IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR COMBING WOOL AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES.
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frank Fairbank and Joseph Robertshaw both of
Allerton in the West Riding of the County of York for an invention of
IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR COMBING WOOL AND OTHER FIBROUS
SUBSTANCES. ·
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frank Fairbank and Joseph
Robertshaw at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th July
1882.
FRANK FAIRBANK and JOSEPH ROBERTSHAW both of Allerton in the West
Riding of the County of York IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR COMBING
WOOL AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES
Our invention relates to "Noble's" and other combing machines wherein the
rotating circular combs come near together for the purpose of having the fibre
pressed between the teeth of the two combs the object of this improvement is to
dispense with the dabbing brushes and use mechanical means herein described by
which the wool is efficiently pressed between the teeth of the 'combs and the
machine run at an increased speed.
We accomplish our object by placing above the comb circles a short guide plate
near to where the fibre is fed into the comb circles. Above the plate we mount a
series of rotating rollers or two rollers placed at an angle in either case to the base
of the comb and in such position that the bottom roller is immediately above the
points of the teeth of the combs. Around the circumferences of the two rollers
one or more endless bands are placed which travel round the rollers compress the
fibre between the endless band or bands and the guide plate, delivering it on to the
points of the comb teeth so soon as the wool has passed over the guide plate: and
in order that the fibre may be pressed to the requisite depth between the teeth, we
use rotating knives in combination with stationary press plates the under edge of
which are at an angle with the surface of the combs, or, for some classes of fibre
we use the stationary press plates without the revolving knivës and press the fibre
to the depth required
:
"

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Frank Fairbank and Joseph Robertshaw in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 6th January 1883.
FRANK FAIRBANK and JOSEPH ROBERTSHAW both of Allerton in the West
Riding of the County of York IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR COMBING
WOOL AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES
13
Our invention relates to "Noble's and other combing machines wherein the
rotating circular combs come near together for the purpose of having the fibre
pressed between the teeth of the two combs.
The general mode hitherto adopted for pressing the fibre between the teeth of
the comb circles has been by the use of dabbing brushes, having a quick
reciprocating motion, the working parts of which as is well known, being so
difficult to balance soon get out of order, and when working, cause a great noise to
be made and shaking of the whole machine, limiting the speed of the machine to
the speed at which the dabbing brushes can be run.
With dabbing brushes there is great wear and tear, and our object is to
dispense with the use of them, and use other mechanical means as hereinafter
described by which the fibre is effectually pressed between the teeth of the combs.
By our new mode of pressing the fibre between the teeth of the comb, the speed
of the machine is unlimited so far as our improved apparatus affects the running of
the machine.
But in order to enable our improvements to be better understood we will
proceed to describe the same by reference to the accompanying Drawings, and in
order to simplify the description we will describe the apparatus as fitted to one
side of the machine only, the other side being simply a repetition.
In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a diagram plan of portions of the large
and of one of the small circular combs of a "Noble's" combing machine shewing the
position in which we mount our improved apparatus. Figure 2 is a front elevation
of our apparatus. Figure 3 is an enlarged detail sectional elevation of the small
rotating knives or discs we use for pressing the fibre down between the teeth of
the small comb. Figure 4 is a side elevation of the press plates which may be used
in the large or small circles. Figure 5 is a partial sectional elevation of the main
roller and brackets for supporting same. Figure 6 is a transverse section
through the small comb circle shewing the means we employ for staying the
small circle, and Figure 7 is a section through the large discs shewing the
construction.
We cover the teeth or pins of the large circle A and small circle B for a certain
distance where shewn on drawing with a guide plate C, the fibre being lifted out
of the comb by the usual feed boxes in the ordinary manner, passes over the
plate C in the direction of the arrow, is compressed between the said plate
and the rotating endless belt D, delivered on to the points of the comb teeth
and pressed down between them to the requisite depth in the manner as hereafter
described.
The main roller E is mounted on shaft S and brackets E' and E the latter of
which is secured to the pillar F or any other convenient part of the machine by
other brackets: motion to the said shaft and roller E is obtained from the vertical
spindle G by bevel wheels G': the vertical spindle being driven by gearing or
other well known means in connection with any of the vertical shafts of a Noble's
combing machine.
The endless belt D travels round the main roller E and a small roller or curved
plate P, the latter being directly above the points of the comb teeth, the

page_text: compressed fibre being delivered on to the points of the comb, is inserted between
the teeth of the comb to the requisite depth by means of revolving knives or
discs and press plates, the discs H in conjunction with one or more press plates J,
acting on the fibre in the large circle, and the small knives or discs K acting on
the fibre in the small circle, both series of revolving knives or discs and press
plates insert the fibre sufficiently deep in the combs that it passes underneath the
plate L where it is divided by the two circles in the usual manner.
For some classes of wool we find it preferable to use the press plates in the
small circle also, in which case we dispense with one or more pairs of the small
discs or knives K for inserting the fibre between the teeth. To the bracket F' is
secured an angle plate Fa to which is attached the press plate chair V, this chair
supports the press plate which is prepared with a circular pin V₁ that passes
through the former, by which means the press plate is retained in its position but
allows the same to swivel a little, adapting itself to any deviation in untrue circles
in the space between the teeth of the comb.
The large discs H are constructed so as to be capable of regulation to suit the
pitches between the rows of teeth in the comb circles, this is accomplished by
forming a screwed thread on the outside circumference of the tube N on which
distance pieces are placed: the discs have a screwed thread in the hole in centre,
and when screwed on to the tube N with the necessary distance pieces M between
them, the discs H are secure, and the proper distance apart for running between the
rows of pins.
:
We turn the inside diameter of the small circle B for a certain distance down
from the top, conical as indicated in Figure 6 at B¹, and fit against the same &
segment M³ by the regulation of which the small circle is better retained in its
proper position
Having thus described our invention and in what manner the same may be
carried into effect, we wish it to be distinctly understood that we do not confine
ourselves to the precise details herein before described and delineated by the
accompanying drawings as the same may be considerably varied, without departing
from the characteristic nature of our invention, but that what we believe to be new
and desire to protect under Letters Patent is:―
The use of the endless belt D mounted substantially in the manner and for the
purpose as hereinbefore described and illustrated.
The use of press plate J mounted substantially in the manner and for the purpose
as hereinbefore described and illustrated.
The general combination of the several parts all arranged for the purpose
substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated.
In Witness whereof, I the said Frank Fairbank for and on behalf of myself
.
and the said Joseph Robertshaw have hereunto set my hand and seal this
fourth day of January in the year of our Lord One Thousand eight hundred
and eighty-three.
FRANK FAIRBANK (L.S.)