Improvements in or relating to Calico and similar Printing Machines.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Calico and similar Printing
Machines.
•
We, JAMES ALLAN SACKVILLE of Ingleside, Swinton Park, Pendleton, near
Manchester, Calico Printer, and JOHN HENRY SWALLOW of Oak Cottage, Pendlebury,
near Manchester, Calico Printer, do hereby declare the nature of our said invention
to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to calico and like printing machines, and has for its object
to entirely dispense with the Blanket, Lapping,' and 'Back Greys' used in such
machines, and by the substitution of a means hereinafter described to-effect a great
saving in the cost of working such machines, as it is well known that the said Blanket,
Lapping and Greys involve a considerable initial expenditure and a considerable
further expenditure to wash and bleach them from time to time.
In carrying out our invention we proceed as follows:-We first remove the Blanket,
Back Greys, and Roller Lapping entirely. We then apply to the usual printing bowl
or cylinder an india-rubber or equivalent covering, which is either an exact fit, or is of
such a size as to also extend around one or more side rollers in close proximity, and
so forming an endless apron or band.
We next arrange a perforated pipe or water jet across the said cylinder (or band) and,
by preference, at, or towards, the rear side of the machine. Behind this jet we mount
a brush (or equivalent device) which is in touching contact with the surface of the
cylinder (or band) and which is mounted in suitable supports, and connected to
suitable devices, which, when set in motion, impart a to-and-fro, sliding, or
scrubbing' motion to such brush upon the surface of the cylinder (or band).
•
6
Behind, or beyond, this brush or scrubber' we mount a revolving, and india-rubber
or similarly covered roller, or a fixed scraper or 'doctor,' also in contact with the said.
printing cylinder. The usual engraved printing rollers are mounted in the usual.
bearings, and lie, more or less, in touching contact with the cylinder.
With fabrics of thin texture the printing color penetrates therethrough, or with
fabrics of a narrow width, or owing to the engraved rollers always being of a greater
width than the fabrics, the surplus color on the ends of the roller or rollers tends to.
get on to the cylinder, but to prevent which, and to absorb and dry such excess
coloring matter, the said Blanket' and 'Back Greys' have hitherto been used.
With our invention, however, the surplus color is allowed to reach the cylinder (or
band), but before it is possible for the cylinder to make a further complete revolution
such surplus color is acted upon by the aforesaid brush or scrubber and by the jet
of water, which conjointly work the said color into a curd or 'puddle,' in which state
it is then readily removed from the cylinder (or band) by the rubber covered roller,
scraper or doctor' aforesaid, and before it can possibly touch the rear face of the
fabric, or come in contact with the engraved rollers again.
'

page_text: Our invention consists therefore in washing the cylinder, or of working the excess
color into a state which permits of its being readily wiped off the cylinder. The
surplus color so removed is delivered into a suitable trough or receptacle, which leads
it into a gutter, into which also any surplus color escaping over the ends of the
roller or printing cylinder is also collected or drained by a scraper or roller acting
thereon.
Although we prefer a brush we may employ any other suitable form of device, and
we may duplicate or supplement the same for the more complete, or perfect working
of the machine. In lieu of a flat brush we may employ a cylindrical brush, and
we may also employ a brush with hollow bristles and combine the water jet
therewith.
Lastly, our said improvements may be applied to wall-paper, mackintosh, baze and
other machines of a like nature to calico printing machines.
Dated this 11th day of January 1897.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Calico and similar Printing
Machines.
We, JAMES ALLAN SACKVILLE of Ingleside, Swinton Park, Pendleton, near
Manchester, Calico Printer, and JOHN HENRY SWALLOW of Oak Cottage, Pendlebury,
near Manchester, Calico Printer, 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 :-
'
6
Our invention relates to calico and like printing machines, and has for its object to
entirely dispense with the Blanket,' 'Lapping' and 'Back-greys' used in such
machines, and by the substitution of the means hereinafter described to effect a great
saving in the cost of working such machines, as it is well known that the said
Blanket, Lapping' and 'Back-greys' involve a considerable initial expenditure,
and a considerable further expenditure to keep them clean. Moreover, the use of
our invention greatly diminishes or altogether obviates one of the greatest difficulties
a printer has to contend with which is to get his pattern to fit the same at the
middle as at the ends, owing to the drag of the piece, greys and blanket.
