IMPROVEMENTS IN PRINTING WARPS OF CUT PILE AND SIMILAR FABRICS
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Claude Alphonse Roux, of Belleville, near Paris, in
the Empire of France, and of 16, Castle Street, Holborn, City, London,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PRINTING WARPS OF CUT PILE AND
SIMILAR FABRICS."
the Empire of France, and of 16, Castle Street, Holborn, City, London,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PRINTING WARPS OF CUT PILE AND
SIMILAR FABRICS."
Sealed the 27th June 1854, and dated the 29th December 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Claude Alphonse Roux at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 29th
December 1853.
I, CLAUDE ALPHONSE ROUX, of Belleville, near Paris, in the Empire of
France, and of 16, Castle Street, Holborn, (City,) London, do hereby the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PRINTING WABPS OF CUT
PILE AND SIMILAR FABRICS" to be as follows:-
The objects of my improvements is to print warps for eut pile and similar
fabrics. Firstly, so as to prevent the colour running beyond the pattern at the
edges. Secondly, to prevent the threads from shifting in their relative position
after being printed. Thirdly, in an improved and cheaper way of printing than
has been employed hitherto. For the first purpose I separate the thread or
threads contained in each dent of reed from the thread or threads contained in
the next, by passing in the dents between the two warp threads one or inore
threads of cotton or any other more low-priced materials. These cotton threads

page_text: receive the colour which run over beyond the extent of the pattern to be
printed. They are removed during the weaving, and after being washed they
may be used again for the same or a different pattern. Secondly, at equal,
more or less considerable, distances I tie the warp threads by one or more
picks of thread, which are removed during the weaving process.
Thirdly, instead of the usual printing blocks, I use a box or frame made up
of small rectangular spaces, which have the width of one dent and the length of
the loop or terry added to the length of thread that passes under the warp of
the back of the fabric. This frame or box may be constructed in different
ways. Thus for coarse fabrics it may consist of a board of suitable thickness,
which on the printing face is sawed into rectangular faces, those rectangles
which are not to print being cut out. I also make the frame of empty
rectangular spaces, which I fill then with parallelepipeds of the same length
and width, & with those that are necessary for one colour at the time. After
these colours have been printed off, the parallelepipeds being put in their
proper places may also have an impression taken off in gutta percha or any
other suitable material. This impression being treated in the usual manner,
a galvano plastic fac-simile of the printing block may be obtained from it in
copper or any suitable metal. This fac simile of the printing block having
the required thickness is strengthened by covering the back side of it with
some suitable material. The frame or box may also be altered in the fol-
lowing way I take a hollow rectangle made of any suitable metal and of the
suitable dimensions. These tubes are stopped at the bottom with felt or any
or suitable matter adapted to the liquidity of the colour. After having filled
each of the rectangular tubes with the necessary colours, they are put square on
a plane surface, and fixed in a frame by means of screws.
There are pistons
which fit into the rectangular tubes, & which may be acted upon by any
suitable means, such as a plate pressing equally on all pistons, so as to squeeze
the colour through the felt and bottoms of the tubes. The warp is thus printed,
the surplus colour being absorbed by a flannel blanket or other cloth under it.
The respective colours are filled into the tubes by means of plates, of which
there is one for each colour, & perforated above the required tubes. Another
way of using the fac simile printing block above described, or any similar one, is
by means of a collection of rectangular tubes, which are open at both ends. Into
each of these tubes fits a rectangular piston made of leather or any other suit-
able material These pistons are mounted on a plate, by means of which they
are all forced up at once, & thus the colours in the tubes maintained at one
level. The parallelepipeds of the fac-simile printing block corresponding to the
colour tubes, it will be covered with the necessary colour for taking an impres-

