IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR FINISHING OR BEETLING WOVEN FABRICS, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO FULLING MACHINES
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Smith, of Cheetham, in the City of Man-
chester, in the County of Lancaster, Dyer and Finisher, for the In-
vention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR FINISHING OR BEETLING
WOVEN FABRICS, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO FULLING
MACHINES."
Sealed the 29th April 1864, and dated the 11th November 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Smith at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
11th November 1863.
I, JOHN SMITH, of Cheetham, in the City of Manchester, in the County
of Lancaster, Dyer and Finisher, do hereby declare the nature of the Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR FINISHING OR BEETLING WOVEN
FABRICS, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO FULLING MACHINES," to be
as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in machinery for beetling or
finishing woven fabrics, which improvements are also applicable to fulling
machines.
In arranging machinery for beetling or finishing fabrics according to this
Invention the fabrics to be finished are as heretofore wound on to a roller, to
which a slow rotary motion is imparted, or the fabrics are caused to move
slowly across a table or bed on to which stampers, fallers, or hammers are
caused to descend.
Now, according to my Invention, I cause the fallers, stampers, or

page_text: hammers to be propelled against the fabrics by springs, by preference
by spiral springs, placed within or around stems or rods, by which the
fallers, stampers, or hammers are carried, and to be withdrawn by cranks,
excentrics, or cams, acting by preference directly on the stems or rods. Or
the fallers, stampers, or hammers may be carried by arms springing from
fixed sockets, and the arms then be acted on by cranks, excentrics, or cams, so
as by bending the arm to raise the fallers, stampers, or hammers from the
fabrics, the stampers, fallers, or hammers will then be forced against the
fabrics by the spring or elasticity of the arm or the arm may be pressed
down by springs, or the arms that carry the stampers, fallers, or hammers
may turn on axes, and have a weight connected to them near to the axis;
the stamper, faller, or hammer will then be propelled against the fabric
by the gravity of the weight, and be withdrawn from the fabric by cranks,
excentrics, or cams, acting on the arm that carries it. The weight may
be placed on either side of the axis, according as it is desired to make the
stampers, fallers, or hammers strike upwards or downwards.
In each arrangement the force of the blow given upon the fabric by the
faller, stamper, or hammer, can be regulated by regulating the force of the
spring or the size of the weight by which the faller, stamper, or hammer is
propelled towards the fabric; and also by actuating the fallers, stampers,
or hammers of beetling machines by the means above described, they
may be caused to act more powerfully and swiftly on the fabrics, and so
obtain a greater effect in less time than heretofore, and thus save labour and
expense.
In cases where fallers, stampers, or hammers are used in fulling machines
the fallers, stampers, or hammers may have motion given to them by the
same means as those above described.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Smith in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 11th May
1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
SMITH, of Cheetham, in the City of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster,
Dyer and Finisher, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eleventh day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-seventh year of

page_text: Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said John Smith, Her special licence, that I, the said John Smith,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John
Smith, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY FOR FINISHING OR BEETLING WOVEN FABRICS, WHICH IMPROVE-
MENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO FULLING MACHINES," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said John Smith, my executors or adminis-
trators, 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 John Smith, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say :--
This Invention has for its object improvements in machinery for finishing
or beetling woven fabrics, which improvements are also applicable to fulling
machines.
In arranging machinery for beetling or finishing fabrics according to this
Invention the fabrics to be finished are as heretofore wound on to a roller to
which a slow rotary motion is imparted, or the fabrics are caused to move
slowly across a table or bed on to which stampers, fallers, or hammers are
caused to descend.
Now, according to my Invention, I cause the fallers, stampers, or hammers
to be propelled against the fabrics by springs, by preference by spiral springs,
placed within or around stems or rods, by which the fallers, stampers, or
hammers are carried, and to be withdrawn by cranks, excentrics, or cams,
acting by preference directly on the stems or rods. Or the fallers, stampers, or
hammers may be carried by arms springing from fixed sockets, and the arms
then be acted on by cranks, excentrics, or cams, so as by bending the arm to
raise the faller, stampers, or hammers from the fabrics, the stampers, fallers,
or hammers will then be forced against the fabrics by the spring or elasticity
of the arm, or the arm may be pressed down by springs, or the arms that
:

