IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Stewart, of the City and County of Aberdeen,
North Britain, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE
Sealed the 25th June 1867, and dated the 1st January 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Stewart at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 1st
January 1867.
I, GEORGE STEWART, of the City and County of Aberdeen, North Britain,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF COMBS, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED
THEREFOR," to be as follows, that is to say :-
This Invention has for its essential object a certain arrangement of comb-
cutting mechanism whereby a greater number of combs can be cut in a given
time than by the other means for effecting this mechanical operation at
present in use.
In carrying this Invention into practice double in place of single jaws are
provided in which the cutters are placed, the jaws forming a part or parts of
levers which are moved up and down by a crank, coupled thereto by connecting
rods, the crank being caused to revolve in any convenient manner. At the
centre of the bed two guages are placed in lieu of one guage at the side of

page_text: the bed as in other machines at present in use. The cutters are made slightly
inclined and curved at the ends to enable the proper form of teeth for the
comb to be produced. After the cutters bave completely effected the cutting
through of the teeth, there is a very small portion at the end of each left
uncut, this however, splits through after the cutting has been effected and
leaves the combs detached.
As constituting this Invention, and as novel and original, it is intended to
claim, the arranging of comb-cutting mechanism so that a greater number of
combs can be cut at once than formerly, by means of the double jaws and
cutters, herein-before referred.to.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Stewart in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 1st
July 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
STEWART, of the City and County of Aberdeen, North Britain, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the First day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirtieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said George Stewart, Her special license that I, the said George Stewart,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
George Stewart, my executors, administrators, or 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 THE
MANUFACTURE OF COMBS, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THERE-
FOR," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said George Stewart, by
an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, 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 George Stewart, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following

page_text: statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
My said Invention has for its essential object a certain arrangement of
comb-cutting mechanism whereby a greater number of combs can be cut in
a given time than by other means for effecting this mechanical operation at
present in use.
In carrying this Invention into practice double in place of single jaws are
provided in which the cutters are placed, the jaws forming a part or parts of
levers which are moved up and down by a crank to revolve in any convenient
manner. At the centre of the bed two guages are placed in lieu of one
guage at the side of the bed, as in other machines at present in use. The
cutters are made slightly inclined and curved at the ends to enable the proper
form of tooth for the comb to be produced. After the cutters have completely"
effected the cutting through of the teeth there is a very small portion of the
end of each tooth left uncut; this, however, splits through after the cutting
has been effected and leaves the comb detached.
As constituting this Invention, and as novel and original, it is intended to
claim the arranging of comb-cutting mechanism so that a greater number of
combs can be cut at once than formerly by means of the double jaws and
cutters herein-before referred to.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood I nov
proceed more particularly to set forth the system, mode, or manner in or
under which the same is or may be used or practically carried into effect in
manuer following, reference being had for the sake of more complete eluci-
dation to the several Figures upon the explanatory Sheet of Drawings which I
have hereunto appended, that is to say :-
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the jaws that hold the cutters, by which the
teeth of the combs are cut, which is the part of the comb-cutting engine
wherein my improvements are comprised; Figure 2 is a plan corresponding
to Figure 1. It may be here mentioned that these levers or jaws are fitted
into the ordinary rotatory twin comb-cutting engine, and are actuated from
cranks on a revolving crank. shaft, being coupled thereto by connecting rods
in the ordinary manner.
In the two Figures the parts marked A, A, constitute the front jaws, and those
marked B, B, the back jaws. In the front jaws A, A, the cutter holders C
are made separate from the jaws themselves, in order that their position may
be adjusted as required. From the upper side of each piece C a conical stud
projects, as shown in dotted lines at Figure 1, passing up through the end of
the front lever jaw A, so that on tightening the nut D which passes over the

page_text: screwed end of the conical stud the cutter holding pieces C may at once be
firmly secured in the position required. Holes are made through the pieces
C to enable the bolts E which carry the plate F to pass through. Between
the pieces C and the plate F the cutters G are placed, and these are firmly
held therein by means of the pull caused by tightening the nut H, so that on
loosening these nuts the cutters may be removed when required. To enable
the position of both cutter holders C, as well as the cutters themselves, to be
both adjusted in exactly similar positions the handle T is fixed to one of the
cutter holding pieces C, and another lever piece corresponding to it is attached
to the other cutter holding piece, shown in dotted lines under the front jaw A
at Figure 2, and marked K, the handle I and the lever K being connected
together by an adjustable link L, so that as the handle I is moved by the
attendant into any required position a similar motion is communicated to the
lever K, and thus the two cutters C may at any time be- simultaneously
adjusted. The part marked X, at Figures 1 and 2, consists of two plates, in
each of which a notch is cut to receive the handle I; the notch in one plate
being in such position as to fix the cutters G by means of the handle I being
caught therein, to produce the taper required for the teeth at the coarse end
of a comb, whilst the other notch is in such position that when the handle I is
caught therein it sets the cutters C in position to produce the taper required
for the teeth at the fine end of the comb. At the same time the positions of
the plates X are adjustable by means of the set screw a which passes through
a slot therein, so that the relative positions of the cutters with each other is
also capable of adjustment.
The back jaw B is differently constructed as regards the holding and
mode of adjusting the cutters. The form of the cutter holding projections
M is shown at Figures 1 and 2, in the outer end of which parallel
openings are cut to receive the cross pieces N; through these pieces N
holes are made to receive the bolts O which pass through another cross
piece P, and thence through the rear end of the pieces M; on the outer
end of these bolts the nuts are placed, and through the centre, or there-
abouts, of each piece M the set screw R is placed, the end of which bears
against the cross piece, so that by actuating the screw R and the nuts Q the
cutter retaining bars N and P are pressed together or may be drawn
asunder for the purpose of securing or loosening the cutters S; and the
angular position of the cutter is also adjustable by means of the screws R and
the bolts by turning them either in a right or left hand direction until the
necessary position of the cutters for the purpose of producing the taper
required in the teeth of the comb is obtained.

page_text: In setting the engine the cutters in the front jaw are first adjusted, and
afterwards those of the back jaw, both in the manner herein-before described.
By means then of applying this arrangement which I have herein specified
to the twin comb cutting engine two or more combs may be cut at one and
the same time, the only additional labour devolving upon the attendant being
that depending on putting in two pieces of the material to be cut in place of
one as hitherto.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in
which the same is or may be used or practically carried into effect, I would
observe in concluson that what I consider novel and original, and therefore
claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part recited
Letters Patent is, the arrangement, construction, and combination of parts
constituting the apparatus herein-before described to be applied to the ordinary
twin comb cutting engine, thereby enabling that engine to cut four or
more combs at a time, as herein-before described, or any mere modification
thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Stewart, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-sixth day of June, One thousand eight
hundred and sixty-seven.
Witness,
ST. JOHN VINCENT DAY, C.E.,
Patent Office,
166, Buchanan Street,
Glasgow.
GEORGE STEWART. (L.S.)