CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS, IN ADDITION TO CERTAIN IMPROVED MACHINERY, POR BLEACHING LINEN AND COTTON GOODS;
Year: 1834

page_text: SLATER, of Salford, in the County of Lancaster, Bleacher, send greeting.
WHEREAS I did by Petition humbly represent unto His Most Excellent
Majesty King William the Fourth, that, after considerable application. and
expence, I had invented "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS, IN ADDITION TO CERTAIN
IMPROVED MACHINERY, POR BLEACHING LINEN AND COTTON GOODS; and His said
Majesty, being willing to give encouragement to all Arts and Inventions which
may be for the public good, was thereupon graciously pleased to issue His
Royal Letters Patent, under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date
at Westminster, the Twenty-third day of August last (One thousand eight
hundred and thirty-four), in the Fifth year of His reign, by which Letters
Patent His, said Majesty, for Himself, His heirs and successors, did give
and grant unto me, the said James Slater, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, His especial licence, sole privilege and authority, that I or
they, by myself or themselves, or by my or their deputies, servants, or agents,
or such others as I or they should at any time agree with (and no others), from
time to time and at all times during the term of fourteen years from the date.
of the said Letters Patent, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend my. said Invention within England, Wales, and the Town of
Berwick, in such manner as to enjoy the whole profit, benefit, and advan-
tage from time to time arising by reason of the said Invention; and to
that end His said Majesty. strictly, commands all his subjects whatsoever
A

page_text: that during the said term they shall not, directly nor indirectly, practice the said
Invention nor any part thereof, nor in any way counterfeit, imitate, or resemble
the same, nor make any addition thereto or subtraction therefrom, whereby
to pretend himself or themselves to be the inventors thereof; and whereas the
said Letters Patent also contain a proviso obliging me, the said James Slater,
particularly to describe and ascertain the nature of my said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, and to cause the same to be enrolled
in His Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar months next
and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent, as in and by the
same (reference being thereunto had) will more fully and at large appear:
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the
said James Slater, do hereby declare that my said Invention is described and
ascertained in manner following, and by the aid of six Sheets of Drawings
hereunto annexed, that is to say:-
My improvements, in addition to certain improved machinery, for bleaching
linen and cotton goods, consists in certain new machinery, herein-after parti-
cularly described, for the purpose of filling or laying the linen or cotton goods
which are in process of bleaching into the vessels or cisterns, which are com-
monly called keeves, or keers, or cisterns, wherein such goods are to be stewed
or boiled or steeped in the course of going through different stages of the
process of bleaching the same, my said improvements being applicable in cases
when that process is conducted according to any mode in which the several
distinct pieces or webs of cloth which are to be bleached are previously stitched
together end to end, so as to form continuous bands of very great length, and
which bands are subjected to the various operations which constitute the pro-
cess of bleaching. In the ordinary mode of bleaching linen and cotton goods.
now commonly practiced, the several distinct pieces or webs of cloth are not
united whilst they are undergoing all the requisite series of operations; namely,
such as washing with water, or boiling in solutions of lime or of a kali, called
bowking, or steeping in what are called chemicals, being solutions of chlorate
of lime (formerly called oxymuriat of lime), or in solutions of sulphuric
acid, commonly called sowering, also squeezing out the water remaining after
washing; which series, with various and alternating repetitions of the said
several operations, constituted the process of cleaning, whitening, or blanching,
which is properly called bleaching. And after having undergone the requisite
alternating repetitions of those operations, and after having thereby become
bleached or whitened, but before being dried otherwise than by squeezing
out the excess of wetness, the several distinct pieces or webs of newly
bleached but wet cloth are stitched together according to the mode now.

page_text: commonly practiced, so as to form continuous bands of great length, which are
passed through a succeeding series of operations of mangling, starching,
drying, and in some cases calendering or glazing, for the purpose of getting
up and finishing the cloth; after which the stitchings by which the above
pieces or webs are united are drawn out, and the separated pieces are folded
and pressed, so as to render the cloth fit for market. And note, during all
the said last-mentioned series of operations the cloth is always kept extended
in width and in length, in order that it may acquire its full and intended
extension of surface in the act of drying (and preserve the same when dry),
without creases, plaits, or folds, casually made by grasping the cloth in the
hand, and by drawing it through the grasp thereof; and after the width of
each piece or web thus gathered up laterally into a band, the same is gathered
up in length into such casual zigzag plaits or folds as will best serve to
collect each piece into a manageable compass, so that it can be lifted up
all at once by the hands whenever there is occasion for handling, in order to
remove the cloth from one operation to another. Such gathering up by hand
into folded bands is called pulling up the pieces, and together with the
removal of the pieces from place to place where the different operations are to
be performed, causes the great part of the manual labour of bleaching by
the mode now most commonly practiced, particularly the manipulations for
pulling up which is required every time that each piece goes into the hollow
compartments of the dash wheels, wherein the washing with water is
performed, because the pieces are smartly tossed over and over by the
revolving motion of the dash wheel with a dashing or tumbling action, by
which the washing is effected (and by the aid of a constant affusion of water),
wherefore the bands into which the pieces have been pulled up become partly
opened and undone, so as to require pulling up again as they are taken out
of the dash wheel, in order that they may be transported to the place where
the next succeeding operation is to be performed upon them.
The mode herein-before first mentioned of conducting the process of
bleaching, which permits of the application of my present improvements,
namely, by stitching the pieces or webs of cloth together end to end, and
keeping them so united into very long bands at the commencement of
and during the whole continuance of the process, is not in use, and has
been only tried or practiced to a very limited extent.
But the same
is in part the subject of Letters Patent which were granted by King
George the Fourth to David Bently, of Pendleton, Lancashire, Bleacher,
and bearing date the Twenty-first February, One thousand eight hundred
and twenty-eight; and according to the Specification which the said

page_text: David Bently enrolled in compliance with the said Letters Patent, the
said mode (which he terms a continuous process) consists in uniting the
pieces of cloth into very long lengths, which are formed by stitching the
different pieces or webs of cloth together, end to end, at the commencement
of the process of bleaching and rolling such lengths around rollers on which
the cloth is extended in width, but from which rollers the cloth is afterwards
to be drawn off, the width of the cloth being gathered up into narrow bands
by casual longitudinal pleats and foldings of the cloth, and two or four of
such narrow bands being brought together like one, the same is conducted
between the cylindrical rollers or bowls of a machine called a wet calendar,
and is then carried down through water contained in a cistern situated
beneath the calender, and through which a continual stream of water is
kept flowing, the cloth being passed underneath a roller suitably placed under
the bottom of that cistern, and then going up again through the gripe or
pinch of the calender rollers, the cloth is thereby subjected to pressure in
order to squeeze out the water which it has brought up with it, after which
squeezing it goes down again into and through the water, and up again from
under the aforesaid roller at the bottom of the cistern, so as to pass again
through the gripe of the rollers in order to be squeezed once more before
going again down into the water, and so on, making many repetitions of
successive immersions in the flowing water, and squeezings out of the water
which has been imbibed by the cloth, in order that it may wash away and
carry off with it all soluble impurities, and then in other succeeding repe-
titions of such washing or squeezing operations solutions of lime and of
alkali are to be used in the cistern instead of mere water. Wherefore,
according to the said David Bently's mode, the whole of the washing part
of the process is to be performed by the said squeezing calender operating
continuously upon long bands of cloth, and repeatedly subjecting every portion
of the length of each band to successive alternations of squeezings and
immersions in the water or other washing liquid, in lieu of the ordinary
mode of washing detached pieces of cloth in the dash wheel; and at suitable
intervals between the successive washings by such squeezing washing machinery
the cloth is to be conveyed over suitable guide rollers to the steeping or boiling
vessels or cisterns commonly called keeves or keers; and without detaching the
pieces from each other, or interrupting the continuity of the said long bands,
the same are to be taken down by some person, or some proper machinery,
into the said boiling vessels or keers, and properly stowed therein for steeping
or boiling at such times and in such manner as the process may require.
And whereas the said David Bently did not in his said Specification describe

page_text: any such proper machinery or any machinery whatever for filling or stowing
the said continuous bands of cloth into the said keeves, keers, or boiling or.
steeping vessels, nor has any such machinery been since invented or constructed
for that. purpose (previous to the date of my Letters Patent aforesaid):
And whereas in proceeding to construct bleach works and machinery on a
large scale and at a great expence at Bank Mill, in Salford, Lancashire, with
a view to practice bleaching by the said continuous process of squeezing and
washing, in virtue of right derived from the Letters Patent granted as afore-
said on the Twenty-first February, One thousand eight hundred and twenty-,
eight, to the said David Bently, I was led to consider how improvements,
could be made in addition to the improved machinery described in the
Specification of the said David Bently, and having, after considerable study.
and expence, found out or invented several such additional improvements,, and
amongst them that. of proper machinery for so filling or stowing the.
continuous bands of cloth into the keeves. or keers, I thereupon
petititioned His. Majesty and obtained my present Letters Patent, as herein-
before set forth. And in order that bleachers may be fully instructed in the
best way yet known to me of constructing machinery for bleaching linen and
cotton goods by the said continuous process of squeezing washing, according
to the said David Bently's said Patent Invention, together with all the
additional improvements which I have made thereon, I shall proceed to
explain, by the aid of the six sheets of Drawings hereunto annexed, the com-
plete machinery, which I have constructed at Bank Mill for the purpose
aforesaid, but without entering into any description of the machinery for
mangling, starching, drying, and finishing the cloth after it has been bleached
white; and I shall, at the conclusion of this Specification, ascertain the
particular points of new Invention whereof the exclusive use is granted to me
by my present Letters Patent aforesaid, in addition to what has been before
granted to the said David Bentley by his aforesaid Letters Patent.
Sheet VI. of the Drawings hereunto. annexed contains a general plan of the
whole machinery, shewing the relative situations of the different machines and
their connections; but for facility of explanation the said machinery:may be
considered in the four following portions, which are nevertheless intimately
connected. together in their operation, namely: Further inachinery and mani-
pulations for facilitating the uniting of the several pieces of grey or unbleached
cloth in a dry state by stitching them together end to end,, so as to form.con-
tinuous bands of great length, and each one consisting of, like pieces of cloth,
and for collecting two, four, six, or more such continuous bands side by side,
so as to combine them like one compound band, with an exact equality of

page_text: longitudinal tension of the several single bands, and also for conducting the
said combined bands of pieces of unbleached cloth without further mani-
pulation of handling to the squeezing washing machinery. Sheet I. contains
representations of the said first portion, and the same are designated as
Figure 1 in Sheet VI.
Secondly, the squeezing washing machinery, which is termed a calender in
the aforesaid David Bentley's said Specification, because it contains bowls or
rolls, or revolving cylindrical rollers, like those of the machines commonly
called calenders, but which rollers do not operate on the cloth in the manner
of calenders or mangles, because the cloth is not kept extended laterally to
its width whilst it is passing between the pinch of the said rollers; but the
rollers operate on the cloth whilst the same is creased or gathered up laterally
in casual creases or folds, so as to form a narrow band whereof the folds are
compressed, pinched, or squeezed together in passing between the said rollers
in the same manner as is done in passing cloth between what are called
squeezing rollers by bleachers, and which they use for squeezing out the
excess of wetness from the cloth, but which squeezing operation of the rollers
used in the said David Bentley's mode (and also in the machinery which I
have constructed) being very frequently repeated upon the long continuous
compound band of pieces of cloth during the circulation thereof through the
said machinery, and every repetition of such squeezing being by the arrange-
ment of the machinery rendered alternate to immersions in water (which
by continual flow and change is kept clean), the cloth thereby becomes
washed in continuous bands of pieces of cloth, in substitution for the usual
operation of washing the distinct pieces in dash wheels, but without requiring
any manipulations of pulling up or handling which is necessary in order to
convey the distinct pieces of cloth to the dash wheel, and put them into the
same and take them out therefrom, and then convey them to the next suc-
ceeding operation. The said squeezing washing machinery, which forms the
second partion, is designated as Figure 2 in Sheet VI., and is represented
separately in Sheet II. And note, the said squeezing washing machinery is pro-
vided with two distinct cisterns for containing the liquid in which the successive
immersions are to be made as aforesaid. That cistern in which the continuous
compound band of pieces of cloth is repeatedly immersed during a first
stage of the circulation of that band through the machinery is supplied with
a flow of fresh water entering at one part of the cistern, and passing out
at another part, with a continual change, in order that. the impurities
may be washed away from the cloth; but the other cistern in which the
same continuous band makes its further immersions during the remaining
'

page_text: stage or portion of its circulation through the said machinery need not
have any such flow or change of its liquid contents, in order that it may,
when required, be used to contain lime or alkali, or chlorate of lime, or acid
in solution, in the water with which it is filled, for the purpose of impregnating
the cloth with such solutions, instead of mere continuance of the washing in
water, which may however be done, if preferred. And note, the operation
of the squeezing washing machinery concluded with a slight squeezing of the
cloth subsequently to the last immersion in liquid, so as to squeeze out the excess
of wetness before the cloth passes away to the next position of the machinery.
Thirdly, my new additional machinery for drawing away and conveying
the said long continuous compound band of pieces of cloth from the squeezing
washing machinery as fast as it comes out therefrom, and laying the same
with uniform regularity of stowage into one of the boiling vessels called
the bowking keeve or keer, without interrupting the continuity of the
said long band from the time of beginning to fill the keer until the same
becomes quite filled with cloth, in a suitable manner for stewing or boiling
or bowking the same with lime, which may be thrown upon the cloth
in the keer from time to time whilst the machinery is laying the cloth
therein, or else, if thought most durable, the lime or part of the lime may
have been applied to the cloth in the latter stage of the previous operation
of the squeezing washing machinery, namely, by filling one of the aforesaid
cisterns, which is situated beneath the rollers thereof, with lime and water,
instead of water, and allowing no flow or change of that lime and water,
in order that by the frequent alternate repetitions of immersion of the
cloth in such lime and water, and squeezing out the same, every portion of
the cloth may in turn be subjected to such contact of the lime. The
said third portion of the machinery for filling the cloth into the keer or
cisterns is designated as Figure 3, in Sheet VI., and is represented separately
in Sheet III., and also another variety of the construction of such machinery
is represented separately in Sheet V. And note, after such stewing or
boiling in the keer with lime is concluded the continuous compound
band of pieces of steeped cloth is drawn up out of the keer without manual
assistance, and conducted back to the squeezing washing machinery,
Figure 2, or Sheet II., in order by repetition of the operation thereof, that is,
by alternate squeezings and immersions in flowing water, but without
manipulation or handling, to wash away and remove all the dirt and impurities
which the boiling has loosened, dissolved, or seperated, and also to remove
the lime with which the cloth has been impregnated; and the cloth may,
if thought desirable, be impregnated with alkali during the latter stages

page_text: of the operation of the squeezing washing machinery, by filling one of
the aforesaid cisterns of that machinery with an alkaline solution, instead
of mere water, allowing no flow or change of that solution, wherefore, by
frequent alternate repetitions of the squeezings and immersions of the cloth
therein, every portion of the cloth will in turn be subjected to contact
with the alkali. The continuous compound band of pieces of cloth is then con-
ducted once more to the third portion of the machinery, Figure 3, or Sheet III.,
in order that the cloth may, without interrupting the continuity of the long
band, be laid again in the boiling keer (or in another like keer) in a suitable
manner for undergoing the boiling with alkali, of which an additional quantity
may be added to the keer, or the whole of the alkali may be applied in the
keer instead of applying a part by the squeezing washing machinery; and
then, after such boiling, the continuous band of boiled cloth is then returned to
the second position of the machinery, Figure 2, or Sheet II., in order to be
again subjected to squeezing washing in water, which is continually flowing
and changing, in order to remove all impurities which the previous boiling
with alkali has dissolved or: loosened. For some goods, and more particularly
for linnen, the last-mentioned boiling with alkali in the keer, together with
the subsequent washing, may require to be repeated in the manner already
explained; and then for some goods, chiefly linnens, they may require exposure
to the air and light; but in case the repetition last mentioned and exposure does
not take place, the then continuous compound band of pieces of boiled cloth
must be conducted again to the third portion of the machinery (Figure 3, in
Sheet VI. and Sheet VII.), in order to be let down and layed thereby with
uniform regularity of stowage in one of the cold steeping vessels or cisterns,
wherein it is to be whitened by what is called the chemicals, which is a
solution of chlorate of lime; and after continuing a suitable time therein the
same continuous compound band of pieces of whitened cloth may be again.
conveyed back to the second portion of the machinery, for squeezing washing
once more in water which is continually flowing and changing, in order
to remove and wash away all the chlorate of lime, if it is thought adviseable to
do so; and after that washing the solution of sulphuric acid called sowers,
in which the whitened cloth is next to be immersed, may, if thought desirable,
be applied during the latter stage of the action of squeezing washing machinery,
by filling one of the cisterns of that machinery with such a solution in lieu
of water, and allowing no flow or change of that solution, whereby the cloth,
by frequent alternate immersions therein, and intervening squeezings, will
become uniformly impregnated with acid at every part of the cloth; and then
the continuous compound band of pieces of cloth is to go again to the third

