485,278. Sliver-roll forming machines. MACKIE & SONS, Ltd., J., and MACKIE, J. P. Aug. 13, 1936, No. 19466. [Class 120 (i)] In a machine for continuously forming rolls of sliver of flax, hemp, jute, &c., the winding of a new roll 3, Figs. 1 and 2, after a finished roll has been doffed, is started by the engagement of the sliver with a forked member F which is moved into and out of the operative position in the direction of the axis of the roll to be formed. The roll is formed between three positively driven rollers 4, 4A, 5 and when brought into the operative position the fork F is rotated until the roll reaches a predetermined size when it is withdrawn. In starting a new roll the fork F comprising prongs 20, 20A and carried by a shaft 21, Figs. 2 and 5, is slid on its bracket 23 along the slide 24 into the gap between the rollers 4, 4A the shaft 21 being supported on rollers 26 and rotated thereby. The sliver is broken between the fork F and the doffed roll and wound round the prongs 20, 20A until the roll thus formed engages the rollers 4, 4A which then continue its rotation and lift the shaft 21 clear of the rollers 26. The bracket 23 is also lifted until it reaches the slide 27 when the fork F is withdrawn the bracket 23 moves out on the slide 27 and drops down on to the slide 24. A cam 16 is provided to oscillate a lever 30 pivoted at 31 and carrying a slipper 32 which moves in a two part slot 34A, 34B in a pivoted lever 33 and during the formation of a roll the lever 30 swings to-and-fro without displacing the lever 33. The doffing mechanism comprises a pivoted lever 8 normally held by a latch 10 but which is freed when a pin 11 on the bracket 6 strikes the tail 12 of the latch 10. The lever 8 is then supported by a shaft 13 having a pawl 14 resting on the periphery of a drum 15. When the pawl 14 drops through a slot in the drum the lever 8 is allowed to drop and pins or spikes 9 thereon restrain the roll 3 so that the roller 4A causes it to move over on to the floor or into a suitable receptacle. The drum 15 and cam 16 are so timed relatively that when the pawl 14 is about to drop through the slot in the drum 15 the slipper 32 in the slot 34A is nearing the gate between the slots on a counterclockwise swing. When the pawl 14 drops the shaft 37 on which the shaft 13 is mounted also drops. This shaft is hinged to a lever 38 fixed on a shaft 39 carrying a bellcrank lever 40 connected to the lever 33 through a rod 41. When the shaft 37 drops the shaft 39 is thus turned and the lever 33 allowed to swing about its pivot 42. The movement can only take place when the slipper 32 is opposite the gate, the slipper 32 then moves into the slot 34B and on its return stroke the lever 30 abuts against the end face 36 and displaces the shaft 43 which carries the bracket 25 and so brings the fork F into the roll starting position, Fig. 4. During doffing and starting of a new roll the pressing roller 5 and its bracket 6 descend on the pillars 7. In its descent a cam 50 on the bracket 6 strikes a weighted lever 51 pivoted at 52 to an arm 53 fixed to the shaft 39. The roller 5 rises with the new roll and the upper face of the cam 50 engages the lever 51 and forces it to the right, Fig. 1. The shaft 39 is thus moved to the right against the action of its spring 54. On its next counterclockwise stroke the lever 30 swings a lever 57 upwards turning the shaft 39 and swinging the lever 38 upwards. This lifts the rod 37 which re-cocks the arm 8 in the lever 10. The lever 57 through the connecting rod 41 tries to lift the lever 33 but compresses the spring 58 until the slipper 32 arrives at the gate when the lever is swung and the slipper thenceforth oscillates in the slot 34A. On its next counterclockwise stroke the slipper strikes the abutment 35 displacing the shaft 43 and fork F back to the position of Fig. 1. The fork prongs 20, 20A are cranked at 61 and can be turned about their shafts 62 against the action of springs 63 and cam members 64, 65, Fig. 7, are provided to bring the prongs close together as shown in Fig. 8. The fall of the roller 5 during doffing is braked by causing the roller to operate a fan through step-up gearing. The fan may serve to clear the machine of dust and waste fibres. Specifications 323,416, [Class 120 (i)], 403,225, and 444,062 are referred to.