CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR CARDING, COMBING, PREPARING, AND SPINNING COTTON, WOOL, ALPACA, MOHAIR, FLAX SILK, AND OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS
Year: 1848

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
DERHAM, Manager of Thomas Willett and Company's Spinning Mills,
Bradford, in the County of York, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Tenth day of April, in the eleventh year of Her reign, did, for
Herself, Her heirs and successors; give and grant unto me, the said James
Derham, Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege and authority, that I,
the said James Derham, my executors, administrators, and assigns, and such
other's as I, the said James Derham, my executors, administrators, or assigns,
should, at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all
times during the term of years therein mentioned, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, the Town of Berwick-
upon-Tweed, and in all Her Majesty's Colonies and Plantations abroad, and
in the Islands of Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, and Man, my Invention of
"CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR CARDING, COMBING, PREPARING, AND
SPINNING COTTON, WOOL, ALPACA, MOHAIR, FLAX, SILK, AND OTHER FIBROUS
MATERIALS;" in which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso obliging
me, the said James Derham, by an instrument in writing under my hand and
seal, particularly to describe and ascertain the nature of my said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, and to cause the same to bo
inrolled in Her Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar months

page_text: next and immediately after the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent,
as in and by the same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully and
at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in complianco, with the said proviso, I, the said
James Derham, do hereby declare that tho naturo of my said Invention, and
the manner in which the same is to be performed, is particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following description thereof, reference being
had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked
thereon (that is to say):-
My Invention of "Improvements in Machinery for Carding, Combing,
Preparing, and Spinning Cotton, Wool, Alpaca, Mohair, Flax, Silk, and other
Fibrous Materials, consists,―
First, in improvements in carding machinery, and in the apparatus to be
used therewith.
Second, in various improvements in machinery or apparatus for combing.
Third, in improvements in machinery for preparing and drawing.
And, fourth, in improvements in spinning machinery.
The improvements in carding, which constitute the first part of my Inven-
tion, consist,―
Firstly, in improved feeding apparatus for carding machines, to be used in
place of the ordinary feeding cloth.
The second improvement under this head of my Invention relates to the
application to carding engines of certain apparatus for oiling, warming, and
steaming the wool before entering the nipping rollers of the carding machine.
The apparatus for performing the above operations of oiling, warming, and
steaming the wool is to be placed in connection with the nipping rollers, and
the feed cloth or other feeding apparatus..
The third improvement relates to a peculiar arrangement of carding rollers
in carding machines before the breast or the swift, and it is intended to take
the wool after it has passed between the nipping rollers; the object of this
improvement being the more gentle treatment of the wool when first put into
the machine, also freeing the said wool from some of the dirt, seeds, and
other extraneous matters which adhere to the same.
The fourth improvement relates to the application to carding machines of
flues, or channels and troughs, to receive or convey away dirt, or other extra-
neous matters which may be separated from either the wool or the cards,
Anstead of allowing these matters, as at present, to fall upon any of the sub-
jacent rollers or parts, and be thereby returned to the wool or material under
operation in the machine,

page_text: My fifth improvement consists in removing the wool. from the. doffing,
cylinder in three or more slivers in width.
The sixth improvement consists in the application to carding machines. of
perforated tubes, or tubes with jets, for supplying jets, of. steam to the wool
under operation..
The seventh improvement consists in driving the swifts at different velocities
when two or more swifts are employed in the same machine, those swifts
which are placed nearer to the doffing end of. the machine. being, made to
travel more rapidly.
The eighth improvement relates to an improved mode. of driving, the
workers..
Having briefly set forth the nature of my various improvements in carding,
machines, I will now proceed to describe more fully the construction and opera-,
tion of the various parts.
'
'
Hitherto it has been customary, in feeding carding machines for carding.
wool, to employ an apparatus called a feed cloth, consisting usually of a coarse.
canvas band stretched over two rollers (in length equal to the width of the
cloth), the ends of the cloth being united form an endless band, which is,
caused, by the rotation of the rollers over which it is stretched, to travel.
onwards towards the nipping rollers, and from. this feeding cloth the wool is
taken by the nipping rollers into the carding machine. The inconvenience
attending such an arrangement is, that all. seeds, dirt, or other extraneous.
matters in the wool, as well as any dirt that may get upon the feed cloth from
other causes, is carried into the carding machine, thereby injuring both the.
cards and the sliver. The object of my first improvement is to obviate this
evil, and for this purpose I employ a perforated endless band, which, in addi-,
tion to having a progressive motion in the direction of the nipping rollers, as.is
usual, receives a tremulous or vibrating motion for the purpose of shaking the
wool, and facilitating the separation. therefrom of any seeds, dirt, or other
extraneous matters, and causing the same to pass through the perforations in
the band.. This tremulous motion may be made to act either longitudinally,
laterally, or vertically, or I. employ all, these motions at once, or any part of,
them. The dirt, seeds or other matters thus shaken out through the open-
ings in the upper. or working part of the band would (where they are not.
prevented) fall upon the underlying part. of. the band which moves in the
reverse direction, and would be liable to get again intermingled with the.
wool; to obviate this I place a trough. or pan between the upper and lower.
part of the endless band, for the purpose of receiving the dirt as it comes.
through the upper or working part of the band, and thereby prevent it from.

page_text: falling into the lower part. This band may be constructed of any strong
pliable material, such as leather or netting, but I do not confine myself to these
substances.
In order that this part of my Invention may be more fully understood, I
have shewn in the accompanying Drawings different plans and arrangements of
apparatus for effecting this object.
⚫ In Sheet I., Fig. 1 represents a plan view, and Fig. 2 a longitudinal cross'
section of one method of carrying out this improvement. The framing of the
apparatus is shewn at P, P, P; and L, L, L, are the rollers around which the
perforated endless band N is extended; in this case the rollers are made
hollow, and are mounted upon the shafts B, B, in bearings I, I, and are furnished
with a fast collar, as shown at E, E, inside, against which the coiled
spring D, D, D, presses at one end, whilst the other end bears against the
collar C, which is fast on the shaft B; there is thus a constant tendency in the
roller to move in the direction of the arrows Z. The shaft slides freely through
the collar E, E, and also through the ends F, F, F, of the hollow roller,
but in each of these ends there is a slot corresponding to a projecting feather on
the shaft B, which, therefore, compels the roller to rotate with the shaft B, but
yet allows it to move laterally upon the shaft in a direction parallel with its
axis. One end of the shaft B revolves freely in a collar H, which also moves
laterally with the rollers L, L. The collar H is connected to the small
vibrating frame Q, Q, which moves freely in a horizontal direction in bearings
in the framing; R is a friction roller revolving on its axis in the vibrating
frame Q, and against this roller the projections on the wheel K. strike as the
latter revolves with its shaft 0, 0, 0, in the bearings J, J, J, therefore, as this
shaft revolves, the framing Q, Q, being driven back in its bearings, drive with
it the collar H, H, and by it pressing against the end of the roller will drive
it laterally and compress the spring D, which will always tend to return the
roller to its original place, to be again acted upon by the wheel K, thereby
giving to the cloth N a lateral vibrating motion. This same description is
applicable to all the rollers, which in this apparatus are four in number, the
two lower being about as much below the trough or pan M. as the two upper
ones are above it. The dirt trough or pan M rests on four bearings A, A,
attached to the framing; the perforated band is seen at N, part of it being cut
away, in Fig. 1, to shew the dirt trough M below; G, G, are leather straps
attached to the edges of the band, and having a series of holes at equal distances
apart corresponding to small projections or studs on the rollers, their use
being to prevent the band from slipping, either laterally or otherwise, upon
the rollers, A chain may be advantageously substituted for a strap in some

page_text: cases, and with some materials. Besides the lateral motion above described,
a vertical vibrating motion may be given to the feed band by the rapid revo-
lution of one or more rollers or agitators, with projections thereon. These
rollers or agitators are placed under the upper part of the feeding band, and
between it and the dirt trough or pan. The projections on the rollers a, in
their revolution strike the feed band, and cause it to vibrate vertically. These
projections may be either rigid, or pliable, or elastic, and may be made either
of wood, leather, india rubber, gutta percha, metal, or other suitable material;
but the arrangement which I prefer is that shown in Fig. 3, which shows a
longitudinal section of the band, and the apparatus for actuating it. The
projections c, on the rollers a, are made of stiff leather or gutta percha, and
are about four in number, and are made so as to catch against the stop d,
which causes them to bend out of their position; but on arriving at a certain
point they escape therefrom, and strike with great force against the band, and
give to it a sudden blow. I prefer using three or four of these rollers under
the band, and so arranging them that they do not all strike it at once, but one
after the other. A similar effect may be produced upon the band, by using
an arrangement shown in longitudinal section at Fig. 4, in which small hori-
zontal bars or rollers, as b, extending from one side of the feed band to the
other, are made rapidly to rise and fall, and strike against the band N. The
axles of these bars or rollers are mounted in vertical rods d, which slide in
guides in the bar e. The lower end of the rods d are furnished with friction
rollers which rest on the small wheels c, which are furnished with tappets or
projections. The wheels c are made to revolve rapidly and drive up the slide
rods d, and with them the horizontal bars 6, which strike the band N, and
cause it to vibrate vertically. In these cases the band rollers may be solid
and fast upon their axes, and the axes may simply rotate in their bearings.
Either two or more band rollers may be used, four being recommended, and
the band may be driven either by one or more of the band rollers or by all.
In this case the leather side straps G may or may not be used. I do not
myself find it required. I wish further to state that the vibrating motion,
either laterally, longitudinally, or vertically, or all these at once, or any part,
may be applied with advantage to agitate feed bands, even if not perforated,
although not to so great an advantage; for although much of the dirt will
escape between the nipping roller and the feed cloth after it has been separated
from the wool by the tremulous motion, yet a great deal will be taken into
the carding machine that would never reach it if the perforated band were
employed. I may further remark, that I find it in some cases desirable to
use an open work metallic feeding band, as shown in Figures 5, plan and

page_text: edge views, more especially when the steaming, oiling, and warming apparatus
(hereafter described) is employed. A pliable free band of this kind is very
readily made of small rows of links, as A. These rows of links are connected
by the same wires D, which serve also for the connecting pins for each set of
links 'A, A. The chains are kept at proper distances apart from each other
by small tubes C, C, and the ends of the wires D may be rivetted through
small washers at the edge of the metallic band. By this means a very cheap
and durable band may be formed, equally suitable either for a feed band,
whether tremulous or not, or for the purposes of my oiling, steaming, and
warming apparatus hereafter to be described, or for both, when combined.
Under this first clause of my improvements in machinery for carding, I
claim,―
First, the communicating to the feed bands of carding machines a tremulous
or vibratory movement, whether such tremulous or vibrary movement with feed
bands which are perforated or not.
Second, I claim the peculiar construction of metallic feed band shewn at
Figs. 5, Sheet 1, of the Drawings.
My second improvement in carding wool relates to certain arrangements of
machinery for oiling, warming, and steaming the wool before entering between
the nipping rollers of the carding machine. It has been long known that
'wool may be much better carded when first washed, as, by the moisture and
the warmth incidental to this process, it becomes much softened, and the fibres
will more easily move one over the other, and will therefore more easily open.
The warmth softens the oil in the wool, and thus tends greatly to facilitate the
working of the wool. The moisture has also the samo effect, and appears to
take from the wool that tendency to curl which adds so much to the difficulty of
moving one fibre either upon or from any other fibre. It has been generally
found desirable to add oil to the wool before carding it; but great difficulty has
been felt in equally distributing the oil, which is too often applied in large drops,
to the great injury of the character of the sliver; and besides, when all these
points, which have been named as being desirable, are done, as well as the
present known ineans will admit of, yet, from the time that must necessarily
elapse between the application of these processes and the carding of the wool,
much of the good effect which would otherwise result, is lost. The object of
the second part of my improvements is to obviate these evils, and to accom-
plish this I introduce an apparatus for oiling, steaming, and warming the
wool in immediate connexion with the carding machine, and I prefer using
it between the nipping rollers and the feed cloth; but it might be employed
before the feed cloth, though not so advantageously.

page_text: I will now proceed to describe the apparatus which I employ for effecting
this
purpose. In Sheet I., Fig. 6 represents a longitudinal section, and Fig. 7
a cross section of one arrangement of apparatus for effecting this object. It
consists of a trough A, A, in length equal to the feed band. This trough is
partially filled with oil which may be supplied by the funnel and pipe D, and
run out to the proper height by a waste pipe and tap E. The trough.A.is
cast with a steam pipe B, as shewn in the Figures, and from this steam pipe
small syphon-formed tubes C rise up, above the level of the oil, the other leg
of the syphon dipping some way into the oil. Around this trough a feed band
is made to travel, as shewn in Fig. 7. The action of this apparatus is very
simple. The steam being allowed to circulate freely through the pipe B,
(which is made lower at one end than the other, for the sake of draining off
the condensed steam), whilst at the same time the steam is passing through
the suphons C, C, raises the temperature of the oil. At the same time any
steam that may escape uncondensed from the syphons finds its way with the
vaporised oil up to the wool, at the same time the heat of the whole appa-
ratus acts on the wool, and produces a beneficial effect. I also find it desirable
in some cases to allow a more free escape of steam, which may be easily done
by running a small perforated steam pipe from end to end of the trough
similar to that shewn at o, Fig. 9, the amount of steam admitted being
regulated by a cock or valve. In some cases the oil obtained by means of
the apparatus shewn in Figures 6 and 7 is not sufficient. To obviate this, I
adapt a stiff circular revolving brush N to the trough, as seen in the longi-
tudinal and vertical sections, Figs. 8 and 9. The lower side of this brush dips
into the oil, and upon one side of the trough is fastened a moveable stop M,
which can be set so as to bend back the bristles during the revolution of the
brush, but allow them to escape with. the continued revolution of the wheel,
and thereby throw up a fine spray, depending for its fineness on the nature of
the brush, and also the situation of the stop. In this case I employ a perfo-
rated steam pipe o, but no syphons, as in the former instance, the oil in the
trough being heated, as before, by the steam pipe B. -F, F, F, F, Fig. 7,
show four rollers for the band to travel over when a separate band is used.
The same arrangements of band, as shown at Figures 6 and 7, for carrying
the wool over the trough may be also used in this instance. The principal
advantage of a metallic band is, that it may be heated by a steam plate or
steam pipe or other means before travelling over the trough, and would not
therefore have so great a tendency to condense the steam or vaporized oil; but
when I employ a separate band to carry the wool over the trough, I prefer the
kind shown at Figs. 5, which has the advantage of requiring very small rollers,

page_text: as F, F, F, F, for actuating it. The band may therefore be kept very close to
the nipping rollers, whereby it will have a less tendency to drop the wool
between the feed band and the nipping rollers of the carding machine.
Under the second clause of this head of my Invention I claim the applica-
tion to carding machinery of the apparatus shewn at Figures 6, 7, 8, and 9,
whereby I am enabled to oil, steam, or heat the wool as it is passing into
the carding machine. In carding machines, as heretofore used, the fibrous
substance, after passing between the nipping rollers, was taken directly either
on to the "breast," or on to the "swift," or in those more recently employed
a "licker-in" has been added, which is an acknowledged improvement in
many cases; but either in the one case or the other there has ever been a
great tendency to break the staple, owing to the great velocity of the cards
which take the fibrous substance from the nipping rollers. The object of my
third improvement is to obviate this tendency to break the staple. This I
accomplish by employing an arrangement of three or more rollers before the
"breast" or "swift" (which names are understood by the trade to refer to
certain well known parts of the carding machine). I prefer to use three of
these rollers, working at a slow speed. These rollers receive the wool from
the nipping rollers, and gently open it before passing it into the breast or
swift, and from their slow speed they treat the wool very tenderly on first
entering the machine, it being more tangled then than at any other time, and
therefore less able to bear any rough treatment. The fibres by this means
become gently separated, and laid for the most part parallel to each other,
which is the chief end to be attained in all good carding. This arrangement
may be looked upon as a preparatory process to ordinary carding, having in
view principally the opening and separating of the fibres as a first step.
Fig. 10, in Sheet I. of the Drawings, represents a diagram of a carding
machine arranged according to this part of my improvements. The three rollers
C, F, G, move in the directions shewn by the respective arrows, the card teeth
pointing in the same direction. F, G, and C are respectively about fourteen,
ten, and twenty inches in diameter, and move respectively at about four, one
and a half, and sixteen or eighteen revolutions in a minute. The roller F
takes the wool from the nipping rollers, and deposits it upon the working
roller G, which in turn delivers it to the roller C, from which it is taken by
the angle stripper D, and passed to the breast or swift. The roller G is
found to deposit dirt from the wool, in addition to its other advantages. The
small roller H is simply a cleaning roller for the nipping rollers I, I, and is
now in pretty general use where lickers-in are employed. Under this head
of my improvements I claim the application to carding. engines of three

page_text: or more card rollers for acting upon the wool or other staple after it has
left the nipping rollers, and before it is received upon the "breast" or;
"swift."
.
In the form in which the carding machine is at present used no arrange-.
ment is made for removing from the machine any seed, dirt, or other
extraneous matters which may be separated from the wool by the action of
the machine. Now the object of my fourth improvement is to carry away the.
dirt and other matters that may be detached from the wool or the cards, and.
to remove it from the machine so as to avoid all chance of its again reaching
the wool or fibrous substance that is being carded. To effect this object I
employ flues and troughs, or pans made of tin or some other suitable material,
similar in form to those shown at E, E, E, Fig. 10, Sheet I. of the Drawings..
These flues, troughs, or pans should be in width equal to the carding rollers,
and formed so, as to expose as wide a mouth as possible to receive the dirt
that is thrown out. The sides of these troughs should be formed of curves,
corresponding to the rollers to which they are adjacent, and as small a spaco
as possible should be left between them and the rollers. The flucs should
terminate at the bottom of the machine in some receptacle which can be
easily. removed. I do not confine myself to the use of flues when placed under;
the angle strippers, as shewn at E in the Drawing, although this is the most
desirable position. The troughs or pans, are employed when thero is not
sufficient space to introduce the flues, as in the caso shewn at Fig. 11, where
a trough E is introduced between the swift fancy and doffing cylinders. I.
may remark, that a flue is better in all cases where, it can be applied, but,
where it cannot be conveniently adapted pans will do as a substitute. To.
facilitate the deposit of seeds, dirt, or other extraneous matters from the wool,
and also to facilitate its entrance into the fluc, I find it desirable to cause a
gentle current of air to pass into the flue, and this I cause by exhausting the,
air from the lower end of the flue, either by a fan, an air pump, or any similar:
means. I claim the employment of flues, or troughs, or pans, in the situations.
and for the purposes before noticed, which flues or troughs may be assisted
in carrying off dirt and other extraneous matters from the wool or staple under
operation by the application of currents of air, if required.
In carding.machines, as now used, another evil exists from the wool getting
very dry upon the machine in hot weather. This much impedes its working.
to the best advantage, and also gives to the wool at various parts of the
machine a tendency to fly off, more especially at or near the doffing cylinder..
To remedy this evil, I employ small perforated steam tubes, or steam tubes
with small jets, at various parts of the machine. These tubes are in length.

