May 



«9°3 j 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



265 



AUTOMATIC MKASURING OF RUBBER COATED FABRICS. 



T" 1 H E automatic measuring of fabrics of all sorts, and inci- 

 dentally for use in rubber factories, bas been for some 

 years a fruitful field of invention. The patents on 

 measuring devices have averaged nearly one a month 

 for the past five years, and apparently the end is not yet. It 



may seem invidious in such a multiplicity to single out one line 

 for representation here, but reasons for such a choice will ap- 

 pear before we are through. 



For some years the Curtis & Marble Machine Co. (Worces- 

 ter, Massachusetts) have been giving attention to automatic 

 measurers. In its simplest form the device consists of a meas- 

 uring roll, either one- half yard 

 or one yard in circumference, 

 which by a worm and tooth 

 device turns a dial attached to 

 its support. A nip-roll pre- 

 vents the cloth from slipping 

 on the measuring roll. Figure 

 i shows such a device as ar- 

 ranged for attachment to the 

 frames or top of a machine by 

 flat feet. In this case the nip- 

 roll is of wood. Another form, 



shown in Figure 2, works in F 



similar fashion, but has an iron 



nip-roll, and is arranged for attachment to upright posts. A 

 third form, available when the nip-roll is for any reason objec- 

 tionable, is shown in Figure 3. This device is especially used 

 in woolen mills, where the goods to be measured are drawn 

 through by hand. The measurer in this case is attached either 

 to hangers or to posts. This form can be used not only where 



the goods are drawn through by hand, but also where power or 

 a distant machine furnishes the propelling force. 



All these measures are made in a great variety of form, as to 



the point at which the dial is placed or the part of a machine 

 where the device is attached. But all have the dials nicke 

 plated, either single, 

 measuring 60, 75. or rJt.^l! 



100 yards, or double, 

 measuring 2600 or 

 5100 yards. A simple 

 push is all that is 

 necessary to set the 

 pointer at zero at the 

 end of each roll. A 

 clock dial measuring 

 1000 yards is also fur- 

 nished where de- 

 sired. 



The data needed 

 for the making of 



, FIG. 4. 



such a roll are as 



follows : Length of roll, circumference (% yard or yard), num- 

 ber of yards to be registered, whether the dial is to be placed 

 at the right or left end of the roll and above or below the 

 shaft, whether the top of the roll turns toward or from a person 



facing the dial. Dials and 

 worms are also obtainable to 

 fit measuring rolls by giving 

 in addition the size of the 

 shaft to which the worm is to 

 be fitted. 



It sometimes happens that 

 the construction or situation 

 of a machine makes any such 

 arrangement of the dial im- 

 practicable. In that case a 

 pulley arrangement is availa- 

 ble, with small belts to con- 

 2. 



nect the dial in almost any 



convenient position. When absolute accuracy is required, an 

 adjustable device can be obtained in which the variable diam- 

 eter of an expansion pulley makes accuracy possible. Figure 

 4 shows the way in which such a device is attached to a cal- 

 ender rolling machine. This device is used in many factories 

 where goods are sold by the piece without remeasuring. 

 Sometimes it is desir- 

 able to measure above 

 5000 yards at once. To 

 meet this demand a 

 counting register (Fig- 

 ure 5) is attachable to 

 measuring rolls. This 

 register serves for meas- 

 urements up to 100,000 

 yards. 



Elastic fabrics are dif- 

 ficult to measure except 

 by special machines that 

 are fitted with adjust- 

 able tension, two forms 

 of which are shown in Figures 6 and 7. In the simpler form 

 shown in Figure 6, the tension is regulated by friction rods. 

 Guide collars keep the ends of the rolls even, and the machine 

 is adjusted to wind upon boards from four to nine inches wide 



