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

page_text: Date of Application, 19th July, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 14th Apr., 1891-Accepted, 16th May, 1891
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 mechanism employed in cutting the
pile of parallel corded fabrics, velvets, and the like. Our improvements therein
consist, firstly, in means to be employed for causing those portions of the fabric
where the knives are cutting to be in a greater state of tension than the parts
between the knives, so that the cutting of the cord will be more effectually
performed in consequence of these parts of the fabric presenting a more rigid
surface to the action of the knives.
In order to carry out this part of our invention, we place on the back rail, or on
a suitable roller of the machine over which the fabric travels a suitable number of
narrow plates or swells, one opposite each knife, such narrow plates giving the
increased tension or rigidity to the travelling fabric, whilst the fabric lying
between the narrow plates is in a less state of tension.
As the fabric contracts in width by being stretched, and by the cutting of the
cord, it is requisite for the cutting knives to be capable of being moved laterally to
suit the narrowed or altered condition of the fabric. It is therefore necessary to
provide means for adjusting the said knives, with regard to the contracted fabric,
in conjunction with the lateral or sidewise movement of the swells, and this is
performed by an arrangement of screws as hereinafter described, the said swells
moving in slots formed in the back rail or suitably arranged roller.
In combination with these swells we employ a series of narrow belts
corresponding in number to the said plates or swells.. These belts pass over
driving rollers and under the taking-in or tension roller. The fabric travels
partially around the said taking-in roller, which is made to revolve at a high speed,
and the fabric is pressed thereby against the endless belts or straps, imparting to
the said fabric the tension necessary to enable it to pass through the machine in a
straight and uniform manner. As these belts are arranged opposite or in a line
with the plates or swells and knives, it is also necessary for them to move laterally
in conjunction with the said swells and the cutting knives, and this is performed by
screws of the required pitch, actuated by the operative turning a hand wheel, the
movement of which revolves the said screws, which simultaneously causes the
cutting knives to move laterally to adapt themselves to the contracted condition of
the fabric, also causing the flanges or guides at the feeding end of the machine to
be contracted in the same proportion, together with the lateral movement of the
tightening swells and endless belts, the several screws being of different pitches
according to the purpose for which they are required.
Although we have mentioned that the swells and endless belts are employed in
combination, the said parts may be used separately, and the tension of each belt is
controlled independently of the other by means of spiral springs, weights, or other
equivalent device.
Nothwithstanding that more than one knive is referred to as being used in this
machine, we would observe that if required only one knife need be used, and when

page_text: cutting velvets it may be advantageous for the operative to hold the knife
with his hand.
Dated this 18th day of July 1800
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 & 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 ascer-
tained in and by the following statement :--
Our invention has reference to self acting mechanism employed in cutting the
pile of parallel corded fabrics, velvets, and the like.
In order that the nature and object of our invention may be fully understood, we
will make reference to the accompanying sheets of drawings illustrative thereof,
wherein Fig. 1 is sectional elevation of our improved machine, and Fig. 2 is front
view of a portion of Fig. 1 on an enlarged scale. A represents the framework of
the machine, and B the endless travelling fabric passing over guide rollers C at the
feeding end of the machine. The said fabric also passes over a card covered
roller D and around the back rail E, over the taking in or tension roller F, and
finally back again to the feeding end of the machine, the said endless fabric making
a continuous circuit. The pile cutting knife is represented at a, and it is connected
to and supported by the radial arm 6, of which there are four in this machine, but
one or more may be used as desired. Each radial arm rests in a socket c (see
Fig. 3, which is enlarged section taken through the line 4-4 of Fig. 2) such radial
arm being kept in position by set screws d, which permit of the said radial arms
moving up and down for removing the knife and for other purposes.
One part of our invention consists in causing those portions of the fabric where
the knives are cutting to be in a greater state of tension than the parts between the
knives, and this we accomplish by placing narrow plates or swells G, G', G³, G³,
over the back rail E, shewn more clearly in enlarged elevation Fig. 4, plan view
Fig. 5, and cross-section Fig. 4. Each of the plates G1, G2, G³, are connected to
or formed with bosses or nuts I, the shank of which enters a longitudinal slot d'
formed in the back rail E (see Fig. 4) to prevent end wise movement of the plates;
and each nut I receives a screw J of different pitch for purposes hereinafter
explained. A cutting knife occupies a position opposite each plate G, G', G², G³,
and it is obvious that when the fabric is travelling over the said plates, the tension
on the fabric will be greater on the plates than at the portions of the fabric
lying between the plates, consequently the knives can now more effectually do
their work.
As the fabric contracts in width by being stretched and by the cutting of the
cord, it is requisite for the cutting knives to be capable of being moved laterally
to suit the narrowed or altered conditions of the fabric; it is therefore necessary
to provide means for adjusting the said knives with regard to the fabric, and
this we effect in conjunction with the lateral or endwise movement of the
plates G, G, G. To do this the bracket K (on the top of which is the radial
arm ) is made with side pieces k and is supported upon the slide or bed H. A
nute is also connected to the bracket K, such nut working upon a screw L
of different pitch corresponding with the screw J employed to traverse the
plates G, G, G³. The two screws J and L are made to revolve by the
operative turning hand wheel M on cross shaft N, which has fixed upon it

