Improvements in Plaiting Machines.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd May, 1899-Accepted, 18th Nov., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Plaiting Machines.
I, THOMAS FRANCIS HAGERTY, of 923, Broadway, New York, in the County
and State of New York, United States of America, Gentleman, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to improvements in plaiting machines, for making
accordion, pine-apple and other designs of plaitings and consists of a machine
of novel and improved construction.
Figure 1 is a side view of my machine.
Figure 2 is a central longitudinal section.
Figure 3 is a plan view.
Figures 4, 5 and 6 are views of the cams..
Figure 7 is a perspective view of a modified form of my machine.
Figure 8 is a central longitudinal section, and
Figure 9 is a side view.
In the drawings, Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, the letter a, is the framė, b, is a
plaiting box; c, a spring-presser; d, a tension device; e, a guide bar; f, a
rock-shaft; g, an arm on said shaft; a spring connected to said arm; i, a pair
of levers connected to said shaft; j, a bar pivoted in said levers; k, a knife
secured to the bar; 1, a pair of arms connected to the pivoted bar; m; screws
for limiting the movement of the levers, and n, a pair of cams which operate
on the levers and also carry the pins o, which engage the arms 1, and act to
tilt the knife.
In the frame above the rock-shaft is mounted a shaft 2, to which is connected
the lower levers q, carrying the knife r, and operated upon by cams s, to raise
the lever with knife; t, is a returning spring and ut, is a cord or chain leading
from the spring présser to a foot lever.
In operation the material is fed through the tension device, next down over
the folding-bar e and under the upper folding-blade & which is now held outward
under the influence of the spiral torsion-springs 27, and next down in front of
the pressing-bar c which is held away temporarily by the operator lifting with
his left foot a treadle secured 'to rope u. When the edge of the cloth is secured
by inserting it in front of the lower knife, which is at its highest point, the foot
releases the treadle which by its weight pulls the pressing-bar against it and
firmly holds it. The operator now turns the crank 28, when the cam s will press
down the vibrating arms and the blade & will press against the cloth, the tripping-
lever at this time having been forced upward by the friction-roller cam n.
The plait or lap thus formed will be brought down between the lower folding-
blader and the folding-bar e, said blade at this stage being at its highest point.
By a further half revolution of the driving-shaft the cams will let the lever
which carries the under folding-blade drop down, aided by the short spiral
spring and further movement will again bring it up, where it will remain until
the top folding-blade will have carried down another plait, when it will again
fall, as before stated. The top folding-blade being always carried forward after

page_text: having delivered the plait by the aid of the two spiral torsion-springs of the
blade-shaft, also carries the front half of the plate 19 along with the plait deli-
vered into the box. When the blade ascends, the plate 19, under the influence
of the two flat springs 18 is brought back, thus causing the edge of the plate
to cover up the plait and prevent its escape until another plait is folded. This
.operation is repeated until the box is filled up and the pressing-bar is carried
out to the open end in the rear. When the box is thus filled, the operator
places his foot on the treadle and the cords draw the pressing-bar up in the box,
thus causing the plaits which were partially pressed to be drawn up against
each other into a compact mass.
In the form shown is Figures 7, 8 and 9, v, is the frame; we an upper adjust-
able roller, a lower stationary roller; y, an arm connected to roller a, and
carrying a dog z, engaging a ratchet 7, on said roller: 2, is a pitman connected
to army, and said pitman is connected to the disc 3, on shaft 4, said shaft 4,
carrying cams 5, which engage the levers 6, which carry the knife 7, and the
movement of the levers 6, is regulated by screws S, and a spring 9, is used to
return the said levers. Connected to the knife-shaft 10, is an arm 11, which is
engaged by the cam 12, on shaft 4; said shaft also carries the fly wheel 13.
In operation, the fabric is passed between the tension wires 14 and carried
forward under the blade 7 and at this point the operator presses the blade upon
the cloth. Further movement of the driving-shaft 4 carries the cams 5 against
the arms of the frame, and at this point the tripping-levers 11 come into
engagement with the cams 12, bringing the blade finally down on the cloth,
pressing it against the roller, and the levers 6 are now carried forward with the
folded plait, the pressure remaining on the cloth until the plait is delivered
between the rollers, and then the levers trip as the cams 12 allow them to swing
backward as their lower arms drop and release the pressure. At this further
movement of the driving-shaft the link 2 and the ratchet arm y, turn the rol-
lers and a proper and determined distance delivering the pressed plait at
the rear of the machine, the entire operation being effected by one complete
revolution of the shaft, this operation being continued in the manner stated.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. A plaiting machine, consisting of a frame, a plaiting box thereon, an upper
lever carrying a knife, a lower lever carrying a knife and mechanism for
operating the levers and forming the plaits.
2. A plaiting machine, consisting of a frame, a plaiting box, a presser in said
box, an upper and lower lever, mechanism for operating said levers, a rigid
knife, mechanism for operating said levers, a rigid knife carried by the lower
lever and a tilting knife carried by the upper lever.
3. A plaiting machine, consisting of a frame, an upper and lower lever, a
tilting knife carried by the upper lever, a rigid knife carried by the lower lever
and a series of cams for operating the upper and lower levers and tilting said
knife.
4. A plaiting machine, consisting of a frame, upper and lower pressing rollers,
rock-levers, a tilting knife carried by said levers, and mechanism for revolving
the rollers, rocking the levers and tilting the knife.
Tlated this 1st
ex
1000
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.