Improvements in Machinery or Apparatus for Pressing Woollen and Mixed Woven or Felted Fabrics.
Year: 1890

page_text: COME LEIE SEMIPTOALTION.
Improvements in Machinery or Apparatus for Pressing Woollen and
Mixed Woven or Felted Fabrics.
J, JOSEPH REFFITT, of 83 Kirkstall Road, Leeds, in the County of York, Dyer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
The object of this invention is to facilitate the pressing and folding of woollen and
mixed woven or felted fabrics to which such goods are subjected before leaving the
hands of the dyer, and also to dispense with the necessity and expense of press-papers
and the skilled labour as ordinarily required for the insertion and withdrawal of the
same before and after pressing.
For this purpose I use a folding or plaiting machine of ordinary construction in
combination with a pressing apparatus comprising a fixed pressing bed of suitable
width and preferably about seven feet long mounted in suitable framework and above
this a corresponding part capable of being raised and lowered as hereinafter
referred to.
Both these parts are strongly ribbed and hollow and heated by steam (or otherwise)
through suitable connections, their meeting surfaces being planed true.
The said framework extends above the upper pressing part and carries near each
end thereof in suitable bearings a rocking or fulcrum shaft on which are fixed short
levers, between the ends of which and the said upper part of the press are connecting
links. On the contrary sides of these rocking shafts are longer levers, to the ends of
which are other links, these are connected to another lever having its fulcrum in the
framework and actuated in one direction so as to raise the said upper part after pressing
the fabric under treatment which is next drawn forward to the extent of the pressed
portion by the action of the folding machine and folded thereby, and which at the
same time places another portion of the piece into the press the action of the folding
machine is now arrested for the time being; and also the action of the said system
of levers on the upper part of the press which is at liberty to and descends to effect
another pressing.
It will thus be seen that the pressure imparted to the fabric is by the dead weight
alone of such upper part which for many classes of goods is sufficient for the required
finish thereof, but when desired more weight can be added.
At the feeding end of the pressing apparatus and about equal length thereto is a
table at the extreme end of which is placed the fabric to be operated upon and along
which it passes to the press guided by the operator, the length of table enabling him
to see that the fabric is straight before entering the press, a short wrapper is sewn to
the leading end of the fabric by which it is drawn by hand through the press in the
first instance and placed in the folding machine, and in order to render the apparatus
selfacting I place upon the main driving shaft of the apparatus, the rotation of which
is continuous during the pressing and folding of a piece of fabric, a drum and a cam,
a certain portion of the periphery of the former has fixed thereon a thickness of
leather, india-rubber or other suitable material by which on coming into contact with
another pulley in connection with the driving mechanism of the folding machine and
propels the same frictionally until it has folded the pressed portion of the fabric under
treatment, and as previously referred to drawn another portion of the fabric into the
press which at the time is kept open for the purpose by the action of the cam on the
beforenamed system of levers. The operations of pressing and folding thus take place
alternately till the whole piece is gathered into the folding machine.
In the annexed drawing which is a side elevation of the apparatus, a, is the table
upon which the fabric b, to be operated upon is placed. c, the framework of the
press. d, the fixed or lower part, and e, the movable or upper part thereof. f, f, are

page_text: the fulcrum shafts. g, g, the short levers thereon. h, h, are links connecting the
upper part of the press e, thereto. i, i, are levers also on f, fj,j, are.links connecting
them to the lever k, whose fulcrum is at l. m, the driving pulleys. n, a pinion on the
same shaft o, and takes into and drives the wheel p, on the main shaft q, of the press, r,
a cam on shaft q, which acts on the bowl k¹, on the lever k. When the cam r, and the
system of levers are in the position shown in the drawing, the pressing operation is
taking place. s, the drum above referred to, also on the shaft q,-t, leather. india
rubber or other material attached thereto, and when in the position shown and pressing
is taking place the folding machine w, is at rest. On the rotation of the main shaft 4
so that the full part of the cam 7, acts on the bowl ¹, the press is open, by this time
the part t, on the drum s, has come into contact with and imparted motion to the
pulley u, and shaft v, from which motion is communicated to the crank shaft a, of the
folding machine by means of an endless chain y, thus actuating in a reciprocal manner
the folder z. a', is a table with a roller b', and endless sheet 62, for receiving the fabric
as it leaves the press and enables it to be delivered to the folder z. The part a' and its
attachments may be fixed to the press if desired. The folding and plaiting machine
being well known requires no further description here.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is.
1. In machinery or apparatus for pressing woollen and mixed woven or felted fabrics,
a pressing machine comprising two internally heated pressing parts one fixed and the
other movable, and by which the required pressure on the fabrics is imparted by the
dead weight of the moyable part, the whole constructed arranged and operating
substantially as described and shewn in the drawing annexed.
2. In machinery or apparatus for pressing woollen and mixed woven or felted
fabrics a pressing machine such as referred to in claim 1, in combination with a folding
or plaiting machine of the usual construction, the whole apparatus operating in a
manner selfacting for the purpose specified.
3. In machinery or apparatus for pressing woollen and mixed woven or felted
fabrics in combination with a folding or plaiting machine as hercinabove referred to,
the finish-pressing and folding of the goods by being once passed through the said
machinery or apparatus substantially as described and shewn.
Dated this 6th day of June 1890.
JOSEPH REFFITT.