US375301A

US375301A - Evening mechanism for cotton-openers

Info

Publication number: US375301A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1887-12-20
Anticipated expiration: 1904-12-20

Description

(No Model.) 4SheetS-Sheet 1. J. C. POTTER.

EVENING MBGHANISM FOR GOTTON OPENERS.

No. 375,301. Patented Dec. 20, 1887.

lllllllllllllll LILI El El (No Model.) A 4 SheetS-Sheet 2. J. C. POTTER.

EVBNING MEGHANISM FOR COITON OPBNERS.

No. 375,301. Patented D00.'20, 1887.

(No Model.) 4 SheetsSheet 3.

J. C. POTTER.

EVENING MBGHANISM FOR GOTTON OPBNBRSL No. 375,301. Patented Dec. 20, 1887.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

J. C. POTTER.

EVENING MBGHANISM FOR GOTTON OPBNBRS.

No. 375;301. Patented Dec. 20, 1887.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JAMES C. POTTER, OF LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS.

EV ENING MECHANISM FOR COTTON-OPENERS.

SPECIFICATION 10HMng part of Letters Patent No. 375,301. dated December 20, 1887.

Application filed July 0, 1887. Serial No. 243,507. (No model.)

T0 all whom it may'concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES C. POTTER, of Lowell, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Evening Mechanisms for Oott0n0peners and other Engines or Machines for Working Cotton and other Fibrous Materials, of which the following is a specification.

My inventiou has relation to that kind of evening mechanism which-comprises, among other things, an evenenroll and pivoted or h1ngedevener-plates co-operating therewith, in combination with scale-levers and means whereby the movements of said scale-levers (due to that of any one or more of the evenerplates) are availed of to shift the belt on the cone pulleys or drums for the purpose of regulating the feed. Heretof0re, so far as I am inf0rmed, it has been customary in evening mechanism of this kind to arrange the scalelevers one above the other in a vertical plane, connecting the uppermost scale-levers With their appropriate evener-plates by rods ex tending between said levers and plates, and supporting the lowermost or main scale-lever upon the shorter arm of a pivoted Vibratory weight ed lever, which acts to hold up the con necting-rods against the evener-plates, and at the same time serves to actuate the cone-belt shipper. Such an organization as the one just referred to is illustrated in Letters Patent No. 146,7 94,0f January 27 1874, among others. One drawbaok to said arrangement is that, as the end of the vibratory weighted lever moves in the are of a circle, the point at which it meets the main-scale 1ever will,when the said scale-lever moves, be carried to one side or the other of the vertical plane of the scalelevers, with the effect of canting said levers out of plumb, andth us cramping their movement, rendering them less sensitive and requiring greater power to actuate them. In the instance just referred to the weighted or fulcrum lover is arranged to vibrate in a plane transverse to that of the scale-lever system; but a similar disadvantage results when the said lever vibrates' in a plane parallel to or coincident with that of the scale-lever system, as is sometimes the case. The end of the fulcrum-lev'er still moves in a curved path, and

the tendency of this movement is to pull the scale-lever system endwise in one direction or the other, according to the direction of vibra tory movement of the end of the fulcrum-lever. Thus so long as the end of the fulcrum-lever vibrates or moves in a curved path the tendency will be to disturb the scale-lever system, With the efiect of cramping and renderingless sensitive the same. Another drawback is due to the fact that the connecting-rods meet the plates themselves, which have in any event a comparatively slight range of movement, the consequence} being that a correspondinglyslight movement is imparted to the scale-levers themselves, so that the exaggeration of this movement necessary for the successful operation of the belt shipper must be effected through the instrumentality of the mechanism intermediate between the scale-levers and the shipper. Still another drawback is that the evening mechanism under this arrangement has been placed beneath the machine ina position where it is liable to catch and be-clogged by lint and other refuse. It has been my object in the present invention to obviate these and other minor disadvantages, which will hereinafter be referred to.

To this end I substitute for the vibratory weighted lever a weighted slide, upon the end of which the main scale-lever is fulcrumed, said slide being m0vable back and forth in a right line in the plane of the scale-lever system, whether the latter be in a vertical or a horizontal plane. I prefer, however, to arrange the scale-levers in a horizontal plane, all of them resting upon a horizontal floor or plate, which is covered or boxed over, both to protect the scalelever system from lint, &c.,

and also to prevent them from rising or get ting out of line. The scale-lever system is also placed back from under the evener-plates and feed rolls. The weighted slide, like the weighted lever, aots not only to cause the connectingrods of the scale-lever system to hold the evener-plates up in place, but also to communicate movement to the cone-belt shipper; and to this end I prefer to mount said shipper upon a slide capable of nlovcmentin a right line parallel with the axis of the two conedrums, communicating movement to said shipper-slide from the weighted slideby rack-and- IOL) -allow them the freedom of movement made pinion or other suitable known instrumen tality.

Instead of applying the scalelevcr-conneeting rods to the evener -plates themselves, I form each evenerplate as an angle or elbow 1ever, pivoted, at their elbows upon a common fulcrum-rod, and having their vertical and longer arms connected at their ends to the Scale-lever-connecting rods, which, like the scale-lovers themselves, are placed horizontal instead of vertical. In this way a comparatively slight movement of the shorter arm of the angle-levcr, which constitutes the evenerplate proper, will impart a greater range of movement to the enter end of the longer arm to which the scale-lever-connecting rod is jointed, thus giving more movement to that rod than it would have were it acted on directly by the evener-plate.

The nature of my improvements and the manner in which the same are or may be carried into effect will be readily understood by reference to the aceompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is aplan view of'so much of a cotton opener or lapper as is needed to explain my invention. In this figure the feed-apron and frame therefor are removed and the sealelever box is open. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same,with a portion ofthe frame broken away to expose the scale-lever system and its accessories. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the same. Fig. 4 is a side elevation, on cnlarged scale, of the evening mechanism. Fi 5 representsin elevation and plan thearrangcment for transmitting motion from the weighted slide to the ordinary quadrant belt shipper lovers which are employed when the conedrums are vertical (which has heretofore been their customary arrangement) instead of 1 horizontal, as they are represented in the preceding figures.

A is the frame of themaehine.

B is the beater.

E F are the two feed rolls.

Il is the evcner-rol].

J is the rod on which the evcner-platcs are fulcrumed.

K are the evcner-plates, formed as angle or elbow lovers, having their longer and vertical arms, K, pinned at their lower ends, each to its appropriate horizontal sealc-lever connect ing rod L.

M are the seale-levcrs, resting upon the hori zontal floor or plate N, which forms the bottom of a box, the flanged cover of which is represented at O. The connecting-rods, as usual, have pointed ends to enter cups or sockets formed for them in the ends of the scale-levers, and they pass to the arms K through openings in the front of the scalelever box, which are slightly enlarged,so as to necessary by the fact that they are jointcd or pinned to the arms Ii. The scale-lover box is supported by brackets attached to the verti cal cross -partition C, which shuts off from the working parts of the opener those parts of the evening mechanism which are most likely to be elogged by lint and refusc.

To the under side of the scale-lover box is fixed a plate, D, which at the front of the box rises in the form of a bracket, D, to furnish bearings in which the rod G is mounted and can slide back and forth, a head, G, on said rod serving to limit the extent of its forward movement (should it bc necessary) and also as a handle to manpulate it. This rod,which is the instrumentality hereinbefore referred to as the weighted slide, enters at its front end through the front of the scale-lover box and bears at its point against the fulcrum-point of the main seale-lever, as indieated plainly in Fig. 1. In the plate D is cut a dovetailed way, in which is mounted the slidebar H", having at its front a vertical arm, H, which is secured (preferably adjustably secnred, as hereinafter described) to the rod G. On the under side of bar H is a rack, a, which en gages gear b, fast on shaf t I,which has its bearings in hangers seeured to the under side of the scale lever box. On this shaft is an arm or segment-pulley, c, from which hangs a weight, d, so placed as to tend to revolve the shat I in a direction to move the rack-barll, and consequently the slide Gr, toward the scalelevers. In this way the slide G is weightcd and is caused to bear with y'ielding pressure against the main scalelever.

