IMPROVEMENTS IN THE FABRICATION OF THREADS FROM VULCANISED INDIA-RUBBER, AND APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Gustave Eugène Michel Gérard, of Paris, in the
Empire of France, Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE FABRICATION OF THREADS FROM VULCANISED INDIA-RUBBER, AND
APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH."
Sealed the 22nd May 1863, and dated the 22nd December 1862.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Gustave Eugène Michel
Gérard at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition
and Declaration, on the 22nd December 1862, pursuant to the 9th Section
of the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GUSTAVE
EUGENE MICHEL GERARD, of Paris, in the Empire of France, Manufacturer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
FABRICATION OF THREADS FROM VULCANISED INDIA-RUBBER, AND THE APPARATUS
CONNECTED THEREWITH," and have petitioned Her Majesty, to grant unto me,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, Her Royal Letters Patent for the
same, and have made solemn Declaration that I am the true and first Inventor
thereof.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Gustave Eugène Michel Gérard, do
hereby declare that the following Complete Specification under my hand and
seal, fully describes and ascertains the nature of the said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, in and by the following statement.
My Invention consists in cutting bands or sheets of vulcanised india-rubber-

page_text: with little or no waste, and considerable rapidity into threads of perfect regu-
larity, and the ends of which are united by a sort of selvage formed of the
edge of the band or sheet. I employ for this purpose a machine composed of
a spindle of iron or steel mounted on centre points, and capable of making
from 500 to 2000 revolutions per minute; on this spindle are threaded circular
steel blades of the diameter of from 2 to 4 inches, and about of a line in
thickness, and intended for cutting the india-rubber, these blades are separated
by washers, or between blades, also in steel, and of which the thickness varies
according to the size of the thread to be cut, and which are from 2 to 6 lines
smaller than the cutting blades. The whole of the blades and washers are
next pressed forcibly together by means of a screw on the end of the spindle.
Under this spindle, parallel to it, and touching the outer extremities of the
blades is a cylinder of from 1 to 3 inches in diameter, this cylinder which
I prefer in half supple india-rubber, but which may be made in hardened
india-rubber, in wood, in bronze, zinc, or any other metal may be solid,
or composed of a number of thin washers screwed one against the other,
and having the appearance of a solid cylinder, is so adjusted as to be removed
at will from its contact with the spindle, and to be approached again so as to
touch the blades. The cutting blades trace a slight groove on the cylinder by
their rapid rotation, which serves to increase the regularity of the cutting.
Two small cylinders may be employed, also parallel to each other, and serving
the same purpose, namely, for rendering more certain the complete separation
of all the threads. The rate at which this or these cylinders would revolve
would be equal to about from 6 to 12 yards per minute. The working of the
machine is as follows:-The little cylinder or cylinders being removed from
the spindle, the sheet to be cut is placed above it, and consequently between the
cylinder and the spindle, and a short length is allowed to pass to permit of its
being held. The spindle is then set in motion, the blades being kept wet by
means of a brush on which slightly soapy water is allowed to drop, and the
cylinder or cylinders approached so as to touch the extremity of the blades, and
the rotary motion is communicated also to them. The sheet of india-rubber
is therefore now pressed between the blades' moving with great rapidity, and
the cylinder or cylinders which move in the same way, but slower, and as it
is drawn by the cylinder or cylinders, and by the workman, or by a row of
small cylinders, serving the same purpose of drawing the sheet, the cutting is
performed, and forms the threads of the greatest equality, because nothing
can vary their parallelism. At last some few lines before the end of the sheet
the cylinder or cylinders are removed from the spindle, and the pressure being
thus withdrawn the cutting ceases, and the extremity of the sheet forms a

page_text: selvage which holds all the threads united. This last property is extremely
valuable for weaving purpose, because a large number of threads being thus
united by a selvage form a warp of perfect regularity, and without any waste
of material, as all the threads must necessarily be of the same length. The
rapidity of the rotation of the spindle should be increased in proportion to
any diminution in the thickness of the cutting blades. In case the threads are
required to be separated entirely, the cylinder or cylinders may be left in
contact with the spindle until the separation is completed. The transmissions
of movement applied to the apparatus above described are those at present in
usage in mechanics, and its simplicity is such that the description given above
will certainly suffice to make it understood.
Having thus described the nature of the said improvements, and the manner
of carrying them into effect, I would have it understood that I do not confine
myself to the precise details above enumerated, as these may obviously bo
greatly modified without departing from the principle of my Invention; but
what I claim is, firstly, the cutting of bands or sheets of vulcanised india-
rubber into threads in such a manner that the said threads are united by a
sort of selvage at each end formed by the uncut extremity of the said band or
sheet of india-rubber, and all and whatsoever the means, methods, or appa-
ratus employed to obtain this result.
And, secondly, the apparatus above described, of which the details may be
modified, but which consists in all cases of thin circular cutting blades turning
with great rapidity, and cutting into threads, wholly or partially separated,
bands or sheets of india-rubber by their rapid cutting action on the said sheet
or band of india-rubber, which is supported and conducted under their action
by means of one or two cylinders, which also turn, but with less rapidity.
In witness whereof, I, the said Gustave Eugène Michel Gérard, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of December, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
G. E. M. GERARD.
(L.8.)