IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SUBJECTING PRINTED OR OTHER FABRICS TO THE ACTION OF STEAM
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Smith, Engineer to Messieurs Walter
Crum and Company, of Thornlicbank, in the County of Renfrew,
North Britain, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
SUBJECTING PRINTED OR OTHER FABRICS TO THE ACTION OF STEAM.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Smith at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with lus Petition, on the
10th April 1875.
I, JAMES SMITH, Engineer to Messieurs Walter Crum and Company,
of Thornliebank, in the County of Renfrew, North Britain, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
FOR SUBJECTING PRINTED OR OTHER FABRICS TO THE ACTION OF STEAM," to be as
follows, that is to say.-
-
This Invention relates to that nont of the anamations of the online

page_text: the fabrics that these should be subjected to the action of steam, and the
object is to secure continuity and uniformity of action with diminished
lability to spoil or injure the goods and generally improved results, the
improved apparatus being of course applicable for steaming fabrics
whatever the special object of such steaming may be.
In carrying out the Invention a steaming chamber is constructed of a
rectangular form, and of such a length that cach part of the fabric will
in passing from one end to the other occupy the time considered
necessary for obtaining the proper action of the steam. Whilst in the
chamber the fabric is suspended in long vertical loops or loose folds on
rods, and the ends of these rods rest on two parallel endless chains
placed horizontally, and the links of which are formed with cavities or
seats for the rods, and for keeping them at regular distances apart.
A slow progressive motion is imparted to the rods and causes the
vertical folds of fabric to be gradually carried through the chamber.
The fabric is arranged in folds on the rods by means of a pair of inclined
endless chains at the entering ond of the chamber, these entering chains
as they may be termed being driven at a greater speed than what may
be termed the progressive chains herein-before referred to. Both pairs
of chains are wider apart than the greatest width of fabric for which the
apparatus is constructed, and the fabric is let down between the entering
chains near the lower ends of these upon a guiding surface inclined in
the opposite direction to that of the entering chains. The entering
chains have pairs of projections at regular intervals, and each pair of
projections when moving upwards encounters and carries up the lowest
of a number of rods placed by hand on a slightly inclined surface, the
rods succeeding each other as cach is removed. Each rod in moving up
encounters the descending fabric, and carrying up an upper loop or fold
of it is deposited with it on the endless progressive chains above the
projections on the entering chains, turning down clear of the rod as they
The fabric is fed
pass round the upper pulleys which carry the chains
in by means of a pair of rollers which are driven at such a speed
relatively to the entering chains, as to supply the extent of fabric
required for forming a loop or fold of the desired depth between cach
rod. At the discharging end of the chamber the fabric is drawn off
(fust in an upward direction) at the same rate as that at which it was
fed in, and the rods drop in succession over the end pulleys of the

page_text: progressive chains into a trough from which they are transferred to the
entering end of the chamber. The steam is admitted into the chamber
by preference by horizontal pipes placed in channels formed along each
side of the bottom of the chamber, and these pipes are perforated at tho
sides so that the issuing jets of steam may not blow drops of water up
against the fabric. Along the top of the chamber there is placed a flat
steam chest of a somewhat greater width than the fabric, for the purpose
of preventing any drops due to condensation from falling on the fabric.
It is also necessary to prevent condensation or dampness where the
fabric enters the chamber, and with this view the inclined surface down
which the fabric passes, on entering forms part of a hollow casing heated
by steam, whilst the top of the opening in the end wall through which
the fabric enters is also fitted with a steam heated casing A steam
heated casing is also placed between the entering chains, and between
the openings through which they pass out and in.
Instead of entering the fabric by means of the inclined entering chains
as described, it may be led in in a vertical or nearly vertical direction at
or near the ends of the progressive chains, the rods being introduced
singly at proper intervals to form and support the upper folds. By this
modification some of the space required at the entering end of the
chamber for the inclined entering chains may be saved.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Lettors Patent
filed by the said James Smith in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 8th October 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
SMITH, Engineer to Messieurs Walter Crum and Company, of Thornlic-
bank, in the County of Renfrew, North Britain, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of April, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the thirty-
eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said James Smith, Her special licence, that I,

