IMPROVE. MENTS IN PRODUCING ORNAMENTAL FIGURES OR DEVICES ON TEXTILE FABRICS AND OTHER SURFACES
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Archibald Lockhart Reid, of Glasgow, in the County
of Lanark, North Britain, Print Cutter, for the Invention of "IMPROVE.
MENTS IN PRODUCING ORNAMENTAL FIGURES OR DEVICES ON TEXTILE FABRICS
AND OTHER SURFACES."
Sealed the 27th January 1857, and dated the 9th August 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Archibald Lockhart Reid
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
9th August 1856.
I, ARCHIBALD LOCKHART RBID, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North
Britain, Print Cutter, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN PRODUCING ORNAMENTAL FIGURES OR DEVICES ON TEXTILE
FABRICS AND OTHER SURFACES," to be as follows, that is to say:
This Invention relates to a mode of producing ornamental figures or devices
upon textile fabrics and other surfaces, by passing powered coloring matter
through a perforated pattern and depositing such powder upon the surface to
be ornamented. This process, which is particularly applicable for ornamenting
muslins and other piece goods, and especially for the outline, devices, or
figures to be worked or embroidered by a subsequent operation, is carried into
practical effect by the agency of a combination of rollers, which shake or pass
the powdered color through an endless pattern sheet from a color holder, and
then fix the powder devices by an after treatment.
The fabric to be thus prepared is passed into the machine by an endless
feed-cloth and rollers, and the powder is applied at the instant when the fabric
passes over or round the inner roller of the feed-cloth arrangement. At this

page_text: part of the machine there is an opposing roller, which in its revolution shakes
or works the powdered coloring matter from a reservoir in which the roller
revolves through the endless pattern fabric. This is perforated in correspon-
dence with the intended figure, and being passed over a guide roller, and
thence over a permeable cylinder or rotatory support, the powder roller forces
the coloring matter through the perforations at the time that the pattern passes
along with the unprinted fabrics between the powder roller and the feed-cloth
roller.
In this way the coloring matter is deposited upon the fabric to be figured,
in patches corresponding with the pattern perforations. The fabric thus
powdered, passes thence over a steam chamber or heated roller for setting the
powder, and this completes the operation..
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Archibald Lockhart. Reid in the Great Seal Patent Office-on
the 9th February 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ARCHIBALD
LOCKHART REID, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Print
Cutter, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the twentieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Archibald Lockhart Reid, Her special license that I, the said Archibald
Lockhart Reid, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said Archibald Lockhart Reid, 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 "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN PRODUCING ORNAMENTAL FIGURES OR DEVICES ON TEXTILE FABRICS AND
OTHER SURFACES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Archibald
Lockhart Reid, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should
particularly describe and ascertain 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 imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Archibald Lockhart Reid, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to:
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement in writing, 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 mode of producing ornamental figures or
devices upon textile fabrics and other surfaces, by passing powered colouring
matter through a perforated pattern and depositing such powder upon the
surface to be ornamented. This process, which is particularly applicable for
ornamenting muslins and other piece goods, and especially for the outline
devices or figures to be worked or embroidered by a subsequent operation, as
in the case of the manufacture or production of what are technically and
commercially known as "sewed muslins," is carried into practical effect by the
agency of a combination of rollers, which shake or pass the powdered colour
through an endless pattern sheet from a colour holder, and then fix the powder
devices by an after treatment. The fabric to be thus prepared is passed into
the machine by an endless feed-cloth and rollers, and the powder is applied at
the instant when the fabric passes over or round the inner roller of the feed-
cloth arrangement. At this part of the machine there is an opposing roller,
which in its revolution shakes or works the powdered colouring matter from a
reservoir in which the roller revolves through the endless pattern fabric. This
is perforated in correspondence with the intended figure, and being passed over
a guide roller, and thence over a permeable cylinder or rotatory support, the
powder roller forces the colouring matter through the perforations at the time
that the pattern passes along with the unprinted fabric between the powder
roller and the feed-cloth roller. In this way the colouring matter is deposited
upon the fabric to be figured, in patches corresponding with the pattern per-
forations. The fabric thus powdered passes thence over a steam chamber or
heated roller for setting the powder, and this completes the operation.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood, I shall
now proceed to describe the several illustrative Figures on the explanatory
Sheet of Drawings, which I have appended hereunto, for the purpose of showing
how my improvements may-be judiciously carried into practical effect.
Figure 1 on my Sheet of Drawings is an external end elevation of one modifi-
cation of my improved machinery for producing ornamental figures or devices on
textile fabrics and other surfaces; Figure 2 is a plan of the same, corresponding ;
Figure 3 is a transverse vertical section of the machinery, corresponding with
Figure 1; and Figures 4, 5, and 6 are enlarged details, illustrative of particular
actions of the apparatus. The framing of this machine, which is of the open

