US1556736A - Mechanism for insuring correct starting point in fabric-measuring machines - Google Patents

Description

Dt. 13, 1925. Lj

. J. L.. WHELER ET L MECHANISM FOR INSURIHG GORRECT STARTING POINT IN FABRIC MEASURHG JSACHUZES Filed. April 4, 192@ 2 s'his-im 1 Lj .i L.. WHEELER ET AL .L' FOR llUCv CRRECT STARTING POINT IN FABRIC MEASURNG MACHINES 2 Sheets-Smet 2 Patented Oct.` 13", 1925.-

-UNrrEo-- STATES PATENT oFFicE.

L. WHEELER. Nn EDWIN nnnelmtr, or s'r. Louis, HIssoUaI, AssIeNons ro; THE MEASUREGRAIH COMPANY, F s'r. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A coRoRA'IIoN or DEL- AWARE.

Meenemen son INsUnINe connno'r s 'rAmIN'G .POINT 1N FABRIC-unanimita MACHINES. v

'Application mea April 4, 1924. vsgml No. 704,126.

To aZ whom it may concern.'

Be it known that we, JOHN L. WHEELER and vEDWIN T. NUGENT, citizens of the United States residing in the city o'f Saint Louis and State-of Missouri, have invented new and uset'ul Improvements in Mechanism for Insuring Correct Starting. Point in Fab-4 ric-Measuring Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention 'relates to an improvement iny fabric measuring machines designed to secure, on the one hand, accuracy of measurement, and o n theother, to prevent the cle'rlr operating the same. from accil dentally orcarelessly giving to the customer va gi' 'iter quantity of `material than the amount actually paid for.

The invention is applicable particularly,

the pass between the rollers. He .then

draws the fabric through with his left hand to bring" the-edge thereof substantially in line with a cutting' blade located atthe side of the machine and, in av further movement, vhis thumb engages a. plate, indicated ,as 22, in said prior patent, which releases thepresser roller which thereuponis lowered by spring pressure into engagement with the fabric resting o n the measuring roller. thus placing the machine in operative condition for measuring, and as the fabric is pulled between the rollers, the measuring roller is operated to actuate the indicating and cost computing mechanisms.

With a careful operator the measurement may be accurately made and no loss tothe shop-keeper results. A careless, or indifferent operator, however, will frequently take two or three inches of goods between the fingers of the right hand in adjusting -the fabric in the machine, instead of graspin-g it at the edge, and whenthe actuating plate is enga ed by the thumb t0 lower the presser ro ler, as described, this .excess amount of material will project beyond the side olir the machine and will not ligure inthe measuring operation, with `the result that it is donatedI to the purchaser and, of course, represents a loss to the shop-keeper.

'gIn the .sale .of materials, of moderate y values, thisv loss would not be very considerabl'e but in the case of fabrics selling at anywhere from $5.00 to. $10.00 a yard, or more, and with a'. large number of sales, the resultant lossl to the shop-keeper is very considerable.

The invention herein disclosed prevents such action bythe clerkiny the ordinary measuring operatiofby 'rendering it impossible to lower/thepresse'r roller,'-a necessary pre-requisite to the measuring ope-ration,-1-unti'lthe edge of the goods has been properly positioned relative to the cutter or marker located at the side of the'machine, to insure that when thefabric is drawn through the machine, in a measuring operation', and slit by thecutter at the termination of the i measured ortion, .the amount of goods delivered to t e customer will correspond exactly with. the' amount indicated bythe measurementindicators of the machine and paid for by the purchaser. The broad idea of the invention consists in the. application of certain mechanism associated with the presser roller and t mechanism. for operating the same, which* enables the material itself, .inserted in the machine, to act as an obstruction to thelowering of the presser roller, and thereby prevent the machine from being placed in operative condition for measuring, vuntil the' edge of the goods has been correctly positioned for correct measurement.

clearly understood from the detailed description Ato follow, relate to the construc-V tion, combination and operation of p'arts whereby the broad object of the invention is attained.

"The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in whichq Figure 1 is a plan View of the measuring machine to which our invention relates, de-

()ther obljects of the invention, which will be more presser roller; and

signed to show the manner of positioning the edge of the fabric to be measured in the machine, and the manner by which an actuating plate is operated by the thumb of `parts being shown in the position they occupy after the ered;

Figure 4 is a detached view in side elevation showing the manner in which the cutter or marker of Figure 3 cooperates with our mechanism to raise or reset the presser rollery has been .low-

Figure 5 is a view in brokensideelevatlon with the cutter removed, showing the parts in the position they occupy in Figure 4 and just prior to their actua-tion to release the presser roller. Referring 110W to the dra'., ugs, the nul moral 1 indicates the casing ot' the fabric measuring machine enclosing fabric measuring and cost computlng mechanism and means for operating the same.' The indi! eating mechanism comprises, generally, a

numbered dial 2, pointers 3 (one being hidden) movable over said dial and charts 4t containing computations (not shown, the charts being at the Zero position) movable 5 past price scales 5. The hands 3 and charts 4 are operated by mechanism (not shown) actuated from a measuring roller 6, Figures 2 and 3, with whch-co-operates a presser 4roller 7, the faces oit these rollers being dcsigned to engage centrally of an opening 8 provided in one end of the machine for the entrance of the fabric. The presser roller 7 is rotatably mounted in a frame 9 which is pivotally mounted at` its ends at points corresponding to the numeral 10 ot' Figure 2 in the frame oi the machine, and said frame is provided with an operating arm or lever 11 to which is secured one cud of a coil spring l2. the other end ot which is sccured to the frame. "lihis siuingnormally tends to turn thepresser roller 7 downward into engagement with the measuring roller (5. i

- The construction Sq) far described is well known and we will now proceed to 'describe the mechanism ofV our invention bv which the presser roller frame is actuated to be raised and lowered. The lever 11` projects througha rectangularopening 13 in one of the side 'frame members of. the machine, indicated at 141, and positioned to co-operate withsaid lever is one arm 15 of a toggle lever which is provided at its lower end with a shoulder 16 adapted to engage the upper sidero'f the lever 11. The arm 15 is pivotallyv connected at 17 to the lower end of a short arm 1 8 constituting the second member of the toggle lever, the upper end of said arm being pivotally mounted at 19 on the Iframe plate 111. Then the toggle lever is straightened, the arm 15 pressing down on the end of the lever 11 will operate to -rock the frame 9 on its pivots 10 and raise the presser roller 7, such position of the parts being shown in Figure 2. When the toggle lever is broken, or is in the position shown in Fi ure 3, the s rin(r 12 u1l' g P s P ing up on the lever 11 operates to rock the iframe 9 and throw the presser roller 7 downward into engagement with the measuring roller, or the fabric in position thereon, or l to .the lposition shown by dotted lines in Figure 2. The manner of operating the toggle lever will now be described.

Positioned in the rectangular opening 13,

and accessible through a corresponding opening in the outer casing 1, (not show-11l but indicated by the position of the thumb in Figure 1) is an actuating plate 20 which has upwardly extending arms 21 ivotally mounted at 22, Figure 2, 1n the rame of the machine. Projecting outwardly fromA thenppcr end of one of these armsls a lever arm 23, Figures 2 and 3, which enf vided with a stud 29 which lis adapted to 'ino' opposite end of the throw lever`27 is pro-, A

work in a vertical-.ly disposed slot 30 pro-Y f vided in a locking bar 31. In order to provide for movement' of the inner end of the in Figure 5, directed toward the upper end of slot 30 in locking bar 31, we provide a coil spring 32, one end of which is secured ll 0 1 to the stud 29 on said throw lever, and the other end with stud 33 provided on the upper end of the locking bar. or". this construction will presently appear.

. The locking bar 31 is designed for verably mounted on the traine plate 14 through v tical movement and to this end it is slidthe 'medium of a vertically disposed slot 34 provided intermediate its ends with a set screw 35, the head of which hears against the face of the locking bar and the stem of in the frame plate 14. A coil spr'ingeG is connected at its lowercnd, as indicated at that of permitting the machine to placed in operative condition for'measuring;-by` breaking the toggle levers 15, 18, and ,the

other, that of preventing such action should The purposev los .throw lever 27, or that at theright as shown l i 12d which passes through said slot and engages Al U ' l? engages thev is the position i by breaking the the cloth not be in the proper position for n'ieasuring. To lbreafk the toggle lever we provide the following mechanism shown particularly in Figures 3, a and 5:

