IMPROVEMENTS IN COMBING WOOL AND OTHER FIBROUS SUB- STANCES, AND IN MACHINERY FOR THAT PURPOSE
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to, Charles May and Edward Alfred Cowper, both of
Great George Street, Westminster, in the County of Middlesex, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN COMBING WOOL AND OTHER FIBROUS SUB-
STANCES, AND IN MACHINERY FOR THAT PURPOSE."
Scaled the 24th June 1856, and dated 26th December. 1855...
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles May and Edward'
Alfred Cowper at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
their Petition, on the 26th December 1855.'
We, CHARLES MAY and EDWARD, ALFRED COWPER, do hereby declare the
nature of the said. Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS), IN COMBING, WOOL AND OTHER
FIBROUS' SUBSTANCES, AND IN MACHINERY FOR THAT PURPOSE," to be as follows:-
The Invention relates to certain arrangements, and combinations of receiving
combs, working combs, and guard combs, and drawing-off rollers, and other
apparatus by which the long, fibres of the wool or other substance are combed
and separated from the short. fibres and noil. We construct a machine with a
travelling receiving comb, of, a circular or straight or other convenient form,
into which the wool is lashed by one or more ordinary lashing apparatus, and
each time that wool is lashed' in, it is combed by a working comb or combs,
and a guard comb then enters the cleaned fringe, which is drawn off by
drawing rollers, leaving the noil partly in the receiving comb and partly in the

page_text: guard comb, from which (as well as from the working comb or combs) it is
removed by inclined blades or, brushes, or any of the ordinary apparatus for
such purposes.
In order to prevent the wool being too firmly held by the
combs when it is required to be drawn off, we modify the construction of
the receiving comb in various ways; thus, we construct it with two or more
rows of teeth, of which those at the back of the comb are shorter than the
front ones, and the wool after being combed is raised by means of inclined
blades or otherwise, so as to release it from the short back teeth, and to allow
it to be drawn off through the longer front teeth only; or the back teeth are
made to descend and withdraw themselves from the wool, which is then drawn
off in a similar manner through the front teeth; or the front teeth are made
to rise and to lift the wool off the back teeth, and it is then drawn off through
the front teeth, as before.
By these last arrangements the wool may be lashed into and held by the
back teeth only during the operation of combing, and the front teeth then
enter the wool and remove it from the back teeth, and it is then drawn off
through the front teeth only by the drawing rollers. The two sets of teeth
may be mounted on two separate rings or wheels, or they may be fixed on
short bars capable of rising and falling. In lieu of employing separate combs
for the working combs and the guard combs, the same comb or combs may
perform both operations. Thus, the comb may work or comb the fringe of
wool supported on a curved surface or apron, and the comb being first cleaned,
is then inserted into the combed wool which is drawn off through it. In lieu
of dividing the teeth of the receiving comb into back and front sets, as herein-
before mentioned, two combs placed one above the other, and having their
teeth directed towards each other, may be employed. One or both combs has
or have an alternate motion, by which the sliver of wool is advanced, and wires
or blades are employed to push the wool out of the combs alternately. The
wool thus advanced is combed by a working comb or combs, and drawn off
through a guard comb. These combs are arranged in a circular form like the
receiving combs above mentioned, and two sets of such combs may be combined
in one machine.
Another mode of constructing the receiving comb so as to enable it to
retain the wool while being combed, and to release it when it is to be drawn
off, consists in making the comb with two or more separate rows of teeth,
which may be shifted or shogged in a direction transverse to the fibres, so as
to bend the fibres into a curvilinear direction, and thus retain them. The rows
of teeth are shogged back again when the wool is to be drawn off. The same
effect is produced by causing the teeth to rotate on eccentric axes, or two or

page_text: more teeth to revolve on a common axis.. The fibres are thus bent as before.
In lieu of placing the wool in the receiving comb, and then combing it by a
working comb, it may be placed in both combs at once, and opened and
combed by the separation of the two combs, and removed from between them.
Thus, two or more circular combs coming close together or touching each
other may be used. The sliver or other portion of wool is placed by nippers
or otherwise across both or all the combs at their junction, and as they revolvė
and separate, they open and remove the noil and expose the cleaned wool
between them, whence it is carried away by drawing rollers or nippers, or by
endless belts or deckle straps. The back and front teeth of each comb may
also be made to separate, as the combs separate from each other; or, we
construct a circular receiving comb, which also acts as a working comb, and
which is supplied from the interior with a circle or segments of circles of
slivers, the ends of which are placed in and combed by one part of the circular
comb, and then lifted out while the comb is cleaned from the noil, and again
placed in the same or another part of the comb, and the cleaned wool drawn
'off' from the exterior; or the wool may be introduced from the exterior and
drawn off from the interior; or the slivers may be combed before placing them
in the receiving comb. The lashing head employed for lashing the wool into
the receiving combs may be of any of the known constructions, with or without
screw gills. When gills are employed, we cause the ends of the teeth to pass
sufficiently far into or behind the teeth of the receiving comb to deposit the
noil or dirty part of the wool in or behind the receiving comb, which is effected
by inclining the gill apparatus or the receiving comb, or the teeth of one or
both of them. The same result of depositing the noil in or behind the teeth
of the receiving comb is also effected by lashing the wool into the receiving
comb, then combing it with working combs, and lashing in and combing until
a sufficient quantity has accumulated; and the wool is then lifted out of the
receiving comb, and again placed in it farther back, so that when drawn off
from the front it leaves the noil in the receiving comb; or the wool is lashed
into the receiving comb in the ordinary manner, and combed by working
combs, and the fringe so formed is raised out of the comb and carried along
by two endless belts or deckle straps, which are pressed together between two
smooth metallic or other surfaces. The back end of the fringe of wool is
cleaned by brushes or combs, or both, while the front end is held between the
straps. The wool thus combed may then be seized by a second pair of deckle
straps, and the other ends combed in a similar manner, in which case it will
not be necessary to comb it on the receiving comb at all. In lieu of supplying
the deckle straps by a lashing apparatus and receiving comb, they may be

page_text: supplied by a circle or cylinder of slivers mounted on a revolving frame, carrying
teeth which have an alternate motion for advancing the wool, as herein-before
mentioned, so as to present a continuous or nearly continuous: fringe.
"
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Charles May and Edward Alfred Cowper in the Great Seal 5
Patent Office on the 25th June 1856.
121
TO ALL
ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we,, CHARLES
MAY and EDWARD ALFRED COWPER, both of Great George Street, Westminster,
in the County of Middlesex, send greeting...
WHEREAS Her most Excellent, Majesty, Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing, date the Twenty-sixth day of December, in the year of our
Lord One, thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the nineteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and, grant, unto, us, the
said Charles May and Edward Alfred Cowper,.,Her; special licence that we,
the said, Charles May and Edward Alfred Cowper, our executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as we, the, said, Charles May, and Edward. Alfred
Cowper, our 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 COMBING, WOOL
AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES, AND, IN; MACHINERY FOR THAT PURPOSE," upon the
condition (amongst others) that we, the said Charles. May and Edward
Alfred Cowper, 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Edward Alfred Cowper, on behalf of
myself and the said Charles May, do hereby declare the, nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particu-
larly; described and ascertained in and by the following, statement, thereof,
reference being had to the accompanying Drawings and to the figures and
letters marked thereon, that is to say:

page_text: Figure 1; Sheet I. of the accompanying Drawings, is a plan, and Figure 2,
is a vertical section, of portions of a combing machine, constructed according.
to our. Invention; the same letters refer to similar parts in.each Figure...
A is a circular travelling comb, into which wool is lashed by several lashing,
heads, one of which is shewn in Figure 2, a, a, are two feeding rollers
mounted on a frame b; the upper, end of which is connected to a crank c,,
while 'the lower end, is jointed to a lever d, turning on a centre or fulcrum e.
The frame b. carries a roller, or bobbin C, on which-the slivers or a lap of, wool,
is.or are wound; fis a brush which presses the wool into the comb A. As
the crank: crevolves in the direction of the arrow, the wool is lashed into the
comb A: The rollers a; a, are advanced a little at each revolution of the crank c
by means of, a'ratchet, as herein after described in reference to Figure 23,,
Sheet V: The arrangement of the lashing apparatus may be varied, the con-
struction of such apparatus being, well understood. The comb A, being thus
charged with wool, is carried by, its motion past a working comb D, and then
past another lashing apparatus, and another working comb, and so on, and it
then passes on to the drawing-off rollers G, G.; The wool is combed by each
working comb on a curved surface or apron F, as shewn, in Figure 2. The
comb.D. is fixed on a bent, lever g, h, which turns on a pin i, at the end of a
lever j, the lower end of which turns on a fixed pin, or fulcrum. The lever j
is driven backwards and forwards by, a, rod from an excentric. Hon the central
shaft M. The comb, D., is thus carried forward over the apron F. In
returning, however, the comb D is lifted off the apron by means of a cam I on
the central shaft M, which cam gives motion to a rod k, connected to, the
lower end of the lever h. The rod works in a guide, and.is.kept in contact
with the eam I by a spring or weight. The combo D is thus lifted up, as
indicated by, dotted lines, and being, cleaned by the revolving brush, E, it
returns to repeat its stroke: The, fringe of wool is thus, combed or cleaned,
except at that part which lies in the comb A, and close, in front of it. It is
carried round by the comb,A,to the drawing-off rollers G, G, and as it
approaches them, a second comb B rises up in front of the comb. A, and enters
the wool, and lifts it off the comb A, and it is then drawn off through the
comb-B, by the drawing-off, rollers G, G. The noil is thus left in the comb B,
which is cleaned in any of the ordinary manners, and descends again before
reaching the lashing, apparatus. The combs, B are made in short-segments,
which are capable of sliding up and down separately; for, which purpose, each
segment is constructed; with two slotted holes, through which pass two,pins.or
screws,l,l, which connect the comb B to a cylindrical ring or hoop, J, which
also carries the comb A. Each segment B has a roller at its foot: which runs

page_text: upon a circular surface or path K, which is made with inclines at the parts
where it is required to raise or lower the combs B. The combs B descend by
their own weight, or their descent may be insured by applying a second circular
surface or path corresponding to the surface K, and placed above the rollers.
The wool is thus lashed into the receiving comb A, and combed by a working
comb, and more wool is lashed in and combed by the successive lashing
apparatus and working combs. The receiving comb then travels on with the
continuous clean fringe of wool in it, until the combs B rise and enter the
fringe, and lift it off the comb A, and it is then drawn off in a clean state and
in a continuous sliver by the drawing-off rollers G, G, leaving the remaining
noil in the combs B, from which it is removed in the ordinary manner. The
construction of this machine admits of variation. Thus, in lieu of lashing
the wool into the comb A only, the combs A and B may be brought to the
same level, as shewn in the section Figure 3, and the wool lashed into this
compound comb A, B, and then combed as before. The back portion 'A then
descends, as shewn by the dotted lines, and the wool is drawn off through the
front portion B, by the drawing-off rollers G, G; or the front portion B
ascends, as shewn by dotted lines in Figure 4, and the wool is drawn off
through it; or the comb A, B, may be made in one piece, and with its back
teeth shorter than the front teeth, and the wool, after being lashed in and
combed, is raised by inclined blades or otherwise, so as to release it from
the short back teeth, and to allow it to be drawn off through the longer
front teeth only.
In these last arrangements, a small portion of noil close to the front or
outside of the comb B may escape the action of the working combs, and
pass into the sliver. This may be prevented by a guard comb consisting
of a disc with radial teeth, which revolves in a vertical plane, and enters
the wool between the comb B and the drawing-off rollers G; or the guard
comb may be constructed in segments and worked like the comb B, in
Figure 2. As this comb B, in Figure 2, effects the same purpose as the
additional guard comb, we consider the arrangement shewn in Figure 2 as
preferable in point of simplicity of construction.
Figure 5 is a section, and Figure 6 is a side view, of portions of a machine
constructed in a similar manner to that shewn in Figures 1 and 2, excepting
that the combs B are jointed together, so as to form an endless circular chain,
which is moved up and down by sliding rods m, m, having rollers at their
lower ends, which run upon the circular path K. Ordinary revolving or other
working combs may be employed in these machines in lieu of the working
combs herein-before described. The arrangement of the working comb D

page_text: with the plate or apron F has the advantage of enabling the comb to work very
close to the travelling comb A, and to pass easily out of the end of the fringe
which lies upon the apron. This construction and arrangement of working
comb and apron is also applicable to other descriptions of combing machinery.
Figures 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, and: 14, Sheet II., shew sections of two
combs A and B placed one above the other, and having their teeth directed
towards each other. One or both combs has or have an alternate motion, by
which the sliver of wool C is advanced, and wires or blades a, b, are employed.
to push the wool out of the combs alternately.
The combs A and B, or one of them have or has, an up and down motion,
and also a backward and forward motion. The blades a, b, have a backward.
and forward motion with the combs, but they have no up and down motion.
Figure 7 shews both combs A and B inserted in the sliver C. The comb A is.
lowered, as shewn in Figure 8, and the sliver is prevented from following it by
the blades a. The comb A and blades a then move backwards to the extent.
of the width of one space between the rows of teeth, as shewn in Figure 9,
and the comb A then rises again, as shewn in Figure 10, and both combs
move forward to the extent of half the space or pitch of the teeth, and the
sliver is thus advanced. The front tooth of the comb B has thus advanced, as
shown in Figures 10 and 11, to the position originally occupied by the front
tooth of the comb A in Figure 7. The comb B now rises, as shewn in
Figure 12, and moves backward with the blades 6 to the width of a space, as
shewn in Figure 13, and the comb B then descends, and both combs A and B
advance half a space, as shewn in Figure 14, thus advancing the sliver to the
same extent. The combs A and B have thus arrived at the same positions in
Figure 14 that they originally occupied in Figure 7; but the sliver C has
been advanced in the direction of the arrow, and through a space equal to the
distance between the rows of teeth of the comb A or B.
Combs so arranged may be used in lieu of screw gills, and they may be con-
veniently constructed of various degrees of fineness, and may be made to
advance the sliver through various distances, and even through very minute
distances, if required, and they may thus be advantageously employed for cotton
and other short fibres. The combs may be placed horizontally or vertically or
inclined, and the required motions may be given in various manners, and they
may be applied to a great variety of combing machines.
'
It is not necessary for both combs to move. Thus the comb A may, be
stationary, and the comb B with its blades 6 may rise into the relative position
shewn in Figure 8, while the blades a also rise and push the sliver C out of
the comb A. The comb B and blades 6 then move forward into the position

page_text: shewn in Figure 9, carrying the 'sliver C forward-with them; and .they then
descend with the blades a, and place the sliver in the comb'A, as shewn in
Figures 10 and 11. The sliver has thus been advanced through a space equal
to the pitch of the rows of teeth of the comb-A. The comb B then returns to
its original position without the sliver in the following manner: It first rises
into the position shewn in Figure 12, while the blades a and b remain
stationary and retain the sliver C in the comb A. The comb B-and blades'6
then move backward to the position shewn in Figure 13, and the comb-B
descends into the position shewn in Figure 14. The comb B is then in its
original position, as shewn in Figure 7, but the sliver has been advanced
through a space equal to the distance between the rows of teeth of the
comb A.
.
the fixed cams I, J, K, L, and
Figure 19 is a plan shewing
1..
Figure 15, Sheet III, is a vertical section, and Figure 16 is a plan, of
a. machine-constructed with alternate moving combs according to our Inven-
tion. A, A, and B, B, are the alternate moving combs, which are of
segmental form; and are earranged in a circle. They are supplied with
slivers from 'the rollers or bobbins C, C; so as to form a cylindrical fringe
projecting from the top of the combs A, B; D, D', are the working combs,
which are cleaned by revolving brushes E, E; F, F, F, F, are small-in-
clined or diagonal rollers; which seize the fringe and draw it out a little; as
shewn in the separate side view, Figure 17; G, G, G, G are the drawing-
off rollers, one of which is also shewn in the side view, Figure 18; H. is
the framing of the machine, which carries
supports the bearings of the central shaft M.
the cams I and J.
.The combs A and B are attached respectively to the rectangular bars a
'and-b, which are carried round by two plates N, O, fixed on the shaft M. The
plate O also carries the bobbins C, C. These plates have radial slots, which
fit the bars a and b, which are capable of moving freely in them. The bars
a and b are controlled in the lower plate O, by transverse pieces c, c,.c, which
allow them to slide up and down, but prevent them from sliding in and out,
or to and from the shaft M. The bars a and b carry small rollers d, e, f; and g,
which run in the grooves of the cams, I, K, J, L, respectively; the action of
these cams is as follows: Each comb A in succession is drawn outwards by
the cam I, as shewn at A¹ in Figure 16; and, it is then lowered by the action
of the cam K, and again moved inwards by the cam I; both combs A, B, are
then raised together by the cams K and L. The comb B is then drawn
inwards by the cam J, as shewn at B' in Figure 16, and lowered by the cam
L, and, again moved outwards by the cam J. Both combs A and B are then

