IMPROVEMENTS IN PREPARING, HECKLING, OR COMBING FLAX, SILK, WOOL, AND OTHER FIBRES
Year: 1858

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Isaac Holden, of St. Denis, Manufacturer, and
Emile Hubner, of Mulhouse, Engineer, both in the Empire of France,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PREPARING, HECKLING, OR COMBING
FLAX, SILK, WOOL, AND OTHER FIBRES."
Sealed the 17th September 1858, and dated the 22nd March 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Isaac Holden and Emile
Hubner at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their
Petition, on the 22nd March 1858.
We, ISAAC HOLDEN, of St. Denis, Manufacturer, and EMILE HUBNER, of
Mulhouse, Engineer, both in the Empire of France, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PREPARING, HECKLING, OR
COMBING FLAX, SILK, WOOL, AND OTHER FIBRES," to be as follows:-
The improvements relate to novel adaptations and combinations of parts
and modes of working, adapted especially to the preparation, heckling, or
combing of flax, silk, and other fibres with long staple, though also applicable
to other lengths of staple, and by which the operations of receiving fibre,
cleansing first one and then the other end thereof, and then delivering it as
cleansed, are continuously effected, and particularly to the use of two pairs
of continuously operating and moving nipping surfaces, between which the

page_text: fibres to be treated are received in lines at right angles to such nipping sur-
faces, and continuously moved forwards; one pair of the nipping surfaces
taking the fibre to hold it by one end thereof, whilst the projecting ends are
cleansed by the action thereon of suitable comb or card surface or heckle teeth,
and then in the continuous operation of the parts aided by other instruments
or means, such fibre is transferred to the other pair of moving nipping sur-
faces, which in like manner take the fibre to carry it forward, but by the end
just cleansed, in order that the uncleansed end may become cleansed, and then
deliver it to the drawing apparatus.
According to an arrangement of parts which we employ, though we do not
confine ourselves to such precise arrangement, these nipping surfaces are pro-
duced by the aid of a slowly revolving circular table or frame, whose upper
and lower surfaces near the edge thereof are each furnished with a continuous
band of leather, india-rubber, or other suitable flexible material to form con-
tinuously operating rings or surfaces, against each of which and for a con-
siderable extent thereof is borne another secondary band of leather or other
suitable material. These secondary bands, which we form endless, move (by
preference) at the same speed with the bands fixed to the table or other
carrier, and by being guided to move in contact therewith form the two pairs
of nippers whilst at the parts where the continuity of these nipping surfaces is
interrupted, the feed, the change of holding, and the drawing off are respec-
tively effected. The guides to these secondary bands, by which these bands
are kept in contact with the table, have elastic pressure applied to them
as required. The table or frame also carries on its upper surface, just
within the ring of flexible material, a ring or other series of teeth, into which
in feeding the apparatus with fibre to be combed one end of those fibres
is laid, and so that they may be carried forward in the rotation of the
table or carrier to between the upper of the nipping surfaces with the loose
ends projecting downwards. In the movement of the nipping surfaces the
fibre is thus carried past, and operated by comb or heckle teeth, which
clean those projecting ends. Thence, in the further rotation of the table
or frame, the cleansed, ends of the fibres are by guide or other instru-
ment turned inwards and so as to be taken between the flexible surfaces
forming the other nipping apparatus on the under side of the table when
the end of the fibres which had been held by the upper nipping surface
will pass therefrom, and by means of a lifter and guide will be lifted off the
teeth in the upper surface of the table and thrown over, so that such uncombed
or uncleansed ends may hang in position to be operated by the same or
otlier combing agent. The fibres will thus be brought in two fringes, one
a

page_text: over the other, and may be at the same time operated by the same combing.
agent, or separately, and having been acted upon the two layers or fringes are
separated by a separator by which the fibre in the lower nip or that which has
become cleansed at both ends will alone be taken by the drawing off mcans.
But other descriptions of continuously operating nipping surfaces, such, for
instance, as described in the Specification of Patent granted to Charles
Cowper, on or about the 23rd of February 1852, may be adapted to be used in
carrying out our improvements, and in place of one part of each nipper being
carried by the same table the two pairs of nipping surfaces may be separately.
supported; and in place of moving in a circular form they may travel in other.
directions.
then recede, when this comb
contact with another rotating
means, and the noil in sliver
The combing means which we employ consist of a cylinder of teeth, which
is caused to rotate upon crank arms or eccentrics by which the teeth are pro-
gressively caused to approach the fibres, and thereby act first on the points of
them only, then penetrate fully into them, and
cylinder is cleansed of its noil by coming in
cylinder of teeth, which is stripped by doffing
drawn off by drawing rollers. There is also a nipper or holder to hold the
fibres taken by the stripping roller in contact with the surface thereof whilst
it is cleansed by contact with the combs; but other descriptions of combing
or cleansing means may be employed. The fibre, as drawn off from between
the last nipping surfaces by drawing rollers, is conducted in a continuous sliver
by an endless apron to screw gill or other drawing apparatus from which it is:
compressed and received into cans or otherwise.
The accompanying Drawings show an adaptation of parts according to our.
improvements, but we do not however confine ourselves to these details as
they may be varied.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Isaac Holden and Emile Hubner in. the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 22nd September 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS. SHALL COME, we, ISAAC.
HOLDEN, of St. Denis, Manufacturer, and EMILE HUBNER, of Mullhouse,.
Engineer, both in the Empire of France, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-second.day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight, in. the twenty-first year of Her

page_text: reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us,
the said Isaac Holden and Emile Hubner, Her special licence that we, the
said Isaac Holden and Emile Hubner, our executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as we, the said Isaac Holden and Emile Hubner,
our 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 PREPARING,
HECKLING, OR COMBING FLAX, SILK, WOOL, AND OTHER FIBRES," upon the condition
(amongst others) that we, the said Isaac Holden and Emile Hubner, our
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under our or their
hands and seals, or under the hand and seal of one of us or them, 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 imme-
diately after the date of, the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Isaac Holden and Emile Hubner, 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:-
The improvements relate to novel adaptations and combinations of parts
and modes of working adapted especially to the preparation, heckling, or
combing of flax, silk, and other fibres with long staple, though also applicable to
other lengths of staple, and by which the operations of receiving fibre, cleaning
first one and then the other end thereof, and then delivering it as cleansed,
are continuously effected, and particularly to the use of two pairs of con-
tinuously operating and moving nipping surfaces, between which the fibres to
be treated are received in lines at right angles to such nipping surfaces, and
continuously moved forwards, one pair of the nipping surfaces taking the
fibre to hold it by one end thereof, whilst the projecting ends are cleansed by
the action thereon of suitable comb or card surface or heckle teeth, and then
in the continuous operation of the parts, aided by other instruments or means,
such fibre is, transferred to the other pair of moving nipping surfaces, which in
like manner take the fibre to carry it. forward, but by the end just cleansed, in
order that the uncleansed end may become cleansed, and then deliver it to the
drawing apparatus.
According to an arrangement of parts which we employ, though we do not
confine ourselves to such precise arrangement, these nipping surfaces are

page_text: produced by the aid of a slowly revolving circular table or frame, whose upper
and lower surfaces near the edge thereof are each furnished with a continuous
band of leather, india-rubber, or other suitable flexible material to form
continuously operating rings or surfaces, against each of which and for a
considerable extent thereof, is borne another secondary band of leather or
other suitable material. These secondary bands, which we form endless, move
(by preference) at the same speed with the bands fixed to the table or other
carrier, and by being guided to move in contact therewith form the two pairs of
nippers, whilst at the parts where the continuity of these nipping surfaces is
interrupted, the feed, the change of holding, and the drawing off are respec-
tively effected. The guides to these secondary bands, by which these bands
are kept in contact with the table, have elastic pressure applied to them as
required. The table or frame also carries on its upper surface, just within the
ring of flexible material, a ring or other series of teeth, into which in feeding
the apparatus with fibre to be combed, one end of those fibres is laid, and so
that they may be carried forward in the rotation of the table or carrier to
between the upper of the nipping surfaces, with the loose ends projecting
downwards. In the movement of the nipping surfaces the fibre is thus carried
past, and operated by comb or heckle teeth which clean those projecting ends.
Thence, in the further rotation of the table or frame, the cleansed ends of the
fibres are by a guide or other instrument turued inwards, and so as to be taken
between the flexible surfaces forming the other nipping apparatus on the
under side of the table, when the end of the fibres which had been held by the
upper nipping surface will pass therefrom, and by means of a lifter and guide
will be lifted off the teeth in the upper surface of the table and thrown over,
so that such uncombed or uncleansed ends may hang in position to be operated
by the same or other combing agent. The fibres will thus be brought in two
fringes, one over the other, and may be at the same time operated by the
same combing agent or separately, and having been acted upon, the two layers
or fringes are separated by a separator, by which the fibre in the lower nip or
that which has become cleansed at both ends, will alone be taken by the
drawing off means.
But other descriptions of continuously operating nipping surfaces, such,
for instance, as described in the Specification of Patent, granted to Charles
Cowper, on or about the 23rd of February 1852, may be adapted to be used in
.carrying out our improvements, and in place of one part of each nipper being
carried by the same table, the two pairs of nipping surfaces may be separately
supported, and in place of moving in a circular form they may travel in other
.directions.

