US1825167A - Controlling mechanism for machines for cleaning and opening cotton and forming the same into laps - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 29, 1931. WILKINSON A 1,825,167

CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR MACHINES FOR CLEANING AND OPENING COTTON AND FORMING THE sAME INTO LAPS -6 Sheets-Sheet 1- Filed Nov. 26, 1929 l NVEN ATTORWEY Sept. 29, 1931. H. WILKINSON 1,825,167

CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR MACHINES FOR CLEANING AND OPENING COTTON AND FORMING THE SAME INTO LAPS Filed Nov. 26. 1929 6 Sheets-Shut 2 I I LLFTLJ S 39 56 1 (Z 42 I l 4 ILL LJ 1 W I I E n 67 I 1 so fi fi 40 '44 4 INVENTOR.

.sept. 29; 1931.

H. WILKINSON CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR MACHINES FOR CLEANING AND OPENING cor'ron AND FORMING THE sum mm nus Filed Nov. 26. 1929 6 Sheets- Sheet 3 Sept.- 29, 193 l H. WILKINSON CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR MACHINES FOR CLEANING AND OPENING COTTON AND FORMING THE SAME INTO LAPS Filed NOV. 26, 1929 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Sept- 9, 1931. H. WILKINSON 1'825'167 CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR MACHINES FOR CLEANING AND OPENING COTTON AND FORMING THE SAME INTO LAPS Filed Nov. 26. 1929 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 N v 2 N'TOR:

WI'MI un 7 K QHQZMI hTTORnrETS ml mum; L

p 29, 1931- I H. WILKIDNSON 1,825,167

CONTROLLING NECNANISM FOR IAONINES FOR CLEANING AND OPENING v COTTON AND FORMING THE SAME INTO LAPS Filed Nov. 26. 1929 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 vENToR,

TTORNEY Patented Sept. 29, 1931 wxiixr nsoir, or

om omm jmacmimsm not; ron f em'e'im jieeiie"e"" "'lpplicati ans; 1. 1.151. r. n i This invention A concerns: cotton 1 cleaning; opening and? lap ,forming apparatus .wherein the ifibre is ainipart mechanically and inpartpneumaticallyconveyedi while :beingi:dealtwithor actedzon in grouped machines, 'and. there a are :two. groups of cleaning sand-open ingmachines, one a preliminary. group, and: the other afurther or refining] group, the re-- fining roup finishing i with lap i :iforining; 1c mechanism there being pneumatic-or; other conveyance between the preliminary group and the refining, group and through there; fining group. which concludes 'with thelap forming mechanism. .f 17C: is; As regards the preliminarygroup, this may be any suitable combination of conveyin'gahd opening apparatus and may emb'raeef 1a 1 creeper slattice,'filling motion, hopper opener,- hopper. feeder, 1 cylinder 1 opener, i .Crighton' opener, or' anypreliminary 'grou'pofzan effective'nature, the material-dealt with there-. by being vpneumatically :conveyedif. necessary over grid dust trunk but thecotton' may beiotherwise conveyedto the second or refining group with. which my improvements are particularly-concerned. i T

In this'second or refining group,-pneumatic conveyance is made use of, along with dust cages and also two cylinder'openers together 1 with other'devices suchas 'ahopper feeder fed by cotton pneumatically 'or otherwise c0nveved and delivering to a lattice, togetherwith all necessary feed rollers-etc; but the ex, c combination is capable ofcon'siderable I variation. 1

In the more'modern type of'cylinder or other opener from which the openedvcotton' is conveyed by an air pipet'o'succeeding cages. there is a vastly greate'ridistance forthe cotton to travel from'the opener to the: dustcages, it may be, say some 13' feet as:' ar ainst {1: feet for example. Asa consequence, when a machine is stopped on completion ofa' lap, the fibre in transit between opener-and la. dust cages is much more considerablaand imotrnnias 'AND tour ng; FLI' IITED', 95F: nqt an n fil ed 'liovember 2e, 192e s ria1 no? 409,812, and n Great Britain. February 1-6,: 1,529

