IMPROVEMENTS IN FINISHING MACHINERY FOR STRETCHING AND 'WINDING-ON' TEXTILE FABRICS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joshua Littlewood of the firm of Taylor and Littlewood
of Newsome, near Huddersfield, in the County of York, Manufacturers for an
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN FINISHING MACHINERY FOR STRETCHING AND
'WINDING-ON' TEXTILE FABRICS
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joshua Littlewood at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th November 1882.
JOSHUA LITTLEWOOD of the firm of Taylor and Littlewood of Newsome, near
Huddersfield, in the County of York, Manufacturers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
FINISHING MACHINERY FOR STRETCHING AND 'WINDING-ON' TEXTILE FABRICS
"
This Invention has reference to that class of finishing machines employed in
winding woven fabrics onto rollers or beams for the purpose of removing the
"milling" creases therefrom, but the machine as at present employed has acted
very imperfectly.
To obviate this, is the object of my Invention, which I accomplish by combining
with the present arrangement of machine, self acting apparatus that will stretch
the fabric both in its length and width previous to being wound upon the roller.
For the purpose of stretching the fabric in width and winding on straight, I
employ a suitable arrangement of wheels arranged at each side of the machine
for carrying an endless travelling chain provided with suitable pins onto which the
fabric is placed. These chains are not parallel, but are furthest apart at the delivery
end where the piece leaves the pins to be wound onto the usual " winding-on
roller the divergence of which chain can be varied to suit the fabric-On the same
axles on which the chain wheels are fixed, I place a disc, oue at each side of the
chain-This disc is larger in diameter than the chain wheel and as it is placed
within the chains and running in contact with the "winding-on" roller, it removes
the fabric from the teeth of the chain just before it comes in contact with the said
roller. The framework carrying the chains is capable of rocking upon its stud or
oll...מ

page_text: shaft at the feeding end of the machine so that as the "winding-on" roller gets
larger in diameter by the increasing number of folds wound thereon, the frame-
work supporting the chain and discs, is lowered at the delivery end of the machine
in the same proportion as the roller increases.
The discs are kept at a suitable pressure against the "winding-on" roller by
means of weights or springs.
For the purpose of stretching the fabric in length, as it is being unwound off
one roller onto another I place a guide roller between the chain wheels and
unwinding roller, the latter of which is provided with a frictional brake which
retards or holds it back sufficient as to stretch the fabric as it is being unwound
therefrom.
The pressure of the brake on the said roller can be easily regulated so as to give
more or less drag.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
hy the said Joshua Littlewood in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
9th May 1883.
JOSHUA LITTLEWOOD of the firm of Taylor and Littlewood of Newsome,
near Huddersfield in the County of York, Manufacturers "IMPROVEMENTS IN
FINISHING MACHINERY FOR STRETCHING AND 'WINDING ON'. TEXTILE FABRICS."
This Invention has reference to that class of finishing machines employed in
winding woven fabrics onto rollers or beams for the purpose of removing the
milling" creases therefrom, but these machines at present in use have acted very
imperfectly.
"
To obviate this is the object of my Invention which I accomplish by combining
with the present arrangement of machines self-acting apparatus that will stretch
the fabric both in its length and width, previous to being wound upon the roller.
In order that my Invention may be better understood I. herein give reference
to the accompanying Sheets of Drawings, wherein Fig 1. is elevation of feeding
end of the machine, and Fig. 2 elevation of delivery end, Fig. 3 is side elevation
shewing position of some of the gearing and Fig. 4 is sectional elevation. A is the
piece of cloth which passes over and under conducting rollers B and through the
cistern C which contains water for damping the piece previous to stretching and
"winding on." D and E are other conducting rollera which convey the piece to
the place F where it is pushed by brush on to pins in the endless travelling
chains G one of which is placed on each side of the machine. These chains are not
parallel; but are furthest apart at tho delivery end, where the piece leaves the pins
to be wound on to the usual "winding on" " roller I, by which means the piece is
gradually stretched in width, the divergence of the two chains being capable of
adjustment to suit the peculiar character of the fabric by means of screws H
operated by hand wheel J. When the chains are open to the proper width, they
are fixed by thumb screw K. In order to effectually remove the picce from
contact with the pins, a disc L is placed at each end of the machine on the studs M
supporting the chain wheels N. The "winding on roller bears upon these discs
and as they are rather larger in diameter than the chain wheels N they remove
the piece off the pins just before it comes into contact with the "winding on
roller I, and this is done so quickly that the piece which is being stretched has
not an opportunity of shrinking, but is wound on the roller perfectly smooth
and even.
"
"
It will be seen that the "winding on" roller revolves in fixed framework P, but
the framework Z³ carrying the chains and discs L is capable of rocking upon its
shaft R, so that as the "winding on" roller gets larger in diameter by the increasing
number of folds wound thereon, it depresses the discs, and parts in connection
therewith, causing them to lower in the same proportion as the roller increases.
The discs are kept at a suitable pressure against the "winding on
"roller by
means of weight S lever T and rod U. Instead of employing weights for this
purpose spiral springs may be used.
For the purpose of stretching the fabric in length as it passes through the
machine, a frictional brake is employed in connection with the roller D, consisting
of a metal or leather strap V passing around the brake pulley W on the end of
the roller shaft D, whereby the fabric is retarded, or held back sufficient as to
stretch it, the amount of friction can be regulated as and when required by the
hand wheel X, screw Y, and bell crank lever Z.
The manner of driving the machine is shewn on the Drawings consisting of a
mechanical arrangement of bevil and other form of wheels operated by the

page_text: -
driving pulley Z¹. The strap is moved from, and off the fast and loose pulleys
by strap guide Z'.
Having now shewn and described my invention, and the manner in which the
same may be performed, I would have it understood that I do not confine myself
to the exact details herein shewn and described, as they may be varied without
departing from the main features thereof. I would also remark that I am aware
Bome of the parts shewn in the Drawings are not new; I therefore lay no
claim to them, but what I consider novel and new, and therefore claim as my
Invention is
Firstly The application to a
application to a "winding on "machine of unparallel endless
travelling chains G for stretching cloth in width.
'
Secondly--The employment of discs L of larger diameter than the chain wheels
for lifting the fabric off the pins of the endless chain substantially as herein shewn
and described.
Thirdly The employment of swinging framework supporting the chains to allow
for the increasing diameter of the "winding on" roller I substantially as herein ¨
shown and described.
-
Fourthly. The employment of the brake W for the purpose of stretching the
cloth length wise substantially as shewn and described.
-In witness whereof I the said Joshua Littlewood have hereunto set my hand
and seal this third day of May, in the Year of our Lord, one thousand eight
hundred and eighty three.