IMPROVEMENTS IN AND CON- NECTED WITH THE BLEACHING AND DYEING OF COTTON, FLAX, JUTE, WOOL, SILK, AND OTHER FIBRES."
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Auchinvole, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark,
North Britain, Merchant, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND CON-
NECTED WITH THE BLEACHING AND DYEING OF COTTON, FLAX, JUTE, WOOL,
SILK, AND OTHER FIBRES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Auchinvole at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th January 1882.
JOHN AUCHINVOLE, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain,
Merchant. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND CONNECTED WITH THE BLEACHING AND DYEING
OF COTTON, FLAX, JUTE, Wool, SILK, AND OTHER FIBRES.”
This Invention has for its object to obtain improved results with fewer operations
and less waste than heretofore in bleaching and dyeing cotton, flax, jute, wool, silk
and other fibres.
The Invention is to be applied to the fibres in the loose wool like state or to
yarns thereof in the cop form or in loosely bundled hanks; the fibres or yarns
being kept in the same form throughout the processes. When yarn is to be treated
in the cop form it is wound by preference when being spun, upon special
cop tubes which extend entirely through the cops and which are such as
to sufficiently resist the action of the various processes and of the various
liquids employed. For this purpose the cop tubes may be made of or
covered with vegetable parchment, or of paper or cloth treated with gelatin and
bichromate of potash, or with any other suitable stiffening substance. The cop
tubes are made of paper (by preference unsized) pasted with starch or are moulded
out of unsized paper pulp, being subsequently treated with sulphuric acid to
convert them or their superficial parts into vegetable parchment. Or cop tubes of
ordinary or other paper or pulp or cloth may be coated with a solution or paste of
cellulose made by means of sulphuric acid or otherwise. The cop tubes may be
perforated to give easy ingress for liquids to pass to the inner parts to the cops,
and to facilitate evaporation and drying.
The cops are combined together so, that they can be handled, moved about, and
subjected to the strains incident to the various processes, without being deformed
or broken, by being strung on small rods or stout wires such wires being made of
or coated with tin or other metal or substance not easily acted on by the liquids
employed. These wires are by preference made in lengths adapted for the vats or
vessels employed, and may be hinged together in pairs, a simple catch being
provided for connecting the two wires of each pair when filled with cops.
According to another modification boards or plates are to be used, having fixed
.
11

page_text: on them hollow perforated spindles or spikes or fluted spindles, on which the cops
(on their cop tubes) are to be put. These boards or plates are of shapes and sizes
to be conveniently arranged one above the other or side by side in the vats or
vessels in which the processes are conducted, or to be placed in the hydro-extractor
for drying the yarns.
The vats or vessels are fitted with covers which can be closed airtight, and are
arranged, by preference in sets, in connection with pumps for exhausting them, and
with reservoirs containing bleaching, scouring, dyeing, and other liquids, with steam
and water pipes, and with pipes for supplying cold and heated air.
The yarns in the cop forin and held, or combined in the manner hereinbefore
indicated or in boxes or skeps or in the form of loosely bundled hanks are arranged
or builded up in the vats or vessels, and are kept with the least possible handling
during the various processes, all working or agitation in the liquids in the ordinary
manner being altogether avoided, as it produces considerable entanglement and
waste. The air is exhausted from the vessels before admitting the bleaching,
scouring, mordanting, or dyeing liquids and these liquids are in many cases thereby
made to penetrate sufficiently into the inner parts of the cops or bundles. But
when dyeing or other substances are used which will not when dissolved in water
only, sufficiently penetrate into the inner parts of the yarn, then methylated spirit
or other suitable solvent is added to the liquid in suitable proportions; or the
substances may in some cases be dissolved in inethylated spirit or similar solvent
having little or no water combined with it. It may be mentioned that alizarine or
Turkey reds may be satisfactorily dyed by means of the arrangements and processes
herein described.
In carrying out the Invention it is desirable in the cases of many kinds of yarn,
and when using various coloring matters or mordants to thoroughly dry the yarn
between every two stages of the operations; and for this purpose heated air may
with advantage be led into the bydro-extractor so as to pass through the yarns
when being operated on therein, or heated air may be forced through the yarns in
the vats or vessels in which they have been or are about to be treated.
In dealing with yarn in the form of hanks, the uniform and sufficient penetration
of the liquids throughout large quantities may be insured by dividing the yarn
into separate layers or thicknesses by means of hollow partitions each partition
consisting of a pair of plates fixed together but with a space of say half an inch
between them. The partition plates are perforated, and the liquids can pass
between the plates and through the perforations to and from the inner parts of the
layers of yarn. According to another modification plates are employed which are
of a circular form or other form adapted for the hydro-extractors or vats or other
vessels employed; and these plates are fitted with pegs or spindles arranged in rows
which are wide enough apart for distending the hanks. A number of banks are
placed on each pair of pegs or spindles, so that a large quantity of yarn can be
placed on each plate. The plates are by preference perforated and the pegs or
spindles are also hollow and perforated or fluted, and may be fitted so that they
can be turned to shift the positions of the banks on them. The hauks remain each
set on the same plate, throughout as many consecutive operations or processes as
possible, and in that way labor is saved and the waste inseparable from repeated
handling and changing of the separate banks is avoided.
When the fibre is treated in the loose or wool like condition it is dealt with like
the hanks of yarn, being put loosely into the vàts or vessels and when desirable
separated into layers by the hollow partitions. It is advantageous to begin
operations with the loose fibre by treating it with steam which facilitates its
subsequent uniform saturation by the various liquids; or it may first be treated
with cold or by preference hot water and in most cases it should be subjected to
the action of air exhausting apparatus before admitting other liquids.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Auchinvole in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
19th July 1882.
JOHN AUCHINVOLE, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain,
Merchant. " IMPROVEMENTS IN
AND CONNECTED WITH THE BLEACHING AND
DYEING OF COTTON FLAX, JUTE, WOOL, SILK, AND OTHER FIBRES."
My said Invention has for its object to obtain improved results with fewer
operations and less waste and expense than heretofore in bleaching and dyeing
cotton, flax, jute, wool, silk, and other fibres, the fibres being treated either before
or after being spun.
In practically carrying out my said Invention apparatus of the kind shown on
the accompanying sheet of explanatory drawings, is used, but is susceptible of
considerable modification. Figure 1, is a plan and figure, 2, is a vertical section,
representing two vats or vessels, 7, 8, which are of rectangular form both as seen
in plan and elevation, and which are connected to each other, and to other vessels
or apparatus by a series of pipes fitted with stopcocks. A central vertical pipe, 9,
with stop-cocks, 10, 11, has a pressure and vacuum gauge, 12 connected to its upper
end and also two branch pipes, 13, 14, with stopcocks, 15, 16, which latter are
for supplying steam and hot air respectively. The central vertical pipe, 9, is con-
nected by short branches with stopcocks, 17, 18, to the upper parts of' the
vessels, 7, 8; and the same pipe, 9, is also connected through stopcocks, 19, 20,
with pipes, 21, 22, extending downwards from the bottoms of the vessels, 7, 8.
The last mentioned pipes 21, 22, have also other connections with stopcocks, 23,
24, 25; and a pipe with a stopcock, 26, is also connected to the upper part of one, 7,
of the two vessels. The two vessels, 7, 8, are fitted with glass gauges, 27, 28; and
they are provided with covers, 29, 30, which can be closed airtight by means of
small handlevers, 31, centered on lugs on the top flanges of the vessels and engaging
on inclines on the covers so as to have a wedging action. Chains, 32, passing
over pulleys, 33, are provided for lifting the covers, 29, 30, when required.
Figure, 3, is a side elevation representing two boxes or deep trays, 34, for
holding the fibrous materials whilst being subjected to treatment in the vessels, 7, 8';
and figure, 4, is a horizontal section of part of one of these boxes. The boxes may
be conveniently made of a kind of wicker work of wood laths interwoven with
vertical rods, and the bottoms may be similar; or the boxes may be made of plain
thin boards or other suitable material which however must be perforated to allow
liquids to pass freely through. The corners of the boxes are strengthened by
angled metal pieces, 35, and these pieces are made to project below and to terminate
short of the tops of the boxes, so as to serve as feet when the boxes are standing
separately, and so as to connect the boxes together when placed one above another
in one of the vessels, 7, 8, the feet of one box fitting down over the tops of the
corners of the box next below it.
Figure, 5, is a vertical section of apparatus which may be used instead of the
boxes, 34, and which consists of a central perforated pipe, 36, and a number of
pairs of plates, 37, the latter being made with central holes to go upon the pipes, 36.
The plates of each pair, 37, are kept a short distance apart by studs or otherwise.
The pipe, 36, having been placed in the vessel, 7, or 8, a quantity of the fibrous
materials is put in, and a pair of the plates, 37, is placed on them; a further
quantity of fibrous materials is put in above the first pair of plates, 37, and a
second pair of the plates is placed on them; and then more of the fibrous materials
and so on. The plates, 37, and the central pipe, 36, being perforated any liquid in

page_text: the vessel has easy access to every part of the fibrous materials which are not
packed in masses too thick or too dense to be properly penetrated by the liquids.
The vessels, 7, 8, are represented as made both of metal; but one, 7, of them may
be made of wood; the other, 8, however has to withstand external and internal
pressure, the central pipe, 9, communicating through its bottom stopcock, 11, with
an air pump to be used for producing a vacuum in carrying out parts of the
Invention as hereinafter explained. If preferred either of the vessels, 7, 8, may be
made with the cover or door at one side instead of the top with the view of
facilitating the introduction and removal of the fibrous materials.
My Invention is to be applied to the fibres in the loose wool like state, or to
yarns thereof in the cop form, or in loosely bundled hanks, the fibres or yarns
being kept in the same form throughout the processes. The application of my
Invention to yarns in the cop form is of special importance; and the yarns are, for
the purposes of my Invention, to be spun or wound in the cop form on special
tubes which extend entirely through them, as shown in figure, 6, and which are
such as to sufficiently resist the action of the various processes and of the various
liquids employed. For this purpose the cop tubes, 38, may be made of or covered
with vegetable parchment, or of paper or cloth treated with gelatin and bichromate
of potash, or with any other suitable stiffening substance. If necessary the cop
tubes may be perforated to give easy ingress for liquids to pass to the inner parts
of the cops, and facilitate evaporation and drying. And when the yarns are of
worsted or when it may otherwise be considered necessary, perforated metal tubes
of fluted spindles may be inserted inside of the cop tubes to prevent them from
becoming closed.
The cops are placed loosely in boxes, 34, such as are shown in figures, 3 and 4;
and the boxes are placed in the stronger vessel, 8, the boxes being of a size to
have a small space on every side of them when in the vessel. The cover; 30, is
then closed and made airtight, and the air is exhausted from the vessel. The
scouring, bleaching, or other liquid is filled by means of a pipe from cisterns or
other vessels and communicating by the stopcock, 26, into the other vessel, 7, up
to a height shown by the gauge, 27 and as determined by previous experiments.
The vessels 7, and 8, are next put in communication by opening the stop-
cocks, 19, 20, and the liquid passes into the vessel, 8, the preliminary exhaustion
of air causing it to penetrate the more easily into the inner parts of the cops. In
some cases as when scouring woollen yarns containing much oleaginous matter hot
water or steam is admitted into the vessel, 8, whilst the scouring liquor is being
drawn off by the stopcock, 24, or 25, or the hot water may be admitted immediately
afterwards, being supplied through the pipe, 14, and stopcook, 16, (also used for
steam) and entering the vessel through the stopcock, 18, the other stopcocks being
closed.
In the cases of many kinds of yarn and when using various coloring matters, it
is important to thoroughly dry the yarn between every two stages of the operation;
and for this purpose heated air may with advantage be led by the pipe, 13, and
stopcocks, 15, 18, into the vessel, 8, and be drawn through the yarns and out of the
vessel by the bottom pipe, 22, connected for that purpose to a fan or other suitable
apparatus. When the yarns cannot be satisfactorily dried in the vessel, 8, they
may be taken out and put into a hydro-extractor which is by preference con-
structed so that the boxes, 34, can be placed in it. Heated air may be led into the
hydro-extractor to render the drying operation rapid and complete. For bleaching
woollen and some other yarns they may be treated whilst in the closed vessel, 8,
and after the air has been exhausted, with sulphurous acid introduced either in a
gaseous form or in solution; or any other suitable bleaching agent may be similarly
applied.
For dyeing aniline and other colors that do not require previous mordanting, the
cops are taken as dried in the hydro-extractor or, if necessary, in any particular 5
case, as more completely dried in a stove, and being enclosed in the vessel, 8, the
air is exhausted, and the coloring matter is admitted, such coloring matter being

page_text: dissolved in methylated spirit alone or in a more or less diluted condition or in
some analogous solvent which like the spirit has the property of penetrating
fibrous materials when in a compact condition more easily than ordinary solutions
in water. As soon as the solution of coloring matter has acted sufficiently on the
cops, the liquid is drained off as completely as possible with the aid of steam
admitted to the top of the vessel or by means of a hydro-extractor; care being
of course taken to save as much of the solvent as possible as it can be used over
again in some cases without requiring purification whilst in others any necessary
purification can be easily effected.
It is in many cases desirable to remove the solvent as speedily as possible after
the coloring matter has combined with the yarn; and for this purpose the hydro-
extractor may be fitted inside of the vessel, 8, or inside of a vessel constructed to
suit the form and size of the hydro-extractor but otherwise fitted like the vessel,, 8,
the shaft for driving the hydro-extractor passing through a stuffing box.
In cases in which a mordant is required if it will not penetrate the cops when
dissolved in water, it may be applied by means of methylated spirit or similar
solvent. After the application of a mordant the dye may be applied in the same
way as when no mordant is used, the fibrous materials being, if necessary, thoroughly
dried between the dyeing and mordanting operations. In some cases the mordant
or the coloring matter may be first dissolved or formed into a decoction or
extract or solution in water or other liquid and then have a quantity of spirit
added to it.
According to another mode of carrying out a part of my Invention the cops may
be.combined together so that they can be handled, moved about, and subjected to
the various strains incident to the various processes, without being deformed or
broken, by being strung on small rods or stout wires such wires being made of or
coated with tin or other metal or substance not easily acted on by the liquids
employed. These wires are by preference made in lengths adapted for the vats or
vessels employed, and may be hinged together in pairs, a simple catch being
provided for connecting the two wires of a pair when filled with cops.
According to another modification boards or plates are used having fixed on
them hollow perforated spindles, or spikes, or fluted spindles on which the cops (on
their cop tubes) are to be put. These boards or plates are of shapes and sizes to be
conveniently arranged one above the other, or side by side in the vats or vessels in
which the processes are conducted, or to be placed in the hydro-extractor for drying
the yarns.
When the fibre is treated in the loose or wool like condition it is dealt with like
the hanks of yarn, being put loosely into the vats or vessels and when desirable
separated into layers by the hollow partitions. It is advantageous to begin
operations with the loose fibre especially when of cotton by treating it with steam
which facilitates its subsequent uniform saturation by the various liquids; or it
may first be treated with cold or by preference hot water and in most cases it
should be subjected to the action of air exhausting apparatus before admitting other
liquids.
Having thus particularly described my said Invention and the manner of
performing the same, I have to state that I do not restrict myself to the precise
details herein described or delineated, but that what I believe to be novel and
original and claim as the Invention secured to me by and in terms of the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent is :-
1. The bleaching and dyeing of yarns of cotton, flax, jute, or other vegetable
fibres when in the cop form, the cops being upon tubes made of or covered with
vegetable parchment, or of paper or cloth treated with gelatin and bichromate of
potash or other suitable substance substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. The combination of two or more processes employed in bleaching or dyeing or
both bleaching and dyeing yarns of cotton, flax, jute, or other vegetable fibres in
the manner substantially as hereinbefore described, the yarns in the cop form being

page_text: put through the several processes in the same quantities arranged in perforated
boxes or otherwise without being opened or separated between the processes.
3. The combination of two or more processes employed in bleaching or dyeing
or both bleaching and dyeing cotton, flax, jute, wool, silk, and other vegetable and
animal fibres when in a loose wool-like state or in loosely bundled hanks of yarn in
the manner substantially as herein before described the said fibrous materials being
put through the several processes in the same quantities arranged in perforated
boxes or otherwise without being opened or separated between the processes.
4. The mordanting and dyeing of yarns of vegetable fibres when in the cop form
or materials consisting of either vegetable or animal fibres when in a loose wool-
like state or in loosely bundled hanks of yarn, by means of dyes or other substances
dissolved in liquids consisting wholly or partially of methylated spirit or other
analogous penetrative solvent as hereinbefore described.
5. The processes of dyeing and mordanting yarns of vegetable fibres when in the
cop form, or materials of either vegetable fibres when in a loose wool-like state or
in loosely bundled hanks of yarn wherein the previous exhaustion of air is combined
with the subsequent application of the dyes or other substances dissolved in liquids
consisting wholly or partially of methylated spirit or other analogous penetrative
solvent as herein before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Auchinvole have hereunto set my hand
and seal this fourteenth day of July in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty-two.
Witness.
EDMUND HUNT
Patent Agent
Glasgow.
JOHN AUCHINVOLE. (L.S.)