IMPROVEMENTS IN CLEANSING PRINTED COTTON AND SILK FABRICS FROM COLOURING MATTERS
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Goodwin, of Milton, near Campsie, in the
County of Stirling, North Britain, Dyer, and Andrew Boyd, of the same
Place, Merchant, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CLEANSING
PRINTED COTTON AND SILK FABRICS FROM COLOURING MATTERS."
Sealed the 9th February 1858, and dated the 26th August 1857.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Goodwin and
Andrew Boyd at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their
Petition, on the 26th August 1857.
We, JAMES GOODWIN, of Milton, near Campsie, in the County of Stirling,
North Britain, Dyer, and ANDREW BOYD, of the same Place, Merchant, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
CLEANSING PRINTED COTTON AND SILK FABRICS FROM COLOURING MATTERS," to be as
follows, that is to say:-
This Invention has for its object the cleansing of printed fabrics from the
colouring matters diffused over the surface of the fabrics during the process of
printing; this cleansing of the fabrics being effected by means of an in-
expensive and abundant material, instead of using soap and chemical materials,
which form a costly item in the preparation of printed goods. In the present
Invention the fabrics to be cleansed are first washed in cold water to free
them from dirt and extraneous matters, they are then submitted to the process
for discharging the diffused colouring matter from the ground of the fabric. A

page_text: sufficient quantity of cinders, coke, or charcoal, but preference is given to the
cinders of mineral coal, are sifted to free them from ash and dirt. The sifted
cinders are placed in a suitable boiling apparatus, with a quantity of water,
which is made to boil. The fabrics are then placed in the boiler with the
cinders and the boiling continued for some time. After boiling a sufficient
length of time, which must be arranged according to the nature of the dyeing
materials, the fabrics are to be taken out and washed in cold water or other-
wise treated. By this mode of cleansing the ground or white parts of the
fabrics are not only rendered perfectly white and free from discoloration, but
the dyed parts are improved in the brilliancy of the colors.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Goodwin and Andrew Boyd in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 24th February 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JAMES
GOODWIN, of Milton, near Campsie, in the County of Stirling, North Britain,
Dyer, and ANDREW BOYD, of the same Place, Merchant, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-sixth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twenty-first year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
us, the said James Goodwin and Andrew Boyd, Her special license that
we, 'the said James Goodwin and Andrew Boyd, our executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said James Goodwin and
Andrew Boyd, our executors, administrators, or assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
CLEANSING PRINTED COTTON AND SILK FABRICS PROM COLOURING MATTERS," upon
the condition (amongst others) that we, the said James Goodwin and Andrew
Boyd, by an instrument in writing under our hands and seals, or under the
hand and seal of one of us, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be per-
formed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said James Goodwin and Andrew Boyd,
do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, that is to say:
Our said Invention has for its object the cleansing of printed fabrics from
the colouring matters diffused over the surface of the fabrics during the
process of printing; this cleansing of the fabrics being effected by means of
an inexpensive and abundant material, instead of using soap and chemical
materials, which form a costly item in the preparation of printed goods. In
the present Invention the fabrics to be cleansed are first washed in cold water,
to free them from dirt and extraneous matters, they are then submitted to the
process for discharging the diffused colouring matter from the ground of the
fabric. A sufficient quantity of cinders, coke, or charcoal, but preference is
given to the cinders of mineral coal, are sifted to free them from ash and dirt.
The sifted cinders are placed in a suitable boiling apparatus, with a quantity of
water, which is made to boil. The fabrics are then placed in the boiler with
the cinders, and the boiling continued for some time. After boiling a
sufficient length of time, which must be arranged according to the nature of
the dyeing materials, the fabrics are to be taken out and washed in cold
water or otherwise treated. By this mode of cleansing the ground or white
parts of the fabrics are not only rendered perfectly white and free from
discolouration, but the dyed parts are improved in the brilliancy of the
colours.
And in order that our said Invention may be properly understood we shall
now proceed to describe the same in detail.
In the Provisional Specification which was lodged at the office of the
Commissioners of Patents when we made application for the grant of the
Letters Patent herein-before in part recited, we described one mode of cleansing
cotton and silk fabrics from colouring matters. Since the lodging of the
document referred to we have modified and improved our process, that is to
say, instead of boiling the fabrics to be cleansed in the vessel in which the
cinders, coke, or charcoal are placed, as described in the said Provisional
Specification, we prefer to prepare the cleansing fluid in a separate vessel.
According to this modification the fabrics are boiled in the pure cleansing
fluid, and any injury that might arise from the fabrics coming in contact with
the cinders, coke, or charcoal, is avoided. Moreover, the cleansing fluid may
be more efficiently prepared upon a large scale by persons devoting themselves
to its manufacture, and from whom the calico and silk printers, dyers, cleaners,
and other persons may be supplied. One mode of preparing our cleansing

