IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR COMBING AND CARDING OR HACKLING BAS
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Walker and Frederick Walker, of Leeds, in
the County of York, Flax Spinners and Co-partners, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR COMBING AND CARDING OR HACKLING
BAS Wane
Sealed the 27th February 1863, and dated the 11th September 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Walker and
Frederick Walker at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with their Petition, on the 11th September 1862.
We, JOHN WALKER and FREDERICK WALKER, of Leeds, in the County of
York, Flax Spinners and Co-partners, do hereby declare the nature of the
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR COMBING AND CARDING OR
HACKLING FLAX, SILK, WOOL, AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES," to be as
follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in machinery for combing
and carding or hackling flax, hemp, silk, and other fibrous substances, and
the improvements relate to the machine known as Preller's combing machine,
which consists of a rotatory frame or endless chain, carrying combs at
distances apart from each other around its periphery. Now, according to
our Invention, the rotatory frame carrying the combs may be made to
revolve so that the teeth of the combs may strike either upwards or down-
wards into the ends of slivers, which proceeding from the feed rollers,

page_text: project over the edge of a table or bridge, and we place above or below
the bridge on which the slivers rest, according to the direction in which
the rotatory frame revolves, an axis having arms projecting from it, upon
which brushes aro carried. These brushes are of sufficient length to extend
across the slivers. As the axis which carries the brushes revolves, they in
turn come round to their highest or lowest position, and the axis revolvos
at such a speed that each time one of the combs carried by the rotatory
frame comes in contact with the ends of the slivers, one of the brushes
meets the comb, and as the comb moves onwards, the brush travelling in the
same direction with it enters between its teeth, and presses in the ends of the
slivers. As the rotatory frame and axis continue to revolve, the comb and the
brush separate from each other, and the comb carries with it a portion of the
sliver called the tuft or feed, to be acted on by one or more revolving card
rollers or cylinders. Whilst the tuft or feed carried by each comb is being
cleaned by the revolving card rollers or cylinders, the end of the tuft or feed
in the comb is, according to our Invention, held or nipped in the comb. This
we effect by preference by means of a brush, forced into the teeth of the comb
in the following manner :-Each comb carried by the rotatory frame is pro-
vided with a brush fixed to blocks, which slide on the periphery of the rotatory
frame to and from the comb, and the brush can be held away from the comb by
means of catches, and can also, after it has been pressed into the comb, be
held there by other catches. As each comb is taking a portion of the ends of
the slivers, the brush belonging to that comb is kept by the one set of catches
at a distance from it. As however the comb moves round, and before it
comes to the carding or cleaning rollers or cylinders, the catches are released,
at the same time the blocks upon which the brush is fixed come against fixed
springs, which prevent their being carried round with the rotatory frame. The
comb in its revolution then approaches the brush, and as it moves on the brush
is forced into it by the springs, until by the moving on of the comb, the springs
are forced backwards. Just before this takes place, the blocks upon which
the brush is fixed are seized by the other set of catches, and the brush is
prevented moving away from the comb. The catches hold the brush in this
position until after the tuft or feed held by it in the comb has been acted on
by the carding rollers or cylinders. The catches are then released and the
brush is moved away from the comb by revolving arms, which revolve faster
than the rotatory frame, until the blocks upon which the brush is fixed are
brought into contact with the other set of catches, and are there held. The
comb then, as the rotatory frame moves round, is ready to take a fresh portion
from the ends of the slivers, and the same operation is repeated until the comb

page_text: is full. The comb is then removed to another machine, to have the fibre
which it holds drawn off in the usual manner. We also in some cases apply
one or more brushes, fixed under or over the bridge, according as the rotatory
frame moves, so that the ends of the slivers are pressed into the combs, and as
the combs are carried round by the rotatory frame, they strike downwards or
upwards as the case may be, into the ends of the slivers, and the brushes
prevent the ends of the slivers from moving away from the combs, and as the
combs move onwards, the brushes press the ends of the slivers into the
combs.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Walker and Frederick Walker in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 11th March 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JOHN
WALKER and FREDERICK WALKEB, of Leeds, in the County of York, Flax
Spinners and Co-partners, send greeting.
WHEREAS er most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eleventh day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand cight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-sixth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the
said John Walker and Frederick Walker, Her special licence that we, the said
John Walker and Frederick Walker, our executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as we, the said John Walker and Frederick Walker, our exe-
cutors, 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
AND CARDING OR HACKLING FLAX, SILK, WOOL, AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said John Walker
and Frederick Walker, our executors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under our or their hands and seals, or under the hand and
seal of one of us or them, 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 immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Walker, on behalf of myself,
and the said Frederick Walker, 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 :-
This Invention has for its object improvements in machinery for combing
and carding or hackling flax, hemp, silk, wool, and other fibrous substances;
and the improvements relate to the machine known as Preller's combing
machine, which consists of a rotatory frame or endless chain, carrying combs at
distances apart from each other around its periphery. Now, according to
our Invention, the rotatory frame carrying the combs may be made to revolve
so that the teeth of the combs may strike either upwards or downwards into
the ends of slivers, which, proceeding from the feed rollers, project over
the edge of a table or bridge, and we place above or below the bridge on
which the slivers rest, according to the direction in which the rotatory frame
revolves, an axis having arms projecting from it upon which brushes are
carried. These brushes are of sufficient length to extend across the slivers;
as tho axis which carries the brushes revolvos they in turn come round to
their highest or lowest position, and the axis revolves at such a speed that each
time one of the combs carried by the rotatory frame comes in contact with
the ends of the slivers, one of the brushes meets the comb, and as the comb
moves onwards, the brush travelling in the same direction with it enters
between its teeth, and presses in the ends of tho slivers. As the rotatory
frame and axis continue to revolve, the comb and the brush separate from
each other, and the comb carries with it a portion of the sliver called the tuft
or feed to be acted on by one or more revolving card rollers or cylinders.
Whilst the tuft or feed carried by each comb is being cleaned by the revolving
card rollers or cylinders, the end of the tuft or feed in the comb is, according
to our Invention, held or nipped in the comb. This we effect, by preference,
by means of a brush forced into the teeth of the comb in the following
manner: Each comb carried by the rotatory frame is provided with a brush
fixed to blocks or bars which move around the periphery of the rotatory frame
to and from the comb, and the brush can be held away from the comb by
means of catches, and can also, after it has been pressed into the comb, bo
held there by other catches. As each comb is taking a portion of the ends of
the slivers the brush belonging to that comb is kept by the one set of catches
at a distance from it. As, however, the comb moves round, and before it
cemes to the carding or cleaning rollers or cylinders, the catches are released,
at the same time the blocks or bars upon which the brush is fixed come

page_text: against fixed springs, which prevent their being carried round with the rotatory
frame. The comb in its revolution then approaches the brush, and as it moves
on the brush is forced into it by the springs, until by the moving on of the
comb the springs are forced backwards. Just before this takes place the
blocks or bars upon which the brush is fixed are seized by the other set of
catches, and the brush is prevented moving away from the comb. The catches
hold the brush in this position until after the tuft or feed held by it in the
comb has been acted on by the carding rollers or cylinders. The catches are
then released, and the brush is moved away from the comb by revolving arms
which revolve faster than the rotatory frame until the blocks or bars upon
which the brush is fixed are brought into contact with the other set of catches,
and are there held. The comb then as the rotatory frame moves round is
ready to take a fresh portion from the ends of the slivers, and the same
operation is repeated until the comb is full. The comb is then removed to
another machine to have the fibre which it holds drawn off in the usual
manner. We can, if desired, also apply one or more brushes fixed under
or over the bridge according as the rotatory frame moves, so that the ends of
the slivers are pressed into the combs, and as the combs are carried round by
the rotatory frame they strike downwards or upwards, as the case may be, into
the ends of the slivers, and the brushes prevent the ends of the slivers from
moving away from the combs, and as the combs move onwards, the brushes
press the ends of the slivers into the combs.
Having thus stated the nature of our Invention, we will proceed more fully
to describe the manner of performing the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a side view, and Figure 2 an end view of the machine having
our improvements applied thereto; Figure 8 is a side view; and Figure 4 an
end view of some of the parts on a larger scale.
A, A, is the frame of the machine; B, B, are the bearings of the main
axis C, which receives motion by means of a strap driven by a steam engine
or other power acting on the fixed pulley D. On the axis C is affixed the
cog wheel 1, which takes into and drives the cog wheel 2 affixed on the axis E,
which has arms a, a, in pairs (one at each side of the machine) projecting
from it, and from each arm on one side to each arm on the other a brush C
is fixed. The cog wheel 1 on the axis C takes into and drives the cog wheel 3
affixed on the axis G, and on the axis G are affixed the cog wheels 4, 4, which
take into and drive the cog wheels 5, 5, which cog wheels work upon, but are
not fixed on the main axis C; the cog wheels 5, 5, have affixed upon them

