Improvements in Machinery or Apparatus for Finishing Velvets, Velveteens, and other Piled Fabrics.
Year: 1888

page_text: Improvements in Machinery or Apparatus for Finishing Velvets,
Velveteens, and other Piled Fabrics.
ROBERT DUTTON 3 Aldred Street Crescent, Salford in the county of Lancaster
Machine Maker do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The fabric is passed, face or pile upwards, under one or more brushes which move to
& fro longitudinally upon a planed iron surface, the brushes are fitted into iron
frames which are provided with screws for adjusting the pressure of the brush upon
the pile, the frames work in slides which are inclined at each end to allow the brush
to leave the fabric gradually.
It is then brushed by two discs which revolve side by side but in different directions
& are so constructed that they can be raised or lowered at will, upon the face of these
discs a number of flat brushes are fixed, these work upon a planed iron surface
& their action tends to soften the pile of the fabric.
The fabric is then passed under one or more circular brushes, revolving quickly upon
either rollers or planed surfaces.
The Fabric is next passed under two discs, working exactly same as the two before
mentioned, but having upon their faces, a number of flat "bosses," or flat pieces of
wood covered with crushed mineral or coarse sand. Each "boss" works in a slide,
& is forced outwards against the pile by means of spiral or other springs, the action
of these bosses upon the pile imparts a lustre to it, & further softens it.
The fabric is then rubbed by one or more endless belts, upon which are fixed a
number of bosses, these work crosswise over the pile, & are either hollowed to suit a
roller, or made flat to suit a surface, these further lustre & soften the pile.
It is then passed under a roller which is covered with the same compound as the
bosses & which revolves quickly its action upon the pile further softens it & lays it
longitudinally.
The fabric is then brushed by one or more endless belts with brushes fixed upon
them, these work exactly same as the other endless belts & their action upon the pile
further softens it & lays it crosswise.

page_text: The fabric is next brushed by a circular brush which lays the pile longitudinally.
The machine is provided with "draw through" rollers & binding rollers.
This machine loosens & erects the pile, which has been pressed down by the peg
finishing machine which loosening & erecting has hitherto been done by hand.
labour.
Improvements in Machinery or Apparatus for Finishing Velvets,
Velveteens, and other Piled Fabrics.
I, ROBERT DUTTON, of 3, Aldred Street, Cresent, Saiford, in the County of
Lancaster, Machine Maker, 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 is designed with the object of providing apparatus for loosening and
erecting the pile of cotton velveteens, and other similar cut-pile fabrics, after being
pressed down by the "peg-finishing" machine, which hitherto have been usually done
by hand labour.
The machine is constructed to act or operate upon the material as it is passed
through it to produce the same results upon the cloth and give it the same finish as is
now the case with hand finished fabrics of the same class. To this end it is provided
with a series of brushes and rubbers, which successively act upon the fabric as it passes
under them. Each brush or set of brushes or rubbers has preferably a different
movement to the preceding one and acts upon the fabric in a different direction so
that the pile may be worked up from all sides and not made to lie in any one direction.
The fabric is supported as it passes through the machine on a number of rollers and
plates which hold it securely while under treatment.
The invention will be fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings
in which :-
Fig. 1, is a side elevation.
Fig. 2. plan.

page_text: Fig. 6, enlarged detail of horizontal rotating disc.
Fig. 7, enlarged detail end elevation of rollers, showing their method of
adjustment.
The framework B of the apparatus, (preferably of cast iron) is made of any con-
venient contour to carry the various parts of the machine. Along the top the frame B
carries a number of rollers over or around which the fabric or cloth A is stretched
and held tight while under treatment. These rollers are driven at a suitable speed
to carry the fabric slowly through the machine and under the successive brushes
or rubbers which operate upon the pile.
is
At the end of the machine at which the fabric enters a reciprocating brush
mounted. The brush is fitted with a heavy frame or box D its position therein
being adjusted by the set-screws c by means of which the pressure of the brush on
the fabric is regulated. The frame Ď has arms or bearings d which extend beyond
the end of the brush and rest on slides E, over which they travel backwards and
forwards as the brush is moved to and fro. The slides E are inclined upwards at
each end to raise or lift the brush gradually from the fabric at the end of each stroke.
This causes the greatest pressure to be exerted by the brush at the centre of its
travel and lessens the drag on the fabric as the direction of movement is changed.
A connecting rod e fits onto the arm d of the brush at each end and receives motion
through the pivoted lever and link f1 from the crank F. Below the brush is a
stationary plate G with a planed or level surface over which the fabric is drawn
and which supports it during the operation of brushing by the reciprocating
brush C.
Behind the reciprocating brush Care a pair of horizontal rotating discs H, each
carried by a vertical shaft 1 in the bearing J. The discs are provided on the under
surface with a number of flat brushes h which as the discs rotate brush the fabric.
The discs H revolve side by side in opposite directions being driven by a belt or band
on the pulley 1' at the end of the shaft I. The height of the disc H is adjusted by
the wheel or nut i which screws onto shaft I and bears against the boss of the strap
pulley or against the end of a sleevej to which the pulleys are keyed. The shaft I, to
which the disc H is keyed, is cut with slot or key-bed to receive a key or feather fitted
into the sleevej (see fig. 6). The disc H may also be raised from the fabric by the
handle K and fork k. A carded roller feeds the fabric forward under the discs and a
flat plate L supports it as the discs rotate upon it.
A second pair of discs M similar to the pair H are placed nearer to the back of the
machine. The discs may if desired be faced with rubbers instead of brushes, but I
prefer to use brushes. Between the pairs of discs H and M is placed a rapidly
revolving spiral brush N carried in bearings n in which its position can be adjusted
by the screws 0. The screws o are connected together so as to work synchronously
by the shaft O and mitre wheels o¹. Two or more brushes may be placed between
the rotating discs, but at present I prefer to employ the one brush N as shown.
P
P is a travelling band mounted on pulleys p caused to move transversely across the
machine. It is fitted with a number of flat bosses p¹ or pieces of wood, covered on
the face with a crushed abrasive mineral substance or coarse sand. As the band
travels these bosses p¹ rub across the pile of the fabric softening and imparting a
lustre to it. Qis a rapidly revolving roller placed behind the travelling band P
covered with the same material which lays the pile lengthwise of the fabric. R is a
As the
travelling band similar to P, but carries brushes instead of the rubbers p'.
fabric passes beneath the travelling bands P and R and roller Q it is supported by
rollers preferably covered with emery or other abrasive material which will prevent it
moving or being displaced by their action upon it. S is a revolving brush and Ta
rapidly revolving finishing brush.
The rollers which support the fabric while in contact with the rubbers and brushes
are set with movable bearings which can be raised and lowered by cams U on
shaft U by means of the lever u which is held in position by the pin u¹ in the
quadrant u, (see fig. 7.)
In Fig. 3, is shown the position of the fabric A when passing through the machine.

