Improvements in Machines or Apparatus for Spreading Indiarubber and like Materials upon Fabrics.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Nov., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 14th Sept., 1894-Accepted, 14th Nov., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines or Apparatus for Spreading Indiarubber
and like Materials upon Fabrics.
We, ROBERT DAWSON KAY, and THOMAS ROWLEY, both of 41 Corporation
Street, Manchester in the County of Lancaster, Indiarubber Manufacturers, and
GEORGE OPENSHAW HUNSTONE of the Springfield Iron Works, Salford in the
County of Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
:-
This invention relates to machines for spreading indiarubber and similar
materials and compounds upon textile and other fabrics, and its objects are to
enable the process to be conducted with greater speed than at present, and to
economise the space occupied by such machines.
In carrying out our invention we construct the machine vertically. The device
for drying the Elm of rubber or material spread upon the cloth may consist of
a vertical steam chest, or a vertical range or ranges of steam pipes, or an
equivalent heated chamber or space. Below this we arrange a spreading roller
or two parallel spreading rollers as may be preferred, and above it we arrange
parallel with the spreading roller or rollers, a drawing roller. The cloth or fabric
whilst being spread passes in contact with one side of the spreading roller or
one of the spreading rollers, up one side of the heating device, over the drawing
roller, down the other side of the heating device, in contact with the opposite
side of the spreading roller or the similar side of the other spreading roller when
two are employed, and thence to the taking up roller. The rubber or other
material is spread upon the fabric by means of a suitable gauge or knife at its
first contact with the spreading roller or its contact with the first spreading roller.
and the film is consequently exposed to the drying action during its passage
upwards and downwards on both sides of the heating device which is thus
effectively utilised. As soon as the whole length of the fabric has been spread
with a layer of the rubber or other material, the spreading gauge or knife hitherto
in use is removed, and a second gauge or knife is brought into action on the
opposite side of the machine. The apparatus is then reversed so that the cloth
proceeds in the opposite direction, and the second gauge or knife applies a second
layer of the material or compound which is dried in like manner with the first.
For each subsequent layer or film, the machine again reversed and the spreading
knife or gauge on that side of the machine from which the fabric proceeds is
brought into action.
The apparatus may be used for doubling two thicknesses of fabric together,
for which purpose we employ a heavy auxiliary roller in contact with the spreading
roller. The fabric which has already been spread is led, spread side inwards,
between the heavy roller and spreading roller, and the lining or other fabric is
introduced between the spread side of the fabric and the spreading roller, and
the doubled fabric is led over the drawing roller down the other side of the
apparatus to the taking up roller as in spreading. The pressure of the heavy
roller upon the doubled fabrics ensures their complete adherence.
Dated this 13th day of November A.D. 1893.
WILLIAM E. HEYS,
Agent for the Applicants.

page_text: Improvements in Machines or Apparatus for Spreading Indiarubber
and like Materials upon Fabrics.
We, ROBERT DAWSON KAY and THOMAS ROWLEY, both of 41 Corporation
Street, Manchester in the County of Lancaster, Indiarubber Manufacturers, and
GEORGE OPENSHAW HUNSTONE, of the Springfield Iron Works, Salford in the
County of Lancaster, Engineer, 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:-
This invention relates to machines for spreading indiarubber and similar
materials and compounds upon textile and other fabrics, and its objects are to
enable the process to be conducted with greater speed than at present, and to
economise the space occupied by such machines.
In carrying out our invention we construct the machine vertically. The device
for drying the film of indiarubber or other material spread upon the fabric may
consist of a vertical steam chest, or a vertical range or ranges of steam pipes, or an
equivalent heated chamber or space. Below this we arrange a spreading roller or
two parallel spreading rollers as may be preferred, and above it we arrange,
parallel with the spreading roller or rollers, a drawing roller. The fabric, whilst
being spread, passes in contact with one side of the spreading roller or one of the
spreading rollers, up one side of the heating device, over the drawing roller, down
the other side of the heating device, past the opposite side of the spreading roller
or rollers, and thence to the taking-up roller. The indiarubber or other material
is spread upon the fabric by means of a suitable gauge or knife at its first contact
with the spreading roller, and the film is consequently exposed to the drying action
during its passage upwards and downwards on both sides of the heating device
which is thus effectively utilised. As soon as the whole length of the fabric has
been spread with a layer or film of the material, the spreading gauge or knife
hitherto in use is removed, and a second gauge or knife is brought into action on
the opposite side of the machine. The motion of the apparatus is then reversed so
that the fabric proceeds in the opposite direction, and the second gauge or knife
spreads a second film which is dried in like manner with the first. For each
subsequent layer or film, the machine is again reversed and the spreading knife or
gauge on that side of the machine from whence the fabric proceeds, is brought
into action.
The machine may be used for doubling two plies of fabric together, for which
purpose we employ a heavy or weighted auxiliary roller in contact with the
spreading roller, and the lining fabric is introduced between the spread side of the
outer fabric and the spreading roller. The two plies are then led over the roller
between it and the auxiliary roller and down to the taking-up roller. The pressure
of the auxiliary roller upon the doubled fabrics ensures their adherence.
In the accompanying drawings, which will be hereinafter referred to, we have
illustrated our invention as applied to a machine with a single spreading roller,
this being the form best adapted for general use. The construction of a machine
with two spreading rollers is substantially the same, except of course, that the
single roller is substituted by two similar rollers which may be geared together
by an idle wheel.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the lower part of the machine, and Figure 14, is a
similar elevation of the upper part of the machine, the second figure being a
continuation upwards of the first.
Figure 2 is a sectional diagram shewing how the fabric is spread upon one side
of the spreading roller.

