Improvements in Means for Polishing Woven Fabrics.
Year: 1896

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means for Polishing Woven Fabrics.
I, BENJAMIN JOSEPH BARNARD MILLS, of 23 Southampton Buildings in the
County of London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention,
a communication to me from Claude Tachon, of Charlieu Loire, and Henry
Pervilhac of Villerbanne, Rhone, both in the Republic of France, Polishers of
Woven Fabrics, to be as follows:-
The system of polishing which forms the subject of the present application is
for the purpose of giving to woven fabrics of silk, cotton or other materials or
mixtures a certain opacity or shaded effect, by causing the peculiar appearance
which it presents after weaving, to disappear at the same time retaining or
improving its touch and its appearance.
This result is obtained by polishing the fabric in the loose or unstretched
condition and placed upon an elastic support. The polishing is effected by means
of a series of revolving discs provided with blades and conveniently distributed
above this support, but the fabric being loose would be drawn along by the
movement of these blades if recourse were not had to a special holding contrivance
which 'by pressing at the desired time upon the fabric, prevents this drawing
action.
The combination of the foregoing parts; viz., support discs and holding
contrivance constitutes the essential character of the invention. It is represented
in Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings as applied to a single set of
parts. The support A is an elastic surface of elongated rectangular form, the
transverse section of which, shown at Fig. 2 is more or less convex, it is
advantageously obtained by compressing air in a hermetically closed box covered
by a flexible membrane. This surface, which may be called the "polishing track "
may be provided with several discs in the direction of its length:
The rotating diso or polisher B, is formed of a number of blades b, carried by
arms fixed in a hub, its axis of rotation is always transverse to the "polishing
track," into which the blades enter more or less by depressing it for a length 1. 2
see Fig. 1 and for a width 3. 4, see Fig. 2. The rectangular surface of this
depression which may be called "polishing field" is the extent of surface_polished
by each disc, but to different degrees; the most energetic action being effected at
the centre.
The holding contrivance C is a piece conveniently rounded in order to avoid
deterioration or injury of the fabric upon which it is caused to bear to prevent it
from being drawn along by the action of the blades b. In the space between the
passage of two blades, when the fabric is free the holding contrivance is raised to
allow the forward motion of the fabric to be effected, and it again descends 'before
the following blade has commenced to act.
The polishing element just described, is applicable to various kinds of polishing,
lengthwise or crosswise. It is sufficient to arrange a sufficient number on the
surface of the fabric, in order that the "polishing fields" of each of them by
mutually and regularly overlapping each other, may give to the entire of the
polishing the required uniformity.

page_text: OLISHING, IGS. AND 6.
The "polishing tracks "EE are perpendicular to the progress of the fabric.
The polishers are individually driven, by means of bevel wheels, by transverse
shafts DD coupled together by toothed gearing FF.
As in the previous case, the fabric being divided on its width into equal bands
narrower than the length of the "polishing field," each of these bands receives the
action of a polisher.
The holding contrivances not being capable of being collective, each disc has
its special holding contrivance C, Fig. 6; these holding contrivances are carried
by bent levers connected together by means of connecting rods L L and operated
by cams M M, which raise them at the desired time.
Ordinarily the polishers turn, as indicated by Fig. 6, in such manner as to draw
the fabric towards the edges, but, thanks to the individual holding contrivances
which exist as well on the edges as the middle, the polishers can in certain cases
be caused to rotate in the opposite direction, which is advantageous for certain
fabrics.
In the case of Fig. 6 the polishers will be able sometimes to serve mutually as
holding contrivances; in such case it is necessary that they be of even number
and turn half in contrary direction, so as to stretch the fabric from the middle to
the edges.
Dated this 3rd day of June 1906
HARRIS & MILLS,
23 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.

page_text: Improvements in Means for Polishing Woven Fabrics.
1, BENJAMIN JOSEPH BARNARD MILLS, of 23 Southampton Buildings, in the
County of London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
(a communication to me from Claude Tachon, of Charlieu. Loire, and Henry
Pervilhac, of Villerbanne, Rhone, both in the Republic of France, Polishers of
Woven Fabrics,) and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The system of polishing which forms the subject of the present application is for
the purpose of
giving to woven fabrics of silk, cotton or other materials or mixtures,
a certain opacity or shaded effect by causing the peculiar appearance which they
present after weaving to disappear, at the same time retaining or improving their
touch and appearance.
This result is obtained by polishing the fabric in the loose or unstretched condition.
and placed upon an elastic support. The polishing is effected by means of a series
of revolving dises provided with blades and conveniently distributed above this
support; but the fabric, being loose, would be drawn along by the movement of
these blades if recourse were not had to a special holding contrivance which, by.
pressing at the desired time upon the fabric, prevents this drawing action.
The combination of the foregoing paris, viz.: elastic support, discs, and holding:
contrivance, constitutes the essential character of the invention.
It is represented in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings accompanying my Provisional
Specification as applied to a single set of parts.
The support A is an elastic surface of elongated rectangular form; the transverse
section of which, shown at Fig. 2, is more or less convex; it is advantageously
obtained by compressing air in a hermetically closed box curved by a flexible
membrane. This surface, which may be called the "polishing track," may be
provided with several discs in the direction of its length.
The rotating disc or polisher B is formed of a number of blades b carried by
arms fixed in a hub; its axis of rotation is always transverse to the "polishing
track," into which the blades enter more or less by depressing it for a length 1, 2,
see Fig. 1, and for a width 3, 4, see Fig. 2. The rectangular surface of this
depression, which may be called "polishing field," is the extent of surface polished
by each disc but to different degrees, the most energetic action being effected at the
centre.
The holding contrivance C is a piece conveniently rounded in order to avoid
deterioration or injury of the fabric upon which it is caused to bear to prevent it.
from being drawn along by the action of the blades b. In the space between the
passage of two blades, when the fabric is free, the holding contrivance is raised to
allow the forward motion of the fabric to be effected and it again descends before.
the following blade has commenced to act.
The polishing element just described is applicable to various kinds of polishing,
lengthwise or crosswise. It is sufficient to arrange a sufficient number over the
surface of the fabric, in order that the "polishing fields" of each of them, by
mutually and regularly overlapping each other, may give to the entire of the
polishing the required uniformity.
Further, as the fabric should advance under the polishers without ceasing to be
loose, it is quite necessary that this advancement be effected intermittently and
only whilst the fabric is free. To attain this end the polishers are driven by
non-slipping mechanism, toothed wheels or chains, excluding belts or cords; they
are further regulated in such manner that all the blades act at the same time on
the fabric and rise at the same time, as also the holding contrivances, so as to

page_text: The "polishing tracks" EE are perpendicular to the progress of the fabric.
The polishers are individually driven by means of bevel wheels by transverse
shafts DD coupled together by toothed gearing F F.
As in the previous case the fabric being divided on its width into equal bands
narrower than the length of the "polishing field," each of these bands receives the
action of a polisher.
The holding contrivances not being capable of being collective, caci disc has its
special holding contrivance C, Fig. 6; these holding contrivances are carried by
bent levers connected together by means of connecting rods L L and operated by
cams M M which raise them at the desired time.
Ordinarily the polishers turn, as indicated by Fig. 6, in such manner as to draw
the fabric towards the edges but, thanks to the individual holding contrivances,
which exist as well on the edges as the middle, the polishers can, in certain cases,
be caused to rotate in the opposite direction, which is advantageous for certain
fabrics.
In the case of Fig. 6 the polishers will be able sometimes to serve mutually as
holding contrivances; in such case it is necessary that they be of even number and
turn half in contrary direction, so as to stretch the fabric from the middle to the
edges.
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 :-
1. In means for polishing woven fabrics, a polishing element consisting of three
parts, is an elastic support, a disc and a holding contrivance, and a suitable
distribution of elements thus composed over the surface of the fabric, substantially
as herein set forth.
2. The combination of polishing elements consisting of elastic supports, discs and
holding contrivances, with non-slipping driving mechanism, and their regulation in

page_text: such manner that they leave the fabric at the same moment so that the fabric
may be wound up without tension by an intermittent movement, substantially as
herein set forth.
3. The improved means for polishing woven fabrics substantially as herein set
forth.
Dated this 25th day of February 1897.
HARRIS & MILLS,
23 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.