Improvements in Machines for Making Slat-and-wire Fabrics.
Year: 1898

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Making Slat-and-wire Fabrics.
We, GEORGE PURNELL FISHER, Junior, President of The Hercules Woodenware
Company, of 144, Astor Street, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A., and JOSEPH REIF, Junior,
Machinist, of Hebron, County of Porter, Indiana, U.S.A., do hereby declare
the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
-
The invention has relation to that class of machines commonly known as
"slat-and-wire-fabric-weaving" machines, in which slats, usually of wood, are
connected together in series by suitable wires.
The invention consists in the various improvements hereinafter described,
illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the
several claims at the end of this specification.
Figure I is a plan view of the machine, parts being broken away. Fig. II is
a view in vertical cross-section on line II-II of Fig. I. Fig. III is a view in
vertical cross-section on line III-III of Fig. I. Fig. IV is a view in vertical
longitudinal section on line IV-IV of Fig. I. Fig. V is a view in horizontal
section on line V-V of Fig. IV. Fig. VI is an enlarged view, in vertical
longitudinal section, through one of the spindles and its bearings, parts of the main
frame and a portion of the wooden fabric being shown in cross-section. Fig. VII 18
a detail view, partly in plan and partly in horizontal section, through one of the
spindles and spool-holders and adjacent parts. Fig. VIII is a view in central
vertical longitudinal section through the spindle and parts shown in Fig. VII.
Fig. IX is a view in cross-section through the upper part of the main frame and
through the spindles, the gearing for driving the spindles and other parts being
shown in elevation. Fig. X is a detail view in elevation of the drive-bar, whereby
a reciprocating motion is imparted to the spindles, the spindles being shown in
cross-section. Fig. XI is an enlarged detail view, in vertical longitudinal section
(see Fig. II). through the inner end of the slat-hopper and adjacent parts, certain
parts being shown in elevation. Fig. XII is a detail view, in horizontal section,
through the mechanism beneath the slat-hopper. (See Fig. II.) Fig. XIII is
a view in side elevation of the bottom of the slat-hopper, this view being from the
side opposite that shown in Fig. II. Fig. XIV is a detail plan view of one of the
slat-feeding dogs and part of its driving-chain.. Fig. XV is a view in vertical

page_text: longitudinal section through the dog shown in Fig. XIV. Fig. XVI is an
enlarged detail plan view of the clutch mechanism whereby revolution is inter-
mittently imparted to. the spindles. Fig. XVII is a view in vertical section on
line XVII-XVII of Fig. XVI. Fig. XVIII is a view in vertical section on
line XVIII-XVIII of Fig. XVI. Fig. XIX is a view in vertical section
on line XIX-XIX of Fig. XVI. Fig. XX is a view similar to Fig. XIX, but
showing the parts in different position. Fig. XXI is a view similar to Fig. XIX,
with the clutch-wheel omitted. Fig. XXII is a view in horizontal section on
line XXII-XXII of Fig. XX. Fig. XXIII is a plan view showing the delivery-
table and the parts carried by the rear end of the main frame, the crozing
mechanism and certain other parts being removed. Fig. XXIV is a view in
vertical longitudinal section through the parts shown in Fig. XXIII, the crozing
mechanism being also shown in position and various parts being shown in elevation.
Fig. XXV is a view in side elevation of the delivery-table and of the end portion
of the main frame, the bottom of the slat-hopper being shown in vertical section.
Fig. XXVI is a detail view in vertical longitudinal section through the
supporting table, this section being taken adjacent the outer edge of the table.
Fig. XXVII is an enlarged detail plan view of what are termed the "dummies" and
their supports. Fig. XXVIII is a view in vertical cross-section through the
dummy-supporting bars shown in Fig. XXVII, looking toward the spindle-heads.
Fig. XXIX is a view similar to Fig. XXVIII, but showing the parts in different
position.
mat-
The frame A of the machine will be suitably constructed from metal or wood
(preferably cast-iron) to sustain the various parts of the mechanism. Between the
side bars of the frame extend the cross-bars a a' (see Fig. V), whereon is journaled
the main drive shaft B, the outer end of this drive shaft having keyed thereto a
beveled gear wheel 2 that engages with the pinion 3 upon a short shaft 4
sustained within suitable bearings 5 and carrying pulleys 6, 7 and 8. The pulley 6
is for driving the cutter head shaft as will be hereinafter described and the
pulleys and 8 are respectively fast and loose pulleys adapted to receive the drive
belt by which motion will be transmitted to the machine from a suitable source of
power. Upon the inner end of the shaft B is fixed a beveled pinion 10 that meshes
with a beveled gear wheel 11 that is fixed to a countershaft C, the ends of this
countershaft being journaled within suitable boxes 12 upon the side bars of the
main frame. Upon the countershaft C are keyed the cam wheels C1 and C2 each
of these cam wheels being furnished with cam grooves or ways e as clearly shown
by Fig. IV of the drawing. The cam groove of each of the cam wheels C and (2
receives a friction roll 14, that is carried by and projects laterally
from the end of a shifting lever D. Preferably there are two shifting
levers and preferably also two cam wheels, as shown, and the levers 1)
are pivotally sustained by lugs 13 projecting inwardly from a cross bar of the
main frame (see Figs. IV and V), while the upper ends of the levers D are
perforated to receive the ends of the rods 15, the opposite ends of which rods
connect with the ends of the drive bar. E (see Fig. 1) whereby a reciprocating
movement will be imparted to the spindles F that serve to twist together the wires
that connect the slats of the fabric. Each of the swindles F has its rear end
provided with an enlargement f around which is formed an annular groove to
admit a ribe (see Figs. VIII and X) projecting inwardly from the drive har E.
The drive bar E is shown as formed of upper and lower sections that are bolted
together as at el as this affords a convenient means for connecting the drive bor to
the spindles. The spindles Fare journalled in boxes 16 mounted upon a cross
plate or frame 17 that is bolted as at 18 to the ton of the main frame of the
machine, the frame or cross plate 17 being formed with long slots 19 through
which pass the bolts 20 whereby the journal boxes 16 of the spindles may be
adjusted transversely in order to enable the wires to be spaced any desired distance
antart. From the enlargement of at the end of each spindle project the rods ?1
that pass through holes formed in the cross-head 22 at the inner end of a spool

page_text: carrier 23 that is revolubly mounted upon a tubular shaft 24. The rear end of the
shaft 24 is fixed within a sliding head-block 25 being preferably held in place by
a set-screw 26 and the inner end of the tubular shaft 24 is provided with a collar 27
to prevent the longitudinal movement of the spool carrier 23. The head block 25
is preferably a casting having at its top a raised portion as shown, to receive the
outer end of the tubular shaft 24 and having its lower edge formed with an
angular lip 28 to engage the edge of a bar extending across the top of the main
frame of the machine at its front end. Holes are formed in the base of the head
block 25 to admit the adjusting bolts 29, the hooked ends of which engage the
lower portion of the transverse bar whereon the head block rests, as clearly seen
in Fig. VIII. Each of the spool carriers 23 is provided with a pivot bolt 30
whereon is journalled a spool 31 that carries the small wire 32 (commonly termed
the tie wire), whereby the slats are fastened to the main wire 33 that passes through
the tubular shaft 24 and through the centre of the corresponding spindle F.
By reference to Figs. I and VIII it will be seen that the main wire 33 passes
through a central hole f in the head of the spindle F while the binding wire 32
passes through a channel f³ in the wall of the spindle F and through a continuation
of this channel ft in the spindle head, the outlet of the channel f' being con-
siderably at one side of the centre of the spindle head. By reference to Figs. VI
and VIII it will be observed that the holes or channels f and fare connected
by a cross channel f, the purpose of which will be hereinafter set forth.
From the construction of parts as thus far defined, it will be seen that when
revolution is imparted to the main drive shaft B and from it to the counter-shaft C,
the cam-wheels C1 and C2 will be revolved and as these cam-wheels revolve, the
driving levers D will be shifted back and forth from the position shown by full
lines to the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. IV of the drawings. As the
driving levers are thus oscillated, they will carry forward and backward the drive
bar E which bar in turn will impart a reciprocating movement to the spindles F.
It will also be apparent that as the spindles are thus reciprocated, the arms 21
at the ends of these spindles will slide freely through the cross-heads 22 at the
inner ends of the spool carriers 23. It is obvious, however, that when revolution is
imparted to the spindles F, by mechanism to be next described, corresponding
revolution will be transmitted through the arms 21 to the spool carriers 23.
Upon each of the spindles F and between the journal boxes 16 of such spindles
is mounted a sprocket wheel 40, this wheel being provided with a key adapted to
fit in a long seat or slot 41 formed in the outer face of the side wall of the spindle
(see Figs. VIII and IX), so that while the sprocket wheel 40 serves to impart
revolution to the spindle, it permits the spindle to slide back and forth through
the sprocket wheel. With the sprocket wheels 40 of each of the spindles F engages
a sprocket chain 42, this chain being preferably passed around the sprocket
wheels 40 as indicated in Fig. IX of the drawings, so as to impart rotation to the
spindles in opposite directions. Upon the top of the frame 17 rise suitable journal
bolts or standards 44, the upper ends of which carry a shaft 45 whereon is mounted
an idler sprocket wheel 46 over which the chain 42 passes and at the end of the
frame 17 is journalled a shaft 47 on which is loosely mounted a sprocket wheel 48
around which the chain 42 also passes. Inasmuch as the spindles F will be
revolved only at intervals, it will be understood that a suitable clutch mechanism
will be interposed between the spindles and the constantly driven parts of the
mechanism and the preferred form of clutch mechanism is that illustrated more
particularly in Figs. XVI-XXI of the drawings. The shaft 47 whereon the
sprocket wheel 48 is journaled is bolted as at 49 to the cross-frame 17 and upon
the shaft 47 is revolubly mounted a sprocket wheel 50 from which
52
sprocket wheel
that is keyed
a sprocket chain
upon the main shaft B as clearly seen in Fig. II of the drawings.
The hub of the sprocket wheel 50 is preferably screw threaded as at 53
to enter a correspondingly threaded opening in the detent wheel 54 that revolves
51 leads to સ

page_text: constantly with the sprocket wheel 50. Upon the shaft 47 and between the
sprocket wheels 48 and 50 is mounted a disk 50 having an annular lateral flange 56
that is connected as by a set-screw 57 with the hub of the sprocket wheel 48. Upon
the opposite side of the disk 55 is formed a segmental flange 58 (see Fig. XXI)
against which bears a coil spring 59 that is carried by a stud projecting from the
short end 60 of the detent lever 61 that is pivoted as at 62 upen a pin projecting
from the side of the disk 55. The detent 61 carries at one side of its longer
arm a friction roller 62" adapted to engage with the teeth or notches of the detent
wheel 54, as seen in Fig. XX of the drawings, being held in such engagement by
the coil spring 59. The detent lever 61 is formed with a lug 63 adapted to be
engaged by a hook or projection 64 on the end of a latch bar 65 that is pivotally
connected as at 66 to the underside of the frame 17. Upon the rear end of the
latch bar 65 is a stud carrying a coil spring 67, that bears against the underside
of the frame 17 and tends to normally hold the latch bar in the position seen in
Figs. XIX and XXI of the drawings. Upon the side of the latch bar 65 is formed
the short lateral arm or extension 68 (see Fig. XXII) against which bears a coil
spring 69, the opposite end of which encircles a stud projecting from a catch 70 that
is pivoted as at 71 to the frame 17. Catch 70 is designed to engage with a
notched shoulder or off-set 72 on the periphery of the disk 55 and this engagement
will occur when the hooked end 64 of the lever 65 engages with the off-set 63
of the detent 61, and the purpose of the catch 70 is to prevent any "back-lash"
or reverse motion incident to the sudden stopping of the spindles, as will presently
more fully appear.
To the latch bar 65 is pivotally connected as at 74 a rod 75, the lower end of
which rod is pivotally connected as at 76 (see Figs. II and IV) to a tripper lever 77
that is pivotally sustained on a pin 78 passing through lugs that rise from the
cross-bar a of the main frame. The tripper lever 77 is formed with a series of
holes 80 through any one of which a pin 78 may be passed, the purpose of these
holes being to adjust the tripper lever in order to determine the time of
action of the clutch mechanism and consequently the number of revolutions of
the spindle, as will hereinafter more fully appear. The outer or free end of the
tripper lever 77 extends adjacent the side of the cam wheel C (see Figs. I and
IV) and this side of the cam wheel is provided with a stud or other suitable pro-
jection 82 (see dotted lines Fig. IV), adapted to contact with the underside of
the tripper lever 77 and lift the same as the cam wheel C¹ revolves. It is obvious
that as the cam wheel C revolves in the direction of the arrow Fig. IV, it will
strike the underside of the tripper lever 77 and rock this lever about the pivot
pin 78.
As the outer end of the tripper lever 77 is lifted the inner end will be
depressed and will draw down the rod 75 causing this rod to draw the latch bar 55
downward until its hooked end 64 passes from engagement with the shoulder or
off-set 63 on the detent 61 (see Figs. XIX, XX and XXI). When the hooked
end 64 of the latch bar 65 has been withdrawn from engagement with the
shoulder 63 of the detent 61, the coil spring 59 will rock the detent 61 about its
pivot and cause the roller 62 to engage with the scalloped clutch wheel 54.
Inasmuch as the clutch wheel 54 is fastened to the constantly revolving sprocket
wheel 50, it is manifest that rotation will immediately be imparted through the
detent 61, and the disk 55 to the sprocket wheel 48 and from this sprocket
wheel revolution will be imparted by the sprocket chain 42 to the sprocket
wheels 40 upon the spindles F (see Fig. IX). It will also be seen that the
detent 61 will remain locked to the clutch wheel 54 so long as the hooked end 64
of the latch bar 65 remains in retracted position, which will be determined by
the length of time that the stud or off-set. 82 of the cam wheel C' (Fig. IV) is in
engagement with the free end of the tripper lever 77. It will also be seen that by
inserting the pin 78 in any one of the holes 80 of the tripper lever, the length of
time during which the stud or off-set 82 shall hold the tripper lever in raised
position, may be varied and consequently the time during which the clutch shall
cause the spindles F to be driven may be correspondingly varied. In this way

page_text: the number of revolutions imparted to the spindle during each revolution of the
cam wheels and may be determined and by this means the number of coils
of the small tie wires 32 about the main binding wires 33 may be varied and the
distance between the slats of the fabric may be regulated.
By reference more particularly to Figs. I, IV and VI of the drawings, it will
be seen that if the spindles are in the retracted position there shown, and a slat W
be fed in front of the spindles, and the cam wheels C' and have revolution
inparted thereto in the direction of the arrow Fig. IV, the cams will first rock
the levers D so as to cause the spindles to move from the position shown by full
lines. Figs. IV and VI, to the position shown by dotted lines, and as the spindles
are thus moved they will advance the slat W and at the same time advance any
slats that may have been previously fed into the machine. About the time that
the cams have moved the spindles to the position shown by dotted lines, the
stud or off-set 82 on the cam wheel C will rock the tripper lever 77 and the
rocking of this tripper lever will cause the latch bar 65 (see Figs. XIX-XXI)
to be disengaged from the detent 61, and the spring 59 will cause the detent 61
to engage the clutch wheel 54 and lock the constantly revolving sprocket wheel 50
with the sprocket wheel 48 and through the medium of the sprocket chain 42
revolution will be imparted to the spindles F, and the small tie wire 32 will be
wrapped around the main binding wire 33. The revolution of the spindles F will
continue until the stud or off-set 82 passes from engagement with the underside
of the tripper lever 77 when the tripper lever will again drop to the position shown
by full lines in Fig. IV, and the spring 67 will cause the hooked end 64 of the
loch bar 65 to move upward into position to engage the shoulder or off-set 63
of the detent 61 thereby rocking the detent about its pivot and causing the
roller 62 to pass from engagement with the scalloped clutch wheel 54. The
lifting of the latch bar 65 will also cause the pivoted catch 70 to move from the
position seen in Fig. XX to that seen in Fig. XXI and in this position the free
end of the latch 70 will engage with the shoulder or off-set 72 on the disk 55
and thus prevent any "back-lash or reverse motion of the parts incident to the
sudden stoppage of the spindles.
