CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR DRESSING, FINISHING, AND SETTING THE FACE ON WOOLLEN OR OTHER CLOTHS REQUIRING SUCH PROCESS
Year: 1835

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
WALTON, of Sowerby Bridge, in the Parish of Halifax, in the County of York,
Frizer, send greeting.
WHEREAS His present most Excellent Majesty King William the Fourth,
by His Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date
at Westminster, the Twenty-third day of October, in the sixth year of His
reign, did, for Himself, His heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
James Walton, His especial licence, full power, sole privilege and authority,
that I, the said James Walton, my exors, admors, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said James Walton, my exors, adiñiors, or assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
during the term of years therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of
Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY
FOR DRESSING, FINISHING, AND SETTING THE FACE ON WOOLLEN OR OTHER CLOTHS
REQUIRING SUCH PROCESS;" in which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso,
that I, the said James Walton, shall cause a particular description of the nature
of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
inrolled in His said Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said in part recited Letters
Patent, as in and by the same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully
and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
James Walton, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and

page_text: the manner in which the same is to be performed, are fully described and
ascertained in and by the following statement thereof, reference being had to
the Drawing hereunto annexed, and to the figures and letters marked thereon,
that is to say:-
My Invention of "certain improvements for dressing, finishing, and setting
the face on woollen or other cloths requiring such process," consists, first, in
giving an eccentric motion to the bed or surface over and on which the woollen
or other cloth is passing in that part of the process of dressing and finishing
cloths called cropping, shearing, or cutting off the nap; secondly, in giving an
eccentric or other constant motion to one plain or level surface, or portion of a
machine for pressing woollen or other cloths, by which means the cloth is laid
even, and is smoothly pressed as it passes through the machine, whereby the
processes of dressing, finishing, and setting the face on woollen and other
cloths will be facilitated and improved, as will be described hereafter.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING.
Plate 1, which represents various views of a shearing machine, having
the first part of my improvements applied thereto. In each of the Figures
of this Drawing, the same letters and figures of reference indicate similar
parts whereever they occur. Figure 1 is an end view; Figure 2, a front
view; Figure 3 is a transverse section; Figure 4 is a longitudinal section
of the bed or surface on which the cloth is cut, and to which an eccentric
motion is communicated, as hereafter described, whereby the cloth (in being
cut or sheared) partaking of the motion given to the bed, each part of
the surface of the cloth is constantly brought back to different parts of the
shearing apparatus in place of being carried constantly forward and away from
the shearing apparatus, immediately each particular part of the surface has
been once operated on by the rotatory cutters. Figure 5 is a transverse section
of the bed, and the shears or rotatory spiral cutters, together with the
fixed blade against which the rotatory cutters act; Figure 6 is an end
view of the same parts as Figure 5. Figure 7 is a plan of the bed, which
consists of a quadrangular frame, having the upper surface covered with
plush or other suitable material, stretched evenly over it, as is clearly
shewn in the Drawing, and by this Figure and Figure 4, the manner of
giving the desired motion to the bed will readily be traced, more particularly
when the various parts of machinery are more fully explained, as will be
the case hereafter. Figure 8 shews a plan of the rotatory cutters and parts
connected therewith, which, however, are similar to those in ordinary use, and
will consequently require but little more explanation. a, a, is the framing of

