Improvements in Upholstery Tufting Machines.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Dec., 1896-Accepted, 10th July, 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Upholstery Tufting Machines.
We, WILLIAM JAMES MCMERTRY, residing at 184 John Street, in the City.of
Toronto, in the County of 'York,. in the Province of Ontario, Manufacturer, and
EDWARD ALBERT POTTER, residing at 1022 Queen Street, West, in the said City
of Toronto, Upholsterer do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:-
The object of the invention, is to produce a machine by means of which all
classes of upholstering work may be rapidly and easily pleated and buttoned by
unskilled labor, and the invention consists essentially of a series of pleat formers
arranged, to form a succession of dies on parallel aid successive alignments, the
sides of the pleat formers being set at an inclination to the base of the machine so
as to form the pleat, a series of tuft formers set one at each corner of each of tho
dies to form an indentation for the button; the whole device being hereinafter
more fully set forth and more particularly pointed out in the.claims.
In the drawings:
Fig. 1.is a perspective view of a section of the complete apparatus.
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a section of the presser plate.
Like letters of reference refer to like parts throughout the specification and
drawings.
A represents the base of the tufting machine, which may be made of wood or
other material suitable for the purpose. B, B and B', B represent, the pleat
formers. The pleat formers B are arranged diagonally across the base A from
right to left whilst the pleat formers Baro arranged across the base A from the left
to right. The pleat formers B, B are arranged on parallel and successive alignments,
and at equi-distant intervals from each other. The pleat formers B', B' are
similarly arranged, the same interval existing between the pleat formers B¹, B' as
exists between the pleat formers B, B. The pleat formers B, B¹ intersect the pleat
formers B, B at regular intervals, and form the dies C. To produce the fulness
in the pleat a semi-circular recess D is cut in the middle of each of the pleat
formers B, B', the curve of the upper part of the recess D being convexed or curved
into the top of the pleat former, so that the recess might be styled concavo-convex.
E represents a series of posts, one set at each corner of each of the dies C. The
posts E are rigidly connected (by soldering, brazing or otherwise) to the pleat
formers B, B, which are preferably made in sections, equal in length to the length
of the sides of the dies C. The posts are attached to A by bolting, soldering or
otherwise attached in a rigid manner. The pleat formers and posts or tufts formers
are nreferably constructed of metal, in order that they will better resist the wear
and tear placed upon them, and make a better defined pleat and tuft than if made
of wood or coarser material. In the top of each of the posts or tuft formers E is a
hole or recess F', to receive a pin G.
The use of the machine is as follows: The goods are first marked out to the
required fulness, the shape formed on the goods corresponding with the shape of

page_text: the dies. The goods are then set face down on the dies, and the pins are
inserted through the
the corners of the intersecting lines, marking the
fulness, into the sockets or holes in the top of the posts or tuft formers,
these pins holding the goods securely in position. The stuffing is then filled
into the goods in the dies until the dies are filled; the pins are then removed,
and the goods are glued at the tops of the tuft formers or posts; the lining is
then placed over the goods and stuffing, and a presser H is placed on the top of the
lining to press the lining firmly against the goods, in order that the goods and
lining will be properly glued together, the upholstered work being permitted to
stand until thoroughly dry, after it is removed from the machine and finished.
After being removed from the machine indentations, will be found for the buttons
where the goods rested on the tops of the posts or tuft formers. The buttons are
then sewn to the goods where the indentations occur, and the work is then turned
out as finished. By means of this machine an unskilled girl can turn out finished
upholstered work in a mauner equal to the best skilled labor, with greater rapidity
and ease, and at a much smaller cost.
We do not make any claim to any particular size or shape of the dies, as we may
make use of any shape, size or style that we find suitable for the work.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, we hereby declare that what we claim is :-
1. The tufting machine bereinbefore described and illustrated in the accom-
panying drawings.
2. A tufting machine consisting of a series of successive dies, each comprised of
a series of pleat formers arranged to form the pleats, and à series of tuft formers
to form the indentations for the buttons, substantially as specified.
3. A tufting machine consisting of a base, a series of successive.dies mounted on
the base, each die comprised of a series of pleat formers arranged to form the
requisite shape and set at an inclination to the base, a-tuft former set at each corner
of each die to form an indentation for the button, and a series of pins adapted to
be inserted into the tops of the tuft formers, substantially as specified.
4. A tufting machine consisting of a base, a series of successive dies mounted' on
the base, each die comprised of a series of pleat formers arranged to form the
requisite shape and set at an inclination to the base, a tuft former set at each corner
of each die to form an indentation for the button, a series of pins adapted to be
inserted into the tops of the tuft formers, and a presser plate adapted to be
supported by the tuft former, substantially as specified.
Dated this 24th day of December 1896
HUGHES & YOUNG,
23, Coleman Street, London, E.C., Agents for Applicants.