IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPA- RATUS FOR PLAITING OR FOLDING
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Connolly, of Albion Road, Dalston, in the County
of Middlesex, and James William Mercer, of Upper North Street, Poplar,
London, E., for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPA-
RATUS FOR PLAITING OR FOLDING."
Sealed the 12th November 1878, and dated the 14th May 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Connolly and James
William Mercer at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th
May 1878.
JOHN CONNOLLY, of Albion Road, Dalston, in the County of Middlesex, and JAMES
WILLIAM MERCER, of Upper North Street, Poplar, London, E. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR PLAITING OR FOLDING."
This Invention has for its object improvements in machinery or apparatus for
plaiting or folding woven or other fabrics or other suitable materials, whereby a
more complete machine or apparatus is produced for performing these operations and
combining mechanical arrangements which ensure greater perfection in working and
facility in adjustment than any other machine or apparatus hitherto applied to these
purpose.
In order to carry out our Invention we employ a frame or framework to support
or carry the various fixed and working parts, which consist of two knives or folders,
one having a curvilinear action or movement, and the other having a reciprocating
action or movement, the former moving nearly at right angles to the latter, between
which and over a fixed guide or table the fabric or material to be operated on
passes, the curvilinear knife folding what is known as the lap of the plait, and the
reciprocating knife forming what is known as the space, the lap and space together
forming one plait.
Two plattens are employed, between the surfaces of which the fabric or material
is passed after having been plaited or folded by the knives, the lower platten being
fixed to the frame or framework, and heated by gas, charcoal, coke, oil, spirits, or
Di Q71

page_text: other suitable substance or material or combination of the same, and the upper
platten having a slight vertical movement to allow the plaited or folded fabric or
material to be passed between them by the action or movement of the reciprocating
knife or folder, the upper platten being then lowered down on the fabric or material
so as to press the plaits or folds, and thereby cause the plaits or folds to maintain
the shape and position given to the fabric or material by the knives. While the
reciprocating knife or folder is withdrawn and the plattens are pressing the plaits or
folds the knives or folders are forming the next plait or fold ready to be passed
between the plattens on the pressure being removed. Additional pressure is or may
be given by applying springs to act so as to press one platten towards the other.
The surface of the upper platten is or may be covered with felt or any other
suitable substance or material to prevent the fabric or material operated on from
being damaged.
The curvilinear knife or folder is fixed to and receives motion with a rocking
shaft, on the ends of which shaft are or may be fixed suitable toothed segments,
links, cranks, or other suitable means for transmitting motion to the reciprocating
knife or folder, which knife slides between or on suitable guides, and which are or
may be fixed to the framework.
Suitable means for adjustment and fixing the various parts herein-before
mentioned are employed where necessary, and guides and means for giving tension
to the fabric or material being operated on are applied for use when needed.
The driving or actuating of the machine or apparatus is effected by a shaft
working in the frame or framework, and which receives its action or movement
from the prime mover by means of a crank, handle, pulley, or other suitable means,
and transmits the required power and movement to the knives and platten by gear
wheels, cams, toggle levers, cranks, or other suitable means.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Connolly and James William Mercer in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 14th November 1878.
JOHN CONNOLLY, of Albion Road, Dalston, and JAMES WILLIAM MERCER, of
Upper North Street, Poplar. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR
PLAITING OR FOLDING."
This Invention has for its object. improvements in machinery or apparatus for
plaiting or folding woven or other fabrics or other suitable materials, whereby a
more complete machine or apparatus is produced for performning these operations and
combining mechanical arrangements which ensure greater perfection in working and
facility in adjustment than any other machino or apparatus hitherto applied to these
purposes.
In order to carry out our Invention we employ a frame or framework to support
or carry the various fixed and working parts, which latter consist of two knives,
blades, or folders, one having a curvilinear action or movement, and the other having
a reciprocating action or movement, the former moving nearly at right angles to the
latter, between which and over a fixed guide or table the fabric or material to bo
operated on passes, the knife, blade, or folder with the curvilinear movement folding
what is known as the lap of the plait, and the reciprocating knife forming what is
known as the space, the lap and space together forming one plait.
Two platens or their equivalent are employed, between the surfaces of which the
fabric or material to be operated on is passed after having been plated or folded by
the knives, the lower platen or its equivalent being fixed to the framework, and
heated by gas, charcoal, coke, oil, spirit, or other suitable or convenient substance or
material or combination of the same, and the upper platen having a slight vertical
movement to allow the plaited or folded fabric or material to be passed between
them by the action or movement of the reciprocating knife or folder, the upper
platen being then gently lowered down on the fabric or material whilo the recipro-
cating knife or folder is withdrawn and the required pressure is given to enable the
plaits or folds to maintain their form and position, the knives or folders during this
interval forming the next plait or fold ready to be passed under the platons on the
pressure being removed. Additional pressure may be given, if desired, by applying
a spring or springs, or its or their equivalent, so as to act by pressing one platen
towards the other.
