IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING FLEXIBLE MATERIAL WITH RAISED AND SUNK SURFACES IN IMITATION OF LEATHER, WOOD, FABRICS, AND OTHER EMBOSSED or Figured SUBSTANCES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Loewenberg, of New York, United States of
America, but at present of No. 20, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in
the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PROCESS
AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING FLEXIBLE MATERIAL WITH RAISED AND SUNK
SURFACES IN IMITATION OF LEATHER, WOOD, FABRICS, AND OTHER EMBOSSED
or Figured SUBSTANCES."
Sealed the 15th April 1879, and dated the 18th October 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Loewenberg at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th October 1878.
HENRY LOEWENBERG, of New York, United States of America, but at present of
No. 20, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING FLEXIBLE
MATERIAL WITH RAISED AND SUNK SURFACES IN IMITATION OF LEATHER, WOOD,
FABRICS, AND OTHER EMBOSSED OR FIGURED SUBSTANCES."
My Invention relates to the production of flexible material with raised and sunk
surfaces in imitation of leather, wood, fabrics, and other embossed or figured sub-
stances, such as was described in the Specification to Letters Patent granted to
William Clark on the 15th April 1865, No. 1068, being a communication from me
and Emile Granier, and in other Letters Patent granted to me, dated 19th May
1875, No. 1837, and 31st August 1875, No. 3050.
According to my present Invention, I produce such flexible material with the
figured surface formed of compounds of two different colours at one and the same
operation, by applying to the travelling mould first a thin layer of the compound of
one colour in such a manner that the said compound is only applied to the raised
Price Gar

page_text: part of the mould, so that on the mould then passing underneath the receptacle
from which the main body of the compound of a different colour is delivered, such
compound in being spread over the mould and filling the sunk portions of the same
will, when it has solidified and is removed from the mould, appear on the raised
portion of the figured surface, while the first-named compound of a different colour
will appear in the sunk portions of such surface. For carrying out this operation,
I arrange behind the receptacle containing the fluid compound for forming the
main body of the flexible figured material a second receptacle containing the fluid
compound of a different colour. The discharge oritice of such second receptacle is
closed by a roller, which as it revolves delivers a thin layer of the compound on to
a second roller which is in contact with the raised portions of the travelling mould,
and which thus deposits the compound in,an evenly distributed manner on to the
raised parts of the mould. The inould in then passing under the second receptacle
has the second compound of a different colour deposited thereon as before, the fabric
forming the back or foundation of the figured material being then applied to the
upper surface of such compound.
The above-described process may be carried out by means of the apparatus
described in my before-mentioned Specification, No. 3050 of 1875, but, by preference,
I employ for the production of the figured flexible material, whether in two colours,
as described, or in one colour only, as heretofore, by means of apparatus of the
following construction:-An endless web is stretched over two drums or cylinders
at some distance from each other, the one drum being by preference adjustable so as
to stretch the web to the extent required, and a fixed table extends from the one
drum to the other, over which the web is made to travel by the rotation of one of
the drums. By preference, I arrange a small roller between the edge of the table
rand the drum at the front end of the machine, so as to facilitate the passage of the
web from the drum to the table. Upon the endless travelling web is placed the
endless mould, which may be produced as will be presently described, and above
the mould is arranged the receptacle for the liquid compound, the receptacle being
by preference raised some height above the front drum, and having a spout (the
lower part of which is removeable) leading down to the surface of the mould and
terminating in a narrow orifice extending right across the mould. Immediately in
front of this orifice is either a roller or a blade, sufficiently raised from the surface
of the mould to allow room for the required thickness of the layer of the compound
and the fabric forming the backing or foundation thereof, this fabric being led
from a roll thereof carried by the upper part of the framing underneath the roller
or lower edge of the blade. Thus the compound flowing on to the mould is carried
thereby underneath the roller or blade which spreads it evenly over the mould and
at the same time applies to it the fabric forming the backing. The mould,
together with the plastic compound, then passes onward over the table, and thence
over the second drum, and back again underneath the table, the speed of travel
being so adjusted that by the time the moulded material arrives at the front drum
again it has become sufficiently solidified to allow of its being removed from the
mould. For the last-named purpose a small roller is applied to the outer side of
the drum, so that as the mould with the material on it passes such roller the mate-
rial with its backing is stripped off the mould and led away, while the mould passes
up again over the drum to the spout to receive a fresh charge of the compound.
