CERTAIN. IM- PROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS TO BE USED IN DYEING OR STAINING
Year: 1845

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
HENRY STEVENSON, of the Town and County of Nottingham, Merchant, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date
at Westminster, the Twenty-third day of October, in the ninth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said William Henry Stevenson, Her especial license, full power, sole privilege
and authority, that I, the said William Henry Stevenson, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, and such others as I, the said William Henry
Stevenson, my executors, administrators, or assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times during the term of
years therein mentioned, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and in
all. Her Majesty's Colonies and Plantations abroad, and in the Islands of
Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, and Man, an Invention of "CERTAIN. IM-
PROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS TO BE USED IN DYEING OR STAINING,"
being a communication from a Foreigner residing abroad; in which said
Letters Patent is contained-a proviso obliging me, the said William Henry
Stevenson, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, particu-
larly to describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, and to cause the same to be inrolled
in Her Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar months next

page_text: and immediately after the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as
in and by the same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at
large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
William Henry Stevenson, do hereby declare that the nature of the said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, is par-
ticularly described and ascertained in and by the following description thereof,
reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the letters
and figures marked thereon (that is to say) :-
This Invention of Improvements in Machinery or Apparatus to be used in
Dyeing or Staining, as communicated to me by my Foreign Correspondent,
consists in certain arrangements of apparatus for producing upon cotton,
worsted, and other goods or fabrics, parallel lines of color, which, when
softened at their edges by capillary attraction, as is well understood, will have
the appearance of shaded stripes, or, as they are sometimes termed, rainbow
tints.
In the accompanying Drawings the several arrangements of apparatus to be
employed for effecting the above-mentioned purpose are clearly shewn.
The Figures in Sheet I. represent one mode of obtaining the parallel lines
or stripes of color. Fig. 1 is an clevation of the apparatus; Fig. 2 is a plan
view of the same; and Fig. 3 is a cross section taken in the line 1, 2, of Fig. 1.
A, A, is a vat supported by strong framework B, and constructed of wood or of
iron lined with copper. This vat is intended to contain the dye liquor; and in
order that the liquor may be kept hot when operating with certain colors, a
serpentine pipe C is laid at the bottom of the vat, and brought into connection
with an adjacent steam boiler, by which means heat may be communicated to
the vat when thought desirable. D is a wooden framing, provided with a
series of angular bars placed parallel to each other. The sides of these bars
incline inwards, and form a kind of blunt edge standing out from the upper
face of the framing. This framing D is placed horizontally in the vat, and
supported by longitudinal bars attached to the sides of the vat. E is a wooden
framing also supported by the sides of the vat, and similarly provided with
angular bars, which are so arranged that when the framing E is placed over
the vat, they shall intercept the space between the bars of the frame D, as
shewn at Fig. 3. F, F', are beams or rollers mounted on brackets G, G, at
either end of the machine, and on these beams the cloth or fabric to be dyed
or stained is wound. H is the gearing for winding up the cloth upon the
rollers at certain periods of the operation. In order to submit the whole
length of the cloth to the dye liquor, each beam or roller is provided with an

page_text: apron of a length sufficient to reach the dye vat, and to the edge of these
aprons the ends of the fabric to be stained are respectively attached. The
mode of operating is as follows:-The length of fabric to be stained is in the
first instance wound in a damp state on a beam or roller, which is then carried
to the machine and placed on the end bearings, as shewn at Fig. 2. Dye
liquor is now run into the vat until it attains a certain height, and the framing
D is placed therein, as shewn at Fig. 3. The fabric is then drawn over cross
bars I, I, which are supported by the upright bearings K, and conducted to
the roller on the opposite end of the machine for the purpose of being attached
to the apron of that roller. When every thing is ready for the operation to
commence, the cross bars I, I, are removed, and the fabric which is strained
tight by the rollers extends over the vat. The framing E is now laid over the
fabric (it being supported, as before stated, by the sides of the vat), in order
that the projecting edge of the angular bars of this framing coming against the
fabric may press it down between the angular bars of the framing D, and
crimp it into plaits or folds lengthways of the fabric, as represented in the cross
section Fig. 3; the fabric being thus crimped and forced down in ridges on to
the surface of the liquor, will take up the color in parallel lines; and a slow
rotary motion being given to the roller F, the fabric will be drawn through
the vat and receive or take up the lines of color as it passes over the dye liquor,
and is wound upon the roller F¹. If it is considered necessary to strengthen
the lines or stripes of color, the rotation of the beams or rollers is reversed, and
the roller F will then become the winding-up roller, and draw the fabric again
between the frames D and E, to receive a further coating of color on the bottom
edges of the plaits or folds of the fabric. At Fig. 4, one of the angular bars
of the framing E is shewn detached; its ends are rounded off to allow of the
fabric more easily passing backwards and forwards.
In Sheet II. of the accompanying Drawings I have shewn a mode of pro-
ducing the stripes or lines of different colors at one and the same operation.
This
effected by pressing the dye liquor on to the under face of the fabric
while it is travelling through the machine from one roller or cloth beam to the
other. Fig. 1 is an elevation of the apparatus employed for this purpose;
Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the same; and Fig. 3 is a plan view of the
apparatus. A, A, is the main framing which supports two steam boxes B, B.
Between these boxes two horizontal pipes C, C, are placed. These pipes ar
respectively connected by means of vertical pipes D, D', with elevated dye vats
E, E; the former containing, say red dye liquor, and the latter purple dye
liquor. F, F, are two series of jets or tubes with flattened ends, set at
equal distances apart, and rising perpendicularly from the pipes C, C¹. Steam

page_text: is communicated to the boxes B by branch pipes G, G, and inside these boxes
small loose rollers H, H, H, are mounted. I, I', are beams or rollers on which
the fabric under operation is wound, and by which it is drawn backwards and
forwards through the machine. K, K', are rollers on which the cloth beams
rest. L, L, are brackets placed at each end of the machine, and intended to
carry the beams and rollers I and K. M, M, are moveable covers to allow of
the workman getting to the interior of the steam boxes B; and N, N, are
pipes for carrying off the waste steam from these boxes. In the ends of the
boxes B a horizontal slit or opening a is made, to permit the free passage of
the fabric through the machine. By referring to Fig. 2, the direction of the
fabric from the beam I to I will be clearly seen. Suppose the fabric which is
required to be stained or dyed to be in the first instance wound upon the beam
I, it is then passed under the roller K through the opening in the end of the
steam box; then over the first, under the second, and over the third stretching
roller H, and out of the box by the opening B in its other end.. The fabric
then passes over the jets or tubes F, F', which have a small opening in their
upper end; it then enters the other steam box B, and is eventually attached to
the beam I'. It will now be understood, that if the cocks of the pipes D, D',
are turned on while tho fabric is being drawn through the machine, the color
in the dye vats will, by reason of its elevation, flow down into the horizontal
pipes C, C¹, respectively, rise up the jets or tubes F, F, and flow out in lines
or stripes upon the fabric. In order to keep up the heat of the dye liquor on
its passage to the fabric, a pipe O, supplied with steam in any convenient way,
is passed through the pipes C and C. The use of the steam boxes B is to
damp the fabric, and allow the lines of color to soften at the edges, and also to
fix or set the color when it is delivered on to the fabric from the jets or tubes
F. Fig. 4 shews a mode of winding up the cloth by the use of gearing, which
may be applied if thought desirable.
In Sheet III. I have shewn a method of obtaining parallel stripes of color,
by the use of endless bands, which pass through the dye liquor, and becoming
saturated with the liquor, take up a portion, and deliver it on to the under
face of the fabric. Fig. 1 represents the apparatus in elevation; Fig. 2 is a
vertical section; and Fig. 3 a plan view of the same. It consists of a main
framing A, on the upper part of which the dye vat B is placed. C, C, and
D, D, are two pairs of rollers, mounted in bearings on the side framing A.
The rollers C, C, have grooves turned in their periphery at equal distances
apart, which form guides for a series of endless bands E, E, which also pass
over a series of pullies fixed at equal distances apart on the rollers D. These
endless bands E must be made of a firm absorbent cloth, or other suitable

page_text: material, so as to take up a portion of the dye liquor as they pass through
the vat, and yet preserve their proper tension while the operation is going
on. F, F, are the beams or cloth rollers, which, when caused to rotate
by means of their respective winch handles, draw the fabric to be dyed or
stained backwards and forwards through the machine, as already described
with reference to the foregoing arrangements. G, G, are weighted rollers,
which are capable of rising and falling in the guides H, H. The object of
these rollers is to press the fabric as it passes from the beam F over the
series of saturated endless bands, and then go to imprint or stain upon the
under surface of the fabric lines or stripes of color. In order to keep the
endless bands at a proper tension, the bearings which carry the axle of the
rollers C should be adjustable.
Sheet IV. shews an arrangement of apparatus which in its object somewhat
resembles that described with reference to Sheet I., it being intended to crimp
up the fabric, and when in that state to draw the bottom edges of the plaits
or folds through the dye liquor, in order to obtain the lines of color. The
apparatus exhibited in Sheet V. consists of three separate and distinct machines,
viz: First, a crimping machine, which is shewn in side elevation at Fig. 1,
in vertical section at Fig. 2, and in plan at Fig. 3. Secondly, a series of
three dye vats, placed end to end in a line with each other, and provided
with endless bands to draw the fabric forward through the dye liquor. At
Fig. 4 these vats are shewn in side elevation, at Fig. 5 in vertical. section,
and in plan view at Fig. 6. The third machine is intended to take up the
fabric as it is passed from the vats, and hang it up to dry. It is shewn in
elevation at Fig. 7, and in plan view at Fig. 8. A, A, is the main framing
of the crimping machine, and B, B, are horizontal bars supported thereon,
and so placed with regard to each other as to form an acute angle. At each
end these bars are provided with brackets to carry the drums or pullies C, C¹,
over which the endless bands or travelling belts D, D, are passed. These
bands are provided along their whole length with small hooks made of copper
wire, gilt, which are intended to take hold of the fabric to be dyed as it is
unwound from the beam. E, E, is the gearing for communicating rotary
to the pulleys C, and thence to the endless bands D. It will now be seen
that when the hooks of the endless bands have been made to enter the selvage
of the fabric, it will be drawn off the beam F as the pulleys C revolve, and
passing between the tension rods G, will be drawn to the other end of the
machine. During this progress, however, of the fabric, it will have to pass
between a top and bottom set of rollers H, which will crimp up the fabric,
or narrow its width in proportion to the decreasing width of space between

page_text: the endless bands at that part (which bands in their course follow the angle
of the bars B), and thus the fabric is kept in tension breadthways as well
as lengthways. In order to effect this with great nicety, the regulating screws
I, I, are provided, by which means the space between the bars B may be
increased or diminished. H is another set of rollers, similar to those before
mentioned, but placed closer together, in order to contract the plaits of the
fabric still more, in proportion to the decreasing space between the endless
band, and H2 is a series of rollers placed still more closely together, and
nearer to the pullies C. The brackets which carry the pullies C¹ branch out
as shewn in the Drawing, and form bearings for the axle of the vertical
rollers K, the peripheries of which are intended to press upon the fabric
as it comes out of the crimping machine, and compress it into folds. L is a
weighted roller for keeping up the tension of the endless bands D, and M is a
roller for supporting the bands. I will now describe the dyeing apparatus,
which next receives the fabric in its folded state, and for that purpose is
brought into a line with the crimping machine, and close up to the rollers K.
N, N, is the framing which supports the three vats 0, 01, 0%, containing
dyeing liquor of various strengths. P, P, P, are pairs of rollers (see the
cross section Fig. 5*) over which a double band Q. travels. This band is
provided with hooks made of copper wire gilt, and is intended to take up
the fabric from the rollers K, and carry it on and dip it into the liquor of the
dye vats. In order to allow of the hooks taking up the fabric, a number of
gilt pins must be pushed through the upper edge of the folds by the attendant
workman, as the fabric passes out of the crimping machine. The hooks
of the endless bands will then, by taking hold of the ends of these pins,
carry forward the suspended fabric. R, R, are rollers for keeping the
band Qat the desired level, in order that it may dip the lower edges of
the folds of the fabric a certain depth into the dye liquor. By referring
to Fig. 5 it will be seen that the first vat O contains a weak dye, and
the fabric may in consequence be immersed to a considerable depth in
that liquor. The next vat 0₁ contains a stronger dye, and a less depth of
fabric is immersed. The last vat 02 contains the strongest dye, and the
edge only of the folds are immersed. The object effected by this mode
of obtaining the stripes or lines of color is a great depth of shadé at one
operation. When the fabric has been drawn through the three vats it
is passed out between the last pair of rollers P, and the end of the fabric
is then attached to a horizontal drum S, mounted in suitable framework
(see Figures 7 and 8) and provided with radial points, upon which the fabric
is hung to dry. Before being conducted to this drum, the pins placed in

page_text: the fabric on its exit from the crimping machine are removed, and then,
by means of the gearing T, the drum S is caused to rotate and wind up the
fabric.
In Sheet V., Fig. 1 is a side elevation of another arrangement of apparatus
for producing lines or stripes of color upon fabrics; Fig, 2 is a front view;
Fig. 3 is a cross section taken in the line 1, 2, of Fig. 2; and Fig. 4 is a
plan view with the dye vat in section, the better to shew its construction.
A, A, are cast-iron side framings, which carry the bearings for the cloth beams
or rollers B, B, and also the bearings of two hollow copper cylinders C, C.
D is a large copper cylinder placed between the cylinders C, C, and having its
bearings also on the framing A. This cylinder D serves as a vat for con-
taining the dye liquor, and on one part of its periphery it is pierced with rows
of small holes at equal distances apart. The dye liquor is introduced to the
cylinder D by funnels F, which are closed by a screw plug, as shewn in the
Drawing. On one end of the cylinder D is a ring of ratchet teeth, into which
a ratchet J takes. By this means the cylinder may be preserved in any
required position. The short axles of the cylinder D are made hollow and
connected to induction and eduction steam pipes for the purpose of supplying
steam to a serpentine pipe E, which is placed in the cylinder to keep up the
heat of the dye liquor. The axles also of the cylinder C, C, are hollow, and
are connected to induction and eduction steam pipes provided with stopcocks
for regulating the supply of steam to those cylinders. G is a trough furnished
with a cock H, and placed immediately beneath the cylinder D to receive the
waste color which drips from the fabric during the operation. I, I, are winch
handles for turning the beams B. In Figures 1 and 3 the direction of the
fabric will be clearly traced by the red line. The fabric passes from the
beam B over the cylinder C, under the large cylinder D, then over the
other cylinder C to the other cloth beam. As it passes under the cylinder
D small streams of dye liquor will issue from the rows of holes O and
produce lines of color upon the fabric. The last part of this Invention
consists in so suspending the fabric to be stained with lines or stripes of color,
that when dipped into a dye vat it shall take up the color in a manner
similar to the fifth described arrangement.
In Sheet VI., Fig. 1 is an elevation of the apparatus employed for this
purpose. It consists of a circular plate A, which is suspended by a cord and
pulley immediately above a circular vat B containing the dye liquor. On the
under face of the plate A are a number of small hooks arranged so as to
form a convolute, as shewn in plan at Fig. 2. These hooks are intended to
suspend the length of fabric, which must first be folded so as to bring those
parts of the fabric intended to receive the color at the lower edges of the

page_text: folds.
When the fabric is thus suspended the plate A is lowered until the
edges of the folds are immersed sufficiently deep in the dye liquor. It is then
raised, and if thought necessary the fabric may be in like manner dipped into
other vats containing different shades or strengths of color, so as to obtain the
effect produced by the three vats in the fifth-described arrangement.
Having now described the several improvements in dyeing or staining, as
communicated to me from abroad, I wish it to be understood, that although I
have shewn and described in most of the foregoing arrangements beams or
rollers which receive the fabric after it has undergone the staining process, and
by their continued rotation prevent the dye liquor in the fabric from settling
in one place and producing lines of unequal strength, yet I make no claim to
such adaptation, as it forms part of a previous Patent, dated the Thirtieth
day of December, One thousand eight hundred and forty-four; but that
which I claim, and desire to secure under the above in part recited Letters
Patent, is,―
First, the several modifications or arrangements of apparatus for producing
upon fabrics lines or stripes of colour, as above explained, with reference
to Sheets I., III., IV., V., & VI.
Secondly, the mode of obtaining lines or stripes of two or more colors at
one and the same operation, as shewn in Sheet II.
And lastly, the mode of applying steam to the fabric for setting or fixing the
lines of colour in the fabric, as above explained with reference to Sheet II. of
the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Henry Stevenson, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of April, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty-six.
WM HY (L.S.) STEVENSON.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Fifteenth day of April, in the
year above mentioned, the aforesaid William Henry Stephenson came before
our Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification
aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained, in form above written.
And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according to the tenor of the
Statute in that case made and provided.
Inrolled the Twenty-third day of April, in the year above written.