Improvements in Cloth-shearing Machinery.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Feb., 1890-Accepted, 3rd May, 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cloth-shearing Machinery.
I, ERNST GESSNER, Junior, of the Town of Aue, in the Kingdom of Saxony,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my said 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 relates to machinery employed for shearing the nap upon cloth, which
is effected by means of a cutting cylinder with spiral knives acting in combination.
with a straight knife, upon a stationary bed or rest, over which the cloth passes. In
attending to a shearing machine it is necessary to lift the cutting cylinder clear of the
fabric when the seam or joint that is where the ends of the cloth are stitched together
is passing over the rest, to prevent damage. This, of course, requires a constant
personal attention.
The present invention has for its object to provide means whereby the cutting
cylinder is lifted automatically while the seam of the cloth is passing over the rest,
or to automatically stop the movement of the cloth, or the motion of the whole
machine when the seam approaches the cylinder, which enables the attendant to leave
the machine without danger of damage being done.
The first part of my invention relates to improvements in apparatus used for
automatically lifting the cutting cylinder, for which Letters Patent were granted
No. 2932 of November 7th, 1870, to John Clayton of Bradford. According to this
said Patent it is suggested to lift the cutting roller by means of a cam affixed to a
roller which is flattened on one side and covered with cards or teeth on the round
part of its surface, the said roller being arranged in position so that the cards or
teeth are caught or taken hold of by the seam of the cloth, whereby the roller is caused
to be rotated by the cloth, and by means of the cam fixed to the roller the cutting
cylinder is lifted until the flattened part of the roller is turned round, so that the
cloth ceases to turn it, whereupon the roller is stopped and held in position again.
As the fabric passes over the said roller in the line of a tangent without touching
it, until the teeth of the cards are caught by the seam, it is obvious, that there is only
little contact between the cloth and the cards, and consequently in order to exert the
power required for lifting the cutting cylinder, the teeth catching into the cloth are
subjected to a great strain which will damage the cloth, while on the other hand the
action of the whole mechanism is unsafe and not to be relied upon.
Now the object of my invention is to overcome this difficulty by passing the fabric
for a certain distance round the said roller, instead of passing it over the saine in the
line of a tangent, so as to cover a part of its circumference by the cloth, which is
sufficient to take proper hold of the cloth and to effect the lifting of the cutting roller
with perfect security. In order to attain this object I allow the cloth to glide over
the smooth part of the roller, that is the part which is not covered with cards, while
the roller is held in position, and for this purpose 1 prefer to use a roller which is
round on its whole circumference instead of being flattened at one side as in the above
named Patent.
I prefer to hold the roller in position by means of a weight or spring acting upon
a catch, which fits into a notch on the roller. In my invention the roller receives a
tendency to turn round while being held in position, by the cloth passing over the
smooth part of the same. For this reason the said roller can be started to rotate by
being simply released, that is, by drawing the aforementioned catch out of its notch.
In the accompanying drawing I have represented a modification whereby the said
roller is started by means of a feeler which consists of a rail or blade extending from
end to end of the machine attached to a movable arm or lever at both ends, and held
in position tightly against the cloth passing over the roller, so as to be lifted when the

page_text: seam of the cloth is brought in contact with it thus causing the catch to be drawn out
of its notch.
I will now refer to another part of my invention which in principle is different
from the above-named Patent. Its main features are, means for lifting the cutting
cylinder, a driving device having a continuous motion, and a feeler held in contact or
close proximity with the travelling cloth, so as to be moved by the seam or any other
unevenness of the cloth, causing by such movement, the said means for lifting the said
cutting cylinder to be connected to the said driving device so as to receive motion
from the same for the purpose of lifting the cutting cylinder, while the seam passes
over the rest, whereupon both parts are again disconnected.
I am fully aware that the combination of means and devices used for carrying out
this part of my invention can be varied to a great extent, as will be evident to any
skilled mechanic, without departing from the nature of my said invention, that is, so
long as the before named features of my invention are retained. I, therefore, do
not limit myself to any particular device or to the device represented in the accom-
panying drawings.
I prefer to lift the cutting cylinder by a simple cam or crank motion. In one.
Figure I show means whereby motion is imparted to a lifting cam through the action
of a feeler, from a roller covered with cards and being continuously driven by the
travelling cloth passing over it.
A great tension arises in the travelling cloth between the drawing roller of the
machine and the said card-clad roller during the lifting of the cutting cylinder owing
to the weight of the said cutting cylinder which in many cases will prove to be
objectionable.
