IM- PROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR COMBING, PREPARING, AND DRAWING WOOL AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Walton Whitehead, of Holbeck, in the Parish of
Leeds, in the County of York, a Partner in the Firm of Taylor, Wordsworth,
& Co., of the same Place, Machine and Tool Makers, for the Invention of "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR COMBING, PREPARING, AND DRAWING WOOL
AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES."
Sealed the 7th July 1876, and dated the 29th January 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Walton Whitehead at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th January 1876.
HENRY WALTON WHITEHEAD, of Holbeck, in the Parish of Leeds, in the County of
York, a Partner in the Firm of Taylor, Wordsworth, & Co., of the same Place,
Machine and Tool Makers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR COMBING,
PREPARING, AND DRAWING WOOL AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES."
The first part of my Invention relates to the machine for which a Patent was
granted to Thomas Whitehead and Nicholas Nussey, on the 18th of April 1865,
No. 1084, and consists in an improvement in conjunction with a screw gill feeding
head, and what is known by the name of the square slide nip. To make this nip
applicable to the straight steel nip which is applied in the case of the above-named
machine, it is necessary to make the cheeks of the straight fallers much longer than
usual, so as to utilize both edges of the nip when grooved both top and bottom, so
that when the groove of one edge is worn it may be turned round, and utilized
when the square slide nip is used.
The second part of my Invention consists in fixing the dabbing brush lever on a
skeleton frame, by which means I am enabled to do away with the very long
distance the brush has to travel. To effect this I fix the above-named skeleton
brush frame on the shaft or stud on which the carrying comb is oscillated. To
effect this improvement I have only to lengthen the shaft or stud carried by a
bracket on which the carrying comb is oscillated so as to admit of the skeleton
brush frame being oscillated on the outside of the shaft or stud of the carrying
comb. The dabbing brush will be oscillated independently of the carrying comb,
and by this arrangement I am enabled to work the machine at a quicker speed
than heretofore.
The third part of my Invention relates to the taking off of the noil from the
combs when noil rollers are dispensed with. It has been usual to have a number
of knives fixed in the combs, one higher than the other, the highest being at the
[Price Gd 1

page_text: back or inside of the combs, by which means the noil has been lifted out of the
combs and deposited into the noil receivers or cans.
My improvement consists in fixing a guide or conductor so shaped as to stride
the combs, and at the same time allow the combs to travel, and also to admit the
knives being fixed in the combs and under the conductor in such a manner as to
prevent the slightest particle of noil from escaping with the travelling of the combs
after being lifted out by the knives. At the outer side of the combs I fix a plate
which I attach to the conductor so as to take the noil clear away to a suitable
receptacle after being lifted out of the combs by the knives, thereby preventing
(especially when the combs are damaged) the noil escaping over the knives and
travelling with the combs and mixing with the "tops" and causing dirty work.
This improvement is also applicable to other kinds of combing machines.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Henry Walton Whitehead in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
29th July 1876.
HENRY WALTON WHITEHEAD, of Holbeck, in the Parish of Leeds, in the County
of York, a Partner in the Firm of Taylor, Wordsworth, and Company, of the same
Place, Machine and Tool Makers. IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR COMBING,
PREPARING, AND DRAWING WOOL AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES."
The first part of my Invention relates to improvements on the machine for which
a Patent was granted to Thomas Whitehead and Nicholas Nussey, on the
Eighteenth April, One thousand -eight hundred and sixty-five, No. 1084, and
consists in an improvement in conjunction with a screw gill feeding head, and what
is known by the name of the square slide nip. To make this nip applicable to the
straight steel nip (which is applied in the case of the above-named machine) it is
necessary to make the cheeks of the straight fallers much longer than usual, so as
to utilize both edges of the nip when grooved both top and bottom, so that when
the groove of one edge is worn it may be turned round and utilized when the
square slide nip is used.
The second part of my Invention consists in fixing the dabbing brush lever on a
skeleton frame, by which means I am enabled to shorten the very long distance the
brush has to travel. To effect this object I fix the above-named skeleton brush
frame on the shaft or stud on which the carrying comb is oscillated. For this
purpose I have simply to lengthen the shaft or stud (carried by a bracket) on which
the carrying comb is oscillated, so as to admit of the skeleton brush frame being
oscillated on the outside of the shaft or stud of the carrying comb. The dabbing
brush will be oscillated independently of the carrying comb, and by this arrange-
ment I an enabled to work the machine at a quicker speed than heretofore.
The third part of my Invention relates to the mechanism for taking off of the
noil from the combs when noil rollers are dispensed with. It has been usual to
have a number of knives fixed in the combs, one higher than the other, the highest
being at the back or inside of the combs, by which means the noil has been lifted
out of the combs and deposited into the noil receivers or cans.
My improvement consists in adapting to this part of the mechanism & guide or
conductor so shaped as to stride across the combs, and at the same time allow the
combs to travel under such guide or conductor, and also to admit of the knives
being fixed between the comb pins and under the guide or conductor in such a
manner as to prevent the slightest particle of noil from escaping with the combs,
and travelling with them after having been lifted out by the knives. At the outer
side of the combs I fix a plate which is attached to the guide or conductor, so as to
divert the noil and take it clear away to a suitable receptacle after having been
lifted out of the combs by the knives, thereby preventing the noil (especially when

page_text: the combs are damaged) from escaping over the knives so as to drop on to and travel
with the combs and mix with the top, thereby causing dirty work. This improve-
ment is also applicable to other kinds of combing machines.
The sliver or fibrous material after being formed into a sheet or sliver is fed into
the machine by means of a screw gill feeding head, which consists of a fixed
conductor plate and retaining rollers, and a series of fallers actuated by screws and
other mechanism as is well known. The conductor plate having guides fixed on
allows the sliver to pass through. It is then taken up by the retaining rollers and
passed to the fallers, such fallers having gill combs fixed on the top of them. These
parts draw the fibres through the rollers, so that they may be carried forward to
the square slide nip. A dabbing brush is also mounted above the fallers and is
actuated by a cam which imparts to it a vibrating motion for the purpose of
dabbing the wool or other fibrous material more firmly into the pins of the fallers
previous to the fibres being drawn out by the square slide nipping plate. The
bottom nipping plate is made to rise and fall by means of cams fixed on a shaft
underneath. The top nipping plate is actuated by levers and springs. The bottom
nipping plate is grooved at its top and bottom edge to receive the edge of the top
nipping plate. When one edge of the bottom nipping plate is worn the plate may
be turned round so as to present a fresh surface for wear.
After the sliver has
been drawn forwards by the fallers and gill combs, the straight slide nipping plates
advance in front of them and take hold of the fibres which are there presented, and⚫
a portion of the sliver is drawn forwards at the time the nip takes place. The square
slide on which the straight nipping plates are carried moves towards the circular
comb in front of the screw gill feeding head, and by these means the sliver is
cleaned at one end of it. The nipper device or other holder continues its forward
movements towards the circular comb, but before it reaches the latter an elastic
carrying comb carried by a pair of jointed arms, and working inside the circular
comb and actuated by a can or other suitable mechanisın takes hold of the sliver
on the face of the nippers, for which purpose it is first straightened out flat at this
point. The jaws of the nipper then open and the clastic spring carrying comb
descends to the circular comb.
The carrying comb while descending with the fibres is caused by the action of the
cam or other suitable mechanism to be bent round to the same curve as the circular
comb, as shewn in the plan view Fig. 2, when it will place the fibrous material upon the
curved circular comb. A vibrating dabbing brush (of corresponding form) carried
by a skeleton frame is actuated by cams, and being oscillated on the same shaft as
the elastic carrying comb it descends down to the pins of the circular comb, at the
time when the carrying comb descends near the pins (to place the material on
the circular comb), and thereby dabs or presses the uncleaned ends of the fibre into
the teeth of the curved circular comb. After the carrying comb has taken off the
material from the face of the nipper and placed it on the circular comb, the nipper
returns to the screw gill feeding head for a fresh supply of material. The material
when placed on the pins is carried round on the circular comb, and is drawn off
therefrom by rollers and carried through a funnel or conductor between compressing
rollers and deposited in a can or other suitable receptable. The noil is then taken
off or out of the comb pins by means of the knives and the guide or conductor, and
is deposited in a can or other receptacle provided to receive it.
In the accompanying Drawings Fig. 1 represents a sectional elevation of a
combing machine constructed according to my present improvements; Fig. 2 is a
plan view of the same.
Fig. 3 is a detached front elevation of the slide nipping device and fallers drawn
upon an enlarged scale.
Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation of the skeleton frame with the dabbing brush and
carrying comb; and Fig. 5 is a plan of the same.
Fig. 6 is a detached elevation of the noil guide or conductor and knives detached
from the machine; and Fig. 7 is a plan of the same.
In Figures 1 and 2, A, A, is the frame of the machine; B, the screw gill feeding

page_text: head; C, C, the conductor plate for conveying the fibres to the retaining or holding
rollers D, D. The sliver is then passed to the fallers when the slide nipping device E
takes hold of the projecting end of the sliver and draws it out of the fallers C, C₁, C¹,
in order that it may be deposited on the circular comb F. By these means the
fibres are cleaned at one end. The square slide nipping device E (with the nipping
plates E, E) continues its motion towards the circular comb F, but before it
reaches it an elastic carrying comb G (with its dabbing brush H) is caused to
descend. The straight jaws of the nippers E¹, E, then open and descend near the
circular comb F at which time the elastic carrying comb G (which has laid hold of
the fibres), and also dabbing brush H descend, and thereby lay and press the
uncleaned end of the sliver into the pins of curved circular comb F. The nipping
plates E¹ and E, which form the holding jaws, receive their opening and shutting
motions from the cams I. The upper and lower edges of the straight lower nipping
plate E are grooved, so that it may be turned round when worn, and thus
present a new nipping edge.
