AN IMPROVED PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR Southampton Buildings, London. DYEING AND PRODUCING PATTERNS OR FIGURES UPON WOOL, SILK, COTTON, AND OTHER MATERIALS
Year: 1879

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Robert Lake at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th June 1879. A communication from
abroad by Adolphe Larger and Florien Gantzer, both of Puteaux, France.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
"AN IMPROVED PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR
Southampton Buildings, London.
DYEING AND PRODUCING PATTERNS OR FIGURES UPON WOOL, SILK, COTTON, AND
OTHER MATERIALS." [A cominunication from abroad by Adolphe Larger and Florien
Gantzer, both of Puteaux, France.]
This Invention relates to a process of dyeing, which consists in the employment
of a rapid, continuous, and alternative current passing sometimes in one direction
and sometimes in another direction through the textile materials placed upon
specially constructed apparatus forming part of the said Invention.
I will now proceed to describe two applications of the said Invention.
The first has for its object the production of designs or patterns dyed in one or
several fast or permanent colors upon filamentous materials, such for instance as
wool, silk, or cotton, either spun, knit, or woven, and is specially applicable to the
dycing upon combed or carded ribbons.
The second application has for its object the dyeing in one color all kinds of
textile materials, either raw or manufactured, and especially those which being
dyed at a certain time during their manufacture by ordinary processes may be
injured in later operations to which they have to be subjected for finishing.
In the accompanying Drawings,-
Figure 1 is an elevation, partly in section, of one form of my improved apparatus.
A represents the frame of the said apparatus; A¹ is a plate moving vertically
on the columns C; B is a box attached to or forming a part of the frame A; B is a
box attached to or forming a part of the plate A¹; C, C, represent columns fixed at
their lower ends to the plate A, and provided at their upper ends with screw threads
which fit similar screw threads formed in the gear wheels C, C, which are arranged
upon the columns C to enable the plate A¹ to be raised or lowered upon the said
columns; D, D', are covers bolted on the boxes B, B¹, and bearing the pattern or
design to be printed; E, E, are columns pivoted at their lower end, and provided
throughout their entire length with a groove, in which the tongues of the plates &

page_text: fit; F, F, are forks attached to the plate A' by screws, and engaging with the nut
of the gear wheels C¹, C³, in order to hold the same in connection with the plate A¹ ;
G, H, represent gear wheels, which when put in motion through the crank M and
worm L turn the gear wheels C₁, C₁, and thereby cause the plate A' to slide upon
the columns C; T, T, are tubes connecting the carriers Q placed in the boxes B
and B¹ to suction and injecting pipes; d is a plate made of wood or metal or any
other suitable substance, and in which the design to be reproduced is cut, that is to
say, the pattern or figure is made in the said plate by cutting through the same;
a, a, are pins fixed to the plate d, which pass through the holes o (Figure 7) of the
intermediate plates termed wool-holders, and allowing a perfect concordance in the
designs; p, p, represent hooks, which are jointed to the box B¹ at their upper end,
and serve to support the plates d in the intervals of the operations. I have only
represented the hooks placed at the rear part of the apparatus, similar hooks being
placed at the front part, but at the opposite side, as shewn by the dotted lines
at p¹.
The material to be dyed is previouly rolled on the intermediate plates or wool-
holders (Figures 6 and 7) following the rims r, and in placing it upon the apparatus
one of the intermediate plates is to be put on the cover D, taking care that the
pins a enter the holes o. The columns E are set up, and a first plate & is taken
down; its tongue o enters the groove of the columns E. On this plate is placed a
new wool-bolder, on which is let down a second plate d, and so on till the last plate
is put down, and covered with a wool-holder. Afterwards the crank M is put into
action, which, through the worm or endless screw, communicates its movement to
the gear wheels H and G, and to the screwed wheels C. By so doing the plate A¹ and
the box B¹ are let down until the required pressure on the material to be dyed is
produced; then comes the operation of dyeing, as hereinafter explained. When
said operation is terminated the box is again raised by putting the crank into
action in the opposite direction; then the wool-holders are successively taken off,
and the plates & are hung up to the hooks p and p', and then the operation re-
commences.
Figure 2 is an elevation, and Figure 3 is a plan or top view of my improved
double horizontal apparatus.
A, A², represent frames strongly made; B is a box attached to or forming a part
of the frame A; and B¹ is a box attached to or forming a part of the plato A"; C, C,
represent columns attached to the frames A, A¹; D, D, are sleeves forming part of
the plate A and the box B¹; these sleeves surround the columns G, and slide upon
the same; E, E, are columns having on one side a left hand screw thread, and
on the other side a right hand screw thread. This last thread is progressive, that is
to say, it is at first similar to the left hand thread, and becomes larger rather
abruptly, and continues the same size for a certain distance, and then decreases
again to correspond with the left hand thread. F, F, are the covers of the boxes B¹,
which are cut through in a similar manner to those shewn at D, D¹, in Figure 1;
G is a slide-support; H is a screw threaded rod with right and left hand screw
threads formed upon the same; I, I, are screw nuts attached to the frame A¹¹ by
the arms L', L; S is the carrier or bearer of the screw H, and provided with rollers g,
which run upon the slide G ; R represents a toothed wheel secured upon the screw H,
and put in motion by means of the worm h through the crank M; P is the driving
pulley, which through the wheel m and Vaucanson chain K imparts motion to the
screws E by means of wheels fixed on the said screws, which are provided through-
out the entire length of the screw thread with a groove into which a tongue or
feather fixed to the said wheel fits; P¹ is the loose pulley; T, T, are pipes for
drawing in and injecting the dyeing material; V, V, are waste pipes.
It is to be understood that at the left hand end of the box B there is an apparatus
similar to the one represented at the right hand end. The said apparatuses when
in action work together.
After having rolled the material to be dyed on intermediate plates, as aforesaid,
the pulley P is put into operation in order to cause the screws E to turn from the

page_text: left hand to the right hand. Said screws being unequally threaded cause the plates
to advance from the right hand to the left hand, separating them one from the
other successively, and bringing them near again; then a first intermediate plate is
set down on the cover F, and the pins enter the plate holes, as aforesaid. A second
wool-holder is then put between the two first plates d; this must be done while
said plates are separated the greatest distance one from the other. A third
wool-holder is placed between the second and the third plate, and so on till all
plates have been separated and brought again one near the other.
In addition to the circular motion the screws E have a rectineal movement from
left to right hand, caused by the left hand thread screw, so that when all the plates
are brought one near the other the screw thread stops; the screw being from that
point of a smaller diameter is cased in a socket, in the groove of which the pins of
the plates & enter.
The wool-holder being placed between the said open cut pattern plates, and the
designs fitting perfectly by means of the pins a and the screw E, the box B' is
brought nearer, in order to exert a suitable pressure, to obtain which the worm or
endless screw is put into action; then the wheel R turns, and the screw nuts I
come nearer to the other. When the apparatus is thus arranged the tubulures
are put into communication with the suction or injection pipes T, and the dyeing
operations begin, as hereinafter explained.
The left and right hand parts of the apparatus may be charged simultaneously.
Figures 4 and 5 shew the open cut plates, that is to say, the plates in which the
pattern or design is made by cutting through the said plates.
x, y, z, represent specimens of designs or patterns which may be changed as
desired. Said plates are provided with four cars or lugs having holes O bored in
the same, and into which the screws F, shewn in Figures 2 and 3, fit.
c, c, are the
tongues which enter the grooves in the said screws E; a, a, are pins which enter
the holes o, o, of the intermediate plates (Figures 6 and 7).
As will be seen by reference to Figure 4, which is a section on the line A, B, of
Figure 5, the end of the lines are engraved or cut across, which enables me to obtain
a pressure on the filaceous materials to said ends by preventing the atmospheric air
from entering the apparatus, which would impede the drawing in of the dyeing
material. This slight pressure offers the inconvenience of leaving the ends undyed,
or of producing a much lighter dyeing; this however can be avoided by stopping
the suction for a few moments, while the injection only is working.
Figures 6 and 7 shew the intermediate plate termed a wool-holder. The said
plate is engraved or cut exactly as the plate shown in Figures 4 and 5, and is
thinner than the latter, the edges and ends of the designs or patterns being rather
thicker in order to forin a small rim r, as shewn. The material to be dyed is rolled
on this wool-holder between the said rims, which maintain it exactly within the
limits of the design or pattern. The rolling of the material or the wool-holder is
done by hand, or mechanically with a special apparatus.
Figure 8 shews the suction and injection apparatus for the dyeing substance,
consisting of a suction and forcing pump P (either centrifugal or otherwise), and of
two double water cocks A and I, one ordinary cock A, and the pipes a, a¹, a¹¹, i,
and . The pipe a¹¹ is connected with the bath containing the dyeing material.
The cock A' is fully opened at the commencement of the operation, and gradually
closed till there is sufficient dyeing matter circulating in the apparatus. The cock I
puts the injection pipe of the pump into communication with the pipe i, whilst
through the cock A the suction pipe is connected with the pipe a'. The cock I
also puts the injection pipe into communication with the pipe t, and the cock A
also puts the suction pipe of the pump into connection with the pipe a; therefore
it is easy to produce alternately both injection and suction through the pipe T",
which is connected with the opposite tubulure.
Figures 9 and 10 shew the feeding pipe for the dyeing material; the arrange-
ment shown in Figure 10 is provided in order to distribute the dyeing material
within the annaratua

page_text: Figure 9 represents the distributor for the boxes B and B' (Figure 1), and the
box B¹ (Figures 2 and 3).
Figure 11 represents the double distributor for the box B (Figures 2 and 3); the
form of these distributors may be altered as desired so long as the distribution of
the dyeing matter takes place uniformly.
The operation of the said Invention is as follows, that is to say :-
When the apparatuses are charged, and their boxes put into connection with the
pump, the latter is put into communication with the mordant bath, care being
taken to decrease or even to stop entirely the communication between the suction
pipe and the pipe T". While the cock A' is gradually shut up the cock A must be
opened. The former must be completely shut up when the latter is opened, and
when the dyeing matter circulates in a sufficient quantity.
After a certain lapse of time, determined by practice, the direction of the current
is changed, as herein-before mentioned; this is to be done a number of times, which
is also determined by practice. Then the operation is stopped, the blow off cock is
opened, and the pipe all put into connection with the water, which is injected in
order to take off the excess of nordant; then the pipe a¹¹ is connected with the
dyeing bath, the dyeing material being injected. The operation is stopped when
necessary, and this can only be determined by practice. Water is again injected to
wash off the dyeing matter, and rinse the filaceous material.
When these several operations are at an end the immediate drying must be
obtained through injecting dry steam or warm air, or both, the latter after the
former.
During each of these operations the direction of the current must be changed a
number of times determined by practice for different materials, or for different kinds
of dyeing.
The above refers only to the production of designs of one color.
For a design of two or more colors the filled up parts of the covers D and D¹
(Figure 1), F and F¹ (Figures 2 and 3), which separate the lines, are extended to
the bottom of the box, in order to form as many compartments as there are lines
in the design or pattern, and the compartments corresponding to the lines of same
color communicate with each other and with the bath of their respective color.
The operations are to be effected as aforesaid, but there must be as many pumps put
nto action as there are colors.
The second application is as follows, that is to say-When it is desired to dye
in one color only the engraved or cut plates are replaced by a chest, in which the
material to be dyed is placed; this material is wound upon an open work frame,
or placed in layers separated by hurdles, or it may be simply piled together according
to the substance employed.
When the chest is placed in the apparatus, and is hermetically closed by means
of the pressure of the plates, the pump (Figure 8) is put into action, and the cock A¹,
which has a pipe all connected with the mordant, is opened. During this operation
the cock A is partly shut, in order to allow the suction through the pipe a". When
there is sufficient mordant in the apparatus the cock A' is shut, and the cock. A is
fully opened. The mordanting operation, as well as the similar following ones, is
effected according to what has been herein before said, and follows the same order,
that is to say-First, mordanting when that operation cannot be done at once with
the dyeing; second, washing to take off the excess of mordant; third, dyeing;
fourth, washing and rinsing; fifth, drying.
When required for certain stuffs or materials to press out the mordant, and to
dry said stuffs before dyeing them, the box is taken out from the apparatus and carried
to a hydraulic or other press. A special bored plate is adapted to the press, and
enters into the box, the contents of which are thus pressed out.
When the matter to be dyed consists in combed or carded ribbons said ribbons
may be passed between two squeezing-rollers, and afterwards on the drying-
cylinder, or dried in any convenient manner. Said ribbons are then again passed
into the apparatus where they are submitted to the subsequent operations. In that

page_text: case it is better to use two apparatuses, that is to say, the first for the mordanting,
and the second for the dyeing.
In the above descriptions of the two modes of working I have only spoken of
one pump for each apparatus or each color, but practice has shewn that it is better
to make use of two different pumps, one drawing the dyeing matter from the
bath to inject it into the apparatus, and the other drawing the matter into the
apparatus to pass it again into the bath, and reciprocally. I therefore ordinarily
use two pumps working simultaneously, which may be said to be indispensable for
certain operations, and chiefly for washing.