IMPROVE- MENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF WOOL, AND WOOLLEN OR PARTLY WOOLLEN FABRICS, AND IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederick Wilkinson, of Manchester, in the
County of Lancaster, Yarn Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF WOOL, AND WOOLLEN OR PARTLY WOOLLEN
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederick Wilkinson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 7th November 1871.
I, FREDERICK WILKINSON, of Manchester, in the County of Lan-
caster, Yarn Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF WOOL, AND WOOLLEN OR PARTLY
WOOLLEN FABRICS, AND IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH,"
to be as follows:-
:-
My Invention consists, firstly, in a treatment of wool and woollen
fabrics, whereby I improve the colour of the same when a white
appearance is desired. For this purpose I mingle with the fibres a
small quantity of blue powder, such as ultramarine of commerce, mixed

page_text: by preference with chalk or other with powder. When I apply this
to wool before it is spun I do so at any of the preparation processes,
such as opening or scribbling, by distributing the powder over the
lap as it passes through the machine, and a subsequent carding diffuses
it equally through the fibres.
In the treatment of woollen or partly woollen fabrics I in like manner
distribute the powder on the surface, but in this case I subsequently
submit the fabric to a brushing action to diffuse the powder, and to
cause it to become fixed to the fibres. The powder in both cases may
be distributed by sieves, rollers, brushes, or other ordinary apparatus,
but a special method I employ is to feed the powder from a hopper
to a revolving roller furnished with grooves from which it is removed
by scrapers or brushes.
Another part of my Invention relates to a method of dispensing with
oil or partly so in the preparation of wool for spinning. To effect this
I mix powdered French chalk, or other such slippery or unctuous
powder with the wool during its preparation in the willow or other
such machine, and this treatment also improves the appearance of the
wool, as first stated.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Frederick Wilkinson in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 7th May 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, FREDERICK
WILKINSON, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Yarn Agent,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of November, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the thirty-
fifth year of Her reign, did for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Frederick Wilkinson, Her special license,
that I, the said Frederick Wilkinson, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Frederick Wilkinson, 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

page_text: vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE TREATMENT OF WOOL, AND WOOLLEN OR PARTLY WOOLLEN FABRICS, AND
IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH," upon the condition,
amongst others, that I, the said Frederick Wilkinson, 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 Frederick Wilkinson, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the sanie
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement and accompanying Drawing (that is to
say) :-
My Invention consists, firstly, in a treatment of wool and woollen
or partly woollen fabrics, whereby I improve the colour of the same when
a white appearance is desired. For this purpose I mingle with the
fibres a small quantity of blue powder, such as ultramarine of com-
merce, mixed by preference with chalk or other white powder. When
I apply this to wool before it is spun and woven I do so at any of the
preparation processes, such as scribbling, by distributing the powder
over the fibrous material as it passes through the machine, and a
subsequent carding diffuses it equally.
In the treatment of woollen or partly woollen fabrics I in like manner.
distribute the powder on the surface, but in this case I subsequently,
submit the fabric to a brushing action to diffuse the powder, and to
cause it to adhere to the fibres..
Another part of my Invention relates to a method of dispensing.
with oil or partly so in the preparation of wool for spinning. To effect
this I use French chalk or other such slippery powder with the wool
during its preparation by the ordinary machinery, and this treatment
also improves the appearance of the wool as first stated. The powder.
for the above-mentioned processes may be distributed by sieves, rollers,
brushes, or other ordinary apparatus, but I will in the first place describe
a special apparatus which I have found to answer those purposes, and
will subsequently point out its application to the several parts of my.
Invention.
•
S

page_text: In the accompanying Drawing Fig. 1 represents in side clevation a
view of the apparatus for distributing the aforesaid powder; Fig. 2 is
a cross section thereof, and Figs. 3, 4, and 5 detached views, full size,
of certain of the parts. At a is a hopper, provided at top with a hinged
lid b, and having an aperture at its bottom, which is filled up by a
roller c, formed with annular grooves d, as shewn in the detached views,
Figs. 3 and 4. Fitting into these grooves, and upon the outer cir-
cumference of the roller c, is a thin plate e, which extends through a
slit formed in the bottom of the hopper a, and is pressed forward by
springs f. Resting upon the upper surface of the roller c is a saddle
piece g, formed with projecting parts h, h*, the one series being opposite
to the spaces between those constituting the other series, as seen in the
detached views, Figs. 3, 4, and 5. From the saddle piece 9 arms i
extend upward, and are connected to a rod j, which extends through
the length of the hopper a, and is connected at one end to a crank pin k
mounted on a stud 1, which is carried by a bracket n extending from
the hopper a. This stud has a bevil pinion m, taking into a wheel n
mounted on the axis of the roller c, the other end of the said roller
being provided with a spur wheel o in gear with a pinion p mounted
on a stud which is carried by 'the hopper a, and having on its outer
end a pulley q. To this pulley rotatory motion is communicated from
any moving part of the machine to which the apparatus is applied, and
the roller c, through the medium of the wheel and pinion o, p, is caused
to revolve in the direction of the arrow, while at the same time the
saddle piece j, and its projecting parts h, h*, are caused to reciprocate
by means of the crank pin %, driven by the wheel and pinion m, n.
The powder to be distributed and composed, by preference as hereafter
to be mentioned, is placed in the hopper a by opening the lid b, and
falls consequently upon the roller c, filling the grooves d thereof, and
as the said roller revolves the plate e scrapes it from the said grooves,
and leaves it at liberty to fall, and the reciprocating motion of the
parts h, h*, ensure an equal filling of the grooves. At a* is a glass
front to the hopper, to indicate the quantity of powder present, and to
facilitate its descent.

page_text: as usual, and at t is one of the side boards or "fences," which bear a
cross piece for carrying the hopper a above described, and which is
denoted by the same letter of reference. In this hopper the blue powder
is placed, which may be varied in composition, but that which I have
found to answer consists of two parts of ultramarine of commerce, not
of course the expensive artists' colour, but that pigment used for fancy
papers and similar purposes, and which is sometimes called French
ultramarine, and to this I add one part of French or common chalk
reduced to a fine powder. This composition being placed in the
hopper a motion is communicated to the grooved roller c by means of
a strap or chain passing over the pulley 9, and driven from any con-
venient moving part of the scribbler, by which means the said powder
is caused to fall upon the wool which is being carried forward by the
lattice or creeper r, and it subsequently becomes scribbled in the usual
manner. When this operation has been completed the material goes
through the ordinary carding process, by which means some of the
blue powder is removed, but a minute portion is left adhering to the
fibres, and equally diffused throughout the mass, and the effect is an
increased whiteness of appearance in the wool. As regards the quantity.
of powder to be used for a given quantity of wool, that will vary
according to the effect desired to be produced and the quality of
the wool, and will easily be found by experiment. I may however
state as a guide that for every two hundred and fifty pounds of wool
from six to seven ounces of the powder may be used, and that about
that quantity will be delivered by the grooved roller c if the flutes d
are about one-twelfth of an inch square, and the solid intervening parts
of the same dimensions, the roller being caused to revolve at the rate
of one revolution in about five minutes. These particulars are, however,
to be considered as approximations only.
I have above mentioned my Invention as being adapted to the
scribbler, but it will be evident that it may be used at any other
opener, or it might be applied to the carding engine, but the powder
would not in that case be so equally diffused. Woollen goods after
being manufactured are, as is well known, submitted to a scouring
process, and this operation removes some of the effect gained by the
use of the powder. When it is desired to avoid this I use powdered
indigo or similar blue, dye stuff, in place of or partly in place of the

page_text: ultramarine, and when the said scouring process takes place the indigo
imparts a dyeing process, which affords the required slightly blue tint,
which tint however, as well as that imparted by the powder, is not an
evident blue shade.
In reference to this part of my Invention I would observe that the
effect of the last part thereof is partially gained, as will hereafter be
pointed out.
The next part of my Invention is shewn at Fig. 7, in which u repre-
sents the woven woollen fabric passing from a roll, or from pleats, or
other convenient arrangement. Above this is placed the hopper a before
described, and behind this a rotatory brush o, and at w is a beam upon
which the fabric is subsequently wound. The roller. c, brush v, and
beam to are caused to rotate by any convenient arrangement, and as
the fabric travels forward the blue powder is delivered as before described
by the roller c, and is subsequently distributed and brushed into the
fibres by the brush v, after which it is wound upon the beam to; at x
are rollers for keeping the fabric in tension. As regards the quantity.
of powder to be used, that will be found by experiment, and by aid of
the particulars above given..
In carrying out the next part of my Invention I place the hopper
above the lattice or creeper of the scribbler, as in Fig. 6, but in place
of using a blue powder I employ French chalk only, or similar slippery.
white powder, kaolin for instance, and this is delivered precisely as
above mentioned to the wool, which, according to my Invention, is not
oiled as is now the practice, or oil may be used in smaller proportion
than is now practised, the powder being in place of the omitted quantity.
Sufficient powder may be employed at the scribbler to serve for the
carding engine as well, or my Invention may be adapted to both of
the machines. The quantity of powder to be used will as before be
readily found by experience, and by aid of the particulars above given.
In reference to this part of my Invention I have observed that I
employ white powder only, but it will be evident that the process first
described may be combined with this by using a blue as well as a white
powder.

page_text: 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 application of powder of a blue tint to the fibres of wool
as they pass through the preparation processes aforesaid.
Secondly. The application of powder of a blue tint to woollen or
partly woollen fabrics, and subsequently submitting them to a brushing
action.
Thirdly. The use of French chalk or similar powder in place of or
partly in place of oil during the preparation processes.
Fourthly. For the aforesaid purposes, the use of the hopper a, roller c,
and parts connected therewith, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederick Wilkinson, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the Sixth day of May, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two.