IMPROVEMENTS IN TREATING AND PREPARING, BEFORE BEING SPUN WOOL, COTTON, AND OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS."
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Samuel Cunliffe Lister, of Manningham, in
the County of York, Machine Wool Comber, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN TREATING AND PREPARING, BEFORE BEING SPUN
WOOL, COTTON, AND OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Samuel Cunliffe
Lister at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 11th May 1853...
I, SAMUEL CUNLIFFE LISTER, of Manningham, in the County of York,
Machine Wool Comber, do hereby declare the nature of my said
Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN TREATING AND PREPARING, BEFORE BEING
SPUN, WOOL, COTTON, AND OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists in having two combs travelling in parallel
lines, and having a working conib placed between them, and so ar-
ranged that the fibrous material taken from one comb, whilst being
worked by the working comb, shall be placed upon the other travelling

page_text: comb to be drawn off. I also find it beneficial to apply backing and milk-
ing rollers to cotton combing machines, as more top may be produced
thereby. I also find that a porcupine sheet, with suitable feeding and
drawing rollers, may be used with great advantage in preparing and
straightening the fibres of cotton, both before and after being combed.
When combing cotton, also silk and flax noils, a machine with
straight combs, after being filled by suitable means, may be worked by
a rotary drum, having combs fixed upon its periphery, either controlled
or not; and as they become charged with the fibrous material they
can either be removed to be drawn off, or they can be cleared by a
brush or other suitable means, the object being to obtain a continuously
self-acting machine for combing cotton, silk, and flax. I find it advan-
tageous to pass wool through a screw gill, or similar heated pointed
surface, to dry the wool and open out the staples before being carded.
As it is very desirable to work close up to the head of combs filled with
cotton, silk, or flax, without damaging the teeth of the comb, I fill up
the chamber of the comb, upon which the cotton, silk, or flax is filled,
about a quarter of an inch above the head.
I also find it useful to press the cotton, also flax and silk noils, into
the teeth of the comb when being lashed on by a filling head, or by
placing a thin bar in front of the feed rollers.
Another improvement consists in having suitable filling heads so
placed as to fill on to a travelling comb, and then to have a drum to
work the fibrous material, and then another filling head and another
drum, so as to work the fibrous material by little and little, as the
travelling comb becomes charged with it. I also find it a great im-
provement upon Preller's machine to place a comb in front of his
rotary comb, this comb being so constructed as always to be travelling
past, and the wool or fibrous material from the rotary combs is placed
upon it by means of a brush, and so avoid the necessity of stopping the
machine to change the combs, as is now the case.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Samuel Cunliffe Lister in the Great Seal Patent
Office, on the 11th November 1853.
.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
SAMUEL CUNLIFFE LISTER, of Manningham, in the County of York,
Machine Wool Comber, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Hor
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eleventh day of May, in the year'
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the
sixteenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Samuel Cunliffe Lister, Her spécial
licence that I, the said Samuel Cunliffe Lister, my executors, admi-
nistrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Samuel Cunliffe
Lister, ny executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time.
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, usc, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an In:
vention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN TREATING AND PREPARING, BEFORE BEING
SPUN, WOOL, COTTON, AND OTHER FIBROUS MATERIAL," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Samuel Cunliffe Lister, by an instru-
ment 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 imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Samuel Cunliffe Lister, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement thereof (that is to say):
My Invention consists in having two combs travelling in parallel
lines, and having a working comb placed between them, and so arranged
that the fibrous material taken from one comb, whilst being worked by
the working comb, shall be placed upon the other travelling combs to

page_text: be drawn off. I also find it beneficial to apply backing and milking
rollers to cotton combing machines, as more top may be produced
thereby.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS MARKED A.
"Figure 1, is a plan of a machine constructed according to the first
part of my Invention; and Figure 2, is a transverse section thereof,
taken through the dotted lines 1, 2, in Figure 1. In these Figures
the same letters are used to indicate the same parts. The parts shown
in the above Figures are suitable for cotton or such like fibre; and
Figure 3, shews a cross section of apparatus more suitable for wool
and hair. This machine consists of two travelling endless chains of
combs, each of which chains is composed of a series of combs
attached together; but I would state that other arrangements of combs
may be resorted to in carrying out this part of my Invention, so long
as there are two travelling combs, having between them working combs
so arranged and actuated that a working comb having worked wool or
other fibre which has been fed into one travelling comb may transfer
the wool or fibre (which it takes in working) into the teeth of the other
travelling comb.
In the arrangement shown each of the travelling combs has a feeding
apparatus, a working comb, drawing-off' rollers, and milking rollers, or
apparatus by which there is a continuous feeding of wool or other
fibres, followed by the action of a working comb, and a transfer of the
wool or other fibre from travelling comb to travelling comb, which
is followed by the drawing off and milking of the fibres, so as to obtain
continuous slivers.
I would here remark, that the parts of the feeding apparatus shown
to each travelling comb are such as have before been used; and such
is the case in regard to the drawing off and milking rollers. I do
not, therefore, claim these apparatus separately; and I would state, that
wool or other fibre, under different circumstances, has been transferred
from one comb to another; and I would further state, that this Inven-
tion consists in the peculiar combination of such or like working parts.
Each of the two chains of combs a, and b, slide in guide frames c, c,
and they are moved continuously by means of the wheels d, d. The

