IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY AND APPARATUS FOR MEASURING AND CUTTING CLOTH FOR BAGS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Blyth, Mill Manager, Dundee, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY AND APPARATUS FOR
MEASURING AND CUTTING CLOTH FOR BAGS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES."
Sealed the 12th June 1868, and dated the 13th February 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION, left by the said Charles Blyth at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
18th February 1868.
I, CHARLES BLYTH, Mill Manager, Dundee, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY AND APPA-
RATUS FOR MEASURING AND CUTTING CLOTH FOR BAGS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES,"
to be as follows:-
I mount a roller or series of rollers horizontally in a frame, and where
there are several rollers they may be one behind the other on the
same horizontal plane, or they may be one above the other. Thesc
rollers may cach contain cloth or web to be cut, or cach piece of the
stuff may be laid on the floor or on a board or stool in any convenient

page_text: place, from which it may be drawn and be guided to its destination
by passing over one of the rollers. At or near to the front of this
roller frame the web or piece of cloth or stuff is brought down to a
level with the table of the drawing-off, and the measuring, guaging,
or counting and marking and cutting-off apparatus. In the front of
this roller frame I place a vertical series of rails, rods, or rollers, between
which each web or piece of cloth or stuff is made to pass, and by which
it is separated from the rest (as in a spinning or twisting frame), to be
afterwards brought together between the pressing and drawing-off
rollers of the apparatus in or within which the measuring, guaging,
counting, marking, and cutting is performed. These latter operations are
performed within side frames of sufficient length to receive the longest
lengths of material required: At the end nearest to the roller frame
from which the cloth is drawn is a pair of rollers; over the lower
roller an endless web or feeding belt, passes, by which the piece or
pieces of cloth or other fabric or material (however many there may
be in thickness to be cut at one time), on being drawn forward,
become unrolled from or drawn over the roller or rollers, and are
carried to the cutting slot and are there cut by means of a slotted
pressing arm, or a lever arm having a knife or cutting blade mounted
thercin and capable of passing therethrough, or by means of a
traversing plough cutter moving rapidly across the width of the table
and below it, or in a groove therein, either of which is caused to act
whilst the pressing arm is down. The cross cutting into short lengths
can be done whilst the feeding web or belt is in motion by the
operator holding the cloth to be cut by means of the pressing lever
for an instant whilst the the knife operates, and the accumulated cloth
before the knife afterwards passes on, the mark for the next cut
having been previously made at the proper place (and at the proper
moment). The guaging and marking of the lengths are effected by
means of a pencil mounted on an adjustable arm, capable of being
brought down at intervals according to a measure or guage fitted to
the side of the table, which is also capable of alteration and adjustment.
The pencil or marker is under the control of the operator whilst at any
part of the apparatus, and may be slid back and forth as required. The
pencil or marker may be geared or connected with the pressing lever
arm so as to mark instantaneously upon the previous mark coming
opposite to or above the slot and under the knife. The cloth may be

page_text: guided in its forward course to the cutter between adjustable guide
picces or grooves. A counter or meter may be fitted on to the end of
the drawing-off roller. The pieces as they are cut may be received on
a loaded or balanced table, or on to a receiving board similar to that
employed in typographic printing machines. A similar arrangement
of machinery may be employed for cutting cloth and other material
intended to be employed for other purposes than bag making, as, for
instance, the materials employed for army clothing and like purposes.
This apparatus may also be employed for cutting paper and other
fabrics into lengths, and for measuring the material so cut, and
counting the pieces cut from the webs or coils mounted within or
passing through the machine, as herein described.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Charles Blyth in the Great Scal Patent Office on
the 12th August 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
BLYTH, Mill Manager, Dundee, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of February, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the 31st
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said Charles Blyth, Her special licence, that I, the
said Charles Blyth, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said Charles Blyth, my exccutors, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY AND
APPARATUS. FOR MEASURING AND CUTTING CLOTH FOR BAGS AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Charles
Blyth, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my hand and scal, or under the hand and seal of one of them,.
should. particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Inven-

page_text: tion, 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 Charles Blyth, 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, and by reference to the accompanying six Sheets
of Drawings, that is to say :-
I mount a roller or series of rollers horizontally in a frame, and where
there are several rollers they may be one behind the other on the same
horizontal plane, or they may be one above the other and in several
horizontal and vertical rows. These rollers may each contain cloth
or web to be cut, or each piece of the stuff may be laid on the floor
or on a board or stool in any convenient place, from which it may be
drawn and be guided to its destination by passing over one of the
rollers. At or near to the front of this roller frame the web or piece of
cloth or stuff is brought down to a level with the table and the drawing-
off rollers and also with the measuring, guaging, or counting, and
marking and cutting-off apparatus which have to be brought into action.
In the front of this roller frame I place a vertical series of rails, rods,
ór rollers, beneath which each web or piece of cloth or stuff is made
to pass, and by which it is separated from the rest (as in a spinning
or twisting frame), to be afterwards brought between another series
of rails, rods, or rollers, beneath which every two or three webs or
pieces of cloth or stuff are made to pass, and afterwards they are all
brought together between the pressing and drawing-off rollers of the
apparatus, in or within which the measuring, guaging, counting,
marking, and cutting is performed. These latter operations are per-
formed within side frames of sufficient length to receive the longest
lengths of material required to be cut. At the end nearest to the
roller frame from which the cloth is drawn is a pair of rollers; over
the lower roller an endless web or feeding belt passes by which the
piece or pieces of cloth or other fabric or material (however many
there may be in thickness to be cut at one time), on being drawn
forward, become unrolled from or drawn over the roller or rollers and
are carried to the cutting slot, and are there cut by means of a slotted
pressing arm, or a lever arm having a knife or cutting blade mounted

page_text: thereon or by the side thereof, and capable of passing therethrough,
or by means of a traversing plough cutter moving rapidly across the
width of the table and below it or in a groove therein, either of which
cutting actions is caused to act whilst the pressing arm is down. The
cross cutting into sheets or lengths can be done whilst the feeding web
or belt is in motion by the operator holding the cloth to be cut by
means of the pressing lever for an instant whilst the knife operates,
and the accumulated cloth before the knife afterwards passes on, the
mark for the next cut having been previously made at the proper
place and at the proper moment. The guaging and marking of the
lengths arc effected by means of a pencil mounted on an adjustable
arm capable of being brought down at intervals, according to a measure
or guage fitted to the side of the table, which is also capable of alteration
and adjustment. The pencil or marker is under the control of the
operator whilst at any part of the apparatus, and may be slid back and
forth as required. The pencil or marker may be geared or connected
with the pressing lever arm so as to mark instantaneously upon the
previous mark coming opposite to or above the slot and under the knife.
The cloth may be guided 'in its forward course to the cutter between
adjustable guide pieces or grooves. A counter numbering or recording
instrument or meter may be fitted on to the end of the drawing-off
roller. The pieces as they are cut may be received on a loaded or
balanced table, or on to a receiving board similar to that employed in
typographic (newspaper) printing machines. This apparatus may also
be employed for cutting paper and other fabrics into lengths, and for
measuring the material so cut and counting the pieces cut from the
webs, rolls, or coils mounted within or passing through the machine, as
herein described. A similar arrangement of machinery may be employed
for cutting cloth and other materials intended to be employed for other
purposes than bag making, as, for instance, the materials employed for
army clothing and like purposes.
Having stated the nature of my Invention I will now proceed to
describe the figures in the several Sheets of Drawings illustrating the
same, and hercin-after more fully explain the modes or methods of
putting the Invention into practice and the advantages to be derived
from its use.

page_text: Figure 3 and end elevation of a machine intended more particularly for
cutting and measuring cloth. The pieces of cloth or other material
intended to be operated upon are laid upon the floor or partly on a
kind
of shelf or stool with two or more surfaces, so as to economise space.
The ends of the picces are then carried over rods a, a, a², &c., in this
case, say, of inch diameter, to give the necessary amount of tension,
and from thence round rollers 6, 6, 6, &c. to keep the edges in position.
The pieces are then taken through or between round bars c, c', o³, &c.
fitted in an upright bracket, and from thence through or between
another set of bars d, d¹, d³, &c., in one, two, or several plys together, as
may be most convenient. The whole number of plys are then assembled
together or combined and led on to the table and drawn along until
rather past the holding down lever A, which is afterwards shut down
on the cloth and held firmly in that position by means of the catch c.
This holding down lever A has a slot running along it of sufficient
length to take the whole width of the cloth, and into this slot the
knife B (Figure 4) is inserted, and is pushed under the lever towards
the hinged end to give a fulcrum. It is then brought down until the
whole width of the cloth is cut throughout the entire thickness of
the numerous plys. The catch e is then opened, and as it is fumly
fixed on the spindle that spindle has a partial rotary motion imparted
to it; to the other end of the spindle f an arm g is fixed which com-
municates motion to the rod h, the other end of which is attached to the
bell crank i, which in its turn transmits motion through the rod k to the
pencil C; the point of the pencil rests upon the cloth, and being thus
made to move in a line across the table marks the cloth at that spot;'
that mark is then drawn under the index finger or pointer D, the lever
shut down, the catch put into position to hold down the lever (which
operation as just before explained causes the pencil' to mark the cloth),
the knife is inserted, and the cloth is cut to the length or guage required
for the purpose for which it is intended. By repeating this operation
any number of lengths may be cut in succession. The mark on the
cloth by means of the pencil may be adjusted to any required length, by
the following means:-A rod is made of any required length, upon
which the pencil holder may be traversed, means being provided to
firmly fix it at any part of the length of the rod; this rod is carried by
brackets at each end. A graduated scale L is let in the top of the table,
by which means any required length may be marked by adjusting the

page_text: pencil over the required Figure of that scale. The lever A. is counter-
balanced by the we ght m; the finger or pointer D is hinged so as to
yield to the cloth hen held and drawn forward by the hands, but falls
back to its proper position before the pencil mark is brought up to it.
In order to adjust the tension of the cloth more perfectly two rods α, B,
a, 3, &c., Figure 5, may be employed instead of only one, as shown at
a, a', &c., Figure 1. These rods are mounted in plates which may be
turned on their axis when required and fixed in any
tightening nut n.
position by a
In Sheet 2, Figure 1 shews side elevation, Figure 2 a plan, and
Figure 3 an end clevation of a modification of the cutting table. In
this case the holding down lever A is of iron with the knife B hinged
to it, this knife being shaped as shewn in dotted lines at B, Figure 3, so
as to equalize as far as possible the power required for cutting the cloth.
The cloth to be cut is drawn along to the two stops E, E, which are
adjusted to the required distance from the knife B; the lover A is then
shut, on which the catch e immediately takes hold, and then the cut is
made by shutting down the knife B; the stops E, E, are adjusted in their
distance from the knife by means of a sliding table F having a graduated
scale let into the top, and the table is secured in position by means of pins
placed in the holes m, &c., or the stops E, E, may be made loose and
shifted in the pinholes m in the table F, and regulated by the graduated
scale, or be made to slide in slots and be held by a binding nut.
In Sheet 3, Figures 1, 2, and 3 arc side clevation, plan, and end
elevation respectively of a similar table to that shewn in Sheet 1, but
instead of the pencil being actuated by means of the catch as then
described, motion is imparted to the pencil by means of levers and
rods connecting it to the knife B. A stud n is fixed on the knifo to
which the rod o is fitted, the other 'end of the rod o being connected to
the pencil rod by means of the rod p. Thus when the knife is raised or
lowered a partial rotary motion is imparted to the rod carrying the
pencil, and a corresponding transverse motion is given to the pencil,
and consequently a measuring mark or stop is made on the cloth.
In Sheets 4 and 5 will be seen illustrations of a machine intended
to be driven by steam power, in which Figure 1 (Sheet) 4) is an end
elevation; Figure 2, a side elevation; and Figure 3 (Shect 5) is a plan.
For this purpose the machine is provided with two pulleys G. and H

