Improvements in Combing Machinery.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Feb., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Nov., 1895-Accepted, 26th Feb. 1896
nated from apron by MUGENE DELETTE, Engineer, of Lure, mate
Saône, in the Republic of France.]
Improvements in Combing Machinery.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of The Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street,
Manchester, both in the County of Lancaster, and 31, High Holborn, in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
The inprovements in combing machines which form the object of the present
application for Letters Patent refer essentially to the following points,
:-
"
First The method of feed obtained by rendering stationary the apparatus
called the "feed apparatus and causing the jaws to move more or less away
from it.
Second-The employment of an arrangement serving to clean the lower jaw of
the gripping apparatus, to brush up the fibres and to guide the penetration thereof
into the picking comb.
Third -The use of a brush serving at the same time to clean the front face of the
picking comb the position of which is reversed, to clean the upper jaw of the
gripping apparatus and to press the material into the needles of the combing
roller.
Fourth-The special arrangement of a combing roller of small diameter and
which is cleaned by a brush actuated by a longitudinal motion.
Fifth In combination with the picking comb the position of which is reversed
a second picking comb having its teeth directed downwards in the usual manner.
The new system of feeding depends essentially upon the complete immobility of
the feeding plate as well as upon the suppression of the backward and forward
movement of the feeding comb working in connection with the feeding plate, with
the object of causing all the material to be combed to advance at a given rate.
In my system this comb possesses only a single motion of opening and closing by
means of levers and the motion of the material to be combed is obtained by the
displacement of the grip the jaws of which oscillate about a single central point.
The operation of this portion of the apparatus is as follows:-The jaws of the
grip being open and at the lowest part of their course rise in order to approach the
feed comb then they close completely so as to hold the material during the action
of the combing roller; this movement is effected by the aid of a hinged lever
moveable upon an eccentric. When the last bar of this carding roller has passed
the end of the material the two jaws of the grip descend obliquely in order to cause
all the material to be combed to advance through the feed box the feed comb
of which is disengaged at this moment. The jaws of the grip open then again in
order to resume their first position as indicated above. The feeding is therefore
effected by the longitudinal displacement of the grip, it is variable at will by
altering the length of the lever which regulates the same. In this manner the
felting of the material to be combed is avoided thus avoiding damage to the fibres
during the operation. Guide plate. On the other hand 1 interpose between the
lower jaw of the grip and the feed plate an iron plate attached to a lever which

page_text: gives it a backwards and forwards motion, this plate rests at its front end upon the
lower jaw of the grip in such a manner that when this advances the jaw is cleaned
thereby at each pull and at the same time it detaches the material to be combed
and raises the fibres pressed down by the pinching grip. This arrangement
prevents any felting against the picking comb of short fibres during the combing of
the top material. On the other hand the forward motion of this plate takes place
when the upper jaw is hardly open so that the end of this plate forms with the same
two guides which serve to hold the fibres in place during the complete penetration
of the needles of the picking comb through the mass to be combed, before the
tearing out action commences, the picking comb having penetrated the whole
thickness of the fibre retains all the foreign substances and the little knots which in
the present machine escape the action of this picking comb and are consequently
liable to escape in combing. In these machines it is only the tension of the
fibres drawn up by the plucking action which causes the said fibres to penetrate
properly into the comb.
PICKING COMB AND CLEANSING AND PRESSING BRUSIL.
In order to obtain a perfect combing of the end of the material and a
good mechanical cleansing of the picking comb, 1 place these latter below
the plucking apparatus with the points of the needles upwards and in the
opposite direction of the needles of the feeding comb whereas this picking
comb is usually placed above the plucking cylinders its points being turned down-
wards, morcover I make use of a brush mounted upon a slide holder having
a lever which is arranged in such a manner that upon the descent after each
plucking motion it effects the cleansing of the outer face of the picking comb,.
that is to say the exit side so that the substances thus taken off can no longer
detach themselves from the picking comb and pass into the combings at the next
picking. If any foreign matters remain they are then found in the inside of this
comb, that is to say the arrival side; moreover in consequence of their weight and
of the penetration of the fibres these rest below and at the root of the needles
instead of maintaining themselves at their end as happens when the fixed comb
is above the plucking apparatus. The brush having cleansed the exterior of the
picking comb approaches the upper jaw and cleanses it; afterwards it presses
itself lightly into the needles of the carding roller so as to cause the fibres to
penetrate so that none of them can escape its action. Moreover it must be
remarked that during this last movement the brush is itself cleaned by the teeth of
the comb.
