(394) It was shown that in order to remove the hanks from the reel, it is customary to close up the swift, and, after gathering the hanks at one end, to lift it and thus remove them. There are two chief objections to this course. First, a considerable danger exists of the yarn being soiled by contact with the greasy bearing; and second, the task of lifting a heavy swift with 40 hanks of yarn on it is sometimes too great for the attendant, who is generally a woman. It is customary, therefore, especially in bobbin reeling, to fit the machine with a “doffing motion”—the operation of stripping a spindle or other surface of yarn being known as “doffing.” The staves are fixed on the ends of the arms of an iron spider, and two of them are sustained by a hinged frame which can be released so as to oscillate in a forward direction, thus “dropping” the two staves attached to it. This is called the “drop motion.” The hanks are thus released, and can easily be drawn up to the doffing motion. There are three forms of this. The first consists of a wheel, grooved on its periphery and fitting in a circular bracket turned to correspond. The centre boss of the “doffing wheel” bears one end of the swift, and a segment is removed from the wheel, so as to leave a space into which one side of the hanks can be placed. By giving the wheel a half turn the hanks are brought to the front of the swift, and can be easily removed. Another form, which was introduced by Mr. Joseph Stubbs, was called the “gate” doffing motion, owing to the fact that a hinged bracket similar to a gate was used, by removing which the end of the swift was left free. The movement of opening the gate oscillated a lever, on which was a cross bar enabling the swift to be sustained during the operation of doffing. A further improvement by the same firm bears the name of the “bridge” doffing motion, and is shown in Fig. [204]. It simply consists of a small bracket bridging a gap formed in the frame end, in which a longitudinal slot is made, and at each end of it pivots are formed upon which it can be oscillated. The end of the swift barrel A (Fig. [206]) is fitted into a round shell B, in which the lubricant is retained, and a nipple on which slides in the slot in the bridge bracket. The doffing is effected by simply allowing the hank to be drawn into the gap named, and then by a smart push making the bridge bracket rest upon its pivots at the other side of the gap. This enables the hanks to be easily lifted, after which a pull is sufficient to restore the swift to its working position. The position of the bridge in its working position and during doffing, is shown on the left and right hand side respectively of Fig. [204]. This motion is an undoubted improvement on its predecessors, and oiling of the hanks is practically unknown.
Fig. 206.
(395) Messrs. Guest and Brooks have recently introduced the skeining motion shown in Fig. [207]. In this case the rack G is driven, not by a lifting tooth, but by means of the pinion E gearing with a finely-pitched toothed rack F. In this way a continuous motion is given to G. At the upper end of the latter, a bracket or arm M is formed, having fixed at one end a centre pin O, on which the bracket, or arm, P can be oscillated. The position of P is fixed by means of a bolt and nut passing through it and the slot R. The stepped portion of G, instead of being cast, is obtained by the use of six bars L, which have a certain vertical movement given to them by small pins engaged in the slot Q formed in the arm P. The pins are fastened in the bars, and it is clear that the vertical elevation of the arm P will shorten or lengthen the steps formed by the difference in the length of the bars L. In this way skeins, or leas, of any desired length can be wound, it being obvious that, if the steps be shortened or lengthened, the engagement of the pin K1 with them successively, will take place at proportionate intervals, and K1 being fixed in the bracket K which is attached to the guide rail H, a shorter or longer lea will be formed prior to the traverse of H taking place.
Fig. 205.J.N.
(396) The hanks being reeled, they are, if cross reeled, dyed or bleached, and, if in leas, bundled. This operation is effected in a machine called a “bundling press” (Fig. [208]) consisting of two strong frames securely fastened together by stays, and in which the bearings for the necessary driving straps are formed. Bundles are usually either 5lbs. or 10lbs. weight each, and are generally fastened with five strings. To the upper part of each of the frames wrought-iron plates, extending upwards, are fastened, narrow spaces being left between each pair of plates, so that the strings or bands for tying up the bundles can be easily passed round them. To the upper end of one set of plates cover bars are hinged, which can be pulled down on to the top of the other set, where they are locked by bars hinged to the latter. In the space between the two sets of vertical plates an iron table rises and falls, and it will be readily understood that the elevation of the table, when the top plates are closed and locked, compresses the bundles. The extent to which the pressure is exerted depends on the throw of two eccentrics fixed on the main shaft, these being connected by means of strong rods to the underside of the sliding table. By this arrangement the amount of pressure is strictly limited and cannot become excessive. After the bundle is pressed it is tied up and the pressure released, the top bars unlocked, and the bundle removed, in addition to which a knocking off or stop motion is fitted. In an improved form of press, invented by Mr. Thomas Coleby, the top plates are automatically and simultaneously released.
Fig. 207.J.N.
