BLEACHING.

55

are placed in batches at f, and passing under the immersing rollers, e, andthe divisions of the cistern g, between the speed or gear rollers, c, and thewashing rollers, b, are taken down straight and open into one of the vessels, andare then boiled by steam, which is succeeded by repeated washings alternatelyin water and bleaching liquors, until they are sufficiently bleached as before *described.

Figs. 5 and 6 show the elevation and ground plan of a bleach-house andmachinery capable of working 8oo pieces of 4 lbs. cloth per day, with thelabour of one man and three boys, from four to six o’clock, d represents twolengths of cloth of 400 pieces each, passing through the washing machine, g }and from thence over the winch, w, into the kier, c, where they are boiled in

Fig. 5.

lime for twelve hours. They are then withdrawn by the same washingmachine, g , washed, and passed into the second kier, b , where they are boiledfor twelve hours in soda-ash and resin. They are again withdrawn by thesame machine, g, washed, squeezed (see plan at u), and passed over winch, £,and piled at h. They are then withdrawn from the pile, //, and threadedthe sour machine, e , soured, passed over winch e 4 , and piled at k , where thecloth remains for three hours. It is then squeezed at u, and submitted to thewashing machine, g , whence it is delivered into the third kier, a , boiled forsix hours, again washed at g , and squeezed. It is then passed through thechemick, allowed to remain in pile for one hour; again soured, squeezed, andwashed at g, again squeezed at/, and dried over the cylinders p.