IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR DYEING COTTON IN HANKS
Year: 1885

page_text: I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of the firm of A. M. and Wm. Clark, of
53. Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Fellow of the Institute of Patent
Agents, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINES FOR DYEING COTTON IN HANKS a communication to me from abroad
by Jean Ferdinand Emile Berrubé, of 17 Route de Darnésal, Rouen, France, Dyer,
to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to an improved machine for dyeing cotton in hanks.
In order that the invention may be more readily understood I will proceed to
describe it by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in
which figure 1 represents a front elevation, figure 2 a plan and figure 3 an end
elevation of the machine. Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7 show details of the vat in section
and plan. The same letters of reference represent the same parts in all the
figures.
The machine is arranged to operate in the following manner:-the banks of
cotton are hung on a series of bobbins b of rectangular section and with flanged
ends. The bobbins are in two rows carried on the opposite ends of the same
spindles having a toothed wheel 7 between each pair of bobbins. The bobbins
may be of any suitable dimensions, but it is preferred to make them of sufficient
length to carry about two pounds of cotton. The axes of wheels r by which
rotary motion is imparted to the bobbins are carried by a bean m sliding up and
down in uprights o, the entire weight of the dipping frame being balanced by
counterweights p suspended from cords u passing over guide pulleys g, so that the
entire system may be easily raised by pulling up the centre cord u.
This lifting movement of the dipping frame inay also be effected by mechanical
means as described with reference to figures 8 to 18. The hanks of cotton can in
this manner be placed upon the bobbins, before the frame is lowered into the vat
and immediately raised out of the same when the dyeing operation is completed.
In the arrangement shown in figures 8 to 14 the beam M is raised by means of
a winch H I, shaft ll, pinions LL, and racks kk' on slides D D¹ working between
the uprights and carrying blocks N N¹ to which are attached the chains by which

page_text: the counterweights P are suspended for balancing the dipping frame. By fixing
the belt tightener t by means of a peg s, figure S, the belt ff will be slackened
and the motion of the rollers be arrested without shifting the belt on to the loose
pulley R¹.
In the arrangement shown in Figures 15 to 18, the dipping frame M is raised by
means of straps attached to the top ends N N¹ of slides D D and wound on
pulleys pp' fixed on shaft rotated by means of the winch handle P and worm
gear VK, whereby the dipping frame M can be easily raised without the use of
counterweights. It is however preferable in a large machine to provide counter-
weights P P whose chains pass over pulleys at the upper part of the framing.
The several gear wheels r of the bobbin-spindles gear together and are driven
by a shaft s through bevel gear and a vertical shaft a which gears by bevel gear t
and pinion with the first wheel r of the series, the vertical shaft a having a groove
and feather connection with the bevel-pinion t to admit of the latter partaking
in the up and down motion of the dipping frame.
Referring to Figures 8 to 18, supposing the machine in action, as shown in
figure 8, the belt ff' is tightened, the dipping frame M being in its lowest position
and the belt tightener t pressing against it. The pulley F is driven by pulley R
and bevel gear e E, and drives by belt ff and pulley G the gear wheels d which
mesh together and rotate the spindles carrying the bobbins
The belt
tightener consists of two bars xx¹, y y¹ sliding through the uprights A A¹, B B¹.
Between these bars is mounted the tightening roller t which is caused to press
against the belt ff1 by a weight Q attached to a chain passing over pulleys c² cl
and attached at point c to the sliding bars xy.
The two series of bobbins are arranged above two vats C, figure 9, one at
each side of the frame as shown in figure 4. The inside faces of these vats have
vertical grooves splayed at the upper ends and intended each to receive a hank
guide d. As shown in Figure 3, the lank being hung on a bobbin b, a hank
guide d is inserted within it before dipping in the vat. This bank guide shown in
Figures 6 and 7 consists of a board f of ordinary wood and a bar g of box or
other smooth wood, a sufficient space being left between them for the free circu-
lation of the liquor in the vat and the bar g being of such form that the cotton
can run round it without injury. In the act of dipping, the lower ends of each
hank guide d slides into its corresponding grooves in the side of the vat until it
reaches the position shown in figure 6, where it is fixed by sliding the locking
bars i by means of levers h, so that the notches in the bar do not coincide with
the grooves in the vat which are consequently closed at their upper ends.
bobbins bare then rotated and the cotton runs through the vat whilst remaining
well stretched.
The
In figures 12, 13, 14, T is a cast iron weight covered with wood which is
inserted in the banks hung on the bobbins, when the dipping frame is raised to
its highest position. The hank is thus stretched as shown at figure 14 and the
horns of the weight T on the descent of the dipping frame enter the flared
grooves o in the sides of the vat and become fixed in the notches m at the bottom.
The bobbins being then set in motion, the cotton runs around the stretcher T
which remains stationary owing to its weight, and in this way the cotton runs
continually through the dye vat where it becomes dyed.
In the arrangement shown in figures 15 to 18 the dipping frame being raised
and the cotton hung on the bobbins as before, a stretcher is inserted in each hank
consisting of a glass tube t, whose ends are bent and project from the hank at each
side, so as on the descent of the dipping frame to enter the flared grooves i in the
sides of the vat C as shown in figure 17. A bar x, y, provided with push rods z is
fitted to slide on guide rods a ß, a¹¹ and partakes in the motion of the dipping
frame to which it is attached by two frames p p¹.
In the raised position of the dipping frame, the parts occupy the position shown
at the upper part of figure 18, the push rod z being in the position ¹ and the
tube t in the position t. The whole descends together and the rods press on the

