AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND MACHINERY FOR COMBING AND PREPARING SILK, FLAX, AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles De Jongh, of Lautenbach, near Guebwiller,
in the Empire of France, Manufacturer, for the Invention of "AN
IMPROVED METHOD OF AND MACHINERY FOR COMBING AND PREPARING SILK,
FLAX, AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES."
Sealed the 6th January 1857, and dated the 29th October 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles De Jongh at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
29th October 1856.
I, CHARLES DE JONGH, of Lautenbach, near Guebwiller, in the Empire of
France, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND MACHINERY FOR COMBING AND PREPARING SILK,
FLAX, AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES," to be as follows:-
The object of my Invention of improved machinery for combing silk, flax,
and other fibrous substances, is to comb the fibres of silk, wool, flax, and other
fibrous materials and deliver them out in a continuous length in the shape of
a ribbon or sliver, in which the fibres will be laid at right angles to the length
of the ribbon or sliver, which is or may be conducted direct to any machine
adapted for drawing it into a sliver preparatory for spinning.
In the dressing frame at present in use for dressing or combing silk the
fibres are held in hinged clasps, technically called "books," one half of the
fibre being tightly held in the book, the other portion being allowed to pro-
trude therefrom, so that it may be acted upon by the cards or teeth of the
dressing machine. When this operation has been effected the combed end is

page_text: secured in another book, and the other end of the fibres being released
from the first book, the uncombed part is then operated upon in the same
manner.
The whole of the mass of silk being thus combed and the fibres laid straight,
it is in the usual way removed by hand from the second book in the shape of
a bundle or strick of combed fibre, and carried to another, machine for the
purpose of being drawn out into a sliver or ribbon.
In carrying on these operations considerable time is consumed, and in
changing the ends of the silk from book to book, as above-mentioned, and
frequently handling the silk which has already been well combed, many of the
fibres of the silk become deranged and displaced, thereby occasioning loss or
waste of material and causing defects in the
yarn.
These objections and difficulties are obviated by my improved method of
combing and preparing silk and other fibrous materials, inasmuch as the
uncombed silk or other fibro will be placed in the machine at one end and be
delivered out at the other end perfectly combed, and in a state fit to bo
delivered at once to the next machine to be drawn out into sliver preparatory
to spinning, without the necessity of handling it at all after it has been placed
on the feeding table.
By my improved method one end of the silk or other fibre is operated upon
at first, the mass of silk being held at or near the middle by means of suitable
holders; it is then transferred to another set of holders and the opposite end of
the mass of fibre is then operated upon. The result of this method of
operating upon the fibres will be, that the combed fibres will be delivered
out of the machine in the form of a ribbon, with all the fibre arranged or
laid transversely or at right angles to the length of the ribbon. I then propose
to carry forward the combed fibres into the next machine by means of endless
bands or travelling aprons without in any way handling the same.
In my improved machinery for effecting these objects, the raw silk is placed
upon a travelling band or chain, consisting of a series of flat plates or blocks
of wood or other suitable material, connected together by hinge joints, so as
to admit of their passing round rollers or pullies, whereby the endless travelling
band or chain of blocks is actuated. The silk is placed on this chain in such
a manner that about one-half of it projects beyond the edge of the plates or
blocks of which the chain is composed; and in order to support that portion of
the silk which thus projects beyond the chain of blocks an additional band of
leather, cloth, or some other flexible material is placed alongside the travelling
chain of blocks, and travels at the same speed, so as to conduct the fibres into
the machine. Above the travelling chain of blocks is another similar chain of

page_text: blocks, which are made to travel at the same speed as the former, and the
faces of the blocks of the two chains are kept closely pressed together by
means of weighted rollers or other convenient contrivances, the lower band
being supported by a series of horizontal rollers. The silk or other fibre
when carried into the machine between these endless chains is tightly pinched
between the blocks, and is firmly held there while passing through the machine,
about one-half of the mass of silk being allowed to protrude from the
blocks; this projecting portion of the silk is then operated upon by a series
of conical drums or cylinders armed with teeth, which will act upon and comb
out the fibres. Several of these drums are employed with teeth of different
