IMPROVEMENTS IN PRINTING
Year: 1848

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
AUGUSTUS HOLM, of King William Street, in the County of Middlesex, Civil
Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Twenty-first day of
December, One thousand eight hundred and forty-eight, in the twelfth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Charles Augustus Holm, my exors, adiñors, and assigns, Her especial
licence, full power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said Charles
Augustus Holm, my exors, adiñors, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Charles Augustus Holm, my exors, adors, or assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times during
the term of years therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-
Tweed, my Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PRINTING;" in which said Letters
Patent is contained a proviso that I, the said Charles Augustus Holm,
should cause a particular description of the nature of my said Invention, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, by an instrument in writing
under my hand and seal, to be inrolled in Her said Majesty's High Court of
Chancery within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of
the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference
being thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Charles Augustus Holm, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, are fully described
and ascertained in and by the following statement thereof, reference being had
to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the figures and letters marked
thereon, that is to say:-
My Invention consists of three parts.
The first part consists of machinery applicable to letter-press printing from
a flat surface, the principal feature of which is the application of a revolving or
moving surface or surfaces for the distribution of the ink in combination with
various movements and other dispositions connected with that description or
class of printing machines known as flat surface printing presses, of which the
press called the Scandinavian printing press is one.
The second part consists of certain combinations of machinery for executing
shaded or other printing in one or several colors on paper, cotton, silk, woollen,
or other fabrics, by means of blocks moved perpendicularly, and a teerer,
which distributes the colors and applies them as it moves to the under surface
of the blocks; the motion of the machinery being so arranged, that the blocks
are kept stationary during the time that the teerer supplies the colours, and
as soon as the teerer has cleared the blocks the teerer becomes stationary,
and the blocks descend and the impressions are taken, and an alternating
motion thus given to the teerer and the blocks. By another part, which may
be added when required for shading or for giving greater intensity of colour,
and particularly for printing of woollen fabric, by which the fabric to be
printed may be moved or advanced so that a repeated number of impressions
may be taken in the same places of the fabric, whereby not only a greater
depth of colour may be obtained than by one impression alone, but the effect
known as rainbows or shaded printing may be obtained, as hereafter
explained. By a further combination of this machinery with a vacuum table,
on which the impressions are taken, the colours may be made to pass through
the fabric by means of atmospheric pressure, whereby the pattern or colours
may be produced on both sides. It being however understood, that when
this vacuum printing table is used for printing from blocks of a flat surface, it
will be necessary to let in the atmospheric air to the table, and relieve the
fabric from the pressure of the atmosphere when it is required to feed or
advance the fabric on the table for taking new impressions, and during the
time of such feeding or advancing only.
The third part consists of combinations of machinery for producing shaded
or other printing on silk, cotton, woollen, and other fabrics, either on one or

page_text: Fig. 4 shews the form of the cam wheel N, and its relative position to the
impression cam I, on the shaft H. The wrought-iron frame O is guided
perpendicular by being attached to the lower ends to two short levers on a
cross shaft; and on the middle of this shaft is another-short-lever, connected-by
a link to the bent lever P, which also works on a cross shaft. p is a balance
weight acting on a lever, for the purpose of lifting the platten. The two
inking apparatus are each composed of two revolving drums Q and Q', on
which ink is distributed by means of the distributing rollers q, q, q. R, R, are
two intermediate composition rollers, for the purpose of transmitting the ink
from the drum to the outside inking rollers in the carriage L. r and is the
doctor rollers, each fitted with an ink trough and also with a vibrating or
feeding roller for supplying the drum with ink. Fig. 5 is a front elevation of
the inking apparatus, shewing the parts or gear for working the doctor roller,
and also the feeding roller. Fig. 6 is a side elevation, and Fig. 7 a plan of
the same apparatus. a, a¹, are small bevil wheels, a being fixed on the drum
shaft, and a¹ on a shaft provided with a short crank, which gives a lateral
motion to the distributing rollers 9, 9, 9. This small crank moves a frame
holding the distributing rollers, and which frame is composed of the two
brasses and b₁, united together by two tubes C and C¹, sliding on two
bolts d and d', fixed to the drum carriage S and S¹. e, is a projecting flange
on each of the side frames for supporting the drum carriage S, which is bolted
to the type table; and the inking apparatus Q is so fitted that it can be drawn
out together with the type table on the flange e of the frames, where the form
may be conveniently altered. f is a pulley for driving the inking apparatus;
the shaft of this pulley is fitted in the frame, and has a square part 9 projecting
within the framing and coupled into a clutch or square hole in the drum shaft.
One side of this hole is cut away or opened, as shewn in section at letter h in
Fig. 7, so that the inking apparatus may readily be disengaged from the
driving gear, simply by pulling on the bar i, which serves as a handle for the
purpose of drawing out the form. 1 and are pieces of hard wood, fixed at
each end of the framing, and serve as a stop for regulating the stroke of the
frisket frame, whereby the register of the printing is secured. The frisket
carriage L slides in ✓ grooves in the framing of the machine. The type table
A is made in two parts, and between the tables is laid a few blankets of about
an inch in thickness, and which are introduced for the purpose of having clas-
ticity in the machine, whereby the parts are less likely to be overstrained by the
pressure. It should be observed, that the principal movements of the machine
may be used for working the frisket carriage with one frisket instead of two,
simply by making one throw on the impression cam, or by having a crank

page_text: shaft of 7 to 8 inches' throw, and using only one inking drum, whereby the
space of the machine may be reduced, so as to allow of the connecting
frame O to be attached to two short levers placed on the cross shaft of the
bent lever P.
Drawing No. 3.-Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section of a double frisket printing
machine, nearly similar to the one described in Drawing Nos. 1 and 2; the
same letters are maintained on all the parts which are identical. I need
therefore only describe those parts which are different. The main feature of
the modification consists in inking the form by one revolving inking apparatus
instead of two; and the inking rollers M, M, M, is fitted into a separate
carriage T, sliding into V grooves on the framing F, and within the frisket
carriage L; the frisket frames m and m³ are supported by vulcanised india
rubber straps 0, 0, 0, 0, in each of the frisket corners, and thereby adjusted at
such a distance from the form that the inking rollers may pass under the
friskets, and thereby ink the form at the same time as the frisket carriage L
is in motion. The friskets are each guided perpendicularly by guide bars
Z and Z' on the carriage L. When the platten descends to give the impression
the india rubber straps 0, 0, 0, 0, will be stretched out, and thereby allow the
frisket to descend with the motion of the platten. The cam I, placed on the
longitudinal shaft, is drawn separate in Fig. 9, and is of a single throw, so as
to give only one impression for each revolution of the shaft.
Fig. 10 shews a front view of the cam plate N, constructed so as to give a
backward and forward motion to the inking rollers during one half of a
revolution of the shaft, and while the shaft is performing the other half of its
revolution the inking rollers are kept stationary on the inking drum, and the
impression is taken. O is a wrought-iron connecting frame, which is moved
perpendicularly by the cams p and r; the camp works on a projecting bar s,
bolted to the connecting frame, whereby it is brought down, and the cam r
will lift the connecting frame up when the plate revolves. The upward and
downward motion of this frame puts the sliding carriage T and the inking
rollers in motion, by means of two bent levers U and U, one being placed on
each side within the machine framing, and connected by two rods, of which one
passes on each side of the type table.
Fig. 11 shews a view of the inner side of the plate N, with the movement
thereon, whereby the intermittent reciprocating motions is given to the frisket
carriage L, by means of a connecting rod W working the bent lever P,
attached to the frisket carriage L. The connecting rod W is guided on the
longitudinal shaft, and the bolt t in the connecting rod have two flanges fitted
to other projecting flanges or seinicircular rims u, v, x, and y, on the plate N.

page_text: It will be observed that the frisket carriage will remain stationary during one half
of a revolution, when the bolt t-works on the semicircular rin u, and that the
frisket carriage will move when the bolt works on the semicircular excentric
rim v. And further, that the frisket carriage will again remain stationary when
-the bolt works on the semicircular rim a, during one half of a revolution, and
then move again, when the bolt works on the other .semicircular excentric
rim. y,.during another half of a revolution, when the bolt will again assume the
position shewn in the Drawing. The impression cam I gives the impression
when the bolt t works on the concentric rims u and a, a slot. being cut in the
excentric rims V and Y, to admit the flanges of the bolt t to pass the crossing.
...Fig. 12 israisection through the frisket carriage, shewing the double grooves
in the machine framing into which the frisket carriage L and inking roller
carriage Tworks...
Fig. 13 shews; the inking roller carriage separate. X, X, is the paper to be
printed. The friskets may be mounted on steel springs, similar to what are
used on coaches, though of a much lighter description, instead of the india
rubber straps oo, oso, if metal springs should be thought preferable; or with
slight alterations the machine..may be made so as to move the form against a
fixed platten; but in such case. springs should be applied under the frisket in
such a manner that; the springs, by touching on the edges of the type table,
will cause the paperlaid on the frisket to be pressed against the platten
before the type touches the paper, as otherwise. the impressions would be
slurry or imperfect.
Second Part, or. Block Printing. Drawing No. 4: Fig. 14 is a longi-
tudinal section of a six-color block printing machine; Fig. 15 a cross
section of the same; and a modification of this machine is shewn in Fig. 16,
which is a longitudinal section of a four-colour printing machine. The same
letters indicate similar parts in the: Figures. A is the printing table, sup-
porting the cloth to be printed. B is the printing block or blocks, made of
wood, and the pattern is either cut out or otherwise formed on its lower
surface, or a stereotype. pattern is fastened thereto. This block or blocks are
fixed to a cast-iron plate C, which is guided perpendicularly by means of four
corner pieces D, D, D, D, fitted to four guide bars a, a, a, a, on-the framing E.
The block plate. C is moved.by double cams: F and F, F, working within a
wrought iron frame G & G¹, cach. being fastened to the block plate C by
means of two screws band, one end of each screw having a left-hand
thread. tapped into the block plate, and the other a right-hand thread
tapped into the wrought-iron frame, whereby, the pressure may be regu-

