Improved Method of Printing on Fabrics.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Feb., 1898-Accepted, 20th May, 1898'
"
Improved Method of Printing on Fabrics.
. I, THOMAS F. STIMPSON, of 84, Larch Street, in the City of Providence, and.State
of Rhode Island, United States of America, 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:-
The object of the invention is to produce by means of printing certain novel and
To that
peculiar effects not heretofore produced by printing, so far as I am aware.
end my new method consists primarily in producing a black or other dark ground
pattern on the fabric, and printing upon the fabric a pattern of comparatively
bright color, the figures of which do not register with or fit the black or other
dark ground pattern, whereby the figures composing the bright color pattern will
not show in their entirety on the finished fabric, but only in fragments, varying
portions of the bright color figures being obliterated or concealed by the black or
other dark ground pattern.
of
For the better understanding of my invention, I will first describe one way
carrying out my new method, and will then point out certain variations in, or modi-
fications of, the general method, which may be practiced without departing from
the underlying feature of the invention.
Preferably I make use of a black ground pattern and as the best effects in pro-
ducing a black ground are obtained by "resist-"-printing, I will first describe my
new method in connection with such resist-printing for the production of the
black ground pattern. The fabric in such case is first padded with the aniline
black producing liquor and then dried. Any desired pattern or figures are then
printed with a resist"
upon the fabric so padded, the fabric being run through a
printing machine for the purpose. The black is then developed by aging and the
fabric treated in the usual way, producing a black ground with white figures. The
fabric is then again run through a printing machine and a color pattern printed
thereon. The fabric is then steamed, washed if necessary, and finished in the
usual manner.
By reason of the fact that the color pattern is thus printed at a different passage
of the fabric through the printing machine than that at which the resist printing
for the production of the white figures is done, the figures of the color pattern will
not register with or fit the white figures. The figures of the color pattern there-
fore will come partly on the white figures, and partly on the black ground, or it
may be that some of the color figures will come entirely on the black ground. As
the color figures will show, only where they, or some portions of them, happen
to come upon the white figures, it follows that only a portion or portions of each
figure of the color pattern will show or appear on the finished fabric, the remaining
portion or portions of the color figures being obliterated or concealed by the black
ground. Furthermore, the portions of the different color figures which do thus
appear on the white figures and in the finished fabric will not be the same portion
or portions of each color figure, but will instead be varying portions of said figures.
The result therefore is a printed fabric having a black ground with varying
coloured or partly coloured figures thereon.

page_text: Thus to take some simple patterns to illustrate the results of the process above
described, suppose for example that the pattern for the resist-printing and, thus for
the white figures on the black ground, be composed of figures, each consisting of a
number of small polka dots grouped together in the form of a circle, and suppose
the color pattern to be composed of figures, each of which is a solid or blotch figure
in the form of a square, and further suppose this color pattern to be printed in
red. In such case it will be noted in the first place that the red square of the
color pattern would not coincide with one of the white figures, because the two
figures are of different shape or outline, and that only so much or such portions of
the red square would show as happened to come upon or overlie the round dots
of the white figure. Not only this, but as the printing with the red square is done
at a different passage of the fabric through the printing machine than that at which
the resist-printing for the white figures was done, the red squares will not register
with or fit the white figures. This variance or failure to register may be still
further increased, if desired, by arranging the red squares with relation to each
other in a different manner from the arrangement with relation to each other of
the white figures. It follows that not merely will those portions only of the red
squares show which happen to come upon the round dots of the white figures, but
the portions of the white figures which will be thus covered by the red squares will
likewise vary greatly. Thus suppose there to be say twelve polka dots making up
each of the white figures. As a result of the process described one of the figures,
which before the color printing were white figures, may have say all twelve of its
dots colored red, another may have say eleven of the dots thus colored, another ten,
and so on down, while still another may possibly have none of its dots colored, but
all be left white as before the color printing took place. And so also it may, and
very often does, happen that one or more of the dots in an original white figure
will be only partly colored red, leaving the remainder of such dot in the original
white. And again it may be that while the dots of one original white figure may
all, or nearly all, be colored red in the finished fabric, the next adjoining figure may
have only a portion, and perhaps a very small portion, of its dots so colored. Thus
a very great variety of coloring and very striking and peculiar effects may be
produced.
