Improvements in Machines for Washing Woven Fabrics and Yarns.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Feb., 1898—Accepted, 23rd Apr., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Washing Woven Fabrics and Yarns.
We, CHARLES SCHLAEPFER, of the Firm of Schlaepfer, Wenner, and Company, of
Fratte-di-Salerno, in the Province of Naples, Italy, Manufacturers, Bleachers, Dyers,
Printers and Finishers, and MATTHEW WALTON, of the same address, Manager of the
Bleaching and Finishing Department for the said Firm, 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 improvements in machines for washing woven fabrics and
yarns either in hanks or warps during the operations of bleaching, dyeing and
soaping and the principal object of our improvements is to reduce the drag or
tension on the fabrics or yarns to a minimum whereby we gain efficiency in washing
and are able not only to wash heavy fabrics, such as flannellette, but also the finest
fabrics, even lace, without breakage or distortion.
In the accompanying three sheets of drawings-
Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in sectiou, Fig. 2 a plan, and Fig. 3 an
end sectional elevation of a washing machine constructed according to our
improvements.
In the machine illustrated in these views we show an arrangement of three
tanks A1 A2 A³ respectively, but it will be readily understood that any other
convenient and suitable number of tanks may be employed.
The division walls C1 C2 of the tanks are of different heights to allow the water
or other liquid admitted to the tank A¹ through the pipe B to flow freely through
all three tanks and escape out of the machine through the pipe C³. The fabrics Z,
generally two lengths at a time, are led into the machine through two pot eyes D and
pass into the tank A³ under and over winches E and guided by guide rails F
through the nip of the lower pair of squeezing rollers G H up out of the water in
the tank As through the nip of the upper pair of squeezing rollers H¹ G₁ then
through the winch guides T" and over the tension compensating winch T down into
the tank A2 under and over winches E and so on to the delivery end of the
machine.
It will be observed from the drawings that we have three squeezing rollers H¹ GI
and G2 in the upper set of range A¹ and this we prefer in order to give the
fabrics or yarns an extra squeeze before leaving the machine and going into the
bleaching or other liquor when they are to be treated by a subsequent bleaching or
similar operation.
We drive the three ranges of squeezing rollers G H by the following or any other
convenient and suitable arrangement of driving gear. On the main shaft we mount
a friction clutch pulley L, see Fig. 2, for either rope or belt from which we drive a
corresponding pulley M on a counter shaft K. The handle of the lever (not shown)
for controlling the clutch L and starting and stopping the machine is placed in
any convenient position for the attendant. On the countershaft K we secure three
pulleys N, O, N₁, placed side by side. The middle pulley O is a plain pulley which
drives by a belt at one constant speed a corresponding pulley on the axle of the
squeezing roller H, range A². The other two pulleys N N¹ are coned pulleys and
drive corresponding cone pulleys on the axles of the squeezing rollers H in

page_text: ranges A and A3. On the axle of each squeezing roller H is a spur wheel Y which
drives by a carrier gear S¹ a spur wheel S on the axle of the upper squeezing
roller H. The speed of the squeezing rollers in the two ranges A¹ A³ is regulated
by hand wheels P which shift the belts on the coned pulleys N N¹ by means of
strap forks R' actuated by screwed shafts when the hand wheels Pare turned, the
upper sets of strap forks R being caused to move exactly with the lower by means
of chain gearing R¹.
The squeezing power is obtained by means of levers V pivoted to the frame
at V and provided with adjustable weights V2. A screw W worked by a handle W¹
passes through a swivel nut in the lever V and the end of the screw bears upon
the slide block in which the upper squeezing roller G¹ is journalled. The lower
squeezing roller G is also journalled in slide blocks and these as well as the slide
blocks of the upper roller G are guided in open slots or slideways in the machine
frame. The upper slide blocks are connected by springs X and rods X' to a second
pair of weighted levers V which are also connected to the lower slide blocks by
rods X. By this arrangement the pressure on the goods is easily regulated and is
much more uniform and effective and the machine works more smoothly and lightly
than with the ordinary dead weight arrangements for applying pressure. The
squeezing rollers H¹ in the upper sets of the three ranges A1 A2 A3 are say two
and a half millimeters (or more or less) smaller in diameter than the corresponding
rollers H in the lower sets and this is of great importance as it prevents too great a pull
and stress on the goods whilst stretched and passing between the lower and upper sets
of squeezing rollers. The lower sets of rollers having to pull the goods over the
winches and from different parts of the bleach house it follows that the goods will
slip a little in passing between the rollers G and H and if this slip were not
compensated by the difference in diameter of the rollers H H¹ the tension between
the upper and lower sets of squeezing rollers in the same range would be too great.
The difference in the dimensions of the two rollers as given above is not absolute and
can be varied according to the strength and quality of the goods. For example, in
works where only low quality or fine cloth is bleached the difference between the
two sets of rollers in the same range would be greater.
The tension compensating winches T are balanced by chains T2 and weights Q so
that the least excess of strain beyond that required for drawing the goods over
them will cause them to descend and vice versa to rise if the goods are too slack.
These winches T have a rise and fall of about four feet so as to give the attendant
ample time for regulating by means of the hand wheels P the speeding of the
squeezing rollers in ranges A¹ and A3 and thereby maintaining the winches T at
about middle height.
We consider it advantageous to make the tanks A¹ A² A³, narrow so as to
economise and thoroughly utilize all the water. In the sides of the tanks we make
hand holes fitted with movable covers, such as U U², to enable the attendant to
insert his arm for convenience in threading the goods through, or other purposes.
Although we have shown and described three tanks A¹ A' A³, which is the number
we prefer and consider most advantageous it will be readily understood that we
might employ any other convenient number in series and we might vary the means
for driving and regulating the driving of the several sets of squeezing rollers and
for weighting them. Again, we might dispense with all or some of the upper sets
of squeezing rollers in which case the goods pass directly from the rollers H over
the tension compensating winches T and thereby greatly simplify and reduce the
cost of the machine but we do not recommend this as the extra cost is, in our
opinion, more than repaid by the increased efficiency of the machine when the
upper sets are employed in combination with the lower sets of squeezing rollers.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
In a madhiva for machine fahamian ont
+

page_text: 1. In combination, a series of washing tanks, means for guiding the goods into and
through said tanks, a set of weighted driven rollers for drawing through and
squeezing the goods whilst immersed in the water in each tank, and an upper set
of weighted driven rollers for drawing through and squeezing the goods after they
have left said tank, tension compensating winches for relieving the goods of any
excessive strain and means for varying the speed of the squeezing rollers and so
regulating the tension on the goods being drawn through the machine, all substan-
tially as and for the purposes herein set forth.
2. In combination, a series of washing tanks, means for guiding the goods into
and through said tanks, a set of weighted driven rollers for drawing through and
squeezing the goods whilst immersed in the water in each tank, tension compensating
winches for relieving the goods of any excessive strain and means for varying tho
speed of the squeezing rollers and so regulating the tension on the goods being
drawn through the machine, all substantially as and for the purposes hercin set
forth.
3. In combination, the squeezing rollers, arranged in series as shown and described
and the means shown or equivalent means, for driving said rollers and adjusting
their relative speed in the several ranges in order to regulate the tension on the
goods under treatment substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.
4. The combination with a series of weighted driven squeezing rollers, of a
tension compensating winch arranged and operating substantially as and for the
purposes herein set forth.
D
1 1
11
1000
II. B. BARLOW & GILLETT,
Agents for Applicants, 17, St. Ann's Square, Manchester.