Improvements in Continuous Steaming Machines for Steaming Fabrics.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Sept., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 23rd June, 1894-Accepted, 28th July, 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Continuous Steaming Machines for Steaming
Fabrics.
We, R. DEWHURST AND COMPANY LIMITED, of Birstall, near Leeds, Yorkshire,
Calico Printers, and JOSEPH HYDE SPARKS, of Birstall, aforesaid, Chairman
Director of the said Company, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention refers to Mather & Platt's continuous steaming machine for
steaming textile fabrics. In this class of machine the fabrics to be steamed are
suspended upon rods resting in sockets formed in endless travelling chains arranged
at each side of the machine, the arrangement being such that as the chains travel
horizontally the rods together with the fabrics are carried along through the
steaming chamber. Steam is admitted into the chamber where the suspended
fabrics are travelling and in practice it is found that the steaming of the fabric is
unequally effected the lower portions thereof absorbing more of the steam than the
upper portion consequently the process of steaming is unsatisfactory.
The object of our improvements is to treat the fabric equal throughout their
length, and this is accomplished by causing the fabrics to travel up and down in
a zigzag manner in addition to the said fabrics being carried bodily through the
steaming chamber. According to our invention we form or attach a pinion wheel
to the rods which carry the fabrics, such pinion wheel gearing with toothed racks
arranged at each side of the machine so that when the rods are carried along by
the endless travelling chain the rods are made to revolve thus causing the fabrics
to travel up and down within the steaming chamber, and for this purpose the ends
of the fabrics are connected together by sewing or other means so as to obtain a
long length of piece.
In order to cuttle "
or to pass the fabric over each rod or roller at the feeding
end of the machine, we employ one or more rollers occupying a position just over
each rod as they enter the machine. This roller or rollers is or are carried by a
plate supported by spiral springs. A revolving shaft with a suitable arrangement
of cams at a given time, depresses the roller or rollers which are forced upon each
revolving bar as they enter the machine, in doing which, the fabric is folded over
the rod, a certain length of which fabric then lowers or drops into the steaming
chamber, and at a predetermined time another rod enters the machine when the
"cuttle
or faller again descends (through the medium of the cams) coming into
contact with the rod last put into the machine, when the fabric is folded over the rod
and this goes on until the chamber is filled. The doors of the machine are after-
wards closed and the steaming operation commences and as the fabric is
continuously in motion in an up and down direction every part thereof is equally
steamed and more satisfactory results obtained than with the steaming machine at
present in use.
"
Dated this 25th day of September 1893.
TASKER & CROSSLEY,
Halifax, Agents.

page_text: Improvements in Continuous Steaming Machines for Steaming
Fabrics.
We, R. DEWHURST AND COMPANY, LIMITED, of Birstall, near Leeds, Yorkshire,
Calico Printers, and JOSEPH HYDE SPARKS, of Birstall, aforesaid, Chairman
Director of the said Company, 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 refers to Mather and Platt's continuous steaming machine for
steaming textile fabrics. In this class of machine the fabrics to be steamed are
suspended upon rods resting in sockets formed in endless travelling chains arranged
at each side of the machine, the arrangement being such that as the chains travel
horizontally the rods together with the fabrics are carried along through the
steaming chamber. Steam is admitted into the chamber where the suspended
fabrics are travelling and in practice it is found that the steaming of the fabric is
unequally effected the lower portions thereof absorbing more of the steam than
the upper portion consequently the process of steaming is unsatisfactory. The
object of our improvements is to treat the fabrics equally throughout their length,
and this is accomplished by causing the fabrics to travel up and down in a zigzag
manner in addition to the said fabrics being carried bodily through the steaming
chamber.
In order that our invention may be clearly understood we will make reference to
the accompanying sheets of drawings illustrative thereof, wherein Fig. 1 is sectional
elevation of the upper part of a Mather & Platt's continuous steaming machine
for steaming textile fabrics. A represents an endless travelling chain, suitably.
driven and revolving within a steam chamber. The surface of the travelling chain
is provided with notches or recesses a for receiving the ends of the cloth carrying
rods B.
According to our invention we form or attach a pinion wheel C on both ends of
the said rods, such pinion wheel gearing with toothed racks D placed at each side
of the machine shewn more clearly in details Figs. 2 and 3, but instead of
attaching a pinion wheel on the cloth carrying rods, the said rods may have
recesses shewn in Fig. 2, such recesses being capable of rolling over the teeth of
the racks and acting in the same manner as the pinion wheels. The fabric E is
fed to the machine between feed rollers F and it is "cuttled " or passed over the
revolving rollers B so that as the rods are carried along by the endless travelling
chains, the said rods are also made to revolve thus causing the fabric to travel up
and down in a zigzag manner within the steaming chamber, whereby the said
piece is steamed equally throughout its length and a more desirable result obtained.
The fabrics are connected together by sewing or other means so as to obtain an
endless length of fabric which is constantly changing its position within the
steaming chamber.
"
When commencing to put a piece into the steaming chamber, the rods B are fed
down the shoot or hopper G and they are taken hold of by the revolving toothed
roller H and made to travel down the inclined plane I from whence they drop into
one of the concaved recesses a in the endless travelling chain; and in order to
" cuttle
or to pass the fabric over each rod or roller B at the feeding end of the
machine we employ one or more rollers J occupying a position just over each rod as
it enters. This roller J is connected to the foot of the vertical rod K which is
forced upon each roller B so as to hold it and the fabric in position until the fabric
descends a short distance into the steaming chamber the necessary time for thus
holding the roller B is obtained in consequence of the slow forward movement of
the chain A and by the time the next roller say B' is approaching the holding
roller J said vertical rod K is raised in order to release the roller it is temporarily
.

page_text: holding but the said roller immediately descends again to hold the next succeeding
roller B' until the fabric drops into the steaming chamber, and this goes on until
the chamber is filled. The vertical rod K is forced down at the proper time by
revolving cams L shewn more clearly in Figs. 5 and 6 but the rods K are raised
by spiral springs M. By these means we are enabled to cuttle the piece within
the enclosed chamber self-actingly.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
Firstly. In a continuous steaming machine for steaming textile fabrics, the
use of rollers or rods therein, provided with toothed gearing and one or more
racks for imparting to the said rollers a rotary motion in addition to a forward
movement operated in the manner substantially as herein shewn and described.
Secondly. In a continuous steaming machine for steaming textile fabrics, the
means substantially as herein shewn and described for cuttling the fabric for
passing it over the cloth carrying rods or rollers B.
Dated this 22nd day of June 1894.
TASKER & CROSSLEY,
Halifax, Agents.