IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANU- FACTURE OF PAVEMENTS OR SURFACE COVERINGS, FLOOR-CLOTHS, WALL COVERINGS AND OTHER SIMILAR FABRICS AND IN MACHINERY EMPLOYED THEREIN."
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Samuel Hawksworth of Scarborough in the County of
York Manufacturer for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANU-
FACTURE OF PAVEMENTS OR SURFACE COVERINGS, FLOOR-CLOTHS, WALL
COVERINGS AND OTHER SIMILAR FABRICS AND IN MACHINERY EMPLOYED
THEREIN."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Samuel Hawksworth at the:
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th November 1882.
SAMUEL HAWKSWORTH of Scarborough in the County of York, Manufacturer
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PAVEMENTS OR SURFACE COVERINGS,
FLOOR CLOTHS, WALL COVERINGS AND OTHER SIMILAR FABRICS AND IN MACHINERY
EMPLOYED THEREIN
»
My Invention has reference more particularly to pavements or surfaco coverings,
floor cloths and other similar fabrics of the nature described in the Specification of
former Letters Patent granted to me and dated 6th June 1874 N° 1968 and the
present improvements consist chiefly of a mode and means whereby a marbled
appearance is given to the fabrics; this marbling being not a mere surface coloring
but extending through the thickness of the solid paint or compound of the fabric.
For this purpose after having prepared plain-colored compounds in the manner
described in my said former Specification I select those coinpounds the colors of
which go to make up the several colors in the marble to be produced or imitated.
I then by means of inachinery such as that hereinafter described lay these several
plain-colored compounds in sheets in regular succession one upon another, the
thickness of each layer depending upon the particular color of the compound and
the marble to be imitated. When the combined layer is of a suitable thickness I
roll it up and then twist or otherwise manipulate it so that the various layers of
colored compounds become more or less intermingled and unstratified, the whole
thus forming a solid mass of imitation marble. The marble may be kept in this
form until required for use.

page_text: When it is required to employ it in the manufacture of floor cloth or other
fabrics I cut it into sheets of about th of an inch thick more or less, and this may
be done by a machine, such as that hereinafter described. I pass the cut slices or
sheets between a pair of pressing rollers, one travelling quicker than the other; the
compound is removed from these rollers by a knife or blade and is received upon
a suitable smooth surface such as prepared canvas carried by a travelling belt; the
compound firmly adheres to this surface and is then cut into pieces of any required
sizes. The sheet is next passed through a pair of rollers covered with calico or
other absorbent material and running in water whereby all tendency to the
formation of roughness while drying is prevented.
The sheets thus obtained are then used to manufacture floor cloths or other
fabrics in the manner described in my said former Specification, either in combi-
nation with sheets of other colors, marbled or not, to form mosaic, tesselated or
similar work, or alone as wall coverings or for other purposes. The mode above
described of preventing the formation of roughness on the surface of the fabric is
also applicable to plain colored fabrics manufactured according to my said former
patent.
The machinery I employ for laying the several compounds one upon another as
above explained consists essentially of a pair of rollers to which the compounds
are fed in proper succession, of a knife or blade for stripping the compound off the
rollers or one of them, and of a reciprocating table upon which the compound as
stripped off by the knife is received-One of the rollers is driven at a greater
speed than the other so that the compound in passing between them is taken up
by one of them only; the knife strips it off this roller and as the table reciprocates
below, the compound becomes deposited thereon in layers as already explained.
The machine I employ for cutting the solid mass of imitation marble into sheets
consists of a box into which the marble is placed, of a pusher or follower in this
box actuated by a screw or otherwise to force the marble out of the box by degrees,
and of a reciprocating or rotating knife or slicer to slice off the sheets from the
marble as it is forced out of the box.
My improved machinery also comprises the arrangement above described of
rollers rotating in water.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
t
by the said Samuel Hawksworth in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
17th May 1883.
SAMUEL HAWKSWORTH of Scarborough in the County of York, Manufacturer
'IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PAVEMENTS OR SURFACE COVERINGS,
FLOOR CLOTHS, WALL COVERINGS AND OTHER SIMILAR FABRICS AND IN MACHINERY
EMPLOYED THEREIN
33
My invention has reference more particularly to pavements or surface coverings,
floor cloths and other similar fabrics of the nature described in the Specification of
former Letters Patent granted to me and dated 6th June 1874 N° 1968 and the
present improvements consist chiefly of a mode and means whereby a marbled
appearance is given to the fabrics, this marbling being not a mere surface coloring
but extending through the thickness of the solid paint or compound of the fabric.
For this purpose after having prepared plain colored compounds in the manner
described in my said former specification I select those compounds the colors of
which go to make up the several colors in the marble to be produced or imitated;
I then by means such as the machinery hereinafter described lay these several
plain colored compounds in sheets in regular succession one upon another, the
thickness of each layer depending upon the particular color of the compound and
the marble to be imitated. When the combined layers are of a suitable thickness
I roll them up and then twist or otherwise manipulate them so that the various
layers of colored compounds become more or less intermingled and unstratified, the
whole thus forming a solid mass of imitation marble. The marble may be kept in
this form until required for use.
When it is required to employ it in the manufacture of floor cloth or other
fabrics I cut it into sheets of about 4 of an inch thick more or less and this may
be done by a machine such as that hereinafter described. I then submit the cut
alices or sheets to pressure in order to make them the thickness required and
this may be done by passing them between a pair of pressing rollers one travelling,
say th of an inch, quicker than the other; by making one roller travel quicker
than the other the compound is retained upon the quicker roller, otherwise the
material would adhere to both rollers unless paper were run along with one of
them. The compound is removed from the quicker roller by a knife or blade and
is received upon a suitable smooth surface such as prepared canvas carried by a
travelling belt; the compound firmly adheres to this surface and is then cut into
pieces of any required sizes.
Instead of employing a pair of pressing rollers as above described to make the
sheets the required thickness I sometimes employ screw or hydraulic power as will
be well understood, but the apparatus I prefer for this purpose consists of a heavy
roller made to travel backwards and forwards by means of racks and pinions or
other suitable gearing upon a smooth iron plate or surface upon which the sheet to
be acted upon is placed. The portion of the plate or surface upon which the sheet
rests is depressed below the side edges of the same to an extent equal to the
required thickness of the sheet. To prevent the sheet adhering to the plate or
roller it is placed upon a sheet of zinc or other suitable surface and covered with
fine paper, calico or other suitable material. The sheet after having been pressed
to the required thickness is next passed between a pair of rollers covered with
calico or other absorbent material and running in water whereby all tendency to
the formation of roughness while drying is prevented. The sheets thus obtained,
when dry on the surface, are then used to manufacture floor cloths or other fabrics

page_text: in the manner described in my said former specification either in combination with
sheets of other colors, marbled or not, to form mosaic, tesselated or similar work,
or alone as wall coverings or for other purposes. The mode above described of
preventing the formation of roughness on the surface of the fabric is also applicable
to plain colored fabrics manufactured according to my said former patent.
The machinery I employ for laying the several compounds one upon another as
above explained consists essentially of a pair of rollers to which the compounds
are fed in proper succession, of a knife or blade for stripping the compound off the
rollers or one of them, and of a reciprocating table upon which the compound as
stripped off by the knife is received. One of the rollers is driven at a greater
speed than the other so that the compound in passing between them is taken up
by one of them only; the knife strips it off the roller, and as the table reciprocates
below, the compound becomes deposited thereon in layers as already explained.
The machine I employ for cutting the solid mass of imitation marble into sheets
consists of a box into which the marble is placed, of a pusher or follower in this
box actuated by a screw or otherwise to force the marble out of the box by degrees
and of a reciprocating or rotating knife or slicer to slice off the sheets from the
marble as it is forced out of the box.
Having now described the nature of my said invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed I declare that I claim :-
-
First The manufacture by the means and in the manner substantially as
herein before described of a solid mass of imitation-marble to be subsequently inade
into sheets for the manufacture of pavements or surface coverings, floor cloths,
wall coverings and other similar fabrics as set forth.
Second The passing of sheets of compound (which are to be manufactured
into pavements or surface coverings, floor cloths, wall coverings and other similar
fabrics) between rollers covered with absorbent material and running in water as
herein before described for the purpose of preventing the formation of roughness
while drying.
Third-The manufacture of pavements or surface coverings, floor cloths, wall
coverings and other similar fabrics substantially in the manner and by machinery
arranged and acting as hereinbefore described.
Fourth-The improved machinery hereinbefore described for laying the several
compounds in sheets one upon the other, the said machinery consisting of a pair of
rollers to which the compounds are fed in succession, a stripping knife and a
reciprocating table all arranged and acting as set forth.
Fifth-The improved machinery herein before described for making the sheets
of compound the thickness required, the said machinery consisting of a pair of
pressing rollers one travelling quicker than the other, a knife for removing the
compound from the quicker roller, and a travelling belt to carry canvas or material
upon which the compound is received, as set forth.
Sixth-The improved machinery herein before described through which the
pressed sheets of compound are passed, the said machinery consisting of a pair of
rollers covered with calico or other absorbent material, and running in water as
and for the purpose described.
In witness whereof I the said Samuel Hawksworth have hereunto set my
hand and seal this sixteenth day of May One thousand eight hundred and
eighty three.
SAMUEL HAWKSWORTH (L.S.)