AN IMPROVED PROCESS AND COMPOSITIONS FOR PRINTING
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for an invention of
"AN IMPROVED PROCESS AND COMPOSITIONS FOR PRINTING."—A communi-
cation from abroad by Peter Reid, of Passaic, and John Eastwood, of Bellville,
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th April 1882.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE of the firm of Haseltine Lake & Co. Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London "AN IMPROVED PROCESS AND COMPOSITIONS FOR
PRINTING" [A communication from abroad by Peter Reid, of Passaic, and John
Eastwood, of Bellville, both in New Jersey, United States of America.]
The invention has relation to the application by printing of designs figures
colours or the like to textile fabrics, prepared skins, paper, and other surfaces. The
distinctive novelty of the said invention consists in the employment of a solution
containing soluble pyroxyline for the purpose of "setting" or "fixing" the design
or colour in connection with what is known as topical printing, which is effected by
means of pressure or by bringing a surface having a "colour" or "ink" applied
to it, in contact with another surface upon which the impression is intended to
be made.
Varnishes or mixtures have heretofore been made by combining the colouring
agent with pyroxyline and a volatile spirit, which varnishes or mixtures have been
applied by means of a brush to form a coating or covering for fabrics, picture-frames
and other objects. It has, also, been customary to make a bath of a volatile spirit
carrying a colouring agent and a small percentage of pyroxyline in which fabrics
have been immersed, the volatile spirit being afterwards permitted to evaporate;
but pyroxyline has not heretofore been known to possess the qualities that render it

page_text: susceptible of use in "fixing" or "setting" a "colour" or "ink" so as to make it
available for printing purposes.
In carrying this invention into practice I prepare a solution consisting of soluble
pyroxyline, a solvent, and a colouring agent, employing if necessary a suitable
menstruum (such as alcohol, wood-naphtha or the like) the ingredients being
thoroughly united to form a homogeneous compound. Any soluble pyroxyline may
be employed, but especially satisfactory results are obtained by a solution produced
by subjecting a suitable fibrous material to the action of sulphuric and nitric acid
and after further treatment adding camphor and alcohol or equivalent agents. I
attach great importance to the use of camphor and recommend its employment,
but advantageous though less satisfactory results may be obtained when it is
not employed.
The solution is made in any convenient manner and is adapted to perform the
offices of an "ink" or "colour" according to circumstances; it will be of the proper
consistency and may be applied in the customary manner to the rollers, types, blocks
or other agents for delivering the impression, and the colouring agent may be of any
kind or nature. By the terms "ink" and "colour" I mean all inks and colours of
every nature which are used in connection with the art of printing, whether the
impression is to be delivered upon textile material, prepared skins, paper, or any
other surface or material whatever it may be.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
18th October 1882.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, "AN IMPROVED PROCESS AND COMPOSITIONS FOR
PRINTING." A communication from abroad by Peter Reid, of Passaic, and John
Eastwood, of Bellvillo, both in New Jersey, United States of America.
This invention relates to the application by printing of designs, figures, colours,
or the like to textile fabrics, prepared skins, paper, and other surfaces. Tho dis-
tinctive novelty of the said invention consists in the employment of a solution
containing soluble pyroxyline for the purpose of "setting" or "fixing" the design
or colour, in connection with what is known as topical printing, which is effected
by means of pressure, or by bringing a surface having a colour or ink applied
to it in contact with another surface upon which the impression is intended to
be made.
Varnishes or mixtures have heretofore been made by combining the colouring
agent with pyroxyline and a volatile spirit, which varnishes or mixtures have been
applied by means of a brush to form a coating or covering for fabrics, picture-
frames, and other objects. It has also been customary to make a bath of a volatile
spirit carrying a colouring agent and a small percentage of pyroxyline in which
fabrics have been immersed, the volatile spirit being afterwards permitted to
evaporate, but pyroxyline has not heretofore been known to possess the qualities
that render it susceptible for use in fixing or setting a colour or ink so as to make it
available for printing purposes.
In carrying this invention into practice I prepare a solution consisting of soluble
pyroxyline, a solvent, and a colouring agent, employing if necessary a suitable
menstruum (such as alcohol, wood-naphtha, or the like) the ingredients being
thoroughly united to form a homogeneous compound. Any soluble pyroxyline
may be employed, but especially satisfactory results are obtained by a solution,
produced by subjecting a suitable fibrous material to the action of sulphuric and
nitric acid and after further treatment adding camphor and alcohol or equivalent
agents. I attach great importance to the use of camphor and recommend its
employment, but advantageous though less satisfactory results may be obtained
when it is not employed.
The solution is made in any convenient manner and is adapted to perform the
offices of an ink or colour according to circumstances; it must be of the proper
consistency and may be applied in the customary manner to the rollers, types, blocks
or other agents for delivering the impression, and the colouring agent may be of
any kind or nature. By the terms ink and colour I mean all inks and colours of
every nature which are used in connection with the art of printing, whether the
impression is to be delivered upon textile material, prepared skins, paper, or any
other surface or material whatever it may be.
Having thus fully described the said invention as communicated to me by my
foreign Correspondents and the manner of performing the same I wish it understood
that I claim :-
First. The process herein described of setting or fixing a design on textile or
other material, which consists in printing or impressing the design on the material
with a solution composed wholly or in part of dissolved pyroxyline and a colouring
agent, substantially as set forth.

page_text: Second. An ink or colour consisting essentially of dissolved pyroxyline and a
colouring agent substantially as and for the uses and purposes set forth.
Third, An ink or colour composed essentially of pyroxyline, a colouring agent,
camphor, and a suitable menstruum, substantially as, and for the uses and purposes
set forth.
In witness whereof I the said William Robert Lake have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Thirteenth day of October in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
TR
TAR
T