Improved Method of and Apparatus for Combing Cotton and other Fibrous Materials.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 30th May, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 28th Feb., 1895-Accepted, 30th Mar., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Method of and Apparatus for Combing Cotton and other
Fibrous Materials.
We, ROBERT STAUB, of 124 Crefelderstrasse, München-Gladbach, Germany,
Spinning Engineer, and AUGUST MONFORTS, of 21 Kronprinzenstrasse, München-
Gladbach, aforesaid, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
The employment in cotton-spinning of combing, has hitherto been restricted in
spite of its incontestable value in the production of faultless yarn or thread. The
reason of this is that the combing-machines heretofore ordinarily employed have
not sufficiently satisfied the requirements of spinners as regards working-capacity
and the adaptability for further use of the sliver produced.
Now, our invention consists in a method or process which obviates the evils
present to a greater or less degree in the use of the various machines hitherto
employed, and in apparatus which enables cotton and similar fibrous materials to
be combed with equal advantage whether they possess long or short staples and
which is adapted to give a maximum output and to produce a sliver of uniform
composition capable of being readily employed in subsequent spinning-processes.
In order that the difference between our method of combing and other methods
may be clearly understood, let a, represent the combing of the front portion or half
(hereinafter called "half") of the tuft whilst it is still in combination with the
fleece; a', the combing of the front portion or half of the tuft when detached from
the fleece; b, the combing of the rear portion or half (hereinafter called "half">
of a detached tuft; c, the detachment of the tuft from the fleece; and d, the
combination of the tuft with previously combed tufts to form another fleece; then
different processes of combing may consist in the combination of these various
operations in the manner represented by the following expressions, in which the
simultaneous occurrence of two operations is indicated by bracketing together the
corresponding letters :-
The processes represented by the expressions 8, 9, 10 and 11 are included in our
improved method.
In order to be able to comb fibrous materials of staples of any desired length, it
is necessary that the parts serving to effect the detachment of the tufts of fibre from
the fleece shall be capable of being set at any desired distance apart.
[DQ1

page_text: To this end according to our invention the tufts of fibre are detached from the
fleece before the commencement of the combing-operation proper, and the detaching-
devices are arranged independently of the combing-device.
The output of a combing-machine depends, first, on its effective or working width;
secondly, on the number of strokes of the comb per unit of time; and thirdly, on
the length and thickness of the tuft that can be treated during one stroke of the
comb. The first two points depend solely on the construction and arrangement of
its parts and mechanism and have been subjects of much consideration in the design
of combing-machines heretofore known, but the last point, that is to say the
treatment of a larger or smaller quantity during each stroke of the comb, depends
on the method on which the process employed is based.
For the purpose of treating the maximum quantity of material during each stroke
of the comb without damaging the material or the working parts, according to our
invention detaching-devices are employed which enable the aid of the hitherto
generally used top-comb to be dispensed with. The tufts of fibre are detached from
the fleece without the use of a top-comb or similar intermediate device and before
the commencement of the combing proper, so that there is no impediment to
obtaining very thick tufts of fibre from a thick fleece; and both halves of each of
the tufts of fibre are combed separately and uniformly by a number of combs of
increasing fineness: the combing of the maximum quantity of fibrous material at
each stroke of the comb is thus rendered possible.
A great difficulty with reference to the last mentioned point, which is of the
greatest importance as regards the value of a combing-machine, consists in the
production of a sliver which shall be well adapted to undergo the subsequent
spinning-process. Now, since the said spinning-process consists chiefly in drawing,
that is to say increasing the fineness of the sliver, the sliver must have not
only sufficient strength but also have its fibres distributed as uniformly as
possible.
Although it is also possible by the methods heretofore known to produce a thin
supple fleece from thin tufts of fibre by uniting the ends of such tufts, and to
condense such a fleece into a sliver in which the uniformity of distribution of the
fibres will vary more or less according to the degree of efficiency of the condensing-
mechanism employed, yet this method must fail where, as in this case, it is required
to produce a sliver from thick stiff tufts of fibrous material.,
Now, according to our invention the combed tufts of fibrous material are laid one
on another at intervals of distance corresponding to the lengths of the fleece fed
forward during the several strokes of the comb, whereby a scaly fleece is produced
which has its fibres arranged with the same uniformity as the fleece fed in, and,
leaving the noils out of account, approximately the same width and thickness. On
account of this manner of producing the fleece of combed material, the fibres are
arranged therein with the utmost uniformity, and this quality will also be possessed
to the same extent by the sliver ultimately produced. This uniformity of arrange-
ment in the fleece thus produced enables the same to be drawn out uniformly
throughout its entire width before it is condensed into a sliver so that it is converted
into a thin, supple, .and continuous fleece in which the fibres are arranged in a
perfectly uniform and parallel manner, the loose scaly nature of the fleece being
thereby caused to disappear. This thin supple fleece can now readily be condensed
into a sliver capable of being subjected to further spinning-processes.
The method or process forming the subject of our invention therefore consists in
detaching tufts of fibre from a fleece of any desired thickness, before the commence-
ment of the combing proper and without the aid of a top-comb or the like then
treating the detached tufts singly and on both halves in a uniform manner by a
number of combs, and afterwards combining the combed tufts by laying them
one on another like the scales of a fish, so that the fleece produced can be
converted into a thin fleece the fibres of which are arranged in a uniform, parallel,
and cohesive manner, by means of mechanism which draws out the said fleece
throughout its entire width and before the latter is condensed into a sliver.

page_text: This method may be employed with advantage in those combing-machines which
are provided, for the purpose of combing uniformly both halves of the tufts, with
two pairs of nippers, or one pair of nippers and a nipping-roller or drum, or with
two nipping-rollers or drums.
