US1723924A - Machine for casting tension upon fabrics - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 6, 1929. H. M. EATON MACHINE FOR CASTING TENSION UPON FABRICS 192B 2 Sheets-Sheet Fled-Jan. ll

Aug. 6, 1929. H. M. EATON MACHINE FOR CASTNG TENSION UPON FABRIC Filed Jan. ll, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet atenten Aug. 6, 1929 nrrnn STATES lJZIldlEtt;

lmilwhlNT OFFICE.

HORACE MJEATGM, GE DIAMANT, lVIASBACHUSETTS, ASSEGNR GF UNE-HALF "lO GERGE L. PREBLE, OF LYNN, LVISSACHUETTS.

MACHINE FOR CASTING 'EENSOE UPN FABRICS.

Application filed January l1, 1928, Serial N'o. 245,988.

This invention relates to a machine for casting` tension upon a flexible strip and `more specifically to a machine adapted to assist in the nuinu'l'acture of insoles for welt shoes. ln seine respects the present machine coniprises an improvement over that disclosed in `iny copeuding application Serial No. 225,718, tiled October 12, 1927.

My copending` application Serial` No. 2141229, filed August 20, 1927, discloses a new method of manufacturingreinforced 1nsoles, wherein reinforcingn fabric is provided with a permanently plastic1 tcnaciously adhesive agglutinant that may be applied directly to the leather insole without requiring heating or any preliminary treatment. Prior to niy aforesaid in'lproveiuent in 1nsole manufacture, because of the necessity of running the duch or canvas through a heater, it was impractical to provide insole reinforcing fabric in various widths in order instantly to change from the use of fabric of one width to `the use f fabric ofanother width during the course of nianufactlnfe. Since the heater is eliminated by the aforesaid invention, it is now feasible to use reinforciinp1 strips of various widths to suit various siyies of insoles, thus avoiding unnecessary loss of fabric and affording; greater economies in shoe manufacture. While the adhesiveness of the plastic coating)V may be varied, it is highly desirable and practicable to provide au agglutinant which has strongadhesion; with material of this character considerable force is required to draw the run of coated fabric from a roll of the saine, due to the firm adhesion existing between the fabric windings.

lfhe machine presented herewith is primarily arranged to permit the use of duck or canvas of this character which .is highly adhesive and yet to avoid unnecessary tiring of the workman who is applying` the reinforcing fabric to the iusoles, while permitting,y the ready, interchangeable use of various types'of insole fabrics (e. different widths to suit different widths of insoles). This mechanism is designed to be innnediatcly responsive to a light pull upon the part of the operator, so that the use of the .improved reinforci'ne` fabric inconjunction with the machine requires less effort upon the part of the workman than has previously been. necessary. Thus the present invention permits the worlnnz-ln `to take hold of the severed end of any one of several fabric strips and to'draw the saine lightly, whereupon the machine automatically will start operation in order to cast suitable additional tension upon the fabric run that cxteads from the adhesively coated roll, thereby overcoming the effect of the strong adhesion between the windings of the roll. rllie machine :is designed to be compactly installed beneath the work-bench that is commonly used in applying,` the fabric to the insoles so that it will not require additional floor space, o f it may be an integral part of a specially constructed bench to be used for this purpose.

One aspect of the present invention particularly relates to the provision of iinproved means permitting the instant change from the use of one type of fabric to a fabric havingfg a different width or different characteristics. Means are provided whereby the interchangeable use of the various fabric strips does .not affect the adjoining` strips which are not being` used. In order to cast additional tension upon the coated strip, it is desirable to utilize a friction roll, a portion of which engages the fabric run. A furthe aspect of the invention concerns the provision Vof .means designed to prevent the continued movement of the fabric after the tension cast thereon by the operator relieved. ln other words, the frictional means which are found effective in casting additional tension upon the fabric has a celitain momentum or inertia which tends to cause their continued movement after the drivingl energy provided therefor has ceased, and the present invention provides means normally hohlingthe fabric out of engagement with the friction roll, except when tension being cast upon the saine by the worlnnan, so that rotation of the roll in order to feed another strip of fabric to the point of use, or rotation of the roll due to the inertia of the rotating parts, is not permitted to affect the strips which are engaged by this factor. lvfeans of this character may be adjusted and may also cooperate in effecting;4 the automatic stoppin' of the machine when the initial tension from the hand of the operator ceases.

