US1934027A

US1934027A - Means for stretching articles

Info

Publication number: US1934027A
Application number: US430260A
Authority: US
Inventors: George M Argabrite
Original assignee: Proctor and Schwartz Inc
Current assignee: Proctor and Schwartz Inc
Priority date: 1930-02-21
Filing date: 1930-02-21
Publication date: 1933-11-07
Anticipated expiration: 1950-11-07

Description

Nov. 7, 1933. G. M. ARGABRITE MEANS FOR STRETCHINCT ARTICLES 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 21, 1930 llllll 620/306 7720f aba'ie Z 9 69mm Nov. 7, 1933. G. M. ARGABRITE MEANS FOR STRETCHING ARTICLES Filed Feb. 21, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 invent)?" Geo/:96 777. d gabw'z 1933- G. M. ARGABRITE MEANS FOR STRETCHING ARTICLES Filed Feb. 21, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I'll llI .MHIIIIIHIIIM! c ii Patented Nov. 7, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlce Application February 21, 1930. Serial No. 430,260

11 Claims.

This invention relates to means for stretching articles, such as leather or other sheet-like material.

It has been proposed as, for example, in my co-pending application filed February 21, 1930, Serial No. 4%,259, in connection with. the above type of apparatus, to mount a plurality of movable carriers on a stretching frame for simultaneous or independent movement for stretching a sheet of leather, or the like, on a frame.

When the sheet of leather, or the like, is of sufficiently great area that it would be inconvenient to make and use a frame of such size that the sheet may be stretched on one side of the frame,

it is desirable to use both sides of a frame of ordinary size for stretching the sheet.

lhe primary object of this invention is, accordingly, to provide an apparatus whereby a relatively large sheet of leather, or the like, may be stretchedon a frame of ordinary size.

Another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus wherein both sides of astretching frame are utilized for stretching the same sheet of leather or other material.

25 A further object of my invention is to provide a stretching apparatus of the type shown in my above co-pending application, wherein a relatively large sheet of leather, or the like, may be stretched.

3c Gther andfur her objects of this invention will be apparent as the same becomes better under,- stcod from an examination of the specification and claims in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a plan view of a stretching apparatus embodying this invention;

2 is an enlarged sectional view taken at the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional 4o view taken at the line 3'-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section taken at the line 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view, with parts in section, of a section of the frame to be hereinafter described;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary section taken at the line 66 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary section taken at the line '77 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary section taken at the line 8-8 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken at the line 9-9 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings more particularly,

reference character 1 designates generally the main frame of the apparatus which is preferably formed of tubing and generally rectangular in shape, including

longitudinal members

2 and 2 and

transverse members

3, 3 which are connected at the corners of the frame by couplings 4. This 603 main frame may be of ordinary size, preferably 5 feet by 12 feet, and is adapted to have stretched thereon the entire hide 10 of a cow, or a sheetlike article of the same size, the'hide, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, being folded over the frame member 2 and the edges of the hide on either side of the frame drawn longitudinally of and. away from said member by mechanism which will be hereinafter described- Extending centrally across the main frame 1, both longitudinally and transversely, is a bracing structure of which 5 constitutes the'longitudinal portion and 6 the transverse portion. These portions are connected together at the center of the frame where they meet, as shown in Fig. 1. Said portions'5 and 6 divide the main frame into four rectangular sections, the two of which at the side adjacent the longitudinal member 2 are designated 7 and the two of which at the side adjacent the longitudinal member 2 are designated- 8. The sections 7 are of substantially the same size and shape and are longitudinally spaced and the sections 8 are likewise of substantially the same size and shape. and are longitudinally spaced, the sections 8 being somewhat wider than the sections '7.

