US1722294A - Stretching machine - Google Patents

Description

c. HUNT. Er AL STRETCHING 'MACHINE Filed March 515 1922v July 30, l 929.

3 Sheets-Sheet Y QWN @EN NGN vN July 30, 1929- c. HUNT E1' AL n s'rRETcHING MACHINE Filed March 31, 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig-4 C. HUNT El" AL STRETCHING MAcHlNE July.30, 1929.

Filed March s1, 1922 s sheets-sheet 5 Patented July 30, 1929.

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CHESTER HUNT AND FREDERIC BERTRAND, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSG-NOES i TO UNTED SHOE MACHINERY COBPOEATON, OF PATERSON, NEW' JERSEY, A COR- PORATION 0F NEW JERSEY.

STRETGHING MACHINE.

Application filed March 31, 1922. Serial No. 548,450.

This invention relates to stretching machines and is herein shown as embodied iny a machine especially designed for stretching the shank portions of shoe soles.

Wvhen a shoe sole is died out from a hide the texture of the material is approximately uniform from end to end. lin use, however, the forepart of theV sole'is subjected to the most wear so that when it is completely worn out the shank portion still maintains substantially its original strength and thickness. Since sole leather is comparatively expensive, this condition is not economical. States Letters Patent No. 1,552,608, granted September 8,1925, on our application, there is disclosed a method of treating blanks such as shoe soles in which each blank is cut out to the dimension required by the forepart of the shoe of which it is to become a. part and shorter than the requirements of the shank, an d then the shank is stretched by the application of tensile stress while the forepart is maintained unchanged. rThis stretching saves leather and although it may weaken the shank to some extent, nevertheless, in view of the different exposure to wear of the forepart and the shank in use, such weakening is harmless.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a stretching machine for use in carrying out the above or similar methods.

Features of the invention consist in an organization. comprising means for restraining or controlling movement of portions or regions of the sole adjacent to the shank and means for applying tensile stress to another portion of the sole to stretch it. Preferably, there is provided means for holding the forepart of a sole, means for engaging the shank portion of the sole, and means for effecting relative movement of said two means to effect elongation of the shank portion of the sole.

ln the preferred construction illustrated, the forepart of each sole is clamped in a holder and carried in a predetermined path while a pressure member, preferably in the form of a roller, engages the shank portion of the sole. to exert a drag or tensile stress upon it to draw it out to the required dimension. This drag may be conveniently accomplished by moving the holder at a greater speed than the pressure roller. In order to facilitate the stretching action and to give In United permanence to it, as illustrated, spurs projecting from the pressure member crush or tear the libres in the locality where the stretching occurs. To aid further in maintaining the stretch in the material and as another feature, the illustrated pressure roller is mounted to reciprocate towards and from the carshown, the toe of each sole is located in a recess of the carrier by means of -a pin which can be adjusted in the direction of the length of the sole. The sole is located centrally by means of pins that engage the side edges of the sole and preferably these latter pins are v adjusted widthwise of the sole simultaneously with the longitudinal adjustment of the toe engaging pin. These and other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the consideration of the following specitication and the accompanying drawings in which, i

Fig. l is a right hand side elevation with some parts in section ,and with part of the driving gearing removed.

Figs. 2 and 3 are 'sectional details of the pressure roller and its rockable mounting.

4t is a horizontal section of a portion of the left hand half of the machine.

Fig. 5 is a detail side elevation of the carrier and pressure roller, with the work in a position for the stretching action to begin.

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic side elevation indicating the construction by which a greater speed is imparted to the carrier than to the pressure roller.

Fig. 7 is a front elevation of the right hand half of the machine with some parts -removed.

This machine is duplex, that is, the right and left hand portions are substantially identical and arranged to receive the soles in pairs. The description will therefore be largely confined toone half of the machine.

The carrier l2 for the soles is in the form CII Vof a drum or cylinder secured to and driven by the drum shaft 14 journaled in the framework. In opposite sides of the periphery of the carrier are recesses or flattened portions 16, 16 in which the foreparts of the soles are secured and held in position by the clamping plates 18. Each clamping plate 18 has projecting teeth to engage and grip the sole and is mounted on a rod 20 supported in a yoke joining the arms 22 pivoted at the sides of the drum at 24. To press the clamping plate against the cylinder, rods 26 loosely engage the rods 20 and, passing through the guide lugs 28 on the drum, are constantly pressed in one direction by coil springs 30 interposed between the guide lugs and adjusting nuts screwed on the ends of the rods 26. To separate the clamping plates from the cylinder to leave room for the insertion of a sole as the carrier reaches the working position, an arm 32, joined to one of the arms 22 above referred to, has a roller at its end running on the periphery of a fixed cam 84 which has a raised portion 86 formed to actuate the arm at a predetermined point in the cycle of operations and release the clamping plate 18 against the tension of the springs 30. Thus, in Fig. 1, the clamping plate 18 at the left is shown in a position to receive the forepart of a sole and is about to close, whereas the clamping plate at the right is shown just after reaching its released position. The cylinder is substantially symmetrically formed with sole receiving recesses at opposite sides so that when one sole is being received in operative position, the sole on the opposite side is being released, etc.

The mechanism for locating the soles longitudinally comprises a pin V 40 springpressed through an opening in the carrier at the flattened portion 16, this pin being carried at the lower end of a sliding member 42 in the form of a rack. Longitudinal movement of the slide adjusts the pin 40 in the direction of the length of the sole and this provides for adjustment to accommodate the different sizes. The rack on the slide 42 is engaged by a pinion 44 which has atrunnion 46 journaled in a portion of the carrier. The

pinion meshes with the teeth on a large ring` 48 rotatably adjustable on the carrier and held between a web on the carrier and the ring-shaped cover 50 fastened by screws to the carrier. The ring is turned by means of a pinion 52 on the rock-shaft 54 j ournaled in the carrier and actuated by a handle 56 the position of which is indicated by a suitable dial on thecarrier, this dial, if desired, having size indications thereon.

The mechanism for centralizing the soles comprises a pair of spaced locating pins 60 project-ing from a sleeve or housing 62 which is pivoted on the carrier on radially extending pivot pins 64. Integrally formed with the sleeves 62 are arms 66 (see dotted lines in Fig. 4) formed at their meeting ends with interengaging gear teeth whereby the locating pins are simultaneously moved and kept in a symmetrical. position with respect to the center of the carrier. The pins are adjusted towards or from each other by means of a pin 7 0 formed on one of the sleeves 62 and engaging a wedge-shaped cam 72 secured to one side of the ring 48 above referred to. The pin is held against the cam face by means of a spring 76 interposed between the carrier 12 and an extension 74 on one of the sleeves 62 (see Fig. 4). It is apparent that by this construction, the rotative adjustment of the ring 48 carrying the cams 72 will simultaneously spread the side locating pins 6() and through the described gearing cause the simultaneous adjustment of the toe locating pin 40.

When a sole is applied to the carrier it is inserted toe end first between the side locating pins 60 which are thereby separated against the tension of their spring. The spring causes the pins to press against the side edges of the sole to centralize the latter and since this pressure would tend to prevent the release of the sole when it reaches the releasing position at the right hand side of the machine, provision is made for withdrawing one of the pins into the interior of the carrier. As shown, the pins are normally spring-pressed outwardly in the sleeves 62, this movement being limited by contact of the pins with the clamping plate 18. One of the sleeves is cut away as shown at 8O and the corresponding pin is slotted to receive a flattened projection 82 carried by an arm 84 of a lever pivoted at 86 on the carrier. Another arm 88 of the lever has a roller at its end traveling on the periphery of a cam 90 fixed to the frame of the machine. The cam 90 has a raised portion 92 by means of which the arm 88 is actuated to cause the pin 60 to be depressed within its sleeve, thereby releasing the sole to allow it to drop out of the machine.

When a sole is clamped to the carrier the shank and rear end portions lie against the cylindrical surface of the carrier, thus leaving the shank in a convenient position for treatment. Mounted adjacent to the carrier is a pressure member in the form of a roller 100 which is cut away for a large portion of its periphery. At a predetermined point .in the cycle of movement, the pressure roller 100 moves into engagement with the shank portion of the sole and exerts a drag thereon (see Fig. '5). At this time, a series of spurs 101 projecting from the pressure roller tear or crush the fibres of the material, .partly as a result of the movement of the spurs longitudinally of the sole, in order to facilitate the stretching action and give permanence to it. Since some sole blanks are thicker on one side than on the other and might be gripped more firmly on the thicker side, the pressure roller is rockably mounted on a block 102 secured to the shaft 104 see Figs. 2 and 3) rlhis mounting comprises complemental rounded surfaces 106 formed on the roller and on the block 102, the roller being secured loosely in place by screws 108 which extend through slots 110 into the block 102. Springs 112 inserted in recesses in these members serve to keep the roller normally in a central position. As a further means for setting the blank to prevent its subsequent contraction, mechanism is provided to pound or hammer it. lic-- cordingly, the pressure roller is carried on a rockable lever consisting` of a pair of arms 1141 pivoted on a rod 116 and a long arm 118 extending horizontally from one of the arms 114. To the arm 118 is pivoted a block 120 in which is threaded'a rod 122 the upper end of which is smooth and slides through an opening in a guide lug 1211 iixedto the framework. Interposed between an abutment plate 126 adjustably mounted on the. rod and the under side of the guide lug 124. is a strong coil spring 128 which normally tends to press the roller 100 toward the carrier 12. Movement in this direction to cause the hammering movement is accomplished by the springunder the control ofia cam. Movement is limited by means of stop lug 130 on the arm 114; engaging an adjusting screw'182 in the framework. At the free end of the arm 118 is a pivot 18sL to which is secured a block 186, this block being adjustably connected to a yoke 140 by a right and left screw threaded rod 138. rlhe yoke 140 embraces a drive shaft 142 journaled in the frame of the machine,

iid shaft carrying a lobed cam 146 on which runs a roller 14A secured to the upper end of the yoke 140. It is apparent that, by this construction, rotation of the cam' 14:6 will cause the reciprocation of the yoke and thereby a rocking of the pressure roller towards and from the carrier, the movement towards the carrier being an impositive one under the influence of the spring 128 and the movement in the opposite direction being positive. rlhe shaft has at one end a pulley 148 driven by a belt 150 and a gear 152 liXed to the shaftmeshes with a large gear 1541 on the carrier shaft 1li. There is a gear 154 near each end of the shaft 141 and each gear meshesy with a smaller gear 156 (see Fig. 7) secured to a stub staft 158 mounted in a bracket 160 on the frame, said shaft being loosely connected through a universal joint 162 with the shaft 104 carrying the pressure roller. This loose connection is provided in order to allow for the rocking movements of the shaft- 104 with its roller. lt should be noted from Fig. 6 that the gear 154 is` of smaller diameter than its corresponding carrier 12, whereas the gear 156 is larger than its driven roller 100. riherefore the peripheral speed of the cylindrical carrier will be greater than that of the roller and as a result a drag or tensile stress will be exerted upon the shank yof the sole as the forepart is moved relatively to the pressure roller.

Assuming that the toe and side locating pins have been adjusted by setting the lever 56 opposite the desired size designations on the scale, the operator first inserts a sole, properly tempered, toe end first between the side pins and against the toe pin and then starts the machine. Rotation of the cylinder 12 relatively to the fixed cam 34 causes the clamp plates 18 to grip the forepart of the soles against the cylinder and, as the work reaches the position shown in Fig. 5, the pressure member 100 comes into engagement with the shank portion. The difference in peripheral speed between the two rotating members exerts a drag upon the stock and the spurs 101 tear or crush the fibres to facilitate the stretching action.l The pressure roller 100 simultaneously hammers the stock to render the stretch permanent and as the work reaches a position at the right of the machine the cam 36 opens the clamp plate 18 and thecam 90 draws in the pin 60 and the work is released and allowed to drop out of the machine.

Although the invention has been set forth as embodied in a particular machine, it should be understood that the invention is not limited inthe scope of its application to the particular machine shown and described. Y

Having fully described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Let` ters Patent of the United States is 1. ln a machine for stretching blanks, a support, means for clamping one portion of a blank on the support, a rotary pressure member for pressing another portion of the blank against the support, and means for causing such movement of the pressing surface of the pressure member and the adjacent surface of the support in the same direction at different rates as to stretch the blank to the required dimension.

2. ln a machine for stretching sole blanks, a support, means for clamping the forepart of a blank on the support and moving it in a predetermined path, a pressure member for pressing the shank portion of the blank against the support, and mea-ns for imparting to the pressure surface of the pressure member a less movement than that imparted to the support to ,stretch the shank portion of the blank.

3. ln a machine for stretching sole blanks, means for supporting an unattached sole blank and moving it in a predetermined path, a member mounted for reciprocating movement towards and from the supporting means. and power operated means to reciprocate said member to hammer the blank.

4. ln a machine for stretching blanks, means for clamping one portion of a blank, a pressure member for gripping another portion ofthe blank, spurs secured to the pressure member to tear and crush the ibres, and means for causing relative movement of the spurred pressure member and the blank to stretch the blank to the required dimension.

5. In a machine for stretching blanks, means for clamping one portion of a blank and moving it in a predetermined path, a rotary member arranged forcibly to engage another portion of the blank to roll said other portion, and spurs proj ecting from the rotary member to tear and crush the fibres.

6. In a machine for stretching blanks, means for supporting a blank and moving it in a predetermined path, a member mounted for reciprocating movement against said supporting` means to hammer said blank, and Ispurs projecting from said reciprocating member to tear or crush the libres.

7. In a machine for stretching sole blanks, a rotary carrier having means tovclamp one portion. of a blank in flat condition on the carrier, a pressure rollerfor engaging another portion of the blank, and means for moving the roller at a diHerent speed from the carrier to exert tension on the blank to stretch it.

8. In a machine for stretching blanks, means for clamping one portion ot' a blank, a member mounted for reciprocating movement against another portion of the blank to hammer it, and means for moving the hammering member with the blank but at a different speed to exert tension on the blank to stretch it.

9. In a machine for stretching4 blanks, means for supporting a blank and moving it in a predetermined path, a pressure roller for engaging the blank for rolling said blank to stretch it, and means for reciprocating the roller towards and from said supporting means to hammer the blank.

10. In a machine for ,stretching blanks, a rotary carrier having means to clamp one portion of a blank, a roller for engaging lanother portion of the blank for rolling said otherportion, means for rotating said roller at a different s )eed from the carrier to exert tension on the lank to stretch it, and means for reciprocating the roller towards and from the carrier to hammer the blank to set it.

11. In a machine for stretching blanks, a rotary carrier having means to clamp one portion of a blank, a pressure roller engaging another portion of the blank for rolling said other portion, means tor rotating said roller at a different speed from the carrier to exert tension upon the blank to stretch it, and spurs projecting from the roller to tear and crush the fibres.

12. In a machine for stretching' blanks, means for clamping one portion of a blank, a support and a pressure roller for engaging another portion of the blank for rolling said other portion to stretch it, means for reciprocating the roller bodily towards and from "the support to hammer the blank and set it,

rotary carrier having means to clamp the.

forepart of a blank and move it in a predetermined path, a roller for-engaging another portion of the blank for rolling` said other portion, means for rotating said roller at a slower speed than the carrier to exert a drag upon the blank to stretch it, means for reciprocating the roller towards and from the carrier to hammer the blankto set it, and spurs projecting from the roller to tear and crush the libres.

15. In a machine for stretching blanks, a rotary support for a blank, a rotary pressure member having an axis extending transversely of the blank for rolling said blank against the support, and a rocking support for the pressure member to equalize the pressure at the two sides of a blank of uneven thickness.

16. In a machine for stretching sole blanks, a. rotary carrier, a clamp for securing the forepart of a blank to the carrier, a rotary pressure member for rolling another portion of the blank against the carrier, driving mec-hanism for rotating the carrier and pressure member at different speeds, and a rocking support for the pressure member to permit the pressure member to press equally on the two sides of a blank of uneven thickness.

17. In a machine for stretching blanks, a rotary carrying member having means to clamp one portion of a blank, a cooperating rotary pressure member for engaging another portion of the blank for rolling said other portion, and intermeshing gears having driving connection with the rotary members, one or' the gears having a larger periphery than its corresponding rotary member whereby the peripheral speed or' said rotary member is decreased to exert a drag on the blank. l

18. In a machine for stretching blanks, a rotaryV carrying member having` means to clamp one portion of a blank, a drive shaft for the carrying member having a gear ot smaller periphery than the carrying member, a rotary pressure roller tor engaging another portion of the blank for rolling it against the carrying member, and a gear having driving connection with the pressure roller, said gear meshing with the first gear and having a larger periphery than the pressure roller, thereby reducing the speed of the pressure roller to exert tensile stress upon the blank.

19. In a machine for stretching blanks, a supporting member, a lever, a pressure roller mounted on the lever, means for driving the pressure roller to cause it to roll a blank, and means for rocking the lever to cause the roller to hammer the blank.

20. In a machine for stretching blanks, a supporting member, a lever, a pressure roller mounted on the lever, means for driving the roller to cause it to roll the work, a spring tending to rock the lever and the roller in a direction to pound the work, and a cam for moving' the lever and the roller in the other direction. p

21. In a machine for operating on sole blanks, a rotary cylinder having a recess in its periphery to receive the forepart of a sole, a clamping plate, yielding means for pressing the clamping plate towards the cylinder to clamp the forepart of the sole, means for rolling and hammering the shank portion ot the sole, and a cam for releasing the clamping plate.

22. In a machine for operating on sole blanks, a rotary carrier having means to clamp the forepart of a sole, a pressure roller having the greater portion of its periphery cut away, and means for rotating the pressure roller in timed relation to the carrier to cause the roller to engage the shank of the sole.

23. In a machine for stretching sole blanks, a rotary cylinder having a recess in its periphery, a clamping plate supported in the recess to clamp the forward portion of a sole against the cylinder', a pressure roller having a cut-away portion, and means for rotating the roller in timed relation to the rotation of the cylinder to grip the shank of the sole and stretch it to the required dimension.

2&1-, In a machine for stretching sole blanks, a rotary carrier having means to clamp the forepart of a sole, a pin for engaging the toe oli the sole to locate the shank at the desired position, and means for operating on the shank ofthe sole to stretch it.

In a machine for stretching sole blanks, a support having means to clamp the forepart of a sole and move it -in a predetermined path, a pin for engaging the toeof the sole to locate the shank at the Vdesired position, and means for operating on the shank of the sole to stretch it.

26. In a machine for stretching sole blanks, a rotary carrier having means to clamp the orepart of a sole, a pin on the carrier for engaging the toe of a sole, and a sliding support for the pin to adjust the latter lengthwise of a sole.

27. In a machine for stretching sole blanks, a rotary cylinder having a recess in its periphery to receive the orepart of a sole, a pin for engaging the toe of the sole to locate the shank on the periphery of the cylinder, a clamping plate, means lor actuating the plate to clamp the orepa'rt against the cyl inder, and means for operating on the eX- posed shank of the sole to stretch it to the required dimension.

28. In a machine for stretching sole blanks, a rotary cylinder having a recess in its periphery to receive the it'orepart of a sole, a pin for engaging the toe of the sole to locate the shank at the desired position, means for adjusting the pin for different sizes of soles, a clamping plate for holding the 'rorepart of the sole on the cylinder, and means for engaging the shank of the solev 'to stretch it.

29. In a machine for stretching sole blanks, a carrier, a pin on the carrier for engaging the toe of a sole to locate the shank, pins for locating the sides of the sole, mechanism for simultaneously adjusting the pins for dife ferent sizes of soles, means for clamping the sole against the carrier in adjusted posit-ion,

and means for engaging the shank of the sole to stretch it.

30. In a machine Jfor stretching sole blanks, a carrier having means to clamp the orepart et a sole, locating pins for engaging the side edges of a sole to locate the sole widthwise on the carrier, and means for operating on the shank of the sole to stretch it. i

3l. In a machine for stretching solerblanks, a rotary cylinder having a recess in its periphery to receive the orepart of a sole, pins for engaging the side edges of the sole to locate the sole widthwise, means for adjusting the pins for different sizes of soles, means for clamping the :torepart of the sole against the cylinder, and means for engaging the shank of the sole to stretch it.

32. In a machine for operating on sole blanks, a rotary carrier, a pair ot' locating pins on the carrier, means for pressing the pins towards each other to engage the sides or' a sole, and means or'moving one of the pins radially of the carrier to release the blank. 33. In va machine for operating on sole blanks, a rotary carrier, pins for Vengaging thev edges of a sole to locate the sole widthwise, said pins being geared together for simultaneous movement, a Ycam eiif ,ag ingy one of the pins, and a ring supporting the cam and being rotatably movable to adjust the degree of separation oit' the pins.

34. In a machine for operating on blanks, a movable carrier for a blank, a pair of locating pins' projecting from the carrier, means for pressing the pins towards each other to grip between them the sides of a blank, and means for moving one of the pins to release the blank.

35. In a machine for operating on blanks, a carrier, a pair of locating pins projecting from the carrier, means for pressing the pins towards each other to grip between them the' sides of a blank, and means actuated in the movement of the carrier for depressing one of the pins within the carrier t0 release the blank.

36. In a machine for operating on blanks, a carrier, a pair of sleeves pivoted to the carrier, spring pressed pins mounted in the sleeves and projecting from the carrier to locate the sides of a blank, means for pressing the sleeves towards each other lto cause the pins to grip the blank, and means for depressing one of the pins within its sleeve to release the blank.

37. In a machine for stretching sole blanks, the combination of means comprising parallel surfaces for controlling movement of the forepart of a sole blank between them, and means for applying tensile stress-to the entire transverse section of the shank portion of the blank to elongate the blank a substantial amount.

38. In a machine for stretching sole blanks, the combination of clamping means for holding a major portion of a sole blank from stretching, and means to apply tensile stress to an entire cross-sectional area of the blank for drawing out the unclamped portion of the blank in its own plane to the required dimension.

39. In a machine for stretching sole blanks, the combination of means for applying uniform pressure to the forepart of a blank to clamp and hold it against movement, and means for applying tensile stress to a cross section of the shank portion of the blank 'materially to increase its size.

40. In a machine for stretching sole blanks, the combination of means for holding the forepart of a blank to prevent its being stretched, and means for stretching the entire transverse section of another portion of the blank to effect material elongation of the blank. l

41. In a machine for stretching sole blanks, the combination of means for gripping a portion of the blank which is not to be stretched, and means for applying tensile stress progressively to different entire transverse sectional areas of the remainder of the blank to stretch it by increments. l

42. In a machine for stretching sole blanks, the combination of means for restraining movement of a portion of a sole blank, and means for applying tensile stress to the entire transverse section of another portion of the blank to stretch it materially.

43. In a machine for stretching sole blanks, the combination of means for controlling lmovement of a portion of a sole blank, and

means for applying tensile stress to the entire cross-sectional area of another portion of the blank permanently to increase its length.

44. In a machine for stretching sole blanks, the combination of means for controlling movement of the forepart of the blank, means for engaging another portion of the blank, and means for effecting relative movement of said two means lengthwise of the blank to effect material elongation of the shank portion of th-e blank.

45. In a machine for stretching sole blanks, the combination of means for restraining the forepart of the blank from endwise movement, means for engaging the shank portion of the blank, and means for effecting relative movement of said two means lengthwise of the blank to effect material and permanent elongation of the shank portion of the blank.

46. In a machine for stretching sole blanks, the combination of relatively movable'members having parallel surfaces to receive the forepart of a blank, means for relatively operating the members to clamp the forepart and prevent change of its shape, and means engaging the shank portion of the blank and movable relatively to the forepart clamping means lengthwise of the blank for effecting elongation of the shank portion of the blank.

47. In a machine for stretching sole blanks, the combination of members having parallel surfaces of areas sufiicient to engage substantially the entire forepart of a sole blank, means for relatively operating said members to clamp the forepart of a sole blank between them, and means engaging the shank and movable relatively to the clamping mea-ns lengthwise of the blank to apply tensile stress to the entire cross sectional area of the shank portion of the blank to stretch it to a substantial extent.

In testibony whereof I, the said Crrnsfrnu HUNT, have signed my name to this specification.

CHESTER HUNT. In testimony whereof I, the said FREDERIC E. BERTRAND, have signed my name to this specification.

FREDERIC E. BERTRAND.

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