US1404026A - Machine for integrating sheet material - Google Patents

Description

W. E. HOSCH. MACHINE FOR INTEGRATING SHEET MATERIAL.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. II. 19!?- Patented Jan. 17, 1922.

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fnven to? waiter- E S C By W tbm W. E. HOSCH. MACHINEWIFOR INTEGRATING SHEET MATERIAL. APPLICATION FILED OCT. 11, 1917.

1,404,02 Patented Jan. 17,1922.

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W.-E. HOSCH MACHINE FOR INTEGRATING SHEET MATERIAL.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. H, 1917- W. E. HOSCH. MACHINE FOR INTEGRATING SHEET MATERIAL- APPLICATION FILED OCT. 11. 1917.

1,404,026; Patented Jan. 17, 1922.

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[n ventor' LUa Zter E.- H sch 56% attorney W. E. HOSCH; MACHINE FOR INTEGRATING SHEET MATERIAL.

APPLICATION HLED OCT. 11, 1917- Pate'nted Jan; 17, 1922.

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9 SHEETS-SHEET NN NN umwRN MN MNEN W. E. HOSCH.

MACHINE FOR INTEGRATING SHEET MATERIAL. APPLICATION FILED QCT.1I, 1917.

1,404,026, Patented Jan. 17, 1922.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 7- W F E Inventor LUaZzierE. Hash w. E. HOSCH. MACHINE FOR INTEGRATING SHEET MATERIAL. APPLICATION FILED OCT. 1h 191]- 1,404,026. Patented Jan. 17,1922.

I fnvektor "9 wazterfiww k fitter-neg W. E. HOSCH. MACHINE FOR INTEGRATING SHEET MATERIAL. APPLICATION I'ILED OCT. II, I9I7. 1,404,026 Patented Jan. 17,1922.

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I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I J 71, van to?" I H 2 2i??? 594% 62 if to y UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER E. BOSCH, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO HOSCI-I MECHANISMS CORPORATION, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION.

MACHINE FOR INTEGRATING SHEET MATERIAL.

Application filed October 11, 1917.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, lVAL'rnr. E. Hosorr, a citizen of the United States, residing in St. Louis and State of Missouri, have invented new and useful Improvements in Machines for Integrating Sheet Material, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a machine for integrating the areas of articles irregular in outline and which may lack uniform continuity of body, and is particularly adapted for use in measuring leather, in the form of tanned hides.

It is the purpose of the invention to provide a machine of this character which shall be simple in construction, positive, direct and reliable in action and which shall so closely approximate absolute accuracy in the measuring operation that the element of error is, for all practical purposes, nil.

Various types of machines for measuring leather have been heretofore suggested, and at least one of these types is now in more or less general use. This'machine may be described as comprising a greater or less num ber of series of traction, or measuring wheels, revolving in contact with a roller, and which are raised according to the vary ing width of the article passed through, each traction wheel measuring lineally the length of surface that passes over it, and being so raised by its movement actuates a device for winding up a cord, or the like, where by its peripheral movement is supposed to be accurately transmitted. The amount of cord wound up by the different wheels, or the amount of each wheels peripheral movement, is transmitted to a system of levers, which in turn transmit their aggregate motion to an indicating dial. \Vhile machines of the type referred to are, as stated, in commercial use at the present time, it is known that they are not reliable in operation, nor accurate in results, and that they require adjustment from tune to time to cor: rect, as far as possible, the inaccuracy of operation. For this latter purpose a card, or a chart of known area is usually f ur nished with each machine so that by passing it through the machine, variations from the correct measurement may be detected and adjustment of the measuring units may be made to correct the fault. Under any circumstances, however, measurements indicated by this machine will at best be only Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 17, 1922.

Serial No. 196,097.

approximately accurate, the margin of error being very considerable. This is due, among ther things, to the fact that the measurlng wheels are relatively large in chameter, usually about six inches, and the upper forward edge of the leather engages the periphery of the wheels and causes a considerable turning movement thereof before the wheels actually pass onto the upper surface of the leather, and this turning move ment is registered on the measuring dial, although as a matter of fact, no leather has been actually measured. The same false measurement occurs as the rear edge of the leather passes from under the wheels. Another source of inaccuracy is attributable to the relation'of the aggregating units of the machine to each other, which relation is one of proportion, depending wholly on the principle of leverage, and not one of direct, positive, and invariable mechanical co-ordination. Such a construction presents opportunity for lost motion in operation, and variations in movement of the measuring units, such, for example, as would be caused by contraction or expansion of the levers, or stretching of the cords operating the levers. There can, therefore, be no fixed and accurate relation between the movement of the measuring wheels and the movements of the aggregating levers. Moreover, such relation is not a scientifically calculated one, so that the movement of the registering mechanism, or of the hand of the indicating dial in relation to each measuring wheel, can be forecast with absolute precision, as may be done, e. g., in the case of the hands of a clock, but is purely empirical, and the value of such movement can only be determined by a process of calibration.

Finally, another source of inaccuracy in the machine referred to lies in the fact that the measuring wheels are about an inch in width and are separated a distance of about two inches, from center to center, it being impracticable to locate the wheels closer together owing to the large number of levers which would have to be employed. Such a distance between the measuring wheels renders it impossible to insure that variations in the continuity of the leather produced by holes, irregularities of outlines, etc, to the extent of the area involved, shall be accounted for by way of deduction, in the measurement of the leather indicated. This is, perhaps, the most serious disadvantage of the machine referred to, as it is obvious that with relatively widely separated measuring wheels of the width indicated, the area of the intervening space between two measuring wheels in engagement with the surface of the leather will be represented in the actual measurement of the hide, whether such space be occupied by the material of the hide, or be an open place therein. And further, it is also obvious that with wheels of such width it will frequently occur that the extreme edge only of one or the other of said wheels will be traveling on the surface of the hide and that the total area embraced in the travel or the hide under such'wheel and an adjacent wheel, i. e., the

such source of error is reduced to the mini mum, and, in fact, renderedpractically negligible, by the use of a large number of relatively narrow measuring wheels, located in close juxtaposition, say, one-half inch from center to center, so that only extremely small areas of discontinuity of material will escape deduction from the gross area of the hide. I further overcome the objection noted incident to the use of measuring wheels of large diameter by the employment of relatively small measuring wheels, such wh-els having a diameter of about one and one-half inches. the feature of inaccuracy in operation, a pronounced disadvantage of this prior machine is the fact that all of the aggregating units 'must be returned to normal, or zero, position after each measuring operation, adding enormously to the wear of the machine and limiting materially the speed of operation. Furthermore, the extent of any single measurement is limited by the size of the pulleys on which the cords are wound, these pulleys, at the most, being capable of only.

one complete revolution. As distinguished from such operation, a machine of the type of my invention mechanically aggregates the movements of the measuring wheels by a system of gearing. and the measuring operation may be continued indefinitely, the only resetting required being that of the dial 'for indicating the measurements of individual hides, if such dial be i used,

7 which operation is effected automatically by merely pressing a button.

With the foregoing 1n mind. 1t is one of the objects of my invention to provide a ma- Aside from chine of the character indicated in which a large number of relatively narrow measuring wheels, arranged in close juxtaposition to each other may be employed, as compared with a comparatively small number of relatively wide wheels, separated from each other by a considerable space, as is now the case, and to so co-ordinate these measuring wheels with registering mechanism, that the movement of one, or the aggregate movement of several or all of said measuring wheels will be transmitted directly and with uniform accuracy to the registering mechanism and in exact calculated proportion to the extent of movement of the respective wheels. 7 .7

With such objects in view my invention comprises a series oi feed and measuring wheels, the latter being co-ordinated with a diminishing series of differential-gear units in such manner that adjacent pairs of measuring wheels control, respectively, the actuating, or outer members of a line, or

series, of such differential-gear units, while theinner, or intermediate members of each pairof these units transmit their motion to the actuating members or" another series of differential-gear units, the intermediate members ofeach pair of which latter transmit their movement-in turn to the actuating members of athird series of-dilferential-gear 7 units, and so on, until finally the movement of the intermediate member of a final ditferential-gear unit is. transmitted to the registering mechanism. In theparticular embodiment of my invention shown in the drawings, there are thirty-two measuring wheels, and there are, accordingly, sixteen differential-gear units in the first series, each succeeding series of difi'erential-gear units diminishing in number by one-halt, up to a single, and final unit. Owing to the flexible character of the differential-gear, that is to say. the possibility of actuating the intermediate member of the unit by rotating either or both of the outer members, the motions of the measuring'wheels are simultaneously aggregated and transmitted immediately t0 the registering mechanism bydirect gear connection; thus the registering mechanism is not only positively driven dire'ctly from the measuring wheels but. the extent of movement of the'measuring wheels] is accurately transmitted to the registering mechanism by means of the interposed gearing. 7

There are various important features of construction which contribute-to the general operation of the machine but these will be better understood as they are. reached in order, in COHIIGCtlOILWltli the detailed description of the machine to 'be'given. V V

I may state that I have used the term registering mechanism above, and may subsequently use the same, as embracinga device for registering the total area of a number of hides passed through the machine and an indicating dial for indicating the area of each hide as it is passed through the machine. As either of these devices may be used without the other such designation will, unless otherwise indicated, refer to either or both of such devices.

The accompanying drawings illustrate a commercial embodiment of my invention. The machine from which these drawings were made, however, is the first machine constructed embodying my invention, and I contemplate various changes, coming within the scope of my invention as outlined in the following specification and claims, as will be later indicated. Such changes, however, relate more especially to matters of degree and arrangement and not to the principle of operation involved.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of a measuring machine constructed according to my invention;

Figure 2 is a view in end elevation thereof;

Figure 3 is a view in front elevation on an enlarged scale of the machine minus the supporting standards, and with the front part of the casing and the dial removed;

Figure 4c is a v1ew in front elevation, on a further enlarged scale, of the central portion of the machine shown in Figure 3, intended more particularly to illustrate the mechanism entering into the operation of the indicating dial;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 55 of Figure 4 and on a further enlarged scale;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 66 of Figure at, and on the same scale as Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 77 of Figure 4, and on the same scale as the latter figure, and partly sub-sectioned;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary view in front elevation on an enlarged scale, showing the central portion, or group, of the feed and measuring wheels and connected mechanism shown at the lower part of Figure 3, one of the feed wheels being shown in section;

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 99 of Figure 8;

Figure 10 is a sectional view taken on the line 101() of Figure 9;

Figure 11 is an edge View on an enlarged scale of one of the differential-gear units;

Figure 12, is a sectional view taken on the line 12.12 of Figure 11;

Figure 13, is a sectional view taken on the line 13'13 of Figure 12.

Referrng now to the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates, generally, a standard supporting the machine. Mounted on this standard is the main frame of the machine which comprises four transverse angle bars, two of said angle-bars. indicated by the numerals 2, 3, respectively, (Fig. 9) being lo cated at the front of the machine, and two, indicated, respectively, by the numerals 4, 5 .t the rear of the machine. Secured at opposite ends of the angle-bars are two end plates, 6, 7, respectively, (Fig. 3). Secured to the rear-angle-bar a is a back plate 8, on which the main portion of the mechanism is mounted. The numeral 9 (Figs. 2 and 4) indicates a casing member secured to the upper edge of the back plate 8, and projecting beyond the front side of said back plate, and the numeral 10 (Figs. 1 and 9) indicates a removable casing member, having an upper vertical portion 11 which is fitted to the we ing member 9, and a lower curved portion 12 which is supported upon cleats 13 on the end walls 6, 7, and secured by set-screws 14 to posts 15 mounted on the back plate 8. The casing members 9 and 10 inclose and protect the operating mechanism. Extending transversely across the machine and mounted in its opposite ends in the end plates 6 and 7 is a shaft 16 on which is keyed a feed roller 17 (Figs. 1, 3, 8 and 9). The shaft 16 extends through end plate 7, as indicated by 19 in Figures 1 and 3, and such projecting end may be adapted to receive a crank handle 20 for turning. Preferably, the roller 17 is motor driven, to which end I mount a small motor 21, (Fig. 2) on the rear side of the back plate 8 at the right of the machine, which communicates its motion to a pulley 22. Mounted on the end plate 8 is a pulley 23 which is connected to the pulley 22 by a belt 24. The pulley 23 communicates its motion to a small pulley 25 which in turn, through the medium of a belt 26, imparts its motion to a pulley 27, also mounted on the end plate 7. The hub of the pulley 27 is provided with a spur gear 28 which is in mesh with a large gear 29 fixedly secured on the projecting end of the shaft 16.

Mounted at intervals on the upper member of the angle bar at (Figs. 9 and 10) is a series of brackets 30, and supported in these brackets and mounted at its opposite ends in theend plates 6 and 7 is a rod 31. Pivotally mounted at their inner ends on the rod 31 are a series of arms 32 each of which at its outer end is provided with a cylindrical bearing 33 (Fig. 8) on which is rotatably mounted the hub 34: of a feed wheel 35. lhese feed wheels rest by gravity upon the upper surface of the roller 17. Pivotally mounted at their inner ends on the rod 31 is also a series of pairs of arms 36. Between the outer ends of each pair of these arms is mounted on an axle 37 a measuring wheel 38. As shown particularly by Fig. 3, thirty-two of these measuring wheels are employed, in th embodiment of the invention shown in the drawing. These wheels extend in line from side to side of the machine. In the commercial machine, however, I contemplate using a greater number of measurmg wheels and to locate them much closer together than represented to be the casein the drawings. In the present case the measuring wheels are supposed to be separated a distance from each other of one inch from center to center and they are four'and one-half inches in circumference. Registering mechanism is provided, and means for connecting the same with the measuring wheels. This means is constructed so that it is capable of continuous indefinite. rotation in one direction in the operation of the machine, thereby rendering it unnecessary to reverse the movement of any parts, when using the machine. Mounted on the side of one of the arms 36 of each pair of said arms is a screw-threaded stud 39 which receives a set screw to the lower end ofwhich engages the bottom member of the angle bar a. The set-screws etO operate to hold the arms 36 in such position that the measuring wheels 38 will at all times be out of contact with the surface of the feed rollers 17. By adjusting the set screws 40, the distance the measuring wheels are separated from the feed roller 17 may be varied as circumstances may require. Fixedly secured on the side of each measuring wheel 38 is a driving gear ll which is in mesh with an idle gear 42 rotatably.mounted by means of an axle 43 in and between the pair of arms 36. Each of the idle gears 42in turn meshes with a second idle gear l t which is rotatably mounted on the rod 81. Each pair of arms 36 is yieldingly held with the screw $0 in contact with the angle bar 4: by means of a coil springeii, the lower end of which is engaged in a plate 46 mounted on the angle bar at and the upper end of which engages over a stud 47 extending between each pair of plates 36. Pivotally mounted on'each stud 47 is a ratchet d8 which engages the teeth of the idle gear 4-2, allowing it to turn in one direct1on, caused by the engagement of material being'measured with the measuring wheels 38, but preventing its movement in the op posite direction. As the driving gear all on each measuring wheel is in mesh with an idle gear 42, and as each idle gear is in a train of gears leading to the registering mechanism, as will later be described, back ward movement not only of the measuring wheels 38 but of all the measuring units is prevented by the ratchets 48. A stud 49 mounted on the side of each arm 32 prevents the ratchet 48 from being accidentally turned or thrown backward out of position.

Aplate 50, extending the entire width of the.

machine between the end plates 6 and 7, is secured to the upper side of the angle bar 2 r and projects inward into close proximity with the. upper surface of the feed roller 17,

' and serves'as asupport and guide for'the hide pieces of leather, or otherinaterial to be measured, and which must be passed'betweenthe rotating roller 17 and the feed wheels 35.

projects forwardly of the machine asa continuation of the plate 50- and serves asa support for the material to be measured. I will now describe the mechanisinby which the movement of the measuring wheels 38 caused Preferably, also, a table '51, suit ably supported by bracket arms 52 (Fig. 2.), r

by the passage of the material between them and the feed roller 17 is transmitted to the registering mechanism to indicate the area of such material.

r I have heretofore referred to each idle gear ll as being rotated by an idle gear at from the driving gear 41 on ameasuring wheel 38. Two idle gears 4i are connected in this manner with the gear 1 of each pair 7 of measuring rollers 38, and the two'members of each set of idle gears l-l are inmesh. respectively, with two outer members'53, of a differential-gear unit. (Figs. 3, '8, 11', 12 and 13). All of these differential units are, except as to the length of the connecting shafts and in one instance as to the size of the unit,thesame in construction and operation, and a description of one will suffice for all. This description will be given in connection particularly with Figs. ll, 12 and 13, and it will-be assumed that the differential-gear unit illustrated in these'figures in one of the first line of such units above re-' ferred to. Each of these differential-gear units is supported independently in a pair '54 is fixedly secured on a short shaft 63 the outer end of which is rotatably mounted in a bearing 6-.l on the bracket The shaft 63 passes looselythrough the plate 58 and has fixedly securedon its inner end a gear 65 of the same size as the gear 62. The numerals 66 and 67 indicate, respectively, two small gears which are in mesh with each other, and-the axles of which are-rotatably mounted at their opposite endsin the gear-'57 and" plate 58 near the periphery thereof. The

gear 66 is in mesh with the gear 65 and the gear 67 is in mesh with the gear 62. Owing to thisarrangement it will be clear that the intermediate member of the differential unit, 7

comprising the gear 57 and plate 58,"may be rotated from either shaft 60 or 63 inde-.

pendently, lay-turning, respectively, gear wheels 58 or 5st, or that it may be rotated by turning both of said shafts simultaneously- There are sixteen of the differential-gear units in the first line or series, comprising thOse which are in direct gear relation with the series of gears 54:. As shown more clearly by figures 3 and 8, the intermediate gears 57 of successive pairs of differential-gear units of the first line or series, are in mesh with the outer members, or gears 68, of the second line, or series, of differential-gear units, in which series there are eight of such. units; the intermediate members, or gears, 69, of successive pairs of this second series of diiferentialgear units are in mesh with the outer members, or gears, of a third series of differential-gear units, four of such units being comprised in this series; the intermediate members, or gears, 71 of each pair of this third series of differentialgear units is in mesh with the outer members, or gears, 72 of a fourth series of differential-gear units, which series coniprises two of such units, and finally the intermediate members, or gears, 73 of this last series of differential-gear units are in mesh with the outer members or gears 74 of a final differential-gear unit, the intermediate member of which latter is indicated by 75. Thus it will be seen that the intermediate member of each individual differential-gear unit will be caused to aggregate the movements of the two outer members; that the aggregate movement of all of the intermediate members of the first series of differential-gear units is transmitted to the outer members of the second series of such units which in turn, and in like manner transmit their aggregate movement to a third series, and so on, until a pair of units transmit their aggregate movement to a final differential-gear unit, the aggregate movement of the intermediate member 75 of which will be the aggregate movement of all of the measuring wheels 88 actuated, and this movement is adapted to be transmitted to the registering mechanism. To this end a relatively large gear wheel 76 is made fast with the hub 77 of the intermediate member 75 of the last differentialgear unit and this gear wheel is in mesh with a small gear 78 rotatably supported on a bracket 79, The gear 7 8 is in mesh with a gear 80 which is formed integral with a sliding clutch member 81 (Fig. 7).

' This clutch member is loosely and slidably mounted upon a hollow shaft 82, which is rotatably mounted in a bearing 83, of a bracket 84. Extending through the shaft 82 is a rod 85, provided intermediate its length with a transverse pin 86, which extends through slots 87, 1n opposite sides of the hollow shaft 82 and engages the side of the clutch member 81. Beyond the clutch member 81 the end of the shaft 82 is rotatably mounted in a bracket-arm 88, and between this bracket arm 88 and the clutch member 81 is fixedly secured on the shaft 82, a clutch member 89 which is formed as a unitary part of a bevel gear 90. A coil spring 91 is interposed between the bracket 84 and the clutch-member 81, and tends normally to keep the clutch-members 81 and 89 in engagement. The bevel gear 90 is in mesh with a bevel gear 92 which is fast on a hollow shaft 93 which is rotatably mounted on a stub shaft 94: projecting from the end of the bracket arm 88 (Fig. 5). Fixedly secured on the hollow shaft 93 adjacent to the bevel gear 92 is a cam plate 95, and adjacent to the said cam plate and fast with it is a pinion 96. Mounted on the back plate 8 near the top thereof a bracket member 97 in which is screwed the end of a bearing 98 and on this bearing is rotatably mounted a large gear wheel 99 which is in mesh with the pinion 96. A smaller gear 100 is formed as a unitary part of the gear 99, but in spaced relation thereto. Rotatably mounted on the hollow shaft 93 is a large gear 101 which is in mesh with the gear 100. The gear 101 has a shouldered hub 102 against the shoulder of which rests a disk 103 which supports the central portion of a circular plate 10%- which is secured by means of screws to posts 105. Secured on the outer face of the plate 104, is a paper, or other dial 106, (see also Fig. 1), which is provided with suitable numbers as shown, to indicate the measurement in square feet and tenths of a square foot of an article passed through the machine. Secured on the outer end of the hollow shaft 93 by a screw 10'? is a hand 108 which is adapted to be moved over the dial by the gearing described. Fixedly secured on the end of the hollow shaft 82, opposite to that at which the gear 90 is mounted, is a gear 109 (Fig. 4) which is in mesh with a larger gear 110. The gear 110 is secured on a shaft 111 (Figs. 5 and 0) which is rotatably mounted in brackets 112 secured on the back plate of the machine. Surrounding the shaft 111 is a coiled spring 118 (Fig. 4) one end of which is secured by a screw 114 to the side of the gear wheel 110, and the other end to the bracket 11.2 remote from said gear wheel. The rod (Figs. 4, 6 and 7) projects beyond the hub of the gear 109 and is provided in its outer end with a recess portion 115 which receives the upper bifurcated end of a lever 116 which is pivotally mounted at 117 on a post 118 (Fig. 6) projecting from the back plate of the machine. The lower end of the lever 116 is in the path of a cam portion 119 of a ush in 120 the inner end of which is slidab y mounted on a pin 121 projectin from the back plate of the machine an which is surrounded by a coiled of hides measured.

spring 122 which normally presses the push pin outwardly. By pushing in the pin .120 against the resistance of the spring 122 the lever 116 will be rocked by engagement with the cam surface 119 to draw the rod 85 outward and thereby disengage the clutch members 81 and 89. This operation permits the automatic return of the dial hand to zero position through the action of the spring 113 as will later be described. Secured on top ofthe push pin 120 is a spring clip 123 having an arm 124 which engages with a ratchet wheel 125. This ratchet wheel is fast on a shaft 126 which operates a counting mechanism, indicated generally by the numeral 127,'mounted on a bracket 128. This mechanism is of .the usual .construction and of itself constitutes no partof the invention and need not be particularly described, as its operation is well known to those skilled in the art. The shaft 126 extends beyond the casing of the registering mechanism and on its outer end is provided with a bevel gear 129 which is in mesh with a bevel gear 130 mounted on a shaft 131 which is rotatably supported in a bracket 132 secured'on the end of the casing of the registering mechanism. The shaft 131 projects through the front casing member 11 of the machine and is provided with a turn button 133 by means of which the counting mechanism may be reset to zero. This counting mechanism is operated from the ratchet wheel 125 by the arm 124 whenever the push pin 120 is pressed inward to reset the dial hand after each hide has been measured, and is for registering the number long shaft 135 which is supported in brack- V ets 136. The opposite end of this shaft has secured thereon a gear 137 which is in mesh with a similar gear 138 which is fast on one end of a shaft 139 which operates a totalizing or registering mechanism, indicated generally by the numeral 140, mounted on a bracket 141 (Fig. 7), and which, being of any well known construction need not be specifically described. The'shaft 139 extends through the casing of this registering mechanism and on its opposite end is pro vided with a bevel gear 142 which is in mesh with a bevel gear 143 which is fast on the end of a shaft 144 which is supported on abracket 145 secured on the end of the casing of the totalizing mechanism. The shaft 144 projects through the front casing member and is provided with a turn button 145 by means of which the totalizing mecha-' nism may be returned to zero when desired. V

The measuring wheels 38 are, in the present embodiment of my invention, four and The gear wheel 76 of one-half inches in circumference, and assuming that the distance between centers of said wheels is one inch, if all of the measuring wheels are given one complete revolution it is apparent that this is equivalent to moving a sheet of material, thirtytwo inches in width, four and one-half inches lineally, so that one hundred and forty-four square inches,or one square foot, of such material would be moved forward. By aggregating the movements of these measuring wheels in the manner set forth as the intermediate member of any differentialunit will make one revolution for each complete revolution of the two outer members of the unit, it follows that the final differential unit will be given one complete revolution for each complete revolution of all of the measuring wheels 38; and by connecting the intermediate gear 76 of this final aggregating member with the registering mechanism 140 by suitable gearing, such registering mechanism will be caused to indicate one square foot for every revolution of said final aggregating member, or fractional part of a square foot for a less degree of movement. This follows from the fact that as all-of the measuring wheels rotate, all of the differential-gear units, including the final one will rotate at the same rate of speed; and if any one or'more of the measuring wheels ceases to rotate, its portion of the total movement is automatically deducted from the movement of the final differential unit.

As the gear 76 of the final unit is revolved it not only actuates theregistering mechanism 140, as above described, but through the medium of the gears 78 and 80, clutch members 81 and 89, bevel gears 90 and 92 and hollowshaft 93 rotates the hand 108 over the face of the dial 106. Furthermore as the clutch member 89 is revolved it causes the revolution of the gears 109 andv 110 by rotating the hollow shaft 82, through the pin and slot mechanism described. Each rotation of the gear 110 causes the coil spring 113 to bewound upl lVhen the hide has passed through the machine it is, of course, necessary to return the dial hand 108 to zero. This is effected by pushing'in the push pin 120 which throws the upper end of the lever 116 outward, thereby drawing the rod outward and'by the engagement of the pin 86 with the clutch member 81 operates to move said clutch member out of engagement with the clutch member 89, so that the latter is, freeto be rotated "by the revolution of the shaft 111' caused by the unwinding of the coil spring 7113 through v the medium of the gears 110, 109 and hollow shaft 82. In this movement the bevel gears and will have their movements re versed and by rotatingthe shaft93 inthc opposite direction to that first described will return the hand 108 backward. In order to stop the hand at zero I provide the following mechanism:

The numeral 1&6 (Fig. l.) indicates a bracket secured on the rear wall 8 on which is pivotally mounted at'ls'l a double dog, one arm 118 of which is adapted to be engaged by a pin 1&9 on the gear wheel 101 and the other arm 150 of which is adapted to engage a shoulder 151 on the cam plate 95. The movement of the double dog occasioned by the contact of the pin 149 of the arm 148 is made against the resistance of a spring clip 152 secured at one end on the bracket 146 and having its other end engaging over the upper side of the arm 148. As the hollow shaft 93 rotates, the cam plate 95 and the pinion 96 are rotated 'with it, and the latter causes the rotation of the gears 99, 100 and 101. The latter, as stated carries the pin 1&9, and the parts are so adjusted that this pin will engage the arm 14S and turn the arm 150 upward to engage the "shoulder 151 of the cam plate 95, and thereby stop the revolution of the parts described, when the hand 108 arrives at the zero position. As heretofore indicated, when the push pin 120 is pushed inward to permit the dial hand to return to zero. the arm 12st carried by the push pin will move the ratchet wheel 125 the proper distance to cause the counting mechanism 127 to indicate that a hide has passed through the machine.

From the foregoing description of the operation of the machine it will be seen that the only limit to the speed. or capacity, thereof is the dexterity of the operator in supplying hides thereto. the resetting of the dial hand consuming only a moment of time; and that the measuring wheels and all of the aggregating units may be moved continuously in the same direction without any resetting or-adjus-tment of any kind whatever being required. It will furthermore be seen that. assuming the accuracy of the gears. themovement of the measuring wheels is aggro gated and translated accurately into movement indicating measurement, such as that of the dial hand, or the disks of the registering device.

So far as I am aware the means herein described for aggregating the movement of a series of measuring wheels to integrate-surface area is broadly new; and I wish to be understood as claiming the same generically and without limitation to specific details of construction or to the precise number and arrangement of'the parts described.

Should the motor 21 be employed it will be understood that the feed roller 17 will be constantly revolved; and that if the machine is manually operated, as by the crank handle 20. the feed roller will then be revolved only so long as the crank handle is turned. With either manner of rotating the feed roller, the feed wheels 35 rest by gravity, first upon the feed roller 17 and then upon the material as it is passed between the feed roller and feed wheels, and operate by their weight to produce the necessary grip of the feed roller 17 on the material to cause the latter to be pulled through the machine in contact with the measuring wheels 38. The feed roller 17, of course, is the only power-driven part of the machine. all of the measuring wheels and the differentialgear units being caused to rotate by contact of the moving material with the measuring wheels.

I claim 1. In a machine of the class described, in combination with a series of yieldablymountedmeasurin g wheels adapted to be actuated by the material to be measured, reg i-stering mechanism, and a series of rotatable aggregating members operatively engaged with said measuring wheels and said registering mechanism, respectively, and capable of rotating continuously indefinitely in the same direction when the machine is used.

2. In a machine of the class described. in combination with a series of yieldablymounted measuring wheels adapted to be actuated by the material to be measured, registering mechanism, and a series of rotatable aggregating members in geared relation with each other, and with said measuring wheels and said registering mechanism, respectively.

3. In a machine of the class described, in combination with a series of yieldably mounted measuring wheels adapted to be actuated by the material to be measured, a series of connected rotatable aggregating members co-ordinated with said measuring wheels and continued therefrom'in diminishing numbers to unity, and a registering device in co-operative engagement with the unitary aggregating member.

l. In a machine of the class described, in combination with a series of yieldablymounted measuring wheels adapted to be actuated by the material. to be measured, registering mechanism, and a series of differential-gear aggregating units operatively engaged with said wheels and said registering mechanism, respectively.

5. In a machine of the class described, in combination with a series of yieldablymounted measuring wheels adapted to be actuated by the material to be measured, registering mechanism, and a plurality of series of connected differential-gear aggregating units successively diminishing in number to unity, the series having the greater number of units being operatively connected with said measuring wheels, and the unitary aggregarting device being operatively connected with said registering mechanism,

(3. In a machine of the class described in combination with a series of yieldablymounted measuringwheels adapted to be actuated by the material to be measured and each of which is provided with a gear, a plurality of series of differential-gear units, successive series of said units diminishing in number by one-hall to unity, adjacent pairs of said measuring wheels having their gears in mesh with the Outer gear members of successive members of the first series of aggregating units, the intermediate members of adjacent pairs of said first series of aggregating units having their gear members in mesh with the outer members of a second series of said diiierential-gear units, and successive series of said units being similarly associated up to the final aggregating unit, registering mechanism having an actuating gear operatively connected with the intermediate gear member of said unitary aggregating member, and a continuously rotatable feed device cooperating with said measuring wheels.

7. In a machine of the class described in combination with a series of measuring wheels adapted to be actuated by the mate rial to be measured, registering mechanism, a series of rotatable aggregating members operatively engaged with said measuring wheels and said registering mechanism, respectively, and means for resetting said registering mechanism to zero independently of the movement of said aggregating members.

8. In a machine of the class described, in combination with a continuously rotatable I feed roller, a series of independent, yieldably-mounted measuring wheelssupported in proximity to, but out of contact with said feed roller and adapted to be actuated by sheet material passed between them and said feed roller, registering mechanism, and a series of rotatable aggregating members operatively engaged with said measuring wheels and said registering mechanism, respectively, and capable of rotating continu- V ously indefinitely in the same direction when the machine is used.

9. In a machine of the class described, in combination with a continuously rotatable feed roller, a series of pivoted supports located adjacent to said teed roller, a measurin wheel mounted in each of said supports and held thereby in proximity to, but out of engagement with, said feed roller, the series otmeasuring wheels being adapted to be actuated independently of each other by sheet material passed between them and said feed roller, registering mechanism, and a series of rotatable aggregating members operatively engaged with said measuring wheels and said registering mechanism, respectively, and capable of rotating continuously indefinitely in the same direction when the machine is used. V

10. In a machine of the class described, in combination with a continuously rotatable feed roller, a seriesof yieldably-mounted feed wheels resting by gravity on said feed roller, a series of yieldably-mounted measuring wheels located with their surfaces in proximity to, but out of contact with, said feed roller, and adapted to be actuated by sheet material passed between them and said :feed roller, registering mechanism, and a series of rotatable aggregating members operatively engaged with i said measuring wheels and said registering mechanism, re-

'spectively, and capable of rotating continuously indefinitely in the same direction when the machine is used. 7

11. In a machine of the class described in combination with a series of yieldablymounted measuring wheels adapted to be actuated by the material to bemeasured, registering mechanism and means for connecting the measuring wheels with the registering mechanism to drive the same, said means consisting of a plurality of wheels capable. of rotating continuously and indefinitely in the same direction during the use of the machine.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

WALTER E. HOSOH.

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