IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR COMBING WOOL, PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Walton Whitehead, of Holbeck, in the Parish
of Leeds, in the County of York, a Partner in the Firm of Taylor,
Wordsworth, & Co., of the same Place, Machine and Tool Makers,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR COMBING WOOL,
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Walton
Whitelicad at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
his Petition, on the 4th July 1874.
- I, HENRY WALTON WHITEHEAD, of Holbeck, in the Parish of Leeds,
in the County of York, a Partner in the Firm of Taylor, Wordsworth,
& Co., of the same Place, Machine and Tool Makers, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR
COMBING WOOL, COTTON, FLAX, AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES," to be as
follows:-
My Invention relates to an improved mode of constructing the delivery.
end of the feeding boxes and lid of "Noble's" or other similar combing.
machines, the object being to prevent the fibres receding when they
have been drawn out of the feeding boxes by the action of the combs.

page_text: In ordinary combing machines the delivery end of the boxes and the
lid which holds down the fibres is smooth and rounded, and consequently
when the tension or pull on the fibres is slackened the sliver is liable to
retreat back into the box. In order to prevent this I make the delivery
end of the box and also of the lid with serrated edges. Sometimes I
make the delivery end of either the box or lid serrated while the other is
left plain.
As a modification of the above the feeding end of the box and lid
may be made with smooth and plain edges, provided they are so con-
structed as to meet at a very sharp angle like a pair of tweezers.
By constructing the feeding boxes in the way above set forth the
sliver or fibre when drawn through the sharp angle or points of the box
and lid swells or opens out, and the sharp points or edges of the lid and
box will prevent the sliver from receding.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent
filed by the said Henry Walton Whitehead in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 4th January 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, 'I, HENRY
WALTON WHITEHEAD, of Holbeck, in the Parish of Leeds, in the
County of York, a Partner in the Firm of Taylor, Wordsworth, and
Company, of the same Place, Machine and Tool Makers, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of July, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the thirty.
eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Henry Walton Whitehead, Her
special licence that I, the said Henry Walton Whitehead, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Henry Walton Whitehead, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR COMBING
WOOL, COTTON, FLAX, AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES," upon the condition

page_text: (amongst others) that I, the said Henry Walton Whitehead, 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 Invention, and in what manner
the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the
Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Henry Walton Whitehead, do
hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement, reference being had to the
Drawing hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon,
(that is to say):-
My Invention of improvements in machinery for combing wool, cotton,
flax, and other fibrous substances, relates to an improved mode of con-
structing the delivery end of the feeding boxes and lids of Noble's or
other similar combing machines, the object being to prevent the fibres
from receding when they have been drawn out of the feeding boxes by
the action of the combs.
In ordinary combing machines the delivery end of the boxes and the
lid which holds down the fibres is smooth and rounded, and consequently.
when the tension or pull on the fibres is slackened the sliver is liable to
retreat back into the box. In order to prevent this I construct the
delivery end of the box and also of the lid in such a manner that they
shall meet together at a sharp edge, so as to allow of the woollen or other
fibres being easily pulled out, and when pulled out the sharp edges of
the box and lid will cause the fibres to be pressed close together, and
will prevent the fibres from retreating or being drawn back into the box.
I sometimes make the delivery end of either the box or lid serrated, while
the other is left plain.
As a modification of the above the feeding end of the box and lid may
be made with smooth and plain edges, provided they are so constructed
as to meet at a very sharp angle like a pair of tweezers.
In the accompanying Drawing Figure 1 represents a plan view of one
of my improved boxes, a part of the delivery end of the moveable lid a
being cut away to show more clearly the serrations at the delivery end of
the box b.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of the box and lid.

page_text: Figure 3 is a detached view of the under side of the delivery end of the
lid, shewing serrations in this also, but (as has been already mentioned)
these serrations may sometimes be dispensed with, and the edges made
plain and smooth, provided the edges of the lid and box be brought
together at a sharp angle, as shewn at c in Figure 2.
By constructing the feeding boxes in either of the ways above set
forth the sliver or fibres, when drawn through the sharp angle or points
of the box and lid, will swell or open out, and the sharp points or edges
of the lid and box will prevent the sliver from receding.
Having now described my Invention of improvements in machinery
for combing wool, cotton, flax, and other fibrous substances, and having
explained the manner of carrying the same into effect, I claim as the
Invention secured to me by Letters Patent, as aforesaid, constructing the
delivery end of the feed boxes of combing machines with serrated edges,
as herein set forth.
"
I also claim constructing either the, box alone, or the lid alone, with
serrated edges, as and for the purpose above described."
I further claim constructing the delivery end of the feeding boxes of
combing machines with smooth or plain edges arranged to meet at a
sharp angle like a pair of tweezers, as and for the purpose herein set 2
forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Walton Whitehead, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Tenth day of November,
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four.
HENRY WALTON WHITEHEAD. `(L.S.)
Signed, sealed, and delivered
by the said Henry Walton
Whitehead, in the presence
of
EDWARD WHITELEY,
Clerk to Mr.. Tho. Turner,
⚫ Solicitor,
Leeds.