IMPROVEMENTS IN PRESSES FOR PRESSING COTTON AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES INTO BALES
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Clachar, of Glasgow, in the County of
Lanark, North Britain, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
PRESSES FOR PRESSING COTTON AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES INTO BALES."
-A communication from abroad by Peter McArthur and James
15th March 1872.
I, ROBERT CLACHAR, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North
Britain, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN PRESSES FOR PRESSING COTTON AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES INTO
BALES," to be as follows, that is to say:-
This Invention, which relates to certain improvements in the arrange-
ment or construction of those classes of presses which are used for
compressing cotton and other fibrous substances into bales, has for its

page_text: object to effect the compression with the employment of less pressure
than obtains under existing arrangements of such presses.
€6
This object is effected by constructing either the bed which receives
the pressure or the follower which transmits the pressure with one or
more gaps," having one or more moveable pieces of metal situate in
the gap or gaps. By this arrangement either the central or side portions
of the bale are first compressed to the finished dimensions, so that those
portions which are thus first compressed may then be lashed, and during
the lashing of them the other piece or pieces of metal situated in the
gaps formed in the follower or bed are forced by short rams to the same
level or plane wherein the finished portions of the bale are located, in
which position the bale is of uniform size throughout, and its remaining
portion or portions is or are then ready for being also lashed.
In order to prevent the follower which transmits the pressure from
yielding during the time the lashing is effected, either the whole or a
portion only of the two opposite sides or ends of the well or trunk of the
press are drawn inwards, so that their extremities bear against the
follower and prevent it from returning.
When lashed the sides of the box containing the hole are loosened hv
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Robert Clachar in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 13th September 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
CLACHAR, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, send 2
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fifteenth day of March, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the
35th year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Robert Clachar, Her special license
that I, the said Robert Clachar, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said Robert Clachar, my executors, adminis

page_text: trators, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from
time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein ex-
pressed, 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 PRESSES FOR PRESSING
COTTON AND OTHER FIBROUS SUBSTANCES INTO BALES," a communication to him
from abroad by Peter McArthur and James Kerr, both of Bombay, in
the Empire of British India, upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said Robert Clachar, by an instrument in writing under my
hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain 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 Robert Clachar, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to
say :-
-
My said Invention, which relates to certain improvements in the
arrangement or construction of those classes of presses which are used
for compressing cotton and other fibrous substances into bales, has for
its object to effect the compression with the employment of less pressure
than obtains under existing arrangements of such presses.
CE'
This object is effected by constructing either the bed or the top
member which receives the pressure or the follower which transmits the
pressure with one or more "gaps," having one or more moveable pieces
of metal situate in the gap or gaps. By this arrangement either the
central or side portions of the bale are first compressed to the finished
dimensions, so that those portions which are thus first compressed may
then be lashed, and during the lashing of them the other piece or pieces
of metal situated in the gaps formed in the follower or bed are forced by
short rams to the same level or plane wherein the finished portions of the
bale are located, in which position the bale is of uniforni size throughout,
and its remaining portion or portions is or are then ready for being also
lashed.

page_text: In order to prevent the follower which transmits the pressure from
yielding during the time the lashing is effected, either the whole or a
portion only of the two opposite sides or ends of the well or trunk of the
press are drawn inwards, so that their extremities bear against the
follower and prevent it from returning.
portion only of the two opposite sides or ends of the well or trunk of the
press are drawn inwards, so that their extremities bear against the
follower and prevent it from returning.
When lashed the sides of the box containing the bale are loosened by
withdrawing wedges or screws, so that it is allowed to fall out.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood I
now proceed more particularly to set forth the system, mode, or manner
in or under which the same is or may be used or practically carried into
effect, that is to say :--
On Sheet 1 of the Drawings hereunto appended Figure 1 is a part
vertical section of an ordinary arrangement of lever press for pressing
cotton and other fibrous substances into bales, and illustrates the im-
provements which constitute this Invention, and as constructed under
one modification applied thereto; Figure 2 is a section on the line A, A,
Figure 1, and transverse to that Figure.
gap
As shewn by these Figures the bed B, which receives the pressure
exerted on the cotton or other fibrous substance by the follower C, is
constructed with a gap D in the central part thereof, in which a move-
able piece of metal E is situate, as more particularly seen at Figure 1;
underneath the piece E two small hydraulic cylinders provided with
rams Fare situate, as shewn. By means of this arrangement of the
side portions of the bale are first compressed to the finished dimensions
by the follower C, and these portions may then be lashed; or previous to
lashing the said portions the piece of metal E, situate in the gaps D of the
bed B, may be forced up by the short rams F to the same level or plane
wherein the finished portions of the bale are located, in which position
the bale is of uniform dimensions throughout, after which the central
portion of the bale is lashed, or the lashing of the whole bale may be
then effected. When the bale has thus been compressed to its finished
dimensions and lashed, wedges G, situate underneath the bed B at each
side of the press, as shewn at Figure 1, Sheet 1, are withdrawn by
screws, racks, or pinions, or their equivalent, thereby allowing the bed B
to move downwards, and at the same time the pressure on the rams F
being relieved, these also allow of the lowering of the piece E, thereby

page_text: releasing the bale, which is then withdrawn from the press through a
doorway situate at the front or back of the press.
In order to prevent the follower C from yielding during the time the
rams F and gap piece E are completing the compression of the bale, or
whilst the lashing of the bale is being effected, a portion of two opposite
sides of the trunk or well of the press are made moveable on a hinge
joint, as shewn at I, Figure 2, Sheet 1, and these portions are drawn or
pushed inwards so that their lower extremities rest on the upper surface
of the follower C, thereby locking the follower in position until the com-
pression and lashing of the bale has been completed, which being
effected the parts I are again pushed or drawn outwards to a position
parallel with the upper position of the sides of the trunk or well, as
indicated by the dotted lines at Figure 2, Sheet 1 of the Drawings.
'
.
In lieu of constructing the beds of lever presses with a gap in the
central portion thereof, as herein-before described and shewn at Figures 1*
and 2, Sheet 1 of the Drawings, the beds of such presses may be formed
with a gap at each side thereof. Under this arrangement (not shewn on
the Drawings) the central portion of the bale is first compressed to the
finished dimensions, after which the pieces of metal in the gaps at each
side of the press are forced up by the rams of the hydraulic cylinders
placed underneath them until the moveable pieces of metal are in line
with the remainder of the bed, thereby equally compressing the bale
throughout. Or a gap may be formed in the central portion of the.
follower, illustrated at A, Figures 3, 4, and 5, Sheet 1 of the Drawings.
Under this arrangement the moveable piece B is operated by the levers
which actuate the remaining or side portions C, C, of the follower. This
is effected by reversing the levers D after the compression of the side
portions of the bale has been effected and the parts C, C, of the follower
locked by pushing or drawing inwards the portions E of the sides of the
trunk or well of the press, as shewn more particularly at Figure 3,.
Sheet 1. The reverse motion of the levers D is continued until the
collars F on the lower extremities of the rods G depending from the
shaft H, on which the lower ends of the levers D are situate, come in
contact with the parts I, I, of the follower, shewn at Figure 3, Sheet 1,
after which a pall J, attached to the upper end of the moveable portion
of the follower, is pushed into gcar with the levers D, as shewn at
Figure 5, Sheet 1. The levers D are then again moved downwards so as

page_text: to complete the compression of the bale by the moveable part B of the
follower, which being effected the bale is lashed and the wedges K,
situate underneath the bed L, are withdrawn by means of screws M,
thereby causing the bed to move downwards and release the bale, which
is then withdrawn through a doorway situate at the front or back of the

page_text: in the centre of the follower, or one at each side of the follower, as illus-
trated in vertical section at A, Figure 2, Sheet 2 of the Drawings.
Figure 3, Sheet 2 of the Drawings, illustrates in vertical section an
arrangement of follower in which the moveable piece A in the central
part thereof is caused to maintain the gap whilst the sides of the bale
are being compressed to their finished dimensions by the portions B, B,
by means of an arrangement of racks and pinions, more particularly seen
on the horizontal section of the follower at Figure 4, Sheet 2. This
arrangement consists of toothed pinions a, a, geared into corresponding
toothed racks b, b, formed on the inner extremities of bolts c, c, the outer
extremities of which, whilst the side portions B, B, of the follower are
in operation, are retained in slots or openings formed in the side
pieces B, B, as more particularly seen at Figure 3, Sheet 2. After the
compression of the side portions of the bale has been completed, and the
parts B, B, of the follower locked by the inward movement of the sides
of the trunk or well, a handle or wrench is applied to one end of the
axis x of one or other of the toothed pinions a, a, and the bolts c, c;
withdrawn, after which the compression of the central portion of the
bale is completed by the upward movement of the piece A. An inter-
mediate toothed pinion d is provided, so as to communicate motion from
one shaft x to the other, as shewn at Figure 4, Sheet 2.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my
said Invention, and several modes in or under which the same is or may
be used or carried out in practice, I would observe in conclusion that I
do not confine myself to arrange the gap or gaps in the bed, follower, or
top member of presses for pressing cotton or other fibrous substances
into bales in any of the modes herein-before described and shewn on the
accompanying Sheets of Drawings, as the said gap or gaps may be other-
wise arranged without departing from the nature of my said Invention.
What then I consider to be novel and original; and therefore claim as
the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters
Patent is,-
First. Arranging and constructing those classes of presses employed
for compressing cotton and other fibrous substances into bales with one
or more gaps in the bed, follower, or top member of the press, having
one or more moveable pieces of metal situate in the said gap or gaps, as

page_text: Second. Arranging and constructing the presses herein-before referred
to with moveable sides or ends, or with portions of the sides or ends
moveable, as and for the purpose herein-before described.
.In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Clachar, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of August One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-two.
ROBERT CLACHAR. (L.S.)