IMPROVEMENTS IN COMBING WOOL
Year: 1846

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, SAMUEL
CUNLIFFE LISTER, of Manningham, near Bradford, in the County of York,
Manufacturer. send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Itoyal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the First day of December,
in the tenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Samuel Cunliffe Lister, my exors, admors, and
assigns, Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege and authority, that I,
the said Samuel Cunliffe Lister, my exors, admors, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Samuel Cunliffe Lister, my exors, adñiors, or assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and atall times during the
term of years therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN COMBING WOOL;" in which said Letters Patent
is contained a proviso, that I, the said Samuel Cunliffe Lister, should cause a
particular description of the nature of my suid Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, by an instrument in writing under my hand and
seal, to be inrolled in Her said Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said in part recited
Letters Patent, as in and by the same, teference being thereunto had, will more
fully and at large appear.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Samuel Cunliffe Lister, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention,
and the manner in which the same is to be performed, are fully described and
ascertained in and by the following statement thereof, reference being had to
the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the figures and letters marked thereon,
that is to say :-
Large sums of money have been expended and great endeavors have been
made for many years to comb by machinery the longer and coarser descrip-
tions of wool, such asare spun to low numbers, and as high as N° 40, that is,
forty hanks to the pound, each hank being five hundred and sixty yards in
length, but hitherto with only partial success, which has been in a great
measure owing to the imperfect manner in which the wool has been prepared
before being combed, and also the great difficulty in combing the slippings.
Now, what I would have understood as the "slippings," is the wool that is
slipped from or taken off the combs after the longer wool has been drawn from
them The usual method is to prepare and comb such slippings in the same
manner as the raw wool from which the "slippings "have been obtained, and
then, after the longest and best of the wool has again been drawn from the
combs, what is then left is termed "noil," and is not co:nbed over again, but
used for other purposes. Now, the combing of the slippings is attended with
greater difficulty than the longer or raw wool from which the "slippings "have
been obtained, owing to slippings being full of noil and dirt, and at the same
time the wool constituting the slippings is curle 1 up and matted together.
My first improvement consists in carding such "slippings" before combing
them, such carding being done in the ordinary manner of wool carding, but I
find it desirable to backwash the slippings before carding them. I find that
after passing such slippings through a carding engine the dirt is shaken out,
and the fibres of the wood are, in a great measure, laid parallel to each other,
so as greatly to facilitate the operation of combing; I then comb the carded
"slippings" in the same manner as combing other wools.
I claim, as the first part of my Invention, the carding of slippings as above
described before combing them.
I will now describe the second part of my Invention, which consists in pre-
paring course wool for combing such as is spun to low numbers, that is to say,
as high as No 40, upon screw gills, or prick rollers, or other moving surface
with like points; and my improvement consists in giving a considerable draft
between the point surface, or surface carrying the points, and the feed rollers
by making the surfaces of points travel twice or more times as fast as the feed

page_text: rollersdeliver the wool to such surface, in addition to the draft which is usually
given to the rollers which take the wool from the points. I find it preferable
to use screw gills for such purposes; and there is a great benefit derived from
heating the gills, particularly when used as wool preparers, which I accomplish
by placing a fire box under the gill, so as to allow the heat to ascend and heat
the gills, and by passing the wool through the gills twice, or as many times as it
may be found to require, the fibres of the wool will be so thoroughly separated
that it may be beneficially combed at one operation, which is very desirable,
as a great saving in expence will be effected, and the fibre of the wool less
injured. Beneficial results may also be obtained by passing the wool through
preparing drums or surfaces with the teeth set much finer than are now used,
say, about twelve teeth to the square inch, but not. less than four, and then
combing it at one process; but I do not contine myself thereto so long as the
fibres of the wool are so well separated as to allow of its being once combed,
which has not hitherto been the case, although I believe several attempts have
been made, but abandoned, owing to the wool not being properly prepared.
I claim, as the second part of my Invention, the giving twice or more times
the speed to the surfaces carrying the points, as compared with the feed rollers,
when preparing wool for combing as above described; and I also claim the
application of preparing surfaces having more than four teeth to the inch.
I will now describe the third part of my Invention. A Patent was taken
out about two years ago by Mr. Ambler, and since assigned to me, which
relates to carding and combing short fine wools, such as are spun at N° 40',
and upwards; now, when such wools are not carded before being combed, I
find that the slippings and noils made from such wool may be carded and
combed with great advantage.
And my third improvement consists in carding such noil, or slippings and
noils, before being combed. I also find that it is very desirable to have the
combs wellheated when combingslippings or noils after being carded, in order
to facilitate the drawing, and at the same time to put a polish upon the sliver,
and to take away the raw carded appearance which it would otherwise have; .
and I prefer to backwash such wool after being carded and before being combed.
The combs used for such purposes are to be heated with fire heat, which is
important, as the combs are required to be well heated.
Thirdly, I claim thecarding the noilor siippings of foreign or fine wool, such
as above mentioned, which have previously been combed but not 'carded, and
again combing such carded noil or slippings, beating the combs with fire heat.
The most successful method of combing foreign or similar fine short wool,

