IMPROVEMENTS IN TENTERING STRETCHING.AND DRYING FABRICS. AND IN DRYING YARNS, WOOL, OR OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS AND PAPER
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Lee Norton, of Belle Sauvage Yard, in the
City of London, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN TENTERING
STRETCHING.AND DRYING FABRICS. AND IN DRYING YARNS, WOOL, OR OTHER FIBROUS
MATERIALS AND PAPER."
Sealed the 24th March 1865, and dated the 29th October 1864.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Lee Norton at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
29th October 1864.
I. JAMES LEE NORTON, of Belle Sauvage Yard, in the City of London, do
hereby declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN TENTERING
STRETCHING. AND DRYING FABRICS, AND IN DRYING YARNS, WOOL, OR OTHER FIBROUS
MATERIALS AND PAPER," to be as follows:-
Hitherto the drying, tentering, and stretching of fabrics has been done
as follows:-Certain kinds of goods are dried and finished by passing over-
and under one or more steam cylinders, such as are commonly used at
Bradford and elsewhere, but in this operation the fabrics are not stretched
in width by having the selvages held by pins or otherwise. In other cases
where fabrics have been stretched in width by the selvages being fixed on
hooks or tenter pins, or otherwise held continuously, the whole of the
drying has been done whilst the fabric was so held, and consequently it has
required a larger and more expensive machine.
According to my Invention I make a compound machine, in which drying
cylinders are used to commence the drying process before the fabric arrives at

page_text: the tentering, and then the fabric as it continues to travel forward has its
selvages placed on hooks or tenter pins or otherwise held, and when so held it
is carried on and exposed to further heat, sufficient to finish the drying, and
to set the fabric to the stretched width; in this manner a smaller and cheaper
machine can be used than has heretofore been required, as a much smaller
extent of tentering surface is requisite. For these purposes one or more
drying cylinders is or are combined with a comparatively short tentering or
stretching machine, and the fabrics are first caused to pass in contact with
such drying cylinder or cylinders, and as the fabrics come from the drying
cylinders they are received continuously on to the tentering or stretching
machine, and are there stretched, and the drying is completed, whilst the
fabrics are passing through the tentering or stretching machinery. The com-
pound machine is so arranged that either the drying or the tentering part of
it may on occasion be used separately if desired. In place of the preparatory
drying being performed by means of. steam cylinders, the fabrics may be
partially dried by being passed through a heated chamber, the fabrics passing
over a series of rollers to and fro, or in a zig-zag or other direction, either
vertically or otherwise. The chamber may be heated by coils or bends of
steam pipes, arranged so that the fabrics pass between the coils or bends of
pipe, or other convenient modes of healing the chamber may also be resorted
to. A steam blast or exhaust or forcing fans or blowers may be used with
advantage in removing the moisture from the chamber. While the goods are
passing through this chamber they are not stretched in width, but as they
pass from the rollers of the drying chamber they enter the tentering portion
of the compound machine and are there stretched, the drying process as
before being completed whilst the stretching is being performed.
For drying and stretching fabrics that require to be gummed or starched
on one side only, or for drying velvets or other goods that will not bear
pressure on the face of the fabric, or for drying other fabrics, I arrange a
machine, either with preparatory drying cylinders or a preparatory drying
chamber, combined with tentering and stretching apparatus in such a
manner that the surface or face of the fabrics as they pass through may not touch
the drying cylinders or rollers, the fabric being, made to travel constantly
onwards without being turned back on itself.
In drying yarns I use the following arrangement:-A travelling chain
working in guides is employed by preference, it passes round chain wheels on
vertical axes in a zig-zag direction in an enclosed chamber; the links of the
endless chain have bars fastened to them by one end, so as to hang down in a
vertical position, and to prevent excessive friction the links of the chain may

page_text: have friction rollers fixed to them; each bar carries two small rollers, by
which the hanks to be dried are carried, the upper roller turns on a fixed
pin, but the pin on which the lower roller turns is adjustable up or down
to suit the different lengths of hanks. The upper roller is furnished with a
flange, and this flange, by coming in contact with cams fixed at suitable
distances in the machine, is made to rolate and so shift the hank; by this
means every part of it may be equally acted upon by the heat. The hanks
are dried by heat applied conveniently by coils of steam pipes, and the
draught may be increased by using an exhaust or forcing fan.
Another part of my Invention relates to the stretching of fabrics length-
ways, that is to say, when a number of pieces are required to a uniform
length it has been customary for me to effect this object by a process under
a former Patent granted to me and dated the 4th February 1862, No. 293; in
this process it was necessary to measure each piece of the fabrics so as to
ascertain its original length before passing it into the machine. To avoid
the delay and expense of measuring each piece by a separate operation, I
cause the fabrics, as they enter the preliminary drying portion of the compound
machine or otherwise at a sufficient distance from the tentering apparatus, to
pass over a measuring roller with an indicator for shewing the length passed
over it, and at the end of each piece the indicator rings a bell, and the work-
man then by looking at the dial can see the length of the piece which is about
to come on to the tentering machinery, or other means may be resorted to, to
indicate to the person in charge of the machine when the measurement of the
piece is completed. In order to stretch the pieces to the length required after
they are measured, my Patent stretching apparatus, before referred to, is
used, and attached to the front of the tentering and stretching machine.
Another part of my Invention relates to the drying of paper, cardboard, and
such materials as require to be suspended when under the process of drying,
in such a manner that the material may not be marked by the holding instru-
ments. For this purpose I arrange two endless chains at convenient distances
apart; these pass over chain wheels fixed on each side of horizontal shafts,
and to the links of the chains cross bars are fixed parallel to the shafts. On
these cross bars clips are fixed at convenient distances apart, and these may, if
necessary, be made to slide upon the cross bars, so that they may be arranged
to hold or suspend cardboard, paper, or other materials of various widths.
In arranging the clips for suspending delicate materials in place of the
moveable jaws being pressed tightly against the fixed jaw, and held firmly by
a spring catch or other rigid fastening, I prefer it to be pressed down by a
spring, something similar to a letter clip, so that when suspending a soft

