IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR COMBING OR CLEARING SHEEP'S WOOL AND GOAT'S HAIR
Year: 1837

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, SAMUEL.
and WILLIAM SMITH, of Luddendenfoot, near Halifax, in the County of York,
Worsted Spinners, send greeting.
WHEREAS His late most Excellent Majesty King William the Fourth,
by His Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date
at Westminster, the Twenty-third day of May, in the seventh year of His.
reign, did, for Himself, His heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the
said Samuel and William Smith, His especial licence, full power, sole privi-
lege and authority, that we, the said Samuel and William Smith, our exors,
admors, and assigns, or such others as we, the said Samuel and William
Smith, our exors, adñiors, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and
no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term of
years therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, our
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR COMBING OR CLEARING SHEEP'S
WOOL AND GOAT'S HAIR;" in which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso
that we, the said Samuel and William Smith, or one of us, shall cause a
particular description of the nature of our said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be inrolled in His said Majesty's High
Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and immediately after
the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same,
reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a left-hand side view, Figure 2 an end view, Figure 3 a plan,
and Figure 4 a section in elevation, of a machine constructed for combing or
clearing sheep's wool and goat's-air, having our improvements applied thereto.
In each of these Figures the same letters of reference are used to denote
similar parts wherever they occur. a, a, is the main framing of the machine.
b, b, is a wheel, on which is affixed a series of combs c, c, as is clearly shown
in the Drawing. The arms or spokes of the wheel are hollow, and communi-
cate with hollow boxes d, d, to which the heads of the combs are affixed, and
the axis of the wheel is also hollow, by which means steam from a steam
boiler or generator is constantly communicating heat to the combs c, c. The
hollow shaft or axis e turns in suitable bearings on the main framing a of
the machine. The wheel b, b, receives a rotatory motion in the following
manner is a drum or pulley, which receives motion by a strap or by mill-
work from a steam engine, water wheel, or other power. On the axis of the
drum or pulley f is affixed the pinion g, which takes into and drives the cog
wheel affixed on the axis of the wheel b, b. On the axis or shaft of the
wheel b is affixed the pinion i, which takes into and drives the wheel j, on the
axis of which is the pinion k, which takes into and drives the cog wheel l.
On the axis of the wheel is the pinion m, which takes into and drives the
cog wheel n, the wheel n being affixed on the axis of one of the rollers o, o,
the rollers o, o, having fillets of strong wire cards covering their surfaces, the
wire teeth standing off from the surfaces nearly as tangents. Hence, though they
readily draw forwards the wool or goat's hair (as the case may be), the same is
readily released therefrom. From the rollers o, o, the combs c, c, take the
wool or goat's hair as it is fed into the machine, and by this means draw out,
comb, and clear the same, and become filled therewith, as will readily be
understood on an examination of the various Figures of the Drawings. On
the axis of the lower roller o is affixed a cog wheel o', which takes into and
drives the intermediate cog wheel o, which intermediate wheel o' takes into
and drives the toothed wheel o³ affixed on the roller, which gives motion to
the feeding cloth, as is clearly shown in the Drawing, the upper of the feeding

page_text: rollers being pressed down by springs; and there is a third weighted roller o
which presses down the wool or hair on to the endless feeding cloth. A boy
stands at the feeding cloth and places wool thereon, and the same is carried
forwards and fed into the machine, and is cleared, combed, and taken up by
the combs c till they become sufficiently full of wool or hair, when the wheel
of the combs c is stopped and the wool drawn off from the combs successively
into slivers, as will be hereafter fully explained. p is a pipe communicating
with a pair of bellows or other suitable blowing apparatus. This pipe lies
horizontally over the upper of the rollers o, and is perforated on the under side
with small holes. The object of this pipe is to direct streams of air down on
the wool or hair as it is brought through by the rollers o, o, and drive the
same downwards to cause the combs c, c, to take the same with more cer-
tainty; and the streams of air thus forced through prevents the wool being
carried too much up by the combs c, c, and at the same time the streams of air
clear out the wool from the upper roller o, and from amongst the teeth thereof;
or, in place of streams of air; a revolving brush of the length of the rollers o may
be employed to clear the teeth of the upper roller. In such case it will
be desirable to cause the brush to revolve faster than the roller o.
q is a
strap proceeding from the driving shaft, which works the drum or pulley r,
which is affixed on to the shaft or axis s, such strap being in the course of the
working of the machine occasionally moved on to the loose pulley or drum t,
which is also on the axis or shaft s, the pulley or drum t having another drun
or pulley v affixed thereto, from which proceeds the endless strap or band u to
the pulleys or drums wand a, the drum or pulley w being a fixed pulley or
drum, and the drum or pulley x a loose drum or pulley on the axis y.
the axis y is affixed a pinion which takes into and drives the cog wheel z
affixed on the shaft or axis z¹; and on this shaft z¹ are pulleys or drums A, to
each of which a chain or strap B is affixed, as is shown by dotted lines in the
side elevation of the machine in the Drawing. The strap or chain B passing
over a pulley C is affixed to the sliding carriage D, the nature and construc-
tion of which will be hereafter more fully explained, the object of the straps
or chains B being to wind or draw out the carriage D when motion is com-
municated by the endless strap u to the pulley or drum w. On the axis or
shafts is affixed a pinion which takes into and drives the cog wheel E, the
wheel. E taking into drives the cog wheel F, the axes of the wheels E and F
being carried by links G and H, the link G moving on the axis or shafts,
and the link H-moving on the framing of the carriage D. By this means the
wheels E and F are kept working together, and such is the case in respect
to the wheel E and its pinions, notwithstanding the varying position of the
On

page_text: carriage D in respect to the axis or shaft s, caused by the carriage D being
drawn to and from the wheel b in order to draw off the wool or hair from the
combs c, c, as will be hereafter fully explained. To the wheel F is affixed the
pinion I, which takes into and drives the cog wheel J, which is affixed on the
axis of the lower of the drawing grooved rollers K, K, by means of which
arrangement the rollers K are caused to turn at proper periods in order to draw
off the wool or hair from the combs c, c, as they are successively brought to the
rollers K for that purpose, and as will be more fully described hereafter. The
apparatus or carriage for drawing off the wool or goat's hair from the combs c,
consists of the two drawing rollers K, the axes of which turn in suitable bearings
in the frame L, the construction of which will readily be traced in the Drawing,
there being an endless cloth which receives the wool or goat's hair from the
rollers K, and carries the sliver forwards as it is formed and drawn off the
combs c, c.
The carriage D moves on the two guide bars M, which the side
framings L embrace at the parts L', as is clearly shown in the Drawing.
N, N, are weights attached to chains or cords, which, passing over pulleys O,
are affixed to the framings L of the carriage, for drawing off the wool from the
combs c; and it will be seen that these weights have a constant tendency to
draw the carriage D in towards the combs c, but are prevented doing so unless
movement be obtained to the eccentric P, affixed to the axis or shaft P¹, to which
eccentric is affixed the strap Q, which is made fast to the front of the machine;
hence the speed with which the carriage D will be permitted to run in to the
combs c will depend on the rate at which the eccentric gives off the the strap
Q. Hence, from the arrangement, the carriage will, in running in from its
present position, proceed at a slow pace, gradually encreasing till it arrives
about half way of its movement, at which time it will be at its maximum
speed; the speed will then decrease till it arrives at the end of its motion
inwards, all which will readily be traced on an examination of the Drawings.
R is a strap attached to a weight R', such strap being attached to and passed
around the pulley R, affixed on the shaft or axis P¹. The object of these
parts is to cause the strap Q to be wound on to the eccentric P as the
carriage L is run back, which will place the eccentric and its cord or strap
in a proper position when the carriage is again required to run in, which will
be the case when a fresh comb c is brought into position to have the wool
or goat's hair contained therein drawn off by the rollers K. The running in
of the carriage D is accomplished by there being a pinion S affixed on the
axis of the lower roller K, which takes into a cog wheel T, having a suitable axis,
carried by the framing L of the carriage D; and affixed to this wheel T is a
pinion which takes into and drives the cog wheel V, which moves freely in