In carrying out our invention and say as applied to an existing machine, we proceed
as follows:
We first remove the 'Blanket,' Back-greys,' and roller Lapping' entirely. We
then apply to the usual printing Bowl or cylinder an india-rubber or equivalent
covering, which is either an exact fit, or is of such a size as to also extend around one
or more side rollers in close proximity, and so forming an endless apron or band.
.
We next arrange a perforated pipe or water jet across the said cylinder (or band)
and, by preference, at, or towards, the rear side of the machine. . Behind this jet we
mount a brush (or equivalent device) which is in touching contact with the surface
of the cylinder (or band), and is mounted in suitable supports, and connected to
suitable devices, which when set in motion, impart a to-and-fro sliding or scrubbing'
motion to such brush upon the surface of the cylinder (or band).
Behind, or beyond, this brush or ‘scrubber,' we mount a revolving india-rubber or

page_text: similarly covered roller, or a fixed scraper or doctor,' also in contact with the said
printing cylinder.
The usual engraved printing rollers are mounted in the usual bearings, and lie,
more or less, in touching contact with the cylinder.
With fabrics of thin texture the printing colour penetrates through, or with fabrics
of a narrow width, or owing to the engraved rollers always being of a greater width
than the fabrics, the surplus colour on the ends of the roller, or rollers, will, in the
absence of Blanket, Back-greys and Lapping (which have heretofore been used to
absorb and dry such excess coloring matter) get on to the cylinder.
With our invention, therefore, the surplus colour is allowed to reach the cylinder (or
band), but before it is possible for the cylinder to make a further complete revolution
such surplus colour is acted upon by the aforesaid brush or scrubber and by the jet of
water, which conjointly work the said colour into a curd or 'puddle,' in which state it
is then readily removed from the cylinder (or band) by the rubber covered roller,
scraper or doctor' aforesaid, and before it can possibly touch the rear face of the
fabric, or come in contact with the engraved rollers again.
And in order that our said invention may be more readily understood and carried
into practical effect, we have hereunto annexed a sheet of drawings and will now
proceed to describe the same with the figures and letters of reference marked
.
thereon.
.
Fig. 1 illustrates a calico printing machine, with one of the sides removed in order
to shew our invention clearly.
Fig. 2 illustrates a part front view of the same machine, and
Fig. 3 shews an enlarged perspective detail view.
In accordance with our invention we employ a printing cylinder or Bowl (A),
rotated by shaft (B), gearing (C), and belt pulley (D), or by other suitable means..
This cylinder or Bowl instead of having the usual Lapping of Blanket, and endless
apron of Blanket and Back-greys passing around it, is covered or surrounded by a
covering of vulcanised india-rubber, or other similar and suitable yielding material (E),
as shewn by the black sectioning in Figs. 1 and 3.
By preference, above, or at any suitable part of the periphery of this rubber covered
Bowl, and parallel therewith, we arrange the perforated water pipe (F), for conveying
and spraying water in fine jets upon the surface of the Bowl.
Immediately behind such pipe and in touching contact with the Bowl, we arrange
the brush or scrubber (G) which is carried by lever arms (G¹), and links (G2) from
brackets (G3) on the machine frames, and by means of a rod (G4) (or equivalent
device) also connected to such brush at one end, and coupled up to an eccentric (H);
of short throw, at the other end, such brush is given a rapid, to-and-fro movement
across the face of the Bowl. Immediately behind the brush we arrange a 'squeegee
or doctor' (I) (by preference) of india-rubber either fixed, or mounted pivotally on
brackets (J), and provided with arm or rod (K), to the top end of which is attached
a tension spring (L), for holding the working edge of the 'squeegee' in intimate
contact with the surface of the Bowl.
Behind this squeegee' is a stripping or clearing roller (M). which rotates. by
frictional contact with the Bowl.
I
The fabric to be printed passes through the usual tension devices at (N), under bar (0),
between the several engraved color or printing rollers (P), which impart to it, the
definite pattern, and finally on to, or over, the roller (Q) in any desired direction;
but according to our preferred mode of treatment over the rollers (R) forming part of
a festooning' arrangement, whereby the fabric may be quickly dried by contact
with the atmosphere-only, in lieu of passing over, or around, the usual steam drying.
chambers, or cylinders.