It will be manifest from what has already been said that the variation in the
coloring and in the effects produced may be still further increased by varying the
several patterns or figures, or by using more intricate or complicated patterns, either
in the case of the white figures, or in the case of the color figures, or both. It will
be readily understood that if the white figures be varied or be of a more intricate
character than the simple group of polka dots above supposed, the variation in
the coloring of such white figures by printing with the color pattern upon the
fabric will be greatly increased. So also if the figure of the color pattern be varied
or be of a more intricate character than the simple square supposed, the variation
in the coloring of the white figures will be on that account greatly increased,
while if varied or intricate patterns be used for both the white and the color
figures, the variation in the color effects produced will be greatly multiplied.
Moreover instead of using a color pattern, all the figures of which are printed
in the same color, the color pattern, whether of a simple or intricate character,
may have its different figures or different parts of the figures printed in different
colors. When this is done the variation in the resulting effects is still further
increased. This will be understood by referring again to the simple patterns
herein before supposed. Thus if the squares of the color pattern be printed some
in red, some in green, some in blue, others in purple, etc. it is plain that the
coloring of the polka dots of the white figures will vary much more than in case
all the squares were printed in red. If the color pattern be composed of intricate
or irregularly shaped figures, and the different figures or parts of figures be printed
in different colors as above suggested, still greater variations will be produced. For
example take the case of a fabric where each of the white figures is a group of
twelve small polka dots, as above supposed. If a color pattern of intricate or

page_text: irregularly shaped figures in different colors be printed on such fabric, it may be
that in one of the original white figures, two of its twelve dots for example will
be colored red, one colored green, three colored blue, four colored purple, and two
not colored at all, but left in the original white, while in the next adjoining white
figure the coloring of the dots will be widely different. The great variety of
striking effects that may thus be produced by the above described method will be
readily appreciated.
If a color pattern is employed, in which different figures or different parts of
figures are to be printed in different colors, as above suggested, such color pattern
may and usually would be printed by the "fitting-pattern" method, so called, by
the employment of as many different printing rollers as there are colors to be
printed, such rollers being so arranged and operated that the portion printed by
each roller will fit the parts printed by the other rollers and the entire color
pattern be printed at a single passage of the fabric through the printing machine.
While it is preferred to make use of a color pattern composed of figures which
are more or less solid or of blotch character, it is not essential that a color pattern
of this character should be used, as the process is precisely the same, and similar
effects may be produced, if the color pattern be composed of what are known as
line figures instead of blotch figures.
It will be understood that the printing with the resist may be either before or
after the padding with the black producing liquor.
While it is preferred, when the ground pattern is to be black, to produce this
black ground pattern by resist-printing, by reason of the well known superiority
of such resist-printing method for the production of black grounds, it will be
obvious that, so far as my new method is concerned, it is immaterial how the black
or other dark ground pattern is produced, whether by resist-printing or by direct
printing, and that if desired such black or other dark ground pattern may be
produced by blotch printing the same directly upon the fabric.
Of course for the production of fast colors it is usually desirable to make use of
a mordant to fix the colors. When employed the mordant may be applied in any
suitable manner, as for instance by mixing the mordant with the bright colors,
before printing therewith, and then printing with such mordant colors.
When
the black ground pattern is produced by resist-printing there are advantages to
be obtained by mixing the mordant with the resist, and then printing with such
resist-mordant. The employment of a mordant, however, is in no way essential
to the present invention, and it may be omitted altogether if desired.
It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to any particular
order of steps in the performance of the process as a whole, as the order in which
the different steps are performed may be varied without departing from the
underlying feature of the invention. Thus it is immaterial so far as the invention
is concerned, whether the dark ground pattern is first produced and the bright
color pattern printed afterwards, or whether the bright color pattern is printed
first, and the dark ground pattern produced afterwards. Thus if the dark ground
pattern is to be produced by resist-printed, it may be preferable to produce this
dark ground pattern first and then print the bright color pattern; whereas if the
dark ground pattern is to be produced by direct printing it may be preferable
to reverse the order, that is, to print the bright color pattern first, and then print
the dark ground pattern.
The characteristic feature of the invention is that the figures of the bright color
pattern do not appear in their entirety in the finished fabric, but only in frag-
ments, portions of such bright color figures being obliterated or concealed by the
dark ground pattern. It is immaterial, however, how this obliteration or con-
cealment is effected.
Furthermore, while it is preferred to produce the bright color pattern by print-
ing the same upon the woven fabric, it is not essential that this should be done,
as such bright color pattern may be produced, if desired, by printing the same
upon the warp threads prior to weaving.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1 The method of printing fabrics which consists in producing a black or other
dark ground pattern on the fabric and also printing upon the fabric a pattern of
comparatively bright color, the figures of which do not register with or fit the
dark ground pattern, whereby the figures composing the bright color pattern
will not show in their entirety on the finished fabric, portions of such bright
color figures being obliterated or concealed by the black or other dark ground
pattern, substantially as set forth.
4.
"
2 The method of printing fabrics which consists in producing a black or other
dark ground pattern on the fabric and also printing upon the fabric a pattern
of comparatively bright color, the figures of which are of different form or outline
from the white figures formed by the dark ground pattern, and do not register
with or fit the dark ground pattern, substantially as set forth.
3-The method of printing fabrics which consists in producing a black or other
dark ground pattern on the fabric, and also printing upon the fabric a pattern
of comparatively bright color, the figures of which have a different arrangement
with relation to each other from the arrangement of the white figures formed by
the dark ground pattern and do not register with or fit the dark ground pattern,
substantially as set forth.
4The method of printing fabrics which consists in producing a black or other
dark ground pattern on the fabric and also printing upon the fabric a pattern
of comparatively bright color, the figures of which are of a blotch character, and
do not register with or fit the dark ground pattern, substantially as set forth.
5-The method of printing fabrics which consists in producing a black or
other dark ground pattern on the fabric and also printing upon the fabric a
pattern of comparatively bright colors, the figures of which do not register with
or fit the dark ground figure, different parts of such bright color pattern being
printed in different colors, substantially as set forth.
6-The method of printing fabrics which consists in padding the fabric with
a black producing liquor, printing on the fabric a pattern with a "resist,"
developing the black to produce a black ground with white figures, and printing
a pattern with comparatively bright color, the figures of which do not register
with or fit the black ground pattern, substantially as set forth.
7-The method of printing fabrics which consists in padding the fabric with a
black producing liquor, printing on the fabric a pattern with a "resist," develop-
ing the black to produce a black ground with white figures, and printing a
pattern with a comparatively bright color having a mordant mixed therewith,
the figures of which bright color pattern do not register with or fit the black
ground pattern, substantially as set forth.
8-The method of printing fabrics which consists in padding the fabric with a
black producing liquor, printing on the fabric a pattern with a resist-mordant,
developing the black to produce a black ground with white figures, and printing a
pattern of comparatively bright color, the figures of which do not register with or
fit the black ground pattern, substantially as set forth.
L
9-A printed fabric having a black or other dark ground and intervening
figures of comparatively bright color, said bright color figures differing in their
coloring in an irregular and varying manner, substantially as set forth.
10 A printed fabric having a black or other dark ground pattern and having
printed thereon a pattern of comparatively bright color the figures of the two
patterns overlapping or overlying each other in an irregular and varying manner,
substantially as set forth.
11 A printed fabric having a black or other dark ground pattern and having
printed thereon a pattern of comparatively bright color, the figures of which do
not register with or fit the dark ground pattern, and consequently do not show
in their entirety on the finished fabric, portions of said bright color figures being

page_text: obliterated or concealed by the black or other dark ground pattern, substantially
as set forth,
Dated this 21st day of January 1898.
THOMAS F. STIMPSON,
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.