IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR WASHING FABRICS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Francis William Ashton, of Hyde, in the County of
Chester, Calico Printer, and William Mather, of the Firm of Messieurs Mather
and Platt, of Salford, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR WASHING FABRICS."
Sealed the 28th December 1878, and dated the 19th October 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Francis William Ashton and
William Mather at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th
October 1878.
FRANCIS WILLIAM ASHTON, of Hyde, in the County of Chester, Calica Printer,
and WILLIAM MATHER, of the Firm of Messieurs Mather and Platt, of Salford, in the
County of Lancaster, Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR WASHING
FABRICS."
The nature of our Invention consists in certain combinations of machinery
whereby the fabrics in a distended state are continuously lifted out of and
immersed in the water while passing through the machine so as to obtain a dashing
action which will effectually cleanse the piece while extended to its full width and
without undue tension, thus obviating the necessity of washing pieces that are
printed with colour liable to mark off in the form of a rope as at present.
In performing our Invention we use a frame oscillating on a fixed centre in a
cistern containing the water or washing liquid. The oscillating frame supports
two series of rollers, around which the distended fabric is carried. At each side
of the fixed centre is a pair of pressure rollers; one pair draws the fabric forward
and delivers it to the series of rollers in the swing frame, and the other pair draws
it through and conveys the fabric out of the machine. In washing delicate fabrics,
or when desirable to reduce the strain, these rollers can be so spoeded as to reduce
the tension of the cloth in passing through the frame
Our Invention may be modified by using a straight oscillating frame, which is
suspended by side links to fixed centres above the cistern. When the machine is

page_text: in operation the oscillations of the frame alternately lift the rollers out of the
water and again immerse them, at the same time giving a longitudinal motion
through the water.
Another modification consists in mounting the guide rollers in a swing frame
hinged at one end, and moved up and down by eccentrics or other equivalents to
produce the dashing action of the fabric on the water, or the guide rollers may be
mounted in several frames, which are raised and lowered in succession to produce
the same effect.
The above details may be varied to give the frame a vertical, horizontal, or
combined vertical and horizontal movement, or to give the frame a swinging
motion from a centre, with appliances to cause the rollers in the frame to revolve
in the direction of the course of the cloth at each oscillation to produce the
tension.
The application of the Invention will be available for all kinds of textile fabrics
in the processes of cleaning.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Francis William Ashton and William Mather in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 19th April 1879.
FRANCIS WILLIAM ASHTON, of Hyde, in the County of Chester, Calico Printer,
and WILLIAM MATHER, of the Firm of Messieurs Mather and Platt, of Salford, in the
County of Lancaster, Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR WASHING
FABRICS."
Our Invention consists in certain combinations of machinery whereby the fabrics
in a distended state are continuously litted out of and immersed in the water while
passing through the machine so as to obtain a dashing action, which will effectually
cleanse the piece while extended to its full width, and without undue tension, thus
obviating the necessity of washing pieces that are printed with colour liable to
mark off in the form of a rope as at present.
And in order that our Invention may be fully understood, we will proceed to
describe the three accompanying Sheets of Drawings.
On Sheet 1, Fig. 1 is an elevation and Fig. 2 is a plan of a washing machine
to which our improvements are applied. a is a frame oscillating on a fixed centre b,
in a cistern c, containing the water or washing liquid. On the centre b is a driven
roller b', with a presser roller b² above it to assist the passage of the fabric. The
Oscillating frame a supports two series of rollers a¹, around which the distended
fabric is carried. At each end of the machine is a pair of pressure rollers; one
pair & draws the fabric forward and delivers it to the series of rollers in the swing
frame, and the other pair d¹ draws it through and conveys the fabric out of the
machine. The fabric in entering and leaving the machine passes over the guide
rollers e. In washing delicate fabrics, or when desirable to reduce the strain, these
rollers can be so speeded as to reduce the tension of the cloth in passing through
the frame.
Another mode of performing our Invention is shewn on Sheets 3 and 4; 7 is a
frame carrying two series of rollers ", which frame is attached to cranks m that
work on centres at each end of the machine. When the machine is at work each
of the rollers describes a complete circle with every revolution of the cranks, at
the same time revolving upon its own axis. The mode of operation is as follows:-
The cloth is fed into the machine through the pressure rollers g, over the guide
roller h, on the compensating levers h¹, h²; one end of the lever h' works on the
fixed stud i attached to the frame side, and the lower end of the lever he works on
the same centre as the end roller of the lower series of rollers . The cloth then
passes under the said roller and over or under each roller of the two series of
rollers alternately. When the cranks m revolve they cause the cloth on the rollers
to be lifted out of and dashed into the water at each revolution. The cloth is
carried out of the machine by a guide roller and pressure rollers similar to those at
the feeding end.
The tension of the cloth a passing through the oscillating frame may be reduced
to a minimum by driving some or all of the rollers in the frame with an endless
cord or other suitable means from the end of the taking in and drawing out
rollers.
We do not confine ourselves to the details given, as the machinery for imparting
a vertical and horizontal or a swinging motion to the frame and to the rollers
around which the fabric passes may be considerably varied; the exact mode of
threading the pieces of fabric around the rollers as described above may also be
varied.
We claim, First. The passing of cloth in a distended form over a series of
rollers in an oscillating or moving frame working in water or washing liquid so as
to produce a dashing action on the cloth.

page_text: Secondly. The application of a similar apparatus working in soap liquor or
other solutions used for the purpose of, soaping, fixing, cleansing, raising, or
purifying textile fabrics.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Mather, for myself, and on behalf of
the said Francis William Ashton, have hereunto set my hand and seal, this
Nineteenth day of April, One thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.
177 MATHER (10)