Year: 1886

page_text: I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of the firm of A. M. and Wm. Clark, of
53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Fellow of the Institute of Patent
Agents, do hereby declare the nature of this Invention (a communication to me
from abroad by Joseph Hanson of 2510 Hancock Street, Philadelphia, in the
County of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, United States of America,
Dyer,) and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This Invention relates to a machine to facilitate the coloring of yara in the skein,
and the invention consists principally of a dyeing machine constructed with swifts
and rods or reels to hold the skeins, and adapted to be lowered into a tub for
immersing the skeins in the coloring liquid, the swifts being combined with means
for slowly turning the skeins, and the reels or lower rods with means for moving
the lowermost parts of the skeins to give them an up and down or floating action
in the coloring liquid.
The Invention also consists of a double construction or duplicate arrangement of
the swifts and rods with a central arrangement of bars, ways, and operating
mechanisin whereby the capacity of the machine is fully utilized and a desirable
equipose of parts effected.
The invention finally consists of the details of the machine, and its combination
and arrangement of parts all as hereinafter described and claimed.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this
specification in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all
the figures.
Figure 1 is a side view of the improved dyeing machine, the yarn holding fraide
being lowered.
Figure 2 is a plan view of the same.
Figure 3 is a cross sectional view on the line xx, Figure 1, parts being
broken out.
Figure 4 is a side view. Darts being broken and others shown in section.

page_text: Figure 5 is a full side view of a double machine with centrally arranged
operating mechanism, and
Figure 6 is a transverse sectional elevation of the same taken on the line y-y of
Figure 5.
"
Referring to Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 the vat or tank A for receiving and holding
the dyeing-liquid, rests upon and is secured to base rails A¹, to one of which a
track B, is secured, a like track B', being secured to the top of the vat and pro-
jecting beyond one end of the same. An upright frame C, at one side of the vat
has grooved rollers C₁ C², running on the tracks B B¹, thus permitting of moving
the frame parallel with the side of the vat.
A bent arm D, projects from the side of the vat at one end, and on the free end
of said arm a short shaft D', is journaled, on which are mounted the belt-pulley D
and the pinion D³. A frame E is mounted to slide vertically in the frame C, and
is provided at each end with a vertical rack E1, engaging with pinion F¹ on a
shaft F, journaled on the frame C parallel with the side of the vat, and provided
at one end with a bevel cog-wheel I. engaging with a bevel-pinion I on a short
shaft I, journaled on the frame C and having a crank handle 13. Ropes, chains, or
cables A are secured to the frame E, and pass over pulleys E2 on the upper ends of
the end standards C³, of the frame C, and to the other ends of said ropes or cables
balancing weights C are secured.
On the top bar F2, of the frame E a series of swifts G are journaled, which
project over the vat, and are formed of rods secured on hubs in the usual manner.
Each swift has a cog-wheel G¹, mounted rigidly on the shaft of the reel adjacent to
the bar F, the cog-wheels being arranged in two groups, and the cog-wheels of
each group engaging each other. On one reel of each group a ratchet wheel H is
mounted, and with said ratchet wheels, dogs or pawls J' engage, pivoted in rocking
levers J, mounted on the shafts of said reels and connected by a rod J¹. One of
the levers J is connected by a rod K, with a crank arm L¹, of a shaft L, journaled
in a standard of the frame, and having a rigidly mounted cog-wheel M, revolved
by a cog-wheel M¹, on the frame C, from the pinion D³ on the short shaft D¹ on
the arm D. Two or more guide arms N, project from the top bar F, of the
fraine E upward and toward the vat, and in the ends of said arms vertical roda O
are guided, which project upward from a horizontal frame P. formed of rods or
tubes Q, vertically below the reels G and transversely to the tanks, the said tubes
being suitably united at the ends nearest the frame, but having the other ends free
ns are also the corresponding ends of the swifts G. A rack R projecting upward
from the frame P is guided in an arm P¹, of the frame E, and engages with a cog-
wheel S, mounted on a shaft S¹, journaled in the arm P¹, and provided at its outer
end with a crank S², connected by a rod U, with the cog-wheel M.
In the construction thus far described it will be seen that the skein-holding
swifts, and lower rods, or reels Q, project from one side of the machine and that
the arrangement of the operating mechanism is also at one side of the apparatus
and at one side of the vat A.
The operation of this form of apparatus is as follows:-The frame E is raised by
turning the shaft F, and then the frame C and the raised frame E on it are pushed
beyond the end of the vat. The hanks W, of yarn are placed on the reels G, and
tle corresponding rods Q below the reels, and when all the reels are filled, the
frames C. E. are moved back until the reels G and tubes Q are over the vat and
then the frame E is lowered by moving the shaft F in the inverse direction and
thereby the hanks of yarns are immersed in the liquid in the vat. The cog-
wheel M¹ engages with the pinion D³ and thereby the cog wheel M₁is revolved.
The dogs J revolve the ratchet wheels H and thereby all the reels G are revolved
and the yarn is moved on the reels and tubes Q so that all parts are successively
immersed. At the same time the cog-wheel S is rocked and the frame P is worked
up and down and agitates the liquid in the vat. When the yarn has been in the
vat a sufficient time the frame E is raised the liquid is permitted to drip off from
the yarn and the frames C. E. are moved beyond the end of the vat. "The dyed

page_text: yarn is removed, fresh yarn is placed on the swits and reels and the operation
dyeing is repeated.
Referring to figures 5 and 6 of the drawings the dyeing apparatus is constructed
with a central arrangement of operating mechanism central to the vat, and central
to the main frame and the apparatus is constructed to carry skeins of yarn upon
both its sides so that the capacity of the apparatus is fully utilized and is balanced
upon the vat.
The main frame is composed of the two uprights B2 B3 supported
upon the upper edges of the vat upon the small wheels or rollers b b and connected
together by bars a at the axles of the wheels bb and the top shaft c which is
journaled in the short uprights a¹ a¹ and held from endwise movement by the
collars c c secured to the shaft each side of the short uprights a¹ so the shaft acts
also as a top tie rod to the main frame. Between the main uprights B³ B° hangs a
bar d the same being suspended from the top shaft c by the ropes or chains d¹ d¹
connected to the pulleys d d secured upon the shaft c so that by turning the
shaft c the bar d may be raised and lowered the movement being guided by the
flanges e formed upon the inner faces of the uprights B2 entering groove formed at
the ends of the bar d. The bar d is situated over the middle of the tub A and is
provided upon either side with a series of swifts ff which take the place of the
sticks used in the ordinary work by hand. The swifts fare adapted to be revolved
for slowly turning skeins of yarn placed upon them and for this purpose I place
the swifts upon spindles or shafts f' centrally journaled in the bar d and employ
the intermeshing pinions f2 one placed upon each shaft f¹ so that by one or more
cog wheels G' G³ and mechanism hereafter described motion may be imparted to
all of the swifts f upon both sides of the bar d. Below the bar d suspended from
the uprights g which rise from the bar d is another bar h upon either side of which
are held the lower skein-rods or reels jj equal in number to the swifts f. The
reels are supported by, and are adapted to turn upon, the rods or shafts ji passed
through the bar h and the said bar with its reels ; and rods ¹ is adapted to be
adjusted to and from the bar d to suit skeins of different lengths. This adjustment
is effected by the rack in secured to the bar and the pinion me and crank
shaft m² on which the pinion is secured to mesh with the rack so that by turning
the crank-shaft m³ the bar h may be raised or lowered as desired. To facilitate
this movement or adjustment of the bar h the same is counter-weighted by the
weights attached to the suspending ropes or chains which pass over
the pulleys and are attached to the upright rods k rising from the bar h. The
counter-balance weights also facilitate the constant up and down notion which
is given to the bar h in the operation of the machine for giving motion to the lower
parts of the skeins in the coloring liquids. And this up and down motion of the
bar his produced by the said rack m, pinion m', shaft m², lever or arm m³ attached
to the shaft m² and the connecting rod m connected to the said rod m³ and the
crank n of the crank shaft n the same being operated as next described. The
shaft n is journaled in uprights secured upon the bar hand upon said shaft is
secured the large cog-wheel o which is arranged to mesh with the cog-wheel p
when the bar d is lowered to the position shown in dotted lines in figure 6
to submerge the skeins in the coloring liquid in the vat. The cog wheel pis
revolved from the drive shaft q through the medium of the cog wheels shown
in figure 5 so that continuous rotary motion is imparted to the cog-wheel o which
revolves the shaft n and its two cranks n¹ n³. The crank n¹ is connected as above
described by connecting rod m* to the arm m³ on the shaft m³ and the crank n' is'
shorter than the arm m³ so the revolution of the crank n rocks or rotary
reciprocates the shaft m' which motion through the pinion m³ and rack m
vertically reciprocates the lower bar h and the reels attached thereto. The
crank is connected by the connecting rod w to the pawl lever v for reciprocating
the same.
To the side of the lever wis pivoted the pawl v arranged to engage
with the ratchet wheel secured to the cog wheel G2 so the reciprocation of the
leverv will intermittently revolve the wheel G2 which in turn will intermittently
revolve the whole series of pinions f' and swifts f.
2

page_text: To prevent binding and unnecessary friction among the pinions f² of the swifts
I employ the wheel G3 which is revolved in unison with the wheel G2 by the
ratchet &¹ pawl 82 and pawl lever 8 which is connected to the pawl lever by the
connecting rod 83 as shown clearly in figure 5 so the reciprocation of the lever v
imparts a like motion to the lever 8 causing the wheels G G³ to move exactly at
the same time.
The bars dh and the parts connected thereto are as above described suspended
from the top shaft c by chains that are attached to the pulleys so that by revolving
the shaft c the said bars and connected parts may be raised from and lowered into
the vat A. For revolving the shaft c for this purpose I employ the vertical worm
shaft y the worm t of which meshes with the worm pinion t¹ secured upon the
shaft c and I adapt the shaft y to be revolved by the crank shaft y' and the inter
meshing bevelled gear wheels u u² secured respectively upon the shafts y and y'
and to facilitate the raising and lowering of the bars d h I counterweight the same
by the heavy weights xx attached to the chains x¹x' attached to the pulleys x²x²
secured upon the shaft c shown clearly in the drawings.
In use, the apparatus being raised above the tub A the swifts are drawn off
from the spindles or shafts f filled one by one with yarn and placed back upon the
spindles, the corresponding rods or reels ; being removed and passed through the
skeins and the distance of the bar h being so adjusted to the bar d that the skeins
will not be stretched taut but left to play easily around the swifts and reels.
Or, the bar h can be raised close up to the bar d in which case the swifts are not
drawn off the spindles but changed by slipping the skeins simultaneously over the
swifts and the corresponding reels below whereupon all the swifts and reels being
changed the bar h is lowered the proper distance. Then the whole is lowered into
the tub A and the machine put in motion.
By the rotation of the swifts all the skeins upon them are given an intermittent
turning motion which gives the coloring liquid a better chance to penetrate the
skeins than by a continuous motion. By the simultaneous up and down motion of
the lower reels the coloring liquid is kept continually agitated and the skeins are
given a swinging motion keeping them open and at the same time sufficiently
stretched to prevent entangling..
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is;
1. The combination with the main stationary frame of vertically movable bars
provided with swifts and reels or rods for holding the skeins substantially as
set forth.
2. The vertically movable frames for carrying the skeins in combination with
means for turning the skeins.
3. The vertically movable frames for carrying the skeins in combination with
means for turning the skeins and means for moving the lower reels or rods that
hold the lowermost part of the skein.
4. The central bar & having swifts upon either side in combination with the
bar having reels or arms upon either side to correspond with the swifts.
5. The central bar d having side swifts combined with the vertical adjustable
bar h provided with side reels or rods substantially as described.
6. The central bar h provided with the spindle f¹ and the swifts f substantially
as described.
7. The combination with the main frame adapted to move horizontally upon the
vat A and carrying a vertically movable frame which can be lowered into the vat
substantially as described.
8. The bar h counter weighted from the uprights to be carried by the bar d
substantially as described.
9. The bar d suspended from the shaft c in combination with means for turning
the shaft c for raising and lowering the bar & substantially as described.

page_text: 10. The bar h provided with rack k in combination with the bar d and pinion m¹
and crank shaft m³ for lowering the bar h substantially as described.
11. The swifts provided with pinions f' in combination with the gear wheel G
and means for revolving the wheel as and for the purposes set forth.
12. The vertically movable bar d carrying gear wheel o in combination with the
stationary gear wheel p substantially as described.
13. The bar & carrying swifts f upon both of its sides substantially as described.
14. The bar h carrying reels or rods upon both of its sides substantially as
described.
15. The bar d suspended from the shaft c the bar being counter weighted by
the weights substantially as described.
16. The combination with a vat of the frame C at one side of the same the
vertically sliding frame E on the frame C, the reels G on the frame E and cog-
wheels and ratchet wheels for revolving the reels substantially as herein shown
and described.
17. The combination with a vat of the frame C at one side of the same, the
vertically sliding frame E on the frame C, the reels G on the frame E, cog wheels
and ratchet wheels for revolving the reels, the vertically reciprocating frame P and
gearing for reciprocating the same substantially as herein shown and described.
18. The combination with a vat of the frame C, the vertically sliding frame E
having arms N, the reciprocating frame P having guide rods O passed through the
arms N, gearing for reciprocating the frame P, reels G on the frame E and gear
wheels and cog wheels for revolving the reels, substantially as herein shown and
described.
19. The combination with the vat A of the frame C, the vertically movable
frame E, the vertically reciprocating frame P, the rack R on the same, the cog
wheel S, the shaft S¹, the arin S, the rod U, the cog wheel M, the shaft L, the
crank L', the rocking arms J, the pawls J', the ratchet wheel H, the cog wheels G¹,
and the reels G, all on the frame E, substantially as herein shown and described.
Dated this 5th day of May 1886