page_text: material, similar to wet paper or cardboard, the material will not be marked
by the clip; the form of the clips may be varied.
In the Provisional Specification of a former Patent granted to me, and
dated the 12th May 1864, No. 1204, I have described a mode of stretching
and tentering fabrics, in which the selvages are held by nipping jaws or
clips, but I find that when nipping jaws or clips are formed into endless
chains passing over chain wheels fixed upon horizontal shafts or axes, it is
desirable that the top or moveable jaw of the clip should be so arranged
that when it opens it recedes backwards, so that the selvages of the fabric
may be more readily placed upon the lower or fixed jaw as it passes into
the machine. The upper or moveable jaw moves forward at the same time
it is being closed for the purpose of holding the selvages of the fabric. The
formation of this nipping jaw or clip may be varied without departing from
the principle of the Invention.
According to a convenient arrangement the link is formed in a somewhat
similar manner to that described by me in my said former Provisional
Specification, but in place of the moveable jaw being fixed or held by a
single hinge joint, it is arranged with a double or link joint, so that when
open it is capable of receding from the front of the lower or fixed nipping
jaw or in place of a link joint the moveable jaw may be arranged to slide
in guides, or it may be otherwise arranged.
Another modification of nipping jaw or clip may be made with the top
or moveable jaw so arranged that it will lift up high and turn back so far
that when open the lower or fixed jaw may be quite clear. This top jaw is
opened by a cam, and held in its open position by a spring until pressed
down again.
Another part of my Invention consists of arranging. tentering. stretching.
and drying machines, when made with endless chains, travelling in a zig-zag
form horizontally, as follows, viz. I fix partitions or divisions below the pipes
under each layer of cloth, and these partitions are arranged to cause the
air in rising to take a zig-zag direction to and fro across the machine so as
to prevent the moisture from one layer of cloth rising up through the steam
pipes above, and coming in contact with the under side of the next layer of
cloth, thus the concentration of an undue amount of heat at the top of the
machine is prevented. The ventilation should be facilitated by an exhaust
fan for drawing off the moisture at the top of the machine. A similar
arrangement will apply equally to drying wool or other materials, where
endless aprons are used one above another.
In tentering and stretching machines arranged to work horizontally, it is

page_text: found advantageous in some cases to introduce supplementary endless sheets
of open network to work between the zig-zags, so that the tentering and
stretching machine may also be used as a machine for drying wool, or other
fibrous material; when it is required to be so used it will be necessary to fix on
the pins or teeth of the endless chain of the tentering machine a continuous
endless web, and when drying wool it is spread on this sheet at the upper
part of the machine, and carried and delivered at the end roller on to a sup-
plementary endless apron fixed between the zig-zags of the tentering
chains, and which carries the fibre back to the other end of the machine,
and then drops it on to the third fold of the sheet on the tentering chains,
and so on until the wool is carried out of the machine by a delivery sup-
plementary sheet. These supplementary sheets are only used when drying.
wool or other fibrous material. Coils of pipes may be fixed between the
supplementary sheets for the purpose of drying the material.
Another part of my Invention also relates to the drying of wool and other
fibrous materials, and consists as follows:-In place of using, as heretofore, a
series of one or more endless aprons fixed one above another, and so arranged
that the wool or other material is dropped from one apron to another below
it, as is described in the Specification of a former Patent granted to me, and
dated the 8th day of April 1868, No. 890, I arrange one or more aprons one
above another within a drying chamber, with a feed and delivery exterior of
the chamber, and between one apron and another. or below the apron, when
only one is used, I fix a division, formed it may be of a metal steam chest
or steam pipes. with a sheet of tin. zinc, or other metal, which may be per-
forated on wood trelliswork above the pipes. The endless aprons are formed
of flexible wire netting, and on the endless sheet or sheets cross bars are
arranged with teeth or rakes, so that the wool or other fibrous material is
dropped from the upper part of the sheet or sheets on to the division below,
and it is then carried or drawn along the upper part of the division from one
end to the other. until it drops on to the endless apron below, and so on,
till it passes out of the machine. Between the endless aprons coils of steam
pipes may be arranged for drying the material, and exhaust or forcing fans
may be used for carrying off the moisture. The endless aprons of drying
machines I have heretofore made by interlocking open spirals of wire, such
aprons, however, are difficult to keep clean. According to my present
Invention I employ a web composed of simple zig-zags of wire. locking the
one into the other at the angles of the zig-zags.
Another part of my Invention consists of so arranging a tentering, stretching
and drying machine that the fabrics having been fed horizontally on and

page_text: secured on the pins or other holding instruments, are made to assume a
vertical position, and the tentering, stretching, and drying is completed when
the fabric is in that position. This is done as follows:-I arrange a moveable
bar in front of the machine, which may be adjusted nearer to or further from
the other parts, and is also capable of being set at any required angle in a
horizontal plane. This bar carries chain wheels, which can be moved
along the bar so as to be brought nearer together or carried further apart,
according to the width of the fabric required to be tentered.
That part of the machine in which the cloth is stretched and dried in a
vertical position, consists of an arrangement of vertical shafts, each of which
carries two chain wheels, over which endless chains work through guides.
On the vertical shafts, expanding or telescopic rollers are arranged to suit
various widths of cloth, which passes through the machine in a zig-zag form,
or the machine may be arranged to work in other ways carrying out the same
principle. The chains carrying the tenter pins or clips pass over the chain
wheels on the horizontal bar, receive the cloth on to pins or clips for holding
the selvages, and carry it forward, causing it gradually to assume a vertical
position. The stretching in length and breadth is similar in principle to the
plan I now adopt, but both sets of the guides are by preference made to move
simultaneously when any changes are made in the width. Coils of steam
pipes are placed between the fabrics as well as below them.
Another part of my Invention consists in substituting wire ropes or bands
for the chains now employed in tentering, stretching, and drying machines
for carrying the pins, hooks, or clips, which receive the selvages or edges
of the materials to be dried.
This improvement is also applicable to drying machines for wool and other
similar materials when endless aprons are employed, the wire ropes or bands
being employed to carry the edges of the aprons.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Lee Norton in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
29th April 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
LEE NORTON, of Belle Sauvage Yard, in the City of London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-ninth day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-eighth year

page_text: of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors. give and grant unto
me, the said James Lee Norton, Her special licence that 1, the said James
Lee Norton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
I, the said James Lec Norton, 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 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 "Ix-
PROVEMENTS IN TENTERING, STRETCHING, AND DRYING FABRICS. AND IN DRYING
YARNS, WOOL, OR OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS AND PAPER," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said James Lee Norton, my executors or admi-
nistrators, 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 Lee Norton, do hereby declare,
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to, be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, that is to say:-
Hitherto the drying, tentering, and stretching of fabrics has been done
as follows:-Certain kinds of goods are dried and finished by passing over
and under one or more steam cylinders, such as are commonly used at
Bradford and elsewhere, but in this operation the fabrics are not stretched
in width by having the selvages held by pins or otherwise. In other cases
where fabrics have been stretched in width by the selvages being fixed on
hooks or tenter pins or otherwise held continuously, the whole of the dry-
ing has been done whilst the fabric was so held, and consequently it has
required a larger and more expensive machine.
According to my Invention I make a compound machine in which drying
cylinders are used to commence the drying process before the fabric arrives
at the tentering, and then the fabric as it continues to travel forwards
has its selvages placed on hooks or tenter pins or otherwise held, and
when so held it is carried on and exposed to further heat sufficient to finish
the drying and to set the fabric to the stretched width. In this manner a
smaller and cheaper machine can be used than has heretofore been
required, as a much smaller extent of tentering surface is requisite. For
these purposes one or more drying cylinders is or are combined with a
comparatively short tentering or stretching machine, and the fabrics are

page_text: first caused to pass in contact with such drying cylinder or cylinders, and
as the fabrics come from the drying cylinders they are received con-
tinuously on to the tentering or stretching machine and are there stretched,
and the drying is completed whilst the fabrics are passing through the
tentering or stretching machinery. The compound machine is so arranged
that either the drying or the tentering part of it may on occasion be used
separately if desired.
Figure is a longitudinal section of a machine thus arranged. a is a
hollow cylinder composed of thin metal plates. The steam is introduced
into the interior of this cylinder to produce the heat necessary to dry the
cloth. The cylinder a is placed in front of the tentering and stretching
part of the machine. The cloth which is represented by the blue line,
passes over this cylinder, and is partially dried before passing into that part
of the machine on which it is tentered. The cloth is fed on to the drying
cylinder at the point b by a workman standing on the platform c.. The cylinder
revolves in the direction of the arrows on a central shaft d. supported on
feet e. The cloth after passing round the cylinder leaves it, as shown in
the. Drawing, and passing under and over the stretching rollers f, f, is fed:
over the beam on to the chain h. The man who feeds this part of the
machine stands on the platform i. The chain is furnished either with
clips or pins for holding the selvages of the cloth, and it passes in the direc-
tion indicated by the arrows, and carries the cloth under and over the
rollers k, k, k, the drying of the cloth being completed during its passage by
coils of steam pipes placed at 1, 1, 1, between each fold of the cloth. The
cloth is disengaged or taken off the holding pins or clips at the chain at the
point m. The construction of the tentering and stretching part of the
machine is the same generally as already patented by me and described in
the Specification of my Patent, No. 890, 1863, or clips may be substituted for
the tenter pins as is herein-after fully described. The chains which carry the
holding clips or pins pass over the chain wheels and run through guides. On
one side of these guides are fixed to the framing of the machine, but on the
other side the guides are attached to bars which also carry forks fitting into
grooves in the bosses of the chain wheels, so that by rotating screws which
pass through nuts fixed to these bars, all the guides with the chain, chain
wheels, &c., on the moveable side of the machine may be moved nearer to or
further from those on the fixed side in order to suit the varying width of the
cloth to be entered. The shafts are furnished with expanding rollers which
are constructed in the manner already patented by me, and described in
the Specifications of Patents, No. 890, 1863, and No. 1204, 1864.

page_text: In place of the preparatory drying being performed by means of steam
cylinders the fabrics may be partially dried by being passed through a heated
chamber, the fabrics passing over a series of rollers to and fro or in a zig-zag
or other direction, either vertically or otherwise. The chamber may be
héated by coils or bends of steam pipes arranged so that the fabrics pass
between the coils or bends of pipe. or other convenient modes of heating
the chamber may also be resorted to. A steam blast or exhaust, or forcing
fans or blowers may be used with advantage in removing the moisture from
the chamber. While the goods are passing through the chamber they are
not stretched in width, but as they pass from the rollers of the drying chamber
they enter the tentering portion of the compound machine and are there
stretched. the drying process as before being completed whilst the stretching
is being performed.
Figure 2 shows this arrangement. I cause the cloth which is fed over
the roller at a to pass in the direction of the arrows over and under the
rollers b, b, b. and to be partially dried in its passage by heat derived from
the coils placed at c. c, c. After passing through this part of the machine
the cloth is fed on to a tentering machine, made as in Figure 1, as the
Drawing shows.
Figure 3 represents another modification of a portion of a compound
tentering, stretching, and drying machine constructed according to my Inven-
tion. Here two drying cylinders are used to partially dry the cloth before
entering that part of the machine in which the cloth is stretched and the
drying completed. The cloth is fed on at a whence it passes over the steam
plate or coil of steam pipes b, round the rollers c, d, and round the steam
cylinder d, d, revolving in the direction of the arrows about the axis e. The
cloth after passing round the steam cylinder d passes round the roller f, and
over the steam plate or coil of steam pipes g. It then passes round the
roller h, the steam cylinder i revolving on the axis round the roller I, over
the steam plate or coil of steam pipes m, round the rollers o and p, and
passes thence in a partially dried state to the other part of the machine, where
it is stretched and the drying is completed. When coils of steam pipes are
used instead of steam chests, sheets of perforated metal with a smooth surface
should be placed over: them.
Figure 4 shows another modification with three drying cylinders a, a, a,
over which the cloth passes after being fed on at b, and passing over the
steam plates or coils c, cand the roller d. After passing round the steam
cylinders and being. partially dried, the cloth passes round the rollers e and f,
and thence on to the tentering and stretching part of the machine.

