Improvements in the Gilling, Combing, and like Preparatory Treat- ment of Wool, Flax, Hemp, Ramie, and other Fibrous Material.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Oct., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 9th July, 1898-Accepted, 17th Sept.,
1898
Improvements in the Gilling, Combing, and like Preparatory Treat-
ment of Wool, Flax, Hemp, Ramie, and other Fibrous Material.
I, CHARLES EMILE CLEMENT JOSEPH GAUTIER DONAUDY, of: No. 20, Rue
Paradis, Marseilles, in the Republic of France, Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:--
This invention relates to apparatus comprising the several devices required
for the performance of the following successive operations.
(1) The pulling out,
(2) The carding or combing proper, and
(3) The slivering of textile fibre of every description, such as wool, flax, hemp,
ramee, waste silk or the like.
(1) Pulling (or opening).-The material to be treated is first passed in any
suitable manner through an ordinary gill-box, which opens the material, making
the fibres more closely approach parallelism. Immediately after this the
delivery or discharge rollers of the gill-box (where only one such box is employed)
or of the last of the series of gill boxes, (where more than one are used in
succession, before the material is allowed to reach the combing machine), the
material is sent through a second pair of rollers, the lineal speed of. which is
two or three times greater than that of the delivery rollers. These second
rollers are not constantly in contact with each other; indeed, they are so
only whilst the cam on one of them is held in the position of tangency therewith
by the upper roller. At this juncture, the difference of speed between the
delivery rollers and the said pair of rollers induces a tearing strain which results
in the removal of a slice or layer of the continuous lap arriving from the
delivery rollers.
-
66
The distance between the pairs of rollers should be adjustable according to
the length of the fibre to be treated, so that in the process of severance of part
of the lap, just referred to, the fibres may separate singly and unbroken through-
out their length; for in the event of such distance being too short, the individual
fibres would be broken, so that the slice of lap taken off would only contain
disjointed fragments of fibre; while, if too large a distance be left, the said slice
or portion of the lap would comprise a number of individual fibres meeting
end-to-end, which would unfavourably affect the combing of the same.
The next thing to be done is to cause these sections or slices of lap to be
automatically transferred on to the apron of the combing machine proper. To
this end, the lower roller of the second pair is provided with a metal sheet or
plate from 15 to 25 centimetres wide-in the direction of the fibre-and extending
over the whole length of the roller, being bent so as to accommodate the cylin-
drical surface thereof.
This plate may oscillate on a pivot secured to the roller and has its extremity
linked to a short rod, the opposite end of which is movably fitted within a
groove or channel attached to the frame.

page_text: It will be seen that, owing to its shape, this channel or groove, will, at a
predetermined and in all cases identical-moment of the revolution of the roller,
swing the plate round on its pivot, after which the said plate invariably and
automatically, must resume its previous position on the roller.
The plate, moreover, is placed on a part of the roller, which, once in each
revolution comes into contact with a pulling-out cam. Thus, periodically, once
in a revolution, a slice or section of the lap is severed; which operation is suc-
ceeded by a
swinging movement whereby such section is transferred on to the
apron passing opposite the roller which is to take the material through the
combing machine proper.
"
66
"
(2) Combing proper. The apron consists of two endless bands one of which,
is of peculiar construction, while both are from 10 to 15 centimetres wide and
placed beside each other. They move at right angles to the direction in which
the "lap or line of fibre travels through the gill-box or boxes, so that
the slices of such lap or line, as they fall from the distributor, arrange themselves
in juxtaposition and thus form a continuous layer, or litter (provided the speed
of the bands is well regulated), each fibre taking up its position at right angles
to the direction of motion of the endless bands, one half of its length resting
upon one apron and the other half upon the adjacent apron.
At a predetermined distance from the initial end of the apron-which distance
may be varied according as it is desired to feed the combing machine from one
or more distributing rollers one of the two endless bands, whereon the materials
rests, hereinafter termed the first and second band, is surmounted by a third
endless band or strap identical in construction and width, snugly fitting the
second band, and travelling at the same speed therewith. The moment that half
length of fibre, which rests upon the second band is engaged and compressed
between the second and third bands, the first endless band of the apron ceases
to support the fibres, so that, from that point one-half length of fibre continues
in a projecting or overhanging position. Now it is this half-length, that is
presented for combing, i.e. submitted to the action of two working rollers, the
teeth or pins of which are exactly like the garnitures waste-silk workers (cards),
one cylinder revolving in one direction and the other in the opposite direction.
The overhanging half-length is then in its turn nipped by a feeding device
consisting of two endless bands the fourth and fifth, identical with the bands
above described forming the first feeding apparatus. That half-length of the
fibres, which has hitherto been held between the bands now projects unsupported
and is presented for treatment by two other working cylinders, similar to the
first-mentioned pair and one of which also turns in the direction opposite to
that of the other.
The working rollers are not parallel to the feeding devices, so that each indi-
vidual fibre of material shall, at first, only be acted upon at its end, the pins
of the garniture then gradually ascending from the end to the centre of the
fibre, as such fibre travels along on the feeder or conveyor. The garniture on
the roller should be wound slightly helically, so as to allow for the resultant
of the rectilinear motion of the feeder and the rotary motion of the roller, and
so that each pin shall enter the material parallel, and not at an angle, to the
fibres. The helix thus formed is, however, of very slight pitch, in view of the
great preponderance of the speed of rotation--from 100 to 140 revolutions per
minute over the feeding motion, being only about 2 mètres per minute.
Thus it will readily be seen that the intensity of the combing action is
(1) Inversely proportionate to the speed of the conveying devices.
(2) Directly proportionate to the angular speed of rotation of the working
rollers, and also directly proportionate to the diameter and length of such rollers.
According to the nature of the textile materials that diameter and that length
should be varied, as should be also the degree of fineness of the combing pins
or teeth. But where the textile fibre is always of the same description, it will
be sufficient to vary the terms (1) and (2) of the above proportions by shifting

page_text: the driving belts on the offset pulleys, taking into account the variations in the
quality and in the methods of preparation of the materials treated.
The inclined position of the rocking rollers serves to reduce the waste, the
laps, formed by the waste retained on the said rollers, being discharged in the
same way as in the waste silk machines.
In some cases, where the material being treated is too much entangled,
the combing of the central parts of the individual fibres could not be carried out
satisfactorily in an arrangement such as is hereinabove described. Where this
is so, the shape of the rollers, whilst still cylindrical, may be truncated, or formed
with offsets or steps.
It is essential to guard against any relative slipping out of place on the part
of the four straps or bands comprising the feeders, whose speeds should be pre-
cisely equal. To this end the said four bands or straps are driven from one
common shaft, and solely through the medium of the gear-wheels, without the
interposition of any driving belt.
It now remains for me to describe the construction of the said bands or
straps and to state how pressure is obtained between the lower length of the
upper band, as the case may be, and the upper length of the lower band,
second or fourth which pressure is indispensable if the material is to be protected
from the tearing tendency of the pins of the rollers, and if it be desired that
these rollers should confine themselves to collecting the impurities contained
in the material, in doing which they would perform their proper operation of
combing devices.
The second third fourth and fifth straps are formed of endless pitch-chains
actuated by sprocket wheels. These pitch chains are somewhat peculiar in their
construction. Pieces of iron, jointed together like the links of a chain, by
means of the base-plates of their T's, form connecting shoes, onto which there
is secured, either by means of screws with their heads embedded in the covering
or by any other suitable device, a covering or lining of leather, or, better still,
of canvas coated with india rubber solution; the linings of the several foot-plates
of the T's being accurately arranged in juxtaposition and forming the feeding
straps proper.
1
The edges of the stems or webs of the T-irons, through the medium of the
loose rollers receive pressure from the two cheeks or jaws of a screw-press;
which cheeks or jaws compress the cases or frames between them, within the
aperture of which the rollers are adapted freely to revolve. This pressure should
be regulated in starting the machine by means of the hand wheels.
Thus, by means of this arrangement there may be imparted to the leather or
other facings of the links of the pitch-chain constituting the straps or bands,
a sufficiently strong pressure to prevent the material from being torn by the
pins of the working rollers, without the necessity of putting the mechanism to
any very great strain in order to ensure the continuous motion of the said chains,
but owing, solely, to the mere rolling friction of the rollers exercised upon the
edge of the webs of the T-irons.
Whilst the chains are perfectly horizontal,-which they are during their
combing stage, the shoes formed by the foot or base plates of their Tirons
must locate themselves exactly in juxtaposition, and the rubber-cloth linings or
facings which cover them must form a perfectly plane surface.
With a view to preventing a bundle of the fibres of the material to be combed
from in any case coinciding throughout their length with the points of junction
of two consecutive shoes or links of the endless chains-which would hinder
such bundle of fibres from being properly compressed the said shoes or links,
or at all events the cloth covering them, should be cut in the shape of
parallelograms.
-
(3) Slivering. The slivering process does not materially differ from those
usually employed.
After the completion of the combing operation, a roller, having a vertical

page_text: shaft, being situated a few centimetres from the feeding device, and revolving
very quickly bends in the forward direction the fibre-ends moving past it, so
as to direct them towards a pair of other, flúted rollers, the axes or shafts of
which are also vertical, and which attract the fibres, the moment they are
relieved of the pressure of the chains, by which means a sliver or ribbon is
formed.
In some cases the textile material to be treated need not be, sent through a
gill-box, prior to being combed. Where this is so, the bundles of fibres, long
enough to be capable of being combed, should be separated from the raw material
at the outset, without first causing the material to go through the lap-forming
stage. This operating is termed pointing.
(4) Pointing. The means for carrying out this operation automatically are
as follows:-
The material is placed upon an endless apron formed of a number of inde-
pendent horizontal straps or bands, from 12 to 20 centimetres wide, whence it is
carried along by the feed rollers touching each of the said horizontal bands
tangentially, which rollers deliver it at a slow speed, varying according to the
nature and condition of the textile material.
This arrangement is most important, as, by reason of the narrow width of the
horizontal bands constituting the entrance apron,—which only permits them to
receive one or two handfuls of fibre each, at the outside, and owing further-
more to the employment of a number of distributing rollers each of which is
subjected to the action of pressure springs, which force them into contact with
the corresponding band, and which at all times accommodate themselves to the
thickness of the one or two bundles of fibre lying upon the said bands (which
result could not be obtained with more than two handfuls of unequal magnitude),
the material distributed may be relied upon to be always properly gripped
between the horizontal bands that go to form the apron and the distributing
rollers.
On leaving the outer roller of two concentric rollers the extremity of the
material, suspended vertically, meets a segment of the inner roller revolving con-
tinuously on its axis, the object of which is to push the material from the left
to the right, so as to cause it to meet the points of the pins of a band or strap,
which shall presently be reverted to. Meantime, the outer roller segment uni-
formly revolving, at an equal angular speed with the inner segment, but in
the opposite direction thereto, serves to bring the material back from the right
to the left. The motion of these two roller-segments, must be such that the
material shall be carried back over the rear of the inner roller, which will prevent
its coming into contact, after the passage of this roller segment, with the fibres
with which the strap is already charged.
It will be understood that according to the radius of the curves of the inner
and outer roller segment two, three or a greater number of similar segments may
be utilized on the same roller-circumferences, all of which will perform the action
just described. Such employinent of several roller-segments, in the case of both
will enable the fibre-preparing operation to be proportionately, accelerated.
Within the space left free in the interior of the cylinder, formed by the rotat-
ing grasping-roller segment there is arranged an endless strap or band passing
over three pulleys, this strap is straight where it passes through the rollers,
while between the pulleys beyond this point it is crossed. It carries bent pins,
similar to those used in working waste silk, and it receives a continuous feeding
motion.
The successive stages of friction between the material and those pins, brought
about by the thrusts of the segments of the inner roller against the material,
have the effect of charging the pins with fibre. If the width of the strap be
properly adjusted (say from 3 to 8 centimetres according to the nature of the
textile material) each fibre will have about one half of its length engaged be-
tween the pins, while the other half will project unsupported on the convex side

page_text: of the said pins; and lest this overhanging portion of the fibre should be
disarranged at each return of the material, the outer roller segment pushes the
fibres, retained by the feed rollers, to the left, by causing them to slide over the
outer surface of the inner roller, during the passage of the roller segment over
the strap, after the desired useful effect of that part has been obtained.
It will be understood that notwithstanding the existence of intermediate
spaces between the feed or distributing rollers the pins of the strap will be
charged in a homogeneous manner, since each pin successively passes before all
the said rollers.
Theoretically, the pins should be implanted in the strap somewhat obliquely,
so as to make allowance for the resultant of the speed of feeding motion of the
strap and the speed of rotation of the fractions of the inner roller. In practice,
however, this will in most cases prove unnecessary, owing to the considerable
preponderance of the speed of rotation of the parts of the inner roller over the
speed of the translatory motion, generally less than 3 metres per minute.
Metal sheaths or cases enable the strap to be maintained in a somewhat in-
clined position, whilst causing the strap to retain the direction imparted to it
by the pulleys so as to present the pins in the proper position for charging with
fibre.
The condition of the raw material, the speed of the forward motion of the
feed rollers, the total width of the apron, the speed of the translatory motion of
the strap and the speed of rotation of the parts of the inner roller, are the
features whereon depends the thickness or depth of the layer of fibres with.
which the said strap is charged; and this depth of the layer of material must'
meet the requirements of the subsequent combing operation.
