The use of the Condenser and Gauge Box overcomes this difficulty as the cotton is received under these varying conditions and the Gauge Box acts as an Evener and delivers a uniform supply to the Feed Rolls behind the Beater. When the connection between the Opener and Breaker Lapper is short the Cage Section can be used without difficulty.
The Condenser Fan, which is of extra large size, is conveniently placed under the Gauge Box and Condenser Section. The Gauge Box has gla.s.s panels on the two sides and front, so that the cotton can be seen and the feed regulated.
BEATERS--Although the cuts show Single Beater machines, we build them with two Beaters if required or with one Cylinder and one Beater.
IMPROVED CALENDER HEAD--Our Lappers have many valuable special features, including our improved Calender Head, which allows the machine to be stopped by the Drop Handle without breaking the lap.
When the lap is of the required length and the machine knocks off, the large Lap Rolls as well as the Calender Rolls, Feed Ap.r.o.n and Cages stop, and the lap is not broken.
If the lap continues to revolve after the machine has knocked off, it becomes sticky and there is likely to be trouble from split laps back of the Cards. Our arrangement prevents this and also enables the machine to be stopped at any time during the formation of a lap without breaking the lap.
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[Ill.u.s.tration]
FEED ROLLS, TOP CAGE AND COVER Showing Bushed Bearings and Easy Method of Removing the Top Cage
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GEARS EASILY REMOVED--All the large gears are fastened by an improved method. Instead of driving them onto keys, which makes their removal difficult, we use with each large gear a square key let into the shaft, and two set screws. The gears fit the keys, but not tightly enough to prevent their easy removal after loosening the set screws.
[Ill.u.s.tration]
CLUTCH GEARS--The Calender Rolls are stopped and started by large Clutch Gears which are a great improvement over the common Drop Shaft and Gear. With this method the starting strain is distributed over all the teeth in the Clutch Gears, entirely doing away with the frequent breakages under the old system.
BEARINGS--Where it is possible the bearings are made in bush form, as shown in cut page 26, thus reducing to a minimum the time taken to make replacements and the cost of same. Our bearings are very easy to adjust, and their special form prevents oil from getting to the inside of the machine. All high speed Shafts, viz., Fan, Side and Beater Shafts, have ring oiling bearings.
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[Ill.u.s.tration]
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TOP CAGES AND COVERS--The Top Cages of our Lappers are easily removed, as will be seen by referring to the cut, page 26. The sides of the cage cover or bonnet fit snugly over the bushed bearings. To remove the cage or bushings, it is only necessary to turn back the cover.
These covers are all made with oil holes directly over the bearing, so it is not necessary to raise the cover for the purpose of oiling.
NO TILTING OF LAP RACKS--The Lap Racks slide up and down on steel shafts, which entirely prevent the tilting of the Racks and consequent breakages.
SHAFTS--Our Beater and Fan shafts are made from a very hard iron specially mixed to give long life to these high speed shafts.
A countershaft complete with pulleys is attached to each Lapper.
DRIVING PULLEYS--One-beater Breaker Lappers 16 in. dia., 4-1/4 in.
face, T. & L.
Two-beater Breaker Lappers or One-beater Breaker Lappers with extra Cage Section or Condenser and Gauge Box Section 16 in. dia., 5-1/4 in.
face, T. & L.
In combinations which have 3 beaters to be driven from one countershaft of machine, 16 in. dia., 6-1/4 in. face, T. & L.
Other sizes can be furnished.
SPEEDS--The usual speed of all lapper countershafts is 435 revs. per minute, which gives 1,450 revs. per minute of the Beaters, and 550 revs. per minute of Cylinders, for ordinary cotton. For long staple cottons the beater speed is reduced to 800 to 1,050 revs. per minute and the Cylinder speed to 300 to 450 revs. per minute.
PRODUCTION--On ordinary cotton 15,000 to 20,000 lbs. per week of 60 hours. In some cases the production is far in excess of these figures.
For long staple cottons, 10,000 to 15,000 lbs.
See production table, page 36.
FLOOR PLANS AND ELEVATIONS-See pages 54 to 57. These plans are for 40-in. or 41-in. machines, and 45-in. machines are 4 in. wider.
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[Ill.u.s.tration]
SELF-FEEDING OPENER (30-IN. CYLINDER) AND SINGLE BEATER BREAKER LAPPER
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COMBINATION MACHINES.
On the opposite page is shown a Self-feeding Opener with 30-in.
Cylinder combined with a Single Beater Breaker Lapper. This is a very popular combination and, it will be noted, is built as one straight machine. A floor plan and elevation are shown on page 54. This same combination with an 18-in. Beater instead of the 30-in. Cylinder in the Opener Section is shown in plan and elevation on page 55.
We also build a Self-feeding Opener with Cage Section and Calender Head, which is well adapted to work Egyptian and Sea Island cottons.
(See page 53 for plan and elevation.)
Self-feeding Openers when built as separate machines can be placed on any floor above or below the Breaker Lappers, or on the same floor, the connections being made by Automatic Cleaning Trunks, Conducting Trunks, and galvanized iron pipe, as the conditions may require.
On pages 56 and 57 we show Single Beater Breaker Lappers with Gauge Boxes and Condensers connected to Self-feeding Openers by short sections of Conducting Trunk. The Breakers are on the floor above the Openers. One drawing shows the Self-feeding Opener with 18-in. Beater, and the other with 30-in. Cylinder.
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[Ill.u.s.tration]
SINGLE BEATER FINISHER LAPPER
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INTERMEDIATE AND FINISHER LAPPERS.
These machines have our improved Calender Head, which has already been described in connection with Breaker Lappers. Each machine has a countershaft and pulleys complete with stands as shown.
BEATER BOXES--All our beater boxes are fixed and our feed rolls adjustable, which we consider superior to having the beaters adjustable. After thorough investigation and long practice we have found that adjustable beaters are liable to get out of line, causing them to heat and wear quickly.
DRAFT REGULATION--The air chamber from fan to cage section on each side of the machine is supplied with a damper, operated from the outside of the machine. With this arrangement the air can be drawn through the top and bottom cages in any desired proportion, and the operator can regulate the drafts to give the best results.
BEATERS--Two-blade (18 in. dia.) beaters are mostly used, but we furnish the Houghton patent beater with corrugated teeth, or carding beaters, when specified.
OUTSIDE HANDLES FOR DUST DOORS--We have recently added handles on the outside of the machine for dropping the cut-off board under the grids.
The dirt and leaf which collect on this board are liable to fill up the grids if not regularly removed. The outside handles make the dropping of the cut-off boards very convenient and much reduce the liability of neglect on the part of the attendant.