US764328A - Machine for cutting, folding, and winding strips of flexible material. - Google Patents

Description

No. 764,328. PATENTED JULY 5, 1904 A. L. ADAMS.

MACHINE FOR CUTTING, FOLDING, AND WINDING STRIPS OF FLEXIBLE MATERIAL.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 31, 1899.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1 N0 MODEL.

"HIIHHIH I INVENTOR- All, flay.

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No. 764,328. PATENTED JULY 5, 19 04. A. L. ADAMS.

MACHINE FOR CUTTING, FOLDING, AND WINDING STRIPS 0P FLEXIBLE MATERIAL.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 31. 1899.

N0.MODEL.

INVENTOR 4 SHBETS-SHBET 2 WITNESSES.

JWOEWM No. 764,328. PATENTED JULY 5, 1904 A. L. ADAMS. MACHINE FOR CUTTING, FOLDING, AND WINDING STRIPS 0P FLEXIBLE MATERIAL. APPLIUATION FILED JULY a1, 1809.

4 SHBETS--S'HBET 3.

N0 MODEL.

HgVENTOR r d f. 0441/5.

No. 764,328. PATENTED JULY 5, 1904.

A. L. ADAMS. MACHINE POR'GUTTING, FOLDING, AND WINDING STRIPS 0F FLEXIBLE MATERIAL.

N0 MODE-1h APPLICATION FILED JULY 31, 1899.

. 4 $HEETS-SHEET 4. a, F U5 j/f Patented July 5, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

ABRAHAM L. ADAMS, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICU'IT.

MACHINE FOR CUTTING, FOLDING, AND WINDING STRIPS F FLEXIBLE MATERIAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 764,328, dated July 5, 1904.

Application filed July 81,1899. Serial No. 725,653. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Beiit known that I, ABRAHAM L. ADAMS, a

citizen of the United States, and a resident of Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Cutting, Folding,and Winding Strips of Flexible Material, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain improvements in a machine for automatically cutting, folding, and winding strips of flexible material, being an improvement on machines for which Letters Patent were granted to George E. Hawes and myself April 20, 1897, No. 581,015, and November 30, 1897, No. 594,586; and it consists in certain details of construction and combination of elements hereinafter to be more fully set forth.

To enable others to understand my invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents a broken side elevation of the machine and a sectional view of the driving-machine with the tight and loose pulleys removed. therefrom. Fig. 2 is a broken upper plan view of the machine and a broken view of the spool-arbor-carrying frame and side supports for the interlining-strip rolls. Fig. 3 is a broken central sectional view of the machine with the sewing-machine and driving-pulley for the spool-arbor removed. Fig. A is a detail side elevation of a set of adjustable cutters adapted to cut three strips and broken view of their arbors. Fig. 5 is a detail upper plan view of the three-strip adjustable cutters shown at Fig. 4, also a broken view of a piece of cloth partially severed into three strips, together with interlining strips overlying such severed strips, a strip separatorand former, a folder-roll for turning over and creasing the edges of the strips preparatory to such strips entering the ironingrolls. Fig. 6 is a detail sectional View of the cutter-carrying arbor through a a of Fig. 4 and end elevation of the adjustable collar for one of the upper cutters. Fig. 7 is a detail view of the reverse side of the adjustable collar shown at Fig. 6 and sectional view of the cutter-arbor and collar adjusting screws through line 7) I) of Fig. 5. Fig. 8 is a detail side elevation of a diagram of the adjustable cutters, tension-rod, ironingrolls, and broken view of a section of the cloth and strip being acted on. Fig. 9 is a detail front elevation of one of the lower adjustable cutters and sectional view of its arbor. Fig. 10 is a detail perspective view of a gage or blocking adapted to set the lower adjustable cutters a pre determined distance apart. Fig. 11 is .a detail side elevation of the strip separator and folder shown at Fig. 5. Fig. 12 is a detail broken view of the collapsible spool-arbor. Fig. 13 is a detail side elevation of such arbor and a broken view of its swinging frame and driving-pullo v. Fig. 1 1 is a detail end View of said spool-arbor. Fig. 15 is a detail broken section of one of the side frames for carrying the spool-arbor mechanism and a broken view of the spool-arbor driver rotatably mounted in said section of the frame. Fig. 16 is adetail view of the spool-arbor-locking rod, a broken section of the opposite arm of the arbor-carrying frame, and a spindle for supporting the forward end of said arbor. Fig. 17 is a detail side elevation of the cloth tension-guide, having a wire tension for the edges of the cloth extending rearward of such tension-guide and a guide and tension for the interlining strip overlying such cloth tensionguide. Fig. 18 is a broken detail sectional upper plan view of the tension-bars and guideplate for the interlining strips. Fig. 19 is a detail sectional view of the tension-bars and guide-plate for the interliningstrips through line 0 c of Fig. 18. -Fig. 20 is a detail broken plan and side elevation of the cloth tensionguide. Fig. 21 is a broken detail perspective view of a folded strip with interlining strips of gutta-pcrcha. Fig. 22 is a broken detail perspective view of a folded strip with a wide interlining strip therein. Fig. 23 is a broken detail view of a folded strip and an interlining strip therein. Fig. 2 1 is a broken detail plan view of the sheet-metal separator and former. Fig. 25 is broken detail View of the shipper-rod and trip-lever connected therewith and a sectional view of one of the bearings for said rod carrying a spring catch-pin engaged. with a notch in said rod. Fig. 26 is a detail plan view of the swinging frame pivotally supported beneath the table of the machine, said frame carrying a dri'vingpulley on one end and a frictional pulley on the other end.

Its construction and operation are as follows: 1 and 1*represent the sideframes of the bed of the machine supported on four standards 3, 3, 3", and 3 attached to the base 2. 4 is the driving-shaft, carrying, Fig. 2, the tight and loose pulleys 5 and 6. 7 is the driving-gear on said shaft that transmits motion to the cutter-shafts and ironing-rolls through the medium of the gears 8, 9, 10, and 11.

12 and 13 (see, also, Fig. 3) are the upper and lower cutter-shafts, carrying a series of cutter-disks 14 and 15. These shafts are journaled in the side frames of the bed, as shown, and the cutters are adapted to cut the cloth 16 into strips.

The ironing-rolls 17 and 18 are also journaled in the side frames of the machine, and they are made hollow to admit the burners 19 and 20. One only of the pipes 19, leading to the upper burner, is shown broken at Fig. 2. 21 and 22, Fig. 1, are small draft-holes in the ends of said ironing-rolls, to which ends the gears 9 and 11 are attached. on the upper roll 17 is regulated by means of the weight 23, which weight is varied to suit the pressure required. This weight is suspended from the cross-bar 24, attached to the bars 25 and 25*. The opposite ends of these bars are secured to the machine-frame by means of the screws 26 26. These bars, resting on top of the caps 27 27, combined with the weight 23, will thus maintain the necessary pressure on the strips between the ironing rolls and to exert that pressure just where it is most needed. For instance,when the spoolarbor, presently to be described, is full the weight will hang central on the cross-bar 24; but when, as sometimes happens, spools are being wound on one side of the center of the arbor the pressure on the ironing-roll must necessarily be greatest at that point. Therefore the weight 23 is shifted along its support in order to exert the desired pressure where most required.

The wide cloth strip 16, adapted to be cut into narrow strips, is first piled up on the base 2 of the machine, as shown at Fig. 1, and then fed over the rock-shaft roller 28 of the rock-shaft 28*, which rock-shaft is journaled in the end of the bed extension 29. This rock-shaft is part of the mechanism which operates in connection with the strip for automatically stopping the machine when the end of the-cloth has reached the end of said bed extension. As the mechanism for effecting this result is fully shown and described in my former patent, No. 594,586, it will not be necessary hereto give any further detailed description of-the mechanism than will suffice to show its connection with my present The pressure construction, it being observed, however, that the diameter of the rock,- shaft, is considerably increased by the addition oil the roller 28 to facilitate the feeding of the cloth. The arms 30, one only being shown, are connected with this rock-shaft. 31 represents parallel U-shape wires depending from said arms. These wires are adapted to rest on the cloth strip'until the end of such strip has passed, when they will drop through the cross wires or bars 32 and effect the stoppage of the machine in the following manner:

33 is a short arm projecting from one of the side arms 30,-and: carries the short rod 34,

having the upturned end 35. A hole (not shown) in this upturned end embraces the wire 36, carrying the collar 37, againstwhich the upturned end 35 impinges to, actuate the tripping-machine. This wire 36, Figs. 2,. 3, and 25, particularly the latter figure, connects with the short trip-lever 38, pivotally supported in the outer forked end of the spring catch-pin 39, which pin isoperativelymounted in the bracket 40, attached to the under side of the bed 1. The opposite end of this pin has the taper head 39 adapted to engage with the notch 41 in the shipper-rod 42. The said trip-lever also enters acorresponding slot or forked end of the bracket with theinner edge of said lever normally resting on the bottom of this slot, so that when the wire 36 is pulled the bottom of said slot will operate as a fulcrum for said trip-lever.

43 represents the shipper-fingers that engage the belt 44 and shiftsaid belt when the shipper-rod isactuated.

45 and 46 are toggle-arms,.onev of which 6 tractile spring 48 will actuate the said rod and shift the driving-belt 44 from the tight pulley 6 to the loosepulley 5, and thus bring the machine to a standstill.

49 is a sewing-machine permanentlymounted upon side brackets projecting from the bed extension or table 29, whose purpose is to connect another strip of cloth to the. end of the one nearly used up, so thata continuous winding can be carried on without breaking. This sewing-machine is of any construction, whose feed-belt 50 connects with the pulley 51 on the cross-shaft 52. This shaft, Fig. 3, is journaled in the frame 53. (See also Fig. 26.) 54 represents short studs projecting from said frame and near the inner end thereof, whereby such frame is fulcrumed in the forked box 55 on the under side of, the bed. This construction enables said shaft-carrying frame to be swung around on itsv pivotal point and bring the frictional pulley 56 on the outer end of such shaft temporarily in contact with the running belt 44 when said belt is on the loose pulley 5 for the purpose of transmitting motion to the sewing-machine. 57 is an arm loosely mounted on the shaft 52 for effecting this tilting movement of the frame 53, and 58 is a retractile spring attached to the outer end of said arm, whereby the round-face pulley 56 is disengaged from the belt 4.4 to stop the sewing-machine. When, therefore, the end of the cloth has reached the end of the table and the running mechanism is tripped, as before mentioned, the operator will place another pile of cloth upon the base 2 and carry the end of said cloth over the end of the table andlap such end of the new piece to the old piece and pass such lapped ends through the sewing-machine, which is temporarily run for this purpose to make the joint or splice 16. The slack cloth is then drawn back and the cutting and winding mechanism started until this new piece of cloth is nearly used up, when the operation of attaching another piece is again performed, and so on indefinitely, so that there will be no interruption or break in the winding of the spools, which can be made .of any diameter within the capacity of the machine.

The combined guide and tension device for th e'large cloth strip consists, as shown in Figs. 17 and 20, of stationary side bars 59 59*, having the cross-wires 6O anchored therein. 61 61 are movable bars running on these bars 59 59 and are secured thereto by the setscrews 62. On the ends of these movable bars are the edge-guides for the cloth, and they consist of the U-shape wires 63 and 63. One end of these wires is secured to the movable bars by the screws 64: 64c. The other end being free is sprung under the outer one of the cross-wires 60. These edge-guides will give a slight under curve or roll to the edges of the cloth previous to its reaching this outer wire, and thus cause the cloth to drawaround said outer cross-wire with sufficient tension to keep the cloth from buckling, twisting, or folding, which would beits natural tendency, especially where the edges of the cloth. are not true and even.

The cloth passes through the rotary cutters 14 and 15 and is cut into individual strips. From thence, as shown in Fig. 3, these strips pass under the tension-rod 65 and from thence over the folder-roll 66, having the collars 66. i g

. ing ends rest on top of the machine-bed, and

67 Figs. 21 and 22, is a broken section of one of these strips having the folded edges 67, which folded edges are produced by the said collars 66 of the folding-roll. The width of the folded strip is determined by the space. between the collars 66 of the folder-roll, while the width of the turned-overedges is deter mined by the thickness of the said collars. The folder-roll is elevated above the cuttingline of the cutters, so that such strip will draw around the said folder-roll and deliver to the entrance of the ironing-rolls, presently to be described, which entrance is on a lower plane than said roll.

