MENTS IN MACHINERY FOR COMBING AND DRAWING A SLIVER OF WOOL, FLAX, SILK WASTE, AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES, AND IN APPARATUS FOR CONSTRUCTING SCREWS TO BE USED IN A PART OR PARTS OF SUCH MACHINERY
Year: 1852

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to DAVID WILKINSON SHARP, of Bingley, in the
IMPROVE
County of York, Manufacturer, for the Invention of
MENTS IN MACHINERY FOR COMBING AND DRAWING A SLIVER OF
WOOL, FLAX, SILK WASTE, AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES, AND
IN APPARATUS FOR CONSTRUCTING SCREWS TO BE USED IN A PART
OR PARTS OF SUCH MACHINERY."
Sealed the 8th December 1852, and dated the 2nd October 1852.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said David Wilkinson
Sharp at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 2nd October 1852.
1. DAVID WILKINSON SHARP, of Bingley, in the County of York,
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR COMBING AND DRAWING A
SLIVER OF WOOL, FLAX, SILK WASTE, AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES, AND
IN APPARATUS FOR CONSTRUCTING SCREWS TO BE USED IN A PART OR PARTS
OF SUCH MACHINERY," to be as follows, that is to say:
My Invention relates, firstly, to those machines commonly known as
combing machines, the construction of which is hereby varied in a

page_text: novel manner, according to the nature of the fibrous material, or to the
different states of the same material which it is required to comb. The
general outline and the mode of action of these machines will be un-
derstood from the accompanying sketches; which I shall proceed to
describe.
In Figure 1, A, is a feeding cloth, which passes over two rollers a, a.
On this the fibrous material is placed, when it is carried forward and
taken up by the back rollers', . From these it is delivered to the
front rollers c. c, but in passing between these two sets of rollers it is
submitted to the action of the common screw gills or fallers B, by
which the fibres are straightened. The construction of these gills, as
it is well understood, it will be unnecessary here to describe. Tumie-
diately in front of the rollers c, e, is mounted a comb cylinder C,
which, as it revolves in the direction of the arrow, lashes the material as
it is fed forward on to the combs ranged round its periphery. When a
sufficient amount has thus accumulated on these combs, the further
motion of the screw gills and feed rollers is stopped, and the cylinder C,
is moved by a gradual motion towards a second comb cylinder D; which
revolves in the same direction, as indicated by the arrows. By this
means the material will be combed out as the two cylinders approach
cach other, beginning at the extremities of the fibres, and proceeding
gradually to the roots. When the cylinders have come into close con-
tact, and the combing fully effected, the further motion of the machine
is stopped, and the combs removed to another machine to draw the
fibrous material off. The propulsion of the cylinder C, is effected by
the eccentric d, which is driven by the worm wheel e, and worm e
which again has its motion from the bevil wheels f, or from any other
convenient source. The swell part of the eccentric d, as it revolves,
acts on the lever g, which communicates its motion through the
connecting rods h, h, and lever i to the cylinder C, and thus moves
the latter forward at a speed and to a distance corresponding to the
speed and throw of the eccentric. The cylinders C, & D, are driven
by the spur wheels h, k, k, shewn in red, and as,, during the time the
cylinder C, is moving forward it is necessary that these wheels should
be kept in proper acting gear; this is effected in the following manner:
A

page_text: From the axes or shafts of the two wheels k, and E, are suspended
tawo rods on links 7, 1', the other extremities of which meet together at
the centre of the third wheel, the shaft of which is inserted through
an eye in both, so that it will be seen, as the two cylinders C, and D,
approach each other the angle of the two links will continually diminish,
and will thereby cause the wheel 1, to descend, maintaining at the
same time the true coincidence of the pitch lines of all the three. In
order to render this machine more effectual in the working, I cause it
to be driven by cone pulleys in. such a manner that the motion may be
quickest during the time the combs of the cylinder C, are filling, and
may gradually slacken off until the operation of combing is completed.
Figure 2, is a combing machine, in which the noil and short, wool is
separated from the long fibres, and subsequently delivered in a con-
tinuous sliver., A, A, are sets of screws, similar to those used in the
common screw gill: Into the grooves of the upper one of these are
placed combs containing the material to be acted on, which is thus
traversed forward towards the card comb or porcupine sheet B, which
moves at a greater speed than the screws, and thus seizes it, straightens
out the long fibres, and takes out the short and knots. The roller C,
is for the purpose of more effectually lashing it into the teeth of B.
When the material of one comb has thus been acted on, the comb,
with the combed material on it, is traversed back by thel ower screws
in the ordinary way, and.is then ready for being drawn off into a sliver.
Another.comb in the meantime is being traversed up. towards B, and
takes its place. The card comb sheet is made of great strength, and
passes over rollers, having grooves on their peripheries corresponding
to a series of bars on the inner surface of the sheet, so as to prevent it
from slipping. That part of the material which has been separated
from the comb, being now fed forward in the direction of the arrow, is
taken up by the card roller D, and again transferred to the large
cylinder E, from whence it is lashed by the roller F, on to the teeth of
the doffing cylinder G. From this it is doffed by the doffing knife or
plate g, in a broad sheet, which is contracted and condensed in the usual
manner by the trumpet mouth and rollers H, and thus delivered in a
continuous sliver.. In employing gill screws in this machine for travers-
A 2

page_text: ing up the combs, in the first instance, I prefer, for various reasons, to
use screws of a constantly diminishing pitch, as shewn in the sketch, in
order more particularly that the teeth of the card comb or porcupine
sheet may act quicker on the material when the points of the fibres are
presented to them than at the roots, where they have to pass through a
denser mass. In order, moreover, that the fibres may be presented
straight to the action of the teeth of the card comb or porcupine sheet, I
attach to the comb a guide W, shewn in Figure 3, on which the ends
of the fibres lie while being fed up, so as to be prevented from dropping
down; and to protect the guide from coming in contact with the card or
porcupine sheet when close up to the same. I cause its extremities to
strike against projections at a fixed point in its traverse, so that as the
comb advances close up to the card the guide may remain stationary,
and ultimately be received into grooves cut in the face of the comb
holder for that purpose, and be flush therewith. Instead of the card
comb or porcupine sheet in this machine, I can also employ a screw
gill, travelling at a greater speed than the screws A, a mode of arrange-
ment which renders other slight alterations necessary, but which will
have a similar effect to the one already described. Instead of the
screws A, I can also use any other equivalent mode of feeding, such as
an arrangement of cams acting upon a frame in which the combs may
be placed.
Figure 4, is another construction of combing machine, in which A,
is the feed cloth; B, the back rollers; C, the screw gills; and D, the
front rollers, arranged in the same manner as the first described. In
this case, however, a revolving brush E, is shewn, for the purpose of
pressing the material more effectually into the teeth of the gills. After
emerging from the front rollers D, the fibres are combed out by the
endless porcupine or card sheet F, into the teeth of which they are
pressed by another revolving brush G, and they are afterwards drawn.
through a third pair of rollers EI, and delivered in a continuous sliver
by the delivering rollers I, into the can or other receptacle K. The
porcupine or card sheet F, may be constructed in the same manner as
that shewn in Figure 2, and a series of these may be used if desirable.
It moves at a slow speed compared to that of the rollers H, so as only

page_text: to carry away the noil, knots, and short wool, which is cleared from the.
teeth of the same by a brush L, revolving at a great speed; and the
more effectually to direct the longer fibres to the action of the rollers
H, a comb M, is kept continually vibrating in close proximity to the
teeth of the card or porcupine sheet by means of the crank N. Should
a succession of the cards F, be used, it may be desirable to adopt a
succession of the combs M.
Figure 5, is also another combing machine, in
which A, is the feed
cloth, passing round the two rollers B, and B'. An upper roller B",
also revolves in contact with the feed cloth, forming with B', a pair of
back rollers. The same arrangement of screw gills is maintained
in this machine as in the one last described, and there is at the front
of the gills a pair of front rollers C, C', and endless cloth to carry away
the material from the gills. In this case, however, as soon as to
much material has passed into the gills as will reach the whole length
of their traverse, I cause the back and front rollers to stop, leaving the
gills to work by themselves. By this means the long fibres will be
straightened out, and all the noil and short wool will be carried forward
to the front. As soon as the combing has been thus effected, the
back rollers are again started, and simultaneously with these the front
rollers. By this means that part which has been combed will be
carried off through the front rollers, the noil and short wool passing
through first, and the gills will be supplied with a fresh quantity to be
combed. The noil and short wool are now broken off by the atten-
dant, to be treated separately, while the action of combing the second
portion again commences. Immediately above the gills is a comb E,
capable of being traversed horizontally by a crank F. The motion of
this is so arranged that during the time the front rollers are in action
the comb E, with its teeth entering the material, traverses simul-
taneously with and at the same speed as the gills, so as to present a
check to the uncombed portion, preventing it from being drawn along
and mixing with that which is combed. When it has finished its
traverse, and during the time the combing again goes on, the comb E,
is carried back to its original position, raised up so as to be entirely
clear of the gills. The combing machines of which I have now given

page_text: an' outline description, it is evident are. not all adapted to the same
particular length of staple; their respective capabilities, as well as their
more exact details, will be fully set forth in the Specification of the
Invention
ودية
My Invention relates, secondly, to the niode of drawing off the sliver
from the comb when the process of combing has been employed pre-
paratory to spinning. An outline of the machine which I employ for
this purpose is shewn in Figure 6, the sketch being drawn in plan.
The comb containing the material is in the first instance attached to a
rack, as is done in other well known machines of a similar nature. In
this state it is inserted, the fibres projecting inwards into the groove A,
the whole length of which it is traversed by the-pinions B, B, &c. C, is
the uppermost of two toothed or-fluted conical rollers; revolving at an
angle to the direction in which the comb passes. These rollers revolve
in close contact, but the lower has a belt of strong leather continually
passing round
for the purpose of effecting a firmer grip between the
two. A section of the two rollers, as well as of the comb, is shewn in
Figure 7. As the comb advances along the groove the longer fibres
will be seized and drawn off by the smaller diameter of the conical
rollers, between which they are lashed or directed by a vertical
fan-wheel D, while the shorter will in like manner be taken off
by the larger diameter. The best part of the material Being thus
drawn off the comb, it is formed into a sliver by being carried through
the trumpet' mouth E, and compressed through a pair of delivering
rollers F, from which it is conveyed away in "any convenient manner.
The comb now contains only the shorter fibres and 'noil, the former
of which is partly taken off as it advances by the milking rollers G,
and delivered through the rollers H, H, and partly by the backing
rollers K, from which it is cleared by a revolving brush E. Tlie noil
alone is this left in the comb. The milking and backing rollers are
cylindrical, and revolve vertically, and they are constructed with
leather bands in the same manner as the conical rollers. In some
cases, where the material, is of short staple, as, for instance, in the case
of cotton, I bring together the slivers from several sets of rollers, so
as to "double-them-into one sliver, as will be readily understood from
.

page_text: inspection of Figure 8. The various parts of this machine have been
in.nse separately before, with the exception of the conical rollers, which
are new.
My Invention relates, thirdly, to a method of constructing or manu-
facturing screws. of an expanding pitch, such as those described in
reference to Figure 2. The machine or apparatus which I employ for
this purpose is the common slide lathe, as in Figure 9, which it is
unnecessary to describe. In order, however, to produce the variable
traverse of the slide requisite to cut a thread of expanding or diminish-
ing pitch, I attach to the bed of the lathe a stud carrying a camb or
scroll A, which acts in revolving on a small roller B, attached to the
slide. The camb (shewn, more clearly in Figure 10,) is constructed
with a curve.corresponding to the degree of variation of pitch required,
and it is driven by a worm, wheel and worm C, and C, from the ordinary
sliding shaft D, or by any other equivalent mode.
So far as my experiments have hitherto proceeded, the above is a
general outline of the whole of my Invention, and of the manner of
carrying out the same; the further details.thereof, and the claims which
I make therein to those parts which are new; will be more particularly
described and set forth in the Complete Specification of the Invention.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said David Wilkinson Sharp in the Great Seal Patent
the 1st April 1853.
Office, on
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, 1,
DAVID WILKINSON SHARP; of Bingley, in the County of York, Manu-
facturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Second day of October, One thousand
eight hundred and fifty-two, in the sixteenth year of Her reign, did,
for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
David Wilkinson Sharp. Her especial license that I, the said David
Wilkinson Sharp, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others, as. I, the said David Wilkinson Sharp, my executors, admi-

page_text: nistrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, froni
time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein ex-
pressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within
the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MA-
CHINERY FOR COMBING AND DRAWING A SLIVER OF WOOL, FLAX, SILK WASTE,
AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES, AND IN APPARATUS FOR CONSTRUCTING
SCREWS TO BE USED IN A PART OR PARTS OF SUCH MACHINERY," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said David Wilkinson Sharp, by
an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, 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 David Wilkinson Sharp, do
hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement, reference being had to the
Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the figures and letters marked
thereon, that is to say:
My Invention consists, firstly, in certain new and useful modes of
constructing and combining machinery for the purpose of combing
and drawing wool and various other fibrous substances, such as flax,
silk waste, and those others which are adapted to this peculiar mode
of treatment. The several modes which I employ, when they are
applied to the combing of wool and other material of a like nature,
have more especial reference to the treatment of the same after having
been prepared by any of the well-known methods which are used
previous to combing, such difference of construction in their several
applications being at all times requisite as may be best suited to the
shape which the material has assumed or is required to assume, as, for
instance, a fleece or a sliver, a coil or a ball. In like manner, in the
application of the same modes to the treatment of the fibrous material
of another class, the object of these machines is to comb the fibre at
intermediate stages after preparing and before spinning.
As the

page_text: adoption or selection of any of these modes in the case of any material
or any particular state of the same material will always depend upon
circumstances which are various, and which are well known to practical
men, it will be unnecessary here to enter into further detail on this
point; but I shall at once proceed to describe the Drawings which
illustrate this part of my Invention, premising that the object aimed
at by the plaus therein represented is, in all applications thereof, the
more effectual combing or drawing and straightening of fibrous ma-
terial. In Sheet 1, Figure 1, is a side elevation, and Figure 2, a
longitudinal section, of a combing machine in which I employ the
action of two sets of screw gills or fallers. I may here state that this
is a modification of that hereafter described in reference to Figure 3.
Sheet 2, differing therefrom in the substitution of a second set of
screw gills instead of the card or comb sheet; it is also of the same
class as the others shewn in Figures 1, and 2, Sheet 2, in respect to an
intermitting action hereafter explained. Recurring to Sheet 1, A, are
the feed rollers; B, the intermediate rollers; and C, the delivering rollers.
They are all shewn of the tooth and pinion kind, which it is requisite
that they should be, for the purpose of firmly gripping the material
passing through. D, D', and E, E', are the two sets of screw gills,
traverse being given to the fallers by the upper and lower screws in
a manner already well understood. Motion is also imparted to the
screws in the ordinary way, but the gearing is constructed so that the
speed of the screws and rollers continually increases from the feed
to the delivery; that is to say, the fallers D, move faster than the
In
rollers A; the rollers B, faster than the fallers D, and so on.
some cases I also add a third set of screw gills, the speed of which
will, by the same arrangement, exceed the speed of the rollers C. Each
of the delivering rollers in the plan which I have shewn carries an
endless cloth, which passes round a corresponding roller F, F, so that
as the material passes between the two cloths, and emerges at f, it is
divided into two portions, one being carried away by the lower cloth,
and the other by the upper, forming thereby two endless bands or
fleeces, which may be stripped off by an attendant when found con-
5 venient. As this mode of delivering, however, is not a material feature

page_text: of the Invention, others of those which are well known may be sub-
stituted according to circumstances. At each end of the screw.gills, and
in a convenient position for clearing the teeth of the rising and fall-
ing fallers, is placed a circular brush b", &c., which is caused to
revolve, and collects upon its circumference the noil and short which
is carried down by the fallers, this being again cleared off by hori
zontal straight edge e, in close proximity to which the bristles revolve.
The action of the machine is as follows:-The material is, in the first
instance, drawn in by the rollers A, but an endless cloth or other nicans
of feeding may be here added, if required; as it is tlien slowly pushed
forward, it is seized by the teeth of the gills D, which, inconsequence of
their running faster than A, comb out and straighten the fibres, carrying
the oil and short forward. For the purpose of effecting this more per-
fecily, as soon as the gills D, are fully supplied with material, the further
motion of the rollers A," is stopped, so that the combing action
mayet
take place on the same set of fibres during a lengthened
space of time, and the noil and short being this more completely
separated will be carried down at the extremity of the gills by the
descending fallers, and cleared away by the revolving brush .. The
rollers A, being now again-started, the portion of combed material in
the gills Dwill be pushed-forward, and taken up by the rollers B,
giving place to another portion which has to be submitted to the same
action. The fibres of the first portion in the meantime, it consequence
of the rollers' B-moving faster than the gills D, will be drawn through
the teeth of the latter, leaving therein the noil and short belonging to
those ends of the fibres which liad not been submitted previously to
the combing action, sucli noil and short being ultimately carried off
by the brush as beforé explained. During the time that the second
portion is now being fed into the gills D; it will be seen that the first
portion will be submitted to the action of the second set of gills E, which
more completely straighten out the fibres; by imoving at a greater speed
than rollers B. In like niänner the material is again taken up by the
rollers C. which deliver it in two endless webs, as explained, while the noil
and short which has been left in or pushed forward by the teeth of the
Fills E is cleared away by the brush In case the teeth of the gills

page_text: In
Should not be cleared by the first brush, I place an additional one-, and
", in each gill, to assist at the extremity of the back traverse.
order to give sufficient room for the brushes. I place the gill screws wide
apart, giving the fallers an unusual descent. To direct the fibres to the
rollers C, and prevent them from being carried down by the 'fallers, I
cause thein to pass over a straight edge il; stretching across the frame.
From what I have before stated it will be understood; that while the
rest of the machine is in continuous action the motion of the rollers A,
will be intermittant, revolving and standing "alternately a given. time.
The inode in which effect this is the following-X, is a wheel
keyed on to the axis of one of the rollers. A, and this is driven
by the wheel Y. The remainder of the wheels of the train, as
they may be understood from inspection; and may be applied in various
ways, it will be unnecessary here to explain. The stud of the
wheel Y is fixed to a bracket oscillating on'a centre W, and our the
underside of this strong spring, bears, forcing the teeth of Y; and
X, into gear. The wheel X, is constructed with a solid rim or flange;
and on to the circumference of Y is bolted a raised segment or comb
piece y, of a given length; so as to bear in contact with the flange of
Xduring a given part of its revolution: "Connected with the spring Z,
by a like or rod, is a levers, with a catch or detent at its ends.
Thus it will be seen that as the wheel revolves, the comb piece will
at a fixed point of its revolution come in contact with the flange of
the wheel the spring Zwill be depressed, and the wheels will be
depressed, and the wheels will be thrown out of gear, while at the
same time the lever, will fall, and the detent enter between the teeth
of X. This latter action is necessary, inasmuch as the pull of the gill
"teeth on the fibres would otherwise cause the rollers A, to revolve. The
duration of the stoppage of the rollers will be regulated by the length
of the "comb piece y. "Th Sheet 2, Figure 1, is a side elevation of
combing machine of one set of gills, in which I have shewn a similar
arrangement to that last described for stopping the feeding rollers
during a part of the tinie that the gills are in action. To this niode of
treatment, however, I do not adhere in this machine; but when a
certain quantity of material has passed through the gill's cause both
al

page_text: the gills and the feed and delivery rollers to stop simultaneously, which
I effect by the same means as already explained in respect to the feed
rollers, namely, by either acting on the first driver of the train by one
comb piece, and thus stopping the whole, or by several comb pieces
acting on distinct parts of the train, and each stopping its own part.
In this machine I have shewn an endless cloth C, for feeding in the
material; A, being the feed rollers, and B, the delivering rollers, part of
the frame being also broken away to shew the screw gills D. Imme-
diately in front of the rollers B, is mounted a cylinder F, with a number
of combs franged round its periphery, on to which combs, as the
cylinder revolves, the material is lashed as it is fed forward by B. The
motions of the machine are so speeded that the further delivery of the
rollers and screw gills is stopped at the point when the sufficient amount
of material has accumulated on the combs f. The cylinder F, is now
pushed forward by a gradual motion towards a second similar cylinder G,
which revolves in the same direction, as indicated by the arrows, and is
also supplied with combs y, on its periphery. By this means the
material on the combs f, will be combed out by those g, as the cylinders
approach each other, beginning at the extremities of the fibres, and pro-
ceeding gradually to the roots. When the cylinders have come into
close proximity, and the combing fully effected, the further motion of the
machine is stopped, and the combs removed to another machine to draw
the fibrous material off. The propulsion of the cylinder F, is effected
thush, is a vertical shaft, set in motion by bevel wheels or other
gear, on the lower part of it being keyed a worm i, which acts on the
worm wheel, keyed on the horizontal shaft k. On the end of this shaft
is fixed an eccentric L, which may also be made to assume any scroll or
comb shape suitable to the purpose. The swell part of the eccentric or
comb as it revolves acts upon the roller 7, at the extremity of the lever m,
and through the connecting rods o, p, and double lever n, also upon the
cylinder F, (the axis of which is connected with P,) propelling it forward
at a speed and to a distance corresponding to the speed and throw of the
eccentric L. n, is a counterweight to keep the roller 7, steady against the
eccentric. The cylinders F, and G, are geared together by the spur wheels
M, M, M; and as during the time the cylinder F, is being propelled.

page_text: forward it is necessary that these wheels should be kept in proper acting
gear; this is effected in the following way: From the axes or shafts of
the two wheels M, M", are suspended two rods or links N, NJ, the other
extremities of which meet together at the centre of the third wheel M',
the shaft or stud of which is inserted through an eye in both, the whole
being guided by a suitable slot in the frame, so that it will be seen as
the two cylinders approach each other the angle formed by the two
links will continually diminish, and will thereby cause the wheel M', to
descend, maintaining at the same time the true coincidence of the pitch
lines of all the three. All the motions described appertaining to the
two cylinders E, and G, should, for the sake of steadiness, be duplicate,
namely, one set on each side of the frame. Although I have shown the
first motion of this part of the machine to be communicated by a plain
pulley P, I prefer to drive it through the intervention of cone pullies,
causing the strap to traverse thereon in a manner well known, with
such a movement that the motion may be quickest during the time the
combs, are filling, and may gradually slacken off until the operation of
combing is finished. This construction of machine, the scale of the
different parts being modified to suit the purpose, is very well adapted
to the treatment of short stapled fibre, such as cotton and noil from silk
waste. Figure 2, Sheet 2, is a sectional view of the working parts of
another combing machine, those parts which it is unnecessary to show
being removed. The same arrangement of screw gill is here main-
tained as in the last described, there being simply a feed cloth A, a
screw gill B, and a delivering cloth C; there may be, however, an
additional screw gill applied, and the feed and delivery may be varied
in construction. The same intermittent action of the feed rollers is also
here employed, and effected by the same means as before explained,
in order to allow the gills to work by themselves, and draw and
straighten out the fibre, carrying forward the noil and short.
I prefer,
also, in most cases to connect the feed and delivery rollers together in
such a manner that they stop and commence to revolve simultaneously;
thus, when the portion of material which is in the gills has been
fully combed by the gills working alone, and the rollers are again
started to feed forward another portion, the noil and short will pass

page_text: through the delivering rollers, first, and the combed fibre afterwards.
The noil and short may then be, separated by the attendant to be treated
distinctly (or it may also be cleared away before passing through tlic
delivery rollers by a revolving brush, as fully explained with regard to
'the first-described machine); in the meantime the coinbing of the second
portion proceeds. With this second pórtion, however, is being fed for
ward in order to prevent any of its fibres from being drawn along and
mixing with. those which are already combed, I make use of the follow-
ing contrivance-I make a slot s, in the frame, in which a block t, is
capable of sliding, and on a-studin this block I suspend a double-armed
lever one end of which is supplied with a comb. When the
lever is in the position shewn in the full lines a projection on it
comes in contact with a stop on the sliding block, so as to keep the
comb steady with its teeth between the teeth of two of the fallers. In
this position the comb w, (which should be a comb of equal throw)
protects it forward by acting on a bowl on one arm of the bell-
crank lever a, at the same speed as the fallers; and it being arranged
so that the comb, commences to propel it exactly, at the moment that
the feeding rollers are started, and the teeth of the comb entering be-
.tween the teeth of the fallers exactly at the division between the
uncombed and the combed portion of the material, it will be observed
that the same position will be maintained throughout the whole
traverse. By this means, while the fresh material is being fed forward,
a barrier of a double row of teeth will, always be presented, to prevent
the dragging of any of the uncombed fibres amongst those which are
combed. When the whole traverse has been completed, the comb.
recedes from the bowl on the arm of the lever a, and the block t, is
slid back to its original position by the weighted arm of the bell-crank
lever a. Before doing this, however, the comb al, is lifted clear of tlie
teeth of the fallers by the lever a, acting on the upright arm of the
v, to an extent allowed by another stop on the contrary: side of its
centre. The position the lever assumes in this case is shewn in
dotted lines. As the comb, stretches entirely across the fallers, it is
necessary that the movements belonging to it should be duplicate, one
set on each side of the frame. I do not adhere precisely to this

