AN IMPROVED MODE OF PACKING RIBBONS AND OTHER NARROW FABRICS FOR THE MARKET
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Francis William Parker, of Wilton Square, in the County
of Middlesex, Pattern Book Maker, and Frederick William Barber, of South
Norwood, in the County of Surrey, Accountant, for the Invention of "AN
IMPROVED MODE OF PACKING RIBBONS AND OTHER NARROW FABRICS FOR
THE MARKET."
Sealed the 21st February 1879, and dated the 5th November 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Francis William Parker and
Frederick William Barber at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on
the 5th November 1878.
'
FRANCIS WILLIAM PARKER, of Wilton Square, in the County of Middlesex,
Pattern Book Maker, and FREDERICK WILLIAM BARBER, of South Norwood, in the
County of Surrey, Accountant. "AN IMPROVED MODE OF PACKING RIBBONS AND
OTHER NARROW FABRICS FOR THE MARKET."
The object of this Invention is to pack ribbons, lace, Swiss embroidery, and other
such narrow piece goods for the market so as to prevent the necessity for opening.
the package, case, or envelope in order to remove any portion of the goods there-
from for the purpose of supplying a retail customer.
According to our Invention we fold up lengths of narrow goods in such manner
that by drawing on the end of the goods when enclosed in a package the whole
length may be withdrawn without curling or creasing. The lengths of goods so
folded we enclose in envelopes open at one end only, allowing one end of the goods
to project out of the envelope for the purpose not only of shewing the character
and quality of the same but also to provide the means for drawing out the whole
length as it is required to be measured off for sale.
Supposing it is required to put any narrow piece goods of the class above
indicated into flat packages of some eighteen inches in length and eight inches in
width, we draw down from a suspended bobbin containing the lace or other fabric

page_text: to be packed the pendent end thereof, insert this end between gripping guide rollers,
and draw it down to a folding table.
These-guide-rollers-being-pressed-will-put-a-slight-drag-on-the-fabric-as-it-is-
drawn down to be laid in folds by the folder. The folding table we fit with
adjustable gauge pieces, say three feet apart for the size of package above indicated,
and in this space we lay a strip of paste board of some eight inches in width, and
of such length that when its ends are bent upwards some half inch or more, equal
to the thickness of the package to be formed, the card board will then extend from
one gauge piece to the other. Upon this strip of paste board the folder will lay
the lace or other fabric in laps extending from end to end thereof, spreading the
laps laterally so as to cover the breadth of the-strip..
When a given length of fabric has thus been folded up the creased ends of the
paste board are folded down upon the ends of the laps, and the whole is then folded
over so as to reduce the length of the package to one half, one end of the fabric
being allowed to project from the package. The pasteboard is then inclosed in a
paper envelope or wrapper, which is left open at one end for the withdrawal of the
fabric therefrom as required. This mode of packing effectually removes all risk of
the fabric becoming soiled by dust or handling, while it renders unnecessary the
labor of winding up or refolding the remnants, which, in the course of measuring
off lengths for sale, frequently fall into loose coils, no displacement of the fabric
being possible by the dropping of the package or other inadvertence on the part of
the salesman.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Francis William Parker and Frederick William Barber in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 5th May 1879.
FRANCIS WILLIAM PARKER, of Wilton Square, in the County of Middlesex,
Pattern Book Maker, and FREDERICK WILLIAM BARBER, of South Norwood, in the.
County of Surrey, Accountant. "AN IMPROVED MODE OF PACKING RIBBONS AND
OTHER NARROW FABRICS FOR THE MARKET."
The object of this Invention is to pack ribbons, lace, Swiss embroidery, and other
such narrow piece goods for the market so as to prevent the necessity for opening
the package, case, or envelope in order to remove any portion of the goods there-
from for the purpose of supplying a retail customer.
Attempts have already been made to attain this end, but without entire success,
as the fabric in the act of being drawn out has been liable to curl or to get dis-
placed in the envelope or case, thereby causing an obstruction to the free run of
the fabric.
According to our Invention we fold up lengths of narrow goods in such manner
that by drawing on the end of the goods in the direction of the folds (when
enclosed in a package) the whole length may be withdrawn from the package
without curling or creasing. The lengths of goods, when folded, we enclose in
envelopes open at one end only, from which an extremity of the goods projects out
of the envelope for the purpose not only of shewing the character and quality of
the same but also to provide the means for drawing out the whole length as it is
required to be measured off for sale.
Supposing it is required to put any narrow piece goods of the class above
indicated into flat packages of some eighteen inches in length and eight inches in
width, we draw down from a suspended bobbin containing the lace or other fabric
to be packed the pendent end thereof, insert this end between gripping guide
rollers, and draw it down to a folding table. These guide rollers being pressed will
put a slight drag on the fabric as it is drawn down to be laid in folds by the folder,
or we may dispense with these guide rollers and draw the fabric direct from the
bobbin by hand. The folding table we fit with adjustable gauge picces, say three
feet apart for the size of package above indicated, and in this space we lay a strip
of paste board of some eight inches in width, and of such length that when its ends
are bent upwards some half inch or more the card board will then extend from one
gauge piece to the other. Upon this strip of paste board the folder will lay the
lace or other fabric in laps extending from end to end thereof, spreading the laps
laterally so as to cover the breadth of the strip.
When a given length of fabric has thus been folded up the creased ends of the
paste board are folded down upon the ends of the laps, and the whole is then folded
over so as to reduce the length of the package to one half, one end of the fabric
being allowed to project from the open end of the package. The pasteboard is
then enclosed in a paper envelope or wrapper, which is left open at one end for the
withdrawal of the fabric therefrom as required.
In the accompanying Drawing we have shewn in several views the manner in
which we prefer to carry out our Invention. Fig. 1 shews in plan view a strip of
card board formed of four pieces joined up at the creasing line, and laid open to
receive the folded lace or other fabric, the card board strip being placed upon an
envelope blank which is to contain the folded goods; Fig. 2 is a similar view, but
shewing the folded fabric in place on the card and with one end of the card
wrapped over the goods, the other end standing up to shew the ends of the folds;
Fig. 2a shews in side view the length of this fold; Fig. 3 shews the package in its
completed form, the strip of card board with the lace or other fabric upon it being
folded upon itself in the line of the crease 1, 2, of Fig. 2, and the lapping edges of
the envelope secured in place. It has been found desirable in packing goods of the

page_text: the manner of doing this is shewn at Fig. 3.
In order to secure the ends of the sample we apply to the envelope end pieces
such as that shewn detached at Eig. 4, which we may line with muslin or other
suitable fabric to give strength thereto. These we attach by paste or other adhesive
_ material to the envelope as shewn at Fig. 3, supplying them with any desired
ornamental or other device which will give a finished appearance to the package or
-may-instruct the-purchaser how to use it.
When both ends of the package are thus enclosed the end to be opened for the
withdrawal of the lace or other fabric must be indicated, and by simply slitting that
end of the package with a knife access will be had to the extremity of the fabric,
which may then be drawn out in the direction of the length of the folds as indicated
in the longitudinal section, Fig. 5.
As the drag upon the fabric in removing from its envelope is in the direction of
the folds no tendency for it to curl or crease while being drawn out to supply a
customer will exist, and as the extremities of the card are turned in upon the ends
of the folds they will serve to protect the fabric from being displaced or drawn out
in folds from the mouth of the package by the drag put on the free end of the
fabric in the act of drawing upon it by the retail salesman.
From the above explanation it will be understood that our improved mode of
packing effectually removes all risk of the fabric becoming soiled by dust or handling,
while it renders unnecessary the labor of winding up or refolding the remnants,
which, in the course of measuring off lengths for sale, frequently fall into loose
coils, no displacement of the fabric being possible by the dropping of the package
or other inadvertance on the part of the salesman.
Having now set forth the nature of our Invention of "An Improved Mode of
Packing Ribbons and other Narrow Fabrics for the Market," and explained the
manner of carrying the same into effect, we wish it to be understood that under
the above in part recited Letters Patent we claim,-
Preparing packages of ribbons, laces, and other goods as described with reference
to the accompanying Drawing for the purpose above set forth.
In witness whereof, we, the said Francis William Parker and Frederick
William Barber, have hereunto set our hands and seals, the Fifth day of
May, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
F. W. PARKER. (L.S.)
F. W. BARBER. (L.S.)