IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR COMBING AND PREPARING WOOL AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES
Year: 1852

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
CowPER, of 20, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Twenty-third day of
February, One thousand eight hundred and fifty-two, in the fifteenth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Charles Cowper, my exors, adññiors, and assigns, Her especial licence,
full power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said Charles Cowper, my
exors, adñiors, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Charles Cowper,
my exors, adiiors, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others,
from time to time and at all times during 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, in the Islands of Jersey,
Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, and Man, and in all Her said Majesty's Colonies
and Plantations abroad, the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR
COMBING AND PREPARING WOOL AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES," communicated
to me by a certain foreigner residing abroad; in which said Letters Patent is
contained a proviso that I, the said Charles Cowper, shall cause a particular
description of the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same

page_text: is to be performed, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, to be
inrolled in Her said Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said in part recited Letters
Patent, as in and by the same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully
and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Charles Cowper, do hereby declare that the nature of the said Invention, and
the manner in which the same is to be performed, are fully described and
ascertained in and by the following statement thereof, reference being had to
the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the figures and letters marked thereon,
that is to say:-
The Invention relates to improvements in machinery for combing and
preparing for spinning wool and. other fibrous substances.
Sheet 1, Figure 1 of the Drawings hereunto annexed, is a section of two
flat bars or rulers a¹ and b¹ one of which, a',-has- a surface of leather, caout-
chouc, felt, or other matter more or less elastic, and capable of producing a
considerable degree of adhesion or friction when .in contact with fibrous sub-
stances; the other ruler, b', is made of metal or other smooth and hard
substance. A portion of wool or other fibrous substance being placed between
these rulers, may be held by them as by a vice, while the end of the portion of
wool is being combed or otherwise treated. If now the ruler a¹ is caused
to move endways, the wool will be carried along with it, sliding freely over the
smooth edge of the ruler b', but still being pinched and held between the
two rulers. This principle may be applied in various ways for holding wool
and other fibrous substances, while they are being combed and prepared.
I will now proceed to describe a mode of applying this principle in a
circular machine. In Figure 2, a is a circular or annular wheel, having
its edge faced with leather or other soft material, and resting upon another
wheel, which has a smooth hard edge, which comes in, contact with
the first wheel a"; or this wheel may have two, three, or more smooth edges,
as shewn in section in Figure 2 bis, so as to. obtain a better hold of the
wool which is passed between. the wheels. If the wheel a" is made to revolve,
it will carry round the wool which is held between the two, wheels. If now a
portion of the edge of the wheel 6" is lowered or removed at any part, c, as
shewn in Figure 3, the effect will be, that when the wool arrives at that part
it will cease to be held, and may be drawn out and removed.. The wheel b¹¹
may also be in motion, if required, either in the opposite, direction or with a
different velocity in the same direction; or the wheel a" may. be, fixed, and
motion given to the wheel 6". By this mode of holding the wool it may be

page_text: moved in a direction transverse to itself or to its fibres, while still being held
and combed, and by lowering the edge 6" at any part the wool may be. released.
Figure 5 is a vertical section, and Figure 6 is a plan, of portions of a machine
constructed on the principles above explained. Figure 4 is a section on a
larger scale of a portion of the wheels a and b. V is the main shaft, driven by
the shaft A, through the gearing Q, S, T, U, and turning in the step D'. On
this shaft is fixed the wheel a, which is of a dished form, and perforated with a
series of holes y, y, round its edge, within a flat ring of leather, which comes
in contact or in proximity to the smooth edge of the wheel or ring b, which is
fixed to the circular piece of metal B', which forms a bearing or guide for the
shaft V. The edge of the ring 6 is cut away or lowered at one part c, which is
on the left-hand side of Figure 5, opposite the drawing rollers M; M; and a
sort of pocket is formed at this part by the curved piece of metal d, which
extends round that portion of the circumference of the ring b at which the
wool is drawn away by the drawing rollers M, M, as herein-after described.
The wool or other fibrous substance being first drawn out into the form of long
ribbons, is supplied to the machine from above, and passes through the holes in
the wheel a, and between the edges of the wheel a and ring b. As the wheel
a revolves it carries the wool round until it meets the revolving comb H, by
which the projecting pieces of the wool are combed out, and the short wool or
noil and the impurities separated from it, and carried away by the comb. E is
a revolving brush, which receives the matters from the comb H, and delivers
them on to the revolving card F, from whence they are removed by the doffing
bar G. The noil and other matters may fall from the doffing bar G; or
may be conducted through a revolving tube, or otherwise formed into a band
or sliver.
As the wheel a continues to revolve, it carries the wool thus combed towards
the drawing rollers M, M, passing in its course the rapidly revolving disc K,
which directs the ends of the wool towards the rollers. The edge of the ring b
being lowered at this part, the wool is released and passes off through the
drawing rollers M, M, in one continuous band or sliver. The disc K may be
covered with plush. The lowered edge of the ring 6 and the pocket d are
shewn on a larger scale in the section, Figure 4.
By making the revolving comb H. of the form shewn in the plan, and by
setting the teeth closer together, in passing from the end.h to the end h', the
ends of the fibres will be first combed out, afterwards the whole will be combed,
and the knots and other impurities will be removed. The teeth on the part
marked h may be set at a uniform distance apart. The teeth of the comb are
furnished with guards i, which prevent the wool from entering too deep into

page_text: the teeth. L', in Figure 6, is a guide, which is pressed up by a light spring
or weight in a direction parallel to the axes of the rollers M, M, and assists in
consolidating the wool which is entering between the rollers M, M. The wool
on leaving these rollers may be passed through the revolving tubes N and P,
and rollers 0, 0, so as to consolidate it into a band or sliver, which is then
wound up upon the roller R. H' is a circular comb, supported by the wheel
N', which is supported by the spherical bearing P", fixed on the shaft V. This
circular comb is maintained in an inclined position during its revolution by
means of two guides fixed to the upright pins G', G', and entering a groove in
the edge of the wheel N¹.
A vertical pin O¹ is fixed in the wheel a, and passes through a hole in the
wheel N', which is thus caused to revolve at the same velocity as the wheel a.
The inclination of the comb H¹ is such that its teeth are quite clear of the
wool on the side of the machine at which the comb H is situated, but enter or
overlap the pocket d on the side on which the drawing rollers M, M, are placed.
The comb H does not, therefore, interfere with the action of the comb H, but
it prevents the passage of knots or other impurities into the rollers M, M.
The wool, in passing off through the rollers M, draws down after it a fresh
portion which lies in the pocket d, until the wool being again nipped or held
between the wheel a and the edge of the ring b, it is drawn out of the end of
the pocket, and carried round to be combed as before. To assist and regulate
this feeding of the machine, a plate or wheel R¹ is supported upon a spherical
bearing P fixed on the shaft V, and, this plate is guided by a crescent-shaped
plate M¹ entering a groove Q' in its edge, and it is driven by the same pin O
which drives the wheel N'.
A circle of holes is formed in the plate R', which correspond with those in
the wheel a, and through which the bands of wool which supply the machine
are passed. Each of these holes contains a piece of leather or felt or similar
material, against which the rounded and smooth edge of the crescent M¹ is
pressed by means of a spring L, shown in Figure 6. This spring is mounted
on the support I' on the pin G', and the inclination of the crescent is main-
tained by the support K. The effect of this arrangement is that the bands
of wool are nipped by the crescent at or near the highest position of the
plate R', and are held until it has reached a much lower position. A certain
length of wool is thus drawn down according to the inclination of the plate R',
which may be varied at pleasure by shifting the parts I' and K'. The quantity
of wool fed into the machine is thus regulated. X is a weight fixed on the
top of the shaft V, for the purpose of pressing the wheel a upon the ring b;
Y' is a fixed shaft or pin supported from above, and entering the weight, but

