IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR COMBING, SLIVERING, AND PREPARING FIBROUS MATERIALS TO BE SPUN
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Tongue, of Wakefield, in the County of
York, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR
COMBING, SLIVERING, AND PREPARING FIBROUS MATERIALS TO BE SPUN."
Sealed the 8th July 1864, and dated the 15th January 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Tongue at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 15th
January 1864.
I, WILLIAM TONGUE, of Wakefield, in the County of York, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY
FOR COMBING, SLIVERING, AND PREPARING FIBROUS MATERIALS TO BE SPUN," to be
as follows:-
The first part of my Invention relates to improvements in machinery for
combing fibrous materials, such as was described in the last part of the
Specification of a Patent granted to me dated March 18th 1862, No. 752.
In the arrangement of machinery described in the Specification before
referred to two series of intermittent rotating feeding and detaching apparatus
were shewn and described, and there were only as many stoppages in making
a complete revolution of the revolving feeding and nipper heads as there were
feeding and nipping apparatus arranged around each of such revolving feed
and nipper heads, and one of my present improvements consists in causing the
revolving feed and nipper heads to stop at a greater number of points in
their revolution than the number of feed and nipper apparatus carried by
A

page_text: each of such feed and nipper heads, whereby a greater number of operations
during each revolution may be arranged to take place upon the fibrous
materials carried by such feed and nipper heads.
In carrying out my improvements I prefer to arrange a series of three-feed
apparatus around the feed circle, and a series of three-nipping surfaces around
the nipping circle, each stopping at six points during their revolution. In
place of arranging the feed apparatus with its nippers, and the detaching
nippers in curved slides, as described in the Specification before referred to, I
cause them to move according to my present improvements in straight slides
so as to approach and recede from each other in parallel lines, in place of at
angles, by which a greatly improved mechanical working of the parts is
obtained. In the former arrangement the cam which actuated the detaching
nippers oscillated or travelled back during the cessation of the rotating move-
ment of the detaching nippers, so as to cause such detaching nippers to pass
through their various movements while stationary, but the cam surfaces which
actuated the feeding apparatus and nippers, and detaining comb did not
oscillate, and caused the feed apparatus and nippers and detaining comb to
pass through their various movements (relative to one another) while such
apparatus was travelling from one point to another during the rotation of the
apparatus. Now I cause the cams which actuate the feeding apparatus and
nippers with the detaining comb to oscillate in the same manner as the cam
'for actuating the detaching nipping apparatus, so that the feed apparatus,
nippers, and detaining comb, as well as the detaching nippers are caused to pass
through their various movements (relative to one another) during the cessation
of the rotating movement of such apparatus. In place of mounting the brush
.or instrument for forcing the fibrous material into the feeding comb in a fixed
position upon the rotating feed apparatus, and attaching the nipper thereto, I
make the nipper a fixture to the rotating feed apparatus, and cause the brush
.to move in slides or guides independently of such nippers, and in place of
attaching the other of the nippers to the feeding comb, and causing such nipper
to move to and from the axis together with the comb, I cause such nipper
merely to move in slides to and from the other nipper so as to open and close
upon the fibre, and cause the comb to have a separate movement to and from
such nipper so as to feed the material forward independently of the movement of
such nipper. In the former arrangement, the detaining comb was protruded
beyond the line of rotation of the nipper by means of a tail piece acting
between guides attached to the rotating plates, but I now cause the detaining
comb to be protruded beyond such line of rotation by means of stationary
cam surfaces, so that such detaining comb will be protruded during the

page_text: rotation of the feeding apparatus from one point to another, while the
movement of the detaining comb into the end of the sliver (previously to
the detaching of the tuft) will take place while the feeding apparatus is not
rotating; I also have plates or bars between the rows of pins in the detaining
combs, which are forced within the chambers of the combs when they enter
the fibrous material, but which project therefrom to discharge any noil or dirt
when such detaining combs are removed from the fibrous material. In place
of the fibrous material being forced into the detaining comb by means of a
brush or elastic surface attached to the feed nipping apparatus, I cause the
fibrous material to be pressed into such comb by means of a brush which is
caused to oscillate on a centre eccentric to the axis of the revolving head.
The brush after having pressed the fibrous material into the detaining comb
is caused by the eccentricity of the centre upon which it moves to retire from
the line of rotation of the nipping apparatus so as to allow the tuft of fibrous
material and the detaining comb to pass it. According to my present
improvements I cause the fibrous material to be fed forward by the outward
movement of the feed comb when the feed apparatus is brought opposite to
one of the detaching nippers so as to introduce the cleaned end of the sliver
of fibrous material between the detaching nippers, which then close upon
the fibrous material, and the detaining comb is then brought into the
projected fibrous material between the feed apparatus and the detaching
nipper, the brush above mentioned then coming into action to force the
fibrous material into the detaining or screen comb. The feed and detaching
apparatus then make a portion of a revolution so as to detach a tuft, and
the feeding apparatus on coming to a stand is caused to pass through the
following movements:-The feed comb is withdrawn from between the bars
or gratings until the points are below the surface of the bars or grating so as
to project the fibrous material from among the pins of the feed comb, the
brush or pressing instrument being brought down on to the fibrous material
so as to press it lightly against the surface of the bars or grating, which
together with the feed comb is then caused to approach the axis of the
rotating apparatus such a distance as will, when it is moved from the axis
again, form a "feed." The nippers attached to the feed apparatus are then
caused to close the detaining comb, having during this series of operations
been withdrawn within the line of rotation of the feed apparatus; the feed
apparatus then makes another portion of a revolution which brings the end
of the sliver projecting from beyond the nipper to the teeth of a reciprocating
comb which at that time has approached close to the line of rotation of the
nipping and feed apparatus, and a brush is at the same time caused to press

page_text: such projecting end of the sliver into the teeth of the reciprocating cleaning
comb, and whilst the rotating feed apparatus remains stationary the recipro-
cating comb recedes from the rotating feed apparatus so as to clean the
projecting end of the sliver. The noil so removed by the cleaning comb from
the end of the sliver is afterwards projected from among the teeth of such
comb by means of plates or bars, and in some cases in place of the above,
described reciprocating comb I prefer to employ a travelling pointed sheet
or surface as a cleaning instrument; the rotating feed apparatus then makes
another portion of a revolution and again comes to a stand, and the oscillating
cams for actuating such feed apparatus are at this point so formed that while
the feed apparatus stands by means of a hand lever the feed comb may be
partially withdrawn from the grating, and the nippers opened so that the
sliver of fibrous material may be introduced into the feed apparatus, it only
being necessary to perform this operation when introducing a fresh supply of
fibrous material into the machine; the rotating feed apparatus then makes
another portion of a revolution, and upon being brought to a stand the
projecting end of the sliver is subjected to the operation of a card, sheet, or
other cleaning apparatus. When a rotating or travelling pointed cleaning.
surface is used I cause it to have a movement by which it commences to act
first on the end of the projecting fibre, and then gradually up to the nipper;
the rotating feed apparatus then makes another portion of a revolution,
during which the detaining comb is projected beyond the line of rotation of
the feed apparatus, and upon the feed apparatus being brought to a stand the
nippers are caused to open, and the detaining comb is caused to approach
the projecting end of the sliver preparatory to being introduced therein.
The detaining comb bar is formed with guides, and when the detaining comb
is brought into the position above described such guides act to conduct the
detaining comb with accuracy into the fibrous material, the fixed cam surfaces
while these guides are in operation being dispensed with; the rotating feed
apparatus then makes another portion of a revolution so as to bring it
opposite to the detaching nipper as previously described. The detaching
nippers after having closed on the cleaned end of the sliver by a partial
rotation of the feed and nipping apparatus detach and carry with them a tuft
of fibrous materials, a plate or rod which is caused to oscillate
on the
axis of the rotating detaching apparatus is caused so to press upon the
tuft of fibrous material being detached that it is drawn through the feed
comb in a straight line or nearly so, and this plate or rod in performing this
operation advances at a greater speed than the detaching nipper so as to
withdraw behind it a portion of the tuft as it is detached, and upon the bar or

page_text: plate coming to a stand (at the point where the nipping apparatus afterwards
arrives) it will be seen that a portion only of the tuft will be presented to the
cleaning apparatus, and by the further movement of the detaching nippers
the tuft will be gradually projected from behind the plate or rod until the
nipper arrives at the point where the plate or rod is standing, the roller over
which the cleaning sheet is moving being withdrawn from the nipping
apparatus so as to admit the plate or rod between it and the line of rotation
of the nipping apparatus. The further movement of the nipping apparatus
beyond the point where the rod or plate is brought to a stand presents the
remaining portion of the tuft of fibrous material to the action of the cleaning
apparatus, which is then caused to approach close to the detaching nipper, by
which means the tuft of fibrous material will have been acted upon by
the cleaning apparatus first at the point and then gradually close up to the
detaching nipper. Prior to the detaching nipper making another portion of a
revolution so as to carry the tuft away from the cleaning apparatus, the roller
over which this cleaning apparatus passes is caused to recede from the nipper,
which then makes a portion of a revolution and carries the tuft of fibrous
material away from the cleaning apparatus, and the cleaning apparatus may be
caused so to move during this operation that the tuft in passing from it may
be retained in a straight line or nearly so; the detaching nipper then makes
another portion of a revolution, and after coming to a stand an endless pointed
surface is caused to move towards the nipper, the tuft of fibrous material being.
pressed between such pointed surface and a brush attached to the nipping
apparatus, and upon the nippers being opened and the pointed surface
receding, the tuft of fibrous material is carried away by such pointed surface,.
the portion of the tuft held between the nipper being removed by a current of
air or otherwise. The endless pointed sheet which during this operation has
been brought to a stand, now travels forward a short distance, so that when a
fresh tuft is deposited upon it it will be lapped partially over the preceding
tuft and so form an endless sliver. In some cases I prefer to deposit the
tufts of fibrous material upon a travelling comb so that the projecting ends of
the fibres may be in a pendent position, and this I accomplish by means of a
bar or rod, which at this point is caused to move out from the line of rotation
of the detaching nipping apparatus into such a position that a brush (also
carried by and actuated from the nipping apparatus) may be caused to deposit
such tuft into an intermittent rotating transferring comb or instrument, which
upon the rotation of the nipping apparatus rotates with it in such a manner
as to withdraw the tuft from the nipper, and afterwards present it to be
deposited in a travelling comb, to be afterwards drawn off in the form of a

page_text: sliver. The detaching nippers, after the tuft has been removed from them,
are by a series of partial rotations brought again opposite the feed apparatus,
and it will be understood that the series of operations above described are
common to all the feed and detaching apparatus arranged around the two
rotating axes. When the tufts are pieced up as above described upon an endless
pointed surface they are by the gradual movement of such surface brought
under the action of a dabbing brush which presses the fibrous material into
and among the pins of such travelling pointed surface, and by the further
movement of such pointed surface the fibrous material is presented to
a pair of drawing or delivering rollers which remove it from such endless
pointed surface, and deliver it out of the machine in the form of an endless
sliver, such rollers moving to and fro with the endless pointed. surface
and ceasing to revolve when such pointed surface is not travelling. I
also so arrange the rotating detaching nippers that both nipping surfaces
can be adjusted to regulate their relative position to one another and. to the
series of such apparatus arranged around the rotating axis and to the. feed,
cleaning, and slivering apparatus, and I also so arrange the detaching nipping
apparatus that when opening and closing both of the nipping. surfaces
are caused to move, in place of only one of such nipping surfaces being capable
of movement. In the feeding apparatus the sliver of fibrous material is
unwound from balls which are carried round with the apparatus, and in order
to prevent the slivers from unwinding from such balls, except when being
drawn forward by the feeding combs, I apply frictional guards which press
upon the surfaces of the balls of fibrous material, and also protect them
from becoming entangled in other parts of the machine. It is important
that the feeding and detaching apparatus after making a portion of a
revolution be arrested and held with accuracy, and this I accomplish in
the following manner:-On the axes which carry the rotating, feeding, and
detaching apparatus are fixed catch wheels, which catch wheels are moved
by catches carried by lever arms moved by cranks or eccentrics. On these
catch wheels are also projections which (when one movement of the catch
wheel is completed) come against a surface held by a spring, and when
the lever arm and catch begin to return (preparatory to moving the catch
wheel, and apparatus attached, another step forward) the surface acting
against the projection on the catch wheel is drawn by the spring above
mentioned so as to bring one of the steps on the catch wheel against a stopping
catch moving on a stud attached to the framing of the machine, and thus at
each portion of a rotation hold the catch wheel and apparatus attached
accurately in the position desired. The surface held by a spring against

