IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR PRESSING OR FINISHING WOVEN AND OTHER FABRICS AND ARTICLES MADE OF WOVEN FABRICS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Ernst Gessner, junior, of Pimlico, in the County of
Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR PRESSING
OR FINISHING WOVEN AND OTHER FABRICS AND ARTICLES MADE OF WOVEN
FABRICS." A communication from abroad by Ernst Gessner, senior, of Aue,
in the Kingdom of Saxony.
Sealed the 31st May 1878, and dated the 27th December 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Ernest Gessner at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th December 1877.
ERNST GESSNER, junior, of Pimlico, in the County of Middlesex. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MACHINES FOR PRESSING OR FINISHING WOVEN AND OTHER FABRICS
AND ARTICLES MADE OF WOVEN FABRICS." [A communication from abroad by
Ernst Gessner, senior, of Aue, in the Kingdom of Saxony.]
This Invention relates to improved machinery for hot pressing and finishing
woven and felted fabrics and made-up articles, such as collars and wristbands, the
said machinery consisting mainly of one or more cylinders, each provided with one
or several heated pressing boxes and a sheet metal pressing plate, these parts
being combined and arranged in various ways, of which the following are
examples: A single cylinder with two pressing boxes, one at either side of or
above and below the cylinder, the fabric on the cylinder being encircled by a sheet
metal pressing plate, which may be in tension or otherwise, and which passes
between the boxes and the fabric; a single cylinder and pressing box with a sheet
metal pressing plate embracing the cylinder and in tension; a single cylinder with
three, four, or more pressing boxes placed at either side, above and below, or entirely
around said cylinder, and with or without a sheet metal pressing plate, as the case
may be; two cylinders, one above the other, the upper one have a pressing box
above and the lower one a pressing box below, with or without a thin metal
pressing plate for pressing the fabric on both sides at a single operation; two
cylinders with pressing boxes above and below, as before, and four others disposed
in pairs at opposite sides of the two cylinders, making six in all, or three for each

page_text: cylinder, connected to one another by strips of sheet metal; two cylinders, as
before, each with a pair of pressing boxes, those of the upper cylinder being above,
and those of the other below, and the boxes of each pair being disposed at an angle
of about sixty degrees to one another; two or more cylinders on the same horizontal
plane, with a double pressing box between them, and acting on both, and single
pressing boxes at the outer sides, connected to the intermediate double pressing
boxes by sheet-iron plates encircling the cylinders; this arrangement being adapted
for applying a repeated and extra powerful pressure on one or both sides of the
fabric or for pressing two pieces of goods at the same time; two cylinders with
double and single pressing boxes between and at either side, as last described; and
other pressing boxes beneath said cylinders; one or more cylinders of single or
double conical or other form, with a single pressing box, or two or more pressing
boxes of corresponding form, united by hinges, and with or without pressing plates
corresponding to the cylinders and boxes for pressing made up goods; and, lastly,
pressing boxes of annular, cylindrical, conical, or other forms, with cylinders of
corresponding form and size.
The cylinder or cylinders may either be of cast iron and hollow, and either be
heated or cold, or they may be solid and made of pasteboard or equivalent material
when the pressure of the pressing boxes is equally applied on both sides.
The pressing boxes are curved to correspond to the cylinder against which they
are applied; they are of cast iron, are strengthened by truss rods at the back;
they may either be heated by steam or otherwise, or cooled by currents of water,
according to the effect to be produced, it being generally preferable to heat the first
and cool the last of the series. The fabric passes around the cylinder or cylinders, and
between the latter and the pressing boxes, which are kept up against the same by
weights, springs, hydraulic, or other power acting either directly or through a
suitable arrangement of levers.
The cylinder or cylinders are mounted in bearings in suitable frames, and receive
rotary motion to carry the fabric through the machine, for which purpose their
surface if of metal, may be roughened or covered with felt; suitable brush guide and
tension rollers and devices are provided to act on the fabric and assist in conveying
it through the machine.
The press and boxes, when at opposite sides of the cylinder, are mounted in pairs
of upright arms, pivoted at their lower ends to the frame; the opposite pairs of
arms may be connected at their upper ends by springs that draw the arms together
and so press the boxes against the cylinder, suitable adjusting screws being provided
to regulate the pressure. Instead of springs the arms may be connected by right
and left hand screws of rapid pitch, screwing into nuts on the arms, and operated
by weighted levers pivoted on the screws, and connected thereto by pawl and
ratchet.
