IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR DRYING PRINTED, VARNISHED, OR GUMMED SHEETS, WHICH MACHINES MAY ALSO BE EMPLOYED BY PAPER MANUFACTURERS AND OTHERS FOR DRYING PAPER AND OTHER ARTICLES
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills, of the Firm of Harris and
Mills, of 23, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent,
for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINES FOR DRYING PRINTED,
VARNISHED, OR GUMMED SHEETS, WHICH MACHINES MAY ALSO BE EMPLOYED
BY PAPER MANUFACTURERS AND OTHERS FOR DRYING PAPER AND OTHER
ARTICLES." A communication from abroad by Louis Anton Fernow, of
Chicago, in the County of Cook and State of Illinois, in the United States of
America, Superintendent of a Lithographing Establishment.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Benjamin Joseph Barnard
Mills at the Office of the Commissioners of .Patents on the 22nd February
1881.
BENJAMIN JOSEPH BARNARD MILLS, of the Firm of Harris and Mills, of 23,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MACHINES FOR DRYING PRINTED, VARNISHED, OR GUMMED SHEETS,
WHICH MACHINES MAY ALSO BE EMPLOYED BY PAPER MANUFACTURERS AND
OTHERS FOR DRYING PAPER AND OTHER ARTICLES." A communication from
abroad by Louis Anton Fernow, of Chicago, in the County of Cook and State of
Illinois, in the United States of America, Superintendent of a Lithographing
Establishment.
The Invention relates to a machine for drying printed, varnished, or gummed
sheets, and is more especially designed for the use of printers, lithographers, paper
gummers and mounters, but which can be used by paper manufacturers to dry
sheets of paper, and may also be employed for drying many other articles.
The object in view is to produce a drying machine which will accommodate the
largest number of sheets at one time within a given space, without danger of their
touching while being dried, or of their coming in contact with each other when
being put on or removed from the machine, and also to construct a machine
which will occupy the least space useful for other purposes, and which can be easily
operated, and in which the lateral strain upon the wires caused by the weight of the
sheets will not act upon the endless chains, ropes, or belts hereinafter described.

page_text: The Invention consists in the several peculiar devices and combinations of devices
employed to accomplish the above object, all as fully hereinafter explained and
pointed out by the claims.
And in order that the said Invention may be clearly understood and readily
carried into effect, I will proceed aided by the accompanying Drawings fully to
describe the same.
VIJO
showing one side of the same.
Figure 2 is a front elevation of the machine with the chains and some parts of
the belt tightener removed.
Figure 3 is a cross section through one chain and carriage-way, showing a
carriage in side elevation.
Figure 4 is a vertical section on line 4, 4, in Figure 3, showing the carriage in
end elevation.
Figure 5 is an elevation of the retarding springs or brake for preventing the
carriages from travelling downward faster than the chains; and
Figure 6 is a view of the devices for permitting sheets to be hung on both sides
of the wires.
Like letters denote corresponding parts in all the Figures.
A, A, are two endless chains which are arranged opposite each other, being
supported by wheels on the opposite walls of a room, or on frames properly arranged.
Near the floor each chain runs around two sprocket wheels a, a', and from these
wheels each chain extends upwardly towards the ceiling of the room, the upper
part of the chain being supported near to the ceiling by a sprocket wheel a², while
the other part runs over a wheel as at a lower elevation. From these wheels a², a³,
the two parts of each chain A extend horizontally or nearly so any desired distance
(depending upon the size of the room and capacity of the machine) until they reach
the end sprocket-wheels a, as; the parts of the chain pass around these wheels and
take a vertical direction or nearly so towards each other. Suitable guide wheels a
are used to bring the slow chains A close to the fast chains at the proper points.
The horizontal sections of the chains A may be supported and prevented from
sagging by wheels placed at suitable distances apart, or by shelves 6 (Figure 3)
extending under part or the whole of these horizontal sections.
Inside of the chains A, A, at the front of the machine are placed two shorter
endless chains B, B.
Each chain B passes around two sprocket wheels c, c¹, located a short distance
above and between the wheels a, a, and from, these wheels c, c¹, the chain B
extends vertically to a larger sprocket wheel c² close to the upper front wheel a³
of the chain A, and to another wheel c³ just above and close to the wheel a³ of
the chain A.
ว
Each chain B passes around a wheel c¹ between the wheels c², c³, and around
another wheel c³ above the wheel c', and thence to such wheel c¹, completing the
endless chain.
The large sprocket wheel c² of each chain B is fixed to a short shaft extending
through the supporting timbers, and having on its other end a gear wheel which is
shown in dotted lines in Figure 1. This gear wheel meshes with a larger gear-
wheel d secured to a shaft C in front of the chains B, which shaft extends across
the front of the machine, so as to connect the opposite chains B and cause them to
be driven at the same speed.
The shaft C is further provided with a pulley d¹, around which a belt d² passes
to a pulley d³ on the line shafting D. The belt d² runs loosely over the small
pulley on the line shafting, and is tightened, so as to drive the shaft C by a
tightening wheel E. This wheel E is carried by a horizontal lever E¹, pivotted in

