AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR PRINTING WOVEN AND OTHER FABRICS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED
METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR PRINTING WOVEN AND OTHER FABRICS." A
communication from abroad by Eugène Boeringer, of Paris, France.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville Clark at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd September 1876.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent. "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR
PRINTING WOVEN AND OTHER FABRICS."
This Invention relates to an improved method of and machine for printing in
colors on woven fabrics, paper, and other material. According to this Invention
the woven fabric, paper, or other material to be printed is spread out and remains
stationary upon a flat table, along which one or more carriages are made to travel,
each provided with one or more engraved cylinders, working either simultaneously
or alternately, and which in rolling upon the woven or other fabric imprint
thereon the design in colors Thus in this improved process the fabric to be
printed is not moved along so as to present itself to the engraved surfaces, as in
color printing by the machinery now in use, but on the contrary it is the engraved
surface itself which is brought with mechanical precision to the proper position for
printing upon the fabric.
The surfaces of the cylinders may be engraved in intaglio or in relief, and their
pressure upon the fabric may be so varied as to produce effects comparable to those
obtained by varying the force of the blow in printing by hand. By this method
the cylinders are made to register with mathematical exactness, and the machine
may be so arranged as to allow time for each color to dry before another is applied,
thus admitting of the production of effects by the superposition of moist upon dry
colors, hitherto only attainable by hand work
The machine referred to is illustrated in the accompanying Drawing; Figure 1
being an end, and Figure 2 a part longitudinal elevation, of the machine.
The letters of reference apply to both Figures.
A is the table, planed perfectly smooth and flat, and mounted on a suitable frame;

page_text: C is a carriage capable of being traversed along table A, for which purpose it is
fitted to slide or run on rolleis upon and beneath suitable ways under the table;
D is an engraved cylinder mounted in carriage C in bearings adjustable in three
directions for the purpose of accurate register. This is ensured by a spur wheel F
keyed on the journal at one end of cylinder D and governed through intermediate
gear G, G, H, by longitudinal racks B fixed alongside of the frame carrying the
table, which lacks serve both for ensuring accurate register and for the traverse
of the carriage
The pressure of the cylinder is regulated by screws E, with or without the inter-
position of springs. By means of these screws the degree of pressure with which
the cylinder is applied may be either greater or less than that due to the weight of
the cylinder. By the movement of the carriage each cylinder employed is made to
roll or apply itself upon the fabric in the proper position, so that the portion of the
design will register with mathematical exactness with those of the other cylinders
which follow and precede it. I may either employ a number of similar carriages
along the table, or several cylinders may be mounted in the same carriage and
arranged to work independently one at a time. The carriage is traversed along
the table by a horizontal shaft M carrying one or more worms, which slide along
the shaft and are connected therewith by a longitudinal keyway therein The
worm gears with the skew wheels shown, and through them with the rack and
pinion, or the carriage may be diawn along by a chain or strap. The ends of the
fabric to be printed are wound round tension rollers at each end of the table, as
likewise the blanket if such be used The tension applied by these rollers is
obtained by weights so arranged as to take up any elongation of the fabric and
maintain a uniform tension. The fabric may however be attached to the table
itself, either direct or upon an india-rubber or other backing. The fabric may if
necessary be dried after each impression of the cylinders either by a blast of heated
air directed upon it or by a heated body or other source of heat carried in a special
carriage traversed over the fabric I, Figuro 2, is the color trough containing two
rollers, one clothed with india-rubber, and both receiving motion from the printing
cylinder; K, doctor provided with weighted pressure lever and receiving an
alternate motion through gearing L.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
1st March 1877.
"E
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middle-
sex, Patent Agent. AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR PRINTING
WOVEN AND OTHER FABRICS." A communication from abroad by Eugène
Boeringer, of Paris, France.
This Invention relates to an improved method of and machine for printing in
colors on woven fabrics, paper, and other materials.
The means ordinarily employed for the above purpose have hitherto been as
follows.-
--
Hand Printing-The fabric is stretched upon a table or slab, and blocks
charged with color are applied by hand, the effect being varied according to the
degree of pressure with which the blocks are applied upon the fabric. It is
essential that two conditions should be observed, viz., the accurate register of the
parts of the pattern, and a degree of pressure corresponding with the effect to be
obtained. This mode of operation is slow and expensive, and also renders success
dependent more or less upon the skill and care of the workman.
Machine Printing-The fabric instead of remaining stationary, as in hand
printing, is made to travel, and receives during its progress an impression either

page_text: from engraved plates having alternate rectilinear motion, or from engraved
cylinders having rotary motion. This mode of operating is more rapid and
economical than the preceding, but is attended in practice with many well known
disadvantages, viz, the difficulty of obtaining and maintaining an accurate register,
and the liability of blurring by the contact of the colors whilst still moist
The new process and machine of this Invention occupies an intermediate position
between the two methods above referred to, combining as it does certain features
of both
According to this Invention the woven fabric, paper, or other material to be
printed is spread out and remains stationary upon a flat table, along which one or
more carriages are made to travel, each provided with one or more engraved cylinders
working either simultaneously or alternately, and which in rolling upon the woven
or other fabric imprint thereon the design in colors. Thus in this improved process
it is not tlie fabric that is moved along so as to present itself to the engraved surfaces,
as in color printing, by the machinery now in use, but on the contrary it is the
engraved surface itself which is brought with mechanical precision to the proper
position for printing upon the fabric
The surfaces of the cylinders may be engraved in intaglio or in relief, and their
pressure upon the fabric may be so varied as to produce effects comparable to those
obtained by varying the force of the blow in printing by hand. By this method ·
the cylinders are made to register with mathematical exactness, so that all the parts
of the pattern may be combined with the utmost accuracy, and the machine may
be so arranged as to allow time for each color to dry before another is applied, thus
admitting of the production of effects by the superposition of moist upon dry colors
hitherto only attainable by hand work.
The machine referred to is illustrated in the accompanying Drawings, Figure 1
being an end and Figure 2 a part longitudinal elevation of the machine.
The letters of reference apply to both Figures.
A is the table, planed perfectly smooth and flat, and mounted on a suitable
frame, C is a carriage capable of being traversed along table A, for which purpose
it is fitted to slide or run on rollers upon and beneath suitable ways under the
table; D is an engraved cylinder mounted in carriage C in bearings adjustable in
three directions for the purpose of accurate register. This is ensured by a spur
wheel F keyed on the journal at one end of cylinder D, and governed through
intermediate gear wheels and pinions G, G, H, by longitudinal racks B fixed along-
side of the frame carrying the table, which racks serve both for ensuring accurate
register and for the traveise of the carriage The pressure of the cylinder is
regulated by screws E, with or without the interposition of springs. By means
of these screws the degree of pressure with which the cylinder is applied may be
either greater or less than that due to the weight of the cylinder. By the move-
ment of the carriage each cylinder employed is made to roll or apply itself upon
the fabric in the proper position, so that the portion of the design will register with
mathematical exactness with those of the other cylinders which follow and precede
it. I may either employ one or a number of similar carriages along the table, or
several cylinders may be mounted in the same carriage and arranged to work
independently one at a time. The carriage is traversed along the table by a hori-
zontal shaft M carrying one or more worins, which slide along the shaft, and are
connected therewith by a longitudinal keyway therein. The worm gears with the
skew wheels shown, and through them with the rack and pinion, or the carriage
may be drawn along by a chain or strap The ends of the fabric to be printed are
wound round tension rollers at each end of the table, as likewise the blanket if
such be used. The tension applied by these rollers is obtained by weights so
arranged as to take up any elongation of the fabric and maintain a uniformn tension.
The fabric may however in some cases be attached to the table itself, either direct
or upon an india-rubber or other backing The fabric inay if necessary be dried
after each impression of the cylinders either by a blast of heated air directed upon
it or by the radiation from heated matters, or a charcoal stove carried in a special
•

page_text: carriage travelling over the fabric, I, Figure 2, is the color trough containing two
rollers, one clothed with india-rubber, and both receiving motion from the printing
cylinder; K, doctor provided with weighted pressure lever, and receiving an
alternate motion through gearing L.
The mechanical means for producing the movements above specified may be a
varied indefinitely, but I have described those which I consider the best.
Having described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner of performing
the same,
I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
First The improved method or process of color printing by machinery herein 1
specified, consisting in the engraved cylinder or cylinders being made to roll along
the surface to be printed on, which is stationary, the pressure being regulated and
the cylinders operating simultaneously or alternately, according to the effects
desired, and each color being allowed to dry, or partially so, before another is
applied.
Second. The machine herein shown and described, or any equivalent mechanical
arrangement for printing according to the improved method or process of this
Invention.
.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this First day of March, in the year of our Lord One 2
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.