Improvements in or relating to Noble Combing Machines or the like.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Noble Combing Machines or the like.
35.777
We, THE FLAX COMBING SYNDICATE LIMITED, of Throgmorton House, Copthall
Avenue, in the City of London, and TAYLOR BURROWs, of 88, Upper Kennington
Lane, London, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention has for its object improvements in or relating to Noble combing
machines or the like--an especial object of the present invention being to convert
or adapt such machines for combing vegetable fibres such as flax or china grass
and consists of improvements in or relating to the feed or feeding arrangements.
In the "ball" as prepared and used in the present feed (i.c. for wool) it is
turned positively by friction rollers on which it rests and furthermore the fibre
is usually wound loose on said ball.
This for vegetable fibres is not advantageous as the slivers have a tendency to
either break or become too slack and fall off the sides and this leads to much
waste and inconvenience. In the can feed hitherto used or tried it is found diffi-
cult if not impossible to get sufficient weight in the cans which have been made
in 4 compartments and as one sliver finished before the others several yards have
to be wasted at the end of almost every can.
To obviate these grave inconveniences and to obtain other improvements and
advantages it is proposed to feed by heavily compressed balls with one, two
or four slivers (or other suitable number) on each ball and the sliver is pulled
off the ball as required and all the slivers are kept at an even tension.
This is effected by winding on to a ball (advantageously under heavy pressure)
the number of slivers it is desired each ball to have. This heavy pressure causes
the slivers to detach themselves freely from the underlying layers.
The following is a suitable arrangement for effecting this winding.
A reel or bobbin is used (deep-sided or otherwise) through which is inserted a
spindle or axle on which said bobbin turns this spindle (which extends some
distance each side of and beyond the bobbin or trunnions may be fixed at each
side to form these axes) being held or guided in slotted guides or bearings and
being heavily weighted or controlled by suitable springs or levers or said reel or
bobbin may be otherwise suitably arranged and adapted to be pressed firmly
against an idle roller carried in fixed or other suitable bearings or supports this
idle roller being of a width adapted to fit in between the side cheeks or discs
forming the sides of the reel or bobbin.
Four or other suitable number of slivers are led parallel on to said bobbin and
the latter is then forcibly rotated and as the fibres (slivers) are lapped or wound
on the said reel or bobbin they are firmly pressed onto the said bobbin thereby
giving the dual advantage of (1) getting more material on each bobbin and (2)
so winding the fibres (especially flax or china grass) that it will run off or unwind
very much better.
The axis of this bobbin on which the slivers are lapped rests at each end when.

page_text: on the combing machine in a V-shaped or approximately V-shaped bearing or
holder so that the weight of the bobbin at its full charge being heavy presses the
ends (.e. the axes) down in the V-shaped holder or bearings but as the slivers
are pulling on a big diameter the bobbin is easier to move so that in the feeding
motion or feeding operation the pull of the slivers eases the axes in their bearings and
so causes the bobbins to revolve only to the extent of the sliver required or
absorbed oy the feed. This V-shaped holder in which the ends (axes) rest
prevents the over-running of the bobbin.
These V-shaped or converging bearings may be formed arranged or mounted
on short stays or supports bolted screwed or otherwise suitably fixed to and car-
ried on or by the Noble comb or the like combing machine and are carried round
therewith or said V-shaped bearings may be arranged on short rocking arms or
levers pivoted to the revolving frame of the machine such arms or levers being
thus radially arranged with respect to the vertical central axis around which
the machine revolves; and the inner end of each such arm or lever is arranged
and adapted to come in contact with an inclined plane or fixed surface (like a
fixed cam) arranged and fixed in the path of travel of the said inner end of each
such arm or lever whereby such inner end is depressed and held down during a
part or parts of each revolution of the machine and consequently the V-shaped
bearings at the outer ends are raised and therefore the ball or reel of fibre resting
in said bearings is correspondingly raised and thus the sliver between the ball
and the feed boxes is thrown slack while the feed takes place after which the
pivoted arms or levers pass clear of the aforesaid fixed cam-like surface and thus
permit the V-shaped bearings (and the ball supported in same) to descend and
thereby the sliver is tightened again and the amount absorbed in the last feed is
now unrolled from the ball or reel and then the latter comes to rest again in its
V-shaped bearings which bearings prevent any excess of unwinding taking place
and maintain the slivers in a taut condition until just before the next feed takes
place when said bearings together with the ball or reel are raised as before
described and so on with each ball in succession.
A further improvement or modification consists in providing if desired the
perforated feed plate with lips, nozzles, or projections (advantageously bell-
mouthed with rounded edges thereto) to each alternate aperture through said feed
plate.
When the V-shaped bearings do not lift and lower as aforesaid but are fixed as
first described then each of the feed plates is arranged separately to be lifted and
lowered in a corresponding manner to the arrangement described for the V-shaped
bearings.
We, THE FLAX COMBING SYNDICATE LIMITED, of Throgmorton House, Copthall
Avenue, in the City of London, and TAYLOR BURROWs, of 88, Upper Kennington
Lane, London, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement: -
This invention has for its object improvements in or relating to Noble combing

page_text: machines or the like-an especial object of the present invention being to con-
vert or adapt such machine for combing vegetable fibres such as flax or china
grass.
The axis of the bobbin on which the slivers are lapped rests at each end when on
the combing machine in V-shaped or approximately V-shaped bearings or holders
so that the weight of the bobbin at its full charge being heavy presses the ends
(of the axis) down in the V-shaped holders or bearings but as the slivers are pull-
ing on a big diameter the bobbin is easier to move so that in the feeding motion
or feeding operation the pull of the slivers eases the axes in their bearings and so
causes the bobbins to revolve only to the extent of the sliver required or absorbed
by the feed. This V-shaped holder in which the ends (axes) rest prevents the over-
running of the bobbin.
These V-shaped or converging bearings may be formed arranged or
mounted on short stays or supports bolted screwed or otherwise suitably fixed to
and carried on or by the Noble comb or the like combing machine and are carried
round therewith; or said V-shaped bearings may be arranged on short rocking
arms or levers pivotted to the revolving frame of the machine such arms or levers
being thus radially arranged with respect to the vertical central axis around which
the machine revolves; and the inner end of each such arm or lever is arranged and
adapted to come in contact with an inclined plane or fixed surface (like a fixed
cam) arranged and fixed in the path of travel of the said inner end of each such
arm or lever whereby such inner end is depressed and held down during a part or
parts of each revolution of the machine and consequently the V-shaped bearings
at the outer ends are raised and therefore the ball or reel of fibre resting in said
bearings is correspondingly raised and thus the sliver between the ball and the
feed boxes is thrown slack while the feed takes place after which the pivotted
arms or levers pass clear of the aforesaid fixed cam-like surface and thus permit the
V-shaped bearings (and the ball supported in same) to descend and thereby the
sliver is tightened again and the amount absorbed in the last feed is now unrolled
from the ball or reel and then the latter comes to rest again in its V-shaped bear-
ings which bearings prevent any excess of unwinding taking place and maintain
the slivers in a taut condition until just before the next feed takes place when said
bearings together with the ball or reel are raised as before described and so on with
each ball in succession.
A further improvement or modification consists in providing if desired the
perforated feed plate with lips, nozzles or projections (advantageously bell-
mouthed with rounded edges thereto) to each alternate aperture through said
feed plate.
When the V-shaped bearings do not lift and lower as aforesaid but are fixed as
first described then each of the feed plates is arranged separately to be lifted and
lowered in a corresponding manner to the arrangement described for the V-shaped
bearings.
Referring to the accompanying drawings:
Fig. 1 is a plan or diagrammatic view in plan of a "Noble" combing machine
having the present improvements applied thereto.
