New or Improved Method of Producing Designs on Fabrics by Stencilling Plates.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 21st May, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Dec., 1895-Accepted, 15th May, 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
New or Improved Method of Producing Designs on Fabrics by
Stencilling Plates.
ALBERT ARTHUR KUENEMANN 10 Acomb Street Greenheys Manchester Designer
for Calico Printers do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
On a strong table I mount a heavy stone slab of smooth surfaces upon which aro
several layers of woollen blanketting over which is stretched a strong smooth cloth
preferably waterproof.
On one side of table & some distance from stone are two strong iron brackets
standing about the beight of the blanket covered slab.
Through the brackets I pass a strong metal rod on which is a heavy frame which
projects some distance on all sides of the stone.
To this frame I fix two strong bars one stationery & one adjustable parallel to the
back & front of the stone as placed on the table. I then take a metal stencil plate of
the design to be printed which I attach by clamps to the bars on frame the plate being
of greater size than the stone so as to leave at back & front of the plate, a plain piece
of metal plate, uncut with the design by means of screws or clamps the bars can he
moved outwards from each other thus drawing the plate perfectly tight & rigid.
By levers the frame & plate can he raised or lowered & pressed with considerable
force upon the covered stone slab. From below the table the fabric to be printed is
drawn by means of rollers over the covered slab and under the stencil plate.
To prevent these rollers from smearing the colors after printing 1 place on the
upper roller narrow bands of India rubber grooved parrallel to the length of the roller.
These bands being moveable I can adjust them to the width of the fabric to be
stencilled & when neccessary only allow them to touch the selvages of the fabric.
Across the stencil plate I fix to the two bars movable metal blades or bars; one at
each side corresponding to the width of the fabric and if I wish to produce several
colors simultaneously on the fabric. I put as many bars or blades across the stencil
plate as I require thus making several compartments. To each of which a color is
supplied.
These bars are not neccessarily straight as by having them waved or zig zag I can
produce a better mix of colors on the fabric. The fabric being in position under the
plate, the lever is raised bringing the plate firmly down on the fabric. The color
contained in a trough or series of troughs fitted to & movable with the frame thus
preventing the colors from settling is then supplied to the plain uncut part of the plate
and is then drawn forward across the plate & back again by means of one or more
brushes fitting the compartments of the stencil plate or by a band or bands of Indian
rubber or other elastic material fitted in a frame to fit the division on the stencil
plate. The plate is now raised and the cloth drawn forward for the next operation
(as before).
It will thus be seen that the design as cut in the plate will be produced in color or
such other mixtures as may be required on the fabric.
Dated this 10th day of Man IYU

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
New or Improved Method of Producing Designs on Fabrics by
Stencilling Plates.
ALBERT ARTHUR KUENEMANN 10 Acomb Street Greenheys Manchester Designer
for Calico Printers do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:-
On a strong table or frame I mount a heavy stone or metal slab of smooth surface
of an even plain or cylindrical shape, upon which are several layers of woollen or
other suitable material over which is stretched a strong smooth cloth preferrably
waterproof.
On one side of the table or frame and some distance from slab or cylinder I attach
two brackets. Through these brackets I pass a rod on which is a frame of metal
projecting beyond the sides of slab or cylinder.
To this frame I fix two bars one stationery and one adjustable parrallel to the slab or
cylinder. I then take a metal stencil plate of the design to be produced, which I
attach to the frame by clamps.
The plate being of the same size as the frame, is accordingly larger than the slab or
surface of cylinder, with which it comes in contact, thus leaving a plain uncut portion
at each side of the stencil plate; by means of screws or clamps, the adjustable bar to
which the stencil plate is attached, can be moved outwards from the other thus drawing
the plate sufficiently tight & rigid.
By levers the frame & plate can be raised or lowered and pressed with sufficient
force upon the slab or cylinder.
The fabric to be stencilled is drawn by rollers over the covered slab or cylinder and
under the stencil plate.
To prevent these drawing rollers from sniearing the color after stencilling I place
upon the upper of each pair of drawing rollers, narrow bands of Indian rubber or other
suitable material, preferrably grooved parallel to the length of the roller, these bands
being adjustable to the width of fabric to be stencilled, I can so adjust them, as only to
grip the selvages of the fabric, or by other similar known means. Across the stencil
plate I fix to the frame at each side a movable metal blade or bar or of other suitable
material corresponding to the width of the fabric to be stencilied and if I wish to
produce several colors at one operation, I put as many bars or blades on the stencil
plate as I require, thus making several compartiments, to each of which I supply a
color. These bars or blades are not neccessarily straight as by having them waved, or
zig zag, I can produce a better mix of colors on the fabric.
The fabric being in position the lever is raised thus bringing the plate with uncut
portion, supplied with colors, directly above the slab, with the fabric between; the
color or colors are then drawn forward across the plate & back again by one or more
brushes or rollers fitting the compartment of the stencil plate or by a blade or blades
of any elastic material or metal fitted in a frame or usually known as color doctors
attached to the framework of the stencil plate and movable thereon or by brushes and
blades combined.
The plate is now raised and the fabric if in continuous lengths is drawn forward the
neccessary distance for the next operation by drawing rollers as described!
Where only bands or lines of color running in a direct line with the length of the
fabric are required, the plate remains stationery and the color being applied to the
plate passes through the neccessary openings in the stencil plate and can be pressed into
the fabric when neccessary by brushes or rollers as formerly described. To prevent the
colors from passing through the openings in stencil plate in too great a quantity
the blade of doctor is set, so as to bear with its edge & full force where the plate with

page_text: cloth between shall press directly on the cylinder, thus only allowing a limited and
sufficient quantity to pass through the slits cut in the stencil plate to produce lines or
bands; the fabric being then drawn forward as described will be impressed with a
band or line of the color or colors or mixture used, corresponding with slits in
stencil.
The slit cut in the stencil plate, will project on either side of the edge of the doctor
thus avoiding all smearing. In this case the cylinder may revolve & produce continuous
stripes.
The color, or colors are thus kept on the plate, which arranged, as described forms
separate compartments.
It will be readily seen, that this arrangement of frame & plate can be applied to
any ordinary calico printing or similar machine, for producing stripe or line effects as
described, or by means of arranging a horizontal traverse motion, as is used for color
doctors at present, to the plate and furnishers, wavy effects can be produced.
By these means, I can apply many such colors or mixtures as are now very
difficult or impossible to use by machinery; and impress them more deeply into the
texture of the material, than is now usually done, by ordinary topical printing;
such as metallic powders and many pigment colors, used extensively on pile
fabrics &c.
I am aware, that travelling stencil pattern sheets, of various materials, have been
used for producing patterns or stripes.
e is
Referring to the drawings herewith, Figure 1 shews table, slab, and apparatus
complete. A represents the two brackets. b are the levers for raising plate and
frame. C are the handles and levers, for drawing the blades, or brushes, across the
plate. d is the fabric to be stencilled and d is the fabric after stencilling.
the plate with spot design cut therein. f. are the bands to fix on draw rollers.
G are the two blades or brushes to draw colours backwards and forwards on the
plate. His the band or blade to divide colors on plate.
Figure 2 shews stencil plate in frame cut with lines for stripe printing.
A represents the two brackets, e is the plate with stripe design cut therein. H are
the bands or blades to divide the colors, i represents the stationery bar on the
frame. K is the adjustable bar. L are the clamps or screws to tighten the
plate.
Figure 3, shews side view of machine. A represents bracket, b is the lever for
raising plate and frame, d is the fabric to be stencilled, and d is the fabric after
stencilling. e is the plate with stripe design cut therein. G are the two blades to
keep color on the plate. i represents the stationery bar, and K is the adjustable one.
O is the waterproof cloth, or blanket. M is the cylinder of the machine."
Figure 4 represents side view of apparatus applied to the cylinder of a calico
printing machine, for stripe printing, A represents the bracket. D is the fabric. e is the
plate. G are the blades or brushes or a combination of both, as shewn with the roller
brush working in color-box at N. i, is the stationery bar of the frame and K, is the
movable adjustable bar to tighten the plate. M' is the cylinder of printing
machine and
Figure 5 is the same as Figure 4 with the colour division H applied to the
plate e.
Having now particularly described and ascertained, the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is.-
1. Producing patterns or effects on fabrics by a stencil-plate, mounted in a movable
frame, in one or more colors or mixtures at one operation as herein describea.
2. Applying a fixed stencil-plate or plates to an ordinary or duplex printing
machine for fabrics, so as to produce band or stripe effects in one or more colours or
mixtures, substantially as described herein.
3. The combination of the fixed stencil plate, with the roller or brush and the color
blade as described herein.

page_text: 4. The combination of the fixed stencil-plate with the divided brushes or rollers
as described herein.
5. The prevention of smears by the color blade or "doctor" being placed as
described herein.
Dated this 22nd day of December 1806
ALBERT ARTHUR KUENEMANN.