gange, the first drum having coarse teeth, and the next finer or closer teeth,
and so on, until the last set of teeth is the finest of all; and in order that the
silk may be more effectively combed, I cause some of the combing drums to
rotate in opposite directions to the others. For instance, the first drum will
rotate to the right so as to comb tho silk down, and the next drum will rotate
in the opposite direction, and will therefore operate on the under side of the
silk and comb the silk up, and so on, throughout the series, when the end of
silk will be well combed. A brushing cylinder is placed at the end of the
series of combing drums or cylinders for the purpose of brushing the silk
out and laying it horizontally on the second series of travelling holding
blocks, which operate and are actuated in precisely the same manner as
the former series. A similar arrangement of combing drums is then made
to act upon the uncombed end of the silk or other material, and when
the mass has passed through the second series all the fibres will be well
combed, and those fibres which have been drawn out by the combing drums
are removed therefrom by hand and passed through the machine again
and again, until it is considered that all the serviceable fibres aro drawn
out. The combed fibres arranged transversely or at right angles to the
length of tho ribbon may then be conveyed by a travelling band or apron, or
other analogous mechanical contrivance, to the next machine; or, if preferred,
a screw gill or drawing head may be adapted to the end of the machine just
described in such a manner that the teeth of the gills may take the fibres from
the end of the second series of travelling blocks; or, if found more convenient,
the combed fibres may be delivered from my improved combing or preparing
machinery on to or between travelling endless bands, and conveyed thereby to
cans or other suitable receptacles, in which they may be carried to any other
machinery.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Charles De Jongh in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
29th April 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
DE JONG, of Lautenbach, near Guebwiller, in the Empiro of France,
Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-ninth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the twentieth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Charles Do Jongh, Ter special license that I, the said Charles De Jongh, my
executors. administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Charles
De Jongh, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during tho
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 "An IMPROVED METHOD OP AND
MACHINERY FOR COMBING AND PREPARING SILE, FLAX, AND OTHER FIBROUS
SUBSTANCES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Charles
De Jongh, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of tho 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 Charles De Jongh, do hereby declaro
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):—
The object of my Invention of "An Improved Method of and Machinery
for Combing and Preparing Silk, Flax, and other Fibrous Substances," is to
comb the fibres of silk, wool, flax, and other fibrous materials and deliver
them out in a continuous length in the shape of a ribbon or sliver, in which
the fibres will be laid at right angles to the length of the ribbon or sliver,
which may, if required, be conducted direct to any machine adapted for
drawing it into a sliver preparatory to spinning.
In the dressing frame at present in use for dressing or combing silk the
fibres are held in hinged clasps, technically called "books," about one half of

page_text: the fibre being tightly held in the book, while the other portion is allowed to
protrude therefrom, so that it may be acted upon by the cards or teeth of the
dressing machine. When this operation has been effected, the combed end is
secured in another book, and the other end of the fibres being released
from the first book, the uncombed part is then operated upon in the same
manner.
The whole of the mass of silk being thus combed and the fibres laid straight,
it is according to the usual process removed by hand from the second book in
tho shape of a bundle or strick of combed fibre, and carried by the attendant to
another machine for the purpose of being drawn out into a sliver or ribbon..
In carrying on these operations considerable time is consumed, and in
changing the ends of the silk from book to book by hand, as above mentioned,
and frequently handling the silk which has already been well combed, many
of the fibres of the silk become deranged and displaced, thereby occasioning
loss or waste of material and causing defects in the yarn.
These objections and difficulties are obviated by my improved method of
combing and preparing silk and other fibrous materials, inasmuch as the
uncombed silk or other fibre will be placed in the machine at one end and be
delivered out at the other end perfectly combed, and in a state fit to be
delivered at once to the next machine, to be drawn out into sliver preparatory
to spinning, without the necessity of handling it at all after it has been placed
at the feeding end of the first combing machine.
By my improved method one end of the silk or other fibre is operated upon
at first, the mass of silk being held at or near the middle by means of suitable
holders; it is then transferred by the mechanical contrivances adapted to this
part of the machine to another set of holders, and the opposite end of the mass
of fibre is then operated upon in its turn. The result of this method of
operating upon the fibres will be, that the combed fibres will be delivered out
of the machine in the form of a ribbon, with all the fibres arranged or laid
transversely or at right angles to the length of the ribbon. The combed fibres
are then carried forward into the next machine by means of endless bands or
travelling aprons, or formed into rolls, without in any way handling the same.
In my improved machinery for effecting these objects, as shewn in the
accompanying Drawings, the raw silk is placed upon a travelling band or
chain, consisting of a series of flat plates or blocks of wood or other suitable
material, connected together by binge joints, so as to admit of their passing
round rollers or pullies, the endless travelling band or chain of blocks being
actuated in any convenient manner. The silk is placed on this chain in such

page_text: a manner that about one half of its length projects beyond the edge of the
plates or blocks of which the chain is composed; and in order to support that
portion of the silk which thus projects beyond tho chain of blocks, an addi-
tional band of leather, cloth, or some other flexible material is placed alongside
the travelling chain of blocks, and travels at the same speed, so as to conduct
the fibres into tho machine. Above the travelling chain of blocks is another
similar chain of blocks, which is made to travel at the same speed as the
former, and the faces of tho blocks of the two chains are kept closely
pressed together by means of weighted rollers, or other convenient contrivances,
the lower chain being supported by a series of horizontal rollers. The silk or
other fibre when carried into the machine between these endless chains is
tightly pinched between the blocks, and is firmly held there while passing
through the machine, about one half of the mass of silk being allowed to pro-
trude from the blocks. This projecting portion of the silk is then operated
upon by a series of conical drums or cylinders armed with cards or teeth,
which will act upon and comb out the fibres. Several of these drums are
employed with teeth of different gauge, the first drums having coarse teeth,
and the next finer or closer teeth, and so on, until the last set of teeth is the
finest of all; and in order that the silk may be moro effectively combed, I
cause some of the combing drums to rotate in opposite directions to the others.
For instance the first drum will rotate to the right, so as to comb the silk
down, and the next drum will rotate in the opposite direction, and will there-
fore operate on the under side of the silk and comb the silk up, and so on
throughout the series, when the protruding ends of the silk will be well combed.
A brushing cylinder is placed at the end of the series of combing drums or
cylinders for the purpose of brushing the silk out and laying it horizontally on
the second series of travelling holding blocks, which operato and are actuated
in precisely the same manner as the former series. A similar arrangement of
combing drums placed on the opposite side of the machine is then made to act
upon the uncombed ends of the silk or other material, in the same manner as
the former arrangement of combing drums has already operated upon the other
ends; and when the mass of fibre has passed through the second series all the
fibres will be well combed, and those fibros which have been drawn out by the
combing drums are removed therefrom by hand and passed through the machine
again and again, until it is considered that all the serviceable fibres have been
drawn out. The combed fibres arranged transversely or at right angles to the
length of the ribbon may then be conveyed by a travelling band or apron, or
other analogous mechanical contrivance, to the next machine; or, if preferred,.

page_text: a screw gill or drawing head may be adapted to the end of the machine just
described, in such a manner that the teeth of the gills may take the fibres
from the end of the second series of travelling blocks; or, if found more con-
venient, the combed fibres may be delivered from my improved combing or
preparing machinery on to or between travelling endless bands, and conveyed
thereby to cans or other suitable receptacles, in which they may be carried to
any other machinery, or they may be rolled up and in the shape of rolls con-
veyed to the feeding end of any such machinery and there unrolled in a suitable
manner.
In order, however, that the nature and object of my Invention may be
clearly understood, I have shewn in the accompanying Drawings various
views of my improved machinery for combing and preparing silk and other
fibrous substances.
Fig. 1 is a sido elevation of the machine; Fig. 2, a plan view thereof;
Fig. 3, an elevation of one end of the machine; and Fig. 4 is a transverse
vertical section through X, X, (Figures 1 and 2), in all of which Figures
similar letters of reference denote cerresponding parts. A, A, is the frame-
work of the machine; B, B, is a long metal casing for carrying the rollers
which support the lower endless chain for holding the fibres to be combed, as
seen at a, a. This chain is constructed of blocks of lignum vitæ or other
hard wood or suitable material, connected together by hinged joints, and is
carried by hexagonal pullies a', a', (seen best in Fig. 1), the shafts of which
are supported in suitable bearings upon the framing A, A, of the machine.
C is the main driving shaft; and D, D¹, D³, D³, D', and D³ are the conical
combing drums for combing the fibres, which are held by the endless travel-
ling chains a and b. The upper endless travelling chain b, b, is placed
immediately above the chain a, a, and is also carried by pullies b', 6', con-
structed in the same way as the pullies a', a'. The upper endless chain is
provided with a band of india-rubber 6², which covers its outer surface. The
surfaces of the blocks a, a, of the lower chain are grooved or indented, as
shewn in Fig. 4, and motion is communicated to the two chains a and b by.
means of rollers and suitable gearing connected with the main shaft C, as will
be hereafter described. The silk or other fibre is placed on the lower chain a
at the entering or left-hand end of the machine by the attendant in such
a manner that about half the fibres are made to project beyond the edge
of the blocks; and in order to facilitate the placing of the fibres in such a
position on the travelling endless chain, it may be convenient to pass the raw
material through any preparatory machine, such as a filling engine, which will
detach and straighten the fibres to a certain extent, the projecting portion of

page_text: the fibres being supported by the band of leather c until the fibres enter the
machine, and are laid hold of and firmly grasped by the blocks of the upper
and lower chains a, a, and b, b. The leather band c is driven at the same
speed as the chain a by means of the pullies d, d, and . The fibres are so
supported till by the onward movement of the chain they enter between the
india-rubber band of the upper chain b and the longitudinally grooved face
of the lower chain a (see Fig. 4), and they will be firmly pinched during the
time that that half of the fibres which projects beyond the chains is under-
going the combing operation. This hold upon the fibres is obtained by
passing the chains between two sets of rollers and e¹ mounted in the
casting B, B, and where through a series of levers h (Fig. 4) they receive
considerable pressure from the weights h', h. The lovers h, h, are mounted
on shafts, and are arranged in two tiers one above the other in order to
obtain room for the various parts belonging to them, or this pressure may bo
given by means of springs or any other suitable contrivance.
Below the head of cach lever, and fixed thereto by screws and nuts capablo
of moving in slots within the head, are adjustable pieces of steel, which
rest upon the points of the pins i, so that by this adjustable piece the exact
amount of leverage can be regulated. The rods are bolted at each end to
the A frame G, and are supported between each lever by short standards h³
and attached to the cross bearer II, each lover h projecting alternately
outwards on either side of the machine. The supporting rollers a and e
(Fig. 1) are mounted in bearings in the casting B, as before mentioned. The
lower set e rest in bearings provided in the lower part of the casting, and the
upper set in slots formed in the upper part B' of the casting. Both sets
are driven from the main shaft C in the following manner:-A bevil wheel m
upon the main shaft C drives a bevil wheel upon the cross shaft ?, and another
bovil wheel at the opposite end of the shaft drives a similar wheel at the
lower end of the upright shaft K. A bevil wheel K' at the upper end of
the shaft K drives tho face wheel 9 on the axle of the central roller of the
lower set of rollers, which roller e projects considerably beyond the casting B,
and is supported by the bracket bearing e. Upon this central roller c² is a
spur wheel g' in gear with the spur wheel g keyed upon the central roller ³
of the upper set of rollers; the remaining rollers of both sets are driven
through the carrier pinions fand f', the rollers communicating their motion
to the endless travelling chains a and b. Each of the upper series of rollers e
is provided with a gun metal or lignum vita cap j for the purpose of receiving
the requisite pressure from the lower point of the pins i, each cap being
retained in its position upon the rollor. by a feather on the under side entering

page_text: in a groove made in the roller for that purpose, and the said caps j, j, being
prevented by the bar projecting from the top of the casting B from jumping
up or rising out of their place.
