IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR CLEANING AND FINISHING WOVEN FABRICS
Year: 1852

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Prestwich the elder, Samuel Prestwich,
and John Prestwich the younger, all of Farnworth, near Bolton,
in the County of Lancaster, Spinners and Manufacturers, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR
CLEANING AND FINISHING WOVEN FABRICS."
Sealed the 22nd January 1853, and dated the 5th October 1852.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Prestwich
the elder, Samuel Prestwich, and John Prestwich the younger, at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their Petition,
on the 5th October 1852.
We, JOHN PRESTWICH the elder, SAMUEL PRESTWICH, and JOHN
PRESTWICH the younger, all of Farnworth, near Bolton, in the County
of Lancaster, Spinners & Manufacturers, do hereby declare the nature.
of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS
FOR CLEANING AND FINISHING WOVEN FABRICS" to be as follows, by which
we improve their appearance, and consequently increase their value:-
We pass the cloths in its rough state through or between several
pins or rails, and over a doctor or cleaning beam, and over a steam

page_text: chest; which steam, for many kinds of goods, will be found sufficient
without size of any description; but where size is necessary, we have
only to fix a size trough, and convey the cloth through it previous
to reaching to steam chest. From the steam chest the cloth passes
over a stretcher, and then through or between the calender bowls, which
is driven by wheel gearing or friction discs in the usual manner. These
improvements will be easily understood by reference to the accompany-
ing outline sketch or drawing, in which the same letters of reference
are-used to represent similar parts. a, represents the frame; b, the
cloth in the rough state; c, fixed pins or rails through which the cloth
threads passes; d, conducting roller; e, the doctor or cleaner; f, the
steam pipe which conducts the steam to the steam chest; g, h, guide
rollers to conduct the cloths over the steam chest; i, i, a stretcher;
k, the calender rollers; 1, the cloth beam; m, the driving wheel; and
n, friction discs or rollers.
с
We wish it to be distinctly understood that this is only an outline
description of our Invention, which we shall more fully and clearly
explain in our Complete Specification.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent
filed by the said John Prestwich the elder, Samuel Prestwich,
and John Prestwich the younger, in the Great Seal Patent Office,
on the 16th March 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we,
JOHN PRESTWICH the elder, SAMUEL PRESTWICHI, and JOHN PRESTWICH
the younger, all of Farnworth, near Bolton, in the County of Lancaster,
Spinners and Manufacturers, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by
Her Royal Letters Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of October, in the
sixteenth year of Her reign, and in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and fifty-two, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto us, the said John Prestwich the elder, Samuel Prest-
wich, and John Prestwich the younger, Her special license that we, the

page_text: said John Prestwich the elder, Samuel Prestwich, and John Prestwich
the younger, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
we, the said John Prestwich the elder, Samuel Prestwich, and John
Prestwich the younger, our executors, administrators, and assigns, should
at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all
times thereafter during the term of years therein expressed, should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United King-
dom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of
Man, our Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR
CLEANING AND FINISHING WOVEN FABRICS," upon the condition (amongst
others) that we, the said John Prestwich the elder, Samuel Prestwich,
and John Prestwich the younger, by an instrument in writing under
our hands and seals, or under the hand and seal of one of us, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of our said Invention, and
in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to
be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months
next immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent, as
reference being thereunto had will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said John Prestwich the elder,
Samuel Prestwich, and John Prestwich the younger, do hereby declare
the nature of our said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement (that is to say):
It is well known that most woven fabrics require what is technically
called finishing, after being woven; for which purpose several machines
are now used, as the scouring machine, sizing machine, callender
machine, &c., all of which processes we accomplish by our improved
machine at one operation; and, although it may not be applicable to
all kinds of woven fabrics, it will be found efficient for many kinds.
It is customary in all woven fabrics to size the warp before weaving;
but as the weft is not sized, the surface of the fabric has generally a
rough or oozy appearance; to remedy this defect such goods are
generally sized and calendered; but we find by experience that steaming
is generally sufficient, as by passing them through or over a steam
chest the size in the warp becomes softened, and then whilst it is soft

page_text: -
passing the goods -immediately between callender rollers in the same
machine, the size becomes spread or equalized through the fabric, and
receives a finished surface, at once without further process. But it is
evident that this result will depend much upon the quantity and quality
of the size in the warp, as if that is deficient in either quantity or
quality it will be necessary to introduce some additional size into the
.woven fabric, for which purpose we have only to fix a size trough in
our improved machine between the doctor and the steam chest, in
which trough size, hot water; or steam may be introduced; thus still
making one machine answer all the necessary purposes, as before men-
tioned, and economizing both the expence of machinery, and cost of size
and labor; but as this will not be found generally necessary we have
not introduced it in the Drawings. This our improved machine or
apparatus will be perfectly understood by all persons conversant with
the art of finishing woven fabrics by reference to the accompanying
Sheet of Drawings, in which the same letters of reference are used to
represent similar parts in each view. Figure 1, represents an elevation
of our improved machine; and Figuré. 2; a plan thereof.; a, represents
the roller on which the fabric is wound previous to undergoing the
process of finishing; b,..a frame on which is fixed guide pins or small
rollers to keep the fabric straight, and guide it to the doctor c, over.
which it passes on its way to the steam chest. This.doctor is.for the
purpose of cleaning and preparing the fabric before the size is softened,
and may be made of wood or metal with either a feather or corrugated
edge as may be found most effectual for the purpose required, or in
some cases it may be found. necessary to use a stationary or revolving
brush for the purpose. d, is a steam pipe which conveys the steam:
from the boiler. to the steam box c, over, which the fabric is passed and
guided by rollers to the stretcher f, from which it passes through the
callender rollers g, and h, to the receiving roller i, when the fabric is
finished. If it should be found necessary to introduce a little more size
into some kinds of goods, we have merely to fix a size trough between
the doctor and steam chest, as.herein-before stated, and guide the fabric
through it by means of rollers in any convenient manner.
Having now fully described the nature and particulars of this our.

page_text: Invention, we desire it to be distinctly understood that we do not con-
fine ourselves to the exact details herein described, as such may be
varied without departing from the principle thereof. But what we
claim as of our Invention, and which we believe to be new, is, the
arrangement and construction of a machine or apparatus with rollers,
guide pins, doctor, steam box, and callender bowls, as herein described,
by which the cloth or fabric is finished at one operation.
In witness whereof, we, the said John Prestwich the elder, Samuel
Prestwich, and John Prestwich the younger, or one of us, have
hereunto set our hands and seals or hand and seal, this Fifth
day of March, One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three.
5 Signed, sealed, and delivered
in the presence of
E. J. HUGHES,
SAMUEL PRESTWICH. (L.S.)
Patent Agent,
Manchester.
(L.S.)