IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR CUTTING FABRICS, WOOD, AND OTHER MATERIALS."
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Eugène Francis Langlois, of Boulevard Saint Denis, No. 1,
at Paris, Mechanician, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY
OR APPARATUS FOR CUTTING FABRICS, WOOD, AND OTHER MATERIALS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Eugène Francis Langlois at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 31st May 1876.
EUGENE FRANCIS LANGLOIS, of Boulevard Saint Denis, No. 1, at Paris,
Mechanician. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR CUTTING FABRICS,
WOOD, AND OTHER MATERIALS."
The object of my Invention is to provide small establishments, or those where
steam cannot be conveniently employed, with an apparatus or machine worked by
the foot or hand without fatigue, noise, or tremulous motion, and which will effect
a saving both in time and hand labor. The purpose for which my apparatus is
more especially intended is the mechanical cutting of fabrics or stuffs, and I have
arranged it so as to obtain both a large space for work and a very great rapidity
of production. The first of these points is attained by a particular arrangement of
a band saw over three pulleys, two of which are situated the one above and the
other below the point of cut, while the third is at the back of the apparatus at any
required distance, which will always exceed the greatest length of the articles
which the apparatus has to cut (waterproof coats, ulsters, petticoats, dresses, mantles,
and the like). In order to obtain great rapidity of work, I avoid all the friction which
might be produced in the pedestals or bearings of the pulleys, and I make the ends
of the pulley spindles in the form of points or centres which respectively take into
two screw bearings, so that the passive resistance being reduced to a minimum the
working of the machine proceeds without any cause of reduction of speed. Motion
is transmitted to the back saw pulley by means of a treadle which acts directly
upon an upper driving wheel, the latter being connected with the back pulley by
a cord or belt. The tension of the saw on the pulleys is regulated by a screw
worked by a hand wheel so as to raise or lower the upper front pulley. The saw
is guided a little above the point of cut by a grooved roller, which likewise turns
on points or centres, and the height of which can be adjusted. The part of the
work table through which the saw passes is fitted with a motal plate in which a
slot with a shoulder is formed to give passage to the saw and avoid all lateral
fretting of the wood.

page_text: Although specially intended as has already been mentioned for cutting fabrics,
my apparatus is also applicable to cutting wood or other materials, and it may be
worked by a treadle as described, or by hand, or by steam, or other power.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Eugène Francis Langlois in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 25th
November 1876.
EUGENE FRANCIS LANGLOIS, of Boulevard Saint Denis, No. 1, at Paris,
Mechanician. "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR CUTTING
FABRICS, WOOD, AND OTHER MATERIALS."
The object of my Invention is to provide small establishments, or those where
steam cannot be conveniently employed with an apparatus or machine worked by
the foot or hand without fatigue, noise, or tremulous motion, and which will effect
a saving both in time and hand labor. The purpose for which my apparatus is
more especially intended is the mechanical cutting of fabrics or stuffs, and I have
arranged it so as to obtain both a large space for work and a very great rapidity
of production. The first of these points is attained by a particular arrangement
of a band saw passing over three pulleys, two of which are situated the one above
and the other below the point of cut, while the third is at the back of the apparatus
at any required distance which will always exceed the greatest length of the
articles which the apparatus has to cut (waterproof coats, ulsters, petticoats, dresses,
mantles, and the like). In order to obtain great rapidity of work I avoid all the
friction which might be produced in the pedestals or bearings of the pulleys, and
I make the ends of the pulley spindles in the form of points or centres, which
respectively take into two screw bearings, so that the passive resistance being
reduced to a minimum the working of the machine proceeds without any cause of
reduction of speed.
My Invention will be fully understood by the annexed Drawings. Figure 1 is a
side clevation of the machine; a is the band saw passing over three pulleys, two of
which and h are situated respectively above and below the point b where the
cut is effected, and the third d is situated at the back of the machine, so that
between the vertical part of the saw a and the standard or upright f there is a
large space allowing of the manipulation of large pieces of work, such, for example,
as those herein-before mentioned. Motion is transmitted to the back saw pulley d
by means of a treadle which acts directly upon an upper driving wheel y, the
latter being connected with the pulley d by a cord or belt z. In order to give the 3
pulleys d, g, h, the greatest possible freedom of motion I mount them on two
points, as shewn separately on a larger scale in Figures 2 and 3. The spindle i of
cach pulley terminates in two points, which respectively take into two screw
bearings, k; by this arrangement friction is sensibly diminished, and the saw a
circulates with the greatest facility so that a good cut is obtained. The tension of
the saw on the pulleys d, g, h, is regulated by a screw worked by a hand
wheel m so as to raise or lower the pulley g. The saw is guided a little above
the point of cut by a grooved guide roller (n, Figures 4 and 5), which likewise turns
on points or centres, and the height of which can be adjusted by a rod o held in
place by a tightening screw p. The part of the work table c through which the
saw passes is fitted with a metal plate 7 (Figure 6) in which a slot n with a
shoulder is formed to give passage to the saw and avoid all lateral fretting of the
wood. Figure 7 is a front elevation, and Figure 8 a plan of the stretching roller I
employ for the purpose of giving the driving cord the necessary tension. The
grooved roller a¹ is made with two points b', 6', pivoting respectively in two conical 5
hollows formed in the inner end of each of the screws c¹, c¹. These latter therefore
act as a pivot to the grooved pulley or stretching roller a¹, and are screwed into the
two arms d', d', of the support e¹. The degree of tension is regulated by sliding the

page_text: rear arm of the support e¹ in the guide g¹, which is fixed on the upright f¹ of the
apparatus. A pressure screw ¹ holds the support e¹ in place.
It will be understood that by this arrangement I obtain great rapidity and
smoothness in the working of my apparatus on account of the working on double
points, not only of the stretching roller above mentioned, but also of all the saw
pulleys.
Although specially intended, as has been already mentioned, for cutting fabrics,
my apparatus is also applicable to cutting wood or other materials, and it may be
worked by a treadle as described, or by hand, or by steam, or other power.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim as my "Improvements in
Machinery or Apparatus for Cutting Fabrics, Wood, and other Materials,"
First. The particular arrangement as hercin-before described of the band saw
on three pulleys, two in front of the machine arranged respectively above and below
the point of cut, and the third at the back of the apparatus, and at such a distance
as to give great working space for the manipulation of the articles to be cut.
Second. Mounting the saw pulleys and the stretching roller on double points,
substantially as herein-before described, so as to obtain great freedom of movement,
and consequently great rapidity of work.
Third. The arrangement of a grooved guide roller, likewise mounted on double
points to guide or keep the saw to its work as herein-before described.
Fourth. The general arrangement or combination of parts as herein-before
described and represented in the accompanying Drawings forming improved
machinery for cutting fabrics, wood, or other materials.
In witness whereof, I, the said Eugène Francis Langlois, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-third day of November, One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-six.
Witness,
ALBERT CAHEN,
Civil Engineer,
of Boulevard St. Denis, No. 1.
at Paris.
E. F. LANGLOIS. (L.S.)