page_text: ends of the tubes t. and hold them stationary. As the first bar xy would be in
the way if fixed to the machine, it is attached by hand to short rods a B, a¹¹
when the tubet touches the bottom of the vat C, as shown at the right band side
of figure 18. The hanks thus run through the bath, sliding round the glass rods
by which they are held stretched. The belt tightener presses continuously against
the driving belt. The operation being finished, the front bar x, y is first removed
and the dipping frame then raised in order to take off the hanks and renew
the bath.
The berein described arrangements are designed for dyeing in the cold; for
heating the bath, all that is required is to provide it with a steam jacket or other
means of beating.

page_text: Improvements in Machines for Dyeing Cotton in Hanks.
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of the firm of A. M. and Wm. Clark, of 53,
Chancery Lane, in the. County of Middlesex, Fellow of the Institute of Patent
Agents, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN MACHINES FOR DYEING COTTON IN HANKS" (a communication to me from abroad
by Jean Ferdinand Emile Berrubé, of 17 Route de Darnésal, Rouen, France, Dyer,)
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:—
This invention relates to an improved machine for dyeing cotton in hanks.
In order that the invention may be more readily understood, I will proceed to
describe it by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in
which figure 1 represents a front elevation, figure 2 a plan, and figure 3 an end
elévation of one form of the machine.
Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7 show details of the vat in section and plan.
letters of reference represent the same parts in all these figures.
The same
The machine is arranged to operate in the following manner:- -The banks of
cotton are hung on a series of bobbins 6, 61 of rectangular section and provided with
flanged ends. The bobbins are arranged in two rows and the corresponding bobbin
of each pair is mounted on opposite ends of a spindle to which a toothed wheel r is
keyed for rotating the bobbins. The bobbins may be of any suitable dimensions,
but it is preferred to make each of a length sufficient to carry about two pounds of
cotton. The axes of wheels 7 are carried by a beam m fitted to slide up and down
in uprights o and the entire weight of the dipping frame is counter balanced by
weights p suspended from cords u which pass over guide pulleys and are attached
to the frame M so that the entire system may easily be raised by pulling up the
centre cord u.
The dipping frame may also be raised by mechanical means as hereafter described
with reference to figures 8 to 14 and 15 to 18.
In either case the hanks of cotton can be placed upon the bobbins, before the
frame is lowered into the vat and immediately raised out of the vat when the
dyeing operation is completed.
In the arrangement shown in figures 8 to 14, the beam M is raised by a rotary
shaft provided with pinions L, L₁ which gear with racks K, K' said shaft being
operated by the winch and toothed gearing H, I. The racks K, K' are formed on
slides D Di which are free to slide up and down between the uprights and carry
blocks N, N¹ to which the chains suspending the counterweights P P¹ for balancing
the dipping frame M are attached. t is a belt tightener, by means of which the
belt ff for driving the spindles may be slackened and the motion of the rollers
arrested without shifting the main driving belt onto the loose pulley R' of the main
driving shaft.
In figures 15 to 18 the dipping frame M is raised by means of straps which are
attached to the upper part N N₁ of slides D D¹ and wound on pulleys p p¹ fixed on
the horizontal shaft 1, ', the shaft being rotated by means of the crank handle I
and worm gear V. K. The dipping frame M can by this means be easily raised

page_text: at the upper
without the use of counterweights, but it is however preferable in a large machine
to provide counterweights P. P¹ whose chains pass over pulleys,
part of the framing.
In the arrangement shown in figures 1 to 7 the toothed wheels of the bobbin
spindles gear together and the whole series are driven from the main shaft 8 through
a vertical shaft a which gears at the upper end with shaft 8 and has a bevel wheel t
which gears with the first wheel r of the series, said wheel t being secured to shaft a
by a groove and feather connection to admit of the pinion moving up and down on
its shaft with the dipping frame.
The bobbins may also be rotated by band as in figures 8 to 14; In figure 8 the
machine is shown in operation, the dipping frame M is in its lowest position, and
the band ff is tightened, by the roller t pressing against it. The band fƒl passes
around pulleys F G and is driven by pulley R (on the main shaft carrying the fast
and loose pulleys R R¹) and bevel gear e E. The pulley G communicates motion
to the gear wheels d which mesh together and rotate the spindles carrying the
bobbins (see figure 11) on each of which may be placed, for example, about 2 lbs
of cotton. The machine is designed to dye about 20 lbs of cotton at one time but
it will be evident that by increasing the number of spindles a larger quantity might
be operated on.
The belt tightener consists of two bars xx¹ y y' sliding through the uprights A A¹
B B¹. Between these bars is mounted the roller t which is pressed against the
band ff by a weight Q attached to a chain passing over pulleys c², c¹ and attached
at c to the sliding bars x, y.
In all these arrangements the lobbins 7, 71 are placed above vats C. As will be
seen in figure 4, the inside faces of the vats have vertical grooves for the reception
of the hank guides d, These grooves are widened out at their upper ends to
facilitate the introduction of the lank guides.
Referring to figure 3, it will be seen that the hanks are hung on a bobbin b and
a bank guide d is inserted within the hanks before dipping.
This bank guide (shown in figures six and seven) consists of a board f of ordinary
wood and a strip g of box or other hard wood whose surface is made smooth, the
two being secured together so that there is a sufficient space left between them for
the free circulation of the liquor in the vat. The strip g is of such form that the
cotton can run round it without injury. In the act of dipping the banks into the
vat C (see figure 1) the ends of the hank guides d enter corresponding grooves in
the sides of the vat and when said guides reach their lowest position, as shown
in figure 6, they are fixed in place by the locking bars i. These bars i are furnished
with slots which coincide with the grooves when the hanks are being raised or
lowered so as to give passage to the hank guides and when the latter are in their
lowest position these bars are moved longitudinally so as to withdraw the slots from
the grooves and maintain the hank guides in place. hh are levers for moving the
bars i. When the bank guides are locked in place, the bobbins b are rotated and
the cotton runs through the vat whilst remaining well stretched.
In figure 12, T is a cast iron weight covered with wood which is inserted in the
hanks after they have been hung on the bobbins by the attendant and when
the dipping frame is in its highest position, that is, just beneath the belt tightener,
and the hank is stretched as shown in figure 14. The horns of the weight T on the
descent of the dipping frame enter the flared grooves o (figure 13) in the sides of
the vat and become fixed in the notches m at the bottom. The bobbins being
then set in motion, the cotton runs around the stretcher T which remains stationary
owing to its weight, and in this way the cotton runs continually through the vat C
and is dyed.
In figures 15 to 18 when the dipping frame M is raised to the dotted line
position M', the cotton is hung on the bobbins as before and a stretcher t.is inserted
in each hank. This stretcher consists of a glass tube t whose ends are bent and
project from the hank at each side. On the descent of the dipping frame these ends
enter the flared grooves ȧ in the sides of the vat C as shown in figure 17.
i

page_text: The stretchers t are held in position when the hanks are being dipped by means
of bars at each side of the machine. These bars are furnished with downwardly
projecting pieces z and at one side of the machine the bar xy is mounted at each
end on uprights a ẞ, a¹ ẞ¹ and connected by chains pp (figure 15) with the dipping
frame M so as to be moved up and down with said frame. In the raised position
of the dipping frame, the parts occupy the position shown at the upper part of
figure 18, the pieces z being in the position z and the stretchers t in the position t¹.
The whole descends together and the rods z hold the stretchers t stationary in the
vat. As the bar xy at the front of the machine would be in the way if fixed to
the machine, it is made removable and placed in position when the stretcher t
touches the bottom of the vat C. This bar is mounted on short uprights as shown
at the right hand side of figure 18. The hanks then run through the bath, sliding
round the glass rods by which they are held stretched. The belt tightener presses
continuously against the driving belt (see figure 15) during the operation. When
the operation is completed, the front bar xy is first removed and the dipping
frame M then raised in order to take off the lanks and renew the bath.
The herein described arrangements are designed for dyeing in the cold; for
heating the bath, all that is required is to provide it with a steam jacket, or other
means of heating.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed: I declare that
what I claim is
1st A machine for dyeing cotton in hanks constructed substantially as herein-
before described and illustrated in the accompanying sheets of drawings, the chief
feature of which consists in the vertically moving dipping frame carrying the
bobbins and the mechanism for rotating them, and the combination therewith of
a suitable hank guide.
2nd In a machine for dyeing cotton in hanks, the means for operating the bobbins
combined with the mechanism for raising and lowering the dipping frame either
directly by hand with the aid of counter balance weights p attached to belts or
cords passing over pulleys q as described and shown in figures 1 to 7, or by racks
and pinions on a shaft driven by a crank handle, or by worm gear as shown
respectively in figures 8 to 14 and figures 15 to 18, the band by which the spindles
are rotated in the two latter arrangements being distended by the tightener t
pressed against it by the weight Q, the whole substantially as shown and
described.
3rd The combination with the vats constructed with grooves, of the lank guides
around which the hanks rotate during the operation of dyeing, the said guides being
received in the grooves of the vat when the dipping frame is lowered, substantially
as shown and described.