IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO THE NANU- FACTURE OF STITCHED MACHINE BELTS OR BANDS AND APPLIANCES CONNECTED WITH SUCH MANUFACTURE
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Maurice Gandy, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster,
for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO THE NANU-
FACTURE OF STITCHED MACHINE BELTS OR BANDS AND APPLIANCES
CONNECTED WITH SUCH MANUFACTURE."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Mauric Gandy at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th September 1880.
MAURICE GANDY, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
AND RELATING TO THE MANUFACTURE OF STITCHED MACHINE BELTS OR BANDS,
AND APPLIANCES CONNECTED WITH SUCH MANUFACTURE."
My Invention has for its object improvements in and relating to the manufacture
of stitched machine belts or bands, such as those described in the Specification of
Letters Patent granted to me on 18th April 1879, No. 1527, in which the belts
referred to are composed of layers of hard woven canvas cloth folded together in a
suitable number of plies to any desired width, the plies or folds being then stitched
together by a sewing machine, with rows of stitching about one half inch apart.
My Invention is also applicable to be used in the manufacture of any machine
belts or bands other than those described in the Specification of the before cited
Patent, namely, my Invention is applicable for use in the manufacture of
stitched machine belts or bands, whether composed of cotton, flax, or either canvas,
or leather, or other substance.
In the practice of my Invention I manufacture stitched machine belts or bands
by reversing the face of the belt for each alternate row of stitching, nainely, I first
sew the belt on one side, being the upper side through which the needle passes.
I then reverse the action and make the other side the upper side through which
the needle passes. I thus alternately sew the belt or stich it on both sides. My
reason for this is that I find the belt wears better by reason of the more uniform
positioning of the stitching to stand the strain to which the belt may be subjected.
I also obtain a belt having both sides alike.
To facilitate this system of manufacturing stitched belts or bands I have invented
certain appliances connected with such manufacture, and which may be used in

page_text: conjunction with any sewing machine used in the manufacture. These appliances
consist:-
(a.) In fixing and arranging the sewing machine on a platform having an
aperture directly under the sewing machine, from which the belt is fed to the
sewing machine from the floor under the platform. Behind the sewing machine I
arrange the platform as a double trap door, balanced by weights and cords passing
over pulleys or equivalent gear, and further supported or locked by a trigger
underneath the trap doors, such trigger being worked by suitable levers and rods
from the front of the machine and within reach of the machinist. In operation the
belt or band is fed to tho sewing machine, which by preference is of the construction
patented by me, as before cited in Patent No. 1527, A.D. 1879. The belt is
stitched with its first row of stitching on one side, and is delivered onto the trap
door or falling portion of the platform. When the row of stitching is completed
the trigger gear is released, the trap doors fall, and the belt drops to the floor below,
and the end of the belt is then brought up through the aperture under the
machine and is in the correct position for being sewn on the reverse side and in the
reverse way. Thus by my Invention the belt is reversed both end and side for
each successive row of stitching until finished.
(b.) Where the manufacture of belts or bands is carried on in warehouses or like
places with low ceilings, or sinall height between the floors, I arrange to stitch ou
one-floor-and-discharge-the belt onto the floor below; in this case I dispense with
the platform and trap doors, and I provide on the floor below the machine and
slightly behind the machine a double bin, or like box, into one compartment of
which the stitched belt is delivered, and which-may-be-arranged-to-turn.round end
for end if required. After-stitching-one_row_the_end_of the belt last stitched is
brought up through an aperturo under the sewing machine and enters the sewing-
machine in the reverse direction, and with the reverse side uppermost to that
previously stitched, and is then delivered, from the sewing machine into the other
compartment of the bin or box, and so on for each row of stitching until the belt
is finished, thus accomplishing the object of my Invention.
Beyond the accomplishment of the object of my Invention, namely, the sewing
ou both sides and in reverse directions, the appliances described under parts a
and b effect a great saving of space in warehouses, mills, and like structures, in
which stitched belts are inanufactured, inasmuch as the belts being of a bulky and
stiff nature have heretofore occupied much valuable space in their manufacture,
whereas, by my Invention, the space occupied is much reduced, and, in fact, only
slightly exceeds the area covered by the sewing machine. I am thus enabled to
largely increase the effective operations of the manufacture, and by such saving
of space and facilitation of manufacture, beyond improving the manufacture, I
reduce the cost thereof.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Maurice Gandy in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 17th March
1881.
MAURICE GANDY, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN AND RELATING TO THE MANUFACTURE OF STITCHED MACHINE BELTS OR
BANDS, AND APPLIANCES CONNECTED WITH SUCH MANUFACTURE."
My Invention has for its object improvements in and relating to the manufacture
of stitched machine belts or bands, such as those described in the Specification of
Letters Patent to me on 18th April, 1879, No. 1527, in which the belts referred
to are composed of layers of hard woven canvas cloth, folded together in a
suitable number of plies to any desired width, the plies or folds being then
stitched together by a sewing machine with rows of stitching about one half inch
apart.
My Invention is also applicable to be used in the manufacture of any machine
belts or bands other than those described in the Specification of the before cited
Patent, namely, my Invention is applicable for use in the manufacture of stitched
machine belts or bands, whether composed of cotton, flax, or other canvas, or leather
or other substance.
In the practice of my Invention I manufacture stitched machine belts or bands
by reversing the face of the belt for each alternate row of stitching, namely, I first
sew the belt on one side, being the upper side through which the needle passes.
I then reverse the action and make the other side the upper side through which theo
needle passes.
I thus alternately sew the belt or stitch it on both sides. My
reason for this is that I find the belt wears better by reason of the more uniform
positioning of the stitching to stand the strain to which the belt may be subjected.
also obtain a belt having both sides alike.
To facilitate this system of manufacturing stitched belts or bands I have invented
certain appliances connected with such manufacture, and which may be used in
conjunction with any sewing machine used in the manufacture. These appliances
consist:-
(a.) In fixing and arranging the sewing machine on a platform having an
aperture directly under the sewing machine, from which the belt is fed to the
sewing machine from the floor under the platform. Behind the sewing machine I
arrange the platform as a double trap door balanced by weights and cords passing
over pulleys or equivalent gear, and further supported or locked by a trigger
underneath the trap doors, such trigger being worked by suitable levers and rods
from the front of the machine, and within reach of the machinist. In operation
the belt or band is fed to the sewing machine, which by preference is of the con-
struction patented by me, as before cited, in Patent No. 1527, A.D. 1879. The
belt is stitched with its first row of stitching on one side, and is delivered onto the
trap doors or falling portion of the platform. When the row of stitching is com-
pleted the trigger gear is released, the trap doors fall, and the belt stops to the
floor below, and the end of the belt is then brought up through the aperture under
the machine, and is in the correct position for being sewn on the reverse side and
in the reverse way. Thus by my Invention the belt is reversed both end and side
for each successive row of stitching until finished.
(b.) Where the mauufacture of belts is carried on in warehouses or like places
with low ceilings, or small height between the floors, I arrange to stitch on one
floor, and discharge the belt onto the floor below; in this case I dispense with the
platform and trap doors, and I provide on the floor below the machine a double
bin or like box, into one compartment of which the stiched belt is delivered, and
which may be arranged to turn round end for end if required. After stitching one

page_text: row the end of the belt last stitched is brought up through an aperture under the
sewing machine, and enters the sewing machine in the reverse direction, and with
the reverse side uppermost to that previously stitched, and is then delivered from
the sewing machine into the other compartment of the bin or box, and so on for
each row of stitching, until the belt is finished, thus accomplishing the object of
my Invention.
Beyond the accomplishment of the object of my Invention, namely, the sewing
on both sides and in reverse directions, the appliances described under parts (a)
and (b) effect a great saving of space in warehouses, mills, and like structures, in
which stitched belts are manufactured, inasmuch, as the belts being of a bulky and
stiff nature, have heretofore occupied much valuable space in their manufacture,
whereas by my Invention the space occupied is much reduced, and in fact only
slightly exceeds the area covered by the sewing machine. I am thus enabled to
largely increase the effective operations of the manufacture, and by such saving of
space and facilitation of manufacture beyond improving the manufacture I reduce
the cost thereof.
In order that my Invention and the method of putting the same into practical
operation may be clearly understood, I have hereunto annexed two Sheets of
Drawings illustrative thereof, marked with letters and figures of reference corre-
sponding with those in the following desoription, like letters being used to denote
the same or corresponding parts throughout the various views.
o 1 is a sectional end elevation of a sewing machine provided with appliances
for manufacturing stitched belts according to my Invention.-
Figure 2 is a sectional elevation through A, A, Fig. 1.
Figure 3 is a plan of Figures 1 and 2.
Figures 4, 5, and C are modifications of Figure 1.
(a.) A. is the sewing machine, of which B are the guides and nipping roller, and C
are the feed rollers; D is the belt being manufactured or stitched, passing under the
nipping roller B and through the feed rollers C. The sewing machine A is arranged
on a platform or floor E, and has an aperture or well F directly under it, which
receptacle or bin F is extended behind the machine A, as shewn at F, Figure 1.
Behind the sewing machine AI arrange a platform H as a double trap door,
supported by band hinges I and balanced by the weights J, which are suspended
froin the cords J₁ passing over pulleys on the upright framework K, as
shown. The trap doors H are further supported or locked by the trigger gear L,
the catches L' of which come underneath the trap doors. The trigger gear Lis
worked by the lever A and the connecting rod N, the lever M being within the
reach of the machinist.
In operation the belt or band D is fed to the sewing machine, which is,
by preference, of the construction shown, namely, as patented by me in Patent
No. 1527, A.D. 1879. The belt D is stitched with its first row of stitching on what
is shown in Figure 1 as the upper side a, and is delivered onto the trap doors or
falling platform H. When the row of stitching is completed the triggers L', L', are
drawn back, and the trap doors H fall suspended by the girth hinges I and the
cords J, and the belt D drops into the receptacle F. The upper, or last sewn
portion of the belt D, is then brought up through the aperture F under the sewing
machine A in the correct position for being sewn on the reverse side, through the
side b having become the upper side, the belt D consequently passes through the
machine A the reverse way. This reversing operation is continued until the
stitching of the belt is completed.
(b.) In the modification shown at Figure 4 I arrange to stitch the belt on one
floor and discharge it after stitching into a double bin having compartments H, F,
separated by a diaphragm H¹. The belt is passed from the bin F up through the
sewing machine and discharged into the bin H, after which the bin is turned round

page_text: so that the bin H takes tho place of the bin F, and the belt is passed therefrom
with its reverse side up through the sewing machine, and is discharged into the
bin F. This operation is repeated for each successive row of stitching.
In the modification shown at Figure 5, the bins F, H, are stationary, and to
arrive at the correct position for sewing on the reverse sides the belt is crossed, as
will be understood.
In the modification shown at Figure 6 the bins are placed side by side with the'
diaphragm H' about opposite the needle, the belt being stitched and fed from one
bin to the other, as will be understood.
Having now described my Invention and shown how the same may be put into
operation, what I claim as my Invention and secured to me by Letters Patent as
aforesaid is,
First. Effecting and facilitating the manufacture of stitched machine belts by the
use of appliances (such as herein described and shown at Figures 1, 2, and 3 of the
Drawings hereto annexed) which receive the stitched belt, and delivers the same to
the sewing machine in the correct position for alternately sewing on the reverse
sides and from the reverse ends.
Second. The general arrangement and construction of parts constituting appliances
to be used in the manufacture of stitched machine belts, as herein described and
shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3 of the Drawings hereto annexed.
Third. The modifications of appliances for accomplishing the object herein
described, as shown at Figures 4, 5, and 6 of the Drawings hereto annexed.
Fourth. The use of independent receptacles for delivering and receiving machine
belting during the process of stitching, so as to reverse the sides and ends thereof,
for the purposes herein described, and such as shown in the Drawings hereto
annexed.
In witness whereof, 1, the said Maurice Gandy, have hereunto set any hand
and seal, this Sixteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord One thousand
it hundred and aircher ano
MAURICE (L.S.) GANDY.