WOOLLEN MANUFACTURE 



1161 



are also held by studs affixed to the holders, which pass into the comb-heads. From 

 tho under side of the tables, forked projections i, i, stand out, which pass through the 

 openings or slits formed in the tables h, h; those projections are worked from side to 

 side by the frame k, k, which turning on the axis or shaft I, I, is caused to vibrate, or 

 rock to and fro, by the arms m, moved by tho 

 excentric groove n, made fast to the shaft c. The 

 tables //, are drawn inwards, by weights suspended 

 on cords or straps o, o, which pass over friction 

 pulleys p, p ; whereby the weights have a constaut 



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tendency to draw the combs into the centre of tho machine, as soon as it is released by 

 the studs f, passing beyond the projecting arms <j, on the tables. On the shaft c, a 

 driving-tooth or catch r, is fixed, which takes into the ratchet-wheel s, and propels one 

 of its teeth at every revolution of the shaft c. This ratchet-wheel turns on axis at t ; 

 to the ratchet the pulley v is made fast, to which the cord or band w is secured, as 

 also to the pulley x, on the shaft y. On the shaft y, there are two other pulleys, z, z, 

 having the cords or bands 

 A, A, made fast to them, and 

 also to tho end of the gauge- 

 plates B, furnished with gra- 

 duated steps, against which 

 the tables h, h, are drawing 

 at each operation of the ma- 

 chine. In proportion as these 

 gauge-plates are raised, the 

 nearer the carriages or tables 

 h will be able to advance to 

 the centre of the machine, 

 and thus permit the combs 

 g. g, to lay hold of, and comb, 

 additional lengths of the 

 woolly fibres. The gauge- 

 plates B, are guided up by the bars c, which pass through openings, slots, or guides, 

 made in the framing a, as shown by D. 



To the ratchet-wheel s, an inclined projection F, is mado fast, which in tho course 

 of the rotation of the ratchet-wheol, comes iinder the lever F, fixed to tho shaft G, that 

 turns in bearings H. To this shaft the levers i and J, are also affixed ; i serving to throw 

 out the click or catch K, from the ratchet-wheel, by which the parts of the machine 

 will be released, and restored to positions ready for starting again. The lever j, 

 serves to slide the drum upon the driving shaft b, out of gear, by means of the forked 

 handle L, when the machine is to be stopped, whenever it has finished combing 

 a certain quantity of wool. The combs which hold the wool have a motion upwards, 

 in order to take the wool out of tho way of tho combs g, g, as these are drawn into 



