IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR PREPARING AND COMBING, FIBRES:
Year: 1874

page_text: administrators, and assigns, the sole privilege to make, use, exercise,
and vend our Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR PREPARING AND
COMBING, FIBRES: "
And whereas, in pursuance of a condition in the said Letters Patent
contained, we, the said George Little and Thomas Charles Eastwood,
caused a Specification in writing, under one of our hands and seals, par-
ticularly describing and ascertaining the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same was to be performed, to be filed in the
Great Seal Patent Office within the time and in the manner prescribed
in the said condition:
"
And whereas since the date of the said Letters Patent, and of the
filing of the said Specification in pursuance thereof, your Petitioners
have discovered that a part of the said Invention as described in the said
Specification, that is, the part relating to the "roller stands or carriers'
was not new at the date of the application for the Letters Patent afore-
said, your Petitioners are therefore desirous of disclaiming the same by
omitting the description thereof, which is contained in lines 4 to 29
(inclusive), page 4, and by omitting the first claim contained in the said
Specification; and in order that the said Specification shall read more
correctly after such omissions your Petitioners are desirous of altering
the word "Secondly" in line 30, page 4, and substituting instead thereof
the word "Firstly" and also the word "Thirdly" in line 24, page 5, and
substituting instead thereof the word "Secondly," and also of altering the
word "Secondly" which occurs in the second claim, and substituting the
word "
Firstly," and also the word "Thirdly" which occurs in the last
claim, and substituting the word "Secondly."
NOW KNOW YE, thereofore, that we, the said George Little and
Thomas Charles Eastwood, by and with the leave of Her Majesty's
Solicitor General, for the reasons aforesaid, and for effecting the objects
aforesaid, do hereby disclaim and strike out the words "Firstly. To
the roller stands or carriers which we construct cylindrical or in the
form of shafts, on which bosses which carry or form the necks of the
rollers are received. These stands or carriers may be chased or screwed
so that the position of the necks and rollers may be adjusted either
vertically or laterally with much nicety, and there secured by safety nuts,
or the stands may be plain cylinders and the bosses and necks fixed and
held in position by set screws. This construction of stands admits of

page_text: rollers of smaller diameter being used with the consequent advantage of
a closer nip of such rollers."
"This part of our Invention is illustrated by Figures 1 and 2 wherein
are shewn the rollers A, the necks of which are received within bosses B
mounted upon cylindrical stands or carriers C; these stands or carriers
are chased or screwed, which admits of the vertical adjustment of the
rollers, the bosses sliding upon the shaft and being fastened in any
position by the lock nuts C³, the lateral adjustment being provided for
by mounting the carriers or stands in swivel footsteps or bearings D,
which when the position of the carriers or stands has been determined
can be firmly secured by set screws to the framework."
66
Figure 3 shews the carrier or stand hollow with a rod E, through
the centre, to the top of which rod is attached the neck or clip F of the
upper of the pair of rollers, the bottom of the rod being connected with
the weighted lever G. By this arrangement the pressure upon the
rollers can be regulated without spiral springs or screws. The carriers
or stands may either be cylindrical, as shewn, or they may be of any
other shape, according to the strength required, or other modifying
circumstances," which occur in lines 4 to 29 inclusive in page 4, and
also the words "Firstly. The construction of roller stands and carriers,
substantially as shewn and described," which occur in lines 6 and 7,
page 7 of the said Specification, as printed by Her Majesty's Printers,
and we also strike out the word " Secondly" in line 30, page 4, and
substitute the word "Firstly," also the word "Thirdly" in line 24,
page 5, and substitute the word " Secondly," and also strike out the
word "Secondly" in line 8, page 7, and substitute the word "Firstly"
and the word “Thirdly" in line 10, page 7, and substitute the word
"Secondly."
Firstly. Where a series of "porcupines" are employed in lieu of
gills arranged side by side, we employ drawing and transferring rollers
for passing the fibre from cylinder to cylinder, and in connection
therewith we employ self-adapting and adjusting dishes for feeding the
fibre or supporting it until caught by the teeth of the "porcupines,"

