Improved Means for Cleansing Household Linen and in Apparatus for the purpose.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means for Cleansing Household Linen and in Apparatus
for the purpose.
I, EDWARD SAMUEL COOK, of 274, South Lambeth Road, London, Surveyor,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:
This invention relates to certain means and apparatus connected with the
washing or cleansing of household linen, such as sheets, blankets, and the like
which can be laid open upon an endless travelling band and be conveyed by such
band through a series of soapy or other baths or tanks, and in transit be passed
through wringers in succession and then be subjected to the action of steam
spray and then passed through a blueing bath and a starch bath also if desired,
and finally to spread hot air currents for drying the articles before removal,
or sufficiently dry to be placed in a hot closet for completely drying them, the
several operations being followed in succession mechanically and without hand
labour.
The invention is as follows: A contiguous series of tanks are supplied with
guide rollers round which a band is passed sinuously and from tank to tank,
each tank being also provided with wringers by which the surplus water of each
bath is returned. The band then travels over a screen in the next or subsequent
tank and under a spray of steam which drives through the meshes and forces
the remaining dirt out of the household fabric articles which had been arranged
upon the band, and these next travel through clean water tanks and again
through wringers, after which they are subject to a driving current of hot air
to dry or partially dry them, but previous to this they can pass through a blue
water bath, or if desired a starchy liquid bath while still on the band before
being subjected to the hot air treatment, after which if sufficiently dry they can
be assorted and packed, or they can be removed to a hot closet or to the callenders
for the final drying.
The first bath may have a hot somewhat strong soapy soda solution, and as
the articles travel down and to and fro through the liquid the dirt is first thereby
attacked and materially removed, they then pass between wringers and out into
the next tank, wherein is also a soapy soda liquid of weaker solution and in a
boiling condition. The travelling action in this tank by the rollers cause the
remainder of the dirt to be removed, or nearly so, from the articles and then
from the wringers of this tank, or again in a weaker solution tank if necessary,
they pass under the steam spray which completes the cleansing.
The next tank may contain clear water but preferably contains the blue for
toning the articles, or it may be starchy solution, or a combined solution for
toning and stiffening purposes, after which they are again wringed and carried
over or above a table for the hot air drying.
The endless band on which the articles are arranged is moved along by power
communicated to the rollers and wringers in any desired manner and speed, and

page_text: the return of the band may be from beneath the tanks,
rollers.
or
by overhead guide
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said Edward Samuel Cook.
Improved Means for Cleansing Household Linen and in Apparatus
for the purpose.
I, EDWARD SAMUEL COOK, of 274, South Lambeth Road, London, Surveyor,
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 follow-
ing statement:-
1
This invention relates to certain means and apparatus connected with the
washing or cleansing of household linen, such as sheets, blankets, and the like
which can be laid open upon an endless travelling band and be conveyed by such
band through a series of soapy or other baths or tanks and in transit be passed
through wringers in succession and then be subjected to the action of steam
spray and then passed through a blueing bath and a starch bath, also if desired
and finally to spread out hot air currents for drying the articles before removal,
or sufficiently dry to be placed in a hot closet for completely drying them, the
several operations being followed in succession mechanically and without hand
labour.
The invention is as follows: A contiguous series of tanks are applied with
guide rollers round which a band is passed sinuously and from tank to tank,
each tank being also provided with wringers by which the surplus water of each
bath is returned. The band then travels over a screen in the next or subsequent
tank and under a spray of steam which drives through the meshes and forces
the remaining dirt out of the household fabric articles which had been arranged
upon the band and those next travel through clean water tanks and again
through wringers, after which they are subject to a driving current of hot air
to dry or partially dry them but previous to this they can pass through a blue
water bath, or if desired a starchy liquid bath while still on the band before
being subjected to the hot air treatment after which if sufficiently dry they can
be assorted and packed, or they can be removed to a hot closet or to the calenders
for the final drying.
The first bath may have hot or cold water for soaking the articles, or may
have a hot somewhat strong soapy soda solution and as the articles travel down
and to and fro through the liquid the dirt is first thereby attacked and materially
removed, they then pass between wringers and out into the next tank wherein is a
soapy soda liquid of weaker solution and in a boiling condition.
The travelling action in this tank by the rollers cause the dirt to be removed
or nearly so from the articles and then from the wringers of this tank or again
in a stronger solution tank if necessary they pass under the steam spray which
completes the cleansing.
The next tank may contain clear water or be provided with a water sprayer
from which the material passes after being wringed, to a tank containing the

page_text: blue for toning the articles, or it may be the starchy solution or a combined
solution for toning and stiffening purposes after which they are again wringed
and carried through a chamber for hot air drying.
The endless band on which the articles are arranged is moved along by power
communicated to the rollers and wringers in any desired manner and speed and
the return of the band may be from beneath the tanks, or by overhead guide
rollers.
My invention is represented on the annexed drawings.
Figure 1 longitudinal section of entry end of machine with first wash or
soaking trough.
Figure 2 longitudinal section of a continuing portion of the machine showing
the second, third, and fourth troughs.
Figure 3 longitudinal section of the rinsing and shower trough.
Figure 4 longitudinal section of blueing and starching trough and part of
drying compartment.
Figure 5 longitudinal section of delivery end of machine.
Figure 6 transverse section of machine through lines a, a, of Figure 2.
Figure 7 side elevation, and Figure 8 plan of one of the pin bars.
Figure 9 elevation of three spirally ribbed rollers for removing creases and
spreading out the fabrics at delivery end of the machine.
Figures 1 to 5 form a longitudinal section of one complete machine.
The machinery and the working is as follows:
A horizontal shaft 1 driven by pulley 2, and strap 3 from overhead or otherwise
transmit the motion by worm gear 4 to all the upper band carrying rollers 5 for
rotating toothed wheels 6 on the roller axles 7, said shaft 1 being continued along
the whole length of the machine on the outside. The toothel wheels 6 of each
trough are driven at the same speed and the teeth are shaped to enter between
the links of the endless chains 8, for their propulsion, other toothed wheels 9
being within and near the bottoms of the troughs respectively and on axles 10
of annularly grooved rollers 11, so that the chains 8 are led down and up through
the troughs in succession. 12, 12, are bars with pins 13, and have their ends
connected with the chains 8, and the pins are of such a length that they pass
through horsehair or like openworked webbing 14, as to afford sufficient nip to
cause the horsehair webbing to travel with the chains S, into and out of the
troughs in succession until automatically released from the pins 13 by travelling
over a guide roller 16 at a higher level, as seen at Figure 5, said horsehair end-
less band then passing round guide rollers 17, 18, and 19 under the several
troughs back to the entry end of the machine where by the guide rollers 20 it is
led up to the adjustable roller 21, where it comes into line with the chains 8;
and pins 13 pass through the horsehair band again ready for the reception of
the sheet, blanket, or other like household linen to be washed.
The linen to be washed is spread out flat and hooked over the pins: it is thus
carried through the first wash or soaking water in trough A (Figure 1) which
water is heated by steam in the pipe 22, near the bottom of said
the desired temperature.
trough to
The linen with the horsehair
webbing 14 and chains 8, then travel under the roller 11 which has
annular grooves 23 in it to allow the pins 13 to pass freely, then up and
over the plain roller 5, above which is a rubber covered roller 24 pressed down
by springs 25 and adjustable as to pressure by the hand wheel 26.
This rubber covered roller 24 squeezes back the excess of water taken up by
the linen and the horsehair webbing and returns it into the trough A. The linen,
the horsehair webbing 14, and the chains 8 next pass into trough B containing
a fairly hot and yet weak solution of soap and soda to attack any dirt the linen
may possess from whence after passing under the roller 11 it rises up and travels
between the roller 5 and the squeezer roller 24 which by pressure returns the
the horsehair
superfluous water back to the trough B. The linen still on

page_text: webbing 14 then passes through trough C in the same manner, said trough con-
taining a strong solution of soapy water. The linen with the band 14 and
chains 8 then pass between the rollers 5, 24, to squeeze out any dirt remaining and
all particles of solid matter such as soap which the linen may have adhering to
it and not completely removed by the previous treatment and to further ensure
this I pass the linen through trough D similarly provided with rollers and in
which trough I employ jets of steam from the boxes 27, to impinge upon and by
their force to pass through the woven meshes of the linen both in entering and
leaving said trough 1) to thoroughly and perfectly render the linen clean. The
linen next passes between the roller 5. and the squeeze roller 24, from which it
again descends in trough E which is empty but is subject to a powerful shower
or heavy spray of water from the overhead tank 28 for rinsing the linen previous
to its entry into the trough F containing blue water and starch for colour toning
and stiffening the linen and then direct to the drying compartment G where a
powerful current of hot air is thrown from the hood 29 on to the linen.
The linen by the squeezing action of the upper rollers of each trough is
rendered fairly dry before again being wetted by the waters through which it
has to pass in succession.
As the linen and the horsehair band are leaving the drying compartment G,
they are caused to rise by passing over the roller 16 to dislodge the pin points 13
of the chain cross bars 12 therefrom, the chains 8 continuing their travel to and
under the roller 30 back to the front end under the machine.
The detached horsehair band 14 with the linen laying on it pass over the
clevated roller 16 and thence over roller 17 where the linen becomes freed and
passes or is led down between the endless band 31 against which it becomes
pressed by reverse spirally ribbed rollers 32 and by them drawn downwards
simultaneously with a spreading out action to flatten the washed article out
squarely and ready for delivery on to the table 33 for folding by an attendant or
attendants, or through an ironing machine of the usual construction before the
folding.
Thus the process of washing sheets or articles of like character, such as counter-
panes, serviettes, blankets and like household linen is continuous and mechanic-
ally effected in a machine without manual labour except for entering the articles
in a dirty or soiled condition and their reception in a cleaned and fairly dry
condition, in some cases the articles being blue coloured and starched, or blue
coloured only before the drying, or starched only before the drying.
34, and 35 are rollers for guiding and supporting the chains 8 and endless
band 14 respectively under the troughs.
36 is a draw off cock, one being fitted to each trough.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. An apparatus or washing machine consisting of a series of troughs con-
taining annularly grooved rollers near the bottoms of each and having the
divisions of said troughs surmounted by a pair of rollers one of each pair being
a squeezer for conjunction with a plain roller to express and return superfluous
water to its trough, the article so acted upon being transferred from trough to
trough in succession upon a horsehair band and kept in contact with and drawn
up by pins of cross bars of endless chains operated and caused to travel by toothed
wheels engaging between the links, as specified and substantially as shown.
2. An apparatus or washing machine consisting of a number of troughs con-
tiguous to each other and constituting a single structure through which house-
hold linen and the like can be soaked in water, next conveyed to soapy water
(suds) trough or troughs next in clear water and action of steam, next through
blue coloured water or a starchy liquid, or in both blue and starchy liquids and
rinsed after each immersion by a squeezer and a plain roller acting in combination

page_text: before passing to the drying compartment for hot air or hot plate drying, said
cleansing being effected prior to release from the horsehair band for delivery to
ribbed rollers pressing against an endless band and final delivery in a spread out
even surfaced condition on to a table ready for folding by hand, as specified and
substantially by the appliances arranged as shown.