IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CLEARING YARN AND THREAD."
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Knowles, of Bolton, in the County of Lancaster,
Cotton Spinner, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
CLEARING YARN AND THREAD."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Knowles at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th May 1878.
JOHN KNOWLES, of Bolton, in the County of Lancaster, Cotton Spinner. "Iж-
PROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CLEARING YARN AND THREAD."
My Invention is applicable for clearing or removing the knops or slubs from
yarn and thread during the operation of winding the same on to bobbins, or reeling
into hanks, or otherwise.
My improved apparatus consists of a series of combs, cards, or other equivalents,
but by preference combs made of needle points. Each comb or other equivalent
acts in combination with a fixed plate placed close to, but not touching, the points
of the comb, to allow perfect yarn or thread to pass, but sufficiently close to prevent
the passage of knops or slubs. The yarn or thread is kept out contact with the
points of the comb by a guide plate. As soon as a knop or slub projecting from or
adhering to the yarn or thread comes in contact with the fixed plate it is forced
into and caught hold of by the comb. When the combs require stripping they are
lifted up and cleaned by hand or brush.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Knowles in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 30th October
1878.
JOHN KNOWLES, of Bolton, in the County of Lancaster, Cotton Spinner. "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR CLEARING YARN AND THREAD.”
My Invention is applicable for clearing or removing the knops or slubs from
yarn and thread during the operation of winding the same on to bobbins, or reeling
into hanks, or otherwise.
My improved apparatus consists of a series of combs, cards, or other equivalents,
but by preference combs made of needle points. Each comb or other equivalent
acts in combination with a fixed plate, placed close to, but not touching, the points
of the comb, to allow perfect yarn or thread to pass, but sufficiently close to prevent
the passage of knops or slubs. The yarn or thread is kept out of contact with the
points of the comb by a guide plate. As soon as a knop or slub projecting from or
adhering to the yarn or thread comes in contact with the fixed plate it is forced
into and caught hold of by the comb. When the combs require stripping they are
lifted up. and cleaned by hand or brush.
And in order that my Invention may be fully understood and readily carried into
operation, I will proceed to describe the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, in which
Fig. 1 is a front view, Fig. 2 a plan, and Fig. 3 a transverse section of my improved
apparatus.
a is the lifter rail, forming part of an ordinary winding frame; to this rail are
screwed the angle brackets b, to which are cast or fixed the hinges c for the comb
levers d. The needle points e forming the combs are let into metal backs, which
are soldered or otherwise secured to the levers d. Each comb acts in combination
with a fixed plate cast to the angle brackets b, and the points of the needles aro
set so far from the plates b' that perfect yarn or thread may pass without inter-
ruption, but sufficiently close to prevent the passage of knops or slubs.
The dotted lines and arrows in Fig. 2 indicate the direction in which the yarn
or thread passes.
In front of the angle brackets b are the guide plates 6, the object of which is to
keep the yarn or thread out of contact with the points of the combs.
In passing through the apparatus the yarn or thread is moved gradually up and
down in the ordinary manner to prevent the combs being worn more in one place
than another. As soon as a knop or slub projecting from or adhering to the yarn
or thread comes in contact with the fixed plate 6' it is forced into and caught hold
of by the comb e. If the knop or slub is loose it sticks in the comb while the yarn
or thread is carried forward and wound on the bobbins or reels as usual; but if the
knop or slub is fast the yarn or thread is broken. When the combs require
stripping the levers & are lifted up, as shewn in Fig. 1, and cleared by hand or
otherwise.
I wish to remark that card fillets or other equivalents may be used instead of the
combs shown.
Having thus stated the nature of my Invention and described a convenient
mode of performning the same, I wish to remark that I do not intend to limit myself
to the details given, as they may be varied, but what I claim is,—
First. The combination of a comb or other equivalent with a fixed plate, for the
purpose described, and

page_text: Secondly. The guide plate marked b² to guide the yarn or thread into the clearer,
as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Knowles, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of October, One thousand eight hundred
and seventy-eight.
JOHN KNOWLES. (L.S.)