IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR LAPPING AND FOLDING ALL DESCRIPTIONS OF WOVEN, TEXTURE, AND SURFACE FABRICS
Year: 1843

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, J, HENRY
CLARKE, of Dogheda, Linen Merchant, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Twenty-third day of February, in the sixth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Henry Clarke, Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege and
authority, that I, the said Henry Clarke, my exors, admñňors, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said Henry Clarke, my exors, adñors, or assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all
times during the term of years therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of
Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR
LAPPING AND FOLDING ALL DESCRIPTIONS OF WOVEN, TEXTURE, AND SURFACE
FABRICS;" in which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso, that I, the
said Henry Clarke, shall cause a particular description of the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be inrolled
in Her said Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar months
next and immediately after the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent,
as in and by the same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at
large appear.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, 1, the said
Henry Clarke, do hereby declare the naturo of my said Invention, and
the manner in which the same is to be performed, are fully described and
ascertained in and by the following statement thereof, reference being had to
the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the figures and letters marked thereon,
that is to say:-
My Invention relates to a mode of combining apparatus as hereafter
explained; and in order that the Invention may be most fully understood I
will proceed to explain the Drawings hereunto.annexed, in the various Figures
of which the same letters are used to indicate similar parts.
Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a machino constructed according to
my Invention; Figure 2, a plan thereof; Figure 8, a longitudinal section
thereof; Figure 4, a transverse. section thereof; and Figure 5 shows another
longitudinal section, by which the position of the cloth as it is progressively
folded will be readily traced, and the mode of action of the parts of the machine
will be understood. A, A, represents the table or surface upon which the
fabric is to be lapped or folded. This table or surface is fixed, and remains
stationary as the fabric is progressively folded thereon, which, combined with
the mode of working the grippers or holders, constitutes the peculiar character
of the Invention. B, a guide rail, graduated or marked off at each end with
Figures, and finished with two moveable guides C, C, (in order to adjust the
same to different widths of fabrics), having each a thumb-screw D' to secure
them at any required distance apart on the rail; E, E, represent two grippers,
one at either end of the table; that at the driving end is' stationary as to
position, the other moveable in order to adjust the machine for different
lengths of folding; each consists of two perpendicular side brackets, con-
nected above the table by three horizontal bars 1, 2, 3, and one "horizontal
bar 4 at the lower extremity of the side brackets, and underneath the table.
These grippers move or rise and fall on centres at F to allow of the quantity
of fabric to be folded between them and the fixed table; their weight or pres
sure upon the fabric by the bars (3) keep the folds of the cloth secure. G, G,
are two pinions, keyed one at each end upon the bar (1) at the right-hand
end of the machine, and working in racks H, H, Figure 2, at the right-hand
end of the machine; 5, 5, are two upright brackets through which the gripper
bar (1) passes, and they slide on the rails (6), (6), below the table; 7, 7,
Figure 2, are two slits or openings in the table through which those brackets
(5), (5), move; (8) is a catch, placed upon the gripper bar (1) (at the right-
hand end of the machine), on which it moves, and by taking into the rack (9)
retains the gripper apparatus at the desired position; (9) is a toothed rack,

page_text: inserted in or fixed on the table under catch (8); (10), (10), are pinching
screws, one in each bracket through the lower parts of the brackets (5), (5),
the slide rails (6) pass. By this combination the moveable grippers can be.
shifted at pleasure, and worked at any required distance from the other, to
determine the precise length of each lap or fold, whereby the measurement is
known, the number of these laps or folds being indicated upon the graduated
rack (11), Figure 1; this rack is acted upon by the catch (12), raising it
one tooth each time a fold is passed under the gripper at that end of the
machine, and the teeth being numbered, the number of folds will be
indicated. I, Figures 3 and 5, are four exalting rollers, acting in joint
centre links, one being placed at each inward extremity of the gripper
points, and by these exalting rollers ascending inclined planes on the fabric
carriers, as shown at M', the grippers are raised and lowered to receive
and to retain each lap or fold. J, Figures 1, 2, and 4, are angle rails,
forming the upper edge of the table frame on either side, and upon those
rails the carriage works. K, Figures 1, 2, 3, and 5, is the carriage, con-
structed to traverse upon the angle rail J, such carriage being formed of
two side plates, connected underneath the table by a strong bar (18).
Each of those side plates are furnished on the inside with vertical slide
beds, and on the outside with revolving grooved wheels L. M, M, are two
fabric carriers, placed parallel with each other, about two inches apart, across
the table, having long right-angle sliding ends to move up and down as
required in vertical slide beds on the carriage plates, and these fabric carriers
traverse with the carriage and above the fixed table. The fabric carriers aro
narrow flat bars, each formed towards the inner edge into an inclined plane,
graduated or marked off with figures, as described in respect to the guide rail
B;,and furnished with self-retaining guides, acting by springs, and marked
(14). The exalting rollers I whilst ascending the inclined planes raise the
gripper E to receive the fabric below it, and wheu at the summit the rollers
give way upon the joint of the links, and the gripper falls on the fabric carrier
M, the further progress of which is prevented by the increased friction which
is produced. The inclined plane being withdrawn by the motion of the car-
riage, the laps or folds are retained successively under each of the grippers.
(14) are the guides referred to, which are retained in any positions by springs
pressing upon the back of the fabric carriers, which are grooved, thus .the
guides are retained at whatever spot they may be adjusted to. N, Figures
1 & 2, is a bracket, carrying the driving gear, and attached at one end to the
side of the machine; O is a handle, driving spur wheel P, which works into a
corresponding wheel Q, keyed upon the shaft R; this shaft extends across the

page_text: machine and under the table A. S, Figures 3 and 5, is a drum or pulley,
fastened upon the centre of this driving shaft R; T is a corresponding drum or
friction pulley, placed at the opposite end of the machine; U is a belt, coiled
upon the pulley S, and passing over the friction pulley T, with the extremity's
attached to the carriage bar (13), near the centre, and underneath the table,
thus the carriage bringing with it the fabric carriers M is traversed, as
required, upon the angle rails J. And here I would have it understood, that
although I represent and describe this as a hand machine, considering it
as such for general uses more convenient, yet it will be evident that the
application of any reversing motion, other than hand power, may be resorted
to. V, Figures 3 and 5, are four lifters, to each of which is attached a catch
W; these lifters work on hinged joints at each lower extremity of the gripper
apparatus E. X, are set screws, to obtain the proper elevation for those lifters.
(15), Figures 3, 4, and 5, are four studs, projecting from the inside and at the
bottom of each right-angle slide of the fabric carriers M; these studs drop into
the lifters' catches W in the working of the machine. Y, Figures 1 and 2, is
a handle for working the shaft (16); this shaft passes across the machine at
about the middle thereof and under the table. On the centre of this shaft is
a boss (17), having the extremities of belt (18) attached to it; this belt passing
over a friction pulley (19) is also attached by rollers (20), Figures 3 and 5, to
the centre of the lower connecting gripper bars (4); upon this shaft and at the
handle is a ratchet wheel (21), Figures 1 and 2, acted on by the catch (22).
The operation of this handle and shaft is to raise the grippers to any required
elevation above the table, and by the ratchet and catch to retain them so at
pleasure while removing the folded fabric from the table of the machine.
Having thus detailed the various parts of the machine, I will now proceed to
describe the action of the different parts thereof. The fabric in the beginning
is introduced at the driving end over the rail B, and continued on between
the fabric carriers M and placed under the moveable gripper E. The machine
being put in motion, the carriage K. is drawn towards the opposite or stationary
gripper; as the carriage approaches this gripper the studs (15) enter the lifter
catch W, which raises the fabric carrier M over the gripper, and passes it out
of the way, while the other fabric carrier lifts the gripper, by passing its
inclined plane under the exalting rollers I, until they come to the top of
the inclined plane, when having no support they give way on their joint
centre links, the gripper falls upon the fabric carrier M, producing sufficient
friction to prevent the further progress of the carriage K, which is then caused
to travel in the opposite direction, and the gripper bar E pressess on the fresh
fold of fabrics and retains the fold; the carriages then passing to the other

page_text: gripper the same motions are produced, leaving a fold alternately under each
gripper, until the whole of the cloth or fabric is folded up on the table or
surface of the machine.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in which
the same is to be performed, I would have it understood that I make no claim
to any of the parts separately, nor do I confine myself to the precise details
herein shown and described. And I would remark that I am aware that
machines have before been constructed for folding cloths or fabrics; I do not,
therefore, claim the folding fabrics by machinery generally; but what I claim
is, the mode of combining the parts which I have called the grippers or
holders with a fixed table or surface, and also the cloth carriers and appa-
ratus connected therewith for raising the same, when combined with a fixed
table or surface on which cloths or fabrics are folded.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Clarke, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventh day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and forty-three.
HENRY (L.B.) CLARKE.
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Seventh day of August, in the
year of our Lord 1843, the aforesaid Henry Clarke came before our said
Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification afore-
said, and all and every thing therein contained and specified, in form above
written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according to
the tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
Enrolled the Twenty-third day of August, in the year of our Lord, One
thousand eight hundred and forty-three.