Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for Combing Fibres.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Jan., 1892-Accepted, 20th Feb., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for Combing
Fibres.
We, DAVID BARNETT, of 22 Spring Cliff, Bradford, in the County of York,
Manufacturer, and DAVID BLACK, of the same place, 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, the combination of certain mechanical motions
in such a manner that, the machine is applicable for combing that class of fibre,
known as ramie fibre or china grass, by so arranging the apparatus that, the
operation of combing the fibre is simplified, and for the machine to occupy
considerably less floor space, than is occupied by machines as hitherto constructed
and used for combing the before mentioned fibres.
The invention consists in combining with the comb circle of an ordinary wool
combing machine, of another comb circle, and securing round the circumference of
each, one or more lashing heads, opposite to each of which are a number of plates
fitting into grooves cut in the comb circle for the purpose of holding the fibre
during the lashing operation, by which it is opened, straightened and some of the
loose and knotty portions removed therefrom.
The fibre is then transferred from one comb circle to the other by means of air
blasts, the portion of fibre on the inside circumference of the first comb circle, being
placed on the outside circumference of the second comb circle to be lashed or
opened out and the short and knotty portions removed, the straightened fibre being
finally drawn from the second comb circle by rollers mounted and operated in the
usual manner.
In describing our invention more in detail, reference is made to the accompanying
drawings, in which
Fig. 1 represents an elevation of such portions of a combing machine as will
illustrate our novel combination.
Fig. 2 is a plan of the same.
Fig. 3 an enlarged section of the two comb circles through line b.
a,
Fig. 4 a section through the circle and press plates for holding the fibre during
the operation of lashing, and
Fig. 5 a front view of the press plates and supports for same.
All the mechanism supported by the frame A. forms part of an old and well
known type of wool combing machine known as "listers" and is operated in the
mauner as hitherto, the fibre being fed over the apron A¹ to the travelling
fallers B. is drawn therefrom by nip plates mounted in the reciprocating frame C.
and deposited on the pins of the comb circle D. by the carrying comb E. So far
the description relates to what are old and unaltered portions of the machine to
which no claim is made.
The comb circle D. rotates in the direction of the arrow and around the outer
circumference of same between the points indicated by X. X. one or more lashing
heads hereinafter described, is or are secured; in the drawings only one is shown
for simplicity.
As is well known with this class of combing machine, the carrying comb E.
deposits the major portion of the short and knotty fibre on or behind the pins
forming the inner diameter of the rows of teeth of comb circle D. the long portion
of the fibre F. passing through and projecting beyond the outer circumference of
the comb teeth somewhat as shown, so that, on the circle rotating, it is brought in
contact with the lashing heads.

page_text: Each lashing head is driven by a pulley G. and is composed of one or more
rollers H. and an endless apron H all of which are covered with card clothing.
The endless apron H' travelling in the direction of the arrows is supported at one
end by a large roller H2 and at the other by a small roller placed near the
circunference of the outer row of pins forming the comb circle.
By mounting the endless apron H' in the manner described, the fibre F.
projecting from the comb pins of the rotating circle, is brought into contact with.
the teeth of the card clothing of endless apron H' and by the teeth of the card
clothing passing through the fibre, it is opened, at the same time, removing any
loose or knotty portions therefrom, which are cleared from the card teeth of the
endless apron H by the card teeth on rotating rollers H. from which it is stripped
by the oscillating bar K. constructed and operated in a similar manner to the
stripping bar of an ordinary carding machine.
In order to secure the fibre F. to the comb circle D. while the same is being
lashed or opened out by the card teeth on the endless apron H₁ a curved press
plate I. is inserted between each row of pins of the comb circle, the bottom edge
of each plate terminating in a groove U cut in the said circle, the press plates
being attached to the rods R. and pressed into said grooves by compressed
springs S. supported by brackets, thus by these means, the long portions of fibre
are retained in the circle during the operation of lashing out, while the short and
knotty are being removed therefrom.
On the fibre F. arriving at the point where the two comb circles D. and M.
approach each other, the portion of fibre projecting from the outer circumference
of comb circle D. is blown upwards by a current of air from the small pipe N. and
by another current from the flat ended pipe P. it is laid across the comb pins of
the circle M. so that, on the two combs separating, the fibre is drawn through the
pins of the comb circle D. thereby placing the uncombed portion on the outside
circumference of comb circle M. to be opened or lashed out in the manner as
before described by the lashing head or heads attached around the circumference
of the said comb circle; thus by these means, the whole length of fibre staple
is opened out and freed from short and knotty pieces, the cleansed fibre being finally
drawn from the pins of the comb circle M. by the vertical drawing off rollers R¹
constructed and operated in the same manner as when applied to a combing machine
constructed in the ordinary manner.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. The combination in combing machines of the lashing heads with a comb circle
having grooves U cut in the said circle arranged substantially in the manner and
for the purpose as hereinbefore described.
2. The combination in combing machines of grooves U. formed in the comb
circle and of the press plates L. substantially as specified.
3. The combination in a combing machine of the vertical and horizontal blow
pipes N. and P. with two comb circles D. and M. rotating close to each other
substantially in the manner shown and specified.
4. The combination of the parts forming the complete comb arranged substantially
as and for the purpose as hereinbefore set forth and illustrated by the accompanying
drawings.
Dated this 2nd day of January 1892.
JOHN WAUGH,
Agent.