AN IMPROVEMENT IN APPARATUS FOR COMBING WOOL OR OTHER FIBRES
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Crofts, Richard Dawson, and John King,
all of Hunslet Lane, Leeds, in the County of York, for the Inven-
tion of "AN IMPROVEMENT IN APPARATUS FOR COMBING WOOL OR OTHER
FIBRES."
Sealed the 13th May 1870, and dated the 17th November 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Crofts, Richard
Dawson, and John King at the Office of the Commissioners of
Patents, with their Petition, on the 17th November 1869.
We, JOHN CROFTS, RICHARD DAWSON, and JOHN KING, all of
Hunslet Lane, Leeds, in the County of York, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVEMENT IN APPARATUS FOR
COMBING WOOL OR OTHER FIBRES," to be as follows :-
The improvement relates particularly to that class of machines used in
combing wool and other fibres generally known as "Noble's machines,"
in which there are employed two sets of travelling and holding combs
with their teeth pointing in the same direction arranged so that in the

page_text: progress of these combs they come together at or about the time of
receiving the fibre, and then they progressively separate when a portion
of the fibre just received by them will be taken by one, the inner set of
the holding combs, by being drawn out from that still held by the other
or outer set of holding combs.
According to our improvement we employ an extra set of comb teeth
to work with the outer circle or series of holding combs in such
machines. These combs are formed in segments with their teeth
pointing in a direction opposite to those of the holding combs, and they
are arranged to pass into the fibre between, or so as to intersect the
rows of teeth of the other or outer holding combs at the time of the
separation of the fibre referred to in the movement of the two sets of
holding combs as well as during the drawing off of the fibre through
such outer holding combs by the drawing rollers. The width or number
of the rows of teeth in these segments may correspond with those of the
outer holding combs or otherwise, and the segments may be carried by
and so as to move with the lids of the of the feed boxes.
The Invention is also applicable where a single circle or set of holding
combe is used
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Crofts, Richard Dawson, and John King
in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 17th May 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JOHN
CROPTS, RICHARD DAWSON, and JOHN KING, all of Hunslet Lane, Leeds,
in the County of York, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Пer
Letters Patent, bearing date the Seventeenth day of November, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the
thirty-third year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto us, the said John Crofts, Richard Dawson,
and John King, Her special licence that we, the said John Crofts,
Richard Dawson, and John King, our executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as we, the said John Crofts, Richard Dawson,
and John King, our executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times

page_text: thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, usc, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Inven-
tion for "AN IMPROVEMENT IN APPARATUS FOR COMBING WOOL OR OTHER FIBRES;"
upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said John Crofts,
Richard Dawson, and John King, our executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under our or their hands and scals, or under
the hand and seal of ono of us or them, 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 we, the said John Crofts, Richard Dawson,
and John King, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
aud ascertained in and by the following statement thereof, that is to
say :-
The improvement relates particularly to that class of machines used in
combing wool and other fibres generally known as "Noble's machines,"
in which there are employed two sets of travelling and holding combs
with their teeth pointing in the same direction, arranged so that in the
progress of these combs they come together at or about the time of
receiving the fibre, and then they progressively separate when a portion
of the fibre just received by them will be taken by one of the inner set
of the holding combs by being drawn out from that still held by the
other or outer set of holding combs.
According to our improvement we employ an extra set of comb teeth
to work with the outer circle or series of holding combs.in such
machines. These combs are formed in segments with their .teeth
pointing in a direction opposite to those of the holding combs, and
they are arranged to pass into the fibre between or so as to intersect
the rows of teeth of the other or outer holding combs at the time of the
separation of the fibre referred to in the movement of the two sets of
holding combs as well as during the drawing off of the fibre through
such outer holding combs by the drawing rollers. The width or number
of the rows of teeth in these segments may correspond with those of the'
outer holding combs or otherwise, and the segments may be carried by
and so as to move with the lids of the feed boxes..

page_text: But that the Invention may be fully understood we will, by the aid of
the accompanying Drawings, proceed to describe means pursued by us
in carrying the same into effect.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 shows a section of parts drawn to full size scale, and Figure 2
is a plan view of the same with the parts in the position they assume
when laying the fibre into the teeth of the outer and also of those of an
inner circle of comb teeth.
Figure 3 represents a section of the parts in the position when the
boxes are raised and the fibre is being drawn through them for a fresh
feed. In each of the Figures the same letters indicate corresponding
parts.
a represents a section of the outer circle of comb teeth, and we
would state that we have not thought it necessary to show any portion
of the inner circle of comb teeth when such is used, as such is well
understood and forms no part of the present Invention. b represents
one of the segments of extra comb teeth to work with the outer circle
of teeth a, and d one of the feed troughs or, boxes. As shown these
segments of extra comb teeth 6 are each carried by a prolongation of
the lid c of each feed box d, and they are lifted and lowered with those
boxes; these segments may be however otherwise actuated. The teeth
of these segments 6 are driven fully into the fibre and to between the
rows of teeth of the circle a at the time desired by a pusher e which is
actuated by a crank or other suitable means. The lower or operating
end of this pusher we prefer to be formed of leather or other suitable
elastic material. A spring and adjustable screw stop 9 serve in each
case to regulate the correct passage of the rows of teeth of the extra
combs 6 to between the desired respective rows of the teeth of the
combs a; d' is a tube or funnel in each feed trough or box d to aid in
guiding the fibre through such trough or box.
We find it desirable slightly to raise the lids in the boxes with the
extra combs carried thereby at the time when the boxes are being raised
for fresh feed of fibre thereto. This we effect by the form we give to
the upper edge of the knife or blade employed to keep the fibre in the

page_text: teeth of the main circle at the time when a fresh supply of fibre is
being drawn into the feed boxes d, h.
Figure 4 shows one of such knives or blades drawn to a reduced scale.
The line a represents that of the heads of the teeth of the main circle of
combs, whilst the upper surface of the knife or blade h is that on
which the projection c¹ from each of the lids c rests, and by which those
lids are for the time raised. The arrow indicates the direction of motion
of the main combs, feed boxes, and parts carried thereby, or this raising
of the box lids and teeth 6 may be otherwise effected.
We also find it desirable that the incline actuating the feed boxes for
their rising and falling motion be formed horizontal, or nearly so, for,
say, about 6 inches just before the drop for the feed of the fibre carried
thereby into the circles of comb teeth.
We do not find it necessary to employ dabbing brushes with the circle
with which these extra combs are employed. By these means we are
enabled to obtain clearer work so as to render repeated combing
unnecessary.
Having thus described our Invention and means which we adopt in
carrying the same into effect we would have it understood that what we
claim is, the application of extra combs b, acting in manner and for the
purpose substantially as described.
In witness whereof, we, the said John Crofts, Richard Dawson,
and John King, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this
Thirteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy.
JOHN CROFTS.
(L.B.)
RICHARD DAWSON.
(L.s.)
JOHN KING.
(L.S.)