IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPLICABLE TO CLOTH PLAITING OR FOLDING AND MEASURING MACHINES
Year: 1884

page_text: We CHARLES EDMESTON and ALFRED EDMESTON of Cannon Street Works,
Salford, in the County of Lancaster, Engineers do hereby declare the nature
of said invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPLICABLE TO CLOTH PLAITING OR
FOLDING AND MEASURING MACHINES," to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to improved combinations and arrangements of 'mechanism
for the purposes above named, and one of its principal features consists in arranging
the grippers, and table so as to be operated by rotary cam action in such manner
that when the knife comes to the end of its stroke the gripper at that side will be
lifted and the table lowered to permit the knife to pass under freely and then both
the gripper and table are suddenly brought towards each other by the action of the
cams so that the plait is gripped and held secure on both sides of the knife before
it begins to withdraw.
In our improved machine, the table for the cloth is or may be segmental, and
is arranged, carried and weighted in the ordinary manner or in a modification
thereof.
The plaiting knife is or may be formed, carried, arranged and worked also in the
ordinary manner or in a modification thereof.
The grippers are each carried on arms arranged and centred on a line with the
axis or fulcrum of the arms for the knife also in the ordinary manner, with the
exceptions hereinafter named.
The grippers are not rigidly attached to the arms carrying them, but are jointed
to them so as to lift to and from the face of the table and they are actuated by rods
(one at each end of each gripper) each rod having guides in the arm carrying the
gripper, so as to slide therein-Each rod has a strong spring upon it one end of
which abuts against the guide on the arm, the other end against a collar at the
lower end of the rod.
The springs for each gripper are powerful enough to hold down the gripper
against the pressure acting to force the segmetal table upwards.
The lower end of each gripper rod has a shoe upon it which rests upon a
segmental bar (one on each side) partly concentric with the axis of the fulcrum of
the arms carrying the knife, and these segmental bars can rock on a stud or pin in
the framing of the machine.

page_text: The axis upon which the arms for the knife and grippers oscillate, is in our
invention a shaft rotated in suitable bearings on the framing by a shaft and bevel
wheels or other gearing from and at the same speed as the crank shaft for actuating
the knife The said rotary shaft forming also the axis of the knife and grippers has
cains upon it one for and working within each segmental bar above named, and these
cams are so shaped as to oscillate the segmental bars, and release them suddenly
when the grippers are to close.
This arrangement allows the grippers to be adjusted to the length of plait
required and keeps the actuating mechanism in proper connection in every position
of adjustment.
Each end of each segmental bar is connected with one end of a lever having its
fulcrum between the two ends of the lever the other end of the lever is connected
with a chain that passes over a pulley free on a stud in the frame at one side of
the table and then under a corresponding pulley free on a stud in the frame of the
other side of the table and then ascends and is attached to the framing or to an
adjusting screw in the framing-A chain passes as described from the end of each
of the four levers, two on each side of the machine-These levers chains and pulleys
being actuated from the segmental bars cause that side of the table at which the
knife arrives to descend, as the gripper ascends and vice versa.
Another part of our invention relates to and consists in a combination of
mechanism for delivering the cloth to the plaiting machine.
The cloth is passed between rollers and one of them is made to rotate so as to
deliver a given length at each stroke of the plaiting knife and varying therewith.
This is effected by an endless chain, one side of which is connected with one of
the arms for the knife-This chain passes over suitable guide pulleys and over two
pulleys forming part of two friction clutches on the axis of the roller delivering
the cloth.
The friction clutches hold when moved one way and slip when moved the
other way.
As the chain moves to and fro by the arm of the knife the friction clutches each
in turn rotates the roller to a given extent-Instead of actuating the friction
clutches from the knife arm and by a chain, they are or may be worked from the
crank actuating the knife by a rod and toothed rack, and gearing for giving
double action.
The details and arrangements of the mechanism for carrying out our invention
may be varied without departing from its essential features.
Applicants' Agent.
PETER J. LIVSEY,
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BOOK

page_text: We CHARLES EDMESTON and ALFRED EDMESTON of Cannon Street Works;
Salford in the County of Lancaster, Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of
said invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPLICABLE TO CLOTH PLAITING or
FOLDING AND MEASURING MACHINES, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
Our invention relates to improved combinations and arrangements of mechanism
for the purposes above named, and one of its principal features consists in arranging
the grippers, and table so as to be operated by rotary cam action in such manner
that when the knife comes to the end of its stroke the gripper at that side will be
lifted and the table lowered to permit the knife to pass under freely, and then both
the gripper and table are suddenly brought towards each other by the action of the
cams so that the plait is gripped and held secure on both sides of the knife before
it begins to withdraw.
In our improved machine the table for the cloth is or may be segmental, and is
arranged carried and weighted in the ordinary manner or in a modification
thereof.
The plaiting knife is or may be formed, carried, arranged and worked also in the
ordinary manner or in a modification thereof.
The grippers are each carried on arms arranged and centred on a line with the
axis or fulcrum of the arms. for the knife also in the ordinary manner, with the
exceptions hereinafter named.
The grippers are not rigidly attached to the arms carrying them, but are jointed
to them so as to lift to and from the face of the table and they are actuated by
rods (one at each end of each gripper) each rod having guides in the arm carrying
the gripper, so as to slide therein-Each rod has a strong spring upon it, one end of
which abuts against the guide on the arm, the other end against a collar at the
lower end of the rod.
•
The springs for each gripper are powerful enough to hold down the gripper
against the pressure acting to force the segmental table upwards.
The lower end of each gripper rod has a shoe upon it which rests upon a segmental
bar (one on each side) partly concentric with the axis of the fulcrum of the arms
carrying the knife, and these segmental bars can rock on a stud or pin in the
framing of the machine.
The axis upon which the arms for the knife and grippers oscillate, is in our
invention a shaft rotated in suitable bearings on the framing by a shaft and bevel
wheels or other gearing from and at the same speed as the crank shaft for actuating
the knife-The said rotary shaft, forming also the axis of the knife and grippers
has cams upon it, one for, and working within each segmental bar above named,
and these cams are so shaped as to oscillate the segmental bars and release them
suddenly when the grippers are to close.

page_text: This arrangement allows the grippers to be adjusted to the length of plait
required and keeps the actuating mechanism in proper connection in every position
of adjustment.
Each end of each segmental bar is connected with one end of a-lever having
its fulcrum between the two ends of the lever, the other end of the lever is
connected with a chain that passes over a pulley free on a stud in the frame at one
side of the table and then under a corresponding pulley free on a stud in the frame
of the other side of the table and then ascends and is attached to the framing, or
to an adjusting screw in the framing-A chain passes as described from the end of
each of the four levers; two on each side of the machine-These levers chains and
pulleys being actuated from the segmental bars, cause that side of the table at
which the knife arrives to descend, as the gripper ascends and vice versa.
Another part of our invention relates to and consists in a combination of
mechanism for delivering the cloth to the plaiting machine.
The cloth is passed between rollers and one of them is made to rotate so as to
deliver a given length at each stroke of the plaiting knife and varying therewith.
This is effected by an endless chain, one side of which is connected with one of
the arms for the knife-This chain passes over suitable guide pulleys and over two
pulleys forming part of two friction clutches on the axis of the roller delivering the
cloth.
The friction clutches hold when moved one way and slip when moved the other
way.
As the chain moves to and fro by the arm of the knife the friction clutches each
in turn rotates the roller to a given extent-Instead of actuating the friction
clutches from the knife arm and by a chain they are or may be worked from the
crank actuating the knife by a rod and double toothed rack, and gearing for giving
double action one toothed rack gearing with its wheel above, and the other gearing
with its wheel below the axis.
The details and arrangements of the mechanism for carrying out our invention
may be varied without departing from its essential features.
Fig 1 is a side sectional elevation, and fig 2 is also a side sectional elevation,
shown in connection with fig 1, and fig 3 is a longitudinal section at A-B fig 2.
These figures show so much of the parts of the machine or machines as will be
necessary for explaining our invention.
Fig 1 illustrates our improvements in the plaiting or folding machine proper.
a is the framing; b is the framework of the table, its surface being of wood
forming part of the segment of a cylinder as usual.
The parts on one side of the machine are the same as those on the other side,
and in the following description, the parts on one side may only be referred to.
To a shaft or pivot b' in the middle of one side of the table b the upper end of a
rod bis jointed the lower end of the rod passes through and slides in guides a¹
and a attached to the framing a.
There is a shaft c extending across the machine having bearings in brackets a
on the framing, this shaft has a segmental lever c¹ for each side to which one end
of a jointed chain c is connected the other end being attached to a bracket b³ fixed
on the vertical slide rod 6-The segment lever c¹ has an adjustable weight c³
which counter balances the weight of the table b and cloth upon it and presses it
upwards against the grippers hereinafter referred to-The shaft c, segment levers c¹
and counter weights cause both sides of the table to move up and down parallel,
the above described arrangement of segmental table being ordinary.
The table b can be oscillated on the centre b¹ and both ends are made to move
together by the arrangements described as follows.
On each end and on each side of the table, two grooved pulleys b' are carried side
by side free on a pin in the frame of the table.
On one side there is a bracket or arm d from the side frame (a) through an eye
in which a screw d¹ passes which can be adjusted up and down by screw nuts
above and below the eye in the arm or bracket d-To the lower end of a screw d'

page_text: one end of a jointed chain d' is attached which then passes down under one of the
grooved pulleys & then across to the other end of the table and over one of the
grooved pulleys 6 at the other end of the table (b) and then vertically down to one
end of a lever d³ having its fulcrum d' on the framing.
An adjusting screw d³, jointed chain d2 and lever d³ the same as that above
described is used for the other end of the table b, passing over the second of the
grooved pulleys on the ends of the table, but the reverse way to the first
described chain d.-There is thus one of these chains for each of the four corners
of the table. The opposite ends of each lever d³ to which the jointed chain d³ is
attached is connected with, and so as to be moved by a curved horse shoe shaped
levere free to oscillate on a stud e¹ in the side frame.
There is a shaft f in suitable bearings in the middle of the framing and extending
across the machine this shaft being rotated by a diagonal shaft f¹ and bevel wheels
from the crank shaft g of the machine.
The shaft coincides with the stud forming the centre or axis of the arm h
carrying the plaiting knife or knives h¹ the upper part of which arm on one side of
the machine is represented by h. The arms (h) for the plaiting knife are worked
from the crank shaft g in the usual manner. The shaft f forms the centre upon
which the arms i carrying the grippers, oscillate when they are being adjusted to
or from each other, this being effected simultaneously by screw shafts and gearing
in the usual manner.
The movable grippers are each formed by a plate extending across the table (b)
the under surface being roughened or covered with india rubber, and there is a
pivot ¹ on each end of the gripper plate which is jointed with the eye in the upper
end of a rod k sliding in guides on the arm i for the gripper.
The ends of the grippers have also pivots that are jointed in a part ³ that
is carried in the upper bent ends of the arms i which can be secured when the
grippers have been adjusted, by a screw bolt passing through each arm i and
through a segmental slot at formed for it in the side frame.-The movement of the
rods to which their middle pivots of the grippers are jointed will cause them
to open and close as required.
There is a strong helical spring k on the slide rod k* which abuts against the
under side of one of the guides i at its upper end, and against a collar k on the
slide rod k at the lower end thus drawing the rod * and gripper downwards
with sufficient force to resist the upward pressure of the table b caused by the
segment weight levers c¹.
There is a shoe ko secured on the lower end of each rod * against which the
edge of the curved lever e will come as the latter is oscillated and cause the rod k*
to lift and open the gripper and when this curved lever e suddenly descends the
rod k* also descends until a shoulder k on the rod comes and rests upon the upper
guide and thus closes the gripper k.
It will be seen that one gripper is shown open and about to come upon the
cloth, and the other is supposed close down upon the cloth, the curved lever e being
against the shoe of one rod for the open gripper, and clear of the shoe for the
rod ex for the closed gripper. When the curved lever e is in the middle position
of its oscillation its upper edge is a segment of a circle concentric with the
shaft f.
The curved lever e is oscillated by a cam f2 on the shaft f which rotates in the
direction shown by the arrow, and the cam f is shown in the position where it is
about to release the inner edge of that end of the curved lever e in contact with
it, and when released the pressure of the spring k* on the rod k* forces that end
of the curved lever e down and the other end up against the shoe upon the other
rod k* when the cam f2 begins to act to lift the other end of the curved lever e
and when the cam f2 has rotated half a revolution it releases the outer edge of that
end of the curved lever e which is being acted upon by it and so on.
In oscillating as before stated, the curved lever e moves the levers d³ and at that
end of the table where the gripper k is opened the table b is pulled down to freely

page_text: k
admit the edge of the knife a¹ to pass under the gripper, that end of the table
ascending and the gripper descending simultaneously when the knife has arrived
at the end of its stroke to close upon and hold the plait of cloth then upon the
knife and prevent it from being withdrawn when the knife moves away.
The cloth being folded or plaited passes in the direction shown by the peculiar
dotted line over the curved surface table j the dotted roller ¹ between the gripper k,
and knife h¹ across the plaiting table to the other gripper where the end or last
plait is held on the table.
is the first motion shaft in suitable bearings driving the crank shaft g by spur
wheels and are the driving pulleys upon which the belt 12 works.
Figs 2 and 3 illustrate mechanism which is or can be used to deliver cloth at a
uniform speed to the plaiting or folding machine as required.
It consists of a frame m having bearings for rollers containing the cloth to be
plaited which passes from the roller over a roller or cylinder n on a shaft n¹ in
suitable bearings on the side frames then under a weight roller n², the shaft of
which is in bearings in the side frames the weight roller resting on the surface of
the roller or cylinder n.
On one end of the shaft n¹ two cross arms p are secured and between these arms
are two toothed wheels p¹ having each a flange on an edge both being loose on the
shaft n On the ends of two arms of each of the cross arms p bell crank levers p²
are jointed the end of one arm of each lever p² being shod with wood or other
suitable material to come and work against the inner face of the flange of the
pulley as shown.
The other arm of the lever p² is connected with one end of a spring p³ the other
end of which is connected to one arın of the cross arms p as shown, so that the
shod end of each bell crank lever p² is pressed against the inner face of the flange
of each pulley p¹ so as to bite upon and move with the pulley in one direction
but release it when the pulley rotates in the other direction.
Each pulley p' has teeth to fit the links of a toothed chain q which is connected
with or attached to a stud q' adjustable in a slot in the arm h for the plaiting
knife then passes over a grooved pulley q2 free on a pin in the framing then
over the teeth of one of the pulleys p¹ then round a pulley q³ (fig 2) adjustable
in a slot in the framing, then to the teeth of the second pulley 'p', over another
grooved pulley side by side of the pulley q² and free on the same pin then to
the pulley q on a bracket from the framing then from that pulley back to the
stud q'.
It will be seen that these portions of the jointed chains q passing over each
toothed pulley p¹ will move in reverse directions and one pulley p₁ will be rotating
backward when the other is rotating forward, but the bell crank friction levers. p²
will only bite and cause the shaft n¹ to revolve.in the direction to deliver the cloth
to the plaiting or folding machine.
The amount of oscillation in the pulleys p₁ will depend upon the motion of the
and length of the stroke of the plaiting knife h' and thus the delivery of
the cloth, will vary accordingly.
chain
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. The arrangement of the grippers in plaiting or folding machines to lift or
open to allow the knife to pass under and then close upon the cloth substantially
as and for the purpose hereinbefore described and illustrated by the drawings.
2. In cloth plaiting or folding machines the arrangement and combination of
grippers to lift or open to allow the knife to pass under and then close upon the
cloth combined with arrangements or combinations of mechanism for adjusting
the grippers to and from each other substantially as and for the purpose
herein before described and illustrated by the drawings.
3. The arrangements for keeping the two ends of the table on which the cloth
is folded parallel as the table descends and for drawing down each end of the table

page_text: when the knife passes under the grippers, as hereinbefore described and illustrated
by the drawings.
4. The combination and arrangement of mechanism for actuating the grippers
and table substantially as herein before described and illustrated by the drawings.
5. The combination and arrangement of the table and mechanism for actuating
it, the grippers and mechanism for actuating them and the plaiting knife or knives
substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by the drawings.
6. The combination of mechanism for delivering cloth to a folding machine
substantially as herein before described and illustrated by the drawings.
7. The combination of mechanism for delivering cloth to, and its combination
with mechanism for folding substantially as herein before described and illustrated
by the drawings.