Improvements in Methods of and Apparatus for Printing or Colouring Yarn and similar Material.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Nov., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by THE ALEXANDER SMITH & SONS CARPET COMPANY,
a Corporation organized in accordance with the laws of the State of New York,.
and having its office in Yonkers, in said State of New York, United States of
America.]
Improvements in Methods of and Apparatus for Printing or
Colouring Yarn and similar Material.
I, PHILIP ARTHUR NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 6, Bream's Buildings,
Chancery Lane, in the County of London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in methods of and apparatus for printing
or coloring yarn or similar material, by applying to the yarn successive streaks of
color arranged side by side, the object of the invention being to secure the desired
uniform coloring of the yarn.
The improved method may be carried out by hand tools, or by apparatus of
various forms, in which the structural features of the invention may be embodied,*
but the invention will be described as applied in connection with methods and
machines of a general class, and now in common use for printing or coloring
carpet yarn.
In printing yarn for tapestry and other carpets, the yarn is usually wound
upon a drum, and then the color applied by means of a'color-applying device, such
as a wheel, bar, or other equivalent device, which is usually a wheel and to which
the generic term "color wheel" will be applied herein, this wheel running in a box
or trough called the "color box," which is carried by a carriage reciprocating
longitudinally of the drum. At each reciprocation of the carriage, the color wheel
applies to 'the yarn a streak of color equal to the width of the wheel, and the
drum is rotated step by step for the successive streaks,-a wide stripe of a color
being obtained by applying two or more streaks of the same color, and different
color boxes and color wheels being substituted for streaks of different colors.
In this printing operation, a ridge of color is formed at each side of the color
wheel, that is, between two adjacent stripes, and it is usual to employ devices,
known variously as rubbers, scrapers, spreaders, or equalizers, and to which the
generic term "rubbers" will be applied, for distributing the color contained in
these ridges, and rubbing the color into and through the yarn,-these rubbers
being mounted to reciprocate with the color wheel, and follow it in printing.
Usually, a pair of such rubbers are employed, located on opposite sides of the color
wheel, and automatically thrown into and out of operative position, to act
alternately as the color carriage moves in opposite directions, and arranged so that
they may both be thrown out of operative position, when required, to avoid
rubbing streaks of different color into each other. A single rubber, may be used
also, and shifted from one side of the color wheel to the other.
D. 01

page_text: An improved method is provided of printing or coloring yarn or similar
material, by simultaneously subjecting a portion of the stripe of yarn to which the
streak of color is being, or has just been, applied, and a portion of the yarn on
the previously printed side of the stripe, to a rubbing operation, so as to laterally
distribute the color from one of the ridges of said streak, and the adjacent ridge
of the previous streak, over the previously-printed yarn at one side of the stripe,
and rub this portion of the previously printed yarn, so as to rub the color into and
through the yarn. It is desirable to distribute the color laterally over a considerable
portion of the yarn, and for this purpose, as well as to secure the efficient rubbing
of all portions of the successive stripes, it is preferred to rub over one-half of the
stripe just printed, and of the previously printed stripe, and leave a sufficient
portion of each stripe unrubbed at this operation, to avoid interference with the
outer edges of either stripe. With the usual three-eighths inch stripe, about
two-thirds of each stripe is preferably rubbed simultaneously.
This width and arrangement of the rubber is preferably used, as securing the
best results, the overlapping of more than one half, and less than the whole, of the
previously printed stripe, being very advantageous, because any slight ridge formed
at the edge of the rubber in printing the previous stripe, is rubbed down, instead
of being increased, as would be the case if the rubber covered just one half this
stripe, and a wide distribution of the color from the ridges between the stripes
being printed, and the previously printed stripe, is thus secured, with the best
results; all parts of the successive stripes being subjected to the rubbing action,
and without interfering with the outer edges of the stripes on which the rubber is
.acting. It is possible, however, to vary the width of the rubber, so as to rub
somewhat less or more of the stripe of yarn to which color has been applied, and
the rubber may overlap more or less on the yarn on the previously printed side of
said stripe, while including the broader features of this invention. It will
be understood that the rubbing operation, will not be performed in printing
a single stripe of a color, or the first stripe of a series of stripes of the same
color, but with the preferred construction above described, the rubbing may be
used in printing the last stripe of a color, so that the rubber can be used to rub
the ridges between two stripes, even though only two stripes of one color are to
be applied.
