US1086469A - Elevating device for use with embroidering-machines. - Google Patents

Description

M. SOHOENFELD. ELEVATING DEVICE FOR USE WITH BMBROIDERING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 8, 1910. 1,086,469.

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Patented Feb. 10, 1914.

M. SCHOENFELD. ELEVATING DEVICE FOR USE WITH BMBROIDERING MACHINES. 'A PPLIOATION FILED OCT. 8, 1910.

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MORRIS SCI-IOENFELD, 0F RORSCHACH, SWITZERLAND.

ELEVATING DEVICE FOR USE WITH EMBROIDERING-MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 10, 1914.

Application filed October 8, 1910. Serial No. 585,946.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, MORRIS SoHoENFnLD,

a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Rorschach, in the Canton of St. Gall, Switzerland, have invented new and useful Improvements in Elevating Devices for Use with Embroidering-Wachines, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to movable supporting means for supporting and conveying the workwomen or attendant in charge of the various working elements and mechanisms of an embroidering machine, and the present invention is adapted for embroidering machines of the very large type wherein several hundred needles are arranged in longitudinal rows, one above the other. It has been customary to build such machines with the needles and their cooperating parts in two parallel longitudinal rows and as the machines have been of great length it was necessary for the attendants to walk along the front or rear of the machine for the purpose of observing the condition of the working elements of the machine, to replace shuttles, arrange the threads and for a number of other details. Usually the attendant walked along the floor at the rear or front of the machine to observe the condition of the parts in the lower row of mechanisms and mounted a stationary running board and walkedthereon to observe the condition of the second or top row of mechanisms. In walking along the machine to observe the various parts the attendant had either to walk partly sidewise or else turn the head to observe the parts of the machine and as the attendant is obliged to continually observe the various parts their attention is taken up thereby and they are not able to fully control the operations of the machine in the perfect manner possible under the present invention. Lately machines have been designed wit-h as many as six superimposed rows of needle and other mechanisms and the problem of taking care of the threads and other devices has become a more difficult one as the rows are closer together and the height of the machine is greater than heretofore. It would hardly be sufiicient to multiply the number of stationary running boards to support the attendants in different positions for so many rows of instruments because they would obstruct the machine and the attendants could not cover all parts of the machine handily.

Inv other words the increase in size of the machine raises the question as to Whether the attendants could properly cover the entire machine in their observations in a practical way. I have therefore devised a device for supporting and transporting the attendant at the front and if desired at the rear of the machine in such a way that without multiplying the number of running boards beyond practical limits, the attendant can move to various positions throughout the machine for the purpose of observing its operations and attending the parts very readily and with as little distraction from the work and with as little bodily exertion as possible.

I have provided a device for transporting the attendant mechanically, so that the attendant can face the work at all times and devote her attention to the embroidering ma chine.

My invention contemplates a transporting device for transporting a person in a movement up and down in front or rear of the machine or longitudinally along the machine or both of these.

By transporting the attendant mechanically to the different parts of the machine the attendant is not only able to cover more ground and therefore increase her efficiency but full attention can be given to the machine and its operation. Furthermore, there is not so much obstruction of the machine parts.

In the drawings forming a part of this application, Figure 1 is a front elevation of an embroidering machine frame and my improved device in the preferred form, Fig. 2 is a cross section thereof, showing, diagrammatically, the various rows of embroideringmechanisms, Fig. 8 is a cross sec tion of the supporting and conveying device, Fig. l is a similar View showing oppositely moving carrying element-s, Fig. 5 is a front elevation of one end of an embroidering machine with my improved de' vice, wherein the mechanism for raising and lowering the platform is modified, Fig. 6 is a similar view of another modified form of raising and lowering mechanism.

My invention embodies features which are susceptible of separate and conjointuse and while I will describe the preferred embodiment of my invention with the several features used conjointly it is my intention to cover my invention where the features are separately used. In a broad sense the purpose is the same whether the supporting structure for supporting the person attending the machine is adapted to be moved mechanically in a vertical or horizontal clirection and I have shown my device constructed for vertical movement and again for horizontal movement but in the preferred form of my invention I have shown the main part of the supporting structure movable vertically while conveying mecha nism moving therewith is adapted to convey the person horizontally as well.

In Fig. 1, I have shown the frame of an embroidering machine of high construction, according to the later developments in the construction of embroidering machines and the construction is carried tosuch a height that many rows of embroidering mechanisms such as the needles and shuttles are arranged in say as many as six superim posed rows, as shown in Fig. 2. The frame is here shown consisting of the upright standards 1, and 3, arranged at regular intervals throughout the length of the machine at the front and rear, the standards 1 being the end standards while 8 are the intermediate standards. They are connected preferably at top and bottom by longitudinal bars 4, 5, 6, and 7, which space the standards apart and form therewith a rigid whole. The standards are preferably united at the top by substantial connecting beams such as 8 in Fig. 2 and 9 in Fig. 5. This construction is not controlling, as the construction of the frame may vary in different machines.

