US2350961A

US2350961A - Electromagnetic tenter clip

Info

Publication number: US2350961A
Application number: US408374A
Authority: US
Inventors: Allen F Haskins
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1941-08-26
Filing date: 1941-08-26
Publication date: 1944-06-06
Anticipated expiration: 1961-06-06

Description

' June 6, 1944. A. F. HASKINS ELECTROMAGNETIC TENTER CLIP I5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 26, 1941 Inventor ALL N F HAsK/Ns A How/11y June 6, 1944. 1 A. F. HASKINS 2,350,961

ELECTROMAGNETIC TENTER CLIP Filed Aug. 26, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 ALLEN FHAs/r/Ns I /o I I,

A Home June 1944- A. F. HASKINS 961 ELECTROMAGNETIC TENTER CLIP Filed Aug. 26, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Inventor ALLEN F H/ls/r/Ns.

A Imrney meral generally designates a conventional form Patented June 6, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTROMAGNETIC TENTER. CLIP Allen F..Haskins, Cranston, R. I.

Application August 26, 1941, Serial No. 408,374

8 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in tentering apparatus, and particularly to an automatically operated tenter clip for use therein, the same being closed by electro-magnetic action and opened by spring action, and the primary object. 5 of my invention is to provide arrangements of the character indicated which eliminate a great amount of the work in the tentering operation which is ordinarily performed by hand at considerable expense and loss of time, and to improve the results of the tentering operations.

Other important objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from a reading of the following description taken in connection with the appended drawings, wherein for purposes of illustration I have shown a preferred embodiment of my invention.

In the drawings- Figure 1 is a general fragmentary top plan view of tentering apparatus showing the incorporation therein of electro-magnetically and spring operated tenter clips in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of one of the clips.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of Figure 2 with certain underlying portions shown in phantom lines. 1

Figure 4 is a fragmentary rear 'elevational view 7 showing the clip incorporated in the chain. 3'0

Figure 5 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view taken through Figure 1 along the line 5--5 and looking toward the right in the direc tion of the arrows.

Figure 6 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional 535 view taken through Figure 3 along the line 6-'-6 and looking upwardly in the direction of the arrows.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the nu- :40 of tenter frame which is provided with the channel 6 which runs around the outer edge of the metallic body 1 in an oblong form as indicated in Figure 1 of the drawings to accommodate the chain 8 which is operated by conventional means (not shown). The chain is formed of links 9 which are characterized by apertured lugs In at one end and vertically spaced ears II at the opposite end to receive the lug H] on the adjacent link with the rivets or pins I2 passing through the ears H and the lugs, in a conventional manner.

At the laterally inward side of the track channel 6 the body I rises above the top l3 of the outer wall of the track to providean elevated hori- 55 zontal flat shoulder l4 whose laterally inward end is bounded by the riser l5, the top of the chain being substantially on a level with the top of the shoulder l4 as indicated in Figure 5 of the drawings.

The clip of the present invention which is generally designated I6 comprises the base portion which is generally T-shaped in top plan. The cross head I! of the base has at opposite ends the lugs In similar to the lug ID on the ordinary chain links and vertically spaced ears I l' similar to the ears H on the regular chain links, so that the cross head I! is substantially similar to an ordinary link, having approximately the same length and cross section.

The standard portion I8 of the T-sh'aped base is elongated generally rectangular in shape and adjacent its forward end is reduced in height to provide the cloth supporting surface [9 which is characterized by a transversely extending concavity 20. A vertically swingable plate 2| overlies the cloth supporting surface I9 as indicated in Figure 6 of the drawings, being pivoted at its rearward end by ears 22 to pivot means 23 projecting from opposite sides of an intermediate part of the standard portion [8. The plate 2| is longitudinally slotted as indicated by the numeral 24 at a point above and slightly forwardly of the concavity 29 as indicated in Figure 6 to allow the J-shaped pressure finger 25 to pass into the concavity 20, from a position thereabove.

The standard portion l8 has lateral lugs 26 which project from its opposite sides adjacent the cross head I! and these are apertured to accommodate bolts 27 which secure the vertical core electro-magnets 28 in position. To'the rearv of the electro-magnets and over the forward part of the cross head I1 is a pair of vertical brackets 29 which have horizontal journals therein receiving the pintles 30 which project through the opposite depending flanges 32 of'the upper jaw 3|. A bolt 21 passes through the brackets 29 and through the depending flanges 32 of the upper jaw 3| and also through the legs of the roll contact carrier 34. The outer ends of the pintles are slotted as indicated by the numeral 35 to accept one end of the helical springs 36 which have the opposite end thereof located under an abutment 3'! on the outer sides of the legs of the U-shaped roll contact carrier 34, whereby the springs 36 normally swing the carrier 34 in an upward direction to firmly and yieldably engage the contact roller 38 carried on the bight portion 39 of the said carrier against the underside of the electrified rail 40 which is connected and insulated by an element 4| from the horizontal portion 42 of an L-shaped channel forming member 43 which runs around parallel to the track and is mounted on an insulating plate 43 which has a portion overhanging the shoulder M as illustrated in Figure 5 of the drawings. The bracket 43 is connected to the positive side of a low voltage current source 45, the negative side of the source being connected to the tenter frame 1 as indicated in Figure 5 of the drawings. The current is carried from the contact roller carrier 34 to one side of the winding of the electro-magnets 28 by means of flexible conductors 46, with the remaining ends of the windings of these electro-magnets grounded to the standard portion l8 on which they are mounted, thereby completing the electrical circuits through the tenter frame.

As indicated in Figure 3 of the drawings the j legs of the contact roller carrier are mounted on the pintles 3!] outside of the depending flanges 32; of the upper jaw 3| and at the inner ends of the helical springs 36, the depending flanges having bosses 4! on the outer sides thereof to provide proper bearings against the inner sides of the legs of the carrier 34, in view of the tapered plan shape of the upper jaw 3|.

The upper jaw 3| is tapered in plan from its rearward to its forward end as indicated in Figure 3 of the drawings and is in the form of an inverted channel having the depending side flanges 32 already mentioned. Adjacent the rear end of the upper jaw a contractile spring 48 is stretched between a lug 49 on the upper jaw and the projection 50 which extends from the cross head H in alignment with the standard portion 8 and whose under surface 5| is elevated to ride along the elevated shoulder M of the tenter frame as indicated in Figure 5 of the drawings, while the under surface of the standard portionl 8 rides along the top |3 of the outer wall oftthe chain channel 6. The top of the projection 53 is cut away as indicated by the numeral 52 .to engage under the insulator plate 44 which overhangs the shoulder I 4.

The outeror forward end of the upper jaw 3t is formed with a transversely spaced pair of sockets which relatively loosely receive vertically reciprocable shanks 55 which have adjusting nuts 56, as indicated in Figure 6 of the drawings, to adjust the tension of the helical spring 51 which is circumposed on the shank 55 between the bottom of the socket 53 and-a collar 56 on the lower part of the shank. The collar v is" situated at the upper edge or top of a transverselyelongated plate 59 which is grooved at its inner side at 62 and terminates. flush with the non-metallic cloth gripping plate 6|, the

lower ends of both the plate 6| and the plate 59 being oppositely beveled as indicated in Figure 6 of the drawings for proper engagement with the cloth 62. It'will be observed that the wide spac- I ing of the shanks 55 and the presence of the yielding pressure springs 51, provide for automatic leveling of the plate 59 and gripping element 6| relative to the cloth, so that definite stabilization of the gripiupon the cloth is positively provided for, thereby promoting a uniformly accommodated grip upon the cloth in opposition to the plate 2| which engages the underside of the cloth. The plate 2| is maintained in an up pressed position shown in Figure 6 of the drawings by a plurality of transversely spaced pins63 which work through openings 64 in the bottom of sockets 65 underlying-the front end of the platell, the pins 63 depending from the plate 2| and having circumposed thereon expanding springs 66 whose lower ends rest on the bottom of the sockets. Retaining means 61 on the lower ends of the pins rotatably engages the bottom of the sockets. It will be observed that the stabilizing action referred to is amplified and distributed still further by the presence of the pins 63 and their springs 66, the pivoting 0f the plate 2 I at 23 being sufliciently loose to allow some tilting of the plate 2| other than its swinging movement on the axis of the pivot 23.

The J-shaped pressure finger 25 has its upper end pivoted as indicated by the numeral 68 on a lug 69 depending from the web of the upper jaw 3| and the upper end of the pressure finger has av lateral arm 10 which is loosely telescoped into a sl'eeve'll which is pivotally mounted at I2 betweenapair of ears 13 formed on the bracket 33 of the base of the clip. With the depressed curved end of the pressure finger 25 arranged in the slot .24 oftheplate 2|, the proper allowance .for-theselvageofthe cloth is automatically provided for through the jointed connection of the finger'25 with the upper jaw 3| and the telescoping connection of the finger 25 with the base. A stop pin 13 rises from the projection 50 to the rear of the'brackets 33 to limit the downward swinging of the adjacent end of the upper jaw by .roller 38 from under the electrified rail 40. As

the contact roller leaves the end of the electrified rail the springs 36 swing the carrier upwardly in the position shown in Figure 6 of the drawings, thereby deenergizing the magnets 28 and putting anend" to their effective attraction of. the mag netizableplates or'blocks 14 which are secured to the underside of L-shaped brackets 15 which are secured torthe opposite side flanges 32 of the upper jaw 3| at points overlying the cores of the magnets. While the magnets are energized the magnetizableplates or armatures 14 engage the cores 16 of the magnets 28, in which position the magnetshold' them during the residence of the contact 'roller'38 under the electrified-rail 40, thereby maintaining the upper jaw 3| .in a full depressedcondition. As the roller 38. comes off the electrified rail and the electro-magnets are deenergized, the

springs

51 and 6B and 48 coact successively and simultaneously to open the jaws wide and release the, cloth 62. As the chain 8 moves around the track and the rollers 38 come again under and make electrical engagement with the electrified rail 46, the upper jaw is operated downwardly to a closed position instantaneously, and maintained closed until the end of the chain link elements forming parts of the chains, vertically swingable jaws mounted on said bases, electro-magnets on said bases, magnetizable portions on said upper jaws overlying said electromagnets, one end of the windings of said electromagnets being connected to'one side of a source of current with the remaining sides of the windings of the electro-magnets connected to a spring positioned contactor, means movably mounting the contactors on said tenter clips, a conductive rail connected to the remaining side of said source and with which the contactors engage to energize the magnets and attract said magnetizable portions to close the jaws, said rail being discontinuous to permit the contactors to move out of contact therewith to deenergize the magnets, and spring means for swinging said swingable jaws to open position upon deenergization of said electro-magnets.

2. Cloth tentering apparatus comprising a tenter frame including continuous chains working in oblong channel tracks formed in said tenter frame, means moving the chains along the tracks, tenter clips having bases consisting of chain link elements forming parts of the chains, vertically swingable jaws mounted on said bases, electro-magnets on said bases, magnetizable portions on said upper jaws overlying said electromagnets, one end of the windings of said electromagnets being connected to one side of a source of current with the remaining sides of the windings of the electro-magnets connected to a spring positioned contactor, means movably mounting the contactors on said tenter clips, a conductive rail connected to the remaining side of said source and with which the contactors engage to energize the magnets and attract said magnetizable portions to close the jaws, said rail being discontinuous to permit the contactors to move out of contact therewith to deenergize the magnets, and spring means for swinging said swingable jaws to open position upon deenergization of said electro-magnets, said contactors comprising upwardly spring pressed carriers including a conductive roller, and said conductive rail being supported for engagement of said rollers with the underside of said rail.

3. Cloth tentering apparatus comprising a tenter frame including continuous chains working in oblong channel tracks formed in said tenter frame, means moving the chains along the tracks, tenter clips having bases consisting of chain link elements forming parts of the chains, vertically swingable jaws mounted on said bases,

electro-magnets on said bases, magnetizable por tions on said upper jaws overlying said electromagnets, one end of the windings of said electromagnets being connected to one side of a source of current with the remaining sides of the windings of the electro-magnets connected to a spring positioned contactor, means movably mounting the contactor on said tenter clips, a conductive rail connected to the remaining side of said source and with which the contactors engage to energize the magnets and attract said magnetizable portions to close the jaws, said rail being discontinuous to permit the contactors to move out of contact therewith to deenergize the magnets, and spring means for swinging said swingable jaws to open position upon deenergization of said electro-magnets, said contactors comprising upwardly spring pressed carriers including a conductive roller, and said conductive rail being supported for engagement of said rollers with the underside of saidrail, said carriers being pivoted independently of the jaws.

4. A tenter clip comprising a T-shaped body comprising a base, the cross head of said body including a link element for incorporating in the track chain of a tenter machine, the standard portion of said T-shaped body projecting from said cross head toward the cloth to be held, said standard portion comprising a relatively stationary lower jaw for the cloth to rest upon, at least one electro-magnet on said base, an upper vertically swingable jaw pivoted on said base to engage the top of the cloth in opposition to the lower relatively stationary jaw, at least one magnetizable part on said upper jaw overlying said 'electro-magnet, spring means urging said upper jaw toward open position, and electrical means for energizing said electro-magnet to close said upper jaw and hold the same in depressed cloth holding position, a first floating spring sustained cloth engaging element on the lower jaw, a second spring stabilized cloth engaging element on the upper jaw.

5. A tenter clip comprising a T-shaped body comprising a base, the cross head of said body including a link element for incorporating in the track chain of a tenter machine, the standard portion of said T-shaped body projecting from said cross head toward the cloth to be held, said standard portion comprising a relatively stationary lower jaw for the cloth to rest upon, at least one electro-magnet on said base, an upper vertically swingable jaw pivoted on said base to engage the top of the cloth in opposition to the lower relatively stationary jaw, at least one magnetizable part on said upper jaw overlying said electro-magnet, spring means urging said upper jaw toward open position, and electrical means for energizing said electro-magnet to close said upper jaw and hold the same in depressed cloth holding position, a first floating spring sustained cloth engaging element on the lower jaw, a second spring stabilized cloth engaging element on the upper jaw, said second cloth engaging element being characterized by elongation transversely of the upper jaw and by a plurality of active springs, said springs being spaced transversely with respect to said upper jaw.

6. A tenter clip comprising a substantially horizontal base having a forward portion and a rearward portion, said forward portion comprising a relatively stationary lower jaw, an elevation rising from said base at a point intermediate said forward and rearward portions, an upper jaw pivoted intermediate its ends on said elevation to overlie said base with its forward part positioned over said lower jaw, opening spring means connected between said base and said upper jaw to urge said upper jaw toward open position, a stop rising from the rearward portion of the base for engagement by the rearward part of said upper jaw to limit the opening of the upper jaw, a depressible spring supported lower gripping element on said lower jaw upon which the cloth is to immediately rest, an upwardly yieldable spring pressed upper gripping element depending from the upper jaw over said lower jaw element to engage the upper side of cloth resting on said lower jaw element, magnetizable means on said forward portion of the upper jaw, and electromagnet means on the forward portion of the base to be energized to attract said magnetizable means to depress and hold the upper jaw in closed position wherein said upper aw element and said lower jaw element are compressed against the top and bottom, respectively, of the cloth, said upper grippingelement and said lower gripping element being arranged to expand when said electromagnet'means is deenergized to assist said opening'spring meansin moving the upper jaw to open position. p

7. Cloth tentering apparatus comprising a frame and a track chain; a tenter clip, a generally horizontalbase comprising a supporting link element adapted to form a part of the track chain, an upper jaw rockably mountedon said base, spring means normally urging said upper jaw open, said upper jaw having a magnetizable portion, an electromagnet on said base for attracting said magnetizable portion to move said upper jaw to closed position, an upwardly spring pressed contactor pivoted on a portion of said base, said .contactorbeing insulated from the base and effectively electrically connected to said electromagnet, and an electrical conductor supported on said frame along the path of movement of said tenter clip with said contactor engaging an under portion of said conductor, said conductor comprising spaced lengths, the spaces between lengths permitting said contactor to run 011 the conductor and deenergize said electromagnet.

8. Cloth tentering apparatus according to claim '7 wherein said contactor comprises a carrier having a contact making roller rollably engaging said under portion of the-conductor.

ALLEN F. HASK]1\TS.