IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PREPARATION OF SILK, FLAX, AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN, PART OF WHICH IS APPLICABLE TO THE PREPARING OF WOOL FOR COMBING
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Gledhill, of Congleton, Cheshire, Machine Joiner,
and Robert Gledhill, of Halifax, in the County of York, Mechanic, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PREPARATION OF SILK, FLAX, AND
OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED
THEREIN, PART OF WHICH IS APPLICABLE TO THE PREPARING OF WOOL FOR
COMBING."
Sealed the 31st August 1855, and dated the 5th March 1855.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Gledhill and Robert
Gledhill at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their Petition,
on the 5th March 1855.
We, JOHN GLEDHILL, of Congleton, Cheshire, Machine Joiner, and ROBERT
GLEDHILL, of Halifax, in the County of York, Mechanic, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PREPARATION OF
SILK, FLAX, AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS
EMPLOYED THEREIN, PART OF WHICH IS APPLICABLE TO THE PREPARING OF WOOL FOR
COMBING," to be as follows:-
Firstly, our improvements consist in preparing silk or other fibrous substances
for the dressing frame without "looping," or with two "tail ends," whereby the
dressing is accomplished with more facility and with less waste.

page_text: Secondly, we construct a cylinder with combs capable of sliding in and out
through holes or openings of suitable form and size in the rim or periphery
thereof, and actuated in such a manner as to protrude on one side, and take
hold of the fibrous substance as it is supplied by a pair of feed rollers, and carry
the same to the other side, when by the withdrawal of the combs such fibrous
substance is liberated.
Thirdly, we employ another cylinder in connection therewith, with cards on
its surface, which we call a "lap drum," for the purpose of taking the fibrous
substance from the comb cylinder on to itself by the aid of a cylindrical brush,
and forming a continuous web or "lap" on its circumference.
Fourthly, we remove the "lap" from the drum, and employ two pairs of
jaws or holders, suitably constructed, for the purpose of separating the "lap"
into suitable lengths or "fills" for the dressing boards.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Gledhill and Robert Gledhill in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 5th September 1855.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JOHN
GLEDHILL, of Congleton, Cheshire, Machine Joiner, and ROBERT GLEDHILL, of
Halifax, in the County of York, Mechanic, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Royal
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of March, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the eighteenth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
us, the said John Gledhill and Robert Gledhill, Her special licence that we,
the said John Gledhill and Robert Gledhill, our executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as we, the said John Gledhill and Robert Gledhill, our
executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within
the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and
Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PREPARATION OF SILK,
FLAX, AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS
EMPLOYED THEREIN, PART OF WHICH IS APPLICABLE TO THE PREPARING OF WOOL
FOR COMBING," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said John
Gledhill and Robert Gledhill, by an instrument in writing under our hands
and seals, or under the hand and seal of one of us, should particularly

page_text: describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after
the date of the said Royal Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Robert Gledhill, for and on behalf of
myself and the said John Gledhill, do hereby declare the nature of our said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement (that is to say):
Firstly, our improvements consist in preparing silk or other fibrous sub-
stances for the dressing frame without "looping," or with two "tail ends,"
whereby the dressing is accomplished with more facility and with less waste.
Secondly, we construct a cylinder with combs, capable of sliding in and out
through holes or openings of suitable form and size in the rim or periphery
thereof, and actuated in such a manner as to protrude on one side, and take
hold of the fibrous substance as it is supplied by a pair of feed rollers, and carry
the same to the other side, when by the withdrawal of the combs such fibrous
substance is liberated.
Thirdly, we employ another cylinder in connection therewith, with cards on
its surface, which we call a "lap drum," for the purpose of taking the fibrous
substance from the comb cylinder on to itself by the aid of a cylindrical brush,
and forming a continuous web or lap on its circumference.
Fourthly, we remove the lap from the drum, and employ two pairs of jaws
or holders suitably constructed, for the purpose of separating the "lap" into
suitable lengths or "fills" for the dressing boards.
The accompanying Sheet of Drawings will more clearly explain the nature
of our said Invention.
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal and vertical section of our machine. A represents
the cylinder with the openings or slits B in the rim for receiving and carrying
the combs C, which openings run parallel with the axial linc, and at an angle
with the radial line, or at a tangent to the centre of the cylinder; d represents
the "lap" drum covered with cards; e, a cylindrical brush set in contact with
the drum d, and just clear of the cylinder a; F, feed rollers; and G a table, on
which the fibrous substance is placed for supplying the feed rollers F. The
said cylinder, drum, brush, and rollers being connected and driven by suitable
gear wheels, as will be seen by reference to Figs. 2 and 3, which receive motion
from a pair of pullies H, it will be readily perceived that when the machine is
put in motion in the direction of the arrows, the centrifugal force acquired by the
revolving of the cylinder and the specific gravity of the combs will cause the combs
to slide out, the teeth protruding through the openings in the rim successively

page_text: as the cylinder approaches the feed rollers, taking hold of the fibrous substance
as it is supplied or caused to protrude through or between the feed rollers,
carrying the same to the other side, when the combs will slide in by their own
gravity, and come in contact with the guide plates I, fixed on the frame, leaving
or liberating the fibrous substances to be taken hold of by the cards on the
"lap" drum, and carried round the same, forming a continuous web or lap
thereon. The brush e is for the purpose of taking back to the lap drum any
fibrous substance that may adhere to the cylinder. When a sufficient quantity
of substance is accumulated on the lap drum, it is severed and removed from
the drum in a web or lap equal in length to the circumference of the drum,
ready to be again severed into suitable lengths or "fills" for the dressing
boards, which in practice we have found to be readily done by hand without
the use of the fourth part of our Invention, as described in our Provisional
Specification. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the machine, partly in section; and
Fig. 3 is a plan of the same, shewing another mode of forming the lap. Instead
of the large drum we use the two small drums or rollers k, carrying an endless
apron or web of cloth; 7 represents two other rollers carrying an endless apron
of leather; m, a nip roller pressed with springs to take the material from the
cylinder to the endless apron. The Drawing shews part of the framework
removed, to shew the cylinder with combs carrying the fibrous substance, which
is taken hold of by the rollers L, M, and delivered forward betwixt the two
aprons, which, adhering to the cloth, is carried along with it, forming a con-
tinuous "lap" thereon, which is removed as before shewn. Fig. 4 is full-size
view of one of the combs.
When our Invention is applied to the preparing of wool for combing, we
have holes in the cylinder of a size and form to the teeth instead of the slits b.
Heretofore, in the preparation of silk for the dressing-frame, it has been lashed
on teeth, hooks, or heckles, doubling the fibre in loops, forming what is termed
"heads" and "tails," or face end and tail end, which when placed in the boards
of the dressing frame, "head end" out, and operated upon by the cards, the
loops have to be broken, whereby the "staple" of the fibre is shortened con-
siderably, greatly deteriorating such substance in value, besides the breaking of
the staple or loop, and of the head ends requiring more time and power than
the tail ends, as well as producing great waste. By our Invention it will be
clearly perceived we have no "head" or "looping," the "lap" being severed
into suitable lengths or "fills" possessing two "tail ends," or both ends being
alike; consequently we produce a much better quality of substance at consider-
ably less cost and with less waste.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature and particulars of our

page_text: Invention, and the manner of carrying the same into practical effect, I would
have it distinctly understood that we do not confine ourselves to the precise
details in the construction of our apparatus, but we claim,―
Firstly, the preparing of silk or other fibrous substances without looping, or
with "two tail ends."
Secondly, the use and application of a cylinder with combs capable of sliding
in and out.
And, thirdly, apparatus to form a continuous web or lap, as such improve-
ments are herein described and illustrated in the accompanying Sheet of
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Gledhill, for and on behalf of
myself and the said John Gledhill, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Fourth day of September, One thousand eight hundred and
fifty-five.
ROBERT GLEDHILL. (L.B.)
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the within-named
Robert Gledhill, in the presence of
Wч TASKER,
Patent Agent, Halifax.