Improvements in the Manufacture of Linoleum and like Fabrics.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Dec., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 9th Sept., 1889-Accepted, 12th Oct., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Linoleum and like Fabrics.
We, HENRY WIlliam Godfrey, Engineer, CHARLES FREDERICK LEAKE Engineer
and CHARLES EDWARD LUCAS, Linoleum Manufacturer, all of the Linoleum Manu-
facturing Works, Staines in the County of Middlesex; do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object improvements in the manufacture of linoleum
and like fabrics with the pattern inlaid, the color extending through the thickness
of the fabric.
For this purpose we prepare tesseræ of the various colors and arrange them in
order and lay them also one over the other so as to form a block on the surface
of which a section of the pattern appears. We transfer these tesseræ layer by
layer to the surface of a prepared backing or fabric; they are pushed forward by
a reciprocating pusher. The fabric with the tosseræ upon it passes beneath a
segmental roller which rolls over and consolidates the whole."
The process is as follows, we take the usual linoleum composition which is chiefly
composed of oxidised linseed oil, resin, Kauri gum and cork together with suitable
coloring matters or wood dust may be used to take the place of cork dust either
wholly or in part. We mix and prepare it in various colors. We pass each color
separately through calendar rolls and press it into a sheet, but without the usual
canvas backing it is then passed through a pair of rolls thinly coated with paraffin
wax which it receives to prevent subsequent sticking. It is then fed through a
cutting or stamping machine which may consist of vertical cutters or punches
suitably arranged and worked by cams. The cutters have funnel shaped continua-
tions, long enough to contain a convenient number of tesseræ, in order one above
another. Having cut the figures of desired shape to the design or pattern, we set
them as they come from the cutters into a block; each figure in its proper place
so that the block is formed of strata of loose figures, each stratum being a section
of the design.
From this block the prepared tesseræ are passed on to a suitable backing of
canvas or prepared linoleum and through a press. The press is steam or water
heated while the bed plate is cooled by a water circulation.
As a press we use a sector of a large roll and through its contre is fixed a shaft
with projecting ends on which are fitted friction rolls that move in paths formed in
the framing. The sector is actuated by the reciprocating motion of a crank and
connecting rod and is made to roll with a to and fro motion upon the flat bed plate or
the material which is interposed. At each corner of the sector is a strong projecting
tooth which engages a corresponding notch at the projecting corners of the bed plate.
The object of these teeth will be seen hereafter.
The centre of the sector moves in a horizontal line and parallel with the bed plate,
so far as coincides with the length of the material to be pressed at each stroke at this
point the teeth engage their respective notches.
The centre is carried on in an upward curve, and the teeth become the centres
upon which the press hinges, and the sector is thus raised clear of the bed plate.
Upon the return stroke of the crank, the press again falls into contact with the
material and rolls over it, the same thing occurs at the other end of the stroke. The
object of thus raising the press at either end, is to admit of the fabric being drawn
forward. The sector is held and guided in its motion by a pair of side frames and on
each of these is a strong bracket for the purpose of carrying the shafts and gearing-
at the extremity of these is fixed the plummer block for carrying the crank shaft-at

page_text: a convenient distance and in a line parallel with the centre of the sector or press upon
each end of the shaft is keyed a disc crank, each disc is cogged at its periphery and
is recessed on the inside to form a double cam. These cams while the press is raised
upon its hinge actuate a slide plate which forces the layers. of loose tesseræ towards
the press.
It should here be mentioned that the said block of tesseræ is set up on a
rising plate or platform which is made to rise step by step each step being exactly the
thickness of the tesseræ.
A second shaft which gives motion to the crank shaft and which is geared to it
carries at either end a cam-these through levers and connecting rods work a ratchet
device which through bevel wheels and a transverse shaft (by which they are connected)
operate the lifting screws at the moment the propelling slide is withdrawn and so
raises the block of tesseræ that the next stroke of the slide pushers forward the
uppermost layer.
We employ two drawing out rolls-tlie top roll should be interrupted or its periphery
cut away, leaving as much of the surface as is necessary to impinge upon the fabric
and draw it forward, as soon as that. much has passed, the material becomes stationary,
till the fulness of the roll takes it up again, both top and bottoin rolls may be cut
away, then by altering their surfaces relatively one to the other, the length of the
forward motion may be varied-this arrangement is driven direct from crank shaft by
chain or other gear.
