IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF MACHINERY FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL FLOWERS OR OF SAME, PART OF WHICH PARTS IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1882

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Paul Krauss Klein at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th June 1882. Communicated to him
from abroad by Gustavus Bittner of Munich.
PAUL KRAUSS KLEIN, of 8 York Buildings, Adelphi, in the County of Middlesex,
Accountant, "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF MACHINERY FOR THE
MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL FLOWERS OR
OF SAME, PART OF WHICH
PARTS
IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES." (Communicated [to him]
from abroad by Gustavus Bittner of Munich)
The machinery or apparatus consists mainly of four parts by which 1st the wire
stem or stalk in a continuous length is covered with silk or thread. 2nd sprigs
or tufts of any desired kind are attached to the said stem at the required intervals.
3rd the silk or thread covering is prevented from becoming unwound by being
touched with gum and lastly the stem with sprig attached is cut off at the gummed
point and delivered ready for use.
The machine is arranged so as to stand on a table similar to a sewing machine
and is actuated by a crank hand wheel, treadle or otherwise the base plate being
raised upon feet so as to allow a reel of stem wire and a reel of material forming
the tufts or sprigs being fixed below it the gum box being placed above.
The crank or hand wheel gives motion to a large spur wheel fixed on the main
spindle and works into a pinion fixed to a second spindle which carries a reel of
silk or thread for covering the stem wire which coming from a reel under the base
plate through an opening in it passes through the second spindle which is hollow
and is covered by the rotation of the reel upon it, the silk or thread being led from
the reel by a carrier lever through a hole in a ferrule or collar fixed to the end of
the said second and hollow spindle.
The main spindle carries a second spur wheel which works into another spur
wheel fixed upon a third spindle from which two operations are performed-first
by means of a stud and friction wheel or roller a small longitudinal motion is given
to the hollow spindle and the ferrule or collar at its end and at the same time a
tube containing the material for the tufts is brought in contact with the steni
wire by means of a cam and friction roller arranged at the end of the said third
spindle both the hollow spindle and the said tube returning to their places by

page_text: means of springs By these motions the tufts are bound to the stem wire and
separated from the tube or hank of material forming them at desired intervals.
The stem wire with tight tufts upon it passes then to the fourth spindle which is
driven by spur gearing from the end of the main spindle This fourth spindle
carries at its end a disc with studs acting on a light lever or wire which dips into
a box containing gum bringing up a small portion which is transferred to the stem
wire at the points where it is desired to cut it so preventing the ends of the
covering silk from becoming unwound. The fourth spindle also carries upon it a
square block of hard wood the sides of which are equal to the intervals desired
between the tufts. The stem wire with its tufts being before cutting lapped round
the square block is drawn forward by its rotating motion but eventually cut at
every one of its gummed points by means of cutters attached to the said block such
cutters being put into operation and reset by means of studs attached to the
framing or standards of the machine and a revolving arm fixed to the main spindle
The short lengths of stem wire with its tuft or sprig attached and with the ends
of its covering thread secured are thus delivered complete and ready for use
without being touched by the band, a matter of great importance where delicate
colours are employed, the operation being moreover performed with great rapidity.
Instead of covering wire herein before described 1 sometimes cover cord which
may be used for various purposes The covered wire may be employed specially
in the making of wreaths or for millinery work or for electrical apparatus or for
the making of certain kinds of fringe I also sometimes arrange the machine so
that two or more wires or cords are covered at the same time especially where
there are no attachments or where these are very simple in character.