all kinds of piece goods and cotton warps after dyeing or washing. It consists of a pair of heavy rollers on which, by means of the screws shown at the top, a very considerable pressure can be brought to bear. The piece is run through the eye shown on the left, by which it is made into a rope form, then over the guiding rollers and between the squeezing rollers, and into waggons for conveyance to other machines. This machine is effective.
Another plan on which roller, or rather in this case disc, squeezing machines is made, is to make the bottom roller with a square groove in the centre, into this fits a disc, the cloth passing between them. The top disc can by suitable screws be made to press upon the cloth in the groove, and thus squeeze the water out of it.
Washing.—One of the most important operations following that of dyeing is the washing with water to free the goods, whether cotton or woollen, from all traces of loose dye, acids, mordanting materials, etc., which it is not desirable should be left in, as they might interfere with the subsequent finishing operations. For this purpose a plentiful supply of good clean water is required; this should be as soft as possible, free from any suspended matter which might settle upon the dyed goods, and stain or speck them.
Washing may be done by hand, as it frequently was in olden days, by simply immersing the dyed fabrics in a tub of water, shaking, then wringing out, again placing in fresh water to finish off. Or if the dye-works were on the banks of a running stream of clean water the dyed goods were simply hung in the stream to be washed in a very effectual manner.
In these days it is best to resort to washing machines adapted to deal with the various kinds of fibrous materials and fabrics in which they can be subjected to a current of water.
FIG. 32.—Yarn-washing Machine.
Loose Wool and Cotton.—If this has been dyed by hand then the washing may also be done in the same way by hand in a plain vat. If the dyeing has been done on a machine, then the washing can be done on the same machine.