page_text: rectangular kind, consists of a pair of parallel vertical standards A, held together
by suitable cross bars to form a complete independent frame. Brackets B are
bolted to the back of these standards to carry bearings for the spindle of the
beam or roller C, on which is wound the blank or unprinted fabric, upon which
fabric the outline, pattern, or ornamental figure is to be placed. From this
beam or roller the unprinted fabric D passes off, in the direction of the arrow,
to the action where the powdered colour is impressed or deposited upon it.
This powdering action mainly consists of three large rollers or cylinders E, F, G,
which are each carried by their spindles in end bearings in the main framing.
The two opposite parallel rollers E, F, in conjunction with the small tensional
spring roller H, serve to carry an endless perforated sheet or web of fabric J,
which is caused to traverse by the roller action in the direction of the arrow,
the velocity of this traverse being in exact correspondence with that of the
fabric to be figured or ornamented. The small intermediate roller H is simply
intended for the tensional adjustment of the perforated fabric; its spindle rests
by its-ends-in-bearings-carried and-guided in the slotted brackets K, bolted to
the framing standards, so that they can be set up at pleasure by the winch
bandles L, fast on the upper ends of short screws, helical springs being
interposed at M, between the elevating nuts of the screws and the under side
of the actual spindle bearings, to give the necessary free elastic action. The
lower roller G is simply a counter-pressure one for the roller E, the blank
fabric and the pattern web being received and pressed together between the
two. The whole of the movements of the machine are originated by the fast
and loose band pulley arrangement N. These pulleys are on the overhanging
end of a bottom horizontal shaft, running in bracket bearings, carried by the
framing, and having at its opposite end a bevil wheel O, in gear with a bevil
pinion P, fast on the lower end of a short vertical worm shaft Q, supported in
footstep and collar bearings on the framing. This shaft Q has upon it a worm
or endless screw R, in gear with a worm wheel S, fast on the end of the spindle
of the roller G. This is the movement for this one roller only. The rest of
the series are actuated by the spur wheel T, fast on the outer end of the
spindle of the roller G, which wheel is in gear with a corresponding spur
wheel U, fast on the end of the spindle of the roller E. This connection thus
'causes the rollers E and G to revolve together at exactly corresponding rates.
The wheel U again gears with the large central spur wheel V, fast on the end
of the tensional roller H, and this large wheel similarly gears with the opposite
spur wheel W on the spindle of the roller F. The bearings of the roller E
are fixtures, but those of F and H are moveable for adjustment, as may be
The vertica
required for different lengths of perforated pattern fabric.

page_text: adjustment of the roller H has been already described. That for the roller F
is effected by the winch handles X, which actuate screws operating horizontally
upon the roller bearings, so as to traverse them in or out, as may be necessary,
along the slotted holding brackets in which the bearings are carried. The
pattern or figuring powder of blue, or any other desired colour, is of a resinous
character, and is contained in the long narrow holding-trough Y. The details
of this portion of the apparatus, as well as the distributing and brushing
movements, are more clearly delineated in the larger Figures 4, 5, and 6.
Figure 4 is a transverse section of the powder reservoir or holding trough,
with its distributing rubber, table, and brush. Figure 5 is a longitudinal
elevation of the same parts, but with the brush removed. Figure 6 is a partial
plan of the powder holder and the rubbing and brushing actions.
The vertical shaft Q carries at its upper end a crank disc Z, in which is a
stud pin a, having jointed to it one end of a long connecting rod b, the opposite
end of which is jointed at c to a stud pin on the top of the rubber bar d. This
rubber bar is guided at each end, so as to have a parallel traverse from the
disc crank action, by end pins and slots e, the pins being carried by the table f,
and working up through slots in the bar ends. A fixed horizontal rod or bar g
is carried in pendant brackets fast to the framing, and this rod has upon it an
edge stop piece h, bearing against the upper undulating or serrated edge i of
the back portion of the powder holder. The under side of the rubbing bar is
faced with edge flannel or other suitable rubbing material, as at j, where the
flannel is represented as disposed in an undulating or zig-zag form to produco
a severe rubbing edge. The powder holder is carried by the rubber, the two
being connected by the curved spring pieces K. The parts thus fitted up
cause the powder to be shaken out of the perforated or permeable bottom of
the holder, the traverse action of the powder holder giving a vibratory shake
to the holder by forcing the undulating edge i against the stop h. As the
powder falls it is received upon the perforated pattern fabric J, which is in
close contact at this part with the unprinted or blank fabric D, and as the
two fabrics travel forward the newly sprinkled powder comes beneath the
rubber. The effect of this is, that the deposited powder is well rubbed through
the pattern perforations, and reaches the blank fabric in lines or devices
corresponding to the devices formed by the perforations in the pattern sheet.
The same crank disc Z actuates the brushing apparatus, which clears off the
loose powder left on the upper face of the pattern web; a small frictional
pulley is made to bear against the upper face of the crank disc, so as to be
driven by the disc. This small pulley is fast on the end of a short shaft, set in
bracket bearings m, carried by the framing. This shaft has upon it a small

page_text: pulley n, over which, and over a corresponding pulley on the opposite side of
the framing, there is passed an endless horizontal brush o, composed of a belt
of some flexible material set with inclined blocks of brushes. The lower side
of this endless brush thus constantly traverses over the powdered surface of the
perforated sheet, and clears away the loose particles, sweeping them into the
catching trough p. At the side of the framing, opposite to that on which the
beam for the unfigured fabric is placed, there is a large hollow steam-heated
cylinder q, employed for fixing the deposited powder upon the fabric. The
spindle of this cylinder is supported by the framing in stuffing box bearings r
at its ends, the heating steam being supplied to the cylinder through one end
stuffing box by the pipe s, whilst a pipe at the opposite end stuffing box serves
to carry away the water of condensation. As the newly powdered fabric
passes from the rubbing and brushing action, it is directed over and round this
heated cylinder, and the heat thus imparted to the powdered fabric, acting upon
the resinous matter in the figuring powder, partially softens it, and thus fixes
the lines. Figure 7 shows a portion of a figured fabric the device of which is
thus produced, the lines being all formed by minute dottings of powder. After
leaving the steam cylinder, the figured piece passes along beneath the machine,
and is finally wound upon a beam t, which is supported by end spindle bearings
in the framing beneath the beam of the blank fabric. This beam t is actuated
by a crossed belt u from a pulley v on the end of the spindle of the roller E,
and as the beam C carrying the blank fabric is fitted with a weighted frictional
pulley to give it a steady retarding power, the tractive action of the beam t
keeps the figured fabric at a constant stretch. I have already observed that
this system of ornamentation is adapted for the production of figures or
devices of various kinds and for various purposes; and I may here further
state, that the same general plan may be judiciously adopted by the shawl
printer for getting up his primary designs, instead of being compelled to
actually cut the blocks before the effect of a new design on the actual material
to be printed can be really developed. This system of perforated design paper
or fabric may be resorted to with equal effect. Each colour of the design
having its own special perforated sheet, the operator may thus deposit colour
through such perforations upon a sample of the goods to be printed, so as
to bring out all the effect before cutting the blocks; hence, by this means the
great initial cost of cutting blocks for designs which fail when applied to the
actual material to be printed for use is saved.
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 may observe, in conclusion, that I do not confine or restrict myself to

page_text: 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 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 system or mode of producing ornamental figures or devices on
textile fabrics or materials and other surfaces, as herein-before described.
Second, the system or mode of producing the outline figures or devices to
be worked by the sewer or embroiderer in the production of "sewed muslins "
and other embroidered goods, by depositing powdered colouring matter through
endless perforated pattern sheets upon the fabric to be sewn or embroidered.
Third, the application and use of a mechanical shaker or depositor of
colouring matter, rubber, and brush for producing figures or devices upon
various surfaces, as herein-before described.
Fourth, the system or mode of fixing the deposited powder, figures, or
devices upon ornamental fabrics, by passing such fabrics over a steam-heated
cylinder.
Fifth, the system or mode of testing the effects of new designs upon woven
goods, and other surfaces previous to cutting the printing blocks for such
designs, or previous to mounting the loom for weaving such designs, by
depositing powdered colouring matter through sectional portions of perforated
design or pattern material.
In witness whereof, I, the said Archibald Lockhart Reid, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Sixth day of February, One thousand eight
hundred and fifty-seven.