Improvements in the Mercerising of Web Fabrics and in Appliances therefor.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Mercerising of Web Fabrics and in Appliances
therefor.
I, GEORGE HAMILTON, Junior, of Blackland Mill, Paisley, Renfrewshire, Bleacher,
Dyer and Finisher, do hereby declare the nature of my invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to and comprises improvements in the mercerisng
of web fabrics composed of cotton, linen or other cellulosic fibres and in appliances
therefor by which a silky appearance is imparted to the threads while the web is
prevented shrinking during the process.
In carrying into practice the improvements of this invention the cotton or other
web fabric is partly or wholly treated while passing through a chain stentering
machine which may be much of an ordinary construction and fitted with either clips or
pins, and for some arrangements may be a return machine delivering the fabric at
the same end as it enters but below.
According to one arrangements the mercerising solution which may be a solution
of caustic soda, acids or other chemical agent capable of producing a mercerising
effect on cellulose, is sprayed on to the fabric after it has entered the stentering
machine, a tank being fitted below to receive the excess of solution. The solution
may be stored in a tank at a level higher than the machine and be led down by
gravity to one or more transverse perforated pipes placed over the fabric or the
solution may be forced through the perforated pipes in a fine spray by the action
of a force pump.
A pair of nipping rollers or pressing blades or bars are fitted
transversely to the machine frame by which the excess of solution is pressed out
as the fabric passes through. After passing through the rollers or other pressing
appliance the fabric is washed by sprays of water from perforated pipes in a
similar manner to the application of the mercerising solution. After this treat-
ment the fabrics may be delivered from the stentering machine to be rolled on a
beam and afterwards passed through a slightly acid solution or other agent to
neutralize any trace of the mercerising solution and is then dried or otherwise
treated as desired.
The chain stentering machine is fitted with the usual devices for treating
different widths of cloth.
Instead of washing the fabric by means of water sprayed on to it from above
the fabric may be made to dip into a tank of water while still held by the stenter-
ing chains. To effect this the side bars with the chain races of the machine on
both sides are bent downward and then upwards preferably to the original level,
so forming a curve and these bent parts are made to dip into a trough or tank
fitted across the machine. On a transverse shaft carried in bearings on each side
of the machine two large toothed wheels are mounted so that their teeth engage
with the links of the chains and cause them to pass along the curved part of the
race to the bottom of the tank and so carry the cloth conveyed by them through
the water therein. The wheels may be mounted on vertically adjusting studs

page_text: on each side of machine frame instead of on a shaft or they may be dispensed with
and the chains made to travel in the curved part of race by other guiding means.
In order to complete the process at one operation a return stentering machine may
be employed and a tank containing neutralizing solution be placed below and the
fabric made to pass through this solution as it returns to the front or entering end
of the machine whence it will be delivered from the chains or instead of the
methods of washing already described the fabrics may be simply washed in this
tank.
In carrying out this mercerising process the fabric is preferably stretched to
the original width or it may be a little more or less.
•
Improvements in the Mercerising of Web Fabrics and in Appliances
therefor.
I, GEORGE HAMILTON, Junior, of Blackland Mill, Paisley, Renfrewshire, Bleacher,
Dyer and Finisher, do hereby declare the nature of my invention and, in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement in writing reference being made to the
accompanying sheet of drawings:-
This invention has reference to and comprises improvements in the mercerisng
of web fabrics composed of cotton, linen or other cellulosic fibres and in appliances
therefor by which a silky appearance is imparted to the threads while the web is
prevented shrinking during the process.
And in order that my said invention may be properly understood I have here-
unto appended a sheet of explanatory drawings in which Figure 1 is a side
elevation partly in section and broken away, and Figure 2 is a partial plan of the
appliances herein referred to.
In carrying into practice the improvements of this invention the cotton or other
web fabric A is partly or wholly treated while passing through a chain stentering
machine as indicated in the drawings which may be much of an ordinary con-
struction and fitted with either clips or pins, and for some arrangements may be
a return machine delivering the fabric at the same end as it enters but below.
According to one arrangement the mercerising solution, which may be a solution
of caustic soda, acids or other chemical agent capable of producing a mercerising
effect on cellulose, is sprayed on to the fabric after it has entered the stentering
machine, a tank B being fitted below to receive the excess of solution. The solu-
tion may be stored in a tank at a higher level than the machine and be led down
by gravity to one or more transverse perforated pipes placed over the fabric, or
the solution may be forced through the perforated pipes in a fine spray by the
action of a force pump. Or in an equivalent manner as shown in the drawings
the liquid may be circulated from the tank B by a centrifugal or equivalent
pump C through the pipes D and D whence it flows over the fabric A through
the transverse pipe D2 and vertical tubes D³ fitted therein.
A pair of nipping rollers E or pressing blades or bars are fitted transversely
to the machine frame by which the excess of solution is pressed out as the fabric
passes through. After passing through the rollers or other pressing appliance
the fabric is washed by sprays of water from perforated pipes or as shown, vertical

page_text: tubes F in a similar manner to the application of the mercerising solution a second
pair of nipping rollers G being employed, the washing water being supplied by
any suitable means through the pipe I flowing away from the tank H by gravity
through the pipe H'. After this treatment the fabrics may be delivered from the
stentering machine to be rolled on a beam and afterwards passed through a
slightly acid solution or other agent to neutralize any trace of the mercerising
solution and then be dried or otherwise treated as desired.
The chain stentering machine is fitted with the usual devices for treating
different widths of cloth.
Instead of washing the fabric by means of water sprayed on to it from above
the fabric may be made to dip into a tank of water while still held by the stenter-
ing chains. To effect this the side bars with the chain races of the machine on
both sides are bent downward and then upward preferably to the original level,
so forming a curve and these bent parts are made to dip into a trough or tank
fitted across the machine. On a transverse shaft carried in bearings on each side
of the machine two large toothed wheels are mounted so that their teeth engage
with the links of the chains and cause them to pass along the curved part of the
race to the bottom of the tank and so carry the cloth conveyed by them through
the water therein. The wheels may be mounted on vertically adjusting studs
on each side of machine frames instead of on a shaft or they may be dispensed with
and the chains made to travel in the curved part of race by other guiding means.
Although this method of washing may be adopted I do not claim it as any part
of the present invention.
In order to complete the process at one operation a return stentering machine may
be employed and a tank containing neutralizing solution be placed below and the
fabric made to pass through this solution as it returns to the front or entering end
of the machine whence it will be delivered from the chains or instead of the
methods of washing already described the fabrics may be simply washed in this
tank.
In carrying out this mercerising process the fabric is preferably stretched to
the original width or it may be a little more or less.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:-
First. The process of and appliances for mercerising web fabrics all substantially
as herein described.
Second. In the mercerising of web fabrics the use of a stentering machine in
combination with an appliance for spraying mercerising solution on to the fabric
and afterwards washing out the solution all substantially as herein described and
illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
Third. The mercerising of web fabrics by spraying mercerising solution on to
the same while in a state of tension in a stentering machine afterwards washing
out the solution all substantially as herein described.
Dated the 23rd day of November 1898.
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co.,
96, Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Agents.