IMPROVEMENTS IN TENTERING AND DRYING MACHINES
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Burlison, Mechanic, and James Whitaker,
Commission Agent, both of Bradford, in the County of York, for
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Burlison and
James Whitaker at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with their Petition, on the 9th October 1875.
We, ROBERT BURLISON, Mechanic, and JAMES WHITAKER, Commis-
sion Agent, both of Bradford, in the County of York, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN TENTERING AND
DRYING MACHINES," to be as follows :-
:-
Our Invention relates to improved apparatus whereby pieces of textile
fabrics (or any other goods requiring tentering or drying) may be
stretched and dried with greater regularity, both in the length and

page_text: wheel, giving motion to a small wheel fixed on a shaft fitted on the
tops of the side frames which actuates pinions fixed on each side of the
shaft. The pinions are movable and fitted with set screws to enable
the giving the required position according to the width of the fabrics
operated on.
The pinions on the top shaft actuate small wheels fitted on the
bottom shafts of the first nipping rollers; the small wheels work in
intermediate wheels fitted in brackets which give motion to other
small wheels fitted on the bottom shafts of the second pairs of nipping
rollers.
The fabrics after passing through the nipping rollers travel over a
roller covered with card preventing the fabrics from shrinking. The
fabrics then pass round a large steam cylinder and are wound on to an
accumulating roller, which is fitted on a loose shaft so as to fit other
rollers; the shaft works in bearers fitted to two long arms to which
are attached weights giving any required pressure to the accumulating
roller. The large steam cylinder is worked by means of a pinion fitted
on the driving shaft and working outside the framework. This pinion
actuates a spur wheel giving motion to a large wheel fitted on the shaft
of the steam cylinder.
T
11
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Robert Burlison and James Whitaker in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 8th April 1876.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, wc, ROBERT
BURLISON, Mechanic, and JAMES WHITAKER, Commission Agent, both
of Bradford, in the County of York, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of October, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the
thirty-ninth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-

page_text: escape through an opening made on the top of the steam chest. This
opening is fitted with slides to regulate the opening according to the
width of the fabrics to be tentered and dried; the condensed steam
escapes through a discharge pipe.
The fabrics after passing over the steam chest are caused to travel
through squeezing rollers, and may also travel over a roller covered with
cloth, which runs in a trough containing water to give the required
moisture to the fabrics. The squeezing rollers carry the fabrics forward
to nipping rollers working at angles, and so arranged as to suit the
O different degrees of width of the fabrics operated on, the nipping rollers
give the required stretch to the width of the fabric, and are made
moveable and work in frames fitted in sliding blocks, which are actuated
by set screws to regulate the nip or pressure of the rollers.
are made by preference of brass and covered with cloth.
These rollers
The frames of the nipping rollers are fitted on sliding blocks or frames
having bolts or set screws fitted to them to secure the rollers when
the required position is obtained.
On the sliding blocks are cast bosses through which passes a screw
made to work right and left, the screw is cut in a shaft fitted under-
neath the framework, and on the shaft is fitted a handle to turn the
screw, bringing the nipping rollers forward or backwards according to
the width of the pieces operated on.
Underneath the framework is fitted a shaft having a fast and loose
pulley on this shaft is fixed a pinion working inside the framework,
which actuates a spur wheel giving motion to a small wheel fixed on a
shaft fitted on the tops of the side frames, driving pinions, or bevil
wheels fixed on each side of the shaft. The pinions or bevil wheels are
moveable and fitted with set screws to allow of giving the required
position to suit the width of the fabrics operated on.
The pinions or bevil wheels on the top shaft actuate small wheels
fitted on the bottom shafts of the first nipping rollers, the small wheels
work in intermediate wheels fitted in brackets which give motion to
other small wheels fitted on the bottom shafts of the other nipping
rollers.

page_text: The fabrics after passing through the nipping rollers are caused to
travel over a roller covered with card or over excentrics fitted with
points or rough surfaces, which take hold of the fabrics on leaving the
nipping rollers, keeping the fabrics on the stretch until delivered on
the steam drying cylinder, thereby preventing the fabrics from shrinking.
The fabrics then pass on and under a large steam cylinder, and are
wound on to an accumulating roller, which is fitted on a loose shaft to
fit other rollers. The shaft works in bearers fitted on two long arms, to
which are attached weights giving the required pressure to the accumu-
lating roller.
The large steam cylinder is worked by means of a pinion fitted on
the driving shaft and working inside the framework. This pinion
actuates a spur wheel giving motion to a large wheel fitted on the shaft
of the steam cylinder.
We can employ our nipping rollers fitted to looms to keep the piece
during the weaving operation to its proper width.
But in order to enable our improvements to be better understood we
will proceed to describe the same by reference to the accompanying
Drawing, in which Figure 1 represents a side elevation of our improved
apparatus for tentering and drying fabrics, Figure 2 front clevation,
and Figure 3 plan of the same.
Similar letters and figures of reference are used in all the Figures to
represent similar parts.
A, fabrics beamed on the beams B, and placed in the bearers O, made
to work forward and backwards by means of the screws D fitted in
guides E formed or fitted on the framework F of the apparatus. The
fabrics A pass over stretching bars or rods G, and over a steam chest II,
in which is fitted a perforated steam pipe I running the length of the
steam chest. Over the perforated steam pipe I is fitted a curved or bent
plate J to prevent condensed steam getting to the fabrics, allowing only
steam to escape through the opening K made on the top of the steam
chest. Over the opening K are fitted slides L to regulate the opening K
according to the width of the fabrics to be tentered and dried. The
steam chest sides are fitted with lugs M, through which are passed rods N
forming the supports of the steam chest. These rods are placed in

page_text: The perforated steam pipe I is fitted with other steam pipes I, to which
is fixed a tap to turn the steam on and off, and a discharge pipe Q is
fitted to the bottom of the steam chest to discharge the condensed
3 steam.
The fabrics after passing over the steam chest H pass over the
stretching bar G and through the squeezing rollers R, fitted in
bearers S bolted to the frames F. These rollers are covered with cloth,
and a roller covered with cloth running in a trough containing water
may be employed to give moisture to the fabrics if the steaming is not
sufficient. The squeezing rollers R carry the fabrics forward to nipping
rollers T, made by preference of brass and covered with cloth. The
nipping rollers T are fitted in frames U working on sliding blocks V,
having bosses W formed on them, through which passes a screw X fitted
underneath the table Y, on which slide the sliding blocks V. The
screw X is right and left-handed, and is actuated by the handle Z,
bringing the nipping rollers forward and backwards according to the
width of the fabrics operated on. The nipping rollers are fitted with set
screws A¹ actuating steel springs working over the sliding blocks B' to
regulate the nip or pressure on the rollers. These rollers give the
required stretch or width to the fabrics.
The sliding blocks V are made with lugs C¹, and have curved slot
holes D', in which are fitted set screws to secure the rollers when the
required angle or position is obtained. Underneath the frames F is
fitted a shaft E³, having a fast and loose pulley F¹. On this shaft is
fixed a spur wheel G¹ working inside the framework and actuating an
intermediate wheel H', which actuates a small spur wheel I' turning a
shaft J fitted in bearers K' bolted to the top of the frames F. On the
shaft J' are fitted pinions or small bevil wheels L', made moveable, and
fitted with set screws M' to allow of giving the required position to suit
the width of the fabrics operated on.
The pinions or small bevil wheels L' actuate small wheels N¹ fitted on
the shafts of the first pair of bottom nipping rollers. The wheels N¹
work in intermediate wheels O¹, actuating small wheels P¹ fitted on the
shafts of the bottom rollers of the second pair of nipping rollers. The

page_text: wheels P work in other intermediate wheels Q, giving motion to the
other wheels fitted on the shaft of the bottom rollers of the third pair of
nipping rollers. The intermediate wheels 01 and Q¹ are fitted in
bearers R¹ formed on the sliding blocks V. On the shaft J' is fitted a
spur wheel S¹ working in an intermediate wheel T", giving motion to
wheels U and U, the wheel U being fitted on the shaft of the
bottom squeezing roller R.
The
The fabrics, after passing through the nipping rollers T, travel over a
roller covered with card or over loose excentrics V¹ fitted on a shaft W¹,
cut with screws, and having set nuts X¹ to set the excentrics to the
required position to suit the width of the fabrics operated on.
surfaces of the excentrics are made rough, or have small steel pins
fitted in them to take hold of the fabrics when delivered by the nipping
rollers, thereby keeping the fabrics on the stretch until delivered on the
steam drying cylinder Y¹ and preventing the fabrics from shrinking.
The fabrics then pass under and on the large drying cylinder Y¹, and
are wound on to an accumulating roller Z', which is fitted on a loose
shaft A made to fit other rollers. The shaft A² works in bearers B°
fitted to long arms C³, on which are placed weights D2, giving the
required pressure to the accumulating roller Z.
The steam drying cylinder Y¹ is worked by means of a pinion E
fitted on the shaft E¹ working inside the framework. The pinion E
actuates an intermediato spur wheel F2 fitted in a bracket G' bolted to
the frame F. The intermediate wheel works in a large spur wheel H²
fitted on the hollow shaft of the steam cylinder Y₁ giving motion to the
cylinder. The hollow shafts of the steam cylinder are fitted with
packing glands I² and with a steam pipe J2 and discharge pipe K³.
Having thus described our improvements, and the best means we are
acquainted with for carrying the same into effect, we would have it
understood that we do not confine ourselves to the precise details shewn
and described, as these may be varied without departing from the
peculiar character of the Invention, but what we do claim is,-
Firstly. The combination, construction, and employment of machinery
or apparatus for tentering and drying textile fabrics or other fabrics
requiring tentering and drying, substantially as herein-before described
and represented in the accompying Drawing.

page_text: Secondly. The arrangement, construction, and employment of nipping
rollers for giving the required stretch or width to the fabrics, substan-
tially as herein-before described and represented in the accompanying
Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Whitaker, for and on
behalf of myself and the said Robert Burlison, have hereto set
my hand and seal, this Seventh day of April, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
10 Witness,
WALTER JA. TURNER, C.E.,
Patent Agent,
Bradford.
JAMES WHITAKER. (L.S.)