A New or Improved Construction of Machine for use in the Mercerising of Cloth.
Year: 1899

page_text: A New or Improved Construction of Machine for use in the Mercerising
of Cloth.
I, THOMAS ROBINSON, of Hope Mill, Bolton Road, Ramsbottom, in the County
of Lancaster, Dyer and Printer, do hereby declare the nature of my said inven-
tion to be as follows:-
This invention relates to and consists of a novel construction of machine
for use in the mercerising of cloth, the peculiar advantage of which is that the
cloth is acted upon from first to last in the mercerising and washing processes
whilst firmly held in a distended condition or whilst its edges are firmly
gripped.
According to my invention I employ two endless chains or the like which I
arrange parallel with each other within or upon suitable side frames and travel-
ling over chain wheels and carrier pullies at a distance apart approximately to
the width of cloth to be treated. The said frames are in turn carried by outer
frames and the character of the connection of such outer frames is such as to
allow for the inner frames to approach or recede from each other, and so vary
tlie distance between the chains. In practice I prefer shafts or rods some or
all of which have right and left hand screw threads engaging with corresponding
screwed nuts or bosses on the inner frames and by the aid of a side shaft and
bevel wheels adapted to be all simultaneously regulated.
The opposite faces of the two chains are provided with jaw clips, pins or other
suitable stentering devices adapted to grip and hold the edges of the cloth as
it enters and passes through the machine. The form of grip I prefer to employ
is that covered by Letters Patent No. 9853 A.D. 1899.
Towards one end of, and between the frames I arrange a box, trough or tank
containing the mercerising liquor and in section by preference V shape. This
box is so placed relatively to the chains that the upper length of the chains and
the cloth held between them are adapted to dip into such trough and pass through
the liquor, whilst the lower lengths of the chains are adapted to pass below the
box.
Towards the other end, of, and between the outer frames I arrange a further
box trough or tank containing the water or other fluid with which the. cloth is
washed after passing through the mercerising liquor. This last named box is
also so placed relatively to the chains that the lower or returning lengths of
the chains and the cloth lying between them pass through such box and the
said washing liquor and by the aid of suitable revolving beaters and jets of water
acting thereon the cloth becomes relieved of the mercerising solution. Between
the two troughs (or otherwise) I arrange a further box containing a clearing
solution and at a point above one edge of such box I provide means for auto-
matically releasing the cloth from the grips so that at such point the cloth may

page_text: pass downwards into the box through the solution and eventually leave such
box ready for batching.
To ensure of the mercerising solution properly penetrating the cloth and to
limit the amount of solution left on the cloth after treatment I arrange a couple
of jets one above and the other below the cloth, supplied with air under pres-
sure, and so set relatively to the cloth as to impel the liquor through the cloth
from side to side and drive back the surplus liquor into the trough. The same
arrangement of air jets is used in the washing tank.
The entire treatment therefore is as follows:-First, the cloth is gripped by
the jaws carried by the chains which travelling forward, pass it through the mer-
cerising liquor. It is then subjected to the blowing jets. Passing forward it
travels to the point where the chains pass down and through the washing tank
where it parts with the mercerising solution. Leaving such tank it is again
subjected to the air jets. Immediately afterwards it is liberated from the chains,
passes into the cleaning tank, and on coming out of such tank is ready for
batching, or, if desired goes forward and is again subjected to jets of air which
serve to dry the cloth and improve the lustre.
For facilitating the fixing of the cloth in the jaws the chains and inner frames
are slightly nearer each other at the front end of the machine and gradually
widen out to the width at which the cloth is fully distended.
Whilst preferring the several troughs to be disposed in the manner aforesaid
I may arrange them otherwise and allow both lengths of the chains to pass
through the troughs.
A New or Improved Construction of Machine for use in the Mercerising
of Cloth.
I, THOMAS ROBINSON, of Hope Mill, Bolton Road, Ramsbottom, in the County
of Lancaster, Dyer and Printer, 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 relates to and consists of a novel construction of machine
for use in the mercerising of cloth, the peculiar advantage of which is that the
cloth is acted upon from first to last in the mercerising and washing processes
whilst firmly held in a distended condition, or whilst its edges are firmly
gripped.
On the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 represents a longitudinal section, and
Fig. 2 a plan of a machine embodying my invention. Figs. 3 and 4 represent
detail parts to a larger scale.
According to my invention I employ two endless chains (A) which I arrange
parallel with each other within or upon suitable side frames (B), and travelling
over chain wheels (C) and carrier pulleys (D) at a distance apart approximating
to the width of cloth to be treated. The said frames (B) are in turn carried
by outer frames (E) and the character of the connection of such outer frames
is such as to allow for the inner frames (B) to approach or recede from each
other, and so vary the distance between the chains (A). In practice I prefer
shafts or rods (F) some of which have right-and-left hand screw threads engag
ing with correspondingly screwed nuts or bosses on the inner frame (B) and by