page_text: the machine; b, b, fixed and loose pulley affixed on the main shaft c, which
main shaft turns in suitable bearings at each end of the machine; d is a pulley
on the main shaft, which, by means of a strap or gut baud, communicates
motion to the pulley affixed on the axis of the rotatory cutters or shears; e, e,
are pulleys (on the shaft c), which, by means of straps or gut bands, drive the
pulleys on the axes of the drawing and setting-up rollers; f is the roller for
setting up the pile or nap on the face of the cloth, previous to the cloth coming
to the shears. This roller f is covered with cards, or has metal edges or other
well-known means of performing the setting up of the pile or nap; g is a cog
wheel for driving the drawing rollers h; i, cutting cylinder with spiral blades
f ledger blade; k, frame in which the cutting parts are fixed; 1, pillars for the
same; m, connecting rods; n, cranks; o, strong shaft to which the cranks are
fixed; p, lever for lifting the cutting part; q, an adjusting screw or stop to
regulate the distance between the ledger blade and bed; 8, stop to hold the
cutting part off the bed at the time the piece of cloth is being put into the
machine; t, roller on which the piece is lapped before cutting. The tension
of the cloth is regulated by a friction cord and weight, as is well understood,
tho' not shown in the Drawing. u, u, toothed wheels fixed on the main shaft ;
v, v, are pinions keyed on the spindles w, w; and a, a, are excentrics, which
are fixed on the spindles w, so that both ends of the bed will describe the same
movement, and exactly together; y are metallic brushes, bored true to receive
the excentrics, and fixed to the bed ; the bed, which is a strong light frame of
wood with a cover of plush or some other fabric tightly braced or extended by
the screws s (see Figure 5); (2,) plush; (3, 3,) rods by which the bed is sus-
pended to the top of the frame a, a, and by which the bed is permitted to be
moved by the excentrics, as above described, and by the screws and nuts any
required degree of pressure may be obtained, as will be readily understood on
examining the Drawing; 4, spring to allow of the vibration of the rods; 5,
small roller covered with fillets of cards fixed spirally from the centre outwards
to the back of the bed to pull the lists of the picce up when slack and prevent
the cutters from catching; 6, pulley and lever for regulating the tension of the
cord that turns the spiral cutters or shears. The red lines shew the lists of the
cloth, and the arrows point in the direction it moves.
I will now proceed to describe the second part of my Invention, which are
represented in Drawings in Plate 2. Figure 1 is an end view; Figure 2, a
plan; Figure 3, a transverse section taken through some of the parts of the
machine, in order to shew the relative positions of such parts; their object and
action will be more fully described hereafter. Figure 4 represents the upper and
moveable pressing and heated surface; Figure 5, the bed or lower-heated and

page_text: fixed surface; between these surfaces the cloth is constantly drawn forward,
and the surface thereof evenly laid and pressed; and it should be stated that
the under surface, Figure 5, is covered with plush, which is stretched evenly
over its surface, such plush being joined at the point C, D, with the nap or
face thereof running outwards, as is indicated by the arrows; by this means
the cloth, in being drawn over its surface when the same is being pressed on by
the upper surface (of Figure 4), the effect produced will be that the cloth will
be stretched in its width. It should be remarked that the cloth could not be
safely drawn through or between the two surfaces of the machine when they
press closely together if it were not for the motion which is communicated to
one of the surfaces; by this means the cloth will be found to pass freely between
these two plain surfaces, notwithstanding very considerable pressure is used.
Figures 6, 7, and 8, represent detached parts of the machine, shewn separately.
a, a, framing; b, the driving pulley; c, sliding clutch for starting and stopping
the machine; d, a lever for working clutch, as is well understood; e, main shaft;
ff, are toothed wheels; g, pinions driven by the wheels f; h, upright spindles
cranked at the top (as shewn separately and on a larger scale in Figure 7);
i, strong metallic table or steam chamber planed on the face, and firmly fixed
to the frame a; into this chamber i steam is permitted to flow to heat the
surface; k, light metallic steam chamber planed evenly on the face, and ground
to the table i, so that the faces may exactly correspond; 7, brass or other bushes
fitted in the chamber and bored to correspond with the cranks on the top of the
spindles h, which revolve at a quick speed (say, four hundred revolutions per
minute); m, steam pipe for supplying the lower or fixed chamber with steam; n,
steam pipe (for heating the upper or moveable chamber), which pipen is curled
up to prevent the motion of the steam chamber & from breaking the joints, the
extent of piping allowing sufficient play for that motion; o, endless cloth, which
is extended over the roller p and q, and kept tight by the screws r.
This
endless cloth assists in drawing the piece of cloth which is to be passed through
the machine. s, gear and shaft for driving the endless cloth; t, roller for
lapping the cloth on, which is turned with a strap on the pulleys u, u, which
strap is allowed to slip as the diameter of the cloth roller increases; v, piece
of cloth shewn passing through the machine. The working of the lapping
roller will be better understood by referring to Figure 8, which is on an
enlarged scale. where w is a strong wheel on the same spindle as the pulley v,
and working in a boss fixed to the frame; x, wheel working in w, and fixed on
a short spindle which fits any of the bosses y. In the end of the spindle is
a hole to receive the arbor of the lapping roller, and two studs on the face
of the wheel to take in a cross on the end of the roller;, a bridgetree which

page_text: slides in grooves in the slides of the frame to raise or lower the spindles to
make the moveable surface or chamber k describe a greater or less circle; (1,1),
screws for lifting bridgetree; (2), shaft with two worms which work in wheels
in the screws; (3), suspension rods to support the surface k; 4, chains on the
top of the rods 3, and fixed to the pulleys (5, 5); (6), shaft on which the
pulleys are fixed; (7), lever to lift the surface (k) off the piece of cloth when
the machine is standing; (8), stands screwed in the inside to fit the male screw
(9).on which is a wheel. The screw (9) is bored through the centre to admit
of the suspension rod sliding freely through; (10), shaft, on which is fixed
two worms which take into the wheels (9, 9). On the top of the suspension
rods are collars which rest on the tops of the adjusting screws (9, 9,) and
support the surface k at any required distance from the table when it is not
requisite to lay its whole weight on the cloth; it will now be evident that by
turning the shaft (10) that both the adjusting screws will move together, by
which the pressure may be regulated to the greatest nicety. (11), cylindrical
brush to lay the pile or nap of the cloth straight and even before going through
the press; (12), roller, which works in the slide (13) by the screw (14) to give
the cloth the requisite lap on the brush; (15, 15), fixed rails; (16, 16), rails
fixed in the frame (17), which moves on a centre at (18) by the rack and
pinion (19) to regulate the tension of the cloth; (20), steam pipe pierced full
of small holes on the top to damp the cloth when dry, similar to the steaming
apparatus in use in brushing machines; (21), stays for fixing the steam pipe
to the framing.
Iaving thus described the nature of my Invention and the manner of carrying
the same into effect, I would remark that I do not claim any of the parts of the
machines, separately or combined, as herein shewn and described (other than
are herein particularly pointed out as my improvements), they being for the most
part well known and in use; nor do I confine myself to the precise arrange-
ments. thereof, though they are the best machines I am acquainted with for
receiving the application of my improvements. I would also remark that I
am aware that the motion which is described as being applied to the bed
of the shearing machine, and the motion is applied to the surface k of the
pressing machine, is similar to that used in frizing machinery. I do not,
therefore, make any claim thereto as being my Invention, but only claim'
the application of such motions to and combining it with machinery for
shearing and pressing cloth, as herein described. And I would have it under-
stood that it is not essentially necessary that the endless cloth o should in all
cases be applied to the pressing machine, as in some instances the heated surface
of the metal may come directly in contact with the surface of the cloth when

page_text: being pressed, or when the nap and surface is being smoothed and laid; and
further, it is not absolutely necessary that the two surfaces i, k, should be both
heated as hercin described, as a very advantageous result will be obtained by
only heating one surface, and it is not essential that the movement should be
applied only to the upper surface k, as a similar effect would be obtained if
the under surface i were caused to move in like manner to that described for
the surface k, tho' there would be no additional advantage thereby obtained
over one surface moving. But I would have it understood that what I claim
as my Invention is,―
First, the applying of an eccentric motion to the beds of shearing machines,
whereby the cloth which is being cropped, partaking of the motion of the
bed, is brought back to the cutting edges, and thus ensuring greater cor-
rectness of cutting, cropping, or shearing, as above described.
Secondly, I claim the giving motion to one of two plain surfaces, whereby
the cloth, although pressed between them, will by such motion be permitted 1
to be constantly drawn forward, and whereby the same will be pressed and
laid even, and thus materially improving and facilitating the processes of
dressing, finish, and setting the face on woollen or other cloths, as above
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Walton, have hereunto set my 2
band and seal, this Nineteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord