IMPROVEMENTS IN PROCESSES FOR TREATING, SOFTENING, AND PREPARING SILK WASTE OF PIERCED COCOONS, WHICH. IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO THE TREATMENT OF OTHER DESCRIPTIONS OF FIRROUS MATERIALS
Year: 1864

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Ferdinand Metké Jessen, of Robert Town,
near Normanton, in the County of York, Silk Spinner, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PROCESSES FOR TREATING, SOFTENING, AND PREPARING
SILK WASTE OF PIERCED COCOONS, WHICH. IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO
THE TREATMENT OF OTHER DESCRIPTIONS OF FIRROUS MATERIALS"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Ferdinand Metké.
Jessen at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 20th September 1864.
I, CHARLES FERDINAND METKÉ JESSEN, of Robert Town, near Normanton,
in the County of York, Silk Spinner, do hereby declare the nature of the
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PROCESSES FOR TREATING, SOFTENING, AND
PREPARING SILK WASTE OR PIERCED COCOONS, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE
TO THE TREATMENT OF OTHER DESCRIPTIONS OF FIBROUS MATERIALS," to be as
follows:-
This Invention relates, first, to improvements in the processes employed
when treating silk waste of various descriptions, or "pierced cocoons," for the.
purpose of dissolving the gummy matter which adheres to the silk, so that
the fibres will freely split and separate ready for the subsequent processes of
combing, dressing, and spinning.

page_text: The process usually employed for softening silk waste and pierced cocoons
consists in closely pressing the same into large vessels, of wood or stoneware,
filled up with hot water the temperature of which is kept up for a consider-
able time, varying from 8 to 14 days, or until the silk waste thus treated
becomes soft and will split or separate ready for being combed or dressed. In
addition to the great length of time this process occupies much uncertainty
attends the result, for if the silk is not sufficiently acted upon the fibres will
not split or separate properly, causing considerable waste in working and an
inferior yarn when spun. Should the silk waste be exposed too long to the
fermenting or softening process by neglect or ignorance, the gum will not only
be dissolved but the strength of the fibre will be destroyed, being tender or
rutten and unfit for usc.
Now according to my improvements I immerse tho silk wasto or pierced
cocoons in a vessel containing water, soap suds, or an alkaline solution (by
preference warm), according to the nature of the silk waste to be thus treated,
streams of air being forced through the liquid in any convenient manner, in
order to agitate the same during the process, and I prefer to introduce a
number of hard balls of wood into the vessel to impart friction to the mate-
rials whilst under operation, or other suitable mechanical means of imparting
a moderate amount of friction to the materials under operation may be
employed for this purpose.
I would remark that for the treatment of some descriptions of silk wasto
according to my improvements clear water alone may be employed, or the
waste soap liquor which has been previously employed for boiling or scouring
purposes may be used in place of being thrown away. When the silk waste
thus treated is sufficiently soft I wash it in cold water, agitated as previously
described, to remove the loose particles of gum, after which it is dried and
worked in the ordinary manner after being softened. By thus treating the
silk waste a good yellow color will be obtained and, a longer and stronger
fibre will be produced, a great saving of time being effected with less waste in
the subsequent processes. The process abovo described is applicable to the
discharging of silk waste or cocoons to render the silk white. in place of the
process usually employed for this purpose. The silk waste is first agitated, as
before described, in a vessel containing water, or by preference soap suds or
an alkaline solution, and afterwards with clean water, and only 'requires once
boiling to produce a clear white, a great saving of soap being thus effected, a
stronger and more brilliant fibre being obtained, with much less waste in
working than by the ordinary process of boiling only, for rendering the silk
waste white.

