IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR CUTTING OR SPLITTING PILE FABRICS AND FOR SIMILAR PURPOSES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Willian Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR CUTTING OR SPLITTING PILE FABRICS
AND FOR SIMILAR PURPOSES." A communication from abroad by Myron
Holley Chapin and Reuben Hopkins Plass, both of the City and State of
New York United States of America.
Sealed the 11th June 1880, and dated the 17th December 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th December 1879.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR CUTTING
OR SPLITTING PILE FABRICS, AND FOR SIMILAR PURPOSES." [A communication
from abroad by Myron Holley Chapin and Reuben Hopkins Plass, both of the
City and State of New York, United States of America]
The principal object of this Invention is to provide means whereby fabrics woven
double with one or more intermediate piles may be cut or split apart with accuracy,
leaving the pile uniform throughout the surface of both fabrics when severed; but
another object is to provide for cutting or splitting other fabrics or materials easily
and in uniform thickness.
The said Invention comprises the combination of an endless band knife,
mechanism for operating said knife, means for feeding a fabric or material to the
knife, rollers for stretching the fabric or material laterally before it is subjected to
said knife, and mechanism for operating said rollers, whereby simple and effective
machinery for cutting or splitting a fabric or material is provided.
The said Invention also comprises the combination of an endless band knife,
mechanism for operating the same, rollers for feeding a fabric or material thereto,
rollers arranged at an angle to each other and capable of adjustment to different
positions for the purpose of stretching the fabric or material laterally before it is
subjected to the knife, and mechanism for driving the feeding and the stretching
rollers.
The said Invention also comprises the combination of an endless band knife,
supporting pulleys and guides therefor, and rollers for stretching a fabric or material
FD 621

page_text: properly before it is presented to the knife, supported on shafts arranged in outer
pivotal bearings and inner transversely adjustable bearings, whereby convenient
provisions for stretching different fabrics or materials differently are afforded.
The said Invention also comprises the combination of a knife and rollers for
feeding a fabric or material thereto provided with pins or fingers, excentrics for
adjusting said pins or fingers outwardly, and springs for adjusting them inwardly,
whereby the pins or fingers may be inserted into and withdrawn from the fabric or
material without liability to tear or otherwise injure it.
The said Invention also comprises the combination of an endless band knife for
cutting or splitting a fabric or material, means for imparting motion thereto, a cross
knife or cutter for dividing the fabric or material longitudinally after it leaves said
endless band knife, and means for feeding the fabric or material to said knives,
whereby the fabric or material may be cut or split and divided longitudinally while
passing through the single machine.
The said Invention also comprises the combination with an endless band knife
and mechanism for operating the same of an emery wheel for sharpening the knife
and a pulley deriving motion from said knife whereby a rotary motion is imparted
to said emery wheel in approximately the same plane as that of the motion of the
knife.
The said Invention also comprises the combination with an endless band knife,
of a pulley deriving motion therefrom, and an emery wheel rotated by said pulley,
acting on one side of the knife, and a stationary bed or base piece constituting a
hone acting upon the other side of the knife, whereby the knife is kept sharpened
properly on both sides.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
17th June 1880.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR CUTTING
OR SPLITTING PILE FABRICS AND FOR SIMILAR PURPOSES." A communication
from abroad by Myron Holley Chapin and Reuben Hopkins Plass, both of the
City and State of New York, United States of America.
The principal object of this Invention is to provide means whereby fabrics woven
double with one or more intermediate piles may be cut or split with accuracy
leaving the pile uniform throughout the surface of both fabrics when severed;
another object is to provide for cutting or splitting other fabrics or materials easily
and in uniform thickness.
The said Invention consists in the combination of an endless band-knife,
mechanism for operating said knife, means for feeding a fabric or material to the
knife, rollers for stretching the fabric or material laterally before it is subjected to
said knife, and mechanism for operating said rollers, whereby simple and effective
machinery for cutting or splitting a fabric or material is provided.
The said Invention also consists in the combination of an endless band-knife
mechanism for operating the same, rollers for feeding a fabric or material thereto,
rollers arranged at an angle to each other and capable of adjustment to different
positions for the purpose of stretching the fabric or material laterally before it is
subjected to the knife, and mechanism for driving the feeding and the stretching
rollers.
The said Invention also consists in the combination of an endless band-knife,
supporting pulleys and guides therefor, and rollers for stretching a fabric or
material properly before it is presented to the knife, and supported on shafts
arranged in outer pivotal bearings and inner transversely adjustable bearings,
whereby convenient provision for stretching different fabrics or materials differently
is afforded.
The said Invention also consists in the combination of a knife and rollers for
feeding a fabric or material thereto provided with pins or fingers, excentrics for
adjusting said pins or fingers outwardly, and springs for adjusting them inwardly,
whereby the pins or fingers may be inserted into and withdrawn from the fabric or
material without liability to tear or otherwise injure it.
The said Invention also consists in the combination of an endless band-knife for
cutting or splitting a fabric or material, means for imparting motion thereto, a cross
knife or cutter for dividing the fabric or material longitudinally after it leaves said
endless band knife, and means for feeding the fabric or material to said knives,
whereby the fabric or material may be cut or split and divided longitudinally while
passing through the single machine.
The said Invention also consists in the combination with an endless band-knife,
and mechanism for operating the same, of an emery wheel for sharpening the knife,
and a pulley deriving motion from said knife, whereby a rotary motion is imparted
to said emery wheel in approximately the same plane as that of the motion of the
knife.
The said Invention also consists in the combination with an endless band-knife
of a pulley deriving motion therefrom, and an emery wheel rotated by said pulley
acting on one side of the knife, and a stationary bed or base piece constituting a
hone acting upon the other side of the knife, whereby the knife is kept sharpened
properly on both sides.
-
In the accompanying Drawing,-
ssion drable nile fhoinstructed

page_text: according to this Invention, a portion of the framework being removed to show
more clearly the mechanism for sharpening the knife.
Figure 2 is a plan or top view of the said machine, a portion of the framing
being removed to illustrate more clearly the feeding rollers.
Figure 3 is a transverse section on the line x, x, Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a transverse section of a portion of the knife sharpening mechanism
on the line y, y, Figure 1.
Figuro 5 is a central longitudinal section of one of the stretching or spreading
rollers, shewing its pins and the means for operating the same; and
Figure 6 is a transverse section of the said roller.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts in all of the Figures.
A designates an endless band knife supported upon wheels or pulleys A¹ journalled
in bearings in a framework C, which may be of any suitable construction, but is pre-
ferably of such form as to enclose the said knife sufficiently to preclude its occasioning
injury to the operator in case of its breakage, or its sliding off the wheels. When thus
made gates A2 are provided to afford easy access to the knife and its appurtenances.
One of these wheels or pulleys A¹ is preferably supported upon the end of a shaft
A³, arranged in a bearing A', which is adjustable horizontally in a slide-way in the
frame C. This bearing A* may advantageously have a rearward extension A³ con-
taining a bearing for the rear end of the shaft A³ of the wheel or pulloy A¹, and
means for adjusting the said bearing so as to provide for tilting the wheel to cause
the band knife to run forward or backward to assume the proper position for work.
The knife is shewn as supported in proximity to the fabric or material to be cut or
split by means of guides D arranged on the ends of the bars B¹ mounted in slide-ways
in the framework C (see Figure 1), and capable of longitudinal movement in the
said slide-ways for the purpose of adjusting the guides D toward and from one
another to suit different widths of fabric or material, the said guides being secured
in place by set screws a. When the machine is intended for a very wide fabric or
material an intermediate guide E in front of the knife and supporting its back or
unsharpened edge may be employed. F designates a roller, from or over which the
double fabric to be cut is preferably passed to the knife. The fabric or material
may however be fed to the knife from folds laid upon the floor. G, G, represent
two rollers by which the fabric or material prior to coming in contact with the
knife A is stretched or spread apart laterally so as to be strained into a horizontal
plano in order that it may be cut or split accurately throughout its extent, leaving
a uniform length of pile or thickness in both the severed portions of the fabric or
material throughout their extent These rollers are shewn as consisting of two
short cylinders supported on shafts arranged at their outer ends in pivotal bearings
R on an adjustable secondary frame C³, and supported at their inner ends in
bearings in a yoke 6 fitted to a screw c, whereby it may be adjusted inward and
outward so as to set the rollers at a greater or less angle relatively to each other
for the purpose of directing and straining the selvages or edges of the fabric or
material laterally apart before it reaches the knife. The secondary frame C¹ is
arranged on slide ways g in the main frame, and is capable of horizontal adjustment
towards and from the edge of the knife by means of a screw K. supported in bearings
in the main frame, and engaging with a nut L in the secondary frame. The rollers
G are preferably duplicated on the under side of the fabric, as shewn. They are
provided with fingers or pins adapted to be projected at the proper time to enter
the fabric or material, and to be withdrawn inwardly out of the fabric or material
after having done their work so as not to be liable to tear, scratch, or otherwise
injure the fabric or material by radial action These pins or fingers are arranged
in series so as to extend radially through the rollers. They fit in recesses in the
rollers, and their inner ends abut against stationary hubs h provided upon the outer
bearings of their shafts, and arranged excentrically to the rollers, so that when the
pins are brought opposite a certain portion of the hubs they will be forced outwards
so as to project beyond the surface of the rollers. These pins or fingers are arranged
to be drawn inwardly by springs, which may consist of elastic bands encircling the

page_text: rollers, and fastened to shoulders upon the pins, or of spiral springs v arranged
inside the rollers between shoulders upon the pins and other shoulders within the
recesses for the pins.
H, H, represent a pair of rollers, over which the two fabrics, after being severed
by the knife, pass to two other rollers I, I, preferably provided with teeth in a
similar manner to the stretching rollers G, and whereby the fabrics are fed over
tables J, J, from the machine. These rollers, like the stretching rollers G, aro
supported in the secondary frame C'. The said rollers H, I, are supported in
boxes arranged in housings in the said secondary frame C¹, and are capable of
vertical adjustment towards and from the sides of the knife through screws M, N,
the latter of which pass through transverse slots in the guides of the secondary
frame, so as to provide for the adjustment of the rollers from below as well as
above, without interfering with the shifting of the secondary frame.
The rollers G, H, I, are driven in the proper direction to feed forward the fabric
to be cut, and the portions of fabric or material after they are severed by means of
gear wheels S arranged upon their journals, and deriving motion from a worm
wheel T, to which motion is transmitted by a worm U This worm U is arranged
upon a shaft which derives motion through a pulley and belt V from a pulley
upon the shaft A³ of the non-adjustable wheel or pulley A¹ which constitutes the
driving shaft of the machine.
O is a roller supported in bearings on the main frame C of the machine in such a
position as to be in proximity to the lower portion of the endless band knife A.
On the shaft of the said roller is a pulley which, through a belt P, transmits
motion to a sharpening device, consisting of a rotary emery or other wheel Q; this
wheel Qrevolves in approximately the same plane as that of the motion of the
knife, and is inclined relatively to the edge of the said knife, and arranged so as to
operate in conjunction with a bed or base piece Q' constituting a hone which may
be made of the same material, so that the two will sharpen the bevelled edge of the
knife on both sides as it passes between them. O' designates a roller arranged
under the roller O and below the band knife. It is supported loosely upon a shaft
having excentric journals supported in the main frame C, whereby the shaft may
be adjusted to force the roller against the band knife, and the band knife against
the roller 0¹, so as to be in contact therewith and impart motion thereto. It will
be seen that by this arrangement of mechanism, provision for sharpening the knife
automatically during its operation is afforded.
If desirable, fabrics woven with an intermediate selvage or portion at which the
bodies of both fabrics are united, may be cut or split to form two or more fabrics
having pile on their faces. In such cases, a knife or knives for cutting the fabrics
longitudinally apart after their separation may be embodied in the said machine;
for instance, a knife or knives similar to the knife or knives Z may be arranged in
suitable position to do the requisite work as the fabrics pass it. A rotary knife or
knives may be advantageously employed in lieu thereof if desirable.
Instead of arranging an endless band knife to cut horizontally, an endless band
knife might be employed to cut or split the fabric vertically. Such an endless
band knife can be arranged in a vertical plane with its back edge, in lieu of one of
the sides running over its supporting pulleys. Then the fabric would be fed up to
the cutting edge of the endless band knife in a vertical plane, and the feeding and
stretching rollers would need to be arranged suitably to accomplish this. An
endless band knife composed of rotary cutters connected together and provided with
pinions engaging with toothed racks, so as to derive a rotary motion therefrom and
impart it to the rotary cutters may also be used.
It will be seen that by the said Invention I provide in a very simple manner
for cutting or splitting a fabric woven with two or more bodies and intermediate
piles, so as to produce two or more fabrics with a uniform length of pile throughout
their extent, and that therefore I cheapen and simplify the production of pile
fabrics.

page_text: It is obvious that the improvements are well adapted for skiving leather and
splitting various other materials, among others felted fabrics.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondents, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it under-
stood that I claim for the purposes above specified,―
First. The combination of an endless band-knife mechanism for operating the
said knife, means for feeding a fabric or material to the knife, rollers for stretching
the fabric or material laterally before it is subjected to said knife, and mechanism
for operating the said rollers, substantially as above set forth.
Second. The combination of an endless band-knife, mechanism for operating the
same, rollers for feeding a fabric or material thereto, rollers arranged at an angle to
each other, and capable of adjustment to different positions for the purpose of
stretching the fabric or material laterally before it is subjected to the knife, and
mechanism for driving the feeding and the stretching rollers, substantially as
herein specified.
Third. The combination of the endless band-knife, and its supporting pulleys and
guides, the rollers G supported on shafts in outer pivotal bearings and inner
transversely adjustable bearings, substantially as above set forth.
Fourth. The combination of the knife and the rollers for feeding a fabric or
material thereto provided with pins or fingers, excentrics for adjusting the said pins
or fingers outwardly, and springs for adjusting them inwardly, substantially as
herein specified.
Fifth The combination of an endless band-knife for cutting or splitting the
material, means for imparting notion thereto, a cross knife or cutter for dividing
the fabric or material longitudinally after it leaves said endless band knife, and
means for feeding the fabric or material to the said knives, substantially as abovo
set forth.
Sixth. The combination with an endless band-knife, and mechanism for operating
the same, of an emery wheel and a pulley deriving motion from the said knife,
whereby a rotary motion is imparted to the said emery wheel, in approximately the
saine plane as that of the motion of the knife, substantially as above specified.
Seventh. The combination with an endless band-knife, of a pulley deriving
motion therefrom, and an emery wheel rotated by said pulley acting on one side of
the knife, and a stationary bed or base-piece constituting a hone acting upon the
other side of the knife, substantially as above set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
1873 DADT
חק ז