AN IMPROVED DESCRIPTION OF TWINE OR CORD, AND THE MODE OR METHOD AND MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAME
Year: 1875

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Arthur Waithman at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 6th May
1875.
I, ARTHUR WAITHMAN, of Prestwich, in the County of Lancaster, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for " AN IMPROVED
DESCRIPTION OF TWINE OR CORD, AND THE MODE OR METHOD AND MACHINERY OR
APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAME," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates more especially to that kind of twines or cords
known to the trade as New Zealand twines, or variegated or mixed
coloured twines, which have hitherto been made by twisting two or more
strands or threads together, one or more of which had been previously
dyed different colors.
My Invention consists in printing the exterior of a single strand twine,
twisted twine, or cord, so as to obtain the desired effect, and for this
purpose. I pass it through or under and over printing rollers which may
be of wood, metal, or other material, but I prefer india-rubber or other
yielding material; the colors being supplied to the rollers by one or
more distributors so as, if required, to print several colors at the same
time.

page_text: 1
The twines or cords pass through the machine in endless lengths from
one bobbin or reel to another, the rollers being either one or both
plain, or both grooved, if grooved, either longitudinally, spirally, or of
any desired pattern.
When the twine or cord is passing through the machine I cause when
required a reciprocating to-and-fro motion lengthways to be given to the
printing rollers as well as a revolving one, by which arrangement I am
enabled to print, dye, or stain gild, silver, or bronze, the twine or cord
of any thickness with perfect rings or other patterns while passing
through the printing rollers however uneven in thickness the twines
may be, and the twine or other material is kept perfectly round, and
the color even, usually requiring only one printing roller.
By my process there is a great saving in cost in production, a better
appearance can be produced out of a single strand twine than can now be
obtained out of two or more colored strands made as at present; con-
sequently a much heavier yarn can be used, and all twisting and winding
of grey, white, or colored strands are avoided, and the dyeing of the
strands dispensed with, and it will be seen that in my twines made of
two or more strands, and afterwards printed externally, the dying,
drying, and winding of the colored strands are avoided, thus saving labor
and consuming less coloring matter.
As the printing machine can be attached to the ordinary twine sizing
or finishing machine no extra labor is required for the process, the
operative in attendance on the sizing or finishing machine attending also
to the printing machine, the printed twine being dried at the same
time.
The twine can be made of cotton, flax, hemp, jute, silk, or any other
fibre or mixed fibres, or of paper, and the prints upon the twine may be
either straight, diagonal, spiral, or of any desired pattern, and the
twines may be printed either before or after finishing or singeing, or
otherwise.