US1996319A - Shifting means for rotatable elements - Google Patents

Description

April 2, '1935. H. R. BLAIR 1,996,319

SHIFTING MEANS FOR ROTATABLE ELEMENTS Filed March 17, 193:: 2 Sheets-Sh69t 1 April 2, 1935. H. R. BLAIR SHIFTING MEANS FOR ROTATABLE ELEMENTS Filed March 17, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 T. v T $3? j: J v 4,

9 Mil H W g, f a, i Z W a w a WW L l fl. 3 I h z 9 7 k y V 26 way 9 4 z a U X W M 2,. x .I 2 9] w 5 n K W 1 w Patented Apr. 2, 193 5 SHIFTING MEANS FOR'iROTATABLE L M N S 1 Harry ,R. Blair, Cranston, R." 1., assignor to I Universal Winding Company, Boston, Mass:, a

-corporation of Massachusetts r Application March 17, 19sajs ria1No. 661,400

2 Claims. (01; 192-99 This I invention relates to improvements in shifting means for rotatable elements such, for example, as clutch members, gear-wheels or expanders'for mandrels and the like. The invention is herein-shown as appliedto use with a shiftable lever or handle arranged'to control the operation of a winding machine and to slide a rotatable element which acts to expand the mandrel or cop-holder to grip the interior of the paper tube on which-the'ccp or package is wound. In its broadest aspect, howeventhe invention is applicable to various and sundry machines. and

mechanisms wherein the operation of the apparatus' is controlled by manually or mechanically actuated means engaged with a rotating part to effect the, shifting of the latter to perform its appropriate function.

One object of the present invention 15 a provide a deviceof the type specified wherein the lever or other shifting means which slidesthe rotating element is normally, held out offric- Htional contact, therewith to prevent wear on the parts.

' Another yielding control for the shift-lever which permits its movement in opposite directions for-sliding the rotating I element while acting to return it to neutral position when. released.

Another object of the inventio-nis to provide adevice of the type specified which is particu larly adapted. for use with the expanding means forcop-holders of winding machines a'ndso constructed andarranged that the shift-lever willbe construction, economical to' manufacture and eflicient in use for the purposes stated.

Further objects of the improvement'are set forth in-the following specification which'describesthe invention, by way of example, as applied to use on .a winding machine with two different embodiments illustrated by the Y accompanying drawings. In thedrawings:

FigJl is a part .sectional'view show ng the rotary spindle of a winding machine and illustrating the present invention as appliedv to use with the expander-means for the cope-holder mounted on the spindle;

Fi is an r d new o th ffqrwar ehd',

the 'mounting for the control-handle o'r shi-ftobject of the invention is to providev a tion and its arrangement will hereinafter be: de-

of the windingspink:11ev showing the fcopfh ld er end view of the spindlefshcwiii lever.forthe cop-holder expander; v I it Fig. 4 is a plan view of the same; and

Fig. 5, shows amodified form of construction of, the control-handle or shift-lever, H v

It is afcommon practice in various t'ypes fof machines to employ a rotating, element slidable on its'shaft to control some part of' themechanism of the machinef For example, the machine v v Y may be operated through a clutch-mechanism in I which one of the clutch elements is looseon the shaft and the other element fast therewith. and

arranged to be engaged with or'disengaged from the loose element by sliding" it longitudinally of the shaft, itspresent embodiment the invention is applied for use with a rotating element which is slidable on a sh aft or winding s pindle toleffect the expansion contractioncof a mandrel for mounting a paper cop-tube to' IQ:-

' tate with thespindle; In this constructionthe means for shiftingthe expander element consists in a handle or leverwhich is pivoted to rock on an axis at rightangles to the axis of 'thei winding-spindle;

Referring to the'drawings, Fig. l represents a portion of a windingmachine having a frame,

constituted by .side members or uprights l-and;

3 carrying bearings 4 and 5, in-whichisjournaled ahorizo-ntal shaft [0 constituted as awindingspindle; The shaft or spindle I0 may be driven from alpulley ll securecl fast at one end thereof and adapted to be'rotated irom a belt l2 passing across the; underside'of itsperiphery; The

rotation of the spindle Hi may be controllediby engaging the beltzwith' and releasing-it fromthe a pulley ll through *suitable means not herein,

shownin eat n In one form of construction as used on winding machines, an idler pulley,not

shown, presses against the belt I2 to maintain to release the belt" from the driving pulley through er-s haft ilviu As illustrated in Fi Liy heroolierthe latter i'n co nta'ct-@with the periphery of driving pulley l I', theidler, pulley being inoved 45 connectionwith a lever secured fast ftola rockshaft 15 is mounted to turn in Dearings in theLl,-

uprights 2 and 3pofthe frame of the machine I and carries amanually-operable con'trol-leverZS shifting the cop holder expanded, The lever 25 forms an essential part ofthe'presentinvenscribed in d tailf at its forward endwhich also employedffor ture carried at the forward end of' the windingspindle H3. The tapered part of the mandrel 3D is of solid construction providedwith'anjaxial bore 3| fitted to the end of the spindle III. A

pairof set-screws 32 disposed radially with their.

ends engaging depressions in the periphery of the spindle in secure the mandrel fast thereon. Rearwardly of its solid portion the mandrel '30 is of hollowconstruction with its periphery "conforming to the conical shape 'of its forward part. The hollow portion of the mandrel 30 has its walls split longitudinally to form a plurality "of segments" orspring-fingers 33 adapted to be expanded to engage the inner walls of the coptubeC which is usually constructed of paper or 'liber. 'At their free ends the segments 33 are .scored with a plurality of annular serrations forming sharp teeth 34 adapted to bite into the inneriwall'of thecop-tube C when the segments are expanded whereby to hold the tube securely in'place on the mandrel 30. The segments 33 are adapted to be expanded to engage their teeth 7 '33 with the inner wall of the cop-tube C by means of a slidable expander-element or sleeve 35.

'lheexpander-element 35 is mounted free to rotateon the shaft or spindle l3 and is slidable axially thereof under the actuation of the conftrolh'andle orshift-lever 25, previously referred to; The expander 35 has a beveled face 36 on its'periphery adapted to engage inwardly projecting'portion's 31 of the segments 33 to force the latter radiallycut'ward; At one side of the beveledface 35 is a cylindrical surface 38 which is eventually carried into engagement with the "projections 3'! to retain the segments 33 in their expanded relationship while tending to prevent the-expander 35 from sliding back to release them, see Fig.1 of the drawings.

"2' of the drawings.

The expander 35 is formed with an annular flange "39 adapted to engage against the end of thefcop-tube C toforce the latter on from the mandrel 39 after thesegments 33 have been allow'ed to contract by sliding the expander axially of the spindle I Oto the position illustrated in Fig. 2 of the"drawings. On one side of the flange :39;i saboss-40 arranged in opposite spaced rela- "tion with respect to a flange 4| surrounding the endiofthe expander. The boss 43 and flange 4| form an annulargroove or opening 42, the sides for which are adaptedto'be engaged by a toeportion 43 on the lever 25 which projects into thegroove. An annular flange or collar 44 fast on'the spindle or shaft I 8 adjacentthe outer portionof its bearing {4 is employed-as a stop for limiting the sliding movement of the expandersleeve 35 "to the right as viewedin Figs. 1 and e"control-handle or shift -lever 25 is pivotally supported on a head or mounting 45 fast on "-they'end 'of the rocker-shaftjor rod l5. Preferably, themounting or head 45 is constructed integrally the rod;l5,"for example, as a forging. Referring particularly to Figs. 2, '3 and 4,--the head or mounting 45 is slotted vertically at '48 and collar 44.

the lever 25 stands erect with its toe 43 extending formed with forwardly projecting ears 4'! apertured to receive a cross-pin 48 on which the lever 25 is pivoted by means of its hub or bearing 49. The lever 25 is received in the slotted opening of the head or mounting 45 and pivoted on the pin 48 to adapt it to be rocked to cause its lower toeportion 43 to slide the expander-element or sleeve 35 on the shaft or spindle I0. As shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, the toe-portion 43 of the lever 25 is preferably of substantially segmental shape having an arcuate lower edge so that when the lever is rocked in the direction indicated by the arrow in this view to oscillate the rocker-shaft l 5 the toe will remain in engagement with the groove 42 in the expander-element 35; it being understood however that the movement of the lever in this direction has no function in connection with the expanding of the cop-holder or mandrel 30. Normally, when the machine is in operation with the cop-tube C gripped on the mandrel 30 by the expansion of its segments 33, the expander-element 35 is slid to the right with the side of the flange 4| abutting the outer face of the fixed With the expander 35 in this position vertically within the groove 42 between the boss 48 and flange M.

