IROVIRIUNAN DEPRI
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Jan., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 25th Sept., 1894-Accepted, 12th Jan., 1895
IROVIRIUNAN
DEPRIVATION
Improvements in the Manufacture of Brushes and Brooms and such
like Articles.
1, GEORGE RICHARD POSTLETHWAITE of 124 Park Road, Aston Manor near
Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of all kinds of brushes
and brooms and such like articles for domestic use and for other purposes, and has
reference more especialy to the formation, or novel method of constructing the
knots or tuft portions or parts of ordinary brushes or brooms whether the same be
composed of bristles, hair, fibre or bass, or any other filamentary material, and also
the specialy constructed machinery and appliances for the purpose of forming such
tufts, and for securing the same into what is known as the solid wood stocks or
backs, and also the mechanism for boring the holes in the said wood stocks for the
reception of such tufts as required in the manufacture of brushes and brooms and
such like articles.
In reference to ordinary brushes of any kind whether made by hand or by
machinery, the fibre wherewith the tufts or knots are formed are invariably cut
off to rather more than double the length of the finished tufts required, these
suitable lengths, which must also be of suitable substance or bulk are then doubled
in the middle of the lengths at the time of inserting into the brush backs, usualy
called the brush stocks. When such brushes are made by hand each particular
portion of fibre is first divided from the bulk by the fingers of the operator who of
course requires experience and judgment so as to prevent variation as much as
posible. Then each portion so divided is inserted into a wire loop which is formed by
passing a very thin wire through the hole already prepared in the wood stock, the
stock being held the while in a pair of clams or vice. The length of fibre being
placed centraly according to judgment in the aforesaid loop the wire is then drawn
back tightly and by this means the lengths of enclosed fibre is doubled upon itself
and the bended portion is drawn into the hole in the stock, the wire is then looped
through the next hole and the same process is repeated and so on untill the brush
is completed. This process is called drawing, and after each row is so inserted they
are cut or trimmed to even lengths or heights, the waste and variations in the
doubling up being allowed for as previously stated.
In regard to brooms, the usual way of manufacturing is very different to that of
brushes, and each branch requires a different class of operatives as well as appliances
and in many instances each are carried on in seperate departments from the other,
which is occasioned by the fact that the tufts, knots, or bristles are all secured in
the broom stocks by means of heated pitch. This pitch is heated in large pans
by means of gas burners fixed underneath, and the operators are seated around
these pans while working, so that what with the effluvium from the gas burners
and that from the boiling pitch it is a most unhealthy and unclean occupation, say
nothing about the constant danger of fire through the over heating of the pitch.
The tufts are prepared by first cutting the bass or fibre to the exact lengths
required allowing sufficient for the after process of trimming. The process of
doubling the fibre being omitted in this class of goods. A portion then is divided
from the bulk by the fingers of the operatives, one end is then dipt into the molten
pitch and is then lapt tightly round with hemp then dipt again into the pitch,

page_text: and while still hot it is inserted into the broom stock, and so on untill the whole
of the holes are filled, then when the pitch is completely set, the outer ends of the
tufts are cut or trimmed to an even surface. Before commencing the insertion of
the tufts the face of the broom stocks are blackened all over so as to hide the
unsightly appearance of the pitch as much as posible. Nor is it safe to use such
brooms with hot water as the pitch is readily melted thereby and the tufts soon
drop out or become loose.
According to my invention the process of forming the tufts are the same for
brushes as for brooms, or vice versa, and in fact the two distinct processes as
previously described are reduced absolutely to one only, and experienced labour is
entirely optional, and all unhealthy operations are eliminated and much filth or dirt
avoided. And now a short preliminary description of the novel method of the
construction, or formation of the fibrous tufts in accordance with this my invention
will facilitate the whole of the proceedings. Therefore in the first instance the
fibre to form the tufts either for brushes or for brooms is cut up into the exact
lengths of the required tufts so that by avoiding the usual bending or doubling
process as described for brushes a shorter length of fibre may be utalised instead
of going to waste, the fibre thus cut up to form a bulk from which a sufficient
quantity to form a tuft is mechanicaly seperated therefrom, then one end of this
portion of fibre so seperated is surrounded by a thin narrow sheet metal band.
The too ends of this band are bent or tucked inwards amongst the enclosed fibre in
a sinuous form or manner, and the band is then tightly closed or compressed
between suitable dies so that every filament constituting such tufts is absolutely
secured within the said sheet metal band, so that by these means each such tuft
so formed has its own individuality apart from either brush or broom stock and
so may be made in any quantity and stocked ready for inserting into the stocks at
any time.
The front edges of the dies whereby the sheet metal bands are compressed
around the tufts are slightly bevelled or countersunk off so that the upper edge
of said band is made somewhat bell, or trumpet shaped; the form thus given to the
upper edge of the band is a most essential feature, and is provided to answer
several purposes, as in the first place it prevents the liability to shear or cut the
outer filaments constituting the enclosed tuft. It also causes the upper portion of
the tuft to spread in a most desirable manner, and adds very materialy to the
elasticity of the tuft. It also stiffens the bands so that they retain the full amount
of compression given by the closing or compression dies. Then again, this
projecting or bell shape edge serves the means of securely fixing the tufts in their
respective holes provided for them in the brush or broom stocks, for as the com-
pressing dies are set to close the metal band just small enough to enter the holes
freely up to this bell shape portion or edge it then requires but little pressure to
force this into and below the orifice or surface of the stock wherein they become
embedded, and so absolutely secured as to require no further means of securing,
and each tuft is proof against cold or heated water. This being sufficient to show
the novelty of my invention so far as regards the principle features of the formation
of the tufts, and that the same principles are aplicable alike for brushes or for
brooms irespective of size of tufts or of the fibre or material from which they are
made. This being understood I will next specify the machinery and apliances
necessary for the formation of such tufts; the preparation of the backs, boards or
stocks. The boring of the same for the reception of the tufts, and the inserting
of the said tufts therein, and the machinery for the completion of, first an ordinary
broom and then an ordinary scrubing brush and from these may be gathered the
modus operandi for any other of the many kinds that are generaly used.
I will first describe the machinery and appliances for the preparation of the
bands for the formation of the tufts. The same mechanism being applicable for
either brush or broom manufacture, the only diference being in the size of the tools
for the diferent sizes of bands. These tools may be attached to an ordinary hand
screw press, or to a rotating press wherein the ram or slide is actuated by a cam or

