IMPROVEMENTS IN AND IN MACHINERY FOR COMBING FIBROUS MATERIALS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN AND IN MACHINERY FOR COMBING FIBROUS MATERIALS." A communica-
tion from abroad by the Firm of Bourcart, Fils, and Company, of Montbeliard,
in the Department of Doubs, France.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville Clark
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th September 1879.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN AND IN MACHINERY FOR COMBING FIBROUS
MATERIALS." [A communication from abroad by the Firm of Bourcart, Fils, and
Company, of Montbeliard, in the Department of Doubs, France.]
This Invention relates to improvements in and in machinery for combing
fibrous materials.
The improvements in combing consists,―
1st. In presenting the fibres to be combed by means of a nipper (called a feed
nipper) to a circular cylinder or other comb (whose teeth are of progressive fineness
and very much inclined) in a direction such that the combined elasticity of the
fibres is brought into play to force them to enter of themselves deeply into the
teeth, or in other words, in a direction approaching more or less that of the comb
teeth themselves, according to the material to be combed, the said nipper being
capable of approaching as close to the comb as desired.
2nd. In detaching the fibres whose front ends have been combed in such a
manner that the point of nip of the detaching nipper may be as close as desired to
the last point of nip of the feed nipper in order to avoid an excessive production
of waste (which can only be reduced to a minimum as this distance is reduced to
zero) and to consequently enable the length of feed and therefore the rate of pro-
duction of the machine to be increased.
3rd. In interposing between the fibres being detached and those (still in the
fleece) which will be combed at the next beat of the machine, a top comb (called a

page_text: stationary comb) free to oscillate on an axis to a limited extent to prevent the mass
of filaments which are near the feed nipper becoming entangled or felted.
This
arrangement, permitting as it does of the comb partaking in the movement of the
fleece when the feed takes place (the fleece itself being held within the nipper
jaws by the feed apparatus, itself placed sufficiently near the jaws in order to let
go the fibres, detached only when the fresh feed has taken place) the fibres cannot
become entangled behind the teeth of said comb, which in other machines is the
cause of an excessive and injurious amount of waste.
This "stationary" top comb is not operated by any mechanism, and enables a
certain amount of draught to be applied to the fleece, which straightens the fibres
to be combed at the next beat of the machine.
4th. In presenting the tail ends of the fibres (whose front ends have already been
combed) in the same way as the front ends were presented to another cylinder
comb similar to that for the front ends, and used for no other purpose in order to
free the tail ends of the fibres disentangled by the top comb (which has relatively
coarse teeth from all impurities, tangles, and too short fibres which the top comb
may have left therein.
5th. In the case of materials difficult to comb, and free from tangles and impuri-
ties, in twice combing either or both the front and tail ends of the fibres the second
time in the opposite direction to the first, that is to say, the combs operate on
both sides of the fleece alternately, this being effected by special combs for each
operation, cleaned each time. This double combing does not require more time than
a single combing.
6th. In delivering the fibres from the detaching nipper by means which enable
the piecing together of the fleece to be obliterated as much as desired.
These improvements may be employed not only in new combing machines,
whether continuous or intermittent, with circular, straight, or other.combs, but
may also be easily applied to existing machines, and they are therefore claimed in
themselves and as applied particularly to the combing maches of Heilmann,-Nicholas,-
Schlumberger,-Hübner,-André,-Koechlin & Co., Imbs,-Valet, and others. In this
description a practical method is given of applying these novel principles above
enumerated to certain systems of combing-machines for cotton, but it will be
understood that their application to any other system and for other fibrous materials
is also included.
This improved system of combing enables:-1st. Any fibrous material to be
combed as clean as desired.
2nd. The waste to be reduced to a minimum.
3rd. The maximum of production to be obtained with a given width of machine
head, all the conditions being observed.
th
In the accompanying Drawings, Figure 1 represents. (³/h full size) the general
application of the improvements to a Heilmann,-Nicholas,-Schlumberger, & Co.
combing machine, showing the operation of the parts directly from the axis of the
combing cylinders, and showing the principal parts in section at the moment of
parting the fleece asunder. The feed and parting or detaching nippers are operated
by levers and cams, in all three in number. The feed is operated by a six-toothed
star wheel (not shown), or by any other suitable motion. The double delivery
apron is driven by a ratchet wheel R, operated by the relative movement of the
detaching jaws themselves which carry clicks T and V, or by any other motion.
The pressure of the feed nipper is obtained by a weight P acting on the lower
jaw A', and of the detaching nipper by a weight P1 acting on the upper jaw D
through a lever Q and chain C. The jaw D¹ is operated by the shaft O¹, which is
itself operated through the crank F and the slotted lever E from the cam J.
The entire nipper receives a to and fro movement from the cam U, acting
through the lever arms X and L. The jaw D when not pressed upon the jaw Di
is supported by a small rail G (Figure 3), upon which runs a roller H located in
rear of and of the same diameter as the crank pin of the crank F. The operation
of the feed nipper A, A', is regulated by the cam I (Figure 1) and the course of

page_text: the jaw A¹, and consequently the opening of the nipper is limited by the said
screw N. The Figures A', B, C, D, E, F, illustrate the various operations of the
machine, and show :-
1st. The successive positions or principal periods of the important parts during
the working of the machine, showing how the front ends of the fibres are presented
to the comb by the nipper A, A¹, and the tail ends by the nipper D, D', in a
direction parallel to the teeth of the comb.
2nd. Showing how the combed front ends are superposed upon the combed tail
ends (each combed by a special comb).
3rd. The manner in which the "stationary" or top comb penetrates the fibres
and accompanies them in their movement as they are detached.
4th. How closely the two nippers are brought together, thus avoiding the
objectionable interval between the two points of nip of the nippers above
referred to.
Figure 2 shows full size the details of the jaws A, A, D, D¹, of the two nippers,
the feed rollers a, a¹, and the double endless delivery apron d, d', as well as the
position of the "stationary" or top comb k a little before the commencement of the
cperation of detaching or parting asunder the fleece after the complete closure of the
jaws D, D', which rising to point k whilst the jaw A' remains stationary, and jaw
A rising also to k¹ the fleece of cotton is thereby forced into the "stationary" or
top comb.
Figure 3 shows details of the slotted lever E above referred to.