page_text: raised together by the action of the cams K and L: The slivers' of wool are
thus gradually advanced by this alternate action of the combs A and B As
these combs are successively drawn out of the wool, and again inserted as
herein-before described; the wool is prevented from 'following them by means
of thin metal blades' i, i, inserted between the teeth of the combs; and shewn
by blue lines in Figure 15. These blades are made in segments, and fitted to
each comb A and B, and they are capable of rising and falling with the combs
A and B, but do not move in and out, or to and from the centre of the
machine. They are kept in their places in the following manner The
blades are connected by wires passing through holes in the backs of the
combs to frames, . Each of these frames carries two pins+k, turning
upwards, and two other pins 1, P, turning downwards; one of each of these
pins is shewn in Figure 15. Figure 15 bis, Sheet II, is a section' on a larger
scale of this part of the machine. These pins enter holes in four rings 'm, m',
n; n', in which they are capable of sliding up and down through a sufficient
space to allow of the motion of the combs A and B. The rings m, m, n, n',
and frames j,, must also be placed sufficiently far from the backs of the
combs' A and B, to allow of their motion. The action of the machine is as
follows: The slivers are advanced a little by the alternating conìbs at A,
and as the machine and combs revolve in the direction of the arrow, the edge
of the cylinder of slivers enters' between the two short inclined rollers F, F,
which draw out a certain length, which is then combed by the working conib D.
This clean wool is then drawn off by the drawing-off-rollers 'G, G; the
wool which is thus drawn out of the combs A, B, leaves its noil in the teeth
of those combs. When the next alternating movement takes place at 'B','a
portion of this noil or dirty wool is exposed, and it' is seized by the rollers F",
and drawn out a little. A cylindrical fringe of clean wool, with a portion of
noil on its upper edge, is thus presented to the working comb "D? which
removes the noil; and the clean wool is then drawn off by the 'rollers (G'.
The clean long wool is thus delivered in a continuous sliver at each pair of
drawing-off rollers G and G³, while the noil is taken away by the working
combs D, D'; from which it is removed by the brushes E; E', which may be
cleaned by doffing knives or combs, or otherwise, in the ordinary manner.
"Figure 20, Sheet IV., is a plan, and Figure 21 is a vertical" section, of
'a combing machine constructed with alternate moving combs A," B, on a
similar principle to that shewn in Figures: 15 and 16. In this machine the
'combs A, B, are arranged in a horizontal or disc form, instead of being placed
in a cylindrical form as in the aforesaid machine shewn in Figures 15 and 16.
The combs A and B are attached to bars a and b, which work in vertical slots

page_text: in two cylindrical ribs N and O on the plate M₁, which is fixed on the shaft
M; the plate M' also carries the bobbins C, C. The combs A and B are
moved up and down and in and out, by means of fixed cams I, J, K, L,
acting upon small rollers d, f, e, g, on the bars a and b, as in the machine
shewn in Figures 15 and 16; h, h, are springs, which keep the rollers d and f
in contact with the cams I and J. The cam I is supported from below, and
the cams J, K, L, are supported from the upper cross framing of the machine.
The slivers are advanced by the combs A, B, and a portion of wool is drawn
out by the short rollers F, and combed by a working comb D, which is
cleaned by a brush E; the wool may then be drawn off at once into a sliver,
by drawing-off rollers, or it may be carried away by deckle straps S, as herein-
after described, which deliver it to the drawing-off rollers G, from which it
issues in a continuous sliver.
is a section, of another
A is a circular travelling
Figure 22, Sheet V., is a plan, and Figure 23
machine constructed according to our Invention.
-or-revolving comb, into which the wool is lashed by one or more lashing
heads B, B, which may be constructed like that shewn in Figures 1 and 2,
Shect I, or in any of the ordinary manners; y is a ratchet wheel on the
spindle of the lower roller a, which is driven forward a little at each stroke
by a paul z, jointed to the lever d. Each portion of wool, after it is lashed
in, is carried past a working comb D, which combs it. upon a curved
plate or apron. The combs D are worked by an excentric H, and cam I,
on the central shaft M, as in Figure 2, Sheet I. The clean fringe of wool,
consisting of the accumulated portions from the different lashing heads, is
carried on by the travelling comb A, until it approaches the deckle straps S, S¹,
when it is raised out of the comb by means of inclined plates or blades E, and
is then seized by the deckle straps. These deckle straps are two endless
bands of leather, gutta percha, steel, or other suitable material, passing round
rollers G, G, G¹, G, and running between two smooth plates or surfaces J, J',
of polished metal or other suitable material; these surfaces may be fixed, or
one or both may be moveable, and they may be pressed towards each other by
screws, or weights, or springs. The clean part of the fringe of wool is partly
held between the deckle straps, and partly projects from one side of them,
while the noil or dirty part which has been lifted out of the comb A projects
from the other side of the straps, and is carried past the revolving working
comb L, by which it is cleaned; the wool being thus cleaned or combed
passes out from between the deckle straps, and as it is released by them, it is
drawn off by the drawing-off rollers N, in the state of a continuous band or
sliver.
3

page_text: Figure 24, Sheet VI., is a side view, partly in section, of the machine
shewn in Figures 22 and 23, Sheet V., shewing the mode of working the comb
D over the curved apron F, which has been already described in reference to
Figures 1 and 2, Sheet I. Figure 24 also shews a section of the deckle
straps S, S', and the surfaces J, J', between which they run. In lieu of
lifting the fringe of wool out of the comb A. by inclined blades E, as shewn in
Figure 23, Sheet V., the comb A may be made in separate segments, which
descend out of the fringe when it arrives at the deckle straps, as shewn in
side view in Figure 25, Sheet VI., and in transverse section in Figure 26.
Each segment has a roller, which runs upon a path or surface K, of such
form as to allow the comb to descend when the fringe of wool enters the deckle
straps, or the segments may be jointed together like those shewn in Figures 5
and 6, Sheet I.
Figure 27, Sheet VII., is a plan, and Figure 28 is a vertical section, of a
machine similar in some respects to that shewn in Figures 22 and 23, Sheet V.
A is the circular travelling receiving comb, into which the wool is lashed by
one or more lashing apparatus B. The uncombed fringe of wool is carried
by the comb A to the deckle straps S, S', being raised out of the comb A by
inclined blades E, as in Figure 23; or the comb A is made to descend out
of the fringe as in Figure 25. The fringe is then carried by the deckle
straps S, S', past the revolving working comb L, which cleans the back ends
of the wool. The cleaned back part of the fringe is then seized by a second
pair of deckle straps T, T', which carry it forward and past a second working
comb L', which combs and cleans the front end of the fibres, which are finally
liberated by the deckle straps T, T', and drawn off in a continuous sliver by
the drawing-off rollers N. The rollers G, G, at the meeting of the two pairs
of deckle straps are made sufficiently wide to receive both.
Figure 29, Sheet VIII., is a plan, and Figure 30 is a vertical section, of
a machine constructed in a somewhat similar manner to that shewn in
Figures 20 and 21, Sheet IV: It consists of a circular arrangement of
alternate moving segmental combs A and B, which advance the ends
of the slivers so as to form a fringe projecting a short distance from the
combs. This fringe (which contains noil) enters between a pair of deckle
straps S, S', which carry it away in a direction tangential to the circle
of combs A, B. A long fringe of clean wool is thus drawn out from the
combs A, B, leaving the noil in those combs. The clean fringe is then
seized by a second pair of deckle straps T, and the noil or dirty wool which
had been held by the first pair of deckle straps is combed or cleaned by
a revolving working comb D, which is itself cleaned by a brush E. The

page_text: clean wool is finally released by the second pair of deckle straps T, and
drawn off in a continuous sliver by the drawing-off rollers G. The other parts:
of the machine. are similar to those similarly. marked in Figures 20 and 21,
Sheet .IV.
The deckle, straps. may also be supplied with a cylinder of slivers, by means
of a cylindrical arrangement of alternate moving combs, like that shewn in
Figures 15 and 16, Sheet III.
Figure 31, Sheet IX., is a plan of portions of another machine, having a
revolving circular arrangement of alternate moving combs A, B, similar to
those shewn in Figures 20 and. 21, Sheet IV., and Figures 29 and 30, Sheet
VIII: These combs advance a continuous circular fringe of slivers.which is
seized by a pair of deckle straps S, which carry it along in a direction tangen-
tial to the circle A, B, and thus draw out a fringe of clean wool from between
the teeth of the combs, while the noil or dirty edge of the fringe is held
between, the deckle straps, as in the machine shewn in Figures 29 and 30,
Sheet VIII. A guard comb W, then enters the clean part of the fringe,
which is drawn off through the guard comb by the drawing-off rollers: G;
which convert it into a continuous sliver. The noil is removed from .the
guard, comb W by blades or brushes, or in any of the ordinary manners.
The guard, comb. W.may be made in various ways. Thus it may consist of a
chain of short pieces of comb. jointed together, and passing round two wheels,
or it may be simply a disc wheel with the combiteeth fixed in its periphery.
Figure. 32 is a section, on a larger scale, of one pair of the alternate moving
combs A and B, and of the deckle straps S, S', shewing the surfaces J, J,
between which they run, and by which they are caused to press upon the wool
between them. This construction of machine is capable of advancing the
fibrous substance through very small distances at each motion, and of seizing
it close to the front of the combs A, B, and it may, therefore, be advanta-
geously employed for combing cotton and fibrous: substances of short staple.
Figure 33, Sheet IX., is a plan of portions of another.machine, having a
revolving circle of alternate moving, combs A, B,. similar to that shewn in
Figures. 20 and 21, Sheet IV. The fringe of wool is advanced by the alter-
nate,moving.combs, and is then combed by a working comb. D; as shewn on a
larger scale in the section, Figure. 34. The front blades a, b, between the
teeth, of, the combs A and B, imay be made to press upon the wool so as to
hold it more, firmly while it is being combed: The fringe of wool is 'thus
combed or cleaned, excepting that a small portion of. noil may remain in close
contact with the front teeth of the comb A or B, and thus escape. the action
of the working comb D...This noil is prevented from passing away with the

