IMPROVEMENTS IN PAPER MAKERS' DRYING FELTS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Aitken, of Irwell Vale Mills, Helmshore, near
Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Cotton Manufacturer, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PAPER MAKERS' DRYING FELTS."
Sealed the 13th January 1880, and dated the 18th July 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Aitken at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th July 1879.
THOMAS AITKEN, of Irwell Vale Mills, Helmshore, near Manchester, in the County
of Lancaster, Cotton Manufacturer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PAPER MAKERS' DRYING
FELTS."
In the manufacture of paper makers' felts of the class to which the Invention
relates, that is to say, cotton felts woven of many warps and plys of weft, the ends
being afterwards spliced and stitched together, forming an endless web or belt, it is
found in practice that the felt at the joint gives way or becomes worn out before
the body of the fabric; and the joints so made, by reason of inequalities of surface,
impress, indent, or mark the pulp or paper upon the felt so joined. The object of
this my Invention is by improved means hereinafter described to make a secure and
even joint, so as to avoid marking the pulp or paper deposited on such felt.
According to this my said Invention, in, say for example, a felt having six warps, I
remove the weft at each end of the fabric from which a felt is to be made for a
distance, so as to release two warps nearest the surface of the felt, then turn back
the released warp threads and temporary secure them in such position by stitches or
by pasting. The ends of the felt are now placed in a holding frame and two warps
are released on the under or inside of the felt, and the opposite threads of warp
The
secured by knotting or tying together each two, and the spare ends cut off.
remaining two warps are now. in like manner released, and the threads knotted or
tied together upon or over the threads already tied and the spare ends clipped or
cut off. The felt is now turned inside out, and the warp threads first released are
by use of a needle stitched or passed across the joint and forwards and the body of
the felt, the latter operation closing the seam or joint, so that when pressed by use
of hot iron the joint or seam is almost as even and regular as the remainder of. the
fabric.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance-of-the.conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas Aitken in the Great.Seal Patent Office on the 16th January
1880.
THOMAS AITKEN, of Irwell Vale Mills, Helmshore, near Manchester, in the County
of Lancaster, Cotton Manufacturer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PAPER MAKERS' DRYING
FELTS."
In the manufacture of paper makers' felts of the class to which the Invention
relates, that is to say, cotton felts woven of many warps, and plys of weft, the ends
being afterwards spliced and stitched together, forming an endless web or belt, it is
found in practice that the felt at the joint gives way or becomes worn out before
the body of the fabric, and the joints so made, by reason of inequalities of surface,
impress, indent, or mark the. pulp or paper upon the felt so joined. The object of
this my Invention is by improved means hereinafter described to make a secure and
even joint, so as to avoid marking the pulp or paper deposited on such felt.
According to this my said Invention, in, say for example, a felt having six warps, I
remove the weft at each. end of the fabric from which a felt is to be made for a.
distance, so as to release two warps nearest the surface of the felt, then turn back
the released warp threads and temporary secure them in such position by stitches
or by pasting. The ends of the felt are now placed in a holding frame, and two
warps are now released on the under or inside of the felt, and the opposite threads
of warp secured by knotting or tying together each two, and the spare ends cut off.
The remaining two warps are now in like manner released, and the threads knotted
or tied together upon or over the threads already tied, and the spare ends clipped or
cut off. The felt is now turned "inside out," and the warp threads first released
are by use of a needle stitched or passed across the joint and forwards into the body
of the felt, the latter operation closing the seam or joint, so that when pressed by
use of hot iron the joint or seam is almost as even and regular as the remainder of
the fabric.
Such being the nature and object of this my said Invention, I will now proceed
to describe the same in detail, and in order that the Invention may be fully under-
stood I have hereunto annexed a Sheet of Drawings, and have marked the same
with figures and letters of reference.
According to this my Invention, in, say for example, a felt having six warps; I
remove the weft at each end of the fabric which a felt is to be made for a distance,
so as to release two warps 1, 1, nearest the surface of the felt, see Fig. A; then
turn back the released warp threads as at 1, and temporary secure them in such
position by stitches or by pasting. The ends of the felt are now placed in a holding
frame 2, Fig. B, with the released ends 1 placed back to back; two warp threads
3, 3, are now released on the under or inside of the felt, and the opposite threads of
warp secured by knotting or tying together each two, and the spare ends cut off.
The remaining two warps 4, 4, Fig. C, are now in like manner released, and the
threads knotted or tied together upon or over the thread 3, 3, already tied, and the
spare ends clipped or cut off. The felt is now turned "inside out," and the warp
1, 1, threads first released are by use of a needle Fig. D stitched or passed across
the joint, first from the right two or three loose ends 1, 1, then two or three
from the left band, and forwards into the body of the felt, the latter operation closing
the seam or joint, so that when pressed by use of hot iron the joint or seam is almost
as even and regular as the remainder of the fabric.

page_text: Having thus fully described the nature and particulars of this my said Invention,
together with the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed, I would
have it understood that what I claim as my Invention is,-
The jointing or securing together the ends of paper makers' drying felts in the
manner herein fully described and illustrated by the Drawings hereunto annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Aitken, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twelfth day of January, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty.
Witness,
WALTER BRIERLEY,
Patent Agent,
Halifax & Blackburn.
THO³. AITKEN. (L.S.)