Improvements in Apparatus for Stretching Woven Fabrics.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Jan., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 10th Oct., 1894-Accepted, 17th Nov.. 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Stretching Woven Fabrics.
I, RICHARD REDFERN ROBERTS of Bolholt Terrace, Woolfold, Bury,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention to be as follows:-
:-
My invention relates to apparatus for stretching woven fabrics after the processes
of washing, bleaching, dyeing, printing, etcetera, and has for its object to expand or
stretch the said fabrics more effectually and more eveuly from the centre outwards
and with less complicated apparatus than heretofore. The apparatus hitherto
employed has had the effect of stretching the centre of the fabric at the same rate
as the edges (instead of stretching the same in a small degree near the centre in
proportion to the full stretch) and as a consequence the threads of the fabric
become distressed at that part.
In accordance with my invention I employ a number of rings, by preference
made of brass and of any suitable section, but I prefer them to be circular of about
three-eighths of an inch gauge and about fifteen inches or any other suitable
diameter and I mount these rings around a set of, by preference four rods or shafts
arranged at equal distances apart and at equal distances from a given centre,
the said rings taking into annular grooves formed in the said rods or shafts. The
grooved shafts are mounted at each end in a plate and the grooves are so spaced
that each of the rings aforesaid lies at a different angle than its neighbour to the
centre line of the fabric, the rings nearest the centre line commencing at an acute
angle and each other ring gradually increasing in inclination as the edges of the
fabric are approached. The difference in angle is effected by making the grooves
in one shaft of a lesser pitch than the grooves in the shaft diametrically opposite,
thus for example, the pitch of the grooves of the one shaft may be half inch,
whilst the pitch of the grooves in the opposite shaft may be nine-sixteenths of an
inch, the inclination of the rings increasing accordingly. In this example the pitch
of the other two grooved rollers fixed at right angles to the two already mentioned
would be seventeen thirty-seconds of an inch. The difference in inclination
determines the amount of stretch to be imparted to the fabric and the degree of
inclination may be varied by substituting grooved rollers with grooves of different
pitch.
The action is as follows:-The apparatus being mounted in the position this class
of apparatus usually occupies in the machines in which it is used the cloth or fabric
is passed round a portion of the rings, that is from a point where the rings come in
contact with the shaft with the annular grooves half inch pitch or where the rings
are nearest each other to a point where the rings come in contact with the shaft with
the annular grooves nine sixteenths of an inch pitch or where the rings are farthest
apart. The friction of the fabric now causes the rings to revolve and in so doing such
rings are carried by the grooved rods or shafts which are also free to revolve and
act as runners to the rings. The plates at each end in which are mounted the
grooved rollers, also carry a plain shaft in the centre of the plates, to which the
plates are fixed. To relieve the fabric of any undue strain which may occur by
causing the apparatus to revolve by the friction thereof I fix on the projecting ends
of the grooved rollers or shafts small toothed wheels which gear with a larger
toothed wheel running loose on the central shaft. This larger wheel is fixed to a
driving pulley driven by a belt from some convenient part of the machine and
motion is thereby communicated to the several grooved rollers which in turn
revolve the rings. By so driving the grooved rollers the fabric will be relieved of

page_text: all undue strain. As the rings revolve those portions in contact with the fabric are
constantly diverging from the point at which the fabric first touches them to the
point at which the fabric leaves them and in this way the desired stretching of the
fabric is effected. It will be observed that the degree of stretch is very gradually
applied, commencing in the example previously given at a sixteenth of an inch for
each and every ring towards the edges of the fabric.
To afford a better gripping action on the fabric I prefer to form the face of each
ring with an annular reduced portion producing a sharp angular edging which will
engage with the fabric more effectually than a plain ring. To further increase the
gripping effect of the ring I mill or otherwise roughen the plain portion.
It will be obvious that the rings on one side of the centre line of the fabric
diverge from or are oppositely inclined to the rings on the other side of the centre
line.
To lessen the degree of stretch I introduce rods or rollers between the fabric and
the rings, the rods or rollers by being brought more or less round the rings causing
the fabric to touch any lesser portion of the circumference of the expanding
rings.
The
In some cases instead of mounting the expanding rings on the grooved rollers I
propose to mount them on a cylinder of the same diameter as the inside of the
rings the said cylinder being mounted in suitable bearings at each end.
expanding rings are kept in proper position by the grooved shafts aforesaid
arranged at equal distances round the outside of the expanding rings the fabric in
this case passing between the grooved rollers and the expanding rings.
Dated this 9th day of January 1894.
JOHN G. WILSON & Co.,
Agents.
Improvements in Apparatus for Stretching Woven Fabrics.
I, RICHARD REDFERN ROBERTS of Bolholt Terrace, Woolfold, Bury,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement:-
My invention relates to apparatus for stretching woven fabrics after the processes
of washing, bleaching, dyeing, printing, etc., and has for its object to expand or stretch
the said fabrics more effectually and more evenly from the centre outwards with less
complicated apparatus than heretofore. The apparatus hitherto employed has had
the effect of stretching the centre of the fabric at the same rate as the edges and
as a consequence the threads of the fabric have become distressed at that part.
In accordance with my invention I employ a number of metal rings arranged
around a series of rods or rollers mounted in the path of the cloth to be stretched
and at right angles therewith. The rods or rollers are formed with grooves, into
each of which one of the rings aforesaid takes, the pitch of the grooves in the
respective shafts varying however to such a degree that each of the said rings from
the one nearest the centre of the cloth to the one nearest the outside edge lies in
increasing inclination. The grooved rollers are capable of revolving in their
respective bearings and in so doing the rings revolve with them. Each ring
revolves in the plane of its angle.
The motion of these grooved rollers however is obtained from the cloth which
is being stretched, which travelling in contact with the rings causes them to turn
and in turning to rotate the grooved rollers, the grooved rollers acting as carriers.
If desired the grooved rollers may be positively driven by toothed gearing.
The cloth comes in contact with the rings at the point where they are nearest
together and as such rings revolve in their respective planes and gradually diverge

page_text: until they pass over the grooved roller having the greatest pitch (where the cloth
leaves then) they gradually stretch the cloth from its centre outwards to an extent
equal to the sum total of the varying inclinations of the rings.
And in order that my said invention shall be the more readily understood and
carried into practical effect I have hereunto annexed a sheet of drawings and will now
proceed to describe the same with the assistance of the various figures and letters
of reference marked thereon.
Fig. 1 is a front elevation (partly in section) and Fig. 2 a plan of my improved
cloth stretching apparatus. Figs. 3 and 4 are left and right hand end views
respectively. Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional elevation. Figs. 6 and 7 illustrate a
modification. Figs. 8, 9 and 10 illustrate modifications of details.
In accordance with my invention 1 employ three or more grooved rods or
rollers (A), (A') and (A2) with grooves of varying pitch, and all three or more
rollers are mounted in end plates (B), (B), which in turn are mounted on
shaft (B) working in beatings (C), (C) at each side of the machine in which the
apparatus is used. Around the grooved rollers are a number of rings (D) (only
half their number being shewn to make the drawing clear) which rods are, by
preference made of brass and of one or other of the sections shewn in Figs. 8, 9
and 10.
Owing to the difference in pitch between the grooves of the rollers (A), (A')
and (A) the said rings (D) lie at varying and diverging angles from the centre of
the rollers outwards as illustrated.
The apparatus being in the position shewn in the respective figures of the
drawing, that is, with all the rings nearest each other at (X) and furthest apart
at (Y), the cloth to be stretched is led onto the rings as shewn in Fig. (4). The
friction of the cloth, or the motion of the grooved rollers now causes the rings to
rotate and in so doing and by their gradual divergence until they have reached the
point (Y), the cloth is effectually and evenly stretched from the centre outwards,
the stretch given by the two rings nearest the centre of the fabric being gradually
taken up and multiplied to the outside edge of the cloth by the other rings. Thus
for example, the inclination of the ring nearest the centre of the cloth being of
an inch, the inclination of the next ring is of an inch, the next of an inch, the
next an inch and the next of an inch, increasing an eighth of an inch to the last
ring, which with 18 rings gives a total stretch of 24 inches. In other words each
ring after the first gives the cloth a stretch of of an inch and takes up the
stretch given by its fellow ring nearest the cloth centre.
It will be seen that the degree of stretch can be varied by substituting rods
with grooves of greater or lesser pitch and rings of greater or lesser diameter.
An alternative way of lessening the stretch may be effected by causing the cloth
to leave the rings before they reach their greatest divergence and this may be
brought about by turning the entire apparatus in the bearings (C).
Another alternative way of increasing the stretching power of the apparatus is
by applying one or two grooved rollers (T), (T) (Fig. 5) carried in slides in the
end plates (B), (B) on outside the rings and applied so as to press the cloth
between the rings and rotated by the cloth passing between them and the rings.
To increase the hold of the rings on the fabric I prefer to form them with
angular edges as shewn in Figs. 6, 9 and 10 and with transverse notches (E),
or to mill or otherwise roughen the outer periphery as shewn in Fig. 8.
To assist in revolving the rings the grooved rods are driven by the gear
wheels (F), (F) and (F) from the central spur wheel (G) driven from the fast
pulley (H).
The plates (B), (B) are locked by bolts or other means whilst the apparatus is
working, but may be unlocked for turning the apparatus round to any desired
position. For placing the rings around the rods (A), (A') (A³), the rod (A) is
mounted in a slide block (1) and adjusted radially by set screws (J).
In lieu of the rod (K) which is carried by the brackets (B) and is for keeping
the rings in play with grooves of the rods, I may substitute a roller (L) (see Fig. 5)

page_text: outside the rings, the fabric passing between it and the rings, or passing underneath
the rings as illustrated.
In lieu of the rods (A), (A') and (A*) I may employ a hollow drum or
cylinder (M) (see Figs. 6 and 7) with the grooved rollers (A), (A¹) (A³)
arranged outside for keeping the rings at the desired angles, or as I prefer, I may
dispense with the rollers altogether and employ varying tapered rings or collars (N)
which lie between each of the rings (D) and are all secured to the rod (O) which
is carried by and rotates with the end plates (B).
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1. In apparatus for stretching woven fabrics the use and employment of
rings (D) or their equivalent, mounted angularly and capable of rotating in the
plane of their respective angles substantially as set forth and illustrated.
2. In apparatus for stretching woven fabrics the use and employment of grooved
rods with grooves of varying pitch for holding the rings (D) or their equivalent
and mounting and operating substantially as set forth.
3. In apparatus for stretching woven fabrics the combination of parts (or
equivalent devices) forming my improved stretching apparatus substantially as
hereinbefore described and illustrated on the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 9th day of October 1894.
JOHN G. WILSON & Co.,
Agents.