IMPROVEMENTS IN PREPARING AND PRINTING TEXTILE FABRICS AND OTHER SURFACES
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Kay, of Bonhill, in the County of Dumbarton,
North Britain, Calico Printer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
PREPARING AND PRINTING TEXTILE FABRICS AND OTHER SURFACES."
Sealed the 18th September 1855, and dated the 18th April 1855.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Kay at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 18th April
1855.
I, JOHN KAY, of Bonhill, in the Connty of Dumbarton, North Britain,
Calico Printer,do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention of "IMPROVE.
MENTS IN PREPARING AND PRINTING TEXTILE FABRICS AND OTHER SURFACES" to be
as follows, that is to say :-
This Invention relates more particularly to the cleansing, stretching, and
smoothing of calico and other woven goods previous to or at the time of their
being printed in the cylinder, or other printing machinery ordinarily employed
iu printing textile fabrics, the object being the improvement of the printing
effect, by presenting the fabric in an evenly spread and cleansed condition to
the actual printing action. The apparatus employed for this purpose may be
applied to printing machines of various kinds, but as adapted for the ordinary
cylinder printing machines it is preferred to fit it up in the following manner:
[Price 8d.]

page_text: At the back of the printing machine, or on that side where the imprinted
fabric enters to pass to the printing cylinders, a small framework is fitted up
to carry a pair of helical scroll blade rollers with their driving & adjusting
gearing. These two scroll blade rollers are geared together with equal sized
wheels, to rotate in concert but in reverse directions.. They receive motion
from a wheel fixed on one of the usual blanket rollers of the printing machine,
or from any other convenient movement, and thus work continuously with the
machine itself. The scroll blade rollers are disposed with their axes parallel
to each other, and their acting surface in each case consists of a right and left
helix or set of helices of copper, brass, or other metal, standing up at right
angles, or nearly so, from the body of the roller. The longitudinal centre line
of the roller is the line of junction of the sets of blades forming the two helices,
and this line is consequently the starting line of action of the blades as
spreaders and clearers. At this line the contiguous ends of each right and left
scroll blade come together at an angle, and hence, as the roller rotates so as to
present the angles formed in this way by the blades foremost, it follows that the
blade action upon any fabrics presented to the roller will be to stretch out the
fabric across its width, and at the same time clear off any loosely adhering
fibres and foreign matters. For this purpose the acting edges of the blades
are sharpened or made thin so as to aid the clearing action. Both scroll
rollers are precisely the same, and as the imprinted fabric passes into the
machine to be printed, it is directed first above the outside scroll roller, and
then under the inside one; or the contrary routine may be adopted, so as to
subject both surfaces of the piece to the blade action, the direction of the rota-
tion of the rollers being contrary to that of the fabric's traverse. After being
thus acted upon, the piece passes onwards to the printing cylinders, where it is
printed in the usual manner. Provision is made for adjusting the relative
positious of the two scroll blade rollers, so as to enable the printer to vary the
angle which the fabric observes in passing on to the first scroll roller and
leaving the second. This adjustment is effected by setting the end journals of
one of the scroll blade rollers in bearings in the two lever arms of a vibrating
frame. This frame is capable of turning by its opposite end upon the spindle
of the other blade roller as a centre, so that, however the shifting roller may
be adjusted, the connecting wheels will always be properly in gear. The shift
is conveniently effected by means of a small handle on the spindle of a vertical
worm, in gear
with a worm wheel fast on a cross shaft running loose in bear-
ings in the free end of the adjusting frame. The opposite end of this shaft also
has fastupouit a similar worm or spur wheel, and both these wheels gear with
stationary segmental toothed racks fast to the stationary frame. Thus, by

page_text: turning his small handle, the printer can set one of the rollers up or down, as
inay be required, and thus regulate the stretching and cleansing effect.
This Invention, or a modification thereof, is also applicable for preparing
textile fabrics prior to drying them, and prior to beaming or winding on. By
fitting up printing machines in this way the printing action is greatly improved,
inasmuch as the fabric to be printed is submitted to the action of the printing
cylinders in an evenly stretched and cleansed condition.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Kay in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 17th
October 1855.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
KAY, of Bouhill, in the County of Dumbarton, North Britain, Calico Printer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the eighteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said John Kay, Her special license that I, the said John Kay, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John
Kay, my executors, administrators, or assigus, should at any time agree
vith, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during
the term therein expressed,should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Chaunel
Islands, and Isle of Man, au Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PREPARING AND
PRINTING TEXTILE FABRICS AND OTHER SURFACES," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said John Kay, by an instrument 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 Office within six calendar months
next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Kay, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement.in writing, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and
to the letters aud figures marked thereon, that is to say:-