page_text: capable of being spun to N° 40 and upwards, has been by first carding, then
backwashing, and then combing it; and the success of this plan is, in a great
measure, owing to the staples being so well opened, and the fibres of the wool
so well separated, that the wool is sufficiently worked at one operation, that is,
by being once filled ou to the comb, and when combed drawn off. Whereas,
previous to the plan of carding such wool before combing being adopted, fine
short wools were twice combed, and the consequence was, that there was so
much noil made, and the expence of combing was so great, owing to the double
combing, that there was little or nɔ advantage in combing it by machinery.
I am thus particular in showing where the combing of fine short wool has failed
without first carding it, as this, the fourth part of my Invention, is intended to
remedy that difficulty, and to effect the combing of such wool without carding.
And my fourth improvement consists in preparing such fine wool upon fine pre-
parers, with from about fifteen to twenty-five teeth to the inch; and when the
wool is
very fine and short even still finer preparers will be found beneficial,
and the teeth in such cases ought to be about three quarters of an inch above
the surface. After such wool has been carefully prepared, I then pass it
through soap suds, or otherwise moisten the wool, and. it is essential that it
should be filled on to the combs and worked in a damp state, for I believe
it will be impossible to make good work from it at once combing; and if due
care be taken in the preparation of the wool, either upon drums filled with
teeth or other suitable preparers, and then washed or filled on to the combs in
a moist or damp state, good work may be made at one combing, which will be
a great saving in the expence of combing, and also in the quantity of the noil
made.
What I claim as the fourth part of my Invention is, the combing of such
fine wool in a moist or dampstate, after being prepared upon drums or surfaces
with more than thirteen teeth to the square inch. I also claim the combing
Botany, Saxony, and similar fine wools, such as may be spun to N° 40 and
upwards at one process, when such wool has been first well prepared upon
suitable preparers, and afterwards filled on to the combs in a moist or damp
state, and then worked by combs.
My fifth improvement consists in an improved method of drawing wool
from circular or endless combs, and the manner in which I perform the same
is as follows:-Instead of placing the drawing rollers in the same direction as
the comb teeth, which is at present the usual method, I place them across the
comb teeth, with one end of each drawing roller nearer to the comb than the
other, so that the ends of the drawing rollers furthest from the comb will

page_text: begin upon the point of the wool, and thus draw the longest wool first, and as
the circular or endless comb moves round past the drawing rollers will draw
off the short wool as near up to the head of the comb as may be required.
By this arrangement of comb and drawing-of rollers, I find the fibres of the
wool much less injured than by the old plan of drawing off from similar combs.
I would remark, in respect to this part ofmy Iuvention, that I am aware that
drawing-off rollers have been before proposed to be used with straight combs,
in such manner that the drawing-off rollers may incline to the straight comb,
and thus take the longest wool first. I do not, therefore, claim such arrange-
ment; this part of my Invention being confined to the drawing off wool when
circular or endless combs are used.
Figure 1 shews a plan, and Fig. 2 a section, of part of a circular comba,
the teeth of which point downwards from the head; but this may be varied.
The arrow points the way the comb a is moving. b, b, are the drawing-off
rollers, which are to receive motion in any suitable manner; and it will be seen
that the ends of the rollers are more distant from the comb a than the other,
hence the ends & will be constantly drawing off the longest fibres of wool as
they are broughtup by the comba, and the shorter and shorter fibres of the wool
will be successively taken by the parts of the rollers which come nearer and
nearer to the comb a. I have not thought it necessary to shew a complete
machine, as this part of my Invention is, as before stated, confined to the
manner of combining drawing-off rollers with endless or circular combs.
And I claim, as the fifth part of my Invention, the combining drawing
rollers to endless combs in such manner, that the longer fibres of the wool will
be first taken in the manner described, and then the shorter and the shorter,
as described.
I will now describe the sixth part of my Invention. I find that it is a very
important improvement in circular, endless, or other combs to encrease the
number of rows of teeth used; I would state that at present the largest
number of rows of teeth in circular or endless or other combs is five, and
upon experimental enquiry I have found that every additional row offers an
advantage, and by making the teeth much finer the width of the teeth on
the combs need not be encreased; eight rows of teeth will be found very
advantageous for fine foreign wool; the teeth are also very much better for
being made shorter than has hitherto been the case, say, about one and a half
inches long, and in no case do I use them longer than four inches in the front
row, as the teeth may in that case be made very alender and yet sufficiently
strong to stand the stress put upon them by the wool, and more teeth to the

