974 COTTON-SPINNING 



wonderfully improved. The construction and operation of the combing machine will 

 be readily understood upon a study of the accompanying illustration of a cross-section 

 of the machine (fig. 558). 



1 is the lap of cotton resting upon the two wooden rollers 2, 2a. When motion is 

 given to those rollers, they cause the lap to unwind and deliver the sheet of cotton 

 down the inclined conductor 3, and between the fluted steel feeding roller 4, and the 

 leather-covered pressure roller 4a ; to these rollers an intermittent motion is given by 

 means of a star wheel ; they make -ith of a revolution to one revolution of the cylinder 

 6, this motion being effected during the time the cushion plate 5a is forward, and the 

 nipping plate 5 is lifted from it. The cushion plate 5a is hung upon the centre 51, 

 and the nipping plate upon the shaft be, and this shaft receives motion from a cam at 

 the end of the machine through the lever 5e, the connecting rod \3d, lever 130, and 

 shaft 136, the parts being so arranged that the cushion plate 5a is pressed backward 

 by the nipping plate 5, but as soon as the pressure is removed it is drawn forward by 

 a spring until it arrives at the strap. Besides this movement, the nipping plate is 

 caused to move on its own axis, which enables it to quit contact with the cushion, while 

 the cotton is being fed in between them. 



The cushion 5a is represented as thrown back by the nipping plate 5, and while in 

 this position the cotton is held between them, until the combs on the cylinder pass 

 between the fibres of cotton which protrude, and remove from them all impurities and 

 the fibres which are too short to be held by the nipper. The combing cylinder 6a 

 is attached to the shaft, or axis 6, by which it is made to revolve. The periphery 

 of this cylinder is divided into four unequal parts, by the combs 66 on one side, and 

 the fluted segment 6c on the other side ; the spaces between them being plain to 

 allow time for the nipper and leather detaching roller 8a to change their positions. 



The combs on the cylinder are made with teeth at various distances, the coarser 

 ones taking the lead, and finer teeth following, the last combs having more than 80 

 teeth in a lineal inch. All impurity or waste mixed with the fibres held by the nipper 

 is carried away by these combs, which at every revolution are cleaned by the 

 cylindrical brush 10a, stripping the waste from them, and depositing upon the 

 travelling creeper lla, formed of wired cloth, which carries it down until the doffing 

 knife, or steel blade 12 removes it in the usual manner; it then drops into a waste 

 box, and is afterwards used for inferior purposes. 



As soon as the combs have all passed the fibres held by the nipper, the cushion 

 plate 5a is drawn forward, the nipper plate 5 is lifted from it, and the fibres are 

 released. The fluted segment 6c on the cylinder is at the same time passing immedi- 

 ately under the cushion plate 5a, the ends of the combed fibres lying upon it, and as 

 the leather detaching roller 8a has been lowered into contact with the fluted segment, 

 they are then drawn forward ; but as it is necessary to prevent any fibres passing that 

 have not been properly cleaned or combed, the top comb 7 is placed between the 

 nipper and the roller and as this comb falls and penetrates the fibre, just in front of 

 the part uncombed by the cylindrical combs it prevents any waste from being 

 drawn forward with the combed cotton. 



The leather detaching roller 8a, in addition to its occasional contact with the fluted 

 segment 6c, is always in contact with the fluted steel detaching roller 8, and partici- 

 pates in its movements. These rollers are stationary while the cylinder combs are 

 cleaning the fibres projecting from the nipper, but as soon as that operation is com- 

 pleted they are put into motion, and make part of a revolution backward, taking back 

 with them the fibres previously combed, but taken out of the way to allow the 

 cylinder combs to pass, in order for the next fibres coming forward to be joined or 

 pieced to them, so as to form a continuous sliver or riband. As soon as the backward 

 movement is completed, the leather-detaching roller 8a is made to approach the 

 cylinder by the lever 8/, which receives motion from a cam at the end of the machine, 

 through the lever 8d, connecting rod 8e, lever 14c, and shaft 146. Before, however, 

 it comes in contact with the fluted segment 6c, the movement of the fluted roller 

 is reversed, and it is caused to turn forward, producing a corresponding movement 

 of the detaching roller 8a, the speed being so arranged that, before they are allowed 

 to touch each other, the peripheries of the fluted segment 6c and the roller 8a travel 

 with an equal velocity. At this stage, the ends of the fibres cleaned by the cylinder 

 combs and projecting from the nipper are resting upon the fluted segment ; and the 

 roller 8a, in coming in contact with it, presses upon those fibres, and immediately 

 draws them forward ; the front ends are then lifted by the leather roller and placed 

 on the top of those fibres previously cleaned, and brought back to receive them. The 

 .pressure of the rollers 8 and 8a completes the piecing of the fibres ; the motion of the 

 rollers being continued until the hindermost ends of the fibres are drawn through the 

 top comb, and a length of cotton is delivered to the callender rollers, sufficient slack 

 being left between to allow for the next backward movement. The roller 8a is then 



