US1512587A - Treadle-controlling mechanism - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 21. 1924. 1,512,587

J. S. FINCH TREADLE CONTROLLING MECHANISM Filed Sept. 12. 1921 ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 21, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN S. FINCH, OF BEIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE SINGER MANU- FACTURING COMPANY, OF ELTZABE-TH, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

TREADLE-CONTROLLING MECHANISIVI.

Application filed September 12, 1921.

T all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, JOHN S. FINoH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Treadle Controlling Mechanisms. of which the fol lowing is a specification, reference beinghao therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements i1. manually manipulated mechanisms or de vices and is particularly adapted 'for use with treadle-operated stapling machines.

In stapling machines which are manually operated, such as for instance the buttonstapling machine disclosed in my U. S. Patent No. 1,36%,264, dated January 4:, 1921, it is possible to cause jamming of the machine and breakage of parts thereof by inadvertent- 1y endeavoring to set more than one staple at a time. This condition occurs particularly when out of curiosity unauthorized persons actuate the machine treadle sufficiently far to cause formation or partial formation of a staple and then release the treadle. The parts then immediately return to initial position with the partially or entirely formed staple in the machine. A succeeding operation of the machine will form another staple and in endeavoring to set this staple there is great likelihood of breaking or jamming the machine by the two formed staples.

The present invention has for an object to obviate the stated condition by providing in stapling machines simple means for preventing the formation of a staple while a partially or wholly formed staple is in the machine.

The invention has for another object to provide an improved device for preventing retrograde movement of an actuated element between predetermined limits of movement of the latter.

Another object of this invention is to provide, in a treadle mechanism, a simple and effective locking device for maintaining the position of a treadle-actuated element attained by an actuation of the treadle in one direction.

A still further object of the invention is to provide automatic means for releasing the actuated element from the effective ac- Serial No. 499,967.

tion of the locking device after a predetermined extent of actuation of the treadle.

The invention has also for its object to provide means for maintaining the released position of the locking device during return movement of the treadle, together with means for again rendering the locking device efi'ective.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description and claims.

In attaining the objects of the invention, the present improvement has been embodied, in commercial form, in the button-stapling machine forming the subject of my prior Patent No. 1,3642% to Which'reference has hereinbefore been made. This machine like many others of its kind is treadle-actuated to cause operation of the button-feeding, Wire-feeding, staple-forming and stapleclinching or setting devices, the treadle together with the parts actuated thereby being returned to initial position by means of a spring. In order to prevent effective action of the spring before the treadle has 7 completed a predetermined extent of movement in one direction, there is provided in the machine of the present application a locking device acting automatically to prevent retrograde movement of the treadle.

This locking device consists of a cammember pivotally supported by an adjustable fulcrum provided on a cross-head slidingly sustained by the treadle-standard. The cam-member is yieldingly urged into position to engage the treadle-actuated rod, which is connected with the main-shaft of the machine. The engagement between the cam-member and the treadle-rod is such that when the treadle is depressed the active face of the cam-member releases its grip upon the rod, but immediately resumes its grip upon the latter when the treadle-returning spring seeks to raise the treadle upon release of the latter before completion of its stroke. Collars are adjustably secured upon the treadle-actuated rod upon opposite sides of the locking device. The upper collar approaches the locking device during the de pression of the treadle and acts upon a release-device which transmits the pressure of the collar to the cam-member and releases the latter from effective engagement with the treadle-rod at the completion oi the down-stroke of the latter. The release-device is yieldingly maintained in this position, thereby holding the cam-member out of efiective action, while the treadle-spring returns the treadle to initial position. At this time the other collar upon the treadlerod becomes effective upon the release-device to displace it from its holding relation "'ith the cam-member, thereby permitting the latter to resume its gripping action on the treadle-rod. It will therefore be seen that the treadle will be automatically maintained in any position in which it is depressed between the predetermined limits of its move ment and that consequently it is impossible to form two staples without completing the setting of each staple after itis termed.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partially in section, of a button-stapling machine embodying the present improvement. Fig. 2 is a sectional view substantially on the line 0;00 of Fig. 1. Fig. is a perspective view 01 the staple forming and setting devices. Fig. 1 is a detail perspective view of the staple-setting device. Fig. is a front end elevation of a portion of the treadle standard containing the locking device.

Referring to the drawings, the buttoir stapling machineillustrated therein is substantially the same as that of my prior Patent No. 1,36%,264 before mentioned and as reference may be made to this patent. for a complete understanding of the machine, only such illustration has been made as is deemed essential for a proper understanding of the application of the invention to this machine.

The machine is supported by a base 1 from 'which rises the tubular treadle-standard 2,

sustaining at its upper end the machine-supporting table 3. Mounted upon the table 8 is the button-stapling machine including a supporting frame 4 in which is journalcd a main or actuating shaft 5. Secured upon the actuating shaft 5 is the triangular rocklever 6 pivota ly connected with the upper end oi the treadle actuated rod 7, movable endwise in the standard 2 and connected its lower end with the operatingtreadle 8, fulcrumed at 9 upon the base 1. The treadle 8 has a predetermined extent of movement betweentwo adjustable screws as 10 and 10 and is yieldingly urged to engage the screw 10 by means of the spring 11 connected one end to the treadle 8 and at its opposite end to a collar 12 suitably secured upon the standard 2.

The triangular rock-lever 6 is connected by means'ot a link 13 with the upper end of the slide-plate 14 guided for end- Wise movements in suitable ways provided in the machine frame. Secured upon the slideplate 14 by means of screws as 15, and a tongue 16 and groove 17 connection is the staple-setting plate 18. Guided by the ribs 19 of the staple-setting plate 16 is the wire-- severing and staple-forming bar 20 capable of movement with and also relative to the slide-plate ll. The bar 20 terminates in :1 rearwardly extending rod ll projecting through a suitable aperture lormml in the guide-plate 22 suitably secured upon the slide-plate 1%. The rod 21 is embraced by a coiled spring 23 bearing at one end against the guide-plate 22 and at its opposite end on a suitable shoulder provided on the bar 20 whereby the latter is yicldingly urged to assume its advanced position with respect to the slide-plate 14-. The bar 20 is main tained in this advanced position by menus of a pawl 24, carrying a roller 25 and adapted to be released by a suitable cam (not shown) at the desired moment.

It. will be understood that when the treudlc 8 is depressed, its movement is communicated to the rod '2' thereby rocking the lever 6 to advance the slide-plate 14!. During the first part of the movement of the slide-plan 1a, the staple-setting plate 18 secured thereto and the staple-iorming bar 20 slidubly mounted thereon are advanced as a unit by reason of. the holding action of the pawl :14. This advancing movement causes lhv cullcn plate 26 carried by the bar 2-0 to sever suit-- able length of wire which is then formed into a staple by the advance end of the bar ill. At the proper time the pawl Ell is tripped out oi engagei'nent with the bar 20 so that the staple-setting plate 18 may advance rclativethereto and act to clinch the Maple against the anvil 2T. \Vhilc the operation and mechanisn'i of forming and clinching" the staple has been. herein drscribed in :1 general way. it is to be understood lhul lhr particular term of this mechanism is lln-- material as it will be evident lhal lln invmz tion is applicable to a large variety of voustructions of; machines.

It the treadle S is rmrlially de 'n'essnd. wire is severed and a staple partially or wholly formed. hen the lrcudlo is rcleascd after this partial operatitm. the par tially or wholly formed staple remains in the machine while the SlllIltrlIlll! 11 resumes its initial position under the action of the spr ng 11. hen the treadle 8 is again dep rd. a second wire is severed and formed into staple, the effort of clinching t latter staple rendering possibl l; ring of ma.- chine parts or jun-inning ot the lln'l flllllt by reason of the staple previously Formal l e ing still in the machine.

Referring now more purlicu arly o the details of construction cl? the prcs-rul nrnution, the standard is formed with dianetrically opposite apertures in which is inserted a cross-head This cross ..:id is formed with an enlarged head 2: and is loo formed with a central, vertical slot 30. Lo cated in this slot is a cam-member 31 in the form of a bellcrank-lever fulcrumed upon an eccentric portion 32 of a fulcrum-pin 33 secured upon the head 29 by means of the set-screw 34. One arm of the bellcrank lever 31 is provided with a socketed boss 35 entered by a plunger 36. The plunger 36 engages the standard 2 and is acted upon by a spring 37 within the socket of the boss 35 to cause a rocking action of the bellcranklever 31 so that an arcuate cam-face 38 of the other arm of the latter is caused to engage the treadle-rod 7. This cam-face 38 is so arranged with respect to the fulcrum that a downward movement of the treadle 7 swings the bellcrank-lever 31 upon its ful crum to release its gripping action upon the rod 7. leased at any point between its limits of movement determined by the screws 10 and 10, the spring 11 tends to move the rod 7 upwardly, thereby swinging the bellcranklever 31 in a reverse direction and causing a practically instantaneous grip upon the treadle-rod 7 to prevent upward movement of the latter.

It is essential, however, that this gripping action be released when the treadle reaches its limit of downward movement.

To this end there is provided a release-dc vice comprising a disk 39 loosely embracing the treadle-rod 7and from which disk depends a trip-rod 40 passing through an aperture in the cross-head 28. The trip-rod 40 intersects a socket 41 formed longitudinally in the cross-head 28, in which socket is located a coiled spring 42 interposed be tween an adjustable set-screw 43, threaded into the cross-head 28, and the rod 40. Secured upon the treadle-rod 7, upon opposite sides of the locking device, are adjustable collars 44 and 45. As the treadle 8 is depressed, the upper collar 44 approaches the disk 39 which is normally maintained in position by means of the spring 42 and as the treadle reaches the lower limit of its movement, the collar 44 acts upon the disk 39 which transmits this action upon the cam end of the bellcrank-lever 31 thereby slightly rocking the latter and causing it to disengage the treadle-rod 7. The latter is now free to respond to the action of the spring 11 by reason of the fact that the spring 42 through its action upon the rod 40 maintains the cam-member in disengaged position. However, as the treadle reaches its upper limit of movement, the collar 45 engages the lower end of the rod 40 thereb releasing the cam-memberfrom the action of the disk 39 whereupon the treadle-rod 7 is promptly gripped by the cam of the rocking member.

By reason of the adjustability of the screws 10 and 10, together with the adjusta- However, when the treadle 8 is rebility of the collars 44 and 45 it is possi ble to alter the stroke of the treadle 8 to correspond with the Work in hand. Further, by reason of the adjustment afforded by the. eccentric-fulcrum 32, the correct operative position of the cam-member may be readily obtained. It is evident that the locking device disclosed herein may be employed in connection with a large variety of machines, and particularly for preventing retrograde movement of an actuated element at any point between predetermined limits of movement of such element.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, what I claim herein is l. A device for preventing retrograde movement of an actuated element, comprisr ing a cam-member, a spring yieldingly urging said cam-member to engage said element to permit movement of the latter in one direction and prevent movement in the opposite direction, a ca1nmember release-device, means efiective at a predetermined point in the movement of said element to shift said release-device to transmit a releasing movement to said cam-men'iber, and yielding means independent of said cam-member for maintaining the cam-member release position of the release-device during the return movement of the element.

2. A device for preventing retrograde movement of an actuated element, comprising a cam-member, a spring yieldingly urging said cam-member to engage said element to permit movement of the latter in one direction and prevent movement in the opposite direction, a cam-member releasedevice, means effective at a predetermined point in the movement of said element to shift said release-device to transmit a releasing movement to said cam-member, yielding means independent of said cammember for maintaining the cam-men'iber release position of the release-device during the return movement of the elen'ient, and means for shifting said release-device in the opposite direction at a predetermined point in the return movement of the element.

3. A device for preventing retrograde movement of an element between determined limits of movement, comprising a support, a cam-member sustained by said support, means yieldingly urging said cam-member to engage the element to permit movement thereof in one direction and prevent retrograde movement'; adjustable means carried by said element for determining a release position of said cam-member, a shiftable release-device interposed between the cammember and said adjustable means for transmitting a release movement to the cammember, and yielding means independent of said cam-member "for maintaining the release-device in canrmember releasing position. 3

4. A device for preventing retrograde movement of an actuated element between predetermined limits ofmovement of the latter, comprising a support, a pivotal cam-' member fulcrumed upon said support, means yieldingly urging said cam-member into position to lock said element against retrograde motion, a cam-member release-device, means for rendering said release device effective at one of the movement limits, and a spring for yieldingly maintaining the release position of said release-device effective against the action of the cam-member yielding means for a predetermined extent of return movement of said element.

5; A device for preventing retrograde movement of an actuated element between predetermined limits of movement of the latter, comprising a support, a cam-member, an adjustable eceentrically journaled fulcrum for said cammember upon said support, means yieldingly urging said cammember into position to lock said element against retrograde movement, a cam-member release-device, means for rendering said release-device effective at one o't' the movement limits, and means for yieldingly maintaining the release position of said release-device effective for a predetermined extent of return movement of said element.

6. A device for preventing retrograde movement of an actuated element between predetermined limits of movement of the latter, comprising a support, a cam-member, an adjustable eccentrically journaled fulcrum for said cam-member upon said support, means yieldingly urging said cammember into position to lock said element against retrograde movement, a cam-member release-device, means for rendering said release-device effective at one of the move ment limits, and means for restoring the effective action of said cam-member upon said element during a return movement of the element.

7. A device for preventing retrograde movement of an actuated element between predetermined limits of movement of the latter, comprising a support, a cam-member, an eccentric fulcrum upon said support for said cam-member, a spring yieldingly urging said cam-member to engage the actuated element to permit movement of the latter in one direction and prevent movement in the opposite direction, a cam-member release-device disposed in proximity to said cam-member, adjustable means carried by said element upon opposite sides of said cam-member adapted to engage the releasedevice upon movement of the element in opposite directions to release and restore the effective action ofsa-id cam-element, and

a spring for maintaining the release device in the positions into which it is shifted by said adjustable means.

8. The combination with a treadle mechanism comprising a treadle standard, a treadle-lever, and a treadle-lever actuated element, of a cross-head sustained by said standard and provided with an aperture slidingly entered by said. element, a cam member fulcrumed upon said cross-head, a spring yieldingly urging said am-member to engage sa-id element to permit movement of the latter in one direction and prevent movement in the opposite direction, a release-device yieldingly held against movement with said actuated element, and collars secured upon said element on opposite sides of said release-device for shifting the latter to release and restore the effective action of said cam-member.

9. The combination with a treadle mechanism comprising a treadle standard, a treadle-lever, and a treadle-lever actuated element, of a cross-head sustained by said standard and provided with an aperture slidingly entered by said element, a cammember fulcrumed upon said cmss-head. a spring yieldingly urging said cam-member to engage said element to permit movement of the latter in one direction and prevent movement in the opposite direction, a release-device, a spring sustained by said cross-head to yieldingly hold said releasedevice against movement with said actuated element, means for adjusting the pressure exerted by said spring, and collars secured upon said element on opposite sides of said release-device for shifting the latter to release and restore the effective action of said cam-member.

10. The combination with a treadlc mechanism comprising a treadle-standard. a treadle-lever, and a treadledcver actuated element, of a cross-head sustained by said standard and provided with an aperture slidingly entered by said element, a cammember fulcrumed upon said cross-head, a spring yieldingly urging said cam-member to engage said element to permit movement of the latter in one direction and prevent movement in the opposite direction, a release-device comprising a headed trip-rod slidin ly sustained by said cross-head means for yieldingly holding said releasedevice against movement with said actuated element, and means for shifting said release device to release and restore the effective action of said cam-member.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

JOHN S. FINCH.

Images