Improvements in the Construction of Clips or Holders Employed in Machines for Stretching or Finishing Woven Fabrics and in Chains therefor.
Year: 1887

page_text: Jate of Application, 25th Feb., 1887
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Nov., 1887-Accepted, 27th Dec.,
1887
Improvements in the Construction of Clips or Holders Employed
in Machines for Stretching or Finishing Woven Fabrics and in
Chains therefor.
I, DAVID PICKEN SMITH of Stanley Street Iron Works, Paisley Road, Glasgow in
the County of Renfrew, North Britain, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my
said invention to be as follows
This invention relates to improvements in the construction of clips or holders
employed in machines for stretching or finishing woven fabrics, in which the latter
are operated upon and carried by endless chains, or other equivalents, fitted with clips
for holding the fabric by its selvages, the upper movable jaw or clip being so arranged
and disposed that it gauges the amount of grip on the selvages of the fabrics being
passed over the stentering frame. The lower jaw or plate of the clip is secured to the
side of the chain, and the upper movable jaw or clip is pivoted to arms or supports
extending therefrom. The lower jaw or plate of the clip is provided with slots in
which operate tongues on the movable jaw or clip; the said tongues being constructed
so as to allow the fabric to slide or move into the correct position for being gripped
by the taper edge of the clip, in which it is held by the tension on the fabric. When
the fabric is fod into the clip it is placed under the aforesaid tongues which allow it
to slide by the motion of the chains towards the gripping edge of the upper jaw
or clip.
-
Immediately the fabric has passed the bearing surfaces of the said tongues they
drop into the slots in the lower jaw or plate, thus allowing the clip to fall and grip the
edge of the fabric. The upper side of the clip is provided with a tongue or arm to
operate or open the same when guiding the fabric therein.
For the purpose of dispensing with the present inconvenient and uncertain manner
of feeding the fabric into the clips or holders, and to ensure increased speed and

page_text: regularity I construct the chain so as to be self-guiding by providing the leading
end of each link with a swivel end disposed at right angles to the centres, which
allows of the clip being guided at an angle on entering the machine to facilitate the
feeding of the fabric therein, which may be performed by an inexperienced hand, a
requirement long desired in this class of machinery.
An important feature of this invention is that it is applicable to existing stentering
machines.
EDMUND CHADWICK, Fel. Inst. P.A.,
92, St George's Road, Bolton,
Agent for Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in the Construction of Clips or Holders Employed
in Machines for Stretching or Finishing Woven Fabrics and in
Chains therefor.
.
I, DAVID PICKEN SMITH of Stanley Street Iron Works, Paisley Road, Glasgow in
the County of Renfrew, North Britain, 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 improvements in the construction of clips or holders
employed in machines for stretching or finishing woven fabrics, in which the latter
are operated upon and carried by endless chains, or other equivalents, fitted with clips
for holding the fabric by its selvages; the upper movable jaw or clip being so
arranged and disposed that it gauges the amount of grip on the selvages of the
fabrics being passed over the stentering frame. The lower jaw or plate of the clip is
secured to the side of the chain, and the upper movable jaw or clip is pivoted to arms
or supports extending therefrom. The lower jaw or plate of the clip is provided with
slots in which operate tongues on the movable jaw or clip, the said tongues being
constructed so as to allow the fabric to slide or move into the correct position for
being gripped by the taper edge of the clip, in which it is held by the tension on the
fabric. When the fabric is fed into the clip it is placed under the aforesaid tongues
which allow it to slide by the motion of the chains towards the gripping edge of the
upper jaw or clip. Immediately the fabric has passed the bearing surfaces of the
said tongues they drop into the slots in the lower jaw or plate, thus allowing the clip
to fall and grip the edge of the fabric. The upper side of the clip is provided with
a tongue or arm to operate or open the same when guiding the fabric therein.
For the purpose of dispensing with the present inconvenient and uncertain manner
of feeding the fabric into the clips or holders, and to ensure increased speed and
regularity I construct the chain so as to be self-guiding by providing the leading end
of each link with a swivel end disposed at right angles to the centres, which allows of
the clip being guided at an angle on entering the machine to facilitate the feeding
of the fabric therein, which may be performed by an inexperienced hand, a requirement
long desired in this class of machinery.
An important feature of this invention is that it is applicable to existing stentering
machines.
Fig. 1 is a sectional end elevation of a clip and chain through line A¹ B¹ in Fig. 3
on my improved principle when gripping the selvage of the cloth or fabric-Fig. 2 is
plan-Fig. 3 is a front elevation-Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a link of the endless
chain with a swivel end and Fig. 5 is a sectional end elevation of a clip and chain
hrough line CD' in Fig. 2 on my improved principle when the cloth or fabric is
being guided to the jaw or clip.
In all the figures the same letters are employed to indicate corresponding parts.
To the chain A is attached the arms or frame B on which is mounted the lower jaw
r plate C secured by the rivets D, or in any other suitable manner.
novable jaw or clip E is pivoted to the arms & by the pin or centre F; the arms G
The upper
re attached to or form a part of the arms or frame B as shown on the drawings.
he plate C is provided with the slots H in which operate the tongues I on the
ovable jaw or clip E; the tongues I are constructed on their underside with the
gmental face to allow of the fabric sliding or moving into the correct position

page_text: for being gripped by the taper edge of the upper movable jaw or clip E. When the
fabric which is represented by the thick line O-is fed into the clip or holder it is
placed under the tongues I as in Fig. 5, by which the gripping edge of the upper
movable jaw or clip E is raised clear of the fabric which allows it to slide by the
travelling motion of the chains towards the gripping edge of the upper jaw or clip.
Immediately the selvage or edge P of the fabric O has passed the heel N of the
tongues they drop into the slots H-in the plate-C, by which the movable jaw or
clip E falls and grips of its own gravity the edge of the fabric as in Fig. 1, which
is held by the tension on the fabric O. The upper side of the movable jaw or clip E
is provided with the tongue K to operate, or open the same when guiding the fabric
therein, which can be performed by many well-known mechanical appliances, or by
hand if desired. The chain A is constructed with the swivel end L with the centre M
disposed at right angles to the centres R of the chain which allows of the clip
or holder being guided at an angle on entering the machine to facilitate the feeding
of the fabric therein, or for guiding the same round pulleys at varying angles.
For the purpose of economiising space and decreasing the width of the machines to
which my invention may be applied I mount the clip or holder on the upper side of
the chain A as in, Fig. 6 which is a sectional end elevation through line E' G'in
Fig. 8, the latter being a front elevation of Fig. 6, and Fig. 7 is a plan of the latter.
In this case the chain A is provided with the lip or foot S which is held in position on
the guide plate T by the cover V, the latter being secured in any convenient manner.
Fig. 10 is an elevation and Fig. 11 is a plan of another modification of my
invention wherein I dispense with the tongue K and the appliances for operating the
same to admit the fabric and substitute therefor the opensided guide S which is
absolutely necessary for guiding some kinds of fabric, the same being disposed
to direct the latter into the correct position or path of the clips. As the clips pass
round the pulley W, in the direction indicated by the arrow, the movable jaw E of
each clip is raised immediately it comes in contact with the back side of the guide S
and on along which the same slides until the point Z is reached when the jaw E and
tongues I drop onto the cloth or fabric 0, the operation being completed as before
described. The mouth or entrance of the guide S is bell-mouthed to allow of the
fabric from any convenient angle above or below the machine as shown in Fig. 10 of
which Fig. 12 is a front view. Each side of the machine is fitted with the guide S.
Fig. 13 is a sectional elevation of my improved clip and guide S6 through line M N
in Fig. 11 showing the movable jaw E sliding on the said guide, and Fig. 14 is a
section through line P T3 when the jaw E has passed the point Z2 and gripped the
cloth or, fabric 0.
Fig. 14. A is an elevation of another design or form of my improved clip or holder
and Fig. 14 B is a plan of same.
Fig. 14 C is a plan of another modification of my improved clip or holder, the
chain A being provided with the swivel end L and the centre M, the latter being
placed at right angles to the centrès R, which are crosswise to those shown in Fig. 2.
