Year: 1886

page_text: I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of the firm of A. M. and Wm. Clark, of
53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Fellow of the Institute of Patent
Agents, do hereby declare the nature of this Invention (a communication to me
from abroad by La Société Bourcart fils et Cie of Guebwiller, Alsace, Manufacturers)
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
In combing machines having a reciprocating motion and cylindrical combs of
the Joshua Heilmann class, the amount of work is limited by the speed at which
the combs pass through the filaments besides which the retreating motion of the
detaching rollers cannot be effected very quickly as otherwise the sudden change
in the direction of motion would produce shocks.
This Invention relates to an improved construction, of combing machine in
which the above objections are obviated, an increased product being obtained for
a given speed of the comb cylinder and the retreating motion of the detaching
rollers is dispensed with.
In order that the Invention may be more readily understood, I will proceed to
describe it by. way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing,
figure 1 of which represents a vertical section of the working parts of the machine,
while figure 2 represents one of the trains of wheels of the machine.
Upon the comb cylinder mounted on, shaft T are placed two or more segments
8 S which are either fluted or covered with leather, and an equal number of comb
segments B B¹ whereby the number of operations are multiplied without increasing
the speed at which the combs pass through the fibres. In front of the roller D is
placed a detaching roller A of either larger or smaller diameter with which may be
combined one or more rollers for applying pressure to said roller A. This roller A
is furnished with friction rollers which roll or run upon two notched discs which
allow it to fall upon the fluted segments at the moment they pass beneath it. Or,
this motion may be produced by any other suitable means.
The roller A is
weighted or pressed on by springs and may either turn loosely or receive positive
motion by any suitable means, or two or more rollers may be employed in lien
Pine R71
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page_text: 3
thereof. The dividing roller D bears against a jaw O concentric with the fluted
roller C and receives a motion whereby the roller D is raised and allowed to fall
at desired time. By this means the roller D bears upon the ribbed segments as
they pass beneath it without quitting the fluted roller C and at the moment the
comb segments B B¹ are passing, the roller D bears upon the jaw O and being
pressed down by the weights or springs forms a nipper in conjunction with the
jaw. The fluted roller C receives an intermittent motion at the same surface
speed as the segments S S¹ and corresponding in point of time to the pressure of
roller D upon said segments.. This motion may be produced by means of a ratchet,
toothed segment, star wheel, friction gear, or otherwise.
In the example shewn in figure 2, a conical friction clutch Y is employed
actuated by means of a forked lever Z, cam V, and pinion W, driven by a spur-
wheel W which imparts, by means of the train of wheels 1 2 3 4, a surface speed
to the fluted roller C equal to that of the fluted segments S S' during a time
corresponding to the time of application of the roller D upon said segments.
The following is the operation of combing; The filaments are fed into the
machine by any suitable means, such as a porcupine, gills, etc after which the
holding nippers M, M¹ close, the roller A is applied upon one of the fluted
Begiments S S¹ and at same time the stationary comb F descends and retains the
mass of fibres and combs the tail ends of those which are carried forward by the
roller A in its rotation. Up to this point, the operation of combing is the same as
that of machines of the Joshua Heilmann class. The sliver detached by the
roller A continuing its course passes beneath. the roller D which is at this moment
lowered by the descent of the jaw O and is applied in its turn upon the fluted
segment. The jaw. O descending still further leaves an opening between it and the
roller D in which hang the ends of the fibres of the preceding operation which had
been seized by the jaw O and which being at this moment drawn by the pair of
rollers C D rise, engaging the front ends of the fibres under operation. The front
ends then pass between roller D and jaw O where they are superposed upon the
preceding fibres, thus effecting the piecing up, and pass with them between the
pair of rollers D C in the form of a continuous sliver and then between C and
the smoothing or calendering roller L to the delivery rollers. When a sufficient
quantity of the fibres, variable at will, have been entered between the roller D aud
jaw O, the latter rises and arrests the movement of the fibres and also that of
roller D which is slightly raised more or less as desired whereby the fibres still
nipped between jaw O and roller D may or may not be again combed by the next
segment B or B¹ in passing. At the moment when the jaw O raises roller D, the
motion which the fluted roller C had while the jaw remained open, ceases until
the jaw is again lowered. The roller D when in contact with segment S or S¹
'continues to bear against roller C which turns at the same speed, thus facilitating
the motion of D. If the detaching roller A be dispensed with, the roller D acts as
a detacher, in which case it should be brought as near to the stationary comb as
possible, its action being otherwise as before described. The extent to which
roller D turns, determines the length of tibres engaged between it and the jaw O
and consequently the length of the tail ends which hang down behind the jaw
towards the comb segments. This length would vary with the length of the fibres,
or the amount of overlapping in piecing up.
The multiplication of the segments increases the number of combing operations;
moreover, this system of machine dispenses with the retreating motion and also
permits of an optional combing of the tail ends of the fibres by the comb segments
and a variation of the extent to which the fibres are doubled or overlapped in
piecing up.
The other parts of the machine are, for the most part, the same as in other
machines, the brushes, doffer, and stripping comb, feed apparatus, stationary comb,
and driving gear being unaltered. The centres also remain in the same positions.
The cams are slightly different, and are multiplied according to the number of
operations to be produced, thus, with two fluted segments there would be two

page_text: similar cam surfaces on a same diameter. The cam or piston actuating the feed
motion would be similarly duplicated. The delivery rollers should turn to the
same circumferential extent as the fluted roller C.
The improvements are applicable to existing machines and to all kinds of
machines for combing or cleaning filamentous materials.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
The system of combing machine herein described, wherein the receding motion,
usual in combing machines of the Joshua Heilmann class, is dispensed with, and an
intermittent motion in one direction of the detaching or delivering roller or rollers,
and fluted roller, is substituted therefor; and wherein a jaw concentric with the
fluted delivery roller is employed and operates in such manner as to raise the
delivery roller or rollers which may also act as detaching rollers; and wherein
the doubling or superposition of the fibres of succeeding tufts is rendered variable
to any desired extent without any retreating movement; and whereby the
combing of the tail ends of the fibres by the comb segments is rendered optional;
all substantially in the manner described, for the purpose specified.
Dated this 12th day of August 1886.
A. MELVILLE CLARK.
By A. M. & W Clark, Agents.
A. MELVILLE CLARK.
By A. M. & W Clark, Agents.