US2352131A

US2352131A - Strip-feeding mechanism

Info

Publication number: US2352131A
Application number: US439440A
Authority: US
Inventors: Paul S Smith
Original assignee: ELLEN BERTHA ALLEN
Current assignee: ELLEN BERTHA ALLEN
Priority date: 1940-07-15
Filing date: 1942-04-17
Publication date: 1944-06-20
Anticipated expiration: 1961-06-20

Description

June 20, 1944. p s SMH-H 2,352,131

STRIP FEEDING MECHANISM Original yFiled July 15, 1940 10 Sheets-Sheet l June 20, 1944. P s, SMITH 2,352,131

STRIP FEEDING MECHANISM y Original Filed July l5, 1940 l0 Sheets-Sheet 2 M 4: Wm a INVENTOR PAUL s. SMITH www ATTORNEYS June 20,' 1944.

lF'. s. SMITH STRIP FEEDING MCHANLSM 10 Sheets-Sheet 3v original Filed July 15, 1940 NON @ON Y lNvENToR PAUL `S`SIVIIT`H ATTORNEYS June 20, 1944. s. sMlTH STRIP FEEDING MECHANISM .Original` Filed July 15, 1940 l0 Sheets-Sheet 4 lNvENroR PAUL MITH y BY ATTORNEYS June 20, 1944. P. s. sMrrH STRIP FEEDING MECHANISM Original Filed July l5, 1940 l0 Sheebs-SlleeiI 5 PWN ` lNVENTOR PAUL S. SMITH vm URL ATTORNEYS June 2o, 1944. I P, Q SMITH 2,352131 STRIP FEEDING MEGHANISM Original Filed July 15, 1940 lO Sheets-Shet 6 PAUL SSMITH ATTORNEYS Jane 2o, 1944. Pj s SMWH 2,352,131

y STRIP FEEDING- MECHANISM Original Filed July l5, 1940 10 Sheets-Shee'l '7 lNvENToR AUL SSMHH Q WM m li ATTORNEYS June 20, 1944.

vP. S. SMITH STRIP FEEDING MECHANISM 1o- Smeets-sheet 8 'Original Filed July l5, 1940 v' INVENTOR PAUL S-.SMITH ATTORNEYS r NmN @EN .EN N

MPN BN NPN June zo, 1944. P. s SMITH' 2,352,131

STRIP FEEDING MECHANISM original Filed Ju1yy 15, 1940 1o Sheets-sheet 9 f 1 l Il .Il Il .77052 75- INVENTOR r91mm s. SMYIH ATTORNEYS- June 20, 1944. P. s; sMlTH STRIP FEEDIQNG MECHANISM Original Filed July 15, 1940 l0 Sheets-Sheet l0 PHN R vO T .N E V m PA S.SM1TH I v BY ATTORN EYS Patented June 20, 1944 STRIP-FEEDING MECHANISM Paul S. Smith, Rockford, -Ill., assigner, by mesne assignments, to Ellen Bertha Allen, Birmingham, Mich.

Original application July 15, 1940, Serial No.

2 Claims.

This application is a division of my co-pending application; Serial No. 345,448, filed July 15, 1940, Patent No. 2,302,722, dated November 24, 1942,A for apparatus for making cemented pile fabric, that is to say, apparatus for use in the manufacture of that type of pile fabric in which the bers forming the pile are attached to a backing fabric by cementing material. The invention of said application relates to improvements upon the apparatus disclosed and claimed in United States Letters Patent, No. 2,050,740, patented to me on August 11, 1936, and the apparatus forming the subject-matter of said application is useful in carrying out the method disclosed and claimed in United States Letters Patent, No. 2,051,010, also patented to me on August 11, 1936. The present application relates to improvements in strip-feeding mechanism forming a part of said apparatus.

It has long been known that pile fabric may be manufactured by cementing the bers forming the pile to a backing sheet, or fabric, andthe usual practice has been to attach such fibers to the backing sheet in looped form'with the loop portions of the pile fibers cemented'to the backing sheet. Such fibers may be applied either in the form of yarn or as unspun fibers. The principal object of the invention forming the subject of my said application, Serial No. 345,448, was to provide an improved apparatus by means of which such cemented pile fabric can be manufactured at a lower cost than is possible by apparatus heretofore proposed for use.

In said apparatus, a warp of yarns or unspun bers is plaited about separator strips which are successively deposited in the mouth of a confining passage. in which a plaited structure is formed from said strips and the warp. The principal object of my present invention is to provide an improved strip-feeding mechanism for feeding the separator strips from a magazine, one by one, so that they may be delivered successively to the plaiting mechanism for the formation of the plaited structure.

A further object of my present invention is to provide an improved mechanism for feeding separator strips from a supply, means for transferring these strips one by one to the mouth of the confining passage in which a plaited structure is built up from separator strips and a warp, and

means for plaiting the warp about the separator strips as they are deposited in said passage.

Further objects, and objects relating to details of construction and economies of manufacture,

will definitely appear-from the detailed descrip- Divided and this application April 17, 1942. Serial No. 439,440

tion to follow. In one instance, I have accomplished the objects of my invention by the devices and means set forth in the following specification. My invention is clearly defined and pointed out in the appended claims. A structure constituting a preferred embodiment of the invention is illusftrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which:

Figures 1 and 1A, taken together, are a viewfin front elevation of my improved machine for making cemented pile fabric;

Fig. 2 is a view, in rear elevation, of theplaiting section of the machine;

Fig. 3 is a view of the plaiting section of the machine, taken on the line' 3--3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a vertical, sectional view, taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2, and illustrating the camactuated -valve mechanism'for controlling the application of suction to various parts of the plaiting mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view taken on the `line 5-5 of Fig. 4;v

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4;

Fig. '7 is a vertical sectional view through the plaiting mechanism; y

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view, taken on the line 8 8 of Fig. 1, and illustrating one ofthe strip-feeding devices and its cooperating striptransfer device for removing an individual separator strip from a supply and presenting it to the plaiting frame for the purpose of delivery to the mouth of the confining passage;

Fig. 9 is a horizontal sectional view, takenon the line 9 9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a vertical sectional View, taken on the line Ill-Ill] of Fig. 8;

Fig. 11 is a. detail sectional view, taken on the `line ll-ll of Fig. 8;

- Fig. 12 is a view, in side elevation, ofthe main ,jaiv member of one of the strip-transfer devices;

Fig. 13 is a view, in side elevation, of the secondary jaw member of said device;

Fig. 14 is a detail, vertical sectional view illustrating the cam-actuated connections for Operating the strip-feeding device;

Fig. 15 is a detail sectional view, taken on the line |5-l5 of Fig. 1; f

Fig. 16 is a view, partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section, corresponding in general to Fig. '7, but illustrating a modified form of plaiting mechanism, and

Fig. 1'7 is a fragmentary view in side elevation of one set of strip-transfer arms shown in Fig. 16.

