AN IMPROVED PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR DYEING GARMENTS OR THE LIKE
Year: 1884

page_text: I, JOSEPH P. DELAHUNTY, of Pittston, in the State of Pennsylvania, U.S.A.,
manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "AN IMPROVED
PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR DYEING GARMENTS OR THE LIKE" and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement :-
My invention has reference to a process of and apparatus for dyeing; and consists
in causing the garments to be dyed to be passed through the dye, then raised clear
of it and dropped in succession whereby said garments are kept separated from each
other during their passage through the dye; further in a large revolving cage formed
of slats or their equivalent provided on the interior with a series of pins projecting
from the periphery toward the axis of the wheel, the said cage being supported in a
tank of dyeing liquid in such a manner that it is part in and part out; further in
a removable screen, board, or net adapted to be inserted in said recl or cylinder
dividing it across from its center outward for the purpose of bringing to the surface
the dyed garments when the same shall be in a condition for removal, and in details
of construction all of which are fully set forth in the following specification and
shown in the accompanying drawings which form part thereof.
Heretofore it has been customary in dyeing finished goods as underwear &c. to
place them in a large vat or tank containing the dyeing liquid and pole them by
hand, that is to say catch them on the end of poles and drag them through the
dyeing liquid. In practice it is found that the poling is uncertain and some goods
are treated more uniformly than others while in some cases the garments lie unseen
in a corner of the tank and become ruined. The uneven poling causes the goods to
be dyed various shades or tints, and when they get twisted or knotted the dye
cannot penetrate, and the dyeing becomes streaky. These defectively dyed goods
though otherwise perfect cannot be sold without a heavy loss.
The object of my invention is therefore to over come all of the above objection-
able features by the adoption of mechanical means in place of hard labour, and so
forming the machine that all of the goods must be uniformly handled and dyed.
In the drawin.s:-
Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of my improved dyeing machine on line x x of
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2 is a plan view of same, and

page_text: A is the dye tanks and is supported within the frame B. C is a steam pipe
which connects with the heating pipe E extending through the tank A close to its
floor, and provided with apertures e to distribute the steam, the supply of which
may be regulated by a valve D. H is the dyeing cage which consists of the roller I
secured to the shaft J from which radiate at each end the spokes G¹ which carry the
circumferential ribs G making the wheel octagonal, and all of its faces are covered
with open slat work H' or other open work leaving large spaces through which the
liquid dye passes. One of the sides or faces upon the circumference of the wheel or
cage is formed into a door H2 hinged at hand provided with a catch or lock ¹
through which the goods to be dyed may be inserted or removed.
If desired the wheel or cage I may be made cylindrical, and formed of wood or
a metal not acted on by the dye, as bronze.
The ribs G are each provided with a series of pins R or R' the former of which
radiate toward the axis of the cage, while the latter are set obliquely pointing
in the direction of the rotation of the wheel. These pins pick up the garments
and carry them up, the radial pins dropping them at or before the time they
reach a vertical line through the axis of the wheel, while the oblique pins do
not drop them until they are past the said vertical line, the object of which is to
allow the goods to pass as freely through the dyeing liquid as possible and not
become tangled.
The roller I in the center of the cage prevents the goods hanging or twisting on
the shaft J and when said goods fall upon said roller it feeds them off gently into
the tank. If desired this roller I may be dispensed with.
If desired all of the pins may be set radially or all obliquely, or alternately radial
and oblique in a single series or the angle may increase with each series, as I do not
confine myself to their specific arrangement. These pins may be made of a short rod
with or without a head r.
The dye in the tank extends up close to the axis of the cage H as shown, and if
desired when working, the tank and wheel may be covered with a removable
cover B'.
The shaft J is supported in bearings K and has
wheel L which meshes with a pinion M secured
boxes and carrying fast and loose pullies P P¹.
by a frame A secured to the main frame B.
upon one of its ends a spur
to a shaft N journalled in
The outer box O is supported
The cage H is revolved slowly, from five to six revolutions being sufficient, but
the speed may be increased or diminished as desired.
The cylinder I opposite the door H2 is provided with seats or sockets I¹ for the
pins 13 on the collecting screen S which is interposed between the face of the reel
and the said cylinder, being secured in position by the curved metallic parts I² which
rest upon the ribs or framo G as shown and held down by the door H' when closed.
Other means may be used if desired. This screen fraine S may extend entirely
across the reel as indicated by dotted lines, or two such screens as shown at S may
be arranged in line, both terminating in the cylinder I, and this screen may be made
of wood or metal, of slats, perforated metal or wire work.
The operation is as follows:-After the garments are fully dyed, the reel is
stopped with the door H2 up. This is then opened, the screen S inserted, and then
closed. Now as the reel is rotated slowly the garments are brought to the surface
by the pins R R¹, and as fast as they appear the operator pushes them off so that
they shall remain on one side of the machine. Finally the screen sweeps around
and lifts all of the garments to the surface, and it is arrested when it reaches the
position shown. The door H2 is then opened and the garments drawn out they
having been allowed to drip first so as to carry no excess of the dyeing fluid with
them. The tray or screen S is then removed and the machine is in condition for
another lot of goods to be dyed.
While I prefer the construction shown it may be modified in various ways
without departing from my invention.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1st. In a dyeing machine a dye tank in combination with a rotating wheel or
cage formed of open work to allow of the passage of the dye, said cage being
provided with pins projecting from the periphery of the said cage inward, and a
roller or cylinder located about its axis, and supported partly in and partly out of
the liquid dye, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
2nd. In a dyeing machine, a dye tank in combination with a rotating wheel or
cage formed of open work upon its sides and periphery to allow of the passage of
the dye, said cage being provided with devices to catch the goods during its rotation
and after carrying them up clear of the liquid dye drop them, the said cage being
supported partly in and partly out of the liquid dye, substantially as and for the
purpose specified.
3rd. In a dyeing machine, the dye vat or tank in combination with a revolving
cage partly submerged in the liquid dye, the said cago being formed of open work
to allow the passage of the dye and provided with oblique and radial pins arranged
in series and projecting obliquely from the circumference inwardly, substantially as
and for the purpose specified.
4th. A dyeing machine consisting of a large reel or cylinder made of open work
and provided with a removable screen extending partly or wholly across the reel
and adapted for use when it is desired to collect the dyed garments, substantially
as and for the purpose specified.
5th. A dyeing machine consisting of a large reel or cylinder made of open work,
having a large central cylinder, and a screen made removable and adapted to fill the
space between the said central cylinder and face and sides of the reel, substantially
as and for the purpose specified.
6th. A dyeing machine consisting of a large reel or cylinder made of open work
having pins projecting centerwards from the periphery of said reel and within the
same and provided with a removable screen extending partly or wholly across the
reel and adapted for use when it is desired to collect the dyed garments, substantially
as and for the purpose specified.
7th. The process of dyeing garments which consists in causing them to, be passed
very slowly through the dye then raised clear of it and dropped in succession again
into said dye whereby said garments are kept separated from each other during
their passage through the dye and are fully saturated with the dye, substantially as
and for the purpose specified.
D
00
JOSEPH P. DELAHUNTY,
By his Agents,
Haseltine, Lake & Co.