Improvements in Plaiting Machines for Folding Piece Goods.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Feb., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 5th Nov., 1895-Accepted, 7th Dec., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Plaiting Machines for Folding Piece Goods.
1, JOHN HENRY WALTON of 217, Manchester Road, Nelson, in the County of
Lancaster, Cotton Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
This invention relates to plaiting machines for folding piece goods, and is
designed to considerably improve the mechanism for operating the plaiting knife,
whereby the cloth will be folded in even lengths with greater precision than
heretofore, thus remedying a very defective point in the working of these machines,
which often causes short lengths, and the trouble and inconvenience attendant
thereupon.
As usually constructed, the machine is driven from an upper shaft having small
gear wheels on each side, which gear into much larger wheels on the bottom or
crank shaft. The connecting rod operated by the crank is attached to the rocking
lever (carrying the plaiting knife) about one third distance of its length from its
fulcrum or rocker shaft. Any variation in the driving consequent upon the wear
and tear of teeth et cetera is thus increased two thirds in the plaiting knife, causing
the cloth to be folded in irregular lengths.
The object of the present invention is to overcome this evil. I reverse the order
of the driving shaft and crank shaft, and turn them volte-face, sliding the bracket
up which carries the crank shaft, and fixing it in a suitable position near the top of
the machine. I dispense with the toothed gearing and in their place substitute
driving drums on each side or in the centre of the shaft; having say a five inch
drum on the lower or driving shaft, and say a twelve inch drum on the top shaft,
and I drive the upper or crank shaft from these drums by a strap. I employ a
much larger crank having a sweep of say eighteen inches instead of eight or
nine inches. I am thereby enabled to fix the connecting rod anywhere from half
way to the top of the rocking lever carrying the plaiting knife, and therefore I get
a direct motion, and whatever is lost in the driving, so much only takes place in
the folding of the cloth, which is a distinct advantage.
Ted this 20th day of Januar 1805
Improvements in Plaiting Machines for Folding Piece Goods.
I, JOHN HENRY WALTON of 217, Manchester Road, Nelson, in the County of
Lancaster, Cotton Manufacturer, 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 plaiting machines for folding piece goods, and is
designed to considerably improve the mechanism for operating the plaiting knife,

page_text: whereby the cloth will be folded in even lengths, thus remedying a very defective
point in the working of these machines which often causes variation in lengths,
and the trouble and inconvenience, attendant thereupon.
As usually constructed, the machine is driven from an upper shaft having small
gear wheels on each side, which gear into much larger wheels on the bottom or
crank shaft. The connecting rod operated by the crank is attached to the rocking
lever (carrying the plaiting Knife) about one third of its length from its fulcrum or
rocker shaft.
Any variation in the driving arrangenient consequent upon the wear and tear
of teeth et cetera is thus increased two thirds in the plaiting knife, causing the
cloth to be folded in irregular lengths.
The object of the invention is to overcome this evil. I reverse the order of the
driving shaft and crank shaft, and turn them volte face, sliding the bracket up
which carries the crank shaft, and fixing it in a suitable position near the top of
the machine. I dispense with the toothed gearing, and in their place substitute
driving drums on each side or in the centre of the shaft, having say a five inch
drum on the lower or driving shaft and say about a sixteen inch drum on the top
shaft, and I drive the upper or crank shaft from these drums by a strap. I employ
a much larger crank having a sweep of say eighteen inches instead of eight or
nine inches. I am thereby enabled to fix the connecting rod anywhere from half
way to the top of the rocking lever carrying the plaiting knife, and therefore
I get a direct motion, and whatever is lost in the driving, so much only takes place
in the folding of the cloth, which is a distinct advantage.
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a plaiting machine, constructed in accordance with
my invention.
A is the crank shaft and 13 the driving shaft, which are in exactly reverse
positions to what they occupy in other machines. Instead of the usual toothed
gearing, I preferably substitute driving drums C and D, driven by driving belt E.
By this novel reversal of the shafts, I am cuabled to employ a much larger crank F
as shewn, which is connected by lengthened connecting rod or crank arm G to a
rocking lever H, which carries the plaiting knife J. The said connecting rod G is
fixed anywhere from half way to the top of the rocking lever H, carrying the
plaiting knife J.
As previously arranged with the driving and crank shaft placed in the usual
positions, it has been necessary to fix the connecting rod G to the rocking lever H
about one third the distance from the fulcrum or rocking tree K, and thus any
variation in the driving consequent upon the play in the teeth of the wheels or
loose bearings was increased two-fold in the plaiting or folding of the cloth, causing
it to be laid in irregular lengths. By the present invention, however, whatever
is lost in the driving, so much only takes place in the folding of the cloth, since it
has a direct motion, the laying of the cloth being much more regular and even,
giving the piece a smart appearance when folded.
In combination with my invention may be employed the spiral springs L L,
attached by bolts on each side of rocking lever H to bracket M fixed to the frame
of the machine. Their other extremities are secured by clips N to the rocker
shaft K, and thereby have a tendency to steady the plaiting knife J, and give the
requisite nip to the plaits at the commencement and termination of each stroke.
In combination with my invention may be also employed the automatic stop
motion illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. This is so arranged as to automatically stop
the machine immediately the last length of a piece has traversed the platform P.
Pivotted lever Q is balanced in such a manner as to allow the indicating rod R
to fall merely by the pressure of the cloth in passing over the machine. By this
means, vertical rod 0, connected to hook R' on lever Q is raised, and consequently
raises catch Q', fixed to strap fork lever B', and prevents the stoppage of the
machine. Should, however, the cloth be absent, the said lever Q falls, and with it
catch Q', which thereby comes in contact with pivotted catch lever S. By the

page_text: next revolution of the shaft A, pivotted catch lever S is acted upon by cam T, and
its catch extremity acting upon catch Q1 draws the same forward, and with it the
fork lever B', instantly bringing the machine to a stand.
Fig. 4 represents an arrangement for relieving the cloth of undue pressure just
previous to the termination of each stroke. On the rocking shaft K is mounted
vertical rocking lever O', which carries horizontal reciprocating rod S¹ extending
from one end to the other of the table U. Horizontal rod S₁ has at each end
pawls V, which enter into the teeth of ratchet wheels V. Connected to each end
of the table U are cords U₁, which are wound once or twice round a grooved
pulley on the shaft of the ratchet wheels, and from them are suspended weights W
to keep them tight.
It will be obvious therefore that on the movement of the machine in either
direction, pawls V will engage with one or other of the ratchet wheels, and thereby
a cord is drawn down at that particular end of the table, which will thereby be
depressed at that end, and the cloth is relieved from pressure at or near the
termination of the stroke.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The improved construction and arrangement of a plaiting machine, substantially
as described and illustrated in Fig. 1.
2. Reversing the positions of driving and crank shafts A and B, and employing
a much larger crank F, so as to enable connecting rod G to be fixed from half way
to top of rocking lever H, substantially as and for the purpose described and set
forth.
Dated this 4th day of November 1895.
F. RICHMOND,
12, Standish Street, Burnley, Agent for the Applicant.