Improvements in Apparatus Employed in the Cutting of Weft Pile Fabrics.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Feb., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 25th Nov., 1889-Accepted, 15th Feb., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus Employed in the Cutting of Weft Pile
Fabrics.
I OSCAR DREY, of 10 Newton Street Piccadilly, Manchester, Manufacturer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The improvements relate to the cutting of weft pile fabrics such as velvets,
velveteens, cords and the like; and have for object the attainment of a more
continuous cut throughout the length of the piece, and, consequently a more rapid
operation than where a reciprocal action is given either to the piece or the cutting
knife.
To accomplish this, and to effect my improvements, I form the piece of pile fabric
desired to be cut into an endless web, by joining the two ends thereof together. The
cloth, thus arranged, is drawn forward, for cutting purposes, by means of a roller or
rollers, driven by hand or power, against a knife or knives, which may be the
ordinary fustian cutting knives, or a modification thereof, and may be held by
one or more operators, or automatically, in fixed or movable supports attached to the
machine, and which allow sufficient play.
Guide rollers are placed at suitable intervals for guiding the web or cloth on its
journey, which, after the cutting operation, passes back underneath the cutting
level.
For taking up the length of the cloth into reasonable space, I provide an apparatus
somewhat similar to an ordinary plaiting or folding machine, but with an apparatus
attached for turning over the folded cloth, so that the same may be readily again
drawn from the folds at an upper surface. This I prefer to accomplish by means of
a revolving drum or cylinder, mounted horizontally, which receives the cloth on the
upper surface of its circumference as the rocking motion folds the same. The
folded cloth is held to one side of the circumference of the drum as it turns
round, by means of an endless web, band or bands, or equivalent, pressing against
the same,
and which band or bands pass over suitable guide pulleys or rollers, to
enable the return journey to be made, one or more of which guide pulleys or
rollers may be weighted, or otherwise have tension adjustment provided, so as to
keep the band or bands sufficiently tight to hold the folded cloth to the drum or
cylinder during the turning round or turning over process. The travelling band
is extended sufficiently from the drum to clear the folded cloth, so as the drawing
roller or rollers can freely unfold or pull the same forward.
In lieu of a cylinder or drum, and one travelling band, web or lattice, for this
purpose, I may employ two separate horizontal travelling bands webs or lattices,
or one horizontal and one curved at one end of its path, the upper of which turns
the folded cloth on to the lower, the latter being caused to travel in the opposite
direction to the former.
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When the joint of the two ends of the piece arrives at the knife or knives,
another " race may be presented thereto, either by hand or automatic guiding as
shall be found most desirable, and the operation of cutting is thus rendered con-
tinuous in one direction by the drawing rollers and folding apparatus taking direct
motion.
The drawing or other rollers may be smooth or roughened, or both combined, as
may be found most convenient, and the apparatus may or may not be provided with
means for throwing the knife or knives out of gear, when an obstruction is
presented, or when they penetrate, or otherwise damage the cloth,

page_text: Other variations in detail, such as the size, form and constitution of the drawing
rollers, which may be single or double-and also of the guide rollers, and the
folding apparatus, may be made without departing from the peculiar character of the
invention.
Dated this 25th day of February 1889.
WILLIAM GADD, C.E.,
64, Barton Arcade, Manchester, Agent,
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus Employed in the Cutting of Weft Pile
Fabrics.
I, OSCAR DREY, of 10 Newton Street Piccadilly Manchester, Manufacturer 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 the cutting of weft pile fabrics such as velvets,
velveteens, cords, and the like; and have for object the attainment of a more con-
tinuous cut throughout the length of the piece, and consequently a more rapid
operation than when a reciprocal action is given either to the piece or the cutting
knife.
To accomplish this and to effect my improvements, I form the piece of pile
fabric, desired to be cut, into an endless web, by joining the two ends thereof
together. The cloth thus arranged, is drawn forward, for cutting purposes; by
means of a roller or rollers, driven by hand or power, against a knife or knives,
which may be the ordinary fustian cutting knives or a modification thereof, or other
knives, and may be held by one or more operators, or if found desirable automatically
in fixed or movable supports attached to the machine and which allow sufficient play.
Guide rollers are placed at suitable intervals for guiding the web or cloth on
its journey, which after the cutting operation passes back underneath the cutting
level. For taking up the length of the cloth into reasonable space, I provide an
apparatus somewhat similar to an ordinary plaiting, or folding machine, but with
an apparatus attached for turning over the folded cloth, so that the same may be
readily again drawn from the folds at an upper surface. This I prefer to accom-
plish by means of a revolving drum or cylinder, monnted horizontally, which
wholly or partially receives the cloth on the upper surface of its circumference, as
the rocking motion folds the same. The folded cloth is held to one side of the
circumference of the drum, as it turns round, by means of an endless web, band or
bands, or equivalent, pressing against the same, and which band or bands pass over
suitable guide pulleys or rollers, to enable the return journey to be made, one or
more of which guide pulleys or rollers, may be weighted or otherwise have tension
adjustment provided, so as to keep the band or bands sufficiently tight to hold the
folded cloth to the drum or cylinder during the turning round or turning over
process. The travelling band is extended sufficiently from the drum to clear the
folded cloth, so that the drawing roller or rollers can freely unfold or pull the same
forward.
In lieu of a cylinder or drum and one travelling band, web, or lattice, for this
purpose, may employ by preference two separate horizontal travelling bands, webs,
or lattices or one horizontal and one curved or angled at one end of its path, or both
may be angled or curved the upper of which turns the folded cloth on to the lower,
the latter being caused to travel in the opposite direction to the former.
When the joint of the two ends of the piece arrives at the knife or knives, another
race may be presented thereto either by hand or automatic guiding as shall be found
most desirable, and the operation of cutting is thus rendered, continuous in one direction
by the drawing rollers and folding apparatus taking direct motion.

page_text: The drawing or other rollers may be smooth or roughened, or both combined as may
be found most convenient, and the apparatus may or may not be provided with means
for throwing the knife or knives out of gear, when an obstruction is presented, or
when they penetrate or otherwise damage the cloth.
will by the aid of the
But that the improvements may be better understood,
accompanying drawings proceed more fully to describe means employed by me,
Fig. 1
accordance with my improvements.
pian view of apparatus arranged in
The same letters indicate corresponding parts wherever they occur.
a. a. is the main framing of the machine, and b. b. is the web of cloth to be cut.
The cutting process, or application of the knife, is made on the upper surface, by
preference between 6 6 and b² b². c. c. are various guide rollers for carrying or
guiding the cloth in its travel through the machine. d. d. is the driving roller,
which with the nip roller e. e. draws the cloth forward in the direction of the
arrow. The cloth then passes over the swing roller f. f. and between the driven
rollers g. g. These rollers g. g. being mounted on the rocking arms, g¹ g¹ and cansed
to oscillate to and fro, plait or fold the cloth partly on the saddle formed by the
small rollers h. h. and partly on the drum or cylinder j. j. somewhat in the manner of
a plaiting or folding machine. The apparatus for turning over and carrying forward
the folded cloth, consists of the drum or cylinder j. j. which receives the cloth from
the saddle, and has a contant slow motion given thereto by ratchet gearing as shewn,
wherein a clutch paul is employed, or by pinion gearing if required. A web or
continuous band or lattice k. k. is carried by rollers l. l. and is geared, in this case by
chain and tooth wheel gearing, to work along with the drum or cylinder aforesaid,
and the folded or plaited cloth is carried down and underneath as folded by being
nipped between the drum and the web which thus turns the folded or plaited cloth
over.
The travelling band, web or lattice carrying the folded cloth is extended beyond and
to clear the drum, so that the cloth, lying thereon, is free to he again unfolded,
and may then pass between or over such tension bars as m. m. or rollers as are
found requisite for the weight of cloth under operation. Any further suitable tension
or weighting motion as shewn by n. n. may be employed at such point as is found
necessary.
The drum, in this example, is geared to the ratchet motion, and thus to the travelling
band or lattice by means of the chain or equivalent passing round the toothed wheels
of the two rollers l. l. on the left of the drum, then underneath a carrier pulley on
the shaft r. r., over the carrier wheel to the right of the drum, and then underneath
and gearing with the toothed wheel of the drum, back again to the driving toothed
wheel on the left of the drun, thus completing the circuit.
Motion is given to the rocking or plaiting apparatus in this example by means of
the crank o. o. and link p. p. operating the lever q. q. on the rocking shaft r. r. carrying
the pulley 8. s. which by an attached band t. t. connecting the pulley u. u. drives the
rocking shaft passing through the roller f. f., to which rocking shaft the rocking
arms g g are attached.
But this rocking or plaiting motion may be accomplished by any mechanically
equivalent means, and may be arranged to oscillate above the centre of motion as a
variation.
The rollers g. g. have motion given by means of the strap g³ g³ driven by the geared
pulley v. v. passing over the loose pulley g² g² which carries a second strap or
band g gt, also passing over the pulley 95 95 at the end of one of the spindles of the
rollers g. g. by and between which rollers the cloth is drawn forward and plaited on
to the saddle, the number of plaits being regulated by the speed at which the drum
and travelling web are set to act.

page_text: These rollers may be either geared so as to both run by gearing, or by friction, from
one being pressed on the other by a weight or spring. As an alternative action, the
ro ller f. f. may be provided with a nip roller, and be driven, while the rollers g. g. may
be guide rollers merely, or even rods may be substituted therefor.
Also, as a modification, in lieu of the drum or web, I may employ two travelling
webs placed horizontally, or at any angle one over the other and travelling in opposite
directions. The cloth in such case is plaited or folded on the upper web which turns
it over on to the lower and longer web, as will be readily understood without drawings.
These and other variations in detail may be made without departing from the
peculiar character of the invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. In machines for cutting weft piled fabrics, wherein the cloth travels in one
continuous direction, the folding or plaiting and turning over of the cloth below the
cutting level, by means of plaiting apparatus combined with a revolving drum and
travelling web, for the purpose and in manner substantially as herein shewn and
described.
2. In machines for cutting weft pile fabrics wherein the cloth travels, in one
continuous direction, the folding or plaiting and turning over of the cloth below the
cutting level by means of plaiting apparatus combined with two travelling webs for
the purpose and in manner substantially as herein described.
3. The combination of parts for the purpose and in manner substantially as herein
shewn and described.
Dated this 23rd day of November 1889.