I therefore employ means whereby the cylinder is lifted by means of a positive
power independent of the tension of the cloth. My invention is applicable to machines
in which several cylinders are employed, so that each cylinder may be supplied with
a feeler device and lifting mechanism, or one device may be used for lifting a number
of cylinders, either simultaneously or successively. There are machines in which the
rest is moved instead of the cylinder; it is self-evident that my invention can also be
used to move the rest instead of the cylinder to serve the same purpose.
It will in
no way alter the features of my invention whether the rest is arranged above or
laterally to the cylinder instead of below the same. The invention can be applied to
any system of cloth shearing machines, or to old machines at present in use.
The third part of my invention comprises a feeler which is moved by the seam of
the cloth approaching the cutting cylinder, and acting in combination with means
whereby the drawing roller is set out of action to stop the movement of the cloth, or
whereby the motion of the whole machine is stopped. In the accompanying drawings
.I illustrate a few examples how a feeler device may be employed to act in combination
with the ordinary stop-motion of the machine. However with regard to the fact
that there is a great variety of different stop motions used in practice for different
machines, which might as well be employed in a shearing machine so as to act in
combination with a feeler to attain the same result, I cannot limit myself to any
particular construction of the stop-motion.
In order to give notice to the attendant when the seam of the cloth is approaching
or passing over the rest I employ an electric hell or signalling device or apparatus,
or a gauge to show by means of an index hand or pointer when the seam has
passed. The form of the feeler and the arrangement of parts used for communicating
motion from the feeler to a device for lifting the cutting cylinder, or to a stop-
motion may be subject to various modifications without departing from the nature
of my invention. In some cases I prefer to communicate motion by means of
an electric device and in combination with the feeler, so that by the movement of the
feeler the electric circuit is closed or broken to act by means of an electro-magnet
upon a device for lifting the cutting cylinder or upon a stop-motion.
In the drawings accompanying this specification, Figures 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 represent
the elevations of mechanisms by means of which the shearing cylinder or cylinders is
or are raised by the approaching seam, said cylinder or cylinders falling immediately

page_text: back into its or their original position as soon as the seam has passed under the
same.
Figures 6 and 7 represent in elevation and vertical section a mechanism, by means
of which the edge of the rest nearest to the shearing cylinder and over which the
cloth moves is turned on its journals so far to the side that the edge recedes from the
shearing cylinder whereby the seam is enabled to pass the said shearing cylinder
without coming too near the same.
Figure 8 represents an arrangement in which the two shearing cylinders which
have their bearings in the ends of two double armed levers are simultaneously lifted
from the shearing rest or table.
Figure 9 represents a machine with several shearing cylinders which are
successively raised or lifted by cams fixed to a shaft according to the travelling of
the same.
Figure 10 represents a similar machine in which the shearing table or rest is raised
from the fixed shearing cylinders in like manner as described in reference to the
cylinders represented in Figure 6.
Figure 11 represents a device in which several shearing cylinders are successively
raised from their shearing tables or rests according to the advancing movement
of the seam by means of an endless band provided with an appropriate cam or
tappet.
Figures 12, 13 and 14 represent a machine in which a rotary claw coupling is
brought into gear by the cloth seam and the shearing cylinder being lifted.
Figures 15, 16 and 17 represent a machine in which the cloth seam operates a lever
50 as to close an electric current, thus bringing the claw coupling into gear and
raising the shearing cylinder, Figure 17 being the elevation of a feeler arranged on
its grooved shaft.
Figure 18 represents a modification of the device for lifting the shearing cylinder
shown in Figure 9.
Figures 19, 20 and 21 represent a device in which the approaching of the seam
towards the shearing cylinder causes the driving strap to be removed from the fixed
on to the loose drum and thus causes the machine to stand still.
Figures 22 and 23 show a device by means of which the cloth seam causes a
simultaneous stopping of the machine and a slight lifting of the shearing cylinder.
Figure 24 represents an arrangement for stopping the shearing machine by releasing
the claw coupling.
According to Figure 25 the sea sets an electric bell, and in Figure 26 a
mechanical bell signal in operation for calling the workinan.
Figure 27 represents an arrangement of a shaft as feeler which is firmly connected
to a lever acting on a pawl, which, when it comes into gear with the ratchet wheel
will either stop the machine or lift the shearing cylinder.
Figure 28 represents the employment of a card roller as feeler the movement of
which by means of the seam of the cloth causes an electric circuit to be closed, said
circuit being capable of being employed with the device shown in Figure 27.
Figure 29 represents the employment of an ordinary dust apron of sheet metal, as
feeler.
Figure 30 represents in top view and cross section a special construction of
feeler.
