Improved Devices for Automatically Guiding Fabrics in Finishing and other Machines.
Year: 1891

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION,
Improved Devices for Automatically Guiding Fabrics in Finishing
and other Machines.
I, ERNST GESSNER, Junr., Engineer, of Aue, Saxony, in the Empire of
Germany, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVED DEVICES
FOR AUTOMATICALLY GUIDING FABRICS IN FINISHING AND OTHER MACHINES,"
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:—
In order to guide the fabric to be treated in stretching and drying machines,
where it is necessary to guide the selvage for trimming or guiding between the
clamps, etc., to a certain point, and also in shearing or pressing fabrics with selvage
so as to protect the latter, the fabric must hitherto be guided on both sides by the
hands of the workman so that two workmen are continually requisite for each
machine.
The object of the present invention is to automatically guide the selvage of the
fabric by means of a simple device, which consists mainly of a guide flap on each
side of the machine, which is provided with a projecting guide surface and a
retreating gripping surface and is continuously moved in inclined direction towards
and from the selvage whereby the device during its forward movement glides or is
pressed along the selvage, until the guide surface passes the outer edge of the selvage,
when a spring causes the guide Hap to descend, so that the gripper grips the
selvage and draws the same outwards, whereupon the flap moves to the rear, being
lifted from the selvage and not in contact with the fabric.
In order that the fabric may not give way under the pressure of the guide flap,
the part where the same glides over the surface of the fabric is provided with a
bearing surface under the fabric, said surface being generally provided with a
groove or recess into which the projecting guide surface of the flap enters when the
Hap falls.
With thicker fabrics it is sufficient when the guide surface projects only so far
beyond the gripping surface as the fabric is thick, so that when the flap falls, the
guide surface does not enter a groove, but simply rests on the bearing surface.
The speed of the guide flap during its outward movement is so timed, that the
selvage gripped by the same and drawn outwards is not hindered in its forward
movement. Instead of applying the guide flap above the fabric, the same can be
located beneath, and the bearing surface above the said fabric.
The bearing surface is either fixed or reciprocates with the guide flap. The
gripper surface is usually clad with pins or hooks, but when it is moved with the
bearing surface, a roughened surface suffices to hold the fabric. Two flaps can be
simultaneously employed, one above, one beneath the fabric, so that the selvage
is gripped from both sides.
In order to prevent the fabric returning to its original position after the same has
been drawn outwards by the guide flap and the latter has been raised, a series of
flaps can be arranged one behind the other, or a series of flaps applied to a chain
continuously running in an inclined direction to the selvage so that the selvage is
continuously or intermittently moved outwards.
In order to prevent the fabric returning to its original position when only one flap
is used on each side, a special device is employed, by means of which the selvage is
gripped in the moment when the flap is lifted and guided in a direction parallel to
the travel of the fabric.
When the guide flaps are moved a corresponding distance outwards, the same act
not only as automatic guides but also for widening and stretching the fabric.

page_text: Guide flaps attached to a series of rails for holding the fabric in proper breadth,
which are operated by chains and are guided outwards by inclined guide frames
whereby a second series of moveable rails serve as bearing surface, are admirably
adapted for automatically guiding and simultaneously stretching the fabric.
The accompanying drawings represent the construction and application of my
invention in various modifications.
Figs. 1, 1 represent one form of guide flap in plan or top view and elevation,
which is moveably applied to the slide or rail of a stretching or drying machine with
running chain, said slide serving as bearing surface and being reciprocated by means
of a suitable cam.
Figs. 2, 24, 2B, 20, 2", 2 represent various positions of the guide flaps in side
view and section.
Figs. 3, 34 represent a guide flap the guiding surface of which only protrudes so
far beyond the gripping surface as corresponds with the thickness of the fabric and
in which the bearing surface is without recesses.
Figs. 4, 4 are sections of guide flaps with several gliding and corresponding
bearing surfaces.
Figs. 5, 5, 5, 5º, 5º, 5º, 5º are side views and sections of a guide flap in
combination with a bearing surface, which simultaneously acts as gliding surface.
Figs. 50, 5, 5¹, 5, 5, 5 represent in side view and section various positions of
two guide flaps, which operate simultaneously with the upper and lower projecting
surfaces.
