Improvements in or relating to Wool Combing Apparatus and the like.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application (in United Kingdom), 3rd Jan., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Oct., 1895-Accepted, 3rd Jan., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Wool Combing Apparatus and
the like.
We, LÉON ALLART & CIE. of 95 Boulevard Beaumarchais Paris, in the.
Republic of France, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be, as
follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in wool-combing apparatus and the like
and comprises certain apparatus applicable with advantage to a wool-comber of the
"Holden" type. The said improvements consist in attaching to such a machine
an apparatus or device for automatically effecting the cleaning of the heckles and
the stripping of the wool therefrom.
This apparatus comprises a bracket to which is fixed a sleeve or socket in which
engages an "endless" or reversely threaded female screw.
By means of a small projection from the interior of the sleeve engaging the
threads of the double-threaded screw, the sleeve and consequently the bracket are
given a reciprocating movement by the rotation of the screw owing to its double
and opposite threads.
The rotary movement is imparted to the screw by a driving shaft having two
feathers thereon and being operated by mitre-gear. Upon this shaft is mounted a
mitre-pinion which slides along the shaft axially from one end to the other, while
rotating with it. This pinion makes this longitudinal movement at the same time
as the apparatus itself is moved from one end to the other of the screw shaft by the
action of the double female thread. By its rotation the pinion causes the rotation
of a companion pinion which forms one piece with a spur-pinion which latter by
suitable gearing transmits rotary motion to the combing-shaft.
This combing shaft terminates, inside the bracket with a plate with a hollowed
centre, dovetailed or undercut for the reception of a correspondingly dovetailed
slide which can be displaced perpendicularly to the combing shaft.
This slide is terminated at one of its ends by a rounded part which, under the
action of a coiled spring is continually pressed against the inner surface of a circular
guide or pathway which is fixed upon the bracket.
Centrally arranged on and preferably in one with the slide is a gudgeon or pin,
round which turns a socket-piece which carries at right angles to its length a tube.
In the tube is held the rod or stem of the comb of which one end is guided by
another tubular sleeve or socket having a pivot-pin carried so as to be capable of
rotating in a bearer fixed to the upper part of the bracket. The comb whereof the
stem or rod is preferably fixed by screws in the tube partakes of the movements of
the slide which, simultaneously with a rotary movement, generated by the rotation

page_text: of the plate before referred to also undergoes rectilinear displacement owing to its
contact with the circular guide on the bracket.
The stem or rod and consequently the comb both describe, therefore, at each
revolution of the shaft an oval curve, and by this movement, the extremities of the
steel blades of the comb are caused to plunge in between the rows of points of
the heckle-bars, remove the hecklings or cleanings (or short and broken fibres)
therefrom and bring them above the heckle-bars, whence they are removed by the
ordinary means.
The movement imparted by the double threaded female thread to the bracket
and consequently the comb itself would simply be rectilinear; and, if this were the
only movement the comb would simply destroy the needles which are arranged in
prolonged curved lines. It is therefore requisite that the blades be made to follow
the same curved lines as those in which the needles of the heckling-bars are
arranged. To this end, a fixed cam is placed parallel to and corresponding with
the curved rows of points on the heckling-bars. On this cam slides a block which,
in the form of a socket carries the end of the combing shaft. Towards the lower
extremity of the combing shaft is a fixed ring forming a shoulder or abutment
carrying a coiled spring whereof the other end abuts against the fixed frame; this
spring is thus enabled to force the extremity of the shaft to remain constantly in
contact with the cam.
Owing to the variations in level of the cam the plate rises and falls correspondingly
carrying the stem or rod and comb which latter therefore is not merely displaced
in a horizontal plane but in a winding or curved surface.
By means of a regulating or counting mechanism, and of engaging and disengaging
devices placed at the extremity of the double-feathered shaft, aforesaid, and acting
thereupon the comb is set in operation at certain intervals more or less removed
from each other, and for a period of greater or less length, according to the nature
of the wool to be treated.
As will be seen from the foregoing description, the improved device or apparatus
for automatic cleaning of the heckle-hars of combers of the "Holden" type, is
essentially composed of a comb armed with points in the form of knife-blades.
This comb is given a movement closely imitating that which an artisan gives to the
knife which he uses when he has to clean the beckle-bars by hand. The comb
cleans one two or more heckle-bars at once, according to their length, and, in its
reciprocating motion, removes the "scurf" and short or broken fibre throughout
the entire length of the bar. The blades of the combing device work between the
rows of needles and follow the same curves as those used in setting these rows of
points in the heckle-bars.
This improved apparatus remedies the inconveniences experienced both in hand-
cleaning and in the (so-called) automatic apparatus hitherto employed, and which
have been given up, one after the other ;-Firstly because, like the artisan always
insufficiently watched, they effected at the best a very imperfect cleaning, and
created an abnormal amount of waste; secondly, they necessitated frequent
renewals of the needles of the heckle-bars, from their rapid deterioration.
The intermittent and exactly regulated action of the apparatus constructed
according to this invention abolishes these two grave defects.
Dated this 3rd day of January 1895.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicants.

page_text: Improvements in or relating to Wool Combing Apparatus and
the like..
We, LÉON ALLART & CIE. of 95 Boulevard Beaumarchais, Paris, in the
Republic of France do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :--
"
This invention relates to improvements in wool-combing apparatus and the like,
and comprises certain apparatus applicable with advantage to a wool-comber of
the "Holden type. The said improvements consist in attaching to such a
machine, an apparatus or device for automatically effecting the cleaning of the
heckle-bars and the stripping of the wool therefrom.
In order to render the nature of the improvement clearly comprehensible from
the following explanations, we have caused our new device or apparatus to be
illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which show, in
Figure 1 a view of the machine as seen from above; in
Figure 2 a vertical longitudinal section of the same; in
Figure 3 a vertical cross section on the line C° D° of Figure 2; in
Figure 4 details of the double-tbreaded screw; and in
Figure 5 details of the driving-shaft of the apparatus ;
Figure 6 shows details of a cam hereinafter referred to, and of a device operated
thereby ;
Figure 7 shows diagrammatically the manner in which the comb P, hereinafter
described, enters between the points of the heckle-bars.
"
This apparatus comprises a bracket M to which is fixed a sleeve or socket D in
which engages an
66 endless or reversely-threaded screw V. By means of a small
projection m from the interior of the sleeve D engaging the threads of the double-
threaded screw V, the sleeve D and consequently the bracket M are given a
reciprocating movement by the rotation of the screw V owing to its double and
opposite threads.
The rotary movement is imparted to the screw V by a driving-shaft A c having
two feathers A¹ thereon and being operated by mitre-gear. Upon this shaft A c
is mounted a mitre-pinion E c (Figure 5) which slides along the shaft axially from
one end to the other, while rotating with it. This pinion E c makes this longi-
tudinal movement at the same time as the apparatus itself is moved from one end
to the other of the screw shaft V by the action of the double thread. By its
rotation the pinion E c (kept always in gear with a pinion Ed by devices not
shown in the drawings) causes the rotation of the said pinion Ed which forms one
piece with the pinion E e which actuates a spur wheel E' which latter engaging
with the smaller spurwheel E" transmits rotary motion to the combing-shaft A to
which E" is keyed and which turns in bearings in the frame M.
This combing shaft A (Figure 2) terminates, inside the bracket M, with a
plate Pl, dovetailed or undercut for the reception of a correspondingly-dovetailed
slide E which can be displaced perpendicularly to the combing shaft A
(Figure 2).
As shown in Figure 1, this slide E is terminated at one of its ends by a rounded
part e which under the action of a coiled spring R (Figure 3) is continually
pressed against the inuer surface of an oval guide or pathway C which is fixed
upon the bracket M.
Centrally arranged on (and preferably in one with) the slide E is a gudgeon or
pin T, round which turns a socket-piece D' which carries at right angles to its
length a tube D". In the tube D" is held the rod or stem T₁ of the comb P

page_text: (Figure 3), of which one end is guided by and slides in another tubular sleeve or
socket D" having a pivot-pin d"" carried so as to be capable of rotating in a
bearer fixed to the upper part of the bracket M. The comb P (Figure 3) whereof
the stem or rod T₁ is preferably fixed by the screws d" in the tube D" (Fig. 1)
partakes of the movements of the slide E which, simultaneously with a rotary
movement about the axis of the shaft A (generated by the rotation of the plate Pl
before referred to) also undergoes rectilinear displacement, owing to its contact
with the oval guide C on the bracket.
The stem or rod T₁ and consequently the comb P both describe, therefore, at each
revolution of the shaft A an oval curve, and, by this movement, the extremities
of the steel blades a of the comb P are caused to plunge in between the rows of
points of the heckle-bars, (Fig. 7,) remove the hecklings or clearings (or short
and broken fibres) therefrom and bring them above the heckle-bars, whence they
are removed by the ordinary means.
The movement imparted by the double-threaded screw V to the bracket M being
in one plane the comb P itself would consequently in the absence of other devices,
simply be moved in one plane; and, if this were so the only movement the
comb would have would simply destroy the needles of the heckle-bar which are
arranged in a prolonged curved line. It is therefore requisite that the blades a be
made to follow the same curved lines as those in which the needles of the heckling-
bars are arranged. To this end, a fixed cam C' (Figs. 3 and 6) is placed parallel
to and corresponding with the curved rows of points on the heckling-bars. On
this cam C' slides a block A2 which, in the form of a socket, carries the end of the
combing shaft A. Towards the lower extremity of the combing shaft A is a fixed
ring B forming a shoulder or abutment carrying a coiled spring R' (Fig. 2)
whereof the other end abuts against the fixed frame M; this spring is thus enabled
to force the extremity of the shaft to follow the curve of the cam C' and remain
constantly in contact therewith.
Owing to the curvature of the cam C, the plate P rises and falls corre-
spondingly, carrying the stem or rod T₁ and comb P which latter, therefore, is
not merely displaced in a horizontal plane but in a winding or curved surface.
By means of suitable mechanism, and of engaging and disengaging devices not
forming a part of the present invention, placed at the extremity of the double-
feathered shaft A c and acting thereupon, the comb P is set in operation at
certain intervals more or less removed from each other, and for a period of
greater or less length as desired, and according to the nature of the wool to be
treated.
"
The improved apparatus herein before described is employed to clean the bars
automatically in the machine itself, and for instance can conveniently be secured
above the heckle-bars in a circular "Holden" machine, by journalling the opposite
ends of the double-threaded screw V in brackets at each side of the usual "waste
exit so that the screw lies transversely across it over the "square motion,"
and the shaft A lies horizontally below V and at right angles to it, the curved
cam C' also being fixed in the horizontal plane. In such a case the shaft A
reciprocates horizontally and the stem or red T₁ has its plane of vibration
vertical.
As will be seen from the foregoing description the improved device or apparatus
for automatic cleaning of the heckle-bars of combers of the "Holden" type, is
essentially composed of a comb P armed with points in the form of knife-blades.
This comb is given a movement closely imitating that which an artisan gives to
the knife which he uses when he has to clean the heckle-bars by hand. The comb P
cleans one, two, or more heckle-bars at once, according to their breadth and, in its
reciprocating motion, removes the "scurf" and short or broken fibre throughout
the entire length of the bar. The blades a of the combing device work between
the rows of needles and follow the same curves as those used in setting these rows
of needles in the heckle-bars.
This improved apparatus remedies the inconveniences experienced, both in hand-

page_text: cleaning and in the so-called automatic apparatus hitherto employed, and which
have been given up, one after the other ;-Firstly, because, like the artisan, always
insufficiently watched, they effected at the best, a very imperfect cleaning, and
created an abnormal amount of waste; secondly, they necessitated frequent
renewals of the needles of the heckle-bars, from their rapid deterioration.
The intermittent and exactly regulated action of the apparatus constructed
according to this invention abolishes these two grave defects.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is ;-
1. A cleaning-device for the combs of wool-combing apparatus and the like
substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. In a cleaning device for the combs of wool-combing apparatus and the like
the combination with the mechanism for moving the device P in one plane, of
means for causing it to move also in a plane at an angle to the other plane
substantially as described.
3. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting a complete cleaning-
device for the combs of wool-combing apparatus and the like substantially as and
for the purpose hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
Dated this 1st day of January 1896.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicants.