Improvements in Machinery for Webbing or Rolling Weft Fork Blanks.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application. 10th Sept., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 10th July, 1895-Accepted, 7th Sept., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery for Webbing or Rolling Weft Fork
Blanks.
We, JOSEPH SCHOFIELD of 23, Derby Street, Colne, in the County of Lancaster,
Foreman, and JAMES CRABTREE of Waterside, Colne aforesaid, Mill Furnisher,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to the intermediate stage in the construction of weft forks,
after the blanks have left the forger, and previous to their transmission to the
cutting machine, which cuts out the prongs, and completes the construction of the
fork. This process has been previously performed by hammering the blank on an
anvil, no workable machinery having yet been invented, which would web or form
the end of the blank into the desired shape preparatory to cutting.
Our invention consists in the employment of a set of rolls, preferably eccentric
in shape, and the lower roll provided with a recess for the introduction of the blank,
so that the same will be met by the swell of the eccentric rolls at the required time,
and thereby be formed or rolled to the desired taper whilst in a heated condition
from the boss or socket to the end of the web, the latter portion to be afterwards
cut into prongs.
The rolls may run in a contrary direction to the point where the blanks are
introduced, a suitable guide being provided both back and front to retain the
blank in the desired position in the recess until it is acted upon by the swell of the
eccentric rolls, when after the necessary taper or web shape has been given to
the blank, it will be projected from the machine in the direction it was introduced
and will then be ready for the cutting and shaping machine.
The rolls are only preferably made of the width of the fork, and besides a
recess or cavity being formed in both the eccentric rolls, the shaft of the lower
roll has a large boss screwed on each side of larger diameter than the roll itself,
so as to serve as a guide for the blank, and prevent the possibility of it losing its
position. The nip or active surface of the eccentric rolls is circumferentially such
as to be just sufficient for the formation of the web of all usual sized fork blanks.
The rolls may be operated from a shaft below in a suitable framework, and
having a fast and loose pulley at one end and a fly wheel at the other. The upper
eccentric roll may first receive motion from this shaft by toothed gearing and
impart it by the same means to the lower roll, both rolls preferably running at one
uniform speed.
In a modification the rolls may be so arranged and adapted, that the web shall
be formed continuously, and the blank carried through the rolls to the opposite
side, a suitable recess being formed in the rolls to allow the boss or socket of the
blank fork to pass, and at the same time the tapering being done on the entry of
the blank, which is gradually relieved from the nip of the rolls as they near the
boss.
Dated this 7th day of September 1894.
F. RICHMOND,
12, Standish Street, Burnley, Agent for Applicants.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery for Webbing or Rolling Weft Fork
Blanks.
We, JOSEPH SCHOFIELD of 23, Derby Street, Colne, in the County of Lancaster,
Foreman, and JAMES CRABTREE of Waterside, Colne aforesaid, Mill Furnisher,
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 :-
This invention relates to the intermediate stage in the construction of weft
forks, after the blanks have left the forger, and previous to their transmission
to the cutting machine, which cuts out the prongs, and completes the construction
of the fork. This process has been previously performed by hammering the
blank on
an anvil, no workable machinery having yet been invented, which
would web or form the end of the blank into the desired shape preparatory to
cutting.
Our invention consists in the employment of a set of rolls, preferably eccentric
in shape, and the lower roll provided with a recess for the introduction of the blank,,
so that the same will be met by the swell of the eccentric rolls at the required time,
and thereby be formed or rolled to the desired taper whilst in a heated condition
from the boss or socket to the end of the web, the latter portion to be afterwards
cut into prongs.
The rolls may run in a contrary direction to the point where the blanks are
introduced, a suitable guide being provided both back and front to retain the blank
in the desired position in the recess, until it is acted upon by the swell of the
eccentric rolls, when, after the necessary taper or web shape has been given to the
blank, it will be projected from the machine in the direction it was introduced, and
will then be ready for the cutting and shaping machine.
The rolls are only preferably made of the width of the fork, and besides a recess
or cavity being formed in both the eccentric rolls, the shaft of the lower roll has a
large boss screwed on each side, of larger diameter than the roll itself, so as to serve
as a guide for the fork, and prevent the possibility of it losing its position. The
nip or active surface of the rolls is circumferentially such as to be just sufficient for
the formation of all usual sized fork blanks.
The rolls may be operated from a shaft below in a suitable framework, and
having a fast and loose pulley at one end and a fly wheel at the other. The lower
eccentric roll may first receive motion from this shaft by toothed gearing, and
impart it by the same means to the upper roll, both rolls preferably running at one
uniform speed.
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a machine for webbing weft fork blanks, constructed
in accordance with our invention.
A is the framing of the machine; B and C the eccentric or similarly shaped
rolls mounted on shafts D and E. The rolls on each side are provided with bosses
screwed on the shafts to keep the rolls in position, and, as regards the lower roll C,
of larger diameter than the roll itself to serve as a guide for the insertion of the
weft fork blank, and prevent the possibility of it deviating from its position.
Figs. 2 and 3 are sectional elevations of the eccentric rolls, shewing their shape,
and it will be seen, that the lower roll is recessed or cut away about two parts of
its length, leaving a ridge or raised surface on one side. This is preferably
sufficiently long to form the web. The recess in the upper roll gradually tapers,
until the roll assumes one uniform diameter.
Fig. 2 shews the position of the rolls on the insertion of the blank at F. Both

page_text: rolls revolve in a contrary direction to the point where the blank is introduced, or
against the insertion of the blank at F. The weft fork blank is inserted in a heated
condition as far as its boss, and first becomes acted upon when the rolls are in the
position shewn in Fig. 3. The rolls as they revolve gradually bring it to the
desired taper or web shape, the nip or active surface being just sufficient for
the formation of all usual sized fork blanks into web shape, previous to being
cut into prongs. The length of the raised portion or ridge of the lower roll C
determines the length of the web formation of the blank.
A suitable guide G may be employed on one or both sides of the rolls to steady
the blank as it is being acted upon by the rolls, which, when the web has been
formed is projected from the machine in the direction it was introduced.
Referring to Fig. 1 the shaft H carries loose and fast pulleys J and K at one
end, by which the machine is driven, whilst at its other end it carries fly wheel L.
Toothed gear wheels M and N impart motion to the shaft E of the lower eccentric
roll C, which, through the medium of gear wheels O and P turn the upper roll B.
To preserve greater clearness in the drawings, guide G is not shewn in front
view Fig. 1. The unshaded portion next the roll C in this view is the projecting
lips of the bosses on each side, which are of similar shape in section to the roll C,
but of larger diameter. The position of the rolls B and C in Fig. 1 is exactly as
represented in section in Fig. 3.
The blank is inserted in a heated condition by a pair of blacksmith's tongs.
The projecting lips of the bosses of the lower roll Ć prevent the possibility of the
blank swerving from its position, whilst being acted upon by the rolls, the guide G
being useful merely to steady the blank until such time as it is seized by the active
portion of the rolls.
Figs. 4 and 5 are elevation and plan respectively representing the appearance of
the blank previous to the operation of rolling. Figs. 6 and 7 are similar views,
which well illustrate the shape of the blank after it has been webbed or tapered by
our improved machinery. The lips of the rolls B and C act as a stop for the boss
or socket of the blank, and the operation of webbing or rolling is performed as
the blank is being projected from the machine, in a contrary direction to that in
which it was introduced.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. The improved construction of machinery for webbing of weft fork blanks,
substantially as shewn and described.
2. Eccentric or like rolls B and C, constructed as described and illustrated for
giving the necessary web taper to fork blanks.
Dated this 8th day of July 1895
F. RICHMOND,
12, Standish Street, Burnley, Agent for the Applicants.