IMPROVEMENTSIN MACHINERY FOR COMBING COTTON, WOOL, FLAX,
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Cowper, of 20, Southampton Buildings,
Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Inven-
tion of "IMPROVEMENTSIN MACHINERY FOR COMBING COTTON, WOOL, FLAX,
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Cowper at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
22nd June 1854.
I, CHARLES COWPER, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR COMBING COTTON, WOOL, FLAX, Tow, SILK
WASTE, AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES," to be as follows:-
The Invention relates to improvements on an Invention or Inventions of
Improvements in Machinery for Combing and Preparing Wool and other
Fibrous Substances," for which former Letters Patent were granted to me,
bearing date respectively at Westminster, the Twenty-third day of February,
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-two; and at Edinburgh, the Thirteenth
day of February, One thousand eight hundred and fifty-two; and at Dublin, the
First day of June, One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three; and also other
Letters Patent for the United Kingdom, bearing date the Eighteenth day of
May, One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three..

page_text: Figure 1, Sheet I., of the accompanying Drawings, is a plan of a portion
of a machine for combing wool and other fibrous substances, constructed
according to the Invention; Figure 2 is a side view, partly in section, of the
same. A is a wheel or plate, faced with leather or other suitable material, which
revolves in contact or in close proximity to the fixed ring B, which is of metal
or other smooth and hard material, as in the machines described in the Speci-
fications of the aforesaid Patents. II' is an inclined revolving comb, similar
to that described in the Specifications aforesaid; and the machine is supplied
with slivers or bands of fibrous substance, as in the aforesaid machines. H" is
a circular comb, slightly inclined from a horizontal position, which enters the
projecting ends of the slivers, which are held and carried round by the wheel A,
and which are pressed into the teeth of the comb H" by a fixed plate or guide
at the point, which guide is shewn in side view at a, g', in Figure 2, bis.
The comb II revolves in the direction of the arrow, and in so doing its
teeth recede from the wheel A, and thus comb the projecting ends of the
fibrous substance, and carry away the short fibres, which are removed by a
revolving brush K, provided with a suitable doffer. The combed ends of the
wool or other fibrous substance are carried on by the wheel A. A' is a wheel;
and B', a fixed ring, similar to A and B respectively. The ring B' is cut away
between m and n', so as to admit the ends of the fibres, which are nipped and
held between the wheel A¹ and ring B when they arrive at n'. The ring B
is cut away between m" and n", so that the fibres are released from A, B, and
held by A', B. As the motion continues, the long fibres are drawn out from
between the teeth of the comb H', leaving the short fibres behind, which are
afterwards removed by the comb II",.as already described. The long fibres
are carried round by the wheel A' to the part n, m, where the ring B' is
cut away, and the long fibres being thus released are drawn out by the
roller C. These rollers may be horizontal, as hero shewn, or they may be
vertical, as shewn in Figure 4, herein-after described, and they may have
supports or bearings at both ends, as in Figure 2, or at one end only, as shewn
in the detached view, Figure 8.
Figure 4, Sheet II., is a plan of a machine constructed on similar principles,
and in which the corresponding parts are marked with the same letters, as in
the previous Figures. A, B, is the main wheel and ring supplied with the
fibrous substance. H", H", are two horizontal or slightly inclined combs
provided with brushes K, K, like those above described. A¹, B', is another
wheel and ring which receive the fibrous substance from A, B. The inclined
conib H', in Figure 1, may be omitted, and the long fibres projecting from the
wheel A, B, will then carry some short fibres with them. These short fibres

page_text: are combed out by two combs h", ", with brushes h, k, similar to those marked
Hand K respectively. The combed wool passes on to the roller C, by which
it is removed. C¹ are other rollers, which may be employed to draw away the
longer portions of the short fibres carried away by the comb h", and these
rollers may be applied to all the combs II", ".
Figure 5, Sheet III., is a plan, and Figure 6 is a section, of another
machine constructed on similar principles to those above described, and in
which the corresponding parts are indicated by the same letters. A and B are
the main wheel and ring. In this machine, however, the wheel A is fixed,
and the ring B revolves. The comb II", and the wheel and ring A', B', with
their appurtenances, are placed within the wheel and ring A, B, and are
mounted upon a frame attached to the main shaft V, which carries the ring B.
H' is the inclined comb, corresponding to that similarly marked in Figure 2.
The short fibres are delivered in a continuous sliver into a can N, and the
long fibres are delivered in a continuous sliver into another can M. D and E
are another wheel and ring, which serve to draw out a fresh portion of fibrous
substance from the bobbins X, on which it is wound, and which are placed all
round the machine on supports R.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Charles Cowper in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 21st
December 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
CowPER, of 20, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Iler most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Iler Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-second day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the eighteenth year of Iler reign,
did, for Herself, Iler heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Charles Cowper, Her special licence that I, the said Charles Cowper, my execu-
tors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Charles Cowper,
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

page_text: COTTON, WOOL, FLAX, Tow, SILK WASTE, AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES," (com-
municated to me from abroad,) upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said Charles Cowper, by an instrument in writing under my hand and
seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same
to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next
and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Charles Cowper, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement,
thereof, reference being had to the accompanying Drawing, and to the figures
and letters marked thereon, that is to say:-
The Invention relates to improvements on an Invention or Inventions of
Improvements in Machinery for Combing and Preparing Wool and other
Fibrous Substances, communicated to me from abroad, and for which former
Letters Patent were granted to me, bearing date respectively at Westminster,
the Twenty-third day of February, One thousand eight hundred and fifty-two;
and at Edinburgh, the Thirteenth day of February, One thousand eight hundred
and fifty-two; and at Dublin, the First day of June, One thousand eight
hundred and fifty-three; and also other Letters Patent for the United Kingdom,
bearing date the Eighteenth day of May, One thousand eight hundred and
fifty-three; and in which machinery the fibrous substance is held during the
operation of combing between two surfaces, having relative motion with regard,
to each other in a direction transverse to the fibrous substance; and one of
which surfaces has greater adhesion or friction on the fibrous substance than
the other, and is thus capable of holding it or moving it, notwithstanding the
motion or want of motion of the surface of least friction..
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawing is a plan, and Figure 2 is a side
view, partly in section, of a portion of a circular machine, the general con-
struction of which is similar to that of the circular machines described in the
Specifications of the aforesaid Letters Patent, with certain improvements, as
herein-after described. A is a wheel, the lower edge of which is faced with
leather or other suitable substance having a considerable degree of adhesion or
friction when in contact with fibrous substances. This wheel rests upon a
ring B of metal or other smooth hard substance, and the slivers of wool or
other fibrous substance are introduced between this ring B and the wheel A.
The wheel A revolves in the direction shewn by the arrow, and carries round
with it the slivers, which slide upon the smooth ring B, but are at the same time
firmly nipped or held between the wheel A and ring B. The slivers are fed into

page_text: the machine between the points marked m and n, by one or other of the modes
described in the aforesaid Specifications, the edge of the ring B being lowered
or cut away at that part, so as to loose the hold upon the slivers. The slivers
being nipped by the wheel A and ring B at the point m, are carried over a
plate or shelf g to the point x, where they are pressed down into the teeth of
an inclined comb H", by means of a guide plate g', shewn in Figure 2, bis.
The comb revolves in the direction indicated by its arrow, and at the same
or a greater or less velocity than the wheel A, and the projecting ends of the
slivers are thus combed, and the noil or short fibres are carried away by the
comb H, from which they are removed by a revolving brush K, which is
furnished with a doffer of ordinary construction, not shewn in the Drawing.
The combed ends of the slivers are carried round by the wheel A to the
opposite side of the machine, and are there penetrated by the teeth of the
inclined comb H', through which they are drawn off in the following manner:-
A is a wheel faced with leather, and B' is a smooth metallic ring, similar
respectively to the wheel A and ring B. The ring B' is lowered at the part
m³, n', to admit the combed ends of the slivers, which are nipped by the wheel
A¹ and ring B' at the point n', and are released from the wheel A, whose ring
B is lowered or cut away between m¹ and n". As the wheels continue their
motion in the direction of the arrows, the combed ends of the slivers are drawn
out through the comb H', and carried away by the wheel A¹ to the part n¹",
m", where the ring B' is lowered or cut away. The fibres are here removed
in a continuous band or sliver by the drawing rollers C, C. The noil or short
fibres which remain in the comb H' are combed out with the fresh portions
of slivers fed into the machine at n, m, on arriving at the comb H". The
short fibres are thus delivered in a continuous band or sliver from the brush K,
while the long fibres are delivered in a continuous band or sliver from the
rollers C, C. The rollers C, C, may be placed horizontally, as shewn in
Figure 1, or vertically, as shewn in Figure 4, herein-after described, and they
may have supports or bearings at both ends, as shewn in Figure 1, or at one
end only, as shown in the detached view, Figure 3.
Figure 4 is a plan of a portion of another machine constructed according to
the Invention. A, B, is a wheel and ring, similar to those similarly marked in
Figures 1 and 2, and provided with an inclined comb II, indicated by a dotted
circle. I, 1, are two inclined combs, similar to the one marked II" in
Figures 1 and 2, and provided with revolving brushes K, K, and guide plates
9,9, as before. The fibres carried round by the wheel A are thus combed
twice by the two combs FI", and are then removed by the wheel and ring
A', B', and delivered as a band or sliver by the rollers C, C, as before. In this

page_text: Figure these rollers are shewn in a vertical position, but they may be placed
horizontally, as in Figures 1 and 2, or inclined, if preferred. The inclined
comb H may be omitted in this machine, and the long fibres projecting
from the wheel and ring A', B', will then carry some short fibres with them.
These short fibres are combed out by two combs h", h", with brushes k, k,
constructed and arranged in a similar manner to those marked II" and K
respectively. The combed wool passes on to the rollers C, by which it is
removed. Care other rollers, which may be employed to draw away the
longer portions of the short fibres carried away by the comb ", and these
rollers may be applied to all the combs H", ". The fibrous substance may
thus be separated into bands or slivers of various lengths of fibre. Any other
suitable known means of removing fibrous substances from combs may be
employed in lieu of the brushes K, k.
Figure 5 is a plan, and Figure 6 is a section, of another machine con-
structed on similar principles to those above described, and in which the
corresponding parts are indicated by the same letters as in the preceding
Figures. A is the first or main wheel, and B is its ring, as before. lu
this machine, however, the wheel A is fixed, and the ring B revolves.
The comb H and the wheel and ring A', B', with their appurtenances,
are placed within the wheel and ring A, B, and are mounted on a frame
attached to the main shaft V, which carries the ring B, and is driven
by the shaft W, through the bevil wheels 11 and 12. His the inclined
comb, which does not revolve, but oscillates in such a manner that its
lowest point is always at or near to the point at which the wheel and ring
A¹, B', are in proximity to the wheel and ring A, B. The comb II" is con-
structed and arranged in a similar manner to those similarly marked in the
preceding Figures, and is furnished with a revolving brush K, from which the
noil or short fibres are delivered as a band or sliver into the can N, which is
supported on a plate F attached to the main shaft V. D is a wheel, and E
is a ring, which is lowered or cut away at f and also at g"; the ring B
is lowered or cut away at e. R is a fixed frame, on which are placed
the bobbins of ribbons X which are to be combed. The wheel D is driven
by a toothed wheel O, which gears into an internal wheel S fixed to the
framing of the machine. The comb H" is in like manner driven by a toothed
wheel P, gearing into the internal wheel S, and the wheel A' is similarly
driven by a toothed wheel Q, gearing into the same internal wheel S. The
wheel D carries a toothed wheel 1, which drives another toothed wheel 2,
which carries a diagonal toothed or screw wheel 8, which drives the diagonal
toothed wheel. 4, on whose spindle is a bevil wheel 5, driving another bevil

page_text: wheel 6, on the spindle of the brush K. The wheel A' carries a toothed
wheel 7, which drives another toothed wheel 8, which carries a diagonal
toothed or screw wheel 9, which drives the wheel 10 on the spindle of one of
the delivery rollers C, which deliver the long fibres in a band or sliver into the
can M, which is carried by the plate F. The machine acts in the following
mauner:-The ends of the ribbons X being introduced between the wheel A
and ring B, the revolving motion of the ring B will successively bring the
feeding apparatus D, E, the combing apparatus H", and the detaching appa-
ratus A', B', close to each part of the interior periphery of the fixed wheel A.
The ends of the ribbons X enter at f, between the ring E and the wheel D,
and are nipped or held by them while they are released from the wheel A and
ring Bate. The ribbons are thus drawn out by the wheel D, until they reach
the point g, when they are released by D, and again nipped or held by the
wheel A and ring B. The feeding in of a certain length of the ribbon is thus
effected.
The length of the portion so fed in may be varied by varying the distance
from c to g". As the motion of the machine continues, the comb H" is brought
successively in contact with the projecting ends of the ribbons, and combs
them in the manner herein-before described. The detaching apparatus A¹, B',
then follows, and draws the fibrous substance away through the comb H', and
carries it to the delivery rollers C, in the manner herein-before described.
This apparatus may be varied, by causing the ring B and the frame which
carries the working parts to remain stationary, while the wheel or ring A with
the bobbins X and the comb H' are made to revolve.
Having now described the nature of the Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that what I claim is,―
Firstly, the application to machinery of the description herein-before men-
tioned of the comb or combs H", with its or their appurtenances, as herein-
before described.
Secondly, the application to machinery of the description herein-before
mentioned of the wheel and ring A', B', for removing the fibrous substance in
manner herein-before described.
Thirdly, the application to machinery of the description herein-before men-
tioned of the additional comb or combs h", with their appurtenances, in
combination with the wheel and ring A', B', in manner herein-before
described.
Fourthly, the application to machinery of the description herein-before men-
tioned of the rollers C, in combination with the comb or combs 11" and h¹¹,
in manner herein-before described.

page_text: Fifthly, the constructing machinery of the description herein-before men..
tioned, with the various working parts placed in the interior instead of on the
exterior of the main wheel and ring A, B, in manner herein-before described,
in reference to Figures 5 and 6.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Cowper, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four.
Witness,
THOS. TAYLOR, Jn",
7, Wellington Row,
Bethnal Green.
CHARLES COWPER. (L.S.)