IMPROVEMENTS IN PREPARING AND COMBING WOOL AND OTHER FIBRES
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Isaac Holden, of St. Denis, near Paris, in the Empire
of France, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PREPARING AND COMBING
WOOL AND OTHER FIBRES."
Sealed the 12th March 1858, and dated the 28th December 1857.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Isaac Holden at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
28th December 1857.
I, ISAAC HOLDEN, of St. Denis, near Paris, in the Empire of France,.
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PRE-
PARING AND COMBING WOOL AND OTHER FIBRES," to be as follows:-
The improvements relate, first, to means or apparatus by which to facilitate
the removal of the noil and refuse as taken from the carrying or other
working combs. As the doffer. comb or plate removes such noil from the
comb teeth, it is passed in between another double doffing means, by which
such noil and other matters are cleared from the first doffer, and thence
conducted away by a trough or other conductor to a can or receiver.
Drawing-off rollers for drawing off wool or other fibres from comb teeth
have been arranged with their axes in the same plane as the head of the comb
from which the fibre is being drawn, but at an angle thereto, and the object
of so arranging them has been so that the long fibres may be taken hold of by
them first, and then progressively the shorter till the shortest at the point
where the drawing-off rollers approach the nearest to the carrying combs ;

page_text: but I have found that one great defect of this adaptation rests upon the same
draft being thereby given to the shorter as to the longer fibre, by which
increased waste results. And this part of. my present improvements consists
in employing two or more pairs of such drawing-off rollers, one pair being
arranged to draw off the longer fibres at a suitable draft and the next the shorter
at a less draft. The separate slivers thus obtained may be spun separately,
one for warp the other for weft, or may be united in the operation of drawing.
My improvements relate to preparing wool and other fibres for combing, or
in order to straighten the same by passing them through two or more sets of
gill comb apparatus in succession in such manner as to obtain a considerable
draft, by employing in the second gill apparatus gill bars of a considerably
increased breadth, such as herein-after referred to, upon the fibres between
the two sets of gill apparatus. The gill apparatus first operating may be of the
screw gill character, and the second operated by a square motion without
screws, means for doing which have been recently patented by me, or both
may be operated by such square motion or screw gills. The combs of the
second gill apparatus I form broader than the others and than what are
usually adopted. The second gill combs deliver to drawing rollers with draft
and thence to a pair of delivery aprons or other sheet apparatus. Hitherto gill
comb bars have been made broad only that they may thereby be stronger and
stand more firmly in the gill boxes or frames.
Another part of my improvements consists in increasing the breadth of the
gill bars to about the length of the staple under operation, or when the fibres
are very long proportionate to that length. And with such gill apparatus I
make the teeth much thicker and longer than usual in such machines, in
order thereby to split and open the raw wool or other fibre in staple. Hitherto
the teeth of combs for this purpose have been made thick for the purpose of
strength, I make them thick for the purpose of splitting the staples more
easily, and I have found that the larger the diameter of the teeth the more
easily do they open the fibres of the staples; a very thick tooth when it is
made to enter a raw 'staple splits 'or severs the fibres and passes through
the staple with less locking and less injury to the fibre than would a small
tooth.
In order, however, to enter into 'the raw staples there must be a suitable
taper, and in order to obtain this taper with as thick a tooth as possible I
make the tooth also much longer than usual in such machines, say, above two
inches, and longer than is necessary, merely to pass through the beard of fibre,
which has hitherto been the object 'of length of teeth.
Another improvement consists in applying.. to such broad coinbs perforated

page_text: plates, bars, or other grating capable of rising up the teeth of the comb, and
then of raising the fibre up the teeth at the time the combs descend, to facili-
tate the drawing off therefrom, and through the teeth by the drawing-off
rollers.
Also the improvements relate to forming broad combs when used for pre-
paring raw fibre, with the successive rows of teeth of increasing fineness.
Also in forming such broad combs when used as working combs, with the
teeth thereof progressively increasing from a coarse to a finer pitch in an
angular direction.
Another improvement consists in making working gill combs longer than
hitherto. They have never, to the best of my belief, much exceeded in length
one-third of the diameter of the circular comb, I make them longer, say
(for working long fibre), of the same length at least as the diameter of circle
employed.
Another improvement consists in giving an inclination to the points of the
staple in the direction of the working combs, so as to facilitate their being
more uniformly taken by them. For this purposes I employ endless belts or
other surfaces.
Another improvement relates to the application of two square motion or
other gill machines as working combs to one circle, more gradually and
effectually to open and cleanse the fibre.
Also, the improvements relate to a combination of parts forming a filling
head especially adapted to fill on unprepared, imperfectly prepared, or very
loose fibre.
The fibre to be combed is fed by endless aprons or by other means to
between a pair of stationary feed rollers, over each of which also passes an
apron forming a pair of endless aprons, between which the fibre is conducted,
these aprons also being supported by pass or other feed rollers, which are sup-
ported so as to be capable of a lashing or feeding operation, during which
action the, aprons alternately become slack and tightened; and in order to
prevent the fibre coming out from the sides or edges of the aprons during the
lashing motion, they pass through a flexible tube held at the end next the
stationary feed rollers.
Also, the improvements relate to gill machines actuated by square motion
in place of screws, to the application of spiral or other springs in place of
counterweights, to check momentum.
Another improvement relates to means for clearing the brush used to direct
the points or beard of the fibre projecting from the carrying comb. This is
effected by a comb or doffer, to which motion is given to clear the matters

page_text: from the teeth of the brush, and which comb or doffer, upon taking its clear-
ings, delivers them to a box or receptacle provided with a clearer, to act upon
and clear such doffing means.
Also, the improvements relate to the application of a supporting plate to.
support the ends of the fibre in their passage to the brush, such plate having
an up-and-down motion given to it corresponding with the motion of the gills.
A stationary plate acting with the rising and falling one prevents the beard
from falling over upon the points of the combs.
Also, the improvements relate to the application of a plate or plates to which
a quick motion is given, with a tendency to force the fibre into the teeth of
the carrying or travelling comb between the point of feed thereto and that of
operation by the gill or other working combs.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Isaac Holden in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
28th June 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ISAAC
HOLDEN, of St. Denis, near Paris, in the Empire of France, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-eighth day of December, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twenty-first
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said Isaac Holden, Her special licence, that I, the
said Isaac Holden, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Isaac Holden, my 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 "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN PREPARING AND COMBING WOOL AND OTHER FIBRES," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Isaac Holden, my executors or administrators,
by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and
seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Inven-
tion, 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 Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Isaac Holden, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be

page_text: performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say:-
The improvements have for their object various arrangements and adapta-
tion of means to facilitate the operations of preparing and combing wool and
other fibres.
But that the Invention may be more clearly understood, I will proceed to
describe the parts more in detail, aided where necessary by the accompanying
Drawings.
The first part of my improvements relates to preparing wool and other
fibres for combing, or in order to straighten the same by passing them
through two or more sets of gill comb apparatus in succession in such manner
as to obtain a considerable draft by employing in the second gill apparatus
gill bars of a considerably increased breadth, such as herein-after referred to
upon the fibres between the two sets of gill apparatus. The gill apparatus
first operating may be of the screw gill character, and the second operated by
a square motion without screws, means for doing which have been recently
Patented by me, or both may be operated by such square motion or screw
gills. By thus forming the combs of the second gill apparatus broader than
the others, and than what are usually adopted, not only is facility given for
obtaining increased draft upon the fibre operated thereby, but by a greater
number of teeth being caused to penetrate the beard of fibre at each stroke
a greater opening effect is obtained. The second gill combs deliver to drawing
rollers with draft and thence to a pair of delivery aprons or other sheet
apparatus.
Figure 1 represents a sectional view, and Figure 2 a plan, of apparatus
arranged according to this part of the Invention. ȧ is the endless apron or
feed cloth upon which the fibre to be treated is placed, and it is thereby
conducted between the feed rollers a', a², the endless apron a being supported
by passing ever the rollers a¹, a³, and passing over the rollers a² and a'.
There is another apron a which serves better to regulate the feed to the gill
combs b, the series of which constitute the first set of gill combs by which the
fibre is operated, and having been operated by these gill combs the fibre
thence passes to the gill combs c, and, according to the arrangement shown,
both sets of gill bars are operated by what I call square motions, such as are
fully described in the Specification of a recent Patent granted to me, but this
may be varied. d, d, are. the drawing-off rollers by which the fibre is con-
ducted to between the endless aprons e, e, to be wound into a sheet or
otherwise.
I have not thought it necessary to show the various gear by which the:

page_text: parts are put in motion, but I prefer that there be a slight draft between the
first feed rollers a, a², and the gill combs b, and between the combs b and c
a considerable draft. f is a fixed doffer plate with teeth, and it is attached to
elastic arms g in order that it may bear against the bars of the gill teeth as
they approach it, and as those bars descend prevent the fibre following and
lapping round them. Hitherto gill comb bars have been made broad only
that they may thereby be stronger, and stand more firmly in the gill boxes or
frames.
And the 'second part of my improvements consists in increasing the breadth
of the gill bars to about the length of the staple under operation, or when the
fibres are very long proportionate to that length; and with such gill apparatus
I make the teeth much thicker and longer than usual in such machines in
order thereby to split and open the raw wool or other fibre in staple.
Hitherto the teeth of combs for this purpose have been made thick for the
purpose of strength. I make them thick for the purpose of splitting the
staples more easily, and I have found that the larger the diameter of the teeth
the more easily do they open the fibres of the staples. A very thick tooth
when it is made to enter a raw staple splits or severs the fibres and passes
through the staple with less locking and with less injury to the fibre than
would a small tooth. In order, however, o enter into the raw staples there
must be a suitable taper with as thick a tooth as possible. I make the tooth
also much longer than usual in such machines, say, above two inches, and
longer than is necessary, merely to pass through the beard of fibre, which has
hitherto been the object of length of teeth.
The third part of the improvements consists in applying. to such broad
combs, perforated plates, bars, or other grating capable of rising up the teeth
of the comb, and thereby raising the fibre up the teeth at the time the combs
descend to facilitate the drawing-off therefrom, and through the teeth by the
drawing-off rollers.
Figure 3 represents a section of combs and parts acting therewith according
to this part of the Invention, and Figure. 4 a plan of the same. a, a, are
the gill bars, and b the lifting bars for lifting the fibre from the heads
towards the points of the teeth. These lifting bars are formed into a frame;
of which there is one to each gill bar. At the ends of each frame there
are projections or lugs 6' which rest upon the upper angular parts d¹ of the
springs d, d, of which there is one at each end of the stationary framing.
When a comb comes up to these springs the lugs or projections 6¹ of the
frame 6 carried thereby come upon the angular portions d¹ of the springs d,
then when such comb descends the teeth thereof pass partly through that
.

page_text: frame whilst it is being suspended by the part d¹ till the comb a comes
against the projections d² on the springs d to force them outwards, by which
the inner ends of the angular parts d' thereof will be released from the pro-
jections 6', and admit of that grating descending to its comb head, and so on
with each of them in succession.
The fourth part of my improvements relates to forming broad combs when
used for preparing raw fibre with the successive rows of teeth of increasing
fineness. In Figure 2 every two successive rows of teeth x, y, z, in the
combs c are shown applied according to this part of the improvements";
but
every succeeding row of teeth may be made finer and closer. And when
the teeth are thus graduated the staples are successively opened at their
points up to their heads by being operated first by the coarser and then the
finer to the finest of the teeth.
The fifth part of the improvements consists in forming such broad combs
when used as working combs with the teeth thereof progressively increasing
from coarse to a finer pitch in an angular direction. This part of the
improvements is shewn applied in the plan view, Figure 5, and it will be seen
that the teeth are the coarsest between the lines 1, 2, 3, 4, of one of the sets
of comb bars A, finer within the lines 2, 3, 4, 5, and the finest within the
lines 5, 6, 7, 8.
The sixth part of the improvements consists in making working gill combs
longer than hitherto. They bave never to the best of my belief much
exceeded in length one-third of the diameter of the circular comb. I make
these bars longer, say (for working long fibre) of the same length or nearly so
as the diameter of the circle employed, depending upon the length of fibre
under operation.
Seventhly the improvements relate to the application of two square motion
or other gill machines as working combs to one circle, more gradually and
effectually to open and cleanse the fibre. This part of the improvements
is shewn applied at. Figure 5, where A, A, are the working combs, and
I prefer that in most cases the comb teeth in the two sets of combs A, A,
progressively-incrase in fineness from the ends A' to the ends A, that is, that
the teeth of the first set of combs A, diminish as stated from A to A², and that
the teeth of the second set of combs A at A³ be somewhat finer than those of
the first set at A2, and then that the teeth; of these combs go on increasing in
fineness to A*; by these means I am enabled the better to carry out the
fifth part of the Invention, and the fibre will be more. gradually and
effectually opened and cleaned.
The eighth part of the improvements relates to gill machines actuated by

page_text: square motion in place of screws, to the application of spiral or other springs
in place of counterweights to check momentum.
This part of the improvements is shewn applied at Figures 1 and 2, where
h, h, are springs, the upper ends of which are supported by the standards A¹
from the main framing A, whilst their lower ends are connected to projections
from the moveable slide frames B, B, by which they act in part to support the
weight of those frames and prevent concussion.
f
The ninth part of the Invention relates to means or apparatus by which to
facilitate the removal of the noil and refuse as taken from the carrying
or other working combs. As the doffer comb or plate removes such noil from
the comb teeth it is passed in between another double doffing means, by
which, such noil and other matters are cleared from the first doffer and thence
conducted away by a trough or other conductor to a can or receiver.
Figure 5 already referred to shews a plan view of parts of a machine
adapted to perform some of the operations of preparing and combing wool, and
which may also be employed when treating other fibres. In this Figure the
ninth part of the improvements is shewn applied, as also separately at
Figures 6 and 7. B is the comb from which the fibre is to be doffed by the
comb c, which for this purpose is carried by rods h, h, whose lower ends are
connected together, to be operated simultaneously by the crank d, in the
rotation of the crank axis d', whilst their upper ends are guided by being
passed through the guides h¹, carried by the fixed standards h². In the
movement thus given to the doffer plate c, it will alternately take fibre from
the combs B, and deliver it to between the pair of plates e, acting as double
doffing means to clear the doffer c. The noil and other matters thus taken by
the double doffers e will be carried away to a suitable receptacle by means of
the trough f.
The improvements relate, tenthly, to the drawing-off rollers for drawing off
wool or other fibres from comb teeth. Drawing-off rollers for drawing off wool
or other fibres from comb teeth have been arranged with their axes in the
same plane as the head of the comb from which the fibre is being drawn, but
at an angle thereto, and the object of so arranging them has been, so that the
long fibres may be taken hold of by them first, and then progressively the
shorter, till the shortest at the point where the drawing-off rollers approach
the nearest to the carrying combs; but I have found that one great defect of
this adaptation rests upon the same draft being thereby given to the shorter
as to the longer fibre, by which increased waste results. And this part of my
present improvements consists in employing two or more pairs of such draw-
ing-off rollers; one pair being arranged to draw off the longer fibres at a

page_text: suitable draft, and the next the shorter at a less draft. The separate slivers
thus obtained may be spun separately, one for warp the other for weft, or may
be united in the operation of drawing. In Figure 15 I have shewn two pairs
of such drawing-off rollers. A is the pair of drawing-off rollers which operate'
first, and B those which operate next. The first pair of drawing-off rollers A
is driven in the ordinary manner from the upright shaft a, placed at some:
distance from the comb c. The second pair of rollers B is placed closer to
the comb c, and is driven by the belt 6 from a pulley a¹ on the shaft a, and by
reason of the pulley a¹ being smaller than that on the shaft d driving the
rollers B, a slower motion will be given to those rollers B than to the rollers A.
The means by which these variations of speed are obtained may, however, be
varied.
:
Eleventhly, the improvements consist in giving an inclination to the points".
of the staple in the direction of the working combs, so as to facilitate their
being more uniformly taken by them; for this purpose I employ endless belts
or other surfaces. This part of the Invention is shewn applied at Figures 8.
and 9, in which Figures a represents a circle of carrying or holding combs,
b a working comb constructed according to another part of these improve-'
inents, and c an endless belt, supported and having motion given to it by the
rollers c', c. This endless cloth inclines upwards, and traverses in a direction'
so that its upper surface may conduct the ends of the fibres towards the
working combs.
Twelfthly, the improvements relate to a combination of parts forming a
filling head, especially adapted to fill on unprepared, imperfectly prepared, or
very loose fibre. The fibre to be combed is fed by endless aprons or by other
means, to between a pair of stationary feed rollers, over each of which also
passes an apron forming a pair of endless aprons, between which the fibre is
conducted; these aprons also being supported by passing or other feed rollers,
which are supported so as to be capable of a lashing or feeding operation,
during which action the aprons alternately become slack and tightened, and in.
order to prevent the fibre coming out from the sides or edges of the aprons
during the lashing motion, they pass through a flexible tube held at the end
next the stationary feed rollers.
This part of the Invention is shewn applied at Figures 5, 10, and 11. i is
the endless feed apron, which passes over rollers 1, 2, and the table i², where,
as is well understood, the feed takes place; and the fibre fed thereon is thence
conducted between rollers j, j, over each of which, as well as the rollers j¹, j',.
pass endless belts or aprons j, j³, by which the fibre is conducted forwards to
the mouthpiece j³ of the filling head. The Drawing, Figure 10 shows the

page_text: parts in the position just when fibre is being laid on to the circle of passing
combs A, and also (by dotted lines) when those parts are drawn back pre-
paratory to a fresh lashing. And in order that in these movements the parts
of the belts j, j, for the time in contact between the rollers j, j, may correctly
hold the fibre between them to carry it forward; the belts j at such part
pass through a tube of leather or other suitable flexible material k, with bands
or straps passing around it to keep it in position, as shewn in section at
Figure 11.
Thirteenthly, the improvements relate to means for clearing the brush used
to direct the points or beard of the fibre projecting from the carrying comb.
This is effected by a comb or doffer, to which motion is given to clear the
matters from the teeth of the brush, and which comb or doffer upon taking its
clearings, delivers them to a box or receptacle, provided with a clearer to act
upon and clear such doffing means.
This part of the improvements is shown applied at Figures 12 and 13. A,
in Figure 12, represents a portion of a carrying comb, and c a circular re-
volving brush, adapted to direct the points of the fibres towards the drawing-
off rollers; d is a lever, turning upon an axis of motion d', and carrying at its
upper end a small comb or doffer d² in position to act upon and in the motion
of the lever d, to clear the ends of the rotating brush c, as that brush revolves.
This motion of the lever d is effected by the lower end thereof, being acted
upon by the studj projecting from the wheel k, in the rotation of that wheel
with the axis i, to which rotary motion is given in any suitable manner. The
lever d is borne with a tendency from the brush c by spring or other suitable
pressure; e is the box or receptacle for the doffings from the comb d², and it
is formed at its upper end with an opening provided with clearing plates f
serrated or otherwise, having teeth at their inner edges, by which, whilst the
comb d² is permitted to enter freely between them in its withdrawal therefrom
the noil and other matters are taken off therefrom by the edges of the plates
f, to be collected in the box or receiver e.
Fourteenthly, the improvements relate to the application of a supporting
plate, to support the ends of the fibre in their passage to the brush, such plate
having an up-and-down motion given to it, corresponding with the motion
of the gills. A stationary plate, acting with the rising and falling one,
prevents the beard from falling over upon the points of the combs. This
part of the improvements is shewn also by Figure 12 and by Figure 14;
g is the inclined plate, which is attached to a frame b, so as to be capable
of a short up-and-down sliding motion, by which, at each rising motion
thereof, the ends of the fibre are better laid towards the brush. The

page_text: stationary plate h prevents the ends of the fibres, during this operation .or.
whilst acted upon by the circular brush, from being thrown over upon the
points of the combs A.
Fifteenthly, the improvements relate to the application of a plate or plates,
to which a quick motion is given with a tendency to force the fibre into the
teeth of the carrying or travelling comb between the point of feed thereto and
that of operation by the gill or other working combs. This part of the
improvements is shown applied at Figure 8. a is the circle of travelling.
comb; d, a keeping plate, to prevent the wool from being raised out of the
teeth of the travelling comb by the working comb b, when the teeth of the
working combs b point in the same direction as those of the travelling comb,
and e is a plate, according to this part of the Invention, to which a quick
motion is given, with a tendency to force the fibre well into the teeth of the
carrying comb by the plate e being affixed to a lever f which turns upon a
centre of motion f', and is operated at the other end g by a link from a crank
or by other suitable means. In place of only one plate, there may be several
for the several rows of teeth.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
I carry the same into effect, I would have it understood that I do not confine
myself to the precise details shown and described, as these may be varied; but
what I do claim is first, the preparing of wool and other fibres for combing, by
operating upon them by two or more sets of gill combs in succession, in manner
substantially as explained.
Secondly, I claim giving the increased breadth referred to to gill bars, in
combination with the use therein of teeth of increased length and strength, in
manner and for the purpose substantially as explained.
Thirdly, I claim the application to broad gill bars of perforated plates or
gratings, in manner and for the purpose substantially as explained.
Fourthly, I claim employing broad gill combs when for preparing raw
fibres, with the rows of teeth of increasing fineness,, substantially as explained.
Fifthly, I claim employing broad gill combs when used as working
combs in combing machinery, with the teeth thereof progressively increasing
from a coarse to a fine pitch in an angular direction, substantially as
explained.
Sixthly, I claim the use and application of gill combs of increased length,
when used as working combs in combing machines, substantially as explained
under the sixth head of the Invention.
Seventhly, I claim the application of two square motion or other gill
apparatus as working combs to one circle of holding combs, in order

page_text: thereby more gradually and effectually to open and cleanse the fibre under
operation.
Eighthly, I claim in connection with gill machinery actuated by what I call
square motions in place of screws, the application of spiral or other springs,
in place of counterweights, to check the momentum thereof.
Ninthly, I claim the adaptation or combination of parts to facilitate the
removal of the noil, substantially as explained in respect of Figures 5, 6,
and 7.
Tenthly, I claim the use and application of two or more pairs of drawing-
off rollers, arranged substantially as explained under the tenth head of the
Invention.
Eleventhly, I claim the use and application of endless travelling belts or
other like acting surfaces, for the purpose of giving to the points of the staple
under operation an inclination in the direction of the working combs.
Twelfthly, I claim the mode of arranging and combining parts forming a
filling head, substantially as explained in respect of Figures 5, 10, 11.
Thirteenthly, I claim the mode of clearing rotary brushes employed
in directing the points or beards of fibre being combed, substantially as
explained.
Fourteenthly, I claim the application of a supporting plate to the fibre
under operation, in manner and for the purpose substantially as explained in
respect to Figures 12 and 14.
Fifteenthly, I claim the application of plates e, operating in manner and for
the purpose substantially as explained.
In witness whereof, I, the said Isaac Holden, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of June, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight.
Witness,
WILLIAM BROOKES, Patent Agent,
73, Chancery Lane, London.
ISAAC HOLDEN. (L.S.)