US2000643A

US2000643A - Apparatus for supplying fibrous material for incorporation in fabrics

Info

Publication number: US2000643A
Application number: US717675A
Authority: US
Inventors: Morton James
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1933-04-01
Filing date: 1934-03-27
Publication date: 1935-05-07
Anticipated expiration: 1952-05-07

Description

J, MORTON 2,000,643

Filed March 27, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 7 22222212? 172227238 jlfor/fayz I ww v J. MORTON 2,000,643 APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING FIBROUS MATERIAL FOR INCORPORATION IN FABRICS May 7, 1935.

Filed March 27,- 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 mac-uh ar/Z012,

, a x4350 any Zazzza-ms J. MORTON May 7, 1935.

APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING FIBROUS MATERIAL FOR INCORPORATION IN FABRICS Filed March 27, 1934 5 Sharks-Sheet 4 r M M 4 f J. MORTON May 7, 1935.

APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING FIBROUSMATERIAL FOR INCORPORATION IN FABRICS Filed March 27, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 II ll I l I I ll @NM WN Patented May 7, 1935 UNITED STATES APPARATUS FOR SUPPLYING: FIBROUS MATERIAL FOR INCORPORATION IN FABRICS James Morton, Carlisle, Cumberland, England 7 Application March 27, 1934, Serial N0. 717,675 In Great Britain April 1, 1933 22 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved apparatus for supplying fibrous material for incorporation in fabrics, generally as weft, during the manufacture of said fabrics; the term fibrous material being intended to include all kinds of threads, yarns, cords, tapes and even strips, such 7 as strips of chenille. The apparatus to which the invention relates is of the type in which the fibrous material is supplied in continuous, sideby-side stretches to fabric-manufacturing means.

An object of the invention is to provide apparatus for the purpose above-stated. comprising endless flexible members (such as chains) which co-act to draw-out into the form of open loops fibrous material supplied to said members and to convey the open-looped material as stretches lying side-by-side for incorporation in the fabric being manufactured.

Another object of the invention is to provide means whereby the drawn-out loops are delivered or cast-off from the flexible members when said loops reach a delivery zone.

The apparatus may be arranged to draw-out and convey a single continuous length of fibrous material; or, if required, it may be arranged to draw-out and convey two or more different continuous lengths. In the second arrangement, the

' which the fibrous material is led. Various arrangements of such chains can be provided.

Several constructions of the improved apparatus, embodying different chain arrangements, will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, 'in which:-

Fig. l is an elevation of one construction; and Fig. 2 is a corresponding plan.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view, drawn to a larger scale, in the direction of the arrow III in Fig. 2; and Fig. 4 is a corresponding sectional plan.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view, also drawn to a larger scale, in the direction of the arrow V in Fig. 2; and Fig. 6 is a corresponding sectional plan. 7 I

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic elevation of another construction of the apparatus.

Fig. 8 is a view of a casting-off device already shown in Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of said casting-0R device to a larger scale.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view of mechanism for operating said casting-off device.

Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic elevation of another construction of the apparatus.

Fig. 12 is a plan of a modification of the con struction shown in Fig. 11. Y

Fig.,13 is a diagrammatic elevation of yet another construction; and Fig. 14 is a fragmentary view in the direction of the arrow XIV in Fig. 13.

With reference to Figs. rm 6, thef'construction therein shown comprises two feed chains I, 2 and a draw-out chain 3. The chain 1 passes round

sprockets

4, 5; the feed-chain '2 passes round

sprockets

6, 1; and the draw-out chain 3. passes round sprockets 8, 9; these sprockets 4 to I being respectively secured to shafts III to l 5 which are journalled in brackets supported by side frames I6, I l. The sprocket-shaft H constitutes the driving shaft of the apparatus, and it drives the sprocket shaft ll of the feed-chain I through i a chain-drive l9 and inter-meshing bevel-gearwheels 20. The sprocket-shaft l3 of the feedchain 2 is driven by the sprocket-shaft I! through a chain-drive 2i and inter-meshing bevel-geotwheels 22. The arrangement is such that the downward components of the movements of the active (i. e. downwardly moving) stretches of the three

chains

1, 2 and 3 are all equal.

