US2668384A

US2668384A - Apparatus for impressing transfer designs upon pottery blanks

Info

Publication number: US2668384A
Application number: US177813A
Authority: US
Inventors: Barker William Arthur
Original assignee: United Shoe Machinery Corp
Current assignee: United Shoe Machinery Corp
Priority date: 1949-09-01
Filing date: 1950-08-05
Publication date: 1954-02-09
Anticipated expiration: 1971-02-09

Description

Feb. 9,1954 w. A. BARKER 2,668,384

- APPARATUS FOR IMPRESSING TRANSFER DESIGNS .UPON POTTERY BLANKS Filed Aug. 5, 1950 15 Sheets-Sheet l [0 Inventor Ml Zz'czm A B qrker Feb. 9, 1954 w, BARKER 2,668,384

APPARATUS FOR IMPRESSING TRANSFER DESIGNS UPON POTTERY BLANKS Filed Aug. 5, 1950 l 15 Sheets-Sheet 2 I Inventor William A.Bar/ er Feb. 9, 1954 w BARKER 2,668,384

. APPARATUS FOR IMPRESSING TRANSFER DESIGNS UPON POTTERY BLANKS 15 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 5. 1950 r m M 6, mm M |.Wf/ bar/ Feb. 9, 1954 w BARKER 2,668,384 APPARATUS FOR IMPRESSING TRANSFER v DESIGNS UPON POTTERY BLANKS Filed Aug. 5, 1950 l5 Sweets- Sheet 4 Inventor By 's A ey 1- T William A.Ba .r1 er Feb. 9, 1954 w. A. BARKER 2,668,384

APPARATUS FOR IMPRESSING TRANSFER DESIGNS UPON POTTERY BLANKS Filed Aug. 5, 1950 16 She ets-Sheet 5 1954 w. A. BARKER 2,668,384

APPARATUS FOR IMPRESSING TRANSFER DESIGNS UPON POTTERY BLANKS Filed Aug. 5, 1950 15 Sheets-Sheet 6 [nvenzo'r 'Fb. 9, 1954 w BARKER 2,668,384 APPARATUS FOR 'IMPRESSING TRANSFER v DESIGNS UPON POTTERY BLANKS Filed Aug. 5, 1950 l5 Sheets-Sheet 7 m q w 22 :nnnnnnnn\ w 228 2 I Mlliam A. Barker Feb. 9, 1954 w, BARKER 2,668,384

APPARATUS FOR IMPRESSING TRANSFER DESIGNS UPON POTTERY BLANKS Filed Aug. 5, 1950 15 Sheets-Sheet 8 352, l & A [nvenion H 551%; Arfforney 3 9, 1954 w. A. BARKER APPARATUS FOR IMPRESSING TRANSFER DESIGNS UPON POTTERY BLANK-S Filed Aug. 5, 1950 l5 Sheets-Sheet 9 Inventor Wi Z Z llG/I'TL A. Bar/ 62" Feb. 9, 1954 w, BARKER 2,668,384

APPARATUS FOR IMPRESSING TRANSFER DESIGNS UPON POTTERY BLANKS Filed Aug. 5, 1950 15 Sheets-Sheet l0 Inventor Lv$ZZA1r7Lx4.Z3anker* Feb. 9, 1954 w. A. BARKER APPARATUS FOR IMPRESSING TRANSFER DESIGNS UPON POTTERY BLANKS Filed Aug. 5, 1950 15 Sheets-Sheet 11 [nven for William/L Barker By hi Afao g f I A H l a- F -f m Q 8% 3 Feb. 9, 1954 w R R 2,668,384

APPARATUS FOR IMPRESSING TRAN R DESIGNS UPON POTTERY BLANK Filed Aug. 5. 1950 15 Sheets-Sheet l2 \Kw a h's qmme 12 630" 633 i Fbj ii; 1954 W. A. BARKER APPARATUS FOR IMFRESSING TRANSFER DESIGNS UPON POTTERY BLANKS l5 Sheets-Sheet 13 Filed Aug. 5. 1950 Inventor William A Barker Feb. 9, 1954 w. A. BARKER 2,668,384

APPARATUS FOR IMPRESSING TRAN ER DESIGNS UPON POTTERY BLAN Filed Aug. 5, 1950 15 Sheets-Sheet l4 5 his owe a fi z William ABar'ker Feb. 9, 1954 w. A. BARKER 2,668,384

APPARATUS FOR IMPRESSING TRANSFER DESIGNS UPON POTTERY BLANKS l5 Sheets-Sheet 15 Filed Aug. 5. 1950 Inventor. M ham A. Barker Patented Feb. 9, 1954 APPARATUS FOR IMPRESSING TRANSFER DESIGNS UPON POTTERY BLANKS William Arthur Barker, Leicester, England, as-

signor to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Flemington, N. J a corporation of New Jersey Application August 5, 1950, Serial No. 177,813

Claims priority, application Great Britain September 1, 1949 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for use in ornamenting work pieces and more particularly to apparatus for impressing paint from a transfer upon a pottery blank. The invention is illustrated in a machine of the type shown in application for Letters Patent of the United States Serial No. 66,111, filed December 18, 1948, in the name of N. V. Germany. Such a machine includes a pair of flexible diaphragms which are preferably substantially impervious to air, these diaphragms being arranged to operate on opposite sides of a pottery blank to apply pressure thereto. The diaphragms are carried by supports providing pressure chambers into which pressure fluid, such as air, is admitted when the supports are in juxtaposition to each other, but previous to admitting air into the chambers the air between the diaphragms is exhausted, thus permitting intimate contact of the diaphragms with the opposite sides of the pottery blank being operated upon.

It is an object of the present invention to provide improved apparatus of the type referred to above which is so constructed as to require a minimum of skill and attention on the part of the operator.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, a lower work supporting diaphragm is carried by a stationary support, an upper diaphragm being carried by a support pivoted to a beam which is, in turn, pivoted about a horizontal axis on the frame of the machine so that by rocking the beam about its pivotal the upper diaphragm is moved toward or away from the Work carried by the lower diaphragm. In order to avoid damage to the diaphragms by admission of air pressure into the chambers and building up a pressure therein when the diaphragms are not in juxtaposition to each other, and in accordance with a feature of the invention, the chambers formed by the upper and lower diaphragms and their supports are open to the atmosphere when the upper support is in its upper position so that if at this time air be admitted by malfunctioning of the apparatus, for example, into the chambers, it will merely exhaust to the atmosphere without distending the diaphragms; The openings by which the chambers have communication with the atmosphere when the upper support is in inoperative position are so arrangedas to provide communication between the lower and the upper chamhers and to cut 01? the communication with the atmosphere when the upper support is moved downwardly into operative position with respect to the lower support. Consequently, air admitted into the lower support will pass through the aforementioned openings into the upper support, the openings being in direct communication, and of sufiicient size that the pressure will increase in the two chambers at substantially the same rate.

In accordance with a further feature of the invention, means is provided for automatically causing the exhaust of air from the space between the diaphragms in response to the completion of the downward movement of the upper support and for admitting pressure fluid into the chambers a predetermined time thereafter to force the diaphragms against the work, the pressure being maintained for a predeterminedperiod of time after which the pressure fluid isexhausted and the clutch re-engaged to raise the upper support to carry its diaphragm out of contact with the Work, permitting removal of the Work from the machine. Thus all portions of the cycle of operation are automatic after the support has moved downwardly and the length of time which elapses between the moment when the space between the diaphragms is first connected to a source of suction and the moment when pressure fluid is admitted to the chambers as well as the length of time the pressure is maintained is constant for each cycle of operation of the machine, thus insuring uniformity of work done by the machine and eliminating the necessity of the operator giving any attention to the operation of the machine at this time, thus permitting him to load the other station of the machine. In accordance with another feature of the invention, the lengths of the different portions of the cycle are readily adjusted by the operator in accordance with the requirements of the work being operated upon.

It is frequently desirable to spray water onto the lower diaphragm and onto a work piece thereon before the upper diaphragm is caused to engage the upper surface of the work. In accordance with a still further feature of the invention, operator controlled mechanism is provided for applying to the diaphragm through a spray pipe a predetermined quantity of water, this water being stored under pressure by operation of the machine during the previous cycle of operations. Thus the quantity of water that may be sprayed onto the diaphragm is constant, further insuring uniformity of quality of the work produced by the machine.

The above and other features of the invention, including novel combinations of parts and details of construction, will now be described by reference to the drawings and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of one form of machine in which the invention is embodied;

Fig. 2 is a right side elevation of the machine shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 of the upper portion of the machine, this view being on a somewhat larger scale than Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section through a valve controlling the water spray;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section through the workengaging diaphragms and associated structure;

Fig. 6 is a vertical section of a portion of the structure shown in Fig. 5, this section being taken at right angles to that of Fig. 5;

Fig. '7 is a vertical section through the parts at the upper right hand portion of Fig. 6 and on a larger scale;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of a portion of the mechanism for locking the lower diaphragm supporting housing to the machine;

Fig. 9 is a vertical section through a portion of the drive mechanism;

Fig. 10 is a section on the line X--X of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a section on the line XI-XI of Fig. 9;

Fig. 12 is a plan view of the mechanism shown at the left of Fig. 9;

Fig. 13 is a section on the line XIII-XIII of Fi 12;

Fig. 14 is a front elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 12;

Fig. 15 is a section on the line XV--XV of Fig. 9;

Fig. 16 is a section along the line XVIXVI of Fig. 9;

Fig. 17 is a side elevation of the mechanism shown at the right in Fig. 9;

Fig. 18 is a bottom plan view of a portion of the operating mechanism of the machine;

Fig. 19 is a vertical section of a portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 18, this view being taken along the line XIX-XIX of Fig. 20;

Fig. 20 is a side elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 18;

Fig. 21 is a detail view of a portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 20;

Fig. 22 is a plan view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 21;

Fig. 23 is a vertical section of a portion of the water spray control mechanism;

Fig. 24 is a section along the line XXIVXXIV of Fig. 23;

Fig. 25 is a side elevation of a low pressure tank of the machine and the mechanism associated therewith;

Fig. 26 is a front elevation of the tank shown in Fig. 25;

Fig. 27 is a section along the line XXVII- XXVII of Fig. 25;

Fig. 28 is a view similar to Fig. 2'7 but showing the parts in diiferent portions;

Fig. 29 is a detail view of a portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 27; and

Fig. 30 is a front elevation of the belts and pulleys by which various parts of the machine are driven.

The invention is illustrated herein as embodied in a two-station machine the stations being of substantially identical constuction, like parts bein indicated by like referencecharacters. The stations of the machine ar arranged for alternate operation so that when one station is operating upon a work piece the completed work piece may be removed from the other station and a new work piece inserted therein to be operated upon during the next cycle of operations of the machine.

The machine is shown to comprise a base I0 carried by which are housings l2 providing supports [5 each of which carries a housing [6 the top of which is closed by a diaphragm l8 (Figs. 5 and 6). The diaphragm I8 is of rubber or other suitable material substantially impervious to air and is clamped against an outwardly extending flange 20 of the housing [6. For this purpose the periphery of the diaphragm I8 is clamped. against the upper surface of the flange 20 by a clamping ring 22 and screws 2 3. An annular spacing rin 26 rests upon the outer portion of the diaphragm l8, certain of the screws 24 having enlarged portions 28 which fit in holes in the ring 26 and assist in holding the clamping ring 22 in place. These screws also have heads 30 to secure the spacing ring 26 to the upper surface of the diaphragm. As shown in Fig. 6 the spacing ring 26 is provided with a radial bore 32 passing therethrough and communicating with a pipe 34 for a purpose which will appear hereinafter.