Located in each section 8 are a pair of auxilie ary frames or carriers 9 of substantially the same shape as the section,'but somewhat smaller in size, so that the carriers may have movement in the section in the plane thereof. In each section '7 is a pair of carriers 11 likewise of substantially the same, shape as the section but somewhat smaller in size. The

carriers

9 and 11 are arranged on opposite sides of the frame, so that there is a set of four carriers on each side of the frame. Each carrier 9 is slidably supported in. its section on a pair of inclined rods 12 and 13. These rods are arranged to provide a pair of parallel tracks for each carrier 9 and are supported by the bracing structure. 5, 6 and the

members

2, 3 of the main frame, as shown in Fig. 1 The tracks afforded by the rods 12 and 13 are inclined from the bracing structure so that the carriers 9 may be moved obliquely toward and from the center of the frame. Each carrier 11 is slidably supported in its section on a pair of parallel rods 14, which rods extend longitudinally of the main frame, as shown in Fig. 1.

The rods 13 have their outer ends secured to the side members 3 of the main frame by clamps 15, while similar clamps 16 connect the outer ends of the rods 12 to the longitudinal side memher 2 of the main frame. The inner ends of the rods 13 are supported by the longitudinal portion 5 of the bracing structure while the central or inner portions of the rods 12 are supported by the transverse portion 6 of said structure, the bracing structure being suitably apertured to receive these rods. The bracing structure, including the longitudinal portion 5 and transverse portion 6, is preferably built up of angle sections secured together in back to back relation, as shown in Fig. 2. The angle sections of the bracing structure for one set of

carriers

9 and 11 on one side of the main frame are spaced from the corresponding sections for the other set of carriers by a number of spacers interposed between them, so that the angle sections of the bracing structure for each set of carriers will be in proper position to support the rods for their respective sets. One of such spacers 1? is shown in Fig. 2. These are located near the ends of the structure where it is joined by welding, or otherwise, to the main frame. A suitable spacer is located between the angle sections where they meet at the center of the main frame and such structure is indicated generally by 18 in Fig. 1.

The rods 14 have their ends secured to the

transverse frame members

3, 3 through the intermediary of extensions 19 on these members and apertured bosses formed on said extensions through which bosses these rods extend. These rods 14 like the rods 12 have their central portions supported by the portion 6 of the bracing structure, the latter being suitably apertured for this purpose.

Each of the carriers 9 includes a marginal frame 21, in angle form and arranged with one set of flanges in a plane parallel to the plane of movement of the carrier. A perforated plate 22 is secured to the outer side of the flanges and is coextensive with the area of the frame except for one corner, as will be hereinafter described. The perforations 23 in the plate 22 are regularly distributed over the surface of the plate, and serve.

: the corners of the hide will be drawn away from the center of the frame and away from the longi tudinal members 2 over which the intermediate portion of the hide is folded. The clips 24 are. so made that the hide engaged thereby is main-- tained out of contact with. the plates 18 so that a space is provided between the plates and the hide for the circulation of air between themwhen drying the hide, either naturally or artificially, as when the frame 1 with a hide thereon is placed in or run through the drying chamber of a drier The other flanges of;

apparatus (not shown). each carrierframe 21 extend inwardly and-are provided with openings for the rods 12, 13 to pass through. Plates 25 are secured to these flanges at the holes therein to provide relatively wide bearing surfaces for the rods.

Each carrier 11 likewise includes a marginal frame in angle form substantially the same as the marginal frame 21 of the carriers 9 and a perforated plate 26, as in the case of the carriers the element 9, is secured to this marginal frame and is coextensive with the area thereof except for a portion intermediate the outer edge thereof, as hereinafter described. These plates 26 are, like the plates 22, adapted to have mounted thereon toggles 24 for attachment to the side edges of the hide 10 so that as the carriers 11 are moved outwardly away from the center of the frame they will stretch the hide longitudinally along the frame element 2 A plurality of longitudinally spaced sleeves 2'7 are slidably mounted on 2 to facilitate longitudinal stretching of the hide at the point where it is folded over the edge of the main frame. These sleeves 2'7 increase the effective diameter of the frame member 2 to such an extent as to keep the hide out of contact with the plates 26.

When stretching a hide the main frame 1 is disposed ina horizontal position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The main frame is supported in raised position by a pair of

rail sections

28, 28 on opposite sides of the main frame, said rail sections being exterior of the main frame and supported above the floor of the workroom by

upright standards

29, 29 at the opposite ends of the sections. The main frame 1 is provided at its ends with

flanged rollers

31, 31 for supporting the frame on said rails. The rollers 31 are secured to the

end members

3, 3 of the main frame by

clamps

32, 32 which offset the rollers to one side of the longitudinal center line of the frame so as to give it more weight on one side of the rollers than on the other, thereby allowing the main frame to swing into a horizontal position when dropped on to the rail sections 28 from an overhead trackway (not shown) from which the main frame may be suspended in vertical position by

hangers

33, 33 while traveling into, through and out of the drier apparatus (not shown). The

hangers

33, 33 are attached to the main frame at the opposite ends of the frame element 2*, as shown in Fig. l. The standards 29 support the rail sections 29 high enough so that the main frame can be swung about the axis of the rollers 26 to bring either set of

carriers

9, 11 on opposite sides of the main frame into uppermost position. The main frame 1 is supported in horizontal position by a number of

stops

34, 34 on pedestals 35 for the power units which will now be described. To move the

carriers

9 and 11 of either set, simultaneously or independently for stretching hide attached thereto, I provide four power units designated generally by the reference character 36, two arranged at the corners of the main frame adjacent to the carriers 9, and two at the ends of the main frame near the opposite corners, when the main frame is in horizontal stretching position, as shown in Fig. 1. Each power Luiit 36 includes a cylinder 37 provided with a piston 38 and piston rod 39, which extends through the end of the cylinder toward the main frame 1. A link 41 is pivoted to the outer end of each rod 39 and the free or outer end of the link is in the form of a hook 42 adapted to be engaged over a rib on a casting carried by the carrier which is desired to be drawn outwardly by the respective power unit. In the case of the carriers 9, this casting is desig nated as 43 and is fitted within the corner of the carrier beneath the plate 22, the latter being cut away at such corner to allow a rib to extend above the plate. The links 41 of the corresponding power units extend over the upper side of the frame to engage these ribs and when motive fluid is supplied to the cylinders 37 of these units a elongated slots 58 in the strips 56.

the carriers 9 will be moved outwardly. The casting for the carriers 11 corresponding to the casting. 43 is designated 44 and is situated beneath each of the plates 26 intermediate the outer edge of the frame of the respective carrier, the plate 26 thereof being cut away to allow a rib to extend above the plate so that the link 41 of the corresponding power unit may engage said rib to draw the carrier longitudinally and outwardly as the motive fluid is supplied to the cylinder of said unit.

When stretching the material folded over the longitudinal member 2 of the frame and attached to the carriers, means is provided to pre vent the carriers from being drawn inwardly by the tension of the stretched hide when the power is released from the carriers and when the links 41 are lifted therefrom so as not to losethe benefit of the stretching operation. This means is provided for each carrier at the point where the links 41 of the corresponding unit are adapted to be attached. Each means includes a rod 45 arranged in parallelism with the rods on which the respective carriers are adapted to travel.

a Rod 45 extends inwardly from the main frame 1 and has its outer end rotatably supported in a boss provided for that purpose. In the case of the carriers 9, this boss is integrally formed on the couplings 4 and in the case of the carriers 11 this boss is integrally formed on the extensions 19. A nut 46 is applied to the outer end of the rod 45 on the outer side of the boss and a handle member 47 is pinned to the rod on the inner side of the boss. The nut and handle member hold the rod against endwise movement. The inner portion of the rod 39 extends into the casting (43 in the case of the

carriers

9, and 44 in the case of the carriers 11) and the latter has a tubular portion 48 to slidably receive the rod. The rod 45 is provided on one side with a series of integral ratchet teeth 49 which are adapted to engage a spring pressed pawl or plunger 51 in a tubular housing 52 in said casting. The housing 52 is arranged at right angles to the rod and opens into the tubular'portion 48, so that the plunger may engage the teeth 49 as thecarrier moves outwardly to prevent inward movement thereof. To release the plunger 51, from the teeth of the rod so that the carrier may be moved inwardly to condition it for the beginning of a stretching operation, the rod may be turned by the'handle member 47 to present the smooth side of the rod to the plunger.

