Improvements in Expediting and Improving the Process of Bleaching Linen, Cotton, and other Textile Fabrics, and Linen, Cotton, and other Yarns in the Hank.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Apr., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 30th Jan., 1391—Accepted, 30th May, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Expediting and Improving the Process of Bleaching
Linen, Cotton, and other Textile Fabrics, and Linen, Cotton, and
other Yarns in the Hank.
RICHARD THOMAS WEBB Linen Manufacturer & Bleacher address c/o The
Ards Weaving Co. Ltd. Newtownards, Co. Down Ireland do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
In order to obtain an efficient circulation of the various chemical liquids used in
bleaching, I employ mechanical pressure by means of machinery causing the liquids
to pass into and out of the substance to be bleached.
In the beaching of cloth and yarn it has hitherto been sought to attain the
proper circulation of the chemical liquids through the substances to be acted upon,
by means of steam pressure turned on & off in the case of boiling or the use of
pumps to circulate the liquids of whatever sort.
Take for instance the bleaching of cotton which is the most developed branch of
the bleaching trade. In the first process boiling, it is customary to place the cloth
in a pot into which the ley or boiling liquor has previously been introduced the lid
is closed and steam pressure is turned on into the pot. The liquid is forced by the
steam out of the pot (& the contained cloth) by an orifice at the bottom into another
receptacle. The steam is then turned on in this other receptacle and the ley is
forced back again into the cloth pot, and so on backwards & forwards for a number
of times. In the subsequent process of dipping, or chemicking, in the bleaching
liquor, which is done cold, the cloth is placed in an open vat or "dip kieve" and
the liquor is pumped over it by a small force pump which draws the liquor from the
bottom of the kieve and distributes it over the top of the cloth, this though the
best known method is far from perfect in its action as the liquor runs through
whatever portion of the mass of cloth happens to be most loosely packed leaving
the other portions imperfectly acted upon. In other places the cloth or yarn is
reeled backwards & forwards in the liquor by means of winches or reels standing
over the vat, this is a very slow method & not thorough in its action.
In the process of souring after the dip I am not aware that any method of
obtaining a circulation of the souring fluid has been attempted except by the old
fashioned pumping round and round of the liquid as in the bleaching liquor. In
my invention this desired circulation of the chemical liquids of whatever sort, into
& out of the fibre and pores of the cloth and yarn is obtained by the application of
mechanical pressure which squeezes out the liquid from the substance to be acted
on, the liquid is again allowed to return and is again squeezed out as often as is
necessary.
This process I find is most conveniently obtained by passing the cloth or yarns
through pairs of rollers placed over the various vats containing the chemical liquids.
The cloth is sewn together end to end making a continuous rope. The banks of
yarn are looped together or tied by means of cord wire or other suitable links
making a continuous chain.
This rope or chain (in the case of the first process which is generally a boil) is
introduced between the rollers which are placed over the boiling vat or pot, it then
descends into the boiling ley is brought up again passes between the rollers where
the ley is squeezed out by pressure applied to the rollers & again descends into the
ley & again is squeezed out by the rollers, it passes in this way in a continuous spiral
along the length of the rollers, the number of times it is dipped into the ley &
queezed out depending on the length of the rollers, by this means a positive
thorough & even circulation into & out of the cloth or yarn is obtained.

page_text: In precisely a similar way I apply this mode of treatment in the subsequent
process of chemicking & souring &c. the alternate squeezing out of and immersing
in the various chemical liquors greatly facilitates the action desired upon the cloth
or yarn and gives an even and prompt result such as cannot be obtained from any
other mode at present in use.
In the process of washing in clear water, hetween the treatment above described
in the chemical vats to remove the chemicals or other foreign matter, 1 pass through
rollers & water in precisely the same way but in respect of washing by this means
I claim no novelty, wash mills on this principle being in common use.
The endeavour to obtain a superior action of the chemicals on the cloth or yarns
by alternately saturating & squeezing out in the manner described has never been
attempted but by myself and so far as my experience goes it will prove a valuable
invention.
Dated this 29th day of April 1890.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Expediting and Improving the Process of Bleaching
Linen, Cotton, and other Textile Fabrics, and Linen, Cotton, and
other Yarns in the Hank.
I RICHARD THOMAS WEBB Manufacturer & Bleacher of Newtownards Co.
Down Ireland do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement:-
This invention consists in obtaining a positive & even circulation of the various
chemical solutions used in bleaching into, & out of, the cloth or yarn to be bleached
by means of mechanical pressure directly applied through rollers or other squeezers
for the purpose of squeezing the liquids out of the cloth or yarn, to be again
saturated & again squeezed out & so on continuously for a number of times during
each process where chemical liquids or solutions are applied.
The mode adopt for obtaining this aforesaid circulation by mechanical pressure
is by entering the cloth or yarn into the vat or pot containing the liquid or solution
to be used, when saturated I pass the cloth or yarn at width or in the form of a
rope (the banks of yarn being attached end to end to each other) through a pair of
rollers placed over or in the vat where pressure is applied & the liquor is expelled
forcibly from the body of the cloth or yarn, which is again saturated, again squeezed
through the squeezer, and so on continuously for a number of times while the action
of the chemical liquid is taking place, by this means a rapid & even action on the
fibre of the cloth or yarn is obtained.
In the process of boiling by this means the action of steam pressure, or the
presence of steam in a closed vessel, is dispensed with as at present used. The
boiling may take place in an open kier or pot, the cloth or yarn having been
immersed in the boiling ley is alternately squeezed and saturated as already described
during the process of boiling.
The principle claimed in this invention has no reference to the wringing or
squeezing of cloth or yarn during, or at the close of, the process of washing in clean
water, which is now commonly done with the object of clearing the cloth or yarn
from chemical liquids previously used, or surplus water from the wash mill, before
passing it on to the next process.
In the accompanying drawing the mode of operation is shewn.
C. is the cloth or yarn, the course of which is indicated by dotted lines &
arrows shewing direction of course.
R. R. are the two squeezing rollers.
CL. is the chemical liquid, whether boiling ley, lime, solution, dip, sour, or any
other chemical solution, the same mode applies.

page_text: The cloth C. is entered between the revolving rollers R. R. is dropped down as
indicated by the arrows into the liquid in the trough, or beck, below where it
becomes saturated, is raised by the rotation of the rollers, as shewn by arrows,
squeezed between R. & R. & if desired, dropped again, & again raised & squeezed,
as many times as may be necessary to produce the proper effect of the chemical
fluid on the cloth or yarn, when it is ready for the next process.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention & in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what
I claim is
1. That by the direct application of a series of mechanical squeezers, alternating
with a loosening of the cloth or yarn I obtain a constant positive and even circula-
tion of the bleaching liquids & chemical solutions into & out of the fibre to be
bleached.
2. That this forcible circulation as described being kept up continuously during
& throughout each process in bleaching (with the exception of washing) facilitates
& improves the action of the various liquids employed.
Dated this Twenty-eighth day of January Eighteen hundred and ninety-one.
RICHARD THOMAS WEBB.