CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN PREPARING, COMBING, AND SPINNING WOOL, ALPACA, MOHAIR, AND OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS
Year: 1851

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JOSEPH
SHARP BAILEY, of Victoria Terrace, Keighley, Yorkshire, and ISAAC BAILEY,
of Victoria Street, Bradford, Yorkshire, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her.
Majesty's Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain,
bearing date at Westminster, the Twentieth day of November, in the fifteenth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, give and grant unto us, the said Joseph
Sharp Bailey and Isaac Bailey, our exors, aditiors, and assigns, Her
especial licence, full power, sole privilege and authority, that we, the
said Joseph Sharp Bailey and Isaac Bailey, our exors, adññiors, and assigns,
or such others as we, the said Joseph Sharp Bailey and Isaac Bailey, our
exors, adñiors, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others,
and at all times during the continuance of the term of years therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within
England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, our Invention of
"CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN PREPARING, COMBING, AND SPINNING WOOL, ALPACA,
MOHAIR, AND OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS;" in which said Letters Patent is
contained a proviso obliging us, the said Joseph Sharp Bailey and Isaac
Bailey, or one of us, to cause a particular description of the nature of our
said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, by an
instrument in writing under our hand and seal, to be enrolled in Her
Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, we, the said
Joseph Sharp Bailey and Isaac Bailey, do hereby declare that the nature of
our said Invention and improvements, and the manner in which the same is
to be performed and carried out, are fully described and ascertained in and by
the following description thereof, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto
annexed, and to the figures and letters marked thereon, that is to say :-
Our present Invention of improvements relate respectively,-
First, to machinery employed in the preparatory processes or operations in
the manufacture of woel, alpaca, mohair, and other fibrous materials.
Secondly, to machinery employed in the combing process or operation in
the manufacture of wool, alpaca, mohair, and other fibrous materials.
Thirdly, to machinery employed in the spinning process or operation in
the manufacture of wool, alpaca, mohair, and other fibrous materials.
The first of our improvements under the first of these heads is applicable
to that class of machines employed for opening and preparing fibrous materials
for the subsequent combing operation, and known as preparing machines,
and is for the purpose of opening out the fibrous material and laying the
fibres thereof in a comparatively parallel and longitudinal direction. This
improvement in shewn in the Drawings, Figure 1, which represents a side
elevation of a preparing machine to which our present improvement is adapted
and applied. Figure 2, a longitudinal vertical section of the machine shewing
the several cylinders, drums, or rollers, and their mode of operation.
Figure 3, shewn upon an enlarged scale to Figures 1 and 2, a section of
the working drum or cylinder with a guide or groove for governing and regu-
lating the relative positions of the several rows of teeth mounted upon the
periphery of the working drum. A, the framing of the machine. B, the
fast and loose driving pullies, from which the several moving parts of the
machine derive their movements by any convenient means. C, an interme-
diate toothed pinion and lever, by the moving of which by hand at any time
the working cylinder or drum D may be thrown out of gear, and conse-
quently out of action. The periphery of the working drum D is formed with
a number of grooves or recesses at convenient distances asunder, within which
are mounted the bars or rows of teeth, E, E, in such a manner as to be
capable of assuming any angle required with the tangential line of the
periphery of the cylinder or drum. One end of the bars E, E, are cranked
as E, E, and the outer ends of these are provided with pins or studs, or have
loose friction pullies mounted on then, which take or pass into the stationery
guide F, fixed upon the side framing A of the machine. The eccentricity
or curve of this guide is such as to cause the rows of teeth upon the bars