page_text: fluid, which is to be used in lieu of soap or other chemical cleansing materials,
is as follows: The vessel in which the cleansing liquor is manufactured may
be a cylindrical boiler of the ordinary kind, and set in brickwork in the usual
manner; this boiler is furnished with a manhole or other suitable aperture for
charging and discharging the solid contents of the vessel. The boiler must
also be fitted with induction and eduction pipes for filling the boiler, and
drawing off the prepared cleansing fluid; the said pipes being furnished with
stop-cocks or other means for controlling the passage of the fluids to and from
the boiler. Instead of using a cylindrical boiler with hemispherical ends, a
boiler with flat ends or of a slightly convex shape may be conveniently used
for the purpose; in this arrangement the door for charging and discharging
the solid contents of the boiler may be fitted at one end of the boiler; or the
end of the boiler may be made so that it may be removed at pleasure, thus
affording great facility for removing the contents of the boiler, and recharging
the same.
In this arrangement the end of the cylindrical portion of the
boiler should be made with a broad flange, the face of which is to be turned in
a lathe, and a circular groove or channel should be cut in the face of the
flange. The cover or end piece is to be made with a corresponding flange to
fit the end of the body of the boiler; the flange has upon its face a projecting
ring which is turned to fit the face of the boiler end; the face of the flange is
likewise turned so that the two opposing surfaces fit closely to each other.
The circular groove in the boiler end is packed either with gasket, vulcanized
india-rubber, or other suitable packing, so as to keep the junction of the two
parts steam and water-tight when the end cover is fastened on. The cover is
secured to the boiler by bolts and nuts or other similar fastenings. A vessel
suitable for the manufacture of our cleansing fluid, and arranged according to
one of the modes herein-before described, or a modification thereof, is to be
filled, or partially so, with water, account being kept of the number of gallons
of water filled into the boiler. To each gallon of water is to be added five
pounds weight of sifted cinders, that is to say, if five hundred gallons of
water have been pumped or otherwise filled into the boiler, two thousand
five hundred pounds weight of cinders is to be added thereto. The cinders
are put into the boiler through the manhole or other aperture provided
for the purpose.
But if the boiler used for the preparation is one in
which the opening is at the end, or with a moveable end cover, then
the charge of cinders is put into the boiler first, and after properly
securing the door or end cover, the proper quantity of water is added
thereto. The cinders used for the purpose is the ordinary partially con-
sumed product of mineral coal; these cinders are sifted prior to using them,

page_text: so as to free them from the fine dust and ash with which they are usually
mixed. Mineral coke, or the residuum obtained from the manufacture of coal
gas, will also do for the purpose of preparing our cleansing fluid; or the
coke may be expressly prepared for the purpose in a suitable coke oven,
similar to those ordinarily used for burning coke for use in locomotive
engines. If this arrangement be adopted, the heat of the coke oven may
be economically applied to the heating of the boiler or boilers in which the
cleansing liquor is prepared. The large lumps or masses in which coke is
usually obtained are to be broken into pieces of about a cubic inch in size.
In breaking up a quantity of coke for the purpose, there will necessarily be
produced a good deal of dust and minute particles which are useless, the
whole of the broken material is therefore to be passed through a sieve in order
to separate the larger pieces from the powdered coke and refuse. Instead of
using the cinders of mineral coal or coke, vegetable charcoal may be substituted
for either of these substances; but we give the préference to either cinders or
coke, as being cheaper and more easily obtained in large quantities than
charcoal. If, however, charcoal is made use of for preparing the cleansing
fluid, it is to be broken into pieces of about one inch square, and sifted to free
the larger pieces from dust and refuse matters, the charcoal is then ready for
Whichever of these substances, namely, cinders, coke, or charcoal, is
used, the requisite quantity is to be put into the boiler, and the proper pro-
portion of water, that is to say, one gallon of water to every five pounds
weight of cinders, coke, or charcoal is added thereto, or vice versa. This
being done, the fire is raised and the water made to boil, the boiling of the
cinders, coke, or charcoal in the water is continued for the space of five hours
or thereabouts. A quantity of chalk is then added to the liquor in the
boiler; the added quantity of chalk is to be in the proportion of one pound
weight of chalk to each gallon of fluid in the boiler. The chalk is to be
added to the fluid in the boiler in a powdered state, and is therefore to be
ground in a mill or otherwise pulverised prior to putting it into the boiler.
After adding the chalk to the fluid, the boiling is to be continued for one
hour longer, the fire is then to be withdrawn or damped down, in order to
allow the fluid in the boiler to become clear, by the settlement or deposition
of the particles of chalk suspended therein. The clear supernatant liquor is
now to be drawn off from the boiler by means of the tap or valvular apparatus
fitted to the boiler for the purpose. Or, in lieu of this mode of procedure,
the liquor may be drawn off from the boiler when the second boiling is
completed; in this case the fluid must be allowed to remain for some time in
use.

page_text: the vessel into which it is run, in order to admit of the settlement of the
chalky matters held in suspension. Upon the clear liquor being drawn off
from the deposit, the cleansing fluid is ready for use, and may be put up in
barrels, bottles, or other vessels ready for the use of calico and silk printers,
dyers, cleaners, and others. The charge of cinders, coke, or charcoal and
chalk is then to be removed from the boiler, and the vessel is again ready for
repeating the operation of preparing another quantity of the liquor. The
cleansing fluid prepared in the foregoing or other similar manner exerts a
powerful detergent or cleansing action upon textile fabrics, and it is to be used
in lieu of soap or other chemical ingredients for washing and cleansing cotton
and silk fabrics. It is impossible to state the exact proportions in which the
cleansing fluid is to be mixed with water to meet all the purposes to which it
is applicable, but as a general rule it may be stated that a mixture of one
gallons of cleansing fluid to forty gallons of water will be found to make an
effective cleansing liquor suitable for cleansing printed cotton and silk fabrics.
This cleansing fluid is particularly adapted for the use of calico and silk
printers, as it discharges in a far more effectual manner than by the use of
soap the colouring matters diffused over the ground of the fabrics during the
operations of printing and fixing the colours. The cleansing fluid not only
discharges the diffused colouring matters from the ground of the fabrics, but it
also heightens or developes more fully the tints of the printed portions of the
fabrics, and gives a peculiar brilliancy and highly satisfactory effect thereto.
Although not required in the general purposes to which this fluid is applicable,
yet in some cases a small proportion of alkali, either potass or soda may be
judiciously and advantageously added thereto. The increase of strength
obtained by the addition of the alkali must be regulated according to the
nature of the goods which the cleansing fluid is specially prepared for. The
fluid is also advantageously useful as a substitute for the "dunging liquor "
ordinarly used by the printers of textile fabrics to clear the ground of the
fabrics, and fix the mordants therein, and to all purposes in the preparation
or cleansing of printed silk and cotton goods, where an economical but effective
and uninjurious cleansing or detergent action is required.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of our said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, we may observe, in conclusion, that we do not confine or restrict
ourselves to the precise details or arrangements which we have had occasion
to describe or refer to, as many variations may be made therefrom without
deviating from the principles or main features of our Invention; but what we

page_text: consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention
secured to us by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is,―
First, the system or mode of cleansing, discharging, or freeing printed
cotton or silk fabrics from diffused colouring matters or other impurities, as
herein-before described.
Second, the use and application of the cinders of mineral coal, of coke
obtained in the manufacture of gas or otherwise, and of vegetable charcoal, in
and to the purpose of cleansing, washing, or otherwise treating textile fabrics,
in order to discharge colouring matters therefrom, or free them from other
impurities, as herein-before described.
Third, the system or mode of preparing or manufacturing from a com-
bination of cinders, coke, or charcoal, water and chalk, and occasionally an
alkali, a liquor or fluid suitable for washing, cleansing, or otherwise treating
printed cotton and silk fabrics, as herein-before described.
Fourth, the use and application of the fluid or liquor, prepared as herein-
before described, to the purposes of washing, cleansing, or otherwise treating
printed cotton and silk fabrics, as herein-before described.
Fifth, the application of the cleansing fluid or liquor as a substitute for or
in lieu of the "dunging liquor" or process used and practised in the operations
of printing cotton or silk fabrics, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Goodwin, on behalf of myself
and the said Andrew Boyd, have hereunto set my hand and seal, this
Twentieth day of February, One thousand eight hundred and fifty-
eight.
JAMES GOODWIN. (L.S.)