US1514635A - Link-mesh machine - Google Patents

Description

1,514.635 O. SODERSTROM ET AL LINK MESH MACHINE Filed June 6, 19?.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 @vr/uente@ Nov. 11 1, 1924;

"FW nwo. W\%MNM o. soDERs-rRoM ET AL LINK MESH MACHINE Nov. 11 1924. 1,514,635

Filed June 6, 192] 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 LINK MESH MACHINE Filed June 6j 192x 5 sheets-sheet 4 T" WJ! 7 J/ i0 0% z3 A y Z4 0%. f7 ff ff Nov. 11 1924o 1,514,635

o. soDERsTRoM ET AL LINK MESH MACHINE Filed June 6, 192) 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 4%@ 24 /7 j 34 Z y Patented Nov0 ll, i924.

OSCAR SODERSTBGM AND FRED HARRIS LYNDS, OEI' NORTH ATTLEBORO, MASSACHU- SETTS, ASSIGNORS TO WHIT'NG it DAV 1S COMPANY, A CORPORATION O'E MASSA.-

CHUSETTS` LINK-MESH MACHINE.

.Application filed June 6,

To all fro/wm t may] concern.: Y

Re it known that We, OSCAR SonnnsrnoM, a citizen of the United States, resident of North Attleboro, county of Bristol, Massachusetts, and Whose post-office address is c/o lhiting 8a Davis Company, Plainville, Norfolk County, State Yof Massachusetts, and linnn HARRIS LYNDs, a citizen of the United States, and resident of llorth Attleboro, county of Bristol, Massachusetts, Whose post-office address is c/o Whiting & Davis Company, Plainville, Norfolk County, State of lllassacbusetts, have invented certain new and useful vlmprovements in Linkll/lesh Machines; and vve do hereby declare the following` to be a full, olea-r, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to a machine for cutting' pieces of a selecte-d shape from a sheet of link mesh fabric.

It has been the practice, heretofore, to cut designs or shapes, as for instance, those used for making mesh bags, from a piece of link mesh fabric by hand. l/Vhen the cutting` operation is performed in this Way, the operator cuts the links one by one with scissors or a similar tool, counting the links along the outline of the design as the cutting operation proceeds so that the finished shape will be of the desired design. This hand operation is tedious and necessarily sloiv, and constitutes a large item of cost in (he production of link mesh bags.

The machine of the present invention eliminates the expensive. and frequently inaccurate manual operations above referred to, and is so arranged that pieces of mesh of any desired shape may be outlined in the fabric With each piece an exact duplicate of every other made according to the same pattern. The machine operates rapidly and under complete control, and the change from one pattern to another may be effected readily and Without extended delay.

The machine is so constructed that it may operate simply to outline a design on the fabric, as for example, the shape of a piece such as would be used for a handbag, by indicating or identifying the links to be removed from the fabric along th-e edger of the piece. For this purpose the machine may include devices for marking the selected links in any suitable Way so that the oper- 1921. Serial No. 475,214.

ator may thereafter cut or otherwise remove the marked `links to produce the piece. Preferably, these devices are formed to sever the selected links so that the parts of the link will at once drop out of the fabric, or yelse facilitate their removal by spreading apart the abutting ends of the selected links by an amount at least equal to the diameter of the link Wire. lli/hen such spreading devices are employed, the entire length of fabric is passed through the machine, and, after its removal therefrom, is shaken so that the spread links will drop out, thus completing the formation of the pieces of the desired shape. Y

The invention, accordingly, involveslthe provision of a support for the piece of fabric to be treated, and a multiplicity of link marking, spreading, or severing elements,

corresponding in number and position to the links in a row across the fabric. The support and the elements areso arranged that the fabric and the elements maybe given arrelative movement, such that successive portions of the fabric may be acted on by the elements, and a second relative movement in the course of which the elements perform their function. Preferably the fabric is advanced with a step by step movement past the elements and the latter are moved relative to the fabric in the periods of rest of this movement. The operation of the elements acting on the links is under the control of a pattern mechanism which may conveniently include an endless roll or sheet having perforations or projections disposed over its surface according to the-shape of the pieces of mesh which are to be made. The pattern mechanism isV arranged to move the roll with a step by step movement in correspondence with the movement of the fabric and the perforations are placed in roWs to correspond With the roivs of links in the fabric. Also the perforations in each rovv correspond in position to the position of the links in a rovv although the number of perforations vvill actually be lless in number than the number of links in the row unless the pattern requires that the fabric be severed entirely across. The mechanism by which the pattern roll or sheet controls the action of the devices which act on the individual links includes a multiplicity of members Which correspond in number to the number of elements, and in turn to the number of links in a row. 1n each period of rest in the movement of the pattern sheet, the members and pattern sheet are brought into contact and the .members take positions which are determined by the location of the perforations in the pattern sheet. llVhen such action has taken place, selected members will have been disposed so as to bring into action th-e elements by which the links are to be acted upon and the location of the perforations on the pattern roll thus determines lwhich links will be marked, severed, or spread, as the case may be. After the latter operation has occurred, the .parts are vrestored to normal position and the pattern roll and the piece of fabric make another forward step, whereupon t-he cycle of operations is repeated.

The form of machine at present preferred is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figurel is a view of the machine partly in elevation and partly in section;

Figure 2 is a plan View of the machine partly in section;

.1, Figure?) is a. view along the line 3 3 of Figure 1; Figures 4, 5, 6 and are detail views of ythe link markingand separating mechanisms showing the cycle of operation;

Figure 8 is a detail plan view of the link marking and separating mechanisms and associated parts; n

Figure 9 illustrates a pattern for an article of link mesh, and

Figure 10 represents an outline of the articlemarked on the link .mesh fabric by the link marking and separating mechanisms.

Referring to Figures 4-7, the link mesh fabric 11, out of which the article of link mesh is to be cut, is suspended from a suitable supporting and feed roller 12, the .face of which is preferably7 provided with means (not shown) for engaging the links of the fabric and positively moving them, forward. Slidably mounted in grooves at the top of the block 13 is a series of selector bars 14, there being one of these bars for each link across the width of the fabric. The end of each of the selector bars is reduced to form a link marker or spreader 15 which is adapted to .enter the link of the fabric in alignment with the bar, as illustrated in Figures 6 and 7. The dimensions of the link marker are such that when the marker is inserted in a `link it willspread vit open, parting the abutting ends of the ring of wire constitutingthe link an amount at leastequal to the diameter iof lthe wire. The spread link is then removable from adjacent links simply Vby shaking the' fabric. rlhis spreading of the. links Ais readily accomplished by the insertion .of the marker, since the abutting ends of the rings of the fabric are left unsoldered until after the article is cut to shape. The lower edge of each of the separator bars is channelled at 16 to receive the upper end of a stationary bar 17, and the bars are held in position by a cover plate 18 extending from one side of the machine to the other. Fastened to the block 13 is a second block 19 having` a recess 2O into which the ends of the selector bars 14 may move. Keyed to a stationary shaft 21 is a roll 22 having an arcuate groove 23 running the length of the roll. Passing over this roll, and actuated by means hereinafter to be described, is an endless perforated pattern roll or sheet 24, the perforations 25 in which, as shown in Figure 9, outline the article to be cut from the fabric. Between the roll 22 and the block 19 is a. shaft 26 on which are loosely mounted a series of feed dogs 27 corresponding in number to the number of selector bars, and positioned one directly in back of each ofthe corresponding selector bars. riihe shaft 26 has a plurality of circumferential grooves 23 in which are mounted a plurality of separator bars 29 for separating pairs of adjacent feed dogs 'to insure independent motion of the latter around the shaft 25. The feed dogs 27 are each formed with an upper arm termina-ting in a projection 30 adapted to enter the recess 2O to block the backward movement o-f the corresponding selector bar into the recess; and a lower arm carrying kthe pin 31 adapted to enter the arcuate groove 23 in the roll 22 through the perforations 25 in the pattern sheet. The center of gravity of vthe feed dogs 27 is disposed to the left of the shaft 26 (referring to Figures 447) so that the dogs tend to drop around the shaft in a counter clockwise direction resting normally on the stop 32 provided by the end of `the block 19. The end of the block 19 has an arcuate groove 33 in which a semi-circular rocker shaft 34 is supported. This shaft 34 is connected to actuating means to impart thereto an. intermittent turning` movement to rotate the dogs about the shaft 26 and raise the projections 30 out of the recesses 20 to clear the ends ofthe selector bars 14 so that these are free to slide into the recesses.

The machine Yhas a table 35, supported on legs 36. Mounted to slide between the guideways 37 on the table is a carriage 38. Supported on the carriage are the blocks 13 and 19 carrying the selector bars 14, the rocker shaft 34 and the shaft 26 which is fastened in brackets 19a secured to block 19. Also mounted on the carriage are brackets 39 for holding the shaft 21, and brackets 40 serving as bearings for a pair of guide rollers 41 over which the pattern sheet 24 passes, the latter being held taut on the rollers 41 and roll 22 by a tension roller 42, loosely slung within the end of the sheet and bearing down upon it. A guide 413 is adjustahly secured on the shaft 26 by meansl of set screws 4A and ei;- tends across and `contiguous to the roll to prevent the pattern sheet leaving)r the roll.

The ends of the shaft 2l. are sq 1dared to lit the slots 45 in the brackets 39 in which the shaft is secured by set screws 4:6; similarly the brackets 40 are slotted at e6@ Thus the roll 22 and the upper roller il may be removed, the pattern sheet taken out of the machine and a new one inserted.

Loosely mounted on the ends of the shaft 2l is a pair of feed rollers ii7 for feedii'igi,v the pattern sheet 24 over the stationary roll 22. Each of these feed rollers has circumferentially spaced pins 49 for engaging corresponding marginal perforations 50 in the pattern sheet by which the latter is moved over the surface of the roll 22, The feed rollers 47 are actuated by means of pawl and ratchet mechanisms, ratchet teeth 5l on the periphery of the rollersbeinp; engaged by spring pressed pawls 52. Each ofy these pawls is mounted in ay bayonet slot 53 in order that it may be locked inv inoperative position, and the slot 56 is cut in one arm 54 of a bell crank 55 which is pivoted at 55 to the block 13. The other arms of the bellcranks terminate in circular portions 57 which are held against movement relative to the table by pairs of abutments 58 secured to the table top. llVhen the carriage 38 is reciprocated by actuating means about to be described, the pivot points 56 of the bell cranks 55 are carried along with the block, and since the ends 57 of the bell cranks are held against movement with the carriage, the bell cranks oscillate about their pivot points, moving the pawls 52 upwardly and downvvardly` and giving to therollers -t7 a step by step movement through engage-- ment with the ratchet teeth 51.

The table 35 has a bearing' 59-in which is mounted a shaft 60 having' at its upper end a head 6l, the latter carrying on its upper surface an eccentric pin 62. The pin 62`fits into the block 63 movable iii a laterally ei;- tending,` recess 641 in the under side of the carriage The shaft 60 carries a bevel gear 65 meshing with a bevel gear 66 on the end of a shaft 67, the latter of which is mounted in a bearing 68 depending from the table 35. At the outer end of shaft 67 is a belt pulley 69 for connection to power,

