Improvements in Machinery for Cutting the Pile of Woollen, Cotton, Velvet, or other Corded Fabrics.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 21st July, 1890
. Complete Specification Left, 17th Apr., 1891-Accepted, 18th July, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery for Cutting the Pile of Woollen, Cotton,
Velvet, or other Corded Fabrics.
We, CHARLES WILLIAM KEIGHLEY and THOMAS BURNUP KEIGHLEY, of
the firm of Lockwood and Keighley, of Upperhead Mills, Huddersfield, in the
County of York, Woollen Cord Manufacturers, and WILLIAM NETHERWOOD, of
the same place, Cord Cutter, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
Our invention has reference to self acting machinery employed in cutting the
pile of parallel corded fabrics and velvets, our improvements in such machinery
consisting,
Firstly, in means to be employed for instantly and automatically stopping the
machine when the cutting knife pierces through the fabric, which it sometimes
does from a variety of reasons. To carry out this part of our invention, the knife,
which occupies a horizontal position, is carried on the lower end of a link hinged
to the fore end of the cutting arm. During the operation of cutting the lower end
of the hinged link rides clear or may slightly touch the face of the travelling
fabric, but the end of the cutting arm is held clear of the fabric. If, therefore, a
knife pierces through the fabric, it will assume an inclined position, causing the
link to oscillate upon its centre, permitting the fore end of the cutting arm to
descend, in doing which it falls upon a rod arranged crosswise of the machine,
causing such rod to move in such a manner as to aci upon the self-acting stopping
mechanism, whereby the machine is stopped and further progress of the fa
is arrested.
Secondly, our improvements consist in means to be employed for stopping th
machine when the cutting knives become dull. In carrying out this part of our
invention we make the cutting arm in two parts, fastened together by set screws or
other like means.
One of these parts composing the arm is slotted and the two
parts are drawn together by spiral or other form of springs, but when a knife
becomes dull the pressure of the fabric against the cutting edge of the knife is
sufficient to overcome the pressure of the springs, causing them to yield, so as to
allow that part of the arm carrying the cutting knives to slide backwards by means
of the slot, in doing which the sliding movement sets into action the stop rod
mechanism, whereby further progress of the machine is arrested.
Thirdly, our invention also refers to apparatus for the purpose of automatically
stopping the machine every time the fabric has passed through the machine, and
for this purpose we employ a cranked arm, the lower end of which comes into
contact with the back rail or some convenient roller, so that when the end of the
fabric, which is thickened for that purpose by any suitable means, passes under the
cranked arm, it is raised in such a manner as to set in motion the stop rod
mechanism, whereby the machine is stopped so as to permit the fabric to be moved
laterally for the purpose of presenting another row of cords to the cutting knives;
such lateral movement of the fabric being performed by rack and pinion, actuated
by a hand wheel, set in motion by the operative.
Fourthly, our invention has reference to means for taking up the slack or
tightening the fabric when restarting the machine. In practice it is found that the
fabric in proximity to the cutting tools is slack every time the machine has been
stopped, which slackness is injurious to the proper cutting thereof. To take up
the slack when the machine is re-started, is the object of this part of our invention,
and this we effect by starting the tightening or taking up roller slightly in advance
of the feed or letting in roller, which takes up the slack, as required, before the

page_text: cutting knives commence action. The apparatus for setting into motion the
tightening or taking-up roller in advance of the letting in roller consists of an
arrangement of levers and connecting rods, actuated by the attendant, either by
operating a lever or treadle.
Fifthly. The feed or letting-in roller, (which may be covered with cards, india-
rubber, or other suitable material for placing friction or tension on the fabric) runs
loosely in bearings, and it is caused to revolve by the pull of the fabric; but such
roller would go too fast or over-run itself if not held back by mechanical means,
and this we propose to do by a boss on the axle of the shaft. This boss is slotted
and takes hold of a rim projecting from the face of the pulley, which we find
sufficient to retard or hold back the feed or letting in roller; but an eccentrically
arranged boss or lug, acting under the rim of the pulley, may have the same
effect.
Sixthly. Corduroys, velvets, and other like fabrics being operated upon are made
endless and pass through the machine a great number of times; it is therefore
necessary to assist the fabric (after being cut) from the front to the back or feeding
end of the machine. For this purpose we employ a board hinged near the front of
the machine, having an oscillatory motion imparted to it, so that as the fabric falls
onto the said board it is handed on by the oscillating movement thereof, in addition
to which we employ an inclined scray to assist the said fabric to the feeding end of
the machine.
Dated this 19th day of July 1890.
TASKER & CROSSLEY,
Halifax, Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery for Cutting the Pile of Woollen, Cotton,
Velvet, or other Corded Fabrics.
We, CHARLES WILLIAM KEIGHLEY and THOMAS BURNUP KEIGHLEY, of
the firm of Lockwood and Keighley, of Upperhead Mills, Huddersfield, in the
County of York, Woollen Cord Manufacturers, and WILLIAM NETHERWOOD, of
the same place, Cord Cutter, 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 :—
Our invention has reference to self acting machinery employed in cutting the
pile of parallel corded fabrics and velvets, our improvements in such machinery
consisting in apparatus for automatically stopping the machine every time the
fabric has passed through it, and in apparatus for taking up the slack or for
tightening the fabric when restarting the machine, as it is found that the fabric in
close proximity to the cutting knives is slack every time the machine has been
stopped. Our improvements also relate to apparatus to be employed for moving
the fabric laterally or sideways when a row of cords have been cut so as to present
another row of cords to the cutting knives; also to apparatus to be employed for
preventing the feed or letting-in roller over-running itself, which is liable to happen
in consequence of the pull of the fabric, by which it is made to rotate; and lastly,
our invention consists in apparatus for assisting the fabric, after being cut, from
the front to the back or feeding end of the machine.
Such being the nature and object of our invention, we will now proceed to
describe the same more fully, and for that purpose make reference to the accom-
panying sheets of drawings illustrative thereof, wherein
Fig. 1 is part end elevation of our improved machine, and Fig. 2 is front elevation
thereof.
A represents the framework of the machine, B the fabric, which passes over a
card covered roller D and partially around the back rail E and over the taking-
in or tension roller F as indicated in the drawings. The taking in or tension
..

page_text: roller F is mounted in suitable bearings and driven positively by strap G passing
over driving pulleys H, whilst the card covered roller D is driven by the pull of
the fabric. On the shafts of both the taking-in roller F and the card roller D is
a brake pulley I and I brought into operation as hereinafter described by the
release of the lever J which is kept in its position as shewn in the drawings by the
catch a bearing underneath the lip or latch c. The extreme ends of the fabric
which is being cut are joined together and made endless, as shewn at the thickened
part C in Fig. 3, which is a detail drawing. On the vertical spindle there is
fixed a horizontal arm i, upon which arm is resting a pawl or catch j carried on
the upper end of the lever L, therefore when the thickened part C (which
represents the end of the fabric having been cut) passes under the cranked arm K,
it is raised thereby, causing the axle d to oscillate or rock in such a manner as to
force the vertical finger e against the horizontal pin attached to the vertical
spindle g which is made to oscillate in its bearings so as to cause the horizontal
arini shewn in Figs. 1 and 4 to be moved sideways in the direction of the arrow m
(see Fig. 4) whereby it discontinues to support the extreme end of the pawl; which
consequently descends or drops into the teeth of the revolving catch wheel M,
which said revolving catch wheel forces the pawl and with it the lever L back-
ward, in doing which the catch a is taken from underneath the latch whereby the
spiral spring N draws the lever J downward as shewn in dotted line, consequently
the brake I is applied, and simultaneously therewith the driving strap G is moved
from the fast to the loose pulley and the machine immediately stopped. A coiled
spring on the end of axle d is used to make the said axle oscillate in the opposite
direction as soon as it is released, so as to be in readiness for the next operation, but
a spiral spring may be used instead of a coiled spring.
Having now described what happens when the horizontal rod i ceases to support
the pawl and how the lever J descends and the strap fork moves the strap from
the fast to the loose pulley, we will now describe how the strap fork is operated.
The said strap fork O is capable of oscillating upon the stud n upon which stud is
wound a coiled spring n, the tendency of which is to operate the strap fork in the
direction of the arrow so as to move the strap from the fast pulley to the loose
pulley but when the machine is at work the stud n¹ is prevented from being twisted
by the coiled spring by means of one side of the lever J (see Fig. 5) pressing or
acting against the bent portion of the upper end of lever arm O' which works upon
a fulcrum 0, the upper end of the said arm O' being connected to the strap fork ()
by the short slotted bar O³; but when the horizontal rod i is twisted sideways as
explained, and the lever arm J made to descend it is removed from contact with
the bent portion of lever O¹, whereupon the coiled spring n being released, it
suddenly revolves the stud n' whereby the strap is transferred from the fast to the
loose pulley. When the lever arm J is elevated for the purpose of restarting the
machine (as shewn in full lines in the drawing Fig. 1) it comes into contact again
with the bent portion of the arm 0¹ forcing the arm 03 horizontally forward so as
to cause the stud n' to oscillate in the reverse direction to make the strap fork
place the strap from the loose to the fast pulley.
The brake l' on the end of the card covered roller D is applied when the
machine is being stopped by the thickened part C at the same time as the brake I
and this is effected by means of the spiral spring P pulling down the bent lever P,
but the movement of the bent lever P can only take place when the lever J com-
mences to lower, as the former is connected to the bent lever P¹ by the connecting
rod P. We wish it to be understood that whilst the two brakes I and I are
applied at one and the same time for the purpose of stopping the taking in roller F
and the card covered roller D, that the pressures of the two brakes are not removed
exactly at the same moment of time, in consequence of the slot P³ at one end of
the connecting rod P³, because the bent lever P₁ cannot commence to raise to
release its brake I' until the lever J has been raised to a height equal to the length
of the slot P³, consequently the brake l' is removed from the car roller shaft Ďa

page_text: little later on than the brake of the taking in roller, and this forms an essential
part of our invention, because in practice it is found that the fabric in close
proximity to the cutting knives is somewhat slackened every time the machine has
been stopped, which slackness is injurious to the proper cutting; therefore to take
up the slack of the fabric at that part where the knives are cutting is essential,
and this we perform by the brakes I and 11 being connected together by the slotted
connecting rod P³, which permits the former to act before the latter when restarting
the machine. The brake I can however be released when required for the purpose
of passing the thickened part C or a damaged part of a piece past the knives
whilst the fabric is in a state of tension, and this is done by the attendant putting
his foot upon the treadle P', thereby raising the bent lever P' and parts connected
therewith. For the purpose of stopping the machine without applying the brakes,
as is sometimes required in order to examine the fabric we form a rectangular slot p
(see Fig. 5) in the horizontal plate O' connected to the strap fork, so that on the
plate being raised so as to place the stud p¹ in a line with the horizontal portion
of the slot the operative can make the strap fork O place the strap onto the loose
pulley.
When the fabric has passed through the machine and been stopped automatically
by the part C raising the lever K as already explained, it is necessary for the
fabric to be moved laterally for the purpose of presenting other portions of uncut
pile to the knives; and our improvements relate to means to be employed for this
purpose and it is performed by means of a rack Q (see Fig. 6) and pinion Q.
The rack is attached to the sliding rail Q at the rear of the machine. The
fabric B passes between two adjustable guides or plates Q³ connected to the rail Q
so that when the pinion Q' operates the rack in the direction of the arrow marked
thereon, the rail Q and the guides Q³ are caused to advance in the same direction
carrying the fabric with them, and in order to assist the operative to move the
fabric the correct distance required, an index finger Q is employed, which indicates
the extent of movement given to the fabric. The pinion Qis fixed on the end of
a shaft Qextending from the back to the front of the machine, and is provided
with a hand wheel for the operative to turn each time the fabric has to be
moved.
When the fabric has been moved the proper distance, the lever J is raised and
the strap put on to the fast pulley so that the machine is set in motion and the
cutting operation resumed.
On the end of the shaft D' which carries the card or letting in roller D is
mounted a rim wheel R (see Figs. 7, 8, and 9) which is driven by a cord as seen in
Fig. 10, which is an end view shewing how various rollers of the machine are
driven, A being a guide pulley and A' an adjusting pulley to put the required
tension upon the driving cord. The rim wheel R is loose on the shaft D', and it is
provided on one side with an annular projecting flange R', but there is fixed on
the said shaft a boss R₁ having opposing recesses for the reception in each recess
of a gripping plate R³, shewn in section Fig. 11. These gripping plates R³ are
loose in their recesses and are free to move laterally therein; the said gripping
plates are also made with grooves or slots r for fitting onto the flange R¹ of the rim
wheel R, and so long as the fabric pulls the card roller arcund at the required
speed the grippers R³ remain inoperative, but if the pull of the fabric tends to
cause the card roller to overrun, the increased velocity will cause the grippers to
bind against the flange and the speed of the said card roller will be retarded
thereby. The spiral springs shewn in Fig. 7 are employed to hold the grippers R'
in contact with the flange R¹.
$
Our improvement for assisting the fabric from the front to the back of the
machine is shewn is Figs. 1 and 2, where S is a stationary inclined scray and T is
a board upon which the fabric drops after the cord has been cut. The inclined
board T is connected to one end of the bell crank form of levers U made to oscillate
upon the fulcrum or shaft V by the connecting rod W attached to the revolving

page_text: face plate X, so that as the latter revolves, an oscillating motion is given to the
inclined board T which strikes the fabric and assists it from the front to the back
of the machine, as will be readily understood.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that
what we claim is :-
Firstly. For stopping machinery for cutting the pile of corded fabrics and
velvets, the arrangement of levers, rods, and brakes, substantially as herein shewn
and described, when set in motion by the thickened part C, which connects together
the ends of the fabric.
Secondly. In a machine for cutting the pile of corded fabrics and velvets, the
use of the lever arm K, operated by the thickened connecting part C of the
travelling fabric, for setting in motion the mechanism which stops the machine.
Thirdly. In a machine for cutting the pile of corded fabrics and velvets, the use
of the two brakes I and 1', coupled together by the levers J and P, and slotted
connecting rod P³, employed for purposes set forth.
Fourthly. In a machine for cutting the pile of corded fabrics and velvets, the
mechanism substantially as herein shewn and described, for taking up the slack or
tightening the fabric, when restarting the machine.
Fifthly. In a machine for cutting the pile of corded fabrics and velvets, the
employment of rack Q, and pinion Q', or their equivalents, for moving the fabric
laterally, in manner substantially as described.
Sixthly. In a machine for cutting the pile of corded fabrics and velvets, the
means substantially as herein shewn and described, for preventing the card or
letting-in roller D from over-running.
Seventhly. In a machine for cutting the pile of corded fabrics and velvets, the
employment of the oscillating board T, for assisting the fabric from front to back
of the machine, as described.
Dated this 16th der of Anril 1801
TASKER & CROSSLEY,
Halifax and Huddersfield, Agents.