At all events, the stage thus charged, comes up to the second and third straps
or bands of the combing machine proper; in which case both these bands should
be of equal length, instead of the lower strap being extended to serve as a
semi-apron for the fibre to enter upon, as in the cases, hereinabove referred to,
where gill-boxes are employed.
The half-length of fibre which remains suspended on the band is gripped be-
tween the second and third rollers, both of which bands move precisely at the
same speed as the strap running through the roller.
What is now required is that the fibres should be released by the pins of
the band or strap and may continue their progress between the rollers which
will take them to the working rollers, as in the first-mentioned case.
To this end it is necessary that in conjunction with its forward motion,-
at an equal speed with the straps each of the constituent parts of the strap
should, immediately after the fibre has been gripped-perform the following
movements.
(1) A downward movement;
(2) A swinging movement on the edge of the band which is nearest to the
aforesaid bands; and
(3) A reducing movement from said bands.
These three movements should be so timed in relation to each other, that while
the descent of one of the constituent elements of the strap may equal the height
of one pin in extent, the swinging movement shall cause the parts of this pin
to be, at least, at right angles to the plane in which the fibre is grasped or
nipped, i.e. vertical, and the swinging movement to become at least equal to the
height. Now all these movements are induced almost simultaneously owing
to the crossed position of the strap between the pulley which corresponds to the
point of nipping, and the other pulley.
Given the shape of the pins or teeth, in the case of the strap (and this shape
is determined by the kind of fibre to be treated), it is always easy, by adjusting
the diameter, the distance apart, the width and the relative arrangement of the
two pulleys and by guiding the strap between the pulley by means of metal
sheaths of a predetermined shape or outline in the longitudinal direction, so as

page_text: not to interfere with the trajectory of the strap, controlled by the arrangement
of the said guiding or steering pulleys,--it will be an easy matter, conveniently
to time the several movements just defined, so as to obtain the desired result,
viz. the perfect discharge or relief of the strap.
One pulley should, besides, be smaller or lower than the other so as to enable
a horizontal cover or guard plate to be interposed between the upper horizontal
tangent plane of the pins of the strap, on one side of the pulley, and the hori-
zontal plane in which the fibres, gripped between the straps, move along, 60
that much fibres may not be affected by the pins of which, just then, return
in the direction opposite to that of their preceding movement, owing to the crossing
of the strap.
When once the fibres have been introduced between the bands, everything
takes the course indicated above, with reference to textile fibre that requires
being sent through a gill box prior to combing.
Dated this 9th day of October 1897.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in the Gilling, Combing, and like Preparatory Treat-
ment of Wool, Flax, Hemp, Ramie, and other Fibrous Material.
I, CHARLES EMILE CLEMENT JOSEPH GAUTIER DONAUDY, of No. 20, Rue
Paradis, Marseilles, in the Republic of France, Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
-
This invention relates to apparatus comprising the several devices required
for the performance of the following successive operations.
(1) The pulling-out,
(2) The carding or combing proper, and
(3) The slivering of textile fibre of every description, such as wool, flax, hemp,
ramie, waste silk or the like.
The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying draw-
ings in which a machine constructed in accordance therewith is represented by
way of example. In the said drawings,
Figure 1 is a section of the improved machine on line 1-1 Figure 2.
Figure 2 is a plan thereof;
Figures 2 and 2" are partial plans;
Figure 3 is a section on line 3-3, Figure 2;
Figures 4, 5 and 5* are detail views of the feeding bands;
Figure 6 is à section on line 6-6, Figure 7, of. an arrangement for making
up the textile material into a point, "lap" or "line," prior to combing proper,
where such material does not require passing through the gill-box;
Figure 7 is a plan of the arrangement;
Figure 8 is a section on line 8-8, Figure 7; and
Figure 9 is a detail view of one of the parts of the said arrangement.
(1) Pulling (or opening). The material to be treated is first passed in any
suitable manner through an ordinary gill-box F, which opens the material,
making the fibres more closely approach parallelism. Immediately after this
the delivery or discharge rollers ff of the gill-box, (where only one such box
is employed) or of the last of the series of gill boxes, (where more than one are
used in succession, before the material is allowed to reach the combing machine),

page_text: the material is sent through a second pair of rollers GG¹, the lineal speed
of which is two or three times greater than that of the delivery rollers ff.
These rollers G G¹ are not constantly in contact with each other; indeed, they
are so only whilst the cam g is held in the position of tangency therewith by
the upper roller G. At this juncture, the difference of speed between f and fi,
and G and G¹, induces a tearing strain which results in the removal of a
« slice "
or layer of the continuous lap arriving from ffl.
The distance between f f¹ and G G¹ should be adjustable according to the length
of the fibre to be treated, so that in the process of severance of part of the lap,
just referred to, the fibres may separate singly and unbroken throughout their
length; for in the event of such distance being too short, the individual fibres
would be broken, so that the slice of lap taken off would only contain disjointed
fragments of fibre; while, if too large a distance be left, the said slice or portion
of the lap would comprise a number of individual fibres meeting end-to-end,
which would unfavourably affect the combing of the same.
The next thing to be done is to cause these sections or slices of lap to be
automatically transferred on to the apron of the combing machine proper. To
this end, the lower roller G¹ is provided with a metal sheet or plate p, from 15
to 25 centimetres wide-in the direction of the fibre-and extending over the
whole length of the roller, being bent so as to accomodate the cylindrical surface
thereof.
This plate may oscillate on a pivot e secured to the roller and has its
extremity linked to a short rod, the opposite end h¹ of which is movably fitted
within a groove or channel i atached to the frame.
It will be seen that, owing to its shape, this channel or groove, will, at a
predetermined-and in all cases identical-moment of the revolution of the
roller G, swing the plate round on its pivot e, after which the said plate »,
invariably and automatically, must resume its previous position on the roller G¹.
The plate p, moreover, is placed on a part of the roller G¹, which, once in each
revolution, comes into contact with a pulling-out cam g. Thus, periodically,
once in a revolution, a slice or section of the lap is severed; which operation is
succeeded by a swinging movement whereby such section is transferred on to
the apron passing opposite the roller G, which is to take the material through
the combing machine proper.
(2) Combing proper. The apron consists of two endless bands H and I
(Figures 1 and 2), one of which, H. is of peculiar construction, while both are
from 10 to 15 centimetres wide and placed beside each other. They move at
right angles to the direction in which the "lap" or "line" of fibre travels
through the gill-box or boxes, so that the slices of such lap or line, as they fall
from the distributor p, arrange themselves in juxtaposition and thus form a con-
tinuous layer, or litter (provided the speed of the bands H and I is properly
regulated), each fibre taking up its position at right angles to the direction of
motion of the endless bands, one half of its length resting upon H and the
other half upon I.
At a predetermined distance from the initial end of the apron-which distance
may be varied according as it is desired to feed the combing machine from one
or more distributing rollers G¹-one of the two endless bands, whereon the
material rests viz. the band H, is surmounted by a third endless band or strap H¹
(Figures 2 and 3), identical with H in construction and width, snugly fitting
the band H, and travelling at the same speed therewith. The moment that half
length of fibre, which rests upon H, is engaged and compressed between H and H³,
the other endless band I of the apron ceases to support the fibre, so that, from
that point, one half-length of fibre continues in a projecting or overhanging
position. Now it is this half-length, that is presented for combing, .e. submitted
to the action of two working rollers JJ, the teeth or pins of which are exactly
like the garnitures of wash-silk workers (cards), one cylinder revolving in one
direction and the other in the opposite direction.

page_text: •
The overhanging half-length is then in its turn nipped by a feeding device
consisting of two endless bands K K', identical with the bands HH forming
the first feeding apparatus. That half-length of the fibres, which has hitherto
been held between the bands now projects unsupported and is presented for
treatment by two other working cylinders J2 J3, similar to the first mentioned
pair J and J, and one of which also turns in the direction opposite to that of
the other.
+
The working rollers J, J₁, J2, J3, are not parallel to the feeding devices, so that
each individual fibre of material shall, at first, only be acted upon at its end,
the pins of the garniture then gradually ascending from the end to the centre
of the fibre, as such fibre travels along on the feeder or conveyer. The garniture
on the rollers should be wound slightly helically, so as to allow for the resultant
of the rectilinear motion of the feeder and the rotary motion of the rollers,
and so that each pin shall enter the material parallel, and not at an angle, to
the fibres. The helix thus formed is, however, of very slight pitch, in view of
the great preponderance of the speed of rotation-from 100 to 140 revolutions
per minute over the feeding motion, being only about metres per minute. (In
the drawings this helical arrangement is not shown.)
Thus it will readily be seen that the intensity of the combing action is
(1) Inversely proportionate to the speed of the conveying devices,
(2) Directly proportionate to the angular speed of rotation, of the working
rollers, and also directly proportionate to the diameter and length of such rollers.
According to the nature of the textile materials that diameter and that length
should be varied, as should be also the degree of fineness of the combing pins
or teeth. But where the textile fibre is always of the same description,
be sufficient to vary the terms (1) and (2) of the above proportions by shifting
the driving belts on the offset pulleys, taking into account the variations in the
quality and in the methods of preparation of the materials treated.
will
The inclined position of the rollers J, J, J3, J3 serves to reduce the waste, the
laps, formed by the waste retained on the said rollers, being discharged in the
same way as in the waste silk machines.
In some cases, where the material being treated is too much entangled, the
combing of the central parts of the individual fibres could not be carried out as
is hereinabove described. Where this is so, the shape of the rollers, whilst still
cylindrical, may be truncated, or formed with offsets or steps, in which case the
working rollers, thus formed, would assume either one or the other of the posi-
tions shown in Figures 2 and 2" of the drawings.
It is essential to guard against any relative slipping out of place on the part
of the four straps or bands HH K K¹, comprising the feeders, whose speeds
should be precisely equal. To this end the said four bands or straps are driven
from one common shaft, and solely through the medium of the gear-wheels,
without the interposition of any driving belt.
It now remains for me to describe the construction of the said bands or
straps H H K K' and to state how pressure is obtained between the lower length
of the upper band, H₁ or K' as the case may be, and the upper length of the
lower band, H or K, which pressure is indispensable if the material is to be
protected from the tearing tendency of the pins of the rollers, and if it be desired
that these rollers should confine themselves to collecting the impurities contained
in the material, in doing which they would perform their proper operation of
combing devices.
chains M M₁ actuated by
somewhat peculiar in their
Pieces of T iron, jointed
base plates of their T's,
The straps HH' and KK' are formed of endless
sprocket wheels mm. These pitch chains MM¹ are
construction, which is illustrated in Figures 4 and 5.
together like the links of a chain, by means of the
form connecting shoes, onto which there is secured either by means of screws
with their heads embedded in the covering or by any other suitable device, a
covering or lining of leather, or, better still, of canvas coated with india rubber

page_text: solution; the linings of the several foot-plates of the T's being accurately arranged
in juxtaposition and forming the feeding straps proper.
The edges of the stems or webs of the T irons, through the medium of the
loose rollers nn¹ receive pressure from the two cheeks or jaws of the screw press;
which cheeks or jaws compress the cases or frames QQ between them, within
the aperture of which the rollers nn¹ are adapted freely to revolve. This pressure
should be regulated in starting the machine by means of the hand wheels Q.
Thus, by means of this arrangement there may be imparted to the leather or
other facings of the links of the pitch-chain MM constituting the straps or
bands HH, K K', a sufficiently strong pressure to prevent the material from
being torn by the pins of the working rollers, without the necessity of putting
the mechanism to any very great strain in order to ensure the continuous motion
of the said chains, but owing solely, to the mere rolling friction of the rollers an³
exercised upon the edge of the webs of the Tirons.
Whilst the chains M M are perfectly horizontal,-which they are during their
combing stage, the shoes formied by the foot or base plates of their Tirons
must locate themselves exactly in juxtaposition, and the roller cloth linings
or facings which cover them must form a perfectly plane surface.
With a view to preventing a bundle of the fibres of the material to be combed
from in any case coinciding throughout their length with the points of the
junction of two consecutive shoes or links of the endless chains MM-which
would hinder such bundle of fibres from being properly compressed-the said
shoes or links, or at all events the cloth covering them, should be cut in the shape
of parallelograms, so as to present the appearance indicated in Figure 5* of the
drawings.
(3) Slivering. The slivering process does not materially differ from those
usually employed.
After the completion of the combing operation, a roller R, having a vertical
shaft, being situated a few centimetres from the feeding device, and revolving
very quickly bends in the forward direction the fibre-ends moving past it, so as
to direct them towards a pair of other, fluted rollers SSI, the axes or shafts of
which are also vertical, and which attract the fibres, the moment they are relieved
of the pressure of the chains, by which means a sliver or ribbon is formed.
In some cases the textile materials to be treated need not be sent through a
gill-box, prior to being combed. Where this is so, the bundles of fibres, long
enough to be capable of being combed, should be separated from the raw material
at the outset, without first causing the material to go through the lap-forming
stage. This operating is termed pointing.
(4) Pointing. The means for carrying out this operation automatically are
as follows:
The material is placed upon an endless apron (Figures 6, 7 and 8), formed by
a number of independent horizontal straps or bands A, from 12 to 20 centimetres
wide, whence it is carried along by the feed rollers B touching each of the said
horizontal bands A. tangentially which rollers deliver it at a slow speed, varying
according to the nature and condition of the textile material.
This arrangement is most important as by reason of the narrow width of the
horizontal bands A constituting the entrance apron-which only permits them
to receive one or two handfuls of fibre each, at the outside-and owing further-
more to the employment of a number of distributing rollers Beach of which is
subjected to the action of pressure springs, which force them into contact with
the corresponding band, and which at all times accommodate themselves to the
thickness of the one or two bundles of fibre lying upon the said bands (which
result could not be obtained with more than two handfuls of unequal magnitude),
the material distributed may be relied upon to be always properly gripped be-
tween the horizontal bands that go to form the apron A and the distributing
rollers B.

page_text: On leaving the outer rollers B, the extremity of the material, suspended ver-
tically, meets a portion of the roller C revolving continuously on its axis, the
object of which is to push the material from the left to the right, so as to cause
it to meet the points of the pins of the band or strap E, which will presently be
reverted to. Meantime the outer roller fraction concentric with the said inner
roller fraction C, and likewise uniformly revolving, at an equal angular speed
therewith, but in the opposite direction thereto, serves to bring the material back
from the right to the left. The motion of these two roller-fractions, C and b,
must be such that the material shall be carried back over the rear of the inner
roller C, Figure 6, which will prevent its coming into contact after the passage
of this roller-fraction,--with the fibres with which the strap E is already charged.
It will be understood that according to the radius of the curves of the roller
fractions C and b, two, three or a greater number of similar fractions may be
utilized on the same roller-circumferences, all of which will perform the action
just described. Such employment of several roller-fractions, in the case of both C
and b, will enable the fibre-preparing operation to be proportionately accelerated.
Within the space left free in the interior of the cylinder, formed by the rotating
grasping-roller fractions C and b, there is arranged an endless strap or band E
passing over three pulleys TT T. This strap is straight between T and T¹;
while between T¹ and T2 it is crossed. It carries bent pins, similar to those in
working waste silk, and it receives a continuous feeding motion.
The successive stages of friction between the material and those pins, brought
about by the thrusts of the fractions of the roller C against the material, have
the effect of charging the pins with fibre. If the width of the strap E be pro-
perly adjusted (say from 3 to centimetres according to the nature of the textile
material), each fibre will have about one half of its length engaged between the
pins, while the other half will project unsupported on the covered side of the said
pins and lest this overhanging portion of the fibre should be disarranged at
each return of the material, the outer roller section b pushes the fibres retained
by the rollers B, to the left, by causing them to slide over the outer surfaces
of C during the passage of the roller fraction of C over the strap E, after the
desired useful effect of that part has been obtained.
It will be understood that not withstanding the existence of intermediate
spaces between the distributing rollers B the pins of the strap E will be charged
in a homogeneous manner since each pin successively passes before all the said
rollers B.
Theoretically, the pins should be implanted in the strap somewhat obliquely,
so as to make allowance for the resultant of the speed of feeding motion of the
strap E and the speed of rotation of the fractions of the roller C. In practice,
however, this will in most cases prove unnecessary, owing to the considerable
preponderance of the speed of rotation of the parts C, over the speed of the
translatory motion,-generally less than 3 metres per minute.
Metal sheaths or cases V, Figure 6 enable the strap to be maintained in a
somewhat inclined position, whilst causing the strap to retain the direction im-
parted to it by the pulleys TT¹ so as to present the pins in the proper position
for charging with fibre.
The condition of the raw material, the speed of the forward motion of the
rollers B, the total width of the apron, the speed of the translatory motion of the
strap E, and the speed of rotation of the parts C, are the features whereon
depends the thickness or depth of the layer of fibres with which the said strap E
is charged, and this depth of the layer of material must meet the requirements
of the subsequent combing operation.
At all events, the strap E, thus charged, comes up to the straps or bands HH³,
of the combing machine proper; in which case both these bands should be of
equal length, instead of the lower strap H being extended to serve as a semi-
apron for the fibre to enter upon, as in the case hereinabove referred to, where
gill-boxes are employed.

page_text: The half-length of fibre which remains suspended on the band E is gripped
between H and H', both of which bands move precisely at the same speed as E.
What is now required is that the fibres should be released by the pins of the
band or strap E and may continue their progress between the faces of the bands H
and H, which will take them to the working rollers J J J J as in the first
mentioned case. To this end it is necessary that in conjunction with its forward
motion, at an equal speed with the straps HH', each of the constituent parts
of the strap E should, immediately after the fibre has been gripped by H and H³,
perform the following movements.
and
(1) A downward movement;
(2) A swinging movement on the edge of E which is nearest to H and H¹;
(3) A receding movement from HH¹.
