IMPROVEMENTS IN COMBING MACHINERY
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Little, of Oldham, in the County of
Lancaster, Mechanical Engineer, and Thomas Charles Eastwood,
of Bradford, in the County of York, Machino Wool Comber, for
the Invention of “IMPROVEMENTS IN COMBING MACHINERY."
Scaled the 27th June 1878, and dated the 8th March 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Little and
Thomas Charles Eastwood at the Offico of the Commissioners of
Patonts, with their Petition, on the 8th March 1873.
WC, GEORGE LITTLE, of Oldham, in the County of Lancaster, Mechanical
Engineer, and THOMAS CHARLES EASTWOOD, of Bradford, in tho County
of York, Machine Wool Comber, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN COMBING MACHINERY," to be as
follows:-
This Invention relates to improvements in combing machinery, for
which Letters Patent were granted to us, dated May 13th 1871, No. 1297,
and the present improvements consist,―
Firstly. In constructing the cams I (therein described for closing the
nipping jaws) flexible by the introduction of springs thereinto, so that
the jaws will bo self adjusting to the thickness of the sliver fed thereinto,
and in constructing the said nipping jaws so that they will open and

page_text: close in a radial curved groove turned from the central axis of the
cylinder.
Secondly. In applying an intersecting or clearing comb either to the
gill feeding head H to penetrate the sliver immediately in front of the
gill comb or fixed to the under or moveable nipping jaw A; such comb 5
we make of very fine or close pitch or guage by having the pins or
needles mado separate and soldered near together upon a plate.
Thirdly. In the application of a divider or finger to pass betwixt the
feeding head and the nipping jaws to separate the tuft when drawn out
from the head, and also to lay the ends of the tufts in the proper 10
direction for being drawn off the circular comb T by causing tho said
finger when dividing the fibre to pass in that direction.
Fourthly. In the application of a knocking off motion to the slivers
applied at or near the point where being drawn off, so that in case of
breakage thereof the machine will be instantly stopped.
1
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said George Little and Thomas Charles Eastwood'in
the Great Scal Patent Office on the 8th September 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, wo, GEORGE
LITTLE, of Oldham, in the County of Lancaster, Mechanical Engineer, 2
and THOMAS CHARLES EASTWOOD, of Bradford, in the County of York,
Machine Wool Comber, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of March, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the 2
thirty-seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto us, the said George Little and Thomas
Charles Eastwood, Her special licence that we, the said George Little
and Thomas Charles Eastwood, our exccutors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as we, the said Goorge Littlo and Thomas &
Charles Eastwood, 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, uso, excrcise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ircland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an

page_text: Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN COMBING MACHINERY," upon tho condition
(amongst others) that wo, tho said George Little and Thomas Charles
Eastwood, our exccutors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under our, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
5 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 wo, tho said Georgo Little and Thomas Charles
Eastwood, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly describod
and ascertained in and by the following statement (that is to say) :-
This Invention relates to improvements in combing machinery for
which Letters Patent were granted to us dated May 18th, A.D. 1871,
No. 1297, and the present improvements consist,―
Firstly. In constructing the cams I (therein described for closing the
nipping jaws) flexible by the introduction of springs, so that the jaws
will be self-adjusting to the thickness of the sliver fed thereinto, and in
constructing the said nipping jaws so that they will open and close in
a radial groove turned from the central axis of the cylinder.
Secondly. In applying an intersecting or clearing comb, either to the
gill feeding head II to penetrate the sliver immediately in front of the
gill comb, or fixed to the under or moveable nipping jaw A; such comb
wo make of very fine or close pitch or guage by having the pins or
needles made separate and soldered near together upon a plato..
Thirdly. In the application of a divider or finger to pass betwixt the
feeding head and the nipping jaws to separate the tuft when drawn out
from the head, and also to lay the ends of the tufts in the proper
direction for being drawn off the circular comb T by causing the said
finger when dividing the fibre to pass in that direction..
In order that the Invention may be clearly understood we have
hereunto annexed five Sheets of Drawings, and have marked the same
with figures and letters of reference, the same letter referring to the
same part in the various views or Figuros.
Fig. 1 is a section of the nipping jaws shown in position relative to
the radial groove within which the bowl attached to the nipping jaws