page_text: worm wheels or screw gearing O and P, whereby the plates G', G², G*, and
brackets K, together with the radial arms and knives a, are moved laterally
and in unison.
In combination with each plate G, G¹, G², G³, we employ a narrow belt Q,
which belts pass over driving rollers R and S and under the taking-in or tension
roller F. The fabric B travels partially around the said taking-in roller F which
is made to revolve at a high speed, the fabric being pressed thereby against the
endless belts or straps Q, which imparts to the said fabric the tension necessary to
enable it to pass through the machine in a straight and uniform manner. As cach
belt is arranged opposite or in a line with each plate G and also with each
knife a, it is also necessary for the said belts to move laterally in conjunction with
the said plates and cutting knives, and this is performed as follows, viz., the tension
of the endless belts Q is regulated by tension pulleys T carried on the end of
the levers U hinged by pins to the bottom of the brackets K, the tension
pulleys T being drawn downwards by the upward pull of the spiral springs V, and
as the tension pulleys Q have flanges upon them with the belts between them, it
follows that the said endless belts will be traversed laterally when the brackets K
are made to travel by the screw L.
It will be seen that the nuts I connected to the plates G', G, G³, and the nuts e
connected to brackets K are upon screws of different sizes and pitches, and this is
required for the following reasons, namely, the end plate G, with its corresponding
knife, is stationary and has no sidewise movement, but as the fabric passes through
the machine it gradually shrinks in width by reason of the cutting and stretching,
therefore it is necessary for the plates G', G, G³, and their corresponding knives
and belts, to be traversed towards the stationary plate G, with its knife and belt,
therefore if the plate G', together with its knife and belt, require to advance
towards the plate G, say inch, follows that plate G³ must move inch, or
double the distance, and that plate G³ must move 8 inch, or three times the
distance; the screws are therefore made of the necessary size and pitch to perform
these operations.
In conjunction therefore with the lateral movement of the
plates G¹, G, G³, and knives a, and parts connected therewith, it is also necessary
for the flanges or guides at the feeding end of the machine to be traversed laterally,
and at the same time, but in a larger proportion than the plates and belts, to
provide for the narrowed condition of the fabric produced by stretching and the
cutting of the cords, and these various movements we effect in the following
manner: At the feeding end of the machine are two brackets W (see Figs. 1
and 7) one of such brackets-not shewn-being fixed to the cross rail Y which is
also capable of lateral movement, and the other bracket, which is shewn, having
lateral movement upon the said rail Y.. The moving bracket or guide plate W is
connected to a saddle X, supported by the cross rail Y. The saddle is provided
with a nut Z, capable of working on the screw 9, such said screw being operated by
a pair of bevel wheels and i, the latter of which is fixed on the end of the
shaft N, so that when the operative turns the hand wheel M, the plates and knives,
together with the endless belts Q and flanged bracket or guide plate W, are each
and all and together moved laterally to suit the altered or narrowed condition of
the fabric, as already stated, but not in the same proportion, as the pitch of the
screw g is made rather coarser than the coarsest pitch of the screws J and L, so
that the guide plate W moves rather quicker than the plate G³, and its accom-
panying belt and knife.
Although we have mentioned that the swells and endless belts are employed in
combination, the said parts may be used separately, and the tension of each belt
controlled independently of the other by means of spiral springs, weights, or other
equivalent device.
Nothwithstanding that more than one knife is referred to as being used in this
machine, we would observe that, if required, only one knife need be used, and when
cutting velvets it may be advantageous for the operative or operatives to hold the

page_text: knife or knives with the hand, in which case the cutting arms would be dispensed
with, and in addition the screws J and L be of one pitch.
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 :-
Firstly. In a machine for cutting the pile of corded fabrics and velvets, the use
of the moving plates G', G2, G3, for purposes herein described.
Secondly. In a machine for cutting the pile of corded fabrics and velvets, the
combination of the several moving plates G, with the knives a having lateral
movement for purposes described.
Thirdly. In a machine for cutting the pile of corded fabrics and velvets, the use
of the moving plates G, G2, G3, in combination with the knives a and the endless
travelling belts Q employed for purposes set forth.
Fourthly. In a machine for cutting the pile of corded fabrics and velvets, the use
of the moving plates G1, G2, G3, knives a and endless travelling belts Q in
combination with the moving guides W, for purposes herein described.
Fifthly. In a machine for cutting the pile of corded fabrics and velvets, the use
of the several plates G, knives a, endless belts Q, and guide plates W, operated
together by screws, substantially as herein shewn and described.
Dated this 13th day of April 1891.
TASKER & CROSSLEY,
Halifax and Huddersfield, Agents.