US1437658A - Feeding mechanism for fabric-measuring machines - Google Patents

Description

A. HOUSTON.

FEEDING MECHANISM FOR FABRIC MEASURING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILE MAYI6 i921 1 437 658, Patented Dec. 5, 1922.

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AIPLICATION FILED MAY I6, I92]- 2 2. 9 1T 5 m v 0 es Dm dw m m a D1 A. HOUSTON. FEEDING MECHANISM FOR FABRIC MEASURING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 16, I921.

' Patented Dec. 5, 1922.

4 SHEETSSHEET 3.

vvvvvvvvvvvv UVUVUVVVVVVV A.'HOUSTON. FEEDING MECHANISM FOR FABRIC MEASURING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAYIE. I921- 1,437,658 Patented Dem-5, 1922.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

INVEN TOR.

ATT RNEY.

Patented Dec. 5, 1922.

AUBREY HOUSTON, OF AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND.

FEEDING MECHANISM ron FABRIG-MEASURLING MACHINES.

Application filed May 16,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it. known that 1, AUBREY HoUsroN, a subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland. and residing at Auckland, in the Dominion of New Zealand, have invented a new and Improved Feeding Mechanism for Fabric-ll feasuring Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to feeding mechanism for fabric measuring machines and has for its primary object the provision of simple and practical mechanical means for feeding fabrics uniformly and evenly to and through fabric n'ieasuring machines.

Most fabric measuring machines operate through the rotation of one or more rollers by the friction produced by pulling a portion of the fabric adj acentone edge over or between the rollers, and in practice it is found that the clerks often pull the fabric through by jerky uneven movements, or on other than a straight line pullso that the portion traveling over the rollers zigzags instead of remaining parallel with the edge of the cloth. These methocs result not only in incorrect measurement but at times crumples or tears the fabric. My invention aims to eliminate the human element in measuring fabrics and so avoid the inaccuracies and losses due to unintelligent or care,- less manipulation of the fabric in operating the machine.

\Vith the above and other objects in View, which will be readily apparent as the invention is more fully disclosed, my invention consists in combining with a measuring machine a device for intermittently feeding the fabric to and through the machine.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification and illustrating preferred embodiments of my invention and in which similar reference numerals designate siniilar parts throughout the several views.

In the drawings Fig. 1. is a rear elevation of my invention in position adjacent a measuring machine;

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken substantially on the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. d is an enlarged diagramm atical view of one of the feeding arms, showing the positions assumed by the movable roller at various stages of its travel;

Fig. 4; is an. enlarged detail view of the 1921. Serial N0.4= 70,218.

Figs. 7 and 8 are a section and elevation 1 respectively of one of the rollers provided with a gripping tread, and

Fig. 9 is a rearelevation of the feeding mechanism mounted to give a longer throw to each feeding movement.

Referring now to the drawings the numeral 5 designates a fabric measuring machine of any approved type, the one herein illustrated being provided with upper and lower jaws 6 divided by a slot 7 through whichthe fabric is'adapted to pass during the measuring operation, the fabric rotating rollers carried by the jaws 6 during its passage, and the rotation of such rollers sets in motion a train of gears adapted to indicate on the dial 8 the quantity of-fabric measured. The measuring machine is preferably mounted on a post 9 arranged for vertical adjustment in a bracket 10 carried at the rear edge ofthe base plate 11 upon which feeding mechanism is positioned. By virtue of this arrangement the measuring machine and feeding mechanismfmay be transported to any desired location in a store or may be moved along a counter to various positions as it is desired for use. Also by mounting the measuring machine on an adjustable post i am enabled to use the same feeding mechanism with various measuring machines. it being only essential that the slot 7 through which the fabric passes, is correctly located at the right height between the traveling arms of the feeding mechanism.

As shown in Figs; 1 to 5 myfeeding mechanism comprises a pair of traveling arms 12 pivoted upon brackets 13 carried by the base plate 11-on each side of and closely adjacent to the measuring machine 5. Similar traveling arms 14 are pivoted upon the brackets 15 located in horizontal alignment with the brackets 13 but upon an upper plate 16 mounted to move on the base plate 11 toward and away from the measuring machine.- Parallel slots 17 (see Fig. 2) are preferably provided in the plate 16 for guiding the movements of said plate in changing its positions, bolts 18 secured in the base plate 11 extending through the slots substantially as shown. By tightea ing the nuts upon the bolts 18 the plate 16 may be clamped in any adjusted position. The traveling arms 12 and 14 are connected for simultaneous movement by telescoping extension members 12 and 14: respectively, these members overlapping to varying degrees to adjust themselves to the changes in position of the plate 16. The arms 12 and 1 1 on the left side of the measuring machine are provided with lower rollers 19 (see Figs. 2 and 4:), which may be mounted upon trunnions fixed in the arms and with upper rollers 20 mounted upon trunnions 21 positioned in curved slots 22 in the arms, and which are adapted to be held either in contact with the lower rollers 19 or at a distance therefrom, according to the positions occupied by the trunnions in said slots. The various positions assumed by the upper rollers 20 are diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 1, the full line position showing the rollers separated and the trunnion 21 held at one end-hereinafter called the high endof the curved slot 22. In this position the rollers do not grip the fabric passing between them, and upon the traveling arms being lowered, the rollers pass over the fabric to a new position before they approach each other to again grip the fabric for advancing the same during the next forward motion of the traveling arms. The positions assumed by the upper rollers as the arm 12 travels downwardly is shown in :lotted lines in Fig. 4, the trunnions 21 resting" upon the upper edge of the curved track 23 and being retained in the high end of the slot 22 until such slot changes its position from a substantially horizontal one to a subs antially vertical one, the roller 20 then falling by gravity into the opposite end a! "lie slot 22, which end is closer to the trun- "ion of the fixed roller 19. The distance between the trunnion of the fixed roller and the lower end of the slot 22 is regulated to hunt: the surfaces of the rollers into conact when no fabric is between them. Consequently when the fabric has been introuced between the rollers, the weight of the rpper roller 20 as it approaches the lower rcller, will serve to firmly grip the fabric during the upward swinging movement of the traveling arm 12. This position of the rollers will be maintained during practically the entire upward movement of the arm 12, the trunnion 21 riding upon the upper surface of the track 23 until it reaches the raised portion 24- thereof, the trunnion then riding up the incline to such raised portion and so being elevated until its surface is out of contact with the fabric, in which raised position it enters the high end of the slot 22 as shown in full lines inFig. 4. This separation of the roller 20 from the fixed roller 19 serves to free the fabric and the rollers return to their lowermost position before again gripping the fabric for the next advance.

The track 25 at the right of the measuring machine 5 is provided with a raised portion 26 at its lowermost extremity (see Fig. 1), the arrangement being such that the rollers in the arms 12 and 1d on the right of the measuring machine grip the fabric during their downward travel and release it only at the end of their downward stroke. The rollers when thus separated pass over the fabric and regrip it only when the upaermost extremity of their travel is reached. it he rollers in these right hand arms 12 and are similar in construction to those areviously described in connection with the left hand traveling arms. However, the curved slots 22 in such arms may be positioned as desired to limit the positions of the upper rollers during the travel of the arms, as, for example, shown in Fig. 4.

The arms 12 are connected for simultanecus movement by means of a cross-bar 27 pivoted at its opposite ends to the respective arms 12, and carrying adjacent its central portion the handle 28 whereby the feeding mechanism is operated. As best shown in Fig. 1 the arrangement is such that when the arm 12 at the left of the measuring machine is in its lowermost position the arm 12 on the right of the measuring machine is in its uppermost position or close to the measuring machine. lVhen the handle 28 is grasped and moved to the right from its position in Fig. 1, the left hand arm 12 is raised and the right hand arm 12 simultaneously lowered until the positions of the arms are reversed, and the left hand arm 12 approaches close to the measuring machine. By then moving the handle 28 to the left the right iand arm 12 is raised and the left hand arm lowered until they again assume the position shown in 1.

It will be clear from the above that when fabric is introduced between the rollers of the traveling arms it will be moved toward the measuring machine 5 by the left hand arms 12 and 1 1 and away from the measuring machine by the right hand a1 12 and 1 1. In operation the fabric desired to be measured is first unrolled from the bolt for several yards and piled on the counter adj acent the left hand travelin arms. The edges of the fabric are then passed between the rollers 19 and 20 of the left hand traveling arms, the arm 14,- being moved toward or away from the measuring machine according to the vidth of the fabric. The fabric is then advanced over the left hand stationary rollers 30 arranged at substantially the same height as the slot 7 in the measuring machine, then through the slot 7 and over simi= lar stationary rollers 31 adjacent the right hand end of the slot, and then between the. rollers of the right hand-traveling arms.

Sll

e the slot or the 1 against the operating rollers or the machine.

TllGDlOVGDIQBl] oil the fabric through the slot is accordingly ineasured. Un the first strol of the traveling arms the end of the fabric is moved downwardly by the right hand arms and when this stroke finished therol i 19 and are automatically s paratehereinheitore described. The traveling a1 are then ready to return to regrip the rubric at the uppermost end of its S'tl'OliG. But. it has been found that best results are obtained it the free end oi. the fabric is hrst secured adjacent the lower extremity of the right hand traveling arins. Accordingly, I pro/"5 erahly provide a clamp 32 (see Figs. l and which holds the end of the tahric while the arms 12 and let ltlfllfe their return stroke to grip the :tahric ina newplacc. The advance stroke is then repeated and additional ia-hric pulled through; the slot of the ineasuri inn-- chine. At the end of thisstrolte the rollers are again automati ally separated and return to regrip the fabric for the next stroke. The fabric pulled through the machine is piled loosely adjacent the right hand tracks When the desired amount of fabric has ."assed tl'irough the -1neasuring machine the oortion desired is cut from the remainder of the bolt and folded as desiredthe remainder being rewound upon (the bolt in the usual manner. Should it happen that. the desired. quantity 0:. fabric has been measured when the trmrelinp arms are intermediate the ends of their str lies, the strokes may he stopped at such interinediete positions and the fabric severed. I accompl sh this inthe illustrated einhodii'nent of the invention hy mounting a p wl 38 upon the handle 28 (see Fig. 5) which meshes with stationary ra k 34: to lock the handle and cross-oar 27 in any dew w; to

sired position. A. spring: normally presses the pawl 33 into contact with the ra k 3e and a hand lever 86 is pivoted on the handle so as to he grasped by the operator. ll hen the desired measurementis effected, the op erator inerely releases his grasp on the hendle and the spring; 35 throws the pawl into locking); engagement with the rack.

While the quantity of fabric measured is shown on the dial 8 of the ineasr I chine. ll also preferably provide an auxiliary dial 37 on the feeding mechanism. As shown in Fig. the dial 3? is marked adjacent the raclt tron above by the person operating the feeding mechanism. This dial 3'? as herein shown is divided into 18 parts, preferably representing leased at any intermediateposition it serves to indicate on ,theauxiliary dial how many inches of fahrichas heenPulled through the .34: preferably so as to be easily read inches and when the pawl 33 is re measuring machine h during that partial stroke.

lfl hile the embodiment illustrated in r igs.

1 to 5 show a travel of say i=3 inchesn the len 'th ot the stroke otthe reedino arnis t: may he regulated as desired. F or example 111 F1 9 l. have illustrated an einl'iodnnenr wherein the stroke oi the, ar as 120 is inste- 7 A i' I I U12 il- Q 'i b "liv )1? 11a 0 greater ran that 0 tie era. eminent shown in Figs. 1 to 5. This accomplished by p voting thearnis 1120 upon the brackets 130 more remote :t'r-"in the ineasurin me- \3 ohms so that the orc d-scr hed hy the rollers 01"" the traveling arms is materially greater. By locating the brackets 13 at the requisite distance from the ineusuring inacl no and adjusting the radial lengths of the arms 120, any desired length of strolre may be oh tained. i

The rollers l9 and 20 may be provided with any desired tread that will facilitate grippingthe fabric so as to prevent slipping. (fine form of tread preferred by me is illustrated in Figs; 7 and 8 andcorn iirises a nulltiplicity of projections ll) extending tans'entially and all pointing; in the some direction. Thus when a, pull is put upon the projection lOin the direction of their extension, very little opposition is made to the passa e of the jiahric. while if attempt is made to pull the fahricin the opposite cirection eachjot' the proje ions d0 then in contact with the fabric would have to he bent to permit the Fabric to slide whereby ,i fent opposition is offered to the passage of the fabric in suchdirection. This construction seems particularly desirable for firmly gripping the :tabricdurinn the advance opcitations. or the stroke and permitting the rollers to pass over the fabric during the return portion of the stroke.

Ihave also shown inl ig'. 6 modified torin of mounting the ro lers in the travelinn; arms when it is desired not to use the slots 22 and tracks 23. In this modification fir; the trunnions ll concentrically oi" the lower roller 190 and arrange the trunnion eccentric silly of the upper roller 200 suhstantially as shown. The result of such locetion ottlie rollers is that when the rollers occupy the full. lin --oosition shown they will. by the weight 0" the upper roller, the fabric during any attempt to move the iahric in the, direction of the arrow and will separate when attempt is made to pull fabric between the rollers in the opposite direction.

Vhei however, the upper roller is swung on its trunnion to occupy the position shown in dotted lines. just the opposite is the resuit end-fabric passing in the direction of the arrow will he allowed to-freely move bemodified form shown in F 6 is particularly ndaptable for returning taoric through the grip neasuring macnine sl-oul it become neces- For example, should the customer deire two yarns of fabric ano the clerk ac- Y .entally pull 2'2 ya ds through the measurnachine, the extra 11; yard could be 'ealdily returned through the measuring machine turning the rollers 200 on their trunnions so as to grip the fabric for the pull in the reverse direction. It is also possible-to utilize the form shown in Figs. 1 to 5 for returning the fabric as above described for short distances as the rollers will grip '11 either dire tion at all portions their trolre except after the upper roller has been moved into the high end of its slot by the inclined raised portion 24. of the track.

From the above it will be apparent that my improved feeding m chanism can be made in varied forms, all of which possess the inherent advantages my invention and any of which will effect the desired straight line pull with the edges of the fabric maintained parallel throughout the entire movement, the fabric tautly held at the pointwhere it passes over the measuring rollers, and the entire stroke being made uniformly and evenly so as to insure accurate. measurement. c

Having described my invention, 1 claim 1. A. device for feeding fabric to and througl'i a measuring machine, comprising arms pivoted adjacent the machine and carrying rollers adapted to releasably grip the fabric. said arms being mounted to swing toward and away from the measuring machine.

2. A device for feeding fabric to and through a measuring machine, including arms pivoted on each side of the measuring machine, said arms being mounted to swing toward and away from the measuring machine, one being arranged. to advance the fabric to the machine, and the other being arranged to move it through and away from the machine.

3. A device for feeding fabric to and through a measuring machine, including arms pivoted on each side of the measuring machine, and having pairs of rollers mounted therein to grip the fabric, said arms being mounted to swing toward and away from the measuring machine, one of said arms being arranged to advance the fabric to the machine, and the other being arranged to move it through and away from the ma chine.

A device for feeding fabric to and through a measuring machine, including arms pivoted on each side of the measuring machine, and connected to move in unison throughout their entire stroke, said arms bemounted to swing toward and away from the measuring machine, one of said arms being arranged to advance the fabric to the machine, and the other being arranged to move it through and away from the machine.

5. A device for feeding fabric to and through a measuring machine, including arms pivoted on each side of the measuring fintClllllG, and connected to move in unison. said arms being mounted to swing toward and away from the measuring machine, one being elevated toward the vertical while the is being lowered, said arms carrying otner rollers arranged to grip the fabric.

6. Feeding mechanism for fabric measuring machines, comprising pairs of arms pivoted on each side of the measuring ma chine and carrying rollers adapted to grip the fabric adjacent its opposite edges to feed the fabric to and through the measuring machine, one arm of each pair being adjustable toward and away from the other.

7. Feeding mechanism for fabric measuring machines, comprising pairs of arms pivoted on each side of the measuring machine, and carrying rollers adapted to grip the fabric adjacent its opposite edges, to feel the fabric to and through the measuring machine, the arms adjacent one edge being adjustable toward and away from the others.

8. Feeding mechanism for fabric measuring machines, comprising pairs of arms pivoted on each side of the measuring machine, carrying rollers adapted to grip the fabric adjacent its opposite edges to feed the fabric to and through the measuring machine, and means for separating the rollers to re ease the fabric when desired.

9. Feeding mechanism for fabric measuring machines, comprising pairs of arms p voted on each side of the measuring machine and carrying rollers adapted to grip the fabric adjacent its opposite edges to Seen the fabric to and through the measur machine, one of said rollers on each arm being movable toward and away from the adjacent roller.

10. Feeding mechanism for fabric measuring machines, comprising pairs of arms pivoted on each side of the measuring machine and carrying rollers adapted to grip the fabric adjacent its opposite edges to feed the fabric to and through the measuring machi e, the upper roller being movable toward and away from the lower roller of each arm.

11. Feeding mechanism for fabric measuring machines, comprising pairs of arms pivoted on each side of the measuring machine, each arm carrying a pair of rollers adapted to grip the fabric adjacent its opposite edges to feed the fabric to and through the measuring machine, and stationary tracks on which the trunnions of one of said rollers is guided for moving the rollers apart and together as desired. 12. Feeding mechanism for fabric meas- Elli uring machines, comprising pairs of arms pivoted on each side of the measuring ma chine, each arm carrying. a pair of rollers adapted to grip thefahric. adjacent its 0pposite edges to feed the fabric to and through the measuringmachine, and stationary cam-shaped tracks on which the trunnions of one of said rollers is guided for moving the rollers. apart and together as desired.

13. Feeding mechanism for fabric measuring machines, comprising pairs of arms pivoted on each side of the measuring machine, and carrying rollers adapted to grip the fabric adjacent its opposite edges to feed the fabric to and through the measuring machine, the arms adjacent one edge being adjustable toward and away from the others, and telescoping connections between the arms on each side of the measuring machine.

14. Feeding mechanism for fabric measuring machines, comprising pairs of arms pivoted on each side of the measuring machine, each arm carrying a pair of rollers adapted to grip the fabric adjacent its opposite edges to feed the fabric to and through the measuring machine, stationary camshaped tracks on which the trunnions of one of said rollers is guided for moving the rollers apart and together as desired, and a clamp adjacent one of said tracks.

15. A portable feeding mechanism for fabric measuring machines, comprising a base arranged to support the measuring machine, and a pair of arms pivoted to said base on each side of the measuring machine to feed the fabric to and through the measuring machine,

16. A. portable feeding mechanism for fabric measuring machines, comprising a base arranged to support the measuring machine, and a pair of arms pivoted to said base on each side of the measuring machine, each arm carrying a pair of rollers adapted to grip the fabric adjacent its edge to feed the fabric to and through the measuring machine, and stationary tracks mounted on said base for guiding the rollers to move them apart or together as desired. I

17. A portable feeding mechanism for fabric measuring machines, comprising a base arranged to support the measuring machine, and a pair of arms pivoted to said base on each side of the measuring machine, each arm carrying a pair of rollers adapted to grip the fabric adjacent its edges to feed the fabric to and through the measuring machine, stationary tracks mounted on said base for guiding the rollers to move them apart or together as desired, auxiliary pivoted arms in alignment with the first mentioned arms, a plate to which said auxiliary arms are pivoted, and means for adjustably mounting said plate on said base to move new a) Us G the "auxiliary arms toward from an first mentioned Y l8. ceding mechanism for fabric measuring machineacomprising a pair of arms pivoted on each side of the measuring machine to feed the fabric to and through the measuring machine, a pair of rollers mounted in each arm, said rollers having an ant slipping tread togrip the. fabric duringthe feeding movement.

19. Feeding mechanism for fabric measuring machines, comprising a pair of arms pivoted on each side of the measuring ma chine to feed the fabric to and through the measuring machine, a pair of rollers mounted in each arm, said rollers having an antislipping tread to grip the fabricduring the feedingmovement, and means to separate one roller of each pair from the other to release the fabric When desired.

20. Feeding mechanism for fabric measuring machines, comprising a pair of arms pivoted on each side of the measuring machine to feed the fabric to and through the measuring machine, a pair of rollers mounted in each arm, said rollers having an antislipping tread to grip the fabric during the feeding movement, the upper roller of each pair being adjustably mounted in said arms to permit separation of the rollers, to release the fabric wh never desired.

21. Feeding mechanism for fabric measuring machines, comprising a pair of arms pivoted on each side of the measuring machine and carrying rollers adapted to grip the fabric adjacent its edge, means for swinging said arms simultaneously to feed the fabric to and through the measuring machine, and means for stopping said swinging movement at any point of its stroke. 22. Feeding mechanism for fabric measurmg machines, comprising a pair of arms pivoted on each side of the measuring machine and carrying rollers adapted to grip the fabric adjacent its edge, means for swinging said arms simultaneously to feed the fabric to and through the measuring machine, and means for stopping said swinging movement at any point of its stroke, comprising a stationary rack and a ratchet moving with the swinging arms and arranged to engage the rack when released.

23. Feeding mechanism for fabric measuring machines, comprising a pair of arms pivoted on each sid of the measuring machine and carrying rollers adapted to grip the fabric adjacent its edge, means for swin ing said arms simultaneously to feed the fabric to and through the measuring machine, means for stopping said swinging movement at any point of its stroke, and

indicating means arranged to show the quantity of fabric measured during an incomplete stroke.

24. Feeding mechanism for fabric measuring machines, comprising a pair of arms pivoted on each side 01 the measuring machine and carrying rollers adapted to grip the fabric adjacent its edge, means for swinging said arms simultaneously to feed the fabric to and through the measuring machine, means for stopping said swinging movement at any point of its stroke, comprising a stationary rack and a ratchet moving with the swinging arms and arranged 10 to engage the rack when released, and an aurcili ry indicator arranged to show the quantity of fabric measured during such incomplete stroke.

AUBREY HOUSTON. Witnesses JAMES Z. HALL, EDW. S. CHAMBERS.

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