On supporting science journalism
If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.
The annexed engravings are views of an improved machine for sizing, drying, and doubling textile materials for wadding and batting purposes. It is the invention of Hiram J. Lawton, of Troy, ?. Y., who has taken measures to secure a patent. Fig. 1 is a perspective viev of the machine when put in operation. A and ? represent two sections of the strong frame, one elevated a short distance above the other, and somewhat shorter. Each of these two sections contains a drying chamber, with small steam or hot air pipes running horizontally from D D to ? 0, but more clearly seen in the longitudinal section, fig 2, in which R is the pipe intersecting with a cross-pipe at a, where the heat is admitted, through the side of the box, and extending to t, where the heat passes out. These chambers are formed by closing up the any number of bats of fibrous material between the sized sheets inorder to increase the thickness, suitable for all purposes. In doing this a roll of carded cotton or other material to be sized, is placed upon the small cloth apron on each section, at m m, immediately in front of the size rolls, ? ? ; these size rolls may be made hollow with a steam-packed journal, for the admission of heat to keep the sizing warm. The one in the lower section, fig. 2, has the size box underneath and sizes the under surface of the bat ; the one in the upper section has the size box arranged with an aperture in its bottom and fixed with set screws, in order to raise it from the roll, so as to regulate the quantity of sizing upon the upper surface. After passing over the drying under side of the frame, also the ends, in order to prevent the escape of the heat, except upward through the sized material, which is carried over three chambers by endless aprons, operated and driven at D D. These aprons are made of slats fastened at each end upon bands or chains, on each side of the chambers, and are placed from 4 to six inches apart, as seen in fig. 2 at C; they are kept in a horizontal line by means of cross bars underneath at I 11 ; these bars also prevent the apron from touching the heated pipes, in their revolutions around the drying chambers. The object in arranging these drying chambers in two sections, one above the other, is for the purpose of sizing and drying the sheets, farming the upper and lower surfaces of the bat, independently of each other, and also for the purpose of facilitating the introduction of 1 chambers and receiving one pr more bats, of the same material, or any other, such as wool, flax, &c, the whole combination is brought together at 0, and passes to G, which is a pair of heated rollers for the purpose of warming both surfaces. The bat is ther. compressed firmly together at H, which are two sets of callender rolls, heavily weighted when necessary. Between these the wadding is cut off at any required length, by means of an index which is adjusted so as to regulate the cut off; the whole then passes to two heated rolls at P; these serve to dry off any dampness which might remain, and also roll up the finished wadding ; it is then taken off and put up for use. We have been informed that the above ma chinery operates in a very satisfactory manner; its principle ol operation is certainly good, and should meet with attention. More information may be obtained by letter addressed to Mr. Lawton, at Troy.
