CERTAIN IM- PROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR FOLDING, 'FENTING, AND MAKING UP GOODS OR FABRICS
Year: 1856

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Wormald, of Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Calenderer and Packer, for the Invention of "CERTAIN IM-
PROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR FOLDING, 'FENTING, AND
MAKING UP GOODS OR FABRICS."
Sealed the 22nd July 1856, and dated the 28th January 1856.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Wormald at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 28th
January 1856..
I, JOHN WORMALD, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Calenderer
and Packer, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention for "CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR FOLDING, FENTING,' AND MAKING
UP GOODS OR FABRICS," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists in a novel arrangement of machinery, in which the
cloth or fabric to be folded is conducted or passed over a curved or semi-
circular surface or bed, formed in three divisions or parts, having the centre
division capable of being raised and lowered when necessary. To this curved
bed, together with its framing, is imparted a horizontal reciprocating sliding
motion. Upon each side of the framing are placed two slotted rods or arms
side by side, and working parallel to each other. At the upper part of these

page_text: rods or arms, and extending from side to side across the machine, are secured
two thin blades, placed at such an angle that they shall alternately lay the
cloth or fabric between the bed or surface, and a retaining bar or rod at each
end of the machine. The arms or rods, partake of a vibratory or swing
motion, imparted to them from the sliding framing by means of two pins or
studs, secured upon it, which work in the slots formed in the arms. The cloth
or fabric passes over a rod, and then between the two thin blades, and a
sliding motion being given to the framing which supports the curved bed,
causes the arms and their blades to follow the curve of the surface or bed, one
of the blades carrying with it the cloth, which, when it has reached the full
extent of the swinging or traverse, is firmly held between the bed, (which is
capable of being slightly lowered to allow of the release of the cloth,) and a
rod or bar furnished with a strip of cards or other rough surface, one being
placed at each end of the machine; the framing now being caused to slide back
again, a similar motion will be repeated, leaving another fold at the other end
of the machine, which folding action is repeated until the whole length of the
piece is folded or plaited. For "fenting" or cutting off any superfluous length
of fabric which may remain, I employ a knife actuated by any suitable
self-acting means to traverse rapidly across the fabric from selvedge to
selvedge, and thus sever such end from the folded cloth or piece. After the
folding is completed the machine proceeds to "make up" the piece, as follows:-
The centre division of the bed is allowed to fall a short distance from under
the folded cloth, upon which four small fingers or pins fall into the creases
caused by the dropping of the cloth and hold it firmly, until two rods over
which the folds have been formed fold the layers of cloth over each pair of
fingers, by which means it is folded into three, or, as it is termed, "made up,"
and becomes ready for packing. After the folding or plaiting and making up
is completed, the machine is thrown out of gear by 'self-acting means, actuated
from the principal shaft of the machine.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Wormald in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
28th July 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
WORMALD, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Callenderer and Packer;
send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-eighth day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, in the nineteenth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
John Wormald, Her especial license that I, the said John Wormald, my
executors, adininistrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John
Wormald, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
.Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVE
MENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR FOLDING, FENTING, AND MAKING UP
GOODS OR FABRICS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
John Wormald, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should
particularly.describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in
manner the same.was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the
Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Wormald, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is. to be.per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement and accompanying Drawings, that is. to say:
My Invention consists in a novel arrangement of machinery, in which the
cloth or fabric to be folded is conducted or passed over a curved or semi-
circular surface or bed, which is formed in three divisions or parts, having the
centre division capable of being raised and lowered when necessary. To, this
curved bed, together with its framing, is imparted a horizontal reciprocating
sliding motion. Upon each side of the framing are placed two slotted rods or
arms side by side, and working parallel to each other. At the upper part of these
rods or arms, and extending from side to side. across the machine, are secured
two thin blades, each placed at such an angle that they shall alternately lay
the cloth or fabric between the bed or surface, and a retaining bar or rod at
each end of the machine. The arms or rods partake of a vibratory or.swing-
ing motion, imparted to them from the sliding framing, by means of two pins
or studs secured. upon it, which work or slide in the slots formed in the arms.
The cloth or fabric passes over a guide rod, and then between the two thin
folding or "plaiting" blades. A sliding. motion.now being imparted to the
framing. which supports the curved bed, causes the arms and their blades to

