IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR PREPARING AND COMBING WOOL, COTTON, AND OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Little, of Oldham, in the County of Lan-
caster, Mechanical Engineer, and Thomas Charles Eastwood, of
Bradford, in the County of York, Machine Wool Comber, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR PREPARING AND COMBING
WOOL, COTTON, AND OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS."
Scaled the 28th May 1872, and dated the 25th March 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Little and
Thomas Charles Eastwood at the Office of the Commissioners of
Patents, with their Petition, on the 25th March 1872.
We, GEORGE LITTLE, of Oldham, in the County of Lancaster, Me-
chanical Engineer, and THOMAS CHARLES EASTWOOD, of Bradford, in
the County of York, Machine Wool Comber, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR PRE-
PARING AND COMBING WOOL, COTTON, AND OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS," to be as
follows:-
Our Invention relates, firstly, to those preparing and combing machines
in which a cylinder covered with combs or cards and workers are em-

page_text: ployed in combination with combing apparatus, which receives the
material from the said cylinder, such cylinder being, for the purposes of
our Invention, formed with a concave or convex surface.
The first object we have in view is to construct a travelling feed
apparatus which will supply the material to the said concave or convex
surface at variable speeds across its breadth in proportion to the rate of
travelling of the varying diameter of the cylinder. This we accomplish
by composing the feed apparatus of a series of chains or other such
parts placed side by side, and caused to travel forward by a chain or
similar pulley whose circumference varies in proportion to the concavity
or convexity of the cylinder, the several chains passing over loose discs
which act as guide pullies. The workers acting in conjunction with the
cylinder we form conical, and in two tiers, each of them extending about
midway across the cylinder. The material is delivered to and is removed
by a circular travelling comb, from which it is drawn and brought into a
continuous sliver by any known apparatus for effecting that object. In
conjunction with this part of our Invention a novel arrangement consists
in the application of two or more circular combs placed one above
another. When the material passes from the feed surface it is delivered
to a dish or pair of plates, and beneath the circular comb we adapt a
bearing plate against which the tufts hang down.
In another arrangement we employ a peculiar construction of workers
in place of or in combination with those above described. In this
instance they consist of a number of bars placed side by side, and pro-
vided at their under parts with combs. These bars, by any ordinary
apparatus, are caused to move upward and downward, and thus arrive in
contact with and retreat from the surface of the cylinder, and during the
latter movement the combs are drawn through perforated plates, and are
thus stripped. The cylinder for these workers may be of uniform
diameter, or concave or convex, as above described. In the former case
the material may be removed by a travelling comb, such as that described
in the Specification of a Patent granted to me, Thomas Charles Eastwood,
dated 23 September 1871, No. 2518, or by other suitable arrangement, or
instead of that arrangement the ordinary doffing apparatus of a carding-
engine may be employed. In the latter case the travelling circular
comb above mentioned may be used.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said George Little and Thomas Charles Eastwood in
the Great Seal Patent Office on the 25th September 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, GEORGE
LITTLE, of Oldham, in the County of Lancaster, Mechanical Engineer,
and THOMAS CHARLES EASTWOOD, of Bradford, in the County of York,
Wool Comber, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fifth day of March, One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the thirty-fifth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto us, the said George Little and Thomas Charles Eastwood, Her
special license that we, the said George Little and Thomas Charles
Eastwood, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as we, the said George Little and Thomas Charles Eastwood, our
executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR PREPARING AND COMBING WOOL, COTTON, AND
OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS," upon the condition, amongst others, that we,
the said George Little and Thomas Charles Eastwood, by an instru-
ment in writing under our hands and seals, or under the hand and
seal of one of us, 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 George Little, do hereby declare the
nature of our said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described, and ascertained in and by the
following statement and accompanying Drawings, that is to say:―
Our Invention relates, firstly, to preparing and combing machines in
which a cylinder covered with combs or cards and workers are employed

page_text: .
•
in combination with combing apparatus which receives the material from
the said cylinder, such cylinder being for the purposes of this part of our
Invention formed with a concave or convex surface.
The first object we have in view is to construct a travelling feed
apparatus which will supply the material to the said concave or convex
· surface at variable speeds across its breadth in proportion, or approxi-
mately so, to the rate of travelling of the varying diameter of the
cylinder. The workers acting in conjunction with the concave or convex
cylinder we form conical, and in two tiers, each of them extending about
midway across the cylinder. The material is delivered to and is removed
by a circular travelling comb, from which it is drawn and brought into a
continuous sliver by any known apparatus for effecting that object. In
conjunction with this part of our Invention a novel arrangement consists
in the application of two or more circular combs, placed one above
another. When the material passes from the feed surface it is delivered
to a dish or pair of plates. Beneath the circular comb we adapt a bearing
plate against which the tufts hang down.
In the accompanying Drawings Fig. 1 represents in side elevation a
preparing and combing machine constructed according to our Invention;
Fig. 2 is a plan view; and Fig. 3 an end elevation of the right hand or
feed end of Fig. 1. Upon the framework 1 of the machine is mounted
the main shaft 2 which carries the cylinder 3, formed with a convex
surface, as seen particularly in Fig. 2, and covered with wire cards or
. other similar combs or points, a portion only of which are shewn in the
Drawing at 4. The framework 1 is provided with a "bend" 5 which carries
a series of pairs of workers 6, 6*, formed conical, each of such workers 6
extending, as regards its innermost working point, about midway across
the cylinder, and the others 6*being similarly situate; the whole breadth
of the said cylinder is covered and in such manner that the smallest
diameters of the workers are in contact with the smallest diameter of the
cylinder, and they are so arranged that the surface speeds of both of
those parts are in about the same proportion across the width of the
cylinder. Two pairs of these workers only are shewn in the Drawing,
but they are repeated after the manner of ordinary workers in carding
engines to any extent that may be required, and they are clothed with
wire cards or similar instruments. Upon the framework 1 are brackets
which carry a stationary shaft 8, upon which is placed a series of loose

page_text: pullies 9, formed with teeth suitable for receiving chains 10, which after
passing over another series of loose pullies 11, extend downward and pass
over a third series of pullies 12, which are not however in this case loose,
but are mounted fast upon a shaft 13 which is driven by the motive power,
and they are formed of varying diameters as seen in Fig. 3. At 14, 14* are
two conical card rollers, their surfaces corresponding to the concavity of
the cylinder 3, as described in reference to the workers 6, 6*, their inward
working ends meeting about midway of the breadth of the chains 10,
as seen in Fig. 2, but these chains are merely represented by parallel
lines. At 15 is an upright shaft having a pinion 16 on its upper end in
gear with a wheel which is formed on the base of a circular comb 17,
which may be constructed in any ordinary manner; but in the Drawing
I have shewn it with three circular rows of comb points a, b, c. These combs
project at an angle outward, and their circumference is situate within the
concavity of the cylinder 3. At 18 is a bracket extending from the
frame 1 and carrying, by means of a centre pin, a lever 19, one end of
which is jointed to a lug provided on its under side with a brush 20, the
other end of the said lever being connected by a pin to a rod 21, caused
to move upward and downward by an excentric 22. At 23 is a pair of
fluted rollers, one of them being situate within an endless band 24, and
occupying a position contiguous to the circular comb 17.
The method by which the various parts above described are driven
does not constitute any part of our Invention, for the several motions
may be effected in any convenient and suitable manner. I will however
point out the arrangements shewn in the Drawing, assuming that the
main shaft 2 is driven by the ordinary fast and loose pullies. Upon the
shaft 2 is a chain pulley 25 over which a chain 26 passes, and from
thence to a pulley 27 mounted on the shaft 13, upon which the pullies 12
of varying diameter, as above mentioned, are situate, and by which they
are therefore caused to travel at varying speeds. Upon the shaft 2 is a
bevil wheel 28 gearing into a pinion 29 upon a shaft 30, the other end of
which drives a shaft 31 by means of gearing 32, 33, and this shaft com-
municates motion by bevil wheels 34, 35, to a horizontal shaft 36
extending across the machine. Upon the shaft 36 is a pulley 37, over
which a chain 38 passes, and from thence to another pulley 39 upon
a shaft 40 which is provided with a pulley and chain 41, 42, the latter of
which passes over pullies 43 mounted on studs which are carried by the

page_text: .
bend. Fast with the pullies 43 are toothed wheels 44 gearing into
others upon the axes of the workers 6, which axes are supported by
collars 45 carried by the bend. By these means the workers 6 are
caused to revolve, and by means of the same arrangement on the other
side of the machine motion is communicated to the other workers 6*.
Upon the shaft 40 is a pulley driving a chain 41* which passes over a
pulley 42*, and this, by an arrangement similar to that used for driving
the workers 6 communicates motion to the roller 14, the other one 14*
being driven by the same arrangement on the other side of the machine.
Upon the shaft 31 is a bevil pinion which, by gearing with another,
drives the upright shaft 15, and this by means of the pinion 16 gives
motion to the circular comb 17.
The operation of the machine is as follows:-The material is placed
upon the series of travelling chains 10, which, being caused to move
forward by the means above described, deliver it to the revolving conical
card feed rollers 14, 14*, and by these it is conveyed to the cylinder 3;
but it has been mentioned that the chains are driven by pullies 12 of
different diameters, and they will not therefore move forward at the samo
speeds, and by examining Fig. 3 it will be seen that the greatest speed
is on each side, gradually diminishing towards the centre, such variation
being in proportion to the convexity of the cylinder 3, by which arrange-
ment it follows that the material will be fed in different quantities
across the width to agree with the varying velocity of surface of the
cylinder. From the chains 10 the material is taken by the rollers 14, 14*,
which deliver it to the cylinder, and by reason of their conical form run
in contact therewith at varying surface speeds in proportion to those of
its own surface. After this the material is carried onward by the cylinder
and is operated upon by the workers 6, 6*, which by reason of their
conical form act in the manner described in reference to the rollers 14, 14*.
The material having been thus prepared is brought in contact with
the circular comb 17, and is deposited on the points thereof, which by
their rotation carry it beneath the brush 20, and this by the downward
action of its reciprocating motion thrusts it downward further on to the
combs. The material may be removed as a sliver by any of those
arrangements employed when circular combs are used; according to the
Drawing it is delivered to the fluted rollers 23, the endless apron
assisting to conduct it continuously.
The above described are the general operations of the machine, and

