IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF MACHINERY FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL FLOWERS OR PARTS OF THE SAME
Year: 1881

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Paul Krauss Klein at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th December 1881. A communi-
cation from abroad by Gustavus Bittner, of Munich.
PAUL KRAUSS KLEIN of 8 York Buildings Adelphi in the County of Middlesex
Accountant. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF MACHINERY FOR THE
MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL FLOWERS OR PARTS OF THE SAME" [A com-
munication from abroad by Gustavus Bittner of Munich.]
The machinery or apparatus consists mainly of four parts by which 1st
the wire stem or stalk in a continuous length is covered with silk or thread 2ndly
sprigs or tufts of any desired kind are attached to the said stem at the required
intervals 3rdly the silk or thread covering is prevented from becoming unwound
by being touched with gum and lastly the stein with sprig attached is cut off at
the gumed point and delivered ready for use.
The machine is arranged so as to stand on a table similar to a sewing machine
and is actuated by a crank hand-wheel treadle or otherwise the base plate
being raised upon feet so as to allow of a reel of stem wire & a reel of
material forming the tufts or sprigs being fixed below it, the gum box being
placed above.
The crank or hand wheel gives motion to a large spur wheel fixed on the main
spindle and works into a pinion fixed to a second spindle which carries a reel
of silk or thread for covering the stem wire which coming from a reel under
the base plate through an opening in it passes through the second spindle which is
hollow & is covered by the rotation of the reel upon it, the silk or thread
being led from the reel by a carrier lever through a hole in a ferrule or collar fixed
to the end of the said second and hollow spindle.
The main spindle carries a second spur wheel which works into another
spur wheel fixed upon athird spindle from which two operations fare performed
first by means of a stud and friction wheel or roller a small longitudinal motion is
given to the hollow spindle & the ferrule or collar at its end and at the same
time a tube containing the material for the tufts is brought in contact with the
stem wire by means of a cam & friction roller arranged at the end of the said
third spindle both the hollow spindle and the said tube returning to their places by
means of springs. By these motions the tufts are bound to the stem wire
D

page_text: and separated from the tube or hank of material forming them at desired
intervals.
The stem wire with tufts upon it passes then to the fourth spindle which is
driven by spur gearing from the end of the main spindle. This fourth spindle
carries at its end a disc with studs acting on a light lever or wire which dips into a
box containing gum bringing up a small portion which is transferred to the stem
wire at the points where it is desired to cut it so preventing the ends of the covering
silk from becoming unwound.
The fourth spindle also carries upon it a square block of hard wood the sides of
which are equal to the intervals desired between the tufts. The stem wire
with its tufts being before cutting lapped round the square block is drawn forward
by its rotating motion but eventually cut at every one of its gumed points by
means of cutters attached to the said block such cutters being put into operation
and reset by means of studs attached to the framing or standards of the machine
and a revolving arın fixed to the main spindle. The short lengths of stem wire
with its tuft or sprig attached & with the ends of its covering thread
secured are thus delivered complete & ready for use without being touched
by the hand a matter of great importance where delicate colours are employed, the
operation being moreover performed. with great rapidity.