The shift-lever 25 is held in this neutral position with a clearance between the sides of its toe 43 and the faces of the boss 46 and flange ll by an arrangement of self-adjusting resilient means as next explained. Slidable in a horizontal bore 53 at the bottom of the head or mounting 45 is a plunger-pin 5i, the end of which projects slightly beyond theforward side of the mounting to bear against a finished face 52 on the side of the toe d3 of the lever 25. The opposite end of the pin 5! engages against a curved finger 53 projecting downwardly fronia spring-plate or washer 55.

The spring-plate 55 is located between the inner face of the head or mounting 5 and the face of a boss 51 projecting from the side of the frame member 2, being provided with an axial aperture for receiving the rocker-shaft or rod E5. The spring-plate 55 is arranged to turn with the head or mounting When the lever 25 is rocked in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 3 to perform its function of oscillating the rocker-shaft or rod 15 to control the drive through the belt pulley l l Conveniently, the spring-plate 55 may have fingers 5B bent across the lower squared edge 59 of the body of the head or mounting 55, see Figs. 2 and 3. The projecting finger 53 on the spring-plate 55 is of relatively narrow width as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 3 and its convex face bears against the end of the pin 5% to retain it in the position illustrated in Fig. 2. The sides of the spring-finger 53 also bear against the rearward face of the head 35 to prevent it from projecting the pin 5! forwardly beyond the position illustrated in Fig. 2. The pin 5| thus serves as a cushioned stop to limit the rocking motion of the lever '25 in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2 to locate the toe S3 of the lever in exact position centrally of the groove 42 on the end of the expander 35 with a clearance between its sides and the lateral faces of the boss-4B and flange 4|.

The lever 25 is resiliently held in neutral position aslast described by means of a bifurcated Wire-spring 68 bearing against its .side above its pivotal axis. The spring 56, shown most clearly in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, is of generally hairpin-shape having an arcuate portion 5i shaped to enclose the rounded side of the lever '25 withopposite legs -62- extended downwardly therefrom and termiwire from the'spring-coils B3 are extended at an angle to the main, legs 62 in portions 66 which bearagainst the rearward side of the fslot43, the

slot being herein shown as of arcuate contour formed by a millingcutter';

The spring 6.5 is held in position with its coils 1.63 maintained under tension by the terminal portions 63 of the wire bearing against the curved edge of the slot 43 whereby to cause itslonger legs 32 to exert a force tending tourock the lever in the'direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2. Through this arrangement the lever 25 is resiliently held in neutral positionjwith the finished face 52 of its toe 43 bearing against the end of the plunger-pin 5|f;f .it :being 'unde'rstoodthat' the spring-finger 53' has greater tension thanthe spring '60 so that the latter. has no effect to rock the lever, '25 to such an extentas to slide'the plunger-pin 5| in its bore 50. On the other hand,

the spring-finger 53 is 'yieldable to allow the plunger-pin 5|tobe slid axially in its bore when the lever 25. is manuallyrocked in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig, 2 to slide the expander 35 to the position shown in Fig.1 where.

its-flange 4| brings up against thefixedcollar 44. The method ofoperation of 'the device is as next explained. When themachine"isjinactive the lever 25 is rocked to the position shown in Fig. 2 with the expander 35 slid to the left on the shaft ll); it being understood that, the shaft or spindle I0 is at rest so that the. expander 35 does not rotate and therefore there will befnofriction- "a1 rubbing actionbetween the toe ofthelever and the sides of the groove 42 in the end of the expander. The parts are held in this position by the pressure of the segments 33 of the mandrel on the beveled face 36 of the expander 35, the spring tendency of the segments being considerably greater than that of the spring 60 acting on thelever 2,5. 1

Inpreparing the machine for operation the paper or fiber cop-tube C is slid overthe periphery of the mandrel or holder 30 until its rearward or larger end brings up against the side of the flange. 39 of the expander 35, as shown in Fig. 2, to force the latter. back on the spindle |0 until the tube seats firmly on' the solid part of the mandrel. The, operator then graps the handle or lever 25 and pulls it forward, rocking it in the direction indicated by the arrowin Fig. 2,.to1cause itstoe 43 to slide the expander axially of the shaft |l| tina direction to the right asvievndv in Fig. 2.,

As the expander35 is forcibly shifted infthis direction its annulari'beveled face36. rides under theprojections 31 on the inner sides of the segments 33 to expand the latter outwardly wherebyto cause their teeth 33 to bite into the inner wall of the tube C, In this mannerpthe segments 33 are expanded to grip the tube C firmly to the mandrel 33 as the projections 3|.on the segments 7 ride up onto the cylindrical face-38 er. the expander. 1

As before indicated, theupper or handle portion of the lever 25 is rocked outwardlyfrom the frame of the machineto a sufficient extent to,

carry the expander 35 back into position with its flange 4| abutting the side of the fixedcollar 44, the pin 5| in the head or mounting 45 sliding axially to a slight' extent under this .movement of the lever as the spring-finger 53 yields.

As soon as the expander has been shifted into operative position, as shown in Fig. l of thedrawplunger-pin 5| back in'its bore to return the lever to neutral positionjagainst theftension of the upper spring 69. As the lever returns to neuthe finished face 52 of the toe 43 bearing against the end 'of the pin 5|, the parts being so proportioned andlocated that at this juncture the toe 43 will be. positioned centrally of the groove 42 in the expander 35 with its sides clear of the sides thereof. 1

' I The windingoperatiori of the machine may now 3 be started by rocking thelever 25in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 3 to cause the belt |2 to be engaged with the pulley whereby 1 to rotate the shaft or spindle I0. As they shaft. 10 is rotated the mandrel or copholder 3||.turns ings, the handle. 25'may be released, whereupon 3 the tension of the spring-finger '53 will force the tral position the upper" spring holdsit'with. I 7

therewith to'win'd theyarn onto the cop-tube'C as. itis traversed longitudinally thereof by suitable means, not herein illustrated. It will be evident that the expander 35, being frictionally engaged with thesegments 33 of the mandrel 30, will rotate with the latter, but during this rotation it is entirely free from contactwith'the toe 431 of the lever 25 due to the maintenance of the lever I in neutral position'as describedunder the control I of the spring 611 and plunger-pin'5|; Frictional contactbetween the toe 435' of the lever 25 and th'e'sidesof the-groove 42 in' the expander 35 is thus entirely eliminated to save the parts, from excessive wear and deterioration. Furthermore, the elimination of the abrasive or rubbing action between the expander-andits shift-lever prevents the grinding off of carbon particles which are liable to flyoff from therotating surfaces to lodge on the material being wound. In winding rayon and other synthetic materialsthe yarn is subjected to treatment with liquid such as, an emulsion of oil. Under rapid manipulation a portion. of the oil' may be thrown'off from'the yarn and when mixed with thecarbon particles caused by friction between the. machine elements it may lodge on the yarnto soil the delicate material. With the present invention such a deleterious action of the oil and carbon particles is avoided soothat the material is saved from damage or injury from this cause. It will thus be seen that the present invention, besides relieving the engaging parts from wear and deterioration,alsoinsures against.

the'dang er of soiling the yarn 'pa'ckaged'on the winding machine.

., Fig. 5"illustrates'an alternative form of con structionof'the device whereinthe lever 25 is provided-With a forked'ylower extremity 10 in" m place of thetoe previously described; The sides of the fork -10 straddle thesides of'the flange 4 on the expander 35 to effect theshifting of thei latter ,in the same manner as first described, I while the. spring '60 and plunger-pin 5|;ac't to maintain the lever 25 inneutral position with a clearance between the sides of the flange andth'e sides ofthe fork. r I p While theinventionishereinillustrated and'de scribedfas employed in connection with the, shift lever and slidable' expander'of a cop-tube holder 1 v ormandrel, itis to be understood that-it is capable fig of wider use in various applications to. machines and mechanisms of other types. 3 Further "modifications may also be made inthe structureand arrangement of the parts of the device without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, without limiting myself in this respect,Iclairn: I 1

, 1. In a device of the type specified, the combination of a rotatable and axially shiftable element and shifting means having opposing faces for/engagement to shift the element, and yieldable x'n'eans'acting to move said shifting means in opposite directions whereby to return'it to neutral positionafter it has been moved in either direction against the yielding action of, said means.

3.' In a device of the type specified, the combination of a rotatable and axially shiftable element having an annular flange, a lever adapted to engage the sides of the fiange to shift said ele- 'ment, and resilient means acting in opposite directions on the lever, to maintain it in neutral po- .sitio'n free from engagement with the flange on said element during the rotation of I the latter while permitting manual movement of said lever in two directions to shift said shiftable element.

4. In a device of the type specified, the combination of a rotatable and axially shiftable element,a member for shifting said element in opposite directions, yieldable means acting against said member to maintain it in neutral position while permitting it to be moved in one direction under the yielding action of said means, and a second resilient means acting against the member to maintain it bearing against the yieldable means while permittingit to be movedin the oppositedire'ction away from said yieldable means. 5. In a device of the type specified, the combination ofa rotatable and axially shiftable elemerita lever adapted to engage the rotatable element to shift .it in opposite directions, yieldable means having a limited range of movement with respect to the lever to act thereon to hold the lever in neutral position without engagement with the shiftable element, and resilient means acting against the leverto maintain itagainst the yieldable meansto defineits neutral position.

6.. In a'deVice of .the typespecified, the combinationof arotatable and axially shiftable element having opposite annular faces, a pivoted leshift the rotatableelement to one extreme of its travel; said yieldable means acting to return the lever to neutral position free from engagement with the opposite faces of the rotatable element,

and auxiliary resilient means acting on the lever I in the'opposite direction fr'om=the.first.yieldable means to'inaintain said lever :inits neutral position.

--'7. In a deviceofgthe type specified, the combination of a rotatable and axially shiftable element having opposite annular faces, a lever adapted to engage the faces on saidelement to shift it in opposite directions, a plunger engageable by the lever when it is moved in one direction to shift the rotatable element, a spring acting to slide the plunger to move the lever into neutral position out of engagement with the faces of the rotatable element, and resilient means for maintaining the lever in contact with the plunger.

8. In a device of the type specified, the combination of a rotatable and axially shiftable element having opposite annular faces, a pivoted lever adapted to engage the faces of the rotatable element to shift the latter in opposite directions, a slidable plunger adapted to be engaged by the lever when the latter is rocked in one direction,

a spring acting against said plunger to allow it to yield with the movement of the lever and to react to return the lever to neutral position free from engagement with the opposite faces of the rotatable element, and a second spring acting .on

'the lever to maintain it in contact with the plunger without sliding the latter. 9. In a device of the type specified, the combination of a rotatable and axially slidable element having opposite annular faces, a lever engageable with said faces to shift said element in opposite directions, a relatively fixed member, means for pivoting the lever tosaid member, a plunger slidable in said fixed member with its end projecting into position to be engaged by the lever when the latter is rocked in one direction, a spring acting against the opposite end of the plunger to maintain it in predetermined position, and a second spring acting against the lever to hold it against the plunger to locate it in neutral position free from engagement with the opposite faces of the rotatable member.

10. In a device of the type specified, the combination of a rotatable shaft, an element slidable on said shaft, said element having opposite annular faces, .a mounting, a lever pivoted to said mounting andhaving means engageable with the opposite faces of the slidable member to shift the latter, a plunger-pin slidable in a bore in the mounting with its end projecting therefrom for engagement with the lever, a spring-plate "held against the mounting and formed with a portion engaging the end of the pin to slide the latter to a limited extent, and a second spring carried on the mounting and acting against the lever to hold it in engagement with the end of the slidable pin to maintain the lever in neutral position free from engagement with the opposite faces of the slidable element. 1

11. In combination, a rotatable and axially shiftable element, a manually operable lever for shifting said element, a spring acting on said lever to maintain it in neutral position free from engagement with saidelement while adapting it to be moved in opposite directions to shift said element, and a second spring opposed to the first spring to act on the member to return it to ,neutral'position to be held by the first spring.

12. In combination, a rotatable and axially shiftable element, a lever, said lever and element having overlapping portions for engagement to shift the element in opposite directions, a spring acting to move the lever in one direction while permitting its movement in the opposite direction, and a second spring opposed to the first spring and acting on the lever to return it to neutral position where it is restrained from further movement by the-first spring.

HARRY R. BLAIR.

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