AN IMPROVED CLOTH-STRETCHING OR TENTERING MACHINE
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for an Invention
of "AN IMPROVED CLOTH-STRETCHING OR TENTERING MACHINE." A com-
munication from abroad by Messieurs Gourdiat, Frères, of Earare, France,
Manufacturers.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th January 1881.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent
Agents, Southampton Buildings, London. "AN. IMPROVED CLOTH-STRETCHING OR
TENTERING MACHINE." [A communication from abroad by Messieurs Gourdiat,
Frères, of Earare, France, Manufacturers.]
It is well known that woven fabrics generally, and especially those made of
cotton or silk, or of cotton and silk combined, are submitted to a finishing process
comprising operations for stretching or tentering, loosening the threads, and
softening the said fabrics.
The fabric, impregnated with some suitable finish, and whilst still damp, is
stretched upon a stretching machine or frame, first in the direction of its length,
and then in the direction of its width, and its edges are held fast by clasps or
clamps. When the fabric has been stretched to a certain degree it is manipulated
for the purpose of rendering the weft-threads therein straight and parallel; this
result is attained by causing the fabric to take a slanting position, first in one
direction and then in the other, whilst maintaining it stretched in such a manner
that the threads bear one against the other, and finally assume a straight direction.
This inclination or slanting of the fabric is caused by making the frame hinged, so
that the lateral clamps are moved on the lines of a parallelogram in one direction
or the other. This is the operation by which the loosening of the threads is
effected whilst the fabric is still damp.
When this operation is finished the slanting of the fabric in the two directions
may be continued whilst the same is damp and until it is perfectly dry; this
continued alternating movement, which is not extended so far as is the case in the
lowering operation, and which may be varied according to the desired result, has
for its object to render the finish of the fabric flexible, supple, or soft. If after the
loosening operation the fabric were arrested in its rectilinear position, and allowed
to dry, the finish would have greater resistance, and would be of a special kind."
The frame or apparatus constructed according to this Invention is so arranged
that in the movement for effecting the loosening of the threads the weft-threads
[Price 8d.1
•

page_text: are elongated, in consequence of a peculiar position of the hinge pins or pivots of
the clamping or holding bands and of the cross-pieces which keep them apart, the
said pivots being carried back slightly behind the vertical plane of the clamping
bands. Furthermore, to preserve the elongation of the weft-threads as such
elongation is produced, there is combined with the widening mechanism an
automatic controlling device, which acts upon the said mechanism, and shifts the
lateral clamps for a distance equal or proportionate to the elongation effected by
the loosening operation. At the moment when the loosening takes place a greater
widening of the fabric may be effected than that corresponding to the elongation
due to the said loosening operation.
The arrangement above described constitutes the chief distinctive feature of the
present Invention.
In carrying the said Invention into practice I provide a machine or frame, at
each end of which there is a roller provided with pins, and held between two
supports fixed on a cross-piece which is pivotted on a bolt. Throughout the whole
length of the apparatus, and at each side thereof, there are clamp-bands or bars,
upon which are hinged the clamping devices or clamps, which press upon the edge
of the fabric to be finished; these clamps are pressed by means of screws. The
bands or bars are hinged upon cross-pieces, the length of which can be varied at
will, so as to stretch or widen the fabric more or less; these crosspieces are formed
by sliding pieces, which carry at their opposite extremities pivots, upon which the
bands are hinged; the latter are free to slide along a piece of wood, and the whole
of these parts together swing on a pivot placed in a support, and are also firmly
supported in their rotation by a collar in which rotates a sleeve forming part of the
support.
The clamp bands or bars are moved by causing the sliding pieces to slide to one
side or to the other in the same manner as, and simultaneously with, all the cross
pieces of the apparatus, so that the fabric is stretched equally throughout its entire
length.
For thus altering the length of the cross-pieces they are attached at their ends at
top and bottom to straps or bands (arranged in two sets), which pass over rollers,
then over pulleys, and either in front or at the rear to supports, where they
are attached to a shaft which can be rotated at will, and which is provided on its
exterior with a rack and pawl, by which means the said straps or bands can be
operated at will. All the last named supports are fixed between the sides of a
long central frame, which extends along the whole apparatus in such a manner
that by advancing this frame towards the right all the straps forming one set are
simultaneously stretched, and thereby the pivots of the cross-pieces are brought
nearer to one another, and consequently the distance between the clamp-bands is
diminished. When however this frame is moved towards the left the straps
forming the second set are stretched; and the sliding cross-pieces are moved; the
clamp-bands move away from each other, and the fabric held between them is
stretched crosswise.
At the end of the said apparatus the the sides of the central frame are fixed to a
piece of metal which is threaded for the reception of a screw held on the one hand
in one of the supports, and on the other by a cross-piece, against the ends of which
the side rails of the movable central frame are free to slide; this will move according
as the screw is turned in one direction or the other.
In the ordinary apparatus of this class the screw is turned by hand by the
attendant, but to render the working more rapid I employ a mechanical device for
this purpose. To this end the aforesaid screw is provided with a bevelled toothed
wheel, with which gears a pinion, whose vertical shaft carries a pinion driven by a
bevel pinion, whose axis receives motion by means of a bevel friction-wheel and
one of two other bevelled wheels; the last named wheels may by a lever be
caused to slide upon their axis, so as to turn the screw in one direction or the
other, and the said lever is fixed in one of its three positions against a divided
sector by means of a pin or otherwise.

page_text: The pivots by means of which the clamp-bands are hinged to their cross-pieces
are somewhat behind the vertical plane of the clamps. This position of the said
pivots has the following effect, that is to say :-When the fabric held between the
clamps is to be subjected to the loosening operation the clamps are moved
longitudinally around the pivots of the cross-pieces by reason of the breaking or
loosening operation, and by reason of the position of the pivots a widening of the
fabric is effected.
The movement for breaking or loosening determines the widening of the fabric.
When the apparatus is brought back into its rectilinear position the fabric becomes
loose or slack and falls; it is therefore important for maintaining it stretched to
move the clamps away from each other for a distance equal to the increase in
width acquired during the loosening operation; this I effect by mechanism
constructed as follows:-To the axle of any of the oscillating cross-pieces I adapt
a roller against which bears a lever pivoted upon any suitable support; to this lever
is attached a cord passing over a roller and ending at a weighted lever, the weight
constantly pressing the lever against the roller whatever the position of the cross-
piece may be. The weighted lever operates a pawl acting on a ratchet wheel; the
pawl is provided with a weight which tends to press it against the ratchet-wheel;
the latter is keyed to the extremity of a shaft which extends to the front of the
apparatus and carries a pinion meshing with a wheel fixed upon the end screw
hereinbefore mentioned.
When the apparatus is caused to assume an inclined or slanting position in any
direction the cross-piece is inclined, the lever oscillates, and the pawl advances a
certain number of teeth. When the apparatus returns to its rectilinear or normal
position the weighted lever is lifted, the pawl pushes the ratchet-wheel, and the end
screw rotates; it acts upon the central frame, the clamp-bands move away from
each other, and the fabric widened by the loosening operation is kept stretched.
When the rectilineal or normal position is passed the loosening effect continues,
but in the opposite direction, the weft-threads are again elongated, and in the
return-movement the screw is again actuated, the fabric is widened, and so on.
The relative dimensions of the parts of this mechanism may be such that the
widening which takes place in the movement of the apparatus when returning to
its rectilineal position is equal to the widening effected by the loosening operation or
greater than the latter or less than the same; in all cases however there is an
automatic widening during this looseuing operation; it is however necessary to
provide for throwing this mechanism out of gear either by hand or automatically,
when, for example, the screw is to be automatically operated. For this purpose a
slide-rod is provided which serves to disengage the pawl; this rod is attached to a
connecting rod, the axle of which ends in front of the apparatus in proximity to
the main shipping lever. When the latter is turned to the right or to the left to
throw the end screw in gear, this lever strikes against a stop, of which there are
two, and this causes the axle to turn slightly, and the rod disengages the pawl
from the ratchet.
In consequence of the elongation by the loosening operation, which is caused, as
specified, by the position of the pivot and by the automatic gear of the end screw
which causes lateral tension of the fabric, the operation of loosening by means of
this improved apparatus is more rapid and complete than is possible by the ordinary
means.
The operation of breaking or loosening the threads by means of this apparatus
can be effected either by hand or by suitable mechanical means.
The form, the material of which they are made, and the relative dimensions of
the parts of this apparatus may be varied as required for finishing fabrics of various
kinds.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
4th July 1881.
"WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent
"AN IMPROVED CLOTH-STRETCHING OR
Agents, Southampton Buildings, London.
TENTERING MACHINE." A communication from abroad by Messieurs Gourdiat,
Frères, of Earare, France, Manufacturers,
'
It is well known that woven fabrics generally, and especially those made of
cotton or silk, or of cotton and silk combined, are submitted to a finishing or
dressing process, comprising operations for stretching or tentering, loosening, the
threads of and softening the said fabrics.
The fabric, impregnated with some suitable dressing or sizing, and whilst still
damp, is stretched upon a tentering machine or frame, first in the direction of its
length, and then in the direction of its width, while its edges are held fast by
clasps or clamps. When the fabric has been stretched to a certain degree it is
manipulated for the purpose of rendering its weft threads straight and parallel ;
this result is attained by causing the fabric to take a slanting position, first in one
and then in the other direction, whilst keeping it stretched in such a manner that
the threads bear one against the other, and finally assume a straight direction or
position. Provision is made for this inclination or slanting of the fabric by making
the frame hinged so that the lateral clamps are moved on the lines of a parallelogram
in one direction or the other. This is the operation by which the loosening or
"stretching" of the threads is effected whilst the fabric is still damp.
When this operation is finished the slanting of the fabric in the two directions
may be continued whilst the same is damp and until it is dry; this alternating
movement, which is not extended so far as in the loosening operation, and which
may be varied according to the desired result, has for its object to soften the
dressing-and render the fabric flexible or supple. This is the operation of softening
the fabric. If after the loosening operation the fabric were arrested in its
rectilinear position and allowed to dry, the finish would be very harsh and of a
peculiar kind.
The frame or apparatus constructed according to this Invention is so arranged,
that in the movement for effecting the stretching or loosening of the threads, the
weft-threads are elongated in consequence of the peculiar arrangement of the hinge
pins or pivots of the clamping or holding bands, and of the cross pieces which keep
them apart. Furthermore, to preserve the elongation of the weft-threads as such
elongation is produced, there is combined with the widening mechanism an
automatic controlling device, which acts upon the said mechanism and shifts the
lateral clamps for a distance equal or proportionate to the elongation effected by
the stretching or loosening operation. At the moment when the loosening takes
place, a greater widening of the fabric may be effected than that corresponding
with the elongation due to the said loosening operation.
The arrangement above described constitutes an important feature of the present
Invention.
In carrying the same into effect I construct a cloth stretching or tentering
machine, as hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings, in
which,
Figure 1 is a vertical section of one of the machine ends, the length of which
may be varied at will, and
Figure 1 is a plan of the same.
Figure 2 is a section on the line M, N, Figure 1.
The remaining Figures are hereinafter fully described.

page_text: .
To render the peculiar features of my Invention more clearly intelligible, I will
first describe the construction of this machine.
At each end of the said machine there is a roller A provided with pins, and held.
by two exterior supports a, a, fixed on a cross-piece B, which is pivotted on a
bolt C. Throughout the whole length of the said machine or apparatus, and at
each side thereof, extend the bands or bars D, upon which are hinged the clamping
devices or clamps E, which press upon the edge of the fabric to be finished; these
clamps are pressed or caused to grip the fabric by means of screws b. The bands
or bars D, D, are hinged upon cross pieces, the length of which can be varied at
will, so as to stretch or widen the fabric more or less; these cross pieces are formed
by sliding pieces F, F, which carry at their opposite extremities the pivots o, upon
which the bands or bars are hinged; the latter are free to slide along a piece of
wood c, and the whole of these parts together swings on a pivot d placed in the
lower part of a support G. The said cross-pieces are also firmly supported in their
5 rotation by a collar H, in which rotates the sleeve I forming part of the support J.
The distance between the clamp-bands or bars D may be varied by sliding the
cross pieces F, F, in one or the other direction, this movement or adjustment
taking place in like manner and simultaneously for all of the cross pieces of the
apparatus, so that the fabric is stretched to the same extent throughout its entire
length.
For permitting this alteration of the length of the cross pieces they are attached
at their opposite ends to straps or bands e, e, e¹, e', which pass over rollers f. ff¹ƒ³,
then over the pulleys 9, 9', their ends being connected either in front or at the rear
of the said machine in supports h, h¹; there they are attached to shafts i, which can
be rotated at will, and are provided on their exterior with a ratchet wheel and
pawl j; by which means the tension can be exerted at will upon the said straps or
bands. All of the last named supports h, h', are fixed between the sides k, k, of a
long frame which extends along the whole apparatus in such a manner that by
advancing this frame to the right all the straps e, e, forming one set are simul-
taneously stretched, and thereby the pivots of the cross pieces are brought nearer to
one another, and consequently the distance between the clamp-bands is diminished.
When however this frame is moved to the left the straps e', e¹, forming the second-
set are stretched, and the sliding cross pieces F, F, are moved, the clamp-bands
move away from each other, and the fabric held between them is stretched crosswise
or transversely.
At the end of the said machine or apparatus the sides k, k, of this frame are fixed
to a piece of metal K, which is screw-threaded for the reception of a screw. L held
at one end in one of the supports M and at the other end by a cross-piece N, against
the ends of which the side-rails k, k, of the movable frame are free to slide.
This will move according as the screw L is turned in one direction or the
other.
In ordinary apparatus of this class the attendant turns the screw by hand, but
to accelerate the working I employ a mechanical device for this purpose. To this
end the screw L is provided with a bevelled toothed wheel O, with which gears a
bevel wheel or pinion P, whose vertical shaft P¹ (see Figure 3) carries a bevel wheel Q
driven by a bevel wheel Q¹, whose shaft receives motion by means of a bevel friction-
wheel R and one of the wheels S, S; the last named wheels may by means of a
lever S¹ be caused to slide upon their shaft so as to turn the screw either in one
direction or the other, and the said lever is fixed in one of its three positions on a
divided sector S2 by means of a pin or otherwise.
As will be seen by reference to Figure 2, the pivots o by means of which the
clamps are hinged to their cross pieces are slightly behind the vertical plane of the
inside face of the clamps. This position of the said pivots has the following effect,
that is to say-When the fabric held between the clamps is to be stretched or
loosened the clamps are moved longitudinally around the pivots of the cross-pieces,
as shown in dotted lines in the diagram Figure 2a; by reason of this stretching or
loosening operation and of the position of the pivots o a widening of the fabric is

page_text: effected, as will be obvious on reference to the diagram Figure 3*, where the
line E, E, represents a clamp, o its pivot, F the cross-piece, d the axle or pivot of
the latter, and m a part of the edge or selvage. After the stretching has taken
place the line E, E, will be shifted to the position E'; E¹, the cross-piece F2 to F¹,
the pivot o to o', and the selvage m to m¹, because this part of the fabric remains
on the line through o', m³, perpendicular to the clamp band and passing through
this new position o' of the pivot o. The distance between the points m², d, is
therefore equal to half the width of the fabric, which would only have been equal to
the distance between the points m and d if the pivot o had been in the vertical
plane of the clamp without deviation rearwards.
The movement for stretching or loosening consequently determines the widening
of the fabric; when the apparatus is brought back into its rectilinear position the
fabric becomes loose or slack and falls; it is therefore important for maintaining
it stretched to move the clamps away from each other for a distance equal to the
increase in width required during the stretching operation. This I effect by the
mechanism shown in Figure 1a, Figure 2, and Figure 4. This mechanism is con-
structed as follows:-To any one of the oscillating cross-pieces F I adapt a roller l,
against which bears a lever T pivoted at m* upon any suitable support; to this
lever is attached a cord or chain us passing over a roller p, and terminating at a
weighted lever q, the weight of which constantly presses the said lever against the
roller, whatever the position of the cross-piece may be. The lever operates a
pawl acting on a ratchet-wheel s; the pawl r is provided with a weight which
tends to press it against the ratchet-wheel. The latter is keyed to the extremity of
a shaft t, which extends to the front of the apparatus and carries a pinion u gearing
with a wheel u¹ fixed upon the screw L.
.
•
When the apparatus is caused to assume an inclined or slanting position in any
direction the cross-piece F is inclined, the lever T oscillates, and the pawl moves,
over a certain number of teeth. When the apparatus returns to its rectilinear or
normal position the lever q is lifted, the pawl rotates the ratchet wheel, and the³
screw L revolves; the latter acts upon the frame k, k, the clamp bands recede from
each other, and the fabric widened by the loosening operation is kept stretched;
when the rectilinear or normal position is passed the stretching takes place in the
opposite direction, the weft threads are again elongated, and in the return movement
the screw is again actuated, the fabric is widened, and so on, until the operations
are completed.
The relative dimensions of the parts of this mechanism may be such that the
widening which takes place in the movement of the apparatus, when returning to
its rectilineal position, is equal to the widening effected by stretching or greater.
than the latter or less than the same, but in all cases there is an automatic widening
during this stretching operation. It is, however, necessary to provide for putting
the mechanism for effecting this purpose out of gear either by hand or automatically
when, for example, the screw is to be automatically operated by the main gearing.
For this purpose a slide-rod v is provided, which serves to disengage the pawl r;
this rod is attached to a connecting rod x, the axle y of which terminates in front
of the apparatus in proximity to the main shipping lever S¹. When the latter is
turned to the right or to the left to put the screw L in gear this lever strikes one
of the stops; this action causes the axle y to turn slightly and the rod v disengages
the pawl from the ratchet-wheel s. If there were a single roller / and a single
lever T the course of the chain would not be the same in each of the two oblique
movements imparted to the machine or apparatus; this course would vary with '
the distance of the roller / from the point at which the lever T is pivoted. To
avoid this inconvenience I arrange on the same movable cross-piece a second
roller, which acts under the same conditions as the first roller upon a second
lever T. The two levers T, T¹, are parallel when the cross-piece occupies a normal
position with relation to the clamp-bands D, D. The chains us, u, extend from
the points D', D2, of the levers T, T. The chain us coming from the pawl lever q

page_text: passes over the roners g, g, g, and the chain u* is in proximity to the roller g³
directly attached to the chain u³.
If the machine is moved so as to carry the roller away from the point at which
the lever T is pivoted this lever will be operated by the counterweight of the
3 pawl and will follow its roller. The lever T in like manner bears on its roller.l,
which moves nearer to the point at which the lever is pivoted; the said lever T
leaves its roller, but it passes over a distance equal to that passed over, by the
lever T being moved forward, as it is attached to the chain of the counterweight at
the point K; & like effect is produced in the opposite direction by the lever T with
relation to the lever T¹. This arrangement, therefore, effects a regular and even
tension in both directions of the stretching.
When the pivots of the clamp-bands are placed inside of the vertical plane of
the holding clamps instead of outside thereof the contrary effect to that hereinabove
described will be produced. If the fabric held between the holding clamps is
stretched or loosened the latter will be longitudinally moved in the movement of
the frame on the pivots of the cross-pieces, but the greater the movement the more
the fabric yields or slackens and droops, because the points at which the weft.
threads are attached to the bands are brought nearer to one another by reason of
the position of the cross-pieces relatively to the bands (see the diagram, Figure 5).
In this diagram R³, S³, indicate the axis of the machine; T, U, the axis of the
cross-piece oscillating around the point O'; A2, B2, indicate the plane of the
clamp-bands when the machine is in its straight or normal position; P³ indicates
the pivot on which the said clamp-bands are hinged inside the plane of the clamps.
When the clamp-bands, by causing the machine to assume its oblique position, are
shifted to the position A, B1, the point P³ is brought into the position P and the
point D³ at which the fabric is attached moves into the position D*; it is obvious
that consequently a narrowing or rather a slackening of the fabric held between
the clamp-bands will then take place. When the bands are brought back to their
normal position the fabric will become wider and will re-assume its original tension;
in stretching in the other direction the same effect will be produced. Now, I can
avail myself of this last named arrangement by using mechanism analogous to the
first described arrangement, but slightly altered, the alteration consisting in so
actuating the automatic gearing which causes the lateral drawing or widening that
this increased or diminished compensating drawing or widening will be effected
when the machine leaves the rectilinear position in the stretching operation, that
is to say, when the fabric gradually becomes less stretched. When the machine is
returned into its rectilinear position from the extreme limit of the stretching this
gearing causes the drawing or widening to take place, as by reason of the position
of the pivots (the automatic device being arranged as stated) the pawl has advanced
a certain number of teeth; when stretching in the opposite direction takes place
the same effect is produced.
.
I will now proceed to describe an arrangement to be used when the pivots of the
bands are placed inside the vertical plane of the holding clamps as above mentioned
(see the diagram, Figure 6). R³, S3, represent the longitudinal axis of the frame;
T2, U2, the transverse axis of a cross-piece; B* is a roller placed under the cross-
piece; C is a lever hinged at 02; C¹ is also a lever pivoted at o³ When the
stretching or loosening motion is imparted to the machine the roller B* moves on
or around the pivot o¹ of the cross piece. Supposing the said roller B* to be at the
point B', then the lever C assumes the position C²; at the point D³ is attached a
chain X which passes over a roller d', and actuates the pawl of the automatic
device hereinbefore described; by reason of the lever C being in the position C³
the point D5 is at the point D6 and the chain has advanced, this advance causing
the drawing or widening of the fabric. In returning to the rectilinear position the
fabric is widened by reason of the forward position of the pivots, and if the move-
ment is continued in the other direction the lever C¹ is carried to the point C³, the
point D' at which the chain X' is attached draws the latter forward over a roller e²
nd causes the drawing or widening of the fabric; f* is the point at which the

page_text: two lengths of chain attached to the levers are united. When in consequence of
the stretching action the roller B* moves to the position B¹ the lever C is carried
to the position C³, but the lever C' remains stationary because that length of chain
which is comprised between the pawl, and the point f² having been pulled by the
point D³ the length of chain between f2 and D7 will have become slack in
proportion to the extent to which the other length of the chain has been drawn
forward, and consequently will allow the lever C¹ to remain stationary. When the
roller B✶ returns to the rectilinear position the chain from f2 to D' is stretched so
as to produce when the roller moves into the position B¹¹ in the other direction the
same effect with regard to the lever C; the length of chain extending from
the point f to the pawl is consequently always stretched. This arrangement thus
always produces a regular and even widening in both directions of the stretching
or loosening motion.
The points o² and os at which the levers are attached are placed at such a distance
apart that when the cross piece is in its rectilinear or transverse position the levers
bearing on the roller B* form such an angle as to allow them to follow the roller
in its movement without leaving the latter, and the length of these levers should
be such that they do not extend to the pivot O¹ of the cross-piece. The said levers
may be placed parallel to the crosspiece and to each other, but I prefer to place
them at an angle to each other, as the roller has then less motion along the lever,
and the widening takes place more regularly.
The pivots of the clamp bands may also be placed in the vertical plane of the
clamps. In this case the stretching or loosening motion will be produced quite
regularly, and there will not be any increase or decrease in the widening of the
fabric. As, however, it is necessary for obtaining a satisfactory result in the
loosening and finishing operation to stretch the weft threads as much as practicable
I adopt the following arrangement, that is to say :-I arrange a second toothed wheel
with its pawl, as described with reference to the automatic device, the said wheel
being keyed on the shaft which imparts motion by suitable gearing to the screw
which effects the widening or lateral stretching of the fabric. The pawl of this
second wheel is provided with the counterweight and the device serving to lift the
same and put it out of gear, to impart to the machine the movement which causes
the bands to approach each other, or to arrest the operation of the apparatus.
I may employ the means described with reference to Figures 1, 2, and 1ª, or.
those described with reference to the diagram, Figure 6, and for greater accuracy
and facility in placing the fabric upon the machine, I arrange the same with several
cross pieces connecting each series of cross pieces with one of the pawls. It is
obvious from the foregoing description that I can obtain by such arrangement a
continuous and regular stretching or widening of the fabric, the arrangement
shewn in Figure 6 effecting this widening when the stretching or loosening notion
is produced, and that shewn in Figures 1, 2, and 1ª, effecting the widening when
the machine is restored to its normal position.
By reason of the elongation and the stretching or loosening produced as, above
described by the position of the pivots o, and also by the automatic gearing for the
screw which imparts the lateral tension, the operation of stretching or loosening by
my improved machine or apparatus is more rapidly and completely effected than
by any of the ineans usually employed for such purpose. The stretching or loosening
motion of this improved machine may be produced by hand or mechanically by any
suitable means.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondents, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I may modify the form, materials, and dimensions of the various parts of the
aforesaid improved machine to adapt it to the finishing of fabric of different
qualities or classes, and I claim as the distinctive features of the aforesaid improved
machine,-
First. For the elongation of the weft threads in the operation of stretching or

page_text: loosening, the arrangement of the pivots on which the clamp bands are hinged,
behind or in front of the line in which the said clamps hold the fabric.
Second. For the entire or partial maintenance of this elongation or its increase,
the separation of the lateral clamp-bands in proportion to the elongation caused by
the stretching or loosening, and to the extent of the return movement of the machine
to its rectilinear position.
Third. The means for effecting these results, consisting in the screw of the
widening mechanism driven automatically by the machine in that part of its course
which corresponds with the return movement of the bands from the stretching
position to their normal position, substantially as described and as shown in the
Drawings.
Fourth. The controlling or driving of the screw of the widening mechanism by
gearing, which may be shifted or adjusted at will to cause the screw to turn in one
or the other direction for the purpose of stretching the fabric, or for bringing the
bands nearer to each other as required.
Fifth. The application of the automatic stretching mechanism when the pivots
of the clamp bands are inside the plane of the clamps, substantially as set forth, for
widening the fabric when the machine is brought into its oblique position, and for
stretching or loosening the fabric when the machine is brought back to its normal
position.
Sixth. The combination of the two devices or arrangements of mechanism for
obtaining the same result in cases where the clamp bands are exactly in the plane
of the clamps, as above set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fourth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
W. ROBT. LAKE. (L.S.)