'lhe above and further advantageous features of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading` of the subjoined description and claims in conin. which Fig. l is a side elevational view of one embodiment of the machine forming` the subject matter of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the Same; and n Fig. 3 is a section on line of 2 showing` the parts in another position.

A machine of the type exemplified in the accompanying drawings preferably is supported Vupon the end portion of a workbench or table 2 of a type that may be neet in applying` the reinforcing fabric to the insoles. rl'hus the machine does not require the use of additional floorspace. For the purposes of this invention the table 2 is provided with a peripheral Yframe l of angle iron. The wooden top of the table has one corner out vaway in order to provide a rectangular openingi within the corner of the angle iron frame l.

' which Suitable hangers 5 are secured to the under face of table 2, each of these hangers carrying,` a horizontal spindle G upon which a roll 8 of the adhesively coated fabric located. Preferably the spindles 6 are provided with conventional retaining,v clen'ients 7 and washers 1i in order 'to permit the ready removal, replacen'ient, and retention of the rolle desired. Each of the fabric rolls 8 preferably comprises: duck or canvas coated with a permanently plastic, tenae ciouslyv adhesive agglutinant with the adhesive coating upon the inner face of each winding tirmly'holding the same in engagement with the outer uncoated face of the adjoining winding. Preferably the fabric in vcath of the rolls Sinay differ in width or plurality of friction rolls Q; these may have widths substantial ly correspondmr to the various widths of stripe, as shown in Fie 2.

` Each of these rolls preferably has peripheral covering' 24; of material having a coinparatively high coefficient of friction, for example soft rubber, and is so arranged that a'run yof fabric from one of the fabric rolls 8 may be wrapped about a considerable seg'-V mentalportion of its periphery when the fabric is fed to the point of'use, whereby Vthe friction roll may have anellective frictional engagement with the fabric strip; Pivotally mounted upon the shaft 2l are a plurality of swinging yolres or frames 27 lhave arms projecting` upwardly through opening; The frame l and the vali of the opening 4 which is formed by the wooden table top form stops to limit the swinging movement of frames 27. The

lsides of each frame support a transverse roller 28 therebetween at their upper cxtreinities, this roller beingsv adapted to rcceive one of the fabric runs as it leaves the roll 2O and cooperating with the :same in effecting the engagement oz the uncoaicd fabric surface with a considerable peripheral portion thereof, while permitting the strip to be dravn in the genera direction of the surface of table 2 by the workman. The lower portion of the frame 2T is cxtended to provide guards llwhich may be located at either lside ol the periphery of a roller 2O in order to prevent undesirable lateral movement of the fabric.

A suitable electric motor is arranged to rotate shaft 2l and rollers 20 in order to cast the desired tension upon a il'abric strip leaving a roll S. This motor may drive the shaft through any suitable means, such as the worm 36 and the worm gear 3T. lrcferably motor 35 is energizml through :in electrical line that is controlled by a conventional switch factor 3 such, for cxanuplo, as a suitably enclosed mercury switch. The switch is operated by an oscillal'able link 39, the end of which is pivotally connected to a swinging trame lll, the upper und of which is provided with pintlee-s all supported by suitable brackets secured lo thc table, while the lower part of member 40 comprises a transverse element which is positioned so that it lios within the path oll each of the swinging frames 27, l and 3.

Secured to the under surface of (able Q iS the transverse angle 5l), A lilnralitlv ot loope 5l of comparatively heavy, resilient wire have their ends clamped to llio depending leg; of member 5U by a bar 52 and fastening; elements 5 it being' evident that moans ol this character permits the relative adjustment of the loops and anglo member. llach wire loop preferably extends dmvnwardly about the lower half of the fricion roll 2l) and is passed through an opening;` in a transverse bar .f5 in each oll the framee` 2T. 'lhc ends of the wire loops are looped over another transversfe bur 57 upon i'rznnc 2T, as shown in Figs. l and 2l, the relative position of bars and 5T permitting` each wire loop to engage substantially ono-half of tho periphery of a friction roll. ',lhc roll portions preferably are provided with suitableI peripheral `grooves 5G registering with the wire loops 5l and having' a depth `:rrealcr than the dianieter of the wire of these loops. The present disclosure shows two grooves and two wire loops for each roller portion. but it is to be understood that the number of these elements may be varied if desired.

