Improvements in and relating to the Mercerising of Web Fabrics.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to the Mercerising of Web Fabrics.
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 and relating
to the mercerising of web fabrics composed of cotton, linen or other cellulosic
fibres 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 first treated while passing through a chain stentering machine
which may be much of an ordinary construction and fitted with either clips or
pins. At the cloth entering end 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 chemical bath therein. The wheels may be mounted on
vertically adjusting studs 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. The bath may be a solution of caustic soda,
acids or any other chemical agent capable of producing a mercerising effect on
cellulose. After leaving the bath the cloth is preferably made to pass between a
pair of rollers to press out any excess of solution or a simple pressing blade or
bar may be used. A series of perforated pipes are ranged transversely over the
machine from which sprays of water are projected on to the cloth to wash out
the solution, the washing water falling into a tank or other receptacle below and the
cloth afterwards passes off the stentering chains preferably to a beam on to which
it is rolled. Instead of perforated pipes projecting sprays of water on the cloth,
an arrangement similar to that for mercerising may be used and the cloth made
to dip down into the water. The cloth is afterwards passed through a slightly
acid solution or other agent to neutralize any trace of the mercerizing 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.
1
17th of Balm 180S
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co.,
96, Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Agents.

page_text: Improvements in and relating to the Mercerising of Web Fabrics.
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 and relating
to the mercerising of web fabrics composed of cotton, linen, or other cellulosic
fibres by which a silky appearance is imparted to the threads while the web is
prevented shrinking during the process.
In order that my said invention may be properly understood I have hereunto
appended a sheet of explanatory drawings in which Figure 1 is a sectional
elevation, shown broken away, of a chain stentering machine as arranged for
the purposes of this invention, Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on
the line 11, while Figure 3 is a partial plan of the same.
In carrying into practice the improvements of this invention the cotton or
other web fabric is first treated while passing through a chain stentering machine
such as shown in the drawings and which apart from special arrangements may
be much of an ordinary construction and fitted with clips or with pins as in the
machine illustrated. At or near the cloth entering end A the side bars A¹ with
the chain races A2 of the machine on both sides are bent downwards 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 B fitted across the machine, and supported
on the standards B. Large toothed wheels may be mounted on a transverse
shaft carried in bearings on each side of the machine so that their teeth may
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 E conveyed by them
through the chemical bath therein. It is preferred however to use wheels C with
double flanges as shown, mounted on vertically adjusting studs C₁ sliding in slots C²
on each side of the machine frame. Guiding wheels may however be dis-
pensed with and the chains made to travel in the curved part of race by grooved
guides or other equivalent means. A board I which may be of glass or porcelain
having its lower edge curved to suit the curve formed by the chains as they dip
into the tank is mounted at each side within the tank by adjustable stud pins Di
to keep the cloth from rising off the pins while passing through the tank. The
bath within the tank B may be a solution of caustic soda, acids or any other
chemical agent capable of producing a mercerising effect on cellulose. After
leaving the bath the cloth may be made to pass between a pair of rollers I to
press out any excess of solution which would fall into the tank J and be conveyed
back to tank B, or a simple pressing blade or bar E may be used to spread and
press out any excess of the solution as the cloth leaves the tank. A series of
perforated pipes & are ranged transversely over the machine from which sprays
of water from any convenient source of water supply are projected on to the
cloth to wash out the solution, the washing water falling into a tank or other
receptacle below and being carried off by gutters. The cloth E after being
washed is lifted off the pins of the stentering chain and wound on to a beam H
for after finishing, or passed through washing machines.
Instead of perforated pipes projecting sprays of water on to the cloth an arrange-
ment of tank and fittings similar to that used for mercerising may be used and
the cloth made to dip down into the water within the tank.
The cloth may be

page_text: passed through a slightly acid solution or other agent after washing to neutralize
any trace of the mercerising solution and be then dried or otherwise treated as
desired.
The chain stentering machine is fitted with the usual devices for treating
different widths of cloth.
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 mercerising web fabrics by submitting them to the action
of a mercerising solution in a tank and washing same while passing through a
chain stentering machine in a state of tension all substantially as herein described.
Second. The process of mercerising web fabrics by submitting them to the
action of a mercerising solution in a tank and washing same while passing
through a chain stentering machine in a state of tension all substantially as
herein described and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
Third. In the process of mercerising web fabrics the described the use of the
chain stentering machine constructed with curved side bars and chain races all
for the purpose and as herein described and illustrated by the accompanying
drawings.
Fourth. In a machine for mercerising web fabrics the combination of a chain
stentering machine with curved side bars and chain races and depressing wheels,
with a tank containing mercerising solution and washing appliances all sub-
stantially as herein described and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
Dated the 9th November 1898.
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co.,
96, Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Agents.