another of my improvements in combing
Year: 1862

page_text: 6 removed
printed by Her Majesty's printers, and ending with the words
in the form of a lap as above mentioned," at line 35, page 5; also the
part of the Specification commencing with the words "another of my
improvements in combing," on line 19, page 7, down to the words "will
make the yarn round, solid, and strong," at the end of the Specifi-
cation:
And whereas it would be inconsistent for the portion of the Specifi-
cation which then remains to commence with the word "another," I
alter the Specification by striking out this word cn line 36, page 5, and
insert in place thereof the word "one: "
And whereas the words "especially pierced cocoons on lines 34.
and 35, page 6, tend to render the meaning of the paragraph which
commences at line 21, page 6, somewhat uncertain:
And whereas needle pointed drums such as are described in this
paragraph are not well adapted for preparing pierced cocoons :
i
And whereas it was not my intention under this part of my
Specification to make any claim as to the treatment of pierced cocoons
I alter the Specification by striking out the words aforesaid:
And whereas the paragraph commencing at line 36, page 6, is in
further explanation of the improvement described in the preceding
paragraph which is quoted from the Provisional Specification, I alter the
Specification by striking out the word "another" at the commencement
of line 36, page 6, and insert in place thereof the word "this."
And in order that the title of the Invention may agree with the
Specification when these alterations have been made in it, I strike out
from the title the words. "combing and spinning flax," and also the
words "and other fibrous material."
And in order that the effect of this Disclaimer and Memorandum of
Alteration may be clearly seen, I annex a copy of the Specification as it
will appear when such Disclaimer and Memorandum of Alteration is
made as aforesaid.
"TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, SAMUEL
CUNLIFFE LISTER, of Manningham, County of York, send greeting.

page_text: Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-sixth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said Samuel Cunliffe Lister, Her special licence
that I, the said Samuel Cunliffe Lister, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Samuel Cunliffe Lister, 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 "IMPROVE.
MENTS IN PREPARING SILK," upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said Samuel Cunliffe Lister, 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 Inven-
tion, 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 Samuel Cunliffe Lister, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
be particularly described and ascer-
the same is to be performed, to
tained in and by the following statement thereof, that is to say:-
One part of my Invention, which is more particularly adapted for
opening pierced cocoons, but which also answers well for preparing silk
waste, is to make two straps of teeth to work close together; the cocoons
or waste may be fed to them in any suitable manner. The upper sheet
should travel in the opposite direction to the lower. In carrying out
this part of my Invention two endless sheets with points or teeth are
caused to move in opposite directions, and the pierced cocoons are fed
between them; the points of the teeth of the two sheets are in such
positions in relation to each other as slightly to penetrate into the cocoons.
One of the sheets of teeth or points is caused to move faster than the
other, so that the cocoons will be progressively moved from the ends of
the endless sheets where the cocoons are fed in towards the other end,
where the fibres, which have been opened out, will come away in the
midst of the teeth. of the quicker moving sheet from which they are
Hoffed. The two endless sheets where they act on the cocoons are kept
parallel or nearly so, and provision is to be made for adjusting the

page_text: surfaces of the two sheets to and from each other, and also for varying
the speeds at, which the two sheets travel.
It is not essential that the two sheets should move in opposite
directions, as a like result will be obtained if the two sheets move in the
same direction, the one moving somewhat faster than the other.
In place of doffing the fibres as they come beyond the ends of the
two sheets the fibres may be formed into a lap, and when the teeth have
become sufficiently loaded with fibre the machine is to be stopped, and
the lap of the material removed and afterwards gilled for combing.
this manner may silk waste be prepared.
In
Another improvement consists in using drums for preparing silk waste
(other than cocoons) having more than six teeth to the square inch, but
I prefer about twenty for preparing it the first time, and eighty to one
hundred for the second time over. The length and strength of the
teeth should be governed by the number to the square inch; flat pins
are the best, but they are very expensive.
Instead of being distributed over the surface of the drum the pins
may be placed in rows at considerable intervals similar to what they
are now for preparing silk for the ordinary dressing frame, but they
answer better when the rows are placed nearer, but instead of being
taken off in books, as is now the case, the silk should be removed in
laps and gilled.
It is important to gill silk before being combed; the gill teeth should
be flat and not less than six in the lineal inch, and two or more rows
in each faller. It should be passed two or three times through lap boxes
before being made into slivers; also, it is much better to drum the silk
twice.
This improvement consists in using drums with teeth set much finer
been
I have dis
of the meta
waste.
for preparing silk
been hitherto used
than .\
covered after- many experiments that pins standing out
or other surface about half an inch, when very fine teeth
about one quarter of an inch will stand very well, and with care wil
last a long time. By having the pins short I
finer and closer set than any now in use, about
inch for the first operation answers well, but in
be less than six. When prepared a second time
80 to 100.
can
also
A
are used
have thei
twenty to the squar
no case should ther
I prefer to use abou

page_text: Instead of being distributed over the surface of the drum the pins
may be placed in rows at considerable distances similar to what is
now used for preparing silk for the ordinary dressing frame, but they
answer better when the rows are placed nearer, but when drums are
used with teeth in rows, as described, instead of taking off the silk
in books, as is now the case, I take it off in laps and gill it to
remove the irregularities in the slivers caused by the teeth being in
rows.
It is important when waste silk is gilled before being combed that
the gill comb should be made with not less than six teeth in the
lineal inch, and I prefer to have two or more rows in each faller,
and it is of great importance that flat pins should be used for this
purpose, as round ones must either be made so thick and strong as
to break the silk, or if made fine the silk is so strong that it destroys
the pins. It is also important to gill the waste silk or cocoons twice
or oftener before being combed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Samuel Cunliffe Lister have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of Novem-
ber, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
seventy-three.

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Samuel Cunliffe Lister, of Manningham, County
of York, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PREPARING, COMBING, AND
SPINNING FLAX, SILK, AND OTHER FIBROUS MATERIAL."
Sealed the 9th June 1863, and dated the 18th December 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Samuel Cunliffe Lister
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
18th December 1862.
I, SAMUEL CUNLIFFE LISTER, of Manningham, County of York, do hereby
declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PREPARING, COMBING,
AND SPINNING FLAX, SILK, AND OTHER FIBROUS MATERIAL," to be as follows:-
My first improvement consists in preparing flax, rhea, and other vegetable
fibres before combing the same upon drums or straps covered with fine teeth,
say, not less than fifteen per square inch, but I prefer about forty for the first
operation, one hundred for the second, and two hundred for the third time of
passing it through the drums. The laps should then be drawn by screw gills
or other drawing machinery, and made into slivers suitable for combing. It is
important that each time the fibres are operated upon by the toothed surface
that the opposite side and ends of the fibres should be presented to the teeth of
the drum, and it is also important that the fibres should be first set at liberty

page_text: to some extent by beating or crushing, or by discharging the natural gum, as
the teeth will then operate much more efficiently.
The machine which I find to answer best for this purpose is that patented
by Alfred Vincent Newton, June 17th, 1861, No. 1802.
In order not to injure the flax or other fibre, the bars should be made
smooth and without teeth, and for some fibres water, or soap and water, or
other liquid should be used to soften them and assist in removing the gum.
This process will be found greatly to improve flax and other vegetable fibres
which have been retted and scutched in the ordinary manner, and assist them
in carding, or carding and combing. I also find that flax and other fibre when
treated as above described, may be cut into short lengths, and carded and made
into carded yarns or combed.
Second, silk waste may be prepared with advantage upon combs mounted
upon drums, or arms so arranged as to take successive tufts of fibre from
suitable feeding apparatus, and then as the drum rotates upon which the
combs are fixed, they deposit the tufts upon teeth (which I prefer to be gill
teeth) to be drawn into a sliver or a comb. oscillating backwards and forwards
will do, taking at each movement a tuft of silk from feed rollers, which is
deposited on to teeth to be there drawn into a sliver or accumulated into a lap
to be removed from time to time. The to-and-fro movement may be given by
a crank.
Third, another plan which I find more particularly adapted for opening
pierced cocoons, but which also answers well for preparing silk waste, is to
make two straps of teeth to work close together, the cocoons or waste may be
fed to them in any suitable manner. The upper sheet should travel in the
opposite direction to the lower.
Fourth, when preparing silk, flax, or other vegetable fibre upon straps, such
as were described and patented by me 14th July 1860, No. 1701, porcupine
rollers, or rollers without teeth may be substituted for the gill.
Fifth, another improvement consists in using drums for preparing silk waste
(other than cocoons) having more than six teeth to the square inch, but I prefer
about twenty for preparing it the first time, and eighty to one hundred for the
second time over. The length and strength of the teeth should be governed by
the number to the square inch, flat pins are the best, but they are very expensive.
Instead of being distributed over the surface of the drum the pins may be a
placed in rows at considerable intervals, similar to what they are now for
preparing silk for the ordinary dressing frame, but they answer better when
the rows are placed nearer, but instead of being taken off in books, as is now
the case, the silk should be removed in laps and gilled. It is important to

