US2590398A

US2590398A - Thread feeding device for thread testing machines

Info

Publication number: US2590398A
Application number: US219191A
Authority: US
Inventors: Gegenschatz Walter
Original assignee: Zellweger Uster AG
Current assignee: Zellweger Uster AG
Priority date: 1950-04-14
Filing date: 1951-04-04
Publication date: 1952-03-25
Anticipated expiration: 1969-03-25
Also published as: DE824861C; GB693136A; FR1035775A

Description

March-25, 1952 w. GEGENSCHATZ 2,590,398

THREAD FEEDING DEVICE FOR THREAD TESTING MACHINES Filed April 4, 1951 s'shee'ts-sheet 1 INVENTOR. WA LTEE G EGENSCHATZ 3 BY A Q ATTORNEY March 25, 1952 w. GEGENSCHATZ THREAD FEEDING DEVICE FOR THREAD TESTING MACHINES Filed April 4, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 o w My) INVENTOR. VVALTEZE GEGENSCHATZ.

(,4 'Wya A TTOKNEK March 25, 1952 .w. GEGENSCHATZ 2,590,393

ITHREYADUFEEDING DEVICE FOR THREAD 'IIESITING MACHINES Filed April 4, 1951 I a sheets-"sheets WA LI'EZR GEGENSLCHATQZ.

' nrr R/vEK Patentecl Mar. 25, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT" OFFICE! THREAD FEEDING'DEVICEF OR THREAD TESTING MACHINE S Walter Gegenschatz; Uster, Switzerland, assignor to Zellweger A. G. Apparate-und Maschinen-l fabriken Uster, Uster, Switzerland, a corporation of Switzerland ApplicationApril 4, 1951, Serial No. 219,191 In Switzerland April- 14,. 1950 7 k Claims.- 1

The" present invention refers to. thread testing machines? of the type in which successive-lengths of thread are subjected to" tensile stressandrmore particularly to. novel and improved means. for successively feeding lengths :of thread into such testing machines.

It. is; an object of the invention to provide thread supplymeans'for automatically succes-f- V sivelyideliveringv lengths of thread froma sourcev of thread supply to a" tensioning and: tension measuring mechanism includingztw'o clamps 'b'etween -whicha lengthnof thread is heldsforthe testing operation; The supply means according tol the". invention comprise a gripper: connected with an endless chain travelling around a: loop, the-gripper beingladapted togrip the? thread extending from a source of thread supply, laying the'thread into saidtclamps, and releasing the thread after it has been taken'over by the clamps.

The'useof 'anendless chain for guiding the grip per along a predeterminedpath, makesit possible'to'shape said path tosuit the requirements of a variety of clamp arrangements of conventional thread testing devices by suitably placing sprocket wheel's supporting the chain;

ends of the lengths' of thread to betested'and the pull of the chain may be utilized for providing:' the force 1 for tensioningand: breaking? the threadi'to be tested; the tensioniforce i applied to the thread during-L the? test being i measured by conventionalimeansi which? are connected? with the- 'clamp holding3one .end'of itheilengthf of thread to :be tested;

Further. and. other objects of the present invention-will be hereinafter set forth: in the accompanyingspecification and claims; and shown inuthe drawings which, by way of illustration,

show-what I now'consider to be preferred embodiments of my" invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a apart sectional side elevation of a machine-according, to'the invention;

Fig; 2"i's aspar't sectional front elevation of the The threadgripper carried along by the chain may itself f be 1 used as one 1 of the clamps "holding? the- Fig. '7 is a rear view of'the gripper shown-in I Figs; 5 and 6 with'partof thechainto whichiit is attached-the gripper proper being shownwin ax section transverseto its longitudinal axis;

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic front view-of-amodi fled mechanism according to theinvention;

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic-front view of a further modification of 'a mechanism according-"tothe invention.

Referring now particularly to Figs; 1-and 2 oi the drawings, numerals-2 and Bdesignate thread clamps for holding alengththread I which is-to be tested which is suspended on ribbons 5-extendingover a roller d'rotatingly supported on casing-1.- The ribbons 5 are connected with a carriage trolling on asupport 8 one end of which is swingablyr connected with the casing I, coaxially with roller 4. The'other end of supports-is: providedwith a roller [0 restingon a platform or table-9;

Thepull exerted through ribbonsi-5 an the thread I clamped in clamp 2 depends on theweight of the carriage-6 and on then-inclination of the support 8. The inclination can beadjusted by changing the elevationof' platform-9'.- This is done by rotating avertical threaded roll ll extending. througha nutlike portion H of table 9. Rotation of the latter is -preventedbya verti'bal rod [2 which guides the table slidably; The weight of the clamp 2 and bracket- 2" is counterbalanced by a weight IE-suspended on roller 4.

The testing machineis driven by'a motor 13 permanently rotating pulley I5, which is fast-on machine drive shaft IS, by means-of-a belt M The rotation of shaft I5 is transmitted by spur.

gears 2 3, 2 6, 2 5 and part2 0" of a magnetic clutch which part rotates freely on shaft ih The-other part 20 of the'clutch is axiallyslidably-keyed toshaft H. The rotation of shaft l6-is also transmitted, in reverse, by-means-of spur gears 2 2 ;=2i 4 to a magnetic clutch part 19 which rotates freely on shaft H, the other par-t m of theclutchbeing axially slidablebut not rotatable on shaft I-|-;

Gear wheel 22 is in mesh with a'gear wheel "21- fast on clutch part 21' which is rotatable onashaft l8 and cooperates with a magneticclutch part 2| axially slidable but notrotatable on shaft l8.

Shaft bevel gears 28 in opposite directions depending whether clutch [9 or 20 is energized.

Shaft I8 rotates a shaft 30'through wormge'ars 29, 3|. Shaft30'carries cams'32', 33"and'5'l. can

The lower clamp 3 is: stationary The upper clamp'2 is providediwitha bracket-2 I? rotates threaded rod I lthrough- 32 is in contact with a follower roller 34 on one end of lever 35 swinging about a pin 36. The other end of lever 35 has an elongated slot 31 through which extends a pin 38 on rod 39. The latter is pivoted to one arm of the elbow levers 40 and 4|, the other arms of the levers 40 and 4| being adapted to abut against the ends of stems 2" and 3', respectively, of the thread clamps 2 and 3 for opening same against the action of springs.

Cam 33 engages follower roller 52 on lever 55 which swings on a stationary pin 43. The free end of lever 45 is linked to an arm member 45 by a connecting rod 45. Member 46 is fast on two rods 41 vertically guided in guides 58 and pressed upwards by a spring 49. The upper ends of rods 41 extend through large holes 59 in the bracket 2' and are provided with heads 11 outside of the bracket for upward travel of the rods through holes prior to upward movement of clamp 2 during a thread tensile strength test and effecting return of clamp 2 to it initial position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 after completion of the test, upon downward movement of the rods 41. When the clamp 2 is in its initial position, its stem is in a position in which it can be engaged by lever 49 for opening the clamp.

For a better understanding of the operation of the thread testing device, reference is made to the electric wiring diagram, Fig. 3. A

switch

63, 64 is closed simultaneously with a switch or other device I3 for starting the motor |3. Closing of

switch

63, 54 energizes lines 53 and 55' feeding the magnetic clutches i9, 25 and 2|.

Clutch 20, which effects upward movement of table 9, is energized upon closing of switch 58 and of

switch

53, 54. As seen in Fig. 1, switch 58 is closed whenever table 9 is not in uppermost position; table 9 is provided with an extension whose top and bottom are insulated by insulators 55 which contact arms of switches 51 or 58 for opening same depending whether the table is in lowest or uppermost position. The movable central member 53 of two-

way switch

53, 54 and 53, 55 as actuated by a plunger 52 which is responsive to the position of cam 5|.

Energization of clutch |9 causes downward movement of table 9 which is needed for making a thread test. Clutch |9 receives current upon closing of

contacts

53 and 55, which is effected by cam 5|, and of switches 51 and 59. Switch 51 is closed whenever table 9 is not in its lowermost position. Switch 59 is closed as long as arm 55' of a thread feeler G5 is held in the position shown in Fig. 1 by the lower end of one of the rods 41. The first step for making a thread test is the release of rod 45 by cam 33 to produce quick upward movement of rods 41 by the action of springs 59 and release of the bracket 2'. This being done, the feeler 60 rests on the tensioned thread i which prevents spring 5| from pulling arm 55 against the switch 59 for opening it. To prevent the thread I from yielding to the pressure of feeler 69, a pin 62 is provided on the side of the thread opposed to that where the feeler is located. When the thread breaks, feeler 55 and its arm 69' turn counterclockwise due to the action of spring 6| and the arm 55' opens contact 59 thereby de-energizing clutch l9 and interrupting downward movement of table 9, whose position indicates the force which Was required to break the thread.

Energization of clutch I9 is accompanied by energization of solenoid 55 and opening of contacts 65 whereby clutch 2| is de-energized and shafts |8 and 55 are stopped as long as table 9 moves downward, i. e., during a thread test.

