IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPA- RATUS FOR COMBING WOOL AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to David Denby, of Drighlington, in the County of York,
Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPA-
RATUS FOR COMBING WOOL AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES."
Sealed the 24th September 1878, and dated the 2nd April 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said David Denby at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd April 1878.
" IM-
DAVID DENBY, of Drighlington, in the County of York, Manufacturer.
PROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR COMBING WOOL AND OTHER
FIBROUS SUBSTANCES.”
My improvements consist in the application to the machine well known as
"Noble's combing machine" of a circular "dabbing brush," to which a slow
rotative motion is imparted, presenting at each turn of the inner small circular
comb a different surface of the bristles, which press the fibres in the teeth of the
combs at the point of their circumference where the combs meet together or feed
head, i.e., across the teeth of both combs, producing better work, and effecting a
great saving in the wear and tear of the brushes.
For this purpose I fit on the pillar of the small inner circular comb brackets,
through which works a shaft. Over this shaft and between the brackets is fitted a
spiral spring, which is kept to the required pressure by a collar secured to the shaft
by set screws. On the top of this shaft is fitted a bearer and cup, in which is
fitted a friction ball. On the fly wheel fitted on the shaft of the pillar is cast a
cam, made by preference in the shape of a heart. The cam acts on the ball, giving
a lowering action to the shaft and to the circular "dabbing brush." The spiral
spring forces up the shaft, and keeps the ball always at its work on the cam; but I
may employ a cam formed with a race, in which works a stud fitted on an union
joint which is fitted on the top of the shaft. Under the lower bracket and on the
shaft is fitted a catch wheel, in which is fitted a key, and which works in a slot
hole cut in the shaft. This slot hole allows the shaft to work up and down, and the

page_text: catch wheel to retain its position. The key, when the catch wheel is actuated,
gives at each turn of the inner circular comb a slight turn to the shaft and to the
"dabbing brush," changing the surface of the brush and the bristles. The catch
wheel is fitted on a bracket which is secured to the under side of the bottom
bracket fitted to the pillar.
The catch wheel is actuated by a pawl which is fitted on the top end of a lever.
This lever works on a stud fitted in a standard, which is bolted or screwed to the
inner circular comb steam chest. The bottom end of the pawl lever is made with
a projection wheel, which at each turn of the inner circular comb comes in contact
with a projecting curved piece, which is fixed to the inner circular comb circle.
This projecting curved piece forces in the bottom end of the pawl lever, forcing
forward the pawl lever and pawl actuating the catch wheel, giving a slight turn to
the shaft and circular brush, changing the surface of the brush bristles, preventing
wear and tear, and producing better work.
On the top of the circular brush is fixed a screwed socket to screw the brush on
the shaft.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said David Denby in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 30th Sep-
tember 1878.
"IM-
DAVID DENBY, of Drighlington, in the County of York, Manufacturer.
PROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR COMBING WOOL AND OTHER
FIBROUS SUBSTANCES."
The said Invention consists in the application to the machine well known as
"Noble's" combing machine of a circular " dabbing brush," to which a slow
rotative motion is imparted, presenting at each turn of the inner or small circular
comb a different surface of the bristles, which press the fibres in the teeth of the
combs at the point of their circumference where the combs ineet together or feed
head, i.e., across the teeth of both combs, producing better work, and effecting a
great saving in the wear and tear of the brushes.
For this purpose I fit on the pillar of the small inner circular comb a bracket,
having arms which support a box in which works the dabbing brush shaft. This
shaft is made hollow, and is secured to a plate to which is fitted a race, in which
works a friction ring fitted over a pin which is fitted eccentrically in a disk fixed
or cast on a driving pulley. The disk works in a circular opening made in the
back plate of the box, and when actuated by the pulley forces the plate to work up
and down in the box, giving the required up-and-down motion to the dabbing
brush. The disks are fitted on a stud which is fitted in the bracket of the appa-
ratus, and between the boss in which is fitted the stud and the boss of the driving
pulley is fitted a small spiral spring, which is kept in position by a ring; the spiral
spring keeps the disk always in position in the box. In the dabbing brush shaft is
fitted a spiral spring, which is kept in position by a pin fitted in a catch wheel, and

