Improvements in Apparatus for "Mercerising" Cotton Cloth under Tension.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Oct., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 21st July, 1900-Accepted, 25th Aug., 1900
Improvements in Apparatus for "Mercerising" Cotton Cloth under
Tension.
I, FRANK COCHRANE, of Peel Dye Works, Newton Heath, Manchester, in the
County of Lancaster, Dyer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
The principle of "mercerising" cotton cloth under tension well known and
is as follows:-
When vegetable fibres (such as cotton for example) are immersed in a strong
solution of caustic soda they contract in length about 25 per cent. and undergo
considerable physical and chemical alteration. If this contraction be prevented
the fibre assumes a more or less silk-like appearance, but it is necessary that
before the cloth is released from tension the caustic soda should be washed off or
neutralized.
The improved apparatus consists of an arrangement for impregnating and
stretching the cloth, and then washing off the caustic soda, and comprises first
an impregnating vat, secondly a stretching apparatus, and thirdly a washing-off
tank, all arranged together so as to form one continuous and self-contained
machine.
In the impregnating tank, which contains the caustic soda solution I mount a
drum covered with india rubber or other suitable substance or composition, and
the cotton cloth passes first over a guide roller (or over and under tension rails)
and then underneath the drum through the caustic soda solution. Or, instead of
an india rubber covered drum. I may use a pair of divergent dises made and
mounted like the "stretching discs hereinafter described.
33
"
The cloth next passes out of the tank between two squeezing rollers grooved
at their ends and then directly over the stretching apparatus which is somewhat
of the ordinary form known as a "belt stretcher consisting of two discs set
at diverging angles at a suitable distance apart from each other; their edges
may be covered with grooved vulcanite, earthenware glaze or other suitable
material.
Endless wires tightly stretched lie in these grooves, and the selvedges of the
cloth lie in the said grooves beneath the wires which thus nip the cloth, and
as the diverging discs revolve they stretch the cloth and deliver it wider than
they receive it.
These two diverging discs may be set upon a central revolving shaft, means
being provided for adjusting their distance apart from each other according to the
width of the cloth and also for adjusting their angle of divergence so as to give
the required amount of stretch, but according to my invention I prefer to
mount each stretching disc upon a separate axle or stud which does not revolve
but is so mounted in adjustable bearings or blocks as to allow of the necessary
amount of adjustment being given to the discs, and also to allow of the distance
between the discs being adjusted to the width of the cloth. In this case the

page_text: discs are preferably caused to revolve upon their axes by means of endless ropes,
bands, or the like working in deep grooves formed in the outer periphery of the
discs near the outer edge thereof, or otherwise, so that the discs receive their motion
at or near their circumference, instead of being driven by a central' revolving
shaft.
The upper squeezing roller may be plain and the other grooved and made
adjustable in its width so as to bring its grooves (in which the wires lie) in a line
with the grooves in the stretching discs. This may be effected by making the
roller, short and with grooved metallic ends adjustable upon the axle, so that
one or more washers or bushes of similar material and diameter to the main
portion may be introduced between the body of the roller and the grooved ends
for adjusting the position of the grooves whilst passing round the stretching
discs, but before reaching the point of delivery, the excess of caustic alkaline
solution is squeezed out of the edges of the fabric by soft rubber squeezing rollers
provided for that purpose and so mounted as to be capable of adjustment.
Just before reaching the most diverging points on the stretching discs and
whilst still held by the wires, the cloth passes over two perforated spurt pipes
through one of which water is forced onto the under or face side of the cloth
(for washing purposes). The second spurt pipe, if necessary will be between
the points of leaving the discs and of entering the squeezing rollers. This wi!!
act on the upper side of the cloth which passes through a second pair of squeezing
rollers, and then through the washing-off tank and over a guide roller to the
batching apparatus.
In the washing-off tank the cloth is carried round a second pair of adjustable
diverging discs with grooved vulcanite edges.
The endless wires at each side pass round the grooves in the edges of all the
rollers and discs and the rubber-covered drum, so as to keep the edges of the cloth
held firmly in a state of tension, and prevent shrinkage.
At the delivery end of the machine the endless wires pass over the delivery
roller, back again under the apparatus to the front taking-in roller and so on,
separate weights being hung on each of the wires between two horizontal
rollers so as to keep the wires always at an equal tension. On their
return journey the wires
are carried round a grooved pulley at each
side and these pulleys are preferably mounted on the same axle and driven by
means of an endless belt or band from the shafting or other source of power, and
the endless wires and the rope or chain thus actuated cause all the revolving
parts to move at the same surface speed as the wires.
One of the most important features of this machine is that the cloth is nowhere
pulled by itself but is always carried along at the required speed and tension.
The batching is performed from the last roller at the point where the wires
leave the cloth.
TF 01.
Ontah 1800
Improvements in Apparatus for "Mercerising" Cotton Cloth under
Tension.
I, FRANK COCHRANE, of Peel Dye Works, Newton Heath, Manchester, in the
County of Lancaster, Dyer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention

page_text: and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The principle of "mercerising" cotton cloth under tension is well known and
is as follows:.
When vegetable fibres (such as cotton for example) are immersed in a strong
solution of caustic soda they contract in length about 25 per cent. and undergo
considerable physical and chemical alteration.
If this contraction be prevented the fibre assumes a more or less silk-like
appearance, but it is necessary that before the cloth is released from tension the
caustic soda should be washed off or neutralized.
The manner in which my said invention is to be performed or carried into
practical effect will be readily understood on reference to the two sheets of
drawings hereunto annexed and the following explanation thereof.
On Sheet 1 of the drawings Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my improved apparatus
and on Sheet 2 of the drawings, Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Figs. 1ª, 3
and 4 are views of detached parts hereinafter more particularly referred to.
The improved apparatus consists of an arrangement for impregnating and
stretching the cloth, and then washing off the caustic soda, and comprises first
an impregnating vat. Secondly a stretching apparatus and thirdly a washing-off
tank all arranged together on a suitable framing so as to form a self-contained
machine.
a is the main framing and 6 the impregnating tank which contains the caustic
solution.
On this tank I mount a drum e covered with india rubber or other suitable sub-
stance or composition, and the cotton cloth (represented by the dotted line) passes
first over a guide roller d and then underneath the drum e through the caustic
solution as shown at Fig. 1. Or, instead of an india rubber covered drum, I may
use a pair of divergent discs cc (as shown on Fig. 2) made and mounted like
the stretching discs" hereinafter described.
(the
The cloth next passes out of the tank b between two squeezing rollers
lower one being grooved at the ends) and then directly over the stretching
apparatus which is somewhat of the ordinary form known as a belt-stretcher
consisting of two discs e e* set at diverging angles (see Fig. 2) at a suitable
distance apart from each other, and their edges may be covered with grooved
vulcanite, earthenware glaze, or other suitable material and provided with a series
of circumferential grooves 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 as seen at full size section of the rim of
the disc e at Fig. 4.
Endless wires tightly stretched lie in these grooves, and the selvedges of the
cloth lie in the said grooves beneath the wires which thus nip the cloth, and as
the diverging discs e and revolve they stretch the cloth and deliver it wider
than they receive it.
These two diverging discs e and e³ may be set upon a central revolving shaft.
means being provided for adjusting their distance apart from each other according
to the width of the cloth, and also for adjusting their angle of divergence so as
to give the required amount of stretch, but according to my invention I prefer
to mount each stretching disc upon a separate axle or stud f which does not
revolve but is so mounted on bearings or blocks g h the former swivelling in the
frame and the latter sliding in curved slots in the bridge piece i fixed on the
framing, the part of the axles f which passes through the block 9 being provided
with a screw thread working in a nut in the said block so as to allow of the
distance between the discs being adjusted to the width of the cloth, whilst the
curved slots in the bridge-pieces allow of their adjustment to any angle of
divergence required.
e
In this case the discs and e* are caused to revolve by means of endless ropes
or bands (or the like) working in deep grooves 7 formed in the outer periphery
of the discs (see Fig. 4) near to the edge thereof, or otherwise, so that the discs

page_text: receive their motion at or near their circumference instead of being driven by a
central revolving shaft.
