US2050740A - Apparatus for the manufacture of cemented pile fabric - Google Patents

Description

Au 11, 1036. -P. SMITH 2,050,740

APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF CEMENTED FILE FABRIC Original Filed May 3, 1952 6 Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 11, 1936. P. s. SMITH 2,050,740

APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF CEMENTED PILE FABRIC Original Filed May 3, 1932 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 gwvmflov Paw Z 65222 1111 Aug. 11, 1936.

P. 5. SMITH APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF CEMENTED PILE FABRIC Original Filed May 5, 1932 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 ,QWWIE QNN Aug. 11, 1936. P. s. SMITH 2,050,740

APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF CEMENTED FILE FABRIC Original Filed May 5, 1952 e Sheets-Sheet 4 P. 5. SMITH 2,050,740

APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF CEMENTED FILE FABRIC Aug. 11, 1936.

Original Filed May I5, 1932 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Aug. 11, 19.36. P. 5. SMITH 2,050,740

APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF CEMENTED FILE FABRIC Original Filed May 3, 1952 6 Sheets-Shea? 6 BAT 02 WAR? WP-BoARJHPLALTING HcmP-nomj @ZMENTED BASE FABRIC |EEMNTED BA SE FABRIC] VULCANIZING l TI GERI NG TIGER]: N 6 Qwuantoz PM 0 5 5 SHEAR]: NG SH BAKING $145 Way) Patented Aug. 11, 1936 Ralph S. Allen,

Application May 3, 1932, Seri Renewed April 4, 1

' 23 Claims.

'- My invention relates to a new and improved apparatus for the manufacture of cemented pile fabric. That is to say, it relates to improvements in the manufacture of that type of pile fabric, in 5 which the fibers forming the pile are attached toa backing fabric by cementing material. n It has long been known that pile fabric may be manufacturedby cementing the fibers forming the pile to a backing-sheet or fabric, and the 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 fiber. The principal object of my invention is to provide an improved method for making cemented pile fabric, which can be carried out at a lower cost of manufacture than methods heretofore proposed or used.

A further object of my invention is toprovide a machine for producing cemented pile fabric automatically and continuously, which can be constructed at a much lower cost than machines for this purpose heretofore proposed or used, thus lowering the amount of capital necessarily 'investedin machines and equipment and, there-. by, reducing the cost of production.

A further object of my -invention is to provide an improved apparatus for producing a cemented pile fabric, by which the speed of production can be greatly increased over machines and methods heretofore employed. a

A further object of my invention is to provide a machine which will produce a cemented pile fabric of improved character, the surface of which will be free of any ripple effect due to the machine on which it is made, avoiding the appearance of wire-marks characteristic of certain types of cemented pile fabrics.

40 It is desirable to be able'to produce cemented pile fabrics of differing characteristics, that is to say, differing in the density of the fiber per linear unit of measurement of the fabric and it is an-important object of my invention to provide a method and machine having considerable flexibility in producing cemented pile fabric having such differing characteristics, that is to say, a method and machine which, by relatively simple and inexpensive adjustments, can be caused to produce pile fabrics of differing pile density.

The attaching of the pile to the backing sheet may involve rubberizing and vulcanizing operations and it is an object of my invention to provide an apparatus and a method such that the pressure exerted in the vulcanizing operation is APPARATUS FOR THE CEMENTED P Paul S. Smith, Cambridge,

MANUFACTURE 'OF ILE FABRIC N. Y., assignor to Detroit, Mich.

al No. 608,999 936 exerted against a yielding body of the material under treatment, as distinguished from prior machines in which the vulcanizing pressure is exerted against hard and relatively incompressible separator plates upon and about which the material is formed.

Further objects, and objects relating to details of construction and economies of manufacture, will definitely appear from the detailed description to follow. In one instance, I accomplish 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 accompanying claims. A structure constituting preferred means for carrying'out the method of my invention, and apreferred embodiment of the apparatus of my invention, is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the specification, in which:

Figures 1 and 1a, together, constitute a diagrammatic view in elevation of a machine embodying my invention, and disclose one means for carrying out my improved method.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic representation, partly in cross section, in a plane at right angles to the Weber hat of unspun fibers, of certain of the mechanism employed to plait the said web of unspun fibers about the separating strips at the' entrance end of the machine.

Fig. 3 is a similar view representing a modification of this apparatus, to be employed when a warp of spun yarns is used instead of a web or bat of unspun fibers. f Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the mechanism shown in section in Fig. 2, illustrating the mechanical elements for imparting the required motion to the plaiting mechanism.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation, partly broken away, of the mechanism shown in Fig. 4, looking from the right hand side thereof.

Fig. '6 is a top plan view, partly broken away, of the mechanism shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

Fig. 7 is a side view of one of the plaiting bars used for plaiting the fibers about the separator strips. 45

Fig. 8 is an end view of the plaiting bar shown in Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a view in side elevation of one of the two similar sets of co-operating elements for forming the separator strips and supplying them to the plaiting bars.

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic top plan view illustrating the formation of the separator strips from a web of material.

Fig. llis an enlarged view in cross section, taken 55 in a plane at right angles to that of the plaited structure, of the upper portion of the plates between which the plaited structure-is formed and confined, together with the associated elements.

Fig. 12 is an end view, partially diagrammatic of the confining plates, the drying apparatus and the mechanism for applying the coated base fabrics.

Fig. 13 is a view in side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 12 showing, additionally diagrammatically, one of two identical rubberizing mechanisms for applying rubber latex or a compound thereof to the opposite faces of the plaitedstructure while confined between the-plates.

Fig. 14 is a diagrammatic representation of the apparatus employed for splitting the semi-- finished material to form two webs of cemented pile fabric.

Fig. 15 is a diagrammatic view, analogous to that of Fig. 13, showing the means employed for temporarily supporting the plaited structure at the beginning of the plaiting operation; and

Fig. 16 is a flow sheet indicating the various consecutivesteps employed, in my method.

In the drawings, the same reference numerals indicate the same parts throughout the several views.

In general, the method of making cemented pile fabric in accordance with my invention consists in plaiting, either a warp of spun yarns, or a web or bat of unspun fibres, 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 strips. The function of these separator strips is to hold the fibers in proper relation to each other while they are cemented to a backing sheet or sheets and, in order to facilitate the removal of these separator strips at a certain stage in manufacture, I propose to form them of a material which can be severed readily. The plaited structure, comprising these separator strips and the fibers plaited about them, is confined, and, while so confined, a cementing material is applied to opposite faces thereof. This cementing material is then 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 to a beating operation for the purpose of removing any remaining separator strips, a combing or tigering operation to arrange the pile fibers in substantial parallelism, and a final shearing operation by which such fibers are cut to give a pile of the desired depth.

Broadly, the machine of my invention comprises a plaiting mechanism for plaiting a warp of spun yarns, or a web or bat of unspun fibres, about the separator strips to form a plaited structure. I propose to do this by a plaiting frame having thereon a pair of plaiting bars. Associated with this plaiting mechanism, I propose to provide means for feeding the separator strips into place and, preferably, such means is so associated with the plaiting bars that these bars, in their movement to and fro, will place the separator strips in required position. As already suggested, I propose to form the separator strips of a readily severable material, such as chip-board, and, if desired, my apparatus may ture. plates, defining a passage in which the plaited structure formed by the plaiting mechanism is confined and advanced, the machine being so arranged that, as the plaited structure is formed, it enters between these confining plates, and is held between them during a number of the succeeding operations of the machine. The machine comprises also rubberizing mechanism, by which rubber latex or a compound thereof may continuous web of the material,

be applied to opposite faces of the plaited structure, while confined between said plates, a d ying mechanism for drying this cemented material, and a mechanism by which backing sheets of cemented fabric are applied to opposite faces of the plaitedstructure. After saidcementedbacking sheets have been applied to opposite faces of the plaited structure, it leaves the machine, and passes to a vulcanizing and consolidating press, in which the fabric is submitted to pressure to consolidate and vulcanize the backing sheets thereon, said press being so organized that the press platens will travel with the fabric for a short distance, while the pressure is being applied thereto. Beyond this press, I provide a splitting mechanism by which the plaited structure is split longitudinally along a plane parallel to opposite faces of theplaited structure, to form two continuous webs of I cemented pile fabric. This splitting mechanism may well takethe form of a band-knife, and, in splitting the plaited structure, it cuts not only the fibers, but also the separator strips, which then drop out or are removed in the subsequent operations.

Referring to the apparatus illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the plaiting mechanism is shown at the upper end of Fig. 1, and also in Figs. 2 to 8, inclusive. Referring to Fig. 2, a web or bat IOI, of unspun fibers, is delivered to the mechanism from a roll I00, in which roll the web or bat is wound spirally under tension on a shell I03, in alternate layers with a wrapper I02, which may be of any suitable fabric, but is preferably of holland cloth. The roll I03 is supported by the rollers I04 and I05, which are driven in the proper direction to unwind the roll I00, and deliver the web IOI therefrom to the plaiting mechanism. The wrapper I 02 is taken off from the roller I05 to the shell I06,'upon which said wrapper is wound. As already stated, my machine is applicable also to the formation of pile fabric from fibers in the form of a warp of spun yarns, which I prefer to use, and, in that case, the mechanism shown in Fig. 3 may be employed for delivering the warp to the plaiting mechanism. As shown in Fig. 3, a

warp of yarns I01 is wound on a warp beam I00,

and led therefrom over tension bars I 09, H0,

and III, and through a spacing or separating I bar 5 on top of this guided at opposite edges in the guides H6 and.

H1. Arms I21 and I29 extend upwardly from the guides I I6 and I I1 and are mounted in the vertical guides I31, I32 and I35, I36, respectively. Arms I28 and I30 extend downwardly from the guides H6 and I I1 and are guided for vertical movement between the guide members I33, I34 and I31, I38, respectively. Pins I39 and I40, on

the lower ends of arms I28 and I30, carry the rollers MI and I42, which ride in the cams I43 and I44, respectively, said cams being fixed on the shaft I45. Accordingly the guides H6 and H1 are mounted so as to have a vertical movement, which movement is imparted thereto by cams I43 and I44, as the shaft I45 revolves. The plaiting frame H3 is mounted for horizontal movement with respect to the guides II 6 and II1, and such movement is imparted thereto by the eccentrics I24 and I25, mounted on shaft I26, and connected to said frame by the arms I22 and I23, which are connected by pins I20 and I2I in the forks H8 and H9, fastened to the plaiting frame 3, as shown in Fig. 6. Thus, as shafts I26 and I45 revolve, the plaiting frame II3 will-be subjected to a compound motion, resulting from the sliding motion of the frame H3 inthe guides H6 and H1, which are simultaneously subjected to a vertical movement, the cams being so designed and mounted that the frame II 3 will have such motion that the lower edges of the bars H4 and H5 will travel along the curved paths indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2, so that first one of the plaiting bars and then the other will be brought to, and removed from, alinement with the entrance end of the passage defined by the confining plates, within which the plaited structure is to be formed and advanced. It will be seen from Fig. 2 that the. web of unspun fibers IOI passes between the plaiting bars H4 and H5, so that the movement of said bars to and fro carries this web from one edge to the other of the entrance to the passage between the confining plates. In case this'machine is used with a warp of yarns, employing the mechanism shown in Fig. 3, the warp is likewise passed between the plaiting bars H4 and 5.

Referring to Fig. 2, the plaiting bar II4 has just moved the web IOI across the upper surface of a separator strip 99, and deposited another separator strip above said web, and the plaiting bar H5, as will be explained later, has just picked up a separator strip 99, for the purpose of carrying it into position. As the frame II3 moves to the left, Fig. 2, the plaiting bar 4 moves to the dotted line position shown, following the curved path indicated, but leaving the separator strip in position above the. web IN, and the plaiting bar II5, carrying another separator strip 99, which it haspicked up, moves to the left, as shown by dotted lines, thus folding the web IOI over the upper surface of the separator strip 99, deposited by the plaiting bar 4, and depositing the separator'strip carried by the folded portion of web I92. Thus, as the frame II3 moves to and fro, the bars I I4 and I I5 alternately deposit separator strips in position and fold the web IOI back and forth around-said separator strips, the folded relation of the web MI and the separator strips and 292, and its 3 99, being indicated on a larger scale in the up per portion of Fig. 11. k

I propose to form these separator strips from a continuous web of easily severable paper-like material, such as chip-board, and, therefore, provide the machine with a mechanism for forming these strips, which co-operates with the plaiting mechanism, so that each strip; as formed, is taken by the plaiting mechanism and positioned in the plaited structure. The strip-forming mechanism is illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10 and ,it will be understood that there wfll be two of these mechanisms provided, one at the right of the machine, as shown inv Fig. l, eo-operating with plaiting bar H5, and a similar mechanism the severance of the end portions of the sepplaiting bar II5 then picks,

arator strip. The

up the severed strip, carries it to position remaining edge and, in its return movement, in the plaited structure, the portions of the web being carried off from the strip-forming mechanism.

