US1915878A - Automatic apron or belt guiding mechanism - Google Patents

Description

June 2-7, 1933. w. J. ASHER AUTOMATIC APRON OR BELT GUIDING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 5, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Ju ne:-2 7,"' 933. w J. ASHER 9 3 AUTOMATIC APRON OR BELT GUIDING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 5, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 27, 1933 UNITE STATES WILLIAM J. ASHER, OF COLORADQ SPRINGS, COLOR-A130 AUTOMATIC APRON OR BELT GUIDING MECHANISM I Applicationfiled December 5, 1931. Serial No. 579,301.

The present invention relates to belt or web guiding mechanisms, particularly to mechanisms of this character designed and intended to maintain in constant and proper alignment a belt, web, or apron of felt, wire, canvas, or other suitable material, generally of the endless type and used in connection with laundry, paper making, or analogous H machines.

A number of machines of various types now used in the industrial arts include as operative elements thereof belts, webs, or aprons of endlesscharacter which pass over uide rolls continuously in one direction in the operation of the machine to which they are applied. Ironing machines of the laundry type, for instance, commonly employ endless felt aprons, each of which, in the operation of the machine, follows a closed path passing over a number of rollers. It is not practical to positively confine the felt apron against lateral movement upon the rollers, and it sometimes occurs that the apron has a tendency to move laterally relative to the supporting rollers by reason of the fact that greater thicknesses of goods being ironed are fed to one side of the machine, and hence carried by one side of the apron,

than are fed to the opposite side. Other factors are sometimes influential in effecting lateral movement of a belt or apron of this character. It goes without saying that such lateral movements of belts, webs,"or aprons of laundry or other machines are highly undesirable inasmuch as it may, unless limited in some manner, result in the projection of the edge of the same beyond the end of the supporting roller, engagement with other operating or stationary parts of the machine, and hence injury or total destruction.

It has heretofore been suggested that guiding mechanism may be employed, by means of which an endless belt, web, or apron may be maintained in proper alignment upon its 1) supportlng rolls, and 1t has also been suggested, for instance in my prior Patent No. 813,995, granted February 27, 1906, that mechanisms of this character may be designed so as to be fully automatic in their operation. The present invention relates signed or suggested which render the device particularly to fully automatic mechanisms of this character and contemplates a number of improvements over those heretofore demore sensitive in operation than those heretofore designed or employed, to the end that the lateral movements of the belt or web are minimized, and also simpler in construction and lessliable to constitute a hazard for the attendants or machine operatives.

The invention may have various embodiments, and in the accompanying drawings two such embodiments are illustrated. It will be appreciated, however, that those forms of the invention illustrated, and which will be hereinafter described in detail, are set forth byway of exampleonly.

' In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the improved L belt, web, or apron guiding mechanism;

Figure 2 is a section on line 22 of Fig-' ure 1;

Figure 3 is an end view of the same, partially broken away; Figure 4 is an end View of a somewhat modified form of guide mechanism; and

' Figure 5 is a section on line 55 of Figure 4.

As has been heretofore explained, the invention may be designed for application to various types of machines, such as paper making machines, ironing machines of the laundry type, and the like, and in fact almost anywhere where it is highly important that traveling belts or webs be maintained traversing a fixed path without at the same time providing any means for positively limiting lateral movement thereof. In adapting the invention to various types of machines, the design and arrangement of the component elements thereof may be modified considerably without departure from its underlying principles. For instance, that form of the invention which is disclosed in r the first three figures of the drawings is primarily intended for use in connection with an ironing machine of the rotary drum or stationary chest. type, having a relatively low speed of travel of the apron or aprons w ich areused with such machines. On 100 the other hand, that form of the invention disclosed in Figures 4 and 5 is more particularly suited for use with machines such as paper making machines in which the speed of travel of the belt, or belt forming wire or other such element, is relatively high. Other adaptations of the principles of the invention may be easily made.

The guide roll of the mechanism disclosed in Figures 1, 2, and 3 is indicated'at 10, this roll being horizontally disposed and having a cylindrical surface over which the belt, web, or apron, indicated at 11, passes, this apron having its direction of movement changed by the roll and being under some tension so as to bear tightly against the roll. The roll 10 is freely rotatable and,

in the normal operation of the mechanism,

is rotated by the apron and at the same speed. At its ends the guide roll 10 is provided with coaxial spindle-like extensions or necks, indicated at 12 and 13 respectively. Neck 13 has a reduced portion which is rotatably supported in a bearing 14, which bearing is in turn mounted upon the upper end of a vertical rod 15, this rod 15 having a rotating and sliding fit with the cylindrical inner wall of a socket 16 supported by means of a bracket 17 from a portion of the frame of the machine, the frame being diagrammatically indicated at 18.

By the mechanism just described, the neck 13 is supported for free rotary motion about the axis of the roll while at the same time it may be swung or oscillated in a horizontal plane about the axis of the pivot rod 15. By means of a set screw 19, which bears against the lower end of the pivot rod, this rod, the bearing 14, and hence the adjacent end of the roll may be given slight vertical'adjustments if desired. At the opposite end of the roll, the neck 12 is provided with a reduced end portion which projects'within and is rotatably supported by a second bearing member 20, which bearing is supported upon a fiat base member 21 slidable along a horizontally disposed guiding surface 22 formed on the frame of the machine. Bearing 20 may therefore be advanced or retracted horizontally through limited distances, the bearing swinging in such movements about the axis of the pivot rod 15.

The housing of bearing 20 is projected upwardly at 23, and extending through a cylindrical aperture formed in this projection 23 is a stud 24, the inner end of which projects within a roller or ball bearing 25 and the outer end of which is threaded to receive a securing nut 26. Bearing 25, which surrounds the inner end of stud 24, in turn carries a rocking lever 27 disposed in a vertical plane transverse to the axis of the roller and adapted to oscillate, in the operation of the device, about the axis of stud 24 through limited distances. Two pawls are indicated at 30 and 31 respectively, these pawls having their outer ends suspended by flexible members, such as chains 32 and 33, from rocking lever 2'7 and having their inner ends provided with straps which encircle a single eccentric 34 formed as a portion of the neck 12 of the guide roller 10, this eccentric portion of the roll neck being just inside of the reduced end portion which is supported by the bearing 20. The outer end of each pawl is provided with a downwardly projecting blade-like member which immediately overlies a stationary rack mounted on the frame. As may be seen from an inspection of Figure 3, the two racks 35 and 36 are similar in character, but the teeth formed on the upper faces thereof are oppositely directed. The toothed portions of the racks respectively are slightly inclined, sloping downwardly from their outer ends toward a central meeting point.

One end of the rocking lever 27 is downturned, as most clearly seen from Figure 3, and is provided with a sleeve-like portion 27 provided with a horizontally disposed cylindrical aperture through which extends a horizontal rod 38. To the end of this rod is secured a member 39, which may be designated a detector element or contact element, this element being preferably formed of sheet metal and having curved marginal edges.

It is likewise inclined to the horizontal so that the plane of its lower surface is substantially parallel at all times with the edge of the belt or apron 11.

In the operation of the mechanism just described, the contact element 39 lightly rests upon the edge of the apron 11. Should the apron, however, deviate from its proper path, the detector element 39 willbe either allowed to fall or caused to rise, depending upon the direction of movement of the apron. Supposing the edge ofthe apron to recede toward the left, Figure 1, the detector element 39 will fall, thus rotating the rocking lever 27 in a clockwise direct-ion about the stud 24.

This movement of rocking lever 27 results in the lowering of the pawl 31 and raising of pawl. 30, pawl 31 operatively engaging, as the result of this movement, the teeth of rack 35 which immediately underlie the same. Inasmuch as the roller is rapidly rotating, both pawls are in continual longitudinal oscillatory movement, the inner ends of these pawls being mounted upon the eccentric 34.

Hence it follows that, as soon as the outer end of pawl 31 is lowered so far as to come in contact with the rack 36, it will strike one of the teeth of this rack, which tooth acts as an abutment, receiving the endwise thrust of the pawl but preventing its movement. As a result, a force is exerted upon the neck 12 of the guide roller, tending to swing the guide roller about the axis of pivot rod 15 and, in this instance, in a clockwise direction (Fig ure 1). By reason of the continued act-ion of l contact with the tooth against which it has just exerted a thrust and is advanced to engage the next adjacent tooth to repeat the thrust on the guide roller in the manner .just above described, and this arrangement of additional teeth and advancement of the guide roller in a clockwise direction will continue until the pawl disengages the teeth of rack 36 by reason of the inclination of the rack. As a result of this swinging movement of the guide roller, it is caused to occupy a position inclined to the path of movement of the apron 11, and the apron, under the influence of this inclined roller, gradually moves back toward the detector 89, raising the detector and bringing the pawl 31 back to its normal or disengaged position.

Should the apron move toward the right (Figure 1), the detector 39 will be raised, pawl 80 engaged with rack 35, and the roller given a counter-clockwise rotation, as viewed in Figure 1. This rotation is continued until theroller has assumed a position which will cause it to bring about a gradual movement of the apron toward the left, which will continue until the apron has reached its correct position.

The means provided, therefore, automatically corrects the position of the apron in the machine to which itis applied whenever the apron or belt moves laterally from its desired position. The device is very sensitive in its operation and is called into action for very slight deviations of the apron so thatthe apron at no time is permitted to move from' its desired position through any appreciable distance. I The provision of the eccentric on the roll neck and inside of the bearing-is especially advantageous inasmuch as it throws the operating pawls andracks inside of the bearing and into a relatively protected position. Heretofore, as disclosed in my prior patent, an eccentric pin has been placed upon the end of the roll supporting shaft in mechanisms of this character.

The form of the invention disclosed in Figures 4 and 5 is more particularly de signed for use in connection with machines provided with webs, aprons, or belts which travel at relatively high speed. It is desirable in such cases to operate the pawls at a relatively low speed as compared with the speed of travel of the apron or belt, and for this reason a reduction gearing is interposed between the roller 40 and the eccentric 41, the

eccentric being mounted upon a shaft which is separate and distinct from the roller supporting shaft. Thus, in this instance, the

eccentric 41 is mounted on a shaft 42 which is in turn supported in a roller bearing 43 positioned upon the sliding block 44. To the outer end of shaft 42 is keyed a circular disk 45 provided-with an internal gear 46,

the teeth of which mesh with the teeth of a pinion 47 keyed on the end of the roll neck v48, which is mounted in anotherbearing provided on the left hand end of block 44, as clearly shown in Figure 4 of the drawings.

Rotation of the roll, therefore, results in rotation of the eccentric 4l-but at a very considerably reduced speed.

The pawls 49 and 50, respectively, are adapted to cooperate with stationary racks 51 and 52, respectively, in exactly the samemanner as set forth in connection with the form of the invention disclosed. in Figures 1, 2, and 3, these pawls being likewise attached to a rocking lever indicated at 53,

whichlever is provided with a detector 54.

It will be noted that the disk 45 not only serves to carry the internal gear 46 but also acts as a guard for the operating parts of the mechanism, preventing operators or objects from accidentally coming in contact withthese rapidly moving parts. This is a high- 1y advantageous feature when the apparatus is used in connection with such machines as laundry and ironing machines and the like.

The design of the detector element may be considerably varied in applying the apparatus to' machines having belts, webs, or aprons of different materials and characteristics. Thus, in place of the metal plate illustrated, a roller may be substituted, the axis of the roller being inclined to the plane of the apron. In the event that the detector is used in connection with a paper making machine employing a rather fragile forming wire, the roller may be coated with rubber in order to minimize the wear on the wire. In some instances it may be desirable to use a cone-shaped detector. Roller bearings may be used with advantage whenever a detector of the roll type is employed.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is 1. In adevice of the class described, in combination, a guide roller, means for supporting the guide roller at one end for swinging movement in a horizontal plane, and means associated with the opposite end of the roller for supporting the same for bodily movement in a horizontal plane and automatically effecting such movement, said means comprising a bearing into which the end of the roller projects, an eccentric mounted on the roll neck intermediate the roller and the bearing, pawls mounted upon the eccentric, a rack positioned adjacent each pawl and adapted to be engaged thereby, a rocking lever, a detector connected to said rocking lever and positioned to engage the edge of a web or'apron passing over the roller, and flexible connections between said detector and said pawls adapted to control the engagement of the same with said racks.

2. In a device of the class described, in

combination, a roller, a pinion mounted on the end of the roller to rotate therewith, a shaft mounted insubstantial parallelism to the roller axis and carrying an eccentric, an internal gear fixed on said shaft and meshing with the roller pinion whereby the eccentric is actuated from the roller but at reduced speed, oppositely directed pawls mounted upon and actuated by said eccentric, a rack associated with each pawl, and means for selectively bringing said pawls into engagement with said racks in accordance with the lateral movements of a belt or apron passing over said roller.

3. In a device of the class described, in combination, a guide roller, means for sup porting the guide roller at one end for swinging movement in a horizontal plane, and means associated with the opposite end of the roller for supporting the same for movement in a horizontal plane and automatically effecting such movement, said means comprising a slidably supported block, a bearing on the block for supporting the roller neck, a pinion mounted on the roller end beyond the bearing, a shaft rotatably mounted on the block and having its axis in substantial parallelism with the roller axis, said shaft carrying an eccentric, an internal gear fixed on the shaft and meshing with the said pinion whereby the eccentric is actuated from the roller but at reduced speed, oppositely directed. pawls mounted upon and actuated by said eccentric, a rack associated with each pawl, said racks being supported independently of said block, and means for selectively bringing said pawls into engagement with said racks in accordance with the lateral movements of a belt or apron passing over said roller.

4. The combination set forth in claim 3 in which the internal gear comprises a solid plane circular disk, the teeth thereof being formed in a rearwardly directed annular flange projecting therefrom.

5. In a device of the class described, in combination, a guide roller for a traveling web or the like, a frame, means supporting the guide roller at one end for swinging movement in a horizontal plane, and means associated with the opposite end of'the roller for supporting the same for bodily movement in a horizontal plane, consequent to said swinging movement of the roller, and for automatically effecting such movements in order to adjust the running position of said web, said last mentioned means comprising a bearing into which the said opposite end of said roller projects, a horizontally slidable member for supporting said bearing, an eccentric adapted to be rotated by said roller, a pair of oppositely directed pawls carried by said eccentric, a pair of racks mounted on said frame, each of said racks being respectively disposed beneath one of said pawls and also being downwardly inclined toward the other of said racks, a rocking lever pivotally mounted intermediate its length on said member above said eccentric, a flexible element connecting each arm of said lever respectively with one of said pawls, and a de tector member carried by said rocking lever and adapted to engage an edge of said-web whereby the movement of said web into an improper position upon said roller will automatically control the movement of said member and roller to return said web to correct running position.

In testimony whereof I hereunto ai'iix my signature.

WILLIAM J. ASHER.

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