Improved Apparatus for Washing, Dressing, Polishing, and otherwise Finishing Twines, Cords, Yarns, and the like.
Year: 1897

page_text: Improved Apparatus for Washing, Dressing, Polishing, and otherwise
Finishing Twines, Cords, Yarns, and the like.
JAMES MACFARLANE, 205, Kilmarnock Road, Shawlands, Glasgow, Ropework
Manager, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
To extract by carding rough or foreign fibres from the material being treated
and to scour, wash and likewise starch and polish same whereby a washing box
fitted with revolving rollers is employed and a series of drying polishing revolving
rollers applies the heat and friction simultaneously to the material, after being
washed or "sized" to obtain a sufficient finish, without restricting the quantity or
size as by present system.
The material to be treated is wound on to bobbins, reels or otherwise conveniently
placed, prior to entering swivel guide, placed on frame of dressing and polishing
machine at front.
The guide is on a swivel and is secured to the frame of the machine, it is
composed of three rollers, fitted into iron ends, so as a distribution of the material
entering the machine may be passed over or under these respective rollers, thereby
adjusting the strain on the material which after leaving this swivel guide enters
thro' the dividing pins of rising and lowering roller which adjusts the height of
the material before passing over carding rollers next on frame.
Carding rollers are to be of dimensions suited to the efficient extracting of
the foreign matter from the material treated-size about 15 inches diar. by
24 inches wide. The roller to be either of wood fitted with centre journal or metal
ends are fitted on journals and cylindrically covered with sheet metal, wire or
otherwise made to support wire carding, coir rope or any such material used for
carding purposes. On the average a series of three carding rollers are fitted on
this part of the frame and driven at a speed sufficient to give sufficient friction
to material under treatment.
One washing and scouring box is placed on frame next to carding rollers afore-
mentioned and is to be either of wood or metal, it contains three or more revolving
fluted rollers for the scrubbing of the material passing thro'. A small roller of
similar width but about / the diar. of these, is fitted with hinged joint to the lid
of the wash-box, so as to admit of regulating the pressure on the material passing
between it and the fluted revolving roller, thereby scrubbing or scouring the
material.
One rising and lowering guide roller fitted with dividing pins which can be
adjusted to enter the material on any position on drying roller.
One drying roller about 30" diar. by 24" wide or thereabouts.
The surface to be smooth or polished and to be either made of copper, iron, or
both metals combined. This roller may be heated by gas or steam and applied

page_text: in such a way as to assure its power being regulated. The material may be wound
several times round this roller to get sufficiently dryed.
The speed this roller revolves at is equal to the uptake of the material from the
machine.
One rising and lowering guide roller, as previously described.
One sizing or dressing box for holding starch and fitted with revolving roller,
either driven or turned by motion of material passing over, thereby feeding the
starch to the material.
Brushes may be fitted to rear of sizing box with "shoot" underneath to return
superfluous starch wiped off by the brushes.
One drying roller in every respect similar to the one previously described as
measuring about 30" diar. by 24" wide.
A series of eight polishing rollers made of metal with smooth surface, average
dimensions 15" diar. by about 12" wide, heated by either gas or steam with
regulating taps and driven at a high speed to impart polish or gloss to the material
passing over and under each of these rollers alternatively, which gives a simul-
taneous application of heat & friction and also admits of various sizes of twine,
cords & yarn etc. being treated at one & the same time on account of the gloss being
got from the contact of the size of material touching the polishing roller, thereby
getting the one level of small & large cords to operate on at once.
The last two of these polishing rollers to be grooved so as to "tube" or
the twine or cords.
<
round"
Brushes of cloth may be added to polishing rollers for fine work, when
advantageous, should hair be used in preference to cloth it can be done.
One rising and lowering guide roller with dividing pins as formerly described
these rollers to be placed throughout the machine where found necessary.
One slow motion drying roller about 30" diar. by 24" in all respects similar to
the two preceding ones, this one may not be only used for drying but may also act
as draw-off roller for the material leaving the machine prior to bobbining.
One upright pinned bracket guide fixed on frame to height required for the
distribution of twines etc. to bobbins on bobbining frame, which completes the
process of carding, washing dressing and polishing referred to.
Dated this day the Sixteenth of November 1897.
Improved Apparatus for Washing, Dressing, Polishing and otherwise
Finishing Twines, Cords, Yarns, and the like.
I, JAMES MACFARLANE, of 205, Kilmarnock Road, Shawlands, Glasgow, Manager,
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:-
This invention relates to an apparatus for washing, dressing, polishing, and
otherwise finishing twines, cords, yarns, and such like.
The object of this invention is to extract, by "carding rollers," rough or foreign
fibres from the material being treated, and to scour, wash, and also starch and
polish same. In order to effect this object improved "carding rollers" are used
and a washing-box, fitted with revolving rollers, is also employed. A series of
revolving drying and polishing rollers applies beat and friction simultaneously

page_text: to the material, after being washed or sized, in order to give a sumcient unis
without restricting the quantity or size as in the present systems.
And in order that my said invention may be properly understood I have
hereunto appended two explanatory sheets of drawings, whereon,
Fig. 1 is a side elevation and Fig. 2 a plan of the apparatus.
Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the wash-box and Fig. 4 is a plan view of the same
with the cover removed.
Fig. 5 is a view showing rope gear for driving the rollers.
Fig. 6 is an elevation and Fig. 7 a cross section of one of the carding rollers.
Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail view.
Fig. 8 is a section and Fig. 9 a plan view of the size box.
Referring to the drawings whereon the same reference numerals wherever
repeated indicate the same or similar parts.
The material to be treated is wound upon a reel 1, (or upon bobbins, or otherwise)
at the end of the machine. The reel 1 is so carried in the frame 2 of the machine,
as shown, that it can easily be removed when exhausted and replaced by another
full reel. From the reel the material, indicated by the dotted line 3, passes below
the roller 4, over the roller 5 and under the roller 6 of a guide 7. This guide,
which is provided with pivot pins 8 at each end working freely in bearings,
regulates the strain on the material. From the guide the material passes between
the dividing pins 9 carried on the cross bar 10, which has fitted in conjunction
with it the adjustable roller 11. The cross bar and roller can be adjusted to any
desired height to suit the material passing over the carding roller 16 by means of the
screwed spindles 13 which work in sockets 14 secured to the frame and which
also pass through nuts 15 on the cross bar. From the dividing pins 9 the material
passes below the roller 11 to, and over the top of, the first carding roller 16, then
through the dividing pins 17 and under the adjustable roller 18, to, and over, the
second carding roller 19, then through the dividing pins 20, under the adjustable
roller 21, and to, and over, the third carding roller 22. As a rule I prefer to use
a series of three carding rollers which are driven, at a speed to give sufficient friction,
by means of the rope gearing 23 operated from the wash box shaft 24 which latter
can be driven by a belt or other pulley from an overhead shaft in any well known
and suitable manner. The carding rollers are specially constructed and par-
ticulars of their construction will be hereinafter given when referring to Figs. 6
and 7.
The adjustable rollers and their dividing pins are all of the usual construction.
From the third carding roller 22, the material passes into a washing and scour-
ing box 25, which will subsequently be fully described, and from thence through
the dividing pins 26, under the adjustable roller 27 to, and over, the drying
roller 28; from whence again it passes, through the dividing pins 29, under the
adjustable roller 30, to the sizing or dressing box 31. The size box 31, for holding
starch, is provided with a roller 32 (see Figs. 8 and 9) which is revolved by the
material itself and which thereby feeds the starch to the material. If desired
brushes may be fitted at the rear of the size box for the purpose of wiping super-
fluous starch from the material; such starch can be returned by a shoot, fitted
underneath the brushes, to the box.
From the size box 31 the material passes through dividing pins 33, under the
adjustable roller 34, to a drying roller 35, precisely the same as the roller 28.
From this drying roller the material passes alternately under and over the heated
polishing rollers 36 which are rotated at a high speed by means of the rope
gearing 37 (see also Fig. 5). The material, whilst passing over and under these
rollers, has heat and friction simultaneously applied to it thereby producing a very
high polish or gloss. These rollers, which are heated by gas or steam, admit of
various sizes of twines, cords, and yarns, being treated at one and the same time on
account of the fact that the gloss is obtained by the contact of the surface of the
material with the polishing rollers. The last two of these polishing rollers are
grooved or fluted so as to tube or round the twine or cords. Brushes of cloth may

page_text: be added to the polishing rollers for fine work when advantageous; should hair be
desired in preference to cloth it can be used.
From the last roller 36 the material passes under a third drying roller 38 and
finally on to a collecting reel 39.
The collecting reel 39 is made with a square spindle 40 which fits in the square
socketed end of the shaft 41 driven by means of gearing 42 from the main shaft 43.
As the reel spindle is merely fitted in a square socket at one end it can easily be
removed when full and replaced by another empty reel.
In cases where it is desired to collect the material on bobbins, said material
would be passed from the roller 38 to a pinned bracket guide fixed on the frame
at the height required for the distribution of the material to the bobbins on the
bobbin frame. In such cases the roller 38 would be made to serve as a draw off as
well as a drying roller.
All the drying rollers are provided with trunnion bearings and are preferably
heated by steam from a steam pipe 45 running along the side of the frame of the
machine. The polishing rollers are also heated in the same manner.
steam supply pipe. 47 are steam pipe connections leading to the trunnion bearings.
48 are stop cocks. 49 is an exhaust steam and condensed water pipe.
46 is the
All the drying rollers are driven at the same rate from the main shaft 43, by
means of bevel gear 42.
The main shaft can be operated in any well known and suitable manner.
The polishing rollers are revolved by the rope gearing 37 which is driven by the
pulley 50 on a shaft 51 operated by belts from an overhead shaft.
The carding rollers are constructed, as shown at Figs.
discs 52, 52, carried upon a spindle 53.
and 7, of two metal
A number of rods 54, arranged at regular
intervals apart, connect the discs together and between these rods coir or other
rope 55 is laid.
As will be seen the rope is laid zig-zag wise all round the roller.
The adjustable hooks 56 (see also Fig. 6), which are passed through the discs and
can be tightened up by nuts 57, hold the rope tightly in position.
The wash box 25 has, as shown at Figs. 3 and 4, three fluted rollers 58, 59, 60 in
it. These rollers run in bearings and are revolved by the intermeshing gear
wheels 58, 59, 60, driven by the shaft 24. Two adjustable guide rollers 61, 62,
for the material, are also fitted in the wash box. These rollers are carried in
bearings at the lower ends of vertical screws 63, 64, which pass up through holes
in the cover 70 of the wash box and can be adjusted in position by means of
nuts 65. The material passes into the wash box through a longitudinal slot 66
provided on the under side with a split tube 67 which constitutes a rounded surface
or guard for the material to travel on. The material passes out through a similar
slot 68 provided with a split tube guard 69. The wash box is preferably made of
metal with a wood cover.
The size box 31 (see Figs. 8 and 9) has entrance and exit slots 71, 72, for the
material, similar to the slots 66, 68, and also provided with tubular guards.
The drying rollers are, preferably, made of copper or iron or a combination of iron
and copper. They are hollow and their surfaces are made very smooth and are
polished. They can be heated by either gas or steam and means are provided for
regulating the heat. On the drawings the rollers are shown as heated by steam
which can be controlled by means of the stop valves. The speed at which these
rollers revolve is equal to the take up of the material from the machine.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I consider novel and desire to claim is:-
1. An apparatus for treating twines, cords, yarns and such like wherein the
material is first "carded," by means of carding rollers, then washed in a wash box,
then sized and dried by means of heated rollers, and finally polished by means of
a series of heated rollers, substantially as hereinbefore set forth.
2. The wash box with its revolving fluted rollers and adjustable guide rollers

page_text: all substantially as herein before described with reference to the drawings
annexed.
3. Carding rollers made substantially as hereinbefore described with reference
to Figs. 6, 6 and 7 of the drawings annexed.
4. The general arrangement and combination of parts of the apparatus, sub-
stantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings annexed.
Dated this 30th day of April 1898.
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
100, Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.