US2458732A - Method and machine for combing cotton and other textile fibers - Google Patents

Description

Jan. ll, 1949.

4Filed NOV. 13, 1945 FMJ.

F. RAUBlTsc-HEK AND OTHER TEXTILE FIBERS METHOD AND MACHINE FOR COMBING COTTON 10 Sheets-Sheet 1 s l 8 7 llnunfungunuu ::::::::n::m:::::u umunnmnlmn l *22 :wmznunnmu: I Hull 2/-\| X xmlynmmmir 2 7 4 f: www 2f; lllllilmlllmlmll I H ULUIUL l LL A :if J \5 Jan. l1, 1949.

Filed Nov. 13, 1943 F. RAUBlTscHEK METHOD AND MACHINE FOR COMBING COTTON AND OTHER TEXTILE FIBERS 20 [76.2. ,ff QR l0 Sheets-Sheet 2 mbv-n effi.

F. RAUBITSCHEK 2,458732l METHOD AND MACHINE FOR COMBING COTTON AND OTHER TEXTILE FIBERS 10 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jan. 1l, 1949.

Filed Nov. 1s, 194:5

Jan. 1l, 1949. F. RAuBnscHeK METHOD ANDMACHINE FOR COMBING COTTON AND OTHER TmTILE FIBERS l0 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov. 13, 1943 Jmu 34- F. RAUBITSCHEK 45,732

METHOD ND MCHNE FOR COMBING COTTON AND OTHER TEXTILE FIBERS l0 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 1:1, 1943 `kann. H, 1949. F. RAUBITSCHEK '58,732

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR COMBING COTTON AND OTHER TEXTILE FIBERS l0 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Nov. l5, 1943 jan. M, i949. F. RAUBITSCHEK E METHOD AND MACHINE FOR COMBING COTTON l v AND OTHER TEXTILE FIBERS Filed Nov. 13, 1943 l0 Sheets-Sheet '7 jan. l, M349. F. RAUBITSCHEK ZSSZ METHOD AND MACHINE FOR COMBING COTTON AND OTHER TEXTILE FIBERS Filed Nov. 13, 1943 10 Shams-Sheet 8 Fos/'Hon 8.

Jan. 1l, 1949. -FQRAUBlTscHr-:K 2,458,732

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR COMBING COTTON AND OTHER TEXTILE FIBERS 10 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed NOV. 13, 1943 alge Jan. l1, 1949. F. RAUB|T5CHEK 2,458,732

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR coMBING COTTON AND OTHER TEXTILE FIBERS Filed Nov. 13, 1943 10 Sheets-Sheet 10 LEED/f5 j@ F I6. l.

Patented Jan. 11, 1949 Ms'rnon am) MACHINE Foa comme 'COTTON AND THER TEXTILE FIBERS Frederick Raubitsclielr, Ealing, lLondon, England Application November 13, 1943, Serial No. 51052 lin Great Britain November 23, 1942 er claims (ci. is-nrl This invention relates to methods of, and machines for, combing cotton and other textile libres.

Objects of the invention are to provide combing machines which are capable of greatly increased production and which provide a better combed, and a more equal product. A further object is to provide combing machines which are of simplied construction and operation and which are considerably less bulky and occupy much less space than known machines.

Some advantages of the present invention are:

Large production: the feeding of a much thicker lap than hitherto usual, is possible, `the machine runsu continuously and the time for changing from long to short cotton, or vice versa, is reduced to a few minutes.

Perfect combing: the best possible elimination of impurities is achieved by combing thoroughly both ends of the tuft beyond the middle of its length, the combing of short cotton is possible,

Strong product: little strain is imposed on the fibres during the detachment and combing, and because of the |preliminary combing few of the valuable long fibres are lost.

Perfect regularity: the regularity of the combed lap is equal to the regularity of the fed lap Less preparatory machinery necessary: because of the regularity of the combed lap, less doubling and therefore less subsequent machinery is necessary and a drawing mechanism can be mounted on the machine before, and after the combing operations.

Other advantages: The machine is simple and robust in construction; on the same production it occupies less space and requires less power to drive than known combers.

According to the present invention, I provide a method of and machine for combing cotton and other textile fibres, in which tuft-holding means are moved continuously and uninterruptedly around stationary combing means and which include one lpair. or spaced pairs, of rollers, or equivalent rotatable members having curved cooperating peripheries, turnable about their own axes to grip the tuft and move it relatively to the nip of the rollers or equivalent members, the operative association of the two members of the, or each, pair of rollers or equivalent rotatable members, or the operative association of the two members of the pair with at least one other pivoted member included in said tuft-holding means, being used to grip, take the tuft from a lap, move it past the combing means and release it to delivery means, the rollers or equivalent members being inverted while the tuft is being moved past the 2 combing means so that both ends of the tuft are presented to the combing means during the time that the tuit holding means are being moved from the position in which the uncombed tuft is removed frorn the lap to be combed to the position in which the combed tuft is overlapped on the lap of previously combed fibre, the tuft holding means also being caused to approach the combing means in order that the ends of the tuft shall be presented to the combing means for combing and also to move away from the combing means after one end of the tuft has been combed.

The expression "stationary combing means means that the combing means is stationary as a unit while combing and does not exclude combing means which are adjustable in order that the position oi the combs can be varied to suit requirements.

As the combing means are arranged on one side only of the path of movement of the tuftholdlng means the inversion oi the tuft is necessary after one end has been combed so that the opposite end can also be presented to the combing means. By inverting the tuft is meant turning the rollers or equivalent members through a predetermined angle as a unit so that the leading \member thereof and the leading or combed end of the tuft becomes the trailing member and end respectively.

Modified methods and machines according `to the invention, particularly adapted to -be used in the combing of relatively short-stapled textile nbers, are characterised by the feature that after the tuft has been detached from the lap of uncombed fibres and then moved by a pair of cooperating, relatively turnable rollers, it is either held between one of said rollers and a single nipper means, or between two relatively movable nipper means. which means are operatively associated with the pair of rollers and are moved with them along the combing means, the nip of one of the rollers and the nipper means, or the nip of the two nipper means, being caused to approach the combing means and to remain in relatively close proximity to them throughout the combing operation and then to recede from the combing means. By these methods and machines the tufts are either gripped at a position on the periphery of one of the rollers oi the pair of rollers, or at a position between the two nipper means, both o! these positions being nearer to the combing means than the line of contact of the pair of rollers so that much shorter fibres can be combed.

In vone method or and machine for combing cott0n and other textile fibres according to the presont invention, usc is made of` combing means mounted on a normally stationary combing cylp inder or segmental support. In this method and machine the operations of gripping the end of the uncombed lap, detachinf.r the tuit from the lap of uncombed fibres, causing the leadingend of the tuft to be presented to the combing means, combing that end of the tuft, inversion of the tuft, causing the opposite trailing end of the tuft to be presented to the combing means, combing of the trailing ends of the tuft, and overlapping of the completely combed tuft on the lap 'of combed fibres are all carried out by means including pairs of cooperating, rotatable rollers which act to ensure or to assist in ensuringthat all the operations shall be carried out while the rollers are making one revolution around the combing cylinder or segmental support.

Constructional forms of the invention are shown, by way of example. on the accompanying sheets of drawings, whereon- Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in section,

. of the machine, the rear fra-me member of the machine, the rear disc, the rear bearing boxes for the tutt-holding rollers, their supports and the rear pin-carrying discs being omitted from the figure;

Fig. 2 is a front view of part of the revolving drum and the feeding and delivery drums with the f ront frame and driving pulley and wheel omitted;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on theline .lt-Ay movements of a pair of tuft-holding rollers and the manner of presenting' the tuft to the two segmental comb sets;

Fig. 5, left bottom. and Figs. 6 to 9. diagrammatically show the action of the roller which operates to press the uncombed lap onto the feeding drum while a pair of tuft-holding rollers is detaching the tuft from the lap; A

Fig. 5, right bottom, and Figs. 10 to 13, diagrammatic-.ally show the action of the roller which acts to overlap the combed tuft upon the lap on the delivery drum.

Fig. 14 is a diagrammatic view showing the fluide slots formed in one of the end frames of a modified machine in which two guiding pins only are carried upon the shafts of the tuft-holding roller bearing boxes; and in which also the said shafts are caused to run in guide slots in the frames, each shaft following the path indicated by the chain-dotted line in the figures;

Fig. 15 is a diagrammatic view showing the movements of a pair of tuft-holding rollers and a nipper bar associated therewith in the modified machine referred to above.

Fig. 15A is a diagrammatic view of a modified arrangement in which two nipper bars are associated with each pair of rollers;

Figs. 16 and 17 are fragmentary sectional views of an alternative method of supporting the coopcrating tuffi-holding rollers in their bearing boxes and driving the rollers positively; y

Fig. 18 is a plan view of a locking platel used in association with the `arrangement shown yin Figs. 16 and 17;

' discs 3.

4443a and I3b at its-opposite ends.

Fig. 19 is affragmcntary sectional view of the upper part of one end of a modified machine including means for positively driving the rollers and the arrangement for guiding the rollers as shown in Fig. 14;

Fig. 20 is a section of a detail of the modified machine shown in Fig. 19; and

Fig. 2'1 is a fragmentary diagrammatic view showing an alternative method of turning the tuft-holding rollers in the required directions, such turning movements being carried out positively.

Referring rst to Figs. 1 to 13 The combing cylinder I the section of which is less than a complete circle, is fixed on a stationary tubular shalt 2, sec Figs. 1 and 3. At the front of the combing cylinder I is a disc 3 iormed with a hollow hub 4 which is adapted to revolve on the shaft 2 and in a main bearing 5 provided in the front frame 6 of the machine. The hub projects through the bearing 5 and on it are xed a driving pulley 'I and a toothed wheel 8. At the rear of the combing cylinder, a disc identical with the disc 3, is turnably arranged upon the shaft 2 and in a bearing, corresponding to the front bearing 5, provided in the rear frame of the machine. The rear disc, the rear hub and the rear frame are not shown on the drawings.

The front disc 3 and the corresponding rear disc are connected by three arcuate plates 9, external to the.- combing cylinder I as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 and forming a carrier member coaxial with the comb support.

Three pairs of parallel tuft-holding rollers Il) and I I are arranged to travel around the combing cylinder I and at least one or the other of the rollers I0 and I I is provided with an elastic covering .such as leather on cloth. rubber-cot or the like. Each roller I0 is provided with a toothed wheel I2 at its rear end and with two loose collars Each roller II carries a toothed wheel I4 at its front end. The journal ends of each pair of rollers I0 and II are arranged in slots I5 formed in members or bearing boxes I6 which are arranged at opposite ends of the machine. Fig. 1 shows the front bearing box I 6 with its slot I5, see also Fig. 3, which shows the rear bearing boxes, and parts of the means or cross pieces I1 which connect the front and rear bearing boxes.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 3a, it will be seen that the journal parts of the rollers I0 and II are resiliently pressed towards each other by means of a coil spring fitted between a set screw screwed through the outer wall of the bearing box I E and another set screw screwed through the inner,l wall. The spring acts upon the bearing pad i3dl which bears on the journal end of the roller IU and the last mentioned set screw presses against a bearing pad lila which bears against the journal end of the roller II. The rollers are thus held in a required position within the slots I5 in such a way that the rotary movement of one is communicated to the other and so that they can slide in the boxes. Each end of the bearing box I6 is integral with a shaft I8 turnably supported in a boss I9 formed on a supporting member or bar 2l. see also Fig. 2, which is arranged to slide radially in a guide slot 2 Ia formed in a guide member 22 xed on the outer face of each of the As shown in Figure 2, the three guide members 22 are spaced equidistantly around the axis of the front and rear discs 3. Fixed at each end of each shaft TB on the outside of each of the bosses I8 is a turnable member or disc 20 provided with four equidistantly-spaced pins P, R, S and T projecting towards the.,adiacent frame 8.

Thus, spaced equidistantly around the shaft 2 there are three pairs of rollers I and I Leach pair being adapted for rotational movement around the shaft 2 and for radial movement towards and from the axis of the shaft 2. Each roller is adapted to turn about its own axis and both rollers can turn in company around the axes of the shafts IB and can move in the longitudinal direction of the slots I5 in the front and rear bearing boxes I8.

The movements of the rollers I0 and Il around the axes of the shafts I8 and radially are, as described hereinafter, carried out by the cooperation of the pins P, R, S and T (which travel with the discs 2li around the combing cylinder I) with guiding means provided on the front and rear frames v The pins P, R, S and T are equidistantly spaced on a circle having its centre on the common axis of the shafts I Bat the front and rear of each box i6. In the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the plane passing through the longitudinal axes of the opposed front and rear slots I5 and the plane passing through the axes of the pins R and T are coincident.

vao

The movements of the rollers of each pair of rollers Iii and II around their axes are carried out by the following means. At suitable spaced positions on the front and rear end walls of the stationary combing cylinder i there are two toothed segments 23 and 26 respectively, Figs. 1 and 3, adapted to turnaround bolts 25 whereby they are mounted upon the end walls.

The toothed segments are held in the positions shown in Fig. 3, by means of springs 26. When the rollers I@ and I I are moving around the combing cylinder I, the toothed wheels I2 and it respectively engage with the toothed segments 25 and 23 as described hereinafter, the springs 26 preventing the breaking of the teeth which might otherwise occur.

As shown in Figs. 1 to 3, situated below the combing cylinder i there are two drums 21 and it covered with elastic material, such as leather on cloth, rubber-cot or the like, the drum 27 being the feeding drum and the drum M5 the receivingor delivery drum.

The drum 2l is xed to a shaft 29 which rotates in bearings provided in front and rear pedestals 29, a ratchet wheel 30 and a toothed wheel Si also being xed on the shaft on opposite sides of the iront pedestal, and a toothed wheel 52 is fixed on the shaft at therear of theA rear pedestal. A pulley 3l, to which is attached a belt, carrying a weight 32 indicated by the arrow in Figs. 1 to 3, is adapted to rotate about the bearing boss of the rear pedestal 29, the weightftending to turn the pulleyin the clockwise direction as viewed in Figs. 2 and 3.

Fixed to the pulley 3I is an arm 33h connected by a cross member 34 to an arm 33a loosely mounted on the shaft 28 at the rear of the ratchet wheel 30. Aligned slots 35a and 35b are formed in the arms 33a and 33h respectively, and these slots serve as bearings for the journal ends of a roller 36. The roller is pulled by a spring (not shown) in a radial direction, so that it exerts pressure on the drum 21. If either the pulley 3l or the roller 36 is moved, then both the roller and the pulley move.

A cam 31, see Figs. 1 to 3, is loosely mounted upon the rearwardly-extending hub of the arm 33a, and is adapted to be rendered stationary thereon -by means of a laterally-extending arm 38 formed with aslot 38a. The arm lies against a stationary bracket 39, Fig. 2, formed with a slot 39a. and, by means of a bolt 38h, which extends through both slots, the arm 38 can be xed in a higher or lower position and thus the angular position of the rise 4D, Fig. 3, of the cam 31 can be altered.

A pin 4I, fixed tothe arm 33a and projecting forwardly therefrom carries a pivoted pawl 4'2 adapted to cooperate with the ratchet wheel 30.

wAnother pin 43, parallel to the pin 4i, is fixed to the pawl t2 and extends rearwardly across the bar 33a. The pin H3 carries a turnable roller It, which is adapted to ride on the cam 3l and is drawn towards the axis of the drum 21 by spring means (not shown). Parallel to the shaft 28 and bearing on the surface oi the drum 21 is a roller 45 arranged on a fixed axis.

The delivery drum 56, Figs. 2 and 3, is xed to a shaft il which is parallel to the shaft 28 and is rotatably mounted in bearings provided in front and rear brackets 58. The drum i6 and its associated parts, viz., the turnable front and rear arms 59a and 39h, the cross member Eli, the roller 38a, the cam 5I and its integral arm 52 formed with a slot 53, the pulley 3io, and its weight 32a are identical with the drum 2l and its corresponding associated parts. It will be seen from Fig. 2, that the arm 52 lies against the back of the bracket 39 and that a bolt 53a, passing through the slots 39a and 53 serves to fix the cam 5I and its rise `Eil in their singularly-adjusted positions. A ratchet wheel, corresponding to the ratchet wheel 36', is not provided on the shaft di and, moreover, an arm 55 is pivotally mounted on a pin 56 fixed to the front arm IlQa. A pin 5l is toothed wheels 3, 59, 83 and ti. By altering theA gear train the speed of the drum 2l in relation to the main drive can be altered to suit the staple of the fibre being combed. A toothed wheel 62 is fixed on the rear end of the shaft 23 (Figs. 1 and 3) and through a wheel 63 drives a toothed wheel 6@ mounted on the shaft t? of the drum d6 (Fig. 3). By'changing the wheels 82 or Bil the relative speeds of the drums 2l and i6 and the length of the overlap of the combed bres on the combed lap can be altered.

Referring to Fig. 4 in order to make the subsequent description of the operation of the machine quite clear, the mechanisms for operating ythe different movements of the rollers i0 and Ii will now be described independently of the general operation of the machine.

'The various movements of the three pairs of rollers Iii and I I as they travel around the combing cylinder I are controlled partly bythe cooperation of the pins P, R, S, T carried on the said discs 20, mounted at the opposite ends of the shafts I8, with lguide slots or recesses and guide surfaces provided on the inside of the front and rear frame members 6 of the machine. The guide slots or recesses and guide surfaces on the front frame member are identical with those on the rear frame member, so that it will only be necessary to describe the cooperation of the pins P, R, S, T on one of the discs 20 with the guide slots or recesses and guide surfaces on the adjacent frame member. Fi'g. 4 shows diagrammati- 7 cally the formation and the disposition of the guide slots and surfaces on the rearframe member, the surfaces being cross hatched.

Fig. 4 also shows diagrammatically the movements of one pair of rollers I and II in different positions, while the rollers are travelling around the combing cylinder I in the clockwise direction.

The disc 20 at the rear end of the shaft I8 is indicated by a cross formed by connecting the centres of the pins P and S and R and T and the index numerals added tothe reference letters, P, R, S, T indicate the position number referred to in the description.

The paths traced by the centres of the front and rear discs 20 are shown by means of a chain dotted line at each point on this line and, while the machine is operating, the centre of a disc 20 is carried by discs 3ln the direction f a tangent of a circle, the centre of which is the centre M of the combing cylinder I.

The centres are prevented from following this tangential direction by at least two of the pins P, R. S, T being guided in guiding means provided for them in the frame members.

When the discs 20 are in the position O, the pins T rest in the bottom of guide slots and the pins P in curved recesses 1I, the common centres of the recesses 1I being coaxial with the feeding drum 21. As the discs and plates 3. 9 rotate, the tangential movement causes the discs to swing around the pins P. The axis of the discs travels through a curved path which is concentric with the drum 21. The engagement of the pins T in their guides 10 direct the pins S towards the guide surfaces 12a along which they are guided until they reach the position I, eventually engaging in the curved guide slot 12.

As already described. the journal ends of the rollers I0 and I I are movable in the slots I5 in the bearing boxes I6 and they are heid therein as shown in the different positions of Fig. 4, that is to say, with the axis of the roller I0 nearer to the axis of the discs 20 than the axis of the roller II. Thus, the distance from the pins P to the roller Ill isvsmaller than from the pins P to the'roller II. While moving from the position 0 to the position I, therefore, the axis of the roller I0 follows a curved path having a smaller radius than the curved path followed by the axis of the roller II. The effect of this is that if the rollers are set correctly, within the slots I5, the roller I0 is pressed on to the feeding drum 21, While the roller I I scarcely touches it. When moving frbxn the position 0 to the position I, the contact of the roller I0 with the drum 21 causes the roller 'to revolve in the anti-clockwise direction on its are moved further away from the drum 21, the

pins S being guided in the guide slots 12 and the pins P sliding on guide surfaces 13. Shortly after the discs 20 have passed position 2, the rollers I0 and I I reach a position in which the extension of the line connecting the pins P and S passes through the centre M of the combing cylinder I. This position, which, hereinafter, will be called the combing position, is vacated only after position 5 referred to below has been reached.

Before the discs 2|] reach the position 3, the teeth of the wheel I4 on the roller II engage with the teeth of the segment 23 and the rollers III and II are caused to revolve in opposite directlons, as shown by the arrows on the roller I0 and gear wheel I4 in Fig. 4. In position 3 this revolving movement of the rollers is almost compieted. When the discs 20 are in position 3, the pins R are guided by curved guides 14 and the pins S, which have moved out of the guide slots 12, are guided by curved guides 15 concentric with the combing cylinder, and these pins continue to be guided by the guides shortly after position 4. Shortly before the discs 20 reach position 4, however, the pins T are also guided by the curved guides 14. In due course the pins R run o the guides 14 but the pins T and S continue toA run on the guides 14 and 15 until the discs 20 reach position 5.

Before the discs 20 reach position 5, the pins P, after having left the surface guide 13, and after having moved concentric to the combing cylinder, enter guide slots 16 in which they travely until they lodge in the peaks 16a. The pins remain in the peaks 16a until the discs 20 reach the position 6, the discs and the pins R, S, T swinging around the pins P. During this swinging movement, the pins T are guided by the curved guides 11 and the pins R make their way upwardly into tapered guide slots 18, eventually lodging in the peaks 18a thereof. As the discs 20 continue their movement, they swing around the pins R engaged in the peaks 18a, the pins P being guided downwardly in the slots 16 until eventually, the pins S engage in the guide slots 19, in which they travel upwardly until they lodge in the peaks 80.

As the guide slots and guide surfaces von the right hand side of the vertical plane in Fig. 4 passing through the axis M of the combing cylinder are identical with those on the left hand side of the plane, it is clear thatthe right hand path of the disc centre will correspond exactly to the left hand path. It is unnecessary, therefore, to describe the movements on the right hand side in detail. asthe succeeding movements of the discs 20, and the pins P, R, S, T around the combing cylinde'r correspond to the movements described above, except that the roller I I leads the roller I0, since the discs 20 have been turned through degrees. The movement such as from position 5 to 1. where this takes place will hereinafter be referred to as the inversion movement.

When the disc 20 are in position 1, the rollers I0 and I I have returned to the combing position, and, moving further in the clockwise direction. the teeth of the wheel I2 on the roller I0 mesh with the toothed segment 24, see Figs. 3 and 4,

whereby partial revolution of the roller I0 takes place in the clockwise direction.

When the rollers I0 and II eventually reachV position 8 (Fig. 4) they are moving around the receiving drum 46 as described in connection with `the movement of the rollers around the feeding drum 21. The roller II) rotates in the counter-clockwise direction on the drum 46, while the roller I I scarcely touches it.

When the discs 20 have reached position 8, the .pins S are engaged in guide recesses 8I and the discs swing about these pins with the pins P running in contact with the guide surfaces 82. In due course, the pins T re-engage in the guide slots 10 (position 0) `r and the pins P re-engage in the guide recesses 1I. The rollers are thus inverted and the roller II) again leads the roller II when it contacts with the surface of the feeding drum 21.

rollers indicate that rollers are not revolving around their axes.

The rollers I and II take a, part in every operation and the complete operation of the machine can be understood most easily by following the movement of a pair of rollersv around the combing cylinder I.

Detachment of the twft of fibres In Fig. 6, the rollers I0 and II are shown in a position corresponding to position Il in'Fig. 4. Owing to the action of the weight 32, the roller 38 moves at the speed of the drum v21 towards the rollers I8 and II. The arms 33a and 33h are prevented from reaching a greater speed than the drum 21 (which is turning in the same direction) by means oi' the pawl 42, which is held by a tooth of the ratchet wheel 30. While moving towards the rollers I0 and II, the roller 36 presses upon the drum 21, the fibre ends 84 of the fibrous sheet-or lap 83, which has been opened l in known manner, the fibres lying substantially parallel. As shown in Fig. 6 the lap 63 has reached the feeding drum 21 underneath one or more calender rollers 46 turnable onl fixed axes.

While rolling on the drum 21 in the counter clockwise direction, the roller I0 and its collars I3a..and I3b, see Fig. 1, come into contact with the arms 33a and 33h and push them against the direction in which they try to turn. The pawl rolls on the top of the lap 63, the end 84 of which passes underneath the roller I0 and is seized between the counter-rotating rollers I0 and Ii. Any fibres which may stick to the drum2'l are stripped off by the roller II and led to the rest of the fibres. In the position shown in Fig. 8, the rollers IIJ and II terminate their'movement on the drum 21 and they cease to rotate around their axes when they leave the drum 21` The lap 83 is firmly held between the rollers IIl and II and its end 84 partly protrudes fromr the nip of the rollers.

'Ihe rollers I0 and II move further from, the drum 21, and finally move out of the way of the arms 33a and 33h and of the roller 36. As the latter still tries to move in the clockwise direction, owing to the action of the weight 32, it causes a steady pressure to be exerted on that part of the lap 83 which is held under the roller 36 and between thf; rollers, ID and II, see Fig. 9. As long as the end of the lap up to the nip of the roller 36 is shorter than the staple length the bres held between the rollers I0 and II and the roller 36 resist a movement of the latter in the clockwise direction.

Moving still further from the drum 21, the rollers I0 and I I draw all the fibres (i. e., the tuft) held 'between them in its reach.- The roller 36y pressing steadily on the lap 83 and in the opposite direction to that in which the tuft is moving, prevents fibres from the lap 83 being taken along with the tuft. Thus, a neat and clean seperation of the tuft is obtained, 'when position I, Fig. 5, is reached. In this position, the lap 83, held by the roller 36 on the drum 21 projects from under the roller in the form of a tuft 84a.

As they are now freed from all restraint, the arms 33a and 33h move` in the clockwise direction at a greater speed than the druml 21 and the roller 38 successively presses the tuft on the drum 21, until it reaches the ends of the bres. The rise 46 -of the cam 31 must be set in such a position that it causes the roller 44 to descendand the pawl 42 to fall between two teeth oi the ratchet wheel 30 at the moment when the roller 36 reaches the end of the said fibres. Thereafter', the arms 33a and 33h and the roller 36 travel at the speed of the drum 21, until the initial position (Fig. 6) for the detachment of a tuft is again reached.

The detachment of the succeeding tuft, carried f out as described above for the first pair of rollers Preliminary and final vcombing Fig. 5 shows the combing cylinder I and the two needled segments 86, 81, and 90, 9| in cross section, with`a pair of rollers I0 and II in different positions around the cylinder', the feeding drum 21 andthe receiving drum 46, also being shown in end view as in Fig. 2. Known machines comprise vrevolving combing cylinders which carry rows of needles which are thinner and more closely spaced proceeding in the opposite direction to rotation.

In contra-distinction to this usual arrangement, for the preliminary combing of the fibres in the .present machine additional rows 81- and of thick and` widely-spaced needles are arranged in front of the segments 86 and 9i, which A have thinner and more closely spaced needles.

Moving onwards from position I. Fig. 5, the pair of rollers i0 and II approaches the combing cylinder and reaches the combing position Just before position II. In this position the rollers Ill and II are revolved around their axes in the directions shown by the arrows and as described above. The end 8% of the tuft penetrates gradually deeper between the needles. The rotation of the rollers lasts for a part or for the whole of the movement of the rollers past the segment 81, thus causing the preliminary combing of the tuft. rThe needles of the segment El working gradually inwards from the tip to near the gripped end of the tuft, prepare the tuft for the succeeding final combing operation. Thus. there is no't only a smaller loss of the valuable long fibres and less strain on them, but a greater speed of combing is admissible.

The final combing of the tuft starts at about position III and is finished some time after the rollers I0 and II reach position IV during which time the rollers IU and IIv do not rotate.

By the inversion movement, shown at its culminating position V, Fig. 5, the rollers- I0 and Ii are brought into the lcombing position for the right hand side of the combing cylinder I some time before reaching position VI. The un- I combed trailing end 92 of the tuft now leads and undergoes a treatment similar to that already described for the originally leading end 84 of the tuft, In position VI, the rollers I0 and II (which are now turning on their axes) are shown some time after they have started to feed the tuft tovbeen in operation for some time.

estaras lll wards the combing cylinder. 'l'hevpreliminary combing operation is carried out while the rollers are travelling past the segment at and the final combing operation is carried out while they are travelling past the segment Si and passing position VTI.

'Ihe percentage of noil is determined by the length of the tuft ends 84 and 92 penetrated by the needles 89 of the combing segments as this length determines the length of the longest rlbres and consequently the number of fibres that are combed out. This length can be altered for instance, by changing the number of teeth of the segments 23 and 24, Figs. 3 and 4.

By combing thoroughly both ends of the tuft, the best possible combing of the fibres is achieved.

Overlapping This operation is similar to the detachment of the tuft but, of course, is carried out in a reverse manner.

Leaving the combing position shortly after position VII, Fig. 5, the rollers ill and il travel downwards towards the delivery drum t6, see position VIII Fig. 5, until, see Fig. 10, the roller I comes to rest on the drum tt. and thus upon the end of the combed lap 93 if the machine has A part @t of the bar il (Fig. 1) connecting the bearing boxes i6 simultaneously falls into a recess in the arm 65. As described above, the roller ill rolls on the drum 46 during its succeeding movement around a part of it (Fis. 11) pressing the tuit onto the fibres of the lap 93 and delivering .it onto the surface of the drum. Being carried along with the part et, the arm b causes the arm 49a to move in the anti-clockwise direction. In this manner, the roller a follows the roller ill and presses the delivered tuft thoroughly with the lap.

Fig. 12 shows the whole tuft after its delivery a shorttlme earlier, the end 92 of the tuft being underneath the roller 36a. At this moment, the connection between the part @t and the arm 55 is released by setting the rise et of the cam 5i in the right position. The roller 58 passing from the part of the cam 5i of larger radius to the part of smaller radius brings about the release. The arm 49a can now move in the clockwise direction owing to the action of the weight 32a, taking along with it the roller a (Fig. 13), while the rollers Iii and H' finish their movement around the drum 48. The arm 49a comes to a standstill against a stop wa at some distance from the calender roller 8B, Fig. 5. and stays there until the succeeding pair of rollers l0 and il reaches the initial position, Fig. 10, for the overlapping operation. The combed lap 93 leaves the delivery drum 46 underneath the calender roller 65 ready for the succeeding spinu ning operations.

The modified machine shown in Figs. 14, 15 and 19 is particularly useful for combing shorter stapled fibres, which have to be held closer to the combing needles than is possible if they are held between the tuft-holding rollers.

This modified machine is characterised by the feature that after the tuft has been detached from the lap of uncombed fibres by a pair of tuftholding rollers ill and ii it is held between one of said rollers and a nipper means, which is operatively associated with the pair of rollers and is continuously revolved around the combing cylinder or support, the nip of the roller and the nipper means being caused to approach the combing needles and to remain in relatively close proximity to them throughout the. combing operation. By this method, the tuit is gripped at a position on the periphery of one of the rollers of the pair of tuft-holding rollers, which is relatively much nearer to the combing needles than the line of contact of the two rollers, so that, obviously, much shorter fibres can be combed.

.As in the combing machine described above, the rollers of each pair of tuit-holding rollers ill and ii are turnably mounted in two interconnected bearing boxes i6 having outwardly projecting shafts i8, which shafts are also turnable in bearings provided in two supporting bars 2i slidable in radial guides fixed on the front and rear discs or end plates 3 of the revolvable carrier member 3, 9. In the machine now being described, however, see Fig. 19, the shafts i8 are extended so as to engage in continuous guide slots formed in the end frames t of the machine as described more fully hereinafter. v

Further, on each of the said shafts i8 the pincarying discs 2li are replaced by two radial arms Zta arranged diametrically (Fig, 19) each carrying a pin and each set of two pins P and S cooperates with guide slots provided on the front and rear end frame members of the machine, as described hereinafter with reference to Fig. 1'4.

r These cooperating shafts and slots and the cooperating pins and slots cause each pair of tuftholding rollers to follow a predetermined path (which differs somewhat from that described By changing the speed of the delivery drum above) and to carry out the two inversionary movements as they travel through one revolution around the comb support, just as in the machine of Figs. 1 to 13.

This modified method of moving the rollers i0 and li is used when movable means, such as a nipper bar, are arranged to operate in association with each pair of tuft-holding rollers, the nipper bar being carried upon supporting means mounted upon, and movable with, the said carrier member 3, or the plate 9. Means are provided whereby the nipper bar is forced into contact with one of said rollers during each time the ends of each tuft are being combed. This arrangement will be more specifically described hereinafter with reference to Fig. 15.

The said modified method for moving the cooperating rollers iiiand Il around the combing cylinder i ls shown in Figs. 14 and 19. i

The outwardly-extended shafts i8, Fig. 19, take over the work carried out by the pins R and T in the construction ofFigs. 1 to 13. Therefore, the discs 20 are not needed in this constructional form and, as mentioned above. they are replaced by radial bars 20a carrying the diametrically opposite pins P and S at equal distances from the centre of the boss which carries therbars and v the pins S swing upwards.

said cross moves concentrically around the centre 13 which is xed to the shaft I0. or parts attached to it.

'The chain dotted line in Fig. 14 indicates the centre line of the guide slot cut into each end i'rame 8, of the machine, Fig. 19, and into which projects the end of shaft I8. When the machine is in operation, the ends of each shaft I8 slide in the guide slots in the two end frames and thus control the position of the rollers I and |I in relation in the centre M, as they travel around .the combing cylinder. The turning movement of the rollers around the centre ot the cross formed by lines connecting the centres o1" these pins P and S and the centres of the rollers I0 and I I, is controlled by the pins P and S, one or both of which slides in guide slots 8a provided for them in each end frame 8, Fig. 19, of the machine.

Referring to Fig. 14, in position 0 the pins P rest in the corners of the guide slots 1|. As the centre of the. above mentioned cross moves away from the feeding drum 21, the pins P are guided in the longer parts of the recesses 1| until position I is reached and the pins S have entered the lower ends of guide slots 12. The pins S continue to travel in the guide slots 12 until the positions 2 to 4 are reached and passed. Beyond position 4, as indicated by broken lines. the pins S leave the upper ends of the slots 12 and the pins P enter the top ends of guide slots |01, in which they remain while reaching and passing through the positions 6, 6 and 1. In position 8, the pins P leave the slots |01 while the pins S enter guide slots 8|. After position 8 the centre of the said cross moves further along the chain-dotted line and; during the movement of the said cross along that part of the said line which is concentric with the delivery drum 48, the pins S travel in the bottom of the `slots 8| and the pins P swing over towards the slots 1I. In position 8, the pins S leave the slots 8|, while the pins P enter the slots 1| and as the pins advance in these slots of the feeding drum 21 when the pins P are turning at the junction of the inclined branches of the slots 1|.

Fig. 15 shows diagrammatically the combing cylinder and the two needled, preliminary combing segments 81 and 80 and the two needled, nal combing segments 88 and 9|. The feeding drum 21 and the receiving drum 48 are shown in end view in Figs. 14 and 15.

As shown in the positions I to 3, Fig. 15, after the cooperating tuft-holding rollers I0 and |I have moved from the feeding drum 21, the spacing oi the rollers from the centre M of the combing cylinder gradually diminishes. In Fig. 15, position I, the roller II either touches, or approaches very closely to, an arcuate sectioned nipper bar 95, having a rounded leading edge, one such nipper bar being associated with each pair of rollers I0 and II. Each nipper bar 85 extends between the said front and rear discs or end plates 3 of the carrier member 8, 8, by which the pairs of tutt-holding rollers are revolved around the combing cylinder I. One disc, i. e., the rear disc 3 only is shown-in Fig. 15. The nipper bar is of about the same length as the covered parts of the rollers I0 and II and it is fixed at each end to an arm 96, each of the two arms being pivoted at 91 to a lever 98, shown in positions 2 and 5, which is pivotally mounted at 89 on the front or rear disc as the case may be. Each nipper bar 95 is thus supported by two arms 88 carried by two levers 88, arranged at opposite ends The centre of the of the said carrier member, the arrangement being such that the bars are carried around the combing cylinder together with the adjacent pair o f rollers I0 and with which they are always associated. Each arm 88 is provided with a pin IOI, which is adapted to engage in an arcuate slot `|02 cut in the adjacent disc 3, or in a part attached thereto. the slot being shown only in positions 2 and l. y

The arms 88 are acted upon by springs (indicated by the arrows |00) which are fixed at their opposite ends to the front or rear disc. By this arrangement, as the said discs rotate, the arms 98 tend to turn in the anti-clockwise direction under the action of the springs |00, the pins |0| sliding in the slots |02, see position 5, wherein the pin |0| has-moved to the bottom end oi the slot |02. The slots |02 are formed in such a way as to keep the nipper bars 95 at the required distance from the rollers I0 and II.

Startingfrom the position 0, Figs. 14 and 15, during its movement around the combing cylinder I, the rol'er II either touches, or very closely approaches, the nipper bar 95 when it reaches position I as already mentioned above. Not too far removed from position I, the rollers I0 and II are caused to start turning in the direction indicated by the arrows in position 2, thus delivering at least the tips 84 of the tuft past the nipper bar 95. Thereafter, the rollers I0 and II, or a member operatively connected with them, by further approaching the centre M of the comb support, turn the arms 86 in the clockwise direction against the action of the springs |00, the pins IOI being guided in the slots |02.

As a result of the action of the springs |00 and the movement of the rollers I0 and II, the

nipper bar is forced to enter the space between the rollers in position 2. In this manner, the tuft is pressed against the roller I0 by the nipper bar.

Assuming that the tuft is so short that only the tips of the tuft end 92 are still held between the rollers I0 and I I, a further turning movement of the rollers will cause the tuft to be gripped solecombing, until about position 3 is reached.

In position 3, Fig. 15, the roller I0 and the nipper bar 95 are at their shortest distances from the needles and this combing position is maintained by the rollers and nipper bar whie the tuft is being combed by the needles of the combing segment 86 and until position 4 is reached.

Beyond this position, as in the case of the machine described with reference to Figs. 1 -to 13, the rollers I0 and I| are inverted through 180 degrees (but in the clockwise direction) so that the roller |I then becomes the leading roller. During the first part of this inversionary movement, the distance of the rollers I0 and il from the centre M increases and. under the action of the springs |00 and slots |02, the arms 96 turn in the anti-clockwise direction.

Meanwhile, the rollers I0 and II haveturned.

arcate@ rollers Ill and II, is gripped rst between the rollers Iuntil, in continuation of this movement, a desired length of the uncombed end protrudes from between the rollers, as shown in position 5. In the manner described in connection with the tuit end 861, in position E, the end 92 of the tuft is first delivered past the nipper bar 95 (not shown). Position t corresponds to position 2, and so on, so that the preliminary-combing and the nai combing of the tult end 92 is carried out in the same way as already described in connection with the end 841. Alter the rollers Ill and il have reached position 8, they move towards the delivery drum i3 until they reach position 'I3 again and the arms 96 return to their initial positions shown in position ll.

In a modified construction shown in Fig. A, just before and during the combing of each end of the tuit, the latter is not gripped between one of the rollers IIJ and II and the single nipper bar 95, but between the latter and another nipper bar 95A arranged symmetrically to it. The second nippel' bar 95A is shown in positions Q to il in Fig. 15A. The nipper bar 95A is carried upon arms 96A, position 5, identical with the arms QS,

also pivotally mounted upon levers 98A which 1are identical with the levers 93 and are pivotally mounted upon the end discs 3 of said carrier member 3, 9. The second nipper bar 95A, however, is directed against the direction of travel of the rollers Il and II. The arms 96A carrying thc second nipper bar 95A are acted upon by springs IUOA corresponding to the springs itil, and the arms also carry pins IIJIA, corresponding to the pins IUI, movable in curved slots IDZA.

In this modiiication, the rollers IU and I l gradually approach the centre M of the combing cylinder from position 0, see Fig. 15A, and in position I the roller II contacts the nipper bar 95 and the roller i!) the second nipper bar 95A. About in this position, the rollers are turned so that they deliver the end 84 of the tuft between the two nipper bars. At the desired moment, in about position 2, the two nipper `bars 95 and 95A both enter the space between the rollers and the tuft is gripped between them. The bars continue to approach the centre M, the arms carrying them being pushed inwards towards the centre M by the rollers, or means attached to them, so that they gradually present the tuft end B to the i needle segment BI for the preliminary combing. In about position 3, the rollers IU and II have ceased turning, the nipper -bars have ceased approaching the centre M and this combing position is maintained during the nal combing.

After the final combing, beyond position 4, the nipper bar carrying-arms 9B and 96A. are turned outwards again and directed away from the centre M, and the rollers I Il and II are turned on their axes and grip the uncombed tuft end 92. The rollers carry out their inverslonary movement, position 5, and the same operations of the two nipper bars 95 and 95A are carried out while the tuft end 92 is being combed by the preliminary and nal comb sets 90 and 9i on the right hand side of the combing support.

. If the tufts are relatively short they may be gripped solely by the nipper bars 95 and 95A during the combing operations, being then released by the rollers I0 and I I, positions 3 and II'. Longer tufts, however, are gripped both by the rollers and the nipper bars.

Figs. 16 and 17 show a modication of the bearing boxes I6 illustrated in Fig. 3a for holding the rollers I 0 and I I. This modied constructionlll slot iii and the part bearings Ic and Ida in Fig.Y

16 are wider. These part-bearings are slotted or drilled at it at each side to allow a bent rod iilll, to be passed through them, the ends of the rods protruding through the bottom part or connecting bar Il of the boxes It. On the inner end of the rod It@ is fixed a plate IIB which carries a set screw Iii adapted to adjust the pressure of a spring H2 upon the half-bearing Ic. On both sides of the bent rod it there are provided stops itil which prevent the half-bearing Ida moving outwards. To both outer ends. of the bent rod there are fixed two spaced buttons IIIII, the distance between which is equal to the thickness of the plate H5, see Figs. 16 and 18. The plate is provided with two curved slots II6, and is turnably arranged on a set screw I Il, which is screwed into the connecting bar II of the boxes I6.

When the machine is operating the position of the rollers and the associated parts described above is as shown in Fig. 16. The plate H5 is locked by virtue of its slots IIB engaging between the buttons lit, thus holding the bent rod i0@ within the slot I5 at the desired distance from the bar Il, this distance being adjustable by the screw II 7.

When the rollers It and I I have to be taken out of their bearing boxes I3 the machine is stopped and the plates H5 are disengaged from between the buttons lit although they are still held by the set screw I I'I so that they cannot be lost. All

the other parts connected with the bent rods |09,

including the rollers I0 and II and gears H8, Fig. 17, on the shafts of the rollers Ill can be taken out of the boxes by removing the bent rods.

The gears driving the pairs of rollers IIJ and II can be arranged in different ways. As shown in Figs. 17, 19, and 21 for example, the rollers are adapted to be turned by the turning of a main wheel or gear |22 rotatably mounted on the shaft I8. The gear I22 drives a gear I2I which is iixed at one end of a shaft |20 (Fig. 17) turnable in the end of the box I6, the other end of said shaft carrying a gear IIS. The latter drives the gear Il.

Within the opposite box I6 a gear is fixed on 4the other journal part of the roller I0, in a main wheel or similar position to that of the gear I I8, and it engages with another gear fixed on the journal part of the roller Il. These gears are not shown but it will be clear that, by this arrangement, eaeh turning movement of one of the rollers causes the other roller to turn in the opposite direction.

Fig. 19 is a diagrammatic view, similar to Fig. 1, which besides showing the arrangement for the modicatlon of Fig. 14 also shows an arrangement hereinafter to'be described and Fig. 21 is a section on the line A-A in Fig. 19. Figs. 19 and 21 show an alternative means for turning the rollers I0 and II around their own axes while they are moving around the combing cylinder I.

Whereas in the machine of Figs. 1 to 13, the rollers I0 are turned by the pressure of their surfaces against the feeding drum 21 and the delivery drum 46, in the modied construction now to be described they are driven positively while travelling past the said drums.-

17 The simplest way of doing this would be to use the gears I2, Figs. 1 and 4, or similar gears, fixed to the rollers I I) near to their covered parts, outside the bearing boxes I6. The said gears could be arranged to mesh with two gears nxed to the shafts 28 and 41 of the feeding and delivery drums when they are travelling around these drums. This solution however,I could expose the said gears to the dust which is at its greatest near the combing cylinder.

\ advantage to a great citent.

Fig'. 21 shows the gears |22 mounted on'the shafts I8 in the positions Il to 3, 1 and 8 which correspond to the positions marked with the same numbers in Fig. 14. In position 8, the gear |22 is about to mesh with the teeth of a gear |28, which is xed on the shaft 41 of the delivery drum 36. In position Il, the gear |22 meshes with a gear |28, xed on the shaft 28 of the feeding drum 21. In both of these positions, the gears |22 receive a turning movement in the anti- .clockwise direction. The same turning direction is given to the gears H8. Fig. 17, on the journal parts of the rollers ill, through the intermediary of the gears H9 and |2|, so that the rollers lil and I| revolve in the desired direction.

Whereas, in the machine of Figs. l to 13, it is necessary to get sufficient friction between the rollers lil and the drums 21 and d8 to cause a turning of this roller (Figs. 4, 6 to 8, and 10 to 13), this is unnecessary, if the rolleriil is positively driven by means, such as described above. In this case, it is of advantage to leave some space between the roller I and the drums 21 and fit, so that laps which differ greatly in thickness can be used. It is of further advantage that the drums 21 and 46 need not be covered with elastic material, because no pressure is being exerted by the roller i0.

- The roller ii, however, has to be brought into the desired position, i. e., scarcely touching the feeding drum 2l and this can be attained by the following methods, or by a c'ombination thereof,

viz., by (1) choosing the diameters of the rollers` It and |I so as to fulfill the requirements, (2) by setting the rollers I and ||'so that the line connecting the centres of the pins P and S crosses the roller II instead of roller Ill, Figs. 4. and 14, and (3) by abandoning the pirnciple that tion Il to position 3 has to bein the anti-clockwise direction and turning in that direction will be v Y have to be turned as much as to move the tuft the lines connecting the centres of the pins P and S and the 4centres of the rollers IIl and |I must enclose angles of 90 degrees. If the roller il is xed closer to the feeding drum 21, this roller will be further from the delivery drum 33 when moving round a part of it. This is of advantage because the space between the roller I| andthe lap 93'lying on the drum 43, will increase.

Before describing the further movements of the rollers I0 and II, the theoretical foundations r the movements of the tuft during the preliminary and final combing operations will be given with reference to Fig. 15,

Shortly after the detachment of the tuft, a short fringe of the tuft end 84 protrudes beyond the nip of the rollers I0 and II. About up to position 3, where the nal combing of the tuft starts.

the rollers have to turn through a certain angle which varies with the kind of fibrous material to be combed. As a certain angle of turning of the rollers IIJ and. is in relation to a fixed a certain length y, and because the roller'IIl has to be turned in the clockwise direction, the sign will be positive, thus +11. After the inversion of the tuft, the uncombed tuft end 92 protrudes as mentioned above as far as the tuft end 8| protruded before the combing by the comb segment 81. It is evident that in order to receive the same combing as the end 3|, the end 92 has now to be fed the same length m. Up to the point where the final combing by the comb 9i starts, the roller ||l` has to be turned through an angle +r, After the final combing of the end 92, the roller |ii has to be turned through an angle --y, so that in position t there is the same protrusion of the tuft end Blei as the protrusion 'after the detachment of the tuft.

The necessary turning movements of the roller It for the above mentioned purposes are therefore: -m, +11, -l-x, y.

The arrangement for arriving at this result is shown more or less diagrammatically in Figs.`

gage alternatively with the said gears |22 loosely.

mounted on the. shafts l under the action of levers |29. The latter are turnably mounted on the members |25 and are provided at each end with a slot, as oliagramrnatically shown in Fig. 21. In one of these slots is engaged a pin |32, which is fixed to a lever I3| adapted to swing around a pin |30 fixed to the member |25. Guided in the other slot 4in the lever |29, there is a pin |33 ilxed on the slide |28. Thus, when the lever |3I is moved in the clockwise direction to the extreme position shown in Fig, 2l, position I, the rack |28 meshes with the gear |22. Whenthe lever I3I is turned in the anti-clockwise direction, however', the gear |22 is disengaged from the rack |26 and then meshes with therack |21, see position 1 in Fig. 21.

Between the combing cylinder i and the disc 3, Figs. 19 and 2l, a stationary disc I3@ is fixed on the stationary main shaft 2. The side of the disc |35 adjacent to the disc 3 is provided with a guide slot |35, in which runs a roller |86 mounted on a pin |31 which is fixed on the member |25. While moving around the combing cylinder I, the

roller |36 slides in the slot |35 and causes the onwards the said path does notascend steeply enough, so that the slot |35 is steepened in order to cause the gear |22 to be turned through a suillcient angle. From about position 3 onwards, when the final combing starts, the gear |22 does not require to be turned and in order that there shall be no relative movement between the gear |22 and the rack |26, the slot |35 is concentric with the chain dotted path.

After the final combing by the comb segment 86, the chain dottedpath rises, see Fig. 14, andits ascent can be coupled with the descent oi' the guide slot |35. This causes the gear H22 to turn through a positive angle. After this turning movement (through the angle +11) has beenr concluded, the gear |22 moves out of mesh with the rack |26, the outer arm oi the lever |3i striking a stationary pin (not shown) on the disc |34 which causes the lever to turn to the anti-clockwise direction.

'Ihe turning movement +3: and u are lmparted to the roller I on the right hand side of the combing cylinder in a similar manner, but in order to arrive at the required reverse direc;- tions of turning, the rack |21 is caused to engage with the gear |22, see position 1 in Fig. 21.

The turning angles of the roller I0 depend upon the number of teeth of the racks |28 and |21 which mesh with the gear |22. The later the pin |38 or its corresponding pin |4| on the righthand side of the combing cylinder causes the racks to mesh with the gear |22, the smaller will be the turning movement :a The pins which cooperate with the levers |3| on the right and left hand sides of the combing cylinder can be so arranged that any practical turning angles :l: and y can be arrived at.

It is advantageous to interconnect the corresponding pins on the right and left hand sides of the combing cylinder so that when the pins on the left hand side are adjusted for the desired turning movements -zc and -l-y, the pins on the right hand side are adjusted simultaneously for the desired turning movements +3: and y.

As already mentioned, the pins must be statonary, and it is advantageous to iix them on the stationary disc |34, or on parts attached to it.

In Fig. 21 the number of needled rows is increased so that they reach beyond the zones where the actual combing is being carried out (i. e., approximately between the positions 2 to 4, Fig. l5, for the left hand side). 'Ihe reason for this arrangement is to influence the percentage of the comber waste, by bringing into the zone either more needled rows with closer, or more needled rows with wider spaced needles. By turning the combing 'cylinder through a certain' angle in the clockwise direction, more of the coarser needles will be engaged, causing a lesser is provided with a knob and a spring |43 presses' against the/shoulder |44 and holds the pin |46 in one of the holes, thus fixing the combing cylinder. For setting the cylinder in a different position, the knob is pulled, the combing cylinder is turned into the required position, and the knob is released, when the pin |45 is opposite astrain is considerable.

percentage of noil. The reverse effect is achieved by turning the combing cylinder in the anti-clockwise direction, so that, within practical limits, any percentage of noil can be arrived at by setting the combing cylinder in the right way.

In order to hold the combing cylinder for the aforesaid purpose in any required position, the side of the cylinder adjacent to the disc |34 is provided with holes |34a (Fig. 20). arranged on a circle concentric to the main shaft 2. On the same diameter the disc |34 carries a pin |45, provided with a shoulder |44 near its inner end, which latter is adapted to engage in the said holes. At its opposite end the pin |45v Although reference has been made above to the use of two cooperating tuit holding rollers, it is understood that the term rollers includes other` rotatable members such as cooperating quadrants, part drums, or' part cylinders or arms or bars having curved cooperating peripheries and these may be different from each other, and may number more than two.

It will be understood that the methods and machines according to this invention may be used for combing cotton, wool, silk and other libres used in textile industry.

I claim:

1. A machine for combing cotton and other textile fibres, comprising a rotatable lap-feeding drum, a rotatable combed lap delivery drum, a stationary combing means arranged between said drums, two spaced segmental needle sets on said combing means, a carrier member coaxial with said combing means adapted to revolve around the latter, a plurality of pairs of cooperating, parallel tuft-holding rollers, means for holding said rollers ofv each pair of rollers in contact, neans for supporting' each of said pairs of rollers on said carrier member with their axes parallel to its axis and in such a manner that said rollers are caused to revolve around said combing means and can also move radially towards and from the axis of said carrier member, said means including turnable bearing members in which the opposite ends of the two rollers are journalled and in which said rollers can move in a plane passing through the longitudinal axes of said rollers, means for causing each cooperating pair of bearing members to carry out turning movements periodically during a complete revolution of said carrier member and so as to invert said rollers as a unit and make that roller which has led the pair of rollers when travelling past said feeding drum. and past the first segmental needle set toi become the trailing roller when said rollers are moving past the second segmental needle set and past said delivery drum, means for causing said rollers to rotate aboutr their axes as they are travelling past a portion of the length of the first needle set so as to present part of the tuft thereto, said rollers remaining stationary on their axes when they are travelling past the remainder of the lrst needle set, and means for causing said rollers to rotate about their axes as they are travelling past a portion of the length of the second needle set so as to present the remainder of the tuft thereto, said rollers remaining stationary on their axes when they are travelling past the remainder of the second needle set.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1, wherein said combing means is fixed upon a stationary ymain shaft mounted in spaced front and rear

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