The chains i, 2 and 3 are provided with

antifriction rollers

24, and 26 which are equispaced along the respective chains.

The two feed-chains I, 2 are arranged to feed a single length of fibrous material A downwards in loop form. The chain l, which first receives the material, has a longer span than the chain 2, and their bottom sprockets 5, l are disposed at or about the same level, the top sprockets 4 8 being arranged in proximity to an inclined plane containing the active, or lower,,stretch of the top of the feed chain i {the said roller 26 moves at a-downward inclination and pulls out'the engaged material into a loop, the two stretches composing which are denoted by An. and Ab respectively in Fig. l; the said roller 26 ultimately pulls the loop of material past the shorter feed 2 zone.

chain 2, and the topmost downcoming roller 25 thereof receives the loop-end and conveys it downward; meantime, the chain I has been feeding downwards the stretches Aa, Ab at the other, or open, end of the loop which they form, so that these stretches are maintained nearly horizontal throughout their downward movement; thereafter both feed chains 2 continue to feed the loop downwards (between preceding and succeeding similar loops) to the delivery zone, which zone extends from B to C in Fig. 1.

Preferably, a material-transferring device is interposed between the chains 3 and 2, one form of such a device being shown in Figs. 1 to 4. The device is actuated by a cam 28 secured to the sprocket-shaft |5. The follower to the cam consists of one arm 29 of a bell-crank-lever fulcrumed at 30, the arm 29 being pulled by a spring 3| into continuous engagement with the cam 28. The other arm 32 of said lever is provided with a short flexible metal brush 33 (Fig. 3). As each successive loop of material is drawnout, its loop-forming roller 26 finally passes an oncoming feed-roller 25; and the cam 28 then rocks the

lever

29, 32 in such a manner that the brush 33 engages the drawn-out loop and deflects it from the roller 26 upon the respective roller 25, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

Means are provided for effecting removal of the ends of the successive drawn-out loops from the relative feed-rollers 24,- 25 as the latter pass the delivery zone B, C. The means shown will now be described:--

The rollers 24. 25 on each of the feed chains are each journalled on a mounting 34 (see Figs.

4 and which is pivotally attached at 35 to a block 35 secured rigidly between a pair of sideby-side links of the chain concerned (although each roller 26 of the draw-out chain 3 is nonpivotal, being journalled on a rigid block 26'). The rollers 24, are normally restrained against pivotal movement by pairs of

guides

36, 31 and 36, 39 (see Figs. 1, 5 and 6) which are secured to the side frames l6, l1 and which extend flush with pairs of guide plates 4' to 1' on the respective sprockets 4 to 1. The

guides

36, 38 at the level of the delivery zone B, C are formed with arcuate deflected portions 36', 38, the function of which is to permit the

feed rollers

24, 25 to pivot under the pull of the respective loops of material when they pass said portions, so that each roller casts-on its loop-end at the delivery A roller 24 is shown casting-off its loop in Figs. 5 and 6..

The apparatus shown is intended to work in combination with a warp-knitting machine (not shown) adapted to knit chains of stitches into which the successively delivered stretches of material are bound as wefts. The apparatus is so arranged that the

rollers

24, 25 of the respective feed chains I, 2 reach opposite ends of the delivery zone B, C alternately, so that one end of the lowermost stretch A2 is released while its other end is still engaged by a feed-roller. The apparatus would be so timed in relation to the knitting mechanism that the lowermost stretch Az would be fully cast-off only after it had actually been bound into the fabric. In Figs. 1 and 5, D denotes the knitted stitches, and E denotes a succession of wefts which have been supplied by the apparatus in accordance with this invention and bound together by the stitches to form a fabric. The simple fabric shown may, for example, be a piece of chenille preparatory cloth of known form'adapted to be out between the stitches D into strips of chenille suitable for subsequent weaving, as weft, in carpets and the like.

When each successive lowermost loop is castoif at one or other side of the delivery zone B, C, the act of casting-off temporarily relieves the tension of the loops being drawn out. Nevertheless, the tension is sufficient to ensure that the temporary slackness due to casting-off will be at once absorbed from loop to loop, and the fabric being manufactured will be formed with tight and uniform selvedges, such as obtained by weaving operations.

