442 



FLAX 



by sliding back the picco n n, and returning it by lover m, and thus is coupled and 

 turns together with two pieces of shaft H, as also tho disc plates K and L, which aro 



971 



to serve as temporary ends to the bobbin during the time of its filling, and thus by 

 tu ning with it avoid that rubbing and felting effect upon the edges of the tow so in- 

 jurious in the machines formerly constructed, and by tho bobbin acting as tho driver 

 to the cylinder the slivers aro drawn tighter, and thereby avoid those plaits that tho 

 other machines were so liable to produce. 



As before mentioned, some objections were found to the working of the screw-gill, 

 of a nature detrimental to the machines themselves, which, though not of groat im- 

 portance in ' line,' were much aggravated in tow preparing, as the lesser drafts thuro 

 employed cause a greater wear and tear of tho fallers and gills. The objection to 

 these machines, however, is not confined to this point only, but extends also to their 

 effect upon the material itself. The fibres of tho tow sliver, as coming from tho card, 

 are in a light and much confused state, which renders them liable to bo easily separ- 

 ated ; so that the faller, by its sudden descent, has a tendency to draw some down, 

 and become lapped by them, as well as to make so marked a difference in tho thick- 

 ness of the sliver, by the withdrawal of the retaining cornb, as materially to injure 

 the quality of the yarn. Thus this ' gill' was not enabled to hold its place in tow 

 spinning, when other circumstances led to greater attention being paid to this im- 

 portant branch of tho flax business, and it became a desideratum to have a machine 

 free from these defects, and capable of working without derangement, at much greater 

 velocity than was safe with tho screw-gill. These desiderata tho 'rotary' gill, 

 patented by Messrs. Fairbairn and Co., amply supplies. For in this gill the circular 

 form of the gill sheet obviates tho necessity of having several fallers, and the simple 

 motion creates neither friction nor abruptness of effect, while. 1 he retention of tho fibres 

 being continuous, the slivers produced aro perfectly level and uniform ; consequently, 

 these gills aro extensively applied, as tho auxiliary gill explained in carding, as well 

 as for the subsequent drawings and rovings of t.. . times, as will bo after- 



wards seen, to coarse spinning. The theoretical construction of these rotary gills will 

 be seen by tho annexed sketch. 



M (Jig. 972), back rollers, but when applied to a card at top and bottom holding- 

 rollers are again employed; x, tho rotary gi I 1 sheet having the pins inclined back- 

 wards, so as to insure tho impalement of tho sliver when tho fibres begin to draw ; 

 p and o, the drawing and pressing rollers; tho doubling bars or plutea are tho sarno 

 to these gills as to tho screw gills. 



A machine has been invented, and brought out by Sir P. Fairbairn and Co. 



