NOVEL MANUFACTURING RUGS AND OTHER LIKE FABRICS to be as APPARATUS FOR follows
Year: 1884

page_text: I HARVEY EDWARD PREEN of Kidderminster in the County of Worcester
Chartered Accountant do hereby declare the nature of my invention for NOVEL
MANUFACTURING RUGS AND OTHER LIKE FABRICS to be as
APPARATUS FOR
follows: :-
The object of this invention is to construct an apparatus by means of which pile
rugs mats or other like fabrics may be made by hand to any desired design and of
any number of colors and the apparatus is more especially suited for ladies fancy
or domestic work.
A characteristic or essential feature of the apparatus is that a frame divided off
into spaces or holes each space or hole of the required size for one stitch of the rug
or fabric, or a sley or reed with dents, is placed upon stretched canvas or cloth to
which the tufts for forming the pile of the rug or fabric are to be sewn with single
or double stitch so that the needle with its string or thread can be passed up
through the canvas into one of the spaces of the frame or into one of the spaces
between the dents of the reed (as the case may be) and then after the tuft has been
inserted into the loop of the string, be then repassed through the canvas in the
same space so as to sew the tuft to the canvas; the needle being then passed in
like manner successively into the next and the following spaces until the row or
set of spaces has been completed and a row of tuft sewn to the canvas.
The apparatus in the form which I prefer consists of a framework sufficiently
wide to take the width of the rug or mat it is desired to make. Across this frame-
work is affixed a roller which is prevented from turning by a ratchet or brake or..
other suitable device. Upon this roller is wound the canvas to which the tufts are
to be sewn and this canvas is drawn forward under or over the framework and
secured at the front end by any suitable means such for example as a bar having
spikes thereon, or a spiked roller or a movable clipping bar. Upon the canvas
thus stretched between the roller and the spiked bar or other securing device is
placed a frame divided off into spaces or holes each of the required size for one
stitch of the rug or fabric. This frame may comprise any desired number of rows
of these spaces or holes-8 for example-and may be made of iron, tin or other
suitable material, or of wire, or of tin or other material with the spaces or holes cut
in it. The frame when placed on the stretched canvas divides it into the proper
spaces for working, these spaces corresponding with those of any given design.
When the tufts or pile have been inserted and sewn into these spaces and the frame

page_text: is full, the frame is lifted off, the canvas moved forward to bring another part of
the same into position for work, the canvas is again secured by the spiked bar or
other device and tightened by the ratchet or other device the frame is again placed
on the canvas and the spaces thereof again filled and sewn with tufts as before;
and so on until the desired length of rug or fabric has been made. In order to
keep the canvas tight while sewing there is a bar under the framework free to be
slid to the required part under the frame of spaces or holes.
In another form of the apparatus adapted for making rugs or mats of limited
size the canvas is stretched upon a suitable framework in the sides of which are
perforations at regular intervals to receive pegs for securing a sley or reed; this
sley or reed has dents inserted therein so as to form a row of spaces analogous to
those in the metal frame before described. The tufts are inserted into these spaces
and sewn to the canvas in the manner already described and when the row of dents
or spaces is filled the sley is moved forward along the frame a distance equal to that
between the peg holes and is again secured by the pegs, the work then again
proceeding as before. The length, thickness and width of the sley will depend upon
the width and height of the pile and the breadth of the rug or mat to be made.
Underneath the sley, that is to say, on the underside of the framework is a bar
extending across the framework and united at the ends to the sley; this bar holds
the sley down upon the canvas. In order to separate the row of tufts last sewn,
from that in course of being sewn, a bar or guard is laid across the last sewn row
so as to form the fourth side of each of the spaces which are comprised between the
reeds on 2 of the sides and the sley on the third side. This bar is always shifted
to the front of the last sewn row of tufts.
The metal frame with holes or spaces first hereinbefore described may be used
with a fixed canvas as in the last arrangement; similarly the sley or reed with
dents may be used with a canvas wound upon and drawn from a roller.
•
In order to provide ready means of cutting yarns into suitable lengths for the
tufts I fit to the apparatus a roller or rod having a longitudinal groove; this roller
has a handle by which it can be rotated. The yarns or skein of yarns are wound
round the roller by rotating it and are then cut into proper lengths by running a
scissor blade or knife along the groove. The circumference of the roller should
correspond with the length of the tufts.
When sufficient tufts have been sewn to the canvas to make the rug or fabric
required the canvas is removed from the framework and stretched pile downwards
upon a flat surface, and melted glue or other suitable material is then spread over
it, another piece of canvas is placed upon it and the whole left to set or dry after
which the edges of the 2 pieces of canvas are turned in and sewn together; the rug
may then be shorn if desired. Or if preferred the rug may be glued and the canvas
fastened thereto while in the apparatus.

page_text: I HARVEY EDWARD PREEN, of Kidderminster, in the County of Worcester,
Chartered Accountant do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "NOVEL.
APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING RUGS AND OTHER LIKE FABRICS
" and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
The object of this invention is to construct an apparatus by means of which pile
rugs, mats or other like fabrics may be made by hand to any desired design and of
any number of colors and the apparatus is more especially suited for ladies fancy
or domestic work.
A characteristic or essential feature of the apparatus is that a sley or reed with
dents, is placed upon stretched canvas or cloth to which the tufts for forming the
pile of the rug or fabric are to be sewn (with single or double stitch) so that the
needle with its string or thread can be passed up through the canvas into one of
the spaces between the dents of the reed and then after the tuft has been inserted
into the loop of the string, be then repassed through the canvas in the same space
so as to sew the tuft to the canvas; the needle being then passed in like manner
successively into the next and the following spaces until the row or set of spaces
has been completed and a row of tufts sewn to the canvas.
The apparatus in the form which I prefer consists of a framework sufficiently
wide to take the width of the rug or mat it is desired to make. Across this
framework is affixed a roller which is prevented from turning by a ratchet or
brake or other suitable device. Upon this roller is wound the canvas to which the
tufts are to be sewn and this canvas is drawn forward under or over the framework
and secured at the end by any suitable means such for example as a bar having
spikes thereon, or a spiked roller or a movable clipping bar. Upon the canvas
thus stretched between the roller and the spiked bar or other securing device is
placed a sley or reed with dents which form a row of spaces each of the required
size for one stitch of the rug or fabric.
In the sides of the framework are notches or grooves at regular intervals to
receive tongues or tenons on the ends of the sley or reed; the tufts are inserted
into the spaces of the sley and sewn to the canvas in the manner already described
and when the row of dents or spaces is filled the sley is moved forward along the
frame into the next grooves or notches the work then again proceeding as before.
The length, thickness and width of the sley will depend upon the greatest breadth
of the rugs or mats to be made by the apparatus and upon the width and height of
the pile required; the apparatus can be used to make rugs or mats of any width
not exceeding the length of the sley. In order to separate the row of tufts last
sewn from that in course of being sewn, a bar or guard which preferably is attached
to and forms part of the sley is laid across the last sewn row so as to form the
fourth side of each of the spaces which are comprised between the reeds on two of
the sides and the sley on the third side. This bar and the sley are always shifted
to the front of the last sewn row of tufts. When the sley has been moved into the

page_text: last grooves or notches and the corresponding row of tufts has been sewn to the
canvas the canvas is moved on and the sley is then placed into the first grooves or
notches and the work can be recommenced. The pile should usually be cut close
to the top of the sley on the completion of each row and this can be best effected
by means of cranked scissors.
When sufficient tufts have been sewn to the canvas to make the rug or fabric
required the canvas is removed from the framework and stretched pile downwards
upon a flat surface, and melted glue or other suitable material is then spread over
it; another piece of canvas is placed upon it and the whole left to set or dry after
which the edges of the two pieces of canvas are turned in and sewn together. Or,
if preferred, the rug may be glued and the canvas fastened thereto while in the
apparatus.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings is a front elevation, Figure 2 an end
elevation and Figure 3 a plan of an apparatus constructed according to my
invention. A piece of a rug in course of manufacture is shewn in the apparatus.
a, a is the stand or support of the apparatus made by preference so as to take to
pieces or fold up for packing; the upper part of the stand is slightly lower at the
front than at the back so that it may support the framework at a convenient
angle. The framework is composed mainly of two end frames b, b and of a longi-
tudinal bar or beam c; the end frames fit over the stand a and are secured thereto
by pegs d but other modes of attaching them to the stand may be adopted.
Between the end frames there is at the front of the apparatus a roller e and at the
back a spiked roller f. At one end of the roller c is a ratchet wheel g into which a
catch pivoted at i to the bar centers. At one end of the spiked roller f is a
similar ratchet wheel k into which a catch / enters. m is the canvas to which the
tufts are to be sewn; it is wound upon the front roller e and as much of it as is
required on commencing to work is passed under the bar c and the end is stretched
over the roller f, the spikes in which retain it; there should also be spikes in the
end frames b, b to keep the canvas stretched at the sides. n is the sley or reed-
seen also in transverse section in Figure 4-and o, o are the dents inserted therein
so as to form the row of spaces. p is the bar or guard which lies across the last
sewn row of tufts to form the fourth side of each of the spaces; this bar or guard
may be a loose piece but I prefer to attach it to the sley. At each end of the sley
is a tongue or tenon q and in each end frame is a series of notches or grooves ? to
receive the said tongues. The sley when in place is secured by pivoted bars 8, 8
which close the tops of the notches 1. One of these bars sis shewn moved outwards
in Figure 3. The rug in course of manufacture is marked t; two rows of tufts are
shown as finished and a third row in course of being made.
The mode of using the apparatus has been already herein before described.
When all the spaces in the sley (or as many as the width of the rug to be manu-
factured requires) have been filled with tufts sewn to the canvas the bars 8, 8 are
moved outwards to uncover the notches ; the sley n with its dents o, o and
guard is then lifted out of the notches in which its tongues q were held and
moved towards the worker to enable the tongues to be placed into the next
notches; this being done the bars 8, & are returned to position to again hold the
sley and the filling of the row of spaces between the dents again commences.
When the sley has been moved into the last notches and the spaces again filled, it
is necessary to move on the canvas so as to enable the work to be recommenced
with the sley in the first notches. To effect this (after lifting out the sley) the
catch his moved on its pivot to one side so as to free the canvas roller e, the
spiked roller is then revolved and this may be readily done by means of a pin
inserted into holes made for the purpose near one end of the roller; when sufficient
canvas has been exposed to recommence work the catch is returned to position,
the canvas is tightened by turning the roller o by hand, the sley is put in and then
the canvas is further tightened until the last row of finished work is firm against
the bar or guard p; the work can then proceed as before.

page_text: 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
1. The apparatus hereinbefore described for manufacturing rugs and other like
fabrics.
2. Specially, the sley or reed with dents to form a row of spaces above the
stretched canvas or cloth, the said sley or reed, after each successive row of tufts
has been sewn to the canvas being moved into a position to allow the next row to
be sewn, substantially as described.
3. The combination with the said sley or reed and its dents, of the bar or guard
to separate the row of tufts last sewn from that in course of being sewn, substantially
as described.