IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR SPREADING WATERPROOF OR OTHER PLASTIC MATERIALS OR CEMENTS UPON FABRICS
Year: 1884

page_text: I ROBERT WALMSLEY, of 311 Droylsden Road, Newton Heath, near Manchester,
in the County of Lancaster, Spreader, do hereby declare the nature of said
invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR SPREADING
WATERPROOF OR OTHER PLASTIC MATERIALS OR CEMENTS UPON FABRICS," to be as
follows:-
-
In the ordinary machines for spreading waterproofing materials upon fabrics
only one cont is spread upon the fabric at a time and considerable time is lost by.
having to unwind the once spread fabric back again.
By my improvements, two or more coats of waterproofing can be spread upon
the fabric while it is passing continuously through the machine.
My invention consists in a combination or in combinations and arrangements of
mechanism or apparatus namely,
I use a frame formed by a platform, or the floor of a room with a table above it
this frame carrying a series of rollers-In front of the table there is a hollow box
heated by steam or other means upon which the ends of the fabrics are placed to
dry the paste or cement when one length is to be joined to another.
The cloth or fabric to be treated is placed in folds, or in any other convenient
manner, on the table and is passed under and over the said rollers in the said
frame to give sufficient drag and tension, then down to rollers below and under the.
level of the platform on floor and then up to the and over the first spreading roller.
in a suitable frame (which I will call α) then under another roller in another
suitable frame (which I will call b) some yards distance from the first frame (a)
then the cloth passes back and goes under a roller on the first frame (a) which is or
may be the second spreading roller, and then back to and between two rollers in
the second frame (b) and then passes to a roller driven by a belt from the rollers in
the second frame (b) upon which roller the coated fabric is thus wound in a roll.
There are carrier bearings for two winding up rollers which may be used
alternately if required and in making double cloth with the cement between
the two fabrics in which case already coated cloth is taken from a roll and passed
over the top roller of the second frame (b) where it unites with and adheres to
the cloth then coming through the machine as the top roller of the 6 frame can be
,

page_text: pressed by screws, or levers or other means against the middle roller of the same
frame which roller is in stationary bearings, and the lower roller of the frame (b)
is or can be pressed by weight levers against the said middle roller.
The spreaders which distribute the plastic material on to the cloth passing over
the two rollers in the first frame (a) are arranged in the ordinary manner and they
are or may be adjusted to and from the rollers by screws as usual.
The rollers of both frames (a and b) are geared together to rotate in the right
direction and at equal surface speeds to carry the fabric through the rollers as
described.
There is a steam heated box or chest to come close under the cloth passing from
the first spreading roller in the first frame (a) to the lower roller of the second
frame (b) and there is also a steam heated chest which comes between the cloth
passing from the second frame (b) to the first frame (a) and back again to the
second frame (b).
The machine can be used when required to spread only one coat on the fabric
passing through it,
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
I ROBERT WALMSLEY of 311 Droylsden Road Newton Heath near Manchester.
in the County of Lancaster Spreader do hereby declare the nature of my invention
for IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR SPREADING WATERPROOF OR
OTHER PLASTIC MATERIALS OR CEMENTS UPON FABRICS and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement:-
. In the ordinary machines for spreading waterproof or other plastic materials
or cements upon fabrics only one coat is spread upon the fabric at a time and
considerable time is lost by having to wind the once spread fabric back again
previously to spreading another coat thereon.
By the use of my improvements two or more coats of waterproofing material
can be spread upon the fabric whilst it is passing continuously through the machine
and no time is lost by winding the fabric back again, and my invention consists of
a novel combination and arrangement of mechanism or apparatus whereby such
continuous operation is effected.

