The axis of the cylindrical cutter a, turns in the frame b, which, having proper adjustments, is mounted upon pivots c, in the standard of the travelling carriage d, d; and e, is the fixed or ledger blade, attached to a bar f, which constitutes the other edge of the cutter; that is, the stationary blade, against which the edges of the rotatory cutter act; f and g, are flat springs, intended to keep the cloth (shown by dots) up against the cutting edges. The form of these flat springs f, g, is shown at [figs. 1222.] and [1223.], as consisting of plates of thin metal cut into narrow slips ([fig. 1222.]), or perforated with long holes, ([fig. 1223.]) Their object is to support the cloth, which is intended to pass between them, and operate as a spring bed, bearing the surface of the cloth against the cutters, so that its pile or nap may be cropped off or shorn as the carriage d is drawn along the top rails of the standard or frame of the machine h, h, by means of cords.
The piece of cloth to be shorn, is wound upon the beam k, and its end is then conducted through the machine, between the flat springs f and g (as shown in [fig. 1221.]), to the other beam l, and is then made fast; the sides or lists of the cloth being held and stretched by small hooks, called habiting hooks. The cloth being thus placed in the machine, and drawn tight, is held distended by means of ratchets on the ends of the beams k and l, and palls. In commencing the operation of shearing, the carriage d, must be brought back, as in [fig. 1221.], so that the cutters shall be close to the list; the frame of the cutters is raised up on its pivots as it recedes, in order to keep the cloth from injury, but is lowered again previously to being put in action. A band or winch is applied to the rigger or pulley m, which, by means of an endless cord passed round the pulley n, at the reverse end of the axle of m, and round the other pulleys o and p, and the small pulley q, on the axle of the cylindrical cutter, gives the cylindrical cutter a very rapid rotatory motion; at the same time a worm, or endless screw, on the axle of m and n, taking into the teeth of the large wheel r, causes that wheel to revolve, and a small drum s, upon its axle, to coil up the cord, by which the carriage d, with the cutters a and e, and the spring bed f and g, are slowly, but progressively, made to advance, and to carry the cutters over the face of the cloth, from list to list; the rapid rotation of the cutting cylinder a, producing the operation of cropping or shearing the pile.
Upon the cutting cylinder, between the spiral blades, it is proposed to place stripes of plush, to answer the purpose of brushes, to raise the nap or pile as the cylinder goes around, and thereby assist in bringing the points of the wool up to the cutters.
The same contrivance is adapted to a machine for shearing the cloth lengthwise.