Improvements in Machines for Measuring and Marking Cloth and the like.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Dec., 1898-Accepted, 22nd Apr., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Measuring and Marking Cloth
and the like.
We, FRANZ LEIMANN and ANTON VAN KEMPEN, of Markgrafenstrasse 31, Berlin,
in the German Empire, Merchants, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion, 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 a machine for measuring cloth and the like or other
fabrics, and for indicating or stamping upon the fabric units of length. The
improved machine is especially applicable for use with muslin, crape, gauze or
other delicate and easily stretchable textile fabrics which would be damaged
by being passed through one or more sets of rollers. Another advantage attained
by the use of our improvements is that the machine may be easily adjusted so
that different units of length may be stamped according to the country for which
the goods are intended.
The measuring drum is square or polygonal in cross section and is provided
at its corners or angles with pins or equivalent devices which at the proper moment
are caused to project and engage with the fabric to be measured in such a manner
as to move it onward and hold it in a suspended position: until it finally comes
to rest upon one side of the drum. Upon the further rotation of the drum the
pins are automatically withdrawn and the fabric is disengaged.
In order to enable the machine to vary the length measured during each revolu-
tion of the drum the latter is provided with two of its opposite side movable away
from the centre so that one of the diameters or the total circumference is altered.
The stamping device is fixed upon one end of the drum with which it rotates,
and is operated by a fixed cam or grooved disc or plate. This simplifies the
mechanism considerably and makes the machine quicker and more exact as it is
not necessary to stop it in order to enable the stamping to be effected.
The improved machine is illustrated by the accompanying drawings which
will be referred to hereinafter.
Figure 1 shews the machine in elevation from the front, part being broken
away.
Figure 2 represents it in end elevation.
Figure 3 illustrates the mechanism for actuating the pins by means of which
the cloth is engaged.
The measuring drum b is illustrated as square but it will be understood that it
may be of any other polygonal section. It is carried by suitable end bearings.
The stamping device is carried by the drum at one end by means of the bracket bl.
Only one such device is shewn in the machine illustrated but it will be under-
stood that more may be provided, for example there may be one for each side or
flat face of the roller according to the units of length desired to be impressed or
marked. Each stamping device consists of a two armed lever s, s¹ pivotted at a.

page_text: The arms carries the type or figures which are automatically and progressively
moved by well known mechanism on devices. The other arm is furnished
with a friction roller or bowl r which enters within and engages with a groove
formed in a disc c the two parts of which are joined and held together by the
bridge pieces c¹. This disc c is fixed to the frame A of the machine by means of
the bolts d. The groove is of such a shape as to cause the stamping device to be
brought into contact with the cloth once during each revolution of the drum, as
shewn in Figure 1, preferably when the side upon which the marking is to take
place is in its highest horizontal position. As the fabric remains upon the drum
until the previously horizontal side of the drum has reached a vertical position,
the marks printed upon the fabric will not be obliterated, so that a continuous
rotation may be kept up, and so that the movement of the stamping device need
not be hurried.
In Figure 2 the friction roller r is not shewn, in order that the shape of the
groove in the disc c may be more clearly seen.
Referring to Figure 3 one set of pins or equivalent devices is shown together
with the actuating mechanism, the other sides of the drum being each similarly
fitted. The pins i are secured in sockets h¹ and are capable of being moved within
small guide tubes ¹ fastened to the inside of the drum. Each socket is movably
connected to one end of a lever or arm h the other end of which is pivotted at h²
to the frame of the drum. Secured to the lever h is a small friction roller h³
which engages with a groove formed in the ring or plate k. This ring is secured
to the disc by means of the bolts or is otherwise held in a rigid position. It
will be seen that its groove for the greater part is concentric with the axis of the
drum, but that at a certain point the pins will be lifted to project through the
surface of the drum to engage with the fabric. At a certain other point the pins
will be withdrawn and the stamped fabric will be free to fall off the drum.
Instead of having the internal pins described and illustrated, the drum may
be furnished with equivalent external devices for engaging with the cloth. For
instance arms may be pivotted at each end of the drum with pins or projections
formed or arranged upon them and may be lowered into contact with the fabric
at the desired moment by means of a suitable cam plate or grooved disc.
In order to vary the amount of fabric measured at each revolution of the drum,
two of its opposite sides are hinged to the frame work at opposite ends as at v. v.
The other end of each of these movable sides is provided with a screw or other
device by means of which it may be moved away from or towards the next side
of the drum. The circumference of the drum may thus be varied.
This arrangement is of great value when easily stretchable fabrics are being
treated as the movable sides may be so adjusted as to compensate for the amount
of stretch. In measuring non-stretching materials the circumference of the drum
will need to be carefully adjusted to the exact length required to be indicated.
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. A machine for marking or indicating units of length upon cloth or the like,
consisting of a square or polygonal drum provided with a stamping device or
with stamping devices, constructed arranged and operated substantially as herein-
before described and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
2. In a machine for measuring and marking cloth and the like, pins or equi-
valent devices which are operated at the desired moments to engage with or to
release the cloth, substantially as herein before described and as illustrated by
the accompanying drawings.
3. In a machine for measuring and marking cloth and the like, a drum having
adjustable or movable sides by means of which the circumference of the drum may
he varied, constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described and
as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.

page_text: 4. A machine for measuring and marking cloth and the like, constructed and
arranged substantially as herein before described and as illustrated by the accom-
panying drawings.
Dated this 16th dox of Denman & T 1000
W. E. HEYS & SON,
Agents for the Applicants.