US1934649A - Needling machine - Google Patents

Description

Nnv. 7,. 1933.

P. H. WALSH NEEDLING MACHINE Filed May 19, 195o 5 sheets-sheet 1 Wwf @Zio 747763] Nov. 7, 1933. P. H. WALSH 1,934,649

NEEDLING MACHINE Filed May 19, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 4 Jl ez mi.'

3 6 y @fi/0 Filed May 19, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 QOWWLL] Nov. 7, 1933. P. H. WALSH 1,934,649

NEEDLING MACHINE Filed May 19, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Nov. 7, 1933. P. H. wALsH 1,934,649

NEEDLING MACHINE Filed May 19, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 5a Z7 Z8 s; 6.

` O l f 14 6'0 E 15 .f5 Z4 m 6v ly?" 16 a 3 if Q /z @i L f f@ 32 O Z O JU j 2f QIj 4:0-

ff 37- @Si O C) i Z f MI 75 ,44M awf *i 5 74 y @orweg Patented Nov. 7, 1933 pair NEEDLING MACHINE Patrick H; Walsh, Newtonvlle, Mass., assigner to Caro Cloth Corporation, Carolina, R. I., a corporation of Delaware Application Mayvlg, 1930. vSerial N0. 453,428

11 Claims.

K My present invention is a novel and improved needling machine particularly adapted for nee- -dling textile fabrics through and incorporating the same with a base fabric, as wellas with the fibres themselves. v

An object of the present invention is the provision of an improved machine for forcing the bres which constitute the bat or web through the base fabric in such a manner asto produce an even texture in the resultant article.

Another and important object of the present invention resides in the provision of a plurality of banks of needles, each bank being a continuous unbroken bank, and said plurality of banks being arranged in parallelism. s

I preferably utilize two of these longitudinal banks of needles, and nd that this use of two banks will result in a well balanced machine, reducing vibration to a minimum and operating in a smooth efficient manner. 1 v

These two banks of needles are alternately re- 'ciprocated sothat while one bank is descending toeiect the needling operationjthe other bank is ascending, the stroke of each bank balancing the stroke of the other bank.

' Another object of my invention resides in the novel arrangement ci the needles in each bank. Each bank has a plurality of rows of needles, the needles in each row being arranged in pairs, and each pair of needles being staggered relative to its adjacent pairs. In this manner, on each den scent of a bank, a large area of the fabric will be operated upon by each bank of needles, followed in rapid sequence by the needling operation of the succeeding bank, which will result inthe complete needlin'g of the entire textile fabric being fed through the machine.

Another feature of my invention resides in the novel manner in which the needle bar holding frames are mounted, said frames being pivotally mountedto enable the same to be swung away from the fabric being operated upon, for thepurpose of quickly and easily removing and replacing needles when necessary. p lfieans are also provided for locking the needle frames in operative position, said means being readily operable to release said frames to permit the pivotal action above referred to.

Another feature oi the invention resides in the provision of novel means to effect relative adjustment between the needle banks, so that said banks may be spaced a desired distance 'from each other.

, Another object of the invention resides in the provision of novel means to effect an orbital movement of the needle banks during their oper..- ation. Thus, as the fabric is fed or pulled through the machine, the needles will penetrate the base fabric, forcing' the iibres therethrough, and said needles will .travel with said fabric dur 6 ing the interval of time necessary to effect the penetration of said needles through the base fabric and their withdrawal therefrom.

Other novel features and objects of the invention reside in the particular construction and arrangementcf various parts of my machine;

The above, and other objects and features of the invention, will be hereinafter more fully pointed out, described and claimed.

Referring to the drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention,

Fig. 1 is afront elevation of my novel needling machine;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of said machine;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view on` the line 3 3. of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a central sectional elevation of one end ol' said machine; 1 Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4; 80

Fig. 6 is a partial plan view of said machine;

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional View on the line '7-7 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view on the line 8-8 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional View on the line 9-9 of Fig. 3;

- Fig. l) is a fragmentary plan view of one oi` the stripper' elements; f-

Fig. 11 is a partial plan view of one of the needle banks; Y

Fig. 12 is an end elevation lof one of the needle banks; and

Fig. 13 isk an enlarged side elevation of one of the needles utilized. Y

Referring now to the drawings for a particular description of the invention, its construction, assembly-and operation, my novel machine comprises a pair of bases 1 irom'which extend vertical standards 2, said standards 'being split 4at 'their upper ends, as illustrated at 3, said split portions being united by bolts 4 extending through the webs 5, a lever 6 being provided to tighten or yloosen said webs as desired.

Slidable in each standard 2'is a post 7 having 05 a threaded interior 8, a threaded shaft 9 being threaded into said post 7. I

A beveled gear 10 is xed to the lower end of the shaft 9, and meshing with said beveled gear 1o is a beveledgear 11 fixed on the shaft 12, Said U0 shaft 12 being rotated by handles 13. A bearing bracket 14 is fixed to each standard 2 by means of bolts 15, this bearing bracket being provided with bearings for the shafts 9 and 12, thus insuring meshing of the gears and 11 one with the other.

A collar 16 is fixed to the shaft 9, and interposed between the collar 16 and bracket 14 is a thrust bearing 17. Pivotally mounted at the top of each post 7 is a shaft 18, a bearing member 19 being clamped to the outer end of said shaft by means of a bolt 20 through the webs 2l, and a collar 22 is secured to said shaft by said screw 23 to prevent longitudinal displacement 4of .said shaft.

Pinned at each end to said shafts 18 is a casting 24, said casting 24 having thereon vertically extending bearing members 25, through which extends a crank shaft 26, said crank shaft 26 also having a bearing at each end, in the bearing members 19.

. Adjacent .to each end ofthe crank shaft 26 is a sprocket 27, and rotation Vis imparted to said crank shaft by means of chains 28, said chains 28 being in turn driven by .sprockets 29 mounted on a shaft 30, said sprockets 29 being rotated by chains v31 traveling over sprockets lon a shaft 32 mounted in suitable bearings on a support 33, said shaft 32 being ydriven from any suitable source .of power.

A link `34 'extends between the shafts 32 and 30, .and .a link `35 extends between the shafts 30 and 26, these links 'being freely Vmovable on said shafts.

For convenience, the crank shaft 26 is provided with .six throws, arranged in .sets of three. As clearly shown, three of the throws ofthe crank shaft will be in their lowermost position when the other three throws are in their uppermost vnosition.

A pair of frames 36 and 37 are provided, extending longitudinally of the machine. Each of these frames has fixed thereto by bolts 38 a plurality of yoked vbosses 139, each of these bosses being provided with a wrist pin 40. A plurality of connecting rods 41 are rotatably mounted on the crank shaft 26, and connected Vto the wrist pins on the frame 36, and a plurality of connecting rods 42 are rotatably mounted on the crank shaft 26 and connected to .the wrist pins 40 von the frame 37.

Fixed to the casting 24 by bolts 43, are a pair of blocks 44, .one Vof the blocks being provided at each end of the casting 24. Rotatably mounted in each .block 44 .are shafts 45 and 46, fixed to which are keys 47 and 48. 'Ihe frame 36 is pro- 'vided with .a keyway 49, `,and the `frame 37 is provided with a vertical recess 50 within which is mounted a shoe 5.1 .having therein a keyway 52. The keys 47 and 48 are adapted to seat in the ' keyways 49 and 52 respectively.

The shafts 45 and 46 project above the casting 24, and fixed to .the vLipper end of the shaft 45 is a bracket 53 carrying a roller 54, and fixed to the shaft 46 is a bracket 55 carrying a roller 56. A member 57 is xed to the crank shaft 26, and has therein vcam slots 58 and 59 adapted to be respectively engaged by the rollers 54 and 56.

It will thus 'be apparent, that on rotation ofthe member 57, a rotative movement will be imparted to the shafts 45 and 46, causing the keys 47 and 48 to move the frames 36 and 37 back and forth laterally with respect to the blocks 44. Y

Simultaneously therewith the crank shaft 26 will cause the .connecting rods 41 and 42 to alter- -of needles kin its row.

nately depress the frames 36 and 37, so that during the reciprocation of the frames 36 and 37 they will have a slight orbital movement.

Reenforcing webs 60 are fixed to the blocks 44 by bolts 61.

Fixed to the bottom of the frame 36 is a needle bar 62 and fixed -to the bottom of the frame 37 is a needle bar 63. The construction of these needle bars and their needle holding devices is identical. Each of these bars has a plurality of threaded apertures 64 therethrough, and cooperating therewith are bolts 65 to hold the bars v62 and 63 on their respective frames 36 and 37. Each needle bar is provided with a plurality of rows of -needles .66, and each row of needles is composed of needles arranged in pairs, each pair of needles being staggered from the adjacent pairs Set screws 67 and 68 are provided, the set screws 67 being longer than the screws 68, and the needle bars 62 and 63 are each provided with 4transverse threaded recesses 69, these Vrecesses terminating adjacent to the vertical recesses through which the needles 66 are inserted.

Thus when the screws 67 and '-68 are threaded inwardly, they will bind the needles 66 in their vertical recesses, thus constituting a simple and eicient needle holding arrangement.

It will vbe noted that each needle bar 62 and 63 is a continuous unit, and extends along the length vof their respective lframes 36 and 37. In order that the needle bars and `their banks of needles may be adjusted toward or from each other, I provide, in the frame 37, an adjusting screw 70 and an adjusting Yscrew 71. The screw 70 .bears against the outside of the shoe 51, and on being threaded inwardly will force the shoe 51 to the opposite side of the recess 50. The vadjusting screw 71 is threaded into the shoe 5l, and may CTI be operated to draw the shoe 51 to the side of the 'i recess 50 at which the screw 71 is located. This vadjustment -will -increaseor `decrease the space between the banks of needles 66 within a sufficient range for all practical purposes.

From the above description it is obvious that,

.closed path, it being understood that the rotation of the crank shaft 26 and cam 57 is such as to give a complete oscillatory or transverse movement to the frames 36 and 37 for each complete reciprocating motion given thereto.

It will also be appreciated that the speed of .travel of the fabric 72 being needled, is equal to the transverse speed of the needle bars 62 and 63. The needles 66 carried by the needle bars 62 .and 63, therefore, enter the base fabric carrying the fibres of the bat or web therewith, and move along `with the base fabric during the penetrating and withdrawing movement, accomplishing this complete movement without drag or strain on either the needles or the fabric. The fabric 72 is fed through the machineby any suitable feeding device, such as indicated at 73 in Fig. 3, said feeding device moving the fabric in a plane transversely to the movement of the banks of needles 66.

A freely mounted pressure roll'74is' mounted in suitable supports 75, the bottom of said roll being slightlybelow the top of the-bed plate 76, the roll '74 thus exerting a pressure on the fabric 72. The bed plate '76 has a central web '77, and transverse webs 7S. Secured to the top of the webs 78 by bolts '79 are longitudinally extending webs i 80. The tops'of the webs 80 and webs i7 are flush with the top bed plate 76, and. provide suitable spaces to permit the entrance of the needles 66 and the slight transverse Ymovement given thereto, the spaces thus provided not being sufcient to permit any appreciable sag or bend in the fabric 72 during the needling operation.

In order to insure that thefabric will not be drawn upwardly to any material extent by the needles 66 on their return stroke, Iprovide stripper elements. One of these elements comprises a plate 81 carried by the brackets 82, and having a shaft 83 extending throughout the length thereof on which are mounted a plurality of idler rolls At the'opposite side of the machine a shaft 85 is carried by the arms 86 and in turn carries a roll 87 spaced approximately the same distance above the bed plate as the rolls 84; These rolls or strippers will insure against `either the mat or the base Yfabric being vraised to any material extent by the needles during their upward stroke.

vIn order to enable the needles 66 to be easily removed and replaced, 'in case of breakage, I provide, at each side of the blocks 44, a fixed dog 88 mounted on aA plate 89, said plate being fixed to the standard or upright 2. Extending longitudinally through the plate S9 is a shaft 90, and fixed to said shaft 90is a dog 91, at the side of the block 44 opposite the dog 88. y Also xed to the shaft 90 is a lever 92 having a manipulating handle 93 thereon. The structure as thus described is duplicated at each end-*of the machine, and in order to simultaneously release both of the dogs 91, I provide a link orconnecting .rod 94, having a yoke 95 at each end thereof, and pivot pins 96 connecting said yokes to the levers Thus, on throwing the levers 92 to' the left, as viewed in Fig. 1,' dogs 91 will be withdrawn from operative position, permitting shafts 18 to rockin the upper ends of the posts 7, swinging the entire casting 24, blocks 44, needle frames 36and 37, and the needle bars and needles carried thereby away from the bed plate, to the position illu-strated in dotted lines in Fig. 3, 'Ilfie-bearing members 19 will also rock with said shafts 18,

carrying the crank shaft 26 therewith, the'links 34 and 35 permitting the driving chains" and sprockets to move with the movement ofthe crank shaft, without damage.

When the machine is swung to the position illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 3, any desired needle or needles 66 may be removed from their respective bars and replaced. Thereupon the-machine will be swung back to normal' position, the lever 92 thrown to the right to the position illustrated in Fig. 1, and the dogs 91 and 88 will effectually hold the machine in operative position until it is again desired to have access to the needle banks. p v

Because of the mass formation of the needles 66, said needles will produce a needling operation in which the fibres will be needled into and through the base fabric at predetermined spaces or on predetermined lines, resulting in a closely needled fabric. v

The operation of my machine is simple, and will `or desirable base fabric is being fed transversely toV the reciprocating motion 'of the needles 66. Also assume that on the base fabric is placed a web of fleece, or if desired a plurality of super-imposed webs of fleece, and that such base fabric with the super-imposed web or webs thereonv is being moved at the proper speed. Power being imparted to the machine by means of the chains 31 and 28, the needle bars 62 and 63 will be reciprocated and oscillated in their closed path, alternately and in the manner above described. .The closed path of the needles 66 is illustrated in dotted lines at 9'7, the downward movement of the needle being on the side of the arrow 98, the fabric '72 moving in the direction of the arrow 99.

The Yfeeding movement of the base fabric and super-imposed web or webs will be equal tothe lateral or transverse movement of the needles 66 caused by the cam 5'7 and rollers 54 and 56. After the needles 66 in each bar 62 and 63 have reached their lowermost position, they will then be withdrawn by continued rotation of the crank shaft 26 still being laterally moved in synchronism with the base fabric until the needles 66 are withdrawn clear of the webs of eece and base fabric, the stripper elements insuring that neither the webs of fleece nor base fabric 'will be raised from the bed plate to any appreciable extent.

It will'thusV be understood and appreciated by Y those skilled in the art. that I have devised an improved needling machine containing many novel features and elements, and since I believe said machine, as well as said featuresl and elements are'novel, I have, therefore, claimed same broadly in the present application.

While I have necessarily illustrated and described my present invention somewhat in detail,

it will beunderstood that-I may vary the size, shape,` and arrangement of parts within reasonably wide limitswithout departing from the spirit of the invention.

My linvention is further described and defined in the form of claims as follows:

l. An improved needling machine of the kind described, comprising a pair of parallel frames, a

needle bar on the bottom of each frame, needlesV carried by said bars, means to alternately reciprocate said frames, each of said frames having a vertical keyway therein at each end thereof, a block at each end of said frames, shafts in said blocks, a vertical key on Veach shaft adapted to seat in said keywaysfand means to effect a rotative movement of said shafts, whereby an orbital motion will be imparted to said frames during their reciprocation.

I2. An improved needling machine of the kind described, comprising a pair of parallel frames, a needle bar on 'the bottoni of each frame, needles carried by said bars,A means to alternately reciprocate said frames, each of said frames having a vertical keyway therein at each end thereof, a

block at each endrof said frames, shafts in said cate said frames, each of said frameshaving a vertical keyway therein at each end thereof, a block at each end of said frames, shafts said blocks, a vertical key on each shaft adapted to seat in said keyways, and cam operated means to effect a rotative movement of said shafts, whereby an orbital motionwll be imparted to said frames during their reciprocation.

4. An improved needling machine of the kind described, comprising a pair of parallel frames, a needle bar on the bottom of each frame, needles carried by said bars, means to alternately reciprocate said frames, each of said frames having a vertical keyway therein at each end thereof, a block at each end of said frames, shafts in said blocks, a vertical key on each shaft adapted to seat in said keyways, and cam operated means to effect a rotative movement of said shafts through a predetermined arc, whereby an orbital motion will be imparted to said frames during their reciprocation.

5. An improved machine of the kind described, comprising a pair of vertically movable posts, a shaft rotatably mounted in each of said posts, a frame fixed to said shafts, a block fixed to said frame at each end thereof, vertical shafts in said blocks, a key on each shaft, a pair of parallel frames, a needle bar on the bottom .of each frame, needles carried by said bars, each of said frames having a vertical keyway thereinl at each end thereof adaptedto be engaged by said keys, bearing members fixed to the shafts in said posts, a crank shaft rotatably mounted in said bearing members, connecting rods on said crank shaft and fixed to said parallel frames, and means to rotate said crank shaft to effect alternate reciprocation of said vparallel frames.

6. An improved machine of the kind described, comprising a pair of vertically movable posts, a shaft rotatably mounted in each of said posts, a frame fixed to said shafts, a block fixedto said 'frame at each end thereof, vertical shafts in said blocks, a key on each shaft, a pair of parallel frames, a needle bar on the bottom of each frame, needles carried by said bars, each of said frames having a vertical keyway therein at each end thereof adapted to be engaged by said keys, bearing members fixed to theshafts in said posts, a crank shaft rotatably mounted in said bearing members, connecting rods on said crank shaft and xed to said parallel frames, and means to rotate said crank shaft to effect alternate reciprocation of said parallel frames, all parts carried by the shafts in said posts being tiltable out of operative position.

'7. An improved machine of the kind described, comprising a pair of vertically movable posts, a shaft rotatably mounted in each of said posts, a frame fixed to said shafts, a block fixed to said frame at each end thereof, vertical shafts in said blocks, a key on each shaft, a pair of parallel frames, a needle bar on the bottom of each frame, needles carried by said bars, each of said frames having a vertical keyway therein at each end thereof adapted to be engaged by said keys, bearing members fixed to the shafts in said posts, a crank shaft rotatably mounted in said bearing members, connecting rods on said crank shaft and fixed to said parallel frames, means to rotate said crank shaft to effect alternate reciprocationy of said parallel frames, all parts carried blocks, a key on each shaft, a pair of parallel frames, a needle bar on the bottom of each frame...

needles carried by said bars, each of said frames having a vertical keyway therein at each end thereof adapted to be engaged by said keys, bearing members fixed to the shafts in said posts, a crank shaft rotatably mounted in said bearing members, connecting rods on said crank shaft and fixed to said parallel frames, and means to rotate said crank shaft to effect alternate reciprocation of said parallel frames, all parts carried by the shafts in said posts being tiltable out of operative position, a member fixed to said crank shaft and having a plurality of cam paths therein, a roller associated with each of saidkey shafts and adapted to ride in said cam paths, whereby a partial rotative movement will be imparted to said key shafts and keys to effect an orbital movement of said parallel frames during their reciprocation.

9. An improved machine of the kind described, comprising a pair of vertically movable posts, a shaft rotatably mounted in each of said posts, a frame xed to said shafts, a block fixed to said frame at each end thereof, vertical shafts in said blocks, a key on each shaft, a pair of parallel frames, a needle bar on the bottom of each frame. needles carried by said bars, each of said frames having a vertical keyway therein at each end thereof adapted to be engaged by said keys, bearing members fixed to the shafts in said posts, a crank shaft rotatably mounted in said bearing members, connecting rods on said crank shaft and xed to said parallel frames, means to rotate said crank shaft to effect alternate reciprocation of said parallel frames, all parts carried by the shafts in said posts being tiltable out of operative position, a member fixed to said crank shaft and having a plurality of cam paths ther'ein, a roller associated with each of said key shafts and adapted to ride in said cam paths, whereby a partial rotative movement will be imparted to said key'shafts and keys to effect an orbital movement of said parallel frames during their reciprocation, and means to effect relative adjustment of said needle bar carrying frames toward or from each other.

10. A device of the character described cornprising a frame, a work table on the frame, vertical guides carried by the frame, means to pivot the guides on the frame, a head slidably mounted between the guides, means to reciprocate the head vertically between the guides, and means to reciprocate the head horizontally.

1.1. A device of the character described comprising a frame, a work table on the frame, ver` tical guides carried by the frame, a head slidably mounted between the guides, means to reciprocate the head vertically between the guides, and

vmeans to reciprocate the head horizontally.

PATRICK H. WALSH.

Images