CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR PREPARING AND COMBING WOOL, HAIR, AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES
Year: 1843

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office of Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, 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 Sixteenth day of November, in the seventh year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said William Edward Newton, Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege
and authority, that I, the said William Edward Newton, my executors, admi-
nistrators, and assigns, and such others as I, the said William Edward New-
ton, 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, an Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS
IN MACHINERY FOR PREPARING AND COMBING WOOL, HAIR, AND OTHER FIBROUS
SUBSTANCES," being a communication from a Foreigner residing abroad; in
which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso obliging me, the said William
Edward Newton, by an instrument in writing under my hand and scal, parti-
cularly to describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, and to cause the same to be inrolled in
Her Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and

page_text: 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 compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
William Edward Newton, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Inven-
tion, 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:-
The Invention which has been communicated to me by my Correspondent
abroad consists,―
Firstly, of an improved machine or apparatus for partially opening and
straightening wool or other fibrous substance, either in its raw state or after
it has been washed, as the manufacturer may think most convenient. Accord-
ing to the present practice long wools are first sorted from the fleece, then
washed in soap and water, and afterwards prepared, carded, or combed; but
the Inventor of the improved mode hereafter described prefers that the wool
or other fibrous material should be opened and the fibres thereof straightened
before it undergoes the operation of washing, which may then be effected in
á more satisfactory manner, and with greater economy.
Secondly, in an apparatus for preparing the wool or other fibrous material,
by washing, cleansing, and scouring it, either before or after such wool or
other material has been opened, carded, or combed.
Thirdly, in a novel arrangement of parts constituting a comb table, which
may be worked with greater economy.and advantage than those now in use.
Fourthly, a peculiar. construction of apparatus for filling the combs with the
wool or other fibrous material as they travel along the comb table.
Fifthly, an improved machine or apparatus for working or combing the wool;
And, sixthly, in a novel arrangement of parts for drawing off the wool, and
in the employment of what the Inventor calls a fan spreader, which is adapted
or applied to the apparatus for drawing off the wool from the teeth of the
combs on the comb table after it has been properly worked or combed.
The first improvement, namely, the machine for preparing the wool or other
fibrous material, by opening and straightening the fibres is shewn in Sheets I.
and II. of the accompanying Drawings, in which Fig. 1 represents a horizontal
view of the apparatus as seen from above; Fig. 2 is a side elevation, and Fig. 3
a longitudinal section taken vertically through the machine. The framework is
seen at a, a, a, a, and the wool or other fibrous material is fed into the machine
by means of the endless feeding cloth b, b, which carries and conducts it between

page_text: the upper two of a set of three drawing rollers c, c, c, as seen best in the sec-
tional view, Fig. 3. From the first set of drawing rollers c, c, c, the wool or
other fibrous material passes between a 'pair of porcupine rollers d, d, ärmed
with teeth or spikes; then between a second set of drawing' rollers e, e, e, 'to
another pair of porcupine rollers f, f, and ultimately to a third set of drawing
rollers g, g, g. It will be seen, on inspecting the sectional view, Fig. 3, that
the under surfaces of the lowest of the drawing rollers c, e, g, and of the por-
cupine rollers d and f, were partially immersed in or revolve in contact with
water or other heated liquid in the trough h, h, which liquid, being carried up
by the rotation of the rollers, the wool or other fibrous material becomes
wetted and heated in its passage through this part of the machine. "The
water or other liquid in the trough 'h may be heated by means of a steam
pipe i, or in any other convenient manner; and the drawing rollers of each
set c, e, and 9, are kept in contact with its fellows, and made to revolve with
them by weighing the upper one in the manner usually adopted, which is well
understood, and is clearly shewn in the Drawing, rotary motion being com-
municated from the first 'mover to one of the rollers of each set in the ordinary
way. The wool or other fibrous material is conducted from the last set of
drawing rollers g, as seen best in Fig. 3, over and under a series of larger
porcupine cylinders j, k, l, m, armed with teeth or points similar to the roller's
d and f. And lastly, the fibrous material is lapped on to a large barrel,
drum, or cylinder n, n, which is furnished with teeth inclined to or set at an
angle to the periphery. A cylinder o, furnished with brushes placed radially,
is mounted in bearings above the part where the sliver or sheet of wool leaves
the last cylinder m, and laps on to the large cylinder 'n; which brush is made
to rotate for the purpose of assisting the delivery of the wool from the cylin-
der m, and pressing it close down between the inclined teeth of the large
barrel or drum n.
Having described this machine, and pointed out the course of the wool
from the endless feeding cloth b, b, to the barrel, drum, or cylinder n, where
it is lapped on, it is now necessary to explain the operation and treatment it
undergoes in its progress. Upon referring to Figs. 1 and 2, Sheet I., it will
be seen that the drawing rollers c, e, g, the porcupine rollers d and f, and the
larger porcupine cylinders j, k, l, and 'm, and also the barrel or drum f, have
all a rotary motion communicated to them by means of the wheels and
pinions which are mounted on their axles; and the gearing which causes
these rollers and cylinders to revolve is so arranged that each successive roller
or set of rollers throughout the machine is made to revolve at a quicker speed
than that of the roller or set of rollers immediately preceding it, and thereby

page_text: the sliver or sheet is constantly drawn out or attenuated during the whole of
its passage through the machine, until it is finally lapped on to the large
barrel or drum n in a very thin sheet. I have not thought it necessary to
describe in a more detailed manner the mechanical arrangement by which
the sliver may be drawn out into a thin sheet, as it will be perfectly evident to
and well understood by any intelligent mechanic by inspecting the Drawings;
.and I do not intend to confine myself to the peculiar arrangement of gearing
herein shewn for effecting this object, as it may be varied in several ways with-
out departing from the principle design or general features of the machine.
When a sufficient quantity of wool or other fibrous material has been
lapped on to the large cylinder it is to be unwound either on to a smaller
cylinder or roller, or into skips or cans, for the purpose of removing it to
the washing machine, the apparatus which constitutes the second improve-
ment. Several views of this washing machine are shewn in Sheet III., in
which Fig. 4 represents a horizontal view of the machine, as seen from above,
Fig. 5 a side elevation, Fig. 6 a vertical section taken longitudinally, and
Fig. 7 a vertical section taken transversely. a, a', a², are three troughs or
vessels containing hot liquids, and b, b, b, are three pairs of squeezing rollers,
which are driven by suitable gearing, and weighted (according to the pressure
that may be required) by means, of the weighted levers and rods, as shewn by
dots at f, f, ff, in Figs. 5 and 6. The sliver or sheet of wool to be washed is
placed at one end of the machine in a can or skip c, c, and passes over a
carrying roller d, into the first trough or vessel a, then under a roller e
mounted in bearings at the bottom of the vessel, from whence it ascends and
passes between the first pair of squeezing rollers b, b; then down and through
the second and third washing vessels a¹ and a², in a similar manner, and then
up and between the other pairs of squeezing rollers, as shewn in the Drawing
at Fig. 6. In commencing the operation of washing, the troughs or vessels a¹
and a² are filled with hot soap lather, and the vessel a with boiling water; and
when the wool has passed through the apparatus, it will have been well
washed and cleansed. The temperature of the liquid in the vessels is kept at
the boiling point by means of a steam pipe g, g, g, with branch pipes, which
enter each vessel, and pass down to near the bottom, as seen in Figures 5
and 7. It has been said that, in the first instance, the vessel a is filled with
boiling water; but when the water has become too dirty it is run off, and the
contents of the second vessel a' is run off or removed into the first, and that
of the third into the second, while the third is supplied with fresh liquid con-
sisting of hot soap lather. By this means the wool is much more effectually
cleansed than in the ordinary apparatus, in which only one vessel is used.

page_text: The third part of the Invention, namely, the comb table, or apparatus for
moving and working the combs, is shewn in Sheets IV. and V., in which
Fig. 8 represents a side elevation of the machine; Fig. 9, a horizontal view
of the same as seen from above; Fig. 10 is an elevation as it would appear at
the right-hand end of the machine; and Fig. 11 a vertical section taken in
an irregular line transversely across the machine. The peculiar novelty of
this part of the improvements consists,-
Firstly, in employing a set of working combs on each side of the machine,
whereby double the quantity of work may be performed upon one machine.
Secondly, in the means by which the comb plates (when they have travelled
from one end of the machine to the other) are carried round from one side to
the other, so that they may be brought into their proper place for receiving
a fresh supply of wool, or other fibrous material, which is filled into the machine
by an apparatus hereafter described.
And, thirdly, in improvements in connection with the apparatus for heating
the comb teeth.
a, a, a, a, a, a, is the framework, and b, b, b, the main shaft, extending
longitudinally through its whole length, and having at one end the pulley c, by
which all the parts of the machine are actuated through the instrumentality
of the gearing d, d, d, d. The comb plates e, e, e, e, are moved in the ordinary
manner along the machine by means of the long screw shaft f, f, f, which are
actuated by the gearing d, d, as is well understood by all persons acquainted
with this description of machinery. In the machines heretofore in use, when
the comb plates have arrived at one end of the machine they are generally
removed by hand, or by an imperfect apparatus which requires the assistance
of a workman or attendant; but in this improved machine the operation is
performed by a self-acting apparatus, connected with and forming part of the
machine itself. A row of comb plates are placed on each side of the machine,
and are worked from end to end by means of the long screw shafts f, f,
before mentioned; and each side of the comb table is furnished with a filling,
combing, or working and drawing-off machine, besides the suitable heating
apparatus, all of which are hereafter described. Two horizontal turntables
A, A, are mounted on vertical pins or axles at each end of the machine,
and have grooves or channels g, g, formed or cast on their face for the
purpose of receiving the comb plates, which, as the screw shafts f, f, revolve,
are pushed forward on to them. When a comb plate has been placed on
each of the turntables, the latter are (by suitable mechanism hereafter
described) made to turn horizontally on their axles, so as to carry the comb
plates round to the opposite side of the machine, where they are filled with

page_text: wool and worked as before. The turntables move periodically, and are
actuated simultaneously in the following manner; but, in order to prevent
confusion, I shall confine my description to one end of the machine only;
and the mechanism for actuating the turntables being precisely the same at
both ends, the like letters. of reference. are marked on corresponding parts
on each, and where seen in all: the Figures-On the main shaft b, b, which
extends from end to end of the machine, an endless screw. h is formed,
which takes into a wheel i, fixed on the transverse shaft j.. At one end of
this, shaft there is a cam k, and at the other end a projecting piece or arm 1,
which, as the shaft revolves, catches against the under side of a pin or stud m*,
connected to..and projecting from a weighted lever m, whereby the lever is
raised. This lever m has its fulcrum on the shaft n, as seen in Figs. 8, 9, 10,
and 11, and carries a catch or hook.o, which, as the lever is raised, takes into
one of the four teeth of a ratchet wheel p, .mounted on a long shaft q, 9, 9, 9
This shaft q also carries a.large bevil. wheel r, which gears into a corresponding
bevil wheels attached to the under side of the turntable. From this it will be
seen that as the transverse shaft j revolves, and by means of the arm / raises
the weighted lever m, it raises the hook o over the teeth of the wheel p; and
immediately that, the arm. on the shaft j allows the weighted lever to descend,
the hook o pulls round the wheel p, and with it the wheel q, q, and bevil
wheel, thereby causing the turntable to make half a rotation for the
purpose of carrying a comb. plate from one side of the table to the other.
In order that the turntable should stop dead in its proper place when it
has made half a rotation, two pins or studs 1, 1,. are set in the under part
of the turntable at opposite sides, and are made to catch into a spring
catch 2, which prevents the table from, proceeding any further. It will be
remembered that the turntable is pulled round by the agency of the hook o
on the weighted lover m, whose fulcrum is formed by the shaft n, which
consequently turns in its bearings whenever the lever m is raised or de-
pressed. On this shaft n an arm or lever 3 is fixed, and to the outer end
of the arm a chain 4 is attached, which is also connected to the spring
catch 2, and as the weighted lever m rises the chain lever 3 becomes
depressed, and thereby pulls down, the spring catch 2, and allows the pin
or stud 1 on the turntable to escape, and the turntable to move round.
Immediately, however, that the weighted lever m descends it raises the chain
lever 3, and a spring 5 forces up the catch into its original position, ready
to arrest the other pin 1 on its arrival as the table turns. The comb plate
having been thus carried round, it is pushed forward off of the turntable
on to the comb table by means of the following contrivance :-A horizontal

page_text: vibrating arm or lever t, t, is mounted loosely on the vertical shaft or axle
of the turntable A immediately, above it, and is worked by two chains u, u,
which pass over pullies v, v.
One of these chains carries at its lower end
a.weight which always keeps the vibrating.lever t steady.. The lower end of
the other chain is connected to a lever w, carrying a hook-shaped piece..x,
which is worked by the cam k on the shaft j, before mentioned. . It. will now.
be seen that as the said shaft j revolves it. brings round the cam k, which, by
acting against the hook-shaped piece a, depresses the lever w, and by means of
the chain u slowly pulls round the vibrating lever into the position shown by
dots in the horizontal view, Fig. 9. Immediately that the longer radius
of the cam k has passed the extremity of the hook-shaped piece x, thereby
allowing it to escape, the weight at the end of, the other chain will pull round
the lever t, and by means of a drop catch 6, connected therewith, will push
forward.the comb plate. The catch 6 is mounted loosely on a pin or stud at
the end of the lever t, so as to allow. of its folding back when the lever is being
drawn round to catch hold of another comb plate.. The teeth of the combs
are heated,, during their progress through the machine, by fire grates filled
with ignited coke, charcoal, or other suitable fuel. These grates are placed at
any convenient situation inimediately in front of and close against the row of
combs, and the proper. degree of heat that it may be necessary to communicate
to the combs is. regulated by a shield. or guard, which (when the combs from
any cause happen to be stationary.for a short time) may be let down between
the combs and the front of the fire for the purpose of preventing the combs
from getting too hot; the shield or guard in front of the fire is moved up and
down by means of levers actuated by a strap leading from a pulley on the main
shaft, which sets the machinery of the comb table in motion. These levers are
so arranged that when the machine. is in action. the shield. or guard will be
retained either above or below the grate, so as to leave the comb teeth exposed
to the heat emanating from the grate; but when the strap is thrown off, and
the machine stopped, the levers will be acted upon, and the shield or guard
raised up or let fall, so as to completely shade the comb teeth from the direct
action of the fire.
:
The machine for filling or supplying the combs of the table with wool or
other fibrous material, and which constitutes the fourth improvement, is shewn
in Sheets IV. and V..in .connection with the last-described improvement. A
plan or horizontal view of one of these machines is shewn in Fig. 9, connected
to the table on one side, and an end elevation of the same is seen at Fig. 10,
also a transverse vertical section of the same at Fig. 11... The sliver or sheet
of wool or other fibrous material is to be brought from the preparing and

page_text: washing machine in skips or cans, and placed on a revolving circular table
alongside the filling. machine, into which it is fed from the skip or can through
the hollow axle y, which turns in suitable bearings on each side of the machine,
and is driven by a band or strap passed from the pulley z on the main shaft of
the comb-table machine over a corresponding pulley z¹ on the driving shaft
of the filling machine. This latter shaft carries a pinion or small toothed
wheel, which gears into a larger wheel 61, fixed on the same shaft as the
hollow axle, and thereby causes the latter to revolve. An aperture is made
in, or a considerable portion of the circumference of the hollow axle y is
cut away to allow the sliver to pass out laterally, and a pair of fluted
drawing or delivering rollers c¹, d¹, are mounted in bearings connected with
or attached to the hollow axle, and revolve therewith. The bite of these
rollers is regulated by means of set screws and springs e¹, as seen at Figs. 10
and 11, and the lower fluted roller has a small star. wheel g¹ fixed on its
axle, which, at every revolution of the hollow axle, strikes against a pro-
jecting pin or stud fi fixed to the framing, whereby the fluted rollers are
made to revolve one tooth, so as to draw the sliver forward and deliver
a certain and regular quantity at every revolution of the hollow axle and its
appendages, and thereby supply or fill the teeth of the combs, and by
varying the number of teeth of the star wheel g¹ a greater or less quantity
of wool may be supplied to the combs. In order to make the filling
machine work with regularity and smoothness, and the hollow axle to revolve
with ease, the weight of the fluted rollers c, d, is counterbalanced by the
weight ', which is cast on or bolted to the opposite side of the large toothed
wheel 6. It must now be understood that the sliver of wool passes in at one
end of the hollow axle, then out of the aperture which is cut away at its side,
and thence between the fluted rollers; and as the hollow axle y revolves,
carrying the fluted rollers round with it, the wool is wiped on to the teeth of the
combs, as shewn by dots in Fig. 11. This revolution of the hollow axle and
its appendages with the sliver of wool would give the sliver a slight twist, if
proper precautions were not taken to prevent it. This is done by causing the
can or skip which contains the sliver to revolve in the contrary direction to and
at the same speed as the hollow axle, so as to take out the twist from the
sliver as quick as it is formed, or rather to prevent it from being twisted.
The can or skip is mounted on a revolving table h', having a pulley i¹ formed
or connected to its under side, which pulley has a rotary motion
communicated to it from another pulley j', on the main shaft, by means of a
band or cord passing over the carrier pullies k¹, k¹.
on
As the teeth of the combs are supplied (by the continuous rotation of the

page_text: hollow axle of the filling machine) with a proper quantity of wool or
other fibrous material, the combs are gradually moved onward to the
combing or working machinery, which constitutes the fifth improvement;
and is shewn in Sheet VI. of the Drawings. Fig. 12 represents a hori-
zontal view of the combing machine; Fig. 13 is a front elevation of the
same; Fig. 14, a side elevation or end view; and Fig. 15 is another side
elevation, but shewing the working parts in a different position to that in
which they are represented in Fig. 14. By means of this machine a move-
ment of a peculiar kind is given to the working combs, which movement,
as nearly as possible, imitates that of the hand in the ordinary operation of
combing wool. The combs also are constructed in such a manner that they
are not so liable to break the staple of the wool as the combing machines
now in common use. This peculiar motion of the working comb is obtained
by mounting it in a movable frame, which frame is made to advance and
recede, while, at the same time, the working comb, has a peculiar and separate
motion communicated to it. In the Figures 12, 13, 14, and 15, a, a, a, a,
point out a stationary cast-iron framing; and b, b, b, a moveable or travelling
framing, with which the comb or combs is or are connected.
c, c, are the
fast and loose driving pullies on the main shaft d, d. Motive power being
applied to the driving pulley from any first mover, the shaft d, d, is made to
revolve; and a toothed wheel d', fixed on the shaft which gears into another
toothed wheel e, e, of larger diameter, mounted in bearings made in the jointed
and moveable arms f, f, is made to revolve also. The large wheel drives a
smaller wheel g, fixed on the shaft / below, which shaft h turns in bearings in
the moveable framing or sliding carriage b, b, b. This carriage is slidden to
and fro by the rods i, i, which are connected to the crank j, j, as seen in the
plan view. The carriage is furnished with antifriction rollers k, k, below, which
run on guides, bars, or grooves made in the stationary framing for that purpose.
The working combs 1, 1, are mounted at the upper ends of vertical rods m, m.
They are fixed upon the ends of two horizontal rods n, n, and furnished with
belical springs, as shewn in the Drawings, for the purpose of giving them a
degree of elasticity, and causing them to yield slightly to the wool during the
operation of combing. The rods m, m, are moved up and down in the
guides o, o, of the inoveable framing, and their lower ends are furnished with
studs or rollers, which work in the grooves of heart-shaped canis p, p, which
are fixed on the same shaft as the toothed wheel g, and consequently
revolve therewith. The backward and forward movements of the sliding
frame b, b, and the upward and downward movements of the combs 1,
are so arranged and combined that the combs are made to move in the

page_text: circuit which is shewn by dots in the Drawing at Fig. 14, and by that means
the wool is combed in a better and more economical manner than by the
machines now in use. It has been found advantageous to place the working
combs of this machine at an angle to the combs of the comb table, as the
wool is thereby worked more gradually, and there is not so great a risk of
breaking the staple. This object, however, may be effected by placing either
the combing machine at an angle to the combs of the table, as shewn in the
plan view, Fig. 12, and working it by separate power, or the machine may be
constructed with the combs set at the required angle. Although, to prevent
confusion, I have only shewn one comb, it is evident that a greater number
may be employed. The Inventor intends to employ two, and sometimes three
combs, working in succession at different speeds. The teeth of each comb
will be of a finer and closer guage than that immediately preceding it, and the
first comb, with a wide guage, will be worked slowly, for the purpose of
opening the wool, the second comb rather faster, and the third at a still
greater speed. This mechanical arrangement of parts, with certain modifi-
cations, may also be employed for filling the combs, in place of the ordinary
filling apparatus. When the wool or other fibrous material has been suffi-
ciently combed, and the comb plates, which slowly. progress along the table
during this operation, have passed onward, the combed wool or other fibrous
material is drawn off the combs by means of the apparatus shewn in
Sheet VII., which is constructly upon nearly the same plan as the apparatus
usually employed for this purpose. The wool or other fibrous material is
drawn off the combs by three pairs of fluted rollers, mounted vertically in
suitable bearings, and driven by proper gearing, as is well understood, and is
clearly shewn in Figure 16, which represents a side view of the drawing-off
apparatus, and Figure 17 a plan or horizontal view. These figures are on a
scale of half the real size. a, a, represents the bed or frame of the comb
table; and e, e, are the comb plates, which are driven by the screw shaft f,f
in the manner already explained. The first pair of rollers n¹, n¹, are called
the drawing rollers, and rotary motion is communicated to them from the
main shaft of the comb-table machine, or from any other convenient power,
by means of the gearing 1, 1, 1, 1, seen in Fig. 16. The second pair of
rollers o¹, o, are denominated the milking rollers, and are actuated by the
gearing p, p, p, above, which also communicates motion to the third pair of
rollers q, q, and these, being placed behind or at the back of the combs, are
called the backing rollers. The upper end of these three pairs of drawing-off
rollers, together with their gearing, turn in bearings in the frame plate
,,,, which is supported by pillars or columns s', s¹, s¹, s¹, above the

page_text: comb table, but to which it is firmly bolted, as seen in the Drawing. Inime
diately in the front, and close against the teeth of the combs e, e, and between
them and the first pair of drawing rollers n', n', a stationary comb t¹, t¹, of pecu-
liar construction, is mounted. This comb t¹, t¹, is shewn detached at Fig. 18,
and constitutes the particular novelty of this part of the apparatus. It is deno-
minated by the Inventor a "fan spreader," and is placed or adapted to the
machine in such a manner that its teeth are set at right angles to the teeth of
the combs e, e, as seen more particularly in the detached view, Fig. 18; and
as the combs e, e, full of combed wool, travel onwards, the wool enters the
teeth of tho "fan spreader," which keeps it extended, and presents it in a wide
sliver to the drawing-off rollers, which, by their rotation, draw it off the
combs, and pass it between the rollers u', u', into skips or cans below. The
milking and backing rollers draw off the wool that is left, and also convey it
between rollers v¹, w, and w¹, w¹, into cans below. The bite or grip of all the
rollers is regulated by screws and springs x, x¹, as is well understood.
Having now described the Invention that has been communicated to me
by my Correspondent abroad, and also the manner of carrying the same into
effect, I would observe, that either of the above-described improvements may
be used separately, and may without difficulty be applied to the ordinary
process of wool combing. And I desire it to be understood, that although in
the above description of the said Invention I have thought it necessary, for
the proper understanding thereof, to describe certain parts which have been
long known or in use, and with which the improvements are ultimately
blended, still I do not mean or intend to claim such well-known parts as con-
stituting any part of the Invention for which I have obtained Her Majesty's
Letters Patent as aforesaid. But I claim as the Invention secured to me by
the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent,-
Firstly, the arrangement and construction of the machine shewn in Sheets I.
and II. for preparing wool and other fibrous substances by opening and
straightening the fibres by the use of the cylinders j, k, l, m, in conjunction,
with the large cylinder on which the sliver is lapped in a thin sheet. I par-
ticularly claim working the wool into a lap or sliver in its raw unwashed
state, and also the use of a hot liquid to moisten and warm the wool in its
passage between the drawing rollers and smaller porcupine rollers to the.
porcupine cylinders.
:
<
Secondly, the arrangement of a washing machine, in which two or more
troughs or vessels a, a, and pairs of rollers b, b, are used in connexion.
Thirdly, the arrangement of the double-sided comb table with slide beds on
each side, so that, by working the combs up one side and down the other, the
:

page_text: operation of filling, combing, and drawing off may be carried on on both sides
at the same time. I also claim the construction, adaptation, and employment
of self-acting turn-tables, as described in Sheets IV. and V., by whatever
mechanical arrangement of parts the said tables may be actuated, and whereby
the combs are carried round from one side of the table to the other. I further 5
claim, in connection with this part of the improvements, the method above
described of heating the combs of the comb table, particularly the employment
of screens, shutters, or guards in front of the fire, for the purpose of preserving
the teeth, when stationary, from the intensity of the heat.
Fourthly, the employment of a hollow spindle or axle, and the counter 1
revolving table, on which the can or skip is placed, by means of which
mechanical arrangement the combs of the table may be filled by a direct
circular motion.
Fifthly, I claim the mechanism of the combing machine constructed and
arranged upon the principle above described and set forth, whereby a motion 1
as near as possible resembling that of the hand is obtained. The principle
upon which this machine is constructed may also be applied to filling the
combs of the comb table with wool, and I claim it accordingly when applied.
to this purpose.
Sixthly, the arrangement of parts for drawing off the wool from the teeth: 2
of the comb table, particularly the employment of a stationary comb called a
"fan spreader," in the manner and for the purposes above set forth and
explained.
In witness whereof, I, the said William. Edward Newton, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of May, in the year of 2
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty-four.
W. E. (L.s.) NEWTON.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the same Sixteenth day of May, in
the year above mentioned, the aforesaid William Edward Newton came
before our Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the Speci-
fication aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained, in form above
written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according to the
tenor of the Statute in that case made and provided.
Inrolled the same Sixteenth day of May, in the year above written..