IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR PRINTING AND STAINING PAPER AND OTHER FABRICS
Year: 1847

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, NATHANIEL
FORTESCUE TAYLOR, of 119, Vauxhall Walk, Lambeth, in the County of
Surrey, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by
Her Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Seventh
day of October, One thousand eight hundred and forty-seven, in the eleventh
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said Nathaniel Fortescue Taylor, my exors, admors,
and assigns, Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege and authority,
that I, the said Nathaniel Fortescue Taylor, my exors, adñors, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Nathaniel Fortescue Taylor, my exors,
admors, 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 ex-
pressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within
England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR PRINTING AND STAINING PAPER AND OTHER
FABRICS;" in which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso that I, the
said Nathaniel Fortescue Taylor, shall cause a particular description of the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, to be
inrolled in Her said Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar
months next 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..

page_text: Figure 1 shows a side elevation; Figure 2, a plan; Figure 3, a longitudinal
section; and Figures 4 and 5 shew two transverse sections of a machine con-
structed according to my improvements; and I would state, that the same letters
of reference indicate similar parts in each of the Figures. a, a, are two drums,
each composed of six sides. The axes of these drums revolve in bearings, as
shewn, and they carry the endless chain of plates 6, b, the nature of which is
clearly shewn in the Drawings; and the chain of plates b, b, is moved from
time to time a regulated distance, so as to bring up fresh surface of paper or
other fabric placed thereon to be printed or stained by means of blocks or
surfaces, in the manner hereafter explained. The chain of plates b, b, rests on
the fixed bed or table c, and is thereby supported, the under part of the chain
hanging down below the outer edges, being supported by longitudinal bars,
so as to keep the plates off the floor. 61, 6¹, are ribs fixed at the back of the
plates b. These ribs slide in a narrow slit or opening formed in the table c;
and there are notches 62 formed in the ribs, in order to the driver d taking
into them in succession and at the proper intervals to move the endless chain
of plates, so as to bring fresh surfaces of the paper or other material on the
plates 6 under the printing surface to be printed or stained thereby; and it
will be seen that the plates 6 carry on their upper surfaces points or register
pins e, which receive and hold the paper or other material correctly. The
machinery receives motion in the following manner:-ff, are two drums on
the axis g; one of the drums being fixed on the axis g, it receives motion by
a strap from a steam engine or other power. On the axis g is fixed the
pinion h, which takes into and drives the cog wheel i on the axis j, on which
axis is fixed the bevilled-toothed wheel k, which takes into and drives the
bevelled-toothed wheel on the axis m, on which axis is fixed an arm or
crank, which, by means of the connecting rod 12, gives motion to the driver
d, the axis of which is supported on guides d¹ in such manner that it can be
slided back by means of the connecting rod l³, and so as to engage itself with
another notch in the rib of the under side of the plates 6, the weighted end of
the driver having at all times a tendency to keep the driver up to its work, as
b

page_text: will readily be understood by examining the Drawings. Hence it will be
understood that the endless chain of plates b will be moved at intervals a
distance equal to that of the width of the printing surface, by which the surface
of paper or other material which has just been printed or stained will be
moved from under the printing surface, and a fresh quantity of the paper or
other material brought under the printing surface.
I will now trace the motion which is given to the printing surface (which
may be of any of the ordinary kinds for surface printing) in order that it may
alternately be replenished with color from a sieve, and print or stain the
paper or other material as it is brought under to receive an impression. nis
a printing block which is fixed in a metal frame n', which is rectangular, and
has three bars n' through which pass screws to fix the block, and thus to
cause it to be held securely. The frame n¹ is received into the quadrangular
frame o, and is fixed therein by screws o¹, o¹; and the necks or axes o³ of the
frame o (having friction rollers thereon) are supported by the quadrangular
frame p, which has openings p¹ at the sides to receive and guide the axes or
necks of the frame o. The two sides of the frame p are combined at their
ends into a quadrangular frame, and the side frames p are combined at the
middle of their length by means of transverse bars p³, which are fixed to the
vertical portions of the frame p³, p*, the nature of which is clearly shewn by
the Drawings; and necks or axes p* are fixed to the parts p', such necks or
axes turning in suitable bearings in the framing of the machine. Hence the
frame p can be depressed by a cam, as hereafter explained. 9, 9, are two
connecting rods which are attached to the axes or necks n of the block or
printing-surface frame. The other end of each of these is connected to armis
or cranks q, q, affixed to the axis q², such axis turning in bearings carried
by the main framing of the machine; and motion is communicated to the
axis q in the following manner :-On the axis j is fixed an arm or crank
9%, which, by means of a connecting rod 9', gives motion to the toothed sector
95; and such toothed sector q takes into and gives motion to another toothed
sector in the manner clearly shewn by the Drawings. Hence at intervals a
to and fro motion will be communicated to the printing surface in such
manner as alternately to bring it over the sieve to receive color therefrom,
and then to cause it to assume its proper place for giving off its impression on
to paper or other material placed on the table under the position where the
printing surface comes when to give off its impression. The color sieve is so
arranged as to rise and fall, and in its rising and falling to have color placed
thereon in the following manner:- is the color sieve, which is square, and
on the surface on which the color is spread floats suitable liquid as heretofore;

page_text: and the sieve is fixed at the upper part of the bars r³, which are capable of
sliding up and down in suitable guides which embrace the bars 1, and the
sieve is confined at its ends between the two fixed plates 2, and it rises and
falls between these plates; and these plates also serve as supports to the ends
or necks of the brush s as it is moved across the sieve. Such brush having
been to and fro across the sieve, descends into the color trough out of the way
of the block or printing surface when it comes over the sieve in order to have
color applied thereto. The brush s is worked in the following manner :-
s¹, s¹, are two arms on the axis s³, the arms s¹ having at their upper ends forks
or slits, within which the ends or necks of the brush enter. Hence when the
arms are moved the brush is moved, and the slits or forks at the upper end
of the arms s¹ are of such length as to allow the brush to descend into the
color trough, and it is caused to descend when permitted by weights suspended,
as shown, from the necks or ends. On the axis s is affixed an arm s³, which
is connected to the crank s by the connecting rod s; and this crank receives
motion by means of the connecting rod 88, which is connected at one end by a
slotted opening to the crank s**, and at its other end to a crank on the axis j,
by which arrangement (aided by the apparatus for raising the brush), when
the sieve is at its lowest position, the brush will be raised up and moved to
and fro over the sieve, and will then descend into the color trough and be out
of the way of the sieve rising; and the raising of the brush out of the color
trough, so as to come above the two side plates, is accomplished by means of
the arms or levers s', which turn with the axis s, such axis s having an arm
s affixed to it; and to this arm s is attached the rod $10 by a pin joint. The
lower end of the rod 10 moves in a guide s¹¹; aud motion is communicated to
the rod so, and consequently to the arms s', by means of a tappet s2 on the
axis j, such lifting taking place just before the brush is to be put in motion, as
above explained. When the sieve has had color spread thereon, and by the
working of the machine the printing surface has come over the sieve, as above
described, the sieve is to be raised up towards the printing surface; and this
is done by means of the lever t, which turns on an axis at t¹, one end of the
lever coming under the rod 7, which connects the guides r; and the other
end of the levert is acted on by a tappet t2 on the axis j. The printing
surface or block n is pressed on to the paper or fabric to give its impression in
the following manner:--On the axis j is fixed a bevilled-toothed wheel u,
which takes into and drives the toothed wheel fixed on the upright shaft or
axis v, at the upper end of which is fixed the bevilled cog wheel v¹, which
takes into and drives the bevilled-toothed wheel w¹, affixed on the axis w,
such axis having another bevilled-toothed wheel w² fixed thereon, which takes

page_text: into and drives the bevilled-toothed wheel a¹ on the axis x; and it is by
means of the heart-shaped can a² on the axis x that the requisite pressure is
communicated to the block or printing surface n. The frame p, as it has before
been explained, is capable of moving on necks or axes, and in addition
thereto it is suspended to the axes y by means of the arms y¹ and slings y²;
and there is a hoop or ring y³ within which the heart-shaped excentric revolves,
being an upright rod having a spring z¹ fixed near its lower end, which rests
on the cross bar of the slings, as shewn, the lower end of the rod coming
against the upper surface of the frame (which holds the block or surface n)
when the pressur has overcome the spring, and thus are the frames p' and o
caused to be pressed down by the heart-shaped excentric acting on the rod z.
When the printing surface is under the same, and when the block or printing
surface n is over the sieve, the heart-shaped excentric causes the frame p to
be, raised at that end, and depressed at the other, by which the block or
printing surface is lowered towards the sieve, the heart-shaped excentric
acting for that purpose on the top projection of the ring or hoop. I would
remark, that in place of having the endless chain of plates moved at intervals
a distance equal to that at which the successive impressions are to come, I
can, in place thereof, use a long table on which the fabric to be printed is to
be laid, and accurately held by pins or otherwise, and then cause such table to
be moved at intervals in like manner to that described in respect to the
endless chain of plates b. This arrangement of table will be found useful
when printing fabrics requiring to be evenly and carefully spread and kept
extended, but it requires more room than the endless chain of plates. And
it will be evident to a mechanic that the apparatus for moving the long table
may, in place of moving continually in the same direction, be so arranged as
at any time to move the table backwards or forwards like distances. And
in place of having the bearing surfaces, whether an endless chain of plates
or a long table, capable of movement, I can so arrange apparatus that the
paper only may be moved proper distances at intervals.
Figure 6 shews a plan, and Figure 7 a side elevation, of a fixed table, with
apparatus for carrying out this part of my Invention: The dotted lines A
represent the position where the block or printing surface is applied according
to any means of block or surface printing. The paper to be printed or
stained, wound on a roller, is placed at B, and drawn under the bars C, which
retain the paper, such bars being affixed to the rods D, which pass through
guides, as shewn, the lower ends of the rods D being forked, so as to pass on
either side of axes E, on which are placed the cams F, which, coming under
the friction rollers. of the rods D, lift those rods at the moment the paper is

page_text: required to be moved, and then allow the same to descend, so as again to hold
the paper; and the two axes E are geared together by means of the axis G,
there being bevilled-toothed wheels for that purpose, as shewn. On the axis G
is a crank which gives motion to the connecting rod H, which gives motion to
a toothed sector I, which takes into and gives motion to a toothed sector J on
the axis K, on which axis there are arms or cranks L which give motion to
the connecting rods M, which are connected to the clamping instruments N,
cach of which consists of a plate (1), a projection (2) from which slides on the
top rails of the machine, while they are kept from rising upwards by means of
the bar 3; and this bar 3 also serves to connect the two plates (1) of the two
instruments N together. (4) are clamping levers turning upon centres on the
plates (1, 1,) and capable of being held down by means of the catches 5, and
when so held down of holding the paper on either side between the parts (2)
and (4).
When the catches (5) are released from the parts 4 those parts
will be raised, so as not to act upon the paper, by means of springs, as shewn ;
and they are brought into operation in the following manner :-O is a tappet,
of which there is one on each side of the machine on the shaft O', to which
motion is given, so as to cause the tappets O to come in contact with and
press down the parts 4, just when the instruments N are in the position
shewn by the Drawing. The catches (5) will then hold the parts (4) with
the paper till the instruments N come into the position indicated by the dotted
lines, when other tappets P, one on each side of the machine on the shaft P¹,
by coming in contact with the catches 5, will move them so as to release the
parts 4, which are then raised out of holding of the paper by means of their
springs.
I would remark, in respect to this first part of my Invention, that although
I have only shewn the use of one block or surface for printing, it will be
evident that the machinery may be similarly arranged for several blocks or
printing surfaces to act in succession on the paper or other fabric.
I will now describe other of my improvements.
Figure 8 shews a plan, Figure 9 a side view, and Figure 10 an end view,
of machinery so arranged that two sets of blocks of printing surfaces may be
simultaneously worked in such manner that one block or set of blocks may
be receiving color from the sieve (which is placed between the two tables),
and the other block or set of blocks be giving off color to one of the pieces of
paper or other fabric. In this arrangement the blocks or printing surfaces
a, a, are carried in a frame b, b, which moves by means of wheels c, c, on a
track or railway d, d. The blocks are fixed to the frame by means of springs
e, e, which have a tendency to keep the blocks in a horizontal position, but

page_text: allow of the blocks being depressed so as to descend on to the sieve or on to
the fabric below. The workman moves the frame to and fro, there being
stops at ff, to prevent the blocks being moved too far in either direction.
The sieve is divided into four compartments in order to use four colors with
the blocks shewn, but a like arrangement of machinery may be used for a
single block; and blocks and sieves may be constructed for printing with
more or less colors, according to the mode shewn in these Figures, and which
will be hereafter fully described. 9, 9, are two pieces of paper or other
fabric on the tables of the machine. The paper is wound on to the rollers h
after being printed, and the rollers i, i, keep the paper or fabric correctly in
position. Each of the right-hand pairs of rollers is so arranged as to correctly
measure off a length equal to the length of one of the four surfaces of which
a set of blocks is shewn to consist, say twenty-one inches; and this is accom-
plished by means of their being a neb or projection on a plate fixed on the
axis of one of the rollers i, and a prop drawn under it by the spring, by
which arrangement, when the prop is withdrawn by the workman by the rod
, the rollers will be allowed to move by moving the paper on the table, and
a check will be given to the movement of the paper when the prop again
suports the neb or projection. j,j, are mallets carried by arms or cranks on
the axis k, l, m; and a like quantity of motion is given to the mallets at the
same time by means of the lever handle n fixed on the axis o, which has a
weighted arm o¹ to counterbalance the various parts, and the axis o gives
motion to the axes k, l, m, by means of the arm p, to which the connecting rod
p' is attached, the upper end of the connecting rod p' having a plate fixed thereto
through which a crank pin k¹ of the arm on the axis k passes; and through
slots in the plate crank pins of the axes l, m, pass. Hence by the descent of
the plate the whole of the mallets will descend, one set of blocks being thereby
pressed on to the sieve, and the other set of blocks being simultaneously
pressed on to one of the pieces of paper or other fabric on the tables. q, q,
are color brushes, the axes of which are carried by the frame of the blocks,
such brushes descending into the color troughs at one side of the sieves when
the pressure is being given to the blocks by the mallets. By this arrangement
of machinery two blocks or sets of blocks may be worked with two tables as
alternately to bring one block or sets of blocks to take color whilst the other
block or set of blocks is giving off color to one of the two pieces of paper or
fabric on the two tables.
I will now describe that part of my Invention which relates to a mode of
constructing and working blocks or printing surfaces in sets so that several
colors may be simultaneously applied, and by the successive impressions

page_text: to cause the different colors of a pattern to register. This will be better
understood by reference to Figure 11, where an under side view of four
printing surfaces are combined or formed into a set, so much of the pattern as
is to be printed with one color, say green, being formed on the surface A, and
so much of the pattern as is to be printed with another color, say yellow, is to
be formed on the surface B, and so on in respect to other colors on the
surfaces C and D. Supposing each block or surface A, B, C, D, to be twenty-
one inches long, then, as there will require to be a space between each block
or surface of the set, as shewn at (1), (2), (3), in order that the surfaces may
come down on a divided sieve surface, and thus allow of there being partitions
to divide the sieve surface. And this part of the Invention consists in so
arranging the pattern on the different blocks or surfaces of a set, that by
having movement of the paper or fabric equal to the length of one of the
surfaces, say twenty-one inches, after each impression, the pattern may be
made to register, that is, cause all to fall into their proper places, as shewn at
Figure 12; and this is accomplished by removing from one end of the second,
third, and other block or blocks of a set parts of the pattern, and placing
such quantity of the pattern on the other end thereof; thus, in the case
shewn at Figure 11, the pattern is composed of diamond shapes. On the
block or surface A the whole pattern as it appears when printed is formed,
whilst on the block or surface B the pattern at the left-hand end is cut off a
distance equal to the space between the two blocks A and B, and at the right-
hand end a quantity of the pattern equal to that taken from the left-hand end
is added; and, in respect to the pattern on the block or surface C, the left-
hand end is removed a quantity equal to the two spaces 1 and 2 between the
blocks A and B and B and C, and a like quantity of the pattern added to the
right-hand end of the block C, and this mode of arranging the pattern on the
several blocks is to be pursued in succession according to the number of
blocks or surfaces formed into a set, and the effect will be that there will only
require a movement between the paper and the blocks equal to the length of
one block of a set in order to the pattern and different colors thereof regis-
tering. The workman, in carrying out this part of my Invention, will there-
fore take care in forming his pattern, whatever it be, so that the succeeding
blocks shall have parts of the pattern arranged as above described.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, I would remark, that I do not confine
myself to the details shewn and described, so long as the peculiar character of
either part of my Invention be retained. But what I claim is,—
First, the arrangement of an endless chain of plates and means of giving

page_text: motion thereto at intervals, and also the employment of a long table carrying
the paper or material to be printed, and moved at intervals, as stated.
Secondly, I claim the mode of arranging a frame, as herein described,
whereby block or printing surface may be moved to and from a sieve and
fabric, as explained.
Thirdly, I claim the arranging of a sieve and apparatus for applying color
thereto, so that the sieve may be raised and lowered as described; and I also
claim the arrangement of the cam and apparatus working therewith to give
pressure and movement to the printing surface employed.
Fourthly, I claim the mode of moving paper on a fixed table at intervals,
and retaining the paper securely on the table, as described in respect to
Figures 6 and 7.
Fifthly, I claim the mode of arranging machinery to work with two blocks
or sets of blocks; having a sieve between two tables, as described in respect
to Figures 8, 9, and 10; and,
Sixthly, I claim the mode of constructing and working blocks or surfaces as
described in respect to Figures 11 and 12.
In witness whereof, I the said Nathaniel Fortescue Taylor, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of March, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty-eight.
NATH FORTESCUE (L.S.) TAYLOR.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Sixteenth day of March, in
the year of our Lord 1848, the aforesaid Nathaniel Fortescue Taylor came
before our said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the
Specification aforesaid, 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.
Enrolled the Seventh day of April, in the year of our Lord One thou-
cond oi
hundred and faster