page_text: not fixed to it; U¹ is a bevil wheel fixed on the shaft Y', and supporting the
wheel Z, which turns loose upon the shaft Y¹, being driven by the pin Y fixed
to the weight X. The wheel Z carries the rollers V', which are caused to
revolve by means of a worm wheel, driven by an endless screw on the spindle S¹
of a bevel wheel T', which gears into the fixed bevel wheel U'. The bands of
wool are wound upon rollers X', which rest upon and receive their motion from
the rollers V', which are provided with bevil wheels upon their axes, gearing
together to cause them all to move simultaneously.
Figure 7 shews another form of combing apparatus which may be sub-
stituted for the revolving comb H, and in which the comb moves in a curved
or oval path in lieu of revolving upon a centre, like the comb H herein-before
described. m, n, o, are three toothed wheels, the last of which drives the two
others at an equal velocity; r, r, is a connecting rod jointed to a pin l on
the wheel m, and passing through another pin h, capable of turning in the
wheel n. The comb g is fixed on the end of the rod r, and is carried by it in
the curved or oval path q. The comb g is constructed like one of the separate
combs of the revolving comb H; it comes in contact with a card or brush
roller p, shewn by the red line, which removes the knots and other matters
from it. Two or more of these combs or of the revolving combs, or one or
more of each description of comb, may be applied to the machine, if re-
quired. The red circles B, C, D, and the other red lines in Figure 5, indicate
the position of parts of the geering for driving the various parts of the
machine.
If it be required to subject the wool or other fibrous substance to heat and
moisture during the operation, it is readily effected by introducing steam into
the space between the wheel a and ring b. When steam is thus applied, the
elastic edge of the wheel a should be of some material (as, for example,
vulcanized india-rubber,) which is not injured by the heat and moisture.
The wheels a, a, B', b, and N', and the comb H, may also be heated by
steam passing through passages formed in them for that purpose. In the case
of the wheel N¹, the steam would be introduced through the shaft V and
through the spherical bearing P", and one or more of the arms of the wheel N'.
The condensed water may escape in a similar manner, or may be allowed to
drop out through an aperture suitably arranged near the centre of the wheel,
and passing through the wheel a, it may be received into a gutter in B', and
conveyed away.
In lieu of fixing the ring b, and causing the wheel a to revolve, the operation
may be reversed, and the wheel a may be fixed, and 6 may revolve by arranging
all the parts accordingly; or, if desired, they may both revolve in contrary

page_text: directions, or at different velocities in the same direction, so that in all cases
the two surfaces have relative motion with regard to each other in a direction
transverse to the fibrous substance.
Sheet 2, Figures 8, 9, and 10, shew a modification of the machine, by
which the feeding is rendered independent of the drawing rollers. Figure 8
is a plan, Figure 9 is a side view, and Figure 10 a section, of portions of
the machine. a is the revolving wheel, faced beneath with leather, and
resting upon the ring b, as in the previous Figures. N₁ is the wheel which
carries the comb H', which may have one, two, or more rows of teeth. 0¹ is
a curved plate, which forms a pocket, and has a smooth top edge, which
comes in contact with a ring of leather fixed under the wheel N¹. The effect
of this arrangement is that the ends of the wool are nipped between the plate
O¹ and wheel N¹, and carried upwards until a sufficient length has been
pulled out, when they are released by the plate O and wheel N¹, and are
nipped at m between the 'ring 6 and wheel a. A small roller n' is pressed
down by a spring upon the wheel N¹, to cause it to nip and hold the wool.
A circular brush S serves to clean off any matters adhering to the comb H¹."
This brush may be applied in a similar manner to the machine shown in
Plate 1, Figures 5 and 6. In these Figures the wool is shewn as being
carried through channels or passages formed in the wheel a in a horizontal
instead of a diagonal direction, and the ribbons or slivers are represented as
arranged in two circles or 'rings.
Figure 12, Sheet 2, is another arrangement by which the feeding of the
machine is rendered independent of the drawing rollers. As in the arrange-
ment shewn in Figures 8, 9, and 10, two surfaces having different degrees of
friction or adhesion are employed. a is the main moving wheel, similar to
that similarly marked in Figure 5, Sheet 1. G is a wheel or roller covered'
with felt or other elastic material, and placed as close as possible to the wheel a;
it is made to revolve in the same direction as the wheel a. A wire J, of steel
or other metal, is fixed at one end, and carried partially round the roller G, and
attached at the other end to a spring. As the wool is carried round by the
wheel a, it enters between the roller G and the wire J, and is thus carried
round by the roller G, and a sufficient length of the wool is pulled out.
In a
similar manner a metallic wire may be substituted for the crescent-shaped piece
M' in Figures 5 and 6, Sheet 1.
Figure 11 shews a variation in the arrangement of the drawing rollers
M, M. An endless strap passes over the lower roller M, and the roller V.
Tis a loose roller laid upon the endless strap, and resting against the upper
roller M, and serving to compress the wool upon the strap. U is a grooved

