Improvements in Machines for Washing Fabrics.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Sept., 1889-Accepted, 12th Oct., 1889
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Washing Fabrics.
I, LEOPOLD PHILIPP HEMMER, of Aachen, in the Empire of Germany, Machinist,
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:-
In washing machines, employed in the manufacture of continuous fabrics, the pieces,
from end to end, are either washed in rope form or in an open state, in separato
machines.
Fig. 1. in annexed drawing represents a combination of the aforesaid machine,
whereby the fabric can be washed perfectly in rope form or an open state, in a
continuous or alternate manner according to the nature of the fabric without separating
it in the seam.
If it was not requisite to effect a slight contraction, in length or width or felting,
in certain fabrics during the washing operation, machines for washing fabric in an
open state would be only employed, which gives the fabric a better appearance and
feel, but owing to the same not effecting a sufficient felting and contraction in
width and length of the fabric it is washed in rope form, although the fabric
looses in appearance owing to the creases produced which can not be got out
again.
To remedy this defect the fabric, after having been passed through the machine in
rope form, is run a short time in an open state, so as to take out more or less the
creases formed in and to mangle it, but this does not give the same result, as when
the fabric is washed in an open state, with soap and lye and which in an ordinary
machine can not take place effectively, owing to it not being furnished with the
arrangement necessary for such a combined washing.
In carrying out my invention and referring to Fig. 1 of annexed drawing I
employ a grid R formed with removable bars n, by means of which a suitable
number ef equal or differing spaces can be formed for the reception of the fabrics in
rope form.
On removing all the bars n a space for the reception of the fabric in an open
form is provided.
Over the grid R are placed one or two expanders h formed with inclined grooves,
which expanders h by suitable means such as right and left handed screws can be
adjusted and on which the whole width of the fabric runs.
The grid R is arranged to rock on pivots a and lifts when on washing in rope form,
the fabric gets entangled therewith, and in connection with the stop lever of the
machine.
r",
After the fabric has run through the grid R it passes over a rotary or fixed
roller which in the latter case serves as an expander, underneath the roller is
the trough A containing the lye or water, from whence it reaches the main transport
and squeezing rollers O & U.
The trough A is sometimes employed in ordinary machines for washing fabrics in
rope form, but serves there only to catch the liquid running from the rollers O & U,
which is to be conveyed back into the fabric on the bottom of the machine, or if too
dirty to conduct it away from the machine, but in machines for washing the fabric in
rope form, it never serves the purpose of receiving the fabric and to cover it afresh
with lye, soap and soda.
From the rollers O & U the fabric runs over a lath roller S, which is driven by
means of a strap, from the roller U, from whence it drops over the back onto the
bottom of the machine, from there it ascends by reason of the rotation of the
rollers O&U and passes over a few rollers to the grid R.

page_text: If the fabric is intended to be washed in an open state, it runs over a rotating
roller a and stationary roller b, and afterwards under the rotating or stationary
cylindrical roller to the grid R.
The fabric in rope form sometimes passes only over the rollers a, c, & z, but it
should also be arranged to run over a, b, c, z, & r, in the same manner as when in
an open state, in which case the roller r is raised according to the rope thickness of
the fabric.
To keep the cloth, when in an open state, an equal distance apart from the frame
plates of the machine, two wooden walls W are generally employed, which by means
of right and left handed screw spindles can be brought nearer to or further from
each other.
l
For the purpose of facilitating a better cleaning and producing a stronger felting
and steady run of the fabric, it is caused to run against each other in various parts of
the machine, in fact anywhere, where its run can be reversed, preferably when run in
an open space.
To attain the said purpose, stationary or adjustable rollers, cross bars, or expanders
are employed, so arranged that at some parts in the machine, where the fabric, by
reason of its position runs or is drawn in an opposite direction, the ascending part of
it will touch or rub against the descending one, where it bears against the tension
rollers.
2+
In Fig. 2. of annexed drawing the roller or stay e is so placed that the fabric on
running from z passes over the same and under and up to the roller U, so that the
descending part of the fabric does not touch the ascending one, whereas in Fig 3. e is
so placed, that the part of the fabric ascending from r bears against the part
descending from zi.e. on the roller e, where it causes a friction, which increases
the nearer together, the reverse running parts of the fabric are brought by adjusting
the roller e to the right.
a,
Fig. 4. shows how the fabric underneath the grid R runs over the rollers, b, C
in this position it is not intended to rub each other from c, and Fig. 5. when on
running over a, b, c, it is intended that the left side thereof shall rub against c
and the right side against b, if b is adjusted accordingly.
It may be remarked that the fabric may be run in any direction vertical, horizontal
or radial to the shaft of the lower main transport roller, providing the sides will rub
against each other.
For the purpose of facilitating the adjustment of the roller b, see Fig. 11. the same
is mounted on two levers g, fixed on the rocking shaft i, which is retained in position
by means of the toothed segment q and pawl t.
In order to prevent the fabric from moving sideways, which in the case in certain
kinds, independent of the employment on the tension roller and adjustable side walls
and which necessitates the attendant to draw the fabric to the middle of the machine,
I provide the same with a regulator, see Figs. 6. & 7. This regulator consists of a
double armed lever T pivoted to the frame of the machine at m and in contact with
the fabric. When the latter runs to one side, the respective end of the lever is caused
to descend by reason of the increased weight of the fabric on the lever T on that side,
while the opposite end ascends.
Above the lever T, is arranged a rotating or stationary tension roller B or a bar
grooved below, between which and the lever T, the fabric passes.
On the fabric running towards one side it causes the respective lever end to descend
and the other to ascend and press the fabric against the tension roller or bar B which
draws it to the middle and brings the lever T to its normal position or balance
again.
The aforesaid tension roller B is made of wood or metal and formed with a right
and left handed screw like groove running respectively from the middle to the end
thereof, onto which is wound and made to project, screw like, a rope which comes into
contact with the fabric.
In order to wash the fabric rapidly in an open state; an arrangement is applied, see
Fig. 8. which is similar to a certain arrangement in a fulling machine, with this

page_text: differance, that the same is not closed on the side, and only at the bottom, provided
with a side board F and at the top with a flap valve K. This arrangement heretofore
has never been applied to a machine for washing fabric in an open state, nor for the
purpose of washing the fabric by friction in folds in its whole width, pressed together,
by means of flap valve. However, this valve must not only subject the fabric to
friction, but also to a blow, for which purpose the shaft of the roller S, on each end is
furnished with a cam disc E which acts upon a tapet fixed on a rod s attached hinge
like to the valve K so as to raise and drop the same alternately and cause it to work
against the fabric underneath.
In order to give the floor of the machine more capacity and push the folds quicker
and parallel with each other towards the front when treating the fabric in an open
state a feed motion D, see Figs. 1. 9. & 10. is arranged at the back thereof, which on
moving up and down pushes the fabric on its entire width downwards.
Near the bottom of the frame of the machine a crank shaft k, see Fig. 10. is suitably
mounted, which by means of a strap is rotated from the main roller U.
The said crank by means of the rod y is connected with the lever H fixed on the
shaft p, at the end of which is fixed, outside the frame of the machine, another like
lever. These levers grip fork like respectively a stud on the rod v fixed on the feed
motion D, and moving up and down in two slots formed in the frame sides, so as to
push forward the fabric, by means of the feed board.
To give a better result in washing, than is attained by smooth rollers, (they may
U.
be of wood, metal, or india-rubber, etc.) for certain fabrics, the main rollers O.
as well as the transport rollers c¹, c², are toothed longitudinal, the corners of the teeth
being rounded off.
-
The fabric running between these rollers, the teeth of which are cut in a milling
machine into the solid of the roller, will thus get thoroughly worked and rubbed.
Besides the toothed roller pairs aforesaid, other may be arranged in the machine and
may of any suitable material.
be
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1st. Providing a washing machine with means for treating fabric either in an open
state or in rope form or continuous manner, i.e. by connecting the pieces together,
consisting of a grid R, with removable bars n, which form several spaces, through
which the fabric in rope form runs respectively, or on removal of the bars only one space,
through which the fabric is run, when being treated in an open state, and which grid R
is furnished with one or two adjustable tension holders ; further in the employment
of a trough A, above the bottom of the machine, in which the fabric passes, in rope
form or in an open state, under a stationary or adjustable guide roller and is saturated
with lye or water before reaching the main squeezing rollers, substantially as set
forth.
2nd. The employment of stationary or movable tension rollers, and cross-bars or
other similar means, in such a manner, that the part of the fabric, running over the
tension rollers, etc. and drawn through by the main squeezing rollers will meet with
another part thereof running in a reverse direction, by reason of its particular position
in the machine and will rub against each other, substantially as set forth.
3rd. The employment of means for guiding the fabric to be washed from the sides
to the middle, on running from the latter to the sides of the machine, consisting of a
lever T, which similar to a scale lever descends, at the side where the weight of the
fabric is most, on running from the middle and which lever T presses the fabric against
a rotating tension roller or bar B, which brings it back to the middle, substantially
as set forth.
4th. The use of a tension roller in which the thread giving the tension, is formed
by forming a screw like groove and securing a rope therein, the projecting part of
5 which forms a right and left handed thread, substantially as set forth.

page_text: 5th. The employment of means for treating the fabrice in folds, consisting of a guide
board F, flap valve K and cam disc E and rods, actuating the flap valve K, substantially
as set forth.
6th. The employment of means for moving the fabric in its width at the back, on
the bottom of the machine in order to bring the same in parallel folds nearer to the
inlet of the machine and thereby prevent too strong a pull, also for the purpose of
giving the machine more capacity, the employment of a slide D, mounted in blocks w,
arranged to slide in side walls and to swing to and fro, the said slide D, by means of
the levers H fixed on the shaft p and holding the pivots of the slide D, fork like
and the crank shank k and connecting rod y, substantially as set forth.
7th. The use of toothed rollers working into each other, between which the fabric,
running in an open state, gets treated, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 5th day of September 1889
F. BOSSHARDT & Co.,
4, Corporation Street, Manchester, Agents to Applicant.