IMPROVEMENTS IN PRINTING CALICOES AND OTHER FABRICS
Year: 1840

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, RICHARD
BEARD, of Egremont Place, New Road, in the County of Middlesex, Gentle-
man, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at West-
minster, the Sixth day of April, in the third year of Her reign, did, for
Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said Richard
Beard, Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege and authority, that I,
the said Richard Beard, my exors, adiñors, and assigns, or such others as
I, the said Richard Beard, my exors, admors, 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, exer-
cise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed,
my Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PRINTING CALICOES AND OTHER FABRICS,"
communicated to me by a certain Foreigner residing abroad; in which said
Letters Patent is contained a proviso that I, the said Richard Beard, shall
cause a particular description of the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Richard Beard, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and

page_text: 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)
The Invention relates,-
First, to a mode of constructing printing cylinders with the pattern in relief,
whereby I am enabled to print several colors from one cylinder, by so
arranging the parts of the engraved surface around a cylinder that they shall
be able to slide or move after having been supplied with color before giving off
their impression on to the fabric to be printed.
Secondly, the Invention relates to a mode of constructing a printing
cylinder when printing with engraved surfaces in relief in such manner that
the various parts of the engraved pattern or surface are made to move out-
wards from the centre of the cylinder, separately and independently of the
neighbouring parts, whereby each part can receive its particular color by
standing away from its neighbouring parts, and thus I am enabled to print
patterns of several colors at one time from one printing cylinder.
Thirdly, the Invention relates to apparatus for supplying several colors to the
surface of one printing cylinder, having sunk engraved surfaces thereon. And,
Fourthly, the Invention relates to a method of making metal printing
surfaces for printing calicoes and other fabrics by engraving in relief, and also
for sunk engravings.
And in order to give the fullest information in my power, that the Invention
may be readily performed, I will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto
annexed, wherein the same letters and figures of reference are used to denote
the same parts wherever they occur.
Figure 1 shews the section of so much of a printing machine as will enable
me to describe the first part of the Invention.
Figure 2 is part of a longitudinal section of the printing cylinder.
Figure 3 shews various views of the sliding bars and parts connected there-
with, which carry the engraved surfaces.
Figure 4 is an end view of part of the cylinder. I have not thought it
necessary to shew a complete cylinder printing machine for printing calicoes
and other fabrics, the construction thereof being well understood; and a work-
man, aided by the Drawings already referred to, aided by the description
hereafter given of the various parts, will readily construct the requisite

page_text: framing and other parts, according to the result he wishes to obtain; the first
part of the Invention simply relating to the mode of constructing a printing
cylinder for relief printing, the parts of the printing surface of which being
capable of movement in such manner that having received their colors they
can be moved in various directions, according as the pattern may require it.
a is the printing cylinder moving on an axis a', which turns in suitable
bearings, and is to be driven in a similar manner to ordinary surface
printing cylinders. On the axis a¹ are affixed two circular plates a², having
affixed thereon a series of bars b, in each of which are formed two slits or
openings 6', in order to receive projections c¹ of the sliding bars c, which move
or slide on the bars b, and are guided in their movement by the projecting
pieces c¹, which pass into the slots or openings b', and they are retained from
coming out thereof by screws c, as is clearly shewn in the Drawing. d, d, are
springs which are attached at one end to a hook affixed in the projection_c¹,
and at the other end to a hook affixed in the under surface of the bars b, there
being a spring d to each of the sliding bars c, by which means the bars c are
at all times drawn towards the inclined or guiding surface e, e. This guiding
surface is affixed to the framing of the machine, and is the means of causing
all the parts of the surface which are to receive the same color to come into
such positions as to follow each other in succession in the same line around
the cylinder a; and it will be understood that the lower edge of the guiding
surface e allows the bars c to move some distance without sliding, so that when
the parts of the printing surface are in contact with their respective color
surfaces or blanket f, they do not move endwise but simply revolve to take
their color in like manner to an ordinary relief surface cylinder; but, so soon as
the engraved surfaces carried by each successive bar c have got their color,
each sliding bar is moved or transposed from its position by means of the
springs d, they being allowed to act by the guiding surface e; and the surfaces
will have assumed their correct position just before they arrive to give off
impressions to the calico or other fabric. 9 is a cranked plate affixed to each
of the sliding bars c, and is capable of adjustment thereon. Each of these
plates g has a friction roller g' which acts against the guiding or inclined
surface e, as the cylinder a revolves, by which means the bars c are placed
correctly to receive their proper color. h are bent plates, one of which is
affixed to each of the sliding bars c, and such plates are cranked or bent
inwards towards the axle of the cylinder a. Through such cranked ends h pass
set or adjusting screws, which act as stops to regulate the distance through
which the sliding bars c shall be moved by the springs, as above stated, they
having at all times a tendency to draw the sliding bars towards the guiding or

