Washing Machine
Year: 1887

page_text: I, NICOLAUS JOSEF HANNEMANN of Düren on Rhine in the Empire of Germany,
Manufacturer, 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 improvements in my long-trough Washing Machines, for
piece goods in Manufactories, (Patent No. 2456 of 1880) in which 5 pairs of suitable
rollers are arranged over the wash-trough; whereby the material to be washed will be
held in a tightly stretched condition so as to be without creases, as it passes from the
pairs of rollers at each end of the trough, backward and forward through the washing
trough, and also passes between each single pair of rollers while undergoing the
washing process.
This to and fro motion of the material is caused and controlled by a special self-
acting regulating mechanism.
The improvements to be made in my washing-machine are as follows:
First, instead of 5 pairs of rollers, four only are now employed, and two pairs
called the washing-rollers are placed so low down in the trough that the under roller
nearly touches the bottom.
These rollers are lettered as follows in Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings;
viz., a. a, b. b, c. c, d. d¹.
Of these b. b, c. e¹ are the washing-rollers, and a. a³, d. d' are placed at either end
of the trough and called end-rollers.
These end rollers are also placed much deeper than formerly so that only the upper
rollers a dare seen above the side of the trough.
There are also 3 carrying
rollers 3 arranged near the bottom of the trough.
The material to be washed (g) is first wound into the position shown on the upper
roller a while d' is turned round in the direction shewn by the arrow.
Then the material (g) winding downwards passes over the lower roller a. in the
washing liquor, then it passes over ¹ between b. b, over 2, between c. c¹ and finally
over to d. and d.
There the material is drawn tight by d', so that it is clear that creases are prevented
in any part of the process.
'f

page_text: After the material has been unwound for its whole length from a¹, there comes into
action, as hereinafter explained, a selfacting reversing motion, and the material taking
the contrary direction is drawn by the roller a¹ through the washing liquor and winds
itself off and on to a¹. The rollers a' d' are driven by belts r, r, froin the axles of
the rollers b. c.
By the arrangement of the rollers herein described, it follows that the material to be
washed has no long distance to travel, before it reaches between the next pair of
rollers.
Owing to this the tendency to become creased, peculiar to the former arrangement
of rollers is entirely prevented.
The action of the machine is caused by motion communicated to the axle A, and
passed on to the rollers a, b, c, d, by an endless strap or cog wheels.
The axle A is driven by the fixed pulley W³ and by two straps, one of which is
reversed and which when not at work run respectively on the loose pullies WW2.
From this alternate action results one reversion of the motion, so that the axle A
rotates to right and left alternately.
The rollers, c¹, lic loosely upon the rollers b, c, and are taken round by the
motion of the latter.
The rollers a, d, respectively receive however a contrary motion, when working in
connection with a, d, respectively as winding up rollers and they also receive this
motion when, during the winding up they have to strain the material (g) tight. To
effect this the intermediate running cog-wheels, or strap pulleys are not firmly fixed
on the axles a, d, but run loosely thereon, and are turned in the direction required by
an effective stop action.
As Fig. 7 shows the roller d is only caused to move forward when the ratchet
wheel R (fitted on the axle of d) of the wheel R2, which runs loose on the said axle,
is also moved round by means of the pawis R³ R³.
In like manner the motion of the upper rollers a' and d is also controlled.
The two rollers a¹ and d¹ when winding are rotated by means of the driving strap,
from the forcibly driven rollers b and c, Fig. 1.
The strap pulleys run loosely upon a and d', and are connected to the axle as
Fig. 3, shows, by the friction blocks and the firmly fixed disc³.
When, Fig. 3, revolves in the direction of the arrow, the disc will also turn
and with it the connected upper roller.
When begins to revolve the contrary way the blocks 2 immediately slide on the
edge of the disc which consequently is not forced round with it.
In place of the friction block and the friction disc³, one could employ a ratchet
wheel and pawi as shewn in Fig. 7 for the purpose of driving the under rollers a
and d.
The strap lies rather loosely around the pulleys of the upper rollers d', a¹, while
ascending during the winding up period, so as not to check the motion.
When the rollers a' d' revolve during the winding off period, in contrary motion,
the described stop action, allows the cloth which is being unwound to adapt itself
exactly to the rotating speed of the rollers a¹, d¹ and regulates the mode in which the
cloth turns back during the reversing action, that is to say, when through the pull of
the pair of rollers which are winding up, the layers of cloth lying one over the other,
receive an impulse of considerable speed.
It also causes the unwinding rollers on the opposite side of the machine to follow
exactly at the same rate of speed, as otherwise, when the rollers have a sudden strong
impulse at the commencement of the reverse motion, the unwinding motion might be
faster than the winding up.
Through this arrangement an important improvement is effected whereby a firm
tension of the cloth is obtained.
As soon as the material g, on the rollers a¹ or d¹ is wound off, the machine
automatically reverses itself.
This happens while the main axle A is reversed in one of the foregoing alternating
motions.