page_text: Figure 5 shows again another arrangement for partially drying the cloth
before it is passed on to the tentering or stretching part of the machine.
The cloth in this case is fed on at the point a. the man standing on the
platform b. The cloth passes in the direction of the arrows over the steam
plates c, c, c, with which it may lie in contact, and round the rollers d, d, d, 'd,
at each end of the machine. After passing through the machine in this
way and being partially dried, the cloth passes round the roller e, and is taken
thence on to the tentering and stretching part of the machine, the construction
of which has already been described. Instead of steam plates, coils of steam
pipes may be used, but in this case they ought to be covered with a sheet of
smooth perforated metal or wooden trelliswork.
For drying and stretching fabrics that require to be gummed or starched
on one side only, or for drying velvets or other goods that will not bear
pressure on the face of the fabric, or for drying other fabrics, I arrange a
machine either with preparatory drying cylinders or a preparatory drying
chamber combined with tentering and stretching apparatus in such a manner
that the surface or face of the fabrics as they pass through may not touch
the drying cylinders or rollers, the fabric being made to travel constantly
onwards without being turned back on itself.
Figure 6 is a machine specially adapted for drying, stretching, and tentering
cloth which will not bear pressure on the face, but it is also suitable for
drying, tentering, and stretching ordinary goods, a chamber a is formed in
which the cloth to be dried is first placed, it is then fed on over the roller b,
whence it travels in the direction of the arrows, passing round the rollers c, c, c,
so that one side only of the cloth comes in contact with the rollers, and it is
partially dried in its course by the heat derived from the coils of steam pipes
d, d, d, placed under or beside the folds of the cloth. The cloth then passes
to the other part of the machine where it is to be stretched, and the construc-
tion of which will be fully described in referring to the next Figure, the
stretching being similarly effected in either case.
Figure 7 is another form in which a machine may be made for the same
purpose. Here the cloth is fed on over the roller a, and hangs loose between
the rollers a and b, it also hangs loose between the rollers b and c, and between
c and d, being continually carried forward in the direction of the arrows by
the rotation of the rollers. After passing over the last roller d, the cloth is
fed on to the other part of the machine, where it is stretched in width, the
selvages being fixed on the pins or teeth, or held between the jaws of the
clips attached to the chain, which is indicated by the dotted lines e, e, e, and
which passes in the direction of the arrows over the rollers f, f, f. The cloth

page_text: is dried by coils of steam pipes or steam chests placed at g, g, g, and is taken
from the chain at the point h. In order to move the chains nearer together
or further apart to suit the difference in the widths of the pieces to be stretched,
adjusting screws are arranged to work through nuts fixed to bars to which
the guides carrying the chain on one side of the machine are attached. To
these guides are also fixed forks which fit in grooves in bosses formed on the
chain wheels, so that by revolving the screws by suitable mechanism the
guides, chain wheels, and chain on one side of the machine may be approached
nearer to or drawn away from the chain, &c. on the other side of the machine.
The machine may be so arranged that both sets of guide chains, &c. may be
moved to or from each other, or one set only may be made moveable, the
other set being fixed. When this machine is required to stretch pieces varying
greatly in width, it will be desirable to fix on the shafts of the stretching
part of the machine rollers constructed in the manner already patented by
me, and described in the Specifications of Patents, No. 890, 1863, and
No. 1204, 1864, and indeed the whole construction of the stretching part of
this machine resembles that described in the former Specification (890, 1863),
with the exception that the goods are not stretched in length, and instead of
causing the cloth to travel in a zig-zag direction, I cause it to move in the
form of a quadrilateral figure, so that one side only of the cloth comes in
contact with the rollers. In order to prevent any difficulty from arising in
feeding the cloth on to this machine a piece of canvas should always be
attached to the end of the last piece of cloth that it might be carried into
the machine, and it should be of sufficient length to extend from the first
roller to the last roller, hanging down at the same time as indicated by the
blue line in the Drawing. This canvas remains in the machine when at rest,
and when it is required to feed a piece of cloth into the machine the end of
the cloth is first attached to the end of the canvas. The machine is then set
to work, and the canvas carries the cloth into the machine, and insures it
occupying a proper position in the machine.
Figure 8 is another form of machine for the same purpose, but instead of
being suspended in the drying part of the machine as described above, the
goods before being passed into the stretching machine are partially dried by
being passed round the steam cylinder a in the direction shown by the arrows.
This machine is also applicable to any kinds of goods, but when drying goods
which will not bear pressure on the face, the attendant must feed it so that
the cloth does not come in contact with the roller b. In drying yarns I use
the following arrangement:-A travelling chain working in guides is employed,
by preference it passes round chain wheels on vertical axes in a zig-zag

