An Improved Process for Washing Cellulose Threads, Films, or the like.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Mar., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 21st Dec., 1899-Accepted, 27th Jan., 1900
An Improved Process for Washing Cellulose Threads, Films,
or the like.
We, Dr. Max FREMERY, Chemist, and JOHANN URBAN, Engineer, both of
Dorfstrasse, Oberbruch, Reg. Bez. Aachen, in the German Empire, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
-
In the production of artificial silk by the moist method from solutions of
cellulose, it is exceedingly difficult to completely wash out the solvent, as well
as the chemicals effecting the separation of the cellulose, from cellulose threads
wound on rollers. Even when using large quantities of washing water as well
as with continuing the washing for many days, it has not been possible to obtain
the cellulose absolutely clean, as is required, for example, when it is employed
as artificial silk.
This requirement is perfectly fulfilled with small quantities of washing
liquid and in a short time, if the rollers or spools bearing, the cellulose threads
be irrigated according to the process forming the subject of the present invention.
in
For this purpose, the liquid used for washing passes successively through
the fibrous material on a number of rollers arranged one over the other.
this process, the washing is carried out systematically so that the rollers are
moved from below upwards, and the rollers under the irrigating pipe or tube
are removed for drying as soon as it is determined by reagents that 'the chem-
icals to be washed out are entirely removed.
In this kind of washing, the washing water completely penetrates the fibrous
material and it is thus rendered possible to wash the cellulose perfectly clean
with small quantities of liquid, which was not possible heretofore.
The process can also be used for other wound up or spooled cellulose products,
for which the same difficulties in washing exist as those mentioned above for
the cellulose threads.
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page_text: declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
In the manufacture of artificial silk from solutions of cellulose, it is difficult
to completely free the cellulose threads, when spooled on rollers, from the sol- 5
vent and the chemicals used for the separation of the cellulose from its solution.
Even when large quantities of liquid are used and the washing is continued
for several days, the cellulose is not always made absolutely clean. The object
of our invention is to provide a method of thoroughly washing spooled cellulose
threads, strips and the like in a comparatively short time and with moderate
quantities of washing liquid.
The essential feature of our method of operation, as applied to cellulose threads
is to cause the washing liquid to flow over a number of spools of thread arranged
one over the other and, as the uppermost completely-washed spools are removed
to transfer the lower spools successively from below upwards and nearer to
the supply of water.
In carrying our invention into practice, we prefer to employ the simple form
of apparatus illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus with a water-reservoir indicated
in section.
Figure 2 is an elevation of part of the apparatus looking from the left of
Figure 1, while
Figure 3 is a plan view of the spool frame.
A denotes a suitable reservoir or other source of supply for the washing liquid
with one or more 'delivery pipes B having cocks or valves 6 and perforations
in those portions of the discharge pipes which lie immediately over the super-
10 are mounted
posed spools w of cellulose threads to be washed. These spools
on arms d arranged in a suitable frame D and they can be readily transferred
from one pair of supporting arms to another.
The washing water is allowed to flow in streams over the rollers, thus placed
one above the other, and the flow is continued until it is ascertained, by the
employment of reagents, that the chemicals have been washed out and completely
removed from the uppermost spools of cellulose. These uppermost spools are
then removed and the spools below are severally transferred to the next upper
supporting arms on the stand and fresh spools laid on the bottom arms and the
washing continued.
It has been found that, with this mode of procedure, the washing liquid com-
pletely frees the cellulose from the chemicals to be removed and this with only
a moderate quantity of washing liquid. The same process and apparatus may
be used for other wound or spooled cellulose products, for example, strips or
films.
1
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that
what we claim is:-
The herein described method of freeing spooled cellulose threads, strips o
the like from the chemicals used in their manufacture, the said method con
sisting in allowing washing liquid to flow over a number of spools containing
the threads or the like arranged one over the other and moving up the lowe
spools as the washing of the upper ones is completed.
f December loss.
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.