CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ART OF PRINTING CALICOES AND OTHER FABRICS OF COTTON, SILK, WOOL, PAPER, OR LINEN, SEPARATELY OB INTERMIXED
Year: 1837

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOSEPH
LOCKETT, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Engraver, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria did, by Her
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Second day of No-
vember, One thousand eight hundred and thirty-seven, give and grant unto
me, the said Joseph Lockett, my exors, adñiors, and assigns, Her especial
licence, that I, the said Joseph Lockett, my exors, adññiors, and assigns, should
and lawfully might, during the term of fourteen years therein mentioned, make,
use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-
upon-Tweed, the Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ART OF PRINTING
CALICOES AND OTHER FABRICS OF COTTON, SILK, WOOL, PAPER, OR LINEN, SEPARATELY
OB INTERMIXED," being a communication from a Foreigner residing abroad; in
which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso, that if I, the said Joseph
Lockett, should not particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, by an instru-
ment in writing under my hand and seal, and cause the same to be enrolled
in Her Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar months then
next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent now in recital,
that then the said Letters Patent, and all liberties and advantages thereby
granted, should utterly cease, determine, and become void, as in and by the
same, reference being thereunto had, may more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Joseph Lockett, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention of "Certain

page_text: Improvements in the Art of Printing Calicoes and other Fabrics of Cotton,
Silk, Wool, Paper, or Linen, Separately or Intermixed," being a communica-
tion from a Foreigner residing abroad, to consist in a new arrangement of
machinery for the purpose of printing one, two, or more colors on cloth, paper,
or other goods, by means of engraved blocks, or what is sometimes called
surface printing, by which the operation is more readily performed than by
the ordinary means now in use; and the manner in which the same is to be
performed and carried into effect will be seen by reference to the annexed
Drawings, and the following description thereof.
The scale to which the annexed Drawings are made is marked thereon,
and the figures and letters of reference on each separate Sheet indicate the
same parts throughout the Sheet to which such reference is made.
Sheet 1. Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a three-coloured printing
machine, (with the framing removed to show the interior construction.
Figure 2 a plan, and Figure 8 a detached movement of part of the same
machine. This machine is constructed to print on a continuous length of
cloth by means of three separate blocks or surfaces placed at right angles to
each other so as to impart the three separate colours and impressions at one
and the same time. The construction of this machine I shall now proceed
to describe.
A represents the framing, made of wood or other suitable material, for
supporting the machinery; B is a cast-iron table, provided with three plane
surfaces facing the three separate blocks D, D', D, from which the im
pression is to be received on to the goods or cloth. At each corner of the
table B are placed the carriage rollers i, i,,, which move freely on their
centres, and are provided with small needle points on their respective surfaces
for the purpose of preventing the slipping of the blankets and goods to be
printed, as will be hereafter seen. The engraved blocks D, D', D", are
attached by screws to three holders D, D, D, which are placed in
grooves in the carriages C, C', C", so that they can be moved or replaced
without difficulty. These blocks being placed in the position seen at Figure 1,
the printing motion is given to them by the rotation of the cranked shafts
d, d', d", provided with the cranks M, M', and M", and which work into
forked or pronged pieces m, m³, m", the opposite end of which pronged
pieces are severally jointed to the moving carriages C, C', C", so that the
rotation of the cranks does not affect the position of the carriages excepting
at the period at which it is required to give the impression from the block to
the cloth or goods to be printed. The accurate motion of the carriages
C, C', C", and the correct adjustment of the printing blocks, is effected by

page_text: set screws a, a, at the same time that the retiring or backward motion of
the carriages is regulated by a similar screw . This backward motion or
returning of the carriages C, C¹, C", is caused by the action of the springs
L, L, attached to the loop L in the two horizontal carriages, but the third
or lower carriage has a constant tendency to retire by its own weight, which
is in part counterbalanced by the weight O. The coloring of the surface.
of the block preparatory to the giving the impression is effected by the
sieves E, E, E", which move in grooves attached to the table B, and
parallel to the surface of the respective blocks to be colored. These sieves.
receive their color from the furnishing rollers e, e, which is subsequently
spread by the brushes marked E during their return motion. The sieves.
then present color to the blocks of a smooth and uniform surface. The
furnishing rollers e, e³, from which the color is received into the sieves, and
are similarly arranged to those used in ordinary printing machines, and the
position and adjustment of them, together with the color trough F, is
regulated by the set screws N. The alternate traverse of the sieves E, E¹. E",
is effected by a series of levers connected to each other, and receiving motion
at the proper period (when the blocks are retired from the table B) by
means of an eccentric scrole guide u, u, u, placed on the driving shaft d of
the machine. In printing with this machine it is required that the cloth
should remain at rest during the period of printing or giving off the im-
pression from the blocks, and then that the cloth should advance exactly the
width of the block, which necessarily varies according to the design or pattern.
To effect this periodical movement of the cloth the shafts on which the
carrying rollers i, i,,, are placed are provided with equal spur wheels
P, P, P, P, see Figures 2 and 3, which geer into a centre wheel P', connected
with a ratchet wheel P", both which move free on a stud or pin supported by
the framing. P is a similar spur wheel free on the same stud, and provided
with a catch or dog, which drives the ratchet wheel P" when revolving in.
one direction, but runs free on its reverse rotation. The part Q, Q, see Figure
3, is constructed with a rack geering into the wheel P, and receives an
alternate perpendicular traverse from the rotation of the wheel T, to which
its opposite extremity is connected by an eccentric stud Q', so that motion is
conveyed by the catch on the wheel Pl forward to the wheels P' and P, P,
P, P, by the downward traverse of the rack Q, while the upward motion
only revolves the wheel P™, the dog or catch passing free on the ratchets P",
which is also held stationary by the drag or weight on the pulley R. The
stud Q', which moves the rack Q. may be varied in its position from the.
centre of the wheel T, and consequently the traverse of the rack Q

page_text: diminished or increased, so that the amount of motion imparted ultimately
to the carrying rollers i, i, 1, 1, is governed by the position of the stud Q,
and the traverse of the cloth thereby determined. The course of the blanket
Hused in the machine will be seen at Figure 1, when the direction of
motion is indicated by arrows, and the requisite tension effected by the
adjusting screws n, n, by which the roller I is supported. A back cloth H',
which is placed on the roller J, also passes over the roller, the course
of which may be traced in this Figure; but whether this is used or dispensed
with with depends on the nature of the work to be executed. The goods or
cloth to be printed are placed on the roller K immediately below the roller J,
and passed forward in the direction of the line K over stretching rods in the
direction of the blanket, both the rollers K and J being provided with friction
bands and weights, as seen at K™ and J.
Sheet 2 represents various parts of this machine separate, for the purpose
of shewing their exact form and construction, and the various letters of
reference being the same, no particular description is required.
Having now described the construction of the various parts for effecting
the three movements of coloring the sieves, making the impression, and
moving the cloth, I shall proceed to describe the means of putting these
parts into operation at the various periods when they are required, together
with some secondary movements required for the proper action of the machine.
On the driving shaft of the machine d is placed a fly wheel, which may be
On
put in action by hand or power, and revolved at a uniform motion.
this is also placed the eccentric scrole u, u, which governs the position of
the lever F, and produces the coloring motion of the sieve E, E, E", as
already described. Thus supposing the colouring of the sieves to have been
effected, and the machine to have arrived in the position shewn at Figure 1,
the rotation of the crank shafts d, d, d, will have arrived at the position
there shewn, motion being imparted to them by equal spur wheels T, T
and T, driven from the shaft d by means of the intermediate carriers
t and t¹. The crank shafts d, d', d, are also provided with cams or tappets
mmm, immediately opposite the cranks M, M', M", which during
the revolution of the respective shafts force forward the carriages C, C¹, C",
and bring the respective blocks in contact with the coloring surface of the
sioves, which are then presented to them, at the same time that the cranks
M, M, M, having revolved forward, allow the carriages to retire back as
soon as the coloring is effected. The form of the eccentric U, U, now
slightly moves the position of the coloring sieves, and the carriages are again
forced forward by a second projection on the cams m, m, m, the more

page_text: effectually to distribute the colour on the respective blocks. At this period
the carriages C, C, C", finally retire, the colouring sieves move out of the
way to the furnishing rollers e, e', and the cranks M, M', M", commence
forcing the carriage home to give the impression. As soon as the impression
is effected the rack Q. Q, will have arrived at the position seen at Figure 3,
or its highest elevation, and have commenced its descent, which imparts
rotation to the wheels P, P, P, P, as already described, and the cloth or
goods are moved forward the required distance on the table B, to receive
the succeeding impression, the amount of such motion being governed by
the position of the stud Q' as already described.
The machine above described is suitable for printing a continuous pattern
on cloth or goods similar to ordinary calico printing; but in printing other
description of goods, such as handkerchiefs, where a border is required to
be added, some addition or modification is required in the machine. A
machine constructed for this purpose is represented at Sheet 3, Figure 1
being a side view, Figure 2 an end view, and Figure 8 plans and views
of detached parts herein-after referred to. This niachine is similar to that
already described, with the additional parts necessary for changing the
movements of the carriages which require to be interrupted in consequence of
the borders, and the period of this interruption must vary according to the
width of the handkerchief to be printed. In this sheet all the parts which
serve to carry the cloth, the sieves and furnishing rollers, together with
some other parts, are omitted, but are equally necessary as in the former
machine, and reference can here be made to Sheet 1 when required.
I shall now proceed to describe the additional parts, as represented on
Sheet 8, which are required to effect the printing of the borders. This
machine prints three colours, as in that already described, two on the middle,
or filling of the handkerchief, and one on the border, the second color,
when required in the border, being blocked in by hand. The printing blocks
D', D", are employed in giving the impression of two colours on the filling
and the upright border, and the block D serves to print the traverse borders
in one colour, which is performed as follows. On each of the shafts d, d', d",
will be found conical sockets armed with a tooth x, x, x", which geers iuto &
face plate having a number of conical teeth (2), (2), (2"), placed on a stud,
the axis of which is in the same plane and perpendicular to that of the shafts
d, d', d". The number of the conical teeth of the face plate (2), (2¹), (2"),
is generally seven, from which there must result seven turns of the socket
(x). (x'), (x), for one turn of the face plate 2. This number, however, varies
according to the dimensions of the handkerchief required to be printed, which

page_text: will be readily conceived. The teeth on the face plate (2), (2), (2"), present
a double range, so that the teeth of socket (✗¹) being thus engaged
betwixt two does not ever allow the face plate 2 to recoil, and consequently
the parts to which it gives motion are prevented also. The edges of these
face plates (2), (2¹), (2¹¹), serve as cams, and determine by their revolution
the oscillatory motion of the shafts L, L, L", the arms of which (3), (3), (8"),
support themselves on the edge of the face plate 2, 21, 21, to which they will
be held in contact by the springs (4), (4), (4"), and the other arms of which
are terminated by a toothed segment (5), (5'), (5"), working in racks
(6), (6'), (6), which it then puts in motion. This rack is terminated by a
groove or slide adjusted at the back part of the carriage, which, when moved
a certain amount the screw (7), (7¹), (7"), see Figure 2, passes above the
slide, and immediately after the shafts d, d', d", pushes the carriage by means
of the crank M. or of the tappet m (described at Sheet 1) and the block D
advances towards the table B; but on the contrary when the racks 6 (the shape
of which are seen at Figure 3) have advanced, the screw (7) hits against it, and
is thereby arrested, in which case it is evident that the carriage will remain at
rest. Thus it may be plainly seen that it is possible by means of the action
of the parts (a), (2), (3), L, (4), (5), (6), (7), to suspend at will the
working of the carriage C without stopping at all the working of the other
parts of the machine. It may be conceived then that nothing can be more
simple than to prevent the block D from working during six revolutions of the
machine, in order to make it work at the seventh revolution, and that it only
required the face plate (2) to present only one part projecting concentrically
a seventh round, as seen at Figure 8, all the rest being cut away, for in this
case the face plate determines the repose of the carriage C six times out of
seven revolations of the shaft d, which corresponds with the required motion
of the block D, and prints the borders across, as already stated. This number
seven will vary according to the scale of the handkerchief to be printed, as
the face plate (2), (2), (2"), may have eight, nine, or ten conical teeth,
and the result will be proportionably the same, though the numbers of
movements of the carriage would be different. Thus the machine may be
briefly described as a machine of three colours, one of which may be suspended
at pleasure periodically, that is, the working of one of the carriages, and
consequently the printing of one of the blocks. There may be added also,
when required, to the machines for printing cottons, a mechanical arrange-
ment for giving two strokes of the blocks in the same place on the goods.
This requires that the driving apparatus should be so disposed that the cloth
cannot move forward except once in two revolutions of the machine, and in

page_text: many cases it is found useful that the second stroke of the block should be
much lighter than the first, which is effected as follows:-On the shafts
d, d', d", must be put a sockets with one tooth x, x, x", but instead of face
plates like those marked (2), (2¹), (211), they drive face plates with six
teeth, (see (8) Figure 3), which carry on their edges three parts concentric and
three cut away. It follows from that that the rack retires each stroke; but
as the collar V, L, (see Figure 3) is not so deep as that of the rack (6), the
screws (7) do not prevent the block making an impression, but only does not
allow it to advance so far, which makes the second stroke of the block lighter
than the previous one; and it is obvious that these movements may be varied
to any extent by varying the form of the face plate and the number of teeth
it contains.
To print paper by this machine further modifications will be required,
but we shall still find all the same principal parts and mode of action as
already shewn on Sheet 1, the main difference being only such as are
required by the position of the tables, which are both placed horizontally,
referring to Figure 4. The Figure I represents an end view; Figure 2 a
side view; and Figures 8 and 4 detached parts of the machine. On the
cast-iron frame A, in Figures 1 and 2, are placed two tables, also in cast iron,
B, B, on which the impression is made. Two carriages C and C, which
receive a motion as already explained, carry the blocks D, D³, with the
pattern intended to be printed. These blocks receive colour from the
sieves E, E, by pressing on them, and afterwards withdrawing, and the
colour is supplied to these sieves by boys (tear boys) who supply the colour
with large brushes from a tub or vessel placed near them. The paper to be
printed is rolled upon a cylinder F, from which it is taken by the claws or
clamps G, the form of which are shewn separate at Figure 8. These claws
hold it all the length of the frame, and deliver it or fix it as the work requires
by means of a regulator R, T, I, the action of which is similar to that
already described at Sheet 1 for traversing the blanket in the machine first
described. When the paper is printed it arrives at the extremity of the
machine towards K, whence it is carried into a stove, or otherwise. The
movement of the machine is generally given by hand at a fly wheel J, the
shaft of which carries a pinion L, which gives a continued and uniform
movement to the four equal wheels N, R, S, P. On the face of these wheels
are placed the wheels N, R, S, P¹, being formed of segments part toothed
and a part not toothed (see Figure 4), which put in movement similar pinions
M, M, P, and Q. The wheels N³, R', S¹, P¹, have a continued and
uniform movement; but in consequence of the parts toothed and not toothed

page_text: they only communicate to the pinions M, M', P, and Q, a varied and
interrupted movement. The carriages C and C' receive movement from the
pinions M, M³, the sieves from the pinion Q, while the liberating and traversing
the paper depends on the rotation of the pinion P and eccentric R".
I shall now refer to the actual pieces or parts of the machine. First, the
cast-iron frame, on which are attached all the fixed pieces or parts A. Second,
the tables B, B, the end of each being fixed firmly on the frame. In their
sides are placed grooves, in which the claws move, by which the paper is
held stationary during the printing. Third, the carriages C and C', which
are governed in their movements as already described, and guided in vertical
grooves, while the adjustment is effected by the set screws a, a, and 1, in
such a way that the blocks may be easily regulated parallel to the tables.
The engraved blocks D, D¹, are attached with wood screws in the block
bearer, and they are adjusted by the grooves in the carriages. It is from the
shafts d, d', that the carriages receive motion by a crank, which forms an
eccentric, which is placed at the extremity of the said shafts, and with which
the carriages are connected by means of prongs, as in the former machine,
and returned by springs t, t; and as the shafts d, d, do not maintain an
uniform movement, being driven by the pinions M, M, of which the teeth are
interrupted, as stated above, the irregular or intermitting motion for printing
is produced. I shall now notice how the different movements of the carriages
take place.
Sheet 4. Figure 1 and 2 represent the machine in a position that it
occupies at the moment the sieves are about to be placed under the blocks, in
order that they may take color, the position of the wheels for producing
the intermitting motion being shewn separate at Figure 4. At this period
the carriages are (for a movement) moved, which the position of the wheels
M and S indicate (see Figure 4), while the position of the wheels P and Q
indicate also that the sieves are about to move. When the sieves are arrived
below the block the toothed 2 of the wheel S meets that of 2 of the pinion
M while the shaft d turns, and the cam presses the carriage C, which
descends until the blocks take colour from the sieves below, being afterwards
raised by the spring 1, and remaining at rest during the revolution of the
wheel S for that space included between (2) and (3) of the wheel S, which
then starts to move in order to attain the first tooth of the segment (3) of the
wheel M. During the time the carriage C remains at rest the sieves are
drawn from under the blocks, and the teeth (3) S' come in nction, and force
home the carriage C to give the impression from the block, which rests on the
paper during the revolution of the segment of wheel S¹ from (3) to (1), and

page_text: it is during this period that the claws G open to relieve the paper, which is
moved forward as soon as the block again rises. The movement of the
sieves also depends on the rotation of the wheel Q, which periodically impart
a motion to the shaft u, carrying two spur wheels y, y, which geer into
horizontal racks on the side of the sieves, and by which they are run in and
out when required. The wheel P, which drives the pinion Q, transmits to it
an interrupted movement, in consequence of being only partly toothed, as seen
in the Drawing, so that each revolution of P produces two periods of move-
ments and two of rest, which correspond to the movements of taking the
color by the blocks and the furnishing of the color to the sieves by the tear
boys. The last rest is the longest, and takes place during the passage of the
ares comprised betwixt (4) and (6) of the wheel P. The winding apparatus
or regulator, which consists of all the parts, having for their object the
movements of the paper and that of the clamps or claws G, are governed by
the following arrangement. They are open and clear while the levers h, h³,
act on the arms of the lever b, which is effected by the levers T and r, which
move on a stud I, fixed on the frame, and moved at one of its extremities
by a small ball, which is guided by the eccentric cam R", while the other
lever is connected with the lever h, to which it gives motion each time
that the small ball falls into one of the bends of the cam R". The small
levers is placed on the rod n, which carries a similar one, seen at h",
performing the same office at the same time, so that the rotation of the shaft
n opens or shuts claws G, which hold the paper. The motion or end traverse
of the paper is produced by the toothed wheels a', which work into the racks
a, a, the motion of which is produced by the crank X, placed on the arbor X',
which also receives an interrupted movement from the wheel R', parts of
which are toothed and part not toothed, and which drives the pinion P. In
this periodical manner the traverse of the piece H, and thence the quantity
of the clamps on the paper, advance at each stroke, varies with the position of
the eccentric point which is greater or less according to the position
given by means of the screw g. For each stroke the paper should advance
a distance equal to the width of the blocks or pattern, and this movement
may also be given to the clamps in a like manner to that which moves
the sieves, as already described. The operation of this machine will be as
follows:-Supposing the machine has made one impression, and the blocks
again at rest, the whole is in the position as shewn in the Drawings,
Figure 1, 2, and 4. The carriages having again ascended the sieves are in
movement, and they stop when they are underneath the blocks, then the
blocks descend and take the color. As soon as the blocks have been in

page_text: contact with the sieves the carriages reascend and stop; during the same time
the sieves fall back and take again their places, where they rest a little while.
As soon as the sieves are returned the carriages descend and the impression
takes place. The tear boys spread the color on the sieves; the clamps open by
the action of the pallets h, h, slipping forward a quantity equal to the width of
the blocks, and immediately close. At this moment the carriages reascend, and
at the same time the clamps again take the place they occupied, and again
bring the proper length of paper under the blocks, when the position of all the
parts of the machine again found as represented in the Drawings; that is to
say, that a complete revolution of the machine has been made, the whole
of which movements are to be repeated as before described to perform the
work in a continuous manner.
Having now described the nature of the Invention communicated to me
by a Foreigner residing abroad, together with the manner in which the same
is to be performed and carried into effect, I wish it to be understood that I do
not claim any separate or well-known parts of the machinery or apparatus
herein-before described, but I do claim the various combinations and arrange-
ments of machinery, as set forth and described on Sheet 1, 2, 3, and 4, or
any modifications thereof, for the purposes of block or surface printing; and
such Invention being, to the best of my knowledge and belief, new, and never
before used in this Kingdom, I deliver this as my true and faithful Specification
of the same.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Lockett, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of April, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and thirte
BARLOW, Extra.
JOSEPH (L.s.) LOCKETT.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Seventh day of April, in the
year of our Lord 1838, the aforesaid Joseph Lockett came before our said
Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification afore-
said, and all and every thing therein contained and specified, in form above
written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according to the
tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
Inrolled the Thirtieth day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and thirty-eight.