Improvements in Machinery for Drying Pile and other Woven and Felted Fabrics.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Apr., 1887.
Specification Accepted, 24th May, 1887.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery for Drying Pile and other Woven and
Felted Fabrics.
I, HENRY LISTER, of Ashbrow Mills, Huddersfield, Yorkshire, Manufacturer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
This invention consists of improvements in, and additions to machines for drying
pile and other woven and felted fabrics, the original Patent for which was granted to
ime on the 30th day of May A.D. 1884 No. 8403.
In the specification of the above named Patent, the machine was described as con-
sisting of two discs or face plates, mounted upon a hollow shaft, the inner surfaces of
such discs having spiral grooves cut therein, in which were placed metal strips, or
bands, provided with pins or tenter hooks, one end of which metal strip commenced at
a point near the centre of the discs and wound around within the grooves in a spiral
form until the opposite extremities finished; near to the outer edge of the said discs.
At a short distance behind each disc was another spiral band corresponding, (and
being connected by short studs passing through the disc) to the spiral band in the
groove thereof.
In connection with the spiral bands at the back of the discs were small pulleys
placed loosely on upright shafts, and as the discs rotated, the said pulleys at the point
of contact forced or pressed a portion of the inner spiral band out of the said groove,
the pins or tenter hooks thereon entering into the selvedge of the fabric.
A brush was also employed to force the selvedge down onto the pins. The portion
of the spiral band so pressed out, was afterwards drawn back into the groove by
means of a strong spiral spring on the stud connecting the two bands together.
Suitable means of supplying the said machine with hot air or steam, were also
employed for drying the coiled fabric, and one of the two discs was made capable of
sliding latterally upon its axis for the purpose of stretching the said coiled fabric.
It is not my intention to deviate in any material manner from the above description
of machine for drying pile or other fabrics, but I find it expedient to make certain

page_text: additions to such machine, to enable it to be driven at a higher rate of speed than
hitherto, and in such a manner, that, as the diameter of the helical coiled fabric
increases, the velocity of the discs shall be diminished in speed.
In order that my improvements in such machines may be better understood, I
hereto annex five sheets of drawings, illustrative thereof. Figs. 1, 2, and 3 are
respectively front elevation partly in section, cross section through 1, 2 in Fig. 3 and
plan views of so much of my improved machine, for drying pile or other woven or
felted fabrics, as is necessary to shew the application of my improvements thereto.
A and B are the two discs or face-plates mounted upon the hollow shaft C, the said
discs having spiral grooves a formed therein for receiving the spiral band having
pins c thereon, such spiral band being connected by studs d to corresponding spiral
Land e at the back of the discs (see detail Fig. 4) and operated in the manner shewn
and described in the specification of my former l'atent No. 8403 A.D. 1884.
In combination with the spiral groove a I form another spiral groove in both
discs, shewn in black line in Fig. 2, in which are placed the runners g, such
runners being connected to short rods inserted into the hollow shaft having
a spiral spring therein, such spiral spring allowing the said short shafts to "give and
take" latterally, as the discs are not always the same distance apart. The rods hare
supported by the arms i connected to lever arm or brackets fastened on the cross
shaft D.
Brushes E are also employed having short studs or projections; thereon, (see Fig. 4)
which also enter into the spiral grooves f, such brushes being connected by arms E
to the cross shaft F. The short shaft which forms the axle of each brush, enters
into the hollow shaft which also has a spiral spring therein, and allows the said
short shafts to "give and take" latterally, according as the distance between the
two discs may vary with the varying widths of fabric under operation.
-
On the arms (see Fig. 3) are secured a number of laths G composed of any
suitable material, which are notched or serrated at each side thereof, and at opposite
angles as shewn in plan Fig. 3, so that the fabric, as it passes over them, is drawn out
and stretched latterally. Slots are made in these laths, and provided with set screws
to allow for latteral movement of the disc.
For the purpose of stretching and opening out the fabric, I also employ a cylinder H
(see Fig. 3 and front elevation Fig. 6) having thin strips of metal on its periphery or
grooves forming a right and left hand spiral in its surface, such cylinder being driven
in an opposite direction to that of the fabric, by means of strap and pulleys from any
convenient source. A steam pipe may be connected to the hollow shaft of the
cylinder H, by means of a ball or other form of joint, so as to admit steam into the
said cylinder for the purpose of heating the fabric as it passes over, thus allowing
the creases therein to be more easily removed.
In order to drive the machine at a higher rate of speed than hitherto, and to reduce
the speed in proportion as the diameter of the helical coiled fabric increases, I mount
on the hollow shaft C, a disc I, having cast or otherwise secured to its face, a number
of studs or projections m which are arranged spirally around the face of the said disc,
as shewn in Figs. 1 and 5. These studs or projections m take into corresponding holes
or recesses a in the plate wheel J mounted on the vertical shaft K, so that as rotary
motion is imparted from the main driving shaft to the upper shaft L. (see Fig. 1) and
from thence by bevil gearing M to the vertical shaft K and plate wheel J, the, projec-
tions on the disc I will successively enter into the holes or recesses n in the plate
wheel, whereby the said dise and consequently the discs A and B are rotated and at a
varying speed.
The plate wheel J is provided with a key which enters into the key bed or slot o in
the vertical shaft K, so that whilst the said plate wheel J is driven positively by the
said shaft the plate wheel is free to slide up and down thereon, and so vary the speed
of the discs 1, B and A.
-
I will now describe the action of the machine.
The fabric is fed in the first instance by the attendant over the stretching cylinder II
and onto the card iceth connected to the endless belts p arranged at each side of the

