US1886919A

US1886919A - Lapping machine

Info

Publication number: US1886919A
Application number: US486665A
Authority: US
Inventors: Fredrick C Sturgis
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1930-10-06
Filing date: 1930-10-06
Publication date: 1932-11-08
Anticipated expiration: 1949-11-08

Description

Nov. 8, 1932,

F. C. STURGIS LAPPING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 `Filed oct. 6, 1930 |NVENTOR ATTORNEYS Nov.Y 8;'1932. F. Yc. sTURGls LAPPING- MACHINE Filed oct. s, 195o 4s shets-sheet 2 INVENTOR BY ATTORNEYJ Nov. 8, 1932. F. c. sTURGls LAPPING MACHINE Filedct. 6, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 l INVENTOR BY r -wa @w ATTORNEYJ Patented Nov. 8, 1932 FREDRICK C. STURGIS, OF IRVINGTON,VNEVI Y terrine- MACHINE Application led ctober 6, 193,0. Serial No. 486,665;

This invention relates to lapping machines and has particular reference to a machine for continuously laying vthe fleece discharged `by a textile fibre-preparing machine in layers t'o 5 forma lap of the required thickness'.

Lapping 'machines employed heretofore were large, cumbersome, complicated and expensive to manufacture and operate, and the lap formed thereby was not uniform in thickness or'density due to defects produced by the machine. Such defects were caused by the pulling apart of the fleece when the machine reversed its direction of movement periodically during the overlapping action, which resulted in the f ormation of thin spots in the web. Also, the slowing down of the machine before the overlap of the fleece and the slow acceleration after the overlap caused the periodic bunching of the fleece, which resulted in the formati-on of thick spots in the web. Because the fleece was subjected to tension during its passage through the old ma'- chines, only a fleece of relatively long fibre, high grade stock could be treated' thereby, inasmuch as the fleece of short fibre, low grade stock would not hold together when subjected to tension but parted periodically so as to require stopping'themachine frequently to repair the break in the lleece. This reduced the output of the machineto such an extent that it' wasrfoundy more economical to treat only high grade fleece therewith, with a consequent greater cost of the finished lap.

These objections to lapping machines 'employed heretofore are overcome in the machine of the present invention, which utilizes a eece of cotton, wool, jute, mohair or other textile fibres of any grade and texture to form a homogeneous lap of uniform thickness andV density with great rapidity and without requiring any attention except supplying the fleece thereto.

In accordance with this invention the new Y automatic reversing tating continuously in the opposite direction at the same surface speed, whereby the fleece is fed at constant speed so that it will not'pull apart or bunch when it istransferred by the receiving belt to the distributing belt..

The receiving belt is traversed bodilybackwardly and forwardlyacross the machine by driving mechanism. rEhe distributing belt also traverses bodily baclwardly and forwardly across the machine but at twice the 'speed of the receiving belt, in'order to lay the fleece zig-zagfashion upon a transversely moving apron to forma web of the required thickness and width. This traversing movement of the receiving belt'is utilized to rotatethesame, whereby the entire mechanism is simplified and rendered more reliable and'ineXpensive, while considerably reducing the size of the machine. The mechanism for rotating the-distrbuting belt includes pinions moving with the belt alongstationary racks as the belt is traversed, which, through reversing ratchets, maintain the rotation of the belt continuously in the same direction even thoughthetraversing movement is reversed periodically. v i

It will: be seen that the lapping, machine of this invention is much simpler irl-construction and operation than thoseemployed heretofore it requires only two belts forperforming-'the entire lapping operation; it employs a much simpler driving mechanism Aby utilizing the traversing movement of the -distributin'g belt for rotating the/same; it procures a very rapid movement of the belts, whereby thefleece is not pulled or hunched, and thus enables the use vof the low grade stock; andk it operates at high speed whereby production is greatly increased. Y

For a better understanding of this invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which Y Figure 1 is a plan view of the new lapping machine of this invention;

Fig. 2 is an end view of the same vwith the 95 driving mechanism omitted in the interest of clarity;

Fig. 3 is a side' view of the machine with' the web-receiving spindle removed inthe interest of clarity;

In these drawings, numeral designates the drive shaft of the machine which may be driven from any suitable source of power such as the electric motor 11 shown Ain-Fig. 1. Fixed on this drive shaft 10 near the center thereof is a wide pulley 12 and at one end thereof is the sprocket 13. Journalled in suitable bearings 14 adjacent drive shaft 10 is a driven shaft 15 having afcenter pulley 16 fixed thereon and loose pulleys 17 and 18 at either side of the fast pulley 16. A belt 19 passes over drive pulley 12 and fast pulley 16 and is adapted to be shifted from fast pulley 16 to loose pulley 18 by means of the belt shifter 20 in order to stop the rotation of the driven shaft 15 in a clockwise direction, 'which the connection of belt 19 with the fast pulley 16 procures. Passing over driving pulley 12 and loose pulley 17 is a cross belt 21, which is adapted to drive the driven shaft 15 in a counterclockwise direction when it is shifted from the loose pulley 17 to the fast pulley 16 b-y the saine belt shifter 20. It will be seen that, by moving belt shifter 2O to shift either belt 19 or belt 21 to the fast pull-ey 16, driven shaft 15 may be rotated in opposite directions. Although reversal in rotation of driven shaft 15 is described as being obtained by the shifting of belts`l9 and 21, any other equivalent means of obtaining reversal of rotation of shaft 15 may be used with equal facility depending upon requirements, such means including a reversing clutch or the like.

Journalled in the upper portion of one end frame 22 of the machine is a cross shaft 23 having the sprocket 24,wliich is connected by chain 25 to the sprocket 13 on drive shaft 10iV It will be seen that shaft 23 is driven at constant speed in a clockwise direction through this connection. A belt roll 23 is secured on this shaft 23 to rotatetherewith. This upper cross shaft 23 also carries a splrocket 26 at itsother end over which passes c ain 27 for driving the sprocket 28 of cross shaft 29, journalled in thelower portion of the end frame 22 of the machine. A belt -roll or pulley 29 is secured on this lower cross shaft 29 so as to rotate therewith in a clockwise direction.`

ournalled in the end frame 22 is an undriven cross roll 30 arranged adjacent to upper cross roll 23', as shown particularly in Figs. 5 and 6. Similarly, journalled in end frame 22 is the undriven cross roll 31 mounted adjacent lower cross roll 29', and iinmediately below the other undriven cross roll 30.

Joining the upper ends of the

end frames

22 and 22 of the machine are the two opposite cross rails 32, which are channel-shaped in cross section for the sliding reception of the Ijournal blocks 34 of roll 33, while, in a pair of similar lower rails 35 are slidably mounted the journal blocks 36 of the lower cross roll 37. Passing over

rolls

23', 29, 33 and 37 is the endless belt 38 preferably of fabric, which is arranged over these rolls iii the manner shown especially in Figs. 5

and 6.

Upper cross shaft 23 also carries a sprocket 39, which, through chain 40, drives a sprocket 41 connected to shaft 42, upon which is mounted a doifer roll 43, from which the fleece 44 ofl cotton, wool, jute, mohair, or any other textile material is doffed by doifer combs 45, in accordance with the usual practice, the fleece then being deposited upon belt 38 as shown particularly in Figs. 5 and 6.

Also journalled in end frame 22 between upper and lower'

cross shafts

23 and 29, is a center cross shaft 46 having the sprocket 47 at one end, which isdriven by a chain 48 from a sprocket 49 mounted upon reversing shaft 15, sothat as the latter reverses its direction of rotation in response to the shifting of belts 19 and 21 to and from fast pulley 16, the rotation of center cross shaft 46 is also reversed. A mitre gear 50 is fixed to one end of the center ci'ossfshaft 46, and meshes with `a mitre gear 51 fixed on along shaft 52 journalled lengthwise of the frame of the machine, and having on its opposite end a4 mitre gear 53, which meshes with mitre gear .54 on cross shaft 55 journzilled in the upper end of end frame 22 rof the machine. will'be seen that the mitre gears 53 and are so arranged that cross shaft' 55 is driven in the saine direction as center cross shaft 46, and when the rotation of the latter is reversed in direction, the direction of rotation of shaft 55 is also reversed. A pair of sprockets 56 are mounted upon opposite ends of upper cross shaft 55, over which pass the vchains 58, which are connected to the journal blocks 34 of sliding roll 33, as shown in Figs. 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6.

The chainsl 58 also pass over corresponding sprockets 60 mounted on cross shaft 61 ouriialled inthe lower portion of end frame 22, and the ends of these chains are connected to the journal blocks 36 of lower roll 37, which is slidably mounted in lower channel rails 35. Accordingly when shaft is rotated in opposite directions,

rolls

33 and 37 are pulled backwardly and forwardly in their

respective guide rails

32 and 35, and consequently the belt 38 is also traversed bodily backwardly and forwardly, while at the same time being rotated continuously by roll 23, which is driven directly from the drive shaft ico bodily baclzwardly and Jorwardly direction '10 by chain 25. The purpose of this action will be described later.

Mounted immediately beneath the upper longitudinal rails 32 and also extending lengthwise or" the machine, are the

opposite racks

62 and 63, both shown in Fig. 1. Rolling on rack 62 are the

twopinions

64 and 65 which are respectively mounted upon shafts 66 and `67 extending across the inachine and carrying a traine coni1-n'ising end plates 68 connected Jtogether by cross bar 69", Ithe shafts 66 and 6'? being onrnallcd therei' Journalled on Ythe opposite` end 'of shaft 66 is a pinion T0' having an extendedhub 71 carrying the spur gear 'if' 2, which meshes with a second spur 3 joui-nailed on the adjacent cross shaft 6?.v liso journalled on cross shaft 67 is a pinion 74, which rolls on the racc: 63 and carries a disc 75 upon' which vis pivoted a peril 76 normally iced by spring T7 into: gagementwith tb. left-hand ratchet wh elfi@ keyed on shaft 6'? so as to drive the saine in one direction, as shown in'detail in Figs. 1 and f?. Formed integrally with ratchet wheel 278 is a right-hand ratchet wheel 7 9 against which is normally 'forced by spring a 'pawl pivoted upon spur gear 73.

Accordingly, shaft 6? is constantly driven in the same direction, regardless of the direction of rotation of `pinion .74, the shalt 6l' upon which it is journallcd is moved along the frame 68,

machine. For example, whe i the 69 and consequently shaft 6'? is moved bodily to `the lett,as seen in Fig. 1, pinion 74 is rotated in a counterclocl-rwise direction, and pawl 76 is lined on the disc lthereo it drives ratchet 78 also ina countercloclwise direction, so that shaft 6? is rotated in that also. The pawl 81 cliclzs over ratchet 79 and is not driven vthereby during this .iovement li", however., the trame G8, 69 is moved toward the right, pinion 70 on shaft 66 is rotated ina clockwise direction, which rotation is reversed 4by the gear 73 journalled on shaft67 to a counterclockwise direction, and as pawl 81 is pivot-cd thereon, the latter drives the `ratchet 79 and consequently shaft 67 `in a counter-clockwise di* rection, which, it will be noted, is the same direction in which shaft 67 driven by ratchet 78, even though the former was moved bodily in a reverse direction. During this movement pawl 76 is inactive and clicks over ratchet 78. As shaft 67 carries the roll S2, the latter is always rotated in a counterclockwise direction regardless ot the bodily movement thereof lengthwise of the frame'.

This bodily movement of the

frame

68, 69

is procured by chains 83 each connected at 1 one end tothe frame 68 and passing over a sprocket 85 mounted on center cross sha-lt 46, which, it will be recalled,`is driven in oppositedirections through its connection with reversing shaft 15. "The driven chains 83 then pass over sprockets .88 mounted on a jack shaft 90, journalled in the end frame 22 of the machine, and from .there the chains 83 are connected by their ends to the shaft 91 of a sliding cross roll 92, Whose journal blocks 93 are slidably mounted in the channel rails 35 extending lengthwise of the'machine, so that the roll 92 vis slidable .bodily back and forwardly of the machine. vPassing lover .driving roll 82 and sliding roll 92, and over are two ileece feeding rolls and 101,

which rotate together inropposite directions as indicated by the arrows in Fig. `5. This rotation is procured from shaft 67 which, it will be recalled, always rotates in a countercloc'lrwise direction. A pinion 102, fixed upon this shaft 67, drives an idler gear 103 which in turn drives gear 104 on roll 101 in a countercloclnvise direction, while gear 105 on roll 100 meshes with the gear 104 to drive the roll 100 in a clockwise direction.

'The

gears

103, 104 and 105 are

journalled'in frame

68, 69 as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. rlhc iieece is adapted to pass between the

rolls

100 and 101, which deposit the same on the apron 106, whose operation will be described later. j

Also driven ina counteclockwise direction are the ironing yrolls 10'? and 108, which are journalled'in lthe traverse

Jframe

68, 69 and are adapted to reciprocatebaclwardly 'and forwardly over the fleece deposited upon apron 106 so as to iron oriiatten out the same. 'lhese ironing rolls carry upulleys 109 over which passes belt 110, driven by a pulley 111, mounted on shaft'l.

The aforementioned apron 106 is an endless belt arranged transversely of the machine Vand passing over

pulleys

112 and 113 mounted on respective shafts 114 and 115 suitably journalled on

respective frames

89 and 94 mounted at opposite sides Lof the machine, as shown particularly in 2. This apron 106 vis driven byV a mitre gear 116 mounted on the shalt 115 of pulley 113, this mitre gear'Ineshiing` with a second mitre gear 11'? mounted on a jack shaft 116having a spur gear 119 at the other end, which is driven by a spur gear 120 mounted on driven shaft 29, which, it will be recalled, is driven by chains 27 and 25l directly Jirorn the drive shaft 10. A spur gear 121 mountedfon 'apron driving shaft 115, meshes withan idler 122 journalled in frame 94, and which in turn drives the spur gear 12S-of roll 124 journalled in frame 94. This roll 124 rotates in a clockwise direction andl is adapted to roll the web of fleece upon a spindle 125, which is slidable vertically in a yoke 126 of the apron frame 94 as the web roll increases in diameter.

Slidably mounted in

brackets

127 and 128 secured to the sides of respective end frames 22 and 22 is a shifter rod 129 connected at one end to a pivoted bell crank 130, which in turn is connected to and adapted to operate belt shifter 20. Extending upwardly from shifter rod 129 are the knocker pins 131 and 132 which are adjustable lengthwise of shifter rod 129 and are adapted to be engaged periodically by an extension 133 of shaft 66, as the latter moves backwardly and forwardly lengthwise of the machine. When the shaft extension 133 reaches the left-hand end of the machine as seen in Fig. 3, it engages knocker pin 131 so that shifter rod 129 is also moved to the left to actuate the belt shifter through bell crank 130, whereby the oross'belt 21 is shifted from fast pulley 16 to loose pulley 17 to stop the rotation of shaft 15 in a counterclockwise direction, while belt 19 is shifted from loose pulley 18 to fast pulley 16 to rotate shafts 15 in a clockwise direction. In this way the machine is automatically reversed in direction as this action reverses the direction of movement of

traverse frame

68, 69 and consequently of shaft extension 133, so that the latter moves to the right as seen in Fig. 3. lVhen shaft extension 133 has moved a sufficient distance to the right so that it engages knocker pin 132, the shifter rod 129 is moved toward the right as seen in Fig. 3 to actuate the belt shifter so that cross belt 21 again drives shaft 15 in a counterclockwise direction to reverse the movement of

traverse carriage

68, 69, and of shaft extension 133 to the left, as seen in Fig. 3, and the process is repeated. By adjusting the positions of

knockcr pins

131 and 132 along shifter rod 129 the width of the finished web may be varied to suit requirements.

1n considering the operation of the lapping machine of this invention, let it be assumed that the condition of the machine is as illustrated in Fig. 1, that is, the automatic reversing mechanism having just placed the belts in the position shown with the cross belt 21 inactive on the -loose pulley 17, and the straight belt 19 driving the shaft 15 in a clockwise direction through the fast pulley 16. rlllhe motor 11, through chain 25 and sprocket 24 drives the roll 23 and through chain 27 the lower roll 29 also in a clockwise direction. The two driving rolls 23 and 29 cause the upper or receiving belt 38 to travel around

rollers

23', 33, 30, 31. 37, and 29 in such a way that the upper surface of the belt 38 moves to the right. Shaft 23 also drives the doffer roll 43 and dofl'er Y" combs 45, so that the fleece 44 received from the preparing machine is deposited upon receiving belt' 38, which moves the fleece to the right when the machine is viewed as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. At the same time, lower drive shaft 29 of drive roll 29 through

gears

119 and 120, shaft 118, mitre gears 116 and 117 and shaft 115, drivesy the driving roll 113 of apron 106, which also rotates continuously when the motor 11 is energized.

Now describing the traversing mechanism of the belts, it will be seen that the chains 58 which connect the opposite end loops of the receiving belt 38 together through the

rollers

33 and 37 which slide bodily in

rails

32 and 35, respectively, pass over sprockets 56 on cross shaft 55, and again over sprockets 60 on cross shaft 61, and that shaft 55 is driven by longitudinal shaft 52 `from cross shaft 46, which is driven alternately in reverse directions by the reversing mechanism, which includes the pulley shaft 15. Inasmuch as the fastpulley 16 of shaft 15 is driven in a clockwise direct-ion by the straight belt 19, this same motion is imparted to

shafts

46 and 55. |The shaft 55, through the chains 58 which pass over the sprockets 56 thereof, pulls roller 33 bodily to the right, and the distributing belt 38 with it, from the eXtreme left-hand position shown in Fig. 5 to the extreme right-hand position shown in Fig. 6, roller 37, being also connected to chains 58, consequently moving to the left from the position shown in Fig. 5 to that shown in Fig. 6. It will be seen that the fleece lying on the top surface of belt 38 is moved by this motion along the machine, while being continuously drawn from the doer roll at uniform speed so that it is not broken or bunched in any way.

The web of fleece is then transferred from the receiving belt 38r to the distributing web 99, the upper portion of which lies immediately below'the receiving web 38. This distributing web 99 traverses at twice the speed of the traverse of receiving belt 38, although the surface speed of the kdistributing belt 99 over its

rolls

82, 92, 95, 96, 97, and 98 is the same as the surface speed of receiving belt 38 over its rolls. The traversing movement of distributing belt 99 is obtained by the chain 83, which is driven in reversing directions by the corresponding sprocket 85 on shaft 46, and is connected at one end to traverse

frame

68, 69 and at the other end to the roll 92 as shown in Fig. 4, the

traverse frame

68, 69 rolling on the pinions 64 and engaging rack 62 on Vone side, and upon

pinions

70 and 74 engaging rack 63 on the other side, while roll 92 slides bodily in rails 35. As the receiving belt 38 traverses to the right as seen in Fig. 5, distributing belt 99 also moves to the right, but at twice the speed so that the distributing apron 99 moves from the position shown in Fig. 5 to the position shown in Fig. 6, the feed rolls 100 and 101 lli thereof depositing the eece upon the transversely moving .apron 106 in the manner illustrated in Figs. Vand 6, ironing rolls 108 and 109 simultaneously ironing orflattening the zig-zag Web of fleece upon the apron 106 so that it appears Vfrom above as illustrated in Fig. 1. v

It Will be recalled that'the ratchets 7 8 and 79 mounted on shaft 67 of distributing belt 99 drive the roll 82 to assure that the distributingY apron 99 is always driven in a counterclockvvise direction, regardless of the alternately reversing traversing movement thereof.

` When the mechanism reaches the extreme right-hand traversing position illustrated in Fig. 6, the extension 133 on shaft 66 engages knocker pin 132 to shift rod 129 to the right, and through bell crank 130 to actuate the belt shifter so that straight belt 19- is shifted from fast pulley 16 and rcross ,belt 17 is shifted to fast pulley 16 to drive shift l5. .This reverses the direction of traversing movement of both the receiving belt 38 and the distributing belt 99 so that the fleece is lapped over the previously laid lap on apron 106, until the mechanism reaches the position shown in Figs. 1 and 5, When the extension 133 onk shaft 66 engages knocker pin 131 to shift rod 129 to the left. VThis action causes bell crank 130 to shift cross belt 21 from fast pulley 16, and shift straight belt 19 to fast pulley 16, and the direction of traverse is again reversed to the right.

Although the web of fleece is laid transversely of the apron 106, the lateral movement of the latter causes the web to assume a Zig-Zag overlap as shown in Fig. 1, so that a web of uniform thickness because of the uniform overlap is formed, Which is rolled on the spindle 125 bv the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 2. The viiidth of the finished Web is determined by the extreme position of traverse cf the distributing belt 99, and this is determined b-y the positions of knocker pins 132 and 133 on shifter rod 129. Accordingly, by moving the knocker pins 132 and 133 toward each other, the web may be narrowed and vice versa.

It Will be seen that the lapping machine of this invention is simple and rapid in operation, and that the rapid reversal of the traversing movements of both the receiving belt 38 and distributing belt 99, as compared with the uniform movement of the fleece prevents the pulling apart of the fleece, and the consequent formation of thin spots, and also prevents bunching of the fleece web so that it is of uniform thickness throughout. Because of this, a much lower grade of textile stock may be formed into a web of uniform thickness by the present machine, because the shorter fibres of the inferior stock ai'e not subjected to tension Which caused the fleece to thin or part in machines employed heretofore. `Also, Vbecause Aboth belts travelat uniform speed, the v'veb is homogeneous `throughout and of uniform density. It will v be noted that only tivo fabric belts areempl'oyed vas-compared to the three or` more belts used in machines heretofore, whereby considerable reduction of belt surface is procured, and a simpler operating mechanism' is possible. Also, the machine occupies much less floor space bothinV length and width and has a lower h-eight, as compared with machines used heretofore, which isv a considerable item in the textile industry,v

Where the majority of machines occupy a great deal of space and space is` at a premium.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described herein, it is to be imderstood that it is not limited thereby, but issusceptible of changes inform and detail Within its scope.

I claim: 1. Ina lapping machine, the combination of a belt for receiving the fleece, a second Y belt for distributing the fleece, means for raversing said receiving belt over said distributing belt to transfer the fleece directly thereto, means for traversing said distributing belt relatively to said receiving belt, land means responsive to the traversing movement f of said distributing belt foradvancing the -f moving said receiving belt relatively to said4 distributing belt to transfer the fleece directly thereto, means for bodily traversing said distributing belt, and mechanism operated by the traversing movement of said distributing belt for advancing the saine continuously in one direction for laying the fleece in Zig-zag fashion to form a Web.

3. In a lapping machine, the combination of a belt for receiving the fleece, a second belt for distributing the fleece, means for traversing said receiving belt over said distributing belt to transfer the fleece directly thereto, means for moving said receiving belt continuously inthe same direction relatively to the traversing movement thereof, means for traversing said distributing belt relatively to said receiving belt, and means actuated by' said last-named means for advancing said distributing belt continuously in onedire'ction for laying the'fleece in zig-Zag fashion to form a Web.

4. In a lapping machine, the combination of a belt for receiving the fleece, a second belt for distributing the fleece, means for simultaneously traversing said belts relatively to each other but in the same directions, and mea-ns' operated by the traversing movement of one of said belts for advancing the distributing belt continuously in one direction, whereby the fleece is transferred between said belts and laid in zig-zag fashion by said distributing belt to form a web.

5. In a lapping machine,ithe combination of a belt for receiving the fleece, a second belt for distributing the fleece, means for simultaneously traversing said belts relatively toeach other, and means operated by the traversing movement of one of said belts for advancing the same continuously in the same direction, for laying the fleece in zig-Zag fashion to form a. web.

6. In a lapping machine, the combination ofa belt for receiving the fleece, a second belt for distributing the fleece, means for simultaneously traversing said belts relatively to each other, independent means for driving said receiving belt continuously in the same direction relatively to the traversing movement thereof, and means operated by the traversing movement of said distributing belt for advancing the same continuously in the same direction for laying the fleece in Zig-zag fashion to form a web.

7. In a lapping machine, the combination of a belt for receiving the fleece, a second belt for distributing the fleece, means for simultaneously traversing said belts relatively to each other at a relative speed of two to one, means for continuously moving said belts relatively to their traversing movements and in mutually opposite directions at a rela-tive speed of one to one for transferring the fleece directly from said receiving belt to said distributing belt, this movement of at least one of said belts being controlled in accordance with the traversing movement thereof, and means for receiving the fleece from said distributing belt.

8. In a lapping machine, the combination of a belt for receiving the fleece, a second belt for distributing the fleece, means for traversing said receiving belt over said distributing belt to transfer the fleece directly thereto, an apron moving transversely to said distributing belt, means for traversing said distributing belt relatively to said apron, and means responsive to the traversing movement of said distributing belt for advancing the same continuously in one direction for laying the fleece upon said apron in zig-zag fashion to form a web.

9. In alapping machine, the combination of a belt for receiving the fleece, a second belt for=distributing the fleece, a frame, a rack along said frame, means for traversing said belts along said frame, a roll for one of said belts, a pinion thereon engaging said rack for rotating said belt upon traversing movement of the corresponding belt along said frame, and ratchet mechanism forv driving said roll in a continuous direction during the traversing movement of said one belt.

10. In a lapping machine, the combination of a'belt for receiving the fleece, al second belt for distributing the fleece, 'and means for movingV said belts relatively to each other, said means including mechanism operated by the traversing movement ofone of said belts for continuously advancing the same continuously in the same direction for laying the fleece to forma web.

1l. In a lapping machine, the combination of a belt for receiving the fleece, a second belt for distributing the fleece, and means for moving said. belts relatively to each other, said means including a reversing mechanism for reversing the direction of surface movement of one of said belts and actuated upon reversal of the traversing movement thereof whereby said one belt is moved continuously in the same direction for laying the fleece to forma web. L

l2. In a lapping machine, the combination of a belt for receiving the fleece, a second belt for distributing the fleece, and means for moving said belts relatively to each other, 'said means including a double clutching mechanism operated by the traversing movement thereof, whereby one of rsaid belts is advanced continuously in the same direction, and opposite to the direction of advancement of the other belt.

13. In a lapping machine, the combination of a belt for receiving the fleece', a second belt forY distributing the fleece, and means for moving said belts relatively to each other, said means including a ratchet mechanism for driving one of said belts in a continuous direction during the traversing movement thereof.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

FREDRICK C. STURGIS.