page_text: sion of it. The printing operation may also be performed by applying in the
following manner a jacquart machine slightly modified. The parallelepipeds
is attached to the end of a rod which is articulated to a double lever, acted
upon by the lever of a jacquart machine. This parallelepiped works like a
piston in a trough divided into rectangular spaces filled with colour, which are
closed at the bottom in the following manner:-The bottom is formed by a
sheet of india-rubber or other suitable material, which is perforated so as to
allow a tight passage to the pistons. In order to stiffen this clastic sheet it is
kept between two metal plates, which are perforated to allow a full passage to
the rectangular piston. The body of this piston is perforated either cross-
wise or otherwise by an opening of the proper shape and size, which opening
is less in height than the thickness of the elastic sheet, so as to prevent the
colour from running out. The piston receives by the jacquart machine above
mentioned, a reciprocating motion through the elastic bottom of the trough, so
as to have its opening alternately in and outside the trough. Whilst inside
the trough it fills its opening with colour, which, when the opening is outside
or under the trough, runs down the sides of the piston and covers its under
rectangular face. The piston continues its course till it reaches the warp,
which is placed under it at a suitable distance, and thus receives the required
impression.
The printing operation may also be performed in a similar way, which will
be better understood from the accompanying Figure. A, trough containing the
colouring matter; C, D, pistous on the same rod B, actuated as before by a
jacquart machine, and perforated at c and d. The opening c fills with colour
in the trough A, and when coming out of the rectangular tube E, empties into
the space formed by the loose tube F. The piston D, having filled in the latter
space, carrries down the moveable pipe F, into which it fits by the tube G,
soldered to F, till F touches the warp in H. The piston D then pursues its
course & performs the printing operation, as before described. When the
pistons rise again, the pipe F is carried along with them by friction till it is
stopped by the bottom of the trough A. To avoid carrying the warps, our
jacquard printing machine may be put at the back of the loom for which it
prints the warp. The printing motion may be derived from the loom. so that
the printing and weaving are simultaneous. It may also be driven as far as the
jacquard is concerned like the so called bar-looms, a table being fixed across
the machine under the trough for printing. The warp & blanket under it is
taken up as usual by a regulator, which gives just the length of one rectang'e
at each turn of the crank. It is obvious that the reading in of the pattern h: s
to be altered when, for instance, a design of four colors has to be printed, the

page_text: first row of rectangles being black, the second red, the third bluc, and tlic
fourth yellow. The first card has to print. the black rectangles of the first
pick, the red ones of the preceding pick, the blue rectangles of the pick before
that, and the yellow ones of the last but second pick, and so on. If it is
required to give to the rectangles the length of two rows, the first pick will
only be complete at the end of the eighth row, and of the eighth card. It is
also obvious that the levers of the jacquard have to be placed above each other
by the distance of the lift of the printing pistons, and as far asunder as the
distance of the card rows requires.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed 1
by the said Claude Alphonso Roux in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 28th June 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CLAUDEL &
ALPHONSE ROUX, of Belleville, near Paris, in the Empire of France, and of
16, Castle Street, Holborn, City, London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-ninth day of December, in the year of our
1

page_text: Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the seventeenth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Claude Alphonse Roux, Her special licence that I, the said Claude
Alphonse Roux, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said Claude Alphonse Roux, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others; from time to time and at all
times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
nake, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN PRINTING WARPS OF CUT PILE AND SIMILAR FABRICS," upon the con-
dition (amongst others) that I, the said Claude Alphonse Roux, by an instru
ment in writing under my hand and seal, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was
to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Oflice within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Claude Alphonse Roux, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the fol-
lowing statement (that is to say):-
The object of my improvements is to print warps for cut pile and similar
fabrics. Firstly, so as to prevent the colour running beyond the pattern at the
edges. Secondly, to prevent the threads from shifting in their relative position
after being printed. Thirdly, in more effectual and cheaper ways of printing
than have been employed hitherto.
For the purpose first mentioned, I separate the warp thread or threads con-
tained in each dent from the warp thread or threads in the next but one, by
passing in the dent between the two one or more threads of cotton or any
other low-priced material..
These cotton threads receive the colour which may run over beyond the extent
of the portion of warp to be printed. These separating threads are removed
for weaving, and after being washed they may be used again for the same or a
different pattern.
For the second purpose 1 tie the warp threads at equal distances by one
or more picks of thread, which are removed during or before the weaving
process.
These two improvements, however, only serve as auxiliary means for the
third part, which consists in several new and improved methods of printing
warps. For this purpose I use, instead of the ordinary printing blocks, a box

