IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR COMBING AND PREPARING WOOL AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Cowper, of 20, Southampton Build-
ings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR COMBING
AND PREPARING WOOL AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES."-A commu-
nication.
Sealed the 14th November 1853, and dated the 18th May 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Cowper
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 18th May 1853.
I, CHARLES COWPER, lo hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR COMBING AND PREPARING
WOOL AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES" to be as follows:-
The Invention relates principally to certain improvements in an
Invention of "Improvements in Machinery for Combing and Preparing
Wool and other Fibrous Substances," for which Letters Patent, bearing
date at Westminster the Twenty-third day of February 1852, were
granted to me, and which Invention was communicated to me from

page_text: abroad. Part of the present improvements are, however, applicable to
combing and preparing machinery of other constructions.
I apply to or beyond the taking-off rollers, or to the place at which
the fibrous substance leaves the machinery described in the Specifica-
tion of my former Patent aforesaid, or other combing or preparing
machinery, an endless band, over which the wool or other fibrous
substance travels until it arrives at a conical pin, which is placed trans-
versely to the endless band. Opposite, or nearly so, to the end of this pin
is a revolving tube, through which the fibrous substance passes to a
pair of rollers, which deliver it into a revolving can. The effect of this
apparatus is to twist the fibrous substance round the pin, and draw it
off the pin at the same time, so as to form it into a sliver, which passes
through the rollers into the can.
I make the circular combs of the aforesaid machinery of two or more
concentric rims or rings of metal or other suitable substance, and
I place leather or caoutchouc or other elastic material between the
rings. The needles or teeth of the combs are passed through the
leather, or between the leather and the rings, into holes or grooves
in the rings, and the ends are made to project to the required length.
This mode of making combs is also applicable to other combs than
those of the aforesaid machinery.
I drive the circular inclined comb of the aforesaid machinery by
means of a pair of bevil wheels, in lieu of driving it in by a pin,
as described in the Specification of the aforesaid Letters Patent.
I apply a bar or grate under the revolving brush of the aforesaid
machinery, in order to separate the knots from the "noil" or short
wool or other fibrous substance.
The apparatus which carries the bobbins for supplying the aforesaid
machinery is made to rest upon the upper friction plate or wheel
when more pressure is required, in lieu of being suspended from above,
as described in the Specification of the aforesaid Letters Patent.
The number of hobbins may be equal to that of the holes in the
feeding plate of such aforesaid machinery, and the slivers employed
may be either twisted or untwisted.
I apply an apparatus between the revolving tube and the delivery

page_text: rollers of such aforesaid machinery for the purpose of stopping the
machine in the event of the sliver breaking or lapping round the rollers.
The delivering rollers may be both fluted, and a leather band may be
passed round one of them, and an additional pair of rollers may
be employed, if desired.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Charles Cowper in the Great Seal Patent Office,
on the 17th November 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, 1,
CHARLES COWPER, of 20, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eighteenth day of May, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fi-three, in the sixteenth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said Charles Cowper, Her special licence that I, the
said Charles Cowper, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said Charles Cowper, my executors, administrators, 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
COMBING AND PREPARING WOOL AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES, communi-
cated to me from abroad, upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said Charles Cowper, by an instrument 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 immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Charles Cowper, do hereby
leclare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same

