US2481450A - Point illuminating and magnifying attachment for looping machines - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 6, 1949.

S. SCHWARTZ POINT ILLUMINATING AND MAGNIFYING ATTACHMENT FOR LOOPING MACHINES Filed Sept. 18, 1946 SHEPARD SCHWARTZ Patented Sept. 6, 1949 POINT ILLUMINATING AND MAGNIFYlNG ATTACHMENT FOR LOOPING MACHINES Shepard Schwartz, Nashville, Tenn., assignor to May Hosiery Mills, Davidson County, Tenn.

Application September 18, 1946, Serial No. 697,703

This invention relates to improvements in looping machines and particularly to an improved means for providing proper illumination and magnification of the points or needles of such a ma: chine during the work applying operation.

'In the manufacture of hosiery there'is an intermediate stage at which the hosiery is complete except that the toe portion of each stocking is open. This opening is closed by an operation using a circular or dial type looping machine. In operating such a machine, the loops along the terminal edges at opposite sides of the opening in the stocking toe are superimposed and inserted by hand over theradially proj ectingneedles or points carried by the dial portion of the looping machine. This operation is accomplishedwhile the machine is operating and the points are moved past the operator. After all of the loops are properly placed on the dial points, the points are carried into the sewing mechanism of the machine where the loops are secured together to complete the stocking. The operation of placing the loops on the dial points is commonly referred to in the art as the running on" operation and is a very tedious and exacting operation because of the small size and close arrangement of the fabric loops and the correspondingly fine pointed closely spaced dial'points or needles. Because of the fineness of the Work it is rather common under ordinary conditions for the operator to occasionally miss applying one or more loops in the proper manner to the dial points which results in an imperfect seem by reason of which the finished stocking may have to be rejected or placed. in a subo nate price group. The operation also results in considerable eye strain and nervous fatigue on the part of the operator so that the effi iency of the operators on this type of machine .fiicult to maintain at a reasonably high level.

It is conceived that adequate localillumination of the dial points and a magnification of the points and loops during the running on operation would have a very beneficial effect not only in eliminating missed or dropped loops but also in relieving the strain and fatigue on the operator thereby resulting in a' much higher production or stockings having perfect seams.

Lenses and lens supporting devices for magnifying the loops and dial points have been previously proposed but such previously proposed arrangements have been subject to material defects and objection and have not met with a high degree of commercial success.

One of the defects of thepreviously proposed 6 Claims; (01. 112 -25) devices is that they have failed to properly combine the illumination and magnifying means in a manner to provide the most suitable conditions for observing the points and loops during the running on operation. With previously proposed devices it has also been necessary for the operator to manually adjust the magnifying lens and move it by hand to keep it properly focused on the point at which the Work is being applied, As the operators hands are fully occupied with running the stocking loops on to the dial points, it is practically impossible to manually move the lens at the same time. This results in the condition in which the lens is frequently not properly 1posi tioned to focus on the point at which the work is being applied. The lens may thus become more of a hindrance than a help to the operator, particularly if the condition causes the operator to assume tense and strained positions in the attempt to compensate for the improper lens position and may at times cause additional eye strain because of the out of focus condition.

It is therefore among the objects of the present invention to provide visual aid means for a looping machine in the form of a magnifying lens having a support so constructed and arranged that the lens can be adjusted to the proper position without the necessity of removing the operators hands from the work.

It is also an object to provide visual means for a looping machine in which a magnifying lens and a source of illumination are properly combined to provide the optimum condition for visibility in applying work to the machine.

A still further object resides in the provision of improved visual aid means for a looping machine which may be applied to an existing machine without requiring modification or rearrangement of any of the machine parts.

Another object resides in the provision of an improved visual aid means for a looping machine which is simple and economical in construction and may be easily applied to existing machines without incurring any excessive costs and which, While providing material assistance in improving the visibility of the work, will not cause inconvenience to the operator in other Ways.

' Other objects and advantages will become apparent as the description proceeds in connection with the accompanying drawing in which like reference numerals are used to designate similar parts throughout.

' In the drawings, the single figure is a diagrammatical elevational view of a portion of a looping machine showing the application of the improved visual aid means thereto, the visual aid means being shown partly in section to better illustrate the construction thereof.

With continued reference to the drawing, a looping machine of conventional construction is generally indicated at it, portions thereof such as the loop sewing mechanism being ornitted in order to simplify-the drawing. f 1'2" In the machine illustrated, a baseportion I2 is supported by suitable means such as the cantilever arm l4 and includes suitable mecha-' nism by means of which an operative; drive is transmitted from a drive element, xsuch 'as'the shaft E6, to the rotatable dial ilh The dial carries'a circular series of points orneedlesjll'towhich the loops edging the seam to be formed" are applied.

A stud 22 extends upwardly from the machine substantially coaxiallywith the dial IB'aridf ls fixed relative to the support l4.

I An anti-friction bearing, such as the ball hearing generally indicated at 24,"is secured to' the upper end portion of stud 22; In the arrangement illustrated, the inner r'ace26 or'the'beari'ng s forced upon the end of the stud and against a clampcollar '28 with a press fit which providesa sufficiently rigidconnection between the inner raceand the stud. A disc 3il'ha s'a cylindrical flange portion 32 intowhich the outer race 34 of i the bearing is forced with a press fit: to pro- Vide a rigidcon nection between the outer race and the disc. Thus bymeans of the antifi'iction bearing z l thje disc is rotatably supported upon the upper end of stud 32. If desired the disc may have a peripheral reinforcing bead 36.

An arm 33 extends across the top of the disc and issecured thereto by suitable means such as bolts, one of which is indicated at 43, and may have an end portion bent over the bead36 if desired. This arm 38 may have attached thereto adjacent the edge of the disc, the'bracket portion 42 of a lamp guard 44. The guard 44 carries a bulb is positioned to direct its light on to the dial points 26 at the location at which the work i is applied to the points. Electrical current may be supplied to the bulb through conventional wires48. fl

Attached to the arm 36 or to the guard 44 ,as may be convenient, is a lens rim in which is supported a magnifying lens 52. This lens should have at least a limited freedom of universal adjustment relative to its support and a universal connection providing'such freedom of movement is indicated at 54 operatively connected between the lens guard 44 andthe lens'rim 50.

' A substantially vertical standard 56 is attached to the arm 38 or formed integrally therewith and at its lower end carries a roller 58 which rides on the upper surface of dial I 8. I 3

Friction in the mounting of the roller 58 tends -to swing the disc 30 in the direction of'rotation of the dial thus tending to carry the bulb 46 and lens 52 along with the dial asthe work is applied. 'A support arm 6!! is secured to the stud '22 below the bearing 24 and at its outer end carries ahinge'd bracket 62 carrying a bearin'g '64- in which a shaft 66 is journalled.

At its inner end the shaft 66 hasafriction roller 58' securedthereon and at'itsouterend a drive pulley l0. The drive pulley *is operatively connected by suitable means, such as the belt 12, with an element of the machine drive; as diagrammatically indicated by the pulley 14on shaft is, so that shaft 66 is rotated whenever the machine is in operation. .7: V 1 p dicated inthe appended claims.

The hinged bracket 62 has a hinge joint 16 about which the shaft 66 may oscillate under control of the foot pedal 18. In the arrangement illustrated the shaft is urged by suitable resilient means, such as the spring to swing about the hinge joint 16 to a position in which the roller 68 is'put ofcontact with the under surfaceli fjthe disc 30; A lever arm- 82' is connectd atone end to the bracket 62 above the hinge joint I6 and at its opposite end through "the intermediacy of a suitable tension member with thefoot pedalJB.

"With this arrangement when the foot pedal 18 is depressed, the Y pulley 68 will be brought into frictional engagement with the under surface of disc 30 and when the foot pedal is' released the spring 80 will move the roller away from the disc.

V I When the disc driving roller 68 is out of contact with the disc 30 dial contacting roller 68 willcausethe disc to rotate in the same direction as the'dial. r

i This 'will swingthe 'arm 38 carrying the'magnifying lens and "lamp'in' the direction of dial r0! tation to follow the work applied to thedial points. Depression of the pedal 18, however, will cause the disc; '310:5to be driven in the ope posite direction by the disc driving roller 68 causing'the'lamp and lensto swing in the direc. I

tion oppositeto dial rotation.

By properly controlling the foot pedal 18 the operator can causexthe lamp and magnifying lens on arm38 to assume any deslredposition along the-arcof the dial where the Work is bein applied-to the dial points. The, universal mounte 'ing of the magnifying lens permits correct focus ing of the lens on the dial points and by 'follow ing up the location of the point to which the loops are being applied'to the points the lens can be accurately focused on the Work at all times. .When the running on operation is complete the lens may be swung back and forth across the arc to inspect thework for any missed loops which can then bev applied to avoid the formation of an imperfecttseam.

The lightbulb 4a andguard 44 are so con structedand are so. arranged with respect 'to;

the magnifyinglens 52 that the operators eyes are shielded from direct light but a sufficiently strongjlight isrefiected from the work and the dial points throu h the lens to provide excellent visibility of the workas it is being applied to the dial points Y V 7 It will be obvious tothose skilled in the art that avarious changes may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof and therefore the invention isnot limitedby. that which is shown in the drawings and described in the specification but only as in- What is claimedis:

1. A .visualaid attachment for a looping machine having a rotatable dial and a relatively fixed'studi at the centerofsaid ldial, .said attachm'ent comprisingfadiscImounted on said stud for free ro tation' relative thereto; an arm extending outwardly from said disc ;;a magnifying lens carried vat the outer end of said arm in position to V magnify thedialpoints at the location at which worlris applied thereto; a dial contacting roller carried by said arm to move said lens with'said "dial"to 'foll'ow'the application of work'to said points; and-means for swingin said lens in the opposite direction comprising an arm on said studia hinged 'bracketgon saidarm, a shaft journalled in said bracket, a roller on one end of said shaft frictionally engageable with said disc, a drive pulley on said shaft operatively connected with the driving mechanism of said machine, holding means associated with said shaft carried roller to normally hold said roller out of contact with said disc, and operator controlled means operative to bring said friction roller into driving contact with said disc.

2. A visual aid attachment for a loopin machine having a rotatable dial and a relatively fixed stud at the center of said dial, said attachment comprising a disc mounted on said stud for free rotation relative thereto; an arm extending outwardly from said disc; a magnifying lens and a shielded light source carried at the outer end of said arm; a dial contacting roller carried by said arm to move said lens and light source with said dial to follow the application of work to said dial points; and means for moving said lens and light source in the opposite direction comprising a roller normally out of engagement but frictionally engageable with said disc, means for driving said normally disengaged disc roller; and operator controlled means for bringing said roller into frictional engagement with said disc.

3. A visual aid attachment for a looping machine having a rotatable dial and a relatively fixed stud at the center of said dial, said attachment comprising a disc mounted on said stud for free rotation relative thereto; an arm extending outwardly from said disc; a magnifying lens carried at the outer end of said arm in position to magnify the dial points in the location that the work is applied thereto; a dial contacting roller carried by said arm to move said lens with said dial to follow the application of work to said dial points; and means controllable by the foot of the operator drivingly associated with said disc to move said lens in the opposite direction.

4. A visual aid attachment for a looping machine having a rotatable dial and a relatively fixed stud at the center of said dial, said attachment comprising a disc mounted on said stud for free rotation relative thereto; an arm extending outwardly from said disc; a magnifying lens carried at the outer end of said arm in position to magnify the dial points at the location to which work is applied thereto; means associated with said disc to move said lens with said dial to follow the application of work to said points; and means also associated with said disc and includin a foot pedal, operative to move said lens in the opposite direction at the will of the operator.

5. A visual aid attachment for a looping machine as defined in claim 4 wherein an anti-friction bearing is interposed between said disc and said stud and a collar disposed on said stud to facilitate positioning said bearing thereon,

6. A visual aid attachment for a looping machine having a rotatable dial and a relatively fixed stud at the center of said dial, said attachment comprising rotatable means associated with said stud and supporting an arm extending outwardly therefrom; a magnifying lens carried by said arm and positioned to magnify the dial points in the location that the work is applied thereto; means carried by said arm to move said lens with said dial to follow the application of work to said dial points; and operator controlled means associated with said first mentioned means operative to move said lens in the opposite direction.

SHEPARD SCHWARTZ.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,949,416 Halnes Jr. Mar. 6, 1934 1,970,910 Haines Jr. Aug. 21, 1934

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