Improvements in the Method of and Means for Mercerising Hanks of Yarn.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Jan., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Oct., 1898-Accepted, 26th Nov., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Method of and Means for Mercerising Hanks
of Yarn.
I, GEORGE WILLIAM OLDHAM, of Moll Spring Mills, Netherton, near Hudders-
field, in the County of York, Silk Dyer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to apparatus for stretching and maintaining hanks of yarn
in a stretched condition while undergoing the process of mercerisation.
For the purpose of my invention I employ suitable stout framework across which
I arrange a series of hank carrying rollers or shafts which are journalled in bearings
on the framework and are adapted to be rotated by suitable gearing or by means of
pawls taking into the teeth of ratchet wheels fast on the rollers or shafts. The
pawls are connected to levers centred on the rollers, or other suitable centres, each
alternate pawl, preferably, being arranged on the opposite side of its lever to the
other pawls and the corresponding ratchet wheels having their teeth facing same
whereby when an oscillatory motion is imparted to the levers by a longitudinal rail
or bar to which they are connected, a slow rotary movement is given to the hank
rollers or shafts, each alternate roller rotating in an opposite direction to the ad-
jacent rollers. Journalled in bearings on a movable frame or table under the above
mentioned rollers is a second set of rollers or shafts corresponding to the upper row.
The hanks of cotton or like vegetable fibres to be mercerised are passed around the
upper and lower pairs of rollers between which they are distended or stretched by
means of worms, or screws working through nuts in the movable frame, which said
screws, as they are rotated in one direction, force the frame downwards away from
the upper series of rollers to any extent to stretch the hanks to the limit required.
The upper rollers are then rotated to change the position of the yarn around same,
this allowing the hanks to be still further stretched. The machine is now raised
by ropes or chains and, by means of a travelling carriage is swung over the mer.
cerising tank or vessel into which it is lowered and rests in the bottom of same.
The hanks of yarn are thus submerged in the mercerising liquor in said vessel and
each portion of the yarn is subjected fully to the action of the liquor by giving rotary
motion to the upper series of rollers. In this process no possible shrinkage of the
yarn can take place. After mercerising, the machine is taken to one two or more
washing off tanks or vessels and is finally deposited on the flow again and the
bottom series of rollers elevated by the screws to allow the hanks to be removed and
a fresh supply substituted therefor.
The worms or screws may rest in bearings in suitable footsteps or be geared to
bevil wheels.
D

page_text: In rotating the rollers E, the levers H are drawn into an elevated position and
reciprocated backwards and forwards as indicated by the strong broken centre lines,
but when at rest, the said levers are forced over toward the horizontal position, as
indicated by by the fine broken centre lines, so as to be out of the way.
Under the frame A is a moveable frame K to each side of which are bolted
brackets L embracing the pillars B and forming guides for guiding and steadying
the said frame when moved vertically up or down. The said frame K is provided
with bearings M in which are journalled a second series of hank rollers N corres-
ponding to the upper series of rollers E and central therewith. The rollers N are
preferably slightly fluted longitudinally in order that when the hanks are stretched
and traversed around the rollers said rollers shall be rotated thereby.
The frame K is raised and lowered by means of worms, or screws O supported at
their upper ends by collars P in bearings P¹ and at their lower ends in bearings Pa
secured to the base of the machine, the screws working through nuts Q in the frame
K. The screw spindles extend some distance above the machine and are provided
at their upper ends with squares 01 on which are adapted to fit discs or blocks
having radial arms attached thereto and forming wheels for rotating the screws,
these being removed when not required for actuating the screws. Instead of
actuating both screws separately by hand, as above, I may couple the same together
by bevil gearing at the base of the machine where provision is made, as shewn, for
receiving the shaft for communicating motion from one pair of bevils to the other
pair. When great pressure is required to be brought to bear to stretch the hanks,
the actuation of each screw separately by hand is preferable because there is
liability of the teeth of the bevils being stripped or broken under the strain. Or
we may actuate both screws by levers and pawls which latter take into the teeth of
ratchet wheels placed on the square ends of the screws as shewn in plan Fig. 3,
the two levers being connected together by a bar or rail, so that one man can
actuate both screws.
The hanks of cotton or like vegetable fibres to be mercerised are passed around
the upper and lower rollers of each pair of hank carrying rollers E, N, as indicated
in the drawings, and between them they are distended or stretched by rotating the
screws to force down the frame K. When stretched to the limit required, the upper
rollers E are rotated to traverse the hanks around the rollers E, N, this allowing
the hanks to be still further stretched.
The machine is subsequently raised by ropes or chains attached to a central link
(not shewn) fixed to the machine, and by means of a travelling carriage is swung
over the mercerising tank or vessel and lowered into same wherein the machine,
with the exception of the upper portions of levers H is completely submerged in
the alkaline or acid solution in said vessel. The machine is allowed to remain in
the vessel for a period of ten minutes, or such other period of time as may be re-
quired and at the expiration of about half that period the levers H are actuated
to rotate the hank carrying rollers for the purpose of changing the position of the
hanks thereon to fully expose every portion of the yarn to the action of the mer-
cerising solution.
In this process no possible shrinkage of the yarn or hanks can take place.
After mercerising, the machine is taken to one, two, or more washing off tanks or
vessels and is finally deposited on the floor again and the frame K raised by the
screws to slacken the hanks and allow them to be taken off and a fresh supply
substituted therefor.
If preferred, the hank carrying rollers E may be rotated by any suitable system
of gearing instead of by ratchet wheels and pawls.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is:-
1. in a machine for mercerising hanks of yarn, a double set of hank carrying
rollers arranged one above the other in pairs, one set being fixed and the other set