page_text: For this purpose the reversing lever is provided, which is worked by a straight
and a crossed strap, so that through the displacement of the reversing lever f, the two
alternate rotations are effected in the manner stated.
This displacement of the reversing leverf will now be worked automatically by the
machine:
Through the winding off of the material g, for example, from the roller a', this
roller will gradually sink lower, until the adjustable screw n, fastened on the bearings
of a', Figs. 1 and 4, presses upon the end of the lever i¹, the other end of the lever
moves upwards, as Fig. 5 shows.
By this action,, is released from the stop-pink, and the presser-pin J gives to the
pressure of the spring m³, and moves itself along towards the bolt B, and brings the
eye O of the chain K, in the reach of the hook e, which stands on the revolving
pulley D, so that e fastens the chain, and it is taken round with D. Through this
a strain is placed on the chain K, which by means of the pulley (Figs. 1 and 2) is
transferred to the axle, and sets it in motion.
The wheel placed upon f1, sets by it in corresponding motion the toothed bar f³,
and with it the reversing lever f, whereby the reversal is effected.
By this action the chain K is wound upon D.
After the reversal of the machine is effected, and the rollers, and with them the
pulley D, begin to run in the other direction, the chain unwinds itself again by the
hook e, from the pulley D, and is drawn back, around the straining pulley N, until
the eye O, comes again to lie on the presser bar J, whereby then the hook in
consequence of its reverse motion slips out of O.
e,
By the next revolution of D, the back of e, will now encounter the front corner of
the eye at 7, (Fig. 4) and will so far press back the eye, together with the presser J,
that the stop-lever projects again before the stop k, and through the action of the
spring m, J is thereby again held fast.
The descent of 2 has now become possible, because the upper roller in following the
winding up motion of the material is already so far raised that n, is free of it.
The pulley D, obtains a suitable seat upon the fixed bolt B. D sits loosely on B,
and is carried round by friction, in order to avoid fracture of any part of the
machine.
Dis joined through the brake E, (Fig. 6) to the wheel F, which receives rotation
from the wheel G (Fig. 1-4) which is fixed on the axle of the revolving roller a, in
connection with d.
The object of the brake E is to .communicate motion by friction to D from F, or
to F from D and to do so in such a manner that in case of any sudden stop or jerk or
reversal of motion, the brake will slip and prevent fracture of the machine..
It is clear that the introduction of a stirring motion will be of great use in the
wash-trough.
Through it the washing fluid can be kept of the same consistency in all parts of the
tub, and when washing with fuller's carth, no deposit or sediment can be formed,
through which circumstance the fuller's earth must afford a greater amount of
benefit.
The stirring action arises from the wood shovels s, s', which are placed near the end
of the machine's width and receive a swinging motion.
They are hung on the bars q', which are attached to the axle y.
The bars receive a swinging motion from the head axle A, fitted to the small
discs T. T, which work upon the lever u, and so cause the shovels s. s to swing
to and fro.
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1. shows an elevation of my improved washing-machine.
Fig. 2. shows a section of a plan view of the same with the reversing mechanism
and pulleys.
Fig. 3. shows the strap pulley, the friction blocks 2, and the fixed disc ³.
Figs. 45. show an enlarged end view of the roller a', the pulley D, the straining

page_text: pulley N, with the presser-bar J, the lever, the stop lever, the bolt B, the
wheels F. G, the chain K, the stop-pink, the springs m¹ m.
Fig. 6. shows a plan of the bolt or shaft B, the wheel F, and the brake E, the
catch e and the eye O.
Fig. 7. shews the ratchet wheel R', and the pawls R³, used to drive the under
rollers a and d.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is;
1. The application and combination of the 4 pairs of rollers a. a, b.b¹, c. c, d. d¹,
of which two are near the bottom of the machine, and two are so arranged that the
upper rollers a' d' stand above the edge of the trough, as herein explained and set
forth.
2. The action of the upper rollers at and d¹ serving alternately as winding-up
rollers by means of the contrary motion during the winding-up period, and of the
check action in combination therewith, as herein described and set forth.
3. The special reversing motion and the combination therewith of the rollers a
and d, the fixed wheels G, the loose wheels F. F, the bolts B. B, the brake-
contrivance E. E, and the pulleys D. D, as herein described and set forth.
4. The stirring arrangement by means of the shovels s. s¹ and the to and fro motion
thereof as attached to the main axle A, as herein described and set forth.
Dated this 30th day of November 1887.
S. S. BROMHEAD,
97, Newgate Street, London, E.C.,
Patent Agent.