IMPROVEMENTS IN COMBING WOOL AND OTHER FIBRES
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Warburton, of Low Mills, Addingham, near
Otley, in the County of York, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
COMBING WOOL AND OTHER FIBRES."
Sealed the 1st April 1858, and dated the 6th October 1857.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Warburton at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 6th
October 1857.
I, JAMES WARBURTON, of Low Mills, Addingham, near Otley, in the County
of York, do hereby declare tho nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN COMBING WOOL AND OTHER FIBRES," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in combing wool and other
fibres. For these purposes, when using two circular or endless combs which
come together, or are constantly in contact at a point during their rotation or
movement, and where by their separation the wool or fibre (previously held
between them across the point of contact,) is combed out, part being taken
by one comb, and part by the other, various modes of feeding the fibres into
such combs have before been resorted to. One part of my Invention consists
in feeding the wool or fibres, either in the form of detached tufts or quantities,
or otherwise, into one of the combs, and then to lift up the projecting fringe
of fibres, so that the same may pass over the teeth of the other comb where
the two combs are in contact, and then to press the fibres by a brush or other

page_text: instrument in amongst the teeth of the combs where in contact, so that as the
combs separate the fibres may be combed out, and be divided between the
two combs, in such manner as to admit of the wool or fibre being drawn out
from each of the combs by suitable drawing apparatus.
Another part of my Invention consists of placing numerous slivers of wool
or other fibres around a cylindrical or endless holder, arranged to rotate toge-
ther with the bobbins or instruments on which the slivers are wound. The
numerous slivers of fibre are laid parallel, and are retained to the cylinder or
endless holder by a band or bands which go round with the holder, and at the
same speed. The band or bands are arranged in such manner as constantly
to relieve part of the slivers from pressure, when they arrive opposite a parti-
cular point or points, so that the slivers may be moved forward a short
distance, and thus be caused to protrude to a greater distance than previously
beyond the cylindrical or endless holder; the band or bands are then caused to
press the slivers against the holder, till the protruding parts have been cleaned
or combed, which it is preferred should be accomplished by a circular or end-
less comb, moving obliquely or at an angle to the projecting parts of the slivers,
and such comb may be arranged simply to work or clean the projecting fibre,
or it may be arranged so to rob the holder, as to admit of the application to
the comb of a suitable drawing apparatus, so as to draw off a sliver therefrom.
And there is also a comb affixed around the cylindrical or endless holder, in
amongst the teeth of which the fibres are placed excepting where the band
or bands relieve the fibres from pressure, the fibres being there lifted from
amongst the teeth of the comb, in order that they may be fed or moved
forwards a distance by a rake or suitable instrument, and the fibres are
returned or pressed amongst the teeth of the comb, immediately after being
so fed forward a distance. Suitable drawing apparatus is applied to draw off a
sliver or slivers from the rotating holder, after the fibres projecting from the
holder comb have been combed or cleaned, by which means part of the noil
will be left in the forward ends of the several slivers, and where such drawing
takes place the band or bands are caused to relieve the fibres from pressure.
In place of using a band or bands to embrace the cylindrical or endless
holder, and the numerous slivers therein, stationary pressing plates may be
employed pressed up to the surface of the holder by india-rubber or other
springs, such stationary pressers being applied only at the parts where the
fibres are desired to be pressed or held securely to the holder; in some cases in
place of the cylindrical or endless holder of the numerous slivers being
arranged in such manner as to have the protruding portions of the fibres
combed or cleaned, and then drawn off from the holder comb, the circular

page_text: rotating or endless comb working therewith may be caused to take its feed
constantly from the holder comb, the fibres being drawn by such comb through
amongst the teeth of the holder comb, leaving part of the noil in the forward
ends of the slivers, which are then lifted out of the teeth of the holder comb,
and fed forward a distance so as to be taken by the circular or endless comb
working therewith, the protruding ends of the slivers with the previously
retained back noil passing between, and beyond the teeth of the comb when
taking from the holder combs. Or, in place of causing the circular comb
to take its own feed direct from the holder, as above described, circular
rotating nippers may be employed to take tufts continuously from the
holder, in the same way as they would be taken by the comb itself, and these
nippers then carry the tufts to the circular or endless comb, into the teeth
of which they are placed by a brush working constantly up and down, or
otherwise.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said James Warburton, in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 6th April 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JANES
WARBURTON, of Low Mills, Addingham, near Otley, in the County of York,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twenty-first year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said James Warburton, Her special licence, that I, the said James
Warburton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said James Warburton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should
at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN COMBING WOOL AND OTHER FIBRES," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said James Warburton, my executors or administrators, by
an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and
seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same

page_text: to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office, within six calendar months next
and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said James Warburton, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in combing wool and other
fibres. For these purposes, when using two circular or endless combs which
come together, or are constantly in contact at a point during their rotation or
movement, and where by their seperation the wool or fibre (previously beld
between them accross the point of contact) is combed out, part being taken by
one comb, and part by the other, various modes of feeding the fibres into such
combs have before been resorted to.
One part of my Invention consists in feeding the wool or fibres, either in
the form of detached tufts or quantities, or otherwise, into one of the combs,
and then to lift up the projecting fringe of fibres, so that the same may pass
over the teeth of the other comb where the two combs are in contact, and
then to press the fibres by a brush or other instrument in amongst the teeth
of the combs where in contact, so that as the combs seperate the fibres may
be combed out, and be divided between the two combs in such manner as to
admit of the wool or fibre being drawn out from each of the combs by suitable
drawing apparatus.
Fig. 1 shows a plan, and Fig. 2, a section of two circular rotating
combs, having apparatus applied thereto according to the first part of
my Invention. a and b, are the two circular or endless combs, the wool
or other fibres being fed on to the teeth of the comb a, at the point a³,
by an ordinary filling head, or by any suitable feeding apparatus. The
'fringe of fibres projecting from the teeth of the comb a, in its rotation
towards the comb b, is brought in contact with the inclined plate c,
which lifts or raises the fringe out of the comb a, above the teeth of
the comb b, near the point where the two combs come together, and the
back ends of the fibres are prevented from being lifted quite out of the
comb a, by the fixed plate d, which descends between the two back rows of
teeth in the comb a, so as to retain the back ends of the fibres therein. When
the fringe of fibres arrives over the point where the two combs a and b, come
together, the fibres are pressed down amongst the teeth of the two combs by
the brush e, and as the two combs seperate in their further revolution, the
fibres are combed out and divided between the two combs a and b, which
..conduct the cleaned ends to the drawing-off rollers a, b, to be drawn off into

page_text: slivers, as is well understood, the noil being removed from the teeth of the
combs a, b, in their further revolution in the ordinary manner.
Another part of my Invention consists of placing numerous slivers of wool
or other fibres around a cylindrical or endless holder, arranged to rotate toge-
ther with the bobbins or instruments on which the slivers are wound. The
numerous slivers of fibre are laid parralell, and are retained to the cylinder or
endless holder by a band or bands which go round with the holder, and at the
same speed; the band or bands are arranged in such manner as constantly to
relieve part of the slivers from pressure when they arrive opposite a particular
point or points, so that such part of the sliver may be moved forward a short
distance, and thus be caused to protrude to a greater distance than previously
beyond the cylindrical or endless holder; the band or bands are then caused to
press the slivers against the holder till the protruding parts have been cleaned
or combed, which it is preferred should be accomplished by a circular or end-
less comb moving obliquely, or at an angle to the projecting parts of the
slivers, and such comb may be arranged simply to work or clean the project-
ing fibre, or it may be arranged so to rob. the holder as to admit of the appli-
cation to the comb of a suitable drawing apparatus, so as to draw off a sliver
therefrom. And there is also a comb affixed around the cylindrical or endless
holder, in amongst the teeth of which the fibres are placed, excepting where
the band or bands relieve the fibres from pressure, the fibres being there lifted
from amongst the teeth of the comb in order that they may be fed or moved
forwards a distance by a rake or suitable instrument, and the fibres are
returned or pressed amongst the teeth of the comb immediately after being so
fed forward a distance. Suitable drawing apparatus is applied to draw off
a sliver or slivers from the rotating holder after the fibres projecting from the
holder comb have been combed or cleaned, by which means part of the noil
will be left in the forward ends of the several slivers, and where such drawing
takes place the band or bands are caused to relieve the fibres from pressure.
Fig. 3 shows a front view, partly in section, and Fig. 4 a longitudinal
section, of a machine for combing wool and other fibres according to this part
of my Invention. a is the cylindrical or endless holder mounted on the
hollow axis b, on which is also mounted the frame of bobbins c, on which a
number of slivers of wool or other fibre are wound side by side. The hollow
axis b, with the holder a and the frame of bobbins c, is caused to rotate on the
fixed axis d by the teeth of the worm wheel 6', fixed on the hollow axis b,
taking into the worm fixed on the axis e, which carries the driving pulleys.
The numerous slivers are conducted from the bobbins c through openings in
the ring a fixed on the back of the holder a, and are laid parallel side by
.

page_text: sile along the cylinder, and amongst the teeth of the comb a fixed around
the cylindrical or endless holder a, and the slivers are retained in position
around the holder a by the endless bands ff, which go partly round and
rotate with the holder, and they pass over the pulley g, so that the slivers on
the upper surface of the holder are free or relieved from the pressure of the
bands f, and the fibres are lifted out of and above the teeth of the comb a
by the incline h, which conducts them on to the plate h¹, and as they pass
over the plate h¹ they are fed or moved forwards by the rake i, so as to
protrude to a greater distance than previously beyond the cylindrical or endless
holder a, and as the slivers revolve they are again pressed into the teeth of
the comb a by the bands f, and I prefer to employ bands fset with teeth,
as shown, which pass into the fibres and enter grooves formed around the
holder a, to prevent the locking of the fibres when drawing off. The comb a
on the holder a may be dispensed with by setting the teeth of the band f
nearest the ends of the slivers on the edge, so as to pass into the slivers just
beyond the end of the holder a, as shown at Figure 4*. The protruding ends
of the slivers are cleaned or combed during their further revolution by
entering the teeth of the circular or endless combs j and k in succession,
which are placed and move obliquely or at an angle to the projecting parts
of the slivers, the combs j, k, being caused to revolve by the movement of the
holder, and when the combed out ends of the slivers arrive opposite the
drawing-off rollers 1, they are relieved from the pressure of the bands f by
conducting the band over fixed pins or projections, so as to move them a short
distance from the surface of the holder a. m is a circular comb, the teeth of
which are inserted between the drawing-off rollers and the holder comb a²
into the fibres at the point where the drawing-off takes place. The noil and
short fibre is removed from the cleaning combs j and k by rotary brushes or
in any convenient manner. The combs j, k, in place of being employed
simply to work or clean the projecting fibres on the holder, one of such
combs may be arranged to rob fibres from the holder a, so as to admit of
a sliver being drawn from such comb by ordinary drawing apparatus, in place
of drawing the sliver from the projecting ends of fibre on the holder a, the
ends of the slivers in this case being drawn further out from the holder by
the rake i. The bands f in place of being furnished with teeth may be
lined or covered with a soft or yielding surface, such as india-rubber, felt, or
other soft material, by which the locking of the fibres will be avoided when
the drawing-off takes place. In place of using a band or bands to embrace
the cylindrical or endless holder and the numerous slivers therein stationary,
pressing plates may be employed pressed up to the surface of the holder by

page_text: india-rubber or other springs, such stationary pressers being applied only at
the parts where the fibres are desired to be pressed or held securely to the
holder.
Figure 5 shows a front view, partly in section, Figure 6 a longitudinal
section, and Figure 7 a plan of a 'machine for combing wool or other fibres,
very similar to the machine previously described, except that the slivers are
retained securely against the surface of the cylindrical or endless holder a by
stationary pressing plates j*, k*, where the projecting ends of the slivers are
acted on by the circular cleaning combs j, k, the pressing surfaces j*, k*,
being pressed up to the surface of the holder a by india-rubber or other
springs j¹, k¹.
The other operations of the machine are similar to those previously
described; therefore no further description will be necessary, except that I
introduce the teeth of one or more of the combs n behind the comb a² at
the point where the drawing-off takes place to prevent the locking of the
fibres, or in place of the combs n wheels covered with soft yielding material
may be employed.
Figure 8 shows a plan, and Figure 9 a section of another arrangement of
apparatus for combing wool and other fibres according to this part of my
Invention, in which arrangement the cylindrical or endless holder is placed in
a vertical position, and excentrically within the circumference of the cleaning
comb. The slivers are held against the under surface of the holder by a plate
which rotates with the holder, which plate is pressed up against the holder by
suitable pressing surfaces, so as to nip the fibres between the plate and the
bolder when drawing the ends of the slivers through the comb to clean their
ends, the plate being released from pressure after passing that point, in order
that the ends of the slivers may be drawn forwards by a rake or other suitable
apparatus, so that the cleaned ends of the slivers may be placed over and
project from the outer circumference of the comb, in order that a continuous
sliver of cleaned fibre may be drawn through the teeth of such comb. a is the
cylindrical or endless holder, which is mounted and rotates with the vertical
axis a. The slivers are conducted through openings in the ring or flange az
at the bottom of the holder, and then pass out radially between the bottom of
the holder and the ring or plate a³, which is mounted loosely on the axis a¹
with the holder, the holder a being supported by a collar on the axis a¹, so as
to leave a space between it and the plate a³ for the slivers to pass freely when
released from pressure. The holder a is mounted excentrically within the
circular rotating comb b, as shown, and as the holder and comb separate in
their rotation, the ends of the slivers previously deposited in the teeth of the

page_text: comb b are cleaned by being drawn out of the comb. The cleaned ends of the
slivers in their rotation are moved over a plate c, and are drawn outwards a
short distance by the rake d or other suitable feeding apparatus, and in their
further revolution towards the comb 6 they are raised above the teeth of the
comb by an inclined plate e, and the fibres are then pressed down by a brush e¹
amongst the teeth of the comb b, so that the cleaned ends only project beyond
the outer circumference of the teeth of the comb 6 to be drawn off by the
drawing-off rollers f, the part of the slivers previously fed forwards being left
with the noil in the comb b, which again separates in its revolution from the
holder, leaving the noil in the comb 6 to be removed by the brush g. At the
point where the holder a and the comb 6 separate in their rotation, the under
surface of the plate a³ comes in contact with a stationary pressing surface
pressed up by india-rubber or other springs so as to hold the ends of the slivers
securely between the plate a³ and holder a whilst the fibres are being separated
or drawn out from the comb b. In some cases in place of the cylindrical or
endless holder of the numerous slivers being arranged in such manner as to
have the protruding portions of the fibres combed or cleaned and then drawn
off from the holder comb, as, at Figs. 3 and 4, the circular rotating or
endless comb working therewith may be caused to take its feed constantly
from the holder comb, the fibres being drawn by such comb through amongst
the teeth of the holder comb, leaving part of the noil in the forward ends of
the slivers, which are then lifted out of the teeth of the holder comb and fed
forward a distance, so as to be taken by the circular or endless comb working
therewith, the protruding ends of the slivers, with the previously retained back
noil, passing between and beyond the teeth of the comb when taking from the
holder combs.
In describing the machine shown at Figures 3 and 4, I mentioned that it
might be so modified in its action that the circular comb should rob from the
holder comb, as above described, in place of simply cleaning the ends of the
slivers, but when this principle is adopted it is more convenient to employ a
machine which I will now proceed to describe. Figure 10 shows a plan, and
Figure 11 a section of such a machine. a is a circular or endless comb
which is arranged to rotate with the rotating holder b, which carries the
bobbins on which the series of slivers of wool or other fibres are wound, the
ends of the slivers being conducted through openings in the plate or ring b
and laid into the teeth of the holder comb a. c, c, are a series of circular
rotating or endless combs, which are placed at an angle to the comb b, and arc
caused to take their feed or draw the fibres projecting from the holder comb a
leaving the noil in tlie forward ends of the slivers in the comb a, which are

page_text: then lifted out of the comb a by an incline d placed between the teeth of the
comb a, and the ends of the slivers are then drawn outwards from the holder a
short distance as they pass over the fixed plate e, by the rake for otherwise ;
the slivers are then pressed into the teeth of the comb a by a brush g. The
forward or protruding ends of the slivers in their further revolution enter the
teeth of the next circular or endless comb c, the protruding ends of the slivers,
with the previously retained back noil, passing between and beyond the teeth
of such comb c when taking from the holder comb a. The separation of the
combs a and c in their revolution causes a tuft of fibre to be taken by the
comb c with the cleaned ends which have been drawn through the comb a
protruding from its outer circumference. The cleaned ends of the fibre pro-
truding from the outer circumference of the combs c may then be drawn off
by suitable drawing apparatus, or they may be accumulated on the circular or
endless receiving comb h, in the teeth of which the fibres are deposited by a
brush i to be drawn off by the drawing rollers at a point where a sufficient
accumulation of fibre has taken place. Or, in place of causing the circular
comb to take its own feed direct from the holder, as above described, circular
rotating nippers may be employed to take tufts continuously from the holder
in the same way as they would be taken by the comb itself; and these nippers
then carry the tufts to the circular or endless comb, into the teeth of which
they are placed by a brush working constantly up and down, or otherwise.
Figure 12 shows a plan, and Figure 13 a section of apparatus arranged
according to this part of my Invention. a is a circular or endless comb, which
is arranged to rotate with the holder b, similar to that previously described,
the ends of the slivers being raised out of the comb a and drawn out, as
previously described, ready to be taken by the circular rotating nippers c, c,
which are driven at the same surface speed as the comb a, and in their
rotation they take hold of the protruding ends of the slivers, and as the comb a
and rotating nippers c separate in their revolution, tufts of fibre are drawn by
the nippers from the ends of the slivers in the comb a, and the ends of the
fibres protruding from the nippers are cleaned by being drawn through the
comb a, and the nippers c in their further revolution carry the fibres into a
position over the receiving comb h, where the nippers are caused to release
the ends of the tufts of fibre, which is deposited by a brush in amongst the
teeth of the comb h, to be drawn off by drawing rollers e, as before described,
one or more of such circular rotating nippers being arranged with each holder
comb a, to accumulate tufts of fibres on to the receiving comb h. The con-
struction of the circular nippers c is shewn separately at Figures 14, 15, 16,
and 17.

page_text: The nippers shown at Figures 14 and 15 consist of a circular metal plate f*
fixed on the axis f', the under edge of the plate having an angular groove cut
thereon to form a biting edge to the plate. 9* is an elastic disc or plate,
secured in the centre to the under side of the plate f* by the screw collar g'.
The outer circumference of the disc 9* is covered by a ring of leather or other
suitable material, between which and the edge of the plate f* the fibres are
held. The plates f* and 9* are open to receive the fibres by a fixed projection
or incline h*, which enters between the plates at a point in their revolution,
and depresses one side of the elastic plate g*, which is closed after receiving
the fibres by passing over a fixed surface i*, which extends to the point where
the fibres are to be deposited on to the teeth of the receiving comb.
In the nippers shown at Figures 16 and 17 the elastic plate g* is dispensed
with, and the under side of the plate f* is furnished with a ring of leather, the
fibres being held between the ring of leather and the edge of the fixed
surface i*. until deposited on the receiving comb, as before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Warburton, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Third day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight.
Witness,
JOSEPH HARRISON.
JAMES WARBURTON. (L.S.)