CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPLICABLE TO MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR BLEACHING, DYEING, PRINTING, AND FINISHING TEXTILE AND OTHER FABRICS, AND IN THE ENGRAVING OF COPPER ROLLERS AND OTHER METALLIC BODIES
Year: 1850

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN.
DALTON, of Hollingworth, in the County of Chester, Calico Printer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Twenty-sixth day of January, in
the thirteenth year of Her reign, did give and grant unto me, the said
John Dalton, my exors, admors, and assigns, Her especial license, full power,
sole privilege and authority, that I, the said John Dalton, my exors, admors,
and assigns, and such others as I, the said John Dalton, my exors, admors,
and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time
and at all times thereafter, during the term of years therein mentioned, should
and lawfully might make, usė, exercise, and vend, within that part of the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland called England, Her Dominion
of Wales, and Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of "CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPLICABLE TO MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR BLEACHING,
DYEING, PRINTING, AND FINISHING TEXTILE AND OTHER FABRICS, AND IN THE
ENGRAVING OF COPPER ROLLERS AND OTHER METALLIC BODIES;" in which said
Letters Patent there is contained a proviso requiring that I, the said John
Dalton, shall particularly describe and ascertain the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, by an instrument
in writing under my. hand and seal, to be enrolled in Her said Majesty's High
Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and immediately after

page_text: the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as, reference being
thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
John Dalton, do hereby declare the nature of my Invention, and the
manner in which the same is to be performed, is particularly described and
ascertained in and by this present Instrument in writing, reference being had
to the Drawings in the margin of these Presents, and in which said Drawings
similar parts are marked and referred to by similar letters or figures (that is
to say)
.
My Invention relates firstly, to an improvement in the apparatus used
for bleaching calicoes, muslins, and other fabrics by the adoption of a new
revolving cylinder or bowl in lieu of the cylinder in present use. The last-
mentioned cylinder consists of a solid block of wood with an iron shaft
passing through the centre longitudinally with the grain, and is objectionable
among other accounts from its want of durability, the surface soon becoming
uneven and unfit for use, from the breaking off and splintering of portions of
the wood.
The object of my improvement is to obtain a constant evenness of surface,
and a greater elasticity in the body of the cylinder, and at the same time
preserve an equal capability of resisting pressure. To obtain this end I
construct my cylinder in the following manner: -I take an iron shaft or
centre about. three inches square and varying in length according to the
machine or framework for which the cylinder is intended, to each end of
which an iron plate or disk serrated vertically to the shaft on the inside is
fitted. I next prepare a number of disks of hard dry wood about three
quarters of an inch in thickness, the centres of which are cut out so as to fit
on the shaft and the outer edge left rough. I then take a quantity of gutta
percha, tintawan, or other substance having similar properties, or a compound
of gutta percha with any other substance (but prefer the use of gutta percha
alone), and raise it to the temperature of about 360° Fahrenheit. To do this
effectually without danger of exceeding such temperature, I make use of a
bath of metallic alloy composed of two parts of tin to one of lead, melting
at three hundred and sixty degrees, in which I place the pan containing the
gutta percha.
With these materials I proceed to construct the cylinder thus :-Setting up
the shaft in a perpendicular position and taking off the upper iron disk, I
make fast to the shaft the lower iron disk and cover it with a layer of the hot
gutta percha. On this I place one of the wooden disks, cover such disk with
hot gutta percha, then upon this I place another wooden disk, and so on,

page_text: observing to cross the grain of each alternate disk, and pressing the same,
firmly together after fitting every three or four disks, to exclude the air and
render the whole perfectly adherent. When the shaft is filled, I replace the
upper iron disk and make it fast to the shaft.
My next proceeding is to cover the outer edges of the wooden disks thus
cemented together with a coating of gutta percha, and with this view I place
the unfinished cylinder horizontally on its bearings upon a frame, and cause
it to revolve slowly over a clear coke or charcoal fire to maintain the tempera-
ture until the requisite quantity of the heated gutta percha has been deposited
equally over the surface. This external covering of gutta percha should be
about one and a half inch thick, and care is required to render it as solid as
possible by freeing it from all air bubbles which are apt to be formed in laying
on the heated gutta percha. This being accomplished, I remove the fire
from underneath, and gradually cool the cylinder by pressing against its
surface a wooden roller revolving in a trough of cold water, or the cylinder
may be enclosed in a hollow metallic cylinder, and then pressed until cool.
When perfectly cold the cylinder is turned true in a lathe, and the surface
rendered smooth by revolving against it a metallic roller with a little hot
water. The iron disks should also be coated with shell-lac varnish when the
cylinder is intended to be exposed to the action of acids.
A reference to the sectional Drawing in the margin, Figure I., will perhaps
tend to shew more clearly the construction of the cylinder. A is the iron
shaft or centre; B, are the wooden disks forming the body of the bowl,
and cemented together with the gutta percha; D, D, are the iron disks
holding the body firmly together; and F, F, is the external coating of the
gutta percha. The cylinders thus constructed are fitted to and employed
in the machines for bleaching in the same manner as and in substitution
for the ordinary wooden or other bowls. They are also adapted for washing
and squeezing apparatus in bleaching and dyeing fabrics, and are applicable
to other apparatus in similar processes where the wooden bowls are em-
ployed, and the temperature to which they may be subjected does not
exceed one hundred degrees Fahrenheit, varying of course in length and
diameter according to the framework of the machine for which they are
intended. Their advantages for these purposes consist in their capability of
resisting pressure, their not being affected by acids or alkalies, their greater
durability, and their saving of power from their elasticity, and also in their
greater efficiency in pressing out the fluids from the fabrics coming in contact
with them. They have the further advantage of being easily repaired in
case of accidental injury to the surface, by merely placing a charcoal fire

page_text: underneath, and when rendered plastic, levelling and misning a
described.
My Invention relates secondly, to an improvement in apparatus for sizeing,
mangling, calendering, or finishing calicoes, muslins, and other fabrics, by the
adoption of a revolving cylinder constructed with a surface of gutta percha,
as herein-before described, in substitution of the wooden or other bowls now
used. The improved cylinder is fitted to the framework of the machine, and
For this purpose
worked in the same manner as the bowl in present use.
I am more particular in obtaining a perfectly smooth and even surface of
the improved cylinder.
The peculiar advantages of using my cylinder for sizeing consists particularly
in the very even and regular manner in which the size is spread over and
pressed into the fabric, and when employed as a dry mangle or calender the
finish is more mellow and soft, and from the elastic nature of the surface the
fibres of the cloth are pressed down without leaving any gloss or uneven surface.
My Invention relates thirdly to improvements in apparatus for printing
calicoes, muslin-de-laines, paper, and other fabrics. The printing cylinders
in present use are made of iron, the hardness of which is overcome by coiling
round them several folds of a kind of cloth composed of linen and wool called
lapping; and in addition an endless web or blanket of considerable length
revolves round the cylinder, serving as a bed for the fabric while it receives
the impression from the engraved roller. The wear of the blanket and lapping
is very rapid, and from the progressive deterioration of their surface and
texture, a uniformity of impression cannot be relied on; their cost is also
considerable.
Now, the object of my improvement is to dispense entirely with the neces
sity of, in future, requiring either blanket or lapping, and at the same time
to produce upon the fabric a more regular and accurate impression of the
engraved roller. In the place of the iron cylinder now used, I adopt and fit
to the printing machine a cylinder made upon the principle or method herein-
before described; but with the shaft of cast iron hollow instead of being solid,
and work it in steps or bearings of the same metal, with a lubricator composed
of two parts of tallow, one part of sulpher, and one part of black lead. This
is done to prevent the temperature of the cylinder being elevated above one
hundred degrees Fahrenheit, and the surface consequently becoming too soft
by the generation of heat from friction in the working of the machine; and
with this view I also apply the above-mentioned lubricator to the bearings of
the maundrills carrying the copper roller. Should this prove insufficient, stops
of brass lined with an alloy composed one part of antimony, two parts of lead,

page_text: seven parts of tin, and ten parts of zinc, should be adopted as bearings for
the printing cylinder and maundrills, and worked with the same lubricator.
The fabric, revolving with the improved cylinder without blanket or lapping, is
brought in the usual manner into contact with the engraved roller, when,
from the elastic nature of the cylinder, the finest pattern is distinctly and
evenly impressed upon the fabric.
The peculiar advantages resulting from the adoption of this my improve-
ment are considerable. The saving of outlay for the lapping and blanket,
of labour and apparatus for washing and drying, and of time taken up in
changing them, will at once be evident. Besides these, finer work can be
printed, an uniformity of impression relied on, and a saving of one third of the
power at present required will be effected.
My Invention further relates to improvements in apparatus for printing
calicoes, silks, and other fabrics, by the construction and adaptation of a novel
apparatus for printing the same pattern upon both sides of the textile fabric. .
The sectional Drawing in the margin Fig. 2, will show the manner in
which I seek to attain this end. A, A, are two of the improved printing cylin-
ders worked in the usual manner; B, B, are the two engraved rollers
revolving and acting in the same manner as in the ordinary two coloured printing
machines, the reverse of the pattern being engraved upon the second roller;
C, C, are the furnishing rollers dipping into the mordant in the trough D,
and supplying therewith their respective engraved rollers; E, E, are fitting-in
wheels fixed on the end of each maundrill of the engraved roller with two
intermediate wheels to connect and move the engraved rollers exactly together.
The means herein-before described for preventing friction must also be
adopted with this machine. In printing with this machine the textile fabric
passes in the direction of the arrows between the first engraved roller and the
elastic cylinder (the pressure being regulated by screws or levers not shown
in the Drawing), which can be tightened or slackened as required. The
fabric then receives the impression of the first roller, and passing on to the
second a corresponding pattern reversed is in similar manner printed on the
other side. If the machine is required to print more colours, duplicate cylin-
ders and rollers can be adapted in similar manner. This machine is admirably
adapted for printing handkerchiefs, carpets, warps, or other fabrics where a
uniformity of impression on both sides is desirable.
My Invention relates lastly to improvements in the engraving of copper
and brass rollers, and other metallic cylinders. Firstly, by the adoption of two
small rollers constructed with a gutta percha surface, on the principle herein-
before described, in lieu of the rollers now used as bearers in the process of

page_text: mill engraving. These rollers are about three inches long and four inches in
diameter, and are placed under and revolve with the metallic cylinder. The
object is to resist the great pressure of the mill upon the roller without danger
of indenting or damaging the surface of the metallic cylinder. Secondly, by
the adoption of two pair of similar rollers having centres of glass or earthen-
ware instead of iron, as revolving supporters to the metallic cylinder when the
latter is subjected to the action of nitric acid in etching; two of the rollers
rest upon framework of glass or earthenware fixed at each end of the trough
containing the nitric acid, and serve to support the cylinder when completely
immersed in the acid. The advantage of this my improvement consists
in the durability of the supporting rollers consequent upon their resistance
to the acid. Thirdly, by the employment of two rollers constructed as
firstly herein-before described, with a surface of gutta percha for varnishing
metallic cylinders already engraved preparatory to exposing them to the
action of nitric acid to deepen the engraved lines. These rollers should
be of the same length as the metallic cylinder, but of different diameter,
say one four inches and the other three inches, and are fitted on framework
revolving against each other. In varnishing a cylinder, the rollers are first
evenly coated over with the varnish by pouring a little upon the surface,
and causing them to revolve together. The largest roller is then brought
into contact with the engraved cylinder, and deposits upon the unengraved
parts a fine coating of the varnish, leaving the engraved lines uncovered for
the action of the acid.
The advantage of my improvement for this purpose consists in the evenness
with which the varnish is applied to the cylinder.
Having now fully described and ascertained the nature of my Invention,
I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the precise
combination of materials or method of constructing my improved cylinders
herein-before set forth, so long as the peculiar character of my Invention,
namely, the construction of cylinders with the surface of gutta percha, bc
retained, nor to any particular use of or mode of applying such cylinder in or
to machinery or apparatus, as herein-before mentioned. But what I claim for
my Invention is,-
First, the novel combination of materials for and their application in the
construction of cylinders or bowls with the surface of gutta percha, as herein-
before described under the first head of my improvements, or any modified
combination or application thereof.
Second, the adaptation of my improved cylinders to and their application
in machinery or apparatus for bleaching, dyeing, printing, and finishing fabrics

page_text: as herein-before described, or in apparatus used in any part or branch of the
said processes.
Third, the apparatus herein-before described for printing upon both sides or
any modification of the same.
And, lastly, the novel application of my improved rollers in engraving in the
modes and for the purposes herein-before mentioned.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Dalton, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, the Twenty-third day of July, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty.