IMPROVE- MENTS IN THE TREATMENT OR FINISHING OF TEXTILE FABRICS AND, MATERIALS
Year: 1852

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Campbell, of Bowfield, in the County of
Renfiew, North Britain, Bleacher, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE TREATMENT OR FINISHING OF TEXTILE FABRICS AND,
MATERIALS."
Scaled the 8th December 1852, and dated the 18th October 1852.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Campbell
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 18th October 1852.
I, JOHN CAMPBELL, of Bowfield, in the County of Renfiew, North
Britain, Bleacher, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OR FINISHING OF TEXTILE FABRICS
AND MATERIALS" to be as follows, that is to say :-
This Invention relates to the production of what is technically known
as the "clastic finish" in muslins and other goods, on the principle of
the original "thumbing" or hand finishing process. This is effected by
means of a pair of endless belts carried over two pairs of guide rollers
or cylinders set angularly, so that the space between the belts gradually
widens from the taking in to the discharging end. Each belt carries a

page_text: series of laths or cross bars stretching across the upper surface of the
traversing belts, all the laths on one side fitting into the spaces between
those on the other. The connections of these laths are so made that as
they traverse forward. they .always retain their position at right angles
to the goods, and as they constantly work outwards from the tapering
of the bands their effect, is to stretch and breadthen the piece passed
over them. Between cach lath a species of "thumb," or short curved
lever piece, is hinged or attached to the carrying bands, and is so
contrived as 'to be made to fall over, upon, or near the-edge. of the piece
on each side as the piece enters the frame over the taking in roller.
Those thumbs are adjustable so as to press with greater or less weight
upon the top of the piece at its selvages, tending to press it down
between the laths. By this means, as these thumbs have a constant
outward traverse, like the laths, and there being always two opposing
thumbs set right opposite each other on each side the piece, the result
-is, that the piece passed along over the laths and beneath the thumbs
is powerfully breadthened. After passing over this first breadthening
frame the fabric proceeds to a second frame of a similar kind, but with
thumbs fitted at intervals only on each side, so that no two thumbs
shall be opposite to one another in a line directly across the piece. In
this way, as the outward pull of cach contiguous pair of thumbs is
diagonally across the picce, with an alternate action, the fabric is
éffectually finished or angled, just as it is effected by hand; or the two
belts, with their fingers or thumbs, may be made to travel alternately,
angling the piece backwards and forwards to stretch and finish the
fabric. If necessary, several such frames may be placed in a line, the
fabric passing from one to the other until completely and duly angled.
Provision is made for guiding the the thumbs gently upon the picco
as well as for relieving them from their pressure on the piece at the
termination of their action. By such a plan finer goods may be well
finished up the selvages. The finishing frames may be fitted up with
conical, rollers, to which a differential effect may be given to the cones
by arranging each opposed pair, or the contiguous concs of a series,
with their axes at reverse horizontal angles, for as the passing fabric
always tends to mount or pass on to the higher end, or larger diameter

page_text: of each cone, it follows that the piece will be separately angled, by
being first carried to one side and then to the other of the line of
traverse of the piece; in other words, this angular adjustment of the
cone spindles will give the fabric a species of zig-zag or undulatory
traverse, so as to assist the finishing action. And for goods in
which a more or less lustrous appearance is required, the series
of cones may be driven at differential rates, that is, some of the
cones may revolve at a higher speed than the others, so as to give a
certain amount of rubbing frictional action, according to the degree of
lustre intended. Or the same effect may be secured by passing the
goods over differentially driven cylinders or rollers. A breadthening,
lustreing, and finishing effect may also be secured by passing the goods
over cones or cylinders, so contrived that each cone or cylinder is in
two halves in the breadth of the piece, the joint being in the centre line
of the piece, with the end of one section entered into a recess in the end
of the other. The axes of these two sections are not in the same line,
but are set at a greater or less angle with each other horizontally, and
cach section is driven by its own separate gearing by D wheels or other.
contrivance During, finishing the sections are driven alternately, one
resting whilst the other moves forward, thus angling and breaking the
cloth from side to side. In finishing short length goods, where it is
necessary to keep fine, square, and even ends, a connecting lath is used
to join one piece to the other for passing through in a stream, such lath
having two rows of inclined pins or teeth to receive and hold the ends
of the pieces. Instead of using steam cans or cylinders with stuffing
boxes during finishing, it is proposed to use hollow open ended cylinders
or cones, with suitable radiating surfaces, so that as the goods pass over
such surfaces great heat is given off from the radiating surface to the
goods, such heat being obtained by heating the apartment by air or
gases in the manner of a stove. Thus, as the heat is carried off from
the peripheries of the radiating surfaces, a current of heated air is kept
up through the hollows of the rollers; or cylinders to keep up the
heating power externally. Thread or yarns are also finished in a
stove or heated apartment by hanging the hanks of material over a
revolving roller with a weighted roller, hollow or not, passed into the

