Improvements in Machines for Stretching and Drying Felts and . other Fabrics.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Dec., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 31st July, 1893-Accepted, 30th Sept., 1393
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Stretching and Drying Felts and
. other Fabrics.
MORITZ PAUL MEISSNER, of Mauerstrasse, Chemnitz, Saxony, in the Empire
of Germany, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The so-called closed stretching and drying machines as heretofore used for
stretching and drying fabrics and felts of all kinds, consist essentially of a casing
in which the fabric is moved to and fro in a serpentine manner and into which
heated air is introduced. In order to effect and ensure the proper drying of the
several lengths of fabric, heating bodies are arranged in the casing between the
said lengths of fabric for the purpose of heating the air. This arrangement
presents various disadvantages, and with the object of rendering the said heating
bodies unnecessary and thereby obviating the disadvantages incidental thereto I
utilize according to the present invention the lengths of fabric in the formation of
chambers into the alternate ones of which heated air is introduced whilst the
intermediate chambers serve for conducting the air etc., away.
In order to remove the previously forced in air which is saturated with moisture
from the interior of the apparatus, and at the same time to keep up a strong motion
of air in the same an exhauster is suitably arranged in the apparatus to draw off
the moist air from the several chambers, in such a manner that hot dry air will be
caused to follow the same, and thus be forced in more easily. The high efficiency
which this machine has been proved to possess is due less to the use of high
temperatures therein than to the energetic circulation of but moderately heated air
blown in to and passing through the same.
This feature is particularly valuable in the case of drying fabrics which have
sensitive colours and it has moreover a very favourable influence upon the quality
of the goods.
The fabric to be dried is taken up in a well-known manner by two endless chains
provided with needles or clamps and conducted through the machine in a serpentine
form. The chains slide on the side walls of the apparatus, (which walls are
adapted to be displaced in the transverse direction of the machine), and on two
pivoted stretching cheeks and are guided by the aid of appropriate rollers.
The fabric is introduced at the front of the machine and is first conducted by
chains over the said cheeks which are made wider towards their rear ends, in such
a manner that a tension of the fabric is produced in the transverse direction and
the said fabric therefore passes in the stretched state through the machine in
serpentine windings and preferably forming six lengths which divide the casing of
the apparatus into chambers, of which one group is laterally bounded by the above
mentioned side walls connected with each other on one side by bow pieces, whilst
the intermediate chambers are closed laterally by strips of sheet metal.
Delivery rollers are provided for the purpose of taking the fabric from the
chains as it leaves the machine, in a well-known manner and conducting it to a
winding up or delivery device. The two long walls of the casing, which are con-
structed in the herein described manner, rest upon roller feet which are adapted to
be displaced upon transverse beams uniting supporting columns and are kept
adjusted by spindles provided with right and left hand screw threads and supported
so as to be capable of turning with their ends in the columns.
The lower chamber is closed below by a bottom piece, the top chamber by a
suitable cover, and the front of all the chambers by a wall. The front wall does
not quite join either the top cover or the bottom piece, but leaves apertures

page_text: serving as inlet and outlet for the fabric, the said wall however extends closely up
to the fabric in both directions. The lower aperture is closed underneath the
fabric, by an angular plate joining the bottom piece, and the upper aperture is
closed by an angular plate joined to the cover on the upper side of the fabric.
Opposite the last mentioned angular plate is provided, at the other end of the
cover, an angular plate serving the same purpose and forming part of the rear wall.
The main part of the rear wall is formed by the fabric itself, which is conducted
over rollers, and by the branches of the air pipe which terminate between the
same. By the side of these latter moreover, are provided lateral closing plates.
The heated air is conducted from the fan and heating vessel through the
main and branch air pipes which are provided with regulating flap-valves into
the lower, third, and fifth chambers between the rollers. The other chambers are
-in communication with each other through lateral connecting channels and with an
outlet pipe leading to a powerful exhauster. Accordingly, through the action of
the exhauster and of the fan a rarefaction of the air takes place in the last
mentioned chambers whilst an air pressure is produced in the first named chambers.
The result of this is that a rapid change of air is caused to take place between
the said alternate chambers which are separated from each other by the lengths
or layers of the fabric, and consequently an extraordinarily effective withdrawal of
the moisture from the fabric results, the moisture being continually carried away
by the exhauster. Therefore every two chambers situated one above the other
form as it were a drying apparatus by themselves, in which the quantity of air to
be blown in or to be drawn out can be regulated at will, namely by means of flap-
valves which are provided in the branch air pipes and in the tubular pieces of the
connecting pipes leading to the exhauster.
.
By reason of the high efficiency of the machine very rapid working is rendered
possible. Provision has therefore to be made for as convenient an introduction as
practicable of the fabric. For this purpose the introduction or stretching cheeks
pivoted laterally on hinges, are furnished with a device which facilitates the work
of the attendant in so far that he does not need to guide the fabric in order that it
may enter the machine properly. He has only to turn hand wheels to the right or
to the left, which effect the adjustment of the introducing or stretching cheeks in
such a manner that the needles or clamps provided on the transporting chains
always seize the fabric at its selvages. This arrangement, which is of special
importance in the case of highly sized and other sensitive fabrics, and is also
applicable for stretching machines of other systems, consists of a long socket or
sleeve provided both on the inside and outside with screw threads, which sleeve
extends through the cheek, and bears by means of a flattened side against a plate
secured to the said stretching cheek, and is thus prevented from turning. Upon
this socket or sleeve turns a hand wheel furnished with a corresponding internal
screw thread and upon the nave of which wheel an annular groove is formed. On
the stretching cheek is fixed a bracket or a stud provided at one end with a journal
on which a roller is fitted free to turn on the said journal. This journal engages
by means of the said roller with the grooved nave of the hand wheel, so that by
turning the hand wheel upon the screw thread of the long socket or sleeve to the
right or to the left hand the said stretching cheek will be displaced to one or the
other side through the medium of the journal and stud mounted on the said
stretching cheek.
The socket or sleeve itself is fitted upon a spindle furnished with a screw thread
and extending transversely through the frame of the machine. This spindle is in
connection by chain pulleys and a chain with the other adjusting spindles which
effect the adjustment of the long walls, so that when by the aid of the last
mentioned spindles the long walls are caused to approach or recede from each
other, the pivoted stretching cheeks are directly adjusted at the same time.
In the stretching and drying machines heretofore employed the introducing or
stretching cheeks are placed obliquely to each other at a definite angle, so that an
..optional displacement of the same during the operation of the machine is not possible.

page_text: Other machines are made which are not furnished with adjusting opindles at all..
The introducing or stretching cheeks in these machines are displaced by hand
levers arranged on the walls. With still other machines provided with adjusting.
spindles, there is no connection between the latter and the other adjusting spindles.
In the two last mentioned arrangements the further adjustment of the introducing
cheeks is however possible. But the simultaneous adjustment of the same is
extremely difficult when the long walls are adjusted, since it necessitates a special
expenditure of labor and can seldom be carried out without causing damage.
The connection of the adjusting spindles with one another, as provided for in this
machine is of great value.
Dated thi Wihah dan
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,.
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Stretching and Drying Felts and
other Fabrics.
I, MORITZ PAUL MEISSNER, of Mauerstrasse, Chemnitz, Saxony, in the Empire
of Germany, Manufacturer, 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 :-
.
The so-called closed stretching and drying machines as heretofore used for
stretching and drying fabrics and felts of all kinds, consist essentially of a casing in
which the fabric is moved to and fro in a serpentine manner, and into. which heated
air is introduced. In order to effect and ensure the proper drying of the several
lengths of fabric, heating bodies are arranged in the casing, between the said
lengths of fabric for the purpose of heating the air. This arrangement presents
various disadvantages, and with the object of rendering the said heating bodies
unnecessary and thereby obviating the disadvantages incidental thereto, I utilize,
according to the present invention, the lengths of fabric in the formation of
chambers, into the alternate ones of which heated air is introduced, whilst the
intermediate chambers serve for conducting the air, etc., away...
In order to remove the previously forced in air, which is saturated with moisture,
from the interior of the apparatus, and at the same time to keep up a strong motion
of air in the same, an exhauster is suitably arranged in the apparatus to draw off
the moist air from the several chambers in such a manner that hot dry air will be
caused to follow the same, and thus be forced in more easily. The high efficiency
which this machine has been proved to possess is due less to the use of high
temperatures therein, than to the energetic circulation of but moderately heated air
blown into, and passing through, the same.
This feature is particularly valuable in the case of drying fabrics which have
sensitive colours, and it has, moreover, a very favourable influence upon the quality
of the goods.
The heating of the air previous to being introduced into the machine by means
of a blower or the like may be accomplished by any of the well-known air-heating-
apparatus. Also compressed or dried or otherwise prepared air may be used
according to the nature of the fabric. The special mode of treating such air
previous to its introduction into the machine is not an essential feature of this my
invention and therefore is not particularly described herein.
In the accompanying drawing I have shown how my said invention may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice.
Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of the machine on the line A-B. of
Figure 2.
Figure 2 is a plan partly in horizontal section on the line C-D of Figure 1.

page_text: Figure 3 is an end elevation partly in transverse section on the line E-F of
Figure 1; and
Figure 4 is a vertical section on the line G-H of Figure 1, showing details of
the adjusting device for the inlet walls.
The fabric to be dried is taken up in a well-known manner by two endless
chains provided with needles or clamps, and conducted through the machine in a
serpentine form. The chains a slide on the side walls of the apparatus, (which
walls are adapted to be displaced in the transverse direction of the machine), and
on two. pivoted stretching checks ', and are guided by the aid of appropriate
rollers y, y
The fabric is introduced at the front of the machine and is first conducted by
chains over the said cheeks h¹, which are made wider towards their rear ends in
such a manner that a tension of the fabric is produced in the transverse direction
(see Figure 2), and the said fabric, therefore, passes in the stretched state through
the machine in serpentine windings and preferably forming six lengths, which divide
the casing of the apparatus into chambers A B C D E F G, of which one
group B D F is laterally bounded by the above-mentioned side walls / connected
with each other on one side by bow pieces g, whilst the intermediate chambers are
closed laterally by strips t of sheet metal.
Delivery-rollers z are provided for the purpose of taking the fabric from the
chains as it leaves the machine, in a well-known manner, and conducting it to a
winding-up or delivery device. The two long walls of the casing, which are
constructed in the herein described manner, rest upon roller-feet f which are adapted
to be displaced upon transverse beams d uniting supporting-columns b, and are kept
adjusted by spindles which are provided with right and left handed screw-
threads, and are supported so as to be capable of turning with their ends in the
columns b.
The lower chamber G is closed below by a bottom-piece k; the top chamber A
by a suitable cover l, and the front of all the chambers by a wall m. The front
wall m does not quite join either the top cover l or the bottom piece k, but leaves
apertures serving as inlet and outlet for the fabric, the said wall, however, extends
closely up to the fabric in both directions. The lower aperture is closed underneath
the fabric, by an angular plate p joining the bottom-piece k, and the upper aperture
is closed by an angular plate n joined to the cover l, on the upper side of the fabric.
Opposite the last-mentioned angular plate n, is provided, at the other end of the
cover, an angular plate o, serving the same purpose and forming part of the rear
wall. The main part of the rear wall is formed by the fabric itself, which is
conducted over rollers y, and by the branches H of the air-pipe L, which terminate
between the same. By the side of these latter, moreover, are provided lateral
closing plates g.
The heated air is conducted from the fan and heating vessel through the main
air-pipe L and its branches H, which are provided with regulating flap-valves, into
the lower, third, and fifth chambers GE C, between the rollers y. The other
chambers F D BA are in communication with each other through lateral
connecting channels M and with an outlet pipe leading to a powerful exhauster.
Accordingly, through the action of the exhauster and of the fan, a rarefaction of
the air takes place in the last-mentioned chambers F D BA, whilst an air-pressure
is produced in the first-named chambers G E C. The result of this is that a rapid
change of air is caused to take place between the said alternate chambers G and F,
E and D, and C and B, which are separated from each other by the lengths or
layers of the fabric, and consequently an extraordinarily effective withdrawal of
the moisture from the fabric results, the moisture being continually carried away
by the exhauster. Therefore every two chambers situated one above the other
form as it were a drying apparatus by themselves, in which the quantity of air
to be blown in or to be drawn out can be regulated at will, namely by means
of flap-valves which are provided in the branch air-pipes H, and in the tubular
pieces N of the connecting pipes M leading to the exhauster.

page_text: By reason of the high efficiency of the machine, very rapid working is rendered
possible. Provision has, therefore, to be made for as rapid and convenient an
introduction of the fabric into the machine as practicable. For this purpose,
the introduction or stretching cheeks 4', pivoted laterally on hinges, are furnished
with a device which facilitates the work of the attendant in so far that he does
not need to guide the fabric in order that it may enter the machine properly.
He has only to turn hand-wheels Q to the right or to the left, which effect the
adjustment of the introducing or stretching cheeks in such a manner that the
needles or clamps provided on the transporting chains always sieze the fabric at
its selvages. This arrangement, which is of special importance in the case of
highly sized and other.. sensitive fabrics, and is also applicable for stretching-
machines of other systems, consists of a long socket or sleeve R provided both
on the inside and outside with screw-threads, which sleeve extends through the
cheek and bears, by means of a flattened sides, against a plate S secured to
the said stretching-cheek ', and is thus prevented from turning, (see Figure 4).
Upon this socket or sleeve turns a hand-wheel Q furnished with a corresponding
internal screw-thread, and, upon the nave of which wheel an annular groove v is
formed.
41
On the stretching-cheek is fixed a bracket or stud T provided at one end with
a journal U on which a roller V is fitted free to turn on the said journal. This
journal U engages by means of the said roller V with the grooved nave of the
hand-wheel, so that, by turning the hand-wheel upon the screw-thread of the
long socket or sleeve to the right or to the left hand, the said stretching-cheek h¹
will be displaced to one or the other side through the medium of the roller V,
the journal U and stud T mounted on the said stretching-cheek.
This
The socket or sleeve R itself is fitted upon a spindle furnished with a screw-
thread and extending transversely through the frame of the machine.
spindle is in connection by chain-pulleys and a chain with the other adjusting-
spindles which effect the adjustment of the long walls h, so that when, by the
aid of the last-mentioned spindles i, the long walls are caused to approach or
recede from each other, the pivoted stretching-cheeks are directly adjusted at
the same time.
In the stretching and drying machines heretofore employed, the introducing or
stretching cheeks are placed obliquely to each other at a definite angle, so that an
optional displacement of the same during the operation of the machine is not
possible. Other machines are made which are not furnished with adjusting-spindles
at all. The introducing or stretching cheeks in these machines are displaced by
hand-levers arranged on the walls. With still other machines provided with
adjusting-spindles, there is no connection between the latter and the other adjusting-
spindles. In the two last-mentioned arrangements, the further adjustment of the
introducing-cheeks is, however, possible. But the simultaneous adjustment of the
same is extremely difficult when the long walls are adjusted, since it necessitates
a special expenditure of labor and can seldom be carried out without causing
damage.
The connection of the adjusting-spindles with one another, as provided for in this
machine, is of great value.
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 :-
First. A stretching and drying machine the interior space of which is shut off
from the outer atmospheric air and is divided by the lengths of the fabric into
several chambers of which the alternate ones are in communication with the air-
admission pipe, whilst the remaining chambers are connected with each other and
with the discharge-pipe in such a manner that the air prepared as above specified
may act upon the said fabric.
Second. In a stretching and drying machine, the combination, with the interior

page_text: space divided into chambers, of a fan communicating with the chambers on one
side of the fabric and an exhauster communicating with those on the other side of
the said fabric.
Third. In a stretching and drying machine, a device for adjusting the introducing
or stretching checks thereof, consisting of a socket or sleeve (R) surrounding the
screw-threaded adjusting-spindle (2) and provided with both an outer and an inner
screw-thread, and a hand-wheel (Q) which fits and engages with the screw-thread
on the said socket or sleeve and is so connected with the cheek that it is free to
turn but cannot be displaced relatively to the same, whilst the socket or sleeve
can be displaced relatively to the cheek but is so supported that it cannot be turned
about its axis, substantially as, and for the purposes, herein described.
Dated the 31st day of Jul。 1902
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.