page_text: driven in opposite directions, the machine being worked by one or the
other of these pulleys by means of a friction clutch q in the usual
manner By this means motion is given to the roller J carrying an
endless web which passes round the roller J, and upon which the
several plics of cloth are drawn by being gripped between the rollers J
and I, the pressure of the roller I being adjusted by means of a spring
over the bearings. In this case the pencil is actuated by the hold-down
lever in a somewhat similar manner to that described when the knife B
actuated the pencil (Sheet 3). The pencil is here carried by a bracket
or standard k, which may be shifted to any required position along the
scale by having a 1-shaped groove running parallel thereto in which
it is free to slide when the tightening bolt is slackened. The requisite
motion is given to the pencil by means of the lever o and rod p worked by
the hold-down lever from the stud n, which gives a partial rotary motion
to the horizontal rod u when it is raised or lowered; this horizontal rod u
carries an arm s, the end of which is connected by means of the rod t
to the top of the pencil holder a. Thus when the rod is partially
rotated motion is imparted to the arm s, and thence through the rod t
to the pencil holder when the requisite mark is made on the cloth.
In Sheet 6, Figures 1 and 2 shew a side clevation and plan of a table
to be worked by hand power. In this case the rollers J and I are placed
near the knife, and motion is imparted to them by means of a bevil wheel
and pinion L and M worked by a crank handle N; this handle also
works the roller O through a bevil wheel and pinion at the same surface
speed as the rollers I and J. The roller O is connected to the roller P
by means of an endless web which carries the pieces of cloth after being
cut along the table instead of their having to be taken off by hand; this
plan of using rollers I and J for feeding the cloth into the required
position, and the endless web working round the rollers O and P, prevents
the cloth being dragged unevenly besides saving labour. If preferred the
crank handle N may be fitted directly on the shaft of the roller O (as
shewn in dotted lines), so as to be clear of the cloth as it advances past
the aforesaid roller.
Instead of cutting the cloth with a knife passing through a slot in the
hold-down lever a shuttle race may be formed in the table underneath
this lever into which a knife with a circular cutting edge, Figure 4,
fitted in such a manner that the oden proiects sufficiently

page_text: above the table to pass through the plics of cloth to be cut. In this case
the operation of bringing forward the cloth and of marking and holding
down the same may be similar to any of the methods hercin-before
described, but the cutting would be performed by causing the traversing
knife B (Figure 4, Sheet 2) to pass from one side of the table to the
other, either by drawing it across by a line or by any other well known
means.
In thus illustrating certain applications of my Invention by the
textual descriptions herein-before given of the several Sheets of Drawings
hereunto annexed I wish it to be understood that whilst I am awarc
of apparatus having heretofore been devised or invented and constructed
for unwinding or drawing-off, or marking, or guaging, for the purpose of
being cut into lengths single pieces of cloth and other materials, and that
I am aware that unwinding and winding apparatus combined with instru-
ments for measuring have long been constructed and used for measuring
and rewinding cloth, my present Invention has, however, for its object
a much wider application and more extensive scope of utility than any
such machines or apparatus, as not alone am I by the use of my Inven-
tion enabled to draw-off, mark, measure, and cut at the same time
and within the same main frame or machine as a continuous or almost
uninterrupted operation with a minimum of power and manual attention
and superintendance many sheets or pieces of material web or fabric,
but in so doing I am able also to effect great economy in the material
operated upon by the regulation of the individual tension and the square
cutting of the lengths as herein-after mentioned, and also in the space or
room ordinarily required for carrying on the business of measuring and
cutting up such materials for manufacturing purposes.
I also think it right here to observe that I have not considered it
necessary to show in the accompanying Drawings a balanced receiving
table at the taking-off end of the machine, as the nature of such an appa-
ratus is well understood, and morcover I do not intend to make
any claim
for the use or employment of such an arrangement for receiving the pieces
of material after they have been operated upon, neither have I shown
as fitted or applied to the end of the drawing-off roller or rollers, or to
any other part of the said drawing-off, measuring, and cutting machinery
any counter, index, or recording instrument or apparatus, as any of the
instruments ordinarily in use for such purposes may be applied thereto
and in such manner as may be found most convenient.

page_text: For the purpose of illustrating the action and mode of working these
machines I give the following, which applies to one of the hand power
machines herein-before described, thus,―
1st. Lay one piece of the cloth to be cut on the floor, one on the lower
and one on the upper step of the stools.
2nd. Train these pieces through their respective drag rods and over
the small rollers, then one through each space corresponding to the
number of the rollers as marked on the first series of rods, and two or
more through the spaces in the second scries of rods.
3rd. Bring the ends of all the pieces together and enter them between
the large rollers, draw them as far beyond the cutting edges in the table
as will take off all the ragged ends, shut the lever, insert the knife, and
cut off the ends.
4th. Bring forward the cut end exactly under the pointer, set the
pencil to the length required, measuring from the pointer, mark with
the pencil by working the wood lever, then bring that mark under
the pointer and cut off the cloth, check the length of the cut by the
measuring stick.
5th. Do not screw down the large top roller any more than just
enough to bring forward the cloth.
6th. On altering the angle of the drag rods both ends must first be
slackened, then set the rods to the angle required to give the drag
and again screw up. The less drag put on the cloth the easier will
the machine be driven and the less will the cloth be strained and
twisted.
7th. The screw under the hinged socket and the catch at the handle
end of the holding down lever have to be adjusted to the thickness of
the cloth; it should press equally on the whole breadth of the cloth,
and not be strained down at the ends, which only raises it in thic
middle.
8th. The thumbscrews in the friction wheel should be tightened up
very slightly, and should the upper plics of cloth recede with relation to
the under plies, while the cloth is being brought forward, then tighten
them a little harder.
9th. The selvage brasses can be used, if necessary, for holding the
selvage at the beginning of the cut.

page_text: Of course variations and modifications in the details for working to
suit the particular kind of material being operated upon may be mde.
By the use of these machines the following amongst other advantages are
secured :-
1st. Greater accuracy in cutting to a given length.
2nd. A saving of fifty per cent. at least in wages for cutting.
3rd. Insuring a clean and perfectly square cut.
4th. A saving of from half an incli to one inch of cloth on cach bag
according to the quality and width of cloth.
5th. Ten per cent. more-work can be done at the stage of sewing as
there are no loose ends to lay in.
•
6th. By its use I can cut twelve to twenty-five plies of cloth at once
and of a width up to sixty inches.
7th. The necessity for counting the bags in each bundle is saved
as two, three, or more cuts (of twelve to twenty-five plies cach) form onc
bundle according to the number wanted in each bundle.
8th. It is adapted for measuring and cutting the finest cottons or
linens and the heaviest sackings or baggings.
9th. Great economy of time and space, as after the cloth is arranged in
the machine it can throw off from twenty-four to one hundred single
cuts, each intended to form one bag in one minute.
10th. By its use the cloth is not broken and it can be made up
neater bundle for baleing.
into a
Having now described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same may be put in practice, and by the
accompanying six Sheets of Drawings illustrating some of the modes in
which I prefer to arrange and 'dispose the parts of such machinery and
apparatus, and having further illustrated one of the modes of practically
working or using these machines, and also pointed out some of the
advantages claimed to be obtained by their use, I wish it to be under-
stood that what I claim is as follows:-
First. The improvements in machinery and apparatus for measuring
and cutting cloth for bags and for other purposes herein described.
Second. The modes or methods herein described and as illustrated in
the accompanying six Sheets of Drawings of constructing and working

page_text: machines or apparatus for nieasuring or gauging and marking and
cutting it into lengths several pieces of cloth or other material at one
time and by the same operation, as herein set forth.
Third. The modes or methods herein described and illustrated of
combining together and working simultaneously within the same
machine the drawing-off, leading forward; gauging, and marking, and
cutting off to the required length numerous plies, layers, or thicknesses
of cloth or other material.required for manufacturing purposes.
5
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Blyth, have hereunto
set my hand and scal, this Seventh day of August, One thousand 1
eight hundred and sixty-eight.