yand also ay hand wheel 70 for operating` the moving' parts of the machine by hand. The shaft 67 is disengageable from the driving; means by a clutch`7l ythat is engaged by arms 72, fixed on a shaft 73 at the end of which is a handle 711 for ojrierating the clutch. lhen the clutch 7l is thrown in, connecting' the shaft 67 to power, the shaft 6() is rotatedV through gears 65 and 66, and the block 63, under the action of the eccentric pin 62, moves the carriage imparting;y to it reciprocatory motion toward and awayk upon thereby. This step by step feeding ofy the mesh fabric is effected by imparting to the roller l2 an intermittent step bj sten rotation in timed relation with the step b v step moven'icnt of the rollers 41.57 carrying` the pattern sheet 24. This timed movement of the roller l2 is accomplished by a rocker arm 75 loosely mounted on shaft a6, the rocker arm being actuated during` the forwardV and backward movement of the kcar-- riage 38 by pin 76, secured to the block 13, against which the rocker arm is held by a spring 79, fined` at one end to a block 80, and attached at its other end to a pin 8l on the arm. Formed on the outer end of the rocker arm is a projection 77, and inwardly along the arm from this projection is a out away portion 78. When the carriage 38 is at its eXtreme outward position, that is to the right in Figure l, the projection 77 of the rocker arm is in engagement with'thc pin 76 and the arm is depressed by the projection in a clockwise direction to its lowermost position. lvlllien, however, the carriage moves forwardly, or inwardly toward the mesh fabric 1l, the cutaway portion of thef arm comes in Contact with the pin 76 thus producing an upward movement of the arm in a counter clockwise direction under the vaction of the spring `7 9. This movement of the rocker arm is communicated to shafts-8 by means of a springpressed pawl 86 acting;- oii the peripheral teeth 87r of the ratchet wheel 88 tixedto shaft 416. f Hence. as the carriage 38 is reciprocated the rocker anni lis oscillated up ,vardly and downwardly, producing corresl'ionding,- oscillations of the shaft flS'and roller l2, thus feeding; the mesh fabric 11 forwardly step by step between Va pair of pressure rollers 82 which preclude slipping of the fabric and insure positive, accurate feeding. The pressure rollers are mounted yin split bearings, the upper parts of which are formed in a cover plate 64; hinged at 83 so that the cover plate may be opened to permit the removal of the rollers 82. The cover plate is secured in closed position'by the screw shaft 34 to clear the ends of the selector bars. As the carriage moves forwardly, the rocker shaft is turnedto the position indicated in Figure 5, thus permitting the dogs 27 to fall until the pins y32 thereof contact with the surface of the pattern sheet, or enter the perforations 25, as in Figures 5 and G. In the latter case, the dogs fall to the stop 32, their kproject-ions 30 entering the recesses 20 directly,7 in back of selector bars 14 to prevent backward movement thereof. The feed dogs which fall without encountering perforations in the pattern sheet contact with the surface of the sheet and are held in raised position clear of the ends of the corresponding selector bars. lhen the bars are advanced to the positions shown in Figures 6 and 7 the spreaders 15 on the ends of the selector bars, fixed in operative positions by the feed dogs, enter links A and are forced therethrough, spreading the lin rs open `by parting the abutting ends of the rings of wire constituting the links an amount equal at least to the diameter of the wire. The tip ends of the spreaders enter the slots 39 in a block 90 secured to the block 80, the slots acting to steady the selector bars. rThe links A are links on the outline of the pattern of the article to be cut from the mesh, and since these links are spread open, they may readily be removed to detach the article from the fabric by shaking the fabric after the operation of outlining the design is completed. The spreaders 15 of the selector bars that are not selected, or lfixed in operative positions toenter the links, by the feed dogs, come in contact with the mesh fabric which pushes the bars backwardly into the respective recesses 2O as the block 13 advances. These bars are brought back in alignment by the stationary bar 17 at the end of the return movement of the carriage, at which time the feed dogs are again raised by the rocker shaft 34 to clear the ends of the selector bars, thus completing they cycle.

The intermittent movement of the rocker shaft 34 is produced by an arm 91 reciprocated vertically by an eccentric 92 acting through the plunger 93, the` latter having a roller 94 bearing on the periphery of the eccentric. The roller 94 at the end of the plunger 93 is held against the face of the eccentric by means of a spring 93, one end of which is secured to the table 35, the other to a pin extending from the arm 91. On the end of the shaft 34 is a lever 96 carrying pins 95. When in raised position the end of the arm wipes the lowermost of pins 95 moving it'upward thus rocking the lever and shaft. This action takes place at the beginning and end of each cycle t-o raise the kfeed dogs and permit free movement of the selector bars as explained.

vSummarizing the operation, the reciproeating movement of the carriage 38 in turn causes the step by step advance of the fabric a row at a time, advances the pattern roll in correspondence with the fabric movement, brings into action, under the control 'of the pattern, certain-of the feed dogs, and

causes the selector bars which are in turn controlled by the feed dogs, to perform their function in spreading the links of the mesh. fabric is advanced to position to be operated on, a corresponding portion of the pattern is also brought into operative position.

ward with the carriage, such of the bars as' are prevented from return movement by the dogs act on the links and cause them to be spread apart, while the others move freely As each new. rovv of linksl in the backward upon engagement with the links and therefore perform no spreading flinction. After the `spreading operation has taken place, the feed dogs are raised to position out of contact with the pattern sheet, and the carriage moves back. During this latter movement the selector' bars are moved awa-y from the fabric and placed in yalignment by means of the stationary bar eX- tending through the carriage. As the vcarriage again moves forward, the fabric and pattern sheet are advanced one step and the operation of the selector bars and feed dogs again takes place, theiseveral parts being actuated in proper timed relation. This cycle of operations occurs for each rowof links acrossthefabric and continues 'until t-he piece of mesh which is to be removed from the fabric has been completely outlined, whereupon the pattern makes a second passage through the machineand a second piece of the same shape is marked out.

Fig. 10 shows a piece of link mesh fabric and a design is indicated thereon for a shape such as might be used in making a mesh bag. A piece of this shape is cut from the sheet and folded over upon itself; then the coacting edges are joined together by inserting suitable links. To get a series of pieces of this shape from the sheet. a pattern sheet is inserted in the machineJ Ihaving openings therein spaced to correspond with the spacing of the rings to be removed from the sheet of mesh to form the piece `shown in Fig. 10. The machine is then started in operation and in ea-ch cycle of operations the sheet of mesh is moved forward one step and also the pattern sheet is moved forward one step. In each operation certain of the yselector bars 14 are selected by the movement of the corresponding dogswhose proj ectio-ns 31 enter openings in the pattern sheet, and when all of the selector bars move forward, the ones that have been selected enter rings of the fabric and spread those'rings slightly. Thus, for spreading the rings in the line across the upper part of the design indicated in Fig. l0, a plurality of selector' bars would be selected and used for spreading wings. In the next operation only two selector bars would be selected vand those two would operate to spread rings. The operation would be continued thus until the whole design was cut and then. the endless pattern sheet would be brought around to the position for repeating the operation. The operation might be repeated a great number oftimes, the sheet of link mesh fabric being collected in a box below the supporting roller l2.

1t will be understood that in accordance with this preferred operation of spreading the rings, the rings which have been spread remain in position. After a succession of the shapes have been cut out to this extent and a long piece of the fabric has collected in the receiving tray, the operator takes this piece in his hands and shakes it and in the course of this shaking operation the rings which have been spread drop out rapidly and finally the shapes are no longer held in position in the sheet of mesh and fall out.

1t should be understood that the principles of this invention may be utilized in machines employed for completely severing the rings which are to be taken out or machines in which the rings to be extracted are marked in any suitable way so that they may be identified as links which are toy be cut in a subsequent operation. But the operation of spreading the rings isr preferred, particularly whenoperatingupon line mesh fabric having rings made'of very light wire as there is less danger of injury to rings of the fabric other than those 'which are removed.

1V e claim:

l. The combination of a support for a piece of link mesh fabric having the links thereof arranged in rows lengthwise and crosswise of the piece, means for moving the piece of fabric in the direction of its length, a multiplicity of elements each corresponding to a link in a crosswise row of links of the piece of mesh and adapted to act upon individual links to facilitate their removal from the piece of mesh, a pattern sheet, means for moving the pattern sheet in correspondence with the movement of the piece of mesh, a plurality of members cac-h corresponding to one of said elements and cooperating with the pattern sheet, means for moving the pattern sheet and said members relatively whereby certain of said members are selected and caused to moveI in a manner different from theI other members, and means for actuating the elements corresponding to the members so selected to cause these' particular elements to act upon links ofthe piece of ine-shin the row to which they correspond. e

The combination of a support for a piece of link mesh fabric having the links thereof arranged in rows lengthwise and crosswise of the piece, means for moving the piece of fabric in the direction of its length with a step by step movement, one

row ata step, a multiplicity of elements' each corresponding to a link in a crosswise/ periods of rest of the step by step movement of the pattern sheet whereby certain of said members are selected andV caused to move in a manner different from the other members, and means for actuating the elements cor responding to the members so selected'in the periods of rest of the step by step movement of the piece of mesh to cause these particular elements to act upon links of the piece of mesh in the row to which they correspond. i

3. rThe combination of a support for a piece of link mesh fabric having the links thereof arranged in rows lengthwise and crosswise of the piece, means for moving the piece of fabric in the direction of its length, a power driven reciprocating carriage, a multiplicity of elements mounted on the carriage, `each of these elements corresponding to a link in a crosswise row of links of the piece of mesh and adapted to act upon individual links to facilitate their removal from the piece of mesh, a pattern sheet, means for moving the patternsheet in correspondence with they movement of the piece of mesh, a plurality of members each corresponding to one of said elements and cooperating with the pattern sheet, means for moving the pattern sheet and said members relatively whereby certain of said members are selected and caused to move ina manner different from the yother members, and means for moving the carriage relative to the mesh whereby the particular elements corresponding to the members se-V lected by the pattern sheet are causedto act upon links ofthe piece of mesh in the row to which they correspond.

l. The combination of a support for a piece of link mesh fabric having the links thereof arranged in rows lengthwise and crosswise of the fabric, a multiplicity of elef ments each corresponding to a link in a crosswlse row of links 1n the piece'of meshv takes place, and also occurring in the periods of rest of said step by step movement.

9. The eomliiination of support for :i piece of mesh fabric containing a series of trai'isverse rows of links, power driven means for advancing the fabric with a step by step movement, each step corresponding in amount to the diameter of a link, a pattern sheet, power driven means for advancing the pattern sheet with a step by step movement corresponding to the movement of the fabric, a multiplicity of elements corresponding in number and position to the links in a row across the fabric for acting on individual links to facilitate their removal from the fabric, a multiplicity of members, one for each of said elements, cooperating with the pattern sheet and controlling the action of the elements, a carriage on which the members and the elements are mounted, means for producing a relative movement of the carriage and the fabric to cause the elements to engage the links, and power driven means for producing a relative movement of the members and the pat-tern sheet to cause selected members to render their associated elements operative.

10. The combination of a support for a piece of mesh fabric containing a series of transverse rows of links, power driven means for advancing the fabric with a step by step movement, one row at a step, a multiplicity of elements corresponding in number and position to the links in a row, for acting on individual links to facilitate their removal from the fabric, a multiplicity of members, one for each of the elements, for rendering the latter operative to act upon the links, a pattern sheet, means for advancing the pattern sheet with a step by step movement in correspondence with the advance of the fabric, a reciprocatine` carriage on which the elements and the members are mounted, power driven means for reciprocating the carriage toward and awayA from the fabric to bring the elements into contact with the links thereof, and power driven means for producing a relative movement of the members and the pattern sheet to cause the sheet to render selected members operative whereby their associated elements are caused to act upon the links.

11. The combination of a support for a piece of mesh fabric containing a series of transverse rows of links, means for advancing the fabric with a step by step movement, one row at each step, a pattern sheet, means for advancing the pattern sheet with a step by step movement corresponding to the movement of the fabric, a multiplicity of elements corresponding in number and position to the links in a row, for operatingY upon individual links to yfacili,- tate their removal from the fabric, and

means controlled by the pattern sheet and mo -able into contact with the latter in the periods of rest of the step by step movement of the pattern sheet, the said means being rendered effective by its contact with the sheetto cause selected elements to act upon the links corresponding thereto.

lit The. combination of a support for a piece of mesh fabric containing a series of transverse rows of links, means for adrancing the fabric with a step by step movement, one row at each step, a pattern sheet, means for advancing the pattern sheet with a step by step movement corresponding to the kmovement of the fabric, a multiplicity of elements corresponding in number and position to the links in a row for acting on individual. links to facilitate their removal from the fabric.,` power driven means for advancing the elcments toward the fabric to ca ,e the elements to contact with the llinn's thereof in the periods of rest of the step by step movement of the fabric, and a multiplicity of members, one for each of the elements, controlled by the pattern sheet and mov-- able into contact therewith in the periods of rest of the step by step movement of the sheet, these members in turn controlling the action of the elements upon the links.

13. rllhe combination of a support for a piece of mesh fabric containing a series of transverse rows of links, means for advancing the fabric with a step by step movement, one row at each step, a pattern sheet, means for advancing the pattern sheet with a step by'stcp movement corresponding to the moven ont of the fabric, a multiplicity of elements corresponding in number and position to the links in a row for acting on individual links to facilitate their removal from the fabric, a 'multiplicity of members, one for each ofthe elements, for controlling the action of the latter, power driven means for moving the elements toward and away from the fabric, and power driven means for moving the members into contact with the sheet whereby selected members will render their asso-- ciate-d elements effective to act upon the links corresponding thereto.

14e. The combination of a support for a piece of mesh fabric containing a series of transverse rows of links, kmeans for advancing the fabricy with step by step movement, one row at each step, a pattern sheet, means, for advancing the pattern sheet with a step by step movement corresponding to the movement of the fabric,

a power driven reciprocating carriage, a

multiplicity of elements corresponding in number and position to the links in a row operable to act upon individual links to facilitate their removal from the fabric and Uli movable as the carriage reciprocates into contact with these links, a multiplicity of members mounted on the carriage and operable to cause the elements to act upon individual links to facilitate their removal from the fabric, and means for bringing the members into Contact with the pattern sheet whereby selected members are rendered effective to cause their associated elements to act upon the links. l5. The combination of a support for a piece oi mesh fabric containing a series ol" transverse rows of links, means for advancing thecfabric step by step, one row at a step, a poweil driven reciprocating carriage, a pattern sheet supported on the carriage and movable with e. step by step movement corresponding to that of the fabric, a multiplicity of elements on the carriage corresponding in number and posit-ion to the links in a row, and operable to act upon these links t facilitate their removal from the fabric, these elements being brought into contact with the links as the carriage reciprocates, a multiplicity oifvmembers, one for each element, movable into contact with the pattern sheet, and by their position ot Contact operable to render selected elements effective to act upon the links, and powerdriven means li'or bringing the members intoy contact with the pattern sheet during the periods of rest of the step by step movement of the latter.

16.*The combination of a support for a i piece of mesh fabric containing a series of transverse rows of links, means for advencing the fabric by step one row et o step, c reciprocating carriage movoble toward and away from the lfabric, o pettcrn .sheetcupported on the carriage and movable with a step by eten movement corresponding to that of the fabric ce the cerrioge reoiprocctee, a multiplicity of elemente mounted on the corriege end corres ending in number and position to the lin e in o row, these clemente bein brought intocontect with the links of tie fabric by the carriage during the periods of reet in the step by ete: movement of the fabric, and o multiplici y ot members under the control of the ettern sheet and in turn rendering selecte elemente effective to ect upon the linke in accordance with the pattern formed on the pattern sheety 17. The combination of c support for a piece of mech fabric containing a series o' transverse rows of linke, a, power driven rcciproceting carrie e, means operated b the reciprocction o the carriage for e vencing the fabric with e step by step movement, one row of links et e step, a pattern sheet supported on the carriage, means opcreted by the reciprocction o the carriage for advancing the pattern sheet with c step c by step movement corresponding to the movement of the fabric, a multiplicity of elements supported 0n the carriage and corresponding in number and position to the links in a row, these elements being operable to act upon individual links to facilitate their removal from the fabric, and being brought into contact with the links as the carriage reciprocates, and a multiplicity of members, one for each of the elements, controlled by the pattern sheet and in turn operable to render selected elements edsctive to act upon the corresponding links.

y18. The combinationy of a support for ay piece of mesh fabric containing a series of transverse rows oi links, a power driven reciprocating carriage, means operated by the reci'procation or' the carriage for advancing the fabric with a step by step movement, one row of links at a step, a pattern sheet supported on the carriage, means operated by the reciprocation of the carriage for advancing the pattern sheet with a. step. by step movement corresponding to the movement oi' the fabric, a multiplicity oi elements supported on the carriage yand corresponding in number and position to the links in a row, these elements being operable to act upon individual links to facilitate their removal from the fabric, and being brought into contact with the links as the carriage reciprocates, a multiplicity oi members, one for each of the element-s, mounted on the carriage and operable under the control of the pattern sheet to render the elements effective to act'upon the links, and power driven means for bringing the members under the control of the pattern sheet whereby selected members are rendered o erctivc,

i9. e combination of a support for e piece of mesh fabric containing @series of transverse rows of linke, c power driven rcciproceting carriage, means operated b the reciprocction of the carriage ior a vencing the fabric with o step by step movement, one row at o step, c pet-tern sheet supported on the corrie c, means operated by the reciprocotion of t e carriage for edvcncingr the pattern with a step by step movement corresponding to that of the fabric, e multiplicity of selector bare correspending: in number end position to the links in a row tor acting upon individual linksl to facilitate their removal from the fabric, and moved by the carriage into contectwith the linlre, c multi licity of feed dogs one for each selector ar, each feed dog being rockoblc to e position controlled by the pattern sheet wherein it rendere its associated selector ber cective to ect upon c link and ower driven means for bringing al the eed dogs into contact with t e pattern sheet whereby selected feed dogs will be renderedl operative.

Q0@ The combmation yof a support for o piece of mesh fabric containing a series of transverse rows of links, a power driven reciprocating carriage moving toward and away from the fabric carried by the support, means operable by the reciprocation of the carriage for advancing the fabric with a step by step movement, one row of links at a step, a pattern sheet supported on the carriage, means operable by the reciprocation of the carriage for moving the pattern sheet with a step by step movement in correspondence with the movement of the fabric, a multiplicity of selector bars slidably mounted in the carriage-and movable by the latter into contact with the fabric, these selector barsy corresponding in number and position to the links in a row, and means operable in the periods of rest of the pattern sheet and under the control of the latter for causing selected bars to act upon individual links to facilitate their removal from the fabric.

21. The combination of a support for a piece of mesh fabric containing a series of transverse rows of links, a power driven reciprocating carriage moving toward and away from the fabric carried by the support, means operable by the reciprocation of the carriage for advancing the fabric with a step by step movement, one row of links at a step, a pattern sheet supported on the carriage, means operable by the reciprocation of the carriage for moving` the pattern sheet with a step by step movement in correspondence with the movement of the fabric, a mutiplicity of selector bars loosely mounted in the carriage and movable by the latter into contact withthe fabric, these selector bars corresponding .in number and position to the links in a row, a multiplicity of feed. dogs, one for each selector bar, operable under the control of the pattern sheet for rendering selected bars` effective to act upon corresponding links to facilitate their removal from the fabric, and power driven means operable for bringing the feed dogs into contact with the pattern sheet, during the periods of rest of the step by step movement of the latter, whereby selected dogs are rendered effective.

22. The combination of a support for a piece of mesh fabric containing a series of transverse rows of links, means for moving the mesh in the direction of its length with a step by ste-p movement, one row at a step, a multiplicity of elements corresponding in number and position to the links in a row and operable to act on individual links to facilitate their removal from the fabric, means for giving the elements and the mesh a relative movementoccurring in the periods of rest of the step by step advance of the fabric to cause the elements toact upon they links, a pattern sheet, means for advancing the pattern sheet with e step by step move.-

ment in correspondence with the step by step movement of the fabric, a multiplicity of members, one for each of the elements, operable to render the said elements effective to act upon the links, these members having a portion adapted to contact with the elements and another portion adapted to contact with the pattern sheet, and means for producing a relative movement of the pattern sheet and the members occurring in the periods of rest of the step by step movement of the pattern sheet to cause the pattern-engaging portion of said members to contact with the pattern, whereby selected members are rendered effective. Y

23. The combination of a support for a piece of mesh containing a series of transverse rows of links, means for advancing the mesh in the direction of its length with a step by step movement, a power driven carriage reciprocating toward and away from the face of the mesh, a multiplicity of selector bars supported in the carriage and corresponding in number and position to the links in a row across the mesh, these selector bars being brought into contact with the mesh as the carriage reciprocates, a pattern sheet, means for advancing the pattern sheet with a step by step movement corresponding to the step by step movement of the fabric, and a multiplicity of feed dogs, one for each selector bar, brought under the control of the pattern sheet during the periods of rest of the movementk of the latter, the pattern sheet thus rendering selected feed dogs effective to cause their associated selector bars to act upon the individual links of the fabric to facilitate their removal therefrom.

2st. The combination of a supportI for a piece of mesh fabric containing a series of transverse rows of links, means for moving the fabric in the direction of its length with a step by step movement, one row at a step, a power' driven reciprocating carriage movable toward and away from the face of the fabric, a multiplicity of selector bars slidably mounted in the carriage and lying substantially normal to the face of the mesh, each selector bar being operable to act upon an individual link to facilitate its removal from the fabric, a pattern sheet supported on the carriage, means operable by the movement of the carriage for advancing the pattern sheet with a step by step ino-vement corresponding to the step by step advance of the mesh, a multiplicity of feed dogs, one for each selector bar, movable to a position in which each feed dog is controlled by the pattern sheet, ,selected feed dogs by their contact with the sheet being rendered effect-ive to canse the corresponding selector bars to act upon the links to facilitate their removal from the mesh, and means Operable during the periods of rest of the step by step advance of the pattern sheet for bringing all of the feed dogs into contact with the latter whereby selected dogs are rendered effective.

25. The combination of a rotary support for a piece ,of mesh fabric containing a series of transverse rows of links, ya portion of the fabric depending from this support, a multiplicity of e-lements correspondingv in number and positionvto the links in a row across the mesh, means operable to cause theelements to Contact with the depending portion of the mesh during the periods of rest of the latter, andV control means for causing selected elements toy act upon individual links to facilitate their removal from thelfabric,y

26. The combination of a rotary support for a piece of Ymesh rfabric containing a series of transverse rows of links,`a vportion v.of the fabric depending from this support, a multiplicity ofelements corresponding in number and position tothe links in a row across the mesh, me; ns for giving ythe support a step by step rotation to cause the mesh 'to be advanced one row at a step, inea-ns for moving t-he elements yagainst the depending portion of the fabric, and control means for rendering selected eleme-nts operative to vact upon individual links to facilitate their removal from the fabric.

27. The combination of a rotary support for a piece of` mesh fabric containing a series of transverse rows of links, a portion of the fabric depending from lthis support, a multiplicity of elements corresponding in number and .position to the links in a row across the mesh and operable to act upon individual links to facilitate their removal from the fabric, means for giving the support a step by step rotation to cause the mesh to be advanced one row at a step, means for moving theelements against the depending portion of the fabric, Aa pattern sheet movable with a step by step movement corresponding to the movement of the fabric, and a plurality of members, one for each of the elements, interposed between the pattern sheet and theelements and operable in the periods of rest of the step by step movement of the pattern. sheet to govern the action of the elements in accorda-nce with the pattern carried by the sheet.

The combination of a rotary support for apiece of mesh fabric containing a seriesV of transverse rows of links, Va ratchet wheelcarried on the support, a power driven reciprocating carriage, a pawl engaging the ratchet wheel and operable by the reciprocation of the carriage for advancing the fabric one row per reciprocation, a multiplicity of selector bars corresponding in number and position Ito the links in a row across the mesh, these L selector bars .being mounted in the carriage and movable by the latter to Contact with individual links of the mesh, a pattern sheet, a rotary support for the pattern sheet mounted on the carriage and provided with a ratchet wheel, a pawl on the carriage engaging this ratchet wheel and operable by the yreciprocation of the carriage to advance the pattern sheet with a step by step movement corresponding to that of the fabric, a multiplicity of feed dogs pivotally supported on the carriage, one for each of the selector bars, and means for moving the group of feed dogs simultaneously into engagement'. with the pattern sheet whereby selected. dogs are rendered effective to lock their associated selector bars in operative iposition in the carriage.