page_text: the aid of a side shaft (G) and bevil wheels (H) adapted to be all simultaneously
regulated.
The opposite faces of the two chains are provided with tentering devices
adapted to grip and hold the edges of the cloth as it enters and passes through
the machine, and the form of grip I prefer to employ is that covered by Letters
Patent No. 9853 A.D. 1899.
Towards one end of and between the frames (E) I arrange a box, trough or
tank (I) containing the mercerising liquor and in section, by preference, V shape.
This box is so placed relatively to the chains (A) that the upper lengths of the
chains and the cloth held between them are adapted to dip into such trough and
pass through the liquor, whilst the lower lengths of the chains are adapted to
pass below the box. Towards the other end of and between the outer frames (E)
arrange a further box, trough or tank (J) containing the water or other fluid
with which the cloth is washed after passing through the mercerising liquor.
This last named box is also so placed relatively to the chains (A) that the lower
or returning lengths of the chains and the cloth lying between them pass through
such box and the said washing liquor and by the aid of suitable revolving
beaters (K) and a jet of water (L) acting thereon, the cloth becomes relieved
of the mercerising solution.
Between the two troughs (I) and (J) (or otherwise) I arrange a further box (M)
containing a clearing solution and at a point above one edge of such box I pro-
vide means (such as an abutment) for automatically releasing the cloth from the
grips so that at such point, the cloth may pass downwards into the box (M)
through the solution and eventually leave such box ready for batching.
In this last named box I arrange a series of openers (M*) consisting of rollers
having right & left handed screw threads for keeping the cloth spread out as
it passes through the box and previous to batching.
To ensure of the mercerising solution properly penetrating the cloth and to
limit the amount of solution left on the cloth after treatment provide a couple
of air jets (N) one above and the other below the cloth as illustrated and sup-
plied with air under pressure and so arranged relatively to the cloth as to impel
the liquor through the cloth from side to side and drive back the surplus liquor
into the trough (I).
A similar set of air jets (0) is used in the washing tank (J) in like manner.
The entire treatment of a piece of cloth requiring to be mercerised is as
follows: First, the cloth is gripped by the jaws carried by the chains (A) which
travelling forward pass it through the mercerising liquor in trough (J). It
is then subjected to the blowing jets (N). Passing forward it travels to the
point where the chains (A) pass down and through the washing tank (J) where
it parts with the mercerising solution. Leaving such tank it is subjected to the
action of the air jets (O). Immediately afterwards it is liberated from the
chains, passes into the clearing tank (MI) and on coming out of such tank is
ready for batching, or if desired, goes forward, is again subjected to another set
of air jets at (P), which serve to dry the cloth and improve the lustre, and is
then batched.
For facilitating the fixing of the cloth in the jaws carried by the chains these
latter and the inner frames (B) converge towards each other at the front end
of the machine or gradually widen out to the width at which the cloth is fully
distended.
Whilst preferring the several troughs (I), (J) (M) to be disposed in the manner
aforesaid I may arrange them otherwise and allow both lengths of the chains
to pass through the troughs.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:-
1: In apparatus for use in the mercerising of cloth, a set of chains carrying

page_text: grips or tentering devices between and by which the cloth to be treated is held
and traversed, a set of adjustable frames carrying said chains or their carrier
pulleys, and a set of outer frames and screwed rods and shafts for supporting and
adjusting the said inner frames, troughs for holding mercerising and washing
solutions respectively through which the said inner frames and chains pass, and
a further trough through which the cloth travels under and over spreading rollers,
substantially as herein set forth.
2: In apparatus for use in the mercerising of cloth the combination there-
with of air supply apparatus for delivering jets of air upon the opposite sides of
the cloth and at a slight angle to the plane of the cloth, substantially as set
forth.
3: In apparatus for use in the mercerising of cloth fixed outer frames and
adjustable inner frame to suit the width of cloth to be treated and mounted and
operated substantially as set forth.
4: In apparatus for use in the mercerising of cloth fixed outer frames and
adjustable inner frames and troughs or tanks through which said inner frames
may pass as set forth.
5: In apparatus for use in the mercerising of cloth the combination and
arrangement of parts substantially as herein described and illustrated on the
accompanying drawings.
THOMAS ROBINSON,
By John G. Wilson & Co., Fels. Inst. P.A.,
Agents for the Applicant, 55, Market Street, Manchester.