For the purpose of varying the normal feed of the machine I prefer to adjustably connect the rack-bar H to the slide-rod G, to which end the arm H. of the bar through which the rod passes is internally screw-threaded and is engaged by a corresponding screwthread upon the exterior of the rod. By revolving the rod by means of its handle or head G the rack-bar H can be advanced or retracted,thus moving the meehanism (hereinafter described) intermediate between it and the cone-belt to a position to bring said belt to the desired p0- sition upon the cone-drums.

The intermediate mechanism referred to can best be seen by reference to Figs. 3 and 4. Upon the end of shalt I, which projects beyond and to the left of the frame of the machine in Fig. 3, is fixed a segment-gear, e, which engagesacorresponding gear, f, mounted upon a stud, g, on the side of the frame. Upon the hub of gear f is fixed the large toothed sector 7t, and this sector engagcs and operates the horizontal sliding raekbar P, mounted in guides lt en the frame of the machine in such manner that it will slide back and f0rth in a right line parallel with the axes of the upper and lower cone-drums, R S, which are placed horizontal, with their axes parallcl to each other. To the sliding rack-bar l is rigidly fixed the shipper i, provided with forks t to cngage the cone-drum belt j. The shipper thus at all times moves in a right line and parallel with the axes of the cone-drums.

The lower cone-drum, as usual, is drveu from the beatershaft by belt 1 and pulleys 2 2.

IIS

From the upper cone-drum motion is imparted to the evener-roll by worm 3 and worm-wheel 4. From the evener-roll motion is imparted by gears 5 6 to the apron-roll, and by gears 7 8 to the lower one, F, of the feed-rolls.

The mechanism described by reference to Figs. 1 to 4 is that which ,I prefer. Its mode of operation and the resulting advantages have already been sufliciently indicated. In case, however, it should be desired to have the cone-drums vertical instead of horizontal, this can readily be provided for, as indicated, for instance, in Fig. 5. In the arrangement shown in this figure the drums are vertical and between them are the customary toothed quadrant levers, -k, engaging one another and having belt-shipping forks l at their outer ends. To impart movement to these lovers the shaft I would have on it a pinion, m, to engage a pinion, n, on the hub of one of the quadrants.

This arrangement, however, as respects the shipper, is inferior to that illustrated in the other figures, for the reason that the shippingforks move in the aro of a circle instead of in a right line.

Having described my improvements and the manner in which the same are or may be carried into effect, I state in conclusion that I do not restrict myself to the specific construction and arrangement of parts hereinbefore described, because manifestly the same can be varie'd in several respects without departure froin the invention; but

Vhat I claim herein as new and of myown invention is as follows:

1. The combination, with the scalelevers, of the weighted slide furnishinga fulcrum for the main scale-lever and arranged to move back and forth in a right line in the plaue of the scale-lever system, substautially as and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.

2. The scale-levers arranged and supported in a horizontal plane, in combination with the weighted horizontal slide furnishing a fulcrum for and hearing With yielding pressure against the main scale-lever, and arranged and adapted to move back and forth in a right line in the plano of the scale-lever system, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.

3. The pivoted evener-plates formed as anu gle or elbow levers, in combination with the scale-levers arranged and supported in ahorizonta l plane, and the intermediate horizontal pressure-transmitting rods, as and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.

4. The combination of the pivoted evener plates formed as angle or elbow levers, the horizontally-arranged scale-levers, the connecting-rods jointed at one end to the longer and vertical arms of said elbow-levers and bearing at the other end against the scale-le vers, and the weighted slide furnishing a fulcrum for the main scale-lever and movable back and forth in a right line in the plane of the scale-lever system, substantially as hereinbefore set forth.

5. The combination, with evening-plates and intermediate pressure-transmitting rods, of the scale-levers arranged in horizontal p0 sition and inclosed in a box located in the frame of the machine at a pointin front of the evenng-plates,.substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.

6. The weighted slide G, in combination with its supporting-bracket, and the sliding rack-bar adjustably connected to said slide, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.

7. The combination, with the horizontal scale-lever system and the horizontal weighted slide f urnishing a bearing for the main scale lever and arranged to move back and forth in a right line in the plano of the scalelever system, of the cone drums and belt, the beltshipper, and mechanism whereby said shipper is actuated from said slide at the times and in the manner substantially as hereinbefore set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 21st day of May, 1887.

JAMES C. POTTER.

Vi tnesses:

.A. T. ATHERTON, O. T. ALIHERTON.