page_text: gill silk before being combed; the gill teeth should be flat, and not less than
six in the lineal inch, and two or more rows in each faller. It should be
passed two or three times through lap boxes before being made into slivers;
also it is much better to drum the silk twice, especially pierced cocoons..
Sixth, my improvements in combing consist in making filling heads of
machines such as were patented by me 7th August 1855, No. 1785 circled to
the form of the machine, and also having them constructed with gill or other
teeth, or if the machine be straight the filling heads may be made the same,
but I prefer a circular machine. Sometimes I have the feeding head stationary
and detach tufts from it, either by a nipping apparatus or a comb, and then
feed such tufts into the machine to be afterwards combed.
Another improvement in such machines consists in placing teeth in the front
nipper, also increasing the number of rows in the back, also making filling
heads in such machines as those patented by Lister and Warburton, 13th
December 1855, No. 2832, to approach the comb instead of having them
stationary, as therein shewn.
Seventh, my improvements in spinning consists in giving a rubbing action to
the rollers of a spinning frame. The upper roller moves in one direction,
whilst the lower moves in the contrary. The shafts upon which the rollers
are fixed have cranks attached to the end of them, so as to give the required
motion. This mode of treatment is more particularly adapted for flat yarn
or other vegetable fibre which have first been spun dry with little twist, and
then such yarns may be passed through water or liquid size, and the rubbing
action will make them round, solid, and strong.
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 18th June 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, SAMUEL
CUNLIFFE LISTER, of Maningham, County of York, send greeting...
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighteenth day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-sixth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Samuel Cunliffe Lister, Her special licence, that I, the
said Samuel Cunliffe Lister, my executors, administrators, and assigns, òr
such others as I, the said Samuel Cunliffe Lister, my executors, admini-

page_text: 4
strators, 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 PREPARING, COMBING, AND SPINNING FLAX,
SILK, AND OTHER FIRROUS MATERIAL," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Samuel Cunliffe Lister, 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 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 ascertained in. and by, the
following statement thereof, that is to say :-
My first improvement consists in preparing flax, rhea, and other vegetable
fibres, before combing the same, upon drums or straps covered with fine teeth,
say not less than fifteen per square inch, but I prefer about forty for the first
operation, 100 for the second, and 200 for the third time of passing it through
the drums. The laps should then be drawn by screw gills or other drawing
machinery, and made into slivers suitable for combing. It is important that
each time the fibres are operated upon by the toothed surface that the opposite
side and ends of the fibres should be presented to the teeth of the drum; and
it is also important that the fibres should be first set at liberty, to some extent,
by beating or crushing, or by discharging the natural gum, as the teeth will
then operate much more efficiently.
The machine which I find to answer best for this purpose, is that patented
by Alfred Vincent Newton, June 17th, 1861, (No. 1802).
In order not to injure the flax or other fibre, the bars should be made smooth
and without teeth, and for some fibres water, or soap and water, or other liquid,
should be used to soften them and assist in removing. the gum, as is well
understood. This process will be found greatly to improve flax and other
vegetable fibres which have been retted and scutched in the ordinary manner,
and assist them in carding and combing. I also find that flax and other fibre
when treated as above described, may be cut into short lengths, and carded
and made into carded yarns or combed.
In carrying out this part of my Invention, the fibrous substances are to be
prepared by a machine, such as is described in the Specification of the said

page_text: Patent granted to Alfred Vincent Newton, or by other suitable means to which
preparation of the vegetable fibrous substances I make no claim. The fibrous
substances having been properly prepared they are then to have their fibres
separated and formed into a lap.
The peculiarity of the first part of my Invention consists in forming a lap
of the fibres as they are progressively split and dividing, in contradistinction
to the system heretofore resorted to upholding a strick or quantity of the
fibrous substance near one of its ends whilst the other end is being heckled
or split, and then in like manner holding the strick or bundle at the split or
heckled end whilst the other end is being slit or heckled. For this purpose
the fibrous substance is fed up to a roller, by means of feed rollers or other
suitable apparatus, to a rotating surface carrying suitable points or heckle
pins, which split or heckle the fibres which are progressively accumulated
amongst the points on the rotating surface, thus forming a lap, which, being
removed from the cylinder or other suitable rotating surface, is then submitted
to a combing process, having, by preference, been first passed through a screw
gill. I find it desirable to discharge the natural gum by bleaching or other
well-known means, and in all cases it is important, to the proper working of
this Invention, that the fibres should, to some extent (and the more the better),
be set at liberty by mechanical or chemical means before being worked and
split by the teeth on the cylinders or rotating surfaces employed; but I make
no claim either to the bleaching, or bruising, or crushing of such fibres, except
when combined with the treatment above described. I usually subject the
fibrous substance or material to the action of a succession of surfaces, the
points or heckle pins of each succeeding surface being a little finer than
the previous one. I prefer about forty points or pins to, the square inch for
the first operation, one hundred points or pins to the square inch for the second
operation, and two hundred points or pins to the square inch for the third
operation; and it is important that each time the fibres are operated upon by
the points or pins of the succeeding surfaces that the opposite surface and end
of the lap of fibres should be presented to the points or pins of the succeeding
surface; and also when using the same surface twice over on the same lap
I prefer to employ fluted rollers to feed the revolving surfaces, and when the
points or heckle pins are sufficiently charged with fibre the machine should be
stopped and the material removed in the form of a lap, as above mentioned.
Another part of my Invention, which is more particularly adapted for
opening pierced cocoons, but which also answers well for preparing silk waste,
is to make two straps of teeth to work close together, the cocoons or waste
may be fed to them in any suitable manner. The upper sheet should travel

page_text: in the opposite direction to the lower.
In carrying out this part of my Inven-
tion two endless sheets with points or teeth are caused to move in opposite
directions, and the pierced cocoons are fed between them; the points of the
teeth of the two sheets are in such positions in relation to each other as slightly
to penetrate into the cocoons. One of the sheets of teeth or points is caused
to move faster than the other, so that the cocoons will be progressively moved
from the ends of the endless sheets where the cocoons are fed in towards the
other end, where the fibres which have been opened out will come away in
the midst of the teeth of the quicker moving sheet, from which they are
doffed. The two endless sheets, where they act on the cocoons, are kept
parallel, or nearly so, and provision is to be made for adjusting the surfaces of
the two sheets to and from each other, and also for varying the speeds at.
which the two sheets travel. It is not essential that the two sheets should.
move in opposite directions as a like result will be obtained if the two sheets
move in the same direction, the one moving somewhat faster than the other.
In place of doffing the fibres as they come beyond the ends of the two sheets
the fibres may be formed into a lap, and when the teeth have become suffi-
ciently loaded with fibre the machine is to be stopped and the lap of the
material removed and afterwards gilled for combing. In this manner may
silk waste be prepared.
Another improvement consists in using drums for preparing silk waste
(other than cocoons) having more than six teeth to the square inch, but I
prefer about twenty for preparing it the first time, and eighty to one hundred
for the second time over. The length and strength of the teeth should be
governed by the number to the square inch; flat pins are the best, but they
are very expensive. Instead of being distributed over the surface of the
drum, the pins may be placed in rows at considerable intervals, similar to
what they are now for preparing silk for the ordinary dressing frame, but
they answer better when the rows are placed nearer; but instead of being
taken off in books, as is now the case, the silk should be removed in laps and
gilled. It is important to gill silk before being combed, the gill teeth should
be flat, and not less than six in the lineal inch, and two or more rows in each
faller. It should be passed two or three times through lap boxes before being
made into slivers, also it is much better to drum the silk twice, especially
pierced cocoons.
Another improvement consists in using drums with teeth set much finer
than have been hitherto used for preparing silk waste. I have discovered,
after many experiments, that pins standing out of the metal or other surface
about half an inch, when very fine teeth are used, about one quarter of an

page_text: .
inch will stand very well, and with care will last a long time. By having the.
pins short, I can also have them finer and closer set than any now in use;
about twenty to the square inch for the first operation answers well, but in no
case should there be less than six. When prepared a second time I prefer to
use about 80 to 100. Instead of being distributed over the surface of the
drum, the pins may be placed in rows at considerable distances, similar to
what is now used for preparing silk for the ordinary dressing frame, but they
answer better when the rows are placed nearer; but when drums are used
with teeth in rows, as described, instead of taking off the silk in books, as is
now the case, I take it off in laps and gill it to remove the irregularities in
the slivers caused by the teeth being in rows. It is important, when waste
silk is gilled before being combed, that the gill comb should be made with not
less than six teeth in the lineal inch; and I prefer to have two or more rows
in each faller; and it is of great importance that flat pins should be used for
this purpose, as round ones must either be made so thick and strong as to
break the silk, or if made fine, the silk is so strong that it destroys the pins.
It is also important to gill the waste silk or cocoons twice or oftener before
being combed.
Another of my improvements in combing consists in making filling heads
of machines such as were patented by me 7th August 1855. (No. 1785),
circled to the form of the machine, and also having them constructed with gill
or other teeth; or if the machine be straight the filling heads may be made
the same, but I prefer a circular machine. Sometimes I have the feeding
head stationary and detach tufts from it, either by a nipping apparatus or a
comb, and then feed such tufts into the machine to be afterwards combed.
Another improvement in such machines consists in placing teeth in the front
nipper, also increasing the number of rows in the back; also making filling
heads in such machines as those patented by Lister and Warburton, 13th
December 1859 (No. 2832), to approach the comb instead of having theni
stationary, as therein shown. When using such machines, such as were
patented by me in 1855 (No. 1785), I find it a great improvement to make
the filling heads throughout their entire breadths to work close up to the nip
of the machine, also in having them constructed with gill or other teeth.
The filling head which I find to answer best. is Rawson's, patented in 1860
(No. 1083.) I do not claim, nor is it any part of my Invention, to have filling
heads made with gill or other teeth and circled to the nip or comb (if the
machine be circular); but my Invention consists in combining into a machine a
filling head, as described, where the fibrous material is held by nippers and cleaned
first at one end and then at the other, similar to the machine patented by me

page_text: in 1855 (No. 1785), as this arrangement will prevent the cleaning instrument
used from robbing so much fibre away when cleaning the long end, which is of
great importance. And I would also remark, that instead of the filling head
going to the nippers the feeding head may be stationary and the tuft detached
through teeth and then fed into the machine by a carrying comb or other*
instrument.
Another improvement in such machines consists in increasing the number'
of rows of teeth, as I find that when two rows only are used, as shown in the
original Patent, that the fibrous material is apt to ruck at the back of the
teeth and make more waste and a worse sliver than is the case when the
number of rows are increased. This can be readily done by placing teeth in
the front nipper and increasing the number of rows at the back of the back'
nipper.
Another improvement consists in making the filling heads of such machines
as those patented by Lister and Warburton in 1859 (No. 2832), (under the
first head of Invention in the said Patent), to approach the comb instead
of having them stationary, as therein shown. The instrument which I find to
answer best is a filling head constructed on Rawson's plan. When the tuft
has been detached in the manner described by Rawson, then, as the comb
moves along, it passes under the nipper and is worked and treated as described
in the said Patent of Lister and Warburton.
My improvements in spinning consist in giving a rubbing action to the
rollers of a spinning frame. The upper roller moves in one direction, whilst
the lower moves in the contrary. The shafts upon which the rollers are fixed
have cranks attached to the end of them so as to give the required motion.
This mode of treatment is more particularly adapted for flax yarn or other
vegetable fibre which have first been spun dry with little twist, and then such
yarns may be passed through water or liquid size, and the rubbing action will
make them round, solid, and strong.
My improvement in spinning consists in giving a kind of rubbing action to
the front rollers of a spinning frame. The rollers and shaft upon which they
are fixed may be of the ordinary kind, only the necks should be so arranged
as to allow of a lateral motion of about an inch. Two small cranks being
attached to the end of the upper and lower shafts, motion is given to them in
such a manner that the upper and lower shafts are always moving in opposite
directions, by that means giving a rubbing action to the rollers which are fixed
upon them. This mode of treatment is more particularly adapted for flax
yarn or yarns made from other vegetable fibres which have been first spun dry.
Such yarns should then be passed through water or size placed in a trough or

page_text: vessel attached to the spinning frame, as is well understood, and as the thread
passes through the rollers the rubbing action will make the yarn round, solid,
and strong.
In witness whereof, I, the said Samuel Cunliffe Lister, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of June, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
S. C. LISTER. (L.S.)