Patent GB-150507-A (GB)
Title: Improvements relating to apparatus for measuring off lengths of cloth or other fabrics
IPC: G01B5/04
Filed: 1919-07-29
Abstract: 150,507. Thornton, A. A., (Measuregraph Co.). July 29, 1919. Measuring. - In apparatus for measuring lengths of fabric &c., the material is drawn over a measuring- roller geared with an indicating - mechanism and with bands showing the cost at various prices. The indicating and computing devices are zeroized by a spring when the gearing from the measuring-roller is disconnected, and a centrifugal brake prevents a too rapid return movement. Near the limit of capacity of the apparatus, a bell rings and at the limit the measuring-roller is held from further rotation. A pressure roller co-operates with the measuring-roller, and is rendered inoperative when a knife is depressed to mark the fabric after movement. The rollers are mounted in a particular manner to exclude lint from the bearings. The casing of the instrument is formed with a slot 14 for the passage of the fabric, which is drawn over the measuring-roller 19 and is pressed upon by a pivotallymounted roller 32 depressed by springs 36. The roller 19 is geared with pointers 99<a>, 99<b>, showing the length passed through, and also with winding-on drums 44, to which are attached the ends of bands 45 bearing the cost of various lengths of material at different prices per yard. These bands pass below windows 16 and are read against fixed scales 46 showing the different prices. The bands are stored on a drum 49 provided with an internal spring 51 for zeroizing. The gearing from the roller 19 includes a floating pinion 55 on an arm 53 pivoted at 52, and, in order to re-set the instrument, this pinion is disengaged from a gear wheel 74 by the operation of a push-rod 64. At the end of the zeroizing movement, a pin 98, Fig. 6, on a gear wheel 95 connected with the slower moving pointer 99<a> comes into contact with a dog 106, which causes a pawl 108 to engage a shoulder on a disk 87 connected with the other pointer, thus holding the parts in the zero position. The returning movement due to the spring 51 is regulated to prevent excessive shock when the pawl 108 engages, by means of a centrifugal brake, Fig. 4, comprising a pair of pivoted weighted arms 88 carried by the disk 87 and having bearing-surfaces 89 adapted to bear against the flange of a fixed plate 82. To prevent any returning movement except when the pinion 55 has been disengaged, a brake 2 frictionally engages a gear-wheel 54 in train with the measuring-roller. When the capacity of the instrument is nearly exhausted, a pin 97 on the wheel 95 actuates an alarm-bell 110. The trigger 113 of the bell is spring-oontrolled and mounted coaxially with the hammer lever 115 also spring- controlled, the arrangement being such that the trigger is moved idly by the pin when this is moving in the reverse direction during zeroizing. When the limit of capacity is reached, the pin 98, through a dog 106 and a spring pawl, actuates a detent lever so as to hold the measuring-roller against rotation. When the required length of fabric has been measured, a finger-piece 132 is depressed so as to cut the edge of the fabric, and a shoulder on the knife simultaneously raises the pressure roller 32, which is then held by a lever until this is tripped at the next operation of the instrument. Both rollers 19, 32 are mounted with a view to preventing lint from entering the bearings, and, in the case of the roller 19, this is effected by supporting it on a fixed hollow arbor 136, the outer end of which is grooved at 140 and engages a recess 139 in a head 137 forming part of the roller. A counter 67 for totalizing the measurements is driven from the measuring-roller through gearing 71, 70.