IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS USED IN FINISHING WOOLLEN AND OTHER TEXTILE FABRICS."
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Benjamin Dickinson and John Platts, of Clough
House Mill, near Huddersfield, in the County of York, Cloth Dressers,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS USED
IN FINISHING WOOLLEN AND OTHER TEXTILE FABRICS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Benjamin Dickinson
and John Platts at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
their Petition, on the 3rd March 1855.
We, BENJAMIN DICKINSON and JOHN PLATTS, of Clough House Mill, near
Huddersfield, in the County of York, Cloth Dressers, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS
USED IN FINISHING WOOLLEN AND OTHER TEXTILE FABRICS" to be as follows:-
Our Invention relates to "raising gigs," and consists, firstly, in a mode or
method of applying and using cards instead of feasles on the revolving cylinder
thereof. Heretofore cards have been applied in sheets the whole length or
width of the cylinder; but, owing to the cloth or fabric to be raised not being
evenly woven, or being of unequal tension, the slack parts cannot be raised
evenly with the other parts. By our Invention the cards are applied in
detached parts or in diagonal squares of cards and spaces, thus forming a
checkered surface of the cylinder, by which contrivance the slack parts of the
fabric are also brought in contact more effectively with the cards, whereby an
even "finish" is obtained.
Secondly, we alternately lift or remove from contact the piece rollers with
the driving rollers, as the piece or fabric is traversed backward and forward,

page_text: when such roller is delivering or giving off, and by applying a break or drag
thereto, keep the fabric on the stretch, whereby we prevent creasing.
Thirdly, we employ a roller set with teeth or points in rapid motion applied
to the cylinder, for the purpose of clearing or cleaning the cards as they pass.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Benjamin Dickinson and John Platts, in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 3rd September 1855.
:
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, BENJAMIN
DICKINSON and JOHN PLATTS, of Clough House Mill, near Huddersfield,
in the County of York, Cloth Dressers, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Royal
Letters Patent, bearing date the Third day of March, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the eighteenth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
us, the said Benjamin Dickinson and John Platts, Her special licence that we,
the said Benjamin Dickinson and John Platts, our executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as we, the said Benjamin Dickinson and John
Platts, 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 therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS USED IN FINISHING WOOLLEN AND OTHER TEXTILE
FABRICS," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said Benjamin
Dickinson and John Platts, 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 the 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 and immediately after
the date of the said Royal Letters Patent.
IN
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Benjamin Dickinson and John Platts,
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) :-
Our Invention relates to "raising gigs," and consists, firstly, in a mode or
method of applying and using cards instead of teasles on the revolving cylinder

page_text: thereof. Heretofore cards have been applied in sheets the whole length or
width of the cylinder, but, owing to the cloth or fabric to be raised not being
evenly woven or being of unequal tension, the slack parts cannot be raised
evenly with the other parts. By our Invention the cards are applied in
detached parts, or in diagonal squares of cards and spaces, thus forming a
checkered surface on the cylinder, by which contrivance the slack parts of the
fabric are also brought in contact more effectually with the cards, whereby an
even "finish" is obtained.
Secondly, we alternately lift or remove from contact the piece rollers with
the driving rollers, as the piece or fabric travels backwards and forwards when
the roller is delivering or giving off, and by applying a brake or drag thereto,
keep the fabric on the stretch, and thus prevent creasing.
Thirdly, we employ a roller set with teeth or points in rapid motion, applied
to the cylinder for the purpose of clearing or cleaning the cards as they pass.
But our Invention will be clearly understood by reference to the accompanying
Sheet of Drawings and the letters of reference thereon.
Fig. 1 is a front elevation and Fig. 2 is an end elevation of a "raising gig"
with our improvements attached. a is the revolving cylinder, and in place of
the ordinary "tensle rods" are lags or bars of wood b, on which the cards c
are nailed in detached parts, forming alternately cards and spaces, thereby pro-
ducing a checkered or uneven surface on the cylinder; d and d¹ are the driving
rollers, and e and e' the piece rollers; f represents pullies or brake wheels
fixed on the ends of the rollers d and e; and g represents cords or straps with
weights for producing friction thereto, and consequently will brake, drag, or
retard the rollers; h, a shaft carrying the arms i near each end; and j, a lever
fixed on the end of the shaft, for lifting alternately the piece rollers from
contact with the driving rollers; k, a rack-plate for holding the lever and
consequently the rollers e in the desired position; l, a roller set with teeth or
points or brush for clearing or cleansing the cards on the cylinder by being
caused to revolve at a greater speed than the cylinder; m, n, pullies for
communicating motion to the roller by a cross belt o from the cylinder a.
The other parts of the machine not being new are well understood by those
conversant with "raising gigs."
Having thus described the nature of our Invention, we will now proceed to
shew how the same is carried into practical effect. The woollen cloth or other
fabric to be raised being wound on the roller e¹, and passing. round or under the
roller d' and under the roller p, and thence over the roller d to the roller e,
which is now shewn to be in contact with or resting upon its driving roller d,
whilst e' is raised or removed from contact with its driver d by means of the

page_text: lever j, and held in that position by a pin in the rack plate passing through the
lever j. The machine being put in motion, the piece or pieces will be drawn
by the nip of the rollers d, e, from the roller e', passing in contact with the cards
on the cylinder and wound on to the roller e, and by means of the brake or
drag on e¹ and d the fabric will be held on the stretch, preventing doubling
or creasing, and the spaces betwixt the cards on the cylinder allowing such
relaxation that the slack parts of the fabric can be operated upon more
effectually by the cards. On the action of the driving rollers being reversed,
and the fabric caused to travel in the contrary direction, the piece roller e' is
lowered or brought into contact with its driver, at the same time the roller e
will be lifted or removed from contact with its driver by means of the lever j,
and the operation will thus be continued.
Having thus fully described and ascertained the nature and particulars of
our Invention, and the manner of carrying the same into practical effect, we
would have it distinctly understood that we do not confine ourselves to the
precise details of construction or application of apparatus as herein shewn,
as such may be varied or modified without departing from the spirit of the
Invention, but we claim as of our Invention,-
First, the application and use of cards as herein described, or any modification
thereof.
Second, the lifting or removing from contact with its driver the piece roller,
whilst delivering or letting off the fabric.
And, third, the use of a toothed roller or brush for cleaning the cards whilst
the machine is working.
In witness whereof, we, the said Benjamin Dickinson and John Platts,
have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Thirty-first day of August,
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five.
BENJAMIN DICKINSON.
JOHN PLATTS.
Signed, scaled, and delivered by the within-named
Benjamin Dickinson and John Platts, in the
presence of
W TASKER,
Patent Agent, Halifax.
(L.S.)
(L.S.)