PROVIDIUAAL DE MULTICATION
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVIDIUAAL DE MULTICATION
Improvements in the Manufacture of Inlaid Linoleum, and in
Machinery or Apparatus therefor.
I, CILARLES HERBERT SCOTT, of High Orchard Iron Works, Gloucester, in the
County of Gloucester, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of inlaid linoleum,
that is to say linoleum in which the pattern passes completely or partially through
the body of the linoleum, and in machinety or apparatus therefor. According
thereto linoleum of the proper colours and kinds for use in producing the desired
pattern is fed onto plates or supports and subjected to the action of movable dies
by which pieces of linoleum of suitable shape are separated out and, in a more or
less compressed state, lifted from the plate and deposited upon a backing which
may be of ordinary kind, such as canvas, which is moved forward in an inter-
mittent or step by step manner and may be covered or not with a preliminary
coating of linoleum or other suitable material. The linoleum mixture is pre-
ferably fed on to the plates in a loose granular condition from tiering boxes by
which any desired depth of material may be obtained (but it may be fed onto the
plates in the form of more or less compressed sheets of linoleum mixture) and the
compressed portions of linoleum separated out by the dies are held in the latter
by suction or the external air pressure whilst being transferred from the plates to
the backing.
As will be obvious machinery or apparatus for carrying out my invention, which
is specially suitable for the production of linoleum with geometrical patterns,
can be constructed in various forms.
According to one arrangement, the machine comprises an endless conveyor
consisting of endless bands or chains carrying closely arranged transverse strips
adapted to engage with and carry the backing over a stationary table in an
intermittent or step by step manner. Above the table are arranged two or more
plates each of which is mounted to slide to and fro below a vertically movable pres-
sure block and also below a stationary tiering box which is arranged to one side
of the pressure block. Granulated linoleum mixture of ordinary kind and suitable
colour is fed into each tiering box which is provided with a vertically adjustable rear
side by which the rate of flow of linoleum mixture onto the plate, and consequently
the thickness of the layer of linoleum mixture deposited upon the plate when the
same moves in one direction under the box can be varied to suit requirement.
Each pressure block is provided with strips of metal or other material arranged
to form hollow dies of the desired shape in plan and within each of which is a
piston or plunger that fits, or is adapted by packing material such as felt, to fit
the die fairly tightly and is capable of being raised and lowered at will inde-
pendently of the pressure block and die. Through the piston and also it may be
through the pressure block, is a hole provided with a light lift valve so that air
can escape upward through the hole but cannot descend. The arrangement of the
several parts is such that as each distributing plate is moved in one direction
under its corresponding tiering box, a suitably thick layer of loose linoleum

page_text: mixture will be deposited upon it. When the plate arrives at the end of its
stroke in one direction, the pressure block is caused to descend so as to cause the
dies carried thereby to cut through the layer of material which is immediately
afterwards suitably compressed by the action of the pistons, air within the dies
and between the linoleum and pistons escaping through the holes
in the latter into the spaces between the pistons and pressure block.
The pistons are then caused to ascend quickly a short distance,
whereupon the whole block lifts, the partial vacuum created in the spaces between
the pistons and the compressed pieces of linoleum serving to hold up the latter.
The tiering plate is then slid back out of the way of the pressure block, the
linoleum mixture remaining on the plate being forced back into the tiering box
in readiness to be again tiered onto the plate during the next forward movement
of the plate. The pressure block is then caused to descend on to the now stationary
backing below and the pistons are caused to move relatively to the dies and push
out the compressed pieces of linoleum and force them on to the backing which
is then moved forward into position to receive further pieces of linoleum in the
manner above described.
If the separate pieces of linoleum are so large or irregularly shaped that they
are liable to fall out of the dies whilst the tiering plate is being withdrawn, the
block may be provided with means such as pins that are slightly larger at the
bottom than at the top and which serve to hold up the pieces of linoleum com-
pressed around them until pushed off by the pistons. Or the dies may be made
a little smaller at the bottom than at the top. Where necessary, means may be
provided for exhausting the air from between the pistons and pieces of linoleum.
For this purpose each piston rod may be made hollow and be connected by a
flexible tube to an exhausting device such as a fan, jet, or pump.
To ensure close joints between the several pieces of linoleum composing a pat-
tern without having to finally compress such pieces of linoleum to such an extent
as to distort the pattern, as heretofore, the pistons are rounded or bevelled off at
the edges so that the compressed pieces of linoleum produced by them and the
dies are formed on their upper side with peripheral beads or raised edges which,
when the several pieces of linoleum are subjected to a final pressing operation
between rolls or otherwise, are pressed down level with and effectually close the
joints between the various pieces of linoleum.
The pressure blocks hereinbefore described are preferably arranged at a distance
apart equal to three or more times the width of the pattern, or part thereof, to
be produced by each block and the dies carried thereby." Each block
with dies can be raised and lowered by any convenient means. According to one
construction each block is connected to and operated by means of a transverse
beam which is arranged below the stationary table and upper part of the conveyor
carrying the backing and is moved up and down by cams driven by two longi-
tudinal shafts. The connection between the blocks and the beams or cams is
such that any one of the blocks can be put out of action whilst the machine con-
tinues in motion. For this purpose the connection between the blocks and beams
may be effected by arms or links pivoted to the pressure blocks and adapted to
be engaged with and disengaged from the beams at will. The pistons may be
raised and lowered relatively to the pressure blocks by any suitable means."
one arrangement the pistons are connected by their rods to a plate or frame between
which and the pressure block are arranged springs that tend to lift the plate or
frame and pistons relatively to the pressure block under the control of cams which
effect the downstroke of the plate or frame and piston.
DL L
T
1000
In

page_text: Improvements in the Manufacture of Inlaid Linoleum, and in
Machinery or Apparatus therefor.
I, CHARLES HERBERT SCOTT, of High Orchard Iron Works, Gloucester, in the
County of Gloucester, 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 inlaid linoleum,
that is to say linoleum in which the pattern passes completely or partially through
the body of the linoleum, and in machinery or apparatus therefor.
According thereto linoleum of the proper colours and kinds for use in producing
the desired pattern is fed onto plates or supports and subjected to the action of
movable dies by which pieces of linoleum of suitable shape are separated out, and,
in a more or less compressed state, lifted from the plate and deposited upon a
backing which may be of ordinary kind, such as canvas, which is moved forward
in an intermittent or step by step manner and may be covered or not with a
preliminary coating of linoleum or other suitable material. The linoleum mix-
ture is preferably fed on to the plates in a loose granular condition from tiering
boxes by which any desired depth of material may be obtained, but it may be
fed onto the plates in the form of more or less compressed sheets of linoleum
mixture, and the compressed portions of linoleum separated out by the dies are,
in each case, held in the latter by suction, or the external air pressure, whilst
being transferred from the plates to the backing.
As will be obvious machinery or apparatus for carrying out my invention, which
is specially suitable for the production of linoleum with geometrical patterns, can
be constructed in various forms.
Figs. 1, 2 and 3 show in side elevation, plan and cross section respectively, the
latter corresponding to the line aa, of Fig. 1 but to larger scale, part of one con-
struction of machine for carrying out my invention. Fig. 4 is a part longitudinal
section corresponding to the line y y of Fig. 3 showing inter alia one of the tiering
plates and boxes with pressure block and dies. Fig. 5 is a part vertical section,
showing, to a larger scale than Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, part of a pressure block
with die. Firs. 6 and 7 are similar views to Fig. 5 showing modified constructions.
Fig. 8 shows in longitudinal vertical section, a portion of backing with pieces of
compressed linoleum thereon. Fig. 9 is a part vertical section, and Fig. 10 a part
plan, showing a further modified construction.
According to the arrangement shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, the machine com-
prises an endless conveyor consisting of endless bands 1 carrying closely arranged
transverse strips 2 adapted to engage with and carry the backing 3 over a station-
ary table 4 in an intermittent or step by step manner, as for example in the way
and by the means described in the specification of another application for Letters
Patent filed by me, No. 978 of 1898. Above the table 4 are arranged two or more
plates 5 each of which is mounted to slide to and fro longitudinally below a ver-
tically movable pressure block 6 and also below a stationary tiering box 7 which
is arranged at one side of the pressure block. Granulated linoleum mixture 8 of
ordinary kind and suitable colour is fed at intervals, as for example by a feeding
device and shoot 9, into each tiering box 7 which is provided with a vertically
adjustable rear side 7 by which the rate of flow of linoleum mixture onto the
plate 5 through a slit 7b, and consequently the thickness of the layer of linoleum
mixture deposited upon the said plate when the same moves in one direction
under the box, can be varied to suit requirement. Each pressure block 6 is
provided with strips 10 of metal or other material arranged to form hollow dies

page_text: of the desired shape in plan and within each of which is a piston or plunger 11
that fits, or is adapted by packing material such as felt, to fit the die 10 fairly
tightly and is capable of being raised and lowered at will independently of the
pressure block and die. Through the piston 11, and also it may be through the
pressure block 6, is a hole 11° (Fig. 6) provided or each provided with a light
lift valve 11 so that air can escape upward through the hole, or each hole, but can-
not descend. The arrangement of the several parts is such that as each distributing
plate 5 is moved in one direction, say in the direction of the arrow a (Fig. 4),
under its corresponding tiering box 7, a suitably thick layer of loose linoleum
mixture 8 will be deposited upon it. When the said plate arrives at the end of
its stroke in the direction of the arrow, the pressure block 6 is caused to descend
so as to cause the dies 10 carried thereby to cut through the layer of linoleum
mixture 8 (Fig. 4), the portions 8" of which within the dies are immediately after-
wards suitably compressed by the descent of the pistons 11 (see Figs. 5, 6 and 7),
air within the dies 10 and between the linoleum 8" and pistons 11 escaping through
the holes 11° in the latter into the spaces between the pistons and pressure block.
