US2590773A - Drive for cloth spreading machines - Google Patents

Description

March 25, 1952 M. R. KATZ DRIVE FOR CLOTH SPREADING MACHINES 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed June 19, 1948 'INVENTIJH WWW ATTORNEY Mara] 25, 1952 Filed June 19, 1948 M. R. KATZ DRIVE FOR CLOTH SPREADING MACHINES 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 INVENTIJR ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 25, 1952 DRIVE'FOR CLOTH SPREADING MACHINES Mortimer Ronald Katz, Montreal, Quebec,

Canada ApplicationJune 19, 1948, SeriaI No. 33,960

3' Claims. (Cl. 105-144) The invention relates to improvements in a drive for cloth spreading machines, as described in the present specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings that form a part of the same.

The invention consists essentiallyof the novel features of construction as pointed out broadly and specifically inthe claimsfor novelty following a description "containing an explanation in detail of an acceptableform of the invention.

The objects of :the invention are to devise a drive mechanism .for the operation of a cloth spreading machine and with which is incorporated a'seat for-the operator; to facilitate the operation of spreading cloth on cutting tables and to speed up such operation; to eliminate fatigue to the operator or supervisor of the cloth spreading machine presently caused by this per son having to walk alongside of the spreading machine as he or she inspects thecloth for irregularities during the spreading operation; to furnish a drive for a cloth spreading machine that will operate same with a multiple of the speed obtainable with electromatic machines in present use; to equip an ordinary "hand driven cloth spreading "machine with an electric drive so mounted and arranged asto travel along with the spreading machine and by which the spreading machine may operate fully automatic; to 'construct a drive for cloth spreading machines consisting of comparatively-few and simple parts, easy and economical to manufacture; and generally to'provide a drive for clothspreading machines that isefiicient in its use.

.In the drawings:

Figure 1 is aside View of a cloth spreading machine mounted on the cutting itableand showing the drive asattached thereto.

Figure 2 is a plan viewiof Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an end view of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a view as takenon the line 4-4 in Fig. 3. a

Figure 5 illustrates the invention as arranged for the use of D. C. current.

, Figure 6 is a side view of the drive showing same for the use of A. C. current.

Like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the various fi ures.

The present invention as hereinafter described and illustrated is particularly adapted for use in the clothing and allied industries for attachment to an ordinary "hand driven cloth spreading machine, converting same to a power driven machine whereby theoperator or supervisor of the cloth spreading operation is enabled to ridethe machine back and forth during its operation instead of walking back and forth with it as is at present the case.

Referring to the drawings, the drive for acloth spreading machine, consists of a carrier or carriage, as indicated by the numeral It, adapted to be'attached to a cloth spreading machine I I as mounted on a cutting table I2, and mounting an electric motor 13 and other mechanism supplying the motive power therefor.

An acceptable and preferable type of :carriage is in-the form of a rectangular shaped framework of angle iron, piping or :metal rods,,and is of predetermined length, width and height but being considerably less than the height of the cutting table.

The framework or carriage H1 is provided with wheels, preferably a pair, [4 and l5 respectively. locatedat the bottom of same on one side thereof, one wheel being located adjacent to each end thereof. The shaft 16 of the front supporting wheel 15 extends across the bottom of the framework-andisjournalled in pillow'blocks I! and 18 fixedly secured one to each of the bottom longitudinalside members It and 2B, the shaft extending beyond the inner longitudinal side member 19. The rear or driving wheel 54 has its shaft 2| journalled in the pillow block 22 extending therethrough and connecting with a rotatable shaft 23 extending out from a speed reduction unit 24 by means of a coupling 25.

The wheel shafts It and 2f extend a-predetermined distance out from the inner longitudinal side member [9 to mount the wheels l4 and i5 in perfect alignment with one another. These bottom or support wheels 54 and it are adapted to engage with a rail 26. This rail or track 26 is preferably in the form of an angle iron fixedly secured to the floor and extending the length of the cutting table12 andis positioned on the floor of the room adjacent to the table, the wheels running on the upturned flange of the angle iron rail, which positions the wheels and thecarriage clear of the floor.

Upper or retaining wheels 21 and 28 extend out from the upper inner longitudinal side member 29, being secured to the outwardly extending'bracketsor rods3ll and .31, andthesewheels arepositioned horizontally at the end of their respective bracketandare locatedadjacent to each end of the carriagesimilar to the lower or support wheels 14 and I5. The retaining wheels engage with an angle iron rail or track 32, which rail is fixedly secured to brackets or supports '33 which are fixedly secured to and extend out from the sideof theoutting table, positioning the upper rail out from the table. This upper rail extends the 3 length of the table, and the wheels 21 and 28 are positioned back of the rear flange of the rail and against same to move therealong.

