IMPROVEMENTS IN AND IN APPARATUS FOR DYEING ALL KINDS OF FIBRES, YARNS, SLIVERS, THREADS, AND FABRICS
Year: 1879

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Alexander Melville Clark at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd December 1879. A cominuni-
cation from abroad by Charles Cullin, of Paris, France.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN AND IN APPARATUS FOR DYEING ALL KINDS OF
FIBRES, YARNS, SLIVERS, THREADS, AND FABRICS." [A communication from abroad
by Charles Collin, of Paris, France.]
This Invention relates to improved processes and apparatus for dyeing all kinds
of fibres, slivers, yarns, threads, and fabrics.
According to this Invention the dyeing operation is performed throughout
without the access of air, a condition which is in all cases advantageous, but is
absolutely indispensable when the dye bath is composed of matters liable to be
too rapidly re-oxidised.
The Invention may be carried out in two different ways, viz.:(1.) The materials
to be dyed are suspended below the level of the liquid in the dye vat, the said
materials during the entire period of their immersion receiving such movement ns
will bring every part in contact with continually renewed layers of the liquid.
The apparatus I propose to employ for this purpose consists of a skeleton frame or
cage, or its equivalent, to contain the materials to be dyed, and through which the
dye liquid in the vat can freely traverse. The materials should be simply laid
upon one another in the cage without being pressed down, as otherwise the liquid
would fail to penetrate and be absorbed to an equal extent at all parts, and the
dyeing would consequently be less perfectly performed.
The cage after it is charged and while entirely immersed in the liquid in which
it remains throughout, receives, by any mechanical means, motion which may be
continuous, or alternate circular motion, or reciprocating, vertical, or other motion
for the purpose of obliging the dye to traverse the cage in one or other direction,
the dye in its passage raising or displacing each layer of material, whereby the
continuous contact of each layer with fresh portions of the liquid, and consequently
a uniform impregnation of the materials are ensured.
(2.) The other method consists in the employment of a covered vat (the upper
part of which above the level of the liquid is filled with an atmosphere of vapor
from the said liquid), and in plunging the materials to be dyed alternately into
these two media, vis, the dye liquid and the vapor tising from it.

page_text: The materials may be contained in a cage as before, or a roller or other means
may be employed capable of receiving motion in a given direction, or by means of
which the materials may themselves be caused to move so as to be immersed
alternately in the dye and in the vapor therefrom.
The cover of the vat need not be hermetically closed, as the vapor need not
have more pressure than is necessary to prevent the entry of air into the vat.
This method, consisting in the immersion of the materials while out of contact
with the air alternately in the dye liquid, and in the vaporous atmosphere above it,
gives good results, and serves more particularly to prevent spotting or defects in
dyeing caused either by a want of homogeneousness in the action of the coloring 1
matter, or by the contact of the material with the sides of the vat.