US2661502A - Wool combing machine - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 8, 1953 MILLER 2,661,502

WOOL COMBING MACHINE Filed Dec. 30, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. By L m; /?/W///er AM] My fi'g ATTORNEYS Dec. 8, 195 3 L. P. MILLER 2,661,502

WOOL COMBING MACHINE Filed Dec. 50, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. l 0411's P Mflez" BY ATTORNEYS Dec. 8, 1953 P. MILLER 2,561,502

WOOL. COMBING MACHINE Filed D60. 50, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet s 'IIlIIIIIIIIIIII/IIIIIII/Il.

M $24M M ATTORNEYS Dec. 8, 1953 Filed Dec. 50, 1949 L. P. MILLER WOOL COMBING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR L 01121; Mi/[er M, ,zm

ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 8, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 15 Claims.

This invention relates to textile machinery and more particularly to machinery suitable for combing wool fibers and the like. 7

The manufacture of worsted yarn comprises essentially cleaning the fibers, separating out and removing the short fibers, orienting the remaining fibers in parallel relation, and repeated doubling and drawing of the sliver to average out thin spots and produce a substantially uniform roving which subsequently is drafted and spun into a yarn.

In the so-called Bradford system the Noble comb is used for removing vegetable matter, neps and'short fibers from a previously formed sliver andlaying the remaining fibers parallel. Loose substantially untwisted slivers of wool are passed into a circular or Noble comb comprising a slowly rotating large outer combing circle provided with many closely spaced pins and a pair of small inner -combing circles within and tangent to the outer circle which are also provided with pins, the small circles being rotated on fixed axes, the

' speeds of both the small and large circles at the points of tangency being substantially the same and the slivers being fed inwardly and dabbed into the pins of both the small and large circles at the points of tangency. Part of the combing of the wool fibers takes place as the wool is carried forward by the pins on the circles, the circles diverging from the point of tangen-cy so as to draw out the fibers producing a combed fringe of fibers projecting from the pins of both the small and large circles. The fibers are carried by the circles to drawing ofi' rolls and aprons which pull the fibers of the projecting fringe from between the pins of the circles and carry the fibers inwardly, four combed ends ultimately being combined into a single sliver and passedto a delivery can. The short fibers, neps and vegetable matter, commonly collectively called noils, remain in the pins of the small circle and are subsequently removed.

In the form shown of the present invention, three inner circles are provided within the outer circle, the inner circles being spaced at substantially equal intervals of about 120. The three circle construction not only increases machine production by about 50% but also produces 50% more ends to be combined into the single sliver fed to the delivery can, thus averaging out in the combing process itself inequalities of the sliver and reducing the number of subsequent drawing and doublingoperations required to produce a finished yarn.

Another feature found in the present invention is that the outer circle is stationary and the sliver feed supply does not revolve around the axis of the large circle as in the conventional Noble comb, the inner circles being rotated on the axis of the outer circle in a planetary motion together with the drawing ofi rolls and aprons, dabbing motions, star wheels, false twist motions and accessories. This construction permits the feeding of slivers from cans or from larger balls than is feasible in the usual construction in which the slivers being fed to the machine are unreeled from balls rotating with the large circle upon its axis. Consequently, this invention yields a more uniform and homogeneous combed sliver and reduces the number of splicing operations required of the machine operator.

-Another feature of the invention is that the drawing off rollers and aprons are automatically vertically reciprocated to equalize wear on the aprons and drawing off rolls from the passage of the slivers. In the conventional Noble comb, only the aprons are reciprocated.

Among the objects of the present invention are to provide a circular comb of greatly increased production capacity; to provide a machine that will produce a more uniform homogeneous sliver; to provide a circular comb in which the sliver supply is not rotated, so as to permit feeding from larger balls or cans; and to provide an improved system of drawing off rolls and aprons.

Another object is to generally improve circular combing machines.

Further objects and objects relating to details and economies of construction and use will more definitely appear from the detailed description to follow.

My invention is clearly defined in the appended claims. In the claims, as Well as in the description, parts are at times identified by specific names for clarity and convenience, but such nomenclature is to be understood as having the broadest meaning consistent with the context and with the concept of my invention as distinguished from the pertinent prior art. The form in which I have contemplated applying my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic top plan view of a combing machine constructed according to the present invention. Parts of the machine have been omitted or broken away for clarity'of illustration.

Fig. 4- 'is'a somewhat diagrammatic'perspective view-of a mechanism for reciprocating the drawing 01f rolls and aprons.

Referring to Fig. 1, the wool to be combed is in sliver form and, as illustrated, has...previouslybeen wound into the balls 10, each"b'allhaving four ends that can be pulled off-simultaneously."

The balls i0 may be supported in racks l 1 formed of a pair of rollers.

are schematically shown:in Fig. l. Functionally, .this is the usual method of feeding .slivers into a-so-called "Noble. .type .of combing .machine, .exceptithat .the .whole feed .supply. andmechanism .does..not. revolve around the. axis of the-largo circle.

If .Idesired, the slivers omay be supplied from .stationaiy cansasindicated in Fig.2 sohas'to eliminate the-ballingoperation .or :larger than customaryballs .may be used, this being 1f acilitated. by-a. construction in which the 'feeding mechanismmndthe heavy balls of slivers being supplied-to the machine are stationary trather thanrotated with the-large combing circle as .in-conventional construction. Eaohsliven-is brought through 'a feed :bOX i2, 5

.the .feed tboxes extending radially outward "from the outer circle l5. Each feed box l2 forms a channel. for feeding :an iuncombedsliver -.to the outer. circle J 5, and is pivotally mounted :on a horizontal transverse pivot 'below tits-outer xend. =Eachfeed box-has 'a transversely I pivoted cover M WhiCh :may -be .raisedto: insert :a- .sliver :into the feed box. The "cover ltpressesdown-onthe sliver-dueito itsuown weight and prevents outwardwithdrawal of the sliver from thezfeed box. The .feed boxes :aresuccessively rocked about their=pivots to feed the slivers into the combing machine. I The feed box warrangeme'ntas described I in this paragraph .is-conventional.

-.A large horizontal outer circle 15 isprovi'ded, this circle being more .or less :standard 'andiihaving an inner diameter of about 42%:inches. .The circle. is provided" with several-rows of-'cciosiely spaced pins 16 arranged rows extending through "the itop surface of the circle and :pro

i'ectingiupwardyas .is customary. There are manyiithousandspf pins It :on the icircle":l.5;rextending to the inner circumference of the-circle Inithepreferred .form'" of the invention, :the outer circle;ithe"feedboxes andithe balls i'of wool in together with .the :racks I! *aretall' stationary rather-than being :rotatedsas a unit 'about'lthe axis of the outer circle as in the conventional machine.

WA plurality oitinner circles ILpreferablythrcie orsmorerintnumber, are .located inside' of and tangent'ito the inner circumferencepf the outer circlezlE. The inner tcircles i'liare standard and customarily 116' inches in diameter. Theseicircles are each provided with concentric rows of many very closelyispaced pins 11.9,thepins l9 extending u ward through'thetopisurtace of each circle e1'1radiacent"toithe :outside edge' of the circles. The circles TI! are rotated ontheir own-axes and are supported on aframework includinga-round The "racks 'i'l which" are arranged about a large outer combingzcircle! :15,

plate 20 which carries the various parts to be described later.

For proper combing operation of the machine, it is necessary to heat the outer and inner combing circles l5 and IT, as is usual practice. This is accomplished by an arcuate heater 98 (Fig. 3) located below each inner circle H, and a similarly shaped heater 99 located immediately below the outer circle [5. The heaters 98 and 99 are "preferably =:electric" resistance heaters, but conventional steam heaters may be used. A tube I08 for receiving steam may also be located be- "*neath the outer circle l5 for heating it.

-.In operation of the machine, the inner circles I? are rotated on their axes in the direction in- "dicat'ediii Figa'l and at the same time the framework,.includingtheplate 20, is rotated as indicated 'aboutthe axis of the outer circle 15, the inner-circles H, in effect, rolling about the inner circumference of the stationary outer circle. :Actually; :slightclearanceis maintained ibetween .theiinner. circles and the .-.outer -.circle, .-and .the

rotative speed of the vinnerzcircles is' 'suchxtha't :thereds practicallyrnorelative -moveinent at zthe :tached mechanism; :includingthe winner circles l? ,;is.'rotated'-as .a. unit within the outencircle [5 ate. normal operatingispeednof I a-bout- 4- or :more revolutions per minute.

.A-dabbing brush i lzis io'c'a'ted .andrmaintained above. the 'pointof tangemcy of eachiinner circle withtthe outer. circle I5. The :dabbingobrushes '2 I are reciprocated.xupwardly: and :i downwardly very rrapidly by: conventionalxmechanism;1snot shown; incohlerttopress. the .uncomoed'. slivers finto thepins of-both jahezouterrcircletlB :andithe inner circles Ifzatrthep'oints 'ofttangency, which points progress: around'ithe rinner'rcircumfererrce .oi the Ii'large circlezin :the direction indicated as the inner circles are rotated about the ax-is of theouter circle. Preferably, the dabbing brushes 2| are ea'ch operated byranwele'ctric motor. In order" to prevent excessively rapid wear on the d'abbing 'brushes'git is necessary that there be as little movement ofthe'cir'clesas practicable when thehristles of 'the-dabbing' brushes ZI I are engage'cl' with the pins of the circles at the end of their downward stroke. Accordingly. the '*dabbingbrushesare'given a veryrapi'dup and down motion.

In theoperation of thema'chine, the pairs of drawing-off rolls are located functionally follow- 'ing the' points'of tangency of the inner "circles "I1 'an'd"the-'outer circle 15. Adriving'drawin'g oiT r0111: is l'ocateda'diacent' the inner'circumferencebfthe outercircle 1'5, aslindicatedin Fig." lifollowing thepoint of 'tangency. of each inner'circle H. "The drawing ofi rolls '22 are usually fluted, and"'"drive' the "drivenifluted .roll 24 by contact throughan'interposed. apron .25. The'rolls 24 'are'pressed towards the rolls 22 by springs in the customary manner.

The apron or belt 125, whichisusually iformed of .leather,.extends in. av generally triangular path asindicatedin Fig; 1, the apronpassing/between .the.drawing off .rolls and 24. A pairnof idler rolls'2.6,.- 26 alsosupporttheapronZE and an apron guide .2! holds the apron'nearl'the'iinner circumference of therouter 'circle'li. Thus, there are threezaprons 25,:one for each circle i".

The operation 'ofthe machine is suchth'atthe inneri circles T1 -progress 'in' a planetary motion along the inner circumference of the outer circle '5 in the direction indicated in Fig. 1. Part of the sliver that has been dabbed into the pins l6 and I9 at each point of tangency will be pulled through the pins as the circles diverge, separating the pins, the individual fibers being retained in either one or the other set of pins and forming a combed fringe projecting from both circles. Hence, there will be a fringe of combed fibers projecting inwardly from the inner circumference of the outer circle [5 and outwardly from the outer circumference of the inner circle H, the remaining portions of the fibers in the fringe remaining in the pins of their respective circles in an uncombed condition.

As each apron moves with its circle IT in a counterclockwise direction about the axis of the outer circle l5, the apron simultaneously is moving in a clockwise direction about the rolls 24 and 26 at a greater relative linear velocity than that of the rolls 22 and 24 along the inner circumference of circle It, as indicated in Fig. 1, the apron serving to direct the loose ends of the fibers supported on the large circle l5 towards the nip of the drawing off rolls 22 and 24. As the projecting fringe of combed fibers reaches the drawing off rolls, it is nipped and the remaining uncombed lengths of the fibers are pulled through the pins I6 of circle [5 thus being combed and passed between the rolls along with the aprons 25. Since the operation is continuous, an end of combed sliver is formed which is carried inwardly along the face of the apron.

The fibers carried as a fringe on each inner circle I! are oriented towards a second pair of drawing off ro-lls and 3! by a star wheel 29 adjacent each small circle. Each star wheel 29 rotates on a horizontal axis somewhat above the circles and projections extend radially outwardly on the periphery of the star wheel, these projections at the lower portion of the wheel engaging the fibers and pointing them towards the drawing off rolls for each inner circle. Each star wheel 29 may be driven from the motor driving the adjacent dabbing brush. The inner circle and star wheel relationship is conventional and well known in the art.

The drawing off rolls for each inner circle comprise a driving drawing ofi roll 30 and a driven drawing ofi' roll 3!, these rolls being generally similar to the rolls 22 and 24. The driven roll 3| is driven by frictional engagement with a leather apron 32 passed between the rolls. The apron 32 extends beside a portion of the apron 25, as indicated in Fig. 1, both of these aprons aiding in supporting and progressing the end coming off the outer circle. The apron 32 is carried on a pair of idler rollers 34 and directs the ends of the projecting fibers of the inner circle I! between the drawing off rolls 30 and 3| in the manner of the apron 25 above described. The end from the outer circle 15 and the end from the inner circle I? are doubled at the drawing oil rolls 30 and 3| into a common end.

The other two inner circles I! operate in a like manner in association with the outer circle to produce a composite end combined from the individual ends delivered by each pair of drawing oif rolls 30 and 3|. The composite or combined ends then pass inwardly to a rapidly rotating funnel or so-called false twist trumpet 35 which is rapidly rotated on the axis of the outer circle IS with which its axis coincides. The trumpet 35 combines the composite ends from each pair of drawing off rolls 30 and 3| into a single sliver rotating portions of the machine and into a secend false twist trumpet 92 which may be revolved usually in the opposite direction as illustrated in Fig. 3, the false twist only serving to give strength to the sliver to take it from the machine. The sliver is then passed through a third revolving ,i false twist trumpet where the false twist is removed thence into a can, preferably by a conventional can coiler (not shown) or wound into a ball on a conventional balling head (not shown).

The noil (short fibers, neps and vegetable mats ter) is'retained within the pins [9 of each inner circle 11 since these fibers do not project sufficiently from the inner circles to be caught and drawn by the nip (point of contact of the drawing off rolls 30 and 3 l The noil is carried in the pins l9 to the noil brush 36 which is a circular brush free to revolve on a substantially horizontal axis and having its bristles engaged against the pins I9 to revolve the brush. The noil brush 36 serves to raise the noil to the top of the pins l 9, and curved stationary noil knives (not shown) located between the rows of pins direct the noil into a noil chute or duct 31 leading to a noil receptacle. The noil brushes and noil knives are conventional.

The feed mechanism for the uncombed slivers will now be described in greater detail. The uncombed slivers are fed inwardly over the outer circle 15 by increments in an amount about equal to the width of the rows of pins of each inner circle IT, and this feed must take plac between the drawing off rolls 22 and 24 associated with one inner circle H and the point of tangency of the following inner circle W. This feed is produced by rocking each feed box on its pivot so as to raise the inner end of the feed box, the ends of the slivers being held in the pins it of the outer circle by the adjustable feed knives 42 as shown in Fig. 2, the ball I 0 being rotated slightly to give the necessary slack in the sliver.

The ball It may be rotated by a ratchet feed arrangement, well known in the art, for intermittently rotating the rolls forming the rack ll. lT'he ratchet feed may be actuated by cams (not shown) revolved with the plate 20, one cam being provided for each inner circle IT.

The feed boxes are successively raised by the feed box cams 39' (one for each inner circle) carried on the feed box cam ring 43 extending under the feed boxes and rotating with the plate 20 to rock the feed boxes on their pivots. This moves the inner end of the feed box together with the sliver (which is located somewhat above the pivot) upwardly. Simultaneously, concentric curved feed knives 2 (Fig. 2), the outer one of which is located adjacent the outer row ofpins of the outer circle l5, hold the uncombed sliver in the pins It of the outer circle. The feed knives 42 (see Fig. 2) are adjustable vertically to vary the length of the feed and are mounted on the plate 20 and rotated in a circle about the axis of the outer circle 15. Holding the sliver end in the pins of the circle l5. while raising the inner end of the feed box l4 advances the uncombed sliver through the feed box. Following this, lifting knives (not shown) placed between each row of pins of circle l5 and revolving with plate 20 lift the sliver out of the pins I6. After the sliver has been freed from the pins of circle [5, the feed box cam 39 terminates so as to permit the feed box l2 to drop to its normal position. This allows ageernsosz thel-ends oi the/slivers to :move inwardly where they are ih'eld' abo've :the-bins'l 6 by a "plate :(not shown) until wthe dabb'ing ..:point (point of tangency) isrreached; I .The sliverwis then'in positionztc beuabbed-into the pins tilt and 19 of the outernand inner circles by the :da-bbingrbrush .2 I. This fieed is functionally the .same as in-conventional combs.-

The above-described feed :occurs successively along the line offeed boxesastheinnercircles l1 rotate :in their -orbit= about the axiseof :theouter circle-I 5. 'The'feed 'takes place simultaneously at three equally spaced points about the outer .circle.

:Thefeed of 'thez'machine' may be rendered more uniform by feeding eachz'sliver independently from a-separate'can 'l0I,:as indicated in? Fig. :2. In zsu'ch an arrangement, each sliver may :be fed at :a speed regulated by rthe'feed cams. I 3.9 Land feed lknives=e42 "andcnot affected :by thefiother slivers of the ball (as in the: conventional machine)-ror the thendiameter of :the: ball. .iI'his ieediarrangement gives a moreiuniformifeed. and contributes-to a more uniformsliverwithfless adjustment'of the feedknives.

:Maintenance: and replacement of "the aprons of 'conventional "circular combing machines represent a very substantialportion of the *operating expense. In the dorm shown of the present invention, in order to equalize wear on the aprons 5za'hd '32, the-apronsztogether' with the: drawing off =roll's"22,"24; *3lland3 I and the idler rolls =26 and '34zareslowly reciprocated over avertical interval ofz'aboutt2 Aginches toxpreventtheslivers coming cff-the circles from running onthe sameportion ofathe-aprons at all :times. This :is accomplished by carryingthe drawing or rolls and idler frolls-on a horizontal iplate fl :'(Eig.u4) whichiisslowly reciprocated "in. a vertical direction, the plate :in- :cl-uding rs'tiftening 'membersrmountedron the undersiderthere'of.

Referring -to' Fig; 4', the.mechanism :fortreciproeating the plate 44' 'comprisesan-relectric motor 45 which-is supported by the plate 20 of .the combing machine and drives an internally threaded sleeve 46 through a speed-reducing gear train -41 and a universal joint 49. A rod 50 is threaded- .ly engaged with the sleeve '46, the rod being pivotallyconnectedto a lever fixed to a cross shaft 52 journaled in bearings 54 fixed .to :the revolving plate 200f the machine. Two levers -55; 55'fixed to the shaft 52 arepivotallyconnected with the plate 44 by links 56, 56.

The opposite side of the plate 44 is supported and'simultaneously reciprocated by a mechanism including an arm 51 fixedto the shaft 52 and-in the plane of the arm 51. A link 59 connects the arm 51=with a similar arm 60' fixed to a' shaft Bl parallel to the shaft 52 and supportedin a'bear- 'ing .62 supported on the revolvingplate 20 of the machine. A lever 64, similar to the levers 55, 55, isconnected-with the plate 44 by a link 65. Oscillation of the Fshaft52 serves to alternately raise and 'lower (reciprocate vertically) the plate 44 in suitable guides (not shown) The-motor is periodically reversed by an electric switch 66 which'is operated by a projecting'finger 61 carried by the shaft'50. The sleeve 46 is periodically reversely rotated as the finger 61- moves back and forth with the rod 50, reciprocating the rod and oscillating the shaft 52 to vertically reciprocate the plate 44 upon which the drawing -'ofi rolls and idler rolls are carried.

1 The foregoing mechanism slowly vertically reciprc'cates the drawing off rolls, idler rolls and aaprons through a. distance of about 2% inchesso iii as'ctc sspreadi-Lthe' weansiont-ithe'i aprons and sthe :drawing o'ffzrolls'.

The driving zmechamsmwatonxthetrcombingemachine isishown"dia'grarnmaticallyzinFig: 3. The machine -isv'drivenlxby an' electric qn'otorviirrot shown) which desiccated .near :the :base': of the machine :to Y minimize' vibration and which drives a shaft 6'9' connected with: a gear. box 1 0. iAishaft f! l' aleads :frcm the-gear boxtand,-*turnlng at revdueedsspeedp drives :a' pinion z12 rmeshingvw ith' a large ge'ar 14. The i gear 4 is' stationary and fixed: to the station'arytframecfthe combing-ma chine, rtheim'otor and'ithe gear b'ox :10 being car Tied-on. a frama not'shcwn; of which thezplate'ifl is a part and which is mouhted forrotaticn-about the axis'bfltheouter circle'15. The pinion 12 ro- .tates this frame-ate speed of 4" ormore rev'oluti'ons perminute. I

-iEach inner: circle: 4:1," which rotates=about the axis offthe'oiltercircle on the-rotating framezplate '2.0, .3is'= supported on? assmall circle: plate Ni -and driven .rromxthe gear 4- bya shaftfl5 lhaving pinions 36, 216: at either: end,ztheupper pinion' fi meshlng lwithifan inner circle driving geaf fl lecatedimmerliately below the small' circle plate-H 8. Although. rtnefdrive': .forrcnlyrone "inner circle wi l hag'beenishewnirth ctheritwo' 'circles are'driven in. a' sir'nilarm'anner.

The drawing bff rclls 22: and-.24 are driven from the gear box' 76 ithroughuniversal joints' I 9 and gear train BO'xdriving: a' 'shaft 8'l'- which- 'in turn drives a crown gear- 82 "journaled on the axis-of the outer combing circle l5. --Th'e' 'gear 82' in turn drives a shaft 84 whichzdrives' the' drawing 1 'off roll "s'h'aftcfiii. rThe other twdpa'irs of'drawing err rolls zzandzllare similarlyrdri-venfrom the' gear 32.

'Forfidrivinglthe drawingiofi'rolls' M and 3 I ;a secondrcrown'gear 86"is' driven from'th gear-train filthy-means ofa shaftt'l -'this"crown*gea1 driving a alarget spur gear' 89 'located on "the -axis "of "the outer. combingr r'circle' i-5w'and f driving the drawing off-roll shaft QO of th drawing off 'roll 30. "The other two pairs bfdrawing bfi Tens-:3 0- and 3 1- are similarly driven from the gear89.-

"Arne 1 gear traintogether With the- ' gears 82, 86 and 89 and the drawing off rolls and their drive shafts i are verticallyzrecipro'cated with-theplate 44; itn .:universal Mints 19 allowing for this-wen tical: movement. 1m addition, all these parts tog ether with the' motor and the 'gear'box' 'lfl,1plate "28, and 1 associated parts" are "rotated a'bout the axisof theouter circle 1'5.

-A shaft 9 drivenfrom the 'shaft'69; 'serves' to drive th trumpet 35' and a second "trumpet 92, the flrs'tftrumpetj' putting a 'false twistfintothe combed sliver coming. 'fromfthe. pairs .of inner drawingofi'iollers 30 and.3l and the second reversing the false twist. These trumpetsmay be driven by belts .from the'sha'ft '91, the trumpets turning 'inoppositedirection- "Asabove-noted, the trumpet-35 is preferablyirotated -on-the-axis of the outer circle 15. 'TheLtrumpet'BZwmay also be rotated on this axis,..the sliver being takenzoflf laterally fromnbove this trumpet.

A can coiler, .notshcwn, of conventionallconstruction maybedrivemfrom. the'hub of the" gear .82 by a shaft 94 -located-.on the aXlsfiOf "the-outer circle 45. 1 The shaft :94 a is not reciprocated with the gear 82, "a slip joint 95 being provided. at its upperend. -A- laterally extending Sha'ft' 96 driven irom the'shaft'94 is-connected withlthe can "coiler. 'If desired; the machine r'may be driven through theshaft-GB of the can rcoiler drive, ratherthan driven by a motor rotated with the inner circles and associated mechanism. 7

The mechanism for operating each dabbing brush 2| may be carried from shaft or'column 91 (Fig. 3). The column 91 is not rotated on its own axis nor reciprocated vertically, but is rotated about the axis of the outer circle l5 with the p ei t 1. In a circular combing machine for textile fibers, large outer combing circle and a plurality of inner combing circles tangent to the outer circle, means fixedly mounting the outer circle with reference to a support, means for rotating the inner circles in a planetary motion along the inner circumference of the outer circle, and guide means located on the axis of the outer circle for receiving the combed sliver and conducting it axially from the machine.

2. In a. circular combing machine for textile fibers, a large outer combing circle and a plurality of inner combing circles tangent to the outer circle, means fixedly mounting the outer circle with reference to a support, means for rotating the inner circles in a planetary motion alon the inner circumference of the outer circle, and a rotating trumpet having its axis of rotation substantially coincident with the axis of th outer circle for receiving the combed sliver and conducting it axially from the machine. I

3. In a circular combing machine for textile fibers, a large outer combing circle and a plurality of inner combing circles tangent to the outer circle, means fixedly mounting the outer circle, means for rotating the inner circles in a planetary motion along the inner circumference of the outer circle, and a pair of oppositely rotating trumpets having their axes substantially coincident with the axis'of the outer circle for receiving the combed sliver and conducting it axially from the machine.

4. In a circular combing machine for textile fibers, the machine having a large outer combing circle, a plurality of inner combing circles tangent to the outer circle, and pairs of drawing-off rolls positioned adjacent the outer and inner circles for drawing the combed fibers therefrom, the improvement which comprises: means fixedly mounting the outer circle, means supporting the inner circles and drawing-off rolls for rotation about their own axes, and means for rotating said inner circles and drawing-off rolls about their own axes and for rotating said supporting means about the axis of the outer circle.

5. In a circular combing machine for textile fibers, the machine having a large outer combing circle, a plurality of inner combing circles tangent to the outer circle, and pairs of drawing-off rolls positioned adjacent the outer and inner circles for drawing the combed fibers therefrom, the improvement which comprises: means fixedly mounting the outer circle, a single support mounting the inner circles, and drawing-on? rolls for rotation about their own axes, means for rotating said support about the axis of the outer circle, and means for rotating the inner circles on their axes, including a gear concentric with the outer circle.

6. In a circular combing machine for textile fibers, the machine having a large outer combing circle and a plurality of inner combing circles tangent to the outer circle, the improvement which comprises: means fixedly mounting the outer circle and means for rotating the inner 10 circles in a planetary motion along the inner circumference of the outer circle.

7. In a circular combing machine for textile fibers, the machine having a large outer combing circle and an inner combing circle tangent to the outer circle, the improvement which comprises: means fixedly mounting the outer circle and means for rotating the inner circle in a planetary motion along the inner circumference of the outer circle.

8. In a circular combing machine for textile fibers, the machine having a large outer combing circle, a plurality of inner combing circles tangent to the outer circle, and pairs of drawingofi" rolls operating adjacent the outer circle for drawing the combed fibers from the outer circle and the inner circles, the improvement which comprises: means fixedly mounting the outer circle, means for rotating the inner circles and the drawing-01f rolls in unison about the axis of the outer circle, and means for rotating the inner circles and drawing-off rolls on their own axes.

9. In a circular combing machine for textile fibers, a large outer combing circle and a plurality of inner combing circles tangent to the outer circle and spaced along the outer circle at substantially equal intervals not in excess of means fixedly mounting the outer circle with reference to a support, and means for rotating inner circles on their own axes and also about the axis of the outer circle to produce a rolling motion of the inner circles about the inner circumference of the outer circle.

10. In a circular combing machine for textile fibers, a large outer combing circle and a plurality of inner combing circles tangent to the outer circle and spaced along the outer circle at substantially equal intervals of approximately 120, means fixedly mounting the outer circle with reference to a support, and means for rotating inner circles on their own axes and also about the axis of the outer circle to produce a rolling motion of the inner circles about the inner circumference of the outer circle.

11. In a circular combing machine for textile fibers, a large outer combing circle and a plurality of inner combing circles tangent to the outer circle, means fixedly mounting the outer circle with reference to a support, means for rotating the inner circles in a planetary motion along the inner circumference of the outer circle, dabbing brush mechanism located above the circles and rotated with the inner circles for applying uncombed slivers to the circles at the points of tangency, and means for taking the combed sliver from the machine above the level of the dabbing brush mechanism.

12. In a circular combing machine for textile fibers, a large outer combing circle and a plurality of inner combing circles tangent to the outer circle, means fixedly mounting the outer circle with reference to a support, means for rotating the inner circles in a planetary motion along the inner circumference of the outer cirole, mechanism for successively feeding individual uncombed slivers to the machine at the point of tangency of the circles, and means for supplying each individual uncombed sliver to the feed mechanism independently of the supply of the adjacent slivers.

13. In a circular combing machine for textile fibers, a large outer combing circle, a plurality of inner combing circles tangent to the inner combing circle, and drawing-off rolls and aprons adjacent the outer and inner circles for taking combing circle in a planetary movement',; and.

combing the fibers between the outer combingv circle and the inner combing circle as a result of the divergentv paths; of. the-. circles,

15.: The method, of l combing fibers of wool and the like, comprising imaintaining an .OutI..C0mb'- ing circle stationary, rotatinga plurality. of inner;

12 combing circles along -.the1-inner.- circumference of the outer combing circle-intalplanetarymovement; and. combing; thefibers between" the router combing circle and the inner combing circlesr as a result of the-divergent paths of theinner-and outer-combing. circles;

LOUIS P. MILLER-x References Cited in the file of this patent.

UNL'IED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 259,790 Austin June 2O;-1882 373,890 GreenWood-et a1; Nov. 29,4887 911,115 Cooper Feb.2, 19'09' FOREIGN, PATENTS Number Country Date 151 Great Britain; of 11870: 4,600 Great Britain. off1897' 4,911: Great-Britain of; 1895 17,610 France. 01151856

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