IMPROVEMENTS IN DYEING AND PRINTING TEXTILE FABRICS AND MATERIALS, ARD TO ADDADAMING CONNECTED THRDSWING"
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Jones Ward, of Chorlton-on-Medlock,
Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Chemist, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN DYEING AND PRINTING TEXTILE FABRICS AND MATERIALS,
ARD TO ADDADAMING CONNECTED THRDSWING"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Jones Ward
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 8th December 1857.
I, WILLIAM JONES WARD, of Chorlton-on-Medlock, Manchester, in the
County of Lancaster, Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN DYEING AND PRINTING TEXTILE FABRICS AND
MATERIALS, AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH," to be as follows:-
My Invention relates, firstly, to obtaining a color by dyeing or printing with
indigo. The principle I proceed upon is to combine with this coloring
matter a reducing agent, the power of which is however dormant or feeble in
its action until a subsequent treatment, as that of steam or other heat, shall
have taken place. As a special method, I propose effecting this reduction in
vessels in which a vacuum is established, or in vessels filled with a gas not
containing oxygen. I do not in this part of my Invention limit myself to any
particular reducing agent, but I specially employ glucose, grape sugar, starch
t

page_text: sugar, dextrine, cane sugar, and other such substances usually placed in that
group by chemists. One of these, together with an alkali, alkaline earth, or
alkaline salt, mix with the indigo in due proportion. For instance, to pro-
duce a good deep shade for printing purposes, I mix with from 4 to 4 lbs. of
fine ground pulp indigo, about 4 lbs. of rico starch glucose, with 2 lbs. of
thick pulp lime, and an equal quantity of caustic soda or potash. This
compound is employed for printing goods or fabrics in the ordinary way. For
printing with compounds of this description I use the alkalies and alkaline
earths in combination. Those substances which I prefer to use for the
purposes of my Invention are lime and soda. This part of my Invention also
includes the printing or dyeing of fabrics with indigo, previously reduced by
glucose or other such substances of the chemical group aforesaid.
Another part of my Invention consists in a method of combining indigo
with other substances, so as to obtain various colors. To eflect this I use the
indigo and a reducing agent together, as above described, and in addition,
combined therewith; the other material necessary for the desired color. For
instance, I produce a green by mixing therewith a salt of lead, and afterwards
"raise" in a solution of a chromate, or I mix alumina or oxide of tin with
the indigo, as above, and subsequently treat the same with madder, logwood,
or other substance, according to the color required.
Another part of my Invontion consists in a method of obtaining a "blue
vat. For this purpose I take indigo and add thereto glucose or other such
substance, as aforesaid, and an alkali. I then, if necessary, apply heat to
effect the reduction, and the product is ready for being added to the vat.
Another part of my Invention relates to apparatus for effecting the operation
termed steaming. To effect this I cause the goods to travel between two
steam chests or other surfaces, from one or both of which steam is allowed to
issne; or I admit steam between the said surfaces from another source, so
that it may become superheated. I also so arrange the steaming apparatus,
that the goods may pass direct thereto from the printing or dyeing operation.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Jones Ward in the Great Seal Patent Offico on
the 8th June 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
JONES WARD, of Chorlton-on-Medlock, Manchester, in the County of S
Lancaster, Chomist, send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twenty-first year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said William Jones Ward, Her especial license, that I, the said
William Jones Ward, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said William Jones Ward, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to
time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN DYEING AND PRINTING TEXTILE FABRICS AND
MATERIALS, AND IN APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said William Jones Ward, 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.
performed, 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 William Joues Ward, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by tho
following statement (that is to say):-
My improvements embrace several points of novelty, alluded to in my
Provisional Specification, and as the best effect, according to my knowledge, is
attained by a combination of several of the improvements, I shall proceed to
describe their combined use, giving those proportions of the materials which I
have found to produce a good color; but it will of course be obvious to all
competent persons that variations may be made therein according to the tint
required. As an example then, I take four pounds four ounces of ground
pulp, which will contain about two pounds of fine Bengal indigo, with this I
intimately mix four pounds of glucose made from rice starch, and about the
consistency of treacle; I then take two pounds ten ounces of slacked pulp
lime, of such a consistency as would be left upon a filter, this is also intimately
mixed with the indigo and glucose, and I then add two pounds ten ounces of
solid caustic soda, also well intermixed. The coloring matter thus prepared
possesses the elements of reduction; but as such chemical decomposition is
feeble at ordinary temperatures, it will remain unchanged for a period varying
according to the situation in which it is kept, the weather or other causes

page_text: which modify heat; but it will be found under ordinary circumstances to
remain unchanged a sufficient time for practical purposes; the maximum will
readily be found by experience. The compound thus produced is now ready for
the purposes of printing, which operation is conducted according to the usual
manner, after which the goods are passed through an atmosphere of steam, by
which the dormant or feeble action of the glucose is assisted, and the indigo is
reduced. The degree of temperature employed for this, and the time over
which the goods are submitted to it, must be in due proportion, so that the full
effect of reduction may take place, and this will readily be found out by trial.
I may, however, as a guide, state that if the goods be passed through an
atmosphere of steam, issuing at about one pound pressure, their passage
through it for about half a minute, more or less, will be sufficient. If the
action be continued too long the color is liable to be injured. I have spoken
in general terms of the steaming apparatus, but according to a part of my
Invention, I pass the goods between two steam chests (closed at the sides), from
one or both of which steam is allowed to issue; or I admit steam between the
said surfaces from another source, so that it may be superheated, and this. super-
heating may be done by causing it, previously to its entering, to pass through
a pipe charged with steam at a higher temperature; and this part of my
Invention is applicable to goods printed by ordinary processes. The steaming
apparatus I apply in connection with the printing machine, so that the goods
may be given off from the latter, and passed direct to the former. Instead of
applying steam as above for my improved method of printing. I sometimes
eflect the reduction of the indigo on the cloth in vessels, within which a
vacuum is established, or which are filled with a gas not containing free
oxygon, the mixture known as "water gas," for instance, and which is
composed of hydrogen and carbonic oxide.
To illustrate that part of my Invention which relates to printing or dyeing
with indigo previously reduced by glucose or other substances of that group
as aforesaid, I proceed to mix the materials together, viz., the indigo,
glucose, lime, and caustic soda, as above described, and I then apply heat, or
allow them to remain a suflicient time at natural temperatures for the
reduction to take place; and I will here describe my peculiar method of
forming the "blue vat." For this purpose I prepare a quantity of indigo
sufficient for the vat, with glucose, lime, and soda, or other such substances as
above, and cause or allow the reduction to take placo; this mixture of
comparatively small bulk is added to the vat, which is then ready for use. In
cases where an alkali which would be injurious is used, it may be neutralized
by an acid, and the white indigo subsequently redissolved by lime.
.

page_text: I will now describe that part of my Invention which relates to a method of
combining indigo with other substances, so as to obtain various colors, and
will illustrate it by supposing the indigo mixed with the glucose, lime, and
soda as above described. This, which would produce a blue, I modify by the
admixture of any of those substances which are known or may be used for
that purpose. A green may be produced by using a salt of lead, as is well
known, the quantity employed being varied according to the shade required,
and the raising being effected by a solution of chromate of potash; or I mix
alumina or oxide of tin with the indigo, and subsequently dye with madder,
bark, logwood, or other substance, according to the color required, as is well
understood by practical printers.
Having thus particularly described how my Invention may be carried
into effect, I desire it to be understood that I do not limit myself to the
proportions given, or to other details described, for it will be evident that
they may to an extent be varied without departing from the principles and spirit
of my Invention; and although I have described certain parts of my improve-
ments as used in combination, I do not limit myself thereto.
As regards the first part of my Invention, I would particularly mention,
that although glucose and other such substances have been mentioned as tho
reducing agents, yet there are known others which may be employed, of which
orpiment may be mentioned.
And I claim as secured to me under the above in part recited Letters
Patent,―
Firstly, printing or dyeing with indigo mixed with a reducing agent.
Secondly, for the above purpose, and as the reducing agent, the use of
glucose, grape sugar, starch sugar, dextrine, cane sugar, or other such
substance of that chemical group.
Thirdly, for mixing with indigo treated as aforesaid, I claim the use of lime
and soda, lime and potash, or other combination of alkalis with alkaline
earths.
Fourthly, the use of indigo previously reduced by glucose or other sub-
stance of that group as aforesaid, for the purposes of printing or dyeing.
Fifthly, combining other substances with indigo, prepared according to my
first claim, in order to produce various colors.
Sixthly, the preparation of a "blue vat," by reducing the indigo with
glucose or other substance as aforesaid, and then adding the same to the vat.
Seventhly, the use of two or more steam chests, between which printed
goods to be steamed are passed; also, for the operation of steaming, the use
of superheated steam.

page_text: Eighthly, causing printed goods to pass direct from the printing machine to
tbo steaming apparatus.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Jones Ward, havo hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Seventh day of June, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight.
WILLIAM JONES WARD. (L.B.)