US1133297A - Selvage-cutter. - Google Patents

Description

A. P. LEWIS.

SELVAGE CUTTER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 8, 1914.

L1 3mm Patented Mar. 30, 1915.

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SBLVAGE CUTTER.

APPLIGATION FILED MAY 8, 1914.

Patented Mar. 30, 1915.

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SELVAGE-CUTTIER.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. so, 11ers.

Application filed May 8, 191%. Serial No. 837,230.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR P. LEWIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Akron, in the county of Summit and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Selvage-Cutters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in machines for trimming the se'lvage'edges of a moving strip of fabric, more especially textile fabric, and the object of the invention is to provide suitable mechanism whereby the 'selvage edges of a moving stripof fabric may be trimmed accurately and quickly, the machine being provided with guiding devices for engaging and following the edge of the fabric, said guiding devices connected with a cutter tool whereby the cutting mechanism is guided and shifted to follow the irregularities, undulations or sinuosities of the edge of the fabric, to the end that the working edge of the tool will follow the inner or fabric-engaging edge of the selvage.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts constituting the invention to be hereinafter specifically described and iilustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof wherein is shown. the preferred embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications can be resorted to which come within the scope of the matter hereinafter claimed.

in the drawings in which similar reference numerals indicate like parts in the different figures, Figure l, is a view in side elevation of a portion of the device embodying this invention; Figs. 2 and 3, are respectively sectional and side views of the device shown in Fig. 1; Figs. 4 and 5, are details of portions of the mechanism; and, Fig. 6, is a view in side elevation of the device with portions thereof in section.

The device is adapted to be used upon a passing strip of fabric, such as textile fabric, provided with selvage edges on both sides and held under tension and fed to the machine and carried therefrom by means not here necessary to describe, and which form no part of this invention.

The device embodies a supporting frame 1 provided with legs 2 arranged in pairs and with the pairs positioned on opposite sides of the moving strip of fabric. The frame 1 extends transversely under the strip and projects laterally on both sides therefrom. The upper face of the frame 1 is provided with a transversely-extending dove-tailed projection 3 constituting ways for the transverse sliding movement for a pair of selvage cutters one of which is mounted on each side of the strip to be trimmed and as they are identical, it is believed that a description of one will suflice for the explanation of both. Adapted to be mounted on the ways 3 are platforms 4; provided with dove-tailed recesses to receive the projections 3 so that any mechanism mounted on either platform 4 may be shifted toward and away from the central longitudinal line of the strip of fabric. In order to effect this movement of the platform 4, there is provided in the frame 1 threaded shafts 5, bearing hand-wheels 6, which receive depending nuts 77 secured to the under face of each of the platforms 4: and as the hand wheels 6 are rotated the platforms are transversely shifted at will. Mounted on each of the frames 1 is a supporting frame 8 preferably somewhat in the shape of an inverted U and on the upper face of these oppositely-disposed frames 8 are a plurality of pairs of journal bearings 9, 10, 11 and 12. Mounted in these pairs of journal bearings are the axles of a plurality of idler rolls 13, 14:, 15 and 16. The intermediate rolls 14 and 15 are slightly elevated above the end rolls 13 and 16 and all of these rolls are adapted to support and assist the progress of the continuous strip of fabric 92 which passes over the upper portions of their peripheries. AS before stated, the mechanism on each side of the strip is the same, and hence, the description applicable to one applies with equal force with respect to the companion mechanism on the opposite side.

Mounted on each of the platforms f: and shiftable therewith is a hollow boa-like cas ing 1'? preferably of a suitable size and height to pass under the upper horizontal portion of the inverted This casing consists of a pair of side walls 18 and 19, end walls 2G and 21, and. upper and lower walls 22 and 23. The upper wall is provided with a transverse slot or open ing 24: and. adjacent thereto the wall 22 is d-shaped frame 8.

