IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR DRESSING SILK AND OTHER FABRICS
Year: 1882

page_text: W Clark of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agents.
for an invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR DRESSING SILK AND
OTHER FABRICS A communication from abroad by La Compagnie Générale
de teinturerie et Apprêts "Système André Lyon," represented by Monsieur
le Vicomte de Gombert, administrateur délégué, of Paris, France
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville Clark
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th May 1882.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK of the firm of A. M. & W. Clark of 53 Chancery
Lane in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agents, "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES
FOR DRESSING SILK AND OTHER FABRICS." [A communication from abroad by
La Compagnie Générale de teinturerie et Apprêts "Système André Lyon "
represented by Monsieur le Vicomte de Gombert, administrateur délégué, of Paris,
France]
This Invention relates to an improved machine for dressing or stiffening silk or
other fabrics in a uniform manner by causing the fabric to pass through the trough
in which the dressing is contained in a state of tension and spread out to the full
width so as to avoid creases and rents. To this end the machine consists of
a trough of copper or other suitable material to contain the size or other liquid
with which the fabric is to be dressed, which is carried on a suitable frame and
provided with a folder or winder arranged and operated as hereinafter described.
The Invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings,
in which Figure 1 represents a sectional elevation, Figure 2 an end view, and
Figure 3 a plan of the machine. Figure 4 shows the manner in which the fabric is
placed when being passed a first time through the machine. Figure 5 shows the
method of engaging the fabric on the winding off device, and Figure 6 shows the
operation of removing the fabric from the winder.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the figures.

page_text: The following is the arrangement and operation of the machine:-The fabric is
first submitted to a preliminary treatment by placing it in folds at the rear end of
trough a as in Figure 4, thence it passes over a loose roller b and around a series of
rollers c which guide it in its passage through the trough. On leaving these rollers
the fabric is led upwards to the rollers d d of the folder, which rollers are carried
in bearings e e provided with hinged caps or covers of which may be opened for
lifting out the winder by giving a quarter turn to the locking screws g.
The fabric
is passed around the upper roller d and its end h brought down so as to be nipped
against the lower roller d as in Figure 5, after which the length of fabric is drawn
through the trough of dressing and wound around the rollers d d by turning the
crank handle i which is applied to shaft and transmits motion to the folder
through the toothed gearing & or otherwise. The fabric can then be transferred to
another machine to undergo a similar treatment, or it may be passed a second time
through the same machine, in which case however the fabric is not placed in the
same position in the trough as before.
The two rollers d' are first brought into a horizontal plane as in Figures 2 and 3,
and the caps f of bearings e raised by releasing the locking screws g to allow of the
rollers d d being lifted out with the fabric wound thereon. The rollers are then
held in the position figure 6 by an attendant and the roller b is passed through the
roll of fabric and afterwards dropped into its bearings; the two rollers d d are
then replaced in their bearings and the end of the fabric nipped by said rollers as
before and the operation repeated. The fabric leaves the rollers ready folded and
may then be put in a wrapper for conveyance to the drying machine.
The form and arrangement of the various parts of the machine may be varied
without departing from the Invention.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office .on
the 9th November 1882.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK of the firm of A, M, and W, Clark of 53 Chancery
Lane in the County of Middlesex Patent Agents "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES
FOR DRESSING SILK AND OTHER FABRICS. A communication from abroad by
La Compagnie Générale de teinturerie et Apprêts, Système André Lyon,
represented by Monsieur le Vicomte de Gombert, administrateur délégué, of Paris,
France.
This Invention relates to an improved machine for dressing or stiffening silk
or other fabrics in a uniform manner, in which the fabric is caused to pass through
the trough of dressing in a state of tension and spread out to the full width so as
to avoid creases and cracks. To this end the machine consists of a trough of copper
or other suitable material to contain the size, or other liquid with which the fabric
is to be dressed, which is carried on a suitable frame and provided with a folder or
winder of special construction, arranged and operated as hereinafter described.
The Invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings,
in which Figures 1 and 2 represent cross and longitudinal sections, and Figure 3 a
plan of the machine. Figure 4 shows how the fabric is placed when being passed
a first time through the machine. Figure 5 shows the method of engaging the
fabric on the winding off device, and Figure 6 shows the operation of removing the
fabric from the winder. The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in
all the figures.
The following is the arrangement and operation of the machine:-The fabric on
its first passage through the machine is folded or pleated down at the rear of
trough a as in Figure 4, carried over a loose roller b around a series of loose guide
rollers c and thence upwards to the rollers d d of the winder. These rollers d arc
journalled at their ends in pairs of arms e respectively carried upon short shafts m
mounted on bearings in the side frames of the machine, each driven by gear
wheels upon them gearing with other wheels k¹ keyed upon a cross shaft turned
by a crank i. The bearings of rollers & have hinged covers f which may be opened
for lifting out the rollers by a quarter turn of the buttons gg. The end of the
fabric is carried around the one roller & and passed diagonally between the two
rollers so that its extremity / will be nipped against the other roller as in Figure 5,
after which the remainder of the fabric is drawn through the trough of dressing
being guided in its passage therethrough by the rollers c and wound around the
rollers d d by turning the crank handle i. The fabric can then be transferred to
another machine to undergo a similar treatment, or it may be passed a second time
through the same machine. In either case the two rollers d are first brought into
a horizontal plane as in Figures 2 and 3, and lifted out of their bearings with the
fabric wound upon them. The rollers are then brought closer together and held by
an attendant in that position, as shown in Figure 6, whilst the roller b is slipped
through the slackened folds of the fabric, and when roller b is dropped into its
bearings the fabric hangs upon it as shown in Figure 1. The rollers d d having
been replaced in their bearings and the end of the fabric nipped by them as before,
the operation can be repeated.
The fabric leaves the rollers d ready folded and may be put in a wrapper for
conveyance to the drying machine
The form and arrangement of the various parts of the machine may be varied
without departing from the Invention.

page_text: Having described the nature of the said Invention and the manner of performing
the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by the
herein before in part recited Letters Patent is.
The improved machine for dressing or stiffening silk and other fabrics con-
structed arranged, and operating, substantially as herein shown and described,
whereby the fabric whilst being conveyed through the dressing or other bath, is
kept stretched so as avoid creases and cracks, as specified.
In witness whereof I the said Alexander Melville Clark have hereunto set
my hand and seal this eighth day of November, A.D. 1882.
AT DT