Improvements in or relating to the Manufacture of Tracing Linen or Cloth, Leather Cloth, Bookbinders' Cloth, and the like.
Year: 1897

page_text: Improvements in or relating to the Manufacture of Tracing Linen or
Cloth, Leather Cloth, Bookbinders' Cloth, and the like.
We, JAMES ALLAN SACKVILLE, of Ingleside, Swinton Park, Pendleton, near
Manchester, Calico Printer; and JOHN HENRY SWALLOW, of Oak Cottage, Pendle-
bury, near Manchester, Calico Printer, do hereby declare the nature of our said
invention to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to and consists of a new mode or method of treating
tracing linen or cloth, leather cloth, bookbinders' cloth, and like materials in
applying the usual glaze, colour or coating of size, whereby the said materials
are treated in a much shorter time, with considerable less labour, than heretofore,
and by dispensing with Blankets, Lappings, Back-greys heretofore used, at
considerably less cost.
In carrying out our invention we employ a metal or other suitable roller
engraved as a pad" roller which is mounted in suitable-bearings, and runs in
contact with the color or size trough. Above, or otherwise in working contact
with this pad roller, we mount a large cylinder or "bowl" preferably of iron, and
the exterior of this cylinder we cover with india-rubber or other suitable clastic
material.
The fabric to be treated passes around this bowl or cylinder and between it and
the "pad" roller, and consequently becomes coated with the size or stiffening
matter.
In front of this cylinder, and bearing against the fabric immediately after it
has left the "pad" roller we mount a doctor," or scraper or equivalent device,
which is so disposed that in pressing against the surface of the piece as it comes
from between the cylinder and "pad" roller, and carries the newly imparted color
or size, it presses such size well into the pores, or interstices of the fabric, and
causes an even distribution thereof. After being operated upon by the "doctor"
the fabric passes on to a large revolving drying cylinder from eight to twenty feet.
diameter, or of a size sufficient to cause the color or stiffening matter to set firm
before passing on to another cylinder in contact with the face side of the cloth,
and before it is again passed through the machine the large size of the drying
cylinder allowing the fabric an extended traverse before coming into contact with
any other surface, which permits it to dry very quickly, and minimises the labor
of the attendants in handling and feeding it. The fabric is also more evenly and
perfectly treated, and the advantages on every hand are very considerable.
Previously it has been the custom to pass the fabric through the sizing machine
six or eight times, but by our method, arrangement and combination of mechanism
t is only necessary to pass it through three or four times.

page_text: In some cases, such as for heavy sized fabrics, we may dispense with the
" doctor."
Dated this 22nd day of January 1897.
JAMES ALLAN SACKVILLE.
JOHN HENRY SWALLOW.
By John G. Wilson & Co.,
Agents.
Improvements in or relating to the Manufacture of Tracing Linen or
Cloth, Leather Cloth, Bookbinders' Cloth, and the like.
We, JAMES ALLAN SACKVILLE, of Ingleside, Swinton Park, Pendleton, near
Manchester, Calico Printer, and JOHN HENRY SWALLOW, of Oak Cottage, Pendle-
bury, near Manchester, Calico Printer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
Our invention relates to and consists of a new mode or method of treating tracing
linen or cloth, leather cloth, bookbinders' cloth and like materials in applying the
usual glaze, color or coating of size thereto, whereby the said materials are treated
in a much shorter time and with considerably less labour than heretofore, and by
dispensing with "Blankets," Lappings," "Back-greys" heretofore used, at con-
siderably less cost.
66
"
66
Heretofore in this class of machine it has been customary to use a Bowl", or
impression cylinder, covered with a Lapping" of Blanket. It has also been
customary to use an endless or belt of Blanket or woollen material passing around
the aforesaid Blanket-lapped Bowl, and travelling over a number of rollers in
completing its cycle of movement. Upon and travelling with this belt of Blanket,
a length of textile material known as Back-greys" has also been used, and the
purpose of such Back-greys, Blanket and Lapping has been to afford a soft and
elastic surface for the engraved roller, to receive the color which may penetrate
the fabric under treatment, and that which is on the ends of the engraved roller
where the fabric does not extend. Such being the use of the Blanketing and
Back-greys it has always been necessary in the first place, to provide special
means for drying the color on the Blankets and Back-greys before they again pass
over the impression Bowl, and, in the second place, to periodically wash the
Blanket, and wash and bleach the Back-greys for each change of color. Moreover,
it has been necessary to remove the Blanket, and to substitute other widths to
suit changes in the width of the fabrics to be treated, with all the attendant waste
of time, stoppage of the machine, and labour of the attendants, besides wear and
tear of the parts in removing and adjusting the same.
These several functions are a great expense in the working of this class of
machine, and whilst many attempts have been made to avoid the use of the
Blanketing, etc., none have proved entirely successful, and the system prevails to
the present day. In an establishment where a number of these machines are at
work all the year round, the expense of keeping the materials clean, and removing
them when worn out, besides the steam required to dry them in operation, is very
considerable.
Now, therefore, the object of our invention is to dispense with the said "Lap-
ping", "Blanketing" and "Back-greys" and to substitute novel means which