When compounds of two different colours are to be used, as first described, the
second receptacle with its spreading rollers is arranged to deliver its compound on
to the mould between the point where the moulded material is stripped off and
where the mould again passes under the delivery spout for the main body of the
.material.
When the pattern from which a facsimile mould is to be taken in the first
instance is of flexible material, the mould is prepared therefrom in the same
manner as above described in reference to the figured material prepared from the

page_text: mould, that is to say, the pattern is formed into an endless belt which is stretched
over the drums, and a cast is taken therefrom for the mould by means of the same
compound that is used for the figured flexible material to be subsequently produced.
This cast with its fabric backing is then in its turn formed into an endless belt and
stretched over the endless web on the drums, the surface being treated with chromic
acid or equivalent substances for rendering it insoluble, as described in my before-
mentioned former Patents, and also oiled to prevent the adhesion of the casts to be
subsequently taken from it.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Henry Loewenberg in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 17th
April 1879.
HENRY LOEWENBERG, of New York, United States of America, but at present of
No. 20, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lanc, in the County of Middlesex.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING FLEXIBLE
MATERIAL WITH RAISED AND SUNK SURFACES IN IMITATION OF LEATHER, WOOD,
FABRICS, AND OTHER EMBOSSED OR FIGURED SUBSTANCES."
My Invention relates to the production of flexible material with raised and sunk
surfaces in imitation of leather, silk, wood, fabrics, and other embossed or figured
substances, such as was described in the Specifications to Letters Patent granted to
me, dated 19th May 1875, No. 1837, and 31st August 1875, No. 3050.
According to my present Invention, I produce such flexible material with the
figured surface forined of one compound, with two different colours at one and the
same operation, by applying to the travelling mould first a coloring matter such as
coloured printer's ink, in such manner that the said ink is only applied to the
raised part of the mould, so that on the mould then passing underneath the recep-
tacle from which the body of the compound of a different colour is delivered, such
compound in being spread over the mould and filling also the sunk portions of the
same will, when it has solidified and is removed from the mould, appear on the
raised portion of the figured surface, while the first-named. printer's ink of a
different colour will appear in the sunk portions of the same. For carrying out
this operation, I arrange behind the receptacle containing the fluid compound for
forming the main body of the flexible figured material a second receptacle con-
taining the printer's ink of a different colour. The discharge orifice of such second
receptacle is closed by a printer's roller which, as it revolves, delivers the ink on to
a second roller which is in contact with the raised portions of the travelling mould,
and which thus deposits the ink in an evenly distributed manner on to the raised
parts of the mould. The mould in then passing under the other receptacle has the
compound of a different colour deposited thereon, the fabric forming the back or
foundation of the figured material being at the same time applied to the upper
surface of such compound.
The above-described process may be carried out by means of the apparatus
described in my before-mentioned Specification, No. 3050 of 1875, but, by preference,
I employ for the production of the figured flexible material, whether in two colours as
hereby described, or in one colour only as heretofore, by means of apparatus of the
following construction:-An endless web is stretched over two drums or cylinders
at some distance from each other, the one drum being by preference adjustable so
as to stretch the web to the extent required, and a fixed table extends from the one
drum to the other, over which the web is made to travel by the rotation of one of
the drums. By preference, I arrange a small roller between the edge of the tablo
and the drum of the front end of the machine so as to facilitate the passage of the
web from the drum to the table. Upon the endless travelling web is placed the
endless mould, which may be produced as will be presently described, and above the
mould is arranged the receptacle for the liquid compound, the receptacle being, by
preference, raised some height above the front drum and having a spout (the lower
part of which is removable) leading down to the surface of the mould and termi-
nating in a narrow orifice extending right across the mould. Immediately in front
of this orifice is either an adjustable roller or a blade sufficiently raised from the
surface of the mould above the small roller mentioned, for facilitating the passage
of the web, and to allow room for the required thickness of the layer of the com-
pound and the fabric forming the backing or foundation thereof, this fabric being
led from a roll thereof carried by the upper part of the framing underneath the

page_text: roller or lower edge of the blade. Thus the compound flowing on to the mould is
carried thereby underneath the roller or blade, which spreads it evenly over the
mould, and at the same time applies to it the fabric forming the backing. The
mould, together with the plastic compound, then passes onward over the table, and
thence over the second drum, and back again underneath the table, the speed of
travel being so adjusted that by the time the moulded material arrives at the front
drum again it has become sufficiently solidified to allow of its being removed from
the mould. For the last-named purpose, a small roller is applied to the outer side
of the drum, so that as the mould with the material on it passes such roller the
material with its backing is stripped off the mould and led away, while the mould
passes up again over the drum to the spout to receive a fresh charge of the com-
pound. When two different colours are to be made, as first described, the second
receptacle with its spreading rollers is arranged to deliver its printer's ink on to the
mould between the point where the moulded material is stripped off and where the
mould again passes under the delivery spout for the main body of the material.
When the pattern from which a facsimile mould is to be taken in the first
instance is of flexible material, the mould is prepared therefrom in the same manner
as above described in reference to the figured material prepared from the mould,
without the printer's ink, that is to say, the pattern is formed into an endless
belt, which is stretched over the drums, and a cast is taken therefrom for the
mould by the same means and of the compound that is described in my former
Patent for making moulds; this cast with its fabric backing is then in its turn
formed into an endless belt and stretched over the endless web on the drums, the
surface being treated with chromic acid or equivalent substances for rendering it
insoluble, as described in my before-mentioned former Patents, and also oiled to
prevent the adhesion of the casts to be subsequently taken from it.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 represents a longitudinal section, and Fig. 2 represents half an end view
and half a transverse section of apparatus, such as is above described for producing
the material referred to. A and B are the two drums over which passes the endless
web C forming the flexible mould, supported along the upper part of its course by
the table D. One of the drums B is driven from any suitable motor, and is
preferably mounted in adjustible bearings so that it can be moved horizontally for
the purpose of tightening the web C. E is the bearing roller over which the
mould C passes on its way to the table D, and F is the adjustible pressing roller
above it, for which may be substituted an adjustible knife, blade, or scraper G.
The fabric to be treated H is unwound from the roller H; the composition is kept
fluid in the vessel I and descends thence by the spout J terminating in a shallow
mouth extending the whole width of the fabric so as to deliver the composition in
a thin layer between the mould C and the fabric H just before they enter between
the roller E and the pressing roller For scraper G. The composition with its
fabric backing passes along with the mould web over the table D and returns
underneath to the taking-off roller K, at which point the composition with its
backing L is led off, whilst the web mould C continues its course round the roller A
to receive another charge. When colour is to be applied as above described to the
raised parts of the mould, the colour trough M is charged with the printer's ink or
colouring matter, a thin layer of which is taken by the roller N and delivered to
the equalising roller O, which spreads it over the raised portions of the web
mould C. The mould thus served with printer's ink or colour receives the compo-
sition with its backing, as already described, and this, in leaving the mould at L,
takes with it the colour which now presents itself on the sunk portions of the
composition. When the sunk portions are not required to be of a different colour,
or when the apparatus is used for making the mould itself, the rollers N, O, are
moved away from the travelling web.

page_text: Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I would have it understood that I make no general claim
to the use of a continuous web forming a flexible mould for the manufacture of
material of the kind above referred to, but I claim,-
First. Producing at one operation material in imitation of leather and the like,
presenting different colours in the raised and sunk portions of its pattern, by
applying colour to the raised portions of the mould before it receives the composi-
tion which forms the body of the material, substantially as herein described.
Second. The construction of apparatus capable of being used for the manufacture
of the material above referred to either of uniform colour or with different colours
in the raised and sunk portions of its pattern, as herein described, and illustrated by
the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Loewenberg, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Fourteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord Onc
thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.
HENRY LOEWENBERG. (L.S.)