US1812506A - Woven wire fabric machine - Google Patents

Description

. June 30, 1931. F. E. WILLlTS 1,312,506

WOVEN WIRE FABRIC MACHINE Filed NOV. 15, 1927 12 Sheets-Sheet l 9mm BY 0 'A TTORNE Y June 30, 1931. w -rs 1,812,506

WOVEN WIRE FABRIC MACHINE Filed Nov. 15. 1927 12 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 30, 1931. F, E, WILUTS 1,812,506

WOVEN WIRE FABRIC MACHINE Filed Nov. 15, 1927 12 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEY June 30, 1931. w s 1,812,506

WOVEN WIRE FABRIC MACHINE.

Filed Nov. 15, 1927 12 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. W

ATTORNEY June 30, 1931. I w L -rs I 1,812,506

WOVEN WIRE FABRIC MACHINE Filed NOV. 15, 1927 12 Sheets-Sheet 5 illll :9

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9W0 By ATTORNEY June 30, 1931. I E, w rrs 1,812,506

WOVEN WIRE FABRIC MACHINE Filed.Nav. 1% 1927 12 Sheets-vSheet 6 '7 a 381/ INVLNTOR. 9W 6? b oauw AQAW W A TTORNEY June 30, 1931. v w rrs 1,812,506

WOVEN WIRE FABRIC MACHINE Filed Nov. 15, 1927 12 Sheets-Sheet '7 M E i gggg T in ag-1 A: AQMAM A TTORNEYS June 30, 1931. w L n-s 1,812,506

' WOVEN WIRE FABRIC MACHINE Filed Nov. 1-5, 1927 12 Sheets-Sheet 8 ,f/l r I l 7 77 fi 14 #7 7 76 75 H 7 a /;fif;/ 4 1 1(5) 3 75 5 z 73 "KAT-w l 72 I gi .& 6.6 6.7- m l i j i 27 v "'uw/ vT0/? I l 3 t I BY WWW ATTORNEYS 1931- F. E. .WILLITS 1,812,506

WOVEN WIRE FABRIC MACHINE Filed Nov. 15, 192'! 12 Sheets-Sheet 9 A TTORNE Y June 30, 1931; F. E. WILLITS WOVEN WIRE FAB RIC' MACHINE Filed Nov. 15, 1927 12 Sheets-Sheet l0 W WH 1 VENTOR.

ATTORNEY June 30, 1931. F. 'E. wlLLrrs 1,812,506

' WOVEN WIRE- FABRIC MACHINE} Filed Nov. 15, 1927 12 sheets-sheet 11 ATTORNEYS June 30, 1931. F; E. WILLITS- 05- WOVEN WIRE FABRIC MACHINEv Filed Nov. 15, 192'? 12 Sheets-Sheet 12 f 1g. E E- INVENTOR fi m/J9 d. m

A TTORNEYS Patented June 30, 1931 PATENT OFFICE FREDERICK E. WILLITS, OF FAIRPORT, NEW YORK WOVEN WIRE FABRIC MACHINE Application filed November 15, 1927f Serial No. 233,354.

This invention relates to improvements in machines for making woven fabrics and, more particularly, with reference to some of its details, it relates to improvements in automatio machines for making woven wire fabric, or netting.

It is a general object of the invention to provide a machine of the class mentioned which is of such an improved construction as to produce a fabric of superior qualities at an increased rate of production thereby minimizing production costs.

A further object is to provide a machine of the class mentioned having an improved construction and arrangement of parts whereby it operates substantially automatically and requires Very little adjustment or attention during operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a machine of the class mentioned, an

improved mechanism and method of assembling the warp and filler, or weft strands in intermeshing relation to form the woven fabric.

Another object is to provide,'in a machine of the class mentioned, an improved mechanism for deflecting the warp strands from their normal plane under tension in such a manner as to provide a plurality of transversely extending longitudinally related passage ways, or sheds, through which the filler strands may be fed into intermeshing relation.

Another object of the invention is to pro- 5 vide an improved die construction for fabric machines, constructed and arranged to deflect or crimp warp strands at longitudinally spaced points thereofand to hold said strands in deflected position during placing of the filler strands, the die being constructed, furthermore, to guide the filler strands into position and arranged to provide free passage ways or sheds for said filler strands.

A further object is to provide, in a machine of the class. mentioned, an improved mechanism for simultaneously feeding a plurality of filler strands into intermeshing relation with the warp strands. and embodying, in its construction, an improved mechanism for supporting the filler strands while being fed,

assuring correct placing thereof with reference to the warp strands, even in cases where the filler strands are quite fine and subject to easy bending, such, for example, as that used in window screen fabrics.

A further object is to provide, in a machine of the class mentioned, an improved mechanism for feeding the filler strands into intermeshing relation with the warp strands and embodying an improved intermittent or stepby-step action and a strand-gripping arrangement whereby the strands are advanced in relatively short stretches at each step, thus assuring accurate feeding of the strands and, furthermore, assuring feeding ofcorrect lengths of filler strands to reach across the Warp strands and provide extending ends for turning about the selvage warp strand to provide the selvage edge of the fabric.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a machine of the class mentioned, an improved severing device for simultaneously severing a plurality of filler strands, when fed into position so as to provide slightly projecting end portions, positioned for bending the selvage warp strand to provide a selvage edge.

Another object is to provide, in a machine of the class mentioned, an improved selvage turner for bending or turning the free ends of the filler strands about the selvage warp strands so as to provide the opposite selvage edges of the fabric.

A further object is to provide, in a machine of the class mentioned, an improved selvage turner operating to turn simultaneously a plurality of, filler strand ends about the selvage warps and to turn them in opposite directions.

A further object is to provide, in a machine of the class mentioned, an improved fabric feeding device, devised inxsuch a manner as to engage the fabric at a multiplicity of points in the meshes thereof, so as to exert distributed pressure over the fabric surfaces in feeding the fabric forwardly, thus avoiding distortion to the fabric and preventing dislocation of the filler or warp strands.

A further object is to provide, in a ma chine of the class mentioned, a fabric feeding device having an improved arrangement for maintaining the fabric-engaging member in engaging relation with the fabric and for automatically engaging and disengaging it.

A further object is to provide, in a machine of the class mentioned, an improved gripping device for engaging each of the warp strands, and exerting a yielding frictional engagement therewith at pointsspaced longitudinally so as to exert a resistance or drag to warp advancement, thus tensioning the warps for advantageous operation.

A further object is to provide, in a machine of the class mentioned, an improved take-up device, or drum, for winding up the fabric as it is woven, and having an improved automatic operating mechanism to ,drive it at the correct speed to take; up the fabric as fast as it is woven.

Other objects and advantages of. the improved machine will be in part pointed out in connection with the following detailed disclosure of an illustrative but preferred embodiment of the invention, and will be in part obvious in connection therewith.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims.

For a more complete understanding of the nature, objects and advantages of the invention, reference is had to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment and to the accompanying draw ings, in which Fig. 1 is a partially diagrammatic plan view of a wire fabric machine constructed in accordance with the invention, parts being removed and in section to facilitate the disclosure;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged front elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section taken approximately on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2,. looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section taken approximately on the line 44 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrow;

Fig.. 5 is an end elevation looking at the left end of Fig. 2 and showing a detail of the intermittent drive for the filler strand feeding mechanism;

f Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional detail taken substantially upon the same plane as Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged elevation of the upper crimping die;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary end elevation of Fig. 7, parts being in section substantially on the line 88 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the lower crimping die;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary end elevation of ally completely fed into intermeshing relationon the line 10-10 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a face view of a section of one of the dies;

Fig. 12 is an elevation of a cutting plate for the filler strands;

Fig. 13 is an edge view of the cutter of Fig! 12, parts being in central longitudinal section;

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary enlarged partially diagrammatic view of the feeding mechanism for feeding the filler strands into intermeshing relation with the warp strands;

Fig. 15 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view showing the cutter mechanism for the filler strands;

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary enlarged perspective view of the selvage turner;

Fig. 17 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the fabric feeding mechanism;

Fig. 18 is a fragmentary plan of the fabric take-up drum and the operating mechanism therefor;

Fig. 19 is a detail enlarged plan view of one of the warp tensioning grippers;

Fig. 20 is a left end elevation of Fig. 19;

Fig. 21 is a longitudinal central sectionof Fig.19; and

Fig. 22 is a right-hand elevational View of Fig. 19.

Referrin to the drawings for a detailed description o the preferred embodiment of the invention, as disclosed in the accompanying drawings, a framework 25 is provided, supporting the main operative elements of the machine. This framework may be of any preferred construction, but is preferably of cast or pressed metal and, as shown, includes a horizontal base member 26 with upright spaced end frames secured thereto and a yokeor upper spacing frame member 28 bolted to the upper terminals of the end frames. The main driving shaft 29 is shown as mounted for rotary movement in the lower part'of the end frames 27 and may be driven by suitable driving connections, such, for example, as the shaft 30 carrying a pinion 31 intermeshing with the main driving gear 32 mounted upon the main shaft 29. The shaft 30 may be connected to an electric motor' or other mo tive means.

The principal operative functions in making the woven wire fabric are carried out in two major stages. At the first stage the die indicated generally at 33 in Fig. 1 cooperates with the warp strands of the fabric to prepare them for reception of the filler or weft strands,-which are then fed into position by the weft feed mechanism, indicated generat 34. As soon as the filler strands are with the warp strands, a cutting mechanism is operated to sever the filler strands adjacent I to the selvage warp strand. At the second stage in the operation of the machine the selvage turner indicated generally at 35 turns the ends of the filler wires over the selvage warp strand so as to form the selvage edge of the fabric. There are two of these selvage turners, one located adjacent each selvage edge of the fabric, and they are preferably operated at the same time to turn the ends of the filler strands which project slightly beyond the respective selvage warp strands. In the interval between these two successive main stages, the fabric feeding mechanism 36 is operated to feed the fabric forwardly in the machine a sufiicient distance to bring the filler strands which have just been fed into position in operating; registry with the selvage turners.

The warp wires or strands indicated at A in Fig. 1 and other parts of the drawings, and the selvage warp strands A, which may be I slightly larger than the other warps, are

held in position in the machine during the fabric forming operations by the feeding mechanism 36, and a bank or series of gripping elements 37, which are preferably arranged for individually gripping each of the warp strands, thus exerting a drag or resistance to forward movement thereof, and imparting the desired tension to hold them in correct operative position in the machine. The filler or weft strands are designated B,

' and the fabric C. The gauge or size of wire may'vary widely with this type of machine, as the mechanism is particularly adapted for satisfactory operation with large or small sizes of wire and the filler strand feeding mechanism will operate in a satisfactory manner upon light flexible wires, as special provision is made to prevent buckling thereof when fed into position, as more fully hereinafter described.

T he die construction The die 33 is constructed of complementary mating parts or sections, preferably arranged one above another, forming an upper die part 33 and a lower die part 33*, as shown best in detail in Figs. 7 to 11, inclusive. The upper die part is supported upon a bed 38 (see Figs. 2, 3, and 4), which may be of i ed in the form of a movable carriage slidable .up and down in appropriatesupporting guideways of the framework, while the upper bed 38 is mounted upon the framework in stationary position thereon.

The carriage 39 is reciprocated upwardly and downwardly in its supporting guideways by means of driving connections to the driving shaft 29, embodying a pair of spaced cam arms, or links, 40 attached at their upper ends to'the lower side of the carriage 39 which is shown as embodying a channel bar with downwardly directed flanges. A supporting and guiding mounting 41 is provided for the lower ends of each of the cam arms 40 to maintain them in correct driving position during operation. The cam arms 40 as shown are preferably looped about the shaft 29, and each carries a cam roller 42 positioned to rest upon the main shaft 29, so as to support the die carriage and being engageable with an eccentric cam 43 upon the shaft 29 as the latter rotates. The lower die is thus reciprocated, and thus periodically brings the lower die part 33 into cooperative relation with the upper die part 33*. The carriage 39 is preferably connected to the operating links 40 for vertical adjustment by means of the set screws 44, whereby the cooperative engaging action of the die parts may be radially adjusted.

Both upper and lower die parts are preferably removably clamped in position upon the respective supporting beds by means of clamping brackets 45, secured to the beds by bolts or screws 46. The die supporting and clamping brackets 45, as shown in F 1g. 7,

may be formed with grooved edges having inclined laterally disposed faces 47 engaging at one side a complementary inclined surface 48 of lugs 49 formed upon the die. At the other end the die is formed with lugs 50, each provided with set screws 51 adapted to engage a clamping bar or key 52 having an inclined face cooperating with the inclined face 47 bracket 45 so as to firmly secure the die in position when the set screws are tightened. By means of this clamping arrangement both upper and lower dies are firmly held in operative position and may also be readily removed, adjusted or replaced.

As clearly seen in Figs. 7 to 11, inclusive, both upper and lower dies are of similar construction, each embodying a plurality of separate die bars or plates 53 having flat lateral sides adapted to contact with each other to build up the complete die part. At one edge each die bar 53 has a series of spaced projections 54 forming the active or working parts of the die and forming intervening recesses 55 substantially equal in cross sectional area with that of the projections. As clearly seen in Fig. 11, adjacent die bars have their projections and recesses in staggered or alternate arrangement so as to provide a checker-board formation when the die bars are completely assembled. Each projection 54 is specially formed to provide an outwardly disposed work or wire engaging face including anticlinal surfaces 56 and longitudinally extending grooves or seats 57 aligned with each other in each die bar, whereby the warp strand may be seated in the series of warp seats thus formed. Each die projection 54 is also provided at its work face with a groove or slot 58 positioned transversely of the respective warp seat 57 and also transversely of the die bar, and is arranged to intersect and open through the warp seat. These slots 58 are adapted for the reception of the filler strands and their bottoms are positioned somewhat beneath the bottom of the respective Warp seats, as clearly shown in Figs. 8 and 10; that is, the filler strand receiving slots are somewhat deeper than the seats for receiving the warp strands. The slots 58 open through the respective work faces of the die, thus permitting the die parts to separate from each other after the filler strands have been fed into position.

Also each die projection '54 is provided at its forward lateral side toward which the filler strands are fed with a small cup shaped depression 59 positioned adjacent the bottom of'each slot and functioning as a guide for guiding the respective filler strands'into correct position during feeding thereof into intermeshing relation with the warp strands.

It will now be readily understood that the upper and lower die members, or parts, by virtue of the checker-board arrangement described, are of complementary formation and arranged to mate with each other so that the respective'projections 54 of one die part may enter-therespect'ive recesses 55 of the the spacing and number of weft wires which other die part when the lower part is moved againstv the. upper part by action of the operating' mechanism. When one die part is moved against the other the anticlinalsurfaces 56 may engage with each, other, thus functioning as guiding surfaces.- It will be clear that as many individual die bars 53 are employed as there are Warpv wires, and the number may be varied in accordance with the number of warp wires. .Also the length of each die bar, and the number of individual work faces will be dependent upon are to be simultaneously fed into intermeshing relation with the'warp wires, and both the length of the die bars and the number of work faces may be varied in accordance with requirements. p

The filler-strand feeding As best shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 14, the feeder for the filler strands is'mounted laterally a-djacentto the'die or warp crimping mechanism so as to feed the desired number of filler strands into intermeshing relation with the warp strands. The embodiment shown provides for simultaneously feeding 12 filler wires into posit-ion and, of course, the number may be varied as desired. A supporting guideway, or plate, 60 (Fig. 14) is mounted upon the framework, extending transversely of the machine and carries a sliding reciprocatory crosshead 61, to which is pivotally connected a crank arm 62 connected at its opposite end to a rotary disk 63 provided with a radial adjusting slot 64 for adjusting the stroke. The rotary disk is carried by a shaft 65, mounted in vertical position in bearings carried by a part of the framework. The reciprocating crosshead 61 provides a carriage for a plurality of grippers 66, arranged in a series transversely of the cross-head and providing an individual gripper for each filler wire B.. These grippers are mounted upon the carriage in series of blocks 67, held in place by a clamping bar 68, secured in position upon the carriage. Spaced from the bank of grippers 66 are similar grippers 69 also arranged in a series extending approxi mately parallel to the series of grippers 66. Grippers 69 may also be mounted in individual supporting blocks 70, mounted in a supporting plate 71, carried by the framework. Each filler strand B extends through a gripper 66 and a gripper 69, these grippers thus cooperating to form a pair of grippers which are arranged to feed the respective wires B forwardly as the grippers 66 are reciprocated with their supporting carriage. The grippers 66 and 69 may be of known construction, but it is of special importance that they are of such a nature as to engage the Wires with a firm non-yielding, non-slipping grip, to prevent relative movement of the wires in one direction, but to permit free and unresisted relative movement thereof in the opposite direction. For this purpose grippers of the nature disclosed in Patent 1,103,316, issued to W. M. Roop on July 14, 1914, are

crosshead 61 be relatively short as compared a with the width of the fabric, and therefore in the embodiment shown the stroke is of such length as to require four complete forward strokes of the crosshead in order to feed a length of the wires B suflicient to extend across the fabric. It will, therefore, be seen that the wires B will be fed forwardly in an intermittent or step-by-step action in relatively short stretches, the grippers 66' engaging the wires B at each advancement of the crosshead and pushing them forwardly through the grippers 69. This short stroke step-bystep action assists in minimizing the tendency of the wires B to buckle incident to the compressional thrust thereon imparted by the feeding act-ion.

The buckling tendency is still further minimized by an improved guiding and supporting mechanism for supporting and directing strands B at spaced points therealong between the two banks of feeding grippers. In the illustrative embodiment this guiding and supporting mechanism is shown in the form of bars 72, 73, and 74, provided with apertures for the reception of the strands and slidably supported by the guideway for lateral sliding movement. These guiding and supporting bars are arranged substantially parallel with each other andwith the two banks of grippers, and when the crosshead is in retracted position the bars will be about equally spaced from each other, and from the banks of grippers, as shown in Fig. 14. The unsupported stretches of wire will, at

. all'times, be very short, and the buckling tendency will accordingly be negligible. In order to support the guiding and supporting bars in operative position, sliding rods 75,

76, 77 are connected in pairs at the ends thereof, respectively, to the supporting bars 72, '7 3 and 74, their opposite ends extending in sliding relation through apertures in the bar 68 carried by the crosshead. Limiting lugs 78 may be mounted on thesesupporting bars, positioned to engage with the forward face of the bar 68, so as to limit the relative retraction of the guiding and supporting bars during retraction of the crosshead. When the crosshead is moving forwardly from the position shown in Fig. 14, it advances to contact the supporting bar 72, which then moves forwardly with the crosshead, the guiding rods 75 sliding throughthe guiding apertures in the crosshead. In a similar manner the bar 72 moves forwardly until it contacts with bar 73, and the latter then moves forwardly to contact with bar 74, which may also be mounted for slidable movement toward the inner bank of grippers 69; During retraction of the crosshead, the lugs 78 of the guiding rods 75 contact with the bar 68 to retract the bar 72, and the other guiding bars 73 and 74 are similarly retracted by their respective guiding and supporting rods.

An intermittent stop movement is provided for driving the shaft 65, and through it crosshead 61, a form of such stop movement being shown in Figs. 2 and 5. This stop movement embodying the mutilated gears 79 and 80 is driven from the main shaft 29. The gear 80 is connected to a shaft 81 carrying a toothed gear 82, meshing with gear 83 on a shaft 84, and power is transmitted from the gear 84 through the beveled gears 85 to the shaft 65. These driving connections are proportioned so as to turn the shaft exactly four revolutions to feed the strands B forwardly in four strokes, whereupon the shaft 65 will be stopped for a period by the stop movement, during which period the fabric, under construction will be fed forwardly to another operative stage, as more fully described below:

The filler stand cutter An automatic cutter is provided for severing the filler wires B when they have been fed into intermeshing relation with the warp strands. This cutter, as best shown in Figs. 6, 14, and 15, embodies a cutter bar 86 (Figs. 12 and 13) having hardened steel thimbles 87 with centrally disposed openings or passageways through them for receiving the strands. These passageways may beflared at one end of the thimbles so as to guide the strands in their passage, and the opposite ends of the thimbles are provided with sharp corners at the ends of the passageways, providing cutting edges against which the strands are severed. The cutter bar 86 is mounted for longitudinal sliding, reciprocating movement in a groove or channel formed in the lower inner edge of the plate 71, which is supported in stationary position upon the framework. Adjacent to this cutter bar 86 is a hardened steel stationary cutterplate 88 having vertically disposed slots 89 spaced to correspond with the spacing of the thimbles 87 and respectively positioned for alignment therewith. The adjacent face of the cutter bar 86 slides in contacting relation with the inner face of the plate 88, whereby the filler wires B may all be severed when the cutter bar is longitudinally projected. The cutter is positioned so as to cut the wires B, with the severed ends thereof projecting, adjacent to and justoutside of the selvage warp strand A, the importance of which will soon be seen.

The cutter bar 86 is automatically operated by means of a lever 90 pivoted to a bracket 91 which may be secured to the plate 71. This lever depends from the stationary bracket 91, and is biased into one extreme position by means of a coil compression spring 92. carries a cam roller 93 positioned to engage a cam plate 94 mounted upon the movable carriage 39, carrying the lower die member. It will, therefore, be seen that severance of the wires B takes place as the carriage 39 descends, bringing the inclined cam edge 95 of the cam plate into contact with the roller 93, thus projectingthe cutter bar 86 and severing all the wires at a single stroke. The cutter bar moves quickly, severing the wires abruptly before complete downward At itslower end the operating lever 90 movement of the carriage 39. As soon as the wires are severed the ends thereof maymove downwardly through the open-ended slots 89 of the cutter plate, thus freeing the ends from the slots and avoiding obstruction to the forward feeding movement of the fabric.

The fabric feed Intermittent feeding mechanism, indicated generally at 36 is arranged to feed the fabric forwardly in intermittent steps of definite lengths, whereby sections of the fabric partly completed at one operative stage are fed forwardly and correctly positioned in the next operative stage for operation thereon by the machine mechanisms. As best shown in Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 17, this feed mechanism comprises a feed bar, or table 96, extending transversely of the fabric under construction and mounted by rails or supporting bars 97 for reciprocation parallel to the plane of the fabric longitudinally of the machine. This feed bar is longitudinally reciprocated in timed relation by means of a cam 98, mounted upon the main shaft 29 and cooperating to oscillate a pivoted lever 99 through a cam roller 100 carried by the lever. An adjustable link 101 connects the free end of lever 99 with one end of a rock arm 102, the opposite end of which is connected to a rock shaft 102*, carrying near opposite ends thereof spaced crank arms 102', which are connected at their free ends to the feed table 96, through connecting links 102. A tensioned spring 103 is connected to the feed driving connections to retract the feed table after it has been advanced by the cam 98.

The reciprocating feed table 96 is of im proved construction, arranged to engage and cooperate with the meshes of the fabric at points thereof distributed over a considerable area. The lower supporting base plate 104 of the feed table is preferably in the form of a channel with downwardly directed flanges, and carries upon its upper face a multiplicityof fabric engaging lugs, or dogs 105, arranged in a series extending transvers'ely of the fabric and in longitudinal rows,

arranged and proportioned to respectively engage in the meshes of the fabric. The longitudinal rows of dogs 105 are preferably formed on individual bars 106, each having slotted ends for the reception ofan inwardly disposed flange of an angle bar 107, which is secured to the base plate 104, thus locking bars 106 are preferably spaced apart slightly so as to provide intervening longitudinal channels for the reception of the warp strands of the fabric. Each dog is provided with an abrupt forward face 108 positioned to positively engage with the adjacent filler wire and the top surface 109 thereof inclines rearwardly at such an angle as to permit the fabric to slide thereover when the feed table is reversely moved or the fabric is forwardly moved relatively to the feed table. The upper corners, both forwardly and laterally of the dogs 105, are preferably chamfered so as to facilitate engagement with the fabric meshes.

Above the dogs 105 are positioned holding bars, or rollers 110, arranged in parallel relation with each other and extending transversely of the fabric, as many of these holding bars being provided as required for the particular class of service. These holding bars are spaced to correspond to the longitudinal spacing of the transverse series of dogs 105 so as to engage the fabric adjacent to each series of dogs. The holding bars are biased as by gravity in the embodiment shown, so as to hold the fabric in'engaged position with the feed dogs. The holding bars are shown as mounted in spaced slots formed in plates 111 carried by the base plate 104,

the extensions or spindles 112 of the rollers extending into these slots, thus permitting freeand unobstructed up-and-down movement of the individual holding bars 110. It will, therefore, be seen that the fabric is engaged by the feed dogs 105 at a large number of points distributed over a large section of the fabric, and the dogs are maintained in engagement by the action of the holding bars 110. By means-of this arrangement of the dogs, the feeding stress upon the fabric is effectually distributed, and the tendency to distort the fabric, or to displace the filler wires B during feeding, is practically eliminated. This feature is of especial importance in wire fabric machines of this class, inasmuch as there is considerable tension upon the warp strands occasioned by action of the strand grippers 37, in order to impart the desired tension for effective operation, and therefore considerable force is required to be exterted by the feed mechanism to feed the fabric forwardly.

A cam plate 113'is mounted for sliding movement upon the base plate 104 of the feed table adjacent to the projecting spindles 112 of the holding bars 110, one of these cam plates preferably being positioned at each end of the holding rollers. The cam plate 113 may be mounted adjacent to the supporting plate 111 by means of pin and slot connections 114,'and the upper face of the cam plate is provided with cam notches 115 having rearwardly inclined cam faces disposed for engagement with the protruding spindles 112. A flexible connection 116 connects the cam plate with a stationary part 117 of the frame, a projecting lug 118 being mounted upon the cam plate to which the connection 116 may be attached, as shown. A stop 119 is mounted upon the frame part 117 in position to engage with the lug 118 as the feed table is 'moved forwardly. By means of this arrangement it will be seen that the lug 118 engages the stop 119 upon forward feeding movement of thefeed table, thus rela tively retracting the cam bar 113 and simultaneously raising all the holding bars 110 through engagement of their spindles 112 with the cam faces of the cam notches 115. The result of this is that the holding action of the holding bars is terminated, and the fabric may then freely disengage the feed dogs, thus permitting unobstructed retracted movement of the feed table with reference to the fabric, which may then slide over the inclined surfaces 109 of the feed dogs. At the end of the retractive stroke of the feed table the flexible connection 116 will be tightened to move the cam bar 113 to its normal position, as shown in Fig. 117 thus permitting the holding bars 110 to fall again into their holding position.

T he selvage turner As above described, the filler strands B are fed into intermeshing relation with the warp strands with their forward ends spaced a short distance beyond the far selvage warp, and the strand severing mechanism cuts the strands so the opposite ends thereof lie adj acent to and just outside the near selvage warp, as can be seen in Fig. 1. The selvage turners 35 are positioned adjacent opposite edges of the fabric, this mechanism being substantially duplicated at both sides of the machine and cooperating with the projecting filler strand ends to turn them sharply about the adjacent selvage warp, thus binding the filler strands to the selvage warp and forming the selvage edge of the fabric. This mechanism, as best shown in Figs. 1, 3, 4, 6, and 16, includes upper and lower jaw members 120, 121, mounted respectively on the upper die bed or frame 38 and the lower die bed or carriage 39, these jaws being appropriately carried by brackets, which may be secured to the respective beds, as desired, and the lower jaw therefore being movable up and down as a unit with the lower carriage 39.

The upper jaw 120 carries a series of lugs or teeth 122 aligned with each other longi-- tudinally of the machine and positioned for engaging the adjacent selvage warp strand, and the lower jaw is provided with similar selvage teeth 123, similarly arranged but opposing the upper set and in staggered or alternate relation therewith whereby the upper teeth are aligned with the spaces between the lower teeth, and vice versa, and alternate upper and lower teeth engage the selvage warp at successive consecutive points therealong. These teeth are of similar construction each having a longitudinally extending warp engaging face 124, covering the complete width of each tooth, while laterally disposed warp guiding and holding fingers 125 and 126 are laterally spaced apart slightly to provide longitudinally extending grooves 127 in longitudinal alignment for the reception of the warp strand. These warp engaging faces are preferably antifaces 129, sloping inwardly toward the adjacent transverse groove 128. As the jaws are closed it will therefore be seen that the filler strand ends which are positioned to overlie the respective adjacent selvage teeth will be engaged by these guiding surfaces as the jaws close so as to guide them into the respective slots 128, while the selvage warp strand will be seated in the longitudinally aligned grooves 127. Due to the fact that the selvage warps are tensioned and, furthermore, that the teeth are staggered, said warps will be tightly drawn across the apices of the respective anticlinal surfaces 124 and the filler strand ends which lie against these apices and underneath the selvage warp strands at these points will be forced to seat firmly in the respective slots 128. Each set or series of selvage teeth is preferably removably mounted upon an appropriate support such as a supporting plate 130 by means of a removable clamping plate 131, having a rib engaging in a groove formed in the side of the plate 130 with which the teeth are integrally formed, and each plate 130 is in the form of a carriage mounted for retractive movement upon the respective supporting jaw, as by means of pin and slot connections 132. Each carriage is also resiliently urged into its advance position by means of compression springs 133, shown as surrounding the guide rods 134 mounted upon each carriage and adapted to slide in apertures in the supporting plates 135. Adjustable stops 136 are also mounted in the supporting plates 135 in position to limit the retractive movement of each carriage. The closing of the jaws upon the fabric will, therefore, cause automatic retraction of the carriages and the selvage teeth thereon, so that each set of teeth will be retracted a distance limited by the stops 136.

Adjacent to each selvage tooth 122 and 123 is 2. lug or plate 137, positioned to engage the respective ends of the filler strands which project slightly from left to right in Fig. 16 beyond the adjacent face of the tooth so as to slightly overlap at its end with the lug 137, the latter thus functioning as a turner to bend the filler strand ends transversely adjacent the selvage warp upon retraction of the respective carriages 130, as above described. During this turning action it will be understood that, as above described, the warp strands will be firmly engaged and tensioned by the engaging selvage teeth and that the filler strand ends will be firmly bound in the respective seats or slots 128 by engagement of the warp strands with the respective filler strand ends during bending action of the respective deflectors or turner plates 137'. When thisrelation obtains it will be seen that the warp strands function as abutments for each adjacent filler strand end, against which it is pressed by action of the. deflector plates 137, the result being that the filler strand ends are bent or deflected laterally close to the outside of each warp strand. 4

The deflectors 137 on both upper and lower jaws 120, 121 are mounted on respective supporting carriages 138 carried by the respective jaws and mounted thereon for lateral bodily movement toward and away from the selvage teeth. These upper and lower supporting carriers are operatively connected by means of a connecting plate 139 (Fig. 6), bolted to the upper carriage and slidably engaging guideways 140 on the lower carriage whereby both carriages are constrained to move laterally in unison. Lateral movement of carriages 138 is effected by driving connections to a cam 141 shown as mounted upon the main driving gear 32 upon the main shaft 29.

'A pivoted lever .142 carries at its free end a cam roller engaging in the cam groove of cam 141 and normally held in cam-engaging position by means of a spring pressed guiding rod 143 pivoted to the lever 142 and slidably engaging an aperture in the base plate 26. A link 144 connects lever 142 with a crank arm 145 on a rock shaft 146 having spaced crank arms connected by links 147 to oppositely disposed bell-crank levers 148. These bell-crank levers are mounted on the adjacent respective upper selvage jaws 120 at opposite sides of the machine, and the lower or dey pending arm thereof is connected to the plate 139 by a link.149, thereby effecting inward and outward oscillatory movement of the carriages 138, as the bell-crank levers rock by the operative connection described. The movement of the carriages will be timed to pro'ect the deflector plates 137 outwardly tOv ard the respective selvage teeth when the latter are in engagement with the selvage warpand filler strand ends, as above described. The efiect of this action is that said deflector plates will be projected over the tops of the respective adjacent guiding fingers 126 of the selvage teeth, thus carrying the engaging strand ends inwardly around the warp strands in such a manner as to form a close gripping bend of the respective filler strand ends over the selvage warps. Due to the alternating arrangement of the selvage teeth 122, 123, as above described, and to the corresponding alternating arrangement of the projecting ends of the filler strands, with reference to the warp strands, it will be observed that the ends of the filler strands are reversely bent about the warp strands,

and that these reversals are in alternate relation in the embodiment disclosed. The guiding fingers 126 are slightly shorter than the fingers 125, allowing ample room for the entryof the plates 137 and permitting the latter to be projected quite closely to the surface of the selvage warp so as to form a close loop in the filler strand ends. Retraction of the deflator plates 137 is effected at the appropriate period by the operating mechanism.

It will be observed that the upward movement of the lower selvage jaw 121 will carry the fabric C upwardly with it into cooperative engagement with the upper selvage 'aw, and when the jaw 121 is retracted the fabric C will disengage the upper selvage teeth due to fabric tension, and when the fabric reaches its normal plane intermediate the upper and lower wide open jaws, the lower selvage teeth will retract from engagement with the fabric, thus leaving the latter free to be forwardly fed or otherwise manipulated. The upper and lower carriages 130 are projected to normal positions by action of the springs 133 and the selvage teeth therefore resume normal position with reference to the deflector plates 137 as the jaw 121 descends.

Fabric take-up di'vice As best shown in Figs. 5 and 18, atake-up mechanism is provided for the fabric C, as weaving thereof is completed, embodying a reel or drum 150, rotatably mounted in bearings 151 carried by brackets 152 mounted upon the machine frame. These bearings are arranged to permit convenient insertion or removal of the drum, and to this end a retractable rotary bearing member 153 is provided with a stem 154 extending through the rear end of the bearing sleeve 155, while a coiled compression spring 156 normally projects the rotary bearing member 153 outwardly. The re'el shaft has opposite squared ends157, one end engaging in a corresponding seat in the bearing member 153 and the other engaging in a similarly formed seat in a ratchet member or friction drum 158. This friction drum has a laterally extending circular lug 159, rotatably engaging in the bearing 151 and rotatably mounted upon this lug is the reciprocating arm 160, carrying a friction pawl 161 adapted to engage the surface of the friction drum 158 to move it in one direction as the arm 160 is oscillated. If desired any convenient known holding device may also be provided to prevent reverse rotation of the reel 150. For oscillating the arm 160 a yielding link 162 is connected to the oscillating feed table 36. This link 162 is provided with a longitudinally yield able joint 163 having a compression spring 164, which is of the desired strength to drive the take-up reel to keep the fabric at the desired tension and also to drive the reel at different speeds to compensate for the difierent

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