Figure 4 represents an arrangement for combing the front ends of the fibres on
both sides by means of a segmental comb Z concentric with comb Y, the nipper
A, A', receiving the same movement as in Figure 1 by means of a similar cam
having an additional dwell after the passage of the comb segment Y, during which
the nipper A, A', placed in the proper position relatively to segment Z presents the
fibres thereto in the same way as for a single combing (Figure 1). The essential
modification in this Figure is the movement in the inverse direction of the comb Y.
The comb segment Z receives an intermittent motion (either from a special can or
directly from lever L) for the purpose of combing the ends of the fibres and after-
wards returning to its former position, when the fibres are raised out of the way
by the ascensional and circular motion of the nipper A, A¹. The comb Z is then
cleaned by a brush as in other combing machines. The remainder of the machine
is the same as in Figure 1.
Figure 5 shows (2/ths full size) the arrangement of the nippers of a combing
machine having a wide head based on the same method of combing as in Figure 1,
but having a single motion only for the two nippers, that is to say, the detaching
nipper D, D', pivots on a single centre O¹, and the feed nipper A, A¹, on a centre O.
These nippers approach as close to one another as desired, and the fibres combed by
the two comb segments Y, Y', are transferred from the one nipper to the other in
the same way as in Figure 1, the stationary comb K being interposed between the
nippers which come above and beneath it. The jaws are operated by cams on
shaft O2 by a similar arrangement to that in Figure 1.
Figure 6 shows (/, size) a detaching nipper capable of being substituted for the
one D, D', in Figures 1 and 2. This detaching nipper may not have any endless
apron, and has only a lower jaw M nipping the fleece against a roller 1, which
replaces the upper jaw D of Figures 1 and 2, the delivery being also produced by
a ratchet wheel R. The working is the same as that of the machine shown in
Figures 1, 2, and 3. The form of the nipper is of little importance provided that
the two nippers can come sufficiently close together, and that the direction in which
the fibres pass out of the feed nipper is paraliel to the teeth of the cylinder comb,
which conditions are more fully explained hereafter.
The arrangement of nipper last described may be replaced by another consisting
of a fluted roller, and a single jaw covered with leather or indiarubber, the roller
being either above or below the jaw. This jaw may even be dispensed with by
causing an endless apron to pass round a rounded metal prism, and to press against

page_text: a roller and thus form a detaching apparatus capable, as in the other cases, of
presenting to the proper comb the tail ends of the fibres detached. In the combing
machines in general use hitherto there is an essential feature which has always
limited the feed and the production of the machine, and which has prevented the
making of less than a certain and a very high percentage of waste, and this feature
is the relatively great distance which separates the last point nipped by the feed
apparatus which presents the front ends of the fibres to be combed and the point
where these same fibres are nipped by the detaching nipper or apparatus.
In a sliver of cotton as it comes from the drawing frame or from the carding
engine it should be remembered that the fibres are so placed that in each unit of
length (millimetre) there are a certain number of fibres which commence, or in
other words, the extremities of the fibres so overlap one another that in every point
of the sliver or fleece there are front and tail ends of fibres. In spreading out
a sliver, supposing the fibres to be arranged in rows, they would be as shown in
Figure 7, supposing them to be 40 millimetres in length. It should however be
remembered that in the sliver there are also a number of excellent fibres but a few
millimetres less in length. There will consequently be found at every millimetre
the front ends of some fibres shorter than the rest, all of which the machine should
not eliminate, but only those less than a limit to be fixed at will, see Figure 8.
Now in all existing combing machines the distance between the two points of
nip above mentioned (by points of nip being meant the points at which the feed
and detaching nippers nip the fibres) is very great. I will take for example the
combing machine of Heilmann, Nicholas, Schlumberger, & Co. The distance between
the points of nip is equal to the distance A, B, Figure 9, supposing the parts to be
as close together as possible. [The dotted line C shows the position of the new
nipper jaw of Nicholas, Schlumberger, & Co., forming a guard plate applied to a
Heilmann combing machine having a porcupine cylinder and a nearly immovable
nipper jaw.]
The distance A, B, is determined by, 1st, the motion necessarily given to the
jaw M after the complete oscillation of jaw M' which approaches the system of jaws
to the stationary comb K; 2nd, the diameter of the leather covered detaching
roller P, which is necessarily very great in order to ensure absolute rigidity and
avoid any risk of slip.
In the Heilmann, Nicholas, Schlumberger, & Co., machine there is therefore an
interval between the points of nip of at least 14 or even 15 millimetres, which is
the greater, as owing to the form of the jaw M the feed nipper really nips the fibre
only at the point B¹, and it is practically this that must be taken as the point
of nip.
This being understood let us proceed to consider the effect of these points and
their action in the general working of the machine. When the front ends of the
fibres nipped at B' are combed by the cylinder comb, which moves into the position
now occupied by the fluted segment U, V, all the waste contained between the
extremities of the fibres and the point of nip B' is eliminated (supposing the
the combing to be sufficiently effective, a point which will be referred to hereafter.)
Now the distance between the extremity of the fibres and the point B' is equal to
A, B, the feed (let A, B1, = D and the feed = A1.) If Lis the total maximum
length of the fibre; D, the distance between the points of nip; Al, the feed, the
length of fibre which has not passed B¹ will
(DA1.) It will thus be
seen that the quantity D or distance between the points of nip is one of the factors
which contributes in the Heilmann combing machine to the formation of a large
quantity of waste, for all that has passed B₁ goes in waste, even the good fibres.
Suppose the fibres to be 25 millimetres in all; L=25 millimetres; let the feed Al
7 millimetres; the length of the waste eliminated will (if D = 15 millimetres, as
above mentioned) be 15 + 7 =22 millimetres, and the part of the fibres held by the
nipper will be only 25 - 22 3 millimetres. In this case nearly all the fibre will
be combed by the cylinder comb, and only 3 millimetres by the stationary top
comb, but the waste is enormous.
=
- L
-
=

page_text: It will thus be seen that if the quantity D conld be eliminated or rendered as
small as possible, say 2, 3, or even 5 millimetres, it would be possible either to
diminish the waste to an enormous extent, or, if not desired to leave the short fibre
in the cotton, to gain in feed or, which is the same thing, in production all this
quantity D, the waste being in that case equal in amount to that of other machines.
