Improvements in or connected with Washing, Scouring, and Milling Machines.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Aug., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 23rd May, 1895-Accepted, 6th July, 1895
Improvements in or connected with Washing, Scouring, and Milling
Machines.
We, JOHN HIRST MITCHELL, and ISAAC MITCHELL, of the Firm of John
Mitchell and Sons, of Brockholes, near Huddersfield, Yorkshire, Millwrights and
Electric Light Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
This invention refers to washing, scouring and milling machines and our
improvements relate, firstly, to the pair of driven rollers in said machines, between
which the fabrics or pieces pass and are squeezed, and to means of adjustment and
for increasing or diminishing the weight or pressure required to be exerted upon
the piece or fabric; and secondly, in respect of washing or scouring machines only.
to means for automatically stopping the machine when the fabric or piece becomes
knotted or lumpy and cannot pass through the draught board or guide race of the
machine.
Heretofore, two large solid beech rollers or hard wood covered rollers have been
used in the machines above named for their suitability as regards cleanliness and
weight and strength necessary for squeezing fabrics or pieces in the several
processes, but there are many objections to their use, especially that of cost incurred
in "turning up or recovering the rollers and altering or substituting new gearing
which has frequently to be done owing to rapid wear and tear and to the
diminishing diameters of the rollers.
"
The object of our invention is to provide rollers which will longer withstand wear
and tear, and, by reason of the means employed to increase or diminish the weight
or pressure to be placed on the fabric, to considerably reduce their diameters and
obtain a quicker or sharper curve for squeezing the fabric, by which means the
machine is made more efficient and its size can be reduced.
In carrying out our invention we make the rollers of cast iron or suitable metal
preferably galvanised or enamelled to prevent rust, and about half the diameter of
the smaller size of roller now employed.
The bottom roller is mounted in fixed bearings in the frame of the machine and
the upper roller is journalled in self adjusting bearings placed in slots or
openings in the sides of the machines. The two rollers are geared together by
suitable gearing.
Wedge shaped cotters or inclined planes are employed to adjust the height of the
upper roller above the lower roller so that the space between the two may be
altered according to the class or quality of the goods to be treated, the said wedges
or cotters being slided backwards or forwards as required to obtain the desired
adjustment and then secured by nuts. The weight or pressure to be exerted upon
the fabric is obtained by means of a screw or screws and strong springs acting
against the self adjusting bearings of the top roller.
In washing or scouring machines we combine means for stopping the machine
when a lump or knot forms on the fabric and is too large to allow of its clear
passage through the "draught board." For this purpose we mount the draught
board on pivots or centres and connect a finger or lever thereto, which, when the
draught board" is tilted or moved on its centres by the knotted fabric, is adapted

page_text: to engage with a lever and operate the strap fork of the machine so as to throw
the strap from the fast to the loose pulley.
Dated this 23rd day of August 1894.
mA CITAD a ADASST ny
TASKER & CROSSLEY,
Huddersfield, Agents.
Improvements in or connected with Washing, Scouring, and Milling
Machines.
We, JOHN HIRST MITCHELL and ISAAC MITCHELL, of the Firm of John
Mitchell and Sons, of Brockholes, near Huddersfield, Yorkshire, Millwrights and
Electric Light Engineers, 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 refers to washing, scouring and milling machines and our
improvements relate, firstly, to the pair of nipping rollers in said machines, between
which the fabrics or pieces pass and are squeezed, and to means for adjusting the
top roller and for increasing or diminishing the weight or pressure required to be
exerted upon the piece or fabric; and secondly, in respect of washing or scouring
machines only, to means for automatically stopping the machine when the fabric or
piece becomes knotted or lumpy and cannot pass through the draught board or
guide race of the machine.
Heretofore, two large solid beech rollers or hard wood covered rollers have
been used in the machines above named for their suitability as regards cleanliness
and weight and strength, but there are many objections to their use especially the
cost and trouble incurred in removing and having them "turned up or recovered,
and the frequency with which the shafts come loose.
27
The object of our invention is to provide rollers which will longer withstand wear
and tear, and, by reason of the means employed to increase or diminish the weight
or pressure to be placed on the fabric, to considerably reduce their diameters and
obtain a quicker or sharper curve for squeezing the fabric than is possible
with the wood rollers, whereby the machine is made more efficient and its size can
be reduced.
In carrying out our invention we make the rollers of cast iron or suitable metal
preferably galvanized, enamelled or coated with a white metal to prevent rust, and
about half the diameter of the smaller size of roller now employed.
The bottom roller is mounted in fixed bearings in the frame of the machine and
the upper roller is journalled in self adjusting bearings placed in slots or openings
in the sides of the machines. The two rollers are geared together by suitable
gearing.
Wedge shaped cotters or inclined planes are employed to adjust the height of the
upper roller above the lower roller so that the space between the two may be
altered according to the class or quality of the goods to be treated, the said wedges
or cotters being slided backwards or forwards as required to obtain the desired
adjustment and then secured by nuts. The weight or pressure to be exerted upon
the fabric is obtained by means of a screw or screws and strong springs acting
against the self adjusting bearings of the top roller.
In washing or scouring machines we combine means for stopping the machine
when a lump or knot forms on the fabric and is too large to allow of its clear
passage through the "draught board." For this purpose we mount the draught
board on pivots or centres and connect a finger or lever thereto, which, when the
draught board" is tilted or moved on its centres by the knotted fabric, is adapted
to engage with a lever and operate the strap fork of the machine so as to throw the
strap from the fast to the loose pulley.
66

page_text: In order that our invention may be fully understood reference is hereinafter had
to the accompanying sheets of drawings, wherein :—
Fig. 1 is transverse section of a washing or scouring machine having our
improvements applied thereto, and Fig. 2 is front elevation of a portion of same.
Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail of the means for giving weight or pressure to the
upper nipping or squeezing roller and for adjusting same.
Fig. 4 shews the means for actuating the strap fork so as to transfer the strap
from fast to loose pulley when the piece becomes knotted or lumpy and cannot pass
through the draught board.
Fig. 5 is transverse section of a milling machine having our improved nipping or
squeezing rollers applied thereto, and
Fig. 6 is elevation of the construction of roller preferably employed in said
machine.
Referring to the drawings, A and B represent our improved hollow iron nipping
or squeezing rollers, which are coated with a white metal, or are otherwise
galvanized or enamelled to preserve them from rust and corrosion and to secure
cleanliness. The bottom roller A is mounted in fixed bearings A' in the frame of
the machine and the upper roller B is journalled in self adjusting bearings B¹
placed in slots or ways in the sides of the machine, the two said rollers being
geared together by spur wheels D whereby they are driven positively and without
any liability of slipping. The requisite weight or pressure is put on the upper
roller B by means of screws E working through nuts F which are raised and
lowered thereby to expand or compress the spiral springs G confined between them
and the bearings B₁ and thus vary the weight or pressure to be exerted on the
fabrics passing through the machine. The said springs G allow the roller B to
adjust itself to any irregularities of thickness in the fabric.
For the purpose of raising or lowering the upper nipping roller B so as to vary
the space between it and the bottom roller A as the class or quality of the pieces
may demand, we provide wedges or inclined planes H supported in and capable of
being slided end wise through slots or openings formed in the framework immediately
under the bearings B₁ as shewn clearly in Fig. 3. The said wedges or inclined
planes Hengage with studs I attached to or formed on the underside of the
bearing and when moved endwise to right or left raise or lower the roller B the
distance required, said wedges being then secured to projections J on the frame by
nuts K, one of which acts as a lock nut.
In Figs. 1 and 2 the strap fork L is attached to a rack M which is slided
end wise in the bracket N to transfer the strap from fast to loose pulley, or
vice versa, by means of pinion Ọ actuated by hand lever P. In lieu of rack
and pinion we prefer to combine with washing and scouring machines the automatic
means shewn in Fig. 4 for stopping the machine when a lump or knot forms on
the fabric and prevents its passage through the draught board.
For this purpose
we pivot one end of the draught board Q to the sides of the machine as
shewn at a and on the opposite end we secure a finger b which projects through
a slot c to the outside of the machine. The strap fork L is mounted on a
shaft or rod R supported in bearings R' and provided at each end with hand
levers S by which the machine can be started or stopped from either side thereof.
When a knot or lump forms on the fabric and refuses to pass through the draught
board, it draws the latter upward on its centres, as indicated by broken lines, and
brings the finger b into engagement with a lever arm T secured on shaft R, which
is thereby raised and gives a partial rotation to said shaft and to the strap fork
which transfers the strap from fast to loose pulley and stops the machine before any
damage can be done either to the fabric or to the draught board.
For milling machines we prefer to indent the peripheries of the iron rollers, as
indicated by letter d in Figs. 5 and 6 in order that a better grip may be obtained
ou the fabrics; or said rollers may be fluted or grooved instead of indented.
The iron nipping rollers A, B, herein described are about half the diameter of

page_text: the smaller size of roller now employed and therefore give a quicker or sharper
curve for squeezing the fabric.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
:-
Firstly. The combination with washing, scouring and milling machines of iron
nipping or squeezing rollers such as A, B, coated with a white metal or enamelled
substantially as herein shewn and described.
Secondly. The combination with milling machines, of indented or fluted iron
rollers coated with a white metal or enamelled, substantially as shewn and
described.
Thirdly. In washing, scouring and milling machines, the combination of
galvanized or enamelled iron nipping or squeezing rollers A, B, and means for
putting weight or pressure on the upper nipping roller and for adjusting same to or
from the bottom roller substantially as shewn and for purposes described.
Fourthly. The combination with washing and scouring machines of automatic
means for stopping the machine when a knot or lump on the fabric refuses to pass
through the draught board substantially as described and shewn in Fig. 4.
Dated this 22nd day of May 1895.
TASKER & CROSSLEY,
Huddersfield, Patent Agents.