IMPROVEMENTS IN THE COMBS OF LACE AND OTHER LIKE MACHINES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Isaac Birkin and George Saywell, both of New
Basford, in the Town of Nottingham, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE COMBS OF LACE AND OTHER LIKE MACHINES."
Sealed the 19th September 1879, and dated the 4th April 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Isaac Birkin and
George Saywell at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th
April 1879.
THOMAS ISAAC BIRKIN and GEORGE SAYWELL, both of New Basford, in the
Town of Nottingham.
$ IMPROVEMENTS IN THE COMBS OF LACE AND OTHER LIKE
MACHINES."
This Invention relates to the combs of lace and other like machines. These
combs are the guides in which the carriages containing the bobbins move to and fro.
We form them of blades, held together by casting lead upon them, as is usual; but to
support the carriages at the bottom in place of resorting to the methods now in use
we form slots, and we insert bars with intervals between them into these slots to.
serve as bearers for the carriages.
These combs are more easily constructed, they cause less friction on the carriage
bottom, and have other advantages.

page_text: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a pair of comb leads constructed according to our
Invention, and one of the carriages of the lace machine is also shewn in its place;
Figure 2 is a plan of one lead or length of the comb lead when cast. The Figures 3
shew a side and an end view of one of the blades as it appears before the lead is
cast upon it. The Figures 4 shew similar views of one of the bearers.
The comb blades are pieces of sheet metal, by preference brass, of uniform thick-
ness, according to the gauge required, and with holes a, a, a, a, in them in addition
to the holes b, b, c, c, which are usually provided. The holes b, b, aid in the casting
of the blades together, and the holes c, c, are useful in the manufacture of the blades.
The holes a, a, a, a, are for the purpose of receiving and holding the bearers, which are
strips of sheet metal, by preference brass, of the form shewn. The number of bearers
in each lead of the comb may be varied; four is the number represented in the
Drawings, and this number affords a sufficient bearing for the bottoms of the car-
riages, but the number of bearers may be increased without inconvenience, or, on
the other hand, the number may be decreased, but not we believe advantageously.
As respects the casting of the blades together to form the comb leads further
description is not required, for this will present no difficulty to the workman; the
blades are separated while casting by distance pieces called counters, which are
removed after casting. When each lead of the comb bar is in other respects com-
plete the short bearing pieces, such as shewn at Figures 4, are threaded through the
holes a, a, a, a, which they fit moderately tightly, and so are inserted into their
places. When the comb leads composing the comb bar are set in the machine the
short bearers will abutt end to end throughout the whole length of the comb bar so
that the bearers cannot shift.
The carriage bottoms ride upon the bearers, as the Drawing shew, when the
machine is in operation.
Having thus described the nature of our said Invention and the manner of per-
forming the same, we would have it understood that wo claim the construction of

page_text: the combs of lace and other like machines with bearers for supporting the carriage
bottoms threaded through holes formed through the blades at suitable intervals, as
herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Isaac Birkin, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this First day of October, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.
THO, BIRKIN. (L.S.)