(146) The driving of the cylinder is obtained from the line shaft by means of a fast pulley fixed on the cylinder shaft, a loose pulley adjoining it to facilitate stoppage. The licker-in is usually driven from the cylinder by a crossed strap, and the doffer from the licker-in by a similar strap, which passes over a pulley mounted on a stud fixed in a lever. The pulley has a pinion on its boss, which engages with the doffer wheel =U=, and so drives it. The pinion, or “barrow-wheel,” can thus be easily thrown out of gear, as desired. The feed-roller is driven by a side shaft from the doffer shaft, placed on the other side of the machine to the main driving and the doffer comb by a cord passing over a grooved pulley on the cylinder shaft. The calender rollers are driven from the doffer, and the coiler shaft from the spindle of the calender roller.
(147) The pedestal is constructed with an extra long bearing, the shaft being 3-1/2 inches diameter and the bearing 7 inches long. The bush lining the pedestal is usually made of phosphor bronze, or some equally good material, in order to resist wear. It was pointed out in paragraph 119 that it is essential that the position of the centre of the cylinder shall be continually maintained, and it is therefore desirable to guard against its movement. If it is considered, it will be understood that the centrifugal action set up by the rotation of so heavy a body as a carding engine cylinder will cause it to endeavour to roll forward, and thus induce wear in the front of the cylinder bearing. This is aided by the pull of the strap, which is usually towards the front. The provision of some ready means by which the wear can be taken up and the position of the cylinder centre restored, is, therefore, of great service. It is not practicable to employ the conical bearings often used in other classes of machines, as the wear not being equal, a tightening of the bearing would not take it up.
(148) Messrs. Howard and Bullough adopt a plan by which the pedestal is fitted upon two wedges, or inclined metallic surfaces, placed one above the other. By setting one or both of these wedges in either direction, the pedestal is so adjusted that the cylinder centre can be moved either laterally, vertically, or angularly, as is required. Another plan, adopted by Messrs. Ashworth Bros., consists of the formation on the pedestal of three projections, or claws. The inner surface of these is bored concentrically with the pedestal bearing, so that when the cylinder is in its true position, a cylindrical template, bored to correspond with the diameter of the shaft, and turned on its outer surface the same size as that to which the projections are bored, can be easily pushed up to the face of the pedestal. Unless this can be done the cylinder is not concentric, and the adjustment of the bearing must be made accordingly. Messrs. Dobson and Barlow employ the device shown in Fig. 73, which consists of two eccentric bushes, =X Y=, surrounding the bush in which the shaft =Z= revolves. The eccentricity of each of the bushes is equal, and thus by moving one or both the position of the centre of the cylinder can be adjusted at will, either laterally, vertically, or angularly. To facilitate the adjustment, two screwed rods, =U V=, are attached respectively to lugs formed on the bushes =X Y=, and pass through brackets formed on the pedestal. By means of nuts placed at each side of the brackets the adjustment of the position of the eccentric bushes can be made at will.