In front of the chains a and b are arranged a series of conical drums
D, D', D2, D3, &c., mounted separately upon short shafts in pedestal bearings
upon the framing E, and to the periphery of these drums are attached the
combs n¹, n'. The drums are driven in the direction of the arrows by the
pullies o, o', o, &c., and bands from pullies on the main shaft C. The first drum
D is provided with teeth of coarse gauge and combs out the fibres projecting
from the travelling endless chains; in so doing the fibres will be combed
down, whereas the next drum D', which is provided with teeth of the same
gauge as the drum D, will comb the fibres upwards. The continuous drum D²
on the same shaft as D', and which will therefore rotate with D', is provided
with teeth of a finer gauge than its fellow. The next drum D³ has teeth of
the same gauge as D³, but rotates in the opposite direction, as indicated by the
arrows. The last two drums D', D', have teeth of a still finer gauge to comb
out the fibres more completely, and are mounted and rotate in the same
manner as the other drums. By this arrangement it will be seen that the silk
or other material will be combed first by the teeth of the coarsest gauge on
both its opposite surfaces, then by the teeth of the next finer gauge also on
both its opposite surfaces, and so on for the teeth of still finer gauge, of which
any number may be used. A brush F mounted on a stud pin from a bracket
on the frame G is adapted to the end of the series of comb drums for the
purpose of brushing down the fibres and laying them out horizontally. This
brush is driven in the direction of the arrow by means of a round band from
the main shaft C. By thus brushing or laying out horizontally the combed-
part of the silk it is brought into a proper position for entering between the
chains a, b, of an exactly similar apparatus to that described, and which is
so placed with respect to the ends of the chains a, b, of the first set of holders
as to receive and hold securely that part of the silk which has undergone the
combing operation, the two sets of travelling holders being made to move at
exactly the same speed. As from unavoidable imperfections in or the wearing
of the heckles or comb teeth it is impossible to comb the fibres perfectly quito
close up to the chains or holders, the chains a, b, should be so arranged that
they can be set close to the sides of the chains a, b, as shewn in Fig. 2, or so
as to leave a small space between the sides of the chains a, b, and the sides of
the chains a 6, in order to allow a small portion of the already combed fibres
to protrude beyond the chains a*, *, and thus prevent any portion of the
fibres from remaining uncombed. This small space to be left depends upon

page_text: the nature and quantity of the fibres under operation, and can only be deter-
mined by practice.
I would observe that the second set of holders must be made to take hold
of and grasp the combed ends of the fibres before the chains a and b release
their hold of that part of the fibre which is now to be combed, as will be
seen best in plan at Fig. 2. Tho fibres being thus grasped in the second
set of holders a*, *, the uncombed ends are operated upon by a second
set of conical combing drums D*, D*, D, D*, D*, and D, and a rotating
brush for laying out the fibres, precisely in the manner already explained
in reference to the first set of combing drums. After passing through this
second part of the machine, and when the combing of tho fibro is finished,
it is left brushed out horizontally by the brush F*, and is carried by the
onward movement of the chains a", , between a double set of endless straps p.
which are carried by the drums q, the shafts of which are supported in bearings
upon the framing A, and which are driven at the samo speed as the chains, by
gearing from the main shaft C (see Figures 1 and 2). The straps p carry tho
fibres between the boards r and r, the lower board r resting upon brackets t, t,
while the upper board is capablo of rising and falling upon the guide pin s,
and supplies sufficient weight to hold the silk fibres firmly between the straps
p whilst the chains a*, *, aro releasing their hold of that part of the fibre
which was first combed; this is then carried forward and enters in like
manner between the straps p, driven by drums q*, 9, precisely similar to the
drums 2. The whole breadth of the combed fibre being now between the
endless straps p and p*, can be carried into any other machine to be further
operated upon. In order to prevent the silk from adhering to the boards r and
, I adapt an endless apron or cloth to the drums q and q beneath the
straրs.
By making the upper straps and endless cloths shorter than the lower ones
and shortening the board, as shewn by red lines in Figures 1 and 2, and by
applying at each opposite sido of the lower straps and endless cloths an up-
right guiding slct in which a spindle or shaft can turn freely, (which spindle is
passed through and serves to guide a tube or rollor of wood or other material,.
which lies upon the lower straps, as shewn in red lines in Figures 1 and 2,)
the combed fibres may be rolled up round the said tube or roller, which will
be turned by its friction of contact with the aforesaid lower straps and
convoyed in the shape of rolls to any other machine.
The combing drums are made conical, in order to begin the action of
combing on the extremities of the fibres, or that part of thein which is the
farthest from the holding clasps or chains. The fibres are brought forward.

page_text: by the chains, and presented to the action of the conical combing drums first
at their smallest end or diameter. The heckles or comb teeth on this smallest
end of the cone being the farthest from the chains will first operate upon
the ends of the fibres, and as the fibres are carried forward towards the:
largest part of the cone the combing teeth will gradually act upon them
nearer and nearer to the chains, until the fibres will have arrived at the
largest part of the cone, the comb teeth of which part act as closely as:
possible to the edges of the holding chains. It will therefore be seen that
the bevil to be given to these conical drums, or the difference between their:
largest and smallest diameters, should depend upon the length of the fibres
to be acted upon, and as the comb teeth which are on their largest diameter
are subject to greater wear than those on their smaller diameters (having
to pass through and comb a greater mass of fibres, and those fibres more
closely pressed together, inasmuch as they are nearer to the holding clasps
or chains), it is advisable to make the said combing drums with one part.
conical and one part cylindrical, in order to have a greater breadth of comb.
teeth on their largest diameter. A partly conical and partly cylindrical combing
drum of this kind is shewn in Fig. 5.
With a view to obviate the loss of time which would arise from stopping
the machine in order to doff or clean off the silk from the combing drums,
as before described, I propose to have two sets of such combing drums fixed.
independently of each other in sliding bearings, so that whilst the first set
is in operation the second will remain pulled back from the chains and out
of gear, or stopped, until the first may require doffing or cleaning, when it
will be pulled back from the chains and thrown out of gear or stopped; at
the same time the second set will be pushed forward towards the chains and
put in gear or in motion, and the first set having been doffed or cleaned will
in like manner replace the second when that may require doffing or cleaning,
so that the two sets of drums will thus alternate in their functions, either by
a whole set of drums at one and the same time or by single drums at one time,
and thus admit of their being regularly doffed or cleaned without stopping
the machine.
Having now described my Invention of "An improved Method of and
Machinery for Combing and Preparing Silk, Flax, and other Fibrous Sub-
stances," and the manner of carrying the same into effect, I would observe,
that although I have shewn and described what I consider to be the best
arrangement of machinery for effecting the object of my improvements, I
do not mean or intend to confine myself thereto, as the construction, arrange-
ment, and operation of the various parts are, doubtless, susceptible of modification

page_text: and alteration in many particulars without departing from the nature and
object of my Invention. In conclusion, I claim,-
First, the general arrangement or construction of parts herein shewn and
described, or any mere modification thereof for effecting a like purpose.
Second, I claim the use of self-acting travelling clips or clamps for presenting
the opposite ends of the fibres in succession to the operation of the heckle or.
comb pins, such self-acting travelling clips or clamps being so arranged that
the fibres having been operated upon at one end are transferred or delivered
into the gripe of another set of self-acting travelling clips or clamps, which
will expose the opposite ends of the fibres to the action of the heckle or comb
pins, and afterwards dischargo the combed or prepared fibre in a continuous
band on to a delivery cloth, or its equivalent.
Third, I claim the use of clips or clamps (for holding the fibres) arranged:
in an endless series in such a manner that the combed fibres may be delivered
therefrom in a continuous ribbon or sliver without the assistance of the
attendant.
Fourth, I claim the use and application of a set of combing drums rotating
in inverso directions, for the object heroin-before described; and further, the
application of a second set of combing drums, also rotating in inverse directions,
in order to effect the doffing or cleaning of the drums without stopping the
machine, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, tho said Charles Do Jongh, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, the Seventeenth day of April, in the year of our
Lord Ono thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven.
Signed and sealed in the presence of
CH. ISSENMANN.
C. DE JONGH. (L.S.)