CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF DRESSING AND FINISHING SILK FABRICS, AND FABRICS COMPOSED OF SILK. COTTON. AND WOOL
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry John Sergeant, of Manchester, in the County
of Lancaster, Silk Finisher, for the Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE METHOD OF DRESSING AND FINISHING SILK FABRICS, AND FABRICS
COMPOSED OF SILK. COTTON. AND WOOL."
Sealed the 30th June 1863, and dated the 2nd January 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry John Sergeant
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 2nd January 1863.
I, HENRY JOHN SERGEANT, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster,
Silk Finisher, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF DRESSING AND FINISHING SILK FABRICS, AND
FABRICS COMPOSED OF SILK, COTTON, AND WOOL," to be as follows:-
The Invention relates to the dressing and finishing of silk fabrics, and to
fabrics wherein either cotton and wool, or both, are woven with the silk.
The improvements consist in the novel application, employment, and use of
glazed paper as a surface to effect the dressing or finishing of the silk when
wound upon a beam together. The silk is treated, as is customary, with a
solution of gum or gelatine, and partially dried by means of fire or "-steam
chests," it is then to be wound or rolled upon a beam, upon which the surface
of paper is also wound in a continuous length, being supplied from another
roller, thus the silk becomes enclosed between the surfaces of paper, and

page_text: pressure is given by giving tension to the paper. When the beam is full it
may be removed to a drying oven until thoroughly dried, or the paper may be
made hot, by subjecting it to heat before it is wound on with silk, and thus
the silk becomes hot-pressed and finished.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Henry John Sergeant in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 2nd July 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
JOHN SERGEANT, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Silk Finisher,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Second day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-sixth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Henry John Sergeant, Her special license that I, the said Henry
John Sergeant, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
I, the said Henry John Sergeant, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF DRESSING AND FINISHING SILK FABRICS, AND
FABRICS COMPOSED OF SILK, COTTON, AND WOOL," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Henry John Sergeant, my executors or administrators,
by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands
and seals should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the
same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months
next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Henry John Sergeant, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement and accompanying Drawings (that is to say):-
The Invention relates to the dressing and finishing of silk fabrics, and to
fabrics wherein either cotton and wool, or both are woven with the silk.
The improvements consist in the novel application, employment, and use of

page_text: glazed paper as a surface to effect the dressing or finishing of the silk when
wound upon a beam together, prepared, or otherwise. The silk is treated, as
is customary, with a solution of gum or gelatine, and partially dried by means
of fire or "steam chests," it is then to be wound or rolled upon a beam, upon
which the surface of paper is also wound in a continuous length, being
supplied from another roller, thus the silk becomes enclosed between the
surfaces of the paper, and pressure is given by giving tension to the paper.
When the beam is full it may be removed to a drying oven until thoroughly
dried, or the paper may be made hot by subjecting it to heat before it is
wound on with silk, and thus the silk becomes hot-pressed, dressed, and
finished.
In order that the Invention may be better understood and explained
in detail, I have hereunto attached a Sheet of Drawings made upon a scale
of about three inches to the foot, similar letters of reference being marked
upon corresponding parts of the apparatus.
Fig. 1 represents an end sectional view of an arrangement of mechanism
shewn as an example, and constructed to contain the rollers of glazed paper
and silk, and the roller or beam on to which they are to be wound together
and in contact; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same, shewing the course of the
glazed paper only.
In Fig. 1, a, a, is the framing of the machine, in which are supported the
roller 6 containing the glazed paper, shewn in blue, the roller c containing the
silk shewn in red, and the beam d upon which they are to be wound or rolled
together, and in close contact; e, e, are hollow cylinders, which may be heated
by steam heaters or hot air, and are supported by the wheels f, f. The glazed
paper passes from the roller 6 over and under the heated cylinders, and thus
becomes heated, it then passes in a heated state on to the beam d, together
with the silk from the roller c; the silk being thus enclosed and pressed
between layers of heated glazed paper, which imparts a lustrous finish thereto.
I would remark that the rollers may be differently arranged, and yet.so
designed that the silk and paper pass to one beam and may be wound in
alternate positions thereupon, and the silk may either be treated with gelatine
or not, as preferred; or, if desired, the heated cylinders may be dispensed.
with, and the paper may pass over, heated plates placed between the framing
containing the paper and silk and the framing containing the beam on to
which they are rolled.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, together with the
method of carrying the same into practical effect, I wish it to be distinctly
understood that I claim the novel application and use of glazed or plain paper

page_text: as a surface to effect the dressing or finishing of silk when wound upon a
beam together, whether effected by means substantially the same, or as
herein-before described, set forth, and fully illustrated in the Drawings
attached.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry John Sergeant, have hereunto set 5
my hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of June, in the year of our Lord.
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
HENRY JOHN SERGEANT. (L.S.)