page_text: inclined surface e. The various parts of the engraved printing surface are
to be fixed to the sliding bars, and the designs will be engraved with
reference to the number of colors the cylinder is intended to print at one
time; and according to the number of separated colors which a cylinder
is to print, so is to be the number of color troughs i employed; or one
trough may be divided into as many compartments as there are separated
colors to be printed. And I employ a series of narrow blankets or color
surfaces f, one to each trough or compartment of the color trough, each
blanket or color surface being conducted or guided by its separate roller,
yet moving on common axes, as is shewn at k, k, there being a roller
in each color trough to give color to the endless blankets or color surfaces.
By thus having separate narrow blankets or color surfaces for each color, the
colors are prevented mixing into each other and blending, which might other-
wise be the case if only one color surface or blanket were used, receiving
on its surface the various colors which are to be supplied to the cylinder
at the same time. I would however remark, that although I prefer the
above mode of supplying color to printing cylinders by separate narrow.
blankets, I do not confine myself thereto, as a single blanket or other means
may be resorted to, the Invention not relating to the mode of applying color
to the printing cylinder a, but to the construction of the cylinder a itself,
whereby the various parts of the engraved surface which are on separate sliding
bars, and are to receive the same color, are caused to assume a proper position
in succession to take color from the same surfaces, and then to move into
their proper places to make up the proper printing surface, whereby, although
the various colors are laid on in succession, they are not printed in succession
on to the fabric, but are varied in their positions, according to the design of
the engraving, and the manner in which the slides c are set to act by their
adjusting screws.
From the foregoing description it will be evident that great capability
may be obtained in printing several colors, by having the relief-engraved
surface of a printing cylinder in many parts, which, when away from the
surface to be printed, all those parts which are to receive the same color can
be caused to range in a direction around the printing cylinder and receive
color from their particular color blankets or color surfaces, and then the
various parts of the printing surfaces separate and take positions according to
the design.
I will now proceed to explain the second part of the Invention.
Figure 5 shows so much of a printing machine for printing with relief-
engraved cylinders as will enable me to describe this part of the Invention.

page_text: In this case the printing or engraved surface is carried by many bars, each
bar independent of its neighbour; consequently, as each bar has the capability
of moving outwards from the cylinder A, with which it revolves, it can stand
prominent and receive its color separately, and then get out of the way by
retiring towards the centre of the printing cylinder A, at the time when it is
passing other color surfaces, and which are intended to give off color to other
bars of engraved surfaces. A' is the axis of the printing cylinder A, there
being three circular plates or bosses B, affixed thereon. In each of these
bosses or circular plates are formed a series of radial slits or openings, which
act as guides to the bars C; such bars consisting of segments of the circle of
the cylinder A, each such segment having a plate affixed thereto at right angles
which respectively enter the radical slits in the plates or bosses B, and thus
are the bars C guided steadily to and from the centre of the cylinder A. On
each of the bars C is affixed a cranked plate D at each end thereof, which has
two friction rollers, one to enter a groove in the guide plate E, affixed on the
axis A, and the other to enter an excentric groove in one of the circular
plates F, there being one such guide plate E affixed at each end of the axis
A', and one such excentric grooved plate F, affixed to the framing of the
machine in a position suitable for receiving the friction roller at each
end of each of the bars C. One of such plates E and F are shewn at
Figure 5 in section, and separately at Figure 6; and there are as many
radial grooves in the plate E as there are bars C; and there are as many
excentric grooves in the plate F as there are colors to be printed by one
cylinder. Hence, each bar will be forced outwards when it is coming
opposite its proper color surface, and will remain prominent till it has passed
its color surface, and then by its excentric will pass inwards, so that in its
further revolution, till it gives off its impression, it will not come in
contact with any other color surface. The parts are arranged for printing
with four colors, but it will be evident, on understanding the mode of working
of the parts, that the number of colors may be varied, the parts being varied
accordingly. The four colors are supplied to the cylinder A by means of four
endless blankets G, H, I, and J, which receive color from suitable troughs, as
is well understood when supplying color to relief-printing cylinders; and there
should be suitable doctors applied to the blankets for removing the superfluous
color, as is well understood. And it may generally be remarked, that as this
part of the Invention only relates to a mode of constructing a printing cylinder
for printing several colors therefrom, I have not thought it necessary to shew
a complete machine, as a workman, acquainted with the construction of
cylinder printing machines using relief surfaces, will readily apply the improve-

page_text: ments after a careful consideration of the Drawings, aided by the description
thereof herein given.
Figure 7 shews part of a plan or surface of the cylinder A, there being
parts of five of the bars C shewn with their printing surfaces affixed thereon.
Thus it will be seen that the first bar C has projecting surfaces C¹ on either
side thereof, which are to have affixed thereon an engraved design in relief;
and this bar will at all times be so acted on by its excentric groove in
the plates F, that it will be moved outwards before coming in contact
with the color surface or blanket which has the color thereon, which the
designs on this bar is intended to print. Thus the Drawing shews there to
be yellow, green, red, and blue, and the engraved design on the first bar C
will at all times come against the yellow color surface, and all the printing
surfaces affixed thereto will receive the same color. The second bar C, having
projections C, will at all times in revolving have its engraved surface come in
contact with and receive color from the green color surface. The third bar C,
having projections C³, will in its revolution have its engraved surfaces caused
to come in contact with the red color surface, and the engraved surface C of
the fourth bar C will come in contact with and receive color from the blue
color surface; and it will be evident that the nature of the designs formed or
engraved on the projecting surfaces C³, C2, C3, C4, may be varied; and
although I have shewn them all to be of one size, it is evident that these
plates may be varied, size and figure depending on the general design to be
printed from the cylinder A. In the above-described arrangement of printing
cylinder A it will be seen that each bar C has only one color, and the color
blankets proceed or are each of a width from end to end of the printing
cylinder A; but by having narrow blankets with separate color troughs, each
bar C may have two or more colors applied thereto. Thus in Figure 8 the
engraved surfaces C1, C2, C3, C4, are shewn on two bars, the green and blue
being applied by a divided trough, and separate narrow color blankets to one
bar C, and the red and yellow by another divided trough, and separate narrow
blankets; and then, in order to transpose the relative placing of the rollers,
the next bar C has the blue and green, and the next bar C has yellow and red
succeeding each other alternately across the machine; then the next bar C
will have the same order of colors as the first described, that is, green and blue
in alternate succession, and so on, there being four sets of color troughs and
color blankets for such purpose, and the excentric plates F made accordingly;
and it will be evident that each bar C may thus have various numbers ofcolors
applied thereto, and the engraved designs on the bars C may be varied according
to taste, and therefore the parts may vary in sizes one from another.

page_text: I will now describe the third part of the Invention, which relates to a
mode of apparatus for applying two or more colors to the surface of one
printing cylinder with the pattern thereon in such engraving, and whereby
the same color apparatus shall at one moment apply color to one portion of
the printing surface and then at another part of the surface, and yet have
the printing cylinder scraped by a doctor or scraper as if only one color were
placed thereon.
Figure 9 shews a section of a printing cylinder having the printing surface
of sunk engravings, and also a vessel for applying color to such surface. This
vessel is open at top, and is formed that it can be placed on an axis a, by having
a tube through it. 6 is the mouthpiece of this apparatus, which is, in fact, a
narrow flat tube of the width of the color vessel, as will be better seen in the plan
Figure 10, which represents a portion of a printing cylinder, having several
such apparatus or vessels for supplying color. c is a doctor or scraper pro-
ceeding from end to end of the printing cylinder, and the mouthpieces 6 of the
color vessels are cut away at the back against which the doctor rests; and the
upper surface of the mouthpiece of each color vessel is shaped to the form or
curve of the roller, consequently no color will pass on any side in the revo-
lution of the printing cylinder; nor will any color pass out at the time the
mouthpiece is being moved from place to place on the printing cylinder
in order to supply the engraved surface at the points required, and as-is
hereafter explained. It should be understood that as many of these color
vessels are affixed on an axis a as will make up the length of engraved
surface of the printing cylinder, and each of these vessels is to be of a width
sufficient to apply color to its particular part of the design. The axis a is to
be so placed in the machine that it is to be capable of movement in the way
of the length of the printing cylinder; and the axis a is also to be carried by
suitable framing that it may have a movement partly around the axis of the
printing cylinder, as is indicated by the large arrow. The object of this last
movement is to enable the color vessel to be tilted in order to use up all the
color; but such tilting is only to take place at the commencement of printing
the piece, the lengthway movement of the axis a, with the color vessels,"
being to remove the mouthpieces from one place to another and back. The
plan Figure 10 shews there to be nine mouthpieces 6 to the portion of the
printing cylinder shown; and it will be evident that if the printing cylinder
were to turn when the color vessels remained stationary, it would follow that the
various colors would be laid on to each succeeding part of the printing surface
in stripes of the same color; or, as the patches of engraved surface are not
continuous, to make a stripe, each succeeding patch of engraved surface around.

