IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR COMBING WOOL, COTTON, AND OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Samuel Cunliffe Lister and William Tongue, both
of Bradford, in the County of York, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MACHINERY FOR COMBING WOOL, COTTON, AND OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS."
Sealed the 23rd May 1856, and dated the 7th January 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Samuel Cunliffo Lister
Tongue at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
ar
with their Petition, on the 7th January 1856.
We, SAMUEL CUNLIFFE LISTER and WILLIAM TONGUE, both of Bradford, in
the County of York, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for "In-
PROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR COMBING WOOL, COTTON, AND OTHER FIBROUS
MATERIALS," to be as follows:-
Our Invention has for its object various improvements in machinery for
combing fibrous materials, and consists, first, in so arranging machinery that
the fibrous material to be operated upon, having been first carded or otherwise
prepared and made into a sliver, is first either lashed into or detached by a
comb, which afterwards delivers the fibre that it holds to holding nippers,
which carry one end of the fibre projecting from between them past cleaning
or combing surfaces, and thus deliver the end of the fibres so cleaned to other
holding nippers. These second holding nippers carry the uncombed ends of
the fibrous material past other cleaning or combing instruments, so as to clean

page_text: the fibre completely from end to end; or, in place of the fibre being taken by
the second holding nippers, a comb may be introduced into the uncombed
portion of the fibre, so that when it is taken liold of and drawn out of such
comb by nippers or drawing rollers, the fibre will be cleaned from end to end.
The fibre, if in detached portions, must then be pieced up into a sliver in the
ordinarily practised manner; but if the nippers are in a continuous form, the
fibre may be drawn from them at once in the form of a sliver by the aid of
drawing-off rollers:
The second part of our Invention consists in so arranging machinery, that
the fibrous material to be operated upon, after having been carded or other-
wise prepared and made into a sliver, is filled into or detached by a suitable
holding comb, and is by such comb afterwards carried past cleaning surfaces,
which operate on the ends of the fibres projecting from the holding comb.
Nippers are then caused to lift the fibre out of the detaching and holding
comb, and to carry the fibre past cleaning surfaces, so that the portion of fibre
that was previously deposited in the chamber of the comb 'may be operated
upon, and the fibres thus combed at both ends. The cleaned fibres, if the
nippers are in a continuous form, may be drawn in the form of a sliver from
them; but if the machine is so constructed that the fibres are operated upon
in detached tufts, they must be pieced up in the ordinary manner into a
sliver.
Our Invention consists, thirdly, in so arranging a machine, that nippers or
combs are caused to detach tufts of fibrous material from a gill comb, or other
suitable toothed feed apparatus, so as to clean one end of the tuft or fibre so
detached, and then deliver them to a comb or nippers so arranged as to take
hold of the cleaned portion and carry the uncleaned ends of the tufts of fibrous
material past suitable cleaning surfaces, and thus clean the fibre at both ends.
The fibrous material, if the nippers are arranged in a continuous form, may
be drawn at once from them in the form of a sliver; but if the fibre when
cleaned still remains in detached tufts, it must be pieced up into a sliver by
any of the well-known means.... : :
Our Invention consists, fourthly, in arranging a machine for combing fibrous
materials, that a comb. or combs arranged on arms around a rotating axis may
be caused.to detach tufts of fibre from the end of a sliver of fibrous material
presented to, them by feed rollers, and afterwards carry the projecting ends of
the detached-tufts.past suitable cleaning surfaces. The tuft of fibre. so cleaned
at one end is presented to nippers or drawing-off rollers, which take hold of
the cleaned. end of the tuft. of fibrous material, and draw it out of the
detaching and holding comb, and thus clean that portion of the tuft which

page_text: was immersed among the teeth of the detaching and holding comb, the noil
which is left in such comb being afterwards removed by a revolving brush or
other suitable apparatus. For the purpose of more completely cleaning the
fibre when drawn from the detaching comb, a supplementary comb. may be
introduced into the tuft of, fibrous material immediately in front of the
detaching comb after the projecting end has been cleaned, and previously to,
the withdrawal of the fibre from the comb; or previously to the fibre being
drawn from the detaching comb, the fibre may be removed from such.comb.
into another comb; so as to place a portion of the cleaned end of the tuft of
fibrous material into such secondary comb.
The fifth part of our Invention relates to so arranging machinery.for.combing
fibrous material, that after the fibrous material has been fed into an endless
travelling comb, and has or has not been afterwards acted upon by suitable
combing surfaces, it may be deposited into another endless travelling comb, so,
that the formerly projecting portion will be partly in the chamber of such
comb, which may also be of a coarser guage than the first-mentioned comb,.
as it only has to present the fibrous material to suitable drawing-off apparatus.
The sixth part of our Invention consists in a combination of machinery for,
combing fibrous.material, by means of which the ends of slivers of suitably,
prepared fibrous material, after being fed forward a short distance, are taken
hold of by nippers, and while the projecting ends are so held they are
operated upon by cleaning surfaces. The nippers are now opened, and
a comb is introduced into the end of the sliver, and partially into the cleaned
portion, leaving a small quantity projecting; and the first pair or a second pair
of nippers is caused to detach and draw from the end of the sliver immersed
in the comb. or pointed surface the projecting portion of fibre, so as thus
to clean it from end to end, the pippers being caused to detach the fibres in
the direction as nearly as possible; the detached tufts are afterwards pieced,
up into a sliver by any of the ordinary methods.
:.....
When combing some descriptions of fibrous material, more especially flax
cotton, and the tow of flax, and other fibres, it is found to be desirable to operate
on both sides as well as on both ends of the fibres; and we have found that the
machine commonly employed (viz., Heilman's,) for the above-mentioned purposes
may be so modified and actuated as to accomplish the method of operation above
described, and the so modifying and working Heilman's machine constitutes tho
seventh part of our Invention.. In carrying out this part of our Invention, we
entirely surround the working cylinder w points, and then cause it to mako
any suitable number of revolutions, first in one direction and then in the
opposite, so as to operate in succession, first on one side and then on the other

page_text: of the end of the sliver or tuft projecting from the holding nippers on the one
side, and from the detaching rollers or nippers on the other.
The eighth part of our Invention consists in a peculiar machine for combing
fibrous material, and is constructed in the following manner:-Around a
circular travelling cleaning comb are arranged, so as to travel with it, a series
of feeding heads, having nippers in front of them, so as to form a continuous
circle outside the travelling comb; and these nippers and feeding heads
are so actuated, as first, while the nippers are open, to deposit a projecting
portion of sliver into the travelling cleaning comb, and then travel round
with it past drawing-off rollers, arranged to work in fixed bearings within the
travelling comb. These rollers draw a sliver from the ends of the fibres pro-
jecting through and beyond the travelling cleaning comb. As soon as the
head has past the rollers, the nippers are caused to close upon the sliver and
draw it from the travelling comb, so as to clean the immersed portion; and as
soon as the fibres are released from the comb the nippers again open, and a
fresh portion of fibre is fed forward and deposited into the comb, so as to
leave a portion projecting beyond the comb, previously to the head coming
opposite to another pair of drawing rollers, the length of the portion fe
forward being such as to cause a small piece of the cleaned portion to be
again deposited into the travelling comb, and thus ensure the perfect cleaning
of the fibre when drawn through the cleaning comb by the drawing-off' rollers.
The noil is removed from the cleaning comb at one portion of its revolution
by a revolving brush, or any other well-known means.
The ninth part of our Invention consists in an improvement on a machine,
for which, in various forms, several Patents have been obtained, in the naine
of Cowper. This machine depends for its action on the greater friction of a
moving or stationary surface to a stationary or moving surface, as the case may
be, the two surfaces together forming a nipper, one of the nipping surfaces
being a fixture, and the other moving and carrying or slipping over the fibre
that is between the two surfaces, just as the one or the other presents the
greater resistance to the motion of the fibre. These nippers carry the ends of
the fibrous material past cleaning surfaces or instruments, and a cleaning
comb is afterwards introduced into the cleaned portion of the fibre, and the
nipper ceases to hold, by reason of a portion of one of the surfaces being cut
nway opposite to where drawing rollers or other drawing apparatus draws a
sliver from the projecting ends of the fibres as they are carried past the rollers;
and this part of our Invention consists in introducing a pointed or other sup-
porting surface into the fibrous material behind the cleaning comb, through
which the fibres are drawn; the object of such improvement being to preven

page_text: the fibre from knotting and tangling at the back of the cleaning comb, when
the fibres are drawn through it by the drawing-off rollers.
We have found that when fibre of short staple has been deposited into a comb.
that it is extremely difficult to apply rollers of sufficiently small diameter to
draw the fibre from such comb. And the tenth part of our Invention consists
in applying an oscillating nipper, which goes close up to the face of the holding
comb, closing on the fibre projecting from it, and draws it out a short distance.
This is repeated, so that as the comb passes the nipper it is robbed of all the
fibres that projected from it previously to its coming opposite to the oscillating
nippers.
When oscillating nippers are caused to detach tufts of fibre from pointed
surfaces, and deliver them to a porter or other comb or apparatus, aud
then return for a fresh quantity, we have found, that by causing the nipper
to travel at a higher velocity when returning for a fresh portion than when it
is detaching a quantity of fibre, a larger quantity of work may be turned out
by the machine than when the nipper travels at the same velocity in both
directions of its motion; and the eleventh part of our Invention consists in
actuating the nipper, as above described.
The twelfth part of our Invention consists in employing two nippers instead
of oue in machines which detach tufts of fibre from quantities imbedded in
pointed surfaces, the first nipper drawing out the tuft a short distance, and the
second completing the separation of the tuft. The second nipper may be
caused to travel at a higher velocity than the first, and they may be both of
them caused to travel at a higher velocity when returning to take hold of a
tuft of fibre than when detaching one.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Samuel Cunliffe Lister, and William Tongue in the Great
Scal Patent Office on the 7th July 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, wc, SAMUEL
CUNLIFFE LISTER and WILLIAM TONGUE, both of Bradford, in the County of
York, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of January, in the year of our Lord.
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the nineteenth year of .Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us,

page_text: the said Samuel Cunliffe Lister and William Tongue, Пer special licence that
we, the said Samuel Cunliffe Lister and William Tonguo, our executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said Samuel Cunliffo
Lister and William Tongue, our executors, administrators, and assigns, should
at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all tinies
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 MACHINERY FOR COMBING WOOL. COTTON, AND OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS,'
upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said Samuel Cunliffe Lister
and William Tongue, our exccutors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under our or their hands and seals, or under the hand and seal of one
of us or them, 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.
"
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Tongue, on behalf of myself
and the said Samuel Cunliffe Lister, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be par-
ticularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement thereof,
that is to say:-
Our Invention has for its object various improvements in machinery for
combing fibrous materials, and consists, first, in so arranging machinery that
the fibrous material to be operated on, having been first carded or otherwise
prepared and made into sliver, is first either lashed into or detached by a
comb, which afterwards delivers the fibre that it holds to holding nippers,
which carry one end of the fibre projecting from between them past cleaning
or combing surfaces, and then deliver the ends of the fibres so cleaned to other
holding nippers. These second holding nippers carry the uncombed ends of
the fibrous material past other cleaning or combing instruments, so as to clean
the fibre completely from end to end; or, in place of the fibre being taken
by the second holding nippers. a comb may be introduced into the uncombed
portion of the fibre, so that when it is taken hold of and drawn out of such
comb by nippers or drawing rollers, the fibre will be cleaned from end to end.
The fibre, if in detached portions, must then be pieced up into a sliver in the
ordinarily practised manner; but if the nippers are in a continuous form, the
fibre may be drawn from them at once in the form of a sliver by the aid of
drawing-off rollórs