In the drawings, the same reference numerals pile fabric which comprises plaiting either a warp A of spun yarn, or a web or bat of unspun fibers,

about a series of separator strips, so that the warp will pass around the edge of one strip, over that strip and around the opposite edge of the strip next above it, over the face of that strip'` and around the opposite edge of the one next above it, and so on, thus folding the fibrous warp alternately about the spaced separator stripsl- 4': l The function of these separator strips is to hold the bers in proper relation to each other while they are cemented to a backing sheet, or sheets, and, in orderto facilitate the removal of these separator lstrips ata certain stage in manufac- Iture, they should be formed of a material which can be severed readily. The plaited structure,

comprisingthese severable separator strips and the fibers plaited about them, is formed in a confining passage and, as-it emerges from this passage, a cementing material is applied to opposite faces thereof. This-cementing material is ythen dried and webs of cemented base fabric are applied to opposite faces of the plaited structure and vulcanized thereto, after which the'plaited structure is split longitudinally, giving two identical Webs of cemented pile fabric, each of-which may be subjected toa beating operation for the purpose of removing any remaining pieces-of the lseparator strips, a combing or tigering operation Ito arrange the pile bers in substantial parallelism, and a final shearing operation by which vsuch fibers are cut to give a pile of the desired" depth. d

The machine illustrated includes a pair of spaced plates defining a passage in which the ,plaited structure is formed, confined and advanced. My present invention relates to im- ,proved means for feeding separator strips one by one from suitable` magazines and delivering Asaid strips to. transfer devices, and the kmachine includes, also, means for actuating the transfer devices to transfer the strips so delivered to vstrip- .delivering position, and means for taking the strips so delivered and depositing them one by one in the mouth ofthe conning passage at the same time plaiting a warpof spun yarn, or a web or bat'of unspun fibers, about the separator strips to form the plaited structure.

-In the apparatus for making cemented pileI fabric disclosed herein, one `form of plaiting mechanism consists of a plaiting frame carrying -a pair of parallel plaiting bars. This plaiting .frame -is movedto vand fro in a semi-elliptical path, so that thel plaiting bars are alternately effective to take upY a separator strip and carry Yit to and deposit it in the mouth of the confining passage, in which the plaited structure is to be formed. I have provided an improved strip-feeding mechanism, forming the subject-matter of my present invention, which feeds the separator Vstrips one by one from a supply and delivers them to a point at which they may be taken up successively by the plaiting frame for depositing in the mouth of said coniiningpassage. I find it fdesirable, when using a warp of yarn, to provide, a reed, or warp guide, through which 'the individual yarns of the warp run. This warp guide may well be mounted between the plaiting bars and comprises partitions, which separate the individual yarns of the warp, so as to maintain their lateral spacing, 4and parts having rounded or smooth edges which bear against the yarns of the warp to plait them about the severable separator strips, as they'are deposited. To give the plaiting frame the required movement, I provide a pair of shafts which are journaled in slidable bars and carry eccentrics bearing on the plaiting frame and the eccentric shafts are rotated,'whi1e the slidable bars in which the shafts f are journaled are reciprocated, so that, as the result of these two actions, the lower edges of n the plaiting bars trace semi-elliptical paths.

In order to provide a plaiting mechanism which will operate at high speed without involving large unbalanced forces, I have found it desirable to cut down the weight of the moving parts. that end, I have proposed to provide transfer arms to which strips are successively fed by the strip-feeding mechanism from a strip supply, and which transfer the strips to, and deposit them in, the mouth of the confining passage, while a warp guide is reciprocated across the mouth of said passage to plait the warp about the strips so deposited.

Referring to the numbered parts of the'drawings, upon the base 35, which is provided with a central opening 36, through which the plaited structure passes to the vulcanizer, there are mounted two side members 31 and 38. Each of these side members consists of a pair of vertical pillars connected by cross members, as at 39 and 4|. The side members, 31 and 38, are tied together by the base 35, and by various cross members, as will be pointed out hereinafter. Mounted upon the upper ends of the pillars of side members 31 and 38, are

transverse yokes

42 and 43, which tie said side members together. Secured to the tops of

yokes

42 and 43 are the horizontal parallel rails 44, which support the yarnsupplying mechanism.

`The power for operating the machine is transmitted to it by the main drive shaft 45, which has a bevel gear 46 secured to one end thereof, meshing with a bevel gear 41 upon the vertical shaft 48. On the upper end of shaft 48, there is a bevel pinion 49 meshing with the bevel gear 50, which is secured to the shaft 5| for operating the plaiting mechanism, whereby that shaft is driven. Secured to shaft 48 is a spiral gear 52 meshing with a spiral pinion 53 on a cross-shaft 54. Shaft 54 carries another spiral pinion 55 meshing with a spiral gear 56 secured to retaining finger release shaft 51, whereby it is driven. A worm 58 is also secured to shaft 54 and meshes with a rworm gear 59 secured to yarn-supplying cam shaft 68, whereby that shaft is driven to actuate the cams for the yarn-supplying mechanism.

A spiral gear 6I, fast on shaft 48, meshes With a spiral gear 62 fast on a transverse shaft 63. The letter has secured thereto two spiral pinions 64 and 65, which mesh with spiral gears 66 and 61 fast on the

stub shafts

68 and 69, respectively. These shafts drive the mechanism by which cement is applied to opposite faces of the plaited structure as it emerges from the confining passage in which it is formed.

A worm 10 fast on the lower end of shaft 48, meshes with worm gear 1I fast on a shaft 12 journaled in suitable bearings on the frame member 31. A pinion 13, fast on shaft 12, meshes with an idler pinion 14, which, in turn, meshes with pinion fast on the end of the transverse shaft 15. Worms .1T and 18, fast on shaft 16, mesh with

worm gears

19 and 80, which are fast on the shafts 8| 'and 82. lThese control the mechanism for applying cemented base fabric to opposite vfaces of the plaited structure.

The plaiting mechanism, by which severable separato-r strips are successively delivered to the mouth of a confining passage, and by which the warp .of yarns is plaited about said strips in the mouth of said passage, comprises a plaiting frame which supports a pair of spaced, parallel, plaiting bars 14S-and |44, Figs. l and 7. The upper end of the confining passage, in which the plaited structure is formed by the plaiting of the warp A about the separator strips B, is defined by the plates and |46. `The plaiting frame is given a movement in a semi-elliptical path, so that rst one, and then the other, of the plaiting bars is caused to enter slightly the mouth of the passage defined by the plates |45 and |45. As shown in Fig. 7, the plaiting bar |43 is entered slightly into the mouth .of said passage. As the shaft 5| turns through 90, in the counter-clockwise direction, the plaiting frame is moved up- .wardly and .to the right from the position shown in Fig. 7. During the next 90 of movement of shaft 5|, the plaiting frame continues its movement downwardly andto the right to a position in which the plaiting bar |44 isentered slightly into the next 90 of movement of said shaft, the :v

frame continues its movement to the left and downwardly to the position shown in Fig. '7 in which the plaiting bar |43 has, again, entered slightly into the mouth of vthe passage formed by the plates |45 and |46. inafter more fully, the plaiting bars |43 and |44 take separator strips from strip-transfer devices, one at each side, and deposit said strips, one by one, in the mouth of the passage formed by the plates |45 and |46, and, at the same time, plait the warp A about the strip last deposited in the mouth of said passage. To impart `to the plaiting frame the motion necessary to cause the plaiting bars to travel in the semi-elliptical paths heretofore described, each side member |5| of said frame has, at each end, a semi-circular recess |52, and a cap member |53 bolted thereto provided with a similar recess, which recesses receive eccentrics |54 fast to the transverse shafts |55. mounted in the ends of journal bars |55, one of which is provided at each side of the machine.

Said journal vbars are slidably mounted and connections are provided whereby they are reciprocated by the cam race |2 of the double box cam |63 fast on cam shaft 5|. Pinions |61 are secured on each end of each ofthe transverse shafts and mesh with rack portions |68 on slides |69. Each of said slides |69, adjacent its mid point, carriers a connecting pin |10, journaled in one end of a connecting rod VH, the other end of which is enlarged and formed to embrace an eccentric '|72 fast on cam shaft 5|.

Referring to Fig. l, it will be seen that, as cam shaft 5| turns through 90 in the direction of the arrow from the position shown in Fig. 1, the rack slides |59 will be moved to the left, whereas the journal bars |56, carrying shafts |55, will be .moved somewhat to the right. These combined movements result in a 90 clockwise rotation of As will be-described here- The transverse shafts |55 are rotatablyf each shaft |55 on whichL the eccentrics |54 are mounted, as well as in a horizontal translation of said shafts, thereby causingthe plaiting frame |5| to move upwardly y'and to the right from the position shown in Fig. l. During the next 90 rotation of shaft 5|, the rack slides |69 are moved still further to the left, 'whereasthe journal vbars |5|:` are moved still further to the right, the combined movements resulting in another 90 clock- Wise rotation of each of the eccentric shafts |55 and in further translation of said shafts to the right, so that the plaiting frame is moved downwardly and to the right until plaiting bar |44 is entered slightly into the mouth of the confining passage. During the next 180 of rotation of cam shaft 5 the rack slides Mill are moved to the right, whereas journal bars |56 are moved to the left, thus imparting a, counter-clockwise rotation of 180 to shafts |55, exactly reversing the movement of the plaiting frame just described, and returning the parts to the positions shownin Fig. Ti.

A. reed or yarn guide |14 is detachably mounted vbetween the plaiting bars 43 and |44, and includes a series of transverse partitions |75,

`extending from one side `wall to the other of the yarn guide and forming a reed through which the yarns of. the warp A pass, and by means of which. they are kept properly spaced with respect to each other. Flanges |76 extend toward each other from the lower edge of each side wall of the yarn guide and the adjacent edges of these fianges are curled at |17 to form smooth surfaces against which the yarns bear as they pass through the yarn guide.

The plaiting bars |43 and |44 not only serve in their movement `to plait the warp A about severable separator strips deposited in the mouth of the confining passage formed by the plates |45 and |45, but each of the plaiting bars, *when it is away from. the mouth of the passage, picks up one of the severable separatorstrips and transfers it to the mouth of the passage, where it is deposited and released by the plaiting bars.

My present invention relates Yto the mechanism for feeding strips to this plaiting mechanism which will now be described. There are two 'magazines for holding supplies of severable separator strips, one at each side of' the .ma-chine, each serving one of the plaiting bars, as shown in Figs. 3 and '7.v Cross-members |79 are connected to, and extend between, the side members 3l', 3B, of the frame, and these cross-members are l0- cated on opposite sides of the central portion of the machine. To each of them there is secured a bed plate |85 yon which a supply of severable separator strips B is stacked on edge. This bed plate |80 has side flanges |8| to which a tcp plate H22 is bolted. Strips |83,secured to the top plate |82, extend laterally therefrom above the upper edges of the supply of strips. A follower |84, located on each of 'the channel-shaped bed plates |80, is provided with notches |93 through which the strips |83 extend as guides. A tail member |85 is fastened to the follower |84 and extends laterally therefrom. A lug i8?, fastened to this tail member, extends downwardly through a slot |86 in the bed plate |80, and the endof a cable |88 is fastened lto the lug,r IS?. The cable passes yover a pulley |39 journaled in a bracket |90 secured to the cross-member |75)y and a weight |92 is connected to the Ylower end of the cable 88 by means of a spring |9. It will be seen that the spring and the weight tend to move the follower 84 toward the center of the machinathus pressing the supply of severable separator strips B to- "ward the feeding ipoint.- The follower-|84 and .the separator strips B moven the channel defined by the bed plate' |80, top plate |82 and the guide strips|83.

` There are two strip-feeding` devices, one for each of the two magazines. Each comprises a transverse shaft |94 journaled in brackets |93 formed in the ends of top plate |82. Cap screws `|95 secure a front plate |99 to the front faces of .top plate |82 and bed plate |80, the front plate being so formed as to leave a passageway of about the thickness of one of the separator strips between itself and the top and bed plates for the passage of a -blade '|91, which reciprocates in the channel thus formed. When the blade |91 is in its upper position, as shown at the left of Fig. '1, the supply of separator strips is forced by weight |92 against the corresponding front plate |96, so that the foremost separator strip B is beneath the lower edge of blade |91. When this feeding blade moves downwardly from the position shown at the left of Fig. '7, to the position shown at the right of that View, the foremost separator strip B is pushed down through the Channel into the jaw of the strip-transferring device, which is at that time in position to receive said strip. The upper portions of blade |91 are clamped between transverse 'bars |98 and |98', the former of which have, at each end thereof, vertical bores |99 (Fig. 8), in which the vertical posts 200 are received. Thus, the bars |98, |98 and blade |91 are guided in their vertical reciprocations. The lower ends of posts 200 are secured within bosses 20| formed at the ends of end plate |96.