In the foregoing, mechanisms are described which are of a kind used in conventional thread testing machines. The following relates to means according to the invention for continuously feeding new lengths of thread to extend between the clamps 2 and 3 to be held thereby for testing. These means comprise a chain 58 which forms a loop extending around four

sprocket wheels

55, 19, 15 and 15,

wheels

59 and 15 being visible in Figs. 1 and 2,

wheels

15 and 15 being shown diagrammatically in Fig. 4. Wheel 55 is connected to shaft I8 by means of a speed reducing gear i1 and driven thereby.

One link of chain 58 is provided with a thread gripper 61 which is illustrated in a larger scale in Figs. 5, 6 and 7. Clamp part 15 has a stem 19 which is screwed into sleeve 55. The latter is slidable in a cylinder 8| having a head 82 forming the counterpart to clamp part 18. Spring 53 presses part 18 against the head 82. Sleeve has a slot 83 extending transversely to its longitudinal axis and receiving the head 54 of a pin 85 which is rotatable in a holder portion 86 to which the cylinder 8| is secured and which is connected with a link of the chain 53. The head 84 has a flat surface 81 which is parallel to an interior surface of the slot 83 when the clamp is closed, i. e. in the position shown in Figs. 5 to '1. If pin 85 is rotated the head 84 pushes sleeve 80 against the action of spring 83' and opens the thread gripper 18, 82. To effect rotation of the pin 85, its outer end is provided with a wing part having two

wings

13, 14 adapted to be engaged by stationary catches 1|, 12, respectively (Figs. 1 and 2), when the gripper moves past said catches in the direction indicated by arrow 88 in Fig. 5. Catch 12 which is in the position A in the diagram Fig.4 opens the gripper 61 and catch 1| closes it when the gripper reaches the position indicated by letter B in Fig. 4. The chain 68 and its mechanism are so designed that during one revolution of the control shaft 3|] gripper 61 travels once around the loop formed by chain 68. Since clutch 2| is disengaged during the time a thread length is tested, shafts l8 and 39 and consequently chain 68 and gripper 61 do not move during the test period.

For setting up the machine, thread is pulled from bobbin 89, laid into guide 90 and clamped into gripper 61, if the latter is in the neighborhood of sprocket wheel 15; if not, the thread is laid into clamps 2 and 3. By starting the motor l3, clutch 2| is energized and shaft I8, which drives the chain 58 and the control shaft 30, is rotated, cam 33 permits rods 41 to move upward for releasing the clamp holder 2' and permitting the clamp 2 to be pulled upward by the testing mechanism 4, 5, 6, 8, 9. As soon as

contacts

53, 55 are closed clutch l9 and solenoid 65 are energized whereby clutch 2| is de-energized and shaft I8 is stopped and shaft l1 rotated to move table 9 downward for making a thread breakage test. The moment the thread breaks, thread feeler 50, 69' opens switch 59 whereby clutch l9 and solenoid 55 are de-energized and clutch 2| is energized and chain 68 is moved in the direction of arrow 88 with the thread gripper 61 open. Cam 33 returns, through members 44 to 41, clamp 2 and the thread tensioning and testing mechanism to initial position, in which rods 41 are in lowermost position and the lower end of one of them holds thread feeler 60 in position to receive a thread and switch 59 closed for the next testing period.

agbedebe when -theopen'gripper-61 reaches position Bg itobntacts I-tli'ethreadextending between guide 9'fl and c-lamp 2 and subsequently grips it when the gripper isclos'ed' due to engagement" of 'wing'" 13 with catch ll. The chain-and gripper attached thereto continue totravel thereby laying the thread consecutively-"intoclamps 2 and 3 which a're' held-"openby the action of cam 32' and the mechanism 34- 'to -4i.- When the thread gripper contacts53, 55. Prior to

thiS COIItaCtS

53 and 54.

wereclosed and shaft l1 rotated simultaneously WithLshaftfl 8 for returning table 9' to its top posi ti'on;.in; which. it opened"switcn 58i for stopping shaft I'll Fig. 8 diagrammatically illustrates a modification of the machine according to the invention in which the stationary thread clamp 3 is omitted and replaced by the thread gripper 61. Since the chain 68 and the gripper are at a standstill during actuation of the thread testing mechanism, gripper 61 can be used as stationary thread clamp for testing the thread.

