IM- PROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS AND APPARATUS USED FOR STRETCHING WOVEN FABRICS AND OTHER MATERIALS
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Engineer and Patent Agent, for the Invention of “IM-
PROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS AND APPARATUS USED FOR STRETCHING WOVEN
FABRICS AND OTHER MATERIALS."-A communication from abroad by Jules
Ducommun, of the Firm of Ducommun and Company, Builders, of 20,
Boulevart St. Martin. Paris.
Sealed the 24th October 1865, and dated the 3rd May 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Clark at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 3rd
May 1860.
I, WILLIAM CLARK, of 53. Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
Lion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN. THE MEANS AND APPARATUS USED FOR STRETCHING
WOVEN FABRICS AND OTHER MATERIALS," (o be as follows:-
The principle of the present Invention is based on the elastic or stretching
properties of india-rubber, and on the adhesion obtained by its application_on
any suitable surface.
The Invention consists in an improved means of stretching all kinds of
fabrics or materials, such as knitted fabrics, leather, skins, and others, either
wholly or partially, by their application between surfaces of india-rubber under
the following conditions:-1st, between two surfaces of india-rubber, each of
which is stretched: 2ndly. between an india-rubber surface and a surface
other than india-rubber, the latter causing the first to be stretched; 3rdly, or

page_text: lastly, by simply utilizing the property possessed by india-rubber of firmly
adhering to any surface on which it is applied, and by separating one from
the other one or more surfaces of india-rubber on which is applied the
material to be stretched.
Let a, b, Fig. 1, of the Drawing annexed be two cylinders of wood, cast
iron, or other material grooved in a plane perpendicular to their axes, and
arranged in such manner that each projection on the one cylinder fits into a
groove on the other. One or both cylinders is furnished with a covering of
india-rubber, the two ends of which are connected to two movable parts c. c³,
shiding on the shaft on which the cylinder bis mounted. These two parts c. c',
serve to stretch the coverings of the cylinders, and remain in any position
required after exerting the necessary tension. Supposing the two cylinders
are geared together in such manner that each projection on the one takes
into a corresponding groove of the other cylinder, the india-rubber will assume
the position represented in Figs 2 and 3, and consequently the fabric par-
ticipating in the movements of the india-rubber will be thereby stretched.
Fig. 3 represents both the upper and lower cylinders as covered with india-
rubber, and geared one with the other, the grooves instead of being at right
angles to the axes of the cylinders may be made parallel thereto. the grooves
may also be helically disposed, or projecting spherical parts on the one
cylinder corresponding with hollows on the other may be employed. This im-
proved system may be applied either as a special apparatus forming a stretching
machine, or may be applied to any apparatus for treating textile fabrics or
materials at any stage of their manufacture or treatment, whether in bleaching,
dyeing, printing. dressing, or otherwise. The machine may also be provided
with several pairs of cylinders if desired. Fig 4 represents the machine as
provided with two pairs of cylinders. the lower pair having grooves serving to
stretch the fabric in the direction of its width. the second pair for stretching
it lengthwise These rollers may be applied to existing machinery. such as
for rolling, dressing. dyeing, and otherwise treating fabrics, the method of
application varying according to the particular circumstances of each case.
Supposing the fabric under treatment to be very narrow. two tubes or
rings of india-rubber acting one on the other will stretch it sufficiently by
simple compression. Two endless aprons of india-rubber acting one on the
other, and to which a stretching movement is imparted, will have the same
effect, or it may be an endless apron bearing on a counterpart having
divergent grooves.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
1st November 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer and
Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Third day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-eighth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me
the said William Clark, Her special licence that I, the said William Clark,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such other's as I, the said
William Clark, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others. from time to time and at all times there-
after during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend. within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE MEANS AND APPARATUS USED FOR STRETCHING WOVEN FABRICS AND OTHER
MATERIALS," a communication to me from abroad by Jules Ducommun, of the
Firm of Ducommun and Company, Builders, of 29, Boulevart St. Martin,
Paris, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William Clark,
my executors, or administrators. by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascer-
tain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to
be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, .that I, the said William Clark, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the four Sheets of Drawings hereunto
annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
The principle of the present Invention is based on the elastic or stretching
properties of india-rubber, and on the adhesion obtained by its application on
any suitable surface.
The Invention consists in an improved means of stretching all kinds of
fabrics or materials, such as knitted fabrics. leather. skins, and others, either
wholly or partially, by their application between surfaces of india-rubber under

page_text: the following conditions:-1st, between two surfaces of india-rubber, each of
which is stretched; 2ndly, between an india-rubber surface and a surface
other than india-rubber, the latter causing the first to be stretched; 3rdly, or
lastly, by simply utilizing the property possessed by india-rubber of firmly
adhering to any surface on which it is applied, and by separating one from the
other one or more surfaces of india-rubber on which is applied the material to
be stretched.
Let a, b, Fig. 1, Sheet 1, of the Drawings annexed be two cylinders of
wood, cast iron, or other material grooved on their peripheries in a circular
direction, and arranged in such manner that each projection on the onc
cylinder fits into a groove of the other. One or both cylinders is furnished
with a covering of india-rubber, the two ends of which are connected to two
movable parts c, c³, sliding on the shaft, on which the cylinder b is mounted.
These two parts c, c¹, serve to stretch the covering of the cylinders, and
remain in any position required after exerting the necessary tension. Supposing
the two cylinders are geared together in such manner that each projection on
.the one takes into a corresponding groove of the other cylinder, the india-
rubber will assume the position represented in Figs. 2 and 3, and consequently
the fabric participating in the movements of the india-rubber will be thereby
stretched.
Fig. 1. Sheet 1, represents the upper cylinder separate from the lower one;
Fig 2 shows the two cylinders geared one with the other, while Fig. 3 shows
the upper and lower cylinders covered with india-rubber, and geared one
with the other The grooves instead of being at right angles to the axis of
the cylinders may be made parallel thereto, the grooves may also be helically
disposed. or projecting spherical parts on the one cylinder corresponding with
hollows in the other may be employed. This improved system may be
applied either as a special apparatus forming a stretching machine, as repre-.
sented in Figs. 1 and 2, Sheet 2, or to any apparatus for treating textile
fabrics or materials at any stage of their manufacture or treatment, whether in
bleaching, dyeing, printing, dressing, or otherwise.
When this improved apparatus is to be used as a separate machine I prefer
to give it the form and arrangement shown in front and side view at Figs. 1
and 2, Sheet 2.
It will be readily understood from the Drawing that the upper cylinder
gears to a greater or less extent in the grooves of the lower cylinder according
as the crank handle mounted on shaft m is acted on. In order to obtain a
more elastic pressure I dispose india-rubber washers at e, e, producing an
elastic pressing similar to that of some printing machines; should it be found

page_text: of advantage to substitute a fixed pressure instead of making it elastic as
described, I simply substitute washers of hard material instead of those of
india-rubber e, e. Lastly, the compression of the two cylinders may also be
obtained by a lever action, while it is evident that it may be either the upper
or lower cylinder which transmits the pressure
The fabric to be stretched is placed at f, and passes over bars g, g'. g³, g², gʻ.
At his disposed a bar having diverging grooves which well smooths the fabric
in its width before entering between the two cylinders. After passing between
the cylinders the fabric is conducted over a bar having diverging grooves, to
be thence wound on roller i, or it may pass to the folder . which delivers the
fabric at 1. If desired I may also employ several pairs of cylinders instead of
one pair only.
Fig. 1, Sheet 3, represents a machine with two pairs of cylinders, the one
pair being grooved so as to stretch the fabric in width while the other pair is
grooved for stretching it lengthwise, and as represented in Figs. 1 and 2,
Sheet 4.
This improved apparatus may be applied to existing machines for winding,
dressing, drying, and otherwise treating fabrics, the method of application
varying according to the requirements of each case, although the principle
remains the same.
Supposing the fabric to be treated be of narrow width, two tubes or rings
of india-rubber acting one on the other would stretch it sufficiently by simple
compression. Two endless aprons of india-rubber acting one on the other.
and to which a stretching movement is imparted, will have the same effect, or
it may be an endless apron passing on a counterpart having diverging
grooves.
In order to increase the length of the fabric, that is, in the direction of the
warp, I also make use of two cylinders similar to those before described,
except that they are not grooved, but perfectly cylindrical throughout their
surface in contact with the india-rubber covering. When the two cylinders
a, b, Fig. 2, Sheet 3, are brought together they compress the two india-rubber
surfaces c, d, which being movable on the cylinders, the latter by their rotating
movement will compress the india-rubber, and naturally cause the fabric
between them to be stretched. Endless aprons may also be substituted for
the india-rubber covering. The different modes of stretching herein described
may also be used for breaking the dressing or producing the elastic finish in
certain fabrics.
Having described the nature of this Invention, and the manner of per-
forming the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected

page_text: by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, the improved modes
of stretching fabrics herein-before described, based on the employment of
india-rubber and the adhesion produced by its application on any surface
1st, by placing the surface to be stretched between two surfaces of india-
rubber, both of which partake in the extension.
2ndly, by placing the fabric between a surface of india-rubber and a surface
of non-elastic material.
Lastly, by simply availing myself of the property which india-rubber
possesses of adhering to any material on which it may be applied, by
separating one or other of said india-rubber surfaces on which the fabric to be
stretched is applied.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Clark, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this First day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.
Witness,
JAMES DAISH,
53, Chancery Lane,
London.
VARVINAI
(4.8.)