IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR COMBING WOOL AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Terry and John Scott, of Dudley Hill, near
Bradford, in the County of York, Commission Wool Combers, for the Inven-
tion of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR COMBING WOOL
AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES."
Sealed the 13th May 1879, and dated the 17th February 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Terry and John Scott
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th February 1879.
WILLIAM TERRY and JOHN SCOTT, of Dudley Hill, near Bradford, in the County
of York, Commission Wool Combers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPA-
RATUS FOR COMBING WOOL AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES.”
This Invention relates to that class of combing machinery wherein the circular
comb is fed with detached tufts, and we propose to make the large circular comb in
two concentric rings, the inner ring being cut into segments, these segments to have
a rising and falling motion, and to receive the tufts whilst in an elevated position
for the purpose of placing them across the point of contact between the outer ring
and another circular comb placed outside of smaller dimensions, the diverging of
which combs the tufts, the projecting fringes being then drawn off in the usual
manner.
Our Invention further consists in the use of a porcupine or an endless sheet
filled with teeth, or any suitable lashing apparatus, for the purpose of lashing the
projecting tufts in lieu of the small outer circular comb, the tufts being drawn off
into a sliver by rollers in the ordinary way.
Instead of employing segment combs, the tufts may be fed to an ordinary revolving
comb, and the overhanging portions elevated and supported until they reach the
tangent point of the two circles by means of lifting knives and plates.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Terry and John Scott in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
16th August 1879.
WILLIAM TERRY and JOHN SCOTT, of Dudley Hill, near Bradford, in the County
of York, Commission Wool Combers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPA-
RATUS FOR COMBING WOOL AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES."
This Invention reintes to that class of combing machinery wherein two circular
combs are employed, one of which is generally considerably larger in diameter than the
other. The operation of combing is effected by forcing the wool into the teeth of the two
combs which for the time are nearest to each other, after which their gradual sepa-
ration or divergence combs the fibres. In some cases the fibres are fed to the two
combs simultaneously in the form of slivers, and in others (to which our Invention
relates) the fibres are first fed or supplied to the largo comb in the form of detached
tufts, generally taken from another combing machine. These tufts when fed to the
farge comb are partially embedded in the teeth thereof, the remaining portions
forming a fringe hanging either inside or outside the circle.
Before this fringe can be placed in the second, or small circle it has to be elevated
above the points of the teeth thereof, and this has hitherto been effected by ploughing
the tuft out of the large comb entirely by means of knives and transferring the
same by means of an endless belt or similar apparatus onto the large and small combs
simultaneously at their tangent or point of nearest contact.
By means of our Invention we are enabled to dispense with the transferring
apparatus. This object we effect by constructing the comb in such manner that the
tuft when once fed to the large circle shall remain there until after the combing
operation. To enable us to do this satisfactorily it is necessary to support the over-
hanging portions of the tufts clear of the teeth of the small circle until the tangent
of the two circles is reached, and this we effect as follows:-
Firstly. We make the large circular comb plate in two concentric rings, the inner
or back ring being cut into segments which have a rising and falling motion im-
parted to them. The tufts are fed to the segment comb when in an elevated position,
in which position they remain until the point of contact of the two circles is reached,
when the segments are lowered to the ordinary level and the tufts dabbed or
forced into both the large and small combs ready for combing and drawing off in
the usual manner.
Secondly. We feed the tufts on to the large or receiving comb and dab or press
them in such manner that they are not too deeply embedded in the teeth, and so
that the elevation of the overhanging portions may be maintained at the required
height by the use of guide plates which act as supporters, or by increasing the length
of one or more rows of teeth or by a combination of these means.
In order that our Invention may be more fully understood we have hereunto
annexed the accompanying Sheets of Drawings illustrative thereof.
Fig. 1 is a plan view of a circular comb constructed according to our Invention,
and Fig. 2 is a vertical cross section of same; Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are details.
A is the ordinary circle plate on which are mounted the outer rows of pins or
teeth, and B are segments or detached plates which carry the inner rows of pins,
these segments being kept in position by means of pillars or guides C fixed to the
rack circle D. The segments are formed so as to be capable of sliding or rising and
falling upon the pillars, and these motions are produced by the inclined plate E, the
incline or gradient of which is gradual from the commencement e to the part F, which
is the highest point, and at which part the tufts of wool are fed or supplied, being
placed upon the points of the teeth in the segments and carried forward by them
until reaching the other extremity of the plate E, which terminates at the tangent
point or point of contact of the comb A with a smaller circular comb. G. On

page_text: reaching this point the segments B fall to the level of the comb A, and the tufts are
then forced into the teeth of the two combs A and G by suitable apparatus, and as
the two circles diverge the fibres are combed, slivers being drawn off by the rollers
H and J. The plates k, supports the overhanging ends of the tufts until they
arrive at the end of the incline E, as shewn in Fig. 5.
By the foregoing arrangement of mechanism we are enabled to feed the tufts on
to the large comb and dab or press them into the two combs at their tangent point
without ploughing the tufts out as has heretofore been necessary.
In the second part of our Invention, which we find more convenient for use and
more economical in regard to manufacture, and which is illustrated in Figs. 6 to 13,
we accomplish the same result by different means. In Fig. 6 is a large comb having
one or more of the back rows of teeth a longer than the front rows, which are the
same length as those in the small circle B. The tufts in this case are fed to the
points of the long teeth and merely rest upon the points of the shorter rows, the
overhanging portions being supported by the plates c, c, until they reach the tangent
of the two circles, where they are forced down into the teeth of both circles the
divergence of which combs them. The noil end of the tuft is represented in these
Figs. as being fed to the long rows of teeth a. Figs. 8 and 9 illustrate a similar
arrangement in which the small circle is within the larger one, as indicated by the
letters, and the long rows of teeth a are outside or furthest from the centre of the
large circle.
In Figs. 10 and 11 the large circle comb is provided with a wider comb than is
shewn in the preceding Figures, and the tufts are fed so that in this case the noil
end overhangs until it reaches the small circle, the width of the large comb assisted
by guide plates being in practise found to be sufficient support.
Figs. 12 and 13 illustrate the same principle with inner small circle, the tufts
being fed so as to overhang in the interior of the large comb. It will be readily
seen that by using wide combs for the reception of the tufts and pressing them in
the first instance on to the rows of teeth furthest from the small comb, the tufts
will present a slightly inclined appearance, the end which is ultimately to be forced
into the small comb being supported by guide plates.
Having thus described the nature of our Invention we would have it understood
that by the words the "back rows of teeth "we mean the rows furthest from the small
or second circle, whether the same work inside or outside the large or receing
circle. We would also observe that we do not confine ourselves to the precise
details of construction and arrangement herein described, as the same may be varied
according to the number of circles or their relative positions. It will be obvious to
those who are acquainted with machinery of the class in question that it is not
always necessary to use circles of unequal size, although for the sake of clearness we
have spoken of the large and small circle; what, therefore, we claim as our Invention
and consider to be new is,―
1stly. Our method, when feeding wool or other fibres in tufts, of feeding the samo
on to the back rows of teeth of the receiving comb, and carrying them forward in a
raised position clear of the front rows of teeth of the said receiving comb and the
second comb until the wool arrives at the tangent of the two, substantially as herein
described and shewn in the Drawing.
2ndly. We claim the combination of parts constituting our improved combing
apparatus constructed substantially as shewn in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive.
3rdly. We claim the modification of our improved apparatus, constructed sub-
stantially as described and indicated in Figs. 6 and 7 for the purpose herein
mentioned.
4thly. We claim the modification of our improved apparatus, constructed sub-
stantially as described and indicated in Figs. 8 and 9 for the purpose herein
referred to.
5thly. We claim the modification of our improved apparatus, constructed sub-
stantially as described and indicated in Figs. 10 and 11 for the purpose herein
referred to.

page_text: 6thly. We claim the modification of our improved apparatus, constructed sub-
stantially as described and indicated in Figs. 12 and 13 for the purpose herein
set forth.
In witness whereof, we, the said William Terry and John Scott, have here-
unto set our hands and seals, this Eighth day of August, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.
WILLIAM TERRY. (L.S.)
JOHN SCOTT.
(L.S.)