IMPROVE. MENTS IN MACHINES FOR TWISTING FRINGE ON SHAWLS AND OTHER FABRICS
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Brooks, of Bennington, in the State of
Vermont, United States of America, for the Invention of "IMPROVE.
MENTS IN MACHINES FOR TWISTING FRINGE ON SHAWLS AND OTHER FABRICS."
Sealed the 19th May 1874, and dated the 26th February 1874.

page_text: :
NOW KNOW YE, that 1, the said wшam Brooks, do hereby declare
that the following Complete Specification, under my hand and seal,
fully describes and ascertains the nature of the said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, in and by the following
statement, reference being made to the Drawings hereto annexed and to
the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say) :-
This Invention relates to machinery for twisting the fringes of shawls
and other fabrics which are woven with the yarns of the warp, or of the
woof, or of the warp and woof extended from the edges of the shawl
or fabric, and united at their outer ends to other like shawls or fabrics,
or to woven waste fillets or selvedge strips.
=
One part of this Invention consists in the combination of reciprocating
strand dividing blades and lifters and twisting fingers, essentially such
as herein-after described, and two endless feeding belts, chains, or bands,
one having a row of teeth to engage with the fringe against the selvedge
or waste fillet, and the other furnished with numerous fine teeth to
engage with the woven body of the shawl or fabric, so that when the
machine is running a person can stretch and secure successive portions
of the fringe border of one edge of a series of the connected or separated
shawls or fabrics upon the teeth of the said endless chains, belts, or
bands, while the latter will progressively feed the fringe to the action of
the said strand dividing blades and lifters and twisting fingers.
Another part of this Invention consists in the combination of strand
separating blades and lifters and twisting fingers, essentially such as
herein-after described, and two endless feeding belts, chains, or bands, of
which one is flexible or movable toward and from the other, and a device
or devices by which the said flexible or movable feeding belt, chain, or
band is caused to approach toward and recede from the other at each
twisting operation of the machine, and thereby automatically relieve the
stands of the fringe from too great tension while successively undergoing
the twisting process, and yet stretch the untwisted portion of the fringe
sufficiently at the proper times to cause it to be properly divided into
strands by the separating blades at each insertion thereof through the
fringe yarns adjacent to the twisted strands.
415
Another part of this Invention consists in the combination of endless
feeding belts, chains, or bands, or any other suitable known feeding
device, and strand dividing blades and lifters and twisting fingers, and a

page_text: strand guiding finger or fingers, essentially such as herein-after described,
or any equivalent therefor, whereby pairs of the fringe strands which
are not next to each other are first twisted separately and next twisted
together so as to be separated at their ends, and there crossed by one or
more of the separately twisted strands of another pair or pairs that are
twisted together, substantially as herein-after set forth.
Another part of this Invention consists in the combination with the
endless toothed feeding belts, bands, or chains, and strand dividing blades
and lifters, and twisting fingers of a doffer, essentially such as herein-
after described, or its equivalent, for facilitating the automatic pro-
gressive discharge of the shawls or fabrics from the said toothed endless
feeders after and as fast as the fringe shall be twisted.
Another part of this Invention consists in the combination of the
strand separating blades and lifters and twisting fingers, or their equiva-
lents, and endless feeding belts, chains, or bands, having a jointed or
flexible platform which travels and turns with the said feeding belts,
bands, or chains, and which will support and progressively carry forward
the bodies of the series of shawls or fabrics as the twisting of the fringe
thereon proceeds.
Another part of this Invention consists in the combination with the
strand dividing blades and lifters, twisting fingers, and endless feeding
bolts, chains, or bands of a device or devices essentially such as herein-
after described, or any equivalent therefor, by which one of the said
feeding belts, chains, or bands can be adjusted laterally to different
distances from the other and in respect to the dividing blades and
twisting fingers, so as to thereby render the mechanism suitable for
twisting fringes of different widths.
In the aforesaid Drawings Fig. 1 is a plan of a machine which
embodies the distinguishing features of this Invention.
Fig. 2 is an elevation of a section of the same machine at or about
the line z, z, and viewed in the direction of the arrow y in Figs. 1
and 4.
Fig. 3 is an elevation of a section of the same at or about the line 2, 2,
and viewed in the direction of the arrow x Figs. in 1 and 4.
Fig. 4 is an elevation of a section at or about the line wo, wo, and viewed
in the direction of the arrow in Figs. 1, 2, and 3,

page_text: ་
Fig. 5 is a view of parts which operate the strand guiding finger and
the device which moves one band of the fringe feeder toward and from
the other at each twisting operation.
Fig. 6 is an edge elevation, and Fig. 7 is a plan of the strand dividing
blades and lifters, and Fig. 8 is an enlarged view of the strand guiding
fingers in the machine shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4.
Figs. 9, 10, and 11 are top views of parts of a shawl border and of
some parts of the machine at different stages in the fringe twisting
operation, when each pair of the fringe strands that are twisted together
are separated and crossed at their ends by two other strands; and Figs.
12, 13, and 14 are elevations of sections of the parts shown in Figs. 9,
10, and 11 respectively at or about the lines u, u, and viewed in the
direction of the arrows t.
Figs. 15, 16, and 17 are plans of portions of a shawl border and some
parts of the machine illustrating different steps in the twisting operation
when the two next adjacent strands of the fringe are twisted together in
pairs without any intervening strand or strands; and Figs. 18, 19, and
20 are elevations of sections at or about the lines 8, 8, of the parts shown
in Figs. 15, 16, and 17 respectively, viewed in the direction of the
arrows 7.
Figs. 21 and 22 are plans of a part of a shawl border and some
portions of the twisting fingers and strand dividers at different periods
in the twisting operation when each pair of the fringe strands that
are twisted together are separated at their ends by one other fringe
strand only.
A is the stationary frame of the machine; B, B³, are two endless
fringe feeding belts or bands which are turned together simultaneously
and equally step by step. The band B has pins or teeth q to engage
with the fringe yarns C, Fig. 9, at the edge next to the selvedge or waste
fillet C', and the other band B¹ has fine teeth p to engage with the woven
body C of the shawl or other fabric. D, D½, are fringe twisting fingers
arranged and operating essentially the same as in some fringe twisting
machines heretofore made. These twisting fingers should be faced with
vulcanized india-rubber or some other suitable material that will turn
and twist the strands of yarns. E, E³, and F, F', are blades which slide
up and down and divide the yarns of the fringe into strands as the
blades slide upward.
•

page_text: On the blades F, F¹, Figs. 6 and 14, are projections o, o', which as the
blades ascend lift the middle parts of the outer divided strands above
the other portions of the fringe, and thereby present such strands to the
action of the twisting fingers.
In order to lessen the tension on the strands while undergoing the
twisting operation, and to straighten the yarns while being divided into
strands, one feed band B' is flexible sideways, and the middle part thereof
is moved laterally toward and from the dividing blades and twisting
fingers and the other feed band B at each twisting operation by means
of an intermittingly reciprocating bar or slide G, having thereon guides
n, n', Figs. 4 and 5, between which pass projections in Figs. 3 and 4 fast
on the feed band B¹. Stationary guards H and I, Figs. 1, 2, and 4, keep
the flexible feed band B in proper position. J is a finger which guides
the intervening strand or strands of fringe when the two strands that
are twisted together by the machine are separated at their ends by
another strand or strands.
K, Figs. 1 and 2, is a vibrating doffer which discharges the twisted
fringe from the teeth q of the belt B as fast as the fringe is fed
forward.
L, Figs. 1 and 4, is a flexible platform which is secured to and moves
with the belt B¹, and supports and carries forward the main body of the
series of shawls or fabrics as the twisting of the fringe thereof progresses.
The feed belt B¹ extends around and is turned by drums or pulleys M, M',
on the rotary shafts N, N¹. The feed belt B extends around and is
turned by pulleys O, O', which are turned by the shafts N, N³, and can
be moved endwise thereon so as to adjust the belt B to different distances
from the band B', twisting fingers D, D', and dividing and lifting blades.
E, E, F, F, by means of screws P, P', which turn in fixed bearings
Q, Q, and engage with nuts 1, 1, Fig. 2, that are fast on a bar R, which
is fastened to the guards H and I and to yokes k, l, which embrace the
pulleys O, O'
The arrows in the Figures indicate the directions in which the
contiguous parts move when the machine is running. When the
machine is in operation a person secures the fringe border of one side of
a series of the shawls or fabrics progressively upon the teeth of the
feeding bands B and B', just forward of the guard S, and with the row
of teeth q of band B entered through or between the fringe yarns C

page_text: against the inner edge of the selvedge strip to serve as a guide for
feeding the fringe truly to the twisting devices, and with the body of
the shawl or fabric secured upon the fine teeth p of the band B¹ so far
from the edge of the fringe as to not interfere with the uniform twisting
of the fringe close into or against the edge of the woven body of the
shawl or fabric.
yarns
When the machine is arranged as in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4 to twist
together pairs of strands that are separated at their ends by two other
strands, as represented in Figs. 9, 10, and 11, the bands B, B³, feed the
fringe forward step by step a distance equal to the width of two single
strands just after each twisting operation and while all the strand
dividing and lifting blades E, E, F, F¹, are entirely below the plane of
the fringe, as shown in Figs. 3 and 12, and so as to bring the fringe
O over the blades, as indicated in Fig. 9. Then the blades E, E¹,
and F, F", slide up together through the fringe, as indicated in Figs. 2
and 13, and thereby separate the yarns into three strands, of which the
two outer ones j, j, Fig. 10, are raised by the parts o, o¹, above the
middle one i, as in Figs. 4 and 13. Then the twisting fingers D, D¹,
enter the apertures h through the blades E, E¹, and F, F¹, and in moving
inward, one over and the other under the elevated strands j, j³, twist
those strands first separately, as indicated in Fig. 10, and the slide G
moves the middle part of the feed band B¹ toward the feed fand B so as
to lessen the tension on the raised strands while the latter are being
twisted. Then the blades F, F, each of which has the part g, Fig. 4,
pivoted at g¹, and furnished with a return spring 9³, are lowered below
the fringe and fingers D, D¹, while the blades E, E¹, remain elevated, as
in Figs. 4 and 14. Then the finger J is turned downward below the
raised strands j, j, as in Fig. 4, and the further inward movement of
the fingers D, D', brings the strands j, j³, together, and the finger J
presses the strand i back of the united strands, as in Fig. 11, and is
then turned upward, as in Figs. 3 and 12, and as the fingers D, D¹, turn
outward the united strands j³, Fig. 11, are twisted together, and as the
fingers D, D', leave each other the united strands 1, Fig. 11, drop
forward of the finger J and strand i, and the slide G moves the band B¹
of the feeder further from the other feed belt B so as to straighten the
untwisted yarns of the fringe. The fingers D, D¹, are then entirely
withdrawn from the blades E, E¹, and the latter are lowered below the
fringe, as in Figs. 3 and 12, and then the fringe border is fed forward by

page_text: the feeder B, B', a step equal to the width of two single fringe strands,
and the finger J moves forward and holds the strand i over the space
between the blades E and F, as shown in Figs. 9 and 12. Then all the
blades E, E', and F, F¹, are raised together, and the strand i is lifted and
becomes the strand j in Fig. 10, and is guarded by the finger J until it
and the strand are twisted by the fingers D, D'; and all these opera-
tions of the machine are repeated continuously while the machine is
running, and is supplied with the fringe to be twisted.
The machine will twist fringe in which each pair of the strands that
are twisted together are separated at their ends by only one strand, as in
Figs. 21 and 22, by causing the feeder B, B¹, to move the fringe forward
the width of three strands at one step, and the width of only one strand
at the next step, repeatedly; and in that case the twisting fingers D, D¹,
blades E, E, and F, F¹, finger J, and slide G are all operated essentially
as above specified while twisting together two strands that are separated
at their ends by two other strands, as shown in Figs. 9, 10, and 11.
e', are lowered the fringe
In twisting together strands that are separated at their ends by only
one strand the blades E, E¹, F, F¹, are raised just after each feed step of
three strands, and do not lift the middle strand, but do elevate the outer
strands, which are then twisted separately and together by the fingers
D, D, so as to form the double strand f, Fig. 21, and just after the
descent of the blades F, F¹, and before the twisting together of the outer
strands is completed, the finger J moves and holds the middle strand e,
Fig. 21, back of the outer united strands f.. When the twisting of the
double strand is completed and the blades e,
is fed forward a step equal to the width of one strand, and the finger J
is moved forward so as to bring the double strand forward of the
blade E and so as to hold the strand e between the blades E and F, as
shown in Fig. 22, and as the blades E, E¹, and F, F¹, are next elevated
the strand e and the outer one e¹ between the blades F¹ and E¹ will be
raised, leaving a vacant space between them, as in Fig. 22, and will be
twisted together by the fingers D, D', and will constitute the second
double strand of a pair f, d.
The machine shown by Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4 can be changed so as to
twist together only such strands as are next to each other, as shown in
Figs. 15, 16, and 17, by detaching the finger J and changing the dividing.
blades and strand lifters for the kind that have been used in some fringe

page_text: lifters o³ thereon, are arranged for twisting together two pairs of strands
at each twisting operation.
Figs. 15 and 18 show the positions of the parts just before the dividers
are elevated.
Figs. 16 and 19 represent the positions of the parts after the dividers
have been elevated and while the strands are being twisted separately.
Figs. 17 and 20 show the position of the parts after the descent of
the blades F and while the separately twisted strands are being twisted
together in pairs. In this case the feeders B, B¹, must move the fringe
forward the width of four single strands for each twisting operation.
The machine represented by Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4 is operated by turning
the shaft T. The step-by-step motion is given to the feed bands B, B¹,
by a crank c, Figs. 1 and 4, fast on the shaft T, connecting rod b, lever a,
pawl a¹, Fig. 2, and ratchet wheel 61, fast on the shaft N. The con-
necting rod 6 is jointed to the lever a in an adjustable manner, so that
the length of the step-by-step movements of the fringe feeder B, B³, can
be thereby varied. By having the ratchet 6¹ formed with two teeth,
followed by a vacant space equal to that occupied by the two teeth
repeatedly all around the ratchet, and then giving the pawl a¹ a move-
ment slightly greater than the space for three teeth, the feeders B, B¹,
will then be moved forward one step of three teeth, and next a step of
one tooth repeatedly, as is required, when the machine is used to twist
together strands that are separated at their ends by only one other
strand, as represented in Figs. 21 and 22.
When the machine shall be used in twisting sufficiently yielding
fringe of the kind shown in Fig. 15 or Fig. 9 the feeders B, B³, instead
of being turned step by step may be automatically turned constantly by
a belt running from a suitable small pulley on the shaft T on to a
suitable larger pulley on the shaft N, or by any other suitable means.
The twisting fingers D, D, are operated by a cam U fast on the shaft
T, cam following lever c³, link d³, and arm f¹, fast on the rock shaft h¹,
which carries the finger D by the arm 2, and is geared at m¹ with the
shaft which carries the finger D¹ by the arm. The strand dividers

page_text: Fourth. In combination with the toothed endless feeder in a fringe
twisting machine the vibrating doffer, substantially as described.
Fifth. In combination with the endless feeder in a fringe twisting
machine a flexible endless platform, which moves with the feeder, and
supports and carries along the bodies of the series of shawls or fabrics 5
as the twisting of the fringe thereof progresses, substantially as set
forth.
Sixth. The combination of the strand dividing blades and lifters,
twisting fingers, endless feeding belts, chains, or bands, and devices by
which one of the said feeding bands, chains, or belts can be adjusted at 1
different distances from the other and in respect to the twisting devices,
substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Brooks, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twelfth day of February, A.D. 1874.
Witnesses,
WILLIAM BROOKS. (L.S.) 1
CHA'. H. SMITH, 121, Nassau St., New York.
HAROLD SERRELL,
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