In the construction hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 to 6, three chains are involved; namely, two feed-chains and 2 and a draw-out chain 3. A construction may be adopted in which there are only two chains. One such construction is shown in Fig. 7, this construction comprising a single feed-chain 40 cooperating with a draw-out chain 4|, which functions also as a feed-chain in so far that it conveys drawn-out loops direct to the end C of the delivery zone.

The feed-chain 40 passes round two sprockets 42, 43 and extends vertically from a materialsupply position to the end B of the delivery zone. The draw-out chain 4| passes round

sprockets

44, 15 and extends past the chain 40 at a downward inclination. The sprockets 42 to 45 are respectively provided on shafts 46 to 49. The shaft 49, which is the driving shaft of the apparatus, is connected through intermeshing gear wheels W, 5| and a chain-drive 52 with the shaft 41,

the transmission ratio being such that the downward components of the two chains are equal.

Both chains have equi-spaced

rollers

53, 54, which have a rigid or non-pivotal mounting (similar to the rollers 26 in Figs. 1 to 6).

As in the previous construction, a single length of material is led-in through a stationary guide 55 (located at the material-supply position) and is drawn-out into a loop by the first down-coming roller 54. As this loop is gradually drawn out it at the same time is conveyed downwards by the two

chains

40, 4| until finally it reaches the delivery zone B, C.

The apparatus illustrated in Fig. 7 includes two casting-off devices which are located at opposite ends of the delivery zone and are arranged to cooperate with the rollers on the

chains

40, 4| for the purpose of casting-off loops therefrom. Each of these devices consists of what may be termed a flicker, comprising a small thin blade 56 (Fig. 9) converging froma comparatively wide root to a pointed tip 56', which is slightly deflected. The root is connected to a boss 51 which is secured to a rock shaft 58 and the boss presents a material-engaging shoulder or ledge 51, the function of which is to hold temporarily apart the two stretches A11, A2 constituting the lowermost drawn-out loop. The rock-shaft 58 carrying the casting-off device derives its movement from a cam 59 (see Fig. 10) on the adjacent sprocket-

shaft

41 or 49. In Fig. 10, the cammechanism is shown as applied to the shaft 41. The follower of the cam 59 consists of a roller 60 on an arm 6| which is continuously pulled by a spring 62 so as to maintain the roller against the cam. A counter-shaft 63, to which the arm F 6| is secured, has a gear segment 64 meshing with a pinion 65 on the rock-shaft 58, the parts '64, 65 constituting a motion-magnifying gear. In one rotation of the sprocket-shaft 41, two complete oscillations are imparted to the casting-off device, the second oscillation of each cycle being about twice as great as the first. Each cycle starts with the blade 51 fully raised (in the posi- 'most stretch Az is about to reach said zone, the

shaft 58 is turned clockwise sufllciently to carry the deflected tip 58' past the upper stretch Ay, which is deflected aside by the tip. Instantaneously thereafter, the device turns counterclockwise; the rising tip 58' engages the upper stretch Ay; and the shoulder 51' passes into engagement with the adjacent loop-end. Thus, the loop-end is removed from the roller 53 holding it. Following a short dwell of the fllicker in its fully raised position (see Fig. 9) during which dwell the knitting needles (not shown) advance and retire and thus bind the lower stretch A2 in known manner into the fabric being manufactured, the device is turned sharply clockwise to its full extent and the loop is cast-off. The device cooperating with the rollers 54 is shown in its casting-off position in Fig. 7. The tension of the lowermost loops is simultaneously relieved,

but the tension due to the drawing-out action of the several

active rollers

58, 54 is sufficient to ensure the formation of a tight selvedge in the fabric. J

The casting-off device cooperating with the rollers 54 is madeto the opposite hand, and turns in the opposite direction, to the casting-off device cooperating with the rollers 53; but in other respects the two devices are the same and perform the same functions, although in opposite phase; that is, the loop-ends at opposite ends of the delivery zone B, C are cast-off alternately.

In Figs. 7 to 10, the bearings in which the various shafts (namely, shafts 48 to 48,58 and 83) are journalled have not been shown in the interests of clearness.

In the constructionillustrated in Figs. 11 and 12 only two chains are adapted to feed one length, or each of two lengths, of fibrous material direct to the delivery zone. The two chains 18, H are arranged in the same plane, and they both act as feed-chains and draw-out chains leading downwards at divergent inclinations from a central supply position to opposite ends of the delivery zone B, C.

The chains 18, H are respectively provided with material-engaging rollers I2, 13, and they are led roundsprockets l4, l5 and I8, 11 which are respectively secured to shafts 18 to 8|. The chains are driven at the same speed, butin opp site directiona'by the driving-shaft .88, which is connected to the shaft 18 through intermeshing gearwheels 82, 88. The rollers 12, 13 cooperate with oscillatory casting-off devices 84, "arranged at opposite ends of the delivery zone B, C and operating in the manner already described with reference to Figs. 7 to 10. The material A is supplied to the apparatus through a guide 88 which is mechanically rocked from one tothe other of two positions, in each of which the material is held by the guide in the path of an oncoming roller 12 or 13 on one or other of the chains 18, l l. The'guide 86 is secured to a small rock-shaft 81 journalled at 88 in a bracket 88 in which the shafts I8, 88 are also journalled. The rock-shaft 8'! has secured to it a depending arm 88 formed with lateral extensions 8|, 82 cooperating with strikers 88, 84 on the

sprockets

14, 16. The arm 88 has an upward extension 85 which cooperates with a spring plunger 88 (shown only in Fig. 1.1), the purpose of which is to maintain the guide 86 in position against the pull of the material A being drawn out.

As shown in Fig. 11, the guide 86 is in its righthand position and is holding the topmost stretch Aa of the material in position to be engaged by the first downcoming roller 13 on the chain ll. After engagement, the striker 84 engages the extension 92, and rocks the rock-shaft 8! clockwise so that the guide 86 is displaced to its left-hand position, in which it holds the material in position for engagement by the first downcoming roller 12 of the chain 10. Thereafter, the striker engages the extension 8| and causes the guide 38 to be displaced back to its right-hand position.

One advantage of the constructions shown in Figs. 11 and 12 is that the number of rollers engaged by the material A is reduced to the minimum, so that the frictional drag, subjecting the material to tension throughout the drawing-out operation, is kept as low as possible. In the arrangement shown, the complete length of material extending between the guide 86 and one or other end of the delivery zone passes at most around four rollers.

Another important advantage of the constructions shown in Figs. 11 and 12 is due to the co: planar arrangement of the two chains 18, II. By virtue of this arrangement, it is possible to arrange two sets of the apparatus side-by-side (i. e. a duplex" apparatus) so that two lengths of materialcan be continuously fed in side-by-side stretches to the fabric being manufactured. Such a second set of the apparatus is shown in Fig. 12. As shown, the casting-off devices 84, 85

are also duplex, each comprising two materialdefiecting blades 81, with out-turned tips, having between them a single material-engaging shoulder 88. In such duplex apparatus the chains'are driven in synchronism and the casting-off devices 84 and 85 each cast-off two loop-ends simultaneously, the two side-by-side lowermost stretches of material being simultaneously bound into the fabric being manufactured.

.7 By referring to Fig. 12, it will be seen that a central space is available through which can be led downwards a sheet or web of warps F. These warps extend between the two lengths of material drawn-out into loops and fed as two sets of wefts to the fabric being manufactured. In the fabric, the warps would constitute a stuffing medium extending along the spaces between adjacent knitted chains D binding the wefts E together in pairs, Thus, there would be formed a simple three-ply fabric, known in itself.

For -.a better selvedge formation, the abovedescribed duplex apparatus can be modified in such a manner that the two sets of draw-out chains operate oppositely in phase, so that one casting-off device is performing the act of castingoff a loop drawn out by one set of chains, while the other casting-off device is performing this act on a loop drawn out by the other set of chains. Thus, each casting-off. device would deal with the two materials alternately.

With reference to the duplexform of castingoif device 84,85 shown in Fig. 12, this form of device can also be used in a single, or simplex,

apparatus, although only one blade tip need then vided for the purpose.

The constructions hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 to 12 each supply a single length of material, althoughaccording to Fig. 12 two single continuous lengths are supplied simultaneously. If desired,provision may be made to draw-outand supply successive stretches of two or more different lengths, and a construction having such provision is shown in Figs. 13 and 14. As therein shown, a feed chain I is provided which corresponds to the longer feed chain in Fig. 1, the only differences being that the rollers 24 are more widely spaced and are longer. The associated parts are denoted by the same reference numerals as in Fig. 1, and certain of these parts are broken away for clearness. With the feed-chain I cooperates a draw-out chain II, having rollers 54, which leads direct to the end C of the delivery zone, similarly to the draw-out chain in Fig. '7, and likewise cooperates with a casting-off device SI on a rock-shaft 58. In the modified construction shown in Fig. 13, however, the chain 4I passes at its top end round two sprocket-

wheels

44, 44, although it passes round one sprocketwheel 45 at its lower end, as in the Fig. '7 'construction.

The characteristic feature of the construction illustrated in Figs. 13 and 14 is that four separate lengths AI, A2,'A3 and A4 of material are supplied to the apparatus and are delivered thereby in successive stretches at the

zone

3,0.

The lengths Al to A4, which may be of different colours or other characteristics, are led-in through four tubular guides'I I I, H2, H3 and H4 which are pivotally supported at I I5 in a stationary bracket H6 and cooperate with four tappets I IT on a little drum I I8 which is rotated through inter-meshing, speed-reducing spiral-gears II9 by the driving shaft I4.

When a guide III, H2, H3 or II4 rests against the drum I I8, towards which they are each urged by a spring I20, the respective material AI, A2, A3 or A4 is held clear of the path of the rollers 54, as shown in Fig. 14. When however a guideis displaced by its tappet II'I,'it crosses the path of the rollers 5 and the respective length of material is therefore drawn-out into a loop by the first of these rollers which engages'it. In the simple arrangement shown, the guides III, H2, H3 and H4 are displaced in sequence by their tappets, and accordingly the apparatus feeds the lengths AI to A4 as loops in the same sequence, each loop consisting of two adjacent stretches, as shown in Fig. 13.

The manner in which the guides and tappets operate is known in itself and need not therefore be described in greater detail. These parts constitute a simple form of selecting mechanism,

which however can be replaced by jacquard orother selecting mechanism adapted to vary the sequence in which the different lengths-are dealt with. I

' It should be particularly noted that'each length of material, when being drawn out into a loop, passes 180 round one roller 54 on the draw-out chain and 90 round each of two rollers 24 on the feed chain, the material passing direct from its lead-in guide to the upper of these two rollers and direct from the lower thereof to the adjacent selvedge of the fabric being manufactured. Moreover, the materials have no tendency to rub hard against oneanother in passing from the lead-in guides to the fabric. Thus, the frictional drag is very low, and the tension on the lengths of material is correspondingly low.

Although apparatus according to the invention is particularly suitable for working in association with high speed warp-knitting mechanism, it may also be applied to other fabricmanufacturing mechanism. The apparatus is also suitable for application to the manufacture of what may be termed "adhesive fabrics", the apparatus in such an event being arranged to supply successive stretches of fibrous material for attachment, say as wefts, by use of adhesive to a web or webs of other material, say warps. example, the wefts may be supplied and caused to adhere to a web of warps treated with adhesive; or may be supplied between, and caused to adhere to, two webs of such warps.

It is to be understood that, in the above- For r described arrangements, modifications in details of construction might be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the feed and/or draw-out chains could comprise flexible members, such as belts or bands on pulleys, so long as provision were made to maintain accurate timed relationship between the material-engaging rollers and the remainder of the apparatus. Moreover, projections other than rollers might be employed to engage and convey thefibrous material.

I claim:--

1. Apparatus for supplying fibrous material in stretches comprising co-acting flexible members Y movable in divergent paths, means for leading the fibrous material to said members, means on said members for engaging said material, and means for moving said members along their respective paths so that their material-engaging means engage the material, draw it out in stretches and feed the stretches to, and discharge them at a delivery zone.

2. Apparatus for supplying fibrous material in stretches comprising co-acting endless chains movable in divergent paths, means for leading the fibrous material to said chains, means on said chains for engaging said material, and sprocket means for moving said chains along their respective paths so that their material-engaging means engage the material, draw it out in stretches and feed the stretches to and discharge them at a delivery zone.

3. Apparatus for supplying fibrous material in stretches comprising co-acting endless chains movable in divergent paths, means for leading the fibrous material to said chains, material engaging rollers journalled onsaid chains, and sprocket means for moving said chains along their respective paths so that their rollers engage the material, draw it out in stretches and feed the stretches to and discharge them at a delivery zone.

4. Apparatus for supplying fibrous material in stretches from a supply position to a delivery zone, said apparatus comprising co-acting flexible members, movable in divergent paths, one of which leads straight to one end of the delivery zone and the other of which leads at an inclination towards the other end of said zone, means located at the supply position for leading. the fibrous material to said members, means on said members for engaging said material, and means for moving said members along their respective paths so that their material-engaging means engage the material, draw it out in stretches and feed the stretches to and discharge them near the ends of said zone.

5. Apparatus for supplying fibrous material in stretches from a supply position to a delivery zone, said apparatus comprising co-acting endless chains, movable in divergent paths, one of which leads straight to one end of the delivery zone and the other of which leads at an inclination towards the other end of said zone, means located at the supply position for leading the fibrous ma-,

terial to said chains, rollers journalled on said chains for engaging said material, and sprocket means for moving said chains along their respective paths so that their material-engaging rollers engage the material, draw it outin stretches and feed the stretches to and discharge them near the ends of said zone.

6. Apparatus for supplying fibrous material in stretches from a centrally located supplyposition to a delivery zone extending to both sides of said position, said apparatus comprising co-acting flexible members, movable in paths which diverge at inclinations towards opposite ends of said zone, means located at the supply position for leading the fibrous material to said members, means on said members 'for engaging said material, and means for moving said members along their respective paths so that their material-engaging means engage the material, draw it out instretches and feed the stretches to and discharge themat the ends of the delivery zone.

'7. Apparatus for supplying fibrous material in stretches from a centrally located supply position to a delivery zone extending to both sides of said position, said apparatus comprising co-acting endless chains, movable in paths which diverge at inclinations towards'opposite ends of said zone, means located at the supply position for leading the fibrous material to said chains, rollers journailed on said chains for engaging said material, and sprocket means for moving said chains along their respective paths so thattheir material-engaging rollers engage the material, draw it out in stretches and feed the stretches to and discharge them at the ends of the delivery zone.

8. Apparatus as claimed in clainf3, in which the rollers journalled on a chain leading to the delivery zone have pivotal mountings, and in which said mountings are constrained by stationary guide means serving to restrain the mountings against pivotal movement while'the respective rollers are feeding the material, but to effect pivotal movement of the mountings as the respective rollers reach the delivery zone, so that there the rollers discharge the engaged ends of the stretches in succession.

9. Apparatus for supplying fibrous material in stretches from a supply position to a delivery zone, said apparatus comprising co-acting flexible members, consisting of two feed-chains at opposite ends of said zone and a draw-out chain leading from the first to the second of said feedchains, means located at the supply position for leading the fibrous material to the first-feedchain and the draw-out chain, material-engaging rollers journalled on the respective chains, material-transferring means interposed between the draw-out chain and second feed' chain, and sprocket means for moving said chains along their respective paths so that their rollers engage the material, draw it out in stretches and feed the stretches to and discharge them at the delivery zone.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9, in which the rollers journalled on the feed-chains have pivotal mountings, and in which said mountings are constrained by stationary guide means serving to restrain the mountings against pivotal movement while the respective rollers are feeding the material, but to effect pivotal movement of the mountings as the respective rollers reach the delivery zone, so that there the rollers discharge the stretches in succession.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9, in which the therein-stated material-transferring means consists of a movable member mounted'adjacent for moving it at timed intervals to engage a stretch of material drawn-out by a roller on the draw-out chain and to transfer said stretch to a roller on the second feed-chain.

12. Apparatus for supplying fibrous material in stretches comprising co-aoting flexible members movable in divergent paths, means for leading the fibrous material to said members, means on said members for engaging said material, means for moving said members along their respective paths so that their material-engaging means engage the material, draw it out in stretches and feed the stretches to a delivery zone, and means for easting-off the stretches as they reach said zone.

13. Apparatusfor supplying fibrous material in stretches comprising co-acting endless chains movable in divergent paths, means for leading the fibrous material to said chains, material-engaging rollers journalled on said chains, sprocket means for moving said chains along their respective paths so that their rollers engage the material, draw it out in stretches and feed the stretches to a delivery zone, and alternately operating casting-off devices located at opposite ends of said. zone and adapted to cast-off from the rollers first one end then the other of each successive stretch.

14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the material-engaging means cooperate with a movable device located at one or each end of the delivery zone, and in which mechanical means move said device to contact with, near the looped end of, the material engaged by said means, to

move into the looped end of said material and remove it from said means, and to cast-off, said. looped end.

15. Apparatus for supplyingflbrous material in stretches from a centrally located supply position to a delivery zone extending to both sides of said position; said apparatus comprising a' it out in stretches and feed the stretches to and discharge them at the ends of the delivery zone.

16. Apparatus for supplying fibrous material in stretches from a centrally located supply position to a delivery zone extending to both sides of said position, said apparatus comprising a pair of co-acting co-planar endless chains, movable in paths which diverge at inclinations towards oppositeends of said zone, a. movable guide located at the supply position for leading the fibrous material to said chains, rollers journalled on said chains for engaging said material, mechanism for moving said guide between two alternately occupied positions in which it leads the material across the path of the material-engaging rollers on one sets of co-acting flexible members, each set con-- sisting of a pair of flexible members movable in divergent paths, means for leading the lengths to their respective flexible members, means on said members for engaging the respective lengths oi material, means for moving said members 1 lengths of fibrous material in successive stretches along their respective paths so that-their material-engaging means engage the respective lengths, draw them out in stretches and feed the stretches to the delivery zone, and means for casting-of! the stretches side-by-side at said zone.

18. Apparatus for supplying two continuous lengths of fibrous material in side-by-side stretches from a centrally located supply position to a delivery zone extending to both sides 0! said position, said apparatus comprising two juxtaposed sets of co-acting endless chains, the chains or each set being movable in paths which diverge at inclinations towards opposite ends or he delivery zone, means located at the' supply {iosition for leading the lengths of material to their respective sets of chains, rollers journalled on saidchains for engaging the respective lengths, sprocket means for moving said chains along their respective paths so that their material-engaging rollers engage the respective lengths of mateand feed the stretches sequence, draw them'out in stretches and iced the stretches to and discharge them at a delivery zone. r

, 20. Apparatus for supplying two or more lengths offibrous material in successive stretches comprising co-aeting endless chains movable in divergent paths, means for separately leading the fibrous material to said chains in predetermined sequence, material-engaging rollers journailed on said chains, and sprocket: means for moving said chains along their respective paths so that their-rollers engage the lengths of material in said sequence, draw them out in stretches I to and discharge them at adelivery zone. I

21. Apparatus for supplying two or more from a supply position to a delivery zone, said apparatus comprising co-acting endless chains movable in divergent paths, one of which leads straight to one end oi! the delivery zone and the other of which leads at an inclination towards the other end 01' said zone, movable guides located at the supply position for separately leading the difierent lengths of fibrous material to said chains, material-engaging rollers on. said chains, selecting mechanism ior moving therespective guides in predetermined sequence to hold their respective lengths one at a time in the path-of said rollers, and means for moving said chains along their respective paths so that their rollers engage the selected length, draw it out in stretches and feed'the' stretclies'to and discharge them at the ends oi said zone. Y i

22. Apparatus for supplying fibrous material in stretches comprising co-acting endless flexible members movable in divergent paths, means for leading the fibrous material to said members, projections on said members for engaging said material, means for moving said members along their respective paths so that their materialengaging projections engage the material and simultaneously and continuously draw it out and advance it in the form of loop-ended stretches. and means for casting-oi! first one then the other looped endoi-each stretch from said projections at a delivery; none.

I JAMES MORTON.