IMPROVEMENTS IN BLEACHING AND DYEING, AND IN WASHING, SOURING, AND OTHER PROCESSES CONNECTED THEREWITH
Year: 1852

page_text: TO ALL
WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL CO
JOHN
WHITEHEAD the younger, of Elton, near Bury, in the County of Lancaster,
Dyer and Finisher, and ROBERT DIGGLE, of the same place, Foreman, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at West-
minster, the Twentieth day of January, One thousand eight hundred and fifty-
two, and in the fifteenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and
successors, give and grant unto us, the said John Whitehead the younger,
and Robert Diggle, Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege and
authority, that we, the said John Whitehead the younger and Robert Diggle,
our exors, adñiors, and assigns, and such others as we, the said John White-
head the younger and Robert Diggle, our exors, adñiors, or assigns, should
at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
during the term of years therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within England and Wales and the Town of Berwick-
upon-Tweed, our Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BLEACHING AND DYEING, AND
IN WASHING, SOURING, AND OTHER PROCESSES CONNECTED THEREWITH;" in which
said Letters Patent is contained a proviso that we, the said John Whitehead
the younger, and Robert Diggle, shall cause a particular description of the
nature of our said Invention, and in what inanner the same is to be performed,
to be enrolled in Her Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six caleudar
months next and immediately after the date of the said in part recited
Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference being thereunto had, will
more fully and at large appear.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, we, the said
John Whitehead the younger and Robert Diggle, do hereby declare that
the nature of the said Invention, and the manner in which the same is to
be performed, is particularly described and ascertainedinand by the Drawings
hereto annexed, and the following explanation thereof, that is to say :-
Our improvements consist in combining or connecting together two or more
apparatus for the purpose of operating upon cotton and linen piece goods, so
as to effect by a continuous action various processes connected with bleaching
and dying, in contradistinction to the plan now adopted of performing the same
operations,through the medium of independent apparatus, by which method we
are enabled to effect a considerable saving in the amount of labor and material.
For instance, in the process of "bleaching" it is well known that, according
to the usual method, the goods after they leave the chlorine are passed through
vessels containing water, acid, and alkali, each of which vessels is distinct and
completes its office before the piece is subjected to another treatment, whereas,
according to our Invention, the fabric passes continuously from onc vessel to
another until the required effect has been performed; and in like manner the
various operations of dyeing, washing, &c. are effected. Our Invention also
consists in a peculiar arrangement of parts constituting a combined apparatus
for washing only, as applied to the processes of bleaching and dyeing. The
particular combinations of apparatus and arrangements of machinery by which
these operations are effected may be varied to a considerable extent without
departing from the principle of our Invention, for although we prefer a more
extended combination, two apparatus only may be connected if desired. We
lave in the Drawings accompanying this our Specification shewn such
arrangements as we use and prefer, after having described which we shall
point out several modifications which may be adopted. The Figures of
Sheet1 of the accompanying Drawings represent in several views a complete
apparatus for performing the combined processes of boiling, souring, and
washing, as a conclusion of bleaching or preparatory to dyeing, this portion
of our improved apparatus being particularly applicable to fustians and other
heavy goods.
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of the whole apparatus. Fig. 2 a side
view. Fig. 8 a plan or top view. Figs. 4 and 5 sections taken respectively in
the lines a, b, and c, d, and Fig. 6 an end view, looking towards the left hand
of Figs. 1, 2, 3. We shall firstly describe the arrangement and construction
of the whole machine, and subsequently its application to the purposes of our
Invention. The first portion of the apparatus is an iron vessel A, at the lower
part of which there is a perforated pipea, a, for the purpose of supplying steam

page_text: to water or alkali placed in the vessel, thereby keeping it at a high tempera-
ture, or the contents may be heated by admitting steam within a casing which
surrounds the vessel. The vessel A is also supplied with two tiers of rollers
b, b, b, o, c, c, capable of turning in suitable bearings, and at the upper part
are two squeezing rollers d, d, mounted in slots formed within standards e, e,
attached to the framework. The lower squeezing roller d turns in a fixed
bearing, but the upper one is mounted in brasses supported by screws f,f, which
screws are capable of being turned in screw boxes affixed to weighted levers
9,9, turning upon centres h, h, whereby the upper roller is caused to be raised
from the lower when desired, the weighted levers g. 9, at such times being
prevented from falling by arriving in contact with the snugs i, i. By means
also of the screws f,f, the pressure upon the piece of goods may be equalized
throughout its breadth, for by turning a screw at oue side of the machine
only the corresponding lever g will be raised or lowered, and by having its
angle thus altered will afford more or less pressure upon that side of the piece
of goods.
The second portion of the apparatus is a vessel B to contain water, within
which are placed and mounted in suitable bearings rollers j, j,j, j, also a
series of agitators k, k, k, k, capable of being caused to revolve rapidly, and
thereby agitate the fluid in the vessel B, which is provided with a pair of
squeezing rollers d', d, mounted and arranged in a similar manner to those
described in reference to the vessel A.
The third portion of the apparatus is a deeper vessel C, and is intended to
contain an acid suitable for the souring process. At the lower part is a
series of rollers 1, 1, 1, 1, and at the upper part another series m, m, m, both
of which are capable of turning in suitable bearings. There are also squeezing
rollers d, d, similar to those before mentioned.
The fourth, fifth, and sixth portions of the apparatus are washing
cisterns D, E, F, which if separated from the other portions of the
the apparatus would constitute an example of second part of our Invention.
They are provided with rollers n, n, n, o, o, o, P, P, P, capable of turning in
bearings and agitators 9, 9, 9, 1, 1, 1, 8, 8, s, between each of which cisterns
are squeezing rollers d³, d4, ds, as before described. The cistern F is supplied
with a stream of cold water by any convenient arrangement, which water
continually flows over the partition tinto the cistern E, and from thence over
the partition into the cistern D, which is provided with a pipe v (see
Figure 2), the other end thereof being in communication with the cistern B.
which is thus furnished with the required supply of water, and from which it
is discharged by a suitable orifice.

page_text: The seventh portion of the apparatus is a deeper cistern G, supplied with
rollers w, w, and agitators,, and squeezing rollers do; this cisternis supplied
with hot water by any suitable arrangement, which subsequently flows overthe
partition y, and mingles with that contained in the chambers F, E, D, B.
The eighth portion of the apparatus is a cistern H, supplied with an alkaline
solution heated by steam in any ordinary manner, and within it are placed
rollers z, and agitators 1; also squeezing rollers c, d, similar to those before
described.
Having thus described the general arrangement of the apparatus, we
will proceed to point out how the various parts which are intended to be
driven derive their respective motions. The main shaft of the apparatus
is shewn at 2, 2, upon which there is a bevil wheel 3, taking into the
teeth of another 4, mounted upon an upright shaft 5; to this shaft is
attached a disc 6, which as it revolves gives rotatory motion to another
disc 7, attached to a longitudinal shaft 8. The outward end of this shaft
turns in a brass mounted within a standard 9, which brass is capable of
being pressed downwards by a screw 10, so as to force the disc 7 upon that
shewn at 6 with a sufficient force to obtain a driving power for the shaft &,
and by raising the brass in a slight degree through the same medium the
surfaces may be separated so as to arrest the rotary motion of the shaft 8.
The bevel wheel 4 is in gear with a similar wheel 10, mounted upon a shaft 11,
and capable of being thrown in and out by the clutch arrangement shewn in
the Drawing. The shaft 11 communicates motion through a wheel and
pinion to a longitudinal shaft 12, upon which there is a series of bevilled
pinions 13 taking into others affixed to the axes of the agitators k, q, r, s, x, 1,
by which means they are caused to revolve rapidly upon the longitudinal
shaft 8; there are also pinions 14, 14, 14, which by taking into the teeth of
others upon the axes of the squeezing rollers impart rotatory motion thereto.
The pinions 14, 14, are each provided with a clutch 15, which, through the
medium of levers 16, 16, may be shifted so as to throw the driving power
from any pair of squeezing rollers. The treatment of the goods will in some
measure be varied accordingly as the apparatus is used for treating them in
grey for the dyeing process, or for performing the operation of souring, &c.
as constituting a part of bleaching; for the present we will assume the former
to be the case. The piece of goods wound into a batch or from the "plait" is
placed in the situation marked 17, and the end conducted as shewn by the red
line over and under the two series of rollers b and c, and from thence between
the squeezing rollers d, d, which being put in motion as before described,
draw forward the piece and press the superfluous moisture therefrom, which
the

page_text: moisture may be water only, or an alkaline solution. Before however
passing between the squeezing rollers the fabric arrives in contact with a
roller 18, having rotatory motion communicated to it by means of the
wheel and pinion 19, 20. This roller is formed with diagonal ribs like
an ordinary opening roller, as seen in Figure 5, and serves to keep the
fabric distended to its whole width. From the squeezing rollers d, d, the
goods pass over guide rollers 20, 20, and from thence descend to the
cistern B, passing as shewn by the red line over the rollers j, j, j, and sub-
sequently against a roller 21, and between the squeezing rollers d¹. The
vessel B is, as before mentioned, supplied with water from the cistern D by
the pipe V, and this water during the passage of the goods is kept in constant
motion by the agitators k, k, k, and thereby dashed against the goods so as
to effect the desired washing. It will be observed, however, that the agitators
are mounted so as to perform their operation without running in contact with
the cloth. From the squeezing rollers d' the goods proceed over the rollers
m, l, within the souring chamber C, which chamber is provided with a
perforated pipe 22 for the admission of the acid, the appertures of which
are at the lower portion thereof; and beneath the pipe 22 is another, 23,
for the admission of steam, the perforations of which are at the upper
side, by which arrangement the descending acid is met by the ascending
steam, and caused to be dispersed over the souring chamber. The
goods now drawn forward and squeezed by the rollers d³, d², pass over guide
rollers 24, 24, and are drawn successively through the cisterns D, E, F, G,
by the respective squeezing rollers d³,d4, d³, passing in each vessel, as shewn,
over the rollers n, o, p, and having the water dashed against them by the
agitators 9, 1, s, and for the purpose of supporting the fabric there is in
each of these vessels a roller 21. The squeezing rollers d5 now deliver the
goods into the deeper cistern G, where they pass over the rollers w, w, w,
and through hot water supplied in any suitable manner, which is kept in
motion by the agitators a, a, x; they are then conveyed by the rollers do, do,
into the cistern H, containing the alkaline solution, guide rollers z and
agitators 1 being as before provided. The cistern H may be supplied with a
steam pipe, whereby the solution is kept in a heated state. The goods having
passed through the operations above detailed are wound into a batch at 26
by the surface roller 27, ready for the subsequent process of dyeing. If
desired, however, the goods may be removed and finished in the ordinary way
as self-colours.
It will be perceived by the foregoing description, that the goods are drawn
forwar 1 t'rough the various vessels by the revolving action of the squeezing

page_text: rollers d,d, &c, these therefore should be of equal circumference; if however,
from any cause, the goods should become unevenly drawn, the workman, by
throwing that pair of squeezing rollers which has produced the defeat out of
gear for a short time may remedy the evil, and it is for this purpose that separate
clutch boxes are employed for each pair of rollers. An irregularity of diameter
in the rollers may, however, be considerably corrected by a lapping of
aloth or other material upon their circumference. When it is desired to
arrest the motion of all the rollers at once, the disc 7 must be raised
and the driving power will thereby be detached. In operating upon various
qualities of goods it may be desirable to cause some to pass through the several
vessels at a quicker rate than others. This variation of speed may be readily
obtained by shifting the disc along the shaft S, thereby causing it to be
operated upon by the disc 6 at a point of greater or lesser radius. In order
to effect this we form a portion of the shaft 8 hollow, and place inside a
screw 28, which screw works in a nut which projects through a slot in the
shaft, and is connected to the boss of the disc 7 by turning the screw; there-
fore the position of the disc 7 may be altered at pleasure. The foregoing
description alludes, as before mentioned, to goods which are to bedyed in the
grey or finished as self-colours. If the apparatus be used for concluding the
process of bleaching, then, after removal from the chlorine, they will be con-
ducted at once into the vessel B, the hot water or alkaline solution contained
in the vessel A not being necessary. The treatment subsequently may be as
already described, and when the goods have passed through the apparatus
they may be dyed or finished in the white state.
The several Figures of Sheet 2 shew an arrangement of apparatus for per-
forming the operations of dyeing and other processes connected therewith.
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section; Fig. 2, a side view; Fig. 3, a plan; Figs. 4
and 5, sections taken respectively in the lines a, b, c,d; and Fig. 6 an end
view looking towards the right hand of Fig. 2. The number of vessels em-
ployed and the substances used will of course depend upon the color desired,
and may be varied for particular cases. We shall, for the sake of example,
suppose it required to produce a drab dye, such as is commonly used for
fustians. The first portion of the apparatus consists of a pan A, provided with
* an outer casing a, a, which forms a surrounding chamber into which steam is
introduced for the purpose of heating the liquor contained in the pan, which
liquor may be composed of any of those substances commonly employed, such
as fustic, logwood, peachwood, shumac, &c. Within the pan are two series
of rollers b, b, and c, c, capable of turning in suitable bearings. There is also
a pair of squeezing rollers d, d, arranged in a manner similar to those of the

page_text: formerly described machine, and at the bottom of the pan is a pipe e for the
purpose of drawing off the spent liquor, which pipe passes through a stuffing
box in order to effect a steam-tight joint. This pau is for effecting the
saddening process. The next part of the apparatus is a small cistern B placed
above, provided with guide rollers f, ff, and containing cold water, which
constantly flows through it for the purpose of cooling the cloth. The third,
fourth, and fifth portions of the apparatus consist of vessels C, D, E, pro-
vided with guide rollers g, g, g, h, h, h, i, i, i, and squeezing rollers j, j. j.
These three vessels contain a solution of iron, which may be refreshed as often
as necessary from any convenient source; and in order to keep the solution in
the first one clear a small stream of water should constantly flow through it.
The remaining part of the apparatus consists of two washing vessels E and G,
provided respectively with guide rollers k, l, k, l, 1, 1, agitators m, m, m, and
squeezing rollers ", n, n, the peculiar arrangement of which vessels and their
appurtenances exhibit another example of the second part of our Invention.
The method by which motion is communicated to the various parts to be
actuated is similar to that mentioned in reference to the formerly described
machines, and no further descriptiou will therefore be necessary. The only
distinct working parts are those constituting a pump, as shewn at o, o, o, for
the purpose of drawing the liquor from the vessel A and conveying it to a
reserve cistern to be used again, either refreshed or not, according to the
shade of colour to be produced. The goods are conducted from any con-
venient situation under and over the rollers b, b, and drawn forward by the
squeezing rollers d, d, from thence again under and over the rollers b+,c+, by
which they become saturated with the saddening matter. They are then
conducted between and over guide rollers p, p, into the vessel B, where, by
passing over the rollers,f, they become cooled by the water contained in
that vessel. They are then drawn forward by the squeezing rollers 1, j,
through the following vessel C, passing under and over the guide rollersg.9.9,
and become saturated with the solution of iron, from thence through the
squeezing rollers j¹ and over guide rollers r, r, above, where they become
exposed to the atmospheric action. From this position they are drawn in
like manner by the squeezing rollers through the vessels D, E, receiving from
each an impregnation of the iron solution, and being conveyed between those
two vessels over guide rollers s, s. The goods now pass through the washing
chambers E, F, provided with guide rollers and agitators, as before described,
through which chamber distinct supplies of water should constantly flow, and
the goods are finally wound into a batch at t by means of a surface roller u,
and if of the correct shade the process of dyeing will be complete. It may,

page_text: however, happen that the color produced is not exactly that of the required
shade. Should this be the case the goods may be finished to pattern by the
ordinary method. When darker shades are required than can conveniently
be obtained by passing the fabric once through the apparatus, a second treat-
mentsimilar to that already described may be pursued. In such cases, however,
the goods should be properly washed by our improved or by other apparatus
between the two processes.
Sheet 3 of the accompanying Drawings represents, as another example in
longitudinal and cross sections, a combined apparatus suitably arranged for
laying a groundwork when the goods are to be dyed of dark colors, such as
black, brown, olive, &c. A is a cased pan precisely similar to that described
in reference to Sheet 2, marked with a corresponding letter, and furnished
with similar conducting and squeezing rollers. Within this pan is placed a
decoction of catechu, which is heated by the introduction of steam to the
casing a, a. The cloth to be operated upon passes, as before described, over
the conducting rollers through the squeezing rollers, thence it passes over
guide rollers and enters another cased pan B, supplied with steam as before.
This vessel contains a solution of iron and copper, or other material usually
employed, according to the color to be produced, kept heated as before
described, and it is supplied with conducting rollers and squeezing rollers.
The next portion of the apparatus is a third cased pan C, containing a solution
of bichromate of potash heated by steam, and through which the fabric is
drawn as represented. From thence it is conducted to a fourth vessel D,
containing an alkaline solution, for the purpose of neutralizing the acid, and
more perfectly oxidizing the mordaunt. The liquor is kept heated in this
vessel by a perforated pipe 6, into which steam is admitted. The remaining
portions of the apparatus are two vessels E, F, furnished with a stream
of water from any convenient source, and supplied with conducting rollers and
agitators, as before described, by which the cloth is cleaned, and being wound
into a batch or otherwise removed, is ready to undergo the operation of
dyeing to the various shades of black, brown, olive, &c. The method of com-
municating motion to the various rollers of the last described apparatus may
be similar to that described in reference to Sheets 1 and 2, and need not
therefore be again referred to. The passage of the cloth in all the sectional
views is marked by a red line, and in order to cause the goods to pass in that
direction we attach them to a guide cloth of sufficient length to pass through
the whole of the vessels, and then draw it over and through the various
rollers, as shewn, the fabric to be dyed thus forming a continuation of the said
guide cloth. Such arrangement, however, will not be necessary for every piece,

page_text: for by fastening the ends of as many as are required to be operated upon together
they answer as guides to each other. In operating upon some descriptions of
fabrics,pile goods for instance,which would not bear the pressureofthesqueezing
rollers, the top series may be readily removed from those beneath by turning
the screws which pass through the weighted levers, as before described, under
which circumstances the goods will be drawn forward by friction only of the
various rollers, and it may then be desirable to drive a portion or the whole of
them, which provision will be readily effected by a competent person. And it
may also be desirable, as in the case of light goods, to drive certain of the
conducting rollers, although the squeezing rollers be retained, Figs. 2 & 3,
Sheet 1, shews an example of this, for in that case the rollers b, b, are
exhibited as deriving motion from a longitudinal shaft 30. We have, in
reference to Sheet 1, stated that an opening roller 18 is employed to keep the
fabric distended; this we have shewn in a particular position, but it will be
evident that it may be placed in other situations, and that when cloths are
treated which will not readily keep to their width two or more may be applied
in different parts of the apparatus. We have not mentioned the materials of
which the various cisterns, rollers, &c, are composed, as they will in great
measure depend upon the chemical substances employed, and will be readily
adapted by all competent persons; and although we have mentioned steamas
the heating medium for certain of the solutions, yet other sources may, if
desired, be used.
In conclusion, we would remark that we do not confine ourselves to the
precise arrangement and construction of parts shewn in the Drawings, nor to
the particular combinations of processes described,such having been mentioned
by us as examples only by which the system which constitutes the essence of
our Invention may be carried out, for it will be evident to all competent
persons that considerable variations may be made to suit particular colors or
the class of goods to be operated upon. It may also be desirable, under some
circumstances, to use only partial combinations; for instance, in reference to
the apparatus shewn in Sheet 1 of the Drawings, the cisterns A, B, C, may
alone be used, and the subsequent washings effected by the ordinary separate
methods, or the cisterns B, C, only may be combined; likewise, in reference to
Sheet 2 of the Drawings, the saddening pan A and one cistern, as B, may be
used together, and the otheroperations performed singly or in convenient
combinations. It will also be evident that more apparatus than that which
we have described may be combined, depending upon the color to be produced,
convenience of premises, and other causes, all of which modifications will
readily suggest themselves to persons conversant in the manufacture,
any