Fig. 2 is a side view or elevation looking in the direction of the arrow 1 Fig. 1.
Figs. 3 to 6 are detail views of the feeding arrangement.
Fig. 3 being local detail view on an enlarged scale showing one arrangement
for feeding according to the present invention; Fig. 4 a local plan view of Fig. 3;
Fig. 5 a local sectional view viz.: on line 5-5 Fig. 1 on an enlarged scale show-
ing a slightly modified feeding arrangement according to the present invention;
and Fig. G is a local plan view of Fig. 5.
"reel")
A bobbin-reel or spool a (which will hereinafter be referred to as a
is used having a spindle or axle passed centrally through same the projecting
ends a of which form the axes on which said reels revolve (see Fig. 1 to 6).
Or these axles a¹ may be simply trunnions fixed to the side cheeks of the reel a.

page_text: the suvers may be wound oц to circular tubes or rods (without nanges it
desired).
Four or other suitable number of slivers bare wound parallel on to each said
reel and are advantageously tightly wound thereon so as to obtain the double
advantage of (1) getting more material on each reel and (2) it is found that the
fibre especially flax or china grass will thereby run off or unwind very much better
when thus tightly wound.
The projecting ends or trunnions a¹ (of this reel a on which the slivers are
wound) rest when on the combing machine in V-shaped or approximately V-shaped
bearings or holders c so that the weight of the reel a at its full charge being heavy
consequently presses the ends a¹ down so that the latter are wedged between the
converging sides of the V-shaped holder or bearing c.
These V-shaped bearings c may be mounted on short stays or supports c¹ bolted
screwed or otherwise suitably fixed to and carried on or by the circular revolving
framed of the Noble or the like combing machine and are carried round therewith.
This arrangement of V-shaped bearings carried in fixed supports on the revolv-
ing part of the machine is shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and in detail in Figs. 3 and 4
and in this case the feed plate e is carried on a bracket e¹ pivoted at to the afore-
said revolving frame d.
This pivoted bracket e¹ has an extension e² which comes to rest against the
underside of the revolving frame d and thereby prevents the bracket e' from turn-
ing (outwards) on the pivot d' beyond the position shown in Fig. 3. This bracket e¹
also carries another arm projecting downwards below the pivot d' and as this down-
wardly projecting arm is carried round with the revolving frame d such arm e³
rides against a fixed cam-like surface e* rigidly mounted (on a fixed part of the
framing of the machine) in the path of travel of said arm e³ consequently said
arm is forced by the cam ex from the position shown in full lines in Fig. 3 into
the position shown in dotted lines and thus the feed plate e'is raised and draws
a certain amount of sliver b off the reel a and then the arme passes clear of the
fixed cam-like surface e* and the feed plate drops back and thus leaves a small
amount of slack in the sliver b which thus permits the feeding operation to readily
take place.
Or said V-shaped bearings c may be carried on rocking supports as shown in
Figs. 5 and 6 for instance a forked device consisting of the forked arms fl fl
pivoted at f2f in supports f³ fixed to the revolving frame the forked
arms f f converging and terminating in the single arm or lever f which latter
extending inwardly (i.e. towards the centre of the machine) rides under an inclined
plane or device f* fixed (to some stationary part of the machine) in the path of
travel of said arm or lever f.
Thus as each lever f in its path of travel rides under the inclined plane f
thereby each said leverf is depressed and consequently the forked ends fi thereof
are raised and thereby the reel a in the bearings c is lifted bodily just before the
feed takes place as shown in Fig. 2 (and in this arrangement the feed plates e
would not require to be raised or tilted as shown in Figs. 3 and 4) and thus the
sliver between the ball and the feed boxes is thrown slack as shown in dotted
lines in Fig. 5 and the reel a is maintained in this raised position until after the
feed has taken place and then the lever f passes clear of the fixed inclined plane
or device whereupon the forked ends fi and the reel a supported therein are
lowered and consequently the amount of the sliver b absorbed in the last feed is
now unrolled off said reel a and then the latter comes to rest again in its V-shaped
bearings c which bearings prevent any excess of unwinding taking place and con-
sequently maintain the slivers in a taut condition.