page_text: lated. Each of the frames G have a guide rod c working into a stay bolt
in the upper part of the machine framing. The cam F, which works against
the upper part of the wrought-iron frame G, is provided with two other cams
F and F, one on each side, working on two wrought-iron bars II and II,
one being bolted on each side of the frame G, and thereby to allow the
central, cam F to work between the bars H and H; the cams F and F1, F¹,
are constructed so as to keep the blocks stationary during one half of a
revolution of the shaft I, to, which they are fastened: K is a self-acting
teerer, by which the colours are supplied to the blocks. Figure 17 is a full-
size view of the roller K, which works within a colour box. This roller is
made of wood, with a brass shaft, and covered with several thicknesses of
woollen blankets, in order better to absorb the color. The exterior blanket
should be without a scam. d, d, are two doctor bars, for regulating the
amount of color on the roller by means of two screws ff, holding the bars
close to the roller. Each doctor bar is held in its place by two studs g, g, fixed
in the lower part of the colour box. e, e, are divisions in the color box, and
the coloring roller is divided into an equal number of divisions. In this
manner any number of colours may be supplied to the printing blocks, Lis
a grooved bar fixed across the machine; and fitted with a sliding brass' M, to
which the colouring box or boxes are fastened. h, h, are screws, by which
the groved bars L are suspended, and whereby the pressure of the coloring
roller against the block is regulated. They are attached to the groved bars
by means of a woollen cloth packing within a box i, through which the screw.
passes, and whereby there is elasticity for the upward pressure of the coloring
roller. kisa wheel placed on each end of the shaft of the coloring roller,
and geared into racks 1 and 2, fixed to the groved bars L. The pitch line of
these wheels should be equal to the diameter of the colouring roller. The
object of this gearing is to ensure the distribution and application of the
colors without any strain on the surface of the coloring roller when it is in
motion. It must be observed, that in Figures 14 and 15 the number of
colors are attained simply by dividing the length of the coloring roller into so
many parts as the number of colors required; and that in Figure 16 the
number of colours are obtained by multiplying the number of colouring rollers,
and of which each being equal in length to the breadth of the fabric to be
printed. The distance between the blocks or printing surfaces is shown in the
Drawing to be equal to the breadth of the block in both of the machines, and
which is necessary when the pattern is so large as to fill up the whole breadth
of the block. In Figure 14 the distance between the block may be reduced
when the pattern is of a small size, which is only limited to the space required

page_text: for making the divisions in the color box; but in Figure 16 the space between
each block should be sufficient to admit of a colour box to remain between
two blocks while the blocks are giving the impression. There are four color
boxes drawn in this Figure, all of which are attached. to and-moved-by-the
sliding brass M.
N is a cam plate fixed on the shaft I, whereby motion
is given to the coloring roller or rollers by means of the connecting rod O
and lever P, which being attached to the two sliding brasses M by a forked
connecting rod Q, which may be formed of two connecting link Q and a cross
bar m, of such dimensions that the blocks may descend within the forked
connecting rod while the coloring box remains stationary at n; and after
having once passed under the surface of the blocks, they are then brought
down to give the impression and lifted up again, when the coloring
roller or rollers are returning to the positions shown in the Drawing, and
then a new impression is taken. Figure 18 shows a front view of the move-
ment, whereby a reciprocating and intermittent motion is obtained for the
connecting rod 0; and o is a bolt fixed in the connecting rod, having flanges
on each side working on other flanges or rims on the plate N, of which
p and q are of a concentric semicircular form, and r and s of an excentric
semicircular form, notched out at their crossings. The coloring roller or
rollers are alternately kept stationary at each single stroke, and for one
half of a revolution of the shaft I, during which time the impression is
taken. The Drawing shows two cam plates N and the connecting rod O, to
work between the plates; but in a smaller machine one movement would
be sufficient, or a circular strap flange for driving the machine may be added
at the circumference of the plate N, and placed on the end of the shaft where
the driving rigger R now is placed. One cam motion and wrought-iron frame
would also in such case be sufficient for working the printing blocks. S is
the cloth to be printed, and S¹ is a protecting cloth or blanket passing
under the cloth to be printed, and both pieces are passing between two
small tension rollers t and t, then over the printing table to the feeding
drum T. The lower roller t is furnished with pins projecting about one
sixteenth of an inch above the surface. The top roller t¹ has circular
grooves turned in its surface to admit of the pins passing, and it is also
provided with a break wheel at each end of its shaft, and another break
is applied to the feeding drum, whereby the fabric is kept stretched on
the printing table. It should be observed that the break wheels are generally
placed on the cloth roller, but as the cloth rollers diminish in diameter the
break gives then a greater tension to the cloth, and the advantage of having a
pair of tension rollers with break wheels independant of the cloth roller is, that

page_text: the tension on the cloth will then be constantly the same, and whereby a
more perfect register of the pattern is obtained. The printed fabric passes
from the feeding drum T under the surface of the steam table U, and
returns on the upper surface of the steam table, when it comes in
contact with the feeding drum by means of a roller pressing the dried fabric
against the drum. W is a ratchet wheel fixed on the shaft of the feeding
drum, and u and u are two levers with hooks working the ratchet wheel from
the motion of the lever X and the two connecting links vand v¹, whereby the
feeding motion may be regulated to advance the cloth equal to the dimensions
of the printing block for every impression that is taken, and by disconnecting
one of the links the machine will give two impressions on the fabric for
every feed of the drum. Figure 19 is a modification of the feeding motion,
whereby the blocks may give four impressions on the fabric for every feed of
the drum, and Figure 20 is a horizontal section of the same modification.
W is the ratchet wheel for moving the feeding drum; u is a double-armed
lever, having in one end a connecting rod v and a feeding hook x for working
the ratchet wheel W, and in the other end is a hook for working another
ratchet wheel Y, which is not keyed on the shaft but held by a small friction
break or lever y fixed to the framing; z, z, z, z, are four cam rims or small
projections on the loose ratchet wheel Y, acting on a projecting pin x fastened
in the feeding hook x, for the purpose of lifting the feeding hook from the ratchet
wheel W alternately between the feedings, which only takes place when the
projecting pin a works between the intervals of the cams 2, 2, 2, 2. Any
required number of impressions may be given to the fabric by reducing or
multiplying the number of cam rims on the loose ratchet wheel Y, whereby
the machine may be able to produce a greater depth of color or to produce
rainbow or shaded printing by thus repeating the number of impressions in
the same place on the fabric. Figure 21 is a section of a printing block B
for producing shaded spots of two colours, similar to the pattern shown in
Figure 22; the. shaded effect is obtained by fixing to the block a series of
hollow wooden pegs or short brass tubes gradually diminishing in diameter
and filled in the hollow part with wool and covered outside with flannel, the
larger pegs printing the lighter colours and the smaller ones the darker colors,
which will all spread or run together, and thereby produce the shaded effect.
These pegs may also be of one diameter, but then a greater number of im-
pressions are required to produce the shaded effect; any other shaded pattern
may be obtained by adapting the form of the block or printing surface to the
form of the desired pattern.
Figure 23 shows a vacuum printing table A (drawn in a larger scale than

page_text: the machine described) partly shewn in section. b, b, b, are bars which form
a grating for supporting a brass wire cloth, which constitutes. the upper surface
of the printing table, and by the vacuum within the colours printed on the
fabric is passed through by the atmospheric pressure on the fabric. Bis a
cylindrical sliding valve, by which the atmospheric air is admitted within the
table by the central passage on the valve when it is down, as shewn in the
Drawing, and when the valve is lifted up the atmospheric.air is exhausted from
within the table. through the pipe E, which is placed in-communication with a
vacuum chamber. T. is the feeding-drum,, and Y the ratchet wheel described
in Figures 19 and 20; but to this ratchet wheel is added on its inner side. the
cam. rims m,.m, for giving motion to the valve B, and thereby admitting the
atmospheric. air within the table at such times only when the fabric is to be
moved. This table may also be used for discharging colours from the fabric,
washing the discharged part, and printing other colors on the part so discharged,
and all at the same operation, either by block or by a rolling impression.
The Third Part. Rainbow or other Printing, by Surface or other Rollers.
Drawing No. 5: Figure 24 is a longitudinal section of a machine composed
of..a series of surface or other rollers for producing shaded spots. Figure 25
is. a plan, and Figure 26 is a cross section of the same. A, A, and A', A',
the shafts on which are mounted a number of radial arms or peg wheels B, B,
and B, B, by which the surface rollers are composed. The distance between
the wheels on the axis is regulated by a short brass tube on the shaft; the
end of the shaft. of each pair of rollers is fitted and kept in its position by a
groved bar or slotted. bearing a, a, bolted to the cast-iron frames C, C, of the
machine. D is the cloth roller, from which the cloth passes between a pair of
tension rollers E and E', and then between the supporting rollers F and F',
then between the surface printing rollers B and B' to the supporting rollers
G and G¹, and finally the fabric passes between a pair of squeezing rollers
Hand H, partly immersed within a washing trough I. K is a pair of copper
rollers for supporting the fabric in the middle of the machine. The shaft of
the lower printing and supporting rollers works on a friction wheel b, b, b, and
each pair of rollers are first geared together by wheels C and C, and all the
lower wheels C of each pair of rollers are then geared together by inter-
mediate wheels d, d, d, which work on a bolt e fastened to the framing. and
fare circular plates fixed at the end of the shaft of cach printing roller, and
the diameter of these plates should be equal to or rather less than the
diameter of the printing-rollers, whereby the peg wheels or rollers are pre-
vented from dropping down. The wheels C and C' are bolted to the plates

page_text: f and fin such a manner that the pegs or pattern of the top roller may be
adjusted to correspond with the pattern at the lower roller; the supporting
rollers F and G have pins on their surfaces projecting about one sixteenth of
an inch, and the top rollers F' and G' have corresponding groves turned on their
surfaces to admit of the pins passing the tension roller; E¹ has a break wheel
L on each end of its shaft, and -g is a weight suspended on a lever fitted to
the break wheel, and whereby the tension of the fabric is regulated; h, h, are
holes or indentations on the supporting roller, whereby the shaded spots
or printed part of the cloth may pass between the rollers without the rollers
touching the printed parts of the fabric; M is a shaft with a rigger or
wheel N, to which the driving power is applied, when the squeezing rollers II
and I will draw the piece through the machine whereby the printing rollers
will revolve on their shafts, and each of the lower rollers dips into a colour
box or boxes 0, 0, 0, and take up colour on or within the pegs or pattern of
the surface rollers, and impart the colour to the fabric as it comes in contact
with the top rollers, which are of a corresponding form or pattern to the lower
ones; the distance between each pair of rollers is so regulated that the pegs or
pattern on the rollers will all print in the same place; the diameter of the pegs
on the rollers are gradually diminishing; the larger.pegs printing with a light
colour, which are gradually getting more and more concentrated in the colour
boxes, so that the smaller pegs print with a much darker colour in the middle
of the impression of the light colour, and produce a shaded effect in the
pattern; the colour box or boxes are either heated by steam, or placed over a
furnace, according to the heat the colour may require. P is a water pipe, laid
across the machine, and provided with a slit or a number of holes giving out a
stream of cold water for the purpose of washing away any portion of colour
which may not have been united with the fibres of the fabric, and whereby the
fabric may pass between the squeezing rollers H and H, without staining or
spoiling the ground color; i is a pipe for drawing off the water from the
trough; the cloth may be wound up on a roller or taken away by hand as it
leaves the squeezing rollers. k, k, k, are pipes for supplying the different
degrees or strength of colour in the color boxes; Q is a wooden box laid on
the frames C and C for covering the machine, and thereby keeping the heat
within the apparatus when required. Figure 27 shows one of the peg wheels
separate on a larger scale, and partly in section. Figure 28 is a cross section
of the same. m shows the hollow part of the pegs, which are filled with wool,
and covered outside with a flannel, which is fastened by a string tied round
the pegs, or with a brass ring. The object of having the pegs so packed
with wool is to absorb within the pegs a greater quantity of colour than could

page_text: -otherwise be absorbed by covering the pegs with flannel alone; the top rollers
are also to be covered in a similar manner. It should be observed that when
the fabric is of a thin texture it would be necessary to gear the squeezing or
driving rollers together with the supporting roller G either by a strap or
wheels; but care should be taken that the velocity of the squeezing rollers is
the same on its surface as the velocity of the supporting or printing rollers.
Figure 29 shows the form of a wheel for producing waving lines on
the cloth, similar to the pattern- drawn in Figure 30. Figure 31 is a
cross section, and Figure 32 an elevation of the same. m is a groove or
hollow part in the waving circumference of the wheel, filled with wool and
covered with flannel. A number of these waving wheels may be placed on
the shafts A, A, and A¹, A¹, instead of the peg wheels, and the register of the
shaded pattern would be ensured by the intermediate wheel d, d, d, as described
in Figures 24, 25, and 26.
Drawing No. 6.-Figure 33 shews a cross section of one of the color boxes
described in Figures 24, 25, and 26, with the addition of a partition or divi-
sion R within the color box O, whereby a pattern of two different colors may
be shaded, and if the surface roller be of the form shewn in the Drawing, a
pattern would be produced similar to Figure 34. Figure 35 is a plan of the
color box, shewing the division R of such a form that the colors may be sup-
plied through projecting tubes k and k¹, one at each end, and thereby fill the
colors in the respective compartments across the machine. Figure 36 is a lon-
gitudinal section of a machine, whereby shaded or other printing may be pro-
duced by one pair of surface or other rollers B and B¹ fastened on the shafts A
and A'; the lower roller B dips into a stationary color box 0; C is a move-
able frame, into which the fabric is constantly kept at a proper tension when
it passes from the cloth roller D between the tension rollers E and E, and
over the supporting rollers F and G to the driving roller H, in contact with
another roller K, on which the fabric is wound up when printed, and which
roller is suspended on a short lever a, whereby it may freely turn on its axis,
when the cloth roller increases in diameter from the fabric being rolled thereon
by the contact of roller E; b is a bracket, bolted to each end of the color box
for supporting the printing rollers, and outside of this bracket is a friction
wheel, on which the shaft of the lower roller works.
The supporting
rollers F and G are each provided at the end of their shaft with a wheel,
and geared together by means of an endless chain T, which chain is also
geared into a chain wheel c and c', one placed on cach cud of the shaft A
and A¹ of the printing rollers, and whereby the said rollers will receive a
rotary motion, and thereby supply the color or colors to the fabric when the

