IMPROVE- MENTS IN MACHINERY FOR COMBING WOOL AND OTHER FIBRES
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Rawson, of Leicester, Manufacturer, and
Frederick Staples, of Leicester, Mechanic, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MACHINERY FOR COMBING WOOL AND OTHER FIBRES."
Sealed the 17th October 1862, and dated the 24th July 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Rawson and
Frederick Staples at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
their Petition, on the 24th July 1862.
We, HENRY RAWSON, of Leicester, Manufacturer, and FREDERICK STAPLES,
of Leicester, Mechanic, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR COMBING WOOL AND OTHER FIBRES," to be
as follows:
This Invention has for its object improvements. in machinery for combing
wool and other fibres, and is applicable to that class of machinery for which
Letters Patent were granted to one of us, dated the 28th day of April 1860
(No. 1088).
In the machine described in the Specification of that Patent a moving
comb, called a reciprocating comb, is employed in combination with a travelling.
comb in such manner that when the two combs are together the sliver
or fleece of wool or other fibre is placed into the teeth of the two combs, so

page_text: that the end or fringe of the fibres projecting beyond the teeth of the recipro-
cating comb is placed in and beyond the teeth of the travelling comb.
According to the present improvements the reciprocating comb is formed of
three parts, two of which are fixed to the reciprocating table which carries
the reciprocating comb. A space is left between the two fixed parts in which
the third or moveable part of the reciprocating comb is placed, and such third
part is capable of being moved independently of the other two parts, which
simply move with the table to and from the travelling comb as described in
the Specification of the former Patent, so that the protruding fringe of the
sliver or ends of the fibres may be placed into and left in the teeth of the
travelling comb. In the present as well as in the former arrangement, the
sliver of wool or other fibre is out of the teeth of the reciprocating comb at
the time the reciprocating comb comes up to the travelling comb, and when
the travelling comb and the reciprocating comb have come together, the
sliver of wool or other fibre is pressed into the teeth of both of them; the
reciprocating comb is then moved away from the travelling comb; at this
time, in the present arrangement, the third or moveable comb is traversed in
the space which divides the two fixed parts of the reciprocating comb, and its
movement is in a direction towards the travelling comb; by this movement
the wool or other fibre across the space between the two fixed parts of the
reciprocating comb will be combed. The sliver is then lifted out of the teeth
of the reciprocating comb, and the third or moveable part of the reciprocating
comb is traversed back whilst the sliver is out of the teeth of the several parts
of the reciprocating comb. The sliver also, whilst it is out of the teeth of the
reciprocating comb is moved a distance forward so that that part of the pro-
jecting fringe of the sliver in which the noil has been accumulated by the
third or moveable part of the reciprocating comb will, when the combs next
come together, be placed into the teeth of the travelling comb.
It will be seen that the above-described arrangement ensures that the
portion of 'sliver which is laid into the teeth of the travelling and recipro-
cating combs at the point where they meet shall be a combed and cleaned
portion of sliver, whereas in the machine of the former Patent it was an
uncombed and uncleaned portion, so that were any space left between the two
combs noil might enter the space and escape the action of both of them, thus
producing imperfect work; this, by the present improvement, is rendered
impossible.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Henry Rawson and Frederick. Staples in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 24th January 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, HENRY
RAWSON, of Leicester, Manufacturer, and FREDERICK STAPLES, of Leicester,
Mechanic, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fourth day of July, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-sixth year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto us, the said Henry Rawson and Frederick Staples, Her special licence,
that we, the said Henry Rawson and Frederick Staples, our executors,
adininistrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said Henry Rawson
and Frederick Staples, our executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain. and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MACHINERY FOR COMBING WOOL AND OTHER FIBRES," upon the condition
(amongst others) that we, the said Henry Rawson and Frederick Staples, our
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under our, or their
hands and seals, or under the hand and seal of one of us or them, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in
what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in
the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Henry Rawson, on behalf of myself
and the said Frederick Staples, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be par-
ticularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement: thereof,
that is to say:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in machinery.for.combing
wool and other fibres, and is applicable to that class of machiuery.for. which
Letters Patent were granted to one of us, dated the 28th day of April 1860,
-No. 1088.
In the machine described in the Specification of that Patent a moving
comb, called a reciprocating comb, is employed in combination with a
travelling comb in such manner that when the two combs are together the

page_text: sliver or fleece of wool or other fibre is placed into the teeth of the two
combs, so that the end or fringe of the fibres projecting beyond the teeth
of the reciprocating comb is placed in and beyond the teeth of the travelling
comb.
+
According to the present improvements the reciprocating comb is formed of
three parts, two of which are fixed to the reciprocating table, which carries the
reciprocating comb. A space is left between the two fixed parts, in which the
third or moveable part of the reciprocating comb is placed, and such third part
is capable of being moved independently of the other two parts, which simply
move with the table to and from the travelling comb, as described in the
Specification of the former Patent, so that the protruding fringe of the sliver
or end of the fibres may be placed into and left in the teeth of the travelling
comb. In the present, as well as in the former arrangement, the sliver of
wool or other fibre is out of the teeth of the reciprocating comb at the time
the reciprocating comb comes up to the travelling comb. The sliver of wool
or other fibre, when the travelling comb and reciprocating comb have come
together, is pressed into the teeth of both of them; the reciprocating comb is
then moved away from the travelling comb; at this time, in the present
arrangement, the third or moveable comb is traversed in the space which
divides the two fixed parts of the reciprocating comb, and its movement is in
a direction towards the travelling comb; by this movement the wool or other
fibre across the space between the two fixed parts of the reciprocating comb
will be combed. The sliver is then lifted out of the teeth of the reciprocating
comb, and the third or moveable part of the reciprocating conib is traversed
back whilst the sliver is out of the teeth of the several parts of the recipro-
cating comb. The sliver, also, whilst it is out of the teeth of the reciprocating
comb is moved a distance forward, so that that part of the projecting fringe
of the sliver in which the noil has been accumulated by the third or moveable
part of the reciprocating comb will, when the combs next come together, be
placed into the teeth of the travelling comb.
It will be seen that the above-described arrangement ensures that the
portion of sliver which is laid into the teeth of the travelling and reciprocating
combs at the point where they meet shall be a combed and cleaned portion of
sliver; whereas in the machine of the former Patent it was an uncombed and
uncleaned portion, so that were any space left been the two combs noil might
enter the space and escape the action of both of them, thus producing im-
perfect work. This by the present improvement is rendered impossible.
Having thus stated the nature of our Invention, we will proceed more
fully to describe the manner of performing the same.
:

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS..
Figure 1 is a plan; Figure 2, a side elevation; and Figure 3 is a plan of such
of the parts of a machine as will enable us, aided by the diagrams; Figures 4,
5, 6; and-7, to describe our Invention..
a, a, is the travelling comb, which is preferred to be circular, as described
in the said former Specification; m is a sliding table, which is moved to and
fro in a horizontal direction on guides. carried by the framing. Upon the
sliding table is placed the reciprocating comb; which is formed in three.parts,
2, 3, and 22, two of them and are fixed to the reciprocating sliding table;
a space is left between the two parts and of the reciprocating comb,
within which space the part 21 of the reciprocating comb has an independent
and separate motion from the sliding table and the two parts and Lifters
or blades are employed to raise the wool or other fibre from the teeth of the
parts of the reciprocating comb. These lifters or blades are placed one on
either side of each row of teeth of the réciprocating comb, and they are
brought into action at such time as the reciprocating comb is caused to move
up.to the travelling comb a. The wool or other fibre when out of the teeth
of the reciprocating comb is moved forward by a feed comb as the wool or
fibre is fed in by the feed rollers. The slivers of wool or other fibre 'so
brought forward are then pressed into the teeth of the three parts of the
reciprocating combs as well as into the teeth of the travelling comb a, by
means of their brushes. The reciprocating table, with the parts 2, 3, of the
reciprocating comb, then moves away from the travelling comb a. During
the return movement of the table the part of the reciprocating comb is
caused to travel or move in the space between the parts, &, towards the
travelling.comb.a, and in doing so it combs so much of the wool or other
fibre as extends across the space between the combs z and ; the noil of such
parts being moved to and condensed near the part 23. This having 'taken
place, the reciprocating table is again moved towards the travelling comb
a,. the blades or lifters are raised to clear the wool or other fibre from
the teeth of the reciprocating.comb. The table continues to move forward;
the lifters or blades. continue to rise, and as soon as the wool or other fibre is
clear of the teeth of the reciprocating comb, the inverted feeding comb receives
such wool or other fibre, and moves it forward towards and over the travelling
5 comba, the lifters or blades remaining up until the feeding comb places the
wool or other fibre over the teeth of the travelling comb in such manner that
the combed portions, extend beyond the teeth of the travelling comb. The
brushes are then caused to descend and press the fibres into the travelling

page_text: comb a, and into the parts z, 2, 3, of the reciprocating comb. As the
reciprocating comb again retires, the part ¹ (which during the time that the
fibre or wool is out of the teeth thereof has been moved back to the part s²)
is moved from the part to the part of the reciprocating comb. The
part of the reciprocating comb moves between guides m³ on the recipro-
cating table m and on bearers m³ on that table. The guides m³ not only
guide the ends of this comb, but limit its motion. 23, 3, are connecting rods,
which at their ends are connected to the comb ¹ and to the lower ends of the
arms,, on the axis a³, which receives motion by the to-and-fro action of
the table m, there being a lever arm fixed to the axis. The lower end
of the lever arm descends nearly to the floor, where there are two plates,,,
fixed to the framing in such position that a stud or pin on the lower end of
the lever alternately comes against them, and thus is the lever arm
governed in its action, and consequently the part of the reciprocating comb
also.
The machine receives motion in the following manner :-1 is the main or
driving shaft, having a pulley 2, which by a band 3 gives motion to the axis 4
by passing around a pulley 5 fixed thereon. Upon this axis 4 is also fixed a
pinion 6, which communicates motion to the various parts of the machine;
7 is a toothed wheel on the axis 8, which gears with the pinion 6. The
requisite to-and fro motion to the reciprocating table and apparatus connected
therewith is obtained by means of crank arms 9, 9, fixed one at each end of
the axis 8, which are connected to the reciprocating table and apparatus con-
nected therewith by connecting rods 10, 10. Upon the axis 8 is also fixed a
toothed pinion 11, which takes into and drives an intermediate stud wheel 12,
which takes into and gears with another intermediate stud wheel 18; taking
into and giving motion to a toothed wheel 14 on the axis of the lower feed
roller. The pinion 6 also takes into and drives a toothed wheel 15 which
gears into another toothed wheel 16 fixed on the axis 17, to which are also
affixed the cams for operating the brush of the reciprocating comb, as shewn.
The cams for operating the lifters or blades are also fixed on the axis 17. On
the axis 17 is also affixed a toothed wheel 18, which takes into and drives a
toothed wheel 19 on the axis 20. This axis 20 has also affixed upon it the
crank arms 21, which by means of connecting rods 22 give motion to the
dividing bar. A cam 28 is also affixed to the axis 20, which gives the requi-
site motion to the brush acting with the travelling conib a, by acting upon the
truck 24 on the lever 25, the truck 24 being kept up to the. surface of the
cam 28 by means of the spring 26. The lever 25 is connected to the stem of
the brush by meaus of the connecting rod 27.

page_text: Having thus described the nature of our Invention, and the manner of per-
forming the same, we would have it understood that what we claim is the
mode herein described of applying and working a reciprocating comb z, s¹, &³,
in combination with a combing machine.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Rawson, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three..
For Fredk Stanton and
HENRY RAWSON. (L.S.)
Witness,
JOHN THO. NEALE COOPER.