page_text: portion of the machinery (Figure 3 in Sheet VI., or Sheet III.), in order to
be let down and laid thereby with uniform regularity of stowage in another
cold steeping vessel or cistern, wherein it is to be subjected to the sowers or
solution of sulphuric acid whereof the application may have been commenced
as aforesaid, in the latter stage of the previous squeezing washing or not as is
judged most suitable. But note, it is most usual in bleaching by the ordinary
process to transfer the cloth at once from the cistern containing chlorate of
lime to another like steeping cistern containing the solution of sulphuric acid,
without any intervening washing, but merely draining away the solution of
chlorate of lime; and in case the same mode of procedure should be thought
preferable in the continuous process now describing, the last-mentioned
washing in water to remove the chlorate of lime may be omitted, and the
continuous compound band, when drawn up out of the steeping cistern
containing the solution of chlorate of lime, may be conducted at once to the
latter stage of the action of the squeezing washing machinery, in order to be
impregnated with the solution of sulphuric acid, without previously going
through the first stage of that action, which is for washing with water;
or in case it is thought needless or not desirable to commence the appli-
cation of the solution of sulphuric acid by means of the squeezing washing
machinery, then the continuous compound band of pieces of cloth may be
conducted from the steeping cistern containing the solution of chlorate of
lime to the third portion of the machinery (Figure 3, in Sheet VI., or
Sheet III.), when the same stands over another steeping cistern, and by that
machinery the continuous compound band of pieces of cloth is let down and
laid with regularity of stowage unto that cistern until the same is filled with
cloth, and then it is to be filled up with the solution of sulphuric acid. And
after steeping for a sufficient length of time in the said solution of sulphuric
acid, the continuous band of pieces of whitened cloth is to be again conducted
back to the second portion of the machinery (Figure 2, in Sheet VI. and
Sheet I), that is, the squeezing washing machinery, in order by alternate
squeezings and immersions in clean water, which is continually flowing and
changing, to clear out all the remaining acid, and complete the first time of
bleaching, which for some sorts of goods is sufficient without further repetition,
the operation of the squeezing washing concluding as it always does with a
squeezing, so as to deprive the cloth of all excess of wetness, and in that state,
if the once bleaching has produced a sufficient whiteness, the continuous
compound band of pieces of newly or once bleached and squeezed cloth is
conducted to the fourth portion of the machinery. But the whiteness pro-
duced by one series of bleaching operations, as above explained, will not be

page_text: so much as required for many arts of cloth, therefore in such cases the whole
series, except the stewing in lime, may be repeated upon the same cloth with
interrupting the continuity of the continuous compound band of pieces of once
bleached cloth, but the same may be conducted back to the third portion of
the machinery, in order to be thereby laid in another boiling vessel or keer, or
reboiling with alkali, as before, part of which alkali may, if thought desirable,
have been previously applied to the cloth during the latter stage of the fore-
going operation of the squeezing washing machinery, immediately after the
acid has been washed away by flowing water during the first stage of that
operation. The second time of bleaching so commenced is performed by an
exact repetition of the operations above explained; and in like manner a third
time of bleaching may be performed, if requisite, for some cloth, in order to
obtain a perfect whiteness thereof. And note, the series of operations above
described, in which the cloth passes and repasses so frequently from the second
portion of the machinery to the third portion, and vice versa, requires such a
constant use of those portions that it may be requisite to have two, three, or
four of the squeezing washing machines, Figure 2, in Sheet VI. or Sheet II.,
whereof one may be devoted to perform the first washing which precedes the
application of lime, another for performing the next washing which precedes
the application of alkali, a third may perform the washing which precedes
the application of the chlorine, the fourth to perform the washing which
follows after the application of the acid, and any other or remaining washings
or repetitions of washings which may be requisite may be performed in any
one of the said four squeezing washing machines which has completed its own
proper task, and is at liberty to begin another; and in like manner a number
of different keers or cisterns will be required for the successive stewings,
boilings, and cold steepings before mentioned; and the third portion of the
machinery, Figure 3, in Sheet VI. or Sheet III., which, as before mentioned,
is for laying and filling the continuous compound band of pieces of cloth into
the keers or cisterns, may be made moveable, so as to travel over a row of
keers or cisterns, in order to serve in turn for filling each keer or cistern in the
said row; and there may be a separate machinery of that kind for each row
of keers or cisterns,
Fourthly, new additional machinery for separating the continuous
compound band of pieces of bleached cloth, which has been worked
as one band, in the preceding operations, into the several single bands
whereof it is composed, and laying each of the separated continuous
bands into a distinct basket or other moveable receptacle in regular
folds therein, and the stitching being undone after every such basket-full, the

page_text: process of bleaching may be considered to be completed, although the bleached
cloth is still to be extended flat and smoothed, then starched and dried, and
afterwards, for certain kinds of cloth, dry calendered, before the pieces are
detached from each other. For these latter purposes the ordinary routine of
proceedings in bleach works is to be pursued, namely, the continuous bands
of pieces of bleached cloth, as above mentioned, collected into distinct baskets
by the fourth portion of the machinery, after having been separated by the
operation of that portion from the other continuous bands with which each
one was combined during the operation of the previous portions of the
machinery, and each separate band is unstitched at such places as will divide
it into a convenient length for a basket full. The cloth, being still in a wet
state, is then extended in width by hand labour, taking hold of its two
selvidges with the fingers, and pulling them apart so as to take out all the
folds and creases by which the cloth was gathered up in width into a band.
The damp cloth, being thus pulled out by taking hold of the selvidges at such
intervals along the length of the cloth as will produce a tolerable extension of
its whole surface free from any large creases or folds, is laid lightly (whilst
it continues extended) into other suitable baskets, being disposed therein in
zigzag folds of its length suitably for enabling the cloth to be drawn up out of
such baskets as fast as it is introduced into the machine commonly called a
wet mangle or calender, and the cloth in passing through between the rollers
or bowls of that machine is fully extended in width, and subjected to repeated
pressure whilst it is thus extended, so as to become smoothed and flattened,
although it still remains wet. The said fourth portion of the machinery is
designated by Figure 4 in Sheet VI., and is represented separately in Sheet IV.
And note, it is the usual practice of bleachers to unite the pieces of bleached
cloth by stitching them together end to end whilst they remain wet, and in
the state in which they come out from between the squeezing rollers, piece by
piece, after that final washing in the dash wheel by which the last remains
of sulphuric acid was got rid of. The pieces so stitched together are extended
in width by the hands, and are in that state introduced into the wet mangle.
Wherefore, at that stage of the process, and during all the remainder of the
finishing, the treatment of the cloth which has been bleached by the continuous
process herein-before explained may be precisely the same as the usual treatment
of cloth which has been bleached by the ordinary process in detached pieces.
And note, for removing the aforesaid long continuous compound band of pieces
of cloth from one of the aforesaid portions of the machinery to another portion
during the performance of the series of operations above described, the cloth is
to be conducted within suitable troughs, which are provided with supporting

page_text: rollers to bear the weight of the cloth, and allow the same to move easily
when it is drawn along by the action of that portion of the machinery towards
which it is proceeding, and with a speed exactly equal to that by which the
cloth is at the same time given out from the other portion of the machinery
which it is quitting; and in cases where the distance through which the cloth
is thus to be drawn is considerable, or when turns and angles must be made in
the course which the cloth is to follow, so as to occasion any resistance which
could strain the cloth, it may be helped along in the troughs by turning some
of the supporting rollers before mentioned round. by the machinery with
a suitable speed for carrying forwards the cloth. And note, although it has
been herein-before stated that the cloth is subjected to the several operations
aforesaid in uninterrupted succession, without disturbing the continuity of the
long continuous compound band of pieces of cloth, nevertheless that should
be understood to relate only to such goods as are capable of being bleached
only within doors, without requiring any exposure to the air or light (and
which are chiefly cotton goods); but in cases of goods which may require such
exposure (and which are chiefly linen goods), the long continuous compound
band must be conveyed to the fourth portion of the machinery immediately
after that washing which succeeds to the second time of boiling in alkali, as
herein-before mentioned, and which washing precedes the first application of
the chloride of lime, in order that the said compound band may be separated
by the fourth portion of the machinery into single bands, which are to be
received into baskets, and unstitched at such places as will separate 'them into
convenient lengths, and then to be opened out in width by hand and laid
smoothly in baskets, in the same manner as if it was in preparation for the
wet mangling before described; but, instead thereof, the cloth is to be
conveyed to the field, and spread out on the grass; and, after remaining
exposed for a due time, the cloth is to be taken in again, and submitted to the
first-mentioned portion of the machinery; and there, the stitchings which were
detached being again united to form long continuous bands, the machinery
will collect two, four, six, or more such bands, in the same manner as it did
at the first commencement, with equality of longitudinal tension, into one
compound continuous band, which will be conducted to the other portions of
the machinery, in order to be washed, and then submitted to the chlorate of
lime and other succeeding operations, according to the series already described..
And note, the solution of chlorate of lime may in any case, if thought
desirable, be first applied to the cloth during the latter stage of the operation
of the squeezing washing machinery, Figure 2, in Sheet VI. and Sheet II., by
filling one of the cisterns of that machinery with that solution, and allowing no