In the drawings I haveshown my improved supporting structure arranged along the front of the machine, that is, on the front of that side of the machine fromwhich the needles operate as this side of the machine requires the most attention; but it is understood that the same device may be applied on the rear or shuttle side of the machine as well, by simply duplicating the construction.

In Figs. 1 and 2 I have shown suitable guiding rails 10 of angle metal which are preferably vertically disposed and they have a guiding flange 11, there being one such guiding rail at each end of the machine and their flanges face each other; and between these two flanges the movable supporting structure is guided.

The structure for conveying the person in the up and down movement is disposed longitudinally in front of and parallel with the machine and consists of a platform, which is provided with a suitable guard or rail construction 13 which is designed to prevent the person falling toward the machine or from falling backward off the structure and for this purpose I prefer to arrange the several rails 13 along the front and rear edges of the platform so that the person travels between the two. They are of sufiicient height to protect the person from accidentand yet low enough to permit the person to attend the working of the machine. The attendant can take hold of the rails to steady herself at any time. In Figs. 1 and 2 this platform is shown vertically movable with relation to the embroidering machine and in order to guide the platform in a uniform path I have provided rollers 14 and 15 at each end of the guard rail construction which engage the flanges 11 on the several guides 10 at the opposite ends of the machine. The platform is adapted to move from a point near the floor to such a height as will permit the attendant to reach the uppermost mechanisms of the machine and it may be placed at any position internediate of these two extremes, whereas in the former fixed constructions a great deal of stooping by the attendant was necessary and the parts of the machine were therefore difficult to reach even when there was a running board for each row of needles.

I have provided mechanical means for raising and lowering the platform construction which is in the control of the attendant while the latter is at various positions on the platform.

In Figs. 1 and 2 I have shown a shaft 16 disposed longitudinally at the top of the machine which is suitably supported upon extensions of the machine structure and the shaft 16 is provided at various points, preferably over the several standards, with winding drums 18 over which engagethe several cables or chains 19 which are connected at various points throughout the length of the platform structure, say to the guard rail 13, by means of a loop 20 fastened thereto. The supporting flexible members 19 are so arranged that they support the platform structure in parallelism throughout and they are adapted to raise and lower the same at the will of the attendant. At one end of the shaft 16 I have shown a motor 21 geared by the gear 22 to the shaft, which latter the motor is adapted to revolve in either direction. The motor is provided with a starting and reversing lever which is weighted by the weight 245. From this lever runs a controlling rope 25 which passes around a roller 26 at one end of the platform structure and then along the latter, at a height convenient for the operator to clutch it, and then over a roller 27 at the opposite end of the platform structure and the free end is con nected with a weighted take up arm 28, near the floor. As the platform moves up and down the starting and reversing rope is not affected by the movement of the platform, but the rope is always accessible to the attendant for starting, stopping or reversing the movement of the platform. The operator can control the movements of the platform by pulling the rope either to the right or left.

In order to make it possible to convey the attendant in a direction longitudinally of the machine by mechanical means as well as vertically I have prrwided a traveling member or members in the nature of an endless belt. At the ends of the platform structure I have provided depending journal blocks 29 in which journal the shafts 30 laterally of the platform and on these are carried the pulleys 31 and 32, the peripheries of which at the top come near the surface of the running boards 12. There is arranged an endless conveying element consisting, in the present showing of a belt 33, which travels around the pulleys 31, 32, and this travels between the two boards 12 and over a base plate 34, disposed under the boards 12, where it will prevent any undue sagging of the belt. At least one of the shafts 30 is provided with a worm gear which latter meshes with a worm 36 on a shaft 37, supported by a bracket 38 on the frame of the platform and by the motor 37 the shaft 37 is adapted to be revolved in either direction. I have provided a hand rope 39 for controlling the revolution of the shaft 37 and therefore the direction of move ment of the belt 33. The operation of this form of my invention is as follows: The attcndant mounts the running board and stands on the boards 12. When it is desired to move up for the purpose of observing one of the upper rows of embroidering mechanisms the attendant moves the rope 25 and thereby the motor is caused to operate upon the shaft 16 and revolve the latter. As the supporting elements 19 wind on the drums 18 the platform as a whole is elevated, until the desired height is reached, when the attendant pulls the rope 25 in the opposite direction and stops the motor. The platform will then remain at such height, subject to the control of the attendant. Having positioned the structure at the proper height the attendant observes the mechanisms of the embroidering machine and attends to any parts requiring attention. If the attendant desires to move to a different position longitudinally of the machine to carry out her operations she simply pulls the rope 39 and thereby the shaft 37, and through the worm 36 and worm gear35,the pulleys 31,32, are set inmotion, the direction of which will depend upon the direction in which the attendant pulls the rope 39. When the pulleys 31, 32, revolve the endless belt 33 travels longitudinally of the machine and the attendant can then step on the belt, when she will be moved longitudinally of the machine, at the height at which the structure is then stationed. If the attendant desires to travel in a reverse direction she pulls the rope 39 in a reverse direction and the belt will then be reversed and by stepping thereon she will be carried opposite to the first movement. In this way the attendant can pass along the machine for attending to all of the various parts of one row of embroidering devices, without having to wall; along the machine and the entire attention can be devoted to the embroidering mechanisms and much more ground can be covered by one attendant. If the attendant afterward de sires to observe another row of embroidering mechanisms she simply pulls the controlling rope 25 in either direction, according to the position she wishes to place the platform in, when the shaft 16 will move the platform either up or down. In this way the attendant controls her position before the machine and her vertical position is controlled independently of her horizontal position. 1 prefer to employ this arrangement in preference to just a fixed board 12, as the facilities for controlling the machine are much greater.

In Fig. 4 I have shown a plurality of pulleys 31 arranged side by side at each end of the platform and there is an independent belt 33 33 traveling over each set of pulleys, one of which is adapted to be propelled in a right hand direction and the other in. a left hand direction. By stepping on one or the other of these belts the attendant can move to the right or left along the machine as desired. In this construction the operator or attendant in starting the pulleys and belts need pay no attention to the starting rope except to start or stop the mechanism, as the direction of the respective belts will be always the same. The attendant determines the movement of her body by selecting the particular belt on which she stands.

In Fig. 5 I have shown a modified form of raising mechanism for raising and lower ing the platform structure. Here I have shown the supporting elements 19 connected to support the frame of the platform at various points throughout its length and these engage over idlers 10, disposed along the machine. After passing over the idlers the supporting elements wind on or off the drum ll which is common to the several support ing elements. This drum is shown supported upon a suitable journal block d2 at the top of the machine and it is propelled by a belt 43 from the shaft 1 i, supported say on the ceiling of the workroom. So far as the remainder of the mechanism is concerned it may be the same as in Figs. 1 and 2.

In Fig. 6 I have shown still another form of device for raising and lowering the platform structure. Here I have shown a screw shaft 45 which I duplicate at various intervals along the machine, which is adapted to be revolved in its upper and lower journals a6 and 47. At a point preferably below the floor I have arranged an operating shaft l8, having a gear 49 which miters with the gear 50, on the lower end of the shaft 45, and by which the latter is revolved. The direction of revolution of the shaft 48 and therefore the direction of the shaft to is controlled by the direction of operation of the motor 51 which is in the control of the attendant the same as before. In this case the platform is provided with an interiorly threaded journal 52 which surrounds the shaft 45. By setting the motor 51 in operation the shaft is revolved and by reason of its threads operating on the thread of the journal 52, the platform structure is moved up or down, according to the direction of motion of the motor 51, which is controlled by the operator. Any desired number of shafts similar to shaft 45 may be similarly arranged along the machine and be operated from shaft 48. This form of mechanism for operating the platform is very positive and steady and the guides 10 of the first construction are unnecessary.

In all forms of the device there is a mechanical means for moving the attendant either vertically or horizontally or both, of the machine, in such relation thereto that the attendant can observe the working of the various parts of the machine and attend to the same.

Various changes may be made in the structure without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having described my invention what I claim is:

1. A device of the character described, comprising a longitudinally disposed platform structure adapted to support a person, means whereby said structure may be mechanically raised and lowered, and a con tinuous movable band or the like, disposed near the platform and movable therewith and adapted to be propelled in a direction longitudinally of the platform structure.

2. A device of the character described, comprising a longitudinally disposed plat form structure adapted to support a person, means whereby said structure may be mechanically raised and lowered, a continu ous movable band or the like, disposed near the platform and movable therewith and adapted to be propelled in a direction longitudinally of the platform structure and means movable with the platform structure, adapted to control the movements of the platform structure and said movable band.

3. A device of the character described, comprising a longitudinally disposed platform structure, adapted to support a person, means whereby said structure may be mechanically raised and lowered, means for operating the same, a plurality of adjacent conveying belts or the like disposed near and movable with the platform, and means for operating said belts longitudinally of the platform structure.

at. A device of the character described, comprising a vertically movable longitudinally disposed platform structure, means near the ends thereof for guiding the platform structure, means for mechanically raising and lowering the platform structure, said plat-form structure having a base for supporting a person at various points throughout the structure, pulleys mounted to travel with the platform structure, a continuous conveying element disposed near the supporting base of the platform and adapt-- ed to travel over the said pulleys in a direction longitudinally of the platform structure and means for operating said pulleys. Signed at St. Gall, in the Canton of St. Gall, Switzerland, this 6 day of S ptember MORRIS SCHOENFELD. Witnesses RANDALL ATKINSON, ALBERT PHILLIPS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

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