Improvements in and connected with Lap-forming Apparatus.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 7th June, 1899-Accepted, 14th Oct., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Lap-forming Apparatus.
I, ERNST GESSNER, of Aue, in the Kingdom of Saxony, Machine Builder, 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 follow-
ing statement:-
This invention relates to apparatus for dividing transversely into equal strips
the web or fleece coming from the carding engine and depositing these strips
one upon the other upon an endless apron in order to form a lap. Apparatus
for the purpose now in use have certain disadvantages and, amongst others, it
oftens happens that in consequence of a draught of air the web strips are not
deposited regularly but are creased or folded whereby the object of the apparatus
is to some extent defeated. The improved apparatus herein described excels
by its simplicity of construction and has for its object the suppression of the
above mentioned disadvantages and to enable the web strips to be divided in a
straight line in the best possible way.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this
Specification wherein Figures 1 and 2 represent the improved fleece-dividing
mechanism and its operating gear, in two different working positions. Figure 3
shews, on a larger scale for the sake of clearness, the improved fleece-dividing
mechanism alone and in a vertical position. Figure 4 represents a modification.
Figures 5 and 6 represent a cross-section and face view of a further modification.
The improved fleece-dividing apparatus comprises a frame A mounted to
revolve on a horizontal axis B supported in the arms of a frame C mounted on
a shaft 1) and partially counterweighted so as to swing freely up and down.
Each horizontal member a of the frame A is provided with a row of teeth E
and to the said members a two wing plates Fare hinged at f so that by the
revolution of the frame A the said wing plates are caused to alternately lie
close against the side of the frame A, and to fall outwards therefrom.
In the arrangement shewn in Figures 1 to 3 the plates F are hinged each
towards the leading side of the corresponding member of the frame, are curved
round the edge of said member as at f', and are slotted to give passage to the
teeth E which protrude as clearly shewn in Figure 3.
The revolution of the frame A in the direction of the arrow is produced
by means of two gear wheels 1 and 2, shewn in dotted lines, it being supposed
that motion is imparted to wheel 1 by the carding engine and wheel 2 being fast
on one of the trunnions B of the frame A. The up and down swinging motion
of frame A is produced by means of a cam G mounted upon the other trunnion B
of the frame A and resting upon a bowl h carried by an arm of the main frame H.
The dividing apparatus may be arranged in relation to an endless carrier I either
moving in a direction longitudinal to the web feed, as indicated by the arrows,
or if another purpose is intended, the movement of the carrier I could also be
transverse to the web feed, and it is to be understood that such a carrier may
be combined with the improved fleece-dividing machine.
When the machine is set in motion, the fleece or web W coming from the
carding engine is taken by the teeth E of the then uppermost member of the
frame A when the frame assumes the position shewn in Figure 1. The web
remains engaged by the said teeth until the apparatus has revolved through 180°,
whereupon the previously uppermost row of teeth is now at bottom, the web being
still engaged therein as shewn in Figure 2. As soon as the forward wing plate F
which is upstanding on its hinges, passes beyond the vertical position it drops
מ

page_text: down suddenly by its own weight on to the carrier I, as shewn in Figure 2 whereby
the web is transversely divided in a straight direction at a point between the
edge of the wing plate so falling and the adjacent folowing row of teeth, the
strip of web so separated being carried down by the falling wing plate and
deposited on the carrier I, the separated strip whilst being so deposited remaining
still engaged on the teeth E by which it was pierced in the first instance. By
this means the successively separated pieces of web are successively deposited in
regular superposed order or position on the carrier I. By reason of the hinge
centre of the wing plate being situated in advance of the row of teeth E, the
curved and slotted part f¹ of the wing plate through which these teeth protrude,
acts as a taker-off or stripper by which the end of the web engaged on the down-
wardly projecting teeth is pushed completely off from said teeth when the plate
drops. The position of the cam G when one of the wing plates turns downward
and drops, is such that the frame A is allowed to rapidly descend owing to the
inclined position of the part of the circumference of the cam which is then
resting on the roller h, at the same moment as the web is being divided, so that
the frame A arrives at its lowest position when the wing plate falls on the carrier
as shewn in Figure 2. The franie A reaches its highest position, that is to say
it is at its greatest distance from the carrier I, as soon as the uppermost row of
teeth E engage in the fed-web, that is to say when the apparatus has the nearly
vertical position shewn in Figure 1. The up and down swinging motion of the
frame has, on the one hand, the effect of preventing the lowermost teeth from
touching the layer of web upon the carrier, whereby it would be injured, and,
on the other hand, of causing the falling wing plate to rest with its entire
surface upon the layer of web in order that the strip of web or fleece may be
deposited upon the carrier in a perfectly even and certain manner.
Figure 4 shews a modification of the improved fleece dividing mechanism in
which the stripping of the web from the teeth E is not effected by means of
the falling wing plate but by causing the said teeth to be retracted at the proper
time into the cross member a of the frame. In this case the teeth E of each row
slide through holes in the bars a and are fixed upon a bar e movable in guides
in the frame A, the two bars e being pressed inwards by spiral springs e¹ towards
suitably shaped cams J fixed on the bearings at each side of the frame A and
by means whereof the alternate protrusion and withdrawal of the rows of teeth E
is brought about at proper moments in the revolution of the frame A. The
stripping of the lower end of the web from the teeth of the frame may also be
effected in various ways, for example by means of movable slides or flaps, or the
like, suitably arranged for the purpose.
Such a modification is shewn in Figures 5 and 6. In this construction both
of the longitudinal edges of the wing plates F are provided with teeth E
instead of the rows of teeth E mounted on the frame A. The said wing plates F
carry stripping devices for the special purpose of stripping off the web from the
teeth E. In the example illustrated these devices are plates L hinged at 7 to
the wing plates F against which they are pressed by flat springs, the edge of
the stripper plate being close to the base of the toothed edge E when the wing
plate is closed, that is to say when the apparatus is in the position indicated in
Figure 5. The stripping devices L have arms m at both sides which bear against
noses on the opposite ends of the frame A, so that when a wing plate F
drops, the arms m of the stripper plate hinged to said wing plate ride up on
the noses M, thereby causing the stripper plate L in question to move through
an angular distance about its hinge and thereby to strip off the piece of web
or fleece engaged upon the corresponding toothed edge EI, which piece is thereupon
deposited upon the carrier, the reverse movement of the stripping devices L being
effected automatically under the influence of their springs, as soon as the
wing plates arrive at their closing position. Instead of being hinged, the
stripping devices L may also be arranged to slide towards the toothed edges.
Instead of rows of teeth suitably shaped clamps might also be made use of.

page_text: The main feature of the improved fleece-dividing mechanism consists, however,
in the fact that the web is kept securely attached to the revolving frame by
suitable means (as illustrated in the drawings and described above) from the
time the division is effected to the moment when the separated strip is laid on
the carrier whereby the formation of creases or folds, or the premature dropping
of the strips of web-as occurs in the machines hitherto used-is completely
avoided.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is :-
1. The herein described web dividing and lap-forming apparatus for dividing
a carded fleece or web into equal strips and superposing the same to form a lap,
the said apparatus consisting essentially of a horizontally revolving and vertically
oscillating flat frame, the revolving and oscillating movements of the frame being
co-ordinated as described and the frame being furnished with rows of teeth at
its opposite edges adapted to engage in the fleece or web coming from the
carding engine, in combination with oppositely hinged web-dividing and deposit-
ing plates each adapted to be caused by the revolution of said frame to alternately
lie against the said frame so as to allow the web or fleece to become lapped around
it and to fall outwards therefrom and in so falling to cause the severance of the
web or fleece at a point between the free edge of the said plate and the succeed-
ing row of teeth, the falling plate acting in conjunction with the preceding row
of teeth to carry down and deposit the portion of fleece so torn off, in regular
order upon a travelling carrier substantially as specified.
2. In a web-dividing and lap-forming apparatus comprising a horizontally
revolving and vertically oscillating frame having rows of teeth adapted to
engage the fleece, and oppositely hinged web-dividing and depositing plates
adapted to act in the manner described, the combination with the said revolving
frame, of a pivoted supporting frame and of cam and driving mechanism whereby
the said frame is caused to receive a combined revolving and vertically oscillating
movement substantially as specified.
3. In a web-dividing and lap-forming apparatus comprising a revolving and
oscillating frame as herein specified, the combination with the rows of teeth,
of hinged plates adapted to sever and deposit the web and also to act as strippers
to disengage the torn-off piece of web from the teeth at the moment of depositing
the same substantially as specified.
4. In a web-dividing and lap-forming apparatus comprising a revolving and
oscillating frame as herein specified, the combination with the hinged web divid-
ing and depositing plates adapted to sever and deposit the web as described, of
rows of teeth so mounted in the revolving frame and so actuated by cam or
equivalent mechanism as to be protruded and retracted at required moments for
becoming engaged in, and detached from, the web substantially as specified.
5. In a web-dividing and lap-forming apparatus comprising a revolving and
oscillating frame provided with hinged web dividing and depositing plates fur-
nished with teeth and adapted to engage in, to sever, and to deposit, the web as
described, the combination with said web-dividing and depositing plates, of
stripper plates applied thereto and caused by the angular motion of said plates
to so move in relation thereto as to strip the fleece from the teeth thereof sub-
stantially as specified.
1
T
ст
1000
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
Chartered Patent Agents, 53, Chancery Lane, London.