IMPROVEMENTS IN PRINTING TEXTILE AND FELTED FABRICS, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS TO BE USED THEREIN
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Alexander Ronald, of Glenpatrick, in the
County of Renfrew, North Britain, Carpet, Manufacturer, for the Inven-
tion of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PRINTING TEXTILE AND FELTED FABRICS, AND
IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS TO BE USED THEREIN."
Sealed the 27th May 1863, and dated the 11th December 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Alexander Ronald
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 11th December 1862. .
I, ROBERT ALEXANDER RONALD, of Glenpatrick, in the County. of Renfrew,
North Britain, Carpet Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PRINTING TEXTILE AND FELTED FABRICS,
AND IN. THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS TO BE USED THEREIN," to be as follows,
that is to say:-
This Invention relates to an improved mode of printing felted carpeting,
woven cloth suitable for carpeting or other similar purposes, and also rugs
and other textile fabrics. Under one modification the printing machinery or
apparatus consists of a large drum, or cylinder, similar to what has been
heretofore employed for printing shawls and dress fabrics. But in order to
render the machinery suitable for. printing heavy goods, such as carpeting or
rugs, a special adaptation or arrangement of the parts is required. The framing
inside the drum is so arranged as to admit of two beaming rollers being fitted
near to a slot or transverse opening, which extends across the drum, and

page_text: "
admits of the cloth being wound on to and off the beaming rollers, as required.
The beaming rollers are fitted so that they may be turned by means of a winch
handle or other equivalent contrivance operating at the end of the cylinder
For printing the felted cloth, which is used for carpeting, and is ordinarily
made fifty inches wide, it is preferred to make the cylinder sufficiently long to
take on two pieces of cloth; but the cylinders may of course be modified to
suit any particular width of fabric or style of work. When arranged for
two-piece work" there are two pairs of beaming rollers, having their inner
bearings fitted contiguous to the central plane of the drum, and the outer ones
at the ends, so that the spindles may be conveniently got at for winding and
unwinding. At the back of the drum or other convenient part is arranged
a framing carrying the beams on which the cloth is primarily wound, and
which receive it again after being printed. The cloth is wound off from these
beams, and passed on to one of each pair of beaming rollers inside the drum.
The end of the piece of cloth is brought out through the opening, is passed
round the drum, and is carried inside and secured to the second beaming roller.
The selvages of the cloth extending round the drum are fastened down to
prevent any shifting in a lateral direction, either by means of tenter hooks or
catches driven into the drum; or these tenter points may be driven into bands
of hoop iron or other suitable material, so as to be easily applied to and
removed from the periphery of the drum. The other pieces of cloth having
been prepared in a similar manner, the printing is proceeded with, and this is
done by means of a carved cylinder, which receives the colour from a roller
rotating in or receiving colour from a trough beneath. The drum is caused to
rotate, either by hand or power, first in one direction and then the opposite, as
many times as may be necessary to impart a distinct and sharp impression
from the pattern cylinder. The colour trough and pattern cylinder are then
moved along parallel with the face of the drum, in order to print the other
half of the piece, or, if this is not required, the trough is passed on to the
next piece. The several colours are laid on in succession until those portions
of the two pieces covering the drum are completed. The printed portions are
then wound on the second beam, a suitable holder or clip being provided to
secure the cloth, so as to ensure accuracy of register in printing the next
portions. And in order to relieve the friction of the cloth on the drum while
shifting it round it is slackened off, and small rollers are inserted between the
cloth and the drum to cause it to run easily. When the pieces have been
printed they are rewound on to the beams outside the drum, and then submitted
to the steaming or other finishing processes. In printing rugs according to
this system, they are joined together so as to form a long piece, and one-half

page_text: of the series of rugs are printed in the manner before described. This being
done, the printing cylinder is reversed, and the printing operation repeated; by
this means the two ends of the rug correspond in pattern with a central device,
one half of which is formed by the first printing, and the other half by the
second. In making pattern cylinders, more particularly for large patterns, it
is preferred to make a polygonal barrel or core piece, and to this are fixed the
pieces of sycamore, which are afterwards turned in a lathe, and finally carved
to the pattern required. In this way rich bold patterns may be produced, and
the cylinders may be made of sufficient length to print the cloth at one opera-
tion, resulting in the production of a class of fabrics far surpassing in beauty.
of appearance anything of the kind at present in use. It is also proposed to
print the backs of the cloths with neat patterns, so that they may be reversed
when required.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Robert Alexander Ronald in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 11th June 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
ALEXANDER RONALD, of Glenpatrick, in the County of Renfrew, North Britain;
Carpet Manufacturer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eleventh day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-sixth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Robert Alexander Ronald, Her special license that I, the said Robert
Alexander Ronald, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Robert Alexander Ronald, my executors, administrators, or
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 law fully
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 PRINTING TEXTILE AND FELTED FABRICS, AND IN THE
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS TO BE USED THEREIN," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Robert Alexander Ronald, my executors or admi-.
nistrators, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, or under.
the hand and seal of one of them, should particularly describe and ascertain
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to, be