In carrying out this invention in apparatus for printing or coloring yarns, there
may be used a rubber of any suitable form, by making it of such width, and so
positioning it relatively to the color wheel or equivalent color applying device, as
to subject the yarn to a rubbing operation, as required by this method, and these
rubbers may be mounted and operated in any suitable manner.
Dated this 15th day of November 1897.
Improvements in Methods of and Apparatus for Printing or
Colouring Yarn and similar Material.
I, PHILIP ARTHUR NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 6, Bream's Buildings, 4
Chancery Lane, in the County of London, Patent Agent, 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:
This invention relates to improvements in methods of and apparatus for printing

page_text: or coloring yarn or similar material, by applying to the yarn successive streaks of
color arranged side by side,-the object of the invention being to secure the desired
uniform coloring of the yarn.
The improved method may be carried out by apparatus of various forms, in
which the structural features of this invention may be embodied, but the invention
will be described as applied in connection with methods and machines of a general
class, and now in common use for printing or coloring carpet yarn.
In printing yarn for tapestry and other carpets, the yarn is usually wound upon
a drum, and then the color applied by means of a color applying device, such as a
wheel, bar, or other equivalent device, which is usually a wheel, and to which the
generic term "color wheel" will be applied herein, this wheel running in a box or
trough called the "color box," which is carried by a carriage reciprocating
longitudinally of the drum. At cach reciprocation of the carriage, the color-wheel
applies to the yarn a streak of color equal to the width of the wheel, and the drum
is rotated step by step for the successive streaks, a wide stripe of a color
being obtained by applying two or more streaks of the same color, and different
color boxes, and color wheels being substituted for streaks of different
colors.
In this printing operation, a ridge of color is formed at each side of the color
wheel, that is, between two adjacent stripes, & it is usual to employ devices known
variously as rubbers, scrapers, spreaders, or equalisers, and to which the generic
term "rubbers" will be applied herein, for distributing the color contained in
these ridges, and rubbing the color into and through the yarn, these rubbers
being mounted to reciprocate with the color wheel and follow it in printing.
Usually, a pair of such rubbers are employed, located on opposite sides of the
color wheel, and automatically thrown into and out of operative position, to act
alternately as the color carriage moves in opposite directions, and arranged so
that they may both be thrown out of operative position, when required, to avoid
rubbing streaks of different colors into each other. A single rubber may be used
also, and shifted from one side of the color wheel to the other.
An improved method of printing or colouring yarn or similar material is
provided by simultaneously subjecting a portion of the stripe of yarn to which the
streak of color is being, or has just been, applied, and a portion of the yarn on the
previously printed side of the stripe, to a rubbing operation, so as to leave a
sufficient portion of said stripe unrubbed, to avoid interference with the edge of
said streak next the unprinted yarn, and to laterally distribute the color from the
ridge at the other edge of said streak, and the adjacent ridge of the previous streak
over the previously printed yarn at one side of the stripe, and rub this portion of
the previously printed yarn, so as to rub the color into and through the varn. It
is desirable to distribute the color laterally over a considerable portion of the yarn,
and for this purpose, as well as to secure the efficient rubbing of all portions of
the successive stripes, it is desirable to rub over one-half of the stripe just printed,
and of the previously printed stripe, and leave a sufficient portion of each stripe
unrubbed at this operation, to avoid interference with the outer edges of either
stripe. With the usual three-eighths inch stripe, about two-thirds of each stripe is
preferably rubbed siraultaneously.
This width and arrangement of the rubber is preferably used, as securing the
best results, the overlapping of more than one half, and less than the whole, of the
previously printed stripe, being very advantageous, because any slight ridge formed
at the edge of the rubber in printing the previous stripe, is rubbed down, instead
of being increased, as would be the case if the rubber covered just one half this
stripe, and a wide distribution of the color from the ridges between the stripes
being printed and the previously printed stripe is thus secured, with the best
results, all parts of the successive stripes being subjected to the rubbing action,
and without interfering with the outer edges of the stripes on which the rubber is
acting. It is possible, however, to vary the width of the rubber somewhat, so as
to rub somewhat less or more of the stripe of yarn to which color has been applied,

page_text: and the rubber may overlap somewhat more or less on the yarn, on the previously
printed side of said stripe. It will be understood that the rubbing operation will
not be performed in printing a single stripe of a color, or the first stripe of a
series of stripes of the same color, but with the construction above described, the
rubbing inay be used in printing the last stripe of a color, so that the rubber can
be used to rub the ridges between two stripes, even though only two stripes of one
color are to be applied.
In carrying out this invention, in apparatus for printing or coloring yarns, a
rubber of any suitable form may be used, by making it of such width, and so
positioning it relatively to the color wheel or equivalent color-applying device, as to
subject the yarn to a rubbing operation, as required by the present method, and
these rubbers may be mounted and operated in any suitable manner.
For the purpose of illustration, there is shewn in the accompanying drawings a
drum yarn printing machine by which the invention may be practised efficiently, and
this machine and its operation will now be described :—
In the drawings,
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine with the drum indicated, but broken
away.
Figure 2 is a plan view with the drum omitted.
Figure 3 is a side elevation of the color carriage and track, on a larger scale,
shewing both rubbers out of operative position.
Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4 of Figure 1, with the drum indicated in printing
position, and the direction of its step-by-step rotation indicated by the
arrow.
Figure 5 is a section on line 5 of Figure 1, with the color carriage and drum
omitted.
to.
Figs. 6, 7, and 8 are details of the rubber construction hereinafter referred
Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view showing, in plan, successive stripes of printed
yarn, and the relation of the rubbers thereto.
Referring to said drawings, A is the yarn drum, which may be mounted to
rotate step by step in any suitable manner for printing the successive stripes.
Below the yarn drum A, the frame of the machine is provided with rails 10, for
supporting the wheeled carriage B, which is reciprocated by a cable 11, passing
over pulleys 12, and actuated in any suitable manner. Hinged at 13 in the
carriage B is a plate 14, which carries the color wheel C, running in a remov-
able color-box D, which is supported in an opening in said plate, the face c of this
color-wheel C acting to apply the color to the yarn. At opposite sides of the
color-box, the plate 14 carries bearings 15 for the shaft of the color wheel, by
which the color wheel may be rotated by any common or suitable means.
The color wheel is yieldingly pressed against the yarn by a spring or
springs 16, secured to the carriage B, and engaging the under side of the plate 14,
and the upward movement of the plate and color-wheel is limited by a nut 1 on a
bolt 2, passing through an opening in the end of the plate 14, and acting as a
stop for the plate. At each end of the carriage is mounted a rubber d, d¹, these
rubbers being mounted on rearwardly-inclined supports 17, the outer ends of which
rubbers form rubbing-surfaces, which, in the operative position of the rubbers,
make contact with the yarn upon the drum. These rubbers are preferably
constructed of a block of suitable material, which is shown as rearwardly beveled
at its outer end, although it will be understood that the rubbers of this machine
may be otherwise constructed, so far as the embodiment of the present invention
is concerned. The connection between each rubber and its support 17 is preferably
such, as to permit of the adjustment of the rubber up and down, the connection in
the present case being formed by mounting the rubber to slide on a dovetailed
block entering a similar groove in the rubber, as shown in Fig. 8, the rubber being
held in adjusted position by a set screw 3. Thus, the rubber may be readily
adjusted relatively to the drum, or removed for repairs or replacement. The

page_text: rubbers are mounted and actuated so as to be moved automatically into and out of
position to engage the yarn, the rubber behind the color-wheel being in operation,
and the rubber in front of the color-wheel being thrown out of operation, as the
color-wheel moves in opposite directions for printing successive stripes. For this
purpose, the construction shown is as follows:
Each of the supports 17 is loosely journaled on a shaft 18, carried by brackets 19
at the ends of the carriage, and each support carries a spring 20, the lower end
of which engages a link 21, also journaled loosely on the shaft 18, and through
which spring, as the 'link 21 is swung outwardly, the rubber is moved into and
held in operative position, thus being held yieldingly against the yarn by the
spring 20, when in operation. Movement to inoperative position is accomplished by
swinging the link 21 inwardly, and the engagement of a projection 4 on the hub
thereof, with a similar projection 5 on the hub of the support 17, as shown. in
Figs. 6 and 7. This movement of the rubber to inoperative position may be
assisted by a spring 22, connected to the link 21 and to the carriage, which spring
will also assist in retaining the rubber in inoperative position. The link 21 of each
rubber is provided with a slot 23; which receives a pin 6, carried by an arm' 24 on a
rock-shaft 25, mounted in the brackets 19. The rock-shaft 25 carries a second
arm 26, which is connected by a link 27 to a lever e or e¹, corresponding,
respectively, to the rubbers d, d', these levers e e¹ being pivoted in suitable supports
on the frame, to rock vertically. Each of these levers e e¹ has pivotally connected
to its free end a depending rod 28 or 29, corresponding to the respective levers e e¹
and rubbers d d¹, these rods being provided at their lower ends with a bowl 7, for
engagement with cams at opposite ends of the movement of the carriage, for
actuating the levers e e¹, to throw the rubbers into and out of operative position.
The rods 28, 29, levers e e¹, and the connection of the latter to the rubbers, are
arranged on opposite sides of the carriage, and the cams coacting with the bowl 7
are similarly arranged, and are as follows:
The bowl 7 on rod 28 coacts with cams fg, respectively, for lowering and
raising the rod 28, and the bowl 7 on rod 29 with similar cams f¹ g¹, the cams for
the respective rods and corresponding rubbers being reversed, so that each end of
the machine carries a raising and lowering cam, for throwing one of the rubbers
ont of operative position and the other into operative position. The operation of
this tripping mechanism for the rubbers will be readily understood from a brief
description.
.
In the position shown in Fig. 1, in which the carriage has completed its movement
to the left, and is about to move under the drum A and toward the right, for printing
another stripe on the yarn, the bowl 7 on rod 28, running on the underside of the
cam f, as the carriage approaches the end of its movement to the left, has depressed
the rod 28, and thus rocked the lever e, so as to raise its outer end, and thus,
through the link 27 and arm 26, has rocked the rock-shaft 25, so as to move the
arm 24 downward, and, by the pin 6 moving in the slot 23, has thrown the link 21
outward, and, through the spring 20, raised the rubber d into operative position, so
that it will engage the yarn behind the color-wheel C as the color-carriage moves
to the right for printing the next stripe. At the same time, the bowl 7 on rod 29,
running on the upper side of cam g¹, has raised the rod 29 and rocked the lever e',
so as to lower its outer end, and thus, through rock-shaft 25 and its connections,
has moved the arm 24 upward, and, by the pin 6 moving in the slot 23, has thrown
the link 21 inward, aided by the spring 22, and thus, through the projections 4, 5,
rocked the rubber d¹ downward from its raised operative position, in which it has
acted upon the yarn during the carriage movement just completed, into its lowered,
inoperative position, so as not to engage the yarn in front of the color-wheel C on
the next printing movement. This position of all the parts is shown in
Figs. 1 and 2, the same position of the rubber d¹ being shown also in Fig. 4.
As the color-carriage B moves to the right in printing the next stripe, the
rubbers d d¹ remain in the same positions until the printing of the stripe has been
completed, and the color-carriage reaches the limit of its movement to the right,

page_text: corresponding to its position at the left, as shown in Fig. 1, when the rubbers are
reversed, the rubber d¹ being raised into operative position by the bowl 7 on the
end of rod 29, coacting with cam f, and the rubber d being lowered into inoperative
position by the bowl 7 on the end of rod 28, coacting with cam g, the action of
these cams and connections to the respective rubbers being the same as previously
described in connection with the reversal of the rubbers, at the completion of the
previous movement to the left.
It will be seen that the arms 24, in moving upwardly and "downwardly, so as to
move the links 21 in and out, move past their horizontal position, so that the pins 6
in the slots 23 act to lock the links and rubbers in the position to which they are
thus moved, so as to lock them in operative or inoperative position.
For throwing both the rubbers d' d' out of operation, which is desirable in many
cases, so as to prevent different colors being rubbed on the same surface, the
cams f,, by which the rubbers are thrown into operative position, are made
adjustable into and out of position for engagement with the bowls 7 of the
depending rods 28, 29, these cams f, f, being shown, for this purpose, as carried by
vertical levers 30, pivoted on the frame of the machine, and -connected by links 31
to arms 32 on a horizontal rock-shaft 33, which is actuated by an arm 34, connected
by a link 35 to a vertical bell-crank lever 36, connected to a treadle 37, so that
by depressing the treadle, the shaft 33 is rocked, and, through the links 31, rocks
the levers 30, so as to throw the cams f, f inward from the position shown in full
lines in Figs. 4 and 5, to the position shown in dotted lines in the same figures, so
that these cams will be inside the path of the bowls 7, and the bowls 7 will pass the
cams without engagement therewith. On releasing the treadle, the cams will be
thrown outward into operative position by the spring 38, acting on arm 39 on the
rock-shaft 33, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and the rubbing action of the apparatus
will be resumed. The position of the parts with both rubbers in inoperative position
is shown in Fig. 3.
As shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the width and sidewise position of the rubbers
relatively to the face c of the color-wheel C is the same, and such that the operative
surface of each rubber laps over somewhat more than half the edge of the color-
wheel and overlaps on the side of the color-wheel toward which the yarn drum is
rotated, sufficiently to overlap somewhat more than one half of the previously-
printed stripe. The relation of the rubbers to the successive stripes is shown in
diagram in Fig. 9, in which four stripes 1, 2, 3, 4, are shown, numbered in the
order of printing, stripes 1 and 2 having been printed, stripe 3 is being printed, and
the dotted lines indicate stripe 4, which is the next stripe to be printed. As
illustrated in this figure, the rubber d' is following the color-wheel in printing
stripe 3, acting upon about two-thirds of this stripe, and overlapping and acting
upon about two-thirds of stripe 2, which is the next previously printed stripe.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to
me from abroad, I declare that what I claim is :-
.
1. The improved method of printing and distributing color upon yarn or similar
material, by applying successive streaks of color to the yarn, which consists in
subjecting successive streaks of the same color to a rubbing operation as they are
applied, so as to rub simultaneously such a portion of the stripe of yarn being
printed, and of the next previously printed stripe of the same color, as to laterally
distribute the color from the ridges formed between the two stripes in applying the
color, without touching the outer edges of said stripes, and to carry any ridge
formed at the edge of the rubber beyond the centre of the previously printed
stripe.
2. In an apparatus for printing or coloring yarn or similar material, by applying
successive streaks of color thereto, the combination with the color wheel for
applying the streaks of color, of a rubber constructed and positioned to act

page_text: simultaneously upon portions of the stripe of yarn being printed and the next
previously printed stripe, substantially as described herein.
3. An apparatus for printing or coloring yarn or similar material, by applying
successive streaks of color thereto, employing a rubber of such width, and
so positioned, as to act upon more than one-half, and less than the whole, of the
stripe of yarn being printed, and to overlap and act upon more than one-half and
less than the whole of the next previously printed stripe.