IMPROVEMENTS IN TREATING, CLEANSING, AND ORNAMENTING PAPER AND OTHER SURFACES
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to the Honourable James Sinclair, commonly called Lord
Berriedale, of 17, Hill Street, in the County of Middlesex, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN TREATING, CLEANSING, AND ORNAMENTING
PAPER AND OTHER SURFACES."
Sealed the 21st November 1854, and dated the 26th September 1854.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Sinclair at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 26th
September 1854.
I,
1, the Honourable JAMES SINCLAIR, commonly called Lord BERRIEDALE,
of 17, Hill Street, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN TREATING, CLEANSING, AND ORNA-
MENTING PAPER AND OTHER SURFACES," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to a system or mode of producing ornamental devices
in colors upon paper and other surfaces by the frictional attachment thereto of
pigment matters or colored powders. In producing colored devices or figures
on paper in this way, the paper is first printed with the intended pattern in
any suitable adhesive matter in the usual way, and the sheet so prepared is
then passed through a roller or cylinder machine for the purpose of applying
the powdered coloring substances. This apparatus consists of a duplex roller
arrangement, fitted up in connection with a box or receiver for the color; the

page_text: bottom roller is covered with soft leather or other suitable material, and it is
arranged to rotate in the color holder, its lower portion dipping into the
coloring mass. Immediately above this small roller is a plain roller, running
loosely in its bearings, and resting upon the lower roller, against which it may
be pressed by weights or springs. The lower soft roller is caused to revolve at
a very high rate, and whilst it is in motion the previously printed sheet of
paper is passed through or between the rollers at a slow rate. In this opera-
tion the upper roller simply answers as a presser, as its surface travels at the
same rate as the paper; but the lower roller charged with the colored powder
has a powerful frictional effect upon the heated surface, and causes the
coloring matter to adhere strongly to the adhesive surface of the previously
printed device.
On the removal of the colored sheet from this machine, it is
passed through a second machine for the removal of the superfluous coloring
matter. This second machine consists of a frame supporting a slowly
traversing table, fitted with self-acting clips for holding the sheet of paper
when laid therein.
Directly over this table is a range of rollers, fitted up with longitudinally
disposed strips of caoutchouc or other soft or elastic material, and arranged to
rotate at a very high velocity. The whole of the parts work in concert, and
as the sheet of paper traverses slowly beneath the rollers, the action of the
latter has the effect of clearing away all superfluous colour, and heightening
the general effect of the colored figure. Moist color or other matter may also
be applied to paper and other surfaces by the color-supplying apparatus, and
the color-removing apparatus is also serviceable for treating paper and other
surfaces, so as to improve their general effect, even in the absence of any
coloring matter. Leather for book covers, cases, and other purposes may also
be treated in this manner with any required coloring matter; woven goods, as
ladies' dresses, for example, may also be treated in a similar way, either as the
sole means of ornamentation or in conjunction with printing or dyeing. Flock
material, as applied to paper and cloth surfaces, may also be applied in the
manner herein-before described.
The rollers for removing the superfluous color, and for improving the effect
of the heated surface may be made in various ways, but it is preferred to
use radial strips of vulcanized caoutchouc. This material has a powerfully
cleansing effect, and considerably improves the colored device. The same
arrangements may be used when color is to be applied to the entire surface of
any material, regardless of any device.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Sinclair in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
26th March 1855.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, the
Honourable JAMES SINCLAIR, commonly called Lord BERRIEDALE, of 17, Hill
Street, in the County of Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-sixth day of September, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the eighteenth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said James Sinclair, Ier special license that I, the said James Sinclair,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said James
Sinclair, my executors, administrators, or 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 TREAT-
ING, CLEANSING, AND ORNAMENTING PAPER AND OTHER SURFACES," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said James Sinclair, by an instrument
in writing under my hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascer-
tain the nature 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 James Sinclair, do hereby declare the
nature of my 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 accompanying Drawings, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:-
My said Invention relates to a system or mode of producing ornamental
devices in colors upon papor and other surfaces by the frictional attachment
thereto of pigment matters or colored powders. In producing colored devices
or figures on paper in this way, the paper is first printed with the intended
pattern in suitable adhesive matter in the usual way, and the sheet so prepared.
may then be passed through a roller or cylinder machine for the purpose of
applying the powdered coloring substances. This apparatus consists of a
duplex roller arrangement, fitted up in connection with a box or receiver for
the color; the bottom roller is covered with soft leather or other suitable

page_text: material, and it is arranged to rotate in the color holder, its lower portion
dipping into the coloring mass. Immediately above this soft roller is a plain
roller, running loosely in its bearings, and resting upon the lower roller, against
which it may be pressed by weights or springs. The lower soft roller is
caused to revolve at a very high rate, and whilst it is in motion the previously
printed sheet of paper is passed through or between the rollers at a slow rate.
In this operation the upper roller simply answers as a presser, as its surface
travels at the same rate as the paper; but the lower roller charged with the
powder has a powerful frictional effect upon the treated surface, and causes the
coloring matter to adhere strongly to the adhesive surface of the previously
printed device. For the removal of the colored sheet from this machine, it is
passed through a second machine for the removal of the superfluous coloring
matter; or in place of using two distinct machines, the whole operation may
be effected in one machine, the color being dropped on to the paper or other
fabric or surface to be ornamented by a vibrating hopper, and, in order to
adhere strongly to the adhesive surface, by a rotating brush, the superfluous
color being removed by a fixed brush, which acts a species of "doctor," the
paper or other fabric being drawn slowly beneath it. The fabric then passes
under a series of polishing or finishing rollers composed of strips of caoutchouc,
which effectually remove any superfluous color from the pattern which may
be still adhering thereto. The second machine, when two machines are
employed, consists of a frame supporting a slowly traversing table or apron,
fitted with self-acting clips for holding the sheet of paper when laid thereon.
Directly over this table is a range of rollers, similar to those hercin-before
described, fitted up with longitudinally disposed strips of caoutchoue, or other
soft or elastic material, and arranged to rotate at a very high velocity. The
whole of the parts work in concert, and as the sheet of paper traverses slowly
beneath the rollers, the action of the latter has the effect of clearing away all
superfluous color, and heightening the general effect of the colored figure.
Moist color or other matter may also be applied to paper and other surfaces
by the color-supplying apparatus, and the color-removing apparatus is also
serviceable for treating paper and other surfaces, such as the finishing of thread,
for example, so as to improve their general effect, even in the absence of any
coloring matter. Leather for book covers, cases, and other purposes may also
be treated in this manner with any required coloring matter; woven goods, as
ladies dresses, for example, may also be treated in a similar way, either as the
sole means of ornamentation or in conjunction with printing or dyeing. Flock
material, as applied to paper and cloth surfaces, may also be applied in the
manner herein-before described. The rollers for removing the superfluous

page_text: color and for improving the effect of the treated surface may be made in
various ways, but it is preferred to use radial strips of vulcanized caoutchouc.
This material has a powerfully cleansing effect, and considerably improves the
colored device. The same arrangements may be used when color is to be
applied to the entire surface of any material, regardless of any device.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood, I shall
now proceed to describe the several Figures on the Sheets of Drawings hereunto
annexed.
Figure 1, on Sheet 1 of my Drawings, represents a longitudinal sectional
elevation of my improved apparatus for ornamenting paper and other surfaces,
the two operations of applying the color, and finishing or removing the super-
fluous coloring matter from the pattern, being effected in one machine, as
herein-before described; and Figure 2 is a corresponding plan of the machine.
As these machines may be made according to any dimensions, I have broken
away certain portions, in order to reduce the size of the Drawings, and to
shew clearly all the working parts connected with the machine. Figure 1,
on Sheet 2 of my Drawings, represents a side elevation in detail of one of the
finishing or superfluous color-removing rollers fitted with strips of caoutchouc.
Figure 2 is a plan of the revolving brush and fixed "doctor" brush, herein-
before referred to, for applying and removing the superfluous color. Figure 3
is a plan of one of the clips employed for holding the fabric whilst passing
through the machine; and Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional elevation in detail
of the color hoppers, revolving brush, and fixed "doctor" brush, for removing
the superfluous color from the fabric. The same letters of reference indicate
corresponding parts in the several Figures herein-after referred to. The
fabric to be ornamented, whether the same be paper, cloth, leather, or other
similar materials, is held at its front end by the spring clip A (Figures 3 and 4,
Sheet 2), which is secured to the endless travelling apron B. This clip is
composed of a bar C, which is hinged at D to the frame E, fixed to the
travelling apron; it is kept closed or shut down by the india-rubber bands
F, F, or other springs. When the end of the fabric has been inserted therein,
but at the point where it is required to release the fabric, the lateral projecting
pins G, G, slide up the stationary inclines H, H, fixed to the side standards of
the machine, thereby opening the clip ready to receive the end of a fresh
fabric, or releasing the ornamented fabric, according to the positions of the
fixed inclines. The travelling apron B is carried by a pair of rollers I, I, the
axis of the roller I carrying a large driving pulley J, which receives a slow
rotatory movement by a band from the small pulley K, fast on the driving
shaft L of the machine; a slight supporting table M serves to support the

page_text: fabric and upper portion of the travelling apron during its passage through the
machine. The fabric to be ornamented, having been previously printed with
the intended pattern in adhesive matter, is laid hold of by the clip A, and
slowly traversed along the supporting table M, as it passes beneath the
vibrating color hopper N, which is composed of wire gauze or perforated
metal plate, and filled with the requisite color in the form of dust or powder.
A certain amount of coloring matter is sprinkled or shaken on to it by the
vibration of the hopper N, which is effected by a cam or tappet O, on the end
of the shaft P of the rotatory brush, striking the edge or lip Q of the hopper,
the opposite side of the hopper being fixed to the cross bar R. The color
thus dropped on to the fabric requires to be rubbed into the adhesive pattern
printed thereon, and this is effected by the rotating brush S, which is driven
at a high velocity by a belt from the large driving pulley T, passing round the
small pulley U on the axis of the brush. The color having been thus well
ingrained into the adhesive material in the fabric, the next process is to remove
therefrom the loose color lying on the surface merely, and this I accomplish
by means of the fixed brush V, beneath which the fabric passes slowly during
the operation. In order to remove any still superfluous color which may be
adhering but very slightly to the pattern, and for the purpose of giving an
even finish and gloss thereto, the fabric next passes beneath the range of
finishing rollers W, W, which work in suitable bearings in the side standards
of the machine, and are driven at a very great speed from the large driving
pulley X by a belt, which passes round the small pulleys Y, Y, fast on the end
of each roller shaft, as shewn in Figure 1 on Sheet 2 of the Drawings. These
rollers are composed of wood or any other suitable material as a foundation,
and into this foundation Z are inserted a number of strips of caoutchouc or
other soft or elastic material a. The ornamentation of the fabric after passing
beneath these latter rollers is now complete, and if the colour is of such a nature
as to permit it, the fabric or web may be wound on to a roller or beam as fast
as it proceeds from the machine; but if the color requires drying completely,
the fabric may be allowed to traverse over a certain amount of space, and
subjected at the same time to the action of a current or currents of heated or
cold air, and subsequently wound on to a roller. When short lengths of fabric
are to be treated, one or more clips may be employed, being so arranged that
they will take up a fresh sheet, and release the ornamented one at the proper
time and place by adjusting the fixed inclines II accordingly.
The finishing rollers W, W, are particularly well adapted for the ornament-
ing of yarn or thread, by polishing and putting a gloss upon the same;
for this
purpose, the thread to be finished, which is represented by the dotted line 6 in

page_text: Figure 1, Sheet 1 of the Drawings, is passed and traversed slowly between a
series of upper and lower finishing and polishing rollers, the upper ones being
represented at c, c. Although I have only represented six of these rollers in the
Drawings, yet I do not confine or restrict myself to any particular number, as
that will vary according to the nature of the work to be effected. The thread,
after passing between the finishing rollers, is passed through slits formed in
the upper edges of the series of fixed transverse strips of caoutchouc d, for the
purpose of increasing the finish, and laying the fibres even in one direction.
After this process it may be wound on to a beam, or on to bobbins, or in the
form of hanks, as found most desirable.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I would observe, in conclusion, that I do not confine or restrict myself
to the precise details or arrangements which I have had occasion to describe
or refer to, as many variations may be made therefrom without deviating
from the principles or main features of my said Invention; but what I consider
to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me
by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is,―
First, the application and use of rollers or rotating parts, carrying strips of
caoutchouc or other soft and elastic substances for the purpose of treating,
cleansing, ornamenting, finishing, and polishing paper, woven fabrics, leather,
yarns, threads, and other surfaces by the frictional contact therewith of the
caoutchouc composing such rollers.
Second, the system or mode of cleansing or removing coloring matter from
paper and other surfaces by the action of rotating caoutchouc or elastic edge
or surface pieces.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Sinclair, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, the 26th day of March, One thousand eight hundred
and fifty-five.
BERRIEDALE. (L.S.)
Signed and sealed in the presence of
J. HENRY JOHNSON,
Solicitor & Patent Agent,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields.