473,931. Combing-machines. JACKSON, L. MELLERSH-. (Alsatian Machine Works, Ltd.) Nov. 9, 1936, No. 30510. [Class 120 (i)] In a combing-machine of the type in which a nipper moves forward and backward and is associated with a pair of detaching rollers rotated alternately forward and backward by an oscillating member, e.g. the cage formed by two cheeks 18, 19 connected by pins 20, Fig. 4, actuated by a clutch, e.g. a ratchet-and-pawl, having a movable clutch element, i.e. the pawl 27, Figs. 1 and 5, toothed at 28, connected to the member 18, 19, 20 to be operated thereby and having a member, e.g. a disc 25 and a follower 30 bearing on the edge thereof, for controlling the engaging and disengaging positions of the clutch element or pawl with relation to the clutch body, i.e. the ratchet 23, the position of the controlling member 25 is changed in reverse directions by a determinate amount during each cycle of forward and reverse movement of the oscillating member 18, 19, 20 whereby the clutch element 27 will be engaged with the clutch body 23 for determined periods during the forward and reverse movements. The bottom rollers 1, 3, Fig. 2, are driven from a gear 8 driven by a roller motion 9 actuated through a link 12 by a revolving disc 11. The roller motion comprises the cage 18, 19, 20 and the ratchet 23, having a hub 24 to which the gear 8 is keyed, mounted on a shaft 22. The pawl-controlling disc 25 having a hub 26 is keyed to the shaft 22, while the pawl 27, having a toothed end 28 for operating the ratchet 23 in either direction, is pivotally mounted on one of the pins 20. An arm 29 is fixed to the pawl 27 and carries a follower 30 pressed by a spring 33 against the edge of the disc 25, which is formed with parts 31, 32, Figs. 8-11, at different radii so that the pawl will engage the ratchet wheel or be lifted out of engagement therewith according as the follower 30 is in engagement with the surface 32 or with the surface 31. The disc 25 is adjusted by an arm 35 on the end of the shaft 22, a sliding carriage 36 comprising a front portion 37 and a rear forked portion 37<1> being pivotally secured to the arm 35 by means of a clamp 39 adjustable in a slot 38. The member 37 comprises two relatively slidable parts 40, 41 and may be adjusted to any desired length. The forked portion 37<1> embraces and slides upon a sleeve 50 having flanges 52 loose upon a rotary shaft 51. A cam 53 having a projecting forward end 54 and engaging a wheel 56 is fixed to the shaft 51 adjacent to the sleeves 50. The carriage 36 is maintained in its normally retracted position by a spring 57. As the shaft 51 rotates the carriage 36 is reciprocated by the cam 53 thus oscillating the arm 35' which moves across a scale 64. The return movement may be shortened by a screw 58 engaging a stop 59. The mechanism is duplicated for a double-sided combing- machine. In operation, the link 12 turns the cage 18, 19, 20 alternately clockwise and anticlockwise thereby rotating the detaching rollers 1, 3 to an extent governed by the engagement of the pawl 27 and ratchet 23 which is controlled by the disc 25. At the beginning of the forward movement of the detaching rollers the disc 25 and follower 30 are as shown in Fig. 8. As the cage 18, 19, 20 moves anticlockwise the follower 30 travels on the edge 32 permitting feed of the detaching rollers until it rides on to the edge 31, Fig. 9. At the beginning of the clockwise rotation of the cage the disc 25 is turned into the position shown in Fig. 10 and the follower 30 moves along the edge 31 until it rides down on to the edge 32, Fig. 11, permitting engagement between the pawl and ratchet and reverse rotation of the detaching rollers. At the beginning of the anticlockwise rotation of the cage the disc 25 is moved back to the position of Fig. 8, and the operation is repeated.