IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR COMBING COTTON AND OTHER FIBRES "
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Dobson of Douglas in the Isle of Man
Gentleman for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR COMBING
COTTON AND OTHER FIBRES
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Dobson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th September 1883.
.
WILLIAM DOBSON of Douglas in the Isle of Man, Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MACHINERY FOR COMBING COTTON AND OTHER FIBRES
"
My invention relates to machinery for combing cotton and other fibres and
the object of my Invention is to construct a machine to comb long and short
fibres.
In performing my Invention I use lap-rollers to carry the laps of fibres to be
combed. The fibres are fed on to a stationary lap-plate.-this plate being
constructed to form a dish-feeder and nipper. A roller rests on the dish-feeder
and is moved up and down and caused to revolve, when required to feed and hold
the fibres to be combed. The fibre is held between the dish-feeder and roller while
an oscillating segment with combs passes downward through the fibre carrying all
loose fibres with it. The loose fibres are removed by means of a brush below the
dish-feeder.
When the segment has passed through and clear of the fibre, the fibre springs
back against a nipper and on the return of the segment, the fibre is held between
the nipper and top-edge of the segment. The top comb is caused to descend and
the roller on the dish-feeder is raised, allowing the end of the fibre which has not
been combed to be drawn through the top comb.
The fibres that have been combed are carried between the segment and nipper
to a piecing plate. On and near the edge of the piecing plate is a roller which
revolves and has an up and down motion. When the combed fibre arrives at the
edge of the piecing plate the roller is raised and the edge of the piecing-plate
enters a lip on the segment which throws all the loose fibres level on the piecing
plate. The roller then drops and nips the fibre on the piecing-plate and delivers it
forward to form a sliver.
I have described the combing process on one side of the machine only. The
other side exactly corresponds with this. The machine being a double one and
combing the fibre from laps at each side of the machine. The combed fibre from
each side comes together in the centre and forms one sliver.
The machine can be worked either as a single or a double comber.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Dobson in the Patent Office on the 11th March 1884.
WILLIAM DOBSON, of Douglas, in the Isle of Man, Gentleman
IN MACHINERY FOR COMBING COTTON AND OTHER FIBRES
"
"IMPROVEMENTS
My invention relates to machinery for combing cotton and other fibres and
the object of my Invention is to construct a machine to comb long and short
fibres.
In performing my Invention I use lap rollers to carry the laps of fibres to be
combed. The fibres are fed on to a stationary lap plate-this plate being
constructed to form a dish-feeder and nipper. A roller rests on the dish-feeder
and is moved up and down and caused to revolve when required, to feed and hold
the fibres to be combed. The fibre is held between the dish-feeder and roller
while an oscillating segment with combs passes downward through the fibre carrying
all loose fibres with it. The loose fibres are removed by means of a brush below
the dish-feeder.
When the segment has passed through and clear of the fibre, the fibre springs
back against a nipper and on the return of the segment, the fibre is held between
the nipper and top edge of the segment. The top comb is caused to descend and
the roller on the dish-feeder is raised allowing the end of the fibre which has, not
been combed to be drawn through the top comb. The fibres that have been
combed are carried between the segment and nipper to a piecing plate. On and
near the edge of the piecing plate is a roller (which revolves) and has an up and
down motion. When the combed fibre arrives at the edge of the piecing plate,
the roller is raised and the edge of the piecing plate enters a lip on the segment
which throws all the loose fibres level on the piecing plate. The roller then
drops and nips the fibre on the piecing plate and delivers it forward to form a
sliver.
I have described the combing process on one side of the machine only. The
other side exactly corresponds with this. The machine being a double one and
combing the fibre from laps at each side of the machine. The combed fibre from
each side comes together in the centre and forms one sliver. The machine can be
worked either as a single or a double comber.
And in order that my Invention may be fully understood and readily carried
into effect I will proceed to describe the accompanying drawing, reference being
had to the figures and letters marked thereon, the said drawing being a sectional
elevation of a combing machine to which my Invention is applied.
a is the lap roller for carrying the laps of fibre to be combed: the fibre is carried
in the usual manner to the stationary lap plate 6 which I form at the delivery end
into a dish-feeder: a roller c rests on the dish-feeder and is moved up and down
by means of a cam c³ on the brush shaft c¹ which actuates a lever c³ hooked at the
end beneath the roller c, which is caused to revolve by a train of wheels from the
lap roller shaft: the roller c is revolved when up and stationary when down to feed
and hold the fibres to be combed. The lap roller is turned in the usual manner
by a pin and star wheel. The fibre is held between the dish-feeder b and roller c
while an oscillating segment d with combs passes downward through the fibre
carrying all loose fibres with it. The segment d is actuated by a crank (not
shown,) on the brush shaft connected-to a lever on the segment shaft. The loose
fibres are removed by means of a brush s below the dish-feeder.
When the segment & has passed through and clear of the fibre, the fibre springs
back against the cushion f. The cushion plates are secured to elbow levers (one

page_text: near each end of the machine) and one arm of each elbow lever fis connected by a
lever f to a brake f³ thus holding the cushion in position till pressed against and
moved by the segment: on the return of the segment the fibre is nipped between
the cushion and the top edge of the segment. The top comb g is caused to
descend by a cam k on the brush shaft c¹, and the roller c on the dish-feeder is
raised by the cam c allowing the end of the fibre which has not been combed to
be drawn through the top comb g by the back movement of the segment.
I make an improved top comb by applying to the comb plate a strip of metal
which extends a sufficient distance over the needles to cover the solder which
secures the needles to the plate, thus preventing the cotton or other fibre being
broken or injured by the solder.
The fibres that have been combed are carried between the segment and cushion
to a piecing plate h. On and near the edge of the piecing plate is a roller i which
has an up and down motion imparted to it by a lump or projection on the wheel l
which comes in contact with the lever m, pivoted on the main shaft, at one end of
which is a stud that enters a slot in the lever m¹ to one arm of which is secured a
connecting rod m³ on which is a spring: this connecting rod m² is secured to a
bracket pivoted on the shaft of the roller : this bracket (with a similar bracket
at the other end of the machine) carries the roller i and lifts it when the lump
depresses the lower end of the lever m. When the combed fibre arrives at the
edge of the piecing plate h, the roller i is raised out of the way of the fibre and
the edge of the piecing plate enters a lip on the segment which throws all the
fibres level on the piecing plate h: the roller i then drops and nips the fibre on the
piecing plate and delivers it forward to form a sliver.
I have described the combing process on one side of the machine only. The
other side exactly corresponds with this. The machine being a double one and
combing the fibre from laps at each side of the machine. The combed fibre from
each side comes together in the centre and forms one sliver. The machine can be
worked either as a single or a double comber by one driving shaft.
Having stated the nature of my Invention and described the manner of
performing the same
I declare that I claim
1. The improved oscillating combing machine, substantially as herein described
and shown.
2. In a machine for combing cotton and other fibre the combination of the
dish-feeder b, and roller c, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
3. In a machine for combing cotton and other fibre, the oscillating segment d,
substantially as and for the purpose shown and described.
4. The lip for throwing the fibres level on the piecing plate has herein
set forth.
5. The plate h with the piecing rollers i, as and for the purpose herein
specified.
In witness whereof I the said William Dobson have hereunto set my hand
and seal this eighth day of March, One thousand eight hundred and eighty four.
WILLIAM DOBSON (LS.)