page_text: metal roller, turning against the strap to separate the filaments from it.
X is a revolving tube, for the purpose of giving consistence to the wool,
which is afterwards wound upon the roller R. The wool may be passed
straight through this revolving tube, or it may pass in at one end of the tube,
then through a lateral hole in the tube, and back again, through another
lateral hole in the tube, and out at the other end of the tube. The same
observation applies to the tubes N and P, shewn in Figure 5, Sheet 1, in
which Figure the lateral holes, are shewn in the tube N. If desired, the wool
may be passed a second time through the machine, or through a second
machine similarly constructed. The first, machine may thus be employed to
prepare the wool for being perfectly combed in the second machine. Various
other forms of machinery for combing and preparing fibrous substances may
be constructed, whether in circular or in straight or other forms, by still
adopting the same principle of employing two surfaces having relative motion
with regard to each other in a direction transverse to the fibrous substance,
and one of which surfaces has greater adhesion or friction on the fibrous
substance than the other, and is thus capable of moving it or holding it,
notwithstanding the motion or want of motion in the surface of least friction.
In describing the machines, wool has been mentioned as the material
operated upon, but other fibrous materials may be similarly treated by pro-
portioning the length, distance apart, and number of rows of teeth in the
combs, and the other parts of the machine, according to the nature of the
substance and the length of the staple.
Having now described the nature of the Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I do not
confine myself to the precise details of the machinery herein-before described,
provided the peculiar character of the Invention be retained; but what I
claim is,-
Firstly, the construction of machinery for combing and preparing wool and
other fibrous substances, in which the wool or other fibrous substance is held
while being combed between two bars or wheels or surfaces, having relative
motion with regard to each other in a direction transverse to the substance,
and having different degrees of friction or adhesion to the fibrous substance,
which is moved or prevented from moving according as the surface of greatest
adhesion is in motion or stationary, in manner herein-before described.
Secondly, the construction of machinery for combing and preparing wool
and other fibrous substances, in which one or more ribbons or slivers are fed
into the machine by means of two surfaces having relative motion with
regard to each other in a direction transverse to the ribbons, and having

page_text: different degrees of friction or adhesion to the fibrous substance, whose motion
is governed by the surface of greatest adhesion, in manner herein-before
described.
Thirdly, the combination of the circular comb H', in Figure 5, with the
wheels a and b, in the manner and for the purposes herein-before described.
Fourthly, the combination of the revolving comb H, in Figures 5 and 6,
with the wheels a and b, in manner herein-before described; and also the
substitution in such combination of the comb shewn in Figure 7, Sheet 2, as
herein-before mentioned.
Fifthly, the combination of parts constituting the circular combing machine
herein-before described in reference to Figures 5 and 6, together with the
various modifications of the same, as herein-before described; also the intro-
duction of steam between the wheels a and b of such machines, so as to heat
and moisten the wool or other fibrous substance while the same is being
combed, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Cowper, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-two.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Seventeenth day of August, in
the year of our Lord 1852, the aforesaid Charles Cowper came before our said
Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification afore-
said, and all and everything therein contained and specified, in form above
written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according to the
tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
Enrolled the Nineteenth day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-two.