Figures 31, 32 and 33 represent a modification in which the sloth seam sets a
mechanism in operation by means of which the shearing cylinder can be lifted and
also the machine be stopped.
Figures 34, 35 and 36 are modifications of the mechanism, shown in Figures 31
to 33.
Figure 37 represents a modification by means of which the cloth seam comes into
contact with a card roller the rotation of which causes a lifting of the shearing
cylinder. Like parts are denoted by similar letters in all the figures, the direction in
which the parts move being indicated by arrows.
D, Figure 1, is a roller partially clad with cards. A spring ; attached to the

page_text: frame A gears into a recess n in the periphery of the roller so as to retain the same
in correct position. a is a rail fixed to the roller D immediately beside the card
covering to said roller. Before the cloth reaches the shearing cylinder it passes over
a smooth unclad part of the roller D. The rail is arranged in close proximity to the
shaft or roller F between which the cloth to be sheared passes.
As soon as the seam of the cloth strikes against the rail a the roller D is carried
round ont of the position in which it was held by the spring ; by the teeth of the
card or cards penetrating the cloth, until the uncovered part of the roller again comes
in contact with the cloth and the spring snaps into the recess n in the roller D so as
to stop the further movement of the said roller.
A cam c is attached to the journal D of the roller D which, when the latter is
rotated, comes in contact with a sliding bolt E on which the point of the adjusting
screw of the shearing cylinder C rests and causes the raising of the shearing
cylinder, whilst the seam of the cloth passes over the shearing table or rest B.
Instead of the rail a appropriate hooks or pins can be employed for a like purpose.
Figure 2 represents another manner of causing the roller D to rotate so that the
same during and after passing the seam will make one revolution. The moving cloth
glides under tension over the smooth part of the roller D and gives this the tendency
to rotate. The feeler F consists of a sharpened or toothed rail attached by means
of a thumb screw or other attaching device to a lever arm L so as to lay against the
cloth passing over the roller D. This lever arm L is provided with a projecting
nose n which fits into a corresponding recess in a ring, connected to the roller D
or made of one piece with the same, so as to prevent the said roller D from rotating.
As soon as the seam of the cloth comes in contact with the edge of the feeler F
the arin will be caused to rise, the nose n¹ will be lifted out of the recess in the ring z
and the roller D set in rotation, whereupon that part of the roller D clad with cards
comes into contact with the cloth and produces friction or hold enough to cause the
roller D to turn with the movement of the cloth and thus by means of a cam or an
eccentric on the journal D' of the roller D attain a lifting of the shearing cylinder C
as represented in Figure 1. In order to facilitate the rotation of the roller D the
same can be weighted on the one side.
As soon as the feeler F has been lifted a certain height, as represented by the
dotted lines, the seam will be released and the feeler F falls by its own weight into
its position of rest; in the meantime the roller D continues to rotate until the nose n¹
of the arm L again falls into the recess in the ring z and stops the roller. The
feeler rail can be moved upwards when the cloth is being drawn into the machine
before the shearing commences, as shown by dotted lines.
Figure 3 represents a modification in which the sharp edge of the feeler rail F
lies snugly against the rounded surface of the frame A or a roller serving the like
purpose and between which the cloth must pass. The feeler rail is connected by
means of a thumb screw or its equivalent to the end of a two-armed lever L and
can be thrown back when the cloth is inserted. When the seam of the cloth comes
against the rail F the latter and also the end of the lever L connected to the same
will be raised above the rounded surface h, as shown by the dotted lines, whereupon
this rail F is released and falls back into its original position.
On the shaft G, which is driven by means of a chain running over the chain
wheel u, is fixed a ratchet wheel m, whereas the cam c is loosely arranged on the
said shaft. This cam c carries a two-armed pawl i, which is kept out of gear with
the ratchet wheel m by one of the arms of the two-armed lever L. The shearing
cylinder has its bearings in angle levers H, the lower arm of which is provided with
an anti-friction roller held in snug contact with the periphery of the cam c.
as the feeler rail F and the end of the lever L to which it is connected are raised, the
other arm of the lever is depressed and releases the tail end of the pawl i, so that
the hooked end immediately gears into the toothing of the wheel m and connects
the cam c to the wheel m, so that the cam c is made to rotate with the wheel in.
As soon
During the revolution of the cam c the same will operate against the roller o of
the angle lever H and lift the shearing cylinder C, so that the seam can readily pass

page_text: between the same and the, table or rest B.
When the cam c has almost completed
one revolution the tail end of the pawl i comes in contact with the arm L' of the
lever L so that the said pawl is released from its gear with the ratchet wheel m and
the movement of the cam c stopped.
Figure 4 represents a device for a machine with the shearing cylinders, one
arranged behind the other, said shearing cylinder being successively lifted to allow the
seam to pass. The same kind of feeler F is used as shown in Figure 3, and also the
same kind of pawl i, ratchet wheel in and spring e.
The ratchet wheel'm and the cam disc c are loosely arranged on a stationary bolt G,
the ratchet wheel receiving its motion from the worm wheel r fixed to the same and
into which the worm w gears. The two-armed pawl lies with its one end against
the lower end of a rod d which is lifted by means of the lever L carrying the feeler F.
The cam disc c is set in rotation and stopped by means of the ratchet wheel and
pawl, as described in reference to Figure 3, the speed being so arranged that the
ratchet wheel m and cam disc c make one revolution during the time that the seam
passes over the three shearing tables or rests. The levers Z, Z2 and Z³ carrying the
rollers o and the lifting rods T for the shearing cylinders lay with their rollers o on
the cam disc c, Figures 4 and 5, which is provided with the requisite cam sur-
faces,,, by means of which the three levers 7, 73, Z³, and the three rods T
supporting the shearing cylinders C, and the latter themselves are successively raised
to allow the seam to pass the three tables or rests during one revolution of the cam
disc c.
fis a brake which presses against the disc c for immediately arresting the movement
of the cam disc as soon as the pawl i is brought out of gear with the ratchet wheel m.
Figure 6 represents my invention applied to a system in which the shearing tables
or rests are made adjustable whilst the shearing cylinders are arranged in fixed
bearings. The journals B' of the shearing tables or rests B carry arms H¹, which
are connected to the levers Z by means of suitable rods T'. A disc c which is afore-
described makes one revolution as soon as the seam of the cloth comes in contact
with the feeler (not shown in Figure 6), and is provided with four cam sur-
faces,,, and x, by means of which the four levers Z are operated in order to
allow the seam to pass.
Figure 7 is a diagram of the course taken by the cloth when one of the tables or
rests is put out of operation.
Figure 8 represents a machine for shearing the right and left sides of the cloth,
whereby two shearing cylinders are so carried by two-armed levers that the said
cylinders can be made to approach or recede from the shearing tables or rests by
operating the said levers.
Fixed to the journal of the lever P is an arın H2, which is connected to the angle
or bell crank lever Z³, by means of the lifting rods T. The one end of the angle
lever rests by means of the anti-friction roller o on the cam c. When the can is
rotated in the manner as aforedescribed, the shearing cylinders C are lifted from
their tables or rests to allow the seam to pass.
Figure 9 represents a further modification for successively lifting several shearing
cylinders. To the shaft QI fix a number of discs c¹ corresponding with the number
of shearing cylinders C employed, said discs c¹ being each provided with a позе
or projection x. The rotation of the shaft Q can be caused by the feeler F in
similar manner to that described and shown in reference to Figures 3 and 4. The
shearing cylinders have their bearings in the angle levers H, the depending
arms H of which carry the anti-friction rollers o, the discs c' and their projections or
noses being so arranged in reference to the rollers o that they do not come simultaneously
but successively into operation, acting on one arm H' for lifting the shearing
cylinder C after the other. The shaft makes one revolution during the passage of
the seam over all the tables or rests. This construction can be modified as shown in
Figure 10, the shearing cylinders C being arranged in stationary bearings whilst
the shearing tables or rests are movable.
Figure 11 represents a machine in which the shearing cylinders are raised from

page_text: the tables or rests by means of an endless chain, the ratchet wheel m receiving its
notion in like or similar manner as aforedescribed with reference to Figures. 3 and 4.
The disc c carrying the pawl i and spring e runs at the same time as chain wheel
over which the chain g runs. A rod tappet n' and catch nose & being so connected
to each other that they form to a certain extent a three-armed lever held in position
by the nose of the two-armed lever J whilst a tension or helical spring & acts in the
opposite direction. One arm of the pawl i rests on the rod ¹ and is thereby held
out of gear with the ratchet wheel m."
By means of a rod d' attached to the feeler lever L the feeler is so in connection
with the mechanism that when the feeler lever L is raised by the seam, the lever J will
be withdrawn from the nose b, the spring st acts on the rod a¹, brings the pawl i into
gear with the ratchet wheel m and starts the mechanism, whereby the cylinders
are successively lifted by the tappet so as to allow the seam to pass.
Under each of the shearing cylinders in the machine is a movable arm Z³, on the
upper surface of which the adjustable screw s rests. The chain g carries a tappet .*
which during the travelling of the chain comes successively under the lower
surfaces Ze of the levers Z, thus producing a lifting of the shearing cylinders.
