IMPROVEMENTS IN CLIPPING LAPPETS, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREFOR
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Blair and Andrew Blair, both of Glasgow, in
the County of Lanark, North Britain, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN CLIPPING LAPPETS, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED
THEREFOR"
Sealed the 3rd March 1876, and dated the 8th January 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Blair and Andrew
Blair at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, on the 8th January 1876.
JAMES BLAIR and ANDREW BLAIR, both of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark,
North Britain. "IMPROVEMENTS IN CLIPPING LAPPETS, AND IN THE MACHINERY
OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREFOR."
"
This Invention relates to improvements in clipping lappets, and it has for its
object to perform that operation more effectually than hitherto.
According to this Invention, which is especially applicable for clipping those
lappets in which the threads which have to be removed run at an angle or more or
less diagonally to the length of the cloth, the cloth is caused to travel at an angle
corresponding to the inclination of the loose threads, so that the threads are pre-
sented straight or parallel to the revolving cutters.
The cloth is kept at the required angle over beams, upon which it is stretched
and drawn until the threads assume the required position, the effect of so drawing
the cloth being to cause the loose threads to stand up from the cloth, so that they
are presented to the cutters at a distance above the cloth, thus allowing the cutters
to be kept at such a distance off the body of the cloth that the figuring is less liable
to injury from the cutters than hitherto.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
Baid James Blair and Andrew Blair in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
3rd July 1876.
JAMES BLAIR and ANDREW BLAIR, both of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark,
North Britain. "IMPROVEMENTS IN CLIPPING LAPPETS, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR
APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREFOR."
"

page_text: Our said Invention relates to improvements in clipping lappets, and it has for its
object to perform that operation more effectually than hitherto.
According to our Invention, which is specially applicable for clipping those
lappets in which the threads required to be removed run at an angle or more or
less diagonally to the length of the cloth, the cloth is caused to travel at an angle
corresponding to the inclination of the loose threads, so that the threads are pre-
sented straight or parallel to the revolving cutters or knives.
The cloth is kept at the required angle over beams, upon which it is stretched
and drawn until the threads assume the required position, the effect of so drawing
the cloth being to cause the loose threads to stand out from the cloth, so that they
are presented to the cutters at a distance below the body of the fabric, thus allowing
the cutters to be kept sufficiently far from the body of the cloth as to render the
figuring less liable to injury from the cutters than hitherto.
And in order that our said Invention may be properly understood we now
proceed more particularly to set forth the system, mode, or manner in or under
which the same is or may be used or practically carried into effect, reference being had
to the annexed Sheet of Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon,
that is to say :-
On the Sheet of Drawings hereunto appended Figure 1 is a side elevation of the
improved machine or apparatus constructed to clip the loose threads from lappets
in accordance with our said Invention; Figure 2 is a part plan of the machine;
and Figure 3 a part elevation of the end marked marked X, Figure 1.
As shown by these Figures the apparatus consists of a standard or framing A, on
which a cutting roller or drum B is supported in bearings. A series of blades or
knives a are arranged spirally around the periphery of the roller or drum, as seen
at Figures 2 and 3. A flat knife c, whose length is equal to that of the roller or
drum B, extends across the machine above and in proximity to the roller or drum,
the said knife being secured by a clamp or clamps to the under side of an arm or
frame C, also extending across the machine, and centred on pins or studs b, which
are supported in brackets D bolted to the framing A. Towards the part whereat
the knife c is fixed, the arm or frame is further supported on rods D, which pass
through eyes or brackets e formed on the arms or frames C, the said rods and eyes
or brackets being made with screw threads, so as to enable the position of the
knife c to be adjusted relatively with the spiral knives or blades a. On the top of
the frame C a box or chamber f, extending the whole width of the frame, is made,
the frame C and knife or blade constituting the back and the bottom of the box
or chamber, whilst its upper side is composed of a bent or curved plate secured to
the frame by bolts or equivalent means at g¹ and g, as seen at Figure 1 of the
Drawings. A current of air is forced by a blast fan or analogous apparatus through
a pipe into the box or chamber f, from whence it passes outwards through a long
slot or aperture made immediately above and extending along the entire length of
the knife c.
Above the cutting roller or drum B, and in proximity to the knife or blade c, a
guide D for the lappet cloth to be clipped is carried in brackets or in a frame E,
which at its rearward end is centred by pins or studs i on vertical arms of the
standard or framing A. The frame E is further supported at its forward ends on
vertically adjustable rods or bars j in the manner herein-before described with
reference to the frame C, carrying the knife c. The guide D is triangular in trans-
verse section, as seen at Figure 1, and is capable of being instantly raised when
required by means of the treddle F, which is centred on the lower part of the
frame A, and bears against the under extremity of a vertical rod or bar S, passing
through guides k, and provided at its upper end with a roller l, which bears against
the under side of the frame carrying the guide D. A roller or drum G, whose
length is equal to that of the roller or drum B, and whose periphery is furnished
with a series of spiral brushes, is carried in brackets supported on the frame A in
front of the knives or blades a and c, as seen on the Drawings.
The lappet cloth, the loose surface threads of which are to be clipped off, is con-

page_text: ducted into the machine at the end marked Y, Figure 1, whereat it is laid on and
caused to travel at such an angle over the rail m, Figure 2, as will present the
threads to the knives in a direction straight or parallel with the length of the
cutting apparatus. From the rail m the cloth passes over the roller or beam H,
centred on the frame A, and above which another pace beam I is carried on
levers J, which are provided with adjustable weights K, capable of regulating the
tension or drag on the cloth. The beam I is, as seen at Figures 2 and 3 of the
Drawings, built up of a series of segments, the rotation of each of which is inde-
pendent of the others, the said segments being situated loosely on collars or rings
secured on the shaft M.
Figure 4 is a detailed view of one of the collars or rings, each of which passes
through the bosses of two segments of the beam I, a washer n being formed at the
centre of the collar to prevent frictional contact of the segments against each other.
Under another arrangement the collars are dispensed with, and the separate seg-.
ments of the beam I placed loosely on the shaft M itself, a washer or ring being
situated between each segment.
The beam is constructed in segments in order to allow the cloth to pass through
the machine in the manner stated with greater facility, and to equalize the tension:
of the cloth. From the rollers or beams H and I the cloth passes over the brush G,
and then under the guide D, from whence it is conducted over the drawing roller N,:
the cloth being next batched in folds upon the floor, and thereafter again passed.
through the machine on the reverse angle or inclination, the pieces of cloth being,
sewed to each other so as to form an endless web, and thereby allow the fabric to
run continuously.
The drawing roller is rotated from the driving shaft O of the machine by an
inclined or lying shaft P, geared with the driving shaft by means of bevel or equi-
valent gearing, and with the roller N by a worm screw and tangent wheel, as
shewn, or by other suitable means. The tangent wheel is capable of being_
thrown out of gear with the worm on the shaft P, a lever o and clutch being pro-
vided for that purpose; and on the axis of the roller N a handle Q is situated, by.
which the roller may be turned independently of the driving gear whilst the end.
of the cloth is being conducted over the roller at the commencement of the operation,
or at other desired times. A handle p is also situated on the axis of the roller H
for turning the said roller when commencing operations with the machine.
The periphery of the drawing roller N is preferably covered with emery, ground.
glass, fine sand, or other suitable substance which will afford a sufficient grip; and
an additional drawing roller, situate above the roller N and capable of being raised
in its bearings, may also be provided if desired, as seen at R.
The cloth whilst being conducted, as herein-before set forth, over the rail m and
between the rollers or beams H and I in an angular direction, which is opposite to
the inclination of the threads to be clipped, is drawn or stretched (until the threads
assume the required position) by the operator who stands between the end of the
rail m and the rollers or beams H and I at one side of the machine (the side
opposite to that towards which the cloth is inclined). This stretching or drawing
is easily accomplished on account of the tendency of the cloth to travel to that side
of the machine towards which it is angled or inclined, and the effect of so drawing
the cloth is to cause the loose threads to stand out from the body of the fabric. In
this condition the cloth is drawn by the roller N towards the cutting knives, before
arriving at which it is acted upon by the brush G, which is rotated by a belt
or band passed over a pulley on the driving shaft O. The action of the brush
has the effect of laying the loose threads forwards towards the knives, and on
arriving at the point or apex of the guide D, the said threads are acted upon by
the current or blast of air proceeding outwards from above the knife or blade c.
This has the effect of preventing the threads from passing with the cloth over the
box or chamber f by blowing them back and presenting them to the knives c, by
which and by the spiral knives a they are, as the roller or drum B rotates, clipped
off from the fabric close to the figure or flower thereon. When all the loose threads

page_text: angled or inclined in one direction have been clipped from the length of cloth, the.
cloth is again conducted through the machine, and the threads inclined or angled.
in the opposite direction are removed in the same manner, the cloth during the
second clipping operation being caused to travel at an angle the reverse of that at
which it travelled during the first operation.
In the arrangement of apparatus herein-before set forth the threads to be
removed are placed in the most advantageous position for being operated on, being,
as specified, situated parallel to the cutting part of the apparatus. The threads
constituting the figure are thus inclined at an angle to the figures, and are so less
liable to injury than with machines as ordinarily constructed.
65
.
Besides being employed in clipping lappets at one operation, as described, the
machine constructed in accordance with our said Invention may also be used for
bareing" similar fabrics on which the loose surface threads have previously been.
"ripped" by hand or other means, that is to say, the machine may be used in the
manner set forth for clipping off the two parts of the thread so ripped close by the
figuring or flower of the cloth, and when thus employed the cloth may be conducted
straight through the machine, or it may be inclined at an angle either way, as
herein-before specified.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of our said Inven-
tion, and the system, mode, or manner in or under which the same is or may be
used or practically carried into effect, we would observe in conclusion that what we
consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to
us by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
First. The general arrangement and construction of the machine or apparatus here
herein-before described and shewn on the appended Sheet of Drawings, in which
the cloth is reversed from the position it ordinarily occupies in clipping machines,
and the employment of the said machine in clipping or removing the loose threads
from lappet cloths at one operation, substantially as set forth.
Second. The employment, as herein-before described, of the said machine or
apparatus for "bareing" or removing the loose threads from lappet cloths when
these have previously been ripped or severed by hand or other means.
Third. The pace beam built up of segments, as and for the purpose herein-before
described, and shewn at I., Figure 1.
Fourth. The combination of apparatus, consisting of the brush G, guide D, and
air box or chamber f, whereby the threads to be removed are presented to the
knives or cutters, substantially in the manner set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Andrew Blair, on behalf of myself and the said
James Blair, have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of
June One thousaud eight hundred and seventy-six.
ANDREW RLATR
Gal