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, so positioned 1s provided with a dove-tailed groove to receive the ribs 25. Mounted on the carriage 26 is a motor 27 on the armature shaft ofwhich is mounted a rotary, circularlyformed cutting tool 28. The carriage 26 is that the armature-shaft of the motor 27 projects inwardly toward the strip of material between the bearings for the idler rolls 15 and 16. Depending from the carriage 26 is a lug 29 provided with a threaded aperture to receive a threaded rotatable shaft 30 mounted in suitable bearings in the walls 18 and 19 of the casing 17. Mountedon the shaft 30 is a gear 31. Also mounted in suitable bearings in the walls 18 and 19 is a shaft 32 on which is mounted a gear. 33 adapted to intermesh with the gear 31. Mounted on the shaft 32 is a smaller gear 34, and belowthe shaft 32 is a shaft 35 similarly mounted, which bears a spur gear 36 adapted to intermesh with the gear 34. Also mounted in suitable bearings in the members 18 and 19 is a countershaft 37 which bears agear 38 adapted to intermesh with the gear 36,-. and loosely mounted on the shaft 32 is a gear 39, the hub of which is fashioned to constitute one member of a friction clutch, and on the shaft 37 is splined a companion clutch member 43 provided in the peripheral face thereof with a groove to receive the nogs carried by a bifurcated clutch lever 44. Mounted on the shaft 32 is. a worm-wheel 45 which is adapted to intermesh with a worm 46 on an armature-shaft 47 of an independent motor 48' mounted on the platform 4, and arranged with the armature shaft 47 at right angles with respectto the shaft 32.

Secured to the upper face of the platform 4 approximately below the position occupied by the rolls 13 and 14 is a tank 49 and extending across the open upper end of which is a rail 50 and along each side of which are a pair of guides 51. Adapted to move longitudinally of the tank and transversely of the line of the strip of fabric is a carriage 52 provided withrollers 53 adapted to run on the rail 50. The carriage 52 bears an upwardly-extending, approximately centrally-arranged pedestal 54 on which are mounted a plurality of pins 55 on which are rotatable rolls 56 preferably formed of an insulating and wear-resisting substance such as glass. These rollers 56 are constantly held against the edge of the strip of fabric 92 by reason of the fact that the carriage 52 is constantly drawn through the fabric by a spring 57. Secured to opposite sides of the tank 49 are a pair of plates 58, held in place through the medium of hold-fast devices 59, and'which support a pivot 60 on which is mounted an inverted T-shaped circuit closer 61 the lateral termini of which are provided with contact fingers 62. The central upwardly-extending portion of the member 61 is flexibly connected with the carriage 52 so that as this carriage is shifted along the rails 50 the lower diverging ends of the member 61 will be rocked so as to lower or raise either of the contact fingers 62 as the case may be. Positioned within the tank 49 are a pair of cups 63 and 64 containing mercury. Secured to the outer face of the wall 20 of the casing 17 is a bracket 65 on which is mounted a solenoid 66 and on'the outer face of the opposite wall 21 of the casing 17 is a bracket 67 which bears a solenoid 68. Slidably mounted in the solenoids 68 and 67 are armatures 69 surrounded by coiled springs 70 the normal tendencies of which are to force the armature shafts out of the solenoids and keep them in this position until the magnetic action of the solenoids draws them inwardly. The outer portion of the armature 69 in the solenoid 66 is pivotally connected with the lever 41, and the armature in the solenoid 68 is pivotally connected at its outer end with a lever 44. The clutch lever 44 is pivotally mounted on a bracket 71 on the wall 21 of the casing 17 and the clutch lever 41 is pivotally mounted on a bracket 72 on the wall 20 of the casing. From the mercury in the cup 63 extends a wire 73 to the solenoid 66 and from the solenoid extends a wire 74 to a wire 75 which connects with a battery or other source of electrical energy 76. From the battery there extends a wire 77 to the T- shaped circuit breaker 61. From the mercury in the cup 64 extends a wire 78 to the solenoid 68 and from thence extends a wire 79 to the wire 75. In the wire 74 is a circuit breaker 80 and in the wire 79 is a circuit breaker 81. Mounted on the depending screw-threaded lug 29 on the carriage 26 are a pair of projecting members 82 adapted to engage either of the circuit breakers 80 and 81 for operating them, as will more fully appear later. Secured preferably to the side of the motor 27 is an arm 85 projecting inwardly and terminating near the selvage cutting tool 28 and this arm bears is near its inner end and adjacent to the cutting tool 28 a roller 86.

The operation of the device as described, is as follows: The strip of fabric 92 in a taut condition, is led over the rollers 13-16 lit tlti

curves away therefrom,

mas er Experience has demonstrated that strips of commercial fabric are by no means straight but have an undulating conformation caused by means not necessary here to discuss, but as the regular portions pass the rollers 56 the latter follow the irregularities of the selvage edges and are shifted thereby. In view of the existence of these undulations or sinuosities it becomes necessary in. order to accurately trim the fabric to constantly maintain the tool at approximately the proper relative position to accomplish the trimming operation so that the Width of the strip of fabric will be constant at all times, in so far as is possible. This is accomplished in the following manner, reference being directed to Fig. 6: As the side of the strip of fabric which. is engaged by one set of rollers 56 in Fig. 6 the carriage 52 will shift to the right in this figure to cause the roller to follow the edge of the selvage and in doing this, the upper end of the T-shaped circuit breaker 61 is rocked to the, right, causing the contact nger 62 to dip in the mercury in the cup 4 which closes an electrical circuit through the solenoid 68 to draw the armature 69 inwardly thereby shifting the lever at throwing the clutch member 43 into engagement with the clutch member on the hub of the gear 42, which as before stated, is loose on the shaft 37, but

intermeshes with the gear 39' on the shaft 32. The resulting revolution of the shaft 3'? is transmitted to the gear 38 which in turn rotates the gears 37, 34:, 33 and the gear 31, which is mounted on the shaft thereby rotating the same, causing the threaded nut 29 on the carriage 26 hearing the motor 27 to shift its position to follow the movement of the roller 56. On the contrary, if the-carriage 52 is forced to the left in Fig. 6-the contact finger 62 dips in the mercury in the cup 63 closing the circuit through the solenoid 66 thereby shifting the lever 41 which throws the clutch member 10 into en gagement with the clutch member on the gear 39 causing revolution of the shaft 32 which rotates the gear 33 intermeshed with the gear 31 on the shaft 30, but in the reverse rotation, causing the motor and cut ting tool to move in the opposite direction.

The circuit breakers and 81 are secured in the proper position to be operated alternately by the member 82 on the threaded lug 29 when the carriage 26 and motor 27 have moved in either direction farther than safety dictates, thereby opening one circuit and preventing a further shifting movement of the carriage 26 until it has been moved to its operative position to permit the respective cucuit breaker to close to reestablish the circuit through the proper solenoid. Secured either to the motor car riage 26 or the motor 27 is an inwardly-projecting-arm 85 terminating near the cuttingtool. The inner end of the arm 85 is provided with an idler roll 86 the object and function of'which is to divert the trimmed selvage' from the strip of material from which it has been trimmed.

1.. A device for trimming the selvage from a moving strip of fabric embodying a shiftably-mounted knife, means contacting solely with the edge of the fabric arranged to be shifted by its engagement with the meanderin edge thereof, said .means having connection with said knife for correspondingly changing the position of the latter.

2. A. devicefor trimming the selvage from a moving strip of fabric embodying a shiftably-mounted knife, means positioned wholly to one side of and constantly held in contacting relation with the edge of the fabric and arranged to be shifted by the meandering edge thereof, mechanism for shifting said knife, said means having connection with the edgaengagement means for inducing corresponding changes of position of the knife.

