when Combing, Soutching, or Preparing Textile Materials.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Sept., 1886
Complete Left, 11th June, 1887.
Complete Accepted, 12th July, 1887,
when Combing, Soutching, or Preparing Textile Materials.
I BENJAMIN JOSEPH BARNARD MILLS of the firm of Harris and Mills of 23
Southampton Buildings in the County of Middlesex Patent Agent do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
In existing machines, the operatives place the flax, hemp or other material to be
combed, scutched or prepared, in clamps or holders generally lined with caoutchouc ;
these plates in metal and of book form are pressed the one against the other by means
of a screw and nut.
At the passage of each clamp or holder that is to say about five times a minute the
operative is required to unscrew the nut, remove the cover and the flax or other
material, replace the material, spread it out, replace the cover and the nut, screw it
and place it on the carriage of the machine.
The operative becomes fatigued with this work, which in consequence is never
regularly well done.
Also these clamps or holders allow many of the filaments to escape. This work is
entirely obviated by the employment of the continuous clamp or holder which forms
the subject of the present invention and of which the following is a description.
On a table or framing, either horizontal, vertical or inclined (see Figures 1, 2
and 3) cords or chains C to the number of 2, 3, 4 or more are caused to slide.
These cords or chains travel on this horizontal, vertical or inclined table between
the plates L, which are fixed with their base facing the table but at a distance of
about 5 millimeters.
The cords or chains can travel freely between these blades from one end of the
machine to the other, but cannot leave the channel formed by the blades descending
towards the table and beyond the height of the cords or chains.

page_text: These cords or chains, either by a continuous motion or by an intermittent motion
having transversed the length of the machine, pass over a grooved or other pulley
placed at the outlet of the machine and return towards the entrance by passing over
another guide pulley, they re-enter anew under and between the guide blades.
It is thus evident that if there is placed on these cords or chains at their entry
below the blades a fibre of any character such as flax, hemp, jnte, China grass,
cotton, wool, silk, hair properly spread out, it is drawn in by and with the cords or
chains sliding, in its passage under the rounded bases of the blades.
But also the cords or chains (see section Figure 3 drawn on line 1, 2, of Figure 1)
exceed in height the bottom of the blades, thus causing a corrugation or undulation
of the filaments which guarantees the drawing in the direction of the length of the
machine and retains completely the fibres against any displacement in the other
direction.
Thus the material is well drawn and neither during the scutching and heckling nor
during the combing, will it be loosened but it will continue its course to the outlet,
without losing any filaments, as often happens in clamps or holders more or less well
screwed, hitherto employed.
.
When the material is worked at one end, that is to say, being held by one end in
the continuous clamp or holder, the hanging or dependent portion having traversed the
cleaning or combing instruments is finished, then a mechanical arrangement either an
inclined plane or a rotating helicoidal plane will pass the hanging or dependent and
worked part into the clamp or holder, cords or chains, of a second machine similar to
the first and the part which was held in the first machine becomes pendent or hanging
in the second to be worked and finished in its turn.
This transfer from the first machine to the second might also be made by hand by a
young operative who would seize the material at the outlet of the first machine and
would turn it to place it in the second in such manner as to leave pendent or hanging
the part which has not been previously worked.
The advantages of this principle are too apparent to necessitate further explanation.
There is economy in working and in cost of clamps or holders which frequently
require to be renewed or repaired.
The work is better done and the yield superior in finished materials.
Greater production because there is no further impediment to the increase of speed
in the feed.
The number and the strength of the cords or chains may be varied at will according
to the nature of the materials to be held and conducted ;
The arrangement of these cords or chains may also be modified without departing
from the principle of this invention either as represented in the section Figure
drawn on line 3, 4, of Figure 4, in which the inaterial is conducted between two
series of cords or chains or by any other means of carrying the same process into
effect.
B. J. B. MILLS.
By Harris & Mills,
23, Southampton Buildings,
Agents.

page_text: Improvements in or Connected with Clamps or Holders Employed
when Combing, Scutching, or Preparing Textile Materials.
I, BENJAMIN JOSEPH BARNARD MILLS of the firm of Harris and Mills of 23
Southampton Buildings in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention, a communication to me from abroad by Adolphe
Casse of Fives-Lille (Nord) in the Republic of France, Manufacturer, and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement:-
In existing machines the operatives place the flax, hemp or other material to be
combed, scutched or prepared in clamps or holders, generally lined with caoutchouc ;
these plates in metal and of book form are pressed the one against the other by means
of a screw and nut.
At the passage of each clamp or holder, that is to say about five times a minute the
operative is required to unscrew the nut, remove the cover and the flax or other
niaterial, replace the material, spread it out, replace the cover and the nut, screw it and
place it on the carriage of the inachine.
The operative becomes fatigued with this work which in consequence is never
regularly well done.
Also these clamps or holders allow many of the filaments to escape. This work is
entirely obviated by the employment of the continuous clamp or holder which forms
the subject of the present invention and of which the following is a description.
On a table or framing, either horizontal, vertical or inclined cords or chains C to
the number of 2, 3, 4 or more are caused to slide. These_cords or chains travel on
this horizontal vertical or inclined table between the plates L which are fixed with their
base facing the table but at a distance of about 5 millimeters.
The cords or chains can travel freely between these blades from one end of the
machine to the other but cannot leave the channel formed by the blades descending
towards the table and beyond the height of the cords or chains.
These cords or chains either by a continuous motion or by an intermittent motion
having traversed the length of the machine pass over a grooved or other pulley placed
at the outlet of the machine and return towards the entrance by passing over another
guide pulley they reenter anew under and between the guide blades.
It is thus evident that if there is placed on these cords or chains at their entry
below the blades a fibre of any character such as flax, hemp, jute, china grass, cotton,
wool, silk, hair properly spread out, it is drawn in by and with the cords or chains
sliding, in its passage, under the rounded bases of the blades.
But also the cords or chains (see Figure 1 which is a section drawn on line 1. 2.
of Figures 3 and 4) exceed in height the bottom of the blades thus causing a corru-

page_text: gation or undulation of the filaments which guarantees the drawing in the direction
of the length of the machine, and retains completely the fibres against any displacement
in the other direction.
Thus the material is well drawn and neither during the scutching and heckling nor
during the combing will it be loosened but it will continue its course to the outlet
without losing any filaments, as often happens in clamps or holders more or less well
screwed hitherto employed.
When the material is worked at one end, that is to say, being held by one end in
the continuous clamp or holder, the hanging or dependent portion having traversed
the cleaning or combing instruments is finished, then a mechanical arrangement either
an inclined plane or a rotating helicoidal plane will pass the hanging or dependent and
worked part into the clamp or holder, cords or chains of a second machine similar to
the first and the part which was held in the first machine becomes pendent or hanging
in the second to be worked and finished in its turn._
This transfer from the first machine to the second might also be made by hand by
a young operative who would seize the material at the outlet of the first machine and
would turn it to place it in the second in such manner as to leave pendent or hanging
the part which has not been previously worked.
The advantages of this principle are to apparent to necessitate further explanation.
There is economy in working and in cost of clamps or holders which frequently
require to be renewed or repaired. The work is better done and the yield superior in
finished materials. Greater production because there is no further impediment to the
increase of speed in the feed.
The number and the strength of the cords or chains may be varied at will according
to the nature of the materials to be held and conducted.
a
The arrangement of these cords or chains may also be modified without departing
from the principle of this invention either as represented in Figure 2 which
section drawn on line 3. 4. of Figure 5 in which the material is conducted between
two series of cords or chains or by any other means of carrying the same process into
effect.
The herein described arrangement of continuous clamp or holder is capable of
application to combing machines now in use and several mechanical means may be
utilized to obtain the desired result.
Amongst the various movements possible for this application, I will describe one
which gives satisfactory results with respect to working and simplicity.
In order that the said arrangement may be readily understood I have represented it
in the accompanying drawings but only by way of example.
Figure 6 is a general view of the said arrangement.
Figure 7 represents a detail of it drawn to a larger scale.
D is a grooved pulley mounted on the carriage carrying the cords of the continuous
clamp or holder and placed in an inclined plane as indicated by the drawing in order
to enable the combs to approach as near as possible to the continuous clamps or holders
holding the textile fibres."
A is a toothed pinion fixed on a shaft or axis E at the end of which is fixed a
bevelled pinion R gearing into the bevelled wheel C* fixed on the same shaft or axis
as that carrying the grooved pulley D.
The entire of this mechanism or carriage receives a perpendicular alternately
rising and falling motion which is controlled by the actions of the combing machine.
Against the framing of the combing machine is applied a moveable guide N pivotting
at its lower end on a trunnion H.
When the mechanism or carriage rises it engages in the groove M being guided by
the end of the shaft upon which the pinion A is fixed. The cords holding the textile
fibres which are being worked by the combs, do not advance until the moment when
the projection S connected to the pinion A strikes against the lower end of the toothed
rack T which forms an abutment and then compels the pinion A to turn and to gear
at the desired point with the toothed rack T. This rising motion continues and the

page_text: pinion A then by turning whilst it traverses the length of the toothed rack causes in
its turn by means of the bevelled pinions R and C*, motion to be given to the grooved
pulleys which then cause the textile materials to be advanced a given distance during
the entire length of the course from T to K.
When the pinion A acts against the toothed rack and causes the textile materials
held by the cords to advance, the fibres of these materials are out of the combs.
When it has arrived at the end of the groove M, the pinion A is automatically
thrown out of gear by the curved form of the summit of the moveable guide Ñ
pushing towards the right the moveable guide and passing above the needle or guide V
all the mechanism which is counterbalanced by a weight then redescends naturally
within the groove P to the bottom of the course but by coming against an elbow or
bend at the point Z it forces the moveable guide to pivot on its axis H and to retake
its first position when it is ready to recommence the motions above described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In clamps or holders employed when combing scutching or preparing textile
materials the arrangement of cords or chains C capable of freely travelling from one
end of the machine to the other between blades L' fixed with their base facing the
table in such manner that a fibre of any kind may be drawn forward sliding upon the
rounded bases of the blades in the direction of the length of the machine without
becoming displaced in the other direction substantially as herein shown and described.
2. In clamps or holders employed when combing scutching or preparing textile
materials the arrangement of continuous clamp or holder capable of application to
combing machines and characterized by a mechanism or carriage receiving a perpen-
dicular rising and falling motion and controlled by the actions of the combing machine
substantially as herein shown and described.