IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR USE IN DYEING FABRICS INDIGO BLUE
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Firth, of Leeds, in the County of York, for the
Invention of "IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR USE IN DYEING FABRICS INDIGO
BLUE,"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Firth at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th February 1876.
JOSEPH FIRTH, of Leeds, in the County of York. " IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR
USE IN DYEING FABRICS INDIGO BLUE."
My Invention relates to dyeing fabrics indigo blue, and it consists in an
apparatus constructed and operating as hereafter described for passing the fabrics
through the indigo vat.
By means of the apparatus of my Invention a perfect evenness of color is ensured,
and one or several pieces may be passed through the vat at once at a uniform
speed, regulated according to the weight and substance of the goods and the
condition of the vat. Moreover by my Invention the damage or deterioration to
which the goods are liable by the method now practised is entirely avoided.
The apparatus is portable so as to be readily transferred from one vat to another;
it is adapted to carry on the operation of woading (i.e., dyeing fabrics blue
preparatory to being dyed black) during the process of dyeing as hereafter described,
and it delivers the fabrics to the vat at any temperature desired and free of
water.
The apparatus consists of sets of cylinders disposed horizontally in two tiers at
the upper and lower parts of a suitable frame which stands in the vat.
The upper
tier is some inches beneath the surface of the liquor in the vat, and the lower tier
is at such a distance from the bottom of the vat as to leave sufficient space for the
sediment deposited in the vat during the fermentation of the indigo. The upper
tier of cylinders is driven by worm and spur gearing from a main shaft provided
with cones for changing the speed of the cylinders. There is a set of cylinders for
each piece which is carried through the vat in a zig-zag direction, passing round a
cylinder of the upper and lower tiers alternately, and over rolls at the ends of the
vat. Each set consists of large and small cylinders, the large ones being in, say, the
upper tier, and the smaller ones in the lower tier, the cylinders of the next set
being reversed (that is to say, the small ones being in the upper tier and the larger
Price Gdi

page_text: ones on the lower tier), and placed directly beneath those of the preceding set, so
that the fabric carried by the one set will zig-zag within the zig-zags of the fabric
carried by the other set without coming in contact therewith, and so on for a
greater number of pieces by means of additional sets of cylinders of suitable diameter
similarly disposed.
The cylinders are mounted in vertically adjustable bearings, and the lower tier
of cylinders are carried by a frame or frames nade vertically adjustable by rack and
pinion or otherwise in order to regulate the height of the lower tier in the vat and
the distance from the upper tier, and to enable the lower tier to be raised bodily
out of the way when it is necessary to stir the vat.
Instead of each piece passing round a separate set of cylinders, two pieces may in
certain cases be carried through together by each set, thereby doubling the quantity
of goods dyed.
The operation of woading is carried on independently of the dyeing in the spaces
between the upper tier of cylinders and the surface of the liquor by means of
cylinders suitably disposed, driven by a separate gear, whereby the fabric is carried
through the upper portion of the vat.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said Joseph Firth in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 17th August 1876.
JOSEPH FIRTH, of Leeds, in the County of York. "IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR
USE IN DYEING FABRICS INDIGO BLUE."
My Invention relates to dyeing fabrics indigo blue, and it consists in an
apparatus constructed and operating as hereafter described for passing the fabrics
through the indigo vat.
By means of the apparatus of my Invention a perfect evenness of color is ensured,
and one or several pieces may be passed through the vat at once at a uniform
speed, regulated according to the weight and substance of the goods and the
condition of the vat. Moreover by my Invention the damage or deterioration to
which the goods are liable by the method now practiced is entirely avoided.
The apparatus is portable so as to be readily transferred from one vat to another;
it is adapted to carry on the operation of woading (ie., dyeing fabrics blue
preparatory to being dyed black) during the process of dyeing indigo blue as
hereafter described.
The apparatus consists of one or more sets of cylinders disposed horizontally in
two tiers at the upper and lower parts of a suitable frame which stands in the vat.
The upper tier is some inches beneath the surface of the liquor in the vat, and the
lower tier is at such a distance from the bottom of the vat as to leave sufficient
space for the sediment deposited in the vat during the fermentation of the indigo.
The upper tier of cylinders is driven by worm and spur gearing from a main shaft
provided with cones for changing the speed of the cylinders. The goods are
carried through the vat in a zig-zag direction, passing round a cylinder of the upper
and lower tiers alternately, and finally through a pair of squeezing rolls, by which
the surplus liquor is expressed and returned to the vat." When the apparatus
comprises two or more sets, each set consists of a large and small cylinders, the
large being in, say, the upper tier, and the smaller ones in the lower tier, the
cylinders of the next set being reversed (that is to say, the small ones being in the
upper tier and the larger ones in the lower tier, and placed directly beneath those
of the preceding set, so that the fabric carried by the one set will zig-zag parallel
or nearly so with the fabric carried by the other set, and so on for a greater number
of pieces by means of additional sets of cylinders of suitable diameter similarly
disposed.

page_text: Figure 1 represents a longitudinal section of the apparatus provided with a single
set of cylinders; it is shown as fitted in the indigo vat A. The apparatus is con-
structed with an upper and a lower frame to carry the two tiers of cylinders. The
upper frame consists of two side frames B braced together by suitable cross bars,
and in which the upper tier of cylinders is mounted. The lower frame C consists
merely of two loose rails, one at either side, connected to the upper frame B at each
side of the apparatus by a rack rod D geared with a pinion E, and guided by a
flanged roller F mounted on frame B. The pinions E are both fixed on a cross
shaft G mounted in the frame B, so as to be operated simultaneously by means of a
winch handle on shaft G to raise or lower the frame C in the vat, the frame C
sliding up and down in vertical guides H fixed to the sides or ends of the vat A.
The apparatus is supported in the vat by the ends of the frames B resting on the
edge of the vat or on bearers fixed therein, as shown or otherwise. I is the upper
tier of cylinders, and 1¹ the lower tier, mounted in bearings in the frames B and C
respectively. In this arrangement the cylinders I¹ may or may not be of the same
diameter as the cylinders I. The journal of each of the cylinders I is prolonged
through the frame B at one end only, and on it is keyed a gear wheel L represented
by the dotted circles, the wheels I of all the cylinders being geared together by
intermediate gear wheels M mounted on pivots or studs fixed to one of the side
frames B. The cylinders I are driven from the main shaft N by a worm O gearing
with a worm wheel U cast in one with or fixed to the gear whcel P, which in turn
gears with another wheel Q gearing with the wheels L of two of the cylinders, as
shown, the wheels P and Q being also mounted on studs fixed to side frame B.
It will however be understood that this gearing may be varied if greater power is
required to drive the rolls S. The shaft N is mounted in uprights rising from the,
same side frame B, and is driven from an overhead shaft by a belt running on conos
for varying the speed at which the cylinders are driven. Ř, R, represent the fabric
passing through the vat, two pieces at a time, over the same cylinders. The fabric
or fabrics first pass over a roller or rail at the edge of the vat, and then round a
cylinder of the upper and lower tier alternately, as shown, and finally between a
pair of squeezing rolls S, S, of which the lower, one is driven from the wheel P by
gear wheels at one end, as shown, and the upper one is mounted in vertically
sliding bearings, and is pressed down on the lower one by weights or springs in order
to express the excess of dye liquor and return it to the vat. The two rolls S are
geared together at the opposite end to that at which the lower roll is driven, by
gear wheels (not shown) having long teeth to admit of the rising movement of the
upper roll. The fabrics pass from the rolls S to a folding frame T of any suitable
or known construction which may be driven by a connecting rod from the upper,
roll S; W represents a piece of goods being woaded (or dyed bluc previous to
'

page_text: being dyed black). It is carried by rollers V mounted in frames B above the upper
tier of cylinders I; and just beneath the surface of the liquor in the vat, being
kept separate from the other goods until it arrives at the squeezing rolls S; through
which it passes with the other goods; and may or may not be folded separately by
the folding frame T. The fabric W is drawn through the vat by the rotation of
the squeezing rolls S; S.
If necessary I may employ an additional squeezing roller above the other two
as represented in Figure 2 in dotted lines.
Figure 2 represents a longitudinal section of the apparatus provided with a
double set of cylinders, each set carrying through one or more pieces at a time as the
case may be. The rollers of each set are arranged in two tiers mounted in frames
constructed as before described, the upper tier being driven by gearing from the
main shaft, as in Figure 1. In Figure 2, I, I¹, are the upper and lower tiers of
cylinders of one set; and K, K; are those of the other set. The cylinders of the
one set are preferably placed directly beneath those of the other, and the cylinders I
of the one set and those K¹ of the other set are made of larger diameter than the
cylinders K and I¹, as shown to keep the goods carried by the two sets apart.
The cylinders K have gear wheels X on an extension of their journal at one end
the same as cylinders I; and tlie cylinders I and K are all geared together by the
same intermediate wheels M which gear with the wheels L and X of the two sets,
as shown. The cylinders I, being of greater diameter than the cylinders K, the
gear wheels L and X are similarly proportioned in order that the surface speed of
the two sets I and K may be equal and carry the goods through at the same rate,
which is necessary if the goods from both sets pass between the same squeezing
rolls, as shown.
The remainder of the apparatus is constructed as before described, and as
the same letters of reference indicate the same parts in both Figures further
description will be unnecessary.
The entire apparatus which it will be seen is complete in itself may be con-
veniently raised out of the vat and transferred to another by means of a tackle
attached to a carriage running on rails overhead.
Figure 2 shows only two sets of cylinders, but it will be readily understood that
a third or even a fourth set can be added if required. Moreover, the number and
dimensions of the cylinders in each set may be greater or less than that shown
according to requirements.
The frames I prefer to construct of wood or iron, and the cylinders may be
constructed of the same material or of zinc, copper, tin, or brass, and may be made
hollow. The cylinders are of sufficient length to carry the full width of the fabric
without folding, and they are covered with a coarsely woven cotton fabric or other
fabric of open texture which will not receive the die.
By the employment of my Invention the fabric is caused to receive the dye
better and more quickly than under the present system, and absolute uniformity of
color is ensured.
The speed at which the fabric to be dyed is carried through the vat may vary
from 1 to 10 yards per minute according to the shade desired and the substance of
the fabric. The gearing by which the upper tier of cylinders (other than the two
end ones nearest the squeezing rolls) are driven the one from the other might be
omitted with certain kinds of fabrics.
Having described the nature of my said Invention and the manner of performing
the same, I declare that what I claim as my Invention to be protected by the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
First. The apparatus constructed and operating substantially as herein shown
and described, consisting mainly of one or more sets of cylinders, arranged in two
tiers, around which the fabrics to be dyed are passed in single or double ply as
described, the lower tier being adjustable and the upper tier being driven by gearing,
as and for the purpose set forth.
Second. The combination in one apparatus constructed as aforesaid of the rollers;

page_text: arranged and operated as described for carrying on the operation of woading
simultaneously with that of dyeing.
Third. The combination with the apparatus constructed and operating as herein
described, of the squeezing rolls as specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Firth, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Sixteenth day of August, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-six.
JOSEPH FIRTH.
(L.S.)