US1746864A - Apparatus for forming offsets in sheet material - Google Patents

Description

Ffib. 11, 1930. Q Q QVERMIRE Q 1,746,864

APPARATUS FOR FORMING OFFSETS IN SHEET MATERIAL Filed Oct. 24, 192 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

Z. C. COVERJIIRE BY waw ATTORNEY Feb. 11, 1930. c. c. OVERMIRE 1,746,864

APPARATUS FOR FORMING OFFSETS IN SHEET MATERIAL Filed Oct. 24, 192'? 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. C. C OVER/WI E BY m 54AM y 4 I I 9 ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 11, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFEOE CHARLES C. OVERMIRE, OF BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO KRIMPWIRE COM- PANY, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA APPARATUS FOR FORMING OFFSETS IN SHEET MATERIAL Application filed October 24, 1927. Serial No. 228,216.

The invention relates to the forming of 011'- sets in sheet material and particularly to an improved apparatus for forming furring olfsets in reinforcing netting.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved means for forming offsets in net ting having selvage edges thicker than the inner portions of the netting.

Another object of the invention is to prol9 vide improved means for guiding the netting through apparatus of the character described.

A further object of the invention is to provide in apparatus of the class described improved means for facilitating the removal of the finished product therefrom.

A still further object of the invention is to provide improved means for effecting an adj usuable and yielding pressure engagement of the crimping rollers of the apparatus against the netting.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of the invention which is illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to be understood, however, that variations in the showing made by the said drawings and description may be adopted within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

Referring to said drawings,

Figure 1 is a plan view of the apparatus.

Figure 2 is a side view of the apparatus, with netting disposed therein.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken 011 the line 33 in Figure 1 showing netting disposed in the apparatus.

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the operative relation of the crimping and feed rollers of the apparatus to the crimped nettin Figure 5 is an end view of the apparatus taken from the feeding end thereof.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view of a removable arbor and driving connections therefor forming part of the invention.

As hereinbefore indicated, the apparatus of my invention is particularly designed for forming a self-furring plaster netting by suitably offsetting spaced portions of preformed screen or netting 7. Essentially, the apparatus comprises a mandrel 8 carrying a roll 9 of uncrimped netting, cooperating rollers 11 and 12 between which the netting 7 is arranged to be drawn from the roll 9, a pair of cooperating crimping rollers 13 and 14: between which the netting is thereafter passed in engaged relation, and a removable roller or mandrel 15 on which the crimped netting isarranged to be rolled for removal from the apparatus. The various mandrels and rollers are carried in suitable bearings preferably provided on a common frame 16, and are parallelly disposed.

Means are provided for efiecting simultaneous and appropriate rotations of the different rollers, such means comprising the provision of a drive shaft 17 journalled in the frame and operatively connected to the various rollersas here shown, the shaft 17 is arranged to be driven through suitable connections with a power shaft 18 journalled in the frame. Mounted on the shaft 17 and meshing with gears 19 and 21 fixed at corresponding ends of the roller 11 and the crimping roller 13 respectively, is a pinion 22, while a gear 23 is provided on the crimping roller 14 to engage with the gear 21 of the roller'13. In this manner, rotation of the drive shaft 17 is arranged to simultaneously effect appropriate rotations of the rollers 11, 13 and let in such manner that the screen will be drawn forward by and between the crimping rollers 18 and 1 1 and over the roller 11, it being noted that the latter roller is disposed to deflect the netting out of a direct line between its line of leaving the roll 9 thereof and its line of contact with rollers 13 and 141.

The crimping rollers 13 and 141 are preferably arranged to be inoperatively disposed with respect to each other during the operation of the apparatus and without changing the relative relations of their cooperating crimping portions, and means for permitting such separation are accordingly provided. An idler gear 24 is mounted on the frame for it meshed engagement both with the pinion 21 and the gear 23 of the roller 14. The roller 14, it will be noted, is journalled on and between a pair of levers 26 disposed at the opposite ends thereof, such levers being pivoted to the frame for movement about an axis coinciding with the axis of rotation of the gear 24in this manner, the levers 26 may be swung about said last axis to disengage the gear 23 from the gear 21 without changing the meshing relation of the gear teeth of such gears, itbeing noted that, under these circumstances, the gears 21 and 23 must have the same number of teeth. Means are provided for facilitating the setting of the gears 21 and 23 in either an engaged or disengagec relation, and such set ing is here shown as arranged to be effected by means of the manual rotation of a shaft 27 journalled in an upwardly extending frame portion and having radial arms 28, between which arms and the free ends of the lever 26, links 29 of adjustable length are operatively disposed. Preferably, and as shown, the relation of each lever 26, corresponding arm 28 and their connectinglink 29 is such that when the roller 14 is operatively disposed, the pivotal axis of the connection of the link 29 to the arm 28 is generally between the pivotal axis at the other end of the link and the axis of shaft 27, and slightly out of the plane defined by said axes. A r0- tation of the shaft 27 to rock the lever 26 is arranged to be effected by means of a lever arm 31 extending from the shaft and so related thereto that when the shaft is rotated thereby to effect an inoperative disposition of the roller 14, the axes of the pivotal connections between the links and arms 28 must pass through dead-center positions. In this manner the roller 14 will. tend to remain set in either its operative or inoperative position and the netting may be released from operative engagement by and between the rollers 11 and 12 at any time without necessitating the operative running of a complete roll through the apparatus. The free extremity of the arm 31 is a ranged, when the roller 14 is operatively disposed, to engage a stop 32 provided on the frame whereby the roller 14 may assume a predetermined relation to the roller 13 when in cooperative relation therewith.

It will now be noted that it may be desired to crimp netting of different gauge or thickness in the apparatus, in which event ustment of the operative positioning of the roller 14 with respect to the roller 13 will be necessary. Preferably, and as here shown, such adjustment is arranged to be effected through the adjustment of the length of the links 29 by means of turn buckles 33 connecting link sections 34 and 36 having their opposed ends oppositely threaded for engagement in the turn buckle. The link sections 34 are each provided with an eye 37 for effecting the pivotal connection thereof to the cooperating shaft arm, while the free ends of the link sections 36 are longitudinally slidable in pivot blocks 38 pivoted to the lever ends, the extremities of the section 36 being headed to prevent their withdrawal from the blocks 38. Helical compression springs 39 are operatively disposed about the sections 36 and between the blocks 38 and nuts 41 mounted on the threaded portions of the sections, whereby the links may be resiliently maintained at their maximum lengths. In this manner, the length of the links may be adjusted as required and the passage of an overly large object between the rollers is permitted through the resilient and yielding engagement of the roller 14 with the netting at the roller 13, the emergency release thus provided being important as a protection against damage to the apparatus, it being noted that the strength of the springs 39 is such as will permit the engagement of the roller 14 with the netting with a total force exceeding that represented by the weight of the roller.

Preferably, and as shown, the roller 12 is mounted to rest upon and be supported by the netting as it passes over the roller 11, and to be displaced from said position when and as desired. Accordingly, the ends of roller 12 are journalled in the extremities of lever arms 42 extending from a shaft 43 disposed across and journalled in the frame in such relation to the roller 11 that an appropriate rocking of the shaft 43 will lift the roller 12 from its operative position, it being noted that the degree of bearing of the roller 12 on the netting is determined entirely by the weight of the roller. Means are provided for effecting the rotation of the shaft 43 for displacing the roller 12, and as here shown such means comprises the provision of a foot lever 44 pivoted at one end to the base of the frame, provided at the other end with a pedal 46, and connected at an intermediate point thereof to the extremity of an arm 47 extending from the shaft 43 by means of a link 48 whereby a depression of the pedal 46 is arranged to effect an inoperative disposal of the roller 12. It will now be noted that metallic fabrics of the types generally used for the production of'self-furring reinforcing netting are usually provided with selvage edges which form the thickest portion of the fabric so that truly cylindrical rollershaving the fabric gripped between them, actually grip only the selvage with a sufiicient degree of force to insure the carrying out of the crimping process in the best possible manner since they leave the interior of the fabric relatively loose. In the present instance, the apparatus is particularly arranged for forming furring offsets in the so-called chicken wire having an hexagonal mesh and with the selvage thereof at least three strands in thickness while the maximum interior thickness of the fabric is but that of two strands. In order that the area of the fabric be not decreased in forming the offsets therein, the selvage strands are not included in the offsets, and it is therefore not necessary that the crimping rollers have a gripping engagement with the selvage edges of the fabric. Accordingly, the crimping rollers are preferably 50 formed opposite the selvage of the fabric that they do not forcibly engage the same, and as here shown, the lower crimping roller 13 is formed at its ends with slightly reduced portions 49 whereby the selvage will not act between the rollers to hold them apart and the full operative engagement of the rollers with the interior portions of the fabric is permitted. For the same reason, the upper feed roller 12 is also pro vided with reduced ends 51, the reductions of the lower crimp roller and upper feed roller cooperating to overcome any tendency of the selvage to become offset from the plane of the netting, since it is maintained in bearing relation with the upper crimp roller 14 and lower feed roller 11. Preferably, the reduction in the size of the rollers opposite the selvage is only enough to just prevent a gripping engagement thereof between the rollers whereby the selvage edge will be further and positively guided to maintain its proper relation to the remainder of the netting.

It will now be noted that the cooperating means provided on the circumferential surfaces of the crimping rollers for providing interior offsets 52 in the netting comprise the provision in the lower crimping roller 11 of inwardly directed longitudinal grooves 53 constituting female dies, and the provision on the upper roller 14 of cooperating male dies 54 preferably arranged to be adjustably disposed along such roller. On account of the particularly firm engagement of the netting between the rollers 13 and 14, and the grip on the fabric provided by the die members as they operativelv engage the same. the crimping rollers obviously also serve, as well as the feed rollers 11 and 12, to feed the netting forwardly as it is crimped, and such fact is utilized to maintain a tightly stretched relati on of the fabric between the feed and crimping rollers. It will now be noted that if the lower feed roller 11 be of the same size as the crimping rollers and be rotated at a slightly slower rate, or if such roller be smaller than the crimping rollers and rotated at the same speed. a drag will be created against the forward feeding of the netting by the crimping rollers and the desired stretching effect will be secured. The latter device is utilized in the present instance, it being noted that when the tension in the netting exceeds a given value, the netting will be pulled forwardly between the rollers 11 and 12 to relieve the excess tension.

Means are provided for effecting the rolling of the criinped netting on the roller 15 as the netting is delivered from between the crimping rollers. As here shown, such means comprises the provision of belt pulleys 56 and 57 at corresponding ends of the drive shaft 17 and a shaft 58 journalled in the frame in axial alignment with the roller 15. The pulleys 56 and 57 are operativcly connected by means of a belt 60 and are so related that tension will be maintained in the crimped wire por tions between the roller 15 and the crimping rollers. Since, as the roll of crimped wire on the roller 15 becomes larger, the tensional pull on the netting will increase, means are provided for permitting the necessary amount of belt slip to prevent such pull becoming excessive. Accordingly, and as here shown, a shaft 59 is journalled on the frame 16 intermediate the crimping rollers and the roller 15, such shaft being provided with generally oppositely extending arms 61 and 62, the former having mounted at its extremity a loose pulley 63, while the latter carries a counter-weight 64 disposed in parallel relation to the shaft 59. It will now be noted that the pulley 6-3 is arranged to be held in pressure engagement with the belt 60 by means of the action of the counter-weight 6% whereby it will normally deflect the belt out of straight line between its points of tangency with the pulleys. In this manner, as the pull of roller 15 on the netting increases to a point where the belt is straightened against the resistance of the pulley 63, the belt 60 is allowed to slip on its pulleys, and an excessive pull on the netting is thus prevented.

To effect the before mentioned removable mounting of the receiving roller or mandrel 15 on the frame, the latter is provided at its extremities with stub shafts 66 which are arranged to be disposed in half-bearings 67 provided at the forward end of the frame. Mounted at the extremity of the stub shaft 66 of the roller 15 to extend axially therefrom in eccentric relation thereto are clutch teeth 68, while extending from the inner end of the pulley shaft 58 are clutch teeth 69 similarly disposed with respect to the shaft axis as are the teeth 68 to the roller axis. lVhen the roller 15' is mounted in the bearings 67 with the teeth 68 thereof toward the shaft 58, the teeth 68 and 69 are arranged to be disoosed for movement in the same path whereby they may engage as a clutch for effecting a rotation of the roller 15 from the shaft 58, and will become disengaged as and when the roller is dismounted from its bearings. In this manner, the ready removal and replacement of the roller 15 is permitted with a minimum of manipulation.

Means are provided for manually guiding the netting as it passes from the supply mandrel 8 over the feed roller 11, and hero shown such means comprises the provision of a pair of rods 71 pivoted to the frame at opposite sides thereof and adjacent the bottom and arranged to be manually pressed against an adjacent selvage edge of the netting whereby the tracking of the latter with respect to the feed rollers may be corrected. The pivotal mounting of the rods is preferably such as will permit their movement in any desired direction about the pivot point thereof whereby, when they are forcibly engaged with the netting selvage, they may move therewith between the supply roll and feed rollers. lVhen not in use, the rods 71 are arranged to be disposed in rests 72 pro-' vided on the frame.

I claim:

1. In apparatus for forming offsets in a strip of sheet material having thickened side edges, a roller over which the strip is arranged to be passed, and a second roller 11 ving reduced portions at the ends thereof cooperating with said first roller whereby a cooperative gripping engagement may be effected by said rollers of only that portion of the strip lying between said strip edges, said rollers being provided with cooperating die members for forming said offsets in th strip portion gripped thereby.

2. In apparatus for forming offsets in a strip of sheet material, rollers cooperative to grip the strip for forming offsets only between the side edges thereof upon the movement of the material between the rollers, one of said rollers being arranged to engage the strip throughout the full width thereof and the other of said rollers being so reduced opposite a strip edge as to avoid a gripping of said edge between the rollers.

3. In apparatus for forming furring offsets in reinforcing netting having thickened selvage edges, rollers providing male and female die portions arranged to cooperatively engage the netting in the portions between the said selvage edges for forming furring offsets therein, one of said rollers being reduced opposite said selvage edges of said netting.

4. In apparatus for forming furring offsets in a strip of sheet material, parallel rollers arranged to cooperatively engage the strip for simultaneously drawing it between them and forming said offsets therein, and means manually operative against the'edges of the uncrimped strip portion for guiding the strip for movement in a line longitudinal thereof and perpendicularly related to the common line of contact of the strip with the rollers.

5. In apparatus for forming furring offsets in a strip of sheet material, a frame, parallel rollers mounted in said frame and arranged to cooperatively engage the strip for forming said offsets therein, and levers pivoted to said frame and arranged to be manually brought to bear against the side edges of said strip and laterally thereof for guiding the strip for effecting its longitudinal delivery to the rollers in a line perpendicularly related tothe common line of contact of the strip with the rollers.

6. In apparatus for forming furring olfsets in reinforcing netting, a pair of rollers cooperative to grip the netting between thickened selvage edges thereof for simultaneously advancing it and forming said offsets therein, a second pair of rollers cooperative to grip the netting for advancing it toward said first-rollers, and means including a foot pedal for effecting an inoperative disposition of said second rollers during the rotation thereof.

7. In apparatus for forming furring offsets in reinforcing netting having thickened selvage edges, a pair of rollers having reduced portions, said rollers cooperating to grip the netting solely intermediate said edges for simultaneously advancing it and forming said offsets therein, and a second pair of rollers cooperative to grip the netting solely between said edges for advancing it toward said first rollers, said second rollers having a circumferential speed less than that of said first rollers whereby excess tension on said netting may be obviated.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand at Chicago, Illinois, this 26th day of September, 1927.

CHARLES C. OVERMIRE.

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