When the f 'ame 2T is ewunpl` to a position wherein its upper end engages the angle l Sli lll() lltl as a stop, Fig. l, the resilient wire loops l are moved to their unretracted position wherein they are located somewhat outwardly of the periphery of the frietional roll portions. At the same time the switch 38 is open and the member l() is swung toward the frame 27. When any of the several frames 27 swung upwardly so that the edge of the wooden table top acts as a stop there for, the intermediate portion of the frame is engaged against the trai'isverse part of switch control member Ll() and holds the link 39 in a position ensuring the closing of the electrical circuit, at the same time the wire loops 5l are drawn into their retracted positions Within the peripheral grooves so that their outer surfaces lie below the rubber faces of the rollers. v

ln the use of a machine of this character, the fabric run from each roll is fed under the corresponding friction roll, its uncoated surface being` ordinarily engaged with the wire loops 5l which, in their unretracted position, are disposed somewhat outwardly of the periphery of the friction roll portioiis, as shown in Fig. l. The fabric then passes over roller 28, the end thereof beine' located upon the top of table 2 within convenient reach of the hands of the inachines operator. Thus, when the machine is not being aetual ly operated, a plurality of fabric ends will be located side by side at one edge of the table top ready to be selected and lightly pulled by the workman; and, while in this position, the strips may be gripped between the frames 27 and frame member 2, as shown in Fig. 1. This pulling of the `fabric strip results in the swinging of member 27 against the action of spring elements 5l to the position which is shown in Fig. El. Thus these elements are brought to their retracted positions within the particular roll about 'which the pulled fabric is wrapped. Thus the selected fabric strip which previously was held out of engagement with the friction roll by the wire elements 5l is brought into lirm engagement with the same. At the same time the element 27 engages switch control member Ll() to swing the latter through a path which results in its actuating link 39 to close the switch and to start the electric motor rlhis driving means rotates shaft 2l through gearing and 3G, thus causing the rotation of each of the friction rollers and the consequent imparting of additional tension to the selected fabric run as it leaves the roll 8. In the meantime the elements 5l for the adjoining strips of `fabric which are not being `movement of the fabric.

of the strip is released, the frame 27 will swing back to its normal inoperative pesition under the influence of spring members 5l, thus releasing switch members 38 and l0, opening the electrical circuit and stopping the provision of driving energy to the machine. At the same time the spring elements 5l are moved outwardly from theirretracted positions and remove the fabric strip from its position in engagement with the periphery of the frictional roll so that continued movement of this roll due to the momentum of the rotating parts will not result in flu-ther This latter function is desirable, since, after the pull of the operator upon the fabric strip ceases, con tinued movement of the portion of the strip which adjoins the roll might result in the uncoated face of the strip continuing in engagement with the peripl'iery of the roll and wrapping entirely about the same so that the end of the strip could no longer be conveniently reached by the operator of the machine.

it is evident that `with a machine of this charzueter the opeiiator need use only a light pull in order to draw any of the selected strips from its roll in order to provide a sullicient length 'thereof lor reinforcing one or more insoles and that the release of the tension which he casts upon the strip will instantly result in the cessation of the tension which is imparted to the run by the friction drum 2l). Obviously the use ot the narrowest fabric practical for the iusoles being manuiliactured permits a distinct economy in the use of material, while it is also sometimes desirable to use reinforcing fabrics of dilferent weights for different types of shoes without any delay due to the change from one type of fabric to another. It further evident that the operator may immediately change from the use of reinforcing fabric of one width or type to that of another width or type without any necessity for delay due to such a change.

