CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS. IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR STRETCHING. OR DISTENDING VELVETS AND- OTHER PILED GOODS OR FABRICS FOR THE PURPOSE OF CUTTING THE PILE OF SUCH- GooDs
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Adolphus Oppenheimer, of Manchester, in the County-
of Lancaster, Manufacturer, for the Invention of." CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS.
IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR STRETCHING. OR DISTENDING VELVETS AND-
OTHER PILED GOODS OR FABRICS FOR THE PURPOSE OF CUTTING THE PILE OF SUCH-
GooDs"
Sealed the 2nd September 1856, and dated the 3rd March 1856:
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Adolphus Oppenheimer at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
3rd March 1856..
..I, ADOLPHUSLOPPENHEIMER, of Manchester, in the: County of Lancaster,
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR STRETCHING OR DISTENDING
VELVETS AND OTHER PILED GOODS OR FABRICS FOR THE PURPOSE OF CUTTING THE PILE
OF SUCH GOODS," to be as follows:-
My improvements apply to the stretching or distention of piled' goods for
purpose of cutting the same, and consists in the employment of two rollers
(and if necessary other intermediate rollers), one at either end of the frame of
the-machine or apparatus over and under which the entire piece of fabric to be
cut is passed, the length of the frame of the machine and the number of rollers
employed being proportionate to the length of the fabric under operation, the

page_text: two ends of the piled fabric being secured together by any convenient means,
so as to form an endless strap or band. Of the two rollers before mentioned,
one is secured at one end of the frame of the machine, the other at the opposite
end, being rendered adjustable by means of rack, pinion, and click wheel; pre-
vious to operating, the adjustable roller must be so drawn up as to give a
proper longitudinal tension to the fabric under operation. A large wheel or
lever in connection with the click wheel and click is weighted in such a manner
as to equalize the longitudinal tension of the piled fabric during the gradual
lengthening of the piece while being cut. For the lateral stretching or dis-
tention of the fabric two endless rails are employed, running longitudinally on
both sides of the machine or apparatus. Of these longitudinal endless rails,
one is secured to the side of the framing; the other, on the opposite side of the
framing, acts loosely. These rails, on either side, are connected to the selvages
of the piled fabric by an intervening elastic strap or band secured by hooks (or
any other convenient arrangement), and small wharves, which traverse the
endless rails as the piled fabric is drawn over the rollers, the loose endless rail
being weighted to such a degree as to give the desired lateral tension to the
fabric under operation equally throughout its entire stretch, in order to adjust
the rails according to the varying length of the piece of fabric. While being
cut, a sliding rail is secured to the adjustable roller, before mentioned, which
sliding rail is led into the endless rail, so as to form a telescope joint. By these
means I am enabled to attain a self-graduated and equal longitudinal stretch
simultaneously with a transverse distention equally throughout the entire piece
of piled fabric.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Adolphus Oppenheimer in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 3rd September 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ADOLPHUS
OPPENHEIMER, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Manufacturer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent bearing date the Third day of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the nineteenth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Adolphus Oppenheimer, Her especial license, that I, the said Adolphus

page_text: Oppenheimer, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said Adolphus Oppenheimer, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR STRETCHING OR DISTENDING
VELVETS AND OTHER PILED GOODS OR FABRICS FOR THE PURPOSE OF CUTTING THE PILE
OF SUCH GOODS," upon the condition, amongst others, that I, the said Adolphus
Oppenheimer, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in
what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed
in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Adolphus Oppenheimer, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement and accompanying Drawings, is to say:-
My improvements apply to the stretching or distension of piled goods or
fabrics when under the operation of cutting, and consist in the employment of
two rollers (and if necessary other intermediate rollers), one at each end.
of the frame of the machine or apparatus over and under which the entire
piece of fabric to be cut passes, the length of the frame of the machine and
the number of rollers employed being proportionate to the length of the fabrie
under operation, the two ends of the piled fabric being secured together by
any appropriate means, so as to form an endless strap or band of cloth. Off the
rollers before mentioned, one is secured at one end of the frame of the machine,
the other at the opposite end being rendered adjustable by means of rack,
pinion, and click wheel previous to any operation. The adjustable roller must
be so drawn up so as to give a proper longitudinal stretch to the fabric. A
large wheel or lever in connection with the click wheel and click is weighted
in such a manner as to equalise the longitudinal tension of the piled fabric
during the gradual lengthening of the piece whilst being cut. For the lateral
stretching or distension of the fabric two endless rails are employed, running
longitudinally on both sides of the machine or apparatus. Of these longitudinal
endless rails, one is secured to the side of the framing; the other is attached to
a moveable framing, capable of traversing on two or more bars placed across
the machine widthwise. These rails on either side are connected to the selvedges
of the piled fabric by an arrangement of intervening elastic straps or bands;

page_text: secured by hooks (or other suitable connection); and small-wharves or grooved
bowls, which traverse the endless rails as the piled fabric:is/drawn over the
rollers; the moveable framing supporting the endless rail being weighted to
such a degree as to give the desired lateral tension to the fabric fequally
throughout its entire stretch. In order to adjust the rails according to the
varying length of the piece, a sliding rail is secured to the adjustable roller,
before mentioned, which sliding rail is-led-into the endless rail; so as to form:ȧ
telescope joint. By these means I am enabled to attain a self-graduated and
equal longitudinal stretch simultaneously with a transverse distension .equally
throughout the entire' piece of fabric.
In order that this Invention may be better understood, and more fully
jexplained in detail, I have hereunto attached a Sheet of Drawings, made upon
a-scale of about one-inch to the-foot, and having similar letters of reference
placed upon corresponding parts of the machinei or apparatus.
Fig. 1 is, aslongitudinal elevation of the apparatus; exhibiting.the general
.outline of the framing and endless rails, with the most preferable positions for
the rollers round which the fabric passes, and falso, the rack and pinion gearing,
and lever, and weight for gradually longitudinally stretching the fabric; and
Fig 2 is an end-view of the same: Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the moveable
framing, shewing the direction of therendless guide rails" round the rollers,
together, with the situation of the telescopic joint and rails, or bars and rollers,
upon which the said framing slides; and is adjusted!to the various widths of
fabric. Fig. 4 is an end view of the machine, shewn in section, shewing the
sliding framing and section of the endless rails with the grooved bowls running
therefrom. Fig. 5 is an enlarged view: (quarter size) of one of the rollers,
exhibiting the 'section of the guide rails and grooved bowls, and the method of
connecting the same to tlie piled fabric; Fig..6 is a plan view, also shewing
the fabric stretched laterally between the two rails, and in connections (throngh
the medium of indiá-rubber or other elastic substance) with the grooved bowls.
Fig. 7 is also; an enlarged end view of a roller, villustrating the method of
guiding the grooved bowls round such "rollers; and Fig. 8 is a (half size)
sectional view of the internal and external:rail: forming the telescopic joint.
In Fig. 1 and 2, a, a, is the framing of the machine, one side of which'supports
the endless guide rails b, b, and in which the series of rollers.c, c, c,have
bearings either upon friction-bowls (as 'shewn) or otherwise; d; disi the rack
and pinion for stretching the fabric lengthwise, behind whichris shewn the wheel
carrying a weight for actuating the same; and ethe: telescopic joint in the
guide rails, for the better adjustment of suchirails to the varying length of the
fabric. In Fig. 3; f, f, are the rails, extending across the machine, upon which

page_text: the follers org, g,(supporting the moveable:franiing) traverse; which will be more
clearly seen in Fig. 4, in which Eig: the iarrangement of. weights is shown for
retaining the moveable framing a" in its proper position, and keeping a gradual
and equal lateral tension.úpon the fibric. In Fig: 5,h,.h, is the:fabrici passing
over the roller c, in connection with the grooved bowls i; i, through the elastic
medium kk, which is attached on one edge to the fabric, and on the other to
a strip of elastic webbing, or braid, or other similar substance 1, 1, which is
connected to the metallic bearing m, tm, of the bowl. In Fig. 7, n,.n, are the
grooved bowls to which the, fabric is.secured; passing.round.the.curve formed
in the endless rails to allow them to pass round. the rollers the method of
forming the telescopic-joint is clearly exhibited in Fig. 8, in which Fig. o is
the outer rail or slide, into which the inner one p is led to form a sliding or
telescopic joint e, over which the bowl n passes as it proceeds along the endless
rails. Motion is imparted to the various rollers requiring it by means of any
ordinary arrangements of banil and. pulley, or other suitable gearing, and the
velocity of the rollers, &c. may be governed by any of the well-known appliances,
such as breaks, &c,
The operation of this machine will be more readily understood upon refer-
ence to the Drawing, and the following description thereof. The piece of
piled fabric which is required to be stretched for the purpose of cutting is first
extended by its selvedges from the framing a to the moveable framing a, and
attached thereto by means of the grooved bowls h, h; one end of the piece is
then passed round the rollers c, c, c, until it is formed into an endless band by
uniting the two ends together; the rack and pinion gearing d, d, is then set
in motion, the telescopic joint e drawn out, and the piece gradually lengthened
to the required extent. When the desired extent of longitudinal stretch has
been attained, the moveable framing a' is caused to traverse the rails f,f, in a
direction from the endless rails on the framing a, until the fabric is distended
tightly across the machine; motion is then imparted to the principal driving
rollers, and the fabric is advanced against the cutting knife, the knife entering
each successive "race" in the same transverse line as that in which the last cut
was completed. By this system and arrangement I am enabled to attain a
self-graduated and equal longitudinal stretch simultaneously with a transverse
distention equally throughout the entire piece of piled fabric, which will ensure
the pile being cut with greater equality and precision than in ordinary methods.
Having now described the nature and object of my said Invention, together
with the manner of carrying the same into practical effect, I wish it to be
distinctly understood that I claim,-
First, the use of an endless band, formed of india-rubber or other elastic

page_text: substance, and used as an elastic medium for connecting the selvedges of the
fabric to the grooved bowls running in the endless rails.
And, secondly, the general arrangement and construction of the machinery or
apparatus herein-before described, and fully set forth, and clearly illustrated in
the accompanying Drawings,, without confining myself to the precise details
shewn therein, or any modification of the apparatus, which shall be sub-
stantially similar in effect.
In witness whereof, I, the said Adolphus Oppenheimer, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Second day of September, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six.
ADOLPHUS OPPENHEIMER. (L.S.)