Improvements in Apparatus used in Cutting the Pile of Weft Pile Fabrics.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 28th June, 1897-Accepted, 31st July, 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus used in Cutting the Pile of Weft Pile
Fabrics.
I, GEORGE ROGER, of 34 Ellesmere Street, Warrington, Lancashire, Master
Füstian Cutter, 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 apparatus used in cutting the pile of weft pile
fabrics, and have for object to obtain increased efficiency in such cutting.
In the cutting of weft pile fabrics as on the hand or stationary frame, as at present
for the most part employed, it is common to stretch upon such frame a length of
canvas, or other fabric, to form a support for the cloth requiring to be cut.
This supporting fabric, however, tends, in course of time, to become depressed,
and slack of surface, at the edges, owing to the frequent necessity the operative
is under to bend and reach over the cloth, at varying parts along the sides thereof,
in order to examine the same; in consequence whereof the pile fabric, following
the depressious of the supporting material to a considerable extent, presents
difficulties to the operative at those portions where the line of cut has been thrown
out of the horizontal, and is liable to cause the pile to be cut out of centre, or
what is known by the terms "toart" and "froat."
To remedy this evil, and to carry out my improvements, I provide apparatus
which I will describe with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section and Fig. 2 a plan view (with portions removed),
of a cutting frame provided and arranged according to my improvements, while
Figs. 3 and 4 show portions of certain details of special apparatus hereinafter to
be described.
The same letters indicate corresponding parts wherever they occur.
In order to form a more efficient support for the pile fabric undergoing opera-
tion, I provide a framework or stretcher a. al., of any suitable material, but
preferably of wood and light in construction, upon which I cause to be stretched
the supporting material b. This stretcher is, by preference, adjustable in width,
and, it may be, as shown by the slotted brackets a connecting the side pieces a.
with a cross-pin a', or by other means, whereby the supporting material b. may
be kept tight.
In Fig. 3., the stretcher a. a¹ is shown laterally adjustable at one side only.
The ends of this stretcher frame a. a¹. are caused to rest upon suitable supports cl.
of the frame cutting c., while a number of intermediate supports d. may be provided
along the length of the stretcher as desired; which intermediate supports may be
provided or not with vertical adjustment, in order to further ensure contact of the
sunorting cloth with the pile fabric at any point requisite.
One form of vertical adjustment is shown in Figa. 1 and 4., wherein the cross-
rail d. is carried in the chair ., which may be lifted from the trestle d. by the
screws d³.
The stretcher or frame a. a¹ is shown, in the drawings, provided with anti-

page_text: friction rollers e., in order that, in cases where the stretcher is formed of less width
than the fabric under operation, as in Fig. 2., where two overlapping fabrics f. g.
are operated upon one cutting frame--such stretcher may be the more readily drawn
(whether automatically or by hand) to either side of the apparatus; but these anti-
friction devices may be varied, or even dispensed with if not required.
By means of this stretcher or frame a. al., together with the supporting material 6.
stretched thereon, the pile fabric lying over the same is supported horizontally
and firmly at every part, whereby increased efficiency and uniformity in cutting
may be obtained: Also the rigidity of the stretcher frame effectually prevents
the bearing down of the sides of the fabric or supporting cloth by the operative,
as before described:
Variations in detail may be made,, such as in the material, design and construc-
tion of the stretcher; in the method of tightening the supporting fabric stretched
upon it, and in the mannor of mounting and adjusting the position of the same
with regard to the cutting frame and the pile fabric; likewise the improvements
aro applicable to cutting either on the long or the short run, whether by hand or
mechanical devices, without departing from the peculiar character of the invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
In apparatus for cutting the pile of weft pile fabrics, the employment of a
rigid frame or stretcher whereon is. stretched the material by which the pile
fabric is supported during the operation, for the purpose and in manner
substantially as herein shown and described:
i
Dated this 26th day of June 1897
WILLIAM GADD, C.E.,
64, Barton Arcade, Manchester, Agent for Applicant.