minim, EnetANn' pla mate or: T01,

cylinder Topen'e'ns fof the characterrmentioned,

but apply to ianyrcombination of openen a'nd cages the .one if n'eedbe situated compartlvely: remote from the other as will be understoodil The improvements areiapplicable fto twvmsts each'- consisting of. a; cylinder or; like opener; and cages with interconnecting pneuniatic. tubes or: trunksi '31 shall herein, deal 2 with :a two set cylinderopener andcages eaclihset; with pneumatic interconnecting tube, the second set followed by :a lap forming arrange ment oiimore or less wellrknow'n type-W I; The conception at'the'root. of-the'oinvenr tion is this: I arrange-.toperiodically';andv automatically arrest the mechanism feeding the first cylinder opener, thedust cages-{the cage rollers, etc, (group marked No. 1- herein) before I arrest the second set'bf dust cages, its cage rollers, etc, (group marked No. 2 herein). The cylinder openers in each grouprevolv'e constantly." As a .c consequence, the considerable quantity of fibre between first-cylinder opener-andbfirstset of cages ;banks-'up at-thenfirst set-0f cages, but: does not passl forward togthe second cylinder opener, 'so that, the'fibre;be-- tween second cylinder opener and second; cages can'be substantially cleared-11p on'the second pair of cages. In effect I createan' interregnum between the periodic cessation of the described first 'groupand' the periodic cessation of the second described group-ainversely, having automatically stopped-uboth groups'at one stage,-I-restart thefir'st group a fraction of time beforefirestarting the secondfigrouprv If this-be considered,w1t f'ollows that the desired even laps will result, because, the considerable quantity of fibre remains banked-up having reached an impasse, While substantially what is forward of that goes onto the lap, and by thereafter first starting the first described group, before the second, the banked-up fibre behind the first cages catches up to the second cages and links up ere these re-start.

Such is the system upon which I propose to work and the various operations and controls can be well effected by mechanism which is to some considerable extent known on various textile machines, but which I have adopted, modified and combined for thepurposes of carrying out my purpose.

The accompanying drawings. sufiicieutly illustrate the means I propose'to employ. In the drawings: 1 y. 1

Fig. 1 is a general elevation showing a combination of grouped apparatuseswhich can operate in the manner and for the purposes set forth, and deal with the fibrous material from a creeper lattice until a lap is formed, without any manual intervention as to handlin of the fibre being dealt with.

Figs. Q'an 2*together comprise an'cnlarged side elevation'of the greater part of the succeeding or refining and grouped apparatuses seen in the lower half of Fig. 1.

Figs. 3 and 3 together comprise a plan view of the apparatus shown in "Figs. 2 and 2.

Fig. 1, while not a true plan view, is a developed diagrammatic plan introduced to enable the caring for'refining group of apratuses lower part of Fig. 1. and Figs. 2 and 3) to be easily followed.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation in side widths or sections which shows more clearly the mech anism, for the cylinder openers. the cages, cage rollers, lap forming mechanism. and connections therefrom.

Fig. 6 shows a plan view of Fig.

Fig. 7 is a broken front view of part of the lap forming mechanism.

Fig. 8 shows a section of the spring whee device.

9 is a face view thereof.

Fig. 10 is a. view showing the volutc spring device which returns or rc-sets the spring wheel when the driving pinion or small gear on the lap drop lever is disengaged.

Fig. 11 shows the catch ho): strnctl'u'c. etc. on the side shaft of the refining group of ap laratus.

ig. 12 is an end elevation of one half of the catch box.

Fig. 13 shows the catch box structure. etc... for the feed rollers of the first cylinder opener and feed lattice in the refining group of apparatus.

Fig. 1% is an end elevation of one half of the catch box Fig. 13.

