Now to explain how this is done automatically we will refer to Fig. 55, which shows the cam side of the carriage of the automatic widening machine. It will be noted that on the ends of the four fixed extensions b1, b2, b3 and b4, there are rollers a1 to a4, attached with shouldered screws whose heads are flush with the end of the rollers. As we are dealing with only one we will select a1, which is the one that would operate on the block a, Fig. 54, when turned over and placed on the machine.
This roller is in the proper position to engage the cam b (Fig. 54) when the carriage is at the right end of the machine, and when the carriage is at the end of its travel the roller would be at about the point B.
It naturally follows that inasmuch as cam b is attached to the block a on an inclined plane, and the block a is attached to the frame of the machine in such a manner that it cannot move lengthwise of the machine, but may be moved freely in an up-and-down direction, when the roller moves through the camway between cam b and cam c the block must move upward, thereby pushing up one needle. Upon the return of the carriage the roller coming in contact with cam c will return the block to its first position.
When the block a is moved down by the roller, after pushing up the needle, it must necessarily draw the slide g back to the position shown, and inasmuch as the lever f slides freely lengthwise on the shaft e, and there is nothing to prevent, the weight p will draw all of this part of the mechanism over one needle or until the stop h comes in contact with the next needle spring n.
Fig. 55.
Under or Cam Side of Carriage, Dubied Automatic Widening Machine.
Now, it should be understood that, as a rule, a fabric is not widened a needle each round, therefore the block a (Fig. 54) is arranged so it will drop below the plane of travel of the roller a1 (Fig. 55) when widening is not desired. Perhaps it would be more correct to say that the normal position of block a is below the plane of travel of the roller a1, therefore out of operation and is raised up in the path of this roller by a stud on the widening chain A, Fig. 53, at the proper time to push the needle up into operation. Upon the return of the carriage it drops down to its normal position until another needle is to be added to the fabric. The position of the block a in Fig. 54, in relation to the rest of the machine, may be seen at B in Fig. 53.
Returning the Needles
As stated before, a fabric to be shaped on this machine must be started at its narrowest part, therefore when the garment or part of a garment is finished, these needles which have been pushed up to widen it must be returned to their lowest position where they are out of operation, in order to start a new piece. This is where the second and lower butts of the needles come into use. They are operated on by the cams c1 to c4, and d1 to d4, Fig. 55.
