IMPROVEMENTS IN OR CONNECTED WITH THE PRINTING OR DYEING AND STEAMING OF COTTON FABRICS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John King, Foreman Dyer to Messieurs Charles Todd
and Higginbotham, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, for
an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR CONNECTED WITH THE PRINTING OR
DYEING AND STEAMING OF COTTON FABRICS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John King at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th March 1880.
JOHN KING, Foreman Dyer to Messieurs Charles Todd and Higginbotham, of
Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain. "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR
CONNECTED WITH THE PRINTING OR DYEING AND STEAMING OF COTTON FABRICS."
This Invention relates to the series of processes employed in the production of
printed or dyed cotton fabrics, and more particularly to the portion of such
processes through which the goods are passed after being printed or dyed, and its
objects are to obtain improved results, and to reduce the cost of the machinery or
apparatus employed.
In carrying out the Invention continuous steaming apparatus is employed, and
may be of the kind described in the Specification of Letters Patent granted to
James Smith, and dated 10 April 1875 (No. 1303), or of any other suitable kind.
It has bitherto been the practice for the goods to be in a dry state when being
entered into such steaming apparatus; and for the purpose of drying the goods
after being printed or dyed and washed, or after being "oiled" or treated with
oleaginous liquor, very expensive and elaborate apparatus has been employed,
consisting of a series of steam-heated cylinders or cans.
By the present Invention the goods are entered into the steaming chamber in a
slightly damp condition, and-the-expensive series of drying cylinders is dispensed
with. From the washing apparatus through which the goods are passed after
being printed or dyed, or from the padding or oiling apparatus, the goods are taken
through squeezing or wringing rollers which remove superfluous moisture or liquor,
and are at once entered into the steaming apparatus, the squeezing or wringing
rollers being by preference directly combined with the entering mechanism of the
steaming chamber, so as to avoid folding-and risk of "marking off."

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John King in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 8th September
1880.
JOHN KING, Foreman Dyer to Messieurs Charles Todd and Higginbotham, of
Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain. "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR
CONNECTED WITH THE PRINTING OR DYEING AND STEAMING OF COTTON FABRICS."
My said Invention relates to the series of processes employed in the production
of printed or dyed cotton fabrics, and more particularly to the portion of such
processes through which the goods are passed after being printed or dyed, or after
being treated with oleaginous matter, and its objects are to obtain improved results
and to reduce the cost of the machinery or apparatus employed.
In carrying out my Invention continuous steaming apparatus is employed, and
may be of the kind described in the Specification of Letters Patent granted to
James Smith, and dated 10 April 1875 (No. 1303), or of any other suitable kind.
It has hitherto been the practice for the goods to be in a dry state when being
entered into such steaming apparatus; and for the purpose of drying the goods
after being printed or dyed and washed, or after being " oiled or treated with
oleaginous liquor, very expensive and elaborate apparatus has been employed,
consisting of a series of steam-heated cylinders or cans.
"
By my present Invention the goods are entered into the steaming chamber in a
slightly damp condition. From the washing apparatus through which the goods
are passed after being printed or dyed, or from the padding or oiling apparatus, the
goods are taken through squeezing or wringing rollers which remove superfluous
moisture or liquor, and are at once entered into the steaming apparatus, the
squeezing or wringing rollers being by preference directly combined with the
entering mechanism of the steaming chamber, so as to avoid folding and
"marking off."
s of
When the goods are "oiled" or treated with an oleaginous liquor, or with any
chemical preparation applied with an analogous object, they may be dried between
the washing and such treatment, and in that case the oleaginous or other liquor
may be of the usual strength, but when the goods are not so dried, the oleaginous or
other liquor must be of a greater strength to compensate for the moisture which is
in the cloth, and which reduces the strength of the liquor.
And in order that my said Invention and the manner of performing the same
may be properly understood, I hereunto append a Sheet of explanatory Drawings
to be hereinafter referred to, and representing portions of an arrangement of
apparatus which may be used in carrying out my improvements.
The single Figure on the accompanying Sheet of Drawings represents in vertical
section parts of a steaming chamber and its mechanism for moving the goods
through it, also a combined oiling or liquoring and wringing machine. I do not
claim anything as new in the construction of the apparatus, but may mention that
the oiling apparatus consists simply of a trough T placed between the standards or
housings S of a powerful wringing or squeezing machine fitted with two rollers P,R,
the lower one of which dips into the liquor in the trough T. Two pieces of fabric
may be treated together, and are shown at F as being led down into the trough T;
they pass under a guide roller near the bottom of the trough, and then up and
between the squeezing rollers P, R. On leaving the squeezing rollers P, R, the
fabric (in a single ply or in two plies as may be preferred), is led by guide rollers G
to the entrance E into the steaming chamber. The fabric passes through the
steaming chamber in the ordinary way, excepting that when printed with alizarine
or analogous colors, it is by preference subjected to a drying action before finally
leaving the chamber to remove any surplus moisture. A suitable drying space is
formed between the roof of the chamber and the steam casing C ordinarily employed

page_text: to prevent drops of moisture from falling on the goods passing through the chamber,
and the fabric is guided through this drying space on its way to the outlet. If
preferred however, and the fabric requires it, it may be dried after leaving the
steaming chamber.
Goods which are not subjected to oiling or similar treatment are by my Invention
led from the terminal squeezers of the washing machine directly to the steaming
chamber.
With goods steamed in a damp state according to my Invention superior whites
are obtained, whilst the colors are rendered brighter, purer, and faster.
Having thus particularly described my said Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I have to state that I do not restrict myself to the precise
details herein described or delineated, but what I believe to be novel and original,
and claim as the Invention secured to me by and in terms of the hereinbefore
in part recited Letters Patent is,―
The entering of cotton fabrics which have been printed or dyed or treated with
oleaginous matter into continuous steaming apparatus in a damp condition, such as
that in which they leave wringing or squeezing rollers after being washed or oiled,
or treated in any analogous manner, substantially as hereinbefore described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John King, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Seventh day of September, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.
Witness,
EDMUND HUNT,
Patent Agent,
Glasgow.
JOHN KING. (L.S.)