page_text: flow or change thereof, in order that the cloth may be repeatedly immersed in
such solution, with intervening squeezings to squeeze out what has been
imbibed, by which means every part of the substance of the cloth will be
thoroughly penetrated at front by the solution as a preparation for steeping
therein in the cold steeping cistern, and such preparation will facilitate the
uniform impregnation of the cloth with the solution, in the same manner as
has been mentioned respecting the application of the other solutions of lime,
alkali, and sulphuric acid, all or any of which may be commenced by the
action of the squeezing washing machinery, not, as is thought most desirable
and conducive to the uniform and speedy action of those solutions upon the
cloth.
Description of the first portion of the machinery, Sheet I., and Figure 1 in
Sheet VI., for facilitating the uniting of the several pieces of grey unbleached
cloth, by stitching them together end to end, so as to form long continuous
bands, and afterwards uniting two, four, six, or more such bands, into two
compound bands.-The different directions in which each Figure in the
Drawing is taken, and the scale of each Figure, is written on the Drawing;
and the same letters of reference denote the same parts in all the Drawings:
2, 2, 2, are eight tables or flat boards situated side by side in a row at the
end of as many parallel short railways, 3, 3. The several pieces of cloth are
laid on these boards whilst in the doubled and folded state in which they are
usually sent from the wearer or manufacturer to the bleacher, and each piece is
undoubled, and laid flat and smooth upon one of the boards, without deranging
its regular zigzag folds of one yard each, except that the two ends of each
piece are opened out in order that the last end of one piece may be firmly and
evenly stitched to the foremost end of the next succeeding piece with needle
and thread, so as to unite them like one. Every piece which is to be so
united at each of the boards to the preceding piece is laid flat and smoothly
thereupon when that piece is laying upon the board 2, and the successive
pieces which have been so stitched together are laid smooth one upon another,
with their original zigzag folds in regular continuation until they form a large
heap or pile upon the board 2, which has four wheels beneath it to run
upon the rails 3, 3, of the railway along which each moveable board is pushed
forwards, as soon as a sufficient quantity of cloth is piled up on the board,
and the railway 3, 3, is long enough to contain several such moveable boards 2,
each with a large pile of united pieces of cloth upon it. Each of the eight
parallel railways 3, and moveable boards 2, is similar, and they may all be in
use at once. Wherefore the women or persons who work at the boards 2, 2,
to stitch together and arrange the united pieces in smooth zigzag folds on the

page_text: said boards 2, may get a considerable stock of cloth so prepared and loaded
on those boards before the machinery begins to work, in order to avoid
any interruption afterwards for want of a constant supply of united
pieces of cloth. Each of the said loaded boards 2 is in turn pushed
forwards to the end of its railway 3, which conveys it into a proper situa-
tion in a receptacle 5 for drawing up the cloth out of its flat zigzag folds,
and gathering it by lateral contractions into a band 6, by dragging and con-
tracting it through a small frame 7, which is suspended from the ceiling of
the apartment, and which contains a suitable guide roller to conduct the
contracted band 6 away in a horizontal direction towards the second
portion of the machinery, Figure 2, in Sheet VI. or Sheet II.; and it
is the action of that second portion or squeezing washing machinery which
by its revolving squeezing rollers draws up the cloth as fast as the samo
is required to enter into that machinery. But note, the contracting frame 7
receives a continual succession of united pieces of cloth from two, three, or
four heaps 5, 5, so as to unite the same into one compound band 6. And
note also, as the successive united pieces of cloth go upwards from each of
the heaps 5, 5, on the moveable boards 2, 2, on their way up to the con-
tracting frame 7, each cloth is passed between a pair of tension rails at 4,
which are. both supported at each of their ends by being affixed to two
wheels 8, 8, whereof the line of the centre pins comes opposite to the interval
between the two tension rails 4 of each pair, through which interval the cloth
passes whilst it continues extended in its width, and by turning the said pair
of rails 4 round by their wheels 8, 8, one will be raised upwards, whilst the
other is put downwards, although both continue horizontal and parallel to s
each other, whereby the two rails of each pair 4 may be made to assume any
position in respect to each other which may be required, in order to compel
the cloth to drag over one rail to and under the other fellow rail 4, with a
sort of figure-of-eight flexure, so as to occasion friction and resistance to
the motion of the cloth, which can be increased or diminished at pleasure by s
turning the wheels 8, 8, so as to give more or less of such flexure; and each
distinct supply of united pieces of cloth from the several heaps 5, 5, being
capable of distinct regulation by its own pair of tension rails 4, the several
bands, which are brought together and united into one compound band 6,
by dragging through the contracting frame 7, may have an equality of
tension in that band. The wheels 8, 8, of each pair of the tension
rails 4, 4, have ratchet teeth and clicks or palls to retain them wherever they
are placed. The eight parallel railways 3, 3, and receptacles 5, 5, are
arranged in two sets of four each, and all the several single bands of united

page_text: pieces of cloth, which are supplied from each of those sets of four railways
and receptacles, are combined into one compound band 6, which may be.
compounded either of two, three, or four single bands, according to the
number of railways out of each set of four which are used at once for
supplying such single bands; but so many as are used in one set a like
number must be used in the other set, in order that the two compound
bands 6, 6, which proceed from each of the two contracting frames 7, (and
which compound bands are afterwards to be brought together like one,) may
be precisely alike in every respect; and to that end, if different kinds of
cloth as to width and coarseness are intended to be bleached together by the
same series of operations, the pieces of each kind of cloth may be previously
allotted into two equal parcels, one of which parcels must be supplied from one
set of four railways and receptacles, with suitable regulation of their tensions
by the several tension rails 4, and the other parcel from the other set of four
railways and receptacles, with corresponding regulation of tension, so as in all
cases to render the proceedings at one set of railways and boards 2 an exact
counterpart of those at the other set, in order that the compound bands 6, 6,
proceeding from each set, may be alike. And the series of pieces which are
stitched together one after another at the same table 1, 1, should be all of
one width, and as nearly of one coarseness as can be managed; or when
differences in those respects cannot be avoided, the before-mentioned previous
allotment into equal parcels must be suitably subdivided amongst the railways
and boards 2 of each set, so as that the sorts of cloth which is actually
furnishing from one set of receptacles 5 may at all times be corresponding in
bulk to that which is furnishing at corresponding times from the other set ;
wherefore the two compound bands 6, 6, will at all times continue to be one
like the other, for although each one may at times vary in its bulk, the other
will vary correspondingly and at the same time. The two compound bands
6, 6, are conducted from each of their contracting frames along the ceiling of
the apartment, and are brought together over one condueting roller 9, in the
manner shewn in Sheet VI., and from that conducting roller 9 they go down
like one compound band to the second portion of the machinery, which is
situated beneath in a lower apartment. And note, when nearly as much
cloth has been drawn up as was piled or heaped up upon any one of the
moveable boards 2, which stands in one of the receptacles 5, the empty board
must be removed from the receptacle 5, and another brought by the railway 3
into its place, which other is ready loaded or heaped up as herein-before
mentioned with pieces which had been previously stitched end to end, and laid
smooth and flat, one upon another, in a pile on that board, with their original

page_text: zigzag folds of one yard each undisturbed, and laying in uninterrupted
continuity at every one of the successive stitchings. In order thus to change
the empty board for the full one, without interrupting the operation, the
extreme or terminating end of the lowest piece or remnant of cloth lying upon
that board which is nearly emptied must be pulled out, and stitched to the
uppermost or beginning end of the new pile of pieces which is laying upon
the other or full board which has been brought into its place in the recep-
tacle 5, and that stitching being done in good time, just before the.
first-mentioned board is become quite empty, the same may be drawn.
away, and the remnant of cloth upon it transferred to the top of the
new pile with the zig zag folds of both in continuation.
To perform
this transfer with facility, the board 2 which has become nearly empty
should be lifted up in its receptacle 5 so as to take it off the railway on
which its wheels were supported, and elevate it to such a height as will permit
the loaded board 2 with the full pile of cloth upon it to be wheeled forwards
on its railway, in order to come exactly beneath the raised board, and then, the
ends of the two piles being stitched together, as above mentioned, the raised
board may be withdrawn altogether, and the remnant of the cloth upon
it will be left upon the new pile; and for this purpose whenever a new
board 2 with a full pile of cloth upon it is brought by the railway into
its place in the, receptacle 5, it is connected with a balance weight 10
by suitable cords 11, which tends to lift the board 2 upwards, but which
is not sufficient to weigh up the board 2 so long as there is much cloth
upon it, although when all the pile of cloth has been taken up within
two or three pieces the balance weight will lift up the board with the
remnant of cloth upon it. This rising gives timely notice to the attendant
that another pile will soon be wanted, and then the loaded board 2, which
stands next on the railway, is wheeled into the receptacle 5 beneath the raised
board, in order to take the place thereof. The ends of cloth are stitched
together, and the raised board 2 drawn away, having become useless, the
remnant of cloth which was upon it descending on the top of the new pile.
This being done, the cords 11 of the balance weight 10 are overhauled by
the attendant pulling down another cord 12, in order to raise up that weight,
and connect its cords 11 with the loaded board 2 which is on the railway, but
on which the weight can produce no effect at present, although it is. in
readiness for operation again, as above described, when the pile of cloth on
the board 2 becomes nearly exhausted, and requires to be replaced by another
full board 2. The cords 11 and 12, for the balance weight 10, are conducted
over pullies which are supported in the partitions 13 between each of the

page_text: receptacles 5, those partitions being made hollow within to admit the balance
weight 10 to go up and down therein. The weight 10 is suspended to the
cords 11, which, after passing over two pullies, go down, and have sliders 14
tied to them, and those sliders go up and down in the hollow of the par-
tition 18, having prongs 15 projecting out horizontally through upright slots
in the board of the partition, and it is the ends of the prongs 15 which act
beneath the loaded board 2 to lift the same up. Other cords 16 descend from
each of the sliders 14 to leading pullies 17, by which they are conducted
across the receptacle beneath the floor to the other partition at the opposite
side of the receptacle, within the hollow of which partition they go up to
pullies 18 at the top, and down again to suspend other sliders 19, with pro-
jecting prongs, which are exactly the same as the sliders 14, so that there are
four sliders 14, 14, 19, 19, with projecting prongs to reach out beneath the
board 2; and by the arrangement of the aforesaid cords and pullies, whenever
the balance weight 10 descends, the said sliders are all four drawn up together,
and carry up the board 2 with them; but when the balance weight 10 is
hauled up by its cord and pullies 12, then all the four sliders go down
together, and their projecting prongs are loosely jointed to them, so that
they will easily give way on their joints in going downwards past the edge of
the loaded board 2, but having passed the same they drop down on their joints
and become firmly connected to the sliders for acting upwards beneath the
board 2, with a tendency to lift the same, which they begin to do as soon as
the attendant ceases to pull the cord 12, so as to allow the balance weight 10
to act. There is one such balance weight 10, with its pullies and cords, and
its four sliders, as herein-before described, to each of the receptacles 5, all
which is sufficiently shewn in the Drawing.
Description of the Second Portion of the Machinery, Sheet II., and
Figure 2, in Sheet VI., for squeezing washing of the continuous compound
bands of pieces of cloth, which have been formed by the operation of the first
portion of the machinery, as herein-before described.-When the said band is
first introduced into the machinery it is composed of a couple of compound
bands 6, 6, which, as before stated, have been brought together over the
conducting roller 9, Sheet VI., which is situated at the ceiling of the apart-
ment, immediately above the squeezing washing machinery, and from that the
cloth descends directly downwards at 20. The machinery contains two pairs
of cylindrical revolving rollers, 21 and 22, 23 and 24, at the upper part, for
squeezing the cloth between them, and two cisterns, 25 and 26, at the lower,
part, for containing water or other liquid, are there are small rollers 27, 27,
28, 28, and 29, 30, near the bottom of each cistern, to conduct the cloth down

page_text: beneath the liquid. The axis of the four squeezing rollers are all on one level,
and the gudgeons at their ends are supported in suitable bearings at the top
of the iron framing; as is represented in the Drawing. The roller 21 is the
driver of all the others, having a mitre bevil cog wheel 31 fixed on the
extreme end of its axis, to turn it by communication from another like mitre
wheel, which is fitted on the shafting of the mill work in the manner shewn at
31 in Figure 2; Sheet VI., with a sliding clutch box v, by which the mitre
wheel can be disconnected or connected with the shafting at pleasure, so as to
put the machinery in motion or leave it at rest. The roller 21 is of iron,
covered with brass, but the fellow roller 22 is of wood, and the latter is
pressed towards the former by the force of levers 32, which are urged by links
33, and elbow levers 34, which are loaded with weights 36. The levers 32
act through the medium of setting screws at their upper ends, which being
'unscrewed will set the rollers free from the action of the levers when
required, but when the screws are screwed up they only transmit the force of
the levers to press the rollers towards each other. The aforesaid pair of
rollers 21, 22, and the cistern 25 beneath that pair, perform the washing in
water, which has been herein-before designated as the first stage of the action
of the squeezing washing machinery. The cistern 25 is divided by two
vertical partitions into three compartments, namely, a middle and two side
ones, which are situated beneath different portions of the length of the rollers
21, 22. Fresh water is introduced into the lower part of each of the two
side compartments by cocks 37, from a supply pipe 38; and the water which
is so introduced rises up within the two side compartments, and flows over
notches at the upper edges of the two partitions into the front part of the
middle compartment, from whence the excess overflows at the back, down a
waste trunk 42. The course by which the continuous compound band of
pieces of cloth circulates through the machinery is as follows:-The complete
band of cloth first descends at 20, that is, the couple of compound bands 6, 6,
which, as before mentioned, were brought together like one over the
connecting roller 9'; the cloth goes down through the water in the middle
compartment of the cistern nearly to the bottom thereof, and, after passing
under the two rollers 27; 27, ascends again, during which course it becomes
thoroughly saturated with water, and in that state ascends between the
squeezing rollers 21 and 22, so as to be punched thereby for a first time, in
order to squeeze out the water which has been imbibed, and in so doing the dirt
is carried out with it. But note, the couple of compound bands 6, 6, which began
their immersion into the water like one, are separated before they get down to
the first of the rollers 27, by one of the cross pins of a fixed rack or slea 40, and

page_text: then again by passing through another similar rack 41, immediately after
emerging from the water, by which means the two compound bands (each'
of which may consist of either two or three or four single bands) will go
side by side between the squeezing. rollers. without interfering one with.
the other, at the moment when they receive: the first punch or squeze, which
is to force out the water, as before mentioned, and after that the two
compound bands 6, 6, of squeezed cloth go up, separated, over a tension
roller 39, which is borne upwards by cords and balance weight applied
over suitable pullies to the bearings for its end pivots, which bearings slide
up and down in vertical grooves, so that the tension roller'.39 acts with
a constant tendency to extend and keep the bands of cloth' sufficiently tight
and also passing over the tension roller 39, each of the two compound: bands
of cloth descends again through the water of the middle compartment of
the cistern (but separately one from the other by means of the rack 40),
and beneath the other two rollers 28, 28, and up again through: the rack 41
and between the rollers 21 and 22, to be again squeezed a second time,
then passing over the roller 22 in order to go down again in the. water,
through the rack 40, beneath the lowest roller 27, 27; then upwards through
the rack 40, and between the rollers 21 and 22 for, a third squeezing, and.
up there from over the tension roller 39 before mentioned, and down once
more into the water, but going into the side compartment this time. Note,
owing to the guidance of the racks or sleas 40 and 41, the two compound
bands 6, 6, are continually departing from each other, away from the middle.
part of the length of the squeezing rollers (where. the two compound bands.
were close together; side by side, though not in contact), and going towards,
the two ends of those rollers, because at every time that in the course of
the circulation now describing either of the two compound bands.of.cloth
arrives at either of the racks 40 or 41 the same is passed through another
division thereof further towards the ends of the rollers than the same band
passed through at the preceding time, and consequently, after the two bands
have circulated as far as above described, they go down into, the side
compartments instead of, the middle compartment, one of the said compound:
bands in each of the said compartments, where it descends in the water,
and after going through, the rack 40 passes beneath the two rollers 28, 28,
and up again in the water, and through the rack 41, between the rollers 21, 22,
to be squeezed as before, for a fourth time, then passing around the roller 22,
and down in the water, and through the rack 40'to the bottom; and under the
rollers 27, 27, and up again through the rack 41, and between the rollers, 21+
and 22, to be again squeezed a fifth time, and then up round the tension,

page_text: roller 39, and down again in the water, and through the rack 40, to go
beneath the rollers 28, 28, and up through the rack 41 and between the
rollers 21 and 22, to get another or sixth squeezing, and over the roller 22
to go down into the water through the rack 40, beneath the rollers 27, 27, up
again through the rack 41, and again between the rollers 21 and 22
to be finally squeezed for the seventh time between those rollers. Both
the compound bands circulate by a similar course through the two side
compartments in the cistern 25, one band being squeezed seven times by
passing that number of times between one half of the length of the rollers, 21
and 21, and the other band being squeezed a like number of times by the
other half of the length of the same rollers 21, 22. The constant supply of clean
water is introduced into the lowest part of each of the side compartiments by
the cocks 37, so as to come first in contact with the cloth after it has undergone
several of the aforesaid squeezings, and has been thereby deprived of the grossest
part of its impurities; but the water which is then brought in contact with it
being clean will produce further washing, and by the time that the same water
by the continuance of such washing becomes soiled it passes over into the
middle compartment of the cistern 25, wherein the cloth is at an earlier and
consequently more dirty stage of its washing, so that the soiled water will be
sufficient for the washing thereof, and the final overflow of waste water out
of the cistern 25, by the waste trunk 42, being at the upper part thereof,
will remove the foulest of the water, and prevent its mixing with the fresher
and cleaner water. And note, the tension roller 39 may be made in three
separate rollers, corresponding to the three compartments of the cistern 25,
each length having distinct balance weights for raising it upwards, and distinct
vertical grooves for the bearings of the pivots to slide up and down in, as is
shewn in the Drawing; and by means of those balance weights the tension
may be so regulated as to avoid any risk of straining the cloth, but the same
will make its circulation through the machinery, according to the course
above described, without any increase of the tension which may first be given
to it by suitable adjustment of the tension rails 44, in the first portion of
machinery, where the pieces of cloth were united and collected into bands.
After the cloth has gone through the said first stage of the operation of the
squeezing washing machinery, in manner above described, it must pass
through the latter stage of the operation thereof, which will be performed by
the other pair of squeezing rollers 23 and 24, and the cistern 26, with two
rollers 29 and 30 near to the bottom thereof, also a tension roller 35 to keep
the cloth regulator. This latter stage of the operation may be a continuance.
of the washing operation with water already described, or it may be for the

page_text: purpose of thoroughly impregnating the cloth with solutions of lime or alkali,
or chlorate of lime, or sulphuric acid, as may be desirable; in which case the
cistern 26 is to be filled with the said solution, and the cloth, by circulating
through the same, and being subjected to alternate repetitions of immersion
therein, and squeezings between the rollers 23 and 24, will become effectually
impregnated at every part, and prepared for undergoing the stewing, boiling,
or cold steeping in like solutions, with more efficacy and uniformity of action
upon every part of the cloth. For this purpose the two bands of pieces of
cloth which pass up between the rollers 21 and 22 at the seventh time of
squeezing each band thereby, those bands being then near to the ends of the
rollers, are conducted over a roller 43, which may be mounted with balance
weights in the manner of a tension roller or not, and then the said bands pass
over the roller 24, and down into the liquor in the cistern 26, through a
suitable rack therein, and beneath the rollers 29, 30, and up again through.
another rack between the pinch of the rollers 23 and 24, in order to be
squeezed thereby, then over the tension roller 35, and down again through
the rack into the liquor beneath the rollers 29, 30, up again through the
other rack, and between the squeezing rollers 23 and 24, in order to be again
squeezed, after which it passes over the roller 24, and down again through
the rack into the liquor, as before. Each of the two bands circulates in the
aforesaid course, during which, by the guidance of the racks, each band will
approach from the ends of the rollers 23 and 24 towards the middle part
thereof at every successive time of being squeezed between them, until at
length both bands come together in the middle of the length of the rollers,
close side by side, like one compound band, at the last time of being
squeezed, and then in that state they pass away to the third portion of the
machinery, which will draw forwards the cloth at the same rate as the rollers
24 and 25 give it out. And note, there need be no partitions in the cistern
26. The solutions may be poured into the cistern 26, or conveyed thereto
from pipes with cocks, and may have drain cocks to draw off the remnant of
the solutions when required. And the cistern 26 may be provided with cocks
at the lower part, to admit water from a supply pipe, in the same manner as
the other cistern 25 is supplied from the pipe 38 by the cocks 37, and an
overflow being also provided at the upper part of the middle of the cistern 25
to run down into the waste tank 42. By these provisions the second stage of
the operation may be rendered a continuation of the washing with water
which was begun as before explained in the first stage. The squeezing roller
23, which is made of wood, may be turned round by its contact with the first
driving roller 21; but if that is found to be uncertain, a toothed pinion 44

page_text: may be fixed on the extréme end of the axis of the roller 21, to turn a toothed
wheel 45 on the end of the axis of the roller 23, so as to compel that roller
to turn with regularity, and by accommodating the size of the wooden roller
23 suitably to the proportion between the respective numbers of teeth in the
wheels 44 and 45, the squeezing rollers 23 and 24. may be made to pass
the cloth at exactly the same speed as the squeezing rollers 21, 22, pass the
same, and thereby preserve and exact equality of tension on the cloth
throughout the operation of the second portion of the machinery; and different
spare wheels 44 and 45 may be provided for substitution when requisite, in
order to obtain an exact proportion to suit the size of the wooden roller-23. as
it is reduced by wearing and use. The bearings of the roller 24 are urged
towards those of the fellow squeezing roller 23 by levers, with links, elbow
levers, and weights, exactly the same as those already described for: the roller
22. And note, in order to introduce the compound continuous band of pieces
of cloth into the second portion of the machinery for a commencement of the
operation thereof, a soft plaitted rope must be first introduced, according to the
course of circulation above described, and the end of the band of cloth being
sewed thereto, it will conduct the cloth into its intended course. in the
machinery as soon as the same is put in motion; and also, whenever a lot of
cloth is finished, so that there is no more to follow after it; the said rope must
be sewed to the end of that cloth, and it must be thereby introduced into the
machine, to remain there in readiness for introducing the. next succeeding lot
of cloth, and so in like manner respecting the other portions of the machinery,
the cloth must be introduced for a commencement by means of such a leading
rope, which must be always kept in readiness for use.
i Description of the third portion of the machinery, represented in Sheet III.,
and at Figure 3 in Sheet VI., which is for the purpose of depositing the con-
tinuous compound band of pieces of cloth in the boiling vessels or keers or cis-
terns wherein the boiling or steeping of the cloth is to be performed. . The cloth
comes away from between the middle part of the length of the squeezing rollers
23 and 24 of the same portion of the machinery in a squeezed state, the two
compound bands before mentioned being quite close together side by side like
one, which ascends towards the ceiling, and is passed over suitable conducting
rollers suspended from the ceiling, and is thence conveyed horizontally over
bearing rollers along leading troughs Z, Sheet VI., at the ceiling, through the
wall of the building, into the adjoining bowking or boiling house, where the
keers or cisterns are situated. (This is fully explained in Sheet VI. After
entering into that house, the band of cloth passes under a guide roller 47, Sheet
VI., and is carried up over a moveable stretching roller 46, and down again from