Cooperating with the diaphragm {8 in pressing a transfer upon a work piece is an upper diaphragm 36 which is stretched across an upper support 38 by a clamping ring 60 and screws 42. A pressure chamber 44 is formed within the housing it, the top of the chamber being closed by the lower diaphragm l8 and similarly a pressure chamber 46 is formed in the support 38 the bottom of this chamber being closed by the upper diaphragm 36. With one of the stations of the machine in inoperative condition the support 38 is elevated above the position shown in Figs. 5 and 6 so that the diaphragms l8 and 36 are spaced sufficiently to permit insertion of a work piece therebetween. The support 38 is then 10wered by mechanism to be described until it is positioned adjacent to but spaced from the diaphragm l8, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, a work piece then being confined in the space between the diaphragms. The pipe 34 is then connected to a source of suction and the air is exhausted from the space between the diaphragms whereupon they are drawn into intimate contact with the work piece following which air under pressure is admitted into the

chambers

44, 48 to apply pressure through the diaphragms to the work, pressing the transfers against one or both faces of the work.

The support 38 by which the upper diaphragm 36 is carried is provided with three equally spaced upwardly extending

lugs

48, 58 and 52 (Figs. 1 and 2). The

lugs

48 and 52 are arranged to hook over pins 56 carried by a supporting bracket 55 having an upwardly extending lug 58 (Fig. 3) pivoted on a pin 60 carried by a forwardly and rearwardly extending beam 62. The lug 50 has a bore for the reception of a pin 54 arranged to pass through ears 58 depending from the bracket 56. The upper support 38 is thus firmly held by the supporting bracket 56 but by withdrawing the pin 64 it may be readily removed and replaced by a support having a differently shaped diaphragm. As shown in Fig. 6 the supporting bracket 56 has a surface 68 formed as part of a sphere which cooperates with a correspondingly shaped member 'If] carried by a central portion of the support 38 and by means of which downward thrust of the bracket 56 is applied to the support 38.

For moving the support 38 vertically to carry its diaphragm into and out of cooperative relation with the diaphragm on the housing I6 the beam 62 is arranged for swinging movement as will now be described. As shown in Fig. 3 a pin 12 is carried in bearings in the rearward portion (if the beam 52 and is provided with a central eccentric portion 14 upon which is pivoted one end of a link 16 the other end of which is pivoted on a pin 18 carried by a post 80 secured to and extending upwardly from the housing I2. The beam is U-shaped in cross section and straddles the upper end of the post 89. The pin 12 with the eccentric portion 14 provides means for adjusting the heightwise position of the rearward end of the beam 62. Carried by and secured to the pin 12 is a sector 82 having an arcuate slot 84 through which passes a locking screw 86 threaded into the beam 62 for locking the shaft in the desired position. A link 85 connected between a pin 90 carried by the beam and a pin 92 on the post 8! cooperates with the link 18 to guide the beam in its up and down movement.

For moving the beam up and down a link 94 is pivotally connected to the beam by a pin 95 the lower end of the link being formed with a strap 98 encircling an eccentric use keyed to a shaft I62 journaled in brackets I94, I96 (Figs. 18 and 19) depending from the upper portion of the housing I2. The shaft I52 has secured to one end thereof a worm gear Hi8 meshing with a worm II 0 secured to a shaft H2 extending forwardly and rearwardly of the machine and rotatably mounted in bearings in the bracket EM. Also carried by the bracket I84. is a housing II i (Fig. 20) for a clutch I15 into which the shaft II2 extends. The clutch H6 is of any suitable construction and is preferably of the type having a swash ring having a projecting dog H8, the arrangement being such that when the dog H8 is held in the position shown in Fig. 20 by a shoulder I29 on a lever 122 pivoted on a pin IZQ carried by the housing H4, the clutch is disengaged and a plate I is held in engagement with a stationary brake surface I28, but upon'release of the dog IIS by counterclockwise movement of the lever I22 in a manner to be described, the plate I26 moves to the right under the action of a spring (not shown) into engagement with a drive pulley I 30 whereupon the shaft [I2 is driven. The details of construction of the clutch H6 form no part of the present invention and accordingly are not disclosed herein. The pulley I so is mounted upon the shaft I I2 for. free rotation relative thereto and is continuously driven by a belt as will be described.

Swinging of the lever !22 in a counterclockwise direction to cause rotation of the shaft H2 and downward movement of the beam 62 is effected by a pair of handles I32, I34 (Fig. 1) by mechanism to be described, the arrangement being such that the handles must be simultaneously operated to cause downward movement of the beam and must be held in operative position until the upper work engaging diaphragm is adjacent to the lower diaphragm thus eliminating danger of a hand of the operator being caught between the diaphragms and injured.

The handle I34 (Fig. 9) is secured to a rod I36 mounted for sliding movement in, a sleeve I38 secured to and extending rearwardly from the front wall of the housing I2. The rod I36 is provided with a radially extending pin I40 received in a slot I 42 in the sleeve I38 to prevent rotary movement of the rod relatively to the sleeve. A spring I44 acting between a plate I46 secured to the front wall of the housing I2 and a collar I48 fixed to the rod I38 urges the handle rearwardly. The collar I48 has a transversely extending pin I 50 received by a forked portion I52 of the upper end of a lever I54, the lower end of which is pivoted upon a pin I58 (Fig. 14) carried by a lug I58 depending from a control box I60 carried by the housing I2. A collar I62 (Fig. 9) forming part of the handle I34 cooperates with the plate I45 to determine the rearward position of the handle.

' Carried by the lever I54 intermediate its ends is a transversely extending pin I64 (Figs. 9 and 14) having a head I66 providing a bearing for a vertically extending pin I68 carried by the forked right end ill) of a lever I12. The other end of the lever I12 is similarly connected to the handle I32. The lever I12 is pivoted upon a vertical pin I14 fixed in a forked end portion of an arm I16 pivoted upon a vertical pin I18 secured to the control box ISQ. It will be understood that the lever I12 will be moved forwardly upon forward movement of the handles I32, I34 by the rocking movements imparted to the vertically extending levers I54. Because the lever I12 is carried by the pivoted arm I16 this arm will be moved in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 12 in response to the movement of the lever I12 by the handles, the extent of movement of the lever I12 and of the arm I16 depending upon whether or not both handles are moved forwardly. Stop screws I cooperate with the lever I12 to limit the forward movement thereof. It will be understood that if only one of the handle is moved forwardly only one end of the lever I12 will move and consequently the arm I16 will not be moved as far as if both handles were moved. To cause engagement of the clutch H6 (Fig. 20) by connections to be described it is necessary that maximum movement be imparted through the handles, the lever I12 (Fig. 12) and the arm I16.

ecured to the arm I16 is a face plate I82 engageable with the outer end of a curved arm I84 secured to a vertical pivot pin I86 in a bearing I88 in the control box I66. To the lower end of the pin I 86 is secured a forked arm I90 the arms I86, I98 being urged in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 12, by a tension spring I92 connected between a hook I84 in a pin I95 on an arm I96 integral with the arm I99 and a hook secured to the control box I56, the spring normally holding the arm I 34 in engagement with the plate I82.

Between the bifurcations of the arm I30 is pivoted on a vertical pin Its, a pawl 26!! urged clockwise about the pin by a compression spring 252 seated in a recess in a boss 2% in the arm I90 and engaging a tail 2% of the pawl. The pawl is thus normally held by the spring in a position in which a corner plate 298 formed on a slide block 2H) lies within a recess in the pawl 2136 as shown in Fig. 12. The slide block 2H1 is mounted for forward and rearward sliding movement in a guideway in the control box I60 and is urged rearwardly by a compression spring 2I2 (Fig. 13) lying in a bore 214 in the block 210 the forward end of the spring engaging a plunger 2I6 arranged for sliding movement in the bore 2 I4 and abutting a cover plate 2I8 of the box Ifit. The slide block ZIB is normally urged. by the spring ZiZ rearwardly into a position determined by the engagement of a stop screw 220 threaded through a lug 222 of the slide block with a lug 224 of the box I60.