I may use any appropriate preliminary group of apparatus as for example such agroup as is indicated in the upper part of Fig. 1. Shown there, is a creeper lattice a,

communicating with a pneumatic tube 6 leading to cages T with cage rollers 8, etc.,v and then come feed rollers 9. This 15 the first group or section. The feed rollers 9 deliver thecotton to the second cylinder opener 10, which communicates with a pneulnartic tube '11 leading to the second set of cages l-2,cage rollers 13, calender rolls 14, and lap forming mechanisms of more or less ordinary type. this being the second group. A-suitable fan or fans, such as j is or are provided in the preliminary group to draw the cotton-say from the Crighton opener I, so that the condenser ican supply the hoper feeder 1, the same fan 7' serving to exiiaust the air from the dust cage in con denser i. This fan provision can be considcrabiy varied. Fans In properly driven and connected up are provided in association with the cages in the apparatuses of the second or refining group.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 5, 6 and 7, the controlling lever 21, known in the art as the lap drop lever, is pivotally mounted at 252 on the frame of the machine, the free outer end of which lever is adapted to be engaged and retained in set position by the usual goose-neck lever 19 pivoted at 20 on the machine frame at the lap end thereof.

\Vhen the lap drop lever 21 is lifted or engaged by hand in the known manner. it carries a small gear wheel 24 into engagement with a spur gear 25 forming part of a spring wheel assembly of a more or less known type and which will be described in detail hereinafter. This small gear wheel 24: is mounted on a shaft 26 which is a jointed or floating shaft, as known, and which shaft carries at its opposite end a large gear wheel 27 which is driven by a spur pinion 28 secured on one end of a shaft 29. said shaft carrying at its opposite end a pulley 30 which is actuated by a crossed belt 31 from any suitable source of power. \Vhen the outer end of the lever 21 is released by the goose-neck lever above described, that end of the lever 21 will drop by gravity. thus carrying the small gear wheel "2 1 out of mesh with the spur gear 25. The so-called spring wheel assembly is mounted on one end of the shaft of the lowermost calendar roll 14, all of the calendar rolls being geared together and to the cage rollers 13 andcages 12 by a train of gearing 75 disposed at theside of the machine opposite from said spur gear 25, as shown in' Fig. 6, whereby when the pinion 24 is in mesh with the spur gear 25 motion will be imparted by means of the spring wheel assembly to the calendar rolls 14, as well as the cage r0ll ers 13 'and cages 12. The construction-of the spring wheel assembly, however, is such that the spur gear 25 must rotate a portion of a revolution before imparting motion to the calendar rolls. This construction is well illustrated in Figs. 8, 9 and 10, wherein isshown a flanged disk32'havi11g an integral sleeve 32* by which it is keyed on the shaft 14 of the lowermost calendar roll. The spur gear 25 is mounted for free rotation on said sleeve and is provided with an internal projection 34 forming a fixed stop member, and with a plurality of openings 35 each adapted to receive a movable stop member 36. The disk 32 is provided with an integral lug 33- that extends into the path of the spur wheel stop members 34 and 36, so that the spur wheel may rot ate independently of the disk in both directions only until one of its stop members encounters the lug 33 of the disk. A second flanged disk 37 is secured by means of a set screw 37 to the shaft 14 in abuttingrelation to the end of the sleeve 32 of the disk 32 and the hub of the spur gear 25. A volute spring 38 is secured at one'end to the flange of said disk 37 and at its opposite end to the hub of the spur wheel 25. whereby upon; rotation of the spur wheel in one direction the spring is placed under tension.

In Fig. 4 it will be observed that the sour wheel 25 is in mesh with an idler pinion 49, Which in turn is in mesh with a pinion 48, on the shaft of which is secured a bevel gear 47 in mesh with a bevel gear-4.4. Referring now to Fig. 11, the bevel gear 44 is keyed on a sleeve formed integral with a flanged clutch member or disk 43 mounted for free rotation on a countershaft 39. on which-shaft is also mounted for free rotation asecond flanged clutch disk 46, said clutch members having cooperating teeth formed in the opposing edges of their respective. flanges,

means being provided, as hereinafter de'- scribed, for moving the clutch disk 46 axially of the shaft thereby to control the operation of the clutch members. Between the clutch disks 43 and 46, a member 45, preferably of projections or lugs 46 formed integral with clutch disk 46. For operating the clutch disk 46 toward and from the clutch disk 43, a yoke 41 engages a peripheral groove in a sleeve 46"- formed integral with the clutch disk 46. said yoke forming one armof a bell-crank lever.- 41:

in the position shown' in Fig. 5 said foot engages; beneath the end'wall of the lever and is thus-retained'depressed until operated in the manner to be later: described. 'A spring rod 23 is pivoted .at one end thereof to the depend ing rod 40=atsome distance above the lower end of said depending rod, the outer. end of said 'spring,"rod /passing through th e end frame of i' the machine. and .slidable therein. A coil-spring 68 encircles the rod 23 'andis confined "betweenthe machine end frame and.-

asleeve 23 threaded onth'e rod, whereby said rod-is-retaineda in the' position shown in Fig.-