page_text: several combs, of which each chain of combs a, and 6, is respectively
composed, are joined by intermediate links a', ', as shown, hence
when the travelling combs get to the ends of the guides c, c, and are
simply supported on a suitable, shelf or platform, the chains of combs
may bend and assume the positions shewn in the plan view. The
arrangement of parts in respect to the chain of combs a, being iden-
tical with. those in respect to the chain of combs b, it will be sufficient
to trace the working: in regard to one of these chains of combs,
because it will be understood that what is done in regard to the
one is done in regard to the other chain of coinbs. The feeding parts
of the apparatus f, which are shewn, and consist of a pair of rollers,
aided by a brush g, are, as before stated, similar to what have before
been used, and are to be put in motion in the ordinary manner, so
as to lash the wool or other fibres into the comb a, and the brush g,
is caused to descend with the rollers, and to press the 'fibres into
the teeth of the comb. I have not thought it necessary to describe
the mechanism for giving motion to these parts, as the same are well
known, and, separately, form no part of my Invention. The wool or
fibre is lashed into the combs a, as they pass the feeding apparatus at f.
The combs a, continue to move, and they successively come opposite to
the working comb h, which works with the comb ; and from this
comb h, the combs a, receive a further quantity of wool or fibre from
the working comb h, in the following manner :-The working comb h,
is mounted on the bar h', which receives an up and down motion in the
socket, (fixed to the framing) from a cam h³, which receives motion
from the main shaft or axis h, such shaft or axis receiving motion from
a steam engine or other power. The axis of the cam h³, and the main
shaft are geared together by cog wheels ho, ho, shewn by circles, and the
bar h', also receives a to and fro motion in a horizontal direction by
means of a lever h, which is actuated by a cam, so as to cause it to
move into a position suitable for delivering any wool or fibre it may
take from the comb b, into the comb a. The comb h, carries a delivering
brush i, supported on a frame i', which is caused to rise and fall in the
following manner :-At the time the comb h, is in a position to descend
into the wool or fibre the frame and brush i, is supported above the

page_text: or fibre it has taken
by the descent of the
comb, by means of the arms &, fixed to the framing, there being
projections, on the frame i', for that purpose. j, j, are sockets fixed
to each end of the comb h, which slide upon the upright guides i³,
carried by the frame ; the comb h, carries lever catches j', at each
end, acted upon by springs, as shown; and when the comb h, descends
into the wool or fibre the lever catches j', enter below the projections &³,
on the frame, and support it and the brush i, whilst the comb h,
passes through the wool or fibre in the comb b; and when the comb h,
arrives in a position over the comb a, the wool
from the comb b, is delivered to the comb a,
brush i, upon the wool or fibre contained in the comb h, and the brush
is caused to descend at this time by the lever catches 7, coming in
contact with the fixed projections k, and the frame and brush i, are
supported at their lowest position by the parts, resting on the sockets
j, attached to the comb. The brush i, is carried by levers, moving
on studs; at each end of the frame 2, there are springs i*, acting to
draw the brush i, against the comb h; at the time the comb h, descends
into the fibre the brush i, is pressed away from the comb by the ends
of the levers, being in contact with the fixed projection I, and the
brush i, is also prevented from being pressed into the teeth of the
comb h, by stops h³, carried by the comb h. m, is a brush, which is
caused to ascend and support the fibre at the time the comb, descends,
in the following manner-m³, is a lever, supported by a stud on the
framing of the machine; the brush m, guided by suitable brackets, as
shown, rest on one end of the lever m', the other being acted upon
by a crank pin on the cam ³, which will be readily understood on
examining the Drawings.
The wool or fibre as it is delivered by the comb h, to the comb a, is
pressed into the teeth by the action of the lever brush'n, which receives
motion in the following manner :-', is a cam on the main axis of the
travelling combs a, which acts on a truck or roller carried by the
lever, supported on the stud pin n³, the other end of the lever being
connected by the connecting link 2, to one end of the lever, which
carries the brush, as shown.
The wool or fibre having travelled past the working combs comes in

page_text: contact with the drawing off rollers A, and when combing cotton the
sliver is passed between several pairs of rollers B. C, are the backing
rollers, and D, the milking rollers, all which will be readily understood
on examining the Drawings.
I would state, that when combing wool I use combs and drawing
apparatus of dimensions and character such as heretofore used. But
when combing cotton I prefer to employ much finer combs, and
backing and milking rollers of smaller diameter. The combs I have
used have three rows of teeth set within an eighth of an inch, and thirty-
three teeth to the lineal inch, and about three quarters of an inch out
of the heads of the comb; these dimensions, however, may be varied;
and I make the backing and milking rollers about three quarters of au
inch in diameter. I would state, in respect to the first part of my
Invention, that I make no claim to the parts of the machinery separate,
and the details may be varied without departing from this part of my
Invention, which consists of the combination of machinery described
with reference to Drawings marked A. I find that a porcupine sheet,
with suitable feeding and drawing rollers, may be used with great
advantage in preparing and straightening the fibres of cotton, both
before and after being combed.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING MARKED B.
This Drawing shows a section of a pair of feed rollers in combination
with an endless sheet of porcupine teeth and drawing off rollers,
arranged according to this part of my Invention.
a, a, are the feed
rollers, the cotton being supported by the endless band b. c, is an
endless band of porcupine teeth, which is moved in the direction of the
arrow by the rollers d, d, at about twice the speed of the feed rollers ų,
but this may be varied. c, e, are the drawing off rollers, which revolve
at about twice the surface speed of the porcupine sheet c, but this may
also be varied; and I prefer the porcupine teeth to be about three
fourths of an inch long, and to be set with about forty teeth to the
square inch. I would remark, that I am aware that endless sheets of
teeth have before been used in various ways for acting on fibres; this
part of my improvements consists in the peculiar combination or
arrangement shewn for preparing cotton.

page_text: When combing cotton, also silk and flax noils, a machine with
straight combs, after being filled by suitable means, may be worked by a
rotary drum, having combs fixed upon its periphery, either controlled
or not, and as they become charged with the fibrous material they can
either be removed to be drawn off, or they can be cleared by a brush
or other suitable means, the object being to obtain a continuously self-
acting machine for combing noils of cotton, silk, and flax. I find it
advantageous to pass wool through a screw gill, or similar heated
-pointed surface, to dry the wool and open out the staples before being
carded. As it is very desirable to work close up to the head of combs
filled with noils of cotton, silk, or flax, without damaging the teeth of
the comb, I fill up the chamber of the comb, upon which the noil of
cotton, silk, or flax is filled, about one quarter of an inch above the
head..
I also find it useful to press the cotton, also flax and silk noils, into
the teeth of the combs when being lashed on by a filling head, or by
placing a thin bar in front of the feed rollers.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING C.
Figure 1, shows a section of part of a machine for combing cotton,'
silk, and flax noils. a, a, show the two sides of an endless chain of
straight travelling combs, similar to one of those described in the first part
of the Invention (other travelling combs may also be used); the cotton,
silk, and flax noils are filled on to these combs by any suitable feeding and
filling apparatus, and the fibre is then worked by the rotating combs b;
these combs are governed in their action on the fibre by the fixed cam
surface c, acting on trucks or rollers d, turning on studs fixed to the
arms e, which carry the combs; to the arms e, are affixed bars e', moving
in slots in the plate f, the combs being continually pressed outwards by
spiral springs, as shewn, acting on the fixed bars f¹. The plate ƒ', is
"fixed on the axis f", and a rotary motion being given to such axis, it
carries the combs b, round with it in such manner as to act on the
cotton, silk, or flax noils in the combs a; and as the combs 6, become
charged with the fibrous material they are to be removed for the fibre
to be drawn off, or be cleared by a brush or other suitable means.

page_text: Figure 2, is a section of part of another machine, suitably arranged
for combing cotton, silk, or flax noils. g, g,.show the two sides of an
endless chain of comb teeth. h, h, are the rotatory working combs,
which in this case are not governed; and as the combs h, take the
fibrous material from the combs g, it is removed in the passage of the
combs over the surface of the revolving brush i
Figure 3; shows a section of a travelling comb l, and of a pair of
feed rollers m, m, carried by an ordinary filling head; the chamber of
the comb is filled by plates on edge, or other filling up, to about a
quarter of an inch above the head of the comb, as shewn; n, is a bar
fixed in front of the feed rollers m, m, and carried by the filling head;
the action of the bar n, is to press the fibrous material of the cotton,
silk, or flax noils into the travelling combs, the filling head having such
motion imparted thereto as to move the bar. m, down near to the tra-
velling combs . I would state, that this part of my improvements
(described in respect to Drawing C.) consists in subjecting noils of
cotton, of silk, or of flax to processes of combing, such as above ex-
plained; and I would state, that I make no claim to. the machinery
described in respect to such Drawing C, excepting the filling the
chamber of the comb, as described.
Another improvement consists in having suitable filling leads so
placed as to fill on to a travelling comb, and then to have a drum to
work the fibrous material, and then another filling bead and another
drum, so as to work the fibrous materials by little and little, as the
travelling comb becomes charged with it...
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING D.
Figure 1, shews a section, and Figure 2, a plan of so much of a
machine as will enable me to describe this part of my Invention. a, a, is
an endless chain of travelling combs travelling in the direction of the
arrow (circular or other combs may also be used), a thin flim of the
fibrous material being filled on to the combs a, by the feed rollers b, b, of
a filling head; the comb a, in its onward movement causes the fibrous
material to come into position to be acted upon by the revolving drum c,
covered with card teeth, and as the comb travels onward another. thin

page_text: flim of fibrous material is filled on to the comb over that just operated
on; the comb a, and fibrous material then travels into a position to be
acted upon by the revolving drum e, covered with card or other teeth,
this drum being placed farther from the head of the comb than the
drum c, so that it may act only on the fibrer laid on by the second feed
rollers d. These operations of filling and working are repeated until
the comb
0, becomes fully charged with fibrous material, and then such
fibres are to be drawn off into a sliver by drawing off rollers, as is well
understood. This part of my Invention consists of causing travelling
combs to be filled in succession by a number of filling apparatus, and of
straightening out and clearing the successive feedings of fibre by card
or other teeth, each succeeding drum being set further off the head of
the comb than the preceding, and then drawing off the fibres from the
combs. The card or other teeth should be cleared from fibre by brushes
revolving at a high speed. I also find it a great improvement upon
Preller's machine to place a comb in front of his rotary comb, this
comb being so constructed as always to be travelling past, and the
wool or fibrous material from the rotary working comb is placed upon
it by means of a brush, and so avoiding the necessity of stopping the
machine to change the combs, as is now the case.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS MARKED E.
Figure 1, shows a section, and Figure 2, a plan of so much of a
machine as will enable me to describe this part of my Invention; the
same letters of reference indicating similar parts in both Figures.
a, a, are combs, which rotate with the axis b, in the direction shown by
the arrows; the combs a, a, in their rotation detach a portion of
fibrous material supplied by the feed rollers c, c, and carry it round to
be operated upon by the card roller d, after which operation the revo-
lution of the shaft brings the fibrous material into a position to bo
deposited on to the travelling chain of combs c, e, by the lever brush f
from which combs it is drawn off by the rollers e¹, e²; a current of
air may be directed on to the fibrous material so as to bring it into
the most advantageous position to be acted upon by the brush f; the
combs a, a, are governed by the fixed cam surface h, acting on trucks

page_text: or rollers k, carried by the arms 1, to which are attached the combs a;
the arms 7, move in slots in the frames m, m, fixed on the axis b;
by this arrangement the combs a, a, are retained in one position until
the fibre is deposited on to the travelling chain of combs c, when the
combs are drawn from the travelling chain comb e, so as to pass the
ends of the fibres deposited from them.
I would remark, in regard to this part of my Invention, that I
make no claim to the parts of the machinery shown, and the same
may be varied; and I would state, that this part of my Invention
consists of transferring wool or fibre which has been acted on by card
or such like teeth from a rotating comb by apparatus f, into a receiving
comb, in the manner described, thus obtaining a continuous process.
In witness whereof, I, the said Samuel Cunliffe Lister, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Ninth day of November, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-
three
Witness,
S. CARPMAEL.
SAMUEL C. LISTER. (L.s.)