COMBING ROLLER.
The combing roller with fixed axis of which I make use is of small diameter
about 70 millimetres and makes about one revolution at every pluck; it
receives alternating movement of rotation from an eccentric by means of a
toothed lever or of a handle so that the progressive speed of penetration of its
needles in the mass of the fibres to be combed can be regulated at will. In
consequence of this alternating movement the combing roller moves backwards
during the cleansing by the circular brush which can in consequence receive
a movement of rotation much slower and consequently producing less fluff and dust
moreover this brush may have a shifting motion for shifting it from the right to the
left in order to obtain a better cleansing of the carding ruller with a minimum speed
of the side brush. The combing roller can of course have a continuous motion of
rotation it it be desired, still in this case its small diameter renders its cleansing by
means of the revolving brush much easier than if its diameter were larger.
In order to give a clearer idea of the combing machine I may point out that the
plucking of the fibres is effected by means of two grooved cylinders actuated by
spur wheels, an endless band passing between the two cylinders which are mounted
upon an oscillating bearing. During the ascending movement of the frame the

page_text: cylinders receive a movement of rotation and progressively seize the fibres to be
combed as the same pass the picking comb in such a manner as to avoid any cutting
of the ribbon. When all the mass to be plucked is held by the grooved cylinders
the frame descends releasing the fibres from the fixed comb. The picking comb
having its needles directed in the opposite direction of the movement of the side
device it follows that the fibres cannot escape from the needles of the picking comb
during the action of the same.
Picking combs for use in case of having to operate upon substances very difficult
to purify properly, I add to the apparatus a second picking comb the teeth
of which are directed downwards that is to say in the opposite direction to those of
the picking comb already described, this second picking comb has no motion and is
simply placed so as to be easily lifted up when it is desirable to cleanse it by hand.
It is obvious that in this case the material to be combed is obliged to traverse the
teeth of the two picking combs thus securing a very perfect cleansing.
Dated this 26th day of February 1895.
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
31, High Holborn, London, W.C., Patent Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Combing Machinery.
I, WILLIAM Phillips Thompson, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of The Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street,
Manchester, both in the County of Lancaster, and 31, High Holborn, in the County
of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The improvements in combing machines which form the object of the present
application for Letters Patent refer essentially to the following points,
First: The method of feed obtained by rendering stationary the apparatus
called the "feed apparatus and causing the jaws to move more or less away
from it.
"
Second-The employment of an arrangement serving to clean the lower jaw of
the gripping apparatus, to brush up the fibres and to guide the penetration thereof
into the picking comb.
Third-The use of a brush serving at the same time to clean the front face of
the picking comb the position of which is reversed, to clean the upper jaw of the
gripping apparatus and to press the material into the spikes of the combing roller.
Fourth-The special arrangement of a combing roller of small diameter and
which is cleaned by a brush preferably capable of a certain amount of lateral
movement.
Fifth In combination with the picking comb the position of which is
reversed a second picking comb having its teeth directed downwards in the
usual manner.
These improvements will be described successively in detail in the Specification
with reference to the accompanying drawings in which :-
Figure is a vertical cross section of the whole of the combing machine
provided with the improvements and showing the means for actuating the
various parts.
Figures 2, 3, 4, and 5 shew improved parts of the machine in the positions
which they occupy successively during the operation of the machine. As shewn in
the drawings, the new system of feeding depends essentially upon the complete
iminobility of the feeding plate A attached to the traverse S as well as upon the
suppression of the backward and forward movement of the feeding comb B working

page_text: in connection with the feeding plate, with the object of causing all the material to
he combed to advance at a given rate. In my system this comb possesses only a
single motion of opening and closing by means of levers U and UI and the motion
of the material to be combed is obtained by the displacement of the grip the jaws C
and D of which oscillate about a single central point T. The operation of this
portion of the apparatus is as follows:-The jaws C D of the grip being open and
at the lowest part of their course (Figure 1) rise in order to approach the feed
comb, B (Figure 2) then they close completely as shewn in Figures 3 and 4 so as
to hold the fibre or material during the action of the combing roller M; this
movement is effected by the aid of a hinged lever N moveable upon an eccentric.
