Improvements in Mats and in Apparatus used in their Manufacture.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 8th June, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 5th Apr., 1892-Accepted, 7th May, 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Mats and in Apparatus used in their Manufacture.
We, GEORGE DUNN, of Aldgate Avenue, Aldgate, in the City of London,
Inventor, and WALTER GOODACRE, of Ceylon Mills, Queens Road, Victoria
Docks, in the County of Essex, Mat Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
According to this invention we form mats with a pile brush surface on each
side so that the mats are reversible and can be used either side uppermost.
Preferably we form such mat of successive rows of short lengths of bundles of
fibre (usually of coir yarn) or it might be of split cane or other suitable flexible
material set up endwise side by side with a strip of wood or other comparatively
These
rigid material dividing each row of bundles of fibre from the next.
division strips are made narrower than the lengths of the bundles so that the
bundles may project above and below them.
The several rows of bundles of fibre and the division strips between them are
all contained within an outer frame which also is of less depth than the bundles
of fibre.
Preferably we form the outer frame of metal and with two of its opposite
sides each formed from a narrow strip of sheet metal bent over along its two
opposite side edges so as to bring the bar in cross section somewhat into the form
of a letter C. The division bars we make at their ends to enter the gap left
between the two bent over edges of the strips. Some of the division bars may
be of wood and others at intervals of metal and with dovetail ends to lock into the
hollow interior of the side bars of the outer frame and so form tie bars to lock
the two side bars of the outer frame at the proper distance apart from one
another.
-
In making the mat a row of bundles of fibre is placed against the inner side of
one end of the frame a division bar is then placed over the row of bundles of
fibre and then another row and so on until the frame is filled-the end bar of the
outer frame is then secured to the ends of the two side bars of the frame and the
mat is complete.
Mats formed in this way are alike on both sides so that either side may be
placed uppermost to be used as a brushing surface.
In the apparatus we employ in making mats of the above construction several
ropes or it might be yarns or slivers of coarse fibres are laid side by side upon a
horizontal table along which they can be fed forwards end wise from time time by a
revolving roller which bears against them. The ropes can in this way be fed
forwards along the table until their ends are made to bear against a vertical stop
plate which is at a short distance from the end of the table. Near to this stop
plate and between it and the table is a vertical frame which can be raised or
lowered in guides-within this frame is held one of the frames which is to form the
outer frame of one of the mats.
In commencing to form a mat the frame is brought into such a position that the
inner side of the end bar of the frame is level with the table. The row of ropes
are then fed forwards until their ends come against the stop plate. A presser bar
now descends and presses the ropes downwards against the end of the frame.
Afterwards a knife descends and cuts off a length from the ends of all the
ropes.
When the knife and presser bar have been again raised a division bar is placed
over the row of lengths of rope which have thus been left within the frame, then

page_text: the frame is lowered a distance the ropes are again fed forwards until their ends
bear against the stop plate and the same operations are repeated.
Dated this 6th day of June 1891.
GEORGE DUNN.
WALTER GOODACRE.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Mats and in Apparatus used in their Manufacture.
We, GEORGE DUNN, of Aldgate Avenue, Aldgate, in the City of London,
Inventor, and WALTER GOODACRE, of Ceylon Mills, Queens Road, Victoria
Docks, in the County of Essex, Mat Manufacturer, 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 :—
According to this invention we form mats with a pile brush surface on each side
so that the mats are reversible and can be used either side uppermost.
Preferably we form such mat of successive rows of short lengths of bundles of
fibre (usually of coir yarn) or it might be of split cane or other suitable flexible
material set up end wise side by side with a strip of wood or other comparatively
rigid material of less depth than the bundles dividing each row of bundles of fibre
from the next. These division strips are made narrower than the lengths of the
bundles so that the bundles may project above and below them.
The several rows of bundles of fibre and the division strips between them are
all contained within an outer frame which also is of less depth than the bundles
of fibre.
Preferably we form the outer frame of metal and with two of its opposite sides
each formed from a narrow strip of sheet metal bent over along its two opposite
side edges so as to bring the bar in cross section somewhat into the form of a
letter C. The division bars we make at their ends to enter the gap left between
the two bent over edges of the strips. Some of the division bars may be of
wood and others at intervals of metal and with dovetail ends to lock into the
hollow interior of the side bars of the outer frame and so form tie bars to lock the
two side bars of the outer frame at the proper distance apart from one another.
In making the mat a row of bundles of fibre is placed against the inner side of
one end of the frame--a division bar is then placed over the row of bundles of fibre
and then another row and so on until the frame is filled-the end bar of the outer
frame is then secured to the ends of the two side bars of the frame and the mat is
complete.
Mats formed in this way are alike on both sides so that either side may be placed
uppermost to be used as a brushing surface.
In the apparatus we employ in making mats of the above construction several
ropes or it might be yarns or slivers of coarse fibres are laid side by side upon a
horizontal table along which they can be fed forwards endwise from time to time
by a revolving roller which bears against them. The ropes can in this way be
fed forwards along the table. In front of the end of the table is a vertical
frame which can be raised or lowered in guides-within this frame is held one of
the frames which is to form the outer frame of one of the mats.
In commencing to form a mat the frame is-brought into such a position that the
inner side of the end bar of the frame is level with the table. The row of ropes
are then fed forwards. A presser bar now descends and presses the ropes downwards
against the end of the frame.
Afterwards a knife descends and cuts off a length from the ends of all the ropes.
When the knife and presser bar have been again raised a division bar is placed
over the row of lengths of rope which have thus been left within the frame, then
the frame is lowered a distance the ropes are again fed forwards and the same
operations are repeated.

page_text: 1ne drawings annexed
described.
Suew
apparatus
COUSE TOGGL
Figure 1 is a plan view and Figures 2 and 3 are cross sections of a mat.
Figure 4 is a side elevation, Figure 5 a longitudinal vertical section, Figure 6 an
end view of apparatus for making the mat.
Figure 7 is a section through one side of the holder in which the outer metal
frame of the mat is held during the time that the mat is being made.
In Figures 1, 2 and 3 A is the outer metal frame of the mat-B are the bundles
of fibre which form the pile-C are the division bars between the rows of bundles
of fibre.
In Figures 4 to 7 D is a vertical sliding frame in which is to be held the outer
metal frame within which a mat is to be formed. This frame D can be slidden
up and down on uprights E forming part of the metal frame of the machine.
In order that mats of any desired width may be formed in the machine the
portions D' of the frame D within which the sides of the mat frame are to be held
can be set towards or away from one another by screws as shewn in Figure 7.
F Fare long screws turning in bearings carried by the uprights by which the
frame D can be raised or lowered. On the top of each is a bevil pinion gearing
into corresponding pinions on a horizontal shaft G-H is a ratchet wheel fast on
this shaft H' is a lever which can turn around the shaft and carries a pawl H³
which engages with the teeth of the ratchet wheel. The lever H¹ is coupled by a
connecting rod H³ with one arm of a lever H' the other arm of which carries a
truck acted on by a cam H³ on a cam shaft J-this arm of the lever being held
towards the cam by a spring not shown in the drawings. The cam shaft J is driven
as shewn in Figure 4 from a driving shaft I which also drives at the same speed a
second cam shaft K.
L is a horizontal table along which are laid side by side the several ropes N out
of which the pile of the mats is to be formed--M M are a pair of rollers for feeding
forward the ropes N at the required times. The spindle of the upper roller is
carried in bearings which can move up and down in vertical slots and which are
pressed downwards by springs O as shewn in Figure 4 so that the pressure on the
roller may be varied to accommodate itself to any variation in the thickness of
the pile ropes and ensure the rollers feeding the ropes forward with a uniform length
of feed. On the axis of the upper roller is also a ratchet wheel M' turned at the
required times by'a pawl M2 carried by a lever M³ which is connected by a rod M
with a lever M³ acted on by a cam Me on the cam shaft J. The slot in the lever M³
is to allow of the forward feed of the ropes being varied and the thickness of the
mat thus regulated.
P is a horizontal bar across the front of the machine its ends pass through vertical
slots in the uprights E. To the bar is secured a knife Q it also carries a presser
bar R. The presser bar has rods R' rising up from it which pass through
projections P on the bar P-R' are coiled springs surrounding the rods R'. The
horizontal bar P is at its ends coupled by connecting rods P with one end of
levers which at their opposite end carry weights P³ which tend always to raise
the bar P. Ps are cams on the cam shaft K by which the bar P is drawn downwards
whenever a length of pile is to be cut off from the several ropes.
S is a horizontal flat plate of sheet iron secured to an angle iron bar S¹ which at
its ends can be slidden to and fro in horizontal slots in the front ends of the levers H.
The ends of the angle iron bar S are connected to bars S which are drawn back-
wards by springs S and pressed forwards at the required times by cams S³ on the
cam shaft J.
In this way the plate S has a backward and forward and up and
down movement given to it. When a length of pile has been cut off from the end
of the ropes the plate moves backwards and descends on to the top of the cut off
length and presses it down and remains down until the ropes have again been fed
forwards so that their ends lie above the plate and a length has been cut off from
them the plate is then drawn away towards the front of the machine a stop W

page_text: which may be carried by the lever H₁ preventing the cut off lengths from being
carried forward along with the plate.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-
When the ropes have been fed forwards so that their ends lie above the plate S
the presser bar R descends and holds down the ends on to the plate and the knife Q
descending with the presser bar cuts a length off from the ropes. The knife and
presser bar then rise and the plate S is moved away from under these cut off
lengths.
The attendant who stands in front of the machine then places into the outer metal
frame of the mat one of the division bars C so that this bar then lies above the centre
of the cut off lengths of pile. As this is being done the frame D carrying the mat is
lowered and the plate S simultaneously raised. Afterwards the plate is drawn
backwards so that it comes above and covers the last cut off lengths of pile-the
plate then descends and holds down the pile until the ropes have again been fed
forwards and so the work goes on.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is-
1. A mat composed of successive rows of short lengths of bundles of fibre set up
endwise side by side with strips of wood or other comparatively rigid material of
less depth than the lengths of fibre dividing the rows from one another and supported
at their ends by an outer frame which surrounds the assemblage of fibre and
dividing strips substantially as described.
2. A. mat formed substantially in the manner herein before described and illustrated
at Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawing annexed.
3. The machine for making such mats substantially as hereinbefore described.
Dated this 28th day of March 1892.
GEORGE DUNN.
WALTER GOODACRE.