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS MARKED A... ..t
Figure 1 shows a transverse section, and Figure 2 a horizontal section, of a
machine constructed and combined according to this part of our: Invention,
the machine being so arranged that fibre is acted upon and presented.to
drawing-off rollers in a continuous" form, instead of in the form of detached
tufts; and as this machine is similar to one for which a Patent.was obtained by
Samuel Cunliffe Lister, on the Sevonth of August, One thousand eight hundred
and fifty-five, it will be unnecessary to enter, into a particular description of
the machine here; except of such of the parts as relate to this-part.of our
Invention. a, a; is an ordinary lashing head, which lashes the fibrous material
on to the travelling series of combs 6 when the combs 6 have past the filling
head; the npper series of travelling jaws c are, by means of the cam surfaces
c', caused to descend, and by pressing into the lower jaws formed by the combs.b;
hold the fibre fed on to such combs while they pass the card rollers d and e
which act on the ends of the fibres projecting from between the nippers. After
the fibres have in this manner been carried past and worked by the revolving
card rollers d and the second series of travelling jaws fand 9 are caused; by.
means of the cam surfaces f' and'g', to close upon the cleaned end of the 'fibre;
while the jaws b and c, by means of the cam surfaces 6' and'c', 'separate...The
jaws fand g-carry the uncleaned ends of the fibres projecting from between
them past the revolving card rollers h, i, so as to clean such projecting ends of
the fibres. The jaws b and c are now; by the cam surfaces b' and c', agnin
caused to approach one another, so as slightly to press upon the fibre, while the
jaws fand 9 are, by the cain surfaces fand g', caused to open, when the pro-
jecting fibres will be presented to the drawing-off rollers I, to be drawn off' in the
form of a continuous sliver. In place of acting on both ends of the fibres by
means of revolving card rollers, or other working cleaning-instruments, the jaws
b and c, after they have carried the fibre past the revolving card rollers d'and
may be caused to descend with the fibre, so as to imnierse a portion of the pros
jecting ends in a circular cleaning comb outside the jaws, and travelling with
them ;-so that when the fibre is carried past the drawing-off rollers, it will be
drawn through such circular coimb, and consequently cleaned from, end to end.
Figure 3 shows a transverse section of the principal working parts of ä
machine constructed and combined according to this part of our Invention! so
arranged as to operate upon detached tufts of fibre, and then-piece them up
into a sliver. The working parts only of the machine are shewn, to-avoid 'com-
plexity in the Drawing, as an intelligent mechanic acquainted with this class
of machinery will readily apply the necessary details. The fibre, first suitably

page_text: prepared into a sliver by carding or otherwise, is carried into the machine by
the feed rollers a, and tufts are detached by the detaching combs b as they pass
the rollers a during their rotation, the detaching combs 6 being caused to
project from between the nippers c, which are opened during the detaching
process; the detaching combs being caused to protrude by the fixed cam
surfaces 6', attached to the oscillating lever d, acting on a truck on the levers 6.
The levers are attached to the levers, to which the detaching combs b, b,
are attached, and the lever is governed in its movement by the cam surfaces
b, attached to the revolving. plates e. The detaching comb draws the
detached portion of the fibre between tho, nippers c, which are then caused to
close, by an endway motion given to the cone e, fixed on the revolving sliding
axis e'. When this has taken place the combs b are entirely withdrawn from
the fibre, and the nippers c by their further revolution carry the projecting
ends of the tuft of fibrous material past the cleaning card rollers f, g. The
nippers e continue to revolve until they are brought opposite to the revolving
nippers h, which are at that time open; both the nippers c and h then rest in
their revolution, and the nippers e are caused to oscillato towards the nippers h,
so as to place the cleaned end of the fibrous material between them; tho
nippers then close on the cleaned end of the fibrous material, while the
nippers c open and return to their former position to continue their revolution,
while the nippers h carry the uncleaned end of the tuft of fibre past the
revolving card surfaces i, k, so as to clean such end, and the fibre is then
removed from the nippers h, and pieced up into a sliver by the carrying comb
and gill m, as is well understood.
Figure 4 shews a transverse section of the principal parts of a machine
arranged according to this part of our Invention, and acting on tufts similarly
to the machine last described. In this arrangement, tufts of fibre are detached
by the rotating combs 6 from between the feed rollers a, and carried past the
cleaning card rollers f. 9; and in place of the fibre being then transferred to a
second pair of rotating nippers, the cleaning combs n are introduced into a
portion of the projecting tuft of fibre, and the tuft is then taken hold of and
drawn through the comb n by the oscillating nippers o, and the tufts thus
cleaned are pieced up into a sliver, as before described. The noil is removed
from the cleaning combs n by the revolving brush; P.
Having thus described the best means we are acquainted with for carrying
into practical operation this first portion of our Invention, we would here
remark, that we make no claim to the mechanical parts taken separately, nor
to the precise form or arrangement of them shown in the Drawings, as they
may be considerably varied without departing from this part of our Invention,

page_text: which consists in detaching fibrous material by means of a comb, and then
cleaning both ends of tho fibrous material so detached while held by nippers, in
the manner described, and shown in the Drawings marked A.
We will now proceed to describe the second part of our Invention, which
consists in so arranging machinery, that the fibrous material to be operated
upon, after having been carded or otherwise prepared and made into a sliver, is
filled into or detached by a suitable holding comb, and is by such comb after-
wards carried past cleaning surfaces, which operato on the ends of the fibres
projecting from the holding comb. Nippers are then caused to lift the fibro
ont of the detaching and bolding comb, and to carry the fibro past cleaning
surfaces, so that the portion of fibre that was previously deposited in the
chamber of tho comb may be operated upon, and the fibros thus combed
at both ends. The cleaned fibres, if the nippers are in a continuous form,
may be drawn in the form of a sliver from them, but if the machine is so
constructed that the fibres are operated upon in detached tufts, they must be
pieced up in the ordinary manner into a sliver.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS MARKED B.
Figure 1 shows a transverse section of a machine constructed and combined
according to this part of our Invention, the machine being so arranged that
the fibre is acted upon and presented to drawing-off rollers in a continuous
In this machine the fibre,
form, instead of in the form of detached tufts.
suitably prepared and made into a sliver, is lashed by the filling head at a on
to the circular series of travelling combs b. These combs are arranged in
segments so as to be capable of rising and falling by means of trucks and cam
surfaces, in a similar mauner to a machine described in a Patent obtained by
Samuel Cunliffe Lister, on the Seventh of August, One thousand eight hundred
and fifty-five. After the fibre has been lashed on to the combs b, and such
combs have passed the filling head a, the projecting ends of the fibre held by
the detaching combs 6 are acted upon by revolving card rollers or other
cleaning instruments. The combs 6 aro then caused to rise by means of the
cam surfaces b', and the nippers c, also formed in segments of a circle, are
caused to rise with the combs 6 by means of the cam surfaces c', and retain
the fibre between the nippers c and the circular travelling ring d. The combs
b are then lowered by the cam surfaces b', and the end of the fibre formerly
immersed in them is acted upon by revolving card rollers or other cleaning
instruments within the circle. The combs 6 are then again caused to rise and
penetrate the fibrous material, and afterwards to descend, together with the
nippers c, which are caused to descend lower than the combs b, in order that

page_text: the fibre may be taken hold of and removed from the machine by drawing
rollers placed outside the circle of combs b.
b
Figures 3 and 4 shew transverse sections of the principal working parts, in
two positions, of a' machine constructed and, combined according to this par
of our Invention, so arranged as to operate upon detached tufts of fibre and
then piece them up into a sliver. The working parts only of the machine ar
shewn, to avoid complexity in the Drawings, as an intelligent mechanic
acquainted with this class of machinery will readily apply the necessary details
The fibrous material having been first suitably prepared, is taken into the
machine by the feed rollers.d, and tufts of the fibre are detached by the rotating
combs b. The combs 6 carry the tufts of fibre so detached past the revolving
card rollers.c, d, so as to clean the projecting ends of the tuft of fibres. When
one end of it has thus been operated upon, the further rotation of the combs &
brings the tufts of fibre opposite to the rotating nippers e, which are at that
time open, and the combs 6 then oscillate towards the nippers e, and place
the projecting end of the tuft of fibrous material between them; the nippers
e then close, and the lifting blades 6 lift the tuft from the chamber of the
comb b, while the combs 6 oscillate back to their original position. The nip-
perse by their rotation carry the uncleaned end of the tuft of fibrous material
past the card rollers f, g, so as to clean it, and it is then removed from the
nippers and pieced up into a sliver by the transferring comb i and gill m, as is
well understood.
..
Having thus described the best means we are acquainted with for carrying
into practical operation this second part of our Invention, we would have it
understood that we make no claim to any of the mechanical parts separately
considered, nor to the precise form or arrangement shewn in the Drawings, as
they may be considerably varied without departing from this part of our
Invention, which consists in detaching fibrous material by means of a comb,
and cleaning one end of such fibrous, material while held by such detaching
comb, which then.delivers the fibre it holds to nippers, which retain the fibro
while the uncleaned end previously immersed in the detaching comb is operated
upon, so that the fibre may be cleaned from end, to end, in the manner
described, and shewn in the Drawings marked B.
We will now proceed to describe the third part, of our Invention, which con-
sists: in so arranging a machine, that nippers or combs are caused to, detach
tufts of fibrous material from a gill comb: (or other suitable toothed feed
apparatus), so as to clean one end of the tufts of fibre so detached, and, then
deliver them to a comb. or nippers so arranged as; to take hold of the cleaned
portion and carry the uncleaned ends of the tuft or fibrous material past

page_text: emains in detached tufts, it must be pieced up into a sliver by any of the
well-known means.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS MARKED C.
Figure 1 shews-a transverse section of the principal working parts of n
imachine 'constructed and combined according to this part of our Invention,
the machine being so arranged that the fibrous material is acted upon and
jöresented to the drawing-off rollers in 'a continuous formn, instead of in the
form of detached tufts. And we would here remark, that in the Drawings
marked C the working parts only of the machines are shewn, to avoid com-
plexity in the Drawings, as an intelligent mechanic acquainted with this class
of imachinery will readily apply the necessary details. The fibrous material;
having been first suitably prepared by carding or otherwise, and made into a
sliver, is carried into the machine by the feed rollers a and gill b, and tufts of
fibre are detached by the rotating nippers c, or in place of the nippers ca
detaching comb may be employed. The nippers c are caused to rest in their
rotation during the detaching of the tuft, which is effected by the oscillation of
the nippers away from the gill b. When a tuft of fibrous material has been
detached from the gill b, the nippers are caused to make half a revolution,
and deposit 'the detached tuft on to the circular travelling comb d. When
this comb d has carried: the fibre past the nippers c, the segmental travelling.
nippers e are caused to descend, by means of the cam surfaces e', so as to hold
the fibre between them and the circular travelling comb d. And we would
here remark, that these nippers are constructed in a similar manner to thoso
described in a Patent, granted on the Seventh of August, One thousand eight
hundred and fifty-five, to Samuel Cunliffe Lister. While the fibrous material
is held between the nippers e and the comb d, tho uncleaned portion is acted
upon by card rollers.f, or other suitable cleaning instruments, and is thus per-
fectly cleaned from end to end; the nippers e are afterwards caused to rise, and
the fibre is removed from the comb d by means of drawing-off rollers, not
shown in the Drawing. And we would here observe, that in place of the nip-
pers e being employed, the comb d' may be made sufficiently fine to hold the
fibres while the projecting ends are being operated upon.
Figure 2 shows a transverse section of the principal working parts of a
machino constructed and combined according to this part of our Invention, so
arranged as to act upon detached tufts of fibre, and then piece them up.into a

page_text: sliver. The fibrous material, having been first prepared and made into a sliver
is carried into the machine by the feed rollers a and gill b, and tufts of the
fibre are detached from among the teeth of the gill 6 by the rotating oscillating
b
nippers c. The nippers c are caused to rest in their rotation when they come
opposite to the gill 6, and close upon the projecting piece of fibre, and then by
oscillating away from the gill, they are caused to detach a tuft of fibre, and a
the same time cleanse it. The tuft of fibre so detached and cleaned is carried
round by the rotation of the nippers c, and placed between the rotating nippers
e, which close upon the projecting portion of the fibre, and by their rotation
carry it
past the revolving card rollers f, g, so as to clean the portion of the
fibre formerly between the nippers c, and the detached tufts thus cleaned from
end to end are taken from the nippers e by the transferring comb h, and pieced
up on to the gill i, as is well understood.
Figure 3 shews a transverse section of the principal working parts of a
machine constructed and combined according to this part of our Invention,
similarly to the last-described machine, only that in this machino combs are
employed in place of the nippers c, e. The parts of this machine, which aro
similar to the last-described machine, are marked with the same letters. c are
rotating oscillating detaching combs, which detach tufts of fibre by oscillating
away from the gill b, and when tufts have been detached by this means, they
are, by the rotation of the combs c, transfered to the rotating holding combs e,
which, when the tuft of fibre is being deposited into them, are caused to rest in
their rotation. The combs e carry the projecting end of the fibre, formerly
immersed among the teeth of the detaching comb c. past the card rollers f, g,
and then the tuft of fibre is taken by the transferring comb h, and picced up
into a sliver on the gill i, as is well understood.
Having thus described the nature of this third part of our Invention, and
the best means we are acquainted with for carrying it into practical operation,
we would have it understood that we make no claim to any of the mechanical
parts separately considered, nor to the precise forms or arrangements of the
parts shewn in the Drawings, as they may be considerably varied without
departing from this part of our Invention, which consists in so arranging
machinery for combing fibrous substances, that a tuft of fibre detached from a
gill comb or other toothed feeding apparatus may be so transferred to a hold-
ing nipper or comb, that the uncleaned end of the fibre may be acted upon by
card rollers or other cleaning instruments, in the peculiar manner described
and shown in the Drawings.
We will now proceed to describe the fourth part of our Invention, which
cousists in so arranging a machine for combing fibrous materials, that a comb

page_text: or combs arranged on arms around a rotating axis may be caused to detach
tufts of fibre from the end of a sliver of fibrous material presented to them by
feed rollers, and afterwards carry the projecting ends of the detached tufts
past suitable cleaning surfaces. The tutts of fibre so cleaned at one end are
presented to nippers or drawing-off rollers, which take hold of the cleaned
ends of the tufts of fibrous material, and draw it out of the detaching and
holding comb, and thus clean that portion of the tuft which was immersed
among the teeth of the detaching and holding combs, the noil which is left in
such comb being afterwards removed by a revolving brush or other suitablo
past suitable cleaning surfaces.
The tutts of fibre so cleaned at one end are
presented to nippers or drawing-off rollers, which take hold of the cleaned
ends of the tufts of fibrous material, and draw it out of the detaching and
holding comb, and thus clean that portion of the tuft which was immersed
the teeth of the detaching and holding combs, the noil which is left in
such comb being afterwards removed by a revolving brush or other suitablo
apparatus.
among
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING MARKED D.
Figure 1 shows a transverse section of the principal parts of a machine
constructed and combined according to this part of our Invention. And wo
would here observe, that in the Drawing marked D the working parts only of
the machine are shown, to avoid complexity in the Drawing, as an intelligent
mechanic acquainted with this class of machinery will readily apply the
necessary details. The fibrous material, having been first suitably prepared
and made into a sliver, is fed into the machine, and presented to the rotating
detaching conibs 6 by the feed rollers a, the combs b detach, by their rotation
in combination with the oscillation of the rollers a, tufts of fibre from the
rollers a, and carry them past the revolving card surfaces c, d, so as to clean
the projecting end of the fibre. In place of the fibre being detached from
feed rollers and afterwards cleaned, it may be detached from a gill comb, or
other toothed feed apparatus, so as to clean the tuft in the act of detaching it.
After the fibre has been carried past the rollers c, d, the further rotation of the
detaching combs brings the tuft opposite to the oscillating nipper e, which
takes hold of the cleaned end of the fibre projecting from the detaching combs
b, and draws such fibre from among the teeth of the detaching conibs b, so as
to clean the fibre from end to end; the detached tufts of fibre are pieced up
into a sliver in the ordinary manner by the transferring comb fand gill 9; the
noil left in the combs b is removed from them by the revolving brush in.
For the purpose of more completely cleaning the fibre when drawn from
the detaching comb by the oscillating nipper c, a supplementary comb may be
introduced into the tuft of fibrous material immediately in front of the detach-
ing comb after the projecting end has been cleaned, and previously to the
withdrawal of the fibre from the comb by the oscillating nipper c. Figure 2
will serve to explain the method of introducing a supplementary comb, as
above described, h being the supplementary comib.
:

page_text: Previously to the fibre being drawn from tho detaching comb, the fibre may
be removed from such comb into another comb,.so as to place a portion of the
cleaned end of the tuft of fibrous material into such secondary comb... Figure 3
will serve to explain the method adopted in applying the secondlary comb,
described above. 6 is the detaching comb, which retains the fibre while it is
operated upon by the card rollers, and when that has taken place the secondary
combi is caused to approach the comb b, and the brush, is caused to transfer
the tuft of fibrous material from the comb b to the combi, when the oscil-
lating nipper takes hold of the projecting end, and draws the fibre through the
combi, so as to clean the end previously immersed in the chamber of comb 6;
the noil is removed from the combi by a brush similar to that described in
Figure 1.
Having thus described the nature of the fourth part of our Invention, and
the best means we are acquainted with for carrying, the same into practical
operation, we would have it understood, that we make no claim to any of the
mechanical parts separately considered, nor to the preciso forms or arrange-
ments of the parts shewn in the Drawings, as they may be considerably varied
without departing from this part of our Invention, which consists in the
peculiar combination of mechanical parts for the purpose of combing wool, as
described, and shewn in the Drawing marked D..
We will now proceed to describe the fifth part of our Invention, which
relates to so arranging machinery for combing fibrous material, that after the
fibrous material has been fed into an endless travelling comb, and has or has
not been afterwards acted upon by suitable combing surfaces, it may be ilepo-
sited into another endless travelling comb, so that the formerly projecting
portion will be partly in the chamber of such comb, which may be also of a
coarser guage than the first-mentioned, comb, as it only has to present the
librous material to suitable drawing-off apparatus.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING MARKED E.
Figure 1 shews a plan, and Figure 2 a transverse section, of so much of a
machine for combing fibrous material as will serve to explain this part of our
Invention. a, a, is a circular travelling comb, on to which fibrous material
suitably prepared and made into a sliver is lashed by an ordinary lashing head
at b; c is another circular travelling comb; and d is an inclined blade, which
is caused to rise and fall rapidly, so as to remove the fibre from the chamber of
the circular comb a, and deposit it on to the circular comb c, into which it is

page_text: of the comb c. d' are the drawing-off rollers. This transferring of fibrous
material from one continuous comb to another may be effected by an ordinary
plough, or by a revolving brush, or other suitable means. The comb a may
be made of a finer guage than the comb c, if the fibre lashed upon it has
to be submitted to the action of cleaning instruments, and the two combs must
be so arranged, that a portion of the fibro projecting from the comb a may,
when transferred to the comb c, be within the chamber of the comb c, so as to
insure the perfect cleansing of the fibro when the fibre is drawn from such
conib c.
Having thus described the nature of the fifth part of our Invention, and the
best method we are acquinted with for carrying it into practical operation, we
would have it understood that we make no claim to any of the mechanical
parts separately considered, nor to the particular forin or arrangement of the.
parts shewn in the Drawings, this part of our Invention consisting. in trans-
ferring fibrous material from one continuous travelling comb to another, as
described and shewn in the Drawing marked E..
We will now proceed to describe the sixth part of our Invention, which
consists in a combination of machinery for combing fibrous material, by means
of which the ends of slivers of suitably prepared fibrous material, after being
fed forward a short distance, are taken hold of by nippers, and while the pro-
jecting ends are so held they are operated upon by cleaning surfaces. The
nippers are now opened, and a comb is now introduced into the end of the
sliver, and partially into the cleaned portion, leaving a small quantity projecting,
and the first pair or a second pair of nippers is caused to detach and draw from
the end of the sliver immersed in the comb or pointed surface the projecting
portion of fibre, so as thus to clean it from end to end, the.nippers being
caused to detach the fibres in the direction of their length as nearly as possible;
the detached tufts are afterwards pieced up into a sliver by any of the ordinary
Figure 1 shows a transverse section of the principal working parts of a
machine constructed and combined according to this part of our Invention;
Figure 2 shews some of the working parts in another position. And we would
here observe, that the working parts only of this machine are shewn, in order
to avoid complexity in the Drawings, as an intelligent mechanic acquainted
with this class of machinery will readily apply the necessary details. a, a, is a
porcupine sheet, carried by the lever arm a³, moving on the axis a²; b, b, are

page_text: nippers, carried by the axis b', turning in the lever arm a³. The nippers 6 are
caused to take hold of the projecting portion of fibrous material fed forward
by the porcupine sheet a, and then oscillato with it past the cleaning card
rollers c, d, so as to clean the end of fibrous material projecting from between
the nippers b. When the operation has been perfornied, the nippers are caused
to rise to the position shewn in Figure 2, and then open, as shown in Figure 1,
where the combe, turning on pin joints e¹ in the lover arms a³, is introduced
into the end of the sliver, and partially into the cleaned portion, yet so as to
leave a portion projecting, so that the oscillating nippers g may take hold of
such projecting end of the fibro and detach a tuft through the teeth of the
cleaning comb e. The tufts so cleaned are taken from the oscillating nipper g
by the transferring comb h, which pieces them up into a sliver on to the gill i,
as is well understood. f is a brush, moving on the pin joint e', which is caused
to deposit the fibre into the chamber of the comb e; and e' are lifting blades,
which are caused to lift the fibre from among the teeth of the comb e after a
tuft of fibro has been detached through it.
Having thus described the sixth part of our Invention, and the best means
we are acquainted with for carrying the same into practical operation, we
would have it understood that we make no claim to any of the mechanical
parts separately considered, nor to the particular form or arrangement of the
parts shewn and described in the Drawing, this part of our Invention con-
sisting in arranging and combining mechanical parts into a machine, as
described, and shewn in the Drawing marked F.
We will now proceed to describe the seventh part of our Invention. When
combing some descriptions of fibrous material, more especially flax, cotton and
the tow of flax, and other fibros, it is found to be desirable to operate by
pointed surfaces on both sides as well as on both ends of the fibres. And we
have found that the machine commonly employed (viz, Heilmann's,) for the
above-mentioned purposes may be so modified and actuated as to accom-
plish the method of operation above described, and the so modifying and work-
ing Heilmann's machine constitutes the seventh part of our Invention. In
carrying out this part of our Invention, wo entirely surround the working
cylinder with points, and then cause it to make any suitable number of revo-
lutions, first in one direction and then in the opposite, so as to operate in
succession, first on one side and then on the other of the end of the sliver or
tuft projecting from the holding nippers on the one side, and from the detaching
rollers or nippers on the other.

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING MARKED G.
Figures 1 and 2 shew transverse sections, in two positions, of the principal
working parts of a machine constructed and combined according to this part of
our Invention; and we would here remark, that the working parts only of the
machine are shewn, to avoid complexity in the Drawings, as an intelligent
mechanic acquainted with this class of machinery will readily apply the
necessary details. a, a, are feed rollers carried by the oscillating lever b'.
The rollers a, a, feed forward a portion of fibrous material, suitably prepared
and made into a sliver, and the nippers 6 close upon the end of the sliver so fed
forward. The toothed roller d is then caused to rise, as shewn in Figuro 1, and
act upon the fibres projecting from between the nippers b, by being caused to
make one revolution or more, as may be required, first in one direction and
then in the other, so as to act on both sides of the fibres presented to it. The
roller d is then caused to descend, as shown in Figure 2, and the nippers b and c
are caused to oscillate close up to one another.. The nippers c then close upon
the cleaned end of the sliver of fibrous material, and by the separation of the.
nippers b and c, which at that time are open, to detach a tuft from the end of
the sliver of fibrous material. The rollers a then feed forward a fresh portion
of fibrous material, upon which the nippers 6 close, and the roller d again is
caused to rise and operate, by first revolving in one direction and then in the
other on both sides of the uncleaned end of the detached tuft held by the
nippers c, and on the end of the sliver of fibrous material, as before described,
held by the nippers b. The detached tuft held by the nippers e, after being
thus operated upon by the roller d on both sides and at both ends, is to be taken
by the transferring comb f, and pieced up on to the gill g, as is well-understood;
or the tufts may be pieced up into a sliver by any of the well-known methods.
Having thus described the nature of the seventh part of our Invention, and
the best means we are acquainted with for carrying the same into practical
operation, we would have it understood that we make no claim to any of the
mechanical parts separately considered, nor to the particular form or arrange-
ment of the parts shewn in the Drawing; this part of our Invention consisting
in so arranging Heilmann's machine that the fibre may be operated upon by
pointed surfaces on both sides and at both ends, as described, and shown in the
Drawings marked G.
We will now proceed to describe the eighth part of our Invention, which
consists in a peculiar machine for combing fibrous material, and is constructed
in the following manner :-Around a circular travelling cleaning comb are
arranged, so as to travel with it, a series of feeding heads, having nippers in
B

page_text: front of them, so to form a continuous circle outside the travelling comb;
and these nippers and feeding heads are so actuated, as first, while the nippers
are open, to deposit a projecting portion of sliver into the travelling cleaning
comb, and then travel round with it past drawing-off rollers, arranged to work
in fixed bearings within the travelling comb; these rollers draw a sliver from
the ends of the fibres projecting through and beyond the travelling cleaning
comb. As soon as tho head has passed the rollers, the nippers are caused to
close upon the sliver and draw it from the travelling comb, so as to clean the
immersed portion; and as soon as the fibres are released from the comb, the
nippers again open, and a fresh portion of fibre is fed forward and deposited
into the comb, so as to leave a portion projecting beyond the comb previously
to the head coming opposite to another pair of drawing rollers, the length of
the portion fed forward being such as to cause a small piece of the cleaned
portion to be again deposited into the travelling comb, and thus ensure the
perfect cleaning of the fibre when drawn through the cleaning comb by the
drawing-off rollers; the noil is removed from the cleaning comb at one
portion of its revolution by a revolving brush, or any other well-known means..
Figure
..
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS MARKED H.
shews a vertical section, and Figure 2 a plan, of a machino
suitably constructed and combined for combing wool, cotton, or other fibrous
inaterials, according to the eighth part of our present improvements, which
consist in first cleaning the end of a sliver of fibrous material by drawing it by
nipping apparatus through a travelling or other cleaning comb (the sliver at
that time being held by suitable nipping apparatus). The end of the sliver
thus cleaned is then moved forward and again laid into the teeth of the said
cleaning comb, so that the cleaned end may project beyond. it, and be in-
a position to be taken by drawing-off rollers, or other suitable detaching
apparatus, by which the projecting ends of the cleaned fibres will be taken and.
drawn from the end of the sliver and the cleaning comb, thus cleaning the
opposite ends of the fibres so drawn out; and during such drawing out or
detaching of the cleaned fibres, the end of the sliver is held at the back of the
cleaning comb between suitable pointed or pressing 'surfaces, in order to keep
the fibres straight, and prevent them, while being detached, from being drawn
up and gathered against the back of the cleaning comb. The pointed or other
pressing surfaces in -the-arrangement shown are then caused to release the
sliver, and by moving away from the cleaning comb in which the end of
the sliver is held, cause a further portion of the sliver to project beyond the
nipping apparatus, which again closes upon the sliver and draws it out of the

page_text: cleaning comb, by which the end of the sliver is again cleaned, and in a
condition to be dealt with, as before described.
:
Figures 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 show some of the working parts on a
larger scale, in the relative positions they assume according to the succession
of operations required, and a workman acquainted with this class of machinery
(nided by the following description of the machine) will readily understand tho
nature of the successive operation shown by the Figures:-
a, a, in Figures 1 and 2, is a circular travelling comb, which is supported on
the circular table or disc a', turning freely on the fixed vertical axis a*, and
having bevil teeth on the under side, into which a bevil toothed pinion a² on
the axis a³ takes; motion is given to the axis a³ in any convenient manner, by
which rotary motion will be communicated to the table or disc a', and to the
parts connected therewith. The table a' carries a series of levers 6, 6, which
support and actuate the parts through which the fibrous materials are con
ducted to be operated on by the travelling or cleaning comb. c, c, are a series
of reels or bobbins on which the slivers of wool, cotton, or other fibrous
materials to be combed are wound; the reels c, c, are supported in arms
carried by the levers b, b; the slivers from the reels c, c, are conducted through
mouth-pieces between the perforated surfaces d', d', carried by each slide d,
which are capable of sliding up and down on the levers b, b, by which they
are: carried; and e, e, are similar slides on the levers b, b, which carry the
lower jaw of the nippers e', and also a series of points c*, e*, which pass
through the slits or perforations formed in the conducting surfaces d', d'.
The levers b, b, and slides d, e, have to and fro and up and down movements
given to them during their revolution in the following manner:-b', 6', are
arms on the lower ends of the levers b. Tho arms b', 6', carry trucks or
rollers which travel between fixed cam surfaces, b, on the framing of the
machine, so as to cause the levers b, b, and slides d, e, to move to and fro on
their axes b², 6, as required. d², d, are arms on the slides d and e, which are
caused to rest on the fixed cam surfaces d, e, by which the up and down
movements of the slides d, e, will be controlled so as to insert and withdraw
the points from the sliver to open and close the nipping surfaces, and to raise
and lower the conducting surfaces from time to time as required.
Having thus described the mechanical, arrangement of the parts shewn on
the Drawings, we will now describe the successive operations of combing wool
or other fibrous materials, as shewn by Figures 3 to 10, which shew sections
of the upper parts carried by one of the levers b. Figure 3 shows the
position of the parts just after the cleaned fibres have been drawn out of the
cleaning comb a, the-points * being still in the sliver between the conducting.

page_text: surfaces d', d'. Figure 4 shews the position of the parts when the points e*
are withdrawn from the sliver, so that when the parts b, d, e, move away from
the cleaning comb, the sliver will not be acted upon, but will move freely
between the conducting surfaces d', d', until the points e: are again inserted,
and the nipping jaws closed, as shown at Figures 4, 5, and 6. Figure 7
shows the position of the parts when the parts have moved to their furthest
distance from the cleaning. comb, by which movement the end of the sliver
is drawn through and out of the cleaning comb a, and the end of the sliver
is combed or cleaned, leaving the noil and short fibre in the cleaning comb a.
Figures 8 and 9 show the position of the parts b, d, e, when raised above and
again placed over the cleaning comb a, in a position to deposit the end of the
sliver (by the descent of the parts), with the greater part of the cleaned end
of the sliver projecting beyond the inner surface of the cleaning comb, as seen
at Figure 10, to be taken and drawn out by suitable drawing out or detaching
apparatus.
And we would here observe, that in place of the method described and
shewn in the Drawings for feeding the fibrous material through the nippers e',
the fibre may be fed forward by means of porcupine sheets or plain pressing
rollers, and the feeding may then be performed after the nippers, el have
drawn the end of the sliver of fibrous material from the cleaning comb a, and
previous to the end of the sliver of fibrous material being again-deposited into
the chamber of the comb a, to be drawn through such comb on passing the
drawing-off rollers. And we would also observe, that in place of the nippers
and travelling comb a moving, and, the drawing-off rollers moving in
stationary bearings, the bearings of the drawing-off rollers may be caused to
move around the circle while the comb a and nippers e' remain stationary.
Having thus described the nature of the eighth part of our Invention, and
the best means we are acquainted with for carrying the same into practical
operation, we would remark that we make no claim to any of the mechanical
parts separately considered, nor to the particular forms or arrangements of
them shewn in the Drawings, as the same may be greatly varied without depart-
ing from the nature of the eighth part of our present Invention; but what wo
do claim is, the combining of nippers with a cleaning comb and drawing-off
rollers or instruments, both ends of the fibrous material operated upon being
cleaned by one cleaning comb, the nippers and comb being so arranged, and
combined as to present the ends of slivers of fibrous material to the drawing-
off rollers or instruments in a continuous form, as described, and shewn in the
Drawings marked H.
We will now proceed to describe the ninth part of our. Invention which

page_text: consists in an improvement in a machine, for which, in various forms, several
Patents have been obtained, in the name of Charles Cowper. This machine
depends for its action on the greater friction of a moving or stationary surface
to a stationary or moving surface respectively, as the case may be, the two
surfaces together forming a nipper, one of the nipping surfaces being a fixture;
and the other moving and carrying or slipping over the fibre that is between
the two surfaces, just as the one or the other presents the greater resistance to
the motion of the fibre. These nippers carry the ends of the fibrous material
past cleaning surfaces or instruments, and a cleaning comb is afterwards
introduced into the cleaned portion of the fibre, and the nipper ceases to hold;"
by reason of a portion of one of the surfaces being cut away opposite to
where drawing rollers or other drawing apparatus draws a sliver from the
projecting ends of the fibres as they are carried past the rollers; and this part
of our Invention consists in introducing a pointed or other supporting surfaco
into the fibrous material behind the cleaning comb through which the fibres
are drawn; the object of such improvement being to prevent the fibre from
knotting and tangling at the back of the cleaning comb when the fibres are
drawn through it by the drawing-off' rollers.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING MARKED I.
I
Figure 1 shows a plan, and Figure 2 a transverse section, of a machine for
combing fibrous material, having our present improvement applied thereto;
and as this machine is fully described in a Patent granted to Charles Cowper,
on the Twenty-second of June, One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four,
there will be no necessity to enter into a particular description of it here,
except in so far as will assist in explaining this portion of our Invention. a is
the fixed circular nipper; and b, the travelling nipper, which in this instance
slips over the fibrous material. caro bobbins of fibrous material, carried by
brackets from the framing d of the machine; and c is the pointed surface
which is introduced between the bars or blades e¹ into the fibrous material
previous to the drawing-off' nipper f passing such fibrous material, and
drawing a sliver through the cleaning comb & from the ends of the slivers
around the bobbins c. The pointed surfaces d are caused to rise by reason of
projections g, carried around by the ring b, which act upon levers 9, connected
to the pointed surfaces d.
5. Having thus described the nature of the ninth part of our Invention, and
the best means we are acquainted with for carrying the same into practical
operation, we would have it understood that we make no claim to the
mechanical parts considered separately, nor to the form or general arrange

page_text: velocity when returning for a fresh portion than when it is detaching a.
quantity of fibre, a larger quantity of work may be turned out of the machine
than when the nipper travels at the same velocity in both directions of its
motion; and the eleventh part of our Invention consists in actuating the
nipper, as above described.
L
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING MARKED L.
The Drawing shows a vertical section of so much of a machine of the
description above alluded to as will suffice to explain this part of our Inven-
tion.
a is the nipper detaching tufts of fibre from the gill b, and the nipper a
is caused to travel faster when returning for a tuft than it does when detaching
one, by means of the rotating excentric pin c acting in the slotted cranked'
lever d, which is connected by means of the connecting rod e to the oscillating.
nipper; and it will be seen that the oxcentric pin c communicates a fast and
slow movement to the lever d, and consequently to the oscillating nipper a.
Having. thus described the nature of the eleventh part of our Invention,
and the best means we are acquainted with for carrying the same into practical
operation, we would have it understood that the method of obtaining the
requisite fast and slow motion may be varied, and that cams or other mechanical
contrivances may be employed for that purpose, and also that the nipper may
by suitable contrivances be made to travel progressively faster as it recedes
from the gill comb, without in any way departing from the nature of this part
of our Invention, which consists in causing the détaching nipper (in the class
of machinery above alluded to) to occupy more time in receding from the gill
and detaching a tuft of fibre than it does in returning for a fresh portion.
We will now proceed to describe the twelfth part of our Invention, which
consists in employing two nippers instead of one in machines which detach
tufts of fibre from quantities imbedded in pointed surfaces, the first nipper
drawing out the tuft a short distance, and the second completing the separation
of the tuft; the second nipper may be caused to travel at a higher velocity
than the first, and they may be both of them caused to travel at a higher
velocity when returning to take hold of a tuft of fibre than when detaching

page_text: jecting portion of fibre, by means of the cam a³, and draw a tuft of fibre
partially out of such comb, when the second oscillating nipper c is caused
to approach, by means of the crank c and connecting rod c, towards the
gill b, and taking 'hold by means of the cam of the partially detached tuft, to
complete the detaching of such tuft, by receding from the gill.
Having thus described the nature of this part of our Invention, and the best
means we are acquainted with for carrying the same into practical operation,
we would here remark, that the method of actuating the nippers may be varied
from that shewn in the Drawing, and that by suitable mechanical contrivances
the nippers may be both of them caused to travel faster when returning to
take hold of a tuft than when detaching one, and that the nippers may also be
caused to travel at a progressively increasing velocity as they recede from the
gill comb, without departing from this part of our Invention,. which consists in
combining two nippers with a gill comb or other pointed surface, in the manner
above described, and shewn in the Drawing marked M..
In witness whereof, I, the said William Tongue, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventh clay of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six.
Witness,.
JAMES G. JONES,
8, Brunswick Place,
Barnsbury Rd, Islington..
WILLIAM TONGUE. (L.S.),