5 under tension of said spring; .MG8I1S1 are provided for periodically causing the rod 23 to slide outward'fhrough the machine frame,

said means comprising: a cam' lug 167- secured on t'he'oute'r endof the mass in position to be engaged by ta cooperating lug.l8 .(see Figs 5 and 7 carried=on the usual radius plate 15 which is secured to a gear lfirmounted for rotation on? the end frame of the machine inmeshwith *apinion' '17- secured on a shaft- 17?, which receives rotary motion ,:by means of' a worm.gear-.3 17 from any. suitable source of power; The gear 16 'also:=carries'ra lug 70 near its'periphery, said lug. being adapted to engage a hook-shaped; member 19 :carried by the goose neck'lever 19 thereby periodically to swing saidlexier onits-piv'ot a'nd'release thevlap drop-lever 21,'.'as:hereinafter describe :Intthe operationolf the machine so far de scribed, constant;rotary motion is imparted to the shaft 29.?- Consequently, when the outer;:end ofthe-lap drop lever 21 is raised to-the positionshoivn-in Fig. 5. 'two results immediately follow, namely: The pinion 24 is carriedinto engagement-with the' spur wheel 25, and the. depending rod 40:is pulled downwardbyrreason .ofthe-eng'agement of its foot'40 awiththe underside-of the lever 21. The eflectofrthe'rengageinent' ofpinion 24 with spni'wheel 25ais to cause "said spur wheel to rotate,- thus immediately transmitting motion throughi49, 48.:47'and'44 to clutch member 43,. whilethe effect-of'the downward pull on therod 40'isttoss'wing-the bell-crank 41 on its pivotthereby carrying-the clutch memher-46 into-engagement with clutch member 43, sothatanotion. is imparted through the memberlfito the shaft 39 and thence through bowel-gears 50. 50%.a-nd train of gears 76 to thecage rollers 8gand feed'rollers 9, andby means of the train-of'gearing 77 motion is imparted to the first'set' -of cages 7.

' wheel-it rotates freely until its fixed stop log 34 abuts against the opposite side of the disk lug3-3, whereupon the disk 32 and the shaft to which it is keyed will'be carried along as a unit with the spur wheel, the spring 38 having been reoensiomd. during the free rota tionof the spur wheel. Itwill thus beclenr that all of the mechanism-towhich motion is imparted by the shaft 139, namely the feed rolls 9 to'the-second'cylinder opener 10, the cage rollers-8, and-the first 7, begin to rotate in advance of the'rollers' 14, cage rollers 13 and second cages 12, so that fibre is fed to the second cylinder opener lfland thence to the second set ofcag'es' before the latter begin torotaite, the length of time between the beginning-of the rotationof cages 7 and that of .12 being determinedby the position to which the stop lug $6-has been seton the spur wheeL.