page_text: pendant loose end of the hanks. In In this way the theads are stretched,
whilst a current of hot air passing through carries off the
vapour
For calendering and finishing goods, instead of using plain cylinders
for the heating, pressing, and frictional effect, it is proposed to use cones,
so arranged as to give whatever lustre may be required by reason of
their differential effect or traverse.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Campbell in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 18th April 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
JOHN CAMPBELL, of Bow field, in the County of Renfrew, North Britain,
Bleacher, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eighteenth day of October, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-two, m the
sixteenth year of Her reign, dul, for Ilerself, Her hens and succes-
sors, give and grant unto me, the said John Campbell, Her special
licence that I, the said John Campbell, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said John Campbell, my executors,
administrators, or 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
TREATMENT OR FINISHING OF TEXTILE FABRICS AND MATERIALS," upon the
condition (amongst others) that 1, the said John Campbell, by an instru-
ment in writing under my hand and seal, 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 John Campbell, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the

page_text: same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained-
in and by the following statement, reference being had to the Drawings.
hereunto attached, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that
is to say):
My said Invention relates,―
First. To various arrangements of machinery, apparatus. or means.
for producing what is technically known as the "clastic finish" in:
muslins and other goods on the principle of the original "thumbing"
or hand finishing process.
Second. To various modifications in the construction and arrange-
ment of mycone" finishing apparatus, for which I have already.
obtained Her Majesty's Letters Patent for England, dated May the
8th, 1852.
Third. To the application of heat to the goods during the finishing.
process by means of hollow open-ended rollers or cylinders, heated
fiom the surrounding atmosphere of the finishing apartment.
Fourth To the drying and finishing of thread and yains by the aid
of heat acting upon the treated materials when suspended in a state of.
tensional motion.
Fifth To the application and use of conical rollers, instead of plain.
cylinders, in calendering machines for calendering and finishing piece
goods.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood I.
shall now proceed to describe the several Figures on the Sheet. of
Drawings hereunto attached. Figure 1, on my Sheet of Diawings is
a side or longitudinal elevation of one modification of my thumbing
finishing machine. Figure 2, is a corresponding plan of the same.
Figure 3. is a side elevation, on a larger scale, of one of the thumbing
actions detached. Figure 4. is an edge view of this movement as
taken at right angles to Figure 8; and Figure 5, is a plan of the action
corresponding to Figure 3. Figure 6, is a front elevation of my.
arrangement for drying yarns; and Figure 7, is a corresponding
side view. The machine stands on the four pillars A, which are bound
together at their upper ends so as to form an open rectangular.frame
by the horizontal castings B. It is on the top of these pillars that the

page_text: "
bearings C, for the outer ends of the shafts of the two pairs of
angularly set guide rollers D, are placed. The inner contiguous ends
of these shafts 'run in bearings E, in the projecting ends of four
horizontally adjustable brackets F. These brackets are secured by bolts
and slots to the horizontal bearing beams G, of the framing, so that by
traversing them back or forward the contiguous ends of the shafts
in each pair may be similarly adjusted, in order to bring their axes to
any required" angle with each other; or, in other terms, to set the two
shafts to the intended amount out of the straight line across the
machine, the external end bearings of the shafts being, of course,
adjustable, to suit the varying angularity of the shafts." Each of the
four rollers or carrying drums D, is keyed fast upon its shaft, and is
perforated radially upon its periphery, at regular intervals. to admit the
holding pins H, of the thumbing motion, and 'thus form a pitch chain
and pulley action for the traverse of the endless' thumbing and finishing
belts. These belts are cacli composed of a broad strap of leather or
other metal T through which the holding pins H, are passed at regular
intervals; these pins having broad flat head pieces J. 'for attaching the
strap pin, and the box piece K, of the thumbing action all together.
The box pieces are simply open rectangular frames, containing a central
parallel ridge piece or división E, forming two parallel slots, into which
the corresponding thumb or finger pieces M, are made to fit. These
thumbs are short lever pieces of wood or metal, with inclined or curved
ends, as at N, and they are each hinged to the outer ends of the box
pieces at O, so that they can either come wholly out of or lay loosely
in their respective divisions in the boxes. Each thumb is slightly bent
at its hinged end, and carries a tail P, by means of which it is regulated
during the finishing action. Both endless thumbing bands rest by
their upper sides or lengths upon a pair of inclined carrying rails Q,
which are adjustable to any determined amount of taper required for
the breadthening action upon their supporting pillars R, set on the
cross beams C, the narrow end S, where the two bands are nearest
together, being the entering end for the goods, so that the rails and
thumbing straps gradually diverge to their widest extent at the opposite
end of the machine T. The machine is driven by the fast and loose

page_text: strap pulleys U, on the outer end of the first motion shaft V, which is
carried in-bearing W, about half way down two of the main supporting
pillars A. This shaft thus passes directly across the machine, and has.
upon it, near each end, a spur wheel X, in gear with a spur carrier
wheel Y, running on a stud pin in the adjustable arm Z, projecting
from the pillar framing. This carrier wheel again gears with a spur
wheel a, fast on the outer end of the inclined shaft of the carrying
drum. This is the arrangement as referring to one side of the
machine, and a precisely similar combination exists on the other,
so that with the revolution of the driving pulley U, a simultaneous
uniform motion would be given to both drum shafts were the gearing
continuous and complete. But this is not the case, as the wheels X,
are each made to act differentially by being toothed segnientally with
four blank intervals, as at b, so that as the shaft V, rotates it communi-
cates an intermittent revolving motion to the two delivering drums D,
and the two opposite wheels X, are so set with respect to each other
that they cause an alternate partial rotation of each dum, that is to
say, a horizontal transverse line drawn across the machine from a
toothed portion of one wheel would intersect a corresponding blank on
the opposite wheel. The result of this 15, that each wheel X, turns its
own drum round to the extent of its toothed segment, and then as each:
segnient becomes disengaged the drum stops, but the segment on the
opposite wheel X, at that moment comes into gear, and. the opposite
drum is thus turned a like distance. This gives a step by step move-
ment, so that the fabric under treatment is alternately drawn or angled
diagonally across from side to side. The reverse or entering end of the
machine is fitted up in an exactly similar manner as regards the drums
and shafts, but no gearing is required there, owing to the actuating
movement being entirely communicated to the delivering end of the
machine The unfinished piece is entered into the machine at the
end S. and passed along. as indicated by the arrows, to be operated
upon by the thumbs as the latter come round froin beneath the
machine. The weight and system of connection of these thumbs.
always tends to make them hang vertically, or nearly so, during the:
back traversé of the two bands beneath the machine, as at c, but each:

page_text: thumb having a slight inclination inwards towards the longitudinal
centre line of the frame, it follows that as they individually come round
they have a tendency to fall over upon the selvages of the piece,
as at . The dotted lines e, represent these selvages, and to prevent
the thumbs from falling too suddenly and heavily upon the fabric, they
are each gradually let down by the fixed inclined guides f, carried on
the framing at g. These guides are so curved and inclined that as the
tails of the thumbs come round, the latter bear individually, by their
upper sides, against the inner surface of the guides, the inclination being
al gradual casy one at the entrance, and so contrived that each thumb
makes a gradual descending sweep, until when the guides have been
passed, as at h, the thumbs have been gently let down upon the piece on
each side. In this way each individual pair of thumbs give its weight to
the fabric, and obtains a firm selvage hold upon it, by pressing it down
into the two parallel slots of the box piece. This obviously produces an
undulatory nipping or holding action, by distension over the central
ib of the box, and hence the long upper lines of thumbs, as at i, in the
plan, Figure 2. possess a good hold of the selvages, so as to effectually.
breadthen the piece by the expanding action towards the delivering
end. All this time, too, the alternate angling finishing action due to the
step by step movement of the drums is going on, so that the angling
and breadthening processes proceed simultaneously; and in order that
the thumb action may have a good fixed hold of the selvage towards
the end of the traverse, to bring up the width of the piece to the
proper determined standard, each thumb is formed with an inclined
notch j, fitting to corresponding shoulders on the surface of the box
piece, so that as the stretching of the piece goes on the selvage is
finally hooked, as it were, by this shoulder and notch. As the thumbs
come near the delivering end of the machine they are each gradually
cased off the piece by the inclined guides k, of the framing. These
guides have each a vertical piece 7, for attachment to the frame at the
entrance side of the thumbs, and they are curved round at the other
end, and finally bolted at m. The action of these guides is precisely
the reverse of that of the retarding guides at the entrance end. Each
thumb tail comes with its upper side into gradual contact with the

page_text: inner and lower face of the guide, and as the inclination of the latter
proceeds, the tail is more and more depressed until the thumb is
lifted clear off the piece, and finally swung back to its pendant posi-
tion for the return traverse. Each inciement of the piece is thus
gradually relieved from the thumb action, and the fabric passes off,
finished, at T. The thumbs may be made of various forms, the object
being to secure a uniform mechanical action of a nature similar to the
old system of hand thumbing, and each piece is capable of adjustment
so as to come down with more or less weight upon the goods. There is
also a special provision for the duc effect of the alternate angling
actions, for as cach drum is stopped and thrown out of gear with the
driver it is necessary that it should be held in a steady position until
again required to move forward. To accomplish this a spring n; is
attached to the frame or fixed portion of the machine on each side,
and this spring carries at its lower free end a small detent piece fitting
to a set of notclics on the inner face of the wheels X. The spring has
also antifriction pulley o, which constantly tends to bear against the
inner face of the wheel; and each segmental toothed portion of the
wheels has a swell or cam piece to act upon the spring pulley as it
comes round. The effect of this is, that so long as the toothed seginent
is in gear with the machinery the spring catch is pressed out of the
notches on the wheel X, but immediately that the disengagement takes
place the absence of the swell of the segment permits the catch to fall
into a notch on the wheel, and thus lock the drum of that side from
moving. This occurs on each side, each drum being alternately locked
and unlocked. I may also remark that this system of thumbing may
also be combined with my lath breadthening machine, as described in the
Specification of my Patent of 1852; or the goods may be passed first
over the breadthener, and then over or through the thumbing machine,
and, instead of arranging the opposed thumbs on each side, in a line with
cach other. By such a system fine goods may be well finished up to
the selvages. I may also remark, that my angling cones, or modifications
thereof, may be added to this class of finishing machine, so as to work
in concert therewith. And instead of arranging such angling cones in
two parallel.rows or series, I propose.to arrange them with their shafts

page_text: all in one horizontal line, the fabric. to be passed under one and over
the other throughout. And instead of making these angling cones
with plain surfaces, or with adjustable laths, I increase their useful
eflect by surrounding cach cone with separate adjustable conical rollers
of smaller diameter, the individual cones of each pair of the contiguous
smaller cones being set in reverse directions. Each smaller conc is a
little more than half the length of the main cone, and all the narrow
ends of the sinall cones therefore lic near the centre of the large one.
Each small cone is carried in end bearings on the large conc, or on
discs on the shaft, and the shaft may have guide discs set upon it at
'an angle, so as to cause the smaller cones to traverse back and for-
waid longitudinally, and thus exert a breadthening effect, upon the
goods, the outward traverse of the small cones being set to suit the
delivery of the piece. This surface of cones or moveable rollers also
answers as a preventive of any excessively severe effects upon the goods
by the ordinary plain conc action, as cacli small conc or roller has
liberty to give or revolve slightly backward in case of the occurrence
of any serious undue strain in dragging forward the picce. In finishing
short length goods, where it is necessary to keep fine square even ends,
I use a connecting lath for joining one piece to the other for passing
through the finishing mechanism in a stream, such lath having two
rows of teeth or pins, ou which the two end edges of the picce are
hooked. This forms the connection between the pieces, and the latter
are thus carried through with square even ends. And instead of using
stean cans or hollow cylinders fitted up with stuffing boxes for giving
the necessary heat during finishing, I adopt hollow open ended cylinders
'or concs, with suitable radiating surfaces of metal or other material,
so that as the goods pass over such surfaces great heat is given
.off to the goods, such .heat being obtained by heating the apartment
in the manner of a stove, so as to allow heated air or gases to
penetrate the interior of the cylinders. In this way, as the heat is
'carried off from the radiating surfaces of the rollers or cylinders, a
cheated current is kept up through the cylinders, so as to keep up the
heating power externally. In drying and finishing thread and yarns,
as represented in Figures 6, and 7, the yarns A, are hung in the hank

page_text: state over a revolving roller B, and in the open lower loop ends of the
hauks is hung the weighted roller C, either hollow or solid. In this
way the threads are stretched well out whilst a current of heated air is
passed over and through the lianks to carry off the vapour, the whole
apparatus being contained in a heated chamber or stove. In calen-
dering and finishing piece goods on the calendering principle, instead
of using plain cylinders for the heating. pressing, and frictional actions,
I use conical rollers, geared together and contrived so as to give the
intended frictional lustremg action by reason of the differential effect
or traverse of the roller surface in giving a powerful frictional effect to
the cloth.
Having now described and particularly ascertained. the nature of the
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used
and carried into effect, I may observe, in conclusion; that I do not con-
fine or restrict-myself to the precise details or arrangements which I
have had occasion to describe or refer to, as many variations may be
made therefiom without deviating from the main features of my In-
vention; but what I consider to be novel and original, and therefore
claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part
recited Letters Patent, is,-
First, the general arrangement and construction of the machinery,
apparatus, or means for the treatment or finishing of textile fabrics and
materials, as hercin-before described.
Second, the system or mode of angling, breaking, or finishing, and
breadthening woven goods by means of my angling thumbs and tapered
belts, as herein-before described.
Third, the system or mode of angling or finishing piece goods by
means of the combination of thumbs and differentially driven shafts
and carrying drums.
Fourth, the application and use of tumbling levers or holding thumbs
for stretching and angling piece goods, as herein-before described.
Fifth, the system or mode of bringing on and taking off the tumbling
levers or finishing thumbs by the use of inclined guides, as herein-
before described.
Sixth, the system or mode of holding or catching the edges of piece

page_text: goods by means of tumbling levers or thumbs working in concert
.with an intermediate division piece for effecting the undulating nip of
the fabric.
Seventh, the system or mode of constructing and arranging conical
finishing rollers with separate encircling rollers for the purposes herein- 5
before described.
Eighth, the system or mode of applying heat to the goods duing
the finishing process by the use of hollow open ended heat radiating
cylinders.
Ninth, the system or mode of drying and finishing yarns and thread 1
by means of heated air acting on the thread when tensionally suspended
in the hank state.
Tenth, the system or mode of constructing calendering machines
with conical rollers.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Campbell, have hereunto set 1
my hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of April, in the year of
⚫our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three..
JOHN CAMPBELL.
L.S.)