Or we employ one main roll in conjunction with a reciprocating bar which upon the
backward stroke moves clear of the fabric, but in the forward motion is caused to
impinge so as to press the material to the roll and ensure perfect adhesion and accurate
motion.
Sometimes in place of one sector we may employ two rolling together or we may
employ a sector rolling upon a moveable surface and carrying the fabric with it and
the gear may be modified accordingly.
D J 11
a
CARPMAEL & Co.,
A monts
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Linoleum and like Fabrics.
We, HENRY WILLIAM GODFREY, Engineer, CHARLES FREDERICK LEAKE Engineer
and CHARLES EDWARD LUCAS Linoleum Manufacturer all of the Linoleum Manu-
facturing Works Staines in the County of Middlesex 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 :-
This Invention has for its object improvements in the manufacture of linoleum and
like fabrics with the pattern inlaid, the color extending through the thickness of the
fabric.
For this purpose we prepare tesseræ of the various colors and arrange them in
order and lay them also one over the other so as to form a block on the surface of
which a section of the pattern appears. We transfer these tessere layer by layer to
the surface of a prepared backing or fabric, they are pushed forward by a reciprocating
pusher. The fabric with the tesseræ upon it passes beneath a segmental roller which
rolls over and consolidates the whole.
The process is as follows:-we take the usual linoleum composition which is chiefly
composed of oxidised linseed oil, resin, Kauri gum and cork together with suitable
coloring matters or wood dust may be used to take the place of cork dust either
wholly or in part. We mix and prepare it in various colors. We pass each color
separately through calendar rolls and press it into a sheet but without the usual
canvas backing it is then passed through a pair of rolls thinly coated with paraffin
wax which it receives to prevent subsequent sticking. It is then fed through a
cutting or stamping machine which may consist of vertical cutters or punches

page_text: These
suitably arranged and worked by cuns. The cutters have funnel shaped continua-
tions to retain the tessera as they pass through the cutters; they are long enough
to contain a convenient number of tesseræ in order one above another.
receivers have each an opening or slit up one side to facilitate the removal of the
tessere. Having cut the figures of desired shape to the design or pattern we set
them as they come from the cutters into a block, each figure in its proper place
so that the block is formed of strata of loose figures, each stratum being a section
of the design.
From this block the prepared tesseræ are passed on to a suitable backing of
canvas or prepared linoleum and through a press. The press is steam or water
heated.
As a press we use a sector of a large roll and through its centre is fixed a shaft
with projecting ends on which are fitted friction rolls that move in paths forined in
the framing. The sector is actuated by the reciprocating motion of a crank and
connecting rod and is made to roll with a to and fro motion upon the flat bed plate
or the material which is interposed. At each corner of the sector is a strong pro-
jecting tooth which engages a corresponding notch at the projecting corners of the
hed plate. The object of these teeth will be seen hereafter. The centre of the sector
moves in a horizontal line and parallel with the bed plate, so far as coincides with the
length of the material to be pressed at each stroke at this point the teeth engage their
respective notches.
At a
The centre is carried on in an upward curve, and the teetli become the centres upon
which the press hinges and the sector is thus raised clear of the bed plate. Upon the
return stroke of the crank, the press again falls into contact with the material and
rolls over it, the same thing occurs at the other end of the stroke. The object of
thus raising the press at either end, is to admit of the fabric being drawn forward.
The sector is held and guided in its motion by a pair of side frames and on each of
these is a strong bracket for the purpose of carrying the shafts and gearing at the
extremity of these is fixed the plummer block for carrying the crank shaft.
Convenient distance and in a line parallel with the centre of the sector or press upon
each end of the shaft is keyed a disc crank, each disc is cogged at its periphery and
is recessed on the inside to form a double cam. These cams while the press is raised
upon its hinge actuate drawing out rollers which carry the fabric forward and also a
slide plate which forces the layers of loose tesseræ towards the press. It should here
be mentioned that the said block of tesseræ is set up on a rising plate or platform
which is made to rise step by step, each step being exactly the thickness of the
tesseræ.
A second shaft which gives motion to the crank shaft and which is geared to it
carries at either end a cam these through levers and connecting rods work a ratchet
device which through bevel wheels and a transverse shaft (by which they are con-
nected) operate the lifting screws at the moment, the propelling slide is withdrawn
and so raises the block of tessera that the next stroke of the slide pushes forward the
uppermost layer.
In order that our said invention may be fully understood and readily carried into
effect we will proceed to describe the drawings hereunto annexed.
DESORIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is an elevation, and
Figure 2 is a plan of a machine for the manufacture of linoleum in accordance with
our invention.
A is the bed and table of the machine, preferably it is cast hollow and steam can
be admitted to its interior. B, B are two standards upon the frame, and C, Care.
bracketed arms projecting out from the standards. These arms carry an axis D
which is driven in any convenient manner, and on this axis are pinions gearing
with teeth formed upon wheels or discs E¹ mounted on the axis E, and these

page_text: wheels or discs gear with teeth upon other wheels or discs F¹, F¹, mounted upon
an axis F. G is a segment of a large roller which rolls to and fro upon the table A,
it is mounted on an axis H. The axis is held in elongated holes or guide passages
formed in the standards B. G¹ is a counterpoise formed in one piece with the
roller segment G. The axis II is moved to and fro by means of connecting
rods I, I, which pass to crank pins upon the discs F¹, F. G*, G*, are teeth or
projections at the corners of the segmental roller G. A*, A*, are cavities formed
in the bed A to receive these teeth or projections. K is a roller on which is
wound a fabric suitable to form the backing of the linoleum; this fabric may be
prepared on the surface with a linoleum cement before it is brought to the machine..
L is another roller on which the linoleum is wound as it comes out of the machine.
The fabric from the roller K is led up over a small guide roll and over the surface
of the table A thence over another guide roll and down and around the underside of
the roller M, the surface of this roller is roughened to prevent it slipping upon the
fabric. The linoleum after leaving the roller M passes up over another guide roll
and so it reaches the roller L on which it is wound. On the axis of the roller M
there is a ratchet wheel.M' and a lever M2 can turn about the same axis. This
lever carries a pawl engaging with the ratchet teeth and it receives motion by
means of a connecting rod N passing up to a lever O having its fulcrum at O¹ and
at its further end carrying a roller 02 which is held in a cam path formed upon the
disc F: This ratchet gear may be provided upon one or upon both sides of the
machine. P is a rising table, it has lugs at its ends in which are screw nuts, and
these engage with screws Q, Q, having bevelled pinions at their ends. These pinions
engage with other similar pinions upon a horizontal axis Ron which there is also a
ratchet wheel R' and a lever R2 carrying a pawl engaged with the teeth of the ratchet.
S is a connecting rod passing from the outer end of the lever R2 to the lower end of
the lever T, which has its fulcrum at T and at T2 carries a small roller held in a cam
path formed upon the disc E. This ratchet gear may be provided on both sides of
the machine; by it, as will be seen, the ratchet wheels are turned step by step and
the table P is gradually raised. U is a block formed of tesserae arranged according
to the pattern and piled up one upon. another. V is a reciprocating blade which at
each forward motion pushes off the uppermost row of tesserae on to the surface of
the receiving fabric. The blade V receives motion by means of connecting rods W, W,
passing to arms W¹, W', which are fast with the levers M³ turning upon the axis of
the roller M.
The action of the machine has been already explained :-the arranged tesserae are
pushed forward layer by layer on to the prepared fabric which moving forward takes
them beneath the segmental roller, this rolls over them pressing them and the fabric
between its face and the table A beneath. At the end of the rolling movement the
surface of the segmental roller rises from the table, the fabric is drawn forward a step
and the rolling operation is repeated. By these means the tesserae becoming firmly
united with the fabric or supporting surface.
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. The process substantially as described consisting in preparing a block of tesserae
arranged in accordance with the pattern and laid one over the other; pushing forward
such tesserac layer by layer on to a receiving surface; advancing the said surface
with the tesserae upon it step by step through a press; and consolidating the whole
by an intermittent pressure as herein set forth.
2. The apparatus substantially as described consisting of a rising table on which
the block of arranged tesserae is placed; a reciprocating blade by which the tesserae
are pushed forward layer by layer; rollers which carry forward a receiving fabric
step by step a table and a segmental roller which rolls to and fro over the table and
is lifted away from it at the end' of each travel as herein' set forth.

page_text: 3. The press for consolidating linoleum and like fabrics and consisting of a table
and a segmental roller made to roll to and fro over the table and having teeth or pro-
jections entering recesses in the table which at each end of the stroke cause the face
of the roller to rise from the table so that the material may be moved forward beneath
it, as herein set forth.
Dated this 9th day of Santamber 1889
CARPMAEL & Co.,
Agents for the Applicants.