IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR COMBING WOOL AND OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS
Year: 1858

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Sharp Bailey, Machine Wool Comber, of
Keighley, in the County of York, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY FOR COMBING WOOL AND OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS."
Sealed the 28th January 1859, and dated the 31st July 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Sharp Bailey at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 31st July 1858.
I, JOSEPH SHARP BAILEY, Machine Wool Comber, of Keighley, in the
County of York, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR COMBING WOOL AND OTHER FIBROUS MATE-
RIALS," to be as follows:-
My Invention of improvements in machinery for combing wool and other
fibrous material relates, first, to rotatory machines in which taking combs are
mounted on a rotating comb frame, and which combs take wool or other
fibrous material from a feeding apparatus, and transfer it to transfer combs
also carried by the rotating comb frame, which transfer combs deliver it to a
receiving comb. The rotating frame also carries carding or other cleaning
surfaces which have simultaneously with the-rotatory motion of the comb frame
a rotatory motion on their own axes, which surfaces clean out the wool or other
fibrous material after it has been deposited on the receiving comb. These
cleaning surfaces pass in such proximity to the receiving comb that the teeth
of that comb slightly penetrate the card surfaces, and thereby keep those
surfaces clean.

page_text: According to the second part of my Invention I dispense with the transfer
combs, and mount the card or other cleaning surfaces on another rotating
frame. This frame revolves in such relation to the taking comb frame that
the cleaning surfaces transfer the wool from the taking combs to the receiving
comb, and after it is deposited on the receiving comb take effect on the wool
so as to clean it, or the transfer may be effected by auxiliary parts while the
cleaning surfaces take effect for a cleaning purpose only. The cleaning surface
or surfaces have a rotatory motion on their own axes, and are penetrated
slightly by the teeth of the receiving comb for the purpose of clearing them
from fibrous or other material.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Joseph Sharp Bailey in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 31st January 1859.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME I, JOSEPH
SHARP BAILEY, Machine Wool Comber, of Keighley, in the County of York,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirty-first day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight, in the twenty-second year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Joseph Sharp Bailey, Her special licence that I, the said Joseph
Sharp Bailey, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said Joseph Sharp Bailey, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR COMBING WOOL AND OTHER FIBROUS
MATERIALS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Josephi
Sharp Bailey, 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 Invention, 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.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Joseph Sharp Bailey, 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, reference being had to the two Sheets of Drawings hereunto
annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say) :-
.
My Invention of improvements in machinery for combing wool and other
fibrous material relates first to rotary machines in which taking combs are
mounted on a rotating comb frame, and which combs take wool or other
fibrous material froun a feeding apparatus, and transfer it to transfer combs
also carried by the rotating comb frame, which transfer combs deliver it to a
receiving comb. The rotating frame also carries carding or other cleaning
surfaces which have simultaneously with the rotary motion of the comb frame,
a rotary motion on their own axes, which surfaces clean out the wool or other
fibrous material after it has been deposited on the receiving comb. Theso
cleaning surfaces pass in such proximity to the receiving comb that the teeth
of that comb slightly penetrate the card surfaces, and thereby keep those
surfaces clean.
According to the second part of my Invention I dispense with the transfer
combs, and mount the card or other cleaning surfaces on another rotating
frame. This frame revolves in such relation to the taking comb frame that
the cleaning surfaces transfer the wool from the taking comb to the receiving
comb, and after it is deposited on the receiving comb take effect on the wool
so as to clean it, or the transfer may be effected by auxiliary parts, while the
cleaning surfaces take effect for a cleaning purpose, only the cleaning surface
or surfaces have rotary motion on their own axes, and are penetrated slightly
by the teeth of the receiving comb for the purpose of cleaning them from
fibrous or other material.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of this machine or rather of a double machine,
there being duplicate parts applied to and represented on each side of the
receiving comb; and Fig. 2, a plan of the same. A, A, is the framing; B, B,
are circular frames mounted on axes C, C, which revolve in bearings D affixed
-to-the-framing A on the peripheries of these circular frames.
The taking
combs E, E, are mounted on axes fitted in suitable bearings in which they
move, which is also the case with the transferring combs F, F, and cleaning
surfaces G, G; E, F, is a shaft on which are placed the fast & loose pullies
I, I, and the bevil pinions K, K, which gear into the bevil wheels L, L, fixed
on the shafts M, M. On the opposite ends of the shafts M, M, are fixed spur
wheels N, N, which gear into the spur wheels 0, 0, fixed on the axes C, C,
of the circular frames B. B: on the shafts H, H, are also placed pinions P, P,

page_text: which drive the cross shafts Q, Q, through the intervention of the stud wheels
R, R; on shafts Q, Q, are placed bevil pinions S, S, which gear into bevil
pinions T on the lower ends of the shafts of the drawing-off rollers U, U.
V, V, are the feed rollers or apparatus which have motion given to them by
means of spar wheels W, W, fixed on the axes C of the circular frames B, B.
These wheels gear with the stud wheels X, X, which take into wheels Y on the
shafts of the feed rollers V, and thereby impart the required motion to the
feeding apparatus. The receiving or chain comb Z, Z, has motion given to it
in the direction of the arrows, its purposes and action being well understood.
The taking and transferring combs are each mounted on separate axes
supported in bearings 2, 2, on the peripheries of the comb frames, on which
axes they both have rotary motion simultaneous with the motion of the comb
frame B. For this purpose I fix on the ends of the axes or shafts of the
combs E, E, spur pinions a, a, which take into toothed segments b, b; these
toothed segments are mounted on stud pins 3 fixed in the arms of circular
frame B, and also gear into the spur pinions c, c, fixed on the axes of the
transferring combs F, F; d, d, is an eccentric guide race fixed to the framing
A, A, of the machine; this race receives bowls or antifriction rollers 1, 1, which
traverse the guide race d, d, and by reason of the rotary motion of the comb
frame B, cause a vibratory motion to be given to the toothed segments b,
which transmit an alternating rotary motion to the taking and transferring
combs E&F by means of their respective pinions a &c; this gearing is
represented dotted in Fig. 1, and in plan Fig. 2.
The card cleaning surfaces G, G, have motion on their own axes imparted
to them by the following means:-The gear for this purpose is represented
On
dotted in Fig. 1, in plan at Fig. 2, and separately in section at Fig. 3.
the axis C is fixed the pinion 31 (the numerals indicate also the number of
teeth in the pinions), which pinion takes into pinion 32 of the double stud
pinion mounted on a stud fixed to the frame A, A; the pinion 31 of the
double stud pinion takes into the pinion 32, which is placed loose and free to
rotate on the axis C of the circular frames B, B; the pinion 24 is fixed to or
may be cast of a piece with pinion 32b, which may also be the case with the
stud pinions 31 and 32. The pinion 24 gears into a stud wheel e, e, mounted
on the arm of the rotating frame B, which takes into a pinion f, f, on the
shaft of the card surface or cylinder G. The action of the machine is as
follows: Motion being given to the circular frame B, B, in the direction of
the arrow, the taking combs E, E, take a portion of wool or other fibre from
the feeding apparatus at each revolution; this fibrous material is transferred to
combs F during their revolution by the action of of the eccentric guide race d, d,

page_text: taking effect upon them through the intervention of the toothed segments b, b,
and pinions a, a, and c, c, as before explained, by which means the combs E
and F are caused to assume positions such that the transferring comb takes
the wool or other fibrous material from the taking comb, and presents itself
with such material to the receiving comb in a suitable position for delivering
the fibrous material to the receiving comb, all of which will be readily under-
stood by examining the different positions of the combs shewn in the Drawings
at different parts of their revolution. The card cleaning surfaces G (of which
there may be any required number) press the wool on to the receiving comb
after it has been delivered thereon by the transferring combs, and in passing
clean the end of the wool or fibrous material projecting from the receiving
comb, and thereby remove the noil and dirt from it, as before mentioned; the
teeth of the receiving comb penetrate the card or cleaning surfaces for the
purpose of cleaning them.
Fig. 4 represents a lateral vertical section of a revolving comb frame,
having taking combs which take wool or other fibrous material from a feeding
apparatus and transfer it to transfer combs also carried by the revolving frame,
which transfer combs deliver it to the receiving combs, but in which the said
combs are somewhat differently arranged, and the positions and movements
thereof differently controlled. The card surfaces are mounted and governed in
manner before described, but are placed in closer proximity to the transfer
combs, which slightly penetrate the card surfaces at each time of passing.
B is the revolving frame; C, shaft; E, taking combs; F, the transfer combs;
in this instance the taking and transfer combs are mounted on axes, cach
furnished with a spur wheel l, m; these spur wheels gear with the intermediate
stud wheels p, mounted on the arms of the revolving frame B, and gear with a
wheel fixed on the stationary framework of the machine. The wheels l, m,
&r, are of precisely the same diameter, and have the same number of teeth,
so that the arms s carrying the combs shall maintain the horizontal position-at
all parts of the revolution; V are the feed rollers, and Z the receiving comb.
By the rotary motion of the comb frame in the direction of the arrow, the
taking combs E-take-and-detach_portions of wool or ether fibrous material
from the feed head V during their passage from the feed-head-towards-re-
ceiving comb Z; they deliver the portion of wool so taken from the feed head
to the transfer combs F in the manner indicated by the position of the combs
shewn dotted; the transfer combs in passing the receiving comb deposit the
wool or other fibrous material on the receiving comb, and the card surface G
following immediately, presses the fibrous material so delivered by the transfer
comb on to the teeth of the receiving coinb, and further act on the fibres so as

page_text: to clean & card them after they have been deposited on the receiving comb,
as described with reference to Figs. 1 & 2. The card surfaces G are
mounted and controlled in their movements precisely as described with re-
ference to Figs. 1, 2, & 3, with this slight difference, that the transfer combs
are in such proximity to the card surfaces, that the teeth of those combs
penetrate slightly into the card surfaces at each revolution of the frame B,
and thereby partially clean & strip the noil and dirt from the card surfaces.
The second part of my Invention relates to a machine in which the taking
combs are mounted on one rotating frame, while the cleaning surfaces are
mounted on another rotating frame, and which revolves at a greater speed, and
by which the wool or other fibrous material is transferred to the receiving
comb. Fig. 5 is a side elevation, and Fig. 6, an end elevation of this
machine. A is the framing; B, B, is a shaft, on which are placed the fast
and loose pullies C, C; at one end of this shaft is fixed a spur wheel D, D,
taking into the wheel E, E; this wheel is keyed to the axes F, F, of the
revolving frame G, G, on which are mounted two card cleaning surfaces H, H;
these surfaces have independent rotary motion exactly similar to that described
and represented, with reference to the cleaning surfaces G, G, in Figs. 1, 2,
& 3, the differential gearing represented in section, Fig. 3, being the same as
there described; the wheel E, E, also takes into, the large double stud wheel
I, I, the small one of which takes into the stud wheel K, K; the wheel K
takes into the wheel L, L, fixed on the axis M, M, of the revolving comb
frame N, N, carrying the taking combs X, X. On the axis M, M, is fixed
the spur wheel O, which gears into wheel Y fixed on the shaft of the feed
apparatus P, to which it gives suitable motion; Q, Q, is the receiving comb as
before referred to, but in which the teeth are all in a horizontal position; on
the under side of this comb are the drawing-off rollers R, R, to which motion is
communicated in the following manner:-On the shaft B, B, is fixed a bevil
wheel S, which gears into the bevil wheel T, fixed on the vertical shaft U; on
the upper part of this shaft is fixed a bevil wheel V, taking into the wheel W
fixed on the axis of one of the drawing-off rollers.
The action of the machine is this:-The combs X, X, of the comb frame N
take portions of fibrous material from the feed apparatus P at each time of
passing, and carry it down towards the receiving comb; when a taking comb
has arrived at that part of the revolution (a) in Fig. 5, one of the card
cleaning surfaces by its greater velocity strips the fibrous material from the
teeth of the taking comb X, and passes it on to the teeth of the receiving
comb Q. The further onward motion of the card surface now takes effect on
the fringe of fibrous material hanging from the receiving comb Q, which

page_text: material is thereby cleansed from noil and dirt as desired. The teeth of the
receiving comb Q in this case also enter the card or other cleaning surfaces,
and strip and clean it from any accumulation of dirt or other extraneous matter.
The rotary motion of the cleaning surfaces in both the machines herein-before
described, has the effect of continually and progressively presenting a cleaned
surface to the projecting fringe of the fibrous material under operation.
In both these machines the feeding head or apparatus may have an oscilla-
ting motion bodily towards and from the revolving comb frame, or it may be
stationary. Instead of imparting slow rotary motion to the cleaning surfaces
by the differential gear, as before explained, I sometimes give them a quick
motion on their own axes by the means represented at Fig. 7, Sheet 2; this
Figure represents the pinions f. f, on the axis of the cleaning surfaces, taking
into a large wheel or ring of teeth f', which is fixed to the framing A of the
machine.
Having described the nature of my Invention and the manner of performing
the same, I wish it to be understood that I do not claim any of the parts of
the machines herein-before described, taken separately; but that what I claim
as of my Invention to be protected by the herein-before in part recited Letters
Patent is, combing and treating wool and other fibrous materials, as herein-
before described, by combinations and arrangements of parts or apparatus
herein-before described, or any merc mechanical equivalent or equivalents
therefor.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Sharp Bailey, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Thirty-first day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine.
JOSEPH SHARP BAILEY. (L.S.)