The pistons 11 are then caused to ascend quickly within the dies, whereupon the
whole block 6 is lifted, the partial vacuum created in the spaces between the
pistons and the compressed pieces of linoleum by the ascent of the pistons within
the dies, serving to cause the pressure of the external atmosphere to hold up the
pieces of linoleum. To aid in maintaining the partial vacuum within the said
spaces, the block 6 may be provided around the piston rod 11 with a ring 6 of
packing material such as india rubber, against which the corresponding piston
is seated when raised. After the block is raised the tiering plate 5 is slid back
out of the way of the pressure block 6, the linoleumn mixture 8 remaining on the
plate being forced back into the tiering box 7 through the slit 7b in readiness to
be again tiered onto the plate during the next forward movement of the plate.
The pressure block is then caused to descend near to the now stationary backing 3
below and the pistons are caused to move downward relatively to the dies 10
and push out therefrom the compressed pieces 8" of linoleum and force them on
to the backing, which, after the block has been raised therefrom, is then moved
forward into position to receive further pieces of linoleum in the manner above
described.
If the separate pieces 8" of linoleum are so large or irregularly shaped that
they are liable to fall out of the dies 10 whilst the block is being raised, the said
block may be provided with means such as pins 13 (see Fig. 7) that are slightly
larger at the bottom than at the top and which serve to hold up the pieces 8" of
Linoleum compressed around them until pushed off by the piston 11. Or the
dies 10 may be made a little smaller at the bottom than at the top.
Where necessary, means may be provided for exhausting the air from between
the pistons 11 and pieces 8" of linoleum. For this purpose each piston 11 and its
rod 11 may be made hollow, as shown in Figs. 9 and 10, and be connected by a
flexible tube 11b to an exhaust pipe 11 that is common to all the pistons and is
connected to an exhausting device 11d such as a fan, jet, or pump, that is brought
into action at the required time.
To ensure close joints between the several pieces 8" of linoleum composing a
pattern, without having to finally compress such pieces of linoleum to such an
extent as to distort the pattern, as heretofore usual, the pistons 11 may be rounded
or bevelled off at the edges as shown at 11e in Fig. 6, so that the compressed
pieces 8 of linoleum produced by them and the dies 10 are formed on their upper
side with peripheral beads or raised edges 8b (see Fig. 8) which, when the several
pieces of linoleum are subjected to a final pressing operation between rolls or
otherwise as usual, are pressed down level with and effectually close the joints
between the various pieces of linoleum.
The dies or the groups of dies carried by the pressure blocks 6 hereinbefore
described are preferably pitched at a distance apart equal to three or more times
the width of the pattern, or part thereof, to be produced by each group.

page_text: In the arrangement shown, the pressure block 6 is connected to a cross piece 6ª
(Figs. 3 and 4) by studs 6b that are fixed to the block and have a limited motion
in the cross piece, and between the block and cross piece are arranged springs 6°
that tend to force the block downward and away from the said cross piece. The
piston rods 11 may be connected to the said cross piece; or they may, as in the
example shown in Fig. 4, simply bear against the cross piece, the springs 11'
surrounding them and bearing at one end against collars thereon and at the
other end against the block. By this arrangement, when the cross piece 6ª moves
downward, it and the block 6 will move as one piece until the dies 10 have cut
through the layer of linoleum 8 on the plate 5 whereupon the block 6 will stop
whilst the cross piece will move downward a further short distance against the
action of the springs 6° and so cause the pistons 11 to compress the linoleum
within the dies to the required extent. On the cross piece commencing to move
upward, the block 6 will at first be held down by the springs 6 whilst the
springs 11 will at the same time raise the pistons 11 and hold the pieces 8° of
linoleum within the dies until the cross piece abuts against the heads of the studs 6b
whereupon the whole will rise as one piece after which the plate 5 will be moved
from below the block. On the next down stroke of the combined cross piece and
block, the latter will be brought to rest upon stationary parts of the machine with
the lower edges of the dies upon or near to the backing, whilst the cross piece will
move downward a further distance sufficient to force the stamped out pieces 8ª
of linoleum from the dies onto the backing.
Each combined block 6 and cross piece G" can be raised and lowered by
any convenient means. In the example shown, the ends of the cross piece 6"
are arranged to work vertically in guideways in standards 4" and are carried by
springs 12 which tend to move the cross piece and attached parts into and hold
them in their raised position. Each cross piece with attached parts is moved
downward against the action of its springs 12 by a transverse beam 13 which is
arranged below the stationary table 4 and is moved downward against the action
of springs 14 by cams 15 which are arranged to be rotated by two longitudinal
shafts 16 and to act against antifriction rollers 13" on the beam 13.
The connection between the cross pieces 6" and the means for depressing them,
may be such that any one of the blocks 6 can be put out of action whilst the
machine continues in motion. For this purpose each cross piece 6" may be con-
nected to the corresponding beam 13 below it by a pair of rods 17 so that the
block and beam rise and fall together, and the cams 15 are feathered to the
shafts 16 so that they will rotate therewith but are capable of being moved end-
ways thereon by forked levers 18 which engage grooved bosses 15 on the cams
and are fixed on a rock shaft 19 provided with a hand lever 19ª, the arrangement
being such that by operating the hand lever in one direction or the other, the
pair of cams 15 can be brought over or moved from above the beam 13 accord-
ing as it is desired to put the corresponding block in or out of operation. The
cams 15 are each formed with two operative parts as shown in Fig. 3, so that they
will act to depress the pressure block and dies twice for each rotation of the
The said shafts may
shafts 16, as and for the purposes hereinbefore explained.
be driven through worm gearing 20 from a transverse driving shaft 21.
In the example shown, the plates 5 are moved backwards and forwards below
their respective blocks 6 by longitudinal tiering-bars 22 to which they are attached
and which are caused to move to and fro on the framing A of the machine by a
pair of lever arms 23 that are connected to the said bars by links 24 and are fixed
to a rock shaft 25 which extends from one side of the machine and is rocked at the
required times by suitable means, such as cams located within a casing 26. The
tiering bars may be connected to any suitable arrangement of energy accumu-
lator that will serve to cushion them and their attached parts at each end of their
strokes, and by then giving out energy, facilitate their movement in the reverse
direction. Suitable means for this purpose are described in the Specification of
another application for Letters Patent filed by me No. 1214 of 1898.*

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:
1. In the manufacture of inlaid linoleum by cutting out pieces of linoleum
mixture by means of dies of suitable shape from a layer or sheet of such mixture
carried by a suitable support, and afterwards depositing such separated pieces of
linoleum upon a backing, holding the said pieces of linoleum mixture within the
dies during transference from the support to the backing by external air pressure
brought into action by the formation of a partial vacuum within the dies, as set
forth.
2. Producing a partial vacuum within the dies as specified in the preceding
claim, by means of vertically movable pistons that fit the dies and are formed
with air exit passages controlled by non-return valves, substantially as herein
described.
3. Producing the partial vacuum within the dies, as specified in Claim 1, by
means of an exhausting device that communicates with the interior of each die
through the vertically movable piston therein, substantially as described.
4. In linoleum making apparatus of the kind in which pieces of linoleum are
cut out of a layer or sheet of linoleum mixture by dies fitted with pistons and the
said pieces of linoleum mixture are afterwards deposited upon a backing, forming
the pistons with rounded or bevelled edges so that the compressed pieces of
linoleum produced by them and the dies will be formed on their upper sides with
peripheral beads or raised edges, substantially as herein described for the purpose
specified.
5. Apparatus for making inlaid linoleum, comprising a table, a conveyer, a
vertically movable pressure block with dies each fitted with a piston capable of
being raised and lowered therein and formed with an air exit passage controlled
by a non-return valve or connected with an exhausting device, a plate or support
adapted to be moved below the pressure block and dies and to support a layer of
linoleum mixture, and means for operating the said conveyer, pressure block,
pistons and plate or support, substantially as hereinbefore described for the
purposes set forth.
6. Apparatus for making linoleum, constructed arranged and operating sub-
stantially as herein before described with reference to and shewn in Figs. 1 to 6
inclusive, or modified according to Fig. 7, or to Figs. 9 and 10 of the drawings
annexed.