A clamp bar 281 is mounted between the guides 288 and 289 for vertical movement, said clamp bar being located below the web 286. A similar clamp bar 290, above the web, is guided for vertical movement between the stationary guides 29! position with reference to clamp bar 281 may be adjusted by screws 293, in a supporting bar 294, and threaded into the clamp bar 290. Spiral springs 295 surround the adjusting screws 293 and are interposed between the\stationary supporting bar 299 and the clamp bar 290. Rocker arms 296, pivoted on the shaft 291, each have one end engaging the lowersurface of the clamp bar 281, while the opposite ends of said rocker arms carry rollers bearing on cams 298, fixed on shaft 299. It will be seen that, as the cams revolve with the shaft, the rocker arms 296 will be intermittently actuated to move the clamp bar 281 upwardly thus clamping the web 286 between the bars 281 and 290, and holding it against movement for a period determined by the contour of the cams 298. A clamp bar 300, below web 286, is vertically movable between guides 302 and 303, which are integral with slides 304 which fit closely in stationary U-shaped guides 305. A clamp bar' 306, above web 286, is vertically movable between the guides 302 and 303, and may be adjusted with reference to the clamp bar 300 by screws 391, which extend through supporting bar 308 and are screwed into the bar 306. Spiral springs 309 surround the screws 301 and are interposed between the. bar 308 and the clamp bar 306. Vertical motion is intermittently imparted to the clamp bar 300 by cams 3I I mounted on the shaft 299 and engaging rollers 3I0 mounted on the lower surface of the clamp bar 300. The slides 304, which carry the clamp bars 390 and 306, are intermittently reciprocated by the rocker arms 3I2 pivotally mounted on the rocker shaft 291, in engagement with the ends of slides 304. These rocker arms 3I2 are actuated by rollers 3I3 riding on cams 3I4 mounted on the shaft 299.

at the left co-operating with and delivering strips Stationary lugs 3I5 are provided with pins 3I6 'cams 3H co-operating with the rollers-3I8, raise the clamp bar 388, so as to clamp the web 288 between the bar 388 and the upper clamp bar 388, and these cams are so designed that, while this clamping action takes place, the clamp bars 388 and 388 are moved laterally by the rocker arms 3I2, to effect a feeding motion of the web, it being 1 understood that, while this occurs, the clamp bars 281 and 298, will release the web, as shown in Fig. 9.

A bar 3I9 is mounted below the web 288, and guided forvertical movement between the guides 328 and 32I. A stationary bar 322, above the web, is provided with a steel-rule cutter or knife 323, co-operating with the bar 3l9, said cutter extending transversely of the web, but being slightly shorter than the width of the web, so as to leave margins at either edge which will not be engaged by this knife. The bar 322, which carries the knife, may be adjusted by means of screws 324 mounted in a supporting bar 325, and engaging the'upper surface of the bar 322. Vertical motion is intermittentlyimparted to the 'bar 3I9, to force the web 288 against the cutting edge of knife 323, by means of rocker arms 328, pivoted on the rocker shaftq321, and carrying rollers 328 riding on cams 329 mounted on the cam shaft 299; These cams are so designed that the bar 3I9 will be forced upwardly to slit the web during the period that the web is being held against movement'by clamping bars 281, 298, and released by the feeding bars 388 and 388.

Each of the plaiting bars H4 and I I5, as shown in Figs. '7 and 9, has transverse knives 334 and 335 fastened to opposite ends thereof. knives 334 and 335 co-operate with a cutting bar 338 below the web 288, which is adjustably positioned with respect to stationary bar 33I by ad justing screws 332 mounted, in the bar 33I and screwed into the bar 338, spiral springs 333 surrounding the screws 322being interposed between the cutting bar 338 and the stationary bar 33I to give the knives a yielding backing surface. The flanged rollers 338 and 331, mounted on shaft 338, and plain rollers 339 mounted on shaft 348, engage the edge portions of the web 288' and carry it away in the form of narrow ribbons of material, after the strips have been severed from the web by the strip-forming mechanism, and the plaiting bar.

It will be seen, therefore, 288 passes through this mechanism, the clamping bars 281 and 298 intermittently grip and release it. While such bars grip the web and hold it against movement, the clamp bars 388 and 388 release the web, and the cutting bar 3I9 is forced upwardly against the knife 323 to form a transverse slit in the web. When the cutting bar 3I9 descends, and the clamping bars 281 and- 288' release the web, it is gripped by the feed bars 388 and 388, which bars are moved to the left (Fig. 9), so as to give the web one step of forward feed equal to the width of the proposed separator strip to be formed. As the web leaves the slit- ,ting device, it will be seen to have a plurality that, as the web of transverse slits therein, spaced a distance equal.

to the width of the separator strips to be formed, and held together by the uncut margins of the web. The mechanism is so timed that, when the plaiting bar H5, for instance, descends to the positiontshown in Fig. 2, the knives 334 and 335 on opposite ends of said bar engage the web 288 at the ends of one of the slits formed by the knife 323, and cut the web, thus completing the severance of the separator strip; i

As shown in Figs. 7 and 8, both plaiting bars H4 and H5 are provided with internal passages 342, communicating with smaller suction passages 34I, which open through the lower surface of each bar. Pipes 343 and 344 communiits return to,the plaiting position. Referring further to Fig. '7, it will-be seen that the lower surface of each plaiting bar is preferably provided with pins 345, projecting slightly from said lower surface, so that the suction effect need only be sufficient to hold the strip on the face of the plaiting 'bar during the return movement, while the pins 345 perforate the strip and in-' sure against lateral displacement thereof during the plaiting operation.