I claim:

l. Apparatus for pulling a run of adhesively coated material from a roll of said material, comprising an element adapted frictionally to engage the run of material, means to impart movement to said element, control means for said lastuained means, said control means being actuated by initial tension cast upon said run in order to draw the run from the roll, and means to move the fabric from engagement with the friction, element when the control means is released due to a slackening of the tension upon the fabric runl i 25Apparatus for pulling a runof adhesively coated material from a roll of said material, comprising a `friction roll e ment adapted to engage a run of material, means to impart movement to said friction said friction rolls, a plurality of swinging frames each adapted to be engaged by a run of the fabric as it leaves a friction roll and to swing in response to tension cast upon said run, control means actuable by the movement of a swinging frame in order to start and stop the driving means, and means to permit the effective engagement of the friction roll with any selected run of material without engaging the others, said last-named means being controlled by the swinging frames.

11. A machine of the class described, comprising means for supporting a plurality of replaceable rolls of fabric having one face adhesively coated, the supporting means perniitting free rotation of each roll, a plurality of friction rolls rotatable together, a plurality of movable frames, each friction roll and frame having a surface adapted to engage the uncoated face of a run of fabric extending from a fabric roll, each frame being movable in response to initial tension cast upon the corresponding run, driving means for imparting movement to said friction roll element, and common control means actuable by the movement of any of said frames in one direction to cause the operation of said driving. means.

12. Apparatus for pulling a run oi; adhesively coated fabric from any one of a plurality of rolls of said fabric, comprising a plurality of friction rolls each adapted frictionally to engage a fabric run, driving means to rotate said friction rolls, a plurality of swinging frames each adapted to be engaged by a run of the fabric as it leaves a friction roll and to swing in response to tension cast upon said run, control means actuable by the movement of a swinging frame in order to start and stop the driving means, resilient loops tending to move the frames from the position which they occupy when they are actuating the control means in order to run the driving means, grooves in said friction rolls, said loops oc'- cupying a retracted position within the grooves when the corresponding frame is swung from said position and occupying a position outwardly of the peripheries of said rolls when the frame is in said position, whereby they permit engagement of thefabric run with the roll only when the corresponding frame is causing operation of the drivin g means.

13. Apparatus for pulling a run of adhesively coated fabric from any one of a plurality of rolls of said fabric, comprising a plurality of friction rolls each adapted frictionally to engage a fabric run, driving means to rotate said friction rolls, a plurality of swinging frames each adapted to be engaged by a run of the fabric as it leaves a friction roll and to swing in response to tension cast upon said run, control means actuable by the movement of a. swinging frame in order to start and stop the driving means, resilient loops tending to move the frames from. the position which they occupy when they are actuating the control means to run the driving means, groovesI in said friction rolls, said loops occupying a retracted position within the grooves when the corresponding frame is swung from said position and occupying a position outwardly of the lmripheriesI of said loops when the frame is in said position, whereby they permit engagement of the fabric run with the roll only when the corresponding frame is causing operation of the driving Vmeaini, one end of each loop beingl so sccured to the swinging frame that its position .in relation to the friction roll varied in response to the movement of the frame.

1.4i. Apparatus for pulling a run of adhesively coated fabric from any one of a plurality of rolls of said fabric, comprising friction rolls adapted frictionally to engage each fabric run, driving means to rotate said friction rolls, a plurality of swinging frames each adapted to be engaged by a run of the fabric as it leaves a friction roll and to swing in response to tension cast upon. said run, control means actuable by the movement of any of the swinging frames in order to start and stop the driving means, and elements to engage each of the runs upon which tension is not cast in order to hold these runs out of engagement with the corresponding friction roll, said elements being connected to the swinging frames to vary their positions in response to the movement ofthe corresponding frame.

15. Apparatus for pulling a run of adhesively coated fabric from any one of a.

Vplurality of rolls of said fabric, comprising a friction roll adapted frictionally to engage each fabric run, driving means to rotate said friction roll, a plurality of swinging frames each adapted to be engaged by a. run of the fabric as it leaves the friction roll and to swing in reslimnse to tension cast upon said. run, common control means actuable by the movement of any of the swinging frames in order to start and stop the driving means, and clemcnts to engage each of the runs upon which tension is not cast in order to hold 1 these runs out of engagement with the friction roll, said elements being connected to the swinging frames to vary their positions in response to the movement of the corresponding frame, said elements also tending yieldably to move `the frames against the initial tension of the fabric run.

Signed by me at Boston, Massachusetts, this 9th day of January, 1928.

HORACE M. EATON.

Images