Improvements in Machines for Fastening Card Clothing to Flats.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 4th May, 1897-Accepted, 5th June, 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by CHARLES MILLS, of Newton, in the County of
Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, United States of America, Superin-
tendent.]
Improvements in Machines for Fastening Card Clothing to Flats.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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 :-
This invention is adapted to attach to flats card clothing to the edges of which
fastening clips of a peculiar type have previously been attached, the clips being in the
form of long, thin, angular, metallic strips united by prongs to the edges of the
clothing and extending about the edges parallel with each other. The clothing with
the clips thus secured is placed in a bed or holder of peculiar shape and the flat is then
forced between theo clips, stretching the clothing. The upper edges of the clothing.
are then turned upon the under surfaces of the flat.
Referring to the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of a machine having the features of my
invention.
Figure 2 is a view in vertical central section thereof.
Figure 3 is a detail view enlarged representing the clothing and its attached clips
in their holding recess in the bed of the machine, and the first placed between the
clips, the flat presser being removed to one side of the recess to permit the insertion
therein of the clothing and clips and the placing of the flat between the clips.
Figure 4 is a view enlarged of the parts represented in Figure 3 showing the flat
as pressed downward by the flat presser between the clips spreading the clips and
stretching the clothing, and also showing the pressers as moved inward, folding the
upper sections of the clips upon the surface of the flat.
Figure 5 is a detail view enlarged, to which reference is hereinafter made, and
Figure 6 is a view in plan of one of the sections of the clip folder or presser.
The machine has a metal bed A in which is arranged a recess a having the walls a',
the shoulders or ledges a² and the walls a³. The walls a' form a space of sufficient
size to receive the wires of the clothing. The walls a³ form a recess of the width of a
flat plus the thickness of the clips and the ledges a form supports for the edges of the
clothing and their attached clips, outside the wired section of the clothing. The ledges
or supports are below the upper surfaces of the bed, the thickness of the flat and the
clothing. The clothing and clips are first placed in the recess, as represented in
Figure 3, the clothing then being unstretched and with the clips not quite filling
the space between the walls a³. The flat is then placed between the clips and
forced downward by means of the bar B, the bar having downward vertical move-
ment imparted to it by the eccentrics which are connected with the bar by the
rods b¹. The eccentrics are formed on a shaft & having bearings at each end in
the stands and the shaft is turned by the lever or handle 6 at one end.
downward movement of the bar forces the flat between the clips and against the
clothing and brings the upper surface of the flat flush with the upper surface of
the bed.
The

page_text: The bar B may have upon its under surface the springs C to bear against the top 13
of the flat B making a yielding connection between the eccentrics and the flat. These
springs are preferably bow springs, having cars at their top which extend into a long
groove or recess in the under side of the bar and are secured to the bar by pivots, the
springs being free to turn somewhat upon them.
Upon the bed A on each side of the longitudinal recess therein, is a line of
blocks E. These have bearings e open at their top, and are adapted to receive and
support sections of the shafts F, there being preferably one upon each side of the said
longitudinal recess. These shafts have between the bearing blocks eccentrics G
which engage the clip pressers or folders H and serve to move them upon the bed A
forward and back in respect to tho said longitudinal recess. It will be understood
that the pressors are made up of a relatively large number of narrow sections shaped
substantially as represented in Figures 4 and 6, and that each of these sections is
adapted to engage its actuating eccentric by means of the open bearing in the
outer end thereof. The pressers are inclined downward from their eccentrics (see
Figure 3). The blocks E are separated sufficiently to receive the eccentrics G and the
portions of the pressers which extend between tliem, but the pressers in front of the
suid blocks are widened and their folding edges h are practically continuous throughout
the length of the clip which is folded or turned by them.
Each presser is also drawn down by a yielding pressure, so that its pressing end is
held against the bed, and I have represented as one means of providing them with this
stress, a hanger m, the upper end of which passes through a hole m³ in the
hooks thereon at m², and the lower end of which carries the block m³ having a
presser and
knife m, upon which the lever M bears. This lever is fulcrumed at m and carries
at its outer end a weight me which is adjustable thereon. Each presser is separately
weighted and its pressure is independent of all the others. I prefer to have various
sections of the presser about five inches in length, but I do not confine myself to
that limit, neither do I confine myself to the special means for creating a yielding
downward draught upon their pressing ends. I prefer that the eccentric shafts
operating them bo connected at one end by the gears N, N₁ so that movement
communicated to one eccentric shaft to move the pressers connected therewith will
also communicate movement to the other eccentric shaft and causo it to be turned
in an opposite direction and move the pressers connected therewith in a reverse
direction to that of the first named pressers, and each eccentric shaft is represented
as provided at one end with an operating lever N2. It will thus be seen that the
sectional yielding pressers are provided with means by which they may be
simultaneously moved inward and outward.
It will be understood that after the flat has been pressed by the bar B to the
position represented in Figure 2 between the clips, that the pressers are then
moved inward against the projecting sections of the clips and coming in contact
therewith fold them over upon the inner surface of the flat throughout the entire
length of the clips and flats (see Figures 4 and 5) the edges on both sides being
simultaneously folded over. The bar B is then lifted and moved to one side to
permit the removal of the finished flat and the placing of the unattached clothing
and clips and flat. To hold the bar, I have represented it as provided with an
arm which extends laterally from it and a support & upon the upper surface of
which it is adapted to be moved when elevatod, and to which it is held by friction
(see Figure 3).
In operation, the clothing with the attached clips is placed in the recess of the bed
as shewn in Figure 3. The flat is then placed between the clips as therein shown, the
flat presser moved over the flat and then downward pressing the flat between the clips
and into the recess (see Figure 2) and spreading the clamps apart and stretching the
clothing, and the extending sections of the clips are then, by the inward movement of
the folders or pressers, caused to be turned upon the exposed surface of the flats.
It will be seen that by providing the flat presser with a movement to one side of
the said recess, the flat and clothing may be easily placed and removed. It will also
be seen that the yielding flat pressing bar conforms to the top of the flat, against which

page_text: it bears, and distributes pressure thereon uniformly throughout its length. This
yielding portion of the flat presser may be above the bar instead of below or in any
other suitablo connection therewith. By making the clip pressers or folders in
separable or indepondent sections the working edge of the entire line of folders.or
pressers is made conformable and adjustable so that the clips are turned throughout
their length uniformly and with the same pressure and directed upon the flat, and any
error or inequality in ono part does not affect the rest, a very vital consideration.
It will also be seen that the clip pressers or folders are easily detachable, being
provided with eccentric straps which are open at one side, by which they are readily
disengaged from their operating eccentrics; also that means for providing them with
their downward yielding thrust are entirely below the upper surface of the bed, and
thus do not interfere with the placing and removal of the card clothing and flats.
It will be understood that as the clip pressers or folders are moved laterally that
the upper ends of the hanger connecting them with the lovers M move with them
(see Figure 4) and that the connection between these rods and the levers is so mado
as to permit this to take place without friction. I prefer that both lines of clip
pressers or folders be moved together, and while I have represented their actuating
shafts as joined by gearing to accomplish this purpose, they may be separately actuated
if preferred.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In a machine for attaching card clothing to flats, the combination of a stationary
bed having the recess a, the shoulders a and the walls a³ all adapted to receive and
hold the clothing and attached clips as specified, a vertically movable flat presser and
a series of laterally movable clip folders, as and for the purposes set forth.
2. The combination in a machine of the character specified of a bed having the
recess described for receiving the clothing and attached clips, with a line of
independent folders or pressers laterally movable over the bed in relation to the flat.
3. In a machino of the character specified, the combination of the bed having
recess with a yielding pressing device to bear upon the flat and press it into the
recess between the clips, as and for the purposes described.
4. The combination in a machine of the character specified of the flat pressing
bar B and bearing springs attached to the said bar and adapted to bear upon the
upper or outer edges of the central rib of a flat, as and for the purposes set forth.,
5. In a machine of the character specified, the flat bearing bar B and springs C.
pivoted to the bar, as and for the purposes set forth.
6. In a machine of the character specified, the combination of a stationary bed
adapted to receive and hold the card clothing and its attached clips, with a flat
presser having a movement towards and from the bed and also a lateral movement in
relation to the bed whereby it may be moved to one side of the bed to uncover it
and permit the ready placing of the said card clothing and attached clips in the bed
recess.
7. In a machine of the character specified having a bed provided with a recess for
receiving the clothing and attached clips, a flat presser and means for moving it out
of line with the recess and for holding it in its removed position.'
8. In a machine of the character specified, a flat presser and means for supporting
and actuating the same comprising the shaft b' having the eccentrics and eccentric
straps and rods connecting the eccentric straps with the presser.
9. In a machine of the character specified, the combination of a bed having the
recess described for receiving the clothing and attached clips, with a vertically
movable flat presser and means for adjusting the presser vertically.
1
10. In a machine of the character specified, the combination of a bed having
recess as described for receiving the clothing and attached ciips, with two lines of
laterally movable sectional folders or pressers, one line on each side of the said recess,
and means for actuating the same.

page_text: 11. The combination in a machine of the character specified, of a bed having the
recess described for receiving the clothing and attached clips, with two lines of
separate or independent folders or pressers arranged upon each side of the said recess
as specified, and means for simultaneously operating them.
12. In a machine of the character specified, the combination of a bed having a
recess described for receiving the clothing and attached clips, with two lines of
independent or separate pressers or folders arranged upon each sido of the recess as
specified, their operative devices and means connecting them whereby the movement
of one operative device will cause the movement of the other, as and for the purposes
described.
13. The combination in a machine of the character specified of a bed having the
recess described for receiving the clothing and attached clips, a line of independent
or separato clip pressers and a line of separate actuating devices for moving said
pressers adapted to be operated by a common shaft, as and for the purposes described.
14. In a machine of the character specified, in combination with a bed having the
recess described for receiving the clothing and attached clips, a line of separate
pressers or folders inclined from their back downward to their forward ends,
substantially as described.
15. In a machine of the character specified, in combination with a bed having a
recess described for receiving the clothing and attached clips, a presser or folder
having the open eccentric strap or bearing at its outer end and an eccentric to engage
therewith, as and for the purposes described.
16. The combination in a machine of the character specified of a bed having the
recess described for receiving the clothing and attached clips, with a line of folders or
pressers adapted to be moved in relation to the recess as specified, and held down
during such movement by a yielding pressure.
17. The combination in a machine for attaching card clothing to flats of the
stationary bed having means for receiving and holding the clothing and its attached
clips, a series of clip turning or folding pressers adapted to be moved laterally over
the recess in said bed, and means for providing their working edges with independent
yielding adjustment, as and for the purposes described.
18. The combination in a machine of the character specified of the bed having a
recess, a laterally movable presser, the working edge of which is conformable to the
surface upon which it moves, and means for holding the working edge in contact with
said surface, comprising a lever M connected with the presser or folder as described,
and a weight m®.
19. The combination in a machine of the character specified of a bed having tho
recess described for receiving the clothing and attached clips, the flat presser, the
blocks E carried by the bed furnishing bearings for the eccentric shafts F, the said
shafts and their eccentrics of separable pressers or folders H attached to said eccentrics
as specified arranged in relation to the said recess as described, and the weights m®
connected with the pressers to co-operate therewith.
20. The combination in a machine of the character specified of the bed having the
recess described for receiving the clothing and attached clips, a hanger passing through
a hole in the bed and in the presser and engaging the presser as described, the lever M
pivoted as specified and connected with the hanger as indicated and the weight m
adjustable upon the lever M.
21. The combination in a machine for attaching card clothing to flats of the bed
having a recess for holding the flat and attached clips of the character specified,
a laterally movable presser or folder H movable over said recess, the lever M attached
to the presser or folder and having the fulcrum m³ and the adjustable connection
between the lever and the presser or folder.
22. The combination in a machine of the character specified of the presser or
folder H, the lever M pivoted as described and the hanger connected with the lover as
specified.
23. In a machine of the character specified, the combination of a bed with the
recess described for receiving the clothing and attached clips, with the laterally

page_text: movable sectional pressers or folders and independent or vielding hold-downs for
each section, arranged below the upper surface of the bed, as and for the purposes
described.
Dated this 4th don of Now 1807
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.