page_text: Figure 3 is a similar diagram shewing in what manner the apparatus is employed
in doubling fabrics.
Figure 4 is a front elevation of the machine which is continued in Figure 5.
A is the framing of the machine upon which is carried, in suitable bearings, the
first motion shaft B on which are mounted the fast and loose pulleys C driven by
an open and a crossed belt so as to obtain motion in alternately opposite directions.
of the shaft B, by shifting the strap fork D. The apparatus may be put
into and out of action by means of the clutch E, which is connected by links or
the like to the rods F, so that the machine may be stopped or started from
any point of it by moving the rods. A spur pinion G is fixed upon the shaft B
and gears with the spur wheel H, fixed upon the shaft or trunnion of the spreading
roller I.
On each side of the spreading roller there is mounted a spreading gauge K, only
one of which is in action at any time. Various means may be adopted for putting
the gauges into and out of action. As shewn by the drawings, each gauge K is
pivoted upon a sliding block at each end, which block is adjustable by the screw
and hand wheel J. It is preferred that the gauge and its accessories should be
balanced with a tendency upwards.
When out of action the gauge is moved out of its spreading position, as shewn
by the dotted lines at k, to the left of Figure 1. There may be a fixed or
adjustable abutment against which the gauge may rest in work. Above the
spreading roller there is shewn a range of vertical flat steam pipes or chests L,
which are connected together, for the circulation of steam therein, by the flanged
elbows M. The steam may be admitted through the highest elbow and escape
with the water of condensation from the lowest, suitable pipes being fitted to the
elbows for the purpose. Any other equivalent and suitable vertical heating
arrangement may be employed, as will be evident. The fabric Q on each side of
the heating device, together with the rollers, form an enclosed chamber bounded.
at its ends by the machine framing, so that very little heat will be dissipated
uselessly.
The drawing roller N is arranged above the heating device, and it is preferably
made hollow and heated with steam. This roller may be driven by the pitch
chains O, passing round chain wheels on the shafts of the spreading roller and
the drawing roller respectively. The use of such chains or their equivalent,.
enables the leading edge of the fabric to be drawn through the machine in a
very simple manner. At certain intervals on each chain we may arrange hooks P,
each pair of books being, as shewn, in the same horizontal plane. When the
leading edge of the fabric has been passed under the spreading gauge, its corners
are attached to the hooks, and, as soon as the machine is started, the fabric is
thus led around the drawing roller down the opposite side of the machine where
it is disengaged from the hooks and connected with the taking-up roller R. This
roller may be of the ordinary construction, and in turn, becomes the letting-off
roller, as shewn at R', when the apparatus is reversed. The letting-off roller for
the time being, is braked in the usual manner by the strap and weight W, which
may be shifted from the one to the other as required. The fabric is guided by
any suitable arrangement of guiding or jockey rollers such as S¹, S', S³, S. Of
these, S¹ and S' alternately guide the fabric upon the spreading roller, S' being
shewn in this position in Figure 1.
When the direction of motion of the fabric is
to be reversed, both these rollers may be temporarily removed and S' be replaced
to the left of the ascending part of the fabric, and S to the left of the descending
part, that is to say to opposite sides to those occupied by them in the figure.
They are similarly changed at each reversal. But, by placing the rollers farther
apart and mounting them upon slides, the necessity for their temporary removal
might be obviated, nevertheless we prefer the construction illustrated.
In Figure 2, only the taking-up and letting-off rollers, the guide rollers S', S²,
the spreading roller and the gauges are shewn together with the dough T supposed
to be in the act of being spread, and a portion of the fabric is shewn.

page_text: Figure 3 diagrammatically illustrates the process of doubling by our improved
apparatus. For this purpose a supplementary letting-off roller S, is provided, and
may be mounted on either side of the machine. The lining cloth is wound upon
this roller and the outer spread cloth upon the roller R, Figure 3. Preferably
above the spreading roller, there is mounted a heavy or weighted roller U, which
may or may not have a permanent place in the machine. The leading edges of the
two cloths are brought together around the spreading roller, under the weighted
roller U, and down to the taking-up roller.
The taking-up rollers may be driven by a slack belt V, from a pulley on
the spreading roller shaft, it being shifted at each reversal, from the former
The belt is
taking-up roller to the new one on the opposite side of the machine.
made slack in order to permit it to slip, since the speed of the spreading roller is
constant, and that of the taking-up roller must decrease as the fabric accumulates
thereon.
It will be understood that although we have described particular forms of
gearing, rollers, and spreading gauges for the apparatus we do not limit ourselves
thereto, and since they are generally of known construction, we do not make any
separate claim thereto.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. A vertical spreading machine, constructed arranged and operated substantially
as hereinbefore described and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
2. In a spreading machine, a vertical heating device having below it a spreading
roller or spreading rollers, and above it a drawing roller, constructed and arranged
substantially as herein before described and as illustrated by the accompanying
drawings.
Dated this 12th day of September A.D. 1894.
WILLIAM E. HEYS,
Agent for the Applicants.