IMPROVEMENTS IN WOOL COMBING MACHINERY.
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Isaac Smith, Benjamin Smith, and Henry Smith,
of Bradford, in the County of York, Worsted Spinners, and
Christopher Bradley, of Bradford, aforesaid, Comb Maker, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN WOOL COMBING MACHINERY.'
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Isaac Smith, Benjamin
Smith, Henry Smith, and Christopher Bradley at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents, with their Petition, on the 5th April
1871.
•
We, ISAAC SMITH, BENJAMIN SMITH, and HENRY SMITH, of Bradford,
in the County of York, Worsted Spinners, and CHRISTOPHER BRADLEY,
of Bradford, aforesaid, Comb Maker, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN WOOL COMBING MACHINERY," to bo
as follows:-
This Invention relates to that class of combing machinery commonly
known as "Noble's combs," wherein one (or more) circular comb rotates
within another circular comb and the wool to be combed is fed or

page_text: it is drawn off into the sliver. Now to remedy this evil we make the
ring of teeth of the outer or larger comb in divisions or in two rings
concentrically, the inner ring being permanently fixed to its carrying
plate as at present, but the outer ring is made in segments or sections,
and each section is capable of sliding outwards from the fixed ring to a 5
suitable distance as they arrive at a certain position in the circuit of the
comb in its revolution, when the wool laid thereon will be combed or
cleansed at that part, and the action of the machine is so arranged that in
feeding this cleansed part will fall on the space between the two combs.
The sliding movement in and out of the segment combs is effected by 1
means of a cam groove or other suitable machinery formed on the frame
of the machine, and on each segment is a pin which enters and moves
in this groove, and consequently the segments are guided in their
actions by the cam groove.
But that the Invention may be fully understood we will by the aid of 1
the accompanying Drawings proceed to describe the means pusued by
us in carrying the same into effect.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 shews by a plan view parts of a wool combing machine of
the character referred to with our improvements applied to it; Figures 22
and 3 show sections of parts of the same taken respectively through
the lines 1, 1, and 2, 2, of Figure 1; Figures 4, 5, 6, and 7 show details
separately. In each of the views the same letters are employed to
indicate corresponding parts.
a, a, are two circles of comb teeth, which as is usual in such 2
description of combing machinery revolve within an outer and larger
circle of comb teeth, so that the fibre may be simultaneously laid into
the teeth of both the inner and outer circles of teeth; but in carrying
out our improvements in place of the whole of the teeth of the outer or
larger circle being permanently fixed to their carrying ring or carrying 3
plates, so as simply to revolve with that ring or carrying plate 6 in its
rotation in the direction of the arrow, these teeth of this larger circle are
divided into two rings c and d. The teeth of the ring c are as heretofore
permanently fixed to the revolving and carrying ring b, but the teeth
of the ring d are set in segmental plates d', which whilst they are 3
controlled to rotate with the plate 6 are also capable of being actuated
to cause them to move radially, so that their comb teeth d may move
towards and from the combs c, so as at one time to act as part of the

page_text: .
combs c as heretofore, and then to recede therefrom a short distance to
effect a partial combing or a cleansing of the part of the fibre held
between these combs c and d. In order to this movement of the
combs d, each of the plates d¹ is affixed to a separate plate or "dog" đ,
and each of the plates or dogs"ď is formed to slide separately in
slots formed radially for them in the ring b. This movement is, as shewn,
effected by each of the plates & being formed with or having applied
to it a stud, or it may be a bowl projecting downwards, so that in the
-rotation of the ring. 6 each, stud or bowl d³ is first acted upon by a
stationary curved bar or cam course e, affixed to the stationary part
of the framing to cause the plates d³ with the combs' d carried thereby
to move outwards; and then in the farther.progress of the ring b.the
curved bar or cam course facts in succession on the opposite sides
of these studs or bowls & to cause the plates affixed thereto with their
segments of combs d to move inwards again to the combs c, by which
the combs c and d will again act as heretofore as one comb. The dotted
circles g, g, indicate the position of the rollers for drawing fibre through
the teeth of the combs c, d, in the usual way. After this drawing off
from the comb c, d, has taken place by a pair of rollers g, g, a dabbing
brush, the position of which is indicated by the dotted lines h, or it may
be a knife acts to press the fibre fully into the teeth of the combs c, d ;
and then in their further movement the bar e acts to cause a separation
of those combs, and thereby a cleansing of the fibre held between
them, when this partial combing and cleansing of fibre between the
combs c and d has taken place lifters then raise that fibre out of.
the teeth of both combs c and d. This lifting of the fibre out of
the combs c and d is as shewn effected at or about the point i by
lifters or knives, as is well understood. The combs d then again move
inwards to the combs c, and the fibre is again laid into the combs c
and d, and into the teeth of a circle a in the ordinary way when using
such class of combing machinery, but with this difference that in
carrying out our improvements the portion of fibre which had just been
cleaned by the separation of the combs c and d is laid over the part
between the teeth of the combs c and a, so that the noil knots, bits of
5 dirt, and other matters which would otherwise remain in the fibre by
being left therein between the teeth of the inner or smaller circle, and
those of the outer or larger one (except by a second combing) have
already been removed by the separation of the portions c and d of the
larger circle as explained. We prefer that a few rows of teeth of

page_text: the combs & next those of the combs c be of the same character and
pitch as those of the combs c, and then that the outer rows be of a
coarser pitch, but this may be varied to the quality or character of fibre
under operation:
Having thus described our Invention and means which we adopt in 5
carrying the same into effect, we would have it understood that we
do not confine ourselves to the precise details shewn and described,
as these may be varied without departing from the peculiar character
of our Invention; but what we claim is, the improvements in wool-
combing machinery of the character described, whereby the outer circle 1
or ring of combs is divided into two rings, with one portion divided into
segments capable of movement to and from the other, in manner and
for the purposes substantially as described.
In witness whereof, we, the said Isaac Smith, Benjamin Smitli,
Henry Smith, and Christopher Bradley, have hereunto set our 1
hands and seals, this Third day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one.