A New or Improved Machine or Apparatus to Facilitate the Insertion of Press Papers between the Folds of Textile Fabrics Preparatory to Pressing.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 6th June, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 7th Dec., 1894-Accepted, 12th Jan., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Machine or Apparatus to Facilitate the
Insertion of Press Papers between the Folds of Textile Fabrics
Preparatory to Pressing.
We, JOSEPH REFFITT, of Kirkstall Road, Leeds, in the County of York,
Dyer, and HORATIO CLIFFE, of the Firm of Elkanah Hoyle and Sons, Limited,
of Waterside Works, Halifax, in the aforesaid County of York, Machine Makers,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of our invention is to facilitate the insertion of press papers between
the folds of piece goods preparatory to hot pressing, an operation hitherto
performed entirely by hand; and involving a considerable amount of skill on the
part of the operator, which can only be acquired by constant practice. In our
invention the operation is still performed by hand, but by presenting the piece to
the operator mechanically, and laying it on a table correctly, all that remains to be
done is to lay the papers on each fold as the work progresses thus enabling an
unskilled person to perform the operation with the rapidity and certainty of an
expert, by the old method.
In carrying out our invention we employ a balanced table of suitable size, such
table being capable of lowering the thickness of a fold each time a press paper
and a folded fabric is added outo the table, the weight of the fabric causing the
table to descend. This table is supported by a chain and weighted lever somewhat
after the manner of a scale for weighing letters, a ratchet wheel and pawl being
employed to prevent the table rising too suddenly when the weight of the folded
piece is taken off the table. This balanced table is placed in a gap between two
stationary tables mounted upon suitable framework, but should the size of the
press papers be altered to a less or larger sheet one or both of the fixed tables are
made to be movable so as to adapt the gap for press papers of varying sizes.
In a suitable position and running on pulleys or runners about level with the
tables we mount a rectangular carriage made of angle iron or iron of other shape
resting upon the grooved pulleys or the iron may be grooved instead of the pulleys.
This rectangular carriage is provided with a suitable form of handle for the
operative to take hold of for the purpose of drawing it backwards and forwards
across the balanced table for purposes hereinafter explained.
The fabric is guided correctly to the machine, if desired, by a second attendant
standing upon an elevated platform and the fabric is passed over an endless apron
made to travel over a pair of rollers or drums. When commencing to fold the piece
and to insert the papers the extreme end of the fabric is passed between a pair of
guide rollers on the carriage and secured to pins or hackles connected to a suitable
portion of the table.
A tier of press papers is placed on a platform formed at each end of the
travelling carriage, and as the operative pushes this rectangular carriage to and
fro it draws with it a length of fabric equal to the width of the press papers, where-
upon the attendant places a sheet of paper upon it but also upon the balanced
table, the upper surface of this table being slightly lower than the level of the
other tables so as to form a ledge or a place of abutment for the press paper to
drop into.
When the press paper has been thus placed upon the fabric the
rectangular carriage is moved in the opposite direction, leaving another length of
folded fabric upon the press paper previously laid down, when the attendant now

page_text: places a press paper from the other end of the carriage upon the fabric last laid.
When this is done the rectangular carriage is moved back again and the press
paper introduced as before, and this goes on until the whole of the fabric has been
folded and supplied with press papers. In order to feed or supply the fabric to
the machine in a positive manner without any drag being upon it, which drag
might cause the sides of the press papers to bend upwards, we employ an endless
belt or cord passing over and around a suitable arrangement of rollers, such cord
being weighted to keep it at a suitable tension. We also employ in connection with
the reciprocating carriage a double acting jaw or claw provided with a suitable
handle which may be taken hold of when the operative takes hold of the handle to
move the rectangular carriage, therefore when the rectangular carriage is oscillated
either backward or forward the endless cord is also operated, causing the delivery
drums-to-be-revolved-at-the-same-relative-speed-as-the-motion-of-the-frame,-thus-
-the fabric is fed as required. The double acting jaw or claw previously mentioned
is made to nip the cord both in the backward and forward movement of the carriage,
the upper claw being clear when the lower claw is gripping the cord and vice versa,
the arrangement of belt or cord being such that whichever way the carriage moves
it feeds the piece forward.
'
The balanced table is arranged on runners so that it can be drawn from between
the two fixed tables and out from under the carriage towards the attendant to
permit the piece being easily lifted off after which the table is run back empty and
the operation proceeds as before.
