US2151136A - Automatic doffer - Google Patents

Description

March-21, 1939. s o Frr AUTOMATIC DOFFER Filed Jan. 21, 1938 2 Shegts-Sheet l INVENTOR Jamaal A. fluff BY W ATTORNEY March 21, 1939. s. A. MOFFITT AUTOMATIC DOFFER Filed Jan. 21, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR dbmue/ 14. Nafffi? ATTOR EY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AUTOMATIC DOFFER Samuel A. Moflltt, Danvllle, Va., asslgnor to Robert L. Sjostrom, Lawrence, Mass.

Application January 21, 1938, Serial No. 186,111

13 Claims.

This invention which may be termed an automatic dofier relates principally to means for conveying a succession of moving individual textile articles from one position to another by means of an air blast.

It is also concerned with means for cutting a.

I continuously moving piece of cloth into smaller units and thereafter removing these units from the cutting and conveying mechanism to a rack or other collecting device by means of a suitable blast of air of sufficient force to bodily transport the units through the air.

My invention may also be utilized in connection with the transferring of individual textile units from a conveyor or slide to a collecting rack by means of an air blast suitably positioned.

A further object of my invention is to provide an intermittent air blast operated by mechanism which controls the movement of the individual textile articles. The air blast under control of this mechanism is constructed to be put in operation at a time when the textile article is in proper relation thereto so that upon emission of the air, the article will be bodily conveyed to a second selected position.

Still another object of my invention is to provide mechanism for controlling an air blast suitable for bodily moving a textile article to a second selected position, which mechanism is under the control of the textile article itself and independent of the cutting or conveying mechanism.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will appear as the description proceeds with the aid of the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view showing my mechanism with the air blast under the control of the advancing textile article;

Fig. 2 is a front view of the machine shown in Fig. 1 with the textile articles removed;

Fig. 3 is a detail of the mercury switch used in the controlling mechanism of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of another form of my invention in which the air blast may be controlled either by the conveyor or cutting mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a side view of the machine shown in Fig. 4 indicating the relation of the position of the textile article and the time of operation of the air blast for suitable transfer of the article; and

Fig. 6 is a. detail showing the construction of the automatically operated valve used in connection with the machine shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

Referring now to Fig. 1, a continuous strip or piece of textile material 2, as for example, an ordinary piece of goods or a plurality of pieces of goods stitched together at their ends, are fed to my machine by any suitable conveyor or feeding mechanism to be cut by the automatically operated rotary cutters 4 and 6. These cuttings may operate continuously or intermittently to cut off pieces of material of any desired length. At any rate, the material 2 goes continuously through the cutters, and the cutters may be of any type adapted to cut continuously moving material. That is to say, the cutters may be any type of flying shear.

Upon leaving the cutter, the individual pieces pass in succession onto the conveyor 8 which carries them forward to the point at which it is desired to remove them from the machine. The conveyor 8 is positioned close enough to the cutters and travels at suitable speed to pick up the cut pieces in succession and to maintain them in unwrinkled and nonoverlapping condition.

Positioned at the end of the conveyor is a framework which contains and supports an air blast mechanism and the means for automatically operating it under the influence of cut pieces of textile as they leave the conveyor 8. This framework consistsof side supports 10 and I2 which are suitably braced by transverse members l4, l6 and I8. Toward the upper rear of this frame is mounted a transversely extending pipe 20 closed at its ends and having perforations 22 along its length on the front side. This pipe 20 may be mounted on'the frame in any convenient manner and, in the construction shown, is strapped to the rear of the frame by straps 24.

Connected to the rear of pipe 20 is a compressed air line in the form of any suitable pipe 26 which leads to a solenoid controlled valve 28 to which is connected a source of compressed air 30 having in the line a reducing valve 32 and a pressure gauge 34. Current is brought to the solenoid 36 which operates valve 28 through the wires 38 and 40, one of which has in its circuit the mercury switch 42. Mercury switch 42 is pivotally mounted'at 44 on arm 46 which extends below the pivot. This arm is, in turn, rigidly connected with lever 48 having on its left end a striker plate or trigger 50 and on its right end a counterbalance 52 which may be adjusted so that the switch will normally be open. A stop 54 is provided to limit the clockwise rotation of lever 48.

On moving lever 48 counterclockwise, the mercury in switch 42 will flow to the left to close the circuit to solenoid 36 so that valve 28 will be opened whereby a blast of compressed air will flow through pipe 26 to perforated pipe 20 with the result that there will be a strong horizontal air blast emitted through holes 22. The power of this blast may be regulated by means of the reducing valve 32. When lever 48 returns in clockwise direction to the position shown in Fig. l, the switch 42 will open and valve 28 closed to stop the air blast.

Extending transversely of the side supports I0 and I2 is an inclined plate 56 which is cut away at 58 to provide a space through which may extend the striker plate or trigger 50. The upper portion of plate 56 extends to the rear a sufiicient distance so that textile articles 51 or the like depending downwardly under gravity as they leave conveyor 8 will land thereon and slide down along the plate in flat condition until the striker plate is engaged by the leading edge of the article. By suitably positioning counterbalance 52, it takes but little force to rotate lever 48 counterclockwise sufficiently to close switch 42. Thus as soon as the leading edge of the textile unit engages striker plate 50, the air blast will be operated and this takes place while the trailing end of the textile unit is still above the perforations 22 of pipe 20.

The position of the air blast with relation to the piece of cloth is such that the cloth will be transferred bodily through the air to land on collecting rack 60 as shown. Rack 60 may be adjusted upwardly or downwardly or closer or farther away from the air blast as may be necessary to cause the pieces of cloth to land properly. Likewise, the velocity of the blast may be varied to blow the pieces a suitable distance.

Thus itmay be seen that a succession of moving articles 51 coming from any type of machine, whether it be a rotary cutter or other device emitting a plurality of units may be successfully transported from the conveyor to a collecting rack without any manual assistance. Because the blast operates substantially instantly upon the closing of switch 42, my construction is able to handle succeshive pieces at very high speed. It is merely necessary for the operator to periodically remove the collected articles from rack 60.

Another form of my invention is shown in Figs. 4, 5, and 6. Here the air blast is operated by means under the control of the cutting or feeding mechanism and this arrangement may be preferred in certain instances.

Referring to Fig. 4, the side frames 62 and 64 carry rollers 66 and 68 which, through suitable gearing not shown, rotate continuously to the left to carry on the belts 69 fiat textile articles which have previously been operated upon. In the present showing, a rotary cutter '10 is provided which receives and automatically cuts continuously moving textiles brought to it by a conveyor or feeding means I2.

After the textile has been cut to a suitable length by cutter I0, it passes to the conveyor belts 89 which travel at a suitable speed to bring the piece of cloth I4 to the position shown in Fig. 5 just as the air blast I6 is operated by the cam mechanism 18.

The construction and operation of the air blast in Figs. 4 and 5 is as follows: A perforated pipe 80 closed at its ends is attached at its extremities to the lower side of the supporting members 82. This pipe has rotatably positioned thereon a tube 84 forming a relatively snug flt, which tube has a slot 88 extending along its side for a distance as great as the extent of the perforations 88 in pipe 80. The slot 88 shown is not continuous for the reason that it is desired to add strength to tube 84 by the connections 80 between sides of the slot. This is desirable as a considerable expansive force is exerted against tube 84 when the air blast is cut off.

Attached to the end of tube 84 is a collar 82 having an arm 94 extending therefrom. It is apparent that if arm 94 is moved one way or the other, tube 84 will be rotated with respect to pipe 80 so that the perforations 88 will be alternately covered or uncovered. To accomplish this oscillating movement, arm 94 is connected by link 96. having a turn buckle adjustment therein to lever 98 pivoted at I00. The remote end of lever 98 carries a cam follower I02 which rides on cam I04. a

Thus it can be seen that as cutter I0 rotates carrying with it cam I04, lever 98 will be oscillated to cause corresponding oscillations in tube 84, thus alternately opening and closing perforations 88. I

As stated before, the timing is so arranged that as the textile article I4 reaches the position shown in Fig. 5, the position of cam I04 will be such that the perforations 88 will be uncovered permitting compressed air, which is fed to pipe 80 by any suitable means to be emitted against cloth I4, thereby blowing it bodily to rack I06.

By preliminary testing, it is possible to determine the exact location of rack I06 to receive the particular articles that may be coming from the machine at any given time. The pieces of cloth, strange as it may seem, do not double up or. become wrinkled or otherwise distorted as they are blown through the air, but on the contrary are caused to land on the rack in smooth and orderly fashion with results fully as good as could be accomplished by manually transporting the pieces from the machine to the rack. This is probably due to the fact that-the air blast spreads upwardly and downwardly after initial impact with the article.

While I have shown my collecting mechanism in use with rotary cutters designed to sever a continuously moving strip, I wish it to be distinctly understood that this device, may be used in conjunction with any machine from which is coming a continuous supply of individual textile units or other flexible material. Where the units are coming at irregular intervals, the construction shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 would be preferred, as in this form the air blast is automatically operated by the advancing cloth itself. If, however, articles are coming from the machine, at a uniform rate or at a rate that is timed with the operation of the machine, then the form shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 might be the preferred construction. However, this is a matter of choice.

While I have shown preferred forms and constructions of my invention, I wish it to be distinctly understood that I do not intend to be limited thereby but only by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An automatic dofler comprising a conveyor, an air blast mechanism positioned in relation to said conveyor whereby a textile unit may be brought by said conveyor to a position adjacent said mechanism with part of the area of said unit below and part above, and means for automatically operating said air blast to bodily drive said unit to a selected position.

2. An automatic doifer comprising a conveyor adapted to transport textile units, a transversely extending air blast mechanism located adjacent the path of travel of said unit, means for advancing said unit to a position adjacent said mechanism at which a greater area of said unit is below than above said mechanism and means for automatically causing said air blast to operate when said unit has reached said position, whereby said unit may be bodily moved to a selected position.

3. Means for bodily transporting an individual textile unit from one position to another, comprising an air blast mechanism adapted to produce a blast of air substantially the width of said unit and in the longitudinal direction of intended transfer of said unit, means for moving said unit to an acutely inclined position in which part of said unit is above and part is below said mechanism and automatic means for operating said air blast mechanism to blow said unit to a selected position. l

4. Means for transferring and simultaneously inverting a textile unit comprising a conveyor for transporting said unit, a transversely extending air blast mechanism, means including said conveyor for bringing said unit to an acutely inclined position adjacent said mechanism and means for operating said air blast after a majority of said unit area has passed below said mechanism whereby said unit is moved bodily and abruptly from its path and inverted during its travel to a selected position.

5. A machine for subdividing a length of textile material and thereafter collecting'the resulting pieces, comprising feeding means for continuous fee ng of material to a cutter, a cutter adapted to out said material while in,motion in pieces of selected lengths, means for conveying said pieces successively to an inclined position adjacent an air blast, said air blast automatically operated while each said piece is adjacent thereto t8 blow said piece bodily through the air to a selected collecting position.

6. Means for transporting a textile article from one position to another, comprising means for feeding said article in a genrally downward direction, an air blast mechanism adjacent the path of said article of sufficient power to bodily move said article a substantial distance in a direction generally normal to the surface of said article at the time of operation of said blast, and automatic means for operating said air blast as said article passes in downward direction thereby.

7. Means for transporting a textile article from one position to another, comprising means for feeding said article in a generally downward direction, an air blast mechanism adjacent the path of said article of suflicient power to bodily move said article a substantial distance in a direction generally normal to the surface of said article at the time of operation of said blast, and automatic means for operating said air blast as said article passes in downward direction thereby, said automatic meansset in operation by engagement of said article with a trigger.

8. Means for transporting a textile article from one position to another, comprising means for feeding said article in a generally downward direction, an air blast mechanism adjacent the path of said article of sufficient power to bodily move said article a substantial distance in a direction generally normal to the surface of said article at the time of operation of said blast, and automatic means for operating said air blast as said article passes in downward direction thereby, said automatic means set in operation by means timed with said feeding means.

9. Means for transporting a succession of textile units from a conveyor to a rack, comprising an air blast mechanism positioned below and to the rear of the path of said conveyor and extending transversely thereof, said mechanism comprising tubing connected with a compressed air source and having air emission ports adjacent the path of travel of said conveyor and directed substantially normal to the plane of said path, said ports positioned to produce a blast of air wide enough to exert substantially uniform pressures along transverse areas of said unit.

10. A method of dofiing a textile unit comprising the steps of transporting said unit longi tudinally and then downwardly at a steep angle, directing at said unit a strong transverse blast of air substantially the width of said unit in substantially the direction of original longitudinal movement of said unit, moving said unit to a selected position while supported by the air blast only and finally positioning a support at said selected position to engage part of said unit whereby said unit will be deposited in inverted position.

11. The method of subdividing a length of textile material and thereafter collecting the resulting pieces comprising the step of feeding said material continuously to a cutter, cutting said material in pieces of selected lengths without stopping its forward movement conveying said pieces successively to a point adjacent an air blast, and operating said air blast periodically to bodily transport said pieces successively through the air to a selected collecting position.

12. A method of dofl'ing a succession of textile units comprising the steps of conveying said units successively to a point adjacent an air blast, operating said air blast periodically to bodily transport said pieces successively through the air in a direction widely divergent from the previous path of travel .and finally collecting said units at a selected position,

13. A method of transporting a succession of textile articles comprisingthe steps of directing at each article a blast of air substantially the width of said articles along a transverse area at a time when said article is in a predetermined inclined position susbtantially normal tothe plane of said air blast and when substantial areas of the article are both above and below said. transverse area, continuing the air blast a sfiflicient time to allow said air to spread upwardly and downwardly from said transverse area whereby pressure may be exerted against the entire area of said article to cause it to be moved bodily in a direction generally the same as said air blast and thereafter permitting said articles to collect one on the other at a selected position.

SAMUEL A. MOFFIT'I'.

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