Improvements in or relating to Apparatus for Stretching and Finishing Textile and other Fabrics.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Oct., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 26th July, 1893-Accepted, 2nd Sept., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Apparatus for Stretching and
Finishing Textile and other Fabrics.
I, ALFRED PEACH of Willoughby Street, Lenton, in the Borough of Nottingham,
Engineer and Millwright, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to apparatus for stretching, drying, and finishing textile
and other fabrics of the kind in which the fabric is stretched by a stenter frame
and is then delivered to and subsequently dried by heated rollers.
In carrying out this invention I employ in connection with such drying rollers,
stenter chains provided with spring clips for grasping the selvedges of the fabric,.
instead of as heretofore in apparatus of this description employing chains provided
with pins to hold the fabric from which pins the fabric is drawn by the first drying
roller.
The stenter chains are of well known construction each link of which is
preferably provided with a lower fixed jaw, and an upper hinged jaw, operated by
a spring so as to close on the lower jaw and grasp the selvedges of the fabric
between them.
As it is necessary that the clips must retain the fabric until they are close to
the first drying roller, the upper spring jaw of the clip is operated from the under
side.
For this purpose the upper jaw of cach clip is provided with a downward
extension or arm which may be operated as the chain moves forward, by fixed
striking parts, or cam surfaces or grooves secured to the framing, so as to open
each clip as it reaches a certain point or points either for receiving the fabric or
delivering it to the drying rollers.
If desired each link of the chain may be provided with two clips the upper jaws
of each of which are provided with independent studs or arms for raising the
upper jaws so that less of the selvedge of the fabric is released by each and
consequently there is always less space between the next retaining clip and the first
drying roller.
With the foregoing arrangement I am enabled to stretch and dry material which
would be damaged by the pins used heretofore in connection with stenter chains in
apparatus such as described.
Dated this 27th day of October 1899
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Apparatus for Stretching and
Finishing Textile and other Fabrics.
I ALFRED PEACH of Willoughby Street, Lenton, in the Borough of Nottingham,
Engineer and Millwright, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to apparatus for stretching drying and finishing textile
and other fabrics, of the kind in which the fabric is stretched by a stenter frame
provided with endless stenter chains, and is then delivered to and subsequently dried
by heated rollers.

page_text: Fig. 2. is a side elevation, and
Fig. 3. a plan, showing chain clip, constructed according to my invention.
Fig. 4. is a side elevation showing modification.
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
In carrying out my invention I employ in connection with the drying rollers, stenter
chains provided with spring clips for grasping the selvedges of the fabric, instead
of as heretofore in apparatus of this description, employing chains provided with
pins to hold the fabric, from which pins the fabric is drawn by the first drying
roller.
The use of stenter chains with clips is well known but hitherto owing to the
construction of the clips they have not been applicable to apparatus of the kind
described.
The stenter chains are of well known construction, each link A, of which is
provided with a lower fixed jaw, B, and an upper hinged jaw or jaws, C, operated
by a spring, D, so as to close on the lower jaw, and grasp the selvedge of the
fabric, F, (Figs. 2 and 4.) between them.
It is necessary in apparatus of this description that the stenter chains should
work close up to the periphery of the first drying roller and that the chain should
retain the fabric until it is delivered on to the drying roller.
For this purpose (see Figs. 1, 2 and 3) the upper jaw, C, of each clip is provided
with a downward extension or arm E, the lower end of which is operated and the
jaw, C, raised as the chain moves forward, by fixed striking parts or cam surfaces
or grooves, secured to the framing on the underside of the chain, so as to open each
clip as it reaches a certain point or points either for receiving the fabric or delivering
it to the drying rollers.
With this arrangement the upper surface of the upper jaw, C, may be formed
without studs or projections and will pass close to the underface of the first drying
roller indicated by a dotted line in Figs. 2, and 4, and as the jaws are operated
from below, the striking part or cam surface or groove, may be arranged so that
the clips may remain closed until they reach the first roller.
If desired each link of the chain may be provided as shown with two upper
jaws, C, each of which is provided with an independent arm, E, for raising them so
that less of the selvedge of the fabric is released by each, and there is always
less space between the next retaining clip and the drying roller.
In a modification shown in Fig. 4, the relative positions of the clip and chain
are modified, the two jaws, B, and C, forming each clip, being raised considerably
above the upper surface of the links, A, of the chain.
With this arrangement the arm or extension, E, of each of the upper jaws, C,
may be arranged as shown at a lower level than the upper surface of the clip
and higher than the links, A, of the chain, so as to leave the upper face of the
clip clear, and give sufficient space between the arms or extensions, E, and the
under face of the first drying roller for the arrangement of striking parts or.
cam surfaces at that part for operating them.
With the foregoing arrangement I am able to stretch dry, and finish material
which would be damaged by the pins used heretofore in connection with stenter
chains in apparatus such as described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is-
1. A steuter chain clip in which the arm, E, of the upper jaw, C, is carried
below the clip so that the said jaw C, may be operated from the underside
substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

page_text: 2. A stenter chain clip constructed substantially as described and illustrated
in Fig. 4 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 25th day of July 1893
ALFRED PEACH.
W. P. Thompson & Boult,
Agents for the Applicant.