IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR CUTTING OR SHEARING AND RIPPING AND PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION CLIPPING THE 'WHIP' OF LAPPET CLOTH OR OTHER FABRICS
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Christie, of Paisley, in the County of
Renfrew, North Britain, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR CUTTING OR SHEARING AND RIPPING AND
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Christie at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
2nd May 1870.
I, JAMES CHRISTIE, of Paisley, in the County of Renfrew, North
Britain, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR CUTTING OR SHEARING AND RIPPING AND
CLIPPING THE 'WHIP' OF LAPPET CLOTH OR OTHER FABRICS," to be as follows,
that is to say :-
This Invention, which relates to certain improvements in machinery
or apparatus to be employed in cutting or clipping the "whip" or
threads which connect the different spots or parts of the pattern or

page_text: lappet cloths or other fabrics, and whereby such clipping or cutting is
performed in a more efficient manner and in a much shorter space of
time than hitherto, consists, under one modification, in attaching to one
side of the framing of a *
cropping machine" another frame in which
two or more reeds are supported; these reeds carry a series of projecting
points or feelers, above each of which and at a certain distance from the
end thereof a knife is placed, which knives may either be revolving or
stationary. The cloth to be operated upon is wound on a roller supported
by the framing of the cropping machine, and it is led therefrom over a
guide block to the projecting points or feelers above referred to, so that
these points or feelers may pass in between the " whip" or threads
which connect the different parts of the pattern together and the
surface of the cloth, and guiding them over the knives herein-before
referred to, by which knives they are severed or cut; the cloth is then
led over other guide blocks to the cropping roller, where the loose or
cut threads are cropped off or removed in the ordinary manner, after
which the cloth passes to and is wound on a roller at the other side of
the machine. The reeds which support the feelers are made adjustable
by means of screws or other suitable contrivance, so that the feelers may
be adjusted to act on any width of cloth.
In lieu of employing the clipping apparatus in conjunction with a
cropping machine it may be fitted on a separate frame and the cloth
caused to pass under it, as herein-before set forth; or the cloth may be
stretched or stented on rollers or otherwise for that purpose and the
clipping machine passed along the top of it, after which the cloth may
be passed through a cropping machine and the cut or loose threads
removed, as above set forth.
Under a second modification this Invention consists in applying the
cutting or shearing apparatus herein-before described to looms for weaving.
In this instance the cloth on leaving the loom is led direct to the cutting
apparatus, which is situated at any convenient part of the loom, and is pro-
vided with a number of revolving or reciprocating blades or knives actuated
by a crank or other suitable mechanism, so that on the "whips" being
caught on the projecting points or feclers, and the knives being passed
between the under sides of these feelers and the surface of the cloth
being operated upon, the "whips" are cut or shorn off close to the surface
of the cloth, thereby obviating the necessity of passing the cloth through
‘a cropping machine.

page_text: It is to be understood that this second arrangement described as the
second part of the Invention may either be used in combination with
the loom during the process of weaving, or it may form a separate and
distinct machine for performing the operations herein-before set forth
independently of the loom.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said James Christie in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 2nd November 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
CHRISTIE, of Paisley, in the County of Renfrew, North Britain, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Second day of May, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy, in the 33rd year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said James Christie, Her special license that I, the
said James Christic, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said James Christie, my executors, adminis-
trators, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR
APPARATUS FOR CUTTING OR SHEARING AND RIPPING AND CLIPPING THE 'WHIP' OF
LAPPET CLOTH OR OTHER FABRICS," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said James Christie, by an instrument in writing under my
hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of
the said Invention, and in what 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 James Christie, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying

page_text: Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to
say:
"
My said Invention, which relates to certain improvements in machinery
or apparatus to be employed in cutting or clipping the "whip
'whip" or
threads which connect the different spots or parts of the pattern of
lappet cloths or other fabrics, and whereby such clipping or cutting is
performed in a more efficient manner and in a much shorter space of
time than hitherto, consists under one modification in attaching to one
side of the framing of a cropping machine" another frame in which
two or more reeds are supported; these reeds carry a series of projecting
points or feelers, above each of which, and at a certain distance from the
end thereof, a knife is placed, which may either be traversing or
stationary. The cloth to be operated upon is wound on a roller sup-
ported by the framing of the cropping machine, and it is led therefrom.
over a guide block to the projecting points or feelers above referred to, so
that these points or feelers may pass in between the "whip" or threads
which connect the different parts of the pattern together and the surface
of the cloth, and guiding them over the knives herein-before referred to,
by which knives they are severed or cut. The cloth is then led over
other guide blocks to the cropping roller where the loose or cut threads
are cropped off or removed in the ordinary manner, after which the cloth
passes to and is wound on a roller at the other side of the machine.
The reeds which support the feelers are made adjustable by means of
screws or other suitable contrivance, so that the feelers may be adjusted
to act on any width of cloth.
In lieu of employing the clipping apparatus in conjunction with a
cropping machine it may be fitted on a separate frame, and the cloth
caused to pass under it in the manner herein-before set forth, or the
cloth may be stretched or stented on rollers or otherwise for that pur-
pose, and the clipping machine passed along the top of it, after which
the cloth may be passed through a cropping machine, and the cut or
loose threads removed as above set forth.
Under a second modification this Invention consists in applying the
cutting or shearing apparatus herein-before described to looms for
weaving. In this instance the cloth on leaving the loom is led direct
to the cutting apparatus which is situated at any convenient part of the
loom, and is provided with a number of revolving or reciprocating
blades or knives actuated by a crank or other suitable mechanism, so

page_text: that on the "whips" being caught on the projecting points or feelers,
and the knives being passed between the under sides of these feelers
and the surface of the cloth being operated upon the " whips" are cut
or shorn off close to the surface of the cloth, thereby avoiding the
necessity of passing the cloth through a cropping machine..
It is to be understood that this second arrangement, described as the
second part of the Invention, may either be used in combination with
the loom during the process of weaving, or it may form a separate and
distinct machine for performing the operations hercin-before set forth
independently of the loom.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood I
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, that is to say :-
Figure 1 is a front elevation, Figure 2 is an end elevation, and
Figure 3 is a plan shewing one modification of my improved apparatus
for cutting or shearing and ripping and clipping the whip of lappet
cloths or other fabrics, whilst Figure 4 is an enlarged diagram illus-
trative of the mode or manner whereby under this arrangement the said
apparatus is applied in effecting the object herein-before set forth. The
same letters of reference mark the same or corresponding parts upon the
different Figures on which they occur.
Under the arrangement now to be described my Invention consists, as
shewn at Figures 2 and 3 of the Drawings, of a series of rippers or
feelers a placed horizontally and supported by a light framing A, which
extends between and is fixed at both ends to the end frames B, B. In
the said framing A there are grooves or cells b, b, formed, and into both
of which ordinary weavers' reeds, c, c, Figures 2 and 3, are placed,
through or between the splits or openings of which the thin ends of the
rippers or feelers a are passed, and are thereby kept at the required
distance apart, that being variable according to the nature of the cloth
or other fabrics to be operated upon. The points of the rippers or
feelers a are flattened out and divided into two distinct blades, y and,
as more particularly shown in the enlarged detached views, Figures 5
and 6, which are united to the thin parts that are passed through the
reeds. By this means V-shaped openings d are formed in the said
feclers or rippers a, as shewn at Figures 2, 5, and 6, and through which
openings a continuous band blade C is passed, having its edge next to

page_text: the points of the feelers a finely sharpened.
The said blade C is
mounted upon band pullies D and D', and is moved at a very high
velocity transversely through the openings d by the revolution of
the driving pulley D which is fixed upon the shaft e carried by
bearings formed on one of the end frames B, and upon the said shaft e
a pair of fast and loose pulleys E and E' is placed, provided for the
purpose of transmitting motion to the apparatus through the interven-
tion of a belt acting upon the fast pulley E, and also that the motion of
the entire apparatus may be stopped whilst the driving belt is still in
motion by simply shifting the said belt on to the loose pulley E' in the
usual manner of shifting driving belts. In order that the band blade C
may always be kept in complete tension the pulley D¹ is centred upon a
stud a¹ fixed in the end of a bell crank lever B¹, to the opposite end of
which a weight C¹ is suspended by means of a link b', the said bell
crank lever is centred upon a stud F¹ fixed in a slot f¹ formed in the end
frame B. The band blade C is supported under the feelers a by means
of small pulleys g, g', centred upon studs h¹, h³, secured in grooves k¹
formed in the bearers K. Upon one end of the shaft e a bevil pinion g
is fixed and geared into a bevil wheel & fixed upon one end of a shaft F,
upon the opposite end of which a spur pinion i is fixed and geared into a
corresponding spur wheel j placed upon a stud j¹ and free to revolve
thereon, the said stud j being inserted into a boss k formed in one of the
end frames B, and is free to revolve therein. The spur wheel j is pro-
vided with a clutch 7, shewn dotted in Figure 1, of any well-known type
for the purpose of either transmitting the rotary motion of the shaft F to
the stud j¹, or simply allowing the wheel j to be turned on its own axis
accordingly as it may be desired, and the reasons for which are hercin-
after more particularly described. Upon the stud ja spur pinion m is
fixed and geared into a corresponding wheel m¹ carried on the end of the
journal n of a barrel or drum G (more particularly shown at Figures 1
and 2) which is supported by means of the journal n being carried in
|_ bearings n formed in the end frames B, B, and which is free to revolve
therein.
Having now described the general arrangement and construction of
my improved machine for ripping and clipping the "whip" threads
of lappet cloths or other fabrics, its working or mode of operation, herein-
after to be described, will be more clearly understood in the manner now
about to be set forth. The web or fabric which is to be operated upon
is. wound up upon a drag drum H, situated at the back of the machine

page_text: and carried by brackets I, projecting from the end frames B, B. The
end of the web or fabric is drawn over the top of a bearer J, and
extending therefrom passes over another bearer K, and under the points.
of the feelers a, thence it is drawn downward and passed between the
barrel or drum G, and another and smaller drum L situated immediately
beneath it, the drum L having its axle o passed through oblong grooves P,
formed in the end frames B, B, and in which it is free to revolve and
to be moved vertically, so that the peripheries of the two barrels G and L
may be kept continually closely pressed together, that being effected by
means of the action of the weight M, communicated to the axle o of
the barrel L, through the medium of the compound lever N and the
connecting link q, as clearly shown upon Figure 2; the said, compound
lever N being centred upon a stud r fixed to one of the end frames B.
The end of the web having now been passed between the barrels G and L
as herein-before set forth is continually drawn onward at the required
speed by the friction and pressure due to their revolving in contact,
and as the web or fabric is thus moved onward, each of the feelers a comes.
to be situated between the rows of lappets (having been previously
accurately adjusted or divided to suit the nature of the web). The
feelers enter beneath the "whip" thread, ripping it up from the surface,
when it is immediately cut neatly off by the band blade C, as the
latter moves rapidly across the web. The diagram Figure 4 is designed
with a view to illustrate clearly this part of the operation. To provide
for any part of the web being drawn forward independently of the
action of the whole apparatus into a position to be operated upon
by the feelers a, and the band blade C which for example is necessary
at the commencement of treating a web or fabric, a hand fly wheel O
is secured upon the axle n of the barrel G, by which means the said
barrel G may be turned by hand, to admit of which the clutch /
herein-before specified is drawn out of contact with the wheel j, whereby
the motion of the pinion i causes the said wheel to revolve upon its
own axis altogether independently of the other train of wheels.
order to prevent the points of the feelers a from being raised by any
means from the surface of the web, and thereby passing over the whip
threads, a small revolving roller P is situated on the top, and acts with
its weight pressing downward upon the feelers a; and to provide for the
said roller P being lifted upward at pleasure its axles is carried in
bearings s', s', situated at the outer end of levers P', the opposite ends
of which are fixed upon studs t, &, carried by brackets u, u, cast upon
In

page_text: the ends of the framing A. Upon the stud ta handle u is fixed, by
dragging which the ends of the levers P', and in consequence the
roller P may be elevated to any required position. The roller P is made
to revolve by means of a graduated cord pulley u², being fixed upon the
end of the shaft F and over which a band or cord is passed, also passing
round another graduated cord pulley centred upon the stud t, and which
carries round with it a spur pinion also centred upon the stud t. The
pinion is geared into another pinion v¹, centred upon a stud w, secured
into a slot w¹ formed in one of the levers P¹, and the pinion ¹ is geared
into a wheel x fixed upon the axles of the roller P, which is by this
means made to revolve at the required velocity. In order that the axis
of the roller P may always (when in working position) be in a vertical
plane with the cutting edge of the band blade C, that is to say,
be immediately above that cutting edge, the bearings 8, s, of the
axles are situated in grooves x¹ formed in the levers P', so that they
may be moved a little outwards or inwards at pleasure to suit the position
of the cutting edge of the band blade C; and to prevent the wheel x
from being drawn out of working contact with the pinion v', the stud w
may be moved to a corresponding position in the slot we', which is made
curved for this purpose.
It is to be understood that I do not limit myself exactly to the
particular arrangement and construction of machine herein-before
described with reference to the annexed Sheet of Drawings, but that
my Invention also includes the use or application of a scries of knives
reciprocating in alternate directions between which the whip threads
are caught and clipped off from the surface of the cloth, and further,
I include the use of a very fine band having knife edged serrations to
be applied and actuated in a manner similar to the band blade (of which
such knife when so applied is the mechanical equivalent) as described
in reference to the first of the foregoing arrangements.
Another modification consists in the employment of my improved
ripping and clipping machine under either of its various arrangements
in conjunction with looms, either hand or power, and under this
modification they may be either constructed so as to form parts of
one combined weaving and ripping and clipping machine, or as separate
machines situated adjacent to each other, in either of which arrange-
ments the cloth is led direct from the uptake beam of the loom onward
to the ripping or clipping part of the mechanism.

page_text: Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the
system, mode, or manner in or under which the same is or may be used
or practically carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that
what I consider novel and original and therefore claim as the Invention
secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
First. The arrangement and combination in one machine of a series
of rippers or feelers acting in conjunction with a blade or knife, or series
of blades or knives, or with a very fine band having knife edged
serrations, and the employment thereof as and for the purpose herein-
before described or any mere modification thereof.
Second. The employment of any modification of my improved ripping
and clipping machine in conjunction with either hand or power looms
as herein-before set forth.
Third. The method of adjusting or dividing the rippers or feelers and
maintaining them in their position by means of a weaver's reed or its
equivalent to suit the nature of the web or fabric to be operated upon.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Christic, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Thirty-first day of October, One thousand
eight hundred and seventy.
ATDISTUTT
JAMES CHRISTIE. (L.S.)