IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR COMBING FIBROUS SUBSTANCES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MACHINERY FOR COMBING FIBROUS SUBSTANCES." A communication from
abroad by the Firm of Heilmann-Ducommun and Steinlen, of Paris, France.
Sealed the 30th December 1879, and dated the 5th September 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville Clark at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th September 1879.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR COMBING FIBROUS SUBSTANCES."
[A communication from abroad by the Firm of Heilmann-Ducommun and Steinlen,
of Paris, France.]
This Invention relates to further improvements in the machines for combing
filamentous materials, for which I have already obtained Letters Patent, Nos. 184
and 4508, of 1877; No. 3836, of 1878; and No. 547, of 1879.
I. When long or electrifiable fibres are operated on by the machine in which a
nipper is used for parting the web asunder it may happen, when the parting nipper
returns with the tail end of the web in order to place it beneath the front end, that
the tail end fibres are not correctly placed beneath the front end fibres, but rise and
meet them end to end.
In order to avoid this objection it is proposed to employ the arrangement shown
in Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings, consisting of a bar or blade X, which,
during the return of the parting nipper, descends and bends the tail end of the web
down over the edge of the jaw (the resistance of the air on the return of the nipper
tending still further to depress it) thereby ensuring that the whole of the fibres of
the tail end shall be properly presented beneath the front end fibres. At the
moment that the parting nipper (in its return movement for piecing up and again
parting asunder the web) has arrived with bar X. at the front end of the web, the
said bar is suddenly raised to the position indicated in Figure 2. By this means
the piecing up of the web will be more perfectly effected as the tail fibres are
properly presented beneath the front end fibres and prevented from meeting them
end to end.
This bar X for depressing the tail end of the web. is fixed to two levers A, A',
pivoted at a, a', upon the two arms of the parting nipper, and operated by two

page_text: lever arms B, B³, fixed on shaft C, and connected to A, A¹, at b, b¹. D, bent lever
fixed on shaft C and moved in opposite directions by cam E and spring F, the
curvature of cam E being such as to give the desired motion to bar X.
II. In combing long wool or other long fibres, fibres much exceeding the average
length are often met with, and it is desirable that these extra long fibres should be
cut. For this purpose the arrangement shown in Figure 3 is adapted. L is a cutter
which, just before the completion of the parting asunder, while the parting nipper
R, S, is closed, and at the moment when the stationary nipper B, B', closes is
brought in front of the finishing comb, whereupon the parting nipper continuing its
course a little further exceeds the limit of 'elasticity of the fibres and causes the
longest fibres to be severed at the point of contact of the cutter.
Figure 3 shows the position of the cutter at the moment of severing the extra
long fibres. The cutter is carried on a lever G oscillating on centre g, and operated
by a cam H whose curvature is such that the cutter in its downward movement
shall avoid the front end of the web and also the parting nipper in its return
movement.
Instead of a cutter, two saw toothed blades having a longitudinal movement may
be employed as shown in Figures 4 and 5. S, S¹, are the blades provided with
friction, rollers g, g¹, pressed by springs R, R¹, against a' cam disc D fixed on the
journal of the comb cylinder, and which thus transmits longitudinal movement to
the saw blades.
.III. When the parting nipper has a great extent of motion it is supported by
springs R, R¹, Figuro 1, which bear against each of the arms of the nipper.
IV. In a former Patent reference has been made to the use of a blade for pre-
venting the fibres of the front end of the web adhering to the upper jaw of the
parting nipper, and being raised therewith when it opens. Instead of placing this
blade in front of the nipper jaw where it causes a loss of space between the two
nippers it is now proposed to place it in rear of the nipper jaw as shown in Figures
6, 7, and 8, in which M is the blade. If it is desired to raise this blade at the
moment the parting nipper is brought up to the front of the web in order to have
the entire space between the two jaws of the nipper free, this may be effected
either by an arrangement similar to that for causing the bar X, Figure 1, to press
down the tail end of the web, or by causing said bar X to bear against finger m
'and so raise the blade M at the moment it reaches the front end of the web.
.
I would observe that it is the novel operations or effects described under § § I., II.,
that it is more especially desired to protect rather than the mechanical arrangements.
which are susceptible of considerable variation.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alexander Melville Clark'in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 3rd
March 1880.
:
"
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR COMBING FIBROUS SUBSTANCES."
A communication from abroad by the Firm of Heilmann-Ducommun and Steinlen,
of Paris, France.
This Invention relates to further improvements in the machines for combing
filamentous materials for which I have already obtained Letters Patent, Nos. 184
and 4508, of 1877; No. 3836, of 1878; and No. 547, of 1879.

page_text: 0
IV.
In a former Patent, dated February 11th, 1879, No. 547, reference was made to
the use of a blade L for preventing the fibres of the front end of the web adhering
to the upper jaw of the detaching nipper and being raised therewith when it opens.

page_text: "
According to this part of the present Invention, instead of placing this blade L in
front of the nipper jaw, where it causes a loss of space between the two nippers, it
is placed in rear of the nipper jaw, as shown in Figures 6, 7, and 8, in which M is
the blade for preventing the front end fibres adhering to the upper jaw of the nipper.
If it is deemed necessary to raise this blade when the detaching nipper is brought
up to the front end of the web in order to have the entire space between the two
jaws of the nipper free; this may be effected either by an arrangement similar to
that for causing the bar X, Figure 1, to press down the tail end of the web, or by
any other suitable arrangement; or it may be by simply causing said bar X to
bear against finger m and so raise the blade M at the moment it reaches the front
end of the web.
The Invention is not limited to the mechanical arrangements shown which are
susceptible of considerable variation, but consists more particularly in the novel
effects or operations described under § § 1 and 2.
Having described the nature of the Invention and the manner of performing the
same, I declare that what I claim as the-Invention to be protected by the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent is,--
1st.. The application and employment of a bar or blade which is caused to descend
after the parting asunder or detaching of the web (a) to press down the tail end
so as to prevent the fibres of the tail end meeting those of the front end, end to
end; (b) to cause the tail end to describe a lower curve than if it merely rested
upon the lower jaw of the detaching nipper; (c) to hold down the tail end so that
the resistance.of the air shall tend to depress it still more, the said bar or blade
partaking to a partial extent in the return movement of the detaching nipper and
rising suddenly when it comes opposite the front end of the web, all as herein
specified.
2nd. The application of a knife or pair of saw toothed blades having a longi-
tudinal motion, which is brought up to the web just before it is completely parted.
asunder while the detaching nipper is still closed, and just as the stationary nipper
closes for severing the extra long fibres, whether or not the detaching nipper
.continues its course, to stretch the fibres to their full extent and cause them to be
severed at the point of contact with the knife or saw toothed blades, as specified.
3rd. The application of springs R, R¹, for relieving the detaching nipper when it
has a great extent of motion, as described.
4th. Placing the blade M (which prevents the fibres of the front end of the web
adhering to the upper jaw of the detaching nipper when it opens) in rear of
the jaws of the detaching nipper in order to gain space between the nippers, as
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Second day of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.