IMPROVEMENTS IN PRINTING SHAWLS AND OTHER FABRICS, AND IN THE MACHINERY EMPLOYED THEREIN
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Richard Archibald Brooman, of 166, Fleet Street,
in the City of London, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN PRINTING SHAWLS AND OTHER FABRICS, AND IN THE MACHINERY EMPLOYED
THEREIN."A communication from Monsieur Herrmann.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard Archibald
Brooman at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 10th June 1856.
I, RICHARD ARCHIBALD BROOMAN, of 166, Fleet Street, in the City of
London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN PRINTING SHAWLS AND OTHER FABRICS, AND IN THE MACHINERY
EMPLOYED THEREIN," (communicated to me by Monsieur Herrmann, a foreigner
residing abroad,) to be as follows:-
The Invention consists in arrangements for printing shawls and other fabrics
by a single impression of a block of the same size as the shawl or fabric itself
for each color in which the pattern is to be printed; and also in improved
arrangements for printing fabrics by cylinders engraved in relief; and further,
in printing fabrics by pressing them between two blocks or plates of the same
size as the fabric, one of which is made to advance towards and recede from
the other, one block being engraved with the pattern desired and the other
covered with felt, cloth, or other material.
The Invention also consists in the employment of guides, which, on being
brought in contact with the points of the block or engraved surface, and duly
regulated in the frame in which the fabric is held, keep the engraved surface in

page_text: proper position with respect to the fabric, and in regard to the pattern to be
printed thereon. The colors are applied in connection with the color trough
to the engraved surfaces, either directly, by a cylinder or series of cylinders, or
by transferring the colors from a cylinder to a piece of cloth or other material
mounted on a frame, from which they are carried on to the engraved surface or
block; or, I print the fabric by a cylinder or cylinders, which passes or pass over
the same, or under or over which the fabric is made to travel, by friction, or
by cylinders with points on their peripheries, or otherwise, and the fabric may
be kept up against the surface of the printing cylinder by a pressure roller.
The following arrangement is adopted for supplying color :--I mount two
cylinders in separate bearings with their peripheries in contact, one working in
the color trough, and supplying color to the second roller, which spreads it
evenly, and supplies it to a third cylinder, which transfers it, as stated, either to
the block direct, or to a frame and cloth, and thence to the block; or the third
cylinder may itself be engraved, and serve as the printing cylinder.
In some cases I mount on the same framework with the color trough a flap,
on which is placed a frame carrying cloth or other material, which receives
color from a cylinder in connection with the color trougli, and the fabric to be
printed is placed on an engraved surface of the same size as the fabric itself,
over which the flap is folded and the fabric printed by pressure. The color
trough is mounted upon wheels, moved backward and forward by endless
bands or straps passing over pulleys worked by a handle or otherwise; or,
the frame and cloth may be dispensed with, and the color applied on to the
block by the cylinder direct, or the surface of the cylinder itself may be
engraved so as to print the fabric. This cylinder is so mounted as to be made
to advance to and recede from the color cylinders, being raised when necessary
by inclined planes, and its position regulated by guides. Several printing
cylinders and color cylinders may be mounted on one frame. The color
trough and cylinders and frame may be mounted on a framework supported
on wheels, and the block may be brought to the color cylinders to receive its
supply of color.
In cylinder printing, as many color troughs and cylinders as there are colors
in the pattern may be mounted on the same framework, and the color troughs
must be always kept at a proper distance from each other by stays or other-
wise. Three or more cylinders may be placed one below the other, the first
working in the color trough, and spreading the color evenly on the surface of
the second, which is the printing cylinder, the fabric being kept up against it
by the third or pressure cylinder.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Richard Archibald Brooman in the Great Seal Patent Offico
on the 10th December 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, RICHARD
ARCHIBALD BROOMAN, of 166, Fleet Street, in the City of London, Patent
Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the nineteenth year of Her reign, did,
for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said Richard
Archibald Brooman, Her special licence that I, the said Richard Archibald
Brooman, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Richard Archibald Brooman, my executors, administrators, and 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 PEINTING SHAWLS AND OTHER FABRICS, AND IN THE MACHINERY
EMPLOYED THEREIN," (communication from Monsieur Herrmann, a foreigner
residing abroad,) upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Richard
Archibald Brooman, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and scals, 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 Richard Archibald Brooman, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what nianner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto
annexed, that is to say:-
This Invention consists, firstly, in the printing of shawls and other fabrics
by a single impression of a block of the same size as the shawl or fabric itself
for each color in which the pattern is to be printed.
Secondly, in improved arrangements for printing fabrics by means of one or
more engraved cylinders, supplied with color from a distributing roller or rollers,
which receive or receives color from a cylinder or cylinders working in a color
trough.
:

page_text: Thirdly, in applying colors on shawls and other fabrics by a cylinder, or by
two plates of or about the same size as the fabric, one plate being engraved, or
carrying a block with the pattern, and the other provided with felt, cloth, or
other like material, which is interposed between the fabric and the second
plate, and one of these plates being made to advance towards and recede from
the other, the fabric is printed by being pressed between them.
Fourthly, in the employment of guides, which, on being brought into contact
with the points of the block or engraved surface, keep it in proper position.
Fifthly, in arrangements for supplying colors to the engraved surface, either
.directly, by a cylinder or cylinders in connection with the color trough, or by
transferring the colors from a cylinder to a piece of cloth or other fabric
mounted on a frame, from which they are carried on to the engraved surface
or block, or to which the engraved surface is carried.
And, sixthly, in arrangements of machinery for printing fabrics, herein-after
described, and represented in the Drawings annexed.
The following arrangements are adopted in certain cases for supplying color:-
Two or three cylinders are mounted in separate bearings, with their peripheries
in contact, or nearly so; one of these cylinders works in the color trough and
supplies color; the second roller spreads it evenly, and the third cylinder either
transfers it to the block directly, or to a cloth mounted on a frame, and thence
to the block; or the third cylinder may itself have an engraved surface and
serve as the printing cylinder; or several cylinders may work in the same
color trough, and supply color to a series of distributing cylinders, which in
turn furnish color to a series of engraved printing or pressing cylinders; or the
trough may be divided into compartments, each having a roller or rollers
working in it, supplying color to a distributing roller or rollers, and thence to
a printing roller or rollers.
In some cases the Inventor mounts a flap on the same framework with the
color trough, on which flap is placed the frame with cloth or other material on
it, as aforesaid; the fabric to be printed is laid on an engraved surface of the
same size as itself, over which the flap or frame is folded, and the fabric printed
by pressure.
Three or more cylinders may be mounted, one below the other, (or in other
suitable position), one working in the color trough and passing the color to a
second cylinder, which is the printing cylinder, the fabric being kept up against
it by a third or pressure cylinder; or the color roller may be in connection with
a second cylinder for spreading the color evenly on to the third or printing
cylinder, and the cylinder with its color trough and rollers may pass over the
fabric to be printed, or the fabric travel under the printing cylinder, to which it

page_text: is kept up by a pressure roller, and delivered from a drum with points on its
periphery or between two rollers.
Several printing cylinders and color troughs and cylinders may be combined
together or mounted on one frame, or may be arranged at suitable distances in
succession, and driven by gearing from a common shaft in such manner that
a fabric may be printed in several colors at the same time.
In using the guides, which constitute a part of this Invention, the workman
has to bring the points of the block against the guides to get it in proper
position, and the block may be of the same size as the fabric itself, the relative
positions of block and fabric with regard to the pattern, or the relative position
of parts of the pattern with the fabric, not requiring further attention.
When the fabric is printed by pressure between two plates, one advancing
on or to the other, the moveable plate may be raised or lowered by means of
levers, rack, inclined plane, or other contrivance. When one of the plates is
placed over the other, the block or engraved surface may be on or carried by
cither the upper or the lower plate, and either the upper plate may be made
to drop on to the lower, or the lower plate to rise to the upper.
The annexed Drawings shew various arrangements of printing machinery
illustrating the manner in which the Invention is carried into effect.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine for printing a fabric at one impres-
sion, in which the block receives its color either from a folding frame or from
a roller direct, and rests on a table or bed. a is a color trough travelling on
wheels b,b; c, cylinder working in the color trough; c, cylinder for spreading
or distributing the color; d, cylinder which either supplies the color direct to
the block or engraved surface e, or to a cloth or other material mounted on a
frame f, which transfers it on to the block; or the cylinder may itself be en-
graved, and serve for the printing of the fabric, in which case a number of sets
of cylinders c, c, d, are used, and the fabric may be printed in several colors at
a time; the block e rests on a bed g. h is a flap or table carrying the frame
and cloth f; i, i, are pulleys, round which a driving strap passes for the
working the cylinder to and fro; j is an inclined plane for drawing up the
cylinder when at the end of the frame.
The color trough is mounted on and worked to and fro by means of driving
bands 1,7, which are actuated by a handle or otherwise. m is a cylinder, which,
when the frame fis used, applies color on to the block or engraved surface,
and also serves to apply the color on to the fabric by pressure, that is to say,
to print it; n, n, are wheels, carrying driving straps, to which the bearings of
the roller are attached, and which are worked by a crank handle, or otherwise;
0, inclined plane for drawing the cylinder up when not in use; p, p, are the

