Improvements in and Apparatus for the Manufacture of Material suitable for Use as Floor Coverings or for Covering other Surfaces for Decorative Purposes.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Nov., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 24th Aug., 1894-Accepted, 29th Sept., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and Apparatus for the Manufacture of Material
suitable for Use as Floor Coverings or for Covering other
Surfaces for Decorative Purposes.
I, THOMAS JOHN PALMER of 1 The Newlands, Bare, near Lancaster
Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of my invention to be as follows:-
My invention has for its object to provide a better and more economical
manufacture of decorative material suitable for use as floor coverings or for
covering other surfaces or for other decorative uses in which materials the pattern
is formed by various masses of plastic material such as linoleum composition cut to
shape in accordance with the pattern to be produced & placed together to form
the pattern on a canvas or other suitable backing. These masses I refer to as
" tiles."
According to my invention I prepare webs or sheets of the linoleum composition
or, like material (I will refer to it as the composition) of different colours by the
usual or any suitable mixers and spreading machines and I convey these webs each
between rollers the top one of which is a plain surfaced roller the bottom one
being a roller on the face of which is formed a pattern by means of strips or blades
of metal projecting from the periphery of the roller a distance slightly greater
than the thickness of the web of composition which I convey between these rollers
so that the projections on the pattern roller will cut out from the web of com-
position the parts necessary to form the pattern or part of the pattern which parts
will occupy the recesses formed by these projecting blades of metal on the roller.
The revolution of this pattern roller will carry forward the tiles of composition
lying within its recesses and deposit them on a prepared length of material to form
part of the pattern when all the tiles are fitted together on this prepared material.
In order that the several tiles of composition which the pattern roller has cut
out from the web of composition shall be properly deposited upon the prepared
length of material I construct the pattern roller in the form of a cylinder made
either of metal, wood, vulcanite or other suitable material and with perforations
through its thickness corresponding to the part of the pattern the roller is to cut
out or produce.
Inside the cylinder I place a tube or lining of thin metal or other material which
shall be moderately pliable and unstretchable and of somewhat less circumference
than the inside of the pattern roller. On the outside of this lining I, fix blocks or
pushers preferably corresponding in shape to the recesses in the pattern roller and
projecting into these recesses sufficiently to just reach the tiles or pieces of com-
position which the pattern roller has cut from the web of composition. Within
this lining I mount a fixed drum or roller and upon this drum the said lining bears.
The fixed drum may be made circular except at the point where the tiles are to be
ejected from the pattern cutting roller and there it approaches nearer to the inside
of the pattern roller. This may be done by fixing upon the outer surface of the
drum along its length a projection about equal to the thickness of the tiles so that
it presses the lining in its revolution around it close up to the inner surface of the
pattern roller thereby causing the blocks fixed on the lining to project so far into
the recesses of the pattern roller as to eject the tiles upon the prepared length of
material.
In the making of some. patterns the cutting of the requisite tiles from a web of
composition would leave that web so that it would be in disconnected pieces. To
prevent these pieces from falling about the machine I fix on the surface of the tou

page_text: or plain surfaced roller projecting points which will be forced into the surplus
pieces of composition and take hold of them and prevent them from falling or
adhering to the pattern roller and also carry them until they are stripped off by
suitable projections to be conveyed away say to the mixer. Or I may coat the top
roller with an adhesive matter or roughen its face, or fix thereon a rough material
such as coarse woven wire or carding cloth to retain the surplus pieces of com-
position. In many patterns it is very desirable to have an outline colour to
separate give value to the body colours of the pattern and to provide this outline
I arrange the several pattern rollers of a given design around a large drum
and upon this drum (which I call a composing drum) I bring a web of paper
or an endless band of a strong and suitable fabric either of which should be
kept at a good tension.
If necessary I coat this web or band on its upper
surface with an adhesive material to hold the tiles in position when deposited
upon it by the pattern rollers. This adhesive material should be of a
kind that can be readily removed, subsequently, I cause the said web or band
to travel with the composing drum which I run at the same surface speed as the
pattern rollers and I place the pattern rollers at such distances apart around the
drum as will allow of their depositing their tiles in correct register with each other,
so that these tiles fit into each other to form the complete pattern. When using
this composing drum I may use with it at a point following the last of the pattern
rollers an arrangement for depositing upon the then outward face of the completed
set of tiles a compound preferably in a semi fluid state which I force into the small
spaces or channels purposely left between the tiles the principle object of which is
to give a coloured outline to the pattern and to cement the tiles together I may
leave sufficient of this compound on the then outward face of the tiles to serve as
the medium for cementing the tiles to the material which forms the permanent
backing of the finished article. After the tiles have received the outlining
composition the whole (still adhering to the said web or band upon the composing
drum) is carried forward to meet and be fastened to the permanent backing and is
then pressed.
The tiles being composed upon the said web or band and carried forward to be
pressed with this web or band adhering to their surfaces it will serve to prevent the
outlining composition from spreading over the surface of the tiles, and when the
material being made has been pressed to its final thickness the paper or other
fabric forming the said web or band can be stripped off and if an endless permanent
web be used be used be carried back by guide rollers to be used again in a
continuous way for the same purpose. If paper be used as the web it can be
washed and brushed off and the pulp collected to be used again to make fresh
paper.
One of my objects in composing the set of tiles to form the complete pattern
upon a drum is to cause the space between the tiles which I desire to fill with the
outlining composition to be greater at the outward surface of these tiles than it is
at the surface next the web or band on which the tiles lie and thus enable me the
more easily to force in the outlining composition. When the complete set of tiles
is spread out flat upon the permanent backing the tiles will close up somewhat at
the side next the backing and will thus force the outlining colour well towards the
other face of the tiles, and ensure that the outline is full and complete. For some
designs I form upon the periphery of the composing drum the complete pattern with
thin metal of a thickness about equal to or greater than the width of an outlining
colour and with a projection at right angles to the face of the drum equal to say
from a quarter to a half or more of the thickness of the tiles of composition. The
pattern rollers deposit into the pattern recesses thus formed on the drum their
respective tiles which the metal strips hold firmly in position. While in this
position an outlining composition may be forced into the spaces between the tiles.
In order to oject the tiles when they reach the permanent backing I may use the
following means. Numerous holes are formed through the thickness of the drum
at suitable points of the pattern. The drum is made to revolve over or outside of

page_text: டியா
a fixed hollow roller with closed ends and having a narrow slot or opening
from end to end opposite the point where the tiles are to be ejected on to the
backing. This roller I charge with compressed air which will have its only outlet
through the said narrow slot or opening. As the drum revolves around the metal
roller or compressed air chamber, the compressed air issuing from the narrow slot
or opening will enter the holes bored through the thickness of the composing drum
as they pass this narrow slot and force out the tiles from the pattern recesses and
cause them to adhere to the permanent backing.
If I make patterns up in this way and outline them.as described I lubricate the
projecting metal strips on the periphery of the composing drum with a suitable
lubricant when the drum has discharged its tiles and I bring against the face of the
tiles a web or band as previously described and cause it to adhere to the face of
the tiles until the whole has been pressed. For some patterns 1 make this
composing drum having several repeats of the complete pattern in skeleton form
say of metal the metal having a recess of a depth or thickness of say three quarters
of an inch and an outward face or thickness that may be found desirable for the
pattern being made. When the composing drum is constructed in this form I may
use the herein before described means for ejecting the tiles onto the permanent
backing by an inner lining with blocks fixed upon it and acting for ejecting the
tiles as hereinbefore explained.
In some intricate patterns where such ornamentation as the veining of leaves and
flowers or the subdivision of a tile is required I may provide the top roller against
which the pattern cutting roller runs and presses with projecting blades formed as
on the pattern cutting roller and with an equal projection from the periphery of the
roller. These projecting blades are so shaped and placed on the top roller that in
splitting or subdividing the tiles as they are cut out and retained by the pattern
cutting roller the said blades will make the channels necessary for the composition
to be afterwards forced into these channels.
There are some designs of this class in the making of which it would be advisable
or necessary to subdivide the tiles and make the veining channels by means of the
pattern cutting rollers which cuts out the tiles from the web of composition. To
effect this I fix in the perforations of the pattern roller made to receive the tiles I
wish to subdivide and vein, metal cutters of the necessary shape which cutters are
connected together by a bridge piece or bridge pieces and project therefrom a
distance equal to, or slightly greater than the thickness of the web of composition
the outward edge of these cutters being on the same plane as those fixed on the
surface of the pattern roller.
Some patterns, chiefly floral, are so designed that no parts of the ground of the
To economically make these
pattern are entirely disconnected from the rest.
patterns I first bring a web of the ground composition of the requisite width
thickness and density between a pattern cutting roller and a plain surfaced roller
the cutting roller being at the top or the furthermost from a composing drum
The pattern
nearly in contact with which drum the plain surfaced roller runs.
cutting roller has on its periphery cutting blades as before described and so shaped
and arranged as to cut out from this ground web of composition tiles which in shape
correspond with the whole of the ornamental part of the pattern to be produced so
that the remainder of this web of composition will constitute the entire ground of
the pattern with recesses formed through its thickness to receive the whole of the
tiles of composition necessary to complete the pattern. After passing between the
nip of the pattern cutting roller and the plain surfaced roller the ground web of
composition is kept in contact with the plain surfaced roller for say about half its
circumference which will bring it in contact with the composing drum and after-
wards it is kept in contact with the drum until the pattern tiles are all deposited
into their proper recesses in the ground prepared for them. These several tiles I
cut out from the requisite web of coloured composition and deposit on the composing
drum in the manner before described for other kinds of patterns. Before depositing
the complete pattern upon the permanent backing I may outline the pattern in the

page_text: manner hereinbefore described. To do this I bring the aforesaid web or band
upon the drum as before described before the point where the ground composition
is placed upon it. I may also split or subdivide the tiles as before described.
I may eject the tiles from the pattern cutting rollers by either of the methods
before described.
If I desire to deposit the tiles of composition direct from the pattern cutting
rollers onto the permanent backing and without the aid of the composing drum
I may fix the cutting rollers and their plain surfaced rollers above a suitable table
and convey the permanent backing upon this table and under these rollers to
receive the tiles, the pattern rollers being arranged at suitable distances apart so
that they may correctly register the one with the other.
If I wish to outline with colour the tiles of a pattern being made in this way
I spread upon the face of the permanent backing before it receives its tiles the
composition required for outlining it being preferably in a semi-fluid state and in
quantity more than sufficient to cement the tiles to the backing. When the tiles
are laid and pressed upon the backing the surplus of this outlining composition will
be squeezed into the spaces between the tiles and thus form an outline to the pattern.
When treating a pattern in this way I convey onto, and cause to adhere to the
surface of the completed set of tiles lying upon the permanent backing a web or
band and keep it in contact with the surface of the tiles until the whole bas been
pressed as before described.
When using an outlining composition. I prefer to make it of a composition which
will keep in a semi-fluid condition when hot and which will stiffen as it cools and
after the material being made has passed through the final press
through a chamber through which a strong current of cool air is driven.
Dated this 27th day of November 1893.
may pass it
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and Apparatus for the Manufacture of Material
suitable for Use as Floor Coverings or for Covering other
Surfaces för Decorative Purposes.
I, THOMAS JOHN PALMER, of 1 The Newlands, Bare near Lancaster Manu-
facturer 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:-
My invention has for its object to provide a better and more economical manu-
facture of decorative material suitable for use as floor coverings or for covering
other surfaces or for other decorative uses, in which material the pattern is formed
by various masses or pieces of plastic material such as linoleum composition cut to
shapes in accordance with the pattern to be produced and placed together to form
the pattern and mounted on a canvas or other suitable backing. These masses or
pieces I will hereinafter refer to as "tiles."
I will describe my invention with reference to the accompanying drawings from
which its nature and also the best means with which I am acquainted for carrying
it into practical effect will be understood.
Fig. 1 of the said drawings represents in transverse section a portion of an
apparatus for the manufacture of floor coverings according to my invention.
Figure 2 is a transverse section of a pair of rollers by which the tiles are cut
from the sheets of material the cutting roller being provided with an arrangement
according to my invention for ejecting the tiles from the said cutting roller and
Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of one end of a pair of rollers shewing a mode
of supporting the internal ejecting device.

page_text: figure is a transverse section of a portion of a cutting roller shewing a modified
arrangement for ejecting the tiles therefrom.
Figure 4 shews in transverse section a portion of a cutting roller in combination
with a pattern composing drum and means for ejecting by compressed air the tiles
from the cutting roller into recesses formed on the periphery of the composing
drum and
Figure 5 shews an arrangement for ejecting by means of compressed air the tiles
from the recesses in the composing drum.
Figure 6 is a face view of a cutter for forming the outline of a tile or pattern.
Figure 7 is a face view of a cutter and its support for subdividing the pattern
formed by the cutter Figure 6, and
Figure 8 a back view of the said subdividing cutter and its support.
Figure 9 is a face view shewing the outline cutter and subdividing cutter with its
support combined,
Figure 10 is a section along the line 1-2 in Figure 9, and
Figure 11 is a section on the line 3-4 Figure 9.
Figure 12 shews a completed tile or design formed by the combined cutters
shewn in Figure 9.
Referring to Figure 1 A A' A² A³ represent four webs or sheets of the linoleum
composition or like material, (I will refer to it as the "composition") of different
colours which may be prepared in the usual or any suitable mixers and spreading
machines. These webs or sheets are each conducted by suitable guides between a
pair of rollers, one of each pair of which (B) has a plain surface, and the other.
one of each pair (B') is provided on its periphery with strips or blades of metal
forming a pattern projecting from the periphery a distance slightly greater than
the thickness of the web A of composition passing between the rollers B B' which
are geared together as shewn at d² Figure 24 so that the projections on the pattern
roller B2 will cut out from the web of composition the tiles necessary to form the
pattern or part of the pattern which tiles so cut from the web will occupy the
recesses formed by these projecting blades of metal on the roller B². This roller
as it rotates conveys the tiles lying within its recesses to, and deposits them upon,
a prepared backing material to form part of the pattern or onto an endless band
from which band they are deposited on to a permanent backing when all the tiles
are fitted together on this endless band as hereinafter described.
In order that the several tiles of composition which the pattern roller B² has
cut out from the web of composition shall be properly deposited upon the endless
band or onto the prepared backing of material I construct the pattern roller B² in
the form of a hollow cylinder as shewn in Figure 2 either of metal, wood,
vulcanite, or other suitable material, and with perforations a through its thickness
corresponding in shape to the outline of the cutting blades C, on the periphery of
the roller. Inside this cylinder I place a tube, or lining 6, of thin metal or other
material which is sufficiently pliable and unstretchable and of somewhat less
circumference than the inside circumference of the pattern roller. To the outside
surface of this lining 6 I fix blocks or pushers d preferably corresponding in shape
to the outline of the cutting blades C and projecting when in their normal position
into the recesses a sufficiently to just reach the outer periphery of the roller or the
inner face of the tiles contained in the recesses formed by the cutting blades on the
roller. Fixed on the stationary shaft c within this lining b. is a drum or bearing
surface D upon which surface the said lining bears. The fixed drum or surface is
made cylindrical except at the part where the tiles are to be ejected from the
recesses constituted by the cutters on the pattern roller B2 at which part of the
drum or bearing surface D a projection e is formed which approaches nearer to
the inside of the pattern roller. This projection, which may be formed on, or fixed
to, the bearing surface or drum D, along its length, projects from the said sarface
to an extent about equal to the thickness of the tiles. The cutting roller B² rotates
on the stationary shaft c³ the drum or bearing surface D fixed to the said shaft

page_text: being in the interior of the said roller so that as this roller rotates the projection e
presses the lining b as it travels over this projection close up to the inner surface
of the roller thereby causing the blocks d to project so far into the recesses a as to
eject the tiles from the cutters onto the endless web or onto the prepared permanent
backing as the case may be.
Instead of connecting the blocks d to a lining as in Fig. 2 the said lining may
be dispensed with and the blocks d be provided as shewn in Fig. 3 with heads d³
for the projection e to act on, recesses a² being formed if desired in the interior
surface of the roller B² to receive the heads d of the blocks.
In making some patterns the cutting of the requisite tiles from a web of com-
position would leave the remains of that web so that it would be in disconnected
pieces. To prevent these pieces from falling about the machine I fix on the
surfaces of the rollers B projections or points which enter the surplus pieces of
composition and prevent them from falling or from adhering to the pattern roller
the said pieces being stripped off the points or projections f by suitable projec-
tions or scrapers
and deposited onto a conveyer h (sec Fig. 1) by which the
surplus pieces are conducted away and they may be returned to the mixer for
re-use. Instead of the projections f 1 may coat the rollers B with an adhesive
matter, or I may roughen their faces or fix thereon a rough material such as coarse
woven wire or carding cloth to retain the surplus pieces of composition. In
many patterns it is desirable to have an outline colour to separate, and give value
to, the body colours of the different parts of the pattern and to provide this outline
I arrange the several pattern rollers of a given design around a large drum E
as shewn in Fig. 1 (which I call a composing drum) round which drum passes a
web i of paper or a band of a strong and suitable fabric either of which should
be kept at a good tension. If necessary I coat this web or band i on its surface
which is not in contact with the drum E with an adhesive material to hold the
tiles in position when deposited upon it by the pattern rollers. This adhesive
material should be of a kind that can be readily removed subsequently. This
web or band i travels with the composing drum E which drum rotates at the same
surface speed as the pattern rollers B' and I arrange the pattern rollers at such
distances apart around the drum E as will allow of their depositing their tiles in
correct register with each other so that the tiles fit into each other to form the
complete pattern. When an outlining colour is employed I deposit upon the
outward face of the completed set of tiles as they travel with the drum E a com-
pound preferably in a semi-fluid state which I force into the small spaces or
channels purposely left between the tiles-the principal object of which is to give
a coloured outline to the pattern and to cement the tiles together. I prefer to
use for the outlining colour a composition which by heat is rendered semi-fluid but
which will set hard when cold and in order to maintain the composition in a semi-
fluid condition for applying it I provide at the rear of the last pattern roller
round the drum E a hopper F charged with the colour composition from a
reservoir G by means of a valve k the said hopper being contained in or
surrounded by an outer chamber or jacket to which steam is admitted by a
pipe m water of condensation being led away by the pipe 12. Enclosed in the
chamber with the hopper F is an endless band n which serves to press the out-
lining colour into the spaces left between the parts of the pattern; o are pipes for
the circulation of steam to heat the said band n. I may leave sufficient of this
compound on the then outward face of the tiles to serve as the medium for
cementing the tiles to the material which forms the permanent backing of the
finished article. After the tiles have received the outlining composition_the
whole still adhering to the said web or band i upon the composing drum E is
-carried forward to meet, and be fastened to, the permanent backing H which in
its passage to the composing drum passes through a steam heated chamber I so as
to heat the backing and cause the tiles to adhere thereto. The web or band i
.adhering to the surface of the tiles serves to prevent the outlining composition

page_text: from spreading over the surface of the tiles when the material is subsequently
pressed. When the material has been pressed to its final thickness the paper or
other fabric forming the web or band can be stripped off and if it be au endless.
permanent. web it can be conducted back by guide rollers to be used again
continuously.
If paper be used as the carrying web i it can be washed or brushed off the tiles
and if desired it can be collected to be used again to make fresh paper.
One of the objects in composing the set of tiles upon a drum to form a complete
pattern is that owing to the curved surface of the drum the spaces between the
tiles as the web carrying the said tiles passes round the drum are greater at the
outward surface of these tiles than they are at the surface next the web or band
thus enabling the outlining composition to more readily enter between the tiles
and when the complete set of tiles is spread out flat on the permanent backing the
tiles will close up somewhat and will thus force the outlining colour well towards
the outer face of the tiles and ensure that the outline is full and complete.
In Fig. 4 an arrangement is shewn for ejecting the tiles from the pattern
roller B by means of compressed air which is contained in or admitted to the
interior of a stationary hollow cylinder D with closed ends upon which cylinder D
the pattern roller B turns. This admission of compressed air may be effected
by means of a hollow axis to which a pipe from an air compressor is led or by any
other suitable means,
A passage e is provided in the cylinder D situated opposite the place where
the tiles are to be ejected from the recesses formed by the cutters on the pattern
roller openings or passages being made through the pattern roller B³ which as
the roller-turns are brought opposite the passage e so that the compressed air
having no other outlet than the passages will then pass through these passages
and so act on the tiles as to eject them from their recesses onto the composing
drum.
For some designs I may form upon the periphery of the composing drum the
complete pattern without the intervention of the paper or endless band of other
material, strips c of metal of a thickness about equal to or greater than the required
width of an outlining colour being fixed to the composing drum and made to
project at right angles from the face of the drum (as shewn in Fig. 4) to a distance
about equal to say from a quarter to a half the thickness of the tiles the strips c
being arranged to correspond to the cutting strips C on the pattern rollers. The
pattern rollers deposit into the pattern recesses thus formed by the strips c on the
drum E their respective tiles which are then held firmly in position by the metal
strips and while in this position an outlining composition may be forced into the
spaces between the tiles."
The tiles may be ejected from these recesses in the composing drum E onto the
permanent backing by means of compressed air numerous holes being formed
through the thickness of the drum E at suitable points of the pattern as shewn at q
Figures 4 and 5 and the said drum E being made to revolve on the outside surface
of a fixed hollow cylinder r with closed ends to which cylinder compressed air is
admitted. A narrow slot or opening s, is provided running from end to end of this
cylinder opposite the point where the tiles are to be ejected onto the backing. This
cylinder being charged with compressed air and the said cylinder having no other
outlet therefor than the openings as the drum E revolves thereon the openings q
come opposite this openings so that the compressed air passes through these
openings and acts on the tiles to force them out from the pattern recesses of the
composing drum on to the permanent backing.
When making up patterns in this way and outlining them as herein before
described the projecting metal strips con the periphery of the composing drum
should be lubricated with a suitable lubricant. When the composing drum
discharges its tiles a web or endless band is brought into contact with and caused
to adhere to the face of the tiles until the whole has been pressed. For some

page_text: patterns I make this composing drum with several repeats of the complete pattern
in skeleton form say of metal, the metal having a recess of a depth of say three
quarters of an inch and with an outward face or thickness that may be found
desirable for the pattern. being made. When the composing drum is constructed in
this form, I may use an inner lining with blocks fixed upon them for ejecting the
tiles as herein before explained with reference' to the pattern rollers. In some
intricate patterns where ornamentation such for instance as the veining of leaves
and flowers or the subdivision of a tile is required I may provide the roller B
against which the pattern cutting rollers B2 run with projecting blades formed of
metal strips as on the pattern cutting roller these projecting blades being so shaped
and placed on the rollers B that as the rollers rotate and the tiles are cut out and
retained by the pattern cutting roller, the said strips make channels into which the
outlining composition is afterwards forced as herein before described.
There are some designs of this class in the making of which it would be advisable
or necessary to subdivide the tiles and make the veining channels by means of the
pattern cutting roller which cuts out the tiles from the web of composition. For
instance as shewn in Figures 6 to 11 I fix in the recess a² of the pattern roller
made to receive the tiles I wish to subdivide and vein, metal cutters C2 of the
necessary shape which cutters are connected together by a bridge piece or bridge
pieces D and project therefrom a distance equal to, or slightly greater than, the
thickness of the web of composition, or so that the outward edge of these
cutters C² are on the same plane as those of the fixed cutters C on the surface of
the pattern roller.
Some patterns are so designed that no parts of the ground of the pattern are
entirely disconnected from the rest. To economically make these patterns I first
bring a web of the ground composition of the requisite width thickness and density
between a pattern cutting roller and a plain surfaced roller the cutting roller being
further most from a composing drum and the plain surfaced roller being nearly in
contact with the said drum. The pattern cutting roller has on its periphery
cutting blades as before described so shaped and arranged as to cut out from this
ground web of composition tiles of a shape corresponding to the whole of the
ornamental part of the pattern to be produced. The remainder of this web of
composition will then constitute the entire ground of the pattern having recesses
formed through its thickness to receive the tiles necessary to complete the pattern.
After passing the nip of the pattern cutting roller and the plain surfaced roller
the ground web of composition is kept in contact with the plain surfaced roller for
say about half its circumference which will bring it into contact with the composing
drum with which it is kept in contact until the pattern tiles are all deposited into
their proper recesses in the ground thus prepared for them. The several tiles
are cut out from the requisite webs of colored composition and deposited on the
composing drum in the manner hereinbetore described for other kinds of patterns.
Before depositing the complete pattern upon the permanent backing I may
outline the patteru in the manner hereinbefore described. To do this I bring
the aforesaid web or band upon the drum as before described before the point
where the ground composition is placed upon it. I may also split or subdivide
the tiles as before described.
If I desire to deposit the tiles directly from the pattern cutting rollers on to the
permanent backing that is without the aid of the composing drum I may fix the
cutting rollers and their corresponding plain surfaced rollers above a suitable table
over which and under the cutting or pattern rollers the permanent backing is
traversed to receive the tiles the pattern rollers being arranged at suitable distances
apart so that they may correctly register the one with the other,
If it is desired to outline with colour the tiles of a pattern being made in this way
I spread upon the face of the permanent backing before it receives its tiles the
composition required for outlining, it being preferably in a semi-fluid state and in
quantity more than sufficient to cement the tiles to the backing. When the tiles

page_text: are all laid and pressed upon the backing the surplus of this outlining composition
will be pressed into the spaces between the tiles so as to form an outline to the
pattern.
When treating a pattern in this way I convey onto and cause to adhere to the.
surface of the completed set of tiles lying upon the permanent backing, a web or
band and keep it in contact with the surface of the tiles until the whole has been
pressed as before described.
When using an outlining composition I prefer as hereinbefore described to make
it of a composition which will keep in a semi-fluid condition when hot and which
will stiffen as it cools and after the material has been passed through the final
press I may pass it through a chamber through which a strong current of cool air
is driven.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
:―
1. The continuous manufacture of decorative material for covering floors or other
surfaces by means of cutting and pressing rollers for each tile or portion or colour
of the design, a web or sheet passing around or partly around a composing druin
for receiving the tiles face downwards a vessel for supplying the outlining com-
position between the said tiles and a device for beating and pressing the materials.
thus applied to the said web or sheet and means for applying a heated backing
fabric to the said materials the said web or sheet upon which the tiles were-
composed being afterwards removed from the face of the materials substantially as.
herein before described.
2. In the manufacture of decorative material for covering floors or other surfaces.
composing the tiles face downwards on a removeable web or sheet and passing and
pressing outlining composition in from the back and subsequently applying the
backing fabric substantially as hereinbefore described.
3. In the manufacture of decorative material for covering floors or other surfaces
composing the tiles on a removeable web or sheet and then applying a backing
carrying a composition which acts as the adhesive for the tiles and as an outlining
composition and pressing the said composition up between the tiles substantially as.
hereinbefore described.
4. In the manufacture of decorative material for covering floors or other surfaces
filling in the outlining material whilst the tiles are on a drum so that the spaces.
presented to the entering composition are larger and close up when the material
flattens out on leaving the drum and being conducted into a straight line substantially
as hereinbefore described.
5. In the manufacture of decorative material for covering floors or other surfaces.
outlining by narrow strips on a composing drum which strips keep the tiles apart.
but afford spaces for the outlining composition substantially as herein before
described.
6. In cylindrical apparatus for the continuous manufacture of decorative material
for covering floors or other surfaces the combination with a rotating cutting cylinder
of an ejector consisting of metal or material which is pliable and practically
unstretchable and with pushers fixed to it and a fixed drum or roller or its equi-
valent with ejecting cam surface situated inside the cutting cylinder substantially
as herein before described and shewn more particularly in Figure 2 of the accom-
panying drawings.
7. In cylindrical apparatus for the continuous manufacture of decorative material
for covering floors or other surfaces the combination with a rotating cutting cylinder
of an ejecting device consisting of plungers provided with heads and of a stationary
drum, roller or its equivalent with a cam situated opposite the place where the tiles.
are to be ejected substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in Figure 3
of the accompanying drawings.
8. In cylindrical apparatus for the continuous manufacture of decorative material
17

page_text: for covering floors or other surfaces the combination with a cutting cylinder of a
roller provided with retaining pins cement or the like to retain and convey away
surplus material after the cutting cylinder has acted, and a device for removing the
Baid surplus material therefrom substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated
by the example shewn in Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.
9. In cylindrical apparatus for the continuous manufacture of decorative material
for covering floors or other surfaces the combination with a rotating cutting cylinder
of an internal stationary and closed cylinder to contain compressed air, a passage or
passages being provided through the said internal cylinder which when the rotating
cylinder has reached the point where the tiles are to be expelled coincides or
coincide with a passage or passages through the said rotating cylinder so that the
compressed air then effects the expulsion of the tiles substantially as hereinbefore
described.
10. In the manufacture of decorative material for covering floors or other surfaces,
composing the tiles with their faces upon a removable sheet or web and afterwards
applying a backing fabric and subsequently removing the said web or sheet
substantially as hereinbefore described.
11. In cylindrical apparatus for the continuous manufacture of decorative material
for covering floors, or other surfaces the combination with the cutting rollers of
pressing rollers provided with blades to produce fine lines or veinings on the tiles
for the reception of composition substantially as herein before described.
12. In cylindrical apparatus for the continuous manufacture of decorative material
for covering floors or other surfaces the combination with the cutting rollers of
cutters for subdivisions of the tiles the said cutters being connected by bridge pieces
substantially as herein before described and illustrated by Figures 6 to 12 of the
accompanying drawings.
13. In the continuous manufacture of decorative material for covering floors or
other surfaces cutting a continuous ground with recesses for tiles and composing
the tiles in these recesses or first composing the tiles and then applying the
continuous ground around them substantially as hereinbefore described.
Dated this 24th day of August 1894.