Improved Process and Machinery for Glazing, Polishing, and Finishing Textile Fabrics.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Dec., 1893
Complete Specification Left. 27th Oct., 1894-Accepted, 1st Dec., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Process and Machinery for Glazing, Polishing, and
Finishing Textile Fabrics.
I, PHINEHAS PEARSON CRAVEN, of 16 Devonshire Street, Ardwick, Manchester,
in the County of Lancaster, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the
sid invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a process and machinery for glazing, polishing and
finishing textile fabrics, that is to say for imparting a smooth glossy appearance to
the surface of such fabrics as require to be so treated, and for giving to such or
other fabrics a soft full handle or feel.
At or near one end of a framework I place one or more rollers or bars over or
under which the cloth is passed. These bars or rollers may have projections on
them for stretching out the cloth to the full width.
Nearer the centre of the frame is a table, one or more bars, or springs, or a
smooth roller over which I place, what I call for the sake of clearness, a polishing
roller; such roller may be made with spirals, (which may be right and left handed)
circular, fluted, or other projections, or with a series of pegs. I cause the polishing
roller and the bars, springs, table, or roller, to be pressed together by any suitable
means.
Further along the frame is a pair of rollers, pressing against each other, one or
both of which may be covered with flannel, or indiarubber, or may be fluted, or
provided with any suitable arrangement for holding cloth firmly between them,
and in certain cases the cloth may be wound on to one of these rollers as it is
finished, but when the cloth is not sufficiently glazed, polished, or finished, by one
polishing roller, it may be passed forward to a second one provided with springs,
bars, table, or roller, similarly to the first polishing roller, and this
may be repeated
until the cloth is sufficiently finished or polished. When it is required to give a
high polish, glaze, or lustre, it is sometimes desirable to apply a lacquer, or other
preparation; this may be applied either to the yarn before being woven, or to
the cloth after it is woven, or partly to the yarn and partly to the cloth.
Where the lacquer or other preparation is applied in a liquid form, I sometimes
dry it by means of heated cylinders, hot air, or other suitable means, previous
to polishing. The application of such a material to the cloth, in a liquid' or
plastic form, causes the threads, composing the cloth, to adhere together and
produce a stiffness or papery feel, on the cloth which in many cases is undesirable.
To obviate this, after the cloth has been so prepared, I place it ou a roller, or
otherwise, in the machine above described, and pass it under or over the rollers,
or bars, near the end of the machine, and forward between the polishing roller and
the bars, springs, table, or smooth roller pressing against the polishing roller, and
then forward between the gripping rollers placed beyond the polishing roller or
rollers. It may, in some cases, if not sufficiently glazed, polished, or finished, by
the first polishing roller or rollers, be passed forward to one or more polishing
rollers and to another pair of gripping rollers and then wound on to one of the
gripping rollers or on to any other suitable roller.
Having placed the cloth in position, I cause the polishing roller or rollers tc
revolve simultaneously with the gripping rollers. When the smooth roller, pressing
against the polishing roller, is used, it may be rotated by toothed gearing, or other
suitable means, or it may be allowed to move by the action of the polishing roller.
The action of the polishing roller or rollers (in connection with the other parts) on
the cloth when so operating, produces, amongst others, two effects, viz., it polishes

page_text: the cloth, and breaks the lacquer or other preparation which causes the threads
composing the cloth to adhere together, thus causing the cloth to handle more
softly.
P. P. CRAVEN,
Per W. H. Beck,
115, Cannon Street, London, Agent.
Improved Process and Machinery for Glazing, Polishing, and
Finishing Textile Fabrics.
I, PHINEHAS PEARSON CRAVEN, of 16 Devonshire Street, Ardwick, Manchester,
in the County of Lancaster, Gentleman, 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 a process and machinery for glazing polishing and
finishing textile fabrics, that is to say for imparting a smooth glossy appearance to
the surface of such fabrics as require to be so treated, and for giving to such or
other fabrics a soft full handle or feel.
When it is required to give a high polish, glaze, or lustre to a textile fabric it is
sometimes desirable to apply a lacquer, or other preparation either to the yarn
before being woven, or to the cloth after it is woven, or partly to the yarn before
weaving, and partly to the cloth after weaving.
This lacquer may be dried or partly dried by means of heated cylinders, hot air
or other suitable means previous to polishing. The application of such a material
to the cloth in a liquid or plastic state causes the threads composing the cloth to
adhere together, and produces a stiff or papery feel ou the cloth, which in many
cases is undesirable, and the chief object of my invention is to provide means
whereby this defect is obviated. For this purpose I subject the cloth to be polished
and softened to the action of machinery illustrated in the accompanying drawings
in which
Figure is a diagramatic elevation of a machine adapted to act on the cloth in
a pecular way to be hereinafter described.
Figure 2 is a detail view, to a larger scale, of the polishing roller marked F in
Figure 1 and
Figure 3 is a similar view of one end of such a roller with its acting parts
somewhat modified.
At or near one end of a framework A is placed a roller B, or a bar or other
suitable device over which the cloth C is passed from the cloth roller I; this roller
or bar is preferably provided with the usual well known teeth or projections for
stretching the cloth to its full width as it passes forward. Nearer the centre of the
frame A is placed a smooth table or bar D, or if preferred a smooth roller E, both
shown in dotted lines in Figure 1, over which table, or smooth roller as the case
may be is placed what may be called a polishing roller F, which may be made with
spiral projections or ribs as shown by way of example in Figure 2 preferably
left handed at one end of the roller and right handed at the other, or with a series
of pegs F2 arranged spirally, in a manner similar to the ribs or projections F' as
shown in Figure 3, or in any other suitable order.
The polishing roller F and the table or bar D, or the polishing roller F and the
smooth roller E are pressed together by springs or weights in any suitable or
known manner.
At the rear end of the frame A is placed a pair of rollers G G' pressed together
by springs or weights or otherwise, one or both of which rollers may be covered
with flannel or indiarubber for example, or they may fluted or provided with any

page_text: suitable arrangement for holding cloth firmly between them, so that when rotated
they may draw the cloth forward from between the polishing roller F and the
table D or the roller E, as the case may be. In some cases the finished cloth may
be wound on to one of these rollers but in other cases it may be wound on to a
roller H.
When the cloth cannot be sufficiently glazed, polished, or finished by the action
of one polishing roller F the machine may be provided with a second polishing
roller and table or smooth roller similar to the first, and placed between the
roller F and the rollers G G¹; and if necessary such rollers and tables, or
smooth rollers may be repeated as often as may be required to sufficiently finish or
polish the fabric.
The cloth C to be treated is placed on a roller I, or in other suitable way in the
machine, and is passed over the roller B and forward between the polishing
roller F and the table D, or the smooth roller E, as the case may be, then forward
between the gripping rollers G G¹ and then to the winding on roller H, or in cases
where the machine is fitted with other polishing rollers, and the action of the latter
on the material is necessary or desirable, it is passed under them and then to the
gripping rollers.
The cloth having been placed in position the polishing roller or rollers is or are
caused to revolve in the direction of the plain arrow, that is to say in a direction
opposite to that imparted to the cloth by the gripping rollers, which are caused to
revolve at the same time so as to draw the cloth forward between the polishing
roller F and the table D, or between the polishing roller F and the smooth roller E,
as the case may be, in the direction of the feathered arrow.
When the smooth roller E is used, it may be rotated by toothed gearing or
otherwise, or it may be rotated by the combined action of the polishing roller and
of the moving cloth.
It will be understood that the various parts are put in motion by gearing of any
suitable kind; but which gearing I have not deemed it necessary to show in the
drawings as it may be greatly varied according to the arrangement of the machine,
and the character of the work to be performed, and can be readily designed by
anyone conversant with machinery of this kind.
The action of the polishing roller or rollers (in connection with the other parts)
on the cloth produces, amongst others, two important effects namely the polishing,
or glazing of the cloth, and the breaking of the lacquer, starch or other preparation
which causes the threads comprising the cloth to adhere together, and which
breakage causes the cloth to have a soft handle or feel.
The action of the polishing roller in effecting the polishing or
glazing will be
readily understood as it is practically the same as an ordinary calendering roller,
that is to say it rubs the surface of the cloth which is pressed between it and the
table or the smooth roller and burnishes the same in the well known manner; but
the action of the polishing roller in effecting the breaking of the lacquer, and
thereby the freeing of the threads from one another so as to give a soft feel or
handle to the cloth, is not so evident though it can be explained as follows:-
As the polishing roller is provided with spiral ribs or projections, or with pegs
arranged spirally or otherwise with spaces between them it follows that when the
said polishing roller and the table, or the said polishing roller and the smooth
roller are pressed together, with the cloth between them, the surface of the roller
only touches the cloth at certain points, spaces being left between those points_in
which spaces the threads of the cloth are free, and are not held or pressed upon by
the projections or pegs of the polishing roller. If now the cloth be drawn forward
by the gripping rollers G G it is only those portions of the cloth that are not held
between the projections of the polishing roller and the table, or the smooth roller,
that can move, and in consequence of the pull exerted by the gripping rollers the
lacquer adhering to the threads is broken between those threads that are held and
those that are free. This is more clearly seen if one takes into consideration the
fact that the threads have a certain amount of elasticity so that such threads as

page_text: are held stretch somewhat, in response to the pull, and the threads not held move
bodily forwards in response to the pull and a kiud of shearing action is thereby
produced which breaks the lacquer in the neighbourhood where the threads are
held. But in consequence of the spiral or inclined shape or position of the
projections on the polishing roller, as the latter revolves the points of contact
between the projections and the cloth, and consequently the spaces between them,
are constantly changing laterally, or crosswise of the cloth, so that the above
described stretching and bodily movement of the threads is carried constantly
across the cloth from the centre outwards in both directions as the polishing roller
revolves, and every thread in succession is stretched and then allowed to move
bodily whereby the shearing or breaking action is applied across the entire width
of the cloth, and therefore, (as the latter is moved forward) to the entire surface
thereof.
It will be understood that by reason of the spiral or inclined position of the
projections on the polishing roller the entire width of the cloth receives the polishing
or glazing action of the said projections as the polishing roller revolves, and that
the speed of rotation of the latter should be proportioned to the pitch or angle of
inclination of the projections, that speed being greater the finer the pitch or the less
the angle of inclination, and rice versa.
The above description of the action has been based on the assumption that the
cloth is being drawn between the polishing roller and the table or smooth roller by
a pair of gripping rollers or other equivalent means; but the same effect can be
produced, so far as breaking the lacquer is concerned, but not so perfectly as
regards the polishing or glazing, by allowing the cloth to be drawn forward by the
action of the polishing roller, or by the combined action of the polishing roller and
of the smooth roller, against a suitable resistance applied to the cloth, say at the
roller I or at some point between it and the polishing roller, the latter in that case
being of course caused to rotate in the same direction as the cloth moves. If the
periphery of the polishing roller moves at the same speed as the cloth it ceases to
act as a polishing roller, and becomes merely a drawing forward roller; but if the
periphery of the polishing roller is made to move faster than the cloth it will glaze
or polish the latter to an extent proportionate to the difference of speed. In cither
case the spiral or other projections on the polishing roller pull forward the threads
that they hold at any given moment in advance of the threads that they do not
hold at that moment, so as to break the lacquer or other adhesive material between
the threads as before described.
It is obvious that if a smooth roller be used instead of a table, and such smooth
roller be rotated in such direction that its periphery adjacent to the polishing roller
moves in the same direction as the periphery of that roller at that part, the pull
on the threads held between the projections of the polishing roller and the surface
of the smooth roller, is greater than when a table is used; and this pull is increased
in proportion to the speed at which the smooth roller is rotated.
The relative speeds of the polishing roller and the smooth roller may be arranged
according to circumstances but it is generally preferable to arrange for the polishing
roller to run at a greater peripheral speed than the smooth roller.
In most cases
the smooth roller will be found preferable to a stationary table or bar.
The polishing roller may be made of any suitable material, such as wood or
metal for example, and it may be used at the ordinary temperature of the
atmosphere or be heated artificially by steam, gas or otherwise in any well
known way.
I am aware that it has been proposed to employ rollers with spiral projections,
or with projecting pegs for the purpose of finishing textile fabrics; but such rollers
have heretofore, to the best of my knowledge and behalf, effected the polishing or
glazing action by a motion parallel to their axes, and not by their circumferential
motion; and they have never been employed, so far as I am aware, to effect the
breakage of the lacquer connecting the threads of the fabric together, in the
manner herein described.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
First. The improved process for finishing or rendering soft and pliable textile
fabrics which have been treated with lacquer, starch or other adhesive material,
which consists in gripping or holding the fabric successively at various points of
its width leaving the fabric free between such points, and in drawing the fabric so
as to stretch the threads that are gripped or held, and to move forward bodily
those which are not gripped or held, substantially as described.
Second. The improved process for glazing or polishing and finishing textile
fabrics which consists in submitting such fabrics to the action of a roller provided
with spiral or inclined ribs or projections, or with pegs spirally or otherwise
suitably disposed on the circumference thereof, so that the face of the fabric is
glazed or polished by the rubbing or frictional contact of the said projections or
pegs as the said roller revolves, while the successive holding of some parts of the
fabric, and the release of the adjacent parts by the ribs projection or pegs of
the roller, in combination with the pulling forward of the fabric effect the breaking
of the adhesive material between the threads, substantially as described.
Third. In machinery for glazing, polishing or finishing textile fabrics, the use of
a roller provided with spiral ribs or projections, or with pegs spirally or otherwise
suitably disposed on the circumference thereof, the said roller operating in com-
bination with a table or smooth roller, substantially as described with reference to
the accompanying drawings.
Fourth. Machinery for glazing, polishing or finishing textile fabrics which
consists of a roller provided with spiral or inclined ribs or projections, or with pegs
spirally or otherwise suitably disposed on the circumference thereof, a table or
smooth roller between which and the aforesaid roller the fabric is pressed by
weights, springs or otherwise, and gripping rollers or other suitable devices for
drawing the fabric forward, combined and operating substantially as described.
Dated this 27th day of October 180.1
P. P. CRAVEN,
Per W. H. Beck,
115, Cannon Street, London, Agent.