page_text: the said James Smith, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said James Smith, 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 there 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SUBJECTING
PRINTED OR OTHER FABRICS TO THE ACTION OF STEAM," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said James Smith, 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 James Smith, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to bc
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement in writing, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings, that is to say :—
My said Invention relates to that part of the operations of the calico
printer in which it is necessary for the complete development or fixation
of the colors on the fabrics that these should be subjected to the action
of steam, and my object is to secure continuity and uniformity of action
with diminished liability to spoil or injure the goods, and generally
improved results, my improved apparatus being of course applicable for
steaming fabrics whatever the special object of such steaming may be.
In carrying out my Invention a steaming chamber is constructed of a
rectangular form, and the fabric is suspended therein in long vertical
loops or loose folds or rods, the ends of these rods resting on two parallel
endless chains placed horizontally. A slow progressive motion is imparted
to the rods, and causes the vertical folds of fabric to be gradually carried
through the chamber. The fabric is arranged in folds on the rods by
means of a pair of inclined endless chains at the entering end of the
chamber, and the fabric is drawn off at the further end (first in an
upward direction) at the same rate as that at which it was fed in, and the

page_text: And in order that my said Invention and the manner of performing
the same may be properly understood, I hereunto append two Sheets of
explanatory Drawings, to be hercin-after referred to, and representing
steaming apparatus embodying my improvements. In these Drawings
the same reference numerals are used to mark the same or like parts
wherever they are repeated.
Figure 1, on Sheet 1 of the Drawings, is a longitudinal vortical section
showing one modification of my arrangements for entering the fabric
into the steaming chamber, this modification being one firstly described
in my Provisional Specification relative hereto.
My said Provisional Specification also comprises a second modification
of the entering arrangements, and as I now prefer it I have shown it
along with the other parts of my improved steaming apparatus in
Figures 2 to 5, Figures 2 and 3 being transverse vertical sections,
Figure 4 a horizontal section, and Figure 5 a longitudinal vertical
section. The steaming chamber 6 is constructed in a rectangular form,
and may be of any required or convenient length and height, these
dimensions being in practice determined in connection with a convenient
rate of progressive motion, so that whilst the fabric is continuously (or
for long periods) passing into and out of the chamber cach part of it
may in progressing from one end to the other occupy the time considered
necessary for obtaining the proper and complete action of the steam.
The chamber 6 is represented as constructed with brick or stone walls 7,
and with an arched brick ceiling 8 carried on transverse girders 9, but
the requisite space may be enclosed by any other suitable construction.
The fabric is indicated by red lines 10 in the Drawing, and whilst in the
chamber 6 is suspended in long vertical loops or loose folds 11 on trans-
verse horizontal rods 12, and the ends of these rods rest on two parallel
endless chains 13 placed horizontally, and the links of which are formed
with cavities or seats for the rods 12 and for keeping them at regular dis-
tances apart. The endless chains 13 are at one end passed round a pair
of polygonal pulleys 14 on a transverse horizontal shaft 15, which 15
driven slowly, as herein-after explained, and at the other end the chains

page_text: by screws by means OL which the chains can always be propony
distended The bearings of the pulley shafts are formed or fixed on
vertical brackets 18 fixed to the overhead girders 9 and steadied by side
brackets 19, and the chains 13 slide along guide rails 20 carried by the
brackets 18
In the entering arrangement shown in Figure 1, the fabric 10 is
arranged in folds on the rods 12 by means of a pair of inclined endless
chains 21 driven at a greater speed than that of the progressive chains 13.
Both pairs of chains 13, 21, are wider apart than the greatest width of fabric
for which the apparatus is constructed, and the fabric 10 is let down
between the entering chains 21 ncar the lower ends of these upon a guiding
surface 22 inclined in the opposite direction to that of the entering
chains The entering chains 21 have pairs of projections 23 at regular
intervals, and each pair of projections when moving upwards encounters
and carries up the lowest of a number of the rods 12 placed by hand on
a slightly inclined surface 24, the rods succeeding each other as each is
removed. Each rod in thus moving up encounters the descending
fabric 10, and carrying up an upper loop or fold of it is deposited with it
on the endless progressive chains 18 above, the projections 23 on the
entering chains 21 turning down clear of the rod as they pass round
the upper pulleys which carry the entering chains and are loose on
the shaft 15 of the progressive chains The fabric 10 is fed in by means
of a pair of rollers 25, which are driven at such a speed relatively to
that of the entering chains 21 as to supply the extent of fabric required
for forming a loop or fold 11 of the desired depth between cach rod 12
and the next to it.
In the modified entering arrangement of the apparatus shown in
Figures 2 to 5, a pair of inclined chains 21 with projections 23 are used
for entering the rods 12 from an inclined table 24, but the fabric 10 itself
is entered downwards in a vertical or nearly vertical direction at or near
one end of the pair of progressive chains 13, being passed into the
chamber 6 between a pair of nipping rollers 20, which are driven at a
suitable speed As each rod 12 is by the progressive motion of the
chains 13 carried forward across the line of descent of the entering fabric
it passes under a roller 27 carried by a pair of swinging brackets 28, and