page_text: Other fibrous substances combined with gummy or other foreign or resinous
matters may also be treated as above described, according to my Invention,
for the purpose of softening, separating, and preparing the same for being
afterwards combed or dressed, as is well understood; or the above-described
process may be advantageously employed in the treatment and preparation
of rags or other fibrous materials, to cleanse and prepare the same for the
manufacture of paper or for other manufacturing purposes.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Charles Ferdinand Metké Jessen in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 18th March 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
FERDINAND METKE JESSEN, of Robert Town, near Normanton, in the County
of York, Silk Spinner, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, in the twenty-eighth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Charles Ferdinand Metké Jessen, Her special licence that I, the said
Charles Ferdinand Motké Jessen, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said Charles Ferdinand Metké Jessen, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others,
from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein ex-
pressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Islo
of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PROCESSES FOR TREATING, SOFTENING,
AND PREPARING SILK WASTE OR PIERCED CocoONS, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE
APPLICABLE TO THE TREATMENT OF OTHER DESCRIPTIONS OF FIBROUS MATERIALS,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Charles Ferdinand
Metké Jessen, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same was to be performed, 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Charles Ferdinand Metké Jessen,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the

page_text: same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement thereof, that is to say:—
This Invention relates, first, to improvements in the processes employed
when treating silk waste of various descriptions, or "pierced cocoons," for the
purpose of dissolving the gummy matter which adheres to the silk, so that
the fibres will freely split and separate ready for the subsequent process of
combing, dressing, and spinning.
The process usually employed for softening silk waste and pierced cocoons
consists in closely pressing the same into large vessels, of wood or stoneware,
filled up by preference with hot water the temperature of which is kept
up for a considerable time, varying from 8 to 10 days, or until the silk
waste thus treated becomes soft and will split or separate ready for being
combed or dressed. In addition to the great length of time this process
occupies much uncertainty attends the result, for if the silk is not sufficiently
acted upon the fibres will not split or separate properly, causing considerablo
waste in working and an inferior yarn when spun. Should the silk waste be
exposed too long to the fermenting or softening process by neglect or igno-
rance, the gum will not only be dissolved but the strength of the fibro will be
destroyed, being tender or rotten and unfit for use.
Now according to my improvements I immerse the silk waste or "pierced
cocoons" in a vessel containing water, soap suds, or an alkaline solution (by
preference warm), according to the nature of the silk waste to be thus treated,
streams of air being forced through the liquid in any convenient manner, in
order to agitate the same during the process, and I prefer to introduce a
number of hard balls of wood into the vessel to impart friction to the materials
whilst under operation, or other suitable mechanical means of imparting a
moderate amount of friction to the materials under operation may be employed
for this purpose.
I would remark that for the treatment of some descriptions of silk waste,
according to my improvements, clear water alone may be employed, or the
waste soap liquor which has been previously employed for boiling or scouring
purposes may be used in place of being thrown away. When the silk waste
thus treated is sufficiently soft I wash it in cold water agitated, as previously
described, by forcing streams of air through the liquid to remove the loose
particles of gum, after which it is dried and worked in the ordinary manner
after being softened. By thus treating the silk waste a good yellow color will
be obtained and a longer and stronger fibre will be produced with less waste in
the subsequent processes. The process above described is applicable to tho
discharging of silk waste or cocoons as a preparatory process for rendering

page_text: silk white in place of the process usually employed for this purpose. The silk
waste is first agitated, by streams of air as before described, in a vessel con-
taining water, or by preference soap suds or an alkaline solution, and afterwards
with clean water, and only requires once boiling afterwards to produce a clear
white, a great saving of soap being thus effected, a stronger and more bril-
liant fibre being also obtained with much less waste in working than by the
ordinary process of boiling only for rendering the silk waste white.
Other fibrous substances combined with gummy or other foreign or resinous
matters may also be treated as above described, according to my Invention,
for the purpose of softening, separating, and preparing the same for being
afterwards combed or dressed, as is well understood; or the above-described
process may be advantageously employed in the treatment and preparation
of rags or other fibrous materials, to cleanse and prepare the same for the
manufacture of paper or for other manufacturing purposes.
I would remark that I have not thought it necessary to particularly describe
the means by which air is forced through the water or solutions containing
the silk waste or other fibrous materials whilst being treated according to my
Invention, as it will be evident that any simple arrangement of apparatus for
forcing air will answer this purpose, and any competent mechanic will readily
apply the same to suit the particular purpose for which it is required in
carrying out my improvements.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Ferdinand Metké Jessen, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of March, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.
Witness,
EMIL WINKILMAN,
Book-keeper.
CHA³. F. M. JESSEN. (L.B.)