page_text: excentric so as to produce the necessary up and down motion of the said ram, or
slide, and otherwise convienently arranged for the attachment of such tools as
follows:-Each set of tools consists of a bottom bed or bolster, which may be of
cast iron. On the top or face of this a central groove or channel is formed, being
about one eighth of an inch deep by two inches wide, and in this channel a slide
plate is fitted, which is connected to the ram by means of jointed levers in such a
way that on the upward stroke of the said ram this slide plate is made to advance
inwards, and by the down stroke it retires outwards. Then across the face of this
slide plate is fixed an hardened steel slotted die, the said slot coresponding to the
size of band required, and it may here be stated that these bands vary in size from
about one and half in. long by three eighth inch wide to seven eighths of an inch
long by quarter inch wide, and are made from thin sheet metal. The slotted die then
for any size of these bands being fixed across the slide plate aforesaid, a notched
angular guide plate is then screwed on to the top face of this die, and this fits
even with the back edge and the further end edge of the die slot, so that the front
edge and near end edge of the slot is only allowed to cut or shear. This then
completes the bottom portion of the tools. Then a steel punch is attached to the
lower portion of the ram, and the lower end of said punch is made to fit the slot
in the die and is placed central thereto, this I term the blanking punch. Then
behind this blanking punch another punch is attached to the same stock, and
distanced therefrom by about half an inch, and its lower end is a quarter inch
less in dimensions on its lower face in regard to its rectangular length, but is
somewhat thicker or wider than the blanking punch, and is also longer in its
downward direction. This I term the raising punch, and its traverse upwards and
downwards is exactly with that of the blanking punch. Having now fully
described the tools I will next proceed to explain the working of the same.
A sheet of metal being placed over the slotted die, with one edge touching the
back guide and the corner of the plate pushed close to the end stop or guide, the
ram with the shearing punch attached is brought down and thereby a blank is
cut off or sheared and seperated from the sheet, and at this time the lower slide
plate being at the end of its outward stroke. The blank so seperated is free to
drop out at the bottom of the die and also through a square hole provided in the
body of the said slide plate and so comes to rest upon the lower face of the channel
where the slide plate works. Then upon the upward stroke of the ram, which
through the medium of the jointed levers the slide plate is moved inwards and
with it the first blank so seperated, so that at the extreme end of the inward stroke
of the slide plate this blank is placed over a shorter slot provided in and through
the cast iron bed or bolster, and there it remains untill the next downward stroke
of the ram, sufficient room being given in the perforating of the slide plate to alow
of its retireing without its removing the blank out of position. Then on the
descent of the ram the back or raising punch first engages with this blank and
forces it through the said slot in the bed or bolster, and by so doing each end of
the blank strip is turned upwards to the extent of about one eighth of an inch and
in this form it drops away into a reciever, the extra length downwards of this
raising punch just gives it the lead so that the raising process is partly com-
pleted before another blank is sheared from the metal sheet in readiness to be
brought forward on the next rising of the ram as before, so that after the first
blank is cut off a raised blank is obtained at every down stroke of the machine,
or press: and these bands so blanked and raised f designate as prepared bands,
Leing so prepared for further use which will be shown later on.
For broom tufts the fibre is used of a much greater length than for brushes, so
that the former being more easily handled the mechanism required is more simple
and is constructed as follows;-
The body or main portion of this machine consists of a vertical stem or pillar of
rectangular section, standing about 3 ft. 6 inches in height, and is provided with a
foot or base so as to be secured to the ground or floor, to this pillar a few inches
from the ground a foot lever is pivoted, the pivot end working in a slot provided

page_text: centraly in the pillar. Then a central groove or channel is also provided in the
pillar begining at about the middle above the said foot lever and extending to the
top thereof, and in this groove or channel a slide is made to work up and down,
and is so actuated by connecting rods being attached from the lower end of the
slide to the said foot lever, the whole of which is ballanced by a spring so that the
slide is always maintained in a normal position, this being at the end of the upper
stroke, and so always ready for depression on the application of the foot to the lower
lever. The slide portion just described I shall hereafter refer to as the back slide,
the upper end of which is continued at a right angle towards the front of the
pillar, and here it is continued at a right angle downwards. This latter portion
being arranged so as to slide in contact with the front edge of the pillar which
when in its normal position as before stated has a contact with the pillar of about
one inch of its depth, this downward portion narrows to a needle like point or
extremity, ro forming a very acute wedge shape or angle piece. The inner vertical
portion being in sliding contact with the pillar. This wedge shape portion with
the needle like point I term the divider. Then slightly below the point of this
divider when in its normal position a shaped cavity or mouth is formed in the
pillar in a transverse direction, so that with the pressure of the foot on the lower
lever before described the point of the divider passes over the open portion of
this mouth and comes to rest about two inches below, this being a sufficient
traverse for the occasion required. Then on the release of the foot from the lower
lever, the spring before mentioned brings all back to their former, or normal
position. The next portion of the mechanism is appended to the right hand side of
the pillar, and this consists of a hand lever, and is attached to the said pillar by
means of a fulcrum pin or bolt, and the lower end of this hand lever is made to
actuate two vertical slides in such a way that No. 1 slide is given the lead
upwards and comes to rest there, this being the extreme end of its stroke. Then
No. 2 slide is brought downwards and comes to the end of its stroke just after
No. 1. The upper end of the slide No. 1 is recessed or mouthed out downwards
similar in size and shape to the mouth previously described and arranged in the
pillar, and they coincide to some extent with each other when slide No. 1 has
reached the end of its upward stroke, only that each mouth is at right angles to
the other, so that their innermost portions from each opening forms very nearly a
circular hole. Then above the mouth portion in slide No. 1 two opposite ledges
are formed, one each side the said mouth, and each ledge is bounded by a continuence
of the metal in an upward direction or at right angles to the said ledges to a distance
of about of an inch, each such boundry being equally distant from the center
line of the mouth. These angular ledges are for the purpose of recieving the
prépared bands as before described, and when in their position they lay across the
opening of the said mouth with a free and easy fit into their place. This slide,
which has been refered to as No. 1 will in future be refered to as the folding slide.
Then to the upper portion of No. 2, which is continued to a greater height than
the folding slide previously described, an adjustable rectangular steel tool is
attached verticaly, being in line with the opening of the mouth formed in the
upper end of the folding slide into which it is made to enter when compressed
downwards by the aforesaid hand lever. This rectangular steel tool 1 term the
tucker, and the slide No. 2 to which it is attached I will hereafter refer to as the
tucker slide. This tucker tool then at its lower end is formed into two close
parralel grooves and the metal portion between is brought to a fine chissel shaped
edge, so that when the tucker is at its lowest point within the mouth of the folding
slide their enclosed outlines form a heart shaped cavity such as is generally repre-
sented as allegorically in pictures. These slides when brought in this position by
means of depressing the before mentioned hand lever when upon releasing the hold
of the lever or by raising the same by hand the tucker slide rises and the folding
slide falls cach to their normal positions and which is also readily effected by
neans of a spring, which spring tends also to keep the whole moveable portions in
their normal positions.

page_text: Having now described the whole construction of what I term a tuft former for‹‹
the production of broom tufts I will now proceed to explain the modus operandi of:
the same which is as follows ;-
As previously stated, the fibre material for broomз tufts being cut from the
bundles in much longer lengths enables it to be very easily handled so that a
quantity being cut to any required length, a moderate handful is detached from the
bulk into the left hand, being more especialy grasped by the thumb and forefinger
thereof, and by a slight motion of the same the whole is formed into a layer or
stratum of such a substance as will enter sideways into the mouth of the tuft
former located in the pillar of the machine, and by a gentle pressure in that
direction the said mouth becomes fully charged, and when so charged the inner
ends of the handfull of fibre is held up to a gauge, not before described, so that
each such charge shall protrude beyond the said mouth to a distance sufficient to
receive one of the prepared bands. This prepared band being previously placed
in position in the recess formed on the top of the folding slide, the lower lever is
then depressed by the right foot which thereby brings down the divider at the same i:
time and in its course the needle like point penetrates the stratum of fibre held by
the hand and thus divides that portion from the mouthfull, and by reason of the
wedge shape of this divider it is far enough removed therefrom as to allow of the
next opperation which is performed by depressing the hand lever, and this action
raises the folding slide, and the prepared band being in position on the top thereof
then by the continuence of the motion the overhanging portion of the fibre forces.
the prepared band down into the mouth of the slide and in so doing the band is
folded around the fibre with the two bent ends of the band meeting each other on
the top. At this time the tucker comes down upon these two ends and tucks them
into the folded portion of the fibre in a curling or sinuous manner, and at the same
time tightly closing the whole in a most perfect manner. Then by liberating each
lever the slides and divider open back to their normal positions and the tuft is then
liberated but still slightly adhering to the handfull at the opposite end, but by .
taking hold of the banded portion by the right hand it is readily seperated there-..
from. The slight gap left in the band is then closed in a pair of dies which at the
same time the band is brought to a dead size for putting into the holes in the broom.
stock, and also the bell or trumpet shape is given to the upper edge of the band.
as before described, after which the tuft is ready for insertion at once, or at any
future time.
:
The next process is the boring of the stocks; and this is accomplished by means
of ordinary lathe bed and a headstock fitted up with a fast and loose pulley on a
central revolving spindle, and attached to the spindle is a boring tool which may
be changed for any required size of hole; on the same bed is a back, or moveable
headstock and. to this stock there is a slide which works too and from in the
direction of the boring tool and central thereto. To the inner end of this slide a
cradle is doubly pivoted in such a way that it will swivel to either side or upwards
or downwards, but may be held in any particular position by means of notched
arms or jointed levers and spring catches. These catches being relieved from the
oné notch allows the cradle to be moved in the required direction according to the
next notch when the catch springs therein, holding it firmly. So that the broom
stock being previously shaped and sized is secured in the said swinging cradle by
means of screw clams, and one end of the stock being presented to the boring tool
and the catches being in the first notches of the lovers, the foot is placed upon the.
treadle near the floor and is connected by levers to the slide to which the cradle is.
connected, so that by depressing this lever the broom stock is forced upon the boring.
tool which is arranged to enter a certain distance by a stop. This. being. done the
foot is removed when the whole recedes to their normal positions. The catches are
then withdrawn from the lever notches and the cradle moved to the next notches.
and by again placing the foot upon the lower lever another hole is bored, and soi
on until the whole of the holes are completed. The stock is then removed and">
another takes its place for boring in like manner, and for the various. sized.brooms..

page_text: stocks a seperate set of jointed arms or levers are required according to size and
number of holes in each.
The next process is the inserting of the tufts into the stocks and for this purpose
each stock is placed in a similar cradle to the one placed in for boring the holes,
but in this case the cradle is attached to what may be termed a vertical inserting
machine, and when the stock is fixed therein by means of the screw clams the tufts
are all then readily inserted or partly so by hand, each tuft is then brought directly
under an inserter tool which is rigidly fixed by means of adjustable nuts to the
head portion of the machine. Then by means of a foot lever the stock is raised
to the inserter tool so that at each upward stroke a tuft is further driven tightly in
until the bell shaped portion of the band is completely imbeded in the broom stock
and so becomes absolutely secured therein. The whole of the tufts being 80
opperated upon the broom is then released from the cradle in a completed state and
another stock is then proceeded with in like manner.
The machine for producing the tufts for brushes is necessarily more extended
than that which I claim for the production of broom tufts owing to the lengths of
fibre being too short for hand feeding. Therefore the fibre when cut to the
required length is placed in a suitable receptacle or hopper, which surmounts the
rest of the machine, and is attached thereto at its lower portion. This hopper
being filled, or charged with the fibre material it is pressed down more closely
together by means of a sliding weight which covers the whole area occupied by
the fibre, and the lower portion of the fibre rests upon a long narrow steel blade.
This blade I term the seperator, this seperator is slightly wedge shape longitudinaly;
and is somewhat narrower in width than the fibre which rests across its upper
surface. The fore or inner end of this seperator is also tapered more abruptly for
a short distance and so terminates to a needle like point, and its opposite end
projects out and beyond the body of the machine, the projecting portion being
firmly secured to a sliding block. This block is arranged to slide too and fro upon
the upper portion of a horizontal bracket securly fixed to the body of the machine
so that by these means the said seperator may be clearly and easily withdrawn from
beneath the whole of the fibre which was previously resting upon its upper surface,
and when so withdrawn the fibre by its own gravity and with the assistance of the
sliding weight above falls a short distance downwards, then it comes to rest upon
what I term a grid plate. This grid plate is supported at each end in transverse
channels opening outwards from the interior of the machine and situated at each
end thereof, and is also provided with two long narrow slots opening verticaly and
extending nearly from end to end; imediately below this grid plate a rectangular
space is formed by the framing of the machine, and to the back and front of which
detachable plates or covers are screwed, and thus a cavity is formed wherein a cam
shaft is fitted the ends of which work in sleeve bearings which are provided in
the said plates or covers. The back end of this cam shaft projects outwards
for a short distance; from the forward motion of this cam a frame shaped
slide is worked upwards and downwards only, and upon the upper end of this
frame slide a saddle slide is made to work horizontaly by means of wipers which
project from each side of the cam, its motion being forwards and backwards
only, but is raised or lowered with the frame slide. The normal position of the
frame slide is when at the end of its lower stroke, and that of the saddle slide
when at the end of its back stroke; then to the outer end of the cam shaft a
socketed arm is fixed at right angles thereto, and the extreme end of which is
connected to a raised foot lever attached to the under framing or stand of the
machine. This lever when depressed by the foot causes the said cam to move
through about one third of a revolution which in so doing raises the frame and
saddle slides together to their full height, and here the frame slide becomes
stationery, and at this time the wipers engage with the saddle slide and brings
it forward to the extreme end of its stroke, then on releasing the foot lever the
cam returns back thus bringing down both the slides, but it is important in this
return stroke that the saddle slide remains in the position of its forward stroke

page_text: for one half the decent of the frame slide, then the wipers come again in
contact with the back end of the saddle slide when the whole arrangment is
brought down together into their normal positions and are then ready for a
repitition. This being understood it may be further stated that on the upper
flat surface of the said saddle slide two rows of needle pointed pegs are firmly
imbeded, and these rows exactly corespond with the two longitudinal slots in
the grid plate. These pegs when the slides are at rest are already within the
said slots but below the upper surface of the grid plate, but when brought up
by means of the cam they penetrate the fibre material which rests thereon to
the extent of about a quarter of an inch, and while the pointed pegs are held
in this position the seperator having been previously withdrawn allows the fibre
to fall on to the grid plate it is then drawn in again and the needle point of
which in its course penetrates the fibre so that by the time the seperator has
completed its stroke a layer or stratum of fibre is seperated from the bulk
previously deposited in the hopper, and the pointed pegs imbedded in this
portion or stratum prevents undue molestation of the same during the time of
its seperation. The foot lever may now be released and by means of a spring
the lever together with the slides are brought back again to the starting point
and the layer of fibre is now in a position to be worked forward towards
and through the channel or transverse opening in the fore part of the
machine as previously described. Then to this fore part of the machine a
branch bracket is screwed, and on the upper end of this bracket a sliding
shuttle works horizontaly, its line of motion being too and from the body of
the machine. At the near end of this shuttle is a mouth shaped opening similar
to but on a smaller scale than those described for broom tufts, and the opening
of this mouth is in exact line with the transverse channel or opening in the
body of the machine, and is therefore lineable with the layer of fibre already
seperated. The contact of this shuttle mouth with the transverse opening is
effected by means of a spring, this being its normal position, then above this
junction or contact a wedge shaped, and needle pointed divider works upon an
inclined plane between guides, this divider is made to work upwards and down-
wards by means of a foot lever and the necessary attachments. Then to the
same bracket which forms the slide bearings for the shuttle a folding and
tucking slide is attached, being exactly the same as described for the broom:
tufts except that they are on rather a smaller scale a further description is not
necessary so that I can now continue to explain the remaining action of the
machine which is as follows;-
Having already explained how the layer or stratum of fibre material is
seperated from the bulk previously placed in the receptacle or hopper which is
readily accomplished by the right hand. The right foot then depresses the
lever which we will term No. 1, and this action raises the frame and saddle
slidės together to their full heighth, and at this time the pointed pegs have
penetrated the layer of fibre in a direct perpendicular line. The frame slide
now remains at rest while the wipers press forward the saddle slide which
through the medium of the pointed pegs the layer of fibre is brought bodily
forward a step or stage at the end of which the foot lever is alowed to rise,
and by this action the two slides fall together so that the pointed pegs are
withdrawn from the layer of fibre in a direct line downwards without any drag
or undue disturbance thereto, and when so withdrawn this slide is carried back
into its place by means of the said wipers acting on the back portion of the
slide thus bringing all the moveable parts to rest and ready for a repeated
action, each of which brings forward the layer of fibre the stages of which are
definately fixed or regulated by means of a screw stop. At each successive
forward movement of the layer of fibre the mouth of the shuttle, before described
becomes fully charged, and so remains untill lever No. 2 is pressed downwards
which brings with it the divider the needle point of which in its course
penetrates the fibre material and so divides the mouthfull from the layer, the

page_text: •
:
divider by reason of its wedge shape, or increasing width forces this portion a
further distance forward and it there comes to rest between the folding and
tucking slides. While these motions are proceeding by the foot levers a prepared
band is placed on the folding slide by the right hand so that imediately the
divided portion of the fibre comes to rest the hand lever which actuates these
two slides is pressed down, and by this means the divided portion is enclosed
within the band and securely tucked, and is then liberated, or falls away from
the machine during the backward stroke: and so a tuft is formed at each
depression of the hand lever, No. 1 and No. 2 foot levers having been previously
worked the opperator being seated with the left foot upon No. 1 lever and
the right foot on No. 2 lever first presses lever No. 1 which brings forward
the layer of fibre and so fills the mouth of the shuttle, and during the
of this lever No. 2 has reached its down stroke so that another tuft is in
stroke
up
position for its band, and being held there it is banded and released instantaneously
by the hand lever; the speed all through being limited only by the ability of
the operator. It now only remains to be stated that as the layer of fibre is
liberated by the withdrawal of the pointed pegs at the end of each step or
stage the further end of the layer of fibre is apt to straggle, so that to prevent
this it is backed up by a small sliding piece called a compressor. This com
pressor is attached to the fore end of a thin steel rod, and the outer end of
the rod is secured to a slide block which is arranged to traverse upon the same
slide as the seperator block. To each of these blocks a long communicating
handle is joined so as to bring their controll within reach of the operator sitting
in front of the machine. Then to the slide block carrying the compressor a
cord is fixed which works over a pulley and through the top of the table
whereon the body of the machine is fixed, and to the lower end of the cord a
suitable weight is suspended and by this means au even compression is maintained
in the layer during during the whole of its journey forward, and when one layer is
worked out this compressor is first moved back to its starting point and is held in
that position by means of a notch and catch the seperator is then pushed back
and this allows the bulk of fibre to fall upon the grid plate, the seperator is then
brought forward and a layer of fibre is again formed. The catch is now withdrawn
and the compressor at once acts with a gentle pressure upon the layer of fibre
before it, and each euch layer is sufficient in quantity to form any number of tufts
according to the size of the machine, and it may here be stated that the whole or
greater portion of the actions of the machine now described may be accomplished
by means of a rotating shaft or any other suitable method.
Having now fully described the mechanical processes whereby the tufts for brushes
are so far perfected, the bands of which now only need closing and shaping in suitable
dies as explained in regard to broom tufts bands, when they are then ready at any time
for insertion into the solid wood backs, or stocks, the modus operandi being as follows;-
The said wood stocks being previously prepared in any usual form or manner for
boring I then bore them in or by a similar machine to the one described for boring
the broom stocks, excepting that in this case the stocks are placed for boring to
the fore end of a long radial arm, the two pivots from which it takes its motion
being so much further removed from the position of the stock while boring, and
also the notch and catch levers are dispensed with, and metal templates substituted,
one such plate being required for each particular size or design. These templates
are bored to the size and position of the holes and the one to he used is fixed
pro tem to the front portion of the cradle or recess wherein the stock is placed to
be bored, and being so placed they are securely clamped together, and when so
secured each hole in the template is presented in succession to the boring tool
wherein the tool enters and is forced into the stock to the desired depth by means
of the foot lever. The said lever being upheld by a spring, so that at each
depression of the said lever a hole is bored and so on until the stock is completed
when it is replaced by another. The stocks when so bored the tufts are then
inserted by similar means to those described for the brooms.

page_text: In this Provisional Specification I have simplified the description of the
machinery and appliances as much as posible as every detail will be readily under-
stood from the drawings to follow, but it must be understood that I do not tie
myself down to the details thus specified but reserve to myself the right to make
all such reasonable modifications as experience may suggest.
like Articles.
I, GEORGE RICHARD POSTLETHWAITE, of 124 Park Road, Aston Manor,
near Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Mechanical Engineer, 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:-
This invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of brushes and
brooms and such like articles for domestic uses and for other purposes, and has
reference more especially to the formation of or to a novel method of making up
the knots or tuft portions or parts of ordinary brushes or brooms, whether the
same be composed of bristles, hair, fibre, bass or any other filamentary material,
and also to specially constructed machinery or appliances and tools for the purpose
of forming such tufts, and for inserting and securing the same into what are known
as the backs, stocks or bodies.
In making ordinary brushes whether by hand or by machinery, the fibre where
the tufts or knots are formed is invariably cut off to rather more than double the
length of the finished tufts required. These suitable lengths, which must also he
of suitable substance or bulk, are then doubled upon themselves at the middle at
the time of inserting them into the brush back usually called the stock.
When such brushes are made by hand each particular portion of fibre is first
divided from the bulk by the fingers of the operator who of course requires
experience and judgment so as to prevent variation as much as possible. Then
each portion so divided is inserted into a wire loop, which is formed by passing a
very thin wire through the hole already prepared in the brush stock, the stock
being held the while in a pair of clamps or in a vice. The length of fibre being
placed centrally according to judgment in the aforesaid loop, the wire is then
drawn back tightly, and by this means the lengths of enclosed fibre are doubled
upon themselves and the returned portion of each tuft is drawn into the hole in
the stock. The wire is then looped through the next hole, and the same process
is repeated and so on until the brush is complete. This process is called drawing,
and after each row of tufts is so inserted, they are cut or trimmed to even lengths
or heights, the waste and variations in the doubling up being allowed for as
previously stated.
In regard to brooms, the usual way of manufacturing is very different to that of
brushes, and each branch requires a different class of operatives as well as
appliances, and in many instances each are carried on in separate departments from
the other, which is occasioned by the fact that the tufts, knots, or bristles are all
secured in the broom stocks by means of heated pitch. This pitch is heated in large
pans by means of gas burners fixed underneath, and the operators are seated
around these pans while working, so that what with the funes from the gas
burners and the boiling pitch, it is a most unhealthy and unclean occupation, to
say nothing about the constant danger of fire through the overheating of the
pitch. The tufts are prepared by first cutting the bass or fibre to the exact
engths required, allowing sufficient for the after process of trimming. The
R

page_text: process of doubling the fibre being omitted in this class of goods. A portion of
fibre is then divided from the bulk by the fingers, one end is dipped into the
molten pitch and then wrapped tightly round with hemp, and is then dipped again
into the pitch, and while still hot, it is inserted into the broom stock, and so on
until the whole of the holes are filled, and when the pitch is completely set, the
outer ends of the tufts are cut or trimmed to an even length.
According to my invention the process of forming the tufts is the same for
brushes as for brooms, or vice versa, and in fact, the two distinct processes
previously described are reduced absolutely to one only, and experienced labour
E entirely optional, and all unhealthy operations are eliminated, and much filth or
dirt avoided.
According to my invention the fibre to form the tufts, either for brushes or for
brooms, is cut up into the exact lengths required, so that by avoiding the usual
bending or doubling process as described for brushes, a shorter length of fibre may
be utilized.
The fibre thus prepared is apportioned mechanically into quantities sufficient to
form a tuft one end of which portion of fibre so separated is surrounded by a thin
narrow sheet metal band.
The two ends of this band are bent or tucked inwards into the enclosed fibre
and the band is then tightly closed or compressed between suitable dies, so that
every filament of such a tuft is absolutely secured or bound within the said sheet
metal band, and by these means, each such tuft so formed has its own individuality,
apart from either brush or broom stock, and so may be made in any quantity and
stored ready for making into brushes or brooms at any time.
The front edges of the dies whereby the sheet metal bands are compressed
around the tufts are slightly bevelled or countersunk off, so that the upper edge of
Faid band is made somewhat bell or trumpet shaped. The form thus given to the
upper edge of the band is a most essential feature, and is provided to answer
several purposes, as in the first place it prevents the liability to shear or cut the
uter filaments constituting the enclosed tuft. It also causes the upper portion of
tie tuit to spread in a most desirable manner, and adds very materially to the
elasticity thereof; it also stiffens the bands so that they retain the full amount
of compression given by the closing or compression dies. Then again this
projecting or bell shape edge serves the means of securely fixing the tufts in the
respective holes provided for them in the brush or broom stocks, for as the
compressing dies are set to close the metal band just small enough to enter
the holes freely up to this bell shaped portion or edge, it then requires but little
pressure to force this into and below the orifice or surface of the stock, wherein
they become imbedded, and so absolutely secured as to require no further means
of holding and each tuft is proof against the effects of cold or heated liquids.
The foregoing short description being sufficient to show the nature of my
invention so far as regards the tufts.
I will next specify the machinery and appliances necessary for the formation
of such tufts.
The bands for binding one end of the tufts are prepared as follows:―
I take a blank of sheet metal, and turn the ends of the same up at right
angles, thus forming a binding strip with turned up ends.
I will now describe the machinery and appliances used in the formation of
the tufts, which is constructed as follows:-
The body or main portion of the machine consists of a frame, provided with
a foot or base. To this framing a foot lever is pivoted, whilst a central groove
or channel is also provided in the frame, beginning at about the middle, above
the said foot lever, and extending to the top thereof, and in this groove or channel
a divider slide is made to work up and down, and is actuated by connecting rods
attached from the lower end of the divider slide to the said foot lever, the whole
being balanced by a spring, so that the slide is always maintained in a normal
position, at the end of the upper stroke, and so is always ready for depression o

page_text: the application of the foot to the lower lever. The divider slide just described
is arranged so as to slide in contact with the front edge of the framing. This
lower portion narrows to a point or extremity, so forming an acute wedge or
angle picce, the inner portion of which is in sliding contact with the framing.
Slightly below the point of this divider, when in its normal position, a > shaped
cavity or mouth is formed in the framing in a transverse direction, so that on the
pressure of the foot being put upon the lower lever before described, the point of
the divider passes over the open portion of this mouth and comes to rest about
two inches below it, this being a sufficient traverse for the occasion required.
Then on the release of the foot from the lower lever, the spring before mentioned
brings all the parts back to their former or normal positions.
The next portion of the mechanism is appended to the right hand side of the
framing. This consists of a hand lever attached to the said framing by means of
a fulcrum pin or bolt, and the lower end of it is made to actuate two vertical
slides in such a way that the back one is given the lead upwards and comes to
rest there, this being the extreme height of its stroke, then the front slide is
brought downwards and comes to the end of its stroke just after the back one.
The upper end of the back slide is recessed or mouthed out downwards similar in
size and shape to the mouth previously described and arranged in the framing
and they coincide to some extent with each other, when the back slide has
reached the end of its upward stroke, only that each mouth is at right angles to
the other, so that the innermost portions from each opening forms very nearly a
circular hole. Then above the mouth portion in the back slide two opposite
ledges are formed, one each side the said mouth, and each ledge is bounded by a
continuance of the metal in an upward direction, or at right angles to the said
ledges to a distance of about th of an inch, each such boundary being equally
distant from the centre line of the mouth. These angular ledges are for the
purpose of receiving the prepared bands as before described and which when in
position cross the opening of the said mouth.
This back slide will be hereafter referred to as the clip folding or binding
slide. Then to the upper portion of the front slide, which is continued to a
greater height than the folding slide previously described, an adjustable indenting
tool is attached being in line with the opening of the mouth formed in the upper
end of the folding slide, into which it is made to enter when compressed down-
wards by the aforesaid hand lever. This rectangular steel tool I term the tucker.
and the slide to which it is attached I will hereafter refer to as the "tucker slide."
The acting tip of this tucker tool is double scolloped or curve coned and the
metal portion lying between the scollops is brought to a fine chisel or V-shaped
edge, so that when the tucker is at its lowest point within the mouth of the
folding slide their enclosed outlines form a heart shaped cavity. These slides
are operated and brought together by means of depressing the before-mentioned
band lever, when upon releasing the hold of the lever, or by the raising of the
same by hand, the tucker slide is raised and the folding slide lowered each to
their normal positions, by means of a spring, which spring tends also to keep the
whole movable portions in their normal positions. The fibre when cut to the
required length is placed in a suitable receptacle or hopper, which surmounts
the rest of the machine and is attached thereto at its lower portion. This hopper
is filled, or charged with the fibre material, which is pressed down more closely
together by means of a sliding weight covering the whole area occupied by the
fibre, and the lower portion of the fibre rests upon the pierced floor of the hopper
whilst the said bottom is fitted with a blade-edged plate or separator, for cutting off
from the hopper a layer of fibre. This separator is somewhat narrower in width
than the fibre and the opposite end projects out, and beyond the body of the
machine, the projecting portion being firmly secured to a sliding block. This
block is arranged to slide to and fro upon the upper portion of a horizontal
bracket securely fixed to the body of the machine, so that by these means the said
separator may be clearly and easily slid unto and out of position by hand. When

page_text: the separator is withdrawn, the fibre, by its own gravity, and with the assistance
of the sliding weight above falls a short distance downwards, then comes to rest
upon the pierced floor or what I term a grid plate. This grid plate is supported
at each end in transverse channels, opening outwards from the interior of the
machine and situated at each end thereof. Immediately below this grid plate is
a rectangular space, having disposed across it a shaft, carrying suitable cam and
wiper the back end of which shaft projects outwards for a short distance. From
the forward motion of the cam, a frame-shaped slide is worked upwards and
downwards only, and upon the upper end of this frame slide, a saddle slide is made
to work horizontally by means of hanging lugs, against which a wiper of the shaft
comes, its motion being forwards and backwards only, but it is raised or lowered
with the frame slide. The normal position of the frame slide is when at the end
of its lower stroke, and that of the saddle slide when at the end of its back
stroke. Then to the outer end of the cam shaft a socketted arm is fixed at right
angles thereto the extreme end of which is connected to a raised foot lever
attached to the under framing or stand of the machine. This lever, when
depressed by the foot, causes the cam to move through about one third of a circle,
which, in so doing, raises the frame and saddle slide together to their full height,
and here the frame slide becomes stationary, and at this time, the wiper engages
with the saddle slide and brings it forward to the extreme end of its stroke, then
on releasing the foot lever, the cam returns back, bringing down both the slides,
but it is important, in this return stroke, that the saddle slide should remain in the
position of its forward stroke during the descent of the frame slide then the wiper
comes again in contact with the back end of the saddle slide and the whole of the
parts are brought down together into their normal positions and ready for a
repetition movement. This being understood, it may be further stated that on the
upper flat surface of the said saddle slide two rows of needle pointed pegs are
firmly imbedded, and these rows exactly correspond with two longitudinal slots in
the grid plate. These pegs, when the slides are at rest, are already within the
said slots but below the upper surface of the grid plate, but when brought up by
means of the cam, they penetrate the fibre material which rests thereon to the
extent of about a quarter of an inch, and while the pointed pegs are held in this
position the separator having been previously drawn out to allow the fibre to fall
on to the grid plate, it is then drawn in again, and its point, in its course,
penetrates the fibre, so that by the time the separator bas completed its stroke,
a layer or stratum of fibre is separated from the bulk previously deposited in the
hopper, and the pointed pegs imbedded in this portion or stratum prevents undue
disturbance and uneven compression of the same during the time of its separation.
The foot lever may now be released, and by means of a spring the lever, together
with the elides, are brought back again to the starting point, and the layer of fibre
is now in a position to be worked forward towards and through the channel or
transverse opening in the fore part of the machine as previously described. To
this fore part of the machine a branch bracket is screwed, and on the upper end
of this bracket a sliding shuttle works horizontally, its line of motion being to and
from the body of the machine. At the near end of this shuttle is a mouth shaped
opening, and the opening of this mouth is in exact line with the transverse channel
or opening in the body of the machine, and is therefore lignable with the layer of
fibre already separated. The contact of this shuttle mouth with this transverse
opening is effected by means of a spring, this being its normal position. Then
above this junction or contact, a wedge-shaped and needle pointed divider works
upon an inclined plane between guides. This divider is made to work upwards
and downwards by incans of a foot lever and the necessary attachments. Then to
the same bracket which forms the slide bearings for the shuttle, a folding and
tucking slide is attached, these being exactly the same as those already described,
therefore a further description is not necessary, so that I can now continue to
explain the remaining action of the machine which is as follows:-
It now only remains to be stated that as the layer of fibre is liberated by the

page_text: withdrawal of the pointed pegs at the end of each step or stage, the further end
of the layer of fibre is apt to straggle so that to prevent this it is backed up by a
small sliding piece, called a compressor. This compressor is attached to the fore
en of a thin steel rod, and the outer end of the rod is secured to a slide block
which is arranged to traverse upon the same slide as the separator block. To
each of these blocks a long communicating handle is jointed so as to bring them
within reach of the operator sitting in front of the machine. To the slide block
carrying the compressor a cord is fixed, which works over a pulley_and_through
the top of the table wherein the body of the machine is secured, and to the
lower end of the cord a suitable weight is suspended, and by this means an even
compression is maintained in the layer during the whole of its journey forward,
and when one layer is worked out the compressor is first moved back to its
starting point and is held in that position by means of a notch and catch, the
separator is then pushed back and this allows the bulk of fibre to fall upon the
grid plate. The separator is then brought forward and a layer is again formed.
The catch is now withdrawn and the compressor at once acts with a gentle pressure
upon the layer of fibre before it. Each such layer is sufficient in quantity to
form any number of tufts according to the size of the machine, and it may here be
stated that the whole or greater portion of the actions of the machine now
described may be accomplished by means of a rotating shaft or any other suitable
method.
Having now fully described the mechanical processes whereby the tufts for
brushes are so far perfected, the bands of which only need closing and shaping in
suitable dies, when they are ready at any time for insertion in the solid wood
backs, or stocks. The said stocks then, being previously prepared in any usual
form or manner for boring the tufts are then inserted into the holes made to
receive them.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings represents, in side elevation, a machine
for making and preparing brush and broom tufts, constructed and arranged
according to my invention. In this view, the parts are shown in the positions
which they assume when the bottom layer or stratum of fibre is separated from the
bulk of the fibre in the hopper, from which layer or lower stratum, the filaments for
the formation of the tufts are intermittently taken, compressed within a seating,
apportioned off and then fed between a pair of top and bottom tools, which close
around one end of the bunch of single filaments, a metallic clip or shoe, which is
subsequently shaped ready to be inserted within the stock or back of a brush
or broom.
Figure 2 represents a formed tuft, having one end tipped or bound with a
metallic clip or shoe.
Figure 3 represents, upon an enlarged scale, a transverse section upon the dotted
lines - Figure 2.
Figure 4 shows, partly in section and partly in elevation, a scrubbing brush
having a solid back, and fitted with tufts made in accordance with my invention,
and by the machine as set forth in Figure 1.
Figure 5 represents, partly in vertical section, and partly in elevation, the said
tuft-forming machine Figure 1, with the tucker and folding slides, which are upon
the left-hand side of the machine, shown broken away, so as to more clearly
exhibit the shuttle slide, which feeds the bunch of filaments forming the tuft to the
tools carried by the parts mentioned as broken away. It also shows the cam and
wiper shaft, and also the saddle slide, and the rows of needle-pointed pegs upon its
topside for penetrating the layer or stratum of fibre lying between the grating
bottom of the hopper and the separator slide. The said view further represents
the compression slide, which is worked by the handle lever and is carried by a
saddle, adapted to slide to and fro upon the bed of a machine. It further shows
the vertical frame slide upon which the saddle slide iests.
Figure 6 represents a transverse vertical section of the machine upon the dotted

