AN IMPROVED METHOD OF BLEACHING, AND IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY ADAPTED FOR BLEACHING, AND FINISHING LINEN OR COTTON YARN AND GOODS
Year: 1828

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, DAVID
BENTLEY, of Pendleton, in the County of Lancaster, Bleacher, send greeting.
WHEREAS His most Excellent Majesty King George the Fourth
did, by Ilis Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing
date at Westminster, the Twenty-first day of February, in the Ninth year
of His reign, for Himself, His heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said David Bentley, my executors, adñiors, and assigns, His especial licence,
full power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said David Bentley,
my exors, adñiors, and assigns, and every of them, by myself and themselves,
or by my and their deputy or deputies, servants, or agents, or such others
as I, the said David Bentley, my exors, adñiors, or assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time, and at all times there-
after, during the term of fourteen years therein expressed, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within that part of the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Ireland called England, the Dominion of Wales, and
Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF
BLEACHING, AND IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY ADAPTED FOR BLEACHING, AND
FINISHING LINEN OR COTTON YARN AND GOODS;" in which said Letters Patent
is contained a proviso that I, the said Davis Bentley, should not particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same was to be performed, by an instrument in writing under my
hand and seal, and cause the same to be enrolled in His Majesty's High
Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and immediately after

page_text: the date of the now reciting Letters Patent, then the said Letters Patent, and
all liberties and advantages whatsoever thereby granted, should utterly cease,
determine, and become void.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
David Bentley, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention, for
which I have obtained the said Letters Patent, and the manner in which my
improved process is to be conducted and carried into effect, are set forth in
the description herein-after contained, and by the annexed Drawings to
which such description refers.
I shall first shortly explain the general method of bleaching piece goods
now practised, in order to shew more clearly wherein my improvements
consist.
The bleacher begins by pulling up each piece like a rope, making a band
of one end to admit of its convenient removal from one vessel and situation
to another, for all the purposes of steeping, boiling, and immersing in the
different bleaching liquors. Much care and labour are here required to make
such bleaching liquors act equally, notwithstanding which it sometimes
happens that the goods are partially bleached or stained with sediments from
too great a quantity of the liquors used passing through the same parts.
These stains are removed with greater difficulty than the colouring matter
which was originally in the goods. The washing of the goods takes
place in water only (generally cold) by means of dash wheels, fulling
stocks, and so forth, in doing which the goods yet so much disturbed
that it is generally necessary, after each time of washing, to pull them up
again into bands before they can be passed through any of the subsequent
and necessary processes. The number of dash-wheel washings required
is generally five to seven; and the pullings up of the pieces into bands
will be one time oftener than each washing. These operations, together
with the lifting and removal of each piece from the different vessels and
situations, form the principal part of the manual labour of the present method
of bleaching. In my improved method I stitch the goods together in batches
containing any convenient number of pieces, previously to singeing them in the
usual way, and I keep them in that state during the process of bleaching.
When singed I steep them by passing them under a roller in a cistern con-
taining hot water or spent ley; and being then steeped in batches I allow them
to remain for fermentation, if time will permit, after which they are ready
for passing through the process of bleaching (one batch being fastened
to another) according to my improved method, which I shall now proceed to
describe, and in which the bleaching part of my Invention consists.

