Improvements in Apparatus for Cutting Weft Pile Fabrics.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Mar., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 28th Dec., 1889-Accepted, 1st Feb., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Cutting Weft Pile Fabrics.
We, WILLIAM GADD of 64 Barton Arcade, Manchester, Civil and Consulting
Engineer, and OSCAR DREY of. 10 Newton Street Piccadilly, Manchester,
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The improvements relate to the cutting of weft pile fabrics in machines or frames
wherein the fabric to be cut travels towards a stationary knife, either continuously or
intermittently, and have for object the automatic holding in position, totally or
partially, of a knife of the ordinary fustian cutting kind, or a modification thereof, in
such manner that when the point of the knife cuts into the cloth from any cause, a
quick releasement of such knife from the holder takes place, and the same is allowed
to freely travel with the moving fabric until such time as the machine may be
stopped either by automatic means or by the control of the operator.
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a feeler
To accomplish this and to effect my improvements I provide what I term
in the form of the leg of a lever capable of turning in or about the same plane as the
knife is fixed, or approximately the cloth travels.
The end of this lever, which is thin and flat, passes underneath the knife, and in
front of the advancing line of cut pile. So that in case of the knife not clearing itself,
(either by cutting into the cloth or by any improper obstruction therein presenting
itself,) this feeler" lever is drawn forward, and by turning on its axis is pressed
from underneath the knife to one side.
Another, (or it might be the same) leg of this lever has a link connection, by pin-
joint, with the releasing mechanism of the knife, by which means the knife is released
from the holding mechanism whenever the "feeler" lever is pulled or drawn forward,
which takes place whenever the cutting knife enters the back of the cloth instead of
simply cutting clear the weft pile.
When the knife is released at the handle or back end, it is free to travel with and
on the cloth until such travel is stopped by automatic means, or by the attendant, or is
otherwise dealt with.
The releasing mechanism can be varied in detail and may be placed above or on
one side of the knife handle. The two sides or edges of the knife-rest stand, during
cutting action, on suspended or projecting ledges, by preference slightly above the
travel of the cloth, and the end of the knife is resisted by a moveable abutment either
in the form of a lever catch, a slide, or other equivalent device, which is operated to
withdraw, or to allow of withdrawal from the knife handle end, by means of the feeler
lever and link connection aforesaid, so that when such withdrawal takes place the
knife is free to go forward, is pressed off the suspended or projecting edges, and thence
rests on and travels with the cloth until the machine is stopped, when the knife may
be withdrawn from the cut in the cloth and reset into the race, as will be readily
understood.
Dated this 28th day of March 1889.
WILLIAM GADD, C.E.,
64, Barton Arcade, Manchester, Agent.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Cutting Weft Pile Fabrics.
We, WILLIAM GADD of 64 Barton Arcade, Manchester, Civil and Consulting
Engineer, and OSCAR DREY of 10 Newton Street, Piccadilly, Manchester, Manu-
facture, 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 :-
The improvements relate to the cutting of weft pile fabrics in machines or frames
wherein the fabric to be cut travels towards a stationary knife, either continuously
or intermittently, and have for object the automatic holding in position, totally or
partially, of a knife of the ordinary fustian cutting kind, or a modification thereof, in
such manner that when the point of the knife cuts into the cloth from any cause, a
quick releasement of such knife from the holder takes place, and the same is allowed to
frcely travel with the moving fabric until such time as the machine may be stopped
either by automatic meaans, or by the control of the operator.
To accomplish this and to effect our improvements, we provide what we term a
"feeler," in the form of the leg of a lever capable of turning in or about the same
plane as the knife is fixed, or approximately the cloth travels.
The end of this lever, which is preferably thin and flat, passes underneath the knife, and
in front of the advancing line of cut pile. So that, in case of the knife not clearing itself
(either by cutting into the cloth, or by any improper obstruction therein presenting
itself) this feeler "lever is drawn forward, and by turning on its axis, is pressed from
underneath the knife to one side. Another, (or it might be the same) leg of this lever
has a link connection, by pin-joint, with the releasing mechanism of the knife, or its
carrier portion, by which means the knife is released from the holding apparatus when-
ever the "feeler" lever is pulled or drawn forward, which takes place whenever
the cutting knife enters the back of the fabric instead of simply cutting clear the
weft pile.
When the knife is released at the handle or carrier or back end, it is free to travel
with and on or in the cloth until such travel is stopped, either by automatic means, or
by the attendant, or is otherwise dealt with. The releasing mechanism can be varied
in detail, and may be placed above or on one side of the knife handle or carrier.
In the case of an automatically held knife, the two sides or edges of the knife-rest are
supported, during cutting action, on suspended or projecting ledges, by preference,
slightly above the line of travel of the cloth, and the end of the knife handle or
carrier is resisted by a movable abutment, either in the form of a lever catch, a slide,
or other equivalent device, which is operated to withdraw, or to allow of withdrawal
from the knife carrier end, or other convenient point, by means of the "feeler "lever
and link connection aforesaid, so that when such withdrawal takes place, the knife is
free to go forward, is pressed off the suspended or projecting ledges, and thence rests
on and travels with the cloth until the machine is stopped, when the knife may be
withdrawn from the cut in the cloth, and set again into the "race," as will be readily
understood.
But that the improvements may be better understood, we will, by the aid of the
accompanying drawings, proceed more fully to describe means employed by us.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 shews a plan view of a hand held knife holder, with knife in position,
arranged in accordance with our invention; but with the top of holder removed,
to more clearly shew the internal arrangement. Although such holder might be con-
structed in skeleton form if desired.
Fig. 2 shews a transverse section through the line A. B. with top restored.
Fig. 3 shews a side elevation of the same arrangement but with the side removed.
And Fig. 4 shews an elevation of the hand holder, with the side removed, and minus
the knife and its sliding carrier.

page_text: Fig. 5 shows a side elevation of a holder held automatically, with the knife in
position; and Fig. 6 is a plan view of the same.
In the case of a knife designed to be held by hand, and in accordance with this
invention, as shewn by Figs. to 4, a. a. is the knife holder or frame, which in
this example is constructed hollow, with a slot or slit in the bottom, so as to allow of
the free travel of the knife when released. b. b. is the knife, which is hinged at b
for the purpose of enabling the knife point to adjust itself to the requisite angles in
its travel after release from the cutting position, on penetrating the cloth.
knife carrier, which is capable of sliding along and within the knife handle a. a;
and is a bar in continuation of the knife to enable the requisite adjustment of
length to be made.
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c. c is the
The knife carrier c. c. is held in the cutting position by means of the small pin or
bolt, or other stop d. d. attached to the bell-crank lever e. e., the other leg of
which is connected, by means of the link f. f. with the lever g. g., on the pin or small
shaft h. h. the lower end of which is fitted with the thin plate "feeler "lever j. j.
This "fecler passes underneath the knife, between the knife and the cloth, and thus,
in case the knife enters the fabric undergoing operation, such "feeler" lever is
compelled to be pushed aside a certain distance to enable the fabric to come forward.
This thrusting of the "feeler "lever. on one side withdraws the small pin or bolt or
stop d. d. at the end of the lever e. e. and so sets the knife carrier free to travel with
the fabric in its forward motion. The paul k. k. takes into the ratchet bar formed
in or attached to the holder, for the purpose of convenient withdrawal of the knife
from the cloth at any position it may have arrived at; but this ratchet and paul
may be dispensed with when not required.
The knife handle may have the slit or slot carried right through to the end if
required, so as to enable the knife to pass clear out of the holder if the machine be
not stopped earlier, or the carrier with its knife may be arranged to drop out of
the holder immediately on releasement, and so lie on the cloth to be carried there-
with, in manner similar to where a fixed knife holder is employed, and which is
illustrated by Fig. 5 and 6.
These figures illustrate the invention as applied to a fixed knife frame or holder,
from which the knife is released on penetrating the cloth, in manner similar to the
hand held knife holder.
"
In these figures 1. is a rod passing from one side of a cutting machine to the
other, and 2. is a second rod, both of which are affixed to suitable brackets attached
to the framing, or otherwise. 3. is the knife holder, in this example formed in
skeleton construction, and which is capable of sliding laterally on the rods or
bearers 1 and 2 so as to enable the knife to he presented to any
race
across the
piece of fabric under operation. 4 is the knife rest, and, with the carrier 4', and the
knife 5, form a cutting knife very similar to an ordinary cutting knife for fustian
goods. In this example the knife bar does not need to be broken or hinged. The
rest 4. is during operation-supported by the pendant arms of the holder at 3' 31.
The knife holder is arranged with the stop 7, the bell crank lever S., the connecting
link 9., the lever 10., on the pin 11., with the "feeler" lever 12 attached to the lower
end of such pin, substantially as in the first form of the invention herein shewn and
described.
When the knife is released by the withdrawal of the pin or stop 7., the knife 5.
with its carrier or handle 4' and resi 4. are carried forward by the point of the
knife being in the cloth, and travel thereon until the machine is stopped, or the knife
be withdrawn by the attendant, or otherwise.
'
It will be seen that in no case, with this invention, is there any automatic with-
drawal of, or attempt to release the point of the knife from the cloth, upon its piercing
the same; the operation under this invention being simply to release the holding in
position of the knife, and thus allowing it to travel with and at the speed of the cloth
until released later by the attendant, or by other means either by stopping the
machine or not. The arrows indicate the direction of travel of the cloth.
We are aware that various automatic knives for the purpose of cutting weft pile

page_text: fabrics have been invented prior to this, which have other releasing mechanisms, and
which have means provided therein for the rapid withdrawal of the point of the knife
from the cloth, on its piercing the same, allowing the pierced place in the cloth to
leave the knife behind it. Also a releasing mechanism has been combined with a
swivel or turnover knife, which latter clears itself from the cloth by the act of
turning over; but none of these inventions permit of the knife being entirely released
by the holder, and allowed to travel forward with the cloth, and they form no part of,
and are quite different from this our present invention, which consists of a special
form of releasing apparatus depending on a "feeler" placed underneath the knife,
between such knife and the travelling cloth, which "feeler" has a lateral motion
given thereto And also in combining such or other feeler releasing apparatus with
a knife, which when released travels with or on the cloth, until the point is withdrawn
therefrom by other means, or by the attendant, whether stopping the machine or not
for the purpose.
Variations in detail may be made, such as the form or design of the various parts,
together with their arrangement; and the apparatus may be constructed to carry, or
to he worked with more than one knife at a time, without departing from the peculiar
character of the invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:
1. In machines for cutting the pile of weft pile fabrics, wherein either continuous
or reciprocal motion is given to the fabric, a "feeler" plate or lever inserted under-
neath the knife and between the knife and the cloth, having a lateral or sideway
motion given to such "feeler" for the purpose of actuating releasing mechanism for
weft pile cutting knives, whether such be held by automatic or fixed holders or
manually, in manner substantially as herein shewn and described.
2. In machines for cutting the pile of weft pile fabrics, wherein the travel of the
cloth is continuous or reciprocal, the combination of releasing mechanisms with
weft-pile cutting knives which on piercing the back of the fabric and being released
from the holder, are permitted and are free to travel with the moving cloth until
withdrawn by the attendant or otherwise, in manner substantially as herein shewn
and described.
3. In machines for cutting the pile of weft pile fabrics, wherein the cloth travels
in one direction only, or has given thereto a reciprocating motion, the combination
of parts forming the "feeler" releasing apparatus, the knife holding or knife
resisting mechanisms, and an automatic or manual holder, for the purpose and in
manner substantially as herein shewn and described. .
Dated this 27th day of December 1889
WILLIAM GADD, C.E.,
64, Barton Arcade, Manchester, Agent.