US1284905A

US1284905A - Wire-weaving machine.

Info

Publication number: US1284905A
Application number: US13439516A
Authority: US
Inventors: Alva L Kitselman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1916-12-01
Filing date: 1916-12-01
Publication date: 1918-11-12
Anticipated expiration: 1935-11-12

Description

A. L. KITSELMAN.

WKRE WEAVING MACHiNE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 191a.

1,28%,9Q5 Patented Nov. 12, 1918.

7$HEET$-$HEET l & 1 van/ran A. L. KITSELMAN WIRE WEAVING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 050.1, 1916.

Patented Nov. 12, 1918.

I SHEETS-.SHEEEZ.

A. MYSELF/IAN. WIRE WEAVLNG MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC-1.19MB. 1,284,965.,

Patented NGV. 12, R318.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

M/ van r01 A. L. KITSELMAN.

WIRE WEAVING MACHINE.

APPLICATION mgu use. I. 1916.

l ,284,905. Patented Nov. 12, 1918.

ISHEETS-SHEET 4.

Arr'YIs A. L. KITSELMAN.

WIRE WEAVING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED use. I. 1916.

Patented Nov. 12, 1918.

1SHEETS-SHEET 5.

//V VENIO)? A. L. KITSELMAN.

WIRE WEAVING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC-1.1916.

Pn t ented Nov. 12, 1918.

7 SHEETSSHEEI 6.

A. L. KITSELMAN.

WIRE WEAVING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 1. 191a.

Patented Nov. 12, 1918.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 7.

ALVA L. KITSELMAN, 0F MUNCIE, INDIANA.

WIRE-WEAVIN G MACHINE.

nasaeoa.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 12, 1918.

Application filed December 1, 1916. Serial No. 134,395.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I. ALVA L. KITSELMAN, a citizen of the United States, a resident of Munice, in the county of Delaware and State of Indiana, have invented new and useful Improvements in ire-Weaving Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to machines for weaving Wire fence fabrics; and is designed more especially for weaving light fabrics, such as poultry netting or fabrics which are made up of comparatively light wire having small meshes, which may be used for trailing climbing vines and similar plants. If used as a poultry netting, it may be made in various widths or heights, up to six or seven feet or more, and if used for vines and plants, the fabric may be made in panels of different widths, as may be desired. 1

The present invention is an improvement upon the machine shown, described, and claimed in United States Letters Patent issued to me January 9, 1912, No. 1,014,599.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a support for a plurality of wire connecting devices, and a means for operating said devices; said support adapted to be moved so as to deflect wires engaged by said connecting devices, and said operating means arranged to be moved simultaneously with said support and connecting devices and in the same direction and by a common means, whereby said operating means maintains its driving connection with said wire connecting devices at all times and in the different positions of said support.

The invention has for a further object to provide a support, a plurality of wire connecting devices arranged in a row on said support, each connecting device including a gear, a gear wheel interposed between and meshing with the gears of said connecting devices, an operating shaft journaled on said support, and spiral gears spaced at intervals on said operating shaft, and meshing, preferably, with certain of said interposed gear wheels for transmitting movement from said shaft to said connecting devices.

The invention has for a further object to provide a support on which are journaled a plurality of slotted wire connecting wheels, and means for moving the connected wires in the slots of said wheels to insure their release from said wheels; said wire moving means comprising longitudinally movable bars having sloping faces which ride under and move said wires in the slots of said wheels, and means for imparting forward and return movement to said bars.

A further object of the invention is to improve the wire twisting wheels, by providing each with a replaceable pin having a slot to receive the wires to be twisted, and with a staple, the rounded body portions or stems of which are exposed, presenting smooth surfaces on which the wire or wires entering and leaving the wheels may ride.

The invention consists essentially of a revoluble support or drum, a plurality of twister supports spaced equidistantly around said revoluble support or drum and adapted to be moved axially thereof, the alternate twister supports being movable longitudinally in opposite directions, each twister support making one forward and return movement during each complete rotation of said revoluble support or drum, an operating shaft journaled on each twister support and arranged to be moved lengthwise Simultaneously and in the same direction with each support, spiral gears on said shafts for actuating said twisters, and means to insure the removal of the wires from each twister after each twisting operation.

For a further and full description of the invention herein and the merits thereof, and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means for effecting the result, reference is had to the following description and drawings hereto attached.

While the essential and characteristic features of the invention are susceptible of modification, still the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Figure l is a front elevation of my improved machine, on a greatly reduced scale, some parts being omitted to better illustrate the construction and operation of the same;

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the machine, on the same scale as Fig. 1, the sectional view of the revoluble support or drum being as the same would appear if taken on the line 22 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 3is an end elevation, partly in section,

showing one of the segment gears for actuating certain of the shafts which operate cer tain of the twisters and one of the cams for locking said shafts against rotation during a partial revolution of the revoluble support or drum, the parts being shown on a much larger scale than Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4; is a cross-section of the revoluble support or drum, as the same would appear if taken on the line 41 of Fig. 2, the draw ing beingof the same scale as Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a cross-section of the revoluble support or drum, as the same would appear if taken on the line 55 of Fig. 2, the drawing being of the same scale as Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a detail showing a part of one of the twister supports, the operating means for the twisters and the means for moving said support to deflect the wires engaged by the twisters, said moving means adapted to move the twister actuating means at one and the same time and in the same direction with said support;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a cross-section as the same would appear if taken on the line 88 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is a cross-section as the same would appear if taken on the line 99 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 10 is a face view of one of the twisters;

Fig. 11' shows front and edge elevations of one of the staples;

Fig. 12 shows front and edge elevations of the slotted twister pins used in the twisters;

Fig. 13 is a detail in plan, as the same would appear looking up under the revoluble support or drum, at the right-hand side of Fig. 2, illustrating the cam parts and means engaging the same for reciprocating the bars which move the wires in the slots of the twisters; such figure also showing the connection of wires to form one style of fabric;

Fig. 14- is an elevation of Fig. 13, and

Fig. 15 is a greatly reduced elevation of my machine showing the manner of feeding the wires to the machine and rolling up the finished fabric.

Like characters denote corresponding parts throughout the figures.

The working parts of the machine are supported upon and between the side frames or castings 1 and the bearing supports 2 and 3. 1 designates the driving shaft, 5 the shaft on which are mounted the parts, to be described, constituting the revoluble support or drum, and on said shaft 5 is a large gear wheel 6 which is in mesh with and receives power from a smaller gear'wheel 7 on the driving shaft 4. 8 is a shaft on which is mounted a drum or equivalent means over which the completed fabric passes on its way to the wrapper or reel 9, and the said shaft 8 is driven from the shaft 5 through a gear wheel 10 which meshes with the gear wheel 6. The wrapper or reel 9 may be ofany suitable construction and driven in any suitable manner.

The revoluble support comprising the drum includes the disk-like heads 11 keyed or otherwise suitably secured to the shaft 5 so as to rotate therewith; said heads 11 being spaced apart so as to be at or near the opposite ends of the rows of twisting devices, to be described, and should the machine be constructed to manufacture a relatively high fence other and additional heads might be employed between the present heads 11. The peripheral surfaces of the heads 11 are provided with the plurality of flat surfaces 13, and disposedaxially of the revoluble support and having movement across said fiat surfaces 13 are a plurality of pairs of preferably angle-shaped bars 12, the same being spaced from each other and having journaled therebetween a plurality of twisting wheels 1 1. These twisting wheels are each provided with gear teeth 15 and with a slot 16 extending from its peripheral surface to the axis of the Wheel. To journal each of the wheels 14 between the pairs of bars 12, said bars each have anannular recess 17 in their matching faces, and having abearing in said recesses are extended hub portions 18 of said wheels. Each pair of bars are secured together to retain the twister wheels in operative relation therebetween by connecting one end of each of said bars to a web 19 of a bearing sleeve 20; said webs 19 being inserted between the bars 12 and secured thereto by bolts 21, or other securing means. The opposite end of each of the bars 12 is likewise connected to a web 22 of a bearing sleeve 23; such webs being inserted between the bars 12 and secured thereto in like manner as the webs 19 of the bearing sleeves 20, that is, by bolts 21, or other securing means. The

webs

19 and 22 of the

respective bearing sleeves

20 and 23 serve also as the spacing means for retain ing the bars 12 in proper spaced relation to insure the bars not binding upon the twisting wheels 14. The bearing

sleeves

20 and 23 are located outside the heads 11, the sleeves 20 being somewhat longer than the sleeves 23 and having the laterally extended stems 24 on which are journaled rollers 25, for purposes to be explained. The sleeves 23 are normally spaced from the head 11 to allow for the longitudinal movement of the bars 12 on the revoluble support.

In the operation of the machine, the alternate pairs of bars 12 are reciprocated in opposite directions during each revolution of the rcvoluble support, and as a means ofaccomplishing this result the bearing sleeve 20 and roller 25 for one pair of bars 12 are located at one end and the sleeve and roller for the next succeeding pair of bars are located at the opposite end, and this arrangement is carried out alternately with each pair of bars 12.

Having a bearing in the

sleeves

20 and 23 of each pair of 'bars 12,.is a rotatable shaft 26. These shafts, as is obvious, extend axially of the revoluble support, and pass through openings 27 in the heads 11. Other bearings are provided for the shafts 26, designated 28, and said bearings are secured to the underside of the bars 12 by screws 29 (see Fig. 6) or other suitable means. There may be as many or as few bearings 28 as necessity may require. On the end of each shaft 26 extending beyond the bearing sleeve 20, is carried a small gear wheel 30, for purposes to be explained, and on each shaft 26 between the bearing sleeve 20 and the head 11, is carried a collar 31. The shafts 26 when assembled in manner explained, retain the pairs of bars 12 in workingposition on the flat surfaces 13 of the heads 11; and the connection between the bearing

sleeves

20 and 23 and the bars 12, and the gear wheels 30 and collars 31, provides the means which make it possible for reciprocating the bars 12 on the revoluble support and during such reciprocation, reciprocate the shafts 26 simultaneously therewith.

It is through the shafts 26 that motion is imparted to the twister wheels 14. I accomplish the transmission of motion from these shafts to the twister wheels as follows: Disposed between the twister wheels and having bearings in the bars 12 are gear wheels 32, the teeth of these gear wheels meshing in the teeth 15 of the twister wheels 14 next adjacent. Each gear wheel 32 has oppositely extended hub portions similar to the hubs 18 of the twister wheels 14, and said hubs have bearings in recesses in the bars 12 similar to the recesses .17 in said bars, in which the hubs of the twister wheels 14 have a bearing. On the shafts 26 at suitable intervals and meshing with only certain of the gear wheels 32 I provide spiral gear wheels 33. It is thus obvious that when a shaft 26 is rotated the spiral gear wheels 33 thereon will rotate the gear wheels 32 in meshing relation therewith and that said gear wheels 32 will, in turn, transmit movement to the next adjacent twister wheels 14 and that such movement so imparted will be imparted to the entire complement of gear wheels 32 and twister wheels 14 journaled between each pair of bars 12. v

