IMPROVEMENTS IN 'CUTTLING' OR PLAITING MACHINES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Mellor, of Sowerby Bridge, near Halifax, in the
County of York; Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
'CUTTLING' OR PLAITING MACHINES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Mellor at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th June 1878.
WILLIAM MELLOR, of Sowerby Bridge, near Halifax, in the County of York,
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN CUTTLING' OR PLAITING MACHINES."
This Invention relates to the gripping or holding apparatus of such machines for
holding the cloth of each fold thereof; and the improvements consist in the
employment at each end of the machine of a hinged rail placed across the machine
above the ordinary curved tilting table; and also in the employment of spring
catches for locking or holding such hinged rail in position.
The cloth or piece under operation is carried backward and forward across the
imachine by the ordinary reciprocating knives or "plaiters," which at each stroke
thereof is brought underneath the hinged rail, lifting it sufficiently high for tho
reciprocating knife and cloth to pass under it a certain distance clear of the cloth,
and then withdrawing, leaving a fold of the cloth between the hinged rail and top
of the curved table, which is retained and firmly held there by means of the spring
catches which drop upon and take hold of the hinged rails. These spring catches
are released from the hinged rail at each stroke or beat up of the reciprocating
knives by means of suitable plates or fixings attached to each knife.
By means of these improvements the cloth is not subject to friction whilst

page_text: passing underneath the hinged rail, and yet the cloth is held firmly at each fold
thereof and effectually prevented from slipping, which is not the case with the
prosent construction of holding and gripping apparatus.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Mellor in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 17th
December 1878.
WILLIAM MELLOR, of Sowerby Bridge, near Halifax, in the County of York,
Engincer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN ČUTTLING OR PLAITING MACHINES."
This Invention relates to apparatus for holding the fabric at the end of each fold
or cuttle; and the improvements consist in the employment at each end of the
machine of a hinged rail, placed across the machine above the ordinary curved tilting
table, and also in the employment of spring catches for locking or holding such
hinged rail in position.
The cloth or piece under operation is carried backwards and forwards across the
machine by the ordinary oscillating knives or "plaiters," one of which, at cach
stroke thereof, passes underneath one of the hinged rails a certain distance, the
hinged rail being raised clear of the cloth until the withdrawal of the knife, which
leaves a fold of the cloth between the hinged rail and the top of the curved table,
upon which the hinged rail descends, and the fabric is retained by the pressure
between the under side of the rail and the table, the rail being rendered firm by
spring catches, which are rendered self-closing by springs, and are removed at the
roper time by suitable inclines or projections attached to each knife.
+
In order that my Invention may be more fully understood, I herein give refer-
ence to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, marked with figures and letters, the
same letters referring to the same parts in the different Figures.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a cuttling machine with my improvements applied;
Fig. 2 is a plan view of same; and Figs. 3 and 4 are details of parts detached.
Both ends and sides of the machine being alike, the description which is given
of certain parts will of course apply equally to the others which are duplicates
thereof.
A is the ordinary tilting table upon which the material is cuttled or folded by
means of the oscillating knives B.
C is my improved holding bar, which is hinged at D, being carried in brackets E
fixed to the side frames F. The bar is retained in position for holding the fabric
by catch G mounted on stud pin H, which catch is pressed over the edge of the
bar by spring J. The end of the catch g is wedge-shaped or inclined, and corre-
sponding inclines K are fixed to the blades B. On the under side of the bar C are
also inclined projections L. As the knife B approaches tho bar C the fixed
incline K comes in contact with the wedge-shaped end of the catch G and removes
the said catch from the bar C. The knife then passes under the incline L, and in
so doing lifts the bar to which they are attached and carries the folded fabric

page_text: underneath it. Immediately on the knife withdrawing, the holding bar is caused
to descend quickly to its proper position by means of spring M, and is secured by
the catch G holding the cloth firmly in its grip, and so on at each stroke of the reci-
procatory knives. The holding bar is covered on the under side with felt, plush, or
other similar material, which suffices to retain the material during the process of
cuttling.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention and the manner in which the
same is to be or may be performed, or carried into practice, I would have it under-
stood that I do not confine myself to the precise details herein set forth, as the
same may be varied, but what I claim as my Invention and consider to be new is,
the use of the hinged holding bar C, operated and secured in the manner herein
shewn and described, or any mere modification thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Mellor, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Fourteenth day of December, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
Signed, scaled, and delivered by
the within-named William Mellor
in the presence of
A. B. CROSSLEY,
Tasker & Crossley,
Patent Agents,
Halifax
WILLIAM MELLOR. (L.S.)