IMPROVEMENTS IN PLAITING MACHINES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edgar Edmonds, of the Firm of Robertson, Brooman, and
Company, of 166, Fleet Street, in the City of London, Patent Agents, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN PLAITING MACHINES." A communication
from abroad by Richard Mott Wanzer, of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Sealed the 4th February 1879, and dated the 6th August 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edgar Edmonds at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th August 1878.
EDGAR EDMONDS, of the Firm of Robertson, Brooman, and Company, of 166,
Fleet Street, in the City of London, Patent Agents. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PLAITING
MACHINES." (A communication from abroad by Richard Mott Wanzer, of Hamilton,
Ontario, Canada.)
The object of this Invention is to produce a simple, convenient, and effective
plaiting machine, which will do all kinds of plaiting quickly, correctly, and effec-
tually, and baste the plaits together as they are formed on the machine.
The Invention consists in a stationary frame, across the top of which a shaft runs
carrying a crimping plate, the front end of which rests on an inclined plate on
which the plaits are formed. The said crimping plate is driven back and forward
by means of an eccentric on the said shaft, and is provided with a guide attached
to the rear end of said crimping plate. The said crimping or tucking plate has a
movement in addition to the back and forward movement, which is, that by means
of a small eccentric on the main driving shaft, the crimping end of the said plate is
slightly raised as each plait is made, so that on its back or return movement it is
elevated above the material, and is thus prevented from dragging its weight upon it,
which would no doubt be a serious objection.
A central guide is attached by an adjusting screw to one end of the frame of the
crimping or tucking plate; it contains two projections, between which works an
eccentric, which is adjustably secured to the main shaft by a set screw; the latter-
mentioned eccentric drives the crimping plate, and the said guide, by the position
in which it is placed, causes the plate to crimp, or leave spaces between the crimps

page_text: as may be required; it is also for the purpose of regulating the distance the crimping
teeth pass between the rollers.
An inclined stationary plate is constructed across the machine and under the
teeth of the crimping plate, and upon which the plaits are formed with the aid of
the crimping plate, upon which it works. The rear part of said inclined plate is
fastened to the sides of the frame of the machine, and its other end rests upon the
lower roller, which, with a smaller one, journalled on the end of the frame of the
machine, carries an endless belt, preferably of cloth, for the purpose of having a
soft substance between the two rollers to press the plaits upon, and also for the
purpose of carrying away the plaited goods from the machine.
Above the central roller previously mentioned is a metallic pressure roller jour-
nalled on the top of the machine, and so constructed that it is capable of easy
removal for heating, so as to more effectually press the plaits as they are formed.
The said roller is provided with metallic journal loops, having attached at their
lower ends rubber clips, which in turn are attached to levers (one on each side of
the machine), the outer ends of which are connected with a stout wire, and the levers
being pivoted at the opposite end to the machine, the said roller can be pulled down-
wards to give more pressure if needed.
Two rows of pins, are driven into the frame of the machine for the said wire to
catch upon to continue any needed pressure of the said roller.
Two spool wires are driven into the top of the frame of the machine to carry
two spools, upon which are wound narrow adhesive strips, which pass through
guides attached to a wire passing across the top of the machine, and secured at each
end of the frame. Each guide has two holes, through which the said adhesive
strips pass, and said strips are for the purpose of holding the plaits together after
they are made, and pressed under the heated roller.
On one end of said roller is an off-set for the purpose of allowing certain parts of
certain pieces of goods to pass under it without being pressed where they are not
required to be pressed; this makes a reversible plait.
A ratchet wheel is attached to the axle of the lower roller, which is operated by
a notched dog attached to the main shaft, which in turn is operated by an eccentric
adjusted to said shaft by a set screw. A pawl resting on said ratchet wheel prevents
it from turning backwards.
The operation of the machine is as follows:-The goods to be plaited or crimped
are placed under the crimping plate, and on the inclined plate the handle of the
machine is turned, which causes the main central eccentric on the driving shaft to
set the crimping plate in motion. The rollers are set in motion by means of the
eccentric on the outer end of the said shaft, pushing the notched bar on the ratchet
wheel, which is keyed on the axle of the lower roller, which gives it and the rollers
an intermittent rotary motion, moving just in time to press each plait as it is
formed by the crimping plate. Any required pressure can be put upon the top
roller.
The advantages of the above-described machine may be enumerated as
follows:-
1. By having a cloth band the pressure roller can be heated as hot as required to
heat all kinds of goods properly, and it also prevents their being glazed.
2. By the peculiar movement of the rollers and tucking plate in concert with each
other, all kinds of delicate fabrics having a hem on one edge, and all kinds of heavy
goods having a hem or French fold on one edge can be plaited without cutting the
goods or injuring thein in the least.
3. The facility with which the pressure roller can baste all kinds of goods with-
out scorching them when too hot.
4. The elastic pressure which allows the roller to pass over seams without injuring
the goods at such places.
5. The facility with which the machine will do cluster or space plaiting.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Edgar Edmonds in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 6th February
1879.
EDGAR EDMONDS, of the Firm of Robertson, Brooman, and Company, of 166,
Fleet Street, in the City of London, Patent Agents. "IMPROVEMENTS IN PLAITING
MACHINES." (A communication from abroad by Richard Mott Wanzer, of Hamilton,
Ontario, Canada.)
The object of this Invention is to produce a simple, convenient, and effective
plaiting machine, which will do all kinds of plaiting quickly, correctly, and effec
tually, and baste the plaits together as they are formed on the machine.
The Invention will be clearly understood by the following description with refer-
rence to the annexed Drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan, Figure 2 a side
elevation, and Figure 3 a longitudinal section of a plaiter constructed according to
this Invention.
A is a stationary frame, across the top of which a shaft B runs, carrying or
supporting a crimping plate C, the front end of which rests on an inclined plate D,
on which the plaits are formed. The said crimping plate C is driven backward and
forward by means of an eccentric E on the said shaft, and is provided with a guido
piece or tongue F attached to the rear end of said crimping plate, the said tongue F
passing through a guide plate F¹
The guide plate F¹ is shown in face view in Figure 4.
During the process of plaiting, the tongue F on the stem of the crimping plate C
slides to and fro in the notch g in the guide plate F', but when it is required to
hold the front end of the crimping plate out of contact with and above the inclined
plate D, the tongue piece F of the crimping plate is passed under one of the
shoulders h of the guide plate F¹, the crimping plate then resting on the shaft B.
The said crimping or tucking plate has a moveinent in addition to the back and,
forward movement, which is that by means of small eccentrics or cams G (see
Figures 1 and 3) on the main driving shaft B, the crimping end of the said plate is
slightly raised as each plait is made, so that on its back or return movement it is
elevated above the material, and is thus prevented from dragging its weight upon it,
which would no doubt be a serious objection.
A central guide H is attached by an adjusting screw I to one end of the frame of
the crimping or tucking plate C, it is provided with two projections J, J, between
which works the eccentric E, which is adjustably secured to the main shaft B by a
set screw K; the latter mentioned eccentric drives the crimping plate C, and the'
said guide H, by the position in which it is placed, causes the plate to crimp or
leave spaces between the crimps, as may be required; it is also for the purpose of
regulating the distance the crimping teeth pass between the rollers.
The dotted lines in Figure 1 show the position of the guide H when it is desired
to put the crimping plate out of action for spacing.
The rear part of the inclined plate D is fastened to the sides of the frame of the
machine, and its other end rests upon the cloth band surrounding the lower roller L,
which with another and adjustable one M journalled on the end of the frame of the
machine carries an endless belt N, preferably of cloth, for the purpose of having a
soft substance between the two rollers to press the plaits upon, and also for the
purpose of carrying away the plaited goods from the machine.
Above the central roller L, previously mentioned, is a metallic pressure roller P
journalled on the top of the machine, and constructed hollow, so that it is capable
of being heated by gas to more effectually press the plaits as they are formed. The
said roller is provided with metallic journal loops Q, having attached to their lower,
ends rubber clips R (see Figure 2), which in turn are attached to levers S (one on
each side of the machine), the outer ends of which are connected with a stout wire T,..

page_text: and the levers being pivoted at U at the opposite end of the machine, the said roller
can be pulled downwards to give more pressure if needed.
Two rows of pins may be driven into the frame of the machine for the said wire
to catch upon, to continue any needed pressure of the said roller, or in lieu of the
pins a rack plate V may be employed, as clearly seen in Figures 2 and 3.
Two spool wires W, W, are driven into the top of the frame of the machine to
carry two spools or reels, upon which are wound narrow strips of adhesive material,
which pass through holes w' in guides X, X, (or their equivalents) attached to a
wire Y, passing across the top of the machine, and secured at each end to the frame.
The said adhesive strips are for the purpose of holding the plaits together after they
are made and pressed under the heated roller.
On one end of said heated roller an off-set may be provided for the purpose of
allowing certain parts of certain pieces of goods to pass under it without being
pressed where they are not required to be pressed. This makes a reversible plait.
A ratchet wheel a is attached to the axle of the lower roller L, the said ratchet
wheel being operated by a notched dog 6 in conection with the main shaft B, which
notched dog is in turn operated by an eccentric adjusted to said shaft by a set
screw d. Two pawls e, e, resting on said ratchet wheel prevent it from turning
backwards.
To enable the notched dog b to recede without affecting the ratchet wheel a, the
said dog is lifted out of gear with the said ratchet wheel by means of a small
cam f on the shaft B. This motion takes place after each plait has been pressed.
The operation of the machine is as follows :-The goods to be plaited or crimped
are placed under the crimping plate C, and on the inclined plate D the handle h of
the machine is turned, which causes the main central eccentric E on the driving
shaft B to set the crimping plate C in motion. The rollers P, L, and M are set in
motion by means of the eccentric c on the outer end of the said shaft, pushing the
notched bar b on the ratchet wheel a, which is keyed on the axle of the lower
roller L, which gives it and the rollers an intermittent rotary motion, moving just in
time to press each plait as it is formed by the crimping plate. Any required pressure
can be put upon the top roller.
The advantages of the above-described machine may be enumerated as
follows:-
1. By having a cloth band the pressure roller can be heated as hot as required to
heat all kinds of goods properly, and it also prevents their being glazed.
2. By the peculiar movement of the rollers and tucking plate in concert with each
other, all kinds of delicate fabrics, having a hem on one edge, and all kinds of heavy.
goods, having a hem or French fold on one edge, can be plaited without cutting the
goods or injuring them in the least.
3. The facility with which the pressure roller can baste all kinds of goods without
scorching them when too hot.
.4. The elastic pressure, which allows the roller to pass over seams without injuring
the goods at such places.
5. The facility with which the machine will do cluster or space plaiting.
And having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what'
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,-
First. The endless apron, in combination with the rollers and tucking plate, as
and for the purpose specified, and substantially as shown in the Drawings.
Secondly. The combination of the endless apron, rollers, pressure roller, incline
plate, and tucker plate, all constructed as and for the purpose specified.
Thirdly. The adjustable eccentric on the shaft for driving the crimping or tucking
plate, in combination with the guide for regulating the same by throwing it in and
out of working order, as described.
Fourthly. The eccentric or cams on the main shaft for raising the crimping plate
on its return movement, as specified.
Fifthly. The combination of the ratchet wheel, pawl rollers, and outer eccentric,
with notched dog, for the purpose of driving the rollers.

page_text: Sixthly. The combination with the top roller of the rubber clips and levers for
pressing the said roller downwards, as specified.
Seventhly. The general arrangement and combination of parts herein-before
described, and substantially as shown in the annexed Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edgar Edmonds, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Sixth day of February, One thousand eight hundred and
seventy-nine.
EDGAR EDMONDS. (L.S.)