To actuate the shafts 26 the gear wheels 30 on the ends of each will intermittently mesh with the teeth of a segment gear wheel 34 extending part way around the surface of a drum 35. There are two of such drums 35, one at each end of the revoluble support and bolted or otherwise suitably secured to the frame of the machine. Each drum 35 is also provided circun'iferentially on the surface thereof with a cam track 36 in which move the rollers 25 journaled on the bearing sleeves 20. The

shape of these cam tracks 36 is such that the one at the left-hand end of the machine will cause the rollers 25 moving therein to shift the bars 12 and shaft 26, first toward the left-hand end of the machine and back again, one complete reciprocation of the bars 12 and shaft 26 taking place during one revolution of the revoluble support. The cam track 36 at the right-hand end of the machine causes the rollers 25 moving therein to shift the bars 12 and shaft 26, first toward the right-hand end of the machine and back again, one complete reciprocation of the bars 12 and shaft 26 taking place during one revolution of the revoluble support.

Encircling only a portion of the surfaces of the drum 35 I provide the cam surfaces 37, and designed to have a bearing with and ride on said cam surfaces 37 are the semi-circular bearing blocks 38 which extend axially from the gear wheels 30 on the ends of the shafts 26. The relation between the cam surfaces 37 and the segment gear wheels 34 on the drums 35 is such that during a partial rotation of the revoluble support the gear wheels 30 will enter into and mesh with the teeth of the segment gears 34 and impart rotation to the shafts 26 and the twister wheels 14, in manner described, and that during the remainder of the revolution of said revoluble support, the flat surfaces of said semi-circular bearing blocks 38 will engage and ride on the cam surfaces 37, holding the shafts 26 against rotation. The position of the end of the cam surface 37 and the beginning of the teeth of the segment gears 34 on the revoluble support will be determined according to the meeting point of the wires to be connected by the twister wheels 14, and the end of the segment gears 34 and the beginning of the cam surfaces 37 on the revoluble support will be determined by the number of revolutions necessary or desirable to be given to the twister wheels 14, to connect the wires of the fabric.

As previously stated, each twister wheel has a wire receiving slot 16, and to permit the wire or wires of the fabric to enter said slot the bars 12 are provided with slots 38'. To provide for a proper impinging relation between the twister wheels and the wires to be twisted. in the slots thereof, while at the same time providing for the wear incident to such twisting operation, there is inserted into each twister wheel a hard steel pin 39. These pins each have the cylindrical body portion 40 and the tapered split end 41, produeing the wire slot 42, and the opposite sides of said split portion of the pin have beveled surfaces 43 to obviate sharp edges on the pin on which the wires will ride entering and leaving the slot 42. Each twister wheel has an opening 44 into which a pin 39 may be inserted and removed, and when the pin has been secured the tapered split end 41 will be positioned in the slot 16 of the twister Wheel. These pins will take up all the wear incident to the twisting operation in the twister wheels and maybe replaced by other pins when worn.

44 designates staples Which are arranged in pairs and connected to the pairs of bars 12 so as to bridge the same in the manner shown, the arcuate ends of said staples extending beyond the outer edges of the bars 12 and curved laterally as at 45 in opposite directions from each other. The stems 46 of the staples are secured in the downwardly and outwardly disposed sockets 47 in the bars 12, and the adjacent walls of the opposite sockets, being the walls of the slots 38 in said bars 12, are cut away as at 48 so as to expose the rounded surfaces of the stems 46 of said staples 44' (see Fig. 9). These exposed portions of the staples 44 present rounded smooth surfaces for the wires entering andleaving the slots 38 in the bars 12 and can be easily replaced when worn, instead of having the wires rub on the bars 12 and necessitate their being replaced at considerable eX-pense. The projecting and curved ends of the staples 44 form a guide and entrance way to the slots 88 in the bars 12 and slots 16 in the twister wheels, for the wires of the fabric.

The strand or line wires A of the fabric are fed from suitable reels or spools, not shown, over guide wheels 49 on a shaft 50 down and around guide wheels 51 on a shaft 52 and down and around the revoluble support, entering the slots 88 in the bars 12 and the slots 16 of the twister wheels 14 as they are rotated into receiving position by the revoluble support, leaving the revoluble support in an approximately diametric position from where the wires A enter the twister wheels and pass over the drum on the shaft 8 and being wound on the reel or take-up device 9. The mesh-forming wires B are fed from suitable reels or spools, not shown, over guide wheels 49 disposed on the shaft 50 between the guide wheels 49 over which the wires A are carried, and down and around guide wheels 53 on a shaft 54. Said wires B enter the slots 38 of the bars 12 and the slots 16 in the twister wheels 14 just prior to the reciprocation of the bars 12 and the operating shafts 26, in manner described, and when so shifted, the slots 38 in the bars 12 Will coincide With the strand or line wires A which will next enter therein. The wires A and B will enter the slots 38 in the bars 12 and the slots 16 of the twister wheels 14 just prior to the gear wheels 30 on the operating shafts 26 entering into mesh with the teeth of the segment gears 34.

To insure the removal of the twisted wires from the slots 42 in the split pins 89 in the twister wheels 14, at the point where the completed fabric leaves the'revoluble support, I provide the reciprocal bars 55 arranged in pairs, one on each side of the bars 12, the corresponding ends of the said bars connected by a cross-bar 56 which bridges the bars 12 in the manner shown, and journaled approximately centrally of one of said cross-bars 56, connecting each pair of bars 55, is a roller 57.

The bars 55 are each provided with the beveled surfaces 58 and 59 converging toward each other, the point of meeting of such beveled surfaces, when the bars 55 are in their normal retracted position, being approximately coincident with the bottom of the slot 88" in the bars 12, the surfaces 59 having a more gradual slope than the surfaces 58, for a purpose which I will now eXpla'in. When the bars 55' are reciprocated in a forward direction, the sloping surfaces 59 ride beneath the twisted portions C of the wires A and B causing the same to be moved out of the slots 42 in the pins 39 facilitatin'g their easy removal from the slots 16in the twister wheels 14 and the slots 38 inthe bars 12; and immediately after this said bars 55 are reciprocated in a reverse direction to their normal position shown in Fig. 6.

During the rotation of the revoluble support the rollers 57 in regular progressive order will roll on the cam-surface 60 of the cam-block 61, which is of such a contour as will cause the bars 55 to be reciprocated lengthwise on the bars 12 in a forward dimotion, and immediately upon the rollers 57 leaving the cam-block 61, they will roll on the reversely disposed cam surface 62 of the cam-block 63which will cause the bars to be returned to their normal or initial positions. The cam-

blocks

61 and 63 are disposed at a suitable point underneath the revoluble support and are formed on or secured to a support 64.- connected with one of the side frames or castings 1 of the machine. The bars 55 are held against lateral movement on the bars 12 by the cross-bars 56, and are guided in their longitudinal movement and held against displacement on said bars 12 by means of the plates 65 secured to the bars 12 (see Figs. 6, 13, and 14).

In the operation of the machine to manufacture fence fabric, the parts having been assembled and the machine wired with strand or line wires A and mesh-forming Wires B, power will be imparted to the driving shaft 4 and reel shaft in any suitable manner, and said driving shaft will impart motion to the revoluble support on the shaft 5 through the gear wheels 6 and 7. The rotation of the shaft 5' and the heads 11 will progressively present the rollers 25, connected to the respective pairs of bars 12, to the ofiset 66 in the cam-tracks 86 and alternately reciprocate successive pairs of bars 12 in opposite directions, deflecting the mesh-forming wires 13, to form the meshes in the fabric. This movement of the pairs of bars 12 and the deflection of the wires will take place before the bearing blocks 38 leave the cam-surfaces 37 on the drums 35. Immediately after the deflection of the mesh-forming wires B, the bearing blocks 38 will ride 0d of the said cam surfaces 37 and the gear wheels 30 will enter into mesh with the teeth of the segment racks 34:, causing the operating shafts 26 to be rotated, imparting movement to the twister-wheels 1 1, and twisting the strand or line wires A and the mesh-forming wires B together in the manner shown in Fig. 13. During the twisting operation, the rollers 25 will travel in the straight-away portions 67 of the cam tracks 86, and upon the completion of the twisting operation and after the twisted portions 0 of the wires have been moved in the slots of the twister wheels 14, by the bars 55, in manner explained, the rollers 25 will enter theangularly disposed portions 68 of the said cam tracks 36, gradually returning the bars 12 and twister wheels to the positions they should be again in to receive and deflect the mesh-forming wires 13. After the twisting operation and at or about the. time the rollers 25 enter the portions 68 of the cam tracks 36, the gear wheels 30 will leave the segment gears 34 and the bearing blocks will engage and ride on the cam surfaces 37 holding the operating shafts 26 against rotation.

As the rollers 25 leave the angularly disposed portions 68 of the cam-tracks 86 and enter the offsets 66, the bars 12, with which the rollers are connected, will be moved in an endwise direction, and the bearing relation between the bearing-sleeves 20 and the gear wheels 30 will simultaneously move the operating shafts 26 endwise in the same direction with said bars 12, the driving relation between the spiral gear wheels 33 and the gear wheels 32 being maintained. When the rollers 25 leave the straight-away portions 67 of the cam-tracks 36 and enter into and travel through the angularly disposed portions 68 of said cam-tracks, the connection between the rollers 25 and the bars 12 will cause the bars 12 to be reciprocated in an opposite direction, and the bearing relation between the bearing sleeves20 and the collars 31 will simultaneously move the shafts 26 endwise in the same reverse direction.

This operation is continued, the reel or wrapper 9 taking up the fabric as it is finished, and when a sufiicient amount of fabric has been woven the machine may be stopped, the roll of fabric removed, and the operation of the machine again continued for the weaving of further fencing.

What I claim is 1. In a wire weaving machine, the combination of a plurality of wire connecting devices arranged in a row, a support for said wire connecting devices. means for moving said support longitudinally at predetermined intervals for deflecting wires ongaged by said connecting devices, an operating shaft in parallel relation with said support and movable longitudinally therewith, and driving means on said shaft operatively connected with said wire connecting devices.

2. In a wire weaving machine, the combination of a traveling carrier, a plurality of wire connecting devices arranged in a row and supported upon said carrier, means for moving said row of wire connecting devices at predetermined intervals for deflecting wires engaged thereby during the travel of the carrier, an operating shaft in parallel relation with said row of connecting devices and movable endwise and with said connecting devices, and driving means on said shaft operatively connected with said wire connecting devices.

3. In a wire weaving machine, the con bination of a traveling carrier, a plurality of rows of supports mounted upon said carrier, a plurality of wire connecting devices arranged in rows and carried by said supports, means for moving the successive supports lengthwise at predetermined intervals for deflecting wires engaged by the connecting devices carried thereby, an operating shaft for each row of connecting devices, said shafts being in parallel relation with said supports and movable lengthwise therewith, and driving means on each of said shafts operatively connected with the wire connecting devices.

1. In a wire weaving machine, the combination of a traveling carrier, a plurality of rows of supports mounted upon said carrier, a plurality of wire connecting devices arranged in rows and carried by said supports, means for moving the successive supports lengthwise and in opposite directions at predetermined intervals for deflecting wires engaged by the connecting devices carried thereby, an operating shaft for each row of connecting devices, said shafts movable endwise with said supports and in the direction of movement thereof, and driving means on each of said shafts operatively connected with the wire connecting devices.

In a wire weaving machine, the combination of a support adapted to travel in an endless orbit, a plurality of rows of wire connecting devices arranged on said support, means for shifting simultaneously and in succession each row of wire connecting devices at predetermined intervals during the movement of said support for deflecting wires engaged by said connecting devices, a plurality of operating shafts, one for each row of connecting devices and shiftable endwise with its respective row of connecting devices, driving means on each shaft operatively connected with the wire connecting devices, and means for operating said operating shafts.

6. In a wire weaving machine, the combi nation of a plurality of Wire connecting devices arranged in a row, a support for said Wire connecting devices, an operating shaft extending lengthwise of said support and journaled thereon, driving means on said shaft operatively connected with said connecting devices, means for moving said sup port lengthwise to deflect wires engaged by said connecting device, said moving means adapted to move said operating shaft'simultaneously with and in the same direction with said support, and means for intermittently operating said operating shaft, the operation of said shaft taking place subse quently to the deflection of the wires.

7. In a wire weaving machine, the combination of a plurality of twister wheels arranged in a row, each having gear teeth and provided with a wire-receiving slot, gear wheels interposed between said twister wheels and in mesh with the teeth thereof, a common support for said twister wheels and said'interposed gear wheels, means for moving said support lengthwise at predetermined intervals for deflecting wires engaged by said twister wheels, an operating shaft in parallel relation with said support and movable longitudinally therewith, a plurality of gear wheels on said operating shaft meshing with certain of said interposed gear wheels on said support, and means for intermittently operating said shaft.

8. In a wire weaving machine, the combination of a plurality of twister wheels arranged in a row, each having gear teeth and provided with a wire-receiving slot, gear wheels interposed between said twister wheels and in mesh with the teeth thereof, a common support for said twister wheels and said interposed gear wheels, means for moving said support lengthwise at predetermined intervals for deflecting wires engaged by said twister wheels, an operating shaft in parallel relation with said support and movable longitudinally therewith, spiral gearwheels spaced at intervals on said operating shaft, said spiral wheels in mesh with only certain of said interposed gear wheels, and means for intermittently operating said operating shaft.

9; In a wire weaving machine, the combination of a support, a plurality of twister wheels journaled on said support, said twister wheels each having gear teeth and provided with a wire-receiving slot, interposed gear wheels in mesh with the teeth of said twister wheels, an operating shaft disposed lengthwise of said support, bearmgs for said shaft on said support, gear wheels on said shaft in mesh with certain of sald interposed gear wheels on said support, means common to both said support and sald shaft for moving the same lengthwise alternately in opposite directions, a gear wheel on one end of said shaft, a segment gear with which said gear wheel has an intermittent meshing relation, acam, and means on said last-mentioned gear wheel adapted to engage said cam for intermittently locking said operating shaft against rotation.

10. In a wire weaving machine, the combination of a support, a plurailty of twister wheels journaled on said support, said twlster wheels each having gear teeth and provided with a wire-reeciving slot, interposed gear wheels in mesh with the teeth of said twister wheels, an operating shaft disposed lengthwise of said support, bearings for said shaft on said support, gear wheels on sald shaft in mesh with certain of said interposed gear wheels on said support, a roller ourna1ed on one of said bearings, a cam engaged by said roller for intermittently reclprocating the support and operatmg shaft alternately in opposite directions, means for intermittently operating the operatmg shaft, and means for holding said shaft against rotation alternately with the periods of its operation.

11. In a wire weaving machine, the comblnatlon of a support, a plurality oftw'ister wheels journaled in spaced'relation on said support, each twister wheel having gear teeth and provided with a wire-receiving slot, interposed gear wheels journaled on said support and meshing with the teeth of i said twister wheels, an operating shaft in parallel relation with andjournaled on said support, spiral gear wheels disposed at intervals on said operating shaft, each spiral gear wheel meshing with a certain interposed gear wheel, and means for intermittently operating said operating shaft.

12. In a wire weaving machine, the combination of 'a support, a plurality of twister wheels journaled in spaced relation on said support, each twister wheel having gear teeth and provided with a wire-receiving slot, interposed gear wheels journaled on said support and meshing with the teeth of said twister wheels, an operating shaft in parallel relation with, and journaled on said support, spiral gear wheels disposed at intervals on said operating shaft, each spiral gear wheel meshing with a certain interposed gear wheel, meanscommon to both the support and said operating shaft for reciprocating the same alternately in opposite directions, the meshing relation between the spiral gear wheels and said interposed gear wheels being maintained during the reciprocation of said support and said shaft, means for intermittently operating said operating shaft, the operation of said shaft occurring after the reciprocation of said support and shaft in one direction, and means operating alternately with the operation of said shaft for holding the same against rotation.

13. In a wire Weaving machine, the combination of a support, including a pair of spaced parallel bars, bearings at the opposite ends of said bars having spacing means disposed between the bars and secured there to, an operating shaft disposed longitudinally of said support and journaled in said bearings at the opposite ends thereof, a plurality of twister wheels journaled between the bars forming said support, each twister wheel having gear teeth and provided with a wire-receiving slot, interposed gear wheels journaled between the bars of said support and meshing with the teeth of said twister wheels, spiral gear wheels disposed at intervals on said operating shaft, each spiral gear wheel meshing with a certain interposed gear wheel, means common to both said support and said shaft ,for intermittently reciprocating the same in opposite directions, and means for operating said operating shaft after its reciprocation in one direction.

14. In a wire weaving machine, the combination of a support, a plurality of twister wheels journ-aled on said support, each twister wheel having gear teeth and provided with a wire-receiving slot, said support also provided with wire-receiving slots which are coincident with the aXes of said twist-er wheels, an operating shaft, driving means on said shaft operatively connected with said twister wheels, means for intermittently operating said operating shaft, means movable lengthwise of the support and adapted to move wires engaged in the slots of the twister wheels radially of said wheels, and means for intermittently reciprocating said wire moving means.

15. In a wire weaving machine, the combination of a support, a plurality of twister wheels journaled on said support, each twister wheel having gear teeth and provided with a wire-receiving slot, said support also provided with wire-receiving slots which are coincident with the axes of said twister wheels, an operating shaft, driving means on said shaft operatively connected with said twister wheels, means for intermittently operating said operating shaft,

, bars reciprocally carried on said support and having sloping surfaces adapted to ride under and engage wires in the slots of the twister wheels for moving the wires radially of said wheels, and means for interspiral gear wheels in meshing relation with certain of said interposed gear wheels, and means for operating said shaft.

17 In a wire weaving machine, the combination of a support, a plurality of twister wheels j ournaled in spaced relation in a row on said support, said twister wheels having gear teeth and provided with a wirereceiving slot, gear wheels interposed between said twister wheels and meshing with the teeth thereof, an operating shaft disposed longitudinally of the support and journaled thereon, gear wheels on said shaft meshing with certain of said interposed gear wheels, means for operating said shaft, and means movable longitudinally of the support, adapted to engage and move the wires in the slots of said twister wheels.

18. In a wire weaving machine, the combination of a support, a plurality of twister wheels journaled in spaced relation in a row on said support, said twister wheels having gear teeth and provided with a wire-receiving slot, gearwheels interposed between said twister wheels and meshing with the teeth thereof, an operating shaft disposed longitudinally of the support and ournaled thereon, gear wheels on said shaft meshing with certain of said interposed gear wheels, means for operating said shaft, bars reciprocally carried on said support adapted to en gage with wires in the slots of the twister wheels and move said wires in said slots, and means for reciprocating said bars in opposite direction, the reciprocation of said bars occurring after the twisting of the wires by the twister wheels.

19. In a wire weaving machine, the combination of a support, a plurality of twister wheels journaled in spaced relation in a row on said support, said twister wheels having gear teeth provided with a wire-receiving slot, gear wheels interposed between said twister wheels and meshing with the teeth thereof, an operating shaft disposed longitudinally of the support and journaled thereon, gear wheels on said shaft meshing with certain of said interposed gear wheels, means for operating said shaft, bars reciprocally carried on said support and having sloping surfaces which normally coincide with the slots in the twister wheels, and

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which coincide with the axes of said twisterwheels, gear wheels interposed between said twister wheels and in mesh with the teeth thereof, an operating shaft, gear wheels on said shaft in mesh with certain of said in= terposed gear wheels, means for operating said shaft, and staple-like members arran ed in airs and connected with said bars upon opposite sides of the wire-receiving slots therein, portions of said members being exposed to present a rounded surface upon which the wires will ride and entering the slots in the bars and the slot in the twister wheels.

21. In a wire weaving machine, the combination. of a support including a pair of spaced bars, a plurality of twister wheels journaled between said bars in spaced relation, said twister wheels having gear teeth and provided with a wire-receiving slot, said bars provided with wire-receiving slots which coincide with the axes of said twister wheels, gear wheels interposed between said twister wheels and in mesh with the teeth thereof, an operating shaft, gear wheels on said shaft in mesh with certain of said interposed gear wheels, means for operating said shaft,staple-like members arranged in pairs andconnected with said bars upon opposite sides of the wire-receiving slots therein, portions of said members being exposed to present a rounded surface upon which the wires will ride and entering the slots in the bars and the slot in the twister wheels, and means reciprocally carried on said support and adapted to engage the wires and move the same in said slots.

22. In a wire weaving machine, the combination of a support, said support including a pair of longitudinal bars in spaced relation and having wire-receiving slots at intervals therein, a plurality of twister wheels journaled between the bars of said support, a twister wheel being located coincident with the wire-receiving slots in said bars and having gear teeth and also provided with a wire-receiving slot, means for operating said twister wheels, and staplelike members arranged in pairs and disposed upon opposite sides of the wire-receiving slots in said bars, said staple-like members bridging said bars and their arcuate portionsv curved'in opposite directions to pr0- vide a guide-way for the entrance of the wiresinto the wire receiving slots of the bars and said twister wheels,.the portions of the said staple-like members secured in said bars being exposed approximately the whole length of the wire-receiving slots in the bars to provide rounded surfaces on which the wires will ride when entering and leaving said wire-receiving slots.

23. In a wire weaving machine, thecombination of a support, said support including a pair oflongitudi-nal bars in spaced relation, and having wire-receiving slots at intervals therein, a plurality of twister wheels journa-ledbetween the bars ofsaid support, a twister wheel being located co incident with the wire-receiving slots insaid bars and having gear teeth and also provided-with a wire receiving slot, means'for operating said twister wheels, staple-like members arranged in pairs and disposed upon'opposite sides-of the wire-receiving slots in saidLbars, said staple-like members bridging said bars and their arcuatevportions curved in opposite directions to provide a guideway for the entrance of the wires into the wire-receiving .slots of the bars and said twister-wheels,:the portions of the said staple-like members secured in said bars being exposed approximatelyithe whole length of the wire-receivmg slots in the bars to provide rounded surfaces on which the wires will ride when entering and leaving said wire-receiving slots, and means movable longitudinally of the bars adapted to engage and move the wires in the wirereceiving slots in the bars and twister wheels subsequent to the twisting operation.

24. In -a wire weaving machine, the combination of a revoluble drum, a plurality of twister wheels arranged in rows on said drum, each twister wheel having gear teeth and provided with wire-receiving slots, gear wheels interposed between the twister wheels and meshing with the teeth thereof, an operating shaft common to eachrow of twister wheels, gear wheels'in spaced relation upon said operating shafts and meshing with certain of said interposed gear wheels, means for intermittently operating said shafts during the rotation of the drum,

.a pair of bars common to each rowof twister wheels, mounted onsaid drum, and adapted to ,be reciprooated in opposite directions during the rotation of the drunrto engage and move the wires insaid twister wheels, a roller connected with each pair of bars, and means adapted to be engaged by said rollers during the rotation of the drum for reciprocating said bars subsequent to the twisting operation of-each row of twisters.

25. In awire weaving machine, the combination of a-shaft, heads secured to said shaft to rotate therewith and in spaced relation with each other, a plurality of pairs of bars mounted on said heads and adapted to be reciprocated axially of said shaft, a plurality of twister wheels arranged in spaced relation and journaled between each pair of bars, said twister wheels having gear teeth and provided with wire-receiving slots, said twister supporting bars provided with wire-receiving slots coincident with the axes of said twister wheels, gear wheels interposed between said twister wheels and in mesh with the teeth thereof, an operating shaft common to the twister wheels journaled in each pair of reciprocally mounted bars, said operating shafts passing through said heads and journaled in bearings connected with each pair of bars to be reciprocated therewith, means for operating certain of said interposed gear wheels from said operating shafts, means for rotating said first-mentioned shaft and heads, means for reciprocating said pairs of bars in opposite directions during the rotation of said heads, and means for actuating said operating shafts in succession during the rotation of said heads.

26. In a wire weaving machine, the combination of a shaft, heads secured to said shaft to rotate therewith and in spaced relation with each other, a plurality of pairs of bars mounted on said heads and adapted to be reciprocated axially of said shaft, a plurality of twister wheels arranged in spaced relation and journaled between each pair of bars, said twister wheels having gear teeth and provided with wire-receiving slots, said twister supporting bars provided with wire-receiving slots coincident with the axes of said twister wheels, gear wheels interposed between said twister wheels and in mesh with the teeth thereof, an operating shaft common to the twister wheels journaled in each pair of reciprocally mounted bars, said operating shafts passing through said heads and journaled in bearings connected with each pair of bars to be reciprocated therewith, spiral gear wheels in spaced relation on said operating shafts, said spiral gear wheels meshing with certain of said interposed gear wheels, means for rotating said first-mentioned shaft and heads, means for reciprocating said pairs of bars in opposite directions during the rotation of said heads, and means for actuating said operating shafts in succession during the rotation of said heads. a

27. In a wire weaving machine, the combination of a shaft, heads secured to said shaft to rotate therewith and in spaced relation with each other, a plurality of pairs of bars mounted on said heads and adapted tov be reciprocated axially of said shaft, a plurality of twister wheels arranged in spaced relation and journaled between each pair of bars, said twister wheels having gear teeth and provided with wire-receiving slots, said twister supporting bars provided with wire-receiving slots coincident with the axes of said twister wheels, gear wheels interposed between said twister wheels and in mesh with the teeth thereof, an operating shaft common to the twister wheels journaled in each pair of reciprocally mounted bars, said operating shafts passing through said heads and journaled in bearings connected with each pair of bars to be reciprocated therewith, means for operating certain of said interposed gear wheels from said operating shafts, means for rotating said first-mentioned shaft and heads, means for reciprocating said pairs of bars in opposite directions during the rotation of said heads, means for actuating said operating shafts in succession during the rotation of said heads, and means reciprocally associated with each pair of bars adapted when moved in one direction to engage and move wires in the slots of the twister wheels and in said slots in the twister supporting bars.

28. In a wire weaving machine, the combination of a shaft, heads secured to said shaft to rotate therewith and in spaced relation with each other, a plurality of pairs of bars mounted on said heads and adapted to be reciprocated axially of said shaft, a plurality of twister wheels arranged in spaced relation and j ournaled between each pair of bars, said twister wheels having gear teeth and provided with wire-receiving slots, said twister supporting bars provided with wirereceiving slots coincident with the axes of said twister wheels, gear wheels interposed between said twister wheels and in mesh with the teeth thereof, an operating shaft common to the twister wheels journaled' in each pair of reciprocally mounted bars, said operating shafts passing through said heads and journaled in bearings connected with each pair of bars to be reciprocated therewith, spiral gear wheels in spaced relation on said operating shafts, said spiral gear wheels meshing with certain of said interposed gear wheels, means for rotating said first-mentioned shaft and heads, means for reciprocating said pairs of bars in opposite directions during the rotation of said heads, bars reciprocally associated with each pair of twister wheel supporting bars, said bars having sloping surfaces adapted to ride under and engage wires in the slots of the twister wheels and in the slots in said twister supporting bars, to move said wires in said slots, rollers connected with said bars, and cams adapted to be engaged by said rollers during the rotation of said heads for the purpose of reciprocating said bars and moving said wires.

29. In a wire weaving machine, the combination of a shaft, heads secured on said shaft to rotate therewith and in spaced relation with each other, a plurality of pairs of bars mounted on said heads and adapted to be reciprocated axially of said shaft, a plurality of twister wheels journaled between each pair of bars, a plurality of operating shafts, one shaft for each pair of twister supporting bars, said operating shafts being carried through said heads and journaled in bearings connected with each pair of bars to be reciprocated therewith, means for actuating said twister wheels from said operating shafts, drums carried on said first-mentioned shaft outside of and adjacent to said heads, said drums secured non-rotatably on said shaft, cam tracks arrangedfon said drums, rollers connected with the corresponding ends of every other pair of twister supporting bars adapted to travel in the cam track on one of said drums for reciprocating said bars and their operating shafts, first in one direction and then in the opposite direction during the rotation of the heads, rollers connected with the opposite ends of the alternate sets of twister supporting bars adapted to travel in the cam track of the other of said drums for reciprocating said bars and their operating shafts, first in one direction and then in the opposite direction during the rotation of the heads, the alternate pairs of bars and associated operating shafts being successively and alternately reciprocated in opposite directions during the rotation of the heads, segment glear wheels connected with each of said drums, gear wheels secured on the opposite ends of each alternate operating shaft, said gear wheels during the rotation of said heads adapted to mesh with their respective segment gear wheels, and means for operating said first-mentioned shaft.

30. In a wire weavii'i'g machine, the combination of a shaft, heads secured on said shaft to rotate therewith and in spaced relation with each other, a plurality of pairs of bars mounted on said'heads and adapted to be reciprocated axially of said shaft, a

plurality of twister wheels journaled be tween each pair of bars, said twister wheels having gear teeth and provided with a wirereceii' ing slot, said twister supporting bars provided with wire-receiving slots coincident with the axes of the twister wheels, a plurality of operating shafts, one shaft for each pair of twister supporting bars, said operating shafts being carried through said heads and journaled in bearings connected with each pair of bars to be reciprocated therewith, means for actuating said twister wheels from said operating shafts, drums carried on said first-mentioned shaft outside of and adjacent to said heads, said drums ed to travel in the cam track on one of said drums for reciprocating said bars and their operating shafts, first in one direction and then in the opposite direction during the rotation of the heads, rollers connected with the opposite ends of the alternate sets of twister supporting bars adapted to travel in the cam track of the other of said drums for reciprocating said bars and their operating shafts, first in one direction and then in the opposite direction during the rotation of the heads, the alternate pairs of bars and associated operating shafts being successively and alternately reciprocatedin 'opposim directions during the rotation of the heads, segment gear wheels connected with each of said drums, gear wheels secured on the op posite ends ofeach alternate operating shaft, said gear wheels during the rotation "of said heads adapted to mesh with their respective segment gear wheels, bars reciprocally associated with each pair of twister supporting bars and having sloping surfaces adapted to be moved to engage with wires carried in the slots of the twister wheels and in the slots of the said twister wheel supporting bars to move the wires inthesaidslots, roll crs connected with said bars, cams adapted to be engaged by said rollers during the rotation of said heads for reciprocating said bars in opposite directions, and means for operating said first-mentioned shaft.

31. In a wire y'veaving'inachine, the combination of a revoluble support, a plurality of twister wheel sHPP rtS mounted on said revol'uble support, a plurality of twister wheels journaled on said twister supports, each of said twister wheels "having gear teeth provided with wire-receiving slots,

said twister supports provided with wirereceiving slots coincident with the axes of said twister wheels, means for reciprocating the successive twister-supports progressively 1n opposite directions to deflect wires engaged in the slots of the twister supports and said twister wheels during "the rotation of said revoluble support, gearing connecting said twister wheels and adapted to actuate the same ata predetermined point during the rotation of said revoluble support, and means reciprocally mounted on said twister supports for engaging and moving the wires in'the slots ofthe twistersupports and the slots in the twister wheels at a predetermined point in the rotation of said revoluble support and subsequently to the operation of said'twister wheels, the said last-mentioned means being successively and progressively reciprocated in the same direction during the rotation of said'revoluble support.

32. In awire weaving machine,'the combination of a revoluble support, a "plurality of twister wheel supporting bars reciprocally mounted on said revoluble support, twister wheels j ournaled in said twister supports, said twister wheels having gear teeth and provided with wire-receiving slots, interposed gear wheels journaled on said support and meshing with the teeth of said twister wheels, an operating shaft for each twister wheel support, said shafts journaled on said supports and adapted to be reciprocated therewith, spiral gear wheels in spaced relation on said operating shafts and meshing with certain of said interposed gear wheels, means for reciprocating said twister supports and operating shafts simultaneously in opposite directions at predetermined points during the rotation of said revoluble support for deflecting wires engaged in said slots of the twister wheels, the meshing relation of the spiral gear wheels and said interposed gear Wheels being maintained at all times during the rotation of said revoluble support and reciprocation of said twister supports and operating shafts, and means for operating said operating shafts at a predetermined point during the rotation of said revoluble supports for the purpose oftwisting wires engaged in the slots of the twister wheels, and means for rotating said revoluble support.

38. In a wire weaving machine, the combination of a pair of parallel arranged twister wheel supporting bars, means for securing said bars together, a plurality of slotted twister wheels arranged in spaced relation with each other and journaled between said bars, said bars having wire-receiving slots which coincide with the axes of the twister wheels, an operating shaft, a plurality of bearings secured to said bars in which said operating shaft is journaled, means for operating said twister wheels from said shaft, and means common to both said bars and said shaft for reciprocating the same in opposite directions for the purpose of deflecting wires engaged by said twister wheels, the rotation between said operating means and said operating shaft being maintained during the reciprocation of said bars and said shaft.

ALVA L. KITSELMAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0.