The numeral 3%) indicates a dog which is pivotally mounted at its lower end, as indicated at ai), near-the lower end' of the frame plate 11i.. At its upper end the dog 39 is provided with a set screw Lil which maybe secured in any adjusted position in the end of the dog by a lockiiut 42', The'end 43 of the set screw is normally in engagement with a stud 44 projecting Jfrom theside of the toggle levers 15, 18 at the knuckle thereof, the stein 'of saidstiid forming the pivotal.

connection between the two members of ,the toggle levers. The outer side ol' saidiidog or that to the rightin 'Figure 3, is provided with a cam surface 45. rEhe locking bar' 31 is provided on its side facing the dog 39 with'a projection 46 having a cam edge 47 adapted to engage with the cam edge 45 of the dog 39. The o eration of the parts as thus atar described is as follows:

Assuming the parts to be in the position shown in Figures a' and 5, and it being desired. to measure a length offabric, 4the latter is inserted in the opening 8 and passed between the rollers 6 4and 7. The presser roller is, of course, in the raised. posit-ion as shown by Figure 2. The operator pulls the cloth inward, or towai'd'the machine, until the edge is in the osition desired and with his thumb puslies inward the thumb platevor actuator 20. In'this movenient the lever 23 pulls the link 25 downward, which causes the outeil end of the throw lever 27 to move downward. The outer end of this throw lever being connected vby the spring 32 with the lock plate 31, the

latter is moved downward until its cam edge shown in Figure 5, whereupon a slightfiirthcr movement ofthe locking plate forces the dog inward and the end 43 ot the set screw carried by said dog pushes the stud 44 of the toggle lever inward, therejoint of said lever and permitting the spring 12 (Figure 2.) to throw the presser' roller downward intoengagenient with the fabric. The cloth is then pulled between the rollers and as theincasuring roller G is rotated, the indicatorsA 3 and chai-ts 4 are moved to show the length measured and the cost of the measured length of material.

The machine illustrated is provided with means tor slitting the edge'ot' `the fabric at the termination oi the measured portion. To this end a knife 48 controlled by a spring 1.9 and provided at its outer end with a thiii'nb plate 50, is pivotally mounted in the machine at 5l in manner to comperato, when depressed', by pushing .on the thumb plate 50, with a blade 52 securedon cam edge 45 of dog 39, which Y the machine. In the operation ot' this knife, iii the 4type ,of machine referred to, the presser roller isadapted to be raised out of contact with the -measuring roller. This operation also occurs in connection with the mechanism we'have described and with this in View, the knife 48, Figure il, is lprovided with a contact arm 53 which, when the knife is pushed downward, isl adapted to engage the stud 44 of vrestore vsaid toggle levers to the straight position, as shown in Figure 4. l

We will now describe the manner of preventing the operation of measuring when the end oi the fabric has not been positioned correctly 'for accurate measurement. Such means comprises a rectanglilar aperture 54, Figures 1, 2 and operate with the lower 'end poi'tion'of the locking bar 31. lThis aperture is located the toggle levers 15, 18, and

5, 'which -is'fadapted to conear the edge of the casing 1 in that part thereof forming the bottom of the slot 8,

and near the edge of said slot in line with' the knife 48. The yaperture V54: thus constii tutes ,a fixed starting point for the measuring operation. It will now be seen thatas the fabric is movedinward to bring its end to the measuring position, in the event the end of the vfabric should not be drawn into.

the machine a siill'icient distance to uncover.

of the locking' to be lowered. It is, therefore, necessary' for 'the operator to arrange the fabric inthe machine so as` to uncover the ,aperture 54. This insures that the end of the-fabric will be ,located at the proper posi-tion to' in.-

sure that the ai'iioiint of vfabric v,drawn the machine will vcorrespond with through the amount indicated on the measuring dial. Referring to Figure 3, the numeral 55k indicates a stud whichliinits the upward movement of tlie-iiiember'18` of the toggle lever and the numeral 56 indicates a headed stud which guides thelower end .of the member l5 o'i the toggle lever and which also 'acts as a stop for limiting the inward movement oi the dog' 39..- l 'Y In the accompanying drawing, we have shown.v and in the above specification described.y the preferred', and the best known, embodiment of our invention. It will be understood, however, that our invention is not .,limited in application to the particular form permit the presser roller'.

\ v or machine described, or to the exact details of construction shown 'and described. For example, it4 will be obvious that the apen ture 54 could be ofother f ative condition for measuring shape than rectangular, and that the locking bar 31 could be correspondingly shaped. It will also be obvious that the invention could be applied to machines in which the presser roller is lowered in moving it away from the measuring roller, as well as to the tvpeA of machine shown where the presser roller is raised.

e claim: 1. In a fabric measuring machine of the class described, having means for from a fixed starting pointvon the mfclii/ne, and means for placing the macliine in operative or inoperative condition for measuring, means in line with said xed starting point and movable in placing the machine in operand operating 1 to prevent the machine from being placed in 5575*' aperture in 'the part forming the bottom of such condition when the endA of the fabric to be measured projects beyond said latter means: in the direction of the measuring movement of the fabric.

In a fabric measuring machine of the class described, in con'ibination with the presser roller, meansl for holding the.v same away .Trom'the measuring roller, and means under the `control of the operator for releasing the-Holding means, mechanism associated With said releasing means and 'adapted to enOage the fabric, inserted in the machine to e projects beyond a point on the machine fixing the starting point for the measurement of the fabric and thereby prevent operation of said releasing means.

3. In a fabric measuring machine of the clas's described, in combination. with the presser roller, means for holding the same away from themeasuring roller, and means under the control of theop'erator for releasing 'the holding means, amovable member associated with said releasing means and movable thereby across the path of movement ,of the fabric to be measured at a point on the machine fixing the starting'point for the measurement of the fabric, and adapted to` engage the fabric when the end of the fabric projects .beyond said point and pre vent operation of said releasing means.

4. A fabric measuring machine of the class-described, having a :measuring roller and a presser roller and a casing enclosing thesame affording an opening to the pass ltween thel rollers, said casing having an said opening'lixing the start-ing point for the measurement of the material, an element movable to place the machine in condition for measurement, anda" member cooperating with said element and movable thereby to cause apart of saidmember to enter'said' aperture, said member being adapted to en gagethefmatcrial, inserted in the machine to be measured, when the end thereof projeetsover said aperture and thereby prevent measured, when the end of the :fabricv vent operation of interes effective operation of sind starting element.

5. In a fabric measuring machine of the class described, in combination with the presser roller,4 means for holding the same away from the measuring roller, and means under the control of the operator for releas ing the holding means, mechanism associated with said releasing means and adapted to engage the fabric, inserted in the'machine to b e measured, when the end of the fabric proJects in the direction of the measuring movement of the fabric beyond a point on the machine fixing the starting point for the measurement of the fabric and thereby pre vent operation of said releasing means.

G. In a fabric'measuring machine of the class' described, in combination with the presser roller, means for .holding the same away from the measuring roller, and means under the control of the operator for releas ing the holding means, a vertically movable member associated with said releasingmeans and movable thereby across the path of movement of the fabric to be measured, and adapted to engage the fabric when the end of the fabric projects beyond a point on the machine fixing the starting point for the measurement of the fabric and thereby prevent operation of said releasing means.

7. A fabricmeasuring machine ofthe class described` having a measuring roller and a presser roller and a casing enclosing the same affording an opening to the pass between the rollers, said casing having an aperture in the part forming 'the bottom of said opening fixing the starting point for the measurement ofthe fabric, means for holding the presser roller in an elevated position, means under the control of the operator for releasing the holding means, and a vertically movable member associated with said releasing means and movable thereby to cause its lower end to enter said aperture, said member being adapted to engage the fabric, inserted in the machine to be measured, when the end of the fabric ,projects over said aperture and thereby presaid releasing means.

8. In a fabric measuring machine `of the class described, in combination with a pivotally mounted frame having a presser roller rotatably mounted therein, a` spring "tend-v ing normally 'to move said framers place said roller in operativeposition, nimm on said frame, a toggle lever engaging` saldar-m and adapted, when straightened, to depress theI same and hold the llO presser roller frame and roller in inoperative position, means A under the control of the ing said toggle lever to permit said frame to be actuated by its spring tomove the presser "roller, andvmeans adapted to engage the fabric, inserted in the machine to Ye measured, when the endof the fabric projects beyond a 'point on thefmach-ine operator for breakment of the fabric and thereby preventopfixing the stai-ting point for the measureally mounted trame having a presser rolle-1' rotatably mounted therein, a spring tending normally tolower said frame, an arm on" -said frame, a 'toggle lever engaging said arm and adapted, when straightened, to

u depress the same and hold the presser roller frame elevated, means under' the control of the Aoperator for breaking said toggle lever to permit said frame to be actuated by its spring to lower the presser roller, and means adapted tvo engage the fabric, inserted in the machine to be measured, when the .end ot' the fabric projectsbeyond a point on the machine fixing the starting point for the measurement ot the fabric and' thereby prevent operation of said toggle breaking means. y

10. In a'fabric measuring machine of the class. described, in combination with a pivot- Aally mounted `frame having a presser roller rotatably mounted therein, 'a spring tending normally to lower said frame, an varm on' said fra-me, a toggle lever having one member engaging said arm and operating, when the togglel lever. is straightened, to depress the arm and raise said frame andy presser roller, a vertically movable member, means under the control of the operator'for lowering the same to cause its lowerv end to pass across `the path of movement of the fabric to be measured, means on said member for breaking the toggle lever when said member ,is lowered and permit ysaid spring to lower the presser roller, the lower' end of Isaid member being adapted to engage the fabric,

inserted inthe machine to be measure-d,

when the end et the fabric projects beyond the ,lower end of said member and thereby prevent suticient movement of said member to eiect breaking of the toggle lever.

11.b In a fab-ric measuring machine of the class-'(lescribefl, in combination with a pivotally mounted frame having a presser roller `rotatably mounted therein, an .arm on said trame, a toggle lever having la -niemb'er'i'mraging said arm and operatngawhen the toggle lever is straightened, to depress the arm and raise the presser roller frame, a

lspring operating to lower the presser, roller frame when the toggle lever is broken, a

pivotally mounted dog having an end nor'- lnally engaging the knuckle of said `toggle lever, a vertically.movable-bar having a member for cngaglng said dog when the bar is lowered to effect breaking ot said togglelever, means under the control ot the op#` erator for lowering/ said bar to break the toggle lever and thereby cause the lower end of said bar to pass across the pat-h' ot movement ofthe fabric to be measured, the lower end ci said bar being adapted to engage' the fabric, inserted in the machine 'to be measured, when the end of vthe-fabric pro 4 jects beyond the lower end of the bar and thereby prevent the member on said bar fromi levern actuating said dog to breakgsaid toggle 12. In a fabric measuring machine of the class described, in combination with vthe presser roller, means for holding the same away from'tlie measuring roller, and means 13.'ln a fabric measuring machine ofthe v class described, in combination with the 'presser roller, means for holding the saine .away from the measuring roller, and means und-er the control ofthe operator for releasing the holding means, a. vertically movable bara spring normally holding the same in a raised position, a lost-motion connection be tween said bar and said releasing means, the lower end of the bar being movable in the operation of the releasing means across the path of the fabric to be measured, and being' adapted to engage the 'fabric when the end thereof projects beyond the lower end `of said bar and thereby prevent operation of said releasing means.l

14. In a fabric measuring machine oftheclass described, in combination with a pivotally mounted frame-having a presser roller rotatably mounted therein, an arm on said frame` a toggle lever havlng one memberI` engaging said arm and operating-when the toggle leveris straightened, to depress 'said .arm and raise said frame, a spring operating to lower said frame when the toggle lever'is broken, an actuating member mov- -able by the operator, a pivotally mounted throw-lever adapted to have its outer Vend lowered when said actuator is operated, a vertically movable bal" having a yielding connection wit-h said-throwLlever, a spring p the end thereof projects beyond the lower end ot said bar and thereby prevent lower-- ing ot said bar a sufficient distance to move saiddog.

' Ytoggle'llever is straightened,

4 154. In a fabric measuring machine of the class described, in combination with a pivotally mounted frame having a presser roller rotatably mounted Athereim'an arm on said, frame, a toggle lever having a member engaging said arm and operating, When the arm and raise said frame,

toggle lever, including a vertically movable bar, the lower end whereof is movable, in the operation of breaking the toggle, across the to depress the means under the' control of the operator for breaking said path of movement of the fabric Ato be measured, and being adapted toengage the fabric when the end thereof projects beyond the lower end of the bar and prevent breale ing of the toggle to permit the presser roller to be lowered, and manually operable means for straightening said 'toggleleven In testimony whereof, We have hereunto 20v setl our hands.

JOHN LQ WHEELER. EDWIN T. Nue-ENT,

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