IMPROVEMENTS IN PRINTING TERRY AND PILE CARPETS; WOOLLEN, SILK, AND OTHER MATERIALS
Year: 1850

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOSEPH
BURCH, of Craig Works; in the County of Chester, Printer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Heri
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Twenty-eighth:
day of September, One thousand eight- hundred and fifty; in the fourteenth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me; the said Joseph Burch; my exors; admors; and assigns; Her especial
license, full power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said Joseph Burch,
my exors, admors, and assigns, or such others' as I, the said Joseph Burch, my
exors, adiñors; 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 expressed;
should and lawfully might make, use, exercise; and vend, within. England,
Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN PRINTING TERRY AND PILE CARPETS; WOOLLEN, SILK, AND OTHER MATERIALS;"
in which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso, that I, the said Joseph
Burch, shall cause a particular description of the nature of my said Invention,-
and in what manuer the same is to be performed, by an instrument in writing
under my hand and seal, to be inrolled in Her 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: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Joseph Burch, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention, and the
manner in which the same is to be performed, are fully described and
ascertained in and by the following statement thereof, reference being had to
the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the figures and letters marked thereon,
that is to say:
My Invention for improvements in printing terry and pile carpets, woollen,
silk, and other materials, consist of six different parts, vizt:-
The first part of my Invention is a new method of preparing, by a machine,
surface printing blocks or rollers, which supersedes the work of the block
cutter and the necessity of colouring the block surfaces with those parts of the
design their impressions have to represent; it is explained in the description of
Figures 1 and 2, in the Drawings; and the apparatus and mode form the first
claim of my Invention.
The second part of my Invention consists in a new mode of furnishing the
colour to printing surfaces without the aid of the colour sieve or furnisher;
this part of my Invention is applicable to many branches of the trade, but
chiefly to thick fabrics, such as terry and velvet pile carpets, carpet rugs, &c.,
and is explained in the description of Figure 3; and the apparatus and mode
form the second claim of my Invention.
The third part of my Invention is a method of constructing a printing
surface with moveable vertical slides, with which I am enabled to print any
design from the same surface, and also at one impression, a perfect design in
any number of colours or shades; this is explained in the description of
Figures 4, 5, and 6; and the apparatus and mode form the third claim of my
Invention.
The fourth part of my Invention is a method of printing thick terry or
velvet pile carpets or rugs, and other velvet or terry fabrics, from surfaces
having distinct shallow chambers for each colour or shade; this is explained in
the description of Figure 7, 8, and 9; and this mode of printing forms the
fourth claim of my Invention.
The fifth part of my Invention consists in a method of producing the high
lights or pale shades of a design, or reducing other colours to produce lighter
shades, by the impression of one block or roller, (worked in a reducing liquid,
or in some instances, by mere pressure,) having parts on its surface correspond-
ing with all the different colours and shades to be reduced; this is explained
in the description of Figures 10, 11, and 12; and forms the fifth claim of my
Invention.
The sixth part of my Invention consists in an apparatus for bending type

page_text: metal plates, for covering surface printing rollers; by the adoption of this
mode all friction is prevented, the true circle ensured, and damage to the
design entirely avoided; this is explained in the description of Figures 13 and
14; and forms the sixth claim of my Invention.
I will now describe the different parts of my Invention, which are represented
in the Drawings by Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, reference-
being had to the several parts by letters; and I will also describe a way in'
which they can be practised.
Figure 1 has reference to the first part of my Invention, and is an apparatus
for preparing printing surfaces without the aid of the block cutter, or the
necessity of previously coloring the design upon them. A is the frame or bed;
having longitudinal grooves on each side; B is a sliding table with two.
surfaces C and D; it has longitudinal guides underneath, which slide in the
grooves of the bed (A), whereon it is placed. E is a slide guide fixed across
the bed by brackets at each end, and of sufficient height to allow space for the
sliding table (B) to pass underneath; F is a drill slide; G is a drill; H is a.
pointer slide; I is a pointer; J is a screw, fixed at each end in the slide
guide (E), and passes through a nut fixed at the back of each of the slides
(F and H), which traverse, and are kept equidistant when the handle N is.
turned; K is a screw, fixed at each end in the bed (A), it passes through a
nut, fixed underneath the sliding table B, and traverses it when the handle L
is turned.
The design having been transferred to squared or point paper, is fixed on
the table surface (D), under the pointer (I), and a plain block (O) is fixed on:
the table surface (C,) under the drill slide F; the pointer is then adjusted;
over the centre of each square of the same colour in the design, and the drill
made to descend by depressing the lever arm P, by the action of the handle M.;
and drill holes in corresponding parts of the block (0), alternately adjusting-
by means of the handles L and N, and drilling until the number of holes in
the block correspond with the number of squares in that color or colours in the
design which the block is intended to carry; the block O is then replaced by.
another, which is drilled for another colour or colours, and so on until the
whole of the design is represented in holes on different blocks.
Figure 2 is a peg, square at one end and round at the other, the round ends
of these pegs are to be driven or fixed into the holes drilled in the block O, by..
the drill G, (shewn in Figure 1,) care being taken that the square ends are-
kept at right angles, and left projecting a sufficient height from the face of the
block to form the printing surface. In applying this- part of my Invention to
preparing surface rollers, such rollers are, each in succession, to be placed in.

page_text: bearings below the drill or cutter, and holes drilled therein, in the manner
above: described, the roller being retained in one position till all the holes
required by a particular pattern in one line have been drilled, and then the
roller is to be revolved a distance equal to one, or more spaces of the pattern
paper, till the part of the roller where the same color is to appear, and as
shown on the pattern paper, is, brought into position for the drill or cutter to
again.act.
Figure 3 represents the second part of my Invention; it is an apparatus and
mode of furnishing surface blocks for printing on very thick materials such as
carpets, rugs, &c. without the use of a colour sieve or furnisher, and where a
great quantity of colour is required. Q is a frame or bed, having longitudinal
grooves at each side; R is a trough, divided into compartments, it is placed on
the frame and has guides underneath which fit the grooves along which it is
to slide; S is a table; with a true surface downwards;, it is fixed on brackets
S¹, across the frame Q and over the trough R; T is a printing block (see
section of Figure 3) placed face upwards on the bolt U in a compartment of
the sliding trough R; U are raising bolts attached to the under side of the
printing block; and pass through the bottom of each compartment of the
trough. R; V is a lever. The rug or fabric W is rolled on a beam and placed
over the table S, it passes underneath, where it receives the design, and then
upwards to be dried. The compartments of the sliding trough are to be filled
with their respective colours until the printing blocks T are quite submerged ;
and when giving an impression the blocks flowing with colour are, by means of
the lever V and the bolt X, raised in the sliding trough R above the level of
the colour until the parts forming the design come in contact with the fabric
Wand. the impression is given. Another compartment of the sliding trough
is then brought under the table S, and the same operation is repeated until the
blocks in all the compartments have, by their impressions, completed the
design.
Figures 4, 5, and 6, represent the third part of my Invention.. (Figure 4),
a. is a bed or frame; 6 is a printing table; c, c, c, c, are vertical guides fixed
to the bed: or-frame at each corner of the printing table b; d is the. printing
surface, it is placed in the verticle guides c, and is constructed in the following
manner (see Figure 5):-e, e, are two strong plates fixed equidistant from each
other by the packing bolts f; these plates are perforated all over their surfaces
with square holes which form guides for the printing pins 9, 9, 9, &c., which are
packed in the square holes of the plates e, e, and form an under surface of
squares (see Figure 6); upon each of the pins g, between the plates e, e, is a
small spiral spring which serves to keep their shoulders up against the under

page_text: plate.. h is a card or metal plate, perforated with holes corresponding with one
of the colours in the design-(after it has been transferred to point paper), every
colour requiring a separate card, which may be drilled from the design by the
machine represented in Figure.1; i is the presser surface; j, j, are two strong
plates fixed together in a similar, way to e, e, and are perforated with round
holes all over their surfaces, corresponding with the holes in the plates e, e,
which must be exactly the same, distance apart as the squares on the point
paper, and are to form guides for k, k, l, &c. the presser pins; these pins are
packed.through the holes in the plates j, j, and each pin has a small spring upon
it, which, pressing against the small washers upon the presser pins, keeps them
down; these springs are to be of sufficient strength to overcome the resistance
of the spiral springs on the printing pins g. 1, 1, &c. is a series of colour sieves
which slide upon the bed a; m is an excentric shaft, "with connecting rods
attached to the presser surface i, they are for the purpose of raising and
depressing it by the action, of the lever n; o,. o; are excentric shafts with
connecting rods attached to the printing surface d, these are for the purpose of
giving the impression by the action of the lever p.. In proceeding to furnish
the printing surface, a perforated plate h must be properly adjusted between the
printing and presser surfaces' and its corresponding colour sieve brought
underneath. The lever n being raised, the presser surface descends upon the
card.plate h, and wherever there is a hole the 'presser 'pins pass through the
card plate, and coming upon the top of the printing pins g force them down to
the colour sieve; the lever n being raised and the card plate and colour sieve
changed, the same operation is repeated until the printing surface is furnished-
with colour on every square required to form the design. The colour sievės
being removed, the impression is given, by the action of the lever p,.which
lowers the printing surface until it comes, in contact with the table b, and. by
extra force, the color is discharged from the printing pins. g, g, g, upon the
fabric 9.
..Figures 7, 8, 9, represent the fourth part of my Invention, which consist in
a mode of printing from surfaces formed into distinct colour chambers or com-
partments, each one representing a different, color. or tint of the design to be
produced; the divisions being made by thin boundaries projecting from the
surface a sufficient height to hold the required quantity of color, and prevent
the colors from mixing. These chambers-are, to be fed by small pipes under-
neath channels from one to another of the same: colours, or poured in from a
feeding pot. This mode of printing is only suitable for terry and "velvet'
fabrics, rugs, &c. Figure 9 represents a surface before the compartments are
filled with their respective colours. Figure 8.-represents a surface after the

page_text: compartments are filled with colour, and is in a state for giving an impression,
the face of the fabric being laid upon it, and very slightly agitated the while,
is by pressure forced into the compartments until the edges of the colour
boundaries come in contact with the foundation of the cloth where it remains
while the colours are absorbed. Figure 7 represents the effect produced by
this process.
In carrying out this part of my Invention I prefer that the chambers should
each be of a depth somewhat less than the length of pile or terry, so that
the fabric when pressed on may cause the terry or pile at the ends to be
pressed somewhat on the bottoms of the chambers.
Figures 10, 11, and 12 represent the fifth part of my Invention. Figure 10
shews a perfect design; Figure 11 is an imperfect design, being deficient of the
high lights and pale shades. Figure 12 is intended to represent the surface
of a printing block, and the objects tinted upon it represent and are forms of
the pale shades on the perfect design, Figure 10. In the ordinary mode of
colour mixing, in order to produce pale shades, the strength of the colour is
reduced by an admixture of a solution of gum, starch, &c. which is done before
the colour is applied to the fabric. Now by this part of my Invention. I reduce
the colours after they are applied to the fabric by the use of a block having on
its surface objects corresponding with all the lightest tints of the design, as
well as any other shades which require heightening; instead, therefore, as
in ordinary block printing, of using a separate block for each shade, I am
enabled, by this method, to produce them with one block by applying the
reducing fluid to all parts requiring to be reduced, whereby I not only econo-
mize the cost of production, but produce a soft and beautiful finish. In some
fabrics, pressure alone, without the reducing liquid, by squeezing the colour
from the surface, will reduce the shades, and I also produce the same effect
from surface rollers by this method.
Figure 13 represents the sixth part of my Invention, and is an apparatus
for bending typed-metal plates, for the purpose of covering surface printing
rollers. is a metal roller; 's is a surface plate in process of being bent; t is
a thin steel plate; u is the frame or socket; v is a packing between the fixing
to the steel plate t and the roller r; and form the space for the surface plates.
The surface plates is to be entered between the metal roller and the steel®
plate t, the object being to bend them with truth, and without being injured by
friction, which, by this method, takes place between the thin steel plate t and
the socket u. Figure 14 is a section shewing a type-metal plate in process of
being bent.
I would state that in all cases of printing piled or terry fabrics, it is better

page_text: to have the fabric wetted or moistened, as the colour thereby applies itself
more readily into the pile or terry, but I do not claim the same as any part of
the present Invention.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of per-
forming the same, I would remark that I do not confine myself to the details
herein described, so long as the peculiar character of any part of my Invention
be retained. But what I claim is,―
First, the mode herein described of drilling blocks and rollers from patterns,
and in applying relief surfaces to such blocks.
Secondly, I claim the printing of fabrics by means of blocks supplied with
color, as herein explained by reference to Figure 3.
Thirdly, I claim the means of obtaining different colors on to blocks com-
posed of numerous similar parts, by means of plates h and apparatus j, i, as
described in respect to Figures 4, 5, and 6.
Fourthly, I claim the mode of printing several colours at the same time
from surfaces having distinct shallow chambers, each supplied with its parti-
cular color, as described by reference to Figures 7, 8, and 9.
Fifthly, I claim the mode of producing the high lights or pale shades,
described with reference to Figures 10, 11, and 12.
Sixthly, I claim the mode of bending typed-metal plates by employing a
friction plate b, as herein explained.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Burch, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of March, in the year of our
Land One thousand night hundred and fifty-one