US1688524A - Cotton treating - Google Patents

Description

A. COBB COTTON TREATING Oct. 23, 1928.

Filed June 1.1, 1,926 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

X 'K y/Q ATTORNEY A. COBB COTTON TREATING Oct. 23, 1923.

Filed June 11, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet E ATTORNEY Ga. 23, 1928. 1, ,5 1 A. COBB COTTON TREATiNG Filed June 11, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN V EN TOR.

6. 7 ATTORi EY.

Patented Oct. 23, 1928.

UNITED STATES ARTHUR COBB, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT 0! COLUMBIA.

corron TREATING.

Application filed June 11, 1928. .Serial No. 115,180.

This invention relates to cotton, particularly to a process and machinery fortreating and conditioning cotton prior to its use in the arts.

Tinged cotton-The apparent coloration of cotton caused by the presence of dust and particles of colored soil among or lightly attached to the fibers can be removed by modern cleaning methods; definite tinges of cotton, as distlnguished from the above mentioned apparent coloration, and due to coherence with the surface of the cuticle or entry into solution or mixture therewith of impalpably minute particles and amorphous forms of hydrated silicates of aluminum, oxides of metals and similar compounds, cannot be removed by the most advanced cleaning methods, and whitening of tinged cotton and removal of such tinges or color from the fiber by bleaching or chemical treatment is difficult and in many cases impossible.

Cleaning processes.Various processes for cleaning cotton all consist essentially in the so-called picking operation, beating and combing by various mechanical means, while the cotton and foreign matters are with reference to their surfaces practically dry, such surface drying being effected by extended exposure to the relatively dry air of storage rooms or bins or exposure to heated chambers or dryers at temperature being from 100F. to approximately 150F. but not approaching in practice 175F. By these processes, the major portion of the accumulated foreign matters are substantially removed, but the subjection of cotton together with accumulated foreign matters suchas bits of leaf, bolls, grass andlike'trash while thoroughly dried or desiccated to the action of mechanical beaters, pickers and similar operations seriously injures the fiber, and instead of substantially removing such foreign matters, pulverizes a large part of the leaf and other frangible substances with a resultant intimate mixture with and entanglement by the fibers of such pulverized residue.

Defects of prior methods-The shortcomings of these cleaning processes, with reference to treating and conditioning cotton in preparation for spinning, chemical treatment or modification of the cellulose or other use is that they do not affect the physical qualities of the fiber or the chemical content or structure or removal of the non-cellulosic substances associated therewith or incorporated therein, or affect the absorptive characteristics of the fiber; or effect the sterilizations of cotton with reference to injurious life and organisms; or effect any change or improvement in the fiber with reference to phys cal or structural preparations or characteristics in relation to chemical or other treatment and relate only to cleaning cotton b the removal of foreign matters, such as bits of leaf, stalk, trash, soil and dirt entangled by or intermingled with and resting on and among the fibers and accumulated or added after the opening of the boll and not a part of or in the process of growth and ripening, by natural processes, made constituents thereof or deposited thereon.

Applioants prooesa-A principal object of applicants invention is to provide a process for conditioning preferably cleaned cotton lint or staple for spinning or other processes or uses in industry and the arts, for bleaching, dyeing and other chemical treatments incident to such processes and uses; for the various processes of chemical modification or purification of cotton cellulose; and by such process provide distinct and notable advances, new methods and accom lishments in the art of preparing and conditioning lint cotton and cotton not heretofore conceived or employed in preparing or conditioning cotton for such uses and purposes, in that the use of such process will effect and accomplish amongst others:

(a). Definite changes in the noncellulosic substance on or incorporated within the structure of the fiber.

(b). The removal of certain and changes in the structure of definite others of the compounds and substances admixed with or present in the pores of the modified cellulosic substances of which the cuticle of-the fiber is composed, with such resultant changes in the physical characteristics of the cuticle that it is throughout its area rendered uniformly adsorptive.

(0). Opening the structuralinterstices of the cellulose enveloped by the cuticle and the removal of certain noncellulosic and deleterious substances therefrom, with-a resultant increase in uniformity of absorptive capacity and readiness for chemical combination. l

(d). The removal of water of constitution of and moisture incorporated in and definite physical changes in certain of the color bearing particles adhering to or admixed with the cuticle of the fiber, and the exudate or waxy substances thereon, andconsequent removal of'such particles and the coloration'or tinge resulting therefrom.

(-e). A material increase in the elastic limit and ultimate strength of the fiber and the uniformity of its cross sectional area.

