Improvements in Cloth Guiding Machines.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Mar., 1891—Accepted, 16th May, 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cloth Guiding Machines.
I LOUIS HOLLINGWORTH of No. 65 Ring Street Providence in the State of
Rhode Island United States of America Foreman Mechanic 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 :-
In machines employed in the processes of treating continuous webs of fabrics,
as for example, in tentering, calendering, drying, edge-trimming and cloth-finish-
ing, it is very desirable and essential that the edges of such fabrics be guided in
a uniformly true direction, even though the fabric itself have uneven or zig-zag
edges.
Attempts have been made to feed the fabric to machines of the class just
referred to, so that during its passage any variation of the edges of the fabric
from a true line will be corrected, but so far as I am aware such attempts have
been attended with indifferent results. One reason being that the devices or
machines employed for the purpose were positively driven or operated indepen-
dently of the goods passing through them, that is the kind or quality of the
fabric itself had no control over the action of the mechanism, so that thick and
thin goods whether fine or coarse, were subjected to one and the same governing
device.
The object I seek to attain is to produce a superior guiding device for the
running edges of fabrics, the device at the same time being entirely automatic in its
action, that is the device is operated and controlled simply by the passage of the
fabric itself.
My invention consists, essentially, in the combination of a temple revolving freely
on an arbor or shaft which latter at the same time may be axially vibrating,
a double acting rack actuated by mounted radially-moving revolving dogs for
vibrating the arbor to and fro, and a counter-weighted lever connected with cloth-
actuated governors for controlling the movement of said lever, all as will be more
fully hereinafter set forth and claimed.
In the appended three sheets of drawings illustrating my improved machine for
guiding the edges of travelling fabrics:
Figure 1 (Sheet 1) represents a plan view thereof when the fabric is travelling
properly or normally, that is the edge of the cloth is so guided that it passes along
a true line. I would state that practically two machines are employed; one being
at each edge of the fabric and both working simultaneously. The one at the right
say controls the corresponding side of the fabric up to the center of the web,
while the other machine, the one shown, acts similarly upon the left side of
the web;
Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the machine, taken on line x x
of Fig. 1;
Fig. 2 is a plan view of the outer portion of the delivery or feed roll, &c. ;
Fig. 3 is a partial transverse sectional view taken through the delivery roll, or on
linev, Fig. 1;
Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the inner face of a portion of the counter-weighted
lever for controlling the radial movement of the dogs;
Fig. 5 shows the outer end of the delivery roll, with the lever removed, and
showing the dogs in the normal position ;
Fig. 6 shows the same with the dogs removed.
The relation of the several parts in the foregoing figures correspond with that
shown in Fig. 1.
Fig. 7 (Sheet 2) is a plan view of the machine showing the relation of the parts

page_text: when the edge of the fabric is too far at the left or on the outer governor, in this
position the dogs, &c. are acting to turn the temple arbor sufficiently in a reverse
direction so as to correct the lateral movement of, the fabric and cause it to assume
the normal position shown in Fig. 1 ;
Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view, taken on line, of Fig. 7;
Fig. 9 represents the machine as viewed from the front or delivery end;
Fig. 9 shows a tension regulating device for the temple;
Fig. 10 is a transverse sectional view of the delivery roll, taken on line a of
Fig. 9, showing the relation of the dogs, rack, and lever to each other, corresponding
with the position shown in Figs. 7 and 8.
Fig. 11, (Sheet 3) is a plan view of the machine showing the relation of the
parts when the travelling edge of the fabric is too far to the right or inward,
when in this position the weighted lever acts to carry the rack ahead, thereby
imparting a corresponding angular advance movement to the temple to correct
the lateral movement of the fabric and cause it to again assume the normal
position;
Fig. 12 is a vertical sectional view, taken on line o o, of Fig. 11;
Fig. 13 represents the machine as viewed from the rear or cloth entering end;
Fig. 14 is a transverse sectional view of the delivery roll, showing the relation
of the dogs, rack, &c. corresponding with the position shown in Figs. 11 and 12,
and
Fig. 15 is a partial longitudinal sectional view of the inner end portion of the
temple roll.
The following is a more detailed description of my improved machine for guiding
the edges of fabrics,, and the manner of its operation:
A, referring to the drawings, designates the device as a whole, ready for use.
a indicates the frame.or bed in which the several parts are mounted. The
machines are made in pairs, right and left, and are adapted to be secured to a
suitable base so as to simultaneously receive both edges of a fabric B. The
frame is provided with two vertical sides, the outer one a at the left, having
pivoted thereto, at c², an extension c which is bent transversely of the machine
and terminates in arms c, in which are secured horizontal rods u of wire which
serve to assist in guiding the fabric in its passage through the machine; these
guides also serve to a certain extent to impart tension to the fabric and keep it
in contact with the rolls, &c.