page_text: which the projections on the catch wheel are brought, as above described, are
carried by lever arms, which are actuated by eccentrics on the oscillating
lever arms (which carry the catches for actuating the catch wheels) in such
manner that the surfaces are moved away from the projections on the catch
wheel in time to allow of another forward movement of such catch wheel.
In some cases I employ as cleaning instruments, in the above 'described
machine, endless sheets carrying heekle bars in a similar manner to those
used in ordinary heckling machinery, but I prefer to place the heckle bars
close together, and set the teeth in such bars at an angle to the line of
movement of the cleaning surface..
Another part of my Invention consists in an improved method of forming
a sliver from tufts of fibrous material which has been "dressed" or "heckled "
and at the same time removing the short fibres from the same. The tuft of
fibrous material after having been dressed or heckled, and while one end is
held in the book or holder, is deposited upon a comb of suitable breadth for.
retaining the short fibres, such comb having a long row or rows of pins in such
a position that the tuft after being placed from the holder on such row. of pins
will upon being deposited in the comb by means of a brush be so.deposited
that the short fibres contained in the tuft will be in the comb. The comb.
carrying the tuft, as above described, is next placed in a slide having a comb.
upon it so broad that one end of the tuft can be immersed in it leaving the
other end projecting on the other side of the first mentioned comb.. The:slide
and comb are then caused to advance towards a pair of drawing rollers, which
then revolve and "milk" out the fibres from among the teeth of the narrow,
and back combs above mentioned. The slide and combs then recede from
the drawing rollers and the narrow comb is lifted up, turned round, and
replaced in its position in the slide with the end of the tuft formerly immersed.
in the back comb presented towards the drawing rollers; the slide is then
caused to advance and recede, and the drawing rollers to revolve as above
described, so as to draw out the remaning fibres from the comb, leaving the
short fibres in the chamber of the comb to be afterwards removed. After the
above series of operations the comb and short fibres are removed from the
slide and another comb with a fresh supply of fibre introduced. The fibre
drawn off by the rollers is accumulated in the form of a lap which is removed
from time to time. When the holders are so long that it is desirable to
divide the tufts and place the divided parts in separate combs, I-effect such,
division in the following manner:-The holder with one end of the tuft pro-
jecting from it is laid on a sliding table with the fibre resting on a brush, the
sliding table is then moved forward until the projecting portion of the tuft is

page_text: brought under a row of pins, which then descend into the projecting portion of
the tuft and by removing the holder the tuft is left upon the pins which are
then raised so as to allow the sliding table to be moved back. On each side
of the pins above mentioned are brushes, and the pins move up and down
between such brushes, the pins also are fixed in two or more heads so that
after the tuft or tufts have been deposited on them they can be moved apart
and so divide the tuft and carry such divided portions over the combs
previously described in such a position that when such combs are raised until
they nearly touch the rows of pins above mentioned, and upon a further
movement raising such combs and rows of pins together the tufts of fibre will
be deposited upon the combs by the brushes between which the rows of pins
move, and it is the depositing from books or holders, by mechanical means,
of tufts of fibre (which have been dressed or heckled in "dressing" or
"heckling" machinery) upon combs to be afterwards drawn off that con-
stitutes one feature of this part of my Invention.
Another part of my Invention consists in an improvement in a machine for
which Letters Patent were granted to Charles de Jongh, dated July 26th
1858, No. 1681. In this machine fibrous material held in books or holders
is presented to the action of combs on both sides acting in a peculiar manner,
and this part of my Invention consists in dispensing with the lower comb and
replacing it by a brush upon which the fibre will be supported while the comb
is out of the fibre, and I prefer to cause the holder and brush to travel forward
together when the fibre is out of the comb, the brush moving to its former
position when the fibre is deposited within and being acted upon by the comb.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Tongue in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
15th July 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
TONGUE, of Wakefield, in the County of York, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifteenth day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-seventh
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said William Tongue, Her special licence that I, the
said William Tongue, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said William Tongue, my executors, administrators, and

page_text: assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time
and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man,
an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR COMBING, SLIVERING, AND
PREPARING FIBROUS MATERIALS TO BE SPUN," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said William Tongue, my executors or administrators, by
an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same
to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next
and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Tongue, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the fol-
lowing statement thereof, that is to say :--
The first part of my Invention relates to improvements in machinery for
combing fibrous materials, such as was described in the last part of the
Specification of a Patent granted to me, dated March the 18th, 1862,
No. 752.
In the arrangement of machinery described in the Specification before
referred to, two series of intermittent rotating, feeding, and detaching appa-
ratus were shewn and described, and there were only as many stoppages in
making a complete revolution of the revolving, feeding, and nipper heads as
there were feeding and nipping apparatus arranged around each of such
revolving, feed and nipper heads, and one of my present improvements con-
sists in causing the revolving, feed, and nipper heads to stop at a greater
number of points in their revolution than the number of feed and nipper
apparatus carried by each of such feed and nipper heads, whereby a greater
number of operations during each revolution may be arranged to take place
the fibrous materials carried by such feed and nipper heads.
upon
In carrying out my improvements I prefer to arrange a series of three feed
apparatus around the feed circle, and a series of three nipping surfaces around
the nipping circle, each stopping at six points during their revolution.
And in order that this part of my improvements may be clearly understood,
I will proceed to describe the improved arrangement of the feed and nipping
apparatus shewn in Sheets 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 of the Drawings hereunto
annexed, and as the nature of each of the views shewn in the Drawings is
written thereon, it will not be necessary to repeat the same here.

page_text: Sheets 1 and 2 of the Drawings when placed together upon the central
blue lines (1) (1) of Sheet 1, and (2) (2) of Sheet 2 represent a side
élevation of a machine for combing, slivering, and preparing fibrous materials
constructed according to my present improvements, and by examining the
Sheets of Drawings numbered 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, it will be seen that the
revolving feed head is arranged with a series of three-feed apparatus, the
Drawing only shewing all the parts of one of such feed apparatus carried as
shewn by the plates 6 fixed on the axis c. The revolving nipping head it will
be seen is arranged in a similar manner to the revolving feed apparatus, with
a series of three nipping surfaces, all the parts only of one of such nipping
surfaces being shewn carried by the plates f fixed on the axis e. These
nipping and feed apparatus are (by means of mechanism to. be herein-after
described) caused to have an intermittent rotating movement from one point
to another in such manner that they are brought to a staud at six different
points in their rotation, such points of rest of the feeding head being indicated
in the Drawings by the letters O, P, Q, R, S, and T, and the points of the
nipping head by the letters T, U, V, W, X, and Y.
In place of arranging the feed apparatus with its nippers, and the detaching
nippers in curved slides, as described in the Specification before referred to, I
cause them to move, according to my present improvements, in straight slides,
so as to approach and recede from each other in parallel lines in place of at
angles, by which a greatly improved mechanical working of the parts is
obtained.
:
This part of my improvements will be readily understood on examining
Sheets 8, 4, 5, and 6 of the Drawings hereunto annexed, which are marked
with corresponding letters of reference to those employed for describing cor-
responding parts in the Drawings attached to the Specification of my former
Patent before referred to, and it will be seen that the nipper 34* of the
feeding head moves on a bar b' carried by slides 62 moving in straight grooves
formed in the plates b, and that the nippers 22 of the nipping head are
attached to slides f¹ moving in straight grooves formed in the plates f,
and the nippers 22* are attached to the slides f³, moving on the bar f³,
attached to the side plates f; f and f³ and fe are cross rails connecting the
slides together.
In the former arrangement the cam which actuated the detaching nippers
oscillated or travelled back during the cessation of the rotating movement of
the detaching nippers, so as to cause such detaching nippers to pass through
their various movements while stationary, but the cam surfaces which actuated
the feeding apparatus and nippers and detaining comb did not oscillate. and

