must remain uniform during the period of one ascent or descent upon the spindle, and must diminish at the instant of changing the direction of their up and down motion; because a fresh range of convolutions then begins with a greater diameter. When, for example, 30 coils of the sliver or roove are laid in one length of the bobbin barrel, the bobbin must complete its vertical movement up or down, within 30 seconds in the first case above mentioned, and within 60 seconds in the second case.The motions of the drawing rollers, the spindles, and bobbins, are produced in the following manner:—A shaftc′,fig.332.and333., extending the whole length of the machine, and mounted with a fly wheeld′, is set in motion by a band from the running pulley upon the shaft of the mill, which actuates the pulleya′.b′is the loose pulley upon which the band is shifted when the machine is set at rest. Within the pulleya′, but on the outside of the frame, the shaftc′carries a toothed wheelb2with 50 teeth, which by means of the intermediate wheelc2turns the wheeld2upon the prolonged shaft of the backmost fluted roller (m2,fig.333.) This wheeld2has usually 54 teeth; but it may be changed when the roove is to receive more or less twist; for as the spindles revolve with uniform velocity, they communicate the more torsion the less length of sliver is delivered by the rollers in a given time. Upon the same shaft withd2, a pinione2of 32 teeth is fixed, which works in a wheelf2of 72 teeth. Within the frame a change piniong2is made fast to the shaft off2. This pinion, which has usually from 24 to 28 teeth, regulates the drawing, and thereby the fineness or number of the roving. It works in a 48-toothed wheelh2upon the end of the backmost fluted rollera,fig.333.The other extremity of the same roller, or, properly speaking, line of rollers, carries a pinionl2, furnished with 26 teeth, which, by means of the broad intermediate wheelk2, sets in motion the pinioni′2of 22 teeth upon the middle roller. When the diameter of all the drawing rollers is the same, suppose 1 inch, their proportional velocities will be, with the above number of teeth in the wheel work, ifg2have 24 teeth, as 1 : 1·18 : 4·5; and the drawn sliver will have 41⁄2times its original length. The front or delivery roller of the drawing frame is of late years usually made 11⁄4or 13⁄8inches in diameter. If 625 feet of the sliver from the drawing frame weighed one pound, 2790 feet of the roving will now go to this weight, and the number will be 1·12; that is, 1 hank and 12 hundredths to the pound. The front pair of fluted rollers makes about 90 revolutions, and delivers 282·6 inches of roving in the minute, when of one inch diameter.The spindlesi, (fig.332.and333.), rest, with their lower ends, in stepsl, which are fixed in an immoveable beam or barm. To protect it from dust and cotton filaments, this beam is furnished with a wooden covern, in which there are small holes for the passage of the spindles right over the steps. Infig.332., two of the eight coversn, which compose the whole rangem, are removed to let the steps be seen. The cylindrical part of each spindle passes through a brass ringo; and all these 30 rings, whose centres must be vertically over the stepsl, are made fast to the copping beamp. This beam is so called, because it is destined not merely to keep the spindles upright by the rings attached to it, but, at the same time, to raise and lower along the spindles the bobbinswhich rest on these rings; for which purpose the two racks, or toothed barsm2m2, made fast to it, are designed, as will be presently explained. To effect the revolution of the spindles, there are attached to the main shaftc′two whorls or pulleyse′f′, each bearing four grooves of equal diameter. Each of these pulleys puts one half of the spindles in motion, by means of a cord, which, after going round the whorlsk, turns four times about the pulleys of the shaftc′. Two guide pulleysh′, each four-grooved, and two othersi′, with a single groove, which turn independently of the others, upon the above shaft, serve to give the whorl cords the proper direction, as well as to keep them tight. The spindles revolve 200 times or thereby in the minute; and therefore impart two turns or twists to every three inches of the roving.The revolution of the bobbins is independent of that of the spindles, although it likewise proceeds from the shaftc′, and differs from it in being a continually retarded motion. The simplest method of effecting this motion, is by means of the wooden or tin plate conek′′, which revolves equally with the shaftc′, and at the same time slides along it.Cone to drive bobbinThe manner in which this operates is shown in section infig.336.Here, we perceive the rodq2, which extends from the base towards the narrow end of the truncated cone, andp2a forked bearer or carrier made fast to the shaftc′by a screw, which compels the cone by means of that rod, to obey the movements ofc′. In the large end of the cone there is an aperture, through which the bearer can be got at. The smaller end carries outside a projectiono2, provided with a groove, which is embraced by the forked end of a rodq′,fig.337., that serves to shove the cone along upon the shaftc′. Directly under the cone, there is an upright round pillarp′, upon which the holdero′of the two guide pulleysl′is adjustable. A barr2placed along-side of the holder, prevents its turning round, but allows it to slide alongp′by friction. The weight of the holder and the pulley is sufficient to distend the endless bandn′, which runs from the conek′, through under the pulleyl′, and round the small drumm′on the shafts2. A pulley or whorlt2with four grooves, is made fast by means of a tube to this shaft, and slides along it backwards and forwards, without ever ceasing to follow its revolutions. The shaft possesses for this purpose a long fork, and the interior of the tube a corresponding tongue or catch. There is besides upon the tube beneath the pulley, atu2, a groove that goes round it, in which the staple or forked end of an arm likev2,fig.333., made fast to the copping beamp, catches. By the up and down movement of that beam, the pulleyt2takes along with it the arm that embraces the tube, which therefore rises and falls equally with the bobbinsh′, and their pulleys or whorlsq. This is requisite, since the bobbins are made to revolve by the pulleyst2, by means of 2 endless cords or bands.Bobbin adjustmentThe most intricate part of the mechanism is the adjustment, by which the revolution of the bobbins is continually retarded, and their up and down, or copping motion, along the spindles, is also retarded in like proportion. The vertical pulleyf′, (towards the left end of the shaftc′) has at its right side a somewhat largerdiscor sheaveg′, with a perfectly uniform, but not a very smooth surface. Upon this sheave, a smaller horizontal pulleyx′rubs, whose upper face is covered with leather to increase the friction. The under end of the shafty2of the pulleyx′turns in a step, which is so connected with the armv′of the large bent levert′v′, that it always stands horizontally, whateverdirection the arms of that lever may assume. The shafty2is steadied at top by an annular holder or bush, which embraces the fast armx2with its forked end. Upon its opposite side, this arm carries a pulleyy2, upon which a cord goes, that is made fast to the holder of the shafty2, and loaded with the weightz′. The weight presses the pulleyx′against the surface ofg′, in such wise as to effect the degree of friction necessary in order that the revolution ofg′may produce an uninterrupted revolution inx′. A pinionw′, whose length must be equal at least to the semi-diameter of the sheaveg′, is placed upon the under end of the shafty2. It has 22 teeth, and takes into a 62-toothed horizontal wheelz2. Upon the upper end of this wheel the conical piniona3is made fast, which may be changed for changing the speed, but usually has from 28 to 30 teeth. By this pinion the conical wheelb3is turned, which has 30 teeth, and whose shaft isc3. This shaft carries upon its opposite end a six-leaved pinion,d3, which takes into the calender wheelf3, formed with cogs like a trundle, upon the long shafte3. Infig.338.the wheelf3is exhibited with its piniond3. Here we may remark that in the circumference of the wheel there is a vacant place,g3, void of teeth. When by the motion of the wheel, the pinion comes opposite to this opening, it turns round about the last tooth of the wheel, falls into the inside of the toothed circle marked by the dotted lines, and thus gives now an inverse movement to the wheelf3, while itself revolves always in the same direction. This reversed motion continues till the openingg3comes once more opposite to the pinion, when this turns round about the last tooth of that side, and begins again to work in the exterior teeth. Thus, by