The surface of the upper platen is or may be covered with felt or any other
*suitable substance or material to prevent the fabric or material being or to be
operated from being damaged.
The curvilinear knife, blade, or folder is fixed to and receives motion with a
rocking shaft, on the ends of which shaft are or may be fixed suitable toothed
segments, links, cranks, or other suitable or convenient means for transmitting
motion to the reciprocating knife, blade, or folder, which knife slides between or on
suitable guides which are or may be fixed to the framework.
Suitable means for adjusting and fixing the various parts of the apparatus aro
employed where necessary, and guides and means for giving tension to the fabric or
material being operated on are applied where needed, as also a guide or guides to
direct the material as desired whilst leaving the machine after it has been operated
on by the knives or folders.
The driving or actuating of the machine or apparatus is effected by a shaft
working in or on the frame or framework, and which receives its movement or
action from the prime mover by means of a crank, handle, pulley, or other suitable
or convenient means, and transmits the required power and movement to the knives
and platen by gear wheels, cams, toggle levers, cranks, or other suitable or convenient
means.

page_text: We also modify our arrangement of apparatus herein-before described by employing
a roller in place of the top platen, and hollow or curve out the lower platen, so as to
form a space in which the roller revolves, the object being to give a greater distance
for the plaited or folded material to travel between the roller and the platen before
leaving the machine in order that the same may be subjected to the heat of the
platen for a longer period, and thereby cause the plaits or folds given to the material
or substance by the knives, blades, or folders to be more perfectly retained.
In this arrangement we apply a ratchet or clutch wheel to the end or ends of the
roller and transmit to the same an intermittent movement from the rock shaft of
the machine, the roller revolving at the same time as the reciprocating knife, blade,
or folder passes the plaited or folded fabric or material between it and the curved
surface of the lower platen, adjustable springs or a spring, or their or its equivalent,
being provided to give the required pressure to the fabric or material.
The intermittent movement of the roller is an equivalent for the lifting movement
given to the top platen when two are used, as hercin-before described. The knives,
blades, or folders work in a similar manner when the roller is used as when
employed with the two platens, but by the employment of the roller some of the
parts used with two platens are dispensed with.
The roller like the upper platen may be covered with any suitable or convenient
substance or material, in order to obtain a similar result, as herein-before described.
This arrangement of curved or hollow surface of the platen and roller working
in combination with the same, as herein-before described, will be found very con-
venient and useful when combined with fluted or grooved rollers, preferably of
different diameters, through which the material is passed before reaching the roller
and platen, as by this means we are enabled to form and press the plaits by means
of a continuous instead of intermittent movement.
"
In this arrangement we apply to the fluted or grooved rollers a taking-off"
arrangement secured to the framework of the apparatus in order to prevent the
material being held in the grooves or flutes, which taking-off apparatus also acts
as a guide to the stuff on its passage to the roller and platen. In applying these
"taking-off" parts and guides to the fluted or grooved rollers we form a series of
circumferential grooves around cach roller, extending below the root or bottom of
the flute or groove, and of the required width and distance apart, in which grooves
the teeth or projecting portions of the "taking-off" parts and guides are placed.
The driving or actuating power is applied to the lower fluted or grooved roller,
which is geared to the roller working on the platen, and both rollers should be of
the same external diameter with equal gearing, in order that the speed of both
should coincide.
Sheet 1 shows in end elevation one arrangement of our improved machine, as
herein-before described, for plaiting or folding.
A, A, the framing for carrying the working and other parts, which may be
formed in one or more pieces or parts as desired, and provided with suitable
bearings or guides for the moving parts to work in or on; B, the hand wheel; B',
the main shaft for actuating the working parts; C, c, and d, d, the two platens
(upper and lower), between which the folded or plaited material is passed and
which are or may be heated and kept in contact by a spring, as shown, as hercin-
before described; D, a rock shaft, on or to which the knife, blade, or folder f
(shown dotted), and which has the curvilinear movement herein-before described,
is attached, near the ends of which rock shaft toothed segments e (shown dotted)
are fixed, and which work in toothed racks g' on the ends of the carrier or slide
to which the knife, blade, or folder, bearing the reciprocating action, as herein-
before described, is attached. The carrier or slide works on or slides against slide
bars g attached to the framework A, A; G, G, is the knife, blade, or folder (also
shown dotted), having the reciprocating movement, as herein-before described; H, a
cam on the shaft B¹, on which "wipers" or projections c¹, c¹, for actuating the 5
levers c³ and co, attached to c actuating the top platen, and provided with a groove
or slot by means of which the shaft D is actuated, and in which groove, slot, or

page_text: roller fixed on or attached to a pin on which the lever works, and by micans of
the link h¹ and lever e' gives two movements of the shaft D to one movement
of the shaft B'.
