IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES OR APPARATUS FOR COMBING FIBROUS MATERIALS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Imbs, of Paris, in the Republic of France, Engineer,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES OR APPARATUS FOR
COMBING FIBROUS MATERIALS."
Sealed the 22nd November 1878, and dated the 2nd September 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Imbs at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd September 1878.
JOSEPH IMBS, of Paris, in the Republic of France, Engineer.
MACHINES OR APPARATUS FOR COMBING FIBROUS MATERIALS."
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
This Invention relates to improvements in machines or apparatus for combing
fibrous materials, such improvements being particularly applicable to those machines
which are described in the Specification of Letters Patent No. 10%, granted to
Michael Henry as a communication from me, and in the Specification of Letters
Patent No. 2313, granted to Ernest de Pass also as a communication from me.
The first improvement consists in the application to the feeding nipper of move-
ments by which the opening of such nipper can be effected alternately under slight
pressure, and then its closing with an additional compression.
Till now I had applied to this feeding nipper a fixed pressure, effected by springs
acting in a continuous manner. I opened the nipper in raising it by the action of
these springs, and I allowed it to close itself and to nip the fibrous material by
means of these same springs. The result of this was that, in order to have sufficient
pressure during the closing movement, I was obliged to exert during the opening
a too powerful action, which strained the parts of the machine. Now, to remedy
this, I exert but one fixed and moderate pressure on this nipper, or else not any
fixed pressure, in order to be able to open it with but little effort, then to close it,
or to allow it to close itself, and at length to bear upon it with a suitable additional
pressure at the moment when such additional pressure is useful and necessary. The
grooved bar, which works on a block or piece to nip the fibrous material, is fixed
DQ31

page_text: at each of its extremities to other pieces traversed and carried by vertical rods,
provided with coiled springs and guided above and below.
At any intermediate points between the two extremities of the nipper I place
similar rods furnished with a foot, fixed to the grooved bar, and also provided with
coiled springs. Now, instead of giving to these springs a strong tension, as
formerly, I only give them a moderate one, or else I give them none at all, or I
give it only to a part of them. I have then no violent strain to effect to open
the nipper, that is to say, to raise the grooved bar. To raise this grooved bar I
place rollers on axles firmly fixed to cach of the pieces carrying this bar, then I
fix on a shaft two cams or eccentrics, one on each side of the machine, and I place
on each eccentric a lever. These levers have a branch rising up as far as the rollers,
and consequently the rotation of the eccentrics will thus raise the grooved bar at
each of its ends, while leaving it quite free to effect its to-and-fro or horizontal
reciprocating movement described in the Specifications of the herein-before recited
Letters Patent. A counter nipper presses the fleeco during the seizing, and is itself
raised by the rising of the grooved bar, and this grooved bar in rising carries with
it the counter nipper by means of small rods, which are raised by angle pieces
fixed to the grooved bar; now the counter nipper has itself a certain pressure
which is given to it in any manner whatever, as, for instance, by springs resting
upon it and against a cross piece above it. This is therefore a resistance which the
grooved bar has to overcome, and it will be seen that it is all the more important
not to put at the same time a direct powerful pressure on this grooved bar. Thus
I can raise this grooved bar without giving it, if necessary, any other load than that
resulting from the counter nipper direct; I could even raise the counter nipper
direct.
When the grooved bar is no longer raised by the movement described, and
it has re-descended, when it should have a powerful pressure to comb the head
of the sliver of fibrous material I apply to it the required pressure in the
following manner:-Above the coiled springs I place sockets or barrels loose on
the vertical rods herein-before mentioned, and these sockets or barrels carry rollers,
and on these rollers arins act which are fixed to a shaft crossing the whole machine,
and carried on two supports. To one of the ends of this shaft a lever is fixed
which is worked by an eccentric, the rotation of which compresses at the desired
moment the coiled springs and the grooved bar with all the necessary force.
Besides I can employ the shaft carrying the arms for a double purpose, that is to
say, to open and then to close and to press the grooved bar, and that in offecting
these actions on the ends and also on the intermediate points of the said grooved
bar; for this purpose I lengthen the vertical rods, and I fix on their upper ends
rollers above the branches, or else I place forked arms, embracing the rollers above
and below, and capable of raising them and also of raising with them the vertical
rods. Then, instead of only placing a singlo lever at the end of the shaft I place
a second lever, or a single lever with two branches, the second branch being worked
by one of the eccentrics which effects the opening; or else I combine on one of the
levers, and with one of the eccentrics, the two actions of opening and of closing
with compression, employing in this case an eccentric, the curve of which would be
hollow and would work the roller of the lever in both directions.
The second improvement consists in connecting the counter nipper with the other
nipper by such an arrangement that the counter nipper might operate not only
against the grooved bar but at a certain distance, variable at will; for this purpose
I place the rods which raise the counter nipper and the gudgeons which guide it
into slots contrived in the angle pieces, and I fix these gudgeons in the position
needed. I also employ, if necessary, two counter nippers, similar to the one herein-
before mentioned, one at the side of the other and at distances which can be regu-
lated at will. On the nearer nipper I apply slight pressure only to prevent the
fibres of medium lengths becoming disarranged during the seizing, and on the
second of these counter nippers, which acts beyond the larger fibres, I apply strong

page_text: pressure necessary to hold the entire lap. These two counter nippers are moreover
raised and lowered together by the means described, or by other like means..
The third improvement consists in a better manner of causing the springs to act,
which effect the pressure on the seizing nipper.
The upper bar which constitutes the seizing nipper and which has to be raised
and lowered is strengthened by an upper cross piece, and is guided at its ends in
its rising and falling movements by rods fixed to a lower cross piece, and also at
intermedinte points by gudgeons fixed to the upper cross piece, and passing through
a bar fixed to the rods. Upon these rods and gudgeons I have had till now suitably
stretched coiled springs. Thus I open my nipper by any movement whatever; for
example, I have at each extremity a lover raised by an eccentric fixed on the shaft
of the segment of the brush for superimposing or consolidating the fibros described
in one of my former Patents, herein-before referred to. This lover raises itself the
upper cross piece by rollers, the axles of which are fixed in the ends of such cross
piece. The coiled springs stopped by the bar before alluded to become compressed
to re-open afterwards, and to press on the nipper when it is closed. Now, as I can
only give to these springs a limited length, their separation and their feebleness are
not long in showing themselves. To remedy this inconvenience I have contrived
the following arrangement for causing these springs to act to a great length.
The gudgeons carry a ring, and on this ring one or two levers act, which have their
axis of oscillation on the bar before alluded to. These levers have each an upper
branch directed perpendicularly on the lower branch, and to these branches I
attach springs as long as desired, the tension of which only varies a little in
consequence of the opening or closing of the upper bar constituting the seizing
nipper.
The fourth improvement consists in applying to the seizing nipper an opening
and closing movement, so that the moveable nipper may not have any pressure
during its opening, and be on the contrary only compressed during its closing.
From the preceding description it will be seen that I had necessarily, in employ-
ing springs with a continuous action, a much stronger tension from them during
the opening of the upper bar or seizing nipper than during its closing; conse-
quently when I required a powerful pressure I could not avoid straining the
machine by the still greater resistance produced on opening the nipper. To remedy
this inconvenience I now make the bar moveable along the spindles instead of
fixing it thereon, and at each end of this bar I fix the axle of a roller, and I cause
eccentrics to act by means of levers upon these rollers and consequently upon the
bar. These eccentrics embraced above and below by the levers produce then not
only the rising but also the forced falling of the levers, and therefore the forced
rising and falling of the bar along the rods. On the gudgeons, which are fixed to
the upper cross piece, I place a ring or a nut, in such manner that the bar in rising
comes against these rings and raises the gudgeons and the whole upper nipper. In
this case whether I retain the levers with the spring, or whether in doing away
with them again place coiled springs between the bar and the upper cross piece,
even very short and but little stretched, I can effect the downward movement in
such manner that the upper nipper comes to lay on the lower nipper before the
finish of the downward movement of the lever. This bar then continues to descend,
being brought down by the levers, and will at this moment give as powerful a
pressure as could be desired on the upper nipper. At the same time the whole of
the upper and lower nippers remain free to receive their movement of horizontal
displacement to effect the seizing, the rollers running in slots contrived in the
levers.
The fifth improvement consists in two details of construction of the comb holder,
to facilitate perfect cleaning of the combs.
The first detail consists in fixing on the comb holder a metal blade, which is
raised a little above the stem or foot of the teeth of the comb which effects the
combing of the tail of the fibrous sliver; this blade thus prevents the stem of the
teeth of such comb from getting dirty.

page_text: The second detail consists in introducing between the comb holder and the row
of teeth of the next or second comb another metal blade, placed vertically between
the comb holder and the row of teeth of the said comb; this blade is provided with
teeth like those of a carding comb detacher. A vertical piece is fixed to the blade
at ench of its ends, and each of these vertical pieces is placed in a groove contrived
in the comb holder and slide freely therein. When the comb holder reaches the
lower end of its travel the lower part of the vertical pieces comes against a fixed
point, placed in such a manner that the pieces are rised to a certain extent, and
raise the whole blade which at each descent of the comb holder pushes to the
points of the teeth the down and dirt which tend to accumulate on these teeth.
The purpose of this arrangement is to keep the said comb clean, which being
covered with a third comb cannot be so well got at by the cleaning brush.
A sixth improvement consists in a manner of covering or clothing the upper
seizing nipper, a manner preferred in many instances to others that I have hereto-
fore employed. I hollow very deeply the upper nipper near its base, leaving a
greatly projecting rim or flange on the side of the brush for superimposing or
consolidating the fibres, and in this rim or flange I make a series of small holes
which permit me to fix by sewing, or by sewing and gluing combined, the leather
and the caoutchouc blade enveloped by the leather. This covering or clothing once
fixed is cut on the side of the combs close to the upper nipper, which extends a
little beyond the lower nipper. In this manner I nip the fibres quite on the inner
edge of the lower grooved bar or nipper, and without having any material projecting
outwards, and which may impede the bringing together of the scizing parts near to
the first comb, that is to say, the comb which combs the tail of the fibrous sliver.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Joseph Imbs in the Great Scal Patent Office on the 13th December
1878.
JOSEPHI IMBS, of Paris, in the Republic of France, Engineer.
MACHINES OR APPARATUS FOR COMBING FIBROUS MATERIALS."
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
This Invention relates to inprovements in machines or apparatus for combing
fibrous materials, such improvements being particularly applicable to those machines
which are described in the Specification of Letters Patent No. 100, granted to
Michael Henry as a communication from me, and in the Specification of Letters
Patent No. 2313, granted to Ernest de Pass also as a communication from mo.
Figure 1 of the annexed Drawings represents a general side view, and Figures 2,
3, and 4 show details of the feeding nipper; Figure 5 shows a system of pressure
of the seizing nippor, and Figures 7, 7, and 8 are full-size views of the comb and
nippers.
It is by the aid of these Drawings that I am going to describe the improvements
of which I here claim the Invention.
I. The first improvement consists principally in the application to the feeding
nipper of movements which can effect alternately the opening of the nipper under
a feeble pressure, and then its closing with an additional compression.
Up to the present time I had applied to this feeding nipper only a fixed pressure,
operated by springs acting in a continuous manner. I opened the nipper by raising
it at both ends by the action of springs placed at the ends and at intermediate
points, then I left it to close itself and to nip the fibrous material by means of theso
same springs. From this it resulted that to have a sufficient pressure during the
closing I was obliged to exert during the opening a too powerful action, which
strained the nipper and the parts of the machine. A first improvement consists in
raising the nipper not only at its two ends, but also at intermediate points, by means
which I will describe further on. But I do still better. I apply only a fixed
moderate pressure, or none, in order to be able to open the nipper with little effort,
then to close it, or to leave it to close itself, and finally to bear on it with a suitablo
additional pressure at the moment that strong pressure is useful and necessary (see
Figure 1, Sheet 1, and Figures 2 and 3, Sheet 2). G is the grooved bar which works
on the block or piece M to nip the fibrous material. This G is fixed at each of its
extremities to piece N, traversed and carried by vertical rods T, which are guided
above and below. Above the pieces N coiled springs F are wound around the
rods T. Between the two extremities of the nipper and between the rods T, at
intermediato points, I place rods T' (Figure 2), furnished with a foot fixed to the
bar G. These rods are also furnished with coiled springs F¹, or else the rods Tact
on a levert bearing on the bar G, but not attached thereto. Now to the reverse
of what I have done up to the present time, I am going to show how I have no
need for and how I can dispense with giving strong tension to the springs F, F¹.
I could only give them a moderate tension, and even none, or else give tension to a
part only of these springs instead of giving it to all of them. If I do this I shall
then have no violent effort in order to open the nipper, that is to say, to raise the
bar G.
To raise the nipper I can place friction rollers g on axles firmly fixed to each of
the blocks or pieces N which carry the grooved bar G. Then I can fix on the
shaft two cams or eccentrics K, one on each side of the machine. On each
eccentric a lever L acts, which is capable of oscillating around a fixed point l.
These levers have a branch L' rising up to under the friction rollers g, and conse-
quently the rotation of the eccentrics K will thus raise the bar G by each of its
extremities, while leaving it perfectly free to effect with the entire nipper its to-and-
fro or horizontal reciprocating movements described in my former Patents. But it
is not this manner of raising the nipper that I claim here.

page_text: I have already also employed to raise the bar G by its two extremities a shaft A
furnished with two arms d opposite the two rods T which work the two extremi-
tics of the nipper; this shaft A being furnished with one or two levers A, fixed at.
one or at both of its extremities, and worked by one or by both of the eccentrics K.
The two arins & then raise the two rods T by means of friction rollers a¹, which are
carried by these rods at their top. It is not either this second manner of raising
the nipper that I claim here. But a first new improvement consists in placing arms a
at the intermediate points to act on the intermediate rods T¹ at the same time that
the arms of the two ends act on the rods T in order to prevent in every case any
deflection of the bar G, and I reserve to myself to employ this improvement. But
I said that I did still better. Indeed, having raised the bar G, whether (as formerly)
at its two extremities only, whether (this is now) at its two extremities and at
intermediate points, I allow it in both cases to redescend, and at the moment that it
must have a strong pressure to comb the head of the fibrous sliver in moving back-
wards. At this moment I apply this pressure to it in the following manner :-The
springs For F¹; instead of bearing all against a fixed point of resistance as formerly,
are covered over by boxes or cylinders B placed loosely over the rods T or T. These
boxes or cylinders B carry friction rollers a (Figures 1 and 2), above which are the
arms d fixed to the shaft A passing through the whole machine, and mounted on
two supports A¹. At one of the extremities of this shaft A a lever A" is fixed,
which is worked by an eccentric A³ mounted on the shaft O¹. The rotation of this
eccentric then compresses with all the necessary strength the springs F or F' and
the bar G at the desired moment, that is to say, at the moment that the entire
nipper moves backward to comb the fibrous head.
It is seen that for that which concerns the working of the shaft A I do an
entirely new thing by employing this shaft for a double purpose, that is to say, to
open and close the nipper G and then to press on it. I effect this action at the same
time on the extremities and on the intermediate pointe, and I divide it as needed.
I lengthen the rods T or T' sufficiently, or any of them which suit me so to do, and
on those which suit me I place friction rollers a¹ abovo the arms d or else friction
rollers a below these arms;-or further still, 1 place on those rods which suit me only
one roller, and to act on this roller I place a forked arm, einbracing it at once above
and below, in such way that any desired arm whatever acting on a single
friction roller could sucessively raise or else lower it and press upon it. Moreover
these friction rollers are not only as formerly fixed to those rods to be raised, but
can, as I have shewn it, be fixed to boxes or cylinders moveable on the rods in such
manner as to act when desired on the springs without acting on the rods. This
shaft A may also be employed for only effecting the additional pressure, and not for
raising the nipper. In this case it would only be furnished with one lover A". Its
action would be still then a single action, but nevertheless new and different from
that which it formerly effected. On the other hand, when it is employed for a
double action the levers A" and A' can be fixed each apart on the shaft A, or else be
in a single piece with two branches A", A. Finally, for this double action I can
put on one side or on two sides only the levers A, or else the levers A'. But then
only employing the eccentrics K, or else the eccentrics A³, I combine on this single
branch, and on the single eccentrics, the double action of opening and of closing
with compression in making, not the eccentrics or cams with outer curve, but the
eccentrics, the curves of which would be hollow, and would work the friction roller
of the levers in both directions.