page_text: Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the nexible cant for closing the mapping
jaws.
Fig. 3 is a front view of a pair of these flexible cams, one being partly
in section, showing the springs therein.
Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are sectional and elevation, front elevation, and plan 5
of a pair of the said nipping jaws, rendered flexible by means of a bow
or coach spring in lieu of the spiral springs shown in the preceding
Figures.
Fig. 7 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the intersecting or
clearing comb, and shows the mechanism for operating the same.
Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the “divider" or finger for separating
and laying the fibre, and of the mechanism for operating the same. Fig. 9
is a front elevation of the same.
1
At A is shewn the cam for closing the nipping jaws B, the acting
portion C of the cam, or that part which closes the nipping jaws, 1
consists of a cap or case enclosing the spiral springs D, the latter rendering
the said cam elastic and self-adjusting to the quantity of fibre fed to
the nipping jaws, the cap or case being free to move inward or outward
on the body of the cam E, the screw E, and slot hole F preventing the
cap rising or moving too far upward or outward, or in lieu of the above 2
the bow or coach spring D¹ may be applied to the nipping jaws for a
like purpose. G is the intersecting or clearing comb, consisting of a
number of pins or teeth arranged closely and secured by solder to the
plate or cross rail G³, the latter being attached to the arm G³, which is
free to swing or move on the rod G³; this rod extends across or to the
other side of the feeding head H, and on that end of the said rod is a
like pendent arm G³, the rod G³ carrying the said arms and intersecting
comb, and is attached by brackets to the feeding head, and along with
which the whole ascends and descends, so giving the traverse of the
clearing comb through the fibre, the insertion and penetration of the
said comb through the fibre being effected by the action of the cam J
on the wharle J' forcing outward the arm J', the upper portion of this
arm marked J³ is forced in the opposite direction or towards the feeding
head, and bears on or against the wharle X on the arm G², so forcing
the intersecting comb through the fibre, meanwhile on the feeding head
being raised the cam J will have passed the wharle J', and the arms Jo,
J', by gravitation swing on their shaft J' to the position shewn by
dotted lines, whereon the arms G³ will by gravitation swing backwards

page_text: on the rod G³, withdrawing the intersecting or clearing comb G,
which will descend with the feeding head ready to be again inserted
and operate in like manner on the fibre. K is the divider or finger,
which is caused to pass between the feeding head and the nipping jaws,
by means of the arms K'attached to the feeding head, the latter on
being raised lifts the rod K³ and crank arm K³, the latter moving the
arm K* and finger K across or between the nipping jaws and feeding
head, so dividing the fibre and laying or turning the ends thereof in
position for being secured by the drawing off rollers, the descent of the
feeding head will lower tho rods K' and K³, and this movement aided by
the spiral spring K' will return the crank arm Kª and finger K to their
original position ready to repeat the operation on the next ascent of the
feeding head.
Having thus fully described and ascertained the nature and particulars
of this our said Invention, together with the manner in which the same
is to be or may be performed or carried into practical effect, we would
have it understood that what we claim is,—
Firstly. The construction, application, and use of the clastic cams for
operating the nipping jaws of fibre combing machinery.
Secondly. The application and use of the intersecting or clearing
comb in connection and combination with the apparatus for operating
the same, substantially as herein shown and described.
Lastly. The finger or divider, operated as and for the purpose herein
fully described and illustrated.
:
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Charles Eastwood, for
and on behalf of myself and the said Georgo 'Little, have hereunto
set my hand and scal, this Twenty-first day of August, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and soventy-threė.
0 Witness,
WALTER BRIERLEY,
Tasker & Brierley,
Patent Agents,
Halifax & Bradford.
T. C. EASTWOOD. (L.S.).