IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF TEXTILE FABRICS
Year: 1852

page_text: p.
LETTERS PATENT to John-Slack, of Manchester, in the.. County
of Lancaster, Manager, for the Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MANUFACTURE OF TEXTILE FABRICS."

page_text: conveyed to the warp threads by rollers, brushes, or other suitable
apparatus as they are drawn forward, after which it is necessary they
should be dried before their arrival at the weaving point. In order to
effect this, I use a revolving fan, to which motion is communicated
from any convenient moving part, and thus, by causing a rapid circula-
tion of air, effect the desired object; or, in place of a blowing machine,
I adapt a heating apparatus for the same purpose.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Slack in the Great Seal Patent Office,
on the 2nd April 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
JOHN SLACK, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Manager,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Second day of October, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-two, in the six-
teenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said John Slack, Her especial license
that I, the said John Slack, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time
and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed,
should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within
the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF TEXTILE FABRICS," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said John Slack, by an instrument in writing
under my hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Slack, do hereby de-

page_text: clare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the Drawings here-
unto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is
to say):
My Invention relates to a method of sizing or partially sizing the
warp threads used in the manufacture of textile fabrics, and consists in
the adaptation of apparatus for performing that operation in the loom
simultaneously with the weaving of the goods. The size or other
such matter is placed in a vessel at the back of the loom," and is
conveyed to the warp threads by rollers, brushes, or other suitable
apparatus, after which it is necessary they should be dried to a
certain extent before their arrival at the weaving point. In order to
effect this I use a revolving fan, to which motion is communicated
from any convenient moving part, and this, by causing a rapid circula-
tion of air, effects the desired object; or, in place of the blowing machine,
I adopt a heating medium for the same purpose, consisting of steam
pipes or other ordinary apparatus. Yarns may be treated in this
manner, so as to effect all the sizing that is required; but the method
I prefer is to size them in the first place by any ordinary process, and
subsequently to apply a further stiffening in the loom, according to
my Invention. It will be found that goods treated in this.manner will
gain much in weight; for although I have mentioned that the yarns are
dried previously to being woven, yet they do not attain that degree of
dryness incident to those which are used in the ordinary manner; the
stiffening matter, therefore, not being so brittle, is less stripped from
the fibres, and consequently a larger quantity enters into the woven.
fabric. The method by which my Invention may be carried into
effect may be varied considerably, according to the construction of
loom employed or the desire of the manufacturer. I have, however,
appended to this my Specification a sectional Drawing explaining an
arrangement of machinery suitable for the purpose. The warp beam
is shewn at a, above which is placed a trough b, containing starch or
other ordinary stiffening material; within this trough is mounted a
roller c, capable of turning in bearings at either end. Over this the

page_text: yarris pass, as shewn by the red colour; and from thence to the ordinary
heddles d'and above, and pressing upon them, I place a roller e. Upon
the tappet shaft is a pulley f, furnished with a strap which drives
another pulleyg upon the axle of which. is mounted a fanch. The
yarns passing over the roller c, cause it to revolve, and by so doing to
convey a portion of stiffening matter to them; the excess of which is
squeezed off by the top roller ê. The rollers c, e, may be of plain wood,
or covered with cloth or other material, according to the.. quantity.of
matter intended to be applied.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention and the manner t
in which the same is to be performed; "I desire it to be understood that
I claim, as secured to me, the adaptation of apparatus tó.looms for the
purpose of conveying stiffening" matter. to the yarns as the weaving
proceeds.
...
In witness whereof, I, the said John Slack, have hereunto set
my hand' and seal, this Thirty-first day of March, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-
three.