page_text: clean wool by means of the guard combs W, W, which enter the clean wool,
and through which the clean wool is drawn off. in a continuous sliver by the
drawing-off rollers G. These guard. combs are, two. revolving discs, having
comb teeth in their peripheries, which move at the same velocity, .or. nearly so,
as the circumference of the circle A, B. They are cleaned in any of the
ordinary manners, and their construction may be varied as herein-before
described in reference to the guard combs employed in the machine shewn
in Figures 31 and 32..
Figure 35, Sheet X., is a, plan, and Figure. 36, is a vertical section, of
another machine constructed according to our. Invention! In this machine
two or more separate feeding apparatus: supplied with slivers are 1 employed,
and they are so arranged. that the ends of the slivers! are,conibed. and
then placed by the feeding apparatus in a travelling receiving.comb; from
which they are drawn off, by drawing-off rollers. Each separate feeding
apparatus is, made to place, the ends of its slivers in the receiving.comb, before
the preceding feeding apparatus has left the receiving comb, by which means
we are enabled to produce. a continuous clean. sliver, notwithstanding the
separate or discontinuous construction, of the feeding apparatus.
Each feeding apparatus has a segmental plate c, mounted upon a lever E,
which is jointed to a block f, sliding on, the radial frame F. The segment c
has a rib or bar 9. at one end. The slivers O; O, are supplied from bobbins
supported in frames F!, mounted on, the frame F. The slivers are arranged
side by side on the segmental plate c, where they are held by means of a
small plate or bar a, which, presses upon the bar g, and by another. bar b,
which presses upon the plate.c. The bars a and b are mounted on a lever's,
which is joted to another lever t, turning upon a pin u on the lever-E. The
levers s, and t are pressed towards the plate c by springs v, v; wis.a short
fixed cam which acts upon a roller a mounted on the lever s. By the action
of this cam the levers can be raised a little, so as to withdraw the bar 6 from
the plate c, and it can be raised still farther so as to raise the lever t with it,
and, thus withdraw both the bars a and b from the plate. The joint between
the levers s and t is so made that its motion is limited, and the lever s'is thus
made to raise the lever twith it when the roller x arrives at the highest part
of the cam w; H is another fixed cam acting upon a roller G mounted on the
lever E, which can thus be raised and lowered when required; e is another
fixed cam mounted on the fixed central shaft M, and acting upon a roller d
on the sliding block f, which can thus be moved to and from the shaft M.
The frames F turns. freely upon the fixed shaft M, and each frame is separate
from and capable of moving independently of the others....They are moved in

page_text: the following manner :-L is a driving shaft carrying a bevil wheel 7, which
drives another bevil wheel m mounted on a collar, which also carries the
toothed. wheel n, and turns freely on the fixed shaft M. The wheel n drives
a pinion o, the spindle of which is mounted on the frame F, and carries a
bevil wheel p, at its upper end. The wheel p drives another bevil wheel 2 on
the spindle of a pin wheel r. This wheel is a disc carrying four pins r, r,
which enter diagonal grooves in a fixed hoop or curved plate N. As one pin r
leaves the end of one groove, another pin r enters the opposite end of the
next diagonal groove, and the frame F is thus carried round the central shaft
M. The grooves have not all the same inclination, but are
very slightly
inclined at some parts of the circle, and much more inclined at other parts
of the circle, as shewn in Figure 37, which is a detached view of a portion of
the hoop N. By this means the frame F receives an angular motion, at a
velocity which varies with the inclination of the grooves in the hoop N.
In Figure 35, four of the frames F are shewn, two of which are in plan,
while the other two are shewn in section, in order to shew more clearly the
construction of the machine. C is a circular travelling receiving comb; and
J, J, are drawing-off rollers; A is a revolving working comb. The action
of this machine is as follows:-The feeding apparatus is raised by the cam
II into the position shewn on the left hand of Figure 36, and the ends of
the slivers are then combed by the working comb A. The frame F is then
carried rapidly round until it overtakes the preceding frame, and it then
travels along slowly until it has passed the drawing-off roller J; at the same
time the lever E is lowered by the cam H, so as to place the combed ends of
the slivers in the travelling receiving comb C. When they arrive at the
drawing-off-rollers J, the bar is raised by the action of the cam w, and
the clean wool is drawn off through the comb C, leaving the noil in the
portion of sliver which remains in the comb C. As the feeding apparatus
proceeds, the bar a is also raised, and the slivers are thus released from the
feeding apparatus, while their ends are lying in the comb C. The feeding
apparatus is then drawn back a little by the cam e, and the bars a and b are
then allowed to descend upon the slivers, and the feeding apparatus is then
raised by the cam H and advanced by the cam e. The slivers with the noil
in their ends are thus lifted out of the comb C, and advanced a certain
distance. The frame F then moves rapidly round the central shaft until it
arrives at the working comb A, where the ends of the slivers are again
combed as before. The slivers are carried as slowly past the working comb
A as may be necessary for properly combing them. They are then carried
rapidly round the machine until they overtake the preceding feeding appa-

page_text: ratus, and the operation proceeds as before. The various machines herein
described admit of variations in their construction, and we wish it to be
understood that when we mention a travelling circular receiving, comb, com-
bined with other stationary apparatus, such receiving comb may be made
stationary, and the other stationary apparatus may be made to revolve around
the axis of the said receiving comb, it being sufficient that the relative motions
of the various parts should be such as herein described. Other modifications
may also be made; as, for example, in lieu of lashing fibrous substances into a
circular receiving comb, and combing and drawing them off from the exterior
of the same, they may be lashed and combed and drawn off from the interior
of the said comb. Also endless chain combs, such as that shewn in Sheets
XII. and XIII., may be employed in lieu of circular combs in many of the
machines herein described.
We have in some parts of this Specification mentioned wool. as the
substance to be combed, but we wish it to be understood that the various
machines are also applicable to combing other fibrous substances.
Figure 38, Sheet XI., is a plan, and Figure 39 is a vertical section, of
another machine constructed according to our Invention. A is a fixed circular
comb, which is supported on a hollow pillar B; C is another fixed circular comb,
supported by the framing D; E, E, are levers carrying feeding apparatus, con-
sisting of two pairs of rollers a, a, and b, b, carrying endless bands c, c. . One
of the rollers a carries a ratchet wheel d, which is advanced by means of a paul
e at each movement of the lever E. The levers E are worked up and down by
connecting rods f, connected to levers F, which carry small rollers g actuated
by the grooved cam H on the revolving frame I. The frame I also carries
the drawing-off rollers J, one of which carries a bevil wheel h, driven by
another bevil wheel i on a vertical spindle j, which carries a pinion k driven
by the fixed internal wheel K. L is the main driving shaft, which carrics
two equal pinions l, m, which drive two equal wheels n, o. The wheel o is
fixed to the frame I. The wheel n is fixed on a central
passes up through the hollow pillar B, and carries an arm
which is a pair of vertical rollers p, p, for drawing off the noil. One of these
rollers is driven by means of a pinion 9 geering into a fixed internal wheel r.
The action of the machine is as follows:-All the feeding apparatus-being
supplied with slivers o, o, the machine is put in motion. The levers E, E,
work up and down, and comb the ends of the slivers on-the comb A, which
thus acts as the working comb. At the same time the drawing-off rollers J
keep travelling. round the machine, and as they approach each of the feeding
apparatus, that feeding apparatus descends to the position shewn at the right
shaft M, which
or frame N, on

page_text: of Figure.39; so as to place the cleaned ends of the slivers in the comb C;
through which they are; drawn off by the rollers Jand formed into a sliver,
which is deposited in a can which revolves with the frame I: The upper
roller bis carried by a levers, which is, jointed to the lever E at the axis of
the upper roller a.
It is pressed against the lower roller b by a strong spring
while the wool is being combed on the comb A. When the lever Ei descends,
and places, the combed wool in. the comb C, the lever s comes down upon a
stop, while the lever E descends a little farther, so as to cause the rollers b, b;
to separate a little and release the wool between them, while the slivers are
still held by the rollers a, a. The drawing-off rollers Jare thus enabled: to
draw out the long fibres from between the bands.c; c. 'As the feeding appä-
ratus form a complete circle, the sliver thus formed is continuous. After the
drawing-off rollers have passed, the levers E rise again and lift the uncombed
sliver, and noil out of the comb C, and advance a fresh portion of sliver, which
is combed on the comb A, as before. In the meantime, the noil has been
removed from the comb A by the rollers p, p... The construction of this
machine may be varied; by causing the..feeding apparatus to comb the ends of
the slivers on the comb A, and then to rise up and remain up while the noik
rollers p,lp, remove the noil from that comb. The feeding apparatus. then
descends and places the cleaned ends of the slivers in the comb A, through:
which they are drawn off in a continuous sliver by the rollers J, which are
then mounted on the frame N.; The lower comb c.is. then not required...',
Figures 40 and 41; Sheet XII., and Figure 42, Sheet XIII., represent
another machine, in which the ends of slivers are combed or cleaned; and then
placed, in a comb, through which they are drawn off in a continuous sliver by
drawing-off, rollers. Figure 40 is a plan, partly in section, and Figure 41 is a
front, view, also partly in section, of this machine; Figure 42, Sheet XIII, is
a vertical section of the same. In this machine the slivers O, O, are arranged
to form a cylindrical. fringe. 'F is a revolving wheel mounted on a shaft M,
which carries the bobbins of slivers by means of the frames F. The wheel F
carries a cylindrical; hoop formed of a number separate segmental plates c, c,
each of which is separately mounted on a crooked or cranked lever E, jointed
to the wheel. F, and guided by bars f fixed on the wheel F. Each segment
c has a rib or bar g at one end. The slivers o, o, are arranged side by side on
the segments c, c, where they are held by means of a small plate or bar a
which presses upon, the bar g, and by another bar b, which presses upon the
segment c. The bars a and b are mounted on a lever s, which is jointed to
another lever t, turning upon a pin u on the lever E. The levers s and t are
pressed towards the segment c by springs v, v. As the wheel F revolves, it

page_text: carries the cylindrical..fringe.of. slivers past: a revolving working comb A, by
which the projecting fringe is combed and cleaned, except at that part which
lies close to the bars 6. The clean fringe is then carried on by the wheel F.
and placed in a travelling receiving comb C, through which it is, drawn off in
a clean continuous sliver by the. drawing-off.rollers J, J., The receiving
comb C is an endless chain of combs passing round the wheels G, G, one of
which, and a portion of the chain comb, are represented as broken away in
Figuré 40. The comb C is cleaned. from the .noil by inclined blades I and
rollers p, p. The comb A is cleaned by a brush 'A' in the ordinary manner.
While the fringe is being drawn off from each segment, the bar b is drawn
away from the segment so as to allow the long fibres to be drawn out while
the slivers are still held by the bars:a and g. This is effected by means of a
bar or cam w, which acts against. a roller a on the lever s, when it arrives at
the lower part of its course. After it has passed the drawing-off rollers J,
the lever s is drawn back still farther by the action of the cam w. The joint
between the levers 's and t is so made, that when the. levers is thus drawn
back it carries the lever t with it, and thus draws the bar a away from g, and
releases the slivers entirely, while their front ends still lie in the travelling
comb C. The lever E is then drawn back by means of a circular grooved
cam e, which acts upon a roller d, mounted on the lever E. The roller x is
then released by the cam w, and thus the: slivers are again; held by the bars
a and b, but at a point further back on the slivers. The lever E is then
advanced again by the cam e, and. the slivers are thus advanced and are then
carried past the working comb A, as before. :
Figure 43, Sheet XIV., is a plan, and Figure:44 is a vertical section, of
portions of another machine constructed according to our Invention. A is a
circular travelling receiving comb, into. which wool is. lashed by one or more
lashing apparatus B, and combed by one or more revolving or. other: working
combs D: The clean part of the fringe of wool then enters: between a pair of
endless belts or bands O and P, each of which passes round two pulleys or
rollers. Both bands pass over an. intermediate roller Q, by which they are
bent into an angular form, as shewn in Figure, 44. The bands are driven at
a velocity which is the same, or nearly so, as that of the comb A. The fringe
is thus seized by the bands O, P, and lifted out of the comb A, and again
placed in it, but farther back in the comb, as shewn at R, in Figure 43.
The noil or uncleaned part of the wool being thus placed in or behind the
comb A; the wool is drawn off in a clean continuous sliver by. the drawing-oft
rollers N; leaving the noil in the comb A, from which it is: removed by inclined
blades and drawn off at U.

page_text: Having now described the nature of our said Invention, and in wha
manner the same is to be performed; we wish it to be understood that what we
claim.is,
:.
First; the constructing machinery for combing wool and other fibrous sub-
stance by the combination of one or more lashing apparatus and a working
comb or combs and drawing-off rollers with a travelling receiving comb, so
constructed' or arranged that the fibrous substance when being drawn off is
released from some or all of the teeth into which it has been lashed, and which
hold it while being combed, and is drawn off through a portion only of such
teeth or through other teeth than those into which it has been lashed; às herein-
before described in reference to Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, Sheet I.
Second, the constructing machinery for combing wool and other fibrous
substances by the combination of a convex surface or apron with a recipro
cating comb, acting in the manner herein-before described in reference to
Figures 1 and 2; Sheet I.. :
T
Third, the mode of combing wool and other fibrous substances, by idrawing
out the ends of slivers of the same in successive portions from between the
teeth of alternate moving combs, which advance the slivers in manner.therein-
before described in reference to Sheet' II:
7.
Fourth, the constructing machinery for combing wool and other:fibrous
substances, with two combs having their teeth directed towards each other, and
one or both of which have an alternate motion, as herein-before described in
reférence to Figures 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15 bis, Sheet II.
Fifth, the constructing machinery for combing wool and other fibrous 'sub-
stances, by 'the combination of a working: comb; or, combs and drawing-off
roller's with the aforesaid alternate moving: combs, as herein-before-described.in
reference to Figurés 15 and 16, Sheet III., 'and Figures 20 and 21, Sheet IV.,
and Figures 33 and 34, Sheet IX. .
:
Sixth, the constructing machinery for combing wool and other fibrous sub-
stances, with "deckle straps," by which the. fibrous substance is held. and
carried along, such. "deckle straps" consisting of two endless band of leather,
gutta percha, steel, or other suitable flexible or elastic material passing round
pulleys or wheels, and pressed: together by two smooth metallic or other suit-
able surfaces, as herein-before. described.:in reference to Figures 22 and 23;
Sheet V., Figures 24, 25, and 26,. Sheet VI., Figures 27 and 28, Sheet VII.,
Figures 29 and 30, Sheet VIII.; and Figures 31 and 32, Sheet IX. Also,
the application of two pairs of such deckle.straps,, as, herein-before described
in reference to Figures 27 and 28, Sheet VII., and Figures 29 and 30,,Sheet
VIII.

page_text: Seventh, the constructing machinery for combing wool and other fibrous
substances, by the combination of the aforesaid deckle straps with the afore-
:said alternate moving combs and a working comb or combs, as herein-before
described in reference to Figures 20 and 21, Sheet IV., and Figures 29 and 30,
Sheet VIII. .
Eighth, the constructing machinery for combing wool and other fibrous sub-
stances, by the combination of the aforesaid deckle straps with the aforesaid
alternate moving combs and a guard comb and drawing-off rollers, as herein-
before described in reference to Figures 31 and 32, Sheet IX.
Ninth, the constructing machinery for combing wool and other fibrous sub-
stances, by the combination of a travelling receiving comb and one or more
lashing apparatus and working combs with deckle straps and drawing-off
rollers, as herein-before described in reference to Figures 22 and 23, Sheet V.,
Figures 24, 25, and 26, Sheet VI., and Figures 27 and 28, Sheet VII.
Tenth, the constructing machinery for combing wool and other fibrous sub-
stances, by the combination of a travelling receiving comb with two or more
separate feeding apparatus, supplied with slivers and so arranged that the
ends of the slivers are combed and then placed by the feeding apparatus in the
travelling receiving comb, from which they are drawn off by drawing-off rollers,
such separate feeding apparatus being so arranged that each one places its
slivers is the receiving comb before the preceding feeding apparatus has left
the receiving comb, thus producing a continuous sliver from separate or
discontinuous feeding apparatus, as herein-before described in reference to
Figures 35 and 36, Sheet X.
Eleventh, the constructing machinery for combing wool and other fibrous
substances, by the combination of parts herein-before described in reference to
Figures 38 and 39, Sheet XI.
Twelfth, the constructing machinery for combing wool and other fibrous
substances, by the combination of a cylindrical feeding apparatus with a working
comb or combs, and a chain or travelling comb, and drawing-off rollers, as
herein-before described in reference to Figures 40 and 41, Sheet XII., and
Figure 42, Sheet XIII.
Thirteenth, the mode of combing wool and other fibrous substances, by
lashing it into a receiving comb, and combing the fringe thus obtained by a
working comb or combs, and then lifting it out of the receiving. comb and
placing it again farther back in the same comb, and then drawing it off in a
continuous sliver, as herein-before described in reference to Sheet XIV.
Fourteenth, the constructing machinery for combing wool and other fibrous
substances, by the combination of a circular receiving comb with one or more

page_text: lashing apparatus and drawing-off' rollers and endless belts, or other cquivalent
means of lifting the fringe of fibrous substance out of the circular comb, and
again placing it farther back in the same comb, as herein-before described in
reference to Sheet XIV.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Alfred Cowper, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of June, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six.
EDWARD ALFRED. COWPER. (Ls.)
Witness,
CHARLES COWPER,
20, Southampton Buildings,
Chancery Lane, London.