I would here remark that the counter nipper G' which must press the fleece
during the seizing (see Figures 2 and 3) is or at least has been up to the present
mised by the bar G. It is seen, Figures 2 and 3, that the bar G carries squares e,
which act on the small rods t fixed to the counter nipper G¹. Now the counter
nipper G is itself in want of a powerful pressure which is given to it in any
nanner whatsoever; for instance, by springs bearing on G¹ and against the cross
piece which forms part of the entire nipper. It is seen that it is so much the
more important not to give to the bar Ġ a direct powerful pressure, at the same

page_text: time that it is necessary to raise at once the two bars G and G', and that
by the means that I have previously described I can raise this bar G in giving it
no other load than that resulting from the counter nipper G. But for other
reasons I have been again led to make a new improvement on the subject of the
raising of this counter nipper G', and this improvement consists in raising it direct
by the arms d of the shaft A, in an analogous manner to that employed for the
bar G. It is therefore seen that the working of the pressures of the feed nipper
has become the object of the now and important improvements, also that the shaft A,
which I had employed, previously to the present Patent, solely in the aim of raising
the bar G at its two extremities, has become the object of a series of new
combinations.
Amongst the new points which the above description contains, I would mention
in particular this mode of working the feed nipper (whatever may be the means
appropriated for realizing it), the said mode of working consisting,-
First. In applying but little fixed pressure on the bar G.
Second. In therefore opening this bar G by any means whatever without violent
effort.
And Third. In applying on this samo bar, by any system of levers whatever,
bearing or friction rollers, or by any other appropriated means, an additional
powerful pressure at the moment that the nipper M, G, moves backward to comb
the head, likewise to effect this additional pressure especially upon the intermediate
points of the length of the bar G, rather than at the extremities of the same.
II. The second improvement consists in adopting an arrangement for connecting
the respective positions of the counter nipper G' and of the nipper G, so that this
nipper G might operate not only against the bar G but at a certain distance apart,
variable at will (see Figures 3 and 4). For this, I place for example the rods t which
raise the bar G, and the pins t' which guido it, in slots contrived in the squares e, e',
and I fix the pins t' in the position that I desire. This arrangement may be replaced
by any other means fulfilling the saine purpose. The improvement morcover cou-
sists in employing, if needed, two counter nippers analogous to G', one at the sido
of the other, and at distances which can be regulated at will. On the nearer bar G
I apply feeble pressure, or no pressure, only the own weight of the nipper; this first
counter nipper acting only to prevent the fibres of medium length becoming dis-
arranged during the seizing. On the second counter nipper, which acts beyond tho
length of the longest fibres, I apply strong pressure necessary to maintain the
entiro fleece. These two counter nippers are moreover raised and lowered together
by one of the means described, or by other analogous.
III. The third improvement consists in a better manner of causing the springs to
act, which effect the pressure on the seizing nipper (see Figures 1 and 5). R is the
upper bar which constitutes the seizing nipper, which must be raised and lowered.
The cross piece S which strengthens the bar R is guided at its extremities, in its
rising and falling movements, by rods U fixed to the lower cross piece S¹, and
likewise at intermediate points (see Figure 5) by the rods U₁ fixed to the piece S,
and crossing a bar D fixed to the two rods U. On these rods U and U₁ I have
had till now suitably stretched coiled springs F"; thus I open my nipper by any
movement whatever. For example, I have at each extremity a lever E, shown in
dotted lines (Figure 1), oscillating around a fixed point x, and raised by a cam or
eccentric H mounted on the shaft 0" of the segment of the brush for superimposing
or consolidating the fibres, described in the Specification of my Second Patent.
These levers raise the cross piece S by friction rollers i, the axles of which are fixed
in the ends of the cross piece S. It is not by this means or movement to raise the
cross piece S, the invention of which I here claim, but that which is going to be
described herein-after. Whatever be the means of raising the cross piece S,
furnished with springs F", these being stopped by the fixed cross piece D become
compressed to distend afterwards, and to press on the nipper R when this latter is
closed. Now, as I can only give to these springs a limited length, their separation
and their feebleness are not long in showing themselves. It is to remedy this evil

page_text: that I have contrived the following new arrangement, which I claim, and the object
of which is to cause the draw springs of great length to act. The rods U₁ carry a
ring u; on this ring I cause one or two levers V, VI, to act, which have their axis
of oscillation at v, vl, on the bar D. These levers have each an upper branch ³, v³,
placed nearly perpendicular in relation to the lower branch; to these branches vº, v³,
I attach horizontal springs which I can make of great length, and the tension of
which consequently varies only a little in consequence of the opening or closing of
the nipper R.
IV. The fourth improvement consists in applying to the seizing nipper an opening
and closing movement, different from those that I have employed till now, and such
that the moveable nipper S, R, should have no pressure during its opening, and be,
on the contrary, only compressed during its closing.
It has been seen from the preceding description that by employing springs with
a continuous action whatever I had necessarily a stronger tension of these springs
during the opening of the nipper R than during its closing; therefore if I need a
very strong pressure on the closed nipper I cannot avoid straining the machine by
a still greater resistance, which is produced on opening this nipper. It is to remedy
this evil that I have contrived to render the bar D moveable along the rods Ū
instead of fixing it to these said rods. At each extremity of this bar D I fix the
axle of a friction roller j, and it is on these friction rollers, and consequently upon
the bar D, that I effect a rising and lowering action by incans of eccentrics H
embraced above and below by the levers Y. These levers Y oscillate around fixed
points m, and will produce, by the rotation of the eccentrics H, the forced rising
and lowering of the bar D along the rods U. I then place on the rods U' fixed to
the cross piece S (see Figure 5) a ring or a nut n in such manner that the bar D in
rising up comes against these rings n and raiso the rods U₁ and the whole of the
upper nipper S, R. Then whether I keep the levers V, VI, with the large springs Z,
or I cumploy, on the contrary, as formerly, coiled springs F", even very short and
little stretched between the cross piece S and the bar D, in any case I effect the
downward movement in such manner that the nipper R comes to lay on the lower
nipper R before the downward movement of the lovers Y is terminated. Then
these levers will continue to descend carrying the bar D, which will stretch the
springs whatsoever, and will give at this moment a powerful pressure on the
nipper R, R'. At this same time this nipper R, R', remains free to receive its
movement of horizontal displacement to effect the seizing, the friction rollers j
rolling in the slots J of the levers Y.
V. The fifth improvement consists in two details of construction of the comb
holder P in view of facilitating perfect cleaning of the combs, and therefore
permitting a deeper working in the combs.
Figure 7 is a section of the comb holder P, and Figure 8 a back view of same.
This comb holder P is furnished with a tail comb No. 1, and the head combs Nos. 2
and 3, and with the moveable comb P1, the employment of which is optional, and
which works either as finishing comb for the head of the sliver, or as the only
comb for this head when the rows Nos. 2 and 3 are dispensed with. Oftener the
mounting is composed of combs Nos. 1, 2, and 3, and the points which are the most
liable to become blocked or choked up by the waste are the inner stem of comb
No. 1, and the inner stem of comb No. 2. To avoid these blockings or chokings up
I employ the two following means:-
On the side of comb No. 1 I fix on the comb holder a blade of sheet iron z,
which may be regulated to a certain height above the position which the stem of
the teeth or wires of comb No. 1 must have; then I fix this comb by making it
bear against a thin leather or cardboard sheet placed between the teeth or wires of
the comb and the blade >. The stem of the teeth or wires is thus protected, and
the fibrous material can, with impunity, rest on the blade z during the seizing
without risk of being entangled in the stem of the said tail comb.
. On the other side I place between the comb holder P and the row of teeth or
wires No. 2 another sheet-iron blade o set vertically and freely in a suitable space

page_text: contrived between the piece P and the said row of combs No. 2. This blade is
furnished with a toothing like that of a carding comb detacher, and it is this
toothing which constitutes the novelty of this means. A vertical flat pieco o¹ is
fixed to the blade o at each of its extremities, and each of the pieces o' is placed in
a groove contrived in the piece P or else projects on this piece, but can in any caso
slide freely in a vertical direction for a certain distanco above the position marked
in the Figure. When the comb holder P arrives towards the bottom of its travel
the lower part of the pieces o comune against a fixed piece placed in any suitable
manner, and which acts either as a fixed obstacle or by friction on the picco o¹
which is raised a certain amount. The blade o is thus raised in sliding along tho
teeth or wires of comb No. 2, and this movement is repeated on each descent of
the comb holder P; the down and refuse which tend to accumulate on the inner
stem of the teeth or wires of comb No. 2 aro continually pushed towards the point
of these teeth and carried away by the cleaning brush.
Having thus assured the cleanliness of the teeth or wires I can then work the
fibrous material deeper in the combs. I can obtain this latter result by setting the
whole of the comb holder higher. But I prefer oftener to give to the comb holder
n supplementary rising movement, during which the feed nipper is entirely closed
before moving backward to comb the head, or else while the seizing of the tail
terminates. For this I place a projecting piece h' on the curve of the eccentric H¹
which works the comb holder P, or else I employ any other suitable means.
VI. A sixth improvement consists in a manner of clothing the upper seizing
nipper R, a manner preferable in many cases to others that I have employed till
now (see Figures 7 and 7×). I cut away deeply the bar R near its base, leaving a
flange or rita 8 sufficiently projecting either on one side or on the other (in the
Drawing this flange or rim is on the side of the brush for superimposing and
consolidating the fibres). In this flange or rim I pierce a series of small holes
which allow of an india-rubber strip and the leather which covers it being fixed by
sewing the inner layers and gluing the outer layer (Figure 7). In case of need if I
wish to employ thick leather (see Figure 7*) I fold it first, I glue one of the sides
under the india-rubber strip, and the other side rising up vertically on the side of
the brush for superimposing and consolidating the fibres is held by a plate q fixed
by screws to the bar R. The clothing once fixed is cut again on the side of the
combs even with the bar R, which passes a little beyond the bar R¹. I thus form a
clothing with a rounded surface on the side of the brush, and with sharp edge on
the side of the combs, and so that without injury to the carrying away of the
combed sliver by the brush I can nip the fibres quite on the inner border of the
lower grooved bar R¹ without however having any material projecting outwards,
and capable of hindering the coming together of the seizing appliance near the
comb No. 1. Figure 6 shows a clothing that I formerly employed, and shows that
I had not, by its employment, the same advantages, because its rounded form
necessarily caused me to lose a certain space.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same may be performed, I declare that I claim,—
First. In an Imbs combing machine, the combination of parts substantially as
herein described, or their equivalents, for effecting the raising of the feeding
nipper G at intermediate points; the direct raising of the counter nipper; and,
finally, the opening of the feed nipper under feeble pressure, then the closing of this
nipper with an additional compression.
Second. In an Imbs combing machine, the employment, by the means substan-
tially as described, or by their equivalents, of a counter nipper G' capable of being
regulated at will in relation to the bar (, and, if needed, the employment of two
counter nippers with independent pressures.
Third. In an Imbs combing machine, the combination of parts substantially as
described, and shown in the annexed Drawings, or their equivalents, allowing
springs of great length to act on the seizing nipper S, R, so as to effect pressure ou
the said nipper.

page_text: Fourth. In an Imbs' combing machine the combination of parts substantially as
described and shown, or their equivalents, allowing the opening of the moveable
seizing nipper S, R, to be effected without any pressure, and the closing of the said
nipper with compression.
Fifth. In an Imbs' combing machine the arrangements, substantially as herein
described and shown, for preventing choking of comb No. 1, for effecting the
cleaning of comb No. 2, and consequently effecting advantageously a second small
supplementary rising movement of the comb holder P.
Sixth. In an Imbs' combing machine the manner of clothing or covering, and of
recutting the clothing covering, the moveable seizing nipper R, thus permitting the
fibres to be nipped quite on the edge of the grooved bar R', and also quite near to
comb No. 1, substantially as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Imbs, havo hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Thirteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-eight.
JOSEPH IMBS. (L.S.)