3. A device. for trimming the selvage from a moving strip of fabric embodyiiig a shiftably-mounted knife, mechanism for shifting the position of said knife, means positioned wholly to one side of and normally held in contacting relation with the edge of the fabric and arranged to be shifted by the unevenness of the edge thereof, said means having connection with the mechanism for shifting the position of said knife whereby a change of position of the latter is produced by the changes of position of the edge-engaging means.

42. Adevice for trimming the selvage from a moving strip of fabric embodying a shiftably-mounted knife, mechanism for shifting the position of said knife, a shiftable carriage, means on said carriage positioned wholly to one side of the strip of fabric adapted to contact with the edge of the moving fabric, means to constantly maintain said carriage in position to effect said contacting engagement, means connecting said 'carriage with the knife-shifting mechanism whereby any movement of the former produces a corresponding movement of the knife.

5. A device for trimming the selvage from a moving strip of fabric embodying a shiftably-mounted knife, mechanism for shifting the position of said knife, a shiftable carriage-carrying means positioned wholly to one side of said strip and normally held in contacting engagement the edge of the fabric and arranged tobe moved by its engagement With the uneven portions thereof, means connecting the carriage with the knifehifting mechanism possessing the function of shifting the knife Whenever the position of the carriage changes- 6. A device for trimming the selvage from a moving strip of fabric embodying a trim ming knife, a shiftable carriage for supporting said knife, means for shifting said carriage, a second carriage provided with mechanism adapted to engage the edge of a moving strip of fabric and be correspondingly shifted by the unevennesses thereof said means positioned to one side of said strip of fabric, means connecting said carriages whereby any change of position of the carriage-engaging edge of the fabric produces a corresponding change of position of the knife-carrying carriage.

7. A device for trimming the selvage from a moving strip of fabric involving a trimming knife, a shiftable, carriage for said knife, mechanism adapted to shift said carriage, a second carriage shiftably mounted and provided with means engagin the side edge of the moving fabric and s 'fted in position by its engagement with the uneven portions thereof positioned to one side of and means connecting said second carriage with the mechanism for operating the knifecarrying carriage, said means having the function of inducing a change of position of the latter to correspond with each change of position ofthe carriage having engagement With the edge of the fabric.

8. A selvage trimmer adapted to trim the selvage from a moving strip. of fabric com-' prising, a trimming tool, a motor for'opcrating said trimming tool, a shiftable carriage to support said motor, mechanism to reciprocate said carriage, a second carriage provided With means engaging the edge of the strip of fabric and shifted by its engagement with the uneven portions thereof, two independent connecting means connecting with said carriage and the mechanism for operating the first carriage, one of which is operable when the second carriage is shifted in one direction, said reciprocating means adapted to be alternated for the connection of said second carriage to produce corresponding changes of position of the knifecarrying carriage.

9. A- selvage trimmer adapted to trim the selvage from a moving strip of fabric comprising a trimming tool means for operating said trimming tool, a shiftable carriage to support said means, mechanism to shift said carriage in the opposite direction, means having engagement with the edge of the moving strip of fabric and adapted to induce operation of either of the mechanisms for shifting the tool-carrying carriage.

10. A selvage trimmer adapted to trim the selvage from a moving strip of fabric comprising, a trimming tool, means for operating said trimming tool, a shiftable carriage to support said operating means, mechanism to reciprocate said carriage in one direction and mechanism for shifting said carriage in the opposite direction, means having engagement with the edge of the strip of moving fabric and shifted by its engagement with the uneven portions thereof, an electrical circuit breaker operated by last-named means when the position thereof is changed, electrical circuits connectin said circuit-breaker with the mechanisms or shifting said carriage, said electric circuits when closed by said circuit breaker due to the movement of the fabric-engaging means inducing operation of either of the carriage-shifting mechanisms.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses. ARTHUR P. LEWIS.

Witnesses:

Rose M. Ln Mrnnx, ANNA J. GILHOOLY.

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