Fig. 9 illustrates diagrammatically a further modification of the machine according to the invention. In this case, as in the one shown in Fig. 8, the thread gripper 61 serves for holding one end of the thread length to be tested during the test. It is, however, not stationary but moves from position C to D for stretching the thread. The force exerted on the thread up to the time it breaks is measured by conventional tension 4 force reaction and measuring means 9| which are not shown in detail as they do not form part of the present invention. After gripper 61 has reached position D, it is opened by a catch 72 in the same manner as in Figs. 4 and 8. The open gripper travels with the chain and receives thread coming from spool 89 upon reaching position E. Thereafter, the gripper is closed by engagement with catch H, as described previously. Instead of one sprocket wheel 15, as in Figs. 4 and 8, two wheels and 15' are provided for guidance of the chain so that the gripper holding a fresh supply of thread to be tested has travelled past the clamp 2 by a distance corresponding substantially to the length of thread to be tested before the thread is laid into the clamp.

While I believe the above described embodiments of my invention to be preferred embodiments, I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the exact details of method, design, and construction shown and described, for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. A thread testing machine having thread tension measuring means including a thread clamp supporting a length of thread to be tested,

a source of thread from which thread to be tested extends to said clamp, a chain forming a loop, sprocket wheels supporting said chain in a plane substantially parallel to the length of thread to be tested, drive means connected with at least one of said sprocket wheels for moving said chain, and a thread gripper connected with said chain and extending laterally thereof and being moved thereby in a path looped around said clamp, said gripper being adapted to grip the thread extendingfrom saidi s'ource and -to lay-the :tmesa smmt 2: A thread testing: machine comprising: a source of thread, thread tension measuring: means including a thread' clamp for supporting. a length of thread tobe tested, thread. supply means including a chain, sprocket wheels sup porting said chainto form a loop, drive means connected with at least one of said-- wheels for" moving said chain, and -athread grippercon nected. with saidchain tomove therewith and:

adapted to grip the thread extending fromsaid shaped -path extending around said clamp.-

'3'; A threadtesting machine comprising" a source of thread to betested; thread tension measuring means including a threadclamp- -for'- supporting a' length of thread to be tested; threa'd supply meansincluding a chain, rotatable means" supporting said chain to form a loop situated in a plane parallel to the length of thread to be tested, drive means connected with said rotatable means for moving the chain around the loop formed thereby, and a thread gripper connected with and extending laterally of said chain and travelling in a loop extending around said clamp and being adapted to grip the thread extending from said source and to lay it into said clamp.

4. A thread testing machine comprising a source of thread to be tested, thread tension measuring means including a thread clamp for supporting a length of thread to be tested, thread supp-1y means including a chain, rotatable means supporting said chain to form a loop situated in a plane parallel to the length of therad to be tested, drive means connected with said rotatable means for moving the chain around the loop formed thereby, a thread gripper connected with and extending laterally of said chain and travelling in a loop extending around said clamp and being adapted to receive the thread extending from said source and to lay it into said clamp, and stationary means disposed in the path of said gripper and adapted to close it after it has received a thread and to open it after it has laid the thread into said clamp.

5. A thread testing machine comprising a source of thread to be tested, thread tension measuring means including two thread clamps for supporting a length of thread to be tested therebetween, thread supply means including a chain, rotatable means supporting said chain to form a loop situated in a plane parallel to the length of thread to be tested, drive means connected with said rotatable means for moving the chain around the loop formed thereby, and a thread gripper connected with and extending laterally of said chain and travelling in a loop extending around said clamps and being adapted to grip the thread extending from said source and to lay it into said clamps.

6. A thread testing machine comprising a source of thread to be tested, thread tensioning means including a thread clamp clamping one end of a length of thread to be tested, a chain, rotatable means supporting said chain to form a loop situated in a plane parallel to the length of thread to be tested, drive means connected with said rotatable means for moving the chain around the loop formed thereby, a thread gripper connected with and extending laterally of said chain and travelling in a loop extending around said clamp and adapted to grip the thread extending from said source and to lay the thread into said clamp, and means interposed between said drive means and said rotatable means for interrupting movement of said chain and said gripper after the latter has travelled past said clamp by a distance corresponding to the length of thread to be tested.

'7. A thread testing machine comprising a source of thread to be tested, thread tension force reacting and measuring means including a thread clamp clamping one end of a length of thread to be tested, a travelling chain forming a loop situated in a plane parallel to the length of the thread to be tested, a thread gripper connected with and extending laterally of said chain and adapted to grip the thread extending from said source, rotatable means supporting said chain and being so located as to guide the chain on a path of such configuration around said clamp that the thread is laid into the clamp after said gripper has travelled past said clamp by a distance corresponding substantially to the length of the thread to be tested, and drive means connected with said rotatable means for 1 causing said chain and gripper to travel around REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,749,991 Valentine Mar. 11, 1930 2,142,251 Nunan Jan. 3, 1939 2,232,500 Weaver Feb. 18, 1941