page_text: machine, (see Fig. 2) then undor the brushes E, and finally made secure onto the
tenter looks q in the bar N fastened to the hollow shaft C.
Motion is now imparted to the machine by shaft L in the manner previously
described, the plate wheel J occupying the position shewn in dotted lines in Figs. 1
and 5. It will therefore be seen that as the disc I rotates in the direction of the
arrow (see Fig. 5) the arrangement of the studs or projections m in a spiral form,
will cause the plate wheel J to move further away from the centre of the dise at every
revolution of the said disc, consequently its velocity will be reduced at every revolution,
whereby the velocity of the discs A and B is proportionately reduced with the
increasing diameter of the helical coiled fabric that is being wound onto the said discs
in the centre thereof. By this means the fabric is delivered to the discs at the same,
or nearly the same speed throughout.
For the purpose of stopping or reversing the rotation of the dises when the whole
of the fabric has been wound on the toothed spiral band b, or unwound therefrom, I
employ a lever arm O placed so as to be reached by the plate wheel J when it arrives
at its lowest point of descent, which lever O is connected by rods to the bell crank
lever P placed so as to be reached by the plate wheel J when it arrivos at its highest
upward movement. One arm of the bell crank lover P is connected by rod t to the
sliding bar Q and the strap fork R.
When commencing to wind the fabric onto the discs A and B, the bell crank lever P,
lever arm and parts connected therewith, occupy the positions shewn in dotted lines
in Fig. 1, and remain in that position until the plate wheel J has been lifted far enough
to come into contact with the friction bowl u on the end of the lever arm O and on
the continued ascent of such wheel the lover arm O would be raised and assume the
position shewn in full lines. As the lever arm O is connected by rods to the bell
crank lever P, it follows that such bell crank lever will also be raised, the action of
which draws tho sliding bar Q forward and removes the strap from the pulley T to the
pulley S and thus changes or reverses the rotation of the machine.
When unwinding the fabric from the machine, the disc I is rotated in the opposite
direction to that indicated by arrow r in Fig. 5, and the plate wheel J-which is then
in the position shewn in dotted lines-slides up the vertical shaft until it comes into
contact with the friction bowl on the end of the bell crank lover l', thus raising the
said lever and parts connected therewith into their original position.
Hand levers may be placed in suitable positions on the machine so that the attendant
can start or stop the machine as and when he may desire.
By connecting the laths G to the short rods it will be understood, that, as the
dises rotate and wind on the fabric, the pulleys or runners which run in the spiral
grooves, will follow the fabric as its diameter increases, thereby keeping the laths G
in contact with the said fabric until the whole is wound onto the discs; and this is
also the case with the brushes E, the studs j thereon entering the spiral groove and
raising thereby such said brushes correspondingly with the increasing diameter of the
fabric.
In Fig. 1 I have shewn a toother rack U secured to or forming part of the hollow
shaft (, into which rack takes a pawl e secured in a suitable manner to the disc A, such
pawl w being forced and kept in the teeth of the rack by the flat spring .
The use of this rack and pawl is to take the pressure off the nut V when the fabric
is wound onto the machine and stretched, as it is found in practice that the said nut
is too weak to bear the pressure which is put upon it.
A suitable chamber may be placed on the top, or above the machine, and supplied
with a current or currents of cold air, so that as the fabric is unwound from the
machine it may be conducted through such chamber and thereby cooled.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
Firstly. In combination with a machine for drying pile and other woven or felted
fabrics, consisting of two discs such as A and B, of the means for and method of
varying the velocity of the said dises A and B proportionately and correspondingly

page_text: with the varying diameter of the helical coiled fabric that is being wound onto the
said discs substantially as set forth.
Secondly. In combination with a machine, for drying pile and other woven or
felted fabrics, consisting of two discs such as A and B, and the means for and method
of varying the velocity of the dises A and B proportionately and correspondingly with
the varying diameter of the helical coiled fabric which is being wound onto the said
discs of the self-acting means and method herein shewn and described for stopping
and reversing the rotation of the discs A and B when the whole of the fabric has been
wound thereon or unwound therefrom.
Thirdly. In combination with the discs A and B, of the additional spiral grooves f
cut therein, for receiving the runners and studs for the purposes substantially as
herein described.
Fourthly. In combination with a drying machine having discs A and B, of the
cylinder or roller H provided with right and left handed spirals on its surface for the
purpose of stretching and removing the creases from the fabric.
Fifthly. In drying machines such as herein shewn the use of the notched or
serrated bars or laths G for the purpose of stretching and removing the creases from
the fabric.
Sixthly. In combination with discs A and B the employment of the toothed straps p
for holding the selvedges of the fabric as it enters the machine.
Seventhly. In combination with discs A and B the use of the rack U and pawl ic for
removing the pressure off the nut V substantially as described.
Dated this 20th day of April 1887
TASKER & CROSSLEY,
Halifax, Agents.