Improved Method of and Apparatus for Cutting the Pile of Cords, Velveteens, and like Fabrics.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Sept., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 14th June, 1892-Accepted, 14th Sept., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Method of and Apparatus for Cutting the Pile of Cords,
Velveteens, and like Fabrics.
I, ARTHUR JAMES MAYNE of 53 Gresham Road, Brixton, in the County of
Surrey, Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to an improved method of cutting the pile of cords,
velveteens, and like fabrics, and apparatus for that purpose and has for its object
the improvement of the manufacture of such materials, relatively to the method
and means hitherto adopted. Heretofore the pile of velveteens and like fabrics
has been cut by the division of the looped upper web, succession of loops, or "race"
and this process has been effected by the use of one cutter or knife in combination
with and fixed to a guide and holder operated by hand, either by the continuous
motion of the fabric; said knife being stationary, or vice-versa, one race being cut,
at a time.
"
In carrying my invention into effect, I arrange a number of circular cutters upon
suitable spindles, each cutter cutting one particular race. A series of these spindles
carrying a number of said circular cutters are mounted upon a suitable frame, and
are adjustable thereupon. Each cutter is furnished with a grooved guide, pointed
or otherwise shaped to engage with the race and produce sufficient tension to
facilitate the cutting; the circular cutter revolving inside the groove aforesaid. The
cutting edge may be made plain, toothed, or otherwise, to suit the texture of the
material.
The fabric is caused to travel longitudinally, so that the races are continually
carried over the guides and are subjected to.the action of the cutters, the cutting
edges of which are revolved at a higher rate of speed than that of the fabric for
the purpose of producing a clean cut, without dragging or tearing the material.
The guides are entirely separate from the cutters, and are constructed to be
automatically adjusted to the inequalities or irregularities of the races; and they
are kept at an exact distance from the edge of the cutter by means of suitable
projections on each side, or the cutter frame may be moved longitudinally or
transversely across the fabrics.
The guides are connected electrically in such a manner that while the fabric
operated upon is intact, an electrical circuit is open; but should one or more: of
said guides tear or puncture said fabric electrical contact is established between
said guide or guides and a suitable contact piece over which the material passes;
and this by means of an electro-magnetic device immediately stops the motion of
the machine, and prevents further damage to the fabric.
I may employ any suitable driving mechanism for actuating the cutter spindles
and for causing the fabric to move at a proper and uniform rate of speed, and may
employ suitable rollers, guide bars, brushes or other appliances for perfecting the
operation and facilitating the action of the apparatus.
Dated this 11th day of September 1891.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Method of and Apparatus for Cutting the Pile of Cords,
Velveteens, and like Fabrics.
I, ARTHUR JAMES MAYNE of 58, Gresham Road, Brixton in the County of
Surrey, 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 :-
My invention relates to an improved method of cutting the pile of cords,
velveteens and like fabrics, and apparatus for that purpose, and has for its object the
' improvement of the manufacture of such materials relatively to the method and
means hitherto adopted. Heretofore the pile of velveteens and like fabrics has
been cut by the division of the looped upper web, succession of loops, or "race"
and this process has been effected by the use of one cutter or knife in combination
with and fixed to a guide and hölder, operated by hand, either by the continuous
motion of the fabric, said knife being stationary or by the movement of the knife,
the fabric being stationary, one race being cut at a time.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood, I have appended the
accompanying sheet of drawings, in which
Figure 1 is an elevation of a cutter according to my invention, and
Figure 2 a plan view thereof, partly in section.
Figures 3, 4, and 5 are details thereof, and
Figures 6, 7, and 8 are figures illustrative of the safety action, hereinafter to be
described, and
Figure 9 is a diagrammatic sketch of an arrangement of said cutters upon the
fabric.
Figures 10 and 11 shew the arrangement of the automatic electrical device for
stopping the mechanism in case of defective action.
In carrying, my invention into effect, I construct one or more cutters in the
manner shewn by Figures 1 and 2, in which a is a circular cutter, plain or toothed,
or otherwise formed to suit the texture of the material upon which it is required to
operate. Said cutter is furnished with and enclosed within a grooved guide a pointed.
at fand with a flattened base g or otherwise shaped to engage with the race and
. produce sufficient tension to facilitate the cutting of the web, said cutter being
mounted upon a spindle e within a frame or holder A, so as to revolve freely within
the guided by means of the pulleys and gut or other bands c¹ driven by
suitable motive power. The spindle e may be of square or polygonal cross
section, or may be toothed or grooved as shewn by Figures 4, & 5 or a simple
feather or flat may be used, to facilitate the removal and replacement of the
cutters.