Now I will still suppose Al equals 7 millimetres, and D = 15 millimetres, if I
reduce D to 5 millimetres I can make the feed 17 millimetres, with an equal
amount of waste, and the production is more than doubled by this alone. It will
be observed that the detaching roller of the Heilmann, Nicholas, Schlumberger, &
Co. machine is a simple organ, which has moreover the advantage of drawing to
itself through the stationary or top comb fibres which do not touch it, and which
are only carried along by the neighbouring fibres, but this working is irregular and
defective, for on the one hand these fibres are insufficiently combed, since if they
are short they should be removed by the cylinder comb, and if they are long and
not sufficiently engaged to be seized by the detaching roller it is because their tail
ends are still held between the feed nipper, and the only combing they receive is
by passing through the stationary or top comb, an imperfect combing, which has
the further great disadvantage of entangling and felting the front ends that remain
behind it and which cannot pass; on the other hand these fibres may be drawn from
between the feed nipper jaws, and receive no combing whatever fron the cylinder
comb. In short, the work is imperfect, and to remedy this it is proposed,-
1st, to diminish the distance between the points of nip as much as possible; 2nd,
to so arrange the stationary or top comb as to prevent the felting of the fibres and
to give the tail ends of the fibres a special combing. Thus, supposing D to be
eliminated and the feed to be one half of L, say 12, millimetres, the cylinder comb
will comb 12, millimetres and the stationary top comb 12 millimetres in the
Heilmann, Nicholas, Schlumberger, & Co. machine, but this amount of work will be
too much for the latter comb, and it will therefore be necessary to employ a comb
either fixed or concentric and movable which combs the tail ends more thoroughly,
and this especially in a machine which is to leave the short fibres in the fleece.
(For homogeneous cotton having fibres of equal length this is not necessary, but on
the other hand it is very useful for short unequal cotton, inferior Louisiana and
Jumels, tolerably long stapled but mixed.) In any case too much work should not
be left for the stationary or top comb to do, as its operation is defective; if it is
fine, especially, a large quantity of fibres are broken, for the still entangled fleece is
obliged to pass through it. I will now proceed to consider the combing generally.
but more particularly the combing of materials difficult to comb, such as long
stapled cotton (Fiji, South Sea, &c.) and long waste, waste of long stapled Georgia
cotton, fine Jumels (which are full of impurities, short fibres, &c.), floss silk, wool,
&c. In combing with a circular comb certain conditions should be observed, upon
which the quality of the work depends, viz. :-
1. The teeth should penetrate completely through the fleece.
2. The fleece should be disentangled gradually by teeth of progressive fineness.
3. The teeth should not spring, but be quite stiff or rigid.
4. The combs should be fine enough to eliminate all that is not pure fibre, but
not so fine as to cut the fibre, and highly polished, so as not to injure the fibres and
remove their natural spiral twist.
The first of these conditions is one of the most important, as in combing it is
essential that the fibres should be forced down to the roots of the teeth from the.
first row thereof to the last, provided that the first teeth are very coarse, otherwise
both time and material will be wasted.
This condition can only be realized by so arranging the nipper that the cotton
fleeces cannot fail to be deeply engaged in the teeth. The combing machines now
in use are provided with various arrangements for effecting this object, but not one
attains a perfect result.
The guard or presser plates, dabbing brushes, &c., which all require a delicate
adjustment, only succeed imperfectly, as there are fibres which only pass over the

page_text: fine points of the teeth, by which they are not thoroughly cleaned. Supposing a
cotton fibre to be presented to a comb, it may be presented in various ways, for
instance, either obliquely, at right angles, or parallel to the direction of the teeth;
this latter direction being the only good one, as the elasticity of the fibre itself
causes it to enter deeply into the teeth; and still more is this the case with a fleece
or tuft of fibres whose combined elasticity is much greater.
It will be seen that in Figures 10 and 11 there are some fibres which float above
the comb and are not drawn down into the teeth A, A, whereas in Figure 12 this
does not occur.
As to the other conditions above mentioned it is hardly necessary to refer to
them, the combs used being generally tolerably good, except that the teeth are rather
too normal to the tangent at the point of insertion; the angle should be very acute
to force the fibre which has passed the point to enter deeply into the teeth.
The improvements above mentioned are applicable to the Heilmann, Hübner, and
to other machines, whether continuous or intermittent, for combing fibrous materials.
I have illustrated their application to one of each kind, viz., an intermittent and a
continuous acting combing machine.
The operation of the machine after the feed has taken place and the feed
nipper A, A, Figure 14, closed, that is to say, after the detaching or parting asunder
of the fleece, is as follows:-The fibres are presented to a series of at least 19 bars
with progressively finer teeth, all concentric, and very oblique in a direction parallel
to the teeth (see Figure 13), thereby forcing the teeth to traverse the fleece after
having bent it back to utilize its elasticity and to penetrate up to the very jaw of
the nipper, which itself serves as a presser, and nips the fibres close up to the comb
so as to avoid loss of space. When the teeth have all operated on the fibres, the
nipper A, A, pivots on O, and passes from position I to the position shown in
Figure 14.
During this time the nipper D, D', (which had detached the preceding tuft of
fibres) had also descended to the position Figure 13, and similarly presented the
tail ends of the fibres to a comb of 7 to bars, like the first one, and quite clean.
This comb having done its work the nipper D, D¹, rises, and on arriving at the
position Figure 14 delivers by a double endless apron the tuft combed at both ends;
on arriving at the position Figure 14 the lower jaw D¹, with the endless apron and
the sliver of combed fibres, descends into the hollowed part of the comb cylinder,
and comes beneath the nipper A, A', which then superposes on the tail ends of the
combed tibres the front ends of the fresh tuft of fibres to be detached; at the
instant when jaw D¹ rises the jaw A also retires, and during this time the top
comb engages in the fleece, which is raised thereto by the movement of the two
nippers. The jaw D which had slid upon a rail or guide, and which is pressed upon
by springs or weights, is slightly raised by the jaw D', and the fibres are then
nipped by the nipper D, D', in the position Figure 14; the two nippers being brought
quite close together the distance between the two points of nip is reduced to zero.
It is now that the detaching or parting asunder takes place, that is to say,
nipper D, D', moves away from A, A', taking with it the fibres nipped between its
jaws.
the
The top comb engaged in the fleece follows this movement, for it is free to oscillate
on a centre K, the extent of its movement being limited however by stops S, S¹.
During this time also the feed apparatus of the nipper A, A¹, being in action, the
fibres which were held between the feed rollers a, a³, are released, and the entire
fleece follows the motion of the nipper D, D¹, until the feed rollers A, A³, are
stopped. The fleece is then torn asunder, the fibres which are detached leaving the
nipper A, A¹, which closes immediately, and the top comb being arrested by the
stop S prevents the short fibres going along with the-others, after which the top
comb returns to its former position.
It will be seen that the advantage of this arrangement is, that the front ends are
thoroughly and advantageously combed, and that the tail ends after being drawn
through a top comb having a comparatively coarse teeth are combed in turn by fine

page_text: combs, perfectly clean, and used for no other purpose. The top comb has also the
advantage of not felting the front ends of the fibres as it follows the movement of
the fleece, and of pentrating deeply by reason of the slight ascensional movement of
the nipper D, D', but the greatest advantage of this arrangement is that the
distance "D" between the two points of nip is reduced to zero, which admits of a
rapid rate of feed, and gives a product as good as may be desired.
By this single fact that the factor "D" is eliminated, I am enabled with the same
fleece, and with the same width machine head, to double the rate of production of
the best regulated combing machine of Heilmann, Schlumberger, & Co.
If the combing of the tail ends is perfectly performed by the additional comb
specially applied for this purpose, a second comb segment Z may be applied
concentric with the first one, to give the front ends of cotton fibres, which are with
difficulty freed from impurities, a second combing. This second comb works on
collars on the same axis as the first or cylinder comb, or on another axis, but it
moves in the opposite direction, and combs the front ends of the fibres on the
opposite side to the first comb. In this case the arrangement of the machine is
slightly modified, the first or cylinder comb working in the opposite direction to
that in which it works in the former case. The position of the nipper during this
second combing is illustrated in Figures 16, and the arrows show that the comb
moves in the opposite direction to the cylinder comb in Figure 15.
This second combing may be otherwise effected with flat, sector, bar, or other
combs without departing from the Invention, which consists broadly in the double
combing by whatever means effected. The motion of this second comb may be
transmitted by levers and cams, and it obviously requires another brush and
stripper..
The essential object in view being to retain the fibres in the fleece, and to
eliminate impurities, it is necessary to avoid entangling or felting the fibres, but to
lay them as parallel as possible. An improvement to effect this consists in applying
a certain amount of draught to the fibres between the top comb and the feeding
rollers.
The application of these improvements to a continuous combing machine is
equally simple.
In order to detach as close up as possible I substitute (Figure 18) for the
detaching rollers a second circular nipping or holding apparatus similar to the first,
which seizes as close up as desired the front ends of the fibres.
To comb the front ends twice I add a cylinder comb I of small diameter, and to
comb the tail end a second cylinder comb I, I, like the first. A row of teeth may
then be removed from the finishing comb,. and. to nip. the mass of fibres an
additional endless strap may be applied, or a withdrawal of the first one, which
seizes the fibres more in rear, so as to allow the fibres fed and combed to escape
and be carried away by the delivery apparatus. This improvement enables the
finishing comb to be dispersed with if it is not required to eliminate much of the
short fibres. Figures 18 and 19 represent the two arrangements; U, U, fibres
abandoned by the endless strap so as to be freely detached, the remainder. M
being retained cannot follow with them. This arrangement prevents the fibres
being felted by the finishing comb, and renders its operation advantageous.
Figure 18 represents the employment of an additional endless strap; and
Figure 19, the withdrawal of the one already in use.
The endless strap may be dispensed with altogether by using a chain or series of
metallic segments, covered with leather or indiarubber if desired. The cylinder
combs I, II, above mentioned may be replaced by sun or other shaped combs. The
finishing comb also may be dispensed with entirely or replaced by another organ,
such as a sun shaped or segmental comb. It will thus be seen that with the
continuous combing machine the front ends of the fibres may be perfectly well
combed on both sides as in the intermittent combing machine, that the front ends
are seized as close as desired to the point at which they were held by the feed
nipper, and that the tail ends disentangled by the finishing comb, or its equivalent,

page_text: are thoroughly-combed again before the fibres are carried off. The delivery-
apparatus may be a doffer roller, a coiler, or any other known or novel apparatus.
These improvements are also applicable to all kinds of combing machines, whether
intermittent or continuous, and amongst others to that of Valet. To this and to
others may be applied the double combing on both sides of the front end, the
special, single, or double combing of the tail ends of the fibres, the movable
'stationary" comb having a drawing action to prevent felting, and the advan-
tageous direction in which the fibres are presented to be combed.
Figure 20 shows the double, and Figure 21 the single combing of the front and
tail ends in a Valet combing machine. The inversion of the combs is effected by a
motion similar to that for the Higgins' card flat strippers. The combs P and P¹,
Figure 20, comb the fibres on their ascending movement, then pivot on themselves
and redescend again, combing in the opposite direction the same fibres with the
comb teeth V, V₁, on their opposite side. The transfer of the fibres is effected
in precisely in the same way as in the improved Heilmann machine. The
"stationary" comb acts in the same way as above described. This arrangement
may be replaced by any other capable of performing the special combing of the tail
ends of the fibres, and the double combing of the front and tail ends, according to
the nature of the material to be combed.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
27th March 1880.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND IN MACHINERY FOR COMBING
FIBROUS MATERIALS." A communication from abroad by the Firm of Bourcart,
Fils, and Company, of Montbeliard, in the Department of Doubs, France.
This Invention relates to improvements in and in machinery for combing fibrous
materials. The improvements in combing consist,―
1st. In presenting the fibres to be combed by means of a nipper (called a feed
nipper) to a circular, cylinder, or other comb (whose teeth are of progressive
fineness and very much inclined) in a direction, such that the combined elasticity
of the fibres is brought into play to force them to enter of themselves deeply into
the teeth, or in other words in a direction approaching more or less that of the
comb teeth themselves, according to the nature of the material to be combed, the
said nipper being capable of approaching as close to the comb as desired.
2nd. In detaching the fibres whose front ends have been combed in such a
manner that the point of nip of the detaching nipper may be as close as desired to
the last point of nip of the feed nipper, in order to avoid an excessive production of
waste (which can only be reduced to a minimum as this distance is reduced to
zero), and to consequently enable the length of feed, and therefore the rate of
production of the machine to be increased.
3rd. In interposing between the fibres being detached and those (still in the
sliver or fleece) which will be combed at the next beat of the machine a top comb
(called a stationary comb) free to oscillate on an axis to a limited extent, to prevent
the mass of filaments which are near the feed nipper becoming entangled or felted.
This arrangement permitting as it does of the comb partaking in the movement
of the sliver or fleece when the feed takes place (the fleece being held within the
nipper jaws by the feed apparatus itself, which is placed sufficiently near the
jaws in order to let go the fibres detached only when the fresh feed has taken place),
the fibres cannot become entangled behind the teeth of said comb, which in other
machines is the cause of an excessive amount of waste.
This "stationary" top comb is not operated by any mechanism, and enables a
certain amount of draught to be applied to the sliver or fleece which straightens
the fibres to be combed at the next beat of the machine. This comb may be
dispensed with if the feed rollers and detaching nipper be placed at a sufficient
distance apart.
4th. In presenting the tail ends of the fibres (whose front ends have already been
combed) in the same way as the front ends were presented to another cylinder
comb similar to that for the front ends, and used for no other purpose, in order to
free the tail ends of the fibres disentangled by the top comb (which has relatively
coarse teeth) from all impurities, tangles, and short fibres which the top comb may
have left therein.
5th. In twice combing both the front and tail ends of the fibres, or either of them
(when they are difficult to comb and to free from tangles and impurities), the
second time in the opposite direction to the first, that is to say, the combs operate
on both sides of the sliver or fleece alternately, this being effected by special combs
for each operation, cleaned each time. This double combing does not require more
time than a single combing.
6th. In delivering the fibres from the detaching nipper by means which enable
the piecing together of the sliver or fleece to be obliterated as much as desired.
These improvements may be employed not only in new combing machines, whether
continuous or intermittent, with circular, straight or other combs, but may also be

page_text: easily applied to existing machines, and they are therefore claimed both in them-
selves and as applied particularly to the combing machines of Heilmann, Nicholas,
Schlumberger, Hübner, André, Koechlin & Co., Imbs, Valet, and others. In this
description a practical method is given of applying these novel principles above
enumerated to certain systems of combing machines for cotton, but it will be
understood that their application to any other system and for other fibrous
materials, is also included.
This improved system of combing enables,―
(1.) Any fibrous materials to be combed as clean as desired.
(2.) The waste to be reduced to a minimum..
(3.) The maximum of production to be obtained with a given width of machine
head, all the conditions being observed.
In the accompanying Drawings Figure 1 represents (1/6th full size) the general
application of the improvements to a Heilmann, Nicholas, Schlumberger, & Co.,
combing machine, showing the operation of the parts directly from the axis of the
combing cylinders, and showing the principal parts in section at the moment of
parting the sliver or fleece asunder. The feed and parting or detaching nippers are
operated by levers and cans, in all three in number. The feed is operated by a six
toothed star wheel (not shown) or by any other suitable motion. The double
delivery apron is driven by a ratchet wheel R operated by the relative movement of
the detaching jaws themselves, which carry clicks T and V, or by any other motion.
The pressure of the feed nipper is obtained by a weight P acting on the lower
jaw A', and of the detaching nipper by a weight P¹ acting on the upper jaw D
through a lever Q and chain C. The jaw D' is operated by the shaft O¹, which is
itself operated through the crank F and the slotted lever E from the cam J. The.
entire nipper receives a to and fro movement from the cam U acting through the
lever arms X and L. The jaw D when not pressed upon the jaw D¹ is supported
by a small rail G (Figure 3), upon which runs a roller H located in rear of, and of
the same diameter as the crank pin of the crank F. The operation of the feed
nipper A, A', is regulated by the cam I (Figure 1) and the course of the jaw A', and
consequently the opening of the nipper is limited by the said screw N.
The Figures A', 'B', C¹, D¹, E¹, F1, illustrate the various operations of the machine
and show,-
1st. The successive positions or principal periods of the important parts during
the working of the machine, showing how the front ends of the fibres are presented
to the comb by the nipper A, A', and the tail ends by the nipper D, D¹, in a direction
parallel to the teeth of the comb.
2nd. Showing how the combed front ends are superposed upon the combed tail
ends (each combed by a special comb).
3rd. The manner in which the "stationary" or top comb penetrates the fibres
and accompanies them in their movement as they are detached.
4th. How closely the two nippers are brought together, thus avoiding the objec-
tionable interval between the two points of nip of the nippers above referred to.
-
Figure 2 shows full size the details of the jaws A, A, D, D', of the two nippers,
the feed rollers a, a¹, and the double endless delivery apron d, d', as well as the
position of the "stationary" or top comb k a little before the commencement of the
operation of detaching or parting asunder of the fleece after the complete closure of
the jaws D, D¹, which rising to point ¹ whilst the jaw A¹ remains stationary, and
jaw A rising also to k', the fleece of cotton is thereby forced into the "stationary"
or top comb. Figure 3 shows details of the slotted lever E above referred to.
Figure 4 represents an arrangement for combing the front ends of the fibres on both
sides by means of a segmental comb Z concentric with comb Y, the nipper A, A¹,
receiving the same movement as in Figure 1 by means of a similar cam having an
additional dwell after the passage of the comb segment Y, during which the
nipper A, A¹, placed in the proper position relatively to segment Z, presents the
fibres thereto in the same way as for a single combing (Figure 1). The essential
modification in this Figure is the movement in the inverse direction of the comb Y..

page_text: The comb segment Z receives an intermittent motion (either from a special cam or
directly from lever L) for the purpose of combing the ends of the fibres and after-
wards returning to its former position, when the fibres are raised out of the way by
the ascensional and circular motion of the nipper A, A¹; the comb Z is then cleaned
by a brush as in other combing machines. The remainder of the machine is the
same as in Figure 1.
Figure 5 shows (8/5th full size) the arrangement of the nippers of a combing
machine having a wide head based on the same method of combing as in Figure 1,
but having a single motion only for the two nippers, that is to say, the detaching
nipper D, D¹, pivots on a single centre 0¹, and the feed nipper A, A¹, on a centre O.
These nippers approach as close to one another as desired, and the fibres combed by
the two comb segments Y, Y, are transferred from the one nipper to the other in
the same way as in Figure 1, the stationary comb K being interposed between the
nippers which come above and beneath it. The jaws are operated by cams on
shaft O by a similar arrangement to that in Figure 1.
Figure 6 shows ('/, size) a detaching nipper capable of being substituted for the
one D, D', in Figures 1 and 2. This detaching nipper may not have any endless
apron, and has only a lower jaw M nipping the fleece against a roller N, which
replaces the upper jaw D of Figures 1 and 2, the delivery being also produced by a
ratchet wheel R. The working is the same as that of the machine shown in
Figures 1, 2, and 3. The form of the nipper is of little importance provided that
the two nippers can come sufficiently close together, and that the direction in
which the fibres pass out of the feed nipper is parallel to the teeth of the cylinder
comb, which conditions are more fully explained hereafter.
The arrangement of nipper last described may be replaced by another, consisting
of a fluted roller and a single jaw faced with leather or indiarubber, the roller being
placed either above or below the jaw. This jaw may even be dispensed with by
causing an endless apron to pass round a rounded metal prism and to press against
a roller, and thus form a detaching apparatus, capable, as in the other cases, of
presenting to the proper comb the tail ends of the fibres detached.
In the combing machines in general use hitherto, there is an essential feature
which has always limited the feed and the production of the machine, and which
has prevented the making of less than a certain and a very high percentage of
waste, and this feature is the relatively great distance which separates the last
point nipped by the feed apparatus which presents the front end of the fibres to be
combed and the point where these same fibres are nipped by the detaching nipper
or apparatus.
In a sliver of cotton as it comes from the drawing frame or from the carding
engine, it should be remembered that the fibres are so placed that in each unit of
length (millimetre) there are a certain number of fibres which commence, or in other
words, the extremities of the fibres so overlap one another, that in every point of
the sliver or fleece there are front and tail ends of fibres. In spreading out a sliver,
supposing the fibres to be arranged in rows, they would be as shown in Figure 7,
supposing them to be 40 millimetres in length. It should however be remembered
that in the sliver there are also a number of excellent fibres, but a few millimetres
less in length. There will consequently be found at every millimetre the front ends
of some fibres shorter than the rest, all of which the machine should not eliminate,
but only those less than a limit to be fixed at will, see Figure 8.
Now in all existing combing machines the distance between the two points of
nip above mentioned (by points of nip being meant the points at which the fibres
are nipped by the feed and detaching nippers) is very great. I will take for example
the combing machine of Heilmann, Nicholas, Schlumberger, & Co. The distance
between the points of nip is equal to the distance A, B, Figure 9, supposing the
parts to be as close together as possible. [The dotted line C shows the position of
the new nipper jaw of Nicholas, Schlumberger, & Co., forming a guard plate applied
to a Heilmann combing machine, having a porcupine cylinder and a nearly
immovable nipper jaw.]

page_text: The distance A, B, is determined by,-1st. The motion necessarily given to the
jaw M after the complete oscillation of jaw M', which approaches the system of
jaws to the stationary comb K. 2nd. The diameter of the leather covered detaching
roller P, which is necessarily very great in order to ensure absolute rigidity and
avoid any risk of slip.
In the Heilmann, Nicholas, Schlumberger, & Co. machine there is therefore an
interval between the points of nip of at least 14 or even 15 millimetres, which is
the greater, as, owing to the form of the jaw M, the feed nipper really nips the
fibre only at the point B', and it is practically this that must be taken as the point
of nip.
1
-
This being understood let us proceed to consider the effect of these points and
When the front ends of the
their action in the general working of the machine.
fibres nipped at B¹ are combed by the cylinder comb, which moves into the position
now occupied by the fluted segment U, V, all the waste contained between the
extremities of the fibres and the point of nip B¹ is eliminated (supposing the
combing to be sufficiently effective, a point which will be referred to hereafter).
Now the distance between the extremity of the fibres and the point B¹ is equal to
A, B¹, the feed (let A, B', D, and the feed A 1). If Lis the total maximum
length of the fibre; D, the distance between the points of nip; A1, the feed, the length
of the fibre which has not passed B' will L-(D+A1). It will thus be seen that
the quantity D or distance between the points of nip is one of the factors
which contributes in the Heilmann combing machine to the formation of a large
quantity of waste, for all that has passed B₁ goes in waste, even the good fibres.
Suppose the fibres to be 25 millimetres in all, L = 25 millimetres, let the feed
15 millimetres,
A 17 millimetres, the length of the waste eliminated will (if D:
as above mentioned) be 15 + 7 = 22 millimetres, and the part of the fibres held
by the nipper will be only 25 - 22 3 millimetres. In this case nearly all the
fibre will be combed by the cylinder comb, and only 3 millimetres by the stationary
top comb, but the waste is enormous.
=
=
It will thus be seen that if the quantity "D" could be eliminated or rendered
as small as possible, say 2, 3, or even 5 millimetres, it would be possible either to
diminish the waste to an enormous extent, or if not desired to leave the short
fibres in the cotton to gain in feed, or, which is the same thing, in production all
this quantity "D," the waste being in that case equal in amount to that of other
machines.
Now I will still suppose A1 == 7 millimetres and D = 15 millimetres, if I
reduce D to 5 millimetres I can make the feed 17 millimetres with an equal amount
It will be
of waste, and the production is inore than doubled by this alone.
observed that the detaching roller of the Heilmann, Nicholas, Schlumberger, & Co.
machine is a simple organ, which has moreover the advantage of drawing to itself
through the stationary or top comb fibres which do not touch it, and which are
only carried along by the neighbouring fibres; but this working is irregular and
defective, for on the one hand these fibres are insufficiently combed, since if they
are short they should be removed by the cylinder comb, and if they are long and
not sufficiently engaged to be seized by the detaching roller, it is because their tail
ends are still held between the feed nipper, and the only combing they receive is
by passing through the stationary or top comb, an imperfect combing which has
the further great disadvantage of entangling and felting the front ends which
remain behind it and cannot pass. On the other hand these fibres may be drawn
from between the feed nipper jaws, and receive no combing whatever from the
cylinder comb. In short the work is imperfect, and to remedy this it is
proposed,-
1st. To diminish the distance between the points of nip as much as possible;
2nd, to so arrange the stationary or top comb as to prevent the felting of the fibres,
and to give the tail ends of the fibres a special combing. Thus, supposing D to be
eliminated and the feed to be one half of L, say 12%, millimetres, the cylinder
comb will comb 121, millimetres, and the stationary top comb 12, millimetres in

page_text: the Heilmann, Nicholas, Schlumberger, and Co. machine; but this amount of work
will be too much for the latter comb, and it will therefore be necessary to employ
a comb either fixed or concentric and movable, which combs the tail ends more
thoroughly, and this especially in a machine whieh is to leave the short fibres in
the fleece. (For homogeneous cotton having fibres of equal length this is not
necesssary, but on the other hand it is very useful for short unequal cotton, inferior
Louisiana, and Jumels or Egyptian, tolerably long stapled but mixed). In any case
too much should not be left for the stationary or top comb to do, as its operation
is defective; if it is fine especially a large quantity of fibres are broken, for the
still entangled fleece is obliged to pass through it.
I will now proceed to consider the combing generally, but more particularly the
combing of materials difficult to comb, such as long stapled cotton (Fiji, South
Sea, &c.) and long waste, waste of long stapled Georgia cotton (fine Jumels, or
Egyptian, which are full of impurities, short fibres, &c.,) floss silk, wool, &c.
In combing with a circular comb certain conditions should be observed upon
which the quality of the work depends, viz.,-
(1.) The teeth should penetrate completely through the fleece.
(2.) The fleece should be disentangled gradually by teeth of progressive fineness.
(3.) The teeth should not spring but be quite stiff or rigid..
(4.) The combs should be fine enough to eliminate all that is not pure fibre, but
not so fine as to cut the fibre, and highly polished, so as not to injure the fibres
and remove their natural spiral twist.
The first of these conditions is one of the most important, as in combing it is
essential that the fibres should be forced down to the roots of the teeth from the
first row thereof to the last, provided that the first teeth are very coarse, otherwise
both time and material will be wasted. This condition can only be realized by so
arranging the nipper that the cotton fleece cannot fail to be deeply engaged in the
teeth.
The combing machines now in use are provided with various arrangements for
effecting this object, but not one attains a perfect result. The guard or presser plates,
dabbing brushes, &c., which all require a delicate adjustment, only succeed imper-
fectly, as there are fibres which only pass over the fine points of the teeth, by which
they are not thoroughly cleaned. Supposing a cotton fibre to be presented to a
comb, it may be presented in various ways, for instance, either obliquely, at right
angles, or parallel to the direction of the teeth, as in Figure 12, this latter direction
being the only good one, as the elasticity of the fibre itself causes it to enter deeply
into the teeth, and still more is this the case with a fleece or tuft of fibres whose
combined elasticity is much greater.
It will be seen that in Figures 10 & 11 there are some fibres which float above
the comb, and are not drawn down into the teeth A, A, whereas in Figure 12 this
does not occur.
As to the other conditions above mentioned it is hardly necessary to refer to
them, the combs used being generally tolerably good, except that the teeth are
rather too normal to the tangent at the point of insertion; the angle should be
very acute to force the fibre which has passed the point to enter deeply into the
teeth. The improvements above mentioned are applicable to the Heilmann,
Hübner, and other machines, whether continuous or intermittent, for combing
fibrous materials. I have illustrated their application to one of each kind,
viz., an intermittent and a continuous acting combing machine. The operation
of the machine after the feed has taken place and the feed nipper A, A', Figure 14,
closed, that is to say, after the detaching or parting asunder of the fleece, is as
follows: The fibres are presented to a series of at least 19 bars, with pro-
gressively finer teeth, all concentric and very oblique in a direction parallel
to the teeth (see Figure 13), thereby forcing the teeth to traverse the fleece after
having bent it back to utilize its elasticity, and to penetrate up to the very jaw of
the nipper, which itself serves as a presser, and nips the fibres close up to the
comb so as to avoid loss of space. When the teeth have all operated on the fibres

page_text: the nipper A, A¹, pivots on O, and passes from position I, Figure 13, to the position
shown in Figure 14.
During this time the nipper D, D', (which had detached the preceding tuft of
fibres) had also descended to the position Figure 13, and similarly presented the
tail ends of the fibres to a comb of 7 to 9 bars like the first one, and quite clean.
This comb having done its work the nipper D, D¹, rises, and on arriving at the
position Figure 14, delivers by a double endless apron the tuft combed at both ends.
On arriving at the position Figure 14, the lower jaw D¹ with the endless apron
and the sliver of combed fibres descends into the hollowed part of the comb cylinder
and comes beneath the nipper A, A¹, which then superposes on the tail ends of the
combed fibres the front ends of the fresh tuft of fibres to be detached. At the
instant when jaw D¹ rises the jaw A also retires, and during this time the top
comb k engages in the fleece, which is raised thereto by the movement of the two
nippers. The jaw D, which had slid upon a rail or guide, and which is pressed
upon by springs or weights, is slightly raised by the jaw D', and the fibres are then
nipped by the nipper D, D¹, in the position Figure 14, the two nippers being brought
quite close together; the distance between the two points of nip is thus reduced to
It is now that the detaching or parting asunder takes place, that is to say,
the nipper D, D¹, moves away from A, A', taking with it the fibres nipped between
its jaws. The top comb engaged in the fleece follows this movement, for it is free
to oscillate on a centre K, the extent of its movement being limited however by
stops S, S¹. During this time also the feed apparatus of the nipper A, A¹, being
in action the fibres which were held between the feed rollers a, a¹, are released, and
the entire fleece follows the motion of the nipper D, D', until the feed rollers A, A¹,
are stopped. The fleece is then torn asunder, the fibres which are detached leaving
the nipper A, A¹, which closes immediately, and the top comb being arrested by the
stop S prevents the short fibres going along with the others, after which the top
comb returns to its former position.
zero.
It will be seen that the advantage of this arrangement is that the front ends are
thoroughly and advantageously combed, and that the tail ends after being drawn
through a top comb having comparatively coarse teeth are combed in turn by fine
combs perfectly clean, and used for no other purpose. The top comb has also the
advantage of not felting the front ends of the fibres as it follows the movement of
the fleece, and of penetrating deeply by reason of the slight ascensional move-
ment of the nipper D, D₁, but the greatest advantage of this arrangement is that
the distance "D" between the two points of nip is reduced to zero, which adnits
of a rapid rate of feed and gives a product as good as may be desired. By this
single fact that the factor "D" is eliminated, I am enabled with the same fleece
and with the same width of machine head to double the rate of production of the
best regulated combing machine of Heilmann, Schlumberger, & Co. If the combing
of the tail ends is perfectly performed by the additional comb specially applied for
this purpose, a second comb segment Z may be applied concentric with the first one
to give the front ends of cotton fibres, which are with difficulty freed from impurities,
a second combing. This second comb works on rollers on the same axis as the
first or cylinder comb, or on another axis, but it moves in the opposite direction
and combs the front ends of the fibres on the opposite side to the first comb. In
this case the arrangement of the machine is slightly modified, the first or cylinder
comb working in the opposite direction to that in which it works in the former
case. The position of the nipper during this second combing is illustrated in
Figure 16, and the arrows show that the comb moves in the opposite direction to
the cylinder comb in Figure 15. This second combing may be otherwise effected
with flat, sector, bar, or other combs without departing from the Invention, which
consists broadly in the double combing, by whatever means effected. The motion
of this second comb may be transmitted by levers and cams, and it obviously requires
another brush and stripper.
The essential object in view being to retain the fibres in the fleece and to eliminate

page_text: impurities, it is necessary to avoid entangling or felting the fibres, and to lay
them as parallel as possible; an improvement to effect this consists in applying a
certain amount of draught to the fibres between the top comb and the feeding rollers.
The application of these improvements to a continuous combing machine (a
Hübner machine for example) is equally simple.
In order to detach as close up as possible I substitute (Figure 17) for the detaching
rollers a second circular continuously operating nipping or holding apparatus similar
to the first, which seizes as close up as desired the front ends of the fibres.
To comb the front ends twice I add a cylinder comb I of small diameter, and to
comb the tail end a second cylinder comb I, I, like the first. A row of teeth may
then be removed from the finishing comb, and to nip the mass of fibres an additional
endless strap may be applied, or a retraction of the first one, which seizes the fibres
more in rear so as to allow the fibres fed and combed to escape and be carried away
by the delivery apparatus. This improvement enables the finishing comb to be
dispensed with if it is not required to eliminate much of the short fibres.
Figures 18 and 19 represent the two arrangements. U, U, fibres abandoned by
the endless strap so as to be freely detached; the remainder M being retained
cannot follow with them. This arrangement prevents the fibres being felted by
the finishing comb, and renders its operation advantageous. Figure 18' represents
the employment of an additional endless strap, and Figure 19 the retraction of the
one already in use. To effect this it is necessary to diminish by 7 or 8 millimetres
at most the thickness of the slotted guide plate or disc which is placed beneath the
rotating pressing plate in a Hübner machine. The endless strap may be dispensed
with altogether by using a chain or series of metallic segments covered with leather
or indiarubber if desired. The lower ring or box of the holding apparatus is in that
case so shaped that the pressing plate does not act on the mass to be detached at
the point where the delivery apparatus acts.
The cylinder combs I, II, above mentioned may be replaced by sun or other
combs (by sun comb being meant a disc with radial or nearly radial teeth around
its periphery). The finishing comb also may be dispensed with entirely or replaced
by another organ, such as a sun or segmental comb. It will thus be seen that with
the continuous combing inachine the front ends of the fibres may be perfectly well
combed on both sides, as in the intermittent combing machine, that the front ends
are seized as close as desired to the point at which they were held by the feed
nipper, and that the tail end disentangled by the finishing comb or its equivalent
are thoroughly combed again before the fibres are carried off.
The delivery apparatus may be a doffer, rotary, finger, or cylinder (like that in a
Hübner machine for detaching the fibres from the endless band), a roller, a coiler,
or any other known or kind of apparatus. These improvements are also applicable
to all kinds of combing machines, whether intermittent or continuous, and amongst
others to that of Valet. To this and to others may be applied the double combing
on both sides of the front ends, the special single or double combing of the tail
ends of the fibres, the movable "stationary" comb having a drawing action to
prevent felting, and the advantageous direction in which the fibres are presented
to be combed.
Figure 20 shows the double, and Figure 21 the single combing of the front and
tail ends in a Valet combing machine. The inversion of the combs is effected by a
motion similar to that for the Higgins card flat strippers. The combs P and P₁,
Figure 20, comb the fibres on their ascending movement, then pivot on them-
selves, and redescend again, combing in the opposite direction the same fibres with
the comb teeth V, V₁, on their opposite side. The transfer of the fibres is effected
in precisely the same way as in the improved Heilmann machine. The " stationary
comb acts in the same way as above described. This arrangement may be replaced
by any other capable of performing the special combing of the tail ends of the
fibres, and the double combing of the front and tail ends, according to the nature of
the material to be combed.
">

page_text: Having described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by the
herein before in part recited Letters Patent is;
1st. In a combing machine the combination with the feed hopper of a detaching
nipper capable of being brought as close up to the former as desired in order
to reduce as much as possible the distance between the points of nip of the two
nippers, as herein before described and illustrated in Figures 13 and 14 for the
purpose specified.
2nd. In a combing machine the combination with feed and detaching nippers,
arranged as described, of a bar or top comb capable of moving with the sliver or
fleece when the latter is fed onwards, and then becoming stationary, as hereinbefore
described and represented in Figures 13 and 14 for the purpose specified.
3rd. In a combing machine the combination of feed and detaching nippers and
movable top comb; as described, with a cylinder or other comb) having teeth so
inclined as to compel the fibres to penetrate to the roots of the teeth for combing
the front and tail ends, as herein described and represented in Figures 13 and 14.
4th. The combination with the parts specified in the last claim of a second comb
segment applied to act upon the fibres in the reverse direction, as hereinbefore
described and represented in Figures 15 and 16, for the purpose specified.
5th. The application of the method of double combing the front and tail ends, as
well as the improvements herein before mentioned, to continuous combing machines,
as hereinbefore described and represented in Figures 17, 18, and 19, for the purpose
specified.
6th. The application of the improvements herein before specified to all kinds of
combing machines, whether continuous or intermittent, as described.
7th. The application of the improvements herein specified to the Heilmann,
Nicholas, Schlumberger, and Company's combing machine, as described and repre-
sented in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and A¹, B¹, C¹, D', E¹, F¹, of the Drawings.
8th. The application of the improvements herein specified to the Valet combing
machine, as described and represented in Figures 20 and 21.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty seventh day of March, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
AT ADIZ
A. M. CLARK. (L.S.)