IM- PROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PRINTING FABRICS, PAPERS, AND OTHER SURFACES IN COLORS
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Engineer and Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PRINTING FABRICS, PAPERS, AND OTHER
SURFACES IN COLORS." - A communication from abroad by Joseph
Saroglia, of 29, Boulevart St. Martin, Paris, and of 14, Rue Ferran-
dière, Lyons, both in the Empire of France.
ealed the 20th November 1863, and dated the 1st June 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Clark at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
1st June 1863.
I, WILLIAM CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PRINTING FABRICS, PAPERS,
AND OTHER SURFACES IN COLORS," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to an improved apparatus for printing all kinds of
fabrics, paper, and leather, enamelled or otherwise. The apparatus consists
of two parts, the one part fixed and the other movable. The fixed part is

page_text: composed of a table of cast iron, which may be of any suitable length, on
which are mounted three rows of iron rails of the same length as the table.
The movable part of which the frame of the apparatus consists forms a
carriage furnished with twelve double-flanged friction rollers, and is traversed
backwards and forwards on the rails above mentioned. Above the carriage
there is a table furnished with four cast-iron bearings supporting a long shaft,
also of iron, having a crank at each end, and four bevil pinions mounted at
intervals of its length. These pinions gear with four bevil wheels, each fur-
nished with a long grooved spindle having a screw thread. A cast-iron plate
formed of two ribbed pieces, connected together in the direction of their length
by means of bolts, forms together four sockets, in which the spindles of the
four bevil wheels above mentioned turn. This plate carries at each end two
grooved rollers, by means of which the sliding carriage is traversed from right
to left, or vice versa, as occasion requires. The spindles of the bevil wheels
are each furnished with a screw, the lower parts of which are bolted to a cast-
iron plate, the under side of which is planed smooth and pierced with a large
number of holes. The frame above mentioned as having the twelve double-
flanged friction rollers, is furnished at each extremity with three uprights, to
which a cross piece is bolted, on which the friction rollers run in a transverse
direction; a frame is thus formed running the whole length of the carriage, two
sides of which form a table, on which is a pad furnished with cloth impregnated
with the color to be printed on the fabric; this is fixed on a frame having
small hooks all round its interior, in order to stretch the fabric in every way.
Flat iron chains are attached, to one edge of the above-mentioned frame, and
pass over four pullies for the purpose of slackening and stretching them; said
chains also pass round the grooved pullies fixed on the crank shaft. These chains
in making a quarter of a revolution move the before-mentioned plates in such
manner that the under face of the one presents itself vertically, in order that
the attendant shall affix the design to be printed thereto with greater facility.
Action of the apparatus. -The apparatus. being arranged as before
described, supposing it to be intended to print with four plates or in four
colors simultaneously, its action will be as follows:-
C
Preparation. The crank shaft is first actuated in order to raise the before-
mentioned plate into a nearly vertical position to enable the engraved plates
to be applied to their respective carrying frames. This being done the frame
is lowered until the grooved rollers it carries rest on the rail, serving as a
cross bar at the head of the frame. The frame thus forms a carriage, which
may be moved transversely by means of its rollers on the cross bars, as
described, carrying with it in its motion the frame having the printed plates

page_text: fixed thereto, as also the mechanism for raising and lowering said plates, which
are actuated by ranks on the longitudinal shaft. Pads for supplying the color
are fixed opposite each of the printing surfaces, each color having a separate
pad assigned to it opposite each plate. The carriage with its mechanism and
printing surfaces are pushed until they arrive over the color pads; the cranks
on the longitudinal shaft are then actuated so as to cause the plates to
descend, and the color be applied with a precision which varies according to
the method in which the attendant handles the cranks; this is repeated as
often as necessary in order to well impregnate the plates, after which they are
raised to their original position. The transverse carriage is then returned
above the fabric, and by the same movement the printing surfaces are applied
on the fabric, in order to deposit the color thereon; greater or less pressure is
then exerted on the plates, in order to properly apply the colors. The
first operation furnishes four different impressions in as many colors, but
dissimilar one from the other, as the four plates complete the impression one
after another. The large frame or carriage is next brought forward, which
displaces the apparatus longitudinally with the exception of the pads and
printing apparatus, together with the fabric to be printed, which remains
stationary. The fixed table on which said fabric rests is arranged so as to have
the large carriage at a fixed point, in order that the first plate shall correspond
with the imprint of the second, the second with the imprint of the third, and the
third with the fourth, and the fourth with the preceding imprint. The action
is then repeated as for the first transverse motion, so that the four designs each
receive a fresh color; then by moving on one plate by means of the large
carriage each design receives a third color, and by moving to the extent of
another plate each design receives a fourth color, and so on. It will be under-
stood that the number of colors may be varied, and that the application of the
various colors is effected simultaneously, without, however, increasing the
number of plates used in hand printing. If the printed surface is longer than
the motion of the carriage on the first application of the whole of the colors
being made, it is simply drawn on to the fixed table until the pattern matches,
when it is fixed by the ordinary means.
The mechanical arrangements above described for producing motion in the
apparatus are essentially variable, and may be increased or diminished in
number; the apparatus may also be used for printing single or double .sets
of designs or surfaces for receiving impressions, at the same retaining the
principle of the Invention, which may be summed us as follows, viz. :-
Printing a surface by the aid of any suitable number of plates, which may be
raised or lowered simultaneously, and mounted on a carriage termed "a

page_text: printer," whose position is varied alternately, first to receive the color from
the pad intended for each plate, and then to apply it on the printing surface;
the color is received and applied by lowering all the plates simultaneously,
which is effected by the attendant, on whom the precision of this operation
depends. The printing carriage moves in guides on a second carriage carrying
the color pads, which moves of itself, relatively to the fixed surface to be
printed, in a direction perpendicular to that of the printing carriage, so as in
its displacement to move these plates all together at each repetition of the
design. In this manner a design may be executed, whatever may be the
number of the colors of which it is composed, taking up and applying the color
in a single motion without increasing the number of engraved plates, one being
used for each color.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
1st December 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer and
Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the First day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-sixth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
William Clark, Her special licence that I, the said William Clark, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William
Clark, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
PRINTING FABRICS, PAPERS, AND OTHER SURFACES IN COLORS," a communication
to me from abroad by Joseph Saroglia, of 29, Boulevart St. Martin, Paris,
and of 14, Rue Ferrandière, Lyons, both in the Empire of France, upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William Clark, my executors
or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one
of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature

page_text: of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,
and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within
six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Clark, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say) :-
This Invention relates to an improved apparatus for printing all kinds of
fabrics, paper, and leather, enamelled or otherwise. The apparatus consists
of two parts, the one fixed and the other movable. The fixed part is composed
of a table of cast iron, which may be of any suitable length, on which are
mounted three rows of iron rails of the same length as the table. The
movable part of which the frame of the apparatus consists forms a carriage
furnished with twelve double-flanged friction rollers, and is traversed back-
wards and forwards on the rails above mentioned.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 of the annexed Drawings represents a front view of the apparatus;
Fig. 2, a plan; Fig. 3, end view; and Fig. 4, transverse section of same.
A, iron shaft, turning in four cast-iron bearings a, a', a³, a', having a crank at
each end, and four bevil' pinions mounted at intervals in its length. These
pinions B, B', B, B³, gear with four bevil wheels, each furnished with a long
grooved spindle, having a screw thread; C, cast-iron plate formed of two
ribbed pieces, connected together in the direction of their length by means of
bolts and forming together four sockets, in which the spindles of the four bevil
wheels B, B1, B2, B3, above mentioned turn. This plate carries at each end
two grooved rollers, by means of which the sliding carriage is traversed from
right to left, or vice versa, as occasion requires. The spindles of the bevil
wheels are furnished with screws D, D1, D2, D3, the lower parts of which are
bolted to a cast-iron plate E; these screws also take into the spindles of the
bevil wheels B, B', B2, B3, the under side of plate E is planed smooth, and
pierced with a large number of holes. F, cast-iron frame, having twelve
double-flanged friction rollers, furnished at each extremity with three uprights,
to which a cross-piece is bolted, on which the friction rollers run in a transverse
direction to frame C; a frame is thus formed running the whole length of the
carriage, two sides of which form a table, on which is a pad furnished with
cloth impregnated with the color to be printed on the fabric. F, Fig. 5, pad,

page_text: consisting of an iron frame covered with cloth, fixed on a frame G, Fig. 6, on
which is fixed the fabric to be printed, said frame G having small hooks all
round its interior, in order to stretch the fabric in every direction. H, H',
flat iron chains attached to one edge of the frame C, and passing over four
pullies h, h, h2, h³, for the purpose of slackening and stretching them; said
chains also pass round the grooved pullies h³, h³, fixed on the crank shaft J.
These chains in making a quarter of a revolution move the before-mentioned
plate E in such manner that its under face presents itself vertically, in order
that the attendent shall affix the design to be printed thereto with greater
facility. The apparatus may be also modified, so as to print several pieces
at one time, while the carriage and the fabric may either of them be made
movable, if desired.
Action of the apparatus.-The apparatus being arranged as before described,
supposing it to be intended to print with four plates or in four colors
simultaneously, its action will be as follows:-
Preparation. The crank shaft J is first actuated, in order to raise the
plate C into a nearly vertical position to enable the engraved plates to be
applied to their respective carrying frame E. This being done, the frame C is
lowered until the grooved rollers it carries rest on the rail, serving as a cross
bar, at the head of the frame E. The frame thus forms a carriage, which may
be moved transversely by means of its rollers on the cross bars F, as described,
carrying with it in its motion the frame E, having the printing plates fixed
thereto, as also the mechanism for raising and lowering said plates, which are
actuated by cranks on the longitudinal shaft A. Pads for supplying the color
are fixed opposite each of the printing surfaces, each color having a separate
pad assigned to it opposite each plate. The carriage formed by plate C, with
its mechanism and printing surfaces, are pushed until they arrive over the
color pads; the cranks on the longitudinal shaft A are then actuated so as to
cause the plates E to descend, and the color to be applied with a precision
which will depend somewhat on the manner in which the attendent handles
the crank. This is repeated as often as necessary in order to well impregnate
the plates, after which they are raised to their original position. The
transverse carriage is then returned above the fabric, and by the same move-
ment of the shaft A the printing surfaces are applied on the fabric in order to
deposit the color thereon. Greater or less pressure is then exerted on the
plates, in order to properly apply the colors. The first operation furnishes
four different impressions in as many colors, but dissimilar one from the other,
as the four plates complete the impression one after another.
The large
frame or carriage F is next brought forward, which displaces the apparatus

page_text: longitudinally, with the exception of the pads and printing apparatus, together
with the fabric to be printed, which remain stationary. The fixed table on
which the fabric rests is arranged so as to have the large carriage at a fixed
point in order that the 1st plate shall correspond with the imprint of the 2nd,
the second with the imprint of the third, the third with the fourth, and the
fourth with a preceding imprint. The action is then repeated as for the first
transverse motion, so that the four designs each receive a fresh color. Again,
by moving on one plate by means of the large carriage each design receives a
third color, and by moving to the extent of another plate each design receives
a fourth color, and so on. It will be understood that the number of colors
may be varied, and that the application of the various colors is effected
simultaneously, without, however, increasing the number of plates used in hand
printing. If the printing surface is longer than the motion of the carriage in
the first application of the whole of the colors being made it is simply drawn
on the fixed table until the pattern matches, when it is fixed by the ordinary
means.
The mechanical arrangements above described for producing motion in this
apparatus are essentially variable, and may be increased or diminished in
number. The apparatus may also be used for printing single or double sets
of designs or surfaces for receiving impressions, at the same time retaining the
principle of the Invention, which may be summarized as follows, viz.:-
Printing a surface by the aid of any suitable number of plates, which may be
raised or lowered simultaneously, and mounted on a carriage termed "a printer,"
whose position is varied alternately first to receive the color from the pad
intended for each plate, and then to apply it on the printing surface; the color
is received and applied by lowering all the plates simultaneously, which is
effected by the attendant, on whom the precission of this operation depends.
The printing carriage moves in guides on a second carriage carrying the color
pads, which moves of itself, relatively to the fixed surface to be printed, in a
direction perpendicular to that of the printing carriage, so as in its displace-
ment to move these plates all together at each repetition of the design. In
this manner a design may be executed whatever may be the number of the
colors of which it is composed, taking up and applying the color in a single
motion without increasing the number of engraved plates, one being used for
each color.
Having described the nature of this Invention, and the manner of per-
forming-the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected
by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, the improved apparatus

page_text: for printing fabrics and other surfaces, as herein described and represented in
the Drawings annexed..
In witness whereof, I, the said William Clark, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of November, in the year of our
.Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
Witness,
W. G. E. SWINNOCK,
53, Chancery Lane,
London.
W. CLARK. (L.S.)