Fabrics, and for Folding such Fabrics Automatically.
Year: 1886

page_text: Fabrics, and for Folding such Fabrics Automatically.
We FRANÇOIS DESBRUÉRES, JEAN DESBRUÉRES and PIERRE DESBRUÉRÉS all of
Paris in the Republic of France Machinists 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 and accompanying
drawings:-
Our said invention has reference to improvements in machinery or apparatus for
printing measurements upon the borders of textile fabrics and for folding such
fabrics automatically as they are measured and marked. The apparatus is compact
in construction and is applicable in the treatment of all sizes and descriptions of
textile fabrics while the marks of measurement may be printed in any desired
colour or metal. In order that our said invention may be properly understood we
will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the annexed sheet of
drawings and to the letters and figures marked thereon.
Fig. 1 on Sheet 1 of the said drawings is a side elevation of our improved
apparatus. Fig. 2 is partly an end elevation and partly a cross section while Fig. 3
is a plan of the machine. Fig. 4, Sheet 2 is an enlarged view of a portion of the
machine showing the parts which draw in and print the fabric. Fig. 5, Sheet 1
is a view of modified parts which are applied in printing metallic or coloured
impressions. Fig. 6, Sheet 2. is a vertical section showing the relative arrange-
ment of the printing rollers and drum. Fig. 7 is a view of part of the folding and
gripping arrangements and Fig. 8 is a section at right angles to Fig. 7. The
remaining Figs, show details of the machine. The machine is supported upon
frames A. The material to be treated is placed on a table B. at the back of the
machine and is drawn in by a drum C: driven by frictional discs D. D¹ on the
drum shaft. The two rollers E E' arranged tangentially to the drum C. press
the borders of the fabric into close contact with the said drum. These rollers are
carried by a swing frame G. pivotted on the shaft F. A toothed sector H. on the
same shaft F. enables the pressure of the rollers E. E¹ to be regulated by means of
the worm I. which is turned by a hand wheel as shown. A coiled spring J. on the
spindle of the worm wheel I. gives a certain elasticity to the pressing rollers E. E¹.
A particular method of keying one of the frames containing the rollers' E. E'

page_text: permits of these rollers being adjusted so as to press equally upon the borders of
the fabric. The key N which secures the frame to the shaft F. is inclined with
relation to the axis so that when shifted by means of a screw M. the angle of the
lever frame G. is adjusted. The cloth is guided from the table to the drum C. by
means of guides N. N'. These guides are supported at O. O¹ and their position is
regulated by means of a screw 011 011. Five transverse bars P. P¹ pu pi pi
serve to put a drag on the cloth which drag can be increased or diminished by a
sidelong adjustment of the moveable bars P¹ P. The measurements marks are
printed on the borders of the cloth by the roller Q. revolving in the lever frame R.
The rollers E. and Q. are geared together so as to revolve at equal surface speeds 1
by the toothed wheels S. S₁ S₁. The lever frame R. is formed with a toothed
sector worked by a worm T. by which the pressure of the roller Q. can be adjusted.
The roller Q. is provided with means for marking the figures of measurement on
the borders of the cloth consisting in the example of two markers marking
alternatively (for example where the metrical system is adopted) from décimetre
to décimetre the figures indicating décimetres and also the figures indicating
These
métres; any other system of measurement may however be adopted.
markers are actuated by cams U. U₁ fixed to the lever frame which cams operate
the slides V. as shown at Fig. 5 of the drawings the said slide V. altering the
printing figure or mark by means of a ratchet and pawl and gearing. Each
marker is composed of three bowls of which two carry the figures indicating
métres and the other the figures indicating centimétres, or it might be English
yards and sub-divisions of yarda. The bowls marking metres in the metrical
system are identical in both markers and each carry the figures 0. to 9. arranged
in numerical order. The wheels marking the centimeters differ in each marker
and would be arranged for example as follows:
1st Marker m, 20, 40, 60, 80.
2nd Marker 10, 30, 50, 70, 90.
axes,
The centimétre marking wheel is advanced one division for each turn of the
roller Q. The métre markers are operated in their turn and at the proper time by
the centimétre markers, catches or other means being employed to transfer the
motion from the centimétre marker to the métre marker. It will be understood
that where it is desired to print the measurement on both borders of the piece
a marker similar to that described is fixed at each selvedge. The mechanism for
applying and distributing the colouring matter to the marking rollers is operated
by the shaft W. which carries a toothed wheel X gearing with a pinion Y. situated
at the end of the axis of the distributing roller Z. The shaft W. is connected with
the axis of the cylinder C. by means of a band passing round pullies on the said
The roller which supplies the colour from the reservoir b. to the apparatus is
rotated intermittently by a ratchet pawl operated by a link c. connected to a crank
disc on the axis of the distributing roller Z. The transferring roller d. is lifted at
each movement of the reservoir roller by means of the pin e. and is carried forward
to the distributer Z to which it transfers colour. Two caoutchouc rollers f. f¹
spread the colour on the distributer Z. and an intermediate roller by which it is
transferred to inking rollers g. g' which ink the markers. In addition to the
rotatory motion of the distributer Z. it has a sidelong reciprocating movement
engendered by cams fixed to the frames. In Figs. 9, 10 and 11 we illustrate a
modified inking arrangement permitting of the application of printing_rollers of
varying diameters according to the system of measurement employed. It will be
understood that according to the measurements employed the marked divisions will
vary and accordingly the diameters of the printing rollers must be correspondingly
increased or diminished. It is therefore necessary to provide for the adjustment of
the inking rollers and this is the object of the apparatus now to be described.
The shaft 1. is driven by a belt and transmits intermittent motion to the axes 2,
by means of the excentric 3. lever 4, pawl 5, link 6, and ratchet wheel 7, all as
shown in Fig. 11. Referring to Fig. 10 the roller 8, on the shaft 2, works in the
reservoir b. and on the outer end of the roller shaft 2. is a disk with projections e,

page_text: The roller d. is mounted in a lever frame 10. as seen at Fig. 9 and when one of the
projections e. comes into contact with the spring lever g. the said roller d. is lifted
into contact with the roller 8. and receives a supply of ink therefrom. The ink is
transferred to the printing roller Q. by an intermediate drum 11. the distributer Z.
and the roller 12. The distributer Z. is moved sideways as well as rotated as
already set forth. The roller 12. may be moved towards or from the printing
roller Q. by means of the adjustable lever frame in which the roller 12 is carried
as shown at Fig. 9 of the drawings. Above the frame and supported in standards h
is a roll of paper i. carrying gold or silver leaf which traverses with the cloth
beneath the pressing rollers the markers printing the border with a fixing which
causes the metallic leaf to adhere to the measurement marks. We may also print
with powdered metals or colours by the following means. The bowls E. El are
made hollow and are filled with powder. The circumferences are also formed with
circular grooves corresponding to the size of the mark or figures printed by the
markers in fixing ink. In these grooves are orifices spaced at the same distance
apart as the markings. A spring fixed in the groove permits the powder to issue.
only when one of these orifices is in contact with the cloth. The metallic or other
powder is then deposited automatically on the characters previously printed in
fixing fluid.
The cloth is folded on a table which has a vertical movement: two guides j. J
are carried by four vertical shanks of which two only K. K¹ are seen in the
drawing (see Figs. 1 and 7) which carry the cloth alternately to each end of the
table, each fold as it is formed being seized and held by the counter weighted
grippers . . The table is carried between the frames in four racks m. m¹ ml m¹11:
two shafts n. n¹ are fixed to the table and have pinions which gear with the racks.
Another shaft n at right angles to the latter two shafts serves to connect them
and preserve the table in a horizontal position. Two springs o. o¹ tend to press the
table upwards against the grippers 7. . Two slides p. p¹ shown enlarged at
Figs. 7 and 8 slide on guides q. qq q¹¹¹ on the sides of the frame carrying. the
guides . . These slides are cored to receive muffs r. r fixed on stems K. K¹.
These muffs are maintained at a certain distance from the ends of the slides by
coiled springs f. These springs are utilized as will be hereinafter set forth to store
increased force for the commencement of the return stroke of the slide. Movement
is given to the slides by means of the link t. which is worked by the wheel u. so
as to operate the lever v. and shaft w. which is connected by the levers . ¹ to the
slides by means of links q. q¹. By this arrangement the slides p. p¹ are reciprocated
backwards and forwards on the guides q. q¹ q11 q carrying with them the
parts. The lower ends of the shanks K. K' are provided with bowls which
roll on inclined rails v. v. so as to raise and lower the parts j. j and keep them out
of contact with the table while they are being traversed. Figs. 7 and 8 show the
method of operating the grippers l. which serve to retain the folds of cloth as
they are laid down. These grippers are counterbalanced by their weights and
operated by recessed discs L. rotated by a ratchet B. operated by a link S. which
extends the length of the table, the said link being reciprocated by a catch on the
slides. When the parts j. j carried by the slides reach the end of their stroke they
are arrested by fixed projections on the frame. The slides continue their traverse
compressing the springs f. and finally striking the ratchet lever so as to move the
discs L. and lower the grippers so as to grip the fold. The object of the inclined
rails is in the first place to lift the leading member of the parts 7. 71 above the
closed grippers and to lower the second beneath the level of the open grippers. We
may observe that in this machine the dimensions of the folds may be altered at
will by changing the links S. the rails V. V. and the gearing actuating the folding
mechanisim and also by altering the stops which limit the traverse of the parts j. 1.
The said parts j. 1 and also the grippers l. 11 may be made with toothed or
5 roughened holding surfaces or with plain surfaces according to the material being
treated. For example in treating silks and velvets it is preferable to use plain
grippers as the material is less likely to be injured thereby. Although we have

page_text: preferred to show the folding mechanism beneath the marking apparatus as an
illustration of the compact form the machine may be caused to assume we never-
theless wish it to be understood that where the economising of space is not so much
an object the folding mechanism may be placed in line with the marker, and such
an arrangement might in some cases be preferred as affording more ready access to
the parts.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is
1. The general arrangement and construction of parts composing our improved
apparatus for printing measurements on fabrics substantially as herein before
described and shown.
2. The method of and apparatus for printing marks or figures on the borders or
selvedges of textile fabrics substantially as herein before described and shown.
3. The adjustable guides for leading the fabric to the printing rollers together
with the method of varying the tension of the cloth as it passes over the said guides
substantially as described and shown.
4. The method of mounting and adjusting the pressing and printing rollers and
the mode of obtaining elastic contact by means of the spring j. substantially as
shown and described..
5. The arrangements of apparatus for transferring the ink or colour from the
reservoir to the markers as described and shown.
6. Marking the borders of fabrics as described by means of metallic leaf led
from a roll placed above the machine or in any other suitable position and applied
to impressions previously printed in fixing fluid on the borders of the fabric by the
markers; by the means and substantially in the manner hereinbefore described
and shown.
7. The apparatus for applying metallic or colouring powder by means of hollow
discs to marks or figures, previously printed on the fabric in fixing fluid by the
markers substantially as described and shown.
8. The apparatus for folding the fabric on a moveable table consisting of the
travelling guides operated by slides and inclined rails as shown and of stationary
grippers together with the means for supporting the table by elastic upward
pressure so as to permit the table to sink gradually as the folded cloth increases in
depth all arranged and actuated substantially as hereinbefore described and shown.
Dated this 25th day of January 1886.