page_text: a pin fitted through the bottom collar, keeping the race plate in position. The
spring is forced down when the dabbing brush is pressing the fibres, and helps to
give a quick up stroke to the brush after dabbing. The shaft is also cut with a
slot hole, in which passes a key securing a catch wheel to the shaft to give the slow
rotative motion to the brush. The slot hole allows the shaft to work up and down
through the catch wheel, and allows the catch wheel to remain in position. The
key, when the catch wheel is actuated, gives at each turn of the inner circular comb
a slight turn to the shaft and to the dabbing brush, changing the surface of the
brush and bristles. The catch wheel is fitted on a bracket, which is secured to the
under side of the lower arm of the box bracket fitted to the pillar.
The catch wheel is actuated by a pawl, which is fitted on the top end of a lever
which works on a stud. The bottom end of the pawl lever is fitted with a pro-
jecting arm, which at each turn of the inner circular comb comes in contact with a
projecting washer or friction roller, which is fitted to the inner circular comb circle.
The washer or friction roller forces in the bottom end of the pawl lever projecting
arm actuating the pawl and catch wheel, giving a slight turn to the shaft and
circular brush, changing the surface of the brush bristles, preventing wear and tear,
and producing better work.
On the top of the circular brush is fixed a screwed socket to screw the brush on
to the shaft.
But in order to enable my improvements to be better understood, I will proceed
to describe the same by reference to the accompanying Drawing, in which,-
Figure 1 represents a side view of my improved apparatus.
Figure 2, front view with box cover removed; and Figure 3, plan of the same.
Similar letters of reference are used in all the Figures to represent similar
parts.
On the pillar A of the small inner circular comb is fitted a bracket B, which is
secured to the pillar by studs. The bracket is made with arms C supporting a
box D, which is made with half sockets E, over which are fitted and secured by
studs I the other half sockets G cast on the cover H of the box. In the sockets
work a hollow wrought-iron shaft F. A boss J is cast on the bracket, in which is
fitted a small shaft K, and on which works a pulley L and disk M cast on the side
of the pulley; the disk works in an opening cast on the back plate of the box. A
spiral spring N is fitted over the shaft K, over which is fitted a collar O, keeping
the spring and pulley in position. The spiral spring keeps the face of the disk
pressed against the face of a race P, which is fixed to a plate Q having a boss R,
through which passes the shaft F. This shaft is secured to the race plate Q by
collars S, through which are passed pins or screws. In the race works a friction
roller T fitted on a pin U, which is fixed in the disk M. On the pillar shaft V is
fitted a fly wheel W, to which is fixed or cast a driving pulley X, which is larger
in diameter than the pulley actuating the disk M. The pulley L is actuated by a
cord Y passed over the driving pulley X. The friction roller T working in the
race P gives the required up-and-down motion to the dabbing brush Z, which is
secured to the shaft by the screwed shaft end being screwed in a socket A¹, which
is fixed on the top of the brush by screws B¹; a set nut H' is employed.
The circular dabbing brush Z receives a slow rotative motion by means of a catch
wheel C', which is fitted on a bearer D¹ secured by studs to a boss El cast on the
lower arm of the box. In the boss of the catch wheel is fitted a key, which passes
in the hollow shaft F, and which gives a slow rotative movement to the shaft when
the catch wheel C' is actuated. The shaft is cut with a slot hole F, allowing the
shaft to work up and down over the key, and on this key and inside the shaft is
fitted a spiral spring G₁, which is secured at the top by the pin of the bottom
collar S. The spiral spring G' causes a quick up stroke of the dabbing brush after
dabbing.
The catch wheel C is actuated by a pawl I' fitted on an arm J of a lever K'.
This lever is actuated by a washer or friction roller, which is fitted to the inner
circular comb circle, and which comes in contact at each turn of the small comb

page_text: with a lever L', forcing the lever K¹ out and the pawl I forward, giving a slight
turn to the catch wheel and shaft, and consequently to the circular dabbing brush,
changing the surface of the bristles M', effecting a great saving in the wear and tear
of the bristles. The pawl lever works on a stud N¹ fitted in a support O¹ cast on
the bearer D¹
An ordinary dabbing brush may be fixed to the end of the hollow shaft F, and
the catch wheel and gear dispensed with.
Having thus described my improvements, and the best means I am acquainted
with for carrying the same into effect, I would have it understood that I do not
confine myself to the precise details shewn and described, as they may be varied
without departing from the peculiar character of the Invention; but what I do
claim is,―
Firstly. The general arrangement, construction, and employment of "dabbing
brush" apparatus, whereby the up-and-down motion is given to the "dabbing brush"
by means of a disk actuating a friction roller or tappet working in a race, substan-
tially as herein-before described, and represented by the accompanying Drawing.
Secondly. The construction and employment of a circular ", dabbing brush," to
which a slow rotative motion is imparted, presenting at each turn of the inner circular
comb a different surface of the bristles, substantially as herein-before described, and
represented by the Drawing annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said David Denby, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of September, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
Witness,
WALTER JAS. TURNER, C.E.,
Patent Agent,
Bradford,
DAVID DENBY. (L.S.)