Means are provided whereby the downward pull on the rod 4'0, inaddttion to bring ing-the clutch members 46 and-:43 into operative engagement'asabove described, is also effective simultaneously to cause rotation ofthe feeding mechanism for the first cylinder opener 5. As shown in Fig. 4, the lattice 3 is geared by means of a train of gearing 78 to the shaft of one of the feed rolls 4 for the first cylinder opener. On the end of said shaft opposite from said gearing is dis a clutch mechanism similar to that already described and comprising a pair of cooperating flanged disks 58 and 60 (see Figs. 1-3 and 14) mounted for free rotation on the shaft 4 both of said clutch disks having interen-gaging teeth, as indicated at '57, the clutch disk 60 being slid-able toward and from the companion clutch disk and having lugs 60 projecting through openings in the arms of a cruciform member 59 keyed on the shaft 4. The clutch disk 58 is provided with an elongated slceve 58 on which is keyed a spur wheel 58 which is constantly in mesh with a pinion 79 operated by means of worm gearing from the well known regulating mo tion 66 (see Fig. 4). The clutch disk 60 is operated toward and from its companion clutch member by means of a yoke 61* in engagement with a peripheral groove in a hub portion or sleeve 60 formed integral with the disk 60, said yoke constituting the short arm of a bellcrank lever 61 pivoted at 62 on a fixed portion of the machine frame. The free end of the bell-crank 6:1 is pivota'lly connected to one end of :an adjustable connecting rod 5.6-, the opposite end of which is pivoted to the free end'of a lever 54 pivoted'at-55 on the machine frame. A second adjustable connecting rod 53 is pivotally connected at one end tothe lever 54 and at its opposite end to one arm of a bell-crank lever 51 pivoted-at 52 onafixed part of the machine frame. The other arm of the bell-crank lever 51 is provided with an elongated opening through which it is pivoted to the depending rod 40 hereinbefore described. 4

From the foregoing it will readily be seen that when the rod 40 is pulled downward for" causing engagement of the clutch members 13 and 46 as hcreinbeforc describ'ed,:it will simultaneously swing bell-crank lever'51 on its pivot, thus pulling connecting rod 53 toward the left as shown in Fig. 5, thereby swinging lever 54 and pulling connecting rod l 56, thus swinging bell-crank 61" on its pivot and carrying clutch member- 60 into operative engagement with clutch member 58, whereupon rotary motion is imparted by means of the gearing 80, 79, 58 and the clutch members 6G, 58 to the shaft 4 and thence through the gearing 78 to the lattice-3 andithrou'gh the gearing 78 to the feed rollers-tor the first opener 5, so that these mechanisms are start ed simultaneously with the starting of the (first pair of cages 7, cage rollers8 and cyliner 9-. l

For automatically disengaging the clutchmembers 58 and 60 when the pull on the 0011-. meeting rods 53, 5'6 is released, a flexible memher 63 such as a cable or. chain isis'ecurcd at one end to the side of the bell-crank 61 opposite from the rod 56, said cable passing over a pulley 64 mounted in a bracket carried by the machine frame, a Weight 6'5'being suspended from the opposite end of the cable, whereby when the pull on the connecting rods is released the bell-crank61 will be swung in the opposite direction under the pull of the cable, thus disconnecting the clutch members.

When the, second cylinder opener 10 has begun to supply the second cages 12,-that is, after a fraction of time, the spring wheel assembly 25 begins to drive the gear wheels 75 and carriers for the second cages 12, the cage rollers 13, and lap rolls 1 1, as hereinbefore described, whereupon thelap forming delivery begins again, the fibre having so to speak caught-up so as to constantly and uniformly feed the second cages 12.

At this period, the lap is being wound-on the lap rod, in the ordinary and Well known fashion, and this condition continues until the lap is nearly fully wound. When this stage is reached, the lug 18 acts on the projection 67 on the spring rod 23 and moves the latter against the action of the spring 68. The result is, the pendent bar 10 has its foot 10a disengaged from the slotted end of the lap drop lever 21, the slot being of s'ufiicien't length to permit the foot to pass upward therethrough when the rod 40 is pulled to the rear end of the slot. The pendent bar 40 being thus disengaged orunlocked, is free to rise. The action of the weight is at this time exerted onthe bell'crank 61 and is transmitted by rods 56 and 53 to bell-crank 51, causing. the latter to swing on its pivot, thereby.moving the pendent bar 40 upward. and swinging the bell-crank 1 to disengage the clutch members 46 and 43 simultaneously with the disengagement of clutch members 58 and 60. As a consequence, thelattice 3, its rollers 4, etc. the first pair of cages-7,-and cage rollers 8, and cylinder rollers 9,:are arrested, and any fibre between the firsti-cylinder opener 5 and the first .pair of cages 7 banks-up on the latter. The s'econdpair-of cages 12,- however, go on rotating alongwiththe c e rollers 13 and lap rolls 14 until the fibreavailableis almost exhausted, whereupon thegoose-neck lever -.19,;is .disengagedqby the lug ion the: large gear wheel: 16 and so thelap drop lever .21:isreleased-andfalls in known manner. The release; ofthe lap ;d1"opv lever 21 carriesthe small gear=wheel24 out of mesh with the spring wheel gear 25, sothat the rotation of the latterceas'es. The spring wheel 25, being no longer driven, the second pair of cages 12, the cage rollers 13 and lap rolls 14, etc. stop. .This isthe period: of arrestation for removal-of the lap. The volute spring 38 in-the spring wheel? combination,-Figs. 8, 9 and.10-,in the meantime returns the abutment34: to starting position, that is, until-the stud-36 encounters the caston projection 33. The cylinder openers 5 and 10 in groups No. 1 and No.- 2 are intended to revolve constantly.

This particular means which. I shall now briefly refer to, is not material, and could be greatly varied, but there is preferably provided an extending connecting rod or rods 71, 72, with one or more L levers or other connections to the hopper feeder if such is combined in the refining group, to arrest the conveying devices therein, by shifting a belt or otherwise, and there is preferably connecting mechanism to the preliminary group of machines (such as shown in the upper part of Fig. 1) whether in another room, or elsewhere to stop the conveyance of cotton via the pneumatic tube or otherwise to the initial hopper feeder in the refining group orapparatuses with which the invention is concerned, and during such time as the lap is being removed and up to the period of restarting.

The spring wheel spoken of is broadly known and is of such a construction as clear ly set forth herein that the time when the driving of the second cages,- cage rollers, lap rolls etc. (following setting ofthe lap drop lever) shall occur, can be regulated by adjusting the known settabl'e stud 36 combined in the spring wheel.

By means of the-present invention, I am able to better clean and open the fibre and to produce entirely uniform laps, and the material, is never manually handled from the creeper lattice-a until in lap form.

I declare that what 1 claim is;

1. In a cotton-cleaning and lap-forming apparatus, the combination of two distinct groups of similarinechanisms, a shaft mounted'for rotation, gearing at one end of said, shaftfor transmitting motion to one of said groups, a gear mounted for free rotation on said shalt, means shiftable into and out of engagement with said gear for imparting motion thereto, gearing in mesh with said gear for imparting motion to the other group of mechanism and cooperating means carried .by said shaft and gear for imparting rotation to the shaft after the gear has been rotated through a predetermined a le whereby motion is impartedfirst to one of said groups in advancepf the other group and then togboth-groups.

-;2. In a cotton-cleaning and lap-forming apparatus, the combination of two distinct groups of similar mechanisms, a shaft mounted for rotation, gearing at one end of said shaft for transmitting motion to one of said groups, a gear mounted for free rotation on said'shaft, means shiftable into and out of engagement with said gear for impartin motion thereto, gearing in mesh with said gear for imparting motion to the other group of mechanisms, cooperating means carried by said shaft and gear for imparting rotation to the shaft after the gear has been rotated through a predetermined angle whereby motion is imparted first to one of said groups in advance of the other group and then to both groups, and means automatically operative after the actuation of both groups to discontinue the actuation of the first group in 'abvance of the other-group.

.motion thereto, gearing in mesh with sai gear for-imparting motion to the other group of mechanisms, said last' gearing including shiftable clutch members normally out of operative relation, means operative on the shifting of said motion-imparting means 'into engagement with said gear for shifting the clutch members into operative relation' thereby to impart motion to the gear-actuated group at the beginning of the rotation of said gear, and cooperating means between said shaft and gear for" imparting motion to the shaftafter the gear has been rotated through. a predetermined angle thereby to impart motion to the shaft ac tuated group;

a cotton-cleaning and lap-forming spym-awsmm eombi-nation'of two distinet groups of similar mechanisms, a shaft mount ed for rotatiomg'earingat one endof said shaftfor transmittingmotion to one of said groups, a gear mounted for free rotationzon said shaft, means shi'ftable into' and out of engagement with said gear for imparting motion thereto, gearing in mesh with said gear for imparting motion to the other group of mechanisms, said'last gearing" including shiftahle' clutch members normally out-of op erative' relation; means operative enthe shi fit ing of saidmotiondmpartingmeans into en gagement with said gear for shifting the cliitehmeinhe'rsinteoperati've relation thereby te'impa'rtmotionto the gear-aetuated group at the-be inninger the rotation'of said gear, choperating-means between-said shaft and gear for imparting motion'to the shaft after the gear has been rotaxtedthreugh a predeteraimed angle thereby toimpart motion tothe Shaft-actuated group, and means automati- 'c'ally operative during the actuation of both groups to return said oluteh members to inoperative position thereby to-d iseontinu'e the aetuation of said gear-aetuated group ad+ Vance of the discontinuanee-of the shaft-acttiatedgroup; r "5: In a eo'ttomelean-i'ng and lapiorming apparatus, the combinationof two distinct roups efsimil'ar mechanisms, a shaft mounted fisrmtatien, gearing at one end of said shaft for transmitting motion to oneof said groups, a'gear mounted for free rotation on said shaft, means shiftabl'e into and out of en agement with. said gear for imparting motion thereto,--gearing in mesh with said gear for-imparting motionto-the other group of mechanisms, said last gearing including shiftable clutch members normally out of operative relation, means operative on the shifting of said motio'ndinparting means intoengagement with said gear for shifting the clutch members into operative relation thereby to impart motion to the gezinactuated group at the beginning of the rotation of said gear, cooperating means between fs'aid- "shaft and gear for imparting motion to the shaft after the gear has been rotated through a predetermined angle therebyte impart motion to the shaft-actuated group, means automatic-ally operative during the aetuation of both groups toreturn'said clutch members to inoperative position thereby to discontinuethe animation of said gear-actuated group, and means automati'eallywperativeto shift the motion-imparting Hie-ans out of engagement with said gear thereby to discontinue actuation of the gear-actu ated group.

6., In a cotton-cleaning and lap-forming apparatus, the combination oftwo distinct groups of'similar mechanisms, a shaft mounted for rotation, gearing at one end of said shaft for transmitting motion to one of said groups, a gear mounted for free rotation on said shaft, means shiftable into and out of engagement with said gear for imparting motion thereto, gearing in mesh with said gear for imparting motion to the other group of mechanisms,- said last gearing including shiftableclutch members normally out of operative relation, means operative on the shifting of said motion impa-rting means into engagement with-said gear for shifting the clutch members into-operatia e relation thereby to impart motion to the gear actuated group at the beginning of the rotation of said: gear, cooperating means between said shaft and gear for imparting motion tothe shaft after'the gear has=been rotated through 'a predetermined anglethoreby to: impartimo tion to the shaft-actuated group, means automatiealliy operative duringthe actuation of both groups to returnsaidclutch members to inoperative positionthereby to idiscontinue the actuation of said; gear-"actuated group, means: automatically operative to shift the-motions-imparting means out of engagement with said gear thereby to discon tinue actuation of the gear-actuated group, and means automaticallyoperative to return said gear to it's: shaft free position;

Z. In: aootton eleaning and lapforming apparatus, a shaft mounted for rotation, a gear mounted for free rotation on said shaft, means 'shiftabl'e into: and out of engagement with said gear for imparting motion thereto independently of the shaft and cooperating means carried by saidshaft and gear for imparting'rotati'on to the shaft at apredetermined period during the rotation of the gear.

'8. In a cotton-clowning and lap-forming apparatus-,1 shaft mounted for rotation, a gear mounted for free rotation on said shaft, means shiftable intoand out of engagement with said. gear for im arting motion theret'o independently of t e shaft, cooperating means carried by said shaft and ,gearfor imparting rotationto the shaft at a predeten mined period during the rotation of the gear, and flexible means operative when said motionu'mpartingmeans is out of engagement with said gearfor returning the latter to its shaft-free position.

9. In a 'ootton cleaning-and lap-forming wppara tusya shaft mounted for rotation, a gear mounted for free rotation on said shaft,

means 'shiftable into andout of engagement with said gear-for imparting motion thereto independent of the shaft, a stop disk secured on said shaft. for rotation therewith, cooperating means carried by said disk and gear-for engagement. after the gear has rotated through a predetermined angle there- Fri) ' name to this Liam

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