page_text: equal to the rollers, and, by means of taps, any quantity, small or large, of
steam can be supplied to any roller, as required, or to the wool when passing
from one roller to the other. Under this head I claim the application to
carding engines of perforated tubes, or tubes with jets for supplying jets of
steam to the wool when under the action of the carding machine.
It is the custom at present, where two or more swifts are used, to drive
them all at the same speed, regardless of the different states of the wool at the
different parts of the machine, which must be obviously wrong. One of my im-
provements in carding machinery consists in actuating all these rollers or swifts
at different speeds, making those swifts to go faster which are placed nearest to
the last doffing cylinder, as the wool is then better able to bear the more rapid
speed when placed evenly by the swifts which have before worked it. Where
swifts are used of one diameter, I recommend the first to be driven at sixty,
the second seventy, and the third eighty, or in that proportion. I claim for
constructing carding machinery so that the several swifts shall be made to
work at different velocities, the velocity being greater the nearer they are
placed to the doffing cylinder.
Hitherto it has been customary in carding machines to drive the "workers
and the swifts from the doffing cylinder; therefore, when any alteration was
made in the doffing cylinder it altered the workers, and the only means, there-
fore, that the carder in attendance on the machine had to relieve the machine
was to put the workers either nearer to or further from the swift; and when,
therefore, less work was required, he was obliged to raise the workers from the
swift, when it allowed parts of the hard unopened staple to pass between the
workers and the swift, and thus come upon the doffing cylinder, thereby either
straining or straightening the teeth on the doffing cylinder, and thus quickly
spoiling it, or else the doffing cylinder allowed the wool to pass from it
unopened, and it would, therefore, be likely to be taken again by the main
swift, which would thus soon become clogged. To remedy this evil I drive
the workers from the swift by a change of gearing. I can, therefore, regulate
the speed of the workers without interfering with the doffing cylinder, so that
the carder can regulate the working to the greatest nicety, and the doffing
cylinder will be found to last much longer. I claim the arrangement of
gearing for driving the workers from the swift instead of from the doffing
cylinder..
Second Head. The first part of the second head of my Invention relates to
certain arrangements of machinery for feeding the combs of combing machines.
Under this division of my Invention, clause 1 relates to an arrangement of
apparatus by which I am enabled to place the wool in a better manner and

page_text: position on the comb teeth. And in order that this part of the Invention
may be more fully understood I will proceed to describe the improvement.
Thus all four
The sheet wool
In Sheet II., Fig. 1 is a plan view of the feeding machine. Fig. 2
is a longitudinal section taken through the centre of the machine; and
Fig. 3 is a view of the cam grooves for giving the forward and backward
motion to the nipping roller. H, H, shew the nipping rollers which deliver
the sliver K, K, at any desired speed to the combs. These nipping rollers are set
in the frame Q, Q, Q, (see Plan, Fig. 1,) which framing carrying the nipping
rollers is supported by four pins or studs as 0, 0, 0, 0. These pins pass
through the slots in the driving plates B, B, and enter the channels or cam
grooves A, A, Fig. 3; by these channels, the motion of the studs, and
thereby the motion of the frame Q, is regulated. The studs O, O, are driven
in the said channels by the plates B, which are keyed on to axles C, C, C,
which carry the wheels D, D, D. These wheels D are respectively in gear
with the small wheels E, E, which are both keyed on the main driving
shaft F, F, which is itself driven by a strap on the drum G.
supporting studs O make the same motion at the same time.
or sliver with which I feed the combs (by this machine) is held by the
nipping rollers H, H, H, which make a partial revolution about their axes for
every stroke of the feed. The way in which I obtain this required motion is
by means of the wheels m, m, which are keyed to the axles of the nipping
rollers. As the axles of these wheels m, m, are caused to rotate about the
axes C, C, of the driving plates B', B', by means of the revolution of the said
driving plates, they are made to gear for any desired time into small pieces of
rack which are made fast to the framing, as at N, N. The time which the
wheels m, m, continue in gear with the rack pieces N, N, will determine the
amount of feed, and may be regulated at pleasure, to suit the wool or other
substance being fed upon the combs. I may further state that I find it very
desirable in some cases to give a quicker motion to the nipping rollers which
are nearest to the comb being fed, than to those nipping rollers which are
more remote from it, as the draft thus obtained is in very many cases most
desirable. The sliver, after passing between the front nipping rollers, is
supported by a sustaining brush I, which will hereafter be more particularly
described. Figures 4 and 5 shew two different forms of cam grooves, which
may be employed in lieu of the form of groove shewn at Fig. 3, but the latter
I prefer. The object of these cam grooves is so to control the motion of the
feeding head as that the stroke shall be parallel or nearly parallel to the teeth
of the combs which are being fed. A further advantage will be found to
result from the peculiar movement of the feeding head, which it will be seen

page_text: moves rapidly away from the holding combs, after it has made the required
stroke parallel with the teeth; and it will be seen that this receding from the
comb can be caused to take place when the feeding head shall have made any
length of stroke that may be desired. It will, therefore, be evident that any
form of guide, whether a groove or rail, which shall cause the feeding head to
descend (when performing the strokes) in a right line, and shall afterwards
cause it to recede rapidly from the comb teeth, will also effect the desired
operation. If these machines be properly applied either to circular or straight
combs, that is, if the curved channel be properly suited to the size of the
comb and sort of wool, and it be placed at a proper distance from the holding
comb, and if it be not attempted to employ too thick a sliver, it will be found
that the wool will be very evenly fed, and but a very small amount of wool
will be laid at the back of the comb, to be afterwards removed as backing
sliver. It may be further noticed that the wool is held quite tight (the
nipping rollers being stationary) at the time of the stroke being made, and
from this much advantage is obtained, and the sliver, when drawn, will
be much firmer. In order to supply the wool to the nipping rollers which
are continually changing their horizontal and vertical position, I find it advan-
tageous to give a working motion to the can which contains the sliver, and to
make that motion dependant on the motion of the horizontal frame Q. For
.this purpose I mount the can on a rocking foot R, and support it at its upper
end by a vibrating frame S, which is joined to the frame at Q at Q¹. This
frame S carries a roller T, from which an endless band U passes to the lower
roller of the back nipping rollers H, and thus as theso rollers are made to
rotate by the means before mentioned, the endless band will bring forward a
fresh supply of wool from the can. It will thus be seen that the endless band,
and also the can, will always adjust themselves to the motions of the frame Q,
and present the wool with great uniformity to the nipping rollers. When the
can is exhausted a fresh one may be readily substituted by lifting up the frame
S, and releasing the studs on the sides of the can from the notches in the
under side of the frame. If thought desirable, an endless band may also be
applied between the two pairs of nipping rollers, to support the woo!
while it passes from the back to the front pair of nipping rollers H.
Under this clause of the second head of my Invention I claim the general
arrangement of feeding machinery above described.
And particularly I claim the mode of controlling the stroke of the feed head
so that when delivering wool on to the combs it shall move in a line parallel,
or nearly parallel, to the axes of the teeth of the combs.
The second clause of this second head of my Invention relates to certain

page_text: arrangements of machinery for feeding the holding combs with thinner layers
of wool than usual, by which means the wool is laid more evenly on the combs,
and also it relates to disposing theso layers in the combs, so that less wool
than heretofore will be laid at the back of the combs, and, therefore, less will
have to be taken off in the form of a backing sliver to be again worked.
In Sheet III., Fig. 1 is a plan view of a simple construction of machine for
effecting the operation of feeding; Fig. 2 is a side elevation, and Fig. 8 is a
longitudinal section taken through the middle of the machine. In the
Drawing it will be seen that two slivers are fed from one ball, but more may.
be fed if required. The wool which has to be fed by this apparatus is first
washed, oiled, and balled up in a double sliver; this ball is then placed upon
a central rod A, which for that purpose is made to slide through the bearing C,`
and can be withdrawn by its head B, the other end resting in the bearing S.
The shafts C and D, which form the driving axle of 'the apparatus, revolve in:
suitable bearings, and the whole apparatus may be made to rotate by a pulley.
or wheel upon the shaft D. The small pinion E which is stationary, is made:
fast to the bearing of the shaft D, the shaft D, therefore, revolving freely in it.
The wheel E drives the wheels F, F, which are mounted on studs projecting
from the framing T. To the wheels F other wheels, G, are attached, and
revolve therewith loosely on the studs Q. H, H, are pinions mounted on the
axles of their respective nipping rollers O, O, and are driven by means of the'
wheels G, therefore, for every stroke of the feed, of which there will be two
for every revolution of the machine, a given quantity of wool will be delivered
to the comb. K, K, are angular pieces, which are made to slide at any
required distance from the nipping rollers, and will require adjusting to suit.
the various wools under operation. The tip L of these pieces K is of leather;
so as not to hurt the holding comb. M, M, are thin plates of steel, intended'
to keep the wool from getting out of its right course when the moving pieccs
K are placed further from the nipping rollers, which are regulated by the
screws I, I, I. The plates K are adjusted by means of the screws J, J, J,
which pass through the slots K', K', K'. U, U, U, are blocks of metal,
through which bolts P, P, pass, to hold the sides of the framing T together..
Thus, as the machine revolves, the nipping rollers draw the slivers from the
ball, and deliver it in two or more thin layers upon the combs, this delivery.
being at any rate that may be desired. It will be readily understood, that by
this machine the wool applied in thin layers will be filled upon the combs at
a rate equal to the ordinary operation of filling, and that without jarring or
breaking the sliver, even though the machine be worked at a high speed.
But if it should be thought desirable to drive the machine at a lower speed .I

page_text: am enabled to do. so, and yet feed the combs with equal rapidity by having.
three, four, or more pairs of nipping rollers arranged and geared in a similar.
manner to those shewn in the Drawing, the ball being in that case composed
of a corresponding number of slivers.. Should it be found necessary to gear.
the pairs of nipping rollers together to insure their uniform rotation, that may
be done by applying a pair of pinions to their axles as usual.
I will now describe another arrangement of. machinery. for feeding balled.
wool on to combs.. The wool in: this case,. as: in that I have just before
described under this clause of my improvements in combing, is first washed,
oiled, and balled, cach ball having one or more slivers according to the kind
of wool being fed upon the combs. The wool is now ready for being applied
to this machine, which I will now proceed to describe in detail.
Fig. 8, Sheet II., is a side elevation partly in section, and Fig. 9 is.
a plan view of this machine. The wheel A is supported by the shaft
A',. which is keyed into its bush A". This shaft revolves in suitable
stationary bearings at C, and by it the wheel A is driven, as will be fully
described. The wheel B is similarly supported by. its shaft B', keyed into
its bush B", the shaft B¹ revolving in a suitable stationary bearing at D.
From the wheel A suitable studs project, as shewn at F, these studs are
keyed fast into suitable bosses upon the wheel A, and stand at right angles.
to its inner side. The wheel B has an equal number of similar studs, as.
at G, G, projecting from its inner face, and. keyed to it in suitable bosses..
Now these studs pass through hollow tubes or bearings in the frames E, theso
bearings or tubes are shewn at E', and by these studs the frames E aro
supported, each frame having two studs, the one fast to the wheel A, and the
other to the wheel B. Now the frames E, E, carry the small rods H, H,
upon which the balled sliver is placed after having been prepared as herein-
before described.. The rods.H, H, are passed through eyes in the framing E,
and may be withdrawn to receive a fresh ball when the sliver is exhausted. On
one end of each of the frames E a pair of nipping rollers I, I, is mounted, and
on the axle of one of each of these pair of rollers a pinion J is keyed. These
pinions J take respectively into the teeth of the wheels K, which are plain on
the greater part of their circumference, and which are firmly attached to the
studs F. In front of each pair of nipping rollers a brush L is fixed for the.
purpose of supporting the wool after it passes from between the nipping
rollers, as hereafter described. The action of the machine is as follows:-
Rotary motion being communicated to the shaft A¹, or to both the shafts A'
and B', the wheels A and B.will revolve simultaneously, and carry with them
the frames E, keeping them all parallel with each other.. By this means the

page_text: nipping rollers will virtually be quiescent as regards their axial motion. until
their respective pinions J come into gear with the teeth of the wheels.K, at
which time they will make a partial rotation and draw the sliver from the ball H².
Now it is necessary that this shall take place before the rollers feed the comb,
and this is.. effected by cogging a portion only of the circumference of the
wheels K, as before stated, and so timing their action. that the axial rotation
of the rollers shall cease before the feed is given to the comb.. It will now be
understood that by this machine thin layers of sliver. may be fed into holding
combs with great regularity and expedition, the brushes L supporting, the
wool over the combs, and allowing it to be gently deposited on to the teeth.
A third arrangement of machinery for feeding balled wool into. combs is
shewn in side clevation at Fig. 10, Sheet II., and in plan. view. at Fig..11.
This machine is similar in some respects to that described with respect to
Figures 1, 2, and 8, Sheet III.,. but, in addition to the mechanism therein
shewn, I have applied a means of controlling the stroke of the feed head.so that
the stroke shall be made in a line parallel or nearly parallel to the axes of the
comb teeth. This I effect by mounting the axis A of the feeding machine
in an oscillating frame B, and applying a plate C, which has an excentric
groove in or upon it, to the side of the machine. On the frame D of. the
machine I mount a pair of bowls or rollers E, E, which are intended to enter
the groove of the guide plate C, and as the machine rotates it will be com-
pelled to gradually recede from the combs a sufficient distance to make the
feeding head pass through a vertical plane while the comb is being fed there-
from. A central opening is made in the plate C to allow of the horizontal
movement of the axle A, and the excentric groove is sufficiently extended to
always keep within it one bowl or roller E.. The entrance to the groove
is widened to allow the bowls to enter readily when the machine is driven at a
rapid speed. The form of the groove requisite for controlling the motion
of the feeding head will be clearly seen. at Fig, 10.. F is a driving shaft
upon which the frame B oscillates freely, and on this shaft two pulleys are
mounted, one of which is connected by a strap with any first mover, and the
other is connected by a strap with a pulley on the axle A. By this means
the necessary motion will be communicated from the shaft F to. the axle. A...
Another arrangement of machinery for effecting the feeding of combs by
means of a feeding head, which is moved through a plane parallel to the teeth
of the comb, is shewn at. Sheet IV., Fig. 1 being a side. elevation of the
machine; Fig. 2, a plan view; and Fig; 3. a. partial front view of the same.
This arrangement is similar in most respects to. that shewn at Figures 8 and 9,
Sheet II., and as similar letters refer to similar parts a detailed description thereof

page_text: will be unnecessary. The peculiarity of this arrangement is, that the frames
or standards C and D are made to oscillate upon centres 1, 2, and thus to allow
of a backward and forward motion being given to the carrying axles A', B'.
3, 3, is a vertical framing placed at the side of the wheel B, and having on
its inner side a groove of the form shewn best in the detached view Fig. 4.
On the outer side of the wheel B four bowls or rollers 4, 4, are mounted, and
as the wheel rotates they severally enter the groove of the framing 3, and pass
along its excentric channel. In doing this the whole machine is made to
move towards the combs and rock the oscillating standards C and D sufficiently
to allow the nipping rollers to move in a line corresponding to that shewn in
blue color at Fig. 4, whereby a motion parallel to the teeth of the comb is
obtained for placing the layer of wool on the teeth, and a sudden withdrawal
of the nipping rollers to separate the wool held by the nipping rollers from the
wool left on the holding comb is effected. The groove in this case extends
over rather more than a quarter of the circumference of the wheel B, and
'thus the entrance into the groove of one bowl 4 is insured before the one
preceding it has passed out of the groove. It will also be seen that the bowl
'on leaving the groove will draw the machine into a proper position for
effecting the ready entrance of the succeeding bowl into the groove. The
driving of this machine is effected by bands and pulleys, as described under
the third arrangement, Figures 10 and 11, Sheet II.
Under this second clause of the second head of my Invention I claim the
general arrangements of feeding machines as above described and shewn in
the Drawings.
The third clause of this second head of my Invention relates to improve-
ments in revolving combing machines where the said combs feed themselves
whilst revolving from slivers or from sheets of wool supplied by either nipping
or drawing rollers.
In Sheet V. the arrangement of machinery for feeding revolving combs
'from slivers or sheets is shewn in complete elevation at Fig. 1, but, in order
that the novel arrangement of parts may be well understood, I have shown
them detached and upon an enlarged scale. Fig. 2 represents in elevation
and partial section a revolving comb wheel in connection with the drawing
rollers for supplying the combs with sliver or sheet wool; Fig. 3 is a plan
view of the comb carrying wheel; Fig. 4, a front view of the drawing rollers;
and Fig. 5 an elevation of the back roller of the drawing head. In this
machine the wheel C, C, C, carries the combs (the points of which are seen
at Z) in the direction of the arrow. These combs are heated by steam, the
arms and periphery of the wheel C being made hollow for that purpose. The

page_text: wheel C is supplied with steam by a pipe B, B, entering the boss of the
shaft A, it then passes up the hollow spokes C, C, C, one of which is shewn
in section at Fig. 2, and into the hollow periphery C, C, C', from which it
passes into channels (see Fig. 2) in the connecting bars G, G, G, which
unite the two opposite sides of the wheel C, and form the scats for the combs,
The combs may be fixed in their places in any convenient manner. The
mode which I prefer is hereafter described under clause of my improve-.
ments in combing. The steam, in passing along the hollow bars G, heats the
combs, and it then escapes into the hollow periphery of the opposite side of the
wheel, down the hollow spokes, and out at the opposite boss A. It thence
escapes down a pipe similar to B, B, on the other side of the machine. The
combs are thus kept at any required heat. Any desired number of combs may
be employed abreast, but I recommend two, as shewn in the Drawing. By
referring to Fig. 1 it will be seen that two feeding heads are applied to the
revolving comb, the operation of which is best shewn at Fig. 2. These combs,
in their revolution, severally strike into the wool, which is being fed from the
two feed heads. These feed heads (see Fig. 1) are worked by a train of
wheels in gear with the small central wheel X, which is keyed to the shaft of
the driving wheel C. It will, therefore, be seen that by properly arranging
the train of wheels any required rate of feed can be obtained. The wool,
which is supplied in one, two, or more slivers, is fed over the guide plate V,
Figures 2 and 5, to the rollers M, M, its direction being shewn by the red
line. The wool passes between the top and second roller, thence between the
second and third, which third roller is fluted to give greater friction. It then
goes out between the third and fourth rollers. All four rollers are connected
together by the wheels P, P, P, P, and are compressed together by springs Q.
The whole train of wheels is driven from gearing in connection with the main
driving wheel C. The wool then passes over one or more porcupine rollers R,
heated by steam, or chain or screw gills (heated or not by steam, according to
the quality of the wool,) might be substituted. The wool then comes between
the drawing rollers H, I, and K. The rollers I and K are connected together
and driven at the same surface speed.. The wheel H is covered with leather
or other suitable substance, and pressed on the wheels I and K by the springs
Q, Q. The drawing rollers are driven at a greater surface speed than the
rollers M, M, M, and thus any required draft of the wool may be obtained.
The set of wheels for driving the rollers I and K is, together with the
porcupine, or screw, or chain gill, driven by gearing in connection with the
niain driving wheel C, C, C. The wool now passes on to a flat brush o, o, o,
constructed in the manner hereafter to be described under this second head

page_text: of my Invention. This brush holds up the wool to the action of the revolving
combs Z, Z, Z. The drawing rollers, which deliver the wool on to the brush,
can be set at any desired distance from the revolving combs, according to the
quality of the wool and the length of the staple; and the drawing apparatus,
and porcupine or porcupines, or gill or gills, can be regulated in like manner.
The brush, which supports the sliver or sheet wool to be taken on to the combs
by their upward stroke, I prefer to have two rows of bristles, as shewn at Fig. 6.
This brush is so formed that the wool may pass between the two lines of bristles.
By this means I am the better enabled to bring the wool under the action of the
ascending comb. Figures 7 and 8 represent a brush made either of bristles,
whalebone, or wire, and having a set of bristles on each side of its stock, so
that when one side is worn out its other row of bristles may be used. This
brush is shewn applied to the machine at S, Fig. 1, its object being to lash or
brush out the several layers of wool taken up by the combs before a fresh feed
is taken. The dirt or refuse matters which are brushed from the wool are
cleared from the brush by the points of the teeth of the next succeeding comb,
and are deposited at the back of that comb. The brush is, therefore, cleared
for working the wool. As two feeding heads are used to fill the combs with
wool, it will be obvious that two brushes will be required to act upon the
several layers of wool as they are taken up by the combs. These brushes are
set at opposite sides of the comb-carrying wheel. The brushes are set at an
angle, as shewn in Fig. 1, and when it is required to bring a fresh set of
bristles into action, that may be done by loosening the nut, Fig. 7, and
turning the brushes on their pivots, when they may be again fixed. When it
is required to change the combs, one feeding head, which is mounted upon
the carriage T, T, can be traversed back, as it is supported on rails
P¹, P¹, P¹, for that purpose. When at work, the feeding head is held in
its by a latch on the end of a lever Q', Q', catching on one of the four
connecting rods R', R', which unite the framing on either side. The wool
fed on to these revolving combs will be found to require little or no working,
for two or three combs will have passed through a part of the wool before it is
released from the drawing rollers, and deposited on the comb. By using two
or more feeding heads I am enabled to feed the combs with very thin
layers of wool, and yet at the same time fill the revolving combs with great
expedition. I may further state, that I find it in some few cases desirable
to move the wheel X out of gear with the train of wheels, so as to stop
the feed, yet allowing the revolving combs to make one or two revolutions
afterwards, to get the wool better brushed. I sometimes find it desirable to
employ four or more brushes S, whereby a greater amount of brushing may be

page_text: given to the wool. Under this clause of my Invention I wish it to be under-
stood that, with the exception of the brushes O and S, I lay no claim to any of
the several parts composing this machine when otherwise employed. But I
claim the application to rotating combs of two feeding heads for supplying
wool thereto, the feeding heads being arranged in connection with the combs,
as above described. And particularly I claim the employment of stationary
brushes for lashing or brushing the wool as it is taken up by the comb teeth.
I also claim the employment of supporting brushes in connection with the
feeding heads, as described.
I will now proceed to describe the construction of my sustaining brush, which
has been heretofore noticed under this head of my Invention, and which has been
shewn in connection with some of my comb-feeding machines (see Figs..1, 2, 8,
and 9, Sheet 2, and Figures 1, 2, and 6, Sheet 5). This sustaining brush forms
the fourth clause of this second head of my Invention. This brush is intended to
support the wool over the teeth of the combs upon which it is being fed. This
brush is more especially applicable where sliver is being fed on to the combs.
Hitherto the support has generally been of some more or less rigid material,
which was therefore obliged to be set at some distance from the teeth of the
comb to avoid the risk of touching and breaking them, and therefore could in
no way support the wool over the points of the teeth. My sustaining brush is
applicable to all, or nearly all, feeding machines. This brush I prefer to be
equal in width to the sliver of wool which is being fed, and curved or straight
on the edge next the comb, according to the shape of the face of the comb
which is being fed. I prefer making the brush of fine smooth bristles, set in
a hard wood top or head. In Sheet III. this brush is shewn in plan view at
Fig. 4, and in cross section at Fig. 5. A is the wood top, covered with a smooth
thin plate of metal B. This plate terminates with a rounded or bevelled
edge some little way up the bristles C, so as to make the whole line as even as
possible. The metal plate may be fastened to the wood head A by two or
more screws. I may further state, that I prefer to use as few bristles in depth
as will fairly support the wool, for the bristles are not then likely to get
tangled or broken against the comb teeth. The peculiar construction of
double brush shown at Fig. 6, Sheet V., is applicable in all cases where the
feed head is fixed, and revolving combs feed themselves by an upstroke..
Under this clause of my Invention I claim the application to wool-combing
machines of a flat brush for holding or supporting the wool up to or over the
points of the teeth of wool combs when the said combs are being filled either
by short wool or sliver.
The fifth clause of the second head of my Invention relates, firstly, to certain,

page_text: peculiar arrangements of apparatus for holding moveable combs upon their
seats, the object being to facilitate their removal and replacement, and also
to fix them more firmly in or upon their seats. Secondly, to the application
of a stop bar to the face of combs which are being fed, the object being to
keep the wool at a distance from the comb head, which position is more
convenient for the after processes of working and drawing. For the purpose of
fixing the combs upon their seats, the stop against which the combs rest are
made funnel-mouthed, each comb being kept down by a dovetail, which is
kept in its place by a spring. In Sheet VI., Fig. 1 is a plan view of the comb
head and shank; Fig. 2 is a side view thereof; Fig. 3 is a plan of the seat
which receives the comb head, and Fig. 4 is a cross section of the same;
Fig. 5 is a front elevation, shewing the comb in its place, with a stop bar applied
to the comb head; and Fig. 6 is a plan view of the comb seat, with the stop
bar attached thereto. A, A, are two smooth beds for the comb head to slide
and rest upon, the part C being sunk so as to be below their surface. B, B, are
two stops attached to this bed. D, Fig. 1, shows the comb head made
tapering at c, e, on both sides, and fitting against the line c, e, (Figs. 3 and 4,)
on the stops; the object of this form is, that the comb head may be more
easily guided into its seat. The shoulder e, f, of the top receives the corre
sponding. shoulder e, f, of the comb head, and the comb is kept from rising up
by the dovetail c, d, e, f, the stop being made to fit it. The comb can thus
move but in one direction, that is, from the face, but there is no tendency to this
motion, the action of either feeding or working pulling in a direction
exactly opposite. G is the comb shank, terminating in the cylindrical end
I, which may be made bollow. This end passes through the bell-shaped
opening K of a spring box shewn in elevation at Fig. 7, and in longitudinal
section at Fig. 8, and it there presses against the outer end of a plunger P,
which receives the elastic pressure of a coiled spring in the box L, and thus
has a tendency to keep the dovetailed end of the comb up to its position.
The bell-shaped end K acts simply as a guide for- the insertion of the comb
end; a collar on the plunger P beds against the bell-mouthed end K when the
end of the comb is removed. In fixing these combs the end I is first intro-
duced into the bell-mouthed opening K, where it meets the outer end of the
plunger. P, and acts on the spring, which must be compressed so as to allow the
comb head D to come back far enough to get behind the stops B, B, when it
may be released, and the comb head will at once take up its proper position.
I will now proceed to describe the means which I employ to keep the wool at a
distance from the comb head; for this purpose I fasten a thin metal har. to
the comb seat, as will be clearly seen at Figures 5 and 6; this bar is so made

page_text: as to allow that part of the comb head which projects beyond the front row of
teeth to pass below it; the bar being itself about equal in thickness to this pro-
jection. The upper edge of this bar is rounded off, and made with a slight
tendency upwards, so that when the comb is in its place the bar presses firmly
against the comb' teeth; this bar may be set at any required height upon the
comb, and by means of it the wool' may be kept at any desired distance from
the comb head. The advantages of such an arrangement will be at once
seen, as it entirely obviates the necessity for moving the wool upon the teeth
after it has been fed, before the processes of working and drawing take place;
as is now usual. It will be seen that this bar may, with a slight alteration, be
attached to the coimb instead of to the bed, but I prefer fixing it upon the bed;
as the removal of the comb from the bed at the same time removes the bär
from the comb teeth.
Under this clause I claim, first, the arrangement of apparatus shown; whereby
moveable combs may be rapidly fixed upon tlieir seats, and removed therefrom
with facility.
Second, I claim the application of a bar in front of the teeth of combs used
in machinery for combing wool or other fibrous substances, by which the said
substance may be kept at any convenient distance from the comb head;
whether such bar be made fast to the comb or comb seat.
Having thus far described my various arrangements of machinery for feeding
combs, and certain arrangements for limiting the position of the wool upori
the combs so fed, and also certain means of attaching moveable combs to their
seats, I will now proceed to describe that part of my Invention which relates to
the peculiar modes of holding and supporting the combs whilst being fed; as
well as the means which I employ to remove them when so fed; and to supply
fresh combs in their places.
The sixth clause of my improvements in combing relates to one of my
arrangements of holding machinery. This machine is suitable for nearly all
kinds of filling machines, and is intended to be used for holding straight combs
whilst being fed. It must be obvious that much time would be lost were the
filling apparatus stopped as each comb or set of combs became filled, and this
must be the case unless some means can be employed to rapidly remove the
full comb or set of combs as filled, and to' supply in their place a fresh comb
or series of combs. This movement is evidently required to take place as
suddenly as possible, at the end of a given number of strokes of the feed head.
For this purpose I use a band of vulcanized india rubber, which is so arranged
as to be at the full stretch just before it is required to pull away the combs,
they being released by an escapement worked by the machine. In Sheet V.II.,

page_text: Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of this machine, and Fig. 2 is a cross
section of the same. This machine is shown in side elevation at Fig. 3, and
front elevation at Fig. 4, in connection with a feeding machine similar to that
herein-before described under the second clause of the second head of my Inven-
tion, and shown in detail in Sheet III. of the Drawings. This machine is con-
nected with the holding machine by a train of gearing, so that the movements
of the one are dependent on those of the other. The small wheel E revolves
with the feeding machine, and drives the wheel D, it driving the bevel wheel
O, O, which in its turn drives the wheel N and shaft M, from which motion is
taken for the holding machine. In Figures 1 and 2, B is the bed of the holding
machine; the shaft M drives the small wheel D', D', which drives the wheel
V, V, V, upon which the projecting stud X is keyed. To this stud the elastic
band X' is fastened, the ends of the band having metal eyes A, which play freely
on the stud X. I prefer making this band of vulcanized india rubber tubing,
the ends fitting over, being bound to the eyes A by fine cord; this band passes
over the four rollers Y, Y, which may be of wood, and the middle of the band
is made fast to the middle of the plate K, K, K, by being passed through a socket
K' bolted to the underneath part of the plate K. Now it will be evident that
when the stud X is in a line with Y", Y", the moving bed K, K, will no
longer remain in the middle, but will be drawn to one end of the bed B, and
rest against the stop piece H, for one half of the band will be distended to a
length greater than the other half by one diameter of the wheel V, the other
half resting loosely upon the two drums Y", Y". Now, to obtain the sudden
motion requisite for changing the position of the combs, the sliding plate K, K,
is not allowed to move with the revolution of the wheel V, but is held tight
in its place by the bolt B', which is withdrawn every time the cam wheel
Z¹, Z¹³, with its projection Z", strikes the projection C³ on the lever C³, C³,
which is at other times kept in its position by the coiled spring surround-
ing the bolt B, B¹, and pressing it upwards in its bearing B², B, except
when the wheel Z strikes it and withdraws the bolt. Now the wheel V is
keyed to another wheel W, both working on the stud S. This wheel W
drives another wheel Z, half its own size, the wheel Z being keyed to the cam
Z, Z. Now, the action of this machine is thus:-Any given number of
strokes of the feed head that may be determined must be made by means of
the wheel D¹, D', to turn the wheel V half a revolution, this being done by
change wheels, either altering E and D, or O and N, Figures 3 and 4, or
both, as desired. Now, for every half revolution of V, W will also make half
.& revolution, but as W is twice as large as Z, therefore Z and Z' will make
one revolution for each half revolution of V, and with each revolution will

page_text: withdraw the bolts B'. In setting this machine the escape must be made to
act just as the band has been stretched to its greatest length, that is, when the
stud X shall come in a line with Y", Y". The comb, when sufficiently filled,
travels out of the way to be removed from the machine, and a fresh comb is
simultaneously put in its place to be in its turn operated upon. It is evident
that two or more filling heads might be used, with four or more combs, as
desired, the same arrangement being employed to traverse them back and
forwards, as has been described. Note.-I recommend six combs, with three
filling heads. Three combs can be then filling, whilst the other three are
being changed. It will be obvious that this holding machine may be used in
connection with working comb machinery as well as feeding machinery, when
thought desirable. Under this clause I claim the arrangement of machinery.
shewn at Figures 1 and 2, Sheet VII., whereby I am enabled to obtain a sudden
reciprocating action of the bed, which carries the combs to and from the filling
head or working comb. And particularly I claim the application of an
elastic band or of elastic bands of vulcanized india rubber for assisting in the
operating of such reciprocating bed. And also I claim the locking of the bed
or part carrying the comb, whereby I can avail myself of the sudden elastic
force of a spring or springs to reciprocate the bed or part carrying the combs,
as described.
The seventh clause of the second head of my Invention relates to the
application of an endless chain upon which the combs are carried, either to
be filled, or worked, or drawn. It may be made of any length and to carry
any number of combs. It may also have any number of feeding, working,
or drawing heads, as may be desired. First, when this chain is applied for
holding combs which are being filled, it pauses in its motion till the comb or
combs as desired shall be sufficiently filled, after which it is made to travel
rapidly the full combs out of the way of the feeding head to be removed,
and at the same time brings a fresh comb or combs under the action of the
feeding head. Secondly, when used as a holding machine for holding combs,
when filled, whilst the wool upon them is being worked:-In this case the
chain-holding machine is employed vertically, the movements given to it
depending upon the arrangement of working combs with which it is used.
These movements of the chain-holding machine will herein-after be more fully
noticed and described, in reference to the working combs with which the said
holding machine may be employed. Thirdly, when this machine is employed
as a holding machine for holding the combs bearing the worked wool
whilst being drawn:- In this case the chain-holding machine is also employed
vertically, and the movements given to it depend upon the particular arrange.

page_text: ment of drawing apparatus with which it is used. These arrangements of
apparatus form the
clause of my improvements in combing, and
the way in which this holding machine is employed in connection with them
is there fully explained.
I will now describe the chain-holding machine, reference being had to
Sheet VIII. of the accompanying Drawings. Fig. 1 is a plan, and Fig. 2a
front elevation of the apparatus. G, G, G, show the links of this chain
jointed at B, B, B, the pins B being made to project both above and below
the links, as clearly shewn in Fig. 4, which is a section in the line 1, 2,
Fig. 2; these pins are received into suitable bearings B', B', B', in the
wheels C, C, C, which revolve when the chain is moved; a side view of one
of these wheels is seen in Fig. 3. In Fig. 1, the wheel on the axis AⓇ is
complete; that on the axis A' has the upper half removed, shewing the boss D,
and arms d, d, used to keep the side plates of the wheel at a suitable distance
apart, the upper plate running between the link G, G, and the comb seats E, E,
as shown on the axis A. H, H, Fig. 4, shews a section of a planed bed, upon
which the links slide whilst being either filled, worked, or drawn. One, two,
or more beds may be used as desired; in this case two only are shewn, as in
Fig. 1, on opposite sides. K, K, K, are regulating screws to move up the
sliding dovetail I, as it may in time wear away. The combs are held on the
comb seats by any convenient means, but I prefer the mode shown and
claimed for in the fifth clause. The required motion may be given to
the chain, either by driving one or both of the wheels, as may be required, or
it is worked forward by a pinion wheel gearing either continuously or not in
a rack M, formed for that purpose upon the face of the links of the chain.
Suitable framing for the machine, both vertical and horizontal, is of course
required, and need not be described. Under this clause of my improve-
ments in combing I claim the application of a moveable endless chain to the
purpose of travelling holding wool-combs, whilst being either filled, worked,
or drawn.
The eighth clause of my improvements in combing relates to a machine
which is intended to be applied to the same purposes as the chain-holding
machine before described under the seventh clause. In this case, the combs,
whilst being either filled, or worked, or drawn, are made to travel in a straight
line, as in the chain-holding machine, but the comb beds, instead of forming the
links of a chain by the motion of which the combs are moved forward, are
made to move by a driving wheel, which travels the comb seats upon a smooth
continuous bed. But in order that this part of my Invention may be more
fully understood, I have shewn, in Sheet VII. of the Drawings, a plan and sec-

page_text: tional view of so much of this apparatus as is necessary to describe this part
of my Invention, Fig. 6 being a plan view, and Fig. 7 a section of the
apparatus. M, M, M, shows the smooth plane bed, for the most part circular,
but having a straight part as N to O, equal in length to holding at least three
combs, one of which may be supposed to be being acted upon, another to
have been acted upon, and a third about to be acted upon. This plane bed
has a continuous groove, as G, G, in which two studs, as P, P, attached to
the seating of each comb, are compelled to travel, and which, when the comb
seat, as F, F, arrives at the straight part of the groove G, G, compel it, and
therefore the comb it carries, to move in a straight line. A similar motion
may be obtained by substituting a projecting rail for the sunk groove G, G,
the comb scats being guided upon it by four studs or friction wheels, that is,
two on each side, but I prefer the former arrangement, as above described.
These comb seats are driven forward in the groove or on the rail, by the
revolution of the central driving wheel H, H, H, which carries with it the
sliding bars C, C, moving in the guides D, D, these sliding bars being con-
nected with the comb seat F, F, by means of a fast pin, as E, and collars,
as Q, Q, which allows the comb seat: to take up any position that the
studs P, P, may compel it to, whilst the rod C, C, C, slides back and for-
ward in its bearing, as the comb seat is nearer to or more remote from the
central driving shaft A. The comb shank is supported by a tail bearing, as
B, B, and the comb may be kept in its place by the means herein-before
described. Any sized bed may be employed, and any number of combs,
which I prefer should be as close together as possible. Motion is given to
the comb seats by causing the wheel H, H, H, to revolve, by driving
the central shaft A, to which it is keyed. This shaft A is itself driven by
means of a cogged wheel, also keyed to it, which cog wheel is caused to revolve
with the shaft A at any desired speed, by means of the arrangements of
apparatus to be presently described under the ninth clause of this second head
of my Invention, the particular motion employed depending for its nature and
its extent upon the nature of the process for which it is used, and the particular
apparatus in connection with which it is employed for effecting this process.
These particular motions will be herein-after more fully noticed and described
in connection with the various apparatus with which it may be employed in
the processes of combing. Suitable framing will be required for supporting
the bed M' and the shaft A, the construction of which will be obvious to any
intelligent workman.
Under this clause I claim the employment in connection with rotating
holding combs of a guide for drawing them out of their circular motions,

page_text: and presenting them in a straight line to a feeding, working, or drawing
apparatus, as required.
The ninth clause of my improvements in combing relates to the application
of peculiar arrangements of machinery to the purpose of moving or travelling
forward comb-holding machines; these peculiar arrangements are more
especially applicable to my holding machines (clauses seventh and eighth), but
they are also applicable to many other comb-holding machines in which the
peculiar movements obtained by these arrangements of machinery herein-after to
be described are required. These required movements of the holding machine
vary as to their nature; first, according to the process that is required to be
performed, be it either the filling, the working, or the drawing of the wool;
and secondly, according to the peculiar arrangement of filling, working, and
drawing machinery in connection with which these holding machines may be
employed. And firstly, when employed with arrangements of machinery for
feeding wool upon holding combs, carried with or by the holding machines:-
The required movements for the combs, either with or by the holding machine,
will in this case be an intermittent movement, so arranged that it shall cause
the comb or combs to pause or remain stationary whilst they are being filled,
but when this filling of the comb or combs shall have been accomplished,
it is required that the filled comb or combs should be moved rapidly out
of the way of the filling machine, and that fresh or empty combs should
be supplied in their places to be in turn filled. Second, when employed with
arrangements of machinery for working the wool upon holding combs which
have before been fed-In this case the required movements for the combs,
with or by the holding machine, will depend entirely upon the arrangement of
working combs with which the holding combs may be employed, and will, as
the case may be, require a movement either constant and regular, or inter-
mittent or variable, or variable and intermittent. And I may here state, that
this variable movement here named is such as to cause the holding comb or
combs being worked to move forward at a gradually decreasing speed, the
motive and object for which will herein-after be more fully described in con-
nection with the arrangements of working combs with which it may be
employed. And third, and lastly, when employed with arrangements of
machinery for drawing the wool from holding combs, which have been before
fed and worked:-In this case, as in the previous one, the movements required
for the holding combs, with or by the holding machine, will depend entirely
upon the arrangement of drawing machinery employed to draw the wool from
the said holding combs, and may be, according to circumstances, regular or
intermittent, or variable, or variable and intermittent. And I may here state,

page_text: that the said variable movement, when employed with drawing machinery,
will be a gradually increasing movement, and not a decreasing movement,
as was before mentioned in relation to working combs. The motive and
object for this increasing rate of movement will be hereafter fully described
in connection with the apparatus with which it may be employed. As has
been before stated, an intermittent motion is required for the holding machine,
both whilst filling and whilst drawing, and sometimes even whilst working,
more especially is it needed in the case where the holding machine supports
the combs whilst being filled, for here they must, for a given time, be
stationary, and then move a given distance, and then again pause for a
given tine, as before. To obtain an intermittent movement, the speed of
which movement shall be uniform, I employ an apparatus which is shewn in
two views in Sheet VIII., Fig. 5 being an elevation, and Fig. 6 a plan view of
the same; G, G, is the rack on a portion of the chain-holding machine; F, F,
shows a pinion suitable to gear with this rack. This pinion is keyed to the
shaft E, E, which revolves in and is supported by the boss end D, D, of the
arm C, C. This shaft E has also another wheel keyed upon it, as H, H, the
teeth of it being suited to gear with the wheel I, which constantly revolves in
one direction at a given speed. The arm C, C, is supported by its boss end
B, B, upon a pin A, which is carried by a bracket attached to the main
framing. The wheels upon the shaft E, E, may be either brought into gear
with the rack G, G, and the wheel I, I, or not, as desired. O is a spring
pressing against the arm C, and tending always to move it in the direction of
the arrow, except when a greater force shall move it in a contrary direction.
The said given force is obtained by the revolution of the wheel M, M, carrying
the cam piece L, which is high enough to bring the wheels H, H, and F, F,
into gear with the rack G, G, and the wheel I, I, respectively, and by its
length can be made to keep the said wheels in gear during any part of the
revolution of the wheel M. This wheel M should revolve once for every time
the comb-holding machine has to move; as it revolves it forces the pinion F, F,
into gear with the rack G, G, and also the pinion H, H, into gear with the
driving wheel I, I, and as I, I, is always revolving, the pinion F, F, is thus
made to revolve and move the forward rack G, G, of the endless chain, with
a portion of which it is here shewn in connection. It is obvious that the
motion of the pinion F may be applied to the holding machine by substituting
for the rack a cogged wheel keyed to one of the axles of the wheels bearing
the endless chain (clause seventh); and this mode I prefer, and I employ a
similar arrangement to drive the holding machine (clause eighth), or with a
cogged wheel keyed to its central or driving shaft. I may further state, that

page_text: another useful modification of this apparatus may be formed by removing the
wheel I, I, altogether, and driving the shaft E, E, continuously, by gearing in
connection with a wheel driven with or upon the pin A, as will be readily
understood without a more detailed description, the wheel F, F, being taken in
and out of gear by the same means as those before noticed. It will be readily
understood that a constant movement may be given to the holding machine by
having a pinion constantly in gear with the rack of the endless chain, or with
a cog wheel on the driving shaft of the machine. The arrangement of
apparatus which I employ when it is required to give a variable amount to
the holding machine is shewn in Sheet VIII., in which Fig. 7 is an elevation,
and Fig. 8 a plan of this apparatus, it being shown a
in connection
with the chain-holding machine. A is a shaft mounted in bearings B, B, and
rotating at a uniform speed; upon this shaft a toothed cam wheel C is
keyed. D is a slotted arm supported by the shaft A and the shaft A', and is
intended to receive the stud E of the wheel F, one end of which stud enters
an excentric groove in the face C' of the cam wheel C. G is a jointed framing
which is supported by the shaft A¹, which is itself made fast to the frame of
the holding machine, and carries the wheel H; this wheel is always in
gear with the rack g of the holding machine. I, K, L, are toothed wheels
mounted on studs supported in the framing G, and intended to transfer the
motion of the wheel F to the wheel H, and thus to the holding machine.
Rotary motion being communicated to the shaft A, the cam wheel C will be made
to revolve, and its teeth will gear into the wheel F, whereby (through the train
of wheels) a forward motion will be given to the chain of the holding comb, until
the plain part of the cam wheel C presents itself to the toothed wheel F; the
forward motion of the chain will then cease. The slot in the arm D is
intended to guide the stud E in a line with A and A¹ when the increased
diameter of the cam wheel C forces it forward. The groove C of the cam
wheel wherein the stud E works, is for the purpose of keeping the wheel F
up to the cogged face of the cam wheel; and the jointed framing G, it is
obvious, will allow of rotary motion being transferred through its train of
wheels to the wheel H, although the distance between the wheels F and H is
constantly varying. By this arrangement of apparatus it will be evident that a
varying speed can be communicated to the combs on the holding machine in
exact proportion to the speed of the driving cam wheel C, and that this speed
may be increasing or decreasing, according to the direction in which the cam
wheel is driven. 1 would here remark, that the wheel H may with advantage
be geared into a cog wheel on the driving shaft of the holding machines, as in
the arrangements above described. Under this clause I claim the arrange-

page_text: ments of apparatus above described for giving motion to machines which carry
wool combs.
In Sheet IX. I have shewn at Fig. 1 a plan, and at Fig. 2 a front elevation,
of an arrangement of my chain-holding machine, as employed to hold wool
combs whilst being fed; and I have shown, in connection with it, one of my
arrangements of feeding machine herein-before described under clause two of
this second head of my Invention. And with reference to Figures 1, 2, and 3,
Sheet III., I have also shown in connection the arrangement employed for
bringing fresh combs under the action of the filling head, and for removing at
the same time those. combs which have been filled. And, further, I have
shown in these Figures the position of heating arrangement. in connection with
the combs of this holding machine. The construction and peculiarity of this
heating apparatus will be herein-after fully described under this head of my
Invention. With reference to the chain-holding machine, the same letters
are used as in Sheet VIII. for indicating similar parts; but, in this instance, the
holding machine is shewn as mounted in suitable, framing 1, 1. The framing
for supporting the guide bed H is shewn at 2, 2. At 3, 3, is shewn the
heating apparatus attached to the bed H. 4, 4, is the framing of the feeding
machine, which is set in front of the holding machine. This feeding machine
is driven by a pulley 5 on the shaft 6, which has a cog wheel 7 keyed to it.
Into this wheel a wheel 8 gears, and on the stud a pinion 9 is keyed, which
gears into a wheel 10, the stud of which carries a bevil wheel 11. 12 is a
bevil wheel in gear with the wheel 11, and keyed to a shaft 13, which is
mounted in a bracket arm 14, attached to the side of the framing 4. This
shaft 13 also carries a cog wheel 15, which drives a wheel 16, mounted on a
shaft, which has its bearings in the bracket arm 14. Into the wheel 16 a
wheel 17 gears, which is mounted on the axle of the cam wheel M, see
Figures 5 and 6, Sheet VIII. By. the rotation of this cam wheel, as before
explained, the wheel F is forced into gear with the rack of the chain-holding
machine. Having now shown one of my feeding machines in connection with
one of my holding machines, I would here remark, that I do not in any way
confine myself to such combination, as it will be at once understood that the
same filling machine is equally applicable to my holding machine (clause 8)
and to many others; and, with the exception of that filling machine described
with reference to Sheet V., all my feeding. machines, as herein-before shewn
and.described, are applicable to all my holding machines.
The tenth clause of this second head, of my Invention refers to arrangements
of machinery for remedying an evil attendant upon all machine combing
namely, the great tendency which, the wool has, whilst being fed upon the

page_text: comb, to lock the wool which has been before fed upon it by acting upon all
the fine ends which extend from the back of the comb, and to draw them
round the teeth, thus making the wool far more difficult to draw, and causing
great breakage of the staple. To remedy this evil I propose to cover the fine
ends of the wool by means of a moveable plate. As soon as a layer of wool
'has been left upon the comb by the feeding machine this moveable plate at
once covers it, and remains there till a second layer has been deposited, when
it again moves, and covers it whilst a third is being fed upon it, and so on.
It is evident that the plate should take up a different position each time, for
each layer will be further removed from the comb head. I will now describe
the means whereby I effect this improvement. In Sheet VI., Fig. 13 is a side
elevation of one arrangement for covering the wool which projects from the
back of the comb. P is the comb head; Q, Q, the shank; and N, the teeth.
m.shows the fine ends of the wool projecting from the back of the comb, as
before named. The rod C plays freely through the eye B, and is driven up
and down in it by the revolution of the wheel D upon its axis E, the wheel
and rod being connected by means of the bar G, G. To the arms H, I,
spreading from the rod C, the bar J, J, is fastened, and to it a thin plate of
metal, leather, or vulcanized india rubber K is attached. The wheel D makes
one revolution for each layer of wool fed, and moves as seen by the arrow,
travelling the thin covering plate as shown by the red line. If but little
wool is to be fed upon the comb the plate K may be made flexible, and I then
prefer vulcanized india rubber or leather, as they will both give way a little
as the wool occupies more space; but, if much wool is used, I find it desirable
to give a regular ascending motion to the axis E of the wheel D, such motion
depending for its rate upon the quality of the wool and the quantity of the
feed. The axis E may be raised either by a rack or screw or by a cam wheel
acting on it or on the brass bearing in which it may rest, the return movement
being obtained from a spring; and this kind of motion I prefer for this
machine, but any mechanical equivalent may be employed.
Another apparatus for effecting the same object is shewn at Figures 11 and
12 of the same Sheet, Fig. 11 being a front view, and Fig. 12 a sectional
elevation of the same. 0, 0, is the thin plate for covering the wool, as afore-
said. This plate is fastened to the bar H, H, to which the rods G, G, G, ure
attached. These rods are connected with the cranks M on the shaft L, L,
which is driven by a wheel K, and thus an alternating motion is given to the
shafts G, G. The bar H is controlled and guided by means of studs h, which
take into the grooves N, N, and it is assisted in its movements by the
springs I and J. These springs are rivetted to the rods G, G, and as theso

page_text: rods ascend and descend, the springs come in contact with the bars F, F, pro-
jecting from the framing. The action of these springs is very simple. When
the cranks M, M, drive the rods G, G, down, the springs I, I, come in contact
with the lower bar F. These springs force the guiding studs of the plate H
forward in the sunk channels N, and as the rods G gradually rise by the
rotation of their crank shaft, the springs J are brought into contact with the
upper bar F, and throw the plate H forward in an opposite direction to that
of the springs I. This apparatus is complete in the rectangular frame
E, E, E, E, the frame being traversed vertically by a cam or an excentric e,
and kept steady by the vertical guide bars B, B, B, B, working through the
eyes A, A, A, A. Thus allowance is made for the gradual filling of the comb,
the thin plate at each revolution occupying a higher place till the comb shall
have been filled. In this case I recommend a very thin plate of sheet steel,
but any metallic plate or thin plate of india rubber or vulcanized india rubber
or leather will answer. I also find it desirable in some cases to employ-a
small fine comb attached to the thin plate, which, as it revolves, not only pre-
vents the wool from getting more entangled, but also separates it, and lays the
fibres more parallel and even. A brush may also be used with advantage,
either with or without the comb. The edge of the plate O should be either
straight or curved to the kind of combs with which it may be used in con-
nection. Under this clause I claim the employment of a protecting shield or
covering for the wool at the back of the comb whilst it is being fed, to prevent
the wool from becoming entangled or drawn round the comb teeth by the
action of the succeeding layers of wool applied to the combs. And also I
claim the means above described for actuating the shield or covering.
The second part of this second head of my Invention relates to various
arrangements of machinery to be employed for actuating working combs in
combing machinery. This eleventh clause under the second head of my Inven-
tion relates to peculiar arrangements of machinery for actuating the working
combs of combing machines in a better manner than heretofore, and enabling
them to give a better "stroke" to the wool on the holding comb, and to make
this "stroke" closer up to the face of the holding comb. But in order that
the arrangements of machinery of which this part of iny Invention consists
may be fully understood, I will proceed to describe these arrangements, refe-.
rence being had to Sheets X., XI., and XII. of the accompanying Drawings.
In Sheet X., Fig. I is a side elevation, and Fig. 2 is a plan view of one
arrangement for actuating revolving working combs. The peculiar construc-
tion of this machine, so far as it refers to the mode of revolving the frames
which carry the comb heads, is precisely similar to that described with refo-

page_text: rence to Figures 8 and 9, Sheet 11., for feeding wool to holding combs. It will,
therefore, be unnecessary to repeat the description, as similar letters of
rence refer to similar parts in both arrangements. Upon the frames
comb seat is cast for receiving the combs M, which are secured in their places
by any convenient means, or by the attachment before described By this
arrangement the teeth of the rotating working combs are vertical
'nearly so when in contact with the wool, and thus they are enabled to be set
closer to the holding combs than usual; a better stroke will also be quitained.
In Sheet XI. a modified arrangement of apparatus for actunting rotating
working combs is shewn in elevation at Fig. 1, the difference between this an
the one just described being, that the main framing. is made to rock-similarly,
to that arrangement shewn and described with reference to Sheet IV. for feeding
sliver from balled wool. As the principal parts of this machine are precisely
similar to those shewn and described with reference to Figures 8 and 9,,Sheet II.,
and Figures 1, 2, and 3, Sheet IV., similar letters of reference on the corre-
sponding parts will sufficiently indicate the similarity of construction between
them. The frames E are in this instance also provided with comb, seats, in
which the combs may be secured as before. The position of the comb teeth
when in action will be vertical, as in the first arrangement; but, in addition to
this, combs move in a vertical plane for the whole or a part of the time they
are in contact with the wool on the holding comb. It will be seen that the
motion of the working comb will be precisely similar in direction to that of the
form of groove channel guide employed; that which I prefer and recommend
is so formed that it gives to the working comb a vertical or nearly, vertical
direction whilst striking into the wool on the holding comb, and further keeps
it vertical till the head of the working comb nearly reaches the wool which is
on the holding comb, after which it rapidly recedes from it.
In Sheet XII., Fig. 1 is an elevation partly in section, and Fig. 21
view of the arrangement for actuating revolving working combs,
axle of the machine, and B a frame composed of radial arms mounted.
This axle works in bearings cast in the side plates L, to which guides
are attached. These guides are intended to receive suitable studs or whee
R, R, which are mounted on the comb seats G, G, and compel these seat
travel out of a circle at a certain portion of their revolution. The framing]
as it rotates, carries round the comb seats G, G, the comb seats being connec
thereto by means of one or more sliding bars H, H, (I prefer two). which
through the ends of the framing B, and enter guides B attached to the fram
These bars are connected to their several comb seats G, G, by a collar
the bar H, H, working on the fast pin F. The comb seats can thus, in the

page_text: revolution.about the axis A, take up any position that the guides may compel
them to assume. The combs may be fastened to their seats by any suitablo
means. One, two, or more combs may be employed abreast, and the framing B
may have any desired number of radial arms, according to the number of
combs desired to be employed. The greater portion of the course of the guides
is concentric, but as the combs come round to strike into the wool on the holding
oombs: they are drawn inwards by the studs K entering a straight portion of
the guides. By proper adjustment of this machine the combs are, made to
move in a direction parallel to the face. of the holding combs,, till the head
of the working comb touches the wool or tlic holding comb; when it is rapidly
carried back from the face of the holding comb.
Under this clause of my Invention I claim,→
First, with reference to Figures 1 and 2, Sheet X.; the general arrangement
of machinery therein shewn for actuating working combs, whereby the teeth of
st the said combs are kept vertical whilst in contact with the wool on the holding
combs
Second, with reference to Fig. 1, Sheet XI, I claim the general arrangement
of machinery therein shewn for actuating, working combs, whereby the teeth
of the said working combs are not only kept vertical, but are also made to
move in a vortical direction whilst in contact with the wool on the holding
combs. .
.
Third, with reference to Figures 1 and 2, Sheet XII., I claim the general
arrangement of machinery therein shewn for actuating revolving working
combs, so that the teeth of the said combs shall be vertical in position, and
shall nove in a vertical direction (that is, make a vertical stroke) whilst in
contact with the wool on the holding combs.
The twelfth clause of this second head of my Invention relates, first, to
obtaining a better stroke for the working combs; and, secondly, to obtaining
"long and regular slivers. By the arrangement of machinery shown in several
views in Sliect XII, these advantages are effected. Fig. 3 is an elevation shew-
ing a circular working comb, mounted suitably for operating on the wool of a
circular holding comb); Fig. 4 is a similar view, with part of the comb framing
removed; Fig. 5 shews the arrangenient of grooves for effecting the traverse
motion of the comb; Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the comb and its supports;
Can Fig. 7, is a plan view of the comb. The working comb rotates at the
same surface speed as the circular, holding comb whilst striking through
the wool. G is the revolving circular working comb, the diameter of which
prefer to be about. eighteen inches; this comb is mounted on and re-
wolves with the shaft. I, I, to which the ratchet wheel H, H, is also keyed.
.

page_text: The shaft. I, I, is supported in the framing F, F, F, which has four studs
B, B, B, B, projecting from it; these studs travel in the grooves.C, C, C, Fig. 5,
or in place thereof I employ grooves of the form shewn in Figures 8 and 9,
but that shewn at Fig. 9 I prefer. The studs are compelled to travel in:
the grooves by means of rotating plates E, E, which are slotted to allow of the
studs B projecting through them into the grooves. These plates are mounted on.
axles A, A, A, and are driven at a uniform speed; the studs Bare thereby driven,
and the points of the circular working comb are thus made to travel in curves.
corresponding to the form of the grooves employed; thus the points of the teeth
of the circular working comb will be brought near to the face of the holding
comb, and strike directly through the wool parallel with the face of the comb,.
after which the working comb will rapidly recede from the holding comb, and
continuing its motion will be again brought up. to the face of the comb, to be
again driven through the wool. The rotatory movement of the working comb
on its axis is given by the ratchet wheel. H, H; the teeth of which traverse
upon an inclined plane shewn by dots at Q, Fig. 7, but more perfectly in the
detached view, Fig. 10, the inclined plane being .curved or plain to suit the
wheel H. Thus, as the working comb G, by the combined action of the plate E.
and grooves C, is caused to descend 'to make the stroke upon the wool in the
holding comb, it forces a tooth of the wheel H against the incline, Q, and by
this means the comb may be made to revolve at the same surface speed as the
holding comb N, its motion being limited as to duration by the time that the
working comb' is in contact with the holding comb. When this working comb
shall have become sufficiently filled it may be removed to be drawn, its place
being supplied by: a fresh comb; thus a good length of sliver may be easily
obtained, say, from eight to twelve feet, with an 'eighteen inch working comb.
At the same time, from the peculiar movement of the working comb, the wool on
the holding comb will be much better worked, and the working comb will fill
much more slowly, nor will the wool be so much broken.. It will be obvious
that instead of employing a circular working comb, a straight comb may be
attached to the frame F, and a similar down stroke will also be obtained; but
I prefer to use the circular comb, as the length of sliver will be much greater.
Under this clause of my Invention I claim,-
First, for the peculiar arrangement of machinery herein shewn for obtaining
a vertical stroke for working combs generally, whether this arrangement of
machinery be employed to obtain a vertical stroke for straight, circular,
or curved combs, or whether it be employed to actuate a working comb or
combs in connection with a circular, straight, or curved holding comb.
Secondly, I claim generally for the application of a circular working comb

page_text: to circular holding combs, whether the said circular working comb be actuated
by the means which I have herein-before described under this clause of my
Invention or not.
Having now described generally the nature and construction of my several
arrangements of working combs, I will proceed to describe the holding machines
which may be employed in connection with them..
.
One of these arrangements of holding machines, forming the thirteenth clause
of the second head of my Invention, is shown in several views in Sheet XIII.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation, Fig. 3 a partial and elevation, and Fig. 2 a plan, of
this arrangement of machinery for holding combs whilst being worked; and
that my Invention may be better understood I have shewn in connection with
this holding machine an arrangement of working combs similar to that
described in Clause 11 of this second. head of my Invention with refer-
ence to Sheet. XII., Figures 1 and 2; but it will be seen that other
many
working combs may be employed with this holding machine. In this case the
working combs are made to move gradually toward the holding combs by
means which will presently be fully described, and are made to operate first
on the extreme points of the wool which are most remote from the comb
teeth, and gradually to work up close to the teeth of the holding comb, so as
to operate upon the short wool. The holding combs are in this case stationary
whilst being worked, and the teeth of the said holding combs are placed at
right angles,, or nearly so, to the teeth of the working coinb, and the wool on
the said holding comb. is held out in a direction at right angles, or nearly so,
to the face of. the holding comb. This position for the wool is obtained by
what I call a moveable supporting apron, this supporting apron being so
arranged as to hold the wool well up to the action of the working comb;
but as the working comb gradually advances towards the holding comb, this
apron is made gradually to recede behind the teeth of the said holding comb,
in order to allow of the working comb striking well up to the face of tho
holding comb. When the apron arrives at this point, it is retained there by
means of a latch presently to be described. The comb having thus worked up
to the face of the holding comb, and sufficiently combed, the wool upon it
begins to recede to allow the holding comb bearing the worked wool to pass
away, and a fresh holding comb, with its fresh supply of wool, to be brought
into its place. By the action of the receding working comb the holding
machine is allowed to move forward, or to take the worked wool away, and
to bring a fresh supply in its stead; and when this movement of the holding
machine is completed, the apron is made to spring out again to support the
fresh supply of wool, or the fresh holding comb, which is worked as before.

page_text: The wheel D is mounted on the axle E, which revolves in suitable bearings
in the framing E. This wheel carries the comb scats, which in this instance
are eight in number, four on either side of the wheel D, and the comb may
be held upon these seats by any desired means. By referring to Fig. 2 it
will be seen that the comb teeth are at right angles to the plane in which the
wheel D revolves. The comb seats on the one side of the wheel correspond
in position to those on the other side, and thus two can be acted upon simul-
taneously by the working combs. The wool hanging from the comb teeth a of
the comb A (which is in the position for being worked, is held up to the
action of the working comb by means of a supporting apron b, which may be
made of any suitable material; but I prefer woollen cloth. This cloth is
formed into an endless band, which is stretched over a pair of rollers mounted
on shafts b¹ and 62 in the rocking frame N. The shaft 6 carries a small
pulley, over which a cord o¹, from a similar pulley mounted on the shaft n¹, is
passed. The shaft n' carries also another pulley O, which may be driven at
any required speed from any convenient gearing in the mill, for the purpose
of conveying motion to the endless apron b. The framing N is supported by
and rocks on the shafts n' and n, and by means of the spring N", it has
always a tendency to move in the direction of the arrow n", except when
otherwise acted upon. On the periphery of the wheel D is a sunk channel d,
which has four sunken stops corresponding to the number of the pairs of combs
which the wheel carries. These stops are for the purpose of coming in con-
tact with the end of a strut rod R, which is constantly kept in the channel by
the pressure of a spring R', and thus arrests the rotatory motion of the wheel
D, to present the wool upon the holding combs to the action of the working
combs. To the strut bar R a connecting rod R is jointed, the other end of
this rod being attached to a small crank S', which is supported by and rocks with
the shaft s, which is mounted in suitable bearings in the framing W of the
working machine. The framing X of the working combs is supported by and
capable of sliding on a smooth bed at the top of the framing W. At the
hinder part of the framing X is a small friction wheel Y, which is acted upon
by a revolving cam V; mounted on a shaft V', which is supported in suitable
bearings on the framing W. By means of this cam a gradual forward motion
at any desired speed is communicated to the working combs, the return move-
ment being obtained by means of the weight Z, attached to the cord Z', pass-
ing over the small friction wheel Z", and made fast to the framing X. To
the lower part of this framing X a projecting rod T is attached, and this rod
carries a small tumbler T, which acts upon a projecting piece S, which is
keyed to the shaft s. When, therefore, the working combs have acted upon

page_text: the wool on the holding combs, and are moved back to allow of a fresh comb
being brought under their action, the tumbler T', of the rod T, will press
down the piece S, and, by means of the crank S' and the connecting rod R¹¹¹,
withdraw the end of the strut rod R from contact with the stop of the sunk
channel d, and thereby allow the wheel D to partially revolve, and bring
another comb under operation. When the tumbler T¹ has passed the project-
ing piece S, the strut rod R will fly back, and come in contact with the next
succeeding stop in the channel d. The rotation of the wheel D is effected in
the following manner:-On the shaft E a ratchet wheel G is keyed, and
adjacent to it is a pulley whcel F, mounted loosely on the same shaft. This
pulley carries on its side a catch f, which is kept in contact with the teeth of
the ratchet wheel by a spring f. The wheel F is cogged on a part of its
periphery, and has a sunk channel on the other part to receive the cord Q,
one end of which is attached thereto. The other end of this cord is made fast
to a spring Q, which is secured at Q" to the floor. H is a wheel partially
cogged on its periphery, and gearing into the teeth of the wheel F. Tho
whcel F is mounted on a stud h, projecting from the framing E, and is by
suitable gearing connected with the movements of the cam wheel V, so as to
make one revolution for every pair of combs that is brought under the opera-
tion of the working combs. The wheel H, as it revolves in the direction of
the arrow, will drive round the wheel F, whilst the two wheels are in gear,
and wind up a portion of the cord Q upon the wheel F. The return of this
wheel F will be prevented by the catch taking into the teeth of the ratchet
wheel G. It will now be understood that immediately the strut bar R is
drawn out of contact with a stop of the groove d, the elastic force of the
spring Q will draw down the cord Q, and thus give a sudden rotatory motion
to the wheel D, which will be intercepted in its movement by the abutment
of the strut bar R against the next succeeding stop, as before stated. I will
now explain the means whereby I actuate the rocking frame which carries the
apron. It has been already stated that a tendency outwards is given to the
rocking framing N, by means of the spring N"; but as it is requisite that it
should recede under the comb A at the same rate as the working combs'
advance, I attach to the framing X an arm U', which carries a friction roller
U that abuts against the front of the framing N; as, therefore, the working
combs are moved forward by the rotation of the cam V, the framing N and
therefore the supporting apron b are driven inwards until the working combs
have worked up to the face of the holding combs.. At this time the catch of
the rod M (which rod is connected to the framing N) will come under the
latch L, and thus the framing N will be retained in that position until the

page_text: working combs have receded from the. holding combs, and the tumbler, by its
action, has released the strut bar R from the stop of the groove d, and allowed
the wheel D to move another comb under the action of the working comb.
The object of thus retaining the supporting apron in its backward position is
to allow of the combs passing round without coming in contact with the apron;
but as soon as the worked combs have passed away, and fresh combs have
taken their place, the framing N is released from the latch L, and the apron
is carried. forward to support the wool on the holding combs. The latch L is
supported by a pin. on the framing E', and its longest end is borne upwards
against. a weight K, by means of a spring m. This weight K slides in a guide
K' projecting from the framing E', and 'is jointed at its upper end to a lever
J, which is supported on a stud in the framing E. The short end of this
lever rests against a cam wheel I (shewn detached at Fig. 4), which is keyed
to the shaft E; as, therefore, this shaft, with its wheel D, revolves, an increased
diameter of the cam wheel I is presented to the lever J, and by acting upon
it
raises the longer end of that lever, and with it the weight K. When a lesser
diameter of the cam. I is suddenly presented, the weight K will fall upon the
long end of the latch L, and, depressing that end, will lift the other end out
of contact with the catch on the rod M, and allow the apron to spring forward
and take up the wool which was hanging from the holding combs, and present
it horizontally, or nearly so, to the working combs. By referring to the plan
view it will be seen that the shaft E carries two cani wheels i, i, and that the
lever J, the weight K, and the other parts in connection therewith, arc in
duplicate, to ensure the correct working of the framing N. The advantage
of the particular movement given to the culless band which forms the support-
ing apron will now be seen, for were it not moved forward in the direction of
the arrow at b it would causo the ends of the fibres or hairs to be turned back
and ruffled up; whereas this band being now made to travel forward at a
superior speed to that at which it is moved inwards, it has no longer any
tendency to injure the wool, but, on the contrary, tends to straighten it, and to
offer it in the best manner to the working comb. I may further remark that
the form of the cam V may and should be varied to suit the wool being operated
upon: The form which I prefer for this cam is that which will move forward
the working combs at a gradually decreasing speed towards the holding
combs; for as it will be evident that as the bulk of the hairs which the working
combs have to strike through will be gradually greater as they get nearer to
the. holding comb, so it will also be evident to the intelligent mechanic that,
in order to give each comb the same amount of wool to work, it will be.requisite
hat the fresh bite of the working combs should be gradually less as to length

page_text: of fibres they act up. at cach movement towards the holding combs. I may
hore remark that, instead of using a sustaining apron made of a flexible end-
less band as has been shown, a support might be formed of some rigid material,
as wood or metal, and might be made to move with respect to the working
combs as shewn; but I do not find such arrangements desirable, as they all
more or less injure the wool.. The arrangement shewn at Figures 1 and 2,
Sheet VIII., is that which I prefer and recommend.
Under this clause of my Invention I claim,―
First, the general arrangement of comb-holding machine as above described,
whether it be employed or not with my supporting apron, which has also been
fully described, or whether it be actuated by the precise arrangements of gearing
Lorein-before described or not.
Second, I claim for the employment of a moveable sustaining apron for
supporting the wool upon holding combs whilst being worked by the working
combs, whether this sustaining apron be made of a rigid or a flexible material.
Third, I claim generally for moving working combs gradually up to holding
combs when the wool on the said holding combs shall be supported by means
of a sustaining apron or by other similar nieans, and whether to said working
combs shall be moved up to the holding comb at a gradual and uniform speed,
or at a variable speed.
Having now shewn one of my arrangements of working combs, with one of
my arrangements for holding combs, I proceed to state that I do not confine
myself to such a combination, as any of my working combs may be employed
with my holding machines, whether the kind of holding machine, employed bo
that first shewn with reference to Sheet VIII. or not. In cases where I em-
ploy the holding machines herein-beforo shewn and described with reference
to Figures 1 and 2, Sheet VIII., or that shewn and described with reference to
Figures 6 and 7, Sheet VII., I employ these machines vertically and not hori-
zontally, as for feeding machines, and I then place any working combs which
it may
be desired to employ with these holding combs at a proper distance
from them, so that the working combs shall strike as close to the holding
conibs as they can be set without touching them; I then cominunicate to
these holding machines à gradual downward movement, by gearing a pinion
wheel either continuously or not in the rack M of the holding machine
(Figures 1 and 2, Shect VIII.), or else into a cog wheel as has been before noticed,
keyed to either one or both of the axes 'A' and A² of the carrying wheels C;
and the same arrangement will be applicable with reference to Figures 6 and 7,
Sheet VII. The requisite framing for these machines is of-so simple a-construc-
tion that it is considered to be. needless to describe it.. I'may further remark

page_text: that instead of moving the holding combs gradually down under the action of
tho working combs, I sometimes find it desirable to raise the bed on which the
working combs may be resting; the mode in which this is done will be pre-
sently shewn with reference to Clause 14.
The 14th clause of my improvements in combing relates to a peculiar
arrangement of machinery for raising working combs in such a way that the
holding comb, being stationary, the working comb shall so act that it shall
first strike on to the points of the wool, and afterwards on that which is
higher up upon the comb. I find it desirable to make the working comb
to rise at a gradually decreasing rate when bearing the wool upon it under the
action of any of my working combs. This reason being, that the number of
hairs will at all times be found less the inore remote the parts of the said hairs
are from the teeth of the comb upon which they are held; and for this obvious
reason, the equality could only occur when the hairs were all equally long, a
circumstance not to be anticipated. It will therefore be evident that the bulk
of wool acted on by the working comb will become greater as the working
comb and holding.comb come nearer to each other; I therefore 'make my
working comb so to approach my holding comb, that the working comb
shall strike the wool on the holding comb at each stroke nearer to the hend
of the comb; thus working first the points of the wool, and afterwards that
which is higher up upon the holding comb teeth: but I do not make this ap-
proach equal in amount for each given number of strokes of the working combs;
but I make the approach at an increasing rate, so that a greater number of
strokes of the working comb are given to the wool on the holding comb the
naerer the working comb gets to the teeth of the holding comb, and thus the
greater body of wool gets a greater amount of combing than tho less, and
the fresh part struck at each successivo stroke of the working comb through
the wool on the holding comb is loss than that which went before it; so that
the said fresh part acted upon may be less as to the length of the air acted
on, but greater in the number of the said hairs, and therefore about equal in
bulk.
In Sheet XII. the mode of gradually raising the working combs is exhibited.
Fig. 11 is a plan view of a moveable bed on which the frame supporting the
working combs is mounted, the parts for raising the bed being also shewn ; and
Fig. 12 is a sectional clevation of the same. A is the bed, which is supported
on four vertical rods B, B, which slide in guides formed in the foot of the
standards F. These standards are connected together in pairs by the axles E,
which carry near their ends the forked pieces D. These forked ends embrace
the rods B, and are intended to keep them up to a given elevation by means

