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THE “SENSIM” PREPARING BOX.

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of the machine, Fig. 2 a sectional elevation, and Fig. 3 a plan.  In the ordinary screw gill box, the screws which traverse the gills are uniform in their pitch, so that a draught is only obtained between the feed rollers and the first gill, between the last gill of the first set and the first of the second, and between the last gill of the second set and the delivery roller.  As thus arranged, the gills are really not active workers after their first draw during the remainder of their traverse, but simply carriers of the wool to the next set.  It is somewhat remarkable, as may indeed be said of every invention, that this fact has only been just observed, and suggested an improvement.  There is no reason why each gill should not be continuously working to the end of the traverse, and only cease during its return to its first position.  The perception of this has led to several attempts to realize this improvement.  The inventor in the present case seems to have solved the problem in a very perfect manner by the introduction of gill screws of a gradually increasing pitch, by which the progress of the gills, B, through the box is constantly undergoing acceleration to the end, as will be obvious from the construction of the screws, A and A, until they are passed down in the usual manner, and returned by the screws, C and C, which are, as usual, of uniform pitch.  The two sets of screws are so adjusted as to almost meet in the middle, so that the gills of the first set finish their forward movement close to the point where the second commence.  The bottom screws, C, of the first set of gills, B, are actuated by bevel wheels on a cross shaft engaging with bevel wheels on their outer extremity, the cross shaft being geared to the main shaft.  The screws, C, of the second set of gills from two longitudinal shafts are connected by bevel gearing to the main shaft.  Intermediate wheels communicate motion from change wheels on the longitudinal shafts to the wheels on the screw, C, traversing the second set of gills.

[Illustration:  FIG. 1.—­“SENSIM” SCREW GILL PREPARING BOX.]

The feed and delivery rollers, D and E, are operated by gearing connected to worms on longitudinal shafts.  These worms engage with worm wheels on cross shafts, which are provided at their outer ends with change wheels engaging with other change wheels on the arbors of the bottom feed and delivery rollers, D and E.

[Illustration:  FIG. 2.—­“SENSIM” SCREW GILL—­SECTIONAL ELEVATION.]

The speeds are so adjusted that the fibers are delivered to the first set of gills at a speed approximately equal to the speed at which these start their traverse.  The gills in the second set begin their journey at a pace which slightly exceeds that at which those of the first finish their traverse.  These paces are of course regulated by the class and nature of the fibers under operation.  The delivery rollers, E, take off the fibers at a rate slightly exceeding that of the gills delivering it to them.