A NEW OR IMPROVED TREATMENT OF COTTON FIBRE FOR ENABLING IT TO BE DYED OR PRINTED WITH COLORING MATTERS USED IN THE DYEING OR PRINTING OF SILKS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Denton Abel, of Southampton Buildings, in the
County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "A NEW OR IMPROVED TREATMENT
OF COTTON FIBRE FOR ENABLING IT TO BE DYED OR PRINTED WITH COLORING
MATTERS USED IN THE DYEING OR PRINTING OF SILKS." A communication
from abroad by Louis Durand Koechlin, of Bale, Switzerland.
Sealed the 12th August 1879, and dated the 3rd June 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Denton Abel at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd June 1879.
sex.
CHARLES DENTON ABEL, of Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middle-
"A NEW OR IMPROVED TREATMENT OF COTTON FIBRE FOR ENABLING IT TO
BE DYED OR PRINTED WITH COLORING MATTERS USED IN THE DYEING OR PRINTING
OF SILKS." [A communication from abroad by Louis Durand Koechlin, of Bale,
Switzerland.]
This Invention has for its object a new or improved treatment of cotton fibre
for enabling it to be dyed or printed upon with the same coloring matters that are
used for silk.
The treatment is based on the use of a mordant extract prepared from a fatty
body with which the cotton fibres are impregnated, and whereby they attain the
same properties as regards the retention of coloring matters as are possessed by
animal fibres. For this purpose vegetable oils are by preference employed, such
oils being treated with sulphuric acid in order to produce the dissociation and the
elimination of the glycerine.
The cotton fibre is steeped repeatedly in a bath of this mordant, either in the
state of loose filaments or of woven fabric, and either alone or mixed with silk ; and
between the several steepings the fibres are by preference subjected to pressure in
order to cause the mordant to penetrate intimately into the pores thereof. The
fibre is then exposed to sufficient heat for fixing therein the mordant, after which
treatment the fibre will be found to have become assimilated in its nature to silk
or wool fibre, and to be susceptible of treatment with the same colouring matters
with which these are treated. Olive oil has been found to give the best results in

page_text: the above described process. In operating with this oil a quantity thereof con-
tained in a suitable vessel is treated with sulphuric acid, whereupon a dissociation
of the fatty bodies and separation of the glycerine is effected, the latter, together
with the excess of sulphuric acid, being removed by washings based on the different
densities of the fatty bodies. The product obtained is mixed with from 3 to 4
times its weight of water, producing a liquor which constitutes the above described
mordant. If the cotton be in the form of a woven fabric the steeping is effected by
means of a machine of well known construction, in which the fabric on issuing from
the bath passes between two pressing cylinders, from which it again enters the
bath and then again passes between pressing cylinders, and so on repeatedly in
order to insure that the fibre is thoroughly impregnated with the mordant.
If the cotton be in the state of filaments or in hanks a machine is employed
such as used in dyeing, in which the hanks are hung upon pegs, rollers situated
over the top pegs being caused to act upon the hanks, so as to subject them to
pressure at the same time that they impart to them the requisite movement for
circulating through the bath. By treatment in this machine a silky appearance is
imparted to the cotton fibre.
After treatinent the cotton is dried in the open air, and is then stoved at a
temperature of from 50 to 60° centigrade. On removal from the stove the excess
of the fatty matter is removed by treatment in an alkaline bath.
By the above described Invention textile fabrics composed of cotton and animal
fibres mixed can have their entire body uniformly treated by one and the saine
process for dyeing or printing with colouring matters such as have heretofore been
applicable only to animal fibre.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Charles Denton Abel in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 14th
October 1879.
sex.
CHARLES DENTON ABEL, of Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middle-
"A NEW OR IMPROVED TREATMENT OF COTTON FIBRE FOR ENABLING IT TO
BE DYED OR PRINTED WITH COLORING MATTERS USED IN THE DYEING OR PRINTING
OF SILKS." A communication from abroad by Louis Durand Koechlin, of Bale,
Switzerland.
This Invention has for its object a new or improved treatment of cotton fibre
for enabling it to be dyed or printed upon with the same coloring matters that are
used for silk,
The treatment is based on the use of a mordant extract prepared from a fatty
body with which the cotton fibres are impregnated, and whereby they are made to
attain the same properties as regards the retention of dyed or printed coloring
matters as are possessed by animal fibres. For this purpose vegetable oils are by
preference employed, such oils being treated with sulphuric acid in order to produce
the dissociation and the elimination of the glycerino.
The cotton fibre is steeped repeatedly in a bath of this mordant either in the
state of loose filaments or of woven fabric, and either alone or mixed with silk;
and between the several steepings the fibres are by preference subjected to pressure
in order to cause the mordant to penetrate intimately into the pores thereof. The
fibre is then exposed to sufficient heat for fixing therein the mordant, after which
treatment the fibre will be found to have become assimilated in its nature to silk
or wool fibre, and to be susceptible of treatment with the same coloring matters
with which these are treated. Olive oil has been found to give the best results in
the above described process. In operating with this oil a quantity thereof con-
tained in a suitable vessel is treated with sulphuric acid, whereupon a dissociation
of the fatty bodies and separation of the glycerine is effected, the latter, together
with the excess of sulphuric acid, being removed by washings based on the different
densities of the fatty bodies.
The product obtained is mixed with from 3 to 4 times its weight of water, pro-
ducing a liquor which constitutes the above described mordant. If the cotton be
in the form of a woven fabric the steeping is effected by means of a machine of
well known construction, in which the fabric on issuing from the bath passes
between two pressing cylinders, from which it again enters the bath and then
again passes between pressing cylinders, and so on repeatedly in order to insure
that the fibre is thoroughly impregnated with the mordant.
If the cotton be in a state of filaments or in hanks a machine is employed such
as is used in dyeing, in which the hanks are hung upon pegs, rollers situated over
the top pegs being caused to act upon the hanks so as to subject them to pressure
at the same time that they impart to them the requisite movement for circulating
through the bath. Figs. 1, 2, and 3 of the accompanying Drawing represent respec-
tively a front view partly in section, a side view, and a plan of a machine suitable
for this operation; the machine being made double, with its two sides symmetrically
arranged, it will only be necessary to describe one of these, which is of the following
kind-Over a bath B charged with the mordant are mounted two sets of rollers
C and D, round which the hanks are passed, and rollers E which press on the upper
rollers D, so as to squeeze strongly the impregnated fibres as they pass, causing the
mordant to penetrate their interstices and pores. For this purpose the bearings d
which receive the axes e of the squeezing rollers are arranged in sockets a projecting
from a cross head R, which is fitted to slide a little up or down the framing of the
machine. To give it this movement two cross shafts V carrying eccentrics or cams
working in slots in the cross head are moved by worms on a shaft S acting on

page_text: toothed segments U on the shafts V. The rollers D are driven by bevil gearing
F, G, from the main shaft O, which is driven by a band from any suitable motor
on the pulley M. The axes C of the rollers C are mounted on brackets projecting
up from the bath B, which has ears at one side fitted to slide on upright bars H.
The bath and lower rollers can be raised and lowered by chains I passing over
pullies K worked by worm gear L, N, and handle q. By treatment in this machine
a silky appearance is imparted to the cotton fibre.
After treatment the cotton is dried in the open air, and is then stoved at a tem-
perature of from 50° to 60° centigrade. On removal from the stove the excess of
the fatty matter is removed by treatment in an alkaline bath.
By the above described Invention textile fabrics composed of cotton and animal
fibres mixed can have their entire body uniformly treated by one and the same
process for dyeing or printing with coloring matters such as have heretofore been
applicable only to animal fibres.
Although sulphuric acid has been mentioned as being employed to separate the
glycerine other chemical agents having this property may be employed for that
purpose.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent,
I claim,-
Rendering cotton fibre or fabric fit to receive and retain coloring matters such
as are used for silk by impregnating it with a mordant extracted from fatty matter,
from which glycerine is dissociated, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Denton Abel, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of October, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy nino.