page_text: The rollers W, W₁, w, 101, 10¹¹, w¹¹¹ are carded rollers upon which the under surface
of the fabric rests and which prevent it moving transversely. V, Vare emery
covered rollers. x are smooth rollers which bear upon the face of the fabric and hold
it against the carded rollers. v v are two smooth rollers which hold the fabric
against the surface of the rubbing roller Q.
The several brushes and rollers receive their motion through the medium of belts
or bands and spur gear, from the pulleys 1, on the driving shaft 2, of the machine.
The reciprocating brush C is driven from the pulley 3 on the driving shaft by a
strap onto the balance wheel F¹ on the shaft carrying the cranks F; and the spiral
brush N is driven direct from a pulley 4 on the driving shaft. The rotating
discs H, M, are driven from the vertical shaft 6 by a pulley 7 on the top thereof,
which transmits the motion to a pulley I¹ on the first of the discs H, the second disc
receiving motion through the medium of the wheels I". A belt from the pulley on
the second disc carries the motion to the second pair M. The travelling bands P
and R receive motion from the shaft 6 through the horizontal shafts 8 supported in
brackets p; and the rubbing roller Q from the pulley 9 on the shaft 10, which is
driven through the pulley 11 by pulley 5 on the driving shaft 2. The drawing of
the fabric through the machine is accomplished by a belt on the pulleys 12
transmitting motion to the carded rollers ww111 by means of the wheels 13 and
pinions 14 affixed to the pulleys 15. The reeling roller or cutting device may be
driven from the pulley 16 on the shaft carrying the carded roller w
It will be obvious that instead of flat belts or bands, cords may be used working
in grooved pulleys for actuating the several brushes and rollers.
The fabric is passed face upwards through the machine. It is fed in by the carded
roller W and passes under a bar or rod xl and over the surface of the plate G where
it is first brushed by the reciprocating brush C which loosens the pile. After passing
over the plate G it passes under the first roller & and over the carded roller W on
to the plate L where it is brushed by the brushes h carried by the rotating dises H.
The action of the rotating discs on the fabric tends to soften the pile, and they
work up the pile more thoroughly to the selvedge of the fabric than do the revolving
brushes or rollers. The fabric is then passed under another smooth roller which
keeps it in contact with the carded roller w while being brushed by the rapidly
revolving spiral brush N. It then passes under and over the rollers a w₁ was
shown to the plate G¹ where it is brushed by the brushes on the revolving discs M.
The fabric is then passed on to the emery covered rollers V V¹ where it is first acted
upon by the rubbers p' on the travelling band P and then the revolving roller Q the
rubbing action of which softens and imparts a lustre to the pile. After leaving the
rubbers the fabric is passed forward to the revolving brushes S and T as shown, which
lay the pile lengthwise of the material and finishes it when it finally passes to a
reeling roller Y. Instead of a reeling roller, any form of cutling or folding device
may be employed.
In addition to the brushes and rubbers shown in the drawings, for some classes of
fibres I use a beater to act upon the fabric as it enters the machine. This beater
will be made with two, three, or more blades and be caused to revolve against the
fabric which will be passed over a bar or against a surface of indiarubber in close
proximity to the arms of the revolving beater. The blades of the beater are preferably
made of lance wood with a piece of thin doctor steel placed therein.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I wish it to be understood that
I am aware, machines for finishing cut pile fabrics have been constructed with
revolving brushes and chain brushes working at right angles to the travel of the
fabric, and such mechanism I do not claim separately but I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A machine or apparatus for finishing cut pile fabrics having one, two, or more
sets of revolving horizontal discs, fitted with brushes or rubbers which act upon the

page_text: 2. In a machine for finishing cut-pile fabrics the use of rubbers composed of an
abrasive mineral material affixed to revolving discs or rollers, or to an endless chain
or band working transversely of the machine at right angles to the travel of the
fabric substantially as and for the purposes described.
3. In a machine for finishing cut pile fabrics the combination with travelling
brushes or rubbers of rollers covered with emery or other abrasive material to hold
the fabric against, and prevent it slipping or being moved out of position capable of
being adjusted by a lever and quadrant or its equivalent substantially as described
and shown.
4. A machine or apparatus for finishing cut pile fabrics having a series of brushes
and rubbers which successively act upon the pile in different directions constructed
and arranged substantially as described and shown.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
6, Bank Street, Manchester,
Patent Agents.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
6, Bank Street, Manchester,
Patent Agents.