page_text: the cylinder coming opposite to a particular mouthpiece would receive the
same color one after the other; and that in the printed fabric the patches of
design would succeed each other of the same color. But it will be evident
that if a to and fro motion be given to the color vessels by any suitable
mechanism during the time the printing cylinder is revolving the color will be
laid on in zigzag directions, as is indicated by the zigzag lines on the plan
Figure 10, and the engraved designs would have the colors laid on accordingly,
the edges of the mouthpieces, together with the doctor, preventing any color
remaining on the unengraved surface. And it is this mode of supplying
color by a series of mouthpieces, having movement lengthwise of the printing
cylinder, which constitutes the first mode of laying on color to an engraved
printing cylinder.
Another mode of accomplishing a similar result is shewn at Figure 11,
which is a section of so much of a printing machine as will enable me to
describe this part of the Invention. a, being the engraved printing cylinder;
b, being a roller for applying color on to the various portions of the pattern.
This color roller is similarly constructed to the printing cylinder which con-
stitutes the second part of the Invention; but in this case in place of the
bars C, which are projected out from the centre of the roller carrying printing
surfaces, the bars are to carry surfaces of felt or blanket, which are to have
color applied thereto from endless blankets or other suitable means, as is
shown in the Drawing; and the colors are then to be laid on to the printing
cylinder in patches on the engraved surfaces, which are to be similarly
arranged as to allow of a scraper or doctor moving to and fro on the revolving
surface of the printing cylinder to scrape each color in a zigzag direction, and
thus to retain the colors separate from each other, notwithstanding that they
are not laid on to the cylinder one behind the other; and thus is a doctor or
scraper, by the aid of the roller above explained, enabled to produce a similar
effect to that described by the series of color vessels. c is the doctor which
proceeds from end to end of the cylinder a, and it rests against mouthpieces of
tubes b, corresponding with the width of the color laid, on the front of the
mouthpiece being removed, and also the back thereof where the doctor rests
against them, as shown, the sides of the mouthpieces remaining, by which one
color is prevented mixing sideways, and the mouthpieces are attached to small
vessels which receive the color from the doctor, and the doctor and vessels,
with the mouthpieces b, are carried on a suitable axis b', and rest on a stop or
wire 6, and the whole are carried in a frame b, which is capable of being
moved to and fro in like manner to that described in respect to the mouth-
pieces and color vessels before described.

page_text: I will now describe the fourth part of the Invention, which relates to
a mode of obtaining cast metal surfaces for printing by relief or by sunk
engravings. In carrying out this part of the Invention, I take advantage of
the ready means which zinc is known to offer of being removed by acid. In
performing this part of the Invention, I take a sheet of zinc and perforate the
same by dies and pressure, or other convenient means, according to the pattern
or design required, and in order to simplify the description of the process of
forming surfaces according to this part of the Invention, I will suppose that
the design to be printed consists of a series of circular spots, and that the
printing surface is to be in relief; in such case I take a sheet or plate of zinc
about the one sixteenth of an inch thick, and by means of a fly press and
punches I punch holes through the plates of zinc according to the design or
arrangement of the spots which it is desired to print, and having so perforated
the plate of zinc, it becomes the mould for the face of the printing surface in
the following manner:-It is placed on a bottom of a square mould of the
size and thickness it is desired to have the metal printing surface, and then I.
pour into the mould melted metal, which will fill up the spaces punched out or
otherwise removed from the zinc plate, as well as form a thick sheet of metal;
and having smoothed and equalized the upper or printing surface, I then by
means of acids remove so much of the zinc plate as will allow of those parts
of the cast metal which filled up the holes formed in the zinc plate to stand in
sufficient relief to become the printing surface in relief; or in case I desire the
surface to be used as sunk engraving, then the part of the design which is left
in the zinc plates, when other parts thereof are removed in forming the design,
will become, when sufficiently eaten away by the action of the acid, the sur-
faces which receive the color; consequently such surfaces will only be slightly.
sunk below the other metal surfaces, off which the doctor or other means
resorted to will remove the color, and the more raised surface will not print.
By these means it will be evident that metal printing surfaces may be made
with great variety of designs, and at a very moderate cost; for, although I have
for simplicity of description supposed the parts removed from the plate of zinc
to be circular holes, it will be evident that in like manner the parts removed
may be of any figure and design, and the effect of operation will be the same,
that is, producing prominent surfaces of metal by removing the zinc plate by
acid to a greater or less depth, according as it is desired to print from the more
prominent or the sunk surface. And, although I have thus far confined my
description to flat printing surfaces, it is evident that printing cylinders may be
cast and treated in like manner to obtain the surfaces desired; and in making
such printing cylinders I prefer that they should be made in short lengths,

page_text: particularly where the same pattern is repeated several times across the length
of printing cylinder; and in casting the various parts or rings to compose a
cylinder I perforate a plate or sheet of zinc with the design I wish to produce,
and then bend it into the circle of the size of the roller, taking care that the
pattern shall be so designed that the edges which join shall come together
correctly to form the pattern correctly at the join, as in the other parts of the
surface; these bent plates of perforated zinc I then place in metal moulds of
an internal diameter equal to the diameter of the printing cylinder, and I
usually form such moulds in two or more parts, and of bell metal, having a
central core, which will produce a hole through the casting suitable to allow
of all the cast rings fitting on to a common axis; and thus do I produce cylin-
ders for printing which I first turn truly on the surface, and then apply the
acid to eat away so much of the zinc surfaces as may be required.
pour
Another mode of forming the printing surfaces of cast metal is, to employ
strips of thin zinc and other shapes or portions of zinc, and having bent or
shaped such strips with the form or outline of a leaf or other figure, and of
the stalks or other parts of the design, and then set such bent zine with the
edge upwards in cement, such as plaster of Paris or other suitable material,
and in the same way I put in other portions or shapes of zinc, according to
those parts of the design which I wish to have eaten away by the acid; and
having thus arranged a mould into the interstices, I the melted metal,
and thus obtain a plate partly composed of zinc and partly of a compound
metal, which, being heated to melting, will not injure the zine by having it
poured thereon; and then having smoothed the surface, I by acid remove such
parts of the surface of the pattern which are composed of zinc to a depth
depending on whether the eaten or sunk or the relief surface is to be the
printing surface, as before explained. The compound metal I employ is com-
posed of six parts fine tin, six parts bismuth, and two parts lead, which will
not be injuriously acted on by the acid in removing sufficient of the surface of
zinc. I would, however, observe, that I do not confine myself thereto, and
I use diluted sulphuric acid for removing the zinc, and I find that five parts
of sulphuric acid to twenty parts water is the best for performing the
operation required.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, I would bave it
understood that what I claim as the Invention secured by the present Letters
Patent is,
First, the mode of forming a printing cylinder, wherein the parts of the
printing surface are caused to move after having received color, in order to
assume their proper position for printing the pattern desired as above described.

page_text: Secondly, I claim the mode of forming printing cylinders, whereby the
various parts of the engraved surfaces are caused to move from and to
the centre of the cylinder, in order to their standing prominent when
receiving color.
Thirdly, I claim the mode of applying color by moveable mouthpieces, as
herein described; and I also claim the mode of applying color by a color
surface, made up of parts capable of moving to and fro from the centre of the
roller, and the means of removing color from a printing cylinder by moving
mouthpieces and doctor, as described. And,
Fourthly, I claim the modes of making cast metal printing surfaces, as
herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard Beard, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and forty.
Inrolled the Sixth day of October, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and forty.