CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APRARATUS FOR PRINTING CALICOES AND OTHER FABRICS
Year: 1827

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, MATTHEW
BUSH, of Dalmonach Print Field, Bouhill, by Dumbarton, North Britain,
Calico Printer, send greeting.
WHEREAS His present most Excellent Majesty King George the Fourth,
by His Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date
at Westminster, the Twenty-seventh day of March, One thousand eight
hundred and twenty-seven, in the eighth year of His reign, did, for Himself,
His heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said Matthew Bush,
His especial licence that I, the said Matthew Bush, my exors, admňors, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Matthew Bush, 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 expressed, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of
Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY
OR APRARATUS FOR PRINTING CALICOES AND OTHER FABRICS;" in which said
Letters Patent is contained a proviso, obliging me, the said Matthew
Bush, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, particularly to
describe and ascertain the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, and to cause the same to be inrolled in His
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
Matthew Bush, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention, and
the manner in which the same is to be performed, are particularly described
and ascertained in and by the two Sheets of Drawings hereunto annexed,
together with the following description thereof (that is to say) :-
Part of my improvements in machinery and apparatus for printing calicoes,
silks, and other fabrics is applicable to that kind of machinery which is com-
monly called cylinder machines, for printing upon calicoes, silks, or other
fabrics an ornamental pattern or figured design, containing two or three
colours, such printing being performed at one operation by means of cylindrical
printing rollers, upon the external surfaces of which the type of the intended
pattern is formed, either by lines, dots, and marks engraved or indented upon
the smooth cylindrical surface of the roller, or else by prominent lines, dots, or
marks standing up therefrom in relief. In either case the type of the intended
pattern so formed upon the cylindrical surface of each printing roller is
adapted to receive semi-liquid color from a suitable color-furnishing appa-
ratus, and then to impart such color to the calico, silk, or other fabric, so as
to print and ornament the same with the pattern or figured design which is
formed, as aforesaid, upon the surface of the cylindrical roller. A cylinder
machine is provided with one, two, or three such printing rollers, which make
their impressions one after another upon the calico, silk, or other fabric during
its passage through the machine, each roller printing a different color. The
engraving upon the several rollers is so adapted one to the other that the suc-
cessive impressions which they print upon the calico will correspond exactly
one with the other, and combine to form one pattern or figured design in
divers colours. The object of my improvements upon such machinery is to
prevent any intermixture of the different colours which are furnished to the
several printing rollers in the same machine, in order that each roller may
print with a clear color of its own, and also to apply heat to that part of the
calico, silk, or other fabric which has just received the impression from one o
the printing rollers (in one colour), in order to dry up and evaporate the super
fluous moisture of that color before the next succeeding printing roller make
its impression (in a different color), upon the same part of the calico, silk, o
other fabric, whereby the intermixture of the different colors thus successivel
printed will be avoided, and also the impressions which are first made will b
less liable to be blotted or defaced by the succeeding impressions; and othe
parts of my improvements are applicable to the table and apparatus for bloc
printing, whereby what are called the after colours of the figured patterns ar
filled up or printed in different colours after the outlines and the finer part

page_text: have been printed in one, two, or three colours, either by a cylinder machine
or by other means. Such block printing is performed by blocks, the under
surfaces of which are carved to form the type of the required pattern in relief.
The prominent parts of that type are furnished with colour, and the calico,
silk, or other fabric being spread out evenly over the surface of a suitable
table, the coloured part of the block is carefully applied upon it by hand, so
that its pattern will correspond exactly with that of the impression previously
printed upon the calico, silk, or other fabric, and then the block being pressed
forcibly down, leaves the required impression. The same block is applied suc-
cessively upon every part of the piece of calico, silk, or other fabric, until the
whole surface is covered with its impressions; and if the printing is carefully
executed, those impressions will join exactly together, and will correspond with
the previous impressions, so as to form one pattern or design in different colours.
The object of my improvements upon such apparatus is to enable the printer to
stretch out the calico, silk, or other fabric very evenly and flat upon the sur-
face of the printing table, in order that the pattern previously printed may
readily be made to assume its correct form, so that the ground or impression
made by the blecks may be correctly laid to fill up and correspond exactly
with the previous impressions. In order more fully to explain the nature and
object of that part of my said improvements which is applicable to cylinder
printing machines, I have drawn a vertical section of one of the cylinder calico
printing machines now commonly used for printing calico with one, two, or
three colors, see Figure 1 of the Drawing, Sheet I. This machine has one
large iron cylinder or roller A, called the top roller, which is placed in a
horizontal position in the frame F, F, of the machine, and is suspended by
suitable pivots at each end of its axis a, so as to be capable of turning freely
round a long piece of woollen cloth or blanket, which has its two ends sewed
together to form an endless web (like a belt or girdle,) is applied round the top
roller A, as is shewn by the black line b, b, so as to eзcompass about two-thirds
of its cylindrical surface at the lower part, and the endless web b, b, is stretched
over a series of rollers d, d, e, e, in order to keep it extended, and to cause it
to apply very closely and evenly around the lower part of the cylindrical
surface of the top roller A. The endless blanket b, b, can move freely
and circulate about these rollers. The three printing rollers B, D, E, are
applied against the top roller A, their axes being mounted horizontally in the
frame F, and parallel to the axis of the top roller A. One of these printing rollers
marked B, is placed immediately beneath the top roller A, and the other. two,
marked D and E, are placed at the opposite sides of the said roller. The
piece of calico which is to be printed is wound or coiled round a roller G, and
->

page_text: cog
is conducted from that roller, as is shewn by the red line g, g, and passes over
a roller l, which retains the calico in a suitable direction to cause it to apply
closely and evenly to the outside of the blanket b, b, at the part where it
wraps around the lower part of the top roller A. The bearings which support
the pivots of the axis of the several rollers A, B, D, and E, can be adjusted
by screws to regulate their respective positions, in order to cause the
cylindrical surfaces of the printing rollers to press with suitable force against
the calico; and the blanket, which covers and surrounds the lower part of the
top roller A, is interposed between the calico and the hard surface of the top
roller to enable it to receive an impression from the printing roller. A toothed
cog wheel is fixed upon the axis of each of the three printing rollers B, D, and
E, and these three toothed wheels are connected together by other intermediate
wheels, whereby all the three printing rollers are compelled to turn round
together with equal and corresponding motions, and in the same direction; all
the three printing rollers are of the same diameter. One of the said wheels
is turned steadily round by mechanical power with a slow continuous motion,
and by the connection of the aforesaid wheel work all the three printing rollers
partake equally of the motion; and by the force with which their surfaces press
against the calico and the blanket which is behind it, they cause the top roller
A to turn round, and the endless blanket b, b, to move or circulate over the
several rollers upon which it is extended. The calico accompanies the blanket
in its motion, and is thus presented to the different printing rollers B, D, and
E, to receive their impressions one after the other. The piece of calico unrols
itself from off the roller G, as fast as the motion of the printing rollers B, D,
and E, requires, and every part of its length passes in succession in contact with
their printing surfaces, in order to receive the several impressions therefrom in
different collors, one immediately after the other, and the calico is drawn away
by winding or gathering it up round a suitable drag roller turned by the
machinery as fast as it is printed. To furnish the different colors to the several
printing rollers, a suitable furnishing roller is applied beneath each engraved
printing roller. The surface of the furnishing roller, which is covered with felt
or blanket, is kept in contact with the surface of the printing roller, and the
funishing roller is turned round, by wheelwork, by a corresponding motion to
that of the printing roller. The other part of the funishing roller is immersed
in a trough containing the semi-liquid color, and by its motion the roller
carries up a certain portion of that, colour, and applies it to the engraved
