IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR COMBING WOOL, COTTON, AND OTHER LIKE FIBRES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Jefferson, Cornelius Jefferson, Lazarus Jefferson,
and Mordecai Jefferson, all of Bradford, in the County of York, Machine Makers
and Ironfounders, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR
COMBING WOOL, COTTON, AND OTHER LIKE FIBRES."
Sealed the 4th January 1878, and dated the 12th October 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Jefferson, Cornelius
Jefferson, Lazarus Jefferson, and Mordecai Jefferson at the Office of the Com-
missioners of Patents on the 12th October 1877.
JOSEPH JEFFERSON, CORNELIUS JEFFERSON, LAZARUS JEFFERSON, and MORDECAI
JEFFERSON, all of Bradford, in the County of York, Machine Makers and Iron-
founders. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR COMBING WOOL, COTTON, AND
OTHER LIKE FIBRES."
This Invention relates to an improved combination of circular combs, circular
nippers (and guides), or by swivelling or tilting nipping jaws, by the use of which
one end of the fibre is cleansed or combed, and such cleansed or combed end is
placed over and within a finishing comb, the noil or uncleansed end being combed
and cleansed by being drawn inwards through the teeth of the finishing comb by
ordinary drawing rollers. Where one end of the fibre is combed and cleansed by
drawing from a gill feeding head by nipping jaws, the latter are tilted or turned
over, so as to turn inwards to the finishing comb the cleansed and combed end of the
fibre.
According to this my Invention, we arrange the feed balls or bobbins containing
the fibre to be combed and cleansed upon an ordinary overhead revolving feeding
head, the fibre from which is, by dabbing brush or other like contrivance, forced into
and amongst the pins of a revolving circular comb; the ends of the fibre protruding
from this comb are seized or held by an ordinary revolving circular nipper, which
draws the fibre through the pins of the comb referred to, combing and cleansing
one end of the fibre. The continued rotation of the circular nipper now by means
of a guide or incline carries the cleansed ends of the fibre over and to the interior

page_text: of the pins of the main or finishing comb into which it is forced or dabbed, leaving
a protruding fringe of cleansed and combed fibre, which is secured by drawing
rollers; and the outer or noil end of the fibre is then by rollers drawn through the
pins of the finishing comb, cleansing and combing the noil end. Inasmuch as the
finishing comb has only to cleanse the noil end of the fibre, and as the strain on
the pins is inwards (or towards the centre of the circle), we find a single row of fine
pins is efficient, not only for cleansing and combing the noil end of the fibre, but
also to resist the strain upon the pins.
According to another arrangement, we employ a main or feed circular comb,
within which are circular revolving nippers; the latter nip and draw the fibre through
and from the pins of the said main comb, and convey to and deposit the cleansed
and combed end of the fibre so drawn over and upon the pins of an internal circular
rotating comb, into which the fibre is forced or dabbed (the cleansed and combed
ends again inwards), wherein the cleansed and combed fibre is seized by drawing
rollers which drawn the noil end of the fibre through the pins of the internal
finishing comb. A single row of pins suffice for the latter comb for reasons already
herein-before assigned.
When draw nipper (or nippers) in conjunction with a gill feeding head is employed,
we cause the nipping jaws (by cam or its equivalent) so soon as they have drawn a
twift of fibre from the feeding head to tilt or turn over and deposit the
cleansed and combed end of the fibre within a finishing circular comb (or
a chain finishing comb), the noil end being outwards, such fibre is then drawn
off in a finished state.
When the overhead feeding apparatus and circular nippers, as herein first
described, are employed, there may be one, two, or more of such working in
conjunction with one finishing comb; so, likewise, there may be one, two, or
more pairs or sets of tilting or "turn over" nipping jaws in use to the one
finishing comb.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Joseph Jefferson, Cornelius Jefferson, Lazarus Jefferson, and Mordecai
Jefferson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 11th April 1878.
