IMPROVEMENTS IN ROTARY WOOL COMBING MACHINES
Year: 1885

page_text: I, JOHN HENRY WHITEHEAD of Midland Junction Foundry Leeds in the
County of York Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN ROTARY WOOL COMBING MACHINES" (a communication to me
from abroad by Isaac Best of Lawrence in the County of Essex, State of
Massachusetts) to be as follows:―
This invention has for its object certain improvements in rotary wool combing
machines whereof the well known "Noble" Comb is an example.
In these improvements is employed the circular rotating bed, on which the
several sliver boxes are mounted or pivotted in the usual manner.
The sliver passes from the ball at base of the machine, through guides, and
thence into the sliver boxes. The large circular comb plate is also employed, all
the above mentioned parts are arranged to revolve round one common centre, and
to operate in the well known manner.
The incline bar for vertically actuating the sliver boxes is secured in position by
a rod; the ordinary knives are employed for raising the sliver above the teeth in
comb plate. A guide or cover on which the sliver moves, after being raised by the
knives till it arrives at the tangential junction of the larger circle comb and the
lesser circle comb is employed.
The usual feed plate is also used and supported by an arm.
My improvements consist in arranging the feeding plate at a greater distance
than heretofore from the small comb circle, and I provide an additional set of
knives I also form the incline bar with elevations and depressions instead of
with the single elevation usually employed.
I further employ an additional dabbing brush and reciprocating drawing comb
such brush and comb being actuated as described hereafter.
The dabbing brush is supported on a pivotted lever so as to be capable of
adjustment, not only vertically with reference to its proximity to the lever, but
also laterally, with reference to its distance from the pivot on which the lever
vibrates.

page_text: The said lever is actuated by a pitman which is vertically reciprocated by a pin
in crank disc, mounted on and driven by an arbor or shaft which also carries a
pinion engaged and driven by gearing secured on an arbor, such latter arbor
carries bevil gearing, engaged and driven by corresponding gearing, secured on
and driven by a vertical arbor or shaft, which may be, and preferably is rotated
by a pinion, secured thereon below the bed of the machine.
The auxilliary comb is mounted on a carrier to which it is secured by bolts passing
through slots in the carrier secured in the comb.
A spiral spring is at one end attached to a small stud secured in the carrier and
at the other to one of the aforesaid bolts, so as to automatically return the comb to
its normal position when liberated from the sliver, such sliver by the rotary move-
ment of the large comb circle, will when the auxilliary comb is engaged therein
move such comb simultaneously with the large comb circle.
The auxilliary comb has also an automatic rising and falling motion for the
purpose of engaging and releasing the sliver; it has an horizontal reciprocating
movement towards and from the large comb circle.
This last movement is obtained by means of the following devices.
An arm is provided and supported in bearings, and pivotted upon stud and
carrying at its lower end a pin which engages in a groove in the side cam actuated
by suitable gearing.
This arrangement will by the form of the cam groove impart to the auxilliary
comb a movement towards and from the large comb circle at each revolution of
the shaft or arbor on which the cam is mounted.
To impart the rising and falling motion to the comb, an eccentric is secured on
the aforesaid arbor or shaft, the strap of such eccentric is pivotally connected with
a stud rigidly secured to a rod mounted in suitable bearings.
On the top of this rod is secured the bearing of arm of the comb carrier; and
by the rotation of the eccentric the rod, its bearing and the comb carrier are
vertically reciprocated to an extent to engage and disengage the teeth with and
from the fibre in the auxilliary comb.
The cam and eccentric are so arranged that the rising motion of the comb will
occur when it is close to the large comb circle, and its falling motion will take place
when it is furthest from the large comb circle, consequently it will have drawn the
fibre which it engages in its rising movement, inwards to the extent of the described
horizontal movement.
"A clearer" is attached to and supported by a fixed arm, it being arranged to
slide lineally therein by means of a slot in its arm and a bolt passing through the
same into the arm. In the arm of the "clearer" is a pin between which and arm
is arranged a spring, secured at its fixed end to arm and so arranged as to force
the "clearer" towards the teeth of the comb, at the same time allowing the "clearer"
to be moved inwards by the engagement therewith of the teeth of the comb when
such comb moves inwards.
By the operation of the means added by my invention; the long and short fibre
can be more perfectly separated than it has hitherto been, with rotary combing
machines.
J. W. HARDING,
For the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in Rotary Wool Combing Machines.
I, JOHN HENRY WHITEHEAD of Midland Junction Foundry, Leeds in the County
of York, Engineer do hereby declare the nature of said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN ROTARY WOOL COMBING MACHINES" (a. communication to me from
abroad by Isaac Best of Lawrence in the County of Essex, State of Massachusetts
Combing Manager) and in what manner the same is to be performed to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This Invention has for its object certain improvements in rotary wool combing
machines whereof the well known "Noble Comb" is an example.
In these improvements is employed the circular rotating bed, on which the
several sliver boxes are mounted or pivotted in the usual manner.
The sliver passes from the ball at base of the machine, through guides, and
thence into the sliver boxes. The large circular comb plate is also employed, all
the above mentioned parts are arranged to revolve round one common centre, and
to operate in the well known manner.
The incline bar for vertically actuating the sliver boxes is secured in position by
a rod, the ordinary knives are employed for raising the sliver above the teeth in
the comb plate.
A guide or cover on which the sliver moves, after being raised by the knives till
it arrives at the tangential junction of the larger circle comb, and the lesser circle
comb is employed.
The usual feed plate is also used and supported by an arm.
My improvements consist in arranging the feeding plate at a greater distance
than heretofore from the small circle comb, and I provide an additional set of
knives, I also form the incline bar with elevations and depressions instead of with
the single elevation usually employed.
I further employ an additional dabbing brush and reciprocating drawing comb,
such brush and comb being actuated as described hereafter.
The dabbing brush is supported on a pivotted lever so as to be capable of
adjustment, not only vertically with reference to its proximity to the lever, but
also laterally, with reference to its distance from the pivot on which the lever
vibrates.
The said lever is actuated by a pitman which is vertically reciprocated by a pin
in crank disc, mounted on and driven by an arbor or shaft, which also carries a
pinion engaged and driven by gearing secured on an arbor, such latter arbor
carries bevil gearing, engaged and driven by corresponding gearing, secured on and
driven by a vertical arbor or shaft, which may be and preferably is rotated by a
pinion, secured thereon below the bed of the machine.
The auxilliary comb is mounted on a carrier to which it is secured by bolts
passing through slots in the carrier and secured in the comb.
A spiral spring is at one end attached to a small stud secured in the carrier and
at the other to one of the aforesaid bolts, so as to automatically return the comb
to its normal position when liberated from the sliver, such sliver by the rotary
movement of the large comb circle, will when the auxilliary comb is engaged
therein move such comb simultaneously with the large comb circle.

page_text: The aforesaid auxilliary comb has also an automatic rising and falling motion
for the purpose of engaging and releasing the sliver; it has a horizontal
reciprocating movement towards and from the large comb circle.
This last movement is obtained by means of the following devices.
An arm is provided and supported in bearings, and pivotted upon stud and
carrying at its lower end a pin which engages in a groove in the side cam actuated
by suitable gearing.
This arrangement by the form of the cam groove imparts to the comb a
movement towards and from the auxilliary comb at each revolution of the shaft
or arbor on which the cam is mounted.
To impart the rising and falling motion to the comb, an eccentric is secured on
the aforesaid arbor or shaft, the strap of such eccentric is pivottally connected with
a stud rigidly secured to a rod mounted in suitable bearings.
On the top of this rod is secured the bearing of arm of the comb carrier; and by
the rotation of the eccentric the rod, its bearing and the comb carrier are vertically
reciprocated to an extent to engage and disengage the teeth with and from the
fibre in the large comb circle.
The cam and eccentric are so arranged that the rising motion of the comb will
occur when it is close to the large comb circle and its falling motion will take
place when it is furthest from the large comb circle, consequently it will have
drawn the fibre which it engages in its rising movement, inwards to the extent of
the described horizontal movement.
A "clearer" is attached to and supported by a fixed arm, it being arranged to
slide lineally therein by means of a slot in its arm and a bolt passing through the
same into the arm. In the arm of the "clearer" is a pin between which and arm
is arranged a spring, secured at its fixed end to arm and so arranged as to force
the "clearer" towards the teeth of the comb, at the same time allowing the
"clearer to be moved inwards by the engagement therewith of the teeth of the
comb when such comb moves inwards.
By the operation of the means added by my invention; the long and short fibre
can be more perfectly separated than it has hitherto been with rotary combing
machines.
And in order that my invention may be more completely understood reference is
given to the accompanying drawings and to the letters and marks thereon.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 is a perspective view taken as viewed from the interior of the machine
'shewing a part thereof with my improvements applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a radial
section. Fig. 3 is a plan looking on the top of Fig. 1 with my improvements
shewn thereon. Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but omitting my improvements
and adding the drawing rolls and couching belts. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of my
improved incline bar by which the sliver boxes are vertically actuated. Fig. 6 is
a view similar to Figure 5, shewing said bar as heretofore formed. Fig. 7 is a
detached view shewing the auxilliary comb mounted on the carrier.
Fig. 8 is a detached elevation shewing the cam and lower part of the vibrating
lever by which the auxilliary comb is horizontally reciprocated. Fig. 9 is a
detached sectional elevation shewing my auxilliary dabbing brush and part of the
arm by which it is supported and actuated. Fig. 10 is a radial vertical section
through the circular bed of the machine, and shewing a sliver box, the sliver and
guide; the box being shewn as with its vibrating end resting on said bed. Fig. 11
is a view similar to Fig. 10, but shewing the sliver box as at 2, on the bar shewn
in Fig. 5. Fig. 12 is a similar view but shewing the sliver box as resting on said
bar at 3. Fig. 13 is also a similar view, but shewing the sliver box as resting on
said bar at 4. Fig. 14 is likewise a similar view but shewing the sliver box as
resting at 5 on said bar. Fig. 15 is a similar view but shewing the sliver box as
resting at 6 on said bar.

page_text: In these improvements is employed the circular rotating bed A on which the
several sliver boxes B are mounted or pivotted in the usual manner as shewn.
The sliver a passes from the ball at base of the machine through guides c, and
thence into the sliver boxes B. The large circular comb plate b is also employed,
all the above mentioned parts are arranged to revolve round one common centre,
and to operate in the well known manner.
The incline bar for vertically actuating the sliver boxes is shewn at d the same
being in position by rod e, the usual knives which raise the sliver above the teeth
in the comb plate b are shewn at c, and f represents the guide or cover, on which
the sliver moves after being raised by the knives c till it arrives at the tangential
junction of the larger circle comb b and the lesser circle comb i. The usual feeding
plate is shewn at g and supported by arm h.
•
My improvements consists in arranging the feeding plate g, at a greater distance
than heretofore, from the small circle comb i, and providing an additional set of
knives shewn at ; Fig. 1. I also form the incline bar d with the elevations and
depressions shewn at Fig. 5, instead of with single elevation 34 as shewn in Fig. 6.
I further employ an additional dabbing brush k and reciprocating drawing comb l,
such brush and comb being actuated in the manner and means next to be
described.
The dabbing brush is supported on pivotted lever m as shown in Figs. 1. 2
and 9 so as to be capable of adjustment, not only vertically with reference to its
proximity to the lever, but also laterally with reference to its distance from the
pivot n on which the lever vibrates. The said lever is actuated by a pitman p
which is vertically reciprocated by pin q in crank disc s mounted on and driven
by an arbor or shaft t, which also carries a pinion u engaged and driven by
gearing v secured on an arbor w such latter arbor carries bevil gearing a engaged
and driven by corresponding gearing y secured on and driven by a vertical arbor
or shaft z, which may be and preferably is rotated by a pinion secured thereon
below the bed D of the machine.
The auxilliary comb is mounted on a carrier 8 (Fig. 7) to which it is secured by
bolts 9 which pass through the slots 10 in the carrier and secured in the comb.
A spiral spring 11 is at one end attached to a small stud secured in the carrier
and at the other to one one of the bolts 9, so as to automatically return the comb
to the position shewn in Fig. 7 when liberated from the sliver. Such sliver by the
rotary movement of the comb b will when comb is engaged therein, move said
comb coincidently with said comb b.
The aforesaid comb has also an automatic rising and falling motion for the
purpose of engaging and releasing the sliver, it has also a horizontal reciprocating
movement towards and from the comb b. This last movement is secured by means
of the following devices.
An arm 12 extending from carrier 8 passes through and supported by bearing 21;
it is also connected with rocking lever 13 pivotted upon stud 14, and carrying at
its lower end a pin 15 which engages in the groove in the side of cam-disc 16,
mounted on and rotated by an arbor or shaft w driven as described. This
arrangement will by the form of the cam groove, shewn at Fig. 2 impart to the
comb a movement towards and from the large comb circle b at each revolution of
the arbor or shaft w.
To impart the rising and falling motion to the comb l, an eccentric 17 is also
secured on the aforesaid arbor or shaft w, the strap 18 of such eccentric is
connected with a stud 19 rigidly secured to rod 20 which slides in bearings 26,
upon the top of rod 20 is secured the bearing 21 of arm 12, of the comb carrier 8
and by the rotation of the eccentric 17 the rod 20, its cap or bearing 21, the comb
carrier 8 and comb / will be vertically reciprocated to an extent sufficient to engage
and disengage teeth 27 with and from the fibre in the comb b.
The cam 16 and eccentric 17 being so arranged that the rising motion of the
comb will occur when it is close to comb b as shewn in Fig. 2; while its falling
motion takes place when it is furthest from the large comb circle b, consequently it

page_text: will have drawn the fibre which it engages in its rising movement, inwards to the
extent of the described horizontal movement.
A "clearer" 22 is attached to and supported by fixed arm 23; it being arranged
to slide lineally thereon by means of a slot in its arm 35 and a bolt passing through
the same into said arm 23. In the arm of the "clearer" is a pin 25, between which
and arm 23 is arranged the spring 24 secured at its fixed end to arm 23 and so
arranged as to force the "clearer "22 towards the teeth of the comb b as shewn in
Fig. 2, at the same time allowing the "clearer" to be moved inwards by the
engagement therewith of the teeth of the comb when it moves inwards.
The operation of the machine when provided with my improvements is as
follows:-
As the slivers respectively pass under the feeding plate g their boxes D will pass
up over elevation 2 of incline bar d (Fig. 5) this raises the boxes to the position
shewn in Fig. 11 and the angle thus produced between the box and bed A, by such
change of the box, from that shewn in Fig. 10, serves to increase the length of
sliver projecting beyond the mouth of the box. As the boxes pass towards the end
of the feeding plate g they move down into depression 3 in bar d as shewn in
Fig. 12 thereby slightly folding between them and said comb b the increased length
of sliver which resulted from the rise of the boxes at 2 on bar d. As the boxes
pass on and the slivers are liberated from the plate g they are raised clear of the
teeth of comb b by knives j, and at the same time the boxes are raised by
elevation 4, of bar d as shewn in Fig. 13 whereby the slivers will by their clastic
expansion, extend themselves as far inside of comb b as they were extended from
the boxes by the rise of the same at elevation 2, of bar d. (as shewn at Fig. 11).
As the boxes next pass down into depression 5 of bar d, as shewn at Fig. 14, the
dabbing brush k depresses the fibre into the teeth of comb b, when comb / by its
described rising action will engage the fibre thus extending inside comb b and by
the backward movement of said comb the short fibre or "noil" will be drawn
close to the end of the fibre thereby leaving that portion of the fibre between the
combs and cleared and freed from the short fibre or noil, the comb (which by
its sliding action on the carrier 8 as shewn at Fig. 7) travels with the fibre as the
same is carried along by the rotary comb band is depressed and cleared therefrom at
the moment when it is at the end of its inward movement, and is then returned by
the action of the spring 11 as before stated. The length of said comb 7 is such that
it thus acts several times upon the same fibre, and it is provided, as shewn in Fig. 7
with sections of finer and coarser teeth; in order that when first acting on the
slivers, and arranging the longer fibres, the coarser teeth shall be operative, and
when the noil is largely drawn to the end of the slivers and the long fibres arranged,
then the finer teeth shall complete the work. After the fibre has been fully acted
on by comb the boxes mount elevations 6 of bar d, as shewn in Fig. 15 thereby
raising the slivers or fibre from the teeth of the comb b, by the clearing knives c
and passes onto and along guide f which terminates at the point nearest the
approach of comb b and i where as soon as the fibre leaves the guide f it is sunk
into said rotary combs, by the usual dabbing brush 28, thereby driving the noil
already gathered near the ends of the fibre, closely among the teeth of the small
comb i.
As the slivers are raised clear of comb b by the action of the knives c and the
rising of the sliver boxes upon elevation 6 of bar d the fibre which by the action of
comb is somewhat stretched, and will retract towards the boxes to an extent to
bring the centre of that portion which has been cleared by the comb 1, at the
dividing line between the combs b and i where they approach each other, and so
the cleared. fibre will be sunk equally in each of the combs by the brush 28.
As the combs move on, part of the separating fibre is taken by each, that which
remains with and projects inward from the comb b is extracted by the drawing
rolls 30, in the usual manner and is thence carried by belt 31, through belt
guides, 32 and thence by belt 34 to drawing rolls 33, where the two slivers reunite
and pass to the usual receptacle; while the noil which has been by the reciprocating

page_text: comb gathered, at the inner end of the slivers, so as to be driven into the comb ¿
as described, and there remains until the rolls 33 withdraw the long fibres by
engaging their ends furthest from the noil, is raised by the clearing knives 29, and
discharged from the comb.
By the operation of the means added by my invention; the long and short fibre
can be more perfectly seperated that has hitherto been practicable with rotary
combs, as the noil is gathered by my supplemental comb, close to the end, so as to
be sufficiently compacted in the small rotary comb to allow the detached long
fibres that project from the periphery of the comb, to be extracted by the drawing
rolls 33 without dislodging the already gathered noil, which is afterwards discharged
as stated.
'
Besides this the described action of my reciprocating comb is such that the long
fibres which project inwards from comb b, after the seperation at the combs b and i,
are drawn from comb b by rolls 30, move free from the short fibre or noil than if
my devices were not employed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said.
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1st The combination with rotary comb 6 sliver boxes B and feeding plate g of
supplemental knives j and dabbing brush k, comb l, with devices to actuate said
brush and comb and incline bar d formed to co-operate with said devices in the
manner described all substantially as specified.
2nd The combination with rotary comb b and sliver boxes B of devices adapted
and arranged to draw the sliver through said boxes to raise it from and extend it
within the interior line of said comb; a dabbing brush to then sink the sliver in
said comb and a reciprocating comb and coaching devices, arranged to engage the
sliver so extended within the rotary comb and gather the short fibre as described;
all substantially as specified.
3rd The combination with the rotary comb b clearing knives c and sliver boxes B
guide f small circle comb i and feeding plate g of supplemental knives j, dabbing
brush, reciprocating comb 1, and incline bar d, formed to co-operate with said
devices as described; all substantially as specified.
4th The combination with rotary comb b, and devices adapted to extend the
sliver within the inner line of said comb, of a comb with actuating mechanism
adapted and arranged to be reciprocated in a line radial from the centre of the
machine, and to engage the sliver so projecting within the rotary comb and gather
the short fibre or noil therein, at the inner end of said sliver, substantially as
specified.
5th As an improvement in the art of wool combing, by means of large and small
circle rotary combs; the described method of extending the slivers within the inner
line of the large comb, and then gathering the short fibre or noil, in such projecting
part of the slivers, at the end thereof by means of a reciprocating comb, preparatory
to the conjoint action of said large and small combs upon the fibre so cleared; all
substantially as specified.