page_text: the carrying arms H, H. The cog wheel 1 takes into and drives the cog
wheel 6, and thus gives motion to the crank shaft for the doffing knives. On
the axis C, but not fixed to it, and inside the rims of the rotatory frame are
placed the levers I, I, in pairs. The longer ends of the levers I, I, are con-
nected by a block or bar, upon which a brush K is affixed, and which block or
bar extends from one side of the rotatory frame to the other side, and projects
over each side, so that it may be acted upon by the catches L, L, and M, M,
and likewise by fixed springs N, N; the short ends of the levers I, I, are
heavier than the long ends in order to act as a counterbalance to assist
in carrying the long ends to or from the comb when released by the
catches, as after mentioned. Between the fulcrum (resting on the axis C) of
the levers I, I, and the brush K a rod O passes through, and is affixed to the
levers I, I, and extends from one side of the rotatory frame to the other side,
and projects beyond each side of it, so that it may be acted upon by the
springs P, P, which are fixed to the blocks R, R, and which blocks slide along
the carrying arms H, H. On the rim of the rotary frame are affixed the
catches L, L, in pairs (one on each side) to hold the brush K away from the
comb b, and on the same rim are also affixed the catches M, M, in pairs (one
on each side) to hold the brush K in the comb 6. These catches project
above the surface of the rim of the rotary frame, and are kept in that
position by springs S, S, acting on the catches, which springs alow the
block or bar upon which the brush K is affixed to pass over the catches, and
then cause the catches again to project above the surface of the rim, and so
hold the brush K in its required position. As the rotatory frame moves the
catches L, L, come in contact with the fixed guides T, T, (one on each side
of the machine) which force the catches L, L, below the surface of the rim,
while the counterbalance of the levers I, I, to which the block or bar and
brush K is affixed, causes the brush K to move towards the comb b. As soon
as the block or bar upon which the brush K is affixed is released from the
catches L, L, it comes into contact with the fixed springs N, N, which hold
it till the comb, by the revolution of the rotatory frame, is forced into the
brush K, which is held in that position by the catches M, M, until the catches
M, M, come into contact with the fixed guides V, V, (one on each side of
the machine,) which force the catches M, M, below the surface of the rim,
while the counterbalance of the levers I, I, causes the brush K to move away
from the comb b. As soon as the brush K is released from the catches M, M,
the blocks R, R, which slide along the carrying arms II, II, come into contact
with the fixed guides W, W, (one on each side of the machine) which force
the blocks R, R, and with them tho springs P, P, which are aflixod to the

page_text: blocks R, R, along the carrying arms H, H, towards the axis C, by which the
springs P, P, are brought into contact with the rod 0; and as the carrying
arms H, H, which carry the blocks R, R, and the springs P, P, move quicker
than the rotatory frame, the springs P, P, acting on the rod O, impel the
lever I, I, and consequently the brush K away from the comb over the
catches L, L, and these catches hold the brush K away from the comb b till
it is again released, as before described. So soon as the blocks R, R, have
been carried to the end of the fixed guides W, W, the blocks resume their
original position by the action of the springs d, d. The same or a similar
result as that obtained by the fixed springs N, N, may be obtained by the
application of a lever and weight to regulate the pressure in the place of the
fixed springs N, N. If considered desirable, means of holding or nipping
the ends of the slivers tighter, whilst the tuft is drawn over the carding rollers,
may be applied consisting of a brush fixed behind the teeth of the comb b, as
shewn in Fig. 5, so that when the brush K is pressed into the comb 6,
and so into the brush behind the teeth of the comb, it will have the effect
desired. In the place of a rotatory frame, an endless band or chain may be
used, the other parts being so arranged as to work with it.
Having now described the nature of our Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, we would have it understood, that what we claim is the
combination with a Preller's machine of the revolving brush c to press the
ends of the slivers into the comb b; also of the levers I, I, and brush K with
their counterbalances, and also of the movement by catches and springs or
levers by which the brush K is carried and held to or from the comb b.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Walker, have hereunto set my
band and seal, this Seventh day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
JOHN WALKER. (L.B.)