Fig. 6 is a top view of several guide flaps arranged in series in a stretching or
drying machine.
Fig. 6A represents the same device in section and side view.
Figs. 7, 7 represent in top and side view a device in which the guide flap
is reciprocated on a fulcrum whilst the bearing surface remains stationary.
Fig. 8 is the side view of a running chain to which guide flaps are applied in con-
nection with a stretching device with the discs arranged at an incline (on Palmer's
system).
Fig. 84 is a top view showing the operation of the parts.
Fig. 8 represents the guide flap attached to the chain.
Figs. 9, 94 represent in side and top view a device in which guide flaps are
applied to a rotating disc.
Figs. 10, 104 represent in elevation and side view, a device for reciprocating the
guide flap, applied to a shearing machine.
Figs. 10 10°, 10° represent the guide flap in various positions.
Fig. 11 represents the application of a roller to a shearing machine, said roller
pressing on the selvage whilst the guide flap moves from outwards, inwards in order
to prevent the fabric returning to its original position after it has been drawn
outwards by the guide flap.
Fig. 12 represents a device for guiding the selvage in a direction parallel to the
run of the fabric after it has been drawn outwards to a predetermined position, by
means of the guide flap.
Fig. 13 is the plan or top view and Fig. 134 the elevation partly in section of a
device for automatically guiding and simultaneously stretching the fabric by means
of guide flaps applied to stretching rails operated by running chains and moved
outwards and inwards by means of inclined guide frames.
Fig. 13B is a side view of the guide frame.
Fig. 14 represents the application of a guide frame to a rail.
Figs. 15 and 16 represent two devices constructed on a similar system to that
shown in Fig. 13.
According to Figs. 1 and 14 a plate p with planed guide way in which a slide u
is reciprocated in inclined direction, is attached to the arm A of a well known
stretching and drying machine.
This slide u carries the moveable guide flap K and a spring f for pressing the
flap on to the fabric whilst the slide u serves as bearing surface.

page_text: A disc E with laterally projecting cam surface is fixed to the spindle of the chain
wheel R.
A moveable arm a provided with antifriction roller is connected to the slide u by
means of the connecting rod z and is pressed against the disc E by a helical spring
attached at one end to the plate p and at the other end to the slide u in such manner
that the cam on the disc E will cause the slide to reciprocate. On both sides of
the slide u a guide is attached to the plate p and gears over the selvage of the
fabric when the same is drawn outwards by the guide flap. The guide flap is pro-
vided with a raised or projecting surface 1 and a retreating gripping surface 2
whilst the bearing surface u is provided with a groove or recess 9 (Fig. 4) in which
the gliding surface 1 of the flap gears as shown in Figs. 2 and 2º.
The guide flap surface 1 is represented in the drawing as laying on the fabric.
When by the movement of the flap K outwards, the glide surface 1 passes the edge
of the selvage, the flap will be depressed by the spring so that the glide surface
enters the recess or groove in the bearing surface u whereas the gripper surface 2
securely grips the selvage and draws the same outwards so that the selvage is
guided to its proper position to the middle of the running chain k.
In order to again lift the guide flap from the fabric, the slide u beneath the said
fabric is provided with a moveable nose or projection o firmly connected to
an arm n.
Two pins or pegs t t¹ are so applied to the plate p that when the slide u makes its
reciprocating movement, the arm will alternately strike one or the other of these
pins or pegs t t. During the outward movement of the flap the nose o is in an
inclined position and out of contact with the flap. When the flap, approaches the
limit of its outward movement the arm n strikes against the pin t thus bringing the
nose o up and raising the flap. During the return movement inwards, the flap
remains in this raised position and out of contact with the fabric until the said flap
reaches the opposite side when the arm a strikes the pin or peg t¹ thus bringing the
nose o down so that the flap can descend. In order to demonstrate the movement
of the guide flap the same is represented in various positions in Figs. 2 to 2º.
Figs. 2 24 represent the guide flap at the inward limit of its stroke, when the
arm n strikes the pin t¹ and the flap descends on to the fabric. Figs. 2³ 2° repre-
sent the flap during the outward stroke when the gliding surface 1 has passed the
edge of the selvage and has entered the recess in the bearing surface whilst the
gripper surface 2 firmly grips the selvage. Figs. 2" 2 represent the flap in
the moment when the same is lifted from the fabric by the arm n striking
the pin t.
The guideserves to hold the selvage down when the guide flap is lifted. In
order that the teeth of the gripper may readily release the selvage when the guide
flap is raised, the same are arranged at an incline in the direction of the movement
of the fabric. The guide flap represented in Figs. 3 and 34 is provided with a glide
surface which only projects beyond the gripping surface 2 a distance corre-
sponding to the thickness of the fabric, so that the bearing surface need not be
recessed.
In Fig. 3 the glide surface rests on the fabric in Fig. 3ª the glide surface 1 rests
on the bearing surface u, whilst the gripper 2 securely grips the selvage.
Such guide flaps in which the guide surface only projects to an extent equal to
the thickness of the fabric, can be also employed in those cases where the glide
surface enters a recess in the bearing surface, although when treating thin fabrics
the latter construction is to be preferred.
Instead of one glide surface, the guide flap can be provided with two or more
glide surfaces.
Fig. 4 represents a flap K with two glide surfaces 1 and a corresponding bearing
surface u with two recesses q.
Fig. 4 represents a flap K with two glide surfaces I which when the flap
descends gear so over the edges of the bearing surfaces u that the latter need not
be recessed.

page_text: The guide flap can also be provided with several gripping surfaces. Figs. 5
to 5 represent in three varying positions a guide flap K moveably arranged on a
slide u acting as bearing surface and which is pressed down by a spring f.
קני
The slide u moves in a guide plate p, the means for raising and lowering the
guide flap can be similar to those represented in Fig. 1. The slide u has its full
breadth
to the point 4 and merges from thence into a tongue 5 (Fig. 5) which
is narrower and partially recessed.
Beside this the slide u has a cavity 6 into which the glide surface 1 of the
guide flap gears and which is of like depth with that part of the tongue 5 provided
with teeth.
If the slide is now moved outwards, the guide flap and the selvage will be
depressed as soon as the edge 4 of the slide passes the edge of the selvage whereby
the glide surface 1 enters the recess 6 whilst the surface 2 presses the selvage on
to the toothed part of the tongue 5 as shown in Figs. 5B 50. Figs. 5, 5 represent
the guide flap K raised from the fabric. Fig. 5* is a top view of the forward part
of the slide u.
According to the drawing the bearing surface in this case acts as guide flap with
the exception that it is not pressed on to or lifted from the fabric. The gripper
surface of the guide flap proper need not in this case lay deeper than the surface 1
or be provided with teeth."
Fig. 5 represents two moveably arranged guide flaps K against which two
springs operate so as to press the flaps on to both sides of the fabric. An
eccentric ox arranged between the two flaps is provided with an arm n which,
during the reciprocating motion of the said flaps will alternately strike against one
of the two pins t t¹.
Each of these two flaps is provided with two glide surfaces 1 of such form that
the glide surfaces of the one flap gear between the surfaces of the other flap. When
the flaps are pressing on the fabric they operate simultaneously as bearing surfaces
for each other as represented in Fig. 5.
Figs. 5 5 represent the guide surfaces as having passed the edge of the selvage
and in gear with each other, whilst the selvage is gripped by both gripper surfaces.
Figs. 5 5 represent the guide flaps at the moment in which they are lifted from
the fabric by the arm striking against the pin t so that the cam or eccentric ox
presses the guide flaps apart.
Figs. 66A represent the application of three guide flaps of like construction as
represented by Fig. 1, to a stretching and drying machine.
The reciprocating movement of the slide u is attained through the gearing
and by means of the cam attached to the shaft E' and by the arms a a² a³ and
the connecting rods ¹² 3.
Instead of three guide flaps only one or two can be used.
According to Figs. 7 7A the guide flap itself is not moveable but fixed to an arm
attached to a vertical shaft e. This vertical shafte is depressed by a helical spring
and thus the flap pressed on to the fabric w. The journal of the chain wheel R
carries three cam discs E² E³ E4.
A second arm fixed to the vertical shaft e is connected by a connecting rod 24
with an arm a³ which is pressed against the disc E2 by the spring ³ so that when
the said disc rotates the arm i¹ and thereby the guide flap K receives a reciprocating
motion. The guide flap K moves above a bearing surface u fixed to the arm A
and provided with a curved slot q corresponding to the movement of the flap K
and in which said slot the guiding surface of the flap can enter. In order to
raise the flap from the fabric the vertical shaft e is provided with two collars j
between which a lever arm gears, whilst the second arm of the lever / comes in
contact with the tappets or cams of the disc E' so as to produce the up and down
stroke of the shaft e and also the flap K which occurs every time when the flap
reaches the end of its reciprocating movement.
In order to hold the selvage and prevent its returning to its original position
after it has once been drawn outwards a roll U is employed, the same having its

page_text: bearings in an arm connected by a rotary bolt to a second arm l', which is so
pressed by a spring f against the disc E that when the same rotates, the tappets
or cams will cause the arm to make a reciprocating movement and alternately
raise the roll U from the fabric or press the same on to the fabric.
During the movement of the guide flap K outwards, the roll is lifted and sinks
at the same moment as the flap is lifted from the fabric. Several of such rolls as U
can be arranged in a series.
F in Fig. 8 represents the rotary disc of a stretching device on Palmer's system
and arranged at an incline, the driving mechanism being omitted. K' is a chain or
india rubber strap running over the rolls d and serving to retain the selvage of the
fabric on the disc F.
B is the standard to which a massive disc C is fixed. The bearing arm D is
firmly fixed to the disc C and carries two chain wheels c c¹ over which a chain M
runs in oblique direction to the disc, the members of said chain being provided with
guide flaps K. The rotary disc F is provided on its inner periphery with bevel
teething y.
The spindle of the chain wheel e carries a wheel which gears into the bevel
toothing of the disc F and thus transmits movement to the chain as will be seen
from Fig. 8A. A rail u² with slot q serving as bearing surface for the guide flap is
fixed to an arm projecting from the bearing arm D. The fabric w is led over a
guide roller under the shaft and beneath the rail u² so that it comes in contact
with the guide flaps K. The guide flaps attached to the chain M consist of a
correspondingly bent piece of steel and are pressed against the fabric by their own
elasticity.
q
When the gliding surface of the guide flaps passes the edge of the selvage, the
same enters the slot in the rail was shown in Fig. 8B, so that the selvage is
gripped by the gripper and drawn outwards until the glide surface reaches the end
of the sloty where it is again depressed and compelled to glide along the lower
surface of the slide u² whereby the gripper is lifted from the fabric and the selvage
so guided that it comes under the chain K'.
Instead of employing 5 guide flaps on the chain M, any desired number can be
used, for instance cach link of the chain can be provided with a flap K.
Instead of attaching the guide flaps to the upper surface of the links, they can
be fixed to the lateral surface of the same.
Instead of attaching the guide flaps to a running chain the same can be attached
to a disc arranged at an incline to the selvage. Fig. 9 represents the guide flaps
attached to a flat disc H set in rotation by the conical wheels ..
A plate G which reaches beyond the disc H is fixed to the frame N and carries
a second plate 3 screwed to the same so that a space remains between the two
plates the fabric being guided between these two said plates.
The plate G is provided with a curved slot e through which the gripper of the
guide flap K can pass.
The plate has an opening 9 which is narrower than the slot a so that only the
narrower guide surface of the flap K can pass through the same; these two slots or
openings a being arranged at an incline to the selvage.
When the disc is rotated, the guide flap K pressing from below, will pass through
the slot of the plate G and press the fabric upwards against the plate u³ serving
as bearing surface, whereby the gliding surface will glide from the selvage and
through the opening q, whilst the selvage will be caught by the gripper, when on
reaching the end of the two slots g the guide flap will be again forced downwards
and the gripper lifted from the fabric.
In Figs. 10 10A S represents the adjustable table of a shearing machine resting
on a support L, a plates being screwed to the table and resting at its lower edge
in a planed guide way in the support L.
An inclined plate G' is fixed to the plate s on which the cloth passing the
shearing tables and roller ² glides. Q is a shaft carried and driven in bearings
independent of the shearing table.

page_text: An eccentric E on this plate s is arranged to slide laterally on the shaft Q and
is rotated by the same by means of tongue and groove. A lever arm aⓇ is pressed
by the spring against the disc E³ and is at its other end connected to the slide u so
that when the aforenamed eccentric disc E' is rotated, the guide flaps K will be
caused to reciprocate.
A second plate u is fixed to the plate G¹ so as to form an open space through
which the edge of the fabric runs.
The plate G has an opening through which the flap and gripper surface pass
whereas the plate u has a smaller slot q in which only the smaller gliding surface
of the flap K can enter.
The construction and operation of the guide flap is represented in the Figs. 10B,
10°, 10º.
The slide u carries an arm e¹ to the end of which a spring f6 with catch nose is
attached. Fig. 10B represents the guide flap K pressing by its own elastic power
against the fabric. Fig. 10° represents the selvage gripped by the gripper, and
the gliding surface entering the slot y. A glide roll n arranged at the end of the
slot serves to remove the flap from the fabric and strikes against the bent end of
the guide flap when the latter nears the end of its outward hub whereby the guide
flap is depressed and brought out of contact with the fabric as shown in Fig. 10º.
A hook o' is fixed to the guide flap beneath the guide surface and which snaps
under the catch nose of the spring f, when the flap is pressed down and thus
brought out of contact with the fabric. 2 is a pin or peg and serves as stop for the
spring when the flap has reached the limits of its inward stroke, so that the flap
can again ascend. The selvage is drawn by the guide flap so far outwards (as
shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 10) so that the said selvage reaches beyond the
outer edge of the shearing table S as is necessary in shearing fabrics with thick edges.
Fig. 11 represents the application of a guide flap to another part of a shearing
machine, the mechanism for operating the guide flap being for the sake of clearness
omitted.
In order to prevent the fabric returning to its original position, after it has been
drawn outwards by the guide flap a roller U is employed which has its bearings in
a moveable arm a which is pressed downwards by a spring fand is alternately
moved up and down by means of an eccentric E on the shaft 2. During the
outward movement of the guide flap the roller is lifted from the fabric by the
eccentric but descends in the same moment when the flap is about to be lifted from
the fabric and remains lying on the selvage during the inward movement of the
said flap.
Fig. 12 represents two like chains M' running over wheels 2 and which are
arranged laterally to the machine parallel to the run of the fabric and imme-
diately behind a guide flap K.
Gripping surfaces m are arranged at like intervals on some of the links of
the chains so that the gripping surfaces of the upper chain always meet a like
surface of the lower chain and are pressed on to each other. These gripping
surfaces m consist of india rubber and are provided with roughened surface or
teeth. The speed of the chains is so adjusted, that at the moment when the
guide flap has reached the outward limit of its stroke and is about to be lifted
from the fabric two of the gripper surfaces meet, grip the selvage and guide
the same along in parallel direction.
The driving mechanism is for clearness sake omitted from the drawing. The
fabric can be transported in other more or less complicated manner, for instance by
means of opening and closing flaps.
The apparatus represented by Figs. 13 and 134 has four shafts Q₁ having their
bearings in the frame N¹ and carrying at each side two chain wheels c³, over which
suitable chains M² run. The links of this chain are provided with a dovetailed
guide in which the rails 0 0¹ guide laterally. These rails which are operated by
the chains are provided at their ends with grip hooks by means of which they are
guided along the guide frame V and caused to reciprocate backwards and forwards.

page_text: The upper and lower chains move with like speed in the direction represented
by Fig. 13 whereby one of the rails of the upper chain O meets a rail O¹ carried
by the lower chain and remain together until the one moves upwards and the other
downwards.
The guide flaps K are attached to the upper rails O and act by their own
elasticity.
The fabric passes between the upper and lower rails and is pressed by the guide
flaps against the lower rails O' which serve as bearing surface.
The gliding surfaces of the guide flaps protrude only so far beyond the gripping
surface as the fabric is thick. When the fabric enters between the rails 0 0₁ the
glide flaps in their outward stroke glide over the fabric until the gliding surface
passes the selvage which is gripped by the gripping surface and drawn outwards.
A chain wheel Z by means of which the apparatus is driven is fixed to the journal
of the upper shaft Q¹.
A wheel attached to the other end of the same shaft gears into the wheel
and transmits its movement to the lower chains. The guide frames V are provided
with projecting lugs which are fixed to the standards I which have moveable feet P,
rest on the slides S¹ and are held by annular guides s' screwed to the slides.
The slides S' can be provided with a screw spindle T with hand wheel and be
thereby adjusted on the bed L' in order to be able to adjust the guide frames V to
the breadth of the fabric under treatment.
The rotary foot P of the standard I is provided with toothing into which a
worm m² arranged on the annular guide s¹ gears, so that by operating the latter, the
guide frames V will be given a greater or less incline so as to stretch the fabric
more or less.
This apparatus can be so arranged that the grip surfaces of the guide flaps are
broader than the rails O or so that the rails 0 0¹ are nearer together than shown
in the drawing, in order that the gripping surfaces of the guide flaps which draw
the fabric outwards leave no intermittent space but form a closed series. For some
purposes the guide frames can be given another form than that shown in Fig. 13,
the same can for instance be so formed that when seen from above they form a right
angle, so that the selvage is first led at an incline outwards and then for a
predetermined distance parallel to the run of the fabric. Fig. 14 represents a
guide flap fixed to the rail O the glide surface of the flap snapping into a recess of
the opposite rail 01 whilst the gripper grips the fabric. As the guide flap presses
by its own clasticity against the rail Of the outer end would naturally be bent
outwards and leave the rail O as soon as the flap leaves the said rail and in order
to prevent this action the said flap is provided at one end with a bent finger 3 which
enters a recess in the rail O and lies against a small plate fixed over the afore-
named recess. The rail which serves as bearing surface can be replaced by a
flat surface over which the fabric glides.
Fig. 15 represents guide flaps applied to rails O so that they are by means of
inclined suitably formed guide frames V¹ guided around a rotary roll up and pressed
against the same over which the fabric runs so that the roll acts as bearing surface
for the guide flaps, whereby the guide flaps enter appropriate recesses in the
roll u³.
Instead of the roll an ordinary rail holder with inclined discs can be used as
bearing surface the rails of which correspond in movement and position with the
outer rails O.
Fig. 16 represents the guide flaps applied to the rails of an ordinary stretcher
with inclined discs V2 over which the fabric is guided. The glide surface projects
only so far beyond the gripper surface as the fabric is thick. A smooth leather
strap or lath band u drawn over the rolls d' serves as bearing surface. Instead of
a lath band a fixed circular smooth surface might be employed as bearing surface
for the guide flaps, for instance a smooth curved plate over which the fabric held
by the guide flaps would glide, could be arranged round the stretcher.

page_text: By slightly modifying my invention, hereinbefore described and illustrated in the
drawings, the same may be adapted for other machines, thus for instance the device
shown in Fig. 18 in combination with a shearing machine, could be equally well
arranged for a presser. The running chain shown in Fig. 8 could also be employed
in any other machine to guide the selvage.
The device may also be applied to various parts of one and the same machine.
My invention may also be employed for many purposes other than those herein-
before mentioned, thus for instance in winding and doubling machines and plaiters,
sewing embroidering machines as also printing machines, and generally in all such
machines in which it is necessary or desirous to guide the selvages of the fabric
under treatment.
The device hereinbefore described can further be applied to any machine in
which running cloths or bands or endless bands are used, such as pressers and paper
engines, in order to keep the said bands in their proper position.
It is obvious that the shape of the guide flaps as also the means for operating
the same may be modified in many ways without departing from the nature of my
invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and the manner of operating the same, I declare that what I claim
and desire to secure by Letters Patent is :-
In finishing and other machines: The device for automatically guiding the
selvages of fabrics, consisting principally in the employment of one or more guide
flaps, having a projecting glide surface and a retreating gripping surface, and being
operated backwards and forwards on each side of the fabric, in an oblique direction
with regard to the selvage, and in such manner, that whilst the said guide flaps are
moving from the inside towards the edge of the fabric, they shall be caused to press
the latter against a bearing surface, but on moving in the opposite direction they
shall be lifted off the fabric, further, that during their movement in the first
direction, viz., towards the edge of the fabric the projecting glide surface shall be
caused to glide over the fabric until it has passed the selvage, when the guide flaps
are depressed so as to grip the selvage with their teeth or roughened surface, thus
drawing the same outwards to a certain extent, substantially as described and
shown.
Dated this 10th day of January 1891
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicant.