IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO MACHINES FOR COMBING FIBROUS MATERIALS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Ernest de Pass, of the Office for British and Foreign
Patents, 68, Fleet Street, in the City of London, Patent Agent, for an
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO MACHINES FOR COMBING
FIBROUS MATERIALS." A communication from abroad by Joseph Imbs, of 17,
Boulevard Saint-Martin, Paris, France, Engineer.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Ernest de Pass at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th January 1880.
ERNEST DE PASS, of the Office for British and Foreign Patents, 68, Fleet Street,
in the City of London, Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO
MACHINES FOR COMBING FIBROUS MATERIALS." A communication from abroad by
Joseph Imbs, of 17, Boulevard Saint-Martin, Paris, France, Engineer.
Proceeding in the manner set forth in the Specification of the British Letters
Patent, No. 3874, dated 25th September 1879, and granted to me as a communi-
cation from the said Joseph Imbs, in order to constitute upon a drum independent of
the doffer or upon an endless or creeper sheet, a thick lap or fleece formed from the
thin sheet or layer of the carding machine by the layers being gradually arranged
and folded, a difficulty might arise with fibres of great length, such difficulty being
that at each of the folds formed by the thin carded sheet or layer a certain number
of fibres will be found in the fleece in a curved or folded form, which would be
detrimental to them. Besides, it is to be noticed that the successive layers of the
said thin carded sheet or layer will be laid on the drum alternately in the direction
in which they left the doffer, then in the contrary direction.
In case that the length of the fibres might produce these unfavourable results,
the arrangements are now modified in the manner hereinafter set forth.
The doffer of the auxiliary carding-machine or of any carding machine is caused
to rotate with a continuous movement in the usual manner, and a comb doffs the
thin carded sheet or layer which descends on its whole width to pass between a
pair of rollers, which rotate with a circumferential velocity about double that of
the doffer. Underneath these rollers is a second pair of rollers caused to rotate by
frictional contact of one of them with an oscillating, superimposing, or consolidating
drum. The first pair of rollers rotates intermittently to develop a certain

page_text: continuous length of the thin carded sheet or layer, then stops for a time about
equal to that which they have occupied in developing this length. As the rollers
rotate with double the speed of the doffer, they will notwithstanding their
successive stoppages draw in the thin sheet or layer fed forward by the doffer,
such thin sheet or layer being deposited upon a suitable plate placed under the
doffer, whereby a reserve is formed whilst the rollers stop.
The drum and the second pair of rollers rotate alternately in one direction and
the other. If at the moment that this second pair of rollers cease to rotate in one
direction the stoppage of the first pair of rollers is effected, the thin carded sheet or
layer will be cut between the two pairs of rollers, and at each renewal of the move-
ment of the first pair of rollers a new end of the thin sheet or layer will be drawn
in by the second pair of rollers again revolving in their original direction. Now
the oscillating, superimposing, or consolidating drum (in contact with one of the
rollers of the second pair) possesses a circumferential velocity of rotation about
equal to that of the first pair of rollers, its backward movements being slightly less
than the forward ones, and the forward movements are effected whilst the first pair
of rollers rotate, and consequently whilst they pay out the thin sheet or layer, and
the backward movements whilst these rollers are stopped and deliver nothing to
the second pair of rollers; thus it is easy to understand that the thin carded sheet
or layer is deposited on the drum or on the endless or creeper sheet in layers
arranged gradually, but disjointed at their ends, and that all these layers will be
deposited in the same direction, and will constitute a continuous lap or fleece
containing neither folds nor a portion of the layers deposited in an inverse
direction.
This apparatus can also be made to deliver the laps or fleeces either in the
direction in which it leaves the doffer or in an inverse direction.
If delivery in the inverse direction is desired, the backward movements of the
drum will be made longer instead of shorter than the forward ones, and therefore
the layers will pass out underneath the drum. Or leaving the movement of the
drum such as first described and putting it in connection not with the same roller
as first mentioned but with its fellow, the shorter movements of the drum will
draw in and successively deliver the layers of carded fibre. In every case a thick
regular lap or fleece is obtained which can, be fed into the combing machine
without manual transport.
Another modification has for its object, first, an improved and simplified method
of preparing the fleeces of fibrous matterials for feeding combing machines, and
second, the combination in a single machine of the operations of preparatory
carding and drawing with the combing. As in the Specification of the Patent
herein before referred to, it is necessary for properly feeding combing machines to
produce fleeces of a certain uniform thickness from fibrous material previously
carded and drawn, and it is necessary that these laps or fleeces should be
continuous in order to avoid incessant piecing behind the combing machines.
Means or suitable apparatus have therefore been sought to render possible the
production of a lap or fleece of a perfectly regular thickness, and of unlimited
length or absolute continuity by means of any carding machine. Means or
apparatus (applicable to this or to any other combing machine to be fed) have
also been sought, which could effect the drawing of this lap or fleece for its whole
length, corresponding to the width of the combing machine. These two apparatus
ouce found admit of the combination in the same machine of the several successive
operations to be effected, that is to say, carding, fleecing, drawing, and combing.
For this purpose the general framework of a carding machine is attached to
the general framework of a combing machine, and the carding machine may be
composed of a feeder, breaker, a drum with three pairs of urchins, and with a
doffer; but it is not a question of composition of this carding machine, for a com-
plete carding machine of any construction whether furnished with urchins or with
flats may be used, or some parts of carding machines only together constituting a
sort of carder fore-carriage may be used, which would be sufficient if the beating or

page_text: breaking of the fibrous material has been sufficiently perfect. As previously said
the thin carded sheet or layer is received on a drum, or on an endless or creeper
sheet, actuated by forward and backward, successive, and alternate rotative
oscillations; this drum or endless or creeper sheet also having a slow forward
movement of rotation, the forward oscillations are always a little longer than the
backward ones. Thus a perfectly uniform and continuous thick lap or fleece is
formed on the said drum or endless or creeper sheet from the thin carded sheet or
layer, either in folds or in separate layers; these folds or layers being superposed one
above the other, whilst gradually arranging themselves at the same time at a
regular interval, the result is the continuity of the lap or fleece so formed.
For the better realization of this operation than is possible by the means above
described, I have also contrived the following mechanical means:-Near a super-
imposing or consolidating drum rotate conjointly two rollers. Two other rollers
mounted loose and resting on the drum rotate by contact with this drum by its
oscillating reciprocating movements of rotation. The drum of the carding-machine
receives the driving-gear and actuates on the one hand stripping rollers and a
breaker, and on the other hand either the drum or the breaker imparts by suitable
driving-gear movement to the whole of the combing machine. But instead of a
drum an endless or creeper sheet may be used.
A shaft passing from the combing machine drives one of the rollers, then the
doffer, and is extended so as to set in motion the feeding parts of the carding-
machine; this shaft also drives by means of pinions an intermediate shaft which
carries two eccentrics (one of which is heart-shaped) and an endless screw. A
second intermediate shaft carries a lever which acts on one of the eccentrics (the non-
heart shaped one), and also a forked clutch, so that this latter eccentric effects the
engaging and disengaging and the stopping or rotation of the rollers. A vertical
rack carrying two friction rollers receives from the heart-shaped eccentric a rising
and falling movement; this rack is in gear with a sector which is connected to
another sector, both oscillating around a fixed axis; this second sector is in gear
with a third sector which oscillates around the axis of a fleecer drum, and forms
part of an arm which carries at its end a bevel pinion mounted loose on its axle at
the end of the arm.
Two large bevel wheels are mounted on the axis of the fleecer drum, one being
mounted fast thereon, while the other which is mounted loose thereon is connected
with a spur-wheel which is in gear with the endless screw. The heart-shaped
eccentric therefore imparts by means of the rack and sector arrangement an
oscillating movement to the arm and to the bevilled pinion, which being obliged
to turn on itself around the loose bevel wheel, turns the fast bevel wheel and the
fleecer drum, and imparts to this fast bevel wheel and to the drum an alternating*
rotative oscillation of twice the speed with which the axle which carries the bevel
pinion rotates. At the same time at each of these complete oscillations the
endless screw has moved the spur-wheel one tooth further, and the loose bevel
wheel and consequently the fast bevel wheel and the drum itself advance. Thus
the complete oscillations of the drum are repeated, whilst there is also a continuous
advance equal for each individual oscillation.
The thin sheet or layer of carded fibre furnished by the doffer passes between
one pair of rollers, and by another pair is laid on the drum. If the disengaging
gear is not worked, the first pair of rollers will revolve in a continuous manner,
and an unbroken thin sheet or layer of carded fibre will be laid on the drum in
layers, alternately folded from front to back, and from back to front. If towards
the end of a forward oscillation (for example) the disengaging gear be worked, and
the first pair of rollers be stopped for a moment, the thin carded sheet or layer will
be cut between the rollers and the drum, and these rollers recommencing to rotate
when the drum commences to return backward, then stopping afresh for a moment
towards the end of this backward oscillation of the drum, the continuous lap or
fleece will be formed on the drum in layers cut at the ends and laid alternately in

page_text: a forward and backward direction. If the stoppages of the first pair of these
rollers be increased during the duration of one of the oscillations of the drum the
continuous lap or fleece will be formed on this drum in layers cut at the extremities
and laid all in the same direction, either in the forward or the backward direction,
as convenient.
During the stoppage of the first pair of rollers the carded thin sheet or layer will
hang down and bend into a sort of curve between the doffer and these rollers, thus
forming a reserve which will be taken up by a quicker motion being given to the
rollers in their periods of activity in which they form the lap or fleece.
The continuous lap or fleece formed on the drum ascends into the drawing
apparatus by means of a roller rotating in a trough, and by another pair of rollers
driven at a quicker speed. The drawn lap or fleece then passes into the combing-
machine.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Ernest de Pass in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 5th July
1880.
ERNEST DE PASS, of the Office for British and Foreign Patents, 68, Fleet Street,
in the City of London, Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO
MACHINES FOR COMBING FIBROUS MATERIALS." A communication from abroad by
Joseph Imbs, of. 17, Boulevard Saint-Martin, Paris, France, Engineer.
In proceeding in the manner described in the Specification of the British Letters
Patent, No. 3874, dated 25 September 1879 (granted to me as a communication
from the said Joseph Imbs), in order to constitute upon a drum independent of the
doffer, or upon an endless or creeper sheet, a thick lap or fleece formed by the
layers gradually arranged and folded upon themselves of the thin sheet of the
carding machine, a disadvantage may arise when the fibres of great length are to
be treated. This disadvantage would be that at each of the folds formed by the thin
sheet a certain number of fibres might be found in the lap or fleece bent or folded
in such way as would be detrimental to them. Besides the successive layers of the
said thin carded sheet would be laid upon the drum alternately in the direction in
which they leave the doffer, then in the contrary direction.
Now in cases where the length of the fibres might lead to these detrimental
results the arrangements have been modified in the manner shewn in Fig. 1 of the
annexed Drawings.
D is the doffer of the auxiliary carding machine, or of any carding machine; it
revolves in a continuous manner and in the usual direction, and the comb Y
detaches the thin carded sheet, which descends in its whole width, to pass between
a pair of rollers m, m³, revolving with a circumferential velocity about double that
of the doffer. Beneath these rollers is a second and similar pair of rollers n, n',
which are caused to revolve by contact of one of them with the superimposing
oscillating drum T hereinafter described.
The rollers m, m³, have an intermittent rotation, and revolve so as to develop a
certain continuous length of thin carded sheet, then stop for a time about equal to
that spent in developing such length of thin carded sheet. Their velocity of rotation
being double that of the doffer they draw in the whole of the thin carded sheet
delivered by the doffer notwithstanding their successive stoppages, and the so sheet
formed whilst the upper rollers m, m³, are stopped constitutes a reserve which is
deposited on a table X, of any suitable form, placed under the doffer.
The drum T and the lower rollers n, n', revolve alternately in one and the other
direction. If at the moment that the rollers n, n¹, ceases to revolve in the direction
indicated by the arrows the stoppage of the rollers m, m³, is effected, the thin
sheet will be cut between the two pairs of rollers m, m¹, and n, n¹, and at each
renewal of movement of the rollers m, m', a fresh end of thin sheet will be caught
by the rollers n, n', which again revolve in the direction of the arrows aforesaid.
Now the oscillating superimposing drum T in contact with the roller n, has a
circumferential velocity of rotation about equal to that of the rollers m, m³, and
the successive arrows 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, &c., show the directions and extent of successive
oscillations from a given point on the surface of the drum. The arrows 1, 3, 5,
show the forward movements, and the arrows, 2, 4, &c., the backward movements;
It is clear that
these latter being a little less or shorter than the forward ones.
the movements 1, 3, 5, &c., are effected whilst the rollers m, m³, revolve, and
consequently whilst they deliver the thin carded sheet; whereas the backward
movements, 2, 4, &c., are effected whilst the rollers m, m³, are stopping, and do not
deliver anything to the rollers, n, n¹; thus it is easy to see that the thin carded
sheet is laid on the drum T or on the endless or creeper sheet in layers gradually

page_text: arranged but disjointed at their ends, and that all these layers will be laid in the
same direction, and will constitute a continuous lap or fleece containing neither
folded filaments nor layers deposited or arranged in reverse directions.
Besides the thin carded sheet can be formed into a fleece, either in the direction
in which it leaves the rollers or in the opposite one, as may be desirable. To
obtain the reverse direction it is only necessary to make the movements 2, 4, &c.,
longer and not shorter than the movements 1, 3, 5, and thus to cause the con-
tinuous lap or fleece to emerge from beneath the drum T, or else leaving the lengths
of the movement 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, unaltered. I have only to make the shorter move-
ments 2, 4, &c., draw in the successive portions of the carded thin sheet by causing
the drum T to be in contact with the roller n¹. In either of these cases the result
is always the formation of a thick and regular lap or fleece, which can be fed
directly into the combing machine without transport by hand.
Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying Drawings show a modification of the system
or arrangement previously described, and which has for object, 1st, the improved
and simplified formation of the laps or fleeces of fibrous materials for feeding
combing-machines; and 2ndly, the uniting in a single combined machine the
operations of carding and drawing preparatory to that of combing.
As previously stated it is necessary for suitably feeding combing machines to
form the laps or fleeces of a certain perfectly uniform thickness from fibrous
material previously carded and drawn, and it is necessary that these laps or fleeces
be continuous so as to obviate incessant piecing or jointing behind the combing-
machines.
Therefore a suitable means or apparatus has been sought for the purpose of
producing, by any carding-machine, a carded lap or fleece of a perfectly regular
thickness, and of unlimited or absolutely continuous length. Further, a means or
apparatus has been sought (applicable to this carding machine, or to any kind
of combing machine to be fed) which could effect the drawing of this lap or fleece
for its whole length and corresponding to the width. of the combing machine.
These two apparatus once found will permit to unite in a single machine the
several successive operations to be produced, that is to say, the carding, the lapping
or fleecing, the drawing, and the combing.
.
Figs. 1 and 2 shew in side view and in plan respectively a carding machine
coupled to or combined with a combing-machine, together with the arrangements
for rendering such coupling practicable by fulfilling the conditions just set forth.
A is the main framework of the small carding-machine in question; this
framework A is connected at a, b, to the main framework B of a combing machine.
The carding-machine here shewn is composed of a feeding arrangement, a breaker,
a drum with 3 pairs of urchins, and a doffer D; but the composition of this carding-
machine is immaterial because a complete carding machine of any kind furnished either
with urchins or flats may be used, or else only some of the parts of carding-machines
may be taken, provided they constitute together a kind of fore-carriage behind the
combing machine as that would suffice if the beating of the fibrous material has
been sufficiently perfect. The carded thin sheet is detached from the doffer D by
the comb X. As previously stated this carded thin sheet is received upon a drum,
or upon an endless or creeper sheet actuated by successive and alternate rotative
oscillations, and at the same time with a slow forward movement of rotation, the
forward oscillations being always a little longer than the backward ones. On this
drum or sheet a thick, perfectly even, and continuous lap or fleece will then be
formed either by folds or by separate layers of the carded sheets, such folds or
layers being arranged in gradual superposition upon each other at equal distances,
the continuity of the lap or fleece being produced by such arrangement.
In order to better carry this operation into effect than by the means hereinbefore
described, the following mechanical means have been devised:-C is a superimposing
drum (this may however be an endless or creeper sheet), and c its axis revolving in t
suitable bearings. Near to this drum revolve conjointly two rollers R, R; two other
rollers R¹, R¹, loose and resting on the drum revolve by contact with the drum C by

page_text: following the alternate oscillatory movements of rotation. The drum T of the
carding-machine receiving the motive power drives the strippers F and the
breaker E, and on the other hand either the drum T or the breaker E imparts,
by any suitable gearing, movement to the whole combing-machine, the frame-
work B of which is shewn.
From the combing-machine a shaft O passes which drives one of the rollers R,
then the doffer D, and actuates, by any suitable means, the feeding apparatus of
the carding-machine. Furthermore, the shaft O drives, by means of the pinions
1 and 2, an intermediate shaft O', which carries two eccentrics m and n, and an
endless screw r. Another intermediate shaft or journal O¹¹ carries a lever / which
acts upon the eccentric m and a shifting fork f, so that the eccentric m effects the
throwing into and out of gear, and the stoppage or rotation of the rollers R, R.
The second eccentric n is heart-shaped. A vertical rack q carrying friction
rollers g, g, receives an up and down motion from the eccentric n; this rack q
gears with the sector-wheel 8, forming part of the sector-wheel 8', both oscillate
around a fixed axle, and the sector-wheel 8 is in gear with a third sector-wheel 811
oscillating around the shaft c of the napping or fleecing drum C, and forming part
of the arm y carrying at its end the loose bevel pinion p which is mounted on the
journal p terminating the army.
Two large bevel wheels G and H are mounted on the shaft c of the drum C;
the wheel G is fast on the shaft but H is loose thereon and is in a piece with the
spur wheel K, which is in gear with the endless screw on the shaft O'. Thus the
eccentric n imparts by means of the rack q and the sector wheels 8, 8', 8¹¹, a move-
ment of oscillation to the army and to the bevel pinion p, which being forced to
revolve on itself around the bevel wheel H causes the bevel wheel G and the
drum C to revolve by imparting to this bevel wheel G and to the drum an alternate
rotative oscillation of an extent double that of the journal carrying the pinion p.
At the same time at each of these complete oscillations the endless screw has
moved one tooth of the spur wheel K and the bevel wheel H, and therefore the
bevel G and the drum C itself. Thus the complete oscillations of the drum C are
repeated in advancing little by little at each time an equal amount.
The thin sheet of the carding-machine detached from the doffer D passes between
the rollers R, R, and is laid on the drum by the rollers R¹, R'. If the throwing
out of gear arrangement m, l, f, is not worked the rollers R, R, will revolve con-
tinuously, and the uninterrupted thin carded sheet will be laid on the drum in
alternately folded layers from back to front, and from front to back. If towards
the end of a forward oscillation, for instance, the throwing out of gear arrangement
m, l, f, is worked, and the rollers R, R, stopped a moment, the carded thin sheet
will be cut between the rollers R, R, and the drum C, and the rollers R, R,
recommencing to revolve when the drum begins to return backward, then stopping
for a moment again towards the end of this oscillation behind the drum C; in this
second manner the continuous lap or fleece will be formed on the drum in layers
cut at the ends and laid alternately in the forward and backward directions. And
lastly, if the stoppages of the rollers R, R, be lengthened during the entire duration
in one direction of oscillation of the drum C the continuous lap or fleece will be
formed on the drum in layers cut at the ends, and laid all in the same direction,
either forward or backward as may be desired.
During the stoppages of the rollers R, R, the carded thin sheet will bend into a
curve between the doffer and the rollers R, R, as shewn at x, forming thus a reserve,
which, for being then drawn in, only necessitates a sufficient velocity of speed of
the rollers R, R, and of the drum C at the time which serves to supply and to lay
the carded thin sheet.
The continuous lap or fleece formed on the drum C enters the drawing apparatus
composed by the cylinder I revolving in a trough I¹, and by the pair of cylinders
J, Ji, driven by a greater speed. The drawn lap or fleece enters thence into the
combing machine proper.

page_text: Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same may be performed, I declare that I claim,-
First. The method of and apparatus for preventing long fibres becoming bent or
folded in the lap or fleece in a detrimental manner, and for preventing, if desired,
the successive layers of carded sheet being bent upon the drum in two opposite
directions, as herein described and shewn by way of example in Fig. 1 of the
annexed Drawings.
Second. The novel application to a carding machine of any construction of an
apparatus for forming the carded sheet into a thick and absolutely continuous lap
or fleece, prepared either upon a drum or upon an endless or creeper sheet, in either
folded and gradually arranged layers or in layers cut at their ends and arranged
gradually, as herein described and shewn in Fig. 1 of the annexed Drawings.
Third. The novel combination of a combing-machine with a carding-machine of
any kind, but always producing a continuous lap of uniform thickness, such combi-
nation constituting a combing-machine with a carding-fore-carriage, as herein set
forth and shewn in Fig. 1x of the annexed Drawings.
Fourth. The mechanical arrangements comprising the movements and driving
gear, herein described and shewn in Figs. 1 and 2 of the Drawings, for the purpose
set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Ernest de Pass, have hereunto-set my hand and
seal, this Second day of July, in the year One thousand eight hundred and
eighty