These three movements should be so timed in relation to each other, that
while the descent of one of the constituent elements of the strap E may equal
the height of one pin (Figure 9) in extent, the swinging movement shall cause
the part ef of this pin to be, at least, at right angles to the plane in which the
fibre is grasped or nipped, i.e. vertical, and the swinging movement to become
at least equal to the height c Now all these movements are induced almost
simultaneously owing to the crossed position of the strap E between the pulley T¹,
which corresponds to the point of nipping, and the other pulley T.
Given the shape of the pins or teeth, in the case of the strap E (and this
shape is determined by the kind of fibre to be treated), it is always easy, by
adjusting the diameter, the distance apart, the width and the relative arrange-
ment of the two pulleys T and T2, and by guiding the strap E between the
pulleys T and T2 by means of metal sheaths V, of a predetermined shape or
outline in the longitudinal direction, so as not to interfere with the trajectory
of the strap, controlled by the arrangement of the said guiding or steering
pulleys, it will be an easy matter, conveniently to time the several movements
just defined, so as to obtain the desired result, viz. the perfect discharge or relief
of the strap E.
One pulley T should, besides, be smaller or lower than T to enable a hori
zontal cover or guard plate U to be interposed between the upper horizontal
tangent plane of the pins of the strap E, on one side of the pulley T³, and the
horizontal plane in which the fibres, gripped between the straps H and H¹, move
along, so that such fibres may not be affected by the pins of E, which, just then
return in the direction opposite to that of their preceding movement, owing to
the crossing of the strap.
When once the fibres have been introduced between the bands HH' everything
takes the course indicated above, with reference to textile fibre that requires
being sent through a gill-box prior to combing.
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. A combing apparatus, characterized by the employment of two feeders con-
sisting of endless bands each, adapted to present to the working rollers alternately
and in a continuous manner each half-length of fibres to be combed; such fibres
being afterwards made into a ribbon or sliver, substantially as described with
reference to the accompanying drawings.
2. In the combing machine referred to in the First Claim, the feeders or con-
veyors formed of endless bands in juxtaposition, between which are compressed or
gripped the textile fibres; such bands consisting of pitch-chains of peculiar
construction comprising rectangular, closely linked "shoes," covered with suitable
material; the bands being formed by the juxtaposition of the coverings of the
successive shoes or links; and the operating surfaces of the said bands being

page_text: moved towards each other by rollers subjected to the action of a screw-press;
as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
3. In the combing machine referred to in the First Claim, the provision of
combing or working" rollers adapted to comb the fibre obliquely, 'or at an
angle to the feeders, so that each individual fibre is first acted upon at its
extremity; the pins gradually ascending from the extremity to the centre of the
said fibres, as described above with reference to the accompanying drawings..
4. In automatic and continuous combing, the employment of obliquely arranged
cylindrical or offset (step-pulley-shaped) operating rollers, provided with curved
teeth or pins such as are commonly used in combing, and enabling the intensity
of operation of the machine to be controlled.
5. Where the textile material to be treated has to be sent through the gill-box
prior to being combed, the combination of the combing machine referred to in
the First Claim with a drawing device arranged at the discharge end of the gill-
box; such device comprising two rollers exercising the drawing action by part
of their circumference; and with mechanism for transferring the fibres, thus
drawn out, on to the apron adapted to convey them into the combing machine,
such mechanism being formed of two endless straps or bands arranged to support
the fibres to the extent of one-half each; the textile material in such combination
being treated automatically and in a continuous manner from the moment it
enters the gill-box up to and including its conversion into ribbons or slivers;
a result which was never before attained.
"
6. Where the material treated does not require being sent through the gill-box,
the combination of the combing machine, referred to in the First Claim, with a
‘preparing” device, comprising a drawing-in apron formed of a series of endless
bands or straps at the extremity of which the textile material is compressed or
gripped between the bands and corresponding rollers and suspended over an
endless band furnished with teeth, with the interposition of roller-fractions which
ensure the proper charging of the band with fibre, to enable such band continu-
ously to supply the first feeder of the combing machine with material; such band
being suitably guided, while going through the charging and discharging stages;
so that the textile material is treated in an automatic and continuous manner
throughout.
7. The combing machine with or without means for drawing out the fibre, or
with or without "preparing" mechanism,-both in its complete form and in its
details of construction,- described with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
-as
1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.