page_text: Such being the nature and object of my said invention I will now proceed to
describe in detail the manner in which the same is to be performed or carried into
practical effect, and in order that the same may be clearly understood. I have
annexed hereto two sheets of drawings illustrative thereof and have marked the
same with figures and letters of reference corresponding with those in the following
explanation thereof:-
Fig. 1. is a side elevation of the machine complete and Fig. 2. is a front view
taken at the line A-B in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an elevation taken at about the
line C-D in Fig. 1.
In the first place I employ a frame a. a provided with tension rollers b. b. and a
small steam chest or box c. c. and a platform or table e. e. upon which the cloth to
be treated is placed in folds or other, convenient manner, and it is passed under and
over the said rollers b. b. to give it sufficient drag and tension, then down under
the roller b' and beneath a second platform or table e¹ e¹ (which is mounted on
hinges so that it can be raised up to inspect the cloth when required) and then
under a
"fish back" bar f. f. which opens or spreads the same laterally and then
up to and over the first spreading roller g. g. (in the frame d. d.) which is fitted
with an adjustable gauge h. h..in the usual manner.
The fabric then passes under another roller i. i. in a frame k. k. some yards
distance from the frame d. d. then between two lower nipping rollers L. and then
back under and round a roller m. m. on the frame d. d. which roller is (or may be)
the second spreading roller It then passes back through the upper nipping
rollers and then on to one of the two rollers n. n. which are driven by
belts n n¹ from the central nipping roller whereby the coated fabric is wound in
a roll upon one of the rollers n. n.
There are carrier bearings for the rollers n. n. which may be used alternately if
required.
The central nipping roller is mounted in fixed bearings and is driven direct by
bevil gearing o. o. o o¹ with inclined shaft o³ ³ as indicated, and the top and
bottom nipping rollers and L. are pressed downwards and upwards respectively
against the same by weighted levers p. and p', or otherwise, and are driven from
the central roller by spur wheels q. q. (see fig. 3).
The first and second spreading rollers g. g. and m. m. are driven from the main
driving pulley r. r. by means of the train of spur gearing 8. 8¹ 8ª 8ª 8ª a clutch
lever t. t. being provided for throwing the driving pulley r. r. into or out of gear
with the first wheel s.
The spreaders or gauges h. h. which distribute the plastic material on the cloth
passing over the two rollers g. g. and m. m. are arranged in the ordinary manner
and they are or may be adjusted to and from the rollers by screws as usual.
There is a steam heated box or chest u. u. placed beneath the cloth passing from
the first spreading roller g. g. in the frame d. d. to the lower roller i. i. in the
frame k. k. and there is also another steam heated box or chest v. v placed above
the cloth passing back from the lower nipping rollers l. l to the second spreading
roller m. m. and beneath the said fabric as it returns to the upper nipping
rollers and 1.
The upper nipping rollers and serve also as calendering rollers to give a
finish to the coating at the same operation.
The machine as above described will apply and dry two separate coatings upon
the fabric passing once through the same, and it will be evident that by multiplying
the spreading and nipping rollers and steam chests, more coatings may be applied;
and a single coating may be applied by using one spreader only.
By the use of the frame a. a and its tension rollers b. b. the goods can be brought
from the manufactory in the folded state, and passed through the machine without
being previously wound on to rollers or batch boxes.
If the material is required to be passed again through the machine the tedious
process of winding back may be dispensed with by cutting the fabric behind the

page_text: nipping rollers (say at the point ) and carrying the roll of fabric to the front and
joining it on by pasting or otherwise to the front end of the piece remaining in the
machine. When pasted the joint can be quickly dried by holding it against the
steam box c. c; or if it is not required to be returned, the machine can be worked
continuously by pasting on a fresh piece from time to time as the work progresses.
When it is desired to make a double texture fabric with cement between the
two cloths I place a roll of cloth previously coated on the frame at w. w. pass it
over the roller and then bring it between the rollers and face to face with
the cloth being coated and the pressure of these two rollers will cause the two
fabrics to adhere firmly together.
I claim as my invention
• First. A compound spreading machine having two or more spreaders and two
or more steam chests so arranged and constructed as to apply to the fabric two
or more coatings as it passes through substantially as before described.
Secondly. The combination with such a machine of a frame with platform and
tension rollers whereby the fabric can be brought from the manufactory in a folded
state and passed through the machine without being previously wound on to rollers
or batch boxes.
Thirdly. The use of the nipping rollers whereby the fabric is drawn through the
machine and held tightly so that the fabric can be cut and passed through the
machine again without winding it back or the work carried on continuously such
rollers serving also if desired as calendering rollers.
Fourthly. The combination with such machine of a roller to carry a second
piece of coated fabric so that two pieces can be passed simultaneously face to face
through the nipping and calendering rollers when it is desired to make a double
texture fabric simultaneously with the process of coating.