"
By reference to Figs. VI and VIII of the drawings it will be observed that
the free ends of the spindles Fare provided with vertical grooves f5 and it will
be seen that as the spindles revolve to twist the tie wires 32 around the main
binding wires 33, the tie wires will be drawn into the channels or grooves f.
These grooves or channels f³ thus serve to lay the tie wires 32 around the main
binding wires 33 evenly and prevent the piling up of the coils of the tie wire
one upon another, as would be apt to occur were no such vertical grooves between
the channels of the tie wires and binding wires provided. It is obvious that the
revolution of the spindles F and consequently the wrapping of the tie wires upon
the binding wires will continue so long as the stud or off-set 82 is in engage-
ment with the tripper lever 77 but the revolution of the spindles F will cease
As soon as
when the stud 82 passes from engagement with the tripper lever 77.
the stud or off-set 82 passes from engagement with the tripper lever 77 the cams c
will operate to rock the levers D from the position seen by dotted lines to the
position shown by full lines in Fig. IV, and the spindles F will be in like manner
retracted to the position seen by full lines in Fig. VI so that a new slat may be-fed
in front of the spindles. The parts of the machine are so relatively arranged
that the spindles F shall stop with the wires 32 and 33 in vertical alignment as
seen in Fig. VI, so that the slats can be fed into the spaces between the wires.
The mechanism whereby the automatic feeding of the slats is effected will next
be described: At the top and extending to one side of the main frame is a suit-
able rack or hopper wherein will be held the slats W to be fed into the machine.
This rack or hopper comprises a base or support H (see Figs. I, II, XI, XII and
XIII) that may be formed from a beam of wood suitably bolted to the main
frame and in the construction shown this beam H extends inward partially over
the main frame. The sides of the hopper are preferably formed of vertical rods V,

page_text: the rods at one side having their tops preferably bent or flared as at v (see Fig. 1),
so as to permit the more ready insertion of the slats W into the hopper. The
end of the hopper is shown as comprising a plate M that rises from the support H
of the hopper (see Figs. II and XXIII). The bottom of the plate M is formed
with an opening m to permit the slats to be fed from the hopper and preferably
a suitable gate M will be placed inside the hopper adjacent this opening in order
to regulate the size of the opening in conforinity to the thickness of the slats
that are fed into the machine. The gate will be adjustably attached in the usual
manner to the inner face of the plate M.
On top of the main frame at the side opposite the slat hopper is placed a slat
support 90 that is bolted to the top of the main frame, the upper surface of this
support 90 being in line with the top of the support H, as clearly seen in Fig. 11.
From the surface of the support 90 rises a ledge 91 (see Figs. II and XXIII)
that serves as a stop or guide for the ends of the slats W. From the top of the
supports H and 90 extends the table 93, the surface of which is flush with the
upper surface of the supports H and 90, this table 93 being sustained by the side
rails 94 (see Figs. XXIII and XXV), that rest upon the top frame of the machine
and upon a suitable cross-bar 95 that is sustained by the legs 96 (see Fig. XXIV).
At each side of the top of the table 93 and running lengthwise thereof is placed
a rabetted guide 97 beneath which the ends of the slats will pass and which
serves to hold the slats against the surface of the table as they are successively
pushed along (see Figs. VI, XXIII and XXIV). The upper surface of each of
the supports H and 90 is provided with a raised shoulder (see Figs. XXIII and
XXVI) to aid in guiding the slats as they are delivered from the hopper into
the machine.
Above the surface of the support 90 and of that part of the support H
extending over the top of the main frame (see Figs. I and II) is
a presser bar K, one end of which is provided with a spring latch
adapted to engage with the notch or seat in the end plate M
of the slat hopper or rack. The opposite end of the presser bar K is formed
with a slot 2 adapted to receive a retaining bolt 100 that is pivoted as at 101
to the support 90 and is provided with an adjusting nut 102, a spring 103
and a washer 104 whereby the pressure of the bar K may be regulated. The end of
the bar is rounded as seen in Fig. II so that the retaining bolt 100 can be
swung freely into and out of engagement with the bar and when the bolt 100 is
disengaged from the bar, the bar can be raised so as to permit the spring latch k
to be withdrawn from the notch or seat in order that access may be had to the
underlying parts of the machine.
By reference more particularly to Figs. II, XI and XII of the drawings it will
be seen that the support H is formed with a long channel 2 adjacent the inner end
of which is journaled a sprocket wheel 110 and at the outer end of the support H and
preferably extending within the channel 2 are the arms of a bracket 112 that
sustains a sprocket wheel 113. The bracket 112 has its arms provided with the
long slots 114 through which pass the bolts 115, suitable space blocks 116 being
carried by the bolts so that the bolts will serve to securely hold the bracket in place.
The long slots 114 permit the adjustment of the bracket 112 and sprocket wheel 113
for the purpose to be presently stated, and preferably also the sprocket wheel 110
may be adjusted by inserting its pivot bolt in either of the several holes therefor,
as shown in Fig. XII. Within the channel 2 of the support H is mounted a
shifting table L that is mounted upon swinging links L', the lower ends of these
links being pivoted as at 118 to the support H, while the upper ends of the links
are pivoted as at 119 to the table L (see Figs. II, XI and XII). One of the
links L is preferably provided with a handle L2 whereby the shifting of the
table I may be effected manually when desired. Over the sprocket wheels 110
and 113 and around a sprocket wheel 120 that is keyed upon the main drive shaft B
passes a sprocket feed chain 121 that carries one or more feed dogs O. Each of
these dogs O is pivoted to upright arms 122 that rise from certain links of the

page_text: chain 121 (see Figs. XIV and XV), and preferably the dogs are formed with
the slots o through which pass the ends of a pin 124 that serves to retain the corre-
sponding dog against displacement. Each of the dogs is preferably chambered
as seen in Fig. XV and is formed with feet or ledges o adapted to ride upon the
surface of the table L (Fig. XI). The top of each dog O is formed with a
shoulder o adapted to engage with the outer end of the lowermost slat W within
the hopper. By reference to Figs. XI, XXIII and XXV, it will be seen that upon
the top of the support H are placed the metal strips 130 that serve to partially close
the channel of the support H, leaving simply room for the easy passage of the
shouldered portion of the dog 0 and upon the plates 130 the mass of slats W
will rest.
From the foregoing description it will be seen that when revolution is imparted
to the main drive shaft B (see Fig. II) corresponding revolution will be given to
the sprocket wheels 110 and 113 over which passes the feed chain 121, thus
causing the dogs to move in the direction of the arrow, Fig. II and over the
table L which normally occupies the position shown by full lines in the drawings.
As the dogs O successively pass onto the outer end of the table L the shoulders o³
of the dogs will engage the outer end of the lowermost slat W, thereby forcing this
slat through the opening m of the hopper and across the surface of the supports H
and 90 as clearly shown in Figs. II and XI of the drawings. As the dogs (pass
onto the table L, the feet 2 of the dogs will bear upon the table, thus holding
the dogs in the elevated position seen in Fig. XV of the drawings. As soon,
however, as the feet o² of the dogs pass from off the inner end of the table L, the
weight of the dogs will cause them to turn about their pivots and the shoulders o
to drop from engagement with the slat W. In this way each slat can be deposited
with exactness at the proper point in front of the spindles F. If desired, the inner
end of the table L may have an adjustable plate thereon in order to vary the point
at which the dog shall release the slats. It will be understood of course that the
dogs will be set at such points that the slats W will be delivered into the
machine while the spindles F are in the retracted position shown by full lines in
Figs. I, II, VI and XXIII of the drawings, and the sprocket wheel 120 will be of
proper size and the chain 121 of proper length to insure the movement of the dogs
in correspondence with the movements of the spindles.
After a slat has been delivered by one of the dogs O immediately in front of the
spindles F, as shown by full lines in Figs. II and VI, and by dotted lines in
Fig. XXIII, the spindles will be advanced by the cam wheels C and C2 thereby
moving the slat onward and at the same time pushing onward all slats that have
been previously fed into the machine. It will be understood of course that as the
dogs O introduce the slats into the machine the ends of the slats will pass between
the large and small wires, as clearly seen in Fig. VI of the drawings. When the
spindles F have advanced the slats, revolution will be imparted to the spindles,
as hereinbefore described, causing the small wire 32 to be wrapped about the large
wire 33 with the proper number of coils, after which the spindles F will be with-
drawn and a new slat will be fed in.
The machine shown in the accompanying drawings, while adapted for the manu-
facture of slat-and-wire fabric for any of the purposes for which such fabric is
ordinarily employed, is more especially designed for manufacturing the fabric to
be used for the bodies of barrels, and in order to properly croze or trim the ends of
the slats, the mechanism next to be described is employed: Across the main
frame of the machine and preferably supported upon pillow blocks 140 mounted
upon the ends of the side rails 94, extends the shaft P carrying cutter-heads P¹
that are provided with suitable knives adapted to form the croze and shape the
ends of the slats to form the chime of the barrel. The cutter-heads P¹ will be
of any usual or suitable construction and need not be particularly described. Upon
the outer end of the shaft P is a pulley 142 from which leads a belt 143 to the
large pulley 6 that is keved to the shaft 4 (see Figs. I, V and XXIV). Above the
cutter-heads P extend the hoods 145 preferably of sheet-metal and partially

page_text: encircling the cutter-heads, and preferably the supports H and 90 will be formed
with cut-away spaces 146 for the discharge of the chips from the cutter-heads (see
Fig. XXIII). One of the hoods 145 is shown as attached to the presser bar K
(see Figs. I and XXIV) while the other hood 145 is provided with a flange that
will be connected to the plate M of the hopper (see Fig. II).
While the construction of the cutter-heads is not novel, the arrangement of
cutter-heads so that the crozing of the slats will be substantially effected before
the twisting of the wires, is a feature of importance. In machines heretofore
used for the manufacture of slat-and-wire fabric for barrels, it has been customary
to locate the cutter-heads in such position as to croze and trim the slats after the
twisters or spindles had operated to bind the slats together. This construction
has been found objectionable because of the tendency of the cutter-heads to jamb
the slats together and thus destroy the accurate spacing of the slats. By locating
the cutter-heads in such position that the erozing of the slats is completed or
approximately so, before the wires are twisted about the slats, all danger of jamb-
ing the slats together or varying the spaces between them is avoided. For this
reason it will be seen by reference more particularly to Fig. VI of the drawings,
that the spindles F have such extent of movement that they will advance the slats
practically beyond the path of the cutter-heads before the twisting of the wires
occurs.
In order to aid the spindles F in advancing the slats beneath the cutter-heads,
it is preferred to employ the feed arms R and R' (see Figs. I and XXIII), the
outer ends of these arms being connected to the drive bar E, while their inner ends
extend over the frame 17; and between the presser bar K and the surface of the
supports 90 and H whereon they rest and are supported in manner free to slide.
Preferably the inner ends of the bars R and R are formed with the angular
portions to afford a broader bearing upon the edges of the slats, and pins 2
may be provided to aid in guiding the bars R, R¹. The bars R, R are so located
as to bear upon the edges of the slats very close to the path of the cutter-heads Pi
and thus more effectively aid in presenting the slats to the action of the cuntter.
heads. Across the top of the main frame beyond the cutter-heads is extended a
bar 150 to which is bolted the presser feet 151 that are preferably formed of
spring metal with their free ends slightly upturned as seen in Figs. I and XXIV,
to permit the slats W to be advanced beneath the presser feet. These presser
feet are arranged in close proximity to the cutter-heads and serve to hold the
slats down during the grozing operation and will also aid in preventing any reverse
movement of the slats as the spindles are retracted.
as for
In order to divide the woven $6
"
mat
or fabric into proper lengths to form barrels
or like packages, the mechanism next to be described is preferably employed.
Upon suitable rods 160 that are supported in any convenient manner.
example by the frame 17 at one end and a bar 161 depending from the table 93
at the other end (see Figs. XXIII and XXVII), is mounted in manner free to
slide what for convenience are termed the "dummies" S and S₁ (see Figs. XXVII
-XXIX. At each side of the dummies S. S¹ are arranged the hubs 162 of the
"dummy-frame"; the side bars 163 of this frame being connected by a web or
plate 164. Upon pins 165 that extend between the side bars 163 of the "dummy-
frame" are pivotally mounted the levers 166. the lower portions of these levers
being provided with teeth 167 that mesh with corresponding teeth 168 formed
upon the lower portions of the " dummies" S, S¹. The dummies S, S¹, it
"
will be understood, are free not only to slide on the rods 160 but are also pivoted
upon these rods so as to turn from the position seen in Fig. XXVIII to the
position seen in Fig. XXIX of the drawings. To one side of the dummy-frame is
connected a rope or cable 170 (see Figs. I. III, IV. XXIII and XXVII), that is
trained over a mulley 171 at the front of the main frame, and to this rone 170 is
connected a weight 172 that serves to normally hold the "dummies" in the idle
position shown in Figs. XXIII and XXVII of the drawings. Preferably, cushion
springs 174 will be mounted upon the rods 160 in order to relieve the jar as the

page_text: dummy-frame is retracted by the weight 172, as will presently more fully
The "
appear.
dummies" S, S¹ will come into action only at such times as the slat-
feeding mechanism is thrown out of action and when the "dummies" S, S¹ are
thrown into action they will (if the form of the invention above described is
followed) swing from the position seen in Fig. XXVIII to the position seen in
Fig. XXIX, at which time the blades s upon the free ends of the
"
"
23
dummies
will pass between the small tie-wires 32 and the large binding-wires 33. The
dunimies will assume the position seen in Fig. XXIX just before the spindles F
advance and as the spindles advance, the "dummies" will be pushed forward
upon the rods 160 in the same manner as the slats are pushed forward by the
spindles. So also the spindles will wrap the small tie-wires around the main
binding-wires at the sides of the "dummies" and as succeeding slats are fed into
the machine and advanced, the "dummies" S, S₁ will be moved along the rods 160
until the outer edges of the "dummies" contact with the inclined bars 180 (see
Fig. XXIII) beneath the table 93. A's the "dummies" S, S¹ are pushed outward
after contacting with the inclined releasing bars 180, they will be turned inward
from the position seen in Fig. XXIX to the position seen in Fig. XXVIII,
in which fatter position they will be free from engagement with the slats and
wire and will be promptly retracted to the normal position shown in Fig. XXIII
by the weight 172 and cable 170.
<<
"
"
In order to throw the slat-feeding mechanism out of action and the dummies
S, S' into action at the proper time, the mechanism next to be described
may be employed: Over the levers 166 (see Figs. XXIII, XXIV, XXVIII
and XXIX) extends a "dummy-shifting" bar or lever T the body of which bar T
is pivoted as at t in suitable hangers beneath the table 93. By reference to
Figs. XXIII and XXIV, it will be seen that the end portion T of the "dummy"
shifting bar is held at a higher plane than the body the bar and about on a
line with the upper surface of the table 93, the table 93 being formed with a cut-
away space as seen in Fig. XXIII, in order to permit the movement of the
dummy-shifting bar. Upon the outer or rear end of the dummy-shifting bar
is adjustably mounted as at 190, a bar 191 to the free end of which is pivotally
connected as at 192 a pivoted trip lever 193. The lower end of this trip lever is
connected to the inner end of a coil spring 194, the opposite end of this spring
being suitably connected as at 195 to the cross bar 95 at the outer end of the
table 93. To the lower end of the trip lever 193 is also connected a rod 196 that
is formed of sections adjustably connected together by means of a bolt 197 fixed to
one of the sections of the rod and passing through a slot 198 in the other section
(see Fig. XXVI). The inner end of the rod 196 is connected to an elbow lever U
(see dotted lines Fig. XXIII), that is pivotally sustained beneath the table 93,
the opposite end of this elbow lever being connected by a rod u with a pine that
is attached to the table L (see Figs. XII and XIII) and projects through a curved
slot y formed in the side of the support H: The rear end of the table 93 is
formed with a slot 199 to admit the tripper lever 193 that is connected to the
opposite end of this bar will bear against the underside of the slats W and will
be held in position shown by full lines Fig. XXIV against the strain of the coil
spring 194. It will be understood of course that in the beginning of the operation
of the machine the tripper lever 193 will be held in position by merely slipping a
slat beneath the guides 97 and over the free end of the tripper lever, but after
sufficient slats have been woven the tripper lever will be automatically held in the
position seen.
When a sufficient number of slats have been delivered to the machine to form
the body of a barrel, the operator will with his hand remove from above the free
end of the tripper lever 193 the slat temporarily placed there, thereby permitting
the tripper lever to be drawn by the coil spring 194 to the position seen by
dotted lines in Fig. XXIV. As the tripper lever is thus shifted it will shift
the rod 196 connected to its lower end and through the medium of the elbow

page_text: lever U (Fig. XXIII) and rod u will swing backward and downward the table L.
Consequently when the next feed dog O passes onto the table its shoulder of
will not rise above the slot in the bottom of the hopper and consequently will
not engage the lowermost slat W of the hopper. Hence it will be seen that the
feed mechanism will at such time be thrown out of action. The upward move-
ment of the tripper lever 193 will also permit the "dummy-shifting" bar T, T
to rock about its pivot point causing the section T of the bar to press downward
on the levers 166 and thereby rock these levers and the "dummies" S, S¹ from
the position seen in Fig. XXVIII to that seen in Fig. XXIX of the drawings. The
spindles F will then be advanced in manner hereinbefore described and will
move outward the "dummies" S, S¹ and thereafter will wrap the small wire 32
about the larger wire 33 as set forth. As the "dummies" are thus moved
outward the fabric that has been woven will also be moved outward and the
tripper lever 193 will be forced from the position seen in dotted lines to the
position shown in full lines by Fig. XXIV of the drawings, and at the same
time the "dummy-shifting" bar T, T will be rocked back to the position shown
by full lines in the drawings thereby lifting the end T of this bar away from
the levers 166. As the dummies S, Sride against the inclined releasing
bars 180 (Fig. XXIII), the "dummies" will be turned inward until they are
disengaged from the wires and slats after which the weight 172 and rope 170
will withdraw the dummies to the position shown in Fig. XXIII of the
drawings and the "dummies" will occupy this position until the open space in
the "mat" or fabric is advanced by the feeding in of the slats, to a point above
the tripper lever 193, when the dummies will again be thrown into action.
"
It is manifest that the details of construction above set out may be varied
within wide limits without departing from the spirit of the invention and that
certain of the features may be employed without the adoption of the invention
as an entirety.
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. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with one or more
revoluble spindles or twister heads mounted in manner free to reciprocate, of
mechanism for operating said spindles comprising a cam shaft, grooved cany
mechanism upon said shaft, lever mechanism engaged by said grooved cam
mechanism and operatively connected with said spindles to reciprocate the same,
suitable gearing engaging said spindles to revolve the same, a clutch mechanism.
for controling the revolution of said spindles and means for automatically throw-
ing said clutch mechanism into and out of action.
2. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with one or more
revoluble spindles or twister heads mounted in manner free to reciprocate, of
mechanism for operating said spindles comprising a cam shaft, cam mechanism
upon said shaft, lever mechanism engaged by said cam mechanism and operatively
connected with said spindles to reciprocate the same, suitable gearing engaging
said spindles to revolve the same, a clutch mechanism for determining the extent
of revolution of said spindles and an adjustable tripper lever for throwing said
clutch mechanism out of action and a suitable revoluble part engaging said tripper
lever to shift the same.
3. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a main frame,
of a drive shaft extending lengthwise of said frame, a cam shaft extending
transversely of said frame and suitably geared to said drive shaft, cam. mechanism
upon said cam shaft, one or more revoluble and reciprocating spindles mounted
upon the main frame, lever mechanism operatively connecting said cam mechanism
and said spindles whereby said spindles are reciprocated and gea mechanism
connecting the main drive shaft with the spindles whereby revolution is imparted
to said spindles.
4. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with one or more

page_text: spindles or twister heads, of means for feeding slats in front of said spindles or
twister heads comprising a feed device adapted to engage the end of a slat and
means for shifting said feed device before it reaches the end of said slat to prevent
its engagement with the end of said slat.
5. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with one or more
spindles or twister heads, of mechanism for feeding slats in front of said spindles
or twister heads comprising a feed chain and means for driving the same, a dog
mounted upon said feed chain for engaging the ends of the slats and means for
shifting the dog to prevent its engagement with the slats.
6. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with one or more
spindles or twister heads, of means for feeding slats in front of said spindles or
twister heads comprising a rack for the slats, a feed chain extending beneath the
bottom of said rack, a feed dog carried by said chain and a table beneath said
rack and over which said chain and dog travel, said table. being shiftable to
prevent the engagement of the dog with the lowermost slat.
7. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with one or more
spindles or twister heads, of means for feeding slats in front of said spindles or
twister heads comprising a rack for supporting the slats, a feed chain arranged
to travel beneath said rack and provided with a dog to engage the lowermost slat
within said rack and an adjustable sprocket wheel for said feed chain.
8. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with one or more
spindles or twister heads, of a feed device for automatically advancing the slats
in front of the spindles or twister heads, suitable means whereby the series of
slats are advanced after they have been connected with the wires by said spindles,
mechanism for shifting said feed device to prevent its engagement with the
fabric and
slats, and suitable tripper mechanism engaging with the woven
arranged in position to pass through said fabric and in so doing to actuate the
mechanism whereby the feed device is shifted.
9. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with one or more
spindles or twister heads and with mechanism for feeding slats in front of said
spindles or twister heads, of mechanism for advancing the woven fabric, mechan-
ism for automatically throwing the slat feeding mechanism out of action, and a
suitable dummy or spacing mechanism aranged to pass in front of the spindles or
twister heads when the slat feeding mechanism is thrown out of action and thereby
form an opening in the fabric.
10. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with one or more
spindles or twister heads whereby wires are bound around slats to form a fabric,
of a dummy or spacing mechanism and means for inserting and withdrawing
said dummy or spacing mechanism into and from the fabric at the points where
the slats have been omitted.
11. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with one or more
spindles or twister heads whereby wires are bound around slats to form a fabric,
of a dummy or spacing mechanism movable in the direction of the length of
the slats and at right angles thereto, means for inserting and withdrawing said
dummy or spacing mechanism into and from the fabric at the points where
the slats have been omitted, mechanism for automatically feeding the slats in
front of the spindles or twister heads, and means for throwing said slat-feeding
mechanism out of operation when said dummy or spacing mechanism is to be
thrown into action.
12. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with one or more
spindles or twister heads whereby wires are bound around slats to form a fabric,
of a dummy or spacing mechanism and means for inserting and withdrawing said
dummy or spacing mechanism into and from the fabric at points where slats
have been omitted, said dummy or spacing mechanism comprising pivoted arms
or parts adapted to swing in the direction of the length of the slats and being
mounted to move with the fabric transversely to the direction of the length of
the slats.

page_text: 13. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with suitable
spindles or twister heads whereby wires are bound around slats to form a fabric,
of a dummy or spacing mechanism, means for inserting and withdrawing said
dummy or spacing mechanism into and from the fabric at points where slats have
been omitted, said dummy or spacing mechanism comprising two pivoted arms
each furnished with a blade or head adapted to enter between the wires that
issue from the adjacent spindle, and means whereby said arms may be simul-
taneously shifted.
14. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with one or more
spindles or twister heads whereby wires are bound around slats to form a fabric,
of a dummy or spacing mechanism, means for inserting and withdrawing said
dummy or spacing mechanism into and from the fabric at points where slats
have been omitted, said dummy or spacing mechanism comprising one or more
arms each having a part adapted to pass between the wires that issue from the
spindles or twister heads, suitable supports for said arms and whereon they are
free to slide and means for retracting said arms towards the front of the machine
after they have been withdrawn from the fabric.
15. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with one or more
spindles or twister heads whereby wires are bound around slats to form a fabric,
of a dummy or spacing mechanism and means for moving said dummy or spacing
mechanism between the slats of the fabric, comprising a tripper bearing against
the fabric and adapted to pass into the open spaces thereof, said tripper being
suitably engaged with the dummy or spacing mechanism whereby when one of
the open spaces of said fabric comes opposite said tripper the dummy or spacing
mechanism will be thrown into the fabric.
16. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with one or more
spindles or twister heads whereby wires are bound around slats to form a fabric,
of a dummy or spacing mechanism and means for moving said dummy or spacing
mechanism between the slats of the fabric, comprising a lever mechanism engag-
ing said dummy or spacing mechanism, said lever mechanism being provided
at one end with a part engaging the dummy or spacing mechanism and being
provided at its opposite end with an upwardly extending part adapted to bear
against the under side of the fabric and to enter open spaces of said fabric
whereby when an open space of the fabric comes opposite the part of said lever
mechanism bearing against the fabric, the dummy or spacing mechanism will
be thrown into action.
17. An apparatus of the character described, the combination with one or more
spindles or twister heads whereby wires are bound, around slats to form a fabric,
of a dummy or spacing mechanism comprising arms adapted to be moved in
front of the spindles and mounted in manner free to slide back and forth in the
direction of movement of the spindles, means for moving said dummy or spacing
mechanism in front of the spindles and into the plane of the slats being woven
-and means for moving said dummy or spacing mechanism beneath the plane of
the woven slats, and means for retracting the dummy to its initial position when
it has been shifted entirely below the plane of the slats.
Dated at Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, United States of America, this
Thirty-first day of October AD 1900
Witnesses;
JAMES H. PEIRCE,
ALBERTA ADAMICK.
GEORGE PURNELL FISHER, JUNIOR.
JOSEPH REIF, JUNIOR.
F. Wise Howorth,
Agent for the Applicants.