6
If the fabric is of a thin texture a portion of the colour will penetrate the pores and
get on to the Bowl. If also the fabric is narrower than the Bowl (A), or the printing.
rollers (P) are wider than the fabric, the color on the ends of the rollers will get on
to the Bowl, and thus in order to prevent the Bowl getting dirty, or the rear side of
the fabric smeared with the excess colour, it is necessary to wash the Bowl, or to

page_text: adopt such means as will continually clean and dry the Bowl. To that end, therefore,
we employ the pipe (F), brush (G), 'squeegee' or 'doctor' (I), and roller (M),
whereby the colour as it comes beneath the pipe (F) is sprayed with jets of water,
and as it travels forward and comes beneath the brush (G) is worked up into a
'puddle, or thin liquid body, and so becomes prepared for ready and immediate
removal by the 'squeegee' or 'doctor' (I), which being in rubbing contact with the
Bowl, or acting under the pull of spring (L), quickly and effectually prevents its
further traverse, and causing it to leave the Bowl, delivers it at either end into a
trough, or on to the ends of the Bowl, where in turn it is removed by the end
! squeegees' or scrapers (S).
These end squeegees' form one side of an inclined trough which is pivotally
mounted at either end, and by the action of weighted rod (SI) the 'squeegee' side
of such trough is constantly passed against the end of the Bowl, and thereby ensuring
of the colour being constantly and effectually removed..
In lieu of a weighted rod, the troughs may be drawn together by a spring or other
suitable device.
It will now be seen that by so washing and cleaning the Bowl we entirely dispense
with the need of Blanket, Lapping and Back-greys and thereby greatly improve the
machine and simplify its use.
In lieu of a tight fitting rubber-covering -(E), we may provide an endless belt of
india-rubber passing over the Bowl and around a roller (or rollers) alongside, with
the cleaning apparatus arranged to suit, but we prefer the covering to be tight fitting
as herein before described. Similarly, we may arrange the washing of the roller to be
effected at other points of the Bowl's circumference, with the printing rollers and
the path of the fabric arranged to suit. In lieu of spraying the Bowl with water we
may spray it with steam, or other moistening, or cleansing agent. We may also
employ a cylindrical brush, capable of being turned round as it is worn away
instead of the brush (G), and such brush may have a water pipe or spray combined
with it.
The 'squeegee' may also take any suitable form, or composition, and may be hel
at any desired angle, or position, and by any suitable means against the Bowl. The
roller (M) may be dispensed with, or it may be used in lieu of the 'squeegee,' and a
'squeegee' may act upon it.
Lastly, we would have it understood that as our invention consists essentially in
moistening the colour and then working into a 'puddle' or 'curd,' we do not confine
ourselves to the precise means adopted for operating the brush, or of applying the
several parts for effecting such operation, and although more particularly described in
connection with calico printing machines our invention may apply to Wall paper,
mackintosh, baze and like printing machines.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we wish it to be understood
that what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is :-
1: In a process for printing fabrics without the use of Lappings, Blankets,
Back-greys, the hereindescribed treatment, consisting in first spraying or moistening
any excess color which may get on to the printing bowl, then working the said
moistened color into a puddle' or 'curd' and then removing such liquified color by
a 'squeegee,' or like device, and (or) cleaning roller, as set forth and illustrated.
2. In a calico and (or) like printing machine, the combination of rubber covered
Bowl (A), spray pipe (F), brush (G), squeegee' or 'doctors' (I), and (S), and
roller (M), all mounted and operating as and for the purposes set forth.
3 In a machine such as is herein before described, the use of the combination of
brush (G), links (G2) and levers (G¹) rod (G) and eccentric (H), or other suitable
source of motion, as set forth.
4 The combination of Bowl (A) with a belt of india-rubber or other similar
elastic material passing round such Bowl and a side roller, (or rollers), in combination
with our aforesaid colour removing apparatus, as set forth,

page_text: 5-The combination of parts herein described constituting our colour removing
apparatus as and for the purposes set forth.
D
1
ALL
Antahan 1907
JAMES ALLEN SACKVILLE,
JOHN HENRY SWALLOW,
By John G. Wilson & Co.,
Manchester, Agents.