IMPROVEMENTS IN PRINTING WITH COLORS ON CLOTH, WHICH ARE ALSO +3 PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Duncan McNee, Printer, of Hillfield, Kirkintillochi,
in the County of Dumbarton, and Alexander Broadfoot, Merchant, 128,
Ingram Street, Glasgow, in the County of Lanarkshire, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PRINTING WITH COLORS ON CLOTH, WHICH ARE ALSO
+3
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Duncan M°Nee and
Alexander Broadfoot at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
their Petition, on the 28th December 1858.
We, DUNCAN MCNEE, Printer, of Hillfield, Kirkintillock, in the County
of Dumbarton, and ALEXANDER BROADFOOT, Merchant, 128, Ingram Street,
Glasgow, in the County of Lanarkshire, do hereby declare the nature of the
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN PRINTING WITH COLORS ON CLOTH, WHICH ARE
ALSO APPLICABLE TO PRINTING ORNAMENTAL DESIGNS ON PAPER OR OTHER SURFACES,"
to be as follows:-
Premising that our Invention relates principally to the printing of handker
chiefs, shawls, plaids and similar articles, by means of a machine of the same
kind as that figured and described in the Specification of the Patent granted
to Duncan McNee, and bearing date the 3rd day of December, 1852, for "A
Machine for Printing with Colours on Cloth, which is also applicable for
Printing Ornamental Designs on Paper; " we make certain improvements in
the construction of that machine for the better distribution of the colours
to the printing rollers, namely, in the position of the colour box, which we place
at a lower level than it is shown in the Drawings accompanying Mr. McNees

page_text: Specification, and also in the construction of the same, whereby it can be
more easily filled or supplied with the printing colour. We also apply a con-
trivance for guiding the sieve parallelly on the stretching rollers, namely, by
fixing one or more cords or rows of studs on its inner surface which fall into
corresponding grooves on the stretching rollers, and thereby prevent the sieve
from shifting endlong on the rollers. We likewise attach wheels or pulleys to
the sides of the machine for guiding it, as herein-after described; and we con-
template varying its size, proportion of parts, and number of printing rollers in
such ways and to such extent as shall render it suitable for the different kinds
of work to which we may wish to apply it.
In the process of printing with the machine, the cloth or other fabric to be
printed is stretched on a suitable table or other flat surface, and the machine
is moved over it by manual or other power, so as to print the repeats of the
pattern engraven or cut on the printing rollers in such right lines as may be
required, as, for example, so as to print the side borders of a shawl, or plaid,
or the whole of an all-over pattern. Now our Invention embraces certain
convenient methods of shifting or changing the cloth on the printing table in
this process of guiding the machine over its surface in straight lines, and of
turning or reversing the machine when it has passed from one end to the other
of the printing table. For facility of shifting or changing the cloth on the
printing table, it is previously wound upon a cylinder or beam provided with
gudgeons which fit into bearings parallel with the end of the table, but at
a lower level than the surface. At each end of the table is also fitted a roller
studded all over with fine pins projecting radially from its surface and pointed,
and the bearings of which rollers are capable of being simultaneously elevated
and depressed by a suitable hand lever. In their lowest positions these rollers
fall below and within the ends of the table, that is to say, the ends of the
table project over them preparatory to printing; the cloth or other fabric to
be printed is carried over the surface of the table and attached by a "blank"
or other suitable means to a second cylinder or beam similar to that on which
the imprinted cloth is contained, and so situated that the cloth continues in
contact with the pin rollers, the pins of which pass through it and prevent it
slipping. With this arrangement any requisite force may be employed on the
two rollers to stretch the cloth on the table and keep it flat under the action
of the printing machine passing over it. When this part of the process has
been accomplished, the stenting pressure is relaxed, and the two pin rollers
are simultaneously raised so as to lift the cloth off the printing table; and in
this state the cloth is carried forward by giving motion to the receiving beam
which is so situated as to cause the cloth to pass over a set of steam cans or

page_text: through a stove to dry it before it is wound upon the beam. By this means &
new surface of cloth is brought over the printing table, and the pin or stenting
rollers are then depressed and the operation of printing is repeated.
We do not, however, confine ourselves to the use of pin rollers for stretching
the cloth on the printing table, as above described. The same may be done
by other than cylindrical rollers; the peculiarity consists in the application of
an apparatus of the nature of that described, whereby the cloth is lifted off the
surface of the table when about to be shifted after printing, and by which a
new portion is laid evenly on the table and stretched.
For guiding the machine in straight lines over the surface of the table in
the process of printing, we lay moveable rails along it in such direction as the
machine is required to travel, that is to say, in lines parallel with the pattern,
and on these suitable wheels or pulleys on the sides of the printing machine
partially bear, so as to make it easily guided by those in charge of it.
For reversing the printing machine, when it has passed from one end to
the other of the printing table it is received upon a locomotive or traversing
turn-table, by means of which it can be shifted about to any new position, and
the top of which standing flush with the surface of the printing table, and
capable of turning round horizontally, the machine can be reversed and trans-
ferred to the printing table at the proper point and in the proper direction for
the new line of pattern to be printed. And all the printing tables in the shop
being made of the same height, the machine can be transferred by means of
the shifting turn table from one printing table to any other.
In printing the cross borders of shawls, &c. the machine is moved trans-
versely on the printing table, and of several ways of stretching the cloth
transversely we prefer the following-Along each side of the table is a rod
sustained in its highest position by springs or elastic cords, and studded over its
length by stenting pins or hooks. On these the selvages of the cloth are
passed, and the rods are then simultaneously depressed by means of parallel
rollers placed below them, and to which they are attached by pieces of tap
cloth or other suitable material. By turning these rollers any required tension
may be given to the cloth. Whenever it is necessary to prevent the machine
from giving off colours to the cloth, as at the crossings of a pattern or corners,
we employ "cuts" as in hand printing, and these we make of thin sheet
metal.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Duncan McNee and Alexander Broadfoot in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 27th June 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, DUNCAN.
MCNEE, Printer, of Hillfield; Kirkintilloch, in the County of Dumbarton, and
ALEXANDER BROADFOOT, Merchant, 128, Ingram Street, Glasgow, in the County:
of Lanarkshire, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-eighth day of December, in the year of our
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
us, the said Duncan McNee and Alexander Broadfoot, Her special licence that:
we, the said Duncan. MeNee and Alexander Broadfoot, our executors, admi-
nistrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said Duncan MeNce and
Alexander Broadfoot, our 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 make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland;
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS-IN
PRINTING WITH COLORS ON CLOTH, WHICH ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO PRINTING ORNA-
MENTAL DESIGNS ON PAPER OR OTHER SURPACES," upon the condition (amongst
others) that we, the said Duncan McNee and Alexander Broadfoot, or one
of us, by an instrument in writing under our hands and seals, or under the
hand and seal of one of us, 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 we, the said Duncan McNee and Alexander
Broadfoot, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement thereof, that is to say:-
Our Invention relates principally to the printing of handkerchiefs, shawls,
plaids, and similar articles by means of a machine of the same kind as that
figured and described in the Specification of the Patent granted to Duncan
MoNee, and bearing date the Third day of December, One thousand eight hun-
dred and fifty-two, for "A Machine for Printing with Colors on Cloth, which is
also applicable for Printing Ornamental Designs on Paper." We make certain

page_text: improvements in the construction of that machine, to be herein-after described,
for the better distribution of the colors to the printing rollers, namely, in the
position of the color box, which we place at a lower level than it is shown to
occupy in the Drawings accompanying that Specification, as represented in
Figure 1, of the Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed; and also in the con-
struction of the same, whereby it can be more easily filled or supplied with the
printing color. We also apply a contrivance for guiding the sieve of the
machine parallelly on the stretching rollers, namely, by fixing one or more
cords or rows of studs on its inner surface which fall into corresponding grooves
in the stretching rollers, and thereby prevent the sieve from shifting endlong
on the rollers. We likewise attach guide-wheels on the machine to insure. its
parallel movement on the printing table in the process of printing.
In the application of the machine, the fabric to be printed is stretched on a
suitable table or other flat surface, and the machine is moved over it by
manual or other power in such a way as to print the repeats of the pattern
engraven or cut on the printing rollers in such directions as may be required,
as, for example, so as to print the side borders of a shawl or plaid, or the
whole of an all-over pattern. To facilitate the shifting or changing of the
cloth on the printing table we previously wind or lap it upon a cylinder or
beam provided with gudgeons which fit into bearings parallel with the end of
the table, but at a lower level than the surface. At each end of the table is
also fitted a roller studded all over with fine pins projecting radially from its
surface and pointed, and the bearings of which rollers are capable of being
simultaneously elevated and depressed by a suitable hand lever. In their
lowest positions these rollers fall below and within the ends of the table, that
is to say, the ends of the table project over them. Preparatory to printing,
the cloth or other fabric to be printed is carried over the surface of the table,
and attached by a "blank" or other suitable means to a second cylinder or
beam, similar to that on which the unprinted cloth is contained, and so situated
that the cloth shall continue in contact with the pin rollers, the pins of which
pass through it and prevent it slipping. With this arrangement any requisite
force can be applied on the two rollers to stretch the cloth on the table and
keep it flat under the action of the printing machine when passing over it.
When this part of the process has been accomplished, the stenting pressure.is
relaxed, and the two pin rollers are simultaneously raised so as to lift the clotli
off the printing table, and in this state the cloth is carried forward by giving
motion to the receiving beam, which is so situated as to cause the cloth to pass
over a set of steam cans or through a stove to dry it before it is lapped upon

page_text: the beam. By this action a new surface of cloth is brought over the printing
table, and the pin or stenting rollers are then depressed and the operation of
printing is repeated.
We do not, however, confine ourselves to the use of pin rollers for stretching
the cloth on the printing table, as above described, as the same may be done
by other than cylindrical rollers. The peculiarity of this part of our Invention
consists in the application of an apparatus of the nature of that described,
whereby the cloth is lifted off the surface of the table when about to be shifted
after printing, and by which a new portion is laid evenly on the table and
stretched.
When the surface of the table is very large, and the machine is moved
over it by manual power, it is necessary to guide the machine, and for that
purpose we lay one or two moveable rails along the surface of the table in
lines parallel with the pattern, and on these rails suitable wheels or pulleys
on the sides of the machine are made partially to bear, so as to render it more
steady and easily guided by those impelling it.
For reversing the machine when it has passed from one end to the other of
the printing table, it is received upon a locomotive or traversing turn-table, by
means of which it can be shifted about to any new position, and the top of
which standing flush or on a level with the surface of the printing table, and
capable of turning round horizontally, the machine can be reversed and trans-
ferred to the printing table at the proper point or position, and in the proper
direction for the new line of pattern to be printed; and all the printing tables
in the shop being made of the same height, the machine can thus be transferred
by means of the shifting turn-table from one printing table to any other.
In printing the cross borders of shawls or other goods, the machine is
moved transversely on the printing table; and of several ways of stretching the
cloth transversely we prefer the following:--Along each side of the table is
a rod sustained in its highest position by springs or elastic cords and studded
over its length by stenting pins or hooks. On these pins er hooks the selvages
of the cloth are passed, and the rods are then simultaneously depressed by
means of parallel rollers placed below them, and to which they are attached
by pieces of tape or cloth or other suitable material. By turning these rollers
any required tension may be given to the cloth. Whenever it is necessary to
prevent the machine from giving off colors to the cloth, as at the crossings of a
a pattern, or at corners, we employ "cuts," as in hand printing, and these we
prefer to make of thin sheet metal.
Having thus shewn the nature of our Invention generally, and the best

page_text: methods known to us of carrying it into effect, in order that it may be fully
understood and easily practised we proceed to exemplify the more important
mechanical details of it, and for that purpose have annexed Drawings of the
same, which we now proceed to describe.
Figure 1 is a side elevation and section of the printing machine.
A is the color box, having a roller B inside for transferring the color to the
sieve. C, C, are the guide wheels of the machine, which resting upon the rails
a, a, sorve to conduct the machine parallelly along the printing table. Figure 2
is a side elevation of the table upon which the cloth or other material is printed
in the direction of its length, and which we call the "longing table;" and
Figures 3 and 4 are end views of the same. In these Figures, D is the beam
or cylinder on which the cloth or other material to be printed is lapped; and
E, E, the stenting rollers, placed one at each end of the longing table, and the
journals of which are carried by the moveable levers F, F, attached by studs
to the frame of the table, so as to admit of being raised and depressed at
pleasure by means of the handles II, H, formed by extending the carrying
levers F, F. Figures 5 and 6 are side and end elevations of the traversing
turn-table by which the printing machine is reversed and moved from one
table to another. Figures 7 and 8 are side elevations of the crossing table or
table upon which the cross borders are printed, with carriage and turn-tables
in position; and Figure 9 is an end elevation of the same, showing the rails
J, J, on which the wheels of the printing machine travel when printing across
the cloth. In these Figures also, K is the beam on which the cloth to be
cross-printed is contained. L, L, are friction rollers parallel with the sides of the
table, and over which the cloth passes. M, M, are the stenting rods to which
the selvages of the cloth are attached by pins or hooks, and which are connected
with the rollers N, N, by tapes or other suitable material. They are kept in
their highest positions by elastic cords passing across the table from one to the
other beneath the cloth or otherwise. 0, 0, are ratchets and catches for
keeping the rollers against the tension of the cloth when stent, and when the
printing machine is passing across it on the table. Figure 10 is the carriage
for transferring the printing machine from one crossing table to another
opposite.
Having thus described our Invention, and the best means known to us of
performing the same, we would have it understood that we do not confine our-
selves to the details herein given so long as the peculiar character of either
part of our Invention is retained; but what we claim an exclusive right to, are
the modifications herein-before described of that form of printing machine

page_text: specified by Duncan McNee as the subject of his aforesaid Patent, and the
use and employment of the same in combination with those other appliances
for convenience of manipulation in using it, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, we, the said Duncan McNec and Alexander Broad-
foot, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Twenty-sixth day of
June, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-
four.
(L.S.)
DUNCAN MCNEE.
ALEXANDER BROADFOOT. (LS.)
Witness,
JAMES WHITELAW,
18, Ronald Street, Glasgow.
WALTER MALCOM BUCHANAN,
37, Paterson St., Glasgow.