Paper and other Fabrics.
Year: 1885

page_text: Paper and other Fabrics.
I, WILLIAM MACRONE, of 25 Jamaica Street, Glasgow, in the County of Lanark,
Letterpress Printer, do hereby declare the nature of said invention for MACHINERY
APPLYING COLOURS TO PAPER, AND
FOR VARNISHING OR SIZING, AND
OTHER
FABRICS, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement, reference being had
to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon,
that is to say:-
My Invention relates to machinery for varnishing or sizing paper and other
fabrics, preparatory to decorating the same; and for depositing and fixing dry
colours thereon, either singly or in combination, or on fabrics having a pattern or
design; the said machinery consisting of suitable elements or devices arranged to
operate substantially in manner as hereinafter described, whereby I am enabled
to effect in the same machine the successive operations above set forth.
In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 represents, in perspective view, a machine
constructed according to my Invention. Fig. 2 shews in plan a portion of the
machine, in which the upper rollers are removed, in order that the means employed
for actuating the gripper which draws the fabric from one end of the machine to
the other, may be clearly seen, the said gripper being shewn on an enlarged scale,.
and Fig. 3, is a perspective and enlarged view of the gripper, detached from the
machine, shewing the same open and the fabric inserted.
A, is the frame supporting the various parts constitutive of the machine, and b, is
a ductor, of ordinary construction, adapted for receiving the varnish or size to be
applied to the fabric to be treated, and which fabric is, at the commencement of the
operation, conducted or guided through the machine by the gripper t, hereinafter
fully described. From this ductor b, a continuous supply of size or varnish is
communicated by means of the ductor roller b¹, to a series of flexible distributing
rollers c, c, c, c.
These rollers c, c, are employed to spread the size or varnish
evenly over the surface of the fabric a, which is caused to pass beneath them (in
the direction of the arrow), and over a corresponding number of clean iron or biass
rollers d, d, d, d, (clearly seen in fig. 2) travelling at a like speed, whose function
is to impart pressure to the fabric. This arrangement secures a perfectly uniform
deposit of the size or varnish over the whole upper surface of the fabric, and

page_text: prevents sliding or skidding of the flexible distributing rollers, while working,
which otherwise would result, if the material being operated upon were dragged
through between the rollers and an inert table.
The under rollers d, d, are each geared independently and communicate their
speed to the upper rollers c, c, so that both sets of rollers act as mutual impellers
of the fabric. The upper or flexible distributing rollers are made to lift clear of
the lower rollers, by well known mechanism attached to printing and litho
machines, in order to allow the gripper to pass, and are dropped into gear
successively, as the end of the gripper passes from under each roller.
Immediately on leaving the rollers the fabric passes under a suitably geared
fluted roller f, revolving in a pan or receptacle e, which contains dry colour, or
colours, reduced to an impalpable powder. This pan is open in front, and is
provided with a lip e¹, which encloses about of the fluted roller on the delivery
side. In the revolution of this roller, the flutings catch up the colour, or colours,
and throw it, or them, from the slightly overhanging portion of the roller; this
colour falls clear of the lip of the pan, in a thin continuous stream, upon the
varnished or sized surface of the fabric. The flutings on the roller being on the
principle of an inclined plane, the colour falls out of each fluting before it reaches
the centre of the diameter of the roller.
From this fluted roller the fabric then passes over a table ax, and under two or
more brushes g,g, these latter having a swift to and fro motion, across the machine,
imparted to them, through suitable gearing, so that the whole of the varnished or
sized surface becomes fully charged with the dry colour (or colours) which, with
that object in view, is supplied by the fluted roller, slightly in excess of what the
varnish or size can take up.
On leaving these elements, the fabric passes under a revolving spiral brush h
(or brushes) provided with a cover, not shewn in the drawings, and which brush
sweeps the excess colour into a receptacle i, to one side of the machine. Thence
the fabric passes under pads j, j¹, covered with plush, having a swift to and fro
motion imparted to them by suitable means; these pads assist the setting or
hardening of the combined varnish and colour, or colours, and produce a permanent
gloss upon the now finished manufactured article. The fabric thus treated is quite
dry enough to be handled and rolled up.
A cutter k, working through a slot in the table upon a roller k¹, mounted beneath
the table, may be employed to cut the fabric into convenient widths, before it
passes finally from the machine to the receiving roll, upon which it is wound.
Any number of sets of cutters and rollers may however be employed according to
the widths of fabric required to be cut.
1, 11, are tension rollers for drawing the fabric through the machine, after it has
been decorated.
The gripper t, before referred to, and shewn in detail in fig. 3, is for the purpose
of drawing the fabric, after it has been placed therein by hand, between the
rollers c, and d, and through the machine until it reaches the end of the table a*,
where it is then cut off by the attendant and removed until again required; the
end of the fabric is then conducted by the attendant to the winding up roller X.
This gripper t, consists of two portions, forming inclined planes; so constructed as to
form jaws, and close upon each other in order to grip the fabric between the same.
The portions are connected together by hooks p, or by springs, or other suitable
means.
At the sides of these inclined portions are fixed catches or claws v, which take
over or on to studs or buttons 8, fixed on the pitch chains x. These pitch chains
travel over pitch wheels y, mounted on the axis of the under rollers d, and are
actuated by the pulley Z, which is mounted on the axis of the lower tension
roller. These pitch chains, and their wheels, may thus be used to drive the
entire series of rollers, together with the fluted roller and the revolving brush, and i
by suitable cam, or other attachments, on these chains, lateral motion may be
imparted to the brushes g, g, and pad j, j'. I do not, however, restrict myself to

page_text: this means of driving the machine, as any other suitable means may be employed,
for the purpose.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same may be performed, I claim
1. In machinery for varnishing or sizing fabrics, and for applying dry colours
thereto, the employment of a fluted revolving roller in combination with a colour
bolding receptacle, as and for the purpose described.
2. In machinery for varnishing or sizing fabrics and for applying dry colours
thereto, the special arrangement and combination of the series of flexible distributing
rollers and the pressure rollers, for the purpose of securing uniform deposit of the
size or varnish on the fabric, and for preventing sliding or skidding of the flexible
rollers, as described and shewn.
3. The construction and use of the gripper, as described and shewn, and for the
purposes set forth.
4. The improved machinery for effecting successively the combined operations
of varnishing or sizing paper and other fabrics, and applying dry colours thereto,
as set forth, having its parts arranged, combined and operating substantially as
described and shewn with reference to the drawings.