CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR PRINTING FABRICS
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Ramsbottom, of Crawshaw Booth, near Raw-
tenstall, in the County of Lancaster, Machine Printer, for the Invention
of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR PRINTING FABRICS."
Sealed the 27th October 1859, and dated the 9th May 1859.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Ramsbottom at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
9th May 1859.
I, JOHN RAMSBOTTOM, of Crawshaw Booth, near Rawtenstall, in the County
of Lancaster, Machine Printer, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR PRINTING FABRICS,"
to be as follows:―
The object of this Invention is to produce a great variety of patterns of the
descriptions known in calico printing as the wavy excentric or rainbow styles.
In performing my Invention I cause the fabric to pass over a frame to which
a lateral motion is given by an excentric, or other suitable mechanism to any
amount, and at any required speed. In producing wavy patterns, one cylinder
with parallel circular lines engraved on it is employed, and a great variety of
patterns can be produced by varying the amount and speed of the traverse
imparted to the fabric.
In producing excentric and rainbow patterns, the fabric is first printed with
parallel lines, and then with wavy lines, or vice versa, or the patterns can be
produced by combining wavy lines of the same or different designs.
The patterns produced can be varied to any extent by printing the fabrics

page_text: of the same or different colors, in lines, dots, or other designs, and then passing
them through a machine in which the traversing motion is imparted.
Another part of my Invention consists in improved modes of making the
stretching bars over which the fabrics pass. I make these bars with circular
projections and recesses, or a right and left hand thread may be cut on the
bar, by this means when one part of the bar is worn, it may be turned partly
round to bring another portion into position for acting on the fabric.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Ramsbottom in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
2nd November 1859.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
RAMSBOTTOM, of Crawshaw Booth, near Rawtenstall, in the County of Lan-
caster, Machine Printer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-second year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said John Ramsbottom, Her special licence that I, the said John Rams-
bottom, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said John Ramsbottom, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after 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 "CERTAIN IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MACHINERY FOR PRINTING FABRICS," upon the conditions (amongst
others) that I, the said John Ramsbottom, my executors or administrators,
by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and
seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said In-
vention, 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 Ramsbottom, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement (that is to say):-
-
The object of this Invention is to produce a great variety of patterns on

page_text: printed fabrics, of the descriptions known as the wavy, excentric, and rainbow
styles, and it consists in certain improved combinations of machinery by which
a lateral to-and-fro' motion is imparted to the fabric as it enters between the
engraved roller, and the pressure cylinder of an ordinary printing machine.
And in order that my Invention may be fully understood and readily carried
into effect, I will proceed to describe the accompanying Sheet of Drawings,
reference being bad to the figures and letters marked thereon.
seen.
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of an ordinary single color printing
machine, to which one mode of constructing my improvements is applied;
Figure 2 is another elevation taken from the back of the machine, and
Figure 3 a plan of the same. In these views many of the ordinary parts of
the machine are omitted, in order that my improvements may be more easily
a is the usual engraved copper roller, and 6, the pressure cylinder; c is
a guide roller, to which a lateral to-and-fro' motion, in the direction of its axis,
is imparted in the following manner:-The roller c is supported in the
bearings d, bolted to the frame sides; to the axle of the roller c is fixed the
disc e in which is formed a diagonal groove; the stud f, which is bolted to the
adjustable bracket g, secured to the framing, enters into the diagonal groove
of the disc e. The fabric to be printed is wound on the roller h, and after
passing over the rails i and j, and under the rail k, is taken over the roller c,
and then passes between the engraved roller a, and pressure cylinder b, as
indicated by the dotted line in Figure 1.
The mode of operation is as follows:-When the machine is started, the
fabric is drawn off the roller h, which must be weighted in the usual manner
to give the required drag, and in passing over the roller c, imparts rotary
motion to it, and to the disc e; this rotary motion of the disc e, produces the
lateral to-and-fro motion in the roller c, by the diagonal groove acting on the
fixed stud f; consequently as the fabric enters between the roller a, and
pressure cylinder b, it traverses laterally to the extent of the diagonal groove.
The groove in the disc e, shewn in Figures 2 and 3, is intended to impart to
the fabric one traverse in each direction at every revolution of the roller c, but
the groove may be made so as to impart two or more traverses of the same or
different extent for each revolution of the roller; or the lateral motion of the
guide roller c, may be given by a disc having projections on its circumference,
acting on the axis of the roller, by this means patterns of any length can be
produced. The length of the pattern can also be varied by increasing or
diminishing the diameter of the roller c, as it is evident that the length of the
pattern in the arrangement of machinery shewn, depends upon the circum-
ference of the roller c, or on the number of throws in the groove of the disc e.

page_text: When the lateral motion is obtained by the friction of the fabric passing over
the roller c, it is evident that the surface of this roller must be rough; this
roughness may be obtained by making the roller of perforated sheet metal, or
with grooves and ridges like the roller temples used in looms for weaving, but
the lateral motion may also be given to the fabric by causing it to pass over a
frame supporting a plain guide roller, to which frame a traverse motion is
given by an excentric or other similar mechanism. In producing wavy
patterns, one roller with parallel circular lines engraved on it is employed, and
a great variety of patterns can be produced by varying the amount and speed
of the traverse imparted to the fabric.
In produciug excentric and rainbow patterns, the fabric is first printed with
parallel lines, and then with wavy lines, or vice versa, or the patterns can be
produced by combining wavy lines of the same or different designs.
The patterns can also be varied to any extent by printing the fabrics of the
same or different colors, in lines, dots, or other designs, and then passing them
through a machine in which the traversing motion is imparted.
Having thus stated the nature of my Invention, and described one mode of
performing the same, I wish it to be understood that I make no claim to any
of the mechanical parts taken separately, nor do I limit myself to the machi-
nery shewn and described, as the same may be considerably varied or modified;
but what I do claim is the combination of machinery described, for imparting
a lateral motion to fabrics in passing through printing machines, or any
combination of machinery for producing the same effect.
other
In witness whereof, I, the said John Ramsbottom, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Thirty-first day of October, in the year of ou
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine.
Witness,
H. B. BARLOW,
Manchester.
JOHN RAMSBOTTOM. (L.S.)