US3100464A - Automatic looper operator and method - Google Patents

Description

1963 E. J. WICK ETAL 3,100,464

AUTOMATIC LOOPER OPERATOR AND METHOD Filed Feb. 27, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 13, 19-63 E. J. WlCK ETAL AUTOMATIC LOOPER OPERATOR AND METHQD 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 27, 1961 VIII/llll/ll/ 4! 5:25:75!!! INVENTORS'. EDWARD J. W/CK f/A/P/P) 14 DAY United States Patent 3,llii,464 AUTOMATIC LGDPER UPERATQR AND ME'IHLED Edward J. Wick and Harry W. Day, Philadelphia, Pa, assignors to Fillmore C. itoseu, Levittown, ?a., trading as Ardznore Hosiery Mills Filed Feb. 27, 1961, Ser. No. 91,759 6 Claims. (Cl. 112--27) This invention relates generally to improvements in methods and apparatus employed in utilization of looper machines in the hosiery industry. This application is a continuation-in-part of our oopending patent application Serial No. 58,754, new Patent No. 3,060,874, granted October 30, 1962.

While the instant method and apparatus have been primarily developed and employed in the hosiery industry and in conjunction with looper machines, and will be illustrated and described hereinafter with particular reference thereto, it is understood that the invention is susceptible of many varied applications, all of which are intended to be comprehended herein.

As disclosed in our said copending patent application, operation of conventional l'ooper machines, including the feeding thereto of hosiery for closing the toe opening thereof has previously required skilled personnel, so as to be quite costly an operation. The use of unskilled personnel in this operation is also costly, but in the form of rejects or defective product.

While the invention disclosed in our copending patent application is satisfactory in automatically accomplishing the desired result, the instant invention constitutes a substantial improvement in reducing to an absolute minimum the percentage of rejects or defective product while retaining the completely automatic operation and other advantages disclosed in said oopending patent application.

Specifically, the instant invention contemplates sensing the position of fabric normal to the direction in which the fabric is being conveyed directly at the loose course which is to be positioned. Thus, positioning of the fabric layer by the instant method and apparatus eliminates the need for and use of a reference marking on the fabric located apart from the loose course, and further eliminates the possibility of faulty looping resulting from distortion of fabric or other impairment of the relationship between the reference marking and loose course.

it is another object of the present invention to provide improved means for engagement with the fabric layers to position the same in the direction normal to their movement tangentially of the dial.

More specifically, one aspect of the instantinvention contemplates the provision of positioning means engaging spaced locations of a fabric layer on opposite sides or" the loose course, which means are synchronized to effect translation of the fabric between the engaged locations without distortion thereof.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings, which form a ma terial part of this disclosure.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope will be indicated by the appended claims.

-In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view partially illustrating a looper machine, and is showing the attachment of the present invention in association with the looping machine, as taken along the section line 11 of FIGURE 2, with parts broken away for clarity of understanding;

FIGURE 2 is a partial sectional elevational view taken substantially along the line 22 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 3 is a sectional elevational view taken substantiallly along the line 33-of FIGURE 2.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, and specifically to FIGURES 1 and 2 thereof, the conventional looping machine is there generally designated 16 and includes a generally horizontal fixed plate or table 11 of generally circular-outline configuration and having a peripheral ledge or upwardly facing shoulder 12 about its circumference. An annular member or circular dial 13 extends circumferentially about the periphery of the plate 11, being located outward therebeyond, and is provided with a radially inwardly extending flange 14 adapted to rest on the shoulder 12. An annular clamping ring 15 is secured fast to the plate 11, and by fastener 16, and extends basically over the shoulder, so as to overlie the flange 14 seated on the shoulder. In this manner, the dial 13 is conventionally mounted on the plate for circular or rotary, concentric movement relative to the plate. Suitable drive means may be associated with the dial 13 for effecting rotation thereof. Projecting radially outward from the outer periphery of the dial 13 are a multitude of support pins or points 18, which lie in a plane normal to the axis of rotation of the dial and are adapted for successive engagement through successive loose-course stitches of an article of hose. The construction thus far described may be conventional.

Secured to a fixed part of the looping machine, such as the fixed plate 11, by any suitable means, is the attachment apparatus of the present invention, which is enerally designated 29. The attachment 2 may include a pair of generally coplanar mounting plates 21 and 22 of elongate configuration and arranged in side by-side relation having their adjacent edges disposed generally tangential to the outer periphery of the dial 13. The mounting plate 21 is inward of the mounting plate 22, radially of the looper plate 11, and the inner mounting plate 21 includes a coplanar inward extension 23 overlying the llooper plate 11 and secured fast to the latter, as by fasteners 24.

An elongate, endless conveyor 25 is arranged longitudinally of and mounted above the mounting plate 21 for rotation about-the generally vertical axes. In [particular, the conveyor 25 includes a pair of wheels 26 and 27 disposed generally horizontally and spaced longitudinally of the plate 21, respectively mounted on the plate for rotation about the axes of generally vertically disposed shafts 28 and 29 carried by the mounting plate. The wheels 26 and 27 are preferably crowned in the conventional manner, and an endless belt 36 extends about the wheels. The belt 35) may be of rubber or other suitable frictional material and has one run 31 extending generally tangential to the dial 13 along the outer edge 32 of the mounting plate.

A similar conveyor, generally designated 35, is provided on the plate 22, having a pair of generally hori zontally disposed rollers 36 and 37 spaced longitudinally of the mounting plate and carried thereby for rotation about the axes of vertically disposed shafts 38 and 39. The rollers 36 and 37 may also be crowned in the conventional manner, and an endless belt 40 may extend about the rollers or wheels 36 and 37 having one run 41 extending along the inner edge 42 of the mounting plate generally tangential to the dial 13. Thus, the runs 31 and 41 of the conveyors 25 and 35 are disposed in proximate facing relation. The belt 40 of the conveyor 35 may also be of rubber or other suitable frictional material, and the belts 30 and 40 may be of the intermeshing or timed type to positively insure equal linear velocity thereof.

The outer plate 22 is mounted on the inner plate 21 by an appropriate hinge construction 45 having a generally vertical pintle 46 extending approximately normal to the facing conveyor runs 31 and 41. By this hinge 45, the outer mounting plate 21 may be swung away from the inner mounting plate 21 in the direction of arrow 4-7 to space the conveyor runs 31 and 41 and afford access therebetween. Any suitable resilient means, such as spring 48 carried by the pin 46 and connected to the elements of binge '45 may be employed to resiliently urge the plate 22 toward its illustrated position with the runs 31 and 41 in facing engagement.

In operation of the looper machine 10, the dial 13 is driven in rotation by a looper drive mechanism (not shown). From rotation of the looper dial 13 is obtained power to positively drive the conveyors 25 and 35. Any suitable transmission means may be connected between the dial 13 and a vertically disposed shaft 56 journaled in and extending upward beyond the extension portion 23 and plate 21 to rotate the shaft 56 upon rotation of the dial.

One such transmission mechanism is shown in said copending patent application. n the other end of shaft 56 is provided a spur gear 57 which meshes with a spur gear 58 on the upper end of-shaft 29 over the conveyor roll 27. Thus, conventional rotation of the dial 13 drives the shaft 56 and its spur gear 57, which in turn drives the spur gear 58 and hence the conveyor 25. In addition, a spur gear 59 is'carried by the shaft 39 over the roll 37 of conveyor 35, which gear is in meshing engagement with the gear 53 when the mounting plate 22 is swung toward the mounting plate 21. Thus, the gear 59 is driven from the gear 58 to drive the conveyor 35 in positive timed relation with the conveyor 25. As the dial moves in the clockwise direction, as seen in FIGURE 1, it may be observed that the gear 57 is driven counterclockwise, and that the gears 58 and 59 are respectively driven clockwise and counterclockwise to effect movement of the conveyor runs 31 and 41 toward the right into substantially tangential relation with the dial 13, with thefacing conveyor runs spaced over the looper pins 18 in the tangent region.

Fixed to each ofthe mounting plates 21 and 22, extending along their respective adjacent edges 32 and 42 are backing strips '61 and 62 serving respectively to back or firm up the runs 31 and 41.

Carried by one of the mounting plates 21 and 22,

say the latter, is a locating finger generally designated 65. The finger 65 may be mounted on an upstanding bar or pedestal'66 fixedly secured to the mounting plate 22 along its inner edge 42 and upstanding therefrom beyond the runs 41 and backing member 62. The journal pedestal 66 is preferably spaced considerably ahead of the tangent region of the conveyor runs 31 and 41. An arm 67 is pivoted at one end, as by pin 68, to the upper end of pedestal 66 and extends therefrom toward but terminates short of the tangent region of the facing conveyor runs. At its end remote from the pivot 68, the arm '67 is provided with a depending extension or finger proper 69 entering between the facing runs 31 and 41 at a location just ahead of the tangent region of the runs. As best seen in FIGURES 2 and 3, the extension or finger proper 69 depends below the facing runs 31 and '41 to a point substantially below the mounting plates 21 and 22. The finger proper or extension 69 is relatively thin or fiat, and preferably finished to a smooth surface. Provided interiorly of the depending extension 69 at a region below the conveyor runs 31 and 34 is a miniature lamp or light source 73 energized by any suitable means. It will now be understood that the arm 67 of the locating finger 65 is swingable upward about the pivot 68 upon outward swinging movement of the mounting plate 22 to separate the facing runs 31 and 34, and is swingable downward to its illustrated operative position, preferably being releasably held in its operative position by a suitable resilient-detent means (not shown).

Carried by the mounting plate 21 are a pair of sensing elements 73:: and 73b, which are preferably light-sensitive means or photocells. A pair of sensing elements, preferably light-sensitive photocells, are also carried by the mounting plate 22, and designated 73a and 79b. The light-sensitive elements 78a and 731) are arranged on one side of the facing runs 31 and 41, the right side as seen in FIGURE 3, with their light-receiving openings 8% and 8019 located in vertically spaced relation respectively above and below the plane of points or pins 18. In lowered, operative position of arm 67, the light source '73 carried by the arm is located substantially in the plane of the pins 13; and, the light-receiving apertures 80a and 8% of the photocells 78a and 7% are located in vertically spaced relation proximate to the light source for receiving light therefrom, as will appear more fully hereinafter. It will be noted that the photocell 78b is of an angular, depending configuration to avoid interference with the dial 13. This may be accomplished by a reflecting prism, or other suitable conventional means.

The light-sensitive elements or photocells 79a and 79b carried by the mounting plate .22 are located with their light-receiving apertures 81a and 81b directly opposite to the apertures Stia and 8111, respectively, on the op posite side of the facing runs 41 and 31. Thus, the light-receiving apertures 81a and 81b are spaced vertically on opposite sides of the plane of points 18 and located proximate to the light source 73 for receiving light therefrom. I

A pair of servo-'notors 84a and 85a are mounted in the mounting plates 21 and 22, respectively, being secured by any suitable means in conforming cutouts formed in the plates. One motor 84a lies in a horizontal plane and is carried by the mounting plate 21, while another horizontal motor 85a is carried by the mounting plate 22. The motors 84a and 8511 may both lie in the same horizontal plane, respectively adjacent to the conveyor rollers 26 and 36, and each includes a drive shaft 86a and 87a extending obliquely toward and terminating short of the tangent region of facing runs 31 and 41.

Depending from each motor 84a and 85a, remote from the tangent region of facing runs 31 and 41, is a gearbox or transmission housing, as at 85b in FIGURE 2. Also seen in FIGURE 2 is a lower drive shaft 87b extending horizontally from the transmission housing 85b, in parallel spaced relation directly beneath the upper drive shaft 87a. The upper and lower shafts 87a and 87b extend obliquely toward and terminate proximate to the finger extension 69, the lower shaft 87b being located below the plane of points 18, and the upper shaft 87a being located above the plane of the points. On the extending ends of the upper and lower shafts 87a and 87b1are provided frictional rollers 89a and 8%, respecti-ve y.

On the extending end of drive shaft 86a of motor 84a, there is similarly provided a frictional roller 88a proximate to the finger extension 69. Also, the motor 84a is provided with a depending transmission housing having a drive shaft and roller in the same manner as the motor 85:: the depending transmission housing, and lower drive shaft and roller being obscured in the drawings beneath motor 84a, shaft 86a and roller 88a.

The servo-motors 84a and 85a may be connected to the photocells on their respective sides of the facing runs 31 and 41. For example, the servo-motor 84a may be connected to the photocells 7 3a and 78b, while the servomotor 85a may be connected to the photo'cells 79a and 7%. In this manner, each servo-motor is operated in a respective direction responsive to the sensing of light by the upper or lower of its associated'photocells. For example, should the upper photocell 78a receive more light than the lower photocell 7812,, the associated motor 84a will be energized in one direction of rotation, and should the lower photocell 87b receive more light than the upper photocell 78a, the motor 84a will be energized in the opposite direction of rotation. The servo-motor 85a is similarly connected to the photocells 79a and 79b. Further, the lower drive shaft 87b and its roller 8% is connected by the transmission 85b for synchronous rotation with the drive shaft 87a and its roller 89a. The lower drive shaft and roller beneath shait t 86a and roller 88a is similarly connected for synchronous rotation with the latter shaft and roller.

In this manner, each servo-motor is independently actuated responsive to energization of its associated lightsensi-tive elements. Also, each pair of vertically spaced frictional rollers is connected for simultaneous, synchronized operation. Any suitable electrical circuitry may be employed in connecting the light-sensitive elements to the servo-motors, such as a phase-sensitive modulator, amplifier and motor-controller; and, reduction gearing may be employed between the servo-motors and their output shafts, if desired.

In FIGURES 1 and 2, it may be observed that the rollers 88a, 88b, 89a and 8912 are located slightly ahead of the photocell openings @621, 3011, 81a and 81b.

Proximate to the tangent region of the facing runs 31 and 41 with respect to the dial 13, the mounting plate 22 is formed with a cutout 92 opening through the inner edge 4-2. Located in the cutout 92 is a peripherally grooved push-on roller 93 which is rotatably carried on one end of a lever 94. That is, the lever 94- is pivoted intermediate its ends on a stub shaft 95 depending rem the underside of the mounting plate 22. On one end of the lever 94 proximate to the cutout 92, the roller 93 is journaled on a generally vertical shaft or pin 96 carried by the lever 94. The opposite end of the lever 94 is connected to a resilient member or spring 97 to resiliently bias the roller 93 toward and into rolling engagement with the peripheral edge of the dial 13. The roller 93 is provided with a circumferential groove 5 h in alignment with and receiving the pins 13 of the dial 13. Thus, as best seen in FIGURE 2, the photocells 7% and 7% are located just forward of the push-on. roller 93, and the light-receiving apertures 81a and 81b are located respectively above and below the horizontal plane of the pin-receiving roller groove 93.

In operation, it is only necessary to swing the mounting plate 22. outward and raise the finger arm 67. The finger extension 69 may then be engaged between the fabric layers or walls of a stocking, and properly positioned therein by location ofthe finger-extension \arm in the forwardmost narrowing marl: of the stocking. A stocking is generally designated ltiti, includinv a pair of substantially identical facing layers or walls 101 and 106,.see FIGURE 3. Each of the walls 131 and 102 is conventionally formed with a row of open loops 1ll3 and 104, respectively, which open loops define the loose course, lined and placed in their aligned relation on the looper points 18.

With the locating arm 67 raised, and the facing runs 31 and 41 away from each other, the locating finger is engaged between the walls 101 and 1% of the stocking 160 and the finger swung downward to the position of FIGURE 2. The forward or leading region of the stocking is properly positioned with the open loops or loose course 103 at the same vertical height as the support pins or points 18 for engagement of the latter through the open loops. The trailing region of the stocking is then stretched to the left, the condition shownin FIGURE 2., and the mounting plate 22 swung closed for frictional engagement of the runs 31 and 41 with the respective stocking walls or fabric layers 101 and 102,.

Swinging movement of the mounting plate 22 inward under the force of spring 48 serves to engage gears 58 and 59 and cause timed rotation of the conveyors 25 and 35". If desired, electrical-switch means may be associated with the movement of the mounting plate 22 to deenengize the servo-motors 84a, 84b, 85a and 35b upon opening or outward movement of the mounting plate 21 and energize the motors upon closing or inward movement of the latter mounting plate. If desired, the positioning motors may be energized by switch means independent of movement of the mounting plate 22.

In either event, with the positioning motors 84a and 85a energized and the conveyors 25 and 35 operating to convey the stocking 100 rightward toward the tangential region of the runs 31 and 41, the photocells 78a, 73b, 79a and 7% are operative for response to illumination received from the light source 73. With the loose courses or open stitches 103 and 104 located as described above, and as best seen in FIGURE 3, a predetermined amount of light is passed through each of the apertures 89a, 80b, 81a and 81b to the respective photocells. Should either fabric layer, say layer 1%, be displaced vertically or in a direction normal to the tangential direction of conveyor movement, say upward, an increased amount of light will pass through the open loops 1&4 to the upper photocell 79a and a reduced amount of light passed to the photocell 79b. The signal produced by the photocells in response to this upward movement of fabric layer 192 actuates the servo-motor 85a to rotate the positioning rollers 89a and 89b in a direction to lower the fabric layer 102 by frictional engagement therewith. Actuation of the positioning motor 85a in the opposite direction will be effected by downward movement of the fabric layer 192. Similar, independent operation of the servo-motor 34a is caused in response to vertical displacement of the fabric layer 101.

Thus, monitoring of the fabric layers takes place along the loose course; and, corrective positioning of each fabric layer is accomplished by engagement thereof at vertically spaced locations above and below the loose course, each pair of vertically spaced positioning rollers being synchronized to prevent distortion of the fabric.

The tangential relation of fabric movement by the conveyors 25 and 35 with respect to the dial points 18 causes the fabric to be impaled on the dial points. Proper positioning of the loose course, as described hereinbefore, insures that the points 18 engage through the open loops of the loose course. To insure full impaling of the pins or points 18 through the open loops of the loose course, the push-on roller 93 engages with the outer fabric layer 102, being frictionally rotated by the latter, and resiliently urges the fabric layers radially inward of the dial 13 while receiving the points 18 in its peripheral groove 98.

The above-described operation proceeds until the trailing region of the stocking tilt) reaches the finger extension 6% whereupon movement of the stocking by the conveyors 25 and 35 causes the locating arm 67 and extension 69 to be swung upward for continued movement of the stocking onto the points 18. From this point, conventional looper operation occurs, and the mounting plate may again be swung outward for insertion therein of another stocking in the same manner as described hereinbefore.

From the foregoing, it is seen that the present invention provides an improved method and apparatus for applying fabric layers to a looper machine, which fully accomplish their intended objects and are well-adapted to meet practical conditions of manufacture and use.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be made within the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for applying a pair of facing layers of fabric to a rotary-looper-machine dial having radial points with the points engaged in a loose course of each fabric layer, said apparatus comprising conveyor means for conveying a pair of facing fabric layers in the direction tangential to said dial with said loose courses on a line in alignment with said points for engagement thereon, a pair of sensing elements on the nonfacing side of each fabric layer spaced apart in the direction normal to and on opposite sides of said line for detecting movement of the adjacent loose course from between said sensing elements, and positioning meansiengageable with respective layers of fabric and responsive to said sensing elements to move the fabric layers in said normal direction for proper positioning with respect to said points.

2., Apparatus according to claim 1, said positioning means comprising a relatively smooth element adapted to be interposed between the fabric layers, and engaging elements on opposite sides of and engageable with respective layers of the fabric and operatively connected to said sensing elements for engagement with and movement of the fabric layers in said normal direction.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, said engaging means comprising a pair of rotary elements on the nonfacing side of each fabric layer spaced on opposite sides of said line for engagement with respective layer and connected to the associated sensing elements for rotation responsive thereto and movement of the engaged fabric layer in said normal direction.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2, said sensing elements each comprising a photocell, and a light source interposed between said fabric layers along said line for projecting light through said loose courses to said photocells.

5 In the method of applying a pair of fabric layers to a rotary-looper dial having radial points with a loose course of each layer engaged on said dial points, the steps which comprise: simultaneously conveying a pair of facing fabric layers in the direction generally tangential toward said dial with the loose courses substantially aligned with said dial points, providing a lit' t source between said fabric layers in substantial alignment with said points, sensing light from said source through said loose courses to detect misalignment of the latter with respect to said points, positioning said layers in the direction normal to said tangential direction to correct detected misalignment, and continuing tangential conveying or" said fabric layers onto said points.

6. The method according to claim 5, further characterized in positioning said layers by engaging each layer at spaced regions on opposite sides of its respective loose course.

References Qited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,506,053 Zuckerman May 2, 1950 2,599,666 Snrridge June 10, 19.52 2,827,809 Beam Mar. 25, 1958

Claims (1)

1. APPARATUS FOR APPLYING A PAIR OF FACING LAYERS OF FABRIC TO A ROTARY-LOOPER-MACHINE DIAL HAVING RADIAL POINTS WITH THE POINTS ENGAGED IN A LOOSE COURSE OF EACH FABRIC LAYER, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING CONVEYOR MEANS FOR CONVEYING A PAIR OF FACING FABRIC LAYERS IN THE DIRECTION TANGENTIAL TO SAID DIAL WITH SAID LOOSE COURSES ON A LINE IN ALIGNMENT WITH SAID POINTS FOR ENGAGEMENT THEREON, A PAIR OF SENSING ELEMENTS ON THE NONFACING SIDE OF EACH FABRIC LAYER SPACED APART IN THE DIRECTION NORMAL TO AND ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID LINE FOR DETECTING MOVEMENT OF THE ADJACENT LOOSE COURSE FROM BETWEEN SAID SENSING ELEMENTS, AND POSITIONING MEANS ENGAGEABLE WITH RESPECTIVE LAYERS OF FABRIC AND RESPONSIVE TO SAID SENSING ELEMENTS TO MOVE THE FABRIC LAYERS IN SAID NORMAL DIRECTION FOR PROPER POSITIONING WITH RESPECT TO SAID POINTS.

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