page_text: will effectually supplant the old system, without in any way detracting from, but
rather improving the quality of the work done by said machine, and which will
also effect a great saving of time in handling and treating the fabric, with the
consequent advantage of reducing the cost of manufacture, etc. The saving and
improvement will also be manifest in subsequent stages of the fabrics treatment,
and the advantages all round will be very considerable, particularly in the case
of tracing linen.
In carrying out our invention, we employ a metal or other suitable roller,
engraved as a "pad" roller, which is mounted in suitable bearings, and runs in
contact with the color or size trough. Above, or otherwise in working contact
with this "pad" roller, we mount a large cylinder or "Bowl", preferably of
iron, and the exterior of such cylinder we cover with india-rubber or other suitable
elastic material.
The fabric to be treated passes around this Bowl or cylinder and between it
and the "pad" roller, and consequently becomes coated with the size or stiffening
matter.
T
"
In front of the cylinder, and bearing against the fabric immediately after it
has left the "pad" roller we mount a doctor", scraper or equivalent device,
which is so disposed that in pressing against the surface of the piece as it comes
from between the cylinder and "pad" roller and carries the newly imparted color
or size, it (the scraper) presses such size well into the pores, or interstices of the
fabric, and causes an even distribution thereof.
After being operated upon by the doctor or scraper the fabric passes on
to a large revolving drying cylinder from eight to twenty feet diameter, or of a size
sufficient to cause the colour or stiffening matter to set firm before passing on to
another cylinder or roller in contact with the face side of the cloth, and before
it is again passed through the machine; the large size of the drying cylinder
allowing the fabric an extended traverse which permits it to dry very quickly and
minimises the labour of the attendants in handling and feeding it.
And in order that our said invention may be more readily understood and
carried into practical effect, we have hereunto annexed a sheet of drawings, and
will now proceed to describe the same with the figures and letters of reference
marked thereon.
""
Fig. 1 is a general side view of our improved book-binders' cloth, or like
sizing machine,- -one main part being (by preference) on the floor of one
room, and the other main part supported in the roof or ceiling of such room, or by
the floor of the room above. We do not, however, restrict ourselves to such arrange
ment, and wherever desirable the two parts may be on the same floor, with
suitable provision for conveying the fabric.
Figs. 2 and 3 are front views of the respective parts, and
Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate details on a larger scale.
In accordance with our invention, we employ a machine more or less similar in
outward design to the ordinary "padding" machine, and comprising color or size
trough (A), furnishing roller (B), engraved roller (C), and Bowl or impression
cylinder (D), all mounted, more or less over each other, and the bearings of Bowl
or cylinder (D) suspended by screws (E) for the purposes of raising and lowering
the Bowl into, and out of, contact with the engraved roller (C).
The Bowl (D) is of metal, and instead of being covered by a Lapping of
Blanket as heretofore, is covered with vulcanised india-rubber (D¹) as illustrated
by the black sectioning in Fig. 1 and more clearly shewn in Figs. 4 and 5. This
rubber covering is almost inch thick, and its periphery is turned and "set" to
a true circumference.
16
"
After passing over the usual tension devices (F), shewn in Fig. 1, the cloth or
material to be treated passes around or beneath the Bowl (D); from whence it is
then led up and passed direct on to the large drying cylinder (G), and, after
extending over almost the entire circumference of such cylinder, passes over the
guide roller (H), beneath guide roller (I), between rollers (J), and ultimately

page_text: through the swing rollers (I) to the truck or carriage on which it is delivered in
a folded pile.
Assuming the Bowl (D) to have been lowered, and the fabric brought into con-
tact with the engraved roller (C) (which is rotated through tooth wheels (L) by
the furnishing or color roller (B), and in turn rotates the Bowl (D) by frictional
contact), the color, size or fluid matter in trough (A) will be imparted to the cloth.
As the fabric travels forward at a suitable rate direct on to the cylinder (G), which
is heated by steam and presents a drying surface equal to about 150 square feet,
the coating of color or size, by the time the fabric leaves the cylinder, and by the
time it reaches the rollers (K), and is delivered onto the pile, is, to all intents and
purposes, dry.
The fabric is then ready to be again passed through the machine, and as
result of this improved treatment it is found that, in lieu of having to pass the
fabric through the machine some 7, 8 or more times, and alternately pass the
fabric through the usual drying machine (which by our invention is entirely
dispensed with), it is sufficient to pass the fabric 3, or at most 4, times through
the machine to secure equal or even better results than by the existing method
of treatment.
For heavy sized goods, or for goods not requiring special or particular treat-
ment, the foregoing represents one form of our invention, but for goods which
require to have an even and thin coating, and to have the size or color well
pressed or worked into the interstices of the fabric, we employ, in addition to the
apparatus aforesaid, a thin blade or plate (N), adjustably mounted at (0), and
designed to press upon the fabric as it travels over the Bowl, and thus press the
size well into the pores or interstices of the fabric, and to equalise the coating
over the entire surface.
This spreading of the size or color is not only advantageous in improving the
finish, but also helps in the drying, first by reducing the body of size, and
secondly, by forcing the color into the cloth, which brings it into nearer contact
with the surface of the drying cylinder (G).
65
By thus employing a spreader and applying it to the fabric, in lieu of the
usual "doctor" applied to the engraved roller (C), we effect a great saving in the
working cost of the roller (C).
Whilst we prefer the plate (N) we may substitute a flexible "squeegee", or we
may employ a brush (Ni) or (N2) (see Fig. 5), either fixed, or arranged to move
to-and-fro across the face of the fabric, or we may use both a brush and a plate,
or two of the one kind.
The cylinder (G) is driven at a speed in sympathy with Bowl (D) by rack (P),
and pinion (Q) from driving pulley (R). The steam enters the hollow axis of
the cylinder, and through pipes (S) reaches the interior of the hollow rim.
23
By employing a rubber covered Bowl (which gives a soft and yielding "matrix"
or support for the engraving of the "pad" roller) we are enabled to dispense
with the usual "Lapping "Blanket and Back-greys and their attendant
auxiliaries for drying, etc.
An advantage incidental to the use of our invention is that the bulk of the
excess colour on the engraved roller (C) (which has heretofore been absorbed by
the Blanket) is squeezed or forced back by the rubber covered Bowl, and thus the
colour or size in the engraved parts only is imparted to the fabric, whilst that
which is on the ends of such roller and gets on to the Bowl is so infinitesimal as
to be of no account even in long runs or continuous use of the machine.
In lieu of a tightly fitting rubber covering for the Bowl, we may provide a belt
of india-rubber travelling over the Bowl and over one or more suitable side rollers,
but we prefer it to be as shewn.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, we wish it to be understood that what we claim as our invention is:
1: For applying size, colour or fluid matter to textile materials and the like,

page_text: the hercin described mode of treatment, consisting in passing the fabric around a
rubber or like covered Bowl, applying the colour by an engraved roller working
in contact therewith, pressing the size, colour or fluid into the fabric by a thin
plate, and passing such newly coated fabric direct on to, and around, a large
drying cylinder, in manner substantially as hereinbefore set forth.
2: In a machine for coating fabrics with size, colour or other fluid matter,
the use of an india-rubber or like covered Bowl (D), engraved roller (C), furnishing
roller (13), with, or without plate or blade (N), and in combination with the large
drying cylinder (G) and auxiliary carrying rollers, etc., as hereinbefore set forth.
3: In machines of the kind described, the use of a plate or spreader resting
upon the periphery of a Bowl, around which freshly coated fabric passes, and acting
on such fabric in the manner, and for the purpose, set forth.
4: The general combination and arrangement of parts forming our improved
machine for coating book-binders cloth, tracing cloth, and like materials as set
forth.
JAMES ALLAN SACKVILLE.
JOHN HENRY SWALLOW.
By John G. Wilson & Co., Rd. P.A.,
Agents, 55, Market Street, Manchester.