Improvements in Printing Looped or Cut Pile Woven Fabrics.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Nov., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 1st Feb., 1894-Accepted, 24th Mar., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Printing Looped or Cut Pile Woven Fabrics.
I ROBERT JOHN CHADWICK MITCHELL of Albert Works Waterfoot in the
County of Lancaster, Carpet Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this
nvention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to the process of printing patterns or designs upon Brussels
apestry or velvet pile carpets, table covers, or other woven woollen fabrics having
looped or cut pile surface.
Hitherto in printing such looped or cut pile fabrics it has been found that in
consequence of the loose state of the looped or cut pile the pressure of the printing
block or cylinder has caused some of the looped or cut pile to be laid in one
direction and some in the other and the consequence has been that the edges of the
design have been more or less ill-defined and a dull indistinct effect has been the
result, and the object of this invention is to remedy this defect and to produce a
more clearly defined pattern and a more brilliant effect of color than has been
hitherto obtained by printing on such goods, at the same time that there is a
considerable economy of the amount of color used in the printing process.
For this purpose
prepare the goods for printing by laying the pile (whether
looped or cut) by the application thereto of pressure, combined with heat and
moisture, in such a way that the pile is all laid in one and the same direction all
over the surface, so that the effect of the pressure, heat, and moisture combined is
to lay all the pile flat in one direction and thus produce a smooth, even and solid
surface for printing upon.
The ground color is then padded on and a much more even and less cloudy effect
can be produced with far less labor than is usually required for this purpose when
the looped or cut pile is in the erect position, after which the pattern or design is
printed on by hand or machine, and it will be found that the colors will be far
brighter, the edges better defined without blurring and the entire effect more
brilliant than has been hitherto obtainable on such looped or cut pile woollen
fabrics.
The laid pile also forming a kind of solid face for printing on, much less of the
coloring matter will soak through to the jute or other back of the fabric, the colors
will be brighter because more on the surface, and there will be less color required
on the blocks, cylinders, or other printing surfaces.
After printing, the goods are washed steamed, and finished in the usual mauner,
and it will be found that during the steaming and washing process the natural
resiliency of the wool will cause the pile (whether looped or cut) to become erect
as before it was laid.
I find that an efficient and convenient manner of laying the pile is to pass the
fabric partly round a steam roller and between it and a fixed concave steam box
whilst pressure is applied to the axis of the roller there being usually sufficient
moisture in the jute back as it leaves the loom to cause the adhesion of the fibres
so as to form a solid surface, but I do not confine myself to this particular method
of laying the pile so long as it is all laid flat and in one direction as described.
Dated this 6th day of November 1893.
GEO. DAVIES & SON,
4, St. Ann's Square, Manchester, Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: .
Improvements in Printing Looped or Out Pile Woven Fabrics.
I ROBERT JOHN CHADWICK MITCHELL of Albert Works Waterfoot in the
County of Lancaster, Carpet Manufacturer, 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 :-
This invention relates to the process of printing patterns or designs upon tapestry
carpets with a looped or a cut pile also tapestry table covers, or other woven fabrics
having a looped or a cut pile woollen surface.
Hitherto in printing such looped and cut pile fabrics it has been found that in
consequence of the loose state of the pile whether looped or cut the pressure of
the printing block or cylinder has caused some of the looped or cut pile to vary
very much in position some being laid in one direction and some in another and
the consequence has been that the edges of the design when printed have been
more or less ill-defined and a dull indistinct effect has been the result, and the
object of this invention is to remedy this defect and to produce a more clearly
defined pattern with more brilliant effects of color than have been hitherto obtained
by the ordinary process of printing on such goods and at the same time to effect a
considerable economy in the amount of color used in the printing process.
For this purpose I prepare the goods for printing by laying the pile (whether
looped or cut) by the application thereto of pressure, combined with heat and
moisture, in such a way that the pile is all laid in one and the same direction all
over the surface, so that the effect of the pressure, heat, and moisture combined is
to lay all the pile flat in one direction and thus produce a smooth, even and
unvarying surface for printing upon.
The ground color is then padded on and a much more even and less cloudy effect
can be produced with far less labor than is usually required for this purpose when
the looped or cut pile is in the erect position, after which the pattern or design is
printed on by hand or machine, and it will be found that the colors will be far
brighter, the edges being defined without blurring and the general effect much
more satisfactory than has been hitherto obtainable on such looped or cut pile
woollen fabrics.
The laid pile also forming a kind of solid face for printing on much more of the
coloring matter will be absorbed by the wool and consequently less will soak
through to the jute or other back of the fabric, the colors will therefore be
brighter because more on the surface, and there will be relatively less: color
required on the blocks cylinders or other printing surfaces, than by the old process.
After, printing, the goods are steamed, washed and finished in the usual manner
and it will be found that during the process of steaming and washing the natural
resiliency of the wool will cause the pile (whether looped or cut) to become as erect
as it was before it was laid.
I find that an efficient and convenient manner of laying the pile is to pass the
fabric partly round a steam roller and between it and a fixed concave steam box or
bed whilst pressure is applied to the axis of the roller there being usually sufficient
moisture in the jute back of the fabric as it leaves the loom to cause the adhesion
of the fibres so as to form a solid surface.
This apparatus is illustrated by the drawing hereunto annexed in which a is a
hollow copper or other roller or cylinder heated by steam and revolving in the
direction of the arrow and is a fixed steam box or chest made to fit the roller and
also heated by steam. This apparatus I find answers the purpose well, but I do
not confine myself to this particular method of or apparatus for laying the pile so
long as it is all laid flat and in one direction as described.

page_text: 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. The improved combined process for printing tapestry carpets with a looped or
a cut pile, and tapestry table covers with a looped or a cut pile, and also all other
woven fabrics having a woollen looped or a cut pile surface by first laying the pile
all flat in one direction by the aid of heat, moisture, and pressure combined, and
then secondly printing upon the surface so prepared either by hand or machine
substantially as described, and
2. I claim as a new manufacture printed tapestry carpets with a looped or a cut
pile, and tapestry table covers with a looped or a cut pile, and also all other woven
fabrics having a woollen looped or a cut pile surface produced by first preparing
the same by laying all the pile solid and even in one direction by the aid of heat
moisture and pressure combined, next printing either by hand or machine on the
surface so prepared and finally raising the pile again by the aid of heat and
moisture substantially as hereinbefore described.
Dated this 31st day of January 1894.
GEO. DAVIES & SON,
4, St. Ann's Square, Manchester, Agents for the Applicant.