812,756. Combing machines. PRINCE-SMITH & STELLS Ltd. April 4, 1957 [March 19, 1956], No. 8478/56. Class 120(1) A machine for combing textile fibres, particularly wool, comprises a comb circle 3 (Figs. 1 and 2) rotatable about its own axis and having peripheral pins 4 projecting axially; a plurality of sliver - feeding shoot boxes 10 so translatable relative to the comb circle that the delivery opening of each shoot and the periphery the circle approach, pass substantially tangentially and recede from one another, each shoot being deflectable perpendicular to the plane of circle 3 from a position in which its delivery opening is level with pins 4 to a position in which the opening is clear of the pin ends, each shoot comprising means for feeding in steps predetermined lengths of sliver and comb pins 19, 69 (Figs. 4 and 7) adapted to project through the sliver, when the sliver is fed, adjacent the delivery opening; means for imparting relative translation to shoots 10 and circle 3; means for deflecting each shoot so that its opening is clear of pins 4 while not tangential to circle 3 and for restoring each shoot to a position where its opening is level with pins 4 when tangential to the circle; means for feeding forward the sliver and projecting pins 19, 69 of each shot into the sliver while the shoot opening is not tangential to circle 3; a dabber 51, Fig. 7, reciprocated perpendicular to circle 3 to enter pins 4 where shoots 10 and circle 3 are tangential; stripping and conveyer means 55, 70, 60 arranged to pass or be passed by each shoot opening as the latter and circle 3 recede from each other; stripping and conveyer means 60, 71 tangential to circle 3; and means for driving both stripping and conveyer means. As shown, two other combing circles 1 and 2, with associated stripping and conveyer means are provided. Shoots 10 are carried by a rotatable annular carriage 6, the combing circle axes and the stripping and conveying means being mounted on a fixed table 5. Slivers 49 are fed to the shoots from balls in creels 40, Fig. 2, carried by carriage 6. Each shoot 10 consists of a trough 11, Figs. 4, 7, pivoted at 13 to carriage 6 and carrying a roller 25 engagable with a stationary ramp 27. Pivoted at 15 to trough 11 is an arm 16 carrying a slidable member 18 carrying pins 19, 69, the latter being outwardly cranked so as to pass very closely to pins 4. A slidable trough cover 12, perforated to receive pins 16, 69, is linked at 37 to member 18 so as to slide therewith. Rollers 32, 33, carried by member 18 are engageable with stationary cam surfaces for raising, retracting and advancing pins 19, 69. In operation, as any shoot aproaches a comb circle, its roller 25 engages ramp 27 to raise the shoot from the Fig. 2 position to the Fig. 7 position. A cam 34 engages the outer roller 32 to lift pins 19, 69 to the Fig. 4 position; a cam 38, Fig. 1, now engages roller 33 and the inner roller 32 to retract member 18 and cover 12, cam 38 being adustable to control the retraction distance; as rollers 32, 33 leave cam 38, pins 19, 69 are lowered through cover 12 into the sliver in the shoot; a third cam 39, Fig. 7, now engages roller 33 to advance member 18 and feed the sliver forward so that a tuft is extruded through the shoot mouth. Roller 25 now leaves ramp 2.7, and the shoot is lowered to the Fig. 2 position so that as the shoot passes the comb circle the protruding sliver tuft is engaged with the comb circle pins 4 into which it is dabbed by brush 51. As the shoot recedes from the comb circle, combed fibre fringes are left at the shoot mouth and the periphery of the circle. These fringes are respectively nipped between a drawing-off roller 70 and apron 55 and between a drawing-off roller 71 and apron 60, drawn through the respective pins, and delivered as a comber sliver through funnels 64, 65 to a coiler 67. A single row of comb pins may be provided around the inner periphery of the carriage in 'front of the shoot openings. The various moving parts are driven via gearing from a main electric motor, separate motors 53 and gear 52, Fig. 7, being provided for the dabbing brushes 51. Instead of carriage 6 being rotated, it may, together with creels 40, and shoots 10, be stationary while table 5, together with the comb circles, cams and ramps are rotated.