page_text: lines A B Figure 5, showing more clearly the hopper, the weight, the separator,
the compressor, the grid bottom of the hopper, the saddle slide with the needle-
pointed pegs, the vertical frame slide, the cam and wiper, and the can shaft with
its operating lever.
Figure 7 represents a horizontal section of the said machine upon the dotted
lines CD Figure 5.
Figure 8 represents the layer divider and shuttle parts of the machine.
Figure 9 represents front and side elevations of the layer divider separately.
Figure 10 represents a horizontal section of the divider and shuttle upon the
dotted lines E F Figure 8.
Figure 11 represents a horizontal section of the grid floor of the hopper upon an
enlarged scale, and Figure 12 represents a horizontal section of the mouth end of
the shuttle upon the same scale.
Figure 13 represents a vertical section of the tucker and folding slides, and
Figure 14 represents a back elevation of the same.
Figure 15 represents the upper parts of the tucker and folding slides, their tools,
the mouth end of the shuttle and the upper adjacent part of the divider, upon an
enlarged scale, and showing the first part of the process of bunching together of
the filaments of the tuft, prior to an end being encompassed or bound by a metallic
clip or shoe.
Figure 16 represents a horizontal section of Figure 15, upon the dotted
lines G H.
Figure 17 is a like view as Figure 15, but with the tools of the tucker and
folding slides made to approach each other, and with the binder or shoe brought
up to and folded around the tuft, whose end forms as it were a mandril, around
which the metallic strip is passed, thus enclosing the said end of the tuft within, as
it were, a short length of opeu-jointed tubing.
Figure 18 represents the tucking tool descended, with the metal of the shoe,
adjacent to the open joint, tucked into or made to bodily penetrate the fibres at the
end of the tuft.
Figure 19 represents the tuft shown in Figure 18 separately.
Figure 20 represents a cross section on the dotted lines I J Figure 19, whilst
Figure 21 represents a vertical section of Figure 19.
Figure 22 represents a pair of tools for shaping the end of a tuft, that is, for
giving the same a perfectly round figure in cross section, and a sligh o itward
taper from the outer to the inner end.
Figure 23 represents a side elevation, partly in section, of the pair of tools
Figure 22.
The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures
of the drawings.
a is an upright trestle framing, having a boxed upper part a', a bed a³, and a
top framing a³, within which latter a hopper or chamber b, having a grating or
grid-like and reticulated bottom b', for receiving the fibre to be made up into tufts,
is fitted. The lower part of the said hopper has working within it, a separator
slide c, with the fore part c', tapered and pointed, and the other and outward
part c², bolted and connected to a saddle c³, adapted to traverse the projecting
bed a², of the framing a, and being operated by a jointed bar c', having a handle c³,
at its end, and a notch e, for engaging with the lower edge c', of the eye c, where-
through the said bar c', slides, so that when the separator, which is in the form of
a spear-pointed plate or bar, is pushed full back, and without the range of the
inside of the hopper, the notch c, drops upon the edge c, of the bracket plate c³,
bolted to the general framing.
Also fitted within the lower part of the hopper, and within the area com-
prehended between the underside of the separator slide, and the topside of the
grid bottom, is a compressor d, carried at the inner end of a rod d², passing through
the saddle c*, and terminating at its outer end in a slide d³, to which a bar or

page_text: arm a, is rigidly connected, which arm takes through an eye a", in a sliding catch
plate do, with the edge d', of which, the notch d³, engages, when the said compressor
has been forced back.
Located within the hollow of the framing, below the bed, and below the grid
bottom of the hopper, is a reciprocating and rising and falling saddle e, having
rows of spikes e, upon its topside, which are adapted to take through the slots 6,
of the said reticulated bottom, and to penetrate and separate off the layer or
stratum, of the bulk of fibre f, kept down by a compressing weight b³, fitting
and working plunger-like within the upper end of the said hopper, so that as the
layer of fibre is consumed and the separator slide withdrawn, the bulk of the said
fibre falls upon the bottom by gravity.
The saddle e, has upon its underside, a carrying bracket e³, having depending
lugs e, fitted with roller bearings e, which latter take into races g', of a rising and
falling frame slide 9, having a middle piercing, and working between upright
sides at, of the boxed upper part a', and with a cam h³, on a shaft h, engaging
with the said opening 9³, and with wiper arms, on the same shaft engaging
alternately with the depending lugs e, of the saddle e, so that as the shaft h, is
rocked, through the medium of the arm, by the connecting rod /*, connected to
the foot treadle, having fitted to it a taking-back spring, the cam 4', lifts the
frame slide 9, and with it the saddle e, and then the wipers, reciprocate the said
saddle e.
Directed lignable with the separated layer of fibre, or the space enclosed
between the underside of the separator slide and the grating bottom of the hopper,
and situated at the front of the said hopper, is a shuttle or sliding feed 1, having a
mouth-shaped sinking i', adapted to receive and hold a sufficient quantity of bristles
and fibre to constitute a single tuft, which is held during the time that the bristles
are being compressed when the divider j, descends by an armik, of a slide end k³,
of the connecting rod k, working within a guide k³, of a bracket k, taking against
a stud, of the shuttle or feed slide i, which works through the bracket *, and is
taken home after each traverse consequent upon the descent of the divider ;, by
a spring
Now the divider, slides upon the inclined plane a', and is united to the con-
necting rod k, (which is jointed at its lower end to the foot lever **) by a link kb.
' is the spring for bringing back the parts to their normal parts.
The said divider j, divides off from the separated layer of a fibre, a quantity
sufficient to form the tuft, and also pushes back the shuttle or feed slide to such
a position that the mouth thereof is made to come coincident and over the
binder placed over the folder tool, and underneath the tucker, as hereinafter
described.
Thus the back side of the wedge-shaped divider travels upon the inclined
plane as, of the general framing, whilst the other and front side impinges and
travels within gaps, formed vertically through the mouth, and which has pegs
or prongs, rearwards of it, which take into steadying gaps a, formed within the
front of the framing or floor of the hopper, whilst the middle bit, of the mouth
is concaved at ', and forms a lead or guide for the nose j, of the divider to take
through, when the middle bit, lies within the gap u' of the floor or framing b¹.
Situated upon the front or left hand side of the machine, and lignable with the
shuttle or feed carrier, are two upright and reciprocating slides, in and o, both of
which are operated by the same hand lever p, tulerumed at and adapted to rock
upon the pin p', and with the said slides, of which m is the tucker slide, and o, the
folder slides, working upon guide studs q', carried by an upright frame q. Now
the tucker slide m, carries a tucking tool m', with a scolloped and acting nose m³,
whilst the folding slide o, has a folding tool o', having a concaved cavity o³, and a
rest o³, for the binding blank r, (shown in edge view and plan in Figure 18^) over
which the tuft f, transversely comes, into which position it is carried and there
held by the mouth of the shuttle (see Figures 15 and 16).
The end of the rocking lever p, has a front cam part p², and a heel cam part p³,

page_text: the former for raising the folder slide, and the latter for bringing down the tucker
slide, which slides are connected together by a coiled spring s.
The compressor d, is made to automatically push up the layer of fibre, on the
same being consumed, by a suspended weight t, hung from the end of a cord t',
connected at 2, to the arin d', and passing over a pulley t³.
OPERATION.
Now assuming that the hopper is filled with fibre, and that the same is
uniformally compressed, and rests upon the grating floor of the hopper by the
gravitating effect of the weight 6, and the column of material, and assuming that
the separator slide has been withdrawn and locked by its catch, and also that the
compressor has likewise been withdrawn and locked, and that the feed slide and
other parts are in the positions represented in Figures 1 and 5, then by lifting the
pull-back arm c, so as to take its notch c, from off the catch part e', of the
bracket, and pulling the said arm forward, the separator slide is then made to
horizontally penetrate or pass through the lower stratum of the fibre, and cut off
from the upper part, a lower course or layer f¹, which is then horizontally com-
pressed and the fore part of it forced into the delivery mouth u, by releasing the
compressor d, which is made to follow up the material, through the medium of the
cord having the falling weight at its end, and passing over the pulley, forcing
inwards the rod d, and take the extreme fore part of the layer crosswise into the
mouth, of the feed slide i. The operator, by his foot, now presses down the
treadle lever h, and brings down the connecting rod , and arm h³, turns
the cam h', in the direction of the arrow, lifts the frame slide 9, and with it the
saddle slide e, and takes the rows of spikes or prongs e', through the grating
slots of the grid-like bottom 61, and causes them to penetrate the fibrous
layer The wipers ², are now taken from the right lugs e, to the left hand
ones, and then as the shaft h, further rotates, the slide frame g, comes to rest, and
during the pause, the slide e, is traversed in the direction of the dotted arrow,
hence the easing of the fibrous layer and the further compression of the part of it
lying within the mouth of the shuttle and forward of the first pair of the spikes or
prongs. This forward displacement of the material occasioned by the traverse of
the spikes is followed up by the compressor. Now release the foot from the
treadle, when the spring he, takes the parts back to their normal positions, which
is done by the falling of the saddle e, with the slide frame 9, on the cam taking
the position represented into Figure 5, when the wipers 2, coming again against
the right-hand lugs es, wheel the said saddle back into its normal position.
The operator now places his foot upon the other treadle lever k, when the
connecting rod k, is drawn downwards, and with it the upper and slide end k³, and
the guillotine divider j, through the link. The shuttle or feed slide is, at the
same time, released, by the wedge-shaped arm k', being taken from behind the
stud, of it, so that as the guillotine divider now descends, the nose j', first
penetrates the extreme end of the layer of fibre and cuts off that portion lying
within the mouth ', of the shuttle, which said cut-off portion is further compressed
and held and the nose part of the divider brought against the curved end i, of the
middle bit, of the shuttle, which is, by the further descent of the divider, pushed
back to the binding position represented in Figures 8, 15 and 16. Now that the
tuft is coincident with the folding and tucker tool, and whilst the operator still
keeps a foot upon the treadle lever, the rocking lever p, is then pulled down by
hand, turning the same upon its fulcrum p', and bringing the cam part p², of it
against the curved contact of, and the slide o, is thus lifted, and the clip r, (see
Figure 15) lying upon the rests o, is then forced upon the underside of one end of
the tuft held within the mouth, and which tuft is, by the further ascent of the
tool, completely clipped or circumferentially embraced by the steel metal clip,
being forced or gathered in by the-curved sinking o', following up the said clip and
bending it to the figure of the tuft, and at the same time curving or gathering-in
the hooked ends, upon the topside of the tuft, as represented in Figure 17. The

page_text: further movement of the lever p, brings the heel curved part p³, against the curved
contact m³, of the slide m, which is depressed, and the tucking-in tool m³, then
descends, and imbeds its acting nose into the top of the tuft, which further tucks
and imbeds the terminal ends of the clip into the fibres, as represented in
Figure 18.
The hand and foot levers are then released, when the slides are brought back to
their normal positions by the spring s, the guillotine divider and its cognate parts
are taken back to their normal positions by the spring k', and the shuttle or feed
slide is taken back by its spring, and the whole of the parts have then assumed
the positions represented in Figure 5, when a second and further portions of tuft
are taken and operated upon in the same way until the stratum has been exhausted,
when the separator slide is again drawn back, the fibre in bulk allowed to descend
to the bottom of the hopper, when another stratum is cleft by the separator as
before, and this is repented until the supply of fibre in the hopper has been
exhausted.
The shoe of the tuft is then finally tapered and finished by being taken to a
shaping tool Figure 22, and represented in side elevation in Figure 23 consisting
of top and bottom dies v, and v².
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
First. In machinery for the production of tufts for brushes, broom and similar
articles formed from single lengths of hair and the like, separating from the bulk
of fibre lying within a hopper or receiver, a layer or stratum, by a blade separator,
substantially as described and set forth.
Secondly. In machinery for the production of brush, broom or like tufts,
consolidating the layer or stratum, and forcing the same into a delivery mouth, by
a horizontal compressor, in the form of a piston or equivalent, substantially as
described and set forth.
Thirdly. In machinery for the production of brush, broom and like tufts, further
compressing and easing the stratum of fibre through the medium of a rising and
reciprocating spiked saddle, substantially as described and set forth.
Fourthly. In machinery for the production of brush, broom and like tufts,
making or forming an abutment for the end of the layer of fibre, apportioning off
a quantity of fibre sufficient to form a. tuft, and carrying a cut-off portion, by or
through the medium of a shuttle or feed slide, having a mouth or cross cavity at
its presented inner end, substantially as described and set forth.
Fifthly. In machinery for the production of brush, broom and like tufts, cutting
ff or cross separating a portion of fibre sufficient to form a tuft, and also feeding
the same to the binding positions, by or through the medium of a guillotine-like
divider or wedge-shaped block, substantially as described and set forth.
Sixthly. In machinery for the production of brush, broom and like tufts,
applying the shoe or clip to an end of the tuft of fibre, for the purpose of binding
or clamping the single lengths of fibre together, by a folding tool, or by a combined
folding and tucking tool, which acts in unison with the shuttle and separator,
substantially as described and set forth.
Seventhly. In machinery for the production of brush, broom and like tufts, the
means herein described for lifting, reciprocating and returning the spiked saddle,
substantially as described and set forth.
Eighthly. In machinery for the production of brush, broom and like tufts, the
means herein described for operating the combined divider and shuttle feed, and
for locking the shuttle in position for receiving the end of the layer of fiore,
substantially as described and set forth.
Ninthly. In machinery for the production of brush, broom and like fibres, the
means herein described for operating the folding and tucker slides, substantially as
described and set forth.

page_text: Tenthly. In machinery for the production of brush, broom and like tufts, the
improvements in the means for apportioning the fibre to form a tuft, and binding
an end of the same, substantially as described and set forth.
Eleventhly. In machinery for the production of brush, broom and like tufts,
the general construction, arrangement and combination of the parts, less the hand
and foot operating levers and their connecting rods or links, substantially as, and
for the purposes as, described and set forth.
Twelfthly. In machinery for the production of brush, broom and like tufts, the
general construction, arrangement and combination of the parts, substantially as
described and set forth.
Thirteenthly. In loose tufts for brushes, brooms and the like, making the same
up from single lengths of fibre, bristle or the like, bound together at one end by a
thin sheet metal strip, band or binder, forming a cap or shoe, with the ends of the
said strip turned inwards or made to insinuate into the said bristle or fibre, and
with the said cap or shoe preferably made slightly conical to facilitate its insertion
into a stock, substantially as described and set forth.
Fourteenthly. The improvements in, or in the manufacture of, brushes and brooms,
substantially as described and set forth.
Dated this 24th day of September 1894.
GEORGE RICHARD POSTLETHWAITE,
By Henry Skerrett,
6, Livery Street, Birmingham, Agent for Applicant.
GEORGE RICHARD POSTLETH WAITE,
By Henry Skerrett,
Livery Street, Birmingham, Agent for Applicant.