page_text: of the pins C, which pass through the rods B, and rest upon the forked ends.
G, G, are a pair of levers, which are respectively keyed to the axles E. K is a
bearing for carrying a pin, on which a rocking lever I works. One end of this
lever rests upon the inner end of the levers G, which are brought near together,
and the other ond rests upon a cam L. (see Fig. 13) mounted on a shaft N, in
the bearings M. When, therefore, this cam is turned it will raise or lower
the outer end of the lever I, and giving a corresponding motion to the other
end of that lever depress the inner ends of the levers G, and thereby raise the
forked pieces D. This movement will necessarily raise the rods B, and conse-
quently the bed A with the comb frame upon it, and thus the combs will be made
to rise and strike the wool upon the holding combs, gradually nearing the head
of the holding comb at every stroke; the gradually decreasing speed of the ap-
proach of the working comb being exactly equivalent to the speed of the cam L.
I may further state that this apparatus is applicable to all the arrangements of
working combs described in the preceding clauses of my improvements in comb-
ing, and also to all similar arrangements of working combs. I sometimes find it
advantageous to mount the frames which may carry the working combs on
wheels, and run them on a railway upon the bed A up to the holding combs;
by this means different sets of working combs can be more readily brought into
operation.
Under this clause of my Invention I claim,-
First, for gradually raising revolving working combs in combing machines,
whereby the said combs are made to act first on the points of the wool,. and
afterwards that which is higher up upon the combs, whether the said working
combs be raised at a uniform or variable speed.
And, secondly, I claim for the arrangement shewn at Figures 11 and 12,.
Sheet XII., for raising working combs.
The fifteenth clause of my improvements in combing relates to certain
peculiar arrangements and combinations of machinery for drawing wool when
combed into sliver; the object of the improvements and combination being to
obtain a more even and uniform sliver than has hitherto been made. In order
that this may be done it will be obvious that the sliver should be so drawn that
it shall have at any point of section an equal number of hairs or fibres; but
inasmuch as the worked wool which is to be drawn from the holding comb
will be composed of hairs or fibres of very different lengths, it will therefore
be evident to the intelligent mechanic, that a greater "draft"
may and
should be given by the nipping rollers to the long wool on the holding
comb, than that which is given to the shorter wool, the amount of draft
varying as the length of the "staple," and forasmuch as the length of the

page_text: staple will at all times be variable to a greater or less extent, though the
wool being combed is of like quality, or even from the same fleece, it will be
evident that this draft must be also variable, even whilst drawing the wool
from the same comb. Now in order that this varying draft may be obtained,
it will be evident that one or other of the following cases will hold: first,
supposing the holding comb to bear the wool which is to be drawn at a
uniform rate, under the action of the drawing rollers; in this case, the varying
draft is obtained by causing the nipping rollers to rotate about their axes at a
varying speed, the speed of rotation becoming gradually slower. Secondly,
where the nipping rollers rotate about their axes at one uniform speed of
rotation, in this case the distance between the holding comb and nipping
rollers must diminish either by the movement of both or either at a gradually
increasing speed.
In Sheet XIV., Fig. 1 is a plan view of ono arrangement for working the
nipping rollers up to the holding combs; and Fig. 2 is a side elevation of
the same. A, A, is the main framing of the machine, provided with a pair
of slide beds B, B, upon which the frame C which carries the nipping rollers
slides; D is the main driving shaft, mounted in suitable bearings on the
framing A; this shaft carries a bevilled wheel E in gear with the bevil wheel
"F; keyed on to a shaft G, which turns in bearings in the framing A; H is a
screw with varying pitch mounted on the shaft G, and is intended to receive
the lip of a hinged piece I attached to the frame C (see the sectional elevations
Figs. 3 and 4). Beneath the hinged piece I is a cam J, which is worked by a
Tpiece K on a rod L; when this cam is raised it will lift the piece I out of
contact with the screw H, and allow that screw to rotate without having
any effect on the machinery; M, M, are the nipping rollers mounted in
bearings in the frame C and pressed together by springs N; O, O, are eyes
projecting from the framing C, and to them the ends of a cord are attached,
which cord passes over pullies P, P, and under a weighted pulley Q; a
tendency is thus given to the nipping roller frame to recede from the holding
combs as soon as the lip of the hinged picce I is raised out of connection
with the screws H. Now the object being to move the nipping rollers toward
the holding combs, at a gradually increasing speed, the lip of the piece I is,
at the commencement of the operation, dropped over the thread of the screw
at H, and as that screw is made to rotate in the direction of the arrow,
Fig. 4, it will drive forward the nipping rollers at the speed desired. The
rotation of these rollers is effected as follows:-On the shaft D a cog wheel a
is keyed, which wheel gears into a pinion 6 mounted on a stud c supported by
links d, d, which are themselves respectively supported by the shaft D, and

page_text: will be capable of rising and
an-axle R, projecting from the side of the frame C. On the same boss with
the pinion 6, is a cog wlieel e, which gears into a pinion f, on the axle R, a
similar pinion g, on the same boss, being in gear with the wheel h. The axlo
of the lower nipping roller forms the axle for this wheel h, and the same axle
may also carry a pinion, which gears into a pinion on the axle of the upper
roller for the purpose of driving the same.
It will be understood that as
the stud c is supported by the links d, d, it
falling, and with it the pinion b, and wheel e, as the links are straighted or
depressed, by the backward or forward motion of the frame C, and yet at the
same time the rotatory motion of the driving shaft will be communicated
to the nipping rollers. When the frame C has travelled to its full extent on
the slide beds B it will be necessary that the holding comb should travel past
the nipping rollers, in order that they may take up the shortest staple, and
leave nothing but the noils of wool upon the comb teeth.
For this purpose
it is advisable that the forward motion of the nipping roller frame C shall give
the
proper motion to the holding combs. A means of doing this I will here
after describe, with reference to another arrangement for moving forward the
nipping rollers. The release of the lip of the piece I is effected at the time
that the frame C has travelled to the end of its course; it will then bring the
T picce K into contact with a pin on the frame of the holding comb, whereby
the T piece will be tripped up, turn the cam J on its axle, and thus raise
the lip of the piece I out of contact with the screw H.
.
The second arrangement for traversing the frame of the nipping rollers is
shown in the same Sheet, in partial sectional elevation at Fig. 5, and in plan
view at Fig. 6. In this arrangement the parts are in many respects precisely
similar to those just described, the principal difference being, that the
framing C, which carries the nipping rollers M, is in this case actuated by
means of a cam instead of a screw. In this case the nipping rollers M, M, are
carried forward in the framing C, either at a constant or gradually increasing
speed, by means of the cain wheel H revolving on its axis h, which must be
supported in suitable bearings, and driven at any required speed by suitable
gearing. This wheel H, in its revolution, acts upon the small friction
wheel R, and drives it forward, carrying with it the side frames Q, Q, which
connect the wheel R with the framing of the rocking can L: This framing is
slotted, as shewn, to allow the shaft h of the cam wheel HỊ to pass through
it; this shaft thus acts as a guide to the frames Q as the "cam H drives them
forward. These frames Q, Q, are connected with the framing J of the rocking
can L, by means of a joint shewn at Q. The framing J is supported on'

page_text: the shoe plate K, and rocks upon the axle k, as the cam H drives it forward.
To this frame J the rods N are also connected by joints at one of their
extremities, the other extremity being connected by similar means to the
framing C, which carries the nipping rollers: as, therefore, the can and can
framing J are moved forward by the cam H, the framing C is moved also
at a similar rate. When the nipping roller shall have been moved and
kept forward as long as it is desired by means of the cam, the cam is so made
as to allow the wheel R to return to its original place, viz., the root of the
cam, and the frame J is then forced back by means of the spring K' acting
upon the friction wheel J" on the lever J' of the frame J, and this being con-
nected with the frame C, as before described, the frame C is also drawn back
to be again driven forward with the revolution of the cam H. The piece I
is a simple arrangement for moving forward the holding combs past the
face of the nipping rollers, when they shall have moved up to the said face of
the holding combs, the object being to draw the short fine wool which may be
left upon the comb teeth. This arrangement is precisely similar to that
shown and described with reference to Figs. 5 and 6, Sheet VIII., and is there
fully described, the only difference being in the way in which the wheels are
put into gear (either with the rack on the chain, or the wheel on the driving
shaft of the machine, as was before noticed with reference to holding
machines when employed with either feeding or working machines); this
difference being, that instead of the wheel M, with its projection L, as shewn
Fig. 5 and 6, Sheet VIII., that I here employ instead a small wheel O, which
is made fast by the bar to the frames Q, and which therefore, as they are
moved forward, is itself forced against the bar I, and which by this means is
caused to move forward the holding combs. P, P, shews an endless band
which I sometimes find it desirable to employ with tender wools to bear the
sliver as it passes from the nipping rollers to the can L. In both this
machine, and that which I have before described under this clause of my
Invention, I cover the nipping rollers in the usual with leather, &c.
I will now proceed to describe the means which I employ when it is
required to actuate the nipping rollers at a variable speed. In this case I
employ an arrangement of machinery, similar to either of those which I have
just described, and I employ precisely the same arrangements for gearing
them, the only difference being in the way in which the power is communi-
cated from the prime mover to the wheel a, see Fig. 4, Sheet XI. This Figure
shews a train of gearing suited for this purpose; the wheel Z is here shewn
driven by the wheel F, it gearing into the wheel I, which is keyed to the

page_text: wheel G, and which therefore revolves with it; the wheel G is driven by
means of the wheel J, which is keyed to the axis of the disc K, which is
similar to that hereafter shewn and described, with reference to Figure 1,
Sheet XVIII., where it is employed to obtain a variable movement for the
bobbins in spinning machines. In this case M is the pulley, which may be
driven by any prime mover; this is keyed to the shaft N, revolving on its bear-
ings 0, 0, 0, and having keyed to it the driving wheel L, which may be covered
with vulcanized india rubber, as well as the disc K. Motion is given to the
shaft N, in the direction of its axis, by means of a cam or other suitable
means, and this motion is such as to cause the wheel L to move from the
centre of the disc towards its circumference; and thus, though it revolves at a
uniform speed, it will drive the disc K at a variable speed, this speed
being gradually slower, as is required. Other means may be employed for
obtaining the variable speed of the nipping rollers, but need not hero be
noticed.
. :
In Sheet XI., Fig. 3 shows a side clevation of one of these arrangements:
of drawing head as applied with one of my holding machines; Fig. 2, an:
elevation of the other side; and Fig. 5 is a plan. The letters here refer for:
the most part to parts before described. 1, 1, shews the framing in which:
the axles A¹ and A3 of this holding machine are supported; the part lettered:
2, Fig. 2, is the guide bed which steadies the comb seats whilst being drawn ;
3 is the wheel by which the chain is actuated for a given distance, as before:
described; 4 is the arm for moving this wheel, and is put in gear as has been
before noticed; 5 shews simply the framing which supports this drawing head..
The general arrangement will be at once understood by the Drawing without
further description, as it is simply composed of the parts which have been
before fully described. I would here remark that some of my other holding
machines may be employed with these drawing heads, and also that
of my
drawing heads may be employed with any holding combs.
any
Another construction of holding-comb machine is shewn in Sheet XV. in
connection with a drawing head. Fig. 1 is a side elevation, and Fig. 2 a
back view of this machine. It consists of a central frame A, which is supported
in its place by the side framing B, which embraces it. The central frame A
forns a race over which the double seats C, for carrying a pair of holding
combs D, travel. These combs are attached to their seats by any convenient
meaus, and are held stationary while the wool is being drawn from the comb
teeth by the nipping rollers of the drawing head. The comb seats abut against
each other at the part a, which is a kind of loose knuckle joint. The object.
of this abutment is to. make the movement of all the combs simultaneous..

page_text: The seats are each provided with a friction roller 6 (see the detached views
Figures 8 and 4, which represent the coinb seat in side and plan view), which
bears against the inner edge of the frame A. E, E, are a pair of, hexagonal
wheels mounted on axles F, F, which have their bearings in the framing B,
and on the peripheries of these wheels projections c are formed for the purpose
of taking into the recesses d of the comb seats (see the sectional view, Fig. 5).
By referring to the detached view, Fig. 6, which is a section taken in the line
1, 2, of Fig. 1, it will be seen that the comb seats Cembrace the frame A, and
are free to slide over it, the friction of contact being reduced by recessing the
sides of the frame and planing the parts which are in contact with the comb seat.
The peculiar construction of this scat. will be further seen on referring to
Figures 7 and 8, which shew it in plan and sectional plan. e is a plate let
into the outer edge of the frame A near to the drawing head, and forming. a
dovetail over which the comb seats slide as they bring the combs under the
action of the drawing head. The object of this plate is to prevent the comb
seats from being strained when the drawing of the wool is going on. G is a
stationary guide frame supported by the framing B, and intended to keep
the comb seats up to the frame A. On the framing H of the drawing head is
a'crank shaft f, which turns in suitable bearings, and is connected by the
rods g, g', with a pair of lever clutches h,. ', pendant from the axle F¹.
The construction of these clutches is shewn at Fig. 9; i is a collar embracing
the shaft, and a portion of this collar is cut away to receive the clutch' end
of the lever h, which is jointed to the collar by a pin, as shown. When the
clutch is moved with respect to the shaft F in thic direction of the arrow)
Fig. 9, it will grip that shaft, and, by the rotation of the crank shaft f which
vibrates the clutch, it will be enabled to do this and at the same time drive the
shaft Fround a portion of a revolution. On the return of the clutch to its
original position, which is caused by the continued rotation of the crank shaft,
it will be free of the shaft, and its collar i will slide loosely thereon. The
action of both clutches is precisely similar, but their times of action must be
differently timed. To the drawing head a rotating apron for supporting the
wool is applied, its surface speed is made superior to that of the nipping
rollers. The construction of this apron as also of the drawing head will
here require no particular description. When the drawing head works up to
the wool on the combs, the combs should have a gradual downward movement
given them. This is effected by the throw of that crank of the crank shaft f
which is connected with the clutch h, causing that clutch to grip the shaft F¹
and make it partially rotate. When the drawing head has receded to
commence acting upon a. full comb, the throw of.. the crank shaft f. will

page_text: cause the clutch h¹ to bite the shaft F¹ and give it.a partial rotation sufficient
to move down the comb just emptied by the drawing head, and bring a full
comb in its place ready to be in like manner, acted on.
Having now described generally my various arrangements of machinery for
drawing worked wool into sliver, I proceed to state that under this head
of my Invention I claim,
First, generally for moving revolving nipping rollers up to holding combs
whilst they are drawing sliver therefrom at a gradually increasing speed.
Second, I claim for giving a variable speed to the nipping rollers whilst
drawing sliver.
Third, I claim for the employment of a supporting apron as applied to
support wool whilst being drawn into 'sliver.
Fourth, I claim for the general arrangement of machinery shown and
described with reference to Sheet XV., whether employed with thic kind of
drawing head there shown or not, or whether this machine be employed to
travel combs being worked or being drawn.
.
The sixteenth clause of my improvements in combing relates to certain
peculiar arrangements of apparatus for heating the combs of combing
machines, these improvements having for their object the more cleanly
and regular heating of the combs. I will now proceed to describe in detail
the means I employ for this purpose, reference being had to the Drawings.
In Sheet XVI., Fig. 1 is a plan view of a part of the under side of a wool
comb when constructed to bo used in connection with this arrangement' for
comb heating. Fig. 2 is a front elevation and partial section of a comb,
comb head, and comb seat; Fig. 3,. a plan view of the same. In this case
the comb teeth A project through the head B for a short distance, say about
one to one and a half inches. These ends of the teeth are shewn at C
(Figs. 1 and 2). These ends of teeth are surrounded by a case D, as shewn
this case being made fast to the comb head B by screws as at d. The object
of this case is twofold, both to prevent the flames by which the combs are
heated from appearing outside the comb, and also to concentrate the heat upon
the teeth. The heat is supplied by one or more rows of gas pipes in connection
with small blowpipe tubes, as shewn at E, in which case the pipes colored red
are gas pipes, and the yellow pipes are air pipes, these pipes being supported
on the framing H, H, at L, the air and the gas being supplied to their
respective pipes by the pipes F and G respectively, the amount of 'sup: ly
being regulated by stopcocks in the pipes as aforesaid. By this means any
required heat may be given to the teeth, which will be heated on the upper
side of the head by means of the conducting power of the metal of which.
the said teeth are constructed, and by: using the blast. or blow pipe or pipes in.