page_text: The combing means which we employ consist of a cylinder of teeth, which
is caused to rotate upon crank arms or eccentrics, by which the teeth are
progressively caused to approach the fibres, and thereby act first on the points
of them only, then penetrate fully into them, and then recede, when this comb
cylinder is cleansed of its noil by coming in contact with another rotating
cylinder of teeth, which is stripped by doffing means, and the noil in sliver
drawn off by drawing off rollers. There is also a nipper or holder to hold the
fibres taken by the stripping roller in contact with the surface thereof, whilst
it is cleansed by contact with the combs; but other descriptions of combing or
cleansing means may be employed. The fibre as drawn off from between the
last nipping surfaces by drawing rollers is conducted in a continuous sliver by
an endless apron to screw, gill, or other drawing apparatus from which it is
compressed and received into cams or otherwise.
The accompanying Drawings show an adaptation of parts according to our
improvements, but we do not, however, confine ourselves to these details, as
they may be varied. Hitherto, when nipping plates or surfaces have been
employed in combing apparatus as the means of detaching and conducting
tufts of fibre, such nipping means have acted intermittently, that is, the respec-
tive operations of detaching tufts, and delivering the tufts so detached, have
been performed in succession, whilst the object of the present improvements is
so to arrange nipping surfaces that the various operations upon the fibre may
be performed continuously.
But that the nature of these improvements may be more fully understood
we will proceed to explain more in detail the means pursued by us, aided by
the accompanying Drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 represents a side view partly in section, Figure 2.a plan, and
Figure 3 a sectional view, of apparatus arranged to carry out our improve-
ments. Figure 4 is a diagram of parts in order more fully to illustrate the
working of the parts represented by Figures 1, 2, and 3. Figure 5 is a sec-
tion of parts, full size. In each of the Figures the same letters are used to
indicate like parts wherever they occur. a, a, is the main framing; b, the
main or driving axis, which as is well understood receives motion from a steam
engine or other suitable power, acting by a strap or band upon the drum
or pulley b¹ fixed upon that axis b. c, c¹, and d, d', form two pairs of con-
tinuously operating nipping surfaces by which the fibre to be treated is held
during the combing or cleansing operations. The surface c is formed of a
band of leather, caoutchouc, or other suitable flexible material, and it is sup-

page_text: ported in position by the upper surface of the table D, which is formed with
a neck D¹ to embrace with a capability of freely turning upon the central and
stationary support a¹, and it has also affixed to it the tooth surface D, which
is taken into by the teeth of a pinion e, indicated by dotted lines in Figure 3,
and which pinion è is affixed upon the axis e', which has motion given to it
from the main or driving axis b by suitable gear, in order that a slow rotary
motion may be imparted to the table D. The band or strap c¹ is held for a
considerable distance in contact with the surface c, (and by the friction of
that contact is caused to have motion given to it corresponding with the
surface c), by means of the segmental frame f, which is affixed to the sta-
tionary support a', in the projecting rim of which is formed a groove or recess
to receive in part, and thereby correctly guide the band c¹, whilst it at the
same time presses upon that portion of the band which is for the time under
it. This pressure is regulated by the lever f¹ as shewn, to the outer end of
which is suspended the weight f* capable of being varied. The endless band
c¹ is thus guided from the point 1 to the point 2 by means of the segmental
frame f, and at the point 2 it rises up over a pulley 3, thence over other
pulleys 4 & 5, from the latter of which it descends to the point 1. The
object of the table f being only segmental, and of band c¹ being thus raised
above the table D, is, as hereafter explained, to give room for the laying on of
the fibre. The band d extends round and is affixed to the under side of the
table D near its edge, in like manner to the band c, whilst the band d¹ is
caused to move therewith by frictional contact whilst supported by the groove
formed in the upper edge of the stationary frame g. On the upper surface
of the table D is also applied a circle of teeth h the points of which stand
upwards. These teeth move round with the table D, and the fibre to be
operated upon is laid on the table in radial lines and as uniformly as possible,
with one end thereof resting in the teeth h, whilst the other end projects as a
fringe over the edge of the table, and it is in such manner conducted to between
the first pair of nipping surfaces c, c', by the motion of which with the table
D it is conducted into position to be operated by suitable card or other clearing
combs. We would here state that the ring of teeth h may be composed of
segments capable of being readily removed and replaced on the table. By
which means the fibre may be filled into such segments before they are
applied to the table, and as they come round one may be removed to be
replaced by one filled.
The combing or clearing means which we prefer to employ consists of a
cylinder of teeth i, which whilst it is caused to rotate on its own axis i' by
suitable gear is supported on arms 2, by which it is caused to move in an

page_text: orbit; and during one part of this orbit the teeth of the cylinder i act to comb
and cleanse the fibres hanging as a fringe from the table D, as represented by
Figure 1, whilst at another part of that orbit the teeth of the cylinder i will
be brought to the teeth of another toothed cylinder j, when the plate k, which
is supported by the arms and thereby turns on the axis k², will act first
to doff the ends of the fibre from the teeth of the cylinder i, and then to hold
them in contact with the teeth of the cylinder j; the cylinder j rotates upon
its own axis. The red lines represent the gearing wheels. is a doffer or
clearer to the cylinder j, by which the fibre is drawn from the cylinder j in a
sliver, and thence it is conducted to between the drawing-off rollers m, m.
Other arrangements of combing or clearing means may be adopted. One end
of the fibres having been cleaned by suitable clearing combs whilst the other
end was held between the surfaces c, c', during their motion under the pressing
plate f, the ends thus cleansed have to be taken by the surfaces d, d', in order
to the other ends being cleansed, and the transfer is accomplished in the
following manner:-The band d¹ between the points 6 and 7 is caused to
descend, and is guided in so doing by passing under the guide rollers 8 and 9.
and there is a bar or instrument n near the point 7 which acts as a guide
to direct the projecting ends of the fibre as they hang suspended from the
nippers c, c¹, to between the surfaces d, d¹, at the point 7, where they will
progressively be taken by the surfaces d, d¹; there is also a bar or frame o,
by which, so soon as the cleansed ends of the fibre have been taken by the
holding means d, d', and as the holding means c, c', release their hold, tends
to throw the uncleansed ends over to hang also as a fringe from the nippers
d, d', by which the fibre will be conducted in like manner to that described in
respect to it whilst being held by the surfaces c, c', to be operated by the
cleansing or combing means employed; the fibre is thence taken by drawing-
off rollers p, p, and by a belt or other suitable means conducted to gill or
other straightening means, from which it is delivered to cans or other
suitable receivers. 2 is a guard plate, which separates the fringe carried by
the nippers c, c', from that carried by the nippers d, d', and thereby prevents
both being taken at the same time by the drawing-off means. The fibre will
thus have been continuously received into the apparatus, combed or cleaned,
first at one end and then at the other, and thence drawn away in a continuous
sliver.
Having thus described the nature of our said Invention, and the means
which we have found to answer, we would have it understood that we do not
confine ourselves to the precise details shown and described, as these may be
varied; but what we do claim is, the arranging, combining, and operating

page_text: mechanical parts for the purpose of preparing, heckling, or combing flax, silk,
wool, and other fibres, substantially as herein set forth.
In witness whereof, we, the said Isaac Holden and Emile Hubner,
have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Twenty-first day of Sep-
tember, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
fifty-eight.
ISAAC HOLDEN.
(L.S.)
EMILE HUBNER. (L.s.)
Witness,
JAMES SUGDEN.
ISAAC HOLDEN.
(L.S.)
EMILE HUBNER. (L.S.)