The upper squeezing roller (* (see detached face view Fig. 3) may be plain,
and the lower one grooved and made adjustable in its width so as to bring its
grooves (in which the endless wires lie) in a line with the grooves of the stretch-
ing discs e. This may be effected by making the roller short and with grooved
metallic ends f* adjustable upon the axle (see Fig. 3) so that one or more washers
or bushes g, of similar material and diameter to the main portion may be intro-
duced between the body of the roller, and the grooved ends f for adjusting
the position of the grooves.
Whilst passing round the stretching discs e* but before reaching the point of
delivery the excess of caustic alkaline solution due to imperfect pressure where
the wires lie upon the cloth is squeezed out of the edges of the fabric by soft
rubber squeezing rollers h (Fig. 1) provided for that purpose and preferably so
mounted as to be capable of adjustment.
Just before reaching the most diverging points on the stretching discs, and
whilst still held by the endless wires, the cloth passes over two pairs of perforated
spurt pipes and through one pair of which water is forced onto the under
or face side of the sloth (for washing purposes).
The second pair of spurt pipes ), if necessary will be between the points of
leaving the discs e* and entering the second pair of squeezing rollers k. This
will act on the upper side of the cloth which passes through the second squeezing
rollers k, and then through the washing-off tank to the batching or plaiting-
down apparatus.
In the washing-off tank the cloth is carried round another pair of adjustable
diverging discs with grooved vulcanite edges. The endless wires at each side
follow the same course as the endless driving ropes passing above the cloth
round the shallower grooves 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, in the edges of the discs and rollers
so as to keep the edges of the cloth held firmly in a state of tension, and prevent
shrinkage.
At the delivery end of the machine the endless wires pass over the delivery
roller m and. back again under the apparatus to the front taking-in roller and so
on, separate weights n (Fig. 1) being hung on each of the wires between the two
horizontal rollers o so as to keep the wires always at an equal tension. On their
return journey the wires are carried round a grooved pulley p at each side and
these pulleys are preferably mounted on the same axle q, and driven by means
of an endless belt or band from the shafting or other source of power, and the
endless wires and the rope or chain * thus actuated cause all the revolving
parts to move at the same surface speed as the wires and the cloth.
One of the most important features of this machine is that the clot is nowhere
pulled by itself but is always carried along by the endless wires at the required
speed and tension.
The batching or plaiting-down of the cloth is performed in any convenient
known manner from the last or delivery roller m where the wires leave the
cloth.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that
what I claim is:-
I. The improved apparatus for “mercerising" cotton cloth under tension con-
sisting principally in the combination in one self contained machine of an
impregnating vat, disc stretching apparatus, and washing-off tank substantially
as hereinbefore described and illustrated by the drawings annexed.
2. In an apparatus for "mercerising" cotton cloth under tension the com-
bination with adjustable divergent stretching discs (provided with grooved edges
or rims) of endless wires under tension lying in the said grooves and firmly holding
the edges of the cotton fabric as it is being stretched in width and passed through
the apparatus,

page_text: 3. The method of mounting such divergent grooved discs so that each disc turns
loosely upon a stud which is carried in blocks so that each pair of discs can be
adjusted both as to their respective distance apart and also as to their angle
of divergence and of driving such divergent discs and their endless wires all at
the same surface speed by means of endless ropes, bands, or chains substantially as
hereinbefore described.
4. The method of applying equal tension to all the endless wires of such
mercerising" apparatus by hanging a separate weight upon each wire as it
returns from the delivery end to the feeding end of such apparatus substantially
as hereinbefore described and illustrated.
Tatad this 20th dov of Tul. 1000
GEO. DAVIES & SON,
Agents for the Applicant, 4, St. Ann's Square, Manchester.