CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS G LINEN AND OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS' PRO
Year: 1852

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Moseley, of Birmingham, in the County
of Warwick, Engineer, for the Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS
G LINEN AND OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS'
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Moseley at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 4th October 1852.
I, JOHN MOSELEY, do hereby declare the nature of the said In-
vention for CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR CLEANSING LINEN
AND OTHER FIBROUS MATERIALS" to be as follows:-
The machine consists of a box or receiver, having two of its sides
parallel and the ends shelving to admit of the gradual and regular
ingress and egress of the articles required to be cleansed. Along the
entire inside length and breadth of this receiver is stretched a piece
of strong canvas, which passes over a small roller at each end of the
receiver, and unites again underneath like a roll towel. These rollers
are worked by a large pulley fixed on the end of each, and attached by
a cord to a smaller pulley fixed on the spindle on which the handle or
crank of the machine works. On turning this handle a gradual motion
from one end of the machine to the other is imparted to the canvas,"

page_text: After this the
which, passing over the rollers at the end, returns again underneath.
The canvas is allowed to sink in the middle nearly to the bottom of the
receiver (its ends being kept level with the top by the rollers), and on
it the articles to be cleansed are placed separately, and in succession
they pass along the canvas to the bottom of the receiver, which is
about three parts filled with boiling water and soap.... Whilst at the
bottom of the receiver they are subjected to the cleansing apparatus,
consisting of two or more rows of stampers fixed across the receiver,
and raised by pins or other projections from the main spindle of the
machine; and when released strong springs bring them down in rapid
succession upon the. linien or other material being cleansed as it
gradually passes under immersed in the soap & water.
articles pass between three, four, or more rollers placed at equal
distances and parallel to each other, revolving rapidly round one
common centre, and above the canvas, which, with its contents, is
constantly kept pressed up against these revolving rollers by another
similar roller underneath, which is acted upon by a strong spring.
The articles now pass up the opposite shelving end of the receiver,
and at this end the roller mentioned before, over which the canvas
travels, has another roller placed immediately above, and kept down
upon it by its connection with a strong spring from the side of the
receiver. The travelling of the canvas brings the articles between these
two rollers, by which the water is squeezed out, when the operation
is complete.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Moseley in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 2nd April 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I.
JOHN MOSELEY, of Birmingham, in. the, County of Warwick, Engineer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of October, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-two, in the six-
teenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,

page_text: give and grant unto me, the said John Moseley, Her special license
that I, the said John Moseley, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said John Moseley, 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 CERTAIN IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MACHINERY FOR CLEANSING LINEN AND OTHER FIBROUS MATE-
RIALS," upon the condition (amongst others) that 1, the said John
Moseley, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, 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 John Moseley, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the Drawings here-
unto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is
to say):
My Invention consists of improvements in machinery more par-
ticularly applicable to the purposes of washing household linen and
articles of wearing apparel! though it may also be used by the mainu-
facturer for the purpose of cleansing newly-made linen, long cloths,
calicoes, and such like fabrics.

page_text: handle (C). On this shaft are fixed the six projecting arms termi-
inating in the friction rollers marked (D). (E, E,) represent a series of
stampers arranged in two rows, three in each; these are raised by the
friction rollers coming in contact with the projecting arms (J) on the
revolution of the shaft, and work alternately, the arms on the shaft (B)
being so arranged that the stampers are caused to fall in rapid suc-
cession. A piece of cork is attached to the bottom of each, to prevent
injury to the linen. (E', E',) are stops or catches by which any one
of the stampers can be thrown out of work. (F, F.) are levers jointed
to the upper ends of the stampers, and working on the shaft (G)
bearing in the sides of the framework. (H, H.) are friction rollers
on a shaft fixed in the sides of the framework, and acting on the
springs (I, J) secured to the under part of the levers; these springs
increase the power or weight of the stampers. (K, K.) are two rollers,
on which the stampers strike in their fall. The red line (M) shews an
endless strip of canvas or other material, acting as a moving bed, and
passing over and under the rollers (L, L, K, and Y). (N) is a frame
working on the centre (O), for the purpose of tightening the moving
bed of the machine by means of the screw (P) pressing the sides of the
outer box or trough. (Q, Q.) show a series of rollers revolving indi-
vidually on their own axes, and collectively upon the shaft (R). These
rollers are actuated by the toothed wheels (S, S, Figure 1,) working
into each other, and geared into the wheel on the main shaft.
The rollers (Q, Q.) rise and fall according to the thickness of the
materials passing through the machine (their axes all bearing in the
plate (W) which moves on the centre (V), and which by the hollow
(T) grooved in the sides of the casing is permitted sufficient play, the
common axle (R) at the same time moving in a slot. U, is a revolving
spindle of a peculiar form for the purpose of assisting the clothes in
their passage up the inclined part of the moving bed. (X) is a slot
carrying the roller (X) intended to work in conjunction with that
marked (Y), (and over which the moving bed passes) in pressing the
water out as the clothes leave the machine; the necessary amount of
pressure being obtained by the secrew and spring above the upper roller.
The rollers over which the moving bed is stretched are caused to re-
volve by means of mitred wheels (Z) on the shaft (B) gearing into other

page_text: mitred wheels at one end of the diagonal rods (P¹). On the opposite
ends of these rods are the pinions (D) which work into the face wheels
(O) on the shafts of some of the rollers. The common shaft (R) on
which the series of rollers (Q, Q.) revolves is connected at each side of
the framework by a connecting piece (A) jointed to two levers (B')
under the box or trough (see Figure 4). These allow the rollers to rise
and fall uniformly. The stud (Y', Figure 3,) is attached by a small
spring to the trough, and acts as a scraper for the moving bed, and by
its action removing any of the clothes that may adhere to the bed. (W)
is a strip inserted between the upper and lower parts of the moving bed
to prevent the water splashing out, (A') being a cock or plug to allow
it to be turned off. When about to be used, the machine being par-
tially filled with soap and water, the linen is introduced at the trap
(C, Figure 3.) each article being laid on the moving bed. The crank
handle is turned, and by the series of connections between the wheel on
this shaft and that on which the rollers work, the moving bed is caused
to run over the rollers, taking with it the lineu, and bringing it between
the rollers (K, K.) and the stampers; the latter fall quickly and in suc-
cession on it. The moving bed still continuing its course, the linen is
then carried up to the rollers (Q, Q.) by which it receives some slight
friction, and finally passing between the wringing rollers (X, Y,) leaves
the machine, and falls into a basket or other receptacle below, the
action of the machine being continuous.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I wish it to be clearly understood
that I do not confine myself to these precise details; but what I claim as
my Invention is, the general arrangement and combination of the various
parts producing the machinery herein-before set forth and described.
In witness whereof, T, the said John Moseley, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of March, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three.
JOHN (L.S.) MOSELEY.