page_text: cause the feed apparatus and nippers and detaining comb to pass through
their various movements (relative to one another) while such apparatus was
travelling from one point to another during the rotation of the apparatus.
Now, I cause the cams which actuate the feeding apparatus and nippers,
with the detaining comb, to oscillate in the same manner as the cam for
actuating the detaching nipper apparatus, so that the feed apparatus, nippers,
and detaining comb, as well as the detaching nippers, are caused to pass
through their various movements (relative to one another) during the cessation
of the rotating movement of such apparatus.
In order that this part of my improvements may be clearly understood I
will proceed to describe the same by referring to Sheets 1 and 2 of the
Drawings. Motion is communicated to the main driving axis a by means of
a driving belt passing over the pulley a¹, and motion is communicated froni
the axis x by means of the toothed pinion and intermediate wheel to
the toothed wheel at on a socket moving around the axis a. On this socket
is also fixed the toothed wheel, which takes into and drives the toothed
wheel x, fixed on the axis a, and the toothed wheel a takes into and drives
the toothed wheel x fixed on the axis a¹0; o¹ is a lever fixed to a socket o², and
moving on the axis c is supported in a bearing of attached to the main framing
of the machine, which bearing acts to support one end of the axis c, and the
revolving feeding head attached thereto; and on this socket.o', within the
framing of the machine the cam o is fixed, and an oscillating movement is
communicated to the lever o¹ and to the cam o by means of the connecting
rod o and the crank o' fixed. on the axis. The cam o acts by means of
trucks n on the levers n³ (indicated by red lines) on the section on- Sheet 3,
and shewn by a separate view on Sheet 4 of the Drawings) fixed on the axes
or shafts n³ carrying the levers n, which support and actuate the detaining
comb 31, the shafts or axes n³ moving in bearings formed in the end
plates b. On the opposite side of the machine, shewn in the Drawing Sheet 2,
there is an oscillating lever r', and this lever moves on the axis e, and is
formed with a socket in the same manner as the lever o', the lever being
supported by means of a bearing on the framing of the machine within which
it moves, the bearing also acting to support one end of the axis e, on which
the revolving nipping head is fixed, and on the socket of the lever r¹, within
the framing of the machine, is fastened the cam r, shewn in Sheet 7. Ап
oscillating movement is communicated to the lever r¹ and cam r by means of
the connecting rod. and a crank arm fixed on the axis x, and the cam r
acts upon trucks on the levers s fixed on the axes s', which move in
bearings formed in the end plates f, and these levers s by means of con-

page_text: necting links & acting on the stud f to move the slide f¹ so as to open and
close the detaching nippers 22 and 22*; ' is a lever arm moving on the
axis c, the lever arm k' being formed with a socket, which rests in a similar
bearing to the bearing o', but on the opposite side of the machine to that
shewn in the Drawing, Sheet 1; this bearing acting to support the lever
arm and one end of the axis c, which carries the rotating feeding head, and
on the socket formed on the lever arm k' within the framing of the machine
is fixed the cam surface k, and oscillating movement is communicated to the
lever arm and cam surface k by means of the connecting rod k and the
stud formed on the oscillating lever . The cam surface k acts upon
the trucks and levers 6, indicated by red lines in the sectional view of the
feeding head shewn in Sheet 3 of the Drawings, the levers being keyed on
the shafts or axes moving in bearings 6%, formed in the end plates b, and the
levers 6', by means of connecting links 67 (shewn separately on Sheet 4), acting
on the rod 68 fixed to the slides so as to open and close the nipper 34*.
Another portion of the cam surface k acts upon trucks on the levers ko,
indicated by red lines in the sectional view of the feeding head shewn on
Sheet 3 of the Drawings. The levers are fastened upon the axes k moving
in bearings be formed on the end plates b, and the levers act upon a stud k³,
fixed in the slides, which move in grooves formed in the end plates b. The
slides act upon projections attached to the comb slide 10, so as to cause
the feeding comb 30 to move in a radial direction to and from the axis c, the
comb slide moving on surfaces 610, attached to the slides b. On the axis c
is fixed a catch wheel c' and a catch o carried by a stud.o7 on the oscillating
lever o' at every oscillation of such lever takes into one of the catches on the
circumference of the wheel c'; so as to move it and the feeding bead from one
point of rest to another, and the catch 0 is caused to take into the catches on
the wheel c by means of a spring on the rod o³, and the backward movement
of the catch wheel c', with the axis c, and feeding head is arrested by the
stopping catch moving on the stud attached to the framing of the machine,
the stopping catch being caused to come into operation by means of a spring
on the rod c. On the axis e is fixed a similar catch wheel to the catch
wheel c', but on the opposite side of the machine to the side shewn in the
Drawing, Sheet 2, and this catch wheel is actuated in a similar manner to the
catch wheel c', by means of a catch carried by the stud on the lever r¹, shewn
separately on Sheet 9 of the Drawings, and the backward movement of the
catch wheel, the axis e, and the nipping head is arrested by means of a similar
catch to the catch &, but not shewn in the Drawings.
It will be understood that the cam surfaces o and k, which actuate the

page_text: various parts of the feeding head, as well as the cam r, which actuates the
nipping head by reason of their oscillating movement, cause the various parts
of the feed head and nipping head respectively to pass through their various
movements while such feed and nipping heads are at one of the points of rest
above described. The cam surfaces and feeding and nipping heads move
forward together during the rotation of the heads from one point of rest to
another, returning to their former position again while the feeding and nipping
heads remain at one of the points of rest, thus at each step of the rotation
of the heads bringing successive portions of the cam surfaces into operation.
In place of mounting the brush or instrument 33 for forcing the fibrous
material into the feeding comb 30 in a fixed position upon the rotating feed
apparatus, and attaching the nipper 34 thereto, I make the nipper 34 a
fixture to the plates 6 of the rotating feed apparatus, and cause the brush 33
to move in slides or guides independently of such nippers. y, y, are slides to
which the brush or instrument 33 is fixed, and these slides move in grooves
formed in the slides ; the brush or instrument 33 is caused to press against
the regulating screws 6", 6", carried by the end plates 6, by means of the
spring y, which acts upon the levers y', carried by the studs y³ on the slides y,
the springs y being carried by projections y on the slides y. One end of the
levers y press on projections d¹ formed on the slides d, and the action of the
spring y' is to draw the slides y against the regulating screws 61, 61. In place
of attaching the other of the nippers 34* to the feeding comb 30, and causing
such nipper to move to and from the axis c, together with the comb 30, I
cause such nipper 34* merely to move in slides to and from the other nipper 34
so as to open and close upon the fibre, and cause the comb 30 to have a
separate movement to and from such nipper 34*, so as to feed the material
forward independently of the movement of such nipper 34*. The nippers 34*
are carried by the bar 6' fastened to the slides 2, as before described. The
nippers 34* are capable of yielding when pressed against the nippers 34, and
the springs on the rods 6 act to press against the collars 61 on the rods b¹,
such collars 615 acting on the levers 61, by means of the connecting rods 617, so
as to cause the levers 61 to press against the nippers 34*, and thus bring the
regulating screws 68 in the nippers 34* against the bars b', to retain the
nippers 34 in one position unless pressed against the nippers 34. The
levers 6 move on axes 61, carried by the slides 62. The means by which the
nippers 34 are caused to open and close upon the fibre have been before
described, and the means by which the combs 30 are carried and actuated
have also been before described; it will only, therefore, be necessary to state
here that though the combs 30, slides b³, bars b', and nippers 34* move together

page_text: to and from the nippers 34 and brush 33, the comb 30 is actuated to and from
the axis c (so as to feed the material forward) independently of the movement
of the nippers 34 and slides b².
In the arrangement described in the Specification before referred to the
detaining comb 31 was protruded beyond the line of rotation of the nipper 34,
by means of a tail piece acting between guides attached to the rotating plates,
but according to this part of my present improvements I cause the detaining
comb 31, shewn separately on Sheet 8 of the Drawings, to be protruded
beyond such line of rotation, by means of stationary cam surfaces z, supported
by means of brackets from the main framing of the machine, so that such
detaining comb 31 will be protruded during the rotation of the feeding
apparatus from the point of rest R to the point of rest S, while the movement
of the detaining comb 31 into the end of the sliver. (previously to the
detaching of the tuft) will take place while the feeding apparatus is not
rotating by means of the cam surface k as previously described. The detaining
comb 31 has trucks z¹ upon which the cam surfaces z act. The detaining
comb 31 is fixed on the axis n', carried by the lever arms n, and there are
springs on the axis n* not shewn in the Drawings, which cause such axis to
carry the detaining comb 31 within the line of rotation of the feeding head
when the detaining comb is withdrawn from the end of the sliver of fibrous
materials. I also have plates or bars between the rows of pins in the
detaining combs 31. The bars 23 are carried by the slide 3, and the bars 2
are forced within the chambers of the combs when they enter the fibrous
material by means of projections 2 on the slides 23 coming in contact with the
nipper bar 34, the bars being caused to project from the teeth of the
combs 31 by means of the springs 28, to discharge any noil or dirt, when such
detaining combs are removed from the fibrous material. In place of the
fibrous material being forced into the detaining combs 31 by means of a brush
or elastic surface attached to the feed nipping apparatus, I cause the fibrous
material to be pressed into such combs by means of a brush w, which is caused
to oscillate on a centre to¹, eccentric to the axis c of the revolving feeding
head. One of such excentric bearings being shewn separately on Drawing
Sheet 10. The brush wafter having pressed the fibrous material into the
detaining comb 31 is caused by the eccentricity of the centre w¹, upon which
it moves, to retire from the line of rotation of the nipping apparatus, so as to
allow the tuft of fibrous material and the detaining comb 31 to pass it, and
oscillating movement is communicated to the brush w by means of the
excentric w (fixed on the axis a¹), and the connecting rod w³. According to
my present improvements I cause the fibrous material to be fed forward at the

page_text: point T by the outward movement of the feed combs 30, when the reed
apparatus is brought opposite to one of the detaching nippers 22, 22*, so as
to introduce the cleaned end of the sliver of fibrous material between the
detaching nippers 22, 22x, which then close upon the fibrous material, and
the detaining combs 31 are then brought into the projected fibrous material
between the feed apparatus and the detaching nippers 22, 22*, the brush w
then coming into action to force the fibrous material into the detaining or
screen comb-3.1. The feed and detaching apparatus then make a portion of
a revolution (from the point T to the point O.), so as to detach a tuft, and the
feeding apparatus on coming to a stand at the point O is caused to pass
through the following movements :-The feed comb 30 is withdrawn from
between the bars or gratings d; until the points of the comb are below.the
surface of the bars or gratings d, so. as to project the fibrous material..from
among the pins of; the feed. comb 30, the brush or pressing instrument 33
being brought down on to the fibrous material, so as to press it lightly against
the surface of the bars or gratings d, which, together with the feed comb 30,
is then caused to approach the axis of the rotating feed apparatus such a
"feed"
distance as will (when it is moved from the axis c again) forma
the nippers 34* attached to the feed apparatus are then caused to close
the detaining comb 31, having during this series of operations been drawn
within the line of rotation of. the feed apparatus. The plates or bars d are
connected together so as to form a grating which is capable of moving to and
from the axis c together with the feeding comb 30 in grooves formed in the
slides d', carried in guides on the slides 6, the slides de acting to force the
bars out from between the teeth of the comb 30 by reason of the regulating
screws d' coming in contact with the axes n³, which thus arrest the movement
of the slides d2 and gratings d, which would otherwise continue their movement
together with the combs 30, by reason of the pressure of the springs y¹ acting
by means of the levers y on the projection d'. The springs y' thus act to
press the bars or gratings d, and the brush or instrument 33, in opposite
directions; d are regulating screws in the slides d³, and the slides & coming
in contact with the regulating screws d', carry the bars or gratings d along
with the comb 30 after such gratings are against the comb head, and when
the comb 30 approaches the brush or instrument 33 so as to force the fibrous
material into such comb, and the brush or instrument 33 is caused to press
lightly upon the fibrous material, as above described, by means of a moveable
stop b, carried by the slides 62 coming in contact with the regulating screw y' on
in the slide y. The feed apparatus then makes another portion of a revolution
from the point O to the point P, which brings the end of the sliver projecting

page_text: from beyond the nippers 34, 34*, to the teeth of a reciprocating comb 14**,
which at that time has approached close to the line of rotation of the nipping
and feed apparatus, and a brush v is at the same time caused to press such
projecting end of the sliver into the teeth of the reciprocating cleaning
comb 14**, and whilst the rotating feed apparatus remains stationary at
the point P the reciprocating comb 14** recedes from the rotating feed
apparatus, so as to clean the projecting end of the sliver. The noil so
removed by the cleaning comb from the end of the sliver is afterwards
projected from among the teeth of such comb by means of plates or bars v',
and in some cases in place of the above described reciprocating comb 14** I
prefer to employ a travelling pointed sheet or surface as a cleaning instrument.
The comb 14** moves in slides & attached to the framing of the machine,
and a reciprocating movement is communicated to the comb 14** in the
following manner is a crank arm fixed on the axis, and motion is
communicated to the axis 3 by means of a wheel x", taking into a wheel
fixed on the axis of the same diameter as the wheel a'. The crank arm v³,
by means of the connecting rod * gives motion to the lever arm on the
rocking axis, and this axis by means of arms and links communicates
reciprocating movement to the comb 14**. The bars are carried in
slides, and these slides act to draw the bars to the head of the comb
14**, by means of a spring acting on the lever v10, which is connected to the
slides by means of the link v¹ and bar "; 13, 13, are studs projecting
from the slides v³, and v are moveable cam surfaces on the levers 15, which
move on centres ¹, and are drawn against the regulating screws v", by
means of springs on the rods 18, and during the movement of the comb 14**,
from the nippers 34, 34*, the studs 13 act to draw the cam surfaces v¹, from
the regulating screws, and the cam surfaces v14, upon the completion of
the outward movement of the comb 14**, are released from the studs v¹³, and
are drawn back to their former position, and the cam surfaces v¹, then act
upon the studs 13, during the movement of the comb 14**, towards the
nippers 34, 34, so as to force the bars v¹ from between the pins of the
comb 14**, and thus remove any noil or dirt taken by it from the end of the
sliver of fibrous materials projecting from the nippers 34, 34*, and upon
the comb 14** approaching close to the nippers 34, 34*, the studs v", are
released from the cam surfaces, when the bars will be immediately
drawn to the head of the comb so as to leave the teeth of such comb 14**
exposed to act upon the fibrous material. The dabbing brush is carried by
bell crank levers " moving on studs v2, and the brush is actuated so as
to press the fibrous material into the comb 14**, in the following manner :-

