IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR PRINTING TEXTILE FABRICS AND OTHER FABRICS OR ARTICLES, AND IN MEANS EXPLOYED IN CONNECTION THEREWITH
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson; of 47, Lincoln's Inn
Fields, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR PRINTING TEXTILE
FABRICS AND OTHER FABRICS OR ARTICLES, AND IN MEANS EXPLOYED IN
CONNECTION THEREWITH."—A communication from abroad by Albert-
Aune François Le Tellier and Louis Désiré Verstraet, of Paris, in
the Republic of France.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 7th October 1875.
I, JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County
of Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR PRINTING
TEXTILE FABRICS AND OTHER FABRICS OR ARTICLES, AND IN MEANS EMPLOYED IN
CONNECTION THEREWITH," .a communication to me from abroad by Albert-
Aune François Le Tellier and Louis Désiré Verstraet, of Paris, in the
Republic of France, to be as follows:-

page_text: This Invention relates to pressure cylinders employed in machines for
printing textile fabrics and other goods, and it consists chiefly in the
application of india-rubber as an elastic covering for such cylinders in
substitution for the materials and blankets ordinarily employed for that
purpose, but the Invention also embraces peculiar means of applying
the india-rubber as herein-after described.
In carrying out this Invention it is proposed to employ layers of
india-rubber of different degrees of hardness and elasticity, and of such
a nature as to give under pressure an elasticity equal to that which is
obtained by the cloth or blanket at present in use. For this purpose a 1
cylinder, by preference composed of cast iron, is provided of suitable
diameter to serve as a core or centre for the elastic covering, which
cylinder is then covered with a primary layer of hard india-rubber so
as to form a perfect adhesion to the cast iron, after which other layers of
suitable hardness and elasticity are added or superposed in such a
manner that the superposition thus effected constitutes a homogeneous
whole, elastic, but sufficiently firm to bear the pressure to which it is to
be subjected.
In the interval between the laying on or superposition of the layers,
or at any other suitable time during the manufacture, the cylinder is
placed in a closed receptacle or boiler and submitted to the action of an
elevated temperature, whereby the hardening is effected, the period
during which the cylinder is exposed to the heat varying according to
the degree of hardness which it is desired to obtain. After these
operations the cylinder is placed on a lathe, where the surface is :
rendered uniform.
It is desirable that the generating line of the side of the cylinder
should be convex, so as to compensate for the wearing away of the
engraved cylinders, the surface of which becomes concave after working
a certain time, and moreover, to better distribute the pressure which
should be absolutely uniform over the whole breadth of the fabric or
piece to be printed.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Henry Johnson in the Great. Seal Patent
Office on the 7th April 1876.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of
Middlesex, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of October, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the thirty-
ninth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant into me, the said John Henry Johnson, Her special
license that I; the said John' Henry Johnson, my executors, admini-
strators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John Henry Johnson,
my executors, administrators, or assigns, should at any time agree
.with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter,
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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR PRINTING TEXTILE
FABRICS AND OTHER FABRICS OR ARTICLES, AND IN MEANS EMPLOYED IN CON-
NECTION THEREWITH," a communication to me from abroad by Albert-
Aune.. François Le Tellier and Louis Désiré Verstract, of Paris, in
the Republic of France, upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said John Henry Johnson, by an instrument in writing under
my hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature
of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be per-
formed, 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..
t
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Henry Johnson, do hereby
declare the nature of the 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 said Invention relates to pressure cylinders employed-in machines-
for printing textile fabrics and other goods, and it consists chiefly in the
application of india-rubber as an elastic covering for such cylinders in:

page_text: substitution for the blankets ordinarily used, but the Invention also
embraces peculiar methods or means of applying the india-rubber as
herein-after described.
The pressure cylinders employed in the manufacture of printed stuffs
or fabrics consist of heavy powerful cast-iron rollers, and in order to
prevent injury to the fabric it has been customary to use in combination
therewith an elastic felt cloth or blanket of great length and thickness,
which is exceedingly expensive, and requires frequent renewal. The
great cost of these cloths has induced printers to seek economical means
by which they may be enabled to dispense with them, and it has been
proposed to surround the roller with a felt covering, as also to employ
blankets composed of other materials than felt, but the trials of these
arrangements have not been attended with satisfactory results.
In carrying out this Invention the exterior of the pressure cylinders
is constructed of layers of india-rubber of different degrees of hardness
and elasticity, and of such a nature as to give under pressure an
elasticity equal to that which is obtained by the cloth or blanket at
present in use. For this purpose a cylinder, by preference composed of
cast iron, is provided, of suitable diameter to serve as a core or centre
for the clastic covering, which cylinder is then covered with a primary
layer of hard india-rubber so as to form a perfect adhesion to the cast
iron, after which other layers of suitable hardness and elasticity are
added or superposed in such a manner that the superposition thus
effected constitutes a homogeneous whole, elastic, but sufficiently firm
to bear the pressure to which it is to be subjected.
In the interval between the laying on or superposition of the layers,
or at any other suitable time during the manufacture, the cylinder is
placed in a closed receptacle or boiler and submitted to the action of an
elevated temperature, whereby the hardening is effected, the period
during which the cylinder is exposed to the heat varying according to
the degree of hardness which it is desired to obtain. After these
operations the cylinder is placed on a lathe and turned so as to obtain
a smooth and uniform surface.
It is desirable that the generating line of the side of the cylinder
should be convex, so as to compensate for the wearing away of the
engraved cylinders, the surface of which becomes concave after working
a certain time, and moreover, to better distribute the pressure which

page_text: piece to be printed.
☐ The pressure cylinders thus obtained possess the following advantages,
viz. :-
-
2
Firstly. A saving in cost is effected by dispensing with the endless
cloth or blanket..
Secondly. The pressure required to be exercised upon the pressure
cylinder in order to cause the colours to penetrate the fabric is reduced
and a consequent diminution in the wear and tear of the parts
composing the machine ensues.
. Thirdly. A cleaner impression on the surface of the fabric is obtained,
the pressure not being able to cause the seam to traverse to the reverse
side in light pieces, whence results a silkier appearance on the right side
of the printed fabric.
Fourthly. Economy is effected in the power required, as the pressure
being reduced the machine will require less power to drive it, whence
will also result an economy in time, as the machine will be enabled to
perform more work in a given number of working hours.
Fifthly. The liability is obviated of blanks being left in the printing
in consequence of the folds caused by the use of the cloth or blanket
and the dust which gives trails under the doctor..
•
Sixthly. The liability is obviated of pieces being torn under the force
of the pressure cylinder when a fold presents itself in the course of the
piece, as all irregular contraction of the fabrics, which only results from
the use of the web or blanket, is avoided. The re-entry of the pieces
for the completion of the pattern or design with other colours is also
facilitated.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the
said Invention and the manner in which the same is or may be used or
carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider
to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to
me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
First. The application of india-rubber to the pressure cylinders of
machines for printing textile fabrics and other fabrics or articles in
order to form the external surface of such cylinders and produce an

page_text: adhesive homogeneous and elastic covering, substantially as herein-
before described.
Secondly. The obtaining the before-mentioned covering by means of
superposed layers of india-rubber of a composition varying according to
the degrees of hardness and elasticity desired, substantially as herein- 5
before described.
Thirdly. The means and processes for the manufacture of the elastic
pressure cylinders, substantially as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Sixth day of April, in 10
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
six.