When the pressing boxes are above and below the cylinder or cylinders the
pivoted arms above described are not employed to support the boxes, but the latter
are pressed against the cylinder or cylinders by four springs connected to frames
acting directly upon the pressing boxes, the tension of all the springs being
regulated simultaneously by screw nuts and operated by endless screw gear.
Instead of springs, other power may be used, as above mentioned. When the
pressing boxes are above and below, and also on each side of the cylinder or
cylinders, both ways of supporting them would be employed, and when there are
two cylinders, the one above the other, and two pairs of pressing boxes at either
side, those on the oue side are mounted in frames which are mounted on pivots
(situated midway between the upper and lower pressing boxes) in a pair of arms
pivoted at their lower ends as in the arrangement first described, so that the two
pressing boxes are pressed with equal force against the two cylinders, the pressing
boxes on the other side being similarly mounted, and the arms being connected by
springs, or acted on by weights or otherwise as before.
To prevent the fabric being damaged during the passage between the pressing
cylinder and the boxes a thin sheet of metal is interposed between the pressing

page_text: boxes and the fabric, this sheet of metal being attached at one end to the one
pressing box, and, after encircling about three-fourths of the cylinder, attached at the
other to a shaft acted on by springs, with regulating worm and wheel or by weighted
levers, whereby the sheet metal is kept at the proper tension.
When the pressing boxes are close together they are simply connected by strips
of sheet metal, and the pressing plate above described is dispensed with.
For finishing wristbands a cylinder of double conical form and a pair of pressing
boxes of corresponding form, hinged together, are employed, the boxes being
pressed against the cylinder by a spring or lever.
For finishing collars and other articles I employ a cylinder made slightly conical
at one end, which enters the end of a short tube made conical externally, and the
two enclosed by an annular cylinder of conical form internally to correspond to and
fit upon the conical tube, upon which the article to be pressed is placed, the first
and last cylinders being made hollow or box-like, and heated by steam or
otherwise.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Ernst Gessner in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 15th June
1878.
ERNST GESSNER, junior, of Pimlico, in the County of Middlesex. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MACHINES FOR PRESSING OR FINISHING WOVEN AND OTHER FABRICS
AND ARTICLES MADE OF WOVEN FABRICS." A communication from abroad by
Ernst Gessner, senior, of Aue, in the Kingdom of Saxony.
This Invention relates to improved machinery for hot pressing and finishing
woven, felted, and other fabrics and made-up articles, such as collars and wrist-
bands, the said machinery consisting mainly of one or more cylinders provided with
one or several heated pressing boxes and a sheet metal pressing plate, these parts
being combined and arranged in various ways, as shewn in the accompanying
Drawings, and hereafter fully described with reference thereto.
Figure 1 represents a vertical section, and Figure 2, a front elevation of a press
having a single cylinder and two pressing boxes, one on either side, and a sheet
metal pressing plate encircling the cylinder; Figure 1b represents a detail.
Figure 3 is a vertical section, and Figure 4 is a front elevation of a press with a
single cylinder and three pressing boxes, the latter connected together by narrow
plates instead of a single plate encircling the cylinder.
Figure 5 is a section of a press with two cylinders side by side with a double
pressing box between them, acting on both, and four single pressing boxes, one on
the opposite side and one beneath each cylinder, the several pressing boxes being
connected together by narrow plates, as in Figure 3.
Figure 6 shews a similar press, except that the two under pressing boxes are
omitted, and the cylinders are encirled each by a pressing plate, as in Figure 1, the
fabric in this case being pressed on both sides. This press presses the fabric twice
on the same side.

page_text: Figure 7 is a vertical section of a press for pressing the fabric on both sides, and
having two cylinders, one above the other, and six pressing boxes, videlicet, one
above and one below, and four disposed in pairs on either side of each cylinder.
Figure 8 is a section shewing two single cylinder presses combined for use.
Figure 9 shews a section, Figure 9, a top view, and Figure 9b, an end view of a
small hand press, with cylinder and boxes of double conical form for finishing
wristbands.
Figures X and Xb shew a vertical section and plan of small hand press with
conical cylinder and annular pressing box for finishing collars.
Figure 11 is a vertical section, and Figure 12 a front elevation of a press with a
single cylinder, a sheet metal pressing plate encircling the cylinder, and two pressing
boxes, one above and one below the cylinder.
Figure 13 is a vertical section, and Figure 14 a front elevation of a press with a single
cylinder, a single pressing box beneath, and a pressing plate encircling the cylinder.
Figure 15 is a vertical section of a press with two cylinders, one above the other,
and two pressing boxes, above and below the cylinders, for pressing the fabric on
both sides at a single operation.
Figure 16 is a vertical section of a press with two cylinders, one above the other,
and four pressing boxes placed in pairs at an angle to one another above and below
the cylinders.
Figure 17 is a vertical section of a press with a single cylinder, and two pressing
boxes jointed together and placed obliquely, and with a pressing plate encircling
the cylinder.
Figure 18 is a section of a press with a single cylinder, and three pressing boxes,
one above and one on each side.
Figure 19 is a section of a press with a single cylinder, a single pressing box
above it, and a pressing plate encircling the cylinder.
Figures 20 and 21 are sections of a press with a single cylinder, and a pressing
plate only encircling the cylinder.
Figure 22 is a section of a press with a single cylinder, and three pressing boxes,
as in Figure 3, except that in this case the boxes are pressed up to the cylinder by
springs.
A, standards of frame in which the pressing cylinder or cylinders B are mounted ;
C are the pressing boxes, curved on the side next the cylinder B, so as to correspond
to and partially embrace it. In Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, and 22, the pressing boxes at
either side of the cylinder or cylinders are carried by pairs of arms D, movable on
pivots at their lower ends, and can be adjusted horizontally by screws 81. The
pressing boxes Care mounted on journals in the arms D, and are adjusted so that
their curved surface shall correspond with the pressing cylinder B by means of
screws 8. In Figures 11, 12, 15, 16, and 19 the cylinders and boxes are mounted
one above the other, the cylinder bearings being moveable in slots in the uprights A.
In Figure 13 the cylinder B is mounted in slides K moveable in slots in uprights A.
In Figure 17 both cylinder B and the pivot X of the pressing boxes are mounted
in uprights A. The cylinder B is driven from shaft W by wheels and pinions R',
R², R³, R'. The second pressing cylinder shewn in Figures 7, 15, and 16 is driven
from the first one by means of toothed wheels of equal diameter, or otherwise. The
fabric to be pressed is passed to the cylinder or cylinders upon which it is pressed
by the boxes to any suitable degree, and for this purpose it is necessary that the
surface of the cylinder should be roughened, preferably by covering it with a
seamless jacket of wool and felt.
The pressing cylinder is represented in all the Figures as being hollow, and of
cast iron, and it may be either heated or cold. It may also be made of other
material, such as discs of pasteboard for example, which being a poor conductor of
hent is preferable to metal; but as it cannot resist a great transverse strain a paste-
board cylinder can however only be used when the pressure is equal on both
sides.

page_text: The pressing boxes C press the fabric against the cylinder B, and also heated at
same time, and afterwards cool it, if desired.
The pressure may be applied in various ways, for example, by means of weights,
springs, hydraulic or other power acting either directly or through levers, as shewn
in Figure 13.
In Figure 1, 2, 7, 11, 12, 15, 16, 17, and 22 two coiled springs F are employed,
which draw the arms D together so as to press boxes C against cylinder B.
In Figure 7 there are two cylinders, the one above the other, and a pair of
pressing boxes at either side of each. In this case the two boxes C, at each side,
are mounted on arins E which are pivoted in the arms D, so that the pressure of
the boxes equal on both cylinders, the springs F in this case being connected to
arms E. The nuts m on the ends of the springs serve to regulate the tension as
desired.
In Figure 7 the upper and lower boxes C¹, as well as cylinder B, are pressed
together by their own weight only, or may be acted on by springs or weights, as
shewn in Figures 18 and 22.
In Figures 11, 12, 15, and 19 four springs are employed, connected to cross heads
Ca cast on the ends of the boxes; these cross heads Ca may be guided in the
standards A.
In order to simultaneously regulate the tension of the four springs F their nuts m
have worm wheels nattached, with which gear worms k on a shaft o operated by a
winch handle h, whereby all the nuts are rotated at once, and fixed.
The same
result may also be obtained by using two screws only (as in Figures 1 and 2) and in
other ways.
In Figures 3 and 4 the pressure on the horizontal boxes C is applied by a weight
G. For this purpose the arms D are provided at their upper ends with round nuts u
moveable in sockets, and screwing on a right and left handed steel screw coupling b
of rapid pitch, by the rotation of which the arins D and their boxes C are moved
towards or away from cylinder B. A ratchet wheel e is keyed at the middle of
screw b, and a lever loaded with a weight G is pivoted on a screw at either side of
the ratchet. The weight G acts on the screw b by a pawl or lever engaging with
the ratchet wheel e to close the arms D and boxes C upon the cylinder B. The
lower box C is moveable on the frame A, and the cylinder B rests only by its own
weight on this box, but a greater pressure can be obtained by suitably adjusting
screws 8, so that the upper portion of side boxes C are caused to press downwards
on the cylinder B; or the lower box may be pressed upwards by springs f¹, as in
Figure 22, whose tension is regulated by screws 8, both springs and screws being
received in a slot in upright A, in which also the box has a sliding bearing.
By using two or more boxes C the cylinder B receives pressure on both sides, so
that it cannot be bent or distorted, as is often the case when one pressing box only
is used. The boxes C may be hinged together, as shewn in Figures 9, 9ª, 9b, and 17.
The boxes C are hollow, and made of cast iron, and are ordinarily heated by steam,
but they may also be beated by gas, petroleum, or other combustible. One of the
boxes, that with which the fabric is last in contact, may be cooled with cold water
or otherwise, according to the effect required. For woollen fabrics it is found most
suitable to heat the first and cool the last box of the series, so that the fabric is thus
cooled under pressure.
In order to prevent the boxes C from bending outwards at the centre they are
trussed by rods 8, 8, secured by nuts m in lugs C, a, cast on the back of the boxes,
whereby sufficient tension is maintained to keep the boxes up to their work, 8, t,
being a screw for regulating this tension to suit any degree of pressure.
To prevent the fabric being injured and caused to run in creases by contact with
the front edge of the pressing boxes C there is a thin sheet of metal P (preferably
German silver, polished) herein called a pressing plate, as shewn in Figures 1, 6, 8,
11, 13, 17, and 19, applied between the pressing boxes and the fabric. This plate P
may be attached at one end to the one box C, and on the other end to a tension shaft L

page_text: as shewn in Figure 11; or it may be attached at both ends to tension shafts, as
shewn in Figure 1. This tension shaft L is at each end acted on by a coiled spring f
(shewn in the detail, Figure 1b), regulated by a worm 8 and wheel r, whereby to
give the plate P an elastic tension regulated as required. In Figure 13 a weight G¹
on a lever lacts through a connecting rod q on a lever arm L, carrying a pawl k,
which engages with a ratchet wheel v on the tension shaft L. The necessary tension
may be applied to plate P in other ways.
Where but slight pressure is required the pressing plate may be employed with a
single box C, as in Figures 13 and 19; the tension shaft L in this case is made of
larger diameter, and serves as a support for the cylinder B against the pressure of
the box C, the pressing plate Penclosing the cylinder and fabric, and by its own
tension pressing the latter like a pressing box.
The pressing plate P may also be used without a pressing box at all, the pressure
being obtained by the tension of the pressing plate only which encircles the cylinder
as before, and is heated by flames, as shewn in Figures 20 and 21. Two or more
cylinders may be similarly combined with pressing plates in one press.
When the pressing boxes (two, three, or more) are close together around the
cylinder, they may be connected by narrow strips of sheet metal, as shewn in
Figures 3, 5, 7, 8, 16, 18, and 22, by the short thick lines between the boxes C, the
pressing plate P being in this case dispensed with. Four, five, six, or a greater
number of pressing boxes may be disposed around a pressing cylinder of suitable
dimensions.
In Figure 5 the cylinders B are rotated in opposite directions, so that two pieces
may be pressed at once, as shewn by the dotted lines and arrows. In Figure 6 the
cylinders rotate in the same direction, and the same piece of goods passes round
both, and is pressed on both sides. A greater number of cylinders and boxes may
be thus combined together.
In Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 11, 12, 13, and 17 the goods are folded and placed on the
bottom board, and then led over tension bars j and round the cross bars V (where it
is acted on by a bush on the shaft W), thence over another guide roller, and round
a sort of " temple" or stretching cylinder Y, having a right and left handed thread
on its circumference, by which the fabric is kept stretched laterally, thence over
tension shaft L around cylinder B between it and the pressing plate P and boxes C,
thence over guide rollers J' down to the bottom board, on which it is again folded,
as in Figures 3, 11, 13, and 17; or it may be wound on a roller X by contact with
n drum T, which is driven from the cylinder B. The length of the fabric may at
same time be measured by suitable mechanism.
In Figures 17, 18, 19, and 21 the fabric passes round the cylinder with its right
side next the pressing plate or box, whereas in the other Figures the right side is
next the cylinder.
In order to press. goods of different widths, and having selvedges thicker than the
rest of the fabric, in Figures 1 and 2 there is a depression made at one end of the
cylinder B, and a similar depression at the opposite end of the boxes C, corresponding
to the thickness of the selvedge, and the cylinder B is capable of being adjusted
longitudinally to suit the width of the fabric, the journals of said cylinder and
of the pressing boxes being made of sufficient width for the purpose. The journal
of the cylinder B has also a longitudinal keyway to receive a key to enable it to
slide through wheel R* (Figure 2) and still receive rotary motion. The journal at
the opposite end of the cylinder slides together with its bearing. The bearing Q
is screw threaded on its exterior, and passes through a nut or female screw in the
boss of a toothed wheel R5, by which the position of the bearing is regulated, this
wheel being operated by a pinion R and a winch handle h (Figure 2); or instead
of being screw threaded the bearing may have a rack upon it, and be shifted by a
pinion.
For pressing made-up articles the form of the cylinder and boxes is varied
accordingly. Figures 9, 9ª, 9b, shew a small press with double-coned cylinder for

page_text: pressing wristbands, and corresponding boxes C hinged together by a bolt Z. The
table C, C, forming an extension of the lower box, serves to spread the articles out
upon before they go to the cylinder, which is driven by a winch handle K, or by a
foot lever or other mechanical means.
The rotation of the cylinder carries the articles round between it and the boxes,
and thus sinooths and irons them. At either side of the boxes are lugs C, a, to
which are attached spring f, tightened up by nuts m, whereby the necessary strong
but elastic pressure is given to the boxes; or the pressure may be applied by a foot
lever or otherwise.
Figures 10 and 10b shew a press for pressing collars and similar articles. On a
pedestal A is fixed a pressing ring or hollow cylinder B, slightly conical or tapered
at its upper edge, around which there is an annular pressing box C, and inside the
latter a cylindrical pressing box C, C, both C and C, C, being coned to correspond
to the surfaces of B. The collar is placed on the edge of ring B, for which purpose
C and C, C, must be lifted off, and afterwards replaced, the collar being pressed
between B and C, C, C. The latter (one or both) are then rotated by means of
handles h, in order to iron and give the desired finish to the collar. The boxes
C, C, C, press either by their own weight alone on the collar, or the hand of the
operator may apply additional pressure. They are of cast iron, hollow, and generally
heated by steam or other convenient means, such as hot irons, for instance.
Having now described the Invention, and the manner of performing the same, I
declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by the herein-before in
part recited Letters Patent is,--
First. In a cylinder press for finishing all kinds of piece goods the combination
with one cylinder of two pressing boxes placed on either side of or above and below
the cylinder, and connected by a sheet metal plate, which may be in tension or not,
substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Second. In a press for piece goods the combination with a single cylinder of three,
four, or more pressing boxes placed side by side with or without a sheet metal pressing
plate, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Third. In a press for piece goods the combination of two or more cylinders with
two or more pressing boxes with or without a sheet metal pressing plate for applying
a repeated pressure on one or both sides of the fabric at a single operation, substan-
tially as and for the purpose specified.
Fourth. In a press for piece goods the combination of two or more cylinders with
one or more double or single boxes placed between said cylinders, and two or more
pressing boxes placed on either side of said cylinders, with or without a sheet metal
pressing plate for applying a repeated pressure on one or both sides of the fabric, or
for pressing two pieces of goods at one time, substantially as shewn and described.
Fifth. In a press for piece goods the combination with a single cylinder of a sheet
metal pressing plate encircling the cylinder, and in tension, and with or without a
single pressing box, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Sixth. In a press for piece goods the combination of two or more cylinders and a
single pressing box, with or without a pressing plate, substantially as and for the
purpose specified.
Seventh. In a press for piece goods the employment of a single pressing cylinder
made of pasteboard discs in combination with two or more pressing boxes, substan-
tially as and for the purpose specified.
Eighth. In a press for piece goods the combination with a single cylinder of two
or more pressing boxes hinged together with or without the addition of a pressing
plate, substantially as specified.
Ninth. In a press for pressing made-up articles, such as wristbands, the combina-
tion of one or more cylinders of single or double conical or other forin, with one or
more pressing boxes corresponding in form to said cylinders, and with or without
the addition of a pressing plate, substantially as specified.
Tenth. In a press for pressing made-up articles, such as collars, the combination

page_text: of pressing boxes of annular cylindro-conical form, with cylinders of corresponding
form, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Ernst Gessner, junior, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twelfth day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
ERNST GESSNER. (L.S.)