Horizontal pins 202, extending from the ends of bars |98, are journaled in the upper ends of links 203. The lower end of one of these links is pivotally connected to arm 2104 of a bell-crank lever secured to shaft |94 (Fig. 14), while the lower end of the opposite link 203 is pivotally connected to the end of an arm 204' (Fig. 3), also secured to shaft |94. The other arm 205 of said bell-crank lever is connected, in the case .of the feeding device at the right (Fig. 1), to

one end of a link V209, the opposite end of which is connected to the lower end of a lever y201 journaled on a shaft 208 carried by a bracket 2l! (Fig. 1), secured to the frame member 43. Lever 201 carries a roller 209, engaging the edge of cam 2 |0 fast on cam shaft 5|. A spring 2 5, connected at one end to lever 201 and at the other to a spring support 2|5 (Fig. 3), draws lever 201 to the right, Fig. 14, holding roller 209 in engagement with the edge of cam 2I0 and tending to move blade |91 to its lowermost position. Bell-

crank

204, 205, is on the front end of the right-hand shaft |94, and a similar bell-crank is provided on the rear end of the left-hand shaft |94. Similar connections are provided for actuating blade |91 at the left of Fig. '1, and comprise lever 2|2 pivoted on shaft 2|1 carried by bracket 2| which lever carries a roller 2|4 engaging the edge of a corresponding cam 2|0 fast on cam shaft 5|. The lower end of lever 2|2 is connected to one end of a link 2|3, the opposite end of which is connected to the bellcrank arm 205 corresponding to that shown in Fig. 14, -but at the rear, and secured to shaft |94 to actuate blade |91, shown at the left of Figs. 1 and 7. A spring 2|6 tends to draw the lower end of lever 2|2 toward the left, so as to hold its roller 2|4 in engagement with the edge of cam 2|0, and tends to lower blade |91 connected thereto. It will be seen that, as cam shaft 5| Irevolves, the blades |.91`will belreciprocated al- ,ternately so as to feed alternately'a strip from one or the other of the two magazines, each holding a supply of separator strips.

. Extending inwardly toward the center of the machine (Figs. '1 to 13) from the innermost leg 2|8 of each of the cross members |19, are lugs 2|9. To eachof the lugs 2|9 there is bolted a bracket 220 having a boss 22|. In the bosses 22| .of the alined brackets 220, there are journaled S224, are integral s1eeves'1225 which embrace shaft 222 and are secured thereto. Diametrically in alinement with the shaft 222, member 223 has a at bearing surface 226, in which there is formed a depressed seat 221, which is the width of one of the severable separator strips, and is adapted to receive said strip from the strip-feeding device.

`Extending at right angles to this seat through the portion 226, there is a pair of parallel guideways 228, and in the extended portions 229 of the member thereare similar guideways 230, Which are in line with guideways 228. Slots 23| are formed in the portion 226 and in the extended portions 229, as shown in Fig. 12.l The other member of the device consists of a secondary jaw member 232, the main portion of which is slidable upon, and in engagement with, the portion 226 of member 223. The member 232 is provided with extended portions 233, which are arched so as to pass around the shaft 222, and which terminate in seats 234 adapted to engage the flat extended portions 229 of the main member. Feathers 235 are formed on the slidable member 232, which fit in the

guideways

228 and 230 of the main member. Threaded studs 236, carried by the secondary jaw member, extend through the slots 23| of the main jaw member, and have thereon springs 231 compressed between the back of the main jaw member and nuts 238 threaded on the studs, so that the springs yieldingly hold the slidable secondary jaw member in engagement with the main jaw member.

4Rollers 240 are journaled on pins extending from each end of the secondary jaw member 232, and work in cam slots 242 formed in plates 24| bolted to the brackets 220. 'Ihe cam slots are of such shape that, as cam 222 is rocked to carry the strip-transferring device from the vertical position, as shown at the right of Fig. '7, to a horizon- 4tal position, as shown at the left of Fig. 7, the secondary jaw member will be caused to retract, that is, move towards shaft 222, so as to occupy the position with respect to the main jaw member indicated at the left of Fig. '7. Thus, the slidable secondary jaw member is in its extended position when the device occupies a vertical position, so that a separator strip forced downward by the blade |91 will enter the seat 221 between the xed and slidable jaws. Then, as the shaft 222 is rocked through so as to present the seat 221 and the strip thereon in a horizontal position, the cam slots 242 will force the secondary Jaw member to slide upon the main jaw member and uncover the strip in seat 221, so that said strip may be engaged by the corresponding plaitingwbar, which` is to removethe strip from the strip-transferring device and carry it over and Referring to Fig. 1, the right-hand strip-transferring device has an arm 243 fast on the front end of shaft 222, which arm is connected to one end of a link 244. The other end of link 244 carries a housing 244EL in which are lodged two springs 244b engaging on opposite sides of pin 245 on the lower end of a lever 246 pivoted on the shaft 268. Lever 246 carries a roller 241 engaging in the cam race 248 of the double box cam |63 fast onshaft 5|. The left-hand strip-transferring device has an arm 249 iixed to the rear end of shaft 222, which arm is connected at its lower end to one end of a link 256, the other end of which link is resiliently and pivotally connected at 25| to the lower end of a lever 252, vpivoted on the shaft 2|1, and carrying a roller 253, which engages in the race 254 of the double box cam |63 (shown at the right in Fig. 3) fast on shaft 5|.. Link 256 is connected to lever 252 through springs 256i engaging pin 25|, as shown in Fig. l5. These resilient connectionsv between

links

2,35, 256 and

levers

246, 252, result inthe striptransferring devices being moved yieldingly to their limiting positions. This enables me to secure precise registry between the strip-transferring device in vertical position and the blade; of the strip feeder and, also, permits of a yielding of the strip-transferring device, when in horizontal position, under pressure exerted by the plaiting bar when it engages a strip on the striptransferring device. The latter action facilitates the transfer of separator strips to the plaiting bar.

A flange 255, depending from each bottom plate |89, carries a pair of threaded, adjustable, stop screws 256, which are engaged by the back of the secondary jaw member 232 of the strip-transferring device, when it is moved to vertical position, sothat seat 221 will be in accurate alineinent with the vcorresponding blade |91, and so that that blade may force a severable separator strip B into said seat.

In order that each severable separator strip shall be retained upon the plaiting bar |43 or |44, while it is being carried by the plaiting bar from the corresponding strip-transferring device to, and is being deposited in, the mouth of the confining passage in which the plaited structure is formed, I have provided suction connections for each of these plaiting bars. In each plaiting bar there is a longitudinally-extending passage 251 (Fig. '7) closed at one end. Lateral passages 256 lead from the central passage to cup-shaped recesses 259 in the lower face of the plaiting bar. A iiexible tube 26| (Fig. 2) is connected to the open end of the central passage 251 of plaiting bar |43, and a similar flexible tube 26|! vis connected to the similar passage 251 in the plaiting bar |44. Thus, when the tubes 26|) and 26| are connected with a source of reduced pressure, suction is applied at the cup-shaped. recesses 259, thus holding a separator strip against the lower face of the plaiting bar. vWhen the tube 266, or 26|, is disconnected from the source of suction and connected with atmosphere, the suction will be broken and the strip released from the plaiting bar.

It is also necessary to provide means for reing position. Accordingly, I have providedY suction connections for each ofthe strip-transferring devices for accomplishing this purpose. The longitudinal passage 262 (Fig. 11), closed at one end, is formed in the shaft 222. A block 263 having a lateral passage 264 therein is secured to the back of the 'semi-cylindrical portion 224 of the main jaw member by a cap-screw 265 screwed through said block, through said semi-cylindrical portion and into the shaft 222. The cap-screw 265 has an angular passage 266 communicating with the central passage 262 in the shaft 222, and registering with the lateral passage 2Minthe block 263.V Passage 264 is connected by tubing 261 to the horizontal portion 268 of a T-shaped passage formed in a block 269, which is secured to the back of the semi-cylindrical portion 224 i the main jaw .memben The vertical portion 216 of the T-shaped passage in said block is connected by a short tube 21| (Fig. 8) to an angular passage 212 (Fig. 10) in another block 213,*which is secured to the back of the portion 226 of the main jaw member. The angular passage 212 communicates with a short passage 214 in the upper portion .of the main jaw member, which passage leads to a cup-shaped recess -215 formed. in the seat 221 of said member. The passage 268v in block 269 is also connected by tubing 216 with an angular passage 211 formedl in an-other block 218 secured' to the back of the semicylindrical portiony 224 ofthe main jaw member. This passage 211 is connected by tube 219 with a passagev 299 in a block 28| fixed to the main jaw member, which passa-ge communicates with a cup-shaped recess 282 formed in the seat'221 of saidvmember. Thus, it will be seen that, -by the tubing and passages described, the cupshaped recesses 215 andj282 in the seat 221, on which the separator strip rests while it is being transferred, may be connected with a source of suction through a flexible tube 283, which is connected to the open end ofthe passage262. The strip-transferring device at theother side of the machine is provided with similar passagesleading to cup-shaped.' recesses in theseat i221 Aof the main jaw member, andmthese'gpassages are connected to ailexible tube 284.

vAn angle bracket 285 (Figs, V2l and .4), attached to the side frame member38, supports a. valve b-ody 286 in which is formedl a longitudinal passage -281, closed at one end, and communicating at the open end with a tube 288 connected to a suitable source of reduced pressure. In the valve body 28S there are formed` four valvecylinders 289,' 296, 29| and 292, connected with the longitudinal passage 281 by

lateral passages

293, 294, 295 and296, respectively. Apiston valve is slidable in each of the

cylinders

269, 298, 29| and 292, and each such valve comprises a valve stem 291 carrying at one end a piston 298, and, intermedi-ate of its length,` a'piston 366. The outer end 'of the piston 298 is providedwith a cup-shaped recess 299, which housesthe upper end of, a spring 366, the lower end of which engages a plug 36|, which is screwedl into the lower -end yof the valve cylinder, and which is provided. with an air vent passage 362'. Nipples 363 are screwed vinto the front of the valvebody and connect with vpassages 364, leading to the

valve cylinders

289, 296, 29| and 292, respectively. The tubes 266, 26|, 263 and 284- are` connected to the nipples 363. Ventsl 365 are formed inthe valve bodi7 286, near the upper end thereof, and also communicate with the valve cylinders. 299,. 2.96, 29|

and 292said vents being 'located adjacent the pistons 306, so that they may be opened and closed thereby as the valve stems 291 reciprocate.

A block 306 is also secured to the bracket member 285, and is provided with guide-ways 301 'of rectangular cross-section, and in line with

valve cylinders

289, 290, 291 and 292 in the valve body 286. A plate 308, secured to the front of the block 306', closes the open sides of said guideways, and these ways serve to guide the slides 309. Above the block 306' the slides 309 are Ibifurcated and carry rollers 310, which, under the pressure of springs 300, engage the edges of the corresponding

cams

311, 312, 313 and 314, which cams are fast to a shaft 318 journaled in bearings 319 on said bracket. Also secured to the shaft is a sprocket 315, connected by chain 316 to a sprocket 311 fast on cam shaft 51.

It will be observed that

sprockets

311 and 315 are of the same size, so that shaft 318 willbe driven at the same rate as cam shaft 51.

Pistons

298 and 306 are so4 spaced with reference to the ports 295 and the vents 305 that, when the valve stem `291 is depressed against the pressure of spring 300, piston 30'6 closes air vent 305, and piston 298 uncovers the port 295 connecting the valve cylinder with the longitudinal passage 281, so that nipple 303 and the tube connected thereto are cut off from the atmosphere and `connected with the source of suction, as shown in Fig. 5. On the other hand, when valve Vstem 291 is permitted by the cam to rise under the pressure of spring 300, the piston 298 covers the

port

293, 294, 295 or 296, connecting the suction passage 281 with the corresponding valve cylinder, and piston 306 uncovers the air vent 305, so that the nipple 303 is connected with atmosphere through said air vent.

' Cams 311,312, 313 and 314 are of such contour and so located around shaft 318 that the

tubes

260, 261, 283 and `284 are connected with suction during the proper periods of the cycle, and are connected with atmosphere during the remaining portions of said cycle. For instance, each of the

tubes

260 and 261, which are connected to the plaiting bars |43 and 144, is to be connected to the source of suction while the plaiting bar is traveling from its position adiacent the strip-transferring device to its position in the mouth of the confining passage formed by the plates 145 and |46, and is to be disconnected from suction and connected to atmosphere during its return motion. Likewise, the

tubes

283 and 284 connected with the strip-transferring de vices are to be connected with suction so that it is applied at the cup-shaped

recesses

215 and 282 in the seats 221 ,while the corresponding striptransferring device rotates from its vertical to its horizontal position, and the suction is then to |be broken, so that a plaitin-g bar making contact with a strip on the main jaw member of the strip-transferring device, as shown at the lefthand portion of Fig. '1, may remove the strip from said jaw member and carry it over to its position in the mouth of the confining passage. Accordingly, the valve-actuating cams are so formed and located on the shaft which carries them that the

tubes

283 and 284 will be connected with a source of suction during that part of the cycle in which the corresponding strip-transferring device is rotating from the vertical to the horizond rtal position, and will be released from suction an connected to atmosphere during the remaining rt of the cycle. paPlates 145 and |46, which form the upper portion of the confining passage, are carried by a pair of parallel plates 325,326, which. form an extension of the confining passage for the plaited structure and extend vertically. The lower ends of plates 325 and 326.are.cut away'at 334v so as to approach more closely to the peripheries of rollers 335 to be mentionedhereinafter.

At the lower end of the confining passage formed by

plates

325 and 326 there is located the mechanism (Fig. 1) for rubberizing the opposite faces of the plaited structure as it emerges from this confining passage. This'comprises rolls 335 for applying a rubberizing compound, such as rubber latex, or a compound thereof, or other cementing material, to said opposite faces of the plaited structure, and other rollers which friction the cementing compound into the opposed surfaces of the plaited structure. These rolls 335 are mountedin frames one at each side of the machine, and each frame supports a pan 361 containing the cementing compound, such as rubber latex, or a compound thereof. Each frame also supports a roller 315 dipping in the cementing compound in the corresponding pan 361. Roller 315, which dips in the rubberizing compoundl in pan 361, makes approximate contact with the roller 335, soas to transfer said compound thereto, and the latter appliesit to the surface of the plaited structure. There are also provided rollers 385 engaging the rubberized surfaces of the plaited structure, and the gearing driving said rollers is such that each of them runs at a materially higher speed than that of the corresponding applying rollers 335, thus serving to friction the applied cement into the bights of the yarn loops. The applying roller 335 rotates in such a direction that, where it makes contact with the` plaited structure, its periphery is moving in the saine direction with it. Its peripheral speed also substantially exceeds the rate of movement of the plaited structure, so that it has a wiping action upon the latter. .The direction of rotation ofthe vsupply roller 315 is opposite to that of the applying roller 335 with which it is associated, and the gearing connecting these rollers is such that the supply roller 315 rotates at a substantially higher speed than does the applying roller 335, the result vbeing that an excess of cement is carried upward from the trough 361. on the surface of the roller 315 into the nip between the latter and the roller 335, Whose surface as it leaves the nip thusbecomes coated uniformly with a lm of cement which it car.- ries to the point of application to the plaited structure.

There is one of these cement-applying units on either side of the plaited structure, so that there is a pair of cement-applying rollers 335 engaging opposite faces of the plaited Y structure as it emerges from the confining passage, and turning in opposite directions so that their peripheral portions in contact with the plaited structure move in the direction of feed of such structure. There is also a pair of friction rollers 385 engaging opposite faces of the plaited structure below the cement-applying rollers and turning so that their peripheral portions in contact with the plaited structure move in a direction opposed to the feed of said structure. Y

Below the cement-applying mechanism, I have provided a pair of spaced parallel plates 391, 392 (Fig. 1A), forming another confining passage in which the plaited structure, opposite faces of which have now been rubberized, is confined while the cementing compound is being dried thereon. Associated with the

plates

391, 392, is

a drier 393', by meansof which-warm air may be; applied to the rubberizedsurfaces of the plaited. structure todry them.` This drier is. not de-v scribed or illustrated in detail, since it maybe substantially the same as that illustrated in Figs. l2 and. 13 of my Patent No. 2,050,740, issued: August 11, 1936,.to which reference is herebyA made.

At thelower ends of'plates 39|., 392, websof cemented base fabricr C are: applied to the oppo-v site faces' of the plated structure. Rollers 391 guide the coated surfaces ,of the` webs C of cemented base fabric into pressure contact with the opposite coated faces of the plaited structure asit. emerges from the lower end of the passage formed by the plates 39|, 392. The webs come from suitable sources of supply (not-shown) and pass over let-off rolls 399, which are covered with card clothing of such a nature and so applied. as to prevent thewebs of base fabric in contact with it from slipping circumferentially `in the. direction of rotation ofthe rolls. v

. VAfter the application to the plaited structure of t-he;webs C of cemented basev fabric, it passes throughthe opening 3S in thebase plate 3d` ofthe machine, and thence to avvulcanizing apparatus, which is substantially `the same as that covered by my Patent No. 2,051,011, issued August 11, 1936, to which reference is hereby made yfor details of construction of the vulcanizing apparatus. vAfter leaving the'vulcanizer, the plaited structure is split in two by a splitting knife," as indicated diagrammatical-lyin my Patent -l\1o. 2,050,740, and the separate webs so formed, after removal -of the severed separator strips, are subjected to the usual beating, tige-ring and shearing operations,

`The Loperation of my improved apparatus should be apparent fromthe foregoing description but will be summarized briefly. The yarnsupplying mechanism operates to create and maintain a slack supply of yarn or warp A from which the plaiting mechanism draws as needed. The severableseparator strips -B are stacked on edge in the two magazines, one at each side of the machine, on the base plates |89.` The warp A passes downward throughL the yarn guide |14 of the plaiting frame, the individual yarns of the warp being separated by partitionsI |15, and between the beaded edges 11 of flanges |15 to the mouth .ofthe confining passage formed by plates |45, |46. Strips B are fed, one by one, from the magazine by reciprocating blades |91, which are so timed that, when the blade de.- scends to feed a strip from the magazine, the corresponding strip-transferring device is in vertical position beneath, the blade, so that the Strip is Ainsertedinto the seat 221 between the main jaw member 223 and the' secondary jaw member 232. As soon asthe strip is delivered vto the strip-transferring device, the cam-actuated valve mechanism is effective to apply suction at the cup-shaped ,recesses 21,5' and 282 .to hold the stripin the seat'221 while transfer takes place. The blade |91 now moves upwardly to its upper position preparatory to feeding another strip from the magazine, whereupon the strip-transferring device rocks from 'its vertical to its horizontal position, the secondary jaw'member sliding on the main jaw member to uncover the strip held on seat 221. When the strip-transferring deviceis in its horizontal orstrip-delivering position, one-of the plaiting bars, |43 or |44, at the end of its semi-elliptical path, descends -on Vthe strip B, now'lpresented .horizontally in seat 221, and engages Athe same.. At this instant, the cam'- tion at

recesses

215 and 282, and to apply it at recesses 259 of the plaiting bar. Thus, the strip is released by the strip-transferring device and adheres by suction to the plaiting barwhich is to carry it Ato the mouth of the confining pas sage. The strip-transferring device now returns to itsI vertical position preparatory to receiving another separator strip from the strip-feeding ing it over the strip B last `depositedin themouth of the confining-passage.l As the stripron` the plaiting bar enters .the' mouth of the passage,` cams act to withdraw retaining" fingers's'o that strip B may enter the conning passage. At this instant, the cam-actuated valve mechanism breaks the suction of recesses 259,-so that the strip is released from the plaiting bar,l,which leaves the mouth ofthe passage on its return' movement. l .1

The plaiting frame comprises a pairr ofplait-` ing bars and there is a strip magazina-stripfeeder and strip-transferring device on each side of the machine, serving one of the plaiting bars. These devices are timed so as to work alternately and, consequently, first one and then the other of the plaiting bars receives a separator strip from its strip-transferring device'and carries it to, and deposits it in, the mouth lof the confining passage, at the same time plaiting warpzA over the strip Blast previously deposited.

The action of the plaiting mechanism. results in the formation of the` plaited structure in the confining passage and the feeding ofv it downwardly therein. As the plaited structure Vemerges from the lower end of thev confining passage,`

the cement-applying rollers ii-Sliapplyi the cementing compound to opposite faces of the pla-ited structure,--which compoundis frictionedwin by rollers385.` The cement is then dried'and webs of `base fabric applied, as already described.

In Fig. 16, I have shown a modified form` of plaiting` and strip-transferring mechanism, which is particularly adapted tohigh speed op= eration because the weight ofl moving parts has been greatly reduced.A In this modified form of myinvention, the plaitingbarshave been eliminated and the-strip-transferring devicestrans-` fer the strips fromithe strip-feeders and themselves -depositthem none by one, in the mouth of the confining passage, while a -yarn guide, through which the warp A of yarn passes, movesback and forth overthemouth of the passage, plaiting the warpfaboutthe severable separatorv strips as they are deposited. The strip-transferring devices, one of which isarrangedfat'each sidey of the mouth of saidpassage,work alternately, rst one and then theother depositing. aseparator strip on top of the warp which the yarn guide has plaited over the separator strip last previously deposited vin the mouth of the. confining passage.

The Vyarn-.guide has bearing members @o9 at each end thereof, which are slidablymounted-on suitably Asupported rodsll.l Thek yarn guide comprises -four tubes or `rods 4H), extendingbetween and 1 carried .by the bearing members M9 said rods being .arranged at the four corners of actuated Valve mechanism acts to break the" suc` a rectangle, as shown in Fig. 16.. Partition plates 4|| are supported by and Vextend between rods 4|0 forming a reed through whichthe 'yarns cf warp A pass. These partitions serve to preventv lateral 'displacement of the yarns and keep them spaced properly relative to each other. Links 4|3, one at each sideofthe machine, are pivotally connected at 4|2 to the bearing members 409, and the other ends of said links are pivotally. connected to arms 4 4 of bell-crank levers pivoted at 4|5, the other arms, 4|6, of which are pivotally connected to the lower ends of pitmans 4|1. The upper ends of said'pitmans, together withV the cap pieces 4|9 secured thereto, embrace eccenH trics 4|8 fast on shaft 5|, so that, as said shaft revolves, the bell-cranks 4|4, 4|6, are rocked, and the links 4|3' reciprocated, thus carrying the yarn' guide back and forth over the mouth ofthe confining passage, formed by plates |45' and |46, in which the plaited structure is formed.

One extreme position of the yarn guide is shown in full lines in Fig. 16, and the position which it occupies at the other extreme of its movement is shown in dotted lines in said figure. It will be noted that one vor the other of the Vertical pairs of tubes or rods 4|0 bears on the yarns of `the warp as the yarn guide moves across the mouth of the confining passage, depending upon the direction of movement, and thus the warp of yarns is laid across the severable separator strip B last deposited in the mouth of the passage. Another separator strip B is then deposited in the mouth of the passage on the warp so laid over the preceding strip, and, as the yarn guide moves back, the warp A is `bent around one edge of, and laid across the'upper face of, the separator strip so deposited.

ExtendingA across the machine, 'and located one at each side of the mouth of the passage formed by plates |45 and |46, there are journaled two hollow shafts 420, on each of which is fast a cylindrical sleeve 460 provided with a plurality of integral, equally-spaced arms 42|. The arms on the one sleeve are formed reversely to those on the other, as shown in Fig. 16, and their outer ends terminate in, and are connected by, continuous integrally-formed bars 46|, as shown in Fig. 17, adapted to receive a severable separator strip Band to transfer it to the vmouth of the confining passage. Gears 422 are secured to shafts 420, one such gear being secured'to the rear end of the shaft shown at the left in Fig. 16, and a corresponding gear being secured to the front end of the right-hand shaft. 'I'he gear 422 on the right-hand shaft meshes with a slidably supported rack 423, which isconnected by link 424 and pin 425 to the lower end of a lever 426, pivoted at 208. Lever 426 carries a roller 421, which works in the race 428 of a cam fast on shaft 5|. Gear 422 on the left-hand shaft 420 meshes with a slidably supported rackV 429 connected by link 430 and pin 43| to the lower end of lever 432, pivoted at 2|1. Lever 432 carries a roller 433 engaging in the race 434 of a cam fast on shaft 5|. Thus, as shaft 5| revolves, the shafts 420 will be loscillated in proper timing, so that first one and then theV other of the bars 46| will movefrom the stripreceiving position, shown at the right in Fig. 16, to the strip-depositing position, shown at the left, and back.

Each of the two strip magazines is substantially the same as shown in the preferred embodiment of my invention, comprising a bottom plate |00 and a top plate |22. The bottom plate has a depending flange 255, carrying adjusting screws 256 for so limiting the bars 46| at one extremity of their movement, as to bring them to rest accurately in strip-receiving position. The separator strips B in said magazine are fed forward under the pressure exerted on them vby the weight |92 (Fig. 7). Instead of the blade |91 and associated parts of the stripdelivering mechanism of the'flrst described embodiment of my invention, a slide 431 is provided, whose end portions are adapted to slide in grooves 436 in guides 435 attached to the top plate |82 of the magazine. At its lower edge the slide 431 is provided with a recess or seat 439, adapted to receive a separator strip B from the supply in the magazine and present it to the bar 46|.

The slides 431 are reciprocated, in proper timing, by mechanism such as that shown in Fig. 1 for reciprocating blades |91. Thus, each slide 431 carries pins 202 connected by links 203 to arms 204 of bell-cranks pivoted at |94, the other arms 205 of which are connected, in the case of the right-hand strip-feeder, by link 206 to the lower end of lever 201 pivoted on the frame at 208. Lever 201 carries a roller 209 engaging a cam 2|0 fast on shaft 5|. In the case of the left-hand strip-feeder, bell-crank arm 205 is connected by link 2|3 to the lower end of lever 2|2 pivoted at 2|1 and carrying a roller 2|4 engaging cam 2|5 fast on shaft 5|.

The separator strips B are held against the seats 439, or the faces of the bars 46|, and released therefrom at the proper stages of the cycle, by the controlled application of suction. To that end, cavities 440 are formed in the heads 438 which are closed by plates 44| secured to the heads. Inlets 442 communicate with one end of each of the cavities 440, said inlets being connected by flexible tubes, such as 260, 26| (Fig. 2), with cam-actuated controlvalves such as are shown in Figs. 4 to 6, whereby the cavities 440 are subjected to suction and atmospheric pressure at the proper stages in the cycle. Cavities 440 are connected by passages 443 to cup-shaped recesses 444 in seats 439, whereby suction may be applied at said seat to hold a separator strip B therein, the strip being released when the suction is broken andthe corresponding cavities 440 are connected to atmosphere.

The bore of each shaft 420 has an inlet 445 at one end connected by a flexible tube, such as tubes 283, 284 (Fig. 2), to the cam-actuated valve mechanism shown in Figs. 1 to 6, so that the bores of shafts 420 may be connected to suction and atmosphere atv the proper stages in the cycle. Passages 446 connect the bore of each shaft 420 with a recess A450 formed in a boss 462, integral with the sleeve 460, Yand closed by a plate 441. The recess 450 is connected by passages 448 in arms 42| withcup-shaped recesses 449 formed in the surface of the bar 46| which engages the separator strip B. VlThus, suction may be applied at said surface to hold the strip thereto as it is being transferred from the strip-feeder to the mouth of the confining passage, said suction being released when the strip is to be deposited in said passage.

The operation of the plaiting mechanism above described isv as follows: The warp A passes through the warp guide to the mouth of the confining passage betweenthe opposite pairs of rods 4|0. In the use of a warp of yarns, the

individual yarns are separated and held from lateral displacement by the partitions 4| I. Each magazine contains a supply of severable separator strips B, resting on edge on the bottom plate |80, and fed toward head 438 by the pressure exerted by weight |92. Tracing the movement of the parts from the positions shown in Fig. 16 through a complete revolution of shaft 5I, during the rst half of the revolution the warp guide moves across the mouth of the conning passage formed by plates |45 and |46 to the dotted line position. At the same time, the left-hand shaft 420 is rotated so that bar 46| moves upwardly into engagement with stop pins 256. At the beginning of the cycle, the left-hand slide 431 is at the top of its stroke, and the feeding pressure on the supply of strips B has lodged the foremost strip in seat 439,

while suction is applied at the cup-shaped recess 444 to hold the strip in said seat. After the left-hand transfer arms have risen to their vertical position, the left-hand slide 431 moves down carrying with it strip B in seat 439 until, at the bottom of the stroke, strip B is positioned between seat 439 and the strip-engaging surface of the adjacent bar 46|. At about this point in the cycle, suction will be released from recesses 444, and applied to recesses 449 in the face of bar 46|, so that the strip is released from head 438 and held to the bar. At this time, the parts at the left of Fig. 16 would occupy positions corresponding to the illustrated positions of the right-hand strip-feeding and strip-transferring devices.

At the beginning of the cycle, the right-hand slide 438 moves up, the suction having been broken at recesses 444 and applied to recesses 449, so that strip B is released from seat 439 and retained by the bar 46|. After head 438 has moved above the bar 46|, the right-hand shaft 429, together with the sleeve 469, is rotated so as to move the arms 42| from the vertical to the horizontal, the bar 46| thus transferring strip B from the strip-feeder to the mouth of the conning passage formed by plates |45 and |46, and depositing it therein. Suction is cut oiT from recesses 449 at the instant the strip enters the mouth of the conning passage.

During the last half of the cycle, the warp guide moves from the dotted line to the full line position of Fig. 16, and the other parts return to the positions there shown in accordance with the description previously given. Thus it appears that, during the rst half-cycle, the Warp is laid from right to left over the upper face of the strip last deposited, and a severable separator strip B from the right-hand magazine is deposited in the mouth of the passage on the Warp so laid. During the last half-cycle, the Warp is laid from left to right over the upper face of the strip deposited during the iirst half-cycle, and a strip B from the left-hand magazine'is deposited in the mouth ofthe passage on the Warp so laid. Thus, the warp is plaited about the severable separator strips as they are deposited one by one in the coniining passage.

in the specification, and the appended claims, the term "warp is used as meaning either a warp of spun yarns or a bat of unspun fibers.

I am aware that the apparatus here shown is susceptible of considerable variation without departing from the spirit of my invention and, therefore, I claim my invention broadly as indicated by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1 In a machine for making cemented pilev fabric by plaiting. a warp about separator strips, a strip-feeding mechanism comprising the cornbination of a magazine having a strip-discharge passage, a feeding bar substantially coextensive with said separator strips and reciprocable in one end of said magazine and having a seat therein to receive the foremost strip of the supply in said magazine, means urging a supply si strips in said magazine toward said bar, and

I means for reciprocating said bar in a direction a strip in said seat for a portion of the machine cycle, means for controlling the application of suction to said passages, means urging a supply of strips in said magazine toward said bar, and means for reciprocating said bar in a direction perpendicular to its length to Vforce said foremost strip through said passage.

l PAUL S. SMITHy