page_text: that roller beneath another guide roller 47. The stretching roller 46 is
mounted in a frame which is fitted to slide up and down in a long groove 48,
so as to be moved therein by a chain and pulley, in order that by pulling
up the stretching roller 46 by the chain a considerable length of the cloth
will be gathered up into a long loop, or the stretching roller 46 may be
let down, and the said cloth given out again. The third portion of the
machinery is placed upon long fixed beams which extend in pairs horizontally.
and parallel to each other over as many cisterns or keers as stand side by
side in a row, and railway bars are fixed upon each of the said beams to
conduct four running wheels upon which the frame containing the machinery
is supported, that frame being a carriage which is moveable along the railway
in order that it may be placed over any one of the cisterns which stand in a
row. The operating part of the machinery consists of a pair of revolving
delivering rollers, which are mounted in the said carriage over the keer or
cistern, and are adapted to take in the continuing compound band of pieces of
cloth between them in the manner of squeezing rollers, so as to draw it for-
wards endways from the second portion of the machinery by the course above
described, that is, over the several guide rollers, along the troughs, and over,
the stretching roller, with exactly the same speed as the second portion of the
machinery gives out the cloth. And the said pair of delivering rollers deliver
the band of cloth downwards into the keer or cistern, but in so doing they let
the same down through the hollow of a pendulous trunk, which is sus-
pended on joints to the moveable carriage beneath the delivering rollers, and
which is caused to vibrate in the manner of a pendulum by the action of the
machinery, and in so doing the vibrating trunk throws the descending band
of cloth, which is continually issuing out from the lower end of the trunk,
alternately backwards and forwards across the width of the cistern, in order to
lay the cloth in alternate zig zag loops therein. And the motion of the
delivering rollers is exactly adapted to the extent and rapidity of the vibrating
motion of the lower end of the pendulous trunk, so that as much cloth will
be delivered out by them in any given time as the trunk will in the same
time deposit in zig zag folds across and across the cistern; and every time
that the said vibrating trunk has passed across the width of the cistern, and
deposited the cloth across the same, the moveable carriage is advanced a
small distance along its railway in a tranversé direction to that in which the
pendulous trunk swings across and across, in order that the vibrating trunk
may at its returning vibration lay the cloth by the side of that fold which it
laid last time, so that the zig zag folds will not be laid one upon the other,
but side by side in regular succession; and having by slow progression pro-

page_text: 'ceeded over the extent of the keer or cistern, and filled the whole area thereof
with a series of zig zag folds side by side, forming a complete layer, then the
carriage begins to return along its railway, in order to recommence a new
layer of like zig zag folds side by side, and covering the former layer, without
any cessation or interruption to the motion of the pendulous trunk or of the
delivering roller. The machinery is actuated by a long horizontal axis 50,
which extends all along the row of cisterns over one of the supporting beams.
It is turned round by the connection of mitre bevel cog wheels represented
at D, E, F, G, in Sheet VI., from the same main shafting before mentioned,
which actuates the second portion of the machinery, and at the same speed.
The bevil wheel on the end of the axis 50 is not fixed fast thereon, but is pro-
vided with a cluted box w, by which it can be connected or disconnected at
pleasure. But note, the handle of the lever by which that clutch box wis
thrown in and out of action must be connected by suitable connecting links
with the handle of the other clutch box before mentioned (see v, Sheet VI.),
by which the second portion of the machinery is engaged or disengaged in
such manner that whenever either lever or handle is moved, in order to
enage or disengage one portion of the machinery, the other portion will be
also engaged or disengaged by a simultaneous and never-failing action, so
that the cloth can never be given out or drawn by one portion of the
machinery without the other portion being at the same time prepared for
giving out or taking up the cloth in exact coincidence with the other.
The long horizontal axis 50 has a spur wheel 51 fitted upon it, so as to slide
freely along its length from end to end; but the axis 50 has a groove along it,
which receives a key in the centre hole of the wheel, so that the wheel must
always turn round with the axis. The wheel 51 has a short hollow axis of
its own, which is fitted into bearing 52 erected upon the carriage frame 54,
and thereby the wheel 50 will be slided along the axis whenever the carriage
moves along the railway. The wheel 51 has sixty-eight teeth, and it turns
another spur wheel 53 of fifty-three teeth, which is mounted upon a horizontal
axis extending along within the frame 54 of the moving carriage, which frame
runs on four wheels 55 upon the railway 56. The delivering roller 57 (which
is 8 inches diameter) is fixed upon the axis of the cog wheel 53, and turned
round thereby, but the wheel 53 is fitted on its axis by a catch box with a
friction hoop, which will allow the roller 57 to stop in case of accident,
rather than tear the cloth. The cloth in coming from under the guide
roller 47, Sheet VI., passes over a conducting roller 59 in the carriage, and
descends between the delivering roller 57 and its fellow roller 58, which
latter is fitted into the frame 54 with adjustable bearings, pressed up by a

page_text: setting screw and spring, to urge the rollers 57 and 58 towards each other
with a suitable force for drawing forwards the cloth in the manner of
squeezing rollers. A small spur cog wheel is fixed upon the axis of the
delivering roller 57, and by an intermediate cog wheel turns a cog wheel 61
of the same size as that on the axis of the delivering roller 57, and on the
axis of the cog wheel 61 is a small pinion of six teeth which operates in the
teeth of a rack 62 in the manner of what is called a mangle motion; that is,
the teeth of the rack are projecting pins, so as to be equally qualified to
receive the action of the pinion either on the upper side of the rack or on
the lower side thereof. The rack 62 has sixteen teeth, which occupy a
length of twelve inches. It is jointed at one end to the upper end of a lever
arm 63 of twelve inches length, which extends upwards from the pendulum
trough 60. The joints or centre pins on which the trough 60 swings being
supported by the framing 54, and the rack 62 being actuated by its pinion
alternately above the rack and below the rack, is moved alternately backwards
and forwards endways, and gives the requisite vibrating motion to the
trough 60. The length from the centre of motion to the lower end of the
trough 60 is six feet. This explains how the cloth is laid across and across
the cistern; but to give the carriage the slow progressive motion along the
railway, a bevil pinion 64 is fixed on the extreme end of the axis of the
delivering roller 57, and turns a bevel wheel 65 of three times the size
and number of teeth fixed on one end of an axis 66, which has a
pinion of six teeth on the other end, to act in the teeth of a long
motion rack 67, which has ninety-four teeth occupying nearly seventy
and a half inches in length. The rack 67 is jointed upon a centre pin 68
in a standard fixed upon one of the beams, and has a long tail with a
counterpoise to balance its weight, so that the rack 67 can rise up or
down, in order to bring its teeth above or below those of its pinion, but cannot
move endways. The action of the pinion in the teeth of the rack 67 moves
the carriage slowly along the railway; but when it has run so far as to carry
the vibrating trough 60 to the extent of the length of the cistern, the rack 67
changes the side of its teeth to those of the pinion, and begins to move the
carriage back again till the vibrating trough 60 gets to the other extent of the
cistern, and so on, as before explained; and this action continues until the
cistern is filled, and then the machinery must be removed, to come over
another cistern in the same row. For this purpose the clutch boxes w an v
are disconnected, to leave the long axis 50 motionless. The centre piu 68 is
taken out, to detach the long rack 67; and the carriage 54, together with the
long rack 67, is wheeled as far along the railway as will bring it over the

page_text: intended cistern, when the rack 67 is inserted into another standard like 68,
which is properly fixed for its reception, and being secured therein by its
centre pin 68, the machinery is ready to resume its operation upon another
cistern, in exactly the same manner as it did before upon the former
cistern. And note, that in order that the continuous band of cloth may not
become slack or tight when the carriage is moved along its railway, in per-
forming the motions above described, the stretching roller 46, Sheet VI.,
(before mentioned), must be drawn up or down by its chain x in its sliding
groove 48 as much as is requisite to keep the cloth to an easy and regular
tension. That pulling up of the chain may be done very simply by a weight
appended to the chain, or else the chain may be connected to the moving
carriage 54, and proceed horizontally therefrom to a pully r, thence over
another pulleys at the ceiling, and thence round a moving pulley t, to which
the moving frame of the stretching roller 46 is connected, and the extreme end
of the chain must be made fast near to s. This arrangement will cause the
stretching roller 46 to operate correctly, as is required to keep the cloth
always properly extended. And note, when the axis 50 is required to extend
over so many cisterns that its length renders intermediate supporters necessary,
to prevent bending down by its weight, the same may be applied in manner
shewn at 71, 71, namely, at the ends of arms which are moveable about
upright centre bolts 70, as axes of motion, those bolts 70 being firmly
sustained in a frame with a strong stem 69, extending from the framing
of the roof of the building. The arms of the bearings 71 will be turned aside
out of the way of the wheel 51, and the frame which surrounds it, by that
frame coming in contact with the bearing arm, in order to let the said frame
pass by the support 71; but as there are two bearing arms 71, one of them
will always be turned, so as to take fresh hold of the axis 50 after the frame
has passed by that one, and before the other is turned aside, so as to leave the
axis unsupported. The bearing arms 71 are thus moved into action by the
said frame coming against a short arm, which projects out from the axis 70 at
right angles to the length of the arm 71, elbow lever fashion.
Sheet V. represents a variation in the construction of the third portion of
the machinery, which is rather more simple, but occasions no alteration in
the operation from that which has been herein-before described. Instead of
spur wheels, bevil mitre wheels are used, one of them, 51, being fitted upon the
long horizontal axis 50 exactly in the same manner as the spur wheel before
described was fitted thereon. The other bevil mitre wheel 58 is fixed on one
end of the axis of the delivering roller 57, which is ten inches diameter, and on
the other end of the axis thereof is a spur pinion 64, which turns a wheel 65 of

