AN IMPROVED METHOD OF FIXING COLORS ON TEXTILE FABRICE
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Stanley Kipping, of Manchester, in the
County of Lancaster, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF
FIXING COLORS ON TEXTILE FABRICE."
Sealed the 28th January 1870, and dated the 30th July 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Stanley Kipping
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 30th July 1869.
I, JAMES STANLEY KIPPING, of Manchester, in the County of Lan-
caster, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"AN
IMPROVED METHOD OF FIXING COLORS ON TEXTILE FABRICS," to be as follows;-
The principle or basis of this Invention is that when gelatine, gum,.
and other analogous bodies are mixed with a solution of chrome salts or
other bodies rich in oxygen, and the compound exposed to the action of.
light, they become insoluble in water, and so "shut in " or fix any
pigment which may previously have been mixed therewith, making it
a fast color.

page_text: For example, I take equal proportions of gelatine and of a saturated
solution of bi-chromate of potash, and after having mixed the same well
together I use this solution as a vehicle for the pigment, taking the
latter in a dry state and mixing it with the former to the consistency
required. This process is also applicable to the aniline colors which fade
through the action of the atmosphere, but by means of a thin film of
chromo-gelatine may be protected from its influence.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said James Stanley Kipping in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 29th January 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
STANLEY KIPPING, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirtieth July One thousand eight
hundred and sixty-nine, in the thirty-third year of Her reign, did, for
Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
James Stanley Kipping, Her special license, that I, the said James
Stanley Kipping, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said James Stanley Kipping, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from
time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein ex-
pressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within
the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands,
and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF FIXING
COLOURS UPON TEXTILE FABRICS," upon the condition, amongst others, that
I, the said James Stanley Kipping, by an instrument in writing under
my hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature
of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be per-
formed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said James Stanley Kipping, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same

page_text: is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in-and
by the following statement, that is to say-
The principle or basis of this Invention is that when gelatine, gun.,
or analogous body is mixed with a solution of chrome salt and the
compound exposed to the action of light it becomes insoluble in water,
and so shuts in or fixes any pigment which may have previously been
mixed therewith, making it a fast colour.
Availing myself of this known principle I prepare colouring matters
for printing and dyeing my mixing them with gelatine, gum, or analogous
body and a salt of chromic acid, and then use the said colours so prepared
in the usual manner adopted in printing and dyeing. I have, however,
found that the same end may be attained, although not so completely,
by dyeing or printing in the ordinary manner, and then subjecting the
goods to a treatment with the chromatized gelatine or solution of the
chromate.
In carrying out my Invention the proportions of the substances
employed may be varied, but I will state those which I have found to
answer, assuming that the pigment is intended to be used in calico
printing. I take gelatine of commerce and dissolve it in water, after
which I add bi-chromate of potash in the proportion of, say, three ounces
to twenty ounces of gelatine, and this operation should be effected in a
room from which strong light is excluded. The proportion of gelatine to
water will vary according to the consistence to which the printing colour
is to be brought, such consistence also being governed by the nature of the
pigment employed; but these details will readily be arrived at by com-
petent printers. The colouring matter is now added to the chromatized
gelatine and so prepared. I use it in any ordinary printing machine,
and the goods are then subjected to the action of light, by the effect of
which the colours become imprisoned as it were in their vehicle, and are
not affected, or comparatively in a smaller degree, by the process of
washing or other treatment with moisture. The time required for
exposure to the light will of course vary, as is well known in reference
to mixtures of bi-chromates and gelatine applied to other purposes, a
few minutes being sufficient in bright weather. This exposure to light,
however, is not indispensible, as such compounds as aforesaid decompose
by process of time without the direct action of light, although perhaps
not so completely; but it will be obvious that the said exposure to light
when necessary may be left to circumstances, such as the sale or use of

page_text: the goods which will bring them under its influence. In printing with
colours prepared as above the mixture may be liable to gelatinize when
the printing room is below a certain temperature. To avoid this the said
room may be heated to the required degree, the colour boxes may be kept
warmed, or the cylinder may be heated by a gas jet playing upon its
mandril, and this last-mentioned method I prefer. In dyeing the
preparation of the colouring matters will be as above described, but they
will of course be in a more fluid condition.
As a modification of my Invention I print or dye the goods with
colouring matters prepared in the usual manner, and then pad or other-
wise coat them with the mixture of gelatine and bi-chromate, by which
means the colours become imprisoned after exposure to light by insoluble
matter, or the colouring matter may be mixed with simple gelatine and
treated with a solution of the bi-chromate subsequently to printing or
dyeing; the protection is not however in this case so complete. I have
above spoken of bi-chromate of potash, but other similar chromates, as
that of ammonia, may be employed.
My Invention is applicable to all textures which render it desirable
that the colours should be preserved from the action of moisture by
washing or otherwise, and will be found serviceable in preserving paper
hangings and fancy papers, which are frequently liable to become injured
by moisture, not including of course such papers as are now printed in
known insoluble colouring matters.
In conclusion I would observe that I do not suppose my Invention to
be of utility for all colours, as it is well known that some as now used are
sufficiently fast; and would also observe that the chemical action of the
chromate upon some may be injurious; also that in most cases the colour
of the chromate itself will modify that of the proper colouring matter;
but in many instances this is so slight as not to be of any moment, also
that in some cases of printed woven fabrics, those, for instance, which
are printed in ultramarine, the colours are improved by washing after
they had been exposed to light.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, I desire it to
be understood that I claim as secured to me under the above in part
recited Letters Patent and for the purposes above set forth,-
Firstly. The use of gelatine or other such substance combined with
such chromates as aforesaid and with the colouring matter.

page_text: Secondly. Treating printed or dyed goods with gelatine or other such
substance combined with the said chromates or with the said chromates
only.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Stanley Kipping, have here-
unto set my hand and scal, this Twenty-eighth day of January,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy.
J. S. KIPPING. (L.S.)