surface of the printing roller, so as to fill the lines and indentations which are
engraved thereupon. A knife or blade of steel, called the doctor, is fixed with
its edge in close contact with the smooth cylindrical surface of the printing

page_text: roller, which, as it turns round, is scraped by this edge, so as to clean off all the
colour from it except that small portion which is contained within the engraved
lines and indentations, leaving the smooth cylindrical surface quite clear;
consequently, when that surface and the calico come in contact, the impression
will be made precisely according to such engraving. The printing roller, which
is placed at B in front of the top roller roller A, is an engraved roller, and it
prints first upon the plain calico, which, as it passes further on, after receiving
that impression, is printed again with a second impression in a different colour
by the lower printing roller D, which is also an engraved roller. The engravings
upon the two rollers and their relative positions must be adapted very exactly
to each other, so that the successive impressions that they make will exactly
correspond with each other, and form one pattern or figured design in two
colors. The back roller E, which prints last on the calico, after it has
received the other two impressions, is carved with the pattern in relief, and
is furnished with color by means of an endless web of felt or blanket, which
is extended over three rollers d, e, and f. The lower one of these rollers e is
immersed in a trough containing the liquid color, and one of the three
rollers being turned round, the endless blanket is made to circulate over the
rollers so as to carry up a sufficiency of colour with it, and the blanket being
applied in contact with the carved surface of the printing roller E at the
under part, furnishes that surface with the requisite colour to enable it to print
the calico with a ground or filling up color corresponding to the outline and
finer parts of the figured pattern, which have just been printed in two other
colors by the two first printing rollers B and D, as before described.
And my
improvement in such cylinder printing machinery consists in applying to every
printing roller (which is used to print a different color) a distinct top roller,
each such top roller having an endless blanket or felt of its own, which blanket
wraps round a part of its circumference, and which circulates over a series of
rollers in the usual manner; but no part of such endless blanket has any
contact with the other blankets, so that, according to my improvement, there is
a distinct top roller and blanket for each color that is to be printed, in order that
all intermixture of the colours may be avoided. The calico applies closely to
each of the said blankets at the part where that blanket wraps round its top
roller so as to extend the calico upon the blanket opposite to the printing roller
in a suitable manner to receive the impression from the printing roller; but in
passing from one printing roller to the next succeeding roller the calico parts
from the blanket, and is extended by itself for some distance, until it meets
and applies to the next blanket, in order to receive the next impression; and
according to my improvements hollow boxes made of thin metal plate are fixed in

page_text: the space between the different top rollers, and those boxes are kept constantly
filled with steam so as to be kept hot. The back of the calico applies itself in
close contact with the outside surfaces of the heated boxes at those parts where
the calico passes by itself from one blanket to the next, so that when the calico
moves through the machine it will be drawn across those heated surfaces, in
order that the color, which has been just before printed upon the calico by one
printing roller, may become sufficiently dried by the heat which is thus applied
to the back of the calico during its passage from one printing roller to the next
roller, by which another impression is to be printed upon it, and then the colours
of the previous impression will not be injured or impaired by those of the
succeeding one, nor will the colours of the successive impressions be intermixed
or blotted together.
Figure 2 of the Drawing, Sheet I., is a vertical section of a cylinder machine
for printing three colours, which is constructed according to my improvenients
herein before declared. B, D, and E are the three printing rollers; the
front roller B and the lower roller D being engraved on their smooth surfaces,
and the back roller E being carved in relief to form a type for the pattern;
R, S, and T are the three distinct top rollers, one corresponding to each of the
printing rollers B, D, and E. The black lines 7, 1, s, 5, and t, t, represent the three
separate endless blankets which correspond to the three top rollers R, S, and T.
Each of these blankets has its two ends sewed together, so as to form an
endless web. I, m, and n are the lower blanket rollers, which conduct the several
endless blankets r, s, and t, so as to cause them to wrap properly round the
lower parts of their top rollers R, S, and T respectively; and h, i, and k are
the upper blanket rollers, which are situated over the machine in the usual
position, to conduct the different blankets in a horizontal direction along the
ceiling of the apartment for a considerable distance, and then they return over
other suitable rollers to other upper blanket rollers o, p, and q, by which they
are conducted down again to the rollers l, m, and n, and come in contact with
their top rollers R, S, and T respectively. The endless blankets r, s, and t are
conducted to such a distance over a series of other rollers (not represented in the
Figure) that they may have time to become dry, after that they have been in
action to print one impression, and during the interval before they return to
print another impression. To facilitate such drying, hollow boxes L, L, M, M
N, N, of thin metal, are fixed near the ceiling of the apartment near to the
blankets, and they are filled with steam, so as to be kept constantly hot; during
the motion of the blankets they pass and repass very closely to the heated
surfaces of the steam boxes, in order to be dried by the heat thereof. The
steam boxes N, N, are situated between, the blankets. and s, which belong to

page_text: the top rollers R and S, and their printing rollers B and D, so as to dry both
those blankets at those sides which will afterwards come in contact with the
back of the calico; in like manner the steam boxes M, M, are placed between
the blankets s and t, which belong to the top rollers S and T, and their printing
rollers D and E. The steam boxes L, L, are applied to dry the blanket t
belonging to the top roller T and the back printing roller E, and also to dry
the piece of calico g at the back or opposite side to that; which has been
printed. G is the piece roller, round which the calico is wrapped, and from this
roller the calico passes, as is shewn by the red line ġ, g, to the breast roller l,
by which it is brought in contact with the blanket of the top roller R, so as
to wrap round the same in a proper manner to receive the impression of the
first printing roller B. The calico then parts from the blanket r, and passes on
to the next blankets of the top roller S, and wraps round the same in a suitable
manner to receive the second impression from the lower printing roller D. In
thus passing from the blanket of the top roller R to the blanket of the next top
roller S, the calico is extended by itself, and applies against the heated surface
of a steam box W, which is fixed across the frame of the machine in the
interval between the top rollers R and S, in such a position that the back of
the piece of calico will be extended across it, and drawn in contact with its
surface, which is kept constantly hot by means of steam, with which the box is
always filled. This surface should be smooth, in order that the calico may draw
easily across it, 'during its progress through the machine, and the surface may
be made with so much convexity as to cause the back of the calico to apply
more fairly against it, in order to be more effectually dried by the heat in
passing across that surface. In like manner; the calico after receiving the
second impression from the lower printing roller D is. parted: from the blankets
of its top roller S, and proceeds by itself across the heated surface of another
steam box X to the blanket t of the other top roller T, so as to wrap round the
same in a proper manner to receive the third impression from the back printing
roller E; and having received that impression, the calico 9 parts from the
blanket t, as is shewn by the red line'g, and passes up over the calico roller v,
by which it is conducted liorizontally over the heated surfaces of the steam
boxes L, L, in order to be dried, and it is àfterwards gathered up in the usual
manner.
5 The wheelwork by which the three printing rollers are turned round, all
together, with corresponding motions, and the screws or loaded levers by
which they are caused to press against the calico, may be made in the
same manner as in the common cylinder printing machines; and all the
apparatus for furnishing color to each printing roller, as well as the several

page_text: doctors for cleaning these rollers from the superfluous color, and from the
lint, may be constructed in the usual manner; but as my improvements
do not affect any of those parts, it is unnecessary to enter into any further
explanation of them. The main frame F, F, must be formed with suitable
bearings to receive the pivots of as many top rollers R, S, and T, as there are
printing rollers B, D, and E, in the machine, and the pivots at each end of the
axis of each top roller are to be mounted in those bearings, so as to admit of
each roller turning freely round; the said bearings, or else those which contain
the axis of the several printing rollers, must be so constructed as to be capable
of such adjustments in their positions as well enable all the rollers to be set
precisely parallel to each other; the same means may be adopted for making
such adjustments as are commonly practised in the machines now in use, and
as are well known to competent. workmen accustomed to make the same.
The main frame must also be adapted to receive the steam boxes W and X
in the spaces between the top rollers R, S, and T, as herein-before described.
The pipes and cocks for supplying steam to those boxes from a suitable steam
boiler, and for drawing off the condensed water from them, require no
particular description, being of the same kind as are used for the steam boxes
which are commonly applied to dry the blankets of cylinder printing machines.
That part of my improvement consists in the application of heat to the back
of the piece of calico, silk, or other fabric, in order to dry the same whilst it
is detached from the blanket, and in the interval between the printing of the
successive impressions upon it, so that after it has received an impression from
one printing roller the superfluous moisture of the colour shall be dried away
during its progress to the next succeeding printing cylinder, by which another
impression is to be made.
Sheet II., of the Drawings hereunto annexed represents a table and
apparatus for block printing, which is constructed according to my improve-
ments herein-before declared, and which is particularly intended for printing
the after colours of the pattern, by block printing upon the calico after the
outlines and finest parts of the pattern have been printed by cylinder
printing, or otherwise; when the calico so printed has been dyed previously to
such block printing of the after colours, it becomes shrunk up and contracted
irregularly, and requires to be extended and stretched out again evenly upon
the block printing table, so as to restore the pattern to its true form and
dimensions, in order that the pattern of the grounding block may fit correctly
to the pattern of the outline.
Fig. 1 is a horizontal plan, and Fig. 2 is an elevation of the table and
apparatus; the same letters are used to denote the same parts in both Figures.

page_text: A, A, is the flat table, which is made of thick planks of wood, or of stone, in the
usual manner, and is mounted upon its frame, which stands upon four legs
B, B; its upper flat surface is covered with blanket; G is the piece roller,
upon which the piece of calico is rolled or coiled up, after the outlines or finer
parts of the pattern have been printed upon it, by a cylinder machine, or
otherwise. The pivots at each end of this roller are supported in small
bearings at the ends of brackets b, b, which are fastened to the frame B, B, of
the table, and which project out therefrom so as to hold the piece roller G
horizontally opposite to one end of the table A, A. One of the pivots of the
piece roller projects out beyond the bracket b, and a handle d is fixed upon
that projecting end, to enable the printer to turn the roller round, and wind up
the calico upon it; a ratchet wheel a, with fine teeth, is also fixed upon the
same pivot, and a click e is applied to act in its teeth, to retain the roller from
turning back and unwinding the calico from it; H is a similar piece roller,
situated at the opposite end of the table A, A, to wind up the piece of calico
after the ground or filling up colour has been printed upon it, by block printing
or grounding upon the table. The piece roller H is similar to the other piece
roller G, being supported by brackets f, which project out from the frame B, B,
of the table, and having a handle h to turn it round, and a ratchet wheel g
and click i to retain it from turning back. The calico is unwound from the
piece roller G, and wound up by the other piece roller H, as it is wanted; and
in passing from one of these rollers to the other it is stretched along over the
surface of the table A, A, in order to be grounded or printed with filling
up colours, or ground by blocks. The parts which has been so grounded
afterwards passes over a series of rollers, in order to expose it to the air, that
the grounding color may become dry before it is gathered up upon the piece
roller H. I and m are rollers, placed horizontally at each end of the table, in
proper positions to conduct the calico horizontally along its surface; they are
supported by their pivots at each end in suitable notches in the projecting
brackets band f, so as to be at some distance beyond the ends of the table,
and these rollers are placed a very little below the level of the surface of the
blanket with which the table is covered, in order that the calico may be
fairly applied upon that surface. n is a roller, placed opposite to the end of the
table, beyond the roller m; the piece of calico passes under the rollern, and
then rises up to a roller o, which conducts it horizontally for a considerable
distance to a series of rollers p, p, p, and 9, 9, 9, where the calico is extended
vertically up and down from one of these rollers to another in several folds;
then it returns horizontally to a roller r, over which it descends again to a
roller s, and is wound round the piece roller HI; by turning that roller round

page_text: by its handle h, it will wind up the piece of calico, so as to draw it over all the
different rollers s, r, q, p, o, n, m, and 1, before described; and if the other piece
roller g is detained by its ratchet wheel a and click e from turning back the
calico may be strained or stretched out to its full length, so as to lay flat over
the surface of the table, in order that it may be grounded or printed with the
filling-up color or ground of the pattern by the repeated applications of a block
properly furnished with the grounding colour. When as many successive
impressions have been thus made with the block as to cover and fill up the
ground, all that part of the calico which is spread upon the table, the click e
is lifted up, so as to leave the ratchet wheel a of the piece roller G at liberty,
and then the handle h of the piece roller H is turned round to wind up the
calico, which is drawn over the several rollers, and advances along the tablo
until all that part which has been grounded has passed off beyond the end of
the table, leaving its surface covered with a fresh portion of the calico, which
requires to be grounded. The click e is then let down into the teeth of the
ratchet wheel a, so as to prevent any more of the calico from unwinding from
off the piece roller G, and then, by turning the handle H a little further, the
calico may be stretched with any degree of tension that may be required, in
order to extend the pattern previously printed upon it to its correct dimensions
lengthwise of the piece, and the click i and ratchet wheel g will retain it
when so stretched. That the printer may know when the pattern is stretched
to its proper dimension, indicators k, k, are provided at each end of the
table, to point at known parts on the pattern. These indicators are fitted
upon two small iron bars K, K, which are fixed horizontally across each
end of the table, their ends being supported in the brackets b, b, and f, f.
The indicators k, k, are fastened upon the bars K, K, by screws, so that
they can be fixed in the first instance to point to any known parts of the
pattern which is printed upon the calico. When the calico is properly
extended in length, and every succeeding time that the calico is advanced
along the table it must be stretched as before-mentioned, until the same
marks on the pattern are brought to the indicators k, k, at each end of the
table, and then the pattern will be of the proper dimensions lengthways of
the pieces, so that the grounding blocks may be made to fit properly to the
pattern previously printed upon the calicoes; the tension thus given to the
piece of calico, by means of the two piece rollers G and H, will cause all those
parts of the pattern which form longitudinal rows or lines in the direction of
the length of the piece to become quite straight along the table. But it
will sometimes happen that the calico has been shrunk up unequally by the
dyeing, and distorted so much that those parts of the pattern which form trans-

page_text: verse rows or lines across the breadth of the piece will not come quite straight
across the table, by merely extending the piece in length by the picce rollers
G and II, as just described, but the pattern will remain in some degree dis-
torted; to remedy this distortion, certain pieces of wood L, L, which I call
stretchers, are applied and pressed down upon the calico where it passes over
beyond the ends of the table A, near to the places where it is supported upon
the roller or m, and the said stretchers L, L, depress the ca'ico into hollows
or loops, and thus give an extra stretching to that part of the calico which
covers the flat surface of the table, and any required number of the stretchers
L, L, can be applied to the calico, and they can be placed at any part of the
breadth of the piece at either or at both ends of the table, and then they can
be pressed down to any required depth, so as to stretch the calico partially at
any part of its width and in any degree as may be requisite. In order to restore
the pattern to its true form, the stretchers L, L, are supported by flat rails of
wood M, which are fixed horizontally across the breadth of the piece at each
end of the table over the spaces between the ends of the table and the rollers
and m, the ends of the rails M, M, being fastened to the brackets b, b, and f, f;
the flat surfaces of the rails M, M, are inclined, and the stretchers L, L, are
applied across the length of the rails M, M, in an inclined position upon the
flat inclined surfaces thereof; and to retain the stretchers L, L, thereupon;
each one has a spring catch t fixed to it at the lower end, and extending
upwards opposite to the back of the stretcher L; the catch t is so fixed as to
spring off from the back of the stretcher L by its own elasticity with con-
siderable force, and the catch is cut into small teeth, like those of a saw,
to catch against the under edges of iron bars N, N, which are fixed hori-
zontally over the flat rails M, M. so as to be parallel thereto, but leaving
a sufficient space or opening between the rails M and the bars N to receive
the stretchers L. The spring catch t, at the back of each of the stretchers L,
will bear upwards beneath the barns N, with sufficient force to press such
stretchers firmly down npon the flat surfaces of the rails M, and the teeth
of the spring catch then act beneath the under edges of the iron bars N,
so as to prevent the stretchers from being forced upwards in the direction
of their length by the reaction or elasticity of the calico, which is depressed
thereby the lower end of each stretcher which is pressed upon the calico
5 is made convex, and rounded off smooth at the edges, that it may not
injure the calico; any one of the stretchers L can be released in an instant
by grasping the upper end of it in the hand with the thumb upon the
upper end of the spring catch t, and by pressing the catch towards the
stretcher the catch can be withdrawn from the iron bar N, so that its teeth
;

page_text: will no longer catch the lower edge thereof, and then the stretcher can be
withdrawn endways upwards, so as to strain less upou the calico, or it can be
removed sideways to another part of the width of the piece, or it may be
removed altogether, as the case may require. When the printer has stretched
the piece lengthways along the table by the piece rollers G and H, and brought
the pattern to its proper dimensions according to the indicators k, k, at each
end of the table, the longitudinal rows formed by the pattern will become
straight along the table; but if, on looking horizontally across the table, he
observes that the transverse rows of the pattern are not straight across the
breadth of the piece, he then inserts one of the stretchers L into the space or
opening between the bar N and the rail M; the flat surface of the stretcher
being applied, as before stated, upon the flat inclined surface of the rail, with
the length of the stretcher across the breadth of the rail, and inclining down-
wards, so that its lower end presses upon the calico and bears it down into a
hollow, at the part where the calico extends over beyond the end of the table,
and near where it rests upon the roller l or m, when any one or more of the
longitudinal rows appears to be advanced too much forwards along the table
beyond the others, so as to distort the pattern and make the transverse rows
crooked across the table; then he applies one or more of the stretchers L at
the end of the table opposite to the longitudinal rows which are so advanced,
and presses the stretcher down, so as to strain the calico at those particular
parts, so as to draw back those rows till they are brought even with the other
longitudinal rows, and render the transverse rows of the pattern straight across
the table. In like manner, when any one or more of the longitudinal rows are
not advanced so far along the table as the others, a stretcher or stretchers L
must be applied at the end m of the table opposite to such rows, in order to
strain the calico, and draw forwards those particular rows to make them even
with the other longitudinal rows, and render the transverse rows straight; in
some cases it will happen that when the piece is stretched out along the table
by the piece rollers G and H, the transverse rows of the pattern will form
straight lines across the table; but they will not be square across, or at right
angles to the length of the piece. To rectify that kind of distortion of the
pattern, a straight ruler 2, sec the small detached Fig. 3, as applied at the
back of or behind each of the fixed rails M and stems w, w, which are fixed to
such rulers at each end thereof, are received through suitable guides fixed to
the rails M'at the back thereof, so as to admit of sliding the stems up or down
through the guides, and thus setting the rulers higher or lower and at either
end, in order that they may be made to press upon the calico and stretch it with
any required force; and by forcing down one or other of the stems, the rulers

page_text: may be made to press as much more at one side or edge of the piece than the
other, as is requisite to bring the transverse rows square across the table. The
stems w, w, or ruler 2, are provided with spring catches, having teeth to act
within the guides, in which the stems are received, so as to retain the stems
w, w, and their rulers in any situation to which they are pressed down to strain
the calico; but by grasping the upper end of either of the stems w with the
hand and pressing its spring catch towards it, the teeth of such catch will be
detached from the guides within which they act, and then the stem can be
drawn up to raise that end of the ruler to which it belongs, and relieve the
calico from its pressure. In case the piece of calico is so much shrunk and con-
tracted in width after dyeing as to require stretching upon the table sideways
in order to bring the pattern to its correct dimensions, holders R, R, and S, S,
are applied along each edge of the table A, A, to hold the edges or selvedges
of the piece, and to draw them out from each other to the proper width; the
holder R, R, consists of a bar of iron, with a plate of thin copper 3, 3, attached
to it, having small pins upon its surface, and the holder R, R rests upon pivots
or hinges in small brackets affixed to the table A, A, on which it can turn as
on a centre to or from the table, see Figure 1, and Figure 6, which is an end
view of the table, to show the manner of applying the holders R, R, and
S, S. The holder S, S, consists of a thin plate of copper 4, 4, attached to three
metal sliders T, T, T; upon the sliders Tare three studs holding a second similar
plate of copper 5, 5, but which has small pins upon its surface, and the said
plate 5, 5, rests upon pivots or hinges in those studs on which it can turn in
the same manner as the plate 3, 3; the sliders T are lodged in grooves formed
in brackets 6, affixed to the side of the table, see Figs. 1 and 6, when it is
found necessary to use the holders R, R, and S, S. After the workman has
laid his table and stretched the calico to the length denoted by the indicators,
the holder R, R, must be turned round on its hinges or pivots towards the
table, so as that the pins on the plate of copper 3 shall catch in the piece of
calico; the workman next brings the thin plate of copper 4, 4, under the edge
of the piece of calico, between it and the blanket, by moving the sliders T, T,
towards the table, and he then turns the plate of copper 5, 5, round upon its
hinges or centres of motion, so that it shall lay upon the top of the calico, and
its teeth or pins take hold of the same just beyond the edge of the plate 4, 4,
see Fig. 6; he next stretches the piece of calico sideways by drawing out the
sliders T, T, from the table, and when he has so stretched it to the desired
width, it is held firm in that position by means of spring catches attached to
the sliders T, see Fig. 6, and acting against bars of metal affixed to the
brackets 6, on which the said sliders run in a similar manner to that already
described for the spring catches t. (Note.--Before pushing in the sliders T, their

page_text: spring catches must be depressed to relieve their teeth from the bar against
which they hold, in the same manner as described for the spring catches t.)
The calico being in this condition, the workman then begins to print or ground
that part of the piece which is contained between the holders R, R, and S, S
as is shewn in Fig. 6, and when that operation is finished, he removes the
holders by turning them back respectively upon their hinges away from the
table, and draws out the sliders T, T, so as to bring the holders R, R, and S, S,
into the position shewn in Fig. 1, and he then grounds or prints the edges or
selvedges of the piece of calico which were before covered by the holders 7, 7.
Figure 2 is an endless web of flannel passing over the rollers n, n, and inter-
posed between the calico and the lower roller n, to prevent the color of the
calico marking off upon that rolier n, when it is wound off from the table.
Fig. 3 shows two detached views (drawn to double the scale of Figure 1) of
one of the rulers affixed to the back of the picce M, with its spring catch, the
action, whereof has been already described. Fig. 4 is a plan of one of the
stretchers L, with its spring catch t drawn to the real size; and Fig. 5 is a
side view of the same. The dimensions and proportions of the machinery
lierein-before described may be found by measuring the scales upon tho
Drawings, but they may be varied at the discretion of the workman employed to
construct the same, according to the circumstances of the case, as also the
materials of which the same may be formed, without departing from the
essential properties of 'my improvements, as herein-before described and set
forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Matthew Bush, havo hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twelfth day of September, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and twenty-seven.