Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Aug., 1886.
Complete Left, 31st May, 1887.
Complete Accepted, 23rd Aug., 1887.
We WILLIAM BATES of 85 North Street Luton Beds, Manufacturer, & FREDERICK
SMITH of 76 Bute Street Luton Beds Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows
Our Invention consists of an improved machine for milling straw plait by means of
a multiplied chain gear from one large wheel on to a smaller one, thus increasing
speed, also a gunmetal trowl with wood centre working on boxwood roller.
The improvements consist of, in the evenness of of wear together with speed &
duribility.
تيوس
1002
WILLIAM BATES,
85, North Street, Luton,
Manufacturer.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Straw Plait Milling by Machine.
WILLIAM BATES Manufacturer 85 North Street, Luton, Beds, and FREDERICK
SMITH Engineer of 76 Bute Street, Luton, Beds 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:-
:-
Straw Plait Mills used for the purpose of equalizing the thickness, and improving
the fancy edges of Straw Plaits have been constructed for years of two wood rollers
mounted in a vertical frame. The upper roller resting on the lower roller.
Pressure is applied to the rollers, by means of screws which act on the bearings of
the upper roller, the axle of the upper roller revolves in bearings, which slide in a
slot in the side of frame. The rollers are worked by means of a handle attached to
the axle of the lower roller. This construction of mill is a constant source of trouble
and
expence to a manufacturer, and is seriously defective in the following particulars.
It is laborious in the working. The upper roller, gets bruised and uneven in a day
or two, and the whole of the milling surface, chips, and break's off, by a week's wear
the bulk of plait is badly milled, the rollers do not yield sufficiently to allow the
lapping of Canton plaits to pass between them, without strain, or breakage to the
rollers.
By our Improvements we remove all exesting defects, and get the plait perfectly
milled, much greater ease in the labor, and permanent durability in the rollers.
We accomplish these results in the following manner. In the place of the upper
roller of wood, we substitute a roller having a thick metal casing (preferably of gun
metal) with a wood centre and an iron axle. The metal portion of the roller is
grooved for various widths of plait. The raised portions of the metal fit accurately
into the grooves in a lower roller of wood. Fine grooves at the side of each of the
larger grooves, gives to the head of the plait sharpness and clearness of definition.
A rubber spring on the top of the bearings of the upper roller, allows the thick
lappings and inequalities of Canton plaits to pass between the rollers. A small chain
wheel is attached to the axle of the bottom roller, a large chain wheel, and a fly wheel
is attached to the axle that passes through the lower part of the frame, and also
contains the handle.
A chain connects the two wheels together, the handle sets them in motion.
By reference to the accompanying drawings the improvements will be fully under-
.stood.
Fig. 1 represents the front view of the Mill.
Fig. 2 represents the back view.
A denotes the upper roller, of gun metal casing.
B denotes the small chain wheel.
C denotes the chain.
D denotes the large chain wheel.
E denotes the lower roller of wood (preferably boxwood).

page_text: F denotes the grooves in the roller of boxwood.
G denotes the projecting surface or rings on the metal cased roller. H denotes
the fine grooves for the head of plait. I denotes the axle of the fly wheel, large chain
wheel, and the handle. J denotes the handle by which the chain motion is worked
and regulated.
K denotes a bridge of metal or wood.
L the rubber springs.
-
Fig. 3. M shews the section of metal cased roller. N shews the wood centre.
O. the iron spindle, also chain motion, and combination of a wood and metal faced
roller.
Our Improved Plait Mill is therefore superior to any other Mill in the following
particulars.
1st. In the durability of the rollers.
2nd. In the ease by which it is worked.
3rd. In the elasticity given by the use of the chain motion and rubber springs.
4th. In the combination of a wood and a metal surface for milling straw plait.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we claim is
A Straw Plait Mill, having a roller, preferably of gun metal casing, in combination
with a lower roller, preferably of boxwood, grooved to fit the metal projections, or
milling portion of the upper roller.
A Straw Plait Mill worked by means of a chain motion, consisting of a large chain
wheel, and a small chain wheel, and a fly wheel. Connected by an endless chain, and
worked by means of a handle.
WILLIAM BATES.
FREDERICK SMITH.