IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN COMBING WOOL AND OTHER FIBRES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Charles Walker, John Stevenson, and Jonathan
Stephenson, all of Shipley, near Bradford, in the County of York, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN
COMBING WOOL AND OTHER FIBRES."
Sealed the 21st August 1877, and dated the 29th March 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Charles Walker, John
Stevenson, and Jonathan Stephenson at the Office of the Commissioners of
Patents on the 29th March 1877.
JOHN CHARLES WALKER, JOHN STEVENSON, and JONATHAN STEPHENSON, all of
Shipley, near Bradford, in the County of York. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OR
APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN COMBING WOOL AND OTHER FIBRES."
Our Invention relates to the transfer or porter comb, and consists in applying a
swivelling friction box, or one or more pairs of friction pulleys for the comb fork to
work between. The amount or degree of friction is adjusted by springs. By this
means the fork is always held firm, and the trembling and back lash, which is
usual in the ordinary way of working the comb fork through a slotted socket, is
prevented.
Our Invention further relates to working the guiding bars of the square motion
doffer between friction rollers or pulleys, for the purpose of imparting to them a
greater degree of steadiness when working.
Our Invention also relates to the pressing plate motion, and consists in applying
adjustable ball sockets to the cross bar, so that the plate may be adjusted to suit the
wear and tear as well as the nature and quantity of the different feeds of wool.
Our Invention further relates to the long "hairs" or "backings" that are not
drawn off by the usual drawing-off rollers, which "backings" are in the noil and at
the back of the circle. For this purpose we use a small star or circular comb, with
pins or comb placed at an angle, or a porcupine for freeing or loosening the wool or

page_text: "
backings" from the inside of the circle, so that the small backing rollers may get
hold of them with better effect. We make the backing rollers at an angle with the
circular comb, so that the two small drawing-off leathers, after being taken round a
guide pulley, may bring the wool to the front of and over the pins in the circle
without coming into contact with them.
We provide a plate or a knife for protecting the segment combs, the teeth of
which point downwards. We produce the knife or plate to such a length, and form
in the end thereof a groove and incline, whereby the "beard of fibre" is raised
from the carrying or holding comb into the segment comb.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Charles Walker, John Stevenson, and Jonathan Stephenson in
the Great Seal Patent Office on the 29th September 1877.
JOHN CHARLES WALKER, JOHN STEVENSON, and JONATHAN STEPHENSON, all of
Shipley, near Bradford, in the County of York. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OR
APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN COMBING WOOL AND OTHER FIBRES."
Our Invention relates to the transfer or porter comb, and consists in applying a
swivelling friction box, or one or more pairs of friction pulleys for the comb fork to
work between. The amount or degree of friction is adjusted by springs. By this
means the fork is always held firm, and the trembling and backlash, which is
usual in the ordinary way of working the comb fork through a slotted socket, is
prevented.
Our Invention further relates to working the guide bars of the square motion
doffer between friction rollers or pulleys for the purpose of imparting to them a
greater degree of steadiness when working.
Our Invention also relates to the pressing plate motion, and consists in applying
adjustable ball sockets to the cross bars, so that the plate may be adjusted to suit
the wear and tear as well as the nature and quantity of the different feeds of wool.
"
Our Invention further relates to the "long hairs" or " backings" that are not
drawn off by the usual drawing-off rollers, which " backings" are in the noil and at
the back of the circle. For this purpose we use a small star or circular comb, with
pins or comb placed at an angle, or a porcupine for freeing or loosening the wool or
backings" from the inside of the circle, so that the small backing rollers may get
hold of them with better effect. We make the backing rollers at an angle with the
circular comb, so that the two small drawing-off leathers, after being taken round a
guide pulley, may bring the wool to the front of and over the pins in the circle
without coming into contact with them.
We provide a plate or knife for protecting the segment combs, the teeth of which
point downwards. We produce the knife or plate to such a length, and form in the
end thereof a groove and incline, whereby the "beard of fibre is raised from the
carrying or holding comb into the segment comb.
32
And in order that our Invention may be more completely understood reference is
given to the accompanying Drawings and to the letters and marks thereon.

page_text: degree of friction is imparted by the spring f, and regulated by the set screw g. By
this means the fork e is always held from the trembling or back lash which is usual
in the ordinary way of working the comb fork through a slotted socket
prevented.
Our Invention further relates to working the bar of the square-motion doffer
between friction rollers or pulleys for the purpose of imparting to them a greater
degree of steadiness, and is shewn on Sheet 2, at Figures 3 and 4, which are respec-
tively a side elevation and plan.
j is the guiding bar of the square-motion doffer, and k the friction rollers or pulleys
between which it works for the purposes herein set forth.
"
Figures 5, 6, and 7 are respoctively a part front elevation, transverse section, and
plan, shewing arrangement of drawing-off leathers, and parts connected therewith.
This part of our Invention affects the long hairs or backings," which are not
drawn off by the usual drawing-off rollers, which "backings" are in the "noil" and
at the back of the circle. For this purpose we use a small star or circular comb l,
with pins m placed at an angle, as shewn at Figure 7; this is for freeing the
backings" from the inside of the circle, so that the small backing rollers n may
get hold of them with better offect. We make the backing rollers n at an angle
with the circular comb, so that the two small drawing-off leathers o, after being
taken round the guide pulleys p, may bring the wool to the front and over the pins q
in the circle without coming in contact with them.
et
Figures 8, 9, and 10 are respectively a front elevation, side elevation, and plan of
knife for protecting the comb.
We produce the knife or guard plate to such a length, and form in the end thereof
a groove and incline t, whereby the "beard of fibre" is raised from the carrying
comb into the segment or holding comb v. Other parts of this arrangement,
shewn on Drawings, are of ordinary construction.
Our Invention further consists in applying adjustable ball sockets to the cross
bars, and is shewn on Sheet 3, at Figures 11 and 12, which are respectively a front
elevation and plan of the same.
The cross bar is shewn at w, which is coupled to the pressing bar o by means of
the connecting rods y. The connection is formed by the ball-and-socket joints
and ¹. In order to adjust the pressing plate we apply or attach the setting-up
screws 1 to the cups or sockets 2, which may be raised or lowered at pleasure by
means of the regulating nuts 3. The balls are kept up in their positions by means
of the plates 4; this adjustment is necessary on account of the wear that takes place,
and also to suit the nature and quantity of the different feeds of wool.
Having now described the nature of our said Invention for " Improvements in
the Means of Apparatus Employed in Combing Wool and other Fibres," we would
have it understood that we do not limit ourselves to the exact limits, details, or
configuration of the parts we have explained and shewn, as the same may be varied
or modified without in any way departing from the Invention, but what we claim
and desire to be secured to us by Letters Patent is,―
First. The arrangement and application of a swivelling friction box applied
to the transfer or porter comb, having one or more pairs of adjustable friction
pulleys or rollers c and d for the comb fork to work between, substantially as and
for the purposes herein set forth.
Second. The arrangement and application of friction rollers k for guiding the
square-motion doffer, substantially as herein set forth.
Third. Having backing rollers placed at an angle with the circular comb, so that
the two small drawing-off leathers o, after being taken round the guide pulleys p,
may bring the wool to the front of and over the pins in the circle without coming
in contact with them, substantially as herein set forth.
Fourth. The arrangement and adaptation of the knife or guard plate acting in
the manner and for the purposes herein explained.
Fifth. The arrangement and application of adjustable ball sockets and z¹,

page_text: applied to the cross bar and pressing plate, substantially as and for purposes herein
set forth.
In witness whereof, we, the said John Charles Walker, John Stevenson, and
Jonathan Stephenson, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Twenty-
seventh day of September, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and coventu sazzan
JOHN CHARLES WALKER. (L.S.)
JOHN STEVENSON.
JONATHAN STEPHENSON. (L.S.)
(L.S.)