Cashmere combing machine

An apparatus for the removal of hair from an animal comprising driven comb means for collecting the hair and a housing for the comb means and within which the comb means is arranged to be driven, the housing having an inlet which exposes the comb means so that it can be moved through the hair of the animal, an outlet for the discharge of hair collected from the animal and means permitting connection of the outlet to a suction means so that when in use the suction means creates an air flow which is applied to the collected hair to facilitate its removal from the comb means;

• the comb means comprising at least one comb which in turn comprises a comb spine to which is attached a plurality of fingers which are each tapered convergently towards tips thereof, each finger being bent part way along its length such that in use the tip of each finger is inclined in the direction of travel of the comb through the hair of the animal, characterised in that the or each said comb is mounted on a rotatable hub member in such a way that the or each comb is substantially freely pivotally displacable through an arc of movement for all rotary positions of the hub member, the suction means being arranged to cause a flow of air past the or each said comb after it has been moved through the hair of the animal to remove therefrom any hair collected by it.