US2964353A

US2964353A - Mop making machine

Info

Publication number: US2964353A
Application number: US848336A
Authority: US
Inventors: James C Carpenter; Henry W Mcnelley; Booker T David; Bishoff Theodore
Original assignee: American Associated Companies Inc
Current assignee: American Associated Companies Inc
Priority date: 1959-10-23
Filing date: 1959-10-23
Publication date: 1960-12-13
Anticipated expiration: 1977-12-13

Description

' Dec. 13, 19 0 J. c. CARPENTER ETAL 2,964,353 MOP MAKING MACHINE Filed Odt. 23 1959 4 Shets-Sheet THEODORE B ISHOF 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 JAMES C. CARPENTER HENRY W. McNELLEY,SR. BOOKER T. DAVID THEODORE BISHOFF J. C. CARPENTER EI'AL MOP MAKING MACHINE Dec.

Filed 001;. 23, 1959 Dec. 13, 1960 J. c':. CARPENTER ETAL v 2,954,353

. MOP MAKING MACHINE Filed 001;. 25. 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 //4 INVENTORS //0 //2 JAMES c. CARPENTER FLUID K 4 MA HENRY w. McNELLEY,SR. SOURCE W y BOOKER 12 DAVID THEODORE BISHO Dec. 13, 1960 J. c. CARPENTER :rm. 2,964,353

' MOP MAKING MACHINE Filed 001;. 25, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN VEN TORS JAMES c. CARPENTER A HENRY w. McNELLEY,$R r; 1 E By HOOKER T. DAVID THEODORE BISHO F MOP MAKING MACHINE James 'C. Carpenter, Forest Park, Henry W. McNelley, S1'., and Booker T. David, Atlanta, Ga., and Theodore Bishoft', Washington, D.C., assignors to American Associated Companies, Atlanta, Ga., a corporation of Georgia Filed Oct. 23, 195 9, Ser. No. 848,336

20 Claims. (Cl. 300-16) This invention relates to a machine for making mop heads and more particularly to a power operated machine which automatically inserts a loop holding mop yarn into a ferrule and crimps the loop ends against the inside wall of the ferrule. A completed mop is subsequently easily formed by inserting a handle into the ferrule.

, Mops of this type, suitable for general purposes and particularly those of sturdier construction suitable for use by roofers, have previously been made by hand or on crude mechanical machines involving considerable and costly manual labor. In the instant invention a machine is provided which preferably utilizes fluid motors of the hydraulic or pneumatic type to greatly reduce the manual labor involved in the assembly, thereby reducing the time of the assembly operation by approximately fifty percent and consequently reducing the cost of manufacture.

Accordingly it is a primary object of the invention to provide a machine for automatically or semiautomatically assembling a mop head with attendant saving of labor.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mop making machine which will considerably lessen the time for assembly of the mop and thereby lessen the cost.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mop making machine which operates by fluid pressure such as by hydraulic or pneumatic means.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a machine which repetitiously assembles mop heads, each assembly cycle resulting in a uniform and standard product without the difierences entailed in assembly processes which are predominantly manual in nature.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a mop making machine which is safe to operate and which lessens the chance of injury present in existing machines or in manual assembly.

The novel features that are considered characteristic of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in'connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the several figures and in which: a

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a machine constructed according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view partly in section taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. l and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevation similar to Fig. 1 but with parts broken away to show the main cylinder of the machine lowered to press the mop material within the p; s Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevation similar to Fig. 3 but showing the vise jaws operated to pierce the loop ends through the ferrule;

' operator.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but showing a third stage of machine operation in which a plunger crimps the loop ends against the inside wall of the ferrule;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary front elevation of the lower or ferrule clamping portion of the machine;

Fig. 7 is a central vertical section of the same lower portion of the machine shown in Fig. 6 with certain of the parts in elevation;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on line 88 of Fig. 1 and looking in the dierction of the arrows;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 10 is an exploded perspective view of a mop ferrule and loop;

Fig. 11 is an elevational view of an assembled mop head;

Fig. 12 is a diagram showing the hydraulic fluid lines and valve controls therefor; and,

Fig. 13 is a schematic circuit diagram of electric control means which may be added to the machine of Figs. 1-12 to make its operation completely automatic.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings a preferred embodiment of the machine of this invention is illustrated in Figs. 1-12. The machine comprises a table 10 mounted on suitable supports or legs, not shown, so as to present a convenient working surface for an Mounted on the table is a vise generally indicated by the reference numeral 12 and a hydraulically operated cylinder assembly 14 which moves vertically to insert the mop ferrule into the mop loop. The mop heads to be assembled are formed from three elements shown best in Figs. 10 and 11. These elements are; mop material 16 comprising strands of yarn usually of different lengths, a generally W-shaped loop 18 having sharpened or pointed extremities on inturned ends or prongs 20, and a cylindrical ferrule 22 havingdiametri cally opposed openings 24 for reception of a nail or other securing means for the mop handle not shown.

The vise 12 comprises a pair of open ended chambers 24 fixedly secured to the table 10 by any suitable means. One method of securement utilizing flanged plates 26 and screws 28, is shown in Fig. 8. The fixed chambers 24' are in alignment and separated by a space 30 which admits passage of the lower and ferrule carrying end of the cylinder assembly 14, within each chamber 24 is slideably mounted a plate or jaw 32. The jaws are biased outwardly and away from each other by a pair of springs 34. The jaws 32v are operable to move toward each other, guided by the walls of chambers 24', by means of fluid cylinders 36 housing pistons 38 which are connected to the jaws 32 by rods 40. Feed lines 42 feed the hydraulic fluid both into and out of the cylinders 36.

The ferrule holding cylinder assembly 14 is supported for vertical movement into the vise space 30 by a fixed piston 44 secured to a horizontal arm 46 extending forwardly from a standard 48 at the rear of table 10. A vertical guide rod 50 is also fixed to and depends from the arm 46. The cylinder 14 carires a rearwardly extending arm 52 having an opening 54 which slideably receives the guide arm 50. These parts cooperate to limit the movement of cylinder 14 to a vertical path.

I The cylinder assembly 14 comprises a first, or upper, cylinder 56 and a second, or lower, cylinder 58 joined together in alignment by a coupling 60. A fluid line 62 is coupled to an inlet tube 64 at the upper closed end of cylinder 56. The fluid line 66 is similarly connected to the inlet tube 68 which extends from the coupling 60 at the lower end of cylinder 56. A fluid feed line 72 is also connected to an opening 70 in coupling 60 which communicates with the upper interior end of cylinder 58. A piston 73 rides within cylinder 58. The lower end of piston 73 is reduced in diameter to provide an extension 74 which strikes and bends the ends 20 of the mop loop against the walls of the ferrule as will be more fully explained hereinafter.

The ferrule 22 to be assembled is clamped to the bottom of cylinder 58 and in axial alignment therewith. The mechanism for accomplishing thisfunction comprises a collar 76 secured about the upper end of cylinder 58. To this collar is secured a bracket 78 having outwardly extending diametrically opposed triangular shaped extremities each of which is pierced by a pivot bolt 80. Pivoted at one end to each bolt 80 is a clamping arm 82 which is thus free to move its lower end outwardly and inwardly with respect to cylinder 58. The lower ends of the clamp arms 82 carry detents 84 shown in Figs. 6 and 7 as being screws having pin extensions at their inner ends adapted to enter the openings 24 in a ferrule 22. For operating the clamp arms 82 a disc 86 is mounted on an axle 88 carried by collar 76. Joined to both disc and axle is a lever 90 for turning the disc. A pair of openings, preferably diametrically aligned and near the periphery of the disc 86, is provided each hole pivotally receiving a bent end of one of a pair of stiff rods 92. The other ends of the rods 92 are bent, as best shown in Figs. 4 and 6, and pivotally received in apertures intermediate the ends of the clamp arms 82. It will be thus apparent that the lower ends of arms 82 may be readily moved outwardly and separated to receive a ferrule by moving lever 90 to turn the disc 86 counterclockwise in Fig. 6. Moving the lever and disc clockwise to the position shown in Fig. 6 will move the lower ends of arms 82 inwardly and engage the detents 84 in the ferrule openings 24. When thus clamped, the ferrule 22 is firmly held abutting the lower end of cylinder 58 from which it may not be dislodged except purposely because of the substantially vertical alignment of the openings in disc 86 which locks the rods 92 and arms 82 against displacement by vertical pressures and movement of cylinder 58. To further insure against dislodgement of the ferrule a pair of coil springs 99 is placed on pins 94 to urge the arms 82 inwardly.

The pistons 73 are provided with outwardly extending headed pins 94 which are preferably threadedly secured to the pistons. The pins 94 are free to move with the piston, sliding in a pair of vertical slots 96 in the wall of cylinder 58 and an aligned pair of slots 98 in the clamp arms 82. A pair of books 102 is welded or otherwise secured to the upper surface of collar 76 and coil springs 100 are each attached at one end to a hook 102 and at the other end to a pin 94. The springs 100 thus bias the piston 73 to its upper position, shown in Fig. 7, but the piston is free to move downwardly with pins 94 riding in

slots

96 and 98 when so motivated by admission of fluid under pressure to the upper end of cylinder 58.

Referring now to Figs. 2 and 12 it will be noted that valves, valve levers and a source of fluid under pressure together with their connections are diagrammed. The master valve 114 is located in the general area shown in broken lines at the right hand front corner of the machine table in Fig. 2. Also conveniently disposed for operation are the valve levers 104, 106' and 108 at the rear right corner of the machine table. These levers are mechanical in operation between on and off positions and may be easily moved by an operators finger to turn the

valves

104, 106 and108 respectively which are located in the broken line area 105. The valve levers 104, 106' and 108' are purposely placed off set from each other in a diagonal line so that they may be quickly flicked in sequence by one finger of the operator. At the end of an assembly operation all three may be simultaneously moved to their off position by the hand of the operator.

In Fig. 12 the

valves

104, 106, and 108 are shown in their off positions wherein the machine elements are ready to begin an assembly operation. In this position valve 104 admits fluid under pressure from the fluid source 110, through line 112, the open master valve 114, line 116 and line 62 to the upper end of cylinder 56 which maintains the cylinder assembly 14 in its elevated position. Simultaneously the off position of valve 106 exhausts fluid from cylinders 36 through lines 42 to the return line 122 partially shown, and the off position of valve 108 exhausts fluid from cylinder 58 through line 72' to the return line 120. When lever 104 is moved to turn valve 104 approximately clockwise as viewed in Fig. 12, fluid is admitted to the lower end of cylinder 56 through line 66 and exhausted from the upper end so that the cylinder moves downwardly with respect to the fixed piston 44. Similarly when lever 106' is moved to turn valve 106, clockwise fluid is admitted through

lines

116 and 42 to cylinders 36 and thus move the vise jaws 32 toward each other. Movement of lever 108' to rotate valve 108 clockwise admits fluid to the upper part of cylinder 58 to move piston 73 downwardly. Return of the levers 104', 106' and 108 to their original off positions returns the machine elements by fluid pressure to their initial starting positions.

In operation of the machine, an operator moves lever 90 to spread the arms 82; positions a ferrule 22 against the lower edge of cylinder 58, and clamps the ferrule in this position by returning lever 90 to its locked position illustrated in Fig. 6. A loop 18 is then dropped into the space 30 with its spread, inturned ends 20 held by the walls of chambers 24' and the edges of movable jaws 32, see Fig. 1. Next the operator places the mop material 16 on the table 10 with the central portions of the yarn disposed within the loop 18 as best illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. Having thus been manually loaded, the machine is ready to operate. The operator then in quick succession movesvalve levers 104', 106' and 108 forwardly,v which is downwardly as viewed in Fig. 2, timing his control actions to allow the few seconds required by the machine to perform each resultant movement of the assembly operation. As previously described in connection with Fig. 12, the opening of valve 104 lowers the cylinder assembly 14 to insert the ferrule 22 between the spread ends of loop 18 and compress the mop material tightly within the loop as shown in Fig. 3. The opening of valve 106 admits fluid to cylinders 36 which forces the vise jaws 32 toward each other compressing the loop 18 and causing its sharpened ends to pierce the ferrule wall as shown in Fig. 4. The opening of valve 108 admits fluid to cylinder 58 which forces piston 73 downwardly so that the piston projection 74 strikes the ends of the loop and bends them against the inside wall of the ferrule as illustrated in Fig. 5. This of course locks the mop head elements firmly together to complete the assembly. The operator then moves the three valve levers 104, 106' and 108' to close the valves, which admits fluid to the top of cylinder 56 raising the assembly 14 to its initial position and exhausts fluid from

cylinders

36 and 58 allowing the springs 34 and to return the jaws 32 and piston 73 to their starting positions. The operator then operates lever 90 to release the clamping arms 82 and removes the assembled mop head. The entire cycle may then be repeated as described to assemble another mop head. The assembly cycle takes about thirty seconds, or approximately half the time required on existing machines which are not hydraulically operated.

Even more time may be saved by converting the machine to providefor fully automatic operation by the addition of electric controls to operate the hydraulic valves. A preferred circuit for accomplishing this is shown in Fig. 13. Each of the valve levers 104', 106', and 108' is biased to off position by a spring and pivotally connected at 138 to the plunger of the

respective solenoid

134, 146 and 158. A conventional push to start switch 126 is placed in the power lead 124 and paralleled by the contacts of holding relay 128. Thus when switch 126 is pushed and released by the operator a circuit is momentarily made from line 124, through switch 126, through the coil of relay 128, through-conductor 129 and norr mallyclosed switch 1601 the return power line 142. The contacts of relay 128 close and remain closedto energize solenoid 134 through

conductors

124, 130, 132, 136 and 142. The attraction of the solenoid plunger moves lever 104' against the bias of spring 140 to its on position, opening valve, 104 and admitting fluid to cylinder 56 to lower the cylinder assembly 14 as previously described. When the cylinder 56 reaches the limit of its downward movement switch 144 is made to energize solenoid 146 through the

circuit

124, 130, 145, the solenoid coil, switch 144 and

conductors

148, 156 and 142. The switch 144 may be placed as convenient to be operated by any'part of cylinder assembly 14. In Fig. 13 the switch has been diagrammed as being operated by arm 52 in moving downwardly as indicated in broken lines, and for this purpose the switch is preferably mounted near the lower end of rod 50, Fig. 1. The operation of solenoid 146 moves lever 106' and admits fluid to cylinders 36 to operate the vise jaws 32. Upon completion of movement of the paws a switch actuator 151, which may be carried by a jaw or a piston 38 or placed in the path of one of these parts closes the switch 152 to energize solenoid 158 through the parallel solenoid circuit including conductor 150, the solenoid coil, switch 152 and conductor 154. Energization of solenoid 158 moves lever 108' to open valve 108 and lower the piston 73 in cylinder 58. When the piston reaches the limit of its down ward travel a switch actuator 162 opens switch 160 deenergizing relay 128 and

solenoids

134, 146 and 158. As indicated in the lower left hand portion of Fig. 13 the switch actuator 162 is operated by one of the pins 94 and for this purpose the switch 160 may be conveniently mounted in or near the bottom of one of the

slots

96, 98. The deenergization of the solenoids allows springs 140 to return the valve arms and valves to their off positions, elevating the cylinder assembly 14. Thus the machine automatically assembles the mop head and returns the machine parts to initial positions ready for the operator to release the assembled mop head and load the machine for another operation cycle.

Although certain specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it is obvious that many modifications thereof are possible insofar as is necessitated by the prior art and by the spirit of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A machine for assembling a mop head comprising a vise for holding a wire loop having inturned sharp ends and in which the mop material is laid, a first means for inserting a ferrule between the ends of the wire loop and for pressing the ferrule against the mop material, a second means for moving the jaws of the vise toward each other to pierce the loop ends through said ferrule and a third means carried by said first means for bending the wire loop ends against the inner wall of said ferrule.

2. A machine according to claim 1 wherein said first, second and third means are each operated by fluid motors.

3. A machine according to claim 2 wherein said fluid motors are provided with valves and separate manual controls, said controls being placed close to each other so as to be operable in sequence by the fingers of one hand of an operator.

4. A machine according to claim 2 wherein each of said first, second and third means includes resilient biasing elements for returning the respective means to their initial starting positions after a mop head is assembled.

5. A machine according to claim 1 wherein said vise comprises a pair of open ended chambers spaced apart approximately the diameter of said ferrule, said loop being retained by the walls of said chambers with the mop material lying across the loop in the space between the chambers, and a jaw slideably mounted in each of said chambers, said jaws upon movement toward each other being adapted to squeeze the loop.

' 6; A machine according .to claim 5 wherein said jaws are biased apart by resilient means and said second means includes a fluid motor and controls for moving said jaws toward each other against the force of said biasing resilient means.

7. A machine according to claim 6 wherein said fluid motor includes a pair of fluid cylinders in alignment with each other and said jaws and positioned outwardly of the jaws, a piston in each cylinder and a rod connecting each jaw to one of said pistons.

8. A machine according to claim 1 wherein said first means comprises a movable cylinder, means for releasably attaching a ferrule at one end of said cylinder, a fixed piston in said cylinder, and means for admitting and exhausting fluid at the cylinder ends, whereby the cylinder carrying the ferrule may be moved to press the ferrule against the mop material.

9. A machine according to claim 8 wherein said cylinder is additionally provided with a second cylinder aligned therewith and between the ferrule and the supporting end of said first cylinder, a second piston movable in said second cylinder, said second piston having an inwardly reduced portion adapted to enter into said ferrule and bend the loop ends protruding therein, and means for admitting and exhausting fluid to said second cylinder to move said second piston.

10. A machine according to claim 9 wherein said means for supporting the ferrule comprises a pair of pivoted arms on the outside of said second cylinder, a lever operated cam to move said arms outwardly to admit the ferrule and inwardly to grasp the ferrule, and detent means on the end of said arms adapted to latch and hold the ferrule.

11. A machine according to claim 10 wherein said pivoted arms are each provided with a longitudinal slot, said second cylinder being also formed with a pair of slots in the wall thereof aligned with the slots in said arms, pins extending through said slots and secured to said second piston, and resilient means for biasing said pins toward the first cylinder.

12. A machine according to claim 11 wherein is additionally provided resilient means biasing the unpivoted ends of said pair of arms toward each other.

13. A machine according to claim 12 wherein said resilient means for biasing the pivoted arms comprises a pair of coil springs mounted on said pins outwardly of said arms and held between said arms and headed portions of said pins.

14. A machine according to claim 10 wherein said lever operated cam means comprises a disc having openings near the periphery thereof, said discs being adapted to be turned by said lever, a pair of bent rods each pivoted at one end to an intermediate portion of said arms, the other end of each of said rods being pivotally secured in an opening of said disc.

15. A machine according to claim 2 wherein said fluid motors are provided with valves and electric control means for moving said valves to operate said first, second and third means in sequence.

16. A machine according to claim 4 wherein said fluid motors are provided with valves and electric control means for moving said valves to operate said first, second and third means in sequence followed by return of said means to their initial starting state.

17. A machine according to claim 16 wherein said electric control means comprises first, second and third solenoids for operating said valves, a starting switch for energizing the first solenoid, switches operated by movements of said first, second and third means to energize the second and third solenoids in appropriate time delay sequence and to deenergize all of said solenoids upon completion of the assembly sequence.

18. A machine according to claim 17 wherein said electric control means further comprises a relay whose contacts are connected in parallel with those of the starting switch and whose coil is connected as a holding circuit to'retain the relay contacts closed upon energization of therelay by closing of the starting switch.

'19. An apparatus for assembling a mop head from a ferrule, a loop, and cord strands, comprising a frame, a bed on the lower portion of the frame, an anvil on the bed, means for holding and bending a loop mounted on the bed adjacent the anvil, plunger means on said frame opposite the anvil and mounted for movement toward and away from the anvil, a clamp for engaging and retaining a ferrule on the lower end of said plunger, crimping means on the end of said plunger for crimping the ends of aloop after the loop ends have been caused to penetrate the ferrule by the loop holding and bending means.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 comprising a control arm for actuating each means, with the arms assembled at a station near the operator and aligned in oblique fashion with respect to the operator so the arms may be conveniently actuated one at a time.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,247,675 Harr Nov. 27, 1917 1,765,769 Mueller June 24, 1930 1,882,605 Horsley Oct. 11, 1932