In a convenient construction of combing-machine according to our invention the
lap containing the fleece to be combed is carried by a pair of rollers and passes
thence over a guide-plate and then consecutively between two pairs of rollers which
together constitute a detaching-device and will be hereinafter termed detaching-
rollers. This detaching-device is operated in such a manner that when the two
pairs of rollers have rotated sufficiently in a forward direction as to draw in a
certain length of fleece the direction of rotation of the rear pair of detaching-
rollers is reversed, whilst the front pair of detaching rollers continues to rotate in
the forward direction. The fleece caught between the rear detaching-rollers is
thereby drawn back and detached from the fibres that have moved out of the
reach of the said rollers and are now caught between the front detaching-
rollers. The detached tuft of fibres constituted by the last-mentioned fibres is
now pushed under an upper nipping-jaw which has at this time been brought into
position, and, at the instant that the front detaching-rollers cease to rotate, the said
tuft is caught by the said nipping-jaw in its descent and is pressed firmly against a
lower and stationary nipping-jaw.
During the time that the said nipping-jaws, which will be hereinafter called rear
nipping-jaws, hold the tuft, the forwardly projecting end of the said tuft is combed
by a segmental comb mounted on a cylinder, which will hereinafter be referred to
as the comb-cylinder; the afore-said nipping-jaws now open again, and a fluted
segment also mounted on the comb-cylinder, with the aid of a bearing-roller resting
freely on the said fluted segment, and of the simultaneously renewed rotation of the
front detaching-rollers, carries the tuft along and conveys it between a pair of front
nipping-jaws, which are now open and are situate in the front of the paths of the
said fluted segment and segmental comb, and onwards to a pair of rollers which
will be hereinafter referred to as receiving-rollers. The rotation of these receiving
rollers moves the tuft forward until the rear uncombed portion remains within the
reach of the segmental comb aforesaid. At this moment the said receiving rollers
are stopped, and the upper and movable jaw of the aforesaid front nipping-jaw moves
down upon the lower and fixed nipping-jaw and nips the tuft, and the segmental
comb then combs the rear portion of the tuft.
By repeating the operations hereinbefore described, there is formed under the
aforesaid pair of receiving-rollers a scaly fleece which is gradually moved onwards
towards a pair of drawing-rollers by the step by step rotation of the receiving-
rollers.
But since the said drawing-rollers rotate simultaneously with, but with a greater
peripheral velocity than, the receiving-rollers, a drawing action is produced by
which the thick fleece is converted into a thin supple fleece. This fleece is now
condensed, by means of a guide-plate, a trumpet, and a pair of delivery-rollers into
a sliver suitable for further treatment. Instead of the said single pair of drawing-
rollers, two or more pairs of drawing-rollers may be employed.
We will now describe in a more detailed manner the operation set forth in the
preceding paragraphs.
At the instant that the last portion of the segmental comb is entering the end of
the tuft presented to it by the rear nipping-jaws, the rear end of the preceding tuft
is also being combed. The rear detaching rollers begin to rotate in a forward
direction, the front detaching-rollers, the receiving-rollers, and the drawing-rollers
being stationary. Both pairs of nipping-jaws are closed, and the bearing-roller is
raised.
At the instant when the last portion of the segmental comb has passed the nose
of the front nipping-jaws and the fluted segment moves under the bearing-roller,
the rear detaching-rollers are still revolving in a forward direction and have
advanced the fleece until it has moved near to the front detaching-rollers.

page_text: These rollers begin to revolve and push forward the rear end of the previously
detached tuft, which is now being combed on its forward end, between the rear
nipping-jaws, which are now opening. The bearing roller now begins to descend.
The combing of the rear portion of the preceding tuft is now completed, and the
front nipping-jaws, the bearing-roller and the receiving and the detaching rollers
have retained without alteration the position they have assumed.
At the instant when the comb cylinder has rotated until the fluted segment has
arrived at the nose of the front nipping-jaws the rear detaching-rollers have
reversed their rotation and now complete the detaching of the fleece from the tuft,
which is carried along by the further forwardly rotating front detaching-rollers
and is pushed out to the fully opened rear nipping-jaws. The segmental needle-
comb is situate out of the reach of the tufts. The bearing-roller has descended
upon the fluted segment and, together with the latter, has caught the tuft, which
so far is combed on one end only and has conveyed it between the open front
nipping-jaws. The receiving and drawing rollers have commenced to rotate.
At the moment when the first row of needles of the segmental comb enters the
freshly introduced tuft last detached the rear nipping-jaws have just closed, and
the front detaching-rollers have completed their partial rotation.
The rear
detaching-rollers have meanwhile finished their rearward rotation and are
stationary, the bearing-roller has ascended, the nipping-jaws close, and the
receiving and the drawing rollers finish their rotation.
When the combing of the rear end of the tuft by the segmental comb begins the
rear detaching-rollers are still stationary, and the other parts assume again the
position set forth at the commencement of this detailed description.
The front detaching-rollers may have a continuous instead of a step-by-step
motion. In that case the rear nipping-jaws are closed as soon as the front
detaching-rollers have pushed forward the requisite length of tuft towards the said
rear nipping-jaws. Whilst the tuft is being tightly held by the rear nipping-jaws,
its rear end is being gradually released by the continued rotation of the front
detaching-rollers. When the rear nipping-jaws are opened, the bearing-roller has
descended upon the fluted segment of the comb-cylinder and it draws the tuft that
lies loose between the rear nipping-jaws out from between the said jaws.
The detaching-devices adapted to be employed in our improved method of
combing are of two kinds viz., first, the herein before described two pairs of nipping-
rollers and secondly, one pair of nipping-jaws and one pair of nipping-rollers. In
both cases the said devices are adjusted to a distance corresponding to the length
of the fibre. In the second of the two cases just specified, the front end of the
fleece is pushed in between the nipping-jaws and then nipped between the said jaws
and held by them during the rearward rotation of the pair of nipping-rollers. The
fibres lying loose between the nipping-jaws and the nipping-rollers share in the
rearward movement of the fleece produced by the nipping-rollers and are gradually
seized and carried along by the said nipping-rollers whilst the detaching-operation
is taking place. In the other case, the detaching-operation takes place as herein-
before described, and the loose fibres lying between the two pairs of rollers are
seized by the pair of rollers that is the nearer to the said fibres. The detachment
is in this case effected in a more rapid and even manner than when a pair of
nipping-jaws and a pair of detaching-rollers are employed.
The aforesaid machine is provided, as is usual. in machines for combing cotton,
with a number of comb-cylinders constituting so many working-places mounted on
the same shaft. These comb-cylinders are mounted in standards fixed to a
base-plate or frame.
The machine is driven from one end by means of fast and loose pulleys mounted
on a short countershaft which is carried in two other standards and extends only
to the middle of the nearer of the aforesaid standard in which the comb-cylinders
are mounted. A pinion on the said countershaft transmits rotary motion to a
toothed wheel fixed on the main shaft of the machine which is thereby caused to
revolve continuously; the said main-shaft is carried by the first named standards
.

page_text: and itself carries the segmental combs and the fluted segments. The aforesaid
toothed wheel gears into a toothed wheel on an auxiliary shaft.
The first-mentioned toothed wheel has on one side a cam-groove which produces
the reciprocating rotary motion of the rear pair of detaching-rollers.
Into the said cam-groove there engages a stud (preferably fitted with an
antifriction-roller) on a bent lever; the other end of this bent lever is provided
with a pawl which is kept by means of a spring in engagement with a ratchet-
wheel on the axle of which the said bent lever is loosely mounted.. This axle has
thus imparted to it a rocking-motion which is transmitted by means of toothed
gearing to a pinion on the shaft of the lower rear-detaching roller. The corre
sponding upper detaching-roller is driven by the lower roller by friction only, and
is held down by spring-pressure or by a weighted lever for the purpose of increasing
this friction. Since the forward motion of the rear detaching-rollers must be
greater than their backward motion, it is necessary that the aforesaid pawl shall
be thrown out of operation at intervals during the backward motion of the said bent
lever. This is effected by means of a tappet which is mounted on the aforesaid
auxiliary shaft and is arranged to strike, at the proper time, against an arm
mounted on the said pawl, and cause the same to rock in such a manner as to raise
the said pawl whereby the motion of the aforesaid pinion actuated by the bent
lever is interrupted.
The movements of the front detaching-rollers and of the receiving-rollers are
effected by means of an intermediate wheel, which is rotated continuously by a
wheel mounted on the aforesaid auxiliary shaft. This intermediate wheel gears.
into a toothed wheel through which the receiving-rollers are operated and also into
a toothed wheel fixed on the shaft of a brush for stripping the comb-cylinder.
The last-mentioned toothed wheel gears into a rather wider toothed wheel which
is loose on the shaft of a friction clutch and is connected with one half of the said
friction-clutch. The other half of the said friction-clutch is fixed on the aforesaid
shaft. When the clutch is in gear, the motion is transmitted from a pinion on the
aforesaid shaft of the friction-clutch to the shaft of the lower of the front
detaching-rollers by means of a train of toothed gearing. The upper of the front
detaching rollers is preferably held down by means of a spring or a weight and is
driven by the lower roller by friction only. The said clutch is thrown into and
out of gear by the first-mentioned toothed wheel on the aforesaid auxiliary shaft
which has on one side an arc-shaped projection against which bears an antifriction-
roller on an arm of a bar capable of longitudinal movement. On the said bar
there is fixed a fork-shaped arm which engages the first-mentioned half of the
friction-clutch aforesaid. A helical spring surrounding the said bar is arranged in
such a manner as always to press the two halves of the friction-clutch towards each
other. The first-mentioned arm is guided by an arm mounted on a fixed stud.
Therefore, as soon as the said antifriction-roller is caught by the aforesaid-
projection the friction-coupling is disconnected, and the rotation of the shaft of the
friction-coupling and consequently of the front detaching-rollers, is interrupted.
By adjusting a sector provided with an arc which forms a terminal continuation of
the projection aforesaid, the instant at which the rotation of the front detaching-
rollers must cease, can be accurately regulated.
The receiving-rollers are operated in a similar manner from the toothed wheel
bereinbefore mentioned through a toothed wheel, friction-clutch, and toothed gearing.
The last-mentioned toothed wheel, which has a wide rim, is mounted loose on the
shaft of the lower drawing-roller, is fixed to one half of the corresponding friction-
clutch the other half of the friction-clutch is fixed on the said shaft, and a pinion
fixed thereon transmits the rotation of the shaft by means of toothed gearing to
the shaft of the lower receiving-roller. The receiving-rollers and the drawing-
rollers are therefore always in motion or at rest at the same time. The ratio of
gearing between the lower receiving roller and the lower drawing-roller is made
such as to cause the latter roller to rotate much faster than the former. The upper
receiving and drawing rollers are, as above stated with reference to the upper

page_text: detaching-rollers pressed down by means of a spring or a weight, and are driven by
friction by the lower rollers.
The interruption of the motion is effected by throwing out of gear the second of
the hereinbefore mentioned friction-clutches by means of an arc-shaped projection
on one side of the aforesaid toothed wheel that gears into the aforesaid intermediate
wheel. Against this projection bears an antifriction-roller on a lever which is
provided with a fixed pivot and is acted on at its lower part by a spring in such a
manner as to press the two halves of the friction-clutch in gear with each other, by
means of the fork-piece which engages with one of the said halves. The halves
of the friction-clutch are disengaged in a manner similar to that described with
reference to the first-mentioned friction-clutch, by the action of the said arc-shaped
projection upon the said antifriction-roller. The pins or journals of the aforesaid
bearing-roller are guided in a radial manuer by means of slots in the frame, and
has small flanges which run on corresponding flanges on the comb-cylinder.
These flanges are constructed so as to cause a suitable rise and fall of the bearing-
roller.
If desired, the bearing-roller may be pressed down by suitable means in order to
increase the friction. The said bearing-roller may be replaced by two or more
rollers or by other devices for the purpose of conveying the tufts from one pair of
nippers to the other pair.
The rise of the upper rear nipping-jaw is effected by means of a cam-groove
formed in the first-mentioned toothed wheel on the aforesaid auxiliary shaft. A pin
which is provided with an antifriction-roller and is situate on a lever fixed on a
shaft, engages in the said cam groove, whereby an interrupted rocking-motion is
imparted to the said shaft which is transmitted by means of arms and connecting-
rods to a lever to which is attached the upper rear nipping-jaw. The upper front
nipping-jaw is operated in a similar manner.
The rollers that carry and move the lap are driven through a train of wheels
from a pinion which is fixed on the shaft of the lower rear detaching-roller at the
end remote from the driving-pulley. The last wheel in the said train gears into a
wheel fixed on the shaft of the front lap-roller, and rotates through an intermediate
wheel, a wheel fixed on the shaft of the rear lap-roller. The lap-rollers are thus
caused always to revolve uniformly with, and in the same direction as the lower
rear detaching-roller so that the fleece is unwound from and rewound on the lap in
a manner corresponding to that in which it is fed forwards and moved backwards
by the rear pair of detaching-rollers.
Of the delivery-rollers hereinbefore, mentioned only the lower roller is driven
which is effected from the main-shaft. On the rear end of the latter is a bevel-
wheel gearing into the bevel-wheel whose sbaft carries at its other end another
bevel-wheel. The latter drives, through a bevel-wheel and a toothed wheel, a wheel
fixed on the shaft of the lower delivery-roller.
Gearing into the first of the bevel-wheels, mentioned in the preceding paragraph,
is another bevel-wheel through which and a worm fixed on its shaft is driven a
worm-wheel secured on the shaft of a roller which removes the noils in a known
manner from the hereinbefore mentioned brush for stripping the combs. A comb
for stripping the said roller is carried by an arm reciprocated by means of a lever
which is connected by a rod with a crank secured on the shaft of the said brush.
The mechanism hereinbefore described may of course be variously modified and
is given merely by way of example. And although cotton is the only material
that has been hereinbefore mentioned we would have it understood that our
method and apparatus are also applicable to the manufacture of some other
fibrous materials.

page_text: Improved Method of and Apparatus for Combing Cotton and other
Fibrous Materials.
We, ROBERT STAUB, of 124 Crefelderstrasse, München-Gladbach, Germany,
Spinning Engineer, and AUGUST MONFORTS of 21 Kronprinzenstrasse, München-
Gladbach, aforesaid, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this inventi >>>
and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :---
The operation of combing in cotton-spinning has hitherto been restricted in
spite of its incontestable value in the production of faultless yarn or thread. The
reason of this is that the combing-machines heretofore ordinarily employed have
not sufficiently satisfied the requirements of spinners as regards output and as
regards the adaptability for further use of the sliver produced..
Now, our invention consists in a method or process, which 'obviates the evils
present to a greater or less degree in the use of the various machines hitherto
employed, and in apparatus, which enables cotton and similar fibrous materials to be
combed with equal advantage whether they possess long or short staples and which
is adapted to give a maximum output and to produce a sliver of uniform composition
capable of being readily employed in subsequent spinning-processes.
In order that the difference between our method of combing and other methods
may be clearly understood, let a represent the combing of the front portion or half
(hereinafter called "half") of the tuft whilst it is still in combination with the
fleece; a', the combing of the front portion or half of the tuft when detached fron
the fleece; the combing of the rear portion or half (hereinafter called "half")
of a detached tuft; c, the detachment of the tuft from the fleece; and d, the
combination of the tuft with previously combed tufts to form another fleece; then
different processes of combing may consist in the combination of these various
operations in the manner represented by the following expressions, in which the
simultaneous occurrence of two operations is indicated by bracketing together the
corresponding letters :-
40 improved method.
In order to be able to comb fibrous materials having a staple of any desired
length, it is necessary that the parts serving to effect the detachment of the tufts
of fibre from the fleece shall be capable of being set at any desired distance apart.

page_text: To this end, according to our invention, the tufts of fibre are detached from the
fleece before the commencement of the combing-operation proper, and the detaching-
devices are arranged independently of the combing-device.
The output of a combing-machine depends, first, on its effective or working
width; secondly, on the number of strokes of the comb per unit of time; and,
thirdly, on the length and thickness of the tuft that can be treated during one
stroke of the comb. The first two points depend solely on the construction and
arrangement of its parts and mechanism and have been subjects of much considera-
tion in the design of combing-machines heret fore known; but the last point-that
is to say, the treatment of a larger or smaller quantity during each stroke of the
comb-depends on the method on which the process employed is based.
