New or Improved Method of and Apparatus for Cleaning Calico Printers' Blankets,
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
New or Improved Method of and Apparatus for Cleaning Calico
Printers' Blankets,
I, NICHOLAS THOMAS POLLITT, of Lansdowne Villa, Sheffield Road, Godley,
Cheshire, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention to be as
follows;-
My said invention relates to the washing or cleaning of blankets as used with
calico and like printing machines. In machines at present in use for the purpose,
the blanket before, and after, being operated upon by each of a series of brushes
running in a trough of water, is passed over a carrier roller with the soiled face
next the roller, and consequently the tension of the fabric upon the
roller tends to drive the water into the texture of the blanket, and thus unduly
saturate it, and make it necessary to use a large number of drying cylinders to
properly dry the blanket, there being in most cases at least 4 or large drying
cylinders heated with steam at a pressure of 10 or 12lbs. per square inch.
By my invention I arrange for the soiled side of the blanket to be operated upon
without coming against any carrier rollers until it is fully cleansed, and until it
reaches a drying cylinder, and in lieu of the usual four or six large drying
cylinders, I employ one or two large cylinders only working at a pressure of 4 to
6 lbs.
In accordance with my invention, I employ a set of standards or uprights, some
five or six feet high, or other suitable height, and mounted, by preference, on a
common base or braced together by rods or bars at a distance of some four or five
feet apart, or such other distance as shall exceed the width of blanket to be treated.
Between such uprights and near the base I arrange a roller, and around the lower
parts of such roller I arrange one, two, three or more brushes, circular or otherwise.
Beneath such brushes and roller I arrange a, by preference, divided trough, filled
with water from a jet and the water in one part designed to over-flow and run into
the other part. About half-way up and near the top of the uprights I arrange
further brushes, and at, or near, the extreme top I arrange a small drying
cylinder. Also near the top of the uprights I arrange a set of carrier rollers or
bars.
In using the above construction of apparatus the blanket (after travelling over
the carrier rollers from the printing machine with the soiled face furthest from such
rollers) passes between the roller at the base of the machine and the several brushes,
with its soiled face exposed to the brushes, which being driven in an opposite
direction brush or scrub. the soiled face. The blanket then travels upwards and
impinges against the said further brushes, which further treat or scrub the soiled
face, whilst a jet or spray of water plays upon it, and finally the blanket passes
over and around the drying cylinder at, or near, the top of the uprights in a clean
condition, with a minimum of moisture.
After leaving the said drying cylinder around which it travels for about 7ths
of the circumference, the blanket is relieved of a considerable amount of its

page_text: moisture and in a semi-dry condition then passes over suitable carrier rollers to
one of the usual large drying cylinders heated by steam at a pressure of about 4
or 5 lbs., by which it is then completely dried, and made ready for again entering
the printing machine.
New or Improved Method of and Apparatus for Cleaning Calico
Printers' Blankets.
1. NICHOLAS THOMAS POLLITT, of Lansdowne Villa, Sheffield Road, Godley,
Cheshire, Engineer, 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:-
My said invention relates to the washing or cleaning of blankets as used with
calico and like printing machines. In machines at present in use for the purpose,
the blanket before and after being operated upon by each of a series of brushes
running in a trough of water is passed over a carrier roller with the soiled face
next the roller, consequently the tension or pressure of the fabric upon the
roller tends to drive the water into the texture of the blanket and thus unduly
saturate it and make it necessary to use a large number of drying cylinders to
properly dry the blanket, there being in most cases at least 4 or 6 large drying
cylinders heated with steam at a pressure of 10 or 12lbs. per square inch.
By my invention I arrange for the soiled side of the blanket to be operated upon
without coming against any carrier rollers until it is fully cleansed, and until it
reaches a drying cylinder, and in lieu of the usual four or six large drying cylinders
I am thereby enabled to fully dry the blanket with one or two large cylinders only,
working at a pressure of 4 to 6 lbs.
In accordance with my invention I employ a set of standards or uprights, some
five or six feet high or other suitable height, and mounted, by preference, on a
common base, and (or) braced together by rods or bars at a distance of some four
or five feet apart, or such other distance as shall exceed the width of blanket to
be treated. Between such uprights and near the base I arrange a roller, and around
the lower parts of such roller I arrange one, two, three, or more brushes circular
or otherwise. Beneath such brushes and roller I arrange a, by preference, divided
trough, filled with water from a jet and the water in one part designed to over-
flow and run into the other part. About half-way up and near the top of the
uprights I arrange one or more further brushes, and at, or near the extreme top
I arrange a small drying cylinder. Also near the top of the uprights I arrange
a set of carrier rollers or bars.
In using the above construction of apparatus the blanket (after travelling over
the carrier rollers from the printing machine with the soiled face furtherest
from such rollers) passes between the roller at the base of the machine and the
several brushes with its soiled face exposed to the brushes which being driven in
an opposite direction brush or scrub the soiled face. The blanket then travels
upwards and impinges against the said further brush or brushes, which further
treats or scrubs the soiled face, whilst a jet or spray of water plays upon it, and

page_text: finally the blanket passes over and around the drying cylinder at, or near, the top
of the uprights in a clean condition, with a minimum of moisture.
After leaving the said drying cylinder around which the blanket travels for
about 7ths of the circumference, and is whereby relieved of a considerable
amount of moisture it then passes over suitable carrier rollers and thence to one
two or three of the usual large drying cylinders heated by steam at a pressure of
about 4 or 5 lbs., by which it is then completely dried, and made ready for again
entering the printing machine.
And in order that my said invention may be more readily understood and carried
into practical effect I have hereunto annexed 2 sheets of drawings and will now
proceed to describe the same with the various figures and letters of reference
marked thereon.
On Sheet one, Fig. 1 is a front view of my new construction of blanket washing
machine, and Fig. 2 a transverse vertical section looking towards the left hand
end. Fig. 3 illustrates the driving gear on the right-hand end of the machine.
On Sheet two, Fig. 4 shews the method of conveying the blanket from the print-
ing machine to the washing machine, through such machine to the drying cylinders,
and back to the printing machine for reuse.
(A), (A) are the two end frames or standards, braced together by rod (B), and
mounted upon a base (C) common to both. (D) is the drum beneath which the
blanket first passes in entering the machine, mounted in suitable bearings at the
lower ends of said frame. (E) is the trough beneath the drum, divided by mid-
feather or partition (F) into two compartments (G), and (H). (1), (J), (K) are the
set of brushes mounted in suitable bearings on frames (A), and each adjustable
in relation to the required peripheral contact with drum or roller (D).
Brush (I) revolves in contact with water in compartment (G), and brush (3)
revolves in contact with water in compartment (H) of trough (E), out of which
latter the water flows into compartment (G). (L) a brush (of which there may
be two or more) mounted about mid-way up the frames (A), and (M) the drying
drum mounted upon the top of said frames and heated by steam through hollow
trunnions from pipe (N). (0) are the carrier rollers at the upper part of the
machine for conveying the blanket on to and from the drum (M). (P), (Q), (R), (S)
are further carrier rollers at the foot of the machine. (T) is the main driving
shaft fitted with belt pulley or chain sprocket wheel (U) and sprocket wheel (V).
Around wheel (U) the driving chain (W) passes, and around wheel (V) and a small
sprocket wheel (*) on each of the axles of brushes (1), (4), (K) I pass an endless
chain (X). To take up the slack of such chain I provide a runner (X) connected
on adjustable stud (X). Upon driving shaft (T) I also mount a belt pulley (T)
around which, and a small pulley on the axle of brush (L) I pass an endless belt (Y).
(Z) is a spray pipe for directing water on to the blanket and (7) is a pipe for con-
veying the condensed steam from drum (M) into trough (E).
The manner of conveying the blanket to be washed from the printing machine («)
to the washing machine is shewn in Fig. 4 (Sheet 2) the soiled face (*) being
furtherest from the carrier rollers (). As the blanket enters my improved machine
it passes directly beneath the drum (1) with the soiled face exposed to the action
of the brushes (I) (J), (K) which rotating in an opposite direction to the direction
in which the blanket travels, and brushes (J), (K) running in contact with water
in the trough (E) effectually remove the color, the brush (K) removing the thicker
portion and the brushes (1) and (J) with the assistance of the water supplied by
the spray pipe (Z) removing the remainder in the most effective manner, as the
traverse of the blanket in a curved path presents the texture of the blanket in a
most favourable condition for the brushes to act thereon.
After being acted on by washing or cleaning brushes (I) (J) and (K), which (by
preference) are made, with bristles set in spiral converging rows which serve to
spread as well as scrub the blanket, it is then acted upon by the drying brush (L)
which is made with bristles arranged in the ordinary manner, but of a slightly
softer character, which tends to remove superflous moisture anterior to the blanket

page_text: passing over the drying cylinder (M) over which it is guided by carrier (0) with
the previously soiled face (*) for the first time after leaving the printing machine
allowed to come against any object (except the brushes) and at the moment the
necessity of keeping it out of contact ceases, and the desirability of the moistened
surface lying nearest the drying surface commences.
After leaving the drum (M) in a semi-dry condition the blanket passes beneath
carrier rollers (Q) and (R) to the drying cylinders (C) (see Fig. 4) of which there
need only be 2 or 3 instead of 4 or 6 as heretofore, from thence downwards
beneath carrier rollers (S) and (P) and away back to the printing machine (a)
in a perfectly clean and dry condition. With the previous drying by drum (M)
the pressure of steam in cylinders (C) may be reduced from 10 lbs. per sq. inch
to 4 lbs. per sq. inch, and thereby greatly reduce the risk of the cylinders bursting
as is the case under existing conditions.
Clean water is continuously supplied to the trough (E) either directly, and
independently of spray pipe (Z), or by such pipe only.
For the better removing of the color I prefer to heat the water in trough (E)
vither by special boiler supply, or the condensed water from the drum (M) through
pipe (Z). The partition (F) serves to prevent the fouling of the water in com-
partment (G) by contact with the heavy matter in compartment (H). In lieu of
a divided trough two separate troughs may be employed.
The several brushes are geared to rotate at a speed greater than the speed of the
blanket, and in an opposite direction.
Having thus 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-
1: In a blanket washing machine, a roller or drum around which a blanket
may pass with its soiled face furtherest from the periphery of said drum, a set of
brushes in adjustable peripheral contact with the said drum or the soiled face of
the blanket, a trough beneath the said brushes supplied with water, a pipe for
spraying water on to the blanket, a drying cylinder for drying the blanket, a set
of carriers for conveying the blanket, a drying brush between the said set of brushes
and drying cylinder and means for driving the brushes in a reverse direction to
the path of the blanket substantially as set forth.
2 In blanket washing machines, the combination therewith of a drying
cylinder over which the blanket may pass immediately after washing, substantially
as set forth.
Data in 641 dave of t 1900
NICHOLAS THOMAS POLLITT.
By John G. Wilson & Co.,
Agents, 55, Market Street, Manchester,