page_text: Each dish consists of a series of plates or fingers curved at one end to
about the radius of that of the porcupine roller, and arranged side by
side on a support rod, the other end of each plate is connected by a rod
and spring with a cross rail, or the end of each plate may be balanced
by means of a weight in lieu of the spring. So long as fibre is fed in
proper quantity the several plates will maintain their respective
positions, but on too much fibre or any foreign hard substance being
fed the extra pressure caused thereby will overcome the balance spring
or springs, and depress one or more of the plates immediately under
such excessive supply or hard substance, and allow such to pass forward
without disturbance to the other fingers or injury to the teeth of the
porcupine, thereby making allowance for any unevenness that may be
caused by bad feed.
"
"
In Figure 4, Sheet 2 of our Drawings, we shew a series of "porcupine
rollers A, between which are drawing and transferring rollers B. Each
pair of rollers draws the fibre from the "porcupine preceding it, and
transfers it on to the end C¹ of the guide plate C, by which it is sup-
ported until caught by the teeth of the "porcupine," from which it is
in turn taken by the next pair of rollers, and so on throughout the series.
The construction of the guide plates is fully illustrated in Figures 5, 6,
and 7, which are details drawn full size. C are the plates or fingers
arranged side by side upon the rod D; E, the springs for giving the
necessary pressure upon the material under operation, which pressure is
regulated by the nuts F; G is the cross rail, against which the springs
bear. As before stated the plates may be balanced by weights instead
of springs.
Secondly. In some cases we employ a series of porcupines mounted on
and carried by an endless chain, so that the porcupine teeth lash out the
fibre, which is carried forward by the feed apparatus. The porcupines
have a return or backward motion on their axes given by means of a
second endless chain and series of chain wheels fixed on the axes of the
porcupine" rollers. This backward motion releases the fibre, and
admits of its being taken off by means of travelling belt and pins or
other similar apparatus having pointed surface. In Figs. 8, 9, 10, 11,
12, 13, and 14, Sheets 3, 4, and 5, this part of our Invention is fully
illustrated.
Fig. 8 shews a series of " porcupine" rollers A mounted on and
carried by an endless chain B. The travelling sheet C conveys the.

page_text: fibre to the feed rollers D, from which it is taken by the porcupine
rollers A, and during their longitudinal motion the fibre is subjected
to the action of the working rollers E, and finally conveyed by the
endless card sheet F to the drawing-off rollers G. The object and effect
of the backward or reverse motion of the " 'porcupines" on their axes
is to release the fibre from the teeth of the porcupine rollers A, so that
it may be more easily taken therefrom by the "workers" E and card
sheet F, and also that the whole surface or periphery of the porcupines
may be subjected to the action of the said workers and card sheet.
In some cases, depending upon the direction of the teeth and longi-
tudinal movement of the porcupines, this object will be effected by a
forward motion of the porcupines upon their axes.
The method of effecting the different movements by endless chain
is shewn in Figs. 9, 10, and 11. A are the axes upon which the
"porcupines" are mounted, which are connected together by the links
B forming an endless chain, to which continuous motion is given by
the star wheel H in the direction of the arrows J. The axes A pass
through bosses K which are supported and slide in the frame L. On
each of the axes A and at both ends thereof are shewn toothed wheels M,
around which pass on the endless chains N, N'; two other pinions O, O¹,
on the shaft P. also gear into the endless chains N, N'. The "porcupine"
axes A whilst being carried along by the endless chain B are free to
revolve each on its own axis, and it will be seen that on the wheels
O, O¹, being caused to revolve they will, through the agency of the
endless chains N, N¹, communicate rotary motion in the opposite
direction to the whole of the axes A, and to the porcupines mounted
thercon. Motion is given to the star wheel H and toothed wheels
O, O¹, by the train of gearing P¹, P³, P³, and P', which may be driven
from any convenient source.
Other means for effecting a similar result are shewn in Figs. 12,
13, and 14, and in this case the intermittent rotary motion of the
porcupines is produced by the toothed wheels R, the motion commencing
as soon as the wheels M on the axes come in contact therewith, and con-
tinuing until they are out of contact. The ends of the axes are square,
and when not required to revolve they are kept steady by the slide
groove A¹. By using other wheels suitably placed the motion may be
made continuous, and by using intermediates with varying numbers of
teeth a differential motion may be obtained, as is well understood. In

page_text: this case the continuous travelling motion of the endless chain B and
porcupines is produced by the star wheel H from the driving shaft S,
fast and loose pullies S¹ and S. The wheels R on the shaft R¹ being
driven by pulleys T and strap T¹.
Having thus described the nature of our said Invention, and shewn by
Drawings how the same is to be performed or carried into practical
operation, we would have it understood that we do not confine ourselves
to the precise details of construction and arrangement as herein set
forth; but what we claim as of our Invention is,―
Firstly. The application of drawing rollers to work in conjunction with
porcupine rollers, substantially as shewn and described.
Secondly. The imparting a circular, backward, or forward motion to
each of the series of porcupine rollers upon its own axis, either con-
tinuous, intermittent, or differential, substantially as shewn and
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Little, for and on behalf of
myself and the said Thomas Charles Eastwood, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of May, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five.
I hereby grant my fiat, giving leave to the above-named George
Little, for and on behalf of himself and the above-named Thomas Charles
Eastwood, to file in the Great Seal Patent Office, with the Specification
to which the same relates, the above-written Disclaimer and Memorandum :
of Alteration.
HARDINGE S. GIFFARD,
Temple, 22nd January 1876.
Solicitor-General.

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Little, of Oldham, in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer, and Thomas Charles Eastwood, of Bradford,
in the County of York, Machine Wool Comber, for the Invention
Sealed the 28th August 1874, and dated the 2nd March 1874.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Little and
Thomas Charles Eastwood at the Office of the Commissioners of
Patents, with their Petition, on the 2nd March 1874.
We, GEORGE LITTLE, of Oldham, in the County of Lancaster,
Engineer, and THOMAS CHARLES EASTWOOD, of Bradford, in the County.
of York, Machine Wool Comber, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR PREPARING AND COMBING
FIBRES," to be as follows:-

page_text: of the rollers are received. The stands or carriers may be chased or
screwed, so that the position of the necks and rollers may be adjusted,
either vertically or laterally, with much nicety, and there secured by
safety nuts, or the stands may be plain cylinders, and the bosses and
necks fixed and held in position by set screws. This construction of
stand admits of rollers of smaller diameter being used with the conse-
quent advantage of a closer nip of such rollers.
Secondly. The Invention relates to the construction and use of a self-
adapting and adjusting "dish" for feeding fibre to porcupine and feed
rollers, consisting of a series of guide plates or fingers for supporting the
fibre until caught by the cards or teeth of the porcupine roller as fed
thereto, the dish being so constructed as to adapt and adjust itself to
inequalities of feed (or on the introduction of foreign hard substance),
and so prevent damage to the cards or teeth of the porcupine. The dish
above referred to consists of a series of plates or fingers curved at one
end (to about the radius of that of the porcupine roller), and arranged
side by side on a support rod; the other end of each plate is connected
by a rod and spring with a cross rail, or the end of each plate may be
balanced by means of a weight in lieu of the spring. So long as fibre
is fed in proper quantity the several plates will maintain their respective
positions, but on too much fibre or on any foreign hard substance being
fed the extra pressure caused thereby will overcome the balance spring or
springs, and depress one or more of the plates immediately under the
excessive supply, and allow such to pass forward without disturbance to
the other guide plates or fingers, or without injury to the teeth of the
porcupine, thereby making allowance for any unevenness that may be
occasioned by bad feed. Porcupine rollers, to work in conjunction with
this adjusting dish when applied to circular combs or surfaces, are made
convex or concave as required.
Thirdly. Where a series of porcupines are employed in lieu of gills,
arranged side by side, we employ drawing off and transferring rollers for
passing the fibre from cylinder to cylinder, and the adjusting dishes will
be employed in connection therewith.
Fourthly. In some cases we employ a series of porcupines mounted
on and carried by an endless chain, so that the porcupine teeth lash out
the fibre, which is carried forward by the feed apparatus. The porcupines
have a slight return or backward motion on their axis given by means of

page_text: another chain and chain wheels fixed on the axis of the porcupine roller.
This backward motion releases the fibre, and admits of its being taken
off by means of travelling belt and pins or other similar apparatus having
pointed surface.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said George Little and Thomas Charles Eastwood in
the Great Seal Patent Office on the 2nd September 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, wc, GEORGE;
LITTLE, of Oldham, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer, and THOMAS,
CHARLES EASTWOOD, of Bradford, in the County of York, Machine Wool
Comber, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Second day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the thirty-seventh year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto us, the said George Little and Thomas Charles Eastwood, Her
special licence that we, the said George Little and Thomas Charles
Eastwood, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
we, the said George Little and Thomas Charles Eastwood, our executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others,
from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,
within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY
FOR PREPARING AND COMBING FIBRES," upon the condition (amongst others)
that we, the said George Little and Thomas Charles Eastwood, our
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under our, 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.

page_text: what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement (that is to say) :—
This Invention relates,―
Firstly. To the rollers, stands, or carriers, which we construct cylin-
drical, or in the form of shafts, on which bosses which carry or form the
necks of the rollers are received. These stands or carries may be chased
or screwed, so that the position of the necks and rollers may be adjusted,
either vertically or laterly, with much nicety, and there secured by safety
nuts; or the stands may be plain cylinders, and the bosses and necks
fixed and held in position by set screws. This construction of stands
admits of rollers of smaller diameter being used with the consequent
advantage of a closer nip of such rollers.
This part of our Invention is illustrated by Figures 1 and 2, wherein
are shewn the rollers A, the necks of which are received within bosses B
mounted upon the cylindrical stands or carriers C; these stands or
carriers are chased or screwed, which admits of the vertical adjustment
of the rollers, the bosses sliding upon the shaft, and being fastened in
any position by the lock nuts C¹, the lateral adjustment being provided
for by mounting the carriers or stands in swivel footsteps or bearings D,
which when the position of the carriers or stands has been determined
çan be firmly secured by set screws to the framework.
c
Figure 3 shews the carrier or stand hollow, with a rod E through the
centre, to the top of which rod is attached the neck or clip F of the
upper of the pair of rollers, the bottom of the rod being connected.with
the weighted lever G. By this arrangement the pressure upon the rollers
can be regulated without spiral springs or screws. The carriors or
stands may either be cylindrical, as shewn, or they may be of any
other shape, according to the strength required, or other modifying
circumstances.
Secondly. Where a series of "porcupines" are employed in lieu of
gills, arranged side by side, we employ drawing and transferring rollers
for passing the fibre from cylinder to cylinder, and in connection there-
with we employ self-adapting and adjusting dishes for feeding the fibre
or supporting it until caught by the teeth of the "porcupines." Each.
dish consists of a series of plates or fingers curved at one end to about
the radius of that of the porcupine roller, and arranged side by side on
a support rod; the other end of each plate is connected by a rod and

page_text: spring with a cross rail, or the end of each plate may be balanced by
means of a weight in lieu of the spring. So long as fibre is fed in
proper quantity the several plates will maintain their respective positions,
but on too much fibre or any foreign hard substance being fed the extra
pressure caused thereby will overcome the balance spring or springs,
and depress one or more of the plates immediately under such excessive
supply or hard substance, and allow such to pass forward without
disturbance to the other fingers or injury to the teeth of the porcupine,
thereby making allowance for any unevenness that may be caused by-
bad feed.
In Figure 4, Sheet 2, of our Drawings, we shew a series of
"porcupine "rollers A, between which are drawing and transferring.
rollers B. Each pair of rollers draws the fibre from the " porcupine "
preceding it, and transfers it on to the end C¹ of the guide plate C, by
which it is supported until caught by the teeth of the "porcupine,"
from which it is in turn taken by the next pair of rollers, and so on
throughout the series. The construction of the guide plates is fully
illustrated in Figures 5, 6, and 7, which are details drawn full size..
C are the plates or fingers arranged side by side upon the rod D; E, the
springs for giving the necessary pressure upon the material under opera-
tion, which pressure is regulated by the nuts F; G is the cross rail,
against which the springs bear. As before stated the plates may be
balanced by weights instead of springs.
Thirdly. In some cases we employ a series of porcupines mounted' on
and carried by an endless chain, so that the porcupine teeth lash out the
fibre which is carried forward by the feed apparatus. The porcupines
have a return or backward motion on their axes given by means of a
second endless chain and series of chain wheels fixed on the axes of the
"porcupine "rollers. This backward motion releases the fibre, and.
admits of its being taken off by means of travelling belt and pins or
other similar apparatus having pointed surface. In Figs. 8, 9, 10, 11,
12, 13, and 14, Sheets 3, 4, and 5, this part of our Invention is fully
illustrated.
Fig. 8 shews a series of "porcupine" rollers A mounted on and carried
by an endless chain B. The travelling sheet C conveys the fibre to the
feed rollers D, from which it is taken by the porcupine rollers A, and
during their longitudinal motion the fibre is subjected to the action of
the working rollers E, and finally conveyed by the endless card-sheet F