(f). A material whitening of the fiber by the removal not, only of particles of mineral compounds adliering to or admixed with the" cuticle and the cuticularcoating or exudate,

a vertical opener V0; and another vertical opener V0 a horizontal opener HO; chute conveyor CC; condenser CD; blade beater BLB; carding beater CB; chute conveyor but of certain of the'substances by nature CO intermixed in the structure of the fiber.

part of the impuria earin an d deleti the use and working of the cotton.

' (7) Complete sterilization of the cotton with reference to fungi, bacteria, moulds, infusoria and injurious infections, and all weevils, insects and living organisms and'substances whatsoever, vegetable or animal, and

all spores, cells, mains thereof.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the description ofapplicants process and a particular preferred embodiment of apparatus for carrying applicants process into effect progresses, and the novel features of the invention will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing the invention in detail reference will be had to the accompanying drawings, wherein I have illustrated a particular preferred physical embodiment of apparatus for practicing the invention, and wherein like eggs and reproductive re- ,characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a combination of apparatus suitable for practicing my process; Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view on the plane indicated by the line II-II of Fig. 1 viewed in the direction of the arrows at the ends of the line; Fig. 3 is a part elevational and part vertical sectional view on the plane indicated by the line III-:III of Fig. 1, viewed in the direction of the arrows at the ends of the line; Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view on the plane indicated by the line IVIV of Fig. 3, viewed in the direction of the arrows at the end of the line.

Before describing, in detail, the apparatus shown upon the drawings, it is desired to emphasi ze the fact that the apparatus has been shown merely somewhat schematically and diagrammatically because the major portion thereof is old and thoroughly well known to those skilled in the art to which this process relates. It is also desired to emphasize the I fact thatthe apparatus shown is merely illustrative of one form which apparatus may take by which the process may be practiced, but the In the operation of the process, as illustrated by the particular form of apparatus selected to be shown in the drawings, the cotton is placed on the traveling carrier 1, the

,upper member of which moves in the direction of arrow 2, delivering the cotton to, the traveling carrier 3, the upper member of which moves in the direction indicated by arrow 4-. The cotton is carried into contact with the pin apron 5 moving in the direction of the arrow 6 and is engaged and carried upwardly until it is removed'by the dotler and then falls upon the horizontal lattice conveyor 8. The cotton isthen carried along so as to be engaged by the vertical conveyor C, then being carrie upwardly and depos ited upon the shortv horizontal conveyor 9. The conveyor 9 moves the cotton forward and allows it to drop upon the conveyor 10, the upper apron of which travels to the right as viewed in Fig. 2.

The operation so far has resulted in taking the cotton from a mass or bale, opening it up and depositing it in opened up condition on the traveling conveyor of the thermal chamber TO. All of the apparatus so far described is old and well-known commercial apparatus familiar to those skilled in the cotton treating art.

The thermal chamber TC is practically shown in mere outline. It does not correspond to any well-known commercial appa ratus on sale and is illustrated in such detail only as may best make clear the mode of operation.

The cotton in passing through the thermal chamber is subjected to heat. This heat is preferably applied in the form injectedinto the thermal'chamber at a plurality of places. In the particular arrangement shown in the drawings, heated air is injected through air conduits 11,.12, 13 and 14. For best operation I prefer to inject air, through conduit 11, which has a'temperature of about 228 to 235 Fahrenheit; through conduit 12, air at a temperature of 260 F. to 280 F.; through conduit 13, air at a temperature of 285 F. to 298 F.; through conduit 14, air at a temperature of 240 F. to 255 F. In general it may be said that the cotton in passing through the thermal chamber will be subjected to several specific heats ranging in tem- CHC; and cooling and conditioning chamber of heated air,

i above, say 300 F.

not'below 200 F. to not The temperature will be regulated to obtain best results with the particular lot of cotton being treated, having in view efiiciency ofthe process, proper results and economy.

perature from say,

The heated air supplied to the conduits 11 I to 14 inclusive will be obtained by any well known method and apparatus, erablybe dry and will be'supplied in such volume and at such rate as will suffice to bring the cotton paming under a given conduit to substantially the condition as regards temperature as the air issuing from that conduit. The rate of flow of the air will also be such that it will have full efficiency to transport and take away the products of evaporation and sublimation effected in certain of the noncellulosic compounds on and within the fibre and a part of such solid material as may be liberated from the passing cotton.