The stationary tension-rod 65, Fig. 3, before mentioned, is secured in the side frames of the machine and just behind the cutters, so that when the several strips are drawn over this rod they are close together and will be kept, perfectly smooth and free from wrinkles which would be detrimental to the finished strip and also to such strip spooling properly. This feature is of vital importance in cutting and winding plain strips without folding, as it would be impossible to do this successfully without such a device. 68 is a combined separator and former placed just ahead of the said tension-rod. This device, as shown, is made of sheet metal, Figs. 2. 3, and 4, and is dropped into the side pieces 69 69 secured to the caps 1" and 1 of the machine-frame, and it is held against the lugs 69 of said side pieces by 7 means of the tension-springs 7 O 7 O and is re- .moved from 1ts seat by s1mply compresslng said springs. 68, Figs. 3 and 24:, represents lugs proiecting from the rear surface and near the edge of said separator and folder under side of the lugs 69 to prevent its rising when engaged with the cloth strips, while the lower corners of the sheet-metal plate, of which the said separator and former is made, will rest on the bosses 4, one of which is shown at Fig. 3 projecting from the side frames, or at least the plate will be in such close proximity to such bosses that they will keep the said plate from falling below a certain point.

The object of this separator and former, es-

pecially where wide folds are made, is to begin to shape or partially form the strip, or rather to turn up its edges as a preparatory measure before such strip reaches the folder.

For this purpose the straight legs 71 are provided to separate the strips and turn their edges into the slots 72. as shown more particularly by the strip 67 at Fig. 24. 73 is a 76 is a metal plate secured to this rod. This plate lies at an angle and rests against the strips as they pass around the upper ironingroll, so that when the spools are complete and the strips are cut the ends of the strips around said roll can be easily picked up and attached to the arbor 7 4:. Otherwise they would drop down out of reach and could not be gathered up again without considerable trouble.

Another feature of my improved machine is the mechanlsmfor interlining the folded strips with a narrower strip or tape, as shown at Figs. 22 and 23. 77 is such interlining strip and is introduced or fed into the folded strip as follows: 78 is a cabinet open at the front and rear, with the uprights 78 7 8 Figs. 1 and 2, resting on the table or bed extension. 7 8 represents a series of shelves having the short central pins 7 8, adapted to enter the core of a spool of tape and on which pins said spool or spools .22, and 23.

may rotate. This tape is represented as leading from aspool on the lower shelf of the cabinet. While I show but one interlining strip, it will be understoood that as many of these strips can be used as there are folded strips, or, if necessary, part of the folded strips may be furnished with interlining strips and the others Without. These interlining strips, Fig. 2, overlie the cloth and pass through their own guide and tension device, which overlies the tension device for the cloth.

80 (see also Figs. 1, 17, 18, and 19) is aguide for the interlining strip and is made of sheet metal and rests on top of the side bars of the cloth tension-guide, as shown at Fig. 17. This guide, Fig. 18, has the supporting-fingers 80, on which the interlining strips rest. 8O represents other fingers between the fingers 80, whose ends are curved upward to form side guides for the interlining strips. It will be observed that these upturned fingers are located at the front and rear edge of this guide, thus forming bearing-points a short distance apart which will more effectually tend to keep the interlining strip true and even with its line of travel. The tension for these strips consists of the two bars 81 81, which rest on the outer edge of the sheet-metal guide. 82 represents four tension wires anchored in these side bars. The forward one of these wires has its ends 82 project outside of the side bars to form a stop against the side frames 1 and 1 of the bed, as shown at Fig. 2. 'These interlining strips pass between the cutters and under the foot 7 3 of the separator and former, Fig. 24, and from thence are carried to the folder and inclosed therein, as shown at Figs. 22 and 23. From this point it becomes part and parcel of the folded strip before mentioned. These interlining strips can be made of any material suitable for the purpose. One of the objects of my improved machine is to make a cheap article of commercial tape from a strip of cloth to take the place of the ordinary knit or Woven tape. For this purpose the folded strip may be made in any of the forms shown at Figs. 21, While, as before mentioned, the interlining strips can be made of any suitable material, I propose incertain cases to employ strips made of gutta-percha or other like material, so that when the folded strips pass through the heared rolls the interlining strips and the turned-over or folded edges of the outeror folded strips will be firmly cemented together.

.83 of the said frame.

VS herethe folded strip (shown at Fig. 21) is made, it would be cheaper to run the two thin and narrow gutta-percha strips 77 a under the folds 67 so that practically there will be but a thin film of gutta-percha between these folds. In fact, the gutta-percha strip would in all cases be just thick enough to cement such folds firmly down onto the main body of the folded strip. In Fig. 23, where the folded edges meet at the center of the strip, the interlining gutta-percha strip when used could fill the whole space within the folds just the same as when such interlining strip is made of cloth. This feature of cementing the folds is important where the folded strips are made of soft material, like wool or velvet. It will be understood also that these interlining strips, of whatever material, can be spliced by means of the sewing-machine just the same as the large cloth strip before mentioned.

The spool or winding arbor frame consists of the two arms 83 83, attached to the rear shaft 84:. (See Figs. 1, 2, and 3.) .85 is a large driving-pulley mounted on this shaft.

outside of the bed which carries the belt 86 to drive the spool-arbor pulley 87 on the arm This pulley is mounted, Figs. 13 and 15, upon the outer projecting end of the arbor-driver 88. This projecting end 88 is adapted to receive said pulley and is in'frictional contact with said driver by means of the nut 89 and spring 90.

The spool collapsible arbor herein shown is an improvement on the arbor shown in my former patents, which consists, among other features presently to be morefully described, in so constructing it that it can readily be removed and its contents easily discharged there-' from.

The arbor consists of the three parts 74:, 7 1, and 7 41 hinged by screws 91 to the shell 92, Fig. 12. These several parts when brought together, Fig. 14, have the tapered mouth 71", adapted :to engage the cone-shaped end 93, Fig. 16, of the longitudinally-movable shell-rod 94:, which rod moves througha hole (not shown) in the arm 83 and its hub 83 95 (see also Fig. 13) is a shell on the end of this rod surrounding the cone-shaped end 93. This shell is adapted to receive the end of the closed arbor and maintain its closed position while running and yet not interfere with its rotation. 96 is a handle on the outer end of the rod 94: for moving itin or out, as the case may be.

97 is a small locking-rod passing freely through the shell-rod 9 1 and the circular core 98, Fig. 12, of the arbor.

97 a is the threaded end of the locking-rod, adapted to engage with the threaded hole 88, Fig. 15, of the arbor-driver. The outer end of the shell 92, Fig. 12, is provided with the notch 92, adapted to pass under the head of the screw 99, Figs. 13 and 15, projecting from the arbor-driver, so that by means of which 74" represents slits in the three sections of the arbor to receive the ends of the folded strips preparatory to winding the spools. When, therefore, the arbor has been filled with completed spools, the rod 97 is unscrewed by means of its handle 100 and such rod withdrawn. Then the rod 9 1 is drawn back, Fig. 16, which will be suflicient to liberate the spool-arbor, which arbor will collapse sufficient to permit the spools to readily drop off. This feature will facilitate unloading of the spools all at once, which is much better than stripping them off from the arbor one by one. Besides it enables the winding of strips of any width. i

101 is a pulley mounted on the outer end of the driving-shaft 4, Fig. 2, which pulley transmits motion to the rear shaft 84 through the medium. of the belt 102 and pulley 103, mounted on the latter shaft.

104:, Figs. 1 and 3, is a swinging ratchettoothed lever pivoted to one of the side frames of the machine for supporting said framearbor 83. 105 is apawl in the top rail of this frame, which engages with the teeth of the said lever. Y

106 is a link projecting from the swinging frame to embrace the ratchet-lever to prevent its falling away.

107 is a counterbalance for the swinging frame.

The arms 83 and 83, Fig. 2, of the swing ing frame have the hubs 83 and 83 loosely embracing, the shaft 8 1. On the hub 83 is mounted the collar 108, whose cam projection 109, Fig. 3, is adapted to engage with the slotted piece 110, connected to the right-angle lever 111, which lever is pivotally mounted on the stud 112, (see also Fig. 2,) projecting from the machine. 113 is a screw which secures said lever to the piece 110, and it serves to adjust the position of the vertical leg of the lever 111 with respect to the trip-lever 38. When, therefore, the spooling-arbor is running, the increasing diameter of the spools thereon will raise the swinging frame notch by notch until the slotted piece 110, Fig. 1, rests on the highest point of its cam,when the trip-lever 38 will be actuated and the machine brought to a standstill. The diameter of the spools can be determined by the position of the cam, which may be set accordingly.

In cases where the cloth is cut into three strips of equal width the adjustable cutters (shown at Figs. 4 and 5) are preferably used. 114. 115 are the upper cutters, secured to or forming part of the hubs 116 and 117, mounted on the arbor 118. 119 is a screw for se curing hub 117 and its cutter to its arbor. The lower shaft or arbor 120 carries the two cutters 121 122, with their hubs 123 and 12 1,

which are secured to said arbor by screws 125 and 126. 127 (see also Figs. 6 and 7) is a collar mounted on the upper arbor and is connected to the hub of the cutter 115 by means of the three long screws 128, which screws are adapted to enter threaded holes in. the end of the hub 1'16. The end of the collar is countersunk to admit these screws, and such countersink or recess 129, Fig. 4-, is deep enough to allow the head of such screw to have free longitudinal play in said recess. Recesses 130, Fig. 7 are provided in the inner end of collar 127 to admit the ends of three coiled springs, while in the opposite face or outer end of the cuttenhub 116 are corresponding holes to receive the opposite end of such springs. 131 is a set-screw to secure collar 127 to the arbor. Asbcfore mentioned, this construction of cutter-arbors is intended for cutting a piece of cloth into three equal strips, so that if the cloth is wide the strips will be correspondingly wide, and if narrow the strips will be proportionately narrow. These cutters remain on their arbors, so that when necessary to substitute them for the cutters shown in the other views such cutters and arbors are simply introduced in the place of such other cutters.

The width of the strips to be out are of course determined by the width of the cloth, as before mentioned. Therefore packing or gages of various length are always kept at hand that will equal one-third of thewidth of any piece of cloth that the machine is capable of handling. 132, Fig. 10, represents one of these gages, and it consists of a piece of sheet metal curved to set on the cutter-arbor, as shown at Fig. 1.

In each face of the cutters 121 and 122 and close to the arbor are (see also Fig. 9)-the shallow recesses 133, adapted to receive the ends of the said gage. In setting the cutters the cutter 123 is first set firm] y against the collar 120, (shown dotted at Fig. 1,) which collar re'sts against the side of the machine frame or box in which the arbor 120 runs. Then the cutter 11 1 is brought against the first-named cutter and fastened to its arbor, and such cutter is held there by an end thread, represented by the screw 118, Fig. 2. Then the gage 132, Fig. 4, is inserted between cutters 121 and 122, and the cutter 121 is crowded firmly against the end of such gage and secured to its arbor by screws 125. The cutter 115 is then carried into cutting position against the lower cutter 121 by pressing against the col lar 127. This will compress the intermediate springs 13 1. The said collar is then secured to the arbor by means of the set-screw 131, so that the tension exerted by these springs will always insure proper cutting engagement of the said cutters, which a screw or other like positive means could not.

In connection with the cutters above described I employ the combined separator and preliminary folder. (Shown at Figs. 5 and 11.) 136 and 187 are two bars carrying the crosswires 138. 139 represents adjustable separators movably secured to one of the crosswires. 140 represents intermediate pieces, also adjustably mounted and secured on said wires, which carry the feet 141 to rest on the top of the three strips, as shown at Fig. 5. This construction serves the same purpose as the device shown at Fig. 24 and when used will occupy the same place that such device occupies in the machine. 142 is the folderroll for these cutters, carrying the adjustable collars 143, which collars are set to conform to the width of the folds 67 of the strips 67. Half-boxes 144 and 145 (see also Figs 2 and 3) are provided on each of the side frames of the machine to facilitate the insertion or removal of the different kinds of folder-rolls. WVhen plain strips are cut and not folded, the collars are removed from the folder-roll 142, Fig. 8, and said strips carried over such plain roll to the ironing-rolls. This plain roll will serve to keep such strips smooth and level.

As before mentioned, the machine is automatically brought to a standstill both by the feed of the cloth and the winding of the spools of strips. It is also stopped by hand at the will of the operator through the medium of the hand-lever 143, Figs..1 and 2. This lever is pivotally supported to the under side of the table 29 by means of the screw 144. The oppositeend of this lever loosely embraces the trip-wire 36, and by swinging this lever around so as to engage the fixed collar 145 and actuate the trip-lever, before mentioned, the machine is stopped.

146 is a lever pivotally supported to the base 2, whose upper end is connected with the rod 147 of the toggle-arms 46 for starting the machine.

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

1. In a machine of the character described, the combination with rotatable cutters, adapted to cut cloth into individual strips, foldingroll and ironing-rolls, of a combined separator and former located between said cutters and folding-roll and adapted to turn up the edges of said strips as a preliminary step to a complete fold as effected by said forming-roll, means for maintaining said separator and folder in operative position, for the purpose set forth.

2. In a machine of the character described, the combination with rotatable cutters for severing cloth into strips for the purpose set forth, ironing-rolls, folder-rolls and tensionrod, of a combined separator and former located between said tension-rod and folder-roll, projections or legs for keeping the strips a proper distance apart, intermediate and shorter legs having feet to rest on the body of said strips, means whereby the edges of forming-roll, means for maintaining said separator and former in its operative position and means whereby it is readily removed therefrom, as described and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a machine of the character described, the combination with rotatable cutters for severing cloth into strips, folding-rolls, ironingrolls and spool-winding mechanism, of a retainin g device adapted to rest against the strips as they pass over thesaid ironing-rolls so as to prevent the free ends of said strips dropping down when the connection between said strips andthe spools of the winding mechanism is severed, for the purpose set forth.

4. In amachine of the character described, the combination of the swinging spool-arborcarrying frame having arms whose hubs are loosely journaled on the shaft carrying the driving-pulley of the spool-arbor, a cam adjustably mounted on one of said hubs, trip mechanism connected with said cam whereby the machine is stopped at any predetermined diameter of the strip-spools on said arbor, for the purpose set forth.

5. In a machine of the character described, the combination with the ironing-rolls, of rearwardly-projecting levers anchored by their forward ends to the machine-frame, said levers resting on the cap of the upper ironingroll, a cross-bar connecting the outer ends of said levers, an adjustable weight on said crossbar for effectinga pressure on said upper roll relative to the position of the strip-spools on the winding-arbor, for the purpose set forth.

6. In an automatic machine of the character described and for the purpose set forth, consisting of cloth feeding and cutting mechanism, tripping mechanism for bringing the machine to a standstill when the cloth has reached a predetermined point, a sewing-machine located outside the feeding-line of said cloth manually controlled, means substantially as shown whereby motion is transmitted to said sewing-machine when the before-mentioned mechanisms are at rest for the purpose of attaching another piece of cloth to the end of the piece previously engaged by the machine, for the purpose set forth.

7 In a machine of the character described, consisting, in combination with the clothguide, of an overlying guide-plate adapted for guiding interlining-strips of cloth, said plate made of a single piece of metal and provided with upturned fingers to operate as guides for the edges of said strips, combined with an overlying tension device for such strips, for the purpose set forth.

8. The herein-described improvement in rotatable cutters adapted to cut cloth into three individual strips of any predetermined width, said improvement consisting of a pair of ar bors placed one above the other each carrying a pair of cutters, the distance between the cutters on one of said arborsmaintained by a filling piece or gage, means whereby said gage is prevented from falling off during the cutting process, one of the cutters on the other of said arbors fixed, the other held in cutting position by spring tension, a fixed collar ad just-ably secured to the arbor and in close proximity to the hub of the said spring-actuated cutter, a spring placed between said hub and collar, means Whereby the hub of said cutter and the collar are adjustably connected together, for the purpose set forth.

9. The combination, With a cloth tensionguide of the character described, of auxiliary guides projecting from the side bars of said tension-guide and adapted to engage the edges of the cloth before enterlng said tension-guide and exert a pressure on said edges causing the same to slightly curl under and thus prevent folding or lapping. of the cloth over upon itself as it enters the said tension-guide, for the purpose set forth.

Signed at Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, this 29th day 01" July, A. D. 1899.

ABRAHAM L. ADAMS.

Witnesses:

SIG. DORMITZER, J. W. CAMP.

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