The carrying comb G and dabbing brush H may be actuated by cams fixed on
the shaft 1 or by other suitable mechanism, thereby totally dispensing with the
short shaft K which is shewn on the sectional elevation of the machine Fig. 1.
After the carrying comb has taken off the fibres from the face of the nippers E
and E, and placed them on the circular comb F, the nipping device E returns to
the screw gill feeding head for a fresh supply of fibre. The fibres on the circular
comb F are then carried round by the circular comb, and are drawn off by the
rollers L, L, and passed through the conductor M to the compressing rollers N, N',
from which the sliver is received into a cam or other suitable receptacle. The noil
is then raised out of the pins of the circular comb F by the knives O, O, and is
directed by the guide or conductor P, Fig, 2, and deposited in a can. The brush Q
cleans the teeth of the circular comb F free from all dust and prepares it ready to
receive the fibre at the next operation.
Fig. 3 is a detached front elevation of the square slide nip E, and the nipping
plates E' and E drawn upon an enlarged scale. The cheek of the fallers C, C, C₁,
is to be made louger than usual so as to admit of utilizing both edges of the lower
nipping plate E when grooved top and bottom. By this means the two nipping
plates E, E, may be made perfectly straight so as to ensure of the nippers drawing
the fibres more effectually from the fallers C¹ than heretofore.
Fig. 4 is a detached sectional elevation (on an enlarged scale) of the skeleton
frame H with the dabbing brush H and carrying combs G. The dabbing brush
frame H¹ has usually been carried by a separate shaft beyond the shaft of the
carrying comb G, but by my improvements I fix the skeleton frame H on the same
shaft that carries the elastic carrying comb G, thereby shortening the distance the
brush has to travel. At the same time it admits of working the machine at a quicker
speed than heretofore, and the different motions given to the dabbing brusli cams,
the carrying combs, and other parts may be simplified by fixing the cams, &c., on
the shaft I, Fig. 1, instead of on the shaft K, as is shown in Fig. 1, thereby making
the machine much easier to work, and saving the wear and tear of the machine by
dispensing with the shaft K.
By the arrangement shewn at Figures 4 and 5 I also dispense with the levers R
and other appliances for working the elastic carrying comb G, as shewn in Fig. 1
(see Figures 4 and 5). This is effected by fixing a cam plate S on the shaft T or
other similar mechanism, and fixing runners T1 and T2 to the slide in order to give
the required shapes (vizt.) straight and curved to the carrying comb G during the
operation of the machine.
Fig. is a detached elevation of the noil removing apparatus when noil rollers
are dispensed with; and Fig. 7 is a plan view of the same.
The improvement consists in fixing a guide or conductor V so shaped (as shewn
in Figures 6 and 7) as to stride over the circular comb F, and at the same time
allow the circular comb F to travel under and through it, also to admit of the
nives W, W', being placed in the circular comb F and carried by a slotted plate X

page_text: fixed to the conductor V in such a manner as to prevent the slightest particle of
noil from escaping with the circular comb F after being lifted out of the pins by the
knives W, WI A plate Y is also attached to the guide or conductor V on the
outside of the circular comb F in order to carry the noil clear away from the pins
or teeth of the circular comb F, and deposit it in any suitable receptacle after
having been lifted out by the knives W, W), thereby preventing the noil (especially
when the combs are damaged) from escaping over the knives W, WI, and falling
on to and travelling with the circular comb F, and thereby become again mixed
with "
top," and thus causing imperfect or dirty work. The guide or conductor V
and plate Y is also applicable to other combing machines.
Having now described the nature of my Invention and having explained the
manner in which the same may be carried into operation, what I claim as the
Invention secured to me by Letters Patent as aforesaid is,―
First. Making the cheeks of the fallers or the fallers and cheeks in the feeding
head longer than usual for the same width of gill or comb so as to admit of the
straight slide nipping device with the lower nipping plate made as set forth, being
used in conjunction with the elastic carrying comb and curved circular comb, as
and for the purpose described.
Secondly. I claim mounting the skeleton brush frame for dabbing the wool or
fibre into the circular comb on the same shaft as the elastic carrying comb, as and
for the purpose described.
Thirdly. I claim the use of the guide or conductor and plate in combination with
the lifting knives for taking the noils clear away from the circular combs of any
combing machine, as herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Walton Whitehead, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, the 27th day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
H. W. WHITEHEAD. (L.S.)
Signed, sealed, and delivered by the
said Henry Walton Whitehead,
in the presence of
GEO. BENTLEY,
Draughtsman to the Firm of Taylor, Wordsworth, & Co.
EDWARD WHITELEY,
Clerk to Mr. Thomas Turner,
Solr.
Leeds.