page_text: connection with the gas pipe, very little gas will be required and yet great
heat may be obtained if desired. I, I, shew two small pieces of some good
non-conductor, as hard wood or carthenware, which are placed between the
bed H, H, and the metal receiving cap J, which may be made fast to the
bed by screws, as shewn. These screws run through the non-conducting
substances I, I, and keep them also in their proper places. The comb head;
therefore, resting in the receiving caps J, J, is, as were, insulated from the
bed, which does not therefore become heated by it, and thus but little heat is
lost. R shews simply a pieco of rack by which the combs may be made
to move forward. Enough of the framing H, H, must be cut-away to allow
of the comb and the projections on the under side of its head being moved
back when the comb requires to be changed. The peculiar advantages of
this particular arrangement are, that any regular heat may be given to the
comb teeth, which may be heated without soiling them in any way; and
further, that this heating may take place either before the wool is fed, or
worked, or drawn, or while these operations are going on.
' ;
A second arrangement of apparatus for heating combs is also shewn in
Sheet XVI. Fig. 4 shows a side view, and Fig. 5 a front view, partly in sec-
tion, of this apparatus. T is the comb head, and V the shank; W is a portion
of the teeth, the outline of tho rest being shown by the dotted lines; K' shows
a portion of the bed or framing of a holding machine, upon which the comb
may be supported and travelled. The cast-iron box S, of which a partial
section is seen in Fig. 5, is made in form similar to the comb with which it is
to be employed, and so made that it shall not touch it at any point. This box
has a projecting flange S' cast upon it all round, to which flange the air tube P
is fastened, it also being continued all round the box. This pipe is colored
green. A similar pipe, colored red, is shewn.at Q, it also being continued all
round the cast-iron box S, to which it is fastened. This pipe Q is a gas pipe,
so perforated that the gas can escape from it in such a way that the frame acts
upon the side and flange S' of the box S. These flames are also acted upon
by the air escaping from the pipe P, which is perforated on that side next tho
box S, and which thus acts as a blowpipe to the gas jets of the pipe Q. The
air and the gas pipe are supplied respectively by the pipes P¹ and Q', in which
stops cocks are placed to control the supply according to the heat required.
R, R, show small pipes communicating with the under side of the flange S',
and uniting into one pipe at the top of the box, as shown at R', the object of
these small pipes being to carry off the slight dirt, &c., which is made by the
gas, if at all impure. This box, heated in the way herein-before described, is
attached to the bars H, H, by the projections N, N, which are cast on it,
O, O, being simply.struts to keep the box S properly distant from the bars H, H;

page_text: these bars H, H, slide in suitable bearings at I, I, they being connected by the
cross-bar J, and the ends being enlarged as at 9", to carry the axle gi of the
wheel g. The wheel g rests on a lever F (Figure 4), the fulcrum of this lever
being, C¹, supported on the bearing C. The other arm of this lever carries a
friction wheel D, revolving on its axis d'; and against this wheel 'D: the cani A
acts in its revolution upon its axis A', supported on the arm B of the framing C.
Now, for every given number of strokes of the feeding or working comb, as shall,
be decided upon as sufficient to fill or properly to work the wool on the holding,
comb, as the case may be, the cam A makes a revolution, and in its revolutions
acts against the wheel D, pressing it down, and this drives up the other end F.
of the lever, and it in turn drives up the friction wheel G and rods H, H;, thus
raising the cast-iron box S sufficiently high to allow of the comb which has
been heated passing out, and a fresh comb taking its place; when the cam A
has passed the friction wheel D, the box S will again fall into its place. E is"
a balance weight for the lever F. The chain L, attached to the cross bar J,
is carried over the pulley and mounted in suitable bearings at M, M, and to
the chain a weight is attached; nearly equal to the weight of the cast-iron
heating box and guide rods H, H; &c., leaving to them only a decided tendency,
downwards, so as to keep the friction wheel G at all times pressing on the:
arm F of the lifting lever. The tubes P", Q", and R", are flexible, to allow
of the raising of the heating box without interfering with their action. I.
sometimes find it desirable to have a second series of gas and air pipes, in.
which case a second flange S' is also requisite, and even more might be
employed, though I do not find it needful. It will be obvious that the boxes:
may be made to contain one, two, or even more combs at a time, and also that:
any number of these boxes may be applied to heat the combs upon one holding
machine. I may further state that when this arrangement is applied to keep
combs heated that have been fed, I simply place a rest for the arm
F of the
lifting lever to bear upon, and by this means prevent the box S from descending
so far as it otherwise would, and compel it to take up a higher position upon
the comb teeth, and so provent it from touching the wool upon the. comb..
This apparatus may be so regulated as to give any required heat to the comb
teeth, and this heat will moreover be very regular and constant,, at the same
time it will be very cleanly in its action; and from the mouth of the box being
-downwards the heated air will not escape from it, but will remain in the box
even when it is raised to change the comb; and further, as the heat will at all
times rise, the points of the teeth will be at all times the hottest part of the
combs.
A modified arrangement of gas and air jets for heating combs is shown at

page_text: Figures 6 and 7. A is an air tube placed within a gas tube B. The central
tube A is provided with jets, which enter corresponding jets in the gas pipe
and supply a current of air to the centre of the gas flames. These jets I prefer
to be cylindrical; the inner jets for supplying air to the flame being concentric
with the gas jets an efficient gas blow-pipe will be obtained, and this arrange-
ment may be substituted for the gas and air pipes above mentioned, if thought
desirable. At Figures 8, 9, and 10, this gas blow-pipe is shewn in connection
with a plate C, which is to be placed in front of the combs to be heated, and
upon it the flames from the gas jets impinge. The plate is provided with
flanges, which cover the flame and take up a portion of the heat which would
otherwise escape. D, D, are cocks for supplying the tubes A and B with gas
and air respectively.
Under this clause of my Invention I claim the general arrangements of
heating machines, as shown and described with reference to Sheet XVI. of the
Drawings; and particularly I claim the use of the moveable box, as shewn at
Figs. 4 and 5, for retaining the heat around the combs.
It has always been found desirable when combing wool, and more especially
when the wool under operation is very fine, to get the teeth as near as possible
together, that is, to get the space from the front to the back row as little as
possible, and this for two reasons:-first, that the wool is thereby combed
with fewer stokes, and sliver much clearer when drawn; and, secondly, less
noils are made, and therefore more top obtained. To obtain these advantages
I employ comb teeth of diamond or square form, set on the diamond, as shown
in Figs. 9 and 10, Sheet VI. In some cases it may be desirable to use the
front and back rows, or either, of a triangular form, which will tend still further
to reduce the width of the comb from back to front. From four to eight pitch
combs may be used with advantage, but I recommend five pitch in most cases,
but I do not confine myself to it. These combs are equally applicable to hand
combs as to machine combing; also the teeth may be either radial or converg-
ing or perpendicular, but I prefer that they converge towards one point from
the comb head upwards. When these teeth are applied to circular holding
combs, I prefer all the teeth in the comb to converge to one common centre.
I claim for the application of square, or diamond, or triangular formed teeth
for wool combs, when the said comb teeth are set on the diamond, as
herein-before described.
The third head of my Invention relates:-First, to improvements in that
kind of preparing machinery known in the trade as screw gill machinery.
And, secondly, to peculiar arrangements of machinery to be used in connection
with washing machines.

page_text: The first clause under this third head of my Invention relates, in the first
place, to certain peculiar arrangements and constructions of machinery for
moving forward heckle bars in screw gills at different relative speeds, the speed
of the heckle bars being regulated so that those heckle bars near the rollers by
which the wool is entering the screw gill, shall move forward at a speed
superior to that of the wool so entering the gill; and those heckle bars which
act on the wool when it is going out of the gill to the drawing rollers, shall
move forward at an inferior speed to the wool so going out of the gill. Aud, in
the second place, this clause relates to the employment of two or more sets of
heckles bars, of differont pitch of tooth, in the same drawing frame. The object
of these peculiar arrangements of screw gill machinery is to act on the wool
while being drawn in a more perfect and satisfactory. manner, and to place the
fibres more parallel and even.
In Sheet XVII., Fig. 1 is a partial elevation and section of so much of one
of my arrangements for working heckle bars as will be required to explain this
part of my Invention. The peculiarity of this arrangement consists in driving
the several pairs of screws which move forward the heckle bars at different
speeds. A, A, is the framing which supports the shafts of the screws. By
referring to the sectional part of the Figure, which exhibits the mode of con-
necting the screws with their respective gearing wheels, it will be seen that B
is a central supporting shaft, turnings in bearings in the framing, and carrying
the screw B*, and upon this shaft the cog wheel C and D are also keyed.
Over this shaft a hollow shaft E is slidden, which carries the screw E", and is
provided at its ends with suitable packing to fit the shaft B. To the shaft E
the cog wheels F and G are keyed. Over this shaft a hollow shaft H is slidden,
and its ends are packed so that it may turn freely on the shaft E as its support.
This shaft H carries a screw I, and is also provided with cog wheels K and L.
The mode of mounting the upper set of screws is precisely similar to that
just described, and their respective shafts are furnished with a gearing
wheel, as M* for the screw M, N for the screw N, and O* for the
screw O. P is the main shaft, from which motion for actuating the screws
is obtained. This shaft has keyed to it the cog wheels Q, R, S, in gear
respectively with the wheels C, F, and K, and the wheels D, G, and L,
on the same shafts as the wheels C, F, K, convey the rotary motion
through the wheels M*, N*, O*, to their respective screws. It will therefore
be evident, that according to the relative number of teeth of the gearing
wheels on the shafts B, E, H, and P, so will the speeds of both the upper
and lower sets of screws be regulated, and by suitable gearing any required
speeds may be obtained.
}

page_text: Another arrangement of machinery which I employ for actuating heckle
bars in screw-gill machines, is shown in partial elevation at Fig. 2. In this
case the wool is supposed to be travelling in the direction of the arrows, and
to be passing over the holding or back rollers A, A, as shewn by the red
lines. From these rollers it enters the gill at a, and is there acted upon by
the heckle bars, and is drawn by the drawing rollers at B, which are set
at any required draft. These holding rollers A, and drawing rollers B, are
so well understood, that it will be needless to describe the action.
I will now proceed with the description of that part of the machine to which
my Invention relates. C, C, C, are separate screws of similar pitch, revolving
on or with their shafts c, which may be fast, or may revolve in their respective
bearings in the frames E¹, E", E", E, as may be desired, and the screws
may be kept at the required position upon the shaft c by means of small fixed
collars, as shown in detail at Fig. 3, which gives a section of one of these
screws upon its small shaft c. The screws D, D, D, are mounted in like manner
upon the shafts d, d, which are mounted in suitable bearings in the frames
at E, E, E, E¹. The screws C, C, which carry the bars forward in the
direction of the wool, are cogged or toothed upon their surface for a whole
or a part of their length, as shewn at C', the channel of the screw being cut
through the said cogs or teeth, which gear into similar teeth D' on the
screws D, which are returning screws, to return the heckle bars to be again
actuated in the direction of the wool. These lower or returning screws D,
are made of "
quicker" or greater pitch than the screws C, as in ordinary
gill frames. It will now be seen, that by driving either the upper or forward
screws C, or lower and returning screws D, in a proper direction and at a
proper speed, the screws gearing with them will also novo at the required
rate and in the required direction; and it will further be seen, that any
required rate, either similar or different, may be given to any pair of the
screws. Those screws which actuate the opposite ends of the same heckle
bars are of course to be driven at the same, speed. By this arrangement it
will be seen, that any one or two pair of screws C and D, may be removed,
when the machine is required for shorter wool, in which case the framing E¹
may be removed, and the first pair or set of screws, with their respective heckle
bars, may be taken away, and the holding rollers A may be moved forward to
the frame E"; and if it be desired, this framing also may be removed, and
with it the second pair of screws and their respective heckle bars, and the
.holding rollers A may be then moved forward to the framing E". I may
further state, that when it is not required to change the screws or heckle bars
actuated by them, or to alter the position of the holding roller A, I prefer to make

page_text: the shafts c and d, which carry their respective screws C and D, continuous
from end to end. The screws in this case may revolve upon their shafts
where different speeds are required, or with their shafts in cases where the
same speeds are required for the first, second, and third, or more pairs of
screws. In Fig. 4 is shewn an arrangement which I find convenient for this
end. The wheel G gears into the third screw C, and is keyed to the shaft G³,
revolving in suitable bearings; this shaft also has the wheel H keyed to it,
it gearing with the wheel I, which gears into the second screw D. This
wheel I is keyed to the shaft I', also revolving in suitable bearings, and which
has also the wheel J keyed to it, this wheel gearing into the wheel K, which
gears into the first screw C. This wheel K is keyed to the shaft K', revolv-
ing in suitable bearings, and has also the bevil wheel L keyed to it, which
whcel is driven by the wheel M on the shaft m, to which it is keyed, and
which carries another bevil wheel at the other end to drive similar gearing
to that just described on the other side of the machine. By properly arranging
this train of gearing any required relative speed may be given to the several
pairs of screws C and D, on either side of the machine. In both machines
which I have described, I find it highly desirable to make that set of heckle
bars which acts on the wool on its first entering the gill frame of coarser pitch
of tooth than the heckle bars of the second set of heckles which is adjacent to
it; and this second set I also make of coarser pitch of tooth than the third
set of heckle bars, and so on for each succeeding set of heckle bars in the
gill frame, so that the sets of heckle bars shall in all cases be gradually
finer as they are nearer in position to the drawing rollers. It will be obvious
to the practical spinner, that the pitch of tooth of the heckle bars should vary
with the different qualities of staple under operation; but, as a guide, I would
remark, that for open coarse wool I prefer to use heckle bars with a single
row of teeth of about four to the inch, in connection with the pair of screws
nearest the back or holding rollers, and with a double row of teeth (the teeth
of one row being set against the spaces of the other) of about eight to the
inch for the last set of heckles, or those nearest the drawing rollers. For fino
Australian wool I prefer a greater variation, the first set of heckles having
about five teeth to the inch, and the last set a double row of about twenty
to the inch. In each case the intermediate set of heckle bars should have
a medium pitch of tooth, or, when there is more than one intermediate set,
the pitch should increase in fineness as the sets near the drawing rollers.
And I further find, that a very efficient arrangement of machinery may be
formed by employing two or more sets of heckle bars of different pitch,
moved forward by screws of the same pitch, even when the screws are made

page_text: to revolve at the same velocity, so as to actuate the heckle bars at the
same speed. In this arrangement the separate screws of each set may
all be fast on one continuous shaft, and the shaft may be driven at
any desired speed, and may be geared with the shaft which carries the
returning screws as usual. In all these machines which I have herein-
before described under this head of my Invention, the heckle bars, when they
arrive at the end of their traverse, fall as usual into gear with the lower. set
of screws, by which the heckle bars are brought back, to be again lifted up,
into their working position, as is well understood. But the speeds of the
traverse of the heckle bars may vary or not according as the speeds given to
the screws which actuate them shall be the same or different. It will not
be requisite, therefore; further to describe the action of the different parts and
arrangements of these machines, as they in no respect differ from the ordinary
arrangements of gill machinery, further than as regards the varied pitch of
the heckle bars and the peculiar modes of actuating the traverse screws.
Under this first clause of the third head of my Invention, I claim, first, for
actuating separate sets of heckle bars in screw gill machinery at varying
speeds, when two or more separate sets of heckle bars are employed in the
same machine, when the said varying speeds of the separate sets of heckle bars
shall be obtained, by causing separate sets of actuating screws of like pitch
to revolve at different speeds. And, secondly, with respect to gill machinery,
wherein separate sets of heckle bars are used, I claim for the construction
and use of such sets of heckle bars of different pitch, and also, when required,
of different length and strength of tooth.
The second clause under the third head of my improvements in preparing,
relates in the first place to a peculiar mode of clearing the wool from the express-
ing rollers. It is well known that the wool when it has been washed and passed
through the expressing rollers, has a great tendency to adhere to them and to
clog them; this tendency is caused by the wet wool which has been washed being
pressed so firmly against the wool with which the washing rollers are covered.
To counteract this tendency of the wool, I employ a small-toothed roller, working
in connection with the lower expressing roller; the teeth of this roller are set so
as to reach nearly to, but not to touch, the wool with which the rollers are
covered. And I prefer that the surface speed of the roller should be equal to that
of the expressing rollers, or a little superior to it. The wool which is by this
means taken from the expressing roller by the toothed roller is, as the toothed
roller revolves, taken from it by means of a clearing roller worked close to it,
this clearing roller being so made and arranged, that as it takes the wool
from the toothed roller, it throws it upon an endless band, to be carried by
.

page_text: it to any desired receptacle. The peculiar construction and arrangement of this
endless band constitutes the second part of the second clause of the third head
of my Invention. This endless feed band is stretched upon two rollers; that
roller which is next the expressing rollers is made hollow, and is heated by
steam to warm the wool and drive off some of the moisture therefrom as it
is passing on to the feed band. This feed band has a rapid vibratory motion
communicated to it by means of beating rollers herein-after to be described.
The object of this motion of the feed band is, to shake and separate the fibres
of the wool or other substance which has been washed, and thus to counter-
act the tendency with the expressing rollers have to mat or bind the fibres
together.
In Sheet XVII., Fig. 5, is shown so much of these arrangements of machines
in connection with the expressing rollers as will be required to explain this
clause of my Invention. A is an ordinary washing pan in which the wool is
washed. B, B, is an ordinary pair of expressing rollers fixed in connection
with it, and between which the wool, when washed, is passed by the workman.
C shews the small toothed roller revolving in the direction of the arrow; the
teeth of this roller I prefer to be made of strong galvanized iron wire about
one eighth or three sixteenth of an inch thick, and slightly pointed at the
ends; these teeth should be about one inch long, and should be set in an
inclined position, as shewn. The points of these teeth should be brought
very close to the wool with which the lower expressing roller is covered, but
should not touch it. This roller C may be driven, as shown, by a cog wheel
keyed to its axle in gear with the stud wheel driven by another cog wheel
keyed to the axle of the lower expressing roller. Close to the wheel, and
between it and the endless band E, is placed the clearing roller D, revolving
in the same direction as C, but at a much greater surface speed. This
roller D is made of metal or hard wood, and has a series of projections of
leather running from end to end, and projecting from the roller about one
inch; these projections as they revolve strike against the teeth of the toothed
roller C (which I prefer to be set in lines from end to end), and, thus dash off
all the wool that may adhere to them and throw it upon the endless band E.
This endless band E may be about five feet long, and may be actuated in the
required direction and at the required speed by driving either one or both
of the rollers over which it is stretched. I prefer to use G simply as a friction
roller, and to actuate the band by means of a heated roller F, which may be
driven in the required direction, as shown, and which may be heated in the
ordinary manner, as is well understood. The vibratory movement, before
named, is given to the feed band by means of small wheels, as H, keyed to

page_text: shaft, as h; these shafts extend to the other side of the band, and have three
similar wheels to H. These wheels carry stiff flat springs, as I,. three or four
in number, which are made fast to the wheel. Each spring on each wheel on
one side of the band is connected, by means of a rigid rod of wood or iron,
with a corresponding spring on the other side of the machine, and as the
wheels H are made to revolve in the direction shewn by the arrows, these
springs I are severally compressed against the small friction wheels J, but at a
certain point of their revolution these springs I escape from the wheel J and
drive the rod which they carry with sudden force against the band, causing
it to shake violently the fibrous substance which is being carried upon it, the
fibres of which are thus separated from each other. The wheels H, H, may be
driven by any suitable gearing; that shown in the Figure is simply a belting
connecting them with each other and with the driving whcel upon the shaft
of the heated band roller F. K shows simply a covering box partly broken
away to show the belt; this box is intended to prevent the wool from being
thrown upon the cloth by its vibratory motion. L shows any suitable receptacle
for the wool when it has passed from the feed band.
Under this clause of my Invention I claim, first, the arrangement of parts
for stripping off the wool from the lower expressing roller and throwing it
on to the feed cloth; and, secondly, the employment of an agitated feed cloth
for operating upon the wool as it comes from the expressing rollers, as above
described.
My improvements in spinning consist in the application of certain peculiar
arrangements of machinery to the purpose of driving bobbins in spinning
and roving frames. These improvements have for their object the more
regular winding of the yarn or roving or slubbing upon the bobbins. To
obtain this regular winding of the yarn or roving, it will be obvious that the
speed of the surface receiving the slubbing, roving, or yarn must be uniform,
whether this surface be formed by the bobbin itself or the slubbing, roving, or
yarn which shall have been wound upon it; and it will be at once understood
by the intelligent mechanic that the bobbin will require to be driven faster or
slower according as the yarn is being lapped upon it by the flyer or is taken
by the bobbin from the flyer, which two modes of working the bobbin and
flyer are understood by the trade as either driving it "before or after" the
bobbin. I myself prefer and recommend the bobbin to be driven before the
flyer, in which case its rotatory speed must decrease as each layer of slubbing,
roving, or yarn shall be placed upon the bobbin. To obtain this increasing or
decreasing rotation of the bobbins, I speed them, first, by driving a disc covered
with vulcanized india rubber by means of a friction wheel also covered with the

page_text: same material.. The friction wheel revolves at one uniform speed in contact with
the disc; but, in addition to the revolving motion of this wheel about its axis, it
has another movement in the direction of its axis, and whilst revolving is mado
to move gradually to or from the centre of the disc. This motion takes place
as the copping rail completes either its upward or downward traverse.
Secondly, I speed the bobbins by driving the cylinder which drives the bobbins
by means of an expanding and contracting pulley to which a uniform
revolving motion is given, but which expands or contacts as the copping
rail completes its upward or downward traverse, as in my first mode, and
which thus, though revolving at one uniform speed, yet drives the cylinder
for driving the bobbins at a gradually increasing or decreasing speed. It is
obvious that the amount of variation of the speed of rotation of the bobbins
should be at all times constant, that is, for the same "counts" of yarns or
rovings, for each layer adding a given amount to the diameter, adds also
a given amount to the circumference of the bobbin. As therefore the circum-
ference increases at a fixed rate, the compensating change in the speed of
rotation of the.bobbin must also be fixed and constant. I would here remark,
that, for the sake of clearness, I have described my improved apparatus as
acting so as to decrease the speed of the bobbins, but it will be obvious that
the several arrangements of apparatus hereafter to be described will be equally
applicable, by reversing their action, to drive the bobbins at a gradually
increasing speed when they are driven after the flyers.
Having now stated the nature of my improvements in spinning, I will
proceed to describe the peculiar arrangements of machinery, in the applications
of which to the purposes of spinning and roving, this third head of my Inven-
tion consists.
In Sheet XVIII., Fig. 1 shews an arrangement of the friction wheel and
disc movement. A is a driving drum, driven at a constant speed by any prime
mover. This drum is keyed to the shaft B which revolves in the bearings C, C,
and to this shaft B the driving or friction wheel D is also keyed. The driving
or friction wheel D is covered with vulcanized india rubber, and revolves in
contact with the disc E, also covered with the same material; the disc E either
forms the end of the cylinder which drives the bobbins, or it is connected
with it. The wheel D thus in its revolution drives the disc E.
is connected with another shaft G by means of the swivel F.
moves horizontally in the bearing H, and terminates in an eye at G'.
this eye the bar J passes, this bar being attached at K and
vertical sliding piece N, N, which moves.in its guides at O, O. The bar J is
at the one extremity attached to N by means of the joint K¹, and at the
.
The shaft B
This shaft G
Through
L to the

page_text: other by the bar L, which is so made that it will allow of the bar J taking up
any required angle with N, and may be kept in the desired position by the
screw M at top. It will be at once seen that the greater the angle which
the bar J forms with the sliding piece N, the greater horizontal distance will
'the eye G¹ and its shaft G be moved for a given downward movement of N.
Now, upon this vertical sliding piece N there are made a series of projections
as P, P, in number equal to the number of times the copping rail shall be
required to rise and fall whilst one set of bobbins is being filled. These
projections P in their descent rest upon a similar projection from the bar or
level T. The form of this projection is shewn at S, Fig. 2, which gives a view
of that side of the escape movement T¹, Q, R', which is next the vertical sliding
piece N. The axle Q is fast to one of the guides O, and the bars T and R
(which are at all times in the same relative position) move upon it, this move-
ment being such that T' may be made to move as much to the right as to
the left of the vertical sliding piece N'. T' is simply a weight to keep the
said bar T in either position in which it may be placed by the bar R, which
is made to rise or fall as the copping rail completes its upward or downward
traverse. The action of this machine is very simple. The copping rail, as
it completes its upward and downward traverse, acts on the small friction
wheel R', and either lifts or presses down the bar R, causing the bar T
to move to the opposite side of N to that which it before occupied, and it
will be readily seen that at each change of position the small projection S
will be withdrawn from the projection P which rested upon it, and the
sliding bed N will, by its own gravity, fall and bring a fresh projection P to
rest on the stop S, of the bar T, with each downward movement of N. The
bar J, which moves with it, will move the eye G' and shaft G a given and
constant movement, the amount of this uniform movement depending upon
the inclination at which the bar J shall have been set, the greater the incline
the greater being the movement. It will now be clearly seen that, as the
shaft G is moved, it will, by means of the swivel F, move forward the shaft B
in the direction of its axis, and will move with it the drum A and friction wheel
D, and as D gets at each movement a given distance more remote from the
centre of E, it will, though revolving at one uniform speed, yet drive the disc
E at a gradually decreasing speed. The inclination of J will require chang-
ing as the "count" of yarn or roving being spun is changed. When one
set of bobbins shall have been filled 'by this apparatus, the wheel D will
require to be restored to its original place. To do this I withdraw the small
pin U from the eyes V, which then allows of the rest S being withdrawn,
when the vertical slide-piece N may again be raised to its original place by a

page_text: cord attached to the eye of the screw M at is upper end, which cord may
pass over a pulley in the ceiling.
At Fig. 3 another arrangement for driving the friction wheel D is shewn.
This arrangement is rather more compact than that shewn in Fig. 1 (for which
it may sometimes be conveniently substituted), in so far as the rotating of the
friction wheel D is concerned; but with both arrangements of the wheel D, I
employ the escape movement herein-before described with reference to Fig. 1.
At Fig. 3, E shews a similar disc to that before described, and D shews a
similar friction wheel in contact with it. I will now describe the means
whereby this friction wheel D is caused to rotate. The shaft F revolves in
the small frame G³, G³, attached to the floor. This shaft has a driving pulley
keyed to it, which driving pulley may be driven from any first mover.
The
shaft F also has the mitre wheel H. keyed to it. This mitre wheel gears into a
second mitre wheel I, mounted on the hollow shaft J, which hollow shaft
carries and drives at its other end the mitre K, revolving in gear with another
mitre wheel L, which last mitre wheel L is keyed to the shaft M, revolving
in the bearings E, E, of the frame E, of which the shaft E" (upon which
the hollow shaft J revolves) is a continuation. This shaft E" is enlarged at
E, and through it the shaft F passes, forming for it a joint upon which the
apparatus may rock freely when compelled to do so by the movement of the
shaft G in the direction of its axis. The upper end of this framing E termi-
nates in a small cylindrical shaft Z, upon which a small friction wheel is
allowed to rotate. This small wheel bears against the traverse bar Y, which
is kept up to its place by screws at Y¹, by means of which it will be evident
that the wheel D may be pressed with any desired force against the disc E.
Now the action of this apparatus is extremely simple. The shaft F and
wheel H being caused to rotate, drive the wheel I and hollow shaft J, with its
upper wheel K, it driving the wheel L and shaft M, and therefore also the
friction wheel D which is keyed to M. Thus will a regular speed of rotation
be given to D, and its gradual movement from the centre to the circumference
of E is obtained by connecting the shaft G with the frame E by the slotted
eye g', this shaft G being caused to move in the direction of its axis in the
bearing C, by means precisely similar to those shown for moving the shaft G
in Fig. 1 of the same Sheet, and which need not therefore be here repeated.
The mode by which I make the upward and downward movement of the
lever R constant at all times, even when the up and down motion of the
copping rail varies in amount, to form the conical ends of the cops, will be
understood by referring to Figures 4 and 5, Sheet XVIII. The wheel R³, on
the lever R, it will be seen, is embraced by an open frame W, which is pro-

page_text: vided at its ends with stop pieces U, U, which are borne up to their required
position by springs V. These pieces are kept at a proper distance apart by
the bars X, screwed to the frame W. This frame receives it motion from
the copping rail, and as it rises and falls the pieces U respectively come in
contact with the wheel R', at opposite sides thereof, and cause it to move
suddenly up or down within given limits. The limits are determined by stop
pieces; but when the copping rail is making its greatest traverse, an inclina-
tion is given to the frame W, to move the wheel R₁ a corresponding increased
distance; the springs V, therefore, are provided, which will allow of the
pieces U giving way when the wheel R' has moved the desired distance.
I will now describe my arrangements of expanding pulleys or drums, which
I may here state I prefer for roving, the wheel and disc motions being better
for spinning; but I do not confine myself to such an application.
In Sheet XIX. one arrangement of expanding drum is shewn in plan view
at Fig. 1, and in end view at Fig. 2. A, A, are stationary bearings for carry-
ing a rocking shaft B, to which arms C, C³, are keyed. These arms carry a
shaft D, to which the expanding drum E is keyed. F, is a driving pulley
mounted loosely on the shaft B, and to the same boss a cogged wheel G is
keyed. This wheel G gears into a wheel H, on the shaft D; and thus, by
the rotation of the pulley F, a uniform rotary motion is communicated to the
expanding drum E, the peculiar construction of which will be presently
explained. At the opposite end of the shaft B, to that on which the driving
pulley F is mounted, a cogged wheel I is mounted loosely; to the boss of
this wheel I, a bevelled wheel K is keyed, and therefore revolves with it.
This wheel K takes into a pair of bevilled wheels L, L', mounted loosely
on a shaft M, which turns in bearings on a forked continuation B' of the
shaft B. On this shaft M, a pair of ratchet wheels a, a', is keyed, and into
their teeth clicks b, 6', attached to the wheels L, L', respectively take, as
shewn in the detached view, Fig. 4. A similar ratchet and click is provided
for the wheel K. N is a vibrating rod, through the end of which the shaft M
passes. This rod is keyed to the shaft M, and receives an up and down motion
from the copping rail, as the copping rail completes its upward and downward
traverse. O is a wheel mounted on the end of a hollow-threaded shaft P,
which is supported by the shaft D, and has a bearing in the arm C. This
wheel O gears into the wheel I, and receives motion therefrom for rotating
the hollow-threaded shaft P. Mounted on this shaft P is a wheel Q capable
of revolving freely on its boss 7, which is threaded to enter the worm or
thread of the screw shaft. Upon the periphery of this wheel the ends of a
series of levers R rest, which levers are jointed to a collar S, supported by and
"

page_text: capable of sliding on the shaft D. The object of these levers R is to change
the diameter of the drum E, the strap E¹ of which communicates motion to
the cylinders for driving the bobbins. The peculiar construction of the drum
E will be best seen by reference to the side view thereof, Fig. 3. It consists
of a wheel c, c, which is provided with radial slots down to its boss c¹. Around
this wheel, segment pieces d, d, are placed, and the periphery is covered with
vulcanized sheet india rubber e, which makes the whole compact, and presents
an even surface to the driving strap; the tails of the segment pieces d forming,
as it were, spokes to the drum E, are slotted to correspond with the slots in
the wheel c. Through these slots the levers R are passed, and they are driven
forword in the direction of the arrow by the wheel Q moving on its shaft P,
this movement being assisted by the coiled spring T. As these levers work in
the slots of the tail pieces d, they will, by advancing, allow of the tail pieces
moving in radially. This is effected by the contracting power of the vulcanized
india rubber, which always has a tendency to force in the segment pieces, and
contract the diameter of the drum E. On the inner edge of the levers R, a
series of teeth or notches is provided, for the purpose of varying the degree of
contraction of the drum to suit different "counts" of yarn under operation.
Thus, the wheel Q, when in the position shewn in the Drawing, will, in a
given amount of traverse, reduce the diameter of the drum in the smallest
ratio; but in proportion as it is set inwards, it will, by increasing the set or
angle of the levers, present steeper inclines to the segment pieces, and thus
allow of the radiating pieces contracting to a greater extent for a given tra-
verse of the wheel Q, to suit the decreasing speed required to be given to the
bobbins. The action of the apparatus is as follows:-Rotary, motion, of a
uniform speed, is communicated to the drum E, by the driving pulley F, and
the gearing G and H, which motion is communicated to the bobbins; but as
the rod N is made to rise and fall as the copping rail completes its upward
and downward traverse, the rod N will rock the shaft M, and with it
the ratchets a, a². The ratchet wheel a, by the upward throw of the
rod N, will, through the catch b, drive the bevil wheel L in the direction of
the arrow, and thus, through the bevil wheel K and the wheels and O,
cause the screw shaft P to rotate. This motion will cause the wheel Q to
move on its shaft in the direction of the arrow, and draw forward
the levers R, assisted by the contracted coiled spring T. The pressure of
these levers being removed from the tails of the segment pieces, these segment
pieces will, by the contracting power of the vulcanized india rubber, be forced
inwards, and thus the diameter of the drum E will be reduced. The down-

page_text: ward throw of the rod N will drive the wheel L' (through its ratchet wheel
and click), and communicate a similar motion to the wheel K, which motion
will in like manner be conveyed to the shaft P and wheel Q; and thus, as
each layer is put upon the bobbins, the pulley E, and consequently its driving
speed, will be graudually decreased. The belt which connects the bobbin
driving cylinder with the expanding pulley is at all times kept uniformly tight
by the weight of this apparatus, which is capable of rocking on its framing, as
above mentioned. The mode in which the before-named varying traverse of
the copping rail is made to give a constant and uniform amount of movement.
to N is precisely similar to that herein-before shewn with reference to Figs. 4
and 5, Sheet XVIII., the only difference being, that in one case the wheel R'
is shewn worked by the pieces U, U, and in this arrangement the bar N must
be substituted for it, it being limited, as to the extent of its traverse, in the
same manner as the wheel R' on the bar R.
A modification of the above-described apparatus, for contracting and ex-
panding the drum E, is shewn in elevation at Fig. 1, Sheet XX, and in partial
cross section at Fig. 2. In this instance, instead of using hinged levers R for
forming rests for the segment pieces, a conical framing R, R, is employed,
which slides in like manner on the shaft D. The boss S of this framing R is
grooved, and is embraced by a slotted piece d, to which guide rods e, e, are bolted.
These guide rods pass through suitable guides in the framing f, and at their
outer ends are connected to a bar J, which forms part of an escapement arrange-
ment similar to that before described with reference to Fig. 1, Sheet XVIII.
The shaft D, which carries the expanding wheel E, is mounted in self-
adjusting bearings in the framing (see the partial side view, Fig. 8), which
bearings admit of the shaft D taking up a different horizontal position in
order that the driving strap E', on the expanding wheel E, may continue at a
given tension when the diameter of the wheel E is changed. Near the end
of the shaft D a bevel wheel gis keyed, which gears into a bevel wheel h, keyed
to a shaft i. This shaft, at its lower end, passes through the slotted boss of a
bevil wheel k, which is mounted in a bearing k¹, and is driven by a similar
wheel Z, mounted on a shaft having its bearings in the short standard m, and
carrying a driving pulley n, whereby the drum E is made to revolve. The
shaft i is made capable of sliding vertically, to allow of the wheel h being.
always in gear with the wheel g, whatever may be the horizontal position of
the shaft D. A feather is therefore provided for the lower end of the shaft i,
that it may slide in the boss of the wheel h, and yet receive motion therefrom;
and it is supported by being attached to a collar o (see the detached sectional

page_text: view, Fig. 4), which is itself supported on the end of the shaft D. This
collar o is retained in its place by a flange or lip on its inner end, which is
embraced by a ring p, bolted to the boss of the wheel g. It will now. be
understood that a uniform rotary motion through the pulley n and the gearing
is communicated to the expanding wheel E. In order to decrease the dia-
meter of the wheel the eye of the guide rods e is connected with the bar J, and
the framing R. is thereby drawn forward in the direction of the arrow. The
tendency of the segment pieces will be to fall inwards towards their centre, as
before explained, and thus a decreasing diameter of the driving wheel E will
be obtained.
Under the fourth head of my Invention I claim,
First, the obtaining a differential speed for spinning machinery by the
employment of a friction roller covered with vulcanized indian rubber, and
revolving in contact with a friction disc, covered or not with the same material,
when such friction roller is capable of approaching to and receding from the
centre of the friction disc, as described.
Secondly, I claim the arrangement of escape movement for effecting the
traverse of the friction roller.
Thirdly, I claim the obtaining of a differential speed for spinning-machinery
by the employment of inclined bars, or other analogous means, in connection
with an expanding driving drum, whereby the segmental pieces which form
the periphery of the driving drum may be kept at any given distance from
their common centre, and may be allowed to advance to or recede from their
common centre as required, in order to change the diameter of the driving
drum.
Fourthly, I claim the constructing of expanding driving drums of segmental
sliding pieces, the whole being surrounded by an elastic periphery of vulcanized
india rubber.
Fifthly, I claim the general arrangements of machinery described with refe-
rence to Sheets XIX. and XX., whereby the surface speed of driving drums
may be changed when such drums are driven at a continuous uniform speed.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Derham, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and forty-eight.
JAMES (L.S.) DERHAM.

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED,. that on the Sixth day of October, in the
twelfth year of the reign of Her Majesty Queen Victoria, the said James
Derham came before our said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and ac-
knowledged the Instrument aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained
and specified, in form above written. And also the Instrument aforesaid
was stamped according to the tenor of the Statute made in the fifty-fifth
year of the reign of His late Majesty King George the Third.
Inrolled the Tenth day of October, One thousand eight hundred and
forty-eight.