US2615712A

US2615712A - Fold catching mechanism for cloth piling machines

Info

Publication number: US2615712A
Application number: US62585A
Authority: US
Inventors: Herbert W Springer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1948-11-29
Filing date: 1948-11-29
Publication date: 1952-10-28
Anticipated expiration: 1969-10-28

Description

H. W. SPRINGER FOLD CATCHING MECHANISM FOR CLOTH FILING MACHINES Filed Nov. 29, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 I n uentor Herbert W. Springer Oct. 28, 1952 H. w. QPQINGER 2,615,712

FOLD CATCHING MECHANISH FOR CLOTH PILING MACHINES Filed Nov. 29, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTO BY 4 &M u

1952 H. w. SPRINGER 15,712

FOLD CATCHING MECHANISM FOR CLOTH FILING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 29, 1948 E2 48' Herbert n. Springer 3 INVENTOR.

Fri/'04 FOLD CATCHING MECHANISM FOR CLOTH FILING MACHINES Filed Nov. 29, 1948 Oct. 28, 1952 H. w. EPRINGE'R 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Inventor Herbert W. Springer IA r. m :4

Oct. 28, 1952 H. w. SPRINGER FOLD CATCHING MECHANISM FOR CLOTH FILING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 29, 1948 I s 8 q 0. m .MM Q A 0% sm 3 W i r w e m @w H *w Patented Oct. 28, 1952 OFFICE U FOLD CATCHING MECHANISM FOR CLOTH PILING MACHINES a Herbert W. Springer, Quakertown, Pa. Application November 29, 1948, Serial No. 62,585

., Claims.

Thisinvention relates to a cloth piling Ina-- chine and has for its-primary object positively to hold the topmost foldof a cloth pile against movement during the travel of the cloth piling carriage away from the fold.

Another object is to lay cloth on a support in successive folds of uniform width for inspection and other purposes.

Cloth piling or cloth laying machines of the type to which this invention relates generally comprise a carriage mounted to reciprocate to and fro in a rectilinear path above a supportin surface upon which cloth from a supply of cloth carried by the carriage is laidin successive folds by mechanism carried by the carriage and cooperating with fold retaining mechanism supported on the support, adjacent opposite ends of the rectilinear path through which the carriage moves. In most instances the cloth is held on the support adjacent successive folds through the medium of weighted foot members which depend on friction for the purpose of retaining the folds in place, with-the result that the cloth leaving the carriage must be fed in a relatively slack condition. I v v Another object of this invention is to positively hold the successive folds so that as the carriage reciprocates, and the cloth is fed therefrom,

'the cloth leaving the carriage may be held under considerable tension.

The above'and other objects may be attained by employing this invention which embodies among its features a carriage supporting a supply of cloth and mounted to move to and fro in a rectilinear path above a support on which the cloth from said supplyis piled in successive folds, a reversible cloth folding bar having a cloth receiving slot extending therethrough mounted on the carriage to oscillate about a longitudinal axis which extends transversely of the rectilinear path through which the carriage moves, cloth catches carried by thesupport adjacent opposite ends of the rectilinear path for engaging opposite folded edges of the piled cloth and holding said cloth against movement under the influence of pull exerted on the cloth by the carriage as it recedes from a cloth catch, and means on the carriage for lifting a cloth catch clear of the piled cloth and causing it to enter the slot in the folding bar as the carriage approaches the cloth catch. a I 1 Other features include means operable by the folding bar reversing means to elevate the folding bar each time that the carriage reaches the end of itsmovement 'in the rectilinear path;

Still other features include means on the carriage to elevate, the folding bar. each time'the carriage reaches the'end of its movement in the rectilinear path, and means on the folding bar elevating means for lifting the cloth catches and guiding them into position to grip the fold of the "cloth as it is being: deposited on the cloth pile by the folding bar.

In the drawings; h

Figure 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of a cloth piling machine embodying the features of this invention. I

Figure 2" is a fragmentary side view of the cloth piling machine illustrated in Figure 1. Figure Zais a fragmentary side view of the end of the machine opposite that illustrated, in Figure 2, Figure 3 is an enlargedfragmentary longitudinal sectional view showing the cloth foldin bar approaching one of the cloth catches, Figure/i is a view similar to Figure 3 showing the folding bar-at the end of its travel and in reversed position, with the cloth catch engaging the cloth passing through the folding bar,

a Figure 5 is a view similarto Figure 4 showing the relation of the parts when the folding bar is receding from the cloth catch at the left hand end of themachine, Figure 6 is an enlargedffragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the line 6-6 of Figure 1,

Figure 7215 a horizontal sectional view taken substantiallyalong the linefL-l of Figure 6, I Figure 8 is anenlargedside view of one of the cloth catches. t, p a

Figure 9 is a-vertical sectional view taken su bstantially along the line 9-9 of Figure 6, i

Figure 10 is an enlarged horizontal'sectio'nal view through one end of the folding bar and showing in detail the mounting thereof,

Figure 11 is a-qview of a carriage plate with gears assembled thereon,

Figure 12 is a view of parts of the carriage --assembly,' and 1 Figure 13 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of one of the cloth catches.

Referring to the drawings in detail, a carriage designated generally I0 is mounted to move to the carriage Ill adjacent one end thereof are uprights or standards 16 and attached to opposed faces of the standards l6 arespaced'parallel' vertically extending guide bars I8, the opposed faces of which are undercut as at 20 (Figure '7) to form in conjunction with an adjacent standard or upright I B a vertically extending dovetail shaped channel. The opposite edges of the vertically extending guide bars I8 are provided with spaced teeth 22 forming vertically extending racks for a purpose to be more fully hereinafter disclosed.

Mounted for vertical sliding movement in the dovetail channel formed between each pair of guid bars I 8 is a guide member 24, opposite side edges of which are beveled as at 28 (Figure 17). to engage the undercut portions 20 of the guide bars I8 and retain the guide members inthe dovetail shaped channels. Extending inwardly from the upper end of each guide member 24 is..a.zstp. 28 carrying an adjustable stop screw'30 which.

serves to limit upwardmovement of its respective guide member. in its respective channel. Formed near the lowerend ofi'each guide '24 is a transverse horizontal opening 32. The opening 32.- in the guides on opposite sides of'the carriage. I0 align. axially andform bearings in which are received the trunnions ofthe cloth folding bar to be more fullyihereinafter described.

A cloth" folding bar designated generally 34 extends horizontally between the guides 24 and each such bar comprises a pair'of'cap' members.

36"each carrying an axial trunnion 38'which is journaled'in the opening 32 of an adjacent guide member 24. Keyed or otherwise fixed to each trunnion" 38;" for turningjmovement with said trunnion 38 between the cup member 36 and the.

guide member '24 inwhich the trunnion is journaled, is a pinion 40 'by means of which the trunnion 38 may be turned in its respective opening 32; Fixed to'opposed-facesof the-cup members "and extending horizontally'across'the carriage.

I0 are transversely arcuate bars 42 forming'a substantially tubularfoldingrbar having longitudinally extending guide slots 44 and 46' (Figure 4). Extending through the edgesof the'arcuatebars 42 whichdeflne. the slot 46 are longitudinallyspaced slots 48 which accommodate the spurs of the clothcatch'esto be more fully hereinafter described.

Carried on each trunnion-38 is 'aplate 50 (Figs. 6; .'7and 9) andmounted ontheplate 50 for rotation above a'horizontal axis-'on'oneside of the.

vertical guide bars I8 is a gear 52 which meshes withthe teeth'22' on'one'ofthe guide'bars I8. Alatchdogilis pivoted to the plate 50 and engages the teeth of the gear'52 to hold'the assembly against downward movement. Extending:

horizontallyacross the carriage I0 and journaled in the plates 50 onthe' side of the guide bars I8 remote fromthegear 52 is a-shaft'56'(Fig. 1) adjacent opposite ends of which are fixed gears 58 which have meshing engagement'with the rack.

adjustable stops '66 are carried. by :opposite sends =J5 of each push rod in order to assure accuracy in the operation thereof. Each push rod 62 is provided in one side face with an elongated longitudinal groove 88 and suitable guides 10 are fixed to each plate '50 to enter the slot 68 in an adjacent push rod 82 to retain it in a horizontal position. Carried by the top face of each push rod 62 and projecting upwardly therefromis a dog 72 which engages the gear 52 when the push rod is moved in one direction to rotate said gear a distance equal to one tooth. When the push rod reaches its limit of movement in the opposite direction, the dog" engages the gear 58 and rotatesit a distance equal to one tooth. In this way the guidemembers 24 and the folding bar 34 are'elevated'in'a step by step manner each time the;carriage-.Iflreaches an end of its to and fro motion.

Secured to the face of each plate 50 remote from the

gears

40, 52 and 58, and on opposite sides of the-folding. bar 34' are horizontally; extending guide bars 14 and inclined guide bars I6 which slope downwardly as they'recede from the foldingl' bar: 34; These guide bars I4 and- IB-form oppositely disposed guide channels on oppositesides of" the carriage'and serve to elevate the cloth catches to be -more fullyhereinafter described.

Carried by the support or table- I2adjacent opposite ends of the rectilinear path through which the-carriage'IO moves'are cloth catches designated generally 18 and. 80. These cloth catches are exact counterparts of one another andeach'comprises a pair of spacedupwardly extendingparallel plates82. Carried by'the-plates 82 of each cloth catch I8and B l-- and extending therebetween in upwardly spaced "relation: to the support or table" I2 is aliorizontally disposed tie bar 84-andt formed in each plate 82 between the tie'bar 84 andthe-edgewhich faces .the folding bar'34 is a forwardly andxdownwardly, curved slot-86.

A-framadesignated .generally 88 works-between oppositely: disposed plates 82 and comprises a pair: of arms '90 .each ofwhich is slotted as at 92 to receive the tie bar 84. These-.armsproject toward the foldingbar 34- of the carriage. I0 and are connected. together bytiebars 94 and tithe latter OfIWhlCh' is' extended beyond the arms 90 and enter the slots to cooperate with the tie bar 84 in supporting the frame 88 for receding movement as it moves upwardly inresponse to theincrease in height of the' cloth asit is-piled on the-support. Each'arm 90isprovided in its upper edgeintermediate its-ends'with a; row of longitudinally spaced V-shaped notches.98 and rockably; supported in .thearms adjacent the ends-thereof remote-fromthe tie .bar 84:isarock shaft. I00. Fixed to the rock shaft I00 and extending forwardly-therefrom beyond the ends of thearms are-cloth engaging fingers I02 carrying adjacent. their'extreme forward ends depending 'cloth penetratingspurs I04; The fingers I82 Eon the-.cloth catches 'areso spaced 1ongitudinally'onthe rock' shaft I00'that they register withuthe notches 48 in'the cloth folding bar 34 on'thecarriage' I0; Extending through' the fingers I02: adjacent the'ends thereof remote. from the spurs I04'=is a' tie bar I06 which is provided near: each end With an inverted 'U-shaped' yoke I08; the bight'-'portion' of "which bridges an arm 90 in spaced relation thereto. Pivotally supported on the tie bar? I06 is'alatch'yoke 'I III the bight portion .of" which. istprovided with 1a: knife edge I I2 ;whichccooperates;with the notches. in hold.- ing the L fiIlgEXSFB-t. .variousangleszw-ith relation'to the frame 88. A retractile coil spring I I4 is coupled at one end to an arm 90 and at its opposite end to an adjacent yoke I I yieldingly to hold the knife edge II2 thereof in a notch 98. Fixed to each end'of the rock shaft I00 and extending for.- wardly therefrom in parallel relation to the cloth engaging fingers I02 is an actuating lever I05 adjacent the extreme forward end of which is mounted to rotate about a horizontal axis a roller I03. The axes of the rollers I03 of each cloth catch align and are so positioned as to be received in the guide channels formed between the guide bars 14 and IS on opposite sides of the carriage. Fixed to each plate 82 and extending upwardly therefrom in the path of movement of each push rod 62 is a stop IIB which engages an adjustable stop 66 as the carriage I0 approaches the ends of its to and fro movements.

A stop I I8 projects outwardly from each standard or upright I6 in the path of movement of the stop screws 30 carried by the guide members 24 and mounted for rotation between the uprights or standards I6 adjacent the upper ends thereof is a horizontal cloth guiding roller I over which cloth passing from the cloth supply I4 passes on its way to the folding bar 34.

In operation a supply of cloth I4 is mounted on the carriage and the cloth therefrom is passed over the guide roller I29 from whence it extends downwardly through the

slots

44 and 46 in the folding bar 34. The end edge of the cloth is then positioned beneath the fingers I02 of one of the cloth catches I8 or 80 and the carriage is moved in its rectilinear path away from the fixed edge of the cloth, thus pulling cloth off of the cloth supply I4 through the folding bar 34 and depositing it as a layer on the support or table I2. As

the carriage approaches the end of its travel away in dotted lines in Figure 4. The spurs I04 then enter the folded cloth adjacent the fold thereof and as the carriage starts on its return, the cloth is laid in the next successive layer. Reciprocal movement of the push rods 62 will cause the dogs 12 alternately to engage the teeth of the

gears

52 and 58 and cause first one gear and then the other to be moved a distance of one tooth. Such movement of the gears will cause the vertical movable guides 24 to move upwardly between the guide bars I8 and to carry the folding bar 34 upwardly with a step by step motion as the height of the cloth pile increases. Reverse motion of the

gears

52 and 58 and hence accidental lowering of the folding bar 34 is prevented by the engagement of the dogs 54 with the gears 52. When the folding bar 34 has reached its upper limit of travel the latch dogs 54 may be disengaged from the gears 52 and the speed at which the parts are the crank arm 60.

' Number Name Date I 1,257,421 Sussman et al. Feb. 26, 1918 r 2,442,352 Gilbert et a1. June 1, 1948 2,520,895 Gilbert Aug. 29, 1950 This application is a continuation-in-part of my application Serial Number 584,919, now abandoned. i 3 While in the foregoing there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of this invention it is to be understood that minor changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having described the claimed as new is:

1. In a cloth piling machine in which a. carriage supporting a supply of cloth moves to and fro in a rectilinear path above a support on which the cloth from said supply is piled in successive folds, a cloth folding bar having an elongated longitudinal cloth receiving slot extending therethrough mounted on the carriage to oscillate about a horizontal axis which is transverse to the rectilinear path, cloth catches carried by the support adjacent opposite ends of the rectilinear path for engaging opposite folded edges of the piled cloth and holding the cloth againstmovement, means on the carriage for lifting the cloth catches clear of the piled cloth and causing said catches to enter said slot, vertical racks carried by said carriage, a guide member mounted for vertical movement between pairs of said racks,

invention, what is said folding bar being carried by a pair of said guide members, a pinion fixed to said bar, a plate carried by said bar, gears carried by said plate and enmeshed with the teeth of said pair of racks, a push rod mounted for horizontal movement and engaging said pinion to rotate said bar, and means carried by said push rod and engaging said gears to rotate said gears, thereby moving said plate in response to movement of said push rod.

. 2. The machine defined in claim 1 and a latch dog carried by said plate andengaging the teeth of one of said gears to hold said plate against downwardvertical movement.

3. The machine defined in claim 1 and a latch dog carried by said plate and engaging the teeth of one, of said gears to hold said plate against 5. The machine defined in claim 1 and stops operatively connected with each of said guide members for limiting the vertical upward movement of said guide members. I

HERBERT W. SPRINGER.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS