THE

London

JOURNAL AND REPERTORY

OF

Arts, Sciences, and Manufactures.

CONJOINED SERIES.

No. LXI.

Recent Patents.

To JOHN ROBERTS, of Prestolle, in the parish of Prestwick, and county of Lancaster, calico printer, for his invention of certain improvements in the art of block printing.-[Sealed 27th June, 1836.]

THESE improvements in the art of block printing consist in a peculiar and novel construction of apparatus to be used in that particular branch of the art known in the trade by the term "springing," and which is more particularly applicable in those situations where one colour only is to be taken up by the block. The present improvement is the new arrangement of the parts connected with and constituting the sieve cloth and its elastic bed; this cloth or sieve (which may be used either with or without its bed) being the ordinary surface upon which the colour is spread, in order to be transferred to the face of the block that gives the form of the pattern or device intended to be

VOL, X.

printed. Firstly, the framing, which confines the edges of the sieve cloth, is so constructed, that it may be easily adjusted to any degree of tension in order to suit the quality of the various colours to be employed for printing; and also, to accommodate itself to the various consistencies of the colours, from which a convenience will also result, namely, that the tension of the sieve cloth may be adapted to suit the style of pattern intended to be printed; that is, that a greater or less portion of colour may be presented to the surface of the block, according to the character of the pattern; and, secondly, the whole apparatus is so constructed, that the necessity of children attending upon every printer for the purpose of spreading the colour after every dip of the block, is obviated by the colour in this improved "springing tub" always flowing in sufficient quantity, and regulating its own supply, ready for each presentation of the block to the sieve cloth.

In order that my invention may be more perfectly understood, I have attached hereto a drawing, representing different views of my improved "springing tub," the same letters of reference pointing out corresponding parts in all the figures.

Fig. 1, Plate I., is a plan or horizontal view of the springing tub, as seen from above, part of the sieve cloth being removed, in order to show the interior of the appa ratus. Fig. 2, is an elevation seen partly in section as cut through fig. 1, in the dotted line A, B ; and fig. 3, is an end elevation taken at the right hand of fig. 1: a, a, is a reservoir or case made of tin or other suitable material, to contain the colour intended to be used for printing, which colour flows through the pipe b, b, and tap c, to the channels d, d, d, in the wooden box below; which several channels are all connected with each other. These channels or passages d, d, are formed in a solid piece of wood,

and are for the purpose of supplying a portion of the colour to the under surface of the sieve cloth e, e, through the bed f,f. This bed operates as a support for the sieve cloth, and is perforated with small holes, in order that the colour may flow freely through it to the under part of the sieve cloth. The number and size of the holes must be determined by the operator, as upon them the supply of colour will greatly depend, and which must be varied to suit the different styles of pattern to be printed. It will be seen that three sides or edges of the sieve cloth are confined by the framing or wood-work g, g, g; and the fourth side or edge is attached to the rail h, which has a strengthening bar of iron fixed to it for the purpose of carrying the nut of the screw i, i: this rail h, has two small projecting ends, which run in slots or grooves formed in each side of the iron framingj, j; and by turning the small screw i, the rail will be adjusted in the framingj, and with it the required tension of the sieve cloth will be obtained and regulated, the exact or most suitable tightness of which, can only be determined by the experience of the practical printer. It will be understood that the sieve cloth e, in the horizontal view, fig. 1, represented as broken, must be entire, and its outer end securely fastened to the moveable rail h, h. A portion only of the diaphragm or perforated bed ƒ, is likewise shown; but it will be understood that this is fastened to the framing of the apparatus all round, and extends under the whole of the operating surface of the sieve cloth.

In order that the supply of colour to the sieve cloth may be admitted evenly after every dip of the printing block, I prefer that the bed f, f, should be made of common oilcloth casing, or other such waterproof material, so that the colour shall only pass through the perforations or holes;

and it is also necessary to state, that the sieve cloth itself may be varied to suit the different patterns to be printed, as I have found it very advantageous, in many cases, to use two or more thicknesses of the cloth in immediate connexion with each other; and I have also found a great convenience in varying the quality of the materials of which the fabric is composed, such as cotton and wool, linen and cotton, or otherwise. It will be perceived that the supply of colour to the apparatus is afforded and regulated by opening the cock c, in the pipe b, either partially or to its full extent, and also by varying the height of the reservoir of colour, which will vary its pressure. This latter regulation may be done at the pleasure of the operator, by turning the adjusting screw K, K, which is set at the back of the framing for supporting the reservoir.

It only remains to add, that the reservoir is to be charged with colour through the small funnel 7, on the top, (which must be closed by a plug while the apparatus is in use,) and any waste colour is to be discharged by the opening m, behind, communicating with the channels d, d. This, of course, is also to be stopped while the apparatus is in use.

In conclusion, I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the dimensions or materials of any of the parts of the improved springing tub described above; but I claim as my invention, the construction of apparatus shown in the drawings, and its employment for the purposes above described.-[Inrolled in the Rolls Chapel Office, December, 1836.]

Specification drawn by Messrs. Newton and Berry.