IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY USED FOR COMBING COTTON, SILK, SILK WASTE, FLAX, Tow, WOOL, AND OTHER FIBROUS SUB- STANCES
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Houldsworth, of the City of Man-
chester, in the County of Lancaster, Cotton Spinner, for the In-
vention of IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY USED FOR COMBING COTTON,
SILK, SILK WASTE, FLAX, Tow, WOOL, AND OTHER FIBROUS SUB-
STANCES."
Sealed the 9th August 1853, and dated the 23rd April 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Houldsworth
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 23rd April 1853.
I, HENRY HOULDSWORTHI, of the City of Manchester, in the County
of Lancaster, Cotton Spinner, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY USED FOR COMBING COTTON,
SILK, SILE WASTE, FLAX, Tow, WOOL, AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES,"
to be as follows:---
The improvements which form the subject of the present Invention
are primarily applicable to combing machines constructed on the prin-
ciple of the Patent granted by Her present Majesty on or about the

page_text: 25th February 1846, to Josue Heilman, under the title of "Improve-
ments in certain Machines used for preparing to be spun Cotton,
Wool, and other Fibrous Substances."
A practical objection to the combing machines in use made on the
principle of Heilman's Patent, arises from an unnecessary complication
and multiplicity of parts, and a difficulty in maintaining the accurate
timing of the relative movements on which the perfect action of the
machine depends.
The improvements for which a Patent is now sought have for their
object to remove these practical objections..
1st, they consist of an improved arrangement of machinery, by
which the nipper movement, the nipping movement of the top drawing
roller, and the respective movements of the upper comb, the doffer and
doffer comb, and the feed rollers, are produced by one single cam or
excentric...
In the machines in use the nipper movement is produced by one
excentric, the nipping movement of the drawing roller by a second
excentric, the motion of the upper comb by a third. The move-
ment of the feed rollers by a star wheel apparatus, and the doffer
and doffer comb motions by trains of wheel work.
The separate
sources and channels of these movements give to the mechanism a
complication and uncertainty of adjustment, that calls for more than
ordinary skill on the part of the workman, and lessens the practical
value of the machine.
The 2nd improvement is in the apparatus for giving the direct and
reverse motion to the nipping or drawing rollers. In the machines in
use, this movement (which in one direction at least requires great accu-
racy in respect to velocity) is derived from a very small initial move-
ment, any irregularity in which is necessarily multiplied at the surface
of the nipping roller, where perfect accuracy of surface motion, when
in contact with the combing cylinder; is' essential.
The improved apparatus gets rid of this objection, first; by a peculiar
application of a combination of wheel work, known in the cotton trade
"as the "differential motion," patented by the undersigued in its applica-
tion to the bobbin and fly frame, under date of 16 January 1826.

page_text: Or, secondly, by an arrangement of machinery by which the motions
are produced by the alternate surface contact of surfaces moving in
contrary directions.
The 3rd improvement consists in the inode of constructing the feed-
ing apparatus, one improvement being a substitution of a feeding pair
of nippers for the rollers at present used, and another being the use of
feeding rollers, or of a feeding roller and trough attached to the swing
or cushion bar; and moving with it; by the adoption of either of which
plans the very small feeding rollers, unavoidable in the present arrange-
ment of the machine, is dispensed with.
The 4th improvement is for the purpose of limiting the action of the
brush on the combing cylinder to that part of the revolution of the
latter when it is required. This is effected either by forming the fluted
surface of the combing cylinder about th of an inch lower than the
surface of the points of the working combs, or by fixing the bearings of
the revolving brush shaft on moveable beds or arms, that admit of the
-brush being lowered during that part of every revolution of the combing
cylinder when the brushing action is not required.
The 5th improvement has for its object to secure a known and regu-
lated pressure on the upper nipping roller, and to facilitate the taking
out and putting in of the latter. It is effected by the substitution of
looks and weights (acting at a particular angle) for the excentric
pressure and spring and dead weight apparatus's originally employed
for giving the two-fold pressure required.
The general effect of the foregoing improvements is to simplify the
machine, to bring it more within the compass of the ordinary class of
workpeople, and to secure the maintainance of greater accuracy in the
inovements on which its perfect action depends.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-third day of April, in the
year of our Lord, One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in
the sixteenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Henry Houldsworth, Her
special licence that I, the said Henry Houldsworth, my executors, ad-
ministrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Henry
Houldsworth, 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 law-
fully 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY USED FOR COMBING
COTTON, SILK, SILK WASTE, FLAX, Tow, WOOL, AND OTHER FIBROUS SUB-
STANCES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Henry
Houldsworth, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal,
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 Henry Houldsworth, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement (that is to say):
The following improvements are chiefly applicable to combing
machines, constructed on the principle described in the Specification of
a Patent granted to Josue Heilmann, on the Twenty-fifth day of Feb-
ruary, in the Ninth year of the reign of Her present Majesty Queen
Victoria, under the title. of "Improvements in certain Machines used
for preparing to be spun cotton wool, and other fibrous materials."
The object of the improvements is to simplify the construction of such
machines, both in respect to the form and multiplicity of parts, with the
view to the more certain adjustment and easy management of the
machines. The annexed drawings exhibit views of the improved
machines, with detached views of such of the improvements as cannot

page_text: be so clearly described in their combined form. The various letters
and figures indicate similar parts in all the drawings. Sheet 1, Fig. 1;
sectional view of headstock, shewn all in one plane, half size. Fig. 2,
end view, quarter size. Fig. 3, end view of combing cylinder, the
fluted part lineable with the points of the needles. Fig. 4, end view of
the same, with fluted parts th of an inch below the line of the points
of needles, both half size. Figs. 5, and 6, "cams" for bringing the diffe-
rential motion in and out of operation. Fig. 7, section through the
part a, y, at e, to shew the cotters which connect the shafts D, and E.
Sheet 2, Fig. 8, full size sectional view of the operating parts. Fig. 9,
half size detached sectional view of swing bar, shewing alternative
mode of feeding with roller and trough. Sheet 3, Fig. 10, full size front
view of operating parts. Sheet 4, Fig. 11, complete end view opposite
to headstock end. Fig. 12, complete sectional view of operating parts,
both th size. Sheet 5, Fig. 13, front view of a four-head machine,
-delivering rollers and other parts removed, th, real size.
Fig. 14, front view of swing bar, with upper nipper and comb.
a plan view looking down upon the same.
bar. Fig. 17, end sectional view. Fig. 18, view from the inside of
the machine of the cam b, and all the levers at the end to which it
gives motion. Fig. 19, sectional view, shewing (full size) detached the
shaft J, and finger J, which actuates the comb N, and the nipping roller
f2; the hook for weighting the nipping roller, and the end view of
the fluted clearer and covered clearer, with holder and other parts,
Fig. 20, front view of the end of detaching comb N, and portion of
finger J 2, which works it. Fig. 21, plan view, shewing end of nipping
roller and fluted clearer, roller, and holder for the same. Sheet 7,
Fig. 22, shews sectional elevation of star wheel apparatus for actuating
the nipper roller.
Sheet 6,
Fig. 15,
Fig. 16, end view swing
Figs. 23, 24, and 25, detached views of its parts.
Fig. 26, is a plan, and Fig. 27, an end view of the mode of actuating
the nipping roller F, by the alternate action of surface or tooth-work
segments. Figs. 28, end view, and Fig. 29, sectional elevation, which
shews an alternative mode of bringing the brush in and out of action,
by the excentric 2, which is a groove turned in the boss of the comb
cylinder. This sheet contains alternative modes of giving motion to

page_text: the nipping roller F, and of giving intermittant action to the brushi
upon the combing cylinder.
Before entering on the detailed description, it may be conven-
nient to point out the fundamental parts of Heilmann's machine (as
constructed for combing cotton, and as imported in this country),
which in one form or another are retained in the improved con-
struction. These are the steam pulley (a', a',) or first motion shaft
A; the combing cylinder shaft B; the combing cylinder 65; the
under nipping roller F; the top nipping roller f; the swing or
cushion piece 4, and the upper blade 2, both of which are in the
improved machine made of double lengths; the upper comb N; the
feed rollers M, and m: the delivering balls or rollers g, g; the
revolving brush c 2; the doffer cylinder v1.
The successive operations of Heilmaun's machine in its application
to cotton, may be described as follows:-
The cotton being introduced into the machine in a thick fleece, by
intermittant movements of the feeding rollers M, m 2, (each movement
corresponding to one revolution of the combing cylinders b) is laid
hold of at each movement by the nippers ( 4, 2,) and, while so held,
is combed at the advanced end of the fleece by the teeth b,.n, (of the
combing cylinder). When these have all passed through the fleece, and
carried off the short fibres, nips, and other impurities, the nippers
convey the combed end of the fleece beneath the upper nipping roller
f2, (which at this moment is raised from the surface of the combing
cylinder to admit the fibres), and there release their hold of the fleece;
the upper comb (N) then descends, till the teeth penetrate the combed
part of the fleece, after which the nipping roller comes in contact with
the surface of the combing cylinder; drawing the fibres (previously
combed at their front ends) through the teeth of the upper comb, which
clears the tail-end of these fibres, and leaves the waste behind the teeth
of the upper comb, to be removed by the revolution of the combing
cylinder when next combing the front end of the fleece.
The fibres thus detached from the fleece, and combed at both ends,
are spliced on to the tail-end of the fleece of the previously combed fibres,
which is made to retrograde for the purpose of effecting the overlap,
and then moved forward sufficiently to produce the delivery of the

page_text: combed fibres in a uniform sliver: The waste or short fibres and
impurities carried away by the teeth of the combing cylinder are trans-
ferred from these by means of a revolving brush to a doffer cylinder,
which is cleared by a doffer knife or rollers in the usual manner.
These successive operations are all retained in the improved 'machine,
but are for the most part effected by simpler mechanism and improved
forms and arrangements of the parts.
=
The first improvement consists in producing the required nipper
movements, the nipping movement of the top nipping or detaching
roller, and the respective movements of the top or detaching comb, the
feed rollers, the doffer cylinder and lap feeding rollers, and the doffer
comb, by the action of one cam only. This is accomplished as follows:
Upon one end of the combing cylinder shaft B, Figs. 13, and 18, is
fixed the cam 66, into the excentric groove of which projects the bowl or
pulley h³, working on a stud projecting from the arm h2, which is fixed
on the end of a strong shaft H, on which oscillates the 'swing-piece R,
(Figs. 14, to 18,) the bottom rib 4, of which forms the cushion bed or
lower jaw of the nipper. The upper blade or jaw 2, of the nipper
slides up and down in grooves or slots 5, (Fig. 16,) (which retain the
blade perpendicular to and parallel with the face of the cushion bed,)
and is made with two mortices 3, to receive two arms h I, which
project from the shaft H, and lift the blade up and down at every
revolution of the cam, thus producing the nipper movement.
The nipper finger movement is produced by connecting the arm ; 4,
which projects from the end of the shaft J, with the short arm of h 2,
by an adjusting link h 5. Upon the shaft J, are fixed, at distances
corresponding to the journals of the top nipping rollers, the socket
pieces, (shewn full size, Fig. 19,) to each of which is jointed
a finger 2, the upper end of which serves to support the top
nipping roller, while the lower end bears against an adjusting screw j 3,
inserted in the socket piece j'. These fingers may be made to
bear against the pivots of the nipping rollers, or, as shewn at Figs. 19,
and 21, against bushes upon the pivots, where f, a, represents a
bush, its two flanges being to clip the finger J2, to prevent end
motion of the roller, and to receive the weight-hook f 3, and retain it

page_text: from shifting endways on the bush. By this arrangement the motion
of h 2, at every revolution of the cam moves the nipping roller back-
wards and forwards upon the under roller F, at the proper time, while
the finger adjustment facilitates the setting of the top roller parallel
with the combing cylinder. The mode of weighting the top nipping
roller is by means of the hook f3, before mentioned, and the weight f9,
(Figs. 12, and 13,) which is connected to the hooks by a link f7, and
strap or chain 8, the connection being flexible wholly or in part, to
allow the weight in hanging perpendicular to act on the hook at such
an angle as will impart to the top nipping roller a proper degree of
pressure both upon the combing cylinder and the under nipping roller,
in the direction of their centres respectively.
0
The angle represented in Sheet 2, is found to work well when the
sizes of the roller and of the iron weight are respectively as shown in
the drawings. Besides the bushes on the pivots of the roller 2, there
are loose arms or holders f5, for receiving the pivots of the brass clearer
roller, the advantage of which holders is that they maintain the roller,
without the need of adjustment, in a parallel position to and at a
uniform distance from the top roller during its motion in and out. The
jointed fingers j 2, also serve to move the upper comb, being elongated
at the points, as shown, Figs. 19, and 20, so as to project beneath the
under edge of the comb-blade, and form a rest for it.
By this arrangement the comb is raised by the fingers when they
remove the nipping roller from contact with the combing cylinder, and
is let down when the roller goes into contact. To guide the comb in
its up and down motion, and to adjust it perfectly parallel to the rollers,
and at the same time to admit of its being set at a proper angle, the
blade has projecting pivots at the ends n 2, Fig. 20, lineable with the
upper edge which take into grooves formed in slide pieces n 1, attached
by set screws to slotted projections, 7, Fig. 8, on the main stands.
The pivots slide up and down in the grooves, which guide the upper
part of the blade in its motion, while they admit of the lower part of
the face of the blade resting freely against the bushes of the nipping
roller, and thus, without any other adjustment, secure the required or
proper relative position of the teeth of the upper comb and the nipping

page_text: roller. At the same time the grooves in the sliding pieces being closed
at the bottom, they prevent the comb from ever falling so low as to
touch the combing cylinder. Next, in order to regulate the extent to
which the teeth of the upper comb shall penetrate the fleece, it is made
to rest when in action upon pins 9, Figs. 14, 15, 16, 17, and 20,
which project from the face of the swing pieces at points lincable with
the cushion surface of the lower jaw, and thus to maintain the relative
position of the comb and the flecce in the varied positions of the
cushion r 10, when the nipper opens.
The feed rollers have next to be described. They rest in bearings,
either made to slide, or otherwise, on the swing piece shown at r, b,
Fig. 16, and are seen in section full size at M, and m 2, Fig. 8. The
lower roller is fluted, and extends within an inch of the length of
the swing piece R, at each end. The top rollers m 2, are in half
lengths, the pivots resting against the projecting pieces », e, Fig. 16.
On one end of the under roller is a ratchet pinion m 1, Fig. 8, by
which the roller is moved at each oscillation of the swing piece by the
action of the catch m 3, which works on a stud fixed to the main
stand S 2. The oscillation here mentioned is the motion of the swing
piece R, upon the shaft H, as a centre, and is produced by the down-
ward motion, before alluded to, of the upper nipper blade 2, when it
is forced into contact with the cushion 10, and depresses the lower
jaw of R. While this depression forces the swing piece in one direc-
tion, the reaction of the springs r8, Fig. 8, brings it back to the
stop, for these springs are attached at one end 4*, to the swing
piece, and at the other to the stationary stand, and are consequently
extended by the motion of R, on the shaft H, while their tension
regulates the degree of nipper pressure. The extent of the motion
of R, which determines the position of the cushion when the nipper
opens, is regulated by the stop nuts 6. The top feeding roller has
the proper degree of pressure given to it by the hooks m 4, and
springs m 5, Figs. 8, and 14, which latter are attached by screws in
the centre to the under side of the lower bar of the swing piece; and
when the bearings of the feed rollers are made to slide, the distance
between the feed rollers and the face of the nippers may be varied.

page_text: Another form of feeding is shown at Fig. 9, where m 2, is a trough
made to slide or otherwise on the bar 4, in which a fluted roller
revolves by the action of a catch and ratchet wheel adapted to move
the roller at every oscillation of the swing bar in the proper direction.
This roller is weighted by springs m 4, bearing.at one end against the
fulcrum pin m, and retained in a state of tension by the hooks m 1.
The chief distinctive characteristic of these improvements in the
arrangements for feeding the. fibrous materials into the machines, is
that the feeding apparatus is fixed in the swing piece, and oscillates
with it. The doffer cylinder, derives its motion from that of the brush
c2, Figs. 1, and 8, which revolves in contact with it: but as the doffer is
required to move much slower than the brush, the motion of the latter
is restricted by a scapement plate W 2, Figs. 18, and 11, moved by the
short arm of h 2, through the .connecting link h 7. It will be seen
that projecting teeth in the plate alternately take into the teeth of a
ratchet wheel W 1, fixed on the boss of a toothed intermediate
wheel W, which wheel, working on a stud projecting from the framing
takes into wheels i 6, on the doffer shaft, and o 2, on the lap feed
roller o, the motion of which is further carried to the duplicate lap
roller through the pinions 3, o 4, and o5. By this scapement
plate the speed of the doffer is limited to two teeth of the ratchet
wheel for every revolution of the cam 66; and the needful motion is
at the same time given to the lap rollers to uncoil the lap of cotton L
at the proper speed for the due supply of the feed rollers M. The
doffer comb is shown at Fig. 18, where I, is the doffer shaft which
forms a centre on which the radius arms i 2, rest. The rod i 3, carries
the doffer knives, which are formed with ears to string upon the rod,
having set screws to fix them at the proper angle. The rod i 3, is
screwed to the radius arms at each end, and also passes through a
central radial arm, as shown at i 2,' to the outer end of which is
jointed a link 9, which at the upper end connects with an arm / 8,
which projects from the shaft FJ, and, by the motion of the latter, gives
an up and down motion to the comb.
various parts before enumerated, and now described, are derived from
the action, of one cam. 66, upon the double arm h2; and the
Thus, the movements of all the

page_text: perfect timing of such of them as are required to operate at particular
points in the revolution of the combing cylinder is more certainly pre-
served than when the different. movements originate in various eccen-
trics.
The next improvement is in the mechanism for producing the direct
and reverse motion of the nipping rollers. One form of this im-
provement is shewn in Fig. 1, combined with the operating parts of
the machine. A, is the first motion shaft, and by the pinion a 4,
actuates the spur wheel d 3, fixed on the bevil d 4, which forms the
driving bevil in the combination of wheels d 4, d 5, and d 7, known
as the differential wheel-work. On the socket of d 7, is fixed the spur
pinion d8, which conveys the motion to f 1, a pinion on the out end
of the under nipping roller F. It will be seen that the bevils d, 5,
revolve on studs d 6, which are arms of the shaft D; and it follows
that if the shaft D, be prevented from revolving, the wheels d 5, will
act as simple intermediates between.d 4, and d 7, and thus cause one
revolution of d 3, to produce one turn in an opposite direction of d 8.
It will also been seen that if the shaft D, be locked to d 4, so as that
both shall revolve together, one revolution of d 3, will cause one turn
of d 8, but this time in the same direction as d 3; and also that if D,
be allowed to turn freely, without being locked to d 3, no motion will
be conveyed to d 8, by the revolution of d 3, as the motion will
escape through the channel of least resistance, which, in this case, will
be through the revolving of D, which will move one turn for every two
of d 3.
Keeping these properties of the differential wheel work in view,
I now proceed to describe the mechanism by which the shaft D, is
made alternately to lock and turn with 3; then to revolve freely
by itself at one half the speed of 3; then to stand still; and then
again to revolve at half speed. These different acts of the shaft D,
being productive respectively, first, of the reverse motion in f 1; second,
of no motion in f 1; third, of the direct motion in f 1; and fourth,
of no motion in f 1; which are the requirements of the nipping roller
during every revolution of the combing cylinder.. The shaft D, rests
at one end in a bearings, d, on stand s-2, and at the other in a

page_text: This latter end of D, is en-
bearing on the intermediate stand s, s.
larged in diameter, and is bored in the line of the axis for a few inches
to receive the shaft E, which fits easy in the bore, and fills it to within
half an inch of the bottom. The other end of E, passes into and rests
in a bush e 4, to which it is connected by a nut e 1, forming the end
of E. This nut is enclosed in a cap e 9, screwed on to the end of the
bush, and fills the space between the internal bottom of the cap and
the shoulder of the bush. By this construction E, is free to revolve in
the bush, while it partakes of the end motion given to the bush by the
action of the inclined surfaces of the double cam b 2, upon the conical
pulley e 6, when the latter is in position as shown at e 6, Fig. 13.
The bush slides endways in the stands 1, but is prevented from
revolving by the arm e 7, which takes into a fork s, h, projecting from
the stand. The other end of E, is connected with a double-faced
friction plate e 2, which is alternately forced by the end motion of E,
into contact with one or other of the corresponding recessed friction
plates 1, and 2; of these d 1, is free to revolve on the shaft D,
and carries on its socket and fixed to it the wheels d 3, and d 4, while
1, 2, is also loose on D, but is restrained from turning with it by a stop
pin taking into the stand S, S, while the socket which answers for a
bush to D, and rests in the stand S, S, is long enough to admit of a
short end motion, and the introduction of a stong upright spring X 2,
which is fixed to the stand at the bottom end, and pressed at the upper
end against the back of d 2, to keep it up to its work, and at the same
time to yield to any excess of pressure. A spring X 1, for a similar
purpose, is applied to the other end of D, to act when the pressure is in
the opposite direction.
The mode in which the double friction plate e 2, is connected with E,
is shown in Figs. 1, and 7. A narrow mortice u, is cut through the
shaft D, at its greatest diameter; and a corresponding mortice is cut three
eights of an inch shorter than the former through the corresponding part
of the shaft E. Two keys e 3, and e 10, are fitted and driven tight into
the shorter mortice in E, and project through the longer one in D, so
that E, can slide endways in D, to the extent of the difference in length
of the mortices, but D, cannot turn round without E, revolving with it.

page_text: Loose upon D, is the double friction plate e 2, having a flat groove cut
across one face of its socket to receive the key e 10, which, passing
down the groove, and through the mortices in the shafts, and being
attached to e 2, by a screw, secures the connection of the friction plate
with the shaft E, in the direction of rotation, while the same key and
the shoulders of e 3, which clip the opposite face of the socket, secure
the connection endways.
I have now only to describe the double-face plate cam 62, which
has an annular projection on each of the inside faces, the space between
which is bevilled to suit, and is a shade larger than the diameter of the
conical pulley e 6. The stud of the pulley is so placed (in the bush
in reference to the double friction plate e 2) as that when the pulley is
midway between the two sides of 2, the double friction plate is
midway between the two recessed friction plates d 1, and d 2. The
result then is that by shaping the acting surfaces of the annular. pro-
jections of 2, so as to force the conical pulley to the right or left, the
friction plate e 2, is forced into contact with d 1, or d 2, according as
the direct or reverse motion of the nipping roller is required; and the
time of commencement and duration of these motions is regulated by
the position of the cam segments b, e, and the length of such segments.
Another mode of producing the reverse and direct motion of the nipping
roller is shown at Figs. 26, and 27, where F, being the under nipping
roller with its pinion f 1, a mutilated pinion 1, which derives its
motion from the shaft B, by means of the pinion 3, and z 4, gives
the direct motion to F, by the intermittent action of the teeth of 1,
while the reverse motion is given by the mutilated pinion = 2, fixed on
the combing cylinder shaft B. Intermittent friction surfaces may be
applied in the same way to produce the effect. Another mode is to
give the direct motion by friction plates or a friction clutch pressed into
contact by a cam or other means, and the reverse motion by a star-
wheel apparatus. This application is shewn in Figs. 22, to 25;. 2, is a
cam secured to the stand s, s; 13, is loose on shaft B, moveable on the
fixed key 3; 4, is loose on the shaft; 5, is a collar to prevent 4, from
moving endways on the shaft when the spring 6, forces the friction
plate 13, in contact with the friction surface of 4, which takes place

page_text: When the friction bowl 7, comes to that part of its path on the cam
plate 2, between a*, and a*, Fig. 23, which is cut away; 8, (side view
of which is seen in Fig. 25,) is loose on the boss of 4, and collar 5, and
to it is secured the full toothed wheel 9, which takes into the wheel 10,
on the stud 11; 12, is the star-wheel pin plate keyed on the shaft B,
and 1, is the star wheel which is secured on the boss of the wheel 10.
It will be seen that the intermediate motion of the star wheel given to
it by the pin on 12, and conveyed to 8, through 10, and 9, gives the
reverse motion to f 1, in proportion to the number of teeth in each of
the divisions of 8, corresponding to each recess in the star wheel, and
that the absence of teeth in the intermediate spaces, which correspond
to the spaces of the star wheel between the recesses, leaves f1, free to
turn as actuated by the internal teeth of 4, when motion is given to the
latter by the friction clutch 13, and 14.
"
"The next improvement has for its object to limit the time of
the brushes action on the combing cylinder to that required for
clearing the combs, by which tear and wear of the brush and some
power is saved. This is done by making the fluted part of the
surface of the combing cylinder about one-eighth of an inch below
the points of the teeth of the comb, as shewn in Fig. 4. Another
plan of effecting the same object is to raise the brush into contact
with the combing cylinder, only at such part of the revolution of
the latter as will bring and keep the brush in full contact with the
needles, but with no other part of the circumference of the cylinder.
This is done by supporting the brush shaft in radial arms, see Fig. 28.
The bearings of the shaft C, are shewn in the arms 20, which are
jointed to the main stands at 21; and at the other end are suspended
by the jointed links 22, which hang in eccentric grooves (a) in the
bosses of the combing cylinders on shaft B. These eccentrics, by the
revolving of B, give the required elevation of the brush at the time
when it is wanted to clear the combs.
г
Having now described my various improvements in machinery for
combing fibrous, substances, I would state that they may be applied
to combing machines, individually or collectively, for the respective
purposes herein set forth, and that I accordingly claim them in

page_text: whatever way applied for such purposes. I have shewn how the
combined movements of the nippers, the nipping roller, and the
upper comb, may be produced from one eccentric, and their relative
synchronal action thus permanently secured; and I claim the use
of one eccentric or cam for such purpose. I also claim the placing
of the feed rollers within the swing piece, as herein described,
and the giving of the required movements to the feed and lap rollers,
and to the doffer, cylinder, and comb, by an eccentric or cam.
I claim the modes of producing the direct and reverse motions of the
nipping roller herein explained, the distinguishing feature of which is
that the peculiar motions are derived from rotary and not from recipro-
cating cam action. I claim also the single as opposed to the forked
nipping roller fingers, and the node of weighting the top nipping rollers
to render the single fingers effective. And, finally, I claim the limiting
the action of the revolving brush on the combing cylinder to any
required part of the revolution of the latter. And as these various im-
provements may be constructed in different ways to produce the same
mechanical effect respectively, I claim all such equivalent modifica-
tions in their application to the same purposes for combing fibrous
materials as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Houldsworth, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, the Twentieth day of October, One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-three.
Signed, sealed, and delivered
(being duly stamped) by
the within-named Henry
Houldsworth, in the pre-
sence of
H. HOULDSWORTH. (L.S.)
Signed, sealed, and delivered
(being duly stamped) by
the within-named Henry
Houldsworth, in the pre-
sence of
JAMES GLASS, Clerk,
H. HOULDSWORTH. (L.S.)
of Coltness, n' Wishaw,
Lanarkshire.