page_text: arrangement, but other mechanical actions equivalent to it may be
employed. Figure 3, Sheet 2, is another combing machine; the essen-
tial working parts being shewn in section, in which I preserve the same
arrangement of screw gills. To this machine, also, I prefer to apply
the intermitting action before described, although not necessarily so.
A, is the feed cloth as usual, and B, the gills, into the teeth of which
the material is pressed in its traverse by the revolving, brush C.
After having been combed out by the gills, and passed. through
the rollers, D, the fibres are submitted to the action of the card or
comb sheet E, into the teeth of which it is pressed. by another re-
volving brush F; they then pass forward to the delivering rollers and
endless belts G, G. The card or comb sheet E. should be made of great
Strength, and it has a series of bars on its inner surface, corresponding
to grooves in the rollers on which it travels, to prevent it from slipping.
Ji travels also at a slow speed as compared to that of the rollers G, G¹, so
as only to carry away the noil, knots, and short, which is cleared from the
teeth of the same by a third circular brush H, revolving at a rapid speed';
and the more effectually to clear the longer fibres from the teeth of the
card, and direct them to the delivering rollers, a horizontal combor
doffer I, is kept continually vibrating, in close proximity to the teeth of
the card or comb sheet, by means of a crank K. In sonie cases it may
be desirable to employ à series of card or coinb sheets, and in this case
a series of doffers will also be requisite. The method of gearing the
machine, as it presents no difficulty to any practical man, I have here
thought it unnecessary to shew.
Having now fully described and ascertained, the nature of my Inven-
tion, as far as regards the first part thereof, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I would have it understood that I do
not claim as new and of my Invention the whole as herein described,
but what I claim is, first, in respect to the machine,shewn in
Sheet 1, the intermitting action of the feed rollers, and the mode of
carrying out the same; I also claim the mode of clearing the fallers
from noil by means of brushes; also the mode of guiding the ma-
terial between the rollers by means of a straight edge; the whole as
described. With regard to Figure 1, Sheet 2, I claini the intermitting

page_text: action before described, as well as a simultaneous intermitting action of
both the gills and rollers; I claim also the driving of the cylinders of
this machine by means of cone pullies in the manner and for the purpose
described. In reference to Figure 2. Sheet 2, I claim the intermitting
action, as above; also the mode of traversing the comb e', with the gills to
separate the combed from the uncombed portion of material, and the
method of lifting the said comb clear of the fallers, and returning it to its
former position as described. And in reference to Figure 3. Sheet 2, I
claim the intermitting action, as above; also the application of a card or
comb sheet to act on the material after having passed through the gills;
also the mode of stripping the card teeth or combs by means of a
doffing knife; the whole as described. I also claim in respect to all
the machines the general combinations shewn and described, and such
modifications thereof as preserve the general features.
My Invention consists, secondly, in a new and useful contrivance for
drawing off the sliver from the comb when the ordinary process of comb-
ing has been employed preparatory to spinning. The machine which
I employ for this purpose is shewn in Sheet 3; Figure 1, being an end
elevation, and Figure 2, a plan. A, A', are a pair of conical tooth and
pinion rollers, to which motion is communicated by means of bevel
wheels from the vertical shaft d, or by any convenient mode of gearing.
A is another conical roller, which may be either toothed or plain, at
some distance from the former and lower down in the frame, and round
this and the lower one of the other two passes a strong leather end-
less apron B, this being applied for the purpose of effecting a firmer
grip between A, and A. The framing is constructed with a plate C
running the whole length of the top on one side, and in this plate is
a longitudinal groove D, and it will be observed that the axis of the
conical rollers A, and A', lie at an angle to this groove. F. F, F, are
three or more pinions, keyed on vertical shafts, which are driven at a
moderate speed by the worm and worm wheels f, and f', and the teeth
of the pinions enter laterally into the groove D. The combs containing
the material to be drawn off' is in the first instance attached to a rack.
as is done in other well-known machines used for a similar purpose.
In this state it is inserted, the fibres projecting inwards into the groove

page_text: D, the whole length of which it is traversed by the pinions F, acting
on the teeth of the rack. Thus, as the comb advances along the
groove, the longer fibres projecting therefrom will be first seized and
drawn off by the smaller diameter of the conical rollers, and the shorter
in like manner afterwards by the larger diameter. The best part of
the material being by this means drawn off the comb, it is formed
into a sliver by being passed through the trumpet mouthed tube G,
and delivered between a pair of rollers H, into the can K. In
order to give the sliver a slight twist 1. cause the tube to revolve
by suitable gearing, as shewn; and to coil it compactly, in the can
I give the latter also a. revolving motion by a band and pullies k, kl.
For the purpose of clearing the upper roller H, from any fibre which
may adhere to it; I allow a suspended brush h, always to reinain in
contact with it by its own weight. The comb now, contains only the
shorter fibres and the noil. The former is then taken off as the comb
advances, in a manner already well known, partly by the rollers L,
acting on one side of the comb, and partly by another similar pair M.
acting on the other side. The rollers L, are usually called milking
rollers, and those M, backing rollers, both being cylindrical. They are
also both supplied with an extra roller l, and m, with a leatheri apron
for the purpose of effecting a firmner grip, as described with respect to
the conical rollers. The produce from the milking rollers L, I carry.
away between two endless belts N,. (the upper one of which alone is
seen in the plan, Figure 2,) and deliver it into a second revolving
can, K, but the fibre drawn off by the backing rollers M, I brush
away by a circular brush P, revolving at a rapid rate from this, it
being again cleared by a straight edge p, bearing against the bristles.
The rollers L., and M, may be either vertical or horizontal. The noil
alone is now left in the comb. It will be observed that in consequence
of the rollers A', and A", being conical, it is requisite that the leathern
apron which surrounds them should be, when first cut, and before
the ends are sewn together, somewhat of the shape shewn in the
diagram Figure 3; and, as I have experienced some difficulty in
procuring it to run accurately, I here give the rule which I now
employ for finding the radii c. r, and c, r¹. As the difference of the
R

page_text: diameters of the two ends of the rollers is to the length of the roller
measured on the surface, so is the greater diameter to the longer
radius c, 2, and the shorter radius e, r, will be the longer radius minus
the length of the roller." The leathern apron is kept clean by a
brush 9. pressing against it at the roller A. The utility of employing
conical rollers in the manner described consists in the larger diameter
inoving faster where it has a greater body of fibrous material to draw
off. In some cases, when the material is of short staple, as, for instance;
in the case of cotton, I construct the machine with a number of
drawing off rollers in succession, and conduct the produce of all into
one sliver, as will be readily understood from inspection of the Figure 4.
In this case the drawing-off' rollers need not necessarily be conical.
Having now fully described and ascertained the nature of my Inven-
tion, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, I would
have it understood, with regard to the machine for drawing off the sliver
from the comb, that I do not claim as new and of my Invention the
use of drawing-off rollers set at an angle to the course of the comb;
neither do I claim the use of the milking and backing rollers; but
what I claim is, the use of conical rollers for drawing off the sliver. I
also claim the general combination of the machine shewn in the Drawing,
and such modifications thereof as are consistent with its leading features.
And, lastly, I claim the use of several drawing-off rollers conducting to
one sliver, as described in reference to Figure 4.
In witness whereof I, the said David Wilkinson Sharp, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, the Thirty-first day of March,
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three.

page_text: Machinery for Combing and Drawing Fibrous Sub-
stances; and Apparatus for Constructing Screws
to be used in such Machinery.
SHARP'S DISCLAIMER.
Filed 28th June 1853.
In the Matter of a Patent granted to. David Wilkinson Sharp,
of Bingley, in the County of York, Manufacturer, on the
"2nd day October 1852, in the 16th year, of. Her present
Majesty's, reign,, for his Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY FOR COMBING AND DRAWING A SLIVER OF.. WOOL
FLAX, SILK, WASTE, AND, OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES, AND IN
APPARATUS FOR CONSTRUCTING SCREWS TO BE USED IN A PART
OR PARTS OF SUCH MACHINERY."
DISCLAIMER proposed to be entered by me, the said David Wilkin-
son Sharp, at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents for
Invention, pursuant to an Act passed in the 5th and 6th years
of the reign of His late Majesty King William the Fourth,
intituled "An Act to amend the law touching Letters Patent
for Inventions," and also to an Act passed in the 15th and 16th
years of the reign of Her present Majesty Queen Victoria,
intituled "An Act for amending the law for granting Patents for
Inventions."
WHEREAS since the date of the said Letters Patent and of the
filing of the Provisional Specification, I have discovered that part of

page_text: e said Invention, as described in the said Letters Patent and Pro-
sional Specification, is of no use, benefit, or advantage to the
blic.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said David Wilkinson Sharp, do here-
disclaim the words "and in apparatus for constructing screws to be
used in a part or parts of such machinery" contained in the title of
e said Invention. And I do hereby also disclaim so much of the
rovisional Specification as relates to the above-disclaimed portion of
e title, that is to say:-
"My Invention relates, thirdly, to a method of constructing or
manufacturing screws of an expanding pitch, such as those
described in reference to Figure 2. The machine or apparatus
which I employ for this purpose is the common slide lathe, as in
Figure 9, which it is unnecessary to describe; but in order to
produce the variable traverse of the slide requisite to cut a thread
"of expanding or diminishing pitch I attach to the bed of the
lathe a stud carrying a scroll or comb A, which acts in revolving
"on a small roller B, attached to the slide. The comb (shewn
"
more clearly in Figure 10,) is constructed with a curve accord-
ing to the degree of variation of pitch required, and it is driven
by a worm wheel and worm C, and C', from the ordinary sliding
"shaft D, or by any other equivalent mode."
Temple,
June 28th, 1853.
A. E. COCKBURN.