Improvements in the Manufacture of Coverings for Floors and other Surfaces, and in Apparatus Used for this Purpose.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Feb., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 5th Dec., 1995-Accepted, 6th Feb., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION,
Improvements in the Manufacture of Coverings for Floors and other
Surfaces, and in Apparatus Used for this Purpose.
We, ARTHUR SIDNEY OETZMANN of 67 to 79 Hampstead Road, London,
Manufacturer and SAMUEL JOHN NARRACOTT of 12 Victoria Parade, Torquay, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to the manufacture of inlaid linoleum and similar fabrics
and particularly to that class made from granulated linoleum composition, wood-
fibre or other suitable powdered substances.
In order to obtain inlaid patterns of any required design we employ a horizontal
roller or drum on the surface of which a number of cells or compartments are
constructed-preferably of uniform size and shape.
The transverse walls of the cells are formed of long thin strips of metal or other
substances placed across the roller and free to be reciprocated through slots or
spaces formed in the other walls. The drum is suitably revolved and the cells are
charged whilst at the upper part of the revolution with granulated material in the
various colours required to form the complete pattern-the colours being kept in
their respective positions by the walls of the cells.
A backing fabric is fed against the side of the drum and retains the material
in the cells during the revolution of the drum until the bottom position of the
revolution is reached, when the transverse strips are reciprocated causing the
granulated material in the cells to fall onto the backing which passes away hori-
zontally. The complete pattern is thus at once deposited onto the backing from
the one drum-each colour supporting the adjacent one-and is now passed to
suitable heating and pressing apparatus to be finished.
The cells are charged either by stencils or by a series of feed rollers somewhat
similarly arranged to those described in our Patent No. 5487 of 1891 to which we
should add agitators in the hoppers to secure the filling of the recesses in the feed
rollers and also provide transverse vibrating strips on the feed rollers to effect the
transfer of the granule from them to the drum. The last colour to be filled into
the cells could be supplied from a hopper, open at the bottom, under which the cells
would pass and which in addition to filling the empty cells would also add what
was required to the other cells so that all were filled to one uniform level.
As an alternative method of working, the transverse strips could be fixed to the
drum and the other portions of the cells vibrated, or both methods combined.
In working with materials possessing a certain dryness the cells could be
entirely rigid and the powdered composition be deposited on the backing by vibrating
the drum.
For some classes of patterns the cells could be shaped to correspond with the
figure required, while in other cases the figures would be obtained by using the
requisite number of small cells.
When stencils are employed for charging the drum with material we preferably
make them of thin endless bands perforated where required. These stencils are
provided on the outside at numerous suitable places with small embossments or
projections. These projections enter certain of the cells on the drum to a sufficient
depth to engage with the divisions forming the cells and by this means when the

page_text: drum is revolved the endless stencil is drawn along in accurate register with it.
The granulated material is fed into the interior of the stencil by an endless ribbon.
and means are provided for partly emptying the ribbon at various distances across
the stencil so as to secure a proper distribution of the granule. Across the stencil
a suitable agitator is reciprocated which causes the granule to fall through the
perforations in the stencil and oharge the cells on the drum. An endless curtain
which revolves in a contrary direction to that of the top of the drum is employed
to sweep back and retain the granule prior to the stencil being lifted out of contact
with the drum. As many sets of stencils as are required for the various colours
are arranged in series on the upper portion of the drum and all are worked
simultaneously and continuously.
Another method of charging the druin is by means of trays having curved stencil
bottoms to fit the circumference of the drum and these trays are lifted on and off
the drum in consecutive order, the drum being either driven by a slow continuous
motion or intermittently.
If found desirable, the granule could first be deposited from the drum upon a
false backing and the true backing then be brought down onto the surface of the
granule and made to adhere to it by pressure, the false backing being afterwards
removed.
Dated this Sixth day of February 1896
ARTHUR SIDNEY OETZMANN.
SAMUEL JOHN NARRACOTT.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Coverings for Floors and other
Surfaces, and in Apparatus Used for this Purpose.
We, ARTHUR SIDNEY OETZMANN of 67 to 79 Hampstead Road, London,
Manufacturer, and SAMUEL JOHN NARRACOTT of 12 Victoria Parade Torquay do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the saine is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention relates to the manufacture of inlaid linoleum and similar fabrics
and particularly to that class made from granulated linoleum composition, wood-
fihre or other suitable powdered substances.
In order to obtain inlaid patterns of any required design we employ a horizontal
roller or drum on the surface of which a number of cells or compartments are
constructed preferably of uniform size and shape.
The transverse walls of the cells are formed of long thin strips of metal or other
substances placed across the roller and free to be reciprocated through slots or
spaces formed in the other walls. The drum is suitably revolved and the cells are
charged whilst at the upper part of the revolution with granulated material in the
various colours required to form the complete pattern-the colours being kept in
their respective positions by the walls of the cells.
A backing fabric is fed against the side of the drum and retains the material in
the cells during the revolution of the drum until the bottom position of the
revolution is reached, when the transverse strips are reciprocated, causing the
granulated material in the cells to fall onto the backing which passes away horizontally.
The complete pattern is thus at once deposited onto the backing from the one drum-
each colour supporting the adjacent one-and is now passed to suitable heating and
pressing apparatus to be finished.
The cells are charged either by stencils or by a series of feed rollers somewhat

page_text: similarly arranged to those described in our Patent No. 5487 of 1891 to which we
should add agitators in the hoppers to secure the filling of the recesses in the feed
rollers and also provide transverse vibrating strips on the feed rollers to effect the
transfer of the granule from them to the drum. The last colour to be filled into the
cells could be supplied from a hopper open at the bottom, under which the cells
would pass and which in addition to filling the empty cells would also add what was
required to the other cells so that all were filled to one uniform level.
As an alternative method of working, the transverse strips could be fixed to the
drum and the other portions of the cells vibrated or both methods combined.
In working with material possessing a certain dryness the cells could be entirely
rigid and the powdered composition be deposited on the backing by vibrating the drum
which is the method shown in the accompanying drawings.
For srme classes of patterns the cells could be shaped to correspond with the
figure required, while in other cases the figures would be obtained by using the
requisite number of small cells.
When stencils are employed for charging the drum with material we preferably
make them of thin endless bands perforated where required. These stencils are
provided on the outside at numerous suitable places with small embossments or
projections. These projections enter certain of the cells on the drum to a sufficient
depth to engage with the divisions forming the cells and by this means when the
drum is revolved the endless stencil is drawn along in accurate register with it. The
granulated material is fed into the interior of the stencil by an endless ribbon and
means are provided for partly emptying the ribbon at various distances across the
stencil so as to secure a proper distribution of the granule.
Across the stencil a suitable agitator is reciprocated which causes the granule to
fall through the perforations in the stencil and charge the cells on the drum. An
endless curtain which revolves in a contrary direction to that of the top of the
drum, is employed to sweep back and retain the granule prior to the stencil being
lifted out of contact with the drum. As many sets of stencils as are required for
the various colours are arranged in series on the upper portion of the drain and all
are worked simultaneously and continuously.
Another method of charging the drum is by means of trays having curvel stencil
bottoms to fit the circumference of the drum, and these trays are lifted on and off
the drum in consecutive order, the drum being either driven by a slow continuous
motion or intermittently.
The description of other methods of discharging the granule from the cells is as
follows:-
Vibrating the whole drum, which rests on spring bearings, either by upward or
downward blows and at the same time reciprocating the transverse strips. A row of
small hammers having a rapid tapping motion might rise and act against the under-
neath portion of the drum just prior to the position in which the granule is free to
leave the cells. Small weights or pellets could be suspended in the cells with the
view of their vibration assisting the discharge.
We do not however confine ourselves to any particular method of vibration but
with each different class of granule we use the means which best effects the object.
If found desirable, the granule could first be deposited from the drum upon a
false backing and the true backing then be brought down onto the surface of the
granule and made to adhere to it by pressure, the false backing being afterwards
removed.
EXPLANATION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 is an elevation and Fig. 2 is a plan of the machine.
Figs. 3&4 are the section and part plan of one of the hoppers.
Fig. 5 shows an alternative forin of hopper and
Fig. 6. the method of feeding the boppers.
A is the main shaft; B, an intermediate shaft and C the drum driven at a slow
speed by means of the bands and pulleys A' B' C. The axis of the drum C rests

page_text: on the levers E and the weight of the drum C is almost balanced by the counter-
poise springs E. On the shaft A. are. two drums D fitted with a series of studs D¹
on their circumferences. When the shaft A revolves, the studs D' strike the under
sides of the levers E and give a rapid and continuous vibratory motion vertically to
the drum C F is an endless travelling band. G is the backing fabric which is
carried through the machine on the endless band F, over the roller F, partly around
the drum C, and over the roller F which slightly lifts it so as to stop the effect of
the vibrations and prevent the granule which has now been deposited upon it from
being disturbed. It then passes under the guard-plate H and is carried to suitable
heating and pressing apparatus to be finished. J.J. are the flexible endless stencils
baving numerous projections J' distributed over the outer side to engage with the
cells on the drum Cond secure perfect register. K. K. are the feed hoppers holding
the different coloured materials under which the stencils J pass. LL are vibrators
working inside the hoppers for the purpose of riddling the material through the
holes in the stencils, being reciprocated by means of the cam L' on the shaft A and
the levers L L on the rocking bar L. M (Figs. 3 & 4) is a revolving curtain
and M (Fig. 5) is a revolving roller covered with suitable material, either of which
methods can be employed to clean the stencil before it passes from under the hopper.
They are driven by the palleys M (Fig. 1) M M are scrapers for cleaning the
curtain and roller respectively. Fig. 6 illustrates the means for supplying material
to the hoppers, and for the sake of clearness is not shown attached to the machine
in Figs. 1 & 2. N is a trough which is kept supplied with material.
An endless travelling ribbon N¹ passes across this trough out through a slit at N'
and traverses the whole length of the hopper.
An adjustable aperture over the centre of the slit at N regulates the quantity
of material that the ribbon carries out.
At certain distances across the hopper stationary strikers or arms N are placed
diagonally and can be adjusted at suitable heights to scrape off the granule where
required, which then falls into the hopper.
Fig. 7 shows an elevation and Fig. 8 an end view of a method of reciprocating
the transverse strips of which the cells on the surface of the drum are partly
composed. 00 are the transverse strips, the ends of which project. beyond the
portion of the drum C occupied by the cells. For the sake of clearness, only one
of these strips is shown in Fig. 8. P. P. are wheels carrying pins P P which
strike alternately against the hevelled portions QQ of the levers QQ and give the
levers a rocking motion.
By this means the upper ends of the lovers push a certain numbers of the strips O
to and fro as they are successively brought into position by the revolution of the
dram C.
Suitable springs R. R. keep the levers Q out of contact with the strips O during
the intervals between the strokes.
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. A combination of machinery for the manufacture of inlaid fubrics substantially
as described and shown in the drawings annexed.
. 2. In apparatus for the manufacture of inlaid linoleum and similar fabrics the
use of a revolving horizontal drum having its surface entirely divided into cells or
compartments, charging the whole of the cells with material in different colours
while they are at the upper part of the revolution and causing the complete pattern
thus formed to be continuously discharged on to a backing fabric at the lower part
of the revolution by vibrating the entire drum or certain portions of the drum or
both together as particularly described in the foregoing specification and shown in
the drawings.
3. In apparatus for the manufacture of inlaid linoleum as described, the use of
continuous flexible stencils provided with numerous projections or embossments

page_text: distributed over the outer side of the stencils, which engage with the cells on the
dram and secure accurate register for all parts of the stencil.
4. In apparatus for the purpose described, the use of vibrators in the hoppers
for riddling the granulated material through the holes in the stencils and a revolving
curtain or roller for cleaning the stencils before they leave the hoppers.
5. In apparatus as described the use of an endless ribbon band and strikers for-
supplying material to the hoppers.
Dated this 7th day of November 1896.
ARTHUR SIDNEY OETZMANN..
SAMUEL JOHN NARRACOTT.