IMPROVED MACHINERY AND ARRANGEMENTS FOR BLOCK PRINTING
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Walmsley, of Scout, Newchurch, near
Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Woollen Printer, for the.
Invention of "IMPROVED MACHINERY AND ARRANGEMENTS FOR BLOCK
PRINTING"
Scaled the 4th May 1853, and dated the 10th March 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Walmsley at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
⚫ the 10th March 1853.
I, JAMES WALMSLEY, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVED MACHINERY AND ARRANGEMENTS FOR BLOCK
PRINTING" to be as follows:-
My Invention consists of certain arrangements of apparatus for
printing druggets and similar wide fabrics by blocks. The blocks are
arranged on each side of a table of the required width and length for
the number of colours to be printed.
Each of the pair of blocks on the opposite side of the table is con- .
nected with suitable apparatus, enabling it to traverse across the whole

page_text: width of the table, and print at any part of the table. These blocks
move from opposite sides of the table alternately, one advancing as
the other is receding, the colour being supplied to the under side of the
block during its motion over a colour roller at the side of the table;
thus two colours at the least may be printed on the fabric before
moving it forward lengthways of the table to receive fresh impressions
from the same pair of blocks.
The number of impressions to print across the fabric will depend on
the width of the fabric and the size of the blocks employed.
If the fabric be fifty inches wide, and the blocks twenty-five inches
wide, two impressions of each will complete the width; if the block bu
twelve and a half inches wide, four impressions of the block will be
required, that is, four of each block, printing alternately.
The blocks are pressed down upon the fabric by means of tappets
affixed to shafts running lengthways of the table.
Fabrics, such as druggets and felt carpeting, are peculiarly liable to
shrink. To prevent this, and ensure the uniforinity of width essential for
a proper correspondence of impressions, I cause the fabric on either
side to be firmly grasped or secured between two pieces of wood or
metal attached to a chain, whereby the fabric is kept of the proper
width and distention during the process of printing in its progress
through the machine.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said James Walmsley, in the Great Seal Patent Office,
on the 9th September 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
WALMSLEY, of Scout, Newchurch, near Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Woollen Printer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date at Westminster, the Tenth day of March,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in
the sixteenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-

page_text: cessors, give and grant unto me, the said James Walmsley, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, Her special licence that I, the
said James Walmsley, my excentors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said James Walmsley, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from
time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein ex-
pressed, 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 "IMPROVED MACHINERY AND
ARRANGEMENTS FOR BLOCK PRINTING," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said James Walmsley, by an instrument in writing
under my hand and scal, 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 James Walmsley, 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 thereof, reference being had to the accom-
panying drawings, and to the figures and letters marked thereon, that
is to say:
My Invention consists of certain arrangements of apparatus for
printing druggets and other fabrics by blocks arranged on each side of
a table or tables of the required width and length, according to the
dimensions of the piece to be printed.
Each pair of blocks is connected with suitable apparatus enabling it
to traverse across the whole width of the table, and print at any part of
the table. These blocks move from opposite sides of the table alter-
nately, one advancing as the other is receding, the colour being supplied
to the under side of the block during its motion over a colour roller at
the side of the table; thus two or more impressions are printed on the
fabric before moving it forward lengthways of the table to receive fresh
impressions from the same pair of blocks.
The number of impressions required to print across the fabric will