When the last bar of this combing roller has passed the end of the material Fig. 5
the two jaws C and D of the grip descend obliquely in order to cause all the
fibre or material to be combed to advance through the feed box A the feed comb B
of which is disengaged at this moment as shewn in Fig. 5. The jaws of the grip
open then again in order to resume their first position as indicated above. The
feeding is therefore effected by the longitudinal displacement of the grip C D, and
it is variable at will by altering the length of the lever which regulates the same by
means of a special arrangement thereto. In this manner the felting of the material
to be combed is avoided thus preventing damage to the fibres during the operation.
Guide plate. As shewn in the drawings I interpose between the lower jaw C
of the grip and the feed plate A an iron plate Fattached to a lever G which
gives it a backwards and forwards motion. This plate rests at its front end upon
the lower jaw C of the grip in such a manner that when this advances in the
position shewn in Fig. 1 the jaw is cleaned thereby at each pull and at the same
time it detaches the material to be combed and raises the fibres pressed down by
the pinching grip C. D. This arrangement prevents any felting against the picking
comb I of short fibres during the combing of the top material. On the other hand
the forward motion of this plate F takes place when the upper jaw D is hardly
open (see Figure 5) so that the end of this plate forms with the same two guides
which serve to hold the fibres in place during the complete penetration of the teeth
of the picking comb I through the mass to be combed, before the tearing out action
commences, the picking comb I having penetrated the whole thickness of the fibre
retains all the foreign substances and the little knots which in the present machine
escape the action of this picking comb and are consequently liable to escape in
combing. In these machines it is only the tension of the fibres drawn up by the
plucking action which causes the said fibres to penetrate properly into the comb.
PICKING COMB AND CLEANSING AND PRESSING BRUSH.
In order to obtain a perfect combing of the end of the material and a good
mechanical cleansing of the picking comb I, these latter are placed below the plucking
apparatus J with the points of the teeth upwards and in the opposite direction of
the teeth of the feeding comb B whereas this picking comb is usually placed above
the plucking cylinders its points being turned downwards. I also add to the
machine a second picking comb I' the teeth of which are directed downwards, that
is in the opposite direction to those of the comb I. This second comb I receives
no motion and is so arranged that it can be easily lifted when it is desirable to clear
it by hand. It is obvious therefore that the material must traverse the teeth of the
two combs I and I' thus ensuring a more perfect operation.
The teeth of one or other of the combs I I¹ might also be done away with,
and in such a case, the one which bore no teeth would simply serve as a pusher to
compel the fibres to penetrate between the teeth of the other comb. Moreover I
make use of a brush K mounted upon a slide holder L having a lever Q Fig. 1
which is arranged in such a manner that upon the descent after each plucking
motion it effects the cleansing of the outer face of the picking comb, that is to say
the exit side clearly shewn in Fig. 3 so that the substances thus taken off can no
longer detach themselves from the picking comb I and pass into the combings at

page_text: the next picking. If any foreign matters remain they are then found in the inside
of this comb, that is to say the arrival side; morcover in consequence of their
weight and of the penetration of the fibres these rest below and at the base of the
teeth instead of maintaining themselves at their upper end as happens when the
fixed comb is above the plucking apparatus. The brush K after having cleansed
the exterior of the picking comb I approaches the upper jaw D and cleanses it,
Fig. 4, afterwards it presses itself lightly into the teeth of the combing roller M
so as to cause the fibres to penetrate so that none of them can escape its action.
Moreover it must be remarked that during this last movement the brush K
Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 is itself cleaned by the comb.
COMBING ROLLER.
The combing roller M with fixed axis M' of which I make use (shewn in the
drawings in its various positions during the working) is of small diameter about
70 millimetres and makes about one revolution at every pluck; it receives alternating
movement of rotation from an eccentric by means of a pinion and toothed rack
carried by a lever, S', Fig. 1 so that the progressive speed of penetration of its.
spikes in the mass of the fibres to be combed can be regulated at will. In
consequence of this alternating movement the combing roller M moves backwards
during the cleansing by the circular brush O which can in consequence receive a
movement of rotation much slower and consequently producing less fluff and dust.
This circular brush is itself cleaned by a doffer e shewn in Figure 1. This
brush is preferably keyed on its shaft in a slotted groove, and controlled by a lever
clutch and handle (not shewn in drawing) so that it is capable of a certain amount
of lateral motion in order to obtain a better cleansing of the carding roller with a
minimum speed of the brush O. The combing roller M can of course have a-
continuous motion of rotation if it be desired, still in this case its small diameter
renders its cleansing by means of the revolving brush O much easier than if its
diameter were larger. In order to give a clearer idea of the combing machine
I may point out that the plucking of the fibres is effected by means of
two grooved cylinders J actuated by spur wheels. An endless band P passing
between the two cylinders which are mounted upon an oscillating bearing. During
the ascending movement of the frame the cylinders receive a movement of rotation
and progressively seize the fibres to be combed as the same pass the picking comb I
in such a manner as to avoid any cutting of the sliver. When all the mass to be
plucked is held by the grooved cylinders J the frame descends releasing the fibres
from the picking comb. The end of the plucking movement is produced by a simple
piece V. The picking comb I having its teeth directed in the opposite direction of
the movement of the piece V it follows that the fibres cannot escape from the teeth
of the picking comb I during the action of the same.
In order to complete the description of the machine shewn in Fig. 1, I will now
indicate the arrangements I prefer to employ for actuating its various parts.
The grip formed by the two jaws C and D oscillates about the axle T and its
forward motion producing the feed is effected by means of the bent lever R the
roller of which rolls on the excentric r; this movement is regulated by displacing
the roller E attached to the axle T in the slot of the lever R.
The lower jaw C can oscillate slightly on the axle c and receives its pressure by
means of two spring boxes c'.
The upper jaw D receives its up and down motion by means of the adjustable
piece d and of the lever N the roller n of which rolls on the excentric n'.
The comb B which alternately penetrates and retires from the fixed feed plate A
receives its motion from the lever U actuated by lever U' set in motion by a roller u
adapted to the above mentioned lever N. The guide plate F is mounted on the
lever G which receives its motion from the lever y the roller of which H rolls on
the excentric g'.
The brush is mounted on the slide L receiving a rising and falling motion by

page_text: means of the roller rolling on the excentric and a back and forward movement
by means of the adjustable piece 9 and of the lever Q whose roller rolls on the
excentric q'. The movable picking comb I is adjustably fixed upon the lever i whose
roller rolls on the excentric. The picking comb I¹ is fixed adjustably upon a
lever articulated at a fixed point to and which can be raised when it is not
desired to make use of the comb I'.
In this machine the grooved rollers J J are mounted on a frame actuated by an
excentric and they are rotated as usual by means of spur wheels; finally the
combed material is carried by the endless band P into a funnel Z whence it passes
through rolls = 2.
The blade V receives its motion from the piece v and lever v³ whose roller rolls
on the excentric vll.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in ren-
tion and in what mauner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is -
1. In a combing apparatus for textile materials the method of feed, consisting in
giving no to and fro motion to that part of the feeding device consisting of the feed
plate A and the comb B but in obliging the grip C. D. to advance more or less
drawing the material which slides into the piece A the comb B of which is
disengaged at the moment substantially as above described.
2. In a combing machine, the moveable plate Fresting on the lower jaw C of the
grip and serving to cleanse this jaw C, to raise the fibres and to hold them up during
their passage into the picking combs I and I as herein before described.
3. In a combing machine the combination with the moveable picking comb I
whose teeth are directed upwards of a second picking comb whose teeth are
directed downwards and which receives no motion but can be raised when not in
use of which combs one may possess no teeth and may simply serve as a pusher for
the other as hereinbefore described.
4. In a combing machine a moveable brush K serving to cleanse the picking comb I
and the upper jaw D of the grip and to press the fibres into the combing roller as
hereinbefore described.
5. In a combing machine the combination of a combing roller M of small
diameter turning on a fixed axle M with a revolving brush O serving to cleanse
the said roller and preferably possessed of a movement of lateral displacement as
hereinbefore described.
6. A combing machine for textile materials provided with the improved organs
above described and which are actuated substantially as set forth and represented
in Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 21st day of November 1895
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
31, High Holborn, Loudon, W.C., Patent Agents for the Applicant.