IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OF AND APPARATUS FOR COLORING PILE FABRICS.”
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Worrall, of Manchester, in the County
of Lancaster, Dyer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MODE OF AND APPARATUS FOR COLORING PILE FABRICS.”
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Worrall at
the Office of the Commissionors of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 9th April 1875.
I, JAMES WORRALL, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster,
Dyer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MODE OF AND APPAratus for ColoriNG PILE FABRICS," to be as
follows :-
This Invention relates, firstly, to a novel mode of obtaining a bloom
on pile fabrics, and is particularly applicable to cotton velvets, velveteens,
and cords. Attempts have heretofore been made to obtain this effect,
but without any satisfactory result. By my improved process however
I am enabled to obtain a good result with certainty and economy, and

page_text: to render unnecessary the operation now commonly required in cut pile
cotton goods, viz, that of raising the pile which is laid and more or less
crushed by the padding process.
The Invention relates, secondly, to means for producing on pile fabrics
patterns in a color or shade distinct from that of the pilc. If according
to the first part of my Invention I wish to produce, for example, a rich
black velvet, I dye the fabric in the ordinary manner, and then by the
means hereafter described I apply a blue color to the pile. To produce
the novel effect in two distinct colors or tints according to the second
part of this Invention, I apply black or other dark color to the surface of:
the pile in the manner hereafter described, and subsequently dye the fabric
in the ordinary way, say a bluc, gold, green, or other light shade of color.
The pattern I produce by afterwards cutting away parts of the black
In this way
or other dark colored pile surface by the shearing machine
I may obtain figures, stripes, or other devices of the ground colors of the
fabric. The machines which I use for raising the laid or crushed pile
and which form the subjects of existing Patents, I so modify as to
adapt them to this new service. Thus, for example, the machine for
which I obtained a Patent, December 3rd 1873, No. 3969, and which
consists mainly of an arrangement of cylindrical brushes and chains of
brushes working at night angles to the cylindrical brushics above au
expanding table, over which the fabric is passed by endless tender
chains I convert into a coloring machine by applying thereto color
troughs and rollers for imparting color to the traversing chains of
brushes. These chains of brushes which are caused to travel alternately
in opposite directions I so arrange that they will commence to touch
the fabric at about the middle of its breadth and pass lightly over it,
transferring the color which they carry to the upper part of the pile.
For delivering the color to the brushes I use a trough in which rotates a
roller that runs in contact with a copper cylinder, such as that at present
employed in the operation known as padding. The color supplied to
this cylinder is taken up by the brushes and transferred by them to the
fabric. It will however be obvious that the means for supplying the
brushes with colour may be variously modified.
The cylindrical brushes which act upon the fabric after it leaves the
chains of brushes will work the color into the pile and ensure its oven
distribution therein. I also propose in addition to the delivery of the
color by the chains of brushes to cause the fabric on entering the machine

page_text: to pass over and in contact with a roller mounted in a color trough, and
then on reaching the table to pass under a cylindrical brush which will
work the color so taken up into the pile.
As the main object of the Invention is to impart color to the fabric
without laying or crushing the pile it will be obvious that the
arrangement of brushes used may be variously modified. Thus instead
of the dressing machine just referred to I may use a modification of the
dressing machine for which Letters Patent were granted to John Mayo
Worrall and Thomas Lawrence, on the 8th of June 1861, No. 1458, which
consists of a rotary cylinder forming a bed or bearing for the fabric, and
surrounded by a series of cylindrical brushes which rotate in contact
with the face of the fabric. By placing one or more of such brushes
below the cylinder and providing them with color feeders and giving
them also a slight endway motion, I am enabled to apply color to the
fabric without laying or crushing the pile.
By the means above described a bloom and a soft finish may be
imparted to cotton fabrics, causing them to approach in richness of effect
to silk velvets, and when desired patterns of a color or tint distinct from
that of the pile face may be obtained
It should be stated that it is not essential to use brushes furnished with
bristles or analogous fibres for applying the color to the pile fabric, as
soft pads of velvet or flannel may be substituted for such fibres.

page_text: eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said James Worrall, Her special licence
that I, the said James Worrall, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said James Worrall, 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
THE MODE OF AND APPARATUS FOR COLORING PILE FABRICS," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said James Worrall, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and seals, 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
Scal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said James Worrall, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, 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 Drawing hereunto
annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to
say) :-
=
This Invention rclates, firstly, to a novel mode of obtaining a bloom
on pile fabrics, and is particularly applicable to cotton velvets, velveteens,
and cords Attempts have heretofore been made to obtain this effect,
but without any satisfactory result. By my improved process and
apparatus I am however enabled to obtain a good result with certainty
and economy, and to render unnecessary the operation now commonly
required in cut pile cotton goods, viz., that of raising the pile which is
laid and more or less crushed by the padding process.
The Invention relates, secondly, to means for producing on the surfaco
of pile fabrics a color or shade distinct from that underneath the surface.
If according to the first part of my Invention I wish to produce, for
example a rich black velvet, I dye the fabric in the ordinary manner, and
then by the means hereafter described I apply a blue color to the pile. To
obtain the novel effect in two distinct colors or tints according to the