page_text: a hanger and having a cord e extending from the end opposite the wheel E to a
foot or hand lever, within convenient reach of a person standing on the floor. The
tightening wheel E is held in its uppermost position by a hooked lever e' which
is moved in one direction (to allow the tightener to drop) by a cam e² on one of
the gear wheels d.
This cam automatically releases the tightener every time the wheels d make a
revolution. A spring e³ draws the hook lever into engagement with the tightener
when the same is raised.
The movement which this automatic starting device allows is just sufficient to
bring a new wire into position, as will be presently explained.
If desired the machine can be operated by a hand crank located at any suitable
point, as will be readily understood.
The short shaft that carries each wheel c² of the chains B is provided with a
small sprocket wheel f secured thereto, around which a chain fl passes to a larger
sprocket-wheel on the stud that carries each wheel a² of the chains A, and
secured to said wheel. Through this connection the chains A are driven from the
chains B at a slower speed than such chains B. This difference in speed is shown
(for illustration) and hereinafter described, as being one to six, the chains B
travelling forty eight inches while the chains A are advancing eight inches, but it
is evident that the difference in speed can be greater or less as desired.
At the rear end of the machine there are placed within the ends of the chains A
other fast running chains F, F, which extend around sprocket wheels g, g³, arranged
close to the inner sides of these chains A.
The rear vertical portions of the chains F are parallel, or nearly so, with the
same parts of the chains A, and such chains F are driven at the same speed as the
chains B by means of gear wheels h secured to the wheels a¹ of the chains A, and
operating upon pinions h¹ secured to the wheels. g through intermediate gear
wheels h².
All the chains A, B, and F, have adjustable wheels at suitable points by which
the slack can be taken up and the chains maintained at a proper tension.
G, G, are endless carriage ways upon which the carriages that carry the cross
wires travel. Each of these ways is formed preferably of a number of strips of
band iron, which are secured to wooden strips or blocks G' (Figure 3), extending
over the entire length of the ways, or made in sections placed at intervals apart.
These ways are secured to the walls of the room (or the frame work) by
brackets G, which project outwardly, so that the ways are supported a short
distance out from the walls, leaving room enough for the chains to pass behind them.
These ways G, G, follow the fast running chains B, B, at the front of the
machine, until the horizontal portions of the slow running chains A, A, are reached,
when the ways follow such chains A throughout almost the entire length of their
horizontal extensions. At the rear ends of the chains A, however, the ways again
leave them and follow the fast running chains F, F, until the vertical portion of the
machine is passed. Thus it will be seen that the vertical parts of the carriage
ways follow the fast running chains, while in the main horizontal extension of the
machine (in which the principal part of the drying is accomplished) the ways take
the course of the slow moving chains.
Upon the ways G are placed a suitable number of carriages H, shown more
particularly in Figures 3 and 4.
These are composed of a plate i, on the inner end of which are mounted two
horizontal concave wheels or rollers ¹ which run against the inner edge of the
ways G. These rollers i¹ revolve on stationary vertical studs, and have the central
openings through which the studs' pass flared at each end, so that the rollers can
work more or less on the studs, and will not be liable to jam in running around
curves.
:
Outside of the rollers the carriages are provided with vertical plates i², by
pushing upon which the carriages are moved. The plate i of each carriage is bent

