Improvements in Apparatus for Cutting the Pile of Cords, Velvets, and other Weft Pile Fabrics.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 20th July, 1897,
Complete Specification Left, 9th Apr., 1898-Accepted, 14th May, 1898
སྙས སས:ཟ︽
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Cutting the Pile of Cords, Velvets,
and other Weft Pile Fabrics.
30..
J
Wé, JOHN KERSHAW, of the Crimsworth Water Dye Works, Midge Hole,
Hebden Bridge, Yorkshire, Manager, and The Company of J. and J. M. WORRALL,
LIMITED, Ordsall Dye Works, Salford, Lancashire, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
The improvements relate to apparatus for cutting the pile of cords, velvets,
and other weft pile fabrics, and have for object the attainment of this end by
automatic means wholly or partially when the fabric is stretched upon or in a
frame, and in manner hereinafter to be described.
To accomplish this and to effect our improvements, we employ in the first instance
a frame, or ends of such, of a similar character to what is used in hand cutting,
and of such length as may be found most convenient and economical, and in or
upon which the cloth to be cut is stretched to the requisite degree of tightness.
On each side of this stretched cloth I provide longitudinal rails or slides upon
or constituting part of the main framing of the apparatus forming the present
invention, and upon which rails there runs or slides, to and fro, a travelling
frame or knife carrier. Upon a sleeve on a cross shaft or rod in this frame the
cutting knife handles are mounted as on a fulcrum, with a portion of them pro-
jecting behind, thus putting such knife handles or holders in balance or nearly so.
The cross shaft or rod aforesaid is formed as a screw, and the sleeve, or it may
be sleeves, is or are provided with screwed threads or nuts, in such manner that
when the screw shaft is turned lateral motion will be given to the fulcrums of the
knife handles. Motion of an intermittent character is given to this screw shaft
by a ratchet and pawl at one end thereof, and the lever of the pawl may thus
give the slight amount of turn requisite by coming against a stop each time
the frame arrives at the "setting-in" end: whereby the knives are moved
laterally the distance of one race at a time, and, in the case of cords, automatic
setting-in may be effected.'
Two other transverse screw shafts are geared to the first, so as to take the
same amount of motion. One of these actuates the lateral motion of small
supports or tables underneath the cloth, and which thus always travel with and
slightly on one side of each knife point; while the third screw shaft, in like
manner, actuates a fork for each knife holder arranged at the front end thereof,
whereby the transverse motion or traverse of the long knife holders is the same
at the front as at the back end. These forks, however, are only put into gear,
for this purpose, during each new setting-in, and are lifted out of gear auto-
matically during the run of the knife frame, to allow of the point end of the knife
following any deviations there may be from a straight course.
The cutting knives proper are also mounted on swivels or fulcrums at the front
end of the knife holders, and are held in the cutting position by means of a catch

page_text: arranged to operate at the back portion of the knife proper. Around each knife
fulcrum is arranged a light cylinder, mounted eccentrically, and on the face
thereof are provided spikes or projections, capable, when coming in contact with
the face of the cloth, of causing the eccentric cylinders to turn, and thus to raise
the fulcrums of the swivel cutting knives. This occurs when a knife penetrates
the cloth from any cause, and at the same time by means of a small lever arm
upon the turning fulcrum, and a light link rod connecting the same to the catch
lever at the back portion aforesaid, the knife is released and is free to swivel or
turn over at the same time as it is lifted up, and so avoids doing serious damage
to the cloth.
The back end of the long fulcrumed knife holder is by this same action depressed,
and thus can come in contact with a cross bar in connection with the strap fork,
and thereby throw off the driving strap of the machine on arrival of the carriage
at the setting-in end. Means are provided for preventing any particular knife
from stopping the machine or from operating to cut, when desired.
In front of the travelling knife points, and just in advance thereof is a cross rest
or roller underneath the cloth, by which means the same is kept tight at the portion
being cut.
.
Motion is given to the travelling carriage by an endless belt or band passing over
the driving pulley at one end, and over a loose pulley at the other end, and to which
band is attached a stud, and which stud takes into a slot in a pendant arm attached
to the travelling frame. By which means the belt is continuously travelling in
one direction, and yet gives the requisite to and fro motion to the travelling knife
carriage.
Variations in detail may be made without departing from the peculiar character
of the invention.
.
WILLIAM GADD, C.E.,
64, Barton Arcade, Manchester, Agent for Applicant.
Improvements in Apparatus for Cutting the Pile of Cords, Velvets,
and other Weft Pile Fabrics.
We, JOHN KERSHAW, of the Crimsworth Water Dye Works, Midge Hole,
Hebden Bridge, Yorkshire, Manager; and The Company of J. and J. M. WORRALL,
LIMITED, Ordsall Dye Works, Salford, Lancashire, 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 apparatus for cutting the pile of cords, velvets,
and other weft pile fabrics, and have for object the attainment of this end by
automatic means wholly or partially when the fabric is stretched upon or in a
frame, and in manner hereinafter to be described.
To accomplish this and to effect our improvements, we employ in the first instance
a frame, or ends of such, of a similar character to what is used in hand cutting,
and of such length as may be found most convenient and economical, and in or
upon which the cloth to be cut is stretched to the requisite degree of tightness.
On each side of this stretched cloth I provide longitudinal rails or slides upon
or constituting part of the main framing of the apparatus forming the present
invention, and upon which rails there runs or slides, to and fro, a travelling

page_text: frame or knife carrier. Upon a sleeve on a cross shaft or rod in this frame the
cutting knife handles are mounted as on a fulcrum, with a portion of them pro-
jecting behind, thus putting such knife handles or holders in balance, or nearly so.
The cross shaft or rod aforesaid is formed as a screw, and the sleeve, or it may
be sleeves, is or are provided with screwed threads or nuts, in such manner that
when the screw shaft is turned lateral motion will be given to the fulcrums of the
knife handles. Motion of an intermittent character is given to the screw shaft
by a ratchet and pawl at one end thereof, and the lever of the pawl may thus
give the slight amount of turn requisite by coming against a stop each time the
frame arrives at the "setting-in" or going out end; whereby the knives are moved
laterally the distance of one race at a time, and, in the case of cords, automatic
setting-in may be effected.
Another transverse screw shaft is geared to the first, so as to take the same
amount of motion; and in some cases I may employ a third, geared in like
manner, and actuating the lateral motion of small supports or tables underneath
the cloth, and which thus always travel with and slightly on one side of each
knife point; but such third screw-shaft, with its supports or tables, may in most
cases be dispensed with, and is not shown in the drawings accompanying our
specification.
The second transverse screw shaft above referred to actuates, a fork or prong
for each knife holder arranged at the front end thereof, whereby the transverse
motion or traverse of the long knife holders is the same at the front as at the
back end. These forks or prongs, however, are only put into gear, for this purpose,
during each new setting in, and are lifted out of gear automatically during the run
of the knife frame, to allow of the point end of the knife following any deviations
there may be from a straight course.
The cutting knives proper are also mounted on swivels or fulcrums at the front
end of the knife holders, and are held in the cutting position by means of a catch
arranged to operate at the back portion of the knife proper. Around each knife
fulcrum is arranged a light cylinder mounted eccentrically, and on the face.
thereof are provided spikes or projections capable, when coming in contact with
the face of the cloth, of causing the eccentric cylinders to turn, and thus to raise
the fulcrums of the swivel cutting knives.
This occurs when a knife penetrates the cloth from any cause, and at the same
time. by means of a small lever arm upon the turning fulcrum, and a light link
rod connecting the same to the catch lever at the back portion aforesaid, the knife
is released and is free to swivel or turn over at the same time as it is lifted up,
and so avoids doing serious damage to the cloth. The back end of the long
fulcrumed knife holder is by this same action depressed, and thus can come in
contact with a cross bar in connection with the strap fork, and thereby throw
off the driving strap of the machine on arrival of the carriage at the setting-in
end.
Means are provided for preventing any particular knife from stopping the
machine or from operating to cut, when desired.
In front of the travelling knife points, and just in advance thereof, is a cross
rest or roller underneath the cloth, whilst another such roller is placed immediately
behind such travelling knife points and may be employed in lieu of the small
supports or tables hereinbefore mentioned; by which means the cloth is kept
tight or level at the portion being cut.
Motion is given to the travelling carriage by an endless belt or band passing over
the driving pulley at one end, and over a loose pulley at the other end, and to which
band is attached a stud, and which stud takes into a slot in a pendant arm attached
to the travelling frame. By which means the belt is continuously travelling in
one direction, and yet gives the requisite to and fro motion to the travelling knife
carriage.
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.

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section and Fig. 2 a plan view of pile cutting apparatus
arranged in accordance with our improvements.
Fig. 3, is a cross section, and Fig. 6 an end elevation, partly in section, of the
travelling frame or knife carrier, while Figs. 4. and 5 are a side elevation and
side section respectively of part of such carrier, and corresponding to 'Fig. 3; and
Fig. 7, is a side view of a portion corresponding to Fig. 6.
Fig. 8. is a side elevation, and Fig. 9. a plan view of a cutting knife and holder
constructed according to our invention, and Fig. 10, is a plan view, with parts in
section, of the front end of such knife and holder on an enlarged scale; while
Fig. 11, shows a side elevation of a portion of such knife and holder end, when
in a certain position to be hereinafter described.
The same letters indicate corresponding parts wherever they occur..
One of the frame ends, upon which the cloth a is stretched, is shown in the
drawings but these ends form no part of our present invention, and may be of any
ordinary or suitable character. are the longitudinal rails, on each side of the
cloth a, which rails, in the example shown, constitute part of the main framing
of the apparatus, and are supported by uprights b¹.
The travelling knife carrier is constructed upon frames or side pieces c, which
are mounted upon rollers d, d¹, running on the rails b. Supplementary side rollers,
to ensure the guidance of the carriage along the rails, are shown at e, e¹. f, g, are
screwed shafts, journalled in the side pieces c, and taking into sleeves h, j, which
are attached to connections h¹, j, riding upon the upper rods k,l. Thus, on the
rotation of the screws f, g, such sleeves h, j, are caused to traverse, as will be
well understood.
Each cutting knife holder M, is loosely mounted at m, between the bosses h²,
upon the sleeve h, which bosses are formed so as to afford adequate lateral support
without interfering with the free play of the knife.
1
Traverse of the fore-part of the knife holder M, is effected by the forks or
prongs, which hang from and move with the sleeve j, and the lower ends of
which prongs engage with the knife holder M, at m², as shown in Figs. 3, and 5.
These forks or prongs are, however, lifted out of gear with the knife holder
after each setting in,' by means of the rod n, which is attached to the bar 1, and
passes through the slotted projection j³, on the sleeve j.
Motion for this purpose is given to the bar l, at the proper time, through the
I lever o, which comes in contact with the cam or projection p, on the rail b, and
indicated in Fig. 2. A similar cam p¹, is provided, to throw the forks into gear
again during the backward stroke of the knife carriage.
The knives may be rendered more effective in action by suspending the fore
portion thereof, by means of light springs such as 23, from a sleeve ¹, capable of
sliding upon the rod i, and also capable of traversing with the sleeve j, through the
connection 3, (Fig. 3).
Simultaneous movement of the two screw-shafts f, and g, is obtained by any
suitable gearing such as q.
Attached to the shaft g, is a ratchet wheel r, actuated by pawls s¹, s², or s³, upon
a discs, which is mounted loosely upon the shaft g.
To this disc is connected a rigid arm or lever s4, which, when the carriage arrives
at the proper position for traverse to take place, comes against a projection such
as 2, Figs. 1. and 2, on the main framing' of the apparatus, or elsewhere, whereby
such arm is moved the requisite distance, thus turning the disc s, and also-
through one of the pawls-the ratchet wheel r, thereby actuating the screws f,
and g, the required amount for traverse of the knife holders from one race to
another.
As the lever st, retires from contact with the projection 72, a spring t, (brings the
pawl disc s, back to its former position against a limiting stop t¹, connected to the
side-piece c, of the carriage.

page_text: We prefer to employ more than one pawl for the ratchet r, in order, that the
ratchet and pawl may be in gear as nearly as possible from the exact.commence-
ment of each stroke, and thus to ensure more perfect uniformity in the extent of
traverse.
•
u, v, are rollers, mounted so as to be capable of turning in bearings or supports
in or on the side pieces c, of the carriage, which rollers press upon the under side
of the cloth a, in front and in rear, respectively, of the points of the cutting
knives. By this means, a tight or level surface of cloth is presented to the knives
and more perfect cutting is ensured.
The travelling carriage receives motion from the main shaft.w, through the
gearing, H, and the travelling band y, running over pulleys yl, and y². A stud 2¹,
attached to the band y, engages loosely with a slotted arm z, which is connected
to the carriage, and such stud, as it passes to and fro, round the pulleys,,, of
necessity.imparts a reciprocal motion to the carriage; the slot in the arm z,
permitting of the vertical movement of the stud at each extremity of travel.
The cutting knife holders M, are formed, at the part m, with a considerable
vertical surface, to prevent lateral tilting when loosely mounted upon the sleeve h,
and between the supports h², as indicated in Figs. 8 and 9.
The arm m¹ terminates in a forked piece m², provided with a slot or recess m³, for
the engagement of the traversing forks or prongs j³, hereinbefore described; at
the extremity of which forked piece m², is a cross spindle m³, to which is attached
an eccentrically mounted cylinder m, having spikes or projections m³ thereon.
A screwed bush m6, on the spindle m³, carries a nut m², which is capable of
nipping, between itself and the bush me, the knife proper m8.
The spindle m³, is capable of turning in the extremities of the forked piece m³,
and carries a crank m³ which is connected by link m10, to a similar crank m¹¹,
attached to a spindle m¹ at the back of the fork m². To this spindle m¹ is con-
nected a small catch m¹³, which, normally, rests upon the back end of the knife
proper ms. But when the knife point penetrates the cloth from any cause, the
spikes m5 of the cylinder m¹, come in contact with the surface of the cloth, and the
cylinder is moved round by the forward motion of the knife; whereby the
spindle m³, is turned, and the crank connections m³, m10, and m¹¹, consequently,
move the spindle m¹a, to a corresponding degree, and the catch m¹³ is forced from
above the knife m³, which is then free to be turned, by the forward motion of the
apparatus, into the position shown in Fig. 11, and thence to a position clear of,
and above, the cloth.
A spring or elastic m¹, may be employed to ensure the ready turn over of the
knife ms, on release of the catch m3 and a ratchet and pawl m¹5 prevent the
knife m8 from turning back automatically on the motion of the cutting apparatus
being reversed.
The eccentric form of the cylinder m² causes the cutting end of the knife holder to
be raised as the knife m8 is turned over, as shown in Fig. 11, and, in consequence,
the back arm mo, is correspondingly depressed.
On the knife carriage reaching the extremity of its backward travel, the swivelled
end m¹6 of each knife arm mo normally passes above the cross bar 4, (Figs. 1
and 2) but when the knife arm mo, is depressed as described, the end me comes in
contact with such cross bar 64, and forces back the same, lifting one arm of
a bell-crank lever 65 from engagement with the strap fork bar 63, and allowing the
spring 6 to pull the strap fork on to the loose pulley and so stop the machine.
When it is desired to leave one of the knives out of action, the cutting end is
suitably suspended free of the cloth from any convenient upper part of the
carriage, by cord, hook or otherwise, and the swivelled end m¹6 is thrown back upon
the arm mo, to prevent its coming in contact with the bar b.
Variations in detail may be made, such as in the design, dimensions, and
material of the various parts, without departing from the peculiar character of the
invention.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. In apparatus for cutting the pile of cords, velvets and other weft pile fabrics,
a travelling knife carriage mounted on rails b, and supporting the cutting
knives M, at m, so that they may be free in action and yet have little tendency
to side tilting, for the purpose and in manner substantially as herein set forth.
2. In apparatus for cutting the pile of cords, velvets and other weft pile fabrics,
a travelling knife carriage provided with mechanism for effecting the traverse of
the knives, consisting of screws f, g, sleeves h, j, connections h¹, h², j', j, rods k, l,
gearing g, and ratchet and pawl mechanism r, s, s¹, 52, 53, 54, t, t¹ for the purpose and
in manner substantially as herein set forth.
3. In apparatus for cutting the pile of cords, velvets and other weft pile fabrics,
a travelling knife carriage provided with mechanism for lifting the traverse forks
or prongs, out of gear with the knives, consisting of slotted projection ³,
sleeve j, rod n, shaft 1, lever o, and cams p, and p¹, in manner substantially as
herein set forth.
4. In apparatus for cutting the pile of cords, velvets and other weft pile fabrics,
a travelling knife carriage provided with a roller u, for the purpose of presenting
a tight or level surface of cloth to the cutting knives, in manner substantially as
herein set forth.
5. In apparatus for cutting the pile of cords, velvets and other weft pile fabrics,
the combination of a travelling knife carriage provided with a slotted arm z, and
a travelling endless band y, having a stud attached thereto, for the purpose and
in manner substantially as herein set forth.
6. In apparatus for cutting the pile of cords, velvets and other weft pile fabrics,
stopping mechanism, consisting of the bar b, bell crank lever 65, strap fork 63
and spring 66, acting in combination with the swivelled end m¹6, of the knife M,
for the purpose and in manner substantially as herein set forth.
7. In apparatus for cutting the pile of cords, velvets and other weft pile fabrics,
a knife or knives M, provided with releasing mechanism consisting of spindle m³,
spiked eccentric cylinder mt, crank connections m³, m10, m¹¹, spindle m¹², catch m¹³,
and ratchet and pawl m³, for the purpose and, in manner substantially as herein
set forth.
8. In apparatus for cutting the pile of cords, velvets and other weft pile fabrics,
the combination of parts claimed in the foregoing claims, for the purpose and in
manner substantially as herein set forth.
Dated this 7th day of April 1898.
WILLIAM GADD, C.E.,
64, Barton Arcade, Manchester, Agent.