IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR PRESSING CLOTH a communication to be as follows:
Year: 1884

page_text: I ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of the said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MACHINES FOR PRESSING CLOTH a communication to be as follows:-
"
The object of the invention is to producee a powerful machine arranged to
operate automatically and hot-press both sides of the cloth; and it consists
essentially of two or more hollow plates carried in a suitable frame and so operated
by powerful cam mechanism that cloth placed between their surfaces shall be
subjected to great pressure; the said hollow plates being kept hot by the injection
of steam into their hollow bodies; suitable mechanism for damping the cloth being
provided also mechanism for intermittently conveying the cloth through the press;
the whole mechanism being operated from a motor common to all, so that the
motion of one part shall operate and agree with the motions of the other parts.
A machine constructed to press two pieces of cloth simultaneously, (but with
only one damping and sizing attachment it being presumed for the purpose of the
specification that one piece of cloth is being pressed without damping) will be
herein described although it will be understood that the device described for
damping the cloth might easily be duplicated and arranged to operate in connection
with the other parts of the machine.
The machine has a hollow bed-plate arranged to rest upon and be supported by
collars formed upon posts.
A hollow centre plate is also carried by the posts, but arranged to rest upon
shoulders, formed on these posts so as to keep the surface of the centre plates from
coming in contact with the surface of the bed plate when the latter is resting
upon its supporting collars.
A top hollow plate is similarly fitted to the posts and arranged to rest upon a
shoulder formed upon the posts so as to keep the surface of the top plate, from
coming in contact with the surface of the centre plate when the latter is resting
upon the shoulders! All these plates are so held on the posts, that they may be
adjusted vertically upon, the said posts, but cannot descend below the shoulders
and collars!

page_text: Powerful springs placed on the posts are designed to represent any strength
according to the pressure it is desired to impart to the cloth.
Jointed arms have their top ends pivotted upon the bottom of the bed-plate, their
lower ends being similarly pivotted in suitable bearing-boxes while their centre
joint rests against cams keyed or otherwise securely fastened to their respective
shafts. These cams are driven by powerful gearing connected to the main driving
shaft which is connected in any suitable manner to an engine or other motor.
When the centre joints of the arms are in contact with the flat side of the cams,
there is a clear space between each of the hollow plates. As the cams revolve and
their round surface comes opposite to the centre joints of the arms, the joint is
straightened imparting a powerful upward movement to the plates and directing a
pressure on their surface equal to the strength of the springs. The cams may be
designed to maintain that pressure for a space of about half a minute, it will be
understood that the strength of the springs, may be altered to suit circumstances.
The surfaces of the plates, should be covered with what is known as press-paper
in order to impart to the cloth being pressed a glossy and soft surface.
In order to damp or size the cloth to be pressed and to hold it in proper tension
while passing through the machine a revolving brush is provided and caused to
revolve by the main driving mechanism of the machine, it is within a suitable
tank filled with water or suitable sizing liquid. The cloth to be damped or sized
is carried around tension bars. The cloth before being carried up to pass between
the plates is passed below hinged lower tension bars which while holding the cloth
against the brush when in a horizontal position, when tilted up on their hinge,
keep the cloth clear of the brush. This adjustment is necessary as it would not
be advisable to permit the surface of the cloth to be in contact with the revolving
brush, during the period that the cloth is being pressed. In order to thus lift the
cloth clear of the brush during the period that its surface between the plates is
being pressed there is fixed to one of the shafts one or more cams, upon which a
lever attached to the tension bars rests.
In order to draw the cloth through the machine when the plates are opened, and
to allow it to remain stationary while being pressed there is a sprocket-wheel fixed
to one of the cam-shafts, and a similar sprocket-wheel on a counter-shaft, connecting
the two sprocket-wheels by a suitable chain, or instead of sprocket-wheels and
chain, other gearing might be introduced.
On the counter shaft is fastened a mutilated wheel arranged to mesh with a
gear-wheel fixed to the shaft of a roller. One gear-wheel is mutilated as stated by
a removal of a certain number of its teeth sufficient to represent in its revolution
the period during which the pressing is being effected. Owing to its connection as
described with the cam-shaft the mutilated gear, will be constantly revolving, but
whenever the position of its periphery off which the teeth have been removed comes
opposite to the whole gear-wheel, this latter will of course remain stationary,
consequently during that period the cloth will not be drawn through the plates,
remaining stationary between them while the pressure is being imparted. By the
time that the teeth in the mutilated gear-wheel, again come into contact with the
teeth on the other gear-wheel, the plates have once more opened and the cloth
through its action drawn through a given distance.
In order to ensure that the cloth shall be pulled through the same distance each
time, it is necessary to provide spikes or their equivalent on rollers to stick into
the selvage of the cloth and in order to roll the cloth thus pulled through there
may be rollers, operated from other rollers by straps or cords which are made
sufficiently slack to slip a little when extra strain is imparted to the winding cloth.
This extra strain will as will be understood be caused by the increase in the size of
the roll of cloth, but by providing the means specified this increase is compensated
for by the slipping of the cord.
A steam-pipe conveys the steam into the hollow plates, another pipe carries off
the condensed steam. These pipes are connected on opposite sides of the machine
to the hollow plates by short elbow-pipes. The short pipes have either flexible

page_text: joints or are of such a length that there will be sufficient flexibility in them to
permit the vertical adjustment of the hollow plates without straining or breaking
the joints..
With the view of cooling the cloth as it leaves the press a perforated pipe is
placed in front of the plates, extending across the machine at such a point that the
cloth will either pass above or below it as it leaves the machine after being pressed.
This perforated pipe is connected to a pressure fan driven so as to force a current of
air through the perforated pipe from which it escapes and acts against the cloth at
the point mentioned.
T
I ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the county of Middlesex,
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINES FOR PRESSING CLOTH" (A communication from John Shearer of Preston
in the dominion of Canada) and in what manner the same is to be performed, to
be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The object of the invention is first to provide positive mechanism for operating
the plates employed in pressing cloth; secondly to provide improved means for
damping the cloth previous to being pressed, and thirdly to otherwise improve
the construction of the machine to make it more simple and effective in its
operation.
It consists, first, in providing mechanism for breaking the toggle joint in the arms
for operating the pressing-plates; secondly, in providing a damping roller driven
from the driving mechanism of the machine, and otherwise simply arranged for
accomplishing its desired purpose, and thirdly, in providing a top plate for holding
cold water in order to cool the cloth after being pressed between the other plates
together with other minor details hereinafter more particularly explained.
Figure 1. is a sectional side elevation through X. Y. of Figure 3, showing the
toggle joints broken, also the damping roller and roller for winding cloth..
Figure 2 is an outside elevation of the machine showing the toggle joints
straightened but with the damping and winding rolls removed.
Figure 3, is a plan of the machine.
Figure 4. is a detail of the toggle joint.
Figure 5. is a perspective detail of the wiper.
Figure 6; is a detail, showing an equivalent arrangement for breaking the toggle
joint.
Figure 7, is a detail, showing the means by which I hold the pressing-plates
apart when the toggle joint is broken.
A. B. C. and D are four hollow plates supported by the four columns marked, E.
The bottom plate, D, rests on the collars, a formed on the columns, E and may be
moved up vertically on the said columns. A. B. C. and D. are connected together
so that when pressure is directed upwardly against the lower plate D, the inner

page_text: surfaces of the four plates come together, the pressure exerted on these_surfaces
thus brought together being regulated by the strength of the springs, F, placed
one on each of the columns E.
When the pressure is removed from the bottom plate D it will naturally drop
back on to the collars a and the other plates will of course follow, but the down-
ward motion of the top plate A, is arrested by coming in contact with a shoulder
formed on each of the colums E, which shoulder is made by reducing the diameter
at the top of the column as indicated in Figure 1. The other plates are supported
by an arrangement which forms a part of this invention and it is shown in detail
in Figure 7. In this figure it will be noticed that the three plates A. B. and C.,
are provided with a stud G. Four studs, G near the four corners of each of the
plates are provided, and each stud is provided with a head through which a hole is
made to permit the passage of a vertical spindle, H. This spindle H, is securely
held to the stud G, on the top plate, A, by nuts b, as indicated. The spindle passes
through holes made in the other studs sufficiently large to permit of the free
vertical movement of the studs on the spindle H. The effect of this arrangement
is that when the lower plate, D, comes in contact with the plate C, this latter plate
is raised till it comes in contact with the plate B. which in its turn is moved
upwardly till it comes in contact with the plate A, when all the plates move
together as far as they are permitted to do so by the springs F. In thus moving
up the studs G attached to the plates B and C, move freely on the spindle H, till
the top plate A, is touched when the spindles move with them. The removal of
the upward pressure from the plates causes them to fall back onto the nuts c which
nuts can be readily adjusted so as to increase or decrease the distance of the
openings between the plates.
The upward motion to the plates is derived by the straightening of the toggle
joints formed on the four pairs of arms marked I, which are located substantially
as shown in the drawing, and the toggle in each of the arms is what is commonly
known as a "knife-joint" which is shown in detail in Figure 4. being so formed
that the cams, J, which operate them cannot push them past the point where their
centres are on a line.
On reference to figures 1 and 2 the action of the cams J. will be understood.
In figure 1 the toggle joints are shown broken; the flat sides of the cams being
opposite the joint. In figure 2 the toggles are shown straightened, the cains
pressing against the rollers d which are placed one on each toggle joint as
represented.
By thus providing a roller, d, for the toggle joint of each pair of arms and so
shaping the cams, J, that they leave the rollers b, the instant that the toggle joint
is straightened it is possible to operate the machinery with a minimum amount of
power. With the view of drawing back the arms for the purpose of breaking the
toggle joint when it is desired to open the spaces between the plates I provide for
each joint a pivoted bar K, which is connected to the joint by the chain L.
For each bar K, I provide a wiper M, which is keyed to the same shaft as the
cams, J, are fastened to. These wipers are arranged to come in contact with their
respective bars, K at the moment when it is desired that the toggle joints should
be broken when by pushing over the said bars, K, into the position shown in
Figure 1 the desired effect is produced.
N, is the main driving shaft provided with suitable driving pulleys, O, and with
a pulley, P, to drive a fan when one is used in connection with the machine.
Q, is a worm pinion keyed or otherwise fastened to the shaft M and arranged to
mesh with the spur wheel R which is keyed or otherwise fastened to the shaft S,
on which two of the cams and two of the wipers are fastened as shown.
On the opposite side of the shaft S; is keyed or otherwise fastened a spur-wheel T,
which meshes with the spur-wheel, U, keyed or otherwise fastened to the shaft V,
on which the other two cams and two wipers are fastened.
On reference to figures, 1 and 3 it will be noticed that the other moving parts of
the machine also derive their motion from the shafts S and V, the operation

page_text: of which I shall describe immediately, but before doing so 1 wish to draw attention
to the device shown in Figure: 6, in which the eccentric W, is indicated as a
substitute to take the place of the wipers M.
This eccentric is assumed to be keyed to the shaft S, and connected to the pivot o
of the toggle joint by a strap and rod as indicated.
As the eccentric W, is set the same as the wiper M, the revolving of the shaft on
which it is attached will act on the toggle joint in precisely the same manner,
and therefore may be used as an equivalent for the wiper and chains before
referred to.
✗, is a damping roller driven, from the shaft, V as indicated. This roller
revolves in a trough of water as shown and is intended to damp the cloth before it
is carried between the pressing plates. The dotted line Y, represent the cloth.
This it will be noticed first passes around the tension bars Z, then around a
roller, f, over the damping roller X then under the small roller g and then up over
a take-up roller h which latter roller is driven from the damping roller X by the
belt from this latter roller it passes up over the small roller i, thence between the
two plates C and D then around the small roller j at the opposite end of these
plates and back again between the plates B and C, then around the roller k, back
between the plates A, and B, over the roller 1 down to and below the winding
roller m which latter roller derives its motion from the shaft S, as indicated,
through the spur-gearing n. The cloth Y in passing around the roller m hugs it
sufficiently tight to be drawn forward by its motion when the plates A. B. C and D.
are open, but when closed the winding roller m will revolve without in any way
tearing or straining the cloth;
O is a cloth roller on which the cloth is finally wound. This roller lies loosely.
in the position it is indicated in, in Figure 1. and derives its motion from the
motion of the winding roller m the cloth as it winds upon the said roller increases
it in diameter, but as it has no positive driving gear of itself it increasers in
diameter. It is intended to heat the plates B. C, and D by steam or hot water,
while the top plate A, is intended to be kept cold by filling it with cool water.
By carrying the cloth first between the two plates C. D. and then between the
two plates B. C. is obtained a double hot pressure for the cloth, while by then
carrying it between the two plates A. B. the cloth is cooled by a cold pressure
caused by the cold water pipe A. If the cloth still requires cooling a centrifugal fan
is driven from the pulley P, and arranged to send a blast of cold air on the cloth as
it passes from the roller to the roller m.
Although any one familiar with the pressing of cloth will from the foregoing
description and on examination of the accompanying drawings understand the
operation of the machine, it may as well be explained that the jointed arms I,
are arranged to bring the plates A. B. C and D together at stated regular intervals
to hold the cloth between them under pressure for a certain period and then to fall
back so as to leave open spaces between the plates when by the action of the
winding roller m the cloth is drawn through the plates for a given distance when
the operation is once more repeated.
As the damping roller X, is revolving continuously and the cloth always remains
against it it is necessary to keep the cloth moving, otherwise the cloth will become
damper at some spots than at others. In order to accomplish this motion during
the time that the plates are held together I provide the take-up roller h which in
revolving draws the cloth from the damping roller, carrying the cloth somewhat
into the position it is shown in in Figure 1.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is :-
1, The hollow plates A. B. C and D carried on the columns E, the springs F
arranged as specified in combination with the arms I, having pivoted as shown on
the bottom plate D, a knife joint as specified, in combination with the cams J,

page_text: arranged to operate the toggle jointed arms I substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
:
2, The driving shaft N. having fastened on it-à worm pinion Q to mesh with
the spur-wheel R, on the shaft, S, which shaft S, is connected by the spur-wheels T
and U, to the shaft V in combination with the cams J, arranged to straighten the
toggle-jointed armis I, and the wipers, M, arranged to come in contact with the
bars K, connected to the pivote of the toggle-joints by the chain L, for the
purpose of breaking the said toggle joint, substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
.
3, In a cloth pressing machine in which the pressing plates are operated by
toggle-jointed arms, I, actuated by cams J, the combination of mechanism arranged
to break the toggle joints substantially as and for the purpose specified.
4, In a cloth pressing machine, the top plate A supported on shoulders formed
on the columns E in combination with the spindles H, passing through holes made
in studs G. attached to plates B and C. and the nuts b and c arranged to connect
the said spindles to the plates A. B and C, substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
5, In a cloth-pressing machine the damping roller, X, deriving motion from the
shaft V for the purpose of feeding and continuously damping the cloth before it is
carried between the plates to be pressed, in combination with the take-up roller h,
arranged to draw the cloth from the damping roller substantially as and for the
purpose specified.
6, In a cloth pressing machine, a winding roller m deriving a rotary motion
from suitable gearing n in combination with the cloth roller o arranged to roll the
cloth substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Dated thi. 29th doxe of Ontahan 1001