At the back end of the machine, where the cloth enters, a temple is mounted.
The temple as drawn consists of an arbor or cylinder t provided with a series of
parallel inclined peripheral grooves in which are fitted spur-carrying rings t',
the spurs or pins of which extend slightly above the arbors' surface. To the
outer end of the temple arbor is secured a gear wheel or toothed segment r; the
whole being mounted on centers. c³. Practically the entire axial movement of
the arbor does not exceed 90°, although the rings ''themselves at the same
time revolve freely, by reason of the cloth passing over them. At or near 'the
front end of the machine is mounted a draft or feed-roll b, this roll is substan-
tially parallel with the axis of the temple, and is covered with card-clothing or
other suitable material adapted to engage the cloth without slipping, this roll is
also preferably mounted on centers c³, substantially in the same manner as 'the
temple. The face of the outer end portion of the feed roll has two grooves d¹
crossing each other at right angles, see Figs. 5, 6, &c. Into these grooves or
slots four dogs d are fitted to slide to and fro in a radial direction while the roll
is in motion. This end or head is secured to the roll by screws s. The outer
face of each dog, which are flush with that of the said portion, is provided with
a short projection pin d²; the peripheral surface of the dogs is beveled so as to
engage ratchet-teeth formed on a mounted rack m, soon to be described. The
head of the roll is provided with a projecting circular flange ³, sec Figs. 2
and 3; this flange serves as a guide or guard in preventing the lint, &c. from
possibly running on to the bar m. To the frame a, at 2, is pivoted a counter-

page_text: weighted three-arm lever 1, this lever is connected by an adjustably mounted link o¹
to governors n, n'. The lower or free end of the middle arm of the lever is
provided with an elongated opening or slot o; through this opening a pin or bolt
is passed which also passes through the adjacent end of the link o¹; by means
of this arrangement a slight adjustment of the governors may be effected by first
loosening the bolt and moving it, together with the link o¹, up or down in the slot o
until the desired position is attained, after which the bolt is retightened. Onc
end of the lever is enlarged and provided with a central opening b³ (Figs. 3, 4,)
through which the roll shaft freely passes; the lever is further provided with
an annular groove 3 adapted to receive the pins d of the dogs. Now, when
the several parts are in the normal working position the pins travel in the groove
in a manner concentric with the feed-roll, the outer ends of the dogs being
substantially flush with the roll's surface, as shown in Sheet 1 of the drawings.
A loose collar backed by a pin passing through the shaft at its outer end
(see Figs. 2, 3) serves to maintain the head of the lever 1, in position, yet at the
same time not preventing it from moving up and down or vibrating within its
limits.
m indicates a U-shaped bar or rack having at its rearward end an extension
provided on its under side with teeth engaging teeth of the temple-adjusting
wheel before described. This rack is supported and guided by notched pins g
secured to the vertical side a of the frame. The inner faces of the front or
U-shaped end of the rack is provided with reversely arranged ratchet teeth
which just clear the head of the revolving feed roll; these teeth are located so as
to engage the outer ends of the dogs d when the latter are projected beyond the
roll by the vibration of the lever l. Obviously, when the end of the lever is carried
upward the dogs are forced to successively project from the upper side, thereby
engaging the corresponding portion of the rack, a reverse or downward movement
of the end of the lever below the central position causing the dogs to protrude from
the under side of the roll. From this it will be seen that when the dogs extend
through the upper side of the feed-roll and engage the rack the latter will be
carried ahead a distance limited only by the extent of the toothed portion, see
Sheet 3 of the drawings, whereas a downward movement of the head of the lever
forces the dogs through the under side of the roll thereby engaging the correspond-
ing teeth of the rack and moving it rearwardly to its limit, or until corrected by a
change in the lever's movement, see Sheet 2 of the drawings. Accordingly the
movement of the rack is both irregular and intermittent, its action being entirely
dependent upon the governors (about to be described) connected by means of the
link o with the lever.
Adjacent to the forward side of the temple is mounted a stationary table e
having a smooth curved face or top over which the fabric passes; the outer end
of the table is provided with two lateral stops e¹. Between these stops inner and
outer governors n, n', are arranged to travel, these governors, which are quite
narrow, are loosely pivoted at p to the frame; they each have serrated curved faces,
adapted to engage the under side of the fabric, the radius of said faces being
substantially the same as that of the table e. The outer governor n¹ is jointed at 02
to the link o¹; to the upper portion of this governor is secured a short transverse
pin v which extends through a slotted opening v¹ formed in the inner governor n.
The governors operate as follows: When there is no engagement of the fabric with
them the counter-weight w depresses the corresponding end of the lever / to its
limit thereby forcing both governors rearwardly against the back stop e¹, sec
Figs. 11, 12, the pin v then being at the forward end of the slot v' of the inner
governor. In this position and relation of the parts the rear or enlarged end of the
lever will be vibrated upward thereby causing the dogs d in revolving to protrude
through the upper side of the feed-roll and engage the corresponding teeth of the
rack, thus forcing the latter ahead to its limit, see Fig. 14, and producing an
angular advance of the temple-arbor t, which latter for the time being as a result of
such movement presents a greater inclination of the temple-rolls. t to the fabric,

page_text: thereby directing the fabric toward the left to engage the inner governor n.
Immediately the traveling fabric engages the teeth of the last-named governor the
latter will thereby be vibrated ahead to its limit against the forward stop e', and
also at the same time causing the rear end of the slot to overtake the pin v and
thus force the other governor n¹ ahead a short distance, the slot being shorter
than the distance traveled by the governer n, thereby through the medium of the
link o vibrating the lever I downwardly to its central or normal position and with-
drawing the dogs from the teeth of the rack m, as shown in Sheet 1 of the drawings;
the upper portion of the temple-rolls then revolving substantially in line with the
fabric, see Fig. 1. In the event of the fabric passing still further to the left, as in
Fig. 7, or into engagement with the teeth of the outer governor n' the action of the
traveling fabric forces the latter governor ahead to its limit or in contact with the
forward stop, thus depressing the head of the lever below the central line and
projecting the dogs into engagement with the lower series of rack-teeth, see Fig. 10,
thereby moving the rack rearwardly and causing the temple-arbor to vibrate in a
reverse direction to that of the spur-rolls t', thus changing the relative angularity
of the temple. As a result of this movement the fabric will automatically be
directed toward the right, but as soon as it passes from the outer governor the
counter-weight will vibrate said governor back to the normal position shown in
Figs. 1 and 2, at the same time returning the dogs into the feed-roll.
The rack m together with the intergeared temple-arbor t is provided with a
friction device whose tension exceeds the friction of the traveling fabric and temple-
rolls. In Fig. 9, &c. is represented a holder or guide w secured to the frame a¹;
this guide is provided with downwardly extending sides one of which is lined with
leather w² and the other is provided with a leather-lined spring w³ having a tension-
regulating screws; between these sides the rack is guided in its to and fro move-
ment. Were it not for a device of this character the position of the temple-arbor
would not be properly maintained after the dogs are withdrawn from engagement
with the rack, because otherwise the fabric would be continually changing the
relation of the parts.
To the forward end of the machine is located a guide consisting of two plates
between which the edge (selvedge) of the fabric passes after leaving the delivery
or feed-roll b. The upper plate of this guide is hinged at 3 to the frame. This
guide serves to prevent the edge of the fabric from rolling or curling up, thereby
ensuring a better engagement of the fabric with the feed-roll and cloth-finishing
machine or other machines which receive the fabric after it leaves my improved
machine for guiding the edges of the fabric.
indicates a spring secured to the frame of the machine, the same extends trans-
versely below the rack m and over the governors; the free end of the spring is
slightly upturned (see Fig. 13) and is in proximity to the teeth or corrugated
surface of the governors. This spring is useful in that it serves to ensure contact
of the fabric with the governors whenever the cloth is diverted to them. The
spring also serves to prevent the fabric from crimping, as well as to prevent it from
rising from the table, &c. upon swinging back the guides u. In some cases when
heavy goods are passed through the machine I find it desirable to raise the guides
and also the top plate of the forward guide f. Another advantage of the employ-
ment of hinged guides is that the fabric is introduced more readily, that is the edge
portion of the fabric is first laid upon the rolls of the machine after which the
guides are swung back from the position shown in Fig. 9, to the normal or
horizontal position.
U
I would state that I do not claim a cloth-guiding machine provided with a
pivotally-mounted guide-roller or temple operating at a substantially uniform rate
of motion by a belt or other positive mechanism, as such machines have been made
and used; a serious disadvantage to cloth-guiding machines thus driven is that it is
practically impossible to operate them successfully in conjunction with tentering
machines. Another reason why such former cloth-guiding machines failed to work
properly was that the speed or ratio of vibration of the temple was constant and.

page_text: entirely independent of the quality and thickness or weight of the fabric passing
through them. My improved cloth-guiding machine is well adapted to be attached
directly to a tentering machine and reciprocate with it, the cloth passing through
it and the guiding-device having the same rate of speed. At the same time,
however, the guiding machine is automatically controlled by the passage of the
fabric itself, thereby correcting any deviation of the fabric from a true or normal
line.
My improvement is especially advantageous and new in that the relative
angularity or inclination of the contact portion of the cloth-driven revolving temple-
rolls to the adjacent portion of the underside of the traveling fabric is automati-
cally corrected and controlled by mechanism actuated by the fabric itself during its
passage through the machine.
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. A cloth-guiding machine automatically actuated and controlled by the fabric
passing through it, consissing substantially of a dog-carrying feed-roll, a frictionally
resisted temple having a series of loosely mounted narrow inclined spur-carrying
wheels, a rack adapted to simultaneously engage said temple and dogs to change
the relative inclination of the spur-wheels to the fabric, and governors controlling
the radial movement of said dogs and their engagement with the rack, all constructed
and arranged whereby any lateral variation of the traveling fabric from a true or
normal line is automatically corrected.
2. An automatically operating cloth-guiding machine having a normally stationary
temple-carrying arbor mounted horizontally, its axis being parallel with the cloth
transversely, in combination with a cloth-driven feed-roll carrying a series of dogs
adapted to engage a rack, mounted governors connected with and controlling the
longitudinal movement of said dogs, and a double-acting rack arranged to engage
the dogs, and also arranged to engage with and actuate the temple-arbor in an
axial direction, thereby changing the relation of the temple to the traveling
cloth and correcting any lateral variation of the latter from its true or normal
line.
3. A cloth-guiding machine provided with a temple having its arbor fitted with a
series of loosely turning spur-carrying rings mounted to revolve at an inclined plane
or angle to the axis of the normally stationary arbor, which latter is mounted
parallel with the cloth transversely, in combination with a cloth-driven feed-roll
and dogs, cloth-actuated governors connected with said dogs, and a double-
acting rack or rod, as m, engaging the temple arbor and also adapted to engage
said dogs, substantially as hercinbefore described and for the purpose set forth.
4. A cloth-guiding machine having a frictionally resisted temple automatically
operated and controlled by the passage of cloth through the machine, and having
normally stationary transversely arranged guides u secured to a frame jointed to
the outer portion of the machine, whereby the guides may be raised so as to readily
introduce and remove the cloth, substantially as hereinbefore set forth.
5. The combination of a mounted frictionally resisted temple having spur-
carrying rolls arranged to engage and divert the cloth, a mounted rack engaging
the temple, a roughened feed-roll over which the fabric passes provided with
radially mounted dogs, a counter-weighted lever having said dogs connected
therewith, and governors located between the temple and feed-roll, connected with
the said lever, all constructed and arranged whereby any variation of the traveling
fabric from a true line is automatically corrected, substantially as hereinbefore
described.
6. In combination, a suitably mounted normally stationary frictionally-resisted
arbor having inclined freely revolving spur-carrying wheels mounted thereon, a
roughened surface feed-roll having dogs mounted therein to travel transversely,
independently mounted governors having roughened surfaces adapted to engage the

page_text: underside of fabrics, a counter-weighted lever connected with said governors and
dogs, a mounted toothed rack or bar, as m, arranged to connect with the dogs, a
toothed wheel secured to the temple-arbor and having the said rack intergearing
therewith, whereby the traveling fabric produces an intermittent movement of the
rack to and fro in either direction, and a table or stationary rest and guides adapted
to press against the fabric, substantially as hereinbefore set forth.
7. A cloth-guiding machine having a normally stationary temple-arbor mounted
transversely of and below the cloth and having said arbor provided with a series
of loosely mounted roughened or spur-carrying wheels arranged to engage the fabric,
the axis of rotation of said wheels being at an angle, with the arbor's axis, a double-
acting rack or rod engaging the temple-arbor, a cloth-driven feed-roll provided with
dogs adapted to engage and operate the rack and cloth-actuated governors connected
with and controlling the movement of said dogs..
Dated 3rd March 1891.
LOUIS HOLLINGWORTH,
Inventor.