page_text: or frame made up of small rectangular spaces which have the width of one
dent, and the length of the loop or terry added to the length of the thread
that passes under the weft of the back of the fabric. This frame or box may
be constructed in different ways. Thus for coarse fabrics it may consist of
a board of suitable thickness, which on the printing side is sawed into rectan-
gular faces, those rectangles which are not to print being cut out. I also form
the frame of open rectangular spaces or cells which I fill with parallelopipeds
of suitable dimensions in cross section, the parallelopipeds for one colour only
being inserted at the same time. After these colours have been printed off, the
parallelopipeds for another colour are inserted, and so on till all the colours of
the pattern are printed off, one or several cellular frames being used for the
purpose. These parallelopipeds being put in their proper places may also have
an impression taken off in gutta percha, or any other suitable material. This
impression being treated in the usual manner, a galvano-plastic fac-simile of the
printing frame may be obtained from it in copper or any other suitable metal.
The required thickness having been given to this fac-simile, it is further
strengthened by covering, lining, or filling up its back side with some suitable
substance. The printing frame or box may also be constructed in the following
way I take hollow or tubular parallelopipeds made of the proper size in any
suitable metal. These tubes are open at one end & closed at the bottom
with felt or any other suitable matter, adapted to the liquidity of the colour.
After having filled each of the tubes with the colour required, they are put
square with each other on a plane table and fixed in a proper framing by
means of set screws. There are pistons which fit into the tubes, and may be
acted upon by any suitable means, such as a plate pressing equally on all
pistons, so as to squeeze the colour through the felt, &c. bottoms of the tubes.
The warp is thus printed, the surplus colour being absorbed by a flannel,
blanket, or other cloth under it. The colours required to be filled into cach
tube are poured into them by means of plates of which there is one for each
colour, and perforated above the tubes belonging to the said colour. Another
way of using the fac-simile printing block or frame above described, or any
similar one, is by means of a collection of rectangular tubes which are open at
both ends. Into each of these tubes fits a rectangular piston made of leather
or any other suitable material. These pistons are mounted on a plate by means
of which they are all forced up at once, the colour contained in all the tubes
being thus raised to the same level. The parallelopipeds of the fac-simile
printing frame or black corresponding in size with the said colours tubes, the
frame being put over the colour tubes, it will receive the necessary colours for
taking an impression of it. The printing operation may also be performed by

page_text: applying in the following manner a jacquard machino slightly modified. A
suitable number of parallelopipeds is attached to the end of rods which are
articulated to a double lever, acted upon by the hooks of a jacquard machine.
These parallelopipeds work like pistons in a trough or troughs divided into
rectangular spaces filled with colour, and closed at the bottom in the following
manner:-
This bottom is formed by a sheet of india-rubber or any other suitable
material, which is perforated so as to allow fit tight on the pistons. In
order to stiffen this elastic sheet, it is kept between two metal plates, which are
perforated so as to allow full passage to each rectangular piston. The body of
this piston is perforated horizontally either cross wise or otherwise by an
opening of the proper shape and size, which opening is less in height than the
said elastic sheet so as to prevent the colour running out.
The piston receives from the jacquard machine above mentioned a recipro-
cating motion in or through the elastic bottom of the trough, so as to have its
opening alternately inside and outside the trough. Whilst inside the trough
its opening fills with colour, which, when the opening is outside or under the
trough, runs down the sides of the piston and covers its under rectangular
face. The piston continues its course till it reaches the warp, which is placed
under it at a convenient distance, and thus receives the required impression.
The printing operation may also be carried on in a way similar to the pre-
ceding one, and which will be better understood from the accompanying Sheet
of Drawings. A, Fig. 1, is a vertical section of a trough containing the colour;
C, D, are pistons on the same rod B, actuated as before by a jacquard appa-
ratus, and perforated at c & d. The opening c fills with colour in the trough,
and when coming out of the rectangular tube E, into the space formed by the
loose tube F. The piston D, having filled in this latter space, carries along
with it the moveable tube F, into which it fits by the tube G, soldered to F,
till F touches the warp in II. The piston D then pursues its course and per-
forms the printing operation, as before described, the colour descending in the
space between D & F, below G. When the pistons rise again the tubo F is
is carried along with them by friction till it is stopped by the bottom of the
trough A, which arrangement allows the opening c to emerge again into the
colour trough. In order to illustrate or exemplify the use of the printing
boxes, parallelopipeds, or pistons and tubes above mentioned, I have repre-
sented on the accompanying Sheet of Drawings a pattern which has four
colours, viz., lue, yellow, red, and green, represented by differently dotted
lines. Fig. 2 is a plan of this pattern, woven or with its loops raised.
Fig. 3 is a plan of the printed warp; c, c, being the separating warp

page_text: threads; d, d, the tying warp threads, both mentioned above. Fig. 4,
A, B, C, D, represents the surfaces of the printing blocks used for the
different colours of the pattern, Fig. 2, viz. A for the bluc, B for the yellow,
C for the red, D for the green. In case jacquard apparatus is used, Fig. 2
shews the order in which the printing pistons aro to be actuated; for instance,
in this case, five cards or changes will be wanted, also four colour troughs will
be required, which may be supposed to be arranged in the following order, viz.
blue, yellow, red, and green. In this arrangement, the first card..will cause
to print in the places indicated by the pattern, Fig. 2, four bluc, two yellow,
and two red pistons; the warp will move through one pick or loop, and the
second card will cause to descend two blue, two yellow, and one red piston, or
parallelopiped; and the warp advancing after each impression by one pick or
loop, the third card will print two yellow loops; the fourth card, two blue
and one yellow; the fifth card, four blue, one yellow, one red, and one green
loop; after which the first card will begin again, and there will now be as many,
picks.completely printed as have passed under all the colours they are made
up of. This system of reading in may, however, be altered in any suitable way,
for instance, by changing the position of the troughs and putting on one more
trough of one or more colours. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section through the
middle of the pattern Fig. 2, shewing the way in which the warp threads thus
printed are connected with the threads of the bottom or back; this mode of
weaving being the sanie as that of common velvet or carpet. Although either
of the ways described above may be used for printing warps, yet I wish it to be
understood that I prefer the following modification of a jacquard printing
apparatus: Fig. 6 is a side elevation; Fig. 7, a front view of the same.
Figs. 8, 9, 10, 11, & 12, shew the details of the trough and piston. This
apparatus consists of a strong frame A, A, on which is raised a common
jacquard machine, with its press and card beam a, b, grif c, spring box.d,
needles or wires e, hooks f, and leashes or blades 1, cumber board k; all these
parts being similar to those .now in use. The hooks f, however, differ in as
much as they are shouldered, so as to be acted upon by the leashes 1, both at
the rising and descending of the grif, the leashes being fixed for the same
púrpose in a vertical instead of an inclined position as usual. Each row of
hooks fis linked to another row of double armed levers m, which are capable
of oscillating on shafts n, fixed across the frame. Both hooks and levers are
made.of flat iron, so as to take no more room than is allowed by the design.
Also between each row of levers and the next, there is sufficient vertical space
to allow for the lift of the pistons. The opposite cud of the levers m are con-
nected by flat connecting rods o, to pistons p, of boxwood or any other suitable

page_text: material, which work in colour troughs q, and print the warp passing on the
table B. are guide plates through which the rectangular pistons p pass. Figs.
8, 9, and 10, shew one of these colour troughs in front elevation, end view, and
plan, respectively. Fig. 11 shews in transversal section the way in which, the
pistons work in the troughs; and Fig. 12 is a longitudinal section of the piston.
The troughs are fixed on the beams C, and their bottoms are perforated, so
as to allow an easy passage for the pistons. On this bottom is fixed a strip's,
of some elastic material, such as vulcanized india-rubber, gutta-percha, &c.,
moulded or cast, with openings which fit tight on the pistons. On this strip
again is fixed an U shaped piece of metal t, containing another strip of elastic
material in it. This strip u is perforated with openings for the pistons; these
openings being chambered out so as to fit tight on the pistons only at the lower
mouths v. The piston p acts in the following manner-At the end of its
upward stroke, as shewn in Figs. 6 & 11, its opening w emerges into the
trough q, there to fill with colour, and then descends and carries the colour
thus taken through the strip s, which acts as a stufling box, into the lower
chamber u. In case the time taken by the piston to traverse the said chamber
does not allow the colour to run on the under side of the piston, it is merely
deposited in the chamber u, but the next following down stroke will bring down
the colour that adheres to the sides of the chamber u and orifice v, and impresses
it on the warp underneath. The warp receives its progressing travel by a click
and ratchet wheel taking up motion similar to that used in looms, or by any
other suitable means. To avoid carrying the warp the jacquard printing
machine may be put at the back of the loom, and also the printing motion may
be derived from the loom, so that the printing and weaving are simultaneous.
It is also obvious that although Fig. 7 represents the jacquard as being driven
by means of a lever and handle L, it may be driven in any other convenient
manner, such as is usually applied to bar or small ware looms. In case it be
desired to hold the warp stationary whilst it is being printed, the jacquard
printing apparatus described may be mounted on a railway, on which it is mado
to travel along the warp which is stretched over a proper printing surface,
motion being imparted to the jacquard apparatus by means of wheel and rack
gear, endless chains and sprocket wheels, or by any other suitable mechanical
means.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in which
the same may be carried into effect, I wish it to be understood that the im-
provements which I consider to be novel and most important amongst those
described, and therefore claim as being secured to me by the present Letters
Patent, are,

page_text: Firstly, printing warp for cut pile and similar fabrics, by means of hollow
parallelopipeds or tubes, closed at the bottom with felt or other suitable
material, these tubes being filled with the colours required, and put together
or composed so as to form the design, an impression of which is produced by
pistons acting simultaneously on the colours in the tubes, as described above.
Secondly, applying the jacquard machine to printing warp for cut pile and
similar fabrics.
Thirdly, printing warp for cut pile and similar fabrics by means of colour
troughs and perforated parallelopipeds or pistons, as described.
In wituess whereof, 1, the said Claude Alphonse Roux, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twentieth day of June, in the year of our
Lord 1951