IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR MAKING SKEPS AND OTHER BASKETS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Illingworth, Manager of Whetley Mills, and Carl
Zeidler, Skep and Basket Maker, both of Bradford, in the County of York, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR MAKING
SKEPS AND OTHER BASKETS."
Sealed the 13th April 1877, and dated the 7th November 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Illingworth and Carl
Zeidler at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th November
1870.
WILLIAM ILLINGWORTH, Manager of Whetley Mills, and CARL ZEIDLER, Skep and
Basket Maker, both of Bradford, in the County of York. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR MAKING SKEPS AND OTHER BASKETS."
Our Invention relates to machinery or apparatus for making round, square, and
oblong skeps and other baskets, whereby a great saving is effected and better work
produced. For this purpose we fit in a foundation frame a driving shaft working
in a step and in bearings fitted in a column cast or fixed on the foundation frame
top. Over the column is fitted on the shaft a circular plate or disk, having fitted
near the edge a series of brass bushes, through which work long steel rods. The
bottom parts of these rods work through the bushes, and are cut with slot openings
made nearly half the length of the rods. In the slot openings work keys fitted in
pinions which actuate the rods. The pinions are fitted over the rods and work on
the tops of the bushes, and are kept in position by a circular plate fitted over the
pinions, and screwed or bolted to the disk. The pinions are actuated by a rack or
racks, and only six pinions are actuated at a time, causing the steel rods to have a
rising, lowering, revolving, in-and-out motion.
At a convenient distance over the disk is fitted on the shaft another circular plate
or disk, made longer in diameter than the bottom disk. In the disk are fitted in a
circle-another series of bushes, but in a larger circle than the bushes of the bottom
disk. The steel rods work through the bushes, and at an angle, expanding when
working upwards, and contracting-when-working-downwards. The bushes-fitted-
in the top disks are cut with screws, in which work the top ends of the steel rods,
which are cut with screws, and made longer than the slot openings cut in the rods.
On the tops of the rods are screwed on fingers, made with coarse pitched screws and
top guides. The fingers have by the action of the rods a lifting, revolving, in-and-
[Price 8d.1

page_text: out, and lowering motion; they also expand and contract, giving the incline to the
skep or basket.
The pinions actuating the steel rods are worked by a rack, which is altered to
suit the different sizes of wickers or willows; a rack giving two and one half
turns of the steel rods and fingers to one turn of the disk is employed for strong
willows, a rack giving one turn and a half for middle size willows, and a rack
giving one half turn for small size willows. These racks are moved in and out of
gear as required, and are fitted on bearers fixed or cast on the framework. On the
bottom part of the shaft is fitted a spur wheel actuated by a pinion fitted on a shaft
which is turned by hand gear or by a pulley and strap. The pinion is made with a
clutch box and gear..
The apparatus having been lowered to the required heights the operator places a
few wickers in and out round the fingers, and the apparatus is thrown into gear
and started. The wickers or willows come in contact with a guide plate placed over
the fingers and near the starting point. The wickers pass in the coarse screws of
the fingers, and are guided therein by the guide formed on the fingers, and move in
and out of the fingers in a circle.
As the operation of making the skep or basket proceeds, the steel rods gradually
expand, and the apparatus is left to work until the required height to be given to
the skep or basket is obtained. The machine is then stopped. The fingers on the
rods are then removed, and stake holders placed on the rods; these stake holders are
formed with openings in the tops, in which are passed the stakes. The machine is
then set on and lowered, and forces the stakes to enter the openings formed in the
interlaced wickers till they come to the bottom of the skep or basket, when they are
trimmed off.
Two racks are employed when lowering to give a quick speed.
For making square or oblong skeps or baskets a similar apparatus to that- herein
described is employed. The steel rods in this case are fitted in bushes fixed square
or oblong, and the pinions are drawn by other pinions fitted on graduated shafts
working in a circle.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Illingworth and Carl Zeidler in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 7th May 1877.
WILLIAM ILLINGWORTH, Manager of Whetley Mills, and CARL ZEIDLER, Skep and
Basket Maker, both of Bradford, in the County of York. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR MAKING SKEPS AND OTHER BASKETS."
The said Invention relates to machinery or apparatus for making round, square,
and oblong skeps and other baskets, whereby a great saving is effected and better
work produced. For this purpose we fit in a foundation frame a driving shaft
working in a step and in bearings fitted in a column cast or fixed on the foundation
frame top. Over the column is fitted on the shaft a circular plate or disc, having
fitted near the edge a series of brass bushes, through which work long steel rods.
The rods work through the bushes, and are cut with slot openings. In the slot
openings work keys fitted in pinions, which actuate the rods. The pinions are fitted
over the rods, and work on the tops of the bushes, and are kept in position by a
circular plate fitted over the pinions, and screwed or bolted to the disc. The pinions
are actuated by a rack or racks, and only six pinions are actuated at a time, causing
the steel rods to have a revolving in-and-out motion.
At a convenient distance over the disc is fitted on the shaft another circular plate
or disc, made larger in diameter than the bottom disc. In the disc are fitted in a
circle another series of bushes, but in a larger circle than the bushes of the bottom
disc. The steel rods work through the bushes, and at an angle, expanding when

page_text: working upwards, and contracting when forced downwards. On the tops of the
rods are screwed fingers, made with coarse pitched screws and top guides. These
fingers have by the action of the rods a revolving in-and-out motion, also expanding
and contracting, giving the incline to the skep or basket.
The pinions actuating the steel rods are worked by a rack or racks giving half a
turn of the steel rods and fingers to one turn of the discs. On the bottom part of
the shaft is fitted a spur wheel actuated by a pinion fitted on a shaft which can be
turned by hand gear or by a pulley and strap. The pinion can be made with a
clutch box and gear.
The apparatus having been lowered to the required height the operator places
a few wickers in and out round the fingers, and the apparatus is thrown into gear
and started. The wickers or willows come in contact with a guide plate placed over
the fingers and near the starting point. The wickers pass in the coarse screws of
the fingers, and are guided therein by the guide formed on the fingers, and move in
and out of the fingers in a circle.
As the operation of making the skep or basket proceeds the steel rods gradually
expand, and the apparatus is left to work until the required height to be given to
the skep or basket is obtained. The machine is then stopped. The fingers on the
rods are then removed, and stake holders are forced in the openings of the skep or
basket, and trimmed off.
For making square or oblong skeps or baskets a similar apparatus to that herein-
before described is employed, except that the steel rods in this case are fitted in
bushes fixed square or oblong, and the pinions are driven by other pinions fitted on
graduated shafts working in a circle.
But in order that our improvements may be better understood we will proceed to
more particularly describe the same by reference to the accompanying Drawings, in
which,
Figure 1, Sheet 1, represents an elevation of an apparatus for making round
skeps or baskets; Figure 2, Sheet 2, sectional elevation; and Figure 3, plan of the
same.
Figure 4, Sheet 3, represents a sectional elevation of an apparatus for making
square skeps or baskets; Figure 5, side elevation; and Figure 6, Sheet 4, plan of
the same.
Similar letters of reference are used in all the Figures to represent similar parts.
Sheets 1 and 2, apparatus for making round skeps or baskets.
A, standards supporting a column B, in which are fitted brass bushes C, forming
the bearings in which works the driving shaft D of the discs; the bottom of this
shaft works in a step E. Over the column and fixed on the shaft D is a circular
plate or disc F, having fitted near the edge a series of brass bushes G, through
which work long steel rods H; these rods are cut with slot openings I, in which
work keys fitted to pinions J, which actuate the rods H. The teeth K of the
pinions J are made to work clear of each other, and the pinions are kept in position
by a circular framed plate L, fitted over the pinions and secured by bolts to the
disc F. Over the disc F and on the top of the shaft D is fitted another circular
plate or disc M, larger in diameter than the disc F; in this disc is also fitted a
series of brass bushes N in a circle larger in diameter than those in the disc F. The
steel rods work through the bushes, and at an angle, expanding when working
upwards, and contracting when working downwards.
The pinions J actuating the steel rods H are worked by a rack or racks O, which
is or are fitted on a plate P fixed on a standard Q, secured to the base of the
column B. The rack is formed with two studs R, fitted in plates S, screwed or
bolted on the top plate P. The discs F and M revolving with the shaft D cause
the pinions actuating the steel rods in turn to come-in contact with the rack O;
giving them an in-and-out revolving motion, which actuates fingers T, made witli
coarse pitched screws U and top guides V; these fingers are screwed on the tops of
the steel rods H, and expand with the rising and contract with the lowering of the
rods, giving the incline to the skep or basket. The rack gives half a turn of the

page_text: steel rods H and fingers T. to one turn of the discs F and M. On the bottom part of
the shaft is fitted a spur wheel W, actuated by another spur wheel or pinion fitted
on a shaft X working in bearings Y. The shaft X can be turned by hand gear or
by a pulley and strap; the pinion or spur wheel can be made with a clutch box and
gear; and the shaft D can be driven by a belt working over a pulley.
The steel rods of the apparatus having been lowered the operator lifts the steel
rods a sufficient height to form the upset of the skep or basket by pulling back the
lever Z; this lever is made with a fork A¹, having recessed ends B₁, which come in
contact with the studs C¹ fitted under a circular plate D¹, on which rest the bottom
ends of the steel rods H, causing the lifting of the circular plate D¹ and steel rods,
and are kept in position during the operation of upsetting by the catch E¹. The
lever Z works in a bracket F1, bolted to the bottom flange of the column B, and the
circular plate is guided by the guide rods G¹, also fitted in the bottom flange of the
column. The operator places wickers in and out of the steel rods forming the upset,
the bottom wickers resting on a circular ring plate H³. The apparatus is then
started, and the operator passes a wicker or willow through a guide I placed over
the fingers T, and near the starting point. The wicker is then guided in the coarse
screws of the fingers, and moves in and out in a circle. When the wicker is worked
in the operator places another wicker or willow, and so on until the skep or basket
is finished.
As the operation of making the skep or basket proceeds the steel rods gradually
expand, and the apparatus is left to work until the required height to be given to
the skep or basket is obtained. The wickers or willows gradually lift the steel rods
as they are working in and out of the rods. The machine is then stopped, the fingers on
the steel rods are removed, and the rods lowered, and stake holders forced in the
required openings of the skep or basket, and trimmed off.
For making square skeps and baskets we employ the apparatus shewn in Figures 4,
5, and 6, Sheets 3 and 4.
On a foundation plate J₁ are fitted metal blocks K₁, on which fits the flange
plate L¹ of a column M², fitted with a brass bush C¹; in the foundation plate is
fitted a step E. Through the bush C and on the step E is fitted a driving shaft D,
which is actuated by a pulley N₁ and strap, or it may be driven by wheel gear:
Over the top of the column M¹ is fitted and fixed on the shaft D a circular table O₁
having a square centre projecting part P¹ formed with flanges or rims Q. In these
flanges are drilled a series of holes, through which work long steel rods H, which
work through a series of brass bushes G fitted in a square plate S¹ fixed on the top
of the shaft D and over the square part P¹. Over the plate S¹ is fitted a square
frame T¹, which is fitted and fixed to the plate S¹ by bolts and nuts U¹; the bolts
pass through hollow sockets. The steel rolls H are cut with slot openings I, and
the rods are actuated by mitre wheels V¹, or by pinions, which are fitted on
graduated shafts W¹, which work in graduated bearers X¹, and are fitted on the
circular table O¹. The mitres or pinions fitted over the steel rods are made with
keys, which work in the slot openings of the steel rods, giving the rods an in-and-
out motion similar to that herein-before described for making round skeps and
baskets. The steel rods also work at a slight angle.
Near the edge of the circular table O₁ are fitted plates Z¹ fixed to columns Y₁,
which are fitted on the foundation plate J. On the plates Z' are fitted racks O
similar in construction to those employed for the round skep apparatus, but turned
upside down. The circular table O₁ revolving causes the pinions J fitted on the
ends of the graduated shafts W¹ to come in contact with the racks, turning the
shafts and actuating the mitres, giving the steel rods an in-and-out revolving
motion. On the steel rods are fitted fingers T, as herein-before described. The
upset of the square skep or basket is made in a similar manner to the upset of the
round skep or basket. The bottom parts of the steel rods are supported on a square
framed plate D¹, which is actuated by a lever Z in a similar manner to the round
skep apparatus.
For guiding the willows we employ an apparatus which we screw in the top end

page_text: of the shaft D when the skep or basket is being made, and which we remove
directly the skep or basket is made to the required height. The placing and
removing is done by means of a handle A2 fitted on the top of a shaft B. On this
shaft are fitted sockets C, through which work rods D2. On the rods are bosses E²,
in which pass the bolts F of bearers G². To these bearers are fitted plates H²,
having openings I. In these openings are passed small grooved pullies J*, under
which is passed the willow or wicker, guiding the wicker in the coarse screw
threads of the fingers. The pullies are fitted over the fingers, and only two guides
are fitted to the apparatus. Under the plates H2 are fitted studs K², to which are
fitted rollers L2; these rollers work over the willows which have been operated on,
and forming part of the skep or basket, guiding the feed plates.
As the operation proceeds in making the skep or basket the willows or wickers
lift the steel rods, and when the required height is obtained the fingers are removed,
the steel rods lowered, and stake holders forced in when required, and then
trimmed off.
The feed guiding apparatus can be worked by having fixed standards fitted to
the foundation plate, on which are bearing plates having the guiding apparatus
fitted thereon.
In making oblong skeps or baskets we employ a similarly constructed apparatus,
but the steel rods are fitted in holes drilled in an oblong, and the revolving projecting
parts are also made oblong instead of square.
Having thus described our improvements, and the best means we are acquainted
with for carrying the same into effect, we would have it understood that we do not
confine ourselves to the precise details shewn and described, as they may be varied
without departing from the peculiar character of the Invention, but what we do
claim is,―
Firstly. The arrangement, construction, and employment of machinery or
apparatus for making and weaving round, square, or oblong skeps and other
baskets, substantially as herein-before described and represented in the accompanying
Drawings.
Secondly. The construction and employment of fingers actuated by steel rods
giving an in-and-out motion to the wickers or willows during the operation of
making or weaving round, square, or oblong skeps and other baskets, substantially
as herein-before described and represented in the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, we, the said William Illingworth and Carl Zeidler, have
hereto set our hands and seals, this Fifth day of May, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
40 Witness,
WALTER JAS. TURNER, C.E.,
Patent Agent,
Bradford.
WILLIAM ILLINGWORTH. (L.S.)
CARL ZEIDLER.
(L.S.)