CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ART OF PRINTING CALICO AND OTHER SURFACES
Year: 1840

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOSEPH
LEESE, Junior, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Calico Printer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at West-
minster, the Twenty-fourth day of June, One thousand eight hundred and forty,
in the fourth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Joseph Leese, Her especial licence, full power, sole
privilege and authority, that I, the said Joseph Leese, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Jseph Leese, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, shall at any time agree with, and no other, 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
and Wales and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of " CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ART OF PRINTING CALICO AND OTHER SURFACES;" in which
said Letters Patent is contained a proviso that I, the said Joseph Leese, shall
cause a particular description of the nature of my said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be enrolled 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, and by the same,
reference being thereunto had, will more and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, 1, the said
Joseph Leese, do hereby declare that the nature of the said Invention, and

page_text: the manner in which the same is to be performed, is particularly described
and ascertained in and by the Drawings hereto annexed, and the following
explanation thereof (that is to say):-
My improvements in the art of printing calicoes and other surfaces consist, -
Firstly, in the substitution of a novel description of fabric or material to be
employed in the art of printing instead of the ordinary blanket, felt, or other
lappings now commonly used upon printing machines and tables, and more
particularly with reference to printing calicoes, muslins, and other similar
woven fabrics.
Secondly, in a novel arrangement of apparatus or machinery for the purpose
of printing calicoes, &c. with blocks, either in combination with the ordinary
cylinder printing machine or separately.
Thirdly, in a novel construction and arrangement of apparatus or mechanism
to be applied to the ordinary calico printing machine, for the purpose of (what
is technically called) "rainbowing" colors in the cylinder printing machine,
instead of performing such operation separately by hand blocks, as heretofore.
(The effect of "rainbowing," as it is termed, is given by shading or softening
a color gradually from a deep or strong shade down to a pale or light tint,
which is well understood by practical calico printers.)
And lastly, my improvements consist in substituting a peculiarly prepared
manufacturo or fabric to be used in cutting and forming printing surfaces,
either on blocks or cylinders, instead of employing the "hatting" or felt
generally used for such purpose.
The first part of my Invention, and which constitutes the main feature of
these improvements, is effected as follows:-Instead of using the blanket, felt,
or other ordinary bed or lappings in cylinder or block printing machines, or
on printing tables, I employ a peculiar fabric or manufacture having the requi-
site property of elasticity in its thickness only, and being perfectly non-elastic
in its length or width, so that when it is distended it will always remain of the
same length notwithstanding the wear and tear occasioned by time or other-
wise, and consequently never vary or swag, and yet continue much more
clastic in its thickness or depth than any other blanket or lapping, being
capable of producing a much finer impression of the engraving or device to be
printed, by bringing out the impression to the greatest perfection. This fabric
or material is composed of one, two, or more (I prefer several) thicknesses or
folds of common calico or other cloth, upon and between which are to be spread
thin layers or coverings of indian rubber, applied in solution in a similar
manner to preparing those waterproof cloths now commonly called "Macintosh."
The degree of elasticity in thickness and the strength of the fabric may be

page_text: varied to suit the purpose for which it is intended to be used, and will of course
depend upon the number of layers of cloth and indian rubber so combined, and
also the quantity of the fabrics employed; as, for instance, if great strength and
considerable elasticity of surface is desired, I take a piece of stout calico in the
grey (unbleached) and coat it with indian rubber of the desired thickness, con-
tinuing to wind fold upon fold alternately with the layer of indian-rubber
solution until the required substance is attained. Or two or three stout pieces
of calico, or of woollen cloth, or of cotton and woollen combined, may be thus
connected by the solution of indian rubber placed between, thereby producing
an adhesion to each other as firmly as if the fabric had been woven in one
piece. This fabric may also have upon its surface a thick layer or coating of
indian rubber, and in this case the whole endless sheet or blanket, when once
united at its ends in the printing machine, may readily be washed without the
necessity of unstitching and removing it from the machine, which would
endanger the disturbing of its exact length. The advantage of the employment
of such improved fabric or material in place of the ordinary blanket and lap-
pings in printing will be evident, first, from the great elasticity of the surface to
print upon, which will enable the machine to bring out or produce from a very
much finer engraving a superior impression to those usually obtained, and also
with much less power or pressure than is commonly required. Second, this
fabric has greater strength and durability, as the layers of indian rubber save
the wear of the cloth, by preventing the friction resulting from the rubbing of
threads one against another. And lastly, its extreme economy or cheapness
compared with the usual costs of blanketing. The second and the third parts
of my improvements will be more readily explained and better understood by
reference to the Drawings accompanying these Presents, in which it will be.
seen that I have marked the several Figs. or Views of the machinery with
letters referred to in the following description thereof :-
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 represents a side elevation of an arrangement of apparatus consti-
tuting a machine for printing calicoes, &c., to which the above-described
material or lapping is particularly applicable, owing to its length never varying
after its utmost tension is attained, and its clasticity being in its thickness
only, whereas, an ordinary blanket or lapping could not be efficiently employed
in a similar arrangement of mechanism from its liability to stretch, and thus
misplace the print and prevent the possibility of fitting the pattern. It
consists of stout side frames a, a, (their distance apart being regulated by the
width of the goods to be printed, (and which may either be placed vertically or