Referring to Fig. 11, it willbe seen that the plaiting bar H5 is shown in plaiting position. A separator strip 98 will be seen to be still carried by the lower surface of the bar H5, and, during the movement of the bar H5 to plaiting position, the separator strip 89 has moved over the web I8I, folding it over the upper surface of the separator strip previously deposited, and moving the web to theleft, as shown in Fig. 11, so that this web extends upwardly at the left of the plaiting bar H5.

The plaited structure formed by the action of this plaiting mechanism is to be confined between the two parallel plates I48 and I41 during several of the ensuing operations upon such structure. These plates are preferably so mounted that the distance by which they are'separated may be adjusted. A series of lugs I48 and I49, carried by the plates I 48 and, I41, respectively, near the upper edges thereof, support pins I 58 and I5I by which a series of levers I52 and I53 are pivotally connected to said lugs. These levers carry a pair of jaw sections I54 and I55, which, as shown in Fig. 11, are in alinement with the upper portions of the plates I48 and I41. The levers I52 and I53 are provided with lugs I58 and I51, in which rollers I88 and I8I are journaled by pins I58 and I58. Cams I82 and I83, mounted cate, preferably through, flexible hose connecon shafts I84 and I85, engage such rollers with the result that, when the high portions of the cams bear against the rollers I88 and I 8|, the

jaw sections I54 and I55 are forced toward each I68 and I69, by I10 and "I are the mouth of the passage defined by saidjaw members. Springs I12 and I13 are provided, secured to the plates I46 and I41 by the screws I14 and I15, which springs tend to hold the fingers I10 and "I in the position shown in Fig. I I.

The plaiting bar II5 having just deposited a separator strip 99 in the passage between the jaws I54 and I55, the cams I62 and I63 will now revolve so as to force the jaw sections toward each other, to clamp the plaited structure there'- between. As the plaiting bar I the beginning of its movement to the right (Fig. 2) to pick up another separator strip, the plaited structure will be so securely gripped between the jaws I 54 and I55 that the suction between the lower surface of bar H5 and separator'strip 99 will be broken, and that separator strip will be held between the jaws I54 and I55 while the bar I I5 moves away therefrom. In the meanwhile, the left-hand plaiting bar II4 has picked up a separator strip and moves from the dotted line position shown .at the left in Fig. 2, following the. curved path there indicated, toward the plaiting position. This movement causes the lower edge of plaiting bar I I4, and of the separator strip 99 carried thereby, to engage the web IM and move it from left to right, folding it over the upper face of the separator strip deposited by the bar H5, until plaiting bar H4 is in plaiting position. The separator strip carried thereby will rest on top of the web IOI, and said web will extend upwardly to the right of the plaiting bar II4. Thus, the to and fro movement of the plaiting frame, and the bars H4 and H5 carried thereby, will pick up separator strips, deposit them one byone in position, and fold the web I M back and forth between and around the edges thereof, forming the plaited structure shown in the upper portion of Fig. 11, between the jaw sections I54 and I55. The fingers I10 and HI will be forced aside by the descending separator strip 99, but, since such strips are slightly wider than the plaiting bar, the fingers I10 and HI, together with the clamping action of the jaws I 54 and I 55, will detach the separator strip from the plaiting bar, when such bar leaves plaiting position to return for another separator strip. Thus, the plaited structure is formed and fed, step by step, into the confining passage defined by plates I46 and I41 and jaw members I 54 and I 55.

Referring to Figs. 12 and 13, it will be seen that the plates I46 and I41, between which the plaited structure is confined, are cut away to form the openings I16, I11, I18, I19 and I80, and the lower edges of the plates I46 and I41 are sloping, as shown in Fig. 13. Below the plates I46 and 141 are the parallel plates I82 and I83, defining between them a continuation of the passage-in which the plaited structure moves. The upper edges of the plates I82 and I83 are also sloping,

as shown in Fig. 13 and separated from the lower edges of plates I46 and I41 by the diagonal slots I5 now rises, at.

' pass over the guide I84 and I85. These the plaitedstructure slots expose both faces of to the action of rubberizing mechanisms, which are provided in duplicate, one

at each face of the plait reciprocate to and fro lo I84 and comprises a suitably ed structure, and which ngitudinally of the slots I85. Each rubberizing mechanism mounted friction roller I86 and spray nozzles I01 and I88, arranged 'iore and aft of the roller, and

of supply of cementin latex, or a compoundth zles spraythis cement material, such as rubber connected with a source ereof, whereby the nozon the exposed surfaces of the plaited structure,

and it is frictioned on by the movement of the roller I86 thereover.

As the now cemented plaited structure continues its passage between the plates I82 and I 83, it is dried by warm ings I90 and I! are applied air. To this end, castto the plates I82 and I83, in which castings there are cored out the supply passages I92 and I93 and the exhaust 20 passages I94 and I95; These diagonal passages register with corresponding diagonal slots in the plates I82 and I83. Supply pipes I96 and I98,

for example, communicate with opposite ends of the supply passages in the casting I90, while 25 supply pipes I91 and I99 communicate at opposite ends with the corresponding supply passages in the casting I9I, and one plate communicate sages in the other pla plied through these supply 'through the supply passages through the plaited structure the plates I82 and I83,

the exhaust passages I94 and menting material, whic the supply passages in with the exhaust paste. Warm air is suppipes and passes in the castings. confined between and passes out through I95. Thus, a cebeen applied to h has opposite faces of the plaited structure, is dried. The lower sections of plates I82 and I83 may, if

desired, be cut away to 202, 203 and 204.

form openings 200, Ml,

slightly below the drying apparatus, transverse slots 220 and 22I are formed in the plates I82 and I83, through which slots the webs 209 and 209 of cemented ba opposite facesofthe cemented base fabric is 206 and 201 and passes plaited structure.

se fabric are applied to This supplied from the rolls around the idler rollers 2! and 2H and the let-oil rollers H2 and -2I3, the latter being preferably. clothed with a friction material, such as card-clothing. From the let-oil rollers the webs of cemented base fabric and pressure rollers 2! and M9 to the faces of the plaited structure, said pressure rollers 2I8 and M9 being so mounted as to revolve in the slots 220 and HI, so as to press the cemented fabric against opposite faces of the plaited structure. fore, that, as the materi and H9, it comprises the 'cluding the separator strips, the fibrous web 00 wound back and fourth It will be seen, thereleaves the rollers 2I8 plaited structure, in-

about said strips, and

the backing sheets 208 and 209 cemented to the fibers exposed at opposite faces of said plaited structure.

The next step consists in consolidating and vul canizing the composite material so formed, and

this step is carried out in material goes from the rollers press is shown in Fig. la,

comprises a rectangular the press, to which the 2I8 and 2I9. This in side elevation. It base plate 222, having are mounted four posts,

two of which, 224 and 225, are shown in Fig. 1a. The four posts are held in parallelism by t he end casting 226 and with the platen 233.

serve as supports for the fixed frames 221 and 228, and also as guides for the movable frames 229, 238, 23l and 232. "The movable frames 229 and 238 are tied together by a platen 233 carried thereby, of substantially the width of the material to be treated, and by a plate 234 which serves as a support for the hydraulic rams 235 and 236, whose piston rods 238 and 239 are attached to a movable platen 248 co-operating Similarly, the movable frames 23l and 232 are tied together by a platen 2.4! and a plate 242, which serves as a support for a hydraulic ram 243, whose piston rod 244 is attached to a movable platen 245. A hydraulic 21l, journaled in 1ugs.212 and '259, contacting with rollers revolve, the frame 231 cylinder 246, mounted on a lug241 on the fixed frame member 221, is connected by a piston rod 248 with a lug 249 on the movable frame 238. Similarly, a hydraulic cylinder 258, mounted on a lug 251 on the fixed frame 228, is connected by its piston rod 252 with the lug 253 on the movable frame 232. Sufficient pressure is applied to the movable frames 238 and 232, by the hydraulic cylinders 246 and 258, to nearly counterbalance the weight of such frames and the parts carried thereby, so that little work is required to shift such frames 225 by the cam means to be described.

It will appear, from the foregoing, that the movable frames 229 and 238i, connnected by the platen 233 and plate 234, carrying the hydraulic rams 235 and 236 for the movable platen 248, constitute a press unit which is on the posts 224 and 225. Also, the movable and the plate 242 carrying the hydraulic ram 243 for movable platen 245, constitute another press unit, also vertically movable on the posts 224 and 225. The fixed frame member 221 is provided with lugs 254 and 255, which support shafts 256 and 251, on which are mounted the cams 258 and 268 and 26l, which are journaled in lugs 262 and 263 on the movable frame member 229. As the shafts 256 and 251 revolve, therefore, the frame 229, and the press unit carried thereby, are slowly permitted to descend and then quickly raised to the position shown in Fig. 1a. Similarly, the fixed frame 228 is provided with lugs 264 and 265, which support shafts 266 and 261, on which are mounted the cams 268 and 269' contacting with rollers 218 and 213 carried by the movable frame 23l. As the shafts 266 and 261 the upper position by cams 268 and 269, and then permitted to descend'slowly. It will be observed that the cams are so mounted that the lower press unit is descending slowly, while the upper press unit is being quickly raised to the upper position. The cam shafts 256, 251, 266 and 261 may be positively connected, by any suitable means, with the shaft I45, so that the of the press units, when engaged in pressure contact with the material, may correspond exactly with the rate of feed of such plaited material. The cam pairs 258, 259, 268 and 269 are so related to each other, and the valves controlling the supply of water to the hydraulicrams 235, 236 and 243, are so operated mechanically, in the well known manner, by the. vertical movement of the associated press units that, when either of the press units is descending, its platens are in pressure contact with the material between them, while the platens of the ascending unit are out of contact with the material between them. The result of this coelation between the mechanisms along the guide posts 224 and vertically movable will be quickly raised to open, it is raked downward movements Fig. 16. It will be to and the structure is' \f' for operating the press units is' that the ma terial is being pressed and vulcanized constantly,

and the active press unit is controllably moved down at a rate corresponding exactly with the rate at which the plaited material is being formed. The hydraulic cylinders 246 and 258 are constantly supplied with water under pressure, and, as previously stated, are so proportioned as to relieve the cams 258, 259, 268 and 269 of practically the entire work of raising the correspond- .ing pressuni t.

When the plaited material emerges from the lower end of the press, just described, with the backing sheets 288 and 289 cemented and vulcanized to both faces thereof, it is ready to be split longitudinally, along a plane parallel to opposite faces of said material, to remove the separator strips and form two continuous webs of. cemented pile fabric. I prefer to accomplish this by the splitting device illustrated in Fig. 14. The web 214 of material, as it comes from the press shown in Fig. 10., passes between guide rollers216 and 211 and is split by a band-knife 218, which moves between stationary guides 288 and 28L This knife not only splits the fibers, which are secured to and extend from one backing sheet to the other, but also splits the severable chip-board separator strips 99, thus splitting the web 214 as it comes from-the vulcanizing press into two webs of cemented pile fabric, which are wound into rolls 282 and 283, upon shells 284 and 285, on shafts 286 and 281, which may be driven frictionally in a well-known manner.

The pile fabric,wound upon 285, as it emerges from the lower end of the machine, may be subjected to further finishing operations. The separator strips 89, having been severed by the knife 218, may drop out as the fabric is rolled upon the shells 284 and 285, but, to make sure that such strips are all removed,

' the fabric, pile side down and under moderate tension, is passed beneath and in contact with a rapidly revolving beater roll, not shown, consisting of a jecting blades of equal length. This beating operation causesthe greater proportion of the split separator strips to fall out of the pile. The pile. fabric is then subjected to a tigering operation for the removal of short and unattached fibers; In this operation, the goods "are carried under tension, pile surface up, over a cloth rest, as in the well. known form of cloth shear. This causes the pile to grin and, while it is thus by a rapidly revolving roller clothed with garnet wire. This positively removes any separator strips, which have not been removed previously, and combs the pile fibers into substantial parallelism. Thereafter, the goods may be brushed and sheared, as required to level the pile surface to the desired extent.

The consecutive steps of the method disclosed herein are indicated by the fio w sheet forming seen that, starting with the fibrous web, a warp of spun yarns, or a bat of unspun fibres, if such are used, the web is plaited, folding it back and forth around severable separator strips, which, in the particular machine illustrated, are formed in the machine from a web of suitable material, such as chipboard. The fibrous web having been plaited around the separator strips, structure have cementing material applied therethen dried, after which webs of cemented base fabric are applied to ophub bearing a number of radially pro-,

the shells 284 and a the opposite sides of the plaited posite facesof the plaited structure, and the 76 V the separator strip carried thereby the frame II3 picks up and material is subjected to consolidation'and vulcanizing by the pressing operation. After this step, the material is split into two webs of cemented pile fabric, which operation also splits the separator strips, and renders possible their removal. Thereafter, the webs'of pile fabric may be subjected to beating, tigering and shearing operations, if desired.

. The operation of the machine herein described should be apparent from the foregoing, but will be briefly reviewed at this point. Cam shaft I turns at twice the speed of shaft I26, so that, for each complete reciprocation of the plaiting frame, guides H6 and H1 will be subjected to two complete vertical reciprocations. Consequently, the frame H3, and the plaiting bars H4 and H5 carried thereby,'will travel in the paths indicated by dotted lines in Fig.2. In that figure, the plaiting bar H4 is shown in the mouth of the passage defined by the jaw members I54 and I55, having just deposited a separator strip 99 above the web IOI therein. The bar II4 now rises and moves to the left, toward the dotted line position, and at the same time the bar H5, which has severed from web 286, and picked up, a separator strip 99, rises and moves to the left, following the curved pathindicated. In so doing, engages the web I 0| and pushes it to the left over the previously deposited separator strip, the bar I I5 finally moving into the mouth of the passage between the jaw members I54 and I55 and depositing the separator strip, which it carries, upon the web MI therein. Thus, the to and fro movement of deposits separator strips 99 in' the passage and folds the fibrous web IOI back and forth about said separator strips, as best shown in Fig. 11. In completing its downward movement in the formation of a plait, each plaiting bar passes between the fingers I10 and HI, which are sprung apart by the passage of the separator strip, purposely made of somewhat greater width than the face of the plaiting bar. After the passage of the strip, the fingers I10-and III are instantly returned hr the springs I12 and I13 to the position shown in Fig. 11. As each plaiting bar brings the strip flush with the opening between the jaw sections, the cams I62 and I63 present their low spots to the cam rollers I and I6I, allowing a slight separation of the jaw sections I54 and I55, so as to permit the included plaited structure, in response to the thrust of the'plaiting bar, to move downward a distance corresponding to the thickness of the newly formed plait. The cams I62 and I83 are so designed that the jaw sections are thus relaxed only during the brief period when a plaiting bar is in the approximate position shown in Fig. 11. At all other times during the plaiting cycle, the jaw sections are firmly pressed against the plaited material, so that the fingers I10 and l1I are relieved of any other function than that of preventing the escape of the plait last formed.

The rollers I04 and I05, which support the roll I00, may be adjustably or variably connected, in any well known manner, with the shaft I45 (Figs. 4 and 5), so as to cause rotation of the roll I00 at the constant surface speed necessary to supply theweb I 0| at the exact speed required by the plaiting operation. Similarly, a friction drive of any well known form may serve to wind the wrapper I02 on the shell I06 at the same linear speed. When this machine is employed for forming a cemented pile fabric from a warp of spun yarns, using the feeding arrangement plaiting operation draws the comb II2, the friction bars I09, H0 and III serving, together with the inertia of the warp wound on the beam I00, to maintain a suitable tension. (5

In describing the strip-forming mechanism, we have also explained, somewhat, its operation. The strips are preferably formed from a web 286 of paper-like material, such as chip-board. This web is, alternately, gripped and held against movement, and advanced a short distance corresponding to the width of the desired separator strip. While the web is gripped and held against movement, the cutting bar 3I9 rises against the knife 323 and forms a transverse slit in the web. When the web is subsequently fed across the cutting bar 330, the plaiting bar H4 or .I I 5, as the case may be, descends, andthe knives 334 and 335 carried thereby form transverse cuts in the web, at the ends of the slit, thus completing the severance of a separator strip from the web, and, at the same time, the severed strip thus formed is perforated. by the pins 345 on the lower face of the plaiting bar, and held to such bar by suction, while the bar travels from the cutting position to the plaiting position. Thus, during each cycle of movement of a plaiting bar, it severs a separator strip from the web and carries the severed strip to the plaiting position, where it is deposited in the entrance of the passage formed between the 30 jaw members I54 and I55.

The various controlling cams for the stripforming mechanism are so shaped and mounted on the shaft 299, and the latter is so connected with the shaft I45 which mechanism, that the web 286 is positively controlled and moved so as to effect the cutting of the strips to the exact width required, and so as to present the slit web at the proper point to the plaiting bar for final cutting and removal. Desired variations in the widths of the strips, as required for material of different pile heights, may be secured by the substitution of cams 3I4 of appropriate contour. Similar apparatus arranged at the opposite side of the machine, for cooperation with plaiting bar; I I4, performs exactly analogous functions with respect to a similar web 286, from which separator strips areformed to be picked up by the plaiting bar II 4 and deposited in the plaited. structure.

In commencing the plaiting operation, with no previously plaited material in the apparatus, it is necessary to provide a temporary support for the plaited material until the coated base fabrics have been applied, and the resulting material 55 emerges from between the plates I82 and I83 preparatory to being pressed and vulcanized. Referring to Fig. 15, interconnected screw shafts 348 and 341 mounted in frame lugs, 348, 349, 350 and 35I, are operated to bring the nuts 352 and 353 thereon to a position approximating in height that of the jaw sections I54 and I55. A temporary support 356, of a thickness somewhat less than the distance separating the plates I 48 and I41, is inserted between the jaw sections and the adjacent plates and is attached to the nuts 352 and 353 by pins 354 and 355. By means of any suitable clutch mechanism, the interconnected shafts 346 and 341 are rotated from the shaft I45 and the plaiting operation is commenced. By the introduction of variable gearing in making the foregoing connection, the temporary support 356 may be made to descend at a I? te corresponding to the particular number of plaits per unit of length, which it is desired to produce. When the tempo- 75..

shown in Fig. 3, the warp through the and I83,

' are formed.

- ing structure.

.pressure rollers I previously cemented webs ofbase fabric 208 and 209, which are @severable separator strips As the plaited material advances through the machine, between plates I46 and I41, the rubberizing mechanisms, working in slots I84 and ,I85, spray a cementing material on theopposite exposed faces of the plaited structure, and fric-' tion it in. As this cemented material passes on between the plates I82 and I83, it is exposed to the drying effect of warm air introduced through the supply pipes and passing through the material to the corresponding exhaust passages. The slowly moving mass of cemented material is thus exposed to the alternate passage of hot air from opposite sides, which very effectively removes the volatile material from the applied cement. When the dried material reaches the slots 228 and 22I,its cemented surfaces are brought by the 2I8 and 2I9 into contact with the thus united to opposite faces of such material. Shafts 2I4 and 2 I 5 are connected, in any suitable manner, with the shaft I45," so that the surface speed of the rollers 2I2 and 2I3 may determine the speed at which the base fabpassage of rics are supplied, thus regulating the material to the press to the rate at which the plaited material is being formed in the machine. The material now passes from between the plates I82 and 183 to the press units, which alternately grip the material to apply a consolidating and vulcanizing pressure thereto, and release the same. The upper unit is shown, in Fig. la, as released and about to rise, while the lower unit is applying pressure to the web of material and is about to descend slowly at a rate corresponding to the rate of movement of the material through the machine. unit is released, the upper press unit will be in position to apply pressure and move downwardly at the said rate. When the material leaves the consolidating and vulcanizing press, it is split into 'two webs of cemented pile fabric by the knife 218 shown, the cost of production will be lowered.

Since two webs of cemented pile fabric are simultaneously produ ed, the speed of production is greatly increased. This also helps to cut the cost. The material produced by this method and' machine will be of improved quality, since the pile surface of the fabric will be perfectly smooth, and without any ripple", which has caused considerable trouble in machines of this character heretofore used. The machine lends itself readily to simple and inexpensive adjustments, by

which to vary the characteristics of'the pile fabric produced thereby. Furthermore, the use of not only makes their elimination from the structure much simpler, but also is an advantage in the pressing operation, since pressure is there applied to a relatively yield- The method of manufacturing ceinented pile fabric disclosed herein is shown and claimed in my divisional application, Serial No. 705,009, filed January 2, 1934, and, likewise, the

ing the combination of When the lower press 1 structure to release rary support 358 has descended to the lower ends the pins 354 and 355 may shafts 346 and 341 disconnected press mechanism shown hero is not claimed, havmg been,disclosed'and claimed in my divisional agplication, Serial No. 707,372, filed January 19, 1 34.

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

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: a

1. A machine for making pile fabric comprising the combination of a plurality of members defining a confining passage therebetween, means for delivering separator strips at the entrance end of said passage, means for plaiting a fibrous web about said strips to form a plaited structure and advancing said structure step by step in said passage, means for cementing a web of base fabric to one face of said plaited structure while confined in said passage, and a knife arranged to split said plaited structure along a plane parvallel to the opposite faces thereof.

' 2. A machine for making cemented pile fabric comprising the combination of means defining a passage in which advanced as produced, means for delivering septhe material is confined and arator strips at the entrance to said passage, means for plaiting a fibrous web about said strips and advancing the plaited structure thus formed in said passage, means for cementing webs of base fabric to opposite faces of said plaited structure while confined in said passage and ranged. and operating to split said structure into two webs of cemented pile fabric.

3. A machine for making pile means defining a passage in which the material is confined and advanced as produced, a plaiting frame having a pair of plaiting bars thereon, fibrous web between said bars to the entrance of said passage," means for reciprbcating said plaiting frame to place said bars alternately in alinement with the entrance of said passage. means for deliveringseparator strips at the entrance of said passage upon said web, whereby the reciprocation of the plaiting frame plaits said web about said separator strips, means for cementing a web of base fabric to one face of the plaited structure thus formed while confined in said passage and a knife arranged to out said the separator strips therefr om.

4? A machine for making cemented pile fabric comprising the combination of means defining a passage in which the material is confined and advanced as'produced, a plaiting frame having a pair of plaiting bars thereon,'means for delivering a fibrous web to the entrance of said passage between said bars, means for reciprocating said frame to place said bars alternately in alinement with theentrance of said passage, means for severing separator strips from a web of material and fabric compris 4 means for delivering a' a knife arv ric, the combination of means defining a passage in which the material is confined and advanced. as produced, a plaiting frame having a pair of plaiting bars thereon, means for delivering a fibrous web to the entrance of said passage between said bars, means for intermittently delivering separator strips at the entrance of said passage above the web therein, and means for reciprocating said plaiting frame to bring the bars thereof alternately into alinement with said passage, whereby said web is plaited about said separator strips at the entrance of said passage.

- 6; In a machine for making cemented pile fabric, the combination of means defining a passage in which the material is confined and advanced as produced, a plaiting frame, a pair of plaiting bars carried by said frame and adapted to be placed alternately in alifiement with the entrance to said passage, means for delivering a fibrous web between said bars to the entrance of said passage, guide members for said frame, means for reciprocating said frame in said guide members, means for reciprocating said guide members vertically and means for delivering a separator strip intermittently at the entrance of said passage above the web therein, whereby the movement of said plaiting frame plaits the web about said separator strips and advances the plaited structure thus formed intermittently in said passagei '7. In a machine for making cemented pile fabric, the combination of means defining a passage in which the material confined and adadvanced as produced, a plaiting frame, a pair of plaiting bars carried thereby, meansfor delivering a fibrous web between said bars to the entrance of said passage, means for reciprocating saidplaiting frame to place thebars alternately in; alinement with said passage and a pair of strip-severing mechanisms arranged on opposite sides of said passage, each mechanism cooperating with one of the plaiting bars to deliver a separator strip at the entrance. of said passage about the web therein when the corresponding bar is in alinement with said passage, whereby the reciprocation of said frame plaits said web about said separator strips at the entrance to said passage.

8. In a machine for making cemented pile fabric, the combination of means defining a passage in which material is confined and advanced as produced, a plaiting frame, a pair of plaiting bars carried thereby, each plaiting bar being provided with suction passages connecting with a source of vacuum and opening through the lower surfaces of said bars, means for delivering a fibrous web between said bars to the entrance of said passage, means for reciprocating said frame ,to place said bars alternately in alinement with said entrance, and means for delivering a separator strip to the lower surface of each bar when out of alinement with the entrance to said passage, whereby the reciprocation of said frame will deposit separator strips above the web in' the entrance to said passage and plait said web about said separator strips.

9. In a machine for makingcemented pile fabric, the combination of means defining a passage in which the material is confined and advanced .as produced, means for intermittently advancing a web of severable material for separator strips, means for severing strips from said web, means for depositing the severed strips at the entrance of said passage and means for plait \1 ing a web of fibrous material about said strips to form, a plalted structure at the entrance to said passage.

10. In a machine for making cemented pile fabric, the combination of means defining a passage in which the material is confined and advanced as produced, means for intermittently feeding a web of severable material for separator strips, means for intermittently slitting said web to partially form a separator strip, a plaiting frame, a pair of plaiting bars carried thereby, means for delivering a web of fibrous material between said bars at the entrance to said passage, knives carried by each bar, means cooperating with said knives for intermittently completing theseverance of a strip from said web, each bar being provided with means'for carrying the severed strip and depositing it in the entrance to said passage above the web therein and means for reciprocating the plaiting frame whereby the to form a plaited structure at the said passage.

11. Ina machine of the class described, the combination of a pair of clamping bars, means for intermittently actuating said bars to clamp a web of strip material, a second pair of movably mounted clamping bars, meansfor intermittently actuating said second pair of bars to cause it to clamp said web, means for simultaneously moving said bars laterally to advance the web, a splitting knife, a cutting bar, means for actuating said cutting bar against the knife to split the web while the first pair of clamping bars is acting, a plaiting frame, aplaiting bar carried. by said frame, transverse knives fixed to the ends of said bar and means for actuating said frame to bring said bar and knives into contact with the web of strip material while clamped and held against movement to form cuts therein communicating with a slit, whereby to complete the severance of a separator strip from said web.

12. In a machine for making cemented pile fabric, means forming a passage in which the materiaris confined and advanced as produced, means for delivering-a fibrous web to said passage, means for delivering separator strips to said passage, said strip delivering means comprising a plaiting. bar and suction means for retaining said strips on said bar during transfer to said passage.

13. In a machine for making cemented pile fabric, means forming a passage in which material is confined and advanced as produced, means for delivering a fibrous web to said passage, means for delivering separator strips to said passage, said entrance to strip delivering means comprising a plaiting bar,

suction means for retaining the strips on said bar during transfer to said passage, and means for preventing lateral displacement of the strips from the bar during such transfer.

14. In a machine for making cemented pile fabric, means forming a passage in which the material is confined and advanced as produced, means for delivering a fibrous web to said passage, means for delivering separator strips to said passage, said .strip delivering means comprising a plaiting bar, and means for preventing withdrawal of the individual strips from said passage after delivery, thereto by said plaiting bar.

15. In a machine for making cemented pile fabric, means forming a passage in which the material is confined and advanced as produced,

' means for deliveringa fibrous web to said passage, means above the passage for delivering separator strips into said passage, means for sussage for retaining said strips therein after dellvery by said strip delivering means.

"16. In a machine for making cemented pile fabric, means forming a passage in which the material is confined and advanced as produced,

means for delivering a fibrous web to said passage, a plaiting bar for delivering separtor strips into 'said passage, said bar having suction-operated means therein for retaining the strips thereon during transfer to said passaga rneansfor preventing lateral displacement of strips from the bar during such transfer, and yielding projections overhanging the entrance to said passage for retaining separator strips deposited therein.

l'l. In a machine for making cemented pile fabric, means defining a passage in which a plaited material is confined and advanced as produced, the walls of said passage having transverse recesses therein, and means movable, longitudinallyin said recesses for applying a cementitious compound to opposite sides of the plaited material during its advance through said passage.

18. In a machine for making cemented pile fabric, means defining a passage in which a plaited material is confined and advanced as produced, the walls of said passage having transverse recesses therein, means for spraying a cementitious compound on opposite sides of the plaited material as it passes said recesses, and a friction roller movable longitudinally in each recess and engaging the surface of the plaited material.

19. In a machine for making cemented pile fabric, means defining a passage in which a plaited material is confined and advancedas produced, the walls ofsaid passage having transverse recesses therein, a friction roller in each recess engaging the surface of the plaited material, and supply nozzles spaced radially from the periphery of each roller, said rollers and nozzles being movable longitudinally in their respective recesses. f

20. In a machine for making cemented pile fabric, means defining a passage in which a plaited material is confined and advanced as produced, means for' applying a cementitious compound to opposite sides of said material and means for drying said compound, said "drying means comprising plates-at opposite sides of said passage, each plate\having supply and exhaust passages therein with the supply passages in one plate communicating with the exhaust passages in the other plate through openings in the walls of said passages and through the plaited material, and means for supplying a drying medium to said supply passages.

21. In a machine for making cemented pile fabric, means defining a passage in which a plaited material is confined and advanced as produced, means for applying a cementitious compound to opposite sides of said material and means for drying said compound, said drying means comprising plates at opposite sides of said passage, each plate having supply and exhaust passages therein with the supply passages in one plate communicatingvwith the exhaust passages in the other plate through openings in the walls of said passages and through theplalted material, the openings in said passage walls extending transversely of said walls.

22. In a machine for making cemented pile fabric, the combination of means delivering a fibrous web, mechanism co-operating therewith for automatically moving separator strips into such relation to said web as to plait the web about them, and means for applying base fabrics to opposite faces of the plaited material thus formed. 23. A machine for making cemented pile fabric, the combination of means delivering a fibrous web, mechanism co-operating therewith for automatically moving separator strips into such relation to said web as to plait the web about them, means for holding the strips and web in such. plaited arrangement, and means for applying a base fabric to a face of the plaited material.

PAUL S. SMITH.

Images