page_text: My said Invention relates more particularly to the cleansing, stretching, aud
Smoothing of calico and other woven goods previous to or at the time of their
being printed in the cylinder, or other printing machinery ordinarily employed
in printing textile fabrics, the object being the improvement of the printing
effect, by presenting the fabric in an evenly spread and cleaused condition to
the actual printing action. The apparatus employed for this purpose may be
applied to printing machines of various kinds, but as adapted for the ordinary
cylinderprinting machines it is preferred to fit it up in the following manner:
At the back of the printing machine, or on that side where the unprinted fabric
enters to pass to the printing cylinders, a small framework is fitted up to
carry a pair of helical scroll blade rollers with their driving and adjusting gear-
ing. These two scroll blade rollers are geared together with equal sized wheels,
to rotate in concert but in reverse directions. They receive motion from a
wheel fixed on one of the usual blanket rollers of the printing machine, or from
any other convenient movement, aud thus work continuously with the machine
itself. The scroll blade rollers are disposed with their axes parallel to each
other, and their acting surface in each case consists of a right and left helix
or set of helices of copper, brass, or other metal, standing up at right angles, or
nearly so, from the body of the roller. The longitudinal centre line of the
roller is the line of junction of the sets of blades forming the two helices, and
this line is consequently the starting line of action ofthe blades as spreaders and
clearers. At this line the contiguous ends of each right and left scroll blade
come together at an angle, and hence as the roller rotates so as to present the
angles formed in this way by the blades foremost, it follows that the blade
action upon any fabrics presented to the roller will be to stretch out the fabric
across its width, and at the same time to clear off any loosely adhering fibres
and foreign matters. For this purpose the acting edges of the blades are
sharpened or made thin, so as to aid the clearing action. Both scroll rolleis
are precisely the same, and as the unprinted fabric passes into the machine to
be printed, it is directed first above the outside scroll roller, and then under
the inside one; or the contrary routine may be adopted, so as to subject both
surfaces of the piece to the blade action, the direction of the rotation of the
rollers being contrary to that of the fabric's traverse. After being thus acted
upon, the piece passes onwards to the printing cylinders, where it is printed in
the usual manner. Provision is made for adjusting the relative positions of
the two scroll blade rollers, so as to enable the printes to vary the angle which
the fabric observes in passing on to the first scroll roller and leaving the
second. This adjustment is effected by setting the end journals of one of the
scroll blade rollers in bearings in the two lever arins of a vibrating frame.

page_text: This frame is capable of turning by its opposite end upon the spindle of the
other blade roller as a centre, so that, however the shifting roller may be
adjusted, the connecting wheels will always be properly in gear. The shift is
conveniently effected by means of a small handle on the spindle of a vertical
worm in gear with a worm wheel fast on a cross shaft running loose in bear-
ings in the free end of the adjusting frame. The opposite end of this shaft
also has fast upon it a similar worm or spur wheel, and both these wheels gear
with stationary segmental toothed racks fast to the stationary frame. Thus, by
turning his small handle, the printer can set oue of the rollers up or down, as
may be required, and thus regulate the stretching and cleansing effect.
This Iuvention, or a modification thereof, is also applicable for preparing
textile fabrics prior to drying them, and prior to beaming or winding on. By
fitting up printing machines in this way the printing action is greatly
improved, inasmuch as the fabric to be printed is submitted to the action of
the printing cylinders in an evenly stretched and cleansed condition.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood, I shall
now proceed to describe the explanatory Figures on the Sheet of Drawings
hereunto attached.
Figure 1 on the Sheet of Drawings is a vertical section, and Figure 2 is a
plan, of my improved stretching and smoothing apparatus, as fitted upon a
calico printing machine, a sufficient portion only of the framing of the latter
being shown for carrying this apparatus. A is a portion of the framing of the
printing machine, and in bearings in this framing is carried the usual blanket
roller B. Upon the framing A are carried the additional frame pieces or
brackets C, which serve to support the stretching and sinoothing mechanisin.
It is, however, obvious that the framing of the printing machine may be con-
structed at first with the necessary parts for carrying the stretching and smooth-
ing mechanism, without its being necessary to fiton additional brackets,as when
the improved apparatus is to be applied to an old printing machine. The frame
pieces or brackets C are formed with bearings for one of the stretching and
smoothing rollers D. The other stretching and smoothing roller E is carried
in bearings in a pair of lever frame pieces F,fitted with eyes upon thespindles
of the roller D), so as to turn upon these spindles. The two rollers D and E
are parallel to each other, and are geared together by the spur wheels G, H,
upon their respective spindles; the two rollers being always kept in gear, not-
withstanding any raising or lowering of the outer one E by the levers F, which
cause the movement to take place round the roller D as an axis. The spiudle
of the roller ID also carries a pinion I, by means of which this roller is driven,
the pinion being in gear with an intermediate spur wheel J, loose upon a stud

page_text: pin in the framing, and gearing with a spur wheel fast on the spindle of the
blanket roller B. The roller D and E are formed with blade: of copper or
other suitable material, arranged helically upon their surfaces, and running in
opposite directions on each half of each roller, the opposite sets of helices
uniting and forming angles at the longitudinal centres of the rollers, as clearly
indicated in the Drawings. The blue line K in Figure 1 indicates the route
of the fabric through the apparatus, this fabric first passing under thespindle
L, then over the outer roller E, and afterwards under the inner roller D to the
blanket roller B. The rollers D and E are driven in the opposite direction to
that of the fabric's traverse, so that the fabric is submitted to the thorough
smoothing and stretching action of the helical or inclined blades of the rollers
Dand the latter acting on the under side and the former on the upper side
of the cloth. It will be obvious to the practical man that the severity or com-
pleteness of the smoothing action will depend upon the inclination of the fabric
in interingand in leaving the helical bladed rollers, or upon the length of contact
between the fabric and these rollers, and it is for adjusting this action to suit
the requirements of the fabric which is being acted upon, that the outer roller
E is made capable of being raised or lowered by turning its carrying levers F
about the spindle of the roller D, as already described. To effect this adjust-
ment with facility and precision, the levers Fare formed with segmental racks
M upon
their extremities, and into these racks gear a pair of pinions N, fast
on the spindle L. This spindle turns in bearings in the frame pieces C, and
also acts as a stay for their overhanging extremities, and as a guide to the
fabric K as it enters the apparatus. One of the pinions N is also in gear with
a worm wheel O, carried in bearings in one of the frame pieces C, and
furnished with a handle P. By turning this handle, the pinions N are made
to act in concert upon the levers F, and to raise or lower them, as may be
required, the outer roller Ebeing thereby elevated or depressed, so as to cause
the fabric to remain in contact with the surfaces of the rollers D and E more
or less, as may be requisite. Although, in the modification of my improved
apparatus represented on the Sheet of Drawings, the segmental racks are
formed upon the moveable lever frame pieces F, whilst the pinions N and
worm O are carried by the stationary framing, it will be obvious to the prac-
tical man that the same effect will be produced by placing the racks upon the
stationary framing, and the pinions and worm upon the moveable lever frame
picces F, as previously pointed out. To aid in the cleaning effect of the helical
bladed rollers D, E, the spaces between the helical blades in the roller surfaces
are furnished with bristles, so as to brush the fabric as it passes in contact
.with the rollers. In the Drawings hereunto attached, however, the bristles or

page_text: brushing details are omitted, to render the arrangement of the blades clear
and distinct.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used orcarried into
effect, I may observe, in conclusion, that I do not confine or restrict myself
to the precise details or arrangements which I have had occasion to describe
or refer to, as many variations may be made therefrom without deviating fron
the principles or main features of my Invention; but what I consider to
be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by
the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is,—
First, the general arrangement and construction of machinery or appa-
ratus to be applied to machines for printing textile fabrics, as herein-before
described.
Second, the application and use, in machines for printing textile fabrics, of
apparatus for stretching and cleaning the fabric,such apparatus consisting of a
pair of rollers acting on opposite sides of the fabric, each of which rollers is
formed with right and left handed helical blades, as herein-before described.
Third, the application and use, in connection with machinery for preparing,
drying, or beaming textile fabrics, of a pair of rollers, each formed with right
and left handed helical blades, as heréin-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Kay, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Sixteenth day of October, One thousand eight hundred
and fifty five
JOHN KAY. (L.S.)