Improved Safety Apparatus or Holder for Knives Employed in Cutting Pile Fabrics.
Year: 1896

page_text: Complada
Date of Application, 18th Jan., 1895
11th Dat 14.006
14th Mave
1306
Date of Application, 18th Jan., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 14th Oct., 1906 Accepted, 14th Nov. 1806
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Safety Apparatus or Holder for Knives Employed in
Cutting Pile Fabrics.
We, WILLIAM GADD, of 64 Barton Arcade, Manchester, Civil and Consulting
Engineer, and WILLIAM FREDERICK MASON, of 502 Stockport Road, Longsight,
Manchester, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The improvements relate to a safety apparatus or holder for knives employed in
cutting pile fabrics, and have for object a means for holding a cutting knife in a
manner hereafter to be described, whereby the same is rendered "safe," that is to
say, is much less liable to cut or tear the cloth when by any accident the knife
enters or punctures the body thereof, instead of merely cutting the pile.
To accomplish this and to effect our improvements, we form a light carrier for
the knife in which the knife may be inserted, and by preference held in position
by means of a pinch screw or screws. This carrier is mounted in any convenient
manner at the end of a lever, but in such wise as to be free to turn or swivel
thereon. This lever which carries the swivelled knife holder at its outer end,
may be of any convenient length, and is fulcrumed at its other end upon-or
between the arms of the handle, or frame projecting therefrom, for the purpose
of carrying the mechanism and knife described. The light carrier thus swivelled
at the end of the lever may have projections, or otherwise, on either or both sides
for taking into a catch or catches upon or connected with the projecting arm or
arms of the handle, or framework, for the purpose of retaining the above described
compound mechanism in a temporary rigid position. By preference a spring, or
elastic, or other equivalent, is caused to be attached to the fulcrumed lever, in such
manner that the same is turned on its axis upward, on the release of the catch or
catches aforesaid. This catch, or catches, is provided with a needle point or points,
or other spikes, which upon coming in contact with the cloth being operated upon,
will be released; whereupon the swivel point is free to lift, and the light knife
carrier aforesaid is also free to turn over with the knife.
We are well aware that what are known as swivel or turn over knives have been
employed when mounted to swivel on fixed centres attached to the knife handle, or
other projection or holder, but these arrangements are entirely different to this our
present invention, wherein we give the knife a compound motion on releasement,
whereby the centre around which the knife turns or swivels is at the same time
caused or enabled to be lifted. Suitable stops may be provided to limit the amount
of turn of the lever or knife carrier, or both, when requisite.
In practice the knife is held firm in the frame, or handle, during the time it is
cutting the pile, and while ever it is so employed the projecting spike or spikes
from the catch or catches is arranged to run clear of the cloth operated upon. As
soon, however, as the point of the knife enters or punctures through the body of
the cloth from any cause, the consequent lowering of such point, and of the spike
or spikes of the catch or catches, thus coming in contact with the surface of the
cloth, releases the compound mechanism, when the knife is ensured to turn over by
means of the swivel joint being lifted, instead of being liable to abut on the dead
centre of the turning point, which is a possibility with swivel knives which turn
unon a fixed point.

page_text: Variations in detail, such as the form of the various parts, and the material of
which they are composed, may be made without departing from the peculiar
character of the invention.
Dated this 17th day of January 1896.
WILLIAM GADD, C.E.,
64 Barton Arcade, Manchester, Agent,
Improved Safety Apparatus or Holder for Knives Employed in
Cutting Pile Fabrics.
We, WILLIAM GADD, of 64 Barton Arcade, Manchester, Civil and Consulting
Engineer, and WILLIAM FREDERICK MASON, of 502 Stockport Road, Longsight,
Manchester, Engineer, 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 a safety apparatus or holder for knives employed in
cutting pile fabrics, and have for object a means for holding a cutting knife in a
manuer hereafter to be described, whereby the same is rendered "safe," that is to
say, is much less liable to cut or tear the cloth when, by any accident, the knife
enters or punctures the body thereof, instead of merely cutting the pile.
To accomplish this and to effect our improvements, we form a light carrier for
the knife, in which the knife may be inserted, and by preference held in position
by means of a pinch screw or screws. This carrier is inounted in any convenient
manner at the end of a lever, but in such wise as to be free to turn or swivel
thereon. This lever, which carries the swivelled knife carrier at its outer end,
may be of any convenient length, and is fulcrumed at its other end upon-or
between the arms of-the handle or frame projecting from such handle, for the
purpose of carrying the mechanism and knife described. The carrier thus swivelled
at the end of the lever may have projections, or otherwise, on either or both sides,
for taking into or engaging with a catch or catches upon or connected with the
projecting arm or arms of the handle or framework, or otherwise, for the purpose
of retaining the above described compound mechanism in a temporary rigid
position.
By preference, a spring or elastic, or other equivalent, is caused to be attached
to the fulcrumed lever, in such manner that the same is turned on its axis upward,
on the release of the catch or catches aforesaid.
The catch, or catches, is provided with a needle point or points, or other spikes
or projections which, on coming in contact with the cloth being operated upon,
will cause the retaining mechanism to be released, whereupon the swivel point is
free to be lifted, and the knife carrier aforesaid is also free to turn over with the
knife.
We are well aware that what are known as swivel or turn over knives have been
employed, when mounted, to swivel on fixed centres attached to the knife handle,
or other projection or holder, but these arrangements are entirely different to this
our present invention, wherein we give the knife carrier a compound motion on
releasement, whereby the centre around which the knife carrier turns or swivels is
at the same time caused or enabled to be lifted. Suitable stops may be provided
tò limit the amount of turn of the lever, or knife carrier, or both, when
rèquisite.
We are also aware that swivel knives have been mounted on a swinging .arm,
which, when released, has permitted the swivelled knife carrier to first recede.and
afterwards turn over and lift; but such arrangement is likewise essentially different

page_text: 5
to, this our present invention, wherein the lever or arm, when secured, lies in a
line with the handle, or thereabouts, with its fulcrum to the rear of the swivel
point; and when the swivel carrier is released, it is, as a consequence, at first
rapidly lifted, and then turned over as described. By this means, a lever arm of
sufficient length, giving a large amount of lift of the swivel, can be obtained; thus
ensuring a high degree of safety, and yet, when the apparatus is in position for
cutting, it offers no objectionable obstruction to the sight, when observing the
knife in the "race."
In practice the kuife is held firm in the frame, or handle, during the time it is
cutting the pile, and while ever it is so employed the projecting spike or spikes, or
other projections from the catch or catches, is or are arranged to run clear of the
cloth operated upon. As soon, however, as the point of the knife euters or punctures
through the body of the cloth from any cause, the consequent lowering of such point,
and the spike or spikes of the catch or catches thus coming in contact with the
surface of the cloth, releases the compound mechanism, when the knife is ensured
to turn over by means of the swivel joint itself being lifted, instead of the cloth
being liable to abut on the dead centre of the turning point, which is a possibility
with swivel knives which turn only upon a fixed point.
But that the improvements may be better understood, we will, with the aid of
the accompanying drawings, proceed more fully to describe means employed
by us.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 shows a plan view, and Fig. 2 an elevation of portions of a safety knife
holder with knife attached, constructed according to one form of our improve-
ments, such being in position for cutting, while Fig. 3 shows an elevation of the
same when the fulcrumed lever is released from the catch and the knife is turned
over.
Figs. 4, 5, and 6 show a plan view and side elevations of portions of a knife
holder with knife attached constructed according to another form of our improve-
ments, while Figs. 7, 8, and 9 show detached details, and Fig. 10 shows a variation
in certain of the parts.
The same letters indicate corresponding parts wherever they occur.
a is the knife holder, and the knife, which is supported by the carrier c,
swivelled at c', and held in position by pinch screw or screws c². This carrier
is in its turn supported at e' by the lever d, fulcrumed at d', and kept in strain,
while held by the catch apparatus, by means of the spring e and connection f
attached to the holder a at point f. h are the projections upon the carrier c,
which take into or are held by a catch or catches k, such catch or catches in
Figs. 1 and 2 acting upon or formed with bolts which pass through eyes or
staples attached to the holder a, and, by extending above the projection of
the carrier e, lock the same, thus preventing the rise of the fulcrummed lever di
to which it is swivelled, until the bolts are withdrawn as shown in Fig. 3.
In Figs. 4, 5, and 6, the catches are shown as latches upon the carrier c,
engaging with the projections upon the frame or holder a; while in Fig. 10 the
positions of catch and projection are reversed, the catch k being mounted upon k³
and engaging with the carrier projection h.
In the cases shown, the catches are provided with a needle point or points or
other spikes or projections 1, which, on coming in contact with the cloth being
operated upon, are drawn thereby, either by piercing the cloth or by friction, or
by other resistance, in the direction of the run of the fabric, from which it will be
seen that the catches are moved to release the carrier c, which is then free to be
lifted up with the fulcrumed lever d, and is also free to be turned over with the
knife b.
in is a stop to prevent the fulerumed lever turning farther than necessary.
Variations in detail may be made, such as in the form of the various parts, and
the material of which they are composed, also in the position and arrangement o

page_text: retaining and releasing mechanisms, without departing from the peculiar character
of the invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
inveution, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
In safety apparatus or holders for knives employed in cutting the pile of pile
fabrics, the compound turning over and withdrawing mechanisms consisting of a
swivelled knife carrier mounted upon a fulcrumed lever combined with a carrier
locking mechanism, whereby on releasement of such carrier the knife is free to
swivel or turn over with the run of the cloth, and also to be withdrawn from the
cloth by the lifting of the fulcrumed lever, for the purpose and in manner
substantially as herein shown and described.
Dated this 13th day of October 1896.
WILLIAM GADD, C.E.,
64 Barton Arcade, Manchester, Agent.