For the purpose of treating the maximum quantity of material during each
stroke of the comb without damaging the material or the working parts, there are
employed according to our invention, detaching-devices which enable the aid of the
hitherto generally used top-comb to be dispensed with. The tufts of fibre are
detached from the fleece without the use of a top-comb or similar intermediate
device and before the commencement of the combing proper, so that there is no
impediment to obtaining very thick tufts of fibre from a thick fleece, and both
halves of each of the tufts of fibre are combed separately and uniformly by a
number of combs of increasing fineness. The combing of the maximum quantity
of fibrous material of each stroke of the comb is thus rendered possible.
A great difficulty with reference to the last-mentioned point-a difficulty of the
greatest importance as regards the value of a combing-machine-consists in the
production of a sliver which shall be well adapted to undergo the subsequent
spinning-operations. Now, since the said spinning-operations consist chiefly in
drawing that is to say, increasing the fineness of the sliver-the sliver must not
only have sufficient strength but also have its fibres distributed as uniformly as
possible.
Although it is possible by the methods heretofore known to produce a thin
supple fleece from thin tufts of fibre by uniting the ends of such tufts, and to
_condense such a fleece into a sliver in which the uniformity of distribution of the
fibres will vary more or less according to the degree of efficiency of the condensing-
mechanism employed, yet this method must fail where, it is required to produce a
sliver from thick stiff tufts of fibrous material.
Now according to our invention the combed tufts of fibrous material are laid one
on another at intervals of distance corresponding to the lengths of the fleece fed
forward during the several strokes of the comb, whereby a scaly fleece is produced
which has its fibres arranged with the same uniformity as the fleece fed in, and,
leaving the noils out of account, approximately the same width and thickness. On
account of this manner of producing the fleece of combed material, the fibres are
arranged therein with the utmost uniformity, and this quality will also be possessed
to the same extent by the sliver ultimately produced. This uniformity of arrange-
ment in the fleece thus produced enables the same, before it is condensed into a
sliver, to be drawn out uniformly throughout its entire width, so that it is converted
into a thin, supple, and continuous fleece in which the fibres are arranged in a
perfectly uniform and parallel manner, the loose scaly nature of the fleece being
thereby caused to disappear. This thin, supple fleece can now be readily
condensed into a sliver capable of being subjected to further spinning-processes.
The method or process forming the subject of our invention consists therefore in
detaching tufts of fibre from a fleece of any desired thickness before the
commencement of the combing proper and without the aid of a top-comb or the
like, then treating the detached tufts singly and on both halves in a uniform manner
by a number of combs, and afterwards combining the combed tufts by laying them
one on another like the scales of a fish, so that the fleece produced can be couverted
into a thin fleece the fibres of which are arranged in a uniform, parallel, and
cohesive manner, by means of mechanism which draws out the said fleece through-
out its entire width and before the latter is condensed into a sliver.

page_text: This method may be employed with advantage in those combing-machines which
are provided, for the purpose of combing uniformly both halves of the tufts, with
two pairs of nippers, with one pair of nippers and a nipping roller or drum, or
with two nipping rollers or drums.
In the accompanying drawings-
Fig. 1 is an end elevation of a combing-machine according to this invention;
Figs. 1A, 1B, 1C, 10, and 1 are diagrammatic views ;
Fig. 2 a side elevation of the machine looking in the direction indicated by the
arrow of Fig. 3, the working-rollers being shown partly broken off.
Fig. 3 is a plan of the machine broken off through the working-rollers;
Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a portion of the machine with the driving-gear,
looking in the direction indicated by the arrow y of Fig. 3;
Fig. 5 is a cross-section of the machine on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3; and
Figs. 6 to 1 are further cross sections taken on the lines of Fig. 3 marked with
numerals corresponding to the numbers of the figures: the arrows annexed to the
section-lines indicate the direction in which the sections are represented.
The succeeding general description of the operations involved in the method of
combing according to this invention will be most easily understood by referring to
Fig. 5.
The lap F containing the fleece to be combed is carried by a pair of rollers R R¹
and passes thence over a guide-plate t and then consecutively between two pairs of
rollers R R & R R which together constitute a detaching-device and will be
hereinafter termed detaching-rollers. This detaching-device is operated in such a
manner that when the two pairs of rollers have rotated sufficiently in a forward
direction to draw in a certain length of fleece, the direction of rotation of the rear
pair of detaching-rollers R2 R³ is reversed, whilst the front pair of detaching-
rollers R R continues to rotate in the forward direction. The fleece caught
between the rear detaching-rollers R2 R3 is thereby drawn back and detached from
the fibres that have moved out of the reach of the said rollers and are now caught
between the front detaching-rollers R* R. The detached tuft of fibres constituted
by the last-mentioned fibres is now pushed under an upper nipping-jaw N which
has at this time been brought into position, and, at the instant that the front
detaching-rollers R R* cease to rotate, the said tuft is caught by the said
nipping-jaw in its descent and is pressed firmly against a lower and stationary
nipping-jaw No.
During the time that the nipping-jaws N & No, which will be hereinafter called
rear nipping-jaws, hold the tuft, the forwardly projecting end of the said tuft is
combed by a segmental comb C mounted on a cylinder, which will hereinafter be
referred to as the comb-cylinder. The nipping-jaws N N° now open again, and a
fluted segment C', also mounted on the comb-cylinder, with the aid of a bearing-
roller R, resting freely on the said fluted segment, and of the simultaneously
renewed rotation of the front detaching-rollers R R³, carries the tuft along and
conveys it between a pair of front nipping-jaws N¹ N2, which are now open and are
situate in front of the paths of the fluted segment C and segmental cones C, and
onwards to a pair of rollers R' R8, which will be hereinafter referred to as
receiving-rollers. The rotation of these receiving-rollers R7 R8 moves the tuft
forward until the rear uncombed portion remains within reach of the segmental
comb C. At this moment the receiving-rollers R7 R8 are stopped, the upper front
nipping-jaw N¹ moves down upon the lower and fixed nipping-jaw N2 and nips the
tuft and the segmental comb Ċ then combs the rear portion of the tuft.
By repeating the operations just described, there is formed between the receiving-
rollers R7 R8 a scaly fleece which is gradually moved onwards towards a pair of
drawing-rollers R9 R10 by the step by step rotation of the receiving-rollers R' Rs.
But since the drawing-rollers R Rio rotate simultaneously with but with a
greater peripheral velocity than, the receiving-rollers R7 R8, a drawing-action is
produced by which the thick fleece is converted into a thin supple fleece.. This
B

page_text: •
fleece is now condensed, by means of a guide-plate t', a trumpet C³, and a pair of
delivery-rollers R R into a sliver suitable for further treatment. Instead of the
said pair of drawing-rollers R10 R¹¹, two or more pairs of drawing-rollers may be
employed.
The series of operations just described are illustrated diagrammatically by
Figs. 1A, 1B, 1C, 1, and 1E of the accompanying drawings, which represent the
parts at five successive times. In all the figs. radial arrows indicate that the
corresponding rollers are stationary.
Fig. 1 corresponds to the position illustrated in Fig. 5, in which the last
portion of the segmental comb C is entering the end of the tuft presented to it by
the rear nipping-jaws N N°. The rear end of the preceding tuft is being simul-
taneously combed; and the rear detaching rollers R2 R3 are beginning to rotate in
a forward direction, the front detaching-rollers R* R', the receiving-rollers R7 R8,
and the drawing-rollers R R10 being stationary. Both pairs of nipping-jaws N° N
and N1 N2 are closed, and the bearing-roller R is raised.
Fig. 1 represents the position of the parts when the last portion of the
segmental comb C has passed the nose of the front nipping-jaws N' N' and the
fluted segment C¹ is moving under the bearing-roller R. The rear detaching-
rollers R2 R3 are still revolving in a forward direction and have advanced the
fleece until it is near to the front detaching-rollers R* R³. These rollers are
beginning to revolve and to push forward between the rear nipping jaws N No,
which are now opening, the rear end of the previously detached tuft, which is now
being combed on its forward end. The bearing roller R is now beginning to
descend. The combing of the rear portion of the preceding tuft will now be
completed, the front nipping-jaws N' N and the rollers R' R, R and R having
retained, without alteration, the position shown in Fig. 1A.
In the position shown in Fig. 1C, the comb-cylinder has rotated until the fluted
segment has arrived at the nose of the front nipping-jaws N N².
The rear
detaching-rollers R2 R³ have meanwhile reversed their rotation and now complete
the detaching of the fleece from another tuft which is carried along by the further
forwardly rotating front detaching-rollers R R and is pushed out to the fully
opened rear nipping-jaws N, Nº. The segmental needle-comb C is situate out of
the reach of the new tuft. The bearing-roller R has descended upon the fluted
segment C¹ and, together with the latter, has caught the preceding tuft, which so
far is combed on one end only, and is about to convey it between the open front
nipping-jaws N1 N2. The receiving and the drawing rollers have commenced to
rotate.
After further rotation of the comb cylinder, the parts assume the position shown
in Fig. 1, in which the first row of needles of the segmental comb C is entering
the freshly introduced tuft last detached from the fleece. The rear nipping-
jaws N No have now just closed, and the front detaching-rollers R R* have
completed their partial retation. The rear detaching-rollers R2 R3 have meanwhile
finished their rearward rotation and are stationary, the bearing-roller R has
ascended, the nipping-jaws N1 N2 are closing, and the pairs of rollers R R*
aud R R are terminating their rotation.
When the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 1, the combing of the rear end
of the tuft by the segmental comb is commencing. The rear detaching-rollers R R³
are still stationary, and the other parts are resuming the positions shown in Fig. 14.
The front detaching-rollers R4 R³ may have a continuous instead of a step-by-step
motion. In that case the rear nipping-jaws N N° are closed as soon as the front
detaching-rollers R R have pushed forward the requisite length of tuft towards
the said rear nipping-jaws. Whilst the tuft is being tightly held by these jaws, its
rear end is being gradually released by the continued rotation of the front
detaching rollers R R³. The bearing-roller R having descended upon the fluted
segment on the opening of the nipping-jaws N No, it now draws the tuft out
from between the said jaws, between which it lies loose.

page_text: The detaching-devices adapted to he employed in our improved method of
combing are of two kinds-viz., first, the herein before described two pairs of nipping
or detaching rollers, and secondly, one pair of nipping-jaws and one pair of nipping
or detaching rollers. In each of these cases the said devices, are adjusted to a
distance apart corresponding to the length of the fibre. In the second of the two
ases just specified, the front end of the fleece is pushed in between the nipping-jaws
and then nipped between these jaws and held by them during the rearward rotation
of the pair of nipping rollers. The fibres lying loose between the nipping-jaws
and the nipping-rollers share in the rearward movement of the fleece produced by
the nipping-rollers and are gradually seized and carried along by the said nipping-
rollers whilst the detaching-operation is taking place. In the other case, the
detaching-operation takes place as herein before described, and the loose fibres
lying between the two pairs of rollers are seized by the pair of rollers that is the
nearer to the said fibres. The detachment is in this case effected in a more rapid
and even manner than when a pair of nipping-jaws and a pair of detaching-rollers
are employed.
The machine illustrated is provided, as is usual in machines for combing cotton,
with a number of comb-cylinders constituting so many working-places mounted
on the same shaft S¹. These comb-cylinders are arranged between standards A
(Figs. 1 to 5) fixed to a base-plate or frame B.
The machine is driven from one end by means of fast and loose pulleys a and a¹
mounted on a short countershaft S which is carried in two other standards A+ and A²
and extends only to the. middle of the nearer of the standards A. A pinion 1
(Figs. 7 and 9) on the countershaft S transmits rotary motion to a toothed wheel 2
fixed on the main shaft S of the machine, which is thereby caused to revolve
continuously; the main-shaft S' is supported by the standards A and carries the
segmental combs C and the fluted segments C¹. The toothed wheel 2 gears into a
toothed wheel 3 on an auxiliary shaft S2.
The toothed wheel 2 has on one side a cam-groove E which produces the
reciprocating rotary motion of the rear pair of detaching-rollers R2 R³. For this
purpose in the said cam-groove E there engages a stud e (Fig. 7) (preferably fitted
with an antifriction-roller) on a bent lever I, the other end of which is provided
with a pawl P which is kept by means of a spring p in engagement with a ratchet-
wheel W on the axle S' of which the bent lever is loosely mounted. The axle S³
has thus imparted to it a rocking-motion, which is transmitted by means of a
toothed wheel 4 (Fig. 8) and an intermediate wheel 5, to a pinion 6 on the shaft s²
of the lower rear-detaching roller R2. The corresponding upper detaching-roller R³
is driven by the lower roller by friction only, and is held down by spring-pressure.
or by a weight G and lever (Fig. 5) for the purpose of increasing this friction.
Since the forward motion of the rear detaching-rollers R2 R3 must be greater
than their backward motion, it is necessary that the pawl P shall be thrown out of
operation at intervals during the backward motion of the bent lever L. This is
effected by means of a tappet d (Fig. 9), which is mounted on the auxiliary shaft S²
and is arranged to strike, at the proper time, against an arm L mounted on the
pawl P, and to cause the same to rock in such a manner as to raise the said pawl,
whereby the motion of the pinion actuated by the bent lever L is interrupted.
The movements of the front detaching-rollers R R* and of the receiving-
rollers R R are effected by means of an intermediate wheel 8 (Fig. 6), which is
rotated continuously by a wheel 7 mounted on the auxiliary shaft S². The;
intermediate wheel 8 gears into a toothed wheel 18 through which the receiving-
rollers R7 R8 are operated, and also into a toothed wheel 9 fixed on the shaft S of,
a brush H (Fig. 5) for stripping the comb-cylinder. The toothed wheel 9 gears into
a rather wider toothed wheel 10 which is loose on the shaft S' of a friction-clutch ƒƒ
(Figs. 2 and 3) and is connected with one half of the said clutch. The other
When the two,
half of the friction-clutch fis fixed on the shaft S7.
parts ff of the clutch are in gear motion is transmitted from a pinion 11 on the
shaft S to the shafts of the lower front detaching-roller R by means of toothed

page_text: wheels 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17 (Figs. 2, 3, and 10). The upper front detaching-
roller 'R' is preferably held down by means of a spring or a weight G¹ and is driven
by the lower roller R by friction only. The clutch ff is thrown into and out of
gear by the toothed wheel 2 on the shaft s', which has on one. side an arc-shaped
projection d' (Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 9) against which bears an antifriction-roller on
an arm of a bar 2 capable of longitudinal movement. On the bar there is
fixed a fork-shaped arm which engages the half of the friction-clutch ff'.
A helical spring f2 surrounding the bar is arranged in such a manner as always
to press the two halves ff' of the friction-clutch towards each other. The arm l
is guided by an arm L mounted on a fixed stud at 15. Therefore, as soon as the
antifriction-roller is caught by the projection d' the friction-clutch fis
disconnected, and the rotation of the shaft S' of the friction-coupling and of the
pinion 11 fixed thereon, and consequently that of the front detaching-rollers R R*
is interrupted. By adjusting a sector d" (Fig. 9) provided with an arc which
forms a terminal continuation of the projection d', the instant at which the rotation
of the front detaching-rollers R R* must cease, can be accurately regulated.
The receiving-rollers R7 R8 are operated in a similar manner from the toothed
wheel 18 (Fig. 6) through a toothed wheel 19, friction-clutch f³ 4 (Fig. 3), and
toothed wheels 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, and 25 (Fig. 10). The toothed wheel 19, which
has a wide rim, and is mounted loosely on the shaft s of the lower drawing-
roller R (Figs. 4 and 6) is fixed to one half f³ of the friction-clutch f³f the other
half of which is fixed on the shafts. The pinion 20 fixed on the said shaft
transmits its rotation by means of the toothed wheels 20
25 to the shaft s
of the lower receiving roller R'. The receiving-rollers R7 R8 and the drawing-
rollers R R are therefore always in motion or at rest at the same time. The
ratio of geating between the rollers R7 and R' is made such as to cause the latter
roller R to rotate much faster than the former R². The upper receiving and
drawing rollers R³ and R10 are, as above stated with reference to the upper
detaching-rollers R³ and R³, pressed down by means of a spring or a weight, and
are driven by friction by the lower rollers. The interruption of the motion is
effected by throwing the friction-clutch f³f out of gear by means of an arc-shaped
projection d² on one side of the toothed wheel 7 (Figs. 4 and 6) that gears into the
intermediate wheel 8. Against the projection d2 bears an antifriction roller e on
a lever L which is provided with a fixed pivot at land is acted on at its lower
part by a spring fin such a manner as to tend to press the two halves of the
friction-clutch ff into gear, with each other, by means of a fork-piece which
engages with one of the said halves. The halves of the friction-clutch f³ ft are
disengaged in a manner similar to that described with reference to the clutch, ƒƒ¨¹,
by the action of the arc-shaped projection d upon the antifriction-roller e.
3
The pins or journals of the bearing-roller R6 are guided in a radial manner by
means of slots (Fig. 5) in the frame; and the said bearing-roller is provided with
small flanges which run on corresponding flanges on the comb-cylinder. These
Hanges are constructed so as to cause a suitable rise and fall of the bearing-roller.
If desired, the roller R may be pressed down by suitable means in order to
increase the friction. The bearing-roller R may be replaced by two or more
rollers or by other devices for the purpose of conveying the tufts from one pair of
nippers to the other pair.
The rise of the upper rear nipping-jaw N is effected by means of a cam-groove E¹
formed in the toothed wheel 3 on the auxiliary shaft S² (Figs. 3 & 7). A pin e¹,
which is provided with an antifriction-roller and is situate on a lever L' fixed on a
shaft S, engages in the cam-groove E¹, whereby an intermittent rocking-motion is
imparted to the shaft S, which motion is transmitted by means of arms L³ and
connecting-rods (Fig. 5) to levers n which are pivoted at n° and to which is
attached the upper rear nipping-jaw N. The upper front uipping-jaw N¹ is
operated in a similar manner by means of the cam-groove E2 (Fig. 6), pin &²,
lever L2, shaft S, lever arm L, connecting-rods, and levers n¹ (Figs. 5 & 6).
The rollers R & R¹ that carry and move the lap F are driven through a train

page_text: of wheels 27, 28, and 29 (Fig. 1) from a pinion 26 which is fixed on the shaft s² of
the lower rear detaching-roller R2 at the end remote from the driving-pulley. The
last wheel 29 in the said train gears into a wheel 30 fixed on the shafts of the
front lap-roller R', and rotates, through an intermediate wheel 31, a wheel 32 fixed
on the shafts of the rear lap-roller R. The lap-rollers R & R' are thus caused
always to revolve uniformly with, and in the same direction as, the lower rear
detaching-roller R2; so that the fleece is unwound from and rewound on the lap in
a manner corresponding to that in which it is fed forwards and moved backwards
by the rear pair of detaching-rollers R² R³.
Of the delivery-rollers R R only the lower roller R" is driven, which is
effected from the main shaft St. For this purpose, on the rear end of the shaft S¹
is a bevel wheel 33 (Fig. 1) gearing into a bevel-wheel 34 whose shaft carries at
its other end another bevel-wheel 35, which drives, through a bevel-wheel 36 and a
toothed wheel 37, a wheel 38 fixed on the shaft s of the lower delivery-roller R".
Gearing into the bevel-wheel 33 is another bevel-wheel 39 through which and a
worm 40 fixed on its shaft is driven a worm-wheel 41 secured on the shaft St of a
roller D which removes the noils in a known manner from the herein before
mentioned stripping-brush H. A comb K, for stripping the roller D is carried by
an arm K reciprocated by means of a lever L10 which is connected by a rod
with a crank k secured on the shaft S of the brush H.
The mechanism herein before described may of course be variously modified and
is given merely by way of example.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. A. method of combing cotton and like fibrous materials, consisting in detaching
tufts of fibre from a fleece before the commencement of the combing and without
the use of a top-comb, combing both ends of the tuft in the same manner by means
of a comb-segment, and laying the combed tufts so as to overlap one another in
such a manner that the new scaly fleece thus obtained can be drawn out before it
is condensed into a narrow band or sliver, substantially as hereinbefore set forth.
2. For carrying out the method of combing specified in the preceding claim, a
machine comprising a comb-cylinder, a detaching-device, a pair of nipping-jaws
which are arranged between the said device and comb-cylinder and are adapted to
hold the forward end of a detached tuft within reach of the comb-segment, a
second pair of nipping-jaws which are arranged opposite to the first pair and which
are adapted to take up or nip the tuft after it has been combed at one end only
and similarly to hold the still uncombed portion of the tuft within reach of the
comb-segment, and a pair of rollers which are located immediately in front of the
said second pair of nipping-jaws and between which the formation of the new scale
like fleece is completed, substantially as described.
3. A combing-machine of the kind specified in Claim 2, in which the detaching-
device comprises two pairs of rollers R2 R³ and R R which are arranged
immediately behind the first pair of nipping-jaws N No, one of the said pairs of
rollers, viz. R4 R5, having an intermittent or a continuous forward rotation whilst .
the second pair R R³ in addition to an intermittent forward rotation is arranged
to have a shorter backward rotation, substantially as herein described for the
purpose specified.
"
4. A combing-machine of the kind specified in Claim 2, in which one or more
pairs of rollers R R are arranged in front of the roller R7 R8 that form the
Heece and are arranged to rotate simultaneously with, but at a greater peripheral
velocity than, the said last mentioned rollers R7 R8, so as to constitute with these
rollers, a drawing arrangement for the purpose of subjecting the fleece, before it is
condensed, to a draught throughout its width and of thereby drawing out the same
nto a thin, supple fleece the distribution of the fibres of which is uniform and
parallel, substantially as described.

page_text: 5. My improved combing-machine constructed, arranged and operating sub-
stantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and shown in the accompanying
drawings.
11
001 1
•
For the Applicants,
W. LLOYD WISE,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent.