Improvements in Machinery for Mercerising Warp Yarns.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION:
Improvements in Machinery for Mercerising Warp Yarns.
JAMES FREDERICK COPLEY, 10, Queen Street, Huddersfield, Technical Chemist,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
In order to obtain a silky gloss upon cotton yarn, by the process known as
mercerising, it is essential that the yarn be tightly stretched either (1) before
treatment with; (2) during treatment with, (3) after treatment with, & before
elimination of, the mercerising liquid.
In the case of warp yarns this has usually been accomplished by passing the
warp between a pair of squeezing rollers, then into the mercerising liquid by
causing it to travel over loose guiding rollers suitably arranged in a tank
containing the liquid, after which the warp passes between a second pair of
squeezing rollers having larger diameters than the first pair of squeezing
rollers & revolving at the same speed, or having equal diameters, but revolving
at a greater speed, the difference in diameter in the first case or of speed in the
second case, causing the warp to be stretched.
If, in order to get the best effects a considerable amount of tension is applied
by the above method, the warp threads become damaged to some extent, owing
to all the strain being applied just at those points, momentarily held by the
squeezing rollers.
.
By the present invention the strain is caused to be spread over a considerablė
portion of the warp, by causing the warp to pass almost entirely around one or
more rollers, hereinafter called assisting rollers, driven by gearing at the same
speed as the squeezing rollers, between which the warp passes, after leaving
the assisting rollers.
Thus the strain is spread over all that part of the warp in contact with the
assisting roller or rollers, the roller or rollers dragging the warp forwards in the
same manner as a revolving capstan drags a rope forwards, when coiled once or
twice around it.
The warp may be lead onto & away from the assisting rollers by means of
guiding rollers, which may, or may not be driven by power, suitably arranged
near to the circumference of the assisting rollers.
Or the assisting rollers may be so arranged with respect to each other, that the
warp is caused to pass almost around each of them without requiring extra
guiding rollers.
Or the squeezing rollers themselves, of which there may be more than two
may be made to act as assisting rollers, by causing the warp to pass almost
entirely around one or more of them, by means of suitably arranged guiding
rollers.
Or any combination of rollers may be used whereby the warp may be caused
o wrap almost entirely around a roller or rollers driven at the same speed as
he squeezing rollers through which the warp passes after leaving the said
ombination.

page_text: At least two such systems or combinations are required, the first being arranged
to work in conjunction with the first set of smaller, or more slowly revolving
squeezing rollers, the office of this system or combination is to assist the said
squeezing rollers in retarding the forward motion of the warp, whilst the second
system or combination of rollers is arranged to work in conjunction with the
second set of larger or more quickly revolving squeezing rollers, the office of
this system or combination, is to assist the said squeezing rollers, in dragging
the warp forwards & so to stretch it.
The warp, may be saturated with the mercerising agent either (1) before
stretching (2) after stretching, or (3) the two operations may be accomplished
simultaneously.
The above methods, may be used to prevent the warp contracting, without
actually stretching it beyond its original length in which case the two or more
systems of rollers should have the same diameters & speeds of revolution.
In Figs. 1, 2, 3, & 4. the glotted line indicates the path of the warp, the direc
tion of its motion is shown by the arrows. A, B, C & D are the assisting rollers.
the smaller guiding rollers being Nos. 1, 2, 3 & 4. The squeezing rollers X, Y, Z,
act also as assisting rollers in Figs. 3 & 4.
Dated this 10th day of Vov 1800.
Improvements in Machinery for Mercerising Warp Yarns.
I, JAMES FREDERICK COPLEY, of 10, Queen Street, Huddersfield, in the County
of York, Works Chemist, 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 refers to improvements in connection with machines employed
in the process of mercerising warp yarns. In order to obtain a silky gloss or
lustre upon cotton yarn by the aforesaid process, it is essential that the yarn be
tightly stretched either before treatment with or during treatment with or after
treatment with, and before elimination of, the mercerising liquid. In the case
of warp yarns this has usually been accomplished by passing the warp between a
pair of nipping or squeezing rollers, then conducting it through the mercerising
liquid and finally passing it between a second pair of nipping or squeezing
rollers of larger diameter than the first pair, or of the same diameter but
driven at a higher rate of speed, the difference in diameter between the first and
second pair of squeezing rollers, or of the speed at which they are driven, causing
the warp lying between the two pairs of squeezing rollers, to be stretched or
extended. If a considerable amount of tension is applied by the above method
to get the best effects, the warp threads become damaged to some extent by reason
of the whole of the strain thereon being applied just at those points of the
warp momentarily held by the nip of the squeezing rollers, and there is also the
liability of the warp being dragged past the "nip" of the rollers and thus
insufficiently stretched or not maintained at the required degree of tension
throughout. The object of my present invention is to provide means whereby
the strain on the warp under tension instead of being borne at two points only,
will be spread or distributed over a considerable portion thereof and thus avoid
damage to the warp and liability of the warp slipping between the "nip" of
the squeezing rollers. For the purpose. of my invention I employ one, two, or
more supplementary or assisting rollers in conjunction with each pair of nipping

page_text: or squeezing rollers these assisting rollers being of the same diameter as their
respective pairs of squeezing rollers and driven at the same speeds. Partially
or almost entirely around these assisting rollers the warp is passed or guided
to the corresponding squeezing, rollers between which it passes after leaving
said assisting rollers, the warp being dragged or fed forwards by the assisting
rollers somewhat in the same manner as a rope is dragged forwards by coiling
it once or twice around a revolving capstan, or driven by frictional contact
with a portion of a revolving surface. The system or combination of assisting
rollers working in conjunction with the first pair of smaller, or more slowly
revolving squeezing rollers, assists said squeezing rollers in retarding the forward
motion of the warp whilst the second system or combination of assisting rollers
working in conjunction with the second pair of larger, or more quickly revolving
squeezing rollers, assists said squeezing rollers in dragging or drawing the
warp forward and thereby stretching it to the degree required, the strain placed
on the yarn between the two pairs of squeezing rollers thus being spread or
distributed over all that portion of it which is in contact with the assisting
rollers. The yarn may be led to and away from the assisting roller or rollers,
or any of them, by means of guiding rollers suitably arranged near to the
circumference or circumferences of the assisting roller or rollers. These guiding
rollers may, or may not be so driven, as desired. Or the assisting rollers may
be arranged with respect to each other that the warp will be caused to pass
partially or almost entirely around each of them without requiring extra guiding
roller. In another arrangement the warp, if fed to the machine in rope form
is coiled or wound one or more times partially around a pair of assisting rollers
or partially around one of the squeezing rollers in each pair and an accompany-
ing assisting roller. Or I may adapt another modification of my improved
method of taking up the strain on the warp, which consists in making the
squeezing rollers themselves, with or without an assisting roller or rollers, act
partly or wholly as assisting rollers, the warp being caused to pass partially or
almost entirely around the assisting roller or rollers and one of each pair of
squeezing. rollers, or partially or almost entirely around the squeezing roller
only, by means of suitably arranged guide rollers. I may however employ any
combination of rollers wherein the warp is caused to pass partially or almost
entirely around same, such rollers being driven at the same speed as the squeezing
rollers between which the warp passes after leaving said combination. The
above method may be used to prevent the warp contracting without actually
stretching it beyond its original length, in which case the two sets or systems
of rollers should have the same diameters and speed of revolution. The warp
may be saturated with the mercerising agent either before stretching or after
stretching or the two operations may be accomplished simultaneously. In the
accompanying drawings illustrating my invention:-Fig. 1, is a sectional
diagram shewing one arrangement of my improved system or, combination of
supplementary or assisting rollers. working in conjunction with each pair of the
ordinary nipping or squeezing rollers of machines for mercerising warp varns
Fig. 2 is a similar diagram shewing another arrangement of supplementary or
assisting rollers working in conjunction with each pair of squeezing rollers;
Fig. 3, illustrates a further arrangement in which the warp is coiled or wound
one or more times partially around a pair of rollers working in conjunction with
each set of squeezing rollers; Fig. 4, is end elevation of Fig. 3; Figs. 5, and 6,
shew how the squeezing rollers themselves, or one of each pair, may be arranged
to act as assisting rollers either with or without supplementary or assisting
rollers. Fig. 7. is sectional elevation of a warp mercerising machine shewing
the arrangement of assisting rollers which I have so far adopted. The same
letters of reference indicates corresponding parts in all the figures. Referring
in the first place, to Fig. 1, letters A. and B represent respectively the first- and
second pairs of the ordinary nipping or squeezing rollers of machines for
mercerising warp yarns, the second pair B being of larger diameter than the

page_text: first pair A or, if of the same diameter, being driven at a higher rate of speed
the difference in diameter, or in speed, as the case may be, between the two
said pairs of squeezing rollers determining the extent to which the yarn lying
intermediate of them shall be stretched or extended as is well known. Prefer-
ably in a position leading to each pair of nipping or squeezing rollers A, B,
that is to say, on the front or feeding side thereof, I mount in suitable bearings
in supporting framework of the machine, two series or systems of supplementary
or assisting rollers C, C, C, and D, D, D, the former working in conjunction
with the first pair of squeezing rollers A, and the latter working in conjunction
with the second pair of squeezing rollers B. The assisting rollers C. C, C, are
of the same diameters as the pair of squeezing rollers A, and the assisting
rollers D, D, D, are of the same diameters as the squeezing rollers B, both series
of assisting rollers being geared up to their respective pairs of squeezing rollers
so that each system or combination shall revolve at the same speed as their
corresponding pairs of squeezing rollers. The warp, whose path is indicated
by the strong broken line marked E, is delivered to the first series of assisting
rollers C, C, C, and passed partially or almost entirely around the first roller
thereof, then under guide rollers C, C¹, which guide it to the second assisting
roller, partially or almost entirely around which it passes and is then guided
under other guide rollers C2, C3, to the last assisting roller C after passing
partially around which it is conducted to and passes through or between the
first pair of squeezing rollers A. From the said squeezing rollers the warp
passes into the tank or vessel containing the mercerising liquid or solution and
is guided up and down through said tank in a zig-zag manner under and over
Joose guiding or kicking rollers Fin the ordinary way, after which it is con-
ducted to the first roller of the second series of assisting rollers D, then guided
thence to the second and from the second to the third assisting roller of said
series by the guiding rollers D', D', and D². D², respectively, in the same manner
as described with reference to the series C, and is finally passed between the
second pair of squeezing rollers B.
After leaving the second pair of squeezing rollers B, the warp may be guided
through a series of following tanks for repeated washings and for neutralising
the mercerising agent as is customary, the warp in passing from tank to tank
travelling between a pair of squeezing rollers only but on leaving the last tank
of all I prefer that the pair of squeezing rollers at the rear of same has combined
therewith a series of assisting rollers arranged as described with reference to
Fig. 1, in order that the tension of the warp on leaving the pair of rollers B
may be maintained throughout the whole of the subsequent process of washing
off and neutralising.
In combining the aforesaid system or combinations of supplementary or
assisting rollers with each pair of squeezing rollers in machines for mercerising
warp yarns. the system or combination of rollers working in conjunction with
the first pair of smaller, or more slowly revolving, squeezing rollers A assists
the said squeezing rollers in retarding the forward motion of the warp, whilst
the second system or combination of rollers working in conjunction with the
second pair of larger, or more quickly revolving squeezing rollers B, assists the
said squeezing rollers in dragging the warp forwards, whereby the strain placed
on the yarn between the two points A, B, is thus spread or distributed over all
that portion of the warp which is in contact with the assisting rollers, and
damage to the warp and liability of it being dragged abnormally past the "nip
of the squeezing rollers are thus avoided or minimised. The extra guiding
rollers C, C1, C2 C2 and D¹, D¹, D². D², may or may not be driven as preferred.
In the example Fig. 1 the operations of stretching or extending the yarn and
saturating it with the mercerising agent are represented as taking place simul-
taneously, the varn being stretched or extended between A and B while it is
passing through the tank or vessel containing the mercerising agent; but it
"

page_text: will be understood that the treatment of the warp with the mercerising liquid
may take place before it is stretched or after it is stretched.
In Fig. 2, the rollers in the two systems or combinations of assisting
rollers C, C, C, C, and D, D, D, D), are so arranged with respect to each other
that the warp passes partially, or almost entirely around each of them from one
to the other in each series without requiring guide rollers.
In Figs. 3 and 4, I shew another arrangement or combination in which, in
conjunction with each pair of squeezing rollers A, B, are assisting rollers C
and D respectively, set at a distance apart from the squeezing rollers. The
warp is passed over and partly around one
under and partially around
squeezing roller and
its assisting roller either,
more times spirally as shewn at Fig. 4, each coil or turn being guided to the
one, two, or
side of its neighbouring coil by guide eyes or dividing. bars G. Instead of
one of each pair of squeezing rollers A B acting as an assisting roller, two of
such assisting rollers may be employed in conjunction with each pair of squeezing
rollers and the warp be caused to pass partly around same one or more times
before passing to and between the squeezing rollers. This arrangement is more
particularly adapted for warp yarn in the rope form or contracted condition
which will allow of its being coiled in the manner described without adding
to the width of the machine. In the rope or contracted form, two of more
warps may be passed through the machine at the same time whatever combina-
tions or systems of assisting rollers be employed.
In Figs. 5 and 6, I give examples shewing how the squeezing rollers them-
selves, that is to say, one of each pair, may be made to act partly or wholly as
assisting rollers for the purpose of my invention, one pair of nipping or squeezing
rollers namely the first pair A, alone being shewn. In Fig. 5 the warp is passed
first over a guide roller C which is placed in such a position with respect to the
assisting roller C as will cause the warp to pass or lay itself almost entirely
around said assisting roller on leaving which it passes partially or almost entirely
around the adjacent squeezing roller of the pair A and finally passes between
said squeezing rollers. More than one assisting roller may be employed in this
arrangement or system. In Fig. 6, no supplementary or assisting roller is used,
the desired result being obtained by causing the warp to pass or lay itself almost
entirely around one of the squeezing rollers by means of a guide roller C,
placed in a suitable position near to the circumference of the squeezing roller
concerned, as shewn. The arrangement of assisting rollers which I have so far
adopted and found to answer very well, is as illustrated at Fig. 7. The retarding
and dragging action on the warp in the systems or combinations of rollers
illustrated in Figs. 2 to 7 are the same as described with reference to Fig. 1,
although the retarding and dragging power may in each case vary according to
the number of rollers employed and their arrangement.
The above systems or combinations of rollers may be employed to prevent
the warp contracting only, without stretching it beyond its original length, in
which case the two sets of squeezing rollers with their systems of assisting
rollers should have the same diameters and the same speed of revolution.
It will be obvious that the range of double systems or combinations of assisting
rollers may be modified or varied by rearrangement or variation in the number of
rollers applied, and, that, any combination or arrangement of assisting or equiva-
lent rollers in which for the purpose of my invention the warp is caused to pass
or lay itself partially or almost entirely around a roller or rollers driven at the
same speed as the squeezing rollers between the which the warp passes after
eaving said combination, may be employed without departing from the inven-
tion herein set forth.
Although the systems or combinations of rollers are preferably arranged so
hat the warp shall be brought into contact therewith before passing between
he respective pairs of squeezing rollers, such systems or combinations of rollers

page_text: may occupy positions on the reverse or rear sides of the squeezing rollers, or
partly on one side and partly on the other.
The assisting rollers, or one or more of them in each system or combination
may comprise winches, that is, have their peripheries formed of cross bars or
laths set a little apart radially, instead of being solid or continuous all round
as shewn on the drawings.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
(1) The method of spreading or distributing over a considerable portion of
the warp, the strain or pull exerted thereon when being stretched or extended
or held in a stretched or extended condition in warp mercerising machines, by
causing such warp to pass or lay itself in its forward motion partially or almost
entirely around a supplementary or assisting roller or rollers working in conjunc-
tion with each set or pair of nipping or squeezing rollers, or partly or almost.
entirely around one roller of each pair of squeezing rollers, or one of said
rollers and one or more assisting rollers, the said assisting rollers
being driven at the same speed and having the same diameters as their
respective sets of squeezing rollers, substantially as herein set forth and for
purposes specified.
(2) In machines for mercerising warp yarns the combination with each set
or pair of nipping or squeezing rollers and extra guiding rollers, if required, of a
supplementary or, assisting roller or rollers having the same diameter or diameters
and speed of revolution, or same surface speed as their respective squeezing
rollers partially or almost entirely around which said assisting roller or rollers
the warp or yarn is caused to pass or lay itself in its forward traverse in the
manner and for the purposes substantially as herein shewn and described.
Dated this 31st day of January 1900.
TASKER & CROSSLEY,
Patent Agents, Huddersfield, Agents for Applicant.