page_text: we will now proceed to describe a point of novelty connected with the
feed apparatus not hitherto alluded to. This is shewn at Figs. 3 and 4,
the latter of which will be hereafter referred to in describing another
part of our Invention. Beneath the conical rollers 14, 14*, and extending
around a portion of their circumference we place dishes 45, 45*, curved
in both directions, as seen in the Drawings, and approaching very near
to the said rollers which, being clothed with wire cards or similar.
apparatus, draw the material along the concave surfaces, and by that
means to a certain extent straighten it before it is delivered to the
cylinder. The dishes 45, 45*, are supported by brackets extending from
the fixed collars 46, or from any other suitable stationary past.
In operating upon some fibres, such as those which are usually called
long, the workers may be as above described; but for short fibres, such
as cotton, we adapt strippers to the said workers, a method of doing
which is shewn at Fig. 3, and at the detached view, Fig. 5. To the
fixed collar 45 is attached an arm 46 which carries a rod 47 having
arms 48 adapted thereto by means of set screws, so that they may be
adjusted in any required position. From these arms 48 there extends a
blade 49 so as almost to touch the periphery of the roller 6*, and to be
just clear of the cylinder, the said blade being curved to correspond to
the conical form of the roller. The same apparatus is of course applied
to the roller 6, and to as many of the other workers as may be desired.
By this arrangement material which would tend to accumulate upon
the workers is stripped and returned to the cylinder. If desired the
blades 49 may have a reciprocating motion like the doffer comb of a
carding engine.
Figs. 2 and 2* represent an apparatus we employ between the cylinder
and the circular comb. At 3 is the cylinder, and at 17 the circular
comb, at 50 is a plate bent to the shape of the said cylinder and comb,
and extending downward, it being carried by brackets attached to the
stationary frame. As the material is deposited upon the comb it hangs
downward against the plate 50, as shewn in Fig. 2* by red colour,
and the rotation of the cylinder by brushing against it combs the pro-
jecting ends, and thus cleans and straightens them.
Fig. 6 shews a modification of our arrangement of travelling surface
designed to take the place of the chains 10, before described. At
51, 51º, 51, 51º, 51ª, is a series of discs placed side by side, their combined

page_text: surfaces forming a double cone corresponding to the concave shape of
the cylinder 3, before referred to. The central disc 51 is fast upon a
shaft 52, to which is attached a spur wheel 53; the disc 51* runs loosely
on the said shaft by means of a collar 54, and has a spur wheel 55, and
the disc 51 has a collar 56 which carries a spur wheel 57 and runs loosely b
on the collar 54. At the other end there are spur wheels 57, 58, for the
discs 51, 51°, running loosely by means of collars, as at the other end of
the shaft.
Figs. 7 and 8 represent another modification of this part of our Inven-
tion. In this instance there are also several pullies, 51, 51ª, 51, 51º, 51ª,
1
placed side by side, but their peripheries are parallel with each other, and
the convexity is formed by the cards or other such apparatus being of
different lengths, mounted upon endless bands 59 which pass over similar
pullies at the other end, not shewn in the Drawing. The several pullies
are mounted upon a shaft and collars, as before, and are driven in a 1
similar manner by gearing of different speeds, and in both these cases
therefore the rate of feed is proportionate to the varying velocity of the.
surface of the cylinder, or substantially so.
These arrangements, Figs. 6, 7, 8, may be used as workers on the
concave or convex cylinders. At Fig. 4 the arrangement shewn at 2
Fig. 6 is adapted to the cylinder 3 and dish 45.
We have above stated that our Invention may be carried out by the
use of a concave or convex cylinder; the former of these we have
described, and we illustrate at Figs. 9 and 10 how the latter may be
employed. The first of these Figures represents the cylinder and circular 2
comb in elevation, the latter in plan view. The cylinder is shewn at 3,
its convex surface covered with cards or other such apparatus being at 4.
At 17 is the circular comb extending around the circumference of the
cylinder, but placed at an angle to the horizontal line so as to leave a
space between it and the said cylinder for a portion of the circumference,
in order to afford a situation for the removal of the material. To the
cylinder thus formed, a feed apparatus, workers, and other parts may be
adapted, as already explained, with the difference of reversing the
surfaces, so that those which were convex are now concave, and vice
versa.
Another part of our Invention consists in the adaptation of two or
3

page_text: The
more circular combs to the concave or convex cylinder, and this arrange-
ment is shewn at Fig. 4. At 3 is the cylinder, and at 17 the circular
comb, which has already been described; it is in this instance however
placed lower down and at an angle; beneath this is another circular
comb 17*, and at 50, 50x, are the guard plates before referred to.
first comb 17 receives the greater part of the material, and the second
any remaining quantity, or substantially so, and from there the slivers
are removed in any ordinary manner, either separately or combined. A
brush to put down the material on each comb may be adapted as above
described. These combs may be driven by any ordinary suitable
gearing.
Another part of our Invention consists in the employment of a peculiar
construction of workers to be used alone or in combination with those
above described; but this part of our Invention is also applicable to
cylinders of uniform diameters, like those of an ordinary carding engine.
Fig. 11 represents this improvement in partial side elevation, and Fig. 4
is a partial section in elevation; at 3 is the cylinder, and at 5 the bend
of the frame, in which is mounted a series of shafts 60 extending across
the machine, each one being provided with an excentric 61 at each end.
At 62 are connecting rods proceeding from the excentrics, and jointed to
plates 64 which carry combs or other such instruments 65, they being
concave or convex if the cylinder be either of those forms. At 66 are
rods bolted to the top of the bend and extending downward between a
pair of combs, and provided at their lower ends with double springs 67
which are furnished at bottom with bars 68 bearing on either hand
against the combs 65 so as slightly to bear against them. These combs
extend around the cylinder for any required distance, or may be placed
between rotatory workers. Upon the axis of the cylinder is the pinion 69
of a star wheel 70 which is fast with a spur wheel 71 taking into a
pinion 72. This pinion is in gear with a pinion 73 on the axis of one of
the excentrics 60, which in its turn gears into a pinion 74 on the axis
of the next but one excentric, and so on, and the excentrics to the right
hand of the Figure are driven in a similar manner, so that they are
alternately caused to revolve; and on the other side of the machine is a
pinion corresponding to that shewn at 72 which drives the excentric
shafts which are situate between those above referred to. As the cylinder
revolves the pin 69 causes the star wheel 70 to rotate with an intermittent

page_text: motion well known, and by means of the train of gearing and excentrics
above described alternately lifts up and depresses each comb 65 so as by
the latter movement to bring the points of the said combs into contact
with the cards of the cylinder, while by the former movement they are
drawn against the bars of metal 68, and any adhering material is stripped
off. In the Drawing the combs are shewn alternately up and down, but
they may be worked in any other order by altering the positions of the
excentrics 61. The left-hand side of Fig. 11 shews the bars 68 as
single, that is, acting on one side of the combs; but at the right-hand
the combs pass between two bars 68; either of which arrangements may
be adopted. The combs of course require guides in their upward and
downward motion, a method of accomplishing which is shewn in the
detached views, Figs. 12, 13. The plates 64 extend upward behind
the connecting rods 62, and these parts move in guides 75 formed in
pieces 76 attached to the bends 5. The comb plate 64 is shown convex,
it being assumed that the cylinder is concave. The material having
passed from the workers is removed by a circular comb, as before
described; or if the said cylinder is parallel to its axis an ordinary doffer
comb or other usual apparatus may be employed.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of our said Inven-
tion, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, I desire it to
be understood that we claim as secured to us under the above in part
recited Letters Patent,-
Firstly. The use of a feed apparatus composed of several parts and
driven at different velocities, as illustrated by the chains 10, and at
Figs. 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8.
Secondly. The use of convex or concave workers placed in two tiers
across the cylinder.
Thirdly. The use of a dish or dishes in combination with convex or
concave feed rollers, as illustrated at 45, Figs. 3, 4, 7, 8.
Fourthly. The use of the guard plate as illustrated at 50, Figs. 2
and 2*.
Fifthly. The application of two or more circular combs to the concave
or convex cylinder.

page_text: ments acting as workers, and the stripping apparatus connected there.
with, as illustrated at Figs. 4. 11.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Little, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of September, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Little, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of September, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two.
GEORGE LITTLE. (L.S.)