Patent GB-166532-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to machines for cleaning and polishing loom reeds, metallic heddles or other articles of similar structure
IPC: D03J3/00
Filed: 1921-07-12
Abstract: 166,532. Shawmut Engineering Co., (Assignees of Hathaway, E. F., and Bixby, W.). July 12, 1920, [Convention date]. Disc apparatus.-A machine for cleaning and polishing loom reeds and healds and also other narrow plate-like pieces or grids comprises a magazine 2, Fig. 1, (which shows the machine in plan), and an endless chain 5 moved so that bars 6<1> attached to it remove the articles one by one from the magazine to the cleaning-brushes 19 and polishing-brushes 19', 20 driven by belts 14, 14<1>, and thence to the delivery rollers 86. The invention consists in means for driving the feed gear at certain times at speeds greatly exceeding the normal speed, means for reciprocating the rotating brushes in straight lines, and guides for the reeds in the cleaning-apparatus. The machine shown comprises a main shaft 10, driven by an electromotor and a belt 7, and driving, by means of a belt 22 and gearing 25, 26, a short shaft carrying a crank-disc 28, Figs. 2 and 4, moving by means of a connecting- rod 30 a bell-crank lever 32, 34, 75, Fig. 4, which operates the feeding and delivery mechanism and reciprocates the brushes. Feeding and delivering reeds to and from the brushes. The bell-crank arm 75, Fig. 2, moves vertically a slide 77, apertures in which receive the ends of levers 82, 83; on the lever &c. are three pawls 92, 94, 95 which rotate the ratchet 93 and the delivery roll 87. This roll is mounted on a sleeve on the shaft 85 and moves independently of the shaft. The top delivery roll 86 is mounted in weighted levers 100, and its axis is set a little in advance of that of the bottom roll. The lever 83 oscillates the shaft 85, the end of which remote from the ratchet 93 carries a lever 104 connected by a long rod 106 to a ratchet device operating the wheel 107, and thus the shaft 108, the chain 5, Fig. 1, and the cross bars 6<1> on it for removing from the magazine. 2 the lowest reed in it, and transferring the reed to the clearing-devices. This movement of the reed is somewhat slower than the movement of the reed by the delivery rolls 86, 87. This ratchet device comprises a set of pawls 117, 120, 121, which effect the normal movements of the wheel 107, and a hook-like pawl 125 which at certain times effects a more rapid motion of the wheel. These times are when a reed passes beyond an indicating-device, and also when the hopper 2 is emptied. The indicating-device consists of a lever 126. Fig. 5, which is normally depressed by a reed 4 passing over it. The lower end 129 of the laver normally keeps depressed a lever 131 pivoted at 132 on a curved arm 133. When the reed 4 passes beyond the arm 126, it rises into one of the positions 126<a>, 126<b>, and the tooth 129 swings back and allows the lever 131 to rise; a bar 6<1> on the chain 5 then depresses the lever 126 again, and the arm 133 is thus pushed to the left. The stop 136 is thus withdrawn from the recess 137 in a disc 138, and the spring lever 143 then pushes over the arm 141 on the. shaft 139, which controls the electric motor and stops the machine. To accelerate the movement of the chain after the passage of the last reed, and thus more quickly to stop the machine, the ratchet gearing, Fig. 2, operating the chain 5 is controlled by a dog 153 on the pivot of the levers 126. When this lever rises the dog 153 swings back and the pawl 126 engages the wheel 107, and the greater throw of the left-hand end of the lever 113 causes the wheel 107 to rotate rapidly. Adjusting the stroke of the brushes and reciprocating them in straight lines. The reeds 4 are placed in the magazine, the sides 2 of which, and also the sides of the means for supporting the reeds under the brushes, are adjusted towards or away from each other, in accordance with the width of the reeds, by screwed rods 45, Fig. 1, rotated simultaneously by an endless chain 46<1> on sprocket wheels. The adjustment of the rod 45, Fig. 4, causes the arm 43 and sleeve 41, which is secured by nuts 40 on a rod 38, to move the pivot 37 connecting it to a link 36 attached to the bell-crank 34, and consequently to change the extent of the reciprocation of the brushes 19<1>. These are mounted on levers 62, 63, which are connected by links 72 to a fixed pivot 74, and are connected by arms 60 and adjusting-devices 54, 56, 64 to pivots 52 at the ends of a lever 50 oscillated by the connecting-rod 30 and bell-crank 34. Rods 68 carry rollers 69<1>, Fig. 1, which bear against the housing containing the brushes and relieve the strain on the arms. Mounting the reeds beneath the cleaning devices. The guides on which the reeds move beneath the brushes have shields 156, 157, Fig. 12, pressed down by springs 161 on screws 160 fitted in lateral slots so that the shields may be adjusted by the brushes; the adjacent edges of the parts 156, 157 are shaped as shown. The parts 162, 163 are similarly shaped and may be similarly fitted. Specification 128,568 is referred to.