page_text: this roller retains the fabric on the rod until enough of the next down-
ward loops of fabric is formed to counterbalance any tendency of the
fabric to slip over the rod and enlarge the completed loop.
At or near the further end of the progressive chains 13 the fabric 10
is drawn off, the rods 12 first moving in an upward direction to a guide
roller 29, and thence horizontally over other guide rollers 30 towards the
entering end of the chamber, being finally drawn out of the chamber
by passing between suitably driven rollers 31. The rods 12 drop off the
endless chains 13 as the chains turn round the pulleys 16 into a trough 32,
from which they are periodically transferred in any convenient way to
the entering table 24. The entering and withdrawing rollers 20, 31,
have spur wheels 33 on their spindles, the two of each pair gearing
together, whilst all are driven by a spur wheel 34 on what may be
termed a first motion shaft 35, which may be driven directly by a steam
engine, or through belts or any convenient gearing. The shaft 35 has
also on it a worm 36, which gears with a worm wheel on an inclined
shaft 37, and this last by a worm and worm wheel 38 drives the shaft 15
by which the progressive chains 13 are actuated. A pair of bevil
wheels 39 gives motion from the shaft 35 to a horizontal shaft 40, which
by a pair of bevil wheels 41 drives a vertical shaft 42, and this last by
a pair of bevil wheels 43 drives a transverse horizontal shaft 44 having
fast on it a pair of sprocket wheels, which engage with and drive the
inclined endless chains 21 I have described the driving gear as shown
in the Drawings, but it may be arranged in any other convenient
way.
The steam is admitted into the chamber 6 by preference by hori-
zontal pipes 45 placed in channels 46 formed along cach side of the
bottom of the chamber, as best seen in Figure 2, and these pipes are
perforated at the sides, so that the issuing jets of steam may not blow
drops of water up against the fabric 10. Along the top of the chamber
there is placed a flat steam chest 47 of somewhat greater width than the
fabric 10 for the purpose of preventing any drops due to condensation
from falling on the fabric 10. It is also necessary to prevent con-
densation or dampness where the fabric 10 enters the chamber 6, and
with this view when the entering arrangement shown in Figure 1 is
adopted the inclined surface 22, down which the fabric passes, forms

page_text: part of a hollow casing heated by steam, whilst the top of the opening
in the end wall, through which the fabric enters, is also fitted with a
steam heated casing 48, another 40 being placed within the entering
chains 21.
In the entering arrangement of the apparatus shown in Figures 2 to 5
a steam heated casing 49 is fitted at the top of the chamber, and is
formed with openings 50, 51, for the ingress and egress of the fabric 10.
The inclined table 24 on which the rods 12 are placed for entering is
also a steam heated casing in order to insure the dryness of the rods
when entered. The end of the chamber 6 is closed by boards or plates 52 1
formed with the smallest possible openings for the passage of the
chains 21 and rods 12. Two ventilating shafts 53 provided with
regulating dampers are fitted to the steam-casing 40 at the entering end
of the chamber As the rods 12 are carried up by the entering chains 21
the proper transference of each to the progressive chains 13 is insured 1
by guides 54, shown by a blue line, the projections 23 making the rod
move over these guides, and theroby clear projecting parts of the links
of the progressive chains, which from their comparatively slow motion
might causo obstruction. The progressive chains 13 may be moved
intermittently instead of continuously if preferred.
2
Having thus particularly described my said Invention, and the manner
of performing the same, I have to state that I do not restrict myself to
the precise details herein described or delineated, and that I do not
claim separately the progressively moved rods nor the appliances for
admitting steam and for preventing injury by condensation, but that 2
what I believe to be novel and original and claim as the Invention
secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,—
1. The combining of a system of rods carrying vertical loops or folds
of printed or other fabric and moved progressively along a chamber with
appliances for entering and withdrawing the fabric for steaming it, and 3
for preventing injury by condensation, substantially such as are herein-
before described.

page_text: when combined with progressively moving rods or equivalent mechanism
in the chamber.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Smith, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Sixth day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five.
Witness,
EDMUND HUNT,
Patent Agent,
Glasgow.
JAMES SMITH. (L.S.)