AN IMPROVED MODE OF FINISHING COTTON FABRICS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Wilson, of the Bridgwater Foundry, Patricroft, in
the County of Lancaster, Engineer, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED MODE
OF FINISHING COTTON FABRICS."
Sealed the 18th May 1877, and dated the 8th December 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Wilson at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th December 1876.
ROBERT WILSON, of the Bridgwater Foundry, Patricroft, in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer. "AN IMPROVED MODE OF FINISHING COTTON FABRICS."
My Invention consists in imparting the required finish to cotton fabrics by
cylinders or rollers revolving alternately in contrary directions, whereby the
required finish is obtained more expeditiously and economically than by the
machinery now in use.
In performing my Invention I take the cotton fabrics, either bleached or
unbleached, and either with or without starch, size, or stiffening, and wind them on
a roller or beam. The roller or beam, with the fabric so wound on, is placed
between two cylinders or rollers with the line of their axis parallel to each other
to compress the fabric; these cylinders or rollers are made to revolve alternately
in opposite directions, as described in the Specification of former Letters Patent
granted to me on the 17th day of May, 1871, No. 1335; the cloth or fabric being
compressed between the two cylinders or rollers is also moved with or by them
alternately in contrary directions with its beam or roller, and this alternate motion
combined with the pressure produces friction in the cloth or fabric, and con-
sequently heat is evolved, which produces the finish required.
I wish to remark that this alternate motion may be obtained by placing the cloth
on the roller or beam between two flat surfaces, both of which traverse to and fro,
or only one of which traverses to and fro, as in an ordinary mangle; but as this
mode of operation is so slow, and uncertain as to results, I prefer the mode first
described.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Robert Wilson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 7th Juno
1877.
ROBERT WILSON, of the Bridgwater Foundry, Patricroft, in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer. "AN IMPROVED MODE OF FINISHING COTTON FABRICS."
My Invention consists in imparting the required finish to cotton fabrics by
cylinders or rollers revolving alternately in contrary directions, whereby the
required finish is obtained inore expeditiously and economically than by the
machinery now in use.
And in order that my Invention may be more fully understood and readily
carried into operation, I will proceed to describe the accompanying Sheet of
Drawings, reference being had to the figures and letters marked thereon.
Fig. 1 is an end elevation, partly in section, and Fig. 2 a side elevation of a
mangle or calender by which my improved finish may be imparted to cotton fabrics.
a is the lower cylinder or roller revolving in fixed bearings; and b, the upper
cylinder or roller revolving in movable bearings which are guided in vertical slots
in the standards; c is the cloth roller, which is placed between and turned round
by the friction of the rollers a and b. To the axles of the rollers a and b are fixed
toothed wheels a¹, b¹, the motion of the former being transmitted to the latter by
carrier wheels e. The roller is raised and lowered and the requisite pressure
given to the cloth roller by water under pressure acting on pistóns in the cylinders d,
or by screws or weighted levers.
The parts above referred to, and the machinery for reversing the direction of
motion of the cylinders or rollers a and b, are made in the manner described in the
Specification of Letters Patent granted to me on the 17th day of May, 1871,
Number 1335, or in any other convenient manner.
The mode of operation is as follows:-The cotton fabrics to be finished, either
bleached or unbleached, and either with or without starch, size, or stiffening, are
wound on the roller or beam c, and to facilitate the operation of removing the
finished cloth roller, and supplying a fresh one to the mangle or calender, I support
two cloth rollers in the swivel levers c¹, as described in the Specification above
referred to. The roller or beam, with the fabric so wound on is placed between
the two cylinders or rollers a and b, with the line of their axes parallel to each
other, and the requisite pressure is given by the water in the cylinders d, or other-
wise, to compress the fabric; as the cylinders or rollers a and b revolve alternately
in opposite directions the cloth or fabric being compressed between the two
cylinders or rollers is also moved with or by them alternately in contrary directions
with its beam or roller, and this alternate motion combined with the pressure
produces friction in the cloth or fabric, and consequently heat, thereby imparting
the desired finish to the cotton cloth or fabric. The heat evolved is due to the
friction of the folds of the cloth or fabric moving alternately in opposite directions
and not to any artificial source.
Having thus stated the nature of my Invention, and described a convenient
mode of performing the same, I wish it to be understood that I do not intend
to limit myself to the details given, and that I claim, the improved mode of
finishing cotton fabrics by causing them to revolve alternately to and fro in con-
trary directions when wound on a roller or beam, and when compressed between
two cylinders or rollers as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Wilson, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Fifth day of June, One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
seven