page_text: horizontally,) carrying or supporting two cylinders or bowls b, b, one at each
end, around which the continuous band of the before-described improved
fabric c, c, c, c, is passed, and which may then be drawn to its required tension
by means of the screw d. The improved printing cloth or blanket is now ready
to receive the cloth to be printed, which may enter the machine at e, extending
upwards as at f,f,f. A series of iron arms or frames 9, 9, extend from the
main side frames, and are provided with planed mortices for the purpose of
guiding the printing blocks h, h, which are to be slidden backwards and forwards
in them. The frames g, g, also carry or support the color boxes i, i, and tho
rollers k, k, around which the endless sieve cloths 1, 1, are passed. The ends
of the printing blocks h, h, are fast to the pinions m, m, and turn in one end
of the slide or working rods n, n, thus it will be seen that as these rods n are
worked or slidden forwards (either by the hands of the printer or by any
suitable mechanical contrivance), the pinion m will, by working in the straight
rack o, o, underneath, turn over the printing block h, and cause it to strike
against the sieve cloth I, and thus be furnished with color, when by the rod n
being drawn backwards the printing block will again be turned over with its
printing surface towards the cloth ff, and will print the design or pattern
upon it. It will be seen in the Drawing that a small bed or table p, p, is
provided both under the furnishing and printing cloths, in order to prevent any
misprint or sudden concussion of the block. These tables are furnished each
with a back or bed spring 9, q, and are also returned at their ends for the
purpose of guiding the block square on to its work, and printing one side or
end coming first in contact with the cloth, and thus being improperly fur-
nished or causing it to misprint; see detached Plan View, Fig. 2. It will of
course be evident to every practical printer that this apparatus may be used
either in connection with one, two, or more copper printing cylinders or not,
as preferred, and also that any number arrangement of printing blocks may
be employed therein, and of any colors, the cloth being suitably moved the
width of a block after every print in order to receive the succeeding colour or
print, and the sieve cloth being also suitably moved after every print by hand,
or any convenient arrangement of mechanism adapted to the purpose. In
printing two or more colors by the above-described arrangement of ma-
chinery, it will be evident that the use of my improved fabric in place of the
blanket is indispensable, as, in moving the piece forward after every print to
receive the next color, if the blanket were to stretch in the least degree the
prints would misfit.
My improvement in "rainbowing colors" by machine will be under-
stood by reference to Fig. 3, which is a vertical section taken through

page_text: the middle of the machine, and Fig. 4 is a front view of the same. α, a;
is part of the ordinary frame sides of a calico cylinder printing machine
supporting the ordinary printing bowl b. c, c, is a common surface printing
roller in the machine, and d, d, d, d, is a stand or frame supporting the various
color boxes e, e, e, e. The endless sieve cloth for furnishing the colours is
shewn at f, f, f. f, tightly distended over the rollers 9, 9, 9, 9. Small adjust-
able pedestals h, h, h, h, support the several axes i, i, i, i, upon which are
mounted discs or rollers j, j, j, j, which, as they revolve, dip into the colour
boxes, and, being furnished with pins or teeth, they thus take up the colours out
of the colour boxes, and deposit them upon the sieve cloth, which furnishes the
surface printing roller. It will be seen that the colour boxes each contain a
lighter shade of the same colour one under the other, and thus the "rain-
bowing" is produced upon the sieve cloth, and thereby conveyed to the
surface roller. These discs or rollers j are drawn at full size and detached
in Figs. 5 and 6, and are composed of wood, furnished with copper pins or
wires, which are capable of being put up or down, as in Fig. 6, in order to
regulate the quantity of colour to be transferred from the colour boxes to the
sieve cloth, by the travelling motion of which they are respectively driven or
drawn round, the points or wires being in contact with the sieve cloth. The
piece of goods receiving the print of the rainbowed sprig in three colors is
shewn at k, k, proceeding through the machine in the usual manner.
Another improvement, more particularly in paper printing, consists in
winding the paper or fabric to be printed upon the bowl of the printing
machine, instead of its bound on a roller, and then drawn through the machine
from the back; the bowl of the machine may be made to take in and out, so
that there may be more than one in use, and thus prevent delay. When the
machine is to be set to work the paper or cloth is wound on the bowl, and
the rollers are set up to it as in printing in the ordinary way, the only
difference being that it is necessary, as the diameter of the bowl decreases as
the paper is printed off it, the rollers must be constantly kept up to it.
And lastly, my improvement consists in substituting any fabric, after having
had it prepared or coated on one side with indian rubber, for the hatting or
felt commonly used in cutting and forming printing blocks and surface
rollers, &c. If the block or surface be required to work a very heavy solid
pattern, then I cover the whole of the block or the surface with the cloth
prepared with indian rubber, and afterwards cut out the parts not intended to
print, and, if necessary, copper the edges where they are required to work fine
or smart; by this means I am able to work a blotch much more evenly than
by the prosent plan of "hatting," by preserving the exact round of the roller,

page_text: which now is taken out by the cutters' tool. This part of my improvements
consists also in placing at the bottom of the engraving of a deeply-engraved
copper cylinder or roller any cloth or fabric as may be most suitable, pre-
viously prepared with a coating of indian rubber on one side; the object of
this is to produce an even solid print, and also to furnish a good supply of
colour to the piece. Of course the roller must be engraved sufficiently deep to
allow the doctor to pass over the surface of the roller without touching the
surface of the cloth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Leese, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-third day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty.