Improvements in or relating to "Lister" Combing Machines or the like..
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 8th May, 1899
Complete Specification Left, 8th Feb., 1900-Accepted, 7th Apr., 1900
10
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to "Lister" Combing Machines
or the like..
I, TAYLOR BURROWS, of Hope Villa, Staines, in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to circular combing machines of the character known
as the "Lister" combing machine or the like; and such machines according
to the present invention that is having. the present improvements applied thereto
are arranged and adapted to comb flax although it will be obvious that same
may be employed for combing any other fibres (especially long stapled fibres)
to which same may be applicable or adapted
The first part of the present invention relates to the reciprocatory nip or
jaw which draws the tuft of fibre from the gill head from which nip jaw the
tuft is removed by the reciprocatory carrying or transfer comb which latter
transfers the tuft and deposits it in the teeth of the main circular comb and
another part of the present invention relates to means for carrying forward or
advancing the ends of the fibre exteriorly of said main revolving comb so as
to guide or direct the fibre ends (exterior of the main comb) into or towards
the draw-off mechanism (usually rollers) whereby the long ends of tufts of fibre
such as flax can be directed in a positive manner towards and into the draw-off
rollers.
As the tuft of fibre coming from the gill head is liable to be a little thicker
at one point than another or others consequently when this occurs the said
thicker part or parts prevent the nip jaws from nipping equally tightly the
less thick part or parts, and such parts of the tuft thus not firmly nipped. are
liable to slip or draw through the nip jaw as the latter recedes from the gill
head and this is a considerable drawback and disadvantage and with the object
5 of remedying this I provide a set of pins or a comb or equivalent on the back.
of the nip jaw and mounted and arranged to act thereon and in conjunction
therewith in suchwise that at the same moment or just after when the nip jaw
closes onto the fibres (to draw out a tuft from the gill head) this small comb
or set of pins is also driven through or into the tuft ends either from above
0 or below or both (that is to say 2 or more such combs or sets of pins may be
used if desired) and serve to lock the whole of the fibres of the tuft so that
none of them can slip or draw through the nip jaw as the latter recedes from the
gill head to draw out the tuft.
Or this lock comb or row or set of pins may be arranged and mounted
5 separately from the nip-jaw; or the nip-jaw may be made with a double tongue
and groove nip and if desired in the latter case the said row or set of pins may
be provided in the nip that is as the central tongue or otherwise.
The ends of the fibre on the exterior of the main revolving comb are assisted
or advanced towards the drawing-off mechanism as follows:
I arrange one or more rods or fingers to the exterior of the main revolving
comb and arrange means to operate same in an elliptical or oblong or other

page_text: suitable path in suchwise that said finger is raised clear above said fibre ends as
said finger travels backwards (i.e. away from the drawing mechanism) and then
said finger drops or is moved down through the fibre ends (on the exterior of the
main comb) and is then given a forward (advancing) motion towards the drawing
mechanism and at a speed in excess of the speed of revolution of the main comb
and consequently the fibre ends are assisted forwardly or advanced in a positive
manner towards the drawing mechanism.
This path of travel of this finger or device for advancing the loose fibre ends
may either be in a straight line or otherwise as desired or may according to this
invention be in a curved direction i.e. a curved line parallel or thereabouts to
the perimeter of the main revolving circular comb.
This part of the present invention may be carried out by the following
means:-
A horizontally disposed rod or arm may be pivoted concentrically with the
main revolving comb or may be pivoted or adapted to oscillate or turn at anv
other desired point within the circle of said main comb or even exteriorly of said
main comb and extending across same and means are provided (such for instance
as hereinafter described) for swinging or oscillating said lever backwards and
forwards.
This rod or arm extends or reaches over to a point exterior of the main comb
near the drawing-off mechanism and at this point carries thereon the aforesaid
downwardly extending finger or device which enters the fibres to the exterior
of the main comb for the purpose of advancing same as aforesaid.
Means are provided to lift this rod or arm or the outer end thereof carrying
said finger so that the latter is clear of the fibre as it is moved back from the
drawing mechanism and then to drop or lower said finger into the fibre so that
said finger in its forward movement towards the drawing off mechanism is
advanced in this lower position for instance I may accomplish this movement
in the following manner with the aforesaid arm mounted concentrically or there-
abouts with the main revolving comb.
Between the said centre on which said pivoted arm is mounted and the main
revolving comb I may arrange a horizontally disposed crank disc in gear with
and revolved by the mechanism which revolves the main comb and on this
crank disc I arrange a vertical crank pin adapted to travel in a longitudinal
slot in the said pivoted arm so that the aforesaid depending finger on the outer
end of said pivoted arm will thus be reciprocated in a path concentric with the
main comb. Vertical lifting and lowering motion to the outer end of said
pivoted arm (which latter is hinged or jointed to permit of the rise and fall
of the outer end thereof) may be produced by means of a cam or snail-like
device on said crank pin or by forming the latter with a shoulder or abutment
adapted to slide against an inclined plane on the aforesaid pivoted arm whereby
the latter will be lifted and lowered while being reciprocated in the aforesaid
Imanner or I may obtain the aforesaid lifting and lowering movement by means
of a loose sleeve or collar on the aforesaid crank pin or arranging the latter to
move vertically and I provide a lever hinged or pivoted in or to the aforesaid
crank disc and in engagement with said crank pin or boss or collar thereon so
that as the crank disc revolves said pivoted lever therein or thereon is brought
into engagement with an inclined plane or fixed stop or other suitable device
by which same may be lifted (or lowered) and thereby raise the aforesaid crank
pin or the boss or collar thereon and thus raise the said pivoted arm while further
on in the path of revolution of said crank disc the said lifting mechanism is
lowered and thereby the said pivoted arm is lowered.
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in or relating to "Lister" Combing Machines
or the like.
I, TAYLOR BURROWS, of Hope Villa, Staines, in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement:-
This invention relates to circular combing machines of the character known
as the "Lister" combing machine or the like; the primary object of the present
invention being to adapt and enable such machines to comb flax-although it
will be obvious that such machines with the present improvements applied there-
to may be employed for combing any other fibres (especially long-stapled fibres)
to which same may be applicable.
*
"
The first part of the present invention relates to the ordinary reciprocatory
nip
or jaw which seizes and draws each tuft of fibre from the gill-head.
from which nip-jaw the tuft is removed by the reciprocatory carrying or transfer
comb which latter transfers the tuft and deposits it in the teeth of the revolving
circular main comb in the usual way.
As the tuft of fibre coming from the gill-head is liable to be thicker at one
point than another or others, consequently when this unevenness occurs the said
thicker part or parts prevent the nip-jaws from uipping equally tightly the less
thick part or parts, and such parts of the tuft thus not firmly nipped are liable
to slip or draw through the nip-jaw as the latter recedes from the gill-head and
this is a considerable drawback and disadvantage and with the object of remedy-
ing this according to the present invention, there is provided a set of pins or a
comb or equivalent to act in conjunction with said nip-jaws and mounted and
arranged to act in conjunction therewith in suchwise that at the same moment
or just after when the nip-jaw closes on to the fibres (to draw out a tuft from
the gill-head) this tuft is pressed into or against this small comb or set of
pins or equivalent (2 or more of which combs or sets of pins being employed if
desired) such additional comb or combs or set of pins or equivalent serving to
lock or firmly hold the whole of the fibres of the tuft so that none of them
will slip or draw through the nip-jaw as the latter recedes from the gill-head to
draw out the tuft.
The second part of the present invention relates to means for carrying forward
or advancing the ends of the fibre exterior of said revolving circular main
comb so as to guide or direct the fibre ends (exterior of the main comb) into or
towards the draw-off mechanism (usually rollers) whereby the long ends of the
tufts of fibre such as flax can be directed in a positive manner towards and into
the said draw-off rollers or other draw-off mechanism; and for this purpose
according to this second part of this invention one or more stroking devices are
arranged to the exterior of the said revelving comb with means to operate same
in an elliptical or oblong or other suitable path in suchwise that said stroking
device arm or finger is raised clear above said fibre ends as said arm or finger end
travels backwards (ie. away from the draw-off mechanism) and then said arm or
finger end is dropped or moved down from the fibre ends (on the exterior of the
main comb) and is then given a forward (advancing) movement towards the
draw-off mechanism and at a speed in excess of the speed of revolution of the
main comb and consequently the fibre ends are assisted forwardly or advanced
in a positive manner towards the draw-off mechanism.
This path of travel of this finger end or stroking device for advancing the

page_text: loose fibre ends may either be in a straight line or otherwise as desired or may
according to this invention be in a curved direction i.e. in a curved line con-
centric or thereabouts with the perimeter of the main revolving circular comb.
The present invention is fully illustrated in the accompanying drawings in
which:
-
Fig. 1 shows a main comb of the Lister type having the present improvements
applied thereto certain of the well-known parts of the machine being omitted.
Fig. 1 is a plan of Fig. 1-certain of the well-known parts of the machine
being omitted.
Figs. 2 to 5 showing views of different arrangements of the comb or series of
teeth added to the nip-jaw and Figs. 6. and 7 showing the stroking device.
Referring to the accompanying drawings the improvement relating to the nip-
jaw will first be described and then the stroking device.
NIP-JAW.
Fig. 2 is a local view, in elevation of the ordinary nip-jaws (of a combing
machine of the Lister type) having the present improvements applied thereto
namely having the added comb or set of teeth X applied to the lower jaw B of
the pair of nip-jaws A B.
Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view on line a-a Fig. 2.
Fig. 2 is a local view on an enlarged scale showing the two jaws A and B
with the added row of teeth X into or against which the ends of the tuft of
fibre are pressed by the forcing together of the jaws A B.
The means for operating said nip-jaws are well-known and need not therefore
be here further described-see Fig. 1.
In Fig 3 the row of teeth X is shown formed on the lower edge of the upper
jaw A (instead of on the lower jaw B); Fig. 3 being vertical sectional view on
line Fig. 3.
.
Fig. 4 shows another. arrangement in which the row of teeth X is formed
on one edge of the lower jaw B; Fig. 4 being a vertical sectional view on
line a Fig. 4.
Fig. 5 shows still another modification-in this arrangement a row of teeth X
is provided on the bottom edge of the upper jaw A. and another row of teeth X
is provided on the lower jaw B; Fig. 5 being a vertical secțional view on
line a Fig. 5.
Thus whichever arrangement be employed-when the jaws A and B are closed
tightly together on the tuft of fibre (which they pull out from the gill-head)
the added row, or rows of teeth X will serve as additional means to lock and
firmly hold the tuft of fibre while same is being pulled out from the gill-head;
and thereafter when the jaws are opened and the transfer comb Y Fig. 1 removes
the tuft said row of teeth or comb X will not interfere with the removal of the
tuft by the transfer comb as the latter lifts the tuft to remove same out of the
jaws and transfers same on to the main circular revolving comb W.
STROKING DEVICE.
This is illustrated in elevation and plan in Figs. 1 and 1 and in greater detail
and on an enlarged scale in Figs. 6 and 7; Fig. 6 being a front elevation and
Fig. 7 an edge view thereof.
Referring more particularly to Figs. 6 and 7:
Cis a rigid support carried on the fixed part of the frame of the machine and
having journalled in its forked upper end the pulley shaft D, the pulley D
thereon being driven by an endless belt D2 or said shaft I may be otherwise
suitably revolved.
At or near the end of this shaft D is rigidly fixed a crank disc E carrying on
the outer face thereof a crank pin E.
Fis the stroking finger or arm free to slide at its upper end through the
guide-block G swivelled to the upper part C¹ of the support C.

page_text: The said crank pin E is journalled or otherwise suitably connected to the said
stroking finger or arm Fin such wise that said finger F will be raised and lowered
by each revolution of the crank pin E and as the upper end of said finger is
held in the swivelled block G through which it slides and is guided consequently
the lower end of this finger F is caused to travel in an elliptical path as shown
in dotted lines in Fig. 6.
The tufts of fibre are placed in the main comb Was the latter travels round-
the ends of said tufts exterior of said comb are supported on a table U which
latter is provided with a slot V (as shown in Figs. 6 and 7) through which slot
the end 3 of the stroking arm or finger F can descend and travel lengthwise
thereof.
This stroking appliance is mounted close to the draw-off mechanism. As the
circular main comb W carries round the fibre therein towards the draw-off
mechanism the tendency of the ends of the fibre is to drag behind whereas by
the action of the stroking device such ends (exterior of the comb W) are stroked
forwards and moved towards the draw-off appliance in advance of the comb W-
the speed of advance of the end F3 of the stroking appliance advantageously
being greater than the speed of travel of the comb W.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1. In a combing machine of the Lister" type-the combination with the
vibrating nip-jaw of a series of pins or teeth arranged thereon in suchwise as
to be adapted to lock and firmly hold the tuft to fibre therein while same is being
pulled out from the gill-head substantially as hereinbefore set forth.
2. In a combing machine of the "Lister" type-the arrangement of a series
of pins or teeth on the nip-jaw in suchwise as to be adapted to lock and firmly
hold the tuft of fibre therein while same is being pulled out from the gill-head,
in combination and acting in conjunction with the revolving circular main comb
having a stroking device acting in conjunction therewith and consisting of a
finger F the lower end of which is operated in suchwise as to stroke and move
toward the drawing-off mechanism the fibre ends exterior of the said main circular
comb substantially as hereinbefore set forth.
"
3. Lister" combing machines or the like constructed combined and arranged
to act substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described and
illustrated in the drawings hereunto annexed.
as
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
Birkbeck Bank Chambers, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.