AN IMPROVEMENT. IN MACHINERY FOR PRESSING WOOL, COTTON, HEMP, AND OTHER MATERIALS
Year: 1869

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Johnson at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 9th
December 1869.
I, WILLIAM JOHNSON, of the Elms, Sketty, in the County of Glamorgan,
South Wales, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said In-
vention for "AN IMPROVEMENT. IN MACHINERY FOR PRESSING WOOL, COTTON,
HEMP, AND OTHER MATERIALS," to be as follows:-
My press consists of a hydraulic cylinder with reversible ram, which
projecting at either side works horizontally into rectangular tubes of a.
size capable of holding in a loose state about half the material to be
compressed.. Each tube has a projecting ledge in front of about its.
own length, and a trapdoor on its upper side for the introduction of the
wool or cotton. These rectangular tubes, which for ready reference I
shall denominate stuffing boxes, are fixtures, and are firmly attached by
tie rods to each other and to the cylinder. They are open at both
extremities, the apertures corresponding in length and width with the
length and width of a compressed bale,, and are fitted each with a
moveable platten or follower. At the outer end of each stuffing box,

page_text: and traversing it at right angles, there is a double chambered oblong
box mounted upon wheels, each chamber being made to correspond with
the internal dimensions of the stuffing box so as to form when attached
a continuation of it. The chamber is entirely closed at the back and in
its inner side, but has apertures in front (i.e., on the face opening into
the stuffing box) above and below, while its outer side is made of a
moveable block which can be closed or withdrawn by the action of cog
wheels. At the closed back there is also a lever arrangement, by means
of which bolts are made to work in and out of the chamber from both
sides by a simultaneous movement. Finally, the carriage travels under
a moveable platform working up and down four standards attached to
the stuffing box; and which can be readily raised or lowered by wheel
and pinion, or by lever arrangements.
The mode of working this press is as follows:-By means of rack and
pinion or otherwise the carriage is moved along until one of its chambers
is flush with the stuffing box, when the platform is lowered into the
upper opening, wedging down the chamber upon the projecting ledge of
the stuffing box, which will now form its lower side as the platform
above forms the upper. In the cavity thus formed the loose cotton or
wool is introduced through the trapdoor and compressed by the platten
or follower as it is forced onward by the ram. When the compression
has been attained the bolts are forced in at the back of the platten,
which is thus securely held in its place, the ram withdrawn (compressing
as it recedes the material which has been introduced in the meanwhile
in the opposite press), the platform raised, and the carriage moved aside
until the empty chamber takes the place of the other, carrying with it
the compressed bale firmly wedged between four walls, but having its
upper and lower sides exposed ready for lashing, which is effected in
the usual manner, the back of the chamber and the inner side of the
platten being grooved perpendicularly for the purpose. When this is
accomplished the bolts by which the platten is held are withdrawn, and
the moveable side of the chamber worked off an inch or two, when the
bale will drop through by its own weight.
The features of novelty to which I lay special claim are,―
1stly. The employment of a hydraulic cylinder with reversible ram
for pressing cotton, wool, and other materials, so that the return stroke
may be utilized and bales compressed at either end alternately.

page_text: 2dly. The double-chambered sliding or travelling box fitted up and
working in the manner herein-before described in conjunction with a
rectangular fixed tube, so that the press on either side is ready for
re-charging with the loose material while a pressed bale on the same
side is undergoing the process of lashing.