page_text: frame C is moved backwards and forwards. The space between the links of
the chain should be sufficient to admit the cogs of the two chain wheels C
and C' to work in the links, and for which purpose the one wheel is placed so
much further on the shaft, so that the wheels may work clear of each other.
d is a chain wheel fixed on the frame C, and whereby the chain is kept
stretched. The printing rollers should also be furnished with a circular plate
at each end of their shafts, so as to prevent the roller from dropping down
when the surface of the rollers are not sufficient to support the rollers; h, h,
are holes or indentations on the supporting roller G, to admit the shaded
impressions to pass between the rollers. The pitch line of the chain wheel d,
and also the chain wheel placed on the shaft of the supporting roller F should
be equal in diameter to the supporting roller F, and both wheels should be
somewhat larger in diameter than the printing roller B and supporting
roller G, in order to admit of the chain wheels of the said rollers to clear
motion of the lower parts of the chain. U is a crank for giving a backward
and forward motion to the frame C, which slides in V groves on a cast-iron
plate m laid over a furnace or otherwise for heating the color box or boxes
placed thereon; N is the driving pulley, connected by a strap with another
driving pulley on the shaft of the roller H, in the moveable carriage C, the
driving strap being kept tight by a pulley L suspended on a weighted lever;
and the strap should be of sufficient length to vibrate or follow the backward
and forward motion of the driving pulley on the shaft of the roller II in the
sliding carriage; the velocity on the surface of the driving roller H should
be much slower than the backward and forward motion of the fabric in
the carriage C, and by combining and adjusting the velocities of these two
motions the surface roller or rollers will pass over the same place several times,
and thereby supply the color or colors so many times as may be required to.
produce the shaded effect or intensity of color: that is to say, for example, if
the driving roller H moves through a space of one foot at the circumference,
and the fabric in the carriage moves six feet, it is then evident that the
printing roller will have passed over or given six impressions in the same
places of the fabric. S is a roller suspended on a link or lever e. This roller
is provided with a protecting blanket, which is passing under the roller H and
between the piece and the roller, and then rolled up together with the printed
abric on the roller K, whereby the shaded parts are protected or prevented
from staining the fabric or ground color. The roller K is then brought to a
washing machine, where the piece is separated from the protecting blanket.
A break wheel should also be fixed on each end of the top tension roller E¹.
Figure 37 is a longitudinal section of a machine, nearly similar to the one

page_text: described in Figure 36, and in which a washing apparatus is substituted for
the protecting blanket. H and H' are two squeezing rollers, the lower one
being worked with a vibrating strap, as described in the former Figure. P is
a vertical water-pipe with a horizontal branch fixed across the moveable
carriage C; the vertical part is fixed to a moveable joint. to allow the pipe to
vibrate, similar to what has been described for the driving strap. A slit or
holes are made in the horizontal branch of the pipe; and jets of cold water
strike through the fabric. I is a trough in which the water is received and
carried away through a pipe. It should be observed, that when the fabric is
of a thin texture it would be necessary to have a wheel fixed on the chain
wheel d gearing into another wheel on the shaft of the driving roller H; but
care should be taken to make the wheels of such proportions that the pitch
line of the chain wheel d, or circumference of the printing roller, moves at
the same. velocity as the circumference of the roller H. Although I have
shewn in this Figure, only one pair of rollers attached to the chain, several
pair of rollers may be attached thereto, either for producing shaded impressions
or otherwise; or the printing roller or rollers may be fixed in a moveable
carriage, and all the other rollers with the registering chain kept stationary or
fixed in a frame bolted to the plate m and placed within the moveable car-
riage, whereby the effect of the machine so modified would be the same.
When a smaller pattern is to be printed it would be desireable to dispense
with the holes or recesses h in the supporting roller G, which should in such
case only be a plain roller, and this may be effected with covering the
modified or plain roller G with an endless blanket working in a water trough
below the roller G.
Drawing No. 7.-Figure 38 is a vertical section of a machine in which the
fabric is moved in a perpendicular direction between a series of surface or
other rollers, by which the colors may be applied to one or both sides of the
fabric. Figure 39 is another vertical section taken partly between the rollers.
A, A, and A', A', are the shafts supporting the printing rollers B, B, and
B', B', the form of which is adapted for producing shaded plaids similar to the
pattern shewn in Figure 40, on a somewhat larger scale than the machine,
the end of the shaft of each pair of rollers being fitted and kept in their
position by a slotted bearing a, a, bolted to the machine framing C, C. D is.
the cloth roller, from which the cloth moves upwards and between the tension
rollers E and E', and between a pair of guide rollers F and F¹, then descend-
ing between the surfaces of the printing rollers B and B' to another pair of
guide rollers G, G¹, and finally, the fabric passes between a pair of squeezing.
rollers I and II, partly immersed in a washing trough I. is a lever, on

page_text: which a roller K is suspended, and on which the fabric is rolled up by its
being in contact with the squeezing roller H', or the fabric may be taken
away by hand. On the ends of the shaft of each roller are placed a number
of friction rollers working in a plumber block b and 6 (shewn separately on
a larger scale, Figure 41), and each pair of rollers are first geared together
by wheels c, c, one being placed on the shaft of each roller; and each pair of
rollers are then geared together by an intermediate wheel d, d, d, which works
on a bolt e, fastened to the framing. n, n, are circular plates fixed on the
end of each printing roller. The wheels c, c, are fastened by bolts or other-
wise to the plate' n, n, in order that the pattern of the rollers may be
adjusted. One of the guide rollers F¹ and G lave short projecting pins on
their surfaces so placed as to work in corresponding groves in the other
guide rollers. The tension roller F has a break wheel L on each end of its
shaft, and 9 is a weight suspended on a lever fitted to the break wheel,
whereby the tension of the fabric is regulated. h, h, are circular and longi-
tudinal groves on the lower guide rollers G & G₁, whereby the shaded plaids
or printed parts of the fabric may pass between the rollers without touching
the said rollers. M is a shaft with a rigger or wheel N, to which the driving
power is applied. On the shaft M, or between the frame C and the driving
roller H, is placed a wheel, the pitch line of which should be equal to the
diameter of the roller H, and this wheel gears into the lowest of the inter-
mediate wheels d, whereby all the rollers will revolve on their shafts, and as
each printing roller dips into the color box. O and takes up a portion of
color on or within the surface of the roller they impart the said color to one
or both sides of the fabric as it passes between each pair of printing rollers, or
drawn through the machine by the squeezing rollers F and H. The rollers.
that work together are each of a corresponding form, and the distance
between each pair of rollers' is further so regulated that the pattern of all
the printing rollers will print in the same place; the printing surfaces of each
pair of rollers are gradually diminishing, the larger surfaces of the top rollers,
printing with a light color, which is gradually concentrated in the color boxes O
until it reaches the lowest printing rollers, and which prints with a darker
color and with smaller surfaces in the middle of the impression of the light
color, and whereby the shaded effect is produced. P is a water pipe laid across
the machine, with holes, through which jets of cold water rush out for washing
the cloth before it passes between the squeezing rollers. The color boxes O
are heated by being placed on a hollow cast-iron plate Q fixed across the
machine, and in which steam or heated air is caused to pass through the
said plates from the one to the other by means of a bent passage R.

page_text: Figure 42 shows a plan and part section of the heating plate Q, and in
which S is an opening or slit in the middle to allow the fabric passing in the
slit. r, are wrought-iron plates suspended on hooks fastened to the plate
Q, and by which the heat is enclosed round the printing rollers, the color
boxes projecting sufficient in front of the plates r, 1 to enable the colors to be
supplied. Figure 43 is a section on a larger scale, shewing one end of the
surface roller in details. Figure 44 is a cross section of the same. A is the
shaft on which is placed a number of plates B, B, corresponding with the
number of squares across the piece in a plaid pattern; and between each of
the plates B, B, is four hollow bars p, p, p, p, notched in at the circumference;
the bars are fastened or kept in their places by circular groved rings s passing
over the ends of the bars p, which are also notched out at their ends, so that
the groves in the rings s correspond in depth with the groves in the bars p;
the groves in the bars and the rings are filled with wool in the hollow part m,
and covered with flannel. This roller will produce a pattern similar to Figure 40,
but it may also be modified to produce a pattern similar to Figure 45; or the
cloth may first have lines shaded longitudinally on the piece, and afterwards
receive the shaded lines across the piece by having the surface roller composed
of bars similar to Figure 46, which is a cross section, and Figure 47 a longi-
tudinal section of such a bar roller. A is the shaft on which is placed a
number of double armed levers T, and to which is fastened hollow bars p, p, of
the same length as the roller; other double armed levers U are supporting
other hollow bars, and fastened to the shaft by a screw æ in order to adjust the
distance between the bars at the circumference of the roller, whereby the
dimensions of the pattern may be varied. W is a plate at each end of the
roller shaft, which thereby prevents the rollers from working closer to cach
other than the diameter should permit; the hollow part m of the bars is filled
with wool and covered with flannel, by which bars or rollers so packed or
covered will absorb a greater portion of color than otherwise, and thereby the
impression or shaded effect can be produced with a much smaller number of
rollers than that which would be necessary if the rollers where not so packed
and covered. I have only mentioned bars of a straight form fixed to the lever
T and U, but other bars of a waving form may also be fastened thereto, and
waving lines produced across the piece similar to the longitudinal waving
lines in the pattern drawn in Figure 30 (Drawing No. 5); or a combined
pattern may be produced by first printing with the waving wheels the longi-
tudinal waving lines, and then printing across waving lines by the rollers
described.
It should be observed, that although I have shewn six pair of printing

page_text: rollers in the vertical and horizontal machine, that number would not always
be required; three to four pair of rollers would be sufficient for ordinary
fabrics, but the peculiar combination of the parts show that the principle
admit of using a greater or smaller number of printing rollers, as the nature
of the fabric may require.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in
which it is to be performed, I would have it understood that I claim as my
Invention the several combinations of machinery above described, for the
purposes above stated. And I also claim as my Invention separately and
distinctly the parts of such combinations and combination of parts which
follow, videlicet :-
First, as to the machinery for letter-press printing, described in Drawings
Nos. 1, 2, and 3, I claim :-First, the application of a moving surface or
surfaces for the distribution of the ink, in combination with one or two
tympans in a moveable carriage, or with the peculiar cam motions for working
the frisket or inking roller carriage, or with a cam crank or cams on a shaft
placed longitudinally in the machine and under the printing table for giving
the pressure, or with blankets placed within a double printing table, or so
otherwise placed as to obtain elasticity sufficient to prevent the part of the
machine being overstrained. Second, the fixing of an inking apparatus to a
printing table, in such a manner that the inking apparatus may be disengaged
from the framing or moving parts, in order that the printing table may be
drawn out to one end of the machine when required. Third, the combination
of an inking drum or cylinder with one or more intermediate rollers in the
manner above described, by means of which the ink may be supplied to a
greater number of inking rollers than could be charged with ink from an
inking drum of a limited diameter. Fourth, the intermittent and recipro-
cating movement for a frisket carriage obtained by the combination of two
concentric and excentric flanges or grooves on a plate, as described and shown
in Figure 11. Fifth, the taking of the ink from a revolving drum or surface,
by inking rollers fixed in or moved by a sliding carriage, working independant
of the movement of the frisket carriage. Sixth, the causing of the inking
rollers to remain stationary on a revolving drum or surface during a portion of
time, in order to receive the ink by the movement described in Figure 10.
Secondly, as to the machinery for block printing, described in Drawing
No. 4 First, the double cam motion for working the printing block or
blocks as described. Second, the intermittent excentric motion for moving
the teerer or coloring rollers, as described and shown in Figure 18. Third,
the supplying of the colour or colours to the blocks by means of an elastic
B

page_text: roller or rollers working into a colour box or boxes, and geared into fixed
racks, by which a rotary motion is given to the colouring roller for the
purpose of distributing the colour thereon, as it moves under the surface of the
block or blocks. Fourth, the combination of parts into a feeding apparatus,
in such a manner, that several impressions may be, taken from the printing
blocks in the same places of the pattern for the purpose of producing shaded
or other printing, as above described. Fifth, the regulating of the tension of
the cloth by means of a break applied to independent or separate tension
rollers, as above described. Sixth, the printing or discharging of colours
on a vacuum, table for the purpose of drawing the colours or other liquids
through the fabric, in the several ways above described.
Third, as to the machinery for producing shaded or other printing, described
in Drawings Nos. 5, 6, and 7:-First, the producing of shaded or other
printing, in one or several colours on silk, cotton, woollen, and other fabrics,
either on one or both sides of the fabric.by means of surface or other rollers
geared together by an intermediate wheel or wheels, or by a registering chain;
and that whether the fabric be moved in a horizontal or perpendicular direction
between the printing rollers, whereby spots, plaids, waving lines, or other confi-
gurations, may be produced either by printing the colours on the fabric, or by
discharging on a dyed ground, or discharging and printing colours in the part
.so discharged, or by printing the colours first, and then covering the printed
part with a protecting wax or paste, as also above described. Second, the
combinations of any of either of the machines described under the third head,
either with a washing apparatus or a protecting blanket, or steam drying
apparatus, or otherwise as circumstances may require. Third, the combination
of any of either of the machines described with separate tension rollers and also
with pin rollers, whereby a superior register of the pattern may be obtained.
Fourth, the packing of pattern wheels, bars, or surface rollers with wool
or other absorbing substance within hollow parts of the pattern wheels, bars,
or printing surfaces, and covering such packing with flannel, whereby the
printing surface will absorb a greater quantity of colour than otherwise, and
whereby the shaded effect or depth of colour may be produced with a less
number of printing rollers. Fifth, the mounting or supporting printing rollers
on friction wheels, or rollers when used for such purposes, as above described.
Sixth, the manner of making, forming, and combining parts for surface rollers,
above described. Seventh, the supporting or guiding of the fabric between
rollers with indentations or cavities in their surface or surfaces, so as to admit
the shaded or printed part of the fabric to pass between the rollers without
touching such rollers, and also the covering of the supporting or guiding rollers

page_text: with an endless blanket, the lower part of which works in water, whereby the
indentations or cavities in the supporting or guiding rollers may be dispensed
with. Eighth, the making of a division in a colour box or boxes in such a
manner that, by supplying the colours at each end, they will fill all the different
compartments across the machine. Ninth, the giving of a backward and
forward motion to a frame, in which frame the fabric is kept stretched, and in
which it is moved between printing rollers, which rollers revolve on their shafts
by means of an endless chain fixed to the moveable frame, and so arranged
as to register the colour or colours and advance the fabric by a motion con-
siderably slower that the backward and forward motion of the chain and
of the moving frame, whereby the printing rollers will print several times in
the same places, according to the adjustment of the velocities of the two
combined motions, and thus produce the shaded effect or intensity of colour
on the fabric, and also the modification of this combination, in the manner
indicated by the description in Figures 36 and 37. Tenth, the using of a
printing table in combination with a registering chain for advancing the fabric
on the table, over which a backward and forward motion is given to printing
rollers geared into the chain at the same time as the fabric advances at a
slower rate than the motion of the printing rollers. Eleventh, the heating
of the colours, by placing the colour box or boxes on a hollow plate or plates,
into which heated air or other gases are admitted.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Augustus Holm, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of June, in the year of
Our Lord One thousand sight hundred and fouter
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Twenty-first day of June, in
the year of our Lord 1849, the aforesaid Charles Augustus Holm came before
our said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the Speci-
fication aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and specified,
in form above written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped
according to the tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
Enrolled the Twenty-first day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and forty-nine.