It will be seen that the lever / works on a stud 2 on the frame A, A, and has a
curved slot in which the stud K works, and allows the same to be moved nearer to
or further from the cam H according as a larger or smaller plait or fold is required;
I, I, the fixed guide or table (shown dotted) over which the fabric, substance, or
material to be operated on passes on its way to be plaited or folded; J, tho tension
bars and guides and the feeding side of the machine; and L, the guide for directing
the plaited or folded material as it leaves the inachine.
Sheet 2 is a longitudinal elevation of the feeding side of improved apparatus, as
herein-before described, showing the top platen c, the bottom platen d, d, the
shaft B¹, the reciprocating knife carrier g, the fixed guide or table I, I, over which
the material after leaving the tension bars J passes the cam H, the lever h, and
the link h³, with the lever e¹ and the gas tube d³ for heating. Similar letters of
reference denote the like parts to those shown in Sheet 1.
Sheet 3 is a plan (shown through the platens c and d) in which G, G, is the
reciprocating knife, g, g, the knife carrier, the levers cand c attached to shaft c7,
for actuating the top platen by means of the lever c, which acts on the part
attached to the platen, as shown.
Similar letters of reference denote like parts, as shown in the other Sheets.
Sheet 4 is an end view of an apparatus, some of the exterior parts being removed
in order to show the arrangement when a roller is employed in place of the top
platen, as herein-before described.
M is the roller working in suitable bearings in the lever N, which is connected to
the shaft B', and at its opposite end is kept down by a spring or its equivalent,
adjustable to the required prossure.
The roller M is driven by the ratchet or clutch wheel O connected to the same,
which is actuated by the levers and parts shown dotted.
The curved or hollow surface of the under platen and the under platen are shown
at d, d.
Similar letters of reference denote like parts as in the other Drawings.
The action of our apparatus is as follows:-On operating the driving wheel B
the cam H is caused to revolve and move the lever h and limit ¹, by means of
which motion is given to the rock shaft D, which works the curvilinear knife or
folder, causing it to fold the lap of the plait, and as it retires the reciprocating knife
or folder worked by the toothed segments e and rack g¹, in ends of carrier g, carries
the plait or fold between the platens or between the roller and platens when such are
used, and the top platen lowers and takes hold of the same, subjecting it to the
required pressure.
The top platen is actuated at the proper times for opening and closing by the
"wipers" c¹, c², on cam H, acting on the levers c and c operating the same.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention of improvements in
machinery or apparatus for plaiting or folding, and the manner in which the same
is to or may be performed or carried into practical effect, we desire to state that we
do not limit or confine ourselves to the precise details shown in the accompanying
four Sheets of Drawings, as the same may be modified without departing from the
nature of our said Invention, nor do we claim as of our Invention machinery or
apparatus for plaiting or folding, as this has been used before, nor do we claim the
use of knives, blades, or folders for these purposes, as these are not new, nor the use
of a blade or folder and platens acting in combination, as these are not novel, nor
do we claim as of our Invention any of the individual parts as new, except when
applied, combined together and acting in the manner and for the purposes, and as
herein-before described, but what we do claim as of our Invention, and desire to
have protected by Letters Patent is,-
First. The adaptation, combination, and employment in machinery or apparatus
for plaiting or folding of two reciprocating knives, blades, or folders, one of them

page_text: moving in a curvilinear path, and the other in a straight one, and nearly at right
angles to each other, and acting as herein-before described; also the same when
acting in combination with two or more plaitens or parts, or one roller and one
platen or part, the latter formed with a hollowed or curved surface, or in combina-
tion with two or more of such arrangement, substantially as and for the purposes
herein-before described and specified, and as shown in Sheets 1 to 4 of the accom-
panying Drawings.
Second. The combination with a plaiten or part with a curved or hollowed surface
of a single roller acting in the curved or hollowed surface of the platen or part, or
the use of two or more such, in combination, substantially as and for the purposes
herein-before described and specified, and as illustrated in Sheet 4 of the accompa-
nying Drawings.
Third. The use of a double cam, or cam acting as herein-before described, for
actuating the knives, blades, or folders in such machinery or apparatus, substantially
as herein-before described, illustrated, and specified, and for the purposes specified.
Lastly. The arrangements, combinations, and mode of action of the various parts
forming the machines or apparatus shown in the accompanying four Sheets of
Drawings, acting in the manner and for the purposes herein-before described, or
any mere modification of the same.
In witness whereof, we, the said James William Mercer and the said John
Connolly, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Fourteenth day of
November, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
aight
JOHN CONNOLLY.
JAMES W. MERCER.
(L.S.)
(L.S.)