page_text: depend on the width of the fabric and the size of the blocks employed.
If the fabric be fifty inches wide, and the blocks twenty-five inches wide,
two impressions of each block will complete the width. If the block
be twelve inches and a half wide, four impressions of the block will be
required, that is, four of each block, printing alternately.
The blocks are pressed down upon the fabric by means of tappets or
cams affixed to shafts running lengthways of the table.
Fabrics, such as druggets and felt carpeting, are peculiarly liable to
shrink. To prevent this, and secure the uniformity of width essential
for a proper correspondence of impressions. I cause the fabric on either
side to be firmly grasped or secured between nippers formed of two
pieces of wood or metal attached to a chain, whereby the fabric is
kept of the proper width and distention during the process of printing
in its progress through the minchine.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1, Sheet 1, of the drawings is a plan, and Figure 2, is a side
view of one of my improved machines adapted for printing four colours.
Figure 3, Sheet II, is a transverse section of the same; and Figure 4,
shews the arrangement of part of the geering of the machine.
A', A, A, A', are the blocks, which are connected together in pairs,
and supported on bars B, B, on which they slide across the tables C', C.
The blocks are supported by springs, so that when they have arrived
in their proper position they may be pressed down by means of the
cams D, D, on the shafts E, E, E, E, so as to give the impression
on the cloth, or drugget, or fabric, E. The fabric passes over the roller
G, and over the tables C, C, and the roller II, and it is advanced
from-time to time by means of a ratchet wheel I, and paul J, which is
driven by a crank K, on the shaft E. The ratchet wheel I, drives the
roller II, by means of a pair of bevil wheels.
The pair of blocks A', A, are moved from side to side by means of
two pinions L, L, on the slinft I, working into two racks M, M, con-
nected to the blocks. The motion of the pinions 1, L, is regulated and
reversed as herein-after described. The pair of blocks A", A', are moved
in a similar manner.

page_text: N', N, N³, N', are rollers for supplying the colours to the blocks; and
0, 0%, 0, 0%, are other rollers, running in contact with the first, and
partially immersed in troughs of colour. As the blocks run out at each
side of the machine they receive the colour from the rollers N¹, N3, N³, N*;
thus the block A¹, runs over the roller N¹, and then runs back into the
machine and stops at a', and is pressed down by the cams on the shafts
E, E, so as to form the impression on the fabric. The block A¹, then
runs out again and receives a fresh portion of colour, and at the same
time the block A³, which has received its colour from the roller N,
arrives at a', and is pressed down by the cams, thus applying the second
colour to the fabric. The block A², then runs out, and is followed by
the block A, which passes on until it arrives at a³, when it descends,
and forms another impression by the side of the first; it then returns
for more colour, and is followed by the block A2, which applies the
second colour at a³. Each block is of one half of the width of the fabric,
so that the whole width of the cloth is now printed with two colours.
The fabric is now advanced a distance equal to the length of the block,
measured in the direction of the motion of the fabric. The operation then
proceeds as before. The fabric passes over the second table C³, where it
receives two more colours from the blocks A³, A, in a similar manner.
By employing additional tables and blocks, six, eight, or more colours
may be printed. The machine is represented in the drawings as divided
in the centre for the introduction of any required number of additional
tables. If it be required to print an odd number of colours, it may be
effected by merely removing one of the blocks from the machine, and
allowing the others to print in the manner above described.
The cam shafts E, E, E, E, are all geared together by the toothed
wheels c', e, &, e; and each of these shafts makes one revolution for
cach impression given by the first pair of blocks, so that four revolutions
of the shafts are required to print the whole breadth of the fabric with
the two first colours. The fabric must, therefore, be advanced after each
four revolutions of these shafts. The third, and fourth, and other
colours are printed simultaneously with the first and second colours';
and, therefore, the advance of the fabric will still take place after each
four revolutions of the shafts E, E, E, E, whatever number of colours

page_text: may be employed. In order to effect this object the paul J, is kept
out of the ratchet wheel 1, by means of a weight or spring, and it is
pressed into the ratchet wheel at every fourth rovolution of the shaft E',
by means of a rod attached to a crank or excentric, which is not shown
in the drawing, but which is driven at one quarter of the speed of the
shaft E, by means of a wheel and pinion. The paul J, will thus pass
freely backwards and forwards over the wheel I, without moving it,
except when pressed into geer, at every fourth revolution of the shaft E,
when it will advance the fabric the required distance. The crank K, is
so placed with regard to the cams D, that the advance of the fabric may
not take place at the same time that the impression is being given by
the cams. In order to convey the fabric with the requisite accuracy,
an endless chain P, is carried round the rollers G, H, at each side of
the machine. These enlless chains slide in grooves at each side of the
machine, and carry a number of clamps or nippers Q, which take hold
of the edges of the fabric, and keep it extended during its passage
through the machine. The lower jaw of each nipper carries a small
pin, which passes through the cloth and enters a hole or cavity in the
upper or moveable jaw of the nipper. Figure 5, is a side view of the
nipper when open; and Figure 6, is a similar view of the same closed.
Figure 7, is a plan of the same. 7, is a pin or stud attached to a slide
on the back of the nipper, by moving which backwards and forwards
it is opened or closed. The stud q. works in a grooved bar, which is
fixed parallel with the edge of the fabric, except at the two ends, where
it is inclined away from the fabric. The nippers Q, which arrivo open
at the roller G, are closed by the action of the inclined part of the bar
upon the studs q, and are kept closed by the parallel portion of the bar
until they arrive at the roller F, when the other inclined part of the
bar pushes back the studs q, and opens the nippers, and thus releases
the fabric. The grooves in which the chains P, P, work are parallel
with the edges of the fabric, oxcept at the two ends, where they are
inclined towards the fabric. The nippers, after seizing the edges of tho
cloth, are thus drawn apart a little, so as to stretch the fabric, and keep
it extended as it passes through the machine.
The mode of regulating the motion of the blocks will be best under-

page_text: stood by referring to Figure 4. 6 is a sliding bar, working in guides,
and connected to a double clutch, or to the forks of an open strap, and
a crossed strap, or any other similar contrivance well known to
mechanics, and which is so arranged that when the bar b, is in its
extreme position at one end of its course, the shaft 1, (Figures 3,
and 1,) may be caused to revolve in one direction, and when the bar is
at the opposite end of its course, the shaft 7, may revolve in the oppo-
site direction. When the bar b, is in the centre of its course, the
shaft 7, will be stationary. The shaft l, carries the pinions L, L, which
give motion to the printing blocks, which are thus caused to move in
either direction, or to remain stationary, by merely moving the bar b.
The bar b, carries two arms c, c, between which works the cam or
tappet d, on the axis of which is a toothed wheel f, which is driven by
another toothed wheel 7, of twice its diameter. This wheel 9, carries
on its axis an eight-toothed wheel h, which is driven by two teeth i, i,
on one of the cam shafts E'; at each revolution of the cam shaft the
wheels g, h, are thus carried round one quarter of a revolution, and
the wheel f, and tappet d, are carried round half a revolution, and
then remain stationary. The bar b, is thus pushed in either direction
by the action of the tappet against the two arms c, c, and the printing
blocks are caused to move in either direction. In order to arrest the
motion of the printing blocks at the proper places, the following parts
are added:, is a lever, turning upon a vertical pin k, attached to
the sliding bar b, and having its two ends m, n, bent forward; when tho
end m, is brought forward, the end n, recedes, and the block A', (being
put in motion as herein-before described) advances until it strikes the end
m, and thus pushes the sliding bar 6, sufficiently far to throw the shaft 1,
out of geer, and thus arrest the motion of the block: the impression
is then given by the cams, as herein-before described; and when the
cams leave the blocks, the tappet d, again throws the shaft I, into geer,
in the opposite direction to its first motion. The block A', then runs
out, and the block A, runs in, until it reaches the end m, of the
lever j, when it again shifts the bar b, and throws the shaft 1, out of
The same operation takes place when the end m, of the lever j,
is moved back, and the end n, brought forward. The ends m, and n,
geer.

