Apparatus for Mercerising Cotton Fabrics under Tension.
Year: 1899

page_text: Apparatus for Mercerising Cotton Fabrics under Tension.
I, ERNEST SIMON, of 16, Rue Nationale, Villefranche (Rhone), France, Engineer,
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:
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This invention relates to apparatus for mercerising cotton fabrics under tension
with caustic lyes, preferably at low temperature, so as to give the fabric a silky lustre.
In this apparatus, in which longitudinal shrinkage is prevented by rollers between
which the fabric passes it is continuously led immediately after being impregnated
with the mercerising liquid (caustic soda of 30° to 40° Bé) between two rotary
widening discs, which are inclined and adjustable, and a pair of endless chains
co-operating with the discs to be widened or stretched transversely in a certain
adjustable and continuous manner, without being damaged or marked, and then to be
washed with water preferably tepid a little before it leaves the stretching apparatus.
This mode of transverse stretching allows of continuous mercerising of the fabric,
which gives it a lustre like that of silk. In the construction of the apparatus shewn
by way of example in the accompanying drawings, the fabric a which is continuously
fed, is immersed twice running in a bath 6 of caustic soda, being led under guide
roller c, between the rollers d, under a second guide roller c and between the
squeezing rollers e. The rollers c are preferably of sheet metal perforated like a
grater, their roughened surface preventing the slip of the fabric. The bath b
communicates with a coil g which passes through a cooling tank of below containing
ice or cold water, and the caustic soda solution is kept constantly circulating through
by a pump h so as to be kept cool. From the squeezing rollers e the fabric passes to
the widening apparatus comprising two inclined rotary discs i and two endless
chains which move with the upper surfaces of the discs, the side edges of the fabric
passing between the discs and the chains so as to be stretched transversely in a
continuous manner. The links of the chains are faced with caoutchouc or like
material on the sides which bear on the fabric so as not to damage it. The discs i
can be set nearer to or farther from each other for acting on fabrics of different
widths; they can also be set more or less obliquely so that their distance apart where
the fabric enters corresponds with the width of the fabric, whilst their distance where
the fabric leaves corresponds with its width when stretched, as far as it can be without
tearing. A little before the fabric leaves the stretching apparatus it is rinsed in its
stretched condition with water drawn by a steam injector (not shewn) from a washing
tank m at the end of the machine, and discharged by watering pipes so that the
caustic soda is mostly eliminated and the shrinkage of the fabric after leaving the
stretching apparatus is avoided.
The fabric then passes through the washing tank m when warm water is forcibly
discharged on the fabric from pipes n, and between pairs of squeezing rollers o, of
which a pair is arranged beyond each of the pipes n, and the fabric is then cleared of
the last traces of alkali by a suitable acidulated bath. The washing water in mis
always partially renewed so as to remain sufficiently dilute to effect the washing.

page_text: The mechanism of the apparatus is arranged as follows:-
The main shaft p provided with fast and loose pulleys drives by bevil gear the
transverse shaft which drives by gearing another transverse shaft 7.
On the ends
of the shaft r are keyed toothed wheels which gear with certain play with wheels
mounted on the side frames 8 which carry the discs and guide pulleys for the
chains k.
Each of the frames 8 can turn upon a slide t so that the distance apart of the discs
and their obliquity can be varied. The slides t are moved by right and left hand
screws on a transverse spindle 2 which is turned by a worm u on a spindle 4 that can
be turned by a hand wheel. Also the lower part of each frame s is provided with a
toothed segment gearing with right and left worms 3 on a cross spindle v that can be
turned by a hand wheel. The discs are driven by the wheels x gearing with
wheels won the axes of the discs. The gearing of the wheels x with the wheels on
the transverse spindler has sufficient freedom to allow for the more or less oblique
setting of the frames s.
It will be seen in the drawings how the pressing rollers e and o are driven from the
main shaft p with suitable clutches interposed, and how the upper rollers are loaded
by weighted levers the pressure of which can be taken off by cams y, also how the
tension of the chains can be regulated by moving their guide rollers, how the
rotation of the discs can be stopped or continued by a clutch 2 on the shaft q,
and finally how the pump his worked from the lower of the rollers e by a band or
chain 6.
The mercerising bath b can be lowered to allow of a fresh web being introduced,
and raised again by racks and pinions worked by worm gear j.
As in the machine above described no stentering hooks or the like are employed,
the fabric is not marked or pressed as in stretching machines of ordinary kind.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. Apparatus for mercerising cotton fabrics under tension so as to give them silky
lustre while they retain their primary width, this apparatus being so arranged that the
fabric has its longitudinal shrinkage prevented by suitable rollers, that immediately
after its continuous passage through the mercerising liquid it undergoes while it
travels adjustable transverse stretching by a pair of inclined rotary discs adjustable as
to distance and obliquity and endless chains co-operating with the discs, the fabric
being rinsed with water before leaving the stretching apparatus to prevent its ulterior
shrinkage, substantially as described with reference to the drawings.
2. The arrangement of the mercerising tank so that it can be raised and lowered,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
3. In combination with the mercerising tank a circulating pump, coil and cold
tanks for cooling the mercerising liquid, substantially as described.
4. The arrangement of pipes for washing the fabric before leaving the stretching
apparatus, and of the final washing pipes and rollers and pressing rollers, substantially
as described.
5. Mercerising apparatus constructed and operating substantially as described with
reference to the drawings.
Datad this 20th day of Doomben 1000
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.