page_text: direction in an enclosed chamber, the links of the endless chain have bars
fastened to them by one end, so as to hang down in a vertical position. To
prevent excessive friction the links of the chain may have friction rollers
fixed to them. Each bar carries two small rollers, by which the hanks to
be dried are carried, the upper roller turns on a fixed pin, but the pin on
which the lower roller turns is adjustable up or down to suit the different
lengths of hanks. The upper roller is furnished with a flange, and this
flange by coming in contact with cams fixed at suitable distances in the
machine is made to rotate, and so shift the hank, by this means every part
of it may be equally acted upon by the heat. The hanks are dried by heat
applied conveniently by coils of steam pipes, and the draught may be
increased by using an exhaust or forcing fan.
Figure 0 is a plan, and Figure 10 an elevation of a machine for drying
hanks or yarns. Figures 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15, are detailed views of the
bars and rollers. a, a, is the chain working through the guides b, b, and travelling
in the direction indicated by the arrows. The bars c, c, c, are fastened to the
links of the endless chain by one end so as to hang down in a vertical position.
The links of the chain may be furnished with friction rollers to prevent exces-
sive friction. Each of the bars carries two small rollers d and o. The upper
roller d turns on a fixed pin. The pin upon which the lower roller turns is
adjustable up or down to suit the different length of hanks. The means by
which this is attained will be understood on reference to the Figures 11 and 12.
f is a link of the endless chain, to which is attached the piece g. To the pro-
jection is bolted the upper end of the bar h; i is the fixed pin upon which
the pulley turns. This pulley is furnished with a flange l, which by coming
in contact with cams m, m, (Figure 10), placed at suitable distances along
the guides cause the roller k to be turned round every now and then during
its passage through the machine. By this means the hank is shifted so that
every part of it may be equally acted upon by the heat. n (Figures 11 and 12)
is the lower or moveable pulley, which turns on the pin o, this pin has a
screw p formed at one end, which works in a nut formed in the sliding collar q
so that by turning the pin o by the finger and thumb the piece q may be
made to bite on the bar h, so that the pulley n may be fixed at any distance
from according to the length of the hank to be dried, which is stretched
from one pulley to the other. Instead of using a plain bar h, a double bar with
an intervening slot may be used as shown in side, front, and cross sectional
views respectively in Figures 13, 14, and 15, at r, r, r, the pieces in which
the nut is formed does not in this case embrace the bar, but slides in the
groove (Figure 15); and when the screw is turned in order to fix the pulley

page_text: in the necessary position, it bites on the projection jaws t, t, of the double
bar r. The heat is derived from coils of steam pipes u, u, u, or a heating
apparatus placed under the machine, and forcing or exhaust fan may be
used to increase the draught. The driving pulleys and driving wheels are
shown at v, v. v. w, w, w, are the vertical axes upon which the chain
wheels x, x, x, which carry the chain revolve.
Another part of my Invention relates to the stretching of fabrics length-
ways, that is to say, when a number of pieces are required to be stretched
to a uniform length, it has been customary for me to effect this object by a
process under a former Patent granted to me, and dated the 4th February
1862, No. 293. In this process it was necessary to measure each piece of the
fabrics so as to ascertain its original length before passing it into the machine..
To avoid the delay and expense of measuring each piece by a separate opera
tion, I cause the fabrics as they enter the preliminary drying portion of the
improved machine or otherwise, at a sufficient distance from the tentering
apparatus to pass over a measuring roller with an indicator for showing the
length passed over it, and at the end of each piece the indicator rings a bell,
and the workman then by looking at the dial can see the length of the piece
which is about to come on to the tentering machinery, or other means may
be resorted to to indicate to the person in charge of the machine when the
measurement of the piece is completed.
In order to stretch the pieces to the length required after they are
measured, my patent stretching apparatus before referred to is used and
attached to the front of the tentering and stretching machine.
Figure 16 represents the apparatus I adopt in the measurement of pieces
before stretching them. The cloth first passes over the roller a, and then
round the roller b, to which an indicator is fixed, which measures the length
of the cloth as it passes round it. A wire pin is fixed in the end of the picce,
so that the end of the pin may project as shown at c (Figure 17), which by
coming in contact with the rod d lifts it, and causes the bell e which is
attached to it to ring, and thus indicate to the person in charge of the
machine that the measurement is complete. The cloth then passes in the
direction of the arrows round the stretching rollers, and is stretched in the
manner described in the Specification of a Patent granted to me, and dated
4th February 1862, No. 293.
Another part of my Invention relates to the drying of paper, cardboard, and
such materials as require to be suspended when under the process of drying in
such a manner that the material may not be marked by the holding instru
ments. For this purpose I arrange two endless chains at convenient distances

page_text: apart; these pass over chain wheels fixed on each side of horizontal shafts,
and to the links of the chains cross bars are fixed parallel to the shafts. On
these cross bars clips are fixed at convenient distances apart, and these may,
if necessary, be made to slide upon the cross bars, so that they may be
arranged to hold or suspend cardboard, paper, or other materials of various
widths. In arranging the clips for suspending delicate materials in place of
the moveable jaw being pressed tightly against the fixed jaw and held firmly
by a spring catch or other rigid fastenings, I prefer it to be pressed down by
a spring something similar to a letter clip, so that when suspending a soft
material similar to wet paper or cardboard the material will not be marked
by the clip. The form of the clips may be varied.
Figure 18 is a longitudinal section, and Figure 19 a plan of a machine for
drying paper, cardboard, &c. a, a, are the endless chains passing over chain
wheels b, b, b, fixed on each side of the horizontal shafts c, c, c. To the links
of the chain cross bars d, d, d, are fixed, and the clips e, e, e, are fixed to these
cross bars. f, f, are the feed boards, and the machine is so arranged that
when the clips arrive at a point just above the feed boards, they are open and
the cardboard, &c. may be placed with its edge between the jaws; the clip is
then shut by coming in contact with a cam or roller g, and the paper is held
suspended, as shewn at h, h, h, and is carried through the machine to the
further end, where, by coming in contact with another cam i, the clips are
opened and the paper let to fall on to the delivery aprons k, k, which by
continually moving in the direction of the arrows carry the paper (which is
then dry) into any suitable receptacle placed at 1, 1. The heat is obtained
from the coils of steam pipes m, m, m, or a heating apparatus may be adopted,
and the draught may be facilitated by a blowing or exhaust fan. A machine
with two sets of chains and clips is shown in the Drawing (Figure 18), and
one set of clips may be filled with paper, and left at rest while the other set
is being filled. This machine is also applicable for drying clothes or other
articles which will admit of being suspended while being dried.
Figure 20 is a plan of one of the cross bars with clip; Figure 21 is an end
view of same when shut; and Figure 22 an end view of it when open. n is
the cross bar, which is fastened to projections on the links by means of screws
passing through the holes o, o. A thin brass plate p is fixed to a projection q
on the bar n, and forms the fixed jaw. Projections 7, 7, 7, 7, are formed on
Upon the fulcrum & the moveable
the bar n, which carry the fulcrum 8, 8.
jaw turns. By means of the projections n, n, coming in contact with the
cams and i (Figure 18) the clip is shut and opened. The parts V, V, of the
moveable jaw are formed into a square or angular shapes, and are acted upon

page_text: by the springs w, w, so that when the clip is opened it will remain so until
shut by contact with the cam, and when shut it will remain shut until
opened by coming into contact with the other cam.
Figure 28 shows another kind of clip. a is the cross bar to which the
clip is attached by means of the sliding collar b and set screws cid is the
fixed jaw: e the fulcrum upon which the moveable jaw turns. The
moveable jaw is pressed against the fixed jaw by means of the spring g
pressing on the lever h, which forms a part of the jaw ; i is a friction
roller, which by coming in contact with a cam or roller opens the clip in
order to allow of the paper being placed between the jaws, or to allow it
when dried to fall out. This clip can be moved along the bar, to which it
may be secured in any position by means of the set screw c.
Figure 24 shows a clip somewhat similar in arrangement, but much
simpler. a is the cross bar; b, the sliding collar; c, the fixed jaw; d, the
fulcrum; e, the moveable jaw; f, the spring; and h, the lever, which by
coming in contact with a cam or roller opens the clip.
Figure 25 shews another form of clip. a, a, are the jaws; b is the
fulcrum; c, c, the spring. These clips are put on the edge of the paper by
hand, and then by means of the hook d hung on plain cross bars, one of
which is shown at g (Figure 19). When the paper is dry they are taken
from the bars, opened, and taken off the paper by hand:
In the Specification of a former Patent granted to me; and dated the 12th
May 1864, No. 1204, I have described a mode of stretching and tentering
fabrics, in which the selvages are held by nipping jaws or clips, but I find
that when nipping jaws or clips are formed into endless chains passing over
chain wheels fixed upon horizontal shafts or axes it is desirable that the top
or movable jaw of the clip should be so arranged that when it opens it
recedes backwards, so that the selvages of the fabric may be more readily.
placed upon the lower or fixed jaw as it passes into the machine. The
upper or moveable jaw moves forward at the same time it is being closed
for the purpose of holding the selvages of the fabric.
The formation of this nipping jaw or clip may be varied without departing
from the principle of the Invention. According to a convenient arrangement
the link is formed in a somewhat similar manner to that described by me
in my said former Specification, but in place of the moveable jaw being
held by a single hinge joint, it is arranged with a double link joint, so that
when open it is capable of receding from the front of the lower or fixed
nipping jaw.
Figure 26 shows a clip thus arranged for holding the selvages of the cloth,
:

page_text: &c. to be stretched. a is the fixed jaw; b, the double or link joint; c, the
moveable jaw; d is the spring for opening the clip; e is a projection on the
link joint, which by coming in contact with a cam or roller causes the upper
jaw to be withdrawn. The blue lines show the position of the upper jaw when
the clip is opened. f is the spring catch working on a fulcrum g. The tail h
being pressed upon by the spring i, keeps the spring catch f in its proper
position, so as to keep the jaws of the clip, which may be covered with india-
rubber, pressed tightly together. When the clip is to be opened, a cam
presses on the tail h, the spring d causes the jaws to separate, another cam
or roller then presses against the projection e of the link joint, and thus
causes the moveable jaw to assume the position shown in blue; k is the link
of the chain to which the clip is attached. Or in place of a link joint the
moveable jaw may be arranged to slide in guides, or it may be otherwise
arranged, thus, Figure 27 is another form, where a is the fixed jaw; c, the
spring catch working on fulcrum d; e is the spring. which pressing on the
tail keeps the spring catch in position: g is the spring, which causes the
jaws to separate when the spring catch is released. A pin h, which slides in
the groove i, is fixed to the moveable jaw. The moveable jaw is also furnished
with a projection k, which by coming in contact with a cam or roller causes
the moveable jaw to be withdrawn into the position shown in bluc. I is the
link of the chain to which the clip is attached.
Another modification of nipping jaw or clip may be made with the top or
moveable jaw so arranged that it will lift up high and turn back so far that
when open the lower or fixed jaw may be quite clear. This top jaw is opened
by a cam, and held in its open position by a spring until pressed down again.
Figures 28, 29, and 30, are respectively side, front, and plan views of such a
clip. The same letters refer to the same parts in each of the Figures. a is
the fixed jaw; b, the moveable jaw; c, the spring catch; d, the spring which
pressing on the tail e keeps the spring catch c in its proper position; f is the
pin upon which the spring catch turns. The moveable jaw turns on the
ping, and this part has an angular form, and is acted upon by the spring h,
so that when the spring catch c is released by a cam pressing on the tail e the
jaws separate, and another cam pressing on the projection i of the moveable
jaw throws it into the position shown in blue, in which position it is held by
the spring pressing on another face of the angular part. The clip is then
shut by cams or rollers pressing down the upper jaw when the spring catch
again shoots into its place. is the link to which the clip is attached.
Figure 28 shows the position of the clip in the guides, and the formation of
the guides; 1, 1, are the lips of the guides in which the chain runs, which is

page_text: prevented from coming out by the projections or shoulders m, m, on the link.
n is a bracket, a number of which are bolted to the guides to carry a bar o
which runs the whole length of the guides in order to form a support under
the jaws of the clip. Although the form of the clip itself may be varied
the arrangement of the guides and link may in each case be like that
just described.
Figure 31 shows another form of clip. a is the fixed jaw; b, the moveable
jaw; c, the spring catch working on the pin d; e, the tail, upon which presses
the spring, to keep, the spring catch in position. When the spring catch is
released by a cam pressing on the tail e, the moveable jaw bis raised by the
spring working round the spindle, which projects through a lengthened
slot in the moveable jaw, and is furnished with a shoulder at in order to
prevent the upper jaw coming entirely off. A cam pressing against the
projection draws the top jaw backwards till it assumes the position indicated
by the blue lines, the slot in the jaw being long enough to allow of this
movement. A small sliding collar is introduced between the upper jaw
and the spring g. The spindle is of a square form to prevent the top jaw
being twisted round when the spring catch is released. I is the link.
Another part of my. Invention consists of arranging, tentering, stretching
and drying machines when made with endless chains travelling in a zig-zag
from horizontally, as follows, viz., 1 fix partitions or divisions below the pipes
under each layer of cloth, and these partitions are arranged to cause the air
in rising to take a zig-zag direction to-and-fro across, the machine, so as to
prevent the moisture from one layer of cloth rising up through the steam
pipes above, and coming in contact with the under side of the next layer of
cloth, thus the concentration of an undue amount of heat at the top of the
machine is prevented. The ventilation should be facilitated by an exhaust
fan for drawing off the moisture at the top of the machine. A similar
arrangement will apply equally to drying wool or other materials where
endless aprons are used one above another.
Figure 32 is a cross section of tentering, stretching, and drying machine,
a, a, a, being the guides and links at the fixed side of the machine, b, b, b,
those at the moveable side: c. c. c. are the coils of steam pipes; the bluc
lines represent the cloth: d, d, d. are partitions placed so as to cause the air
in rising to take a zig-zag direction, as indicated by the arrows; the venti-
lation may be facilitated by employing an exhaust fan.
In tentering and stretching machines arranged to work horizontally, it is
found advantageous in some cases to introduce supplementary endless sheets
of open net work to work between the zig-zags, so that the tentering and

page_text: stretching machine may also be used as a machine for drying wool or other
fibrous material; when it is required to be so used it will be necessary to fix
on the pins or teeth of the endless chain of the tentering machine a con-
tinuous endless web, and when drying wool it is spread on the sheet at the
upper part of the machine, and carried and delivered at the end roller on to
a supplementary endless apron fixed between the zig-zags of the tentering
chains, and which carries the fibre back to the other end of the machine,
and then drops it on to the third fold of the sheet on the tentering chains,
and so on until the wool is carried out of the machine by a delivery supple-
mentary sheet. These supplementary sheets are only used when drying wool
or other fibrous material. Coils of pipes may be fixed between the supple-
imentary sheets for the purpose of drying the material.
Figure 33 is a longitudinal section of a machine for tentering and stretching
cloth in which supplementary aprons are introduced, so that the machine
may also be used for drying wool, &c. The dotted lines represent the chain
which may be furnished with pins or clips, and travels in the direction of
the arrows over the rollers b, b¹, b³, bi, &c. The cloth is fed on at c and
taken off at d. When it is required to use this machine for drying wool or
other fibrous material, it will be necessary to fix on the pins or teeth of the
endless chain a continuous endless web of network. The wool to be dried is
placed on this network and carried in the direction of the arrows till it
arrives at the point b', where it falls on to the supplementary apron e, c,
which running over the rollers 1, ', in the direction of the arrows, carries
the wool back, to the point f'. The wool here falls on to the third fold of the
apron a, a, a, fixed on the tentering chains till it reaches b', where it falls on
to another supplementary sheet, and so on through the machine until it is
delivered out of the machine in a dried state at the point g.
Another part of my Invention also relates to the drying of wool and other
fibrous material, and consists as follows:-In place of using as heretofore a
series of one or more endless aprons fixed one above another, and so arranged
that the wool or other material is dropped from one apron to another below
it, as is described in the Specification of a former Patent granted to me, and
dated the 8th day of April 1863, No. 890, 1 arrange one or more aprons one
above another within a drying chamber with a feed and delivery exterior of
the chamber, and between one apron and another or below the apron; when
only one is used I fix a division, forined it may be of a metal steam chest or
steam pipes with a sheet of tin, zinc, or other metal, which may be perforated,
or wood trelliswork above the pipes. The endless aprons are formed of
flexible wire netting, and on the endless sheet or sheets cross bars are

