IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR UNTWISTING AND COMBING OR CARDING PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Blick, of No. 17, Saint Paul's Road,
Camden Town, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR UNTWISTING AND COMBING OR CARDING
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Blick at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
31st July 1871.
I, JAMES BLICK, of No. 17, Saint Paul's Road, Camden Town, in the
County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR UNTWISTING AND COMBING OR
CARDING HAIR AND OTHER SIMILAR FIBROUS SUBSTANCES," to be as follows:-
My Invention has for its object the construction of machinery for
untwisting and combing or carding hair or other similar fibrous sub-
stances that have been previously twisted into the form of ropes. For
this purpose I coil such ropes of hair or other material upon a reel

page_text: carried by a revolving framing to which a slow rotary motion is given.
The end of the rope is passed through a clip revolving with the framing,
and passes thence between two feed rollers, in such manner that as the
rope passes from the clip to the feed roller it is untwisted by the rotary
motion of the clip. These feed rollers draw the hair from the recl
through the clip as the untwisting proceeds, and feed the same forward
on to a revolving cylinder. This cylinder has a series of grooves parallel
with its axis, in which grooves are sliding plates carrying teeth, which,
as the cylinder rotates, are made to project out of the groove, so as to
enter the air passing over it, and are then made to separate from each
other, thereby spreading the hair over the cylinder, after which the
teeth are drawn in, and are also made to move together again ready for
repeating their action. This double action of the teeth is effected by
means of two fixed cams, one at each end of the cylinder, which cams
are so formed as to move the plates carrying the teeth outwards, in
a radial direction, and in a direction parallel with the axis of the roller,
the reverse motion of the teeth being effected by india-rubber or other
springs on their being released from the cam. From the said opening
cylinder the air passes in an opened out condition between two other
feed rollers, which feed it on to a travelling card surface. This latter
carries the hair underneath a drum or cylinder fitted with combs or
cards, which are made to slide in and out of grooves on the drum, and
which as the drum revolves rapidly comb the hair on the card surface,
and at the same time draw it off such surface and deliver it out of the
machine ready for use. The combs or cards of the said drum are made
to project from its periphery as they approach the travelling card surface.
by means of a fixed cam or cams acting thereon, and after they have
acted on the hair as described during a small portion of their revolution
they are drawn back into the drum by the action of springs, so as to set
free the hair held by them, and thus allow it to pass away from the
machine. The hair remaining attached to the travelling card surface
is removed therefrom by means of a cleaning comb, which is made
alternately to advance through a plate towards the card surface, so as
to take the hair therefrom, and then to recede from such card surface
and through the plate, in order to allow the loose hairs to fall away.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said James Blick in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 30th January 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
BLICK, of No. 17, Saint Paul's Road, Camden Town, in the County of
Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirty-first day of July, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the thirty-
fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said James Blick, Her special licence that
I, the said James Blick, my executors, dministrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said James Blick, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others,
from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,
within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY
FOR UNTWISTING AND COMBING OR CARDING HAIR AND OTHER SIMILAR FIBROUS
SUBSTANCES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said James
Blick, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, 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
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said James Blick, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, reference being had to the accompanying
Sheet of Drawings, and to the figures and letters marked thereon, that
is to say:-
My Invention has for its object the construction of machinery for
untwisting and combing or carding hair or other similar fibrous sub-
stances that have been previously twisted into the form of ropes. For
this purpose I coil such ropes of hair or other material upon a reel
carried by a revolving framing to which a slow rotary motion is given.

page_text: The end of the rope is passed through a clip revolving with the framing,
and passes thence between two feed rollers, in such manner that as the
rope passes from the clip to the feed roller it is untwisted by the rotary
motion of the clip. These feed rollers draw the hair from the rcel
through the clip as the untwisting proceeds, and feed the same forward
on to a revolving cylinder. This cylinder has a series of grooves
parallel with its axis, in which grooves are sliding plates carrying teeth,
which, as the cylinder rotates, are made to project out of the groove, so
as to enter the hair passing over it, and arc then made to separate from
cach other, thereby spreading the hair over the cylinder, after which the
teeth are drawn in, and are also made to move together again ready for
repeating their action. This double action of the teeth is effected by
means of two fixed cams, one at each end of the cylinder, which cams
are so formed as to move the plates carrying the teeth outwards in a
radial direction, and in a direction parallel with the axis of the roller,
the reverse motion of the teeth being effected by india-rubber or other
springs on their being released from the cam. From the said opening
cylinder the hair passes in an opened out condition between two other
feed rollers, which feed it on to a travelling card surface. This latter
carries the hair underneath a drum or cylinder fitted with combs or
cards, which are made to slide in and out of grooves in the drum, and
which, as the drum revolves, rapidly comb the hair on the card surface,
and at the same time draw it off such surface and deliver it out of the
machine ready for use. The combs or cards of the said drum are mado
to project from its periphery as they approach the travelling card surface
by means of a fixed cam or eams acting thereon, and after they have
acted on the hair, as described, during a small portion of their revolution,
they are drawn back into the drum by the action of springs, so as to set
free the hair held by them, and thus allow it to pass away from the
machine. The hair remaining attached to the travelling card surface is
removed therefrom by means of a cleaning comb, which may be made
alternately to advance through a plate towards the card surface, so as to
take the hair therefrom, and then to recede from such card surface and
through the plate in order to allow the loose hairs to fall away.

page_text: throughout the Figures.
The framing A of the machine carries at the front end a revolving
frame B containing the reel C, upon which is wound the hair or other
fibrous substance D in the form of a rope to be operated upon. The
frame B is rotated on the pivot B' at the bottom by means of the belt E¹
from the pulley E driven by the pinion E receiving motion from the
spur wheel F. The reel C turns freely in its bearings in the frame A,
and at the same time revolves with it; the rope of hair D is led from
the reel through a pair of nipping rollers B² fixed to the top of the
framing, and consequently revolving with it; the rollers B are drawn
together by means of springs B³, so as to nip the rope, and yet be
capable of yielding to any inequalities in the thickness thereof. From
between these nipping rollers the hair passes over a guide roller G and
table G' to between a pair of feed rollers H, which draw the hair from
the reel and feed it into the other part of the machine. As the 'hair
rope is thus drawn off the reel into the machine it is at the same time
untwisted in the space between the nipping rollers B² and the roller G
by the revolving motion of the frame B. As the hair passes from the
roller G over the table G₁ to the feed rollers H it is opened out some-
what by hand by an attendant, and in this condition it passes from the
feed rollers on to the spreading cylinder I. This cylinder has a series of
grooves I¹, in each of which are two sliding plates I, with teeth I³,
which, as the cylinder revolves in the direction of the arrow are made to
project out of the groove so as to enter the hair as it passes from the
feed rollers H on to the cylinder. These teeth are situated close together
as they enter the hair at the feed rollers H, and as the cylinder revolves
they are made to separate from each other, thereby spreading out the
hair upon the cylinder, as shewn at Figure 2, as it is carried by the
latter towards the second pair of feed rollers K. Arrived at these latter
feed rollers the teeth I³ are suddenly drawn inwards into the cylinder, as
shown at Figure 4, so as to release the hair and prevent its being dragged
beyond the feed rollers, and as they pass on towards the feed rollers H
again they are gradually moved radially outwards, and are at the same
time drawn close together. For effecting these motions of the teeth I*
devices are employed, which are shewn more clearly in the enlarged end
|view and longitudinal section of the cylinder L at Figures 5 and 6. The
plates I are connected to each other by means of a plate 1º, this plate

page_text: having studs sliding in slots in the plates I, while these have other
studs sliding in slots in the plate Iº, as shewn clearly in Figure 6. At
each end of the cylinder I is a cam L, fixed to the framing A by
brackets L', which cams have, firstly, a cam surface / formed on their
peripheries, upon which the sliding plate 12 bear, and which effect the
outward radial motion of the plates I and teeth I, the inward motion
thereof being effected by springs I* connected to the plates I° and to
the spindle I of the cylinder I. Secondly, the cams have other cam
surfaces formed on their edges, against which the sliding plates I²
bear by means of small rollers I³, so that they are gradually drawn out
away from each other by these cam surfaces as they pass from the
rollers H to the rollers K, while as the plates pass back to the rollers H
they are drawn inwards towards each other by means of springs Is
attached thereto and to the plate Iº. The feed rollers K deliver the hair
in an opened out condition on to an endless travelling card surface M,
stretched over three rollers M³, which card surface cards or combs the
hair, and at the same time brings it under the revolving cylinder N.
This cylinder is somewhat similar in construction to the cylinder I,
having a series of grooves N¹, in which are plates N³, having rows of
teeth N³, which, as the cylinder revolves in the direction of the arrow
are gradually pushed outwards through holes in plates N*, covering the
grooves as they approach the card surface, and are then suddenly drawn
in again after passing beyond the card surface. By this arrangement as
the cylinder N revolves at a greater speed than the card surface, the
teeth N³ in entering the hair on the latter both comb it and at the same
time draw it off the card surface and deliver it on to the shoot O, whence
the hair falls in a perfectly loose condition into the basket or other
receptacle P. For effecting the before-described motion of the plates N
and teeth N³ two fixed cams Q, Q, are placed one on each side of the
cylinder, having a configuration as shewn at Figure 1, and upon these
cams the ends of the plates N2 bear by means of small rollers N³, so that
they are forced outwards thereby as they approach the card surface M,
and they are then drawn suddenly in again through the covering
plates N' after passing the points q of the cams by means of springs No
attached to the plates and to the spindle of the cylinder N, as shewn at
Figure 4. Any hair remaining attached to the card surface M after
passing under the teeth N³ is removed therefrom by a series of fixed
teeth O¹ projecting from the edge of the shoot O between the wires of
the card surface, as indicated at Figure 4.
Instead of the card surface