page_text: guides on which the frame holding the shawl or other fabric is attached, and
by which means it is kept in proper position; r is a bracket, in which the
cylinder d may be placed when not in use.
The shawl or fabric to be printed is placed on the engraved block e, the flap
h carrying the frame f folded over it, and the shawl printed by pressure from
the roller m. Figure 2 is a sectional elevation of a somewhat similar machine;
Figure 3, a plan of part thereof. A is the color trough in which a cylinder B
works; C, cylinder for spreading the color evenly; D, cylinder which furnishes
the color either direct to the block G, or to a frame covered with cloth or other
material, which transfers it to the block. When the color is supplied directly
to the block, the position of the latter would be reversed from that shewn in
the Drawing, and the engraved surface come unler the roller. E, E, are wheels
carrying the color trough with its cylinders; the cylinder is worked to and
fro by strap and pulleys F, F. II, table or flap on which the frame m rests;
the block G may be moved towards the table to receive color from the cylinder
or the frame; the color trough and rollers, also the frame m or the block G,
are carried on a travelling bed supported on wheels K, K. L, L, are driving
straps for communicating motion to the color trough. In this arrangement
guides are employed for keeping the block in its proper position. Figure 4 is
an elevation, partly in section, of a machine for printing with two plates, one
carrying the block and the other the fabric. A is the upper plate, which
carries the block; B, lower plate, resting on a bed B', and carrying a frame 11,
which holds the shawl or fabric to be printed. The plate A is attached to a
stem F, connected to a lever E, suspended from a bracket d. The plate A is
raised and lowered by means of a ratchet and winch G.
bringing the plate A into proper position on the fabric.
covered with cloth, felt, or other suitable material; guides similar to those
shewn at p, p, Fig. 1, are provided for keeping the shawl frame in proper
position, and spring catches are used for the shawl frame to slip readily in and
out of the guides. Figure 5 is a sectional elevation of a machine in which
the fabric is printed by means of an engraved cylinder; Figure 6, a plan of
a portion of the apparatus. bis the color trough in which works a color
cylinder, roller for spreading the color; d, printing cylinder, against
which the fabric is kept up by a pressure roller c. The blue lines in Figure 5
iudicate an arrangement in which the printing apparatus is carried on wheels
and travels over the fabric, while the black lines shew a plan in which the
frame of the rollers is fixed, and the fabric travels between the rollers d and c.
,, is the framework of the rollers; g, cylinder, with pins or points on its
periphery for delivering the fabric.
c, c, are guides for
The plate B is

page_text: To adapt this apparatus for printing patterns in several colors, a number of
color troughs and cylinders may be mounted in succession, the color troughs
being secured to the framework, or kept at proper distances from each other
by ties. p is a bevil wheel, in gear with another bevil wheel r on the spindle
of the cylinder d, for actuating this cylinder; there is one such bevil wheel p in
gear with a wheel r for each cylinder & when several such cylinders are used,
all the wheels p being mounted on a common shaft
The cylinder d may be fixed in moveable or oscillating arms, as shewn, or it
may be in a fixed frame, so constructed, however, as that it may be brought
nearer to or farther from the color cylinder, and pressed against it by means
of the pressure cylinder, which is centered for the purpose in a moveable
bracket..
Figure 7 is a sectional elevation of an apparatus in which the rollers are
placed ono below the other. b, color trough; c, cylinder for supplying color
to the printing cylinder d; e, pressure cylinder for keeping fabric y up to
the printing cylinder; v, v, rollers working in the color trough for keeping the
coloring matter in. Figure 8 is a sectional elevation of another modification
with color trough and cylinders.
And having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,-
First, the printing of shawls and other fabrics by the means and in the
manner herein-before described.
Second, the particular arrangements of machinery and apparatus herein-
before described with reference to the Drawings annexed for printing shawls
and other fabrics.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard Archibald Brooman, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Tenth day of December, One thousand
eight hundred and fifty-six.