page_text: o is an adjustable surface carried by the lever o', and this surface towards
the completion of one of the oscillating movements of the lever o' comes in
contact with a truck, carried by a lever arm fixed on the rocking
shaft, and the rocking shaft by means of lever arms, and connecting
rods, communicates motion to the levers 19 and brush v, so that when
the surface o comes in contact with the truck the dabbing brush will
be caused to press the tuft of fibrous material into the comb 14**: The
dabbing brush is caused to return to its former position by means of spiral
springs as is well understood. The rotating feed apparatus then makes
another portion of a revolution from the point P to the point Q, and again
comes' to 'a stand, and the oscillating cam surface k for actuating such feed
apparatus is at this point so formed that while the feed apparatus stands by
means of a hand lever, the feed comb 30 may be partially withdrawn from
the grating d, and the nipper 34, 34*, be opened so that the sliver of fibrous
material may be introduced into the feed apparatus, it only being necessary to
perform this operation when introducing a fresh supply of fibrous material
into the machine, and the stops báre so arranged that by pressing on the ends
of the slides carrying such stops they will be moved, so that when the comb 30
is raised out of the material the stops 60 will not act upon the screws y carried
by the slides y, and will therefore leave a space between the brush 33 and
plates d, through between which the slivers of fibrous material on balls a
can be passed, the springs & acting to return the stops to their previous
position; the rotating feed apparatus then makes another portion of a
revolution from the point' U to the point R, and upon being brought
to a stand the projecting end of the sliver is subjected to the operation
of a card or heckle sheet 14 or other cleaning apparatus. The card or
heckle sheet 14 in the arrangement shown in the Drawing, Sheet 1, is.
not arranged so as to commence on the point of fibrous material, but
the rotating or travelling pointed cleaning surface used may be arranged to
have a movement by which it commences to act first on the end of the
projecting fibre and then gradually up to the nipper, if desired, as will be
readily understood by any competent mechanic acquainted with this class
of machinery. The rotating feed apparatus then makes another portion of a
revolution from the point R to the point S, during which the detaining comb
31 is projected beyond the line of rotation of the feed apparatus by means of
the fixed cam' surfaces z, and upon the feed apparatus being brought to a
stand the nippers 34, 34* are caused to open, and the detaining comb 31 is
caused to approach the projecting end of the sliver preparatory to being.

page_text: introduced therein. The detaining comb bar is formed with guides 6, and
when the detaining comb 31 is brought into the position above described
such guides 2 act (by embracing the nipper bar 34) to conduct the detaining
comb 31 with accuracy into the fibrous material, the fixed cam surfaces Z
while these guides 2 are in operation being dispensed with. The rotating
feed apparatus then makes another portion of a revolution from the point
S to the point T so as to bring it opposite to the detaching nippers
22, 22*, as previously described. The detaching nippers 22, 22*, after
having closed on the cleaned end of the sliver by a partial rotation of the feed
from the point T to the point O, and of the nipping apparatus from the point
T to the point U detach and carry with them a tuft of fibrous materials,
a plate or rod. e' which is caused to oscillate on the axise of the rotating
detaching apparatus is caused so to press upon the tuft of fibrous material
being detached so that it is drawn through the feed comb 30 and detaining
comb 31 in a straight line, or nearly so, with the direction of the fibres on the
comb 30, and this plate or rod e', in performing this operation, advances at a
greater speed than the detaching nippers 22, 22*, so as to withdraw behind it
a portion of the tuft as it is detached, and upon the bar or plate e' coming to
a stand (at the point where the nipping apparatus afterwards arrives) it will
be seen that a portion only of the tuft will be presented to the cleaning appa-
ratus, and by the further movement of the detaching nippers 22, 22*, the tuft
will be gradually projected from behind the plate or rode until the nippers
22, 22*, arrive at the point where the plate or rod e¹ is standing, the roller &
over which the .cleaning sheet 14* is moving being withdrawn from the
nipping apparatus so as to admit the plate or rod e¹ between it and the line of
rotation of the nipping apparatus. The further movement of the nipping
apparatus beyond the point where the rod or plate e¹ is brought to a stand
presents the remaining portion of the tuft of fibrous material to the action of
the cleaning apparatus, which is then caused to approach close to the detaching
nippers 22, 22*, by which means the tuft of fibrous material will have been
acted upon by the cleaning apparatus, first at the point, and then gradually
close up to the detaching nippers 22, 22*. The rod or plate e¹ is actuated in
the following manner: and e* (Sheet 9) are cams fixed upon a hollow
axis moving around the axis a³, a revolving motion being communicated to
such hollow axis by means of the toothed wheel as fixed on the axis taking
into the toothed wheel 13 on the hollow axis above mentioned. The wheel a
J'evolves within the bearing a, and the wheel a communicates motion to the
hollow axis above named by means of a feather which allows of the movement

page_text: of such hollow axis to and fro.on the axis a; e, Sheet 9, is a cam fixed on the
axis
lever
which acts by means of the lever as to give motion to the forked
in such manner as to cause the forked lever a to move the hollow
axis above named to and fro on the axis ; is a lever arm keyed on the
rocking axis &', and the cam e' acts upon a truck e (Sheet 11) on the lever e
to move the lever arm e outwards from the axis, and when the truck
arrives at the portion of the cam surface the cam surface acts to move.
the hollow axis carrying the cams e³ and e' so as to move the came away from
the truck e on the lever and bring the truck e¹0 (also on that lever) on t>
the part of the came which, by its revolution causes the lever to
approach the axis x, and when the part e" of the cam e' is opposite to the
truck e on the levere the cam surface e' again acts to move the hollow axis
and cams e, e, in such manner that the cam will be moved away from
acting upon the truck e¹o, and the part e¹s of the cam surface e will be brought
into action on the truck e'; e¹ are toothed quadrants fixed on the axis e', and
the toothed quadrants take into the toothed quadrants els moving around
the axis e and carrying, by means of the lever arms e¹, the dividing plate e';
el is a weight which acts by the strap or chain attached thereto, and by means
of the pin eo to the quadrant es, and the weight e acts so as to draw up the
dividing plate e', and at the same time keep the trucks e, e, against the cam
surfaces e, e. The roller e³ is supported by lever arms e fixed on the rocking
shaft or axis ", and the roller e is actuated so as to withdraw the card
sheet from the nippers 22, 22*, in the following manner :- (Sheet 9)
is a cam fixed on the hollow axis above named (moving on the axis a³), and
the cam acts upon a truck on the lever moving on the axis . The
lever, by means of a connecting rod e, communicates movement to the
lever arms eo and roller e³ so as to cause it to move from one point to another,
and thus cause the heckle sheet 14* to approach to and withdraw from the
nippers 22, 22*, in the manner and for the purpose above described. A spring
on the rod acts by means of the lever and connecting rode to constantly
draw the lever arms and roller from the nippers 22, 22*, and so cause
the truck on the lever to press against the cam e¹³.
Prior to the detaching nipper making another portion of a revolution so as
to carry the tuft may from the cleaning apparatus, the roller over which this
cleaning apparatus passes is caused to recede from the nipper, which then
makes a portion of a revolution from the point U to the point V and carries
the tuft of fibrous material away from the cleaning apparatus and the cleaning
apparatus may be caused so to move daring this operation that the tuft, in
B2

page_text: passing from it may be retained in a straight line, or nearly so, by supporting
the heckle sheet on lever arms, by means of which it can be lowered by a cam
surface at the time when the nippers 22, 22*, are moving away, and though
the machine, as shown in the Drawing, Sheet 2, is not shown arranged in this
manner, a competent mechanic acquainted with this class of machinery will
readily understand how to apply the motion above described. The detaching
nipper then makes another portion of a revolution from the point V to the
point W, and after coming to a stand an endless pointed surface g is caused
to move towards the nippers 22, 22*, the tuft of fibrous material being
pressed between such pointed surface g and a brush f' attached to the nipping
apparatus, and upon the nippers 22, 22*, being opened, and the pointed
surface g receding, the tuft of fibrous material is carried away by such pointed
surface, the portion of the tuft held between the nipper being removed by a
current of air, or otherwise. The endless pointed surface g is carried by
rollers g¹, supported in a frame g, capable of sliding to and fro on the framing
of the machine, and the pointed surface g is actuated so as to approach to
and recede from the nipping head (as above described) in the following
manner: g³ (Sheet 9) is a cam fixed on the axis (Sheet 2), and the
cain g³ acts upon a truck on the bell-crank lever g* fixed upon the axis go, so
as to cause the cam g³ by means of the connecting rod 9 to impart an
intermittent rocking movement to the levers g' fixed on the rocking axis g³
and the levers 97 by means of the connecting rods 9' give motion to the
sliding frames g² and endless pointed surface g, so as to cause such surface to
approach to and recede from the nipping head. The endless pointed sheet 9,
which during this operation has been brought to a stand, now travels forward
a short distance, so that when a fresh tuft is deposited upon it it will be
lapped partially over the preceding tuft, and so form an endless sliver. And
I would here remark that in some cases I prefer to deposit the tufts of fibrous
material upon a travelling comb, so that the projecting ends of the fibres may
be in a pendant position, and this I accomplish by means of a bar or rod,
which at this point is caused to move out from the line of rotation of the
detaching nipping apparatus into such a position that a brush (also carried by
and actuated from the nipping apparatus) may be caused to deposit such tuft
into an intermittent rotating transferring comb or instrument, which, upon
the rotation of the nipping apparatus rotates with it in such a manner as to
withdraw the tuft from the nipper, and afterwards present it to be deposited
in a travelling comb, to be afterwards drawn off in the form of a sliver. And
1 would here further remark that the apparatus for transferring the tufts of

page_text: ibrous materials to a travelling comb, as above described, is not shown in the
Drawings hereunto annexed, but will be readily understood and applied by a
competent mechanic acquainted with this class of machinery. The detaching
nippers after the tuft has been removed from them are, by a series of partial
rotations (from the point W to the point X, from the point X to the point Y,
and from the point Y to the point T,) brought again opposite the feed
apparatus, and it will be understood that the series of operations above
described are common to all the feed and detaching apparatus arranged
around the two rotating axes. When the tufts are piecel up, as above
described, upon an endless pointed surface g, they are by the gradual move-
ment of such surface brought under the action of a dabbing brush glo, which
presses the fibrous material into and among the pins of such travelling pointed
surface g, and by the further movement of such pointed surface g the fibrous
material is presented to a pair of drawing or delivering rollers g", which
remove it from such endless pointed surface, and deliver it out of the machine
in the form of an endless sliver, such rollers g" moving to and fro with the
endless pointed surface g, and ceasing to revolve when such pointed surface is
not travelling. The endless travelling sheet g and delivering rollers 9", 'as
well as the dabbing brush 90 are caused to move intermittently, as above
described, by the following means:-913 is a pulley fixed on the axis x, which
by means of an endless belt gives motion to the pulley g¹³ fixed on the
axis g, and this axis by means of a pair of bevil wheels gives motion to the
axis g; g is a clutch box on the axis g1, and the clutch box 9 is pressed
against a collar on the axis g¹s by means of a spring on the end of the axis g¹³,
the clutch box g¹ being caused to revolve with the axis g¹ by means of a feather;
g" is a clutch box, within which the axis g¹ can revolve freely, and the clutch
box 97 is carried in a bearing fixed to the sliding frame g², which carries the
clutch box g" to-and fro on the axis gs when the frame g² is caused to move,
and it will be seen that when the sliding frame is moved away from the
nipping head it will carry with it the clutch box 9", until such clutch box, will
be brought into gear with the clutch box g, which will then communicate
the movement of the axis g¹ to the clutch box 91, and when by reason of the
movement of the pointed surface g and sliding frame 9° towards the nipping
head, the clutch box 9" is moved away from the clutch box gl the revolution
of the clutch box 9" will cease. The clutch box 9" by means of a bevil
wheel communicates movement to the axis g18. The axis 918 by means of a
crank pin gives motion to the dabbing brush 90, and the axis g also gives.
motion by means of suitable toothed gearing (carried by the sliding frame g),

page_text: to the travelling sheet g and delivering rollers g¹¹. I also so arrange the
rotating detaching nippers that both nipping surfaces can be adjusted to
regulate their relative position to one another, and to the series of such
apparatus arranged around the rotating axis, and to the feed cleaning and
slivering apparatus. And I also so arrange the detaching nipping apparatus
that when opening and closing both of the nipping surfaces are caused to:
move in place of only one of such nipping surfaces being capable of move-
ment.
The levers s, (shown in Sheet 4, and separately in Sheet 12,) have
regulating screws 3, by means of which the trucks can be adjusted, and
consequently the nippers 22, and the nipper 22*; is caused to move as well
as the nipper 22, by means of connecting rods s from the bar f to the
levers moving on the axis s', the levers & acting to move the nippers 22*,
the springs giving way when the nippers 22, 22*, are pressed together.
In the feeding apparatus the sliver of fibrous material is unwound from
balls a, which are carried round with the apparatus, and in order to prevent:
the slivers from unwinding from such balls, except when being drawn forward
by the feeding combs, I apply frictional guards a', which, by reason of the
springs a², press upon the surfaces of the balls of fibrous material, and also-
protect them from becoming entangled in other parts of the machine. One
of these frictional holders is shown separately at Sheet 13, and the frictional
portions of the guard a¹ move on the bars a³ as centres, and as the balls a
diminish in size the frictional guards a' are pressed up against the surfaces of
such balls a.
It is important that the feeding and detaching apparatus after making a
portion of a revolution be arrested and held with accuracy, and this I
accomplish in the following manner:--On the axes which carry the rotating,
feeding, and detaching apparatus are fixed catch wheels c', (shown separately
on Sheet 13,) which catch wheels are moved by catches of carried by lever
arms moved by cranks or excentrics on the axes a³, 10. On these catch
wheels c¹ are also projections c³, which (when one movement of the catch a
wheel is completed) come against a surface e held by a spring on the rod c
(see Sheet 10), and when the lever arm o', see Sheet 1, and catch o* begin to
return (preparatory to moving the catch wheel c' and apparatus attached.
another step forward), the surface acting against the projection c³ on the
catch wheel c is drawn by the spring above mentioned, so as to bring one of 3
the steps ou the cireumference of the catch wheel against a stopping catch c²
moving on a stud c³ attached to the framing of the machine, and thus at each
portion of a rotation hold the catch wheel c' and apparatus attached accurately

page_text: in the position desired. The surface held by a spring against which the pro-
jections on the catch wheel are brought, as above described, is carried by a
lever arm c, which is actuated by an excentric c8 on the oscillating lever
arm o', which carry the catches 0 (for actuating the catch wheel) in such
manner that the surfaces c are moved away from the projections c³ on the
catch wheel in time to allow of another forward movement of such catch
wheel.
And it will be understood that the axis e and nipping apparatus are
provided with similar apparatus to that above described for actuating the
axis c and the feeding apparatus, though such apparatus is not shewn on the
Drawings. In some cases I employ as cleaning instruments in the above
described machine, endless sheets carrying heckle bars in a similar manner to
those used in ordinary heckling machinery; but I prefer to place the heckle
bars close together, and set the teeth in such bars at an angle to the line of
movement of the cleaning surface, as will be clearly understood on examining.
Figure 1, Sheet 7, which shews a sheet carrying heckle bars arranged as:
above described.
Another part of my Invention consists in an improved method of forming a
sliver from tufts of fibrous material which has been "dressed" or "heckled,"
and at the same time removing the short fibres from the same. The tuft of
fibrous material after having been dressed or heckled, and while one end is
held in the book or holder is deposited upon a comb a of suitable breadth for.
retaining the short fibres, such comb a having a long row or rows of pins in
such a position that the tuft after being placed from the holder on such row:
of pins will, upon being deposited in the comb a by means of a brush, be so
deposited that the short fibres contained in the tuft will be in the comb a.
The comb a carrying the tuft, as above described, is next placed in a slide
having a comb a¹, see Sheet 7, Figure 2) upon it so broad that one end of
the tuft can be immersed in it, leaving the other end projecting on the other
side of the first-mentioned comb a. The slide and combs a, a', are then
caused to advance towards a pair of drawing rollers a², which then revolve
and "milk out the fibres from among the teeth of the narrow comb a and:
back comb a¹ above mentioned. The slide and combs a, a¹, then recede from
the drawing rollers, and the narrow comb a is lifted up, turned round, and
replaced in its position in the slide with the end of the tuft formerly immersed
in the back comb a¹ presented towards the drawing rollers a². The slide is
then caused to advance and recede, and the drawing rollers a³ to revolve, as
above described, so as to draw out the remaining fibres from the combs a, a¹,
leaving the short fibres in the chamber of the comb a to be afterwards

page_text: removed. After the above series of operations the comb a and short fibres
are removed from the slide, and another comb a with a fresh supply of fibre
is introduced. The fibre drawn off by the rollers is accumulated in the form
of a lap on the endless sheet a³, which lap is removed from time to time.
When the holders are so long that it is desirable to divide the tufts and place
the divided parts in separate combs, I effect such division in the following
manner-The holder with one end of the tuft projecting from it is laid on a
sliding table 6 (see Sheet 15) with the fibre resting on a brush ', the sliding
table is then moved forward by means of the lever b, until the projecting
portion of the tuft is brought under a row of pins c, c³, which are then caused
to descend by means of the lever into the projecting portion of the tuft, and
by removing the holder the tuft is left upon the pins, which are then raised by
means of the lever c¹, so as to allow the sliding table to be moved back. On
each side of the pins above mentioned are brushes c², and the pins c move up
and down between such brushes c; the pins also are fixed in two or more
heads c, c', so that after the tuft or tufts have been deposited on them they
can be moved apart, and so divide the tuft and carry such divided portions
over the combs a, previously described, in such a position that when such
combs a are raised by means of the lever d until they nearly touch the rows
of pins c, c³, above mentioned, and upon a further movement raising such
combs a and rows of pins c, c³, together, the tufts of fibre will be deposited
upon the combs a by the brushes c³, between which the rows of pins ċ, c³,
move, and it is the depositing from books or holders by mechanical means
of tufts of fibre (which have been dressed or heckled in "dressing" or
"heckling" machinery) upon combs to be afterwards drawn off that con-
stitutes one feature of this part of my Invention.
Another part of my Invention consists in improvements in a machine for
which Letters Patent were granted to Charles de Jongh, dated July 26th,
1858, No. 1681; in this machine fibrous material held in books or holders is
presented to the action of combs on both sides acting in a peculiar manner,
and this part of my Invention consists in dispensing with the lower comb and
replacing it by a brush, upon which the fibre will be supported while the
comb is out of the fibre'; and I prefer to cause the holder and brush to travel
forward together when the fibre is out of the comb, the brush moving to its
former position when the fibre is deposited within and being acted upon by
the comb.
.
The above improved arrangement of machinery is not shewn in the
Drawings, but a competent mechanic acquainted with this class of machinery

page_text: will readily understood (from the above description, together with the Speci-
fication and Drawings of the Patent above referred to) how to carry into
practice this part of my improvements.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Tongue, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twelfth day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
Witness,
FRED*. TONGUE,
18, Chryssell Road,
North Brixton,
Surrey.
WILLIAM TONGUE. (L.S)