This Machine, represented in [Plate 41], [figures 1 and 2], may be called a Spinning-card: whose use, however, I shall now suppose confined to spinning coarse yarn, or rather rovings, to be re-spun on the common machines, or on machines similar to my [Eagle] just described. It consists, in reality, of an horizontal card A B, having it’s flyer, &c. adapted to perform, in a perpendicular position, what those several parts do, in an horizontal one, on the common carding engine. All this is so well known, that I have not thought it necessary to draw it in these figures; but merely to say, that in this Machine, those operations are performed on the left hand, as at A, where is introduced a broad flat ribbon of wool, duly made on a preparing card, and laid on edge in a box at C, from whence it is drawn by the feeding rollers, &c. so as to cover the whole of the central card A B. Now, round this central card, are placed, ten or more small fillet cards, 1, 2, 3, 4, &c. being at different heights on the central one; by which arrangement, the whole surface of the latter is stripped by these cards, and as much filament collected on each, as is sufficient to form a thread or roving, as before mentioned. But, further, these small cards have to be stripped in their turn: and that is done by the circular combs a b, which being placed obliquely to the cards, receive motion from them, and gather a regular mass of filament of a size fitted to become the yarn or roving in question. Nor need this roving be re-drawn, by rollers, before it is twisted: for it is the property of the bobbins D E, [fig. 2], to draw mathematically: and with any speed that shall have been determined. If we examine how this is done, we shall see at bottom, two wheels F G, (toothed on the patent principle) one of which drives the spindles and flies, and the other the bobbins D E: the wheel that drives the bobbin having a few teeth more than that which drives the spindles—whose pinion is the same in number as that of the bobbin. Thus, therefore, the bobbin goes as much faster than the spindle as is necessary to take up all the wool furnished by the comb, and to the comb by the small card, which receives it from the central card A B; where note—that the draught, by this difference of motion is not variable, but determined: since the heads of the bobbins E D, are a hollow inverted truncated cone, on which the yarn cannot remain—for in winding, it drives downward that which is already wound, so as to fill the whole bobbin from the head—a reason for the conical shape of the latter object.
It will appear by the [upper figure], (which is a plan of the central card, and the small cards, 1 2, &c.) that the latter receive their motion from the chain H I, by means of the train of wheels K L, turning on studs in the upper cross-piece. Suffice it to add, that the centres of these cards, of the combs, &c. are fixed to the rings by proper cramps, as will be easily conceived. I have offered to sight, only the essential parts, to avoid confusion: and I presume to hope every thing important will be thus seen without difficulty.
In my present view of this Invention as a preparing Machine, I would observe, that the central card is only considered as a distributor, and that I should, now, add to it a System of machinery to make it a forced distributor. I had, indeed, prepared this very System to be patentized many years ago: but the delays that occurred then, followed by the Restoration, (which gave me an opportunity of coming to England;) made me suspend this intention—respecting a method, perhaps, the only thing wanted to make this Machine in all respects excellent.
In the small [figure 5], ([Plate 41]) x y is supposed to be the section of a central card, such as A B, [fig. 2]; and the horizontal lines between x and y, shew the height of the card teeth. Of these, I take out a portion in several perpendicular lines round the card—say, at an inch distance from each other: the intervals thus stripped, being about 1⁄16 of an inch in width: and in all these upright slits, I introduce a blade x y, (whose transverse section is like that of a card wire) and whose edge is undulated as at a b. Finally, to these blades is given, (by a proper Machine) a slow up-and-down motion, which makes them push off the filament from the card wires at the highest points of the waves, and suffer the wires to retain these filaments at the lowest points; whence it follows, from the motion just mentioned, that these points of reception and exclusion of filament, are constantly changing on the surface of the whole card, and that, therefore, the card will never be totally clogged with wool—as it is in the common process. It will be seen that the use of this System need not interrupt that of the common flyer, (or stripping card) whose use is to keep the teeth in working order, and to discharge a part of the obtruding filament.
In terminating this article, I cannot resist the desire of recommending this whole subject to any opulent English Manufacturer, whose zeal and public spirit, are commensurate with the scope which these hints embrace, and to which they tend, if duly appreciated.