Improvements in the Manufacture or Softening of Linen, Hemp, Jute, or other Yarns.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Mar., 1886.
Complete Left, 7th Dec., 1886.
Complete Accepted, 7th Jan., 1887.
Improvements in the Manufacture or Softening of Linen, Hemp,
Jute, or other Yarns.
I, WILLIAM SIBBALD JOHNSTON of Kiltonga Bleach Works, Newtownards, in the
County of Down, Bleacher do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention has for its object the softening of yarn so as to fit it for purposes to
which at present it cannot be applied on account of its hardness. It consists in
exposing it to heavy punishing or repeated transverse strains in opposite directions.
There are various ways of doing this, but I prefer to pass it through an ordinary jute
or hemp breaking or softening machine, either in the hank or otherwise, preferably a
large number of hanks together and continuously, so that the entire length of yarn
shall pass once (or if necessary several times) through the machine till sufficiently
softened. I may however arrange a machine so as to take the hanks in the ring form,
operating on one part while the other part is passing up outside the machine to in turn
undergo operation.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool,
Patent Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: I, WILLIAM SIBBALD JOHNSTON of Kiltonga Bleach Works, Newtownards in the
County of Down, Bleacher, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to improvements in treating of linen, hemp jute and similar
yarns for the purpose of rendering them more soft and pliable than they are when
they leave the spinning frame, and thereby suitable for purposes which in the hard or
stiff state they are not so applicable.
It consists essentially in exposing the yarn to heavy punishing or repeated tranverse
strains in opposite directions and in utilizing of jute softeners or breakers, and hemp
breakers for the purpose.
In carrying out the invention this may be done in a variety of ways, or special
machines may be constructed for the purpose, but that is not the object of the
invention, which is more particularly to use or adapt for this purpose machines or
apparatus that are already well known. The machines I use being such as are at
present used for breaking and softening hemp or jute, preparatory to being
manufactured.
I take the yarn, preferably in the hank (though otherwise if desired) and pass it
through a machine such as I have described. The hanks may be folded and passed
through, or a rod or roller may be passed through them to keep them in ring form,
so that the yarn will pass gradually and regularly through the machine once or oftener
as may be required, until sufficiently softened. A number of hanks will in either case
be under operation at the same time. I consider it will be unnecessary to show any
drawing or describe in detail the machines, as they are well known to machinists and
manufacturers. It is well known that hemp and jute are passed through these
machines for the purpose of crushing the coarse fibres or softening the gummy
substance in, and adhering to the fibres, as well as breaking or removing any straw
that may remain adhering thereto. The process however is altogether different when
applied to the yarn, and it was not known until after I had tried repeated experiments
with machines of various descriptions, that such machines as I have mentioned would
have the required effect upon the yarn, and further I am aware that several special
machines have been designed for treating the yarn for the purpose of making it
applicable for certain manufacturers. By finishing yarns according to my invention,
I find I can make them fit for use in many manufactures where they cannot now be
used on account of their hardness.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed I wish it to be understood that I do
not claim broadly the treating of yarns in a softening machine after they have been
spun,
but that I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The method or process for treating yarns after leaving the spinning frame, for
the purpose of softening them, consisting in subjecting them to heavy and repeated
tranverse strains in opposite directions in machines such as described.
2. The use in the manufacture of linen, hemp, jute and similar yarns for the
purpose of softening them, of machines such as are at present known, as jute or hemp
softeners or breakers, substantially as and for the purposes described.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool,
Agents.