US1090335A - Safety device for lap-machines and the like. - Google Patents

Description

J. J. OMEARA. SAFETY DEVICE FOR LAP MACHINES AND'THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 21, 1912. 1,090,335. Patented Mar. 17, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

J. J. OMEARA.

SAFETY DEVICE FOR LAP MACHINES AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 21, 1912.

7 Mina/Jar 617W 5, 97mm Patented Mar. 17, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

swzafz rsmm J. J. OMEARA.

SAFETY DEVICE FOR LAP MACHINES AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 21, 1912.

1,090,335. Patented Mar.17,1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

QB .12 170 J2" 91 9 fidornyr human STATESEATENT orricn JAMES J. OMEARA, OF FITCHBURG, MASSACHUSETTS,

ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-SEVENTH TO WILLIAM E. KEACH AND ONE-SEVENTH TO ROBERT A. SPROWSON, BOTH OE EITCHBURG, MASSACHUSETTS,

ONE-SEVENTH T0 EDWARD W. ATKINSON, 0E

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ONE-SEVENTH TO ANDREW W. BELL, ONE-SEVENTH TO JOSEPH D. BELL, AND ONE-SEVENTH TO WILLIAM A. BELL, ALL OF HOLYOKE,

MASSACHUSETTS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 17, 1914.

Application filed November 21, 1912. Serial No. 732,632.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, JAMES J. OMEARA, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fitchburg, in the county of iVorcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Safety Device for Lap-Machines and the like, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a safety device for use on doubler-s or sliver laps, also on derby doublers, ribbon laps, and all machines for the same general purpose. In machines of this character a lap or sliver is wound on a lap roll which is supported and rotated by a pair of rotary drums below.

It has been found in practice that, particularly when the material is commencing to be wound on the roll, it is apt to have a rough appearance. Although it does not need guidance by the hand of the operator, yet it is common for operators to attempt to smooth out the sliver or lap and in doing so they are liable to get their lingers caught between the heavy rolls. Many accidents of this kind have occurred, and it is the principal object of this invention to provide practicable and efficient means for preventing the occurrence of such accidents.

The invention also involves a shield movably mounted on the mechanism which receives the lap roll and capable of movement independently thereof; means for positively locking the shield in such position as to pre vent access on the part of the operator to the material on the roll; and means for an tomatically unlocking the shield when the lap roll is moved up so that the lap thereon is out of engagement with the drums.

The invention also involves various improvements in the details of construction and arrangement of parts relating to these features, as will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is an end elevation of a sliver lap machine of well-known construction showing how a preferred embodiment of this in vention can be applied thereto and showing the parts in the position assumed when the lap roll is full and the shield is elevated to give access thereto; Fig. 2 is a similar view of a portion of the same machine showing the parts in locked operative position; Fig. 3 1s a front View of the same with the parts in the position shown in Fig. 2; Fig. i is a plan of the same; Fig. 5 is a plan on enlarged scale of a portion of the locking device for the shield; Fig. (5 is an end elevation thereof; Fig. 7 is an end elevation of the belt shifter and connected parts; Fig. 8 is a rear elevation of the same; and Fig. 9 is a side view on enlarged scale of the controlling device for the parts shown in Figs. 7 and 8.

The invention is shown as applied to a sliver lap machine which, as is well known in this art, comprises a frame 10, and a pair of fluted drums 11. These drums are positively driven by mechanism, not shown herein, but well understood in this art. This mechanism is located on the end of the machine on the side opposite that shown in Fig. l and controlled by a tight pulley 12. The loose pulley 12 is also shown. Located at the bottom of the frame is a shaft 13 having a hand wheel 14 thereon for operating it and provided with two pinions 15 meshing with vertically slidable racks 16. On this shaft also is a pulley 17. Pivotcd on a fixed projection 18 extending down from the frame a countcrweighted trcadle 19 which carries a friction plate 20 adapted to engage the pulley 17 and prevent rotation of the shaft 13 and descent of the racks 16. The racks extend upwardly above the fluted drums 11 and each one is provided with a support 22 located beyond the ends of the two drums and above them which carries a metal roll 23 on the top thereof: journalcd therein. These two rolls rest on a pair of hubs 24, each one of which is provided with a lap plate 25. These hubs are hollow and through them passes a shaft 26 having a worm 27 on one end and an operating hand wheel 28 on the other. The hub 24 on one end has a thread which the worm 27 fits, so that the hand wheel can be operated to turn this worm out of the thread, and then the shaft can be withdrawn. Then the shaft is in place it is supported by av lap roll 29 through which the shaft 26 passes. The lap or sliver is wound on the lap roll as usual, being guided thereto from a pair of calender 65 the knock-offs about their rolls 30. It will be obvious that, as the drawings are directed to this roll 29 underneath the same and over the drum 11 and the drums are rotated in the direction indicated by the arrows, the roll 29 will rotate and draw the sliver or lap around it, winding it up thereon. It is obvious also that the gradual increase in the amount of material on this roll 29 will cause it to rise, as the roll is supported on the drums. The racks 16 hang on this roll from the rolls 28 and all these parts together put a certain amount of pressure on it to keep the material on it firmly in contact with the drums.

As so far described the machine is Well understood in the art. I will now proceed to describe the safety device which constitutes this invention. On the brackets 22 are placed extensions 31, each of which is provided with an inclined member 32 extending up about to'the top of the lap plates 25. The extensions 31 extend upwardly substantially in a vertical direction and they support a transverse shaft or rod 33. On this rod is pivotally mounted a shield 34 which is of arcuate shape to fit the edges of the two lap plates and preferably is formed of sheet steel or other suitable material. It is shown as provided with some perforations 35 by which the operator can see if anything goes wrong in the operation of the device, but too small to permit the getting of fingers in between the rolls. This shield is provided with vertical notches 36 on each side, and the brackets 31 are provided with horizontal pivots 38 on which locking pins 39 are pivoted. The locking pins are adapted to lie in horizontal position so as to extend into the notches 36 in the shield. Pivotally mounted on studs 40 on the shield are two knock-off members 41 each having a surface at 42 adapted to engage under a locking pin 39 and normally resting on the shaft 33. These knock-off members are provided with a passage therethrough through which extends a wire 43*connected with the end of a flexible member or chain 44. This also extends into an elongated slot in the shield. The other end of this chain 44 is fixed to a stationary part of the frame of the machine.

The operation of the parts so far described is very simple. With the parts in the position shown in Fig. 2 the chain 44 is slack and has no effect. The pins 39 are over in the slots 36 and positively prevent the swing ing of the shield on the pivot rod 33. YVhen the cotton or other material is wound up on the lap roll until it is filled, the lap roll will finally assume the position indicated on Fig. 1, being held up by the fluted drums. The chains 44 come to a taut position before the lap roll is filled, and a further rise of the lap roll causes the taut chains to pull down on the ends of the knock-offs 41, and swing pivots so that the stop 60. It will engaged the stop 60 as shown in Fig. 8, the

they raise the pins 39 from the position shown in Figs. 8, 5, and 6 to the position shown in Fig. 1, releasing the shield. A slight further rise in the parts causes the hooks 43 to reach the lower end of the slots 45 and swing the shield up automatically so that the hand wheel 28 can be turned, its shaft withdrawn, and the lap roll drawn out on the lap cradle 49. If the operator desires he canat any time step on the treadle to release the friction plate 20 from the pulley 17 and turn the hand wheel 14 to raise the lap roll and connected parts until the shield is unlocked V and raised.

The invention also involves the provision of means for preventing the starting of the machine when the shield is not in position to cover the roll. F or this purpose the usual belt shifter 50, shipper handle 51, and ship I per rod 52 are employed for moving the beltfrom the tight pulley 12 tothe loose pulley 12 and vice versa. On the shipper rod 52 is an arm 55 which is shown as connected with a link 56 that can be operated in a way common to machines of this kind. The connections with this arm, therefore, are not illustrated. Connected with the arm 55 is a rod 57 which is normally pressed by a spring 58 connected with a stationary part 59 of the frame, against the arm 55, to keep the belt on the loose pulley. The shipper handle can be used in connection with any usual mechanism to keep it in its extreme positions, but of course is aranged for ready manipulation. The rod 57 is provided with a stop 60 adapted to be engaged by a dog 61 fixed on a shaft 62. This shaft is provided with a handle (33 for turning it to move the dog 61 into and out of position for engaging be obvious that when rod 57, arm 55, and belt shifter 50 cannot be moved to bring the belt over on the tight pulley. Consequently the parts are locked and the machine cannot be started. On one of the vertically sliding racks 16 is a member 64 in position to engage an arm 65 on the shaft 62 when the rack 16 is in its uppermost position. This prevents the shaft 62 from being turned in the direction to dislodge the dog 61 from the stop 60. When, however, the rack descends to its lowermost position a chain 66 connected with the rack and extending part way around the hub on which the arm 65 is located, will turn this hub and arm, and consequently the shaft, and release the rod 57 without the attention of the operator. A stop 67 is shown for engaging the frame at this time, and preventing too great a revolution of the shaft 62.

From what has been said it will be seen that whenever the shield is up, which occurs only when the racks are raised to their highest position, the operator cannot start the machine, so that while the parts are in position for the removal of the old roll and the insertion of a new one, there is no possibility of the machine being started. When the parts get down to the position in which it is necessary to start the machine the lever shaft 62- is operated automatically, leaving only the ordinary shipper lever 51 for the operator to manipulate. During all this time the shield is locked down and it continues to be locked until the roll is completed. In this way the operator is protected from the accidents which have been described and yet the operation of the machine is not complicated.

Although I have illustrated and described only a single form of the invention, and shown it as applied only to one type of ma.- chine, I am aware of the fact that the invention can. be carried out in many other forms and applied to all machines of this general type without departing from the scope of the invention as expressed in the claims. Therefore I do not wish to be limited in these respects, but

What I do claim is 1. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a frame, a pair of rotary supporting drums thereon adapted to carry a lap roll between them and a lap roll shaft, of a pair of brackets connected with the lap roll shaft to move up and down therewith, a shield pivotal ly supported by said brackets extending forwardly therefrom and adapted to swing up and down on its axis, means carried by said brackets for engaging said shield and locking it with respect to its pivot, and means connected with. said frame for moving the locking means to inoperative position when the brackets rise beyond a certain limit.

2. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a pair of rotary drums, a lap roll carried between them, a shaft above said lap roll, a shield carried by said shaft and adapted to swing up and down thereon, a locking device, the shield having a notch for receiving the locking device, and means for automatically moving said locking device out of the notch when the lap roll is elevated to a predetermined height.

3. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a lap roll, a shield carried with the lap roll, and having a notch, a locking device mounted to move into said notch, a knock-olf having a sl'irfaee for engaging said locking device and lifting it out of said notch when the knock-off moves, and a flexible member connected with a stationary part of the machine and with said knock-off for moving it when the knock-off moves to a predetermined point.

4. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a pair of rotary supporting drums adapted to carry a lap roll between them, and a lap roll shaft, of a pair of brackets supported by the lap roll shaft to move up and down therewith, a shield pivotally carried by said brackets extending forwardly from its pivot, and means carried by said brackets for locking said shield down with respect to its pivots.

In a machine of the character described, the combination of a pair of rotary supporting drums, a lap roll adapted to be carried between them, a pair of brackets mounted to move up aml down with the lap roll, a shaft siupporlcd by said brackets, a shield carried by said shaft and adapted to swing up and down thereon, and means for locking said shield in its lowermost position, said means comprising a locking pin pivoted to swing on a horizontal axis, the shield having a notch for receiving the pin.

6. In a machine of the character described, the combinatimi of a pair of rotary drums, a lap roll carried between them, a shaft above said lap roll, a shield carried by said shaft and adapted to swing up and down thereon, a locking pin pivoted to swing on a horizontal axis, the shield having a notch for receiving the pin, and means for aiuzomatically lifting said pin when the lap roll. is elevated to a l'n'odeterinined height.

7. In a machine of the character described, the combimitirui of a lap roll, a shaft movable with said lap roll, a shield carried by said shaft and having a notch, a locking pin 'voted to swing on a horizontal axis into and out of said notch, means for elevating the lap roll, a pivoted member, and means for operating said pivoted member to cause it to engage said pin and lift it out of the notch when the lap roll is elevated.

8. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a lap roll, a shield carried with the lap roll, and having a vertical notch at the top thereof, a locle ing pin pivoted to swing on a horizontal axis into said notch, a pivoted knock-oil having a surface for engaging said pin and lifting it out of said notch when the knockoff is swung on its pivot, and a flexible member connected with a stationary part of the machine and with said knock-elf for swinging it when the knock-oil rises to a predetermined point.

9. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a lap roll, a locking pin pivoted to swing on a horizontal axis, a movable shield having a notch for receiving the pin, a knock-elf pivoted on said shield and having a surface for engaging said pin and lifting it out of said notch when the knock-oil is swung on its pivot, and a flexible member connected with a stationary part of the machine and with said knock-off for swinging it when the knock-oil rises to a, predetermined point, said shield having an elongated slot for receiving the end of said flexible connection, whereby after the knockoff is operated, the con tinued upward motion of the lap roll will cause said flexible connection to engage the end of said slot and swing the shield on its pivot in the same direction.

10. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a pair of rotary drums, a lap roll carried between them, a pivoted locking pin, a pivoted shield having a notch for receiving the pin, a pivoted knock-off having a surface for engaging said pin and lifting it out of said. notch when the knock-off is swung on its pivot, and aexible member connected with a stationary part of the machine and with said knock-off for swinging it when the knockoff rises to a predetermined point, said shield having an elongated slot for receiving the end of said flexible connection, the point at which the flexible connection en gages the knock-off and shield being on the side of the pivot thereof opposite the main body of the shield.

11. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a movable frame having a shaft thereon, a shield pivoted on said shaft and extending from one side thereof and also having a projection on the opposite side of the shaft, a pivoted knockoff on said opposite side of the shaft, a lockingpin, means whereby when the knock-01f is rotated on its pivot it will move the pin out of the notch, and means whereby when the frame moves beyond a certain point the knock-off will be swung on its pivot to re lease the pin and thereafter cause the shield to be swung on its pivot.

12. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a vertically movable frame having a horizontal shaft thereon, a shield pivoted on said shaft and extending from one side thereof and also having a projection on the opposite side of the shaft, a knock-off pivoted to said shield on said opposite side of the shaft, and a looking pin, said knock-off having a surface normally engaging said locking pin, whereby w ran the knock-off is rotated on its pivot it will raise the pin out of the notch, whereby when the frame rises beyond a certain point the knock-off will be swung on its pivot to release the pin and thereafter cause the shield to be swung on its pivot.

13. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a vertically movable frame, a shield pivoted on said frame and extending from one side thereof and also having a. projection on the opposite side, a knock-off pivoted to said shield on said opposite side of the frame, said shield having a notch at the top thereof, a locking pin pivoted at a point adjacent to said notch and adapted to engage in the notch to prevent rotation of the shield about its pivot, said knockoff having a surface normally engaging said locking pin, whereby when the knocleofl" is rotated on its pivot it will raise the pin out of the notch, said shield also having an elongated slot, and a flexible member pivotally secured to said knock-off, extending into said elongated slot, and hav ing its other end fixed to a stationary part of the machine, whereby when the frame rises beyond a certain point the flexible member will cause the knoclr-ofl to be swung on its pivot to release the pin from the notch and thereafter cause the shield to be swung on its pivot.

14. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a movable frame, a shield pivoted on said frame, a knocleofl pivoted to said shield, a locking device to prevent rotation of the shield about its pivot, means whereby when the knock-0H is rotated on its pivot it will disconnect the locking device, said shield also having an elongated slot, and a flexible member secured to said knock off, extending into said elongated slot, and having its other end fixed to a stationary part of the machine, whereby when the frame moves beyond a certain point the flexible member will cause the knock-off to be swung on its pivot to cause the shield to be swung on its pivot.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES J. GMEARA. Witnesses Bonner A. SrRowsoN, VVILLIAM E. KEAoH.

the tommiseioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C.

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