US2258477A - Stitcher - Google Patents

Description

J. T. WRIGHT Oct. 7, 1941.

STITCHER Filed Aug.` s, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

BY Jaa-# Z' We/anr ,7M WM@ gym J. T. WRIGHT Oct. 7, 1941.

STITCHER Filed Aug. 8, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 HHHHH l l 0 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS J. T. WRIGHT Oct. 7, 1941.

STITCHER 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 8, 1939 IN VENTOR. We/af/r JsEp/v Z' /w MWF# ATTORNEYS Oct. 7,- 1941.

STITCHER f 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

Fia. 4

ATTORNEYS J. T. WRIGHT Oct.'7, 1941.

STITCHER Filed Aug. 8, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 .4W Stmas ATTORNEYS Patented ct. 7, 1941 STITCH-ER i Joseph T. Wright, Day-ton, Ohio, assigner toi Harris-Seybold-Potter d Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Company, Cleveland,

Application YAugust 8, 1939, Serial No. 288,968 7 Claims. (01.192-144) 'Ihis invention relates to improvements .in stitchers, and has reference particularly to the control mechanism Afor Asetting the stitching head in motion and ystopping it upon the completion A further object is the provision o f a. noveltrip box which is normally set to provide a rigid backing for a knock-out cam` by means of which the clutch is disengaged, together with means adapted to lbe utilized yif desired for preventing a second stitch without furtherV operation of the control mechanism., together with means utilizable if desireoleithei` with or without the`n'0nrepeat means, for operating a 'clincher `mechanism.

Other objects and features' of novelty will appear as I proceed with the description o f those embodiments of the invention which, for the purposes of the present application, 'I have illustratedin the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a s titcher 'embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view on a larger scale of a rear` portion ofthe machine illustrating the `drive,mechanism and the clincher operating mechanism. n l

Figs. 3 and 4 are elevational views partly in vertical section on the lines 3-3 and v4--4 re'- spectively of Fig. 2. Y

Fig. isa fragmental vertical section taken on the plane of Fig. 2, showlnga modiled form with the parts` ona still larger scale.

Fig. 6 is an elevationalview of a clincher arm which may be employed in` `connection with the invention.

FigJl is. an endview of the clincher arm1 on a larger scale. A

Figs-8, 9 and 10 are end, sectional and side views respectively of a modied form of tri-p box embodying the non-repeat means.

Figs. 1l, l2, 13 and 14 arefdetail perspective Iviews of elements of the trip box mechanism.

Fig. is a longitudinal sectional View of a spring plunger shown in Fig. 8.

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Fig. 1'6 is a'view similar to Fig. 10 showing a modiednon-'repeat control.

In` Fig. 1 of the drawings I have illustrated a metal stitching machine comprising a base II) from the rear portion-of which a column or standard II extends upwardlyto a convenient height for supporting'a generally horizontal forwardly extending frame member I2 in' which is journaled a drive shaft I3 which operates the stitcher head mechanism Vlocated in theforward end of that member. The stitcher head is not herein illustrated in detail, `:but may be of the type illustrated in my copending application Serial No. 283,021, filed July 6, 1939,for'othe'r mechanism for the same general purpose adapted to cut a length of wire, form a staple therefrom, and drive and clinch the staple.

A suitable Work vsupport is provided beneath `the stitcher head. Such support may take different forms, one of which is illustrated herein as consisting primarily of a hollow arm I4 pivotally mounted at I5 in the standard I I and provided with a screw I6 threada'bly mounted in the 'arm and adapted to bear against the face of the column for the purpose 'of adjusting the height of the forward extremity of the arm. A lock nut I'I serves to hold the screw I6 against `accidental movement.

In the base I Il thereV is mounted a pivot I8 upon which is carried a lever `I9 the forward end of which is joined by apin and slot connection with a crank 20 carried by a cross shaft 2I to the outer ends of which is securedv a bail 22 conveniently positioned for operation as a foot pedal. The rear extremity of lever I9 is pivotally connected with a pull link 23 extending upwardly in the hollow standard II. Depression of the foot pedal exerts a downward pull won the link 23, and it is by virtue of'this action that the brake is released `and the clutch engaged when the operator desires to form `and. drive a stitch in the work.

At the rear endl of shaft I3 outside of 'the frame of the machine a 'ily-wheel 24 is journaled on the shaft and is adapted to be rotated continuously by one or more V-belts 25 that run 'upon the cylindrical surface of the fly-Wheel and in annular grooves 26 in a pulley 21 carried by and secured to the shaft of an electric motor28. The motor is attached to a plate 29 supported upon shoulders formed in a plurality ofposts 30 which extend into bores in the frame I2 and are adapted to be held in different adjusted positions by means of set screws 3|. A collar 32 pinned to shaft I3 serves to prevent the iiywheel from moving axially in a rearward direction. A guard for the pulley and belts illustrated at 33 is attached by any convenient means to the frame of the machine.

'I'he forward side of fly-wheel 24 carries an annular ange or drum 34 which is machined on its inner side to form a smooth clutch surface. The intermittently, driven portion of the clutch mechanism comprises a member 35 pinned to shaft I3 which carries a pair of rearwardly extending studs 36 upon which are pivotally mounted two clutch shoes 31 that have sectors of substantially cylindrical contour to which are secured fabric or other friction facings 39. Tension springs 40 attached to the member 35 and to each of the shoes 31 tend to draw the friction faced sectors outwardly into engagement with the machined surface of drum 34.

In order to make both shoes move in unison both toward and away from engaging position I provide a plate 4| which is journaled on the shaft I3 and has notches 42 in its extremities for the reception of pins 43 which project laterally from the shoes. In the interest of quiet operation I prefer to make plate 4| of hard fiber or other` non-metal material.

A fstud 44 threaded'into one of the shoes 31 andfprojecting forwardly therefrom carries a roller 45 the function of which is to disengage the clutch, as will be presently explained. In

order to permit the roller 45 to swing freely with the movements of its shoe a slot 46 is provided in the'member 35.

On the lforward surface of member 35there is mounted by means of screws 41 or the like an annular cam 48, the two elements 35 and 48 together occupying all of the space extending axially between the fly-wheel and the frame of the machine. Cam 48 has a single high spot .49 which `normally stands in the position in rock arm also carries a pin 53 which prof ljects through an upstanding lip on a bracket 54 which has upper and lower horizontal arms 55 and 56 that are slidably mounted on a post 51 the lower extremity of which is threaded into anextension 58 rigid with a knock-out cam 59 with` which the roller 45 cooperates as`will be presently explained. Surrounding post 51 above arm 56 there isl a coil spring 60 which bears at its'upper end against ablock 6| that is slidable upon post51. A pin 62 through the post Ylimits the upwardmovement of block 6| thereon. One end of a brake belt 63, shown herein as of V-belt form, is fastened 'to block 6| by a screw 34 or other suitable fastening. The belt then extends downwardly around a V-groove 65 in member 35 and upwardly to a clamp consisting of two plates 66 and 61 with inwardly directed prongs, the plates being drawn together by screws 68.v In order to adjustthe tension of the belt the plate 66 is provided with an overhang 69 through which extends albolt that projects through a vertical opening in the frame and receives a nut 18" at its Vupper end by means of which the adjustment is made.

The' knock-out cam 59 above mentioned is mounted on one side of an upwardly projecting part of a slide 1|, while the extension 58 is attachedto the other side thereof, these three parts being secured together by means of screws 12'or their equivalent. Slide 1| is mounted in a trip box 13 made up of four sides and a bottom connected together by suitable screws or bolts. This box is xed in the frame of the machine by suitable means such as by three screws 14 extending through bores in the frame and threaded into one of the side wall members of the box. A coil spring 15 tends to raise the slide 1| to its upper and operative position illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5.

In addition to the slide 1| the box contains several other parts which may differ to some extent in order that the box may perform certain special functions amongst which a selection is made according to theuse to which the machine is to be put. I will first describe the trip box as constituted for general use, permitting the operator to make either one stitch at a time or to make a series of stitches without interrupting the rotation of the drive shaft, as may be desired. This form is shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

Referring particularly to those figures and to Fig. 11, which is a detail view of slide 1|, it will be noted that a notch 16 is form'ed in one side of the slide to receive a stop 11 that is fastened to a wall of the box and extends inwardly somewhat beyond the slide 1|. The movement of the slide is thus limited. Behind the slide there is a latch plate 18 `shown in detail in Fig. 12 of the drawings. At its lower end this plate is approximately the same width as slide 1|, but one edge is inclined inwardly toward the top as shown at 19, and in the opposite edge near the top of the plate there is a notch of a size to receive the stop 11. Latch plate 18 near its lower end carries a pin 8| which projects into a hole 82 in slide 1|. It also carries a second pin 83 which projects in the opposite direction into a hole 84 in another slide 85 which is guided for vertical movement in the box and tends to move in the upward direction because of a coil spring 86. A rod 81 extends through the bottom of the box, through the spring 86 and through a bore in the slide 85 and is threaded at its upper end to receive nuts 88 for adjustment purposes. At its lower end it is bent laterally so as to project through a hole in the link 23 previously mentioned. When the operator depresses the foot pedal the link 23 and rod 81 exert a downward pull upon the slide 85 which, through the pin 83, acts to tilt latch plate 18 about pin 8| as a pivot. The upper end of the latch is thereby swung-clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 4, moving the notch 80 out of engagement with the stop 11. The inclined edge 19 of the latch plate permits and limits this swinging movement. Further downward pull on the rod 81 will then move slide 85, latch plate 18 and slide 1I downward together, and the knockout cam 59 will be withdrawn from operative position permitting springs 48 to effect engagement of the clutch shoes with the clutch drum 34. Simultaneously the post 51 will exert a downward pull through pin 62 upon the block 6| which will relieve the tension on brake belt 63 and leave shaft I3 free to rotate.

If the operator desires to drive one stitch only he takes his foot off the pedal shortly after the high spot 49 of cam 48 moves out from under follower 59. By the latter action the rock arm 5| is permitted to swing downward, lowering the arm 56 of bracket 54 and thereby relieving the compression of spring 68. Now, the operator having released the pedal, springs 86 and 15 again raise the slides 1| and 85 and latch 18 until ment "with theu'pper surface of stop` 11 provides ia rigidV backing for the load imposed upon the knock-out cam when the roller -45 strikes it.

During the majorpart of the revolution of shaft |`3 even after the operator has released the foot pedal there is no braking action exerted because f the compression of spring 60 has been relieved by the lowering of the rockarm'S'l andthe consequent lowering of the bracket arm 58. Simultaneously with the engagement of roller 45 and knock-out cam '59"follower 'p58 runs up onto Vhigh spot 49 of cam 48, whereby bracket l54 is raised, spring 68- is compressed and belt 63 is pulled tightly into engagement with the walls of groove 85, applying a braking action, Athere being little orno pressure between Vthe top of block 6| and pin 52.

If the operator is desirous `of driving a series of stitches without interruption he depresses the Vfoot pedalV and'holds it depressed, so that knockout cam 59 remains down and the engagement of the clutch is undisturbed at the end of each revolution. Also the block 6|' is held down by pin "62 andthe belt 63 is held'out of braking engagement regardless of the fact that the bracket 54 is moved upward once for each revolution of the shaft by the operation of the cam upon follower 58.

purpose` and the details of the various parts are illustratedin Figs. 8 to 15 inclusive. In this case the pin 83 on latch plate 18 instead of extending into ahole in slide 858 extends into `a hole 98 in secondary latch 89. The latter latch is provided with a relief 9| at its upper end that is normally engaged by a finger ,92 that is rigidly mounted in the slide 858. A spring pressed plunger 93 mounted in the box tends to move the upper end of secondary latch 89 to the right,

while a similar spring pressed plunger 94 tends to move the upper end of latch 18 to the left. 95a isaknock-out lever that is pivoted intermediate its ends upon a pin 96 mounted in one wall of the box, that wall hav-ing a slot 91 therethrough to receive the lever. A notch 98 is formed in the lever beneath. the pivot point thereof in order to enable the lever to clear the finger 92. The lower end of this lever 95a is adapted to engage auxiliarylatch 89 and swing it upon pin 83 as a pivot against the action of spring plunger 93.

Now, with this form of trip box the engagement of the clutch and the releasing of the brake are accomplished 'in the same manner as in the form first described, that is to say when the rod 81 is pulled downwardly, moving the slide 858 downwardly in opposition to the action of spring 86, finger 92 carried by the slide and engaging the relief 9|in auxiliary latch 89 pushes that latch downwardly and operates 'through hole 99 and pin Y83 to swing'la'tch 18 clockwise and dis'- engagefit from stop 111. `Further'pull on `the rod 81 is then communicated through pin 8| to slide 1| Vand the latter is pulled down together with knock-out cam "59 and `brake operating post 51. Now, assuming that the operator does not remove his lfoot from the -foot pedal control before a stitchis completed, the machine' will nevertheless stop because thef screw head 95 which is removably mounted on member 35 will strike lever 95a and will `cause the lower end of that lever to fswing Asecondary `latch plate 89 anticlockwise, disengag'ing it from finger 92. The latches 89 and 18 'and' the slide A1| are then free to'risein response to effort exerted by spring 15,` which Icarries these parts together with the knock-out cam to their upper operative position, `whereupon spring plunger 94 will swing plate 18 anti-clockwise into latching position, so that the knock-out cam willthen be set again in declutching position. It will now be impossible for the operator to causev the machine to make another stitch untilhe has rst releasedthe foot pedal, because the finger 92 is beneath relief 9| in secondary latch 89 and cannot' act to pull that latch down. When the pedal is released however the slide 858 rises and the relief 9| snaps into position under the linger 92. The mechanism is then reset and ready 'for further operation. Should it then be desired to operatefcontinuously, it is only necessary to remove screw 95 which of course renders lever 95a non-operative. Furthermore an alternative construction isused where the non-repeat feature is to be permanent, in which case a lever 95h (Fig. 16) is employed. This lever is like 95a but is offset to such extent as to bring its top end in line with the path of cam lobe 49 which serves to trip the lever as previously described.

A third function of the trip box has to do with clinching the staple, that is the trip box may be used as a mounting and guide for a clincher operating element, and this feature may be combined either with the repeating or the non-repeating mechanism. The use of the trip box for this purpose involves the provision of a guide for a reciprocating' post or rod 99 (Fig. 2) which carries at its upper end a roller follower |88 arranged to run upon cam 48 and cam lobe 49. The lower end of rod 99 projects through the bottom of the trip box and rests upon a block |8| attached to the rear extremity of a lever |82 which is pivoted at |83 in the hollow arm |4. The forward extremity of this lever carries a pin |84 which projects into a slot |85 in a vertically movable driver I' provided with ears which are adapted to swing a pair ofv clinchers |81 that are adapted to fold the ends of a staple S (Fig. 7) upwardly and inwardly. V.4. coil spring |88 serves to hold the follower |88 against the cam' 48 and to swing the clinchers into inoperative position when permitted so todo by the cam. v The single high spot 49 on the cam is so positioned as to accomplish at different times in the cycle the clinching of the staple and the set- `ting of the brake, and also the. operation of knock-out lever 95 when the non-repeat mechanism is involved. When the clincher mechanism is. employed the rod 99 occupies the positioniotherwise occupied by the rod 81, and the slide 85 or 858 is arranged to be pulled down by a at bar |89 suitably attached to the slide and connected at .its lower end to link 23. (See Fig. 2.) l The knock-out cam`59 has two separate roller engaging surfaces ||8 and the surface ||8 being formed about a center which is displaced leftward of the center of shaft I3, Fig. 4, while surface III is formed about the axis of shaft I3 as a center. The roller 45 rides up on the Surface IIIl and comes to rest at the juncture of the two arcuate` surfaces, as indicated in Fig. 4, or somewhere on the surface I I I. The surface IIO compensates for wear of the friction facings 39, that'is the greater the wear the earlier will bethe initial engagement of the roller with the surface I I0. If the roller V45 should move somewhat beyond the juncture between surfaces IIU and III, that is to a point somewhere along the surface III, before the brake completely stops the rotation of the shaft, the extent to which the clutch shoes are withdrawn will remain always sullicient for disengagement of the clutch shoes.

When the roller 45 rides up onto the knock-out cam and the corresponding shoe is retracted by being swung around its pivotal mounting 36 in opposition to the action of its spring 40, identically the same movement will be transmitted to the other shoe by virtue of the plate 4I and its pin and slot connection with the two shoes. Similarly when the knock-out cam is withdrawn by the operators pressure on foot pedal 22 the plate 4I allows an equalized grip of the shoes upon the clutch surface of drum 34. While the action of the clutch is comparatively soft and quiet dueto the resilient qualities of the friction facings, it is possible to use non-resilient facings because the driving force is due to the self-energizing action of the mechanism. That is to say, the angular relationship of the drive shaft, the pivot centers of the shoes and the contact position of the facings upon the drum causes a servo or self-energizing action, independent of the nature ofthe facings. However the resilient facings which I prefer to use because of their higher coefficient of friction allow an angular relation that is preferable from the standpoint of induced stresses in the parts.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In mechanism of the class described, a clutch, a knock-out cam for disengaging said clutch at a predetermined point in its revolution, a plate on which said knock-out cam is mounted, a latch adapted to hold said plate against movement when the knock-out cam is in operative position, and manual control means for moving said latch to inoperative position and retracting said plate, whereby said knock-out cam is temporarily disabled.

2. In mechanism of the class described, a clutch, a knock-out cam for disengaging said clutch at a predetermined point in its revolution, a plate on which said knock-out cam is mounted, a latch adapted to hold said plate against movement with the knock-out cam in operative position, manual control means for moving said latch to inoperative position and retracting said plate, whereby said knock-out cam is moved to inoperative position, and means for automatically returning said plate and said latch to operative position when said manual control means is released.

3. In mechanism of the class described, a clutch, a knock-out cam for disengaging said clutch at a predetermined point in its revolution, a longitudinally movable plate on which said knock-out cam is mounted, a rigid guide for said plate, a latch pivotally connected With said plate adapted to hold said plate against movementl in its guide with the knock-out cam in operative position, manually controlled means for swinging said latch about its pivot to inoperative position and thereafter sliding said plate with the knock-out cam to inoperative position, and means for returning the parts to operative position when said manual control means is released, whereby rigid support is provided for the knock-out cam in the operative position thereof.

4. In a machine of the class described, a motor, a shaft, means for connecting the motor and ,shaft comprising a clutch, means tending to knock out said clutch at a given point in each revolution of the shaft, manual control means for withdrawing said knock-out means to permit the clutch members to engage each other and the shaft to make a revolution, and means for automatically returning the knock-out means to operative position in the event that the operator should fail to release said knock-out control means before the shaft has completed a predetermined portion of its revolution.

5. In a machine of the class described, a motor, a shaft, means for connecting the motor and shaft comprising a clutch, means tending to knock out said clutch at a given point in each revolution of the shaft, manual control means for withdrawing said knock-out means to permit the clutch members to engage each other and the shaft to make a revolution, and means for automatically returning the knock-out means to operative position in the event that the operator should fail to release said knock-out control means before the shaft has completed a predetermined portion of its revolution, the release of said manual control means being necessary before a further operation to withdraw said knock-out means is possible.

6. In a machine of the class described, a m0- tor, a shaft, means for connecting the motor and shaft comprising a clutch, a brake, cam means turning with the shaft for causing said brake to exert braking action on said shaft at a given point in the revolution thereof, means tending to knock out said clutch at the same given point in each revolution of the shaft, means under control of the operator for withdrawing the brake from operable position and withdrawing said knock-out whereby the clutch is engaged and a revolution of the shaft is begun, and means actuated by said cam means for automatically returning the knock-out to operative position in the event that the operator should fail to release said knock-out control means before the shaft has completed a predetermined portion of its revolution.

7. In a machine of the class described, a motor, a shaft, means for connecting the motor and shaft comprising a clutch, a brake, cam means turning with the shaft for causing said brake to exert braking action on said shaft at a given point in the revolution thereof, means tending to knock out said clutch at the same given point in each revolution of the shaft, means under control of the operator for withdrawing the brake from operable position and withdrawing said knock-out whereby the clutch is engaged and a revolution of the shaft is begun, and means actuated by said cam means for automatically returning the brake to operable position and the knockout to operative position in the event that the operator should fail to release said control means before the shaft has completed a predetermined portion of its revolution.

JOSEPH T. WRIGHT.

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