page_text: one direction on the shaft or axis P', which carries the eccentric P, but the
wheel is prevented turning in the opposite direction by means of a ratchet
wheel and spring catch, as is clearly shown in the side view of the machine.
Hence, as the rollers K revolve by the train of wheels above mentioned,
the axis of the eccentric P revolves in such manner as to unwind the strap Q
from the eccentric, and permit the carriage D to be drawn in by the weights,
as above mentioned; and so soon as the frame L strikes against the projections
U of the catch W (which moves on an axis W¹), that catch is released from
its hold of a catch on the axis or shaft X, by which means the weighted lever
Y, by its being linked to an arm affixed on the axis or shaft X, turns that
axis or shaft partly round, by which means the fork Z moves the strap u on to
the fixed pulley w, and causes it to run out the carriage D; and when the
inclined surface (1) comes in contact with and depresses the arm (2) affixed
on the axis or shaft X, that axis will be turned in an opposite direction, and
throw the band u on to the pulley x, and the carriage D will then be in a
position again to run in towards the combs; and the workman causes the strap
q, which proceeds from the steam engine or other power, to be moved on to
the fixed pulley r, by means of the treadle affixed to the axis (3), to which a
suitable fork is affixed for the purpose of throwing such band on to and off
the fixed pulley, the workman removing his foot from the treadle when he
wishes the band g to be thrown off the fast pulley, the weight (4) performing
that operation. The combs c, c, having become full of wool or goat's hair
(as the case may be), the wheel of combs is stopped by the workman, who
slides in the bolt (5), which retains one of the combs c opposite to and in a
proper position for the rollers K drawing off the wool or hair therefrom. The
person attending the machine with his two hands draws the ends of the wool
into a point, and places the same near to the rollers K; he then places his
foot on the treadle, by which rotatory motion is given to the rollers K, and
movement inwards is communicated to the carriage generally, as above
described, by which means the wool is drawn off from the face of the comb,
and produces a sliver very similar to those produced by hand combing. The
carriage is run out, as above described, and a fresh comb c is brought down
by the workman turning the wheel, and the wool is drawn off from the
face of the comb, and such is the case till all the combs are emptied, when
the wheel of the combs c is again set to work, in order to supply the same
with wool, and in supplying the combs therewith to clear it out and comb it
as the same is drawn from the two rollers covered with wire teeth or cards,
as above mentioned.

page_text: Figure 5 shows an elevation in section, Figure 6 an end view, and
Figure 7 a side view in elevation, of another arrangement of machinery
for clearing and combing wool and goat's hair. This machine differs from
that above described inasmuch as the wheel which carries the combs c is
stationary, whilst the wool or hair is cleared out from the rollers ó, and partly
combed by a second wheel, having a series of single combs (combs with
single rows of teeth), which second wheel of combs takes the wool or hair
and lashes it on to the combs c as they are brought up by the workman,
by which arrangement there will be a comb in the act of filling and
combing, and a comb c having the wool or hair drawn off therefrom into a
sliver, either by having the arrangement of apparatus with the horizontal
rollers K, which take the wool along the whole length of the combs, as
above described, or by having the vertical rollers hereafter explained, which
run along the comb c, and progressively take the wool from end to end of
the comb; and this mode of drawing off progressively from end to end of the
combs c may be employed to the first machine, in place of that shown. The
great advantage of applying this mode of drawing off is, that it is not neces-
sary to take the combs c off the wheel, which is the practice where the wool
is drawn off combs according to other systems. The grooved drawing-off
rollers K are vertical, and travel across the machine from end to end of the
combs, and they receive rotatory motion and traversing motion in the following
manner (1) is a bevelled toothed wheel, affixed on the axis of one of the
rollers K. This wheel is caused to turn by means of the toothed wheel (2),
which is the shaft or axis (3), the wheel (2) being capable of sliding along
the axis (3), but turning therewith. On the axis or shaft (3). is affixed the
cog wheel (4), which is driven by the pinion (5) affixed to the cog wheel (6).
The wheel (6) turning on the axis (7) is driven by the pinion (8) on the
axis or shaft (9), which axis receives motion from the straps (10) and (1-1);
there being two fixed and two loose pulleys on the axis or shaft (9), by which
means either of the straps may be in the act of turning the axis (9) whilst
the other is inoperative, the object of which is to cause the carriage D of the
rollers K to traverse across from side to side of the machine, by working
of one strap, and then the other strap brings back the carriage to its
starting point at the left-hand side of the machine. The two straps are
alternately brought into and thrown out of action by suitable forks, as is well
understood, and as is clearly shown in the Drawing, the forks being placed on
bars (13), (14), which are, connected by levers to spindles or the shafts
(15), (16); the spindles or axes (15), (16), having treadles by which the

page_text: workman slides the bars (13), (14), according as he requires the carriage D to
be run across from left to right or right to left, and there are suitable catches to
retain the parts when the workman has applied his foot to either treadle. To
the nave or boss of the bevelled tooth wheel (2) there is a projection from the
under part of the carriage D, which projection, entering a groove formed in such
nave or boss, carries the wheel (2) along its shaft as the carriage passes from
side to side of the machine; and the carriage is caused to pass from side to
side by means of a spirally grooved barrel (17), which receives rotatory motion
by means of the toothed wheel (18) affixed on the shaft or axis (3), the
wheel (18) taking into and driving the wheel (19), to which is affixed the
pinion (20) which takes into and drives the wheel (21), affixed on the axis of
the barrel (17). The barrel (17) is so grooved that the carriage D is caused
to run in with progressively encreasing speed till it arrives at one half its
movement across the machine, and thence progressively decreasing, all which
will readily be traced by the various Figures of the Drawing. (22) is a pro-
jection from the framing of the carriage D, on which is placed the friction
roller (23), which moves along the groove cut spirally around the barrel (17);
and (24), (24), show the fixed guides on which the carriage D slides. The
carriage D is shown in the act of proceeding from the left-hand to the right-
hand side of the machine; a comb c is in a proper position to have the wool
drawn off (the wheel of combs being stopped and retained by a suitable bolt
or catch); the person attending the machine having passed his hand from the
right-hand to the left-hand end of the combs c, in order to lay the wool or hair
in one direction, inclining from right to left, and placed that portion which is
at the left-hand end of the comb c between the rollers, before the rollers were
started. Note, the parts, it will be seen, are so arranged that the forks will
have a tendency to place the straps on the loose pulleys by the weights on the
lever treadles. The person attending the machine receives the sliver as it is
formed in his hands; and as soon as the part (25) comes against the lever (26),
which is connected by a link (27) to the lever catch (28), it will remove the
catch from under the lever treadle, and the weight thereon falling downwards
will, by the arm (29), move the bar (13), which will cause the strap (11) to
be moved on to its loose pulley. The carriage D is to be run back by the
workman putting his foot on the treadle (30), which has similar parts to the
treadle before described; and when the carriage D comes back to the left-
hand side of the machine, the stop (31), striking against the lever in con-
nexion with the treadle (30), will place the strap (10) on its loose pulley; he
then brings down a fresh comb c, and places his foot on the treadle at the right-

page_text: hand side of the machine, by which the carriage D will again be run across the
machine.
Having thus described the nature of our Invention, we would remark, that
we are aware that many contrivances have been before resorted to, by applying
combs to wheels or revolving axes, in order to comb out and clear wool and
goat's hair, and to fill the combs therewith. We do not therefore claim the
same; nor do we claim any of the parts of the machinery shewn or described
in their separate condition, nor in their combined condition, other than is here-
after particularly pointed out. But what we do claim is,-
First, the mode herein described of drawing off the wool or goat's hair con-
tained in combs by means of rollers K, the essential feature of such mode
being the drawing off of the wool from the face of the combs. We do not
therefore confine ourselves to the precise arrangement of mechanical parts for
giving motion to such rollers, provided the general principle of their action
be retained; nor do we confine ourselves to the mode described for filling
the combs c, as it will be evident that the apparatus and mode for drawing
off the wool or bair may be employed in whatever manner the combs may
be filled.
...
-Secondly, we claim the mode of feeding in the wool or hair from a feeding
cloth by means of the rollers o, o, aided by and in combination with currents of
air or revolving brushes, to combs placed on a revolving axis, by which means
we are enabled to clear out and comb the wool or hair more effectually than
when a feeding cloth and feeding rollers are alone employed.
Thirdly, we claim the application of streams of air to lay the wool suitably
for the combs, as above described. And,
Fourthly, we claim the mode of drawing off wool or goat's hair from
combs (placed on a wheel) by means of drawing rollers passing from end to
end of the combs, without the necessity of removing the combs from the
machine, as above described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Samuel Smith, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-second day of November, in the first year
of the reign of our Sovereign Lady Victoria, by the grace of God of
the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Queen, Defender
of the Faith, and in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and thirty-seven.

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Twenty-second day of November,
in the year of our Lord 1837, the aforesaid Samuel Smith came before our
said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification
aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and specified, in form
5 above written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according
to the tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
Inrolled the Twenty-third day of November, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and thirty-seven.