page_text: inch may also be used with benefit.
I also find it highly useful to have some
of the front rows of circular or endless combs shorter than the back.
I claim, as the sixth part of my Invention, the application of six or more
rows of teeth in circular, endless, or other combs; and I also claim the
making of the front row of teeth of circular or endless combs not more than
four inches long.
I will now describe the seventh part of my Invention. In using combs
mounted upon an axis, and not governed or controlled in their rotation, I find
that they may, under the arrangement herein-after described, be beneficially
used in combing foreign, or the shorter and finer descriptions of wool, such as
may be spun at 40 and upwards. For this purpose the diameter should not
be less than one foot, but a larger diameter is better; and Ialso prefer to work
such rotatory fixed combs in combination with a circular or endless comb, the
circular comb being previously filled with wool by suitable means. As the
wool travels past the working combs on an axis, the same will be worked out.
This part of my Invention will be found most beneficial when the rotatory
combs (which are fixed and ungoverned in the rotation) work with circular or
endless combs having more numerous rows of teeth, as before described. I
would state that I make no claim for using rotatory fixed combs, except for
combing foreign or short fine wool, such as will spin at 40" and upwards, as
the fixed rotory combs do not work with advantage in long wool, and I place
or fix five or more teeth to the lenial inch in each row.
I claim, as the seventh part of my Invention, the combining of fixed
rotatory or ungoverned rotatory combs with circular, endless, or other combs,
fed by suitable apparatus, in such manner as to comb short fine wools, as
above described.
I will now describe the eighth part of my Invention, which has for its
object an improved mode of applying screw gills to comb out wool which has
been lashed or fed into other combs, and is thereby brought up by such combs
to the gill combs. I am aware that it has already been proposed to employ screw
gills with suitable teeth or combs for combing wool, in which case the teeth of
the gill combs are proposed to be downwards, whilst the teeth of the carrying
comb are upright; but I believe that the best plan of working screw gills is
by working them with their points upwards, because by such an arrangement
I am enabled to combine means of heating such combs with greater facility
by placing a fire pot or other heating means under the gill combs, so that as
they travel along over the heating apparatus they will become heated, and at
the same time the heat will not injure the wool, as there will be the double

page_text: row of gills between the fire and the wool in the upper gills. Figure 3 shows
a plan, Figure 4 a front view, and Figure 5 a section, of the screw gill
apparatus, showing two sets of bars carrying combs, the one being in the
upper row and the other in the lower row, the combs in the upper row being
those which for the time being work the wool, which is continually brought
to them by any suitable carrying comb, either straight, circular, or endless-
but whatever be the carrying comb into which the wool is lashed in order to
be carried up to the gill combs, the machinery should be so arranged as to
have a continuous succession of carrying combs bringing up wool to the gill
combs. The making of screw gill apparatus being well understood, and
separately, is not of my Invention, the same need not, therefore, be described
in its various details. a, a, are the upper screws which successively receive
and move the gill combs; b, b, are the lower screws of the apparatus which
move the gill combs up towards the carrying comb, and as the combs c are
successively lifted into the upper row, their teeth will be raised through the
wool in the carrying comb. The screws a, a, and b, b, receive motion from
the shaft or axis d, which is driven by a strap acting on the drum 6, fixed on
the shaft or axis d, and on the shaft or axis d are fixed two bevelled cog
wheels, which take into and drive the two bevelled cog wheels g, g, fixed
on the axes of the two lower screws b, b, and the axes of the screws a and b
are geared together by cog wheels h, h, as shewn. i, i, are drawing rollers,
which draw off the wool taken by the gill combs, and the same passes through
a condensing tube, as is shewn and as is well understood. The tube receives
motion from a pulley on one of the axes of the upper screws, as shewn. The
drawing rollers are geared together, as is shewn, and they receive motion from
the axis or shaft d, as follows:-On the axis of one of the drawing rollers i
is fixed a drum 1', over which passes a band or strap 12, which also passes
partly round the axis d, and receives motion therefrom, as is shewn.
In using gill combs, such as above described, the teeth of the combs which
bring up the wool to be combed should be downwards, and the wool lashed
or fed upwards into the carrying comb, as shewn at Figure 5, where a section
of part of a carrying comb ; with the teeth downwards is represented. k is a
box of charcoal over which the gill combs pass, by which they may be heated;
and it is important, that when screw gill apparatus is used to work combs for
combing wool that they should be beated; and this constitutes the first
arrangement where heat has been applied to screw gill apparatus carrying
combs for combing wool; I would state that the same may be varied.
I claim, as the eighth part of my Invention, the so applying screw gill

page_text: apparatus to carry combs for combing of wool carried by other combs that
the teeth may be upwards; and I also claim the application of apparatus for
heating combs carried by screw gill apparatus to work wool carried by
other combs.
I will now describe the niuth part of my Invention, which has for its object
combining of backwashing apparatus with feeding apparatus, which work
with a crank action, so as to feed the wool into a passing comb in such
manner as to carry the wool into the head of the comb; and this part of my
Invention has also for its object the application of a comb or combs to such
like feeding apparatus, so that the wool may be combed by the act of lashing
of the wool into a carrying comb. I would state that various arrangements of
crank feeding apparatus has before been proposed, differing slightly from that
used by me, but this part of my Invention is equally applicable to all feeding
apparatus working by a crank action of a like kind.
Figure 6 represents a plan of a machine for backwashing wool, in com-
bination with lashing by a crank filling apparatus; and Figure 7 shows a side
view thereof in section; in this arrangement the filling takes place upwards
into the teeth of a comb a, pointing downwards; but this may be varied.
It is important that wool which is washed before combing should be imme-
diately fed into combs, for it is found that when the wool is washed and not
immediately filled on to the combs it is very liable to become matted and
felted together. I find it very desirable when filling heads of the kind shewn,
and more particularly when combined with washing, to have the wool in as
long slivers as possible; for which reason 1 pass the wool, after it has been
prepared, through a screw gill,so as to obtain a continuous length of wool, for
filling heads having a crank motion are apt to throw the wool about in their
up and down motion. I thus avoid having piercings, but I make no claim
to continuous slivers. a is a trough in which the wool is backwashed ;
b, b, being pressing rollers. The sliver of wool passes from the rollers b
through the feed rollers c, and by the crank apparatus is lasked into the
comb d, which may be straight, or it may be endless or circular, as shewn in
Figure 6. The rollers are carried by a frame e, as shewn, one end of the
frame being carried by means of the crank pins j, f, one on each of the
circular plates 7, 9, as shewn; h is a mouth-piece carried by the frame, there
being an opening in the mouth-piece through which a comb i can descend,
the comb being constantly lifted upwards by springs jj; and the comb is
forced down by means of the fixed stops, placed above in such a position
that as the comb rises it comes against the stops, and is thereby forced down-

