Improved Means of and Apparatus for Damping or Humidifying Yarns.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Feb., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Dec., 1892-Accepted, 7th Jan., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means of and Apparatus for Damping or Humidifying
Yarns.
I, JAMES TOWNSLEY PEARSON of St. James' Hall, Burnley, in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates firstly to the employment and adaptation of damp surfaces
or sheets for the humidification or conditioning of yarn in doffing cans or skips or
other receptacles.
In carrying out this part of my invention, I form a suitable stand, trolley or
overhead carriage, which supports a roll of damp canvas or cloth in one continuous
length, or separate sheets of canvas may be used, if desired, the degree of moisture
contained in the damp canvas or cloth being regulated by a pair of squeezing rollers.
The yarn may be taken direct from the mule-spindles, and laid in layers upon a
series of trays of zine, or any suitable material perforated or otherwise, deposited
in the doffing can or skip, and between each layer, or between two or more layers, a
fold or two or more folds of the damp canvas or cloth may be laid.
doffing can or skip is full of yarn, interlaid between the damp sheets of cloth, and
the trays as above described, it is then allowed to remain, say for twenty-four
hours, when the yarn will have absorbed the moisture from the canvas or cloth,
when it is then ready for use, or ready to be packed in skips for transit.
When the
Instead of humidifying the yarn in doffing cans or skips as above described, it
may be humidified in a somewhat similar manner between trays and damp sheets in
an apparatus consisting of a rectangular framework of wood or other suitable
material. Within this frame, and at each end thereof, is preferably arranged a
rising and falling slide piece, having secured thereto a series of transverse ribs,
which support the perforated trays, sufficiently apart from each other, to admit of
the yarn being deposited thereon, clear of the next tray of yarn, and between each
tray of yarn is interlaid a sheet of damp canvas or cloth.
In commencing operation, the slide pieces and transverse ribs above described are
raised to their highest position by turning a handle attached to a side shaft, which
imparts motion by bevel gear to upright screw spindles acting in chased bushes,
which are fixed one to each side piece. The first tray is then deposited on the
lowest ribs of the slide pieces, so as to be within easy reach of the person laying
or filling the trays with yarn.
When the first tray is filled, a covering of damp cloth or the like is placed
over it, when the slide pieces are then lowered to bring the next ribs into position
for the next tray, which is then filled with yarn and provided with a damp covering
similar to the first, and so on with each succeeding tray, each tray being always at
the same height whilst being filled.
By this arrangement of trays, air will freely circulate between each tray, and
the latter being supported between the transverse ribs of the slide pieces will
entirely relieve the yarn from the accumulated weight of the material on the trays
above.
In a modification of the above apparatus, instead of attaching the ribs to the

page_text: vertical slide pieces as above described, I attach them to each end of a wagon, the
wheels of which are capable of travelling upon strips or rails direct into
the interior of the rectangular framing. The strips or rails are connected to the
slide pieces, so that the wagon may be raised on turning the handle to bring the
lowest grooves at the ends of the wagon to a position ready for the insertion of
the first tray upon it, when the tray is then filled with yarn and lowered. Another
tray is then dealt with in a similar manner and so on with the rest.
The invention also relates to an improved apparatus for humidifying yarn by a
process of steaming, and may consist of a steam-tight chest, in which revolves a
perforated or grated cylinder, provided with a lid for the introduction of the
yarn or the like to be humidified. During the process of humidification steam
is admitted to the chest at any desired pressure or duration, a steam valve or tap
being provided for this purpose.
Or, the apparatus may consist of a revolving rectangular box or receptacle,
provided with internal partitions or divisions, in which yarn is deposited for
humidification, steam being admitted through the axis of the revolving box or
receptacle, which is provided with a suitable stuffing box for this purpose.
The next part of my invention relates to the humidification of yarn on warping
mills.
In this instance, I condition or humidify the yarn by clothing the mill, before
commencing the operation of warping, with damp sheets, containing a suitable
amount of moisture. Upon this wall or surface of canvas or cloth, is wound
the yarn say to the extent of a whole warp, when the mill is again clothed
with damp sheets, upon which another warp length may be wound and clothed
in like manner.
Several warps may thus be wound upon the mill, and each warp
separated from the rest, by a wall of damp canvas or cloth as above described, so
that when the several warps are subsequently balled from the mill, the warp
threads will have no tendency to gather upon each other. The number and
disposition of the damp surfaces or sheets may be varied with respect to the layers
of warp upon the mill as may be desired.
Dated this First day of February 1892.
THOS. RICHMOND,
Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means of and Apparatus for Damping or Humidifying
Yarns.
I, JAMES TOWNSLEY PEARSON of St. James Hall, Burnley, in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer, 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 relates firstly to the employment and adaptation of damp surfaces
or sheets for the humidification or conditioning of yarn in doffing cans or skips or
other receptacles.
In carrying out this part of my invention, I form a suitable stand, trolley or
carriage, which supports a roll of damp canvas or cloth in one continuous length,
or separate sheets of canvas may be used, if desired; the degree of moisture con-
tained in the damp canvas or cloth being regulated by a pair of squeezing rollers.
The yarn may be taken direct from the mule spindles, and laid in layers upon a
series of trays of zinc or other suitable material perforated or otherwise, deposited
in the doffing can or skip, and between each layer, or between two or more layers,
a fold or two or more folds of the damp canvas or cloth may be laid. When the
doffing can or skip is full of yarn interlaid between the damp sheets of cloth, and
the trays as above described, it is then allowed to remain a sufficient length of
time, when the yarn will have absorbed the moisture from the canvas or cloth, when
it is then ready for use, or ready to be packed into skips for transit.

page_text: Instead of humidifying yarn in doffing cans or skips as above described, it may
be humidified in a somewhat similar manner between trays and damp sheets in an
apparatus consisting of a rectangular framework of wood or other suitable material.
Within the frame, and at each end thereof, is preferably arranged a rising and
falling slide piece, having secured thereto a series of transverse ribs, which support
the perforated trays, sufficiently apart. from each other to admit of the yarn being
deposited thereon, clear of the next tray of yarn, and between each tray of yarn
is interlaid a sheet of damp canvas or cloth.
In commencing operation, the slide pieces and transverse ribs above described
are raised or wound up to their highest position by turning a handle. The first
tray is then deposited on the lowest ribs of the slide pieces, so as to be within easy
reach of the person laying or filling the trays with yarn. When the first tray is
filled, a covering or damp cloth or the like is placed over it, when the slide pieces
are then lowered to bring the next ribs into position for the next tray, which is
then filled with yarn, and provided with a damp covering, similar to the first, and
so on with each succeeding tray; each tray being always at the same height whilst
being filled. By this arrangement of trays, air will freely circulate between each
tray, and the latter, being supported between the transverse ribs of the slide pieces,
will entirely relieve the yarn from the accumulated weight of material on the trays
above.
In a modification of the above apparatus, instead of attaching the ribs to the
vertical slide pieces as above described, I attach them to each end of a wagon. The
wagon may he raised on turning the handle, to bring the lowest groove at the end
of the wagon to a position ready for the insertion of the first tray upon it, when the
tray is then filled with yarn and lowered. Another tray is then dealt with in a
similar manner, and so on with the rest.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figs. 1 and 2 represent my improved means of and apparatus for humidifying
yarn in doffing cans or skips.
Fig. 3 is a side elevation and Fig. 4 an end view of an apparatus or machine, in
which yarn is conditioned or humidified.
In Fig. 1, A is a stand, trolley or carriage, on the top of which is mounted a roll
of damp canvas or cloth B, superfluous moisture being expressed therefrom by
means of a pair of ordinary squeezing rollers. The doffing can or skip C is placed
between the uprights of the stand, trolley or carriage, when a length of cloth is
drawn from the roll B, and laid in the said doffing can or skip.
In doffing, the attendant takes an armful of cops from the mule spindles, and
deposits them upon the damp sheet in the bottom of the skip C, when the
yarn is
then covered up with one or more layers of damp canvas from the roll B. Another
armful is then deposited and treated in like manner, and so on until the doffing can
or skip is filled with yarn. The yarn is then allowed to remain between the damp
surfaces or sheets a sufficient length of time to absorb the moisture from the layers
of damp canvas or sheets, and is then ready for use, or ready to be packed into
skips for transit.
In Fig. 2, the canvas B is shewn as deposited in layers in water tank D, any
excess of moisture being expressed therefrom by the squeezing rollers E and E,
the laying of the yarn and damp sheets being the same as described in relation to
Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a side elevation, and Fig. 4 an end view of an apparatus or machine
adapted for the humidification of yarn. The framework of the apparatus may
consist of four uprights G, in each of which works a vertical slide-piece, terminating
below in a lip or projecting piece I, whilst at each end of the machine the two
slide pieces at their upper ends are connected together by a cross or stay piece J
having a hook K. To these hooks, cords or chains L and L' are attached. The
cord L is conveyed over pulleys M and N, and is then attached to the roll O fixed
to the cross shaft P, whilst the other cord L' is conveyed over the pulley R, and
attached in like manner to the roll Q. To the cross shaft P is secured the worm

page_text: wheel Q, in which gears the worm S, secured to the short shaft T, to one end of
which is fixed a handle U, which when turned will raise or lower the whole of the
slide pieces. Transverse ribs may be attached to the slide pieces at each end of
the machine to support the trays hereinafter described.
Before commencing to fill the apparatus with yarn to be humidified, the slide
pieces are raised to their highest position by turning the handle U, when the tray
is then slid forward upon the lowest transverse ribs of the slide pieces, and filled
with one or more layers of yarn, over which a damp covering or sheet is thrown.
The handle is then turned to lower the slide pieces and transverse ribs for the
reception of the next tray, on which the yarn is deposited and clothed with a damp
surface or sheet, when the slide pieces are again lowered for another tray, and so
on with the rest of the series of trays and deposits of yarn.
It will thus be evident, that by the above apparatus, the attendant can maintain
an upright and easy position whilst filling the trays.
In a modification of my invention, I fix the transverse ribs to each end of a
wagon, capable of being run into or out of the apparatus between the uprights.
When the wagon with its transverse ribs is run into the machine, it is then capable
of being raised by the projecting lips of the vertical slide pieces H to any suitable
elevation for the reception of the first or any subsequent tray, upon which is
deposited the yarn suitably clothed with a damp surface or sheet.
Each tray may be constructed of perforated zinc, and mounted in a suitable light
frame Y, of wood or any other suitable material, and to steady and hold the trays
firmly upon the transverse ribs when in place, I form a lug or projection Y¹, seen
in Fig. 5, at the centre of each end of the tray frame Y, and a recess Z in the
middle of the transverse ribs V, as seen in Fig. 6. When, therefore, the tray
frame is slid upon the transverse ribs to its proper place, the projections or lugs Y
will then fall into the recesses of the transverse ribs V, and prevent the tray from
moving laterally.
In removing the tray from the transverse ribs, it is simply requisite to raise
either side of the said tray frame, until its lugs or projections are released from the
recesses of the transverse ribs, when it may then be drawn forward out of the
machine.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The means or apparatus for the humidification of yarn in doffing cans or
skips, substantially as described and illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.
2. The apparatus or machine adapted for the humidification of yarn, substantially
as described, and illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4.
Dated this 30th day of November 1892.
THOS. RICHMOND,
Agent.