page_text: three times. the size and number of teeth, and on the end of the axis 66 of
that wheel is the pinion to work in the teeth of the long mangle motion
rack 67, by which the carriage is moved backwards and forwards along the
railway, as before described respecting Sheet III. In this construction the
direction of the axis of the delivering roller 57 is transversely across the
direction of the motion of the carriage. The fellow. roller to the delivering
foller 57, which acts against the same to hold the cloth between them,. is
placed immediately over the delivering roller 57 so as to bear down thereon
by its own weight, and the transverse position of those rollers enables them to
receive the cloth as it comes from the conducting roller 47, Sheet VI., without
requiring any conducting roller like that marked 59, in Sheet III. The other
mangle motion, for producing the vibration of the pendulous trunk 60, is
derived from a small spur 'wheel 61, which is fixed on the short hollow axis. of
the mitre bevil wheel 51. That spur wheel 61 turns another of the same size,
on the axis of which is the pinion for moving the mangle rack 62, which. rack
is jointed to the upper end of the lever arm 63 of the trough 60, in order to
move the same backwards and forwards, so as to give the requisite vibrating
motion to the pendulum trough 60. The spur.wheel on the axis of the pinion
for the rack 62 may be applied below the spur wheel.61, by which it is turned,
instead of above the same, as répresented in the Drawing. Every other
part of the machinery represented in Sheet Vis the same as. that. repre-
sented in Sheet III., and the operation is the same as. that which has been
explained.
Description of the Fourth Portion of the Machinery, represented in.Sheet IV.,
and at Figure 4; in Sheet VI., which is for the purpose of seperating the
compound continuous band of pieces of cloth into the several single bands
of which it is composed. The continuous compound band, when it comes
from between the second pair of squeezing. rollers 23.and 24 of the squeezing
washing machinery, is conducted upwards, and over proper conducting rollers
. at the ceiling, as shewn at M; Sheet VI., opposite to. the fourth portion of the
machinery, which has a horizontal axis.80 mounted in suitable bearings
descending from the ceiling, with four rollers 88. upon it to receive and
conduct the separate bands of cloth, coming from the rollers, at M. Four:
pendulous levers 81 are suspended on the axis. 80.so as to form a pendulous
frame, and at the lower end. of each lever 81. are; bearings for a horizontal
axis 82, on which four, other rollers 86. are fixed, having as many smaller
rollers 87. resting' upon them in a suitable manner. for receiving and drawing
down the cloth between them, which cloth descends from the, rollers 88 on the
upper axis 180. The axis 80 is turned round by an endless. band acting on a

page_text: pulley 83, and it has a pulley 84 upon it, by which an endless strap turns a
pulley 85 on the lower axis 82, and by that connection the rollers 86 are kept
in regular motion, so as to draw forwards and deliver down the cloth with
exactly the same rapidity as the squeezing washing machine gives out the
same. The frame 81 is caused to swing or vibrate alternately backwards
and forwards by means of a long connecting link 90, which is joined to
two of the pendulous levers 81, being forked so as to reach to both of
them. The other end of the link 90 is a mangle-motion rack which
has twenty-eight teeth, occupying 38 inches in length, and those teeth
are actuated by a pinion of ten teeth on the end of the first motion axis 99,
whereon a pulley 91 is fixed, and by an endless strap turns the pulley
83 on the axis 80, and so puts that axis in motion, as above described. The
axis 99 of the pinion and pulley 91 is the first motion of the machinery, and
makes sixty-four revolutions per minute, being turned by bevil geer Y, as
shewn in Sheet VI, with a clutch box m to connect or disconnect the fourth
portion of the machinery. The lever belonging to that clutch box m must be
so connected with the corresponding lever of the clutch box of the squeezing
washing machinery so that when one is engaged or disengaged the other
must do exactly the same. By the action of the mangle motion rack 90 the
pendulous frame 81 is caused to vibrate alternately backwards and forwards
at the same time that its rollers 86, 87, 88, are delivering down cloth, whereby
they will lay the cloth in zig zag folds into the several baskets 89, which are
placed beneath each of the rollers 86, 87, by an action very similar to that of
the vibrating trough of the third portion of the machinery, except that the
delivering rollers are at the bottom of the pendulous vibrating part instead of at
the top thereof; but that is an immaterial circumstance, because the delivering
rollers 86, 87, may be placed at the top above the horizontal axis 80, on which
the frame 81 vibrates, all which is plainly shewn in the separate Figure in
Sheet IV. The baskets 89 are placed on a moveable platform 94, which is
mounted on wheels 95 to run on railways, and it is moved slowly backwards
and forwards in order to carry the baskets sideways as much as is requisite, so
as to dispose the zig zag folds properly side by side in the baskets 89 in the
same manner as is done in the third portion of the machinery by the travelling
motion of the carriage along the railway. The backwards and forward motion
of the moveable platform 94 is communicated to it by a mangle motion rack
96, and a pinion on the axis of a pair of fast or loose pulleys 97, which latter
is turned by an endless strap from a smaller sized pulley, on the axis of which
is another larger pulley, and that by an endless strap derives its motion from a
smaller pulley on the main shafting, as shewn at P in Figure 4, Sheet VI., by

page_text: which means a slow motion is given to the pinion of the rack 96, so as to:
make only five revolutions per minute. The rack 96 has twenty-five teeth,
occupying twenty-six and three-quarter inches in length, and the pinion has.
six teeth. And note, in order to render the swinging motion of the vibrating.
frame more gentle, it may be connected by a link 93 to an inverted pendulum
92 with a heavy weight at top and its centre of motion below, as is plainly
shewn in the Drawing, Note, the separation of the continuous compound'
band of pieces of cloth by the fourth portion of the machinery takes place as
soon as it quits the conducting roller M, as shewn in Sheet VI. If that band
consists of only four single bands, the machinery will separate them into four
single bands, delivering each one into a distinct basket 89; but if the com-.
pound bands consists of six or eight single bands, then two of those single
bands must be delivered together into each basket as if they were one; but
they can be very easily separated by the persons who must afterwards. stretch
out each band in width by their hands, as before explained, in preparation for
wet mangling. And note, the third portion of the machinery, Sheet III.,
might be constructed with a pair of delivering rollers at the lower end of the
vibrating trunk 60, those rollers being turned round and operating in exactly
the same manner as the rollers 86, 87, of the fourth portion of the machinery,
with their pulleys 84, 85, and endless strap; but the construction represented
in Sheet III. is simpler. The conducting troughs by which the continuous
compound bands of pieces of cloth are conveyed from one portion of
the machinery to another are represented in the Drawing, Sheet VI.
They must be varied to suit the disposition of the premises, and should
have carrying rollers placed over them, to bear up the cloth, at such
distances apart that it will not sag down to drag in the trough. Every
facility must be given to make the cloth move along easily, so that it may
not be strained.
Having now described my said improvements, and the manner of perform-
ing the same, I, the said James Slater, do hereby declare that the new
Invention, whereof the exclusive use is granted to me by the said Letters
Patent, consists in the additional improvements herein-before described as
the third portion of the machinery, and represented in Sheets IV. and V.,
for depositing the cloth in the boiling vessels or keers or steeping cisterns,
with regularity of stowage therein suitably for undergoing the boiling or
steeping, and likewise in the additional improvements herein-before described
as the fourth portion of the machinery, and represented in Sheet IV., for
separating the compound continuous bands of cloth into the single bands
whereof the same is composed. And I make no claim to any of the other

page_text: JAMES (L.S.). SLATER.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Twenty-first day of February,
in the fifth year of the reign of His Majesty King William the Fourth, the
said James Slater came before our said Lord the King in His Chancery,
and acknowledged the Instrument aforesaid, and all and every thing therein
contained and specified, in form above written. And also the Instrument
aforesaid was stamped according to the tenor of the Statute made in the fifty-
fifth year of the reign of His late Majesty King George the Third.