Ill.u.s.trated Catalogue of Cotton Machinery.
by Howard & Bullough American Machine Company, Ltd.
INTRODUCTION.
We take pleasure in presenting this book, trusting that the information it contains will be of interest and service.
In compiling this catalogue we have included such descriptive matter as will set forth the main features and advantages of our machinery, also outline drawings, gearing diagrams, floor s.p.a.ces, speeds, production and other tables, and information of use to all those interested in Cotton Mills.
Some of the information contained in this book has. .h.i.therto been presented in circular and book form, but at the request of numerous friends and users of our machinery we now issue this complete catalogue which contains considerable additional information, besides which it is in a compact and convenient form.
Our machinery is extensively used, and is well and favorably known.
It will be our endeavor in the future to continue to make improvements and maintain the high standard which has characterized our machinery in the past.
OPENING AND PICKING MACHINERY.
The Opening and Picking of cotton should have the same careful attention as the Carding and Spinning, although the latter processes may seem to some to be more important. Much more attention is being given to this Department everywhere to-day than formerly, and better equipments of machinery are being used. The same equipment is not equally good for all cla.s.ses of work, as the machinery must be designed and adjusted for the particular kind of stock to be used.
Unless the cotton is well opened and cleaned, and good even laps are made, the Carding will suffer, and the Card Clothing will soon be damaged, which means poor and costly work.
We invite with every confidence all possible investigation into the construction and improved design of our Opening and Picking machinery, and the work it is doing in the mills. This entire line of machinery is substantially built, very simple, and contains many valuable improvements.
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PATENT HOPPER BALE OPENER
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HOPPER BALE OPENER.
An investigation of the present methods of handling cotton before it reaches the Pickers shows that in a large percentage of mills there are opportunities for greatly reducing the labor cost and at the same time improving in a marked degree the quality of opening and mixing.
The saving which can be effected in labor, and the better results obtained by a more thorough opening of the cotton and a more even mixing, can hardly be appreciated except by those who have seen it demonstrated by the use of our Hopper Bale Opener.
This machine is extensively used in England and on the Continent, where it is giving most satisfactory results. It is filling a need which has long existed.
LABOR SAVING--A bale of cotton can be thoroughly opened without damage to the staple in six to ten minutes, which means that one hand can open upwards of 150,000 to 200,000 lbs. per week and still have time for taking care of bagging, ties, etc. Even when the weekly consumption of cotton is very much less than this there is a saving in labor, as the quick completion of the work means that the attendant can give his attention to something else.
QUALITY OF WORK--The fluffy condition of the cotton as it is delivered from the Hopper Bale Opener shows the very thorough manner in which it is opened. Although the cotton is fed to the machine in large matted sections taken directly from the bales as they lie around the horizontal feeding ap.r.o.n, no bunches come through. When cotton is opened and mixed by hand the result is not what is generally supposed.
The stock is still in large bunches and matted to such an extent that when fed into the Hoppers of ordinary Openers it is impossible to obtain an even or thorough mixing.
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THE FEEDING Ap.r.o.n of the Hopper Bale Opener usually extends four feet back of the Hopper which enables the operator to group a number of bales around the machine so as to take cotton first from one and then from another. This gives an even mixing of the stock from the various bales. If it is desired this idea can be carried still further by making the Feeding Ap.r.o.n longer, so as to allow of taking cotton from a greater number of bales.
METHOD OF WORKING--The matted sections taken direct from the bale and placed on the slowly driven Horizontal Feeding Ap.r.o.n move forward into the Hopper and are taken by the more rapidly moving Spiked Elevating Ap.r.o.n, which subjects the cotton to a sort of combing action. At the top of this Ap.r.o.n there is a spiked Cylinder which further combs the cotton and throws back into the Hopper any unopened pieces. A Stripping Beater with stiff leather blades strips the stock from the Spiked Ap.r.o.n and delivers it onto the short delivery Ap.r.o.n at the front of the machine.
DELIVERY ARRANGEMENTS--The ordinary or standard delivery arrangement is shown in the cut, page 8, and in the outline drawing, page 12. We have recently designed a double ap.r.o.n delivery for use with Condenser and Blower systems, where the cotton has to be carried quite a distance.
This arrangement does away with the necessity of pa.s.sing the stock through a fan and is approved by the Insurance Companies.
The cotton being delivered into the conveying pipe ahead of the "Blower Fan," there is no fire risk due to hard substances pa.s.sing through or stock getting caught in the fan. We have designed many special delivery arrangements to meet the various conditions which present themselves, including a suitable delivery for use with either lattice distributing systems or blowing systems.
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DISTRIBUTING SYSTEMS--The installation of this Hopper Bale Opener makes a distributing system more advantageous and satisfactory. We have equipped many Opening Rooms with Distributing Lattices which deliver the cotton directly into the Hoppers of the Self-feeding Openers, thus saving another handling.
When the Hopper Bale Opener is located some distance from the distributing lattice, the latter may be fed by a blower and condenser system, and when the distance is very short an elevating lattice is used, dropping the cotton directly on the distributing lattice. We are always glad to take up special cases and make recommendations in connection with the conveying and distribution of cotton either for short or long distances.
An advantage which is not usually thought of or appreciated is the more even Breaker laps obtained where a Hopper Bale Opener and distributing system are used. The Hoppers of the Feeders are more evenly fed and the stock is in a much better condition than when mixed and fed by hand.
CONSTRUCTION--The machine is very strongly built throughout. An extra large Hopper is an advantage possessed by this Opener. The Spiked Elevating Lattice is made on a new patented system and the slats on same are of heavy selected stock.
DRIVING PULLEYS AND SPEEDS--The Driving Pulleys are on the right hand side when facing the Hopper or Feed and are 11 in. dia., 3 in. face, tight and loose, and should be driven at about 582 revs. per minute.
PRODUCTION--150,000 to 200,000 lbs. per week of 60 hours.
FLOOR s.p.a.cE--The machine with short Feeding Lattice, as shown on the ill.u.s.tration, page 8, is 13 ft. 1-1/4 in. x 6 ft. 10 in.
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HOPPER BALE OPENER WITH STANDARD SHORT Ap.r.o.n DELIVERY
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HOPPER BALE OPENER WITH DOUBLE Ap.r.o.n DELIVERY
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AUTOMATIC HOPPER FEEDER
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AUTOMATIC HOPPER FEEDER.
HOPPER--This is extra large and capable of holding 400 to 450 pounds of cotton.
SPIKED ELEVATING Ap.r.o.n runs over large f.l.a.n.g.ed blocks and is extra strong.
STRIPPING COMB OR ROLLER--This works in conjunction with the Spiked Ap.r.o.n, and is very simple and durable. It is self-cleaning and is easily adjusted by means of a handle on one side of the machine. This handle can be locked in position after an adjustment is made, and the arrangement, although operated from one side of the Feeder, gives a positive parallel motion, and consequently a true setting of the Stripping Comb.
PIN BEATER takes the cotton from the Spiked Ap.r.o.n. The stock, after pa.s.sing over the cleaning grids, drops on the Delivery Ap.r.o.n.