US2327416A - Felting needle - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 24, W43. E. P. FOSTER 2,327,416

EEL'IING NEEDLE v 7 Filed Oct. 12, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

Aug. 24, 1943. FOSTER 2,327,416

FELTING NEEDLE Filed Oct. 12, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

Patented Aug. 24, 1943 :umrren STATES. PATENT to 2,327,416 7' I '1 a V V FELrmGYNEEDIQE o Edson P.-Foster, Manitowoc, Wis Aop lication October -1 2, 1942; Serial-No. 461,704 a I is Claims. 01. 28-4) v The present invention relates: to an improvement felting?needlesv and, further; has todo with a-method'and apparatusfor providingbarbs ors-purs-in felting needle stock.

' Felting-machines are Well known and are employed iormatting and c'ompactingi loose fibrous nmterialasuch as wool, hair and fur or acorn;-

bination of these or other hanalogous materials. It is the general' practice. in the. art to deliverthe flbrods-material-to be oompactedl upona slow- 1y moving endless belt conveyor above which a two parteneedle plate, having alarge-number of the edge of the needle andare rapidly worn away feltingneedles securecbtherein,.is disposedl This Y plate ismounted for rapid vertical i'eciprocatqry movement, above the conveyor belt. ;The fel'ti n g needles :reierred to have barbs entire body or; tion thereof, "which upondownward movementgof V the plate with respect-to the conveyor engagethe fibers of i the: material and ,functionto interlace the-fibers together; These barbs areso formed as: to free themselves lof hthe material upon upwardumcvement of the plate. :Upon continued repetition of" the upward and downward moveg ment of the-:platethefibrous material is compact-ed and interlaced to form a mat; Machines oflthe' type reierredjto maybe suitably designed so that any desired: degree of 1 compacting and niatting oi 'suchfibrous material, withinlimits, maybeattained. Y o

Generallythe'needle plates for supporti-ngthe felting needles comprise a base member and a superimposed clamping member. Thebase memher is provided with a suitable number of apex tures through which thefneedles are inserted. The needies'are provided with securing elements which are'adapted to seat upon the top surface of the baseInerrrber; The clamping member and base memberare then bolted 501" otherwise secur d 'tegetherrigidly clamping between them the secnringT=elements at the upper endsof the needle;

shanks is oil-din the at to provide thel body portion of a lielting needle with barbs by striking the edges of the body portion with a barbing die at spaced intervals \therealong' to form barbs w 'ich pretzrude outward therebeyond; In mounting felting needles ofthis iorm rt-he apertdres in the base member oi the needle plate must be of sufiicient diameter to permit passage :there throughcof :the protruding barbs'zan'd since it :is desirable: to :have the shank of the needle fit tightly in mhe base :member, the needle must be madeirom aa iblank of round :stock .the body ;por tionmf which :is zswaged to provide -thezedges in ".therbarbs are :iormed and leavinsfiihe the needle and shank of the needle cylindrical so tl 1at it may be snugly'received in the; aperture of; the base plate. This form of needle is objectionable since the swaging operationoi the prio r artweakened a q' dds mat r allytte hems of production which is an important gonsidera= 9 n this a t, Also; t ar ot ude be ond These slots have been of two forms the first of whichand the earliest in the art was of ill-shape, and-the second and later form being defined by a slot having upper and lower substar tig i lly-p are-' allel walls which areeonnected by an endfwall substantially perpendicular to the upper wall.

However, both of these needles are objectionable in that byrslotting; the body-t9 iQrm-the spurs the needle is considerably weakened since a portion of the metal is removed in; the cutting operation A substantially reducing the cross-sectional area through the slots. Further nore, by forming; the spur in either mannerthe. working surface is of triangulah configuration One corner of i which forms thegpoi-nt of the spurrw-iththe working surface-extending inwardly and upwardly into the bodyof the needle.- With this form of spur the fibers have a tendency to-ereep to; the point ofrthe spurand interlaced. m

It is an object of my present haventionto pro vide a felting needle in which the spurs-do not extend beyond the-periphery of-the, body oi" the needle" andwhich is formed by displacing mar terial in the bod-y of the needle to provide for increased mechanical strength.

It is aiurtherobiect to provide a. felting needle having a spur formed by downwardly and angue I lady ine ih d l ri c s h, in en e to f rm a arm ed ext nd ng i ward y Q t e needle above a recess providing access for the material to the spur; Preferably, the :spur and recess are formed by displacing material which is disposed adjacent the recess so that the cross-sectional area through the recess is substantially equals-to the crossesectional area-of thestock. Still more specifically, if desired, material abovethe spur may be=displacedso that a portion ofthe working edge will be ofgarcuatel confignration with the ou ermost 7, nd thereof :dir t sdqw a d v and inward y ofjthelbody. h e d e slip off so that they will not be form of felting machine I,

forming a felting needle with spurs of the character above referred to.

A further preferred specific feature of my invention resides in the provision of a cylindrical sleeve member which is adapted to be carried by the base of the needle plate to receive a felting needle of uniform polygonal cross-section throughout its length, the sleeve being provided to engage the edges of the shank portion of the needle to prevent lateral displacement thereof and greatly reducing breakage in operation.

willappear from the detail description.

Now, in order to art with the manner of utili'zingmy invention 1 shall describe in conjunction with the accom panying'drawings certain preferred embodimentsof the invention.

Inthe drawings;

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side view or a known form of felting machine, illustrative of the use of the needle of my invention;

Figure 2 is an elevational view of a needle of my invention mounted in a sleeve needle plate of a felting machine, the sleeve be} acquaint those skilled in the 7 secured in the ing shown in section, and the needle plate being 1 shown fragmentarily andin section;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 3-3 of Figure 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows, on an enlarged scale;

' tion of the body portionof Figure 4 is agreatly enlarged partial elevational view of the body portion of one form of my improved needle;

Figure 5 is a greatly enlarged partial elevational view of the body portion of another form of my improved needle; V

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic side view of an apparatus for making the needles of my inventicn; and I Figure '7 is a detail sectional view'on a reduced scale'taken on line ll-l of Figure 4; and

Figure 8 is a detail sectional view on a reduced scale taken on line'8-8 of Figure 4.

Referring now to the drawings, I have illustrated diagrammatically in Figure 1 a known in which the needle of my inventionmay be used. Loose fibrous material such as wool, fur, hair or-the like is indicated at 2 and is fed by means of 'a suitable chute 3 onto anendless belt conveyor 4-, which is trained over apair of wheels 5 mounted for rotation on shafts 6. one of which may be driven in any suitable manner. 1 r

A two-part needle plate "l reciprocated in any suitable known manner, is disposed above the conveyor belt Felting needles 8 are suitably fixed in the needle plate and serve to compact and interlace the fibrous material 2 up'on the upper-run of belt 4, in the reciprocation of the needle plate, as previously stated. A second conveyor 9, which'may be similar to the conveyor; L -receives the matted material and conveys it away from the conveyor 4. I In Figure 2 I have showna felting needle I0 embodying myjinvention mounted in the needle plate I of; a felting machine. This'plate comprises a basemeniber H and a clamping member l2. The base apertured to receive a cylin drical sleeve l3, one for each felting needle, which sleeve is provided with a flanged end which rests upon the upper surface of the base membase member ll may be countersunk to receive the flange of sleeve 13. The needle of my invention preferably is formed of a piece of stock of substantially uniform square cross-section.

It will be understood, however, that stock of other cross sectional configuration is contemplated within the broader aspects of my invention. Needle it: comprises a body portion [4 and a shank portion 55. The lower end of body M is pointed at is to facilitate penetration of the fibrous material. The upper portion of shank l5 may be bent at substantially right angles providing a securing element i? adapted to be clamped be- I tween clamping member l2 and base member ll Other objects and advantages of my invention ofithe needle plate and in engagement with the flange of the cylindrical sleeve l3. The inner diameter of the cylindrical sleeve 13 is such that the needles Ill fit tightlytherein with the corner edges thereof in engagement with the inner surface of the sleeve. The needles are thus rigidly held in the sleeve carried and this sleeve is of a plate of thefelting machine and effectively aids in preventing breakage of the needles. However, it will bel'understood that the-novel form of felting needles hereinafter to be described may be mounted in the needle plate in any other suitable and known manner.

Referring now to Figure 4, in' which a porone form of needle of my resent invention is shown on a greatly enlarged scale; it will be seen that at intervals along the edges lii defined by intersections of adjacent-side surfaces I9 of the needle, I provide spurs 2d. These spurs are formed by means of suitable dies and comprise substantially triangular surfacesZI extending inwardly of two adja-. cent side walls 'lB'fOImiHg a corner edge l8. which triangular, surfaces extend downwardly and angularly so that the bases of the triangular cation of the needle I extending inwardly of the body of the needle from a corner l8 thereof. The die referred to also displaces metal below the spurs 29 to form a recess 23 and the material displaced in forming the spur and the recess 23forms rounded protrusionsfd in the adjacent side walls. These protrusions in eflect form integral flanges which materially'increase the strength of the needle and the displaced metal is'caused to flow into the portions of the body of the needle adjacent the'recesses so that the cross-sectional area through the recess is substantially equal to the cross-sectional area of the stock from which the needle is made. 'It will be observed that a distinguishing characteristic or this form of spur is that the point of the spur does not extend beyond the corner edges l8, and the entire working portion of the spur comprises an edge 22 which effectively retains the fibers to be interlacedthereon eliminating any tendency of the fibers to creep toward the outer point of the spur.

In Figure 5 I have shown another form of felting needle which requires an additional step in its making over the needle of Figure 4. After the recess and spur have -'been formed in the body of the needle as described in conjunction with Figure 4, a second die of suitable configure tion is caused to displace metal in the corner edge 'l8- immediately above the spur 20 so' that the working edge 22 will have its outermost portion ftl of arcuateconfiguration with the outer point 2-6 of the spur directed downwardly and by the needle plate, sufficient length to ade quately support the shankof the needle prevent ing lateral displacement thereof in the recipro-' disposed) substantially viithinth blame V 'offthe corner "edge i 8 of "the tear-1'4 bftheineedle. In this form of the 'inveiiti'on"downward 'move- 'ment' of thenee'dlethro-ugha fibrous'mass'teii'ds pm cause thefibers' tobe" fcrcedrupflthe'iworkingedge 22', to be"iifebtivelyretained by"the needle for interlacing the-fibers;TInb'othforms of '-the -'need1es herein disclosed. fit"fvvill" be seen that the endT'WalI Df 'th i'ecess is 'defineWbYfa. ila broad-surface 2r extending at 'an 'angie' or 10 substantially 'to' *the'*side"walls' offthe n'e'dle. *he bottom portion 0f the recessfi deflndby a triangularly shaped 'surface 'ils extending "downwardly and angularly to acorherfedgeffrdm "the -bottomofthe surfaceil. It a will thus observed that'jby"imean of the present invention" Ihaveprovidd" a feltingn'eedle having a-"'spur'ivlii'cl1comprises a "jwor'k'ingedge whi h 'befdisposeo either at""'substantial1y on of the ing edge'may beof 'ar'cuate conguration with the outer'point" thereof disposed \larclly of the corner edge andeir'tending'd'ownardlyof the needle.

ig-ure 6 I: have shown diagrammatically- 35 one fo-rmor pa-ratns forformingispurg of the character described in conjunction with Figures 4 cl 5, -it-wi11lessees-thatitrcom rises ofstar stockfiil,'Zpr'ferably' of square con-.. ura-tien; ashereiiibeforereferred to, which 3i) 7 is'aolapted to be fed through?a"stiaightener 32, through 'a series of male and "fe'male"die block embIiesSS'; which arefarrangd" successively htangles toeach othertanjdhperate to form a recess aid spvr in. "the" corner "edges of the metal stock adjacent which theyare positioned. "in the embodiment shown in Figure 6 "the stock is of *sqnare configuration and consequently; 'feiir -pairs -ii die blocks-are provided,'onefliainfor each corner-edge. A. 'Wi1'e'Jf'e'etling 'm'echa' is'm,

1 ateti diagrammatically" at 35, is lope fable 5 waiving a" length of wire substantially equal to the length-ofstcck required'to' pliitiuce asingle is provided fI' lting 'neetile, and; a blade "33 The length -or "stock. betWeen. the Qhtener-end the feecler isi'of'alerigth' to .e' four needlesgandsince the pairs of the s are arranged, progressively Iatfaiiizles t"Wi1l'-be.-s'een ach'zoair er die blocks33,lwn'en actuated, a recess" and spur of the charactenfir's't l. deach in one oornene'dgeso that in the stock JSpOSECl between the die'block nearest the feeder is having a fourth recess and spurw-procluccd in it, 'an'olthe next"adjacefit,portion of hving third recess arid spur formed e portion; of stockia'hea'd" of it is having nd the .-porwith respect to each other nreees and spurfor'med,"

of tool: disposedadjacent'thefirst'pair'of to 2 blocks having a first recess and spur formed. all of the pairs of'die 'blo'eks' fifia're caused to actuated 'siniultaneouslyso thatithe stock in the-pairof die blocks nearestthe I feeder will cc of stock and "when advanced by the feeder is out, from theremainierof the Stock 1 the blade This severedportion isthen pointed and r ovided *vvih asecuring element as described conjunction with Figure '2 forming a com- 70 pletecl needle. It will beunderstood that greater 'ewer numbers of spurs may be formed in any single particular length of needle stock by providing fewer or greater number of pairs f die blocks 33 to provide a needle having the de- 75 "log the fe progressivelysuc tl'ie'pi'eferred forms 3 inventionfand the aiipa'ratus and method for "forming these right-angle to t e 'ccrner'eclge, for thei'out'erpor 202' s Without" d'ep iiiy invention.

protrusions a utting the continuous stripof stock into needle 4 'rial nvaging 2; {till of recess.

etethe spurs tobe formed in that portion a3 that a needle of square cross-section having one spurfc'rmd'ineach oorner'efige 'Will be efiicient in operation.

, Theappar'atus is readily ad ebtable for-tormlting needle of" Figure 5 by. providing 'ionalp'airsiof die blocks'liS also positioned o ssiv'ely at right angles to each other in the clir'e'cticn' of travel of the stock, one pair each being arranged aitereach set of die blocks The die blocks 38 may, like the die blocks 33, be operated simultaneouslyfor displacing metal the corner edges definingthe spurs to form the spur shown in Figure 5.

While I have shown What I consider to be of the felting needles of my 's' urs' in the body of the needle, it "will be understood that various rearrange ns and modifications. maybe niadetherein a from "the spirit and scope of rtirig Iclaim: the an ai'ticle of manufacture, a felting needle ccniprisinge body havin unrecessed .ydirected-spuiy-said hotly having protruad3acenteits recessed portion the crossof said recessed-portion and'said being substantially equalto the crossbrot usio sectional body,

As an article of manufacture, ielting V needle comprisng abody (if-polygonal crosssection having an. uni'ec videcl in at le portion defi lying withinfs'aid essed. portion anclprot one cornerecige with a recessed s a downwardly directed spur corner eclgevsaid body having cljaoent its recessed portion the cross sectional area through said recessed portion and said protrusions being s ubstantia1ly (equ l to the cross-sectionai portion cf-sai dbodv new article. of in neecl'ie icor v a body cess thei t 1d a spur area of" said unreilfactu e; a felting ovicled with-a re- :ge formed by dcwnwar di ectecl intersecting extending 11y or the needleaov-jaor" recess. l 4.13s a new article of manufacture, aielting form -Sect-ion nrcvielecl in-at least;one s, and a spurhaving a a edge in said cerncr and anguierl'y diand ;lateralsurface,

i ngle'ni er erge "m en. by 5 extending" substantially iee-eljacent the upper end 5. 'As a iew artic "on and a recessed portion-defining axdowm' ofsaid unre-Jessed portion of said tvinga single- ;rnate- 7 lateral surfaces; said'mate' le manufacture, a felting least one corner edge with a recess formed by "displacing material thereat to define a. downwardly directed spur having a working edge ex tending inwardly of the body of the needle with- :in the corner edge thereof and above the recess, "the displaced material forming protrusions in the side walls defining said corner edge adjacent the recess so that the cross-sectional area of the needle through said recess is substantially equal to the polygonal cross-sectional area of the body.

'7. As a new article of manufacture, a felting needle having a body of substantially uniform polygonal cross-section provided in at least one corner edge withv a downwardly directed spur, said spur being defined by a pair of substantially triangular surfaces one in each side wall of the needle forming said corner edge, each of said triangular surfaces having one'edge lying in the surface of its respective side wall and extending downwardly and outwardly toward said corner edge, and a second edge diverging downwardly away from said first edge, the bases of said triangular surfaces intersecting to define a working edge extending inwardly of the body of the needle from said corner edge.

8. As a new article of manufacture, a felting needle having a body of substantialy uniform polygonal cross-section provided in at least one corner edge with a recess formed by displacing material and forming reinforcing integral protrusions in the adjacent side walls, a spur said corner edge defined by a pair of substantially triangular surfaces each having one edge lying in the side walls defining said corner edge'and extending downwardly and outwardly toward the same, and a second edge diverging away from said first edge, the bases of said triangular surfaces intersecting to define a working edge extending inwardly of the body of the needle from said corner edge.

9. As a new article of manufacture, a felting needle having a body of substantially uniform polygonal cross-section provided in at least one corner edge with a recess formed by displacing.

material and forming reinforcing integral protrusions in the adjacent side walls so that the transverse cross-sectional area through said recess is substantially equal to the polygonal crosssectional area of the body, a spur in said corner edge defined by a pair of substantially triangular surfaces each having one edge lying in the side walls defining said corner edge and extending downwardly and outwardly toward the same, and a second edge diverging away from said first edge, the bases of said triangular surfaces intersecting to define a working edge extending inwardly of the body of the needle from said corner edge.

10. As a new article of manufacture, a felting needle having a body of substantially uniform same, and a second edge diverging away from said first edge, the bases of said triangular surtrusions in the adjacent side walls, a spur in said corner edge defined by a pair of substantially triangular surfaces each having one edge lying in the side walls defining said corner edge and extending downwardly and outwardly toward the same, and a second edge diverging away from said first edge, the bases of said triangular surface intersecting to define a substantially straight line working edge extending inwardly of the body of the needle substantially at rightangles to said corner edge. 1

12. In combination, a needle plate, a sleeve of f circular cross-section extending through said needle plate and supported at one end therein, and a felting needle of substantially uniform polygonal cross-section throughout its length extending through said sleeve and having the corner edges of its shank portion engaging the inner wall of said sleeve to restrain said needle against lateral movement. a

13 In combination, a needle plate, a sleeve extending through said needle plate and supported at one end therein, and a felting needle of substantially uniform cross-section throughout its length extending through said sleeve, said sleeve and said felting needle being formed so that the shank portion of the latter is restrained by the sleeve against lateral movement.

14:. As a new article of manufacture, a felting needle comprising a body portion and a spur having a single material engaging edge at its lower end formed between lateral surfaces of the spur.

15. As a new article of manufacture, a feltingneedle comprising a body portion and a spur having a single straight line material engaging edge at its lower end formed between lateral surfaces of the spur.

circular cross-section extending through said needle plate and supported at one end therein, and a felting needle extending through said sleeve and being formed so that its shank portion engages the inner wall of the sleeve to restrain the needle against lateral movement.

EDSON P. FOSTER.

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