Year: 1898

page_text: I, CHARLES DENTON ABEL, of Birkbeck Bank Chambers, Southampton Buildings,
in the County of London, Consulting Engineer and Chartered Patent Agent, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention (as communicated to me from abroad by
Firm of H. C. Meyer, Junr., of Harburg on the Elbe, Germany, Manufacturers,) to
be as follows:--
The dyeing of cane has hitherto presented difficulties, as the bleaching and dyeing
liquors could in most cases not penetrate into the inner layers of the cane without
the use of special apparatus.
The process for bleaching and dyeing cane which forms the subject of the present
invention whether employed by itself or in combination with existing processes, offers
the advantage of a considerably greater uniformity in the dyeing and bleaching while
such dyeing and bleaching can also be carried out much more rapidly than with
existing processes, and in the case of cane having a siliceous coating, no weakening
thereof is effected.
The process consists in treating the cane, either before or during the dyeing and
bleaching with organic acids or alcohols or both combined. Acetic acid has proved
to be the most effective acid for this purpose while ethyl alcohol and methyl alcohol,
as also amyl alcohol (fusel oil) have proved to be the most effective alcohols. The
said compounds may either be used separately or mixed together.
The quantities of the compounds employed will depend upon the cane to be dyed,
as all descriptions of cane do not offer the same resistance to the action of the bath.
The choice of the substances employed will depend upon the nature of the dyeing
materials, as some of these will be precipitated from the aqueous solution by the
addition of organic substances. As examples for the application of alcohol the
following compositions may be given ·

page_text: The colouring matters are dissolved in the mixture under heating, and the bleached
silica coated cane is introduced; the bath is then heated to boiling point and allowed
to cool.
The cane will be dyed right through in from 20 to 24 hours; No. 3 requires a
somewhat longer time.
The process is carried out either by first treating the cane in a bath of the said
compounds before it is subjected to the dye bath, or the compounds may be added to
the dye bath.
The action of the acids and alcohols is probably caused either by their opening up the
pores or cells of the organic layers under the outer silica coating, thus facilitating
the entrance of the colouring matter or bleaching agent, or by the fact that the said
compounds rise more readily in capillary spaces than water alone, and are thereby
better enabled to carry the colouring matter or bleaching agent into such spaces.
Dated this 10th day of November 1898.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.
I, CHARLES DENTON ABEL, of Birkbeck Bank Chambers, Southampton Buildings,
in the County of London, Consulting Engineer and Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention (as communicated to me from abroad by Firm of
H. C. Meyer, Junr., of Harburg on the Elbe, Germany, Manufacturers) and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:-
The dyeing of cane has hitherto presented difficulties, as the bleaching and dyeing

page_text: silica coated cane is introduced; the bath is then heated to boiling point and allowed
to cool.
The cane will be dyed right through in from 20 to 24 hours; No. 3 requires a
somewhat longer time.
The process is carried out either by first treating the cane in a bath of the said
compounds before it is subjected to the dye bath, or the compounds may be added to
the dye bath.
The action of the acids and alcohols is probably caused either by their opening
up the pores or cells of the organic layers under the outer silica coating, thus facili-
tating the entrance of the colouring matter or bleaching agent, or by the fact that
the said compounds rise more readily in capillary spaces than water alone, and are
thereby better enabled to carry the colouring matter or bleaching agent into such
spaces.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. Process for dyeing and bleaching cane consisting in treating the cane with a
solution of organic substances the dyeing and bleaching being then effected sub-
stantially as described.
2. Process for bleaching and dyeing cane consisting in treating the cane with a
solution of organic acids, the bleaching and dyeing being then effected, substantially
as described.
3. Process for dyeing and bleaching cane consisting in treating the cane with a
solution of alcohol, the dyeing and bleaching being then effected substantially as
described.
4. Process for dyeing and bleaching cane consisting in adding organic substances
to the dyeing and bleaching bath, and then treating the cane with this solution sub-
stantially as described.
Dated this 17th day of July 1899.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.