CARD CUTTING.
The cards are usually cut from the design on a machine called a “piano” card-cutter. This machine consists of a punch-box ([Fig. 157]), containing thirteen punches, twelve for cutting the smaller holes and one for cutting the peg holes in the cards. There are eight “keys” behind the punch-box, each of which has a small spring round it to spring it back to its original position when the finger is taken off it. These eight keys are used for cutting the eight rows of holes in a 400’s card, and for 600’s cards, with twelve rows of holes, the four punches in front are used. The two punches in front at the right hand are operated by the thumb on that hand, and the eleventh and twelfth are operated by the thumb on the left hand. The eight keys behind are governed by the four fingers on each hand. [Fig. 158] shows the effect of pushing in one of the keys. The key is pushed over the punch K, and as an up-and-down motion is given to the whole punch-box by means of two treadles operated by the card-cutter’s feet, the punches that are locked will cut holes in the card. Where the keys are not pressed (see [Fig. 159]) they do not act upon the punches, and the card is left blank accordingly.
FIG. 157.
The card is clipped at the numbered end by a clip on the “carriage.” This carriage recedes with the card for a space of one row of holes every time the left treadle is pressed down. The method of cutting the cards has already been explained with Figs. [108]–[110].
FIG. 158.
FIG. 159.
If several sets of cards of the same pattern are required, a repeating machine is used. In the hand repeater the cards are made to leave punches in a plate where there are holes in the card, and the plate is then taken to a repeating press, where any number of cards can be cut like the first by applying pressure to the plate, which is done by passing it under a roller or wheel.
Some repeating machines are capable of repeating direct from one set of cards to the other, at the rate of thirty or forty cards per minute. The cards may be laced blank, and kept in stock ready for use when required, which is a great advantage. The machine is built on the Jacquard principle, and the punches required to cut are fastened, whilst those which are not required to cut are taken out of the way of the card.
These machines are rather costly, but in large fancy weaving establishments they soon repay their cost.