page_text: E, E, to vary but slightly from a vertical direction in that--portion of the
revolution of the drum D, during which the teeth are operating upon the
fibrous material, or from receiving the material from the feed rollers L, to,
delivering it to the receiving cylinder or drum H; thus they assume the most
favourable position for receiving the material from the feed rollers, and also
for delivering it when it is to be transferred to the receiving drium H. The
fixed teeth upon the periphery of the receiving drum H are set at any suitable
angle to the radial line, or may be radial if desired. I, I, are two holding
toothed rollers mounted above the working drum D, in adjustable bearings.
upon the side framing of the machine. The teeth of these rollers may be
either curved, as shewn, or they may be straight, and set at an angle or
radially, as may be considered most suitable; the teeth of these rollers pass.
between the teeth upon the working drum D, so that the fibrous material
under operation may be effectually operated upon. K, the endless feeding+
apron of the ordinary construction, and L, the feed rollers, which may be of
the description shewn, or any other description as considered most suitable.
M, a plain or other pressing roller, the duty of which is to press the fibrous
material upon the teeth of the receiving drum H, as it is received from the
working drum D); although two holding rollers I, I, are shewn in combination*
with the one working drum 1), yet any other number may be employed. The
toothed or other gearing by which the several drums and rollers are driven
are so arranged and worked as to cause the drums and rollers to revolve at..
the desired relative velocities, and in the directions indicated by the arrows."
The action of the machine is thus:-The fibrous material to be operated upon
is spread by hand upon the endless feeding apron; it is then carried forward
to and between the feeding rollers, when it is received on to the teeth of the,
working drum, where it is acted upon by the teeth of the holding rollers, and
finally delivered on to the surface of the receiving drum, and when a
sufficiency has accumulated thereon, the movement of the machine is sus-
pended and the toothed pinion is thrown out of gear to allow a reversed motion
being given to the receiving cylinder, and the sheet or fleece of material is
removed by hand from the surface of the receiving drum in a sufficiently
prepared state to be filled or charged upon combs for the combing operation.
In some modifications of this machine we sometimes dispense with the employ-
ment of the receiving drum H for receiving the material from the working
drum, and employ in place thereof a pair of drawing rollers, whereby a.
continuous sliver of the fibrous material is drawn off the teeth of the working:
drum. This arrangement is shown in Figure 4, which represents a longitudi-
nal vertical section of the operating parts of the machine. The drawing rollers.

page_text: Hare here shown substituted for the receiving drum previously described,
their action being to draw off in a continuous sliver the fibrous material from
the teeth of the working drum as they pass by them.
We claim, under this part of our Specification,-
First, the application and adaptation to preparing machinery, and their
employment therein, for preparing wool and other fibrous materials, for subse-
quent operations of a working cylinder or drum, provided and mounted with
moveable rows of teeth, to which variable positions are given, by which they
are retained in or nearly vertical positions, during the period of time such teeth
are in operation upon the fibrous materials.
Secondly, we claim the application to and employment in preparing
machinery of toothed, holding, or retaining rollers, working and operating in
combination with a working cylinder or drum, constituting the first part of
these our improvements.
Thirdly, we claim the application to and employment in preparing ma-
chinery of drawing rollers, working and operating in combination with a
working cylinder or drum (constituting the first part of these our improve-
ments), for receiving the wool or other fibrous materials from such working
drum.
Our next improvement consists in a modification of the above-described
working drum. In this we fix the rows of teeth upon the periphery of the
working drum, and adapt and employ moving brushes to the rows of teeth, for
the purpose of effectually stripping or delivering the fibrous material from
them, on to the receiving drum or other means provided for receiving it.
This improvement is illustrated in Figure 5, which represents a longitudinal
vertical section of the preparing machine, provided with this improved appli-
cation of brushes. This machine, with the exception of the working drum
(which constitutes the present improvement), is, as before described, in the first
part of these our improvements, and therefore does not require any repeated
description here. The working drum D' has its teeth now permanently fixed
upon its periphery in rows E", E", and in a direction radially, or very nearly
so, with the axis of motion of the drum. The rows of teeth are set at a suffi-
cient distance apart to allow space for the brushes to be mounted and operate
between them. The brushes 0, 0, (of which there is one for each row of
teeth) are fixed upon bars or rods P, P, mounted upon the periphery of the
drum in such manner as to be moveable, for the purpose of passing the
brushes through the rows of teeth and strip the material from them. One
end of the bars or rods P, P, are cranked; and these cranked ends R, R,
carry cach a pin or stud or pulley passing into a curved grove or guide Q,

page_text: fixed upon the side framing of the machine, and excentrically with the axis of
movement of the drum; the contour, or curvature and excentricity, of this
guide regulating and determining the relative positions and movements of the
brushes as the drum revolves. The action is thus:-The fibrous material
being delivered from the feeding rollers, is received on to the teeth of the
working drum, and above the brushes, which at this point are caused to lay
close down to the periphery of the drum, and at the bottom of the teeth, and
there remain depressed down during that portion of the rovolution of the
drum, until the teeth and brushes have passed the last holding roller, when
the curvature and excentricity of the guide is such as to raise the brush from
the periphery of the drum, and consequently passing through or amongst the
teeth from the root to the point, will strip or deliver the fibrous material from
the rows of teeth on the working drum to the receiving drum or drawing
rollers, as the case may be, whichever may be employed in combination with
it. It will be seen that by the employment of brushes in this improved
manner, the whole of the fibrous material is removed from the working drum,
and no accumulation of any description can possibly take place upon them.
The lower portion of the guide is of such a curvature and eccentricity as to
return the brushes down to the roots of the teeth, so as to leave the teeth.
free to take the fibrous material from the feeding rollers as they again pass
them.
Fourthly, we claim the application to and employment in preparing
machinery of a working cylinder or drum, having fixed rows of teeth, and
provided with moveable stripping brushes for removing or stripping the fibrous
material from the teeth of such cylinder or drum.
Our next improvement is applicable to that class of preparing machines
known as filling machines, and by the operation of which moveable and port-
able combs, which are intended subsequently to be placed in combing machines,
or otherwise operated upon, are filled or charged with fibrous materials.
Figure 6 represents a longitudinal elevation of one of our improved filling
machines, which forms part of the subject matter of former Letters Patent,
dated October Fifth, One thousand eight hundred and forty-eight, and granted
to one of us, Joseph Sharp Bailey, in the Specification of which Patent this
machine is fully descried.
Our present improvement consists in the adaptation to and employment
in that machine of one or more pairs of toothed or porcupine rollers and
brush rollers (only one pair being shown in the Drawings), working in
combination at equal distances from the combs in the process of filling or
charging, and operating for the purpose of laying the fibrous material upon

page_text: the combs, and partially lashing or combing out the fibrous material. Fig. 6.
A, the framing of this machine. B, the feeding cloth or apron. C, the. feeding
rollers. D, the porcupine roller and brush roller by which the fibrous material
is received from the feeding rollers and transferred to the combs, to be filled
or changed. These combs E. E, are mounted upon the revolving frame F.
These parts of the present machine are well known and in use, and are fully
described in the Specification of the Patent herein-before referred to. Upon the
opposite side of the revolving frame F to that where the feeding rollers are
placed, or at any other suitable and convenient situation, is mounted a pair of
-rollers D', consisting of a toothed or porcupine roller and a brush roller, to'
which such a rotary motion is given, and at such a velocity, as to effect a
partial lashing or combing of the fibrous material upon the combs E, E, as
they are carried past them by the rotation of the filling frames F. The fibrous
material carried off the teeth of the combs in process of filling or charging
by the teeth of the porcupine roller, is transferred through the medium of
'the brush roller back to the teeth of the combs' under process of filling.
.
..
or toothed
Fifthly, we claim the application to and employment in preparing machinery
used for filling or charging the teeth of combs with fibrous materials, to be
subsequently operated upon, of one or more pairs of porcupine
rollers and brush rollers, acting for the purpose of operating upon the fibrous
material, and laying such upon the teeth of the combs, and being arranged
and operating at equal distances from the teeth of the combs in process of
filling or charging.
Our next improvement is also applicable to that class of preparing machines
known as filling machines, and described in the above description of our
last preceding improvement, and consists in the application to and employment
in these machines of two or more pairs of porcupine or toothed rollers and brush
rollers working in combination with the combs which are in process of being
filled or charged, and operating for the purpose of laying the fibrous material
more evenly upon the combs than when such porcupine rollers and brush rollers
are not employed; the several pairs of porcupine rollers and brush rollers thus
applied and employed may be caused to work and operate either wholly or
partially in combination, or separately and independently, and also they may
be arranged and adjusted at different relative distances with respect to the
combs in process of filling or charging. Figure 7 represents a diagram appli-
cation and adaptation of this our present improvement to a comb filling
machine. D', D", D, are three pairs of porcupine rollers and brush rollers,
which are arranged at different distances from the path of the passing combs
upon the comb frame to be filled or charged, thus working and operating upon

page_text: the fibrous material upon the combs according to the length of staple, the
largest staple being first operated upon by the teeth of the most distant of the
porcupine rollers, and then in succession by those nearer. The fibrous mate-
rial upon the combs is thus lashed or opened out and partially combed, and
whatever portion may be removed from such combs during these operations is
through the medium of the brush rollers transferred back to the teeth of the
combs, also in an opened or partially combed state.
Sixthly, we claim the application to and employment in preparing machinery
used for filling or charging the teeth of combs to be subsequently operated upon
of two or more pairs of porcupine or toothed rollers and brush rollers, placed at
different distances from the teeth of such combs to be so filled or charged, and
acting wholly or partially in combination, or separately and independently, for
the purpose of operating upon the fibrous material, and effectually laying such
upon the teeth of such combs.
Our next improvement has likewise reference to that class of preparing
machines employed for filling or charging combs with fibrous materials to
be subsequently operated upon in combing machinery, or otherwise operated
upon, and consists in the application to and employment in these machines of a
fixed eccentric wheel connected and attached to the moveable frames imme-
diately carrying the combs, thereby varying the relative positions of the combs
upon the revolving frame carrying them, by which the operation of filling or
charging the fibrous material upon the combs will be facilitated, and the
fibrous material filled or charged into the combs in a more perfect manner
than by ordinary means. This improvement is illustrated in Figure 8, which
represents its adaptation to one of the herein-above described class of filling
machines. Upon the outer ends of the arms of the comb frame F are mounted
the moveable frames G, G, G, which carry immediately upon them the combs
E, E, E. Upon one of the side frames of the machines is fixed the eccentric
Hits periphery is provided with a ring or hoop F', to which the rods I, I, I, I,
are jointed; the other ends of these rods are jointed to the moveable comb
frames G, G, G, thus; during the revolution of the comb frame, the eccentric
causes, by its eccentricity through the rods and the moveable frames, move-
ments of the combs to and from the centre of the revolving comb frame, thus
causing them to assume positions more advantageous to the operation of the
machine than when the combs retain one relative position with respect to the
comb frame during its entire revolution.
Seventhly, we claim the application to and employment in preparing
machinery used for filling or charging the teeth of combs for subsequent
operations, of an eccentric wheel or cam, by the action or working of which

page_text: variable relative positions are given to the combs during the operation or
filling or charging.
Our next improvement has, also reference to that class of preparing
machines known as filling machines, employed for filling or charging
fibrous materials on to combs to be subsequently operated upon, and consists
in the application to and employment in these machines of endless chains or
belts, upon which are mounted rows or bars of teeth which are caused to be
moveable thereon, by means of guides or grooves, in such manner that the
rows of teeth shall assume positions in nearly or quite a vertical direction.
Figure 9 shows a diagram illustration of this improvement. A, the feeding
apron; B, the feeding rollers; C, an endless chain or belt passing around the
rollers C, C upon this are mounted the moveable bars or rows of
teeth D, D, D, which are attached to the chain or belt C, in such manner
that the teeth may with facility assume different angles with the surface of
the chain or belt; the one or both ends of these bars carry cranks D', D', the
ends of which are provided with pins or studs passing and working within the
guides or grooves G, the contour and form of which is such as to cause the
teeth D, D, D, to assume positions in or near a vertical direction during the
period of time such teeth are operating upon the fibrous material. F, the
revolving comb frame; E, E, the combs. Upon the opposite side of the
comb frame to that where the above described endless toothed chain or belt is
arranged, or at any other convenient and suitable part, is placed an endless chain
or belt of similar arrangement and construction, the teeth of which are likewise
caused to assume similar positions in or near a vertical direction by similar
means. The mode of operation of this machine is thus:-The fibrous material
being delivered from the feed rollers is iminediately carried off by the teeth
upon the endless chain or belt, which being in a direction in or nearly vertical,
is most advantageous for doing so. The continued progress onward of the
endless chain or belt carries the fibrous material within range of the combs
upon the revolving comb frame, to which it is transferred, the vertical position
of the teeth facilitating such transfer and allowing the whole of it to be
so transferred. The continued rotary movement of the comb frame lashes the
fibrous material upon the combs on to the second endless chain or belt, the
longest staple first coming into contact with the most distant teeth of the chain
or belt, and so on in succession until the shortest staple is operated upon,
thereby opening out the material and partially combing it. The brush roller
H strips and clears off the fibrous material deposited upon the teeth of the
chain or belt by the lashing operation, and transfers it back to the combs as
they revolve.

page_text: Eighthly, we claim the application to and employment in machinery used
for filling or charging the teeth of combs for subsequent operations, of
endless bands or chains provided and mounted with moveable rows of teeth,
which are caused to assume or be retained in or near a vertical position
during the period of time such rows of teeth shall be in operation upon the
fibrous material for effectually laying the fibrous material upon
and delivering
the same from such rows of teeth, and also placed in an angular position with
regard to the teeth of the passing combs, and operation for lashing and
partially combing the fibrous material upon such combs.
Our next improvement is applicable to preparing machinery, and consists in
the application to and employment in such machinery of chain toothed
combs or rows of teeth, which rows of teeth or combs shall always be caused
to maintain positions in or nearly a vertical direction throughout the whole of
their traverse; and also in which the fibrous material operated upon shall be
drawn or delivered from the same side of the rows of teeth as that which are
towards the feeding rollers at the time of their receiving the fibrous material
from such feeding rollers. Figure 10 represents this improvement. A.
feeding head; B, one of two endless chains or belts passing around two discs
or wheels C, C, fixed upon two shafts. Two other similar discs fixed upon the
same shafts carry the other chain or belt parallel to and at a distance from the
chain or belt B. The peripheries of the discs are recessed or notched for
receiving the ends of the bars D, D, mounted upon the chains and carrying the
rows of teeth E, E, the distance between the rows of teeth E, E, being greater
than the length of the fibrous material under operation. Upon the ends of
the bars are cranks or levers F, which carry upon their ends, pins, or studs, or
friction rollers, which pass into and work within the groove or guide G fixed to
the framing of the machine. The form of this guide is such as constantly to
maintain the rows of teeth upon the bars in or nearly a vertical direction. II,
a pair of drawing rollers, around the lower of which passes the endless apron,
so arranged and working as to draw the fibrous material off that side of the
rows of teeth which are towards the feeding rollers when they receive the
fibrous material from such feeding rollers. I, an ordinary drum for receiving
the fibrous materials from the drawing rollers H. This latter part, however,
may be modified by having the fibrous materials passed from the drawing
rollers H in any convenient manner.
employment in preparing
Ninthly, we claim the application to and
machinery of endless bands or chains provided and mounted with moveable
rows of teeth, which are caused to assume or be retained in or near a vertical
position during the whole period of the movement or travel of such endless

page_text: chains or bands, the fibrous material being drawn off or delivered from the
same side of the rows of teeth as that which is towards the feeding rollers at
the time of the material being fed upon them.
The second part of our improvements, which has reference to the combing
of fibrous materials, we will now describe.
These improvements are represented in Figure 11, which is a plan view of
our improved combing machine; and these also, we may state, are improve-
ments upon the combing machine for combing fibrous materials, which forms
part of the subject matter of the before-named Letters Patent, granted to
Joseph Sharp Bailey, and dated October Fifth, One thousand eight hundred
and forty-eight, and fully described in the Specification of the said Letters
Patent. Our present improvements consists in dispensing with one of the two
revolving comb frames which constituted the former machine, and which
worked and operated in combination, and substituting for it swinging or move-
able frames, upon which branch or fellow combs are mounted; and such
movements are given to these frames as will accomplish a very effective
combing action upon the fibrous material under operation. A, the framing of
the machine. B, B, the fast and loose driving pullies, by which rotary motion
is given through the bevel wheels C and spur wheels placed at the lower part
of the machine to the rotary comb frame D, fixed upon the vertical central
shaft D. This frame consists of two sets of arms, upon the ends of which the
moveable comb boxes E, E, are mounted upon pivots, upon which they have a
movement. The comb frames are provided with tail pieces F, carrying
thereon, upon pins or studs, friction rollers or bowls, which bears against the
curved cam or guide F. Helical or other springs are attached to the tail
pieces, and to some convenient part of the revolving comb frame D. The
clastic powers of these springs are exerted to maintain the bowls constantly
against the cam or guide. The curvature of this cam or guide is such as to
give the desired movement to the combs carried by the comb boxes E, E; as
there are several branch or fellow combs in each machine, and as they are
identical in arrangement, construction, and mode of operation, the description
of one of them will suflice for the whole-G, a vertical shaft, moving in
brackets, fixed to and projecting from the framing of the machine. Upon the
upper end of this shaft the toothed segment H is fixed, into which the worm I,
fixed upon the horizontal shaft I, gears. The outer bearing in which this
shaft moves is upon the upper end of the vertical rod K, jointed at its lower
end to a stud projecting from the lower part of the framing in such manner as
to enable the worm being moved out of gear with the teeth of the segment H;
and the inner bearing is a fixture upon the framing of the machine. Upon the

page_text: inner end of the shaft is fixed a bevelled pinion, gearing into the bevel wheel L,
upon the upper end of the comb frame shaft D'. Upon the upper end of this
shaft is also fixed the hand wheel M, for facilitating the moving round of the
rotary frame, when required. Upon the branch comb shaft G is mounted the
swinging branch comb frame N, upon the end of which is pivoted and mounted
the moveable comb box 0, for carrying the branch or fellow combs P. The
branch comb frame N is mounted loosely upon the shaft G so as to allow it
to be carried forward with the revolving comb frame D, until they separate at a
distance sufficient to permit the revolving comb frame D to pass the branch
comb frame N, which latter then returns back to its former position; and to
ensure this being done at the proper time, there is a projection fixed upon the
revolving comb box E, which comes into contact with another, and an adjus-
This facility of adjustment is
table projection from the branch comb box O.
necessary to regulate the relative positions of the combs during the operation
of combing, in order to suit for different descriptions and length of staple of
fibrous material. Upon the tail of the moveable branch comb box O is fixed
a friction pulley or bowl, which passes and works within the curved guide or
groove O', the contour and curvature of which is such as to cause the moveable
branch comb box O to assume such positions that the branch comb carried by
it shall present its teeth in a direction parallel, or nearly so, with the teeth
upon the revolving comb box E during the operation of combing. Upon the
branch comb frame shaft G, just below the branch comb frame N, is fixed
the segment R; one end of this at R' is provided with an adjustable screw;
forming an abutment or stop for the arms of the branch comb frame N.
the branch comb frame N is attached one end of the chain T, the other end
passes over a pulley mounted upon the framing, and has a balance weight
attached to it; this is for the purpose of constantly drawing the branch comb
The action of this machine is as
frame towards the adjustable screw R¹.
follows, but preparatory to which the whole of the combs having been filled
or charged with the fibrous material by any of the filling machines herein-
previously described, or by any other suitable method, are mounted in the
several comb boxes-The worm I, upon the horizontal shaft 1', which had
been thrown out of gear with the toothed segment H, and the branch comb
frame N, and its appendages drawn back, is now again thrown into gear;
the comb frame D now revolves, and carries the combs upon it successively
past the branch combs. At the commencement of the operation the relative
positions of these when in the act of combing are at or about that shown in
the diagram Figure 12, when the teeth of them are parallel, or nearly so, with
each other, but at a considerable distance asunder, according to the length of
To

page_text: the material to be operated upon, only combing or acting upon the longest
fibres of the material upon the two combs. When the comb upon the revolv
ing frame has arrived at or about the position shown, the projecting piece
upon the lower part of it, and before noticed, comes in contact with the
adjustable stud upon the branch comb box, carrying it, and the branch comb
frame upon which it is mounted, forward with it. The curvature of the guides
which govern the positions of the moveable comb frames are such as to cause
the combs to assume positions parallel, or nearly so, with each other, during
the operation of combing. As the revolving frame continues to revolve the
distance between the two combs will gradually be increased, thereby drawing
the teeth of the combs through the fibrous material until the projecting piece
upon the revolving comb box leaves contact with the adjustable stud upon the
branch comb box, when the branch comb frame immediately returns back
to its former position by means of the chain T and balance weight, and bears
against the adjustable screw R' upon the segment R, thus the combing opera-
tion is effected; but it is necessary to operate gradually upon the fibres of the
material until the whole, even the shortest, fibres are combed, the branch
comb is caused gradually to approach towards the revolving combs until they
assume, at the termination of the operation, the relative positions shown in
Figure 11, the teeth of the two combs being now very nearly together. This
is effected as follows:-The comb frame shaft D' gives motion through the
bevil wheel L to the horizontal shaft I, and this through the worm I gives a
slow movement to the segment H and the shaft G carrying the segment R,
thus allowing the branch comb frame to approach nearer to the revolving
comb frame after each stroke of the combs. When the combs have arrived in
the relative positions shewn in Figure 11, and the combing operation com-
pleted, the movements of the machine are suspended by the driving strap being
thrown off the fast on to the loose pulley. This is effected by the arm of the
segment H, coming under a cam fixed upon the strap guide rod U, and lifting
and relieving it from a notch in its support, which previously held it, allowing
the rod to slide and shift the driving strap from the fast to the loose pulley.
In the Figures representing this improved machine we have shown the
number of combs mounted upon the revolving comb frame as four, and the
number of branch combs as three. These numbers, however, are not arbitrary,
but may be varied, as considered most desirable and convenient, provided, how-
ever, always, that where more than one branch or fellow comb are employed,
one revolving comb and one branch or fellow comb only be working and
operating at one time, as shown.
Our next improvement consists in arranging the branch comb frames con-

page_text: tained in the description of our last improvement, and constituting part of our
improved combing machine, in such manner that two combs may be mounted
thereon, for the purpose of facilitating the transfer of the combs, one of the
combs being in the operation of combing, and the other being transferred by
the attendant. Figure 18 shows the adaptation of this improvement. N, the
branch comb frame, is provided with two comb boxes 0, 0, for receiving the
combs P, P. This modification allows one of the combs to be changed or
transferred while the other is employed in the operation of combing. When
the operation of combing the fibrous material upon one comb is completed,
the comb frame is moved round to bring the other comb into proper working
position, and the combing operation again proceeds.
Under the second part of this our Specification, namely, relating to combing
wool and other fibrous materials, we claim,-
First, the general arrangement, construction, and movement or operation of
parts shown and described, or any mere substantial and equivalent modifica-
tion thereof, constituting a combing machine, and its application and employ-
ment, for the purpose of combing wool and other fibrous materials.
Secondly, we claim the application and employment in machinery for comb-
ing wool and other fibrous materials of moveable or swinging frames, carrying
branch combs or teeth, acting and operating in combination with a rotary
frame carrying combs or teeth.
Thirdly, we claim the mounting upon each branch comb frame employed in
our improved combing machine for combing wool and other fibrous materials,
two branch combs, one of which being in operation of combing the fibrous
materials, the other will be inactive, for the purpose of facilitating the
changing and transfer of the combs into and from the machine.
Fourthly, we claim arranging and working machinery, in which revolving
combs and more than one branch or fellow comb are employed, fer combing
or operating upon the fibrous material, so that one revolving comb and one
branch or fellow comb only be working at the same time.
We will here remark, that although we have herein-before shown and
described the rows or bars as being or having one row of teeth each, we do
not confine ourselves thereto, as more than one row may be employed in
each bar.
The improvement described under the third head of this our Specification
is applicable to certain descriptions of spinning machines employed for
spinning wool, alpacas, mohair, and other fibrous materials, known as throstle
frames, and other like machinery, and comes into operation upon the breakage
or slackening of the thread before the delivery rollers. The first of these

page_text: improvements is shown in Figure 14, which is a sectional elevation of the
drawing head of an ordinary throstle frame to which our improvements are
attached. A, a light horizontal bar or rod, mounted upon the levers B, B,
so as to be capable of movement in a longitudinal direction. The end of this
bar at A¹.is provided with an eye through which the thread passes from the
delivery rollers to the flyers. The other end of the bar A is attached to the
lever D, moving upon a fulcrum at its upper end. This lever carries upon
it, opposite the rollers E, a wedge-shaped piece or tongue F immediately
opposite the junction of the rollers E, so that when the lever moves forward
the tonge comes in contact with and presses the roving against the roller
E, thereby stopping its delivery. The action of this is as follows: The
thread in passing from the delivery rollers to the flyer passes through the
eye in the end of the horizontal rod A, and by its tension maintains it in the
position shown, so long as it remains unbroken or at the proper tension; but
should fracture of it between the delivery rollers and the flyer take place, or
the tension be removed, then the horizontal rod A will be moved forward
by the gravity obtained from the inclined position of the lever D, which now.
moving forward brings the tongue piece F in contact with the roving and
stops its delivery.
Our next improvement is a modified arrangement and construction of the s
last-described improvement. In this arrangement, shown in Figure 15, the
horizontal rod A is attached to one end of the double-ended lever A", and
this is again attached by the rod C to the lever D, which carries at its upper
end the tongue piece F opposite the rollers, as before described; the action
of this is the same as that before described. Upon the breakage or slackening
of the thread taking place the horizontal rod moves forward, and through
the rods and levers brings the tongue in contact with the roving between the
rollers and stops its delivery.
Our next improvement is also applicable to throstle frames, and is for the
same purpose of stopping the delivery of the roving upon the thread breaking
or not having a proper tension between the delivery rollers and the flyer,
and consists in removing the roving from the action of the nip or pressure
of the rollers E, by moving it into a groove prepared in the roller for its
reception. This improvement is shown in Figure 16. A, the horizontal
rod, as before described; it is attached to a small lever or projection upon
the vertical rod B, moving in bearings; the upper end of this is cranked and.
forked at B, and between the sides of this fork the roving passes to the
back or feeding rollers, one or both of which is provided with a grove in its
periphery to receive the roving. The action is thus: -When the thread passes

page_text: unbroken and at its proper tension from the delivery rollers to the flyer,
the forked end of the vertical rod B guides the roving to take the nip or
pressure of the feeding rollers; but should the thread be broken, or not have
sufficient tension, the rod A moves forward, and by so doing moves the
vertical rod B round a little distance, thereby pushing or guiding the roving
into. the grove in the roller and pressing it against the projection fixed to the
framing, thereby relieving it from the nip or pressure and stopping its delivery.
When the person who is attending the frame or throstle wishes to put the
roving again into working operation, he pushes the rod A back, which by its
action upon the levers and rods liberates the roving and allows its being
carried forward by the feeding rollers.
Under this the third part of our Specification, namely, relating to spinning
wool, alpaca, mohair, and other fibrous materials, we claim,
First, the stopping or suspending the delivery of the roving in throstle
frames, or other similar machines employed in spinning wool and other
fibrous materials, when the thread breaks between the delivery rollers and
the flyer, or when the tension of the thread slackens, by the action of a wedge
or tongue against the roving and between the rollers.
Secondly, we claim, under this part, the stopping or suspending the delivery
of the roving in throstle frames, and other similar machines employed in
spinning wool and other fibrous materials when the thread breaks between
the delivery rollers and the flyer, or when the tension of the thread slackens,
by moving or shifting the roving into a groove made in one or both the back
or feeding rollers, and thereby relieving it from the nip or pressure of such
rollers.
Our next improvement is applicable to the flyers and spindles of throstle
frames and other similar machines employed in spinning, and it consists in.
the adaptation to and employment of a disc or washer placed loosely upon
the top of the spindle, immediately beneath the boss of the flyer, or upon the
boss of the flyer. This improvement is shewn in Figure 17. A, the spindle;
B, the flyer. The disc C is mounted loosely upon the top of the spindle,
immediately below the boss of the flyer, or upon the boss of the flyer, and is
capable of a revolving movement upon the spindle or boss. The thread in
passing from the delivery rollers to the bobbin comes in contact with and
passes over the edge of this disc, so that when the bobbin is traversed up to
its greatest elevation, the thread passes down clear of the top of the bobbin,
and without touching it, as is the case when this improvement is not employed.
Thirdly, we claim under this part the application to and employment in
throstle frames and other similar machines employed in spinning wool and

page_text: other fibrous materials, of a disc mounted loosely upon the upper part of the
spindle, or upon the boss of the flyer, and capable of rotary motion, for the
purpose of preventing the thread when passing to the bobbin from coming
in contact with the upper flange or edge of such bobbin.
Having now fully described and ascertained the nature of this our Specifi-
cation, we would here remark, that although we have not generally shown or
described the gearing, or means of imparting the movement to the several
parts of the machinery herein represented and described, we employ the
ordinary means for obtaining the different velocities and directions of move-
ments required, and, where necessary, the directions of movement of the parts
are indicated by arrows.
In witness whereof, the said Joseph Sharp Bailey and Isaac Bailey have
hereunto set their hands and seals, the Twentieth day of May, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-two.