IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR COMBING WOOL AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Patrick Kelly, of Sutton Mill, near Kildwick, in the
County of York, Combing Overlooker, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR COMBING WOOL AND OTHER FIBROUS
SUBSTANCES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Patrick Kelly at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd September 1876.
PATRICK KELLY, of Sutton Mill, near Kildwick, in the County of York, Combing
Overlooker. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR COMBING WOOL
AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES."
This Invention relates principally to what are known as Lister's combs, but is
also applicable to other combing machines, and the object is to effect a more
perfect combing of the wool or fibres between the "gill combs" and the " nipping
jaws." This I effect by means of an intersecting comb, which is caused to penetrate
the wool in a downward direction at about the same time as the "nipping jaws"
close together. The comb teeth enter the wool close to the "jaws," and to prevent
the points of the teeth from being damaged by coming in contact with the side of
the groove in the lower jaw I attach a plate to the upper jaw in such manner that
when the jaws are closed there shall be a smooth even surface presented to the
comb teeth. The intersecting comb is arranged so as to fall into the gill screws and
travel to the end thereof, when it is lifted out of the wool and carried back by
springs ready for the return of the jaws for the next tuft
Attached to the intersecting combs is a brush, the bristles of which enter betwixt
the teeth of the comb as the latter is lifted, and so clears the same, this motion
being effected by an arrangement of springs or other suitable means.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Patrick Kelly in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 2nd March
1877.
PATRICK KELLY, of Sutton Mill, near Kildwick, in the County of York, Combing
Overlooker. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR COMBING WOOL
OR OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES."
".
This Invention relates principally to what are technically known as
"Lister's
combs," but is also applicable to other combs, and the object is to effect a more
perfect combing of the wool or fibres between the "gill combs" and the "nipping
jaws." This I effect by means of an intersecting comb, which is caused to penetrate
the wool in a downward direction at about the same time as the "nipping jaws'
close together. The comb teeth enter the wool close to the jaws, and to prevent the
points of the teeth from being damaged by coming in contact with the edge of the
groove in the lower jaw I attach a plate to the upper jaw in such manner that
when the jaws are closed there shall be a smooth even surface presented to the comb
teeth. The intervening comb is arranged so as to fall into the gill screws, and
travel to the end thereof, when it is lifted out of the wool and carried back by
springs ready for the return of the jaws for the next tuft.
Attached to the intersecting comb is a brush, the bristles of which enter betwixt
the teeth of the comb as the latter is lifted, and so clears the same, this motion
being effected by an arrangement of springs or other suitable means.
The accompanying Sheet of Drawings will serve to illustrate more particularly
the nature of my Invention.
Fig. 1 is front elevation of "gill comb"; and Fig. 2 is sectional side elevation of
same, with "nipping jaws " attached.
A are the ordinary "gill fallers," and B is my intersecting comb attached to
rods C, and operated by the bell-crank levers D and cam E in such manner as to
intersect the wool between the "nipping jaws" and cach "gill fuller" in succession.
The vertical motion of the comb is governed by the cam E, and the lateral one by
the gill screws in one direction, and by the spiral spring F in the other. The
Drawing shews the comb just after being lifted by the cam ready for being drawn
back by the spring until it reaches the "faller" next behind it; the weight of the
comb and the levers will then cause it to descend and intersect the wool, as seen in
detail in Fig. 3, and at the same time the corners or projections a (see Fig. 1) gear or
fall into the gill screws, and thus the comb is carried forward with the fallers until
the next tuft is drawn off, and the cam E having completed its revolution the inter-
secting comb is again raised to the position shewn in Fig. 2. G is a brush, to which
are attached studs H passing through barrels J on the comb plate K. Between the
comb plate and the blush are spiral springs, which when the comb is at its lowest
position (as seen in Fig 3) are compressed, allowing the brush to rest on the top of
the gill combs and the fibrous substance therein, but when the intersecting comb is
lifted the expansion of the springs causes it to assume the relative position to the
comb, as seen in Fig. 2, that is, with the points of the comb and bristles about level.
By this movement, the bristles of the brush penetrating between the comb teeth,
effectually remove or loosen any fibres which would otherwise adhere thereto and
increase at each operation of the said comb, so that in time considerable waste would
be made, which would interfere with its working.
In ordinary "nips" the edge of the lower jaw projects beyond the upper, and
this coming in contact with the intersecting comb would injure the points thereof.
I therefore construct the jaws, as shewn in the Drawing, with the faces nearest the
combs "flush" or even. Existing "nips" may be readily adapted by attaching a
plate to the upper jaw.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and shewn by Drawings how
the same is to be performed or carried into practice, I would have it understood that
I do not confine myself to the precise details of construction or arrangement of

page_text: mechanism herein shewn, as the same may be varied, but what I claim as my
Invention and consider to be new is,-
Firstly. The employment of an intersecting comb having the combined vertical
and lateral motions herein shewn and described.
Secondly. The combination of the intersecting comb and brush, as and for the
purpose herein shewn and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Patrick Kelly, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of February, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.