When the tappet again returns to the disc c it strikes against the tappet n of
the three-armed lever n², b', ' brings these parts into their original position and the
chain to a standstill.
The number of links in the chain must be brought into such proportion to the
number of teeth in the chain wheels that the tappet link a will always stand in
precisely the same position when the pawl i is out of gear with the ratchet wheel.
According to Figures 12, 13 and 14 the lifting of the shearing cylinder is attained
by a crank c on the journal of the shaft, which as soon as the said crank is
rotated will lift the lever H, in which the shearing cylinder has its bearing, by means
of the connecting rod T°.
The mechanism, Figures 12, 13 and 14, operates as follows:
The lever I carrying the feeler F is attached to the shaft l, which at its outer
end carries the arm L. On the shaft W is also attached the arm V, weighted
lever g and arm I. The latter embraces with its upper bifurcated arm the muff of
a claw coupling X. The crank c³ rests loosely on the journal of the drawing rod and
remains stationary whilst the shaft rotates; the same is provided with the claw teeth
and has a projecting nose O.
When the feeler is raised by the seam of the cloth the arm L' will depress the
arm V and cause the claw muff X to gear into the teeth of the crank c³ by turning
the shaft W by means of the arm I, whereby the said crank c8 is rotated and
so operates on the rod T, lever H2, and H that the shearing cylinder is lifted.
When the crank c³ has completed a revolution the nose O comes in contact with
the nose of the arın I and drives the same backwards, so that the claw muff X
is again brought out of gear and the crank c* made to stand still. The weight of
the lever g facilitates the coupling and uncoupling of the claw muff. The feeler
rail F can, as shown by the dotted lines, be turned back and can consist of a number
of plates arranged at fixed distances apart.
Instead of effecting the pushing action by means of the rod To a draw motion can
be employed by fixing the lever arm so as to point H' upwards. The movement of
the crank can be effected in other manner than by means of the claw coupling, for
instance by means of a friction disc or by shifting a driving strap.
The feeler represented in Figures 15, 16 and 17 consists of a bent plate which
lays itself against the cloth running over a suitable shaft. The lever L is. attached
to the shaft l, presses against the short end of the lever N and returns the same to
the desired position. The lever N carries on its longer arm a metallic screw y
connected to the conducting wire of an electric motor or battery, and is retained
above a metallic body or contact y₁ which carries the other wire of the connection.
When the feeler F with the arm L is raised by the cloth seam, the longer arm of the
lever N with the screw y descends until it comes in contact with the contact y¹ and
thus closes the electric circuit.

page_text: Through this closing of the current and the action of an electro-magnet p, a
lever E' is drawn down so as to gear into the teeth of the ratchet disc ¹. This
disc is provided with studs or rounded projections, and is loosely arranged to
turn on the shaft u, is operated by means of a sliding muff X with recesses corre-
sponding to the projections, Figure 16, and which by means of tongue and groove
is rotated by the shafts and is pressed against the first half of the coupling by a
spiral springs. The disc is given the form of the one half of a claw coupling
provided with a projecting nose O. As soon as the lever E¹ gears into the teeth of
the disc the stand becomes stationary and the claw muff is consequently pressed
aside, gears at the other side into the teeth of the disc c³ and causes the same to
rotate. A levert arranged to turn on the frame of the machine has a projecting
arm, which sits on the muff X'; when the same is laterally moved the arm falls
into a groove in the muff and thus prevents the same from returning to its former
position.
As soon as the disc c has made a revolution and has lifted the shearing cylinder C
by means of the rod Te the nose O strikes the lever and again lifts the arm / out
the groove n of the muff X, which returns to its original position. The plate F
can be laterally moved on the shaft 1, which is for this purpose provided with an
appropriate groove. As the seam of the cloth often runs in an incline through the
machine it is advantageous to arrange several plates on the shaft. The lifting of the
shearing cylinder by means of the rod T can be effected in other manner when
the rod To acts by means of a lever T' on a cam e, on which the adjusting screws of
the shearing cylinder rests, Figure 18. Figures 19 and 20 represent a releasing
mechanism set in motion by means of the feeler.
The rod K is, at its one end, provided with a nose and at the other with a
strap or bow, which latter embraces an eccentric y", by means of which the rod K
is reciprocated. E' is a rod connected to the shifting lever M and which is held in
position by a spring lever J', the nose j' of which gears into a notch in the rod E.
The feeler consists of a sharpened rail or plate F which is arranged close to the cloth
passing over the shearing table B.
The arm L fixed to the shaft / presses on to the short end of the lever N which
holds at its longer end a pawl k jointed to the hand lever J. Through the upward
movement of the feeler the pawl falls so that the rod K strikes against the same and
drives the lever J' to the rear, whereby the rod E' is released and the shifting lever
shifts under the action of a spring S the strap from the fixed onto the loose
drum.
Through the action of the parts the slight movement of the feeler F is so transferred
that it enables the pawl k to be released. The spring lever J¹ can be arranged to
be operated direct by the movement of the feeler as shown in Figure 21, in which
case the lever is provided with a projecting nose O'. The lever L, which is connected
to the feeler, is provided with a pin O' which presses against the nose O' when the
feeler is lifted, presses the lever J to the rear and shifts the driving strap, as shown
in Figures 19 and 20. Figure 22 shows the stopping of the movement of the cloth
in a simple manner.
The feeler consists of two sharpened rails F, F1, between which the cloth passes,
and which are arranged on a two-armed lever Land so close to each other that
the seam strikes against the edges of the rail and lifts the arm L. This latter carries
on its other, smaller arm L', the pressure roller v, which is pressed against the
draught roller u by the weight of the feeler.
When the feeler rails are lifted the pressure roller is moved from the roller u
and the movement of the cloth stopped. The arm is fixed to a shaft 1, which
carries an eccentric . When the lever L is turned, this eccentric presses against
a set screw arranged in the lower end of the lever H2, and causes the shearing
cylinder to be raised somewhat from the cloth in order to prevent the same from
being shorn too much on a certain point. Instead of lifting the pressure roller
or simultaneously with the same, the lever L can be connected by a rod d² and

page_text: arm³, Fig. 23 to the shaft G¹, to which the strap fork is fixed, so that when
the feeler is lifted, the driving strap will be shifted from the fixed onto the
loose drum.
The movement resulting from the feeler can be transferred to such shifting
devices in which frictional discs or coupling toeth are employed. In Figure 24
the drawing roller is stopped in order to arrest the run of the cloth.
The shaft of the draw roller U carries the driving roller R which is loose and
transmits its movement to the roller by means of a claw coupling X, X'. When the
feeler comes in contact with the seam the shaft W₁ makes one revolution, which is
effected in like manner as represented with reference to the two shafts W and G' in
Figures 12 and 22. An arm J attached to the aforesaid shaft releases the gear of
the coupling with the driving wheel R and stops the drawing roller.
Figure 25 represents the feeler in the form of a plate, as represented in Figure 17,
which is attached to a shaft 7 and is pressed against the shaft or roller 0%. A lever L is at
its end connected by a metallic screw y to electric conducting wires. When the feeler
plate is pressed by the seam the metallic screw y will press a gainsta metallic contact y
fixed to the spring st, thus closing the electric circuit and setting an electric alarm R¹
in operation. The electrical bell can be arranged apart from the machino or the
mechanism for closing the circuit can be arranged in another position or be
connected with one of the other mechanisms as represented.
Figure 26 shows a device for indicating the passage of the seam. c is a disc
corresponding with that represented in Figures 12 and 15. The lever f¹ sits loosely
on a bolt g rests on a small bearing g' on the frame of the machine and carries a
pawl e. The same bolt g' carries the ratchet wheel m', into which pawl e' gears and
the nave of which carries a pointer 2 clamped to the same.
Figure 27 represents the application of a roller or shaft as feeler F, the same being
firmly connected to a lever I operating on a pawl i which, when brought into gear
with the ratchet wheel m, will either cause the machine to stop. or the shearing
cylinder to be lifted.
The disc c carries a pin n³, which in rotating sets a bell i¹ in motion, and striking
the lever moves the ratchet wheel m' somewhat and turns the pointer t a mark
further on the dial. In Figure 28 a roller F clad with cards serves as feeler, is
arranged close under the running cloth which passes over the guide surfaces a" and
is rotated by the contact with the seam of the cloth, whereby an arm L² attached to
its pivot, presses the metallic screw y against the contact y and closes the electric
current and causes the stopping of the machine or lifting of the shearing cylinder,
substantially as represented in Figure 15, or in other suitable manner.
Figure 29 represents the ordinary dust cover of the shearing cylinder as feeler.
An arm L'arranged on its pivot lies with a metallic screw y on the metallic contact y'.
As soon as the feeler has been raised by the seam of the cloth the current in the
electric circuits is interrupted in order to produce motion, for instance allowing a
pawl to fall.
Figure 30 represents a feeler rail which can be used instead of those shown in
Figures 1, 3, 4, 12 and 22, and consists of a wooden rail A³ to which an iron rail B
provided with sharp teeth 63 is screwed. This rail is adjusted quite near to the cloth
so that the seam is caught by the sharp pointed teeth and the feeler raised. The
weight of the feeler can be balanced by means of appropriate counter weights and the
form of the same can be modified according to requirements.
Figures 31 and 32 represent a roller D covered to its full extent with cards
which through the movement of the cloth passing over the same is kept in
continuous rotation. By means of the feeler F which is operated by the seain the
movement of the roller D is transmitted to a cam or eccentric c and the lifting of
the shearing cylinder attained. This eccentric c sits loosely on the journal of the
roller D and is connected to a cam which carries a pawl i operated on by a
spring e. The journal of the roller D also carries a toothed wheel m. The feeler
rail F is attached at both sides of the machine to an arm L and adjusted quite close

page_text: to the roller D, so that the feeler must be raised when the seam of the running cloth
passes the roller. The arm L is provided with a hook o³, Figure 32, against which
the end of the pawl i abuts so as to be held out of gear with the ratchet wheel m.
When the feeler is raised the pawl i will gear into the ratchet wheel m, the eccentric c
will be operated and cause the bolt E on which the end of the screws of the bearing
arm to the shearing cylinder to lift the said shearing cylinder. As soon as the
revolution is completed the pawl i comes against the hook o³ and stops the further
movement of the eccentric c.
Figure 32 represents the elevation of the aforedescribed mechanism and on the one
side an ordinary strap shifting device which can according to requirements be set in
or out of connection with the feeler device. The shifting lever M provided with fork
and spring is held by means of a retaining lever I', in position, the latter carrying a
small handle a and projecting arm n³. In Figure 32 the handle a³ is shown in the
position when the smaller arm n³ stands above the lever L'. This lever L' is
connected to the feeler rail so that when the latter is raised by the seam it will strike
against the arm n³, thus operating on the retaining lever I', so that the spring S can
act on and shift the lever M.
If it is not desired to shift the belt, the handle a³ must be turned, so that the
lever L' does not come in contact with the arm n. In this manner the automatic
lifting of the shearing cylinder on the shifting of the driving belt or strap from the
fixed onto the loose drum can be effected and the attendant enabled to leave the
machine when necessary.
Instead of employing a roller clad with cards a roller D clad with cloth can be used
when the cloth to be operated on is pressed by the pressure roller v on to the
roller D, as represented in Figure 33. The roller can also be clad with another rough
material, for instance with a rasp band or in like manner, as the sand beams or rough
rollers in looms. This rasp hand is a thin metal band indented so as to give a rasp-
like or roughened surface to fulfil the same purpose as the rough roller in looms.
According to Figure 34 the roller D is provided with an eccentric c for lifting the
shearing cylinder and partially clad with cards as represented in Figures 1 and 2.
The cloth to be shorn is guided over the part of the roller D clad with cards and
beneath the feeler plate F. A toothed wheel R¹ is fixed to the journal of the roller D
and is at the one portion of its periphery without teeth, so that the same can be
brought out of gear with the wheel R' connected to a strap drum S² and kept in
continuous rotation.
The roller D has a recess n for receiving a spring ; attached to the frame in order
to retain the roller in its position of rest. As soon as the seam of the cloth comes
beneath the feeler plate F it comes in contact with the card covering of the roller D,
so that the latter is set in operation. The wheel R' comes hereby into gear with the
wheel R and the eccentric c fixed to the same is rotated in order to effect the lifting
of the shearing cylinder. When the roller D has completed its revolution the two
wheels R', R are brought out of gear, the spring j snaps into the recess n and the
roller D is caused to stand still.
Figure 35 shows a similar device as represented in Figure 34 only differing in the
arrangement of the feeler which consists of a movable plate F arranged on a pivot
and the sharp edge of which is directed against the roller D as aforedescribed. On
the pivot sits a spring which with its free curved end gears into a recess n³ of a
disc d on the shaft D. The smooth roller D has the tendency to be rotated by the
cloth running over the same but is retained in position by the spring. As soon as
the seam of the cloth comes against the feeler rail the latter is lifted and with it the
spring, so that the roller D is released and can rotate until the wheel R' comes into
gear with the wheel R' and causes by means of the eccentric c and bolt E a lifting of
the shearing cylinder. As soon as the revolution of the roller D is completed the
springholds the same in position.
Figure 36 represents another manner of bringing the wheel R₁, Figures 34 and 35,
into gear with the wheel R'. A ratchet wheel m is fixed to the wheel R¹ and a pawl i

page_text: attached to the lever L gears into the same. As soon as the feeler is lifted the pawl i
will turn the ratchet wheel m³ and bring the wheel R¹ into gear with the wheel R' in
order to attain the lifting of the shearing cylinder until the same, after making a
revolution, stands still.
Figure 37 represents a modification, in which the cloth.is guided between the plate.
feeler F and a card clad roller D without touching the latter, which is attained by the
cloth after the same has been led over a roller n being passed over a second roller n
carried by levers * fixed to the sides of the frame A. This roller is held in
position by means of the nose e' of the lever k, which rests in the recess.e of
the eccentric d*. As soon as the scam comes in contact between the roller D and
the feeler F, the roller receives a rotary impulse, so that when the eccentric d' turns
with the shaft D' and allows the lever k to sink, whereby the cloth comes in contact
with a larger surface of the roller D, so that the said roller D is rotated by the
powerful friction and lifts the shearing cylinder by means of the eccentric fixed to
the shaft D¹.
The arrangement can be so constructed that when the cloth has passed a sufficient
distance over the shearing rest the roller with the eccentric will have completed a
revolution, whereby the nose e of the lever k falls into the recess e in the eccentric d*
and prevents the further rotation of the roller D and the shearing cylinder returns
simultaneously to its original position. The feeler can be made in various forms, as
shown in the Figures of the accompanying drawings and the means for transmitting
motion, other shifting devices and other automatic mechanisms be employed in
connection with the feeler in order to attain my object without departing from the
nature of my invention; neither do I limit myself to the details as represented in the
accompanying drawings or the number of the devices represented.
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. In a cloth shearing machine: In combination, the means for lifting the shearing
cylinder and a roller, which is covered with cards on one part of its circumference and
smooth on its other part, the said roller being held in position while the cloth is sliding
over the smooth part of its surface until it is started by the seam of the cloth, whereby
the card-clad part of its surface comes in contact with the cloth which is laying some
distance round the roller so as to cover a certain part of its circumference sufficient to
take proper hold of the roller and to turn it without fail while the shearing cylinder
is lifted, substantially as set forth, and shown.
2: In combination, the means for lifting the shearing cylinder, and a roller which
is covered with cards on one part of its circumference and smooth on its other part,
the said roller being held in position while the cloth is sliding over the smooth part of
its surface whereby the said roller receives a tendency to turn round until it is
released through the action of a feeler moved by the seam of the cloth so as to be
turned round for the purpose of lifting the shearing cylinder, substantially as described
and shown.
3: A card clad roller receiving a continuous motion by the travelling cloth passing
over it, for the purpose described and shown.
4-In combination, the means for lifting the shearing cylinder or cylinders, a
driving device having a continuous motion and a feeler being moved by the seam, or
any other unevenness of the cloth and causing by such movement of said means to be
connected with the said device so as to receive motion from the same for the purpose
of lifting the cutting cylinder or cylinders, whereupon both parts are disconnected
again, substantially as and for the purpose set forth and shown.
5-A roller moved by the seam of the cloth, acting in the place of a feeler so as by
its movement to produce the means for lifting the cutting cylinder to be connected
with a driving device having a continuous motion, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth and shown.

page_text: 6-A feeler moved by the seam of the cloth in combination with a disengaging
motion so as to cause the motion of the machine to he stopped when the seam of
the cloth approaches the shearing cylinder, substantially as described and shown.
7:-In combination, a feeler device, and a mechanism which causes the drawing
roller to be set out of action when the seam of the cloth approaches the cutting
cylinder at the same time causing the said cutting cylinder to be raised somewhat to
prevent the shearing of the nap while the cloth is at rest, substantially as set
forth and shown.
8: A feeler consisting of a blade or rail attached to a lever and being held in
position against a fixed surface or against the surface of a roller mounted in fixed
bearings over which the cloth passes, so that the said feeler is moved some distance
along the said surface by the seam of the cloth until it gets free to return to its
original position, substantially as and for the purpose set forth and illustrated.
9: The combination with a feeler of an electric device for transmitting motion from
the feeler for the purposes specified.
10 The combination of a feeler device with an electric bell or signalling apparatus,
substantially as described and shown.
11: An apparatus for the purpose of giving notice to the attendant when the seam
of the cloth passes over the rest, by means of a dial plate and index hand or pointer,
essentially as described and shown.
12: The means for lifting one or more cutting cylinders on one machine, substan-
tially as set forth and shown.
13: In a cloth shearing machine, in combination, the means for lifting the cutting
cylinder, a roller or drum covered with teeth or cards, and means for guiding the
cloth, whereby the cloth is caused to lie some distance round the surface of said roller
during the lifting of the shearing cylinder, substantially as set forth in the foregoing
specification, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 22nd day of February 1890.
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicant.