Improvements in the Manufacture of Linoleum Floorcloth and in Machinery therefor.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 1st July, 1897
Complete Specification Left, 31st Mar., 1898-Accepted, 20th May, 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Linoleum Floorcloth and in
Machinery therefor.
I, MICHAEL BARKER NAIRN, of Dysart House, Dysart, in the County of Fife,
North Britain, Floorcloth and Linoleum Manufacturer, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows, that is to say:
My said invention has for its object the making of linoleum floorcloth in an
improved manner and by means of improved machinery admitting of the attain-
ment of improved ornamental effects.
In carrying out my invention the linoleum material, in a loose granular condi-
tion, is applied to a backing of a woven or other suitable fabric through stencil
plates perforated to produce a pattern. The backing with the granular linoleum
on it is passed through a heating chamber to soften the linoleum and render it
ccherent, and is next subjected to considerable pressure to consolidate it and
render it dense and even.
The machinery comprises a long table supported by parallel side frames con-
nected by cross girders, the framing also carrying shafting and gearing for moving.
the various parts. The backing fabric is drawn off a roller at the entering end,
and passes along the table, thence through the heating chamber, and through the
pressing apparatus to a take-up cylinder, from which it proceeds round guide
rollers to a terminal roller on which it is wound. The fabric is assisted in its
movements and is kept even and without distortion by endless steel bands which
engage with its edges by means of sharp pins. The movement of the fabric is
intermittent, the take-up cylinder being turned to a suitable extent at the proper
times by pawl levers acting on ratchet teeth and the pawl levers are made like
bellcranks, and are fitted with clamps or grippers which when the fabric is being
moved bind it and if necessary its steel side bands firmly upon the take-up cylinder
so that the cylinder cannot slip round without taking the fabric with it.
The fabric is stationary whilst the linoleum material is being applied, and there
are as many stencil plates as there are colors of linoleum to form the pattern,
the stencil plates being fixed to the bottoms of frames so as to form a kind of trays.
The trays are placed at such distances apart along the machine that the fabric has
to make two forward movements to move each successive part of the fabric from
under one tray to the next one; and the trays are held by frame bars attached to
guided vertical rods which by cams moved from the main gearing lift the trays
whilst the fabric moves and lower them whilst the fabric is stationary, provision
being made for accurately adjusting the heights of the trays. The linoleum material,
in a granular condition as herein before mentioned, is contained in open-bottomed
troughs, which at their ends are fitted with small wheels to run on the frame bars
of the trays. Each trough moves within its tray its bottom being in contact or
nearly so with the stencil plate; and at each operation, whilst the fabric is
stationary below, each trough moves over the stencil plate and back again, the
movement of the trough being longitudinal or transverse but preferably transverse.

page_text: The variously coloured portions of linoleum material supplied through the
stencil plates may in the case of every tray or trough fall on the backing fabric
and occupy the full intended thickness of the linoleum material; but for some
goods, the fabric may be completely covered with some of the colors, whilst dark
or other small outline or other markings or shadings may be produced on the main
or body colors of the pattern details, by means of other stencil trays and troughs
arranged to apply comparatively small quantities of suitably colored material upon
the surfaces of the previously supplied material. Before applying the outline or
other markings or shadings, the material already in place is preferably made level
by means of boards or plates; and such boards or plates may be provided with
projections to form indentations to receive the subsequently added marking or
shading material.
Each portion of the fabric after receiving in successive steps the variously
colored portions of the linoleum material proceeds through a chamber in which it
is heated by means of steam pipes or jackets, or in some other convenient way.
And from the heating chamber the fabric passes into an hydraulic press wherein
it is subjected to a considerable pressure, the ram and platen being, preferably,
arranged to press upwards. To prevent adherence the press head is provided with
a suitable bearing surface such as a polished surface of metal such as nickel-plated
or copper-plated castiron or other material; or there may be interposed between
the presshead and the linoleum fabric a cloth of suitable material saturated or
treated with a non-adherent substance such as soap or wax composition. When
a separating cloth is used it is moved step by step with the linoleum fabric and on
leaving the press passes round or onto a roller so as to become separated from the
linoleum fabric.
The gearing of the machine may be varied, but in a convenient arrangement,
a first-motion shaft having on it fast and loose pulleys for a driving belt, is geared
to longitudinal shafts, which by means of transverse shafts and eccentrics, cams,
and connecting rods and levers, impart at the proper periods lifting and lowering
movements to the stencil trays, and the to-and-fro' movements to the troughs.
One longitudinal shaft, by means of a worm and wormwheel, drives a shaft which
moves the take-up gripping and pawl lever. To insure accuracy in the step-by-
step movements of the fabric and to prevent rebound of any of the parts at the
end of each forward movement, each of one or more of the levers or moving parts
is connected to the piston of an air cylinder fitted with check valves arranged for
drawing in air during each stroke so as to confine it and obstruct the rebound of
the piston. When the troughs are moved transversely it is done by means of
cords passing over guide pulleys to large pulleys below the table, these large pulleys
being on a shaft to which partial rotations in opposite directions are imparted at
the proper times.
& T
1007
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Linoleum Floorcloth and in
Machinery therefor
.I, MICHAEL BARKER NAIRN, of Dysart House, Dysart, in the County of Fife,
North Britain, Floorcloth and Linoleum Manufacturer, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner the saine is to be performed, to be
4

page_text: particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement, that is
to say:-
My said invention has for its object the making of linoleum floorcloth in an
improved manner, and by means of improved machinery admitting of the attain-
ment of improved ornamental effects.
In carrying out my invention the linoleum material, in a loose granular condi-
tion, is applied to a backing of a woven or other suitable fabric through stencil
plates perforated to produce a pattern and fixed to frames so as to form what are
hereinafter termed stencil trays. The backing with the granular linoleum
on it is passed through a heating chamber to soften the linoleum and render it
coherent, and is next subjected to considerable pressure to consolidate it and
render it dense and even.
And in order that my said invention and the manner of performing the same
may be properly understood I hereunto append four sheets of explanatory drawings,
to be hereinafter referred to, and showing machinery for the manufacture of
linoleum floorcloth, as made with my improvements.
Figures 1 and 2, on Sheet 1 of the drawings are respectively a plan and an
elevation of a part of the improved machinery. Figures 3 and 4, on Sheet 2,
are respectively a plan and an elevation of a part of the improved machinery not
appearing in Figures 1 and 2. Figure 5, on Sheet 3, is a transverse vertical
section of the machinery, as taken at a line a, in Figure 2, and Figure 6 is a
sectional side elevation of the part of the machinery shown in Figure 5.
Figures 7 and 8, on Sheet 4, are respectively a sectional plan, and a transverse
vertical section of part of the machinery the section being taken as at a line, b,
in Figure 2. Figure 9 is a longitudinal vertical section of the part shown
in Figure 8. Figure 10 is a sectional elevation of a detail. In these drawings
the same reference letters and numerals are used to mark the same or like parts
wherever they are repeated.
The machine may be constructed for any convenient number of different colors,
but assuming it to be made for six main or body colors, for example, it is provided
with six separate stencil trays for those colors together with six sets of the parts
acting with the trays. Only one (K) of the stencil trays for the main or body
colors is shown in the drawings, but the actual machine extends from what is
shown in the drawings towards the left hand, and the stencil trays with their
accessories which are not shown are repetitions exactly like the tray (K) and its
accessories which are shown.
The machinery comprises a long table, A, supported by parallel side frames, A1,
connected by cross girders, A2, the framing also carrying shafting and gearing
for moving the various parts. The backing fabric is drawn, in an ordinary way
off a roller at the left-hand or entering end of the machine and passes along the
table, A, thence through a heating chamber, B, and through pressing apparatus, V,
to a take-up cylinder, D, from which it proceeds round guide rollers, V8, and D 1,
to a terminal roller, D2, on which it is wound up. The fabric is assisted in its
movements and is kept even and without distortion by endless steel bands, E, which
engage with its edges by means of sharp pins, E 1. The endless steel bands, E,
extend throughout the whole length of the machine passing round the take-up
cylinder, D, and being guided at other parts by pulleys, wheels or rollers not
shown. The movement of the fabric is intermittent, the take-up cylinder, D,
being turned to a suitable extent at the proper times by a pawl lever, D3, acting
on a ratchet wheel, D4, fast on the shaft, D5, on which the take-up cylinder is
fixed. The pawl lever, D3, (Figure 4) is in the form of a bellcrank which is
centered loosely on the shaft, D5, and is connected by a link, D 6, to the upper end
of a lever, D7, which is centered at its lower end to the machine framing, A. 1.
The lever, D7, is actuated by a disk, D8, armed with a projecting pin, D 9, to
work in a cam-shaped slot in the lever, and this disk is fast on a shaft, G, which
is driven through worm and worm wheel gearing, G1, by a shaft, G2, driven
through spur wheels, H 1, by a first motion shaft, H, driven by means of pulleys, H2,

page_text: and belting. The wormwheel, G 1, on the shaft, G, is formed with a cam face.
which as the shaft revolves acts on a lever, G3, which through belleranks, .G4,
links G 5, and eccentrics (not shown in Figure 3) actuates a clamp or gripper, G6,
which when the fabric is being moved binds it and if necessary its steel side
bands, E, firmly upon the take-up cylinder, D, so that the cylinder cannot slip
round without taking the fabric with it. A register wheel, J, is provided to
bring about an accurate stoppage of the take-up cylinder, D, this wheel being fast
on the cylinder shaft, D5, and being formed with notches in which engages the
angular end of a lever, J 1, actuated by a cam, J2, on the shaft, G.
The fabric is stationary whilst the linoleum material is being applied; and
there are as many stencil plates is there are colors of linoleum to form the pattern,
the stencil plates being fixed to the bottoms of frames K, so as to form a kind of
trays. The stencil trays are placed at such distances apart along the machine
that the fabric has to make two forward movements to move each successive part
of the fabric from under one tray to the next one; and each tray is held by frame
bars, J3, attached to guided vertical rods, K1, which are connected at each side
by horizontal bars, K 2, each bar being provided at its middle part with a roller, K 3,
capable of vertical adjustment and which is acted on by a cam, K4, on a shaft, K 5,
driven through worm and wormwheel gearing, K. 6, by a shaft, K 7, driven through
spurwheels, H 3, and H 1, by the first-motion shaft, H. The vertical rods, K1,
lift each stencil tray whilst the fabric moves, and lower it whilst the fabric is
stationary. The granular linoleum material is supplied by hand to open-bottomed
troughs, L, which at their ends are fitted with small wheels, K 8, to run on the
frame bars, J3, of the trays. Each trough, L, moves within its tray its bottom
being in contact or nearly so with the stencil plate; and at each operation, whilst
the fabric is stationary below, each trough moves over the stencil plate and back
again, the movement of the trough being transverse. To effect the movement
of each trough, L, a chain, or cord, L1, is attached to it, and this chain passes over
guide pulleys, L2, at each side of the machine, and round a large wheel, L3, by
which it is driven and which is fast on a central shaft, L4, extending throughout
the whole length of the machine. The central shaft, L4, is driven through
a pinion, L 5, (Figure 7) a rack-toothed bar, L 6, spurwheels, L 7, pinions, L 8. a
shaft, L9, and spurwheels, M, H3, H1, from the first-motion shaft, H.
traverse of a trough, L, consists of a movement from one side of the machine to
the other and back again and to effect this reciprocation the rack, L 6, is provided.
The rack, L6 (Figures 7, 8, 9, and 10) moves in guides, N, and is formed with a
part, N1, having a cam-shaped slot in it which works a pinion, N 2, encircled by
an anti-friction sleeve, N3, this pin being fixed to and between two spur-
wheels, L7, which when they revolve cause the rack to reciprocate and with it
the trough, L. The shape of the cam slot is such as to make the bar, L 6, recipro-
cate only at the proper time that is when the fabric is stationary and the stencil
trays are lowered. Any granular material getting to the 'outer sides of the
trough, L, is pushed over the stencil trays to either side of the machine and falls
down shoots, F, to receptacles (not shown) provided to receive it.
The
All of the variously colored portions of linoleum material supplied through the
stencil plates may in the case of each tray, K, and trough, L, fall on the backing
fabric and occupy the full intended thickness of the linoleum material; but for
some goods, the fabric may be completely covered with some of the colors whilst
additional dark or other small outline or other markings or shadings may be
produced on the main or body colors of the pattern details, by means of another
stencil tray, P, and trough, Q, (or it might be more than one) actuated similarly
to the trays and troughs, L, supplying the body colors and arranged to apply
comparatively small quantities of suitably colored material upon the surfaces of
the previously-supplied material. Before applying the outline or other markings
or shadings, the material already in place is preferably made level and receives
a certain amount of pressure by means of boards or plates, R. Such plates, R,
are moved by vertical rods, K 1, and other parts similar to the corresponding parts

page_text: used in connection with the stencil trays, so as to rise while the fabric moves and
drop while the fabric is stationary; and they may be provided with projections to
form indentations to receive the subsequently added marking or shading material.
Each portion of the fabric after receiving in successive steps the variously-
colored portions of the linoleum material proceeds through a chamber in which it
is heated by means of steam pipes, S, and jackets or chests, T, or in any other
convenient way.
The steam pipes, S, are supported on the framing, A 1, in such
a manner as to be above the fabric, while the jackets or chests, T, form part of the
table or framing and are consequently below the fabric. The steam pipes, S, are
enclosed by a metal plate, S1, partly forming the heating chamber. From the
heating chamber the fabric passes into an hydraulic press, V, wherein it is
subjected to a considerable pressure, the ram and platen, V 1, being preferably
arranged to press upwards. The part, V2, comprises the press head; and the
hydraulic cylinder or cylinders and parts immediately in connection therewith
are not shown being sunk into the ground below the machine. The valves_for
the hydraulic cylinders are operated in any known suitable way from the shaft, G2,
through which the forward motion of the fabric takes place. To prevent adherence
the press head, V2, may be provided with a suitable bearing surface, such as a
polished surface of metal such as nickel-plated or copper-plated castiron. or
other metal; but it is preferable to interpose between the
head, V2, and the linoleum fabric two cloths, V 3 (or it might be one only) of
suitable material saturated or treated with a non-adherent substance such as wax
composition. The separating cloths, V 3, are moved step-by-step with the linoleum
fabric and on leaving the press, V, pass on to rollers, V 4, so as to become separated
from the linoleum fabric. The step-by-step motion is imparted to the separating
cloths, V 3, by belting acting on pulleys on the spindles, V 5, of the rollers, V 4,
and on a pulley, V 6, on a guide roller shaft, V 7, this shaft being turned by the
fabric moving round the guide roller, V8, fast on it. The take-up cylinder
shaft, D5, has a pulley, W, fast on it, from which a belt imparts the step-by-step
motion to the drum, D2, on which the fabric is wound by means of another
pulley, W 1, fast on the drum shaft, W 2.
press
To further insure accuracy in the step-by-step movements of the fabric, and to
prevent rebound of any of the parts at the end of each forward movement, each of
one or more of the levers or moving parts is connected to the piston of an air
cylinder (not shown) fitted with check valves arranged for drawing in air during
each stroke so as to confine it and obstruct the rebound of the piston.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. In machinery for producing patterned linoleum floorcloth with granulated
linoleum applied through stencil plates, the combination comprising means for
moving the woven fabric or backing step by step under a longitudinal series of
stencil plates which are stationary at a distance above the backing equal to the
thickness of granulated linoleum to be deposited whilst it is being deposited but
are raised during each forward movement of the backing,-longitudinal open-
bottom troughs to distribute the granulated linoleum over the stencil plates―
means to move the troughs transversely from side to side and back again between
the forward movements of the backing-means for heating the linoleum deposited
on the backing and means for subjecting the heated linoleum on the backing to
great pressure, all substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. In machinery of the kind to which the invention relates and the first claim
refers to, apparatus for distributing granulated linoleum through through a
stencil plate, and consisting of an open-bottomed trough placed longitudinally
but made to move from side to side, combined with a stencil-plate tray made with
5 outlets at the sides for the discharge of linoleum caught on the outsides of the
trough, substantially as herein before described.

page_text: 3. Mechanism for moving the distributing troughs referred to in the second
claim, and consisting of chains or cords attached to the troughs and passing round
guide pulleys to large pulleys or drums placed below the table of the machine on a
longitudinal shaft to which reciprocating motions are imparted at the proper times
by a cam-slotted lever acted on by a crank pin on a continuously rotating shaft;
substantially as hereinbefore described.
4. In machinery of the kind to which the invention relates, combined heating
and pressing apparatus operating as described, and consisting of two horizontal
series of steam pipes between which the deposited linoleum on its backing is passed
step by step, remaining between each step, and a heated hydraulic press into which
cach portion of the linoleum successively passes immediately from the steam-pipe
heating apparatus at each of the step by step movements substantially as herein-
before described.
5. In machinery for producing patterned linoleum floorcloth, the combination of
two or more stencil plates through which granulated linoleum of different ground
or body colors is distributed, such stencil plates being cut so as to cause the woven
fabric or backing to be completely covered with the said ground or body colors,
with one or more additional stencil plates to deposit linoleum to produce outline,
shading, or other markings upon the surface of the previously deposited ground or
body colors, substantially as herein before described.
Dated this Thirtieth day of March 1898.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.