Dated this 5th day of June 1894.
TASKER & CROSSLEY,
Halifax, Agents.
:
A New or Improved Machine or Apparatus to Facilitate the
Insertion of Press Papers between the Folds of Textile Fabrics
Preparatory to Pressing.
We, JOSEPH REFFITT, of Kirkstall Road, Leeds, in the County of York,
Dyer, and HORATIO CLIFFE, of the Firm of Elkanah Hoyle and Sons, Limited,
of Waterside Works, Halifax, in the aforesaid County of York, Machine Maker,
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:-
The object of our invention is to facilitate the insertion of press papers between
the folds of piece goods preparatory to hot pressing, an operation hitherto per-
formed entirely by hand; and involving a considerable amount of skill on the part
of the operator which can only be acquired by constant practice.
In our invention, the operation is still performed by hand, but by presenting the
piece to the operator mechanically, and laying it on a table correctly, all that
remains to be done is to lay the papers on each fold as the work progresses, thus
enabling an unskilled person to perform the operation with the rapidity and
certainty of an expert, by the old method.
For the purpose of more fully describing our said invention, reference is herein
had to the annexed sheets of drawings illustrative thereof, wherein:
Fig. 1 is longitudinal section of our improved machine for facilitating the
insertion of press papers between the folds of piece goods.
Fig. 2 is transverse section of same taken on line x, x.
Fig. 3 is enlarged front elevation of the double acting jaw or device for gripping
the driving cord or belt; and Fig. 4. is end elevation thereof.
Referring to the drawings, letter A represents the side framing or frames of the

page_text: machines, in the centre of or between which there is left an open space wide enough
to admit of the fabric being folded therein, the two sides and one end of the space
being lined with wood or other material B to a depth sufficient to accomodate a
fully folded fabric, and forming an open three sided box or casing. Into this box
or casing is adapted to enter a balanced table C onto which the fabric is to be
folded, said table being supported by chain a, connected at one end to a stud b¹
secured to the lower ends of the slides, standards or legs b to which the table is
bolted, whilst the opposite end of said chain is secured to the periphery of a
pulley mounted on a stud or short shaft d, and by a weight or counterpoise e
secured on a lever or to the tail piece of the toothed quadrant falso fast on the
shaft d. The slides or legs b enter and are capable of sliding up and down in the
footstep or pedestal g secured to a trolley or rectangular frame i, the said sliding
legs being guided in their up and down movement by antifriction bowls h. The
trolley together with the parts connected to it can be traversed in and out of the
machine upon rails when required.
The action of the balanced table is similar to that of ordinary balance scales,
the weight of each successive fold of fabric laid thereon causing the table to
descend into the three sided space, the dropping of the table partially rotating
shaft d, consequently raising weight e and lowering the toothed quadrant f the
pawl meanwhile keeping the table in its lowered position. The said pawl k is.
provided with a handle or lever arm in order that it can be easily removed from
engagement with the quadrant to allow for the re-establishing of the parts in their
normal positions where the weight is removed off the table so as to be in readiness
for receiving the folds of another fabric.
It will be obvious that instead of a weight acting as a counterpoise to the folds
of fabric laid on the table a spring may be employed for such purpose and be
arranged in the same manner as in spring balance scales.
Secured at the top of the opposing ends of the frames A are two tables D fitted
with flaps or sides B, which tables may be movable laterally in order to adjust the
central space or chamber to press papers of varying sizes.
For this purpose the tables D and side pieces B are secured together and supported
on slides formed on the inner sides of the frames on which they are moved laterally
as shewn in dotted lines in Fig. 1 by pinions gearing with racks m secured to the
tables. Or in lieu of pinions and racks, screws and nuts may be employed to adjust
said parts.
Above the frames A is a rectangular frame or carriage E provided with pulleys F
which rest upon rails formed on the top of each side frame and are adapted to ride
backwards and forwards over same. At each end of said frame or carriage is
formed a table G on which to place a supply of press papers o for insertion between
each fold of fabric, and centrally on the carriage are mounted two guide rollers p. P,
for guiding the fabric onto the balanced table C. On one outer side of the aforesaid
carriage is mounted a lever or handle provided with two studs or horns r, r¹,
which, according to the direction in which the handle is pushed, are brought to bear
the upper or under surface of a bracket S and grip between them an endless
driving cord or belt t which is conducted around the several guide pulleys u and a
drum or roller H mounted in bearings in the framing A.
Around said drum, and a roller I (carried by a bracket bolted to the framework)
passes an endless apron J which draws the fabric to be folded from a suitable
platform or table up the inclined board K and feeds it forward to the guide
rollers, p, the inclined board also serving to keep the fabric straight. The
tension of the driving cord or belt t is maintained by means of a self-adjusting
weight v.
The action of the machine is as follows:-
The fabric w to be folded is drawn up the inclined board K, passed over the
endless apron J and between the guide rollers p, p, on the oscillatory carriage, and
the end of said fabric secured to pins or heckles y arranged suitably at one or both
sides of the table C.

page_text: 2
The attendant now seizes hold of the handle y and pushing it in the direction in
which he intended first to traverse the carriage, which say is to his left, he brings
the lever into the position shewn in Fig. 1 and grips the lower half of the driving
cord between the bottom stud and the under surface of bracket S whereby, as he
pushes the carriage to the left to the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1 the
drum H is rotated in the direction of the arrow and feeds forward a length of fabric
which is laid over the table by the guide rollers p, p. This movement of the
carriage brings the table G on his right near to where he stands and clear of the
fabric, aud-he-therefore draws a press paper from the pile thereon and lays it over
the layer of fabric. The position of the handle q is now reversed to move the
carriage to the right and brings the stud on said handle or lever down against
the upper half of the cord so that whilst releasing hold of the lower portion of the
cord, the upper half is gripped between the stud and the upper surface of the
brackets, and on pushing the carriage to the right the rotation of the drum H is
continued in the same direction as before and another length of fabric fed to the
machine. The table G at the left hand of the carriage is now nearest the
attendant and clear of the fabric and he draws a press paper from the pile thereon
and lays it on the last fold of fabric on the table, whereupon the lever or
handle is again reversed and the carriage traversed to the opposite side to lay
another fold of cloth on the table, the aforesaid operations being continued at each
endwise traverse of the carriage E until the whole of the fabric has been folded
over the interposed press papers which are drawn alternately as described from the
piles on the right and left hand tables on the said carriage.
The motion of the rectangular carriage may be limited in each direction by stop
pieces secured to the framing A.
=
A handle or hand rail E' is secured to the carriage E in order that the workman
may move it backward and forward.
The method of feeding the fabric to the machine as above set forth is positive,
and no drag is put upon it, and by means of the double acting jaw or gripping
device secured on the carriage in conjunction with the weighted endless driving
cord, the fabric is always delivered at the same relative speed as the motion of the
carriage and the drum H always rotated in the same direction. Should any slack
arise in the fabric it can be taken up instantly on moving the carriage by the hand
rail only and letting the grip lever slip.
When the fabric has been completely folded the balanced table is run out from
the machine for convenience in unloading and when unloaded it is run back into
position again in the machine.
The level of the table at starting is preferably arranged to be a little below the
level of the tables D so that as it lowers with each added fold of cloth a recess is
always left for the press papers to drop into.
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. A machine for folding cloth and inserting press papers, comprising a
descending table and oscillating carriage operating in the manner substantially as
described herein.
Secondly. A machine for folding cloth and inserting press papers, comprising a
table caused to descend automatically by the weight of the addition of each
successive layer of folded fabric, as described and shewn in the drawings.
Thirdly. A machine for folding cloth and inserting press papers, comprising a
table caused to descend automatically by the weight of the addition of each
successive layer of folded fabric, and retained in position by automatic holding
device by means substantially like those shewn in the drawings and described
herein.
Fourthly. A machine for folding cloth and inserting press papers, comprising a
table caused to descend automatically by the addition of each successive layer of

page_text: folded fabric, in combination with an oscillating carriage, having guide rollers p,
all operating substantially as shewn and described.
Fifthly. A machine for folding cloth and inserting press papers, comprising a
descending table and oscillating carriage, the combination therewith of endless
cords or bolts and gripping device for feeding the fabric to the machine, all
arranged and operating as herein shewn and described.
Sixthly. The manner or method herein shewn and described for adapting the
machine for press papers of varying sizes.
Seventhly. The means or method substantially as shewn and described for
withdrawing the table C out of or clear of the machine.
Dated this 6th day of December 1894.
TASKER & CROSSLEY,
Halifax, Patent Agents.