US1855877A - Material handling apparatus - Google Patents

Description

April 26, 1932. H. L. BLOOD ET AL MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 22 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet I flaw/d 1. 5/004 April 1932- H. BLOOD ET AL 1,855,877

MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 22, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q I a 0/ Patented Apr. 26, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HAROLD LANGLEY B LOOD, OP OAK PARK, AND HERBERT OLOF OLSON, OF LA GRANGE PARK, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORS TO WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK MATERIAL HANDLING- APPARATUS Application filed September 22, 1927. Serial No. 221,312.

This invention relates tomaterial handling apparatus, and more particularly to reel arbor supporting and locking apparatus for strand working mechanisms.

A strand working mechanism wherein this invention has been found particularly useful is a strand twisting machine of the general type disclosed in U. S. Patent 1,617,427 of February 15, 1927, which comprises a frame or flyer mounted to rotate, upon a vertical I axis and carrying a plurality of strand supply reels mounted upon vertically rotatable yokes radially disposedupon the flyer, the reel arbors being horizontally supported. In the operation of twisting the strands the supply reels rotate upon their own axes as the strands are withdrawn therefrom and simul taneously therewith are each bodily rotated with their supporting yoke in the horizontal plane about the vertical axis of the yoke' ysupporting and 100 'ng a reel arbor in operative position; upon a material working machine and one which permits an expedi- 1 .tious replacement ofitheireels when empty;

invention 'as pa machine ofth'e;

- Inaccordancej-with oneeinbodimentofthis movablecto permitniounting of and removtamed stationary f-relative' to t elatter 1 by spring' pressed plimgers which areentered in one of a plurality of notches-provided in the peripheriesof the-bearings. Studs" at "opposite ends of ,thefarborprojecting into ax al 1 op nings in the rollerbearings serve E 'l dl' it'oja strand is i g erinbeio 'ref red to typ the suppoi' in firborcarriesat each end a roller b arin 0am: which is readilyirethe roller hearings to the half bearings, one

of the studs being adjustable to permit the mounting and replacement of the arbor carrying the reel. Secondary locking devices for securing the arbor and the roller bearings to the half bearings comprise a pair of latchable spring controlled-pivotal clamping levers having hardened steel cam shaped shoes which engage the periphery of each of the outer sleeves of the roller bearings, the pivots for the levers being adjustable to provide for slight constructional or other variations, such as wear on the shoes.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will more fully appear from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings; in which Fig. 1 is a fragmentary front elevation of a strand twisting machine having the reel arbor supporting and locking apparatus of this invention embodied therein;

Fig.2 is an enlarged fragmentar view of the left hand side of Fig. 1, part y in section;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the right side of'Fig. I, partly in section;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a-vertical section taken on the line 55 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows, and

Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now to the drawings in detail in which like referencenumerals designatesimilar parts throughoutthe several views and wherein this invention has been applied to a strand twisting machine of the general type hereinbefore referred to, a" base 10 supports at either, end a vertical upright 11 upon the upper ends of which is carried a horizontal spacing member (not shown), the whole constituting a framework for supporting various elements of the machine, including capvstans for drawing the strands through the machine,and delivering them to suitable takeup reels ;not shown). Suitably journaled upon the ramework midway of the vertical u rights 11 is a vertically disposed shaft 12 w ic receives rotary motion through a gear train connected to an electrical motor (not shown)- carried upon the framework at its upper end. Secured to rotate with the shaft 12 is a flyer 13 comprising unpper and lower horizontal members 14 and 15, respectively, and vertical connecting members 16' and 17. The flyer 13 is journaled at its lower end in a bearing (not shown) carried in a housing 20, the axis of which is coincident with the axis of the shaft 12. Within the lower horizontal flyer member 15 is a suitable gear train (not shown) which in cooperation with a stationar gear (not shown) secured to the base an in axial alignment with the shaft 12 serves to rotate vertical stud shafts 21.journaled upon opposite ends of the member and extending upwardly from the upper surface thereof. Attached to the upper end of each of the shafts 21 is a yoke 22. The upper ends of the yokes 22 are rotatably journaled upon the opposite ends of the upper horizontal member 14. The yokes 22 each carry a reel 25 holding a supply of strand to be twisted, the reels being mounted upon the horizontally disposed arbors 26, one of the arbors being shown fragmentarily in Fig. 2. In the operation of the twisting machine the shaft 12 is caused to rotate and with it the flyer 13 carrying the yokes 22. These yokes, however, also rotate on their owii axes, either in the same direction or in the opposite direction, and at the same time the reels 25 are caused to rotate on their own axes preferably in opposite directions by the strands as they are drawn upwardly therefromby the capstans previousl twisted together at a'point at which they converge (not shown) above the flyer 13. Since the twisting machine, which is shown fragmentarily, is of a well known type and forms no part of this invention, it is thought that a more detailed disclosure and description thereof is unnecessary.

As the reel arbor supporting and locking devices to be presently described and associated with each yoke are'identical in each instance, the following detailed description, although applying to both yokes, will be best understood by considering the left hand yoke 22 (Fig.1).

U n the innenopposed vertical faces of the'yoke 22 intermediate the ends thereof are secured half bearings or journals 27 and 28 (Figs. 2, 3 and 5)'L"1 A1centrally disposed circular a rtured bracket'29 integral with each of t e journals is bolted to the yoke within a depression 32 formed in its inner wall. Fixed within an aperture formed in the left hand vertical wall of the left hand yoke 22 (Fig. 2) is a stationary shouldered stud mentioned (not shown) Thus the stran s from the two reels 25 are 33 having pinned upon its reduced inner end a spacing collar 34, the extreme inner end of the stud extending therefrom a suitable distance, the purpose of which will be presently apparent. Secured to the right hand vertical wall of the left hand yoke 22 within the depression 32 is a flanged shouldered bushing 37 provided with a screw threaded central aperture 38 within which is mounted a correspondingly threaded shouldered adjustable stud 39. Formed axially in the stud 39 in its reduced right end is a depression 40 which is square in cross-section for the insertion of a suitable key wrench (not shown) when it is desired to adjust the stud 39. To prevent the adjustable stud 39 from rotating in the bushing 37 after an adjustment, a locking device 41 is provided, best shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, which comprises the following: The reduced right end of the stud 39 is provided with a plurality of equally spaced keyways or slots 44 formed in its peripheral surface, which extend inwardly from the outer end of the stud. Reciprocally mounted upon the outer vertical face of the yoke 22 is a plate 45 provided with a tooth 46 arranged to enter the keyways 44 of the stud 39. The plate 45 is maintained against the face of the yoke and guided in its vertical movement by a strap 47 fixed to the yoke. The upper end of the plate 45 extends above the upper end of the strap 47 and pivotally attached thereto is a lever 48 provided with an eccentric portion 51 arranged to engage the uppersurface of the strap 47. -Mounted in a pocket 52 formed in the plate 45-is a compression spring 53 having one end rest- Iing against a pin 54 fixed to the strap 47 and itsoth'erend'against the lower end. wall of the pocket. 'It will belappa're'nt that due to the actionof the spring 53 the plate 45 will be normally urged downwardly to engage the tooth 46 thereof in one of the keyways'44 of the stud 39. When it is desired to withdraw the tooth 46 from its keyway 44 the lever .48 is turned upon its pivot. and due to the eccentric portion 51 thereof engaging the upper surface of the strap47, the plate 45 is moved upwardly. The inoperative position of the locking device 41 is clearly shown in dotted outline in Fig. 3.

Carried by the arbor 26-at either end thereof are roller bearing units 55 and 56, the bearing 55 being attached to thearbor by a pin 54, dotted outline Fig. 2, extending through the inner sleeve of the bearing and the arbor. In Fig. 5 is illustrated an end view of the bearing 56 which is very similar to the bearing 55, an inner sleeve 60 thereof being secured to the arbor 26 by a spline 61 to prevent relative rotation therebetween, but permitting a quick removal of the hearing as a unit from the arbor when replacing a reel 25. To maintain the bearing 56 in fixed longitudinal position upon the arbor 26, the

latter is equipped with a spring pressed stud 62 which engages in an aperture 63 formed in the inner peripheral surface of the axial opening of the inner sleeve. To remove the I bearing unit 56 from the arbor after its removal from the half bearings 27 and 28 it is merely necessary to pull it with sufficient force longitudinally alon the arbor, the stud 62 moving back out of teaperture 63 and the spline 61 permitting a free longitudinal movement between the arbor and the bearing. The bearings 55 and 5.6 are each provided with an outer sleeve 66 which rests within and closelyfits the concaved surface of the half bearings 27 and 28 and are each prevented from rotating thereon by spring pressed studs 67 mounted in the lower portion of the bearings 27 and 28 and engaging in one of a plurality of equall spaced keyways or slots 68 formed in t e peripheral :;urfaces of the outer sleeves 66. The outer vertical walis of the outer sleeves 66 of the bearings 27 and 28 are provided with axial opmings 69 into which the reduced inner ends of the stationary and adjustable studs and 39, respectively, are entered when the a rhor 26 with the roller bearing units 55 and 56 and the reel 25 are mounted in operative position upon the half bearings 27 and 28.

Secondary locking devices 70 for securing the arbor 26 and members carried thereby to the half bearings 27 and 28 comprise the following: As one of the locking devices 70 is associated. with each end of the arbor 26 and as they are identical in structure and operation, the following description is to be applied to both of them. Referring particularly to Figs. 3 and 4, a lever 73 is pivotally supported upon an eccentric stud 74 rotatably adjustable in a boss 75 formed on the inner vertical wall of the yoke v22. The free end of a lower long arm of the lever 73 carries a hardened steel shoe 77 having its extreme lower or engaging surface cam shaped, which in its operative clamping or locking position, which is the extreme left dotted outline position thereof as shown in Fig. 3, engages the periphery of the outer sleeve 66 of the roller bearing unit 56 with a wedging action. Pivotally' connected to the free end of an upper short arm of the lever 73 which is bifurcated is a bar 81 which isslidably mounted in an apertured plug or cap 82 screw threaded into an aperture 83 provided in the front vertical wall of the yoke 22. Surrounding the bar 81 between the inner end surface of the plug 82 and a flange 84 formed on the bar is a compression spring 87, which it will be apparent normally acts to rock the lever 73 clockwise to engage the cam shaped shoe 77 with the outer sleeve 66 of the roller bearing unit 56, the cam surface of the shoe insures the taking up of all play between the several parts and thus serves to cause the positive clamping of the roller bearing unit in the half bearin The lower surface of the bar 81 is notc ed to provide a latching surface 88, which in the non-operative position of the locking device 70, as shown in dotted outline in Fig. 3, is latched over the outer peripheral edge of the aperture in the plug 82. Secured to the upper end of the bar 81 extending through the plug 82 is a hand grip member 89. It will be apparent that upon grasping the member 89 and pulling outwardly and then pressing downwardly to latch the bar 81 over the edge of the plug 82, the shoe 77 will be withdrawn from its operative posit-ion with the outer sleeve 66 of the roller bearing unit 56 to the right hand dotted out line position thereof (Fig. 3), and in such position the spring will act to hold the bar in its latched position until released by a slightly outward and then an upward movement thereof. It is to be understood that the notched latching surface 88 formed in the bar 81 is suitably shaped so as to permit a downward movement of the bar in the aperture of the plug 82 when the outer edge of the latching surface is outside of the plug.

The lever 73 is pivoted upon an eccentric portion of the stud 74 so that provision may be had for slight constructional or other variations, such as wear on the shoe 77, it being desirable to maintain a predetermined operative relation between the shoe and the peripheral surface of the outer sleeve 66 and the roller bearing units. The means for adjusting the eccentric stud 74 and locking it in the desired position comprises the following: The stud 74 is formed with an eccentric portion 90upon which the lever 73 is pivoted, an intermediate shouldered portion of the stud being entered in an aperture of the boss 75 and a reduced end portion extending from the outer surface of the boss has a nut 91 threaded thereon. Secured against relative rotation upon the reduced end portion of the stud 74 is a locking collar or washer 92, a pin 93 fixed to the stud being entered in a slot formed in the washer. The washer 92 is provided with a plurality of concentrically disposed apertures 94 arranged to be aligned with a pin 95 extending from the outer surface of the boss 75. The nut 91 serves to hold the washer 92 in its set position and thereby the eccentric stud 74 in its adjusted position. When it is desired to readjust the stud 74 the nut 91 is removed from the stud and thereafter upon disengaging the washer 92 from the pins 93 and 95 it will be apparent that the stud 74 is free to be rotated in the boss 75 and due to the eccentric portion 90 upon which the lever 73 is pivoted the shoe 77 attached to the latter will be raised or lowered to predeterminedly engage the pe- 'ripheral surface of the roller bearing unit. The rotation of the stud may be readily accomplished by applying a wrench to the left headed end thereof (Fig. 4). To lock the stud 74 in its adjusted position the washer 92 is again moved to its locking position, the pin 93 in the stud being aligned with the slot of the washer and one of the apertures 94 of the washer with the pin 95 carried by the boss 75 and thereafter the nut 91 is threaded onto the stud which prevents displacement of the locking washer 92 therefrom.

In order to maintain a uniform tension on the strand to be twisted as it is unwound from the reel 25 in the operation of the machine,

a brake device 97 of a well known type comprising adjustable brake bands 98 is interposed between one head of the reel 25 andthe stationary outer sleeve 66 of the associated roller bearing unit. The action of the brake device 97 is such that suitable frictional contact is exerted between the rotating brake bands 98 and the peripheral surface of the stationary outer sleeve of the bearing unit to exert a substantially uniform tension on the strand as it is withdrawn from the reel.

The operation of the reel arbor supporting and locking apparatus comprising the adjustable stud 39 with its individual locking device 41 and the latchable spring controlled pivotal locking devices 7 0 when replacing the reels 25 when empty is as follows:

The twisting machine is stopped with the fiyer 13 and the yoke 22 carrying the reel 25 to be replaced in such a position that an operator may conveniently and expeditiously proceed to make the replacement. The preferred position of the left hand yoke 22 for instance, as viewed in Fig. 1, which may be considered the front of the machine, is to have the yoke turned 45 upon its own axis, from the position shown, toward the left so as to position the depression 40 in the adjustable stud 39 toward the front. lVith the yoke 22 in this latter position the operator grasps the hand grips 89 of the locking devices and latches them as previously described and shown in dotted outline in Fig. 3, thus releasing the cam shoes 77 from the roller bearing units 55 and 56. Thereafter the operator inserts a suitable key wrench in the depression 40 of the adjustable stud 39 with his right hand and with his left hand rocks the eccentric lever 48 to its dotted line position (Fig. 3) which serves to retract the tooth 46 of the plate 45 from engagement with one of the slots 44 in the peripheral surface of the stud 39. \Vhile. the lever 48 is held in its nonoperative position the operator turns the adjustable stud 39 with the key wrench until the reduced inner end of the stud is moved out of the opening 69 in the roller bearing 56- 69 in the roller bearing 55. The roller bearing 56 is then removed from the arbor 26 by pulling it with suflicient force longitudinally along the arbor, as previously described, to release the spring pressed stud 62 (Figs. 2 and 5) mounted in the arbor from the aperture 63 formed in the inner sleeve of the roller hearing. The empty reel 25 is then removed and replaced by a full one, the roller bearing 56 again positioned on the arbor and the whole positioned in the half bearings 27 and 28 with the stationary stud 33 engaged in the opening 69 of the roller bearing 55. The operator then rocks the eccentric lever 48 to hold the tooth 46 away from the keyways 44 of the adjustable stud 39 and proceeds to turn the stud 39 in the manner previously described but in the opposite direction to move the reduced inner end thereof into the opening 69 in the roller bearing 56, the lever 48 thereafter being released. Due to the plurality of keyways 44 in the stud 39 it is only necessary to turn the stud one-eighth of a revolution in case the tooth 46 does not at first engage in a keyway upon being released. The locking devices 70 are now unlatched by disengaging the latching surfaces 88 from the caps 82, whereupon the spring 8'? acts to bring the cam shoes 7 7 into operative engagement with the peripheral surface of the roller bearing units 55 and 56. This completes the description of operation of unlocking and removing the arbor 26 with the empty reel 25 thereon from the half bearings and its replacement, along with a full reel and the relocking thereof upon the half bearings.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that a compound reel arbor supporting and locking apparatus has been provided which is very efit'ective for retaining the arbor in position upon the half bearings in all planes, notwithstanding the severe stresses and strains produced by the combined rota tions of the flyer, yokes and reels and one wherein the reels may be expeditiously removed and replaced.

Although this invention has been disclosed and described as applied to a particular type of machine for handling strand, it is clear that it may have a more general application and that modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimedis:

1. In a reel arbor supporting and locking apparatus, members at either end thereof for rotatably supporting and maintaining an arbor extending through the core of a reel in a predetermined longitudinal position, a longitudinally adjustable stud in axial engagement with one of the members, one of the members being removable for permitting a replacement of the reel on the arbor, and

means cooperating with the outer surfaces of the members for locking the members against movement in all planes.

2. In a reelarbor supporting and locking apparatus, means at eit er end thereof for rotatably supporting and maintaining an arbor extending through the core of a reel in a predetermined longitudinal position, th means including a longitudinally adjustable member and a removable member at one end for permitting a removal of the arbor for replacing a reel thereon, and means including latchable cam surfaced members bearing upon the outer surfaces of stationary elements of the before mentioned means for locking the same from movement in all planes.

3. A reel supporting and locking apparatus comprising an arbor adapted to extend through the core of a reel, bearings arranged upon the arbor at opposite ends of the reel, supporting members for the bearings, and normally stationary studs carried by the sup porting members for engaging Within axial apertures provided in the bearings, one of the studs being longitudinally adjustable.

4. A reel supporting and locking apparatus comprising an arbor adapted to extend through the core of a reel, bearings Which include inner and outer sleeves arranged upon the arbor at opposite ends of the reel,

the inner sleeves being secured to the arbor,-

' supporting means for the bearings, normally stationary studs carried by the supporting means for engaging within axial apertures provided in the outer sleeves of the bearings, one of the studs being longitudinally adj ustable, and a spring actuated plunger arranged to engage within a depression formed in the outer surface of the latter stud to retain it in its ad'usted position. 7

5. A reel supporting and locking appara tus comprising an arbor adapted to extend through the core of a reel, bearings which include inner and outer sleeves arranged upon the arbor at opposite ends of the reel, a spring actuated plunger operatively associated with the arbor and the inner sleeve of one of the bearings to permit a ready removal of the hearing from the arbor for replacing a reel thereon, means for supporting and maintaining the outer sleeves stationary, and normally stationary studs carried by the supporting means for engaging within axial apertures provided in the bearings, one of the studs being longitudinally adjustable.

6. A reel supporting and locking apparatus comprising an arbor adapted to extend through the core of a reel, bearings which include inner and outer sleeves arranged upon the arbor at opposite ends of the reel, the inner sleeves being rotatably secured to the arbor, means for supporting the bearings, spring actuated plungers carried by the supporting means and cooperating with de- Dressions formed in the outer surfaces of th outer sleeves for maintaining the latter stationary relative to the supporting means, latchable clamping members bearing upon the outer surfaces of the outer sleeves for locking the bearings from lateral and longitudinal movement in all planes upon their supporting means, and means for adjusting theclamping members to provide a predetermined operative relation with the outer sleeves.

7. In a reel arbor supporting and lockin apparatus, an arbor adapted to extend through the core of a reel, bearings disposed concentric with said arbor at the ends thereof, supporting means, and studs carried by said supporting means and extending into said bearings for pivotally supporting said bearlngs.

8. In a reel arbor supporting and lockin apparatus. an arbor adapted to exten through the core of a reel, bearings which include inner and outer sleeves disposed upon said arbor at the ends thereof, said inner sleeves being secured to said arbor, and studs for rotatably receiving said outer sleeves.

9. In a reel arbor supporting and locking apparatus, an arbor adapted to extend through the core of a reel, bearings which include inner and outer sleeves disposed upon said arbor at the ends thereof, said inner sleeves being secured to said arbor, studs for rotatably receiving said outer sleeves, and means whereby one of said studs may be moved longitudinally for releasing the bearing mounted thereon.

10. In a reel arbor supporting and locking apparatus, an arbor adapted to extend through the core of a reel, bearings which include inner and outer sleeves disposed upon said arbor at the ends thereof, said inner sleeves being secured to said arbor, studs for rotatably receiving said outer sleeves, one of said studs being movable relative to said outer sleeves, and means for holding said movable stud against movement.

11. In a reel arbor supporting and locking apparatus, an arbor adapted to extend through the core of a reel,-bearings which include inner and outer sleeves disposed upon said arbor at the ends thereof, said inner sleeves being secured to said arbor, studs for rotatably receiving said outer sleeves, one of said studs being adjustable, and cam actuated means for holding said adjustable stud against movement.

12. In a reel arbor supporting and locking apparatus, a supporting member, an arbor adapted to,extend through the core of a reel, bearings disposed concentric with said arbor at the ends thereof, studs carried by said sup porting member and extending into said bearings, means whereby one of said studs may be moved longitudinally in said supporting member relative to its adjacent bearing, and m ans carried by said supporting member for holding said movable stud against movement.

13. In a reel arbor supporting and locking apparatus, a supporting member, an arbor adapted to extend through the core of a reel, bearings disposed concentric with said arbor at the ends thereof, studs carried by said supporting member and extending into said bearings, means whereby one of said studs may be moved longitudinally in said supporting member relative to its adjacent bearing, means carried by said supporting member for holding said movable stud against movement, and an annular flange disposed upon said movable stud and adapted to abut said adjacent bearing for holding said bearing against lateral movement.

14. In a reel arbor supporting and locking apparatus, an arbor adapted to extend through the core of a reel, bearings which include inner and outer sleeves disposed upon said arbor at the ends thereof, said inner sleeves being secured to said arbor, studs for rotatably receiving said outer sleeves, and levers engaging the outer sleeves of said bearings for locking said bearings against vertical displacement. v

15. In a reel arbor supporting and locking apparatus, an arbor adapted to extend through the core of a reel, bearings which include inner and outer sleeves disposed upon said arbor at the ends thereof, said inner sleeves being secured to said arbor, studs for rotatably receiving said outer sleeves, levers adapted to engage the outer sleeves of said bearings for locking said bearings against vertical displacement, and resilient means for holding said levers in engagement with said outer sleeves.

16. In a reel arbor supporting and locking apparatus, an arbor adapted to extend through the core of a reel, bearings which include inner and outer sleeves disposed upon said arbor at the ends thereof, said inner sleeves being secured to said arbor, studs for rotatably receiving said outer sleeves, levers engaging the outer sleeves of said bearings for locking said bearings against vertical displacement, resilient means for holding said levers in engagement with said outer sleeves, and means whereby said levers may be moved out of engagement of said outer sleeves for releasing said bearings.

17. In a reel arbor supporting and locking apparatus, an arbor adapted to extend through the core of a reel, bearings which include inner and outer sleeves disposed upon said arbor at the ends thereof, said inner sleeves being secured to said arbor, studs for rotatably receiving said outer sleeves, levers engaging the outer sleeves of said bearings for locking said bearings against vertical displacement, resilient means for holding said levers in engagement with said outer sleeves, means whereby said levers may be moved out of engagement of said outer sleeves for re- HAROLD LANGLEY BLOOD. HERBERT OLOF OLSON.

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