continually the place of the approaching filament on the card A. This system is called the shaking feeder: and it should be observed that as it is necessary the shake should be nearly parallel to the surface of A, the frame which contains B must move in a slide, or round a centre far beyond D.

In Fig. 36 is shewn another system of feeding, which is called the throwing feeder: and this is its principle. A is a kind of hollow box, containing the filament in a state of ribbon (or connected longitudinally in any other state). When the box turns, the wheel D circulates round the pinion C, which is concentric with the axis of revolution of the box, and is either fixed or turned with the box as the necessary proportion of draft may require. By these means one set of the pressing cones for cylinders) x y z receives, and communicates to the other sets the motion necessary for drawing the filament out of the box and delivering it at E with a proper velocity and as the cylinders ≈, are at a distance from the centre of motion of the box, they describe a circle round it, and would deliver filament to any number of combs or cards that should be placed in that circle (say those B, Fig. 22, (Pl. I.) or A B, Fig. 41).

Fig 37 shews another method of feeding applicable to long filaments, such as flax, &c. It is a cylinder a, through which passes an endless ribbon, made of any proper material, whose width is just equal to the inner circumference of a. This ribbon passes over two rollers B C, one of which, aided by a third roller, presses it, and draws it forward in the direction D, a e. By these means the ribbon changes its place in the cylinder, so that any wool or other filamentous substance laid on it at D, will be rolled up on entering the cylinder, and

there

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like that of Fig. 41; the revolving cards of common machinery; or, in fine, either of the new alimentary sys→ tems just described. In some, and perhaps in most cases, it will be best fed by the eccentric feeder of Fig. 36, so placed as to throw the filament on the plates in a diagonal or helical direction, as shewn by the arrow, Fig. 40.

This system under several other forms is also used, one of which is shewn in Fig. 42. There the plates above described are successively less and less; so as when united to form a kind of cone, see ab, while the teeth are placed on them either as in Fig. 40, or parallel to the axis of their motion, or in a divergent or convergent position. Sometimes these differences of diameter are made, such as that the section of the whole may offer a circular hollow cd, to which any round card or comb E (or the centrifugal feeder), may apply with exactness, so as to give filament to all the plates; but all these forms are branches of the same invention.

Another means of separating the several partial ribbons formed on the above-mentioned system, consists in giving to each successive plate a different centre and a different diameter. Thus in Fig. 43, all the circumferences would coincide at a; but at b, would be far enough asunder to permit the twisting of each fasces without mixing several together. this eccentricity can be obtained, viz. by the insertion of lunular prisms c, e, n, to fill up the difference between the diameter of any given cannon, and that immediately above it. It is hardly necessary to observe that the motions are given to these plates by proper wheels, as in the case of Fig. 40.

The figure shews how

Another

Another system cmployed for producing small ribbons of any filamentous substance is shewn in Fig. 44. The throwing feeder,ʼor a circular card, is placed in the cen tre C, and round it any proper number of combs a, b, c, d, e, converging to the circumference of the given circle, so as to mix their teeth as it were, and form there a kind of card, receiving filament from either of the above feeders. These combs have a given motion round their respective axes (either all the same way, or every other one in a contrary direction), and by their divergency the filament is separated into a number of equal elements, that need only be twisted at fg h, &c. to form distinct threads, which is the object in view. Note, These combs are straight or plane as at a b, conical as at m n; or cylindrical, with their teeth sloped to the right or left as their various positions and motions may require. They are also composed sometimes of several plates with unequal motions, like the system of Fig. 42; and note, That sometimes other combs, as O (placed obliquely in an opposite position) are applied, which, by their motion in different planes, comb and smooth the filament for the subsequent operations of spinning; and this last system assumes any proper dimensions, according as it is intended to open large quantities of filament, or to produce small ribbons to be spun immediately as in its present connection.

Another system of spinning which is claimed as a new invention is the following.

A, Fig. 45, is part of a revolving card filled with a filamentous substance (or it represents the circle in which the throwing feeder revolves), and B is a conical comb with its teeth converging towards the centre, and represented by its section a b c. This comb turns on a

VOL. XIII. SECOND SERIES,

E

hollow

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hollow axis B C, and receives from A a constant supply of filament thrown on those teeth of the comb, which successively assume the position a b. But as in the tube B C there is a thread placed, which the machinery draws at C, but without twist, it is the motion of the filament at a which twists the thread in the tube, and combines constantly with it those hairs which are snatched by the comb from the card: and thus an endless thread is produced, which can be wound directly on any body D without further twisting, whence arises a considerable degree of simplicity in the rest of the machinery.

That form of the system which has been just described, requires a perforated axis to the comb B; but it is possible to use the system without it. Thus in Fig. 46, A is the comb, and B part of the delivering card. A turns on a solid axis C, while at D there is a ring or eye fixed, through which the nascent thread passes to go to the bobbin or reel, (for either may be used). The inspection of the figure will complete the explanation, when it is added, that the teeth of the comb A may assume any proper position in the surface of A, and that the comb may be simple or composed, see Fig. 42. It would be also possible to twist the end D of the thread, which would accelerate the work per spindle; but it would occasion more complication in the machinery.

Fig. 47 represents another method of using these combs: A is the card as before; and BC the section of the comb. The latter turns with a certain degree of swiftness, but only just enough to carry the filament from C to B, while the fly and bobbin D E draw it off, and twist it in the manner heretofore described,

It must here be remarked that this new system of twisting the thread, by throwing its component parts round its axis, permits the introduction of double, treble, or multiple spinning. In other words, it permits the spinning of cords with any given number of strands and with any material. Thus the form represented in Fig. 48, produces a twine with two strands; or as it is called in some manufactories, a thread doubled and twisted: and nothing prevents combining a greater number of strands at the moment of spinning them; which is at once a proof of the newness and the excellency of the system.

Another method of spinning, which admits also of combining several threads, and is principally adapted to the spinning of long-stapled materials shall now be described. To shew it in its most simple form, let A B, Fig. 41, be a comb (of any of the afore-mentioned descriptions), carried round the axis c d by means of the wheel E F, and revolving at the same time slowly round its own axis by means of the pinion a moved by the wheel b; the latter urged by the fixed pinion C, round which it circulates. Let further G H be a feeding system of any of the kinds heretofore mentioned. Then, the comb A B, every time it passes the feeder, will seize a few of the filaments there offered; and carry them successively to L, where they will be twisted and drawn through the eye in a state of thread, as before stated.

If then several of these doubly revolving combs be placed round a common axis A, Fig. 49, and mored by the wheel B, acting on the pinions C D, while an equal number of feeders E F, supply the material; in this case they will each produce a thread G H; and these, being once brought together, will produce a cabled