page_text: follow the curve of the surface or bed, one of the blades carrying with it the
cloth, which, when it has reached the full extent of the swing or traverse, is
firmly held between the bed (which is capable of being slightly lowered to
allow of the release of the cloth), and a rod or bar, furnished with a strip of
cards or other rough surface, one being placed at each end of the machine.
The framing now being caused to slide back again, a similar motion will be.
repeated, leaving another fold beneath the rod at the other end of the machine,
which folding action is repeated until the whole length of the piece is folded
or plaited. For "fenting" or cutting off any superfluous length of fabric which
may remain, I employ a knife, actuated by any suitable self-acting means,
cutting across the fabric from selvedge to selvedge, and thus sever such end
from the folded cloth or piece. After the process of folding is completed, the
machine proceeds to "make up" the piece, as follows:-The centre division of
the bed is allowed to fall a short distance from under the folded cloth, upon
which four small fingers, plates, or pins fall into the creases caused by the
dropping of the cloth, and holds it firmly, until two rods over which the folds
have been formed fold the layers of cloth over each pair of fingers, by which
means it is folded into three, or, as it is termed, "made up," and becomes ready
for packing.
In order that this Invention may be better understood and explained in
detail, I have hereunto attached a Sheet of Drawing, made upon a scale of
about one inch and a half to the foot, similar letters of reference being placed
upon corresponding parts of the machinery or apparatus throughout all the
Figures shewn. Fig. 1 is a front elevation, exhibiting a general outline of
the machine for folding, fenting, and "making up" goods or fabrics; Fig. 2
is an end view of the same; and Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of the said
machine, illustrating more clearly the peculiar configuration and situation of
the cam for "bevilling" the folds, together with the slotted plate, in conjunc-
tion with the rod for letting fall the centre division of the bed; this view also
shews the inclined plane used for moving the rods which fold or "make up
the layers of the piece into three. In the several Figures, a, a, is the framing
of the machine; and b, b; are the two hinged flaps, forming part of the curved
bed, and are sustained in position by the springs b';.and c is the centre part of
the curved bed which falls from beneath the cloth; this curved bed is carried or
supported by the sliding framing d, d, each side of which slides or traverses
in. the groove e, or upon wheels and rails, as shewn detached at Fig. 4. At
the lower bar of the framing d, d, are situated the two pivots or fulcra of the
slotted swinging or vibrating arms f, f, which arms are connected at the top
"

page_text: nd move parallel to each other, each carrying a thin blade g, g, set at the
equisite angle; at the limits of the swing or vibration of these arms are two
ods h, h, furnished with a strip of cards or other rough surface which are
apable of adjustment to suit the length of the fold required. The apparatus
or allowing the centre of the bed c to fall will be comprehended more clearly
by referring to Fig. 3; the rod i which supports the bed c rests upon the
periphery of the revolving disc k, keyed upon the same shaft, and actuated by
the same ratchet wheel as the cam k', until the slot formed therein in course
of its revolution arrives beneath the rod, upon which it falls into the slot, and
the bed c falls in consequence. Upon again referring to Fig. 1, it will be seen
thát a similar mechanical action is employed for the fall of the knife l, which,
at a time regulated by the ratchet wheel m, falls, and shears or cuts the
superfluous end from the folded piece. During the operation of folding, the
cam k gradually advances the framing d, d, further from the centre, and by
this means the edges of the folded cloth become "bevilled" or over-lapped.
The apparatus for folding the layers into three will be seen in Fig. 3, and
consists in the employment of an inclined plane'n, n, which is advanced against
the projecting ends of the arms o, o, carrying the folding rods p, p, and thus
cause the rods to throw the plaited cloth over the pins, fingers, or plates 2, 9,
When the cloth is removed and the machine is
and fold it into three.
required to be put in working order for a second operation, it is but necessary
to raise the handle on the lever r, which will lift the rod i out of the slot in
the disc k, and restore the inclined plane and projecting rods of the arms to
their former positions. The precise mechanical action and operation of this
machine will be more readily understood by referring to the Drawing attached
and the following description thereof:-The cloth, shewn in blue, being ready
for folding, is placed over the guide rods and knife bed, and between the two
folding, laying, or plaiting blades g. 9; motion is then given to the sliding
framing d, d, which causes the slotted arms f, f, and their blades g, g, to
follow the curve of the surface or bed; one of the blades (carrying with it the
cloth, which, when it has reached the full extent of its swing or vibration,
places the cloth between the bed and the retaining bar h; the arms f, f,
and curved bed are then in the position as shewn in red; the framing d, d, now
slides or traverses back to the other side of the machine, causing the arms
5 ff, to swing to the opposite end of the bed, and the other blade to carry
with it another fold of cloth, and place it beneath the bar h. This action i
repeated until the entire length required is folded; and during this operation
the cam upon the same shaft, and actuated by the same ratchet wheel a

page_text: the disc k, revolves and gradually throws the sliding framing further from the
centre of the machine. Thus the folds of cloth become "bevilled," that is, the
folds do not come directly over each other, but gradually recede on one side
and overlap on the other, so that when the piece is subsequently folded into
three the edges are even one above the other. When the required length has
been folded, the disc upon which the rod supporting the knife bears will have
rotated, so as to bring the slot formed therein beneath the rod, which by fall-
ing into the slot will cause the upheld blade of the knife to fall and cut off
the superfluous end of the cloth, which is termed "fenting." When this is
-accomplished, the rod i will fall into the slot in the disc k, and the centre of
the bed c will drop from under the cloth, the centre division of the cloth
falling with it, and at the same time the two ends of the bed b, b, fall away
and release the cloth from the retaining rods h, h; then the fingers, plates, or
pins q, q, turn over upon the cloth, and hold it firmly, until the projecting ends
of the arms o, o, carrying the rods p, p, coming into contact with the inclined
plane n, n, fold the piece over the said fingers into three. The piece now
having been folded, "fented," and "made up," is ready to be removed from
the machine ready for the ordinary subsequent process of packing. And in
order to render the machine capable of perforniing the same operations upon
another piece of fabric, it will be necessary to raise the lever r; which will
lift the rod supporting the centre part of the bed c, and restore the inclined
plane n,, projecting arms o, o, and folding rods p, p, to their former positions,
thus bringing the machine into working order for the reception of another
piece of fabric to be folded, "fented," and "made up."
Having now described the nature and object of my said Invention, together
with the manner in which the same may be carried into practical effect, .I
would remark, 'in conclusion, that I claim,
First, the novel application, employment, or use of the sliding framing d, d,
in conjunction with the ordinary vibrating, plaiting, or folding arms f, f.
*Secondly, forming the curved bed over which the fabric is folded in three
parts or divisions, the centre one of which will drop, thus creasing the piece
in form for "inaking up."
Thirdly, the formation of "bevilled" or sloping edges at each end of the
folded fabric by means of the cam k¹.
Fourthly, "fenting" or cutting off the superfluous end of the cloth, either s
by the method-shewn in the Drawing, or any other such-self-acting cutting
apparatus.
Fifthly, making up" the piece into three divisions or folds through.the
media of the inclined -plane n, n, and folding rods p, p.

page_text: And, lastly, I claim the combination of the several parts employed, together
with the general arrangement and construction of the self-acting machinery
or apparatus, for the purposes of "folding," "fenting," and "making up
goods or fabrics, substantially as herein-before described, and fully set forth and
illustrated by the accompanying Drawings, without confining myself to the
precise dimensions or details exhibited therein.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Wormald, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-sixth day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six.
JOHN WORMALD. (L.S.)