Improvements in Calendering Fabrics and Apparatus for that Purpose.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 24th July, 1893-Accepted, 9th Sept., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Calendering Fabrics and Apparatus for that
Purpose.
I, EMIL CLAVIEZ of Ziegelstrasse 8 Chemnitz in the Kingdom of Saxony,
German Empire, Factory Director, 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 :-
The present invention relates to a process and apparatus for calendering fabrics
by the aid of an electrical current applied to heating plates in the press, and for
cooling the fabric by means of compressed air.
Fabrics are usually calendered by iron plates, heated to a suitable temperature,
laid between the goods to be calendered, a plate and a layer of material being
alternated in a hydraulic press. As the separate plates cool rapidly, they have to
be quickly placed between the goods and consequently the work is not always done
so carefully or exactly as desirable. The unequal cooling of the plates results
also in an unequal calendering, and there is consequently no certainty of having
the goods properly finished. Further, the variations of temperature to which the
plates are subjected cause them to wear out very quickly, thus increasing the
working expenses. The present invention overcomes these objections by the use of
plates which are packed in whilst cold between the goods, and are heated by an
electrical current after they have been placed in the hydraulic press as shewn in
Fig. 1.
Fig. 2 shews in perspective the plate P used for this purpose, the lid being
removed. It consists of a wrought iron frame a with lids on both sides, thus
forming a hollow slab. Wire coils c of high electrical resistance are arranged
inside and also a grating r of tubes provided with fine perforations. The two ends
of the wire coils, which are connected in series, pass through a lateral hole into
which is inserted a stopper Fig. 3. to make contact of both ends with a pair of
insulated wires which are led to the terminals of a battery, dynamo machine or
other source of electricity.
Owing to the resistance of the coils to the electric current, they become heated
and impart their heat to the top and bottom lids of the heating plate. By means
of a switchboard, to which the various conductors are attached, any desirable
number of plates introduced between the goods can be connected to the conductors
and heated, so that the goods may be thoroughly and equally heated during any
desired time, with temperature regulated as may be required. After the process is
completed, it is desirable to cool the plates and the goods as quickly as possible, so
that they can be taken apart and be prepared at once for packing. For the
purpose of cooling the plates, the stopper is withdrawn and compressed air, led into
the grating of tubes, issues through the fine perforations, rapidly cooling the plate
and the adjoining goods.
By means of this apparatus, applied as described, it is possible to produce
beautiful and regularly calendered goods, to ensure the same quality at all times,
and to pack the gocds immediately on their being removed from the press.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The herein described process for calendering fabrics by introducing between
them in the press cold plates containing resisting coils, heating the plates by passing
an electric current through the coils, and after a time passing compressed air
through finely perforated pipes within the plates.

page_text: 2. For effecting the process above referred to a hollow heating plate containing
coils of high electrical resistance and finely perforated tubes substantially as herein
described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 24th day of July 1893.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.