Improvements in Backing or Back Starching and Finishing Textile Fabrics.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Nov., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 25th Mar., 1891-Accepted, 25th Apr., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Backing or Back Starching and Finishing
Textile Fabrics.
I, ROBERT WILSON THOM, of Birkacre, Chorley, in the County of Lancaster,
Calico Printer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
In ordinary machines for backing or back starching and finishing textile fabrics
the winches or guide, rollers are placed above the drying cylinders and consequently
after the fabric has left the backing appliance and is taken through the drying
machine the steam which is liberated from the fabric by the heat of the drying
cylinders keeps the winches or rollers and the fabric in a constant atmosphere of
steam. The effect of this is to warp and gradually destroy the woodwork of the
winches or if rollers are employed to cause the backing substance to cake upon
them, so as to necessitate the frequent changing and cleaning of the rollers.
My improvements consist essentially in placing the winches or rollers below in
place of above the drying cylinders whereby the steam arising from the fabric
passes freely away consequently the winches or rollers are not injuriously affected
by the steam and heat and the fabric is better dried than by the present type of
machine.
Another feature of my invention consists in employing a large drying cylinder or
two or more smaller drying cylinders immediately after the backing appliance, so as
to pass the fabric over a large drying surface before it passes under the first winch;
whereas when a large drying cylinder has been employed on the existing system
the fabric has necessarily been taken back above it to the winch or roller thereby
causing the fabric to re-absorb steam previously driven out of it by the heat of the
large cylinder.
The new arrangement will also strain the fabric much less than the old one as
the fabric will be pulled up and through the machine by the driven drying
cylinders leaving the winches practically without drag on the cloth.
By combining the improved backing or back starching machine with a starching
machine the fabric may be starched back and face in one continuous operation.
My improvements may be applied to either single or double backing or back
starching machines.
Dated this 21st day of October 1890.
H. B. BARLOW,
Agent for Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Backing or Back Starching and Finishing
Textile Fabrics.
I, ROBERT WILSON THOM, of Birkacre, Chorley, in the County of Lancaster,
Calico Printer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
In ordinary machines for backing or back starching and finishing textile fabrics
the winches or guide rollers are placed above the drying cylinders and consequently
after the fabric has left the backing appliance and is taken through the drying
machine the steam which is liberated from the fabric by the heat of the drying
cylinders keeps the winches or rollers and the fabric in a constant atmosphere of
steam. The effect of this is to warp and gradually destroy the woodwork of the
101

page_text: winches or if rollers are employed to cause the backing substance to cake upon
them, so as to necessitate the frequent changing and cleaning of the rollers.
In carrying my improvements into effect I place the winches or rollers below in
place of above the drying cylinders and I employ a large drying cylinder or two or
more smaller drying cylinders immediately after the backing appliance, so as to
pass the fabric over a large drying surface before it passes under the first winch.
And in order that my invention may be fully understood and readily carried into
effect I will describe the accompanying three sheets of drawings reference being
had to the figures and letters marked thereon.
I
Fig. 1 represents an elevation of a single backing or back starching machine
arranged according to my invention.
Fig. 2 is a view of part of a back starching machine in which a large drying
cylinder is employed immediately after the back starching appliance.
Fig. 3 is a similar view to Fig. 1 of a double backing or back starching machine
arranged according to my invention, and
Fig. 4 is a view of a backing or back starching machine combined according to
my invention with a starching machine.
Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.
In Fig. 1. represents the fabric to be backed or starched, the face of the
fabric being indicated by dots; the fabric is led into the machine in any convenient
manner and it is guided by rollers so as to bring the back of the fabric on to the
backing or back starching roller ; from this roller the cloth is taken direct with
its face on to the first drying cylinder d, then over a second driven drying
cylinder d from which the fabric passes under the first winch e with its starched
back next to the winch, the fabric then passes over and under the series of driven
drying cylinders d and the winches e.
:
In Fig. 1, I have shown the fabric a passing over two drying cylinders d before
it reaches the first winch e, but I may employ, as in Fig. 2, a single large drying
cylinder d immediately after the backing appliance c and conduct the fabric a
round this cylinder with its backed surface on the outside before it passes to the
first winch whereas when a large cylinder has been employed on the system
existing prior to my invention the fabric has necessarily been taken back above it
to the winch or roller thereby causing the fabric to re-absorb steam previously
driven out of it by the heat of the large cylinder.
By the arrangement described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 the face of the
fabric only is brought into contact with the drying cylinders d and the winches
being placed below the cylinders the steam arising from the fabric passes freely
away, consequently the winches e are not injuriously affected by the steam and
heat, and the fabric is better dried than by the present type of machine, whereas
when the winches have been placed below the drying cylinders in machines of the
ordinary construction the backed or starched surface of the cloth has been in
contact with the drying cylinders and the steam has been driven through the
fabric.
The new arrangement also strains the fabric much less than the old one as the
fabric is pulled up and through the machine by the driven drying cylinders leaving
the winches practically without drag on the cloth.
Fig. 3. represents the same machine as in Fig. 1 with the addition of a second
backing or back starching apparatus the fabric passing as indicated direct from one
machine to the other without any handling. In this case also the fabric has its face
brought upon the drying cylinders d and its backed or starched surface upon the
winches e placed below the driven drying cylinders d. The advantages, before
mentioned are obtained in the double as in the single back starching machine.
Fig. 4 represents my improved backing or back starching machine combined with
a starching machine for treating the fabric continuously without the necessity of
batching or reversing between the two operations.
It will be seen that the fabric. a after passing through the improved backing
machine is conducted over a guide roller direct to the starching, roller g of the

page_text: starching machine. where the other side or face of the fabric is starched; from.
the starching roller g the fabric passes over a guide roller to the first drying
cylinder of the drying machine, or on to any suitable drying machine.
I wish
it to be understood that I make no claim broadly to placing the winches below the
drying cylinders but only when so placed in combination with an arrangement of
drying cylinders and backing or starching rollers substantially as herein described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The improvements in backing or back starching machines which consist
essentially in so arranging the parts that the fabric passes continuously from the
backing or starching appliance to and round a drying cylinder or cylinders with its
starched face on the outside before it passes to the first of a series of winches or
rollers placed below the series of drying cylinders substantially as herein set forth.
2. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting a combined back and
face starching machine wherein both sides of the fabric are starched in one con-
tinuous operation without reversal substantially as described with reference to.
Fig. 4.
Dated this 24th day of March 1891.
H. B. BARLOW,
17, St. Ann's Square, Manchester, Agent for Applicant.