IMPROVED SELF-ACTING MACHINERY FOR OPENING, SMOOTHING, SPREADING, AND GUIDING FABRICS FOR THE USE OF BLEACHERS, DYERS, CALICO PRINTERS, AND OTHERS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Birch, of Salford, in the County of Lancaster,
Machinist, for the Invention of "IMPROVED SELF-ACTING MACHINERY FOR
OPENING, SMOOTHING, SPREADING, AND GUIDING FABRICS FOR THE USE OF
BLEACHERS, DYERS, CALICO PRINTERS, AND OTHERS."
Sealed the 6th July 1877, and dated the 8th January 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Birch at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th January 1877.
WILLIAM BIRCH, of Salford, in the County of Lancaster, Machinist. "IM-
PROVED SELF-ACTING MACHINERY FOR OPENING, SMOOTHING, SPREADING, AND
GUIDING FABRICS FOR THE USE OF BLEACHERS, DYERS, CALICO PRINTERS, AND
OTHERS.
ور
The objects of my Invention are certain improvements of the apparatus composing
the machine, for which Letters Patent, No. 2610, dated 1st October 1870, were granted
to me, by which improvements such machines become more easily adjustable for
work, are much simplified, and their manufacture facilitated.
The improvements consist in the substitution of revolving rollers or cylinders
having right and left handed screw threads on their surface in the place of the
endless chains or bands that draw out the fabric, passing through the machine
laterally from the centre towards the selvages. The screw threads +project con-
siderably above the surface of the rollers, and are formed of some thin material
that has some grip upon the cloth or fabric without being sharp and cutting; they
run from the centre towards the ends to the right and left on one roller or pair of
rollers, and to the left and right on the second or second pair, gearing respectively.
with the former or former pair. These rollers can be applied in the same way as
the chains or bands used hitherto, and as described and set forth in my Specifica-
tion before mentioned, in which case I modify the modes of driving in the ordinary
way. I prefer, however, to employ one pair or two rollers going right across the
machine, instead of two pairs as at present arranged. They are either placed side
by side or one above the other, according to circumstances. The axis of the one
that receives a revolving motion by means of wheels or pulleys is stationary. This.
one imparts motion to the other roller by means of spur wheels or bands from the
centre. The second or driven roller is supported in such a manner that it may
oscillate longitudinally round an axis perpendicular to its own axis, and the plane
"

page_text: in which it may oscillate so as to get near to the other roller on one side and
farther away from the other side, ie., form an angle with it. This is effected by
means of an oblong swivel frame surrounding the swivel roller, and carrying at its
ends the bearings in which the roller revolves, the frame itself being supported on
two arms projecting from the centre of its longer sides. The swivel roller is con-
nected to the regulator in a similar manner as the endless chains or bands before
described, so that the material which is passing through the machine, when running
from its central course to one side, acts upon the regulator, which in its turn brings
the swivel roller nearer to the other on that side, from which the material has gone,
thus increasing the hold of the screw threads upon the material on that side, while
on the other side the opposite is taking place, the effect being similar to that
described in the Specification alluded to.
Important points in my Invention are the substitution of screw rollers for endless
bands or chains, the arrangement of the gearing between the two rollers, the swivel
support of one of them, and the combination of the swivel roller with the governor
or regulator.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Birch in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 7th July,
1877.
WILLIAM BIRCH, of Salford, in the County of Lancaster, Machinist.
"IM-
PROVED SELF-ACTING MACHINERY FOR OPENING, SMOOTHING, SPREADING, AND
GUIDING FABRICS FOR THE USE OF BLEACHERS, DYERS, CALICO PRINTERS, AND
OTHERS."
My Invention consists of improvements on some parts of the machine, for which
Letters Patent, No. 2610, dated 1st October, 1870, were granted to me, by which
improvements the said machine becomes simpler, more easily adjustable, and safer
to work. I obtain these objects by substituting for the endless chains or bands
hitherto used for opening and spreading the fabric rollers with raised edges
resembling screw threads which run from the middle right and left handed towards
the ends. These rollers are driven at a suitable speed, and one of them or a pair
taking the place of one is carried in a frame which is free to oscillate longitudinally,
and from the centre, i.e., while the roller is revolving round its axis it may oscillate
longitudinally in a plane lying in that axis and round a centre which is at a
right angle to its axis, so that when one end is up the other is down, and
vice versa, and so that this roller or pair of rollers may cease to be parallel with
the other roller or pair of rollers, and form lines more or less diverging in either
direction. The said swivel frame takes approximately the shape of the roller, and
carries at its ends the steps or pedestals of the latter, while the frame itself is sup-
ported in the middle of fits sides by bearings or steps receiving a pin or arm pro-
jecting on each side at a right angle to the axis of the roller. This frame is further
connected on each side by a pair of bell crank levers to the governor or regulator
described in my Specification before mentioned, so that if the latter is drawn more
forward on one side by reason of the material that is being worked having passed
from the central course more or less on that side the swivel roller recedes on that
side from the other and relaxes the grip upon the fabric or other material while the
other end comes nearer and increases the hold, and the surfaces of the spiral edges
in contact with the material or fabric traveling from the centre towards the
selvages, the material is drawn sideways and restored to its central course.
Instead of one pair of rollers I sometimes employ two pairs, corresponding to two
pairs of endless chains, as hitherto used.
In order to describe the Invention more clearly an example of a machine with
one pair of spiral rollers is represented in the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, and
I now proceed to give a

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
The same letters denote the same parts. Fig. 1 is a plan; Fig. 2, an elevation;
and Fig. 3, a cross section of the machine shown fixed on timber supports; Fig. 4
is a portion of the swivel roller and frame on a larger scale; and Fig. 5 shows a
section of a pair of edges or screw threads upon the surface of the roller on a still
larger scale. Figs. 6 to 9 show the governor or regulator and the connecting pieces
in sectional elevation, plan, cross section, and top view on tlie same scale as Fig. 4;
and Fig. 10 is a cross section of the governor with the centre bar thrown back.
The Drawings illustrate a machine fixed on timber supports T, constructed with
one pair of spiral rollers R and R¹, which replace two pairs of endless chains, R
being the oscillating or swivel roller; R¹, the fast one; M is the fabric or material
operated upon, and which is being drawn through the machine by the rollers B and
B₁, the former of which is driven by the driving pulley P, or same may be driven
in any convenient way. This roller gives motion to the driving shaft D placed
under the swivel roller by the pulleys P1 and P2 (or by wheels) which drives both.
spiral rollers, the fast one from the end of the pulleys P³ and P', (or by wheels,) and
the swivel roller from the centre by the spur wheels W [and W₁ (or by pullies). G
represents the governor or regulator between the bars b, b', and 62, of which M
passes, producing by its friction a certain strain tending to draw it forward in the
direction in which M moves. The governor being pivoted in the centre C remain's
parallel and stationary so long as the strain on each side of the swivel centre is
equal, but if M passes to one side the friction and consequent strain on that side is
increased, and therefore drawn forward. This movement is communicated by the
pin E to the levers L and L', and the latter pressing against a bar 8 of the swivel
frames, s¹, and 82, allows the same to descend, and thus to increase the distance
between the screw surfaces R and R₁; these parts have now less hold on M and do
not draw it with the same force sideways as before, but on the opposite end this
action is increased, and M is therefore drawn towards that end until it is in the
centre again and the governor and rollers are parallel. The swivel frame consists
of the side bars s which rest with their pins or arms s¹ on bearings, and the ends 8²
supporting the roller ends. The frame is here shown constructed of tubes, but it
may be a solid forging, or made in any other known way. F and F are rails
forming the framing. Fig. 5 shows a mode of forming a pair of screw threads upon
the surface of tin rollers by soldering to it strips of copper bent into proper shape.
They may however be produced in any convenient manner, solid or otherwise.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed or carried out in practice, I
claim particularly and substantially,-
1st. The combination of the swivel arrangement with spiral rollers as a means of
opening and guiding fabrics.
2nd. The mode of supporting the swivel roller in a frame.
3rd. The mode of giving motion to the rollers from the end and centre by means
of toothed gear, or straps, or friction.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Birch, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Fourth day of July, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-seven
Witness,
A. HILDEBRANDT,
Patent Agent,
55, Cross Street,
Manchester.
WM. BIRCH. (L.S.)