When the patent ribbon-lapper is used, the system is as follows: The ordinary style of drawing-frame is thrown out entirely, and the card-slivers are up into a lap directly on the small sliver-lap machine: then six of these laps are placed in the creel of the machine and are drawn through four lines of rollers in the form of a ribbon instead of a sliver, and by means of curved plates are placed perfectly even and level on a polished table.
Drateinq-Frames.—Although the railway-head with evener, first introduced by George Draper & Sons, is hardly the same as a drawing-frame. its functions are near enough like it for it to be considered in the same class, These machines have been perfected and made much more sensitive and accurate. It is of the utmost importance that the evening should com mence as soon as possible after the detection of the fault. The Evans Friction Cone Co. have an evener on the market in which two cones with a frietion-belt running between them regu late the variations, and are claimed to enable a change of speed far quicker than an ordinary belt running over cones in the usual way. Railway-heads and machines in the next class have of late been provided with steel fluted rolls, having collars to prevent the teeth meshing too closely, instead of the common leather-covered rolls. They have been pronounced a success in certain instances, but their use is hardly extensive enough as yet to give an opinion as to their advantages. The advantages claimed are less weight required on the saddles, and no expense for roll-covering. This is being introduced by the Metallic Drawing Roll Co., of Springfield, Mass. The drawing-frame, having come into more extended use on account of the addition of the toiler system, is receiving considerable attention.
The electric stop-motion, as applied by Howard & Bullough, is an innovation, espe cially as it marks the first successful adaptation of electricity to cotton manufacturing. This has had an extensive introduction, as applied does more than the ordinary stop, as it detects four faults, viz.: (1) A sliver breaking before it reaches the drawing rollers, (2) a sliver tweaking at front between the drawing rollers and coder. (3) a stop for a full can in the toiler, and (I) a stop when cotton laps around the drawing rollers. Pales & Jenks, of Pawtucket, R. I., are the Anieriean builder,: of t his machine.
The Whit iii Machine Works are int rodueing a new drawing-frame with single-bossed rolls, which is an improvement on the general class.
Roving-Frames.—Fly-frames and speeders have undergone considerable general improve ment, although much of the machinery now offered to the trade is of the same type and style as that of ten years since, The gradual trend of opinion has turned in favor of fly-frames rather than speeders. Fig. 4 represents the 40 spindle stubble of the Providence Machine Co., of Providence, R. I., and Fig. 5 the Ilopedale Ma chine Co.'s improved roving-frame. In fly-frames one of the improvements is Tweedale's differential motion. In this the revolutions of the various wheels are all in one direction—saving in friction, power, and wear and strain on the cone-strap. Howard & 13ullough, besides controlling the above, have applied an electric stop-motion to prevent single breaks necessitating the stopping of the ma chine. As to the merits of fly-frames and speeders now in use, making four-hank roving or coarser, it is found that the roving can be made cheaper on the speeder and better on the fly-frame. The only reason for the better work of the fly-frame is be cause the spindle and flier gyrate together when there is gyration, and so the roving is not stretched between the flier and the bobbin, while in the form of speeder now in general use, the spindle and flier being separate, and the spindle and bobbin being sure to gyrate more or less, thin places in the roving must result. The Hopedale Machine
Co., of Ilopedale, Mass.. have made a new speeder which removes this objection.
The common form of spindle in machines of this class is cut off below the top of the bobbin, its support being at the bottom of the flier. This construction limits the speed at which the ma chine can be run, and even at the ordinary- speed the bobbin as it fills shows in many cases a marked variation from true running. The spindles car ried to trnd into the top of the flier, thus mak big a bearing at both ends of the spindle, and making a much higher speed both possible and practicable, and at the same time improving the quality of the product by avoiding both gyration and vibration of the bobbin, which are so damag ing in their effect on the evenness of the roving by straining and stretching it as it follows the movement of the spindle ; in other words, because the spindle is held at both top and bottom, it can not gyrate, and the result is even and substantial ly perfect roving. The lower part of the spindle is tubular, is connected with the driving-gear on tire lower shaft, and extends through the base of the flier, where it is provided with lugs to carry the upper part, which is slotted for a sufficient portion of its length to receive and carry the flat or traversing part of the spindle. which rests on the traverse rail and carries the bobbin by a toe which projects from its top outside the slotted part of the spindle into the bicie of the bobbin. The spindle is solid above the slot, and continues upward through the flier to its nose, where it is held by an ingenious lock. The top section of the spindle, the tubular or lower section, and the flat traversing part can be removed at any time by taking off the bobbin pnd without disturbing either flier or flier-plate. When the bobbins are full and ready to doff, the frame is stopped with the toe carrying the bobbin projecting from the back or front side of the spindle, and with the traverse rail at its lowest point; the bobbin is raised until it strikes the lock and lifts it, unlock ing the spindle and allowing it to tip forward and the bobbin to be removed ; the empty bobbin is put on, and with the spindle returned to an upright position, lifting the lock as in removing the bobbin. This movement locks the spin dle in place, and with the bobbin set firmly on the projecting toe the frame is ready to start, This operation of doffing requires no more time than the old method, one motion removing the bobbin and another replacing it. Supporting the spindle at the top prevents vibration and allows the bearings to be made smaller, which reduces the friction and the power required to drive a given number of spindles. besides allowing a much greater speed. The bearings are made as small as is consistent with durability, can be conveniently oiled, and are thor oughly protected from accnmulation of dirt. A spindle can not become bound or tight in its I earings, and may he removed and wiped in a moment, The spindle and filer can be oiled when running. From 15 to 30 per cent increase in speed is gained in this frame, with a prod uct which is as much better in quality, so far as evenness is concerned, as it is greater in quantity.