The slide block 2I0 projects rearwardly from the control box as shown in Fig. 12 and has a slot in which i received a transverse pin 226 carried by bifurcations 220 of a rod 238, the bifurcations straddling the rearward end of the slide block H0. The pin 228 and the slot in the slide block provide a lost motion connection between the slide block 2m and the rod 230. The rod 230 extends rearwardly and is pivoted at its rearward end to an arm 232 (Fig. 20) of a

lever

232, 234 pivoted on a pin 233 (Fig. 21) which is carried by spaced portions 238, 240 (Fig. 18) of a plate 242 fixed to a pin 244 mounted in bearings in the bracket I04. Also fixed to the pin 244 is an arm 240 (Fig. 21) carrying a cam roll 248 engageable with a cam 250 secured to the gear I08, the roll 248 being held in engagement with the cam by a tension spring 252 one end of which is connected to the arm 245 and the other end to the bracket I04. The upper end of the

lever

232, 234 is connected by a link 254 to an arm 253 of a lever pivoted on a pin 253 fixed in the bracket I04. A second arm 250 of this lever overhangs an end of the lever I22 and carries an adjustable stop screw 202 engageable with the lever I22. A tension spring 264 urges the lever I22 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 20 into engagement with the stop screw 262.

It will be understood that when the handles I32, I34 (Fig. l) are pulled forwardly to move the lever I12 (Fig. 12) into its forward position in engagement with the stop screws I80 the pawl 208 moves the slide block 2I8 forwardly against the action of spring 2I2, pulling the rod 230 forwardly causing clockwise movement of the lever 232, 234 (Fig. 20) which turns the

lever

258, 250 in clockwise direction moving the lever I22 in a counterclockwise direction out of engagement with the dog I83 thus permitting engagement of the clutch H6. As heretofore explained, if only one of the handles I32, I34 is pulled forwardly the arm I10 is not moved into its forwardmost position and the forward movement of the rod is insufficient to move the lever 22 out of a locking engagement with the dog H8 and the clutch is not permitted to engage. Assuming that the operator moves both hands forwardly to permit engagement of the clutch and then releases his hand from one of the handles the lever I22 will move back into a position to drop behind the dog H8 and cause disengagement of the clutch after it has completed a revolution thus interrupting rotation of the worm H and downward movement or the beam 62, carrying the upper diaphragm. Thus if the operator releases his grip on either of the handles prior to the time that the upper diaphragm has moved downwardly into operative relation to the work, downward motion of the beam will be arrested by disengagement of the clutch at the completion of that revolution thereof during which time the operator ha released his grip on either of the control handles. After a sufiicient number of revolutions of the shaft I I2, at which time the beam has descended sufficiently to carry the upper diaphragm into work-engaging position, the cam roll 248 enters a depression 285 in the earn 250 whereupon the arm 242 and pin 236 supporting the

lever

232, 234 are swung forwardly by the spring 252 into a position such that even though the handles I32, I34 are held in their forward position the lever I22 is permitted to swing clockwise into the position shown in Fig. 20 to cause disengagement of the clutch with the beam in its lowermost position.

For maintaining the support 38 for the upper diaphragm (Fig. 3) in horizontal position during operation of the beam 02 to lower the support 38 a link 268 is pivotally connected at one end at 210 to the link 88 and at its other end by a pin 212 to the lug 58 of the supporting bracket 56. The arrangement is such that the diaphragm carried by the support 38 is maintained in a substantially horizontal position during vertical movements of the support by operation of the beam 62. The pressure of the support 38 against the spacer ring 26 is controlled by rotation of the shaft 12 with the eccentric portion 14 by loosening the screw 36 and turning the sector 82 as heretofore described.

When the upper diaphragm support has been moved into its lowermost position air is exhaused from the space between the diaphragms by connecting the pipe 34 to a source of suction. For" this purpose a dog 214 (Figs. 18, 20 and 25) carried by the eccentric strap 38 engages a cam plate 210 carried by one end of a lever 218 pivoted at 280 to a lug of the bracket I04. The lever 218 is urged by a spring 282 into the position shown in Fig. 20 in which a stop screw 284 carried therewith engages the bracket I04. As the shaft I02 comes to rest at the completion of a half revolution the dog 214 acting through the plate 216 moves the lever 218 in a clockwise direction against the action of the spring 282 thus moving a rod 280 connected at 288 to the lever 218 to the right as viewed in Fig. 25. The forward end of the rod 283 is pivoted at 230 to one end of a lever 292 pivoted at 294 upon a control box 203. The other end of the lever 292 overlies a stem 298 of a valve 300. This valve controls communication between a pipe 302 which communicates with a tank 304 and a pipe 306 which communicates with the pipe 34, the valve 298 being open and establishing communication between the tank 304 and the pipe 34 when the valve stem 208 is depressed. Sub-atmospheric pressure is maintained within the tank 304 by a pump 305 (Fig. 2) driven by a pulley 301, the low pressure side of the pump being connected to the tank by a pipe 309 (Fig. 25). It will thus be seen that upon movement of the upper diaphragm support into its operative position the valve 300 is'opened and air is exhausted from the space between the diaphragms.

Following this, air under pressure is admitted into the chambers 44, 46 (Fig. 5) and the air is subsequently permitted to exhaust from the chambers and the upper diaphragm suport 38 is elevated. The several steps in the operation of the machine take place automatically at the conclusion of predetermined intervals measured-from the time at which the shaft I I2 comes to rest as determined by the settings of dials 303, 308 (Figs. 1 and 11), as will be hereinafter described.

Mounted for rotation in bearings in the box 206 (Figs. 9 and 15) is a forwardly and rearwardly extending shaft 3 [0, the rearward end of which carries a pulley 3 I 2 by which it is continually connected to a source of power while the machine is in use. The shaft 310 carries an eccentric 3M (Fig. 15) surrounded by an eccentric strap 3 I 6 an extension of which is pivotally connected at 3I8 to a lever 320. This lever comprises spaced arms 322, 324 (Fig. 9) which are mounted for swinging movement about the same axis, the arm 322 being.

pivoted upon a bushing 328 carried by the box 293 and the am 324 being pivoted upon a shaft 328 within the bushing 326 and projecting forwardly and rearwardly thereof. Between the

arms

322, 324 is a ratchet wheel 338 splined to the shaft 328 with which cooperates a driving pawl 332 pivoted upon an enlarged portion of a pin 334 (Fig. which passes through the

arms

322, 324 to maintain them in spaced relation, the pin being threaded to receive nuts 336.

Rotation of the ratchet wheel 338 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 15 is prevented by a pawl 338 pivoted on a stud 348 in the control box 296 and urged into engagement with the ratchet 338 by a spring 342. The pawl 332 is urged in a counterclockwise direction about the pin 336 by a tension spring 344 and if permitted to engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel 338 the wheel will be driven step by step in a counterclockwise direction upon rotation of the shaft 318 by the rocking movement imparted to the lever 320. However, when the upper diaphragm support is in an elevated position the pawl 332 is maintained out of contact with the wheel 338 by engagement of a face plate 346 with a roll 348 carried by a tail of the pawl 332 so that the pawl swings to and fro idly. The face plate 346 is fixed to one arm of a lever 358 pivoted at 352 within the box 296. The lever 358 carries a cam roll 354 (Fig. 17) maintained by a spring 356 in engagement with the periphery of a cam 358. This cam is secured to a transversely extending shaft 368 journaled in bearings in the box 296. Fixed to the shaft 368 is an arm 362 to which is pivotally connected at 364 a rod 366. Slidably mounted upon the rod is a turn block 368 pivotally mounted at 318 in a bifurcated end portion 312 of an arm 314, the block 368 being engaged at one side by a nut 316 and at the other side by a compression spring 318 surrounding the rod 368 between the block and the lower headed portion of the rod. The arm 314 is pivoted upon a stud 388 and is integral with an arm 382 (Fig. 9). The arm 382 is pivoted at 384 to one end of a link 386, the other end of which is pivoted at 388 to a lug 398 upon the eccentric strap 98 (Fig. 3).

The shaft 328 is normally locked against rotation in either direction by mechanism which will now be described. Secured to the rearward end of the shaft 328 is a bevel gear 392 (Fig. 9) which meshes with a bevel gear 394 rotatable on the shaft 368 (Fig. 16). Secured to the gear 394 is a ratchet plate 396 provided with a set of notches 398 spaced 90 apart to receive in any one of four diiferent positions of the ratchet plate a pawl 488 normally urged by a spring 482 into locking position to prevent clockwise movement of the plate 396. The pawl 489 is pivoted on a plate 399 fast with the cam 358. A stop block 484 is received by one of a second set of recesses 486 in the plate 396 when the beam carrying the upper diaphragm is not in its lower position to prevent counterclockwise movement of the plate 4 396 and with it the bevel gear 394 (Fig. 9). The stop block 484 is carried at the lower end of an arm 488 (Fig. 17) pivoted at M8 to a bracket 412 integral with the control box 296. A cam roll 414 carried by the arm 488 cooperates with the cam 353, the spring 356 acting to maintain the roll M4 in engagement with the periphery of the cam. With the beam in its upper position the cam 358 is located 90 counterclockwise from the position illustrated in Fig. 17, the roll 414 being in engagement with the lower portion of the cam and the stop block 494 seated in the yrecess 486 thus locking the ratchet plate 396 against rotation and through the gears 394, 392

10 (Fig. 9) locking the shaft 328 against rotation. However, when the beam is moved downwardly the parts assume the positions shown in Fig. 17, the face plate 346 (Figs. 9 and15) being moved downwardly to permit engagement of the pawl 332 with the ratchet 338 and the stop block 484 (Fig. 17) being withdrawn to permit counterclockwise movement of the plate 396 and turning movement of the shaft 328 in a step-by-step manher in response to movements of the pawl 332 (Fig. 15) by the constantly driven shaft 3).

The dials 386, 388 move With the shaft 328 and control, in accordance with their settings, the interval between the opening of valve 388 (Fig. 25) to exhaust the air from between th diaphragms and the time at which air under pressure is admitted into the chambers behind the diaphragms as well as the interval between the admission of air under pressure into the chambers and exhaust of the air therefrom, as will appear as the description proceeds.

The dial 388 carries a cam roll 4l6 (Fig. 14) which rotates with the dial and after a predetermined period in the rotation of the shaft 328 (Fig. 9) acts upon one end of an arm M8 to turn it in a clockwise direction thus causing opening of a valve 428 to admit air under pressure to the chambers behind the diaphragms. The arm M8 is fixed to a shaft 422 mounted in bearings in the control box 168 and also fixed to the shaft 422 is an arm 424 connected by a link426 to one arm of a bell crank lever 428 pivoted at 438 on the box N58. The other arm of the bell crank lever 428 carries a roll 432 engageable with an arm 434 pivoted at436 on the housing of valve 428. The arm 434 overlies a valv stem 438 the arrangement being such that clockwise movement of the arm M3 by the cam roll 4|6 causes downward movement of the valve stem 438 and admission of air under pressure into the spaces behind the diaphragms. The bell crank lever 428 is moved in a counterclockwise direction in opening the valve 428 and the roll 432 enters a depression 448 in the arm 434 thus locking the valve stem .438 in its down position against the action of a spring causing the valve to remain open after the cam roll 416 passes the end of arm 418.

For returning the bell crank 428 to the position shown in Fig. 14 after a predetermined time to permit closure of valve 428 the dial 386 carries a cam roll 442 which moves into engagement with an arm 444 fixed to the shaft 422 to turn the shaft in a counterclockwis direction and return the parts to the position illustrated. A second cam roll 446 is carried by the dial 386 causing tripping of the clutch H6 a second time to cause lifting of the beam 62 as will be hereinafter explained.

The setting of the dial 388 with respect to the shaft 328 determines the extent of rotation required of the shaft 328 before the valve 428 is opened and hence determines the length of time which elapses from the connection of the space between the diaphragms to the suction tank and the time that pressure is admitted behind the diaphragms. A sleeve 448 (Fig. 9) is mounted for rotation in a bearing 458, the sleeve 448 providing a bearing for a sleeve portion 452 of the dial 388. The forward portion of the dial 388 is in the form of a cylinder 454 and has attached to it a plate 456 carrying the cam roll M6. The sleeve portion 452 of the dial 386 is urged forwardly by a compression spring 458 surrounding the forward end of the shaft 328 and engag-