Improvements in Machines for Mercerising Hanks of Yarn.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Mercerising Hanks of Yarn.
We, JAMES FREDERICK COPLEY, of 10, Queen Street, Huddersfield, in the County
of York, Technical Chemist, PERCY SYKES MARSHALL, of Half Moon Street,
Huddersfield, aforesaid, Analytical Consulting Chemist, and RICHARD HEATON, of
Dalton Chemical Works, Huddersfield, aforesaid, Manufacturing Chemist and
Drysalter, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:
-
This invention refers to an improved machine for mercerising hanks of yarn.
The object of our invention is to provide means for conveying hanks of yarn
through a vessel or tank containing the alkaline or acid mercerising solution
and then through a second tank or vessel for washing the yarn to free it of the
mercerising solution, and for stretching said hanks once or any suitable number
of times in succession during their traverse through the machine; the operations
of mercerising, stretching and washing off being accomplished self actingly,
and the loading and unloading of the hanks effected without hoisting the
apparatus out of the machine, whereby we are enabled to discharge the mercerised
hanks as they are returned to the feeding end of the machine and substitute
fresh supplies of hanks in their place without stopping the machine, so that a
continuous supply of hanks is always entering and passing through the machine
when in operation, no time being lost in making the changes and a much larger
quantity of yarn being capable of treatment than is at present possible in the
same time.
For the purpose of our invention we employ two tanks or vessels, or one
tank or vessel divided into two compartments, the first to contain the mercerising
solution and the second to contain the water or liquid for washing off purposes:
or, if more than one immersion in separate vessels is required with one or more
independent washings, any number of such tanks may be employed following
each other in such order as may be desired. The hanks to be mercerised are
passed over pairs of rods or rollers arranged one behind the other and connected
at their opposite ends to endless chains occupying positions at each side of the
machine these chains passing around and being driven simultaneously by means
of two pairs of toothed or chain wheels or drums which, in the simplest form of
the machine, as may also be the case in a more complicated machine, are adapted
to keep the chains tight after leaving the first pair of chain wheels and until
they reach the second pair of chain wheels, the chains as they return from the
second pair to the first pair of wheels again being slack. Both pairs of chain
wheels may be of equal diameter with a like number of teeth on each; or the
second pair of wheels may have a larger number of teeth, or be caused to rotate
more quickly than the first pair.
Certain of the links of the chains are adapted to receive the ends of the hank
rollers or rods, or there may be attached to such links on the inner sides thereof
or to suitable yokes or brackets attached to the links pivotted or centred arms or
links carrying adjustable hooks or bearings in which the hank rods can be

page_text: engaged and held securely in position thereby, the two pairs of hooks for each
pair of rods facing opposite ways. The distance apart of the above links
coincides with the length of the hanks, but for purposes of adjustment of the
pairs of rods to suit different lengths of hanks, other adjacent links may be
provided with similar bearings or hooks to admit of the rods being changed from
one pair of bearings to another. If the pivotted or hinged arins with hooks
thereon be employed, the adjustment of such hooks backward or forward on the
arms will increase or decrease the distance between the individual rods in each
pair in addition to the above method of adjustment, or in lieu thereof. The
rods or rollers charged with the hanks to be mercerised are placed in position
on the slack portions of the chains lying or travelling between the two pairs of
chain wheels on their upper return traverse, or the chains may be slackened at
the pre-determined feeding or loading point to bring the bearings or hooks, or
the pairs of hank carrying rods nearer together to facilitate discharge of mer-
cerised hanks and the re-charging of the machine with fresh hanks, this being
effected while the chains travel onward to or over the first pair of chain wheels
or a pair of supplementary wheels in advance thereof. In travelling round with
the chain wheels, the portions of chains between each pair of hank rods or
rollers form arcs about the circumferences of the said wheels, but the hanks
carried by said pairs of rods form chords to such arcs and therefore remain in
their normal condition, or slack, until they leave the chain wheels, the difference
between the chords, or hanks, and the arcs, or portions of chains between the
hank rollers, depending upon and being determined by the diameter of the wheels,
thus the smaller the diameter of the chain wheels and the greater the difference
between the lengths of the hanks in passing round same and the sections of
chains carrying them. The chain wheels are partially immersed in the merceris-
ing solution in the first vessel or tank and, therefore, the hanks are thoroughly
saturated with the solution while in an unstretched condition, but as the chains
leave the said chain wheels and enter a straight path, the hanks, which up
to this point have had a shorter path than the corresponding sections of the
chains, will now be compelled to take the same path as the chains, and these being
maintained quite tight or fully extended by the two pairs of chain wheels, it
follows that the banks will be stretched or extended to an extent corresponding to
the difference between the length of the chords and the arcs described by the chains
in passing round the chain wheels. In order to guide the chains out of the
first or mercerising vessel or tank into the second or washing off tank we mount
a suitable roller, or cylinder or cylinders, in bearings above the machine over
which roller or rollers the chains travel from the first to the second pair of
chain wheels, the said roller or rollers keeping the hanks to the circumferences
thereof and not allowing any shrinkage or contraction until they arrive at the
second pair of chain wheels. On leaving the second pair of chain wheels the
chains travel back outside the tanks or above the level of the liquids therein to
the first pair of chain wheels and, at any point of such return traverse, the
mercerised and stretched hanks which are now slack, can be removed and fresh
hanks substituted, these fresh hanks being introduced on or before the receptive
portions of the chains or the hank rollers reach the chain wheels.
The circumferences of the guide rollers or cylinders may be made up of small
loose rollers free to revolve, or of cross bars, to allow free acess of liquid.
If it is desired to allow the hanks to contract after stretching them as above
and to again expand them, we may cause the chains to pass partly around
supplementary wheels of suitable diameter before leaving the first tank, or before
washing off, the hanks again forming chords to the ares described by the chains
and thus becoming shorter as previously explained. By passing around a series
of such wheels and following a straight path between each pair of wheels, the
hanks may be relaxed and expanded repeatedly.
Instead of the hanks forming chords to ares described by the corresponding
portions of chains in travelling round with the chain wheels, the distance between

page_text: the links of the chains to which the individual hank carrying rods are connected
may be lessened by placing or causing to be placed one above the other upon a
single tooth on each chain wheel or cylinder two, three or more links of the
chains which are held in position by a catch or other like means or by a guide
until they reach the point where the chains leave said wheels when they are
released and, either by gravitation, or by suitable strippers, are disengaged from
the tooth whereby in entering the straight the portions of chains between the
hank rollers are extended again to their normal length and stretch the hanks.
Or we may employ expanding links in the chains, these links having longitu-
dinal slots or openings therein which are equal in length to an ordinary link
of the chain or to any multiple thereof. Through the said slots pass the studs
projecting from each neighbouring link, these being held while unloading and
loading by means of catches or fingers or the like and released at any point when
expansion of the hanks is required by fixed projections or cam surfaces inside
the machine. We may adopt other equivalent devices or mechanism for con-
tracting or expanding the parts of the chains between the pairs of hank rollers
or for taking up and paying out said chains to give the same results.
In order to give intermittent rotation to the hank carrying rods or rollers to
change the position of the yarn upon them, we may employ toothed or spider
or like wheels mounted on one end of the rollers or of one roller in each pair,
or rotatively secured to one of the endless chains and provided with square
sockets adapted to receive the ends of the rollers and to rotate them, these wheels
being engaged at intervals as required by fixed projections or by racks, endless
.chains, or like means.
The hank rods or rollers may be readily removed from the chains, or they may
remain in connection therewith at one end and the opposite ends be free so that
they can be raised out of engagement with their bearings in the chain concerned
or the said chain depressed and the rods held clear by suitable supports. While
clear of the chain, the rods can be placed at angles to facilitate the removal or
application of the hanks.
Suitable supporting surfaces or rails may be provided where necessary in the
machine to support the hank rods or chains and to relieve the latter of all strain.
Should expanding links be employed the first or each pair of wheels may be
made up in the form of cylinders the circumference or circumferences comprising
a number of small rollers or rods these being preferably loose so as to turn in
their bearings as the hanks travel over them.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Mercerising Hanks of Yarn.
We, JAMES FREDERICK COPLEY, of 10, Queen Street, Huddersfield, in the County
of York, Technical Chemist, PERCY SYKES MARSHALL, of Half Moon Street,
Huddersfield, aforesaid. Analytical Consulting Chemist, and RICHARD HEATON, of
Dalton Chemical Works, also in Huddersfield, aforesaid, Manufacturing Chemist
and Drysalter, 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:-
Our invention relates to an improved machine for mercerising and stretching
banks of yarn.

page_text: The object of our invention is to provide means for conveying hanks of yarn
through a vessel or tank containing the alkaline or acid mercerising solution
and then through a second tank for washing the yarn to free it of the mer-
cerising solution, and for stretching said hanks one or more times during their
traverse through the machine; the operations of mercerising, stretching and
washing off being accomplished self-actingly and the loading and unloading of
the hanks effected without hoisting the apparatus out of the tanks or stopping
the machine, whereby we are enabled to pass a continuous supply of hanks through
the machine when in operation; no time being lost in making the changes and
a much larger quantity of fibre being capable of treatment than is at present
possible in the same time. In the accompanying drawings illustrating our
invention:
:-
Fig. 1, is sectional elevation of hank mercerising machine taken on line 1, 2,
of Fig. 2;
Fig. 2, is plan view of Fig. 1, the upper or dotted portion of the endless chain
being omitted;
Fig. 3, and 4, shew, in elevation and plan view of a portion of the endless
chain, a modification of the means for stretching the hanks.
In the drawings, a, b, are two tanks or vessels, the former to contain the mer-
cerising liquid, and the latter to contain water for washing off purposes; c, c, are
two chain wheels located near to each inner side of tank at the front or right
hand end thereof and partially submerged in same, said chain wheels being
mounted on an axle d journalled in bearings in the sides of tank a; e, e, are
two similar chain wheels located at the rear end of tank b in line with the
chain wheels c, c, and mounted on an axle f journalled in bearings in the sides
of tank b; and g, g, are two endless chains passing round and being driven or
traversed in the direction of the arrows, by the two pairs of chain wheels c, c,
and e. e.
The axles d, f, receive motion from the longitudinal shaft h (Fig. 2) through
worms h¹, h2, fast thereon, and worm wheels d, f, secured on the outer end of the
axles d, f. and meshing with the worms h¹, h².
i is a guide roller, situated between the tanks a, b, over which the endless
chains g, g, are guided from tank a into tank b; and jis a pressure or squeezing
roller resting normally on the periphery of roller i.
The endless chains g, g, have secured thereto, at equal distances apart, a series
of cross rods or bars g', near each end of which are loosely mounted yokes or
links k,, arranged in pairs set to right and left of the cross rods g. these said
yokes or links being provided with screw threaded openings into which are
screwed fingers 12, 13, to atach them to the yokes k, k, respectively.
The extremities of the fingers 2, 3, are hook shaped or provided with open
bearings adapted to receive the turned down ends of hank carrying rollers 1. P.
and to support said rollers at the requisite distances apart. The said hooked
fingers can be adjusted nearer to or further from the cross bars g, by screwing
them further into or partly unscrewing them from the yokes or links k, k, to the
extent required to increase or reduce the distance between opposing hooked
fingers, On adjacent cross rods g', to suit the length of the hanks which
are to be mercerised." When adjusted, the fingers 12, ³, are secured by lock
nuts kt.
The hanks, which are indicated by strong broken lines marked m, are threaded
on pairs of hank carrying rods 1, 11, whose turned down ends are placed by the
workman into the hooked ends of the pairs of fingers 2, 3, respectively, on
adjacent cross rods g', said hank rods being held firmly therein and supporting
the hanks at their full normal length between adjacent cross bars g¹, one set of
hanks thus following upon another set of hanks on the chains g. g. in constant
succession when the machine is at work.
The hanks are loaded on the chains as they travel toward the first pair of
chain wheels c. c. and while said chains are slack. In engaging and travelling

page_text: The
around with the chain wheels c, c, the chains must perforce keep to the circum-
ferences thereof, but the adjustable hooked fingers ka, k³, being free to turn upon
their respective cross rods g¹. allow the hanks m to take their own path or course
by adapting themselves to any angular position assumed by said hanks.
positions which are assumed by the sets of hanks in passing round with the
chain wheels c, c, form chords to the arcs described by the sections of chains
lying between each cross bar g¹, and they consequently remain in their normal
condition or unextended until they leave the chain wheels c, c, the difference
between the chords or length of the hanks and the arcs of the chains between each
cross bar depending on and being determined by the diameter of the chain
wheels c, c, and increasing in inverse ratio as the diameter of said wheels is
reduced, thus the smaller the chain wheels the greater will be the difference
between the chords and the arcs of the chains in travelling round with same.
As the chain wheels c. c. are partially submerged in the mercerising liquid
in tank a the hanks are thoroughly saturated with the liquid while in their
slack or unextended condition, but when the chains g, g, leave the chain
wheels c, c, and enter a straight path on their way to and over the roller i the
hanks, which up to this point have had a shorter path than the chains, are now
constrained to take the same path as the chains and these chains being maintained
perfectly tight or fully extended by the two pairs of chain wheels e, c, and e, e,
it follows that the hanks will be stretched to an extent corresponding to the
difference between the length of the chords and the arcs to said chords formed
by the sections of the chains in passing round with the chain wheels c, c.
In passing over the roller i from the tank a into the tank b, the hanks are
squeezed between said roller i and squeezing roller ; and the excess liquid
contained in the hanks expressed. From the roller the chains carrying the
hanks pass direct to and around the second pair of chain wheels e, e, the hanks
in passing round with same being kept lineable with the path of the chains,
and therefore maintained in their stretched conditions, by a winch or lantern
roller n having its periphery composed or formed of a number of rods or rollers n¹
free to revolve in their bearings in the end discs of said winch. The winch n is
secured on shaft f intermediate of the chain wheels e, e. In passing through
the tank 6 the hanks are washed and freed of the mercerising agent. The endless
chains g. 9, with the mercerised and stretched hanks of yarn are guided from
the chain wheels e, e, back to the first pair of chain wheels c, c, by guide
rollers o, o, occupying positions somewhat as shewn in full line; or one or more
of said guide rollers may be placed at a considerable height above the machine,
as indicated in dotted line, as found most convenient to present a sufficient length
of slack chain to admit of the workman detaching the pairs of hank carrying
rods, with their complement of mercerised hanks, from the travelling chains,
and introducing in their place fresh pairs of hank rods charged with fresh
supplies of hanks. The hanks are preferably wetted before being applied to
the chains in order that they may more readily absorb the mercerising liquid.
Secured on the end of one rod in each pair of hank carrying rods 1, 1, is a
spider or star wheel p which is adapted to mesh with fixed segmental racks 71, p2,
in passing round with the chain wheels c, c. and e, e, said star wheels thus being
rotated and turning the hanks on the rods 1. 1. as they travel through the liquids
in said tanks, whereby the position of the hanks around said rods is changed and
uniform action on the yarn ensured.
Should it be desired to contract the hanks after stretching them as above and
to again expand them, a second or third pair of chain wheels similar to the
chain wheels c. c, could be mounted in any suitable position intermediate of
the chain wheels c, c. and the guide roller i. and the chains g, g, caused to travel
partly round with same to slacken the hanks by their assuming chords to the
arcs of the circles, the said hanks being stretched again on leaving the chain
wheels and entering the straight. The processes of mercerising, stretching and
washing off might be repeated by causing the endless chains to enter other tanks

page_text: following the tanks a, b, and fitted up in the same way with chain and guide
wheels.
Instead of the hanks forming chords to the arcs of the chains in passing round
with the chain wheels c, c, the same result can be obtained by means of expanding
links introduced into the chains g, g at equal distances apart to serve each se
of hanks. In this case the hanks would follow the circular path of the chains
around the chain wheels, being supported level with the circumferences thereof
by a winch (Fig. 3) similar to the winch in tank b mounted on the axle d.
This modification is shewn at Figs. 3, and 4: s is a link provided in each arm
with a slot s equal in length to an ordinary link of the chain g or any multiple
thereof. Between the arms or fork of the link is inserted a pair of links t
provided at one end with a pin which extends through the longitudinal slots s
and has attached to its outer ends strong spiral springs whose opposite ends
are attached to studs on the adjacent ordinary link of the chain to which
links is hinged. The right hand or outer end of links are hinged to the
adjacent ordinary link of the chain. When the chains g, g, are slack, the
springs draw the links up to the inner ends of links s and contract the length
of the chains, which pass round with the chain wheels c, c, in such contracted
condition and hold the hanks at their normal length between the pairs of hank
carrying rods but immediately the chains leave the teeth of said chain wheels
the tension thereon causes the links to be drawn out, within the limits of
slots away from the links s thus expanding each section of the chains carrying
the hanks and stretching the latter to the required extent the second pair of discs
or chain wheels in this case containing more teeth or revolving more, quickly
than the first pair of chain wheels c, c.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:
(1) In machines for mercerising hanks of yarn the herein described method of
and means for retaining the banks at their normal length or unstretched until
dipped into and saturated with the mercerising agent and subsequently stretching
them, consisting in carrying the hanks on pairs of rods journalled in bearings
in swinging arms or loosely mounted fingers carried by cross rods secured to a
pair of endless chains driven by pairs of chain wheels, the hanks in passing around
with the pair or pairs of chain wheels in the mercerising tank, being free to
form chords to the arcs of the chains and on leaving the chain wheels caused
to take the same straight path traversed by the chains and thus be stretched or
extended to the extent of the difference between the length of the chords and
the arcs of the chains, substantially as herein specified and shewn on the drawings.
(2) In hank mercerising machines, the pairs of driven chain wheels c, c, e, c.
dipping into separate tanks or vessels containing respectively the alkaline or acid
mercerising solution and water or liquid for washing off purposes, endless chains
carried by said chain wheels and provided with suitable means for receiving
and holding hank carrying rods, said means allowing the hanks threaded on each
successive pair of hank rods to form chords to the arcs of, the chains in passing
round with the chain wheels c, c, and to take the same path as the chains on
entering the straight, a guide roller for guiding the chains from one tank to the
other, and a nipping or squeezing roller acting in conjunction with said guide
roller or with a separate roller. all arranged and operating substantially as
herein shown and described and for purposes set forth.
(3) In apparatus for mercerising and stretching hanks of yarn the combination
of tanks a b, chain wheels c, c, e, e, endless travelling chains g, g, provided with
connecting cross rods g¹. hooked adjustable fingers or bearings such as k³, k³.
carried by said cross rods, guide roller i, squeezing roller j, winch n, and the
means described for turning the hank rods to change the position of the hanks
during immersion substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

page_text: (4) In apparatus for mercerising and stretching hanks of yarn the combination
with pairs of chain wheels c, c, e, e, dipping into tanks a and b respectively, the
wheels e, e, having more teeth or revolving more quickly than the wheels c, c, of
endless chains provided at equal distances apart with expanding links sub-
stantially as described and shewn at Figs. 3 and 4, and for purposes set forth.
Dated this 24th day of February 1900
TASKER & CROSSLEY,
Patent Agents,
Huddersfield, Agents for the Applicants