IMPROVE- MENTS IN MACHINES AND APPARATUS FOR FELTING WOOL'
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alphonse Monchablon, of Paris, in the Department of
the Seine and Republic of France, Artist, for an Invention of "IMPROVE-
LETTERS PATENT to Alphonse Monchablon, of Paris, in the Department of
the Seine and Republic of France, Artist, for an Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MACHINES AND APPARATUS FOR FELTING WOOL'
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alphonse Monchablon at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th February 1883.
ALPHONSE MONCHABLON, of Paris, in the Department of the Seine and Republic
of France, Artist, "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES AND APPARATUS FOR FELTING
WOOL"
My invention relates to improvements in machines and apparatus for felting
-wool.
Since the obtaining of Letters Patent Nos 945 and 4459 A.D. 1880, of which I
am Co-proprietor, several machines have been constructed according to the principles
claimed in the Specifications to the said Patents, with which machines we have
been enabled to produce felted threads which have been found perfectly felted for
use in the manufacture of various kinds of cloth and woven fabrics. Nevertheless
these threads possessed irregularities and weak parts or points which were
injurious to their quality and their strength and caused their rejection for use
as warp.
I have observed that the cause of these irregularities was the immobility of the
sides of the trough
In fact, although drawn along by the felting roller in its two movements of
rotation and reciprocation, the rovings have nevertheless to undergo the resistance
of the fixed sides of the trough and cannot advance with a speed equal to that of
the roller, thence result twitchings which cause thicknesses and particularly weak
points and consequently numerous breakages of threads.
To remedy these defects I have given to the sides of the trough a forward motion
in the same direction and at the same speed as the roller.
The principle of this Invention will be easily understood by reference to the
accompanying Sheet of Drawing upon which:-
A
is the trough with movable sides or surfaces,
B is the hollow felting cylinder, heated by steam or otherwise,
C
Cop or bobbin of the carded rovings.
DD are the delivering rollers.

page_text: P P¹ are two combs placed on each side of the cylinder to prevent the marriage
of the threads.
M is a wooden roller covered with a spongy matter, it dips into a receiver R,
containing water suitably alkaline or soapy and kept at a sufficient
temperature.
This roller M is pressed against the sides or surfaces of the trough by means of
a spring or of a counterweight which can be regulated. It serves to moisten the
trough and consequently the thread uniformly; this moistening may also be
regulated by causing the roller to dip more or less into the water in the receiver.
I may give the reciprocating motion either to the trough, or to the cylinder, or
to both, but in contrary directions.
The trough A is formed of a flexible band covered with cloth or other suitable
material supported by the rollers a, a, and if necessary by other rollers a', a¹, a¹.
The rollers a, a, have a circumferential speed equal to that of the felting roller B,
consequently the thread is drawn along without jerk or twitch and the result is
perfect regularity
In certain cases, and more particularly when a stronger warp is desired or to
produce certain "Jaspé" and "Chine" effects I reduce the felting surface, but I
place following the cylinder B and the trough A, one or several other cylinders
each with its trough.
For example when I mix, to produce felted Chiné thread, one or several rovings
and one or several threads of different colors, I may pass one or more rovings with
or without threads in the roller B, and the followers, and mix other rovings or other
threads starting from the second or third roller, then mix still others starting from
the third or the fourth.
It is the same when I desire to obtain a very strong warp; for although under a
single cylinder the felting is perfectly done, I may nevertheless still increase it,
as it has so to say no limit, by the passage of the thread under one or several
subsequent rollers and thus obtain a more and more solid or strong thread.

page_text: place following the cylinder B and the trough A one or several other cylinders each
with its trough.
For example, when I mix, to produce felted chiné thread, one or several rovings
and one or several threads of different colors, I may pass one or more rovings with
or without threads in the roller B, and the followers, and mix other rovings or
other threads starting from the second or third roller, then mix still others starting
from the third or the fourth..
It is the same when I desire to obtain a very strong warp; for although under
a single cylinder the felting perfectly done, I may nevertheless still increase it,
as it has so to say no limit, by the passage of the thread under one or several
subsequent rollers and thus obtain a more and more solid or strong thread.
Having now described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention and in
what manner the same is or may be performed
I Claim as secured to me by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent :—
Firstly-In machines or apparatus for Felting Wool, the system of giving to
the side or surface of the trough a continuous motion parallel to that of
the thread, substantially as herein before described.
Secondly-In machines or apparatus for Felting Wool, the use in certain cases.
of a series of rollers and troughs having fixed or moveable sides or
surfaces, following the first couple, so as to be able to infinitely vary
the effects of the chiné-ing and increase the strength of the thread suffi-
ciently to produce a very strong warp without the necessity of having
recourse to a certain tortion or twisting before or after the felting,
substantially as herein before described
Thirdly The mode of damping or moistening, substantially as hereinbefore
described
Fourthly The combinations of apparatus hereinbefore described and all other
analogous arrangements embodying the principles above setforth and
Claimed.
In Witness whereof I the said Alphonse Monchablon have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Sixth day of August in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty three
THANan
irhalATIDI CAT Seal