IMPROVEMENTS IN AND MACHINERY FOR COMBING FIBROUS SUBSTANCES."
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of IMPROVEMENTS
IN AND MACHINERY FOR COMBING FIBROUS SUBSTANCES." A communication
from abroad by the Firm of Heilmann-Ducommun and Steinlen, of Paris,
France.
Sealed the 3rd July 1877, and dated the 13th January 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville Clark at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th January 1877.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middle-
sex, Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND MACHINERY FOR COMBING FIBROUS
SUBSTANCES." A communication from abroad by the Firm of Heilmann-Ducommuu
and Steinlen, of Paris, France.
This improved machine is based on the following method of operation:-A lap,
sliver, or fleece of fibres is first drawn, laid parallel, and cleaned by being drawn (by
means of a nipper having a horizontal reciprocating movement) through a kind of
gill or apparatus which parallelizes, combs, and cleans the filaments, as described in
a previous application for Letters Patent filed by me on the Fourth day of January
1877 (being a communication from Messrs. Portait and Weber, Heilmann-Ducommun,
and Steinlen), after which preparation for an ulterior complete purification the fila-
ments held by the nipper are submitted to the action of a comb or segment of teeth
of progressive fineness, which effect a complete purification by the parting of the
web asunder. The same comb or segment which has combed the filaments held by
the nipper, as above mentioned, or a second comb, operates also on the front ends of
the filaments left projecting at the feed apparatus. The reciprocating nipper returning
to its first position, pieces up the web, and recommences the operation.
The machine consists of,-
1st. A purifying and feed apparatus which parallelizes the filaments.
2nd. A stationary nipper.

page_text: The purifying and feed apparatus which parallelizes the filaments varies
according to the state of the material to be operated on, and may consist of a
cylinder, plain, or clothed with plain or saw-toothed helical blades, against which the
web is pressed by an assemblage of overlapping fingers or pressers, as described in
the said former application. This is represented in Figure 1 of the annexed
Drawings, A, A¹, being the feeding and cleaning cylinder, or, in Figure 7, a series
of such cylinders placed in front of one another, as shown, the distance between
them and the fineness of the teeth from first to last being progressive, and each
cylinder being cleaned by a brush.
The stationary nipper is shown at B, B', Figures 1 to 6. It closes when the comb
operates on the front ends of the filaments left protruding at the feed apparatus. It
is actuated by a cam acting on a lever which carries the nipper.
The combing apparatus for completing the purification of the filaments is shown
in Figure 1 at C, which is a comb or segment with teeth of progressive fineness,
and has three movements imparted to it, namely, an up-and-down movement, a hori-
zontal movement of translation, and a rotary or turn-over movement for the cleaning
of the comb. The first of these movements is obtained by a lever D oscillating on a
centre d, and operated by the cam D¹; the horizontal movement is obtained by the
lever E oscillating on e as a centre, and operated by cam E', which has a variable
external form or curve whereby the amplitude of the horizontal movement of the
comb inay be varied; the rocking or turning over motion of the comb is obtained
by a toothed arc on F actuating a pinion fixed on the axis of the comb F, being
operated by cam F¹.
It will be noticed that the curve of cam E¹, D¹, F¹, is such that when the comb
has cleaned itself against the brush it moves away from it to be again turned over
and assume its first position without the teeth in returning entering the hair of the
brush.
This rocking or turning over of the comb is preferred for the sake of economy in
space, but I reserve the right of cleaning the comb or segment without the comb or
segment turning over, by means of one or two brushes moving to and fro and
approaching the teeth to be cleaned when they have completed their downward
movement, and are disengaged from the web of filaments.
Besides the comb above described, I reserve the right to use a second comb having
a similar movement, and placed above, as shown in Figures 4, 5, 6, for combing the
front ends of the filaments protruding from the feed apparatus.
The oscillating nipper for drawing and piecing up the web is supported on an
arm G, Figure 1, moving on G' as a centre. H is an eccentric or crank imparting
an oscillating movement to arm G, and consequently to the nipper, by means of
levers, connections, and cranks H³, H¹, H, H", the amplitude of the oscillation
being determined by the position of pivot I in the link of lever H". The angle
which H makes with His variable, so as to allow of variation of the point
where the nipping jaws seize the filaments. K, lever by which the lever is opened
and closed, operated from cam K¹. L, lever adjustable by slot to regulate the
pressure with which the jaws of the nipper close together. M, pad of india-rubber
to render the pressure elastic. N, endless sheet of leather or other material shifted
at each stroke of the nippers by a clutch, shown in Figure 8; this endless sheet may
be applied to the lower jaw or to both jaws, and serve as well as the cylinders for
drawing the combed fibres. O, O', small cylinders which draw the web of combed
filaments, allowing the tail ends of the fibre to project for piecing up the web.
A blade P, at the instant the nipper arrives at the end of its course and is about
to return, descends and retains the tail ends of the fibres upon the lower jaw of the
nipper, and causes them to be presented properly to the front ends for piecing up.
This blade P may also be in duplicate, as at P, P1, Figure 9, and present the web to
the two cylinders O, O', when the nipper opens.
Q is a conductor supporting the web during the to-and-fro movement of the
nipper. At q is an articulation moving in the opposite direction to the movement
of the nipper to render stationary this portion of the conductor.

page_text: I reserve the right to receive the lap between two endless sheets of leather as it
leaves the nipper.
The action of the machine is as follows:-Referring to Figure 1 or 1a, the front
ends of the fibres project from the feed apparatus. The tail ends of the fibres are
clipped by P, and project from the nipper jaw R. This nipper returns backwards,
as shown in Figure 2, to piece up the two ends, the plate P is withdrawn, the jaw S
closes, and the nipper advances a sufficient distance to allow the comb C to engage
in the web, after which the nipper R, S, continues its movement, thus drawing the
filaments held by it through the feed apparatus, which parallelizes, cleans, and pre-
pares them for the work of the comb or finishing seginent C. At this moment the
nipper B¹ closes, and the comb moves along to comb the front end of the fibres which
have passed the closed nipper, Figure 4. The comb C is then lowered, cleans itself,
and afterwards rises to recommence the operation.
The noveable nipper having arrived at the end of its course opens, plate Pis
slightly lowered (Figure 6), the cylinders O, O', draw towards themselves a certain
portion of the combed material, leaving the tail ends of the fibres to project for
piecing up the web, the plate P is completely lowered, and the nipper returns back-
wards to recommence the operation.
Figures 4, 5, and 6 illustrate the employment of a second comb, which comb the
front ends of the fibres which project from the feed apparatus, The feed is effected
(position 4), the cylinder A¹ turning at this moment. I however reserve the right
to choose the best time for the feed, and also to rotate the cylinder A¹ slightly back-
wards to make it draw back the web slightly, in order that when nipper R, S,
(position 2) seizes a fresh quantity of filaments, it takes rather less than the pro-
jecting front end of the web. In this way there is no danger of parts being
uncombed; on the contrary, they would rather be twice combed.
The material to be combed may be spread on an endless apron furnished in the
form of a lap on a roller or in a sliver with stop motion. At its exit from machine
the web is received by a rotary cam, a dyer's tube frame, or other arrangement.
The main features of this Invention thus consist,-
I. In a new process of combing, consisting in preparing, parallelizing, and par-
tially cleaning a web of filaments as a preliminary to afterwards thoroughly
purifying it by combing and parting asunder the web. This process consists in
drawing the filaments by means of a nipper (whether such as above described or
any other) through an apparatus which parallelizes and cleans them, such apparatus
being, according to the degree of entanglement or impurity of the fibre, either a
cylinder with overlapping pressers, as described in the said former application, or
several toothed cylinders placed in front of one another with teeth of progressive
degrees of fineness or rows of gills; this preparatory treatment effected, the filaments
are drawn (still held by the nipper) across a comb or segment of teeth presented to
them, and thoroughly purified; the front ends, which protrude from the feed appa-
ratus, are combed either by the same comb, which for this purpose receives a hori-
zontal movement, or by a second comb; lastly, the nipper is brought back with the
tail ends of the fibres to piece up the web and recommence the operation, with the
front ends of the combed filaments projecting from the feed apparatus.