page_text: to the drawing off rollers G; the object and effect of the backward or
reverse motion of the "porcupines" on their axes is to release the fibre
from the teeth of the porcupine rollers A, so that it may be more easily
taken therefrom by the "workers" E and card sheet F, and also that
the whole surface or periphery of the porcupines may be subjected to
the action of the said workers and card sheet. In some cases, depending
upon the direction of the teeth and longitudinal movement of the
porcupines, this object will be effected by a forward motion of the
porcupines upon their axes.
"
The method of effecting the different movements by endless chain
is shewn in Figs. 9, 10, and 11. A are the axis upon which the
porcupines" are mounted, which are connected together by the
links B forming an endless chain, to which continuous motion is given
by the star wheel H in the direction of the arrows J; the axes A pass
through bosses K, which are supported and slide in the frame L. On
cach of the axes A and at both ends thereof are shewn toothed wheels M,
around which pass on the endless chains N,N'; two other pinions 0, 0¹,
on the shaft P also gear into the endless chains N, N'. The "porcupine
axes A, whilst being carried along by the endless chain B, are free to
revolve each on its own axis, and it will be seen that on the wheels O, O',
being caused to revolve they will, through the agency of the endless
chains N, N', communicate rotary motion in the opposite direction to
the whole of the axes A, and to the porcupines mounted thereon. Motion
is given to the star wheel H and toothed wheels O, O¹, by the train of
gearing P¹, P, P³, and P', which may be driven from any convenient
source. Other means for effecting a similar result are shown in Figs. 12,
13, and 14, and in this case the intermittent rotary motion of the por-
cupines is produced by the toothed wheels R, the motion commencing as
soon as the wheels M on the axes come in contact therewith, and
continuing until they are out of contact. The ends of the axes are
square, and when not required to revolve they are kept steady by the
slide groove A¹. By using other wheels suitably placed the motion may
be made continuous, and by using intermediates with varying numbers of
teeth and differential motion may be obtained, as is well understood. In
this case the continuous travelling motion of the endless chain B and
porcupines is produced by the star wheel H from the driving shaft S,
fast and loose pullies S' and S², the wheels R on the shaft R' being driven
by pulleys T and strap T¹.

page_text: Having thus described the nature of our said Invention, and shewn by
Drawings how the same is to be performed or carried into practical
operation, we would have it understood that we do not confine ourselves
to the precise details of construction and arrangement as heroin set forth,
but what we claim as of our Invention is,―
Firstly. The construction of roller stands and carriers substantially as
shown and described.
Secondly. The application of drawing rollers to work in conjunction
with porcupine rollers, substantially as shewn and described.
Thirdly. The imparting a circular backward or forward motion to each
of the series of porcupine rollers upon its own axis, either continuous,
intermittent, or differential, substantially as shewn and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Charles Eastwood, for and
on behalf of myself and the said George Little, have hereunto sct
my hand and scal, this Twenty-seventh day of August, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four.
THOMAS CHARLES EASTWOOD. (L.S.)
Witness,
J. W. TASKER,
Clerk to W. Tasker,
Patent Agent,
Halifax & Bradford.