Each power unit 36 has a stationary base-plate 53, suitably secured to a U-shaped casting 54 on the upper end of the pedestal 35, shown in Fig. 3. Angle strips 55, 55 are secured to the upper side of the plate 53 adjacent its side edges to provide a channel therebetween. The cylinder 3? is slidably mounted in this channel through the intermediary of angle strips 56, 56 which rest on the base plate 53 and fit against the inner sides of the strips 55. Studs or screws 57 are fixed to the strips 55 and extend into horizontal The ends of the strips 56 toward the main frame 1, are brought together, as shown in Fig. 5, and the stop 34 heretofore referred to is attached to one of these strips.

To move the cylinder back and forth so as to V adjust the stop 34, and the link 41, for engagement with the main frame 1, and the corresponding carrier I provide a rack 59 on the underside of the cylinder between the strips 56. A segment gear 61 is in mesh with the rack, the base plate 53 being provided with an elongated slot to enable the gear to engage the rack. The gear is fixed to a rockshaft 62 journaled in a boss 63 integrally formed on the casing 54. A handle member 64 on one end of the shaft 62 is adapted to be manually operated.

When the main frame 1 is swung into horizontal position for a stretching operation,'the cylinders of the several power units are moved inwardly by turning the handles 64 so as to bring the stops 34 under their corresponding positions on the main frame to support the same in horizontal position. The frame being heavier on one side of the rollers 31 than on the other, the frame will remain against the stops without other fastening or holding means. With the links 41 engaging the uppermost carriers, the frame cannot be displaced out of its horizontal position. To release the frame so that it may be swung about the axis of the rollers 31 to bring the other set of carriers uppermost, the cylinders are moved backward after the links are released. This withdraws the stops 34 from under the frame so that the latter may be turned over,

whereupon the cylinders are again moved forward to position the stops under the frame, as before.

Connected with each cylinder are a pair of

conduits

65 and 66 which open into the opposite ends of the cylinder. These conduits lead to a control valve 6'7, one for each cylinder. These valves are positioned at a central station and are adapted to be manually operated to selective- 1y connect the

conduits

65 and 66 to either a source of fluid pressure, or exhaust for control- 1 m ling the pistons 38.

In the use of my invention the stretching action is within the control of the operator and V the hide may be stretched to the extent desired over all portions thereof and an entire hide may 115, be stretched on a frame of ordinary size. In addition, slight variations in sizes of hides may be'accommodated for by the degree of adjustment afforded by the detachable toggles 24, which may be attached in place on the surface 1'20.- of the

plates

22 and 26.

I am aware that many changes may be made without departing from the principlesof this invention. Itherefore do not wish to be limited to the details shown or described.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for stretching leather or other sheet materials comprising a frame, means supported on the frame for mounting the material to be stretched, said means being adapted to 136 be moved and stretch such material lying partly on one side and partly on the other side of the frame, the frame being provided with an elongated element slidably mounted thereon for engaging an intermediate part of the material where the same passes from one side to the other of the frame, said element retaining said article out of contact with the sides of the frame.

2. An apparatus for stretching leather or other 1'40 sheet materials comprising a frame, means supported on the frame for mounting the material to be stretched, said means being adapted to be moved and stretch such material lying partly on one side and partly on the other side of the frame, the frame being provided with an elongated element rotatably mounted thereon for engaging an intermediate part of the material where it passes from one side to the other of the frame, said means including movable members [50 on each side of the frame, independent of each other for drawing the edges of said material on each side of the frame away from said element.

3. An apparatus of the character described including a stretching frame for stretching an article lying partly on one side and partly on the other side of said frame, said frame being provided with an elongated element for engaging an intermediate part of said article where the same passes from one side to the other side of the frame, said element being cylindrical in form and slidably mounted on one extremity of the frame, means including movable members on each side of the frame for drawing the edges of said article away from said cylindrical element, and means for actuating said members and also for supporting the frame in horizontal position, said means being detachable to allow said frame to be rotated.

4. An apparatus of the character described embodying a stretching frame for stretching an article lying partly on one side and partly on the other side of said frame, said frame being provided with a rotatable element for engaging an intermediate part of said article, where the same passes from one side to the other of the frame means including movable members for drawing the edges of said article on oneside of the frame away from said element and power actuated means adapted to move said movable members in a plurality of directions.

5. An apparatus of the character described, including a stretching frame, and means on the frame for stretching an article lying partly on one side and partly on the other side of the frame, the frame being provided with an elongated element for engaging an intermediate part of the article where the same passes from one side to the other of the frame, said means in eluding members adapted to be moved and disposed at opposite sides of the frame for drawing the edges of said article in opposite directions but parallel to said element and in a plurality of directions at an angle to said element.

6. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a stretching frame, means on the frame for stretching an article lying partly on one side and partly on the other side of the frame, one edge of the frame mounting a rotatable member of greater diameter than the edge and engaging an intermediatepart of the article, said means including members on opposite sides of the frame adapted to be moved by means exterior of the frame for drawing the edges of said article away from the middle of said frame edge toward the other edges of the frame.

7.- An apparatus of the character described comprising a stretching frame, means on the frame for mounting and stretching an article lying partly on one side of the frame and partly on the other, and a cylindrical element slidably mounted on one edge of said frame for engaging said article where it passes from one side of the frame to the other.

8. An apparatus of the character described, embodying a stretching frame, means on the frame for mounting and stretching an article lying partly on one side and partly on the other side of the frame, the frame being provided with an elongated element for engaging an intermediate part of the article where the same passes from one side to the other of the frame, said means including a pair of oppositely slidable members adapted to be connected to the article to be stretched and mounted on the frame, said members being adapted to be engaged and moved by means without the frame in a direction parallel to said element.

9. An apparatus of the character described, including a stretching frame for stretching an article lying partly on one side and partly on the other side of the frame, said frame being provided with an elongated element for engaging an intermediate part of the article where it passes from one side to the other of the frame, a pair of oppositely slidable members adapted to be connected to the article to be stretched mounted on the frame, a second pair of similar members on said frame, said members being adapted to be actuated by means outside the frame whereby one pair of said members will move in a direction parallel to said element and the other pair of the members in a direction oblique to said element. r

10. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a stretching frame, means on the frame for stretching. an article lying partly on one side and partly on the other side of the frame, a cylindrical element slidably mounted on one edge of said frame, said element being adapted to engage an intermediate part of the article where it passes from one side to the other of the frame, said means including movable members, each capable of being connected at a plurality of spaced points to said article for drawing the edges of said article on each side of the frame away in a plurality of directions both from and parallel to said element. 7

11. An apparatus of the character described, including a frame, a pair of aligned members slidably mounted thereon for movement toward and away from each other, a pair of members slidably mounted thereon for movement at an angle to said other members, all said members being arranged to mount part of a skin on one side of a frame, and similar members on the other side of the frame;

GEORGE M. ARGABRITE.

CERTEFICATE GP 0RRE(I'1i0N.

Patent No. 1,934,027. Novamber 7 1933.

GEORGE M. ARGABRETE.

z t t ermr appears in tha minted sptzcification of the ahave iiiiifiiifii' requir'ng serrestion as feilews: in the heading to the printed speciiiahtien, line 4, for "Procter" read Prectar; page 2, line 518, for "29 shsend aneurysms read 28; page 3, lime 79, for "easing" read casting; and page E23, eiaim i strike exit the word "away" and insert the same after "bath" in saint: Line; and that the said Letters Pateht should be read with these correctisns t erein that the same may conform to tim record of the case in the Patent Qiiice.

Signed and seaied this 9th day of January, A. D, 1934.

F. \l. Hopkins (Seal) Acting Commissioner 0f Patenta.