page_text: carry the stampers, fallers, or hammers may turn on axes, and have a weight
"connected to them near to the axis; the stamper, faller, or hammer will then
be propelled against the fabric by the gravity of the weight, and be withdrawn
from the fabric by cranks, excentrics, or cams acting on the arm that carries
it. The weight may be placed on either side of the axis according as it is
desired to make the stampers, fallers, or hammers strike upwards or downwards.
In each arrangement the force of the blow given upon the fabric by
the faller, stamper, or hammer can be regulated by regulating the force of
the spring or the size of the weight by which the faller, stamper, or hammer
is propelled towards the fabric, and also by actuating the fallers, stampers, or
hammers of beetling machines. By the means above described they may be
caused to act more powerfully and swiftly on the fabrics, and so obtain
greater effect in less time than heretofore, and thus save labour and
expense.
In cases where fallers, stampers, or hammers are used in fulling machines,
the fallers, stampers, or hammers may have motion given to them by the
same means as those above described.
These improvements are intended to be employed either independently or
in combination with a machine previously patented by me, dated August 17th
1863 (No. 2036.)
And in order that my Invention may be fully understood and readily put
into practice, I will proceed more fully to describe the same, and refer to
the figures and letters marked on the accompanying Sheet of Drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a front elevation, and Figure 2 is an end view of my improve-
ments in roller beetling machines previously patented as aforesaid; and
Figure 3 is a transverse section through one of the "stampers" or "beetles,"
shewing the way in which it is worked.
¨a is one of the iron beetles sliding freely in the frame b, worked by means
of the excentric or crank shaft c (which revolves at a quick speed in the
bearing or journal d) and the cradle e; f is a spiral or other spring under
compression in the interior cavity of the beetle a, and which abuts upwards
against the cotter g, the ends of which are fitted securely in the frame b, and
presses downwards with its lower end on the base of the interior cavity in the
beetle a;
the said springf, when sufficiently strong and elastic, causes the beetle a
to continue in contact with the cradle e and crank or excentric shaft c, and when
the crank or excentric shaft c is made to revolve at a quick speed it causes
the beetle a to vibrate with a speed proportionate to the revolutions of the

page_text: said shaft. h is a roller of iron or other suitable material, upon which is
wound the woven fabrics i to be operated upon, and it is pressed down upon
the beetle heads a' by means of the setting down blocks and screws j and k,
Figures 1 and 2, and the beetle heads a¹ act upon the woven fabrics i by
giving a quick succession of blows with a force proportionate to the amount of
"set" given by the setting down screws k. A slow rotary and to-and-fro
endwise motion is at the same time given to the roller h by means of suitable
gearing cranks and levers.
Figure 4 is a partial front elevation, and Figure 5 is a transverse section
of my improvements, applicable alone or in combination with my previous
Invention, as aforesaid, and the parts lettered alphabetically from a to i refer
to my previous Invention, as aforesaid.
In the transverse section, Figure 5, two sets of my improved beetles are
shewn, numbered respectively 1 and 2, each set arranged parallel lengthwise
with and one set on each side of the centre set, which is the same as my
previous Invention, as aforesaid, and shewn in Figures 1, 2, and 3.
I will now proceed to describe the various parts and mode of action of one
single beetle in each or either of the said sets numbered respectively 1 and 2,
which description will answer for every beetle in each of the said sets. Upon
the extremity of the crank or excentric shaft c is keyed the spur wheel l,
which revolves with the crank or excentric shaft c in the direction indicated
by the arrow into this wheel is geared the spur wheels m, m', and which
are keyed upon the ends of the tappet shafts n, n³, and revolve in the
direction indicated by the arrow. Upon the tappet shafts n, n³, are secured
tappets o, o¹; P, p', are the beetles sliding freely in the framings q, q';
p, p, are the beetle heads, made of hard wood, iron, or other suitable
material, and attached to the beetles p, p, as shewn. r,r¹, are spiral or other
springs under compression fitted into the interior cavity of the beetles p; p';
the lower end of the said springs rest upon cotters s, s¹, which pass freely
through the slot, as shewn in the beetles p, p, and is fitted securely into the
beetle frames q, q', and the upper ends of the said springs press against the
upper ends of the cavities in the beetles p, p¹, continually tending to propel the
beetles p, p, against the fabric i. At the lower ends of the beetles p, p³, are
cavities or chambers made to receive the tappets o, o', and having lips or pro-
jections t, t, for the tappets to act upon. The mode of action of the machine is
as follows:-The shaft c having been set in motion in the direction indicated
by the arrow, and revolving at a quick speed, the centre beetle a is caused to
vibrate rapidly, and give a quick succession of blows upon the fabric & wound
upon the roller h, as before described; at the same time, by means of the spur

page_text: wheels m, m', the tappet shafts n, n³, and the tappts o, o¹, are made to revolve
in the direction indicated by the arrows, causing the tappets o, o, by acting
upon the lips t, t, to draw the beetles p, p', from the fabric i until the ends of
the tappets o, o¹, have passed the lips t, t¹, when the springs by their force
propel the beetles against the fabric i, and continue so to withdraw and propel
the beetles so long as the revolutions of the shafts c and n, n¹, are continued,
and a slow rotary and to-and-fro endwise motion being given at the same time
to the roller h by means of suitable gearing cranks and levers, every part of
the fabric is brought successively under the operation of the beetling process
until the required finish is obtained.
The second part of my Invention consists of improvements applicable to
machines for finishing woven fabrics known as "flat beetles," and is an
improved mode of substituting hammers or mallets having elastic shafts or
arms, and being actuated by cams, tappets, or wipers, whereby a much greater
speed is obtained than heretofore.
Figure 6 is an end view of my improved "flat beetles." The fabrics to be
finished are placed as usual upon a strong iron plate a, which is firmly bedded
upon the masonry or ashlar b; c is one of the fallers or hammers of hard
wood or other suitable material, and which is firmly attached to a flexible
shaft or arm d, by preference made of ash timber; the opposite end of the
arm d is rigidly cottered or otherwise secured into the socket e. f is a tappet
shaft, upon which is keyed the tappet g, and revolves in the direction indicated
by the arrow; h is a socket fastened upon the shaft or arm d, having a snug i
on one or both sides for the tappet g to act upon.
The operation of the machine is as follows:-The fallers, hammers, or
mallets c, together with their shafts or arms d, and tappets, cams, or wipers g,
being arranged as close as possible, side by side, in sufficient numbers to
extend to the required width of the machine, the shaft f is set in motion in
the direction indicated by the arrow, and the flexibility of the shafts or arms d
allows the tappets g, by acting upon the snugs i, to raise the fallers or
mallets c, until the end of the tappets 9 having cleared the snugs i, the
elasticity of the shaft or arm d brings the fallers or mallets down with con-
siderable rapidity and force upon the fabrics to be operated upon, and the
rapidity and force with which it is brought down enables the machine to
work with a quicker succession of blows than is produced by the ordinary
"flat beetle."
'The third part of my Invention consists of improvements in machines which
are applicable for the purpose of fulling or milling woollen or other cloth.
Figure 7 is an end view shewing my application of the beetling process to the

page_text: top instead of the under side of the cloth roller, and which is also applicable
for the purpose of fulling or milling woollen or other cloth. a is the cloth
roller, with the cloth b wound upon it; c, a faller or hammer of hard wood,
and which is firmly attached to the flexible shaft or arm d, by preference made
of ash timber; the opposite end of the shaft or arm d is rigidly cottered or
otherwise secured into the socket e. f is a tappet shaft, upon which is secured
the tappet g, and revolves in the direction indicated by the arrow; h is a
socket fastened upon the shaft or arm d, having a snug i on one or both sides
for the tappet g to act upon.
The operation of this part of the machine is as follows:-The fallers,
hammers, or mallets c, together with their shafts or arms d, and tappets,
cams, or wipers g, being arranged as close as possible, side by side, and in
sufficient numbers to extend to the required width of the machine, the shaft f
is set in motion in the direction indicated by the arrow, and the flexibility of
the shafts or arms d allows the tappets g, by acting upon the snugs i to raise
the fallers or mallets c, until the ends of the tappets 9 having cleared the
snugs i, the elasticity of the shaft or arm d brings the fallers, hammers, or
mallets down with considerable rapidity and force upon the fabrics or cloth to
be operated upon wound upon the roller a, to which a slow rotary and to-and-
fro end wise motion is imparted by suitable gearing cranks and levers, as shewn
in Figures 1 and 2, and the rapidity and force with which the fallers are
brought down enables the machine to work with a quicker succession of blows
than is produced in ordinary fulling machines.
My Invention consists also of the application of a faller, hammer, or mallet,
to be worked either independently or in combination with the above, as is
also shewn in Figure 7, and actuated by a gravitating weight. i is the faller,
hammer, or mallet, which may be of hard wood or other suitable material, and
is firmly attached to a rigid shaft or arm j, and which works upon the
fulcrum k; 1 is a tappet shaft, having keyed upon it the tappet m, and
working in the direction indicated by the arrow; n, a socket secured upon the
shaft or arm j, having a snug on one or both sides for the tappet m to act
upon; p is a gravitating weight fastened to the arm j.
The operation of this part of the machine is as follows:-The fallers,
hammers, or mallets i, together with their sockets or arms ; and tappets,
cams, or wipers m, being arranged as close as possible, side by side, in sufficient
numbers to extend to the required width of the machine, the shaft 7 is set in
motion in the direction indicated by the arrow, the tappets, cams, or wipers m
acting upon the snug on the socket n, raises the faller, hammer, or mallet
from the cloth until the point of the tappet m has cleared the snug on the

page_text: socket n when the faller, hammer, or mallet descends upon the cloth b.
accellerated in its descent by the force of the weight p, owing to the weight p
being placed at a shorter radius from the fulcrum k than the faller, hammer,
or mallet i, and thus passing through a smaller space in the same time
necessarily increases the velocity of the faller i in its descent, making it
capable of being worked at a greater number of blows than if only actuated by
the falling of the faller or hammer i.
Having thus described the nature of these my Inventions, and the manner
of working the same, I declare that I claim the Invention of beetles propelled
against the fabrics by the force of springs, and withdrawing them from the
fabric in the manner described.
Also, the Invention of hammers, fallers, or mallets applied to flat or other
beetling machines, or for the purpose of fulling or milling woollen or
other cloth, propelled or actuated by the force of an elastic shaft or arm, as
described.
Also, the Invention of hammers, fallers, or mallets applied to flat or other
beetling machines, or for the purpose of fulling or milling woollen or other
cloth, propelled or actuated by the force of a gravitating weight in the manner
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Smith, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Ninth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.