Thus in a circular combing machine of the character illustrated in Fig. 1 where
the material is fed twice in the course of each revolution consequently the reels a
are each raised and lowered twice in the course of each revolution of the machine
according to the arrangement shown in Figs. 5 and 6.
If desired any suitable bearings (other than V-shaped) may be used in conjunc-

page_text: tion with means for raising and lowering such bearings and the reels supported
therein in order to produce slackness in the slivers-just before the feeding opera-
tion takes place as hereinbefore 'described with reference to Figs. 5 and 6.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is:-
1. In Noble combing machines or the like-the combination therewith of means
to produce a slackness in the slivers to permit the feeding operation to readily take
place substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein before described.
2. In Noble combing machines or the like-the combination therewith of
V-shaped bearings such as cc and means to raise and lower said V-shaped bearings
and the reels of fibre to be combed supported therein respectively as they are
carried round with the main circular comb in order to produce a slackness in all
the slivers on the reel while the feed takes place all arranged and operating sub-
stantially in the manner and for the purposes hereinbefore described and illus-
trated in Figs. 2, 5 and 6 of the drawings hereunto annexed.
3. The herein-described improvements in or relating to the feeding of Noble
combing machines or the like substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore
described and illustrated in the drawings hereunto annexed.
Data VILIO
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Noble Combing Machines or the like.
We, THE FLAX COMBING SYNDICATE LIMITED, of Throgmorton House, Copthall
Avenue, in the City of London, and TAYLOR BURROWS, of 88, Upper Kennington
Lane, London, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
:-
This invention has for its object improvements in or relating to Noble combing
machines or the like an especial object of the present invention being to convert
or adapt such machines for combing vegetable fibres such as flax or china grass
and consists of improvements in or relating to the means for dabbing. the fibre
into the circular combs and in the means employed in connection with such
dabbing appliances.
According to the present invention the dabbing device consists of a series of
plates or strips arranged edgewise on a block or support and of any suitable width
or widths and shape but always so as to correspond with and so as to be adapted
to enter in the spaces between the respective circular rows of teeth in the comb
or combs in suchwise that the said plates or strips will not strike or touch such
comb teeth or pins or in anywise injure same.
"
To ensure this the ordinary "ploughs or fixed inclined plates on edge (which
are inserted between the rings of teeth of the main circular comb in order to lift
out the ends of the fibres in readiness to permit the feeding operation to take
place) are mounted as usual or in any suitable manner. and then such inclined
planes or plates are prolonged and descend and extend towards the dabbing device
(or separate fixed plates or strips may be used if desired) and these said strips
or plates respectively are fixed and held rigidly between the respective circular
rows of pins or teeth of the main circular comb so as to ensure the said. rows of
pins or teeth being maintained at their proper distances apart and the definite
position of the parallel rows of pins or teeth is thus ensured and maintained and
the said strips or plates forming the dabbing device (reciprocated vertically in
the usual or any suitable manner) being reciprocated always in the same vertical
plane and such reciprocating dabbing plates being guided between fixed guide
plates or guiding devices fixed just above the top of the row of pins. or teeth of
the circular comb in suchwise and of such a character as to guide each of the
dabbing plates accurately into the space between the rows of pins or teeth con-
sequently it is thus ensured that the said dabbing plates will thus always accurately
fit or enter between the circular rows of teeth without touching the latter..
If desired the guide plates or guiding devices aforesaid (through or between
which the reciprocating dabbing plates pass) may be fixed and held in between
or partially in between the circular rows of pins or teeth of the comb.
1
L
Jacenken 1007

page_text: Improvements in or relating to Noble Combing Machines or the like.
We, THE FLAX COMBING SYNDICATE LIMITED, of Throgmorton House, Copthall
Avenue, in the City of London, and TAYLOR BURROWS, of 88, Upper Kennington
Lane, London, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
-
This invention relates to Noble combing machines or the like and consists of
improvements in or relating to the means for dabbing the fibre into the circular
combs and in the method and means employed in connection with such dabbing
appliances more especially for use in combing vegetable fibres such as flax or
china grass.
The dabbing device consists of a series of plates or strips arranged edgewise on
a block or support and of any suitable width or widths and shape but always
so as to correspond with and so as to be adapted to enter in the spaces between the
respective circular rows of teeth in the comb or combs in suchwise that the said
plates or strips will not strike or touch such comb teeth or pins or in anywise
injure same.
To ensure this the ordinary "ploughs" or fixed inclined plates on edge (which
are inserted between the rings of teeth on the main circular comb in order to lift
out the ends of the fibres in readiness to permit the feeding operation to take
place) are mounted as usual or in any suitable manner and then such inclined
planes or plates are prolonged and descend and extend towards the dabbing device
(or separate fixed plates or strips may be used if desired) and these said strips
or plates respectively are fixed and held rigidly between the respective circular
rows of pins or teeth of the main circular comb so as to ensure the said rows of
pins or teeth being maintained at their proper distances apart and the definite
position of the parallel rows of pins or teeth is thus ensured and maintained and
the said strips or plates forming the dabbing device (reciprocated vertically in
the usual or any suitable manner) being reciprocated always in the same vertical
plane and such reciprocating dabbing plates being guided between fixed guide
plates or guiding devices fixed just above the top of the rows of pins or teeth of
the circular comb in suchwise and of such a character as to guide each of the
dabbing plates accurately into the space between the rows of pins or teeth con-
sequently it is thus ensured that the said dabbing plates will thus always accurately
fit or enter between the circular rows of teeth without touching the latter.
If desired the guide plates or guiding devices aforesaid (through or between
which the reciprocating dabbing plates pass) may be fixed and held in between
or partially in between the circular rows of pins or teeth of the comb.
Referring to the accompanying drawings:-
Fig. 1 is a plan or diagrammatic view in plan of a "Noble" combing machine
having the present improvements applied thereto.
Fig. 2 is a side view or elevation looking in the direction of the arrow 1 Fig. 1.
Figs. 3 to 5 are detail views of the dabbing arrangement.
Fig. 3 being a local view in elevation on an enlarged scale showing the
'dabbing" arrangement i.e. Fig. 3 is a local view looking in the direction of the
arrow 7 Fig. 1 omitting the feeding boxes.
Fig. 4 is a "local" cross sectional view on line 8-8 Fig. 3.
Fig. 5 is a local plan partly in horizontal section on line 9-9 Fig. 3.
Referring more particularly to Figs. 3 to 5-a series of plates or strips h of
metal or otherwise are arranged edgewise on a block h¹ and of any suitable width
or widths but always so as to be adapted to enter the spaces between the re-

page_text: spective circular rows of teeth i in the main comb and in suchwise that the said
plates or strips h will not strike or touch such comb teeth or pins i or in anywise
injure same.
To ensure this the plates h h pass through a sort of grid or fixed guiding device j
held just above the points of the circular combing teeth or pins i such guiding
device while permitting free vertical reciprocation of the strips or plates h will
serve as guides to said plates and prevent lateral motion thereof whereby it follows
that such plates can enter only into the spaces between the said rows of teeth i
and similarly with respect to the pins which are the pins or combing teeth
on the small circular combs see Figs. 1, 4 and 5.
"
In addition to this-the ordinary "ploughs" or fixed inclined plates k on edge
(which are inserted between the rings of teeth i of the main circular comb in order
to lift out the ends of the fibres in readiness to permit the feeding operation to take
place) are mounted as usual or in any suitable manner and then such inclined
plates are prolonged at 7 and descend and extend towards and under the
dabbing plates h; or the strips or plates / may advantageously be separate from
the ploughs k.
The ends of said plates 7 extend quite under the dabbing device (see Fig. 3)
and are fixed and held rigidly between the respective revolving circular rows of
pins or. teeth i of. the main circular comb so as to ensure the said rows of pins
or teeth being maintained at their proper distances apart and this definite
position of the parallel rows of pins or teeth i is thus ensured and maintained
and the said strips or plates h on the block or support h¹ being reciprocated
vertically always in the same vertical plane for instance by the reciprocating
plunger or connecting rod y Fig. 4 consequently it is thus ensured that the said
dabbing plates h will always accurately fit or enter between the circular rows
of teeth without touching the latter and enable rigid plates such as h to be
used instead of bristles.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is: --
1. In Noble or the like circular combing machines-a dabbing device consisting
of a series of dabbing plates carried on a block adapted to be reciprocated
and a fixed guiding device j for said plates h and through which guiding device
said plates are adapted to be reciprocated in between the teeth or pins of the
comb in combination and acting in conjunction with fixed extension plates or
inclines such as substantially in the manner and for the purposes hereinbefore
described.
2. The improved means for or relating to dabbing the fibre into the teeth or
pins of the comb of a Noble or the like circular combing machine substantially
in the manner and for the purposes hereinbefore described and illustrated in the
drawings hereunto annexed.
3. A Noble or the like circular combing machine having arranged and combined
therewith dabbing devices and parts connected and operating in conjunction there-
with substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described and illustrated
in the drawings hereunto annexed.

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Dec., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 16th Mar., 1898-Accepted, 30th Apr., 1898
DI DUIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Noble Combing Machines or the like.
We, THE FLAX COMBING SYNDICATE LIMITED, of Throgmorton House, Copthall
Avenue, in the City of London, and TAYLOR BURROWS, of 88, Upper Kennington
Lane, London, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention has for its object improvements in or relating to Noble combing
machines or the like an especial object of the present invention being to convert
or adapt such machines for combing vegetable fibres such as flax or china grass-and
consists of improvements in or relating to the means employed for separating or
stroking" the fibrous material strained between the circular combs where the latter
diverge.
At the point where the paths of travel of the main circular comb and the small
circular comb diverge and strain the fibre between them-in order to separate or
release such strained fibre from one comb or the other and direct same towards the
point where it is nipped and drawn out of its comb a stroking appliance is introduced
according to the present invention arranged and constructed as follows:-
:-
Just over or near said point (i.e. where the fibres are to be separated) a long finger
or arm is mounted by means of a prolonged slot in the upper end thereof travelling
on a stud or guide-pin' secured to a fixed part of the frame of the machine.
Lower down on said long finger or arm same is pivotally connected by a crank
pin or other suitable means to a crank (which latter advantageously is provided with
a radial slot therein to permit adjustment of the crank pin in the crank and thus
enable the stroke or amount of movement imparted to the finger to be adjusted) such
crank being fixed to a crank shaft journalled in the fixed part of the framing of the
machine and rotated by means of an endless band on a pulley fixed on said crank
shaft or rotated by any other suitable means--the lowermost end or point of the long
finger or arm being thus caused to travel in an elliptical path so that this finger or
stroker will descend amongst the strained fibres and be then caused to travel trans-
versely (or thereabouts) thereto but in the same direction thereof and thus separate and
stroke or direct said fibre in the manner desired, next the stroker is raised to a point
above the level of the fibres and is then carried back over the top of the following
strained fibres and descends amongst the latter and separates them, and so on.
1
1.
1007

page_text: Lane, London, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention 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 improvements in or relating to Noble combing
machines or the like and consists of improvements in or relating to the means
employed for separating or "stroking" the fibrous material strained between the
diverging combs of such machines more especially to enable vegetable fibres such as
flax or china grass to be combed on such machines.
Referring to the accompanying drawings:
Fig. 1 is a plan or diagrammatic view in plan of
having the present improvements applied thereto.
1031
"Noble" combing machine
Fig. 2 is a side view or elevation looking in the direction of the arrow 1 Fig. 1.
"Figs. 3 to 5 are detail views of the stroking arrangement.
.LE
1
Fig. 3 being local view in elevation on a greatly enlarged scale looking in the
direction of the arrow 10 Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is a view at right angles to Fig. 3 i.e. looking in the direction of the
arrow 11 Fig. 3.
!
i
Fig 5 is a plan of Figs. 3 and 4 and also showing part view of, the combs with the
fibres strained between them at the point where said stroking arrangement acts on
the said fibres.
+
1977
At the point where the paths of travel of the main circular comb i and the small
circular combs i diverge and strain the fibre between them as shown in Figs. 1 and 5
-the usual or any suitable device may be employed in order to separate or release
such strained fibre from one comb or the other and direct. same towards the point
where it is nipped and drawn out of its comb by any suitable means such as the usual
belt or drawing leather m (which passes round the vertical rollers m¹ see Fig. 5)
between which leather m and the vertical roller n the fibre is drawn out of the main
comb while the long fibres in the small comb ¹ are drawn out between the drawing
leather o (passing round the rollers o¹) and the roller p and similarly at the opposite
side of the machine the fibres are drawn out from the main comb i and the 2nd small
comb and are led in a sliver through the tubular guide q in between the aforesaid
leather m and leather o so that the whole of the fibres drawn out of the combs i and i¹
converge or are led into one sliver at r and by means of a suitable tube or guide s are
led above the combs clear of the machine into the sliver can or other suitable
receptacle all in the usual and well-known manner as at present in use on circular
combing machines of the type illustrated in Fig. 1.
As before stated-a very advantageous stroking appliance (for flax china grass or
the like) according to the present invention is introduced at the point where the
paths of travel of the main comb i and each small circular comb ¹ diverge-said
stroking appliance being arranged and constructed as follows:-
Just over or near said point (i.e. where the fibres are to be separated) a long finger
or arm' t is mounted by means of a prolonged slot in the upper end of said finger t
travelling on a fixed stud or guide-pin ¹ secured to a fixed part u of the frame A of
the machine.
fi
Lower down on said long finger or armt same is pivotally connected by a crank
pin or other suitable means to a 'crank (which latter advantageously is provided
with a radial slot therein to permit adjustment of the crank pin in the crank v
and thus enable the stroke or amount of movement imparted to the lower end of the
finger t to be adjusted) such crank being fixed to a crank shaft a journalled in the
fixed part of the framing A of the machine and rotated by means of an endless
band (not shown) on a pulley, fixed on said crank shaft or the latter may be
rotated by any other suitable means.
The lowermost end or point of the long finger or arm t is thus caused to travel in
an elliptical path (as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3) so that this finger or
stroker will descend amongst the strained fibres and be then caused to travel trans-
versely thereto or thereabouts and thus separate and stroke or direct said fibres in
the manner desired next the stroker is raised to a point above the level of the fibres

page_text: and is then carried back over the top of the following strained fibres between the
combs and ¹ and descends again amongst the fibres and separates them and so on.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:-
1. In Noble or the like circular combing machines-the combination therewith of
a stroking appliance consisting of a finger such as t arranged and operating at the
point where the paths of travel of the combs diverge and the fibre is strained between
said combs and means to operate said finger t substantially in the manner and for
the purposes herein before described.
2. A Noble or the like circular combing machine having a stroking appliance
combined and operating in conjunction therewith substantially as and for the
purposes herein before described and illustrated in the drawings hereunto annexed.
Dated this 15th day of Merah 1908
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.