page_text: wards, by which it penetrates the wool; hence, when the apparatus recedes,
the wool is combed out between the comb i and the comb d.
The apparatus for lashing receives motion in the following manner :-jiisa
bevilled
cog wheel on the axes ; this wheel j¹ receives motion from a
bevilled pinion, actuated by a steam engine or otherwise; on the axis j³ is
affixed the cog wheel m, which takes into and drives the cog wheels affixed
on the axes n, o, which respectively carry the circular plates g, g, the axis o
being hollow; and motion is communicated to the feed rollers by means of the
cog wheel p, on the axis n, taking into and driving the immediate cog wheelg,
which takes into and drives the cog wheelr on the axis s, which passes thro'
the axis o, and has affixed upon its upper end the pinion 8', which takes into
and controls the motion of the pinion t on the axis of one of the feed rollers,
the rollers of the backwashing apparatus are to be driven so as to deliver the
sliver of wool to the lashing apparatus as fast as the feed rollers feed it on
to the comb d, but which it is not necessary to show, as a workman will
readily apply the parts necessary. t is a comb which is affixed to the feeding
apparatus for working the wool after it has been fed from the feeding appa-
ratus into a comb d.
I claim, as the ninth part of my Invention, the combining of washing
apparatus with crank feeding apparatus for feeding wool on to combs; and I
also claim the application of a comb or combs to such like feeding apparatus,
so that the wool may be combed by the action of feeding wool into combs.
The tenth part of my Invention consists of causing crank feeding apparatus,
such as above described, to fill wool into combs upwards, as above described;
and I prefer when doing so to combine therewith the use of a brush v, or
other apparatus or instrument acting in like manner, to support the wool and
cause it to enter the teeth of the comb which point downwards. The bristles of
the brush or other instrument projects beyond the filling apparatus,asshewn,
and when the wool is lashed in by the filling head the brush drives the wool
into the comb. A similar brush or instrument will be found useful also when
such crank filling apparatus fills downwards into upright teeth of combs, as
the same will aid the wool in passing into the teeth of the combs.
I claim as the tenth part of my Invention, the so arranging crank feeding
apparatus that it may work upwards to fill into comb teeth which pointdown-
ward; and I also claim the use of a brush v, or other instrument, acting to
force the wool into the teeth, to crank feeding apparatus, whether the same
feeds upwards or downwards.
I will now describe the eleventh part of my Invention: in doing so I would
.

page_text: state, that when screw gills are used for combing wool, I find that it is
essential, when combing the longer descriptions of wool, to have the gill comb
of a longer length, compared with the diameter of the circular or endless
comb with which it works, than has hitherto been used; by which means,
when combing the longer descriptions of wool I am enabled to begin well
upon the points of the wool. When gill combs are used in connection with a
circular comb, it is desirable to have the circle of a comparatively small
circumference, say, not exceeding eight feet, and to use with such a circum-
ference a gill comb of thirteen inches; and if a less diameter of circular comb
be employed, then the working gill comb may be less; but if the circular
combs exceed eight feet in circumference, that part of the gill comb in which
the teeth are inserted should increase in proportion, and should not be less
than fourteen inches in length, the object being to begin well up on the points
of the wool.
I claim, as the eleventh part of my Invention, the use of gill combs longer
than heretofore, compared with the circumference of the circular or endless
combs with which they are working, as above described.
I will now describe the twelfth part of my Invention. I have found that it
is very desirable, when using screw gills for combing wool carried by another
comb, to have the teeth or gill pius shorter than those before proposed and
used; I prefer them to be about one and a half inches in length, but in the
frout row of teeth, that is, those which approach nearest to the comb which
holds the wool ought in no case to exceed three to three and a half inches;
and I may here remark, that I sometimes use a comb to comb out the points
of the wool before screw gill combs operates upon the wool, and in that case
it is not necessary to have the gill combs to begin so nearly to the points of
the wool as it is otherwise desirable; and 1 prefer a rotatory comb, such as is
shewn at Figure 3, but any other comb may be used for this purpose. The
circular or other comb working with the screw gill combs should be of fine
gauge, say, about ten teeth to the inch in each row and eight pitch, but in no
case less than six in each row to the lineal inch and four pitch, when used for
combing short fine wools, as by using fine combs less wool will be taken from
them by the screw gill combs.
I claim, as the twelfth part of my Invention, the use of short teeth, such as
above described, when combined with screw gill apparatus, for combing wool
carried by other combs. And I also claim the use of a comb to comb out the
points of the wool before the samne is acted on by screw gill combs, as above
described.

page_text: I will now describe the thirteenth part of my Invention, which consists in
using surfaces filled with teeth standing above such surface more than three
quarters of an inch, when combs filled with wool during their rotation or when
moving past are worked by them. A machine of this character was patented
by Mr. Preller some years ago.
In this machine, the combs during their
rotation come in contact with a small cylinder covered with common wool
cards, the teeth being of the ordinary length, about half an inch, and set very
fine; the consequence is, that the teeth can penetrate but a very short distance
into the wool. Now, by using longer teeth and set coarser, a much more
advantageous result may be obtained; I prefer the teeth to be, for short fine
wool, about three inches long and about twenty to the square inch; and for
long coarse wool, four inches long and about twelve to the square inch; but
I do not confine myself thereto. By using teeth much longer than heretofore,
according to this part of my Invention, it will be found that they will penetrate
well into and through the wool, and as the combs travel past, the wool will
draw easily through them. The wool accumulates in the long teeth, and when
they become too full, the wool is to be broken across the surface and removed
in a sheet. The doffing of the wool from the surface is thus no longer
necessary, which is important; the object being to cause the long points to
enter more fully into the wool, in place of simply acting on the surface last
laid on; the long teeth in my arrangement passing through several layers of
the wool.
Another part of my improvement in machines of this character consists in
placing several surfaces filled with teeth so that the teeth in the first surface
may come in contact with the wool, and may begin upon the points of the
wool, and as the comb travels past, each surface of points is to be placed a
little nearer, until, by the succession of surfaces, the wool is worked well up to
the head of the holding comb, and when the teeth of the surfaces become
filled with wool they are to be removed by hand.
I claim, as the thirteenth part of my Invention, the application of long.
teeth to the surfaces, as herein described, used with combs in machines con-
structed according to the Patent of the said Mr. Preller. And I also claim
the application of two or more surfaces with teeth in such manner that the
teeth of the successive surfaces may take deeper and deeper into the wool in
the combs.
I will now describe the fourteenth part of my Invention, which has for its
object a mode of retaining wool in combs, when the points of the working
combs move in a direction from the head of the carrying comb to the points of

page_text: the teeth thereof. It is desirable to keep the wool in the carrying comb well
up from the head of that comb, and for this object it has before been proposed
to work in a direction above mentioned, but such mode of working will be
found to drive the wool off the points of the carrying comb. Now, this part of
my Invention consists of applying a suitable instrument to keep the wool in
the teeth of the carrying comb, notwithstanding the working combs work in a
direction to remove the wool off their points. This, I believe, may be best
accomplished in the following manner :-Opposite where the working comb
works I fix a bar or plate, which enters in the space between the front row of
teeth and the row of teeth next behind the front row. This plate should be
inclined at the part where the carrying comb first brings the wool under it, so
that the wool will be pressed into the teeth of the carrying comb. The con-
tinued movement of the carrying comb brings the wool opposite the working
comb, and against the instrument, bar, or plate, which should be somewhat
longer than the working comb. It will be evident, that by the application of
such an instrument the same will act as a temporary head, and to so much
of the teeth of the carrying comb as is being operated on by the working comb,
and the wool will be left in the most advantageous position for being drawn off.
1 would remark, that I do not confine myself to the arrangement described, so
long as a suitable instrument is used for holding the wool in the teeth of the
carrying comb as the working combs tend to drive the wool out of the teeth.
And I claim, as the fourteenth part of my Invention, the application of an
apparatus to the carrying comb for such purpose.
I will now describe the fifteenth part of my Invention, which has for its
object the application of apparatus to broaking off the wool held by a carrying
comb, and a feeding apparatus after the feeding Ims taken place. Heretofore,
in using feeding apparatus, it has been necessary that the feeding apparatus
should move through a space equal to the longest fibres of wool which is being
combed, otherwise the wool in the feeding apparatus and the wool in the comb
would not be separated one from the other. Now, the object of this part of
my Invention is to apply an apparatus to come against the wool between the
feeding apparatus and the carrying comb, and move the wool till the same is
separated; this may be done in various ways, but I believe the most convenient
mode of doing it is to have an axis with one or more arms projecting from it
in such manner, that, being caused to revolve immediately after feeding in of
the wool into the carrying comb, the arm shall come against the wool and
press the wool downwards or upwards, according as the teeth of the carrying
combs are upwards or downwards, and thus will the wool be separated, which

page_text: would otherwise not be the case unless the feeding apparatus moved through
such a space as to be used with the longest wool; whereas, by having an
apparatus such as above described, the feeding head may be made only to
move through a comparatively small surface, whatever be the length of the
wool which is to be fed by such apparatus.
I claim, as the fifteenth part of my Invention, the application ofan apparatus
to separate the wool between a feeding apparatus and a carrying comb, where
the feeding apparatus does not move through sufficient space, as herein
explained.
In witness whereof, I, the said Sanuel Cunliffe Lister, have hereunto get
my
hand and seal, this First day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and forty-seven.
SAMUEL C. (L.s.) LISTER.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the First day of June, in the year
of our Lord 1847, the aforesaid Samuel Cunliffe Lister came before our said
Lady the Quecu in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification afore.
said, and all and every thing therein contained and specified, in form above
written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according to the
tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
Enrolled the First day of June, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and forty-seven.