Between each two conduit openings in the thermal chamber Iconsider it preferable to place a baffle plate as 15, 16 and 17. These baflle plates increase efficiency in that the currents of air from the several conduits at different temperatures are kept practically separated in the chamber and maintained in a fixed direction of movement by these baflles, and by the positioning of air eflluent openings 18, 19 and 20.

The effect on the cotton of passing it through the thermal chamber, which is done at such a rate and subject to such temperatures as to achieve the desired results,.is first, to desiccate the entire mass, including all foreign elements; second, physically and structurally to change material parts of the noncellulosic substances and compounds naturally appearing on and within the fibres of the cotton and deleterious with reference to its use in industry and the arts; third, to remove by the air currents portions of such noncellulosic substances and matter so changed; and fourth, completely to sterilize the cotton with reference to fungi, moulds, growths, bacteria, infusoria and all organisms and living matter whatsoever, vegetable or animal.

Applicant has not shown in the drawings any means for mechanically agitating or opening the cotton while passing through the thermal chamber, but he desires to have it understood that he does not thereby indicate that such' may not be used by him in given cases, butin the preferred form shown in the. drawings no such means are shown; nor does applicant mean that he may not, if in certain cases deemed advisable, by proper conduits deliver heated air directly to and in any of the several machines in which the cotton is mechanically treated or moved.

The cotton from the thermal chamber passes down the chute DC to the entrance end of the vertical opener VO, where it is engaged by the spirally arranged cylinder picks 21 and adand will prefvanced upwardly to the exit and into chute 22. The picks work Within a conical member formed of parallel bars 23 spaced apart and usually provided with a foraminous covering 40, so that further deleterious material separatesfrom-the cotton and falls through the foraminous covering'and the grids formed by the bars. .The cotton then passes through the vertical opener V0 where the same operation takes place. These vertical openers are devices old and well known in the cotton treating art and therefore have been scantily illustrated.

The cotton after passing through the vertical opener VO passes to the horizontal o ener and cleaner HO. That also is a device 0 d and thoroughly well-known in the cotton treating at and the construction and mode of operation are well understood, for which,

.reasonthe illustration thereof is but fragmentary. The cotton enters the horizontal cleaner by pipe 24 passing into the foraminous drum 25 engaging with spirally arranged revolving cotton advancing studs 26. The cotton issues from the exit end of the horizontal opener HO and passes up the chute conveyor CO. The cotton while in the horizontal cleaner is further worked mechanically so that more of the noncellulosic and deleterious substances, and practically all dustand fine bits of trash as Well, are removed, falling through the foraminous drum 25.

The cotton is drawn through the chute CC to condenser CD by suction fan 31 which is attached tothe condenser. This condenser is a device old and well-known in the" art of handling cotton, and so has been scantily illustrated. It merely suffices to say that the cotton falls upon the revolving foraminous drum 27 and is carried down to and by the swinging air damper 28 and knocked off by the fluted roller 29, whereupon the cotton drops through the feeder box FB onto conveyor 30. The suction created by fan 31 not only serves to draw the cotton through chute CC, but further withdraws from the cotton parts of the noncellulosic and deleterious matter changed and structurally broken down by heat as above mentioned. The still warm cotton, together with such bits of leaf, trash and other foreign matters as remain among its fibres, is, as it drops through feeder box FB, exposed to a faintly humid atmosphere caused by the injection through vapor inlet VI of expanded steam, or aqueous vapor of approximately F. temperature, and thereby moistened slightly but in a. degree sufficient to prevent the action of the beater blades and pins from injuring the fibre and pulverizing of any remaining among the fibers and consequently, from mixing such powdered matters with the cotton; from feeder box FB the cotton falls upon the carrier or conveyor 30 and, following the direction of the arrows shown, is

frangible foreign matter I substances and second "treating art. It is in general first to passed through the blade beater BLB and the carding beater CB and passed into chute conveyor CHC. The devices designated BLB and CB are well-known and thoroughly. understood devices used in treating cotton and are diagrammatically shown in a common commercial "form well-known in the art. The function performed by the devices BLB and GB is a function well-known and understood by those skilled in the. cotton remove any remaining'bits of leaf and other foreim y roughly to form the cotton into a lap.

The cotton passing through chute CI-IC and condenser CH falls into the conditioning chamber CO upon conveyor 32, then passes to conveyor 33 and then to conveyor 34, whereupon it emerges from the process onto conveyor 35.

In any appropriate wall of the conditioning chamber CO and in as many places as considered desirable, and preferably in the top thereof is positioned, as shown in the drawmg, a nebulizer, or atomizer, 36, of any wellknown or approved construction. In the particular type shown, water enters by pipes 37 and 38 in fine streams, and air under pressure enters through pipe 39, striking the fine streams of water and breaking them up into minute particles which, in the form of a water nebule or fine mist of any desired density of moisture, spread through and sufiuse with moisture the air of the conditioning chamber CO. The cotton, having been by the hereinbefore' described treatment so conditioned that while materially less hygroscopic with reference to total'absorptive capaclty it is uniformly absorptive to moisture, is, in being transported through the chamber, moved at such a rate with reference to the density of the water nebule or mist that imbibition by the fibres of the desired moisture content is effected, such moisture content being substantially 7 %/8% by weight for normal use and purposes; but the absorbed-water content may be varied by variations in density of the water nebule or conveyor speed.

In addition to the nebulizer 36, above mentioned, I may use a spray nozzle 40, positioned at any desired point in any Wall of the chamber, through which I may inject a spray of water, as desired, and, as an alternative or inaddition to the nebulizer, for effecting in certain contingencies the desired moisture content in the cotton passing through the chamber CO. V

The cotton when it issues onto conveyer 35 has not only been freed of the more deleterious parts of the noncellulosic substances and Waxy matters naturally appearing on and Within the fibre, cleansed of all dust, dirt and colored mineral compounds and of the major portion of any remaining accumulated foreign matter and rendered completely grades sterile with reference to infections and living organisms; but all the fibres have acquired substantially the same moisture content, have been materially whitened, increased in ultimate strength and elasticity, and condi-' tioned in a superior degree for use in the artsi and industry. 7

After the cotton h s passed through the treatment and conditioning process above de-f scribed, it is, in its superior grade and condition, either (a) immediately baled or otherwise made ready for delivery and shipment; or (6) finally prepared for immediate utilization in manufacture or other processes in industry and the arts, by mixing and blending the several lots of quantities of cotton of proper grades and types, thereby producing uniform lots of any desired standards of grade and staple, removing therefrom the re maining bits of accumulated foreign matter and forming such uniform lots of standard and types of cotton into substantially uniform laps or other form. of any desired standards of dimensions an densities and ready for immediate employment infinal carding and sliver forming machines or other manufacturing steps or other processes or uses requiring clean lint cotton of specific standards of grade and staple, thus relieving the users of such cotton of any expense or investment in equipment incident to operations preliminary to putting into manufacturing I or other processes thoroughly cleaned and prepared lint cotton.

Such final preparation of the cotton is ac complished by the employment of standardized types of machinery and equipment, such asintermediateand finisher lappers in connection with automatic distributors, conve ors and feeders, all of common use throughout the cotton manufacturing industry and so well known to all persons skilled in the art of utilizing lint cotton that mere mention of the results obtained or suggestion of types of machinery conveys a complete understanding of such processes and knowledge of machincry and equipment employed, and hence a detailed description thereof is not set out.

I he general construction and mode of operation of one form of apparatus for carry- 1)! ing out my process having been described, it remains to describe and explain more explicitly the scientific principles discovered by applicant and utilized by the process.

It has been discovered by experiment that ifcotton is heated to temperatures substantially higher than anyfhertofore, proposed in the treatment of cotton, say, within the thermal limits of 200 F. to 300 F., that thermolytic, thermochemical and physical action and reaction cause ,(a) vaporization and dissipation of certain of the more volatile noncellulosic' substances and compounds on and within the fibre and appearing free or in solution or admixed with other sub- 130 I sociation and thermolysisof certain other of losic solutions, mixtures and substances natthe noncellulosic compoundsand substances appearin as above 'mentloned; (c) the formation 0 ditional nonce lulosic substances and compounds appearing as above mentioned and flowing intoandintermixture with others'of remaining substances; ((2') the exsiccation of and renderingpulverulent certain non-celluurally present and in the course of treatment and conditioning formed on the fibre; (f)

rapid evolution into vapor, and expulsion thereof, of the uncombined moisture or freewater within and complete desiccation of all parts'and component substances of the entire fibre and in connection therewith opening the pores of the cuticle and the interstices Within the cellulose of the fibre and removal therefrom of a part of the impurities and non-cellulosic substances present; (g) killing, de-

stroying and rendering negative and sterile all fungi,'moulds, bacteria, growths and deleterious infection, all infusoria, insects and living matter both vegetable and animal, and all spores, cells, eggs, germs and reproductive remains thereof, andrenderingall cottofn so treated free from all such matter and li e.

Experiments and tests have determined that the thermolytic andthermochemical reactions and changes and physical and structural transformations, mutations and modiaction and responsive to chemical treatment fications and sterilization above mentioned and comprehended will be effected, all without, injury to the fibre and cellulose thereof, by the hereinbefore described process where in by controlled steps and means the cotton for definite periods is exposed to and heated in substantially dry air at substantially the given temperatures within the approxlmate limits of, say, 220 F. to 300 F.

The mechanlcal treatment subsequent to the thermal treatment results in substantially removing the particles and residue of the matter, transformed, loosened, separated and expelled from the several parts and portions. of the fibres; maintaining the cotton, during thistrea'tment, in a substantially dry atmosphere at a temperature in excess of 200 F., prevents imbibition, with resultant viscidity and coalescence, by bits of desiccated colloidal substances and exsiccated particles of matter and residue.

Throughout the whole process, although the cotton is heated to much higher temperatures than an heretofore proposed, dehydration of the ce lulosic content of the fibre does not occur, that is, no water of constitution is I new compounds and derivatives of (281133111 further of the non-cellulosic com-' pounds and substances a pearing as above. mentioned; (01} fusing o certain'of the ad chemists and physicists,

driven off, nor is molecular or structural condensation effected; desiccation without molecular or structural change in the cellulosic content of the'fibre is effected, that is, free water only, but not water of constitution of the cellulose, is driven ofi.

It has been determined th sorpt've throughout, and that fibres t ereof containing by weight approximately 7.5% /8% of moisture are substantially more elastic and of greater ultimate tensile strength than fibres in lots of cotton not so treated, 1rrespective of the proportion of water to weight in'such lots of untreated cotton. It has further been determined that the absorption in the fibre of the proper moisture content is most readily and efliciently effected by exposure of the cotton, succeeding the above mentioned desiccation and removal of noncellulosic matters and while yet somewhat heated, to a current ofhot aqueous vapor and thence to an atmosphere charged. with and containing 0001 nebulized water, all under carefully controlled conditions and within definite limits with reference to time of exsure and temperatures, quantities and ensities of vapor and water nebule, thereby concurrently effecting the coolin and conditioning of the fibre for and im ibition of moisture in proper amounts and roportions. Results efleoterL-Cotton treated inthemane cotton treated as 'above'outlined is rendered uniforml ab-' ner and by the methods and processes above outlined is substantially whiter, is-more nearly umform 1n molsture content, is more nearly free from impurities and non-cellulosic substances and materials, is more elastic and o f greater tensile and ultimate strength, is more immediately susceptible to chemical and processes'and generally in better condition for working than cotton treated by any other current or prior method for preparing EllllOIlS based on mations, changes and reactions, and

changes in physical forms and characteristics are im rfectly understood and can not be fully etermined by even the most skilled it is desired that applicant be not unduly bound thereby; and the fact that the objects and purposes set out are attained and subserved, and the results outlined accomplished, by the employment of the methods and processes mentioned, applicant regards as of greater moment than a. struse explanations of obscure and involved intermediate physical and chemical processes, reactions and phenomena.

Although applicant has throughout the specification particularly pointed out the applicability of the processes, methods and apparatus for the conditioning of cotton lint, nevertheless, he does not mean to exclude by such particularity the use of the methods, processes, and apparatus, if suitable, for the conditioning of fibres in general whether in the condition corresponding to cotton lint or in other conditions or forms fabricated or unfabricated.

Although applicant has herein fully described his process and explained the principles thereof, and has illustrated, described and explained the construction and mode of operation of a particular preferred form of apparatus for carrying out the process, nevertheless, it is desired to have it understood that the showing is illustrative only and does not exhaust the possible physical embodiments of means for practicing the process or the application of the principles herein described and explained.

What is claimed as new and desired to secure by Letters is:

1. The process of conditioning cotton which consists in heating the cotton in a substantially dry atmosphere to temperatures in excess of 175 F. while it'is being worked.

2. The process of producing a mass orlot. of cotton fibres each substantially throughout its length of approximately equal and definite moisture content, which consists in first subjecting the cotton to a substantially dry heat Within the thermal limits of 220- F. and 300 F., and mechanically working the cotton, and then exposing the cotton while cooling to aqueous vapor. I

3. The method of sterilizing cotton which consists in heating the cotton in a current of substantially dry air at temperatures between 220 F. and 300 F.

ARTHUR COBB.

Patent of the United States,

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