the uniform motion ofd3and its dependent parts, the wheelf3, with its shafte3, revolves alternately to the right hand and the left. That this result may ensue, the shaftc3of the pinion must be able to slide endwise, without losing its hold ofa3andb3. This adjustment is effected by placing the end of the said shaft, nearestb3, in a box or holderi3, in which it can turn, and which forms a vertical tube to this box, as a downward prolongation which is fixed to the tail of the conical piniona3.Fig.339.shows this construction in section upon an enlarged scale. The second bearer of the shaft nearestd3, must possess likewise the means of lateral motion. When therefore the piniond3shifts through the opening of the wheelf3outwards or inwards, its shaftc3, makes a corresponding small angular motion upon the pivot ofa3, by means of the tubei3;a3andb3remain thereby completely in geer with one another.The above-described alternate revolutions of the wheelf3serve to produce the up and down motions of the bobbins. The shafte3has for this purpose two pinionsn2n2, which work in the rack teethm2m2of the copping railp, and thus alternately raise and sink it with the bobbins which rest upon it. The weight of the copping beam and all its dependent parts, is poised by two counterweightsm4, whose cords run over the pulleyso4o4o4,fig.332., and have their ends made fast to the frame, so as to make the upwards motion as easy as the downwards. The two upper pulleys out of the three of each weight, are fixed to the frame; the under one, round which the cord first runs, is attached to the copping beam, rising and falling along with it.Figs. 340 and 341 enlarged(78 kB)As long as the friction discx′remains at the same height, the pulleyg′derives its motion from the same circle of the said disc, and the up and down motion of the copping beam is also uniform. But when that disc ascends so as to describe with its edge a small circle upon the face ofg′, its motion must become proportionally more slow. This is the method, or principle of retarding the copping motions of the bobbins. It has been shown, however, that the rotation of the bobbins should be also retarded in a progressive manner. This object is effected by means of the conek′, which, as the bandn′progressively approaches towards its smaller diameter, drives the pulleys or whorlsqof the bobbins with decreasing speed, though itself moves uniformly quick with the shaftc′. To effect this variation, the cone is shifted lengthwise along its shaft, while the band running upon it remains continually in the same vertical plane, and is kept distended by the weight of the pulleyo′. The following mechanism serves to shift the cone, which maybe best understood by the aid of thefigures 340.,341., and337.A long cast iron barm3, which bears two horizontal projecting puppets,o3o3, is made fast to the front upright face of the copping beamA. Through the above puppets a cylindrical rodn3passes freely, which is left out infig.337., that the parts lying behind it may be better seen. Upon this rod there is a kind of fork,p3p3, to which the alternating rack barsq3are made fast. The teeth of these racks are at unequal distances from each other, and are so arranged, that each tooth of the under side corresponds to the space between two teeth in the upper side. Their number depends upon the number of coils of roving that may be required to fill a bobbin; and consists in the usual machines of from 20 to 22. The rodn3may be shifted in the puppeto3, like the forkp3of the rack-rod, upon the rodn3, and along the surface ofm3, where two wingsu3u3are placed, to keep the fork in a straight direction. Upon the barm3, there are the pivots or fulcra of two stop catchesw3x3, of which the uppermost presses merely by its own weight, but the undermost by means of a counterweighty3, against the rack, and causes them thus to fall in between the teeth. Infig.341.,v3shows the pivot of the catch or detentw3by itself, the detent itself being omitted, to render the construction plainer. A pushing rodl3, upon which there is a pin above ats3, that passes behind the rack rod, between this and the barm3, has for its object to remove at pleasure the one or the other of the two catches; the upper, when the upper end of the rod pushes against it; the under, by means of the above mentioned pins3. Both the catches are never raised at once, but either the under or the upper holds the rack bar fast, by pressing against one of the teeth. The vertical motion up or down, which the rodl3must take to effect the lifting of the catches, is given to it from the copping beamp; since upon it a horizontal armv2,fig.341., is fixed, that lays hold of that rod. Upon the pushing rod are two rings,h3andk3, each made fast by a screw. When the copping beam is in the act of going up, the armv3at the end of this movement, pushes against the ringh3, raises up the rodl3, and thus removes the catchw3,fig.337., from the teeth of the rodq3, before which it lies flat. At the descent of the copping rail,v2meets the ringk3, when the motion in this direction is nearly completed, draws down the rodl3a little, by means of the same, and thereby effects the removal of the catchx3,fig.337., from the rodq3. Every time that one of the catches is lifted, the rack recovers its freedom to advance a little bit in the direction of the arrow; so far, namely, till the other catch lays hold upon the tooth that next meets it. The reason is thus manifest why the teeth of the upper and under sides of the barq3are not right opposite to each other, but in an alternate position.From the rack-bar, the sliding of the conek′, and the raising of the shafty2, each by minute steps at a time, is produced as follows:—A large rectangular levert1,v1, whose centre of motion is atp4, has at the upper end of its long armt1, a long slot through which a studr3upon the rackq3goes (fig.340.,341.,337.,) so that the lever must follow the motions of the rack bar. The end of the short arm of the lever bears, as already mentioned, the step of the shafty2; hence the friction discx1will be raised in proportion as the rack bar advances, and will come nearer to the middle point ofg1; consequently, its revolution and the shifting of the bobbins will become slower. Upon the cylindrical rodn3, the pieces1s1furnished with a long slot is made fast, by means of a tubez3, (fig.337.) and a screw. A forku u, which by means of the screw nuta4is made fast in the slot, embraces the armt1of the bent lever; and a tuber1rivetted to the surface ofs1, is destined to take up the draw rodq1of the conek1,fig.337.A weightf4, whose cordb4is made fast to the cylindrical rodn3, endeavours to draw this rod continually in the direction of the arrow. In consequence of this arrangement, every time that the pushing barl3lifts up one of thecatches, the conek1, the levert1v1, and by it the rack barq3, are set in motion. It is obvious, that the motion of the cone may be made greater or less, according as the forku uis fixed further up or down in the slot ofs1.The number of the teeth upon the barq3is so ordered, that the bobbins are quite full when the last tooth has reached the catch and is released by it. The rack bar, being restrained by nothing, immediately slides onwards, in consequence of the traction of the weightf4and brings the machine to repose by this very movement, for which purpose the following construction is employed. A rectangular lever which has its centre of motion ing4is attached to the side face of the beamA, and has at the end of its horizontal arm a pulleyd4, over which the cordb4of the counterweightf4is passed. The end of the perpendicular arm is forked and embraces the long and thin rodk4, to whose opposite end the forkl4is made fast. Through this fork the band which puts the machine in motion passes down to the pulleya1. With the bent lever another rodc4is connected ath4, which lies upon the puppete3with a slot ate4, and hereby keeps the leverg4in its upright position notwithstanding the weightf4. In the moment when, as above stated, the rack barq3becomes free, the armp3of its fork pushes in its rapid advance against the under oblique side ofe4, raises this rod, and thereby sets the leverg4free, whose upright arm bends down by the traction of the weight, drives the rodk4before it into the ringi4fastened to it, and thus by means of the forkl4shifts the band upon the loose pulleyb1. But the machine may be brought to repose or put out of geer at any time merely by shifting the rodk4with the hand.The operation of the bobbin and fly frame may be fully understood from the preceding description. A few observations remain to be made upon the conek1, the rack-barq3, and the speed of the work.When we know the diameter of the empty bobbins, and how many turns they should make in a given time in order to wind-on the sliver delivered by the fluted rollers and the spindles; when we consider the diameters of the spindle pulliesq, andt2, as also the drum.m1,fig.332., we may easily find the diameter which the cone must have for producing that number of turns. This is the diameter for the greatest periphery of the base. The diameter of the smaller is obtained in the same way, when the diameter of the bobbins before the last winding-on, as well as the number of turns necessary in a given time, are known.A bobbin and fly frame of the construction just described delivers from each spindle in a day of twelve hours, from 6 to 8 lbs of roving of the fineness of 11⁄2English counts. One person can superintend two frames, piece the broken slivers, and replace the full bobbins by empty ones. The loss of cotton wool in this machine consists in the portions carried off from the torn slivers, and must be returned to the lapping machine.The fine bobbin and fly framedoes not differ essentially from the preceding machine. The rovings from the coarse bobbin and fly frame are placed in their bobbins in a frame called thecreel, behind and above the roller beam, two bobbins being allowed for one fluted portion of the rollers. These rovings are united into one, so as to increase the uniformity of the slivers.The invention of the beautiful machine above described is due to Messrs. Cocker and Higgins of Manchester, and as lately improved by Henry Houldsworth, junr. Esq., it may be considered the most ingeniously combined apparatus in the whole range of productive industry.In the fine roving frame the sliver is twisted in the contrary direction to that of the coarse roving frame. For this reason the position of the cone is reversed, so as to present in succession to the band or strap, diameters continually greater, in order that the rotation of the bobbins may be accelerated in proportion as their size is increased, because here the flyer and the bobbin turn in the same direction, and the winding-on is effected by the precession of the bobbin; but if the winding-on took place by its falling behind, as in the coarse bobbin and fly frame, that is, if the flyer turned less quickly than the bobbin, the rotatory speed of the bobbin would be uniformly retarded; in which case the cone would be disposed as in the coarse frame.When by any means whatever an uniform length of thread is delivered by the rollers in a given time, the bobbin must wind it up as it is given out, and must therefore turn with a speed decreasing with the increase of its diameter by successive layers of thread. Hence proceeds the proposition, that the velocity of the bobbin must be in the inverse ratio of its diameter, as already explained.With respect to the bobbin and fly frame, the twist is given to the sliver by means of a spindle or flyer which turns in the same direction with the bobbin, but quicker or slower than it, which establishes two predicaments. The first case is where the flyer turns faster than the bobbin. Here the winding-on goes in advance, as in the coarse roving frame, or as in throstle spinning, where the yarn is wound on merely in consequence of the friction of the lower disc or washer of the bobbin upon the copping rail, and of the drag of the yarn. The second case is where the flyer revolves more slowly than the bobbin. Here the winding goes on in arrear, and as the bobbinturns faster, it must receive a peculiar motion, which is uniformly retarded in the ratio of its increase of diameter. This is the case with the fine bobbin and fly frame. When the cone is placed as infig.332, the winding-on, in either the coarse or fine frame, results from the difference, whether greater or less, between the rotatory speed of the flyer and bobbin.The motion of the bobbin and spindle is simultaneous, and takes place in the same direction, with a difference varying more or less with the varying diameters of the bobbins. To render the matter still clearer, suppose for a moment the spindle to be motionless, then the bobbin must revolve with such a speed, as to lap-on the roving as fast as the rollers deliver it. The sliver comes forward uniformly; but the bobbin, by its increase of diameter, must revolve with a speed progressively slower. Now, suppose the spindle set a-whirling, it is obvious that the bobbin must add to the movement requisite for winding-on the sliver, that of the spindle in the case of winding-on in arrear, or when it follows the flyers, and subtract its own motion from the twisting motion of the spindles, in the case of winding-on in advance, that is, when the bobbin precedes or turns faster than the flyers; for the diameter of the bobbin being 11⁄2inch, 10 turns will take up 45 inches. Deducting these 10 turns from the 30 made by the spindle in the same time, there will remain for the effective movement of the bobbin only 20 turns; or when the diameter of the bobbin becomes 3 inches, 5 turns will take up the 45 inches, if the spindle be at rest; but if it makes 30 turns in the time, the effective velocity of the bobbin will be 25 turns, = 30 - 5. Hence in the fine bobbin and fly frame, the number of turns of the spindle,minusthe number of turns made by the bobbin in equal times, is in the inverse ratio of the diameter of the bobbin. We thus perceive, that in the coarse frame the bobbin should move faster than the spindle, and that its speed should always diminish; whilst in the fine frame the bobbin should move slower than the spindle, but its speed should always increase. It is easy to conceive, therefore, why the cones are placed in reverse directions in the two machines. Not that this inversion is indispensably necessary; the cone of the fine roving frame might, in fact, be placed like that of the coarse roving frame; but as the torsion of the roving becomes now considerable, and as on that account the bobbin would need to move still faster, which would consume a greater quantity of the moving power, it has been deemed more economical to give its movement an opposite direction.We mentioned that the twist of the sliver in the fine roving frame was the reverse of that in the coarse; this is a habit of the spinners, for which no good reason has been given.The divisions of the rack-bar, and the successive diameters of the cone, must be nicely adjusted to each other. The first thing to determine is how much the rack should advance for every layer or range of roving applied to the bobbin, in order that the cone may occupy such a place that the strap which regulates the pulley barrel may be at the proper diameter, and thus fulfil every condition. The extent of this progressive movement of the rack depends upon the greater or less taper of the cone, and the increase which the diameter of the bobbin receives with every traverse, that is, every layer of roving laid on. But care should be taken not to taper the cone too rapidly, especially in the fine roving frame, because in its progress towards the smaller end, the strap would not slide with certainty and ease. We have already shown that the number of effective turns of the bobbin is inversely, as the diameter of the bobbin, or directly, as the successive diameters of the different points of the cone.H. Houldsworth, jun. Esq. has introduced a capital improvement into the bobbin and fly frame, by his differential or equation-box mechanism, and by his spring fingers, which, by pressing the soft sliver upon the bobbin, cause at least a double quantity to be wound upon its barrel. With the description of his patent equation-box, I shall conclude the description of the bobbin and fly frame.Fig.342.represents a portion of a fly frame with Mr. Houldsworth’s invention.a a aare the front drawing rollers, turning upon bearings in the top of the machine, and worked by a train of toothed wheels, in the way that drawing rollers are usually actuated.From the drawing rollers, the filaments of cotton or other material,b b, are brought down to, and passed through the arms of the flyersc c, mounted on the tops of the spindlesd d, which spindles also carry the loose bobbinse e. In the ordinary mode of constructing such machines, the spindles are turned by cords or bands passing from a rotatory drum round their respective pulleys or whirlsf, and the loose bobbinse, turn with them by the friction of their slight contact to the spindle, as before said; in the improved machine, however, the movements of the spindles and the bobbins are independent and distinct from each other, being actuated from different sources.The main shaft of the engineg, turned by a band and riggerAas usual, communicates motion by a train of wheelsh, through the shafti, to the drawing rollers at the reverse end of the machine, and causes them to deliver the filaments to be twisted.Upon the main shaftg, is mounted a cylindrical hollow box or drum-pulley, whence one cord passes to drive the whirls and spindlesfandd, and another to drive the bobbinse.