page_text: of the lever correspond with the two positions in which the blocks are
required to print. The lever j, is moved by means of a short vertical
lever o, turning upon a pin in its centre, and having a fork at its lower
end, which embraces the lover j. The lever o, is moved by means of
a semicircular cam wheel p, which has a projecting rim on the side
noxt the lever; the ends of this rim are sloped off, so that as the
wheel revolves it alternately pushes back the upper or lower end of
the lever o, and thus moves the end m, of the levor j. forwards or
backwards. The cam wheel p, carries four arms or teeth, which are
driven by a single tooth r, on the shaft E; tho cam wheel p, is thus
driven one quarter of a revolution by cach revolution of the shaft E*;
and the lever j, moves backwards or forwards after each two revolu-
tions of the shaft E. The motions of the printing blocks are thus
regulated so as to enable them to print in the manner herein-before
described.
When three or more impressions from each block are required to
make up the width of the fabric, this apparatus is modified accordingly.
in order to stop the blocks at the different positions; or a cam, or
series of cams, may be employed, to push out stops in connection with
the sliding bar b. in the different positions required. The advancing
motion for the fabric must also be modified, so that it may not advance
until after the blocks have completed the printing of the whole width.
When, however, the pattern proceeds in steps diagonally across the
fabric, the advancing motion is modified so as to advance the fabric a
certain fraction of the length of the block at each two revolutions of s
the cam shafts.
In order to ensure the accurate position of the printing block when
giving the impression, it is provided with two or more projecting pins,
which enter notches or forked pieces fixed to the machine. The lower
parts of these notches are made to fit the pins, while tho upper parts are s
widened out to insure the entrance of the pins. As the block is pressed
down by the cams, tho forks guide it so as to bring it into its exact
position before it touches the fabric.
The cams D, D, act upon rollers s. s, mounted on the back of tho
blocks, and they are made in two pieces, so that their length may be s

page_text: adjusted, as shewn in Figure 8, which is a separate view of one of the
cams.
The furnishing rollers N', N, which furnish the blocks with colour,
are caused to revolve alternately in opposite directions, as the blocks
pass backwards and forwards over them, and their motion is reversed
after the blocks leave them, in order to distribute the colour upon them
more equally. The furnishing rollers N1, N2, are driven by toothed
wheels on their spindles, and on the spindles of the colour rollers O', 0%,
upon which they rest. The rollers O¹, 0%, are driven by toothed wheels
R', R², geering into other toothed wheels on the spindles of the rollers
0, 0%. On the spindle of the toothed wheel R', is a bevil wheel
driven by another bevil wheel S, on the long shaft S', which carries a
bevil wheel S, geering into another bevil wheel T, on the shaft T'.
The shaft T, carries another bevil wheel T", which drives a bevil wheel
on the spindle of the wheel R², so that the two finishing rollers
N', and N, are caused to revolve in the same direction and at the
same velocity. The long shaft S¹, carries a bevil wheel S³, which is
driven by either of two bevil wheels U, fixed on a shaft, which is driven
at a regular velocity by means of geering in connection with one of the
cam shafts E. The shaft S¹, is supported by a bearing V, which is
capable of being moved a short distance in a guide by means of a
short crank W, working in a vertical slot in the bearing V. By
turning the crank W, the bevil wheel S, is thrown into geer with
either of the wheels U, and is thus caused to revolvo in either direction.
The shaft W, of the crank W, is driven by the bevil wheels W², W³,
Ws, and W. On the spindle of the wheel W, is a cross or four-
toothed wheel W, which is moved one quarter of a revolution at each
revolution of the cam shaft E+, by a single tooth attached to it. The
wheel W, is twice the diameter of the wheel W; and the wheels W³,
and W, are equal. The shaft S', is thus shifted each time that an im-
pression is printed on the fabric, or at each revolution of the cam shafts.
The spindles of the toothed wheels R', and R², extend the whole
length of the machine, and give motion to all the colour rollers.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I hereby declare the Invention

page_text: intended to be secured by the said Letters Patent to consist in the.
machinery for block printing, by means of blocks arranged so as to
traverso across the fabric and imprint two or more impressions side by
side; together with the arrangements for regulating the [traversing
motion of the blocks, and the alternating, motion of the furnishing and
colour rollers; and also the arrangements for keeping the fabric extended
during its passage through the machine, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Walmsley, havo hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Ninth day of September, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three.
JAMES WALMSLEY. (Ls.)
Signed and sealed by the said James Walmsley,
in the presence of
Jas. R. SCRUBY, Clk. with N. C. Milne, Sol., Temple.