IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR WASHING WOOLLEN FABRICS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Jasper Wetter, of the Firm of Herbert and Company,
Solicitors of Patents, of 67, Strand, in the City of Westminster, Civil
Engineer, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR WASHING
WOOLLEN FABRICS," A communication from abroad by Nicolas Joseph
Hannemann, of Düren, in the German Empire.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Jasper Wetter at the Offico
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th June 1880.
JASPER WETTER, of the Firm of Herbert and Company, Solicitors of Patents,
of 67, Strand, in the City of Westminster, Civil Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY FOR WASHING WOOLLEN FABRICS." A communication from abroad
by Nicolas Joseph Hannemann, of Düren, in the German Empire.
The improvements relate to machinery for washing woollen fabrics in such
manner that all folds or wrinkles are avoided. The Invention consists of a washing
machine constructed so as to wash the fabric in a stretched out position and on its
entire width in a short time. The machine consists of a metal trough lined with
wood for the reception of water or lye, and of several (preferably 5) pairs of rollers
placed above the trough, and forming a series of pairs, the lower roller of each pair
being driven by means of a belt or other gearing, whilst the five upper rollers are
set in motion by their corresponding lower rollers upon which they rest with their
full weight. For the further guiding of the fabric two other rollers are placed in
the above said trough through which the fabric passes. Between two consecutive
pairs of rollers is placed a water pipe provided with perforations for conveying
water to the fabric when required. The upper rollers are placed in such a manner
as to press upon the fabric by their own weight as well as by means of a screw,
thereby having a revolving motion imparted to them by the lower rollers.
The whole width of the two outer top rollers is provided with linen of such a
length that it can pass through the opposite rollers so that the fabric can bo
subjected to the required pressure up to the end. The machine is to be worked as
follows:-One end of the fabric to be washed is sewed on to the corresponding
linen and rolled upon the roller, whilst the other end is sewed on the liuen of the
opposite roller, which linen has been passed through between the rollers. If the

page_text: machine is now set in motion the linen is wound upon the respective roller and
takes the fabric on the same way along, that is to say, first down over the little
roller, which is situated at the bottom of the trough, then up again and through
the 2nd, 3rd, & 4th pair of rollers, then again over the roller in the trough, and
from there upon the last top roller. When all the fabric is wound upon this last
roller the motion of the machine is automatically reversed, and the fabric taken
back on the same way, being drawn by the opposite roller. This process may be
repeated until the fabric has been sufficiently washed. The reversing gear cousists
of a screw spindle, which is driven by one of the lower rollers by means of belts
and bevel wlieels. This spindle is provided with two nuts consisting each of two
parts, the bottom of which is guided and prevented from turning by a slide.
The nut has at the top a projection which at the proper time catches the bell
crank of the stopper, and places the belts in such a manner that one time the
crossed belt is shifted out of gear and the other time shifted in, thereby causing
a reversed revolution of the rollers, and consequently also of the screw spindle,
which takes place until the second nut comes from the other side and shifts the
belts into their normal position. According to the different lengths of the fabric
the nuts are capable of being placed nearer or further from each other, after a scalo
serving also as a guide, so that the same meet with the corresponding lever of the
stopper sooner or later.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
1
:
the said Jasper Wetter in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 17th December
1880.
JASPER WETTER, of the Firm of Herbert and Company, Solicitors of Patents,
of 67, Strand, in the City of Westminster, Civil Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY FOR WASHING WOOLLEN FABRICS." A communication from abroad
by Nicholas Joseph Hannemann, of Düren, in the German Empire.
The improvements relate to machinery for washing woollen fabrics, and have
for their object to avoid all folds or wrinkles, which occur so frequently in cloth
and fulled or solidly woven woollen fabrics. The improved washing machine' herein
described is constructed so as to wash the fabric in a stretched out position and
on its entire width in a short time. The machine consists of a metal trough lined
with wood for the reception of water or lye, and of several (preferably) pairs of
rollers placed above the trough and forming a series of pairs, the lower roller of
each pair being driven direct by means of a belt or belts or other suitablo gearing,
whilst the five upper rollers are set in motion by their corresponding lower rollers
upon which they rest with their full weight. For the further guiding of the fabric
guide rollers (preferably two) are placed in the above said trough through which
the fabric passes. Between two consecutive pairs of rollers is placed a water pipe
provided with perforations or an equivalent appliance for conveying water to the
fabric when required.
The construction and operation of the machine will be more clearly understood
by reference to the accompanying Drawings, in which Figure 1 represents a side
elevation, Figuro 2 a plan, and Figure 3 a longitudinal section of a machine
embodying the Invention. The upper rollers R, R, R₁, R., R, are so held in
bearings that they press upon the fabric by their own weight as well as by means
of screws, thereby receiving a revolving motion from the lower rollers.
The whole width of the two outer top rollers is provided with linen of such a
length that it can pass through the opposite rollers, so that the fabric can be
subjected to the required pressure up to the end.
.The machine is to be worked as follows:-One end of the fabric to be washed
is sewed on to the corresponding linen or otherwise secured to the roller and wound
upon the roller, the other end is then sewed (or otherwise secured) on the linen, of
the opposite roller, which linen has been passed through between the rollers. If
the machine is now set in motion the linen is wound upon the respective roller
and takes the fabric on the same way along, that is to say, first down over the
little roller r, which is situated at the bottom of the trough, then up again and
through the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th pair of rollers, then over the roller in the trough,
and from there upon the last top roller. When all the fabric is wound upon this
last roller the motion of the machine is automatically reversed, and the fabric taken
back on the same way, being drawn by the opposite roller. This process may be
repeated until the fabric has been sufficiently washed. The reversing gear consists of
a screw spindle S, which is driven by one of the lower rollers by means of belting b
and bevel wheels 9, 9. This spindle is provided with two nuts n, n, consisting
cach of two parts, the bottom of which is guided and provented from turning by
à slide c.
The nut has at the top a projection p which at the proper time catches the bell
crank lever of the disengaging gear, and shifts the belts in such a manner that
one time the crossed belt is shifted out of gear and the straight belt shifted in,
thereby reversing the revolution of the rollers, and consequently also of the screw
spindle, which reversed motion continues until the second nut comes from the other
sido and shifts the belts into their former position. According to the different

page_text: lengths of the fabric the nuts may be placed nearer or farther from each other,
along a scale serving also as a guide, so that the saine meet sooner or later with
the corresponding lever of the disengaging gear.
A handle is also provided for actuating the disengaging gear and stopping the
machine by hand whenever it may be required.
The way of the fabric is as follows:-Two extreme top rollers are provided with
linen on their entire width, to which the fabric to be washed is sewn or otherwise
attached so as to form a continuous piece of cloth. The whole length of the fabric
is then wound upon one of the said rollers by setting the machine in motion.
After the fabric has been completely wound up the machine is automatically
reversed, and the fabric after having been passed between the rollers (as indicated
by the Drawings) is wound upon the opposite bottom roller.
Because ordinary washing machines have only one pair of rollers instead of a
series, as in the machine described, the latter is evidently more effective, and sinco
this machine maintains a uniform tension of the fabric between the rollers, a
shifting or doubling of the fabric, and consequently the formation of folds, is
prevented.
Having now described the Invention as communicated to me by my foreign
correspondent, I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to tho
particular details of construction shown in the Drawing, but what I claim is,-
A machine for washing woollen fabrics on their entire width and without folds
by means of rollers constructed to operate substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Jasper Wetter, have hereunto set my hand
and scal, this Seventeenth day of December, 1880.