Drawing frame
The drawing frame, as shown in section infigs.328.330., and in a back view infig.329., will require, after the above details, little further explanation.l lare the weights which press down the top rollers upon the under ones, by means of the rodskk′and hooki. Each fluted roller is, as shown atf,fig.329., provided in the middle of its length with a thinner smooth part called theneck, whereby it is really divided into two fluted portions, represented bye ein the figure. Upon this middle neck in the pressure rollers, the hookiand the saddlehimmediately bear, as shown in the formerfig.328.The card-ends, to the number probably of six, are introduced to the drawing frame either from tin cans, placed ate e,fig.330., and atA,fig.329., or from lap-bobbins; and, after passing through it, the ribands or slivers are received either into similar tin cans, asg, or upon other lap-bobbins upon the other side. These appendages may be readily conceived, and are therefore not exhibited in all the drawings. Three of the slivers being laid together, are again introduced to the one fluted portiona b,fig.328., and three other slivers to the other portion. The sloping curved tin or brass plates,fig.329., with its guide pinst, serves to conduct the slivers to the rollers. When the two threefold slivers have passed through between the three pairs of rollers, and been thereby properly drawn, they run towards each other in an oblique direction, behind the last roller paire f,fig.328., and unite, on issuing through theconical funnelm,fig.329., into a single riband or spongy sliver; which is immediately carried off with equable velocity by two smooth cast-iron rollers,n o,fig.329.and330.and either dropped into a can, or wound upon a large bobbin. The surface speed of these rollers is made a trifle greater than that of the delivery drawing rollers, in order to keep the portion of sliver between them always in an extended state. Four fluted drawing portions are usually mounted in one drawing frame, which are set a-going or at rest together. To save all unnecessary carrying of the cans from the back to the front of the frame, the drawing heads are so placed, that the first and third, discharge their slivers at the one side, and the second and fourth at the other. By this arrangement, the cans filled behind one head, are directly pushed aside in front of the next drawing head; by which alternate distribution the work goes on without interruption.
Thefastpulleyu,fig.330., by which the whole machine is driven, derives its motion from the main shaft of the mill by means of the bandw. The similar pulleyx, which sits loose upon the axis, and turns independently of it, is called the loose pulley; both together being technically styledriggers. When the operative desires to stop the machine, he transfers the band from the fast to the loose pulley by means of a lever, bearing a fork at its end, which embraces the band. Upony, four pulleys such asxare fixed, each of which sets in motion a drawing head, by means of a band likewgoing round the pulleysxandu. On account of the inverted position of the heads, which requires the motion ofuto be inverted, the bands of the first and third heads are open, but those of the second and fourth are crossed. Every head is provided with a loose pulleyv, as well as the fast pulleyu, in order to make the one stop or move without affecting the others. The shaft of the pulleyuis the prolonged shaft of the backmost fluted rollerf. It carries besides a small pulleyq, which, by means of the bandr, and the pulleyp,fig.329., sets in motion the undermost condensing rollero. The upper rollern, presses with its whole weight upon it, and therefore turns by friction. The toothed wheel-work, by which the motions are communicated from the backmost fluted roller to the middle and front ones, are seen infig.330.
The wheelf,fig.328., of 20 teeth, works in a 44-toothed carrier-wheel, on whose axis there are two smaller wheels; 2 with 26 teeth, and 1 with 22 teeth. The wheeld,fig.330., of the middle roller, and the wheelbof the front roller, are set in motion by other carrier wheels; the first has 27 teeth, and the last 40. For every revolution ofb, the rollerdmakes nearly 13⁄4turns, and the rollerf, 4 revolutions. The top rollers revolve, as we have stated, simply by the friction of contact with the lower ones. Now suppose the diameter of the rollersbanddto be 1 inch or 12 lines, that off, 11⁄4inches or 15 lines, the surface velocities of the three pairs of rollers in the series will be as 1, 13⁄4, and 5. Every inch of the cotton sliver will be therefore extended between the first and second pair of rollers into 13⁄4inches, and between the second and third or delivery pair into 5 inches; and after the sliver has passed through all the four drawing heads, its length will be increased 625 times = 5 × 5 × 5 × 5.
The further the drawing process is pushed, the more perfectly will its object be accomplished; namely the parallelism of the filaments. The fineness of the appearance of the sliver after the last draught depends upon the number of doublings conjointly with the original fineness and number of drawings. The degree of extension may be increased or diminished, by changing the wheels infig.330., for others with a different number of teeth. Thus the grist or fineness of the sliver may be modified in any desired degree; for, when the subsequent processes of the mill remain the same, the finer the drawings the finer will be the yarn. For spinning coarse numbers or low counts, for example, six card-ends are usually transmitted through the first drawing head, and converted into one riband. Six such ribands again form one in the second draught; six of these again go together into the third sliver; and this sliver passes five-fold through the last draught. By this combination 1080 of the original card-ends are united in the finished drawn sliver = 6 × 6 × 6 × 5. The fineness of the sliver is, however, in consequence of these doublings not increased but rather diminished. For, by the drawing, the card-end has been made 625 times longer, and so much smaller; by the doubling alone it would have become 1080 times thicker; therefore the original grist is to the present as 1, to the fraction625⁄1080; that is, supposing 1072 feet of the riband delivered by the card to weigh one pound, 625 feet, the sliver of the last drawing, will also weigh a pound, which corresponds in fineness to number 0·24, or nearly1⁄4.
The rearmost or last drawing roller has a circumference of nearly 4 inches, and makes about 150 revolutions per minute; hence, each of these drawing heads may turn off 35,000 feet of sliver in 12 hours.
Some manufacturers have lately introduced a double roller beam, and a double draught at the same doubling, into their drawing frames. I have seen this contrivance working satisfactorily in mills where low counts were spun, and where the tube roving frame was employed; but I was informed by competent judges, that it was not advisable where a level yarn was required for good printing calicoes.
The loss which the cotton suffers in the drawing frame is quite inconsiderable. It consists of those filaments which remain upon the drawing rollers, and collect, in a great measure, upon the flannel facing of the top and bottom cleaner bars. It is thrown among the top cleanings of the carding engine. When from some defect in the rollers, or negligence in piecing the running slivers, remarkably irregular portions occur in the ribands, these must be torn off, and returned to the lap machine to be carded anew.
The fifth operation may be called thefirst spinning process, as in it, the cotton sliver receives a twist; whether the twist be permanent as in the bobbin and fly frame, or be undone immediately, as in the tube-roving machine. In fact, the elongated slivers of parallel filaments could bear little further extension without breaking asunder, unless the precaution were taken to condense the filaments by a slight convolution, and at the same time to entwine them together. The twisting should positively go no further than to fulfil the purpose of giving cohesion, otherwise it would place an obstacle in the way of the future attenuation into level thread. The combination of drawing and twisting is what mainly characterizes the spinning processes, and with this fifth operation therefore commences the formation of yarn. As however a sudden extension to the wished-for fineness is not practicable, the draught is thrice repeated in machine spinning, and after each draught a new portion of torsion is given to the yarn, till at last it possesses the degree of fineness and twist proportioned to its use.
The preliminary spinning process is calledroving. At first the torsion is slight in proportion to the extension, since the solidity of the still coarse sliver needs that cohesive aid only in a small degree, and looseness of texture must be maintained to facilitate to the utmost the further elongation.
Roving frame
Fig.331.is a section of the can roving frame, the ingenious invention of Arkwright, which till within these 14 years was the principal machine for communicating the incipient torsion to the spongy cord furnished by the drawing heads. It differs from that frame in nothing but the twisting mechanism; and consists of two pairs of drawing rollers,aandb, between which the sliver is extended in the usual way;care brushes for cleaning the rollers; anddis the weight which presses the upper set upon the lower. The wiping covers (not shown here) rest upona b. The surface speed of the posterior or second pair of rollers is 3, 4, or 5 times greater than that of the front or receiving pair, according to the desired degree of attenuation. Two drawn slivers were generally united into one by this machine, as is shown in the figure, where they are seen coming from the two canse e, to be brought together by the pressure rollers, before they reach the drawing rollersa b. The sliver, as it escapes from these rollers, is conducted into the revolving conical lanterng, through the funnelfat its top. This lantern-can receives its motion by means of a cord passing over a pulleyk, placed a little way above the step on which it turns. The motion is steadied by the collet of the funnelf, being embraced by a brass busk. Such a machine generally contained four drawing heads, each mounted with two lanterns; in whose side there was a door for taking out the conical coil of roving.
The motion imparted to the back roller by the band pulley or riggerm, was conveyed to the front one by toothed wheel work.
The vertical guide pulley at bottomn, served to lead the driving band descending from the top of the frame round the horizontal whorl or pulley upon the under end of the lantern. The operation of this can-frame was pleasing to behold; as the centrifugal force served both to distribute the soft cord in a regular coil, and also to condense a great deal of it most gently within a moderate space. Whenever the lantern was filled, the tenter carried the roving to a simple machine, where it was wound upon bobbins by hand. Notwithstanding every care in this transfer, the delicate texture was very apt to be seriously injured, so as to cause corresponding injuries in every subsequent operation, and in the finished yarn. Messrs. Cocker and Higgins, of Salford, had the singular merit, as I have said, of superseding that beautiful but defective mechanism, which had held a prominent place in all cotton mills from almost the infancy of the factory system, by the following apparatus.
The Bobbin and Fly frameis now the great roving machine of the cotton manufacture;to which may be added, for coarse spinning, the tube roving frame. Of such a complicated machine as the bobbin and fly frame, it is not possible to give an adequately detailed description in the space due to the subject in this Dictionary. Its mechanical combinations are however so admirable as to require such an account as will make its functions intelligible by the general reader.
Bobbin and fly frameFig. 332 enlarged(367 kB)
Fig. 332 enlarged(367 kB)
Fig.332.exhibits a back view of this machine; andfig.333.a section of some of the parts not very visible in the former figure. The back of the machine is the side at which the cotton is introduced between the drawing rollers.
Detail of machine
The cans, or lap-bobbins filled with slivers at the drawing frame, are placed in the situation markedB,fig.333., in rows parallel with the length of the machine. The sliver of each can or the united slivers of two contiguous cans are conducted upwards along the surface of a sloping boardf, and through an iron staple or guidee, betwixt the usual triple pair of drawing rollers, the first of which is indicated bya,b. Infig.332., for the purpose of simplifying the figure, the greater part of these rollers and their subordinate parts are omitted. After the slivers have been sufficiently extended and attenuated between the rollers, they proceed forwards, towards the spindlesi i i, where they receive the twist, and are wound upon the bobbinsh. The machine delineated contains thirty spindles, but many bobbin and fly frames contain double or even four times that number. Only a few of the spindles are shown infig.332., for fear of confusing the drawing.
Fluted rollers
With regard to the drawing functions of this machine, I have already given abundantexplanation, so far as the properties and operation of the rollers are concerned. The frame-work of this part of the machine, called theroller-beam, is a cast iron bench, upon which nine bearersc, are mounted for carrying the rollers. The fluted rollersa a a,fig.334., are constructed in four pieces for the whole length, which are parted from each other by thinner smooth cylindric portionsz, called necks. Seven such partings for four rollers, and one parting for two rollers, constitute together the 30 fluted rollers of which the whole series consists. The coupling of these roller subdivisions into one cylinder, is secured by the square holesx, and square pinsy,fig.334., which fit into the holes of the adjoining subdivision. The top or pressure rollersb, are two-fold over the whole set; and the weighted saddle presses upon the neckw, which connects every pair, as was already explained underfig.329.These weightsg,g,fig.333., are applied in this as in thedrawing frame;d, are the bars faced with flannel for cleaning the top rollers. A similar bar is applied beneath the rollers, to keep the flutings clean.
Spindle
The structure and operation of the spindlesi, may be best understood by examining the sectionfig.335.They are made of iron, are cylindrical from the top down toa2, but from this part down to the steel tipt rounded points they are conical. Upon this conical portion there is a pulleyk, furnished with two grooves in its circumference, in which the cord runs that causes the spindle to revolve. The wooden bobbinh, is slid upon the cylindrical part, which must move freely upon it, as will be presently explained. To the bobbin another two-grooved pulley or whorlqis made fast by means of a pinr, which passes through it; by removing this pin, the bobbin can be instantly taken off the spindle. The upper end of the spindle bears a forks t, which may be taken off at pleasure by means of its left-handed screw; this fork or flyer, has a funnel-formed hole atv. One arm of the fork is a tubes,u, open at top and bottom; the legt, is added merely as a counterpoise to the other. Infig.333., for the sake of clearness, the forks or flyers of the two spindles here represented are left out; and infig.332.only one is portrayed for the same reason. It is likewise manifest from a comparison of these two figures that the spindles are alternately placed in two rows, so that each spindle of the back range stands opposite the interval between two in the front range. The object of this distribution is economy of space, as the machine would need to be greatly longer if the spindles stood all in one line. If we suppose the spindles and the bobbins (both of which have independent motions) to revolve simultaneously and in the same direction, their operation will be as follows: The sliver properly drawn by the fluted rollers, enters the opening of the funnelv, proceeds thence downwards through the hole in the arm of the fork, runs along its tubeu,s, and then winds round the bobbin. This path is marked infig.335.by a dotted line.
The revolution of the spindles in the above circumstances effects the twisting of the sliver into a soft cord; and the flyers,t, or particularly its tubular arms, lays this cord upon the bobbin. Were the speed of the bobbins equal to that of the spindles, that is, did the bobbin and spindle make the same number of turns in the same time, the process would be limited to mere twisting. But the bobbin anticipates the flyers a little, that is, it makes in a given time a somewhat greater number of revolutions than the spindle, and thereby effects the continuous winding of the cord upon itself. Suppose the bobbin to make 40 revolutions, while the spindle completes only 30; 30 of these revolutions of the bobbin will be inoperative towards the winding-on, because the flyers follow at that rate, so that the cord or twisted sliver will only be coiled 10 times round the bobbin, and the result as to the winding-on will be the same as if the spindle had stood still, and the bobbin had made 40 - 30 = 10 turns. The 30 turns of the spindles serve, therefore, merely the purpose of communicating twist.
The mounting and operation of the spindles are obviously the same as they are upon the household flax wheel. In the bobbin and fly frame there are some circumstances which render the construction and the winding-on somewhat difficult, and the mechanism not a little complicated. It may be remarked in the first place, that as the cord is wound on, the diameter of the bobbin increases very rapidly, and therefore every turn made round it causes a greater length of roving to be taken up in succession. Were the motions of the bobbins to continue unchanged in this predicament, the increased velocity of the winding-on would require an increased degree of extension, or it wouldoccasion the rupture of the cord, because the front fluted rollers move with uniform speed, and therefore deliver always the same length of sliver in the same time. It is therefore necessary to diminish the velocity of the bobbins, or the number of their turns, in the same proportion as their diameter increases, in order that the primary velocity may remain unchanged. Moreover, it is requisite for the proper distribution of the cord upon the bobbin, and the regular increase of its diameter, that two of its successive convolutions should not be applied over each other, but that they should be laid close side by side. This object is attained by the up and down sliding motion of the bobbin upon the spindle, to the same extent as the length of the bobbin barrel. This up and down motion must become progressively slower, since it increases the diameter of the bobbin at each range, by a quantity equal to the diameter of the sliver. What has now been stated generally, will become more intelligible by an example.
Let it be assumed that the drawing rollers deliver, in 10 seconds, 45 inches of roving, and that this length receives 30 twists. The spindles must, in consequence, make 30 revolutions in 10 seconds, and the bobbins must turn with such speed, that they wind up the 45 inches in 10 seconds. The diameter of the bobbin barrels being 11⁄2inches, their circumference of course 41⁄2inches, they must make 10 revolutions more in the same time than the spindles. The effective speed of the bobbins will be thus 30 + 10 = 40 turns in 10 seconds. Should the bobbins increase to 3 inches diameter, by the winding-on of the sliver, they will take up 9 inches at each turn, and consequently 45 inches in 5 turns. Their speed should therefore be reduced to 30 + 5 = 35 turns in 10 seconds. In general, the excess in number of revolutions, which the bobbins must make over the spindles, is inversely as the diameter of the bobbins. The speed of the bobbins must remain uniform during the period of one ascent or descent upon the spindle, and must diminish at the instant of changing the direction of their up and down motion; because a fresh range of convolutions then begins with a greater diameter. When, for example, 30 coils of the sliver or roove are laid in one length of the bobbin barrel, the bobbin must complete its vertical movement up or down, within 30 seconds in the first case above mentioned, and within 60 seconds in the second case.
The motions of the drawing rollers, the spindles, and bobbins, are produced in the following manner:—A shaftc′,fig.332.and333., extending the whole length of the machine, and mounted with a fly wheeld′, is set in motion by a band from the running pulley upon the shaft of the mill, which actuates the pulleya′.b′is the loose pulley upon which the band is shifted when the machine is set at rest. Within the pulleya′, but on the outside of the frame, the shaftc′carries a toothed wheelb2with 50 teeth, which by means of the intermediate wheelc2turns the wheeld2upon the prolonged shaft of the backmost fluted roller (m2,fig.333.) This wheeld2has usually 54 teeth; but it may be changed when the roove is to receive more or less twist; for as the spindles revolve with uniform velocity, they communicate the more torsion the less length of sliver is delivered by the rollers in a given time. Upon the same shaft withd2, a pinione2of 32 teeth is fixed, which works in a wheelf2of 72 teeth. Within the frame a change piniong2is made fast to the shaft off2. This pinion, which has usually from 24 to 28 teeth, regulates the drawing, and thereby the fineness or number of the roving. It works in a 48-toothed wheelh2upon the end of the backmost fluted rollera,fig.333.The other extremity of the same roller, or, properly speaking, line of rollers, carries a pinionl2, furnished with 26 teeth, which, by means of the broad intermediate wheelk2, sets in motion the pinioni′2of 22 teeth upon the middle roller. When the diameter of all the drawing rollers is the same, suppose 1 inch, their proportional velocities will be, with the above number of teeth in the wheel work, ifg2have 24 teeth, as 1 : 1·18 : 4·5; and the drawn sliver will have 41⁄2times its original length. The front or delivery roller of the drawing frame is of late years usually made 11⁄4or 13⁄8inches in diameter. If 625 feet of the sliver from the drawing frame weighed one pound, 2790 feet of the roving will now go to this weight, and the number will be 1·12; that is, 1 hank and 12 hundredths to the pound. The front pair of fluted rollers makes about 90 revolutions, and delivers 282·6 inches of roving in the minute, when of one inch diameter.
The spindlesi, (fig.332.and333.), rest, with their lower ends, in stepsl, which are fixed in an immoveable beam or barm. To protect it from dust and cotton filaments, this beam is furnished with a wooden covern, in which there are small holes for the passage of the spindles right over the steps. Infig.332., two of the eight coversn, which compose the whole rangem, are removed to let the steps be seen. The cylindrical part of each spindle passes through a brass ringo; and all these 30 rings, whose centres must be vertically over the stepsl, are made fast to the copping beamp. This beam is so called, because it is destined not merely to keep the spindles upright by the rings attached to it, but, at the same time, to raise and lower along the spindles the bobbinswhich rest on these rings; for which purpose the two racks, or toothed barsm2m2, made fast to it, are designed, as will be presently explained. To effect the revolution of the spindles, there are attached to the main shaftc′two whorls or pulleyse′f′, each bearing four grooves of equal diameter. Each of these pulleys puts one half of the spindles in motion, by means of a cord, which, after going round the whorlsk, turns four times about the pulleys of the shaftc′. Two guide pulleysh′, each four-grooved, and two othersi′, with a single groove, which turn independently of the others, upon the above shaft, serve to give the whorl cords the proper direction, as well as to keep them tight. The spindles revolve 200 times or thereby in the minute; and therefore impart two turns or twists to every three inches of the roving.
The revolution of the bobbins is independent of that of the spindles, although it likewise proceeds from the shaftc′, and differs from it in being a continually retarded motion. The simplest method of effecting this motion, is by means of the wooden or tin plate conek′′, which revolves equally with the shaftc′, and at the same time slides along it.
Cone to drive bobbin
The manner in which this operates is shown in section infig.336.Here, we perceive the rodq2, which extends from the base towards the narrow end of the truncated cone, andp2a forked bearer or carrier made fast to the shaftc′by a screw, which compels the cone by means of that rod, to obey the movements ofc′. In the large end of the cone there is an aperture, through which the bearer can be got at. The smaller end carries outside a projectiono2, provided with a groove, which is embraced by the forked end of a rodq′,fig.337., that serves to shove the cone along upon the shaftc′. Directly under the cone, there is an upright round pillarp′, upon which the holdero′of the two guide pulleysl′is adjustable. A barr2placed along-side of the holder, prevents its turning round, but allows it to slide alongp′by friction. The weight of the holder and the pulley is sufficient to distend the endless bandn′, which runs from the conek′, through under the pulleyl′, and round the small drumm′on the shafts2. A pulley or whorlt2with four grooves, is made fast by means of a tube to this shaft, and slides along it backwards and forwards, without ever ceasing to follow its revolutions. The shaft possesses for this purpose a long fork, and the interior of the tube a corresponding tongue or catch. There is besides upon the tube beneath the pulley, atu2, a groove that goes round it, in which the staple or forked end of an arm likev2,fig.333., made fast to the copping beamp, catches. By the up and down movement of that beam, the pulleyt2takes along with it the arm that embraces the tube, which therefore rises and falls equally with the bobbinsh′, and their pulleys or whorlsq. This is requisite, since the bobbins are made to revolve by the pulleyst2, by means of 2 endless cords or bands.
Bobbin adjustment
The most intricate part of the mechanism is the adjustment, by which the revolution of the bobbins is continually retarded, and their up and down, or copping motion, along the spindles, is also retarded in like proportion. The vertical pulleyf′, (towards the left end of the shaftc′) has at its right side a somewhat largerdiscor sheaveg′, with a perfectly uniform, but not a very smooth surface. Upon this sheave, a smaller horizontal pulleyx′rubs, whose upper face is covered with leather to increase the friction. The under end of the shafty2of the pulleyx′turns in a step, which is so connected with the armv′of the large bent levert′v′, that it always stands horizontally, whateverdirection the arms of that lever may assume. The shafty2is steadied at top by an annular holder or bush, which embraces the fast armx2with its forked end. Upon its opposite side, this arm carries a pulleyy2, upon which a cord goes, that is made fast to the holder of the shafty2, and loaded with the weightz′. The weight presses the pulleyx′against the surface ofg′, in such wise as to effect the degree of friction necessary in order that the revolution ofg′may produce an uninterrupted revolution inx′. A pinionw′, whose length must be equal at least to the semi-diameter of the sheaveg′, is placed upon the under end of the shafty2. It has 22 teeth, and takes into a 62-toothed horizontal wheelz2. Upon the upper end of this wheel the conical piniona3is made fast, which may be changed for changing the speed, but usually has from 28 to 30 teeth. By this pinion the conical wheelb3is turned, which has 30 teeth, and whose shaft isc3. This shaft carries upon its opposite end a six-leaved pinion,d3, which takes into the calender wheelf3, formed with cogs like a trundle, upon the long shafte3. Infig.338.the wheelf3is exhibited with its piniond3. Here we may remark that in the circumference of the wheel there is a vacant place,g3, void of teeth. When by the motion of the wheel, the pinion comes opposite to this opening, it turns round about the last tooth of the wheel, falls into the inside of the toothed circle marked by the dotted lines, and thus gives now an inverse movement to the wheelf3, while itself revolves always in the same direction. This reversed motion continues till the openingg3comes once more opposite to the pinion, when this turns round about the last tooth of that side, and begins again to work in the exterior teeth. Thus, by the uniform motion ofd3and its dependent parts, the wheelf3, with its shafte3, revolves alternately to the right hand and the left. That this result may ensue, the shaftc3of the pinion must be able to slide endwise, without losing its hold ofa3andb3. This adjustment is effected by placing the end of the said shaft, nearestb3, in a box or holderi3, in which it can turn, and which forms a vertical tube to this box, as a downward prolongation which is fixed to the tail of the conical piniona3.Fig.339.shows this construction in section upon an enlarged scale. The second bearer of the shaft nearestd3, must possess likewise the means of lateral motion. When therefore the piniond3shifts through the opening of the wheelf3outwards or inwards, its shaftc3, makes a corresponding small angular motion upon the pivot ofa3, by means of the tubei3;a3andb3remain thereby completely in geer with one another.
The above-described alternate revolutions of the wheelf3serve to produce the up and down motions of the bobbins. The shafte3has for this purpose two pinionsn2n2, which work in the rack teethm2m2of the copping railp, and thus alternately raise and sink it with the bobbins which rest upon it. The weight of the copping beam and all its dependent parts, is poised by two counterweightsm4, whose cords run over the pulleyso4o4o4,fig.332., and have their ends made fast to the frame, so as to make the upwards motion as easy as the downwards. The two upper pulleys out of the three of each weight, are fixed to the frame; the under one, round which the cord first runs, is attached to the copping beam, rising and falling along with it.
Figs. 340 and 341 enlarged(78 kB)
Figs. 340 and 341 enlarged(78 kB)
As long as the friction discx′remains at the same height, the pulleyg′derives its motion from the same circle of the said disc, and the up and down motion of the copping beam is also uniform. But when that disc ascends so as to describe with its edge a small circle upon the face ofg′, its motion must become proportionally more slow. This is the method, or principle of retarding the copping motions of the bobbins. It has been shown, however, that the rotation of the bobbins should be also retarded in a progressive manner. This object is effected by means of the conek′, which, as the bandn′progressively approaches towards its smaller diameter, drives the pulleys or whorlsqof the bobbins with decreasing speed, though itself moves uniformly quick with the shaftc′. To effect this variation, the cone is shifted lengthwise along its shaft, while the band running upon it remains continually in the same vertical plane, and is kept distended by the weight of the pulleyo′. The following mechanism serves to shift the cone, which maybe best understood by the aid of thefigures 340.,341., and337.A long cast iron barm3, which bears two horizontal projecting puppets,o3o3, is made fast to the front upright face of the copping beamA. Through the above puppets a cylindrical rodn3passes freely, which is left out infig.337., that the parts lying behind it may be better seen. Upon this rod there is a kind of fork,p3p3, to which the alternating rack barsq3are made fast. The teeth of these racks are at unequal distances from each other, and are so arranged, that each tooth of the under side corresponds to the space between two teeth in the upper side. Their number depends upon the number of coils of roving that may be required to fill a bobbin; and consists in the usual machines of from 20 to 22. The rodn3may be shifted in the puppeto3, like the forkp3of the rack-rod, upon the rodn3, and along the surface ofm3, where two wingsu3u3are placed, to keep the fork in a straight direction. Upon the barm3, there are the pivots or fulcra of two stop catchesw3x3, of which the uppermost presses merely by its own weight, but the undermost by means of a counterweighty3, against the rack, and causes them thus to fall in between the teeth. Infig.341.,v3shows the pivot of the catch or detentw3by itself, the detent itself being omitted, to render the construction plainer. A pushing rodl3, upon which there is a pin above ats3, that passes behind the rack rod, between this and the barm3, has for its object to remove at pleasure the one or the other of the two catches; the upper, when the upper end of the rod pushes against it; the under, by means of the above mentioned pins3. Both the catches are never raised at once, but either the under or the upper holds the rack bar fast, by pressing against one of the teeth. The vertical motion up or down, which the rodl3must take to effect the lifting of the catches, is given to it from the copping beamp; since upon it a horizontal armv2,fig.341., is fixed, that lays hold of that rod. Upon the pushing rod are two rings,h3andk3, each made fast by a screw. When the copping beam is in the act of going up, the armv3at the end of this movement, pushes against the ringh3, raises up the rodl3, and thus removes the catchw3,fig.337., from the teeth of the rodq3, before which it lies flat. At the descent of the copping rail,v2meets the ringk3, when the motion in this direction is nearly completed, draws down the rodl3a little, by means of the same, and thereby effects the removal of the catchx3,fig.337., from the rodq3. Every time that one of the catches is lifted, the rack recovers its freedom to advance a little bit in the direction of the arrow; so far, namely, till the other catch lays hold upon the tooth that next meets it. The reason is thus manifest why the teeth of the upper and under sides of the barq3are not right opposite to each other, but in an alternate position.
From the rack-bar, the sliding of the conek′, and the raising of the shafty2, each by minute steps at a time, is produced as follows:—
A large rectangular levert1,v1, whose centre of motion is atp4, has at the upper end of its long armt1, a long slot through which a studr3upon the rackq3goes (fig.340.,341.,337.,) so that the lever must follow the motions of the rack bar. The end of the short arm of the lever bears, as already mentioned, the step of the shafty2; hence the friction discx1will be raised in proportion as the rack bar advances, and will come nearer to the middle point ofg1; consequently, its revolution and the shifting of the bobbins will become slower. Upon the cylindrical rodn3, the pieces1s1furnished with a long slot is made fast, by means of a tubez3, (fig.337.) and a screw. A forku u, which by means of the screw nuta4is made fast in the slot, embraces the armt1of the bent lever; and a tuber1rivetted to the surface ofs1, is destined to take up the draw rodq1of the conek1,fig.337.A weightf4, whose cordb4is made fast to the cylindrical rodn3, endeavours to draw this rod continually in the direction of the arrow. In consequence of this arrangement, every time that the pushing barl3lifts up one of thecatches, the conek1, the levert1v1, and by it the rack barq3, are set in motion. It is obvious, that the motion of the cone may be made greater or less, according as the forku uis fixed further up or down in the slot ofs1.
The number of the teeth upon the barq3is so ordered, that the bobbins are quite full when the last tooth has reached the catch and is released by it. The rack bar, being restrained by nothing, immediately slides onwards, in consequence of the traction of the weightf4and brings the machine to repose by this very movement, for which purpose the following construction is employed. A rectangular lever which has its centre of motion ing4is attached to the side face of the beamA, and has at the end of its horizontal arm a pulleyd4, over which the cordb4of the counterweightf4is passed. The end of the perpendicular arm is forked and embraces the long and thin rodk4, to whose opposite end the forkl4is made fast. Through this fork the band which puts the machine in motion passes down to the pulleya1. With the bent lever another rodc4is connected ath4, which lies upon the puppete3with a slot ate4, and hereby keeps the leverg4in its upright position notwithstanding the weightf4. In the moment when, as above stated, the rack barq3becomes free, the armp3of its fork pushes in its rapid advance against the under oblique side ofe4, raises this rod, and thereby sets the leverg4free, whose upright arm bends down by the traction of the weight, drives the rodk4before it into the ringi4fastened to it, and thus by means of the forkl4shifts the band upon the loose pulleyb1. But the machine may be brought to repose or put out of geer at any time merely by shifting the rodk4with the hand.
The operation of the bobbin and fly frame may be fully understood from the preceding description. A few observations remain to be made upon the conek1, the rack-barq3, and the speed of the work.
When we know the diameter of the empty bobbins, and how many turns they should make in a given time in order to wind-on the sliver delivered by the fluted rollers and the spindles; when we consider the diameters of the spindle pulliesq, andt2, as also the drum.m1,fig.332., we may easily find the diameter which the cone must have for producing that number of turns. This is the diameter for the greatest periphery of the base. The diameter of the smaller is obtained in the same way, when the diameter of the bobbins before the last winding-on, as well as the number of turns necessary in a given time, are known.
A bobbin and fly frame of the construction just described delivers from each spindle in a day of twelve hours, from 6 to 8 lbs of roving of the fineness of 11⁄2English counts. One person can superintend two frames, piece the broken slivers, and replace the full bobbins by empty ones. The loss of cotton wool in this machine consists in the portions carried off from the torn slivers, and must be returned to the lapping machine.
The fine bobbin and fly framedoes not differ essentially from the preceding machine. The rovings from the coarse bobbin and fly frame are placed in their bobbins in a frame called thecreel, behind and above the roller beam, two bobbins being allowed for one fluted portion of the rollers. These rovings are united into one, so as to increase the uniformity of the slivers.
The invention of the beautiful machine above described is due to Messrs. Cocker and Higgins of Manchester, and as lately improved by Henry Houldsworth, junr. Esq., it may be considered the most ingeniously combined apparatus in the whole range of productive industry.
In the fine roving frame the sliver is twisted in the contrary direction to that of the coarse roving frame. For this reason the position of the cone is reversed, so as to present in succession to the band or strap, diameters continually greater, in order that the rotation of the bobbins may be accelerated in proportion as their size is increased, because here the flyer and the bobbin turn in the same direction, and the winding-on is effected by the precession of the bobbin; but if the winding-on took place by its falling behind, as in the coarse bobbin and fly frame, that is, if the flyer turned less quickly than the bobbin, the rotatory speed of the bobbin would be uniformly retarded; in which case the cone would be disposed as in the coarse frame.
When by any means whatever an uniform length of thread is delivered by the rollers in a given time, the bobbin must wind it up as it is given out, and must therefore turn with a speed decreasing with the increase of its diameter by successive layers of thread. Hence proceeds the proposition, that the velocity of the bobbin must be in the inverse ratio of its diameter, as already explained.
With respect to the bobbin and fly frame, the twist is given to the sliver by means of a spindle or flyer which turns in the same direction with the bobbin, but quicker or slower than it, which establishes two predicaments. The first case is where the flyer turns faster than the bobbin. Here the winding-on goes in advance, as in the coarse roving frame, or as in throstle spinning, where the yarn is wound on merely in consequence of the friction of the lower disc or washer of the bobbin upon the copping rail, and of the drag of the yarn. The second case is where the flyer revolves more slowly than the bobbin. Here the winding goes on in arrear, and as the bobbinturns faster, it must receive a peculiar motion, which is uniformly retarded in the ratio of its increase of diameter. This is the case with the fine bobbin and fly frame. When the cone is placed as infig.332, the winding-on, in either the coarse or fine frame, results from the difference, whether greater or less, between the rotatory speed of the flyer and bobbin.
The motion of the bobbin and spindle is simultaneous, and takes place in the same direction, with a difference varying more or less with the varying diameters of the bobbins. To render the matter still clearer, suppose for a moment the spindle to be motionless, then the bobbin must revolve with such a speed, as to lap-on the roving as fast as the rollers deliver it. The sliver comes forward uniformly; but the bobbin, by its increase of diameter, must revolve with a speed progressively slower. Now, suppose the spindle set a-whirling, it is obvious that the bobbin must add to the movement requisite for winding-on the sliver, that of the spindle in the case of winding-on in arrear, or when it follows the flyers, and subtract its own motion from the twisting motion of the spindles, in the case of winding-on in advance, that is, when the bobbin precedes or turns faster than the flyers; for the diameter of the bobbin being 11⁄2inch, 10 turns will take up 45 inches. Deducting these 10 turns from the 30 made by the spindle in the same time, there will remain for the effective movement of the bobbin only 20 turns; or when the diameter of the bobbin becomes 3 inches, 5 turns will take up the 45 inches, if the spindle be at rest; but if it makes 30 turns in the time, the effective velocity of the bobbin will be 25 turns, = 30 - 5. Hence in the fine bobbin and fly frame, the number of turns of the spindle,minusthe number of turns made by the bobbin in equal times, is in the inverse ratio of the diameter of the bobbin. We thus perceive, that in the coarse frame the bobbin should move faster than the spindle, and that its speed should always diminish; whilst in the fine frame the bobbin should move slower than the spindle, but its speed should always increase. It is easy to conceive, therefore, why the cones are placed in reverse directions in the two machines. Not that this inversion is indispensably necessary; the cone of the fine roving frame might, in fact, be placed like that of the coarse roving frame; but as the torsion of the roving becomes now considerable, and as on that account the bobbin would need to move still faster, which would consume a greater quantity of the moving power, it has been deemed more economical to give its movement an opposite direction.
We mentioned that the twist of the sliver in the fine roving frame was the reverse of that in the coarse; this is a habit of the spinners, for which no good reason has been given.
The divisions of the rack-bar, and the successive diameters of the cone, must be nicely adjusted to each other. The first thing to determine is how much the rack should advance for every layer or range of roving applied to the bobbin, in order that the cone may occupy such a place that the strap which regulates the pulley barrel may be at the proper diameter, and thus fulfil every condition. The extent of this progressive movement of the rack depends upon the greater or less taper of the cone, and the increase which the diameter of the bobbin receives with every traverse, that is, every layer of roving laid on. But care should be taken not to taper the cone too rapidly, especially in the fine roving frame, because in its progress towards the smaller end, the strap would not slide with certainty and ease. We have already shown that the number of effective turns of the bobbin is inversely, as the diameter of the bobbin, or directly, as the successive diameters of the different points of the cone.
H. Houldsworth, jun. Esq. has introduced a capital improvement into the bobbin and fly frame, by his differential or equation-box mechanism, and by his spring fingers, which, by pressing the soft sliver upon the bobbin, cause at least a double quantity to be wound upon its barrel. With the description of his patent equation-box, I shall conclude the description of the bobbin and fly frame.
Fig.342.represents a portion of a fly frame with Mr. Houldsworth’s invention.a a aare the front drawing rollers, turning upon bearings in the top of the machine, and worked by a train of toothed wheels, in the way that drawing rollers are usually actuated.
From the drawing rollers, the filaments of cotton or other material,b b, are brought down to, and passed through the arms of the flyersc c, mounted on the tops of the spindlesd d, which spindles also carry the loose bobbinse e. In the ordinary mode of constructing such machines, the spindles are turned by cords or bands passing from a rotatory drum round their respective pulleys or whirlsf, and the loose bobbinse, turn with them by the friction of their slight contact to the spindle, as before said; in the improved machine, however, the movements of the spindles and the bobbins are independent and distinct from each other, being actuated from different sources.
The main shaft of the engineg, turned by a band and riggerAas usual, communicates motion by a train of wheelsh, through the shafti, to the drawing rollers at the reverse end of the machine, and causes them to deliver the filaments to be twisted.Upon the main shaftg, is mounted a cylindrical hollow box or drum-pulley, whence one cord passes to drive the whirls and spindlesfandd, and another to drive the bobbinse.