Improvements in Machines for Measuring and Rolling Textile Fabrics.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 24th July, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 24th May, 1892-Accepted, 25th June, 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Measuring and Rolling Textile
Fabrics.
We, JOHN TAYLOR HARGREAVES of Cutler Mill Failsworth in the County of
Lancaster, Manufacturer, and JOHN SMITH of Barker Street Iron Works,
Newton Heath near Manchester in the County of Lancaster, Machinist, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to machines for measuring and for rolling textile fabrics.
A machine constructed according to these improvements consists of a measuring
drum having a definite circumference, mounted in a suitable framing. Above the
drum bearings are two vertical slots, one at each end of the drum to receive the
ends of the rod stave or roller upon which the cloth is or has to be wound.
Parallel with the axis of the drum there may be arranged two or more binding
On one
rails through which the cloth or fabric may be staved to remove creases.
of these binding rails or on a separate stave two adjustable gauges may be arranged,
for the purpose of keeping the fabric central whilst being wound.
Suitable counting mechanism is connected with the axis of the measuring drum,
which may be rotated by hand by means of a crank handle.
If the machine is to be used for measuring and rolling, a stave or roller is
mounted in the machine above and resting upon the measuring drum; the end
of the fabric is then inserted between the stave or roller and the measuring
drum, passed once around the stave or roller and thus secured thereon, and the
drum is then rotated.
If it be desired simply to measure the fabric without rolling it, a roller of
sufficient weight to keep the fabric in contact with the drum is mounted above the
drum which is then rotated with the cloth passing between the drum and the roller.
In either case, since the fabric travels exactly with the circumference of the
drum, if the drum is 36 inches in circumference, every complete revolution of the
drum will count one yard of the fabric, and the total number of revolutions between
the ends of the piece will exactly correspond with the number of yards in its
length.
The machine may be used with equal facility for measuring fabrics from the
roll. In this case the roll of fabric is mounted above the drum and the end of the
cloth is passed between the drum and the roll. If now the cloth be unwound,
the counting mechanism connected with the axis of the drum will denote the
quantity.
If required, springs or weights may be employed to increase the contact pressure
between the fabric and the measuring drum.
Dated this 23rd day of July A.D. 1891.
WILLIAM E. HEYS,
Agent for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
.Improvements in Machines for Measuring and Rolling Textile
Fabrics.
We, JOHN TAYLOR HARGREAVES of Cutler Hill Mill, Failsworth in the
County of Lancaster, Manufacturer, and JOHN SMITH of Barker Street Iron
Works, Newton Heath near Manchester in the County of Lancaster, Machinist,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner the same is

page_text: following statement :—
This invention relates to machines or apparatus for measuring and for rolling
textile fabrics.
A machine constructed according to these improvements consists of a measuring
drum having a definite circumference, mounted in a suitable framing. Above the
drum bearings in the framing, are two vertical slots, one at each end of the drum,
to receive the ends of the rod stave or roller upon which the cloth is to be wound.
Parallel with the axis of the drum there may be arranged two or more binding
rails through or between which the fabric may be staved to remove creases.
On one
of these binding rails, or upon a separate stave, two adjustable gauge pieces
may be arranged, for the purpose of keeping the fabric central whilst it is being
wound.
Suitable counting mechanism is connected with the axis of the drum which may
be rotated by hand by means of a crank handle.
We will more particularly describe our said invention with reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which-
Figure 1 is a front view,
Figure 2 a side view, and
Figure 3 a plan of a machine including our improvements.
A is the framing of the apparatus; B B the binding rails; C C adjustable
gauges on one of the rails; D the measuring drum; E a stave or roller mounted
in the slots F above the measuring drum; & the cloth to be measured; H a crank
handle for rotating the drum I, counting mechanism for indicating the number of
rotations of the drum; and J J slots in the framing for receiving the ends of
staves or rollers K.
If the machine is to be used for measuring and rolling, the stave or roller E is
mounted in the slots F, so that it may rest upon the measuring drum. The end
of the fabric is then passed between the roller E and the drum, and once around the
former, being thus secured thereon and the crank handle is rotated so as to wind
the fabric upon the roller.
If it be desired to simply measure the fabric without rolling it, the roller E
should have a sufficient weight to keep it in close contact with the drum, which
when rotated, will deliver the cloth upon the opposite side of the apparatus.
In either case, since the fabric travels exactly with the surface of the drum, if
the drum be 36 inches in circumference, every complete revolution of the drum will
count one yard of the fabric, and the total number of revolutions between the ends
of the piece will exactly correspond with the number of yards in its length. The
length of cloth measured may be indicated by any suitable known counting
mechanism, but we prefer to employ such an apparatus in which there are two
concentric index fingers the smaller of which makes a complete revolution for each
revolution of the drum, and indicates yards and fractions of yards, and the longer
of which makes one complete revolution for 100 or any other desired number of
revolutions of the drum and indicates the total number of yards. In taking the
measured length, the quantities indicated by the two fingers are added together as is
well understood.
As represented by the drawings the machine is supposed to be in the act of
measuring a piece of cloth from the folds L, but it may with equal facility be used
for measuring fabrics from the roll. In this case, the roll of fabric is mounted
above the drum, and the end of the cloth is passed between the drum and the roll.
If now, the end of the cloth be pulled, or if the drum be rotated in the proper
direction, the cloth will be unwound from the roller, and the length will be indicated
by the counting mechanism.
Should it be desired to measure the cloth from one roller to another, the roller or
stave K on which the unmeasured cloth is wound, is placed in the slots J' and the
end of the piece is passed over the drum and around the roller E. Upon rotating

page_text: the drum the cloth will be wound from the roller K' to E, and the quantity will be
indicated by the counter.
If required, springs or weights may be employed to increase the contact pressure
between the fabric and the measuring drum.
It will be obvious that cloth may be measured by the apparatus in other ways
than those hereinbefore described, but it is essential in all cases that means should
be employed in combination with the drum to ensure the exact equality between
the motion of the surface of the drum and that of the cloth thereon.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is,
1. A machine for measuring and rolling textile fabrics, constructed arranged
and operated substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated by the
accompanying drawings.
2. In a machine for measuring textile fabrics the combination with a measuring
drum, of means such as staves or rollers for pressing the fabric upon the drum and
ensuring their simultaneous motion; substantially as hereinbefore described and
as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 23rd day of May A.D. 1892.