page_text: second part of my Invention, I apply black or other dark color to the
surface of the pile in the manner hereafter described, and subsequently
dye the fabric in the ordinary way, say a blue, gold, green, or other light
shade of color.
In carrying out the object of my Invention I use machines similar to
those I have heretofore employed for raising the laid or crushed pile,
and which form the subjects of existing Patents, but I so modify such
maclunes as to adapt them to this new service Thus, for example, tho
machine for brushing, raising, and dressing the surfaces of cut pile and
looped fabrics, and for which I obtained Letters Patent, dated December
Third, One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, No 3969, I
convert into a machine for coloring fabrics or applying color to the
surface of cut pile fabrics. The machine altered and modified to effect
this object is shown in Sheet I. of the accompanying Drawings, in which
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the coloring machine complete, and Fig. 2 is
a transverse vertical section thereof.
The machine consists mainly of an arrangement of cylindrical
brushes a, a, and a¹, a¹, and a series of chains of brushes b, b, and b¹, b¹,
working at right angles to the cylindrical brushes above a table over
which the fabric is passed and carried forward by means of endless tenter
chains c, c
The coloring matter is contained in the troughs d, d, which
are provided with furnishing rollers, and engraved copper rollers d³, d²,
fitted with doctors or scrapers. These copper rollers serve to impart
color to the traversing chains of brushes b, b¹ The chains of brushes
are caused to travel alternately in opposite directions It is found
important in practice that the travelling brushes b, b', should not
commence to deliver the color to the fabric, or in fact be allowed to
touch the fabric until just before they reach about the middle of its
breadth, when they pass lightly over it, and transfer the color (which
they carry) to the upper part of the pile If this precaution is not taken
the travelling brushes will be liable to catch against the edge of the
fabric and draw it inwards. In order to prevent this and to lift the
brushes from off the fabric, the carrying rollers b³, Fig. 2, at one end of
the chain are made smaller in diameter than the carrying rollers &³ at the
opposite end of the chain. The effect of this will be that the travelling
brushes will be always brushing and smoothing the fabric from about
the middle towards both selvages, and therefore no crumpling of the
fabric can take place. For delivering the color to the rotary or

page_text: cylindrical brushes a, a, I use troughs d* in which rotates a furnishing
roller that runs in contact with an engraved copper cylinder or roller d¹*,
such as that at present employed in the operation known as padding,
and which is provided with a doctor or scraper. The color supplied to
this copper roller is taken up by the rotary brushes a, a, and transferred 5
by them to the fabric as it travels along It will however be obvious
that the means for supplying the brushics with color may be variously
modified.
If desired the fabric may be stretched laterally by causing the carrying
chains c to expand or widen out before the fabric reaches the first rotary 1
brush a.
This expansion of the carrying chains is effected in the manner
described in the Specification of my former Patent already referred to or
in any other convenient and well known manner.
The cylindrical brushes a', a', which act upon the fabric after it leaves
the chains of brushes b, b¹, will work the colour into the pile and ensure 1
its even distribution therein.
As the main object of the Invention is to impart color to the fabric
without laying or crushing the pile, it will be obvious that the arrange-
ment of brushes used may be variously modified Thus, instead of the
dressing machine just referred to I may use a modification of the a
dressing machine for which Letters Patent were granted to John Mayo
Worrall and Thomas Laurence, on the Eighth of June, One thousand
eight hundred and sixty-one, No. 1458 This arrangement is shown at
Fig. 3, Sheet II. of the accompanying Drawing, which is a side clevation
of the machine The large rotary cylinder c* forms the bed or bearing
for the fabric, and is surrounded by a series of cylindrical brushes b¹, b¹,
which rotate in contact with the face of the fabric. By placing one or
morc of such brushes b, b, below the level of the top of the cylinder e
and providing them with color fountains d* and suitable feeding rollers,
as shewn in the Drawing, and as described for the cylindrical brushes a, a,
of Fig 1, and giving them also a slight endway motion as is the case
with the ink distributing rollers of printing machines, I am enabled to
apply color to the fabric without laying or crushing the pile.
The fabric to be operated upon is wound on a beam or roller ƒ,
Figures 1 and 3, and is conducted therefrom over and under guiding and
tension rollers g, g, to the expanding travelling chams c, c, in Fig. 1,
and to the large carrying cylinder c* in Fig. 3. Passing onwards it

page_text: receives color from the rotating circular brushes b, b, and this color in
the machine shown at Fig. 3 is rubbed into the fabric by the rotary
circular brushes 6', 6', 6' From thence the fabric passes ovor and under
the guiding and carrying rollers g¹, g¹, g¹, to the vibrating folding
apparatus or "cuddler" which will deposit it in folds on the receiving
tablo 2.
In the machine shewn at Figures 1 and 2, the fabric after
receiving color from the rotary brushes a, a, passes under the travelling
endless chains of brushes b, b, b', 6', from which it receives more color,
and from thence passes down in front of and is operated upon by
the rotary brushes a¹, a¹, and is ultimately delivered by the rollers g', g¹,
cither direct on to a receiving table, or to a folding apparatus by which
it will be deposited in regular folds.
It should be stated that in the machine shown at Fig. 3, it is not
essential to use brushes furnished with bristles or analogous fibres for
applying the color to the pile fabric, as soft pads of velvet or flannel may
be substituted for such fibres.
Having now described my Invention of "Improvements in the Means
of and Apparatus for Coloring Pile Fabrics," and having explained the
manner of carrying the same into effect, I claim as the Invention secured
to mo by Letters Patent as aforesaid, applying coloring matter to the
surface of pile fabrics by means of rotary and other brushes arranged and
operated, as herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Worrall, havo hereunto
set my hand and seal, thus Seventh day of October, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
five.