In order that my invention and its operation may be fully understood in applying
it to machines for stretching or finishing woven fabrics I will now refer to sheets 3, 4,
and 5 of the drawings.
Fig. 15 is a longitudinal elevation of a stretching machine, and Fig. 16 is a plan
of same. The endless chains A with the clips or holders are mounted on the guide
plates T on each side of the machine, which are provided with the guide pulleys W
and Wat each end and round which the endless chains pass, those at the driving end
being polygonal in form to drive the chains and clips or holders with the fabric. The
fabric is passed over and under the bars X into the clips, the latter being opened by
the tongues K coming in contact with stationary bars mounted immediately above.
the guide pulleys W. The guide plates T between the lines Y and Z can be moved.
laterally as shown in Fig. 16, the end Z. being provided with the centres. Q. The
guide plates. T are fitted with the screwed nuts Ü to receive the screwed rods. J which
are, operated in either direction according to the width of cloth or fabric.being.
operated upon by the hand wheels J. The leading end of the clips. or holders is

page_text: gauged in width so as to ensure the cloth or fabric O being guided under the tongues I
as in Fig. 5, and as the clips or holders travel towards the point Z-which is the
width at which the cloth or fabric is to be stretched-the cloth or fabric slides gently
from under the tongues I, which until when the point Z is reached the jaw or clip E
grips the cloth or fabric, by which it is held and stretched in a straight line until the
chains and clips reach the point R. To prevent the cloth or fabric buckling or
bellying when released the guide plates T from the point R to the point S¹ are
placed on an angle as shown, by which the keenness of the grip is gently reduced ;
the clips or holders being opened by stationary bars mounted immediately above
the guide pulleys W. The guide plates T from the point R¹ to S are provided
with the centres Q to allow of the requisite lateral movement, which are operated
by the nuts U, screwed rods J, and hand wheels J'. After the cloth or fabric O
has been released from the clips or holders it is passed onto the batch roller P², or
to any other convenient position. As the clips or holders are released from the
cloth or fabric they pass round the guide pulleys W' and along the outside to
the leading end of the machine as indicated by the arrows.
Fig. 17 is a longitudinal elevation of a long or double stentering machine and
Fig. 18 is a plan of the same. This machine is provided with the guide plates T;
pulleys W and W₁; chains and clips or holders, and the cloth or fabric is operated
upon in a similar manner to that described in Figs. 15 and 16. In this arrangement
the width of the guide plates T is reduced as shown in Fig. 9, which is an enlarged
sectional elevation through line A² B² in Fig. 18. When the width of the guide
plates T are reduced as in Fig. 9 the ends are enlarged to guide the chains and clips
or holders round the guide pulleys W and Was shown in Fig. 18.
Fig. 19 is a longitudinal elevation of a short stenter wherein the cloth or fabric O
passes over and under the machine and Fig. 20 is a plan of same. In this case the
cloth or fabric O is guided into the clips or holders as before described, after which
the chains and clips slide along-the guide plates T and over the pulleys ✗³ at the
opposite end. The chains and clips or holders are guided to and from the pulleys W
by the pulleys K. The leading end of the guide plates T are provided with the
screw rod J and hand wheel J' for the purpose before described.
Having now particularly, described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. The general construction or arrangement and combination of parts forming my
improved self-feeding gravity chain clips or holders for cloth stentering and finishing
machines, applied and operating substantially as described and as shown on the
drawings.
2. In cloth stentering and finishing machines - having clips such as are above
referred to the use of the swivel end L and centre M. disposed at right angles
to the centres R of the chain A, for the purpose of allowing the clip or holder
to be guided at an angle, substantially as described and as shown on the drawings.
3. In cloth stentering and finishing machines the use and construction-of-the
guide S in combination with my improved self-feeding gravity chain clips or holders
for the purpose of opening the same and guiding the cloth or fabric therein,
substantially as described and as shown on the drawings in Figs. 10, 11, 12, and 13.
Dated the 16th November 1887
EDMUND CHADWICK, C.E., Fel. Inst. P.A.,
92, St. George's Road, Bolton,
Agent for Applicant.
EDMUND CHADWICK, C.E., Fel. Inst. P.A.,
92, St. George's Road, Bolton,
Agent for Applicant.

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Feb., 1887
Complete Left, 23rd Nov., 1887
Complete Accepted, 27th Dec., 1887
in Machines for Stretching or Finishing Woven Fabrics and in
Chains therefor.
I, DAVID PICKEN SMITH of Stanley Street Iron Works, Paisley Road, Glasgow in
the County of Renfrew, North Britain, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my
said invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in the construction of clips or holders
employed in machines for stretching or finishing woven fabrics, in which the latter
are operated upon and carried by endless chains, or other equivalents, fitted with clips
for holding the fabric by its selvages, the upper movable jaw or clip being so arranged
and disposed that it gauges the amount of grip on the selvages of the fabrics being
passed over the stentering frame. The lower jaw or plate of the clip is secured to the
side of the chain, and the upper movable jaw or clip is pivoted to arms or supports
extending therefrom. The lower jaw or plate of the clip is provided with slots in
which operate tongues on the movable jaw or clip; the said tongues being constructed
so as to allow the fabric to slide or move into the correct position for being gripped
by the taper edge of the clip, in which it is held by the tension on the fabric. When
the fabric is fed into the clip it is placed under the aforesaid tongues which allow it
to slide by the motion of the chains towards the gripping edge of the upper jaw
or clip.
Immediately the fabric has passed the bearing surfaces of the said tongues they
drop into the slots in the lower jaw or plate, thus allowing the clip to fall and grip the
edge of the fabric. The upper side of the clip is provided with a tongue or arm to
operate or open the same when guiding the fabric therein.
For the purpose of dispensing with the present inconvenient and uncertain manner
of feeding the fabric into the clips or holders, and to ensure increased speed and

page_text: regularity I construct the chain so as to be self-guiding by providing the leading
end of each link with a swivel end disposed at right angles to the centres, which
allows of the clip being guided at an angle on entering the machine to facilitate the
feeding of the fabric therein, which may be performed by an inexperienced hand, a
requirement long desired in this class of machinery.
An important feature of this invention is that it is applicable to existing stentering
machines.
EDMUND CHADWICK, Fel. Inst. P.A.,
92, St. George's Road, Bolton,
Agent for Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in the Construction of Clips or Holders Employed
in Machines for Stretching or Finishing Woven Fabrics and in
Chains therefor.
[, DAVID PICKEN SMITH of Stanley Street Iron Works, Paisley Road, Glasgow in
the County of Renfrew, North Britain, 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 improvements in the construction of clips or holders
employed in machines for stretching or finishing woven fabrics, in which the latter
are operated upon and carried by endless chains, or other equivalents, fitted with clips
for holding the fabric by its selvages; the upper movable jaw or clip being so
arranged and disposed that it gauges the amount of grip on the selvages of the
fabrics being passed over the stentering frame. The lower jaw or plate of the clip is
secured to the side of the chain, and the upper movable jaw or clip is pivoted to arms
or supports extending therefrom. The lower jaw or plate of the clip is provided with
slots in which operate tongues on the movable jaw or clip, the said tongues being
constructed so as to allow the fabric to slide or move into the correct position for
being gripped by the taper edge of the clip, in which it is held by the tension on the
fabric. When the fabric is fed into the clip it is placed under the aforesaid tongues
which allow it to slide by the motion of the chains towards the gripping edge of the
upper jaw or clip. Immediately the fabric has passed the bearing surfaces of the
said tongues they drop into the slots in the lower jaw or plate, thus allowing the clip
to fall and grip the edge of the fabric. The upper side of the clip is provided with
a tongue or arm to operate or open the same when guiding the fabric therein.
For the purpose of dispensing with the present inconvenient and uncertain manner
of feeding the fabric into the clips or holders, and to ensure increased speed and
regularity I construct the chain so as to be self-guiding by providing the leading end
of each link with a swivel end disposed at right angles to the centres, which allows of
the clip being guided at an angle on entering the machine to facilitate tho feeding
of the fabric therein, which may be performed by an inexperienced hand, a requirement
long desired in this class of machinery.
An important feature of this invention is that it is applicable to existing stentering
machines.
Fig. 1 is a sectional end elevation of a clip and chain through line A¹ B¹ in Fig. 3
on my improved principle when gripping the selvage of the cloth or fabric-Fig. 2 is
a plan Fig. 3 is a front elevation-Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a link of the endless
chain with a swivel end and Fig. 5 is a sectional end elevation of a clip and chain
through line UD¹ in Fig. 2 on my improved principle when the cloth or fabric is
being guided to the jaw or clip.
In all the figures the same letters are employed to indicate corresponding parts.
To the chain A is attached the arins or frame B on which is mounted the lower jaw
or plate secured by the rivets D, or in any other suitable manner.
The upper
movable jaw or clip is pivoted to the arms G by the pin or centre F; the arms G
are attached to or form a part of the arms or frame B as shown on the drawings.
The plate is provided with the slots H in which operate the tongues I on the
movable jaw or clip E; the tongues 1 are constructed on their underside with the
seguiental face to allow of the fabric sliding or moving into the correct position

page_text: for being gripped by the taper edge of the upper movable jaw or clip E. When the
fabric which is represented by the thick line is fed into the clip or holder it is
placed under the tongues I as in Fig. 5, by which the gripping edge of the upper
movable jaw or clip E is raised clear of the fabric which allows it to slide by the
travelling motion of the chains towards the gripping edge of the upper jaw or clip.
Immediately the selvage or edge P of the fabric O has passed the heel N of the
tongues I they drop into the slots H in the plate C, by which the movable jaw or
clip E falls and grips of its own gravity the edge of the fabric as in Fig. 1, which
is held by the tension on the fabric O. The upper side of the movable jaw or clip E
is provided with the tongue K to operate or open the same when guiding the fabric
therein, which can be performed by many well-known mechanical appliances, or by
hand if desired. The chain A is constructed with the swivel end L with the centre M
disposed at right angles to the centres R of the chain which allows of the clip
or holder being guided at an angle on entering the machine to facilitate the feeding
of the fabric Ő therein, or for guiding the same round pulleys at varying angles.
For the purpose of economising space and decreasing the width of the machines to
which my invention may be applied I mount the clip or holder on the upper side of
the chain A as in Fig. 6 which is a sectional end elevation through line E¹ G¹ in
Fig. 8, the latter being a front elevation of Fig. 6, and Fig. 7 is a plan of the latter.
In this case the chain A is provided with the lip or foot S which is held in position on
the guide plate T by the cover V, the latter being secured in any convenient manner.
Fig. 10 is an elevation and Fig: 11 is a plan of another modification of my
invention wherein I dispense with the tongue K and the appliances for operating the
same to admit the fabric and substitute therefor the opensided guide S which is
absolutely necessary for guiding some kinds of fabric, the same being disposed
to direct the latter into the correct position or path of the clips. As the clips pass
round the pulley W, in the direction indicated by the arrow, the movable jaw E of
each clip is raised immediately it comes in contact with the back side of the guide S
and on which the same slides until the point Z2 is reached when the jaw E and
tongues I drop onto the cloth or fabric O, the operation being completed as before
described. The mouth or entrance of the guide S is bell-mouthed to allow of the
fabric from any convenient angle above or below the machine as shown in Fig. 10 of
which Fig. 12 is a front view. Each side of the machine is fitted with the guide S.
Fig. 13 is a sectional elevation of my improved clip and guide S through line M N
in Fig. 11 showing the movable jaw E sliding on the said guide, and Fig. 14 is a
section through line PT3 when the jaw E has passed the point Z² and gripped the
cloth or fabric O.
Fig. 14 A is an elevation of another design or form of my improved clip or holder
and Fig. 14 B is a plan of same.
Fig. 14 C is a plan of another modification of my improved clip or holder, the
chain A being provided with the swivel end L and the centre M, the latter being
placed at right angles to the centres R, which are crosswise to those shown in Fig. 2.
In order that my invention and its operation may be fully understood in applying
it to machines for stretching or finishing woven fabrics I will now refer to sheets 3, 4,
and 5 of the drawings.
of same.
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal elevation of a stretching machine, and Fig. 16 is a plan
The endless chains A with the clips or holders are mounted on the guide
plates T on each side of the machine, which are provided with the guide pulleys W
and W at each end and round which the endless chains pass, those at the driving end
being polygonal in form to drive the chains and clips or holders with the fabric. The
fabric is passed over and under the bars X into the clips, the latter being opened by
the tongues K coming in contact with stationary bars mounted immediately above
the guide pulleys W. The guide plates T between the lines Y and Z can be moved
laterally as shown in Fig. 16, the end Z being provided with the centres Q. The
guide plates T are fitted with the screwed nuts U to receive the screwed rods J which
are operated in either direction according to the width of cloth or fabric being
operated upon by the hand wheels J. The leading end of the clips or holders is

page_text: gauged in width so as to ensure the cloth or fabric O being guided under the tongues I
as in Fig. 5, and as the clips or holders travel towards the point Z-which is the
width at which the cloth or fabric is to be stretched the cloth or fabric slides gently
from under the tongues I, which when the point Z is reached the jaw or clip E grips
the cloth or fabric, by which it is held and stretched in a straight line until the chains
and clips reach the point R. To prevent the cloth or fabric buckling or bellying
when released the guide plates T from the point R' to the point S¹ are placed on an
angle as shown, by which the keenness of the grip is gently reduced; the clips or
holders being opened by stationary bars mounted immediately above the guide
pulleys W. The guido platos T from the point R₁ to S¹ are provided with the
centres Q to allow of the requisite lateral movement, which are operated by the nuts U,
screwed rods J, and hand wheels J. After the cloth or fabric O has been released
from the clips or holders it is passed onto the batch roller P2, or to .any other con-
venient position. As the clips or holders are released from the cloth or fabric they
pass round the guide pulleys Wand along the outside to the leading end of the
machine as indicated by the arrows.
Fig. 17 is a longitudinal elevation of a long or double stentering machine and
Fig. 18 is a plan of the same. This machine is provided with the guide plates T;
pulleys W and W₁; chains and clips or holders, and the cloth or fabric is operated
upon in a similar manner to that described in Figs. 15 and 16. In this arrangement
the width of the guide plates T is reduced as shown in Fig. 9, which is an enlarged
sectional elevation through line A² B² in Fig. 18. When the width of the guide
plates T are reduced as in Fig. the ends are enlarged to guide the chains and clips
or holders round the guide pulleys W and W₁ as shown in Fig. 18.
Fig. 19 is a longitudinal elevation of a short stenter wherein the cloth or fabric O
passes over and under the machine and Fig. 20 is a plan of same. In this case the
cloth or fabric O is guided into the clips or holders as before described, after which
the chains and clips slide along the guide plates T and over the pulleys X at the
opposite end. The chains and clips or holders are guided to and from the pulleys W
by the pulleys K². The leading end of the guide plates T are provided with the
screw rod J and hand wheel J¹ for the purpose before described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
:-
1. The general construction or arrangement and combination of parts forming my
improved self-feeding gravity chain clips or holders for cloth stentering and finishing
machines, applied and operating substantially as described and as shown on the
drawings.
2. In cloth stentering and finishing machines the use of the swivel end L and
centre M disposed at right angles to the centres R of the chain A, for the purpose of
allowing the clip or holder to be guided at an angle, substantially as described and
as shown on the drawings.
3. In cloth stentering and finishing machines the use and construction of the
guide S in combination with my improved self-feeding gravity chain clips or holders
for the purpose of opening the same and guiding the cloth or fabric therein,
substantially as described and as shown on the drawings in Figs. 10, 11, 12, and 13.
EDMUND CHADWICK, C.E., Fel. Inst. P.A.,
92, St. George's Road, Bolton,
Agent for Applicant.
EDMUND CHADWICK, C.E., Fel. Inst. P.A.,
92, St. George's Road, Bolton,
Agent for Applicant.