Improvements In ада relating LO MANCHES Appara Manufacturing Seamless Dress-shields from Elastic Fabrics.
Year: 1888

page_text: Improvements
In ада relating LO MANCHES
Appara
Manufacturing Seamless Dress-shields from Elastic Fabrics.
I, FRIEND WILLIAM SMITH Junior, residing at No. 428 Fairfield Avenue, in the
City of Bridgeport, County of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, one of the United
States of America, Solicitor, 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 following statement :-
This invention has reference to an apparatus for manufacturing seamless Dress-shields
from elastic fabrics, and has for its object to stretch said shields into shape uniformly
and also to vulcanize them in a minimum space of time.
With these ends in view this invention consists in the details of constructions and
combination of elements, such as will be hereinafter fully set forth and then specifically
designated by the claims.
In the accompanying Drawings
:-
Figure 1, is a perspective illustrating this invention, the treadle connections being
removed.
Figure 2, is a central vertical longitudinal section the treadle mechanism being
shown in elevation.
Figure 3, is a detail elevation of the stretching plate.
Similar letters denote like parts in the several figures of the drawings.
In seamless dress-shields, it is to be observed that the top edge is concaved or
crescent shaped, and therefore it is essential that the stretching which produces this
shape should extend in radiating lines.
In the manufacture of such shields, the fabric is generally stretched over a crescent
shaped form, the concave edge of which latter corresponds to the shape desired
or to the top edge of the shield, and in the present improvement such a form is
used, certain mechanical means for stretching the fabric uniformly and without
distortion are provided so that said fabric may be shaped to said form preparatory
to vulcanization.
In the drawing, A, A1, is the form, the top edge of which is concaved, the extremities
of said edge being provided with grasping points, B.
As it is obvious that the greatest degree of stretching must be at the center

page_text: of the shield, or, in other words, at the lowest point of the curve, and, as the degree
of stretching decreases uniformly from the center toward the ends of the curve,
slots, C, are provided in the form, A, A', as guides for the stretching devices, which
slots are in radial lines.
D, is a stretching plate pivoted within the form as seen at, E, and, J, is a
suitable handle extending from this plate. Within this plate are cam slots, F,
corresponding in number to the slots, C, but extending at an angle across the path of
the latter.
G, are stretchers which extend through the various corresponding slots, C, F, and
are secured therein in any ordinary manner as by heads, H.
The sides of these slots are parallel, and the stretchers in their normal assembled
position are located as shown at Figures 1 and 2.
Projecting from each side of these stretchers are fastening pins or grasping points, I,
by means of which the fabric may be secured to the stretchers.
The inclination of the slots, F, with respect to the slots, C, is such that,
when the stretching plate is swung in the direction indicated by the arrow in
Figure 1, the upper walls of said slots, F, will act as cams or wedges to force the
stretchers down within the slots, C, thereby effecting a synchronous and radial move-
ment to said stretchers.
On the reverse movement of said stretching plate the lower walls of said slots, F,
will cam or wedge the stretchers upward along the slots, C, to normal position.
The incline of the slots, F, with respect to each other is immaterial, since it is only
necessary that the walls of these slots should actuate the stretchers in the desired.
line of movement, and therefore, it will be obvious that shorter slots having a steeper
pitch with respect to the slots, C, would effect a like movement of the stretchers, it
being necessary only, in this connection, that cam or wedge surfaces should be
operated by the swinging of the stretching plate to drive the stretchers in their
desired lines of movement, whether said lines are perpendicular to tangents to the
concave edge of the form, A, or whether they intersect said edge at different and
varying angles.
As far as the slots, C, are concerned with respect to their relative position,.
both to each other, and to the concave edge of the form, A, it makes no difference
with the actual and practical operation of the stretchers whether said slots
are parallel or inclined toward each other, and said slots are illustrated as
radiating from a common center merely for the reason that the operation of the
stretchers in lines diverging from a common center insures the most uniform
stretching of the fabric.
The gist of this invention in respect to these slots, C, F, and the stretchers rests
in the broad idea of one series of slots adapted to act as guides to the movements of
the stretchers, and a second series of slots which perform the function of cams or
wedges to force said stretchers throughout their lines of movement.
E, is a bed-plate secured upon any suitable table; F¹, and, G¹, is a central
rib extending upward from said plate. H³, are hollow leaves, and, I, J', are
lugs which are pivoted at, 7, 8, to the leaves, these lugs being pivoted at, 9, to
each other, and to the rib, G', to constitute a double hinge for the purpose
of facilitating the folding of said leaves without any danger of cramping.
These leaves have scoop slots, 10; in their faces so extended that when the
leaves are folded, said slots will register with the guide-slots, C, in the form, A, A.
K; is a post projecting upward from the table, F, and to this post at, 16, are pivoted
ears, 11, 12, which extend laterally from the form, A, A¹.
A pin, 13, projecting from said post forms a stop against which a lug, 14, on the
ear, 11, for the purpose of limiting the movement of said plates as they are swung
laterally away from the rib, G.
L, are steam inlet pipes leading into the hollow leaves, and, M, are the corresponding
outlet pipes.
N, are levers pivoted at, 15, to the bed-plate, and, O, is a chain the ends whereof
are secured to the inner extremities of said levers.

page_text: P, is a pitman which depends from this chain and may be connected with any
suitable treadle mechanism Q, whereby the levers may be elevated or allowed to fall
by gravity to normal position in a horizontal plane.
These levers extend immediately beneath the leaves, H³, so that the latter are
swung on their hinges by the operation of said levers, as will be readily under-
stood.
It is obvious that the invention need not necessarily be limited or confined to the
use of these lovers as a means for operating the leaves, since the latter may be operated
by hand or by any suitable device, said levers being shown in order to afford some
illustration of the manner in which the improvements are to be used.
The operation of the improved apparatus is as follows:-
Seamless Dress-shields are generally made from the fabric known as stockinet faced
rubber, and a suitable blank of this fabric having previously been laid flat upon the
outspread leaves, the stretching device is swung into the position shown at Figure 1,
so that the grasping points, 1, rests immediately upon said fabric.
The leaves are now folded to the position shown at Figure 2, thus carrying the
fabric against the points, I.
.
The handle, J, is now thrown in the direction indicated by the arrow, thus stretching
the fabric into the desired shape.
During the operation of stretching, the leaves offer no obstruction to the movement
of the stretchers, G, and points, I, since the slots, 10, register with the slots, C. The
stretched shield is therefore, closely embraced by the hot leaves, the result being
that a quick vulcanization takes place. In fact the stretching and complete vulcanization
of the fabric consumes considerably less than one minute of time.
After vulcanization, the leaves are allowed to drop back to normal position and the
completed shield is stripped from the points, I, by simply swinging the former plates
back on their pivotal point, 16, and throwing the handle, J, in the direction roverse to
that indicated by the arrow.
The automatic pinning on of the fabric has heretofore never been accomplished,
and this feature together with the rapid vulcanization greatly facilitates the manu-
facture of seamless Dress-shields and cheapens the cost of production.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is
1st. The combination with the former having stretching pins adapted to be operated
within slots which extend in the direction of the line of stretching, of a pair of leaves
having gauge slots which register with the aforesaid slots, said leaves being hinged to
any suitable support, substantially as and for the purposes specified.
2nd. In an apparatus for manufacturing seamless dress-shields, a former as
described, in combination with a pair of pivoted leaves adapted to automatically thrust
the fabric onto the stretching pins of said former, as and for the purposes specified.
3rd. The combination of the form to which the shield is stretched having stretching
levices adapted to be operated through guide slots in said form, a bed-plate having a
central transverse rib, a pair of hollow leaves having slots corresponding with the
foresaid slots, said leaves hinged to said rib at the ends thereof and provided with
team inlet and outlet pipes, and means for folding said leaves closely to said form,
ubstantially as set forth.
4th. The combination of the bed-plate, E³, having a transverse rib, G³, and mounted
pon any suitable table, F¹, the post, K, projecting upward from said table and having
top-pin, 13, the form, A, A¹, having ears, 11, 12, extending laterally therefrom and
ivoted to the post, K, and the lug, 14, extending from the ear, 11, substantially as
et forth.
5th. The combination with the form, A, A¹, having slots, C, extending in the
irection of the line of stretching, and the plate, D, having cam slots, F, extending
thwart the slots, C, said plate being pivoted to the form, A, A, at, E, stretching
evices projecting through said slots, C, F, and the folding leaves, H', having slots, 10,

page_text: which register with the slots, C, whon said leaves are folded against the form, A, A³,
whereby the fabric is automatically attached to the stretching devices and the move-
ments of the latter rendered perfectly free within said leaves, substantially as shown
and for the purpose set forth.
6th. An improved former for the manufacture of Seamless Dress-shields, consisting
of a form having a concave upper edge terminating in lateral grasping points and
having guide slots whereby the line of stretching is determined, in combination
with a stretching plate having therein cam slots which cross said guide slots at
an angle, and stretchers extending through said guide and cam slots and having
projecting therefrom grasping points, substantially as set forth.
7th. In a former for Seamless Dress-shields, the combination of a form to which
the shield is shaped having guideways extending in the direction of the lines of
stretching, strotchers within said guideways, and a stretching plate movable across
said form and having cam slots engaging said stretchers throughout the guideways,
substantially as shown and set forth.
1000