page_text: 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 Robert Alexander Ronald, 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 accompanying Drawings, and
to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
My said Invention relates to an improved mode of printing felted carpeting,
woven cloth suitable for carpeting or other similar purposes, and also rugs and
other textile fabrics. Under one modification the printing machinery or
apparatus consists of a large drum or cylinder, similar to what has been here-
tofore employed for printing shawls and dress fabrics. But in order to render
the machinery suitable for printing heavy goods, such as carpeting or rugs, a
special adaptation or arrangement of the parts is required. The framing inside
the drum is so arranged as to admit of two beaming rollers being fitted near to
a slot or transverse opening, which extends across the drum, and admits of the
cloth being wound on to and off the beaming rollers, as required. The beaming
rollers are fitted so that they may be turned by means of a winch handle or
other equivalent contrivance operating at the end of the cylinder. For printing
the felted cloth, which is used for carpeting, and is ordinarily made fifty inches
wide, it is preferred to make the cylinder sufficiently long to take on two
pieces of cloth; but the cylinders may of course be modified to suit any
particular width of fabric or style of work. When arranged for "two-piece
work" there are two pairs of beaming rollers, having their inner bearings fitted
contiguous to the central plane of the drum, and the outer ones at the ends, so.
that the spindles may conveniently be got at for winding and unwinding. At
the back of the drum or other convenient part is arranged a framing carrying
the beams on which the cloth is primarily wound, and which receive it again
after being printed. The cloth is wound off from these beams, and passed on
to one of each pair of beaming rollers inside the drum. The end of the piece
of cloth is brought out through the opening, is passed round the drum, and is
carried inside and secured to the second beaming roller. The selvages of the
cloth extending round the drum are fastened down, to prevent any shifting in a
lateral direction, either by means of tenter hooks or catches driven into the
drum; or these tenter points may be driven into bands of hoop iron or other,
suitable material, so as to be easily applied to and removed from the periphery.
of the drum. The other piece of cloth having been prepared in a similar
manner, the printing is proceeded with, and this is done by means of a carved

page_text: cylinder which receives the colour from a roller rotating in or receiving colour
from a trough beneath. The drum is caused to rotate, either by hand or
power, first in one direction and then the opposite, as many times as may be
necessary to impart a distinct and sharp impression from the pattern cylinder.
The colour trough and pattern cylinder are then moved along parallel with the
face of the drum, in order to print the other half of the piece, or, if this is not
required, the trough is passed on to the next piece. The several colours are
laid on in succession until those portions of the two pieces covering the drum
are completed. The printed portions are then wound on the second beam, a
suitable holder or clip being provided to secure the cloth, so as ensure accu-
racy of registry in printing the next portions. And in order to relieve the
friction of the cloth on the drum while shifting it round it is slackened off, and
small rollers are inserted between the cloth and the drum to cause it to run
easily. When the pieces have been printed, they are rewound on to the beams
outside the drum, and then submitted to the steaming or other finishing pro-
cesses. In printing rugs according to this system, they are joined together so
as to form a long piece, and one-half of the series of rugs are printed in
the manner before described. This being done, the printing cylinder is reversed,
and the printing operation repeated; by this means the two ends of the rug
correspond in pattern with a central device, one half of which is formed by the
first printing, and the other half by the second. In making pattern cylinders,
more particularly for large patterns, it is preferred to make a polygonal barrel
or core piece, and to this are fixed the pieces of sycamore, which are afterwards
turned in a lathe, and finally carved to the pattern required. In this way rich
bold patterns may be produced, and the cylinders may be made of sufficient
length to print the cloth at one operation, resulting in the production of a class
of fabrics far surpassing in beauty of appearance anything of the kind at present
in use. It is also proposed to print the backs of the cloths with neat patterns,
so that they may be reversed when required.
may
And in order that my said Invention of "Improvements in Printing Textile
and Felted Fabrics, and in the Machinery or Apparatus employed therein,"
be properly understood, I shall now proceed to describe the several Figures on
the explanatory Sheet of Drawings which I have hereunto appended for the
purpose of showing certain modifications under which my improvements may
be judiciously carried out in practice, that is to say, the principal Figures on
the accompanying Sheet of Drawings represent a Melville's printing machine,
modified to suit the particular class of work to which my improvements
specially refer, and to which purposes the said machines have not hitherto been
applied.

page_text: Figure 1 is an end elevation of the machine, and Figure 2 a front elevation
of the same, both Figures being partially in section; Figure 3 is a horizontal
section of a portion of the printing drum taken on the line 1, Figure 1; and
Figure 4 is a corresponding section taken on the line 2, Figure 1. As
originally arranged, this printing machine was used for printing shawls, but it
required certain modifications to render it suitable for printing felted cloths
such as are used for carpeting, as well as the wide fabrics used for druggets
or "crumb cloths," and for rugs, or other generally similar fabrics. On the
standards A is carried in adjustable pedestal bearings B the hollow shaft C,
on which is fitted the large rings D that sustain the printing drum or
cylinder E.
In adapting one of the old machines to the purposes of my
Invention, one of the arms of the intermediate rings D' is cut away, and also
a portion of the rim of the ring, so as to leave a clear transverse opening into
the interior of the drum, as shown at F. The margins of the opening F are
strengthened so as to compensate for the removal of the arms D¹ and portions
of the rim; a block of wood G is fitted at each side of the opening, and a
tie rod H is stretched over each block, the ends passing through the rims on
either side, where they are braced up by means of nuts fitted to their screwed
ends. To the end and central drum rings D are bolted the two diagonal
stays I, which serve to carry the spindles of the cloth beaming rollers J
and K, upon which the cloth is wound prior to and transferred from one to
the other during the printing operation. The outer ends of the spindles of
the beaming rollers are squared, so that they may be turned readily by means
of a winch handle by a workman standing at the end of the machine. Each
roller is fitted with a ratchet wheel J' and K', which is held by a pawl L,
carried on a stud in the contiguous stay I, and held in gear with the teeth by
means of a helical spring or other equivalent therefor. To counterbalance
the weight of these rollers and the cloth upon them, counterweights are fitted
to the arms on the other side of the machine. These counterweights M may
be fitted and adjusted to the arms of the drum rings in any convenient manner,
as arranged in the accompanying Drawings; they are made with laterally.
projecting pins, which are screwed at the ends, and they are bolted up by nuts
to a vertical saddle piece, as shown in Figures 1 and 4.
printed is primarily wound on the roller K; its end is passed out of the
opening F. The cylinder is then put in motion by turning the winch handle O,
so as to actuate, by means of the pinion P, the wheel Q on the main shaft C.
The cloth is laid smoothly upon the outer surface of the drum E, its selvages
being held down firmly by stretching them over the tenter hooks R, which
project up from the surface of the drum; the end of the cloth is passed into
The cloth N to be

page_text: the opening F, and is fastened to the upper roller J. In this modification
the drum is shown as arranged to. print two pieces of felted cloth of fifty
inches wide at one operation, so that the piece on the other end of the machine
is prepared in like manner ready for printing. The printing apparatus consists
of a traversing bed plate S, carrying the headstocks T, and actuated by the
winch handle U and pinion V, which gears into the longitudinal rack W.
The pattern printing roller X, which may be made either as long as the width
of the fabric, or in portions to suit the pattern, is carried by the headstocks,
as in an ordinary lathe. Below the pattern roller is placed the colour
trough Y, the contents of which are carried up by the endless band Z passing
round the rollers a and b, the superfluous colour being removed by the aid of
a "doctor," or by a brush, as shown at c. The endless band Z lays the colour
on to the pattern roller X, by which it is distributed on to the fabric N. The
drum E is kept in motion during the printing operation by means of the winch
handle O, or, if preferred, it may be driven by steam power. The rotatory
motion of the drum E also drives the pattern roller and its connected moving
parts. The opposite end of the cylinder has bolted to it a series of toothed
segments d, so that the end of the drum forms a large spur wheel; this wheel
gears with the pinion e, which runs in a bush carried in a bracket that is bolted
to the framing. The boss of the pinion e has a feather formed in it which
fits into a groove formed in the shaft f, the inner extremity of which rests in the
bush of the contiguous headstock T, and forms the centre for the spindle end of
the roller X, the rotatory motion of the shaft f being communicated to the roller
by the dog or catch g. Outside the headstock Ta pinion h, which is keyed
on the shaft f, gives motion, through the train of gearing i, to the endless
colour band Z. The shaft f is made sufficiently long to admit of the pattern
roller traversing from end to end of the drum E, so as to print both pieces of
the cloth before a change is made. The colour trough Y and pattern roller X
are then removed if necessary, and another substituted in its place; the cloth
is then printed with the second colour, and this operation is repeated as often
as necessary. When this is done, and the cloth is sufficiently dry, prepa-
rations are made for winding the printed cloth on to the roller J; the printing
apparatus is removed out of the way, the cloth is unwound a little from the
roller K, so as to slacken it from the drum E, and admit of its being removed
from the tenter hooks R. The cords j, which are passed round the drum E,
and form rings thereon, are then rolled under the edges of the cloth N, so as to
uphold it and prevent the selvages from again catching on the tenter hooks R.
And further, to relieve the friction of the cloth against the drum, and admit of
its being readily drawn round the drúm, the rollers are inserted beneath it.

page_text: On each side of the opening F, brackets are bolted to the drum to receive the
spindles of the rollers k, and at the upper part of the drum, when in the
position shown in the Drawing, a third roller is slipped in beneath the cloth
and its spindle placed in the sustaining brackets: The other portion of the
drum does not require this arrangement, because the weight of the cloth tends
to keep it clear, or to prevent its dragging to any inconvenient extent. The
cloth is now wound on to the roller J, to the extent of the printed surface, the
rollers k are removed, the cords ; are rolled back, then cloth, is tightened up,
and the selvages are fastened down to the tenter hooks R. The printing
apparatus is then replaced, and the printing of the new surface, of, the cloth
goes on as before, and in this way the printing of pieces or continuous lengths
of felted or woven cloth may be effected with facility and with very superior
effect owing to the body of colour which may be laid on and the accuracy with
which the register of the pattern may be preserved. The natural or unprinted
colour of the felted cloth used for carpeting is of a pale drab or cream colour,
which, from its contrast with the printed side, has a somewhat unpleasant
appearance when a portion of the carpeting happens to be turned over. I
obviate this; objection by passing the cloth, a second time through the printing
operation, and printing a neat pattern on. the, back surface of the cloth, which
in addition to improving the appearance of the finished piece may also be used
as a wearing surface when required. By extending the opening F right across
the drum, fabrics of, twelve feet in breadth, such as are usually woven for
druggets or "crumb cloths," or other generally similar purposes, may be printed
in the manner, herein-before described. Felted cloth if manufactured in large
squares may also be printed by these means so as to produce at a reasonable
cost carpets of a highly ornamental character. The same arrangement of
machinery or apparatus is also equally available for the printing of flannel,
baize and other generally similar woven fabrics which may be employed for a
variety of useful purposes.
This improved arrangement of printing machinery is also specially applicable
to the printing of rugs, the sharpness; of the patterns as well as the brilliancy
of the colours, that may be produced being peculiarly suitable for the decoration
of this class of work. The cloth or fabric of which the rugs are formed may
be either woven in a piece or continuous length, with breaks in the weft at
regular intervals to admit of their being readily divided into separate rugs;
or the several rugs may be sewn or otherwise joined together so as to form
a continuous length. In printing, these rugs,, the printing roller or rollers
may be made so as to print one half of the design, and then by reversing
the printing roller and printing the other half, an ornamental centre' or

page_text: duplex design is produced. In this way a great variety of ornamental
or decorative fabrics may be produced, and a much superior effect may be
obtained by the system of printing as compared with the ordinary modes
employed.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, I would observe in conclusion, that what I consider novel and
original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent, is,-
First, the system or mode of arranging and constructing the printing
machinery, herein-before described, with internal beaming rollers, or any mere
equivalent therefor, to admit of the felted or woven fabrics being printed in
pieces or continuons lengths, or in squares, by being wound on to and off these
rollers as each printing operation of the exposed surface is completed, as
herein-before described and shown in the accompanying Sheet of Drawings.
Second, the system or mode of relieving the frictional contact of the cloth
with the printing drum by means of rollers inserted beneath the cloth, or
between it and the drum, so as to admit of heavy fabrics being printed in
pieces or lengths, or in squares; also the mode of keeping the edges of the
cloth clear of the tenter hooks by means of cords carried round the printing
drum, as herein-before described and shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Third, the printing of felted or woven fabrics suitable for carpeting, druggets
or crumb cloths, rugs, flannels, baizes, or other generally similar fabrics, in the
manner and by the means herein-before described and shown in the accom-
panying Drawings, or any mere modification of the said system or process.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Alexander Ronald, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Ninth day of June, One thousand eight
hundred and sixty-three.
ROBT. A. RONALD. (L.S.)