I have indicated the mechanical parts employed, but do not limit myself thereto,
as the Invention covers any method of operation performed with a nipper, and
attaining the same result. By nipper I understand two jaws capable of seizing the
filaments at the surface of the feed apparatus, that is to say, to shave, so to speak,
the toothed cylinder, for example.
I would remark that only a nipper admits of seizing the filaments close enough
to the feed toothed cylinder to cause the fibres seized to slide between the teeth of
said cylinder. With two cylinders the tangent point is at too great a distance to
allow of this being done with short filaments.
By completely opening nipper B, B', I can shave the toothed cylinder, and utilize
the machine for quite short filaments.
II. The combination of mechanical parts composing the machine.

page_text: III. The application to the machine of the nipper described in the aforesaid pre-
vious application; the arrangement of one or two combs or segments of teeth having
an up-and-down movement, a horizontal movement, a rocking or turn-over motion,
and a downward or upward movement for cleaning; the arrangement of small
drawing cylinders carried by the nipper, and the nipping plate which holds the
fibre on the return of the nipper; the system of intervals at which the different
movements take place; and also the backward motion of the feed-toothed cylinder
for drawing back a certain portion of the web fed.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
12th July 1877.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middle-
sex, Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND MACHINERY FOR COMBING FIBROUS
SUBSTANCES." A communication from abroad by the Firm of Heilmann-Ducommun
and Steinlen, of Paris, France.
This improved machine is based on the following method of operation--A lap,
sliver, or fleece of fibres is first drawn, laid parallel, and cleaned by being drawn (by
means of a nipper having a movement of translation) through a kind of gill or
apparatus which parallelizes, combs, and cleans the filaments, as described in the
Specification of former Letters Patent granted to me, and dated the Fourth day of
January 1877, No. 49 (being a communication from Messrs. Portait and Weber,
Heilmann-Ducommun, and Steinlen). The filaments having by this preliminary
treatment been laid parallel, and thus prepared for the subsequent operation by
which they are completely purified, are held by the nipper, and whilst partaking in
its movement of translation, are submitted to the action of a comb or segment of
teeth of progressive fineness, which effect the complete purification of the filaments
by the parting of the web asunder. The same comb or segment which has combed
the filaments held by the nipper, as above mentioned, either alone or in combination
with a second comb, operates also on the front ends of the filaments left projecting
at the feed apparatus. The reciprocating nipper returning to its first position
pieces up the web, and recommences the operation.
The machine consists of,-
1st. A purifying and feed apparatus which parallelizes the filaments.
2nd. A stationary nipper.
3rd. One or two combing apparatus for effecting the complete purification
desired.
4th. A nipper having a translating or reciprocating motion for drawing and piecing
up the web.
The purifying and feed apparatus which parallelizes the filaments varies
according to the state of the material to be operated on, and may consist of a
cylinder plain or clothed with plain or saw-toothed helical blades, against which the
web is pressed by an assemblage of overlapping fingers or pressers, as described in
the said former Specification; or it may be as represented in Figure 7 of the
annexed Drawings, A, A', being feeding and cleaning rotary gills or porcupine
cylinders; or as in Figure S, which represents a series of such cylinders having
progressively fine teeth, and each cylinder being cleaned by a brush.
The stationary nipper is shown at B, B1, Figures 1 to 6. It closes when the comb
operates on the front ends of the filaments held in the teeth of the cylinder A. It
is actuated by a cam acting on levers which carry the nippers, as seen in Figure 1.
The right is reserved of providing one or both jaws of the nipper with an endless
apron like the one N applied to the oscillating nipper, herein-after referred to; the
pressure of the jaws of this nipper is also regulated in a similar manner to the oscil-
lating nipper, and either jaw B or B¹ may be made movable, or both.

page_text: The combing apparatus for completing the purification of the filaments is shown
in Figures 2 to 6 at C, which is a comb or segment with teeth of progressive
fineness. It has three movements imparted to it, namely, an up-and-down move-
ment, a movement of translation, and a partial rotary or turn-over movement for
cleaning the comb. The first of these movements given to it by a lever D being
made to oscillate on its centre d by the cam D¹; the movement of translation is
produced by the lever E being made to oscillate on e as a centre by the action of a
cam E, which has a variable extérnal form or curve whereby the amplitude of the
movement of the comb may be varied; the turn-over motion of the comb is obtained
by a toothed segment on a lever F actuating a pinion F¹ fixed on the axis of the
comb, the lever F being operated by cam F".
It will be noticed that the curves of cams E¹, D₁, F¹¹, are such that when the
comb has cleaned itself against the brush it moves away from it before resuming
its former position, so that the teeth shall be clear of the brush.
This rocking or turning over of the comb is preferred for the sake of economy in
space, but I reserve the right of cleaning the combs without turning them over, by
means of one or two brushes moving to and fro and approaching the teeth to be
cleaned when they have completed their downward movement and are disengaged
from the web of filaments.
Besides the comb C, above described, which combs both ends of the filaments, I
reserve the right to use a second comb C', Figures 1 to 6, having a similar move-
ment for combing the front ends of the filaments protruding from the feed
apparatus.
G, Figure 1, arm carrying the oscillating nipper and moving on G₁ as a centre,
H is an eccentric or crank imparting an oscillating movement to arm G, and conse-
quently to the nipper, by means of levers, connections, and cranks H¹, H, H, HIV.,
the amplitude of the oscillation being determined by the position of pivot I' in the
link of lever H. The pivot I¹ of lever H" is fixed adjustably in a slot in arm G, so
as to enable the nipper to work more or less closely up to the cylinder A in order to
retain the very shortest filaments in, or (according to the position in which the
oscillating nipper seizes the filaments) to exclude the filaments under a certain
length from the combed product of the machine. K, lever by which the nipper is
opened and closed, operated from cam K¹. L, lever adjustable by a set screw and
slot to regulate the pressure with which the jaws of the nipper close together. M,
pad of india-rubber to render the pressure elastic. N, endless apron of leather or
other material shifted at each stroke of the nipper by a clutch, shown in the
Drawings accompanying the Specification of the former Letters Patents, before
referred to. 0, 0¹, pair of small rollers, one fluted and the other covered with
leather, which feed along the web of combed filaments, allowing the tail ends of the
fibres to project for piecing up the web; the mechanism for operating cylinders
0, 0¹, imparts more or less motion thereto, according to the extent to which it is
desired that the front ends of the filaments should overlap the tail ends. O", O¹¹¹,
are a second pair of rollers placed in front of O, O¹, and applying a slight draft to
the combed web in order to more perfectly join the filaments together.
A blade P, Figures 2 to 6, at the instant the nipper arrives at the end of its
course and is about to return, descends and retains the tail ends of the fibres upon
the lower jaw of the nipper, and causes them to be presented properly to the front
ends for piecing up. A second blade P may be provided, as at P, PL, Figure 9, by
which the web is presented to the two cylinders O, O¹, when the nipper opens.
I reserve the right to receive the web between two endless leather aprons as it
leaves the nipper.
The action of the machine is as follows:-Referring to Figure 2, the front ends of
the fibres project from the feed apparatus. The tail ends of the fibres are held by
the rollers O, O¹, and laying on the lower nipper jaw R. The nipper closes to piece
up the two ends and commences its movement of translation, at same time drawing
the web. The comb C engages in the web as soon as the nipper has advanced a
sufficient distance, see Figure 3. The nipper R, S, continues its movement, thus

page_text: drawing the filaments held by it through the cylinders A, which parallelize, clean
and prepare them for the work of the comb or finishing segment C. At the moment
when the longest filaments which have been drawn by the movable nipper have
passed the fixed nipper B', the latter closes, and the comb moves along to comb the
front ends of the fibres which project from the closed nipper.
When a second comb C¹ is employed, it descends behind comb C, and the two
move together, the first one supporting the web so as to keep it engaged in the
comb C, as seen in Figure 4.
In Figure 5 the nipper R, S, is shown near the end of its course, and the bottom
comb withdrawn and turned over; the top comb completes the combing of the front
ends of the fibres. The blade P is seen down near the lower nipper.
In Figure 6 the nipper jaws R, S, are shown open, the blade P pressing lightly on
the web, the rollers 0, 0¹, just commencing to draw the web along the stationary.
jaw opening, and the fibres being fed; the different parts then return to the position
seen in Figure 2 to repeat the operation.
The rotary gill or porcupine A has also a backward movement imparted to it, as
indicated by the arrow, the moment the nipper B opens, so as to slightly draw back
the front end of the web, and thus prevent the movable nipper seizing any uncombed
portion, but rather ensure that some portions shall be twice combed.
The Invention may be thus summarized:-
--
1st. A new process of combing as follows, viz., preparing, parallelizing, and par-
tially cleaning a web of filaments as a preliminary to afterwards thoroughly
purifying it by combing and parting asunder the web. According to this process
the filaments are drawn by a nipper (such as herein-before described or any other)
through an apparatus which parallelizes and cleans them, this apparatus being either
a cylinder with overlapping pressers, as described in the said former Patent, or a
series of cylinders with teeth of progressive degrees of fineness or rows of gills,
according to the state of entanglement, degree of impurity, or nature of the fibres;
this preparatory treatment effected, the filaments are drawn (still held by the
nipper) across a comb or segment of teeth, whereby they are thoroughly purified;
the front ends which protrude from the feed apparatus are combed either by the
same comb, which for this purpose receives a movement of translation, or by a
second comb; lastly, the nipper is brought back with the tail ends of the fibres to
piece up the web and recommence the operation, with the front ends of the combed
filaments projecting from the feed apparatus after the backward motion of the
latter.
I have described the mechanism employed, but do not limit myself thereto, as the
Invention covers any method of operation performed with a nipper and attaining
the same result. By nipper I mean two jaws capable of seizing the filaments at the
surface of the feed apparatus, that is to say, to just touch the rotary gill or porcupine
cylinder.
I would remark that only a nipper admits of seizing the filaments close enough
to the cylinder to draw the fibres seized between its teeth. Two cylinders would
bring the tangent points at too great a distance to allow of this being done with
short filaments.
By completely opening nipper B, B¹, the machine may be utilized for quite short
filaments.
Secondly. The combination of mechanical parts composing the machine.
Thirdly. The application to the machine of the nipper described in the former
Patent referred to; the arrangement of one or two combs or segments of teeth
having an up-and-down movement, a movement of translation, a circular, rocking,
or turn-over motion, and a downward or upward movement for cleaning the small
rollers carried by the nipper employed either alone or with a second pair to produce
a draft, and the nipping plate which holds the fibre on the return of the nipper; the
system of intervals at which the different movements take place; and also the
backward motion of the feed apparatus to slightly draw back the web.
Having described the nature of the said Invention and the manner of performing

page_text: the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
1st. The improved process of combing, as herein specified.
2nd. The combination and arrangement of mechanism constituting the machine,
substantially as herein specified and shown in the Drawings.
3rd. The application to this machine of the nipper, constructed and operating as
specified herein and in the said former Letters Patent.
4th. The use of one or two combs or toothed segments receiving the different
movements above mentioned, and arranged to operate substantially as and for the
purposes specified.
5th. The arrangement of drawing rollers used in conjunction with and carried by
the nipper, as and for the purpose specified.
6th. The combination with the nipper of the blade to hold the web on the return
movement of the nipper, as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twelfth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
A. M. CLARK. (LS.)