page_text: arranged with teeth or rakes, so that the wool or other fibrous material is
dropped from the upper part of the sheet or sheets on to the division below,
and it is then carried or drawn along the upper part of the division from one
end to the other until it drops on to the endless apron below, and so on till it
passes out of the machine. Between the endless aprons coils of steam pipes
may be arranged for drying the material, and exhaust or forcing fans may be
used for carrying off the moisture.
Figure 34 is a longitudinal section of such a machine for drying wool, a is
the feed board from which the wool drops on to the endless apron of wire net
work b, which travels over the rollers c, c', in the direction of the arrows
(the chain passing round chain wheels,) when the wool arrives at the roller c¹,
it falls on the plate of perforated metal d, d, and is drawn back again to the
front of the machine by means of the spikes e, e, which are fixed to the apron.
The wool may then be delivered out of the machine where there is only onc
apron, or it may fall on a second apron, and be again carried through to
the machine in the manner just described, it is then delivered out of the
machine at the point f. The heat is obtained from coils of steam pipes g, 9, 9,
fixed under the net work, and under the perforated plates; or instead of using
perforated plates with coils of steam pipes placed underneath, steam chests may
be used with advantage or other modes of heating may be resorted to if pre-
ferred. This machine can of course be made with any number of aprons.
Figure 35 is somewhat similar, but instead of making the aprons separate,
I make one continuous apron which travels in the direction of the arrows over
rollers b, b', b³, b³, &c. The wool drops on to the plate at 6, and is carried
back along the plate c, c, by the spikes d, d, till it drops on the third fold of
the apron a, a, it is again carried through the machine, and delivered out at
the point c. The wool is fed in at the opening f; in the framework g, g, are
the coils. Exhaust or forcing fans may be used for carrying off the moisture.
The endless aprons of drying machines I have heretofore made by interlocking
open spirals of wire, such aprons however are difficult to keep clean; according
to my present Invention I employ a web composed of simple zig-zags of
wire locking the one into the other at the angles of the zig-zags.
Figure 36 is a plan, and Figure 37 an end view of the new form of wire
netting which I employ for the aprons. It is formed by simple zig-zags of
wire locking the one into the other at the angles of the zig-zags.
Another part of my Invention consists of so arranging a tentering, stretching,
and drying machine that the fabrics having been fed on horizontally, and
secured on the pins or other holding instruments are made to assume a vertical
position, and the tentering, stretching, and drying is completed when the fabric

page_text: is in that position. This is done as follows.-I arrange a moveable bar in
front of the machine which may be adjusted nearer to or further from the
other parts, and is also capable of being set at any required angle in a
horizontal plane. This bar carries chain wheels which can be moved along the
bar so as to be brought nearer together or carried further apart according to
the width of the fabric required to be tentered. That part of the machine in
which the cloth is stretched and dried in a vertical position consists of an
arrangement of vertical shafts, cach of which carries two chain wheels over
which endless chains work through guides. On the vertical shafts, expanding
or telescopic rollers are arranged to suit various widths of cloth which passes
through the machine in a zig-zag form, or the machine may be arranged to
work in other ways carrying out the same principle. The chains carrying the
tenter pins or clips pass over the chain wheels of the horizontal bar. receive
the cloth on to pins or clips for holding the selvages and carry it forward,
causing it gradually to assume a vertical position.
The stretching in length and breadth is similar in principle to the plan
I now adopt, but both sets of the guides are by preference made to move
simultaneously when any changes are made in the width. Coils of steam pipes
are placed between the fabrics as well as below them.
Figure 38 is a side elevation; and Figure 39 a plan of a machine for tentering
stretching, and drying woven fabrics arranged so that the fabrics being fed on
horizontally, and secured on the pins or between the jaws of the clips they are
made to assume a vertical position in which position the fabric is carried
through the machine and the process is completed while the fabric is in that
position. is the moveable bar in front of the machine which can be adjusted
nearer to or further from the other parts as will be explained hereafter. The
bar a turns on a centre b, so that it can be set at any required angle in a
horizontal plane; c, c, are collars sliding on this bar, and carrying the supports
d, d, for the axes of the chain wheels or pulleys e, e, the supports which carry
the pulleys are mounted on the pins f. f, so as to turn to suit the angle formed
by the chain. The collars c, c, carrying the chain pulley's may be moved along
the bar so as to be brought nearer together or further apart according to the
width of the cloth to be tentered. The centre pin b is carried by a bracket g
proceeding from a plate h; each end of this plate is formed to run in guides i,
i, at each side of the machine so that by attaching a weight k to the end of a
cord running over the pulleys 1. 1, 1, and attaching the other end of this cord
to the frame hat in, the bar a is always kept as far from the other part of the
machine as the chains will allow, and the chains by this means are always
kept tight. At the ends of the bar a small frames m, m, are fixed which carry

page_text: the stretching apparatus consisting of two rollers n, n, and the worm and worm
wheel o. These frames also carry the rollers p, p. and the beam q so that the
rollers p. p. the stretching apparatus and the beam q. always remain parallel
to the bar a, at whatever angle it be placed: r. r. r. is the upper chain working
through the upper sets of guides 8. 8, 8, in the direction of the arrows and
round the upper chain wheels 1. t. 1; . . . . are the vertical shafts carrying
the chain wheels and the rollers V. V.. (which when the variation in the width
of the pieces to be tentered is great, are made on the plan last patented by
me. No. 1204, 1864. or on the plan described in the Specification of my Patent
No. 890, 1863):; c. 1. c. is the bottom chain:,, the lower guides: y is one
of the lower chain wheels. The chains carry tenter pins or clips formed as
already described for holding the selvages of the cloth which is fed over the
beam q.
The chains then cause the cloth to assume a vertical position, in
which position it is carried through the machine, and is dried by heat derived
from the coils z, z, z. The upper guides are attached to the bars a', a', and the
lower guides to the bars b', b'. The screws c'. c'. (the threads upon the upper
part of which are contrary in direction to the threads upon the lower part)
pass through nuts attached to these bars so that by turning the screws. the
bars, and with them the guides and chains, may be moved nearer together or
further apart according to the width of the pieces to be tentered. The chain
wheels are moved along the shafts by forks fixed to the guides and fitting into
grooves formed in the bosses of the chain wheels, one of these forks is shown
d. The pulley and gearing for driving the machine is shewn at e', c', e':
j. f. is the worm gear for working the screws: g' is a roller upon which
the cloth is wound as it is taken from the chains.
In witness whereof. I. the said James Lee Norton. have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this 27th day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.
J. L. NORTON. (..s.)