JOSEPH JEFFERSON, CORNELIUS JEFFERSON, LAZARUS JEFFERSON, and MORDECAI
JEFFERSON, all of Bradford, in the County of York, Machine Makers and Iron-
founders. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR COMBING WOOL, COTTON, AND
OTHER LIKE FIBRES."
This Invention relates to improved combinations of circular combs and circular
nippers (and guides), or swivelling or tilting nipping jaws, consisting respectively
of parts combined as herein-after described, in such manner as to enable one end
of the fibre to be cleansed or combed, and such cleansed or combed end to be placed
over and within a finishing comb, the noil or uncleansed end being combed and
cleansed by being drawn inwards through the teeth of the finishing comb by
ordinary drawing rollers. Where one end of the fibre is combed and cleansed by
drawing from a gill feeding head by nipping jaws, the latter are tilted or turned
over, so as to turn inwards to the finishing comb the cleansed and combed end of the
fibre.
According to our Invention we, in one of our combinations, arrange the feed balls
or bobbins containing the fibre to be combed and cleansed upon an ordinary
overhead revolving feeding head, the fibre from which is by dabbing brush or other
like contrivance forced into and amongst the pins of a revolving circular conib, the
ends of the fibre protruding from this comb are seized or held by an ordinary
revolving circular nipper, which draws the fibre through the pins of the comb
referred to, combing and cleansing one end of the fibre. The continued rotation of
the circular nipper now by means of a guide or incline carries the cleansed ends
of the fibre over and to the interior of the pins of the main or finishing comb into
which it is forced or dabbed, leaving a protruding fringe of cleansed and combed
fibre, which is secured by drawing rollers, and the outer or noil end of the fibre is
then by the said rollers drawn through the pins of the finishing comb, cleansing
and combing the noil end. Inasmuch as the finishing comb has only to cleanse
the noil end of the fibre, and as the strain on the pins is inwards (or towards
the centre of the circle) we find a single row of fine pins is efficient not only
for cleansing and combing the noil end of the fibre, but also to resist the strain
upon the pins.
According to another arrangement, we employ a main or feed circular comb,
within which are several circular revolving nippers; the latter nip and draw the
fibre through and from the pins of the said main comb, and convey to and
deposit the cleansed and combed end of the fibre so drawn over and upon the
pins of an internal and concentric circular rotating comb into which the fibre is
forced or dabbed (the cleansed and combed ends again inwards), whereon the
cleansed and combed fibre is seized by drawing rollers, which draw the noil
end of the fibre through the pins of the internal finishing comb. A single
row of pins suffice for the latter comb, for reasons already herein-before
assigned.
When draw nipper (or nippers) in conjunction with a gill feeding head are
employed, we cause the nipping jaws (by cam or its equivalent) so soon as they
have drawn a tuft of fibre from the feeding head to tilt or turn over and deposit
the cleansed and combed end of the fibre within a finishing circular comb (or a chain
finishing comb) the noil end being outwards, such fibre is then drawn off in a
finished state.
When the overhead feeding apparatus and circular nippers, as herein first
lescribed, are employed, there may be one, two, or more of such working in con-
unction with one finishing comb. So, likewise, there may be one, two, or more

page_text: pairs or sets of tilting or "turn over" nipping jaws in use to the one finishing
comb.
In order that our Invention and the manner of working of the Invention may
be fully understood we have hereunto annexed Drawings, wherein,-
Figure 1 is an elevation, partly in section.
Figure 2 is a plan view.
Figure 3, plan view of a modified arrangement of the Invention.
Figure 4, a plan, shewing gearing for driving the apparatus (shewn at Fig. 3).
-Figures 5 and 6 shew the tumbler" feeding head."
At A is an ordinary overhead revolving feeding head, the fibre from which is by
dabbing brush B forced into and amongst the pins of the revolving circular comb C;
the ends of the fibre protruding from this comb are seized by the circular revolving
nipper D, drawing the fibre through the pins of the comb C, thus cleansing and
combing the bulk of the fibre so detached; the continued rotation of the nipper D
now by means of the guide or incline E carries the cleansed ends over and to the
inside of the pins of the finishing comb F, into which it is forced or dabbed by the
brush G, the combed and cleansed fringe being inside the circle of pins of the comb
F, the noil ends or portion of fibre uncleansed being outside the pins. The cleansed
fringe is secured by the drawing rollers H and drawn off, leaving outside the comb
F the noil which is removed by ordinary knives.
As illustrated by Drawings, there may be one, two, or more feeding heads A and
circular nippers D, working in conjunction with a single finishing comb F, and
inasmuch as the finishing comb F has but to cleanse the noil end of the fibre, and
as the strain upon the pins is inwards or towards the centre of the circle, we find
that a single row of fine pins is efficient both for cleansing the fibre and to resist the
strain upon the pins.
We have shewn by Drawings a convenient arrangement of driving apparatus,
which we now describe and mark with figures of reference.
1 and 2 are fast and loose pulleys on the first motion shaft 3. At 4, 4, arc
eccentrics for operating by rocking lever 5 on fulcrum 6 and rod 7, the lever 8 to
which the dabbing brushes B and G are attached.
The wheels 8, 9, 10 (carrier wheel 11), and wheel 12, by shaft 13, give rotation
to the circular nipper D; wheel 12 also gives motion to wheel 14 and by shaft 15,
pinion 16, and spur wheel 17, giving rotation to the shaft 18, circular comb C, and
rotating the feeding head A, the finishing comb F being driven by pinion 19 and
ordinary gear.
The modification, shewn by Figures 3 and 4, comprise a main comb J, fed by balls
as a "Noble's comb" or other feeding apparatus; K is circular nipper drawing fibre
from J, and depositing the cleansed ends over and inside the circular finishing
comb L; M are the drawing-off rollers. In this arrangement the finishing comb L
has but a single row of pins, as described in reference to the first arrangement, shewn
by Figs. 1 and 2; here however in lieu of the comb L a chain comb may be employed,
if preferable, for any particular class of work. The gear or wheels for driving the
several circular combs and circular nippers is shewn at Figure 4, the direction of
rotation being in all cases indicated by arrows.
The circular tumbler nipping jaws are shewn at Figs. 5 and 6. A is the feeding
head; B, the circular tumbler nipping jaws, driven by the gear C, the jaws B are
closed and opened by means of the tappets E; these tappets are actuated by the
gear F, the pinion G being the driver. The tappets at each revolution act upon
the checks L, L, L, L, so closing the jaws on one side and opening them on the other
side, as will be readily seen.
Having thus fully described the nature and particulars of this our said Invention,
together with the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed, we
would have it understood that we lay no claim to the use of overhead feeding
apparatus, nor to circular nippers, nor do we claim any of the working parts separately,
as these are well-known, but what we do claim is,-.
Firstly. The combination of circles such as C, D, and F, in the manner and for

page_text: the purpose described and arranged, substantially in the manner shewn by Figs. 1
and 2 of the Drawings.
Secondly. The combination of circular combs such as J, J, and L, L, and circular
nippers such as K, K, in the manner and for the purpose described and arranged,
substantially in the manner shewn in Fig. 3 of the Drawings.
Lastly. We claim the combination of circular comb, and outside circular nippers,
employed for the purposes described and arranged, substantially in the manner
shewn by Drawings, Fig. 5 and Fig. 6.
In witness whereof, we, the said Joseph Jefferson, Cornelius Jefferson,
Lazarus Jefferson, and Mordecai Jefferson, have hereunto set our hands
and seals, this Tenth day of April, in the year of our Lord One thousand
· eight hundred and seventy-eight.
Witness,
WALTER BRIERLEY,
Patent Agent,
Halifax & Blackburn.
JOSEPH JEFFERSON.
(L.S.)
CORNELIUS JEFFERSON. (L.S.)
LAZARUS JEFFERSON. (L.S.)
MORDECAI JEFFERSON. (LS.)