page_text: is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement thereof, reference being had to the accom-
panying Drawing, and to the figures and letters marked thereon, that
is to say:
The Invention relates to certain improvements on an Invention of
"Improvements in Machinery for Combing and Preparing Wool and
other Fibrous Substances," for which I obtained the grant of Letters
Patent extending to England, Wales, and the town of Berwick-upon-
Tweed, and the islands of Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, and Man,
and all Her Majesty's colonies and plantations abroad, and bearing
date at Westminster the Twenty-third day of February, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-two, and for which
Invention I also obtained other Letters Patent extending to Scotland,
and bearing date at Edinburgh the Thirteenth day of February, One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-two, and other Letters Patent ex-
tending to Ireland, and bearing date at Dublin the First day of June,
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three. Part of the improvements
herein-after described are, however, also applicable to other machinery
for combing and preparing fibrous substances.
Figure 1, of the accompanying Drawing is a section of two flat
bars or rulers a', and b', one of which a', has a surface of leather,
caoutchouc, felt, or other matter more or less elastic, and capable of
producing a considerable degree of adhesion or friction when in coll-
tact with fibrous substances. The other ruler b', is made of metal or
other smooth and hard substance. A portion of wool or other fibrous
substance being placed between these rulers may be held by them, as by
a vice, while the end of the portion of wool is being combed or other-
wise treated. If, now, the ruler a', is caused to move endways, the
wool will be carried along with it, sliding freely over the smooth edge
of the ruler b', but still being pinched and held between the two rulers.
I will now proceed to describe the application of this mode of holding
fibrous substances to a circular machine.
In Figure 2, a", is a circular or annular wheel, having its edge faced
with leather or other soft material, and resting upon another wheel b",
which has a smooth hard edge, which comes in contact with the first

page_text: wheel a". Or this wheel may have two, three, or more smooth edges,
as shewn in section in Figure 14, so as to obtain a better hold of the
wool which is pressed between the wheels. If the wheel a", is made
to revolve it will carry round the wool which is held between the two
wheels. If, now, a portion of the edge of the wheel 6", is lowered or
removed at any part c, as shewn in Figure 3, the effect will be that
when the wool arrives at that part it will cease to be held, and may be
drawn out and removed. By this mode of holding the wool it may be
inoved in a direction transverse to itself or to its fibres while still being
held and combed, and by lowering the edge 6", at any part the wool
may be released.
Figure 5, is a vertical section, and Figure 6, is a plan of portions of
a machine constructed on the principles above explained, and embodying
some of the improvements which form the subject of the present
Letters Patent. Figure 4, is a section on a larger scale of a portion of
the wheels a, and b. V, is the main shaft, driven by the shaft A,
through the gearing Q, S, T, U, and turning in a step D'. On this
shaft is fixed the wheel a, which is of a dished form, and perforated
with a series of holes y, y, round its edge within a flat ring of leather,
which comes in contact or in proximity to the smooth edge of the wheel
or ring b, which is fixed to the circular piece of metal B', which forms
a bearing or guide for the shaft V. The edge of the ring b, is cut away
or lowered at one part which is on the left-hand side of Figure 5,
opposite the drawing rollers M, M, and a sort of pocket is formed at this
part by the curved piece of metal d, which extends round that portion
of the circumference of the ring b, at which the wool is drawn away by
the drawing rollers M, M, as herein-after described.
The wool or other fibrous substance, being first drawn out into the
form of long ribbons, is supplied to the machine from above, and passes
through the holes in the wheel a, and between the edges of the wheel a,
and ring b. As the wheel a, revolves it carries the wool round until it
meets the revolving comb H, by which the projecting pieces of the
wool are combed out, and the short wool or noil and the impurities
separated from it, and carried away by the comb. E, is a revolving
brush, which receives these matters from the comb H, and delivers

page_text: them on to the revolving card F, from whence they are removed by the
doffing bar G. The noil and other matters may fall from the doffing
bar G, or may be conducted through a revolving tube, or otherwise
formed into a band or sliver. 1, 1, are bars placed under the revolving
brush E, which strikes against the bars, and thus throws off the knots
and lumps.
As the wheel a, continues to revolve it carries the wool thus combed
towards the drawing rollers M, M, passing in its course the rapidly
revolving disc K, which directs the ends of the wool towards the rollers.
The edge of the ring b, being lowered at this part the wool is released
and passes off through the drawing rollers M, M, in one continuous
band or sliver. The disc K, may be covered with plush. The lowered
edge of the ring b, and the pocket d, are shewn on a larger scale in the
section, Figure 4. The form of the comb H, is shewn in the plan,
Figure 6, and its teeth are furnished with guards i, i, as shewn in
Figure 5, to prevent the wool from entering too deep into the teeth.
One or both of the rollers M, M, may be fluted, and one or both may
be provided with an endless band passing round another roller. H', is
a circular comb attached to the wheel N', which is supported by the
spherical bearing P", fixed on the shaft V. This circular comb is
maintained in an inclined position during its revolution by means of
two guides entering a groove in the edge of the wheel N'. O', is a
bevil wheel fixed to the bearing P", and gearing into another bevil
wheel O", on the wheel N', which is thus caused to revolve at the
same speed as the wheel a, and shaft V, while it preserves its inclined
position with regard to the wheel a. The inclination of the comb H'
is such that its teeth are quite clear of the wool on the side of the
machine at which the comb H, is situated, while they enter or overlap
the pocket d, on the side on which the drawing rollers M, M, are
placed. The comb H', does not therefore interfere with the action of
the comb H, but it prevents the passage of the noil or short wool and
knots or other impurities into the rollers M, M. The tuft of wool is
thus combed at one end by the comb H, and it is afterwards pulled
away from the rest of the wool by the rollers M, M, and the other end
of the tuft is combed by passing through the conih H¹.

page_text: The wool in passing off through the rollers M, M, draws down after
it a fresh portion, which lies in the pocket d, until the wool being again
nipped or held between the wheel a, and the edge of the ring b, it is
drawn out of the end of the pocket and carried round to be combed as
before. To assist and regulate this feeding of the machine a plate or
wheel R', is supported upon a spherical bearing P, fixed on the shaft V.
and this plate is guided by a crescent shaped plate M', entering a
groove Q, in its edge, and it is driven by bevil wheels in a similar
manner to the wheel N', or by means of a pin attached to that wheel
or to the shaft V. A circle of holes is formed in the plate R', which
correspond with those in the wheel a, and through which the bands of
wool which supply the machine are passed. Each of these holes
contains a piece of leather or felt or similar material, against which the
rounded and smooth edge of the crescent M', is pressed by means of a
spring. The effect of this arrangement is, that the bands of wool are
nipped by the crescent at or near the highest position of the plate R'.
and are held until it has reached a much lower position. A certain
length of wool is thus drawn down according to the inclination of the
plate R', which may be varied at pleasure. The quantity of wool fed
into the machine is thus regulated:-X, is a weight fixed on the top of
the shaft V, for the purpose of pressing the wheel, upon the ring b.
Y', is a fixed shaft or pin supported from above and entering the weight,
but not fixed to it. Z, is a wheel turning loose upon the shaft Y', and
connected to the weight X, by the pillars Y, Y. The wheel Z, carries
the rollers V', which are caused to revolve by means of a worm wheel
driven by an endless screw on the spindle S', of a bevil wheel T, which
gears into the stationary bevil wheel U, attached to the fixed shaft or
pin Y. The bands of wool are wound upon rollers or bobbins X',
which rest upon and receive their motion from the rollers V, which
are provided with bevil wheels upon their axes, gearing together to
cause them all to move sinultaneously. The weight of the wheel Z..
and the rollers X', and V₁, is thus made to assist in pressing the
wheel a, upon the ring b. The number of the rollers or bobbins may
be equal to that of the holes y, y, in the wheel a, or a greater or lesser
number of bobbins may be employed by conducting two or more bands

page_text: of wool through one hole, or by winding two or more bands of wool on
each bobbin.
The long wool on leaving the machine passes from the drawing
rollers M, M, under the roller 2, on to the endless band 3, which is
supported by two rollers revolving in the direction shewn by the arrows.
The wool is carried along until it arrives at the conical pin 4, which is
fixed above the band and diagonally to it. 5, is a hollow conical or
trumpet shaped tube, which is mounted in bearings, and caused to
revolve in the direction of the arrow. 6, is one of two drawing rollers,
which draw the wool through the tube 5, which at the same time rolls
the wool round the pin 4, forming it into a cord or sliver, which is
delivered by the rollers. 6, into the can 7. This apparatus may be
applied to other machinery for combing or preparing fibrous substances
as well as to that herein-before described.
Figure 7, is a plan of a similar arrangement, in which the pin 4, is
placed at right angles to the endless band. The revolving tube 5, may
be placed in a line with the pin 4. or may form an angle with it.
In this Figure is shewn a different arrangement of feeding apparatus
for drawing down the wool into the machine. 8, is a wheel, having a
ring of leather or other similar substance on its under side, and turning
upon a vertical shaft 9, as shewn also in the vertical section, Figure 8.
The wheel 8, rests upon a fixed segment of a ring or hoop of metal 10.
having a smooth edge and rounded off at the ends. As the wheel a,
revolves in the direction of the arrow marked upon it, the wheel 8, also
revolves in the direction shewn by its arrow, and at a somewhat greater
circumferential velocity than the wheel a. The ends of the fibres of
wool enter between the wheel 8, and ring 10, at the point marked 11,
and are carried round to the point 12, where the segmental ring ends.
The fibres of wool are thus drawn out and directed forwards towards
the rollers M. The parts marked P', Q', R', M', in Figures 5, and 6,
are not then required. The feeding apparatus shewn in Figures 7,
and 8, may be placed on either side of the comb H. The ring 6, in
Figure 5, must of course be lowered or cut away at the place at
which the feeding apparatus is situated. so as to admit of the wool
being drawn out.

page_text: Figure 9, is a plan, shewing an improved mode of constructing the
circular comb H', in Figure 5. and other combs. Figure 10, is a
section of the same. 13, and 14, are two metal rings, the space
between which is filled with leather or other similar substance. The
pins or points 15, which form the comb, are thrust through the leather,
or between the leather and the rings, and are thus fixed. The rings
may be made with grooves, as shewn in the Drawing, so as to facilitate
the placing of the pins in their proper positions. Or one of the rings
may be made with a flange or edge, which projects over and covers the
leather, and is perforated with holes, through which the pins are thrust,
as shewn in the plan, Figure 11.
Figure 12, is a vertical section, shewing the end of the tube marked 5,
in Figure 6, and the rollers 6, 6. A lever 16, is mounted on a bearing
17, and has a horizontal arm 18, which is pressed up by a light weight
or spring against the cord or sliver of wool as it passes from the tube 5,
to the rollers 6, 6. If the sliver should break, the end of the lever flies
which the machine is driven
up, and by its motion causes the strap
to be thrown off, or otherwise disconnects the machine from the moving
power by means of any of the arrangements for that purpose employed
in similar machinery, as is well understood.
19, is a roller mounted on
roller M, by a light weight
Figure 13, is a section of the delivering rollers M, M, and a portion
of the endless band 3, in Figures 5, and 6.
a lever 20, and pressed against the upper
or spring. If the sliver breaks, the end begins to wind up on the
upper roller M, and as it accumulates it pushes the roller 19, away
from it, and thus moves the lever 20, which causes the machine to be
stopped, as in the previously described arrangement.
I have described the machinery as being employed for the combing
of wool, but it is obvious that it may also be employed for combing or
If desired, the fibrous substance
preparing other fibrous substances.
may be passed a second time through the machine, or through a second
The first machine may thus be
machine similarly constructed.
employed to prepare the fibrous substance for being perfectly combed
in the second machine.
:
Having now described the nature of the Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that

page_text: what I claim as the Invention intended to be secured by the first
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
Firstly, the application to machinery constructed as herein-before
described in reference to Figures 5, and 6, of a bar or bars so placed
that the revolving brush E, may strike against it or them in manner
herein-before described.
Secondly, the application to machinery constructed as herein-before
described in reference to Figures 5, and 6, of bevil wheels for driving
the comb H', as herein-before described.
Thirdly, the constructing machinery as herein-before described in.
reference to Figures 5, and 6, so that the bobbin wheel Z, may rest
upon and be supported by the wheel a, as herein-before described.
Fourthly, the application to machinery constructed as herein-before
described in reference to Figures 5, and 6, of apparatus for stopping
the machine when the sliver breaks, as herein-before described in
reference to Figures 12, and 13.
Fifthly, the application to machinery for combing or preparing wool
or other fibrous substances of the apparatus or machinery for forming
the fibrous substance into a sliver by means of a conical pin and
revolving tube, as herein-before described.
Sixthly, the constructing combs for combing or preparing wool and
other fibrous substances in manner herein-before described in reference
to Figures 9, 10, and 11.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Cowper, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of November,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-
three.
Witness,
FREDERIC JOSEPII CLOWES,
Cold Harbour Lane,
CHARLES COWPER (L.S.)
Camberwell.