Process and Apparatus for Continuous Bleaching of Fabrics in Open Condition.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Aug.. 1899-Accepted, 11th Aug., 1900
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Process and Apparatus for Continuous Bleaching of Fabrics in
Open Condition.
I. WILLIAM MATHER, of Salford Iron Works, Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:―
This invention relates to a process and apparatus for bleaching fabrics of cotton
or other vegetable textile material in a continuous manner, the fabrics being
treated in open condition, that is to say not twisted or creased.
The web or several webs temporarily connected together are treated according
to this invention, as follows:-
The continuous web is passed through an opening on the upper side of a
cylindrical vessel, and in that vessel is wound upon a fluted mandrel so as to
form a roll. The vessel being then closed, the fabric is pushed against a per-
forated partition, which separates from the main vessel a compartment at one
end of it. The vessel is partially filled with the solution with which it is desired
to impregnate the web, so that while the web is being wound upon the fluted
core it becomes saturated with the solution. After the vessel is closed, further
solution is added to fill the vessel, and by means of a rotary or other pump, and
pipes provided with suitable valves, the solution is caused to circulate from the
main vessel to the compartment, or from the compartment to the main vessel,
passing in its course through and between the convolutions of the rolled web, in
streams approximately parallel to the axis of the roll. In order to ensure the
flow parallel to the axis of the roll, the web, before it is rolled, may have pieces
of impervious fabric attached to its ends so that, when it is rolled, these pieces
form internal and external covers preventing radial flow of the fluid. During the
circulation of the fluid, the roll of cloth and the perforated plate against which it
is pressed are slowly revolved so as to bring every portion of the roll under the
same conditions of circulation and thus secure uniformity of treatment. The
solution may be heated in the course of circulation to any required temperature,
and applied under any suitable pressure.
After sufficient treatment, the door on
the top of the vessel is again opened, and the roll being moved away from the
perforated partition plate so that it can revolve freely, the web is unwound.
and then conducted onwards to be further treated.
According to the amount of fabric to be treated in a given time, the cylindrical
vessels may be increased in number, so that when one web or set of webs is
being rolled on or rolled off, others can be treated with the circulation of the
fluid for such time as may be necessary, and as these separate webs are treated,
they may be successively connected end to end to form a continuous web of any
length passing through the succeeding bleaching operations up to drying. The
vessels may be arranged in a horizontal row, or placed one above the other in a
vertical row. In the latter case, each vessel has preferably two doors on its upper
part, the one on the one side to introduce the web, and that on the other to
withdraw it as it is unwound from the roll. After sufficient treatment in one of

page_text: these vessels with any suitable chemical solution, a cleansing or washing operation
may be effected by water circulated in the same manner as the chemical solu-
tion. When the breaching powder employed contains no lime, a full bleach may
be obtained in the cylindrical vessel, by alternating the treatment of the rolled
web with alkali, bleaching powders, solution and water, the web being drawn
out by the rinsing and squeezing machine and dried. If, however, the bleaching
powder contains lime so that acid treatment is required after the full treatment
of the rolled web with the alkali and bleaching powder, the web is led over
suitable guide rollers to a machine for the purpose of being saturated with acidu-
lated water, commonly known, as a souring operation. Here the web is caused
to pass under and over a number of rolls so that it is thoroughly saturated, and
thence it passes between pressing rollers and over suitable guide rollers, and
descends plaited in zig-zag folds between two inclined walls which can be adjusted
nearer to or farther from one another, these folds being bent round under a
cylinder and between it and the bight of a continuously travelling apron., which
passes over suitably arranged guide rollers, so that the mass of folds is made to
take the form of a bent horn, descending along one side of the cylinder passing
under it and ascending along its other side.
The slow advance of the folds of cloth, from the entrance of this horn shaped
enclosure to its outlet, allows each fold of the web to remain in a state of satura-
tion with the acidulated water long enough to enable the chemical action to be
completed. The cylinder around which the mass of cloth is guided is hollow
and perforated on its under side. It is supplied with fresh water, which passes
through the perforations and penetrates the folds as they slowly pass, thus par-
tially cleansing them from the acid. In some cases the cylinder may be supplied
with acidulated water to impregnate the cloth with additional acid. From the
ascending side of the horn like apparatus, the web passes through a washing
machine which is preferably of the following description:-
Over a tank are mounted rollers in a vertical row; in the tank are mounted
guide rollers also arranged vertically, and the web passes down and up between
a pair of the pressing rollers, down again, and so on, several times, while jets of
water are directed upon both its surfaces as its ascends and descends, the web
being thus cleansed from the chemical solution with which it had been saturated.
The web finally passes through a pair of squeezing rollers on the washing machine
to a drying apparatus of the ordinary kind. More than one or these washing
machines may be applied to the cloth in its course according to the character
of the texture, and such a machine may also be introduced between the roll
vessel and the souring machine to give an additional washing after the web
passes out of the cylindrical vessel.
+
"
Such being the general character of the bleaching process according to the
present invention, I shall now proceed to describe apparatus by which it can be
practically carried out, referring to the accompanying drawings.
Fig. is a longitudinal and Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the apparatus in
which the fabric is treated in roll. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of a somewhat
modified form of the apparatus, and Fig. 4 is a part longitudinal section of an-
other modification.
Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of the whole bleaching apparatus, the roll
vessels being arranged in a vertical row:
Fig. 6 shews these vessels arranged in a horizontal row.
...
Figs. and S are drawn to an enlarged scale shewing respectively a longi-
tudinal section and a plan of that part of the apparatus in which the fabric is
soured, cleansed and washed.
....
Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2. a is a cylindrical vessel provided with a door b
which can be tightly closed In this vessel is mounted a fluted mandrel e which
passes through a stuffing box at one end of the vessel and has its end part screw
threaded to receive a nut d. This mandrel carries a perforated disc or partition e
which can slide on but must turn with the mandrel and has its edge bearing

page_text: against a fixed shoulder f: The door being opened, the end of a web of fabric,
or of several webs temporarily connected together by stitching or otherwise, being
attached to the mandrel, this is caused to revolve so as to wind the web or webs
on it in a number of convolutions, the, fabric being thus formed into a roll the
length of which is equivalent to the width of the webs. The door b being then
closed, the vessel is charged with suitable liquid for soaking the fabric, and after
a time the nut d is turned, while the mandrel is prevented from turning, so as
to draw the end of the roll of fabric close against the partition e which is thus
pressed against the shoulder f. Through pipes g at each end of the vessel, liquids
can be pumped or steam or gases can be forced into and through the vessel having
to pass on their way longitudinally through and between the successive convolu-
tions of the fabric in streams substantially parallel to the axis. In order that
all parts may receive uniform treatment, the roll can be either continuously or
from time to time caused to revolve. After sufficient treatment, the vessel can
be emptied and then the door being opened, the fabric can be unwound and
detached from the mandrel.
As shewn in Fig. 3, the perforated disc or partition e forms one wall of a
separate chamber communicating with a central pipe h which takes the place of
one of the pipes g. In this case the screw is on a spindle fitting a nut fixed
in the mandrel.
As shewn in Fig. 4, the partition e is stationary, in which case, when the roll
of fabric has to be turned, it is first, by turning the nut d, separated a little
from the partition so that it
free to turn.
The roll vessels a, when they are arranged in a vertical row as shewn in
Fig. 5, have two doors bone on each side of the upper part, so that the fabric
can be introduced through the opening on the left side and with-
drawn through the opening on the right side. When the vessels are
arranged in a horizontal row as shewn in Fig. 6, the one opening serves for both
introducing and withdrawing the fabric, and this is generally preferable though
the vertical arrangement of the vessels may be adopted when floor space is limited.
From the roll vessel the fabric is led to the apparatus where it is led by guide
rollers through acidulated liquid and passed between squeezing rollers, and thence
it is led over a guide roller to a pair of oscillating rollers by which it is laid
in zig-zag folds between two inclined walls m which can be adjusted by screws n
nearer to or farther from one another. The folds slowly descend to the space be-
tween a stationary cylinder o and a continuously travelling apron and are moved
slowly under the cylinder o receiving from it liquid discharged from it in jets.
this liquid being either pure water for washing the fabric, or it may be acidulated
water when inore souring is required.
The web again becoming unfolded is led to the washing machine where it is
caused by guide rollers 7 and squeezing rollers r, to take a zig-zag course, while
jets of waters, are directed on both sides of it. The washed fabric finally passes
to drying apparatus of ordinary kind.
When there is no lime in the bleaching liquid employed in the vessels a, no
souring is required, and therefore the souring apparatus and also the apparatus
consisting of the parts m, n, o, may be dispensed with the web passing from
the roll vessels a directly to the washing apparatus.
The apparatus comprising the parts k, l, m, n and p might obviously be used
not only for souring fabrics but also for treating them with any liquid which
should have considerable 'time to act. It might for instance be used for treating
the fabric with bleaching solution, and in that case, it might be repeated to effect
the souring as described, if that should be necessary.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The herein described process for continuously bleaching fabrics in open con-
dition by rolling them in their full width on suitable cores, placing each roll in

page_text: a closed vessel with its end against a perforated partition and forcing bleaching
iquid lengthwise through the roll, then unrolling the fabric, souring it if neces-
sary and finally washing and drying it.
2. For treating a roll of fabric with bleaching liquid forced lengthwise through
the roll, apparatus comprising a vessel divided by a perforated partition into two
compartments, a mandrel carrying the roll of fabric mounted to revolve and slide
longitudinally in the vessel, an opening at the upper part of the vessel provided
with a tightly closing door, or two such openings and doors, and pipes putting
the two compartments in communication through suitable pump and valves, sub-
stantially as described with reference to Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4.
3. Apparatus for souring or otherwise treating with liquid a continuous web of
fabric in open condition, comprising guide and pressing rollers arranged in a
tank of souring liquid, oscillating rolls for laying the fabric in zig-zag folds, a
pair of inclined walls relatively adjustable, down which the folds descend, a
stationary cylinder discharging liquid in jets upon the folds and a continuously
travelling apron between which and the cylinder the folds are carried, substan-
tially as described.
4. Apparatus for washing a continuous web of fabric in open condition, com-
prising guide and pressing rollers by which the fabric is led in zig-zag course
receiving on each side jets of water, substantially as described.
5. The combined apparatus for continuously bleaching fabrics in open con-
dition, comprising a number of vessels in which rolls of the fabric have bleaching
liquid forced through them lengthwise, souring apparatus by which the fabric is
saturated with acidulated water and allowed to soak in slowly moving zig-zag
folds, washing apparatus and drying apparatus, substantially as described.
Dated this 17th day of August 1899.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.