The guide d is shewn by Figure 3, and the cutter a upon the spindle e, by
Figures 4 and 5, as detached from the rest of the device, and drawn to a smaller
scale. It will be observed that the clear cutting edge of the cutter a is only
open to the fabric, so as to cut the web, at the point marked a on Figures 1, 6,
7, 8 and 10, and that any movement of the guide and shield d upon the centre
of the spindle e covers the cutting edge, and causes the device to pass harmlessly
over the fabric. The action is shewn by Figures 6, 7, and 8, in which the point
of the guide is shewn to have left the race and entered the fabric. The onward
movement, either of said tabric, or of the cutter frame causes it first to assume
the position shewn by Figure 7, and being continued that shewn by Figure 8.
Meanwhile the automatic electrical device for stopping the mechanism has become
actuated, and may be described as follows; with reference to Figures 10 and 11;
The fabric or material to be operated upon passes over a contact pięce ⁄

page_text: Figure 10, which is connected to one pole of an electric battery or other source
of electricity the other pole thereof being connected to the cutter mechanism,
guide and frame. Normally, when the cutter and guide are performing their
functions properly, the fabric, being an insulator, keeps the electric circuit open.
Should said fabric be punctured, as shewn by Figures 6, 7 and 8, contact is
established between hand d Figure 10, and the circuit is closed. Figure 11 shews
an electro magnetic device for stopping the motion when said circuit is closed.
C is a pulley driven. by the prime motor or source of power, and is mounted upon
a spindle or shaft G, preferably upon a feather or equivalent so as to be capable
of lateral motion along, the shaft. Said shaft G is socketed within the shaft H
which conveys the motion, and which is rotated by the pulley C when the toothed
clutch D has the two halves in contact as shewn, a spiral spring E maintaining the
pulley in the proper position for such contact normally. When, however, the
electrical circuit is completed, the pulley C is drawn towards the electro magnet F,
and so disconnecting the clutch D. do not however confine myself to this
particular method of or means for stopping the mechanism, as I may combine any
system of levers, screws or the like with an electro magnet or solenoid for this
purpose. The essential and novel feature of this part of my said invention
is the utilisation of an electric current, the circuit of which may be opened or
closed by the position of the cutter and guide for the aforesaid purpose.
In applying the whole device for the purpose for which it is intended, I may
arrange a number of circular cutters as herein before described so that each cutter
may operate a single race. I may either mount these cutters upon spindles arranged
in advance of each other within a suitable frame, or I may arrange them in the
manner shewn by the diagrammatic sketch Figure 9, in which the fabric k is
caused to pass semi-circularly over guide rolls 4, under each cutter, so as to produce
a flat surface of requisite tension to be operated upon. The races are continuously
carried over the point of the guides and are thus subjected to the action of the
cutters, the cutting edges of which are revolved at a higher rate of speed than that
of the fabric for the purpose of producing a clean cut without dragging or tearing
the material. The cutters may be, as an alternative device, moved transversely or
longitudinally across the fabric. I may, in some cases, use a single cutter and
guide, mounted in a suitable frame for the convenience of handling by an operator,
and carrying an electric motor or motors for producing the required rotation, and
coupled to any source of electrical energy by means of flexible conductors.
The operator may thus cut each race singly, either transversely or longitudinally,
the fabric remaining stationary, or being moved towards the cutter, held in the
manner aforesaid. I may modify the details of construction of the cutters and
guides so as to adapt them for use upon any existing machine of known type or
construction, in which other cutters are now employed.
I do not confine myself to any particular mechanism for actuating the motion
of the fabric, or the cutters or their frames, but may adapt said cutters as herein
described to suit any conditions of requirement.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed; I declare that what I
claim is ;-
First. In cutting the pile of cords, velveteens and like fabrics the employment of
a circular revolving cutter a and guide d enclosing same substantially as, and to be
used in the manner herein described with reference to the drawings.
Second. In cutting the pile of cords, velveteens and like fabrics the combination
of a cutter and guide as referred to in the preceding claim in combination with
an electrical circuit which by means of a suitable contact device automatically
controls the motion of the mechanism substantially as and for the purposes herein
described and with reference to the appended drawings.
Third, In cutting the pile of cords, velveteens and like fabrics the employment

page_text: of a single cutter as referred to in the first claim, in combination with an electric
motor or motors substantially as and for the purpose herein described.
Dated this 7th day of June 1892.
FREDK. WALKER,
11, Furnival Street, Holborn, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicant.