IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS FOR INDICATING THE LENGTH OF CLOTH OR OTHER FABRICS IN ROLLS THEREOF AND FOR INDICATING FROM TIME TO TIME LENGTHS CUT THEREFROM."
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Darling of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark,
North Britain and James Darling, of Shotts, in the same County, for an
invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS FOR INDICATING THE LENGTH OF
CLOTH OR OTHER FABRICS IN ROLLS THEREOF AND FOR INDICATING FROM
TIME TO TIME LENGTHS CUT THEREFROM."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Darling and James
Darling at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th July 1882.
JOHN DARLING of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, and James
DARLING, of Shotts, in the same County "IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS FOR
INDICATING THE LENGTH OF CLOTH OR OTHER FABRICS IN ROLLS THEREOF AND
FOR INDICATING FROM TIME TO TIME LENGTHS CUT THEREFROM."
This invention which relates to Improvements in means for indicating the length
of cloth or other fabrics in rolls or webs thereof and for indicating from time to
time lengths cut therefrom is also applicable to webs in a folded as well as in an
open state. The apparatus for measuring webs in the rolled state consists of a box
of a convenient size to be held in the hand, and at one side of which there projects
a thin tube or tubes of small diameter.-Inside the box there is provided an axis
to which the inner end of a thin and strong cord is attached, and this axis has a
handle at the outside of the box so that by turning the axis round, the cord is
wound on to the axis, whereby a considerable length of cord may be conveyed into
the box.-The cord is marked into yards, feet, inches, or other divisions, and is the
measuring part of the apparatus.
In using the apparatus for measuring a rolled or folded web, the outer.end of
the cord is fixed by a pin or otherwise to the inner end of the rollor folds,-and the
thin tube being simultaneously entered between the folds, is passed by the hand of
the person using the apparatus round and round, or backwards and forwards
between the layers of the web until the outer end of the web is reached.―The
length of cord unwound in the operation exactly corresponds to the length of the

page_text: .
web. After the measuring operation is thus completed the cord is wound into the
box again by means of the handle attached to the axis.
In a modification of this apparatus the box may be dispensed with and the cord
passed through the tube or its equivalent alone held in the hand of the operator,
but the box for containing the cord is preferable.
For measuring webs in the flat or open state, as is usually practised in draper's
shops when measuring off pieces of cloth from a web, the apparatus is attached to
a plate and fixed down upon the counter it being so arranged that the person
purchasing the cloth as well as the person selling it can simultaneously read off the
quantity measured upon a counting face or indicator.-This counting face or 1
indicator has a succession of numbers marked on it to indicate yards, feet, or
inches, and there is a fixed point against which the person measuring the cloth
places the web in measuring, as for example from yard to yard and at a yard's
distance from the stop there is another stop which the hand of the measurer touches
as each yard is measured off.-The touch of the hand of the measurer causes the 1
stop to yield and to operate a ratchet which again operates either directly or
indirectly the counting face or indicator.-The counting face or indicator is
provided with a spring which being released allows the counting face or indicator
to return to its normal position after the completion of each measuring action.
Another modification of this invention consists in providing a narrow strip of
paper, or cloth such as tape, with yards and divisions of the yards or other linear
measure such as metres marked thereon, which strip as the cloth is rolled up is
.laid in either at one side of the web at or near to the selvage thereof, or it may be
laid in at any other part of the width of the web, so that the length of the strip of
paper or tape corresponds exactly with the length of the web.
When a portion of the web is cut off, a corresponding portion of the strip of
paper or tape is also cut off with it, so that the remainder of the strip of paper or
tape in the roll of cloth exactly corresponds to the remainder of the web forming
the roll. Instead of using a separate strip of paper or tape, the selvage or other
part of the web may have the number of yards or metres and their divisions
marked thereon.
In using the term "Webs of cloth" it is be understood to apply to all sorts of
woven or felted fabrics, or webs of paper for Newspaper and wall paper printing
: mechineR

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Darling and James Darling in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 10th January 1883.
JOHN. DARLING of Glasgow in the County of Lanark North Britain and JAMES
DARLING of Shotts, in the same County " IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS FOR
INDICATING THE LENGTH OF CLOTH OR OTHER FABRICS IN ROLLS THEREOF AND
FOR INDICATING FROM TIME TO TIME LENGTHS CUT THEREFROM "
Our said Invention which relates to Improvements in means for indicating the
length of cloth or other fabrics in rolls or webs thereof and for indicating from time
to time lengths cut therefrom, is also applicable to webs in a folded as well as in an
open state. The apparatus for measuring webs in the rolled state consists of a box
of a convenient size to be held in the hand, and at one side of which there projects
a thin tube or tubes of small diameter.-Inside of the box there is provided an axis
to which the inner end of a thin and strong cord is attached, and this axis has a
handle at the outside of the box so that by turning the axis round, the cord is
wound on to the axis whereby a considerable length of cord may be conveyed into
the box. The cord is marked into yards, feet, inches, or other divisions, and is the
measuring part of the apparatus.
In using the apparatus for measuring a rolled or folded web the outer end of the
cord is fixed by a pin or otherwise to the inner end of the roll or folds, and the thin
tube being simultaneously entered between the folds, is passed by the hand of the
person using the apparatus round and round. or backwards and forwards between
the layers of the web, until the outer end of the web is reached.-The length of
cord unwound in the operation exactly corresponds to the length of the web.―
After the measuring operation is thus completed the cord is wound into the box
again by means of the handle attached to the axis.
In a modification of this apparatus the box may be dispensed with and the cord
passed through the tube or its equivalent alone held in the hand of the operator,
but the box for containing the cord is preferable.
For measuring webs in the flat or open state, as is usually practised in drapers'
shops when measuring off pieces of cloth from a web the apparatus is attached to
a plate and fixed down upon the counter it being so arranged that the person
purchasing the cloth as well as the person selling it can simultaneously read off
the quantity measured upon a counting face or indicator.-This counting face or
indicator has a succession of numbers marked on it to indicate yards, feet or
inches and there is a fixed point against which the person measuring the cloth
places the web in measuring, as for example from yard to yard and at a yard's
distance from the stop there is another stop which the hand of the measurer
touches as each yard is measured off.-The touch of the hand of the measurer
causes the stop to yield and to operate a ratchet which again operates either
directly or indirectly the counting face or indicator.-The counting face or
indicator is provided with a spring which being released allows the counting face
or indicator to return to its normal position after the completion of each measuring
action.
laid
Another modification of this invention consists in providing a narrow strip of
paper, or cloth such as tape, with yards and divisions of the yard or other linear
measure, such as metres, marked thereon, which strip as the cloth is rolled up
in, either at one side. of the web, at or near to the selvage thereof or it may be laid
in at any other part of the width of the web so that the length of the strip of
paper or tape corresponds exactly with the length of the web. -

page_text: When a portion of the web is cut off, a corresponding portion of the strip of
paper or tape is also cut off with it so that the remainder of the strip of paper or
tape in the roll of cloth exactly corresponds to the remainder of the web forming
the roll-Instead of using a separate strip of paper or tape, the selvage or other
part of the web may have the number of yards or metres and their divisions
marked thereon.
In using the term "Webs of cloth " it is to be understood to apply to all sorts of
woven or felted fabrics, or webs of paper for Newspaper and wall paper printing
machines.
And in order that our said Invention may be properly understood we now
proceed more particularly to set forth the system, mode or manner in, or under
which the same is or may be used or practically carried into effect reference being
had to the accompanying Drawings and to the Letters and Figures, marked thereon,
that is to say.-
-
Figure 1, of the accompanying Drawing.is a plan of apparatus constructed
according to and constituting part of our present Invention.
Figure 2, is a side elevation of the same.
Figure 3, is a horizontal section of the same taken on the line A, B, Figure 2,
Figure 4, is a plan of apparatus constructed according to and forming another
part of our present Invention.
Figure 5, is a longitudinal section of the same taken on the line B, C, Figure 4.
Figure 6, is a plan of the same with the cover removed.
The apparatus represented at Figures 1, 2, and 3, of the accompanying drawings
is used for ascertaining the length of the cloth or other fabric in rolls or webs thereof
and for indicating from time to time lengths cut therefrom at the same time
indicating the quantity of cloth remaining in the web.-The apparatus consists of
the box a, from one side of which the tube b, projects.-Inside the box a, the axis c,
(which I preferably construct tubular) is fitted and is free to rotate in the plates d,
and e, forming respectively the top and bottom of the box.-To the axis c, the
inner end of the cord f, is attached and at the outside of the top of the box the
axis c, is provided with the handle g.-The cord f, is marked into yards, feet,
inches, or other required divisions which marks may be painted on the cord f,
in various colours or may be marked in any other convenient, manner.
In using the apparatus for measuring a rolled or folded web, the outer end of
the cord is fastened by the hook h, or by any other suitable means to the inner
end of the roll or folds, and the tube b, is entered between, the folds until the
guard i, comes against the end of the same.-The person using the apparatus then
passes it round and round or backwards and forwards between the layers of the
web until the outer end of the web is reached.-The length of the cord f,
unwound in the operation exactly corresponds with the length of the web and
may be instantly read off.-After the measuring operation is thus completed the
cord, is wound into the box a, by means of the handle g.
For measuring webs in the flat or open state as is usually practised in drapers'
shops when measuring off pieces of cloth from a web, the apparatus shewn at
Figures 4, 5, and 6, is used, and it is secured upon the counter in such a position
as will enable the person purchasing the cloth and the person selling it to simul-
taneously read off the quantity measured upon the counting face or indicator j.-
This counting face or indicator j, has the numbers k, (which are read through the
opening b¹) marked on it and there is also provided a fixed point against which
the person measuring the cloth places the web in measuring and at a yard's
distance from this fixed point the stop 7, of the apparatus is set so that as each
yard is measured off the band of the measurer touches the stop .-This causes.the
stop 7, to yield and the spring pawl m, to operate the ratchet-wheel n, to which is
attached the counting face or indicator -The counting face or indicator is
provided with the spring o, secured at its inner end to the fixed pivot p, and at
its outer end is engaged with the pin q, fixed in the ratchet-wheel n.-This.
spring o, causes the counting face or indicator j, to return to its normal position

page_text: when the spring pawl r, pivoted at 8, is released therefrom by pressing the knob t.―
The spring pawl m, is pivoted to the sliding piece u, which is held in position by
the guides v, and its spring w, bears against the pin x, against which also bears the
spring y, for returning the sliding piece u, and the spring pawl m, to their normal
position. The stops, is provided for the purpose of preventing the counting face
or indicator j, from running beyond its zero position on release of the spring
pawl r, and is secured to the lower part of the box containing the mechanism,
and on the ratchet wheel n, or at any other suitable position the stop a', is
mounted so as to effect the stoppage of the counting face or indicator as before
mentioned and also to prevent its being turned beyond the measurement for which
it is intended, which in the apparatus represented at Figures 4, 5, and 6 is shown
to be fifty yards, feet or inches as required.
Another part of this Invention consists in providing a narrow strip of paper or
cloth such as tape, with yards and divisions of the yards, feet or other linear
measure such as metres marked thereon, which strip, as the cloth is rolled up is
laid in, either at one side of the web, at or near to the selvage thereof, or it may be
laid in at any other part of the width of the web, so that the length of the strip
of paper or tape corresponds exactly with the length of the web.-When a portion
of the web is cut off, a corresponding portion of the strip of paper or tape is also
cut off with it and the remainder of the strip of paper or tape in the roll of cloth
exactly corresponds with the remainder of the web forming the roll.-Instead of
using a separate strip of paper or tape, the selvage or other part of the web may
have the number of yards or metres and their divisions marked thereon.
In using the term "webs of cloth "it is to be understood to apply to all sorts
of woven fabrics including ribbon or felted fabrics or webs of paper for Newspapers
and wall paper printing machines.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of our said
Invention and the system, mode or manner in or under which the same is, or may
be used, or practically carried into effect we would observe in conclusion that
what we consider to be novel and original and therefore claim as the Invention
secured to us by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is,
First The apparatus for measuring a rolled or folded web of cloth or other
material, consisting of the tube b, cord ƒ, hook h, and guard i, or their mechanical
equivalents with or without the box a, axis c, and handle g, or their mechanical
equivalents operating substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
Second The apparatus for measuring webs of cloth or other material in the flat
or open state substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 4, 5
and 6 of the accompanying drawings.
Third-In rolling a strip of paper or cloth or like material with yards or other
linear measure marked thereon, in a roll or folded web of cloth or other material
substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.
Fourth Marking upon the selvage or other part of the web of cloth or other
material the number of yards or other linear measure in the web substantially as
and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Darling have hereunto set my hand
and seal this eighth day of January in the year of Our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and night th