The motor I3 is movably mounted on a base34 which rests on the bottom longitudinal side members l9 and 20 and suitably and fixedly secured thereto. The motor is supplied with electric power by means of a feed rail 35, or similar conductors, secured to the ceiling or to the cutting table, the power cable 36 being fed through a pipe 31 secured to the carriage l and connected to a controller 38 mounted on the carriage, and onto the motor. This controller 38 is actuated by the operator for starting, stopping and reversing the motor.

The cloth spreading machine H is mounted on rails 39 and 40 fixedly secured to the top of the cutting'table I2 and extending the length thereof. The drive or carriage I0 is secured to the cloth spreading machine by means of a hinge or metal strap 4l secured to the'bottom portion of the spreading machine and to the top portion of the carriage l0. This connecting member 4! is flexible or so arranged as to absorb any irregularities which might exist or develop in the relative position of the rail 26 and the cutting table l2.

The base 34 hereinabove referred to, is the base block of a mechanical speed controller, the speed controller comprising this base 34 and the variable speed pulley 42 which is connected to the motor. The variable speed pulley 42 is of the type that is composed of two cone shaped flanges slidably mounted on the shaft and held together by a spring. The speed controller unit is connected to a speed reducer 24 suitably located at the rear of the carriage by means of a belt 44 connecting the variable speed pulley 42 to a wheel or pulley 45, the pulley 45 being connected to the rotatable shaft 23 of the speed reducer 24 which in turn is connected to the rear or driving wheel I4 of the carriage, as hereinabove described.

The operating mechanism of the speed controller consists of a threaded screw 45 extending into the base 34 through an aperture 41 therein and having its inner end engaging a nut secured on the underside ,of the motor l3, a sprocket 48 being secured at the outer end of the threaded shaft 46. A shaft 49 having one end secured in a gear box 50, located at the rear and top of the carriage, extends horizontally adjacent to the top of the carriage and has its free end rotatably mounted in the bracket fixedly mounted on the framework, and a sprocket secured thereon adjacent to the bracket. A chain 52 connects the sprocket 48 with the pulley on the shaft 49. A manually operated wheel 53 connected to the gear box 50 to rotate the shaft 49, controls the mechanical speed controller.

An operators seat 54 is suitably mounted on the carriage l0 and extends upwardly and outwardly therefrom, positioning the operator within reaching distance of the controller 38 and the wheel 53.

As mounted on the tracks or rails, the framework orcarriage l 0 extends outwardly therefrom,

vary the speed of the motor and thus of the catriage and spreading machine.

In the operation of the drive, the operator seats himself or herself on the carriage and starts the motor by operating the controller 38 by means of the handle 55, the power being transmitted to the driving wheel 14 of the carriage through the belt 44 actuating the speed reducer shaft to which the shaft of the driving wheel is connected. The operator stops or reverses the carriage by means of this controller. For a variation in speed the operator manipulates the wheel 53 causing the chain 52 to turn the threaded shaft 46, to which the motor is connected, and to draw the motor back, the belt 44 being tightened on the variable speed pulley 42. This tightening of the belt causes the two cones comprising the variable speed pulley to expand and thereby permitting the belt 44 to ride further down in the cones. The result of this is a reduction in the effective diameter of the variable speed pulley, thereby effecting a reduction in speed, or conversely causing the motor to be moved forward to increase the speed.

Instead of using a variable speed pulley 42 on the motor as hereinabove described, a speed reducer with variable speed feature in one compact unit, as indicated by the numeral 60 in Figure 6, may be used, the only difference in the set-up of the carriage being that the chain 6| is connected to the variable speed pulley or mechanism contained in the reducer unit 60, the same being operated by manual manipulation of the wheel 62, the motor in this case being rigidly mounted on the carriage.

For use with D. C. current, the carriage as indicated in Figure 5, supports a controller 65, the handle 66 of which starts, stops and controls the speed of the motor 61, the motor being put in reverse by means of the lever 68. The motor in this case being rigidly mounted on the carriage, the V-belt 69 connecting the pulley 10 onthe motor with the pulley H connected to the speed reducer 12 to actuate the driving wheel of the carriage. This carriage is of course, provided with a seat for the operator, and is otherwise the same as hereinabove described.

The particular manner of support of the carriage, by the rails 26 and 32, permits it to be suspended above the floor, keeping the floor free of obstructions.

It is of course understood that modifications and ramifications may be made without in any way departing from the spirit of the invention as hereinabove described and illustrated.

What I claim is:

1. In a drive for cloth spreading machines, a cutting table, a cloth spreading machine movably supported on said cutting table, an upper rail and a lower rail fixedly located with respect to one side of said cutting table, a carriage comprising a pair of supporting wheels and a pair of retaining wheels, said supporting wheels being rotatably journalled to the lower portion of said carriage at the inside thereof and adapted to travel on said lower rail, said retaining wheels being rotatably journalled in a horizontal plane to the upper portion of said carriage at the inside thereof and adapted to engage said upper rail, a motor mounted on said carriage and suitably connected to an electric power source, an operators seat supported on said carriage, a drive pulley fixedly secured on the shaft of said motor, a speed reducer unit, a driven pulley fixedly mounted on the shaft of said speed reducer unit, a belt connecting said drive pulley and said driven pulley, means connecting said speed reducer unit with one of said supporting wheels thus providing a means of moving said carriage with respect to said upper rail and said lower rail, a controller connected to said motor, a mechanical speed controller mounted on said carriage and suitably connected to said motor, and said mechanical speed controller being manually operated by an attendant riding on said seat.

2. In a drive for cloth spreading machines, a cutting table, a cloth spreading machine movably supported on said cutting table, an upper rail and a lower rail fixedly located with respect to one side of said cutting table, a carriage comprising a pair of supporting wheels and a pair of retaining wheels, said supporting wheels beingrotatably journalled to the lower portion of said carriage at the inside thereof and adapted to travel on said lower rail, said retaining wheels being rotatably journalled in a horizontal plane to the upper portion of said carriage at the inside thereof and adapted to engage said upper rail, a mechanical speed controller mounted on said carriage, a motor mounted on said speed controller and suitably connected to an electric power source, an operators seat supported on said carriage, a variable speed drive pulley fixedly secured on the shaft of said motor, a speed reducer unit, a driven pulley fixedly mounted on the shaft of said speed reducer unit, a belt connecting said variable speed drive pulley and said driven pulley, means connecting said speed reducer unit with one of said supporting wheels thus providing a means of moving said carriage with respect to said upper rail and said lower rail, a controller connected to said motor, and said mechanical speed controller being manually operated by an attendant riding on said seat.

3. In a drive for cloth spreading machines, a cloth spreading machine movably mounted on rails secured on top of a cutting table, a rectangular shaped framework forming a carriage, an upper rail fixedly secured to the side of the cutting table and extending out therefrom, a lower rail fixedly secured to the floor and located out from the side of said cutting table and under said upper rail, a drive wheel located at the rear of said framework and extending out from the bottom inside face of same, a supporting wheel located at the front of said framework and extending out from the bottom inside face of said framework, said drive wheel and said support wheel being in alignment with one another, a pair of retaining wheels located on the upper inside face of said framework and extendilig out therefrom and coinciding in position to said drive wheel and said supporting wheel, said pair of retaining wheels being adapted to engage with said upper rail, said drive wheel and said supporting wheel adapted to engage with said lower rail and to support said framework thereon, a mechanical speed controller base mounted on said framework at the front end of same, a motor slidably mounted on said speed controller base and suitably connected to an electric power source, a speed reducing unit, a pulley fixedly secured to the ou er shaft of said speed reducer unit, a variable speed pulley mounted on the shaft of said motor, a belt connecting said variable speed pulley on said motor with said pulley on said speed reducer unit, said drive wheel suitably connected to the inner shaft of said speed reducer unit thus providing a means of moving said framework along said lower rail and said upper rail, a controller mounted on said framework and adapted to control said motor, a metal hinge member securing said framework to said cloth spreadin machine and adapted to absorb irregularities which might exist or develop in the relative position of said lower rail and said cutting table, an -operators seat suitably mounted on said framework, a chain drive mechanism mounted on said framework and connected to the under side of said motor through an aperture in said mechanical speed controller base and adapted to be manually operated by a person occupying said seat, said motor being adapted to move backwardor forward on said speed controller base by the operation of said chain drive to change the effective diameter of said variable speed pulley and thereby effect a change of speed oi said motor and said framework.

MORTIMER. RONALD KATZ.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 185,371 Warth Dec. 12, 1876 207,575 Warth Aug. 27, 1878 818,608 Brower Apr. 24, 1906 1,944,054 Ackerman Jan. 16, 1934 2,139,772 Ringe Dec. 13, 1938

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