Patent GB-191128485-A (GB)
Title: New or Improved Process and Apparatus for Treating Fabric with Liquids and particularly for Bleaching the same.
Inventor: MATHESIUS WALTHER
IPC: D06B3/16
Filed: 1911-12-18
Granted: 1912-11-21
Abstract: 28,485. Mathesius, W., and Freiberger, M. Dec. 22, 1910, [Convention date]. Bleaching, processes for; circulating or passing materials through fluid-supplying apparatus.-In apparatus for bleaching or otherwise treating fabric in rope form, wherein the incoming fabric is laid in folds in a vessel which is divided into two compartments by a partition which does not quite reach the bottom of the vessel,the folds of fabric are treated with liquid supplied simultaneously therewith, and then passed in length through the bottom of the compartment and up through the other to another machine, the liquid is also independently supplied to the second compartment and escapes through an outlet in the first, in such a way as to give a difference in hydrostatic pressure in the two compartments; the backflow causes the fabric more or less to float, and compression thereof is avoided. Further, the bleaching liquid is warmed to 50-65‹ C. and the fabric may be subjected to the action of hypochlorite and acid solutions in two or more of the apparatus arranged contiguously. The preferably wooden vessel is divided into two compartments A, B by an approximately vertical partition 2 having an inclined lower part 2<a>. The rope of fabric is laid in the first compartment A by suitable means, preferably by a swinging feed-pipe, both compartments starting empty, but liquid being simultaneously supplied to fill the compartment A. The fabric then passes through an opening C into the preferably smaller compartment B. The liquid is heated either in a reservoir 64 by supplying steam thereto or by passing through heating means on its way from a pump 63 to a pipe 66, whence it is fed in with the fabric and to a pipe 3 whence it is supplied to the second compartment B. In this compartment it is maintained with a head over that in the first compartment A. The liquid in the first compartment A flows out through slots 4 surrounding it and through a tube 61 to the reservoir 64. The liquid is preferably heated by means of hot water to avoid overheating. From the second compartment B the fabric passes between guides 5, rollers 6, and pressure rollers 7, 8. Liquid expressed thereby is returned to the second compartment B by an inclined board 9. The fabric is then led a few times round a roller 11 in a mixing-tank 10 before being opened out, after which it is sprayed from a water pipe 13 on its way into the mixing-tank 10, excess water being expressed between pressure rollers 8, 12. When a second contiguous apparatus is used, the fabric may be treated with calcium or sodium hypochlorite and rinsed in the first, and then immediately treated with acid in the second. The Specification as open to inspection under Section 91 (3) (a) comprises also a description of (1) the use of a valve on the discharge pipe 61 for regulating the levels in the compartments A, B without altering the action of the pump 63; (2) the use of a hinged and perforated movable bottom 67 held up during the charging with fabric by a tappet on a shaft 69; and (3) the contiguous arrangement of three of the above apparatus, Fig. 2 (cancelled). The fabric first passes round rollers 20, 21 in a washing- tank 19, through pressure rollers 22, over a device 23 where it is turned into a single rope which is supplied through a ' Russel feed-tube ' 24 or the like to an acidifying-vessel 25 similar to that of Fig. 1. After leaving the mixing- tank 26 the fabric passes over rollers 27, 28, is separated and passed round rollers 29, 30 in a second washing-tank 31. Thence it passes through pressure rollers 27, 32 to a second winding-apparatus 33 and, either direct to a washing-tank 41 when not previously scoured, or else through a second feeding tube 34 to a second main apparatus 35 for alkaline bleaching treatment. After this it passes to a third main apparatus 39 for acid treatment, and is finally rinsed and squeezed. The necessary solutions are supplied from vessels 43, 44, 45 above, wherein they may be gently heated by hotwater pipes 52. This subject-matter does not appear in the Specification as accepted.