page_text: Fig. 1 of the annexed Drawings represents a calendar viewed from the
front, and which in the Drawing is exhibited as passing through two floors.
1
Fig. 2 and 3 are ends views of two such calenders, each having two larger
rollers B and B 1, a smaller driving roller C, two racks D and D 1, placed
upon two cisterns G and G 1, inside of which cisterns are two rollers E and E I,
which rollers have four square ribs upon each to shake the goods as they pass
through the cesterns. At F is a frame upon which the batches of goods are
placed upon rollers in Fig. 4 a, where they are marked K, K, K, K. L, L, L, L.
Fig. 2 and 3, are the calender cheeks made fast at the feet, at the middle, and
to the top of the building, having lovers and weights H to give pressure to the
calender bowls.
Fig. 4 and 5 are ground plans of Figures 2 and 3, the calender rollers being
removed to shew the racks D and D 1, the rollers E and E 1, and the cisterns
G and G 1, each of which cisterns is provided with pipes and cocks to supply
them with water and steam, having a communication with each other at one
end, and each must have several divisions through which the rollers E and E'l
pass. These divisions serve to retard the passage of the waters and bleaching
liquors, which being supplied in a clear and fresh state at G 1 are drawn off
at Gin a foul and exhausted state. The cálenders and all the machinery
connected therewith are driven, as exhibited in Fig. 1, by the shafts and
geering O, O, and Figs. 4 and 5 0, 0, 0, 0, connected with the main motive
power employed in the works. F, Fig. 4 a, is a frame with four batches of
goods K, K, K, K, placed upon it ready for work, one of which is seen at Fin
Fig. 2, and which goods are seen as they pass through the machinery
Figs. 2 and 3 at K, K, K, K, K, K, K, K.
Fig. 6, 6, are two vessels of wood, stone, or iron, of any suitable form, in
which goods may be boiled by steam or by the direct action of fire in the
usual way; and I use chains or some other similar means to prevent the goods
from floating when the vessels are filled with ley. These vessels may be
placed outside or inside the buildings, according to the convenience of the
premises.
:
Fig. 7, 7, are two vessels of wood or stone, where goods may be taken down
and suffered to remain whilst the different bleaching liquors take full effect.
The scale to which the several machines, elevations and views are drawn
on the annexed Sheet is marked thereon, and I have used throughout the
same characters or letters of reference to denote the same parts in all the
different Figures. Near the end walls of the building (see Figs. 2 and 3)
are two rollers A and A 1, úpon each of which is a soft cord used as a
guide for conducting the goods through the machinery and cisterns. The

page_text: operation is commenced by passing one end of the cord at Fig. 2 through
the rollers B and C, down to cistern G, under roller E, through the further-
most division of rack D, and again through calendar rollers at B and C,
repeating the same, but observing to keep the cord tight, and to approach
one division nearer in rack D each revolution until each division is occupied,
when the end must pass over C, under and round B 1, down to and
over the guide roller I 3, through the nearest divison of rack D 1 into
cistern G 1, under roller E I, over guide roller I 2, and again over roller C,
under and roused B 1. This course must be repeated, observing as before to
keep the cord tight, and to receive one division of rack D 1 every revolution,
until each division of rack D 1 is occupied, when the end must pass over from B 1
under I 4. The cord now forms a sort of spiral worm round and through the
machinery and cisterns, beginning at B, C, and ending at the top of B1 to I 4,
the number of revolutions being governed by the number of divisions in the
racks D and D 1, so that if there being fifteen divisions in each rack there
will be fifteen revolutions under C, round B through G, under E through D,
and fifteen revolutions over C round B 1, over I 3 through D1 and G 1,
under E 1 over I 2, and again over C, passing from the top of B 1 to I 4; and
by this means, if one end of the back of goods marked K, and placed upon
the frame F, Fig. 2. is fastened to the end of the guide cord, the goods will,
when the calender is put in motion, be conducted and washed thirty times
through the water in the cisterns, and squeezed thirty times through the
calenders. As the operation proceeds and the guide cord passes through tho
calender, it is wound by hand upon roller A to prevent it from becoming entangled,
and to keep it in readiness for the next operation. As soon as the first end of
the goods has passed through Fig. 2, and arrives at the guide roller I 4, it is
detached from the end of the guide cord of Fig. 2 and attached to one end of
the guide cord which has been previously passed through Fig. 3.
After this,
by putting Fig. 3 in motion, the goods are washed and squeezed through its
cisterns, which cisterns aro supplied with hot and strong lime ley, and the
goods passing over guide roller I 9, they are conveyed over other guide
rollers to be placed for the purpose, and taken down by some person or
some proper machinery into one of the boiling vessels (Fig. 6), where
steam or fire heat being added, they are suffered to remain while the lime
boiling takes effect. The goods are then again conducted over guide rollers
to Fig. 2, and washed through hot water, passing on again to Fig, 3,
the cisterns of which are now supplied with hot and strong potash ley,
through which, being washed, the goods are again conducted to one of the
boiling vessels Fig. 6, where the potash-boiling process takes place, after

page_text: which the goods are passed a third time to Fig. 2, and washed with hot or cold
water, passed on to Fig. 3, the cisterns of which are now supplied with a
solution of bleaching powder, through which, being washed as before, they are
conducted over the guide rollers and taken down into one of the vessels (Fig. 7),
where they may be allowed to remain six to twenty-four hours while the
bleaching liquor takes full effect, after which they may be washed through
Fig. 3 with hot sulphuric acid liquor, with a little common salt dissolved in it,
and suffered to remain the needful time, from which they may be washed up
at Fig. 2, in hot or cold water, observing to put the blue liquor into the last
division of the cistern G 1 with the clear water. If the goods be not suffi-
ciently whitened in the above process, those parts of the process must be repeated
which will effect that object, and such goods in particular as not easily
bleached must have soap dissolved in the cisterns G and G 1, and, by reversing
the geering O, O, Fig. 4, be repeatedly passed backward and forward through
one of the calendars Fig. 2 or 3 (and this may be done in the gray, or in the
white, or in an open state, to examine and clean and particular parts), with such
beaters or rubbing boards attached to the machine as may be found necessary
to clear them. Though the process has been herein-before described as per-
formed upon one batch of goods at a time, it will generally be found convenient
to perform it upon two, three, or more batches, according to the width or
thickness of the goods. The different batches may be placed upon separate
rollers, as exhibited in Fig. 4 a, where they are marked K, K, K, K, the ends
being gathered together and attached at the same time to the end of the guide
cords, they will pass in one body through the various operations, as if one batch
only had been used. The goods are now ready for conducting to the different
branches of finishing, which may be done by having guide rollers so placed as
that they may be drawn along by rollers worked by any adequate machinery to
be used for the purpose. Skeins of linen or cotton yarn or small wares may be
fastened or looped together and bleached by passing through the calendars,
Fig. 2 and 3, in the same mode as piece goods, observing to change or remove
the loops or fastenings of any parts that appear unequally bleached. The
looping may be done by tying a soft fillet round the middle of the first skein,
which will leave two loops for one end of the next skein to pass half way
through, and which will always leave two other loops, and, by repeating which,
any quantity of skeins may be linked together, tying the last loops with
another fillet, which, when bleached and dryed with due care, will be straight,
and ready for making up, when the fillet at either end is untied. Such goods
as will not answer to be crisped or hard squeezed, may be bleached open and
straight by means of the machinery shewn at Fig. 9. That Figure is a front

page_text: view, with driving shaft and wheels O, O, and Fig. 8 is an end view of
the same. A is a roller: for the guide cords; B, B, B, B, B, B, B, B, B, B, B,
aro eleven washing rollers; C, C, C, C, C, C, C, C, C, C, C, are speed
rollers; E, E, E, E,.E, E, E, E, E, E, E, E, are twelve rollers, immersed, in
twelve divisions of the cistern G. The eleven staple-formed irons which pass
.through the frame rails on each side of the centres of the cleven rollers
B, B, B, B, B, B, B, B, B, B, B, and the eleven rollers C, C, C, C, C, C, C,
C, C, C, C, serve to stay these rollers in their places, at the same time allowing
the eleven washing rollers B, B, B, B, B, B, B, B, B, B, B, to rise and fall
according to the pressure by which they are held down by the eleven weights
attached to these irons at H (one of which irons, drawn upon a larger scale, is
shewn at Fig. 8.a), and upon the bottom rail may be placed such staves,
brushes, or rollers, as may be found necessary for holding and brushing
the goods in the best manner to keep them straight during the different
washings in water and bleaching liquors. At O, O, (Fig. 9) are driving
shafts with five mitre wheels for driving five of the speed rollers, and
upon which rollers are also five other such wheels, taking them alter-
nately and not consecutively, in order to give motion to the whole. The goods are
prepared by steeping, as before described at Figs. 2 and 3, and placed in batches.
at F, as seen at Figs. 8 and and 9, and passing under the immersing rollers
E, E, E, E, E, E, E, E, E, E, E, E, and the twelve divisions of cistern G
between the cleven speed rollers C, C, C, C, C, C, C, C, C, C, C, and the
eleven washing-rollers B, B, B; B, B, B, B, B, B, B, B, as, seen at K, K, K,
K, K, K, K, K, K, K, K, K, K, K, K, are taken down straight and open
into one of the vessels, Fig. 10 K, and are then boiled by steam, which is
succeeded by repeated washings in the machine Fig. 8. alternately in water
and bleaching liquors until they are sufficiently bleached as before described. at
Figs. 2 and 3.
My improvements in the machinery adapted for bleaching yarns and goods
having been described, I shall now proceed to describe the improvements
I have effected in the construction of calender rollers as part of the machinery
to be used in .bleaching and finishing. The advantages of iny improved
calendar rollers arise from their possessing an uniform and regular surface,
and from the material of which they are constructed enabling the bleacher to
use them in calendering goods either in a wet or dry state. It is well known
that the art of calendering goods in a wet state cannot be effected .by paper
rollers without injury to the roller, and wooden rollers are soon destroyed by the
hard pressure; but those constructed in the manner hercin-after 'described are
found competent to bear heavy pressure and resist the action of moisture; and

page_text: it is particularly the manufacture and construction of my improved calender
rollers that I claim as part of my improvements in machinery adapted to bleaching
and finishing. In the construction of these rollers I employ a material called
waddings, which are made by machinery well know among cotton manu-
facturers by the names of devils and carding engines. These waddings
are made either of cotton or linen in a waste state, and either separate
or mixed, or of old and much worn ropes, or of any other similar and
cheap substance, the fibre or staple of which is of sufficient length, strength,
and fineness for the purpose. Such parts of these materials as are too strong
or hard for the carding machinery employed to separate it will be found
necessary to cut and divide into suitable lengths; and such parts as are too
greasy and dirty I boil and wash to render them fit for use, which, after drying,
must be torn, separted, and formed into waddings by devils or carding engines
as before mentioned. These materials I mix in such proportions as that the
long and strong staples shall hold the shorter and weaker ones together, and
the carding machinery will cast a great part of the. staples in a longitudinal
direction. The waddings, if made with care, will be of such equal thickness,
strength and substance that they may be cut into circles or segments of circles
and placed upon or round metal centres, observing to lay the different folds
straight, crossing all the joints and laying the points of the staples as much
outward as possible. The roller will thus be of equal hardness, and must be
pressed together with metal end plates and fastened or held with circular
keys, as is now done with paper rollers. It must be turned in a lathe to a
fine face, and will be found durable, hard, smooth, and cheap. And I claim
as my Invention rollers constructed of waddings composed of materials
such as I have described, by means of the machinery aforesaid, or of any
other descriptions of waddings similarly made, formed, and applied, as being
rollers made much cheaper, and, for many purposes of bleaching and finishing.
better than any rollers now in use. And I also claim as my Invention the
continuous process I have described for bleaching linen and cotton yarns and
goods by the union of the preparation of the goods, the application of the
machinery and implements to vessels and situations, and the adaptation of
the whole for being used with the waters and bleaching liquors employed.
But I do not claim any separate parts of the machinery except the calender
roller before described, or any of the implements or liquors, or modes of
preparation which I have mentioned.
And, lastly, I declare that for any improved method of bleaching, the pre-
paration of the goods, the form, dimensions, and materials of the machinery,
and the heat, strength, and quantity of the waters and bleaching liquors used,

page_text: all admit of various modifications capable of producing the same effect, which
may be varied according to the nature and quantity of the goods and yarns
intended to be bleached, all which variations may be attained with facility by
any person of competent knowledge and skill, and fit to be entrusted with the
construction and management of bleaching work of the like description.
In witness whereof, I, the said David Bentley, have hereunto set my
I
hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of August, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and twenty-eight.
BARLOW, Jun', Extra.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Nineteenth day of August, in
the year of our Lord 1828, the aforesaid David Bentley came before our said
Lord the King in His Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification afore-
said, and all and every thing therein contained and specified, in form above
written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according to the
tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
Inrolled the Twentieth day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and twenty-eight.