page_text: over the inner edge of the ways, and has two vertical rollers ³, one above and one
below the ways, which keep the carriage in position.
The opposite carriages of the two carriage ways are connected by wires I, which
are properly stretched and passed through studs secured to the bent ends of the
plates between the vertical rollers i³.
On the
The wires I carry the sheets to be dried, and the carriages H are pushed along
the ways by the moving chains. This is done by pins J which project inwardly
at intervals from the chains, and are formed with or secured to the links.
fast moving chains the pins are shown six times as far apart as they are on the
slow moving chains. These distances may be (for illustration) forty eight inches on
the chains B and F, and eight inches on the chains A.
But these distances may be more or less as desired. The pins J may be
removably and adjustably connected with the chains by providing each link with
a socket cast therewith, into which the pins can be set.
This will enable the distance between the pins to be changed so that they can
be put closer together or farther apart, according to the nature and size of the
objects to be dried.
The wet sheets are placed upon each wire when it reaches the point x (Figure 1),
while the dry sheets at the same time are being removed from the succeeding wire
at the point y. Then by raising the tightener the loaded wire will be lifted'
vertically by the pins of the chains B, forty eight inches above the point x, while
the wire that was previously at point y will be advanced to x ready to receive its
load, of wet sheets, another wire with dried sheets being moved at the same time
to y for the removal of its sheets. The cam then strikes the hook lever, moves the
same, and releases the tightener, thus automatically stopping the machine. When
the next wire is loaded the tightener is raised and the operation repeated.
When the carriages of each loaded wire reach the wheels c2 where the ways
leave the fast running chains B, the pins J of the chains B force the carriages along
the ways into the paths of the pins of the chains A, and then pass under the lower
ends of the vertical plates i² of the carriages towards the wheels c. The next pins
on the chains A now strike the plates of the carriages and push them along the
horizontal portions of the ways at one sixth the speed which they previously had.
The carriages of one wire are brought into position by the chains B in time to be
caught up by each set of pins on the chains A, and are pushed along by the chains
A eight inches apart until the fast running chains F are reached, when the carriages
of each wire are caught by the pins on such chains F, and are carried around to
the wheels g¹. Here the fast chains pass over the carriages and the slow chains
again take them up and push them along till the wheels c³ of the chains B are
reached; at this point the pins on the chains B catch the carriages and push them
along the ways to the starting point.
The object of this arrangement of fast and slow moving chains is as follows:-
In moving vertically the sheets require much more space than in moving
horizontally in order to be kept from touching each other, and where only two
chains are used the wires are always the same distance apart and much available
space is not utilized. And in addition the fast and slow chains greatly increase
the capacity of the machine, and the sheets will not be returned to the starting
point until thoroughly dried.
The carriage ways and wheel carriages possess great advantages since the lateral
strain is all taken by the ways, which can be well supported at a small expense,
instead of by the chains, which would require expensive fixtures to keep them in
position if the wires were connected directly to them; the chains can also be
moved easier, there is less strain on the sprocket wheels, and the machine can
*be operated with less power.
In the downward movement of the carriages they would drop by reason of their
weight ahead of the pins of the fast moving chains if provision were not made to]
prevent them. For this purpose plate springs K. (Figure 5) are preferably used,

page_text: which are secured to strips k close to the vertical portions of the ways. These
springs retard the carriages and make it necessary to force them by the chains.
In the machine shown in the Drawings it is necessary to use four sets of these
springs; two where the ways follow the chains B downwardly, and two for the
vertical portions of the ways that follow the chains F.
For the purpose of allowing two sets of sheets to be hung from each wire a
jointed rod L (Figure 6) is attached to each wire secured by spring clasps M
embracing such wires. The jointed rod L is provided on each side with upwardly
inclined points N.
The sheets to be dried are hung on these points, a sheet of common paper being
first fixed on one set of points to separate the sheets. If it is desired to double the
sheets and hang them over the wires, the jointed rods can be removed from the
clasps M, and such clasps pushed to one end of the wires.
It will be seen that the machine occupies, except at the front, only the space
close to the ceiling, which cannot be used for other purposes, the chains, wheels,
and ways being on the side walls or on vertical frames. By removing the wires
at the points x and y the entire floor will be made clear; this can be done when
the drying machine is not in operation if it is desired to use the floor space for any
purpose.
When it is not desired to utilize the floor space for any other purpose, as where
a special room is set apart to accommodate the drying machine, the whole or nearly
the whole space may be taken up for drying purposes by extending the chains and
ways several times forward and back, in which case it will be understood that the
fast running chains will be used to carry the wires around every bend, and
throughout all vertical portions of their movement, while the ways will follow slow
running chains in all horizontal portions.
It is evident that ropes or belts might be used instead of the chains, and that
instead of the fast chains at bends of small dimensions (as at the rear end of the
machine shown) large wheels could be used having pins that drive the carriages
around the bend from one portion of the slow chair. to the other. Instead of the
wires for supporting the objects cords can be used, or strips of wood or metal, or
rods (of wood or metal) trussed so as to be self sustaining.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and the mode in
which the same is carried into effect, I would have it understood that what I claim
is,-
First. In a continuous drying machine, the combination of endless chains and
transverse supporting wires driven by such chains, whereby a large number of
sheets or other objects can be carried forward simultaneously, and returned to or
near the starting point, substantially as described.
Second. In a continuous drying machine, the combination of the slow and
fast moving chains with the cross wires, whereby the movement of the drying
sheets will be alternately retarded and accellerated, substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
Third. In a continuous drying machine, the combination of the endless slow and
fast moving chains with the endless ways, the carriages travelling upon such ways,
and the cross wires connecting the carriages, such ways following the fast and slow
chains alternately, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Fourth. In a continuous drying machine, wherein the sheets are carried upwardly
from near the floor towards the ceiling, and horizontally along near the ceiling, and
are returned to or near the starting point, the combination of slow moving chains
for moving the sheets horizontally, and fast running chains at both the front and
rear ends of the machine, for moving the sheets vertically, substantially as described
and shown.
Fifth. In a continuous drying machine, the combination with the driving chains
of the ways D, D, supported by brackets and the connected carriages G, substantially
as described and shown.
Sixth. In a continuous drying machine, the combination with the chains, the

page_text: ways, and the connected carriages, of the brakes or springs K for retarding the
downward movement of the carriages, substantially as described and shown..
Seventh. In a continuous drying machine, the points N upon which the sheets
are hung, substantially as described and shown.
In witness whereof, I, the said Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty first day of February, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
D. J. B. MILLS. (L.D.)