page_text: passing round three rollers, as represented in the Drawing, a cylinder
having a card surface may be used, as indicated in red lines at z, Figure 4,
the framing and gearing of the machine being made to suit such an
arrangement, as may be readily understood. Rotary motion is imparted
to the various before-described parts of the machine by means of the
spur wheel R (driven either by hand, as shewn, or by power). This
wheel is in gear with the wheel F which imparts motion directly to the
gearing S for the cylinder N. On the other end of the shaft F" of the
wheel F is a pinion F2 in gear with a wheel T, which drives the
pinion U, actuating the one roller M' of the card belt M and also the
wheel V on the shaft of the cylinder I. This wheel is in gear with two
pinions W, X, which respectively drive other pinions W', X', on the
shafts of the lower feed rollers H and K. As the hair ropes vary some-
what in the degree to which they have been twisted in the first instance
it is necessary to be able to regulate the speed of rotation of the frame B
according to the amount of twist in the particular rope to be operated
upon. This is effected by means of a brake strap a, which may be
applied with greater or less force to the grooved disc B' at the bottom of
the frame by means of a treadle a', so as to retard the rotation of the
frame B more or less, which retardation is permitted in causing the
driving belt E to slip in its groove on the frame. The frame B with
the recl might also be arranged separate from the machine, and the
requisite rotary motion for untwisting the rope be imparted to it by
hand. Also the hair untwisted as it passes over the table G to the feed
rollers H, instead of being opened out by hand, may be opened out by
means of mechanism, as represented in Figs. 7, 8, 9, and 10. Fig. 7
represents a plan of part of the feeding end of the machine furnished
with such mechanism, and Fig. 8 represents part of an end view. R is
the wheel on the driving shaft, on which shaft is fixed a symmetrical
faced cam a, having equal hollows and protuberances facing either way;
b and b¹ are two arms jointed respectively to two slides G, G, fitted in a
groove in the feed table G² at opposite ends of those slides. From cach
of these slides a horn c, c', projects upwards, and these horns have an
elastic band d looped over them, so as to draw them inwards towards
each other. From each slide a stud e, e¹, projects downwards through a
slot in the feed table G2, and bears each against a face of the cam a.
Thus as the cam a revolves the slides are by the action of the pro-
tuberances of the cam faces on the studs e, e¹, caused to make a simu!-
taneous movement outwards from the centre of the feed table, and when

page_text: the cam faces present their hollows to the studs e, e', the elasticity of
the band d draws the slides back together towards the centre of the feed
table. The arms b, b', jointed to the slides are thus caused to move to
and fro each from the centre of the feed table outwards to either hand,
and back again. Each of these arms has a stud f, ƒ³, projecting from
its side, so as to engage with a sloping piece on each of two folding
arms g, g', jointed at opposite sides of the feed table G2, and the inner
ends of the arms b, b', are provided with teeth projecting downwards
towards the face of the feed table G². The action of these teeth on the
hair will be understood by reference to Figures 9 and 10, which represent
parts of a section through the feed table G* immediately in front of the
folding arms g, g'. Fig. 9 illustrates the movement of the stud f during
the retreat of the arm b from the centre of the machine, the stud in this
case passing under the incline of the arm g, and lifting that arm.
Fig. 10 illustrates the movement of the stud f¹ towards the centre of
the machine, in this case passing over the incline of the arm g', and being
thereby lifted and lifting with it the arm b' to which the stud belongs.
Thus as the slides to which the arms b, b', are jointed are caused by the
rotation of the cam a to retreat simultaneously from the centre of the
feed table, the teeth at the end of those arms draw out the hair laterally
over the table from its middle towards either hand. When the slides
make their back stroke towards the middle of the table the studs ƒ, f',
rising over the inclines on the arms g, g', cause the teeth of 6, 61, to rise
up clear of the hair on the table until after the studs have passed the
inclines, when the teeth again drop in among the hair, ready to draw it
out laterally by their next outward stroke; h is a guide box, through
which the untwisted hair passes before reaching the spreading mechan-
ism. It consists of two sides, which have flanges held down on the
table by thumbscrews, the holes in the flanges being slotted, so that the
sides of the box can be set more or less near to each other according to
the width of the hair rope passing through it; a cover is hinged to one
of those sides and rests on the other side.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I
do not limit myself to the precise details of the various parts of the
machine as herein-before described and shewn on the accompanying
Drawing, as it will be evident that these may be variously modified
without departing from the essential features of my Invention; and I

page_text: claim in a machine for untwisting and combing or carding hair and
other similar fibrous substances,―
First. The use of a spreading cylinder I, fitted with teeth, having
movements radial and also parallel to the axis of the cylinder, sub-
stantially as herein described.
Second. The combination in one machine of the rotating frame B,
reel C, and nipping rollers B² for untwisting, with the cylinder I for
spreading, with the travelling card surface M, or its equivalent, for
combing, and with the cylinder N for removing from the card surface
the hair or other material operated on, substantially as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Blick, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-sixth day of January, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two.