Improvements in the Manufacture of Linoleum, and in Machinery or Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Jan., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 12th Nov., 1893-Accepted, 7th Jan., 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Linoleum, and in Machinery
or Apparatus therefor.
I, CHARLES HERBERT SCOTT, of High Orchard Iron Works, Gloucester, in the
County of Gloucester, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of linoleum and in
machinery or apparatus therefor.
According thereto the canvas backing-which may be covered with a preliminary
coating of linoleum or other substance is moved forward in a step by step
manner and receives in an intermittent manner portions of linoleum to form
the desired pattern. In order to prevent irregular movement of the backing,
the latter is carried by and connected to an endless conveyor comprising endless
metal bands or chains, say of steel, provided with suitable catches or projections
to fit in holes or slots in the wheels around which the conveyor works, the bands
or chains being united by transverse strips of suitable material such as wood that
are placed close together and arranged to slide over a stationary table that serves
to receive the thrust of the. pressure blocks or plungers when applying linoleum
to the backing. The transverse strips are provided with suitable means, such as
small spikes, adapted to engage the backing, and prevent the same slipping on the
strips. By the means described the backing instead of being dragged from one
end over a table and consequently stretched irregularly, as heretofore usual, is
secured, at a number points to a firm wooden or other surface by which it can
be moved with the greatest desired regularity.
For producing inlaid linoleum, ordinary linoleum mixture in a granulated
condition and of the proper colours or kinds for use in producing the desired
pattern, is, according to this invention, delivered into tiering boxes by which it is
distributed to a suitable depth over tiering plates made as stencil plates and through
the perforations in which the linoleum mixture is forced onto the backing by
the action of vertically movable blocks and plungers.
In one arrangement of this kind, which is suitable for the production of irregular
patterns such as flowers or ferns, each tiering or stencil plate, made as thin as
practicable and stiffened at the edges, is provided with a tiering box which is
arranged to travel forwards and backwards over the surface of the plate and has
its rear edge adapted to be raised and lowered so as to vary, according to require-
ment, the rate of flow of linoleum mixture from the box and consequently the
depth of the layer of such mixture deposited on the plate during the forward motion
of the box. Above each stencil plate is a vertically movable pressure block pro-
vided with punches adapted to fit the perforations in the stencil plate. Below the
several stencil plates the backing is caused to move in a step by step manner by
an endless conveyor such as that herein before described. Each time the backing
comes to rest, the tiering box of each stencil plate is caused to move in one
direction, say the forward direction, and deposit all over the latter a layer of
linoleum mixture of, suitable, thickness. When the box. has arrived at the end of
its forward movement, the corresponding pressure block with punches is caused

page_text: to descend and compress the linoleum mixture which is over the perforations in
the Stencil plate onto the backing and to the level of the said plate and then to
rise, after which the box is returned to its initial position. During the return
movement of the box, loose linoleum mixture on the plate is caused to re-enter
the box at its lower rear end, and also to enter and completely fill any perforations
or parts thereof in the stencil plate which may not be already filled. The pressure
block and punches are then caused to again descend and further compress the
material in the perforations of the stencil plate until the level of such material
practically coincides with the lower surface of the plate whereupon the stencil
plate is slightly raised by suitable means, for example cams, after which the
pressure blocks and plungers are again raised. The backing with the compressed
pieces of linoleum thereon is then moved forward a suitable distance and the
above described operations repeated.
A perforated plate corresponding in shape to the stencil plate is or may be fitted
to slide on the plungers for the purpose of removing any linoleum mixture which
may adhere between them. This plate may be caused to descend and press lightly
on the surface of the loose material before the punches do so.
Or such plate may
be fixed relatively to the plungers or plate.
It will be evident that the thickness of the linoleum applied to the backing is
regulated by the depth of the layers of linoleum mixture, tiered onto the stencii
plates, and not by the thickness of the stencil plates.
To make linoleum of a greater thickness than would be made when proceeding
in the manner just described, each stencil plate, after the corresponding pressure
block and plunger have made their first stroke and before they are again raised,
may be lifted slightly so that when the plungers rise, the holes in the plate will
on the return movement of the tiering box, be able to receive the further quantity
of linoleum mixture necessary to produce the extra thickness of linoleum required.
The pressure blocks with stencil plates hereinbefore described are preferably
arranged at a distance apart equal to three or more times the width of the pattern,
or part thereof, to be produced by each block and plate. Two or more stencil
plates may in some cases be used for producing a given portion of a pattern the
holes in one plate corresponding in relative position to the cross bars or connecting
parts in another plate. Each block and plate can be raised and lowered by any
convenient means. According to one construction each block is connected to and
operated by a transverse beam which is arranged below the stationary table and
upper part of the conveyor carrying the backing and is moved up and down by
cams driven by two longitudinal shafts. The connection between the blocks and
the beams or cams may be such that any one of the blocks can be put out of action
whilst the machine continues in motion. For this purpose the connection may be
effected by arms or links pivoted to the pressure blocks and adapted to be engaged
with and disengaged from the beams at will. The vertical movement of the stencil
plates may conveniently be also effected by cams.
Dated this 12th day of January 1808
Improvements in the Manufacture of Linoleum, and in Machinery
or Apparatus therefor.
I, CHARLES HERBERT SCOTT, of High Orchard Iron Works, Gloucester, in the
County of Gloucester, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention

page_text: and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
-
This invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of linoleum and in
machinery or apparatus therefor.
According thereto the canvas backing-which may be covered with a preliminary
coating of linoleum or other substance--is moved forward step by step and
receives in an intermittent manner portions of linoleum to form the desired
pattern as I shall now describe with reference to the accompanying illustrative
drawings wherein Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in section on the line xx of
Fig. 2 and Fig. 2 is a part plan, showing one construction of machine for carrying
out my invention. Fig. 3 is a cross section corresponding to the line yy of Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is a part longitudinal section of the machine on the line 22 of Fig. 3.
Fig. is a part side elevation of the machine, and Fig. 6 is a part cross section
on the line ¹¹ of Fig. 5. Figs. 7 and 8 show respectively in cross section and
plan, part of the tiering plate and its corresponding tiering box and operating
mechanism. Fig. 9 is a sectional detail view showing a modification. The figures
are drawn to different scale.
For producing inlaid linoleum according to this invention, ordinary linoleum
mixture in a granulated condition and of the proper colours or kinds for use in
producing the desired pattern, is delivered into tiering boxes 1 by which it is
distributed to a suitable depth over tiering plates 2 made as stencil plates and
through the perforations 2" in which the linoleum mixture is forced on to the
backing by the action of vertically movable blocks 3 and punches or plungers 3º.
In the example shown, which is suitable for the production of irregular patterns
such as flowers or ferns, each tiering or stencil plate 2, made as thin as practicable
and stiffened at the edges, as by being secured to a frame 2b, (see Fig. 4) is
provided with a tiering box 1 which is arranged to travel forwards and backwards
over the surface of the plate and has its rear side 1" vertically adjustable in order
to vary, according to requirement, the rate of flow of linoleumi mixture 4 from the
box through the slit 1b and consequently the depth of the layer of such mixture
deposited on the stencil plate 2 during the forward motion of the box. The linoleum
mixture may be fed by a feeding device 1° and shoot 1d into each tiering box when
the same is in its rearward position. Above each stencil plate is a vertically
movable pressure block 3 provided with plungers 3" adapted to fit the perfora-
tions 2 in the stencil plate 2. Below the several stencil plates 2, the backing 5
is caused to move in a step by step manner by an endless conveyor.
In order to prevent irregular movement of the said backing, the endless con-
veyor used for carrying it may advantageously comprise endless metal bands 6 pro-
vided with suitable catches or projections 6 to fit in holes or slots 7" in the wheels 7
around which the conveyor works, the hands being united by transverse strips 8 of
suitable material, such as wood, that are placed close together and arranged to
slide over a stationary table 9 that serves to receive the thrust of the pressure
blocks 3 and plungers 3 when applying linoleum to the backing. The transverse
strips & are provided with suitable means, such as small spikes 8ª, adapted to
engage the said backing and prevent the same slipping on the said strips. The
shafts 7 carrying the wheels 7 may be rotated in an intermittent manner through
any suitable mechanism, as for example through worm gearing 7 from a
longitudinal shaft 7d driven from a transverse shaft 7 which is rotated in an
intermittent manner from a driving shaft 10 through suitable gearing located
within a casing 10°. By the means described, the backing instead of being
dragged from one end over the table and consequently stretched irregularly,
as heretofore usual, is secured at a number of points to a firm wooden or other
surface by which it can be moved with the greatest desired regularity.
Each time the backing comes to rest, the tiering box 1 of each stencil plate 2
is caused to move in one direction, say the forward direction shown by the arrow a
in Fig. 4, and deposit all over the said plate a layer of linoleum mixture of suitable
thickness, the mixture extending through the perforations in the stencil plate

page_text: onto the backing. When the box has arrived at the end of its forward movement,
the corresponding pressure block 3 with plungers 3ª is caused to descend and com-
press the linoleum mixture which is over the perforations 2" in the stencil
plate 2 on to the backing 5 and to the level of the upper surface of the said plate
and then to rise, after which the tiering box 1 is returned to its initial position.
During the return movement of the box, loose linoleum mixture on the plate is
caused to re-enter the box through the slit 1b at the lower rear end thereof, and
also to enter and completely fill any perforations 2, or parts thereof, in the
stencil plate 2 which may not be already filled. The pressure block 3.and
plungers 3 are then caused to again descend and further compress the material
in the perforations 2 of the stencil plate 2 until the level of such material
practically coincides with the lower surface of the said plate, whereupon the stencil
plate is slightly raised by suitable means, for example cams, from the portions
of linoleum previously compressed on the backing and upon which the stencil plate
rested, after which the pressure block 3 and plungers 3" are again raised. The
backing 5 with the compressed pieces of linoleum thereon is then moved forward
a suitable distance, the stencil plate lowered onto the compressed pieces of lino-
leum, and the above described operations repeated. In this way the backing
can be completely covered with pieces of linoleum to form the desired pattern and
is finally led away and treated in the ordinary manner.
Each block 3 with plungers 3ª can be raised and lowered by any convenient
means. In the example shown, each block is carried by a cross piece 3b the ends
of which are arranged to work vertically in guideways in standards 11 and are
carried by springs 12 which tend to raise and hold the block with plungers in the
raised position. Each block is moved downward against the action of its
springs 12 by a transverse beam 13 which is arranged below the stationary table 9
and is moved downward against the action of springs 14 by cams 15 arranged
to be rotated by two longitudinal shafts 16 and to act against anti-friction
rollers 13 on the beam 13. The connection between the blocks 3 and cross
pieces 3b and the means for depressing them, may be such that any one of the
blocks can be put out of action whilst the machine continues in motion.
For this purpose each block 3, through its cross piece 3b, may be connected to
the corresponding beam 13 below it by a pair of rods 17 so that the block and beam
rise and fall together, and the cams 15 are feathered to the shafts 16 so that they
will rotate therewith but are capable of being moved endways thereon by forked
levers 18 which engage grooved bosses 15" on the cams and are fixed on a rock
shaft 19 provided with a hand lever 19ª, the arrangement being such
that by operating the hand lever in one direction or the other, the
pair of cams can be brought over or moved from above the beam. 13
according as it is desired to put the corresponding block in or out of
operation. The cams 15 are each formed with two projecting or operative parts,
as shown in Fig. 3, so that they will act to depress the pressure block and plungers
twice and to different extents, for each rotation of the shafts 16, as and for the
purposes herein before explained. The said shafts 16 may be driven through worm
gearing 20 (Figs. 1 and 2) from a transverse driving shaft 21.
In the example shown, the tiering boxes, 1 are moved backwards and forwards
over their respective stencil plates 2 by longitudinal tiering-bars 22 to which they
are attached and which are caused to move to and fro on the framing of the
machine by a pair of lever arms 23 that are connected to the said bars by links 24
and are fixed to a rock shaft 25 which extends from one side of the machine and
is rocked at the required times by suitable means such as cams, within the
casing 10. Each tiering box 1 is arranged to travel on the sides of the frame 2b of the
corresponding stencil plate 2, and a lateral to and fro jigging motion is imparted
to it, to ensure the linoleum mixture flowing freely therefrom, by causing a pin 1°
on one side of the box to travel over a fixed corrugated surface 1d against which
it is kept in contact by a spring 1° (Figs. 7 and 8). To admit of this lateral

page_text: motion of the tiering box and also of slight vertical motion thereof, the connection
between the box and each tiering bar 22 comprise a pin 26 that is fixed to a
lateral extension 26" on the box and extends into a block 20b which fits a
transverse slot 22ª in the adjacent tiering bar 22 so that it can slide transversely
relatively to the bar but must move endways with such bar. The tiering bars 22
may be connected to any suitable arrangement of energy accumulator that will serve
to cushion them and their attached parts at each end of their strokes, and, by
giving out energy, facilitate their movement in the reverse direction. Means
suitable for this purpose are described in the Specification of another Application
for Letters Patent filed by me No. 1214 of 1898.
The vertical movement of each stencil plate 2 may conveniently be effected at
the required times by cams 27 fixed on the shafts 16 and arranged to act upon the
long arms 28 of bell crank levers pivoted at 28*, so as to raise the short arms 28°
of such levers, and through vertical adjustable screws 29, slightly raise the stencil
plate and hold the same raised until the corresponding pressure block 3 with
plungers 3 has been again raised and the backing 5 with pieces of linoleum
thereon has been fed forward another step, when it is allowed to fall back onto
the table of the machine. The height to which the plate can be lifted can be
varied by adjusting the screws 29 vertically.
A perforated plate 30 (Fig. 9) corresponding in shape to the stencil plate 2
may be fitted to slide on each set of plungers 3* for the purpose of removing any
linoleum mixture that may adhere between them. This plate can be caused to
descend and press lightly on the surface of the loose material on the stencil plate
before the plungers do so. Or such plate may be fixed relatively to the said
plungers or to the stencil plate.
It will be evident from the foregoing description that the thickness of the
linoleum applied to the backing is regulated by the depth of the layers of linoleum
mixture tiered on to the stencil plates, and not by the thickness of the stencil
plates as heretofore.
To make linoleum of a greater thickness than would be made when proceeding
in the manner just described, each stencil plate, after the corresponding pressure
block 3 with plungers 3" has made its first stroke and before it is again raised, may
be lifted slightly so that when the plungers afterwards rise, the holes in the
plate will, on the return movement of the tiering box, be able to receive the further
quantity of linoleum mixture necessary to produce the extra thickness of linoleum
required, the additional quantity of linoleum being afterwards pressed through
the stencil plate until level with the underside thereof as before. The said
raising of the stencil plate may be effected by cams 27 in the manner and through
the means hereinbefore described, the said cams being however each formed with
two operating parts so that they will act to lift the stencil plate in two successive
steps for each rotation of the shafts. Additional pairs of cams 15b are also provided
for depressing the pressure blocks with plungers to the desired lesser extent.
Each cam 15b may be connected to the corresponding cam 15 so that either cam can
he brought into position over the corresponding beam 13 to suit requirement.
The effective portions of the stencil plates 2 hereinbefore described, are prefer-
ably arranged at a distance apart equal to three or more times the width of the
pattern, or part thereof, to be produced by each block and plate. Two or more
stencil plates may in some cases be used for producing a given portion of a pattern
the holes in one plate corresponding in relative position to the cross bars or
connecting parts in another plate.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. In the manufacture of linoleum, distributing granulated linoleum in a layer
over a tiering plate by means of a tiering box having an opening therein
at one end at its bottom and moved in one direction relatively to the plate, remov-

page_text: ing portions of such layer of linoleum and applying them to a backing, and
returning the box to its starting position so as to cause linoleum remaining on the
plate to re-enter the box preparatory to being again distributed over the plate,
whereby the thickness of the portions of linoleum applied to the backing is
regulated by the depth of the layers of linoleum tiered onto the plate, as set
forth.
2. In the manufacture of inlaid linoleum, distributing a layer of linoleum
mixture to a suitable depth over a perforated tiering or stencil plate by means
of a tiering box formed with an opening at one end at the bottom, and forcing
portions of such layer of linoleum through the perforations in such plate onto a
backing below by means of a vertically movable block and plungers, as set forth.
3. In the manufacture of inlaid linoleum as referred to in the preceding claim,
punching out portions of linoleum from the layers thereof on the perforated tiering
or stencil plates and forcing such portions through the perforations in the plates
to the level, or approximately so, of the upper side of the plates, then raising the
plungers and returning the boxes to their starting position so that linoleum will
be caused to enter and fill any perforations in the plates not already full, and
the linoleum
afterwards causing the plungers to again descend and force
completely through the perforations in the plates on to the backing below,
substantially as described.
4. In the manufacture of inlaid linoleum as referred to in Claims 2 and 3,
raising the perforated tiering or stencil plate to a small extent after the first
down stroke of the plungers and before the latter are raised and the tiering box
returned to its starting position, so as to leave the holes in the plate free to
receive a further quantity of linoleum mixture on the return stroke of the box
for the purpose of producing linoleum of extra thickness, substantially as described.
5. For manufacturing inlaid linoleum in the manner set forth apparatus
arranged and operating substantially as hereinbefore described.
6. Apparatus for manufacturing inlaid linoleum as herein set forth wherein
each pressure block with plungers is raised and lowered by a transverse beam
that is arranged below the table of the machine and the upper part of the conveyor
and is moved up and down by the action of cams on longitudinal shafts, the
arrangement being such that any one of the blocks can be put out of action whilst
the machine continues in motion, substantially as described.
7. Apparatus for manufacturing inlaid linoleum, constructed arranged and
operating substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and shown in
the drawings annexed.