Improvements in Tentering Machines.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 24th May, 1898-Accepted, 12th Nov., 1898
Improvements in Tentering Machines.
I, CHARLES JOSEPH GADD, Mechanical Draftsman, of 2430, East Huntingdon
Street, City and County of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, United States
of America, do hereby declaro 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:-
My invention comprehends certain improvements in driving mechanism
for tentering machines, and more particularly to means whereby a variable
reciprocation may be imparted to the two parallel chains of clamps or stretching
devices.
In the preferred form of my invention I maintain a constant or substantially
constant speed of travel of the clamps irrespective of the variations in the adjust-
ment of the longitudinal reciprocations imparted thereto.
The object of my invention is to provide means for the above adjustment in
tentering machines for the purpose of producing a capacity for a variable degree of
stretching on the bias, since it is more desirable in some fabrics to produce a
greater tension upon the fibres of the textile materials than others, and by my
improvements this degree of stretching may be quickly and readily varied to suit
the particular fabrics to be treated.
In carrying out my invention I support the longitudinal frames carrying the
stretching devices so that they may be reciprocated longitudinally simultaneously
in opposite directions, the said motions being secured by a transverse driving shaft
pivoted in vertical bearings and rocked in a horizontal plane by means of power
and cam devices, the said cam devices operating upon the said shaft through a con-
nection having capacity for varying its throw or cam action for the purpose of
regulating the extentor angle of oscillation of the horizontal driving shaft. The driving
shaft is connected by suitable power transmitting devices with the cloth stretching
chains or conveyors whereby its rotation produces a continual longitudinal
travel of said conveyors or chains simultaneously with the reciprocation of the
supports therefor.
of construction all of
My invention also comprehends minor details
which will be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawings,
in which:
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of one end of a tentering machine embodying my
improvements;
Fig. 2 is a plan view of same; and
Fig. 3 is a side elevation of same.
A, A, are the longitudinal reciprocating frames carrying the chains or cloth
clamps or other suitable conveying devices for holding the edges of the cloth to be
stretched and moving it through the machine. These frames are journalled on vortical
axes formed by upright pins G which are journalled upon a transverse axis at g
concentric with the driving shaft B. The driving shaft B is journalled in a frame Č
which is secured to a bed plate W by means of a vertical axis D and may have
interposed ball bearings & to reduce the friction of oscillation. J is a transverse

page_text: power shaft driven by means of a belt and pulley K, or otherwise, and extends
transversely across the machine and over the axis D of the frame C. This shaft is
provided with a pinion i which meshes with a spur wheel I connected to the driving
shaft B, the said wheels Ii being arranged immediately above the vertical axis of
the oscillating frame C. The teeth of one or both these gear wheels are made
curved so as to permit the oscillation of the spur wheel upon the pinion while
maintaining its driving connection.
The driving shaft B is provided with a bevel gear E on each side of its axis
secured thereto by means of a key or feather so as to permit adjustment
longitudinally upon the shaft bat to positively rotate with it. The said bevel
gears E mesh with horizontal bevel gears F secured to vertical shafts extending
upward, journalled upon the pins G and terminating in driving wheels H for the
conveyor chains, which wheels may be of any suitable construction such as sprocket
wheels for example. These shafts fare concentric with tho vertical pivoted supports
or pins G for the longitudinal frames A. so that during the oscillation of the driving
shaft the power transmitting connections to the conveyor chains is constantly
maintained. The longitudinal frames A are supported as is customary at intervals
of their length by suitable pivoted supports, one of which is shown, and consists of
a transverse frame S centrally pivoted upon a pedestal T and having adjustable
supports S¹ connecting with the under side of the longitudinal frames by vertical
pivots 8. By means of a suitable hand screw t these supports S¹ and their vertical
pivots may be moved to or from each other to adjust the positions of the longi-
tudinal frames relatively one to the other. These supports may be made in any
other suitable manner desired.
At one end of the oscillating driving shaft B is arranged a curved guide L upon
which slides a block or shoe M in which the end of the said shaft B is journalled,
the said construction taking up the downward thrust due to the weight of the
longitudinal frame and conveyors at that side. The opposite end of the shaft B is
jourualled in a box movable upon a vertical axis and carried in a transversely
reciprocating frame P movable horizontally in bearings N under the action of a
cam O which works between the flanges p. The cam O is secured upon a cam
shaft R with provision for adjustment thereon to vary its throw. Any suitable
means of adjustment may be employed, but that shown is excellently adapted to the
purpose, namely, securing a box 0¹on the cam shaft and attaching the cam or eccentric O
upon the said box by suitable guiding surfaces, and providing it with an adjusting
screw 02 by which its position relatively to the said cam shaft may be adjusted to
vary its throw or cam action to suit the desires of the operator. The cam shaft R
is geared with a counter shaft r by means of speed reducing gears R1, R2, and said
counter shaft is also geared to the power shaft J by a second set of gears J1, J².
It will now be observed that the power shaft J is the primary cause of rotation of
the cam to impart the reciprocation to the driving shaft B, as well as the source
of power for rotating the said driving shaft. The particular gearing employed is
immaterial as any suitable meaus may be employed for rotating the driving
shaft.
.
While I prefer the construction shown I do not limit myself to the minor details
thereof, as they may be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit
of my invention.
Having now 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. The mechanism for reciprocating the carriers, of a tentering machine substan-
tially as described and shown.
2. Means for adjusting the devices for reciprocating the carrier to vary the re-
ciprocations imparted thereto.
3. An adjustable cam for imparting the reciprocations to the carriers of a tentering
machine and for varying the throw thereof.

page_text: 4. The combination with the shaft by which the carriers are oscillated, of the
reciprocating frame P supported independently of said shaft but operatively connected
therewith at one end, and an independently driven cam or its equivalent for opera-
ting said frame.
Dated this 23th day of April A.D. 10.
CHARLES JOSEPH GADD.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.