IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR COMBING WOOL AND OTHER FIBRES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Christopher Bradley, Machine Wool Comb Maker, and
John Campbell, Commission Wool Comber, both of Bradford, in the County of
York, for the Invention of " IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR COMBING
WOOL AND OTHER FIBRES."
Sealed the 17th April 1877, and dated the 3rd November 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Christopher Bradley and John
Campbell at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd November
1876.
.
CHRISTOPHER BRADLEY, Machine Wool Comb Maker, and JOHN CAMPBELL, Com-
mission Wool Comber, both of Bradford, in the County of York.
"IMPROVEMENTS
IN MACHINERY FOR COMBING WOOL AND OTHER FIBRES."
This Invention relates to further improvements in the machinery for combing
wool and other fibres for which Letters Patent were granted to us, dated the Ninth
day of February, One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, No. 480.
.
In carrying out the Invention as described in the Specification of the said Letters
Patent we have found that when operating with the circular nip constructed with
a nipping plate acted on by a spring that the circular nip did not regularly bring
the tufts of wool or other fibres from the outside feeding comb to the inner circular
comb. The object of our present improvements is to obviate or remedy this defect,
for which purpose we construct the circular nip or nips with a series of sectional
nips working in a circle, which are made to fall at the nearest point of the circle or
-feed head and to lift before coming off the drawing-off rollers. The sectional nips
are actuated by an inclined plane or lifting and lowering plate, herein-after
described, and are made with openings at the base fitting and sliding over a circular
rim formed or fitted on a nipping circle which is cut with teeth. The tufts of
wool or fibres are pressed in the nipping circle by the falling sectional nips, and the
nips are guided and kept in working position by the circular rim. Over the nips
R

page_text: is fitted a circular casting having top and bottom flanges through which work studs
fitted in the nips or the tops of the nips if cast with guide levers. The tops of the
studs are made with heads or runners, and the tops of the guide levers with runners.
The heads of the studs or the runners coming in contact with the inclined plane or
lifting and lowering plate fitted over the heads or runners causes the nips to be
pressed down and nip the tufts of wool or fibres on the teeth of the nipping circle
at the nearest part of the circle or feed head and to lift before coming off the
drawing-off rollers.
The nips after dropping or falling are held pressed down on the tufts of wool or
fibres by a series of steel-faced blocks which press upon the heads of the studs or on
the runners. These blocks are fitted in a guide box, and underneath each block is
fitted a spring so as to allow of giving and taking according to the thickness of the
wool or fibres operated on: The circular nip or nips are actuated by cams.
'
We also fit à comb at a convenient distance from the nip for the purpose of
forming clean parts from the tufts of wool or fibres to be delivered on the grooves
of the nips, leaving the noil ends entirely in the nips.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said Christopher Bradley and John Campbell in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 1st May 1877.
CHRISTOPHER BRADLEY, Machine Wool Comb Maker, and JOHN CAMPBELL, Com-
mission Wool Comber, both of Bradford, in the County of York. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MACHINERY FOR COMBING WOOL AND OTHER FIBRES."
The said Invention relates to further improvements in the machinery for combing
wool and other fibres for which Letters Patent were granted to us dated the Ninth
day of February, One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, No. 480.
In carrying out the Invention as described in the Specification of the said Letters
Patent we have found that when operating with the circular nip constructed with
a nipping plate acted on by a spring that the circular nip did not regularly bring
the tufts of wool or other fibres from the outside feeding comb to the inner circular
comb. The object of our present improvements is to obviate or remedy this defect,
for which purpose we construct the circular nip or nips with a series of sectional
nips working in a circle, which are made to fall at the nearest point of the circle or
feed head and to lift before coming off the drawing-off rollers. The sectional nips
are actuated by an inclined plane or lifting and lowering plate, herein-after
described, and are made with openings at the base fitting and sliding over a circular
rim formed or fitted on a nipping circle. The tufts of wool or fibres are pressed in
the nipping circle by the falling sectional nips, and the nips are guided and kept in
working position by the circular rim. Over the nips is fitted a circular casting
having flanges through which work studs fitted in the nips. The tops of the studs
are made with heads or runners. The heads of the studs or the runners coming in
contact with the inclined plane or lifting and lowering plate fitted over the heads or
runners cause the nips to be pressed down and nip the tufts of wool or fibres on the
nipping circle at the nearest part of the circle or feed head, and to lift before
coming off the drawing-off rollers.
The nips after dropping or falling are held pressed down on the tufts of wool or
fibres by a series of steel-faced blocks which press upon the heads of the studs or
on the runners. These blocks are fitted in a guide box, and underneath each block
is fitted a spring to allow of giving or taking according to the thickness of the wool
or fibres operated on. The circular nip or nips is or are actuated by cams.

page_text: We also fit a comb at a convenient distance from the nip for the purpose of
forming clean parts from the tufts of wool or fibres to be delivered on the nips,
leaving the noil ends entirely in the nips,
But to enable our improvements to be better understood we will proceed to more
particularly describe the same by reference to the accompanying Drawing, in which
Figure 1 represents a sectional elevation of our improvements; and Figure 2, plan
of the same. Similar letters of reference are used to represent similar parts.
On the foot plate A is bolted a hollow pillar B in which works the driving
shaft C; the pillar is constructed with a step D on which turns the bottom end of
a hollow shaft E which is fitted on the outside of the pillar B and on which the
shaft revolves; on the hollow shaft E is fitted and keyed a circular plate F, having
secured on the top a steel nipping circle G formed with a circular nipping pro-
jection H forming the bottom nip; over this bottom nip is fixed on the hollow
shaft E another circular plate I made with an outside flange J in which are drilled
holes K, and through which work the guide studs L of the sectional nips M; these
nips have a falling and lifting motion; the outside of the flange J is truly turned,
and over it slide the sectional nips M, which are made with openings N working
over the nipping projection H; over the top nip circular plate I and on the top of
the hollow shaft E is fixed a circular top guide nip plate O constructed with a
flange P, which is drilled with holes in which work the spindles Q of the runners R;
these runners are fitted in jaws S having lifting lugs T; the jaws are fitted and
fixed on the spindles Q; over the top nip guide plate O and on the hollow pillar B
is fitted and fixed the runner lifting plate U, made. with an inclined plane V to
gradually lift the sectional top nips before the tufts of wool or fibres come off the
drawing-off rollers W. The plate U is cut away at the falling point of the runners
to allow them and the top nips to fall. On the pillar B and over the lifting plate U
is fitted and fixed a pressure quadrant X formed with an under side guide box Y, in
which are fitted moveable steel blocks Z having guide studs A¹, over which are
fitted springs B¹.
The hollow shaft E revolving on the pillar B actuates the circular plates of the
top and bottom nips, also of the nip guide plate, and when the sectional nips arrive
at the nearest point of the circle comb C', or feed head, they fall, being actuated by
the runners R coming in contact with the steel blocks Z, which are pressed down
by the springs B', keeping the top sectional nips M firmly pressed on the bottom
nipping projection H, nipping the tufts of wool or fibres until the quadrant is
passed. Directly this point is obtained the inclined plane V acts and gradually
lifts the lugs T of the runners R. The sectional top nips are fully lifted before the
tufts of wool or fibres come off the drawing-off rollers W. The hollow shaft E is
actuated by a spur wheel D¹ worked by a pinion.
Over the flange E¹ of the circular plate I are fitted sectional lifting and lowering
plates F in which are fitted sectional combs G²; the circular plates work in.
guides H', and the bottom parts of the plates are fitted with friction rollers I'
working over an inclined plane J¹ fitted over the shaft E which is secured to the
foot plate A. The sectional lifting combs G¹ coming up the face of the bottom nip
plate pass through the fringe of wool or fibres that hangs outside the nips, keeping
the small nibs or nails behind the comb, leaving clean fringes to pass through the
drawing-off rollers in the ordinary way and leaving the noil ends in the comb.
We also fit a comb K' at a convenient distance from the nip for the purpose of
forming clean parts from the tufts of wool or fibres to be delivered on the nips,
leaving the noil ends entirely in the nips. The comb K¹ is fitted in a frame L', and
is actuated by a cam and gear. A dabbing brush is employed, worked by an
eccentric cam or gear.
Having thus described our improvements, and the best means we are acquainted
with for carrying the same into effect, we would have it understood that we do not
confine ourselves to the precise details shewn and described, as they may be varied
without departing from the peculiar character of the Invention; but what we do

page_text: claim is, the general arrangement, construction, and employment of circular nips,
substantially as herein-before described and represented by the Drawing annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Christopher Bradley, for and on behalf of
myself and the said John Campbell, have hereto set my hand and seal, this
Thirtieth day of April, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and seventy-seven.
Witness,
WALTER JAS. TURNER, C.E.,
Patent Agent,
Bradford.
CHRISTOPHER BRADLEY. (L.S.)