Improvements in Milling or Fulling Fabrics and in Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Oct., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 24th July. 1890-Accepted, 24th Oct., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Milling or Fulling Fabrics and in Apparatus
therefor.
I, LUDOVIC GALLAND, of Sedan in the Republic of France, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The subject of the present application is a new process of milling by which I get
rid of the creases in milling or fulling without "kneading" which prevents the pieces
from cooling and produces a speedy and regular milling. Hitherto it was believed to
be impossible to mill fabrics without making creases in them during the operation,
which creases had to be removed from time to time, an operation termed kneading
which has the disadvantage of cooling the fabric in hand or of retarding the finishing;
this "kneading" process is often insufficient, because in spite of everything, it happens
that the creases do not disappear completely which constitutes a very prejudicial fault
in the milled fabrics. By long observation I have ascertained that in milling, the
creases arise in consequence of the fabrics winding themselves round at the height of
the fulling channel through which they pass, return to the entrance in the same
position as they went forth, thus being constantly pressed in the same creases; it is in
order to remove these creases during the milling or fulling operation, in the space of
time included between the return and the issuing forth of the fabric that I have
contrived the mechanism the subject of the present invention.
Before placing the fabric in the fulling-inill it is necessary first of all to sew the
selvages together, in such a manner as to form a long tube into which a sphere or an
ovoid is afterwards introduced; the piece thus placed in the fulling mill has its two
ends then sewn together and forms an endless pipe. Hence it will easily be
understood that the sphere or ovoid being set in motion by the stuff itself travelling
round the apparatus, will constantly remove the creases, and thenceforth the pressure
of the fulling wheel will not produce any more in the same places; the fault terined
"fulling-crease" will thus be abolished.
That which specially characterises the present invention is the provision of sufficient
space to allow the sphere to have a sufficient course between the fulling channels.
These fulling channels are provided with buffers or cushions destined to preserve
the fabrics which their rough contact with the sphere might otherwise damage.
These two fulling channels are connected together by a rod and their movement is
transmitted in the manner already existing in the ordinary milling-apparatus and in
any desired direction.
Rollers facilitate the movement of the fabric in the machine. It is essential that
the sphere be hollow so that it may be possible on introducing some lead or other
metal to adapt its weight to the fabric that is desired to be milled.
Dated this 24th day of October 1880.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Milling or Fulling Fabrics and in Apparatus
therefor.
I, LUDOVIC GALLAND, of Sedan in the Republic of France, Engineer do hereby declare
the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to bo
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The subject of the present application is a new process of milling by which I get
rid of the creases in milling or fulling without "kneading" and which prevents the
pieces from cooling and produces a speedy and regular milling.
[Price Gd.]

page_text: Hitherto it was believed to be impossible to mill fabrics without making creases in
them during the operation, which creases had to be removed from time to time by an
operation termed "kneading" which has the disadvantage of cooling the fabric in
hand or of retarding the finishing; this "kneading" process is often insufficient
because in spite of everything it happens that the creases do not disappear completely
which constitutes a very prejudicial fault in the milled fabrics. By long observation
I have ascertained that in milling, the creases arise in consequence of the fabrics
returning to the entrance in the same condition as they were delivered from it, thus
constantly forming folds on the same lines; it is in order to remove these creases
during the milling or fulling operation, in the space of time included between the
return and the issuing forth of the fabric that I have contrived the mechanism the
subject of the present invention, shown in the drawings accompanying this
Specification.
Before placing the fabric in the fulling-mill it is necessary first of all to sew the
selvage together in such a manner as to form a long tube J into which a sphere S,
ovoid or equivalent is afterwards introduced; the piece thus placed in the fulling-mill
has its two ends then sewn together and forms an endless pipe. Hence it will easily
be understood that the sphere or ovoid being set in motion by the stuff itself travelling
round the apparatus will constantly remove the creases and thenceforth the pressure of
the fulling wheel will not produce any more in the same places; the fault termed
"fulling-crease" will thus be abolished.
That which specially characterises the present invention is the provision of sufficient
space to allow the sphere S to have sufficient play between the passages F F¹.
These passages F F are provided with buffers or cushions destined to preserve the
fabrics which their rough contact with the sphere might otherwise damage.
These two passages are connected together by a rod L and their movement is
transmitted in the manner already existing in the ordinary milling apparatus and in
any desired direction. This mechanism may be arranged either on the right as in
Fig. 1 or on the left as in Fig. 2. Rollers E or K. facilitate the movement of the
fabric in the machine. It is essential that the sphere S be hollow so that it may be
possible on introducing some lead or other metal to adapt its weight to the fabric that
is desired to be milled.
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. In the milling or fulling of fabrics the employment of a sphere or equivalent
such as S substantially as and for the purpose described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
2. In the milling or fulling of fabrics the forming of the fabric into an endless tube
substantially as and for the purpose described.
3. In apparatus for milling or fulling fabrics the application of a sphere or
equivalent the weight of which is variable according to the nature of the fabrics to be
milled substantially as described.
4. In apparatus for the milling or fulling of fabrics the combination with the sphere
or equivalent of cushioned passages capable of protecting the fabric from damage
substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
5. In apparatus for the milling or fulling of fabrics the arrangement of an
attachment or auxiliary mechanism in front of the fulling apparatus for the purpose of
affording play to the sphere within certain limits determined by the passages sub-
stantially as described.
6. The combination and arrangement of parts of a fulling or milling apparatus
substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 24th day of July 1890.
ΚΑΤΣ
W. F. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.