Elastic and non-elastic narrow fabrics / and a chapter on narrow fabrics made on knitting machines

by Samuel Brown

Printing Designs on Elastic Web

The printing of designs on elastic web is a form of embellishment which opens up large possibilities for variety of effect, and adds much to the selling quality of many webs at slight additional cost. Moreover it gives an opportunity for changing the character of many woven patterns which may not have proved good sellers, but when printed will often become the most popular patterns offered. A woven striped effect with a few crossbars printed on, transforming it into a plaid, changes its character entirely. Or a few dots distributed over a pattern hitherto undesirable may make big changes in its selling qualities.

But apart from this the field of original design is practically unlimited. The work is most satisfactorily accomplished by using oil inks of various colors, making proper arrangements for the drying so that the colors are absolutely fast. Colors should not be used which are more or less fugitive and liable to spread in the process of finishing.

The goods, when printed, are run loosely in cans and allowed to stand a reasonable time for proper absorption of the ink. They are then run slowly through a heated chamber to set the colors, a number of strips being put through the drying chamber at one time. The pattern rolls are best made with the design raised on the face of the pattern, and the ink uniformly distributed on the raised part. Care should be used to have the set of the rolls so adjusted that the part where the figure does not appear will not come in contact with the ink roll.

This method has proved better than using engraved rolls, besides being less expensive. After the design is drawn it is photo-engraved on a plate of a given length so that it may be shaped and fitted around the printing roll, great care being taken to have the repeat properly connected, particularly where the pattern is a continuous one without any break in the design.

Fig. 7.—Diagram of Machine for Printing Elastic Fabrics

Fig. 7 is a sketch of a printing machine. The design roll A is five inches in diameter and constructed of a number of thicknesses of maple wood, glued and screwed firmly together, with the grain well crossed to prevent shrinkage and warping. The design plate is carefully fitted around and pinned securely to this roll. The rubber covered rolls B and C carry the ink and are positively driven. The small roll D, while revolving by frictional contact with roll C, is also vibrated sidewise by a cam-driven lever E, so as to distribute the ink uniformly. The rolls are run on steel centers and can be so adjusted as to center any given pattern on the goods.

All the roll carriers are fitted in a taper groove which is planed to the full length of the frame bed, so that the pressure of the different rolls can be accurately adjusted. The machines are easily operated and print 12,000 to 15,000 yards of web a day.