29. rlhe combination of a support for a piece of mesh fabric containing a series of transverse'rows of links, a Vpower `driven reciprocating carriage, means operable by the reciprocation of the latter for Iadvancing the fabric with a step by step movement, one row at a step, a ,multiplicity of elements corresponding in number .and `position to the links in a row across the fabric, these elements being loosely mounted in the carriage and moved into Contact with the fabric by the reciprocation of the carriage, a pattern sheet supported on the carriage, means operable by the movement of the latter for advancing `thepattern sheet with a step by step move-ment corresponding to that of the fabric, a multiplicity of locking members supported on the carriage, .one for each element, and means for moving vthe locking members into engagement with the pattern sheet whereby selected members, determined by the pattern sheet, render .their associated `elements effective to act upon the links to facilitate their removal from lthe fabric.

80. The combination of a support for a piece of mesh fabric containing a seriesof transverse rows of links, a `power driven reciprocating carriage vn'yiovable toward and away from the fabric, a `multiplicity ,of selector bars corresponding in number and position to the links .in a vrow vacross the mesh, mounted in vthe carriage and movable by the latter into contact with the fabric, a pattern sheet supported on the carriage yand movable by the reciprocation of the latter with a step by step mbvement corresponding to that of the fabric, va multiplicity of locking'meinbers, vone for each selector bar, disposed ,between .the pattern sheet andthe selec-tor bars and a member rotating in timed relation to the movement of t-he pattern sheet and operable in the periods of rest of the step by step movenient of the latter to bring all :of the ,locking members into Contact vwith the pattern sheet, whereby selected locking members render their associated selector bars effective to act upon individual links to facilitate their removal from the fabric.

31. In a machine for treating mesh fabric containing a series of transverse rows of links to facilitate the removal of links therefrom in accordance with a predetermined pattern, the combination of a support for a piece of fabric from which a free end of the fabric depends, a multiplicity of elements corresponding in number and position to the links in a row and operable to act upon individual links in a row in the depending portion to facilitate their removal from the fabric, and power driven means forgiving the fabric and the elements a step by step relative movement, whereby the rows of links are successively presented to the elements, and forgiving the fabric and the elements a relative movement occurring in the periods of rest of the movement first named to cause the elements to act upon individual links.

32. In a machine for treating mesh fabric containing a series of transverse rows of links to facilitate the removal of links therefrom in accordance with a predetermined pattern. the combination of a support yfor a piece of fabric from which a free endof the fabric depends, a multiplicity of yelements corresponding in number and position to the links in a row across the mesh and operable to act upon individual links in a row in the depending portion to facilitate their remoral from the fabric, power driven means for giving the fabric and the clem-ents a step by step relative movement whereby the rows of links are successively presented to the elements, and for giving thel fabric and the elements a relative movement occurring in the periods of rest of the movement first named to cause the elements to act upon individual links, and means for controlling the action of individual elements whereby selected links may be acted upon in accordance with a predetermined pattern.

83. In a machine of the class described, a support for a piece of mesh fabric containing` a series of transverse rows of links, a

free end of the fabric depending` from the support, means for advancing the piece of mesh in the direction of its length with a step by step movement a row at a step, and power driven means movable into contact with the dependinff end of the fabric during the periods of rest of said step by step movement, and operable to act on individual links in a row to facilitate their removal from the fabric.

84. In a machine of the class described, support for a piece of mesh fabric containing a series of transverse rows of links, a free end of the fabric depending from the support, means foradvancing the piece of mesh 1n the direction of its length with a step by step movement a row at a step,-an'd a multiplicity of elements, corresponding iny number and position to the links in a row,

these elements being' movable into Contact with the free end of the fabric in the periods of rest of the step by step movement thereof, and operable to act upon individual links to facilitate their removal from the fabric.

35. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a support for a piece'of mesh lfabric containing a series of transverse rows of links, a free end of the fabric depending from the support, power driven means for advancing the mesh. in the direction of its length with a step by step mo rement, one row at a step', means operable in the periods of rest of said step by step movement to act upon individual links in the depending portion of the fabric to facilitate their removal therefrom, and control means for controlling the action of the means last mentioned whereby the links may be acted on in accordance with a predetermined pattern. u

36.'In a machine of the class described`v the combination of a support for a piece of mesh fabric containing a series of transverse rows of links, power driven means foradvancing the mesh in the direction of its` length with a step by step movement, one row at a step, a multiplicity of elements corresponding in number and position to the links in a row and operable in the periods of rest of the step by step movement of the mesh to act upon individual links to facilitate their removal from the fabric, a pattern sheet movable with a step by step movement corresponding to the movement of the mesh, and a multiplicity of members, one for each of the elements, interposed between the elements and the pattern sheet and movable into contact with the latter, these members serving to render selected elements operative under the control. of thc pattern sheet. 37. In a machine of the class described. theV combination of a support for a piece of mesh yfabric containing a. series of transverse rows of links, a free end of this fabric depending from the support, power driven means for advancing the fabric with a step by step movement. one row at a step, means for acting upon individual links in a row located in the free end of the fabric to facilitate their removal yfrom the fabric, and power driven means for causing the meansy last mentioned to engage the fabric during the periods of rest in the step by step movement of the latter. v

- 38. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a support for a piece of mesh fabric containing a series of trans- CTI verse rows of links, a free end of this fabric depending from the support, power ldriven means for advancing the fabric with a step by step movement, one row at a step, means for acting upon individual links in a row located in the free end of the fabric to facilitate their removal from the fabric, power driven means for causing the means last mentioned vto engage the fabric during the periodsof rest in the step by step movement of the latter` and means for controlling the action of said mesh-engaging means to cause the links to be acted upon in accordance with a' predetermined pattern.

39. In a machine `of the class described, the combination of a support fo-r a piece of mesh fabric containing a series of transverse rows of links, a free end ofthe fabric depending from this support, a pattern sheet, means for advancing the fabric in the ydirection of its length with a step by step movement, a row at a step, and for advancing Vthe pattern sheet with a corresponding step by step movement, and means interposed between the pattern sheet and the depending portions of the fabric and operable during the periods of rest of the movement of the piece of fabric and .the pattern sheet and under the control of the pattern sheet for acting upon selected links in successive rows in the depending portion of the fabric to facilitate their removal therefrom.

40. In a machine for acting upon the links of a link mesh fabric containing a series of transverse rows of links to faciliytate the removal of individual links therefrom, the combination of a multiplicity of selector bars, one foreach link in a row across the fabric, a pattern sheet for controlling the action of the selector bars, a multiplicity of feed dogs, one for each selector bar, and power driven means for bringing the feed dogs and the .pattern sheet into contact whereby selected feed vdogs lock their associated selector bars -in operative position.

41. The combination of a support for a piece of mesh containing a series of transverse rows of links, a power drivenreciproeating carriage, means for advancing the fabric in the direction of its length Iwith a rstep by step movement, one row at astep, a multiplicity of selector bars, one for each ,link in a row, and `operable to act upon individual 'linksto facilitate their removal from the fabric, a pattern ;sheet, means for advancing the pattern sheet with a step by step movement corresponding to the step by step movement of the fabric, ya multiplicity of feed dogs, one for eachselector bar, these yfeed dogs being mounted on ai common support and lmovable to positions fin which they render .their associated selector bars operative, this action of the .feed dogsr being under the control ofthe patternsheet, and a ,rotary member acting on ,all of the feed dogsand causing them to contact Vwith A,the pattern sheet in the periods yof rest of the step by step movement of thelatter whereby feed dogs, selected by the pattern sheet, act upon their associated selector bars.

42. The combination of ak support for a piece of link mesh fabric containing a series of transverse rows of links', a power driven reciprocating carriage, means operable in accordance with the reciprocation of the carriage for advancing the piece of mesh with a. step by step movement in the direction of its length, one lrow at a step,

multiplicity of selector bars corresponding in number Vand position tothe links in a row mounted in the carriage and movable with the latter into contact with the links, a lpattern sheet, means operable in accordance with the reciprocation of the carriage for advancing the pattern sheet with a step by step 4movement 4corresponding to that of the piece of fabric, a multiplicity of feed dogs, one for each selector bar, interposed between the pattern sheet and the bars, and operable under the control of the pattern sheet for rendering selected selector bars effective to act yupon corresponding individual links to facilitate their removal from ,the fabric, and a rotary member moving in timed relation with the movement of the pattern sheet and operable in the periods of rest of the latter to cause all the feed `dogs to contact with the sheet whereby selected dogs are rendered effective.

43. The combination of a support for a piece of mesh fabric containing a series of transverse rows of links, a free end of this fabric depending from the support, a power kdriven reciprocating carriage, means operable in accordance with the reciprocation of the carriage for advancing the mesh with a step by st-ep movement in the direction of its length, one row at a step, a multiplicity of selector bars corresponding in number and position to the links in a row mounted in the carriage and movable into contact with individual links in a row in the depending portion of the fabric by the reciprocation of the carriage, a pattern sheet, means operable in vaccordance with the reciprocation of the carriage for advancing the pattern sheet with a stepby step movement corresponding tothe-movement ofthe fabric, amultiplicity of feed dogs, one for each selector bar, interposed'between the pattern sheet and the selector bars and operable under the control of the pattern sheet to render their associated selector bars effective to act upon the links to facilitate their removal from the fabric, and a member .rotating in timed relation with the step fby step movement fof the pattern sheet and operable in the periods of rest of the movement of the latter to bring the feed dogs into contact with the sheet whereby selected dogs are brought into action. y

fl. In a machine of the character described, a support for a piece of link mesh fabric, a device for spreading open links of the fabric to render them removable from adjacent links, and means for moving the support and the device relative to each other to cause the latter to act on the links of the fabric along the outline of the pattern of an article, thereby to render the article removable from the fabric.

41.5. In a machine of the character described,'a support for a piece of link mesh fabric, a selector bar adapted to render links of the fabric removable from adjacent links by entering the links and spreading,` them open, and means for moving the support and the selector bar relative to each other to canse the latter to engage links of the fabric along the outline of the pattern of an article, thereby to render the article removable from the fabric.

alti'. ln a machine of the character described, a support for a piece of link mesh fabric, means for actuating the support to move the fabric step by step, a series of slidably mounted selector bars adapted to render links of the fabric removable from adjacent links by entering the links and Spreading them open, a pattern, means coacting with the pattern for selectively fixing the selector bars in operative positions, and means for bringing the selector bars and fabric into contact to cause the bars iXed in operative positions to act upon corresponding links of the fabric along the outline of the pattern of an article, thereby to render the article removable from the fabric.

47, In a machine of the character de-V scribed, a support for a piece of link mesh fabric, means for actuating the support to move the fabric step by step, a carriage, selector bars slidably mounted on said carriage adapted to render links of thefabric removable from adjacent links by entering` the links and spreading them out, a pattern consisting of a perforated roll, said perforations outlining the design of the article to be cut from the fabric, feed dogs coacting With said perforations for selectively fixing said bars in operative positions, and means for moving said feed dogs, carriage and pattern in timed relation With the movement of the fabric to cause the bars fixed in position to act on the links of the fabric along the outline of the pattern of an article, thereby to render the article removable from the fabric by the removal of said links.

48. In a machine for treating link mesh fabric to facilitate the removal of pieces therefrom, the combination of a support for a piece of fabric, and means for spreading a link of the fabric to facilitate its renio-Val.

49. In a machine for treating link mesh fabric to facilitate the removal of pieces therefrom, the combination of a support for a piece of link mesh fabric, a plurality of spreading devices adapted to enter rings of the fabric to spread them and thus facilitate their removal, and means for selecting the spreaders to be operated to spread links of the fabric in accordance with a predetermined design.

50. In a machine for treating link mesh fabric to facilitate the removal of pieces therefrom, the combination of a support for the fabric and automatic means for spreading links of the fabric to permit removal thereof in accordance with a predetermined design.

In testimony whereof We affix our signatures. Y

OSCAR SODERSTROM. FRED HARRIS LYNDS.

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